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Spring 2024

On Thursday, May 2nd I wanted to get out for a longer hike to a 3500 peak. I considered Panther and Slide and had settled on Panther by way of Giant Ledge. An early morning ambulance call changed my mind. My changed plans included hiking the Touch-Me-Not Trail from Big Pond to the summit of Touch-Me-Not Mountain to remove any blowdowns that I could find. From there I planned to continue to the Little Pond Trail to return by way of that trail and the roads from Little Pond to Big Pond. The forecast was for a warm and clear day without any rain. When I started to get ready at 10:15 AM it was 79 degrees on the back porch. I maintain the Finger Lakes Trail from Beech Hill Road over Cabot Mountain over Touch-Me-Not Mountain to big pond and then on to Alder Lake. This is about 7 miles of trail which includes some interesting climbs and some flatter sections. Most of the maintenance involves removing blowdowns and cutting back the nettles and briars. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top with a light long-sleeved baselayer underneath. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and seemed to be living up to their claims. I grabbed a pair of Leki MicroVario poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I knew I probably did not need my Mammut hoody but out in on anyway. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I thought there would be some water amd mud on the trail. I decided to take only one water bottle as the hike is less than 5 miles round trip. I packed my Silky Sugowaza curved saw which can handle surprisingly large trees. As we left Livingston Manor at 10:30 AM, the sun was shining brightly and I hoped for a productive trip. I drove up the Beaverkill Road with Sheila in the back seat more than ready to hike anywhere. We arrived at Big Pond at 10:45 AM to find no other cars in the lot but one parked by the side of the road. We began the hike at 0:50 AM with the temperature at 72 degrees with a bright sun in the sky.

We turned left off the road and started up the steep bank on a section of the Finger Lakes Trail. The trail was drier than I thought it would be and there were very few blowdowns. I did take the time to remove loose branches and some larger rotting logs from the trail. We hiked up the trail taking a few breaks now and then as heavier load and steeper trail were tiring me. I began to notice that the trail had some new markers which made it easier to follow. There were several places where large diameter trees had fallen across the trail and had been cut using a chainsaw. I assumed a DEC crew had been through in the fall. There are also a few places where there were some blowdowns across the trail. Most of these blowdowns were small but had many branches. For each one I took "before" pictures, cleared the blowdown using the saw, and took "after" pictures. The trail was obvious and very well-defined indicating increased use. Volunteers are no longer allowed to places trail markers as the DEC wants this done my rangers or foresters. The problem is that the rangers and foresters depend on volunteer reports! This seems like a cumbersome system which is borne out by the lack of blazes on many trails. As we hiked we came across at least two large blowdowns that could be removed by hand tools but would more easily be cleared with a chainsaw. The trail alternates between steeper areas and more level ground. I decided to continue to the trail junction with the Campground Trail just to make sure there were no other areas that needed attention. We walked to the highest point on the trail and then down to the junction and I found nothing. We turned right and started downhill heading toward Cabot Mountain.

There were a few branches and sticks to remove from the trail. The insects were starting to get thicker but a breeze came up and kept them at bay. We descended the trail as it passed between two large rocks. I stopped to take some pictures of the gap between the rocks. Sheila posed in the gap and I took some pictures of her. Just below these rocks there were some branches across the trail and I stopped to clear the mess. Once I was done we continued on the trail as it wound back and forth and up and down. I cleared a few more blowdowns before we arrived at the junction with the Little Pond Trail. Continuing straight ahead on the Touch-Me-Not Trail ascends Cabot Mountain. I considered hiking up to the viewpoint on Cabot and back down. In the end, I decided to skip Cabot Mountain as I was tired and had limited coverage for ambulance calls. There was a very large tree across the trail perhaps 24 inches in diameter. This one would definitely require a chainsaw! We turned left and walked along the woods road that is the Little Pond Trail. This trail had many blowdowns across it but it is the responsibility of the DEC to clear this trail. We walked downhill and soon neared the beaver pond. I was not going to stop but there weren't many insects so I stopped. I walked to the shore and found the level down a little. I took out my caners and photographed the pond with the ridge behind it. We walked back to the main trail and were soon at the trail around Little Pond. We turned right to walk around the pond. We walked out into the parking lot and then down the boat launch to the shore of the pond. Sheila immediately walked out into the water to wade some and get a drink. I again took out the camera and took pictures of the pond with Touch-Me-Not Mountain behind it. I took some pictures of Sheila in the water before packing up and continuing on the park road toward the dam. We walked to the left off th road and onto the trail that passes over the dam. I put down my pack and got out the camera. I took pictures of Cabot Mountain behind the head of the pond. I also got some shots of the beach and the pond. I put away my camera and we walked to the main parking area and then out the main gate. The campground was not open but there were DEC employees working on the grounds. The walk along the access road to the campgrounds is long without much to see but on this day it went quickly. We descended the final hill to Barkaboom Road where we turned left to head uphill back to the car. I did not put Sheila on her leash as she will stay just behind me with the clammed "With". I looked own to the stream and saw the stone structures I had observed before. I believe that this is the remains of a water powered wheel but I have no other information. The rest of the walk to the car went quickly. I put Sheila in the car and grabbed my camera to walk over to the shore of Big Pond. I took some shots and then returned to the car. I arrived back at the car at 1:05 PM. We had hiked 4.8 miles in 3 hours and 10 minutes including stopping to maintain the trail and take pictures.

On Monday, April 29th, I wanted to get in a hike on the Parksville Rail Trail as I had heard that a NYSEG volunteer crew had cleared it end-to-end on Saturday. I wasn't sure there was another EMT available but I knew I had to get out for my own health. The Parksville Rail Trail is under three miles out and back. I thought the stream might be high due to the recent rain which would make the falls interesting. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she agreed. By the time we started to get ready at 9:45 AM the temperature was right around 80 degrees on the back porch. As we were getting dressed, Sheila alternated between us so she could keep an eye on both of us. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. This combination is not as warm as what I had been wearing and is appropriate for the warmer weather. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and seemed to be living up to their claims. I grabbed a pair of Leki MicroVario poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I did not need my Mammut hoody and this would be the first time I had not warn it since fall. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I thought there would be some water amd mud on the trail. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 10:05 AM and drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville. Just after Fox Mountain Road, I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road. There were no cars parked in the lot when we arrived. I left my phone in the car so that I could enjoy the hike. We started out on the trail at 10:20 AM under sunny skies which were blue with puffy white clouds.

The first part of the trail was almost dry with the sun beating down on the gravel. Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was a little cooler and the trail was about as I expected with a few wet spots and some mud. I was surprised that there seemed to be less water and mud than during our last trip. The rail trail runs parallel to the Little Beaverkill and the new section of State Route 17. It follows the route of the O&W railroad and is very flat. The water level in the stream was not quite as high as the last time we had hiked along the trail. We passed several benches placed for people to rest in warmer weather. The trail I was completely free of branches and even the smallest twigs. I could see the tracks from a UTV that the NYSEG crew used when clearing the trail. I stopped at the area just before the wooden walkways and bridge and decided to take some shots of the stream and the clouds in the sky. The walkways had been raked and swept so they were free of wet leaves and mud. We walked passed several trees that the crew had cleared and came to the mudslide that had brought several trees down across the trail. All of these trees had been cut with a chainsaw and removed. I stopped to take some pictures of the now clear trail. Just after this area was another tree that the crew had cut and cleared. We continued on the trail heading toward the falls. As we walked, we could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls was just ahead. When we got to the falls, I could see that the trail to the bottom of the falls was in good shape. I took some pictures of the falls from the bank and then shifted position to take more shots upstream. Sheila and I walked over to the path down to the streambed and began the descent. Cindy decided to sit on the picnic bench at the top and wait for us. At the bottom I put my pack down and took out my camera. I took shots downstream and directly in front of me where the water was very clear. I then turned my attention upstream to the falls. I took shots encompassing the entire scene and then several close-ups of the main falls and the rapids below it. I like the noise of the falls and the volume of water which exude power but also bring me peace. Sheila hopped up on a rock in the stream and I took some shots of her. When I was finished, I packed up and walked back up the path to the trail where we met Cindy. We continued on the trail toward Parksville.

The weather was really excellent; almost too warm. I had prepared for insects but there were only a few along the length of the stream. Soon we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail passing some rundown and dilapidated buildings which should be removed. Several of the buildings showed that work was being done on them. On the Parksville end of the trail we found the small garden and a very informative sign. We also had to endure the pack of barking dogs that always greets us. The owner came out but as usual the dogs ignored him! The sign listed the businesses and hotels that existed in Parksville during its heyday. The Young's Gap Hotel had room for 600 guests! The sign also explained the role of the railroad in the dairy industry which was a thriving one in all of Sullivan County. After a brief pause, we turned around and began the walk back on the trail. The return trip went more quickly as we did not stop for me to practice my photography. We passed the falls and kept up our fast pace. It was still very warm but a slight breeze had come up. When we broke out of the trees into the sun, we could feel the warmth of the sun. We arrived back at the car at 11:45 AM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 and 25 minutes. I checked my phone and there had been no ambulance calls while we were on the trail.

On Friday, April 26th, I planned to do a hike to a 3500 foot peak. I chose Balsam Lake as it is close to my house and has a fire tower. I looked up the last time I had hiked a 3500 foot mountain and found I had not done one for all of 2023! Our ambulance calls sky-rocketed last year and I covered 760 calls meaning I averaged 2 a day. This is a lot for a volunteer in a volunteer agency! Fortunately, we have several more EMTs coming up and that will allow me to get back to hiking again. I had arranged for a driver and crew to cover calls so I was free to enjoy the hike. When I got up in the morning at 6:30 AM it was only 42 degrees so I knew I would need a jacket of some kind as the temperature at the trailhead would probably be cooler. The forecast was calling for temperatures to rise rapidly into the 60's. I was a little concerned about the hike as I did not know how I would handle the climbing and elevation gain but I knew BLM is relatively short. As I started to get ready at 9:15 AM Sheila was excited as she loves to be outside. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt with a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and seemed to be living up to their claims. I grabbed a pair of Leki MicroVario poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I did don my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat. This jacket has a hood but I decided to wear a light knit hat. I did put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I knew the trail might be wet and muddy from the recent rains. I put on my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat if necessary. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and left the house at 9:45 AM. I headed toward Roscoe on Old Rt 17 and I turned right on the Beaverkill Road. I headed north toward Lew Beach and Turnwood. The Beaverkill Falls were flowing freely with a goof volume from the recent rains. The road conditions were pretty good but deteriorated when the pavement ended. The roads were dry and there was a lot of dust. I passed the White Castle and the Buddhist monastery and continued on toward the trailhead.

When I got to the "Seasonal Maintenance" sign, I was happy but hoped there would not be many cars coming from the opposite direction. The road was narrow but in good condition depsite the recent rains. We arrived at the parking area at 10:20 AM and found no other cars in the lot. I was a little surprised as it was Friday and the forecast was for a beautiful day. The temperature was 54 degrees. Sheila jumped out of the car and started to explore the parking area which was familiar. I decided to wear my Mammut hoody as I knew I could open zippers when I got warm and stow it in my pack if I needed to do so. The skies were bright blue without any clouds. I planned to take the hike slow as I wanted to make sure I did not tire myself out by going too fast. The trail was drier than I expected with out a few damp spots here and there. I noticed that several larger bloodworm had been cut and cleared and assumed a DEC crew had done the work. I stopped at the trail register to sign in. The trail register had been repaired from the pieces that were there on previous trips. As we walked up the trail, I noticed that it needed some trimming but was clear of major blowdowns. Walking was easy as the trail has only a slight incline until the turn up the mountain. I tried to keep a relaxed pace even though I felt I could have pushed harder. When got to the first trail junction, we started up the mountain and I could immediately feel the difference in the incline. I opened all the zippers on the hoody and was still warm.

The first part of the trail is a gentle climb and I was feeling pretty good with an occasional stop for less than a minute to catch my breath. The trail was mostly dry but there were a few damp spots. Over the next half mile the trail gains about 750 feet before leveling off which means an average of around a 28% grade! The trail has a lot of rocks and roots with more and more being exposed by the erosion caused by more people using the trail. I also noted the trail was getting wider as people were not sticking with the established route. Sheila is always able to hike faster than I can and she was running far ahead on the trails and then taking off following game trails through the woods. We kept moving along with Sheila always ahead but not too far which encouraged me. The climb seemed shorter than I remembered even though I had not tried a sustained climb like this in a long time. Several times I thought we were near the trail to the lean-to but had another steep section to climb. Finally we reached the trail to the lean-to and continued straight up the hill through a short but steep climb. We passed the 3500 foot sign and the trail became a small stream from the spring just above. We arrived at the spring which was actually flowing better than I had expected. Sheila got a drink and I took picture of her at the spring and the spring itself. We left the spring and climbed the stone steps to the summit plateau where the trail flattens a little. All the steps were very wet and I was careful to use the poles and be sure of my foot placement. Once we were on the flatter part of the trail, I felt much better since we were not climbing. I stopped to take a few picures of the trail and the twisted trees all around us. On many peaks the 3500 foot elevation marks the beginning of the evergreen trees but not here. We continued on the trail and passed the Millbrook Ridge Trail to Alder Lake which is also the route of the FLT. I did stop to take a few shots of the trail through the balsam firs. As we continued on to the fire tower clearing, we passed the relocated privy on the right side of the trail. We arrived at the tower clearing at 11:45 AM after hiking 1.7 miles. The skies were still a bright blue but there were no clouds. There was a woman sitting at the picnic table so I put my pack down on the big rock. The woman and I exchanged greetings. She was from Margaretville and had parked at the Millbrook Road trailhead. I had not brought a leash for Sheila and resigned myself to the fact she would climb the tower with me. Unlike many other dogs, Sheila will climb all the way up the tower and back down! I walked over to the tower with my camera and started to climb. I saw that some of the steps had been replaced and were slightly wider and sturdier than the old ones. As I rose above the treeline, the breeze hit me and I raised my hood. I climbed to the top of the tower just below the locked cab. I took pictures of the surrounding landscape from the top of the tower in all directions. I missed having some puffy white clouds in the sky. I stopped on the landing just below the cab and looked around. The scene was beautiful and, as always, I knew that pictures could not do it justice. I took a number of shots of the trees and cabin below and then turned my attention to the mountains. I took shots in all directions getting pictures of the Devil's Path to the north and some of Graham. Eventually I was satisfied I had enough pictures and wanted to get back down. I walked back to my pack and put away my camera, took a drink and got out a bar.

The woman at the picnic table started out ahead of us and I wondered how long it would take for us to catch her. We headed down the Millbrook side of the mountain at 11:55 AM. We walked down the trail on the other side of the mountain passing the cabin. The trail was very dry on the descent and covered in many small rocks which made things very "slippery". We met one woman coming up the trail so I pulled Sheila off to the side as she passed. She told me that there was a group coming up the trail with three dogs! When the trail flattened some, we came to areas which are usually muddy and were muddy this time. On one of the descents, we passed the woman who had been at the picnic table. A little farther along we met another man hiking toward us and each of us said "Hello". As we came to another flat area, I saw what looked like a golden retriever approaching with the owner just behind. He called the dog but the dog ignored him. Fortunately, the dog seemed friendly and exchanged sniffs with Sheila. I stayed where I was as another woman approached and told me there were two more dogs on the way. I waited until the owner leashed the dogs and passed by us. We continued on the trail and soon we were approaching the junction with the Dry Brook Ridge Trail that connects Millbrook Road to the Beaverkill Road. We passed through the gate at the bottom of the trail. We came to the trail junction with Sheila in the lead and I said to her "Back to the car" without making any signal Sheila immediately turned right and walked down the trail! There was a sign at the junction warning hikers to stay on the trails and that Graham Mountain was closed to all hikers. The trail has a lot of rocks but they were mostly dry. There isn't much to see on this return trip so I set a faster pace. I looked down to the Gulf of Mexico below and marveled at the steepness and extent of the descent. We encountered places where there had been some blowdowns and all had been cut and removed from the trail. There were also a few new blowdowns which were smaller and could be cut with hand tools. I looked down into the Gulf of Mexico several times but did not see or hear any water. The trail, which had been very narrow, was wider since more people were using it. After just less than a mile, we were back at the trail junction where we had turned up the mountain earlier. We continued on toward the car by retracing our steps. Along the way we met a family of three from Livingston Manor enjoying the nice weather. I signed out at the trail register and we continued to the parking area. We were back in the parking area at 1:10 PM after hiking 4.5 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes with stops to rest, relax and take pictures. We had climbed 1200 feet in elevation. The temperature at the car was 62 degrees.

On Tuesday, April 23rd, I wanted to get out and do a longer hike after weeks of covering ambulance calls. I called another EMT to cover for me so I was free to spend several hours hiking. I thought about going to balsam Lake Mountain as I had not hiked a mountain in some time. In the end I changed my mind as the drive to Balsam Lake Mountain was too long. I also wanted a hiking companion and knew Cindy would not want to climb a mountain. I decided that Alder Lake would be nice so I asked Cindy if she would like to go. She said "Yes" and we started to get ready at 9:15 AM with the temperature in the high 50's and plenty of sun and blue skies. I thought we would hike to the Beaver Meadow Lean-to which would be better named the Beaver Pond Lean-to as the beavers have returned. They have built an impressive dam and there are at least two lodges. I knew I could extend the hike by going to the falls on Alder Creek downstream of the lake. Sheila was hovering around me as she can always detect when I am getting ready for a hike. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt with a long-sleeved baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I thought about warmer pants but decided against it. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and seemed to be living up to their claims. I grabbed a pair of Leki MicroVario poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I did don my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat. This jacket has a hood but I decided to wear a light knit hat. I did put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I knew the trail might be wet and muddy from the recent rains. I got our gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 9:45 AM and drove north and west on Old Route 17 toward Roscoe. Just outside of town I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and headed north. I continued on the Beaverkill Road through Lew Beach and Turnwood toward Alder Creek Road where I made a left. I continued to the end on the road where I turned right toward Alder Lake. I drove up the access road very slowly as there are some very rough spots. When I got to the parking area there was one car in the upper parking area and one in the lower parking lot. The temperature was 54 degrees but the sun made it feel much warmer. The skies were bright and sunny with lots of blue but no puffy white clouds. We started out on the path toward the "lawn" at 10:05 AM.

We walked along the path which passes by the stone foundations which marks the last remnants of the Coykendall Mansion. The house had been built as a large hunting lodge and then was gifted to the Boy Scouts of America. When the state took over the property, the mansion fell into disrepair with campers tearing boards away to use for campfires. The state added a fence but it did not deter people so the house was eventually burned to the ground. As we walked down the right side of the lawn, I noticed that the grass was short as it had no grown up yet and the picnic tables that were present were easily accessible. I walked toward the dam and the "beach" where I normally take pictures. I took out my camera and snapped some shots of the lake and the hills around it. The sun was bright and was making it difficult to get good shots. The sunlight bouncing off the lake was causing the ripples in the water to sparkle. I was almost done photographing when two geese took off from shore and landed on the water. I took some shots as they swam away from shore. We walked across the lawn toward the trail around the left side of the lake and started walking east along the trail on the north side of the lake. The trail was wet in many places with a few muddy spots. The brush and branches that had overgrown the trail were now dead and the walking was much easier but some still hung in the path. This reminded me that I should call my maintainer for this trail to see if he intended to work on it. The small streams that cross the trail had some water in them. Sheila was happy to be out and ran ahead and then returned to us. Mostly she was happy to walk along between us. I began to remove small branches from the trail and moved one larger one. I stopped for a moment to take some pictures of Cradle Rock Ridge on the other side of the lake. There was also an old beaver lodge near the shore and I took some pictures.

We continued on the trail and we crossed the bridges on the trail near the head end of the lake. I could see the beaver dam that impounded some water from the inlet streams was still intact. I stopped to take pictures of the dam and the water behind it. We continued on the trail toward the junction with the Millbrook Ridge Trail. At the point where a path leads to the left to some primitive campsite, a large tree that had fallen across the trail was still lying on the ground. We were able to step over them but it was not easy. I could cut them with my hand tools but it would take a long time! I made a note to call the local ranger to see if we could schedule a time to remove them with a chainsaw. At the trail junction, we turned left to head toward the lean-to on the Millbrook Ridge Trail. The trail was wet in some places and muddy in quite a few areas. Fortunately, the trail showed more use than I had expected and was relatively clear of blowdowns and branches. There were a few small blowdowns which I removed from the trail. There were also some older and rotten trunks that I was able to move and this continued for the rest of the hike. I did find a few blowdowns that I had cut and a few more that should be cut. We crossed some streams that run across the trail and were now flowing nicely. Alder Creek had quite a bit of water and we could here it as it ran downstream over the rocks. The sunlight was sparkling off the water and the lack of leaves on the trees allowed us to get some great views. some of the large, older blowdowns which had been across the trail had been cleared. The trail is pretty obvious and the blazes easy to see in most places. For the next 1.5 miles the trail climbed and then leveled off several times. The elevation gain is several hundred feet but the grade is never more than 12% and averages around 6%. There isn't too much to see along the way but this day was very pleasant because of the temperature and my mood.

The trail leveled off at the first beaver meadow and I decided to walk out to the edge of the meadow to take some pictures. The meadow was larger than I had thought. I returned to the trail and we crossed a small stream. Sheila took the time to get a drink and splash in the water. At 2.2 miles we began the last climb and I found that the going was easier than I thought it would be. Cindy on the other hand was getting tired and wanted to stop and wait for me. I encouraged her and she continued to walk. As we started the climb, we came across a few more blowdowns. Soon we arrived at the beaver pond. Where there had once been a beaver meadow, there was now a pond with a dam and a beaver lodge. The pond was lower than the last time I had visited but still occupied the entire meadow. As we came to the spot on the trail opposite the beaver dam, I walked off the trail to the right and found a good viewpoint. I took pictures of the pond and the dam which I thought would be good as there were reflections in the pond. I also took some shots of the beaver lodge with the lean-to in the background. As I looked around I was overcome by the feeling of joy at seeing what God has created! I realized that the return trip would be much easier as it was almost all downhill. Cindy had walked along the shore of the pond to a big rock where she had seated herself for a snack. I sat down beside her and ate a bar and had a drink. It was 11:45 AM and it had taken us 1 hour and 40 minutes to get to the pond. Sheila decided to take a swim and then come shake herself off next to us. After we got a drink and a snack, Sheila began zooming around us and jumping over us. At 11:55 AM, we decided we would turn around and return to the car. We walked out to the main trail and turned left and started back to the parking area. The walk was all downhill or flat so it did go quickly. It also helped that I was not taking any pictures! We were soon at the loop trail around Alder Lake where we turned right to return the way we came.

We crossed the bridges and found an open view of Cradle Rock Ridge. We continued on the trail toward the parking area. We walked up the hill toward the ruins of the lodge and then toward the parking area. As we approached the parking area, I noted that it had taken only 70 minutes to walk back to the parking area. I decided I had just enough time to walk down to Alder Creek to visit the waterfalls and take some pictures. Cindy went to the car while Sheila and I turned left on the path that leads down to the spring and then right to walk downstream along the creek. I stopped when we came to the first small waterfall. I got out my camera and walked to the flat rocks along the streambed. I took some pictures of the rapids upstream and then walked a little farther downstream. I was able to get some shots of a small falls and one that is about 10 feet tall. I went back to my pack, stowed the camera and walked back up the bank to one of the woods roads. We walked downstream on the woods road until I found a path that I knew led down to the stream. We walked down the path to a viewpoint over the highest falls which drops about 20 feet. There was plenty of water flowing in the creek and the lighting was not too bad. I took a number of pictures including some of a smaller falls below the main one. When I was done, I decided it was time to go back to the car. We walked back up the path to the woods road and followed it back to the path and the parking area. We were back at the car at 1:20 PM after hiking 5.0 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes with 30 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 800 feet. Our moving speed was 2 MPH.

On Monday, April 22nd I planned to get out for a hike but found that a member of Highland EMS would be at our building to respond to calls for their EMT class. I changed my plans, met with the EMT student and gave her a tour of our rigs. I waited around the rest of the day for a call and, fortunately, we got one a little after 1300. After returning from the call, I reviewed it with the student and we both left the building. I had almost given up on taking a walk but decided I would go across the street to hike on Round Top. At 4:15 PM I began to get ready with the temperature at 60 degrees on the back porch with partly sunny skies. As I began to get ready, Sheila was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed as she would hike every day. Sheila often examines and sniffs my clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer due to the warm temperature. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I did decide to wear my Mammut hoody as I did not like many of the lighter jackets I have. The hoody has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did not bother with a hat or gloves. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did not put on gaiters as I knew there would be no snow, ice or mud. I took my cell phone with me because even though I planned to hike quickly, I was pretty sure I was the only EMT around to respond. At 4:30 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about a little over an hour and complete two figure 8's. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I let Sheila off her leash so I could use my poles and did stop not on the way to the top of the hill. I could really feel that I had been hiking more consistently. At the top we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. The skies were a mixture of clouds and sun. We continued the hike by turning left at the trailhead. The trail was covered in leaves and damp in some places.

We passed by all the places where I had cut trees to remove them from the trail. At the first trail junction, I said "Right" and followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a number of small branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail. It was a pleasure to walk on the trails and it was obvious more people were using them. At the end of the woods road, we turned left up the hill on the trail. I could see the frame and tarps that covered the mouth of one of the "caves". It looked like someone had cleaned up the area and might be using it again. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail where we turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We came to the next junction with the blue trail and turned right to head up the blue trail toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. As we walked over the high point, I removed a couple of branches from the trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail again and continued down to the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top toward the next junction with the blue trail. At the next junxtion, we turned left and started slightly downhill toward the lookout over town. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued downhill.

When we reached the lookout, we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and walked down the hill to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and started back up the trail. I could feel that I was out of shape but I did not have to stop to get up the hill. We ignored the trail to the lower lookout and followed the yellow trail. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed uphill toward the junction with the blue trail. We hiked up a short but steep little hill and arrived at the trail junction. We turned right to follow the trail along the base of Round Top. We again passed under the blowdown and arrived at the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left to start the walk up the blue trail toward the summit. I was going to simply continue over the summit but Sheila had other ideas. Sheila turned left on the white crossover trail as if she wanted to make sure I inspected it. We continued to walk along the white trail until it met the main blue trail on the other side of the hill. There were no blowdowns blocking the trail. We turned left and left again on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed the switchback out into the forest and then back to the main trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where a left turn again took us along the base of Round Top and under the blowdown on the trail. At the junction, Sheila and I turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road. We followed the woods road downhill with the ledges to the right. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked downhill and crossed the parking lot to the road. We waited to cross the road as several cars went by and then crossed to the driveway to the house. It was 5:40 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes. It was a pleasant hike and there had been no ambulance calls!

On Saturday, April 20th I was awakened by a morning ambulance call. When I went to sleep, it was still raining but when I woke up the rain had stopped and there was some sun along with clouds. When I returned home, I decided to go across the street and hike on Round top since I could still respond on calls. I began to get ready with the temperature at 53 degrees on the back porch. As I began to get ready, Sheila was running around barking at my every move as we had not been out for four days due to rain and other commitments. Sheila often examines and sniffs my clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt but without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned my Mammut hoody for the pockets I needed to stow some gear. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I decided I did not need a hat or gloves. I brought along my phone in case there were any calls. At 11:30 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about a little over an hour and complete two figure 8's. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. The parking lot was packed with cars even though it was not Sunday. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. I released Sheila from her leash so I could use my poles effectively. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I did not have to stop once on the way to the top of the hill and the trip went quickly. At the top we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor.

We entered the woods at the trailhead and continued on to the first junction. The trail was damp and a little slippery in places. Sheila and I both seemed to have the same idea as I wanted to go straight up to the lookout and Sheila chose that path. Climbing the hill seemed easy but I did slip a few times. When we reached the top of the hill, we followed the yellow trail as it continued passed the upper part of the lookout. Where the trail turned right we followed it uphill passing through a large area of dead ferns. Some trees were showing what looked like buds which I took to be a sure sign of spring! We passed the sitting rock and continued uphill to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. As we walked the old woods road, I found several bushes and small trees hanging into the trail. I made a note to bring a set of loppers next time. I also noticed that many of the paint blazes need a touch up. As we continued to the next junction with the blue trail, we came to the spot where a medium sized birch tree had fallen across the trail. On our last trip I had removed this blowdown from the trail. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned right to climb the trail toward the summit. We passed by the white crossover trail and continued over the summit. We started down the other side slipping a little and bypassing the white trail. We did turn left on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed it out into the woods and back again to the blue trail farther down the hill. We turned left on the main blue trail and walked downhill until we were back at the junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and again walked along the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and started to walk down the trail to the woods road. Sheila and I started down the woods road at a quick pace passing another blowdown that had been lying across the trail. This larger blowdown I had also removed on our previous trip.

When we reached the first trail junction, I debated not doing another figure 8 as I was teaching a CPR course at 2:00 PM and wanted to go home to take a shower. I decided I wanted to get a little more exercise! We turned around and started back up the woods road we had just descended. We set a faster pace up the woods road and turned left to stay on the yellow trail as the woods road ended. At the junction with the blue trail we turned left to stay on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We walked passed by the fallen birch tree and passed by some bushes that were still hanging into the trail. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and began to ascend the hill. We turned right where the switchback led us out into the forest and then back to the main blue trail. We turned right and headed for the summit but immediately turned right om the white crossover trail. We walked along the trail checking for blowdowns and brush in the trail. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned right and headed down the other side. At the base of the hill we turned right on the yellow trail and again walked along the base of Round Top to the second junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and headed down the yellow trail toward the lookout. At the viewpoint where the yellow trail turned left we followed it and walked down the hill to the very first trail junction. We continued to walk straightahead out to the trailhead where we turned right. I put Shiela on her leash and we walked downhill to the road behind the church. We walked out through the parking lot and across the street to our driveway. We were back home at 12:30 PM after hiking just over 2 miles in 1 hour.

On Thursday, March 14th, I wanted to get out for a short hike near home for the exercise and for the relaxation. I also knew that the forecast was for rain later in the week. I thought about going to the Beaverkill Campgrounds to see the level of the water in the stream after the recent rains. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she agreed. As we started to get ready at 12:00 PM the temperature was 58 degrees on the back porch with sunny skies and some puffy white clouds. As usual, Sheila was excited but was trying to be the "good dog". I got dressed in my Mammut crew top but decided against a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned my Mammut hoody for the pockets I needed to stow some gear. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a light hat and took a pair of light knitted gloves which I knew I probably not need. I brought along my phone but resolved to leave it in the car as there is no service in the area anyway. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and we left the house at 12:20 PM. I drove out Old Route 17 toward Roscoe and turned right on Beaverkill Road. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. There was one car parked in the lot as I pulled in and parked. A glance at the river showed that the level was as high as it had been this year. The sandy beach was barely visible and the rock I usually stand on to take pictures was under a considerable amount of water.

We started our hike at 12:35 PM by walking out of the parking lot to the bridge with the temperature at 56 degrees. The bridge that had been closed after a car hit it and did some damage was now open. When we got to the other side, I looked at the trail and saw that it was completely bare but had some water running down and across the bottom of hill. We turned left on a woods road that parallels the river and started down the short hill. I had decided to take some pictures on the way out so when we got to the spring house on the right I stopped and got out the camera. I took some shots of the spring house and then turned my attention to the small stream that ran from it into the river. This shallow stream was covered in duck weed which was a bright green. I took several pictures at different zooms before packing up to cointinue the hike. When we got to the first culvert, I followed a path down to the edge of the stream. I took some pictures upstream catching the bridge and the white water of the rapids which were very pronounced. I took a few more shots with different zooms. I also took some pictures downstream and one of the water coming out of the culvert. When I was done, I packed away the camera and walked up to the woods road. We continued on the deserted woods road. We could hear the river and see the whitecaps on the water. I looked up to see a hiker coming toward us with his dog. We both paused to put our dogs on leashes and then passed by each other. Even though the landscape was bleak the sunlight and blue skies added an interesting dimension. The whole area had a serene feel enhanced by the sound of the flowing water. On the trail we passed by several areas with picnic tables. TheSe tables sit unused and rotting along the road, a testimony to better days when this area had camping areas. Now this area is used for day use. We walked by more tables which had not been used in years. A little later we came to what was once a bathroom for some campsites that had long since disappeared. There were more tables in this area. We stopped and I walked to the stream where rocks had been piled up and contained by wire screen. I walked to the edge and stood on some rocks to take more pictures of the stream in both directions. Sheila came over and stood on the wall next to me. The rapids in this area were really pronounced and the sunlight was playing off the water. I returned to the picnic table where I left my pack and took a few shots of the bathroom and the woods road before we contiuned on the woods road. At about .7 miles into the hike the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites. I stopped to take some pictures of the campsites without any snow and with the lighting from the sun. We continued on the road through the campsites and along the river. Many of the campsites have a cement block fireplace with a grill but some were upgraded to poured concrete. Everything was very quiet except for the water in the river. This was not surprising as the campsites were closed. There were several trees that had been felled and bucked by state employees that maintian the campgrounds.

We walked along the paved road to the last campsite where the road ends and I walked down to the edge of the river. I was careful to watch where I was walking as I did not want to slip into the cold water. Sheila decided it was warm enough to take a swim! I tried to get a few shots of her in the water. I stopped to take some pictures of the river especially downstream. When Sheila came out of the water, she did not seem to be cold but did start to run around. We continued a little further passed the last campsite and walked a path along the river. I took some shots downstream where the river turned to the left. The water was very clear with a pronounced greenish tint from looking through to the bottom. As we walked back passed the last campsite, we continued on the campsite road toward the last bathroom. When the road split, we stayed to the left to walk the parallel section of road back through the campsites. This road parallels the one we walked out on to make a sort of loop. We stopped near the end of the road where it starts up to the Berry Brook Road. I wanted to explore the area along the ridge that parallels the road. It was clear to me that Cindy did not want to go on an adventure so we continued along the woods road. This had happened before so I knew that if I was going to explore it would have to be when Cindy was not with me. We returned the way we had come although at a quicker pace. We continued our hike and I began to look to the left where the land rose out of the valley to a ridge. I could see that the land leveled off part of the way up and then started up again. I had walked up a path to this area on a previous hike and had no intention of trying it again as I was looking for something new. I had wanted to start further back but will save that for another time. We passed the spring house on the main campsite road. We walked up the hill to the road and turned right to walk through the bridge. At the end of the bridge, we turned right to head back to the car. Cindy got in the car and I stowed my poles and my pack. I got out the camera and Sheila and I walked over to the river. It was hard to find a place to stand to take pictures. We worked our way across a finger of the stream to a spit of land near the rock where I normally stand. I took pictures downstream where the rapids were really rolling. When I was done, we took a different route back to the car. We were back at the car at 1:50 PM having hiked 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes with plenty of stopped time for pictures. The car's thermometer read 58 degrees.

On Tuesday, April 9th I planned to get out to trim some trees on Round Top and the Parksville Rail Trail. At 12:30 PM I began to get ready with the temperature at 76 degrees on the back porch with sunny skies. I knew the actual temperature would be lower as the sensor on the back porch is in the sun. I decided I would take Sheila with me and asked Cindy if she would like to come to help me trim the trees. I was a little surprised when she was not interested since we had a good time the last time we worked together. As I began to get ready, Sheila was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed as she would hike every day. Sheila often examines and sniffs my clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer due to the warm temperature. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I did decide to wear my Mammut hoody as I did not like any of the lighter jackets I have. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a light hat but did not take any gloves. I decided not to take any hiking poles as I would be carrying an ax and saws. I did put on gaiters as I thought there might be some mud. I took my cell phone with me because even though I planned to hike quickly, I was pretty sure I was the only EMT around to respond. I put my Silky Sugowaza in my pack and brought my Fiskars ax which I had just sharpened. At 1:00 PM we walked out the door and to the car where I put Sheila in the back seat and my pack and ax in the back of the car. I drove out the driveway and turned right and then left to head up Orchard Street to the trailhead at the top of the cemetery. I grabbed Sheila's leash, my pack and the ax from my car and started the hike by walking up the steps at the trailhead. The trail was covered in leaves but there was no snow or mud.

We passed by all the places where I had cut trees to remove them from the trail. At the first trail junction, I said "Right" and followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a number of small branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail. It was a pleasure to walk on the trails and it was obvious more people were using them. Just before we reached the end of the woods road, we came to a medium-sized trunk across the trail. I put my pack down and retrieved the camera to take my "before" pictures. After this I unsheathed the axe and removed a few small branches from the trunk before getting down to work. I used the ax to cut off the top of tree well off the right side of the trail. I went over to the left side of the trail and marked a spot on the trunk. Just before I began my cut a couple who were hiking passed by and thanked me for the work. The woman wanted to pet Sheila but I declined the offer. I began my cut with making sure it was wide enough to bet the job done. The relatively soft birch trunk cut easily and was was soon on my last swing. Once the trunk hit the ground, the remaining part of the job was to get the long piece of trunk off the trail. I was able to roll it and lift it a little and got it off the trail with out too much effort. I took some "after" shot and then packed up to continue on the trail to the next blowdown. We continued up the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. I could see the frame and tarps that covered the mouth of one of the "caves". They were looking like someone had cleaned up the area and might be using it again. I thought I might ask the Town Board if they wanted the eyesore removed from public alnd. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail where we turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top.

We soon ran into a medium-sized tree that had fallen across the trail in one of the wind storms. It was another birch but was up in the air and not lying on the ground. I knew this would mean using the saw rather than the ax. I took some "before" pictures amd then got to work. I used the saw to cut the top out if the tree. I made two cuts and dragged the two large branches well off the trail. I went to the butt end of the tree on the left side of the trail and decided where I could make make a cut. I wanted to make sure I cleared the trail but that I also left a small enough section of trunk that I could move. Again the cut went quickly and the section of trunk fell to the ground. I found it light enough to pick up and move off the trail. I took some "after" shots and then packed up. O decided we would complete a small loop so we continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the junction with the blue trail we turned left to follow the yellow trail. We walked downhill and passed the "Sitting Rock". At the overlook we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and continued down the steep hill to the next trail junction. We walked out to the trailhead and the car. I put my pack and ax in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. I decided we had time to do some work on the Parksville Rail Trail. There were a couple branches I could cut but there were also some larger trunks that would need a chainsaw. At 1:50 PM, I drove down the cemetery hill and out Orchard Street to Rock Avenue. I turned left and left again on Old Route 17. I continued on Route 17 and then turned left on Service Road and drove to the parking area just after Fox Mountain Road. I pulled into the lot where there where no other cars were parked.

We started out on the trail at 2:00 PM with the temperature at 75 degrees. The first part of the trail was dry as it was in the direct sunlight. Once we entered the trees the temperature dropped some. The trail was drier than a few days before which made the walking easier. It wasn't long before we came to a small tree draped over the trail. I took some "before" shots and then assessed what I would do. It was pretty obvious that I could use the saw to section off the tree. I cut the top out and dragged it off the trail to the left. I went to the standing trunk and cut it again on the right side of the trail. I was able to elevate the section I cut so that I could throw it over the fence. I took some "after" pictures and then packed up to move on. We negotiated some muddy and wet part of the trails. We came to the point where there is a view just before the wooden walkways and bridge. I decided not to stop on we continued on toward the falls. When we came to the large trunk across the trail caused by a mudslide, I again assessed the size of the blowdown and made a note to call the Town of Liberty Supervisor to see if he could get someone to cut these trunks with a chainsaw. I did take a few minutes to move some section of another old trunk that had been frozen into the ground. We continued a little farther and found another large trunk that would be easier to get with a chainsaw. As we continued toward the falls, I looked up to see a man walking toward us. I took Sheila off the side of the trail while the man passed with a "Hello". Just after this point there was another branch in the trail. I took pictures and then made two cuts to remove the branch. I dragged the two pieces off the trail, took some shots and packed up. I decided we would continue on to the falls and then head back. The walk went quickly and we were soon at the falls. The falls were flowing freely but the water looked clearer than last time. I did not feel like walking down to the streambed so I took some pictures from above. We turned around and started back setting a quick pace. I only stopped to take a few shots down to the stream. As we approached the parking area, we met the man we had seen before. We passed each other and Sheila and I headed to the car. We were back by 3:00 PM. As I drove home I felt good that I had spent 2 hours walking and clearing some trails for others.

On Monday, April 8th I planned to get out for a hike nearby before the solar eclipse occurred in the afternoon. At 10:15 AM I began to get ready with the temperature at 65 degrees on the back porch with partly sunny skies. I knew the actual temperature would be lower as the sensor on the back porch is in the sun. I decided I would take Sheila across the street to Round Top to hike. As we began to get ready, Sheila was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed as she would hike every day. Sheila often examines and sniffs my clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer due to the warm temperature. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I did decide to wear my Mammut hoody as I did not like mammy of the lighter jackets I have. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a light hat but did not take any gloves. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did not out on gaiters as I knew there would be no snow, ice or mud. I took my cell phone with me because even though I planned to hike quickly, I was pretty sure I was the only EMT around to respond. At 11:35 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about a little over an hour and complete two figure 8's. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I did not on the way to the top of the hill. I could really feel that I had been hiking more consistently. The hill was completely devoid of snow and ice. At the top we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. I could not see any snow on any of the surrounding hills. The skies were a mixture of clouds and sun. We continued the hike by turning left at the trailhead. The trail was covered in leaves but there was no snow or mud.

We passed by all the places where I had cut trees to remove them from the trail. At the first trail junction, I said "Right" and followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a number of small branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail. It was a pleasure to walk on the trails and it was obvious more people were using them. Just before we reached the end of the woods road, There was a medium-sized trunk across the trail. I lifted another smaller trunk off the trail but knew I would have to return with tools for the larger one. We turned left up the hill on the trail. I could see the frame and tarps that covered the mouth of one of the "caves". They were looking like someone had cleaned up the area and might be using it again. I thought I might ask the Town Board if they wanted the eyesore removed from public alnd. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail where we turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We soon ran into a mdium-sized tree that had fallen across the trail in one of the wind storms. It would need tools to remove it but should not be much of a problem. I began to think about completing one figure 8 and going home to get the tools. In the end, I decided to wait until another day to remove it. We came to the next junction with the blue trail and turned right to head up the blue trail toward the summit. This trail also lacked any snow. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. As we walked over the high point, I removed a couple of branches from the trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. On this side of the hill there was also no snow on the trail and it was essentially dry. We bypassed the white crossover trail again and continued down to the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top toward the next junction with the blue trail. We ducked under the tress across the trail and continued our hike. At the next junxtion, we turned left and started slightly downhill toward the lookout over town. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued downhill.

When we reached the lookout, we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and walked down the hill to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and started back up the trail. I could feel that I was out of shape but I did not have to stop to get up the hill. We ignored the trail to the lower lookout and followed the yellow trail. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed uphill toward the junction with the blue trail. We hiked up a short but steep little hill and arrived at the trail junction. We turned right to follow the trail along the base of Round Top. We again passed under the blowdown and arrived at the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left to start the walk up the blue trail toward the summit. I was going to simply continue over the summit but Sheila had other ideas. Sheila turned left on the white crossover trail as if she wanted to make sure I inspected it. We continued to walk along the white trail until it met the main blue trail on the other side of the hill. There were no blowdowns blocking the trail. We turned left and left again on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed the switchback out into the forest and then back to the main trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where a left turn again took us along the base of Round Top and under the blowdown on the trail. At the junction, Sheila and I turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road. We followed the woods road downhill with the ledges to the right. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked downhill and crossed the parking lot to the road. We waited to cross the road as several cars went by and then crossed to the driveway to the house. It was 12:45 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles and done some trail maintenance in 1 hour and 10 minutes. It was a pleasant hike and there had been no ambulance calls!

On Saturday, April 6th, I wanted to get in a hike after several days of poor weather and ambulance calls! I wasn't sure there was another EMT available but I knew I had to get out for my own health. I decided to just go to Parksville and hike the rail trail even though it is under three miles out and back. I thought the stream might be high due to the recent rain which would make the falls interesting. By the time I started to get ready at 12:15 PM the temperature was right around 43 degrees on the back porch but a stiff breeze was blowing. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and she agreed. As we were getting dressed, Sheila alternated between us so she could keep an eye on both of us. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. This combination is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned my Mammut hoody to block the breezy and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a light hat and light knitted gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I thought there would be a mixture of ice, water amd mud on the trail. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 12:40 PM and drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville. Just after Fox Mountain Road, I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road. There was one car parked in the lot and another sitting in the middle of the lot with its engine running! I took my phone with me so that I could respond on an ambulance call if I had to. We started out on the trail at 1:00 PM under overcast skies with some sun amd a slight breeze blowing.

The first part of the trail was free of ice and snow but was damp and soft. Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was a little cooler and the trail was about as I expected with some snow, some water and some mud. I was surprised that there seemed to be less water and mud than during our last trip. In a short distance we looked up to see a male runner coming toward us. I took Sheila by her collar and we stepped off the trail as the runner went by. We continued our hike and began removing many small to medium sized branches off the trail. Once again we looked up to see a female runner coming toward us and once again I stepped off the trail with Sheila. The runner passed with a "Hello" and we continued on our way. Several times we walked in the water where the ground was firmer. As we walked, I considered my hiking plan. I had thought we would hike out and back on the rail trail but now the trail conditions had made me think we might hike a loop returning by the road. The rail trail runs parallel to the Little Beaverkill and the new section of State Route 17. It follows the route of the O&W railroad and is very flat. The water level in the stream was not quite as high as the last time we had hiked along the trail. We passed several benches placed for people to rest in warmer weather. I stopped at the area just before the wooden walkways and bridge but decided there was nothing different or more interesting than on many trips before. I was not surprised that the walkways were free of ice and snow but they were still slippery. There was some ice before and after the bridge but we wer able to walk around it. There was a new tree down across the trail which could be removed with hand tools. A little further along another tree was leaning over the trail. It was larger and at an angle that would make it harder to remove. We came to the tree I had trimmed to allow hikers to pass. I wanted to clear the trunk itself but decided it would need a chainsaw. We hopped over the trunk and immediately ran into two other smaller trunks across the trail. We continued on the trail heading toward the falls. There was one more small tree across the trail which we easily walked around. As we walked, we could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls was just ahead. When we got to the falls, I could see that the trail to the bottom of the falls was clear of any snow or ice. Sheila and I walked over to the path down to the streambed and began the descent. Cindy decided to sit on the picnic bench at the top and wait for us. At the bottom I put my pack down and took out my camera. I took shots downstream and directly in front of me where the water was very clear. I then turned my attention upstream to the falls. I took shots encompassing the entire scene and then several close-ups of the main falls and the rapids below it. I like the noise of the falls and the volume of water which exude power but also bring me peace. When I was finished, I packed up and walked back up the path to the trail where I met Cindy and Sheila. I took some more pictures of the falls from above and upstream. I packed up my camera and we continued on the trail.

We met two women hiking toward us and we passed with a greeting. It was Saturday but the weather was not the best but it was nice to see some people. Soon we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail passing some rundown and dilapidated buildings which should be removed. Several of the buildings showed that work had been done on them. On the Parksville end of the trail we found the small garden and a very informative sign. We also had to endure the pack of barking dogs that always greets us. The owner came out but as usual the dogs ignored him! The sign listed the businesses and hotels that existed in Parksville during its heyday. The Young's Gap Hotel had room for 600 guests! The sign also explained the role of the railroad in the dairy industry which was a thriving one in all of Sullivan County. After a brief pause, we walked the rest of the rail trail to the Main Street where we turned left. There are many interesting buildings along a short stretch of street but most are unoccupied and crumbling. There are a few residences and one small home had a Tesla in the driveway charging with no garage in sight. When we got to the access road, we passed the Dead End Café which brought back memories of when it was a thriving business. An OPEN sign still hung in the window. We turned left and walked on a gravel path that paralleled the road. We passed what was once the synagogue but is now the Parksville Arts Center with a Star of David on the front! The path continued to a parking area and then exited the other side. We continued on this path passing the building which once held Memories where I had bought several items at auction. The path ended in another parking area so we had to walk the shoulder of the road to get back to our car. There was almost no traffic on the road and the shoulder was wide and the drivers considerate. We arrived back at the car at 2:25 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 and 25 minutes. My phone had not sounded meaning there had been no ambulance calls.

On Thursday, April 4th I was awakened by an early morning ambulance call. When I went to sleep, it was still raining but when I woke up there was snow on the ground! I had to clear 3 inches of snow off my car and make my way down the drive way to respond. When we arrived on the scene, there was no patient and we teetered to base. By 10:00 AM things had calmed down and I decided to go across the street and hike on Round top since I could still respond on calls. I wanted to take some pictures of the snow that had fallen. I began to get ready with the temperature at 35 degrees on the back porch amd light snow still falling. I knew that was the temperature climbed the snow would start falling off the trees. This makes for poor photographic conditions and a shower of "snow bombs" dropping on the trail while hiking. I decided to take my pack so that I could carry my camera and because it adds weight making the hike more challenging. As we began to get ready, Sheila was running around barking at my every move. Sheila often examines and sniffs my clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt but without a baselayer. This might mean I would be a little cool at the beginning of the hikes but it also meant I would not be dripping in sweat climbing the hills. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. I decided to put on my old Salomon b52 winter boots which I have worn for many seasons. I noticed that they were dry and needed a coat of waterproofing. I wore my OR Crocodile gaiters to keep the snow out of my shoes. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did decide to wear my Mammut hoody to block the breeze and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a fleecy hat and a pair of light gloves. I brought along my phone in case there were any calls. At 11:35 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway which was not shoveled or plowed. I aimed to hike for about a little over an hour and complete two figure 8's. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. The parking lot was partly occupied by a dump truck, trailer and back hoe. I wondered why the equipment was parked there. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. I released Sheila from her leash so I could use my poles effectively. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." The hill was completely covered in untouched snow. I was sad that no kids had been out to sled on the hill and no one else had decided to take a walk. I did not have to stop once on the way to the top of the hill and the trip went quickly. At the top we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. I took out my camera and took shots of the snow both near and far. The snow that was still falling made it difficult to get good pictures. The snow was wet and was beginning to wet my pack and jacket.

We entered the woods at the trailhead and continued on to the first junction. Sheila and I both seemed to have the same idea as I wanted to go straight up to the lookout and Sheila chose that path. Climbing the hill seemed easy but I did slip a few times. I noticed that there were boot prints and paw prints in the snow and I was happy that someone had enjoyed the walk with their dog. The snow had already started falling from the trees. When we reached the top of the hill, we detoured to the left and walked out to the lower lookout which was covered in snow over some ice below. I got out my camera and took pictures of the lookout and the shots of the school and the town below. I directed Sheila to go to the upper lookout but she was being very stubborn. Eventually she went up to the ledge and posed for some pictures. I packed up my camera amd walked back out to the main yellow trail where we turned left to walk to the upper lookout. Where the trail turned right we followed it uphill through a winter wonderland. All the trees were covered in snow and I love walking in snow that no one else as touched. The boot and paw prints had only gone as far as the lookout! We passed the sitting rock which was piled high with the white stuff. We continued uphill to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. I stopped to take some picture of the snow hanging on the bushes. As we walked the old woods road, I found several bushes and small trees hanging into the trail. I used my poles to knock the snow off and many of the branches rebounded.

As we continued to the next junction with the blue trail, we came to a medium sized birch tree that had fallen across the trail. I took a few shots and it was clear the tree could be removed, with some effort, using hand tools. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned right to climb the trail toward the summit. We passed by the white crossover trail and continued over the summit which was also beautiful with trees encased in snow. We started down the other side slipping a little and bypassing the white trail. We did turn left on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed it out into the woods and back again to the blue trail farther down the hill. We turned left on the main blue trail and walked downhill until we were back at the junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and again walked along the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and started to walk down the trail to the woods road. Sheila and I started down the woods road at a quick pace but came to another blowdown lying on the trail. This one was larger in diameter than the previous one but had fewer branches. This one could also be removed with hand tools. When we reached the first trail junction, I debated not doing anither figure 8 but knew I would not take any pictures so the walk would be quicker. We turned around and started back up the woods road we had just descended. We set a faster pace up the woods road and turned left to stay on the yellow trail as the woods road ended. At the junction with the blue trail we turned left to stay on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We walked under the fallen birch tree and passed by some bushes that were still hanging into the trail. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and began to ascend the hill. We turned right where the switchback led us out into the forest and then back to the main blue trail. We turned right and headed for the summit passing by the white crossover trail. We walked over the summit and down the other side again passing the white trail. At the base of the hill we turned right on the yellow trail and again walked along the base of Round Top to the second junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and headed down the yellow trail toward the lookout. At the viewpoint where the yellow trail turned left we followed it and walked down the hill to the very first trail junction. We continued to walk straightahead out to the trailhead where we turned right. I put Shiela on her leash and we walked downhill to the road behind the church. We walked out through the parking lot and across the street to our driveway. We were back home at 12:55 PM after hiking almost 3 miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes.

On Saturday, March 30th I wanted to get out for a hike after a week of poor weather and ambulance calls. My son-in-law Brad was around for a few days and I thought we might go to Frick Pond and cut two blowdowns that had been reported. We responded to an early morning ambulance call and returned home to get some breakfast. We I started to get ready at 11:00 AM with the temperature at 43 degrees and a stiff breeze blowing. The skies were blue with some nice white clouds. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a light long-sleeved baselayer as I knew it would be cooler at the trailhead. This combination is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which I thought would be warm enough despite the low temperature. They are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned my Mammut hoody to block the breezy and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a fleecy hat and took a pair of light knitted gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I thought there would be some water and mud on the trail. I put my Silky Sugowaza Sugowaza saw and Silky KatanaBoy 500 saw in my pack. The Sugowaza is a fixed blade in a scabbard and is great for branches and smaller trunks. The KatanaBoy has very large teeth and a lot of them and folds. I also brought my Fiskars ax which I knew Brad could carry. I put our gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and headed out the DeBruce Road at 1:25 PM. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. There was one car parked in the larger lot as I pulled into the smaller parking area.

We got ready to hike and started out at 11:35 AM. We walked out the woods road to the Quick Lake Trail at the trail register. The woods road was damp and muddy in spots. Looking ahead we could see that the trail from the register was very wet and muddy in many places. We could also see a couple with a spirited dog on a leash trying to pick their way along the muddy trail. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked at a pace to get by the other hikers and their dog. As we passed, we greeted each other as their dog barked its head off. Brad and I kept up the pace working around or through the mud and water. When we got to Gravestone junction we headed right on the Loggers Loop to find the first blowdown. This trail was a little less muddy and there were no larger pools of water. Within a few hundred feet we came to the primitive campsites on the left. There was a large branch from an even larger tree that had fallen across the trail effectively blocking it. Hikers had been walking around it but I hoped we could remove all of it from the trail. I put my pack down and took out the camera to take some "before" pictures of the mess before us. We walked up to the blowdown and started to form a plan. We first hauled away all the loose branches and when we were done it already looked better. I used the Sugowaza to cut some of the smaller branches to expose the rest of the large branches. Brad and I dragged what I had cut. What remained were the main branch and some slightly smaller ones. As we were deciding what to do next, the couple with their dog appeared. It seemed they wren't sure what to do but the decided too stay on the trail and walk passed us. At least they walked off the trail and did not walk through our workspace or under anything we were cutting. Most people usually say "Thank you when they see people clearing the trail for them but these two were silent.

We decided to use the KatanaBoy to cut one of the higher branches that was not supporting anything else. Brad used the bigger saw and quickly cut away the branch which I dragged away. We decided to cut the largest branch toward the top and Brad made a cut that was done in seconds. Brad made another cut of the larger diameter main branch. We had to be careful as I had not brought along any wedges to free the saws if they started to bind. I usually make a cut from the top down and then remove the saw and make a cut up from the bottom. Brad's approached was to cut so fast that the saw ahd no chance to bind! As he finished the cut the branch rotated but we were able to avoid getting hit. The rest of the main branch collapsed against the trunk of the trail. We dragged the section that was Brad had cut away. At his point another hiker approached and walked around our work without a word of thanks or greeting! I guess people don't understand that the trails are maintained by volunteers for the use of others! That left a few smaller branches to cut and remove. When we were done, we put away the tools and I took a few "after" pictures of the now clear trail. It appeared that it had never been blocked! We walked along the trail clearing a few branches and small trunks here and there. We hot the highest point on that section of trail and started down a long hill to Times Square. This part of the trail was muddy in may posts with some standing water. As we approached Times Square, we could Se the couple and their dog at the trail junction. They hadn't gotten very far and seemed to be wondering where they should go next. I put Sheila on her leash again as the couple tried to get their dog off the trail. The dog kpet barking as loudly as possible as we turned right and headed up the Big Rock Trail. I released Sheila from her leash which allowed me to more effectively use my poles as we climbed up the hill.

We started up the Big Rock Trail and the initial part slowed me down some. After I adjusted my breathing, the climb was easier. We made it to the top of the first climb where the trail faltered out a little. Up ahead we could see one small trunk across the trail followed by a much larger trunk with several branches. We stepped over the small trunk and walked to the larger blowdown. I took some "before" shots of the blowdown before we started to work. We cleared out some of the loose banches and cut a few small trees that were in the way. I used the small saw to cut the top out of the tree leaving only the larger trunks. The largest trunk was well supported on the butt end with the part over the trail just hanging in midair. Brad used the KatanaBoy to cut a section off the top of trunk. All I contributed was some downward pressure. The section quickly dropped to the ground and just as quickly Brad had it off to the side of the trail. Brad then picked a spot further up the trunk which was 8 or 10 inches in diameter and applied the saw. This cut took a little longer but not much. That section dropped to the ground and Brad maneuvered it off the trail. There was still a piece of another trunk sticking out into the trail so Brad cut that piece off. This time flipped the piece off the trail and we were done. I took some quick shots of the trail we had just cleaned. We walked down to the trail to the small trunk and I took some pictures. I grabbed the ax and cut the top off the trail. Brad was able to picot what I had cut off the trail. We were done so I snapped a few "after" pictures. I packed everything up and we started back down the Big Rock Trail to Times Square. As we descended the last part of the hill, we could see a family was occupying most of Times Square. I put Sheila on her leash as I intended to walk across the trail junction and stay on the Big Rock Trail. As we passed be the family, we exchanged greetings. The trail was wet in spots and muddy in others. We crossed the two bridges over the inlet streams and I pointed out to Brad how high the water was. We continued through the spruce tunnel which was completely bare. The last time I had been under these trees there was a layer of ice with more ice falling from the trees! We walked over the boardwalks which were clear of snow and ice. As we continued on the trail we ran into section of mud just before the junction with the Quick Lake Trail. We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and headed for the bridge at the outlet end of Frick Pond. The trail was damp and muddy but in better shape than on my last trip. We walked across the bridge and I decided not to stop for pictures. Next it was up the hill for a quick walk to Gravestone Junction to complete the loop. We headed back to the car on the Quick Lake Trail which seemed just a bit drier than on our trip out two hours earlier. As we walked back to the car on the woods road, I could see that there were now four cars parked in the smaller lot and four more in the large area. We had met more people than I had since the previous fall. We were back at 1:35 PM. Walking about 2.5 miles and working on two large blowdowns had taken about 2 hours. I like to think I can do as much work with hand saws and axes as with a chain saw. Everything can be cleared with hand tools but it usually takes more time.

On Monday, March 25th, I wanted to get out for a longer hike to continue my efforts to hike more frequently I had an overnight ambulance call and slept in until 8:30 AM. I knew that I was the only EMT available to answer calls but I also needed to take some time for myself and Sheila. Rather than travel too far I decided to go to Frick Pond and hike the Flynn Trail where I could hike some uphill miles. This would give me some choices of how far I wanted to hike and the route I would take. I also wanted to see if there were any trees that needed trimming to make hiking easier. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and was surprised when she said "Yes" as she generally does not like hills. I wanted to hike to the lookout by the cabin on the shoulder of Beech Mountain but knew Cindy would not like that much uphill hiking. As I started to get ready at 1:15 PM, the temperature on the back porch was 48 degrees with sunny skies! This was a far cry from the rain and cold weather over the weekend. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a light long-sleeved baselayer as I knew it would be cooler at the trailhead. This combination is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which I thought would be warm enough despite the low temperature. They are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned my Mammut hoody to block the breezy and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a fleecy hat and took a pair of light knitted gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I thought there would be some water and mud on the trail. I put our gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and headed out the DeBruce Road at 1:25 PM. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there was one car parked in the larger lot. I pulled into the smaller lot with Sheila acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she ran around and headed for the trail. The temperature was 46 degrees and the skies were blue with white clouds. We crossed the road and began our hike at 1:45 PM.

The Flynn Trail is sited along what used to be Beech Mountain Road which was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We walked the trail through the woods which was mostly damp with a little mud but no snow. We passed by several trees I had cut and removed from the trail. Some were cut with the help of local Ranger Eric Stratton. There was one new tree that had fallen across the trail which would require tools to remove. We continued on the Flynn Trail and turned right on the woods road and continued to set a good pace up the hill. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.7 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. It was obvious that a large volume of water had run down the trail during the weekend rain storms as their was a trench with many displaced ;eaves. We passed the hemlock that used to form a tunnel but was cleared by the DEC. The trail continued to be free of snow although we could see some in the woods especially in the shadows. I began to find some small branches on the trail which I removed. I also found some larger branches and trunks that had come down in the high winds of the recent storms. At one point I looked up to see couple hiking toward us. I escorted Sheila if the trail to allow the hikers to pass. They said "Hello" and I asked what route they had taken. They did not know the names of the trails but indicated they had come up the Big Rock Trail from Frick Pond. They told us there were no blowdowns and the trail was easy to walk. As we hiked Cindy noticed a road to the right of the trail and wondered if it led to the clearing further up the trail. I asked if whe would like to hike it and she agreed. I knew the road led up over the ledges that we usually pass by on the Flynn Trail and then came back down to the Flynn Trail. The road starts out clear of brush and blowdowns but quickly becomes obscured. We worked out way around and over the brush and blowdowns until we were near the highest point on the trail. I saw the stonework that supported the road which indicated it was not simply a wagon track through the forest but a constructed road. I pointed this out to Cindy and then walked off the road to take some pictures. When I was done, I walked back to the road and we continue up to the highest point on the road. I dropped my pack and took some sots of the ledges and rocks further up the ridge. I then walked out onto the large rock that forms a ledge that we see when hiking up the Flynn Trail. I took some picture of Sheila and some down to the Flynn Trail below. I finished up and packed away my camera and we walked the short downhill to the Flynn rail. We turned right and started up the trail. When we came to the area near the clearing to the right of the trail, we noticed the amount if snow had increased off the trail. I asked Cindy if she would like to walk up to the clearing but she declined. I noticed that I was very relaxed and decided I needed to get out more as the other things that I do can be stressful. Further up the trail, we did run across a few small trees across the trails and one very large one. I worked to remove some of the branches around the large blowdown to clear a path for hikers. We kept walking uphill and we were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. This junction was clear of snow but the forest floor off the trail was covered in snow in all four directions. Cindy noticed that the trail sign had been damaged and that it looked purposeful! I took some pictures of the sign to send to the forester. We turned left to walk down the Big Rock Trail where the layer of snow off trail continued for some time. The hike down the trail went well and more quickly than I expected. It was definitely easier than the uphill hike. This trail can be tricky as there are several levels that make it seem like the bottom of the hill. It definitely helped to have someone to talk to while hiking. We did run into a large blowdown with a good-sized trunk and many branches. The blowdown almost blocked the trail and would require tools to remove it. As we came to the bottom of the descent, the snow disappeared.

We were soon at Times Square and I thought about turning right to hike up and around the Logger's Loop to add some distance to our hike. Cindy did not like this idea and she turned left to hike the uphill Loggers Loop back to Gravestone Junction. She thought this would be easier in her hip! Sheila and I continued our hike by walking straight across Times Square to stay on the Big Rock Trail. The Big Rock Trail around the back of Frick Pond can be very wet, and this day was no exception. There was water, mud, and frozen water and mud in most place along the trail. We passed the very large blowdown which Ranger Stratton and I had cleared. As we headed for the two small bridges on the trail, we ran into a some ice and snow which made the trail very slippery for me. Sheila was having no problem with the ice and snow. We came to the two small bridges over the inlets to the pond and I decided to stop to take pictures. The water under the first bridge was backed up from the wetlands and was higher than it had been for some time. At first I attributed the height of the water to the recent rains but looking downstream I saw the outline of some beavers dam. I took pictures from several angles and with varying zooms. I took a picture of the second bridge which was completely covered in snow. I also took some shots upstream. The area under the second bridge had a stream fowling but the volume was lower. When we got to the area that was covered by tall evergreens, we again ran into a lot of ice on the trail. It was clear that the trees had been covered in ice which had fallen onto the trail. The wooden boardwalks had some ice and snow and continue to show wear with many boards loose and other beginning to rot. Much of the boardwalk now "floats" in midair as the supports are rotting. I did not stop to take pictures and continued the hike.

The rest of the trail was free from snow to the trail junction but the trail was very muddy in many places. At the next trail junction we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. A glance to the right and I could see the trail was open and free of blowdowns. Cindy and I had cleared some blowdowns on the last trip and no more had fallen in this area. As we walked along the west side of Frick Pond to the bridge across the outlet of the pond, there was a some snow and ice as the trail is shaded by trees and bushes. The small stream that exist in this area were swollen and running with a high volume of water. We crossed the bridge and I put down my pack and got out the camera. I took shots of the pond and of Beech Mountain from different angles. I also took some pictures of Sheila on the bridge. When I was done, I packed up the camera and started up the hill toward Gravestone Junction. The hill was covered in ice forcing me to the sides of the trail. At the top, we continued along the trail to Gravestone Junction. The junction is named for the memorial near the junction for a tragedy involving the Lobdells. The father of this family was the caretaker for the Frick popery and the family lived in a cabin along what is now the Quick Lake Trail. One night the cabin caught fire. The parents were able to get out but their two children were trapped inside and died in the flames. I wondered where Cindy might be but assumed she had made it back to the car while I was taking a slightly longer path. I heard a dog barking and a voice yelling at the dog to come back. The dog did not pay attention and soon came into view. When he saw me, he stopped and then turned around and went back to his master. I did not bring a leash but attached one of my hiking poles to her collar. We walked out the trail from Gravestone Junction and continued on the Quick Lake Trail passing the Lobdell memorial marker. The trail back to the register was alternately covered in watre and ice sometimes mixed with mud. We passed the trail register heading toward the parking area. We continued straight ahead to follow the woods road out to the car in the small lot. Sheila saw Cindy by the car but stayed with me as I directed until I let her go. We arrived at the car at 4:15 PM having hiked over 4 miles in 2 hour and 30 minutes with an elevation gain of almost 800 feet. The temperature was 48 degrees at the car. There were now two different cars parked in the larger lot. I checked my phone and found there had been no ambulance lass! I backed out go the lot and headed home feeling a little tired but very relaxed. As we passed Mongaup Pond Road, I thought about stopping to go to Mongaup Falls but kept driving instead!

On Friday, March 22nd, I wanted to get in a hike before the winter weather watch took effect for the weekend! This would also be the first hike of the spring although the weather did not reflect that. After an early morning ambulance call, I decided to take some time to hike on a cool but sunny day. It was 10:15 AM when I decided to just go to Parksville and hike the rail trail even though it is under three miles out and back. As I started to get ready the temperature was 25 degrees. The skies that had been sunny were now overcast. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she surprised me by saying "Yes". I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. This combination is a little warmer than what I sometimes wear but I thougth that it would be colder in the shade of the trees on the rail trail. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which I thought would be warm enough despite the low temperature. They are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I took a pair of Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I wore my Mammut hoody to block the breezy and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I put in a light fleece hat and brought along a pair of light gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I thought there would be a mixture of snow, ice, and mud on the trail. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 10:40 AM PM and drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville. Just after Fox Mountain Road, I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road. There were no cars parked in the lot as we were getting ready to hike. I left my phone in the car so that I could enjoy the hike. We started out on the trail at 11:00 AM with very little sun under overcast skies.

The first part of the trail was completely bare and frozen making it dry. There was some snow on the sides of the trail. We looked up and a man was walking toward us with a small dog which was barking its head off. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked by. Sheila eyed the other dog as if she was wondering why there was so much commotion. Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was slightly cooler and there was more snow and ice on the trail. There was a little water in a few places but most of the trail was frozen. We were able to set a fast pace as we did not have to work our way around mud and ice. The rail trail runs parallel to the Little Beaverkill and the new section of State Route 17. It follows the route of the O&W railroad and is very flat. The water level in the stream was high and there was some ice in the stream in several places. We passed several benches placed for people to rest in warmer weather. I stopped at the area just before the wooden walkways and the bridge to take some pictures down to the stream. The stream looked very cold and was made even colder by the overcast skies. I also took pictures of the trail which was covered in snow. The trail and walkways were covered in snow in both directions. As we walked over the walkways, we had to make sure of our footing as it was very slippery. We came to the area where a mudslide had brought down earth and a number of trees onto the trail. There was also a covering of ice in this area which was very slippery. We hopped over the trunk and carefully walked along the edge of the ice. Once we were off the ice, we picked up the pace again. We continued on the trail heading toward the falls. As we walked, I could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls were just ahead. When we got to the falls, I debated whether or not I would descend the path to the streambed. I decided that I had enough pictures from the base of the falls and would take some shots from the trail.

I like the noise of the falls and the volume of water which I find peaceful. I took some more pictures of the falls from above. I also took shots upstream where there was a nice contrast between the stream and the leaves on the ground. I packed up my camera and we continued on the trail toward Parksville. Soon we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail passing many places where there were signs work was being done to clean up the area. There was a large dog on Te other side of the stream that was making some serious noise. His owner directed him to quiet down which helped. I asked the owner the breed of the dog and he said he was part Belgian Malimois and Anatolian Shepherd. The dog was impressive in size and demeanor. There seemed to be a major construction project encompassing several lots. As we approached the Parksville end of the trail we saw another man and his dog coming toward us. I could instantly see that the dog was a German Shepherd and we stopped to talk to the owner. He confirmed that his dog was a purebred two and a half year old German Shepherd. Our dogs greeted each other but the shepherd was much more interested than Sheila. We parted as Cindy and I headed for the Parksville end of the trail. We found the small garden and a very informative sign. The sign listed the businesses and hotels that existed in Parksville during its heyday. The Young's Gap Hotel had room for 600 guests! The sign also explained the role of the railroad in the dairy industry which was a thriving one in all of Sullivan County. After the briefest pause, we turned around at 11:42 AM and started back to the car. We kept up a good pace as we had already seen what the trail had to offer and I had taken my pictures. On our way toward the falls we caught up to the man with the shepherd and passed them. We passed the falls and eventually came to the icy area by the mudslide. I decided to go off the trail to avoid the ice and mud. We continued over the bridge and the walkways and soon broke out of the trees. We eventually arrived back at the car at 12:15 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 30 minutes. My phone showed there had been one ambulance call but another EMT and driver had covered it.

Winter 2023-2024

On Saturday, March 16th I really wanted to get out for a hike after spending a good part of the day preparing for Sunday's church service. At 12:45 PM I decided it was time to get out. I though that Cindy had said she would go across the street to Round Top with us but it turned out I was wrong! I decided to go across the street to Round Top to hike with Shiela because the day was just so nice I could not resist. I intended to leave my phone home so that I could enjoy a hike without interruption. As we began to get ready, Sheila was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed as she would hike every day. Sheila often examines and sniffs my clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt with no baselayer as the temperature was 56 degrees on the back porch. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which I thought would be warm enough despite the temperature. They are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I wore my Mammut hoody to block the breezy and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I decided against a hat, gloves, and gaiters. At 1:00 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway. There was no snow to be seen but I wondered if there might still be dome in the woods. I aimed to hike for about an hour and complete two figure 8's. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." We did not stop until we reached the top of the hill and I felt the climb was easier than it had been in a long time. At the top we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. As we stood there a young couple and their child came walking toward us from the opposite direction. They had taken the more gentle approach to the hill. They walked to the map, at the trailhead and studied it for a moment. All of the snow was completely gone from the trail and surrounding forest and there was none I could see on the surrounding hills. We continued the hike by turning left at the trailhead and walking passed the family. We all said "hello" as we went by except for Sheila. The trail was damp in a few places but thee was no snow or ice or mud.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. The trail was well-worn as this is the most popular part of the hike. Some people simply hike up to the lookout over town and then back down. Sheila and I continued straight ahead passing the path to the lower lookout. I had tried blocking the trail with brush but people kept removing the obstacles. The problem is there is a growing chasm which could be difficult for some people to cross. At least the path is not marked as part of the trail system. We walked on the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. As we walked up the trail, I removed a lot of loose branches that had fallen in the recent winds. There was no snow visible anywhere on the hill even in the shade. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. As we neared the next trail junction, we passed a medium-sized tree that had fallen across the trail. I had cleared that tree on our last trip. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up toward the summit. The trail was just damp in spots which made it a little slippery but there was no snow or ice. We passed by the white crossover trail and walked over the summit. We continued down the blue trail on the other side until we turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. We passed some more branches that I had cut and removed from the trail. The switchback took us out into the woods before turning almost 180 degrees to take us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked downhill toward the yellow trail. The family we had met was waiting at the trail junction so I put Sheila on her leash so we could pass by them. We turned left and walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned right to head down the trail to the woods road. I looked to the right to see the "cave" with a blue tarp covering the opening. It did not look like anybody was at home! We continued to follow the yellow blazes back to the first trail junction.

I decided I wanted to do another figure 8 so Sheila and I turned around and walked back up the woods road. At the end of the woods road, we followed the yellow trail as the blazes turned up the hill toward the junction with the blue trail. When we reached the junction with the blue trail, we turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction, with the blue trail, we turned right and began to walk up the blue trail toward the summit. We walked straight up the blue trail rather than tuning right on the switchback. When we reached the switchback, I looked up to see that Sheila was walking straight up the trail as if she read my mind! We continued on blue trail and turned right on the white crossover trail so that I could say I checked all the trails. We walked the length of the white trail and then turned right on the main blue trail. We walked down the trail to the junction with the yellow trail where we turned right. We followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and continued to follow the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We passed the "Sitting Rock" and soon came to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and started downhill to the first trail junction. When we reached the first junction, we continued straight ahead to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We turned right and walked down the road toward the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We continued down the hill and walked across Rock Avenue to our driveway. We were back at 2:05 PM after walking about two miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes which included the time needed to do some light trail maintenance. The temperature was 54 degrees on the back porch. The hike was perfect and there were no ambulance calls.

On Thursday, March 14th, I wanted to get out for a short hike near home for the exercise and for the relaxation. I thought about going to the Beaverkill Campgrounds to see the level of the water in the stream after the snow melt and recent rain. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she agreed. As we started to get ready at 1:15 PM the temperature was 58 degrees on the back porch with sunny skies and some puffy white clouds. As usual, Sheila was excited but was trying to be the "good dog". I got dressed in my Mammut crew top but decided against a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned my Mammut hoody to block the breezy and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a light hat and took a pair of light knitted gloves. I brought along my phone but resolved to leave it in the car as there was no service in the area anyway. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and we left the house at 1:20 PM. I drove out Old Route 17 toward Roscoe and turned right on Beaverkill Road. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. It was then that I remebered that the Beaverkill Covered Bridge was closed since a car had impacted some of the supports. I decided to see what the bridge looked like inside. There was one car parked on the road that goes through the bridge but none in the parking lot! A glance at the river showed that the level was not as high as our last trip. The sandy beach was visible and the rock I usually stand on to take pictures was bare.

We started our hike at 2:00 PM by walking out of the parking lot to the bridge with the temperature at 54 degrees. The bridge that had been closed after a car hit it and did some damage was now open. When we got to the other side, I looked at the trail and saw that it was still completely bare. We turned left on a woods road that parallels the river and started down the short hill. The trail was damp but there was no snow or ice. I had decided to take some pictures on the way out so when we got to the first culvert I followed a path down to the edge of the stream. I took some pictures upstream catching the bridge and the white water of the rapids. I took a few more shots with different zooms. I also took some pictures downstream and one of the water coming out of the culvert. When I was done, I packed away the camera and walked up to the woods road. We continued on the deserted woods road. We could hear the river and see the whitecaps on the water. Even though the landscape was bleak the sunlight and blue skies added an interesting demission. The whole area had a serene feel enhanced by the sound of the flowing water. On the trail we passed by several areas with unused picnic tables. They sit unused and rotting along the road, a testimony to better days. We walked by more tables which had not been used in years. A little later we came to what was once a bathroom for some campsites that had long since disappeared. There were more tables in this area. We stopped and I walked to the stream where rocks had been piled up and contained by wire screen. I walked to the edge and stood on some rocks to take more pictures of the stream in both directions. Sheila came over and stood on the wall to pose for some shots and I snapped a few. I took a few shots of the bathroom and the woods road before we contiuned on the woods road. At about .7 miles into the hike the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites. I stopped to take some pictures of the campsites without any snow and with the lighting from the sun. We continued on the road through the campsites and along the river. Many of the campsites have a cement block fireplace with a grill but some were upgraded to poured concrete. Everything was very quiet except for the water in the river. This was not surprising as the campsites were closed.

We walked to the last campsite where the woods road ends and I walked down to the edge of the river. I was careful to watch where I was walking as I did not want to slip into the cold water. I stopped to take some pictures of the river especially downstream. Sheila did decided to take a dip. When she came out, she did not seem to be cold but did start to run around. We continued a little further passed the last campsite and walked a path along the river. I took some shots downstream where the river turned to the left. The water was very clear with a slight greenish tint from looking through to the bottom. As we walked back passed the last campsite, we continued on the campsite road toward the last bathroom. When the road split, we stayed to the left to walk the parallel section of road back through the campsites. This road parallels the one we walked out on to make a sort of loop. We stopped near the end of the road where it starts up to the Berry Brook Road. I wanted to explore the area along the ridge that parallels the road. It was clear to me that Cindy did not want to go on an adventure so we continued along the woods road. We returned the way we had come although at a quicker pace. We still had not seen any people on the trails and very few cars had passed by on the roads. We continued our hike and I began to look to the left where the land rose out of the valley to a ridge. I could see that the land leveled off part of the way up and then started up again. I had walked up a path to this area on our last hike and had no intention of trying it again. I had wanted to start further back but will save that for another time. We passed the spring house on the main campsite road. There were some brilliant green water plants in some pools near the spring house. The plants were floating in a small "stream" that extended from the spring house parallel to the trail. The plants appeared as an emerald green mass made all the more colorful by the rather bleak surroundings. We walked up the hill to the road and turned right to walk through the bridge. At the end of the bridge, we turned left and passed by the office building toward the stream.Sheila and I walked across the bank and down a path upstream. When the path ran out, I stopped and took some more pictures of an area that I visit less frequently than others. I put away the camera, turned around, and walked back up to the building and then to the car. We were back at the car at 3:30 PM having hiked 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 30 minutes with plenty of stopped time for pictures. The car's thermometer read 58 degrees.

On Tuesday, March 12th, it was a beuaiful warm and sunny day. I wanted to go to Frick Pond to clean up two blowdowns which were blocking the Quick Lake trail close to the pond. I made sure I had a driver and EMT to cover ambulance calls so I could spend as much time as I wanted pr needed to complete the clean-up. At 11:15 PM I asked Cindy if she would like to go to Frick Pond and do the work. She agreedand we started to get ready with the temperature at 58 degrees on the back porch. As I was getting dressed, Sheila was very quiet but did not let me out of her sight. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a light long-sleeved baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to leave my poles home as the walk was short and I would be carrying tools. . I donned my Mammut hoody to block the breeze and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a light hat and took a pair of light knitted gloves. I also donned my OR Crocodile gaiters as I expected plenty of water and mud! I brought along my phone but resolved to leave it in the car as there was no service in the area anyway. I put my Silky Sugowaza Sugowaza saw and Silky KatanaBoy 500 saw in my pack. The Sugowaza is a fixed blade in a scabbard and is great for branches and smaller trunks. The KatanaBoy has very large teeth and a lot of them and folds. I put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and we left Livingston Manor at 11:30 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. When we arrived at the parking areas, there were no cars parked in either lot. I pulled into the smaller lot and parked. The skies were sunny and blue with a few clouds and a slight breeze blowing. The temperature was right at 54 degrees which was about what I thought it might be. We started out the woods road to the register at 11:50 AM. As we walked out the woods road, I cleared some branches and one small trunk from the wet and muddy trail. At the register we continued straight ahead on the Quick Lake Trail. From the register the trail was wet with some standing water, some running water and plenty of mud. There seemed to be a little less water tan the last trip

On the way to Gravestone Junction, there were several branches that were hanging over into the trail and some on the trail which I cleared. I also pulled down a larger branch that was hungup on another. At Gravestone Junction we stayed left on the Quick Lake Trail heading toward the bridge at the outlet to Frick Pond. This area of the trail had more mud but it was minimal compared to what it sometimes looks like. We continue on the trail and soon arrived at the bridge. I looked at the scene and decided to take some shots on the way back if at all since I have hundreds from the same location. We continued around the west side of the pond where the trail was also wet and muddy. There were several small streams coming through the woods which usually are not there. Some of these passed over the trail adding to the water and mud. There was less water flowing than there had been 4 days before. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we headed left on the Quick Lake Trail which wet and muddy in places. We immediately ran into a small but tall birch tree that had come down across the trail taking some other branches with it. We walked around this mess as I really wanted to get to the large blowdown a few hundred feet along the trail. This complex blowdown consisted of five separate trunks with a maze of branches. We arrived at the blowdown at 12:13 PM. I took some "before" pictures and then we began to survey the blowdown for the best attack. Cindy and I had some different ideas about how to proceed and I found that a combination of ours strategies worked best. I thought I would attack the highest trunk first but then realized this would not be best. Working on the highest trunk would mean whatever we cut would fall on the trunks below complicating their removal. I started on one of the lower trunks that was forked. I started on the one that was about thigh high and used the saw to cut it into section I knew I could lift, drag or flop off the trail. Once I finished with that one we started to work on the other fork of the same trunk which was closer to the ground. I cut the top off the trail with the ax and then started sectioning the trunk. I decided to use the KatanaBoy allow I have always preferred the curved Sugowaza. This time the KatanaBoy seemed to work very well and even Cindy was able to make cuts which really helped. I had forgotten my wedges which made it critical that we not bind the saw. It wasn't long until we had finished with 2 out of 5 of the trunks.

I took a moment to take some pictures of the work in progress and then removed most of the sections we had cut. One section was long and heavy but I was lucky enough to be able to pivot the upper end of the trail. It was now time to get to work on the uppermost trunk. Cindy suggested cutting it down at the butt end in one large section and then cutting it into smaller sections of the ground. This sounded like a good idea but I knew that on the ground I might have to use the axe a lot and I was not sure I was up to that. I decided to go to the other side of the trail and cut the stop off with the KatanaBoy. His meant I had to cut above my head but the trunk had the smallest diameter. I made the cut pretty quickly but as I finished I had to duck the upper section as it fell passed me. This was the largest trunk and I knew cutting just one more section would make it too big for me to move. We decided on a place to cut and I began just below eye level. Cindy began to spell me on the saw which let me rest while work was still being done. I fancied the cut and the section fell. I went to the butt end of the trunk to start on the largest diameter we would cut. This cut took a little longer but it was soon done. This section was shorter but the larger diameter made it heavy. I was not sure where I was going to be able to move it so we started in on the next trunk. I used the axe to make a cut near the top of the tree so that I could leave it where it was off the trail. We cut the remaining trunk into two section. I flipped those sections and some others off the trail. I was lucky to be able to pivot the heavy section from the upper trunk off the trail and get it to stay there. The last blowdown was a separate and smaller sapling that Cindy cut in half. I dragged both section well off the trail and we were done. I took my final set of pictures and packed up all the tools. We started back toward Frick Pond at 1:45 PM after spending and hour and a half clearing the trees.

In minutes we were at the smaller blowdown which was blocking the trail more than the larger one we had just cleared. I took a few shots of the blowodwn and then took a look at the mess. I thought I might just fell the birch at its base but after a survey that was not the approach we took. I cleared and are of the trunk above my head and off the trail. I used the KatanaBoy to cut the trunk which went quickly. When this cut was made, I was able to drag it off the trail with some effort. The birch had brought down some other branches so I used the Sugowaza to cut them. I dragged these branches off the trail and tidied up. After taking a few after pictures, we continued on the trail toward the bridge. When we got to the bridge, I could not resist taking some shots. The day was beautiful and there was a contrast between the colors of the water, sky, evergreen trees, and other vegetation. Cindy walked ahead and I hurried to catch up. The little hill from the pond to the top let me know how tired I was. We walked along the Quick Lake Trail back to the parking area trying to avoid the mud and water. We were back at the car at 3:05 PM after spending 2 hours and 40 minutes hiking and clearing the blowdowns. The temperature was 58 degrees and the skies were still beautiful.

On Friday, March 8th, I had wanted to get in a hike away from home as the weather was forecast to be beautiful and Saturday was supposed to be cold and rainy. The ambulance calls had been piling up and I wanted to get away if only for a few hours. At 11:30 PM I asked Cindy if she would like to go to Frick Pond and hike the Logger's Loop and she agreed. This hike is less than 4 miles and is relatively flat. I had not been on the trail for some time and I wanted to see how it had faired after some recent wind and rain storms. We started to get ready with the temperature at 54 degrees on the back porch. As I was getting dressed, Sheila was very quiet but did not let me out of her sight. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a light long-sleeved baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned my Mammut hoody to block the breeze and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a light hat and took a pair of light knitted gloves. I also donned my OR Crocodile gaiters as I expected plenty of water and mud! I brought along my phone but resolved to leave it in the car as there was no service in the area anyway. I thought about brining my Silky Sugowaza saw just in case there were a few branches to cut but in the end left it home. I put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and we left Livingston Manor at 11:50 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. When we arrived at the parking areas, there were no cars parked in either lot. I pulled into the smaller lot and parked. The skies were sunny and blue with a few clouds and a slight breeze blowing. The temperature was right at 54 degrees which was about what I thought it might be. We started out the woods road to the register at 12:10 PM. As we walked out the woods road, I cleared some branches and one small trunk from the wet and muddy trail. At the register we continued straight ahead on the Quick Lake Trail. From the register the trail was wet with some standing water, some running water and plenty of mud.

On the way to Gravestone Junction, there were several branches that were hanging over into the trail and some on the trail which I cleared. I also pulled down a larger branch that was hungup on another. At Gravestone Junction we stayed left on the Quick Lake Trail heading toward the bridge at the outlet to Frick Pond. This area of the trail had more mud but it was minimal compared to what it sometimes looks like. We continue on the trail and soon arrived at the bridge. I looked at the scene and decided to take some shots even though I have hundreds from the same location. The pond was higher than it had been for some time! I took pictures of the whole scene and some of Beech Mountain. We continued around the west side of the pond where the trail was also wet and muddy. There were several small streams coming through the woods which usually are not there. Some of these passed over the trail adding to the water and mud. The mud pit was manageable due to the work we had done to increase its drainage. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we headed left on the Quick Lake Trail which wet and muddy in places. I had been removing smaller branches but there were a few larger ones in this area that I managed to drag off the trail. A little farther along there was a complex blowdown across the trail. This consisted of five separate trunks with a maze of branches. I took some pictures and looked forward to coming back to clear the ness. As we walked through the spruce tunnel, we came to several older blowdowns across the trail which were easy to step over. There was one larger trunk across the trail that I had trimmed to remove most of the branches. This made it easier to get over the large diameter trunk. I knew that this one would require a sawyer and though about calling Ranger Stratton. When we came to the small stream across the trail, we found that it was not so small. I took some pictures as the stream was as high as I ever remember it.It was impossible to cross on the trail so we walked upstream to a spot which is usually shallow enough to allow a crossing. This time the water was too deep to cross safely. We continued to walk upstream and I found a small trunk across the stream which I used to cross. Cindy did not feel confident so we continued further upstream until she found a place that suited her. Meanwhile Sheila was jumping back and forth across the water and then doing some wading in the cold clear water. We walked back downstream to the trail and turned left to continue on the Quick Lake Trail toward Iron Wheel Junction. Just after the stream was a new but small trunk across the trail. I was able to lift it and flip it off the trail. Only a few steps up the trail was another larger blowdown. This tree could be cleared with and hand tools but I knew that the local ranger would come and use a chainsaw which would make the job much easier. After the blowdown, the trail was wet and muddy for most of the way to Iron Wheel Junction. I cleared one more trunk across the trail before arriving at the trail junction but there were a few more that would require tools.

When we got to Iron Wheel Junction, we turned right on the Logger's Loop. Before continuing the hike, I took some pictured. There was no snow or ice anywhere on the trails. We started out on the Loggers Loop heading toward Times Square. The trail was muddy and wet in most places. There were some very large puddles that were almost small ponds with water several inches deep. We were able to bushwhack to avoid the largest stretches of water. A little farther along there was another blowdown that had fallen across the trail and would require tools to clear. The stream that runs under the trail through the large culvert had a good volume and I took some pictures as the light was just right. Just up the trail on the left side of the trail was a small waterfall which demanded some more shots. As we walked up the trail there were more muddy and wet areas. I always notice the ledges on the north Sid of the trail and promise myself that I would explore them. Today was not the day. There were some additional blowdowns and all the streams that flowed across the trail were running high. In many places there were streams with significant volumes that I could not remember ever having water in them. We passed a tricycle perched on a large rock that had been there for a very long time. The most amazing part of this is that it had been there for 20 years and no one had removed it! When we came to the seasonal pond on the left side of the trail, I could see that it was filled to the brim. I stopped to take some shots and wondered how they would turn out as the lighting was not the best. I had to avoid a large puddle on the way back out to the main trail. We continued on the trail and headed downhill to Times Square which was damp but relatively dry compared to the rest of the trail. I thought about turning left and climbing the Big Rock Trail to add mileage but I knew Cindy would not be impressed. We walked straight across Times Square to stay on the Logger's Loop and came to a stream which is often dry. This time the dream was, like many of the others, flowing deep and fast. I took more photographs both upstream and downstream before crossing using stepping stones and incredible balance. We started uphill and encountered more water and mud. Although the trail is slightly uphill we were setting a good pace. We continued walking on the trail trying to avoid the deep mud that was present in many areas. Soon we crested the hill and continued to walk out to Gravestone Junction. This was the driest section if trail with no water or mud. At the junction we turned left. We headed back to the car on the woods road. Until this point we had met no other hikers. On the way to the register, I looked up to see a hiker coming toward us wt his dog. I pulled Sheila off the side of the trail to wait for the hiker to pass. He put his dog on a leash and walked by as we greeted each other. Sheila ignored the lither dog who was barking loud and long. We walked back toward the register over the wet trail. At the register we continued straight ahead on the woods road back to the car. There was one car parked next to ours in the small lot and a pickup truck was in the larger lot. It was 2:55 PM and we had spent 2 hours and 50 minutes hiking 4.0 miles with an elevation gain was a modest 375 feet. Much of this time was spent taking pictures and clearing the trail. The temperature was now 58 degrees as we left the parking area. When we got home, I noticed we had one ambulance call but a crew had covered it.

On Wednesday, March 6th, I wanted to get out for a short hike near home that was not on Round Top. I though about going to the Beaverkill Campgrounds to see the level of the water in the stream after the snow melt and recent rain. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she agreed. As we started to get ready at 11:45 AM the temperature was 52 degrees on the back porch with cloudy and overcast skies. Rain was in the forecast and we wanted to get a hike in before the drops began to fall. As usual, Sheila was excited but was trying to be the "good dog". I got dressed in my Mammut crew top but decided against a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned my Mammut hoody to block the breezy and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a light hat and took a pair of light knitted gloves. I brought along my phone but resolved to leave it in the car as there was no service in the area anyway. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and we left the house at 12:00 PM. I drove out Old Route 17 toward Roscoe and turned right on Beaverkill Road. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. It was then that I remebered that the Beaverkill Covered Bridge was closed since a car had impacted some of the supports. I decided to see what the bridge looked like inside. There was one car parked on the road that goes through the bridge but none in the parking lot! A glance at the river showed that the level was high. The water covered the sandy beach and almost covered the rock I usually stand on to take pictures.

As we were getting ready to start the hike, a FedEx truck came down Campsite Road heading for the bridge. I really thought the truck was going to go through the height restricter but it stopped short. I assume the drover was simply following his GPS. The truck backed up, turned around, amd headed back up Campsite Road. We started our hike at 12:00 PM by walking out of the parking lot to the bridge with the temperature at 52 degrees. I was surprised to see that the barriers and signs had been removed from the bridge and that it was open to traffic. When we got to the other side, I looked at the trail and saw that it was completely bare. We turned left on a woods road that parallels the river and started down the short hill. The trail was damp but there was no snow or ice. I had decided to wait until the return trip to take any pictures. We continued on the deserted woods road. We could hear the river and see the whitecaps on the water. The river was considerably higher than it had been for some time. Even though the landscape was bleak it had a serene feel enhanced by the sound of the flowing water. On the trail we passed by several areas with unused picnic tables. They sit unused and rotting along the road, a testimony to better days. We walked by more tables which had not been used in years. A little later we came to what was once a bathroom for some campsites that had long since disappeared. There were more tables in this area. We were keeping up a fast pace trying to stay ahead of the rain that I thought might be coming our way. At about .7 miles into the hike the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites. We continued on the road through the campsites and along the river. Many of the campsites have a cement block fireplace with a grill but some were upgraded to poured concrete. Everything was very quiet except for the water in the river. This was not surprising as the campsites were closed. We found one small pile of snow where the campsites had been plowed otherwise the area was completely bare. The skies remained overcast but no rain was falling.

We walked to the last campsite where the trail ends and I walked down to the edge of the river. I was careful to watch where I was walking as I did not want to slip into the cold water. I stopped to take some pictures of the river especially downstream. We continued a little further passed the last campsite and walked a path along the river. I took some shots downstream where the river turned to the left. The water was very clear with a slight greenish tint from looking through to the bottom. As we walked back passed the last campsite, we continued across the campsite road to another set of campsite. Several large trees ahd been cut and sectioned and were laying on the ground. Some trees were obviously rotten but others looked healthy. I took several pictures of the trees and even posed Sheila in one for perspective. When I was done we walked out to the last bathroom to walk back on the other paved road through the campsites. This road parallels the one we walked out on to make a sort of loop. I took some shots of the bare pavement and the tattered volleyball net. We stopped near the end of the road where it starts up to the Berry Brook Road. I took some pictures of the maintenance buildings and more shots of the campsites without a covering of snow. When I was done, I packed up my camera and we retuned the way we had come although at a quicker pace. We still had not seen any people on the trails and very few cars had passed by on the roads. When we came to the first bathroom, I walked over to the river where the DEC has installed some rocks held in place by wire netting. I stood on the rocks and took some pictures of the rapids downstream. I turned around and took shots upstream where the river splits. I returned to my pack and took some shots of the completely bare woods road. We continued our hike and I began to look to the left where the land rose out of the valley to a ridge. I could see that the land leveled off part of the way up and then started up again. I began to wonder if there was a reason that it leveled off. I looked for some paths up to that level but they were all very steep. I kept looking and found a path that was very distinct and headed diagonally up the hill. At the top I found what looked like a woods road. There were trees growing up in the road and others that fell across it. I turned right and followed the road which became more and more distinct as I walked along the ridge. The road started to drop to the area of the spring house on the main campsite road.

Once we were back on the trail I took some pictures of the brilliant green water plants growing in the water along the trail. The plants were floating in a small "stream" that extended from the spring house parallel to the trail. The plants appeared as an emerald green mass made all the more colorful by the rather bleak surroundings. When I had gotten all the pictures I wanted, I walked back down the trail to the point where a small path led down to the river's edge. I worked my way down to a vantage point being careful not to fall in the swiftly moving and cold water. I snapped some photos downstream where there were whitecaps on the water. I turned upstream and took a few shots of the covered bridge. I finished my photography and walked back to my pack were I put away the camera. We walked up the hill to the road and turned right to walk through the bridge. We turned right to go back to the parking area. We decided to continue along the near side of the river to the bench near the edge of the river. We walked by the newest bathhouse and through a gate. In front of us was what looked like a cement sidewalk. An arm of the river used to pass through this area and the "sidewalk" was there so that cars could ford the shallow water. The section of river had been diverted and only the ford remained. As we walked on the woods road we came to some piles of stones used in the campsites. The large trunk that had lain across the trail had been removed. We continued to walk until we came to the stone bench. Sheila jumped up on it and I took a few pictures. We took a slightly different route back passing in back of the bathroom. There was one large blowdown on this route and I hoped the DEC would clear it in the spring. Before returning to the car, I walked to the left and down to the edge of the river. I took pictures of the bridge and the river flowing under it. There weren't many places to stand as the water was so high it covered the large flat rock I usually use as a viewpoint. When I was done, I walked over to the car. We were back at the car at 2:05 PM having hiked 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 40 minutes with plenty of stopped time for pictures. The car's thermometer read 58 degrees.

On Monday, March 4th, I wanted to get in a hike for the first time this week! After six ambulance calls starting yesterday evening, I decided to take some time to hike on a warm and sunny day. It was late afternoon when I decided to just go to Parksville and hike the rail trail even though it is under three miles out and back. By the time I started to get ready at 3:45 PM the temperature was 58 degrees with a slight breeze. The skies were overcast and it almost looked like it would rain. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she surprised me by saying "Yes". I got dressed in my Mammut crew top but decided against a baselayer. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I knew these pants were overkill nut I had just washed my Railriders pants. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned my Mammut hoody to block the breezy and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a light hat and took a pair of light knitted gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I thought there would be a mixture of ice and mud on the trail. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 3:05 PM and drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville. Just after Fox Mountain Road, I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road. There were no cars parked in the lot as we were getting ready to hike. I left my phone in the car so that I could enjoy the hike. We started out on the trail at 3:15 PM with very little sun ender overcast skies.

The first part of the trail was completely bare but a little soft from the rain during the week. Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was slightly cooler. The trail was wet and had mud in many places. We tried to avoid the water and mud which was possible in some spots but not in all. The rail trail runs parallel to the Little Beaverkill and the new section of State Route 17. It follows the route of the O&W railroad and is very flat. The water level in the stream was high and there was some ice in the stream in several places. We passed several benches placed for people to rest in warmer weather. I stopped at the area just before the wooden walkways and the bridge to take some pictures down to the stream. The stream looked very cold and was made even colder by the overcast skies. I also took pictures of the trail and the walkways. The trail and walkways were bare in both directions although there continued to be water and mud on the trails. As I walked over the walkways, I saw that the tree I had cut on the bridge had fallen off the bank into the ditch beside walkway. We came to the area where a mudslide had brought down earth and a number of trees onto the trail. There was also a covering of ice in this area which was very slippery. We hopped over the trunk and carefully walked along the edge of the ice. Once we were off the ice, I stopped to take some shots of the mess the mudslide had created. We continued on the trail heading toward the falls. As we walked, I could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls were just ahead. When we got to the falls, I debated whether or not I would descend the path to the streambed. I decided that the views were interesting enough to work my way down to the stream.

I carefully used my poles and various handholds to work my way down the path. There were a few slippery spots where there were leaves and mud on the path but I finally made it to the bottom. As I was getting out my camera out of my pack, Sheila came running full speed down the path! I took shots downstream and directly in front of me. I then turned my attention upstream to the falls. I took shots encompassing the entire scene and then several close-ups of the main falls and the rapids below it. I like the noise of the falls and the volume of water which I find peaceful. When I was finished, I packed up and we walked back up the path to the trail. I took some more pictures of the falls from above. I also took shots upstream where there was a nice contrast between the stream and the leaves on the ground. I packed up my camera and we continued on the trail toward Parksville. Soon we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail passing many rundown and dilapidated buildings which should be removed. Several of the buildings showed that work had been done on them. There seemed to be a major construction project encompassing several lots. On the Parksville end of the trail we found the small garden and a very informative sign. The sign listed the businesses and hotels that existed in Parksville during its heyday. The Young's Gap Hotel had room for 600 guests! The sign also explained the role of the railroad in the dairy industry which was a thriving one in all of Sullivan County. After the briefest pause, we turned around at 4:10 PM and started back to the car. We kept up a good pace as we knew where the softest spots were and could avoid them. We passed the falls and eventually came to the icy area by the mudslide. I decided to go off the trail to avoid the ice and mud. We continued over the bridge and the walkways and soon broke out of the trees. We eventually arrived back at the car at 4:40 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 25 minutes. My phone showed there had been no ambulance calls.

On Friday, March 1st I planned to get out for a hike nearby after doing some work at my church in the morning. At noon I began to get ready with the temperature at 48 degrees on the back porch with partly sunny skies. I decided I would take Sheila across the street to Round Top to hike. As we began to get ready, Sheila was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed as she would hike every day. Sheila often examines and sniffs my clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt with a light short-served baselayer. This combination is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the colder weather. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I did decide to wear my Mammut hoody to block the breeze and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a fleecy hat and light knit gloves. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I wore my OR Crocodile gaiters as I thought we might encounter some mud on the trails. I left my phone at home as I planned to hike quickly and relax a little instead of thinking about ambulance calls. At 12:30 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about a little over an hour and complete two figure 8's as well as cut the blowdown. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I did have to stop once on the way to the top of the hill. I could really feel the fact that I had not been hiking consistently. The hill was completely devoid of snow and ice. At the top we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. I could not see any snow on any of the surrounding hills. The skies were overcast with clouds and some sun and blue patches. We continued the hike by turning left at the trailhead. The trail was covered in leaves and muddy in a few places but there was no snow.

We passed by all the places where I had cut trees to remove them from the trail. At the first trail junction, I said "Right" and followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a number of small branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail. It was a pleasure to walk on the trails and it was obvious more people were using them. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. I could see the frame and tarps that covered the mouth of one of the "caves". They were looking like someone had cleaned up the area and might be using it again. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail where we turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We soon ran into a small tree that had fallen across the trail in the high winds the night before. It appeared I would need tools to remove the small tree across the trail. I began to think about completing one figure 8 and going home to get the tools. In the end, I decided to wait until the next day to remove it. We came to the next junction with the blue trail and turned right to head up the blue trail toward the summit. This trail also lacked any snow. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. As we walked over the high point, I removed a couple of branches from the trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. On this side of the hill there was also no snow on the trail but the melting snow and rain the previous day left some muddy spots that made the descent a little tricky. We bypassed the white crossover trail again and continued down to the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top toward the next junction with the blue trail. As we came to the small tree across the trail, I decided to see if I could just drag it of the trail. I lifted the butt end and was able to pull it all the way off the trail although it was a little longer than I thought. At the next junxtion, we turned left and started slightly downhill toward the lookout over town. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued downhill.

When we reached the lookout, we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and walked down the hill to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and started back up the trail. I could feel that I was out of shape but I did not have to stop to get up the hill. We ignored the trail to the lower lookout and followed the yellow trail. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed uphill toward the junction with the blue trail. We hiked up a short but steep little hill and arrived at the trail junction. We turned right to follow the trail along the base of Round Top. Sheila was some distance behind when she came roaring passed me at full speed. She passed me, made a 180 degree turn, and came running back. She repeated this several times before I called her off. I was glad she shows so much energy at the age of 12. We arrived at the next junction with the blue trail after passing the point where I had moved the blowdown. We turned left to start the walk up the blue trail toward the summit. Sheila and I turned left on the white crossover trail as I wanted to inspect it. We almost immediately came to another small tree across the trail. I decided to pull it off the trail and was successful in my efforts. We continued to walk along the white trail until it met the main blue trail on the other side of the hill. We turned left and left again on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed the switchback out into the forest and then back to the main trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where a left turn again took us along the base of Round Top. At the junction, Sheila and I turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road. We followed the woods road downhill with the ledges to the right. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked downhill and crossed the parking lot to the road. We waited to cross the road as several cars went by and then crossed to the driveway to the house. It was 1:40 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles and done some trail maintenance in 1 hour and 10 minutes. It was a pleasant hike and when we got back I found there were no ambulance calls while I was gone!

On Tuesday, February 27th I wanted to get out for a longer hike than the one on Round Top. An early morning ambulance call meant that I slept until 10:00 AM. As often happens I had to do some work at home before thinking about hiking. I finished everything I had to do and was ready to hike at 12:45 PM at 60 degrees on the back porch. I took a chance and asked Cindy if she would like to hike and she declined. I decided to hike the Parksville Rail Trail from Parksville toward Livingston Manor. I started to get ready at 12:46 PM. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt with a light long-sleeved baselayer. This setup is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which I thought would be warm enough despite the temperature. They are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I wore my Mammut hoody to block the breezy and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a light hat and put a pair of light gloves in my pockets. I wore my OR Crocodile gaiters as I thought we might encounter snow and mud on the trail. At 1:05 PM I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. Just after this intersection is the western parking area for the rail trail. The parking lot was empty as I put Sheila on her leash for the short road walk to the beginning of the trail.

We started out at 1:20 PM with the temperature right at 58 degrees. A slight breeze was blowing but the skies were partly overcast with some sun and blue patches. We walked on Service Road toward Fox Mountain Road on took a left on Fox Mt Road. We walked to the intersection of Fox Mounatin Road and Benton Hollow Road and hopped the guard rail and immediately came to what was left of the trestle supports that carried the trail tracks over the stream. I noticed what remained of a painting on the trestle. I had seen this painting before but had not realized it was a memorial to NASCAR driver Davey Allison #28 who drove the Texaco-Havoline Ford car. Allison died in a helicopter crash in 1993. We walked up the trail to left to the top of the trestle. As we entered the shade of the trees, it immediately seemed a little cooler. The trail was well defined and stretched ahead for some distance. Like most rail trails it is very straight. The hope is to connect the Parksville Rail Trail to all the sections that stretch as far as Livingston Manor. We started to walk along the trail and I noticed there was quite a bit of traffic on the Quickway! The land dropped off steeply to the Little Beaverkill on the right. On the left were some "cliffs" which were the result of the railroad cutting a path for the tracks. The trail had some ice and snow in places. There was also a lot of wet spots with mud. We continued to walk along the well-defined trail. It was a pleasant walk but I had to be careful to avoid the ice and mud! I looked ahead and saw a white object on the trail which had not been there before. As we approached, I could see that it was a large chunk of snow about 18 inches on a side. I had trouble imagining what had formed this object. I stopped an took some pictures of the snow block and some with Sheila next to it. There were almost mo blowdowns on the trail but I did remove a few branches. There are two places along the trail where there are piles of garbage. It is hard to determine why they were there. Both piles have tarps over them which seemed to indicate someone once valued the items. A VW bug was just over the bank on the right after the first pile of debris. We soon came to a gate on the trail which was odd since it was state land. No one seems to know why the gate is there or who placed it. We walked around the gate and continued on the trail. There was a path to the left just after the gate that I knew led to the upper falls at Sonoma Falls as I had used it to return from there several times. I decided we would reverse our normal course and work down from top to bottom.

We turned left on the trail and started walking uphill following the trail as it turned right. After a short distance, we turned left and continued to climb following trail as it wound its way up through the woods. Eventually we turned right and started to approach the stream. I knew we were close as I could hear the noise of the falls. I took some shots and of the lower falls and a few of the upper. We walked back to a path that continued uphill and I thought I remembered it from visits long ago. We turned right and followed the road to a junction with another woods road. There was a sign with colored markers in red, yellow, and blue indicating the different trails. We continued straight ahead as I wanted to get to the top of the last falls. A short walk brought us to the top of the falls where there was a bridge across the stream! To the left and upstream was a small pond with a dam but it was marked with "No Trespassing" signs. I walked to the bridge and took some pictures to the left of the dam. I then turned around and took some pictures of the top of the falls. I put the camera away and shouldered my pack to walk along the edge of the high bank. Sheila likes to get right to the edge and it drives me crazy. When the falls came into view it was obvious that they were still partly frozen and beautiful! I decided not to walk over to the wide, flat rocks that make up the brink of the falls as there was too much ice and snow covering them. I walked along the edge of the chasm and found a way to take some more pictures of the falls. When I had exhausted all the possible shots, I packed up and walked back to bridge. We began a bushwhack through the woods trying to find a path to the base of these frozen falls. I was able to find a path with almost no ice or snow until we were close to the bottom. I took a chance and managed to get to a good spot with only a few slips and one slide. I got out my camera and began to take picture of the biggest of five falls along this stream. There was a lot of ice but the water was flowing freely behind it. I wanted some pictures from further downstream so I put my camera in the pack and worked my way back up the slippery slope. As I was struggling my way back to the path, Sheila was running up and down the trails without a problem. Once I was on the path, I walked downstream until I could follow another path back upstream toward the falls. I took some more shots of these falls as they were so impressive.

When I was done, we walked back out to the main trail and followed it to the next falls which was almost as impressive as the first. I found a viewpoint where I could take some pictures of the falls but it was blocked by some trees and brush. There was a small pond below the falls and I decided to walk to the other end of the pond to take some shots. We followed the trail down to the end of the pond where there is a dam that forms the pond. I walked out onto the dam and took some shots of the falls with the pond. I also took some pictures downstream of the falls formed by the dam. I stowed the camera and shouldered the pack. We walked along the bank of the stream to a point where I could take some better shots of the whole falls. After I was finished, we again walked along the bank to take picture of the next falls. Views of this falls were not as good as I would have liked as the angle was poor. We again walked along the bank and found a path down to the base of the falls. I took some shots of these falls from different zooms and angles. There was only one more falls so I packed up and we moved to the last falls near the main buildings. I stood on some rocks and took pictures of this smaller falls. In the background the second set of falls could be seen so I varied my composition to get some interesting picture. I decided that I was done taking pictures and wanted to get back to hiking before the rain started. I packed up and we headed back out to the rail trail. As we passed the buildings, I noticed that the buildings looked more run down. The smaller building had some graffiti painted on the windows on the inside! It is a shame that this beautiful location cannot be opened as a town park. I will never understand why people have to destroy places like this. We walked out to the rail trail and for the first time I realized the skies were now completely overcast. I had planned to walk out to the gate by Old Liberty Road and decided I would stick to the plan. We turned left and set a quick pace walking toward Old Liberty Road. The rail bed itself was very soft but in other places there were patches of ice and snow. Soon we were at the gate where we immediately turned around and start the walk back. Soon we came to a small pond on the left with a red building behind it. The building looked to be in good shape but the windows were all boarded up. There was a definite path between the pond on the left and the wetlands on the right of the trail. It looked like a beaver trail to me but I could not see any dam, lodge, or even any trees that the beavers had cut. We continued on the rail trail and were soon back at the gate on the rail trail. From this point we walked quickly back toward the other end of the trail. Several times I thought I felt some rain drops but nothing came of it. When we reached Fox Mt Road, we crossed over the guardrail where I put Sheila on her leash. We followed Fox Mt Road out to Service Road and to the parking area. We were back at the car at 3:20 PM having hiked 4.3 miles in 2 hours with some stopped time for photography. The ascent was 400 feet almost all of which was the climb to the waterfalls. I do hope the plans to connect the sections of the rail trails are successful! I also hope that someone reopens Sonoma Falls as it is a beautiful setting.

On Monday, Februray 26th, I wanted to get out for a longer hike after sticking to Round Top and trails near home for many walks. I had an overnight ambulance call and slept in until 8:30 AM. I knew that I was the only EMT available to answer calls but I also needed to take some time for myself and Sheila. Rather than travel too far I decided to go to Frick Pond and hike the Flynn Trail where I could hike some uphill miles. This would give me some choices of how far I wanted to hike and the route I would take. I also wanted to see if there were any trees that needed trimming to make hiking easier. As I started to get ready at 11:30 AM, the temperature on the back porch was 56 degrees with sunny skies! I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a light long-sleeved baselayer as I knew it would be cooler at the trailhead. This combination is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned my Mammut hoody to block the breezy and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a fleecy hat and light knitted gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I thought there would be a mixture of ice and snow on the trail. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and headed out the DeBruce Road at 11:50 AM. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there were no cars parked in either lot. I pulled into the smaller lot with Sheila acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she ran around and headed for the trail. The temperature was 84 degrees and the skies were blue with white clouds. I was surprised by the amount of snow that I could see in the woods. We crossed the road and began our hike at 12:15 PM.

The Flynn Trail is sited along what used to be Beech Mountain Road which was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We walked the trail through the woods which was mostly amp with a little mud but no snow. We passed by several trees I had cut and removed from the trail. Some were cut with the help of local Ranger Eric Stratton. There was one new tree that had fallen across the trail which would require tools to remove. We continued on the Flynn Trail and turned right on the woods road and continued to set a good pace up the hill. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.7 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We passed the hemlock that used to form a tunnel but was cleared by the DEC. Just after this the the trail was covered in snow amounting to a couple of inches. I began to find some small branches on the trail which I removed. I was surprised that there weren't more large branches or trees across the trail as we have had several storms with high winds. The trail continued to alternate between areas that were completely clear to areas that were covered with several inches of snow. As we approached and the clearing to the right of the trail, we passed by some rock ledges on the right side of the trail. It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining in the rocks and the trail. I decided to stop and take a few shots of these ledges and the trail itself. I noticed that I was very relaxed and decided I needed to get out more as the other things that I do can be stressful. I thought about visiting the clearing but decided I wanted to stay on the main trail. We did run across a few small trees across the trails and one very large one. I worked to remove some of the branches around the large blowdown to clear a path for hikers. We kept walking uphill and we were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. This junction was covered in several inches of snow in all four directions. We turned left to walk down the Big Rock Trail where the layer of snow continued for some time. The hike down the trail went well and more quickly than I expected. It was definitely easier than the uphill hike. This trail can be tricky as there are several levels that make it seem like the bottom of the hill. As we came to the bottom of the descent, the snow disappeared.

We were soon at Times Square and I thought about turning right to hike up and around the Logger's Loop to add some distance to our hike. I decided against this as it was getting late and we continued our hike by walking straight across Times Square to stay on the Big Rock Trail. I stopped for a few minutes to take pictures of the junction and the trails. All of the trails had some snow more or less. The Big Rock Trail around the back of Frick Pond can be very wet, but on this day it was mostly frozen and covered with snow. We passed the very large blowdown which Ranger Stratton and I had cleared. As we headed for the two small bridges on the trail, we ran into a lot of ice which made the trail very slippery for me. Sheila was having no problem with the ice and snow. We crossed the two small bridges over the inlets to the pond and I decided to stop to take pictures. The water under the first bridge was backed up from the wetlands amd was partly frozen. The area under the second bridge had a stream fowling but the volume was low. I took some pictures from the first bridge and then moved on. The sun was working its way up in the sky giving a warm feeling to the setting. When we got to the area that was covered by tall evergreens, I again ran into a lot of ice on the trail. To keep myself from slipping I walked on the snow and pine needles near the edges of the trail. The wooden boardwalks had some ice and snow and continue to show wear with many boards loose and other beginning to rot. Much of the boardwalk now "floats" in midair as the supports are rotting. I did stop to take a few pictures before continuing the hike.

The rest of the trail was covered in snow to the trail junction. At the next trail junction we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. As we walked along the west side of Frick Pond to the bridge across the outlet of the pond, there was a lot of snow and some ice as the trail is shaded by trees and bushes. We crossed the bridge and I put down my pack and got out the camera. I took shots of the pond and of Beech Mountain from different angles. I also took some pictures of Sheila on the bridge. When I was done, I pack up the camera and started up the hill toward Gravestone Junction. The hill was covered in ice forcing me to the sides of the trail. At the top, we continued along the trail to Gravestone Junction. The junction is named for the memorial near the junction for a tragedy involving the Lobdells. The father of this family was the caretaker for the Frick popery and the family lived in a cabin along what is now the Quick Lake Trail, One night the cabin caught fire. The parents were able to get out but their two children were trapped inside and died in the flames. From Gravestone Junction we continued on the Quick Lake Trail and passed the Lobdell memorial marker. The trail back to the register was alternately covered in snow and ice or a combination of both. We passed the trail register heading toward the parking area. We continued straight ahead to follow the woods road out to the car in the small lot. We arrived at the car at 3:30 PM having hiked 4 miles in 2 hour and 20 minutes with an elevation gain of 690 feet. The temperature was 54 degrees at the car. There was a commercial van with Jersey plates parked next to my car. I backed out go the lot and headed home feeling a little tired but very relaxed. As we passed Mongaup Pond Road, I thought about stopping to go to Mongaup Falls but kept driving instead!

On Saturday, February 24th I really wanted to get out for a hike after spending a good part of the day with ambulance corps business. I participated in a sendoff for the high school basketball team for a playof game in Chester. I was back home at 3:00 PM and started to get ready with the temperaure at 31 dgrees. I could see there was plenty of sunshine which made it look warmer out. I decided to go across the street to Round Top to hike. I intended to leave my phone home so that I could enjoy a hike without interruption. As we began to get ready, Sheila was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed as she would hike every day. Sheila often examines and sniffs my clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt with a light long-sleeved baselayer. This setup is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which I thought would be warm enough despite the temperature. They are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I wore my Mammut hoody to block the breezy and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a light hat and a pair of gloves. At 3:25 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway. There was no snow to be seen but I wondered if there might still be dome in the woods. I aimed to hike for about an hour and complete two figure 8's. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." We did not stop until we reached the top of the hill. At the top we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. All of the snow was completely gone from the trail and surrounding forest. We continued the hike by turning left at the trailhead. The trail was muddy in a few places as the snow and melted and rain had fallen yesterday.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. The trail was well-worn as this is the most popular part of the hike. Some people simply hike up to the lookout over town and then back down. Sheila and I continued straight ahead passing the path to the lower lookout. I had tried blocking the trail with brush but people kept removing the obstacles. The problem is there is a growing chasm which could be difficult for some people to cross. At least the path is not marked as part of the trail system. We walked on the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. As we walked up the trail, I removed a few loose branches that had fallen in the recent winds. We began Ti run into patches of snow and ice which were slippery but easily avoided. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. There was also a small amount of snow on the trail. As we neared the next trail junction, we passed a medium-sized tree that had fallen across the trail. I had cleared that tree on our last trip. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up toward the summit. The trail was wet and muddy in spots which made it slippery but there was no snow or ice. We passed by the white crossover trail and walked over the summit. We continued down the blue trail on the other side until we turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. We passed some more branches that I had cut and removed from the trail. The switchback took us out into the woods before turning almost 180 degrees to take us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where we turned left again. We walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned right to head down the trail to the woods road. I looked to the right to see the "cave" with a blue tarp covering the opening. It did not look like anybody was at home! We continued to follow the yellow blazes back to the first trail junction.

I decided I wanted to do another figure 8 so Sheila and I turned around and walked back up the woods road. At the end of the woods road, we followed the yellow trail as the blazes turned up the hill toward the junction with the blue trail. When we reached the junction with the blue trail, we turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction, with the blue trail, we turned right and began to walk up the blue trail toward the summit. I had thought about walking straight up the blue trail rather than tuning right on the switchback. When we reached the switchback, I looked up to see that Sheila was walking straight up the trail as if she read my mind! We continued on blue trail and headed toward the summit. We walked over the top and then headed down the other side passing the white crossover trail. We walked down the trail to the junction with the yellow trail where we turned right. We followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and continued to follow the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We passed the "Sitting Rock" and soon came to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and started downhill to the first trail junction. When we reached the first junction, we continued straight ahead to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We turned right and walked down the road toward the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We continued down the hill and walked across Rock Avenue to our driveway. We were back at 4:30 PM after walking about two miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes which included the time needed to do some light trail maintenance. The temperature was 32 degrees on the back porch. The hike was perfect as we met no other people and there were no ambulance calls.

On Monday, February 19th, I wanted to get in a hike for the first time this wek! After a morning ambulance call, I decided to take some time to hike on a cold but sunny day. I decided to just go to Parksville and hike the rail trail even though it is under three miles out and back. By the time I started to get ready at 12:15 PM the temperature was right around 30 degrees with a slight breeze. The skies were blue with puffy white clouds and plenty of sun which made it seem warmer. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she surprised me by saying "Yes". I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. This combination is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned my Mammut hoody to block the breezy and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a fleecy hat and light knitted gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I thought there would be a mixture of ice and snow on the trail. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 12:35 PM and drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville. Just after Fox Mountain Road, I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road. There were no cars parked in the lot as we were getting ready to hike. I left my phone in the car so that I could enjoy the hike. We started out on the trail at 12:50 PM with bright sunlight warming us.

The first part of the trail was barely covered in snow but there were a multitude of footprints. Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was much cooler. The trail was covered in snow with patches of ice underneath. It was cold enough that there was no water or mud anywhere. We tried to stay in the snow which was pretty easy in most places. We both had my spikes but elected not to stop to put them on. The rail trail runs parallel to the Little Beaverkill and the new section of State Route 17. It follows the route of the O&W railroad and is very flat. The water level in the stream was higher than the last time we had hiked along the trail and there was ice in the stream in many places. We passed several benches placed for people to rest in warmer weather. I stopped at the area just before the wooden walkways and bridge to take some pictures down to the stream. The stream looked very cold but the sun stood un contrast as it lit up the skies and trees. I also took pictures of the trail and the walkways. The trail and walkways were covered in snow in both directions. As I walked over the walkways, I saw that the tree I had cut on the bridge had fallen off the bank into the ditch beside walkway. There continued to be a layer of snow over ice on the trail. We came to the tree I had trimmed to allow hikers to pass. I wanted to clear the trunk itself but decided it would need a chainsaw. We hopped over the trunk and immediately ran into two other smaller trunks across the trail. We continued on the trail heading toward the falls. As we walked, I could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls were just ahead. When we got to the falls, I debated whether or not I would descend the path to the streambed as it was covered in snow and ice. I decided that the views were interesting enough to work my way down to the stream. I did not want to take time to put on my spikes so I carefully used my poles and various handholds to work my way down the path. There were a few slippery spots but I finally made it to the bottom. As I was getting out my camera out of my pack, Sheila came running full speed down the path! I took shots downstream and directly in front of me where there were large patches of ice in the stream. I then turned my attention upstream to the falls. I took shots encompassing the entire scene and then several close-ups of the main falls and the rapids below it. I like the noise of the falls and the volume of water which I find peaceful. When I was finished, I packed up and we walked back up the path to the trail. It was even more obvious on the way up the path that there was a large amount of ice under the thin layer of snow. I took some more pictures of the falls from above. I also took shots upstream where there was more ice in the water. I packed up my camera and we continued on the trail toward Parksville.

Soon we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail passing many rundown and dilapidated buildings which should be removed. Several of the buildings showed that work had been done on them. On the Parksville end of the trail we found the small garden and a very informative sign. The sign listed the businesses and hotels that existed in Parksville during its heyday. The Young's Gap Hotel had room for 600 guests! The sign also explained the role of the railroad in the dairy industry which was a thriving one in all of Sullivan County. After the briefest pause, we turned around and started back to the car. It soon became obvious that Sheila had a problem with her front paws. She had been out in colder weather but not in some time so I thought that might be the problem. We picked up our speed with Cindy taking the lead. I had to keep "reminding" Sheila to stop licking her paws and to keep moving. For some reason Cindy kept increasing her speed which meant the gap between us was widening. This also meant that Sheila was running back and forth between us which was not helping per paws. I told her to go ahead with Cindy which she understood. I had no reason to race so I slowed down. I had really wanted to hike with someone as I spend a lot of time with Sheila on the trails. I eventually arrived back at the car at 2:30 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 35 minutes. I checked Sheila's paws but they were not very cold and did not seem to have any injuries. My phone showed there had been one ambulance call but we had covered it.

On Tuesday, February 13th I planned to get out for a hike nearby as I had not been out in almost two weeks! I had promised myself that February would be different than my poor showing in January but had not kept that promise. At 1:00 PM I began to get ready with the temperature at 35 degrees on the back porch with mostly overcast skies. I asked Cindy if she wanyed to hike the Parksville Rail Trail and she made up enough excuse to equal a "no". I decided I would take Sheila across the street to Round Top to hike as and cut a blowdown that was across the trail. I decided to take my pack so that I could carry a saw to clear the blowdown. This would also allow me to carry my camera. I also decided to carry my Fiskars ax instead of hiking poles. As we began to get ready, Sheila was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed as she would hike every day. Sheila often examines and sniffs my clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt with a light short-served baselayer. This combination is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the colder weather. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I did decide to wear my Mammut hoody to block the breeze and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a fleecy hat and light knit gloves. I put my Silky Sugowaza saw in my pack and made sure that I had my camera. I left my phone at home as I planned to hike quickly and relax a little instead of thinking about ambulance calls. At 1:15 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about a little over an hour and complete two figure 8's as well as cut the blowdown. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I did have to stop once on the way to the top of the hill. I could really feel the fact that had not hiked in some time and did not have my poles. The hill was completely devoid of snow and ice. At the top we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. I could not see any snow on any of the surrounding hills. The skies were overcast with clouds and some sun and blue patches. I decided to wait until the end of the hike. We continued the hike by turning left at the trailhead. The trail was covered in leaves and damp in a few places but there was no snow.

We passed by all the places where I had cut trees to remove them from the trail. At the first trail junction, I said "Right" and followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a few small branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail. It was a pleasure to walk on the trails and it was obvious more people were using them. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. I could see the frame and tarps that covered the mouth of one of the "caves". They were looking like someone had cleaned up the area and might be using it again. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail where we turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We soon ran into the small tree across the trail. The tree had been broken down a little from hikers walking over it. I took a few "before" pictures with my camera and then grabbed the saw. I ony had to make one cut cut to separate the trunk laying over the trail from the upright section. I used the ax on the other side of the trail to cut the top out of the tree. After a few swings of the ax, the central section dropped. I pulled the central section off the trail. I took the "after" shots with Sheila posing in her own way. We continued on the trail along the base of Round Top. I stopped to take a few shots of the only snow left on the trail. We came to the next junction with the blue trail and turned right to head up the blue trail toward the summit. This trail also lacked any snow. We almost immediately ran into a small dead tree across the trail which had fallen since my last trip. I took some shots with and without Sheila and then used the ax to cut the tree on the left side of the trail. The cuts went quickly and I was able to swing the cut section off the trail. I took some "after" pictures and then put the camera away to continue the hike. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. As we walked over the high point, I removed a couple of branches from the trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. On this side of the hill there was also no snow on the trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail again and continued down to the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and started slightly downhill toward the lookout over town. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued downhill.

When we reached the lookout, we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and walked down the hill to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and started back up the trail. I could feel that I was out of shape as I had to stop once to get up the hill. We detoured to the lower lookout to take pictures. I took out my camera and took shots of the school and the rest of town. I also snapped some pictures of the surrounding hills and the lookout itself. I had Sheila pose for some pictures on the upper part of the lookout. When I was done, I stowed the camera and we walked back out to the main trail. We turned left and followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed uphill toward the junction with the blue trail. We hiked up a short but steep little hill and arrived at the trail junction. We turned right to follow the trail along the base of Round Top. Sheila was some distance behind when she came roaring passed me at full speed. She passed me, made a 180 degree turn, and came running back. She repeated this several times before I called her off. I was glad she was back to 100% after some shots at the on Friday had slows her down over the weekend. We arrived at the next junction with the blue trail after passing the point where I had cut the blowdown. We turned left to start the walk up the blue trail toward the summit. Sheila and I again passed the white crossover trail and continued toward the summit, We walked over the summit and stated down the long hill again bypassing the white crossover trail. We turned left on the switchback in the blue trail and followedit out into the forest and then back to the main trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where a left turn again took us along the base of Round Top. At the junction, Sheila and I turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road. We followed the woods road downhill with the ledges to the right. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked downhill and crossed the parking lot to the road. We waited to cross the road as several cars went by and then crossed to the driveway to the house. It was 2:35 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles and done some trail maintenance in 1 hour and 20 minutes. It was a pleasant hike and when we got back I found there were no ambulance calls while I was gone!

On Tuesday, January 30th, I wanted to get out for a short hike near home that was not on Round Top. I though about going to the Beaverkill Campgrounds to see the level of the water in the stream and the snow and ice that was still clinging to the trees. As I started to get ready at 10:15 AM the temperature was 25 degrees on the back porch with cloudy and overcast skies. As usual, Sheila was excited but was trying to be the "good dog". I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt with a light long-served baselayer. This combination is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the colder weather. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. I decided to put on my old Salomon B52 winter boots which I have worn for many seasons. I noticed that they were dry and needed a coat of waterproofing. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did put on my Mammut hoody to block the breezy and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I donned my OR Crocodile gaiters as I did not know the snow depth and because they keep my lower legs warm. I also made sure I had my spikes with my pack. I took along a fleecy hat and a pair of light gloves. I brought along my phone but resolved to leave it in the car as there was no service in the area anyway. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and we left the house at 10:45 AM. I drove out Old Route 17 toward Roscoe and turned right on Beaverkill Road. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. It was then that I remebered that the Beaverkill Covered Bridge was closed since a car had impacted some of the supports. I decided to see what the bridge looked like inside. There was one car parked on the road that goes through the bridge but none in the parking lot! A glance at the river showed that the level was high. The water covered the sandy beach and almost covered the rock I usually stand on to take pictures.

We started out at 11:00 AM by walking out of the parking lot to the bridge with the temperature at 27 degrees. I could see some footprints of people that had walked across the bridge and a peek inside showed no damage. I decided the CLOSED must mean closed to vehicular traffic. When we got to the other side, I looked at the trail and saw that it was covered in snow and ice. I thought about putting on my spikes but decided not to as I was pretty sure could get good footing with the help of my poles. We turned left on a woods road that parallels the river and started down the short hill. The ice was rough and I had no problems at all. When we came to the spring house, I decided to take a few shots and some more of the bright green water plants next to it. The plants were floating in a small "stream" that extended from the spring house parallel to the trail. We continued on the deserted woods road where I could detect a few faint footprints. We came to an area with a little path down to the river that was covered in snow and ice. I walked down to the edge of the river very carefully as the rocks were slippery and the water looked deep and cold. It was also high and swiftly! I took some pictures downstream and some upstream to the bridge. Even though the landscape was bleak it had a serene feel enhanced by the sound of the flowing water. When I was done, we got back on the trail and passed several areas with unused picnic tables. They sit unused and rotting along the road, a testimony to better days. I took some pictures of the tables and some of the trail ahead and behind us. We walked by more tables which had not been used in years. A little later we came to what was once a bathroom for some campsites that had long since disappeared. There were more tables in this area. I took the opportunity to take some more pictures of random picnic tables and the bathroom. There was a path to the river so I walked over and found the water was running high but was very clear. I took some pictures of the flowing water and the snow on the trees and shrubs. In several areas the DEC had placed large rocks along the shore and covered them with heavy wire to reduce erosion. At one point I noticed "scratches" in the light layer of snow of the ice. The scratches were thin and parallel but each set ran in different directions. Tree were no animal or bird footprints around so I was baffled about what created the. At about .7 miles into the hike the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites. We continued on the road through the campsites and along the river. Many of the campsites have a cement block fireplace with a grill but some were upgraded to poured concrete. Everything was very quiet except for the water in the river. This was not surprising as the campsites were closed. I took some pictures of the empty campsites and the campsite road. I was surprised none of the roads were plowed as that has been the case in previous years. The skies were still overcast but that combined with the snow and ice to set the scene.

We walked to the last campsite where the trail ends and I walked down to the edge of the river. I was careful to watch where I was walking as I did not want to slip into the cold water. I stopped to take some pictures of the river especially downstream. We continued a little further passed the last campsite and walked a path along the river. I took some shots downstream where the river turned to the left. The water was very clear with a slight greenish tint from looking through to the bottom. As we walked back passed the last campsite, we stayed to the left of the last bathroom to walk back on the other paved road through the campsites. This road parallels the one we walked out on to make a sort of loop. I took some shots of the bathroom. We retuned the way we had come although at a quicker pace. We still had not seen any people on the trails and very few cars had passed by on the roads. We again walked through the bridge and turned right to go back to the car. I decided to continue along the near side of the river to the bench near the edge of the river. We walked by the newest bathhouse and through a gate. In front of us was what looked like a cement sidewalk. An arm of the river used to pass through this area and the "sidewalk" was there so that cars could ford the shallow water. The section of river had been diverted and only the ford remained. As we walked on the woods road we came to some piles of stones used in the campsites. The large trunk that had lain across the trail had been removed. We continued to walk until we came to the stone bench. Sheila jumped up on it and I took a few pictures. I also took some shots of the bushes loaded down with snow and ice. We took a slightly different route back passing in back of the bathroom. There was one large blowdown on this route and I hoped the DEC would clear it in the spring. Before returning to the car, we walked to the left and down to the edge of the river. I took pictures of the bridge and the river flowing under it. There weren't many places to stand as the water was so high. When I was done, we walked over to the car. We were back at the car at 12:45 PM having hiked 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes with 20 minutes of stopped time. The car's thermometer read 29 degrees.

On Monday, January 29th I wanted to get out for another hike as January had been a big disappointment. I especially wanted to go up to Round Top while the snow and ice were still frozen on the trees. There was a slight breeze but the snow and ice seemed to be clinging onto the branches. I began to get ready at 10:00 AM with the temperature at 30 degrees on the back porch. I decided to take my pack so that I could carry my camera and because it adds weight making the hike more challenging. As we began to get ready, Sheila was running around barking at my every move. Sheila often examines and sniffs my clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt with a light short-served baselayer. This combination is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the colder weather. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I put on my old Salomon B52 winter boots which I have worn for many seasons. I noticed that they were dry and needed a coat of waterproofing. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I also made sure my spikes were attached to my pack. I did decide to wear my Mammut hoody to block the breeze and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a fleecy hat and a pair of light gloves. I decided not to bring along my phone so I could enjoy the walk. At 10:15 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway which was not shoveled or plowed. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church which was plowed. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." The hill was completely covered in untouched snow. I was sad that no kids had been out to sled on the hill and no one else had decided to take a walk. I left Sheila on her leash as the husky in her makes her pull in the snow. O let her pull for a little while and then let her off the leash and used my poles. I did have to stop once on the way to the top of the hill. At the top we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. I took out my camera and took shots of the snow both near and far.

We entered the woods at the trailhead and continued on to the first junction. Sheila and I both seemed to have the same idea as I wanted to go straight up to the lookout and Sheila chose that path. Climbing the hill seemed easy but I did slip a few times. The slips were not enough to make me consider putting on my spikes. When we reached the top of the hill, we detoured to the left and walked out to the lower lookout which was covered in deep snow over some ice below. I took pictures of the lookout and the shots of the school and the town below. I took some pictures of Sheila as she sat in the snow and then directed her to go to the upper lookout where she posed for some pictures. I also took some close-ups of the bushes covered in layers of frozen snow and ice. I packed up my camera add we walked back out to the main yellow trail where we turned left to walk to the upper lookout. Where the trail turned right we followed it uphill through a winter wonderland. All the trees were covered in snow. I had noticed a set of footprints that were quite fresh but they had stopped at the lookout. Now, as we walked uphill toward the next unction, I saw a fainter set of prints in the snow. We passed the sitting rock which was piled high with the white stuff. We continued uphill to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. Before continuing I stopped to take some pictures of the snow frozen and hanging on the bushes. Many of the trees and bushes were so loaded with the snow that they were bending over into the trail almost blocking it. A few had broken and were laying in the trail. I knocked the snow off many of the bushes which allowed them to rebound significantly to allow us to pass. I tried to remove as many of the broken and fallen branches as possible. Before we got to the next junction, we ran into a larger tree which had fallen across the trail. I kicked it several times and then sat on it but the upper end, although broken, remained attached to the upright part of the trunk. I was pretty sure I could cut the trunk and remove it with hand tools.

We continued to the next junction with the blue trail and turned left to climb the trail toward the summit. The trail had more snow than down lower and I slipped a little as the trail grew steeper. We passed by the white crossover trail and continued over the summit which was also beautiful with trees encased in snow. We started down the other side slipping a little and bypassing the white trail. We did turn left on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed it out into the woods and back again to the blue trail. The sidehilling with the snow and ice made getting a good foot placement important. We turned left on the main blue trail and walked downhill until we were back at the junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and again walked along the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and started to walk down the trail to the woods road. As we made the turn onto the road, I could see fresh footprints lead up to the shelter under one of the ledges. The blue tarp was also back in place. Sheila and I started down the woods road to the trail junction. At the first trail junction I decided we had been out for more than an hour and I wanted to go home. We turned left and headed toward the trailhead. At the trailhead we turned right and made short work of the downhill. We crossed the church parking lot to our driveway. We had covered about a mile and a half in a little over an hour. Much of that time was spent taking pictures and clearing the trail.

On Saturday, January 27th, I wanted to get in a hike for the first time in 20 days! The ambulance calls which were plentiful in 2023 had not decreased in the New Year. In addition, the weather also had not cooperated with bitter cold for almost a week and another week of rain and ice. I wasn't sure There was another EMT available but I knew I had to get out for my own health. I decided to just go to Parksville and hike the rail trail even though it is under three miles out and back. By the time I started to get ready at 10:30 PM the temperature was right around 38 degrees. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. This combination is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned my Mammut hoody to block the breezy and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a fleecy hat and light knitted gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I thought there would be a mixture of ice, water amd mud on the trail. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at just before 10:50 AM and drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville. Just after Fox Mountain Road, I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road. There were no cars parked in the lot as we were getting ready to hike. I left my phone and pager in the car so that I could enjoy the hike. We started out on the trail at 11:00 AM under cloudy skies with a slight breeze.

The first part of the trail was free of ice and snow but was very wet and soft. Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was a little cooler and the trail was about as I expected with ice, snow, and mud. TheSe alternated on the trail and I tried to stay in the snow. Several times I walked in the water where the ground was firmer. I also sunk several inches into the mud in a few spots. I had my spikes with me but elected not to stop to put them on. As I walked, I considered my hiking plan. I had thought I would hike out and back on the rail trail but now the trail conditions had made me think I might hike a loop returning by the road. I was going to ate pictures on the way back but change my mind and decided to take my shots on the way out. The rail trail runs parallel to the Little Beaverkill and the new section of State Route 17. It follows the route of the O&W railroad and is very flat. The water level in the stream was much higher than the last time we had hiked along the trail. We passed several benches placed for people to rest in warmer weather. I stopped at the area just before the wooden walkways and bridge to take some pictures down to the stream. The stream looked cold and the overcast skies contributed to the bleak appearance. I also took pictures of the trail and the walkways. The trail had areas of snow, ice and mud. I was surprised the walkways were free of ice and snow. The tree I had cut last time on the bridge had fallen off the bank into the ditch beside walkway. There was some ice before and after the bridge but I was able to walk around it. We came to the tree I had trimmed to allow hikers to pass. I wanted to clear the trunk itself but decided it would need a chainsaw. I hopped over the trunk and immediately ran into two other smaller trunks across the trail. We continued on the trail heading toward the falls. As we walked, I could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls was just ahead. When we got to the falls, I could see that I might need the spikes on the path to the bottom of the falls. I got out my spikes and sat on the bench to put them on. Sheila and I walked over to the path down to the streambed and began the descent. There was snow and ice but we made it down to the stream without any problems. I put my pack down and took out my camera. I took shots downstream and directly in front of me where the water was very clear. I then turned my attention upstream to the falls. I took shots encompassing the entire scene and then several close-ups of the main falls and the rapids below it. I like the noise of the falls and the volume of water so I took a video of the scene with some zooms and pans. When I was finished, I packed up and we walked back up the path to the trail. I took some more pictures of the falls from above and upstream. I packed up my camera but left my spikes on my feet as we continued on the trail. Walking with the spikes reminded me how much easier it is to hike with them!

Soon we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail passing many rundown and dilapidated buildings which should be removed. Several of the buildings showed that work had been done on them. On the Parksville end of the trail we found the small garden and a very informative sign. The sign listed the businesses and hotels that existed in Parksville during its heyday. The Young's Gap Hotel had room for 600 guests! The sign also explained the role of the railroad in the dairy industry which was a thriving one in all of Sullivan County. After a brief pause, I removed my spikes and attached them to the outside of the pack. We walked the rest of the rail trail to the Main Street where we turned left. There are many interesting buildings along a short stretch of street but most are unoccupied and crumbling. There are a few residences and one small home had a Tesla in the driveway charging with no garage in sight. When we got to the access road, we passed the Dead End Café which brought back memories of when it was a thriving business. An OPEN sign still hung in the window. we turned left and walked on a gravel path that paralleled the road. We passed what was once the synagogue but is now the Parksville Arts Center with a Star of David on the front! The path continued to a parking area and then exited the other side. We continued on this path passing the building which once held Memories where I had bought several items at auction. The path ended in another parking area so we had to walk the shoulder of the road to get back to our car. There was more traffic on the road than I had expected but the shoulder was wide and the drivers considerate. We arrived back at the car at 12:30 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 and a half hours. My pager and phone showed there had been no ambulance calls.

On Sunday, January 7th I was awakened by an early morning ambulance call. I had to clear 6 inches of snow off my car and make my way down the drive way to respond. The call was cancelled and I returned home only to be called out on another call that was also cancelled! By 10:00 AM things had calmed down and I decided to go across the street and hike on Round top since I could still respond on calls. I wanted to take some pictures of the snow that had fallen. In particular I wanted to take some shots that were close to the ones I had taken two day before when there was no snow. I began to get ready with the temperature at 30 degrees on the back porch amd snow still falling. I decided to take my pack so that I could carry my camera and because it adds weight making the hike more challenging. As we began to get ready, Sheila was running around barking at my every move. Sheila often examines and sniffs my clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt with a light short-served baselayer. This combination is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the colder weather. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. I decided to put on my old Salomon b52 winter boots which I have worn for many seasons. I noticed that they were dry and needed a coat of waterproofing. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did decide to wear my Mammut hoody to block the breezy and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a fleecy hat and a pair of light gloves. I brought along my phone in case there were any calls. My biggest decision was whether or not to wear snowshoes. I really wanted to use them but I knew they were not really need. In the end I left them home. At 10:15 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway which was not shoveled or plowed. I aimed to hike for about a little over an hour and complete two figure 8's. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." The hill was completely covered in untouched snow. I was sad that no kids had been out to sled on the hill and no one else had decided to take a walk. I did have to stop once on the way to the top of the hill. At the top we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. I took out my camera and took shots of the snow both near and far. The snow that was still falling made it difficult to get good pictures. The snow was wet bad was beginning to wet my pack and jacket.

We entered the woods at the trailhead and continued on to the first junction. Sheila and I both seemed to have the same idea as I wanted to go straight up to the lookout and Sheila chose that path. Climbing the hill seemed ease but I did slip a few times.When we reached the top of the hill, we detoured to the left and walked out to the lower lookout which was covered in deep snow over some ice below. I knew there was ice because I took a spill which was, fortunately, far back from the edge of the viewpoint. I got out my camera and took pictures of the lookout and the shots of the school and the town below. I directed Sheila to go to the upper lookout but she was being very stubborn. Eventually she went up to the ledge and posed for some pictures. I packed up my camera amd walked back out to the main yellow trail where we turned left to walk to the upper lookout. Where the trail turned right we followed it uphill through a winter wonderland. All the trees were covered in snow and I love walking in snow that no one else as touched. We passed the sitting rock which was piled high with the white stuff. We continued uphill to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. I stopped to take some picture of the snow hanging on the bushes.

We continued to the next junction with the blue trail and turned right to climb the trail toward the summit. We passed by the white crossover trail and continued over the summit which was also beautiful with trees encased in snow. We started down the other side slipping a little and bypassing the white trail. We did turn left on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed it out into the woods and back again to the blue trail farther down the hill. We turned left on the main blue trail and walked downhill until we were back at the junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and again walked along the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and started to walk down the trail to the woods road. At this point my phone signaled an ambulance call so I called the control center to tell them I was responding. Sheila and I started down the woods road at a double quick pace with me trying not to fall. At the first trail junction, we turned left and headed toward the trailhead. At the trailhead we turned right and made short work of the downhill. We crossed the church parking lot to our driveway. I dropped Sheila inside amd grabbed my keys and wallet to go on the call. We responded to a motor vehicle accident. Half way to the accident we were again cancelled!

On Friday, January 5th I planned to get out for a hike nearby as I was the only EMT around to cover calls. The New Year had not changed the number of ambulance calls we were covering! At 1:00 PM I began to get ready with the temperature at 28 degrees on the back porch with some sunshine and blue skies in between the clouds. I decided to go across the street to Round Top to hike as I could get back quickly if I was needed on an ambulance call. I decided to take my pack so that I could carry a saw to clear a blowdown. This would also allow me to carry my camera. As we began to get ready, Sheila was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed as she would hike every day. Sheila often examines and sniffs my clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt with a light short-served baselayer. This combination is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the colder weather. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did decide to wear my Mammut hoody to block the breezy and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a fleecy hat but eschewed gloves. I put my Silky Sugowaza saw in my pack and made sure that this time I had my camera. I brought along my phone in case there were any calls. At 1:20 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about a little over an hour and complete two figure 8's. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I did have to stop once on the way to the top of the hill. At the top we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. I could still see some snow especially in the shade of the surrounding hills. The skies were overcast with clouds and some sun and blue patches. We continued the hike by turning left at the trailhead. The trail was covered in leaves and damp in a few places but there was no snow.

We passed by all the places where I had cut trees to remove them from the trail. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were many small branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail or by using my poles on the smaller ones. It was a pleasure to walk on the trails and it was obvious more people were using them. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. I could see the frame and tarps that covered the mouth of one of the "caves". They were looking like someone had cleaned up the area and might be using it again. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail where we turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We soon ran into the small tree across the trail. The tree had been broken down a little from hikers walking over it. I took a few "before" pictures with my camera and then grabbed the saw. I ony had to make one cut cut to take the top out of the tree. I dragged the top off the trail and took the "after" shots. We continued on the trail along the base of Round Top. We came to the next junction with the blue trail and turned right to head up the blue trail toward the summit. This trail had a light covering of snow but a little walking showed it was not going to be a problem to get a grip. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. This trail also had some snow as it faces north and west. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult especially with the snow. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. As we walked over the high point, I removed a couple of branches from the trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. On this side of the hill there was no snow on the trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail again and continued down to the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and started slightly downhill toward the lookout over town. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued downhill through a sea of sad ferns which were completely brown.

When we reached the lookout, we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and then detoured to the lower lookout to take pictures. I took out my camera and took shots of the school and the rest of town. I also snapped some pictures of the surrounding hills and the lookout itself. I had Sheila pose for some pictures on the upper part of the lookout. When I was done, I stowed the camera and we descended the steep hill back to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and started up the steep hill back to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed uphill toward the junction with the blue trail. We hiked up a short but steep little hill and arrived at the trail junction. We turned right to follow the trail along the base of Round Top. Sheila was some distance behind when she came roaring passed me at full speed. She passed me, made a 180 degree turn, and came running back. She repeated this several times before I called her off. We arrived at the next junction with the blue trail after passing the point where I had cut the blowdown. We turned left to start the walk up the blue trail toward the summit. Sheila and I tuned left on the white crossover trail as I wanted to see if there was anything blocking this trail. We continued out to the main blue trail without finding any major blowdowns. We turned left on the main trail and left again on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed the switchback out into the forest and then back to the main trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where a left turn again took us along the base of Round Top. At the junction, Sheila and I turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road. We followed the woods road downhill with the ledges to the right. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked downhill and crossed the parking lot to the road. We waited to cross the road as several cars went by and then crossed to the driveway to the house. It was 2:40 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles and done some trail maintenance in 1 hour and 20 minutes. It was a pleasant hike and there were no ambulance calls to interrupt it!

On Tuesday, January 2nd I wanted to get out for a hike and to clear some blowdowns on the Parksville Rail Trail. At 6:30 M the temperature was 20 degrees on the back porch which was alright with me as I had some work to do. By 1:00 PM the temperature had risen to 30 degrees and I began to get dressed to hike. Sheila was asleep on the couch and I decided not to wake her until I was ready to go. The skies were cloudy but there were areas of blue sky and sun. The Parksville Rail Trail is about 2.5 miles out and back from the parking area near Fox Mountain Road with a beautiful waterfall. I decided to take my phone but leave it in the car so I could enjoy the hike and get some work done. I ask Sheila if she wanted to go and she said "Yes". I joped she would be able to help me clear the blowdowns. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt with a long-sleeved baselayer. This combination is a warmer than what I had been wearing and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to go without hiking poles as I would be carrying saws and an ax. I did decide to wear my Mammut hoody for warmth and to block the breeze. It has pit zips that open almost all the way to the lower hem. I donned a fleecy blaze orange hat and took along a pair of light knit gloves. I did not think to put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud that might be on the trail. I packed my Silky Sugowaza scabbard saw and my Silky KatanaBoy 500mm folding saw. I also took my Fiskars pack ax. I woke Sheila from her sleep and she immediately jumped down from the couch, sniffed my clothing, and ran for the back door!

At 1:15 PM I put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There were no vehicles in the parking lot which was surprising for such a beautiful day. We departed the parking area at 1:25 PM with the temperature at 32 degrees with a light breeze blowing. The open trail just before the woods was frozen and much drier than I thought it might be. We moved on toward the wooded part of the trail. In the shade the trail was frozen even more than in the sun. We immediately ran into some mud pits but they were mostly frozen. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was above average. I wondered about the condition of the falls but did not think we would be going that far today. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose and getting very close to the edge of the trail where a steep drop led down to the river! We continued picking up some newly fallen branches and throwing them off the trail. It was obvious the recent wind had brought down many branches and small trees. We crossed several muddy areas which were both long and wide but frozen. We were soon at the wooden walkways and I decided not to take any pictures until the return trip, if at all. We continued over the wooden walkways and ran into the small tree with a double trunk which had fallen across the bridge. There was no damage to the bridge and I decided to leave this for the return trip. The walkway and bridges were mostly dry with some dried mud and leaves. This time the water from the small stream that flows off the roadway above was flowing in a channel it had cut in the far side of the bridge. The culvert under the bridge was completely blocked. After crossing the bridge, we ran into another large mud pit that had a layer of frozen water with a few stepping stones. Just after this we came to the very large and complex blowdown across the trail. A mudslide had brought down soil and several large trees. The trees came down as the soil was eroded away exposing their roots. There were several trunk and many branches intertwined making the job of clearing the blowdown harder. There was one main trunk that looked like it might be too big to cut with hand tools. Fortunately, the largest trees had fallen into the hill instead of across the trail.

As I went to my pack to get my camera, I realized it was at home. I borrowed Cindy's phone and took some before shots. Cindy started to remove some of the smaller, loose branches. I used the silky Sugowaza to ger rid of some small branches and one small tree. We tried to get them as far off the trail as possible. I cut one small trunk on the left side of the trail with the saw and the used the axe to cut the other end as it was close to the ground. I had forgotten to bring wedges and did not want to take a chance on binding the saw. Once I had finished the cut, I grabbed the upper end of the trunk and dragged it off the trail and over the edge of the bank. I cut a few more branches and removed them before starting on the next trunk. I cut the top of the tree with the saw but had to use the ax on the end near the roots. The wood was very dry and hard and the trunk was almost on the ground. The cut went well and I was able to get rid of the trunk be dragging it over the bank. By this time I was pretty sure I would not be removing the largest trunk which would have to be cut multiple times. I saw a chainsaw in the future! I cut all of the small branches off the largest trunk so that anyone passing over it would not get hung up. After I was done, I hopped over the log and started to clear some chunks of wood and branches. I used the saw to clear a few odd branches sticking out into the trail. I also used the ax to clear another small trunk across the trail. By the time I was done Cindy was indicating her hands were cold. I used here phone to take some 'after' shots, picked up my tools and started back toward the car.

When we came to the bridges, I asked Cindy if I could try to clear the two small trunks hanging over the walkway. Cindy assented but asked me to do it quickly. I took some pictures with her phone and then inspected the trunks to see what I should do. I cut the end of one trunk off with the saw without a problem. The end fell off the bridge and I was ready to continue. I made another cut in the same trunk which went well until the cut was complete! The piece I had cut fell out and the rest of the trunks slipped down further onto the walkway. As I was doing this Cindy's hands were getting colder so I sped up the process. I made one cut to remove the other trunk from the walkway and flipped the piece off the bridge. I made one more cut which cleared most of the trees from the walkway. I quickly took pictures with the phone and packed up my tools. We headed back toward the parking area where we arrived at 3:20 PM. I checked my phone to see if there had been any ambulance calls. There had been no notifications but as I was looking at the phone it started to sound an incoming call. I called in and started driving toward the ambulance building

On Saturday, December 23rd I really wanted to get out for a first hike of the winter. An early morning ambulance call had me sleeping late to try to recover from several such calls during the week. It was cold overnight reaching into the low 20's but when I got up the temperature was in the high 20;s. At noon I began to get ready with the temperature at 30 degrees on the back porch with overcast skies and some sunshine peeking through. I decided to go across the street to Round Top to hike as I could get back quickly if I was needed on an ambulance call. As we began to get ready, Sheila was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed as she would hike every day. Sheila often examines and sniffs my clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt with a light long-sleeved baselayer. This setup is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I wore my Mammut hoody to block the breezy and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a fleecy hat and a pair of light gloves. I did bring along my phone in case there were any calls. At 12:25 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour and complete two figure 8's. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." We did not stop until we reached the top of the hill. At the top we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. All of the snow was completely gone from the trail and surrounding forest. We continued the hike by turning left at the trailhead. The trail was covered in leaves and damp in a few places but there was no snow.

At the top of the hill we turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. The trail was well-worn as this is the most popular part of the hike. Some people simply hike up to the lookout over town and then back down. Sheila and I continued straight ahead passing the path to the lower lookout. I had tried blocking the trail with brush but people kept removing the obstacles. The problem is there is a growing chasm which could be difficult for some people to cross. At least the path is not marked as part of the trail system. We walked on the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. As we walked up the trail, I removed a few loose branches from the trail. At one point there was a small tree across the trail but I was able to pick it up and throw it of the trail. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. As we neared the next trail junction, we found a small tree across the rail. Unfortunately, it was a little too big with a few too many branches to remove without tools. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up toward the summit. The trails were covered in leaves that had fallen from the trees which made the trails slippery. We passed by the white crossover trail and walked over the summit. We continued down the blue trail on the other side until we turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. We passed some more branches that I had cut and removed from the trail. The switchback took us out into the woods before turning almost 180 degrees to take us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where we turned left again. We walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail passing over and around the small tree in the trail. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned right to head down the trail to the woods road. We continued to follow the yellow blazes back to the first trail junction.

I decided I wanted to do another figure 8 so Sheila and I turned around and walked back up the woods road. At the end of the woods road, we followed the yellow trail as the blazes turned up the hill toward the junction with the blue trail. As I looked to the left I saw that the "cave" under the rock ledges seemed to have a fresh blue canvas and another white covering to enclose the area. I am not sure this is legal on public land nor do I know the purpose. When we reached the junction with the blue trail, we turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top passing over the blowdown for the third time. At the next junction, with the blue trail, we turned right and began to walk up the blue trail toward the summit. We turned right on the switchback and walked out into the woods and back. We turned right on the blue trail and headed toward the summit. We walked over the top and then headed down the other side passing the white crossover trail. We walked down the trail to the junction with the yellow trail where we turned right. We followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top encountering the blowdown for the fourth and final time. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and continued to follow the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We passed the "Sitting Rock" and soon came to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and started downhill to the first trail junction. When we reached the first junction, we continued straight ahead to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We turned right and walked down the road toward the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We continued down the hill and walked across Rock Avenue to our driveway. We were back at 1:40 PM after walking about two miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes which included the time needed to do some light trail maintenance. The temperature was 32 degrees on the back porch. The hike was perfect as we met no other people and there were no ambulance calls.

Fall 2023

On Tuesday, December 19th I wanted to get out for a hike to see the results of the recent heavy rains. At 6:30 M the temperature was 20 degrees on the back porch which was alright with me as I had some work to do. By 10:30 AM the temperature had risen to 30 degrees and I began to get dressed to hike. Sheila was asleep on the couch and I decided not to wake her until I was ready to go. I decided I would go to the Parksville Rail Trail for a quick hike because I wanted to see the falls after the rain. The skies were overcast with a few areas of blue with some nice white clouds. The Parksville Rail Trail is about 2.5 miles out and back from the parking area near Fox Mountain Road with a beautiful waterfall. I decided to take my phone but leave it in the car so I could enjoy the hike. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt with a long-sleeved baselayer. This combination is a warmer than what I had been wearing and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did decide to wear my Mammut hoody for warmth and to block the breeze. It has pit zips that open almost all the way to the lower hem. I donned a fleecy blaze orange hat and took along a pair of light knit gloves. I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud that might be on the trail. I woke Sheila from her sleep and she immediately jumped down from the couch, sniffed my clothing, and ran for the back door!

At 11:00 AM I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There were no vehicles in the parking lot which was surprising for such a beautiful day. We departed the parking area at 11:17 AM with the temperature at 44 degrees. The open trail just before the woods was damp but much drier than I thought it might be. It did show some signs of erosion. I checked the bushes that I had cut back and they remained well off the trail. We moved on toward the wooded part of the trail. In the shade the trail had a light covering of snow. We immediately ran into some mud pits but they had more water and mud than my previous trip. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was well above average. I wondered about the condition of the falls and whether they would be as less interesting than my last trip. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose and getting very close to the edge of the trail where a steep drop led down to the river! I continued picking up some newly fallen branches and throwing them off the trail. It was obvious the recent wind had brought down many branches and small trees. We crossed several muddy areas which were both long and wide. We were soon at the wooden walkways and I decided not to take any pictures until the return trip, if at all. We continued over the wooden walkways and ran into a small tree with a double trunk which had fallen across the bridge. There was no damage to the bridge but tools would be needed to remove the blowdown. The walkway and bridges were covered in a thin layer of snow made them very slippery. This time the water from the small stream was that flows off the roadway above was flowing in a channel it had cut in the far side of the bridge. The culvert under the bridge was completely blocked. After crossing the bridge, we ran into another large mud pit that had a layer of water with a few stepping stones. Just after this there was a very large and complex blowdown across the trail. Further inspection showed that there had been a mudslide which brought down soil and several large trees. The trees came down as the soil was eroded away exposing there roots. Fortunately, the largest trees had fallen into the hill instead of across the trail. I knew it would take an ax and saw and several hours of work to clear what had fallen across the trail. I took some pictures and we moved on.

As we approached the falls, I could hear the sound of the falls. We arrived at the falls and found that there was a huge flow of water. The volume was not quite as high as it is at some times in the spring. The water was somewhat muddy with a green tinge as it flowed over the falls to the basin below. The scene looked cold and bleak. Sheila and I worked our way down the frozen path to a narrow strip of land along the shore of the stream. I took some pictures downstream and across the stream to the other shore. I then started to take shots of the lower rapids and then the main falls. Sheila jumped up on some rocks so I took some pictures of her. We then worked our way back up the bank to the picnic table. I took some pictures of the falls from above and some more shots upstream. We moved on down the trail and I decided not to stop at the next bench. We started toward the Parksville end of the trail at an accelerated pace. We continued on to the end of the trail where we turned around at the sign detailing the hotels in Parksville. So far we had met no one else out for a walk and only the dogs near the end of the trail made a ruckus as we passed. We set a fast pace on the way back toward the parking area. We continued our accelerated pace as I hoped we could beat our time hiking out. We continued our pace passing the falls and working our way through the blowdown. As we approached the end of the trees, I looked at my watch and saw we were hiking a little faster than on the way out. As we broke out of the trees, I could see that my car was the only one in the lot. We arrived at the car at 1:37 PM meaning we had hiked a little les than 3.0 miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes. There is virtually no elevation gain on this short hike but carrying a pack and setting a fast pace helps with the exercise. My goal is to do this hike in 45 minutes without running. It also occurred to me that I could park in Parksville and hike toward Fox Mountain Road. I could then decide to continue the hike on the other side of Fox Mountain Road toward Old Liberty Road. This would allow me to get in a longer hike.

On Saturday, December 16th I planned to get out for the first hike of the week. When I hiked last Saturday I was reminded of how great it makes me feel to get out. I planned to hike several day during the week and the sporting events and ambulance calls destroyed that plan. At noon I began to get ready with the temperature at 42 degrees on the back porch with plenty of bright sunshine. I decided to go across the street to Round Top to hike as I could get back quickly if I was needed on an ambulance call. As we began to get ready, Sheila was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed as she would hike every day. Sheila often examines and sniffs my clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. This shirt is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did decide to wear my Mammut hoody to block the breezy and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a fleecy hat but eschewed gloves. I did bring along my phone in case there were any calls. At 12:25 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour and complete two figure 8's. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." We did not stop until we reached the top of the hill. At the top we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. I could still see some snow especially in the shade of the surrounding hills. The skies were clear with few clouds and plenty of sun. We continued the hike by turning left at the trailhead. The trail was covered in leaves and damp in a few places but there was no snow.

We passed by all the places where I had cut trees to remove them from the trail. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were many small branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail or by using my poles on the smaller ones. It was a pleasure to walk on the trails and it was obvious more people were using them. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. I could see the frame and tarps that covered the mouth of one of the "caves". They were looking like someone had cleaned up the area and might be using it again. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail where we turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We ran into one small tree across the trail and it was a little too big and secure for me to remove it without tools. The trail along the base of Round Top was covered in snow as it faces north and west. We came to the next junction with the blue trail and turned right to head up the blue trail toward the summit. This trail was also covered in snow but a little walking showed it was not going to be a problem to get a grip. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult especially with the snow. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. As we walked over the high point, I removed a couple of branches from the trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. On this side of the hill there was no snow on the trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail again and continued down to the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. Climbing over the blowdown was annoying and I debated going home to get a saw! We turned left and started slightly downhill toward the lookout over town. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued downhill through a sea of sad ferns which were completely brown.

When we reached the lookout, we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the steep hill back to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and started up the steep hill back to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed uphill toward the junction with the blue trail. We hiked up a short but steep little hill and arrived at the trail junction. We turned right to follow the trail along the base of Round Top. Sheila was some distance behind when she came roaring passed me at full speed. She passed me, made a 180 degree turn, and came running back. She repeated this several times before I called her off. We arrived at the next junction with the blue trail after climbing over the blowdown. We turned left to start the walk up the blue trail toward the summit. Sheila and I continued toward the summit again bypassing the white crossover trail. We continued over the summit which had a little anow. We started down the other side and turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed the switchback out into the forest and then back to the main trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where a left turn again took us along the base of Round Top passing over the blowdown one last time. At the junction, Sheila and I turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road. We followed the woods road downhill with the ledges to the right. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked downhill and crossed the parking lot to the road. We waited to cross the road as several cars went by and then crossed to the driveway to the house. It was 1:35 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles and done some trail maintenance in 1 hour and 10 minutes.

On Saturday, December 9th I knew I had to get in a hike after almost 3 weeks away from the woods! I had been sick but the biggest factor was the ambulance calls that had come in at every hour of the day and night. I had some work to do in the toning but by noon I was ready to go. Sheila could hardly contain her enthusiasm and was running around barking. I decided to take a short hike on Round Top just across the street as it was such a beautiful day. I knew I would have to carry my phone as I was the only EMT to respond on calls. I started to get ready at 12:30 PM with the temperature at 50 degrees on the back porch. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. This shirt is a little bit warmer than some I have and I wondered if it would be warn enough to where alone. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I did don my Mammut hoody which has plenty of zippers to dump heat if needed. I did put on a fleecy orange hat but decided not to bother with gloves. At 12:45 PM we walked out the door to begin our hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my trunk as we walked up the driveway. We walked across the street and to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We started off by walking behind the church to get to the road up the hill to the trailhead. Sheila and I began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila was setting a fast pace as we climbed the hill but I was having no trouble keeping up. My goal is always to make it all the way up the hill without stopping which I accomplished. I was a little surprised as I had not been out for so long! We stopped at the top of the hill so that we could take a look around at the scenery.

At the top of the hill we turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The skies were blue and sunny with a lot of puffy white clouds. The trail was slightly damp in some places with a little bit of mud. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. The trail was well-worn as this is the most popular part of the hike. Some people simply hike up to the lookout over town and then back down. When we reached the top of the trail, I saw a solo male hiker starting down the hill toward us. I pulled Sheila over to the side of the trail and let him pass. We talked briefly about what a beautiful day we had for hiking. Sheila and I continued straight ahead passing the path to the lower lookout. I had tried blocking the trail with brush but people kept removing the obstacles. The problem is there is a growing chasm which could be difficult for some people to cross. At least the path is not marked as part of the trail system. We walked on the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. As we walked up the trail, I removed a few loose branches from the trail. At one point there was a small tree across the trail but I was able to pick it up and throw it of the trail. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up toward the summit. The trails were covered in leaves that had fallen from the trees and in some of the shaded places there was a thin layer of snow. We passed by the white crossover trail and walked oer the summit. We continued down the blue trail on the other side until we turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. We passed some more branches that I had cut and removed from the trail. The switchback took us out into the woods before turning almost 180 degrees to take us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where we turned left again. We walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. This time we turned right to head down the trail to the woods road. We continued to follow the yellow blazes back to the first trail junction.

I decided I wanted to do another figure 8 so Sheila and I turned around and walked back up the woods road. At the end of the woods road, we followed the yellow trail as the blazes turned up the hill toward the junction with the blue trail. As I looked to the left I saw that the "cave" under the rock ledges seemed to have a fresh blue canvas and another white covering to enclose the area. I am not sure this is legal on public land nor do I know the purpose. When we reached the junction with the blue trail, we turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction, with the blue trail, we turned right and began to walk up the blue trail toward the summit. We turned right on the switchback and walked out into the woods and back. We turned right on the blue trail and headed toward the summit. We walked over the top and then headed down the other side passing the white crossover trail. We walked down the trail to the junction with the yellow trail where we turned right. We followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and continued to follow the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We passed the "Sitting Rock" and soon came to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and started downhill to the first trail junction. When we reached the first junction, we continued straight ahead to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We turned right and walked down the road toward the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. A small dachshund came running up from the house below. The owner was calling it but the dog showed no interested in behaving. The dog kept barking at Sheila who showed little interest. This has happened before and is very annoying! We were almost at the bottom of the hill when my phone sounded indicating an ambulance call. I responded and we quickened our pace. We continued down the hill and walked across Rock Avenue to our driveway. We were back at 1:50 PM after walking about two miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes which included the time needed to do some light trail maintenance. The temperature was still 50 degrees on the back porch. I quickly got ready to go on the call and drove down to the building.

On Friday, November 17th I had not planned to go on a hike as I was not feeling well. I wanted to give myself a chance to recover from my first cold of the winter season which had come early. The pager went off early in the morning and we covered two calls which delayed my visit to my church. Around noon I headed to the church to prepare the music for the Sunday service. When I returned another call changed my further plans for the day. By 2:00 PM I was free and the temperature was 60 degrees. I decided I had to get out for a hike! I decided to take a short hike on Round Top just across the street as it was such a beautiful day. I knew I would have to carry my phone as I was the only EMT to respond on calls. I started to get ready at 2:15 PM with the temperature at 60 degrees on the back porch. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. This shirt is a little bit warmer than some I have and I wondered if it would be warn enough to where alone. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I did don my Mammut hoody which has plenty of zippers to dump heat if needed. I did not bother to wear a hat. At 2:25 PM we walked out the door to begin our hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my trunk as we walked up the driveway. We walked across the street and to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We started off by walking behind the church to get to the road up the hill to the trailhead. Sheila and I began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila was setting a fast pace as we climbed the hill and I was having no trouble keeping up. My goal is always to make it all the way up the hill without stopping which I accomplished. We stopped at the top of the hill so that we could take a look around at the scenery.

At the top of the hill we turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The skies were blue and sunny with a lot of puffy white clouds. The trail was slightly damp in some places with a little bit of mud. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. The trail was well-worn as this is the most popular part of the hike. Some people simply hike up to the lookout over town and then back down. When we reached the top of the trail, we continued straight ahead passing the path to the lower lookout. I had tried blocking the trail with brush but people kept removing the obstacles. The problem is there is a growing chasm which could be difficult for some people to cross. At least the path is not marked as part of the trail system. We walked on the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. As we walked up the trail, I removed a few loose branches from the trail. The trail was flanked by ferns with a thin path through them. The ferns were brown as the fall temperatures had been dropping into the 20's at night. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up toward the summit. The trails were covered in leaves that had fallen from the trees where very few leaves still remained. We turned left on the white crossover trail and walked along the trail until it met the blue trail coming down from the summit. We turned left on the blue trail and almost immediately turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. We passed some more branches that I had cut and removed from the trail. The switchback took us out into the woods before turning almost 180 degrees to take us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where we turned left again. We walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. We turned right to head down the trail to the woods road. We continued to follow the yellow blazes back to the first trail junction.

I decided I wanted to do another figure 8 so Sheila and I turned around and walked back up the woods road. At the end of the woods road, we followed the yellow trail as the blazes turned up the hill toward the junction with the blue trail. When we reached this junction, we turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction, with the blue trail, we turned right and began to walk up the blue trail toward the summit. We turned right on the switchback and walked out into the woods and back. We turned right on the blue trail and almost immediately turn right on the white crossover trail. We walked along the trail to the junction with the blue trail where we turned right. We walked down the blue trail to the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and continued to follow the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We passed the "Sitting Rock" and soon came to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and started downhill to the first trail junction. When we reached the first junction, we continued straight ahead to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We turned right and walked down the road toward the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We continued down the hill and walked across Rock Avenue to our driveway. We were back at 3:30 PM after walking about two miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes which included the time needed to do some light trail maintenance. The temperature was now 58 degrees on the back porch.

On Monday, November 13th I wanted to get out for a hike after taking a break on Sunday. At 6:30 M the temperature was 20 degrees on the back porch which was alright with me as I had some work to do. By noon the temperature had risen to 44 degrees and I began to get dressed to hike. Sheila was asleep on the couch and I decided not to wake her until I was ready to go. I decided I would go to the Parksville Rail Trail for a quick hike. The skies were blue with lots of sun and some nice white clouds even though the temperature was just over 40 degrees. The Parksville Rail Trail is about 2.5 miles out and back from the parking area near Fox Mountain Road with a beautiful waterfall. I decided to take my phone but leave it in the car so I could enjoy the hike. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt with a long-sleeved baselayer. This combination is a warmer than what I had been wearing and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did decide to wear my Mammut hoody for warmth and to block the breeze. It has pit zips that open almost all the way to the lower hem. I donned a fleecy blaze orange hat and took along a pair of light knit gloves. I thought about putting on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud that might be on the trail but in the end I left them home. I woke Sheila from her sleep and she immediately jumped down fem the couch, sniffed my clothing, and ran for the back door!

At 12:45 PM I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There were no vehicles in the parking lot which was surprising for such a beautiful day. We departed the parking area at 1:02 PM with the temperature at 44 degrees. The open trail just before the woods was dry but showed some erosion. I checked the bushes that I had cut back and they remained well off the trail. We moved on toward the wooded part of the trail. We immediately ran into some mud pits but they had less water and mud than our previous trip. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was about average. I wondered about the condition of the falls and whether they would be as less interesting than my last trip. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose and getting very close to the edge of the trail where a steep drop led down to the river! I continued picking up some newly fallen branches and throwing them off the trail. We crossed several muddy areas which were not as long or wide as they had been in some time. We were soon at the wooden walkways and I decided not to take any pictures until the return trip. We continued over the wooden walkways and bridges which were dry but covered in dirt ad leaves. I thought about bringing a rake and a broom next time to clean off the bridges which were covered in a mixture of leaves and dirt. This time the water from the small stream was treaty reduced and flowing around the bridge. After crossing the bridge, we ran into another large mud pit that had a layer of water with a few stepping stones.

As we approached the falls, I could hear the sound of the falls. We arrived at the falls and found that there was a nice flow of water. The volume seemed lower than on our last trip. The water was mostly clear as it flowed over the falls to the basin below. I was hoping the scene would look cold but the sun was beginning to peek through. I decided to continue to the end of the trail and take pictures on the way back. We moved on down the trail and I decided not to stop at the next bench. We started toward the Parksville end of the trail at an accelerated pace. We continued on to the end of the trail where we turned around at the sign detailing the hotels in Parksville. So far we had met no one else out for a walk and the dogs near the end of the trail that usual raise a ruckus were silent. It was 1:27 PM meaning we had set a fast pace on the way out! I was determined to keep the fast pace on the way back toward the parking area. I decided not to take any pictures as the views were not much different than the last trip. We continued our accelerated pace as I hoped we could beat our time hiking out. We continued our pace passing the falls and then the bridge and walkway. As we approached the end of the trees, I looked at my watch and saw we were hiking a little faster than on the way out. As we broke out of the trees, I could see that my car was the only one in the lot. We arrived at the car at 1:51 PM so that the return hike took 24 minutes. We had hiked a little les than 3.0 miles in 49 minutes. There is virtually no elevation gain on this short hike but carrying a pack and setting a fast pace helps with the exercise. My goal is to do this hike in 45 minutes without running. It also occurred to me that I could park in Parksville and hike toward Fox Mountain Road. I could then decide to continue the hike on the other side of Fox Mountain Road toward Old Liberty Road. This would allow me to get in a longer hike.

On Saturday, November 11th I awoke at 6:30 AM with the temperature at 23 degrees. I want to get out for a hike but found I was the only EMT available for most of the day. I also wanted to watch the live stream of the state cross country championships which ran from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM. As I was watching the live stream, Kept waiting for an ambulance call but there were none. At 3:00 PM the temperature was up to 41 degrees but it was overcast and very raw outside. I almost decided to be lazy and stay home but realized I needed the exercise. I started to get ready as Sheila came over to sniff my clothing. She seemed very happy when she found I was putting on hiking clothes. I decided I would again go across the street to Round Top to hike as I could get back quickly if there was an ambulance call. I planned to do some loops rather than my usual figure 8's just for some variation. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt with a long-sleeved baselayer. This combination is a warmer than what I had been wearing and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did decide to wear my Mammut hoody for warmth and to block the breeze. It has pit zips that open almost all the way to the lower hem. I did bring along my phone in case there were any calls. At 12:05 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour and complete two figure 8's. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." We did not stop until we reached the top of the hill. At the top we turned left at the trailhead. The trail was covered in leaves and damp in a few places.

We passed by all the places where I had cut trees to remove them from the trail. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. It was a pleasure to walk on the trails and it was obvious more people were using them. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. I could see the frame and tarps that covered the mouth of one of the "caves". They were looking ragged as if no one had used them for some time. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail where continued straight ahead on the blue trail toward the summit. We walked uphill passing the white crossover trail. It seemed like a short walk over the summit before we started own the other side. We passed the white crossover trail. Instead of turning left on the switchback in the blue trail, we continued straight ahead on the blue trail. At the bottom of the hill we continued straight ahead on the yellow trail heading toward the viewpoint over town. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued downhill through a sea of ferns which were completely brown. When we reached the lookout, we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the steep hill back to the first trail junction. I looked up and saw a woman hiking up the trail toward us. I grabbed Sheila and directed her off the trail so that the other hiker could pass. We walked down the hill to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and started up the steep hill back to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed uphill toward the junction with the blue trail. We hiked up a short but steep little hill and arrived at the trail junction. We continued staright ahead on the blue trail toward the summit. When we came to the switchback, we simply walked passed it toward the summit. We also passed by the white crossover trail and passed over the summit. We continued on the blue trail down the hill passing the white crossover trail . At the junction with the yellow trail we continued straight ahead on the yellow trail. We headed down the yellow trail toward the woods road. We followed the yellow blazes as they took us slightly to the right on the yellow trail. It didn't take us long to return to the first trail junction. I checked my watch and after completing two big loops we were still short of an hour. We turned around and started back up the woods road. I was surprised that I felt very fresh and wished I was on a longer hike away from home! At the end of the woods road, we followed the yellow blazes as they turned left up the hill. When we arrived at the junction with the blue trail, we turned left to walk the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. This route allowed me to complete a short loop and check to see if there were any blowdowns on this part of the trail. The trail was in good shape and we were soon at the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and continued on the yellow trail toward the lookout. This slight downhill walk went quickly. At the viewpoint we turned left and walked down the steeper hill to the first trail junction. We continued straight ahead to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We turned right and walked downhill without meeting any wandering dogs. We walked down the hill toward the church and crossed the parking lot to the road. We waited to cross the road as several cars went by and then crossed to the driveway to the house. It was 4:25 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes. Sheila still seemed like she had a lot of energy. Once inside she began a set of zoomies through the living and dining rooms.

On Wednesday, November 8th I wanted to get in a hike near home so that I could cover ambulance calls. I decided to take a short hike on Round Top just across the street as it was a beautiful day. I started to get ready at 12:15 PM with the temperature at 37 degrees on the back porch. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt with a long-sleeved baselayer. This shirt is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did don my Mammut hoody which has plenty of zippers to dump heat if needed. I also put on a light bright orange hat. I took my phone with me so that I could respond to ambulance calls if needed. At 12:35 we walked out the door to begin our hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my trunk as we walked up the driveway. We walked across the street and to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We started off by walking behind the church to get to the road up the hill to the trailhead. Sheila and I began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila was setting a fast pace as we climbed the hill and I was having some trouble keeping up. My goal is always to make it all the way up the hill without stopping which I accomplished. We stopped at the top of the hill so that we could take a look around at the scenery. There was a large pickup truck parked blocking the road just beyond the trailhead. It always surprises me that people are so inconsiderate of others.

At the top of the hill we turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The skies were blue with a lot of puffy white clouds. The trail was slightly damp in some places with a little bit of mud. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. The trail was well-worn as this is the most popular part of the hike. Some people simply hike up to the lookout over town and then back down. When we reached the top of the trail, we continued straight ahead passing the path to the lower lookout. I had tried blocking the trail with brush but people kept removing the obstacles. The problem is there is a growing chasm which could be difficult for some people to cross. At least the path is not marked as part of the trail system. As we passed by the upper viewpoint, I could see a man standing on the lower lookout and assumed he was the owner of the illegal parked truck. We walked on the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. As we walked up the trail, I removed a few loose branches from the trail. The trail was flanked by ferns with a thin path through them. The ferns were brown as the fall temperatures had been dropping into the 20's at night. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up toward the summit. The trails were covered in leaves that had fallen from the trees where very few leaves still remained. We bypassed the white crossover trail and walked over the summit to start down the other side. We continued on the trail and again bypassed the white crossover trail but turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. We passed some more branches that I had cut and removed from the trail. The switchback took us out into the woods before turning almost 180 degrees to take us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where we turned left again. We walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. We turned right to head down the trail to the woods road. We continued to follow the yellow blazes back to the first trail junction.

I decided I wanted to do another figure 8 so Sheila and I turned around and walked back up the woods road. At the end of the woods road, we followed the yellow trail as the blazes turned up the hill toward the junction with the blue trail. When we reached this junction, we turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction, with the blue trail, we turned right and began to walk up the blue trail toward the summit. We turned right on the switchback and walked out into the woods and back. We turned right on the blue trail and continued over the summit avoiding the white crossover trail. We walked over the summit and started down the other side toward the yellow trail. We contiued out to the main trail and turned right on the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and continued to follow the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We passed the "Sitting Rock" and soon came to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and started downhill to the first trail junction. When we reached the first junction, we continued straight ahead to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We turned right and walked down the road toward the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. The dog from a nearby house came running up the trail toward us followed by his owner. I knew the owner and we was declaring the dog was "OK". The dog did seem to want to play but I prefer dogs on leashes! After a brief conversation with the owner, who had controlled his dog, we continued down the hill. We walked across Rock Avenue to our driveway. We were back at 1:50 PM after walking about two miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes which included the time needed to do some light trail maintenance and to talk to the dog owner. The temperature was now 40 degrees on the back porch.

On Monday, November 6th I planned to get out for a hike after more than a week off for bad weather and ambulance calls. At 11:45 AM I began to get ready with the temperature at 44 degrees on the back porch. I decided to go across the street to Round Top to hike as I could get back quickly if there was an ambulance call. As I began to get ready, Sheila was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed. Sheila often examines and sniffs my clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt with a long-sleeved baselayer. This combination is a warmer than what I had been wearing and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did decide to wear my Mammut hoody for warmth and to block the breeE. It has pit zips that open almost all the way to the lower hem. I did bring along my phone in case there were any calls. At 12:05 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour and complete two figure 8's. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." We did not stop until we reached the top of the hill. At the top we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. The skies were cloudy but also had a generous expanse of blue. The trees all around us had dropped all of their leaves as had the ones on the hills around Livingston Mnaor. We continued the hike by turning left at the trailhead. The trail was covered in leaves and damp in a few places.

We passed by all the places where I had cut trees to remove them from the trail. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a few branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail or by using my poles on the smaller ones. It was a pleasure to walk on the trails and it was obvious more people were using them. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. I could see the frame and tarps that covered the mouth of one of the "caves". They were looking ragged as if no one had used them for some time. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail where we turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The trail remained clear of any blowdowns and the brush was well back from the trail bed. We came to the next junction with the blue trail and turned right to head up the blue trail toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. As we walked over the high point, I removed a couple of branches from the trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail again and continued down to the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and started slightly downhill toward the lookout over town. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued downhill through a sea of ferns which were completely brown.

When we reached the lookout, we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the steep hill back to the first trail junction. It was 12:35 PM and it had taken exactly half an hour for the walk over and the first figure 8. We immediately turned around and started up the steep hill back to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed uphill toward the junction with the blue trail. We hiked up a short but steep little hill and arrived at the trail junction. We turned right to follow the trail along the base of Round Top. Sheila was some distance ahead when she came roaring back at me at full speed. She passed me, made a 180 degree turn, and came running back. She repeated this several times before I called her off. We arrived at the next junction with the blue trail and turned left to start the walk up the blue trail toward the summit. Sheila and I continued toward the summit again bypassing the white crossover trail. We continued over the summit which had a little mud. We started down the other side and turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed the switchback out into the forest and then back to the main trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where a left turn again took us along the base of Round Top. At the junction, Sheila and I turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road. We followed the woods road downhill with the ledges to the right. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked downhill. A small dog started toward us yapping as it came. Sheila wanted to say hello but I guided her down the hill toward the church. We crossed the parking lot to the road. We waited to cross the road as several cars went by and then crossed to the driveway to the house. It was 1:05 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles and done some trail maintenance in 1 hour. Sheila still seemed like she had a lot of energy. Once inside she began a set of zoomies through the living and dining rooms.

On Friday, October 27th I wanted to get out for a hike to extend my consecutive days with a hike or a bike. In the morning I went to my church to prepare the Sunday service and was surprised that there were no ambulance calls whole I was there. Most days we get multiple calls in our district or for mutual aid to other districts in the county. I was back by 1:00 PM and got some lunch. I asked Cindy if she would like to hike the Parksville Rail Trail from Fox Mountain Road to Old Liberty Road near Livingston Manor. She agreed and we began to get ready with the temperature at a ridiculous 78 degrees for the end of October. We started getting ready with the temperate at 82 degrees. I got dressed in my White Sierra light crew top and a short-sleeved compression baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. At 2:15 PM I put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. Just after this intersection is the western parking area for the rail trail. The parking lot had no other cars parked which surprised me for such a nice day.

The temperature was still 76 degrees under blue skies with diffuse white clouds as we began the hike at 2:30 PM. We walked under the Quickway on Fox Mountain Road and crossed the bridge over a stream. We stepped over the guard rail and started out on the trail. Almost immediately we came to what was left of the trestle supports that carried the trail tracks over the stream. We started to walk up the trail to the left of the trestle and immediately came to a blowdown that I had trimmed so that hikers could easily get around it. I decided to come back and cut this with my axe at another time. We walked around the blowdown and up the trail to the top of the trestle. As we entered the shade of the trees, it immediately seemed a little cooler. The trail is rather well defined and stretches ahead for some distance. Like most rail trails it was very straight. Town of Liberty Supervisor Frank DeMayo had told me that this was state land and the town had an agreement from the state to use it during the summer. I saw no POSTED signs along the right-of-way. The hope is to connect the Parksville Rail Trail to all the sections that stretch as far as Livingston Manor. We started to walk along the trail and I noticed there was quite a bit of loud traffic on the Quickway! Between the traffic and the rustling of the leaves it was hard for Cindy and I to talk despite being a few feet part. We were both concerned about ticks but found a prevalence of deer keds! The land drops off steeply from the rail trail to the Little Beaverkill on the right. There was a surprisingly good volume of water in the stream despite the lack of rain for almost a week. On the left were some "cliffs" which were the result of the railroad cutting a path for the tracks. We continued to walk along the well-defined trail. It was a pleasant walk except for the many insects. There are two places along the trail where there were piles of garbage. It is hard to determine why they are there. Both piles had tarps over them which seemed to indicate someone once valued the items. Near the first pile on the right is a VW Bug down over the side of the trail! We soon came to the gate on the trail which is odd since it is state land. No one seems to know why the gate is there or who placed it. We walked around the gate and continued on the trail.

Soon we came to a small pond on the right with a red building behind it. The building looked to be in good shape but the windows were all boarded up. The grass on the trail had been mowed although I did not know who would do this. After hiking about 1.3 miles, we came to a driveway on the left which leads to the Sonoma Falls property. I knew this was private land and decided not to enter. I wish I could find out who owns the land and get explicit permission to walk around the property. It has been more than 12 years since I had last visited this area on a regular basis. At one time there was a campground on the property. Some local business people bought the property and built a cider mill and market. They took the time to construct some hiking trails along the stream. I remember that the falls were very nice with at least five separate drops which increased in height the farther upstream one ventured. We continued on the main trail toward Old Liberty Road and set a quick pace. The walk along the old road was interesting as there were some impressive rock cuts on the left. The waterway on the right had more water than I had seen there in some time. The walk was about .4 miles which was a little longer than I thought. When we arrived at Old Liberty Road, I saw that the trail actually continued straight ahead parallel to the road. I decided to explore this part of the trail on another visit. We turned around at 3:10 PM and walked back toward the car. We set a pretty fast pace on the way back and did not stop at all. There were a few photographic opportunities on the hike but we enjoyed the fast-paced walk. We were back at the car at 3:50 PM having hiked 3.4 miles in 1 hours and 20 minutes. The ascent was 230 feet but it is hardly noticeable as the trail feels flat when walking. I do hope the plans to connect the sections of the trails is successful!

On Thursday, October 26th I wanted to get out for a hike after few days off for various commitments. At 8:30 AM, the ambulance pager sounded and I was off on a string of four different calls in our district! By the time I got home, I was pretty tired so I asked Cindy If she would like to eat at Café 43. She agreed so we met to eat. The food there is always great. We returned home by about 1:00 PM and I started to do some work. By 2:30 PM I could no longer resist the beautiful weather and started to get ready to hike. I decided I would go to the Parksville Rail Trail for a quick hike . The temperature was 78 degrees and the humidity was low with a slight breeze. The skies were blue with lots of sun and some nice white clouds. The Parksville Rail Trail is about 2.5 miles with a beautiful waterfall. I decided to take my phone just in case there was no other EMT around. As I was getting dressed it looked as if Sheila thought we might not hike again! I decided to wear my White Sierra long-sleeved crew shirt with a bight short-sleeved baselayer. This shirt islighter than many I wear and appropriate for the warmer weather. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I thought about putting on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud that might be on the trail but in the end I left them home.

At 3:05 PM I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There were no vehicles in the parking lot which was surprising for such a beautiful day. We departed the parking area at 3:20 PM with the temperature at 76 degrees. The open trail just before the woods was damp and showed some erosion. I checked the bushes that I had cut back and they remained well off the trail. We moved on toward the wooded part of the trail. We immediately ran into some mud pits with more water and mud than our last trip. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was higher than I expected with a good volume of water. I wondered about the condition of the falls and whether they would be as more interesting than my last trip. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose and getting very close to the edge of the trail where a steep drop led down to the river! I looked up and saw two women hiking in our direction with two dogs on leashes. I leashed Sheila as they approached. The women stepped off the trail so I continued passed the. When we came to where they were standing, I struck up a conversation. We let the dogs greet each other and all were well-behaved. We parted hiking in opposite directions. I continued picking up some newly fallen branches and throw them off the trail. We crossed several muddy areas which were not as long or wide as they had been in some time. We were soon at the wooden walkways and I decided not to take any pictures until the return trip. We continued over the wooden walkways and bridges which were dry but covered in dirt ad leaves. I thought about bringing a rake and a broom next time to clean off the bridges which were covered in a mixture of leaves and dirt. This time the water from the small stream was treaty reduced and flowing around the bridge. After crossing the bridge, we ran into another large mud pit that had a layer of water with a few stepping stones.

As we approached the falls, we could hear a loud sound which was the falls. We arrived at the falls and found that there was a nice flow of water. The volume seemed lower than on our last trip. The water was mostly clear as it flowed over the falls to the basin below. I decided to continue to the end of the trail and take pictures on the way back. We moved on down the trail and I decided not to stop at the next bench. We started toward the Parksville end of the trail at an accelerated pace. At this moment my phone went off altering me to an ambulance call. I was pretty far away from the car but knew that I might be the only EMT responding. I called the 911 enter to let them know I was responding and they informed me that we had a driver also. I hurried back toward the falls when the phone sounded again to et me know the call had been canceled. We turned around and continued on to the end of the trail where we turned around at the sign detailing the hotels in Parksville. It was 3:50 PM meaning we had set a fast pace despite the interruption! We set a fast pace back toward the parking area as I wanted to be ready for other call. I decided not to take any pictures as the views were not much different than the last trip. We continued our accelerated pace as I hoped we could beat our time hiking out. We continued our pace passing the falls and then the bridge and walkway. As we approached the end of the trees, I looked at my watch and saw we were hiking faster than on the way out. As we broke out of the trees, I could see that my car was the only one in the lot. We arrived at the car at 4:15 PM so that the return hike took 25 minutes. We had hiked about 3.0 miles in 55 minutes. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike but carrying a pack helps with the exercise.

On Wednesay, October 25th I planned to get out for a hike but knew I would have to stay close to home to cover ambulance calls. Lisa had contacted me about hiking figure 8's OM Round Top and we agreed to meet at 3L00 PM in the church parking lot. At 2:30 PM I began to get ready with the temperature at 70 degrees on the back porch. As I began to get ready, Sheila was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed. Sheila often examines and sniffs our clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I decided to wear my White Sierra Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. This shirt is a little bit lighter and appropriate for the warmer weather. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I decided I did not need a jacket or hat due to the unseasonably warm weather. I did bring along my phone in case there were any calls. At 2:55 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour and complete two figure 8's. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. Lisa was waiting for us and as soon as Sheila saw her she began pulling on her leash. Sheila greeted Lisa who was almost ready to start the hike. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." We did not stop until we reached the top of the hill. At the top we paused for a minute so we could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. The skies were blue with white clouds. The trees all around us had dropped almost all of their leaves but their were still some of the beaches. We continued the hike by turning left at the trailhead. The trail was covered in leaves and damp in a few places.

We passed by all the places where I had cut trees to remove them from the trail and I pointed out to Lisa the work that can be done with hand tools. The trail was damp in some places but there was no mud. At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. The trail was well-worn as this is the most popular part of the hike. Some people simply hike up to the lookout over town and then back down. When we reached the top of the trail, we continued straight ahead passing the path to the lower lookout. I had tried blocking the trail with brush but people kept removing the obstacles. The problem is there is a growing chasm which could be difficult for some people to cross. At least the path is not marked as part of the trail system. We passed by the upper viewpoint as the views are blocked by several trees that have grown up. We walked on the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. As we walked up the trail, we removed a few loose branches from the trail. The trail was flanked by ferns with a thin path through them. The ferns were brown as the fall temperatures had been dropping into the 30's at night. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. I made note that although I had cut back the brush there were still a few branches that were leaning in and needed to be lopped. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up toward the summit. The trails were covered in leaves that had fallen from the trees where very few leaves still remained. We bypassed the white crossover trail and walked over the summit to start down the other side. We again bypassed the white crossover trail but turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. We passed some more branches that I had cut and removed from the trail. The switchback took us out into the woods before turning almost 180 degrees to take us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where we turned left again. We walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. This time when we reached the trail junction we turned right to head down the trail to the woods road. In several places it was clear that a large amount of water had washed over the trail cleaning away the leaves and pine needles. As we followed the yellow blazes back toward the first trail junction, my phone sounded to let me know there was an ambulance call. I knew there were no other EMTs available so I called in to the 911 center. Lisa knew what was going on and we greatly accelerated our pace. When we got back to the first trail junction, we turned left and walked quickly out to the trailhead. We turned right and moved swiftly down the hill. I grabbed a new orange bandana that was Lisa's present to Sheila and headed across the street. It wasn't a long hike but we covered a little over a mile in 35 minutes.

On Saturday, October 21st I planned to get out for a hike if I could find someone to cover ambulance calls for an hour or so. I knew a driver would be available and found an EMT who would be around town. At noon I began to get ready with the temperature at 58 degrees on the back porch. I decided to go across the street to Round Top to hike as I could get back quickly if I was needed on a second call. As we began to get ready , Sheila was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed. Sheila often examines and sniffs our clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. This shirt is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did decide to wear my OR rain jacket to block the wind. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did bring along my phone in case there were any calls. At 12:20 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour and complete two figure 8's. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." We did not stop until we reached the top of the hill. At the top we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. The skies were overcast and it even looked like it might rain. The trees all around us had dropped almost all of their leaves but their were still some of the beaches. We continued the hike by turning left at the trailhead. The trail was covered in leaves and damp in a few places.

We passed by all the places where I had cut trees to remove them from the trail. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a few branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail or by using my poles on the smaller ones. It was a pleasure to walk on the trails and it was obvious more people were using them. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. I could see the frame and tarps that covered the mouth of one of the "caves". They were looking ragged as if no one had used them for some time. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail where we turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We came to the next junction with the blue trail and turned right to head up the blue trail toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. As we walked over the high point, I removed a couple of branches from the trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail again and continued down to the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and started slightly downhill toward the lookout over town. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued downhill through a sea of ferns which were almost completely brown.

When we reached the lookout, we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the steep hill back to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and started up the steep hill back to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed uphill toward the junction with the blue trail. We hiked up a short but steep little hill and arrived at the trail junction. We turned right to follow the trail along the base of Round Top. Sheila was some distance ahead when she came roaring back at me at full speed. She passed me, made a 180 degree turn, and came running back. She repeated this several times before I called her off. We arrived at the next junction with the blue trail and turned left to start the walk up the blue trail toward the summit. Sheila and I continued toward the summit again bypassing the white crossover trail. We continued over the summit which had a little mud. We started down the other side and turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed the switchback out into the forest and then back to the main trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where a left turn again took us along the base of Round Top. At the junction, Sheila and I turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road. We followed the woods road downhill with the ledges to the right. On the way we met two hikers waling up from the woods road toward us. We greeted each other and continued to walk in opposite directions. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked downhill and crossed the parking lot to the road. We waited to cross the road as several cars went by and then crossed to the driveway to the house. It was 1:35 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles and done some trail maintenance in 1 hour and 15 minutes.

On Tuesday, October 17th I wanted to get Ina hike near home before timing a soccer game in the afternoon. I decided to take a short hike on Round Top just across the street as it was a beautiful day. I started to get ready at 12:30 PM with the temperature at 56 degrees on the back porch. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. This shirt is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did don my Mammut hoody which has plenty of zippers to dump heat if needed. I also put on a light hat. I left my phone at home so that I could enjoy the hike without going on an ambulance call! I grabbed Sheila's leash from my trunk as we walked up the driveway at 12:45 PM. We walked across the street and to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We started off by walking behind the church to get to the road up the hill to the trailhead. I saw a man walking down the hill with two dogs on a leash. As they disappeared, I saw a car pull into the parking area. A man got out of the car to ask me the location of the trailhead for Round Top. I told him the church probably would not mind if he parked in the lot and hiked up the hill to the trails. Sheila and I began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila was setting a fast pace as we climbed the hill and I was having some trouble keeping up. My goal is always to make it all the way up the hill without stopping which I accomplished. We stopped at the top of the hill so that we could take a look around at the scenery.

At the top of the hill we turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. I could immediately feel that the temperature had dropped several degrees because of the shade and a slight breeze. The skies were blue with puffy white clouds. The trail was damp in some places but there was no mud. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. The trail was well-worn as this is the most popular part of the hike. Some people simply hike up to the lookout over town and then back down. When we reached the top of the trail, we continued straight ahead passing the path to the lower lookout. I had tried blocking the trail with brush but people kept removing the obstacles. The problem is there is a growing chasm which could be difficult for some people to cross. At least the path is not marked as part of the trail system. We passed by the upper viewpoint as the views are blocked by several trees that have grown up. We walked on the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. As we walked up the trail, we removed a few loose branches from the trail. The trail was flanked by ferns with a thin path through them. The ferns were brown as the fall temperatures had been dropping into the 30's at night. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. I made note that although I had cut back the brush there were still a few branches that were leaning in and needed to be lopped. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up toward the summit. The trails were covered in leaves that had fallen from the trees where very few leaves still remained. We bypassed the white crossover trail and walked over the summit to start down the other side. I looked up to see the couple that had been in the car hiking up the hill toward us. We stopped to talk and Sheila seemed not to care that there were other people on her trails. The couple was from Syracuse and was hoping Round Top would be a longer hike. I talked to them about hiking at Frick and Hodge Ponds. I also mentioned the short but Beautiful hike to Mongaup Falls. We soon continued in opposite directions. We again bypassed the white crossover trail but turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. We passed some more branches that I had cut and removed from the trail. The switchback took us out into the woods before turning almost 180 degrees to take us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where we turned left again. We walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. This time when we reached the trail junction the couple were just coming down from the summit of Round Top. We let them go ahead of us but stayed with them to talk. we turned right to head down the trail to the woods road. In several places it was clear that a large amount of water had washed over the trail cleaning away the leaves and pine needles. We continued to follow the yellow blazes back to the first trail junction. The couple turned left continued out to the trailhead.

I decided I wanted to do another figure 8 so Sheila and I turned around and walked back up the woods road. At the end of the woods road, we followed the yellow trail as the blazes turned up the hill toward the junction with the blue trail. When we reached this junction, we turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction, with the blue trail, we turned right and began to walk up the blue trail toward the summit. We turned right on the switchback and walked out into the woods and back. We turned right on the blue trail and continued over the summit avoiding the white crossover trail. We walked over the summit and started down the other side toward the yellow trail. We contiued out to the main trail and turned right on the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and continued to follow the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We passed the "Sitting Rock" and soon came to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and started downhill to the first trail junction. When we reached the first junction, we continued straight ahead to the trailhead where we turned right and walked down the road to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. I put Sheila back on her leash to cross the street. We walked across Rock Avenue to our driveway. We were back at 2:00 PM after walking about two miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes which included the time needed to do some light trail maintenance and to talk to the other hikers. The temperature was now 58 degrees and the skies were beginning to darken.

On Thursday, October 12th I wanted to get out for a hike after few days off for ambulance calls, bad weather and soccer ganes; not necessarily in that order. I wondered if we would see any color still in the trees and if any waterfalls would be roaring from the recent rain. I decided I would go to the Parksville Rail Trail for a quick hike as I wanted to see what the recent heavy rain had done to the volume of the stream and the falls. I asked Cindy if she would like to go along but she declines. The temperature was 66 degrees and the humidity was low with a slight breeze. The skies were blue with some sun and some nice white clouds. I started to get ready at 12:00 PM with Sheila keeping a watchful eye on me. The Parksville Rail Trail is about 2.5 miles with a beautiful waterfall. I decided to leave my pager and phone home as I knew others were around to respond and I needed a break. As I was getting dressed it looked as if Sheila thought we might not hike again! I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. This shirt is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I thought about putting on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud that might be on the trail but in the end I forgot them. I thought about a jacket, hat, and gloves but decided there would be plenty of time for them. I did slip my Silky Sugowaza saw into my pack.

At 12:25 PM I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There were one vehicle in the parking lot which was surprising for such a beautiful day. We departed the parking area at 12:40 PM with the temperature at 66 degrees. The open trail just before the woods was damp and showed some erosion from the steady rain that had occurred lately. I checked the bushes that I had cut back and they remained well off the trail. We moved on toward the wooded part of the trail. We immediately ran into some mud pits with more water and mud than our last trip. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was higher than I expected with a good volume of water. I wondered about the condition of the falls and whether they would be as more interesting than my last trip. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose and getting very close to the edge of the trail where a steep drop led down to the river! We began to run into some branches hanging into the trail from the side and above. I continued picking up some newly fallen branches and throw them off the trail. Along the way I looked up to see a couple walking toward us with their dog on a leash. I put Sheila on her leash and we passed by each other with a "hello". We crossed several muddy areas which were longer and wider than they had been in some times but we were soon at the wooden walkways. I decided to take some pictures of the stream and sky from the viewpoint even though I have many such shots. This time the light was not the best but the color of the trees offered a nice contrast to the blue sky. We continued over the wooden walkways and bridges which were wet and muddy from the rain. I thought about bringing a rake and a broom next time to clean off the bridges which were covered in a mixture of wet leaves and mud. This time the water from the small stream was eroding deep channels on the near and far sides of the bridge rather than flowing through the culvert under the bridge. After crossing the bridge, we ran into another large mud pit that had a layer of water with a few stepping stones. We came to one medium sized trunk blocking the left side of the trail. I got out the saw and sliced the trunk near the edge of the trail. The piece I cut was a little heavier than I thought but I got it to the side of the trail. When I was finished, we moved on to the next trunk which was longer but smaller in diameter. I intended to make two cuts on this longer trunk. I made the first cut just off the trail on the left side. I moved to the other side of the trail and cut through a larger diameter section. It looked like the base of the tree might have some spring in it. As I finished the cut the base section sprang up just missing my face! I moved the section off the trail and we moved on.

As we approached the falls, we could hear a loud sound which was the falls. We arrived at the falls and found that there was a nice flow of water. The volume seemed lower than the highest we had seen but it was well above anything we had seen during the summer amd fall. The water was mostly clear as it flowed over the falls to the basin below. I decided to go down to the streambed to take pictures even though I have quite a few pictures from the base of the falls. I took my pack and poles with me as Sheila and I headed down the bank to the stream. I put my pack down by the stream and took out my camera. I took some shots downstream where the light was illuminating the stream and the surrounding banks. I then turned my attention to the falls. I took some shots of the upper falls and lower rapids. After the wide-angle pictures, I took some close-ups of both falls. Sheila posed on a rock amd I took some pictures of her with the falls in the background. When I finished, we climbed back up the bank. I took some shots of the falls from above from different locations and different angles. I also took picture upstream from this higher angle. I could see that the path along the edge of the stream was almost completely covered with water. We moved on down the trail and I decided not to stop at the next bench. We started toward the Parksville end of the trail at an accelerated pace. We continued on to the end of the trail where we turned around at the sign detailing the hotels in Parksville. As we turned, I saw a lone hiker headed toward us in black pants, black jacket, white shirt, and black cap. It was 1:25 PM and we set a fast pace back toward the parking area as I wanted to stay in front of the hiker behind us. I didn't think much about the other hiker until I heard a voice behind us. The hiker had caught up to us and wanted to make sure Sheila would not bother him. I took Sheila by the collar and stepped off the trail as the hiker blew by us. We continued our accelerated pace but the other hiker easily pulled away from us and disappeared. We continued our pace passing the falls and then the bridge and walkway. As we approached the end of the trees, we met the other hiker coming back toward us. I asked him if he had walked the other part of the trail toward Livingston Manor. He said that he had not but would try it. As we broke out of the trees, I could see that my car was the only one in the lot. We arrived at the car at 2:00 PM after hiking about 3.0 miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike but carrying a pack helps with the exercise.

On Monday, October 9th, I wanted to get out for a hike which was a little harder than I had been doing. I also wanted to get in some elevation gain to see the fall colors from above. My son Karl and I talked about hiking with his whole family to the Red Hill fire tower from the newer trailhead on Denning Road. The trailhead on Dinch-Coons Road is difficult to access in the winter as the road is not cleared and it is equally difficult when it is muddy. Many people park at the top of the hill where there is limited parking. It is a half mile downhill to the trailhead parking lot. The return trip can be nearly impossible if there is ice, packed snow or mud on the road. The new trailhead and parking area is on Denning Road 1.7 miles from the Claryville Post Office. We decided on Friday to meet at 9:00 AM at the parking lot on Denning Road. I knew there was a detour for bridge repair but hoped it was after the parking area. Sunday night into Monday morning we had several ambulance calls so I got very little sleep. A call came in at 7:18 AM which I thought would put an end to my hiking plans but the call was canceled and I decided I wanted to go. At 7:30 AM when I was starting to get ready the temperature was 34 degrees. I hoped it would warm up but also knew the temperature at the trailhead might be lower. As I began to get ready Sheila was keeping a close watch on my movements. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. I decided to put on my a pair of Keen Durand hiking boots to which I had added a set of Protalus insoles to replace the ones Keen uses. It is a shame that most high end hiking boot manufacturers include insoles without proper support. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on an orange hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters which come almost to my knee to deal with the mud and to keep my lower legs warm. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and we left Livingston Manor at 11:15 AM. I headed out the DeBruce Road passing through DeBruce and Willowemoc. At the end of the road I turned right on Route 47 and drove out to the Denning Road. Here I turned left and drove through Claryville. I drove 1.7 miles from the Claryville Post Office, we came to the new parking area on the right side of the road and pulled into the lot. There is a sign hanging from the support on the side of the road to designate the parking area and a kiosk with a description and maps. I was glad I had not run into the detour which is beyond the parking aea on Denning Road. I was also glad that Karl and his family were waiting for me in the lot. Their car was parked in the lot next to a red pickup truck. As I got out of the car, the whole family greeted me and it was obvious they were ready to hike. Karl mentioned that the truck belonged to Doug Hamilton, a tower guide, who had gone on ahead to open the tower cab and observer's cabin. I let Sheila out of the car and she was very happy to see everyone. We walked to the back of the parking area and started up the trail at 9:05 AM with the temperature standing at 34 degrees.

As we began the walk up the trail, I noticed that is was only damp despite the heavy rains onver the weekend. The trail was covered in a layer of fallen leaves. I decided we would get to the summit as quickly as possible and that I would forego any pictures on the way up. We almost immediately came to the first set of stone steps. They were well constructed and in just the right place to help out hikers. I also noticed that a woods road ran off to the right. I thought about walking up it some other time but realized this was DEP land and that hikers were asked to stay on the trails. We continued up the trail with Brynn and Kathleen in the lead and the rest of us close behind. We continued on the trail which was still in good shape even after it had been in place for several years. The treadway was wide and flat with few obstacles. There were several switchbacks and it was obvious that one requirement of the construction was a moderate grade. The forest at these lower elevations was primarily evergreen which is unusual in the Catskills. We did run across a few branches on the trail which we removed. At .4 miles the trail turned sharply to the left in one of its many switchback and we entered an area of hardwoods. There was a small stream that ran across the trail and the construction crew had create a deep ditch along the side of the trail. The ditch directed the water across the trail and at that point there was a stone construction to allow the water to cross the trail and hikers to easily cross the water. There was very little water flowing and the other similar constructions had no water flowing at all. We kept up a lively stream of conversation which made the hike go more quikly. I was surprised at how quickly the grandkids hiked without any complaints. At .7 miles I could see a series of ledges ahead and stone steps that wound between them. This would be repeated several more times over the next quarter mile. Getting up the steps was easy but in the winter they can be tricky. Sheila was walking the trail and then taking a few detours to follow her nose. The last set of steps was the most extensive and interesting. At 1.4 miles we came to a trail junction with the trail that comes in from the Dinch-Coons Road trailhead. The signs indicated the Dinch Road trailhead was .8 miles to the left and the fire tower was .6 miles to the right. We stopped for a few moments and then continued toward the tower.

After walking a short distance, the trail began the ascent to the summit of Red Hill. The grade up to the trail junction had been 10% but now increased to 21% which I could feel! After about a quarter mile, there was a spur trail to a spring on the right side of the trail and then a short switchback. I had not climbed much on my recent hikes but this trip seemed to be easier than I had expected. It was certainly true that the company of the family made the hike seem much easier. There was plenty of sun which made me feel good but was also contributing to making me pretty warm. Soon I spotted some familiar landmakes and knew we were almost at the tower clearing. We broke out into the clearing and found Doug sitting on the porch of the observer's cabin. He immediately recognized me and we caught up on several different topics while the rest of the family headed toward the fire tower. I eventually broke away and walked over to a picnic table. I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take some pictures of the tower. I decided to tether Sheila to a picnic table knowing she would follow me up the tower or annoy other hikers. Unlike some dogs, Sheila has no problem climbing up and down the open steps but I did not want to chance it on this day. As I walked over toward the tower, another young man arrived at the clearing and started talking to Doug. Karl, who is not thrilled with heights, was coming down the tower as I started to climb the steps. Without looking, I could tell when I was above the treeline as the breeze hit me. I eventually made it to the landing below the cab and entered the cab to find Bryce and Lukas with their mother. The windows were all closed but I began to take pictures of the surrounding scenery in all directions. The views were clear and beautiful but the leaf colors were dull as I had found in several other places. The views of the Catskill peaks from this tower are spectacular and the Rondout Reservoir can be seen in the avlley. I began to take pictures at different angles and zooms trying to capture some of the colors. I find that I can never get pictures that really reflect the beauty of God's creation. After taking quite a few shots, I took some pictures of the boys in the cab. When we were all done, I started to descend the tower. On the way down, I stopped to take some more pictures from the landing below the cab. Once on the ground, I took more shots of the tower and the clearing.

I walked back over to the picnic table and stowed the camera. I was ready to start back down but Karl explained that Doug told him we could walk passed the tower and down the access road. This used to be off limits but the DEP was now allowing public access. Doug told us there was a weather station on the right and then a bend in the trail. Just after this bend was a lookout on the left of the trail which Doug highly recommended. We started off on the road which was slightly downhill and soon came to the weather station. We followed the road an after about half a mile, the viewpoint appeared on the left. The view was spectacular and was at least as good as the ones from the tower. A short trail led down to a rock ledge and the kids ran down to sit and relax. I walked down the path and dropped my pack to get out the camera. I took pictures of the beautiful scene and then returned the camera to my pack to take some time to rest. Soon we decided to start back to the car. We walked back up the road to the tower clearing. We thanked Doug for the suggestion about the viewpoint and the started back down the trail. Not very far down the trail, we saw another family hiking up the trail. I had Bryce pout Sheila on her leash as we passed by the family greeting them as we went by. This happened two more times on the way down. It was nice to see other families out hiking! The climb up the hill had not seemed to tire the grandchildren and they were getting loud and silly, I decided to increase my pace as I want a little more peace and quiet. This work pretty well and shortened the time on the trail. We passed the spur trail to the spring and continued down the trail. The trail was damp with a good amount leaves which made itslippery but using poles really helped. We came to the turn to the left and made the turn to continue our hike back to the parking area. I could feel that the temperature had increased but I kept the fast pace with Sheila right behind me. Every time I slowed I could feel the kids closing in on me! The walk from the junction went quickly and we were soon making the turns through the bottom section of the trails. We passed through the long section of steps and continued down the trail where the kids finally caught up with us. Soon we descended the last few steps to the parking area. It was 12:30 PM and we had hiked 5 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes with plenty of stopped time at the tower and the viewpoint. Our elevation gain was 1220 feet. The temperature had risen to 52 degrees but some clouds were moving in.

On Thursday, October 5th I wanted to get out for at least a 6 mile hike and see if I could find some colorful leaves which were sorely lacking around Livingston Manor. I decided to go to the Frick Pond area and hike to the lookouts of Beech Mountain. One viewpoint has a nice view of many of the Catskills high peaks looking to the east while the other looks west over Hodge Pond. I got up at 9:00 AM giving myself some extra time to catch up on sleep after numerous ambulance calls during the week. As I was starting to get ready at 10:15 AM the pager went off and I started to get ready to respond. A few minutes later we were cancelled! This usually annoys me, but in this case I was happy. I started to get ready at 11:00 AM with Sheila watching my every move. The temperature was 73 degrees on the back porch with plenty of sun but I knew it might be cooler at the trailhead. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. This shirt is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I thought about putting on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud that might be on the trail but in the end decided against them. I thought about a jacket but decided there would be plenty of time for that. I did add my Silky Sugowaza saw just in case I ran into blowdown or two. I got my gear in the car and put an excited Sheila in the back seat as I drove out the DeBruce Road toward Frick Pond at 11:15 AM. After about 6 miles, I turned left on the Mongaup Pond and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road at the fork. There was one car parked in the smaller lot as I pulled in at 11:20 AM. I set my GPS and we immediately started our hike by crossing the road and heading out on the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond.

The trail was barely damp as we walked the Flynn Trail through the woods. When we hit the wide woods road that is the Flynn Trail, I realized I had walked passed the two large trees that Ranger Stratton and I had removed in August. It had certainly made the trail easier to negotiate. We turned right and I noticed that the grass was only slightly damp as was the trail bed. The woods road once led to the Beech Mountain Boy Scouts Camp. The camp was serviced by the extension of Beech Mountain Road which is now the Flynn Trail. The temperature was 68 degrees at the trailhead but I was getting warm already just from the exertion of hiking uphill. The sun was out and there were white, puffy clouds in the blue sky. We were keeping a pretty fast pace but it didn't seem to bother me. We walked passed the large hemlock tree that a DEC crew had cleared from the trail. At 1.2 miles we came to the path to the clearing on the right side of the trail. I decided that even though I had not been there for some time I would skip it as the hike I planned was already longer than I had been hiking. We continued toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. Along the way I removed some large branches and small trunks that had fallen on the trail. Just before the junction with the Big Rock trail there was a medium-sized trunk across the trail. I probably could have cut it with my saw but decided to wait until another day when I could bring an axe. It took us 55 minutes to reach the first trail junction with the Big Rock Trail at 1.7 miles into the hike. This was faster than I expected from the pace that we were keeping.

We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail passing through the gate that separates state land from Beaverkill Valley Land Trust property. After walking for a relatively short time, we arrived at the point where the Flynn Trail bears left down to Hodge Pond. We turned right and followed on the woods road toward the site of the Boy Scout camp and the lookouts I wanted to visit. The woods road we were walking on was once Beech Mountain Road leading to the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. As we walked I had been removing small branches from the trail by habit. After a short walk, a trail turned off to the left to go down to the pond and the road we were on continued straight ahead. Another road was sandwiched in between the two and leads to the site of the former Boy Scout camp which has been leveled by the Beaverkill Valley Land Trust. At the road junction there were two signs that said "Parking" and pointed to the area of an old gravel and dirt quarry. I had no idea what event had taken place or was going to take place! We continued straight ahead on the road that started up the hill. The road was covered in leaves which were mostly brown and yellow. I could tell we were walking uphill again but I quickly adapted to the change in terrain even though I could feel it was more tiring. I was really warm now but had not brought another shirt to change into. We passed a spring house on the right and Sheila stopped to get a drink but there was barely enough water to get her feet wet. The trails so far had been much drier than I expected. The grade became steeper as we climbed the hill and at about 2.6 miles the road made a sharp turn to the right. We stopped so that I could take some pictures from a small viewpoint, but the viewpoint is now grown and there is no view so we continued on the road. As the road made another sharp turn, this time to the left, a trail went off to the right. We continued to follow the road to the left came to the top of a little hill. Several woods roads lead upward and along the ridge to Flynn's Point of Beech Mountain which is the highest point in Sullivan County. We continued on the road walking downhill. As the road turned right, I noticed the path that leads toward Mongaup Mountain, one of the CHH peaks. I knew there was a nice viewpoint there but I did not want to take the time to bushwhack out to it. We turned right on the road and came to a beautiful lookout to the east with a view of many of the Catskill high peaks. The color of the leaves was disappointing! I could not tell whether the leaves still needed some time to reach peak color or whether they were passed peak and falling. I knew this would probably be the case but was a little disappointed. I knew that the winds on Saturday might take down many of the leaves before they changed color. I took quite a few pictures before putting the camera away and continuing on the path that led up to the trail around Beech Mountain.

These paths and trails were marked with red markers placed by the Beaverkill Land Trust. I also noticed some very nice tent platforms near the trail but it looked like they had not been used much. We continued around the mountain a circular direction passing some interesting ledges on the right. I had tried to take some pictures of these impressive stone formations in the past but the pictures never do them justice. We continued on the path around Flynn's Point on Beech Mountain until we came to the lookout over Hodge Pond on the left. When I walked out to the stone ledge that makes up the viewpoint, I could see the leaf color was better than the last viewpoint. Most of these colors were around Hodge Pond. I took several pictures at different zooms and at different angles. When I was done, I packed up ad we continued in a clockwise direction around Beech Mountain on the woods road. I considered bushwhacking up to the Sullivan County high point but decided to continue on down to Hodge Pond as the colors were so nice there. We walked out the trail to the road and turned left. We continued on the road and set a quick pace down the hill. At the base of the hill, we turned right on the woods road that leads down to Hodge Pond. We turned left when the road intersected a jeep trail and started along the east side of the pond. I though I heard voices or music and looked down at the pond to see a bright yellow inflatable boat. I wondered if whoever was using it carried it all the way in to Hodge Pond! We continued on the road and ended up at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. We walked over to the shore of the pond where I dropped my pack and got out the camera. Sheila decided to go wading briefly and I took a few shots. The colors I had seen from the lookout were even better from the level of the pond. The colors were not as bright as I had hoped but I looked forward to coming back in a week to see how they developed. I took some shots of the pond concentrating on the leaves. I also got some pictures of some ducks on the pond diving for dinner. The outlet to the pond was still dammed up making the level of the pond high and flooding the Flynn Trail. The sky was blue with puffy white clouds. When I was done, I ate a bar and got a drink before picking up and walking to where the Flynn Trail enters the woods. We started climbing the hill back to the junction where we had turned right some time before. This ascent can sometimes seem long but on this day it went quickly. I stopped to take a few shots of some white mushrooms growing on the trail. At the top of the hill we stayed to the right on the Flynn Trail and followed the route we had taken out. We passed through the gate and continued on the trail.

We were soon approaching the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I thought about whether to return on the Flynn Trail or add a little mileage by taking the Big Rock Trail. I decided on the Big Rock Trail since it would allow me to check out more trails. We turned right on the Big Rock Trail and started the long downhill hike. The walk down the Big Rock Trail went quickly even though there are several points where it seems the descent has ended only to continue toward Times Square. We were soon at Times Square where we continued straight across to stay on the Big Rock Trail. Times Square which is usually wet and muddy was barely damp. The trails had been almost completely dry up to this time but there were a few muddy areas on the Big Rock Trail. We passed by another large blowdown Ranger Stratton and I had cut. This one was about hip high and not easy to get over so I was glad it was gone. As we continued on the trail, we came to the two bridges over the inlet streams. The bridge abutments are beginning to deteriorate and really need to be replaced. I stopped at the first bridge to take some shots of some colorful trees. As we continued to hike, we walked through the beautiful spruce forest and over the wooden walkways which also need repair. Some sections of the walkways are poorly supported and some have boards are coming loose. I took some picture in this spruce tunnel which was hard to do as it was very sunny. We avoided the mud pit just before the junction with the Quick Lake Trail by following the detour hikers have created. Soon we were at the junction with the Quick Lake Trail where we turned left toward the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. The large mud pit that the Willowemoc Trail crew had worked on was still easy to cross due to the increased drainage and stepping stones. Once passed the muddy area, it wasn't long until we were at the bridge at the outlet end of Frick Pond. Despite the fact that I have hundreds of pictures from this spot, I took a few more. The trees around the pond were colorful but not quite as far along as the ones around Hodge Pond. I finished my photography and we started up the hill to Gravestone Junction. I noted that the Lobdell memorial marker was upright as we passed by. The marker is a memorial to two children who died in the 1930's in a fire that consumed their cabin. As we walked along the Quick Lake Trail back to our cars, I noticed that the trail was wet with some standing water and a few places with flowing water. The Willowemoc Trail Crew had done some work here but it is hard to drain the trail as it is the lowest spot in most areas. At the trail register, we continued straight ahead to return to the car in the smaller parking area. By 3:30 PM we were back at the car after hiking 7.3 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes with 15 minutes of stopped time. This was good for a moving pace of 2.0 mph. We also gained 1305 feet of elevation.

On Monday, October 2nd I planned to get in a slightly longer hike with a little elevation gain. From Saturday morning to Monday afternoon I had been on ambulance calls ranging from a house that exploded to call canceled as we were arriving on scene and I needed to get away! I have gotten into the habit of staying in Livingston Manor and taking short hikes so that I can respond to calls. This is not good for my physical or mental health! I asked Cindy if she would like to go to Trout Pond and she agreed. We began getting ready at 12:15 PM with overcast and hazy skies from wildfires burning far away. As we were getting ready the temperature was 62 degrees. Sheila was pretty excited as we started to get ready as she always is when we go hiking. She switches between Cindy and I sniffing our clothing and whining. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. This shirt is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I thought about putting on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud that might be on the trail but in the end decided against them. I thought about a jacket but decided there would be plenty of time for that. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 12:20 PM as I drove north on the Quickway towards Roscoe. I got off at exit 94 and headed north on Route 206 towards Downsville. After crossing the Rockland Flats and passing the Roscoe Nursing Home, I turned left on Morton Hill Road and drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. There were twp cars sitting in the "lot" at the intersection of the two roads. People see the open space and park there without thinking about the fact that the land is private. I knew Cindy would not want to have to walk back up Russell Brook Road at the end of the hike so I decided to drive down the road to park in the lower lot. Russell Brook Road is a seasonal maintenance road and it did look like it had recently been maintained. There was a car parked at the camping area on the left side of the road and another across the road in a spot which is not for parking. I drove a little further down the road and pulled over on the right at the viewpoint over the upper falls. I grabbed my camera from my pack and walked down the steep bank to the viewpoint. I was surprised to see that the folume of water was very low but I took some shots anyway. I walked back up the bank wondering about the low volume of water in the stream. I drove down to the lower parking lot and parked the car next to two others.

I had not brought my GPS unit as we had done the hike many times before. We started our hike at 12:40 PM by walking down the woods road toward the bridge across Russell Brook. The road was almost dry with no mud. As we crossed the bridge, I could see that the brook wasn't very high which was surprising as there had been recent rain storms in many areas. We decided to go to the falls at the beginning of the hike rather than to save a visit for the return trip. The Japanese knotweed was still very much alive and encroaching on the path. I stopped and took a few pictures. We turned to the right on the path that leads to the falls. The path was very narrow and overgrown despite an indication that people were visiting the area. I walked to the spot where the path descends to the streambed and walked down to the bottom. I put down my pack and got out my camera. I took some pictures of the falls at different angles and zooms. I also took shots of the stream. The volume was very low and I began to realize that this area had not gotten much, if any, of the rain from the recent storms. I had Sheila pose in front of the falls and then returned to my pack. I put away the camera and we returned to the main trail where we turned right. The history of this area is very interesting. Russell Brook Falls had been the site of a dam that impounded water for a waterwheel in Butternut Grove. The wheel was still there a few years ago. The area near the register box was the "landing zone" for loggers who cleared the evergreen trees, not for tanning but, for the production of wood alcohol. The trees were transported on narrow gauge railway that ran parallel to Russell Brook. The railway met the mainline O&W near Butternut Grove where the logs were unloaded. There were several acid factories in the area that produced wood alcohol. There was also a factory on the lower part of Russell Brook that produced khaki dye for the uniforms of American troops during World War I. We followed the main trail passed the register box and up the trail toward Trout Pond. The trail was almost dry which was a contrast to many times when it has been wet and muddy. I did notice that wherever the trail was damp or muddy that there were tire tracks that formed a deep impression into the trail. Crews come to work on the bridge and lean-tos amd do a great job but cause problems on the trails which they do not fix.

As we walked up the trail we met a young man walking toward us. I pulled Sheila off the trail as he passed. We said "Hello" and he responded. We continued and soon met an older man and a young girl. I again corralled Sheila and greeted the two as they passed. We started back on the trail and almost immediately met a woman hiking toward us. I cam to the conclusion that this was a family of four hiking at slightly different speeds. We weren't pushing the pace but the walk seemed to go very quickly as we passed the path to the first primitive campsite on the left. We could hear the outlet stream from Trout Pond and I explained to Cindy how, on my last visit, I had walked down to the stream and bushwhacked up to the dam at the outlet end of Trout Pond. I told her about all the interesting rapids and small falls I had seen. Soon we were at the outlet end of the pond and we walked over to the shore where the water was low enough to have a nice "beach". I dropped my pack to take pictures of the lake. The skies were clearing and the sun was shining through in places. The leaves were as pretty and as colorful as we had seen anywhere. I kept seeing new shots to take. Sheila took a quick dip and I took a few pictures. I packed up and we returned to the main trail to walk the flat woods road toward the inlet end of the pond. This trail is always wet but on this day the large ponds that had been present the last time were almost dry! I stopped several times to take pictures of the trail and some across the lake to take in the leaves. The small stream just before the trail junction near the leanto was easily crossed as it was almost dry. When we came to the bridge, I stopped to take a few pictures of the pond from just before the bridge and from the bridge itself. There were two hikers on the trail that leads to the upper lean-to and we let them go ahead of us in the trail that starts up Cherry Ridge. The fire pit at the lower lean-to was smoldering and I did not see anyone around. I thought about walking over to see the modifications that had recently been done to make the lean-to and privy ADA compliant but decided to continue hiking. We crossed the bridge and stayed to the right on the Mud Pond Trail which would take us over Cherry Ridge and form our loop back to the parking area. The trail was nearly dry but very rocky as we started to ascend the hill. As we continued up the trail, we both slowed a little as the grade increases. There had been some very large trees across the trail but they had been cut by a DEC crew or the rangers.

From the bridge at the inlet we climbed 430 feet over the next .75 miles. The trail headed west from the inlet until turning sharply south at around 2.3 miles. The highest point on the trail was at 2.2 miles after which most of the rest of the hike is downhill. I was getting a little tired on the climb and wondered if Cindy was having any problems. I slowed my pace a little but Cindy seemed to be doing alright despite her aversion to assigning. As we started down the other side, the trail was damp in spots but there was no standing or running water which I have some to expect. The relatively dry conditions continued for the rest of the trip making the hike more enjoyable than my last outing here. We ascended a small hill to the stand of small birch trees and then descended the other side where there was some mud. At 3.7 miles we had descended 420 feet from Cherry Ridge to the snowmobile trail near Mud Pond. I could see that the trail was just damp so we stayed on the woods road. We ascended a small hill before starting downhill back toward the parking area. This section usually has some running water across the trail but on this day all the streams were dried up. All told, we dropped another 380 feet over the next .7 miles back to the bridge just before the trail register. We stopped on the bridge over the outlet stream from Trout Pond and I pointed out to Cindy how high it had been last time. We continued on the trail to the junction and turned right and continued on the main trail toward the parking area. We continued across the bridge and up the trail to the parking area where there were now two diffeent cars parked. We were back at the car at 3:35 PM and we had hiked 4.3 miles in 2 hours and 55 minutes with an elevation gain of 863 feet. We had stopped many times for pictures and to look around.

On Thursday, September 28th I planned to get out for a hike inbetween ambulance calls and afternoon girls soccer that I was timing. The temperature was 64 degrees and I decided to go across the street to Round Top to hike a clear a few small trees that had fallen on the trail. I knew Cindy does not like the climbs but I asked her anyway and to my surprise she agreed. As we began to get ready just after 12:30 PM, Sheila was keeping a careful eye on both of us as we dressed. Sheila often examines and sniffs our clothing to make sure we are serious about hiking. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. This shirt is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I thought about putting on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud that might be on the trail but in the end decided against them. I thought about a jacket, hat, and gloves but decided there would be plenty of time for them. I didn't think I would be taking any pictures but I did put my silky Sugowaza saw in my pack which I hoped was all I would need to clear the trails. At 12:55 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour and clear the trails as we went. I left my pager and phone at home so that I could have some time without worrying about ambulance calls! Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." We stopped a couple of times for Cindy to catch her breath but were soon at the top of the hill. At the top of the hill we paused for a minute so we could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. The skies were overcast and it even looked like it might rain. The trees all around us were beginning to turn colors and some leaves were falling. I had my pack but had not included my camera. I was a little sorry I did not have the camera as there were some good photographic opportunities. We continued the hike by turning left at the trailhead. The trail was bare but damp in a few places.

We passed by all the places where I had cut trees to remove them from the trail. At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a few branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail or by using my poles on the smaller ones. It was a pleasure to walk on the trails and it was obvious more people were using them. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. I could see the frame and tarps that covered the mouth of one of the "caves". They were looking ragged as if no one had used them for some time. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail where there was a long but small diameter trunk arcoss the trail. I put the pack down and got out the saw. I cut the tree on the side of the trail opposite the stump. I then turn my attentions to the other end. I cut around the stump in an effort to loosen the trunk. The wood was wet and stringy so I had to get tough and kick it a couple of times before lifting and dropping it which finally broke it loose. I dragged the trunk off the trail and we resumed our walk by turning left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. In a short distance there was another somewhat larger white birch across the trail. The trunk was very long and I did not know whether I could cut it without pinching the saw. I had Cindy stabilize the trunk while I cut the trunk on the top side off the trail. This went quickly without the saw binding. I went to the other side of the trail and started to cut the wider part of the trunk which was nearer the stump. This also went quickly and a large section was soon on the ground. I was able to lift this piece and throw it into the woods. I pit the saw back in its scabbard in the pack and we continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. A little farther along we found some bushes leaning over into the trail. I put down the pack and got out the saw and made short work of them. Back on the trail we came to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned right and headed up the blue trail toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. As we walked over the high point, I removed a couple of branches off the trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail again and continued down to the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and started slightly downhill toward the lookout over town. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued downhill through a sea of ferns which were turning brown.

When we reached the lookout, I regretted leaving my camera home as there were some pretty views down to town and the school from the viewpoint. There were also some nice views of the hills around town. Normally, we follow the yellow trail as it turns left and descends the steep hill back to the first trail junction. This means when we turn around we have to climb that short but steep hill. In an effort to keep Cindy with me I offered to turn around at the lookout to avoid that climb and Cindy reluctantly agreed. Sheila seemed pleased as she dashed ahead of us up the trail. We followed the trail as it turned right and headed uphill toward the junction with the blue trail. We hiked up a short but steep little hill and arrived at the trail junction. We turned right to follow the trail along the base of Round Top. Sheila was some distance ahead when she came roaring back at us at full speed. She passed us, made a 180 degree turn, and came running back. She repeated this several times before I called her off. We arrived at the next junction with the blue trail and I turned left to start the walk up the blue trail toward the summit. Cindy decided she did not want to go up and would wait for us at the junction. Sheila and I continued toward the summit but turned left on the white crossover trail. I was surprised there were no trunks or branches on this trail. We were soon at the blue trail where we turned left and then left again on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed the switchback out into the forest and then back to the main trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where a left turn again took us along the base of Round Top. At the junction, I looked for Cindy but she was not there as she had promised. I hoped she had followed the trail to the trailhead! Sheila and I turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road. We followed the woods road downhill with the ledges to the right. On the way we passed two young people sitting on a log to the left of the trail. They were smoking and a sweet, coying odor wafted in our direction. They said a woman had just walked passed them and Sheila and I sped up to catch her. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked downhill spotting Cindy about a third of the way down the hill. We caught up to her and we all walked down the hill and crossed the parking lot to the road. We waited to cross the road as several cars went by and then crossed to the driveway to the house. It was 2:15 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles and done some trail maintenance in 1 hour and 20 minutes.

On Tuesday, September 26th I wanted to get out for a hike after almost a week off for ambulance calls, bad weather and church commitments; not necessarily in that order. This had delayed our first hike of the fall and I wondered if we would see many trees changing color. I decided I would go to the Parksville Rail Trail for a quick hike as I wanted to see what the recent heavy rain had done to the volume of the stream and the falls. I asked Cindy if she would like to go along and she said "Yes". I think we both felt it would be a good day to hike as the temperature was 62 degrees and the humidity was low with a slight breeze. The skies were blue with some sun and some nice white clouds. We started to get ready at 12:15 PM with Sheila keeping a watchful eye on both of us. The Parksville Rail Trail is about 2.5 miles with a beautiful waterfall. I decided to leave my pager and phone home as I knew others were around to respond and I need a break. As we were getting dressed it looked as if Sheila thought we might not hike again! I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. This shirt is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I thought about putting on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud that might be on the trail but in the end I forgot them. I thought about a jacket, hat, and gloves but decided there would be plenty of time for them.

At 12:40 PM I put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There were no vehicles in the parking lot which was surprising for such a beautiful day. We departed the parking area at 12:55 PM with the temperature at 62 degrees. The open trail just before the woods was pretty damp and showed some erosion from the steady rain that had occurred lately. I checked the bushes that I had cut back and they remained well off the trail. We moved on toward the wooded part of the trail. We immediately ran into some mud pits with more water and mud than ourlast trip. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was higher than I expected with a good volume of water. I wondered about the condition of the falls and whether they would be as more interesting than my last trip. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose and getting very close to the edge of the trail where a steep drop led down to the river! We began to run into some branches hanging into the trail from the side and above. There were two new trunks hanging across the trail which I knew I could cut with a saw. I did pick up some newly fallen branches and throw them off the trail. I continued to do this for the rest of the hike as the winds from the storms had loosened branches that had then fallen on the trail. We crossed several muddy areas which were longer and wider than they had been in some times but we were soon at the wooden walkways. I decided not to take some pictures of the stream and sky from the viewpoint as there was nothing very different. We continued over the wooden walkways and bridges which were wet and muddy from the rain. I thought about bringing a rake and a broom next time to clean off the bridges which were covered in a mixture of wet leaves and mud. This time the water from the small stream was eroding deep channels on the near and far sides of the bridge rather than flowing through the culvert under the bridge. After crossing the bridge, we ran into another large mud pit that had a layer of water with a few stepping stones. There continued to be small branches to remove as we walked.

As we approached the falls, we could hear a loud sound which was the falls. We arrived at the falls and found that there was a nice flow of water. The volume seemed lower than the highest we had seen but it was well above anything we had seen during the summer. The water was mostly clear as it flowed over the falls to the basin below. I decided to go down to the streambed to take pictures even though I have quite a few pictures from the base of the falls. I took my pack and poles with me as Sheila and I headed down the bank to the stream. I put my pack down by the stream and took out my camera. I took some shots downstream where the light was illuminating the stream and the surrounding banks. I then turned my attention to the falls. I took some shots of the upper falls and lower rapids. After the wide-angle pictures, I took some close-ups of both falls. When I finished, we climbed back up the bank. I took some shots of the falls from above from different locations and different angles. I also took picture upstream from this higher angle. I could see that the path along the edge of the stream was almost completely covered with water. We moved on down the trail and I decided not to stop at the next bench. We started toward the Parksville end of the trail at an accelerated pace. Along the way we ran into some loud music and an even louder dog. The dog was on the other shore of the stream and really looked and sounded like he wanted to join us. We continued on to the end of the trail where we turned around at the sign detailing the hotels in Parksville. It was 1:35 PM and we set a respectable pace back toward the parking area which was even faster as we were not stopping to remove branches or take pictures. I think we were both lost in our own thoughts as we did not talk much while walking. As we broke out of the trees, I could see a woman with two dogs on leashes coming toward us from the parking lot. We passed by each other with a quick "Hello". We arrived at the car at 2:15 PM after hiking about 3.0 miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike but carrying a pack helps with the exercise.

Summer 2023

On Tuesday, September 19th, Cindy and I had out district pastors' meetings at 10:00 AM in Walton. The meeting went well, as always, and we were home by 1:30 PM. I wanted to get out for a hike someplace I had not been in some time. I asked Cindy if she would like to go to the Beaverkill Campgrounds since they were closed and soul be empty. Getting away even for an hour improves my mood and my physical health. The skies were blue with puffy white clouds and the temperature was just 70 degrees. Cindy agreed to go as the hike is along the river and is almost flat. We started to get ready and noticed Sheila was certainly happy to go hiking. I decided to wear my White Sierra long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did not put on any gaiters even though numerous ticks had plagued us on previous hikes. We left the house at 2:00 PM as I drove out Old Route 17 toward Roscoe and turned right on Beaverkill Road. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. There were no cars parked in the lot. A glance at the river showed that the level was high enough to be interesting. The temperature was 70 degrees as we got ready to begin our hike.

We started out at 2:25 PM by walking out of the parking lot to the bridge with the temperature at 70 degrees. The skies were bright blue with puffy white clouds. When we got to the other side, the gate just off the road was closed as the campgrounds had closed September 5. I looked at the trail and saw that it was a little damp but not muddy. We turned left on a woods road that parallels the river and started down a short hill. We passed the spring house and continued on the deserted woods road. We came to an area with a little path down to the river. Just passed this area the trail had been eroding due to the water running down the bank. The DEC had replaced a culvert pipe and installed a second. They had also brought in fill and packed it to reconstruct the path. I found this interesting as the campsites along this path are no longer used and are abandoned. I walked down to the edge of the river very carefully as the rocks were slippery and the water looked deep and cold. I took some pictures downstream and some upstream to the bridge although the leaves on the trees were hiding most of the covered bridge. There were several places where trees at the edge of the river had fallen into the water testifying to the power of the river when it is high. Some of the leaves were beginning to change which add color to the pictures. When I was done, we got back on the trail and passed several areas with unused picnic tables. The state had mowed around many of the tables so that they could be used by people who wanted to picnic. Others sat unused and rotting along the road, a testimony to better days. We walked by these tables which had not been used in many years. I could not resist stopping to take some pictures of the trails and the picnic tables with absolutely no one around except us! A little later we came to what was once a bathroom for some campsites that had long since disappeared. There were more tables in this area. There was a path over to the river so I walked over and found the water was sparkling in the sun and was very clear. I took some pictures of the sun reflecting off the water both upstream and downstream. I also took some pictures of the bathroom that was slowly rotting away.

At about .7 miles the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites. We continued on the road through the campsites and along the river. The campsites were all empty and I took pictures of the solitude. I took several pictures of the tall trees against the blue skies. We walked to the last campsite where the road ends and Sheila and I walked down to the edge of the river. I was careful to watch where I was walking but the water was low and warm. I stopped to take some pictures of the river especially downstream. Sheila decided to take a dip in the water but did not wait for me to take pictures of her. We continued along the shore a little further passed the last campsite and I took some more shots before walking up to the campsite and back to where Cindy was standing. I stowed my camera and picked up the pack. We walked back from the last campsite, staying to the left of the last bathroom to walk back on the other paved road through the campsites. This road parallels the one we walked out on to make a sort of loop. We retuned the way we had come although at a quicker pace. As we approached the bridge, I saw that there were two cars parked in the lot with three people talking. We walked through the bridge and turned right to go back to the car. Sheila and Cindy got into the car and I stowed my pack but retrieved my camera. I walked down to the shore of the stream and out onto a rock that sticks out into the Beaverkill. I took some shots downstream and then turned my attention to the bridge. I took some shots of the whole bridge and some close-ups of the abutments and the center portion. I returned to the car at 3:40 PM having hiked 2.7 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes. The car's thermometer read 72 degrees.

On Sunday, September 17th I planned to get out for a hike after returning from church. The temperature was 68 degrees and I asked Cindy if she would like to go across the street to hike on Round Top. Cindy declined but Sheila was very enthusiastic. She was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed. I decided to wear my White Sierra long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did not put on any gaiters even though numerous ticks had plagued us on previous hikes. At 1:25 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour depending on how I felt. I had left my pager and phone at home so that I could have some time without worrying about ambulance calls! Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Even though I had not been hiking much, I made it to the top without stopping. At the top of the hill we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. The skies were blue with a few white clouds. The trees all around us were beginning to turn colors and some leaves were falling. I had decided not to bring my pack just to carry my camera. I was a little sorry I did not have the camera as there were some good photographic opportunities. We continued the hike by turning left at the trailhead. The trail was bare but damp in a few places.

We passed by all the places where I had cut trees to remove them from the trail. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a few branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail or by using my poles on the smaller ones. It was a pleasure to walk on the trails and it was obvious more people were using them. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. I could see the frame and tarps that covered the mouth of one of the "caves". They were looking ragged as if no one had used them for some time. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. There were only a few new branches here and there on the trail. I stopped to remove the branches or used my poles to flick the smaller ones aside. There were also two small trees across the trail. I tried to move them but they were well-anchored and I knew I would have to return with tools to take care of them. I was getting warmer as we hiked even though the temperatures was in the mid 60's. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. As we walked over the high point, I removed a couple of branches off the trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail again and continued down to the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. Jumping over the small trunks across the trail was no problem for us but I knew some people would find them difficult. We turned left and started slightly downhill toward the lookout over town.

Again, I regretted leaving my camera home as there were some pretty views down to town and the school from the viewpoint. There were also some nice views of the hills around town. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the steep hill back to the first trail junction. The descent went quickly even though the leaves were damp and a little slippery. When we got to the first trail junction, I checked my watch. I decided we had time to turn around to do another loop. Sheila seemed pleased as she dashed ahead of me up the hill. For me, the ascent was definitely more difficult than the descent! At the top of the hill we followed the trail as it turned right and headed uphill toward the junction with the blue trail. We hiked up a short but steep little hill and arrived at the trail junction. We turned right to follow the trail along the base of Round Top. Sheila was some distance ahead when she came roaring back at me at full speed. She passed me, made a 180 degree turn, and came running back. She repeated this several times before I called her off. We vaulted over the trunks across the trail and at the next junction with the blue trail we turned left and walked the blue trail toward the summit. We continued over the summit on the blue trail and headed down the other side. We turned left on the switchback and followed it out into the forest and then back to the main trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where a left turn again took us along the base of Round Top. At the junction, we turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road. We followed the woods road downhill with the ledges to the right. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked downhill crossing the road and walking through the church parking lot. We waited to cross the road as several cars went by and then crossed to the driveway to the house. It was 2:35 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in a an hour and 10 minutes.

On Friday, September 15th I wanted to get out for a hike after 10 days of ambulance calls, bad weather and church commitments; not necessarily in that order. I went to church to prepare for the Sunday service and returned ready to go for a hike wife Cindy. Cindy was not home so Sheila and I waited until she returned. I decided I would go to the Parksville Rail Trail for a quick hike as I wanted to see what the recent rains had done to the volume of the stream and the dalls. I asked Cindy if she would like to go along and she said "Yes". I think we both felt it would be a good day to hike as the temperature was 76 degrees and the humidity was low with a slight breeze. The skies were blue with some sun and some nice white clouds. We started to get ready at 3:30 PM with Sheila keeping a watchful eye on both of us. The Parksville Rail Trail is about 2.5 miles with a beautiful waterfall. I decided to leave my pager and phone home as I knew others were around to respond and I need a break. As we were getting dressed it looked as if Sheila thought we might not hike again! I decided to wear my White Sierra long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did not put on any gaiters even though numerous ticks had plagued us on previous hikes.

At 3:45 PM I put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There were no vehicles in the parking lot which was surprising for such a beautiful day. We departed the parking area at 4:05 PM with the temperature at 76 degrees. The open trail just before the woods was barely damp but showed some erosion from the downpours that had occurred lately. I checked the bushes that I had cut back and they remained well off the trail. We moved on toward the wooded part of the trail. We immediately ran into some mud pits with some water but less than on our last trip. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was lower than I expected but there was still a good volume of water. I wondered about the condition of the falls and whether they would be as interesting as my last trip. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose and getting very close to the edge of the trail where a steep drop led down to the river! We began to run into some branches hanging into the trail from the side and above. There were two new trunks hanging across the trail which I knew I could cut with a saw. I did pick up some newly fallen branches and throw them off the trail. I continued to do this for the rest of the hike as the winds from the storms had loosened branches that had then fallen on the trail. We crossed several muddy areas and were soon at the wooden walkways. I decided to take some pictures of the stream and sky. When I was done, we continued over the wooden walkways and bridges which were wet and muddy from the rain. I thought about bringing a rake and a broom next time to clean off the bridges which were covered in a mixture of wet leaves and mud. This time the water from the small stream was eroding a deep channel on the far side of the bridge rather than flowing through the culvert under the bridge. After crossing the bridge, we ran into another large mud pit that had a layer of water with a few stepping stones. There continued to be small branches to remove as we walked.

Just before the falls, I looked up to find a group of people approaching with three dogs and some children. I put Sheila on her leash and walked to the left of the trail. The first dog was a beautiful but large and energetic Saint Bernard. The woman trying to control him was doing her best and we passed by with a quick "Hello". Another woman picked up a small dog of some kind while trying to control a terrier mix on a leash. We went in opposite directions even though Shiela seemed to want to visit. As we approached the falls, we could hear a loud sound which was the falls. We arrived at the falls and found that there was a nice flow of water. The volume seemed lower than the highest we had seen but the way it was flowing was more interesting. The water was very clear as it flowed over the falls to the basin below. I decided to go down to the streambed to take pictures even though I have quite a few pictures from the base of the falls. I left my poles at the picnic table and Sheila and I head down the bank to the stream. I put my pack down by the stream and took out my camera. I took some shots downstream where the light was illuminating the stream and the surrounding banks. I then turned my attention to the falls. I took some shots of the upper falls and lower rapids. After the wide-angle pictures, I took some close-ups of both falls. When I finished, we climbed back up the bank. I took some shots of the falls from above from different locations and different angles. I also took picture upstream from this higher angle. I could see that the path along the edge of the stream was almost dry but I decided not to try my luck over the slippery rocks. We moved on down the trail and I decided not to stop at the next bench. We started toward the Parksville end of the trail at an accelerated pace. Along the way we ran into some loud music and an even louder dog. The dog was on the other shore of the stream and really looked and sounded like he wanted to join us. We continued on to the end of the trail where we turned around at the sign detailing the hotels in Parksville. It was 4:50 PM and we set a respectable pace back toward the parking area which was even faster as we were not stopping to remove branches or take pictures. We met the kids and the dogs and the women on the way back. The second meeting went much like the first except the Saint Bernard with the woman on a leash looked a little tired. So did the woman. Sheila really wanted to make friends but we decided that was a bad idea. We arrived at the car at 5:15 PM after hiking about 3.0 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike but carrying a pack helps with the exercise.

On Tuesday, September 5th I wanted to get out for a bike ride or a hike after another weekend of ambulance corps and church commitments. I got a late start as I caught up on my sleep missed on various ambulance calls in the middle of the night. I decided to do some chores around the house including taking the garbage to the transfer station. As I was about to leave, the pager went off and I responded. I was back by 2:00 PM and I asked Cindy if she would like to hike the Parksville Rail Trail from Fox Mountain Road to Old Liberty Road near Livingston Manor. She declined as she thought it was too warm. I started getting ready with the temperate at 82 degrees. I got dressed in my White Sierra light crew top which blocks the sun and isn't too warm. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. At 2:35 PM I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. Just after this intersection is the western parking area for the rail trail. The parking lot had one car parked but the owner was nowhere in sight.

The temperature was still 82 degrees under blue skies with diffuse white clouds as we began the hike at 2:25 PM. We walked under the Quickway on Fox Mountain Road and crossed the bridge over a stream. We stepped over the guard rail and started out on the trail. Almost immediately we came to what was left of the trestle supports that carried the trail tracks over the stream. We started to walk up the trail to the left of the trestle and immediately came to a blowdown that I had trimmed so that hikers could easily get wound it. I decided to come back and cut this with my axe at another time. We walked around the blowdown and up the trail to the top of the trestle. As we entered the shade of the trees, it immediately seemed a little cooler. The trail is rather well defined and stretches ahead for some distance. Like most rail trails it was very straight. Town of Liberty Supervisor Frank DeMayo had told me that this was state land and the town had an agreement from the state to use it during the summer. I saw no POSTED signs along the right-of-way. The hope is to connect the Parksville Rail Trail to all the sections that stretch as far as Livingston Manor. We started to walk along the trail and I noticed there was quite a bit of traffic on the Quickway! The land dropped off steeply to the Little Beaverkill on the right. On the left were some "cliffs" which were the result of the railroad cutting a path for the tracks. We continued to walk along the well-defined trail. It was a pleasant walk without many insects. There are two places along the trail where there were piles of garbage. It is hard to determine why they are there. Both piles had tarps over them which seemed to indicate someone once valued the items. Near the first pile on the right is a VW Bug down over the side of the trail! We soon came to the gate on the trail which is odd since it is state land. No one seems to know why the gate is there or who placed it. We walked around the gate and continued on the trail.

Soon we came to a small pond on the right with a red building behind it. The building looked to be in good shape but the windows were all boarded up. The grass on the trail had been mowed although I did not know who would do this. After hiking about 1.3 miles, we came to a driveway on the left which leads to the Sonoma Falls property. I knew this was private land and decided not to enter. I wish I could find out who owns the land and get explicit permission to walk around the property. It has been more than 12 years since I had last visited this area. At one time there was a campground on the property. Some local business people bought the property and built a cider mill and market. They took the time to construct some hiking trails along the stream. I remember that the falls were very nice with at least five separate drops which increased in height the farther upstream one ventured. We continued on the main trail toward Old Liberty Road and set a quick pace. The walk along the old road was interesting as there were some impressive rock cuts on the left. The waterway on the right had more water than I had seen there in some time. The walk was about .4 miles which was a little longer than I thought. When we arrived at Old Liberty Road, I saw that the trail actually continued straight ahead parallel to the road. I decided to explore this part of the trail on another visit. Sheila and I turned around at 2:55 PM and walked back toward the car. We set a pretty fast pace on the way back and did not stop at all. On the way back on the road, I noticed that a crew was unloading a paver. I spoke to one worker who said that paving all the way to Dahlia Road would begin within a few days. We were back at the car at 3:30 PM having hiked 3.4 miles in 1 hours and 5 minutes with some time used to clear the trail. The ascent was 230 feet but it is hardly noticeable as the trail feels flat when walking. I do hope the plans to connect the sections of the trails is successful!

On Saturday, September 2nd I was on duty with the ambulance corps at at football game. I returned at 2:00 PM and decided I wanted to get in a hike as it was a beautiful day. I decided to take a short hike on Round Top just across the street. I knew Cindy did not like the hills but I asked her anyway and she agreed. We started to get ready at 2:30 PM with the temperature at 80 degrees on the back porch. I decided to wear my White Sierra long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, my feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did not put on any gaiters although I thought about it due to the numerous ticks which had plagued me on previous hikes. I left my phone at home so that I could enjoy the hike! I grabbed Sheila's leash from my trunk as we walked up the driveway at 2:50 PM. We walked across the street and to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We started off by walking behind the church to get to the road up the hill to the trailhead. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila was setting a fast pace as we climbed the hill and I was having some trouble keeping up. It seemed a little warmer but less humid than some previous hikes. My goal is always to make it all the way up the hill without stopping which I could do but Cindy could not. We stopped a few times to catch our breath and stopped at the top of the hill so that we could take a look around at the scenery.

At the top of the hill we turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. We could immediately feel that the temperature had dropped several degrees because of the shade and a slight breeze. The skies were blue with puffy white clouds. The trail was damp in some places but there was no mud. At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. The trail was well-worn as this is the most popular part of the hike. Some people simply hike up to the lookout over town and then back down. When we reached the top of the trail, we continued straight ahead passing the path to the lower lookout. I had tried blocking the trail with brush but people kept removing the obstacles. The problem is there is a growing chasm which could be difficult for some people to cross. At least the path is not marked as part of the trail system. We passed by the upper viewpoint as the views are blocked by several trees that have grown up. We walked on the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. As we walked up the trail, we removed a few loose branches from the trail. The trail was flanked by ferns with a thin path through them. I knew that soon the ferns would turn brown as fall approaches. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. I made note that although I had cut back the brush there were still a few branches that were leaning in and needed to be lopped. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up toward the summit. Everything was very green and there were a few branches encroaching on the trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and walked over the summit to start down the other side. We again bypassed the white crossover trail but turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. We passed some more branches that I had cut and removed from the trail. The switchback took us out into the woods before turning almost 180 degrees to take us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where we turned left again. We walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. This time when we reached the trail junction we turned right to head down the trail to the woods road. In several places it was clear that a large amount of water had washed over the trail cleaning away the leaves and pine needles. We continued to follow the yellow blazes back to the first trail junction.

I decided I wanted to do another figure 8 but Cindy decided to head home. Sheila and I turned around and walked back up the woods road. At the end of the woods road, we followed the yellow trail as the blazes turned up the hill toward the junction with the blue trail. When we reached this junction, we turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction, with the blue trail, we turned right and began to walk up the blue trail toward the summit. We turned right on the switchback and walked out into the woods and back. We turned right on the blue trail and continued over the summit avoiding the white crossover trail. We walked over the summit and started down the other side toward the yellow trail. We contiued out to the main trail and turned right on the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and continued to follow the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We passed the "Sitting Rock" and soon came to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and started downhill to the first trail junction. When we reached the first junction, we continued straight ahead to the trailhead where we turned right and walked down the road to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. I put Sheila back on her leash to cross the street. We walked across Rock Avenue to our driveway. We were back at 4:10 PM after walking about two miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes which included the time needed to do some light trail maintenance. The temperature was now 78 degrees and the skies were still blue with no rain in sight.

On Thursday, August 31st I had planned to hike with my grandson Bryce when he arrived at about 10:00 AM. The forecast was for a beautiful day with no rain in sight and I thought we might go to Frick Pond to hike the big loop around Hodge and Frick Ponds. As often happens the ambulance pager went off just as we were about to step out the door. I responded to the call and my crew and I ended up covering two calls. I arrived home at 1:00 PM and began to get ready to hike as we had plenty of time to complete the original plan. The temperature was in the high 70's with plenty of sun and the conditions seemed perfect for a hike. As I began to get ready, Sheila was ready to go and stayed close to me to make sure she was going along. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, my feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did not put on any gaiters although I thought about it due to the water and mud I knew might be on the trails due to the recent heavy rains. I put my pack and poles in the car and Sheila in the back seat. Bryce is now taller than I so he occupied the front passenger seat. I headed out the DeBruce Road at 1:30 PM. After six miles I turned left on Mongaup Road. Where the road split I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking lots. There were already several cars in the lots as I pulled in to park. My plan was to walk up the Flynn Trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail and then continue on the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond. From Hodge Pond we would follow the Flynn Trail to the end at Junkyard Junction. Here we would pick up the Quick Lake Trail and follow it back to the car. I set my GPS unit before we crossed the road and picked up the Flynn Trail. I was surprised that the dog from the cabin did not come out to greet us!

As we walked the trail toward the woods road, I pointed out to Bryce the large blowdown that Ranger Straton and I had cut. We turned right on the woods road that was once the extension of Beech Mountain Road and we immediately recognized that a large amount of water had come down the trail. The trail was wet and had muddy spots. It is a long climb toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail but it seemed to me we were moving very quickly and I was feeling full of energy. I knew that this was mostly due to the fact that Bryce was with me and we kept up a constant conversation that made the hike easier. At about 1.2 miles we came to the point where I sometimes turn off the trail to visit an interesting clearing. I decided to bypass this area and return in the fall to find some leaf colors. We continued on the main trail toward the trail junction passing a rather large blowdown. We had cut the blowdown back on our last work trip but I would like to cut it back a little more. Our walk to the Big Rock Junction went quickly and we arrived after hiking 1.7 miles. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail to the next trail junction. We stayed to the left to follow the Flynn Trail down to Hodge Pond. As we walked out to the field at the outlet end of Hodge Pond and into the sun, I noticed the apparent increase in temperature. I also noticed there was a breeze which was almost cold! We walked down the rest of the Flynn Trail and out into the field by Hodge Pound. We walked over to the shore and I took a few pictures. The sky was blue and there were nice white clouds to increase the contrast with the rest of the sky. A few of the trees around the pond showed some change in color. The level of the pond was higher than I had ever seen it and the outlet area was flooded! The flooding spread over the Flynn Trail. It appeared that the beavers had blocked the culvert at the outlet end of the pond. I did throw a few sticks for Sheila but she was not enthusiastic about swimming to retrieve them. After a few minutes, we walked back to the Flynn Trail and carefully picked our way through the flooded ground. We followed the Flynn Trail along the west side of the pond.

The trail was wet and muddy in places and these were not always easily avoided. At the next trail junction we stayed to the left to take the Flynn Trail up the hill rather than the jeep road around the back of the Hodge Pond. The trail up to the gate was relatively dry. The large blowdown that had blocked the trail had been cut and moved off the trail. The rest of the trail was wetter than I had ever seen it and muddy for the entire distance to Junkyard Junction. The walk to the Quick Lake Trail at Junkyard Junction went slowly as we tried to find the best way through the water and the bud. It was 3:40 PM and we had hiked 3.4 miles which is a little more than halfway through the hike. We turned left to start the hike back and although we tried to increase our pace we were slowed by the water and mud on this trail. The conditions were more wet than muddy and a little better than the Flynn Trail as the drainage was better. The trail initially rolls some but eventually descends toward Iron Wheel Junction. We continued to remove large and small branches from the trail. We turned right at Iron Wheel Junction after hiking 5 miles. We stopped for a few moments and I took a few shots of the wheels that give the junction its name. The turn allowed us to stay on the Quick Lake Trail heading for Frick Pond. The trail conditions included both water and mud but we were getting used to this! Every now and then one of us would misjudge a step and sink into the mud. Eventually, we came to and crossed the small stream through the woods with some difficulty as it was rather high. We walked through the spruce tunnel which was almost dry and out the other side. There were a few blowdowns and some were flat on the ground but others would need to be cut before the winter season. After leaving the shelter of the trees, the trail was wet and muddy in most places. We passed by the junction with the Big Rock Trail on the left and were soon at the bridge over the Frick Pond outlet. I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I have taken hundreds of pictures form the bridge but can't resist stopping to take a few more. The water level was high and there was a good volume flowing in the outlet stream. After I took some picture, we walked up the hill from Frick Pond to Gravestone Junction. The memorial stone was still in place and had not been moved. We continued straight ahead on the Quick Lake Trail. The trail was wet for almost the entire way back to the car with muddy places throughout. We passed by the register and walked the woods road back to the parking area. There was still a car in the larger parking area. We were back at the car at 5:25 PM having hiked 6.7 miles in 3 hours and 35 minutes with a vertical gain of 900 feet.

On Tuesday, August 22nd I wanted to get out for a hike after a few days getting reacquainted with my bicycle. I had not ridden in at least 5 years and was afraid I might not remember how or might not enjoy it. I found out that I did remember how to ride and it is exhilarating! I found that I need more leg muscle and a greater aerobic capacity. My grandchildren Luke and Lily were at the house and I offered to take them across the street for a short hike. Lily agreed and we started to get ready at 1:15 PM with the temperature at 78 degrees on the back porch. I decided to wear my White Sierra long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, my feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did not put on any gaiters although I thought about it due to the numerous ticks which had plagued me on previous hikes. I put my phone in my pocket and grabbed Sheila's leash from my trunk. I gave Lily the leash which she attached to Sheila as we walked up the driveway at 1:30 PM. We walked across the street and to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We started off by walking behind the church to get to the road up the hill to the trailhead. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Lily and Sheila were setting a fast pace as we climbed the hill and I was having some trouble keeping up. It seemed a little warmer but less humid than some previous hikes. My goal is always to make it all the way up the hill without stopping which I was able to do without much of a problem. We stopped at the top of the hill so that we could take a look around at the scenery.

At the top of the hill we turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. We could immediate feel that the temperature had dropped several degrees because of the shade and a slight breeze. The forecast was for rain in the afternoon but the skies remained blue with puffy white clouds. I pointed out to Lily the trees I had recent cut with hand tools to clear the trail. The trail was damp in some places and a little muddy in others. At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. The trail was well-worn as this is the most popular part of the hike. Some people simply hike up to the lookout over town and then back down. When we reached the top of the trail, we continued straight ahead passing the path to the lower lookout. I had tried blocking the trail with brush but people kept removing the obstacles. The problem is there is a growing chasm which could be difficult for some people to cross. At least the path is not marked as part of the trail system. We stopped at the upper viewpoint and took in the views down into town including the school. We also got a nice view of the hills surrounding the valley. When we had finished enjoying the view, we walked back to the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. As we walked up the trail, we removed a few loose branches from the trail. The trail was flanked by ferns with a thin path through them. I knew that soon the ferns would turn brown as fall approaches. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. I made note that although I had cut back the brush there were still a few branches that were leaning in and needed to be lopped. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up toward the summit. We passed the spot where I had cut a large branch that was partly blocking the trail. Everything was very green and there were a few branches encroaching on the trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and walked over the summit to start down the other side. We again bypassed the white crossover trail but turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. We passed some more branches that I had cut and removed from the trail. The switchback took us out into the woods before turning almost 180 degrees to take us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where we turned left again. As we walked, Lily and I talked about her horse riding and school subjects. I don't get to talk to Lily very often and found the conversation very enjoyable. We walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. This time when we reached the trail junction we turned right to head down the trail to the woods road. In several places it was clear that a large amount of water had washed over the trail cleaning away the leaves and pine needles. We continued to follow the yellow blazes back to the first trail junction.

I decided we would complete another figure 8 and Lily seemed amenable so we turned around and walked back up the woods road. At the end of the woods road, we followed the yellow trail as the blazes turned up the hill toward the junction with the blue trail. When we reached this junction, we turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction, with the blue trail, we turned right and began to walk up the blue trail toward the summit. We continued straight ahead up the hill following what was once the main blue trail. I had unblazed this part of the trail to give it a rest but it seemed it was still popular with people who use the trails. We turned right on the white crossover trail. We walked along the white trail and I removed a few branches from the trail. We contiued out to the main trail and turned right on the blue trail. We started down the hill to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and continued to follow the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We passed the "Sitting Rock" and soon came to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and started downhill to the first trail junction. When we reached the first junction, we continued straight ahead to the trailhead where we turned right and walked down the road to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. Lily put Sheila back on her leash to cross the street. we walked across Rock Avenue to our driveway. We were back at 2:45 PM after walking about two miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes which included the time needed to do some light trail maintenance. The temperature was now 74 degrees and the skies were still blue with no rain in sight.

On Sunday, August 27 I wanted to get out for a hike after church. Sunday is a good day to hike as there is ambulance crew on call from 6:0o AM to 6:00 PM. After retuning from church I decided I would go to the Parksville Rail Trail for a quick hike as I wanted to see what the recent rains had done to the volume of the stream. I asked Cindy if she would like to go along and she said "Yes". I think we both felt it would be a good day to hike as the temperature was 74 degrees and the humidity was low with a slight breeze. The skies were blue with some sun and a slight overcast. We started to get ready at 1:00 PM with Sheila keeping a watchful eye on both of us. The Parksville Rail Trail is about 2.5 miles with a beautiful waterfall. This choice would also allow my to respond on an ambulance call but I decided to leave my phone home so I could better enjoy the hike. As I was getting dressed it looked as if Sheila thought we might not hike again! I decided to wear my White Sierra long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did not put on any gaiters even though numerous ticks had plagued us on previous hikes.

At 1:20 PM I put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There was one pickup truck in the parking lot which was not surprising for such a beautiful day. It seemed a family was getting ready to hike so I put Sheila on her leash and we departed the parking area t 1:35 PM with the temperature at 74 degrees. The open trail just before the woods was barely damp but showed some erosion from the downpours that had occurred lately. I checked the bushes that I had cut back and they remained well off the trail. I released Sheila from her leash and we moved on toward the wooded part of the trail. We immediately ran into some mud pits with some water but less than on our last trip. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was lower than our last visit but there was still a good volume of water. I wondered about the condition of the falls and whether they would be as interesting as my last trip. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose and getting very close to the edge of the trail where a steep drop led down to the river! We began to run into some branches hanging into the trail from the side and above. There was one new trunk hanging across the trail which I knew I could cut with a saw. I did pick up some newly fallen branches and throw them off the trail. I continued to do this for the rest of the hike as the winds from the storms had loosened branches that had then fallen on the trail. We crossed several muddy areas and were soon at the wooden walkways. I decided to take some pictures of the stream and sky. When I was done, we continued over the wooden walkways and bridges which were wet and muddy from the rain. I thought about bringing a rake and a broom next time to clean off the bridges which were covered in a mixture of wet leaves and mud. This time the water from the small stream was actually flowing through the culvert under the bridge or around the edge and not onto the bridge. After crossing the bridge, we ran into another large mud pit that had a layer of water with a few stepping stones. There continued to be small branches to remove as we walked. We continued at a moderate pace as it made my foot feel better.

At one point I looked up and a couple coming toward us with a small dog. I decided to put Sheila on her leash but when I reached into my pocket it was not there. I left Cindy and Sheila at a bench and turned around to head back toward the trailhead to look for the leash. I set a quick pace and soon met the family headed toward me. The parents had four young children and all but the baby were walking. As we neared each other, the young father spoke to me and I recognized him as a New York State Trooper and a Roscoe fireman. I asked if they had seen a leash and they said it was near the beginning of the trail. I quickened my pace but kept expecting to see the leash! Eventually, at the point where I let Sheila off her leash, I found it lying on the trail. I retrieved the leash and started back to Cindy. Along the way I met the couple with the dog and another older couple. It was nice to see people using the trail. I crossed the bridge and reunited with Cindy and Sheila at the bench. As we approached the falls, we could hear a loud sound which was the falls. We arrived at the falls and found that there was a nice flow of water but the volume was lower than the highest we had seen. The water was very clear as it flowed over the falls to the basin below. I decided to go down to the streambed to take pictures even though I have quite a few pictures from the base of the falls. I left my poles at the picnic table and Sheila and I head down the bank to the stream. I put my pack down by the stream and took out my camera. I took some shots downstream and then turned my attention to the falls. I took some shots of the upper falls and lower rapids. After the wide-angle pictures, I took some close-ups of both falls. When I finished, we climbed back up the bank. I took some shots of the falls from above from different locations and different angles. I also took picture upstream from this higher angle. I could see that the path along the edge of the stream was almost dry but I decided not to try my luck over the slippery rocks. We moved on down the trail and stopped at the next bench. I walked a short way down the path and took a few shots upstream of the rapids. When done, we started toward the Parksville end of the trail. We met another couple walking toward us and we said "Hello". We continued walking toward Parksville with Cindy and I walking together for a change which I found very enjoyable. Along the way we ran into some loud music and an even louder dog. The dog was on the other shore of the stream and really looked and sounded like he wanted to join us. We continued on to the end of the trail meeting another young man hiking the trail. We turned around at the sign detailing the hotels in Parksville. We met the couple with the dog which turned out to be a Shiba Inu and very well-behaved. Eventually we came to the falls where the young family was eating at the picnic table. We continued at a respectable pace back toward the parking area. A woman came up behind us and we moved over to let her pass but she did not and slowed as we continued to hike. We arrived at the car at 3:15 PM after hiking about 3.0 miles in 1 hour and 40 minutes. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike but carrying a pack helps with the exercise.

On Tuesday, August 22nd I wanted to get out for a hike after a few days hiatus. The number of ambulance calls our corps had been covering had been sky-rocketing and that had been limiting my time for hiking. Lisa contacted me and suggested going for a hike and O suggested Round Top. From Round Top I could cover ambulance calls if no one else was available. We agreed on a 9:00 AM start but and an ambulance call postponed the time t0 11:00 AM. I returned from the call and started getting ready at 10:30 AM. The temperature was 72 degrees on the back porch so I decided to wear my White Sierra long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, my feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did not put on any gaiters although I thought about it due to the numerous ticks which had plagued me on previous hikes. I did wear my OR wide brimmed hat. I put my phone in my pocket and grabbed Sheila's leash from my trunk as we walked up the driveway at 10:55 AM. We walked across the street and to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church where Lisa was waiting. As soon as Sheila saw Lisa she started pulling on the leash. Sheila gave Lisa an extended hello and then settled down. We started off by walking behind the church to get to the road up the hill to the trailhead. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." We were setting a relatively fast pace as we climbed the hill. It seemed a little cooler and less humid than some previous hikes and the poles really helped. My goal is always to make it all the way up the hill without stopping which I was able to do without much of a problem. We stopped at the top of the hill so that we could take a look around at the scenery.

At the top of the hill we turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. We could immediate feel that the temperature had dropped several degrees because of the shade and a slight breeze. I pointed out the trees I had recent cut with hand tools to clear the trail. The trail was damp in some places but was dry for the most part. At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. The trail was well-worn as this is the most popular part of the hike. Some people simply hike up to the lookout over town and then back down. When we reached the top of the trail, we continued straight ahead passing the path to the lower lookout. I had tried blocking the trail with brush but people kept removing the obstacles. The problem is there is a growing chasm which could be difficult for some people to cross. At least the path is not marked as part of the trail system. We stopped at the upper viewpoint and took in the views down into town including the school. We also got a nice view of the hills surrounding the valley. When we had finished enjoying the view, we walked back to the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. As we walked up the trail, we removed a few loose branches from the trail. The trail was flanked by ferns with a thin path through them. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. I made note that although I had cut back the brush there were still a few branches that were leaning in and needed to be lopped. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up toward the summit. We passed the spot where I had cut a large branch that was partly blocking the trail. Everything was very green and there were a few branches encroaching on the trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and walked over the summit to start down the other side. We again bypassed the white crossover trail but turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. We passed some more branches that I had cut and removed from the trail. The switchback took us out into the woods before turning almost 180 degrees to take us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where we turned left again. We walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. This time when we reached the trail junction we turned right to head down the trail to the woods road. In several places it was clear that a large amount of water had washed over the trail cleaning away the leaves and pine needles. We continued to follow the yellow blazes back to the first trail junction. As we walked Lisa and I kept up an almost continuous conversation catching up on many topics as we had not hiked together for quite some time. We decided we would complete another figure 8 so we turned around and walked back up the woods road. At the end of the woods road, we followed the yellow trail as the blazes turned up the hill toward the junction with the blue trail. When we reached this junction, we turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction, with the blue trail, we turned right and began to walk up the blue trail toward the summit. We followed the switchback again out into the woods and back to the main trail. We turned right on the main blue trail and right again on the white crossover trail. We walked along the white trail and I removed a small trunk from the trail. We contiued out to the main trail and turned right on the blue trail. We started down the hill to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and continued to follow the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We passed the "Sitting Rock" and soon came to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and started downhill to the first trail junction. When we reached the first junction, we continued straight ahead to the trailhead where we turned right and walked down the road to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We said goodbye to Lisa and walked across Rock Avenue to our driveway. We were back at 12:15 PM after walking about two miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes which included the time needed to do some light trail maintenance. The temperature was still only 74 degrees.

On Thursday, August 18 I wanted to get out for a hike but had to try to plan around the numerous ambulance calls we had been getting. I finally decided I would go to the Parksville Rail Trail and trim some of the bushes and branches hanging into the trail. Cindy and granddaughter Ariana were going to Hunter Lake so Sheila and I would be on our own. I started to get ready at 2:20 PM with Sheila keeping a watchful eye on me. One look outside showed a blue skies and many puffy white clouds in one direction and swirling darker clouds in the other. The Parksville Rail Trail which is about 2.5 miles with a beautiful waterfall. This choice would also allow me to respond to an ambulance call even if I was a little delayed. We had been hiking more regularly since April but as I was getting dressed it looked as if Sheila thought we might not hike again! I decided to wear my White Sierra long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did not put on any gaiters even though we had encountered numerous ticks on previous hikes. I put my Corona loppers, Silky Sugowaza saw and LTW Overland machete in the car.

At 2:45 PM I put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There was no cars in the parking lot which was surprising for such a beautiful day. We started out on the trail at 3:00 PM with the temperature at 80 degrees under variable skies with a slight breeze blowing. I had decided to trim the bushes along the start of the trail before going any further. I took some pictures of the trail which in places was narrowed by half. I then got out my machete and took a couple of swings at the brush. It was woodier and a little more robust than I thought so I switched to the loppers. These Corona loppers are by pass loppers with extensible handles. They work best on branches of larger diameters. I cut the first stand of brush throwing the cut pieces into a pile in the middle of the trail. I always make sure to pile the brush with the cut ends all in the same place. This makes it easier to pick up most of the pile in one shot and move it to the side of the trail. After finishing the first set of bushes, I moved on to the second set which were much larger in diameter. It seemed to take a long time but I was finally done. I decided to move the two piles I had created to the side of the trail. I moved all the branches and created a nice pile of brush. These piles act as shelter for rabbits and other animals.

I moved on to the third and fourth set of bushes and gave them the same treatment as the first two. I tend to cut a little more than is needed because I know how fast the brush grows back. When I was done cutting, I moved the brush off the trail forming a second pile. When I looked at my watch, I was surprised it was only 3:35 PM! I took some pictures of the trail after I had done the work and then we walked back to the car. I decided we would try to take a quick walk to the falls even though the skies were string to get darker. I stowed the loppers in the car but took the machete with me in my pack. We started back out on the trail and a quick pace. As we entered the woods, we immediately ran into some mud pits with quite a bit of water. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was higher than our last visit. I wondered about the condition of the falls and whether they would be as interesting as my last trip. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose and getting very close to the edge of the trail where a steep drop led down to the river! We began to run into some branches hanging into the trail from the side and above but I ignored them. We didn't get very far before we came to a food sized tree that had fallen across the trail. One looked convinced me I could cut it with the saw that was in the car. Once again we turned around and quick hiked back to the car. I exchanged the machete for the saw and we hiked back to the fallen tree.

I took some pictures of the tree and then grabbed the saw. I always use the same method to cut these trees. I began to cut off smaller branches and throw them well off the trail. Soon there were only a few larger branches left. I cut one and threw it off the trail and repeated the process until only the main trunk was left. I cut this well off the trail and three it down the bank. I took some "after" pictures and then we continued on the trail. We continued to run into wet and muddy spots but made it through without a problem. There was another small tree laying parallel to the trail and I used the saw to cut it into pieces and moved them away from the trail. I noticed that the skies seemed to be getting darker as we arrived at the wooden walkway. Even though the sky was now overcast, I took some pictures of the skies and some down to the stream. I took a couple of shots of the walkways and then we walked over them. The end of the walkway toward Parksville is a mess as it is covered by mud and gravel. The culvert under the bridge is blocked and all the water and what the water is carrying flows over the bridge and the walkway. This leaves a slippery and dangerous mess behind. At this point I had to make a decision whether or not to go to the falls. I decided to turn around and walk quickly back to the car before the rail hit. We set a fast pace and did not stop. As we broke out of the trees, the skies were blue and sunny with beautiful puffy white clouds! We walked back to the car where Sheila jumped into the back seat. I stowed by gear and noted that the time was 4:35 PM. We had not hiked as far as I would have liked but I did get some work done that I had wanted to do for some time.

On Wednesday, August 16th I wanted to get out for a hike after a few days hiatus. The number of ambulance calls our corps had been covering had been sky-rocketing and that had been limiting my time for hiking. In July we responded to 99 calls! I needed to get out for some exercise and relazation. By granddaughter Ariana was visiting so I decided we could go across the street and hike on Round Top. From Round Top I could cover ambulance and could also abort the hike easily if my foot began to bother me. The temperature was 74 degrees on the back porch so I decided to wear my White Sierra long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, my feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did not put on any gaiters although I thought about it due to the numerous ticks which had plagued me on previous hikes. I put my phone in my pocket and grabbed Sheila's leash from my trunk as we walked up the driveway at 2:15 PM. We walked across the street and to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We walked behind the church to get to the road up the hill to the trailhead. I gave Ariana Sheila's leash so that I could use my poles. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Ariana and Sheila were setting a quick pace as they effortlessly climbed the hill. It seemed a little cooler and less humid than some previous hikes and the poles really helped. My goal is always to make it all the way up the hill without stopping which I was able to do without much of a problem. We stopped at the top of the hill so that I could point out some landmarks like Beer Mountain to Ariana. We also discussed the fact that hillside creep is causing some of the grave markers to fall over

At the top of the hill we turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. We could immediate feel that the temperature had dropped several degrees because of the shade and a slight breeze. I pointed out the stone work that helped to form we are happy to is an old woods road. I also showed her the rather large trees I had cut with hand tools. The trail was damp in some places but was dry for the most part. Not far from the trailhead there was the point where I had recently removed a large branch lying parallel to the left side of the trail. At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. The trail was well-worn as this is the most popular part of the hike. Some people simply hike up to the lookout over town and then back down. When we reached the top of the trail, we turned a little to the left and walked the path out to the lookout. I had tried blocking the trail with brush but people kept removing the obstacles. The problem is there is a growing chasm which could be difficult for some people to cross. At least the path is not marked as part of the trail system. We stopped at the viewpoint and took in the views down into town inching the school. We also got a nice view of the hills surrounding the valley. When we had finished enjoying the view, we walked up another path that was forming to the upper part of the lookout. From here we followed the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. As we walked up the trail, I removed a few loose branches from the trail. The trail was flanked by ferns with a thin path through them. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. I made note that although I had cut back the brush there were still a few branches that were leaning in and needed to be lopped. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up toward the summit. We passed the spot where I had cut a large branch that was partly blocking the trail. Everything was very green and there were a few branches encroaching on the trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and walked over the summit to start down the other side. We again bypassed the white crossover trail but turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. We passed some more branches that I had cut and removed from the trail. The switchback took us out into the woods before turning almost 180 degrees to take us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where we turned left again. We walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. This time when we reached the trail junction we turned right to head down the trail to the woods road. In several places it was clear that a large amount of water had washed over the trail cleaning away the leaves and pine needles. We continued to follow the yellow blazes back to the first trail junction. I decided we would complete another figure 8 and Ariana seemed willing. As we walked we caught up on what she had been doing for the summer and how she thought school would go for the upcoming year. We turned around and walked back up the woods road. At the end of the woods road, we followed the yellow trail as the blazes turned up the hill toward the junction with the blue trail. When we reached this junction, we turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction, with the blue trail, we turned right and began to walk up the blue trail toward the summit. We passed the switchback and walked straight up the hill. I have not blocked this route but removed the blazes. The purpose was to give the steeper part of the trail a feat from erosion and to make the ascent easier for hikers. We contiued on the main trail and turned right on the white crossover trail. I removed one small tree that had fallen across the trail. We also found that this trail could use some trimming. At the end of the trail, we turned right on the blue trail and started down the hill to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and continued to follow the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We passed the "Sitting Rock" and soon came to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and started downhill to the first trail junction. When we reached the first junction, we continued straight ahead to the trailhead where we turned right and walked down the road to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We walked across Rock Avenue to our driveway. We were back at 3:35 PM after walking about two miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes which included the time needed to do some light trail maintenance. The temperature was 78 degrees.

On Friday, August 11th I wanted to get out for a hike after almost a week of ambulance calls, poor weather and church commitments. My foot pain was still bothering me but I had grown used to it. I had been resting it and stretching my lower legs and hiking every few days. Fortunately, my routine seemed to be working. The number of ambulance calls our corps had been covering had been sky-rocketing and that had been limiting my time for hiking. I awoke at 9:00 AM after covering a late night call. I decided I would go to church and do some work to gee the Sunday service ready. I left the house at 10:30 AM and headed for the church which is north of Roscoe. I got my work done and then headed home. I had taken my pager and phone but neither indicated any ambulance calls. I was home just after noon and ate some lunch. The house was empty as everyone else had gone swimming at the lake. I took nap and by 3:00 PM was ready to get some work done clearing the trails on Round Top. I could cover ambulance from there and I could abort the hike easily if my foot began to bother me. The temperature was 80 degrees on the back porch so I decided to wear my White Sierra long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, my feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I did not put on any gaiters although I thought about it due to the numerous ticks which had plagued me on previous hikes. I put my phone in my pocket and loaded my tools into the trunk of my car. I took my Fiskars pack axe, Sugowaza saw, Corona loppers and LTW Overland machete. We walked across the street and to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We walked behind the church to get to the road up the hill to the trailhead. After putting Sheila in the back seat, I drove out the driveway and up Orchard Street into the cemetery. I drove to the trailhead at the highest point in the cemetery and parked on the side of the road. I don't take the care very often as the trailhead is so close to my house but I had my tools to transport.

I grabbed my Fiskars and started out on the trail with Sheila in tow. We came to a small tree that had fallen parallel to the trail and projected out into the trail bed. I sized up the situation and decided to make two cuts which would enable me to lift and roll the sections off the trail. I used the ax to cut off the top section which went faster than I expected. I was easily able to pivot the top section off terrain before turning my attentions to the next cut. I started a cut which would divide the remaining trunk in half. This cut went almost as fast as the first. I rolled the lower section off the trail and then lifted and flipped the middle section so that it was out of the way. I looked at my watch and realized it had taken less then 10 minutes to do the job. I walked back to the car and stowed the ax as I knew I would not need it again. I picked up the machete and saw, locked the car, and head back out on the trail. At the first trail junction we turned right and headed up the woods road. I picked up a few branches along the way but there was nothing to trim. We turned left off the woods road and followed the trail up the hill toward the next trail junction. On the way up the trail I stopped to use the machete to cut back some brush although nothing was too bad. At the trail junction with the blue trail we continued straight ahead an immediately came to a large branch hanging into the trail. I grabbed the saw, cut the branch, and dragged it off the trail. For the rest of the trail to the summit I cut brush on both sides of the trail using primarily the machete. I have used this machete many times and can only remember sharpening it once but it remains very sharp. I tend to cut the trails a little wider and higher than might seem necessary. I cut them wider because the remaining brush will eventually fall into the trail. I cut them higher so that people can snowshoe without encountering branches in their face. Once at the top of the trail we turned right and then left continuing to cut brush and move it off the trail. On the summit I used the saw to cut a few small trees and then we started down the blue trail on the other side. I cut some brush and then we turned left on the switchback. We stopped at some trees than had fallen and were encroaching on the trail. I used the saw to cut up the trees and removed the sections from the trail. I cut another small tree off the trail and one that was hanging over the trail. We made the sharp right turn and walked out to the main trail without finding any obstructions. We turned left and walked downhill toward the junction with the yellow trail. I cut one tree out of the trail on the way down. At the junction we turned left on the yellow trail and I immediately began to trim weeds and brush back from the trail with the machete. At one point, there were several bushes leaning into the trail and I decided to remove the lot. I used the saw to cut the brush and then I dragged it of the trail. This took a little linger than I expected as there was more brush than I expected. When we were done, we continued on the trail and I cut a little more brush out to the next junction with the blue trail. We did meet one man walking toward us and I said "Hello" as we passed. At the junction with the blue trail we turned right and walked down the yellow trail to the woods road. As we walked I admired the work I had done. We turned right on the woods road and walked downhill to the first trail junction. It was well after 5:00 PM when we turned left and headed out to the trailhead. I put the tools in the car and Sheila jumped into the back seat. As I drove down the hill we met another man walking up the hill. At the bottom of the hill was group of six young people who appeared to be starting up the hill. I drove home and noted it was 5:30 PM. I had spent 2 hours walking and working and was very satisfied with the job I had done.

On Saturday, August 6th I wanted to get out for a hike after a few days hiatus. I had been nursing a painful right foot by resting it and stretching my lower legs and hiking every few days. Fortunately, my routine seemed to be working. The number of ambulance calls our corps had been covering had been sky-rocketing and that had been limiting my time for hiking. On Saturday I had already covered tnree calls by noon but decided I needed to get out for some exercise. I decided to go across the street and hike on Round Top as I could cover ambulance from there and I could abort the hike easily if my foot began to bother me. The temperature was 74 degrees on the back porch so I decided to wear my White Sierra long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, my feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did not put on any gaiters although I thought about it due to the numerous ticks which had plagued me on previous hikes. I put my phone in my pocket and grabbed Sheila's leash from my trunk as we walked up the driveway at 1:45 PM. We walked across the street and to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We walked behind the church to get to the road up the hill to the trailhead. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." It seemed a little cooler and less humid than some previous hikes and Sheila was giving me some help as she pulled on her leash. My goal is always to make it all the way up the hill without stopping which I was able to do without much of a problem.

At the top of the hill we turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trail was damp in some places but was dry for the most part. Not far from the trailhead there was a large branch or small trunk lying parallel to the left side of the trail. It would require tools to remove as it was long and still in good shape. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. The trail was well-worn as this is the most popular part of the hike. Some people simply hike up to the lookout over town and then back down. When we reached the top of the trail, we followed the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. I noticed that the side trail to the lookout was well-used. I had tried to block this trail and had removed the blazes. The trail has a deep cleft which is not a problem for most people but could be for some. People clear the branches I use to block the trail and I have simply given up trying. As we walked up the trail, I removed a few loose branches from the trail. The trail was flanked by ferns with a thin path through them. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. I made note that there were a few branches that were leaning into the trail and needed to be lopped. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up toward the summit. Almost immediately we came to a large branch or a small tree that was partly blocking the trail. I tried again to remove it but found that it was still anchored at one end and would require a saw. Everything was very green and there were a few branches encroaching on the trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and walked over the summit to start down the other side. We again bypassed the white crossover trail but turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. The switchback took us out into the woods before turning almost 180 degrees to take us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where we turned left again. We walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. This time when we reached the trail junction we turned right to head down the trail to the woods road. In several places it was clear that a large amount of water had washed over the trail cleaning away the leaves and pine needles. We continued to follow the yellow blazes back to the first trail junction. I knew we might not get in much hiking over the next few days so I decided we would complete another figure 8. We turned around and walked back up the woods road. At the end of the woods road, we followed the yellow trail as the blazes turned up the hill toward the junction with the blue trail. When we reached this junction, we turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction, with the blue trail, we turned right and began to walk up the blue trail toward the summit. We turned right on the switchback and walked out into the woods, made the sharp turn and headed back to the main trail. We turned right on the main trail and headed up the trail toward the summit. We walked over the summit of Round Top and started down the other side. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued down the blue trail to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and continued to follow the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We passed the "Sitting Rock" and soon came to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and started downhill to the first trail junction. When we reached the first junction, we continued straight ahead to the trailhead where we turned right and walked down the road to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We walked across Rock Avenue to our driveway. We were back at 3:00 PM after walking about two miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes which included the time needed to do some light trail maintenance. I noticed that my right heel hurt a little more than when I started. The temperature was 78 degrees.

On Wednesday, August 2nd, I had planned to do some longer hike as the weekend had been filled with ambulance calls and church commitments. At about 11:30 PM the ambulance pager sounded and we responded to a call in another district as there was no other rig available. I came home and was able to get some extra hours of sleep. I got up at 10:00 AM and took care of some things that needed to be done. By 1:00 PM I was ready to go and asked Cindy if she would like to hike the Logger's Loop at Frick Pond and she agreed. This hike is less than 4 miles and is relatively flat. I had not been on the trail for some time and I wanted to see how it had faired after some recent wind and rain storms. We started to get ready with the temperature at 75 degrees on the back porch. As I was getting dressed, Sheila was very quiet but did not let me out of her sight. I decided to put on my long-sleeved White Sierra shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. I wore my OR brimmed hat as it acts as a base for insect repellant. I did bring along my Silky Sugowaza saw just in case there were a few branches to cut. I put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and we left Livingston Manor at 1:15 PM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. When we arrived at the parking areas, there were no cars parked in either lot. I pulled into the smaller lot and parked. The skies were sunny and blue with a few clouds and a slight breeze blowing. The temperature was right at 72 degrees which was about what I thought it might be. I found I had forgotten my OR gaiters and hoped the numerous ticks that had plagued us on previous hike would not be a problem. I decided that the insects did not seem to be a problem so I did not apply and repellant. We started out the woods road to the register at 1:30 PM. As we walked out the woods road, I cleared some branches and one small trunk from the very damp trail. At the register we continued straight ahead on the Quick Lake Trail. From the register the trail was wet with some standing water and muddy areas.

On the way to Gravestone Junction, I cut several branches that were hanging over into the trail. I also pulled down a larger branch that was hungup on anorther. At Gravestone Junction we stayed left on the Quick Lake Trail heading toward the bridge at the outlet to Frick Pond. This area of the trail had more mud but it was minimal compared to what it usually looks like. There were several large branches hanging down into the trail. I got out my saw and cut three or four of them to clear the trail. We continue on the trail and soon arrived at the bridge. I looked at the scene and decided to take some shots even though I have hundreds from the same location. The pond was higher than it had been for some time! I took pictures of the whole scene and some of Beech Mountain. We continued around the west side of the pond where the trail was just damp with a small amount of mud here and there. Even the mud pit was manageable due to the work we had done to increase its drainage. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we headed left on the Quick Lake Trail which was almost wet and muddy in places. I had been removing smaller branches but there were a few larger ones in this area that I managed to drag off the trail. There were a few others that I cut. A little farther along there was a good sized trunk across the trail. I got out the saw and made two cuts which allowed me to pivot the cut section off the trail. As we walked through the spruce tunnel, we came upon a rather large blowdown across the trail. Fortunately, I had trimmed most of the branches off it making it easier to get over the large diameter trunk. There were a few more blowdowns that would require a chainsaw. When we came to the small stream across the trail, we found the level high but not so high that we could not cross. Sheila immediately jumped in the water and waded around. I took some pictures before we moved on. We continued on up the Quick Lake Trail toward Iron Wheel Junction. Just after the stream was a new but small trunk across the trail. I decided that I should take a few shots of at least one blowdown so I took some "before shots. I made a cut on one side of the trail and then a cut on the other. The cuts went relatively fast after which I was able to flip the section I cut off the trail. I took some after shots and we continued. Only a few steps up the trail was another larger blowdown. This tree could be cleared with and hand tools but I knew that the local ranger would come and use a chainsaw which would make the job much easier. After the blowdown, the trail was wet and muddy in spots but not as bad as it can be. We cleared one more trunk across the trail before arriving at the trail junction.

When we got to Iron Wheel Junction, we turned right on the Logger's Loop and started out toward Times Square. We began to notice that the number of insect, particularly mosquitoes, was increasing dramatically. Cindy put in some repellant but I kept moving. The trail seemed to have more water including some shallow puddles. Fortunately, it was pretty easy to get around all of wet and muddy areas. A little farther along there was another large trunk that had fallen across the trail but now lay in pieces. The snowmobile club must have been by to get this one out of the way. There had been a few other trunks lying on the ground that were now gone also. The streams that run across the trail or under it were dry. We passed a tricycle perched on a large rock that had been there for a very long time. The most amazing part of this is that it had been there for 20 years and no one had removed it! We came to the large cherry tree that had broken off high up and fallen so that it was arching across the trail. This tree had also been cleared which I knew would have been a difficult job. We passed the seasonal pond on the left side of the trail and I could see that it was mostly dry. I thought about stopping to take some shots but the gathering cloud of insects discouraged me. We continued downhill to Times Square which was damp. I thought about turning left and climbing the Big Rock Trail to add mileage but I knew Cindy would not be impressed. We walked straight across Times Square to stay on the Logger's Loop and started uphill. Just before the beginning of the uphill was another streambed which we crossed and it was dry. Although the trail is slightly uphill we were setting a good pace. We passed by another medium sized trunk which had been across the trail until we had removed it on one trip. We continued walking on the trail and crested the hill. There was a small blowdown across the teal and I chose to remove it despite the insects. Two quick cut allowed me to lift the setion and throw it off the trail. We continued to walk out to Gravestone Junction where we turned left. We headed back to the car on the woods road. My feet were bothering me and the highly eroded trail was not kind to them. At the register we continued straight ahead on the woods road back to the car. There was one car parked next to ours in the lot. It was 4:15 PM and we had spent 2 hours and 45 minutes hiking 3.7 miles with an elevation gain was a modest 375 feet. Much of this time was spent taking pictures and clearing the trail. The temperature was still 72 degrees as we left the parking area.

On Monday, July 31st I wanted to get out for a hike but had to try to plan around the numerous ambulance calls we had been getting. I finally decided I would go to the Parksville Rail Trail for a quick hike despite the pain that persisted in my right heel. I have been working on strteching my lower legs and always wearing shoes with proper support. The results have been discouraging to say the least. I asked Cindy if she would like to go along and she said "Yes". I think we both felt it would be a good day to hike as the temperature was 72 degrees and the humidity was low. There was also a slight breeze blowing, The skies were blue with sun and puffy white clouds. We started to get ready at 2:00 PM with Sheila keeping a watchful eye on both of us. The Parksville Rail Trail is about 2.5 miles with a beautiful waterfall. This choice would also allow my to respond on an ambulance call even if I was a little delayed. We had been hiking more regularly since April but as I was getting dressed it looked as if Sheila thought we might not hike again! I decided to wear my White Sierra long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did not put on any gaiters even though numerous ticks had plagued us on previous hikes. I wore my OR brimmed hat as it acts as a base for insect repellant.

At 2:20 PM I put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There was one car in the parking lot which was not surprising for such a beautiful day. We started out on the trail at 2:35 PM with the temperature at 75 degrees under beautiful blue skies with a slight breeze blowing. The open trail just before the woods was barely damp but showed some erosion from the downpours that had occurred lately. We immediately ran into some mud pits with some water but less than on our last trip. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was lower than our last visit but there was still a good volume of water. I wondered about the condition of the falls and whether they would be as interesting as my last trip. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose and getting very close to the edge of the trail where a steep drop led down to the river! We began to run into some branches hanging into the trail from the side and above. I knew that Bryce and Brad might be a available soon and that two or three people can get a lot of work accomplished. I did pick up some newly fallen branches and throw them off the trail. I continued to do this for the rest of the hike as the winds from the storms had loosened branches that had then fallen on the trail. We crossed several muddy areas and were soon at the wooden walkways. I decided to take some pictures of the stream and sky. We continued over the wooden walkways and bridges which were wet and muddy from the rain. I thought about bringing a rake and a broom next time to clean off the bridges which were covered in a mixture of wet leaves and mud. This time the water from the small stream was actually flowing through the culvert under the bridge or around the edge and not onto the bridge. After crossing the bridge, we ran into another large mud pit that had a layer of water with a few stepping stones. There continued to be small branches to remove as we walked. We continued at a moderate pace as it made my foot feel better.

At one point I looked up and saw two men coming toward us with a dog on a leash. They moved to the side of the trail and sat on a branch. We had seen them before on the trail but this was a new dog. It looked like a boxer mix and was only about a year old. He was very energetic with a loud bark. We said "Hello" and passed by quickly. Just short of the falls, we met another young man with two beautiful Labrador retrievers; one yellow and one chocolate. These dogs seemed to be a little calmer but together were giving their own quite a handful. We again greeted each other and passed by quickly. As we approached the falls, we could hear the a loud sound which was the falls. We arrived at the falls and found that there was a nice flow of water but the volume was lower than last time. The water was very clear as it flowed over the falls to the basin below. I decided not to go down to the streambed to take pictures to limit the stress on my foot and because I have quite a few pictures from the base of the falls. I took some shots of the falls from above from different locations and different angles. I also took picture upstream from this higher angle. I could see that the path along the edge of the stream was almost dry but I decided not to try my muck over the slippery rocks. We moved on down the trail passing the next bench without stopping to take pictures. We continued walking toward Parksville with Cindy and I walking together for a change which I found very enjoyable. We continued on to the end of the trail and turned around at the sign detailing the hotels in Parksville. I was still feeling comfortable and and my heel was not as painful as t had been. We met the two men with their dog again and shortly after the man with two dogs. Eventually we passed the falls and continued at a respectable pace back toward the parking area. We arrived at 4:00 PM after hiking about 2.6 miles in just under 1 hour and 30 minutes. I was very happy to get off my feet and into the air conditioning. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike but carrying a pack helps with the exercise. There were now no cars left in the lot.

On Thursday, July 27th I was scheduled to go to Frick Pond with NYS Forest Ranger Eric Stratton to remove twp blowdowns. Eric would be using a chainsaw to remove these two larger trees while I would be doing some swamping for him. The forecast for the day was for thunderstorms at 11:00 AM amd I debated whether or not we should go. In the end I decided we would try to get as much work as possible. I got up at 7:00 AM and took one ambulances down to Manor Motors for some work. I was home by 8:15 AM and I started to get ready to meet Eric. I had decided not to take Sheila but she was giving me such a pitiful look that I changed my mind! I started to get ready at 8L15 AM with the temperature at 66 degrees and a very high humidity. The skies were looking dark but I still thought we could get the work done. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with no baselayer because of the temperature. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, my feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did not put on any gaiters although I though about it due to the numerous ticks which had plagued me on previous hikes. I decided against taking any saws or axes as I knew the chainsaw would be able to handle everything. I got my gear in the car and put Sheila in the backseat and drove out the Debruce Road at 8:40 PM. I drive about 6 miles before turning left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. There were no cars in either lot so I parked in the smaller parking area to wait for Eric. The car thermometer read 65 degrees. Eric drove up in his truck a few minutes later and we greeted each other with a handshake. Sheila seemed indifferent to Eric as she circled the parking area. A car drove up the road and parked in the larger lot. The occupants, a man and woman, walked over to the kiosk to check out the maps. I offered some help and gave them suggestions for routes of different lengths and difficulties. Eric got his chaining gear together and we headed out the woods road that led to the Quick Lake Trail at the register.

My plan was to cut a blowdown across the Big Rock Trail at the head end of Frick Pond First. This blowdown made doing the loop around Frick Pond more difficult. This loop is the one I often suggest for beginners and I wanted to make sure it was as easy as possible. When we were done with this blowdown, we could try to get the one on the Flynn Trail right out of the parking area if the rain held off. The woods road was damp with a few muddy places and a little standing water. We continued straight ahead at the register and headed out the woods road toward Frick Pond. The trail was damp with just a little standing and running water and only a few muddy places. At Gravestone Junction, we turned right to get on the Logger's Loop heading toward Times Square. The grass and brush was overgrowing the trail because the long-time maintainer had hung up her loppers in June. I thought about getting a small crew together and bringing my string trimmer to make the experience more enjoyable. The grass was a little damp but not enough to soak my shoes or pants. The sky was overcast and occasionally I though IU could feel a raindrop! We walked passed the designated campsites which were empty and followed the trail as it turned a little to the left to parallel the eastern shore of Frick Pond. There are usually some wet and muddy spots along the way and this day was no exception. The trail is usually lower than the surrounding area so water collects on it and is very hard to drain. We stayed on the main trail and avoided the "detours" which hikers had created. We topped the small hill and began walking down the other side. As we walked, we talked. Eric is a very interesting hiking partner and very passionate about his job. He is very knowledgeable on many subjects and works with the fire department and ambulance corps on skills training.

We continued to Times Square on the Logger's Loop where we turned left and started the short loop around Frick Pond which I knew was barely 2 miles. The Big Rock Trail had some damp areas and some that were pretty muddy. We came to the blowdown which extended across the entire trail. I had cut off some of the branches leaving the top smooth enough for hikers to get over it. I quickly leashed Sheila to a tree so that she would be safe. I took some "before" pictures as Eric got the chainsaw ready. As a Forest Ranger Eric knows how dangerous a chainsaw can be and makes sure he has Kevlar chaps and a helmet with hearing protection. Eric started to make cuts on the tree and found it was hollow which made it cutting easier. As Eric cut section out of the trunk, I was able to roll them away and flip them off the trail. It didn't take much time at all to remove the entire tree! I pocked up a few stray branches and then took some "after" shots. Eric packed up the saw but we lingered for some time to allow the saw to cool. We decided to do the loop around Frick Pond for variety. We crossed the bridges over the outlet streams and I stopped to take a few pictures. The water was rather high as we had gotten some rain and all the plants were very green. We entered the spruce forest which is always a treat. The wooden walkways were almost dry and, therefore, not very slippery. When we reached the end of the Big Rock Trail, we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head toward the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. The trail was damp including the place that is usually a mud pit. At the bridge, I stopped and dropped my pack to take a few pictures even though I have hundreds and maybe thousands from this same spot. I put the camera away and shouldered my pack to walk up the hill to Gravestone Junction. We walked back along the Quick Lake Trail and the woods road to the parking area.

We continued across the road to the beginning of the Fynn Trail and started through the woods. Withing a few hundred feet we came to two large trees that nad blown down across the trail. These trees had almost blocked the trail until I cut most of the smaller branches and dragged them away. This opened the trail up so that hikers simply had to step over the two remaining large trunks. I took some pictures of the blowdowns amd then leashed Sheila to a tree a distance away from where W Eric and I would be working. I hoped that the sections Eric cut would roll downhill amd that I could then encourage off the trail. Eric got ready and fired up the chainsaw. He cut a large section from the first trunk which proved to be quite solid. This section did roll downhill but stopped on the trail. I was able to pick up one end and flip it off the trail. The next section was also large and this one did roll toward the edge of the trail stopping up against a small sapling. This one I could not move the way I wanted until Eric helped out. We were able to roll the section off the trail. One more cut and the first blowdown was done. Eric began to slice up the second trunk which was smaller. It was only a few minutes until the job was done. I took my "after" pictures and cleaned up a few branches. Eric packed up his gear and we headed back to the parking area. I noted that it was almost 11:30 Am and that there had been no rain. We had hike a little over 2 miles but the bigger accomplishment was getting the work done that I had planned. The walking and the work had taken about 2 and a half hours. Sometimes I like to think I can do as much work with hand saws and axes in about the same time as a chain saw. Everything can be cleared with hand tools but a chainsaw really does come in handy. Thanks to Forest Ranger Eric Stratton!

On Wednesday, July 26th I wanted to get out for a hike after a 12 day hiatus. Mostly I had been nursing a painful right foot by resting it and stretching my lower legs. Over the weekend I had gone with my son Karl to a triathlon on Sandusky, Ohio. It was nice to be away with him and away from the ambulance pager! On Wednesday morning Cindy and I went down to the ambulance building to talk to a group of third and fourth graders about the ambulance services. When we returned home, I got some lunch and did a few jobs before deciding to get ready to hike a 2:30 PM> I decided to go across the street and hike on Round Top as I could cover ambulance from there and I could abort the hike easily if my foot began to bother me. The temperature was 84 degrees on the back porch so I decided to wear my White Sierra long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, my feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did not put on any gaiters although I though about it due to the numerous ticks which had plagued me on previous hikes. I put my phone in my pocket and grabbed Sheila's leash from my trunk as we walked up the driveway at 2:50 PM. We walked across the street and to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We walked behind the church to get to the road up the hill to the trailhead. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." It seemed very hot and humid but Sheila was giving me some help as she pulled on her leash. My goal is always to make it all the way up the hill without stopping which I was able to do even though I had not hiked in a long time.

At the top of the hill we turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trail was damp in some places but was dry for the most part. Almost immediately I found some small branches on the trail which I removed. A little further there was a large branch of small trunk lying parallel to the left side of the trail. L snapped off part of it but the rest will require tools to remove. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. The trail was well-worn as this is the most popular part of the hike. Some people simply hike up to the lookout over town and then back down. When we reached the top of the trail, we followed the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. As I walked, we removed a few loose branches from the trail. The trail was flanked by ferns with a thin path through them. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. I made note that there were a few branches that were leaning into the trail and needed to be lopped. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up toward the summit. Almost immediately we came to a large branch or a small tree that was partly blocking the trail. I tried to remove it but found that it was still anchored at one end and would require a saw. Everything was very green and there were a few branches encroaching on the trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and walked over the summit to start down the other side. We again bypassed the white crossover trail but turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. The switchback took us out into the woods before turning almost 180 degrees to take us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where we turned left again. We walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. This time when we reached the trail junction we turned right to head down the trail to the woods road. In several places it was clear that a large amount of water had washed over the trail cleaning away the leaves and pine needles. We continued to follow the yellow blazes back to the first trail junction. I knew we might not get in much hiking over the next few days as the weather report called for rain. I decided we would complete another figure 8 so we turned around and walked back up the woods road. At the end of the woods road, we followed the yellow trail as the blazes turned up the hill toward the junction with the blue trail. When we reached this junction, we turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction, with the blue trail, we turned right and began to walk up the blue trail toward the summit. For some variety we skipped the switchback and walked straight up the steepest part of the trail. It seemed to me that some people were still using this route which I had "decommissioned" by removing the blazes. It also looked like an equal number of people were using the switchback. When we came to the white crossover trail, we continued straight ahead over the summit of Round Top. We started down the other side bypassing the white crossover trail and continuing down the blue trail to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and continued to follow the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We passed the "Sitting Rock" and soon came to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and started downhill to the first trail junction. When we reached the first junction, we continued straight ahead to the trailhead where we turned right and walked down the road to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We walked across Rock Avenue to our driveway. We were back at 3:25 PM after walking about two miles in 1 hour and 35 minutes which included the time needed to do some light trail maintenance. I noticed that my right heel hurt a little more than when I started. The temperature was 86 degrees.

On Monday, July 3rd I wanted to get out for a hike but had to try to plan around the numerous ambulance calls we had been getting. I finally decided I would go to the Parksville Rail Trail and trim some of the bushes and branches hanging into the trail. I asked Cindy if she would like to go along to help trim the trail and she said "Yes" despite the 80 degree heat and high humidity. We started to get ready at 2:30 PM with Sheila keeping a watchful eye on both of us. One look outside showed a blue skies and many puffy white clouds in one direction and swirling faker clouds in the other. The Parksville Rail Trail which is about 2.5 miles with a beautiful waterfall. This choice would also allow my to respond on an ambulance call even if I was a little delayed. We had been hiking more regularly since April but as I was getting dressed it looked as if Sheila thought we might not hike again! I decided to wear my White Sierra long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I put on any gaiters as I thought about the numerous ticks which had plagued me on previous hikes. I also wore my OR brimmed hat as it acts as a base for insect repellant. I put my Corona loppers in the car. These have extendible handles and are best for larger branches.

At 2:45 PM I put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There was one cars in the parking lot which was not surprising for such a beautiful day on a long weekend. A young couple had their child with them and it looked as if they had just finished biking the trail. We started out on the trail at 3:00 PM with the temperature at 80 degrees under variable skies with a slight breeze blowing. I had decided to walk the trail and then trim the bushes on the first part when we returned. I could not remember many other places that needed to be lopped. The open trail just before the woods was damp. There had been two periods when quite a bit of rain after a short drought so I expected water on the trail and a good volume in the stream. We immediately ran into some mud pits with quite a bit of water. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was higher than our last visit. I wondered about the condition of the falls and whether they would be as interesting as my last trip. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose and getting very close to the edge of the trail where a steep drop led down to the river! We began to run into some branches hanging into the trail from the side and above. I decided to go back to the car and exchange my poles for the loppers. I left Cindy with Sheila on her leash and quickly hiked back to the car and then back to where Cindy had stopped. I started to trim some small branches as Cindy watched me. I started to pick up the branches and throw them off the trail. Cindy eventually joined me but did not seem very enthusiastic. I asked Cindy to pull some branches down from above which allowed me to reach higher and cut them off up high/ I threw the branches off to the trail and we continued our hike. I continued to cut branches as Cindy walked on uo the trail leaving me to cut and move the cut branches. It was clear she was done for the day and that I would have to continue on my won. This was very discouraging as we had worked in the past. Working with somebody makes everything much easier. I crossed several muddy areas and continued to try to cut and remove branches. There were many more branches than I thought and I began to imagine how much easier the job would be if Bryce was with me! Eventually I decided that I was not willing to continue to trim by myself. I looked up to see Cindy far ahead of me. I dolled the loppers and picked up my hiking pace. We were soon at the wooden walkways and I decided not to any pictures. We continued over the wooden walkways and bridges which were wet from the rain. I thought about bringing a rake and a broom next time to clean off the bridges which were covered in a mixture of wet leaves and mud. This time the water from the small stream was actually flowing through the culvert under the bridge or around the edge and not onto the bridge. After crossing the bridge, we ran into another large mud pit that had a layer of water with a few stepping stones. There continued to be small branches to remove as we walked. I was disappointed that there were also many branches to trim. I continued at a fast pace even though the heat and humidity was exhausting. As we approached the falls, we could hear the a loud sound which was the falls. We arrived at the falls and found that there was a nice flow of water and the volume was higher than last time due to the rain. I water was also a little muddy from the erosion of the surrounding alnd

I decided to take Sheila down to the streambed to take some pictures. I left the loppers on the picnic table as we descended the bank with Shiela leading and me close behind. It was a little more difficult without my poles. I dropped my pack and took out the camera. It was then that I noticed three young mean swimming on the water below the falls. I knew that if I captured them in my pictures I could easily remove them so I continued with my plan. I took a picture of Sheila standing in the stream and some more shots downstream before turning my attention to the falls. I took some shots of the rapids before the falls and then some of the main falls. I finished by taking some pictures of both falls. We climbed back to the main trail and I took some more shots of the falls from above. I also took picture upstream from this higher angle. At this point I noticed that my heels were hurting with the right being much worse than the left, I took an ibuprofen and decided to continue to the Parksville end of the trail. We moved on down the trail passing the next bench without stopping to take pictures. We continued walking toward Parksville with Cindy and I setting different paces and hiking our own hikes. I found a few more wet and muddy areas on the trail but they were easy to walk around. As I walked a group if three young machining toward us. They had a speaker turned up nice and loud so that everyone could hear their music. I was a little put off because I like the quiet of the hoe but I realized that they were enjoying their music. I continued on to the end of the trail and turned around at the sign detailing the hotels in Parksville. I turned around at 4:15 PM and started the walk back. I was hot and sweaty and my heel was hurrying so I was really dragging along. I eventually passed the falls with Cindy far ahead of me. Sheila stayed with me to keep me company which did cheer me up. I continued to walk back to the car arriving at 5"00 PM after hiking about 2.6 miles. I was very happy to get off my feet and into the air conditioning. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike but carrying a pack and doing some trimming helps with the exercise. There were now no cars left in the lot. I drove back home dropping Cindy and Sheila out from while I continued on to the ambulance building to check on the rigs.

On Wednesday, July 12th, I wanted to get out for a longer hike after sticking to Round Top and trails near home for several walks. I planned to get up early and head to Frick Pond to do the 6 mile loop around Frick and Hodge Ponds. The ambulance pager woke me up in the morning and I was off on a call in Liberty which turned out not to be a call at all! I returned home after documenting the call and started to get ready to hike at 12:15 PM despite the darkening skies. No rain was predicted and I decided I didn't care if I got wet anyway as long as there was no lightning. As I started to get ready, the temperature on the back porch was 75 degrees with a slight breeze! I decided to wear my White Sierra long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I put on any gaiters as I thought about the numerous ticks which had plagued me on previous hikes. I also wore my OR brimmed hat as it acts as a base for insect repellant. I put my Silky Sugowaza saw in my pack as I decided I would cut a few blowdowns that I knew were on the Flynn Trail. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and headed out the DeBruce Road at 9:30 AM. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there were four cars parked in the larger lot and the small lot also had four cars. I was surprised so many people were in the area on a Wednesday. I pulled into the smaller lot with Sheila acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she ran around and headed for the trail. The temperature was 75 degrees and the skies were a mix of blue and gathering darkness with a slight breeze blowing. I could see the insects swarming so I sprayed some insect repellant on my hat, exposed skin, and hiking top. We got ready to head out on the Flynn Trail as the dog from the cabin started down the driveway toward us. We crossed the road and began our hike at 1:0f PM.

The Flynn Trail is sited along what used to be Beech Mountain Road which was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We walked the trail through the woods which was wet from the rain the days before. I immediately noticed that although my Achilles tendons were still aching with every step I was keeping up a good pace. After a short walk we came to the first blowdown that I knew was present. The problem was that a large tree had fallen across the trail and its 2 foot diameter was more than I could handle, at least on this day. I had cut and removed the other trees that had been brought down and were encroaching on the trail or hanging over it. I managed to schedule a date with the local ranger to cut this and some other large blowdowns. We continued on the Flynn Trail and turned right on the woods road and continued to set a good pace up the hill. I was surprised that the other dog was barking but not following us. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.7 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We passed the hemlock that used to form a tunnel but was cleared by the DEC. Just after this there were several medium sized trees down across the trail. I put my pack down to get out my camera. I had checked that I had my camera before leaving the house but found I had the cover but not the camera! So instead of taking epicures, I got out my saw and started to strip small branches off the larger trunk. After cutting the smallest, I began to cut larger ones and drag them off the trail. I finally had just the larger trunk remaining so I cut it at a point off the trail. I finished the cut through trunk and then dragged this larger pieces off the trail. After cleaning up a few small branches, we moved up the trail to the next blowdown. This blowdown was a single small trunk across the trail. As I prepared to make the cut, we saw a hiker coming down the trail toward us. I told Sheila to move to the side of the trail and to lie down. I began the cut as the hiker approached. He had a single bottle of water and gave me a "Thank you" as he passed. The wood was a little harder than I thought but I finished the cut. I thought I might have to make another cut but was able to pick up the trunk and pivot it off the trail. I put the saw in my pack and cleaned up the trail before moving on. I noticed that I was very relaxed and decided I needed to get out more as the other things that I do can be stressful.

We continued up the Flynn Trail as the skies grew darker all the time. Another hiker came toward us and we greeted each other. He said He had walked up to Hodge Pond and now was going back. He commented that when he started it was bright and sunny and that it seemed rain was now coming. I hope he was wrong and we continued in opposite directions. We ran across another blowdown which required several cuts to remove individual branches. I cut the larger trunk and was able to drag large sections off the trail. I cut the larger trunk and was able to lift and pivot it off the trail. Since it was now parallel to the trail, I rolled it off a little farther. We came to the clearing on the right side of the trail and walked quickly passed it. A few drops of rain began to fall but I chose to ignore them. The trail drops a little before ascending again to the junction with the Big Rick Trail. Just as the trail flattened we came to another medium sized trunk suspended across the trail. I knew it would be easiest to use an ax but I did not have one. I decided to try using the saw although it looked to me like it was likely I would get it hung up! As I made the first cut just off the right side of the trail, the rain began to fall in earnest. I went to my pack, got out the cover, and out it on the pack. I went back to try to complete the cut but the saw was starting to jam in the wet wood. I decided we would move on. I stashed the saw in my pack and we continued on to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. When we arrived 2:15 PM, the rain was really coming down. I decided we would return by walking back down the Flynn Trail. We turned around and set a fast pace. My right heel had a sharp pain but I continued to push the pace. We were soon approaching the gate on the Flynn Trail where we turned left and walked the trail to the woods back to the parking area. As we came out of the woods the rain had all but stopped and the sun was coming out. To my surprise only one of the seven cars remained! We arrived at the car at 3:05 PM having hiked 3.5 miles in 2 hours including the time spent cutting trees. The temperature was 74 degrees.

On Saturday, July 8th my grandson Bryce was at our house for the weekend while his parents attended a wedding. On Friday Bryce and I had started a hike at Frick Pond but the rains came and we tuned back. I was not scared of getting wet but the thunder and lightening bothered me! Saturday morning I was scheduled to pickup a Finger Lakes Trail hiker at the Balsam Lake Mounatin parking area and shuttle him to Alder Lake. Bryce decided to go along as I was going to my church afterward to prepare for Sunday's service. We left the house at 7:45 Am and drove to the end of the Beaverkill Road arriving at 8:30AM. Louis was already waiting so we immediately headed back down the Beaverkill Road to Alder Lake where we dropped Louis at about 9:00 AM. The church is on Fuller Hill Road in Horton and I debated the best way to get there. I decided to drive over Cross Mountain Road to Millbrook Road. The road is dirt and gravel most of the way and very narrow. Fortunately, we did not meet any other cars but the road is every bit as interesting as I remember. We followed Millbrook Road out to the Pepacton Reservoir> from There we took Route 30 to Downsville and west to Corbett. Out of Corbett we took Fuller Hill Road to the church where I did the work I needed to complete. We drove home and were in the driveway by 12:30 POM. Bryce got some lunch as the skies outside began to show signs of some rain. We decided to go across the street and hike on Round Top as I could cover ambulance from there and we could abort the hike easily if there was any thunder or lightening. We started to get ready at 1:30 PM with the temperature at 84 degrees on the back porch. I decided to wear my White Sierra long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did not put on any gaiters although I though about it due to the numerous ticks which had plagued me on previous hikes. Bryce is 12 years old and now taller than I am. He had a short-sleeved shirt and shorts so I knew we would have to do a good "tick check" when we got home. I gave Bryce my phone to carry while I grabbed Sheila's leash from my trunk as we walked up the driveway at 1:45 PM. We walked across the street and to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We walked behind the church to get to the road up the hill to the trailhead. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." It seemed very hot and humid but Sheila was giving me some help as she pulled on her leash. My goal is always to make it all the way up the hill without stopping which I was able to do by picking the right pace.

At the top of the hill we turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trail was damp from a few rain showers that had passed through town. At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. The trail was well-worn as this is the most popular part of the hike. Some people simply hike up to the lookout over town and then back down. When we reached the top of the trail, we followed the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. As we walked, we removed a few loose branches from the trail. It is a pleasure to hike with Bryce as he automatically bends down to remove branches from the trail. We also have very interesting conversations about many different topics. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. I made note that there were a few branches that were leaning into the trail and needed to be lopped. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up toward the summit. Almost immediately we came to a large branch or a small tree that was partly blocking the trail. We tried to remove it but found that it was still anchored at one end and would require a saw. Everything was very green and there were a few branches encroaching on the trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and walked over the summit to start down the other side. We again bypassed the white crossover trail but turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. The switchback took us out into the woods before turning almost 180 degrees to take us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where we turned left again. We walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. This time when we reached the trail junction we turned right to head down the trail to the woods road. We continued to follow the yellow blazes back to the first trail junction. I knew we might not get in much hiking over the next few days as the weather report called for rain. I decided we would complete another figure 8 so we turned around and walked back up the woods road. I talked to Bryce about the drill we had planned with the fire company to "rescue" an injured hiker from the base of the cliffs. At the end of the woods road, we followed the yellow trail as the blazes turned up the hill toward the junction with the blue trail. When we reached this junction, we turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction, with the blue trail, we turned right and began to walk up the blue trail toward the summit. For some variety we skipped the switchback and walked straight up the steepest part of the trail. It seemed to me that some people were still using this route which I had "decommissioned" by removing the blazes. It also looked like an equal number of people were using the switchback. When we came to the white crossover trail, we continued straight ahead over the summit of Round Top. We started down the other side as a few drops of rain began to fall. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued down the blue trail to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and continued to follow the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We passed the "Sitting Rock" and soon came to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and started downhill to the first trail junction. When we reached the first junction, I could hear a dog barking on the trail to the left. I could not tell if the dog was on a leash or not, so I grabbed Sheila and put her on her leash. We continued straight ahead to the trailhead where we turned right and walked down the road to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We walked across Rock Avenue to our driveway. We were back at 3:05 PM after walking about two miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes.

On Monday, July 3rd I wanted to get out for a hike but had to try to plan around the numerous ambulance calls we had been getting. I finally decided I would go to the Parksville Rail Trail. I asked Cindy if she would like to go for a walk and she said "Yes" despite the 80 degree heat and high humidity. We started to get ready at 12:30 PM with Sheila keeping a watchful eye on both of us. One look outside showed a blue skies with many puffy white clouds. The Parksville Rail Trail which is about 2.5 miles with a beautiful waterfall. This choice would also allow my to respond on an ambulance call even if I was a little delayed. We had been hiking more regularly since April but as I was getting dressed it looked as if she thought we might not hike again! I decided to wear my White Sierra long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail.

At 1:00 PM I put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There were four cars in the parking lot which was not surprising for such a beautiful day on a long weekend. We started out on the trail at 1:15 PM with the temperature at 79 degrees under skies with puffy white clouds but no breeze. The open trail just before the woods was damp. Usually as we enter the trees the temperature seems to drop and this was true on this day as we were out of the direct rays of the sun. There had been quite a bit of rain after a short drought so we did not know what to expect on the trail. We immediately ran into some mud pits but they were almost completely dried up. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was higher than our last visit. I wondered about the condition of the falls and whether they would be as interesting as my last trip. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose and getting very close to the edge of the trail where a steep drop led down to the river! We looked up to see a couple coming toward us with two dogs. I walked off the trail and took Sheila with me as the other hikers passed. We were soon at the wooden walkways and I decided to take some pictures down to the river. The backdrop for the pictures were the very puffy white clouds and the green leaves. After I took a few shots we continued our walk. We continued over the wooden walkways and bridges which were damp from the rain. I thought about bringing a rake and a broom next time to clean off the bridges. There were also some small branches that needed lopping or cutting with a small saw. This time the water from the small stream was actually flowing through the culvert under the bridge. After crossing the bridge, we ran into another large mud pit that had a thin layer of water with a few stepping stones. There continued to be small branches to remove as we walked. We continued at a fast pace even tough the heat and humidity was wearing. As we approached the falls, we could hear the sound of the falls. We arrived at the falls and found that there was a nice flow of crystal-clear water and the volume was higher than last time due to the rain.

Another couple was coming toward us with a small but very loud dog that snarled and barked continuously. I decided to take Sheila down to the streambed to get away from the other dog and to take some pictures. We descended the bank with Shiela leading and me close behind. I dropped my pack and took out the camera. It was then that I notice a young woman sitting on the rocks on the opposite shore. We waved and then I took a picture of Sheila standing in the stream. I took some more shots downstream and the turned my attention to the falls. I took some shots of the rapids before the falls and then some of the main falls. I finished by taking some pictures of both falls. I thought I was done until I saw Sheila walking to some rocks in front of the falls and posed. I obliged by taking some shots of her and a few more as she repositioned herself. We finished and I noticed a young man walking across the stream. I called Sheila to make sure she stayed near me. As we began to climb back up the bank, the young man said "She poses like a model!" I had to agree and thanked him. We climbed back to the main trail and I took some more shots of the falls from above. I also took picture upstream from this higher angle. We moved on down the trail to the next bench where I put down my pack and again took out the camera. There was a couple sitting at the place where I sometimes take pictures so I chose to walk the math down to the streambed toward the falls. I did not get very far as the rocks were very slippery and the water was high enough to cover the path. I did take some pictures from this angle before walking back up to the bench and stowing the camera. We continued walking toward Parksville to get a little more distance. We found a few more damp areas on the trail but they were easy to walk around. We continued on to the end of the trail and turned around at the sign detailing the hotels in Parksville. We turned around at 2:05 PM and set a fast pace back toward the car passing the falls on the way. We passed a group of four young people who appeared to be headed for dip in the falls. We continued to walk back to the car arriving at 2:50 PM after hiking about 2.6 miles There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike but carrying a pack and walking quickly helps with the exercise. There were now seven cars parked in the lot which I think is more than I have ever seen at one time! I drove back home and parked in the driveway.

On Thursday, June 22nd I wanted to get out for hike on Te first full day of summer. The beginning of the week had been filled with meetings and mnbulance calls and I needed a break! I asked Cindy if she would like to hike the Parksville Rail Trail from Fox Mountain Road to Old Liberty Road near Livingston Manor. She said "Yes" so we started getting ready at 11:15 Am with the temperate at 71 degrees. I got dressed in my White Sierra light crew top which blocks the sun and isn't too warm. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also packed Mt Silky Sugowaza saw as I knew there were a few blowdowns on the trail. At 11:35 AM we put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. Just after this intersection is the western parking area for the rail trail. The parking lot had one car parked but the owner seemed more interested in resting or tatting than hiking.

The temperature was still 71 degrees under overcast skies as we began the hike at 11:55 AM. We walked under the Quickway on Fox Mountain Road and crossed the bridge over a stream. We stepped over the guard rail and started out on the trail. Almost immediately we came what was left of the trestle supports that carried the trail tracks over the stream. We started to walk up the trail to the left of the trestle and immediately came to a new blowdown with a medium-sized main trunk. I decided to leave this one for the return trip. We stepped over and around the blowdown and walked up the trail to the top of the trestle. As we entered the shade of the trees, it immediately seemed a little cooler. The trail is rather well defined and stretches ahead for some distance. Like most rail trails it was very straight. Town of Liberty Supervisor Frank DeMayo had told me that this was state land and the town had an agreement from the state to use it during the summer. I saw no POSTED signs along the right-of-way. The hope is to connect the Parksville Rail Trail to all the sections that stretch as far as Livingston Manor. We started to walk along the trail and I noticed there was quite a bit of traffic on the Quickway! The land dropped off steeply to the Little Beaverkill on the right. On the left were some "cliffs" which were the result of the railroad cutting a path for the tracks. We continued to walk along the well-defined trail. It was a pleasant walk without many insects. Along the way we found some small blowdowns. When I started to clear the first, I realized Cindy was showing no interest I helping. I had hoped we could work together but I didn't have too much trouble doing the work alone. There are two places along the trail where there were piles of garbage. It is hard to determine why they are there. Both piles had tarps over them which seemed to indicate someone once valued the items. Near the first pile on the right is a VW Bug down over the side of the trail! The large blowdown that I thought I might have to clear ahd already been removed by somebody with an axe and handsaw. We soon came to a gate on the trail which is odd since it is state land. No one seems to know why the gate is there or who placed it. We walked around the gate and continued on the trail,

Soon we came to a small pond on the right with a red building behind it. The building looked to be in good shape but the windows were all boarded up. After hiking about 1.3 miles, we came to a driveway on the left which leads to the Sonoma Falls property. I knew this was private land and decided not to enter. I wish I could find out who owns the land and get explicit permission to walk around the property. It has been more than 12 years since I had last visited this area. At one time there was a campground on the property. Some local business people bought the property and built a cider mill and market. They took the time to construct some hiking trails along the stream. I remember that the falls were very nice with at least five separate drops which increased in height the farther upstream one ventured. We continued on the main trail toward Old Liberty Road and set a quick pace as I knew Cindy would rather turn around. The walk along the old road was interesting as there were some impressive rock cuts on the left. The waterway on the right had very little water. The walk was about .4 miles which was a little longer than I thought. When we arrived at Old Liberty Road, I saw that the trail actually continued straight ahead parallel to the road. I decided to explore this part of the trail on another visit. Sheila and I turned around at 1:05 PM and walked back to Cindy. We set a pretty fast pace on the way back and did not stop until we got to the blowdown near the beginning of the trail. I made several cuts to remove some smaller branches. I then started in on the larger branches and trunks. When I got to the final cut, I realized the trunk was on the ground which would make it hard to cut with the saw. I really wanted to get the job done but decided it would be better to wait and use the axe. We were back at the car at 2:10 PM having hiked 3.4 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes with some time used to clear the trail. The ascent was 230 feet but it is hardly noticeable as the trail feels flat when walking. I do hope the plans to connect the sections of the trails is successful!

Spring 2023

On Thursday, June 15th Sheila and I had returned home from hiking the Parksville rail trail. The skies were no darker than they had been but the breeze had picked up. I thought for a few moments and the decided to go across the street the hike on Round Top. I had grabbed Sheila's leash from my trunk and we walked up the driveway at 2:50 PM. We walked across the street and to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We walked behind the church to get to the road up the hill to the trailhead. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal is always to make it all the way up the hill without stopping which I was able to do by picking the right pace. I was surprised that it seemed easier to hike the hill after already completing 2.5 miles. I am having some trouble founding the right pair of hiking boots that allow me to insert the insoles I like and still fit me feet! At the top of the hill we turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trail was dry and there were no wet spots or muddy places to make it slippery. At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. The trail was well-worn as this is the most popular part of the hike. Some people simply hike up to the lookout over town and then back down. When we reached the top of the trail, we walked off the trail to the left to the upper viewpoint. The views down into town and across the valley to the hills were beautiful but the leaves on the trees block some areas. After taking in the view, we followed the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. As we walked, I removed a few loose branches from the trail. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. I made note that there were a few branches that were leaning into the trail and needed to be lopped. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up toward the summit. Almost immediately we came to a large branch or a small tree that was partly blocking the trail. I tried to remove it but found I would have to come back with a saw. Everything was very green and there were a few branches encroaching on the trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and walked over the summit to start down the other side. We again bypassed the white crossover trail but turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. The switchback took us out into the woods before turning almost 180 degrees to take us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where we turned left. We again walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. This time when we reached the trail junction we turned right to head down the trail to the woods road. We continued to follow the yellow blazes back to the first trail junction.

I knew we might not get in much hiking over the next few days as the weather report called for rain. I decided we would complete another figure 8 so we turned around and walked back up the woods road. At the end of the road, we followed the yellow trail as the balzes turned up the hill toward the junction with the blue trail. When we reached this junction, we turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction, with the blue trail, we turned right and began to walk up the blue trail toward the summit. For some variety we skipped the switchback and walked straight up the steepest part of the trail. It seemed to me that some people were still using this route which I had "decommissioned" by removing the blazes. It also looked like an equal number of people were using the switchback. When we came to the white crossover trail, we turned right and began to walk along the trail. There was a noticeable trail bed but it was less used tan the other trails. We continued along the white trail finding a few branches that needed to be lopped. When we reached the blue trail, we turned right and walked downhill to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and continued to follow the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We passed the "Sitting Rock" and soon came to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and started downhill to the first trail junction. When we reached the first junction, we continued straight ahead to the trailhead. At the trailhead, we turned right and walked down the road to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked across Rock Avenue to our driveway. We were back at 3:10 PM after walking not quite two miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes.

On Thursday, June 15th I wanted to get out for a hike but had to try to plan around the numerous ambulance calls we had been getting. Overnight we had a cardiac arrest call. There was no advanced life support available but we managed to defibrillate the patient and get them to the hospital alive. I waited for Cindy to get home from church noon and asked her if she would like to go for a walk. I was surprised when she tunred me down but decided I would take Sheila and go for a walk. At 1:00 PM the temperature was 71 degrees and the forecast called for thunderstorms at 2:00 PM. One look outside at the dark skies and gathering clouds seemed to support that forecast. I decided to take a hike on the Parksville Rail Trail which is about 2.5 miles with beautiful waterfalls. This choice would also allow my to respond on an ambulance call even if I was a little delayed. I started to get ready at 1:15 PM with Sheila showing her excitement. We had been hiking more regularly since April but as I was getting dressed it looked as if she thought we might not hike again! I decided to wear my White Sierra long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did not see a reason to wear a jacket with the tempertaure in the low 70's.

At 1:30 PM I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There was one car in the parking lot and I could see the owner returning on the trail with her dog. I set my GPS this time and we started out on the trail at 1:45 PM with the temperature at 71 degrees under skies with gathering dark clouds and a stiff breeze. The open trail just before the woods was dry. Usually as we enter the trees the temperature seems to drop but on this day there was not much change except some protection from the breeze. There had been some rain the previous day so I did not know what to expect on the trail. We immediately ran into some mud pits but they were almost completely dried up. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was adequate but not much higher than our last visit. I wondered about the condition of the falls and whether they would be as interesting as my last trip. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose and getting very close to the edge of the trail where a steep drop led down to the river! We were soon at the wooden walkways and I decided I would not take pictures down to the river because of the threat of thunderstorms. We continued over the wooden walkways and bridges which were almost dry. I thought about bringing a rake and a broom next time to clean off the bridges. There were also some small branches that needed lopping or cutting with a small saw. This time the water from the small stream was actually flowing through the culvert under the bridge.

After crossing the bridge, we ran into another large mud pit that had all but dried up. We continued at a fast pace as the breeze continued to keep us rather cool. As we approached the falls, we could hear the sound of the falls. We arrived at the falls and found that there was a nice flow of crystal-clear water although the volume was still low and seemed unaffected by the rain. I decided to skip taking pictures as the scene was much the same as during the last trip and the clouds were getting darker. I thought about turning around but we continued walking toward Parksville to get a little more distance. We found a few more damp areas on the trail but they were easy to walk around. We continued on to the end of the trail and turned around at the sign detailing the hotels in Parksville. We tunrned around at 2:10 PM and set a fast pace back toward the car passing the falls on the way. When I could get a look at the skies, I could see they were still dark but it did not seem that rain was imminent. We walked back to the car arriving at 2:35 PM after hiking about 2.6 miles in 55 minutes! There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike. I thought about extending the hike by walking rail trail from Fox Mountain Road toward Livingston Manor. This part of the trail is not officially open but is in good shape for hiking. In the end I decided to head home. I drove back home and parked in the driveway.

On Tuesday 6th I wanted to get out for a hike but had to try to plan around the numerous ambulance calls we had been getting. At 7:00 AM, the temperature was 45 degrees and the skies were hazy and overcast from the forest fires burning in Canada. I had some work to do around the house and Cindy needed to do some shopping. When she returned. I asked if she would like to take a hike on the Parksville Rail Trail and she agreed. The hike is about 2.5 miles and the falls are beautiful. We started to get ready at 11:15 AM with Sheila showing her excitement. We had been hiking more regularly in May than in April but as I was getting dressed it looked as if she thought we might not hike again! I decided to wear my White Sierra long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my new Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, by feet hurt from the lack of support. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did not see a reason to wear a jacket even though the tempertaure was still only in the high 50's. At 11:40 AM I put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There were no vehicles in the parking lot.

We started out on the trail at 11:55 AM with the temperature at 58 degrees under sunny skies with white clouds but there was also a stiff breeze. The open trail just before the woods was dry. Usually as we enter the trees the temperature seems to drop but on this day there was not much change except some protection from the breeze. We immediately ran into some mud pits but they were almost completely dried up. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was adequate despite the dry weather we had been having. The water was also very clear. I wondered about the condition of the falls and whether they would be as interesting as my last trip. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose and getting very close to the edge of the trail where a steep drop led down to the river! Its bothers me only a little but it drives Cindy crazy. We were soon at the wooden walkways and I decided I would not take pictures down to the river because of the haze created by the forest fires. We continued over the wooden walkways and bridges which were dry allowing us to move freely. I thought about bringing a rake and a broom next time to clean off the bridges. There were also some small branches that needed lopping or cutting with a small saw. This time the water from the small stream was actually flowing through the culvert under the bridge. After crossing the bridge, we ran into another large mud pit that had all but dried up. We continued at a fast pace as the breeze continued to keep us rather cool. As we approached the falls, we could hear the sound of the falls.

We arrived at the falls and found that there was a nice flow of crystal-clear water although the volume was the lowest we had seen since last fall. I decided to take some picture from above before descending the path to the streambed. I got out my camera and took some shots of the falls from above. I also took some pictures of the stream below the falls. I packed up and started walking down the path to the streambed. The path was dry and I was soon at the stream. I started to take pictures of the main falls and the rapids at its base. I also took some pictures downstream. Sheila walked upstream and took a swim in the water before posing on the rocks. I took some shots as she posed and then changed poses. The colors were vibrant and I made sure to take some pictures with longer exposures to get a "soft" effect. When I was done, Sheila and I walked back up the path to the picnic able. I grabbed my pack and we all walked on the trail to the next bench. I put down my pack and poles and started down the path that parallels the stream. The rocks on the path were mossy and wet but I did not have a problem walking to the brink of the falls. I stopped and took some pictures over the brink of the falls and then some upstream where there are more rapids. When I was done, Sheila and I walked back along the path to the bench. I stowed the camera and we started walking toward Parksville. We found a few more damp areas on the trail but they were easy to walk around. We continued on to the end of the trail and turned around at the sign detailing the hotels in Parksville. We tunrned around at 12:45 PM and set a fast pace back toward the car passing the falls on the way. A little farther along, we looked up to see a woman with a dog headed back toward the parking area. About half a mile from the parking area my phone sounded indicating an ambulance call. I responded and we all walked as fast as we could to the car. We were back at the car at 1:20 PM after hiking about 2.6 miles in 1 hour and 25 minutes! There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike. I drove directly to the ambulance building where the rig was waiting for me.

On Tuesday, May 30th I had intended to get up early and do a longer hike before track practice. As often happens, my plans were changed by an early morning ambulance call. I had hoped to hike every day in May but a series of track meets, ambulance calls and church commitments interfered with that plan and continues to do so. I got a text from Lisa asking if I would like to hike on Round Top after she closed her store. I agreed that we would meet in the church parking lot at 5:30 PM. I got some work done around the house and at the ambulance building and was done by 5:00 PM so I could get ready to hike. The temperature was still 70 degrees with some sun, blue skies and white clouds even though the sun was beginning to sink in the sky. Sheila was quitely watching my every move but I knew she was excited as we had not been out for a week! I decided to put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on a new apir of Keen Durand hiking boots in size 9.5W. The smaller pair that I had were beginning to wear out, a little prematurely I thought. In addition, the shoes were too small to use the better insoles that I like. I decided to wear this pair with the Keen insoles as I was just breaking them in. I have been wearing a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I chose not to wear any jacket as it was a little too warm outside. At 12:00 PM Sheila and I walked out the door to start the hike. I had grabbed Sheila's leash from my trunk and we walked up the driveway. We walked across the street and to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. Lisa was already parked and as soon as Sheila saw her she began to pull on her leash. When we finally got to Lisa's car Sheila was energetic but not too crazed. Lisa gave her a few pats and Sheila calmed down. When Lisa finished putting on her shoes, we walked behind the church to get to the road up the hill to the trailhead.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal is always to make it all the way up the hill without stopping which I was able to do by picking the right pace. At the top of the hill we turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trail was dry and there were no wet spots or muddy places to make it slippery. At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. When we reached the top of the trail, we walked off the trail to the left to the upper viewpoint. The views down into town and across the valley to the hills was beautiful and I was a little sorry I had not brought the camera. After taking in the view, we followed the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. As we walked, we talked. Lisa and I had mot hiked in some time and we had a lot to discuss. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up toward the summit. Everything was very green and there were a few branches encroaching on the trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and walked over the summit to start down the other side. We again bypassed the white crossover trail but turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. The switchback took us out into the woods before turning almost 180 degrees to take us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where we turned left. We again walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. This time when we reached the trail junction we turned right to head down the trail to the woods road. We continued to follow the yellow blazes back to the first trail junction. I asked Lisa if she would like to do another figure 8. She declined but agreed to do a small loop. We turned around and walked back up the woods road to begin another figure 8. At the junction with the blue trail we turned left and walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. At the trail junction with the blue trail we turned left to do a small loop on the lower yellow trail. We again assed the "Sitting Rock" and headed toward the lookout. At the lookout we turned left and walked down the steep hill to the first trail junction. This time we continued straight ahead and walked out to the trailhead where we turned right. We walked down the hill to the church parking lot. We both said our goodbyes to Lisa. I put Sheila on her leash and we walk out to the street. We crossed the street to the driveway and walked back home. We were back at 06:45 PM after walking not quite two miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes.

On Tuesday, May 23rd I had planned to get out and hike a longer hike in the Neversink Unique Area but two overnight ambulance calls had me sleeping in until 10:00 AM. The day looked beautiful and I asked Cindy if she wanted to go for a walk. She turned me down immediately so I began to think of places to go that were closer to home. I decided to head for Huggins Lake. This hike is about 4 miles but has some good uphills and is always deserted. I began to get ready at 12:15 PM when the temperature was 77 degrees. As soon as I started to get ready, Sheila began to run around and bark anticipating getting out of the house. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top but decided against a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided not to add gaiters. I have not seen as many ticks as in the past but I know they are out there. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I got my gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat. We left Livingston Manor at 12:45 PM and drove north on Old Route 17. I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and left on Campsite Road. At the bottom of the hill I turned right and drove down to the campgrounds parking area and across the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. At the end of the road I turned right and followed Berry Brook Road to the trailhead for Huggins Lake. We arrived at the road to the parking area to find it very rough with a lot erosion. I decided to give it a try and was able to get to the parking lot. I got my equipment ready and we started off at 1:05 PM. The sun had been out all day and the sky was a beautiful blue with white clouds. The temperature was 74 degrees as we headed out on the wide woods road to the lake but a slight breeze made it feel cooler. The hike isn't long, less than 4 miles, and the trail is maintained by the DEC and we saw a few blowdowns along the way that had been cleared.

The first 1.2 miles is all uphill and gains almost 700 feet. Sheila was running up and down the trail following game paths into the woods. I often wonder how many miles she puts on as I plod along the trails. I was deep in thought about pastoring my new church and it seemed that we were setting a fast pace. The ascent has several spots which appear to be the top of the climb but are not. After the initial climb, the trail descends, levels some and then climbs again until the final descent to Huggins Lake. As we continued, the trail made a sharp turn from southeast to north at about 1.6 miles. We enjoyed the downhill trek to the shores of the pond even though we had to walk around some small blowdowns on the trail. I have found the maintenance on the woods road to be spotty at best. I knew we would soon have to turn around and climb back up the hill. When we arrived at the lake, I noticed that the water level was high. I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take pictures of the lake. The sky was almost perfect and the lighting very good. I took some pictures of the lake and the hills that surround it. At the outlet I could immediately see that the beavers had dammed the water flow and that reeds had grown to all but block the outlet flow. Sheila took a dip in the water which was her first of the season. I took some pictures of her as she posed for these shots. I took a few more pictures of the lake before returning to my pack and stowing the camera. Sheila had already taken a dip in the water and had also taken a drink! We spent about 10 minutes at the lake and then packed up at 2:15 PM and started up the hill and back to the car. The only negative point about Huggins Lake is that there is only one trail and so there are no variations available. I had thought about bushwhacking around the lake but the ascent on the other side is very steep. The ascent on the woods road went smoothly for the most part as we climbed the hill back to the highest point on the trail. I was surprised that there were very few muddy spots on the trail. From there we started down the other side of the hill on the trail. Downhill was definitely easier than uphill! Sheila seemed very interested in following game trails off the main trail and I had to keep calling her back. From the highest point it was all downhill to the car. We arrived back at the car at 3:05 PM after hiking 3.9 miles in 2 hours with a total elevation gain of 920 feet.

On Friday, May 19th I decided to get out for a little longer hike as I did not have track practice in the afternoon. My plans were altered by several ambulance calls so I was not back to the house until 1:30 PM. I decided to go to Frick Pond. My first thought was to hike the big loop around Frick and Hodge Ponds but I knew there were many options I could use. As I got my gear together at 1:45 PM the temperature was 65 degrees. Sheila seemed to be in complete agreement with my decision as she followed me around as I was dressing. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top but decided against a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided not to add gaiters. I have not seen as many ticks as in the past but I know they are out there. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I decided not to put on any kind of jacket but added a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to combat the mud I thought I might find. I had not completely planned a route but thought we would hike out the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel Junction and then make a decision which direction we would go. Sheila was happy to be going anywhere and crouched in the back seat with her head on the console. I drove out DeBruce Road just before 2:00 PM. After 6 miles I turned left on Mongaup Road. Where the road splits, I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and parked in the smaller lot at 2:10 PM. There were no other cars in the lots which did not surprise me. I set my GPS unit to get ready for the hike. We started out the woods road that becomes the Quick Lake Trail at the register box. Starting at the register the trail was damp but not wet and there was only a little mud but it was clear that the drainage work we had done was helping to direct some of the water off the trail. The woods road out to Frick Pond continued to be samp but we were able to avoid the worst spots. We stayed left at Gravestone Junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. When we arrived at the bridge across the outlet, I decided to not to stop and take pictures. I thought I might not take any pictures on the trip as I just wanted to hike! The water level in the pond was moderately high and the outlet stream was flowing freely.Point.

We continued on around the pond staying left at the trail junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. Surprisingly, the trail was much drier than I expected with only a few damp spots and one wet spot which was easily crossed. We continued on our hike passing through the "Spruce Tunnel." There were several large blowdowns which would be difficult to cut with hand tools. I made a not to call the local ranger who likes to use a chainsaw. The small stream through the woods was running freely but was nit very high. I easily stepped across using some stones while Sheila waded through the water. There were several places on the trail where it was obvious that there had been a large flow of water. A few spots were muddy and there was another large blowdown that should be removed. By 2:50 PM we had walked the 1.5 miles to Iron Wheel Junction. At the trail junction, we turned right of the Loggers' Loop as I wanted to get back before 5:00 PM. The Logger's Loop is mostly downhill in this direction, and we made good time. This trail was also relatively dry and any wet spots were easily bypassed. Just before starting the descent to Times Square, we passed the small pond on the left side of the trail. This pond is seasonal but has been growing in size for several years. On this day it was almost dry with just a small amount of water. We continued down the hill to Times Square. The final descent to the trail junction was wet. At Times Square we had hiked about 2.7 miles and I had to make a choice about what route we would take. The area was damp and will require some major work to fix the situation. I decided I wanted a little more distance and some hill climbing so we made the left turn up the Big Rock Trail. I had really considered simply walking the Logger's Loop back to Gravestone Junction as we were both tired but decided the challenge would be good. The Big Rock Trail gains 600 feet to the Flynn Trail over 1.1 miles. The average grade is only 10%, but the route has three different climbs and can seem long. We set a pretty fast pace on the climb, and I found that although my heart rate was elevated, I felt good. As we ascended the trail I began to tire but Sheila showed no signs of slowing down. We reached the Flynn Trail at 3:55 PM after hiking 3.75 miles, and immediately turned right and began the descent back to the car. Sheila was still excited at this point and was running up the trail and back to me. She was taking a few excursions off the trail to follow animal tracks but was pretty close, so I let her explore. The trip down the Flynn Trail was very dry and the trip, which can seem long, went quickly. I was glad we were going down! We arrived at the gate that blocks Beech Mountain Road and turned left to stay on the Flynn Trail as it continues through the woods. This avoids the private property around the cabin. Some hikers cannot read the signs and have annoyed the property owner by trespassing! There were several large blowdowns on the trail which would require a chainsaw. We continued down to the parking area on the trail. We were back at 4:40 PM having covered 5.4 miles in 2 hours and 25 minutes with a vertical gain of 885 feet.

On Wednesday 17th I wanted to get out for a hike before track practice. When I got up at 7:00 AM, the temperature was 45 degrees but the skies were clear and the sun was shining. I had some work to do around the house and Cindy needed to do some shopping. When she returned. I asked if she would like to take a hike on the Parksville Rail Trail. I asked Cindy if she would like to hike the Parksville Rail Trail and she agreed. The hike is about 2.5 miles and the falls are beautiful. We started to get ready at 11:30 AM with Sheila showing her excitement. We had been hiking more regularly in May than in April but as I was getting dressed it looked as if she thought we might not hike again! I decided to wear my White Sierra long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. At 12:00 PM I put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There were no vehicles in the parking lot.

We started out on the trail at 12:15 PM with the temperature at 58 degrees under sunny skies with white clouds but there was also a stiff breeze. The open trail just before the woods was dry. Usually as we enter the trees the temperature seems to drop but on this day there was not much change except some protection from the wind. We immediately ran into some mud pits but we were able to walk along the side of the trail without any problems. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was adequate and the water was very clear. I wondered about the condition of the falls and whether they would be as interesting as my last trip. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose and getting very close to the edge of the trail where a steep drop led down to the river! We were soon at the wooden walkways and I decided I would take some pictures down to the river. I was disappointed there were only a few clouds in the sky. We continued over the wooden walkways and bridges which were dry allowing us to move freely. This time the water from the small stream was actually flowing through the culvert under the bridge. After crossing the bridge, we ran into another large mud pit and I began to form a plan to remediate the mud problem. It seems that most of the mud forms when water drains off the Quickway into small streams that run across the rail trail. One solution would be to dig some trenches across the trail to allow the water to drain rather than to pool to form mud pits. As we walked, we saw a couple coming toward us and I put Sheila on her leash. As the couple approached, we could see they also had a dog but they were carrying it! We passed by each other with a "Hello". Shortly after this we met a young man walking with his earbuds in place. I said "Hello" but he passed by as if we were not there. We continued at a fast pace as the breeze continued to keep us rather cool. As we approached the falls, we could hear the sound of the falls.

We arrived at the falls and found that there was a nice flow of crystal-clear water. I decided to take some picture from above without following the path down to the stream. I got out my camera and took some shots of the falls from above. I also took some pictures of the stream above Stewart State Forest Swamp 8 below the falls. I packed up and we started walking toward Parksville but I decided to stop at the next bench where a path goes down to the stream above the falls. I took out my camera and snapped some shots of the water from different angles. I put my camera away and decided we had enough time to continue to Parksville. We found a few more wet areas on the trail but they were easy to walk around. We continued on to the end of the trail and turned around at the sign detailing the hotels in Parksville. As we started back toward the car, we met the couple with the dog. They let the dog walk for a hundred feet and then picked him up to carry him. We also met the other young man who passed right by us again. We made quick work of the rest of the trail. We were back at the car at 1:25 PM after hiking about 2.6 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes! This time was much quicker than I expected and even included the time to take pictures. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike.

On Monday, May 15th I had intended to get up early and do a longer hike before track practice. As often happens, my plans were changed by an early morning ambulance call. I had hoped to hike every day in May but a series of track meets, ambulance calls and church commitments interfered with that plan and continues to do so. By the time I got home it was 11:30 AM and I decided to once again head across the street to Round Top to get some exercise with Sheila. The temperature was up to 60 degrees with bright sun, blue skies and white clouds. Sheila was quitely watching my every move but I knew she was excited as we had not been out for a couple of days. I decided to put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I chose not to don my Mammut hoody as it was a little too warm outside. At 12:00 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I had grabbed Sheila's leash from my trunk and we walked up the driveway. We walked across the street and to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We walked behind the church to get to the road up the hill to the trailhead.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal is always to make it all the way up the hill without stopping which I was able to do by picking the right pace. At the top of the hill we turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trail was dry and there were no wet spots or muddy places to make it slippery. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. When we reached the top of the trail, we walked off the trail to the left to the upper viewpoint. The views down into town and across the valley to the hills was beautiful and I was a little sorry I had not brought the camera. After taking in the view, we followed the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up toward the summit. We bypassed the white crossover trail and walked over the summit to start down the other side. We again bypassed the white crossover trail but turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. The switchback took us out into the woods before turning almost 180 degrees to take us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where we turned left. We again walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. This time when we reached the trail junction we turned right to head down the trail to the woods road. We continued to follow the yellow blazes back to the first trail junction.

We turned around and walked back up the woods road to begin another figure 8. At the junction with the blue trail we turned left and walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. At the trail junction with the blue trail we turned right and started up toward the summit. I had several options but decided just to do another figure 8. We turned right on the switchback and followed it out and back to the main trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued on the blue trail over the summit of Round Top. On the way back down the blue trail we passed by the white crossover trail and came to the junction with the Yellow trail. We turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction, we turned left and walked downhill along the yellow trail toward the viewpoint. We passed the "Sitting Rock" and continued to the lookout. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and headed down to the first trail junction. We continued straight ahead and walked out to the trailhead where we turned right. We walked down the hill to the church parking lot. I put Sheila on her leash and we walk out to the street. We crossed the street to the driveway and walked back home. We were back at 1:15 PM after walking over two miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes.

On Saturday, May 13th, I wanted to get out for a longer hike after sticking to Round Top and trail near home for several walks. I had an overnight ambulance call and slept in unit 8:30 AM. I knew that we only had an EMT available until 11:00 AM so I ate a quick breakfast and started to get ready to hike. Rather than travel too far I decided to go to Frick Pond and hike the Flynn Trail where I could hike some uphill miles. This would give me some choices of how far I wanted to hike and the route I would take. I also wanted to see if there were any trees that needed trimming to make hiking easier. As I started to get ready at 9:15 AM, the temperature on the back porch was 75 degrees with a slight breeze! I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer as it was fairly warm. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did not think I would need my Mammut hoody as the temperature at the trailhead would be warm. I did where my OR brimmed hat as it acts as a base for insect repellant. I thought about putting my Silky Sugowaza saw in my pack but decided against it as I did not think I would have enough time. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and headed out the DeBruce Road at 9:30 AM. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there was one car parked in the larger lot but the small lot was empty. I pulled into the smaller lot with Sheila acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she ran around and headed for the trail. The temperature was 72 degrees and the skies were blue with white clouds with a slight breeze blowing. I could see the gnats swarming so I sprayed some insect repellant on my hat and exposed skin. I set my GPS as we got ready to head out on the Flynn Trail. We crossed the road and began our hike at 9:50 AM.

The Flynn Trail is sited along what used to be Beech Mountain Road which was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We walked the trail through the woods which was mostly dry. I immediately noticed that although my Achilles tendons were still aching with every step I was keeping up a good pace. After a short walk we came to the first blowdown that I knew was present. The problem was that a large tree had fallen across the trail and its 2 foot diameter was more than I could handle, at least on this day. I had cut and removed the other trees that had been brought down and were encroaching on the trail or hanging over it. We continued on the Flynn Trail and turned right on the woods road and continued to set a good pace up the hill. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.7 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We passed the hemlock that used to form a tunnel but was cleared by the DEC. Just after this there were several medium sized trees down across the trail. These would require hand tools to cut and remove but I knew I would get to them as they were so close to the trailhead. I began to find some small branches on the trail which I removed. I was surprised that there weren't more large branches or trees across the trail as we have had several storms with high winds. As we approached and the clearing to the right of the trail, we passed by some rock ledges on the right side of the trail. It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining in the rocks and the trail. I decided I was not going to stop to take pictures at all unless there was something remarkable. Most of the trees were sporting leaf buds or full-fledged leaves which made the forest very green. I noticed that I was very relaxed and decided I needed to get out more as the other things that I do can be stressful. I thought about visiting the clearing but decided I wanted to stay on the main trail. We kept walking uphill and we were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We turned left to walk down the Big Rock Trail. The trail continued to be dry. The hike down the trail went well and more quickly than I expected. It was definitely easier than the uphill hike. This trail can be tricky as there are several levels that make it seem like the bottom of the hill.

We were soon at Times Square and I thought about turning right to hike up and around the Logger's Loop to add some distance to our hike. I decided against this as it was getting late and we continued our hike by walking straight across Times Square to stay on the Big Rock Trail. This trail can be very wet and on this day it was damp with a few very muddy spots. There was a very large blowdown across the trail which I had trimmed but will require a chainsaw to eliminate. I was able to step across or skirt the mud but Sheila was just walking through these spots! We crossed the two small bridges over the inlets to the pond and this time I decided not to stop to take pictures. The water under the first bridge was backed up from the wetlands perhaps due to a beaver dam. The area under the second bridge had a stream fowling but the volume was low. The sun was working its way up in the sky giving a warm feeling to the setting. When we got to the area that was covered by tall evergreens, I pushed on through as I had taken pictures here many times before. The wooden boardwalks continue to show wear with many boards loose and other beginning to rot. Much of the boardwalk now "floats" in midair as the supports are rotting. The rest of the trail was damp with several wet and muddy spots. At the next trail junction we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. We walked along the west side of Frick Pond to the bridge across the outlet of the pond. The mudhole was wet and muddy but the drainage work and the stepping stones did their job. I heard voices near the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond so I made sure Sheila was near me. As we crossed the bridge, we met a family of three headed toward us. They mentioned the metal bunk beds along the trail and I told them the story of the Lobdells. The father of this family was the caretaker for the Frick popery and the family lived in a cabin along what is now the Quick Lake Trail, One night the cabin caught fire. The parents were able to get out but their two children were trapped inside and died in the flames. Gravestone Junction is named for their memorial marker. I also gave the hiking family some tips on the trail system before we headed in opposite directions. I did not stop at the bridge to take photographs as I just wanted to hike. before we walked up the hill toward Gravestone Junction. We continued to Gravestone Junction and passed the Lobdell memorial marker. The trail back to the register was wet and muddy in spots. Most of the water was ground water seeping up from below. We passed the trail register heading toward the parking area. We continued straight ahead to follow the woods road out to the car in the small lot. We arrived at the car at 11:35 AM having hiked 4.1 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes with an elevation gain of 690 feet. The temperature was 74 degrees. We had encountered relatively few insects and I suspected the breeze helped. As we passed Mongaup Pond Road, I thought about stopping to go to Mongaup Falls but kept driving instead!

On Friday, May 12th I wanted to get out for a longer hike than the one on Round Top. As often happens I had to do some work at church but that was interrupted by an ambulance call. I finished everything I had to do and was ready to hike at 2:30 PM with the temperature at 83 degrees. I balked a little as it was late and hot but decided I would go anyway. I took a chance and asked Cindy if she would like to hike and she declined. I decided to hike the Parksville Rail Trail from Parksville toward Livingston Manor. I started to get ready at 2:30 PM. I got dressed in my White Sierra light crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. At 2:45 PM I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. Just after this intersection is the western parking area for the rail trail. The parking lot was empty as I put Sheila on her leash for the short road walk to the beginning of the trail.

We started out at 3:05 PM with the temperature right at 82 degrees. A slight breeze was blowing but the skies were bright and sunny. We walked on Service Road toward Fox Mountain Road when a car pulled up next to us. It was Alex Rau returning home. We talked briefly and then parted. We turned left on Fox Mountain Road an walked under the Quickway. As we approached the trailhead and Benton Hollow Road, Alex returned and said that we had an ambulance call. Sheila and I got in his car so that I could go on the call with him. He took me to my car and as I got out the call was cancelled. Alex returned home and Sheila and I went back to hiking! We walked back to the intersection of Fox Mounatin Road and Benton Hollow Road and hopped the guard rail and immediately came to what was left of the trestle supports that carried the trail tracks over the stream. I noticed what remained of a painting on the trestle. I had seen this painting before but had not realized it was a memorial to NASCAR driver Davey Allison #28 who drove the Texaco-Havoline Ford car. Allison died in a helicopter crash in 1993. We walked up the trail to left to the top of the trestle. As we entered the shade of the trees, it immediately seemed a little cooler. The trail was well defined and stretched ahead for some distance. Like most rail trails it is very straight. Town of Liberty Supervisor Frank DeMayo had told me that this was state land and the town had an agreement from the state to use it during the summer. The hope is to connect the Parksville Rail Trail to all the sections that stretch as far as Livingston Manor. We started to walk along the trail and I noticed there was quite a bit of traffic on the Quickway! The land dropped off steeply to the Little Beaverkill on the right. On the left were some "cliffs" which were the result of the railroad cutting a path for the tracks. We continued to walk along the well-defined trail. It was a pleasant walk without many insects which surprised me. There were a few small blowdowns on the trail which could be removed with hand tools. I walked over or around these and removed some small branches on the trail as we walked. There are two places along the trail where there are piles of garbage. It is hard to determine why they were there. Both piles have tarps over them which seemed to indicate someone once valued the items. A VW bug was just over the bank on the right after the first pile of debris. We soon came to a gate on the trail which was odd since it was state land. No one seems to know why the gate is there or who placed it. We walked around the gate and continued on the trail. There was a path to the left just after the gate. It looked interesting but we stayed on the rail trail.

Soon we came to a small pond on the right with a red building behind it. The building looked to be in good shape but the windows were all boarded up. There was a definite path between the pond on the right and the wetlands on the left of the trail. It looked like a beaver trail to me but I could not see any dam, lodge, or even any trees that the beavers had cut. We continued to walk and I spotted some trees that the beavers had felled. The volume of the pond on the left was greatly reduced and the wetlands in the left were dying out. I thought that someone may have removed the beaver dams farther down the stream that were impounding the water. After hiking about 1.3 miles, we came to a driveway on the left which leads to the Sonoma Falls property. I knew this was private land but two town supervisors had said it was alright to visit it. At one time there was a campground on the property. Some local business people bought the property and built a cider mill and market. They took the time to construct some hiking trails along the stream. I remember that the falls were very nice with at least five separate drops which increased in height the farther upstream one ventured. The business closed when not enough people would go out of their way to visit. I took some pictures of the flowering trees on the property. We walked to the stream just behind the building and I got my first look at the falls. They had not changed much! There was a falls right in front and one visible farther upstream. I started taking the first of what would be a large number of pictures. I perched on some rocks and got a nice shot of three sets if falls. We walked the trail up to the second falls and I found a way to get a clear shot. There are several areas where there is laid up stone which made me think there had been mills along the stream at some point. We walked a little farther upstream to the third set of falls and I again found a spot where I could get some shots. We continue to walk and came to a small pond at the base of the highest falls so far. I took some wide angle shots and some that were zoomed in. The sun was at just the right angle to illuminate the falls but not to spoil the pictures. I wanted to get some shots of the upper falls so we walked up the path a short way.

I took some shots and of the lower falls and a few of the upper. We walked back to a path that continued uphill and I thought I remembered it from visits long ago. We turned right and followed the road to a junction with another woods road. There was a sign with colored markers in red, yellow, and blue indicating the different trails. We turned right as I wanted to get to the top of the last falls. A short walk brought us to the top of the falls where there was a bridge across the stream! Beyond this was a small pond with a dam but it was marked with "No Trespassing" signs. We walked to the top of the last falls and I got out my camera to take pictures from the edge of the high bank. Sheila likes to get right to the edge and it drives me crazy. I took some pictures and the walked over to the wide, flat rocks that make ho the brink of the falls. I was careful as the rocks were wet and covered in moss. I took pictures of the brink of the falls and then some downstream. I decided not to walk down to the base of these falls. I did walk along the edge of the chasm and found a way too take some pictures of the falls. When I had exhausted all the possible shots, I packed up and walked back to bridge. I took a few pictures of the bridge and the small falls that were formed by the dam above the bridge. We turned around and continued to the sign at the trail junction. Instead of turning left to follow the trails back the way we had come, we continued straight ahead following yellow markers. The markers followed another woods road and were pretty clear until I looked ahead and could not see the anymore. I followed Sheila who seemed to be able to find the rail. We came to a point where another woods road turned left and also where I could find yellow markers. The yellow markers continued for a short distance down the hill until the woods road ended at another woods road. We had the choice of going left or right. I knew that turning left would take us back to the cider mill. I decided to turn right as I thought it might lead out to the rail trail. It wasn't very long before I found out that I was right as the path led to the rail trail at the point near the gate. This was the trail I had thought about exploring earlier! We turned right on the rail trail and began a fast-paced walk back to the car. We were back at the car at 4:45 PM having hiked 3.5 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes with some stopped time for photography. The ascent was 330 feet almost all of which was the climb to the waterfalls. I do hope the plans to connect the sections of the rail trails are successful! I also hope that someone reopens Sonoma Falls as it is a beautiful setting.

On Thursday, May 11th I had intended to get up early and do a longer hike before track practice. As often happens, my plans were changed by an early morning ambulance call. I had hoped to hike every day in May but a series of track meets, ambulance calls and church commitments interfered with that plan. By the time I got home it was 11:30 AM and I decided to again head across the street to Round Top to get some exercise with Sheila. The temperature was up to 65 degrees with bright sun, blue skies and white clouds. Sheila was quitely watching my every move but I knew she was excited as we had not been out for a couple of days. I decided to put on my light White Sierra long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I chose not to don my Mammut hoody as it has too warm outside. At 12:00 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I had grabbed Sheila's leash from the closet and we walked up the driveway. We walked across the street and to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We walked behind the church to get to the road up the hill to the trailhead.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal is always to make it all the way up the hill without stopping which proved more challenging than I thought it would be. At the top of the hill we turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trail was dry and there were no wet spots or muddy places to make it slippery. Just before the first trail junction, we came to the spot where a large tree had fallen across the trail. I had cut one end of the tree with my ax and saw. Brad and I had finished the job. It was almost 2 feet in diameter and we had to cut it several times to move it off the trail. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. When we reached the top of the trail, we walked off the trail to the left to the upper viewpoint. The views down into town and across the valley to the hills was beautiful and I was a little sorry I had not brought the camera. After taking in the view, we followed the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. I was already beginning to get warm and was glad I had worn the lighter top. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we Turned right and walked on the Yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up toward the summit. We bypassed the white crossover trail and walked over the summit to start down the other side. We again bypassed the white crossover trail but turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. The switchback took us out into the woods before turning almost 180 degrees to take us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where we turned left. We again walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. This time when we reached the trail junction we turned right to head down the trail to the woods road. We continued to follow the yellow blazes back to the first trail junction.

We turned around and walked back up the woods road to begin another figure 8. At the junction with the blue trail we turned left and walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. At the trail junction with the blue trail we turned right and started up toward the summit. I had several options but decided just to do another figure 8. We turned right on the switchback and followed it out and back to the main trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued on the blue trail over the summit of Round Top. On the way back down the blue trail we passed by the white crossover trail and came to the junction with the Yellow trail. We turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction, we turned left and walked downhill along the yellow trail toward the viewpoint. We passed the "Sitting Rock" and continued to the lookout. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and headed down to the first trail junction. We continued straight ahead and walked out to the trailhead where we turned right. We walked down the hill to the church parking lot. I put Sheila on her leash and we walk out to the street. We crossed the street to the driveway and walked back home. We were back at 1:15 PM after walking over two miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes.

On Friday, May 5th I did not have afternoon track practice so I had planned to take a longer hike. The weather forecast was for a sunny afternoon but it was still raining in the morning when I awoke for our first ambulance call. When I returned it was still raining so I headed for the church to do some preparation for Sunday service. I spent a few hours at the church and then returned home for the next two ambulance calls. By the time we were done and I got home it was 4:00 PM. I decided just to go across the street and gain hike on Round Top. I wanted to keep my streak going even if it was a short hike. The temperature was 48 degrees as I started to get ready. Sheila was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki external lock poles as the ones with internal locks sometimes fail. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I also put on a light hat. At 4:15 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I put Sheila's leash on as we walked up the driveway. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." The skies were now cloudy with some blue patches and a lot of overcast. So far the weather had included rain, hail, wind and sun! The trees all around us were beginning to turn green and some were sporting flowers. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. The trail was bare but damp in places making some areas very slippery. There were a few large puddles.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a few branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail or by using my poles on the smaller ones. It was a pleasure to walk on the trails which were now free of snow and ice. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. There were only a few new branches here and there on the trail. I stopped to remove the branches or used my poles to flick the smaller ones aside. I was getting warmer as we hiked so I opened all the zippers on my hoody. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail again and continued down to the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and started slightly downhill toward the lookout over town. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the steep hill back to the first trail junction. The descent went quickly even though the leaves were damp and slippery. When we got to the first trail junction, I checked my watch. I decided we would return home as supper would be ready and the rain had returned. It was 5:00 PM and we had hiked a little over 1 mile in 45 minutes.

On Thursday, May 4th I had intended to get up early and do a longer hike before track practice. As often happens, my plans were changed by an early morning ambulance call. When I returned from the call, I got a few more hours of sleep. I finally got up at 9:00 AM and did some work for church and for the ambulance corps. I finished what I needed to accomplish by 11:00 AM and contemplated where I could go for a shorter hike. I decided I wanted to go across the street to Round Top to get some exercise with Sheila. The temperature was up to 48 degrees but there was still some rain in the air. I decided to continue my recently instituted "No Excuses" policy. Sheila was quitely watching my every move but I knew she was excited as we had not been out for a couple of days. I decided to put on my Mammut crew top without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. The hoody is also at least partly water resistant. I put on a light hat. At 11:35 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I looked around and saw the sky was overcast with some dark clouds. There was also a light rain falling. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We walked across the street and to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We walked behind the church to get to the road up the hill to the trailhead.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal is always to make it all the way up the hill without stopping which proved more challenging than I thought it would be. At the top of the hill we stopped so that I could take a look around. Directly across the valley from Round Top is Beer Mountain next to the Upward Brewery. I reminded myself that I should go and hike there sometime. We turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trail was wet and muddy in places which made it slippery. Just before the first trail junction, we came to the spot where a large tree had fallen across the trail. I had cut one end of the tree with my ax and saw. Brad and I had finished the job. It was almost 2 feet in diameter and we had to cut it several times to move it off the trail. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. When we reached the top of the trail, we walked off the trail to the left to the upper viewpoint. The views down into town and across the valley to the hills were poor due to the mist and rain that was falling. After taking in the view, we followed the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. I was already beginning to get warm so I stopped and opened all the zippers I could. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we continued straight ahead up the blue trail. When we reached the switchback in the blue trail, I decided to continue straight up to the summit. We also bypassed the white crossover trail on the way. At the summit there was a muddy puddle which was easy to avoid. Some of the trees along the trail were leaning into the trail and I knew they would require some trimming. We walked down the blue trail bypassing the white crossover trail. At the junction with the blue trail, we continued straight ahead on the yellow trail. We walked down to the woods road and continued out to the first trail junction to complete a big loop.

We turned around and walked back up the woods road to begin another large loop. At the junction with the blue trail we continue straight up to the summit bypassing the white crossover trail. The sun had come out and the rain had stopped falling which elevated my mood. We started down the other side and I again decided to go straight down the blue trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and the switchback in the blue trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we continued straight ahead on the yellow trail. We walked downhill passed the "Sitting Rock" to the overlook. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and headed down to the first trail junction.It had started to rain again but I decided we would do at least one small loop. We turned around and headed back up to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed up to the junction with the blue rail. We turned right here and walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. At the junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed down the yellow trail. We hit the woods road and continued down to the first trail junction. By now I was pretty wet so I decided we would return home. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead where we turned right. We walked down the hill to the church parking lot. I put Sheila on her leash and we walk out to the street. We crossed the street to the driveway and walked back home. We were back at 12:45 PM after walking a little over two miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes.

On Wednesday, May 3rd, I wanted to extend my days of consecutive hikes to three. This may not seem like much but my excuses piled up in April so that I only got in 4 days of hiking. I decided I had to correct this problem and make room in my schedule for as many walks and hikes as I could. Getting away even for an hour improves my mood and my physical health. When I got up it was raining and 40 degrees and I knew the day would not get much better. I called the girls track coach and we decided to postpone the track meet to another day. This gave me some leeway to schedule a hike. I had gone on one ambulance call in the evening and one in the early morning and hoped there would not be another until I got back from hiking. At 1:00 PM the sky was overcast and there were some rain drops falling, I decided to get out and not make excuses even though the temperature was 45 degrees! I chose to go to the Beaverkill Campgrounds to hike along the river. The campground is closed and I thought it would be quiet. I also hoped the recent rain would have increased the level of the Beaverkill to make for some interesting pictures. I started to get ready at 1:00 PM with the temperature at 46 degrees. Sheila certainly was happy to go hiking anywhere at any time. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I wore my OR Crocodile gaiters in case there was any show or mud. I did put on a light hat. We left the house at 1:15 PM as I drove out Old Route 17 toward Roscoe and turned right on Beaverkill Road. As I drove up Johnson Mountain the rain began to fall and I wondered if I had the motivation to hike and get wet. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. There was one car parked in the lot and that was a fisherman. A glance at the river showed that the level was high enough to be interesting. The temperature was 39 degrees and the light rain continued to fall.

I got out my camera and walked over to the river with Sheila right behind me. The river was high but I was able to get to a spit of land where I could take a few shots of the bridge and the river. The river is deep in this area so there were no whitecaps as there were downstream. After taking my sots, we returned to the car where I stowed my camera. It was still cold and raining. I decided we would just walk along the near side of the river to a large stone bench and them return. I did not take my pack as I did not want it to get wet and I did not intend to get my camera out again. We walked the length of the parking lot and passed a gate. Just after the gate was some concrete pavement which seemed to be in an odd spot. I remember when an arm of the river flowed across this area and access to the campsites was by driving your car through the water. The concrete ford helped support the cars! As we walked along a woods road that paralleled the river, I was pleased to see that all of the blowdowns that had fallen were now cut and cleaned up. The tall grass was mowed. We walked along the river to the large stone bench where and area had been mowed and some picnic tables had been added. We took a slightly different route back which had also been cleared. We walked back to the car after only about 15 minutes. It was still raining but I decided we would walk to the other side the river and turn around after hiking a short distance. I again left my pack in the car knowing I might regret not having my camera. We walked out of the parking lot to the bridge and crossed over to the other side. When we got to the other side, the gate just off the road was closed as the campgrounds were closed. I looked at the trail and saw that it was wet but that there were no large puddles. We turned left on a woods road that parallels the river and started down a short hill. We passed the spring house and continued on the deserted woods road. The water was filled with duck weed which was very green. We came to the area where a little path down to the river but there was no reason for me to go down to the river so we continued on the road. We passed several areas with unused picnic tables looking the worse for wear. Several picnic tables sat unused and rotting along the road, a testimony to better days. We walked by these tables which had not been used in many years. A little later we came to what was once a bathroom for some campsites that had long since disappeared. Further along on the road, there was another area with more picnic tables. There was a path over to the river so I walked over and found the water was churning and full of whitecaps. I wished that I had brought my camera as the rain had now almost stopped. I made due with enjoying the view before returning to the road.

We continued on and at about .7 miles the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites. This area was wet and a little slippery but we continued on the road through the campsites along the river. It was obvious that the crew responsible for the campsite had been at work cutting up blowdowns and removing smaller branches ROM the roads. The campsites completely empty and the picture of solitude. We walked to the last campsite where the road ends and Sheila and I walked down to the edge of the river. I was careful to watch where I was walking as the water was a little high and looked cold. Sheila also avoided the cold clear water. I stopped to take a look upstream where there were some whitecaps on downstream where the river goes around a bend. We continued along the shore a little further passed the last campsite and then walked back up to the road. We started back to the car staying to the left of the last bathroom to walk back on the other paved road through the campsites. This road parallels the one we walked out on to make a sort of loop. We continued back on the same woods road we had walked out on at a much faster pace. We walked through the bridge and turned right to go back to the car. There were now two other cars in the lot but we did not see any people. We were back to the car at 2:30 PM having hiked 2.8 miles in an hour we very little gain in elevation. On the drive back to town the rain began to fall again.

On Tuesday, May 2nd I wanted to get out for a hike before track practice. When I got up at 7:00 AM the temperature was 40 degrees and it was raining. I decided to wait to see if the rain stopped. In addition, I was one of the only EMTs around to respond on calls. As luck would have it a call came in and we responded to the Roscoe Nursing Home. I returned home at 11:00 AM. The skies were still overcast and I had a nagging cold but I was tired of making excuses. I began to get ready to go with drizzle in the air and overcast skies wit the raptures at 47 degrees. I asked Cindy if she would like to hike the Parksville Rail Trail and she declined. The hike is about 2.5 miles and I was hoping the falls would be flowing freely from the recent rains as they are beautiful. I started to get ready at 11:05 AM with Sheila showing her excitement. We had hiked the day before but as I was getting dressed it looked as if she thought we might not hike again! I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I wore my OR Crocodile gaiters in case there was any show or mud. I did put on a light hat. At 11:20 AM I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There were no vehicles in the parking lot which was as I expected because of the weather.

We started out on the trail at 11:35 AM PM with the temperature at 48 degrees under overcast skies and some drizzle in the air. The open trail just before the woods was drier than I expected after several days of rain. Usually as we enter the trees the temperature seems to drop but on this day there was not much change except some protection from the rain. We immediately ran into some puddles but I was able to walk along the side of the trail without any problems. We passed a medium-sized trunk that had been across the trail but Brad and I had cleared it completely. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was high and the water was slightly muddy. I wondered about the condition of the falls and whether they would be frozen or not. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose and getting very close to the edge of the trail where a steep drop led down to the river! We came across another place where there had been a blowdown that Brad and I had removed with hand tools. We were soon at the wooden walkways and I decided I would skip the pictures until we got to the falls. We continued over the wooden walkways and bridges taking our time as they were very slippery from several days of rain. I thought I might suggest to the Town of Liberty that some hardware cloth be placed on the walkways to improve the grip. This time the water from the small stream was actually flowing through the culvert under the bridge. After crossing the bridge, we continued at a fast pace as the rain showers continue. As we walked along the trail we found a few more blowdowns that Brad and I had cleared. At this point there was quite a bit of water on the trail but it was not deep and I either walked through it or around. Sheila was not phased by the water and simply walked through the bubbles. As we approached the falls, we could hear the sound of the falls roaring.

We arrived at the falls at 11:55 AM, we found that there was an incredible flow of water. I immediately started down the path to the stream. The path was wet and a little slippery but Sheila and I both negotiated our way down to the streambed. I set down my pack to get out my camera. I positioned myself and took pictures of the falls and the rapids below. I also took some shots downstream before shooting a few more of the falls. Sheila sat in a rock and I took some shots of her posing. When I was done, I put the camera back in my pack, shouldered the pack, and climbed up the path to the main trail. I once again got out my camera and took some more shots of the falls from above. I also took some pictures of the stream above the falls. I packed up and decided I had enough time to continue to Parksville. I decided to continue the hike on the trail but walked by the bench where a path leads down to the stream. This area was not that interesting and I just wanted to walk. We found more and more water on the trail extending across the entire width of the trail. The water was easy enough to avoid so we continued on to the end of the trail. As we approached the end of the trail, hail began to fall. The hail soon turned to hail and rain and them all rain. We immediately turned around at 12:10 PM and started back to the car. The rain continued until we passed the falls when it let up and eventually ended. I put my head down and decided I did not need any more pictures. We made quick work of the rest of the trail. We were back at the car at 12:35 PM after hiking about 2.6 miles in 1 hour! This time was much quicker than I expected and even included the time to take pictures. there is virtually no elevation gain on the hike.

On Monday, May 1st I planned to get out for a hike before afternoon track practice. April was my worst month for hiking ever due to ambulance calls, track meets, weather and church work; not necessarily in that order. I am trying to rearrange my schedule so I can get out more often and for longer hikes. On this morning I was out on an ambulance call in Liberty at 5:30 AM and another in Roscoe at 11:00 AM. When I got home from the second call, I found that my grandson Lukas was at the house. He had not felt well enough to go to school in the morning but was now ready to go on a hike. The temperature was 48 degrees when we decided to go across the street to Round Top. Sheila and I had not been out for almost two weeks due so she was more than ready to go. She was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I had on my Vasque Talus hiking boots which fit well but have a minimal replacement insole. I decided to take my Leki external lock poles as the ones with internal locks sometimes fail. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I also put on a light hat. At 12:25 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I gave Lukas Sheila's leash and he put it on her as we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour depending on how difficult the slippery terrain might be from the rain from the day before. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street with Lukas trying to stay with her. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Even though I had not been hiking much, I made it to the top without stopping. We noticed another hiker and his dog ahead of us on the road. The hiker and the dog turned left onto the trail as we were coming up the hill. At the top of the hill we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. The skies were cloudy with some blue patches and some sun with a few white clouds. So far the weather had included rain, hail, wind and sun! The trees all around us were beginning to turn green and some were sporting flowers. I had decided not to bring my pack just to carry my camera. I was a little sorry I did not have the camera as there were some good photographic opportunities. I stopped to talk to the workers digging a grave in the cemetery and then continued the hike We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. The trail was bare but damp in places making some areas very slippery. There were a few large puddles.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a few branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail or by using my poles on the smaller ones. It was a pleasure to walk on the trails which were now free of snow and ice. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. I pointed out the frame and tarps that covered the mouth of one of the "caves" To Lukas. They were looking ragged as if no one had used them for some time. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. There were only a few new branches here and there on the trail. I stopped to remove the branches or used my poles to flick the smaller ones aside. I was getting warmer as we hiked so I opened all the zippers on my hoody. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. As we walked over the high point, Lukas removed a couple of branches off the trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail again and continued down to the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and started slightly downhill toward the lookout over town.

Again, I regretted leaving my camera home as there were some pretty views down to town and the school from the viewpoint. There were also some nice views of the hills around town. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the steep hill back to the first trail junction. The descent went quickly even though the leaves were damp and slippery. When we got to the first trail junction, I checked my watch. I decided we had time to turn around to do another loop. Sheila seemed pleased as she dashed ahead of us up the hill. For me, the ascent was definitely more difficult than the descent! At the top of the hill we followed the trail as it turned right and headed uphill toward the junction with the blue trail. We hiked up a short but steep little hill and arrived at the trail junction. We turned right to follow the trail along the base of Round Top. Sheila was some distance ahead when she came roaring back at me at full speed. She passed me, made a 180 degree turn, and came running back. She repeated this several times before I called her off. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned left and walked the blue trail toward the summit. We turned left at the white crossover tail as I wanted to check the blowdowns on all the trails. There was one large branch that was partly blocking the trail. I asked Lukas to drag the large branch off the trail and he did a great job of removing the obstruction. There were a few other places that needed some trimming. At the main blue trail we turned left and then left again on the switchback. We followed it out into the forest and then back to the main trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where a left turn again took us along the base of Round Top. At the junction, we turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road. We followed the woods road downhill with the ledges to the right. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked downhill crossing the road and walking through the church parking lot. We waited to cross the road as several cars went by and then crossed to the driveway to the house. It was 1:35 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in a an hour and 10 minutes.

On Tuesday, April 18th I planned to get out for a hike before afternoon track practice. The temperature when I got up ay 7:00 AM was only 38 degrees so I decided to wait some time before going across the street to Round Top. Sheila and I had not been out for a week due to a brutal string and ambulance calls and my usual commitments to the track team. When I checked the thermometer at 11:30 AM it was 47 degrees. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and we had not been out for a few days. She was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki external lock poles as the ones with internal locks sometimes fail. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a light hat and put a pair of light gloves in my pocket. At 11:50 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour depending on how difficult the slippery terrain might be. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street with me trying to stay on the snow covered surfaces. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Even though I had not been hiking much, I made it to the top without stopping. At the top of the hill we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. The skies were cloudy with some blue patches and some sun with a few white clouds. The trees all around us were beginning to turn green and some were sporting flowers. I had decided not to bring my pack just to carry my camera. I was a little sorry I did not have the camera as there were some good photographic opportunities. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. The trail was bare but damp in places making some areas very slippery.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a few branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail or by using my poles on the smaller ones. It was a pleasure to walk on the trails which were now free of snow and ice. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. The frame and tarps that covered the mouth of one of the "caves" were looking ragged as if no one had used them for some time. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. There were only a few new branches here and there on the trail. I stopped to remove the branches or used my poles to flick the smaller ones aside. I was getting warmer as we hiked so I opened all the zippers on my hoody. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. As we walked over the high point, I moved a couple of large branches and trunks off the trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail again and continued down to the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and started slightly downhill toward the lookout over town.

Again, I regretted leaving my camera home as there were some pretty views down to town and the school from the viewpoint. There were also some nice views of the hills around town. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the steep hill back to the first trail junction. The descent went quickly even though the leaves were damp and slippery. When we got to the first trail junction, I checked my watch and it was 12:20 PM. I decided I had time to turn around to do another loop. Sheila seemed pleased as she dashed ahead of me up the hill. For me, the ascent was definitely more difficult than the descent! At the top of the hill we followed the trail as it turned right and headed uphill toward the junction with the blue trail. We hiked up a short but steep little hill and arrived at the trail junction. We turned right to follow the trail along the base of Round Top. Sheila was some distance ahead when she came roaring back at me at full speed. She passed me, made a 180 degree turn, and came running back. She repeated this several times before I called her off. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned left and walked the blue trail toward the summit. We turned left at the white crossover tail as I wanted to check the blowdowns on all the trails. I didn't find much blocking the trail and at the main blue trail we turned left and then left again on the switchback. We followed it out into the forest and then back to the main trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where a left turn again took us along the base of Round Top. At the junction, we turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road. We followed the woods road downhill with the ledges to the right. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked downhill crossing the road and walking through the church parking lot. We waited to cross the road as several cars went by and then crossed to the driveway to the house. It was 1:00 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in a an hour and 10 minutes. My legs were now pretty sore but I was glad we got to hike.

On Monday, April 10th I wanted to get out to clear the blowdowns on the Parksville Rail Trail. I had talked to the Town of Liberty Supervisor Frank DeMayo who gave me permission to do the work. He did not know and he could not tell me who was responsible for clearing the rail trail. My son-in-law Brad was at our house for spring break and I knew his help would be invaluable in doing the work. I had hoped to start early but three overnight ambulance calls stood in the way! When we returned from the last call at 7:00 AM the temperature was 45 degrees but the forecast was for highs in the 60s. Brad and I decided to see if we could get some more rest. I fell asleep quickly and woke up at 11:00 AM with bright blue skies and plenty of sun with the thermometer reading 55 degrees. We ate lunch and then started to get ready at 12:45 PM. We knew the trail might be wet and muddy but I hoped most of the snow and ice would be gone. The hike is about 2.5 miles band I was hoping the falls would be flowing nicely. I did not intend to go further than the falls as there were no blowdowns after that. Sheila could not contain her excitement as we were getting dressed as if she thought we might not hike again! I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to leave my Leki poles behind as we would be carrying tools to clear the rail. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I wore my OR Crocodile gaiters in case there was any show or mud. I put on a light hat but did not pack gloves. I put my Silky Sugowaza saw in my pack along with two plastic felling wedges. I asked Brad to carry the Friskars pack ax and Silky KatanaBoy 500 saw. At 1:10 PM I put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There was one vehicle in the parking lot which was completely free of snow and ice.

We could see only open dirt and gravel on the trail so we decided to wait until we needed our spikes to put them on. We started out on the trail at 2:15 PM with the temperature at 65 degrees under blue skies with no clouds. On my last hike here, as soon as we entered the trees there was a thick layer of packed snow and ice. Today the trail was wet and muddy in a few spots but there was no ice or snow. I was warm so I made sure I opened all the zippers I could to dump heat. We found a medium-sized trunk across the trail that had been there for some time. We decided to wait until the return trip to remove this one and continued on our way. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was high but the water was very clear. I wondered about the condition of the falls and whether they would be frozen or not. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose and getting very close to the edge of the trail where a steep drop led down to the river! A two men came walking toward us with their dog, so I put Sheila on her leash. We said "Hello" as we passed. We came across the first blowdown that was small and could easily be removed with hand tools. We stopped and I took some before pictures. We made a few cuts with the small saw to top out the tree and dragged the branches off the trail. I took some pictures to show the work we had done. As we continued on the trail, we came to two small saplings hanging over the trail. I took my before pictures and the we got to work. It took just two cuts to sever both of the small trunks, We dragged them off the trail and I took some after shots.

We were soon at the wooden walkways and I decided the views were nice enough to take a few shots. I decided to take a few pictures down to the stream and some of the skies which, unfortunately, had no white clouds. We continued over the wooden walkways and bridges which had no ice remaining. There was some water on the bridge and some mud on the other side. The problem comes from a rock slide that has blocked the culvert under the small bridge causing water, mud and stones to be diverted over the walkway. Unblocking the culvert and covering the walkways with some screening would help. After crossing the bridge, I stopped to shoot a few pictures of the bridge and walkways before continuing on the trail. As we walked along the trail, we had to avoid some wet and muddy areas. We found a nice bench that had a few branches in front of it so we cleared out the area. I took some shots before and afterwards. As we were finishing a father and his children came walking toward us with a stroller. He also had a small dog on a leash. I had Brad leash Sheila and we waited until he passed by us. Not very far after the bench, we found two trunks dipping down into the trail. The problem was they formed a high arch from the bank on the other side of the fence, Brad and I decided the only way to cut the smaller one was to do so from the other side of the fence. I made sure to take some pictures before the work began. We jumped the fence and Brad and I used the ax to cut the tree at its base. As we were finishing the cut, the base of the tree took a wrong turn and hit me in my right shin. I was not knocked down but there was an abrasion from my ankle to my knee and it did smart some. We jumped back over the fence and removed the small trunk we had just cut. We decided to cut the larger trunk as high up as possible. Brad made the cut and which eventually brought down the trunk. We threw the trunk over the bank on the other side and I took some pictures. We continued on the trail to another single but larger trunk that had broken off and was hanging into the trail. I took some shots beforehand then we assessed the job. We decided to cut off the top of the tree with the saw and it went quickly. We turned our attention to the remaining trunk and found we were able to lift and pivot it off the trail. As we finished, it crashed to the ground. Some of the trunk was still lying on the side of the trail so we made a cut ad shoved it over the bank. I took some pictures and then we moved on.

When we arrived at the falls, we found that there was a good flow of water but no ice. We both decided to walk down the path to the streambed at the base of the falls. The last time I was at the falls the path was too icy to descend the whole way. Now the trail was clear of ice and snow and was almost dry. We worked our way down to the streambed where I dropped my pack to take some pictures. I positioned myself and took pictures of the falls and the rapids below the falls. I tried some different angles and zoom levels. When I ws done, I put the camera back in my pack, shouldered the pack, and climbed up the path to the main trail. I put my pack on the bench and once again got out my camera and took some more shots of the falls from above. I also took some pictures of the stream above the falls. I packed up and we turned around and started back toward the car. We set a quick pace and were soon at the first blowdown just before the point where the trail opened. This tree was the largest trunk but it seemed rotten with some cracks. I took my shots and Brad took the ax and easily cut off a section. We moved that section off the side of the trail. Brad spotted another crack and cut off another section which we quickly moved. A man and woman with a dog came walking toward us and I took Sheila by the collar. They passed by us with a greeting. The section that was left was long and solid. We though about cutting it with the KanataBoy which was possible but tiring. I suggested we try to lift the section over the fence. It was a heavy piece of wood but we were able to get it over the fence. I took my final after pictures and we headed for the car. Back at the car I knew I had not missed any ambulance calls as I had my phone with me. There usually aren't other EMTs to cover calls during the day. We were back at the car at 3:20 PM after hiking about 2.0 miles in 2 hours with much of the time being devoted to clearing the trail. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike.

On Tuesday, April 4th I had intended to get up early and do a longer hike. As often happens, my plans were changed by a rather serious overnight ambulance call. I finally got up at 10:00 AM and did some work for church and for the ambulance corps. I finished what I needed to accomplish by 2:00 PM and contemplated where I could go for a shorter hike. I decided I wanted to go across the street to Round Top to get some exercise with Sheila. The temperature was up to 68 degrees which was as warm as it had been for some time. Sheila was quitely watching my every move but I knew she was excited as we had not been out for a couple of days. I decided to put on a light crew top that I usually wear as a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a light hat and put a light pair of gloves in my pockets. At 2:35 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I looked around and saw bright blue with puffy white clouds. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We walked across the street and to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We walked behind the church to get to the road up the hill to the trailhead.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The ground was completely clear with no ice or snow. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal is always to make it all the way up the hill without stopping which proved less challenging than I thought it would be. At the top of the hill we stopped so that I could take a look around. Directly across the valley from Round Top is Beer Mountain next to the Upward Brewery. I reminded myself that I should go and hike there sometime. We turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trail was completely free of snow and ice which made it look like late spring or early summer. A short distance in from the trailhead there was a small tree that had come down in the recent winds. We easily stepped over the small trunk. I new that I would have to come back to remove this blowdown as soon as possible. Just before the first trail junction, we came to the spot where a large tree had fallen across the trail. I had cut one end of the tree with my ax and saw. Brad and I had finished the job. It was almost 2 feet in diameter and we had to cut it several times to move it off the trail. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. When we reached the top of the trail, we walked off the trail to the left to the upper viewpoint. The views down into town and across the valley to the hills beyond were still good as there were no leaves on the trees. After taking in the view, we followed the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. I was already beginning to get warm so I stopped and opened all the zippers I could. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. Some of the trees along the trail were leaning into the trail and I knew they would require some trimming. I noticed that one of the rock overhangs below the ledges still had several tarps forming a shelter. We turned left at the next junction and began climbing the hill. On the way up the hill, we bypassed the white crossover trail and continued on the blue trail across the summit of Round Top. As we began down the other side, we bypassed the white crossover trail and turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. The switchback trail sidehills a little which can make it even harder to negotiate when it is slippery. We continued following the switchback as it took us out into the woods and then turned almost 180 degrees to bring us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and continued downhill on the blue trail. We followed the blue trail to the yellow trail. We turned left and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail.

This time we turned right and walked down the yellow trail to the woods road. We walked along the woods road toward the first trail junction. Just before the first trail junction, I looked at the remains of the large blowdown I had cut and removed from the trail. Just passed this were the remains of a smaller blowdown I had cut up. This tree had hung over the trail for months but finally came down in the wind. I decided to do another figure 8 but without stopping. We turned around at the first trail junction and started back up the woods road. We turned left when the yellow trail started up toward the first junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. At the next trail junction we turned right on the blue trail and started up the hill. This trail was a little steeper but it was not very slippery. We turned right on the switchback and followed it out and back to the main blue trail. We almost immediately turned right on the white crossover trail. I wanted to make sure to check out all the trails for blowdowns from the numerous high winds that had come through lately. We continued out to the main blue trail where we turned right. We walked down to the junction with yellow trail where we turned right and again walked along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and continued on the yellow trail passing the "Sitting Rock" to the viewpoint. At the viewpoint we turned left and walked down the steep trail to the first trail junction. This time we continued out to the trailhead. At the trailhead we turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot. We crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. When we arrived home, it was 3:50 PM and we had hiked around 2 miles in an hour and 15 minutes. I took Sheila inside and grabbed my Silky Sugowaza saw. I jumped in the car and drove over to the cemetery and up the hill to the trailhead. I parked the car and grabbed my saw. I walked out the trail to the small blowdown across the trail. I made a cut near the top of the blowdown on the right side of the trail. When I was done, I moved to the left side of the trail where the blowdown was larger in diameter. The wood seemed pretty hard as it took me some time to cut through the trunk. To finish the removal, I grabbed the section I cut and flipped it off the trail. I returned to the car and drove back home.

On Saturday, April 1st I wanted to get out for the first hike of April. When I got up at 7:00 AM the temperature was 55 degrees but it was raining. I decided to wait to see if the rain stopped. In addition, I was one of the only EMTs around to respond on calls. I did some work at home and then went to the ambulance building to do some work there. I returned home at 1:00 PM and decided to get out for the hike as the rain had stopped. I asked Cindy if she would like to hike the Parksville Rail Trail and after some initial reticence she said 'Yes'. We knew the trail might be wet from the rains and would probably still have some snow and ice under the cover of the trees. The hike is about 2.5 miles but I was hoping the falls would be flowing from the recent rains as they are beautiful. We started to get ready at 1:45 PM with the temperature at 65 degrees and a slight warm breeze blowing! Sheila could not contain her excitement as we were getting dressed as if she thought we might not hike again! The skies were blue with some sun and white clouds. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I wore my OR Crocodile gaiters in case there was any show or mud. I did put on a light hat and packed a light pair of gloves. At 2:00 PM I put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There were no vehicles in the parking lot which was completely free of snow and ice.

We decided to wait until we needed our spikes to put them on as the trail leading out of parking lot was clear. We started out on the trail at 2:15 PM with the temperature at 68 degrees under blue skies with white clouds. The open trail just before the woods was clear of ice and snow. As soon as we entered the trees there was a thick layer of packed snow and ice. Cindy and I were able to walk along the snow on the side of the trail without any problems. I was warm so I made sure I opened all the zippers I could to dump heat. We found a medium-sized trunk across the trail that had been there for some time. The tree looked like I could cut it with a hand saw and ax to get it off the trail. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was high and the water was slightly muddy. I wondered about the condition of the falls and whether they would be frozen or not. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose and getting very close to the edge of the trail where a steep drop led down to the river! We came across another blowdown that was small and could easily be removed with hand tools. We were soon at the wooden walkways and I decided the views were nice enough to take a few shots. I decided to take a few pictures down to the stream and some of the skies. We continued over the wooden walkways and bridges taking our time as they were covered in ice with water on top! The ice problem comes from a rock slide that has blocked the culvert under the small bridge causing water, mud and stones to be diverted over the walkway. Unblocking the culvert and covering the walkways with some screening would help. This time it was a lot of water that had frozen on the bridge, the walkways, and the trail. After crossing the bridge, I stopped to shoot a few pictures of the bridge and walkways before contending on the trail. As we walked along the trail and found a few blowdowns that should be cleared. At this point there was quite a bit of water on the trail. Some of the water was on top of the ice while some of it was under the ice. Both situations made walking along the trail challenging. As we approached the falls, we could hear the sound of the falls roaring.

When we arrived at the falls, we found that there was an incredible flow of water but no ice. We both decided to sit on the bench and put on our spikes. After looking at the path down to the stream, I almost decided to forgo the attempt. The path looked frozen solid and I knew Sheila would follow me. I changed my mind and started to work my way down the path by breaking the frozen snow ahead of me with my spikes while anchoring myself with the poles. I worked my way down to the last few feet and saw the ice that covered the rest of the way down to the stream. I decided I had gone far enough and set down my pack to get out my camera. I positioned myself and took pictures of the falls and the rapids below. When I ws done, I put the camera back in my pack, shouldered the pack, and climbed up the path to the main trail.I once again got out my camera and took some more shots of the falls from above. I also took some pictures of the stream above the falls. I packed up and we started toward Parksville. We decided to continue the hike on the trail but walked by the bench where a path leads down to the stream. This area was not that interesting and I just wanted to walk. We found more and more water on the trail extending across the entire width of the trail. We decided we would turn around as the rest of the trail is short and not that interesting. Wearing our spikes allowed us to set a quick pace as we started back toward the car. At one point I looked off to the left of the trail and saw a small stream with some interesting rapids and small falls. I had not noticed this stream before and decided to investigate. Cindy decided she would stay on the main trail. I found a way down the steep bank and a narrow spot in the stream to cross. I thought it was interesting that water was flowing in two different directions in the stream. I noticed that there was a culvert leading under the rail trail and stopped to take some pictures. There were actually two culverts dating to the time when the rail line ran through the area. Sheila was already ahead of me picking a way toward the rapids to avoid the network of streams that ran under the frozen snow. We finally worked our way up to a spot where I could get an angle to take my pictures. I would have liked to cross the stream for a better angle but it was a little too deep and a little too wide. I took various shots and then repositioned for some more. When I was done, I packed up and followed my tracks back to the path up the bank to the main trail. I hopped the stream and scrambled up the bank to the main trail. Cindy and I made quick work of the rest of the trail. We stopped as we came out of the trees so that I could remove my spikes. Cindy decided to keep hers on. Back at the car I knew I had not missed any ambulance calls as I had my phone with me. There usually aren't other EMTs to cover calls during the day. We were back at the car at 3:30 PM after hiking about 2.4 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike.

On Friday, March 24th I wanted to get out for a longer hike than I had been doing lately. I knew I might be the only EMT around but hoped I could get the hike in without missing a call. I had been avoiding Trout Pond for most of the winter as the parking situation is poor. Russell Brook Road is not maintained in the winter so the only parking is along the side of Morton Hill Road which only works when there are no snowplows working. When I got up at 8:00 AM it was already 30 degrees. I knew Sheila would be happy to go and that Cindy was not interested. Sheila and I were on our own. I started to get ready at 10:45 AM and Sheila was especially excited as I began to dress so she watched every move I made. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. I wore my Solomon B-52 winter hiking boots as I did not know how much snow and ice to expect. These boots are old and beginning to show some wear but I replaced the insoles with a pair of Protalus insoles to provide arch support. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters which some almost to my knee to deal with the snow and to keep my lower legs warm. I decided not to take snowshoes as I knew the recent increasing temperatures and rain would have reduced the amount of snow. I made sure I had a heavier pair of gloves in my pack and that I had my Kahtoola Microspikes. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the backseat and headed for Roscoe on the Quickway at 10:10 AM. I got off at exit 94, turned left and drove out the Rockland Flats on Route 206. Just after the Roscoe Nursing Home I turned left on Morton Hill Road and followed it for 3 miles to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I took a look at Russell Brook Road Stewart State Forest Swamp 8 found it completely covered in ice and a significant amount of snow! I turned around and parked on the shoulder of the road to avoid parking in the private lot. The temperature was 37 degrees with some blue skies, clouds and a touch of sun. There were no other cars parked.

I set my Garmin GPS unit and we started down Russell Brook Road as I planned to make the upper falls our first stop. Russell Brook Road was worse than it looked. It was a frozen mess of snow and ice and deep ruts where someone had thought they could drive. I did see some snowmobile tracks which I knew would make walking easier. Once we were passed the deep ruts the snow was for a long time and frozen solid. I was slipping and sliding all over the place so we stopped next to a big tree where I put on my spikes. We continued down the road and I could not see any other tracks from hikers. With the spikes, the frozen snow allowed me to make good time hiking downhill. Sheila always makes good time. We continued to walk quickly downhill to the path down to the viewpoint above the falls. Sheila headed down the path and I could see her slip and slip on the frozen snow and ice. I considered abandoning the plans to take pictures here but the falls were just too nice to miss. I turned down the path to the upper falls and got to a place where I had a good angle to take pictures. I did not feel safe going ay further to the spot where I usually take shots. I called Sheila away from the edge of the gorge and put down my pack and got out the camera. There was more water going over the falls than I thought there might be as I took several shots with differing settings. Once I finished the photography, I packed up, and we walked back up to the road with some difficulty. We walked down to the parking area walking around a large tree that was across the road. The parking area was empty but there were snowmobile tracks across it which headed down toward Russell Brook. There was another large tree down in the lot near the kiosk. We walked down the woods road to cross Russell Brook. We crossed the bridge and found that the Japanese knotweed was completely dead. It was so dead it looked like it could never come back but it does every year. I took a few shots. We turned right on the informal path to the falls and walked the path until we came to the path down the bank. Since this area was exposed to the sun, there was little or no snow. The path down to the streambed was covered with a combination of hard packed snow and ice. I started down the path but was having trouble getting any grip. At the point where I was about to try to get down to the streambed, I noticed it was solid ice. I decided to take pictures from where I was standing which offered a view almost as good as from lower down. The falls were flowing with a good volume as high as I had seen it in some time. I took some pictures of the falls and then some of the stream. I took a few more pictures of the falls and a few of Sheila with the falls in the background. When I was done I stowed the camera and we carefully walked back up the stream bank and out to the main trail.

We turn right to walk to the trail register and found that the trail was almost bare but with some water and mud. We stayed to the right at the trail junction just after the register and continued straight ahead to walk up to Trout Pond. There were a few places where the snow was thin and where small streams crossed the trail or ran down it. We continued our walk up the trail and I began to feel warm. When we arrived at the pond, we turned left and walked out to the "beach" at the outlet end of the pond. The snow here was deeper where it had drift off the pond. The level of the pond was high enough to allow water to pass over the outlet even though the pond was still covered with ice. There was open water near the shore and a small beaver dam at the outlet helped raise the level. The skies were blue with some white clouds. I got out my camera and took pictures of the pond, the outlet and some along the shoreline. Sheila was smart enough to aroid going near the pond. I took some pictures of the whole scene and then zoomed in on different parts. After getting a drink and a snack, I packed up and we headed back to the main trail through some deep snow. I was beginning to feel tired and wondered whether I wanted to complete the whole loop. We turned left and continued on the main trail on the east side of Trout Pond walking toward the inlet end and the lean-tos. The trail was snow covered and well-packs in most places by snowmobiles with a only few open spots. We crossed the small stream just before the lower lean-to. No one was camping at the large campsite on the right side of the trail before the lean-tos or at the lean-tos themselves. As we crossed the bridge at the inlet end of the pond, I noticed that the inlet stream was high. I decided to stop to take pictures of the pond from the bridge as I was not on a schedule. I was surprised that the snowmobiles had continued on the trail over the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. This helped convince me to continue the loop. We continued on the trail by turning right and starting up a hill which is the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. I had been worried that I would have to break trail here but the snowmobile tracks continued all the way up and over the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. We easily walked up the hill and I noticed it was easier walking on the smooth packed trail than over the rocks and roots that are usually there. In places the snow was soft and I was sinking in some places which was tiring. I hoped the snow would continue to support me as my inner thighs were beginning to burn. As we continued to hike, we ran into a few blowdowns from the recent winds but these were relatively small. Soon we were at the highest point on Cherry Ridge and starting down the other side.

I anticipated that the trail would have some open areas with water and I was right. There were places that had some standing water and some flowing like a stream. Of course, in these areas I tried to walk on the side of the trail. We passed by several spots where I had cleared blowdowns previously. We continued on the trail to the point where we were ascending to the area where there is a forest of small birch trees. Sooner than I thought we were at the woods road and snowmobile trail that runs by Mud Pond. We turned left and started the short walk uphill. This part of the trail had a covering of snow alternating with slush, water and mud. At the top of the hill, we began the long descent back to the trail junction where we had started. The descent lasts for .7 miles and drops 385 feet to a bridge that crosses the outlet stream from Trout Pond. From the top of the hill to the bottom there was almost no snow on the trail and I even considered taking off my spikes. There was plenty of water on the trail and some mud. In places, streams crossed the trail including a rather large one near the bottom. On the other side of the stream, there was a very large blowdown blocking the trail. Sheila and I bushwhacked around the blowdown and rejoined the trail on the other side. The campsite at the bottom of the hill on the left side of the trail was also empty but by this time there was more snow on the trail. We continued on the trail crossing the bridge over the stream and walking back out to the trail register. We turned right and headed back toward the lower parking area on the main trail. It was obvious there was less now on the trail then when we started the hike. We walked up the short path to the lower parking area and continued up the road to the car. The hike up the hill to the car proved to be challenging for me as I am not in shape. As we neared Morton Hill Road it was clear that one or more vehicles had tried to make it down the road. It seemed they had some problems that required some tree branches to give them traction. As we came to Morton Hill Road, I was surprised to see that none of those cars had stayed around. We arrived back at the car at 3:25 PM after hiking 5.7 miles in 3 hours and 55 minutes with a 1130 foot total ascent. Our moving speed was 1.6 mph which is slow but not bad for the shape I am in and the trail conditions. The temperature on the car thermometer was 47 degrees.

Winter 2022-2023

On Sunday, March 19th, I wanted to get in a hike with Cindy after we returned from church. Cindy likes short, flat hikes so I chose to go to the Beaverkill Campgrounds to hike along the river. The campground is closed for the winter and I thought it would be quiet. I also hoped the recent snow would add some interest to the pictures I might take. We also knew the route would have some packed snow and ice. We started to get ready at 1:00 PM with the temperature at 28 degrees. Sheila certainly was happy to go hiking anywhere at any time. I put on my Patagonia 1/4-zip woo; top with a lighter, long-sleeved baselayer. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. I wore my Solomon B-52 winter hiking boots as I did not know how much snow and ice to expect. These boots are old and beginning to show some wear but I replaced the insoles with a pair of Protalus insoles to provide arch support. I took my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I wore a fleecy orange hat, packed a pair of gloves, and put on my OR Crocodile gaiters because of the possibility of water and mud. I also donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat when it is needed. We left the house at 1:15 PM as I drove out Old Route 17 toward Roscoe and turned right on Beaverkill Road. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. There were no cars parked in the lot. A glance at the river showed that the level was high enough to be interesting. Several inches of snow were on the ground making a pretty scene but there was not enough to make snow shoes necessary. Cindy wanted to put her spikes on immediately but I suggested she wait until it was necessary. As we were getting ready, a white dog appeared and I grabbed Sheila. The dog approached and I yelled at him to go away. His owner appeared shortly and did not say a word about letting her dog run without a leash! She did say she would walk on the near side of the river while we were going to the far side. I put Sheila on her leash and shouldered my pack as we began our hike.

We started out at 1:30 PM by walking out of the parking lot to the bridge with the temperature at 28 degrees and a stiff breeze blowing. The skies were overcast with a little blue but no bright sunlight. I hoped this would make taking pictures easier. When we got to the other side, the gate just off the road was closed as the campgrounds had closed September 5. I looked at the trail and saw that it had some packed snow and ice but there were also some spots that were clear. We turned left on a woods road that parallels the river and started down a short hill. We were able to work our way around the ice and packed snow. We passed the spring house and continued on the deserted woods road. We came to an area with a little path down to the river. I looked ahead and saw that the road through the campsite had been plowed! I found this interesting as the campsites along this path are no longer used and are abandoned. I walked down to the edge of the river very carefully as the rocks were slippery and the water looked deep and cold. I took some pictures downstream and some upstream to the bridge. The view of the bridge was almost blocked from the angle I had. When I was done photographing, we got back on the trail and passed several areas with unused picnic tables covered in snow. Several picnic tables sat unused and rotting along the road, a testimony to better days. We walked by these tables which had not been used in many years. A little later we came to what was once a bathroom for some campsites that had long since disappeared. Further along on the road, there was another area with more picnic tables. There was a path over to the river so I walked over and found the water was sparkling in what sunlight there was. I took some pictures upstream where the river comes back together from a split. I also took some shots downstream from the retaining wall.

Cindy had walked farther up the road and I walked faster to catch up to her. We continued on and at about .7 miles the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites. This area was very icy and we had to pick our way carefully to avoid falling. We continued on the road through the campsites and along the river. These roads were clear to the pavement and seemed just a little longer than usual. The campsites completely empty and I took pictures of the solitude. The road through the campsite was plowed and there was still snow covering the ground. We walked to the last campsite where the road ends and Sheila and I walked down to the edge of the river. I was careful to watch where I was walking as the water was a little high and looked cold. Sheila also avoided the cold clear water. I stopped to take some pictures of the river especially downstream. We continued along the shore a little further passed the last campsite and I took some more shots before walking up to the campsite and back to where Cindy was standing. I stowed my camera and picked up the pack. We walked back from the last campsite, staying to the left of the last bathroom to walk back on the other paved road through the campsites. This road parallels the one we walked out on to make a sort of loop. I decided I did not need any more picture so we retuned the way we had come although at a quicker pace. As we approached the bridge, I looked up to see a couple walking toward us. I grabbed Sheila and walked off to the side of the trail to let the two people pass. We offered each other a brief greeting and then continued on our way. I saw that there was only one car in the lot. We walked through the bridge and turned right to go back to the car. Cindy got in the car but Sheila and I walked down to the stream. The water was high and I had to walk downstream a little to get to the big rock that juts out into the stream. I was able to take some pictures downstream. I turned around and took multiple picture of the bridge and the abutments. I walked back to the car at 2:45 PM having hiked 2.5 miles in 1 hour and 30 minutes. The car's thermometer show the temperature had dropped to 26 degrees. I suggested we drive to Tompkins Falls and Barkaboom Falls but Cindy said "No" so I drove back to the house

On Thursday, March 16th I planned to get out for a hike while there was still some shoe left from the storm earlier in the week. I had planned to get an early start while the snow was still frozen but several early morning ambulance calls put my start off until nearer to noon. When I checked the thermometer at 10:30 AM it was 35 degrees. I decided to go across the street and get in a short hike on Round Top before track practice. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and we had not been out for a few days. She was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. I wore my Solomon B-52 winter hiking boots as I did not know how much snow and ice to expect. These boots are old and beginning to show some wear but I replaced the insoles with a pair of Protalus insoles to provide arch support. I almost always take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I put on a warm fleecy hat and a pair of lightweight gloves. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to keep my lower legs warm and to resist the snow that I might kick up. I decided to wear my Tubbs Flex VRT which have the Boa binding. This system uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet wheel which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! At 11:00 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour but knew I might not get as far as I normally do because of the snow. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street with me trying to stay on the snow covered surfaces. We crossed the street and climbed the snow bank on the ether side of the road to walk across the field to the back of the church. There was defiantly enough snow to warrant the snowshoes. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I was disappointed that there were only a few inches of snow on the road but I stayed on the grass to avoid dulling the snowshoes. At the top of the hill we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. The skies were cloudy with some blue patches and some sun with a few white clouds. There was snow on the headstones in the cemetery and more on the surrounding hills. I had decided not to bring my pack just to carry my camera. I was a little sorry I did not have the camera as there were some good photographic opportunities. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. There was still a good amount of snow in the woods and on the trail. There were tracks from other people but as far as I could tell none had worn snowshoes.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a few branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail or by using my poles on the smaller ones. I continued to be careful to make a nice track although the forecast for rain and ice the following day was discouraging. On the trail the snow depth was from 6 to 8 inches. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The yellow trail was covered in about 6 to 8 inches of snow. There were only a few new branches here and there on the trail. I stopped to remove the branches or used my poles to flick the smaller ones aside. I was getting warmer as we hiked but I was not ready to open any zippers on my hoody. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail toward the summit. Climbing with the snowshoes proved to be much easier than I thought it might be! I was surprised that as soon as we started up the hill the snow depth increased to 10 to 12 inches with deeper drifts! When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. As we walked over the high point, the snow continued to be deeper until we started down the other side. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. I was able to get a glide downhill on the snowshoes as it did not seem that anyone else had been over the summit. We bypassed the white crossover trail again and continued down to the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and started slightly downhill toward the lookout over town. The snow continued to be 8 to 10 inches deep with much deeper drifts.

We followed the trail downhill to the lookout. Again, I regretted leaving my camera home as there were some pretty views down to town and the school. There were also some nice views of the hills around town. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the steep hill back to the first trail junction. There was enough snow to get a glide with the snowshoes and the descent went quickly. When we got to the first trail junction, I checked my watch and it was 10:50 AM. It had taken much longer than usual to hike one figure 8 and I was feeling tired. This was the first time I had used the snowshoes in 2023 and my groin and hips were feeling it! I decided to take advantage of the trench I had made and turned around to start another loop. Sheila seemed please as she dashed ahead of me up the hill. For me, the ascent was definitely more difficult than the descent! At the top of the hill we followed the trail as it turned right and headed uphill toward the junction with the blue trail. Walking in the trench I had made was easier than making the trench and the hike was going quickly. We hiked up a short but snowy hill and arrived at the trail junction. We turned right to follow the trail along the base of Round Top. Shiela was some distance ahead when she came roaring back at me at full speed. She passed me, made a 180 degree turn, and came running back. She repeated this several times before I called her off. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned left and walked the blue trail toward the summit. I debated taking the white crossover tail but continued passed it toward the top. We crossed over the summit and started down the other side. We turned left on the switchback and followed it out into the forest and then back to the main trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where a left turn again took us along the base of Round Top. At the junction, we turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road. We followed the woods road downhill with the ledges to the right. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked downhill crossing the road through the church parking lot. We walked through the field so that I could keep my snowshoes on. We waited to cross the road as several cars went by and then crossed to the driveway to the house. It was 12:45 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in a an hour and 45 minutes. My legs were now pretty sore but I was glad we got to hike.

On Friday, March 10th, I wanted to get out and do a longer hike after a slew of ambulance calls during the week. I decided that I wanted to go to Alder Lake to hike to the Beaver Meadow Lean-to which would be better named the Beaver Pond lean-to as the beavers have returned. They have built an impressive dam and there are at least two lodges. I knew I could extend the hike by going to the Millbrook Ridge high point or visiting the falls on Alder Creek below the lake. I started to get ready at 11:15 AM when the temperature was 40 degrees. The skies were mostly overcast with some sun and blue in the skies. Sheila was hovering around me as she can always detect when I am getting ready for a hike. I put on my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. I wore my Solomon B-52 winter hiking boots as I did not know how much snow and ice to expect. These boots are old and beginning to show some wear but I replaced the insoles with a pair of Protalus insoles to provide arch support. I almost always take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I put on a warm fleecy hat and a pair of lightweight gloves. I packed a pair of heavier gloves in case they were needed. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to keep my lower legs warm and to resist the snow and water that I might kick up. I put on a light hat and a light pair of gloves. I also packed a heavier pair of gloves in case they were needed. I made sure my spikes were in my pack in case they were needed. I got my gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 11:30 AM and drove north and west on Old Route 17 toward Roscoe. Just outside of town I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and headed north. As I passed Waneta Lake, I noticed a car parked on the side of the road. There were tow men out on the ice with tip-ups! The water was open near shore and there was no ice near the outlet dam. I thought there might be an ice rescue by the time I returned from the hike. I continued on the Beaverkill Road through Lew Beach and Turnwood toward Alder Creek Road where I made a left. I continued to the end on the road where I turned right toward Alder Lake. The DEC has not been consistent in plowing the parking areas at trailheads this season so I thought I might have to walk the access road. I was happily surprised when I saw the gate was open and the access road was in good shape. I drove up the access road very slowly as there are some very rough spots. When I got to the parking area there was one car parked the wrong way near the trailhead. I parked by pulling in and started to get ready to hike. Several young people walked up from the lake, got into the car, and drove away. I set my GPS and we started out on the path toward the "lawn" at 12:00 PM with the temperature at 37 degrees.

We walked along the path which passes by the stone foundations which marks the last remnants of the Coykendall Mansion. The house had been built as a large hunting lodge and then was gifted to the Boy Scouts of America. When the state took over the property, the mansion fell into disrepair with campers tearing boards away to use for campfires. The state added a fence but it did not deter people so the house was eventually burned to the ground. I decided I wanted to walk directly to the beaver pond and Lena-to without stopping to take pictures. We walked down the left side of the lawn where there were areas that had no snow and others where there was at most 2 inches. I could see at least two sets of snowshoe prints and the faint outline of cross country skis. We started walking east along the trail on the north side of the lake. The trail was a little damp with a few muddy spots but there was a total lack of snow. The brush and branches that had overgrown the trail were now dead and the walking was much easier\. This reminded me that I should call my maintainer for this trail to see if he intended to work on the trail. The small streams that cross the trail had some water in them. Sheila was happy to be out and ran ahead and then returned to me. As we continued, a layer of snow developed on the trail but was only 2 inches deep. We approached the bridges and I noticed the skies were now a little more blue and the sun was shining through the clouds. We continued on the trail and we crossed the bridges on the trail near the head end of the lake. I could see the beaver dam that impounded some water from the inlet streams was still mostly intact. One of the bridges had several broken boards on the side and I wished that the DEC would take more interest in maintaining this well-used camping spot. We continued on the trail toward the junction with the Millbrook Ridge Trail. At the point where a path leads to the left to some primitive campsite, some large trees had fallen across the trail. We were able to step over them but it was not easy. I made a note to call the local ranger to see if we could schedule a time to remove them with a chainsaw. At the trail junction, we turned left to head toward the lean-to on the Millbrook Ridge Trail. I was happy that almost all the tracks went left also as they made a nice packed trail. There continued to be only a few inches of snow and even off the trail it was quite solid. Fortunately, the trail showed more use than I had expected and was relatively clear of branches. There were more large trees down across the trail than I remembered. While all the blowdowns could be crossed or walked around, I still wanted to make a push to get them all cleared this summer. We crossed some streams that were almost dry the last time I had visited but were now flowing nicely. Alder Creek had quite a bit of water and we could hear it as it ran downstream over the rocks. The trail is pretty obvious and the blazes easy to see in most places. For the next 1.5 miles the trail climbed and then leveled off several times. The elevation gain is several hundred feet but the grade is never more than 12% and averages around 6%. There isn't too much to see along the way but this day was very pleasant because of the temperature and my mood.

The trail levels off at the first beaver meadow and cross a small stream that feeds it. Sheila took the time to get a drink. I was so happy to be out that I completely missed that we had walked past the first beaver meadow! At 2.2 miles we began the last climb and I found that the going was easier than I thought it would be. I stopped to open some zippers as I was getting very warm. As we started the climb, we came across a few more blowdowns. Soon we arrived at the beaver pond. Where there had once been a beaver meadow, there was now a pond with a dam and a beaver lodge. The pond was larger than the last time I had visited occupying the entire meadow. As I looked around I was overcome by the feeling of joy at seeing what God has created! I realized that the return trip would be much easier as it was almost all downhill. We walked over to the lean-to and found the heavy-duty tarp that had been attached to the roof was still in place. The lean-to has been largely ignored while others are repaired or entirely reconstructed. This is a popular spot but it is not near a 3500 foot peak. The local ranger told me that this lean-to was scheduled for work the previous fall but absolutely nothing had been done. I hope that the tarp on the roof is not the total extent of that work. I was not even sure the DEC had placed the tarp or whether it had been added by some hikers. A large tree had fallen down in front of the lean-to blocking the view of the pond. I took a few pictures of the lean-to and the tree and then decided to walk out to the shore of the pond. The skies were now more overcast and there was a breeze. I took pictures of the lean-to and the tree in front. I also took shots of the pond and the hills around it and few of the dam and beaver lodge. After I got a drink, I decided not to head to the Millbrrok Ridge high point as it was getting late. We walked out to the main trail and turned left. As we came to the spot on the trail opposite the beaver dam, we walked off the trail to the left and found a good viewpoint. I took pictures of the pond and the dam. I also took some shots of the beaver lodge with the lean-to in the background. When I was done, we returned to the main trail, turned left, and headed back to the parking area. I was hoping to set a blazing pace on the way back. The walk did go quickly and we were soon at the loop trail around Alder Lake where we turned right to return the way we came.

We crossed the bridges an found an open view of Cradle Rock Ridge but the skies were now overcast. We continued on the trail toward the parking area over the thin covering of snow which was now a little softer. When the trail met the "lawn" we turned left and walked to the shore. I put my pack down and retrieved my camera. Even though it was overcast, I took pictures of the lake and all the surrounding hills from Millbrook Ridge on the north to Cradle Rock Ridge on the south. After I finished, I packed up and we walked up the hill toward the ruins of the lodge. I was struck by the stark stone against the bleak landscape. I took a few shots before we headed toward the parking area. As we approached the parking area, I noted that it had taken 65 minutes to walk out the trail and 60 minutes to come back. So much for a quicker pace on the return trip! I chalked this up to the fact that it was difficult to make any speed going downhill with the slippery snow. We were back at the car at 2:25 PM after hiking 4.6 miles in 2 hours and 25 minutes with 10 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 640 feet. Our moving speed was 2 MPH despite the conditions. On the way back home I thought about the fishermen on the ice and how they had fared. As I passed Waneta Lake, the two men were still out on the ice!

On Wednesday, March 8th I wanted to get out for a hike as it relaxes me and keeps me blood pressure in check. Lisa contacted me asking if I wanted to hike and I said 'Yes'. The question was when and where. The wind had been whipping a round and the predicted wind-chill for Wednesday was in the single digits! Lisa asked to go to Hodge Pond and I said I was willing if the forecast did not pan out. When I got up at 8:00 AM the temperature was 24 degrees and the wind was still blowing. I talked to Lisa and told her I did not want to keep Sheila out too long in those temperatures. We agreed to hike the Parksville Rail Trail from Fox Mountain Road to Parksville and back. The hike is about 2.5 miles but I was hoping the falls would be flowing as they are beautiful. Lisa was going to come to my house at 10:30 AM so we could take one car to the trailhead. I started to get ready at 10:00 AM with the temperature at 28 degrees and a breeze blowing! Sheila could not contain her excitement as we were getting dressed as if she thought we might not hike again! The skies were blue but overcast. I knew that the trail could be icy but would be covered with patches of snow from the last storm. I made sure my spikes were in my pack in case they were needed. I put on my Patagonia long-sleeved wool 1/4 zip top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. I wore my Solomon B-52 winter hiking boots as I did not know how much snow and ice to expect. These boots are old and beginning to show some wear but I replaced the insoles with a pair of Protalus insoles to provide arch support. I almost always take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I put on a warm fleecy hat and a pair of lightweight gloves. I packed a pair of heavier gloves in case they were needed. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to keep my lower legs warm and to resist the snow and water that I might kick up. At 10:30 AM I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat as Lisa pulled into my driveway. We put her poles in the car and headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There were no vehicles in the parking lot which was plowed but had a ridge of frozen snow across the entrance. I do not understand why the plow operators can't be a little more careful!

Lisa decided to put on her spikes at the car while I decided to wait until they were needed. We started out on the trail at 10:45 AM with the temperature at 28 degrees under slighty overcast skies. The open trail just before the woods alternated between open dirt and patches of snow. There were many sets of footprints heading out on trail. Fortunately, there wasn't much snow and the rough surface was manageable giving us some traction so the spikes were not needed. We entered the trees which blocked the breeze but shaded the trail. I was warm enough but we set a quick pace as there are no ills.There was more snow under the trees and it had been chopped up by hikers. The snow had frozen making walking difficult as my feet kept finding their way into boot prints. Areas of ice began in earnest almost immediately but most were covered with a layer of crusty snow allowing some traction. Lisa was able to walk on top of the frozen snow but I kept falling through. We found a medium-sized trunk across the trail. The tree looked like I could cut it with a hand saw and ax to get it off the trail. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was reasonably high. I wondered about the condition of the falls and whether they would be frozen or not. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose and getting very close to the edge of the trail where a steep drop led down to the river! We were soon at the wooden walkways and I decided the views were much like our previous hikes. I decided to take a few pictures anyway before continuing over the wooden walkways and bridges. The walkway's wooden surface was covered in a thick layer of ice making the footing slippery but, again, the crusty snow offered some traction. The ice problem comes from a rock slide that has blocked the culvert under the small bridge causing water, mud and stones to be diverted over the walkway. Unblocking the culvert and covering the walkways with some screening would help. This time it was a lot of water that had frozen on the bridge, the walkways, and the trail. We continued on the trail and found a few blowdowns that should be cleared. As we approached the falls, we could hear the sound of the falls roaring.

When we arrived at the falls, we found that there was a good flow of water with some ice below, at, and above the falls. There was less ice than on our previous visit but it was still pretty. I decided not to put on my spikes and descend to the stream bed. The path looked frozen solid and I knew Sheila would follow me. I did take pictures of the falls ROM overhead. I also snapped some shots upstream and downstream. Before packing up, I took some pictures of the snow on the trail. Lisa and I had been catching up as I don't get to see her much since she moved her store to Hurleyville. We decided to continue the hike on the trail but walked by the bench where a path leads down to the stream. This area was not that interesting and I just wanted to walk. The trail continued to be covered in ice and snow. I was not having any problem with traction even though I was not wearing spikes. Lisa had her spikes on and was marching along with a sure grip. We set a quick pace for the rest of the hike toward the Parksville end of the trail. Just after the gate at that end, we stopped and turned around to head back to the car. I was hoping I had not missed any ambulance calls as there usually aren't other EMTs to cover calls during the day. We looked at the sign which outlines the milk that the O&W transported. The sign also mentions the large number of hotels that had been in the area. I knew I would not be taking any pictures and we set a rapid return pace. We were back at the car at 12:15 PM after hiking 2.6 miles in 1 hour and 30 minutes. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike.

On Monday, March 6th I wanted to get in a hike somewhere away from Livingston Manor. But not too far. I asked Cindy if she would like to hike to Frick Pond and do the Loggers Loop I started to get ready at 11:45 AM with the temperature at 37 degrees on the back porch. We knew that the trail could have some snow covering with ice but suspected there also might be some open water and mud. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long sleeved baselayer. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I took my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I wore a light hat and a pair of light gloves. I also donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat when it is needed. I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to fend off the snow, water, and mud. We put our gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and headed out the DeBruce Road at 12:00 PM. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived at the trailhead, we found neither of the lots plowed and no cars present. The larger lot had a few inches of snow and a small germ of snow where the town trucks had plowed the road. The smaller lot had several banks of snow at edge which the town had left from lowing the road. This left the smaller lot almost useless and I was surprised as I had never seen this done before! I pulled into the one spot available in the smaller lot. Sheila was acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she tried to get out of the car. When I did let her out, she ran around all over the place. There was much more snow than in town with about 2 to 3 inches at the car. Cindy decided to put her spikes on at the car, but I decided to wait as I thought there would be more snow than ice. The temperature was 39 degrees and the skies were overcast with a few blue spots. I set my GPS which took a few minutes as I had not used it in some time. I was beginning to get cold and was glad I had put in insulated pants but wondered if the Keen boots had been the best choice.

We set off on the woods roads that leads to the register on the Quick Lake Trail. There were several sets of footprints and some cross country ski tracks. The snow was almost hard enough to support our weight, but we kept breaking through in most places. I knew this would be a tiring way to hike and thought Cindy might not be bale to make the whole loop. At the register, we continued straight ahead toward Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail. The snow on the trail had more track which had compacted the snow. The rough collection of footprints made hiking difficult as it kept turning our feet back and forth. There were a few places where small streams crossed and these had running water and ice but were easily crossed. I removed a few branches and pushed some away from the trail. We continued along the trail and I checked that the Lobdell Memorial was still standing. At Gravestone Junction we stayed to the left to follow the Quick Lake Trail down to the bridge at the outlet end of Frick Pond. We stopped at the bridge and I decided to take a few shots even though the skies were overcast. We continued across the bridge and around the west side of the pond crossing the muddy spot where our crew had done some work to improve drainage. I noticed that the two bridges on the west side of the pond needed some repair work before they would have to be replaced. Cindy let me know that she wanted to take the Big Rock Trail to Times Square and then make a decision which route we would take. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we turned right on the Big Rock Trail and continued along the west side of the wetlands at the head of the pond. There were fewer footprints now and soon they stopped meaning the hikers had turned around. We came to the wooden walkways which were covered in snow and ice so I decided to take some pictures. The wooden walkways can the very slippery when wet even when there is no ice. These walkways also need repair, a fact we have mentioned to both the DEC and the NYNJTC. Repairing them now will be much easier than replacing them later!

We walked through the spruce tunnel and across two bridges. I looked to see if there were some photographic opportunities and decided to take a few shots before moving on. The north end of the pond is usually very wet and muddy but there were only a few spots. We came to the large blowdown across the trail which I had not been able to clear. I decided to walk around the blowdown to the left following the cross country skier. When we arrived at Times Square, there were snowmobile tracks on the Loggers Loop which would make walking easier. At Iron Wheel Junction there would be only a half mile downhill to get back to Frick Pond. Cindy made it clear she wanted to take the shortest way back to the car. I indicated the shortest way is not the easiest way but she was insistent. We turned right to complete the loop around Frick Pond on the Logger's Loop. This trail is a very gentle climb and then a slight descent to Gravestone Junction to complete the loop. There was only one set of footprints to follow and the snow was the deepest we had encounter. For the first time I thought that snowshoes would have made walking easier. I put my head down and kept a steady pace down and then up the hill. There were a few wet spots along the way but they were easy to avoid. As we passed the primitive campsites and privy, the skies were blue and the sun was shining. I stopped to take a few pictures and then continued on. We were soon back at Gravestone Junction where we turned left. We walked the Quick Lake Trail back to the trail register abed then the woods road to the car. It was 1:55 PM and we had hiked the 2.3 miles in 1 hour and 30 minutes with an elevation gain of 210 feet.

On Friday, March 3rd I wanted get out for a short hike after a week of bad weather and numerous ambulance calls. I wanted it to be short as I knew I was the only EMT available for the ambulance corps. My morning had been filled with getting ready for Sunday's church service and a meeting for breakfast with another pastor. I decided to hike on Round Top for some exercise. I am lucky that I have a place so close to hike but it has become very familiar. I have found that even a short hike helps to keep my blood pressure in check and I am hoping I can get my weight down also. I started to get ready at 1:30 PM while Sheila was already prepared to go as she really likes to hike. She was lying on the floor with her front legs spread barking up a storm. It was 47 degrees on the back porch so I got dressed in my Mammut crew top without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I wore my OR Crocodile gaiters in case there was any show or mud. I was pretty sure I would not find any snow as all the snow in town had melted. At 1:55 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I looked around and saw that the sky which had been blue and filled with puffy cotton candy clouds had changed to a dark overcast. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We walked to the parking lot at the Presbyterian Church and headed to the back of the church to the cemetery hill. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and continued directly up the hill to the trailhead. There were some patches of snow which I easily avoided. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal was to make it all the way up the hill without stopping. At the top of the hill we stopped for minute so that I could observe the skies and hills all around us. We turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was damp but as we entered the woods the trail was covered in 1 to 2 inches of snow! The increased elevation had led to more snow and the shade of the trees allowed it to stay around.

Just before the first trail junction there was a large tree that had been across the trail. I had cut one end and then Brad and I had cut and removed the rest of the very large trunk. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. We continued up the trail and passing by the rather larger tree I had cut by hand and removed from the trail. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. The amount of snow increased to almost 3 inches. I was glad no trees had fallen across the trail and no more brush needed to be trimmed. When we reached the junction, I told Sheila "right" and she turned right on the blue trail and started to climb the hill. We turned right on the switchback in the blue trail which I had constructed to ease the erosion on the main trail and allow people to have a slightly more gentle climb. This trails sidehills a little and the snow made it slippery to walk. At the end of the switchback we turned right on the main blue trail and passed the white crossover trail on the way to the summit. We crossed over the summit which also had 3 inches of snow and started down the blue rail on the other side. This descent was slippery and I had to use my poles to get some traction. We again passed the white crossover trail continuing on to the yellow trail. We had not run into any blowdowns blocking the trail but we had removed a few small branches. We turned right and again walked along the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and headed down toward the lookout. There were a few slippery spots on the descents. When we reached the viewpoint, I noticed that the skies were darker and the sun was a yellow disc in the sky. We continued to follow the yellow trail as it descended steeply from the lookout to the first trail junction. I again had to use my poles and watch my footing on the slippery snow. We immediately turned around and started back up the yellow trail to the lookout. When the yellow trail turned right, we followed it back up passing the "Sitting Rock". At the first junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up the hill toward the summit. This was also a challenging ascent as the snow made the trail slippery especially after we had been over it once before. We continued passing the white crossover trail and headed toward the summit. We walked over the summit and down the other side. We turned left on the switchback to stay on the blue trail. The switchback took us out into the woods and then back to the main blue trail where we turned left. We walked down the hill to the yellow trail where we turned left to walk along the base of Round Top. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road. We turned right on the woods road that took us downhill to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot. We crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. When we arrived home, it was 3:15 PM and we had hiked about 2 miles in an 1 hour and 20 minutes.

On Monday, February 26th I wanted to get out for a after a number of ambulance calls in our district and others. The problem was that I knew I might be the only EMT available for calls so I knew I would have to stay close to the house and keep the hike short. I asked Cindy if she would like to hike the Parksville Rail Trail from Fox Mountain Road to Parksville and back and she agreed. The hike is about 2.5 miles but I was hoping the falls would be flowing as they are beautiful. We started to get ready at 12:30 PM with the temperature at 36 degrees! Sheila could not contain her excitement as we were getting dressed as if she thought we might not hike again! The skies were blue but overcast with a slight breeze. I knew that the trail could be icy but would be covered with patches of snow from the last storm. I told Cindy to make sure to bring her spikes and I did the same. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and have lived up to that hype. I almost always take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I put on a light hat and took a pair of lightweight gloves. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to keep my lower legs warm and to resist the mud and water that I might kick up. At 12:45 PM we put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There were no vehicles in the parking lot when we started to get ready for the hike.

Cindy decided to put on her spikes at the car while I decided to wait until they were needed. We started out on the trail at 12:55 PM with the temperature at 35 degrees under slighty overcast skies. The open trail just before the woods alternated between open dirt and patches of snow. We saw two sets of footprints heading out on trail and a set of prints from a large dog. Fortunately, there wasn't much snow and the rough surface was manageable giving us some traction so the spikes were not needed. We entered the trees which blocked the breeze but shaded the trail. I was a little cooler than I would have liked so I set a quick pace hoping to warm up. Areas of ice began in earnest almost immediately but most were covered with a layer of crusty snow allowing some traction. We found a medium-sized trunk across the trail. The tree looked like I could cut it with a hand saw and ax to get it off the trail. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was reasonably high. I wondered about the condition of the falls and whether they would be frozen or not. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose and getting very close to the edge of the trail where a steep drop led down to the river! We were soon at the wooden walkways and I decided the views were much like our previous hike. To keep warm, I took a little peak and continued to walk. The walkway's wooden surface was covered in a thick layer of ice making the footing slippery but, again, the crusty snow offered some traction. The ice problem comes from a rock slide that has blocked the culvert under the small bridge causing water, mud and stones to be diverted over the walkway. Unblocking the culvert and covering the walkways with some screening would help. This time it was a lot of water that had frozen on the bridge, the walkways, and the trail. We continued on the trail and found a few blowdowns that should be cleared. As we approached the falls, we could hear the sound of the falls roaring.

When we arrived at the falls, we found that there was a lot of ice piled up downstream of the falls. There was also a lot of white ice at the falls and a good volume of water flowing. There was less ice than on our previous visit but it was still pretty. I decided that I wanted to stay warm and keep moving. We continued the hike on the trail but walked by the bench where a path leads down to the stream. This area was not that interesting and I just wanted to walk. The trail continued to be covered in ice and snow. I was not having any problem with traction even though I was not wearing spikes. Cindy had here spikes on and was marching along with a sure grip. We set a quick pace for the rest of the hike toward the Parksville end of the trail. Just after the gate at that end, I stopped and looked back to find that Cindy had stopped some distance behind me. I looked at the sign which outlines the milk that the O&W transported. The sign also mentions the large number of hotels that had been in the area. Since Cindy had not walked toward me, Sheila and I began walking toward her. When we reached Cindy, we headed back to the car. I knew I would not be taking any pictures and we set a rapid return pace. Just after the falls, I looked up and saw a group of 8 young women hiking toward us. I put Sheila on her leash and continued to walk along the side of the trail. As we passed, we all said "Hello" as we continued in our separate directions. I regretted failing to ask the group where they were from! We were back at the car at 1:55 PM after hiking 2.6 miles in exactly 1 hour which is faster than we had ever done the hike. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike.

On Tuesday, February 21st I got up early to find that instead of rain we had gotten a coating of snow and it was still snowing. I decided to get a little more sleep and then decide what to do. The previous day had seen a bunch of ambulance calls including one in the middle of the night. When I finally got up at 9:30 AM, the snow had stopped and was hanging on the trees. I decided I wanted to go across the street to Round Top to get some exercise and take pictures of the snow on the trees. By the time I ate and started to get dressed at 10:45 AM the temperature was up to 34 degrees and I could see the snow beginning to fall from the trees. Sheila was quitely watching my every move but I knew she was excited as we had not been out for several days. I decided to put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. It will soon be time to permanently switch to a pair of insulated pants. I decided to put on my old Salomon B52 winter boots which are beginning to show their age. I made sure the shoes had a pair of Protalus insoles to support my aching feet. I took my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I wore a warm but light hat and a pair of light gloves. I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters because of the wet snow. I also donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat when it is needed. I carried my Kahtoola Microspikes to make sure I had some traction on the slippery snow if I needed it. At 11:05 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I looked around and saw that the sky was beginning to become bright over Round Top. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We walked across the street and to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We walked behind the church to get to the road up the hill to the trailhead.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The ground was covered in places in a layer of snow but it was only about an inch deep. Other areas of the pavement had no snow at all. When I had finished, we continued directly up the hill to the trailhead. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal is always to make it all the way up the hill without stopping which proved challenging as I have not been hiking as much as I would like and most of my hikes have been flat. The fact that I have been ill for almost a month did not help either! At the top of the hill we stopped so that I could take some photographs of the snow on the trees and the cemetery. I also took some shots across the valley to Beer Mountain. The snow had stopped and the views were relatively clear. The snow was clinging to the trees tenaciously but the increasing temperature and a slight breeze would soon take care of that. We turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was covered in snow and as we entered the woods the snow still was only about an inch. I was surprised to see at peat one and maybe two sets of footprints in the snow. At other times I would have been disappointed at not being the first to hike the trails, but on this day I was happy to see the trails were getting used. Just before the first trail junction, we came to the spot where a large tree had fallen across the trail. I had cut one end of the tree with my ax and saw. Brad and I had finished the job. It was almost 2 feet in diameter and we had to cut it several times to move it off the trail. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. When we reached the top of the trail, we walked off the trail to the left and out to the viewpoint. I dropped my pack and got out my camera. I took pictures of the snow on trees and then turned my attention to the view. I was able to see down to the school and the buildings in town. I could also see across the valley to the hills beyond where the trees were also eased in snow. I took a number of pictures and then told Shiela to go to the upper part of the lookout. I told her to sit and she posed for some pictures. When I was done, I packed up and walked to the upper lookout. We followed the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we stopped so I could take some more pictures of the snow on the trees. I took a number of shots in all direction and the packed up to start hiking again. We turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. The trees along the trail were covered in snow and weighed down enough to hang down into the trail. I noticed that one of the rock overhangs below the ledges still had several tarps forming a shelter. I saw no footprints leading to the area. We turned left at the next junction and began climbing the hill. On the way up the hill, we bypassed the white crossover trail and continued on the blue trail across the summit of Round Top. As we began down the other side, we bypassed the white crossover trail and turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. The switchback trail sidehills a little which makes it even harder to negotiate when it is slippery. We continued following the switchback as it took us out into the woods and then turned almost 180 degrees to bring us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and continued downhill on the blue trail. We followed the blue trail to the yellow trail. We turned left and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail.

This time we turned right and walked down the yellow trail to the woods road. We walked along the woods road toward the first trail junction. Just before the first trail junction, I looked at the remains of the large blowdown I had cut and removed from the trail. Just passed this were the remains of a smaller blowdown I had cut up. This tree had hung over the trail for months but finally came down in the wind. I decided to do another figure 8 but without stopping to take pictures. We turned around at the first trail junction and started back up the woods road. We turned left when the yellow trail started up toward the first junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. At the next trail junction we turned right on the blue trail and started up the hill. This trail was a little steeper but the snow was not very slippery. We turned right on the switchback and followed it out and back to the main blue trail. We continued on the main blue trail and again cross the summit to start down the other side. We continued down the other side where the footing on the descent was tricky. I hit one muddy spot and slipped but recovered before going down. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and again walked along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and continued on the yellow trail passing the "Sitting Rock" to the viewpoint. At the viewpoint we turned left and walked down the steep trail to the first trail junction. This time we continued out to the trailhead. At the trailhead we turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot. We crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. When we arrived home, it was 12:35 PM and we had hiked a little more than 2 miles in an hour and 30 minutes including the time to take pictures and the increased difficulty from the snow.

On Saturday, February 18th, I wanted to get out for a longer hike after sticking to Round Top and the Parksville Rail Trail for several weeks. I was still fighting a cold that had kept me inside. In addition, track meets and numerous ambulance calls had limited ny outdoor time. I realized that the lack of exercise was affecting me physically and mentally. My son-in-law Brad was visiting and I knew he would want to go. I was trying to reclaim some sleep from a string of ambulance calls and slept in until 9:00 AM. I did some work around the house and then decided to get ready and go. Rather than travel too far I decided we would go to Frick Pond and hike the Flynn Trail where we could hike some uphill miles. This would give us some choices of how far we wanted to hike and the route we would take. As we started to get ready at 1:30 PM, the temperature on the back porch was 33 degrees. I knew it might be colder at the trailhead so I decided to put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and have lived up to that hype! I almost always take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I put on a light hat and took a pair of light gloves. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I added my OR Crocodile gaiters in case there was any mud or Ione water. We put our gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and headed out the DeBruce Road at 1:45 PM. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there were no cars parked in the larger lot but the small lot had four cars in it. I pulled into the smaller lot with Sheila acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month. I kept her in the car as we were getting ready as there was a car next to us with a dog. The temperature was 30 degrees and the skies were blue with white clouds with a slight breeze blowing. I wondered if I would be warm enough with my relatively light and undulated pants. I set my GPS as we got ready to head out on the Flynn Trail. I let Sheila out of the car and told her to cross the road to get to the Flynn Trail and to begin our hike at 2:00 PM.

The Flynn Trail is sited along what used to be Beech Mountain Road which was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We walked the trail through the woods which was damp and even muddy in places. After a short walk we came to the first blowdown that I knew was present. The problem was that a large tree had fallen across the trail and its 2 foot diameter was more than I could handle, at least on this day. I had already cut the other trees that had been brought down and were encroaching on the trail or hanging over it. We hopped over the trunk and continued on the trail to the woods road. We turned right on the woods road and continued to set a good pace up the hill. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.7 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I noticed that I was breathing heavily as we walked up the trail. We passed the hemlock that used to form a tunnel but was cleared by the DEC. We began to find some small branches on the trail which we removed and continued to do so for the rest of the hike. The day was cool but beautiful with plenty of sun. I began to warm up but decided not to open any zippers on my hoody. On the way up the trail we came to the rock ledges on the right side of the trail. As we approached and the clearing to the right of the trail, I stopped to take some pictures of the rock ledges on the right side of the trail. It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining on the rocks and the trail. There were traces of the snow that had fallen the night before. I noticed that I was very relaxed and decided I had to get out more on hikes! I thought about visiting the clearing but decided I wanted to stay on the main trail. We kept walking uphill and clearing small and larger branches as we went. We were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I thought about extending the hike to Hodge Pond but in the end we turned left to walk down the Big Rock Trail. The trail continued to be damp but not muddy. The hike down the trail went well and more quickly than I expected. In several places, blowdowns that had been across the trail were gone thanks to the work of the snowmobile club. It was definitely easier than the uphill hike. This trail can be tricky as there are several levels that make it seem like the bottom of the hill.

We were soon at Times Square and I thought about turning right to hike up and around the Logger's Loop to add some distance to our hike. I decided against this as it was getting late and we continued our hike by walking straight across Times Square to stay on the Big Rock Trail. Hiking goes quickly with Brad as we have interesting conversations especially about EMS. The Big Rock Trail around the back of Frick Pond can be very wet but on this day it was damp with a few muddy spots. There was still a very large blowdown across the trail which would require a chainsaw. I had trimmed some branches to make getting over it easier. We chose to hop over the large trunk and continue on the trail. We crossed the two small bridges over the inlets to the pond and I decided to stop to take a few pictures. The water under the first bridge was backed up from the wetlands and had a skim of ice. The area under the second bridge was now flowing but with a reduced volume. The sun was still out but slowly sinking giving a warm feeling to the setting. When we got to the area that was covered by tall evergreens, I pushed on through as I had taken pictures here very recently. We did stop at one point to allow a group of four hikers with one small dog to pass by. The wooden boardwalks continue to show wear with many boards loose and other beginning to rot. Much of the boardwalk now "floats" in midair as the supports are rotting. There was a light layer of snow on the walkways in a few spots and I took a few more shots. The rest of the trail was damp with several wet and muddy spots. At the next trail junction we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. We walked along the west side of Frick Pond to the bridge across the outlet of the pond. The mudhole was wet and muddy but the drainage work and the stepping stones did their job. I stopped at the bridge for a minute and took a few more photographs before we walked up the hill toward Gravestone Junction. We continued to Gravestone Junction and passed the Lobdell memorial marker. The marker is a memorial to two children who died in the 1930's in a fire that consumed their cabin. The trail to the memorial was well-worn but the marker was standing upright. The trail back to the register was wet and muddy in spots. Sheila alerted and I looked up to see a young couple walking toward us with a medium-sized dog. I pulled Sheila off to the side of the trail to let them pass. As they passed, we said "Hello". We passed the trail register heading toward the parking area. We continued straight ahead to follow the woods road out to the car in the small lot. We arrived at the car at 4:05 PM having hiked 4.0 miles in 2 hours and 5 minutes with an elevation gain of 700 feet.

On Monday, February 13th I wanted to get out for a after a week of sickness, ambulance calls, and track commitments. The problem was that I knew I might be the only EMT available for calls so I knew I would have to stay close to the house and keep the hike short. I asked Cindy if she would like to hike the Parksville Rail Trail from Fox Mountain Road to Parksville and back and she agreed. The hike is less than 3 miles but I was hoping the falls would be flowing and that I could get some shots. We started to get ready at 12:45 PM with the temperature at 50 degrees! The temperature was one factor that encouraged us both. Sheila could not contain her excitement as we were getting dressed as if she thought we might not hike again! The skies were blue with fluffy white clouds and a slight breeze. I knew that the trail would be ice covered with some open areas and patches of snow. I told Cindy to make sure to bring her spikes and I did the same. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer. I wore a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I had been wearing insulated pants but knew I would not need them on this day. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and have lived up to that hype. I almost always take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I put on a light hat and took a pair of lightweight gloves. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to keep my lower legs warm and to resist the mud and water that I might kick up. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat when it is needed. At 1:00 PM we put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There was one pickup truck in the parking lot when we started to get ready for the hike. Just before we started out, a couple with their very large Mastiff came walking toward the parking area on the road from Parksville. I put Sheila in the backseat as the dog was not on a leash! The couple stated their dog was friendly and I responded "ours is sometimes." The couple laughed, got in their car and drove away.

Cindy decided to put on her spikes at the car while I decided to wait until they were needed. We started out on the trail at 1:45 PM with the temperature still at 50 degrees under sunny skies. The open trail just before the woods was bare without any ice or snow. We saw two sets of footprints heading out but not back on trail. These were accompanied by a set of huge canine footprints. Fortunately, there wasn't much snow and the rough surface was manageable giving us some traction so the spikes were not needed, yet. We entered the trees which blocked the breeze but shaded the trail. The ice began in earnest almost immediately. We found a medium-sized trunk across the trail. The tree looked like I could cut it with a hand saw and ax to get it off the trail. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was reasonably high. I wondered about the condition of the falls and whether they would be frozen or not. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose. We were trying to hike quickly but the ice was slowing me down while Cindy was having no problems. We were soon at the wooden walkways where we stopped so I could take some pictures of the river below. Before taking my shots, I sat on the bench and put on my spikes. The sun on the river made a pretty picture with the blue skies and white clouds. I took some shots of the river and the walkways. I also took pictures of the old auction house right on the road. We continued over the walkways where the wooden surface was covered in a thick layer of ice making the footing slippery. We wondered how the other couple had made it across the ice without spikes or poles! The ice problem comes from a rock slide that has blocked the culvert under the small bridge causing water, mud and stones to be diverted over the walkway. Unblocking the culvert and covering the walkways with some screening would help. This time it was a lot of water that had frozen on the bridge, the walkways, and the trail. I made sure to take some pictures of the mess. We continued on the trail and found a few blowdowns that should be cleared. As we approached the falls, we could hear the sound of the falls roaring.

When we arrived at the falls, we found that there was a lot of ice piled up downstream of the falls. There was also a lot of white ice at the falls and a good volume of water flowing. I looked at the path down to the base of the falls and found it covered in snow on top of ice. I decided to work my way down the path and take pictures of the falls and stream from the stream bank. I started to work my way down the icy bank removing a few branches as I descended. After a sketchy descent, I was finally on the edge of the stream. Sheila, of course, followed me down. I put down my pack and got out my camera. I took shots of the entire area toward the falls and some more downstream. I took some close-up pictures of the falls from slightly different angles. When I was done, I put the camera back in the pack. The climb back up to the trail was easier than I thought it might be. The are above the falls was very icy but I managed to get some pictures. I took shots of the falls from above near the picnic bench and a few of the area upstream. I moved upstream some and got some good shots of the main falls and the falls above. When I was done, we continued the hike on the trail but walked by the bench where a path leads down to the stream. This area was not that interesting and I just wanted to walk. The trail continued to be covered in ice. We set a quick pace for the rest of the hike toward the Parksville end of the trail. Just after the gate at that end, we stopped at the sign which outlines the milk that the O&W transported. The sign also mentions the large number of hotels that had been in the area. We turned around and headed back to the car. I knew I would not be taking any more pictures and we set a rapid return pace. We were back at the car at 2:35 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes including the stopped time for pictures. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike.

On Monday, February 6th I decided I wanted to go across the street to Round Top to get some exercise after more than a week of not getting out while trying to recover from a cold. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go with us but she declined as she does not like to climb hills. It was 32 degrees with some sun as I started to get ready at 11:30 AM. Sheila was quitely watching my every move but I knew she was excited as we had not been out for some time. I looked at the hill across the street and did not see very much snow so I did not take my pack and spikes. I decided to put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I wore a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I had been wearing insulated pants but knew I would not need them on this day. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and have lived up to that hype. I almost always take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I put on a light hat and took a pair of lightweight gloves. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to keep my lower legs warm. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat when it is needed. At 11:45 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I looked around and saw that the sky was blue over Round Top and the air was still. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We walked across the street and continued through the field next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked behind the church to get to the road up the hill to the trailhead.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The pavement was almost completely clear of snow and ice and I was glad I had not worn my spikes. We continued directly up the hill to the trailhead. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal is always to make it all the way up the hill without stopping which was challenging as I have not been hiking as much as I would like and most of my hikes have been flat. At the top of the hill we stopped so that I could look around at the hills which seemed to be covered in snow. We turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was mostly clear of snow and ice and as we entered the woods this continued. Just before the first trail junction, we came to the spot where a large tree had fallen across the trail. I had cut one end of the tree with my ax and saw. Brad and I had finished the job. It was almost 2 feet in diameter and we had to cut it several times to move it off the trail. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. When we reached the top of the trail, we walked off the trail to the left to the upper lookout. I was able to see down to the school and the buildings in town. I could also see across to the hills on the other side of town. When I was done, we followed the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we stopped and I could see there was a lot of packed and frozen snow on the hill on the blue trail. We turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. There was some snow on the trail which was packed from people using the trail. I noticed that one of the rock overhangs below the ledges still had several tarps forming a shelter. I saw no footprints leading to the area. On the way up the hill, we bypassed the white crossover trail and continued on the blue trail across the summit of Round Top where there was the most snow. As we began down the other side, the packed snow and ice were very slippery making the walk very interesting. We bypassed the white crossover trail and turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. The switchback trail sidehills a little which makes it even harder to negotiate when it is slippery. I had to walk on the sides of the trail to get some traction. We continued following the switchback as it took us out into the woods and then turned almost 180 degrees to bring us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and continued downhill on the blue trail with me picking my way carefully. We followed the blue trail to the yellow trail. We turned left and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail.

This time we turned right and walked down the yellow trail to the woods road. We walked along the woods road toward the first trail junction. Just before the first trail junction, I looked at the remains of the large blowdown I had cut and removed from the trail. Just passed this were the remains of a smaller blowdown I had cut up. This tree had hung over the trail for months but finally came down in the wind. I decided to do another figure 8 so we turned around at the first trail junction and started back up the woods road. We turned left when the yellow trail started up toward the first junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. At the next trail junction we turned right on the blue trail and started up the hill. This trail was a little steeper and I wished I had brought my spikes. When we reached the switchback, I decided to continue up the main blue trail. The walk up the steep section was easier than I thought it would be. We continued up the trail and over the summit before starting down the other side. This part of the trail was slippery but not as bad as the steeper side. At the bottom of the trail we turned right on the yellow trail. We again walked along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and continued on the yellow trail passing the "Sitting Rock" to the viewpoint. At the viewpoint we turned left and walked down the steep trail to the first trail junction. This time we continued out to the trailhead. At the trailhead we turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot. We crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. When we arrived home, it was 1:15 PM and we had hiked a little more than 2 miles in an hour and 30 minutes.

On Saturday, January 28th I wanted to get out for only the second hike of the week. I am still involved in track practice and had a family commitment that consumed the middle of the week. The problem was that I knew I might be the only EMT available for calls so I knew I would have to stay close to the house and keep the hike short. I asked Cindy if she would like to hike the Parksville Rail Trail from Fox Mountain Road to Parksville and back and she agreed. The hike is less than 3 miles but I was hoping the falls would be flowing and that I could get some shots. We started to get ready at 10:15 AM with the temperature at 33 degrees. Sheila could not contain her excitement as we were getting dressed as if she thought we might not hike again! The skies were blue with fluffily white clouds and a slight breeze. I knew that the trail would be snow covered and frozen but suspected there might be some open water and mud. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long sleeved baselayer. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and slightly water repellant. I decided to put on my old Salomon B52 boots which have lasted many seasons but still fit well. I made sure I had a pair of Protalus in the shoes as they, like many other top brand hiking shoes. Have only a thin, non-supportive insole. I took my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I wore a heavier fleece hat and a pair of light gloves. I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to keep my lower legs warm and to resist the snow that I might kick up. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat when it is needed. At 10:30M we put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. We went to the post office and then I headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There were no cars in the parking lot when we started out on the trail at 10:45 AM.

I did not bring my GPS unit as we had hiked the trail so many times before. I had not brought our snowshoes but I had brought my spikes in case they became necessary. Unfortunately, Cindy had not brought her spikes but I knew she could use mine. The open trail just before the woods was covered in frozen snow and the breeze made it feel even cooler. We saw only one set of footprints heading out and back on trail accompanied by a set of canine footprints. Fortunately, there wasn't much snow and the rough surface was manageable giving us some traction so the spikes were not needed. We entered the trees which blocked the breeze. The spots that usually have open water were frozen and covered with snow. Almost immediately we found a medium-sized trunk across the trail. The tree looked like I could cut it with a hand saw and ax to get it off the trail. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was reasonably high. I wondered about the condition of the falls and whether they would be frozen or not. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose. We were trying to hike quickly but the rough snow and patches of ice were slowing us down. We did not have to criss-cross the trail as everything was frozen solid. We were soon at the wooden walkways where we stopped so I could take some pictures of the river below. The sun on the river made a pretty picture. I took some shots of the river and the walkways. I also took pictures of a house high on a hill across the river and the old auction house right on the road. We continued over the walkways where the wooden surface was covered in a thin layer of ice with snow over the top making the footing slippery. Beyond the far end of the bridge was some running water and some ice. The problem is that a rock slide has blocked the culvert under the small bridge causing water, mud and stones to be diverted over the walkway. Unblocking the culvert and covering the walkways with some screening would help. We continued on the trail and found a few blowdowns that should be cleared. As we approached the falls, we could hear the sound of the falls roaring.

When we arrived at the falls, we found that there was not as much ice as last time but the flow was good. I looked at the path down to the base of the falls and found it covered in snow on top of ice. I decided not to work my way down the path and just take pictures of the falls and stream from above on the bank. I put down my pack and got out my camera. I took shots of the falls from above near the picnic bench and a few of the area upstream. I moved downstream to get a few picture of the rapids below the falls. I also moved upstream some and got some good shots of the main falls and the falls above. When I was done, we continued the hike on the trail but walked by the bench where a path leads down to the stream. This area was not that interesting and I just wanted to walk. The trail continued to be covered in frozen snow with some patches of ice frozen solid. We set a quick pace for the rest of the hike toward the Parksville end of the trail. Just after the gate at that end, we stopped at the sign which outlines the milk that the O&W transported. The sign also mentions the large number of hotels that had been in the area. We turned around and headed back to the car. I knew I would not be taking any more pictures and we set a rapid return pace. We were back at the car at 12:05 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes including the stopped time for pictures. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike.

On Monday, January 23rd I got up early to respond on an ambulance call. When I returned, I pick up Cindy at home and we went to eat at Café 43. This place is small but had great food for breakfast and lunch. When we returned home, I found that all schools were closed and that there would be no track meet in the afternoon. I decided I wanted to go across the street to Round Top to get some exercise and take pictures of the snow on the trees. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go with us but she declined. It was 31 degrees and still snowing lightly when I seated to get ready at 10:30 AM. Sheila was quitely watching my every move but I knew she was excited as we had not been out for a week. I decided to put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. It will soon be time to permanently switch to a pair of insulated pants. I decided to put on my old Salomon B52 winter boots which are beginning to show there age. I made sure the shoes had a pair of Protalus insoles to support my aching feet. I took my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I wore a warm fleecy hat and a pair of light gloves. I packed a warmer pair of gloves, and put on my OR Crocodile gaiters because of the heavy wet snow. I also donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat when it is needed. I decided to put on my Kahtoola Microspikes to make sure I had some traction on the slippery snow. At 10:45 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I looked around and saw that the sky was overcast over Round Top and snow was till falling. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We walked across the street and continued through the field next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked behind the church to get to the road up the hill to the trailhead.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The ground was covered in a layer of snow but it was only about an inch deep. I stopped at the bottom to take some shots of the fresh snow on the road and in the cemetery. When I had finished, we continued directly up the hill to the trailhead. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal is always to make it all the way up the hill without stopping which was challenging as I have not been hiking as much as I would like and most of my hikes have been flat. At the top of the hill we stopped so that I could take some photographs of the snow on the trees and the cemetery. I also took some shots across the valley to Beer Mountain. The clouds and the snow falling preventing me from getting clear shots and the views were limited. We turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was covered in snow and as we entered the woods the show deepened but there was never more than 3 inches. The snow was wet and heavy and it immediately began to clump on my spikes. I had to keep scuffing my feet to get rid of the clumps. Just before the first trail junction, we came to the spot where a large tree had fallen across the trail. I had cut one end of the tree with my ax and saw. Brad and I had finished the job. It was almost 2 feet in diameter and we had to cut it several times to move it off the trail. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. When we reached the top of the trail, we walked off the trail to the left and out to the viewpoint. I dropped my pack and got out my camera. I took pictures of the snow on threes and then turned my attention to the view. I was able to see down to the school and the buildings in town but the rest of the view was obscured by the falling snow. I took my pictures and then told Shiela to go to the upper part of the lookout. I told her to sit and she posed for some pictures. When I was done, I packed up and walked to the upper lookout. We followed the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. I was still getting snow clumping on my spikes but I was glad I had them. At the junction we stopped so I could take some more pictures of the snow on the trees. I took a number of shots in all direction and the packed up to start hiking again. We turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. The trees along the trail were covered in snow and weighed down enough to hang down into the trail. I noticed that one of the rock overhangs below the ledges still had several tarps forming a shelter. I saw not footprints leading to the area. On the way up the hill, we bypassed the white crossover trail and continued on the blue trail across the summit of Round Top where the snow was the deepest. As we began down the other side, we bypassed the white crossover trail and turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. The switchback trail sidehills a little which makes it even harder to negotiate when it is slippery. We continued following the switchback as it took us out into the woods and then turned almost 180 degrees to bring us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and continued downhill on the blue trail. We followed the blue trail to the yellow trail. We turned left and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail.

This time we turned right and walked down the yellow trail to the woods road. We walked along the woods road toward the first trail junction. The snow was really clumping now on both feet. Just before the first trail junction, I looked at the remains of the large blowdown I had cut and removed from the trail. Just passed this were the remains of a smaller blowdown I had cut up. This tree had hung over the trail for months but finally came down in the wind. I decided to do another figure 8 but without stopping to take pictures. We turned around at the first trail junction and started back up the woods road. We turned left when the yellow trail started up toward the first junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. At the next trail junction we turned right on the blue trail and started up the hill. This trail was a little steeper and the spikes helped despite the clumping. We turned right on the switchback and followed it out and back to the main blue trail. We almost immediately turned right on the white crossover trail and followed it along the shoulder of Round Top to the blue trail on the other side. I wanted to make sure there were no blowdowns blocking the trail. We turned right and walked down the other side to the junction with the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and again walked along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and continued on the yellow trail passing the "Sitting Rock" to the viewpoint. At the viewpoint we turned left and walked down the steep trail to the first trail junction. This time we continued out to the trailhead. At the trailhead we turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot. We crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. When we arrived home, it was 12:15 PM and we had hiked a little more than 2 miles in an hour and 30 minutes including the time to take pictures. I had gotten home just in time to go on the next ambulance call!

On Monday, January 16th, I wanted to get in a hike with Cindy somewhere away from Livingston Manor. Whenever I am home, I always respond to ambulance call. If I am near home on a hike, I often interrupt the hike to go on a call. I wanted to go to a new place to hike and chose Stewart State Forest near Newburgh. The area has many multipurpose trail, bike trails and woods roads running through it. In addition there are two roads, Ridge Road and Maple Avenue that run north to south through the area but are closed to traffic. The biggest attraction is a boardwalk over the Great Swamp. Cindy likes short, flat hikes and I thought the route I had planned would be relatively flat but could be around 6 miles. When we got up at around 8:00 AM the temperature was only 15 degrees so we did some chores around the house. We started to get ready at 9:30 AM with the temperature at 26 degrees. Sheila certainly was happy to go hiking but was lying still playing the 'good dog'. I put on my Patagonia long-sleeved wool quarter-zip top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. It will soon be time to permanently switch to a pair of insulated pants. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and have lived up to that hype. I took my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I wore a warm fleecy hat and a pair of light gloves. I packed a warmer pair of gloves, and put on my OR Crocodile gaiters because of the possibility of water and mud. I also donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat when it is needed. We left the house at 10:00 AM as I drove out to State Route 17 toward Monticello. I continued on the Quickway to exit 116. At the end of the exit I turned left on Route 17K and continued on through Montgomery heading toward Newburgh. After 15 miles, I turned right onto Ridge Road and continued about a mile to the parking area. I turned left on Maple Avenue and the immediately right into the parking area. The parking was beginning to fill up and it seemed that most of the people were bikers. We parked and got ready to hike with the temperature still a cool 35 degrees with a breeze. I put Sheila on her leash and set my GPS. I left my poles in the car as I expected a relatively flat route and I did not know how much I would keep Sheila on her leash. We started the hike by walking out the blue blazed Scofiled Trail at the back left corner of the parking area at 11:05 AM.

The trail was very dry without and water, ice or mud as we headed south and slightly uphill. The trail remained like this for about a mile as the sun got brighter and we warmed up. The trail was pretty well maintained through a sea of prickers and what look, at times, like Japanese knotweed. I let Sheila off her leash at some point as there were no other hikers on the trail. The small hills helped warm us up and I stopped to open up all the zippers I could on the hoody. Now that Sheila was off her leash and we were hitting a few hills I really missed my poles! After a mile we began to run into some water, mud and ice. Most of these place were easy to navigate without slipping or getting wet. At 1.4 miles we came to a small pond on the right of the trail. The pond was not marked on the map but we stopped so that I could take some pictures. There was a skim of ice on the pond which was formed by an obvious man-made dam. After taking my pictures, we got back on the trail and Sheila alerted as a woman was hiking toward us. I ushered Sheila off the trail and had her sit while the woman passed. At 1.6 miles a yellow trail appeared on the left and I knew this was the trail we needed to take to the swamp boardwalk. We turned and started walking downhill. After .25 miles we were at the beginning of the boardwalk where I stopped to take a few shots. The boardwalk was very impressive and the construction very sturdy. It included steel pipes to anchor it in the swamp, stainless steel cables between pipes, and a composite decking. As we were stopped for some shots, we heard a noise and looked up to see a biker approaching. I ushered Sheila to the side so the biker could pass and he said "Thank you" as he rode slowly passed us. We walked along the boardwalk stopping several times for me to take pictures until we reached the other end. My only regret was that we saw no critters. I knew we would come back during another season to see some wildlife. We continued walking on the trail and were surprised by another section of boardwalk. I took more pictures including some of a beaver or muskrat lodge. At the end of the boardwalk we found a dirt road so we walked it out to Maple Avenue where we turned right. We almost immediately turned left on the Buchanan Hill Trail which again started out downhill.

After a short distance we came to another small pond. I tried taking a few shots but the sun was at a really bad angle. We continued our walk passed the end of the pond and came to a fork in the trail. There was a single blue blaze on a tree in the middle of the fork which gave no indication of which way to go! I had studied the map and chose right and soon there was a blue blaze on a tree. The trail began to climb up a small hill and then descended down the other side. The descent was wet and muddy and the mud had been churned up by bikes. Within a short distance, the trail began the long but gentle climb up to the top of Buchanan Hill. The trail here was not as well maintained and had many briars across the path. From 2.9 miles to 3.4 miles we climbed 150 feet along a gentle 6% grade. Before we reached the summit plateau, I stopped to get some pictures of the mountains to the east on the other side of the Hudson. There was a haze present and it was hard to focus to get a good shot. This was another example of being there being better than any picture. There was a wide swathe cut through the tall grass and brush across the top of the hill and we just kept following it. The sun felt warm and it was really a beautiful day. The trail eventually entered the woods again but remained wide and easy to follow. After hiking another.7 miles, we were at Maple Avenue which was 4.1 miles into the hike. Cindy had already let me know she was tired so I reevaluated my planned route. Rather than walk a trail over to Ridge Road and then use a combination of trails and the road to return, Cindy wanted to simply walk north on Maple Avenue. I agreed that this was the shortest way to get back and maybe the easiest but I dreaded what I estimated would be a 2.5 miles walk on the road! Nonetheless, we turned right and started the road walk. Surprisingly, I was now missing my poles even more as my feet and legs were supplying all the power. I stopped a couple times and took pictures just to fight the boredom! I was beginning to get physically tired but my mental attitude was the big problem. With about .4 miles to go the road changed to pavement which Cindy appreciated but I loathed. Finally, at 2:25 PM we were back at the car after hiking 6.7 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes with 30 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 700 and our overall speed was 2 mph. The bikers who had been in the parking lot were gone replaced by horse trailers. Apparently, owning a horse allows you to park wherever you like including the exit to the parking area!

On Monday, January 9th I wanted get out for a longer hike and decided to head for the Frick Pond area. An overnight ambulance call cut into my time for sleep again so I did not get up until 10:00 AM. I knew I still had time to get the hike in but I had to hurry. Sheila was already prepared to go as she really likes to hike. She was lying on the floor with her front legs spread barking up a storm. It was 35 degrees on the back porch as I started to get dressed. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are bad slightly water repellant. I don't like the fot of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. I put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and have lived up to that hype. I almost always take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I put on a fleecy orange hat and took a pair of medium-weight gloves. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and headed out the DeBruce Road at 11:00 AM. As I approached DeBruce the Ambulance pager went off for a call in Liberty to mutual aid Mobilemedic. I knew there was no other EMT available so I turned around and started to head back into Livingston Manor. Unfortunately, I had no cell service and could not call in to let anyone know I was coming. By the time I had cell service I could hear the control center canceling us as Mobilemedic had managed to free a crew. I was annoyed as I had changed my plans for no reason! I decided to go back to the house and hike on Round Top. At 11:30 AM I parked the car in the driveway and grabbed Sheila's leash from the car. We walked up the driveway and across the street to the parking lot at the Presbyterian Church. From there we headed to the back of the church to the cemetery hill. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and continued directly up the hill to the trailhead. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal was to make it all the way up the hill without stopping which seemed easier on this day. At the top of the hill we stopped for minute so that I could observe the skies all around us. We turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was damp with a layer a leaves and that continued as we entered the woods.

Just before the first trail junction we passed the large tree that Brad and I had removed from the trail and it looked bigger than I remembered. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. We continued up the trail and passing another rather larger tree I had cut by hand and removed from the trail. As we reached the end of the woods road, I looked to my left and saw that the tarps were still in place at the "cave" beneath the rock ledges. Someone had decided to create a camp/shelter/home hear on public and. I did not see anyone nor did I catch the smell of a fire. We turned left up the hill on the trail and continued to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. The trail was almost completely clear although I did pick up a few stray branches. When we reached the junction, I told Sheila "right" and she turned right on the blue trail and started to climb the hill. We turned right on the switchback in the blue trail which I had constructed to ease the erosion on the main trail and allow people to have a slightly more gentle climb. At the end of the switchback we turned right on the main blue trail and passed the white crossover trail on the way to the summit. We crossed over the summit and started down the blue rail on the other side. We again passed the white crossover trail continuing on to the yellow trail. We had not run into any blowdowns blocking the trail but we had removed a few small branches. We turned right and again walked along the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and headed down toward the lookout. The trail bed was clear with only a few small branches. When we reached the viewpoint, I took a look and I noticed that the view was very good without the leaves on the trees. We continued to follow the yellow trail as it descended steeply from the lookout to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and started back up the yellow trail to the lookout. When the yellow trail turned right, we followed it back up through the dead ferns and passed the "sitting rock". At the first junction with the blue trail we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up the hill toward the summit. At the white crossover trail, we turned left and walked along the trail so that I could check for branches and blowdowns. When we hit the blue trail, we turned left and then left immediately to stay on the blue trail. The switchback took us out into the woods and then back to the main blue trail where we turned left. We walked down the hill to the yellow trail where we turned left to walk along the base of Round Top. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road. We turned right on the woods road that took us downhill to the first trail junction. There was still no activity at the shelter under the ledges. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot. We crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. When we arrived home, it was 12:40 PM and we had hiked just over 2 miles in an hour and 10 minutes.

On Saturday, January 7th I had planned to go out for a longer hike but slept in to recover from 15 ambulance calls in 7 days! I stuck around the house for a while as there seemed to be a lot of emergency calls in the county. Cindy and I thought about going to someplace like Huggins Lake but I was worried about getting in to the parking area. I finally decided to go across the street to Round Top where I had not hiked for some time. The temperature was 37 degrees so I decided to venture out. I started to get ready at 12:45 PM with Sheila quitely watching my every move. I decided not to overdress as I often do as it seemed warm out except for the light breeze. I decided to put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. II wore a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. It will soon be time to permanently switch to a pair of insulated pants. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and have lived up to that hype. I almost always take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I put on a fleecy orange hat and took a pair of medium-weight gloves. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. At 1:10 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I looked around and saw that the sky was overcast over Round Top but cloudier to the north and west. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We walked across the street and behind the Presbyterian Church.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and continued directly up the hill to the trailhead. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal is always to make it all the way up the hill without stopping which was challenging as I have not been hiking as much as I would like and most of my hikes have been flat. As we neared the top of the hill, two women with a small dog exited the trailhead. The dog was not leashed and began to bark but the owner immediately put it on a leash. At the top of the hill we stopped for minute so that I could take a look at the skies and hills all around us. It looked like there was some snow coming over the hills but I looked Gina and it seemed to be fog. We turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was a little wet but was free from snow and this continued as we entered the woods. There was a thick layer of wet leaves on the ground. As we entered the woods, snow began to fall as frozen white pellets Just before but this did not last very long. There was a large branch hanging down into the trail but I was able to give it a good pull to dislodge it and pull it off the trail. Just before the first trail junction, we came to the spot where a large tree had fallen across the trail. I had cut one end of the tree with my ax and saw. Brad and I had finished the job when he was staying for Thanksgiving. It was almost 2 feet in diameter and we had to cut it several times to move it off the trail. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. When we reached the top of the trail, I stopped to take a look from the viewpoint. The snow had almost stopped but it was still coming down! We followed the yellow trail as it headed uphill toward the next trail junction. The woods attested to the fact that winter had arrived even though the snow had melted. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. I noticed that one of the rock overhangs below the ledges now had several tarps and I thought I could see smoke. I made a note to report this to the Town of Rockland. We turned left on the blue trail and started up the hill. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued on the blue trail across the summit of Round Top. There were many small branches to clear and a few larger ones on the summit. Fortunately, I was able to remove them all without tools. As we began down the other side, we bypassed the white crossover trail and turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. We continued following the switchback as it took us out into the woods and then turned almost 180 degrees to bring us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and continued downhill on the blue trail. We followed the blue trail to the yellow trail. We turned left and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail.

This time we turned right and walked down the yellow trail to the woods road. We walked along the woods road toward the first trail junction. I could smell a distinct odor coming from the direction of the "shelter" that someone had constructed. Just before the first trail junction, I looked at the remains of the large blowdown I had cut and removed from the trail. Just passed this were the remains of a smaller blowdown I had cut up. This tree had hung over the trail for months but finally came down in the wind. We turned around at the first trail junction and started back up the woods road. We turned left when the yellow trail started up toward the first junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. At the next trail junction we turned right on the blue trail and started up the hill. We turned right on the switchback and followed it out and back to the main blue trail. We almost immediately turned right on the white crossover trail and followed it along the shoulder of Round Top to the blue trail on the other side. I wanted to make sure there were no blowdowns blocking the trail. We turned right and walked down the other side to the junction with the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and again walked along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and continued on the yellow trail passing the "Sitting Rock" to the viewpoint. At the viewpoint we turned left and walked down the steep trail to the first trail junction. This time we continued out to the trailhead. There was a large SUV parked by the trailhead with its engine running. At the trailhead we turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot. We crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. When we arrived home, it was 2:20 PM and we had hiked a little more than 2 miles in an hour and 20 minutes including some trail maintenance.

On Monday, January 2nd, I wanted to get in a hike with Cindy on the second day of the year. Cindy likes short, flat hikes so I chose to go to the Beaverkill Campgrounds to hike along the river. The campground is closed for the winter and I thought it would be quiet. I also hoped the recent rains and snow melt would have swollen the stream to provide some interest. I also knew the route might have some packed snow and ice but was usually not too muddy or wet. We started to get ready at 2:15 PM with the temperature at 50 degrees. Sheila certainly was happy to go hiking two days in a row. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top but decided not to wear a baselayer. I wore a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. It will soon be time to permanently switch to a pair of insulated pants. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and have lived up to that hype. I took my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I wore a light hat, packed a pair of gloves, and put on my OR Crocodile gaiters because of the possibility of water and mud. I also donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat when it is needed. We left the house at 2:45 PM as I drove out Old Route 17 toward Roscoe and turned right on Beaverkill Road. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. There were no cars parked in the lot. A glance at the river showed that the level was very high leaving almost no "beach" by the covered bridge. I put Sheila on her leash and shouldered my pack as we began our hike.

We started out at 3:00 PM by walking out of the parking lot to the bridge with the temperature at 52 degrees. The skies were completely overcast. When we got to the other side, the gate just off the road was closed as the campgrounds had closed September 5. I looked at the trail and saw that it had some packed snow and ice but there were also some spots that were clear. We turned left on a woods road that parallels the river and started down a short hill. We were able to work our way around the ice and packed snow. We passed the spring house and continued on the deserted woods road. We came to an area with a little path down to the river. Just passed this area the trail had been eroding due to the water running down the bank. The DEC had replaced a culvert pipe and installed a second. They had also brought in fill and packed it to reconstruct the path. I found this interesting as the campsites along this path are no longer used and are abandoned. I walked down to the edge of the river very carefully as the rocks were slippery and the water looked deep and cold. I took some pictures downstream and some upstream to the bridge. The light downstream was interesting as the sun was starting to go down in the west. The view of the bridge was almost blocked by the angle I had. When I was done photographing, we got back on the trail and passed several areas with unused picnic tables. The state had plowed the road for reasons I do not understand. Several picnic tables sat unused and rotting along the road, a testimony to better days. We walked by these tables which had not been used in many years. A little later we came to what was once a bathroom for some campsites that had long since disappeared.Further along on the road, there was another area with more picnic tables. There was a path over to the river so I walked over and found the water was sparkling in the sun and was very clear. I took some pictures of the sun reflecting off the water both upstream and downstream.

We continue on and at about .7 miles the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites. We continued on the road through the campsites and along the river. The campsites were all empty and I took pictures of the solitude. The road through the campsite was plowed and there was still some snow covering the ground despite the warm weather and rain. We walked to the last campsite where the road ends and Sheila and I walked down to the edge of the river. I was careful to watch where I was walking as the water was a little high and looked cold. Sheila didn't seem to think the water was too cold as she jumped in to wade. I stopped to take some pictures of the river especially downstream. We continued along the shore a little further passed the last campsite and I took some more shots before walking up to the campsite and back to where Cindy was standing. I stowed my camera and picked up the pack. We walked back from the last campsite, staying to the left of the last bathroom to walk back on the other paved road through the campsites. This road parallels the one we walked out on to make a sort of loop. I stopped to take pictures of the road lined by the remains of some pine trees that had been cut down. I also took some shots of the volleyball net stretched between two posts with a "court" of snow. We retuned the way we had come although at a quicker pace. As we approached the bridge, I saw that there were still no cars in the lot. We walked through the bridge and turned right to go back to the car. Cindy got in the car but Sheila and I walked down to the stream. The water was very high and I had to walk downstream a little to get to the big rock that juts out into the stream. The sun was getting low in the sky but I was able to take some pictures downstream. I turned around and took multiple picture of the bridge and the abutments. I walked back to the car at 4:25 PM having hiked 2.5 miles in 1 hour and 25 minutes. The car's thermometer show the temperature had dropped to 43 degrees as the sun was now completely down behind the trees.

On Sunday, January 1st I returned from church at 12:30 PM to find a text from Lisa Lyons who had organized a First Day Hike sponsored by the DEC. The hike was the 2.2 miles around Frick Pond and started at 2:00 PM. I was not excited about the short length on a trail that I knew would be wet but decided it was a good way to start the New Year. I started to get ready at 1:15 PM with the temperature at 39 degrees on the back porch. I knew that the trail could have some snow covering with ice but suspected there would be some open water and plenty of mud. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long sleeved baselayer. I wore a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my old Salomon B52 boots which have lasted many seasons but still fit well. I paired these shoes with an old pair of Dahlgren alpaca wool socks as the insulation in the B52s is not what it used to be. These boots had the original insole in them and it is not very supportive for my arch. I solved the problem by putting in a pair of Protalus insoles which offer good support with a low profile. I took my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I wore a light hat and a pair of light gloves. I also packed a pair of heavier gloves in case they became necessary. I also donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat when it is needed. I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to fend off the water and mud. I had my Silky Sugowaza saw in my pack in case I needed to do any trail work. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and headed out the DeBruce Road at 1:40 PM. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking areas both were almost filled with cars and trucks. I pulled into the larger lot next to Lisa's car and made sure other cars could get out of the lot. Sheila was acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she tried to get out of the car and ran around. The temperature was 38 degrees and the skies were overcast with a few blue spots. I put Sheila on her leash and joined the group in front of the map for the Frick Pond area. I knew several of the people standing around and we greeted each other. Lisa was explaining the route for the hike and offered to lend some of the almost 20 people hiking poles. I was beginning to get cold as I was dressed to hike not stand around. Sheila and I headed out the woods road that leads to the Quick Lake Trail. When we got to the register, there were still no hikers in sight so I turned left to walk the Quick Lake Trail back toward the parking area. In a few minutes people started hiking toward us so I turned around and hiked back toward the register.

At the register we turned left and started toward Frick Pond on the woods road. The woods road was wet and muddy with patches of frozen snow and ice. I removed a few branches and pushed some away from the trail. I also used my poles to clear some of the leaves out of the small streams that crossed the trail. As we approached Gravestone Junction, I stopped to remove a larger branch and to cut down a small tree that was hanging in the trail. We continued along the trail and I checked that the Lobdell Memorial was still standing. At Gravestone Junction we stayed to the left to follow the Quick Lake Trail down to the bridge at the outlet end of Frick Pond. Sheila and I were passed by a few people as we cleared some branches but passed some people as we were setting a fast pace. We stopped at the bridge and I decided to take a few shots even though the skies were overcast. We continued across the bridge and around the pond crossing the muddy spot where our crew had done some work to improve drainage. I noticed that the two bridges on the west side of the pond needed some repair work before they have to be replaced. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we turned right on the Big Rock Trail and continued along the west side of the wetlands at the head of the pond. I was trying to pass a few people as I was concerned that some hikers might not be aware of how slippery the wooden walkways can be. The wooden walkways can the very slippery when wet even when there is no ice. These walkways also need repair, a fact we have mentioned to both the DEC and the NYNJTC. Repairing them now will be much easier than replacing them later!

We walked with some other people through the spruce tunnel and across two bridges. I looked to see if there were some photographic opportunities but decided to move on. The north end of the pond was very wet and muddy. We came to a large blowdown across the trail which I had not been able to clear. I decided to cut off a few branches to make it easier for hikers to get over the larger trunk. I took out my saw and began to cut off branches and throw them in a pile. I cut as much as I could and then hiked around the blowdown to meet some other people at Times Square. We turned right to complete the loop around Frick Pond on the Logger's Loop. This trail is a very gentle climb and then a slight descent to Gravestone Junction to complete the loop. This trail had nothing much to remove but it was very wet and muddy. We continue along the trail and came to two small trees hanging into the trail by the primitive campsites. I got out my saw and cut both trees and removing them from the trail. A few people passed us as I was doing the work. I was concerned that a few of the people at the end of the hike had not yet caught up to me. Sheila and I turned around and started to walk back toward Times Square. We soon met the others hiking toward us and turned around to hike with tem back to the parking area. We were soon back at Gravestone Junction where we turned left. I explained the significance of the memorial marker. We walked the Quick Lake Trail back to the trail register. We turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail to the large lot where my car was parked. It was 3:45 PM and we had hiked the 2.4 miles in 1 hour and 35 minutes with an elevation gain of 200 feet. Lisa had a few gifts for each f us and we toasted the New Year.

On Wednesday, December 28th I wanted to get out on another hike with my son-in-law Brad. I had mentioned trimming some trees on the Parksville Rail Trail and he said he thought that would be a good idea. Brad is a monster with the ax and can manhandle even the largest pieces of trees off the trail. We planned to get an early start but the ambulance pager went off sending us to a call north of Roscoe. I was familiar with the patient and knew she would want to go to Garnet Health in Middletown. By the time we returned it was noon and Brad needed to get some lunch. Sheila was excited about hiking two days in a row and she showed it as we were getting dressed! It was 35 degrees when we started to get ready at 1:00 PM and the skies were overcast with a slight breeze. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long sleeved baselayer. I wore a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. It will soon be time to permanently switch to a pair of insulated pants. I decided to put on my old Salomon B52 boots which have lasted many seasons but still fit well. I paired these shoes with an old pair of Dahlgren alpaca wool socks as the insulation in the B52s is not what it used to be. These boots had the original insole in them and it is not very supportive for my arch. I solved the problem by putting in a pair of Protalus insoles which offer good support with a low profile. I took my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I wore a light hat and a pair of light gloves. I also packed a pair of heavier gloves in case they became necessary. I also donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat when it is needed. I put my Silky Sugowaza saw in my pack and asked Bard to carry the Friskars pack ax. At 1:15 PM we put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There were no cars in the parking lot when we started out on the trail at 1:35 PM.

I put Sheila on her leash as we headed out to the road and under the Quickway on Fox Mountain Road. We crossed the bridge over the Little Beaverkill and then turned right to step over the guard rail. There is a definite trail on the right which passes by the trestle supports that carried the trail tracks over the stream. The emblem on the trestle is faint but shows the #28 of Davey Allison and the Texaco Havoline star. We walked up the trail to the top of the trestle. As we entered the shade of the trees, it seemed a little cooler and I was concerned I might be too cold as I had not worn insulated pants. The trail was well defined and stretched ahead for some distance. Like most rail trails it was very straight. Town of Liberty Supervisor Frank DeMayo had told me that this was state land and the town had an agreement from the state to use it. The hope is to connect the Parksville Rail Trail to all the sections that stretch as far as Livingston Manor. We started to walk along the trail and noticed there was quite a bit of traffic on the Quickway! The land dropped off steeply to the Little Beaverkill on the right. On the left were some "cliffs" which were the result of the railroad cutting a path for the tracks. The trail was covered in 2 or 3 inches of frozen snow and we could see no human tracks. We were breaking through the snow which made the walking more difficult but snowshoes would have been overkill. We continued to walk along the well-defined trail. It was a pleasant walk and we picked up small branches along the way. There are two places along the trail where there were piles of garbage. It is hard to determine why they are there. Both piles had tarps over them which seemed to indicate someone once valued the items. Over the bank on the left near the first pile is the remains of a VW bug.

We came to the large blowdown across the trail which we wanted to clear from the trail so that people could more easily walk the trail without finding a way around the blockage. I took some "before" pictures and then we started to work on the bushy blowdown. A large tree had come down taking smaller ones with it causing a real mess. I grabbed the saw and started to clear the many small branches on the near side of the blowdown. Brad took the ax and began to cut some of the larger branches from the other side. The work went rather quickly with Brad chopping away much of the pile. Soon we were left with the larger trunk and a few big branches. Brad cut the largest one near the top and then turned his attentions to the big trunk near the base. I used the saw to cut some of the larger branches near the top. I dragged these out of the way as Brad finished the cut through the trunk. We were able to pivot a very large piece of trunk off the trail. We cleaned up a few stray branches and I took some "after" shots. We picked up our packs and continued on the trail. We came to two more smaller trunks across the trail and quickly removed them. We soon came to a gate on the trail which was odd since it was state land. No one seems to know why the gate is there or who placed it. We walked around the gate and continued on the trail. The snow depth here increased to about 6 inches. The snow was softer as this area is exposed to the sun and kit was like walking through sand. Soon we came to a small pond on the right with a red building behind it. The building looked to be in good shape but the windows were all boarded up. The sun was low in the sky giving the pond and building some interesting lighting. The pond was completely frozen over and we could no longer see the beaver slide across the trail. I took some pictures of the pond and the building before continuing on the trail. We came to another blowdown which was easy to walk through but which I wanted to clear.

I again took some "before" pictures and then we got to work using much the same method we had used on the other blowdown. This one had far fewer small branches. Brad began to use the ax to cut the thicker part of the trunk near the roots. I used the saw to cut the tops of the trees off. I then made a couple of cuts to create some sections that were easy to remove. Brad and I removed the two larger sections and we were done. I took some "after" shots and then we picked up our gear and continued on the trail. In a short distance we came to a driveway on the left which leads to the Sonoma Falls property. I knew this was private land but two town supervisors had said it was alright to visit it. On this day I decided I wanted to show Brad the buildings that remained. I also wanted to inspect the first falls from behind the main building as I thought it might be frozen. We walked passed the buildings to a viewpoint that let us see the first and second falls farther upstream. Like the falls in the other direction the day before, these were also frozen and very beautiful. I took pictures of the owed falls and the pool in front of. I zoomed out to capture some shots of the second falls and some of both falls in one picture. I also took some shots of the water flowing down the stream under the ice and then decided to shoot a short video. I finished by snapping some pictures of the blue sky and the old cider mill. We decided we were tired and it was getting late so we started back at 3:0f PM setting a quick pace for the conditions. We kept the pace quick but it seemed to me the trail went on forever even though we did not stop. For the 1.6 miles back we averaged well over 2 mph. Hiking with Brad is always fun as we have similar interests and talking makes the walking go faster. We were back at the car at 3:35 PM having hiked 2.6 miles in 2 hours including the time to remove the blowdowns and photograph the falls. I checked my phone and there had been no ambulance calls!

On Tuesday, December 27th I wanted to get out for my first winter hike after more than two weeks without hiking. Between the weather, a severe cold, planning for Christmas church services and a large number of ambulance calls I had been inside far too long. My son-in-law Brad was at the house and I knew he would go with me. We had planned to hike in the morning but an ambulance all interfered with those plans. We finally started to get ready at 2:00 PM and I knew it would have to be a short hike. I thought this was a good idea anyway as I needed to build myself back up and we still needed to be around for ambulance calls. I decided we would go to the Parksville Rail Trail and hike from Fox Mountain Road to Parksville and back. The hike is less than 3 miles but I was hoping the falls would be frozen and that I could get some shots. Sheila could not contain her excitement as we were getting dressed as if she thought we might not hike again! It was 25 degrees when we started to get ready at 2:00 PM and the skies were overcast with a slight breeze. I knew that the trail would be snow covered and frozen but suspected there might be some open water and mud. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long sleeved baselayer. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold bad slightly water repellant. I decided to put on my old Salomon B52 boots which have lasted many seasons but still fit well. I paired these shoes with a heavy pair of Teko wool socks as the insulation in the B52s is not what it used to be. The other problem with these boots is that they have the original insole in them and it is not very supportive for my arch. I took my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I wore a heavier fleece hat and a pair of light gloves. I also packed a pair of heavier gloves in case they became necessary. I also donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat when it is needed. At 1:20 PM we put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 and drove across the Flats. I took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There was one car in the parking lot when we started out on the trail at 2:35 PM.

I did not bring my GPS unit as we had hiked the trail so many times before. We had both brought spikes in case they became necessary but had opted not to bother with snowshoes as I did not think they would be necessary The open trail just before the woods was covered in frozen snow and the breeze made it feel even cooler. The frozen snow had been rutted by people who did not wear snowshoes and had frozen that way. Fortunately, there wasn't much snow and the rough surface was manageable. We entered the trees which blocked the breeze. There was no sun to mention so we did not feel colder because we were in the "shade". We immediately encountered some open water, mud and frozen mud. Shortly after this, a large dog came trotting down the trail with no leash and no owner in sight. The dog walked right up to us and began sniffing Sheila who I had on her leash. Sheila did not appreciate the attention but the dog would not back away. We continued to walk on the trail with the dog following behind until we saw a man walking toward us. As we passed we exchanged greetings. I watched as the man caught up to the dog and it seemed like they were together. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was high from the recent rain. I wondered about the condition of the falls and whether they would be frozen or not. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose. We were trying to hike quickly but the rough snow and patches of ice were slowing us down. Depending on the ice and snow we were often crossing from one side of the trail to the other to get the best grip. We were soon at the wooden walkways where we stopped so I could take some pictures of the river below. The river had some large expanses of ice and looked very cold. The sky was almost completely overcast. I took some shots of the rivers, the Thailand the walkways before we continued over the walkways. The wooden surface was covered in a thin layer ice with snow over the top making the footing slippery. Beyond the far end of the bridge was some running water and some ice. The problem is that a rock slide has blocked the culvert under the small bridge causing water, mud and stones to be diverted over the walkway. Unblocking the culvert and covering the walkways with some screening would help. We continued on the trail and found a few blowdowns that should be cleared. As we approached the falls, we could hear the sound of the falls roaring.

When we arrived at the falls, we found that there was a large mass of ice where the falls had frozen but there was a high volume of very clear and cold water under the ice. I looked at the path down to the base of the falls and found it covered in snow on top of ice. I decided to work my way down the path with my poles in my hands and my pack on my back. I was able to dig in my heels and make it down the path to the water's edge. All but the last few feet was pretty easy. I put down my pack and poles and got out my camera. On some previous trips I was able to walk out onto rocks that were usually covered with water. On this trip these rocks were covered with water leaving a small strip of dry land along the edge of the stream. I took some shots downstream where there were ice shelves with water running beneath them. I then the turned my attention to the falls. I took numerous pictures of the area in front of falls and the falls themselves. The water was rolling over the rocks and under the ice. Sheila posed my sitting on the ground for a few shots. After this, she picked her way or some icy rocks to an area of snow where she sat with the falls in the background. I took some shots before shouldering my pack and starting back up to the trail. Working my way up the bank proved much harder than getting down but I made it with the help of my poles. Sheila, of course, was already up on the trail looking down at me. I took some more shots of the falls from above near the picnic bench and a few of the area upstream. We continued the hike on the trail but walked by the bench where a path leads down to the stream. This area was not that interesting and I just wanted to walk. The trail continued to be covered in frozen snow with large patches of ice frozen solid. We set a quick pace for the rest of the hike toward the Parksville end of the trail. Just after the gate at that end, we stopped at the sign which outlines the milk that the O&W transported. The sign also mentions the large number of hotels that had been in the area. I pointed out some of the more interesting facts to Brad after wiping off a layer of snow. We turned around and headed back to the car. I knew I would not be taking any more pictures and we set a rapid return pace. Brad and I continued back to the car without meeting any other people. We were back at the car at 4:00 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 35 minutes including the stopped time for pictures. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike except the short trips down to the streambed. Brad and I headed home. We found we had missed one call that was covered by one of our crews. We were only home for a few minutes until the pager sounded again and we were off on a call.

Fall 2022

On Friday, December 9th I had hiked the Parksville Rail Trail from Fox Mountain Road to Parksville and back with my son Kurt. When we returned to the cars at 2:55 PM, Kurt and I said goodbye as he needed to get home. I decided that Sheila and I would hike in the opposite direction on the section of trail that was not quite prepared for hiking. I put Sheila on her leash as we headed out to the road and under the Quickway on Fox Mountain Road. We crossed the bridge over the Little Beaverkill and then turned right to step over the guard rail. There is a definite trail on the right which passes by the trestle supports that carried the trail tracks over the stream. The emblem on the trestle is faint but shows the #28 of Davey Allison and The Texaco Havoline star. We walked up the trail to the top of the trestle. As we entered the shade of the trees, it immediately seemed a little cooler but I was warm from hiking. The trail was well defined and stretched ahead for some distance. Like most rail trails it was very straight. Town of Liberty Supervisor Frank DeMayo had told me that this was state land and the town had an agreement from the state to use it. The hope is to connect the Parksville Rail Trail to all the sections that stretch as far as Livingston Manor. We started to walk along the trail and I noticed there was quite a bit of traffic on the Quickway! The land dropped off steeply to the Little Beaverkill on the right. On the left were some "cliffs" which were the result of the railroad cutting a path for the tracks. We continued to walk along the well-defined trail. It was a pleasant walk with less mud than the trail in the opposite direction. There were two places along the trail where there were piles of garbage. It was hard to determine why they were there. Both piles had tarps over them which seemed to indicate someone once valued the items. Over the bank on the left near the first pile was the rains of a VW bug. We came to one large blowdown across the trail which we had to walk around on the left. We soon came to a gate on the trail which was odd since it was state land. No one seems to know why the gate is there or who placed it. We walked around the gate and continued on the trail,

Soon we came to a small pond on the right with a red building behind it. The building looked to be in good shape but the windows were all boarded up. The sun was low in the sky giving the pond and building some interesting lighting. There was also a beaver slide across the trail as there was another small pond on the left side of the trail. There was also evidence of recent beaver activity. I took some pictures of the pond and the building before continuing on the trail. There was one large blowdown which was easy to walk through. After hiking about 1.3 miles, we came to a driveway on the left which leads to the Sonoma Falls property. I knew this was private land but two town supervisors had said it was alright to visit it. On this day I decided that it was getting late so we bypassed the area and continued on the trail. On the left, I could see that the beavers had dammed up the outlet to the pond and flooded the area. I decided I wanted to walk all the way out to Old Liberty Road and set a quick pace. The walk along the old road was interesting as there were some impressive rock cuts on the left and a very lazy river on the right. I stopped at one point as there were a series of dams or dikes created by the beavers. The lighting was interesting so I tool some shots. The walk to Old Liberty Road was about .4 miles which was a little longer than I thought. When we arrived at the gate on Old Liberty Road, I saw that the trail actually continued straight ahead parallel to the road. I decided to explore this part of the trail on another visit. Sheila and I turned around and walked back along the rail trail. We set a pretty fast pace on the way back and did not stop. For the 1.63 miles back we averaged about 3 mph. We were back at the car at 4:30 PM having hiked 3.4 miles in 21 hours and 35 minutes. I do hope the plans to connect the sections of the trails is successful!

On Friday, December 9 I had planned to hike with a small group doing an out and back of the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail. Sharon was working to complete the All Trails challenge and the forecast was for the perfect day. An overnight call left me tired in the morning and another call caused me to cancel my trip. I was annoyed but Cindy promised to accompany me to Trout Pond which was an acceptable substitute. In the late morning I finally got up and soon after our son Kurt called. He had finally harvested a deer and wanted to come by to say "Hello". I knew this would mean we would not be going to Trout Pond which had me feeling down. Hiking keeps me in shape and relaxes me which is very important. Kurt arrived at around noon and stayed to eat lunch. I thought about doing a short hike and asked him if he had enough time to hike the Parksville rail Trail. He said he did and I asked Cindy if she wanted to come along. She said she did not so Kurt and I got ready to go. Sheila seemed a little reserved as I was getting dressed as she had gone absolutely bonkers when Kurt arrived. It was 35 degrees when we started to get ready at 1:15 PM and the skies were clear with a slight breeze. Because it was cool an windy and I did know how much water and mud there would be on the trail, I dressed accordingly. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long sleeved baselayer. I wore a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. It will soon be time to permanently switch to a pair of insulated pants. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and have lived up to that hype. I took my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I wore a light hat, packed a pair of gloves, and put on my OR Crocodile gaiters because of the possibility of water and mud. I also donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat when it is needed. At 1:30 PM I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 with Kurt following me in his car. We drove across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There were no cars in the parking lot when we started out on the trail at 1:40 PM.

I did not bring my GPS unit as we had hiked the trail so many times before. The open trail just before the woods had quite a few branches hanging into the trail. We could both feel the wind which made the day seem much cooler than I thought it might be. Usually as we enter the shade of the trees, it seems a little cooler but on this day it was much cooler as the wind was somehow blowing right down the rail trail in our face. We immediately encountered some open water, mud and frozen mud and this would continue for the rest of the hike, One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was high from the recent rain. I wondered if the falls would be roaring as it had been on several visits. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose. I was trying to do the hike quickly so that I had some time with Kurt but did not prevent him from returning home on time. I don't get to see Kurt often as he lives in Poughkeepsie and is very busy at work. Some of the muddy areas on the trail were not easily avoided as the water and mud extended across the trail. We were soon at the wooden walkways where we continued over the walkways without stopping for pictures. The wooden surface was covered in a thin layer ice and a few leaves making the footing slippery. The far end of the bridge had some running water and some ice. The problem is that a rock slide has blocked the culvert under the small bridge causing water, mud and stones to be diverted over the walkway. Unblocking the culvert and covering the walkways with some screening would help. On this day the water had been diverted to the bridge making the whole area a big mess. We continued on the trail and found a few blowdowns that should be cleared. As we approached the falls, we could hear the sound of the falls roaring.

When we arrived at the falls, there was a high volume of very clear and cold water. I looked at the path down to the base of the falls and decided to just take my camera down to the edge of the stream. On some previous trips I was able to walk out onto rocks that were usually covered with water. On this trip these rocks were covered with water leaving a small strip of dry land along the edge of the stream. The path down was frozen and the rocks had a thin layer of ice! I took some shots down stream and then the turned my attention to the falls. I took numerous pictures of the area in front of falls and the falls themselves. The water was rolling over the rocks which were barely visible underneath the waves. When I was done, we worked our way back up the bank. I took some shots of the falls and the area upstream and then continued on the trail to a bench where a path leads down to the stream. I left my pack on the bench and we began to walk along a path at the edge of the stream. I didn't get very far as that path was now underwater. I stopped and took pictures downstream toward the falls and then upstream. I also took some pictures of the stream in front of me where the water was rolling over some rocks. I repositioned myself and took some more pictures downstream toward the falls. I finished and walked back to the bench to stow the camera. The trail continued to be wet and a little muddy in places with some ice but we managed to walk around them. From the falls to the other end of the trail there were a few wet areas and some mud. We set a quick pace for the rest of the hike toward the Parksville end of the trail. We continued to the Parksville end of the trail. Just after the gate at that end, we stopped at the sign which outlines the milk that the O&W transported. The sign also mentions the large number of hotels that had been in the area. I pointed out some of the more interesting facts to Kurt who was very interested. We turned around and headed back to the car. I knew I would not be taking any more pictures and we set a rapid return pace. Kurt and I continued back to the car without meeting any other people. We were back at the car at 2:55 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes including the stopped time for pictures. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike except the short trips down to the streambed. Kurt headed home but I decided to hike the rail trail in the other direction toward Livingston Manor.

On Monday, December 5th I had planned to go out for a longer hike after a few days off for indoor track coaching commitments and poor weather. I woke up at 8:00 AM with the temperature at 18 degrees and decided I would wait a little while before venturing out. I felt well rested as I did not have an overnight ambulance call to interrupt my sleep. By noon the temperate was 30 degrees and I decided to venture out. I had to leave home from track practice at 2:30 PM so I opted to just head across the street again to hike on Round Top. I started to get ready with Sheila quitely watching my every move. I decided to dress a little warmer than I had been. I decided to put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on my Eddie Bauer First Ascent insulated pants to keep the chill away but knew I would not need tights underneath. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and seem to live up to that hype. I almost always take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I put on a light hat and took a pair of medium-weight gloves. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. At 12:30 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I looked around and saw that the sky was blue over Round Top with a few puffy white clouds. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We walked across the street and behind the Presbyterian Church.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and continued directly up the hill to the trailhead. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal is always to make it all the way up the hill without stopping. At the top of the hill we stopped for minute so that I could take a look at the skies and hills all around us. We turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was a little wet but was free from snow and this continued as we entered the woods. There was a thick layer of wet leaves on the ground. Just before the first trail junction, we came to the spot where a large tree had fallen across the trail. I had cut one end of the tree with my ax and saw. Brad and I had finished the job when he was staying for Thanksgovong. It was almost 2 feet in diameter and we had to cut it several times to move it off the trail. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. When we reached the top of the trail, I stopped to take a look from the viewpoint. Now that the leaves were off the trees, the view was much clearer. We followed the yellow trail as it headed uphill through the fern glade. The ferns were all dead and brown. The woods attested to the fact that winter was approaching if not already present. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left on the blue trail and started up the hill. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued on the blue trail across the summit of Round Top. As we began down the other side, we bypassed the white crossover trail and turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. We continued following the switchback as it took us out into the woods and then turned almost 180 degrees to bring us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and continued downhill on the blue trail. We followed the blue trail to the yellow trail. We turned left and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail.

This time we turned right and walked down the yellow trail to the woods road. We walked along the woods road toward the first trail junction. Just before the first trail junction, I looked at the remains of the large blowdown I had cut and removed from the trail. Just passed this were the remains of a smaller blowdown I had cut up. This tree had hung over the trail for months but finally came down in the wind. We turned around at the first trail junction and started back up the woods road. We turned left when the yellow trail started up toward the first junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. At the next trail junction we turned right on the blue trail and started up the hill. We turned right on the switchback and followed it out and back to the main blue trail. We almost immediately turned right on the white crossover trail and followed it along the shoulder of Round Top to the blue trail on the other side. There were no blowdowns blocking the trail. We turned right and walked down the other side to the junction with the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and again walked along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and continued on the yellow trail through the ferns and passed the "Sitting Rock" to the viewpoint. At the viewpoint we turned left and walked down the steep trail to the first trail junction. This time we continued out to the trailhead. At the trailhead we turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot. We crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. When we arrived home, it was 1:45 PM and we had hiked a little more than 2 miles in an hour and 15 minutes.

On Thursday, December 1 I wanted to get out for a hike even though it was cold and windy outside. I thought I might just go across the street to hike on Round Top as I can do different loops to make the hike longer or shorter. Instead, I asked Cindy if she would like to hike the Parksville Rail Trail for the first hike of December. She agreed as the walk is less than 3 miles round trip and almost completely flat. It does have a few limited views and a nice waterfall which I knew would be roaring ROM the recent rain. It was 33 degrees when we started to get ready at 10:15 AM and the skies were overcast. Sheila knew we were going and was trying to be a "good dog" by lying in my study and watching my every move. Because it was cold an windy and I did know how much water and mud there would be on the trail so I dressed accordingly. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. It will soon be time to permanently switch to a pair of insulated pants. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and have lived up to that hype. I took my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I wore a light hat, packed a pair of gloves, and put on my OR Crocodile gaiters because of the possibility of water and mud. I also donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat when it is needed. At 10:45 AM we put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There were no cars in the parking lot when we started out on the trail at 11:00 AM.

I did not bring my GPS unit as we had hiked the trail so many times before. The open trail just before the woods had quite a few branches hanging into the trail. We could both feel the wind but Cindy had dressed much more warmly than I. Usually as we enter the shade of the trees, it seems a little cooler but on this day it actually felt warmer as the trees blocked the wind. We immediately encountered some mud and frozen mud and this would continue for the rest of the hike, One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was high. I wondered if the falls would be roaring or just at average volume. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose. I stopped to take a few pictures of the stream through the trees including a small tributary. Some of the muddy areas on the trail were not easily avoided as the water and mud extended across the trail. We were soon at the wooden walkways where I stopped, put my pack down and took out the camera. I took some shots of the stream below and noticed that the skies had turned blue with some white clouds. It was easy to see that there was a lot of water in the stream as it was very clear with whitecaps. I put away the camera and picked up my pack to continue over the walkways. The wooden surface was covered in a thin layer of snow making the footing slippery. The far end of the bridge had some running water and some ice. The problem is that a rock slide has blocked the culvert under the small bridge causing water, mud and stones to be diverted over the walkway. Unblocking the culvert and covering the walkways with some screening would help. On this day the water had been diverted to the bridge making the whole area a big mess. We continued on the trail and found a few blowdowns that should be cleared. Some areas of the trail also had brush that needed trimming. Other areas of the trail had large branches and blowdowns that should be removed for aesthetic reasons. As we approached the falls, we could hear the sound of the falls roaring.

When we arrived at the falls, there was a high volume of water. I looks at the snow covered path down to the base of the falls and decided to keep my pack on and use my poles to get down the slippery trail. On some previous trips I was able to walk out onto rocks that were usually covered with water. On this trip these rocks were covered with water leaving a small strip of dry land along the edge of the stream. I took some shots down stream and a few of Sheila posing in front of the falls. She does a good job of posing even when she is distracted by Cindy above on the bank. I then the turned my attention to the falls. I took numerous pictures of the area in front of falls and the falls themselves. The water was roiled and rolling over the rocks which were barely visible underneath the waves. When I was done, we worked our way back up the bank. I took some shots of the falls and the area upstream and then continued on the trail to a bench where a path leads down to the stream. I left my pack on the bench and we began to walk along a path at the edge of the stream. I didn't get very far as that path was now underwater. I stopped and took pictures downstream toward the falls and then upstream. I also took some pictures of the stream in front of me where the water was rolling over some rocks. I repositioned myself and took some more pictures downstream toward the falls. I finished and walked back to the bench to stow the camera. The trail continued to be wet and a little muddy in places with some ice but we managed to walk around them. From the falls to the other end of the trail there were a few wet areas and some mud. We set a quick pace for the rest of the hike toward the Parksville end of the trail. We continued to the Parksville end of the trail. Just after the gate at that end, we stopped at the sign which outlines the milk that the O&W transported. The sign also mentions the large number of hotels that had been in the area.On this day the sign was covered in snow! We turned around and headed back to the car. I knew I would not be taking any more pictures and we set a rapid return pace. Cindy and I continued back to the car without meeting any other people. We were back at the car at 12:20 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes including the stopped time for pictures. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike except the short trips down to the streambed.

On Tuesday, November 29th I wanted to get out for a short hike that was not on Round Top. The day before I had responded to four ambulance calls and had slept in to recover. I asked Cindy if she would like to hike the Parksville Rail Trail but she declines. The walk is less than 3 miles round trip and almost completely flat. It does have a few limited views and a nice waterfall which I thought might be roaring due to the overnight rain. It was 35 degrees when I started to get ready at 11:30 AM but the skies were overcast and it looked like rain was possible. Sheila's expectant gaze and sharp bark "encouraged" me to continue the hiking plans. It was cool and O knew that walking under the trees might be a little colder so I dressed accordingly. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I took my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I wore a light hat and grabbed a pair of light gloves. I also donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat when it is needed. At 11:45 AM I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There were no vehicles in the parking lot when we started out on the trail at 12:00 PM. I did not bring my GPS unit as we had hiked the trail so many times before.

The open trail just before the woods had quite a few branches hanging into the trail. Usually as we enter the shade of the trees, it seems a little cooler but on this day I did not notice much change as there was no sun. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was high due to the rains the night before. I wondered if the falls would be roaring or just at average volume. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose. Just after entering the woods we came to an area which is normally muddy and this proved to be the case. This theme continued as most of the rest of the trail was wet with muddy spots. Some of these muddy areas on the trail were not easily avoided as the water and mud extended across the trail. We were soon at the wooden walkways where I stopped to look at the view. The skies were overcast and there was nothing I wanted to photograph. I made the decision that I would not take any pictures on this day and hike as fast as possible. It was easy to see that there was a lot of water in the stream as it was clear with whitecaps. We continued over the wooden bridges and found their surface covered in leaves which were damp making the footing slippery. The problem is that a rock slide has blocked the culvert under the small bridge causing water, mud and stones to be diverted over the walkway. Unblocking the culvert and covering the walkways with some screening would help. On this day the water had been diverted to the Parksville side of the bridge but was also running across the bridge making the whole area a big mess. We continued on the trail and found a few blowdowns that should be cleared. Some areas of the trail also had brush that needed trimming. Other areas of the trail had large branches and blowdowns that should be removed for aesthetic reasons. As we approached the falls, I could hear the sound of the falls roaring. When we arrived at the falls, there was a good volume and the water was clear. I took a brief look at the falls and the continued on the trail. We continued on the trail passing a bench where a path leads down to the stream. We simply continued on the trail walking around some frozen puddles and frozen mud. The trail continued to be wet and a little muddy in places but we managed to walk around them. From the falls to the other end of the trail there were a few wet areas and some mud. We set a quick pace for the rest of the hike toward the Parksville end of the trail. Just after the gate at that end, we turned around at the sign which outlined the milk that the O&W transported. The sign also mentioned the large number of hotels that had been in the area. It had taken only 30 minutes to walk the trail one way. We headed back to the car the way we came setting a rapid return pace. We were back at the car at 12:55 PM after hiking 2.6 miles in 55 minutes. The trip back took us 25 minutes. Our speed was around 2.8 mph! There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike.

On Friday, October 21st, I wanted to get out for a longer hike after sticking to Round Top for several walks. My son-in-law Brad was visiting and I knew he would want to go. I was trying to reclaim some sleep from a string of ambulance calls and slept in until 10:00 AM. I did some work around the house and then decided to get ready and go. Rather than travel too far I decided we would go to Frick Pond and hike the Flynn Trail where we could hike some uphill miles. This would give us some choices of how far we wanted to hike and the route we would take. As we started to get ready at 11:45 AM, the temperature on the back porch was 49 degrees. I knew it might be colder at the trailhead so I decided to put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I almost always take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I put on a blaze orange fleece hat for visibility and warmth. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I also brought along a pair of medium-weight gloves. We put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and headed out the DeBruce Road at 12:10 AM. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there was one car parked in the larger lot but the small lot had three cars in it. I pulled into the smaller lot with Sheila was acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she ran around and headed for the trail. The temperature was 45 degrees and the skies were blue with white clouds with a slight breeze blowing. I set my GPS as we got ready to head out on the Flynn Trail. We crossed the road and began our hike at 12:30 PM.

The Flynn Trail is sited along what used to be Beech Mountain Road which was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We walked the trail through the woods which was damp and even muddy in places. I immediately noticed that although my Achilles tendons were aching with every step but the pain was les than it had been and we were keeping up a good pace. After a short walk we came to the first blowdown that I knew was present. The problem was that a large tree had fallen across the trail and its 2 foot diameter was more than I could handle, at least on this day. I had already cut the other trees that had been brought down and were encroaching on the trail or hanging over it. We hopped over the trunk and continued on the trail to the woods road. We turned right on the woods road and continued to set a good pace up the hill. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.7 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We passed the hemlock that used to form a tunnel but was recently cleared by the DEC. We began to find some small branches on the trail which we removed and continued to do so for the rest of the hike. The day was cool but beautiful with plenty of sun. I began to warm up so I unzipped the pit zips and main zipper on my hoody. On the way up the trail we came to the rock ledges on the right side of the trail. As we approached and the clearing to the right of the trail, I stopped to take some pictures of the rock ledges on the right side of the trail. It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining in the rocks and the trail. All of the leaves were down on the ground and there were traces of the snow that had fallen earlier in the week. I noticed that I was very relaxed and decided it was partly due to the sound of the leaves under foot. I thought about visiting the clearing but decided I wanted to stay on the main trail. We kept walking uphill and we again stopped so that I could take pictures of the trail with a layer of snow. We were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I thought about extending the hike to Hodge Pond but in the end we turned left to walk down the Big Rock Trail. The trail continued to be damp and just slightly muddy in places. The hike down the trail went well and more quickly than I expected. It was definitely easier than the uphill hike. This trail can be tricky as there are several levels that make it seem like the bottom of the hill.

We were soon at Times Square and I thought about turning right to hike up and around the Logger's Loop to add some distance to our hike. I decided against this as it was getting late and we continued our hike by walking straight across Times Square to stay on the Big Rock Trail. Hiking goes quickly with Brad as we have interesting conversations especially about EMS. The Big Rock Trail around the back of Frick Pond can be very wet but on this day it was damp with a few muddy spots under the leaves. There was a very large blowdown across the trail which might require a chainsaw. I looked to see if I could trim anything to make getting over or around it easier but didn't see anything that would help. We chose to walk around the end of the blowdown and continue on the trail. We crossed the two small bridges over the inlets to the pond and I decided to stop to take a few pictures. The water under the first bridge was backed up from the wetlands. The area under the second bridge was now flowing but with a reduced volume. The sun was still out but slowly sinking giving a warm feeling to the setting. When we got to the area that was covered by tall evergreens, I pushed on through as I had taken pictures here very recently. The wooden boardwalks continue to show wear with many boards loose and other beginning to rot. Much of the boardwalk now "floats" in midair as the supports are rotting. There was a layer of snow on the walkways and I took a few more shots. The rest of the trail was damp with several wet and muddy spots. At the next trail junction we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. We walked along the west side of Frick Pond to the bridge across the outlet of the pond. The mudhole was wet and muddy but the drainage work and the stepping stones did their job. I stopped at the bridge for a minute and took a few more photographs before we walked up the hill toward Gravestone Junction. We continued to Gravestone Junction and passed the Lobdell memorial marker. The marker is a memorial to two children who died in the 1930's in a fire that consumed their cabin. The trail to the memorial was well-worn but the marker was standing intact. The trail back to the register was wet and muddy in spots. Sheila alerted and I looked up to see a young woman walking toward us. As she passed, we said "Hello". She was the only other person we saw for the day. We passed the trail register heading toward the parking area. We continued straight ahead to follow the woods road out to the car in the small lot. We arrived at the car at 2:45 PM having hiked 4.0 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes with an elevation gain of 710 feet.

On Wednesday, November 23rd I planned to go across the street to Round Top with Brad to cut a large blowdown and two other blowdowns. Just after 6:00 AM the ambulance pager sent us on a call. When we retuned, we were both tired. I did some chores around the house and then took a short nap. After lunch, I did some more work and then decided we had just enough time to get the job done. At 2:00 PM we started to get ready with the temperature at 43 degrees. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to get outside and hike. She was lying on the floor with her front legs spread barking up a storm. I put on my White Sierra light crew top without a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I did not take poles as the walk was short and I would be carrying maintenance equipment. I put on a light hat for warmth. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I also brought along a pair of medium-weight gloves. At 2:20 PM we walked out the door and put our equipment in the back of my car and Sheila in the back seat. I drove out the driveway and up into the cemetery on Orchard Street. As we started up the hill, we came to a car stopped in the middle of the road. Two men were standing by a grave. I waited for them to move their car but it became obvious they were not concerned about blocking the road. I backed up all the way to the bottom of the hill and started up the steepest hill behind the church. I continued directly up the hill to the trailhead and parked as far over on the side of the road as I could. Brad and I grabbed our tools and walked in on the trail to the blowdown which was just before the first trail junction. I took some before pictures and the Brad and I began to place some supports under the large trunk so it would not pinch the saw. Brad cut one end off and we rolled the piece down the hill. We repositioned the supports and Brad cut off another large section. This one was a little hard to roll off the trail but we managed it. We started to look at the remaining trunk and as we did the ambulance page sounded.

We called the control center to let them know we were responding and gathered our tools. We walked back out to the car at the trailhead. After getting the tools in the back and Sheila in the back seat, I drove down Pearl St. toward Main St. Krista came out to take Sheila and we continued on to the ambulance building. Our deice already had the ambulance pulled out and we quickly responded. The accident was west of exit 96 in the westbound lane. The vehicles involved were reported to be a car and a tractor trailer which sounded like it could be a problem. As we topped the hill and the scene came into sight, the control center let us know that we were canceled by law enforcement as there were no injuries. We check wit the officers on the scene and the returned to service. When we got back to the building, I quickly wrote up the documentation for the call. Brad and I too an ambulance and drove to the town barn to fill two pails with sand and two with salt to put in both ambulances. When we returned, we noticed the ambulances were dirty. We washed both rigs and the decided to go back to the trail so that I could take the 'after' pictures. I drove back up to the trailhead and we walked back to the blowdown. I took pictures of the cleared trail and a few of the woods as the sun was starting to go down.

On Tuesday, November 22nd I planned to hike with Lisa in the late morning. I was able to sleep a little later than usual which allowed me to recover from an Daly morning ambulance call. Lisa and I planned to meet at the church across the street and hike Round Top as we both had commitments in the afternoon. I am lucky that I have a place so close to hike but it has become very familiar. I have found that even a short hike helps to keep my blood pressure in check and I am hoping I can get my weight down. I started to get ready at 10:30 AM while Sheila was already prepared to go as she really likes to hike. She was lying on the floor with her front legs spread barking up a storm. It was 28 degrees on the back porch so I decided to put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer. I put on a pair of Bauer First Ascent insulated pants as my favorite my Columbia Titanium insulated pants need some repair. I wanted to keep the chill away but knew I would not need tights underneath. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I almost always take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I put on a blaze orange fleece hat for visibility and warmth. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I also brought along a pair of medium-weight gloves. At 11:00 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I looked around and saw that the sky was blue and filled with puffy cotton candy clouds. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We walked to the parking lot at the Presbyterian Church to meet Lisa who was already there. When Sheila saw Lisa, she started to pull me along to get to Lisa faster. I greeted Lisa and so did Sheila! We headed to the back of the church to the cemetery hill. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and continued directly up the hill to the trailhead. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal was to make it all the way up the hill without stopping. At the top of the hill we stopped for minute so that we could observe the skies all around us. We turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was damp from the snow showers and that continued as we entered the woods. The trail was covered in fallen leaves mixed with snow in nay places which made it a little slippery.

Lisa and I had not hiked together for some time so we kept up a conversation as Sheila roamed the woods next to the trail. Just before the first trail junction there was a large tree across the trail. I had cut one end but needed to return to cut the rest of the very large trunk. At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. We continued up the trail passing by the rather larger tree I had cut by hand and removed from the trail. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. When we reached the junction, I told Sheila "right" and she turned right on the blue trail and started to climb the hill. There was still a good layer of snow in the woods and on the trail. We turned right on the switchback in the blue trail which I had constructed to ease the erosion on the main trail and allow people to have a slightly more gentle climb. At the end of the switchback we turned right on the main blue trail and passed the white crossover trail on the way to the summit. We crossed over the summit and started down the blue rail on the other side. We again passed the white crossover trail continuing on to the yellow trail. We had not run into any blowdowns blocking the trail but we had removed a few small branches. We turned right and again walked along the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and headed down toward the lookout. The trail bed had a little less snow in this area and a layer of snow covered the ferns that lined the trail. When we reached the viewpoint, we noticed that the view was better since all of the leaves had fallen. We continued to follow the yellow trail as it descended steeply from the lookout to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and started back up the yellow trail to the lookout. When the yellow trail turned right, we followed it back up through the dead ferns and passed the "sitting rock". At the first junction with the blue trail we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up the hill toward the summit. At the white crossover trail, we turned left and walked along the trail so that I could check for branches and blowdowns. When we hit the blue trail, we turned left and then left immediately to stay on the blue trail. The switchback took us out into the woods and then back to the main blue trail where we turned left. We walked down the hill to the yellow trail where we turned left to walk along the base of Round Top. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road. We turned right on the woods road that took us downhill to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot. We said "Goodbye" to Lisa and then crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. When we arrived home, it was 1:25 PM and we had hiked just over 2 miles in an hour and 15 minutes.

On Monday, November 21st I had planned to go out for a longer hike after almost a week off because of indoor track coaching commitments and poor weather. I woke up at 8:00 AM with the temperature at 22 degrees and decided I would wait a little while before venturing out. I felt well rested as I did not have an overnight ambulance call to interrupt my sleep. By noon the temperate was 32 degrees and I decided to venture out. I had to leave home fro track practice at 2:30 PM so I opted to just head across the street again to hike on Round Top. I started to get ready with Sheila quitely watching my every move. I decided to dress a little warmer than I had been. I decided to put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but knew I would not need tights underneath. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I almost always take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I put on a blaze orange fleece hat for visibility and warmth. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I also brought along a pair of medium-weight gloves. At 12:30 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I looked around and saw that the sky was blue over Round Top with a many puffy white clouds. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We walked across the street and behind the Presbyterian Church.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and continued directly up the hill to the trailhead. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal is always to make it all the way up the hill without stopping. At the top of the hill we stopped for minute so that I could observe the skies and hills all around us. We turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead had some snow in spots and that continued as we entered the woods. Underneath the snow was a thick layer of leaves on the ground. Just before the first trail junction, we came to the large tree across the trail. I had cut one end of the tree but it would require at east two more cuts to remove it. I asked Brad to bring his chainsaw when visiting for Thanksgiving so that we might eliminate the blowdown. It was almost 2 feet in diameter and would have to be cut several times to move it off the trail. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. When we reached the top of the trail, I stopped to take a look from the viewpoint. Now that the leaves were off the trees, the view was much clearer. We followed the yellow trail as it headed uphill through the fern glade. The ferns were all brown and covered in a layer of snow which became more apparent as we gained elevation. The woods attested to the fact that fall was in full swing and that winter was on the way! We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. As I looked to my left and up the hill I could see a layer of snow on the ground from the storm the day before. We turned left on the blue trail and started up the hill. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued on the blue trail across the summit of Round Top. As we began down the other side, we bypassed the white crossover trail and turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. We continued followed the switchback as it took us out into the woods and then turned almost 180 degrees to bring us back to the main blue trail. We turned left and continued downhill on the blue trail. We followed the blue trail to the yellow trail. We turned left and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail.

This time we turned right and walked down the yellow trail to the woods road. We walked along the woods road toward the first trail junction. Just before the first trail junction, I looked at the remains of the large blowdown I had cut and removed from the trail. I thought that if Brad brought his chainsaw, we could cut the ends of this blowdown further back from the trail. Just passed this were the remains of a smaller blowdown I had cut up. This tree had hung over the trail for months but finally came down in the wind. We turned around at the first trail junction and started back up the woods road. We turned left when the yellow trail started up toward the first junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. At the next trail junction we turned right on the blue trail and started up the hill. We turned right on the switchback and followed it out and back to the main blue trail. We almost immediately trued right on the white crossover trail and followed it along the shoulder of Round Top to the blue trail on the other side. We turned right and walked down the other side to the junction with the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and again walked along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and continued on the yellow trail through the ferns and passed the "Sitting Rock" to the viewpoint. At the viewpoint we turned left and walked down the steep trail to the first trail junction. This time we continued out to the trailhead. At the trailhead we turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot. We crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. When we arrived home, it was 1:45 PM and we had hiked a little more than 2 miles in an hour and 15 minutes.

On Tuesday, November 15th I had planned to go out for a longer hike after three days off due to other commitments. When I woke up at 6:30 AM but shortly after the ambulance pager sounded and I was off on a two calls in Liberty. I finished the call and the documentation and went home. At around 12:30 PM I had to go to Liberty for a track meeting followed by practice. After the meeting, the school cancelled after school activities due to the forecast for several inches of snow. I went home and at 2:00 PM I decided I would go over to Round Top to hike. I also wanted to make sure the wind had not brought down any more trees or branches. I started to get ready with Sheila watching expectantly. It was 38 degrees on the back porch and the wind was blowing slightly so I decided to dress a little warmer than I had been. I decided to put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but knew I would not need tights underneath. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I put on a blaze orange fleece hat for visibility and warmth. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I also brought along a pair of medium-weight gloves. At 2:30 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I looked around and saw that the sky was blue over Round Top with a many puffy white clouds. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We walked across the street and behind the Presbyterian Church.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and continued directly up the hill to the trailhead. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal was to make it all the way up the hill without stopping. At the top of the hill we stopped for minute so that I could observe the skies and hills all around us. We turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was damp in a few spots from some rain and that continued as we entered the woods. There was also a thick layer of leaves on the ground. Just before the first trail junction, we came to the large tree across the trail. I had cut one end of the tree but it would require at east two more cuts to remove it. I asked Brad to bring his chainsaw when visiting for Thanksgiving so that we might eliminate the blowdown. It was almost 2 feet in diameter and would have to be cut several times to move it off the trail. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. When we reached the top of the trail, I stopped to take a look from the viewpoint. Now that the leaves were off the trees, the view was much clearer. We followed the yellow trail as it headed uphill through the fern glade. The ferns were all brown and most were lying on the ground. The woods attested to the fact that fall was in full swing as leaves had all fallen from the trees and were lying on the ground. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. The trail was still clear of brush but I thought about giving it another trim before winter. We turned left on the blue trail and started up the hill. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued on the blue trail across the summit of Round Top. As we began down the other side, we bypassed the white crossover trail and the switchback in the blue trail. We continued downhill on what used to be the blue trail. I wanted to walk the trail as it had been and found that some others continued to use this route. We followed the blue trail to the yellow trail. We walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail.

This time we turned right and walked down the yellow trail to the woods road. We walked along the woods road toward the first trail junction. Just before the first trail junction, I looked at the remains of the large blowdown I had cut and removed from the trail. I thought that if Brad brought his chainsaw, we could cut the ends of this blowdown further back from the trail. Just passed this were the remains of a smaller blowdown I had cut up. This tree had hung over the trail for months but finally came down in the wind. We turned around at the first trail junction and started back up the woods road. We turned left when the yellow trail started up toward the first junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. At the next trail junction we turned right on the blue trail and started up the hill. We again avoided the switchback and walked straight up the blue trail passing the white crossover trail and continuing on to the summit. We continued on the blue trail over the summit and down the other side to the junction with the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and again walked along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and continued on the yellow trail through the ferns and passed the "Sitting Rock" to the viewpoint. At the viewpoint we turned left and walked down the steep trail to the first trail junction. This time we continued out to the trailhead. At the trailhead we turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot. We crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. When we arrived home, it was 3:15 PM and we had hiked a little more than 2 miles in an hour and 15 minutes.

On Saturday, November 12th I wanted to get out for a hike to some waterfalls as we had about 2 inches of rain overnight. I even considered driving to some falls and taking pictures. A morning ambulance call changed my plans a little! I thought I might just go across the street to hike on Round Top. I asked Cindy if she would like to hike the Parksville Rail Trail and she agreed. The walk is less than 3 miles round trip and almost completely flat. It does have a few limited views and a nice waterfall which I thought might be roaring due to the overnight rain. It was 53 degrees when we started to get ready at 12:15 PM but the skies were overcast. Sheila's expectant gaze and sharp bark "encouraged" me to continue the hiking plans. It was relatively warm and I did know there would be water and mud on the trail so I dressed accordingly. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I wore a light hat and put on my OR Crocodile gaiters because of the possibility of water and mud. I also donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat when it is needed. At 12:30 PM we put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. There was one pickup truck in the parking lot when we started out on the trail at 12:45 PM.

I did not bring my GPS unit as we had hiked the trail so many times before. The open trail just before the woods had quite a few branches hanging into the trail. It is not clear who is responsible for clearing the trail but the job is not being done. Usually as we enter the shade of the trees, it seems a little cooler but on this day I did not notice much change. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was much higher than during our last visit due to the rains the night before. I wondered if the falls would be roaring or just at average volume. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose. Just after entering the woods we came to an area which is normally muddy which proved to be the case. This theme continued as most of the rest of the trail was wet with muddy spots. Some of these muddy areas on the trail were not easily avoided as the water and mud extended across the trail. We looked up to see a young girl on a bicycle so I put Sheila on her leash. Further along there was a man walking with a small dog on a leash. A little further down the trail was another young girl on a bicycle. There was also a woman with a large Husky on a leash off the trail. I realized they were a family that had come in the pickup truck in the parking lot. We were soon at the wooden walkways where I stopped, put my pack down and took out the camera. I took some shots of the stream below even though the skies were overcast. It was easy to see that there was a lot of water in the stream as it was muddy with whitecaps. I put away the camera and picked up my pack to continue over the walkways. The wooden surface was covered in leaves which were damp making the footing slippery. The problem is that a rock slide has blocked the culvert under the small bridge causing water, mud and stones to be diverted over the walkway. Unblocking the culvert and covering the walkways with some screening would help. On this day the water had been diverted to the Parksville side of the bridge but was also running across the bridge making the whole area a big mess. We continued on the trail and found a few blowdowns that should be cleared. Some areas of the trail also had brush that needed trimming. Other areas of the trail had large branches and blowdowns that should be removed for aesthetic reasons. As we approached the falls, we could hear the sound of the falls roaring.

When we arrived at the falls, there was a much greater volume than in recent visits. I took a few shots from above the falls as the view was clear. I decided to go down to the streambed so that I could take pictures from in front of the falls. I had to be careful as the path down the bank was wet and covered in leaves. I kept my pack on and used my poles to help get me down the bank. On previous trips this summer I was able to walk out onto rocks that were usually covered with water. On this trip these rocks were covered with water leaving a small strip of dry land along the edge of the stream. I took some shots down stream and a few of Sheila posing in front of the falls. She does a good job of posing even when she is distracted by Cindy above on the bank. I then the turned my attention to the falls. I took numerous pictures of the area in front of falls and the falls themselves. The water was roiled and rolling over the rocks which were barely visible underneath the waves. I decided to take a 45 second video as it better showed the power of the water and the noise it made. When I was done, we worked our way back up the bank. We continued on the trail to a bench where a path leads down to the stream. I left my pack on the bench and we began to walk along a path at the edge of the stream. We didn't get very far as that path was now underwater. I stopped and took pictures downstream toward the falls and then upstream. I also took some pictures of the stream in front of me where the water was rolling over some rocks. I repositioned myself and took some more pictures downstream toward the falls. I finished and walked back to the bench to stow the camera. The trail continued to be wet and a little muddy in places but we managed to walk around them. From the falls to the other end of the trail there were a few wet areas and some mud. We set a quick pace for the rest of the hike toward the Parksville end of the trail. We continued to the Parksville end of the trail. Just after the gate at that end, we stopped to read the sign which outlined the milk that the O&W transported. The sign also mentioned the large number of hotels that had been in the area. We turned around and headed back to the car. I knew I would not be taking any more pictures and we set a rapid return pace. Just after the falls we met a young couple hiking toward us. We said "Hello" as we went in opposite directions. Cindy and I continued back to the car. We were back at the car at 2:05 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes including the stopped time for pictures. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike except the short trips down to the streambed.

On Wednesday, November 9th I planned to meet Andy Garrison and Raj in the Willowemoc Wild Forest to clear blowdowns on the Long Pond Beaverkill Ridge Trail. The first half of this trail is in the Willowemoc Wild Forest but the second half is in the Big Indian Wilderness. Using a chainsaw in a wild forest is permissible at any time as long as the sawyer is certified by the DEC. Working with a chainsaw in a wilderness area is only allowed in the spring and fall for a short period of time with a special permit. Andy had a permit and had already cut over 70 blowdowns on the Mongaup-Hardener Trail, a trail that had not seen a sawyer in 10 years! We agreed to meet at 9:00 AM in the snowmobile parking area on Flugertown Road. From there we would drive to the trailhead on the seasonal maintenance part of the road. When I got up at 6:30 AM the temperature was 25 degrees and the forecast called for highs only in the high 50's. At 8:15 AM I started to get ready with Sheila was watching quietly but making sure that I did not leave her behind. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was so cool and I knew I could always remove layers later. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. Before leaving the house, I decided to put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as there had been some showers. I also grabbed an older pack that was empty as I did not know what Andy would need me to carry. I put my the gear in the car and put Sheila in the backseat and started out the DeBruce Road at 8:40 AM. I drove 11 miles to Flugertown Road and turned left. I drove a short distance to the large snowmobile parking area on the right side of the road where Andy and Raj were already waiting. We said "Hello" and started the drive to the trailhead. We drove about 2 miles up Flugertown Road passing onto the seasonally maintained road. I drove across the first bridge and parked in a spot on the right side of the road. Andy and Raj pulled in a parked beside me. Andy gave me a can of fuel and the bottle of bar and chain oil so I decided to take my regular pack and just ditch my camera. I really wanted to take some pictures but I remembered how fast Andy moves and after you've seen one tree you have seen them all. This plan also allowed me to take my poles with me as I do not like to hike without them. We crossed the road at 9:15 AM and started to walk to the point where the trail crossed the road. When we got to the trail, we turned right and started up the trail.

The first .4 miles of the trail are maintained by the snowmobile club and this section of trail was in good shape with only a few branches. This section of trail is part of the snowmobile trail, Mongaup Willowemoc Trail and the Long Pond Beaverkill Ridge Trail. This short section of trail is an ascent with a 13% grade and I was feeling it as Andy led the way! Andy was carrying a large pack and had a 12 pound chainsaw on his shoulder but was setting a blazing pace while talking freely. At .4 miles the trail leveled and we turned right onto the Long Pond Beaverkill Ridge Trail and began to inspect the trail. The trail was in pretty good shape and we removed a few branches here and there. The trail has been cleared several times to the point where it begins to climb the ridge. Beyond that point I knew there was some serious clearing and marking to do! The DEC has decided that maintainers cannot put up trail markers any more but they do not get around to marking many trails. As we walked we began to run into all kinds of things to clear. There were a few small tree that went quickly. In other places Andy cut the ends of blowdowns that were already cut to make the gap wider and the trail easier to follow. The most difficult blowdowns were the large trunks sitting on or near the ground. Andy has done this for a long time and is able to quickly form a plan for these bigger trees. As we neared the point where the trail starts up the hill, we came to a point where the trail has been rerouted and hikers had walked around some blowdowns. We did our best to cut out the trail but we wanted to get started up the hill and into the wilderness area. We started up the hill and came to a large tree that had been in place for some time. Andy decided to cut off the end which protruded into the trail. After that cut he decided to cut some more of the very large trunk. I was doubtful but after a couple of cuts and some grunt work we were able to roll the pieces off the trail. Sheila was trying to be good but it was clear she was a little bored. We started up the hill and found nothing to cut until the trail leveled and then there were several blowdowns to remove. It was 12:15 PM so we decided to take a lunch break. The weather was warmer than the temperature would indicate and the work had warmed me up. I had long ago removed my Mammut crew top leaving only my baselayer beneath my hoody. I had also opened all the zippers on the hoody and I was still warm. It was a beautiful day with plenty of sun and just a slight breeze. When we finished lunch, we cut a half dozen blowdowns and then turned our attention to a large blowdown. Andy executed his plan and we were able to roll or flip the pieces off the trail. It was 1:30 PM and we had been out in the trail for 4 hours and 15 minutes. We were about to turn left to follow the trail up to the final plateau where I knew there were a lot of blowdowns. I had to be at a meeting at church in the late afternoon so I decided to return to my car. Andy and Raj would continue on the trail trying to make it to the junction with the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail. I started back at 1:30 PM and was making very good time. I had not set my GPS but figured we had gone about 2 miles. Sheila was having fun as she was able to run free. The trail was easy to follow and we were soon making the last descent to Flugertown Road. We were back at the car at 2:15 PM which meant we had spent 4 hours and 15 minutes hiking and working on the way out and only 45 minutes on the way back! Andy and Raj made the junction and walked out in the dark under a bright moon. They cut 20 more blowdowns which meant Andy had cut a total of over 100 blowdowns in 3 trips in the area!

On Monday, November 7th, I was set to meet a hiking friend, David, at 9:00 AM in Downsville to hike a section of the Finger Lakes Trail from Route 206 to Downsville. When I awoke at 7:00 AM the temperature was 57 degrees with the sun already shining brightly. The forecast was for highs in the high 60's which is remarkable for November. Our plan was to spot a car at the covered bridge in Downsville and drive another car to the parking area on Route 206. David had the mileage at 5.1 miles but my previous hikes put it at about 7 miles. I was still having heel pain but knew this route was mostly downhill after climbing Campbell Mountain. At 8:00 AM I began to get dressed for a warm day knowing that it might be cooler in the woods. I got dressed in my White Sierra light crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. Before leaving the house, I decided to put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as there had been some showers on Sunday. I left the house at 8:40 AM and drove north and west on State Route 17 getting off at the exit 94. I followed Route 206 through Roscoe and Rockland heading toward Downsville. When I reached the Pepacton Reservoir, I turned left and continued toward Downsville. At the bottom of the hill I turned left on River Road and right on Bridge Street. I drove through the covered bridge and turned left into the parking area where David was waiting for me. We greeted each other and decided to drive back to the Route 206 parking area in his car. I put my gear in his car and got in the front seat with Sheila at my feet. David drove back to Route 206 and parked at the pulloff. I set my GPS and we started out on the trail at 9:15 AM. It was warm and I thought about leaving my hoody in the car. In the end I kept the hoody on since I knew it might be cooler in the forest. We hiked down the trail from the road noting that it appeared little used. I expected the trail to be wet but it was barely damp. We did cross a small stream before following the trail along another, larger stream. The trail markings were well done but there were some blowdowns that needed to be removed. Many of the trails are snowmobile trails so that they are also maintained by the snowmobile club.

We walked on the trail as it paralleled the brook and soon came to the bridge. The bridge is closed as it has all but collapsed. The bridge has been in bad shape for several years but the DEC had not bothered to repair it. At this point it cannot be repaired but will have to be replaced. This follows and alarming trend by the DEC! Fortunately, on this day the brook was low enough to cross. There was another hiker on the ether side of the bridge who suggested we cross upstream. The hiker left ahead of us and we never saw him again! I walked down to the brook and found a place to cross. I took my first step and almost slipped on a wet and slippery rock! Once on the other side, I took a few pictures of the bridge before we continued on the trail. We began to climb as the trail headed up Campbell Mountain and over the next .9 miles we gained about 650 feet of elevation. The trail is very eroded in places and steep in others. There are several switchbacks that follow woods roads that mitigate the steepness of the climb. When there has been plenty of rain, there are several waterfalls on the left of the trail but the drought has eliminated them. I was beginning to get very warm as we climbed even though all my zippers were open. We passed the side trail to the Campbell Mountain lean-to and continued to ascend. I knew that the right turn onto the snowmobile trail was not far passed the lean-to. Just before we would have reached the summit of the mountain we turned right on the snowmobile trail at about 1.6 miles. The new section of trail started on a snowmobile trail which was wide but not well marked. There were a few FLT markers and directional signs but the snowmobile markers were few and far between. For the most part this was not a problem on the first part of the trail which was either level or descending. We passed through some nice clearings which made it hard, at times, to follow the trail. As usual, Sheila helped by being able to follow the trail despite the fact that it is not well used. We ascended slightly to the top of a hill on the Campbell Mountain ridge where the markings on the trail were almost non-existent. We came upon some nice yellow signs warning about turns and then as we started down a hill and I knew from past experience that there was a right-hand turn coming up soon.

At about 3.25 miles, I looked up and saw a sign that said "Downsville". We turned right and followed the trail and the markers when we could find them. There was a rather long stretch of woods road and snowmobile trail which was straight and flat. As we looked to our right off the ridge, we could see the waters of the Pepacton Reservoir. Overhead we could hear a helicopter approaching and then we saw it fly be heading south. We continued our hike only to hear the helicopter coming by again heading in the same direction. This happened two more times. It was obvious the helicopter was circling but we did not know why. We came to an open area and hiked uphill through an extensive patch of weeds which was very wet and muddy. We found some FLT white blazes and followed them as they led to an old farmhouse foundation. I took some pictures. We realized the FLT markers were leading us back the way we had come because we had missed a turn off the woods road. We reversed our course and found some more FLT blazes headed north along a woods road and snowmobile trail. It was disconcerting that there were no FLT blazes but the further we continued on the snowmobile trail the more we were convinced it was the right trail. Eventually we saw the white blazes used for the FLT pointing off the snowmobile trail to the right. We tried to follow the blazes until we found that they were pointing down another old woods road which we followed for some time. The road was well eroded and filled with blowdowns. At several points the trail left the road to avoid some blowdown and then regained the road. Further down another set of blazes indicated that we should leave the road and descend to another woods road. This road paralleled a small brook that was making quite a bit of noise. At the base of the hill we crossed a spot where the brook was dry and walked through a backyard to a driveway and then down to Mink Brook Road. There were FLT blazes along the way and the owners of the property have generously allowed hiking across their property. We walked down Mink Brook Road to Back River Road. After walking along Back River Road, we turned right on Bridge Street near the cemetery so that we could cross over the Delaware River on the covered bridge. We stopped at the old Downsville Cemetery to read the historical description. We crossed the bridge and walked over to my car. We were back at the car by 1:30 PM after hiking 7.0 miles in 4 hours and 10 minutes with around 1050 feet of ascent but 1620 feet of descent. We got into my car and I drove back to David's car on Route 206.

On Thursday, November 3rd, I wanted to get in a hike with Cindy after a tiring trip on a section of the FLT the day before. Cindy likes short, flat hikes so I chose to go to the Beaverkill Campgrounds to hike along the river. The campground is closed for the winter and I thought it would be quite. I also hoped the recent rains would have swollen the stream to provide some interest. We started to get ready at 1:45 PM with the temperature at 60 degrees. Sheila certainly was happy to go hiking two days in a row. I got dressed in my White Sierra light crew top without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. We left the house at 2:00 PM as I drove out Old Route 17 toward Roscoe and turned right on Beaverkill Road. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. There was one car parked in the lot with a fisherman getting ready to go down to the river. A glance at the river showed that the level had risen slightly but was still below the usual level for the year. I put Sheila on her leash and shouldered my pack to begin our hike.

We started out at 2:15 PM by walking out of the parking lot to the bridge with the temperature at 62 degrees. The skies were bright blue with a few white clouds. When we got to the other side, the gate just off the road was closed as the campgrounds had closed September 5. I looked at the trail and saw that it was covered in a layer of damp leaves but it was not muddy. We turned left on a woods road that parallels the river and started down a short hill. We passed the spring house and continued on the deserted woods road and shortly the leaves ended and the pine needles started. We came to an area with a little path down to the river. Just passed this area the trail had been eroding due to the water running down the bank. The DEC had replaced a culvert pipe and installed a second. They had also brought in fill and packed it to reconstruct the path. I found this interesting as the campsites along this path are no longer used and are abandoned. I walked down to the edge of the river very carefully as the rocks were slippery and the water looked deep and cold. I took some pictures downstream and some upstream to the bridge. There were several places where trees at the edge of the river had fallen into the water testifying to the power of the river when it is high. The view of the bridge was almost blocked by the angle I had. Most of the leaves were off the trees but a few held onto some color. When I was done photographing, we got back on the trail and passed several areas with unused picnic tables. The state had mowed around many of the tables so that they could be used by people who wanted to picnic. Others sat unused and rotting along the road, a testimony to better days. We walked by these tables which had not been used in many years. A little later we came to what was once a bathroom for some campsites that had long since disappeared. I took some pictures of the bathroom before moving on. Further along on the road, there was another area with more picnic tables. There was a path over to the river so I walked over and found the water was sparkling in the sun and was very clear. I took some pictures of the sun reflecting off the water both upstream and downstream.

We continue on and at about .7 miles the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites. We continued on the road through the campsites and along the river. The campsites were all empty and I took pictures of the solitude. There were some colorful trees and I tried to capture them. We walked to the last campsite where the road ends and Sheila and I walked down to the edge of the river. I was careful to watch where I was walking as the water was a little high and looked cold. Sheila didn't seem to think the water was too cold as she jumped in to wade. I stopped to take some pictures of the river especially downstream. We continued along the shore a little further passed the last campsite and I took some more shots before walking up to the campsite and back to where Cindy was standing. I stowed my camera and picked up the pack. We walked back from the last campsite, staying to the left of the last bathroom to walk back on the other paved road through the campsites. This road parallels the one we walked out on to make a sort of loop. I stopped to take pictures of the road lined by pine trees and of a few more trees with colorful leaves. Along the way we saw another couple walking around the campsites but did not come near enough to speak to them. We retuned the way we had come although at a quicker pace passing Te other couple who had walked down to the stream. As we approached the bridge, I saw that there was only one car parked in the lot next to ours and that the fisherman had left. We walked through the bridge and turned right to go back to the car. Cindy got in the car and I put Sheila in the back seat. I put our poles and my pack in the car but took out my camera. I walked down to the stream and out onto a big rock that juts out into the stream. The sun was getting low in the sky but I was able to take some pictures downstream. I turned around and took multiple picture of the bridge and the abutments. I also took some shots of a few trees that still had leaves. I walked back to the car at 3:45 PM having hiked 2.7 miles in 1 hour and 30 minutes. The car's thermometer still read 62 degrees.

On Wednesday, November 2nd I planned to hike the section of the FLT from Holiday Brook to Route 206 with David a hiker from the Finger Lakes region. The forecast for Wednesday was for a sunny day with no chance of rain. We agreed to meet between 9:00 Am and 9:30 AM at the parking area on Route 206 between Roscoe and the Pepacton Reservoir. The plan was to meet at the parking area and then drive one car to the trailhead on Holiday Brook Road where the Finger Lakes Trail crosses. We would then hike back to the car on Route 206 and drive back to the trailhead on Holiday Brook Road. The hike is about 6.4 miles and has two significant climbs. We also knew the trails would be damp from the rain during the week which fell on a layer of already slippery leaves. I hoped that the ambulance pager would not sound and call me away. I like to hike when I have enough sleep. When I awoke at 7:30 AM, I began to get ready to go, Sheila seemed pleased that we were hiking and stayed near me so that I would not "forget" to take her. Although the temperature was 42 degrees, it felt a little Warner outside. The temperatures were forecast to be warm with highs in the 60's. As it was cool, I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I put on a blaze orange hat for warmth and because various hunting seasons or in progress. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I made sure I had a full bottle of water and got my gear and Sheila in the car. I left Livingston Manor at 8:45 AM and drove west and north on Route 17 to exit 94 for Roscoe. From here I drove north toward Downsville of Route 206. After passing over the top of Brock Mountain, the skies appeared to be dark and I wondered about the lack of rain in the forecast. I began watching for the place where the trail crosses the road just down the hill from Jug Tavern Road.

I pulled into the small parking area where David was waiting for me. He put his gear in my car and said "Hello" to Sheila. Sheila was very calm with a complete stranger. I drove south toward Roscoe until I could turn left on Beaverkill Valley Road. David and I talked about our hiking experiences and other topics. I pointed out Dundas Castle to David as we passed by. Without the leaves on the trees, it was easy to see the ruins of the castle. I continued along the road which turns into Berry Brook Road at the road the goes right to the covered bridge. I continued on the same road watching to the parking area in the right side of the road after about 8 miles. When I pulled into the trailhead parking, there were no other cars in the lot. As we got out of the car a rather stiff breeze was blowing and I was glad I had dressed a little warmer than usual. We got our gear ready and I set our GPS units before crossing the road to begin the hike at 9:40 AM. The trail was damp and covered fallen leaves which would set the theme for much of the hike! We continued on the trail and crossed a powerline right-of-way entering the woods and started to climb toward the Pelnor Hollow Trail. We encounter a few deer crossing the trail and at the time I did not realize that we would have several encounters. Sheila would chase the deer a short distance and then come back when called. In 1.1 miles the trail ascended over 500 feet to the top of a hill. Along the way we worked through some steeper areas and some rock scrambles. We began to notice that there were a lot of obstructions in the trail. There were some bushes leaning over and some weeds and nettles but mostly there were many trees lying across the trail. Some of these were easy to step over but others effectively blocked the trail requiring detours. I was disappointed as I am the FLT Regional Trail Coordinator for this section of trail. It was clear my maintainer needed to visit his trail and report the things he could not clear to me!

When we reached the Pelnor Hollow Trail at 10:20 AM, we turned right and began a steep descent to the Splitrock viewpoint. The descent was tricky as it is always steep but now was covered with wet and slippery leaves. At 1.3 miles we were at the lookout. I got out my camera as the view was hazy but much clearer than I expected. We stayed at the viewpoint long enough to get a drink and a quick snack and then headed out on the trail again. My feet were beginning to hurt as I have had problems especially with my heels were the Achille's tendon inserts. I was also a little tired and I knew we still had a lot of hike to go. Over the next 1.1 miles we descended 470 feet over some difficult ground to a trail junction. The signs at the junction were extensive but had several errors which could easily confuse inexperienced hikers. I knew we had to turn right on the blue Campbell Mountain Trail which is also a snowmobile trail. Unfortunately, there were very few trail markers which made finding the exact location of the trail difficult. Maintainers are no longer allowed by the DEC to place markers. Markers must be placed by rangers or foresters who are spread thin which means many trails are poorly marked. We found the blue trail but it was very eroded and covered in slippery, wet leaves. At times, we walked a route parallel to the trail and were soon at a point where the trail turned left heading northwest off the snowmobile trail. Just after the trail we began to ascend and eventually the trail swung to the south. At 3.9 miles we began a serious ascent toward the top of an unnamed hill gaining 470 feet over .7 miles. The trails were very uneven with rocks and roots which were covered with leaves making these obstacles hard to see. We also found numerous blowdowns which had not been reported to me as the RTC for the FLT. The forests varied between hardwood and evergreen trees with the two often mixed. At 4.2 miles we ascended to an open area called Flat Rock which lived up to its name.

We continued on the trail reaching the highest point at 4.6 miles and then began to descend 300 feet over .5 miles heading northwest. When we reached 5.2 miles, we could see the beginnings of an old quarry on the right. There was a road that turned right off the trail to the quarry. There were obvious places where stone had been removed and I took a few shots. On the ascent to Brock Mountain we made a short but steep ascent through an area where the trail was completely obscured by brush emphasizing the need for some trail maintenance. There was also the remains of an old truck probably used in the quarrying effort. I took a few pictures of it. Sheila had been following various animal tracks off the trail for the whole hike and at this point she heard something below us and took off. I called her back and encouraged her to return with her electronic collar. She came back but kept heading back in that direction. We wandered around trying to find the main trail and finally decided to retrace our steps which soon put us back on the FLT. After returning to the trail, we began the last section out to Route 206. The trail was slightly serpentine but we were heading west and descending through mostly hardwood forest. Over the final 1.1 miles we lost a total of 670 feet traveling over well-maintained trail. We came to Route 206 and crossed the road to the parking area. It was 2:25 PM and we had hiked 6.5 miles in 4 hours and 45 minutes. Our overall speed was 1.4 mph with a moving average of 1.6 mph. This seemed slow but the trail was in very poor shape and the leaves did not help any. Our ascent was 1530 feet with a descent of 1800 feet. We got in David's car and he drove back to my car at the parking area on Holiday Brook Road.

On Monday, October 31st I wanted get out for a short hike after a "no hike" weekend due to ambulance calls and church commitments. I wanted it to be short as I had to help set up for the "trunk or Treat" for the ambulance corps. I also planned to meet Any Garrison the next day to clear some blowdowns in the Big Indian Wilderness. I decided to hike on Round Top for some exercise. I am lucky that I have a place so close to hike but it has become very familiar. I have found that even a short hike helps to keep my blood pressure in check and I am hoping I can get my weight down also. I started to get ready at 12:30 PM while Sheila was already prepared to go as she really likes to hike. She was lying on the floor with her front legs spread barking up a storm. It was 53 degrees on the back porch so I got dressed in my White Sierra light crew top without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. At 12:45 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I looked around and saw that the sky was blue and filled with puffy cotton candy clouds. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We walked to the parking lot at the Presbyterian Church and headed to the back of the church to the cemetery hill. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and continued directly up the hill to the trailhead. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal was to make it all the way up the hill without stopping. At the top of the hill we stopped for minute so that I could observe the skies all around us. We turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was damp from the rain showers and that continued as we entered the woods. The trail was covered in fallen leaves which made it a little slippery.

Just before the first trail junction there was a large tree across the trail. I had cut one end but needed to return to cut the rest of the very large trunk. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. We continued up the trail and passing by the rather larger tree I had cut by hand and removed from the trail. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. I was happy to see that the trail work Cindy and I had done was keeping the brush ay bay. We had trimmed back brush along this trail and removed a large blowdown. No more brush had fallen into the trail as I thought it might. When we reached the junction, I told Sheila "right" and she turned right on the blue trail and started to climb the hill. We turned right on the switchback in the blue trail which I had constructed to ease the erosion on the main trail and allow people to have a slightly more gentle climb. At the end of the switchback we turned right on the main blue trail and passed the white crossover trail on the way to the summit. We crossed over the summit and started down the blue rail on the other side. We again passed the white crossover trail continuing on to the yellow trail. We had not run into any blowdowns blocking the trail but we had removed a few small branches. We turned right and again walked along the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and headed down toward the lookout. The trail bed was clear but most of the ferns were turning brown. When we reached the viewpoint, I noticed that the view was better since so many of the leaves had fallen. We continued to follow the yellow trail as it descended steeply from the lookout to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and started back up the yellow trail to the lookout. When the yellow trail turned right, we followed it back up through the dead ferns and passed the "sitting rock". At the first junction with the blue trail we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up the hill toward the summit. At the white crossover trail, we turned left and walked along the trail so that I could check for branches and blowdowns. I did remove a large branch but otherwise the trail was clear. When we hit the blue trail, we turned left and then left immediately to stay on the blue trail. The switchback took us out into the woods and then back to the main blue trail where we turned left. We walked down the hill to the yellow trail where we turned left to walk along the base of Round Top. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road. We turned right on the woods road that took us downhill to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot. We crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. When we arrived home, it was 1:45 PM and we had hiked just under over 2 miles in an hour.

On Friday, October 28th I wanted to get out for hike after a week of ambulance calls and rain! I took a chance and asked Cindy if she would like to hike and she, to my surprise, agreed. We decided to hike the Parksville Rail Trail from Parksville toward Livingston Manor. We started to get ready just before 11:30 AM with the temperature at 56 degrees on the back porch. I got dressed in my White Sierra light crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I put on a blaze orange hat for warmth and because various hunting seasons or in progress. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. At 11:45 AM we put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. Just after this intersection is the western parking area for the rail trail. The parking lot was empty as I put Sheila on her leash for the short road walk to the beginning of the trail.

I set my GPS and we started out at 12:00 PM with the temperature right at 58 degrees. A slight breeze was blowing but the skies were bright and sunny. We walked under the Quickway on Fox Mountain Road and crossed the bridge over a stream. We stepped over the guard rail where I saw a definite trail on the right. Almost immediately we came what was left of the trestle supports that carried the trail tracks over the stream. I noticed what remained of a painting on the trestle. I had seen this painting before but had not realized it was a memorial to NASCAR driver Davey Allison #28 who drove the Texaco-Havoline Ford car. Allison died in a helicopter crash in 1993. We walked up the trail to the top of the trestle. As we entered the shade of the trees, it immediately seemed a little cooler but not cold. I was surprised to find that the trail was well defined and stretched ahead for some distance. Like most rail trails it was very straight. Town of Liberty Supervisor Frank DeMayo had told me that this was state land and the town had an agreement from the state to use it during the summer. The hope is to connect the Parksville Rail Trail to all the sections that stretch as far as Livingston Manor. We started to walk along the trail and I noticed there was quite a bit of traffic on the Quickway! The land dropped off steeply to the Little Beaverkill on the right. On the left were some "cliffs" which were the result of the railroad cutting a path for the tracks. We continued to walk along the well-defined trail. It was a pleasant walk without many insects. In one spot a large tree had come down and taken others with it. The trail was completely blocked but we found a way around by following Sheila. I though about coming back to cut the tree even though the trail is not official. There were two places along the trail where there were piles of garbage. It was hard to determine why they were there. Both piles had tarps over them which seemed to indicate someone once valued the items. A VW bug was just over the bank on the right after the first pile of debris. We soon came to a gate on the trail which was odd since it was state land. No one seems to know why the gate is there or who placed it. We walked around the gate and continued on the trail. There was a path to the left just after the gate. It looked interesting but we stayed on the rail trail.

Soon we came to a small pond on the right with a red building behind it. The building looked to be in good shape but the windows were all boarded up. There was a definite oath between the pond on the right and the wetlands on the left of the trail. It looked like a beaver trail to me but I could not see any dam, lodge, or even any trees that the beavers had cut. We continued to walk and I spotted some trees that the beavers had felled. There was also an area where the water seemed to be backing up but we did not see the dam. After hiking about 1.3 miles, we came to a driveway on the left which leads to the Sonoma Falls property. I knew this was private land but two town supervisors had said it was alright to visit it. Cindy and I had visited in June which was the first time we had been there in more than 12 years. At one time there was a campground on the property. Some local business people bought the property and built a cider mill and market. They took the time to construct some hiking trails along the stream. I remember that the falls were very nice with at least five separate drops which increased in height the farther upstream one ventured. The business closed when not enough people would go out of their way to visit. We walked to the stream just behind the building and I got my first look at the falls. They had not changed much! There was a falls right in front and one visible farther upstream. I started taking the first of what would be a large number of pictures. I perched on some rocks and got a nice shot of three sets if falls. It was easier to see the falls with the leaves off the trees. In addition, the leaves added colorful accents to the pictures. We walked the trail up to the second falls but it was hard to get a clear shot. Getting down to the base of the falls looked a little dangerous but I found a way down and was glad I did! I got some very nice shots from the base of the falls before working my way back up to the trail. There are several areas where there is laid up stone which made me think there had been mills along the stream at some point. We walked a little farther upstream to the third set of falls and I worked my way down to the stream bed. I was able to get some good shots head on at the falls. After taking some more shots, Sheila and I walked back up the bank to where Cindy was standing. My wife does not like getting too close to the edge of the streams and prefers to admire from a safer distance. We continue to walk and came to a small pond at the base of the highest falls so far. I took some wide angle shots and some that were zoomed in. The sun was beginning to work its way into the pictures and trying to adjust for this was challenging. I wanted to get some shots of the upper falls so we walked up the path a short way. This time Cindy decided to come along so we continued up a steep hill to a point across from the upper falls.

I took some shots and then climbed on a rock to get a better view. I got some nice shots but began to feel a little off balance so I climbed down quickly. Cindy did not want to climb the steep hill so we started back down. I found a way down to the base of the falls. I worked my way down to the stream bed followed by Shiela. I again got some very nice pictures of the falls from several angles and zoom. I also took a few shots downstream. I walked back the bank to Cindy and we began the walk back the way we had come. Just after we passed the little pond, there was a road to the right that seemed to go up the hill and I thought I remembered it from visits long ago. We turned right and followed the road to a junction with another woods road. There was a sign with colored markers in red, yellow, and blue indicating the different trails. We turned right as I wanted to get to the top of Te last falls. A short walk brought us to the top of the falls where there was a bridge across the stream! Beyond this was a small pond with a dam but it was marked with "No Trespassing" signs. We walked to the top of the last falls and I got out my camera to take pictures from the edge of the high bank. Sheila likes to get right to the edge and look down which drives Cindy crazy. I took some pictures and the walked over to the wide, flat rocks that make ho the brink of the falls. I was careful as the rocks were wet and covered in moss. I took pictures of the brink of the falls and then some downstream. I decided to see if I could find a way down to the base of these falls. I stowed my camera and shouldered my pack as I knew I would need my poles to make it down and back up. I found a fairly easy way to get to the base of the falls which were not as high as they seemed from the top. I took some shots and the moved to get a different angle.

When I had exhausted all the possible shots, I packed up and walked back to the top of the falls. I took a few more pictures of the falls and several of the bridge. I packed up and met Cindy on the bridge. We crossed to the other side of the stream hoping to find a trail down that side which led back to the rail trail. We followed some blue markers along a woods road until the road continued but the markers did not. We turned around and walked back to the bridge. We continued across the bridge and back to the sign at the trail junction. Instead of turning right to follow the trails back the way we had come, we continued straight ahead following yellow markers. The markers followed another woods road and were pretty clear until I looked ahead and could not see the anymore. This was right at the point where another woods road turned left and also where I could find yellow markers. The yellow markers continued for a short distance down the hill until the woods road ended at another woods road. We had the choice of going left or right. I knew that turning left would take us back to the cider mill. I decided to turn right as I thought it might lead out to the rail trail. It wasn't very long before I found out that I was right as the path led to the rail trail at the point near the gate. This was the trail I had thought about exploring earlier. We turned right on the rail trail and began a fast-paced walk back to the car. Our only obstacle was the large blowdown which really did not slow us down. We were back at the car at 2:15 PM having hiked 3.5 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes with 35 minutes of stopped time. The ascent was 330 feet almost all of which was the climb to the waterfalls. I do hope the plans to connect the sections of the rail trails is successful! I also hope that someone reopens Sonoma Falls as it is a beautiful setting.

On Friday, October 21st, I wanted to get out for a longer hike after sticking to Round Top for several walks. I had an early morning ambulance call and slept in unit late morning. I did some work around the house and then decided to get ready and go. Rather than travel too far I decided to go to Frick Pond and hike the Flynn Trail where could hike some uphill miles. This would give me some choices of how far I wanted to hike and the route I would take. I also knew there were a few trees I could trim to make hiking easier while waiting for a sawyer to help me with the largest ones. As I started to get ready at 1:15 PM, the temperature on the back porch was 58 degrees. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer as it was fairly warm. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I put on a blaze orange hat for warmth and because various hunting seasons or in progress. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put my Silky Sugowaza saw in my pack as I can handle some pretty good sized branches and trunks with just this saw. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and headed out the DeBruce Road at 1:30 PM. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there was one car parked in the larger lot but the small lot was empty. I pulled into the smaller lot with Sheila was acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she ran around and headed for the trail. The temperature was 55 degrees and the skies were blue with white clouds with a slight breeze blowing. I set my GPS as we got ready to head out on the Flynn Trail. We crossed the road and began our hike at 1:45 PM.

The Flynn Trail is sited along what used to be Beech Mountain Road which was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We walked the trail through the woods which was damp and even muddy in places. I immediately noticed that although my Achilles tendons were still aching with every step I was keeping up a good pace. After a short walk we came to the first blowdown that I knew was present. The problem was that a large tree had fallen across the trail and its 2 foot diameter was more than I could handle, at least on this day. The other trees that had been brought down were encroaching on Te trail or hanging over it. All in all I could have just left well enough alone but I really wanted to cut some and clean up the area. I took some "before" pictures and then got to work. I cut a few small live trees that were bocking part of the trail and then turned my attention to the branches of a larger tree. Most of the branches were pretty small and the cutting went quickly. I cut a few branches and then moved them before repeating the process. I was almost dome but noticed a branch hanging down in to the trail. When I tried to remove it, I could not as it was hung up above my head on a tree arched across the trail. I looked at the situation and decided the two trunks that were bent over the trail needed to go. The first was about 6 inches in diameter but it was bent and I did not know what forces would conspire to pinch my saw or throw a branch in my direction. I made some cuts and soon the trunk came down without too much fuss. I pulled on it a little and the rest came crashing down. I cut it up into pieces and hauled it away before starting on the smaller tree. The smaller tree went very quickly and I just needed to clean up a few loose branches. I took some "after" shots including some with Sheila and then packed the camera to move on. I noticed that I was tired after doing the work which felt good!

We turned right on the woods road and continued to set a good pace up the hill. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.7 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We passed the hemlock that used to form a tunnel but was recently cleared by the DEC. I began to find some small branches on the trail which I removed. I was surprised that there were no large branches or trees across the trail. At .35 miles I was no longer surprised as we came to two small trunks across the trail. I took pictures and then spent a moment looking at what I was going to cut. I got out my saw and quickly cut off a few small branches and cleared the. I cut the larger trunk and dragged away the top. I cut the smaller trunk and cleared it from the trail. I went back to the larger trunk and cut it twice which allowed by to drag away the middle section and flip the larger one off the trail. I took some shots of my work with Sheila's help and then continued on the trail. As we approached and the clearing to the right of the trail, I stopped to take some pictures of the rock ledges on the right side of the trail. It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining in the rocks and the trail. Most of the leaves were down on the ground but there were still enough on the trees to make them beautiful. I noticed that I was very relaxed and decided it was partly due to the sound of the leaves under foot. I thought about visiting the clearing but decided I wanted to stay on the main trail. We kept walking uphill and we were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We turned left to walk down the Big Rock Trail. The trail continued to be damp and just slightly muddy in places. The hike down the trail went well and more quickly than I expected. It was definitely easier than the uphill hike. This trail can be tricky as there are several levels that make it seem like the bottom of the hill.

We were soon at Times Square and I thought about turning right to hike up and around the Logger's Loop to add some distance to our hike. I decided against this as it was getting late and we continued our hike by walking straight across Times Square to stay on the Big Rock Trail. This trail can be very wet but on this day it was damp with a few muddy spots under the leaves. There was a very large blowdown across the trail which might require a chainsaw. I looked to see if I could trim anything to make getting over or around it easier but didn't see anything that would help. I did take some pictures before moving on. We crossed the two small bridges over the inlets to the pond and this time I decided not to stop to take pictures. The water under the first bridge was backed up from the wetlands. The area under the second bridge was almost completely dry as was the area upstream of the bridge. The sun was still out but slowly sinking giving a warm feeling to the setting. When we got to the area that was covered by tall evergreens, I pushed on through as I had taken pictures here very recently. The wooden boardwalks continue to show wear with many boards loose and other beginning to rot. Much of the boardwalk now "floats" in midair as the supports are rotting. The rest of the trail was damp with several wet and muddy spots. At the next trail junction we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. We walked along the west side of Frick Pond to the bridge across the outlet of the pond. The mudhole was wet and muddy but the drainage work and the stepping stones did their job. I stopped at the bridge for a minute and took a few more photographs before we walked up the hill toward Gravestone Junction. We continued to Gravestone Junction and passed the Lobdell memorial marker. The marker is a memorial to two children who died in the 1930's in a fire that consumed their cabin. The trail to the memorial was well-worn but the marker was standing intact. The trail back to the register was wet and muddy in spots. We passed the trail register heading toward the parking area. We continued straight ahead to follow the woods road out to the car in the small lot. We arrived at the car at 4:45 PM having hiked 3.9 miles in 3 hours with an elevation gain of 690 feet. We had stopped to do maintenance for 1 hours and 5 minutes.

On Thursday, October 20th I had planned to go out for a longer hike but and ambulance call interrupted those plans. By the time I finished the call I was not sure I even wanted to go out. At around 1:45 PM I decided I would go over to Round Top to begin to cut a large blowdown that had fallen and was blocking the trail. I started to get ready with Sheila watching expectantly. It was 55 degrees on the back porch and a breeze was blowing slightly so I decided to dress a little warmer. I decided to put on my White Sierra long-sleeved wicking shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and they have lived up to that hype. I decided not to take my hiking poles as I would be carrying saws and axes. I skipped wearing a hat as I knew I would be warm from the work. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put my Silky Sugowaza and Silky Katanaboy saws in my pack mad added two plastic felling wedges. I also brought along my Fiskars pack ax and Council Tools American felling ax. At 2:00 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I put all my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. I drove across the street and up through the cemetery to the trailhead. I parked off the side of the road and shouldered my pack. I grabbed the two axes and we started out on the trail.

The trailhead was damp in a few spots from some rain and that continued as we entered the woods. There was also a thick layer of leaves on the ground. Just before the first trail junction, we came to a large tree across the trail. I put down my pack and got out the camera to take a few "before" pictures. I put the camera away and began to inspect the tree trunk. At the base of the trunk I found some marks from an ax and a substantial saw kerf. I thought about extending these cuts but decided to make a cut off the trail on the other side. I started a wide cut by using the Council Tools ax. The ax is a heavy felling ax and takes some skill to use it. After some time I got a pretty deep cut and switched to the lighter Fiskars ax which gives me a better bite. The wood was dry and pretty hard but I made good progress. My cell phone rang and I found out that a family commitment had come up and I would have to suspend my activities. I did get out my Katanaboy saw and started a cut through the trunk. I finished the cut with the Silky Sugowaza. I took a few shots and then packed up all my tools so that I could return home. I knew there was still a lot of work to do and wondered if it would be better to arrange for someone to help clear the trunk with a chainsaw. We walked back out to the trailhead where I put the gear in the car. I drove home arriving at 3:15 PM.

On Tuesday, October 18th I had planned to go out for a longer hike after three days off due to other commitments and heavy rain on Monday. When I woke up at 6:30 AM but shortly after the ambulance pager sounded and I was off on a call in Liberty. I finished the call and the documentation and went home. At around 1:30 PM I decided I would go over to Round Top to hike and take some pictures of the leaves which were passed peak colors. The wind and rain had brought many leaves down but some were still clinging to the trees. I also wanted to make sure the wind had not brought down any trees or branches. I started to get ready with Sheila watching expectantly. It was 52 degrees on the back porch and the wind was blowing slight so I decided to dress a little warmer than I had been. I decided to put on my White Sierra long-sleeved wicking shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I skipped wearing a hat as there was no sun and I feel more comfortable without one. I did don my Mammut hoody as it has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I took my pack as it is teaser way to carry my camera. At 2:00 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I looked around and saw that the sky was blue over Round Top with a many puffy white clouds. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We walked across the street and behind the Presbyterian Church.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and continued directly up the hill to the trailhead. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal was to make it all the way up the hill without stopping. At the top of the hill we stopped for minute so that I could observe the skies and hills all around us. I took a number of pictures of the clouds and the trees even though the colors were muted and many leaves were on the ground. We turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was damp in a few spots from some rain and that continued as we entered the woods. There was also a thick layer of leave son the ground. Just before the first trail junction, I was surprised to find a large tree across the trail. The tree had not been there on my last trip. It was almost 2 feet in diameter and would have to be cut several times to move it off the trail. I began to think about who I could call that had a chainsaw! At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. Near the top of the trail we turned left on an informal path that leads to the rock shelf that is the lower lookout. I put down my pack and got out the camera to take pictures. The view was better than it had been as many of the leaves were off the trees. I took pictures of the school and town. I also got some shots of the hills around town. I took some shots of Sheila as she posed on the upper part of the lookout. I climbed to the upper lookout to take a look and then continued on the yellow trail. We followed the yellow trail as it headed uphill through the fern glade. The drought had contributed to many of the ferns dying and most were now brown an shriveled. The woods attested to the fact that fall was in full swing as leaves were falling from the trees or already were lying in the ground. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. The trail was still clear of brush but I thought about giving it another trim before winter. We turned left on the blue trail and started up the hill. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued on the blue trail across the summit of Round Top. As we began down the other side, we again bypassed the white crossover trail. We immediately turned left on the switchback in the blue trail and followed it out and then back to the main trail. We turned left and followed the blue trail to the yellow trail. We again walked on the yellow trail to the junction with the blue trail.

This time we turned right and walked down the yellow trail to the woods road. We walked along the woods road toward the first trail junction. Just before the first trail junction, I looked at the remains of the large blowdown I had cut and removed from the trail. Just passed this were the remains of a smaller blowdown I had cut up. This tree had hung over the trail for months but finally came down in the wind. We turned around at the first trail junction and started back up the woods road. We turned left when the yellow trail started up toward the first junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. At the next trail junction we turned right on the blue trail and started up the hill. We turned right on the switchback and walked out into the rest and then back to the blue trail. We turned right on the blue trail and then right again on the white crossover trail. I wanted to make sure I hiked all the trails to inspect for any blowdowns. We continued on the white trail until it met the blue trail where we turned right. We continued on the blue trail to the junction with the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and again walked along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and continued on the yellow trail through the ferns and passed the "Sitting Rock" to the viewpoint. At the viewpoint we turned left and walked down the steep trail to the first trail junction. This time we continued out to the trailhead. At the trailhead we turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot. We crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. When we arrived home, it was 3:15 PM and we had hiked a little more than 2 miles in an hour and 15 minutes.

On Friday, October 14th I wanted to get out for an easy hike so that my wife Cindy could go along and so that I could nurse my aching heels and Achilles tendons. Around 11:15 AM I asked Cindy if she would like to hike the Parksville Rail Trail and she agreed. The walk is less than 3 miles round trip and almost completely flat. It does have a few limited views and a nice waterfall. I was anxious to see what impact the recent rains had on the volume of the Little Beaverkill and the waterfalls. It was 54 degrees when we started to get ready and the skies were bright blue with some wispy clouds. The forecast had called for sunny skies and no chance of rain! Sheila's expectant gaze and sharp bark "encouraged" me to continue the hiking plans. It was relatively warm and I did not know whether to expect any water or mud on the trail so I dressed accordingly. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I skipped wearing a hat as there was no sun and I feel more comfortable without one. At 11:35 AM we put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. Just after this intersection is the western parking area for the rail trail. Just as we were pulling into the parking area, my ambulance pager sounded and we headed back to Livingston Manor. Sheila was very disappointed! We finished the ambulance call and the documentation. I called Cindy from the building as she picked me up. I drive pack to the parking area so that we could complete our plans to hike.

There were still no cars in the parking lot. We had thought we might do the longer hike toward Livingston Manor but decided to hike toward Parksville so that we could see the falls. I did not bring my GPS unit as we had hiked the trail so many times before. We quickly got ready to hike leaving the trailhead at 2:05 PM. The open trail just before the woods had quite a few branches hanging into the trail. It is not clear who is responsible for clearing the trail but the job is not being done. I stopped to take a picture of the trail as it entered the woods. Usually as we enter the shade of the trees, it seems a little cooler but on this day I did not notice much change. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was much higher than during our last visit due to the rains the night before. I wondered if the falls would be roaring or just at average volume. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose. Just after entering the woods we came to an area which is normally muddy but this area was only slightly damp. This was misleading as most of the rest of the trail was wet with some muddy spots. The few muddy areas we would find on the trail were easily avoided. We were soon at the wooden walkways where I stopped, put my pack down and took out the camera. I took some shots of the stream below with the blue skies in the background. I wished that there were some nice clouds but the sky was pretty flat. I put away the camera and picked up my pack to continue over the walkways. The wooden surface was covered in leaves which were damp making the footing slippery. The problem is that a rock slide has blocked the culvert under the small bridge causing water, mud and stones to be diverted over the walkway. Unblocking the culvert and covering the walkways with some screening would help. On this day the water had been diverted to the Parksville side of the bridge. We continued on the trail and found a few blowdowns that should be cleared. Some areas of the trail also had brush that needed trimming. Other areas of the trail had large branches and blowdowns that should be removed for aesthetic reasons. As we approached the falls, we could hear the sound of the falls roaring.

When we arrived at the falls, there did seem to be a much greater volume than in recent visits. I took a few shots from above the falls as the view was clear. I decided to go down to the streambed so that I could take pictures from in front of the falls. I had to be careful as the path down the bank was wet and covered in leaves. On previous trips this summer I was able to walk out onto rocks that were usually covered with water. On this trip these rocks were covered with water leaving a small strip of dry land along the edge of the stream. I took some shots down stream and a few of Sheila posing in front of the falls. She does a good job of posing even when she is distracted by Cindy above on the bank. I then the turned my attention to the falls. I took numerous pictures of the area in front of falls and the falls themselves. The water was roiled and rolling over the rocks which were barely visible underneath the waves. When I was done, we worked our way back up the bank. We continued on the trail to a bench where a path leads down to the stream. I left my pack on the bench and we began to walk along a path at the edge of the stream. We didn't get very far as that path was now underwater. I stopped and took pictures downstream toward the falls and then upstream. I also took some pictures of the stream in front of me where the water was rolling over some rocks. I repositioned myself and took some more pictures downstream toward the falls. I finished and walked back to the bench to stow the camera. I noticed that the rocks someone had piled across the stream to form a sort of dam had disappeared with the increased volume. People just can't seem to leave nature natural but nature sometimes can recover. The trail continued to be wet and a little muddy in places but we managed to walk around them. From the falls to the other end of the trail there were a few wet areas and some mud. We set a quick pace for the rest of the hike toward the Parksville end of the trail. We continued to the Parksville end of the trail. Just after the gate at that end, we stopped to read the sign which outlined the milk that the O&W transported. The sign also mentioned the large number of hotels that had been in the area. We turned around and headed back to the car. I knew I would not be taking any more pictures and we set a rapid return pace. Cindy and I continued back to the car meeting only one walker coming toward us talking on her cell phone. We were back at the car at 3:35 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 30 minutes including the stopped time for pictures. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike except the short trips down to the streambed.

On Wednesday, October 12thI had gotten a view of some fall colors from the Red hill Fire Tower and I wanted more! I decided to try Giant Ledge as it was the middle of the week and I thought there might not be the crowd that had plagued the area over the weekend. Unfortunately, I had an ambulance call in the middle of the night and slept in later than I had anticipated. By the time I started to get ready at 11:15 AM the temperature was 60 degrees. Sheila was well behaved but it was clear she was ready to go. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top and a short-sleeved baselayer. I wore a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I also took a bright orange hat more for visibility than for the warmth. I also packed a light pair of gloves which I knew I would probably not use. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to allow me to dump heat when I need to. I got my gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 11:45 AM. The skies were blue with some nice white clouds and plenty of sun. I drove out the Debruce Road to Round Pond and then descended the hill to Route 47. I turned left toward Frost Valley and drove passed both the Biscuit Brook and Slide Mountain trailheads where there were only a few cars. I continued down the hill passing Winisook Lake. As I made the sweeping left turn, I found to my dismay that the parking areas was full and at least 30 cars were parked on both sides of the road below the parking area. I drove down the road and saw at least one spot where I could pull off the road and park. I decided against this for two reasons. I do not think parking along the road is a good idea and have made that clear on social media. I also did not want to hike with a crowd. I turned around and headed back the way I had come. I was tired and thought I might just go home but Sheila convinced me to go somewhere to hike.

My "Plan B" was to go to Angel Falls on Trout Creek above the Rondout Reservoir. There are three different falls and an old mill that bake the area wry interesting and I seldom see anyone else hiking there. I continued on Route 47 passed Pole Road to the intersection with Claryville Road where I turned right. I drove to the end of Claryville road where it meets Route 55. I passed through Grahamsville and turned left onto Route 55A just after the Tri-Valley school and toward Sundown. I followed Rt 55A as it turned right and crossed the Rondout Reservoir. I drove to Yagerville Road where I turned left and drove another 1.2 miles to Sholam Road. I missed the turn the first time as the road is not maintained and covered in leaves. I turned around and easily found it the second time although the road sign is missing. I turned left and drove to where the road dead ends. I parked at the end of the road at 1:15 PM and got ready to hike. I set my GPS and we started off almost immediately down what used to be Sholam Road. The road is very eroded but makes a good trail which is why I was surprised to see the sign. The sign posted by the DEP stated that the road was seasonal use only and was not maintained. I found this funny since no one would think that this "road" was fit for any vehicle except for a four wheeler! I decided to wear my Mammut hoody as there was a slight breeze blowing with the temperature at 64 degrees. I was pleased that I could hear a roar coming from the falls apparently indicating that despite the drought that had plagued the area all summer the falls were still flowing. We walked along the road which was barely damp. We passed the top of the falls and continued upstream a little farther. I walked over to the side of the stream and out onto some rocks. The volume of the stream was very low and I was surprised at the noise coming from the falls with so little water. I took some pictures upstream and then walked downstream a little to take some more pictures. As I looked downstream, I could see that a bridge used to cross at this point. I wondered why I had never discovered this before in my many trips. I considered walking upstream a little more along the stream on what was left of the road but instead turned around and walked back to the top of the falls. At the top of the falls I turned left on a path that parallels Trout Creek. I looked down at the falls and saw that it was flowing but the volume was as low as I have ever seen it. Trout Creek is rather long extending around 5 miles from Balsam Swamp to the Rondout Reservoir. Over its course it picks up a few tributaries.

Sheila and I walked along the path which had a few wet spots but was nothing like I had seen before. I was looking for the way down to the stream bed and found the steep path heading to the left and down to the creek bed. I started down the path but which was wet and had some loose rocks. I always hike with poles and situations like this make me glad that I do! I was able to get down to the edge of the stream and since the water was low I could stand right in front of the falls. Sheila was leading the way and we ended up at some rocks near the base of the falls. The water was so low I could stand in places I had never been before. The bright sunlight made taking pictures difficult so I kept having to adjust my zoom and angle. I took a number of shots of the falls and some downstream. I even got a picture of Sheila in the cool water but the light was a problem. After finishing my photography, I packed up and headed back up the path to the main "trail". The trail isn't really maintained but sometimes the blowdowns are cut and cleared. On this day there were several blowdowns and some brush on the trail. We continued on the path heading toward the lower falls. I was happy that there was almost no broken glass around the area but there was some and I do not understand why. We walked to the top of the lower falls where I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I was able to walk to the brink of the falls to take pictures. I took shots upstream and over the brink of the falls. Again, the light was tricky but I tried my best to minimize the problem. I was able to walk downstream a little onto a rock shelf that is usually covered with water. I got some nice pictures from here and the returned to the path a large rock on the edge of the falls.

I worked my way down passed the large boulder and got a slightly different angle for pictures. I tried some settings to get the smooth effect on the water that some people like. I walked back up to my pack and the started down the path to the lowest falls. This area also has the ruins of an old mill and the ruins are quite large. I took some pictures of the foundations dotted with scattered leaves and then walked down to the streambed. There was a large tree trunk in the water which was partially blocking the falls but I was able to get some shots. After taking a few pictures, I carefully made my way downstream and saw a possible way to "rock hop" across the stream to the other side. I have always wanted to see the falls from the other side but could not find a way to access it. I decided to try and made it without much trouble. Sheila simply waded across the creek. Once we were on the other side, I still could not see any way to access the area which is surrounded by steep hillsides. I took a number of pictures from different zooms and angles to allow for the light. When I was done, I started back across the stream. I was unsure of one hop but found another and made it back without a problem. I walked up to the foundations and took some more pictures as the light where was better and I just didn't want to leave. We walked back up to my pack but before we left I noticed a large beech tree with four or five intertwined trunks. I took a few shots of this before packing up the camera and starting up the hill. We worked our way up a steep path back to Sholam Road and back to the car. It was 12:05 PM and we had hiked only .9 miles in about one hour with 200 feet of elevation gain. I decided I was happy with the outing and it was time to head home. I dove out Sholam Road and turned right on Yagerville Road to return a different way. As I was driving, I saw some of the best and brightest colors I had seen all season!

On Tuesday, October 11th, I wanted to get out for a hike which was a little harder than I had been doing. I also wanted to get in some elevation gain to see the fall colors from above. I decided I would hike to the Red Hill fire tower from the newer trailhead on Denning Road. The trailhead on Dinch-Coons Road is difficult to access in the winter as the road is not cleared and it is equally difficult when it is muddy. Many people park at the top of the hill where there is limited parking. It is a half mile downhill to the trailhead parking lot. The return trip can be nearly impossible if there is ice, packed snow or mud on the road. The new trailhead and parking area is on Denning Road 1.7 miles from the Claryville Post Office. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she gave me a quick and emphatic "No". As I started to get ready at 11:00 AM I knew the trailhead and summit would be cooler but that hiking would warm me up. I began to get ready with Sheila keeping a close watch on my movements. The temperature was 48 degrees on the back porch with some sun but I knew it might be cooler at the trailhead. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top and a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I also added a bright orange hat more for visibility than for the warmth. I also packed a light pair of gloves. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to allow me to dump heat when I need to. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and we left Livingston Manor at 11:15 AM. I headed out the DeBruce Road passing through DeBruce and Willowemoc. At the end of the road I turned right on Route 47 and drove out to the Denning Road. Here I turned left and drove through Claryville. I drove 1.7 miles from the Claryville Post Office, we came to the new parking area on the right side of the road and pulled into the lot. There is a sign hanging from the support on the side of the road to designate the parking area and a kiosk with a description and maps. There were no other cars parked in the lot which surprised me as I thought some hikers might have taken an extra day to take in the fall colors! I took some pictures of my car in the otherwise empty lot and then set my GPS unit. We walked to the back of the parking area and started up the trail at 11:45 AM with the temperature standing at 54 degrees.

As we began the walk up the trail, I noticed that is was very dry and covered in a layer of fallen leaves. I decided we would get to the summit as quickly as possible and that I would forego any pictures on the way up. We almost immediately came to the first set of stone steps. They were well constructed and in just the right place to help out hikers. I also noticed that a woods road ran off to the right. I thought about walking up it some other time but realized this was DEP land and that hikers were asked to stay on the trails. We continued up the trail. We continued on the trail which was still in good shape even after it had been in place for several years. The treadway was wide and flat with few obstacles. There were several switchbacks and it was obvious that one requirement of the construction was a moderate grade. The forest at these lower elevations was primarily evergreen which is unusual in the Catskills. We did run across a few branches on the trail which I removed. At .4 miles the trail turned sharply to the left in one of its many switchback and we entered an area of hardwoods. There was a small stream that ran across the trail and the construction crew had create a deep ditch along the side of the trail. The ditch directed the water across the trail and at that point there was a stone construction to allow the water to cross the trail and hikers to easily cross the water. There was very little water flowing and the other similar constructions had no water flowing. At .7 miles I could see a series of ledges ahead and stone steps that wound between them. This would be repeated several more times over the next quarter mile. Getting up the steps was easy but in the winter it can be tricky. Sheila was walking the trail and then taking a few detours to follow her nose. The last set of steps was the most extensive and interesting. At 1.4 miles we came to a trail junction with the trail that comes in from the Dinch-Coons Road trailhead. The signs indicated the Dinch Road trailhead was .8 miles to the left and the fire tower was .6 miles to the right. We stopped for a few minutes to get a drink and then continued toward the tower. I could hear a few voices coming from behind us on the trail.

After walking a short distance, the trail began the ascent to the summit of Red Hill. The grade up to the trail junction had been 10% but now increased to 21% which I could feel! After about a quarter mile, there was a spur trail to a spring on the right side of the trail and then a short switchback. I had not climbed much on my recent hikes but this trip seemed to be easier than I had expected. There was plenty of sun which made me feel good but was also contributing to making me pretty warm. At 1:15 PM we arrived at the tower clearing where there were four hikers standing near the cabin. I walked over to one of the picnic tables, dropped my pack and got out my camera to take some pictures of the tower. I decided to tether Sheila to a picnic table knowing she would follow me up the tower or annoy the other hikers. Unlike some dogs, Sheila has no problem climbing up and down the open steps but I did not want to chance it on this day. As I walked over toward the tower, the other hikers left. I took a few pictures of the tower and then started to climb the steps. Without looking, I could tell when I was above the treeline as the breeze hit me. I eventually made it to the landing below the cab which was not open. I began to take pictures of the surrounding scenery in all directions. There was some haze to the south but none in the other directions. When there is no haze or fog, the views of the Catskill peaks from this tower are spectacular. The leaves to the south were not quite as far long as the ones in the other directions. I began to take pictures at different angles and zooms trying to capture the colors. I find that I can never get pictures that really reflect the beauty of God's creation. After taking quite a few shots, I descended the tower. I took some pictures of the cabin and a couple of Sheila who posed very nicely. I got a drink and gave Sheila one before starting the hike back down the mountain.

At 1:15 PM we started back down the trail. It had taken us 1 hour and 10 minutes to hike to the summit and I hoped we would make the trip back go faster. Not very far down the trail, we saw two hikers coming toward us with two dogs on leashes. I pulled Sheila over to the side of the trail to wait for them to pass. The hikers stopped to talk after I complimented them on their beautiful dogs. One was a merl collie and the other a tricolor collie. The hikers were from Unadilla which is considerably farther away than Livingston Manor! Eventually, we parted company and Sheila and I moved on down the trail. As we approached the spur trail to the spring, Shiela alerted and I looked up to see a hiker coming toward us. I again pulled Sheila off the trail so that we could pass. As he came near, I recognized the hiker as Doug, one of the volunteers that helps at the fire tower. Doug also recognized me and we spent some time talking. We eventually moved in our separate directions. The trail was dry which made it a little slippery but using poles really helped. As we had almost reached the trail, two more hikers came walking toward us. Once more I moved Sheila off the trail as the hikers started to walk by. They stopped and we talked for a few minutes. They wanted to know about the new Denning trailhead and I told them how to get to it. We continued our hikes and I hoped they were the last people I would meet. The walk to the junction went quickly and we made the left turn onto the bottom part of the trail. As we started through the bottom section, I began to think about driving over the hill from Sundown toward Yagerville. There is a nice view of the Shawangunks from that road and I thought about hiking to Angel Falls to get some pictures. We continued down the trail and were soon descending the last few steps to the parking area. It was 2:30 PM and we had hiked 3.7 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes with 40 minutes of stopped time. Our elevation gain was 1190 feet. The temperature had risen to 64 degrees but some clouds were moving in.

On Saturday, October 2nd I wanted to get out for at least a 6 mile hike and see if I could find some colorful leaves. I decided to go to the Frick Pond area and hike to the lookouts of Beech Mountain. One viewpoint has a nice view of many of the Catskills high peaks looking to the east while the other looks west over Hodge Pond. I was disappointed that there was so much fog in the morning and thought about postponing the hike a day but the weather prediction for Saturday was for cool temperatures with winds gusting to 25 mph! By 9:30 AM the fog was clearing and the sun was breaking through so I decided to continue with my plans. I started to get ready at 9:45 AM with Sheila watching my every move. The temperature was 54 degrees on the back porch with some sun but I knew it might be cooler at the trailhead. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top and a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I also added a bright orange hat more for visibility than for the warmth. I also packed a light pair of gloves. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to allow me to dump heat when I need to. I got my gear in the car and put an excited Sheila in the back seat as I drove out the DeBruce Road toward Frick Pond at 10:05 AM. After about 6 miles, I turned left on the Mongaup Pond and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road at the fork. There were no cars parked in either lot as I pulled in at 11:20 AM. I set my GPS and we immediately started our hike by crossing the road and heading out on the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond.

I was surprised to find a very large tree down across the trail. The tree was big enough that I knew I would have to call the local ranger to cut it with a chainsaw. I new I could cut the trunk with my hand tools but I also new it would require several cuts to get pieces that could be moved off the trail! When we hit the wide woods road that is the Flynn Trail, we turned right and noticed that the grass was only slightly damp as was the trail bed. The woods road once led to the Beech Mountain Boy Scouts Camp. The camp was serviced by the extension of Beech Mountain Road which is now the Flynn Trail. The temperature was in low 50's but I was getting warm already just from the exertion of hiking uphill. I made sure to open all the zippers on my hoody. The sun was out and there were white, puffy clouds in the blue sky. We were keeping a pretty fast pace but it didn't seem to bother me. We walked passed the large hemlock tree that a DEC crew had cleared from the trail. At 1.2 miles we came to the path to the clearing on the right side of the trail. I decided that I had not been there for some time so we turned right and walked uphill through the woods to the edge of the clearing. I have never heard a definitive explanation for the existence of the clearing but I suspect it was stripped of dirt to build Beech Mountain Road. In most places there is very little topsoil and the bedrock is close to the surface. I dropped my pack and took out the camera to snap some shots of the scene. The leaves on the trees had some color but the main attraction were several different kinds of wallflowers that covered the clearing. When I was done, we walked back out to the main trail and continued toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. Along the way I removed some large branches and small trunks that had fallen on the trail. It took us 55 minutes to reach the first trail junction with the Big Rock Trail at 1.7 miles into the hike. This was faster than I expected especially with the side trip to the clearing!

We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail passing through the gate that separates state land from Beaverkill Valley Land Trust property. After walking for a relatively short time, we arrived at the point where the Flynn Trail bears left down to Hodge Pond. We turned right and followed on the woods road toward the site of the Boy Scout camp and the lookouts I wanted to visit. The woods road we were walking on was once Beech Mountain Road leading to the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. As we walked I had been removing small branches from the trail by habit. After a short walk, a trail turned off to the left to go down to the pond and the road we were on continued straight ahead. Another road was sandwiched in between the two and leads to the site of the former Boy Scout camp which has been leveled by the Beaverkill Valley Land Trust. We continued straight ahead on the road that started up the hill. The road was covered in leaves which were mostly brown and yellow. I could tell we were walking uphill again but I quickly adapted to the change in terrain. I was really warm now but did not want to stop to remove my hoody. We passed a spring house on the right and Sheila stopped to get a drink. She must have been warm as she splashed around and "dug" in the water for several minutes. The grade became steeper as we climbed the hill and at about 2.6 miles the road made a sharp turn to the right. We stopped so that I could take some pictures from a small viewpoint. There were some colors in the leafy landscape but it seemed they were still far from peak color. The viewpoint is beginning to grow in which limits the view. After I finished my photography, we continued on the road. As the road made another sharp turn, this time to the left, a trail went off to the right. We continued straight ahead on the road and came to the top of a little hill. Several woods roads lead upward and along the ridge to Flynn's Point of Beech Mountain which is the highest point in Sullivan County. We continued on the road walking downhill. As the road turned right, I noticed the path that leads toward Mongaup Mountain, one of the CHH peaks. I knew there was a nice viewpoint there but I did not want to take the time to bushwhack out to it. We turned right on the road and came to a beautiful lookout to the east with a view of many of the Catskill high peaks. There was still a haze in this direction and it was obvious that the leaves still needed some time to reach peak color. I knew this would probably be the case but was a little disappointed. I knew that the winds on Saturday might take down many of the leaves before they changed color. I took quite a few pictures before putting the camera away and continuing on the path that led up to the trail around Beech Mountain.

These paths and trails were marked with red markers placed by the Beaverkill Land Trust. I also noticed some very nice tent platforms near the trail. We continued around the mountain a circular direction passing some interesting ledges on the right. I had tried to take some pictures of these impressive stone formations in the past but the pictures never do them justice. We continued on the path around Flynn's Point on Beech Mountain until we came to the lookout over Hodge Pond on the left. When I walked out to the stone ledge that makes up the viewpoint, I could see some great color. Most of these colors were around Hodge Pond. I took several pictures at different zooms and at different angles. When I was done, I packed up ad we continued in a clockwise direction around Beech Mountain on the woods road. I considered bushwhacking up to the Sullivan County high point but decided to continue on down to Hodge Pond as the colors were so nice there. We walked out the trail to the road and turned left. We continued on the road and set a quick pace down the hill. Sheila again stopped at the spring and this time dug at the opening to the culvert until water was freely flowing through it. At the base of the hill, we turned right on the woods road that leads down to Hodge Pond. We turned left when the road intersected a jeep trail and ended up at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. We walked over to the shore of the pond where I dropped my pack and got out the camera. Sheila decided not to go wading as the water was a little cold. The colors I had seen from the lookout were even better from the level of the pond. The colors were not as bright as I had hoped but I looked forward to coming back in a week to see how they developed. I took some shots of the pond concentrating on the leaves. The sky was blue with puffy white clouds. When I was done, I ate a bar and got a drink before picking up and walking to where the Flynn Trail enters the woods. We started climbing the hill back to the junction where we had turned right some time before. This ascent can sometimes seem long but on this day it went quickly. We passed by several blowdowns that Cindy and I had cleared from the trail. At the top of the hill we stayed to the right on the Flynn Trail and followed the route we had taken out. We passed through the gate and continued on the trail.

We were soon approaching the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I thought about whether to return on the Flynn Trail or add a little mileage by taking the Big Rock Trail. I decided on the Big Rock Trail even though the skies were beginning to darken since it would allow me to check out more trails. We turned right on the Big Rock Trail and started the long downhill hike. The walk down the Big Rock Trail went quickly even though there are several points where it seems the descent has ended only to continue toward Times Square. We were soon at Times Square where we continued straight across to stay on the Big Rock Trail. Times Square which is usually wet and muddy was barely damp. The trails had been almost completely dry up to this time but there were a few muddy areas on the Big Rock Trail. The skies were now darkening particularly in the west and a few drops of rain were beginning to fall. As we continued on the trail, we came to the two bridges over the inlet streams. The bridge abutments are beginning to deteriorate and really need to be replaced. I stopped at the first bridge to take some shots of the water under the bridge with some leaves floating on top. There were also some colorful trees so I snapped some pictures. As we continued to hike, we walked through the beautiful spruce forest and over the wooden walkways which also need repair. Some sections of the walkways are poorly supported and some have boards are coming loose. We avoided the mud pit just before the junction with the Quick Lake Trail by following the detour hikers have created. Soon we were at the junction with the Quick Lake Trail where we turned left toward the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. The large mud pit that the Willowemoc Trail crew had worked on was still easy to cross due to the increased drainage and stepping stones. Once passed the muddy area, it wasn't long until we were at the bridge at the outlet end of Frick Pond. Despite the fact that I have hundreds of pictures from this spot and the darkening skies, I took a few more. The trees around the pond were colorful but not quite as far along as the ones around Hodge Pond. I finished my photography and we started up the hill to Gravestone Junction. All of a sudden the sun came out and the clouds disappeared. I noticed that the Lobdell memorial marker was upright as we passed by. The marker is a memorial to two children who died in the 1930's in a fire that consumed their cabin. As we walked along the Quick Lake Trail back to our cars, I noticed that the trail was only damp without surface or some flowing water. The Willowemoc Trail Crew had done some work here but it is hard to drain the trail as it is the lowest spot in most areas. At the trail register, we continued straight ahead to return to the car in the smaller parking area. By 2:05 PM we were back at the car after hiking 7.3 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes with 20 minutes of stopped time. This was good for an overall 2.0 mph pace. We also gained 1305 feet of elevation.

On Tuesday, October 4th I finally had a little time to get out for a hike after days of ambulance corps and church commitments. After responding to ambulance calls, I concluded that my only choice was to again head across the street to Round Top and see if we could get in some hiking. I am lucky that I have a place so close to hike but it has become very familiar. I have found that even a short hike helps to keep my blood pressure in check and I am hoping I can get my weight down also. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike but she was being a good dog and just whining a little bit while keeping an eye on me. It was 54 degrees on the back porch so I decided to put on my White Sierra long-sleeved wicking shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. I also donned my Mammut hoody as I though it was a little too cool to go without a jacket. At 2:30 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I looked around and saw that the sky was blue over Round Top with a few puffy white clouds. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and continued directly up the hill to the trailhead. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal was to make it all the way up the hill without stopping. At the top of the hill we stopped for minute so that I could observe the skies and hills all around us. We turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was damp in a few spots from some rain and that continued as we entered the woods. I used my pole to poke at the dirt and found that the dirt was damp to some depth. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. We stopped for a minute at the upper lookout and found the view partially blocked by the leaves on the trees. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed uphill through the fern glade. The drought had contributed to many of the ferns dying and most were now brown an shriveled. The woods looked like fall was approaching with some leaves dying and falling from the trees because of the earlier drought. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. The trail was still clear of brush but I thought about giving it another trim before winter. We turned left on the blue trail and started up the hill. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued on the blue trail across the summit of Round Top. As we began down the other side, we again bypassed the white crossover trail. We immediately turned left on the switchback in the blue trail and followed it out and then back to the main trail. We turned left and followed the blue trail to the yellow trail. We again walked on the yellow trail to the junction with the blue trail.

This time we turned right and walked down the yellow trail to the woods road. We walked along the woods road toward the first trail junction. Just before the first trail junction, I looked at the remains of the large blowdown I had cut and removed from the trail. Just passed this were the remains of a smaller blowdown I had cut up. This tree had hung over the trial for months but finally came down in the recent wind. We turned around at the first trail junction and started back p the woods road. We turned left when the yellow trail started up toward the first junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. This part of the yellow trail remains clear without blowdowns or encroaching brush. At the next trail junction we turned right on the blue trail and started up the hill. We turned right on the switchback and walked out into the rest and then back to the blue trail. We turned right on the blue trail and then continued up the hill bypassing the white crossover trail. We continued over the summit and then down the other side to the junction with the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and again walked along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and continued on the yellow trail through the ferns to the viewpoint. At the viewpoint we turned left and walked down the steep trail to the first trail junction. This time we continued out to the trailhead. At the trailhead we turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot. We crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. When we arrived home, it was 3:35 PM and we had hiked a little more than 2 miles in a little more than an hour.

On Friday, September 30th, I wanted to get out and do a longer hike after a slew of ambulance calls during the week. I decided that I wanted to go to Alder Lake to hike to the Beaver Meadow Lean-to which would be better named the Beaver Pond lean-to as the beavers have returned. They have built an impressive dam and there are at least two lodges. I knew I could extend the hike by going to the Millbrook Ridge high point or visiting the falls on Alder Creek below the lake. I have been having some pain in my heels and hiking both relieves and aggregates the problem. I asked Cindy if she would like to go but she declined. I started to get ready at 12:45 PM when the temperature was 60 degrees with some sun and blue skies. Sheila was hovering around me as she can always detect when I am getting ready for a hike. I decided to put on my long-sleeved White Sierra shirt with a short-sleeved baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I thought about warmer pants but decided against it. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and seemed to be living up to their claims. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. I did don my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat. This jacket has a hood but I decided to wear a blaze orange hat as several hunting seasons are beginning. I did put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I knew the trail might be wet and muddy from the recent rains. I got my gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 1:00 PM and drove north and west on Old Route 17 toward Roscoe. Just outside of town I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and headed north. I continued on the Beaverkill Road through Lew Beach and Turnwood toward Alder Creek Road where I made a left. I continued to the end on the road where I turned right toward Alder Lake. I drove up the access road very slowly as there are some very rough spots. When I got to the parking area there were five vehicles parked in the lot. The temperature was 58 degrees but the sun made it feel much warmer. The skies were bright and sunny with lots of blue but and some puffy white clouds to provide contrast. I set my GPS and we started out on the path toward the "lawn" at 1:25 PM.

We walked along the path which passes by the stone foundations which marks the last remnants of the Coykendall Mansion. The house had been built as a large hunting lodge and then was gifted to the Boy Scouts of America. When the state took over the property, the mansion fell into disrepair with campers tearing boards away to use for campfires. The state added a fence but it did not deter people so the house was eventually burned to the ground. As we walked down the right side of the lawn, I noticed that the grass had been cut and the picnic tables that were present were easily accessible. I walked toward the dam and the "beach" where I normally take pictures. I took out my camera and snapped some shots of the lake and the hills around it. The lighting was almost perfect and there were interesting reflections in the lake. I was surprised that the trees around the lake were changing color more rapidly than in town. There were some nice yellows, oranges and even some reds! We walked across the lawn toward the trail around the left side of the lake and started walking east along the trail on the north side of the lake. The trail was a little damp with a few muddy spots but nothing like the ones that are often present. The brush and branches that had overgrown the trail were now dead and the walking was much easier but some still hung in the path. This reminded me that I should call my maintainer for this trail to see if he intended to work on it. The small streams that cross the trail had some water in them which was the first time in a long time. Sheila was happy to be out and ran ahead and then returned to me. I began to remove small branches from the trail and moved one larger one. As we approached the bridges, Sheila alerted and I could hear people at the head end of the lake and at the campsites on the other shore. Strangely, no one was camping in the sites on the north side of the lake.

We continued on the trail and we crossed the bridges on the trail near the head end of the lake. I could see the beaver dam that impounded some water from the inlet streams was still intact. One of the bridges had several broken boards on the side and I wished that the DEC would take more interest in maintaining this well-used camping spot. We continued on the trail toward the junction with the Millbrook Ridge Trail. At the point where a path leads to the left to some primitive campsite, some large trees had fallen across the trail. We were able to step over them but it was not easy. I could cut them with my hand tools but it would take a long time! I made a note to call the local ranger to see if we could schedule a time to remove them with a chainsaw. At the trail junction, we turned left to head toward the lean-to on the Millbrook Ridge Trail. The trail was damp in some places and some of the nettles were still hanging on. Fortunately, the trail showed more use than I had expected and was relatively clear of blowdowns and branches. There were a few small blowdowns which I removed from the trail. There were also some older and rotten trunks that I was able to move and this continued for the rest of the hike. I did find a few blowdowns that I had cut and a few more that should be cut. We crossed some streams that were almost dry the last time I had visits in July but were now flowing nicely. Alder Creek had quite a bit of water and we could here it as it ran downstream over the rocks. We did find a few large, older blowdowns which would be hard to clear with hand tools so I thought about getting get a crew with a sawyer to remove some of the larger ones from trail. The trail is pretty obvious and the blazes easy to see in most places. For the next 1.5 miles the trail climbed and then leveled off several times. The elevation gain is several hundred feet but the grade is never more than 12% and averages around 6%. There isn't too much to see along the way but this day was very pleasant because of the temperature and my mood. My heels hurt but did not prevent me from pushing on.

The trail leveled off at the first beaver meadow and we crossed a small stream that feeds it. Sheila took the time to get a drink and splash in the water. At 2.2 miles we began the last climb and I found that the going was easier than I thought it would be. As we started the climb, we came across a few more blowdowns. Soon we arrived at the beaver pond. Where there had once been a beaver meadow, there was now a pond with a dam and a beaver lodge. The pond was larger than the last time I had visited occupying the entire meadow. As we came to the spot on the trail opposite the beaver dam, we walked off the trail to the right and found a good viewpoint. I took pictures of the pond and the dam which I thought would be good as there were reflections in the pond and white clouds in the sky. The trees here were even more colorful than at Alder Lake! I also took some shots of the beaver lodge with the lean-to in the background. As I looked around I was overcome by the feeling of joy at seeing what God has created! I realized that the return trip would be much easier as it was almost all downhill. We walked over to the lean-to and found a new heavy-duty tarp had been attached to the roof. The lean-to has been largely ignored while others are repaired or entirely reconstructed. This is a popular spot but it is not near a 3500 foot peak. I took some pictures of what is now an open-air "outhouse" since the structure surrounding it was long ago torn down. The local ranger told me that this lean-to was scheduled for work this fall. I hope that the tarp on the roof is not the total extent of that work. I was not even sure the DEC had placed the trap or whether it had been added by some hikers. After I got a drink and ate a bar, I decided not to head to the Millbrrok Ridge high point as it was getting late. We walked out to the main trail and turned right as I wanted to visit the next beaver meadow. There were some very large blowdowns on the trail but we walked around them or made our way over them. We were soon at the beaver meadow where I had not been for some time. I took out my camera as there were some nice colors on the trees. After finishing my photography, I packed up my camera and we started back on the trail. On the way passed the lean-to, I turned right on the trail to the spring. It was a short walk and we found it flowing from the pipe. I took a few shots and the returned to the main trail. The walk did go quickly and we were soon at the loop trail around Alder Lake where we turned right to return the way we came.

On the way to the bridges we met two men coming toward us. I ushered Sheila off the trail as the men approached. They told me they were headed to the lean-to and I told tem it was unoccupied. We headed in our opposite ways until the men called back to me. They wanted to be sure where the trails was that went to the lean-to! I told them but had to shake my head at people who come out with so little planning. We crossed the bridges an found an open view of Cradle Rock Ridge but the skies were now overcast. We continued on the trail toward the parking area and at one point Sheila alerted and I saw a couple hiking toward us. I pull Sheila off to the side of the trail so that they could pass. They took some time to walk passed us but thanked me as they did. We walked up the hill toward the ruins of the lodge and then toward the parking area. As we approached the parking area, I noted that it had taken all of 90 minutes to walk out the trail but only about 70 minutes to come back. I decided I had just enough time to walk down to Alder Creek to visit the waterfalls and take some pictures. We turned left on the trail that leads down to the spring and then right to walk downstream along the creek. I stopped when we came to the first small waterfall. I got out my camera and walked to the flat rocks along the streambed. I took some pictures of the raids upstream and then walked a little farther downstream. I was able to get some shots of a small falls and one that is about 10 feet tall. I went back to my pack, stowed the camera and walked back up the bank to one of the woods roads. We walked downstream on the woods road until I found a path that I knew led down to the stream. We walked down the path to a viewpoint over the highest falls which drops about 20 feet. There was plenty of water flowing in the creek and the lighting was not too bad. I took a number of pictures including some of a smaller falls below the main one. When I was done, I decided it was time to go back to the car. We walked back up the path and continued across two woods roads until I could see the main access road. The bank was steep so we paralleled the road unit we came to the trail to the springs. We turned left and walked up the bank and through the parking area to the car. We were back at the car at 4:30 PM after hiking 5.0 miles in 3 hours and 10 minutes with 25 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 800 feet. Our moving speed was 2 MPH.

On Monday, September 26th, I had planned to do some longer hike as the weekend had been filled with ambulance calls and church commitments. At about 4:00 AM the ambulance pager sounded and we responded to a call several districts away as there was no other rig available. I had planned to come home and get a few more hours of sleep but on the way I way hoe I realized I was not sleepy. I decided to go for a shorter hike so that I could finish before the rain in the forecast arrived. I asked Cindy if she would like to hike the Logger's Loop at Frick Pond and she agreed. This hike is less than 4 miles and is relatively flat. I had not been on the trail for some time and I wanted to see how it had faired after some recent wind storms. We started to get ready at 9:00 AM when the temperature was 62 degrees in the back porch in the sun. As I was getting dressed, Sheila was very quiet but did not let me out of her sight. I decided to put on my long-sleeved White Sierra shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. I did don my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat. Because this jacket has a hood I decided not to wear my OR hat. I did put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I knew the trail might be wet and muddy from the recent rains. I put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and we left Livingston Manor at 9:30 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. When we arrived at the parking areas, there were no cars parked in either lot. I pulled into the smaller lot and parked. The skies were sunny and blue with a few clouds and a slight breeze blowing. The temperature was right at 58 degrees which was about what I thought it might be. I set my GPS unit and we started out the woods road to the register. As we walked out the woods road, I cleared some branches and one small trunk from the very damp trail. At the register we continued straight ahead on the Quick Lake Trail. From the register the trail was wet with some standing and running water and mud.

At Gravestone Junction, we stayed left on the Quick Lake trail heading toward the bridge at the outlet to Frick Pond. This area of the trail had more mud but it was minimal compared to what it usually looks like. When we arrived at the bridge, I looked at the scene and decided to take some shots even though I have hundreds from the same location. The pond was higher than it had been for some time! I took pictures of the whole scene and some of Beech Mountain. We continued around the west side of the pond where the trail was just damp with a small amount of mud here and there. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we headed left on the Quick Lake Trail which was almost wet and muddy in places. I had been removing smaller branches but there were a few larger ones in this area that I managed to drag off the trail. As we walked through the spruce tunnel, we came upon a rather large blowdown across the trail. Fortunately, I had trimmed most of the branches off it making it easier to get over the large diameter trunk. When we came to the small stream across the trail, we found the level higher than it had been and I took some shots before moving on. I did try to clean out some leaves and needles that were holding back the water in the stream. We continued on up the Quick Lake Trail toward Iron Wheel Junction. Just after the stream was a new and pretty large blowdown. I took some pictures with Sheila in view to give an idea of the size of the trunk. Any of these trees can be cleared with and tools but I began to think about contacting the local ranger as a chainsaw would make the job much easier. After the blowdown, the trail was wet and muddy in spots but not as bad as it can be.

When we got to the junction, I took some pictures of the iron wheels that give the junction its name. we turned right on the Logger's Loop and started out toward Times Square. The trail seemed to have more water including some deep puddles. Fortunately, it was pretty easy to get around all of them. We did run across another large blowdown which Bryce and I had muscled off to the side of the trail on our last trip. A little farther along there was another large trunk that had fallen across the trail. This one was above head high and would be difficult to cut with hand tools. There had been a few other trunks lying on the ground and I thought again about getting the local ranger to tackle them with me. A few of the streams that run across the trail or under it were dry but several had water for the first time in at least a month. I stopped along the way to take a picture of a tricycle perched on a large rock . The most amazing part of this is that it had been there for 20 years! We came to the large cherry tree that had broken off high up and fallen so that it was arching across the trail. This tree was not blocking the trail and it was clear it was not coming down soon. We passed the seasonal pond on the left side of the trail and I could see that it was mostly dry. I thought about stopping to take some shots but the gathering clouds and the wind convinced me to move on quickly. We continued downhill to Times Square which was damp. I thought about turning left and climbing the Big Rock Trail to add mileage but I knew the rain was coming and that Cindy would not be impressed. We walked straight across Times Square to stay on the Logger's Loop and started uphill. Just before the beginning of the uphill was another streambed which we crossed and it was dry. Although the trail is slightly uphill we were setting a good pace. We could hear some hikers on the Big Rock Trail heading toward Times Square and I did not want them to catch up with us. We passed by another medium sized trunk which had been across the trail until we had removed it on one trip. We continued walking on the trail and crested the hill to walk out to Gravestone Junction. We turned left at the Gravestone Junction and headed back to the car on the woods road. My feet were bothering me and the highly eroded trail was not kind to them. At the register we continued straight ahead on the woods road back to the car. It was 11:45 AM and we had spent 2 hour hiking 3.7 miles with an elevation gain was a modest 375 feet. We had spent 10 minutes stopped to take pictures and clear the trail. The temperature had risen to 60 degrees and the first drops of rain were falling.

On Friday, September 23rd I had planned to go out for a longer hike as the first hike of the fall as I had missed hiking the day before. When I woke up at 6:30 AM it was still raining but the biggest problem was the wind! The temperature was 42 degrees but with the windchill it was well into the mid 30's! I tend to be overly cautious about windy days as I have seen what falling branches can do. I worked around home waiting for the wind to abate which I thought would never happen. At around 1:30 PM the wind calmed down a little. I decided I would go over to Round Top to clean up some small blowdowns on the trails and to make sure the wind had not brought any more branches down. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and she agreed. We started to get ready with Sheila watching expectantly. It was 58 degrees on the back porch and the wind was still blowing so I decided to dress a little warmer than I had been. I decided to put on my White Sierra long-sleeved wicking shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I did not intend to bring hiking poles as the walk is short and I would be carrying axes and saws. I did don my Mammut hoody for the first time since late spring. At 1:45 PM I started to put my gear in the car. I took my Fiskars pack ax and put my Silky Sugowaza saw in my pack. We put Sheila in the back seat and I drove across the street and up the hill on Orchard Street to the trailhead at the top of the cemetery. We got out of the car to start our hike at 2:00 PM. I carried the Fiskars ax as I did not bring my poles. We walked from the trailhead to the first trail junction and turned right. Almost immediately we ran into a small trunk that had been hanging over the trail for at least a year. I put my pack and tools down and got my camera out of my pack. I took a series of pictures of the blowdown from different angles.

I began by removing some loose branches and then used the Silky Sugowaza to cut off two larger branches. I removed these two branches and threw them off the trail. I thought I would have to cut the remaining trunk but it was light enough for me lift it and throw it off to the side of the trail. This had all gone more quickly than I expected! I took some 'after' pictures and the stowed the camera. I looked up the trail and saw that Cindy was pretty far up the trail. I had wanted to show her the stations for the scavenger hunt but she had already passed by the first one. I started to walk up the trail removing small branches that Cindy had ignored. I also removed some branches from the side of the trail to make it look cleaner. When the woods road ended, I turned left following the yellow trail up the hill to the first junction with the blue trail. My plan was now to cover all the trails to make sure they were clear. I finally caught up with Cindy at the junction. We turned left and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. I pointed out the second scavenger stop to Cindy. The trail was pretty clear except for the few branches we removed. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned right and stared up the hill. The trail was pretty clear and we turned right on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed the switchback into the woods and then back to the main trail. We turned left on the blue trail and came to the start of the white crossover trail. I suggested Cindy take the right on the crossover trail while I continued on the blue trail. In this way we could cover all the trails. Cindy agreed and we started off. As I walked up the hill, I wondered which way Sheila would take. As I neared the top, I looked around and Sheila was right behind me. There was nothing to clear across the summit. I told Sheila to 'Find mom' and she took off ahead of me as if she had the trail map in her head! I walked down Te hill and found Sheila and Cindy at the intersection with the white trail. We continued down to the yellow trail and stopped so that I could cut a tree that was overhanging the trail just above head height.

At the junction with the blue trail we turned right and walked back to the second junction. This time we turned left and walked the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. When we got to the "Sitting Rock" which is the third scavenger station, I dropped my pack and took some pictures before I cleared some branches. I quickly dragged away the branches and brushed off the rock. I invite Sheila to get up on the lower rock to pose for pictures. She jumped up on the lower rock and jumped again to the higher one which is well over 6 feet above the ground. She made it look easy. I took some shots of her on the rock and then a few close-ups of her. Sheila took a close look at the jump down but made it easily. We continued down the trail to catch up with Cindy at the lookout. The view from the upper lookout is blocked by the leaves on the trees so I walked down to the rock shelf where the view is better. I took some pictures of the town and surrounding hills. I tried to get some pictures of the school but the trees have grown up quickly and the view is blocked. I walked back up to the upper lookout and then started down the trail toward the first trail junction. Cindy was waiting there and I showed her the fourth scavenger station which is a big rock covered in 'rock tripe'. This lichen can be eaten and is used in Asian cuisines after it is soaked in water and boiled with changes of water in between to remove the bitterness and purgative properties. I took some pictures and we continued our walk down the hill. I stopped to remove a few branches and noticed how beautiful the forest appeared. I took a few shots and then walked out to the trailhead. At the trailhead, the sun was shining and the sky was blue with puffy white clouds. Before leaving, I took some pictures across to Beer Mountain and the other hills. We put all our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat/ I drove back to my house at 3:30 PM after spending a total of 1 hours and 30 minutes hiking and clearing the trails.

Summer 2022

On Wednesday, September 21st, I had returned from a short hike on Round Top with Lisa at about 2:20 PM. The day was so beautiful I wanted to stay out but did not want to stay on Round Top. I asked Cindy if she wanted to hike the Beaverkill Campgrounds and she agreed. I knew she would like my choice as it is flat and shirt. I was ready to go and Cindy got changed quickly. Sheila seemed a little confused but was certainly happy to go hiking twice in one day. The temperature at 82 degrees under sunny skies. I was already dressed in a short-sleeved wicking shirt I had gotten some years ago at a cross country race. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I had on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I took a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. I added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. We left the house at 2:45 PM as I drove out Old Route 17 toward Roscoe and turned right on Beaverkill Road. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. There was one car parked at the far end of the lot. A glance at the river showed that the level had risen slightly but was still below the usual level for the year. I grabbed my camera and walked down to the side of the stream to take some pictures and Sheila came wit me. I took some shots and the repositioned on a rock that sticks out into the stream for some better shots of the covered bridge. A woman came walking across the bridge with her dog that was not on a leash. I held onto Sheila but the dog came running straight for us ignoring the woman's commands. I took Sheila back to the car with the dog following us. The woman had no control over her dog and made no apologies. I had Sheila on her leash as another car pulled into the lot. A man and woman got out and asked some questions about hiking trail. I answered them before I shouldered my pack to begin our hike.

We started out at 3:00 PM by walking out of the parking lot to the bridge with the temperature at 82 degrees. The skies were bright blue with puffy white clouds. When we got to the other side, the gate just off the road was closed as the campgrounds had closed September 5. I looked at the trail and saw that it was a little damp but not muddy. We turned left on a woods road that parallels the river and started down a short hill. We passed the spring house and continued on the deserted woods road where I could detect a few recent footprints. We came to an area with a little path down to the river. Just passed this area the trail had been eroding due to the water running down the bank. The DEC had replaced a culvert pipe and installed a second. They had also brought in fill and packed it to reconstruct the path. I found this interesting as the campsites along this path are no longer used and are abandoned. I walked down to the edge of the river very carefully as the rocks were slippery and the water looked deep and cold. I took some pictures downstream and some upstream to the bridge. There were several places where trees at the edge of the river had fallen into the water testifying to the power of the river when it is high. The view of the bridge was almost blocked by the foliage on the trees. Some of the leaves were beginning to change which add color to the pictures. When I was done, we got back on the trail and passed several areas with unused picnic tables. The state had mowed around many of the tables so that they could be used by people who wanted to picnic. Others sat unused and rotting along the road, a testimony to better days. We walked by these tables which had not been used in many years. A little later we came to what was once a bathroom for some campsites that had long since disappeared. There were more tables in this area. There was a path over to the river so I walked over and found the water was sparkling in the sun and was very clear. I took some pictures of the sun reflecting off the water both upstream and downstream. A large bird that I had seen before took off and flew upstream. I was too slow to get out the camera to take some shots.

At about .7 miles the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites. We continued on the road through the campsites and along the river. The campsites were all empty and I took pictures of the solitude. We walked to the last campsite where the road ends and Sheila and I walked down to the edge of the river. I was careful to watch where I was walking but the water was low and warm. I stopped to take some pictures of the river especially downstream. Sheila decided to take a dip in the water and I took some shots of her. We continued along the shore a little further passed the last campsite and I took some more shots before walking up to the campsite and back to where Cindy was standing. I stowed my camera and picked up the pack. We walked back from the last campsite, staying to the left of the last bathroom to walk back on the other paved road through the campsites. This road parallels the one we walked out on to make a sort of loop. We retuned the way we had come although at a quicker pace. As we approached the bridge, I saw that there was only one car parked in the lot with three people talking. We walked through the bridge and turned right to go back to the car. We were back at the car at 4:10 PM having hiked 2.7 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes. The car's thermometer still read 82 degrees.

On Wednesday, September 21st I had planned to hike the Hardenburgh Mongaup Trail with a hiking friend Sharon. Sharon canceled the night before so I changed plans to hike a route at Frick Pond after my 10:00 AM pastors' Zoom meeting. The meeting ran almost twice as long as I thought it would! I also got an text from Lisa who wanted to hike on Round Top and talk about our 5th anniversary hike there on Sunday at 4:00 PM. I decided to again change plans and hike on Round Top with Lisa. I am lucky that I have a place so close to hike but it has become very familiar. I have found that even a short hike helps to keep my blood pressure in check and I am hoping I can get my weight down also. I started to get ready at 12:30 PM while Sheila was already prepared to go as she really likes to hike. She was lying on the floor with her front legs spread barking up a storm. It was 78 degrees on the back porch so I decided to put on a short-sleeved wicking shirt I had gotten some years ago at a cross country race. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. At 12:55 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I looked around and saw that the sky was blue with puffy white clouds. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We walked to the parking lot at the Presbyterian Church where Lisa was parked. Lisa was ready to go so we headed to the back of the church to the cemetery hill. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and continued directly up the hill to the trailhead. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal was to make it all the way up the hill without stopping. At the top of the hill we stopped for minute so that we could observe the skies all around us. We turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was damp from the rain showers and that continued as we entered the woods.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. I was surprised to see that a tree that had overarched the trail for more than a year had finally fallen. I remarked to Lisa that I would come and remove it as soon as possible. We continued up the trail and I showed Lisa the rather larger tree I had cut by hand and removed from the trail. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. I was happy to see that the trail work Cindy and I had done was keeping the brush ay bay. We had trimmed back brush along this trail and removed a large blowdown. No more brush had fallen into the trail as I thought it might. When we reached the junction, I told Sheila "right" and she turned right on the blue trail and started to climb the hill. Lisa and I had not hiked together for some time so we talked to catch up. We turned right on the switchback in the blue trail which I had constructed to ease the erosion on the main trail and allow people to have a slightly more gentle climb. At the end of the switchback we turned right on the main blue trail and passed the white crossover trail on the way to the summit. We crossed over the summit and started down the blue rail on the other side. We again passed the white crossover trail continuing on to the yellow trail. We had not run into any blowdowns blocking the trail but we had removed a few small branches. We turned right and again walked along the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and headed down toward the lookout. The trail bed was clear but many of the ferns were turning brown or were already dead from lack of water. When we reached the viewpoint, we noticed that the view was almost completely blocked by a few trees that had grown up. I asked Lisa if she would like to walk along the top of the ledges and she agreed. We walked along a herd path at the edge of the ledges and quickly ran into a crossarm on a tree. After that, we found a bracket and another crossarm. These were remnants of an old TV system which had an antenna on Round Top and used wires to distribute the signal. Lisa did not want to explore any more so we walked back toward the lookout and turned left to descend the yellow trail to the first trail junction. We continued straight ahead and walked out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot to Lisa's car. We said goodbye to Lisa and Sheila and I crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. When we arrived home, it was 2:20 PM and we had hiked just under over 2 miles in an hour and 20 minutes.

On Monday, September 19th I finally had a little time to get out for a hike after days of ambulance corps commitments. After responding to several ambulance calls, I concluded that my only choice was to again head across the street to Round Top and see if we could get in some hiking. I am lucky that I have a place so close to hike but it has become very familiar. I have found that even a short hike helps to keep my blood pressure in check and I am hoping I can get my weight down also. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike but she was being a good dog and just whining a little bit while keeping an eye on me. It was 70 degrees on the back porch so I decided to put on my White Sierra long-sleeved wicking shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. At 1:45 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I looked around and saw that the sky was blue over Round Top with a few puffy white clouds but that the clouds to the north and west were dark and threatening rain. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and continued directly up the hill to the trailhead. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal was to make it all the way up the hill without stopping. At the top of the hill we stopped for minute so that I could observe the skies and hills all around us. We turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was damp and muddy in a few spots from some rain and that continued as we entered the woods. I used my pole to poke at the dirt and found that the dirt was damp to some depth. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. We stopped for a minute at the upper lookout and found the view partially blocked by the leaves on the trees. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed uphill through the fern glade. The drought had contributed to many of the ferns dying and most were now brown an shriveled. The woods looked like fall was approaching with some leaves dying and falling from the trees because of the earlier drought. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. The trail was still clear of brush but I thought about giving it another trim before winter. We turned left on the blue trail and started up the hill. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued on the blue trail across the summit of Round Top. As we began down the other side, we again bypassed the white crossover trail. We immediately turned left on the switchback in the blue trail and followed it out and then back to the main trail. We turned left and followed the blue trail to the yellow trail. We again walked on the yellow trail to the junction with the blue trail.

This time we turned right and walked down the yellow trail to the woods road. We walked along the woods road toward the first trail junction. Just before the first trail junction, I looked at the remains of the larger blowdown I had cut and removed from the trail. We turned around at the first trail junction and started back p the woods road. We turned left when the yellow trail started up toward the first junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. This part of the yellow trail remains clear without blowdowns or encroaching brush. At the next trail unction we turned right on the blue trail and started up the hill. We turned right on the switchback and walked out into the rest and then back to the blue trail. We turned right on the blue trail and then immediately right again on the white crossover trail. We had an anniversary walk on these rails coming up and I wanted to be sure they were clear. We walked across the white crossover trail an d then gown down the other side of the hill to the junction with the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and again walked to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and continued on the yellow trail through the ferns to the viewpoint. At the viewpoint we turned left and walked down the steep trail to the first trail junction. This time we continued out to the trailhead. At the trailhead we turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot. We crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. When we arrived home, it was 2:50 PM and we had hiked a little more than 2 miles in a little more than an hour.

On Friday, September 16th I had planned to hike with two friends doing an out-and-back from on the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail from Hardenburgh to the junction with the Long Pond Beaverkill Ridge Trail. One friend is trying to complete the All Trail Challenge and this was one of the last sections she needed. Early in the morning I got a text that she needed a rest day and we agreed to postpone the hike. I decided to ask Cindy if she wanted to hike and she agreed as long as it wasn't too far and wasn't to hilly. We kicked around some routes and decided on the new route to Hodge Pond from the parking area off Shin Creek Road in Lew Beach. The land around Hodge Pond had recently changed hands and is now under the care of the Beaverkill Land Trust. The Beaverkill Land Trust has created a parking lot on a woods road off Shin Creek Road in Lew Beach. The woods road leads to Hodge Pond near the site of the former Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. There are also two nice lookouts on the shoulders of Beech Mountain; the highest point in Sullivan County. We got up late as I had covered four ambulance calls the day before and was tired. I spent some time doing chores around the house and started getting ready at 1:00 PM. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer. I often wear a long-sleeved top even on warm days as it protects me from the sun and allows me to spray insect repellant on it rather than on me. I donned put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which help keep out mud, sticks, stones and ticks. The ticks have not been very numerous this season but prevention is the key. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I was a little worried about getting to the trailhead as Shin Creek Road is "seasonal maintenance" only and I thought the recent downpours might have eroded some sections.

We got my gear in the car and put an excited Sheila in the back seat. At 1:25 PM I drove north on Old Route 17 to the Beaverkill Road. I drove north to the four corners just after the Beaverkill Valley fire house. Here I turned right and started up Shin Creek Road. The drive on this road is beautiful but very rough in spots. After we crossed into the Town of Hardenburgh in Ulster County we soon ran into the "Seasonal Maintenance" the sign and the road did get rougher. I was pretty sure Cindy was wondering if I knew where I was going and if it was worth it. When we came to the road on the right I turned and found it was smoother than Shin Creek Road! I passed a small pulloff on the right and continued up the road to the parking area on the left. I pulled in to park and noticed the temperature was 66 degrees. When I stepped out of the car, it actually seemed warmer although a light breeze was blowing. The skies were blue and the sun was out but there were a lot of clouds in the sky. I set my GPS and we began our hike at 1:45 PM by starting up the road. We walked over to the "gate" which is a chain with a large plastic culvert around it. Members of the Land Trust can get a key to open it and drive all the way to Hodge Pond and a cabin if they have the right vehicle. We crossed the stream on a bridge constructed to support cars and saw that there was quite a bit of water in the creek. I passed up taking any pictures on the way up the road as it is a pretty hike but has no remarkable attractions. The road was uphill all the way but the grade was gentle in most spots. There were a few places that were steeper than I remembered and had a few more rocks. Sheila was walking with us as she often does when Cindy is with us. I tried walking in the center of the road on a strip of grass and moss or along the sides of the road to avoid the rocks. Despite the footing, we were making good time and the hike was going faster than I expected. I was warming up but was not sweating too much.

At 1.2 miles the road leveled and I recognized the site of the former Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. There are several spots where the trail levels and they had fooled me into thinking we were at this point before we were. The cabins from the Boy Scout camp had deteriorated so much that the Beaverkill Land Trust had them cleared away. We walked out to the road junction and turned left on the woods road that goes toward the top of Beech Mountain. I wasn't really tired and was actually feeling much fresher so we pushed the pace a little. Not very far up the road my phone let me know there was an ambulance call. I got a call from another member asking if I was available and I told him I was about an hour and 15 minutes away! When we got to the old sand and gravel pit where the trail levels, I noticed that there was almost no sun and the clouds were gathering. The breeze had also picked up. The trail began to gain elevation again and we passed by a spring house on the right where Sheila stopped to get a quick drink and wade in the water. There are several twists and turns along this road and it is sometimes hard for me to know exactly where I am. At 1.6 miles we came to a lookout on the left of the trail. The lookout had been "cut out" to get a better view but the trees were already beginning to grow back. I decided to stop briefly for pictures as the view was not spectacular and I wanted to reach the other two lookouts. We followed the road uphill as it made a sharp right turn. Just after this the road turned to the left and another trail branched off to the right. We turned to the right on the trail that circle Beech Mountain. The trail was almost flat but did roll a little. All the vegetation was very green along the trail and there were some impressive ledges on the left of the trail. Soon we arrived at the Hodge Pond Lookout. This lookout had also been cut out but the brush was beginning to grow back. I put my pack down and got out the camera. Sheila was wandering around on the lookout rocks making Cindy very nervous. I took pictures of Hodge Pond and the mountains in the background. The overcast was building and I was anxious to get to the other lookout. After taking the pictures, we got a drink and shared a bar before packing up and continuing on the trail counterclockwise.

As we walked on then trail, we both commented on the rock formations on the left side of the trail. These formations are part of Beech Mountain and are hard to photograph. Soon we came to a spot where the trail fork with the main trail continuing straight ahead. We turned right and walked downhill following some red trail markers placed by the Land Trust. We passed by three new camping platforms and the came to the cabin with a lawn and one of the best views in the Catskills. Many 3500 foot mountains are visible from this viewpoint. I had promised Cindy a nice view and she was not disappointed. The panorama from this lookout takes in the Burroughs Range and many of the other Catskill peaks. A newly installed display shows the outline of the peaks and their names. The only problem was that there was now no sun because of the heavy overcast. I got out my camera and took pictures of the mountains to the east even though the sky was flat and without clouds. I zoomed in and took some more shots. When I was done, I stowed my camera, picked up the pack and we continued on the woods road in a counterclockwise direction. I showed Cindy the path to Mongaup Mountain as we climbed the hill passing by the main trail on the left. Near the top of the hill, I pointed out the woods road that starts up to the ridge and runs the length to the high point of Beech Mountain. I also pointed out that we would now be walking either flat or downhill all the way back to the car. We set a pretty fast pace downhill being careful of where we placed our feet as there were a lot of loose stones. We were soon at the junction with the road to the Shin Creek parking. At the bottom of the hill we turned right, walked along the flat part of the trail and started the 1.3 miles descent to the car. The skies were still overcast and a breeze was blowing but it did not look like it would rain. We were back at the car at 4:00 PM after a very satisfying hike. We had hiked 4.3 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes gaining 880 feet along the way. Our overall speed was 1.85 mph with moving average of 2.0 mph with 15 minutes of stopped time.

On Wednesday, September 14th I wanted to remove a large blowdown I had found on Round Top the day before. I asked Cindy if she would go with me and she agreed We started to get ready at 10:15 AM with Shiela watching us very carefully. It was 68 degrees on the back porch so I decided to put on a short-sleeved wicking shirt I had gotten some years ago at a cross country race. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I did not intend to bring hiking poles as the walk is short and I would be carrying axes and saws. At 10:30 AM I started to put my gear in the car. I took my Fiskars pack ax, Council Tools American felling ax, Silky Sugowaza saw and Silky Katanaboy saw. I put Sheila in the back seat and I drove across the street and up the hill on Orchard Street to the trailhead at the top of the cemetery. We got out of the car to start our hike at 10:45 AM. Cindy carried the Fiskars ax while I put the saws in my pack and carried the Council Tool felling ax. We walked from the trailhead to the first trail junction and turned right. Almost immediately we ran into the large blowdown. The biggest trunk was larger than I thought. I put my pack and tools down and got my camera out of my pack. I took a series of pictures of the entire blowdown from different angles.

I began by using the Council Tools ax to cut a smaller trunk on both sides of the trail. It didn't take long until the cuts were completed. Cindy and I were able to roll and pivot the section I had cut off the trail. I took some pictures and then again evaluated the blowdown. I chose to cut another smaller trunk on the other side of the blowdown. This time I chose the Fiskars ax which is smaller and lighter but cuts very well. I cut through the trunk and then lifted and the end to flip, it off the trail. It was now time to start on the large trunk that I was not sure I could cut. I decided to cut the smaller diameter end first. I used the Council Tools ax to start a wide cut through the trunk. I switched sides a couple of times and then switched to the Fiskars ax to complete the cut. As I was finishing the cut, Cindy decided to walk home to get something to eat. I completed the cut and began to look at what it would take to cut this large trunk on the other side of the trail. The trunk had a larger diameter there and its height and position would make it difficult to use an ax. I also knew that the section that I would cut from the center would be very heavy; perhaps too heavy for me to move. I decided to start cut and see what happened. I chose to use the Katanaboy because of the diameter of the trunk. I found a place to cut that was close to the edge of the trail and seemed to have no knots. As I began to cut, I noticed that this was the Katanaboy 500 that I had not use before. It did seem sharper than the one I had used but that may have been my imagination. The cut was going well as I chose different angles by cutting with the blade tipped up, then down and then flat. I tried using the Sugowaza with its curved blade and this helped also.

As I gotten further into the cut, I began to worry that the kerf would start to close and pinch the saw. I had left my wedges at home and was torn by just trying to finish and going home to get the wedges. I decided to leave my tools but take Sheila home so that I could retrieve the wedges. We walked out to the trailhead and I drove down the hill and back home. I brought Sheila inside and picked up all four wedges and a 3 pound sledge to drive the wedges. I also brought along a mattocks that I thought might help me move the section once I completed the cut. I drove back to the trailhead, took the tools out of the car and headed back to the blowdown. I pounded two wedges in as far as I could and used the Katanaboy to continue the cut. I must have been further through the trunk than I thought as the section dropped off and hit the ground. The portion of the trunk off the trail toward the roots never moved and the wedges were not necessary! I took a couple of pictures and then started to attempt to move the section. I was able to pivot and roll the large section almost to the edge of the trail but a protruding branch and a slight uphill lip interfered. After several attempts with the mattocks and the addition of sheer will, I was able to roll it off the trail. I was pretty pleased with the overall work I had done! I took my "after" pictures and then collected all my tools. I put what I could in my pack and was able to carry the rest to the car. I drove back to my house at 1:00 PM after spending a total of 2 hours and 15 minutes removing the entire blowdown.

On Tuesday, September 13th I finally had a little time to get out for a hike after days of ambulance corps commitments and poor weather. I had to time a soccer game in the afternoon so I concluded that my only choice was to again head across the street to Round Top and see if we could get in some hiking. I am lucky that I have a place so close to hike but it has become very familiar. I have found that even a short hike helps to keep my blood pressure in check and I am hoping I can get my weight down also. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike but she was being a good dog and just whining a little bit while keeping an eye on me. It was 70 degrees on the back porch so I decided to put on my White Sierra long-sleeved wicking shirt without a baselayer . I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. At 11:45 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I looked around and saw that the sky was blue over Round Top with a few puffy white clouds but that the clouds to the north and west were dark and threatening rain. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and continued directly up the hill to the trailhead. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal was to make it all the way up the hill without stopping. At the top of the hill we stopped for minute so that I could observe the skies and hills all around us. We turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was wet and muddy in a few spots from some heavy rain the day before and that continued as we entered the woods. I used my pole to poke at the dirt and found that the dirt was wet to some depth. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. We stopped for a minute at the upper lookout and found the view partially blocked by the leaves on the trees. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed uphill through the fern glade. The drought had contributed to many of the ferns dying but the rain had made the remaining ferns much greener. The woods had a fresh and bright look I had not seen for some time. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left on the blue trail and started up the hill. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued on the blue trail across the summit of Round Top. As we began down the other side, we again bypassed the white crossover trail. We immediately turned left on the switchback in the blue trail and followed it out and then back to the main trail. We turned ;eft and followed the blue trail to the yellow trail. The wind had started to come up and the skies were darkening so I was interested in getting back to the trailhead as quickly as possible. We again walked on the yellow trail to the junction with the blue trail.

This time we turned right and walked down the yellow trail to the woods road. We walked along the woods road toward the first trail junction. Just before the first trail junction, I found a large tree blocking the trail. The large tree had taken down some other branches which were also blocking the trail. I knew I would be able to clear some of the blowdown with my hand tools but I doubted I could easily cut the large trunk. We worked our way over the blowdown and walked to the first trail junction. We trued left and walked out to the trailhead. At the trailhead, I took a look at the sky and concluded we could probably get in another figure 8. We walked back to the first trail junction and turned right on the woods road. We worked our way over the blowdown and turned left when the yellow trail started up toward the first junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. This part of the yellow trail remains clear without blowdowns or encroaching brush. At the next trail unction we turned right on the blue trail and started up the hill. We turned right on the switchback and walked out into the rest and then back to the blue trail. We turned right on the blue trail, bypassed the white crossover trail, and walked across the summit of Round Top. We walked down the other side of the hill bypassing the white crossover trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and again walked to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and continued on the yellow trail through the ferns to the viewpoint. At the viewpoint we turned left and walked down the steep trail to the first trail junction. This time we continued out to the trailhead. At the trailhead we turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot. We crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. When we arrived home, it was 1:00 PM and we had hiked a little more than 2 miles in an hour and 15 minutes.

On Friday, September 9th, I had planned to hike the Pelnor Hollow trail and Liable Spring Brook Trail with my friend Sharon and her friend Linda. This was at least the third time Sharon and I had scheduled this hike! Previous attempts had succumbed to bad weather or my covering ambulance calls. Sharon needed these two trails for the AllTrails Challenge which she was close to completing. I wanted to check out the trails as several people had been asking about the status of the maintenance on these trails and the access at Pelnor Hollow Road. The trailhead at Pelnor Hollow Road is surrounded by private property and the owners do not want cars parked on their land. This is reasonable but at one time they had claimed hikers could not access the trail at all. Cindy agreed to help us by giving us a ride from the Little Spring Brook parking area to the Pelnor Hollow trailhead. When I got up in the morning is was cool with the temperature at 48 degrees at 7:00 AM. The weather report indicated a beautiful day with no rain and highs in the high 70's. I started getting dressed at 8:15 AM choosing my Whute Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I often wear a long-sleeved top even on warm days as it protects me from the sun and allows me to spray insect repellant on it rather than on me. For this hike I knew there might be some areas of briars and this makes long sleeves almost mandatory. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which help keep out mud, sticks, stones and ticks. The ticks have not been very numerous this season but prevention is the key. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to keep my lower legs dry. I also packed my LT Wright Overland machete to deal with the prickers and brush if needed. I put my gear in the back of my car and Sheila in the back seat. Sheila loves to get out an hike anywhere and she had kept her eye on both of us as we were getting ready. We had not hiked for almost a week due to my commitments and the rainy weather.

As we left Livingston Manor at 8:45 AM, the sun was just beginning to break through the fog. We drove west on State Route 17 and got off at Exit 94 for Roscoe. We followed Route 206 north through Roscoe and Rockland heading toward Downsville. Just before starting up Brock Mountain we turned right on Little Spring Brook Road and drove to the parking area at the end. Sharon and Linda were already there so we introduced ourselves. We put all our gear in the rear of Cindy's car. I drove and Cindy sat in the front seat with Sheila. Linda and Sharon got it the back seat. I drove back out Little Spring Brook Road and turned left on Route 206 and, after a short distance left, on Beaverkill Valley Road. As I drove along the road I pointed out Dundas Castle on the left side of the road. Almost immediately after the castle, I turned left on Pelnor Hollow Road and drove to the end passing many "No Parking" and "Keep Out" signs. After about a mile, we arrived at the end of the road and the effective beginning of the Pelnor Hollow Trail. There was no one around but we felt very unwelcome! I got Sheila out of the car and put her in her leash. I debated whether or not to wear the jacket I had brought but in the end I decided to leave it is the car as it was very warm in the sun. Linda, Sharon and I shouldered our packs and grabbed our poles. I wanted to get going before someone came to let us know we could not park where we were. I set my GPS, said goodbye to Cindy and started to hike at 9:30 AM. I kept Sheila on her leash to keep her with me and off the private property that surrounds the easement New York State has to the state forest. The gate was open and signs posted by New York state indicated that there was no parking and that the land on either side of the woods road was private property. These signs continued all the way along the road to the state land boundary. It was obvious a wheeled vehicle had been on the road as the high grass was matted own. As we entered the shade of the trees I noticed it was very cool and I almost regretted not brining the jacket. After hiking a short distance I warmed up. The road was wet and muddy in places from the rain during the week but was passable even with a car. The stream was flowing nicely with quite a bit of water.

When we arrived at the first bridge, we found it in good shape after it was rebuilt several years ago. The road was very rocky and still wet with running water and muddy spots. The second bridge was in poor condition and I wondered why someone had replaced one and not the other. We arrived at the cabin on the left side of the trail but no one was home. As we continued on the road I saw the state land signs appear. The road deteriorated making me believe that it would be unwise to bring any vehicle up the road even though there is a parking area where the road ends. The gate at the end of Pelnor Hollow Road should be treated as the effective end of the road and the beginning of the trail. We eventually came to a wide spot in the trail where the road definitely ended. A sign indicated that the lean-to was .5 miles up the trail. The trail now narrowed from woods road width to trail width as we entered hardwood forest. It did seem that some trail maintenance had been done but that could have been the result of more people hiking the trail. The walk to the lean-to seemed longer than a half mile and the trail had flattened. At 1.5 miles we came to the lean-to which appeared to be in good shape. We stopped for a rest and so that I could take some pictures. There was a sign at the lean-to indicating distances which is unusual out in the middle of nowhere. I knew that after the lean-to the trail could be hard to find and might be covered in briars but we pushed on anyway. It was immediately obvious that the some trail maintenance continued beyond the lean-to and I began to suspect that the DEC had done some work on the trail although I was not sure. Briars were cut back some and some branches had been removed but there were some blowdowns blocking the trail. The trail was pretty easy to follow and pretty easy to walk. Sheila does a great job of finding the trail even when it has not been used much. From the lean-to we walked about .7 miles uphill gaining 425 feet to just below the top of a hill. At this point the maintenance abruptly stopped and the briars had only a narrow path where someone else had walked.

I was disappointed that we would now have to negotiate through the briars and that the trail had not had new markers placed in a very long time. As we got to the top of the hill the trail and trail markers disappeared and we spent some time wandering around. Eventually I got out Avenza which helped but the biggest aid in navigation was following Sheila who has built-in CPS. Even when the trail and markers disappear I can follow her and that she is walking from marker to marker. We continued to struggle to follow the trail and avoid the worst of the briars. The markers few and far between and very old but at least the trail bed was better worn in than in the past. We started won off the top of the hill and lost the trail again. I knew we had over a mile to go and another hill to climb just to get to the junction with the Mary Smith Trail. We stopped to take a quick break which resulted in me feeling more energetic but also let my muscles tighten up. I was surprised that I had cell service along much of the trail and 3 out of 4 phone calls were actually important. We continued to descend to the area between the two hills at 3 miles before starting up the next hill. At the top of the hill there seemed to be the possibility of some viewpoints on the right side of the trail. I knew from previous experience that trying to find a lookout would result in an area where trees and brush would block the view. There were a series of interesting glacial erratics perched on the hill and I took some pictures. At 3.8 miles we came to the intersection with the Mary Smith Trail and turned left to follow the trail downhill. The descent is steep and the damp rocks made every foot placement important. The grade is almost 20% but last less than .6 miles before arriving at Split Rock. We stopped to take a look from the viewpoint. It has grown in over the year but we could get a view. The view looks west and southwest but mostly consists of looking at the surrounding hills and a few mountains in the background. After a brief stop, we continued on the Pelnor Hollow Trail. I knew that we were nearing the end of the hike and it was all downhill or flat but I remembered some rough and rocky sections.

The trail makes a loop to the north along the edge of a ravine or hollow and then begins to descend. At one point several huge oaks trees had recently and one was across the trail. We were able to work our way over them but it will take a large chainsaw to clear them. This was also the point where we began to hear gunshots coming from the direction of Little Spring Brook Road! We continued to hike working our way down a tricky descent. The trail then passed through a pine plantation and crossed a brook which was running nicely. Eventually, we came to the junction of the Pelnor Hollow Trail, the Campbell Mountain Trail and the Little Spring Brook Trail. We stopped for a moment to read the signs and marvel at how wrong they are! The DEC has tried to replace some of their signs that have glaring errors but this was not one of them. The signs give incorrect trail names and incorrect distances. For seasoned hikers they may not be a problem but for those new to hiking this area they are completely confusing. We turned left and started to walk down the woods road toward the pond. The trail was damp and we could hear the brook flowing next to it. We came to the upper end of the pond and skirted the pond on a path to the right. We had to fuck under a large blowdown and the try to follow the path. It loomed like the Dec had tried to reroute the trail but it is poorly marked and more of a path. I walked down to the shore of the pond and found it less than half the size it had been on my last visit. I took some pictures and then we moved on. It is hard to follow the trail as it is overgrown with weeds and the brook wends its way onto the trail at times. There are some beautiful stone walls and a large culvert to take the brook beneath what once was a much larger road. We stopped so that I could take a few pictures of the brook but the sun was too bright to get really good shots. We walked out the trail to the cars. The trail is very rocky and very wet which is a bad condition for hiking. We were back at the cars at 2:50 PM after hiking 5.8 miles in 5 hours and 20 minutes with 1 hour and 20 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 1287 feet. We met no other hikers. The Western Catskills are the place to go for quite solitude!

On Saturday, September 3rd I wanted to get out for an easy hike so that my wife Cindy could go along and so that I could nurse my aching heels and Achilles tendons. Around 11:15 AM I asked Cindy if she would like to hike the Parksville Rail Trail and she agreed. The walk is less than 3 miles round trip and almost completely flat. It does have a few limited views and a nice waterfall. I was anxious to see what impact the recent rains had on the volume of the Little Beaverkill and the waterfalls. It was 68 degrees when we started to get ready and the skies were completely overcast. The forecast had called for sunny skies and no chance of rain! Sheila's expectant gaze and sharp bark "encouraged" me to continue the hiking plans. It was warm and I did not expected any water or mud on the trail so I dressed accordingly. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer as it was warm. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and I wondered if they would live up to that hype. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I skipped wearing a hat as there was no sun and I feel more comfortable without one. At 11:25 AM we put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. Just after this intersection is the western parking area for the rail trail.

The parking lot had no cars parked. I did not bring my GPS unit as we had hiked the trail so many times before. We quickly got ready to hike leaving the trailhead at 11:35 AM. The open trail just before the woods had quite a few branches hanging into the trail. It is not clear who is responsible for clearing the trail but the job is not being done. Usually as we enter the shade of the trees, it seems a little cooler but on this day I did not notice much change. One look down to the Little Beaverkill showed the stream volume was still very low depute some rain. I wondered if the falls would have any more enough water than during our last visit. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose. Just after entering the woods we came to an area which is normally muddy but this area was only slightly damp. Most of the rest of the trail was dry even in areas that are usually wet. The few muddy areas we would find on the trail were easily avoided. We were soon at the wooden walkways where I stopped, put my pack down and took out the camera. I took some shots of the stream below with the overcast skies in the background. I put away the camera and picked up my pack to continue over the walkways. The wooden surface was dry but had a coating of dried mud. The problem is that a rock slide has blocked the culvert under the small bridge causing water, mud and stones to be diverted over the walkway. Unblocking the culvert and covering the walkways with some screening would help. We continued on the trail and found a few blowdowns that should be cleared. Some areas of the trail also had brush that needed trimming. Other areas of the trail had large branches and blowdowns that should be removed for aesthetic reasons. Just before the falls, we met a family of four enjoying a walk along the railtrail. I had seen them coming and out Sheila on her leash. The young girl with them seemed to be enjoying the walk and really wanted to pet Sheila. We exchanged greetings and continued in opposite directions. As we approached the falls, we could hear the sound of the falls.

When we arrived at the falls, there did seem to be a little more volume than in recent visits. I took a few shots from above the falls and then decided to go down to the streambed so that I could take pictures from in front of the falls. It was relatively easy to work my way down the bank to the streambed and Sheila followed. I took some shots down stream and a few of Sheila in the water. She does a good job of posing even when standing in the stream. I then the turned my attention to the falls. I took numerous pictures of the area in front of falls and the falls themselves. The water was very clear and the red rock beneath the water really showed through. Sheila, decided to walk toward the falls on the wet racks. I had her pose with the falls in the background so I could get some more pictures of her. When I was done, we worked our way back up the bank. We continued on the trail to a bench where a path leads down to the stream. I left my pack on the bench and we all began to walk along a path at the edge of the stream which is normally underwater. The rocks were covered in moss and most were wet making it important to watch every step. I walked all the way to the brink of the falls. I could have gotten down to the base of the falls from here but I was not sure I could get back up! I took shots of the falls from several angles and then turned upstream and took shots of the smaller falls. I repositioned myself and took some more pictures downstream toward the falls. I finished and walked back to the bench to stow the camera. I noticed that someone had piled rocks across the stream to form a sort of dam topped with several tree trunks. People just can't seem to leave nature natural and instead have to improve it.

The trail continued to be dry had been wet and a little muddy in places but we managed to walk around them. From the falls to the other end of the trail there were a few wet areas and some mud. We set a quick pace for the rest of the hike to the Parksville end of the trail. Along the way we met a young couple hiking toward us and I put Shiela on her leash. We were all hiking pretty quickly so there was only time for a brief "Hello". I left Sheila on her leash which was good since another man and his dog approached us. We stopped to talk for a few minutes and I realized we had met before on this trail. His dog was a rescue and was in great shape. As we started to separate his dog began baying which let me know that there was some hound in him! We continued to the Parksville end of the trail. Just after the gate at that end, we stopped to read the sign which outlined the milk that the O&W transported. The sign also mentioned the large number of hotels that had been in the area. We turned around and headed back to the car. I knew I would not be taking any more pictures and we set a rapid return pace. As we passed the falls, there was a woman with a lack admiring the sight. We greeted each other as Cindy and I hiked along. At the wooden walkways we caught up to the man with his dog. Just before we broke out from under the trees we met and passed the young couple we had passed before. This was as many people as we had seen in one day on the trail. Cindy and I continued back to the car. We were back at the car at 12:55 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes including the stopped time for pictures. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike except the short trips down to the streambed.

On Thursday, September 1st I wanted to get out for a longer hike after hiking too many times on Round Top across the street. I decided to go to Frick Pond to do the Frick Pond to Hodge Pond loop on the Quick Lake and Flynn Trails which is a little over 6 miles. I started to get ready at 10:00 AM with the temperature hovering at 62 degrees with bright blue and sunny skies that had some puffy white clouds. Sheila sat watching my every move to make sure she would not be left behind. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer to protect me from the biting insects often present at Frick Pond. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Fulton insoles which are cork based and seem to be molding nicely to my feet. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and drove out the Debruce Road at 10:20 AM. I drove about 6 miles before turning left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. Both lots were empty so I parked in the smaller lot. The car thermometer read 66 degrees as I set my GPS to get ready for the hike. At 10:45 AM we headed out the woods road toward the trail register. The woods road was damp from the recent rains and there were even a few muddy places.

We continued straight ahead at the register and headed out the woods road toward Frick Pond. The trail was damp in a few places and a few small puddles from the rains the night before. The drainage work we had done seemed to have helped in some places but made little impact in others. At Gravestone Junction, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and head down to Frick Pond. The muddy area just after the junction was only damp as was the other place that is usually wet and muddy. We stopped at the bridge across the outlet to Frick Pond and I took some shots of the pond and Flynn's Point. I always stop to take pictures even when the scene is not remarkable. I also too a shot of the outlet stream below the bridge. The water level in the pond was higher than it had been as there had been a drought with some heavy rains the night before. We didn't stay long and were soon walking along the west side of Frick Pond where there is usually a mud pit that had been almost impassable. We had worked to drain the water and put in stepping stones. Our work had paid off and the area was draining well and the stepping stones made an easy path across the area. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we stayed to the left as I wanted to keep hiking the Quick Lake Trail. The first part of the trail was only damp in areas where there is often standing water and mud. This is not an easy place to improve drainage as there is a lot of water and the edges of the woods road are higher than the trail. We entered the evergreen tunnel which was mostly dry and had only a few damp areas. There were some old blowdowns lying on the ground. There was also one large blowdown across the trail at thigh height. This blowdown was a little too large to cut with hand tools. A little further along there was another large branch that would have to be removed. When we came to the small stream across the trail, Sheila easily jumped across the water and I used the stepping stones to get across. Just after this crossing I made my way up the bank and back on the trail. We continued to push toward Iron Wheel Junction making good time as the trail, which is often covered in deep mud, was only a little damp. As we walked along the trails, I had been removing branches that were on the trail and continued to do so. When we came to Iron Wheel Junction, we turned left to head to Hodge Pond at 11:30 AM after hiking 1.5 miles in 45 minutes.

The sun was out which always makes me feel better as did the breeze that was blowing. The breeze was keeping all the insects away which I appreciated as there are normally clouds of biting mosquitoes. Sheila was having a great time staying on the trail with me most of the time with a few off-trail excursions. The next mile of trail is all uphill but the grade only averages around 8%. At times this can seem like a long slog but on this day it seemed to go quickly. The constant climb did begin to tire my legs and although the scenery was beautiful it began to get repetitive. We hit the flatter ground but on this day there were no pools of water or muddy areas. There were several small trees that could be cleared with hand tools. As we made the right turn following the trail, we started downhill toward Junkyard Junction where we arrived at 12:22 PM after hiking 3.1 miles. We turned right to start out on the Flynn Trail and almost immediately I noticed that the trail was almost dry when it normally is very wet and muddy. Sheila and I easily walked along the trail with only a few wet and muddy areas to avoid. There was one small blowdown before we came to a much larger blowdown just before a gate. Bryce and I worked to cut smaller branches off this blowdown leaving the larger branches and trunk in place. The remaining pieces of the blowdown will require some persistent work with and tools or the use if a chainsaw. We arrived at the gate which separates the state land from the Beaverkill Land Trust land around Hodge Pond. We continued on the Flynn Trail by turning right and following the trail downhill to an area near the shore of Hodge Pond. The downhill stretch was very enjoyable and I was glad that the last 1.7 miles of the hike is all downhill on the Flynn Trail. We turned right to stay on the Flynn Trail and walked along the woods road which was in good shape. There was one large blowdown that almost completely blocked the trail and would require some work to remove it. We walked through the forest and then out to the field where the sun was brightly shining. We walked back into the trees and continued to the point where the Flynn Trail enters a clearing at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. We turned left and walked over to the shore of the pond where I put down my pack and got out my camera. I took some pictures of the pond and the surroundings with the blue sky and white clouds. Sheila decided to wade in the water and then chased a stick I had thrown. I took some pictures of her and then got a bar. We headed back across the field to the point where the Flynn Trail enters the forest and began the walk up the hill on the Flynn Trail. This was the last climb before the long downhill back to the car.

The walk up this hill often seems tedious but on this day it went quickly. We passed two large blowdowns Cindy and I had removed from the trail. I always find it satisfying to see work we have done to help maintain trails for other hikers. We were soon at the top of the hill where we stayed to the right on the Flynn Trail. We walked along the flat trail under the trees passing through the other gate. This part of the trail was barely damp and there were no muddy areas. We arrived at the junction with the Big Rock trail at 1:15 PM after hiking 4.7 miles. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail. The trail was in good shape with only few small blowdowns and branches. I much prefer walking up the Flynn Trail but like to vary the route from time to time. We reached the spot where there is an interesting clearing to the left of the trail but I decided to stay on the main trail. We continued on the trail and soon were passing by the large spruce tree that had fallen across the trail. Cindy and I had cut a tunnel through the branches but the DEC sawyers had cleared the entire blowdown to allow access for emergency vehicles. At the gate at the bottom of the hill, we turned left on the trail to avoid the private property around the cabin. When we got back to the parking area, there were no cars in either parking lot . It was 2:00 PM when we got back to the car after hiking 6.3 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes with an elevation gain of 895 feet. We had maintained an overall speed of 2.0 mph with a moving average of 2.1 mph which I thought was good for my present conditioning. The temperature was 68 degrees and Sheila and I were both ready to go home.

On Wednesday, August 31st I had to take an ambulance to a Ford dealer to have it checked for a recall. I did not get home until after noon so I knew that any hike would be short. I concluded that my only choice was to again head across the street to Round Top and see if we could get in some hiking. I am lucky that I have a place so close to hike but it has become very familiar. I have found that even a short hike helps to keep my blood pressure in check and I am hoping I can get my weight down also. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike but she was being a good dog and just whining a little bit while keeping an eye on me. It was 74 degrees on the back porch so I decided to put on a short-sleeved wicking shirt I had gotten some years ago at a cross country race. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my newer Keen Durand hiking boots with a new pair of Fulton cork insoles. I felt I need more foot support as I was having some pain especially in my Achilles' tendons. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. At 2:45 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I looked around and saw that the sky was blue over Round Top with a few puffy white clouds. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I was unsure of the route we would take but I sure it would not be our usual two figure 8's!

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and continued directly up the hill to the trailhead. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal was to make it all the way up the hill without stopping. At the top of the hill we stopped for minute so that I could observe the skies and hills all around us. We turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was damp from somet rain showers the day before and that continued as we entered the woods. I used my pole to poke at the dirt and found that just underneath the damp layer the dirt was still dry. I was not surprised that the trails were still dry as we had not had any significant rain for some time. I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. We stopped for a minute at the upper lookout and found the view partially blocked by the leaves on the trees. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed uphill through the fern glade. Unfortunately, the drought had contributed to many of the ferns dying of and turning brown. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued on the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we continued straight up the blue trail toward the summit of Round Top. We bypassed the switchback in the blue trail and the white crossover trail and headed directly toward the top. I don't do this often as I want people to follow the switchback to avoid further erosion of the former trail but on this day it felt good. We walked over the top on the blue trail and continued down the other side. We again bypassed the white trail and walked downhill to the trail junction with the yellow trails. We followed the yellow trail straight ahead and walked down to the woods road. We took a slight right following the woods road back to the first junction.

At this point Sheila seemed to want to head home but I turned around and started back up the woods road. This time when we got to the junction with the blue trail we continental ahead toward the summit of Round Top. When we came to the white crossover trail, we turned left and walked along this trail which follows the shoulder of Round Top and avoids the summit. The trail was in good shape and we turned left when we came to the blue trail. It was a quick walk downhill to the junction with the yellow trail. We continued straight ahead on the yellow trail walking downhill through the ferns to the overlook. We turned left on the yellow trail and walked down the short but steep hill to the first trail junction. I again confused Sheila by turning around and starting back up the hill toward the lookout. This time we again followed the yellow trail to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the woods road and the woods road out to the first junction. Sheila turned left to go out toward the trailhead and I followed her. At the trailhead we turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot. We crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. When we arrived home, it was 4:00 PM and we had hiked almost 3 miles in an hour and 15 minutes.

On Tuesday, August 30th I had planned to hike the Pelnor Hollow Trail and the Little Spring Trail with a hiking friend Sharon. As I was about to leave the house to meet her at the trailhead, the ambulance pager sounded for a call across the street at the clinic. Fortunately two other volunteers were able to take the call so that I could continue with my plans to hike. Unfortunately, a few minutes later the pager sounded again and I was the only EMT left to take the call. I had hoped to get back in time to hike but my patient was seriously injured and we transported them to a trauma center. By the time I got home, it was too late to meet my friend so I looked at the radar to plan a short hike. I concluded that my only choice was to again head across the street to Round Top and see if we could get in some hiking before then rain. I am lucky that I have a place so close to hike but it has become very familiar. I have found that even a short hike helps to keep my blood pressure in check and I am hoping I can get my weight down also. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike but she was being a good dog and just whining a little bit while keeping an eye on me. It was 78 degrees on the back porch so I decided to put on a short-sleeved wicking shirt I had gotten some years ago at a cross country race. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my newer Keen Durand hiking boots with a new pair of Fulton cork insoles. I felt I need more foot support as I was having some pain especially in my Achilles' Tendons. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. At 1:45 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I looked around and saw that the sky was black to the north and west but that sky over Round Top was blue. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I thought we could hike our usual two figure 8's which would give us about an hour of exercise.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and continued directly up the hill to the trailhead. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal was to make it all the way up the hill without stopping. At the top of the hill we stopped for minute so that I could observe the dark skies all around us. We turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was damp from the rain showers and that continued as we entered the woods. I used my pole to poke at the dirt and found that just underneath the damp layer the dirt was still dry. I was not surprised that the trails were still dry as we had not had any significant rain for some time. I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There was no breeze to cool us off and the humidity high. I thought this was a precursor to the thunderstorms that were forecast! We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. I was happy to see that the trail work Cindy and I had done was keeping the brush ay bay. We had trimmed back brush along this trail and removed a large blowdown. No more brush had fallen into the trail as I thought it might. When we reached the junction, I told Sheila "right" and she turned right on the blue trail and started to climb the hill. I began to think about the songs I would pick for Sunday and the hiking went very quickly. We turned right on the switchback in the blue trail which I had constructed to ease the erosion on the main trail and allow people to have a slightly more gentle climb. At the end of the switchback we turned right on the main blue trail and passed the white crossover trail on the way to the summit. We crossed over the summit and started down the blue rail on the other side. We again passed the white crossover trail continuing on to the yellow trail. We had not run into any blowdowns blocking the trail but I had removed a few small braces. We turned right and again walked along the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and headed down toward the lookout. The trail bed was clear but many of the ferns were turning brown or were already dead from lack of water. When we reached the viewpoint, I noticed that the skies to the north and west were even blacker than before and a stiff breeze was blowing. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. We had completed a figure 8 and were ready to start another.

By now there was quite a bit of thunder and I wondered if trying another figure 8 would be a good idea. I decided to try it and we turned around and started back up the short but steep hill to the lookout. The trip back up the hill to the lookout was pretty easy which, again, surprised me because I have not been hiking long hikes to get me in shape. At the top of the hill we turned right to follow the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. We turned right to follow the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started uphill toward the summit. When we came to the white crossover trail, we continued on the blue trail over the summit or Round Top. We turned left and then left again on the switchback in the blue trail as some raindrops began to fall. We followed the switchback out and back to the main trail and turned left to walk down to the yellow trail. We turned left and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned right on the yellow trail and followed it downhill to the woods road. We walked down the woods road to the first trail junction. This time we turned left and walked out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot as the rain began to fall and thunder boomed on the hills around town. We crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. When we arrived home, it was 2:45 PM and we had hiked over 2 miles in an hour.

On Saturday, August 27th I planned to take a longer hike up the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond and continue to Junkyard Junction. From the junction I would continue on the Quick Lake Trail back to Frick Pond and then to my car. As has been happening often lately, the ambulance pager sounded early Saturday morning an I responded. The call was in the Town of Andes and took some time to complete. I returned at 6:30 AM and decided to regain some hours of sleep I had lost. After I finally got out of bed, I did some chores around the house and visited the transfer station. Once again the pager went off at 2:45 PM to respond to a call in a neighboring town. As we approached the address, the call was canceled because the patient was being transported by private vehicle. This was fortunate as we had another call in our district for a lost or injured hiker! As we were about to respond to this call, a vehicle approached us with the patient from the previous call and it was obvious they needed transport by ambulance. We let the control center know we were transporting the patient. Fortunately, another crew from our corps was able to cover the call for the hiker. We transported the patient to the hospital and returned to service and headed for our base. On the way home we contacted our other ambulance to see if they needed assistance and they asked us to assist. They knew that I was very familiar with the area as I hike there all the time. We responded and were directed to Terwilliger Road off Brown Settlement Road. I was surprised that we were first on the scene. I was able to located the snowmobile trail that was to be the jumping off spot for the search using my Avenza app on my phone. A forest ranger and our other ambulance passed us as we pulled over at the proper location but soon returned to join us. After speaking to the forest ranger and the other ambulance crew my driver and I entered the woods to look for the hikers. I had a hunch the hikers may have moved back toward Mongaup Pond and suggested coming n from that direction. The forest ranger reasonably suggested we first search using their last known location. We had their exact GPS location and they were less than a Nile from the staging point. I knew the trail well and decided a little hike would be nice even though the LMFD UTV was on its way, I was not sure when they would arrive. We walked down on old road and within a few hundred feet we turned right onto the snowmobile trail. We walked along the trail headed toward the GPS coordinates. We could hear over the radio that the UTV had deployed and was on the trail behind us. As we crossed the first bridge, the UTV caught up with us with two fire-fighters on board. One of the fire fighters was the ambulance crops captain who is also an EMT. I climbed on the back of the UTV and sent my driver back to the rig with a radio. We were now off on a real adventure.

Riding on top of the UTV means sitting perched on top of the hose reel which is somewhat uncomfortable. I had to brace myself and hold on tight as the trail goes from rough to very rough. The drive was very skilled and picked a speed that made progress but did not shake me loose. Since I was riding higher on the back, I had to keep ducking branches coming my way. We arrived at the GPS coordinates without seeing any sign of the hikers. We radioed command and they told us to continue. Several times we had to stop to clear large branches. One time the driver used the chainsaw to clear the way. I was pretty miserable as my body was getting beaten up and I was tired from holding on. It seemed like forever but we were finally at the trail junction with another snowmobile trail that runs from Mongaup Pond to Flugertown Road in Willowemoc. I was sure command would turn as around. I was going to ask to walk to Mongaup Pond using the snowmobile trail which was only 1.3 miles. I thought this would be preferable to riding back on top of the UTV. Instead command asked us to turn right and continue the search. At this point the firefighters made room for me in the cab which was big enough for three! We turned right and within a few hundred feet we ran into a blowdown too big to cut with the chain saw. The driver was able to turn us around and command asked us that we go passed the junction and head toward Mongaup Pond. This made me happy as I knew it was a shorter distance than returning and it was where I suspected the hikers might be located. A few hundred feet passed the junction, we again ran into a blowdown we could not clear. We informed command and they directed us to return. The 2.6 mile trip was much faster as I was in the cab. I can tell you the cab is much more comfortable than riding atop the hose reel!

When we retuned, it seemed that some :friends" of the hikers were pretty sure they were on the snowmobile trail near Mongaup Pond right where I thought they might be. Our other rig headed in that direction and we followed a little while after. Our first rig staged at the Mongaup Pond parking lot and waited for another UTV to locate the hikers and transport them to the ambulance. My partner and I returned to service to cover other calls in town. The hikers were located as it was getting dark and were simply tired and did not want to go to the hospital. They refused medical attention and our rig returned to base. There are several lessons to learn from this event on the part of the searchers and the hikers. The LMFD UTV was first deployed at Frick Pond as someone thought that was where the hikers were located. This location is far from where GPS coordinates given and does not have a trail with the name given. The area is a maze of trails and I am familiar with them but other need to have the same familiarity with maps to back it up. We also need cell phone apps that work using satellite GPS and indicate current location and the GPS coordinates of the subjects if they are available. The snowmobile club, DEC and NYNJTC maintainers have to work together to keep the trail clear to allow UTV access for search and rescue operations. The hikers did almost everything wrong than inexperienced hikers can do. They were recovering from COVID and overestimated their abilities. One hiker had new hiking boots and decided to break them in on an unknown trail over a long distance. They did not have enough water for their hike. They did not plan their hike ahead of time and did not have maps or could not read them correctly. Their friends were able t hike faster and left them behind thinking they would catch up. They called for help and gave their location but decided to move when they felt better. Finding someone in hundreds of acres of forest is difficult enough if they stay where they are. It is even harder to find a moving target. Because of their lack of planning, it seems these hikers probably traveled as much as 10 miles. I do not mean to be too hard on these people but they tied up a lot of resources because of their foolish mistakes. Moreover, the outcome could have been MUCH worse. I hope this event allows both rescuers and hikers to learn some important points.

On Friday, August 26th I slept in as I had been out on an ambulance call in the middle of the night. After getting up, my wife and I went to our church to prepare parts of the service for Sunday. We retuned home by 3:15 PM and I decided to go across the street for a short hike on Round Top. We decided to go across the street to hike on Round Top with the temperature at 84 degrees. I started to get ready at 3:30 PM and Sheila certainly agreed with my decision to take a walk. It was almost as warm as the day before so I decided to put on a light short-sleeved crew shirt made of wicking material. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my newer Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well. I had added a pair of Fulton cork insoles that were in the process of molding to my feet to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. I decided not to wear a hat as the hike was short and almost completely under the trees. At 4:00 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. The heat was high but the humidity was not as high as it had been. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We walked out the driveway and crossed the street to walk along the street to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the lot and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church.

The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila was giving me a little pull up the hill. At the top of the hill we stopped to look around. I always look at the state of the headstones as the hillside creep in the cemetery is causing some of them to topple. The sky was blue with puffy white clouds. The view across to Beer Mountain was clear as were those to the other hillsides that surround the town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. The trailhead was dry and that continued as we entered the woods. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill to the lookout over town. The trails were pretty dry as there had not been any significant rain for many days. When we reached the top of the hill, we continued on the yellow trail and ascended through the woods. The trail continued to be dry and the ferns were turning yellow and brown from the lack of water. I also noticed that many of the trees were losing leaves well before the normal time of year. When we reached the junction with the blue trail we turned right to stay on the yellow trail. As we continued on this trail along the base of Round Top I found one small trunk across the trail. I was able to grab the trunk at one end and pull it out of the trail. We came to the second junction with the blue trail and turned left to start up toward the summit of Round Top. We bypassed the white trail and continued over the top and started down the other side.

When we came to the switchback in the blue trail, we followed it to the left out into the woods and then back as it rejoined the main blue trail where we turned left again. When we came to the junction with the yellow trail, we turned left and again walked along the base of Round Top. This time when we came to the trail junction, we turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the woods road that would return us to the very first trail junction. I was removing many small branches from the trail until we came to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and started back up the woods road and the yellow trail. I always look up at the interesting ledges and cliffs along the trail. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned left to again follow the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. At that junction we turned right and headed up the hill toward the summit. We turned right on the switchback and followed it around and back to the main blue trail. We continued up the blue trail over the summit and down the other side. At the trail junction with the yellow trail, we turned right and made one final trip across the yellow trial. We continued to follow the yellow trail when it turned left at the trail junction. We walked downhill through the waving but brown ferns to the viewpoint. We turned left and continued on the yellow trail down the steep hill to the first trail junction. We continued straight ahead and walked out to the trailhead. We turned right to start down the hill to the church parking lot. At the bottom of the hill we walked out to the parking lot. We walked through the parking lot to Rock Avenue. After crossing the street to our driveway, we walked back to the house. We were home by 5:15 PM after hiking a little less than three miles in a little over an hour.

On Wednesday, August 24th, I wanted to get out and hike after four days of inactivity due to ambulance calls and church commitments. I had some morning meetings so I could not begin to get ready until afternoon. Rather than travel too far I decided to go to Frick Pond and hike the Flynn Trail where could hike some uphill miles. This would give me some choices of how far I wanted to hike and the route I would take. As I started to get ready at 12:15 PM, the temperature on the back porch was 86 degrees. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer to protect me from the biting insects often present at Frick Pond. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Fulton insoles which are cork based and seem to be molding nicely to my feet. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and headed out the DeBruce Road at 12:40 PM. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there was one car parked in the smaller lot and 8 cars lined up in the larger lot. I pulled into the smaller lot with Sheila was acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she ran around and headed for the trail. The temperature was 75 degrees and the skies were blue with white clouds with a reasonable humidity. I set my GPS as we got ready to head out on the Flynn Trail with Sheila on her leash as the dog from the cabin up the road was running loose. We crossed the road and began our hike at 1:00 PM.

The Flynn Trail is sited along what used to be Beech Mountain Road which was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We walked the trail through the woods which was very dry and showed heavier use than it had in the past. I immediately noticed that although my Achilles tendons were still aching with every step I was keeping up a good pace. We turned right on the woods road and continued to set a good pace up the hill. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.7 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We passed the hemlock that used to form a tunnel but was recently cleared by the DEC. I began to find some small branches on the trail which I removed. I was surprised that there were no large branches or trees across the trail. I began to notice that the Frick Pond mosquitoes were out in full force. I chose to keep up my pace rather than to stop and apply repellant. As we approached and passed the clearing to the right of the trail, I thought about visiting the clearing but decided I wanted to stay on the main trail. We kept walking uphill and we were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. It was 1:45 PM and we had covered the 1.7 miles in 45 minutes. This matched my fastest time. I considered trying to hike to the lookout on Beech Mountain but decided against it. We turned left to walk down the Big Rock Trail. The trail continued to be very dry and well-used. The hike down the trail went well and more quickly when I expected. It was definitely easier than the uphill hike. The hike went quickly since we were setting a fast pace. This trail can be tricky as there are several levels that make it seem like the bottom of the hill.

We were soon at Times Square and I thought about turning right to hike up and around the Logger's Loop to add some distance to our hike. I decided against this and we continued our hike by walking straight across Times Square to stay on the Big Rock Trail. This trail can be very wet but on this day it was dry. We crossed the two small bridges over the inlets to the pond and this time I decided not to stop to take pictures. The water under the first bridge was back up from the wetlands. The area under the second bridge was completely dry as was the area upstream of the bridge. The sun was out now and gave a warm feeling to the setting. When we got to the area that was covered by tall evergreens, I pushed on through as I had taken pictures here very recently. The wooden boardwalks continue to show wear with many boards loose and other beginning to rot. Much of the boardwalk now "floats" in midair as the supports are rotting. The rest of the trail was dry with only one damp spot. At the next trail junction we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. We walked along the west side of Frick Pond to the bridge across the outlet of the pond. I stopped at the bridge for a minute and took a few more photographs. I took a couple of Sheila on the bridge before we walked up the hill toward Gravestone Junction. We continued to Gravestone Junction and passed the Lobdell memorial marker. The marker is a memorial to two children who died in the 1930's in a fire that consumed their cabin. The trail to the register was well-worn but the marker was standing intact. The trail back to the register was dry and very rocky. I saw a lobe hiker coming toward us so I put Sheila on a leash. The hiker was NYS Forest Ranger Eric Stratton. We both stopped to talk to each other. I am always happy to meet rangers when hiking since they have good stories and seem to appreciate mine. We talked for a few minutes on various topics. Ranger Stratton agreed that we should get together and cut some blowdowns at Balsam Lake Mountain. He also let me know that the Alder Lake Beaver Meadow lean-to was scheduled to be repaired this fall! We both continued in our opposite directions. Just short of the trail register I saw a couple hiking toward us with a dog on a leash. We passed each other with a simple greeting. We passed the trail register heading toward the parking area. We continued straight ahead to follow the woods road out to the car in the small lot. We arrived at the car at 3:10 PM having hiked 4.0 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes with an elevation gain of 690 feet.

On Friday, August 19th I wanted to get out for an easy hike so that my wife Cindy could go along and so that I could nurse my aching Achilles tendon. Around 1:15 PM I asked Cindy if she would like to hike the Parksville Rail Trail and she agreed. The walk is less than 3 miles round trip and almost completely flat. It does have a few limited views and a nice waterfall. I was anxious to see what impact the lack of rain had on the volume of the Little Beaverkill and the waterfalls. It was 86 degrees when we started to get ready and the skies were blue with some nice white clouds. Sheila's expectant gaze and sharp bark "encouraged" me to continue the hiking plans. It was warm and I did not expected a lot of water or mud on the trail so I dressed accordingly. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer as it was so warm. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Durand II hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Fulton insoles which are cork based and seem to be molding nicely to my feet. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. At 1:25 PM we put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. Just after this intersection is the western parking area for the rail trail.

The parking lot had no cars parked. I did not bring my GPS unit as we had hiked the trail so many times before. We quickly got ready to hike as I did not want Sheila to burn her paws on the hot pavement. As we entered the shade of the trees, it immediately seemed a little cooler. The stream volume was very low. I wondered if the falls would have enough water to be interesting. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose. Just after entering the woods we came to an area which is normally muddy but this area was only slightly damp. Most of the rest of the trail was dry even in areas that are usually wet. The few muddy areas we would find on the trail were easily avoided. We were soon at the wooden walkways where I stopped, put my pack down and took out the camera. I took some shots of the stream below with nice blue skies and white clouds. I put away the camera and picked up my pack to continue over the walkways. The wooden surface was dry but had a coating of dried mud. The problem is that a rock slide has blocked the culvert under the small bridge causing water, mud and stones to be diverted over the walkway. Unblocking the culvert and covering the walkways with some screening would help. We continued on the trail and found a few blowdowns that should be cleared. Some areas of the trail also had brush that needed trimming. Other areas of the trail had large branches and blowdowns that should be removed for aesthetic reasons. As we approached the falls, we could hear voices and screams coming from the area below the falls. When we arrived there was a father sitting by the falls on the opposite bank. His two daughters were sitting in the water below the falls

We continued on the trail and came to the falls. I wanted to get down to the streambed so that I could take pictures from in front of the falls. It was relatively easy to work my way down the bank to the streambed. I got out the camera and took some shots down stream and the turned my attention to the falls. I took numerous pictures of the falls and the area in front. The water was very clear and the red rock beneath the water really showed through. Sheila, of course, decided to jump in and cool off so I took some shots of her. When I was done, we worked our way back up the bank. I took a few pictures of the falls from the edge of the trail where I had a good view. As we were preparing to leave, two men came walking by and we said "Hello" as we went in opposite directions. We continued on the trail to a bench where a path leads down to the stream. I left my pack on the bench and took the camera with me to the stream's edge. I took shots upstream and downstream with some close-ups right in front of me. I repositioned myself and took some more pictures downstream toward the falls. I finished and walked back to the bench to stow the camera. The trail had been wet and a little muddy in places but we managed to walk around them. From the falls to the other end of the trail there were a few wet areas and some mud. We set a quick pace for the rest of the hike to the Parksville end of the trail. Just after the gate at that end, we stopped to read the sign which outlined the milk that the O&W transported. The sign also mentioned the large number of hotels that had been in the area. We turned around and headed back to the car. In a short distance, we met the two men that had passed by before and we stopped for a short conversation. They were from liberty and said they often hiked the rail trail there. When we parted, Cindy and I continued back to the car without stopping and without seeing any other people except for the dirt bike on the return trip. We were back at the car at 5:20 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 30 minutes including the stopped time for pictures. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike except the short trips down to the streambed.

On Wednesday, August 17th, I planned to do a hike with Raj from Edgewater Hikers and two other people. We had arranged to meet at the municipal parking area in town at 7:15 AM and then drive to the trailhead at the end of Beaverkill Road. When I got up in the morning at 6:30 AM it was only 52 degrees so I knew I would need a jacket of some kind as the temperature at the trailhead would probably be cooler. The forecast included a relatively low probability of a shower in the morning. I was a little concerned about the hike as I had been having some pain in my Achilles tendon especially at the insertion point at my heel. As I started to get ready Sheila was excited as she loves to be outside. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top without a base layer as it was warm enough. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Durand II hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Fulton insoles which are cork based and seem to be molding nicely to my feet. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. I added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I brought my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat if necessary. Just before 7:00 AM, I got a phone call from Raj saying she and another hiker were at the Robin Hood Diner and the fourth member of our party had pulled out. I agreed to meet them there. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and left the house at 7:10 AM. There was one car at the diner and I pulled over to greet Raj and her friend. I took the lead and we headed toward Roscoe on Old Rt 17 and I turned right on the Beaverkill Road. I headed north toward Lew Beach and Turnwood. Somewhere along the road some raindrops began to hit the windshield. I had hiked on Monday and gotten soaked so I hoped the rain would jet up as we began to hike. The Beaverkill Falls were flowing but with a greatly reduced volume. The road conditions were pretty good but deteriorated when the pavement ended. I passed the White Castle and the Buddhist monastery and continued on toward the trailhead. I only had to slow down a few times to let the other car catch up!

When we got to the "Seasonal Maintenance" sign, I was happy that it was still before 8:00 AM as I did not anticipate any cars coming from the opposite direction. The road was narrow but in good condition as it had been so dry for weeks. We arrived at the parking area at 7:50 AM and found no other cars in the lot. I was not surprised as it was early on a Wednesday morning. The temperature was 54 degrees. When we got out of our cars, we introduced ourselves. Sheila jumped out of the car and ignored the other hikers which O knew was a sign she would be alright hiking with them. I decided to put on my Mammut hoody. I knew I could open zippers when I got warm and stow it in my pack if I needed to do so. Unfortunately, the skies were overcast and there were a few small raindrops falling. I decided that I had come this far and would at least give hiking a chance. I set my GPS and we were off at 8:00 AM just as we planned. Both of the other hikers made it clear that they considered themselves slow hikers which was good for me as I was nursing my Achilles tendons. As we got on the trail, the raindrops started falling a little heavier. When we stopped at the trail register, I thought about putting on my pack cover until I realized I had left it home! I put my hone, camera and GPS unit in a plastic in my pack. The trail register had been repaired from the pieces that were there on previous trips. As we walked up the trail, I noticed that it needed some trimming but was clear of major blowdowns. The three of us kept up a conversation about hiking and many other topics which made the walk pass more quickly. I pointed out some of the blowdowns I had cut and explained the need for UTV access for trail rescues. Walking was easy as the trail has only a slight incline until the turn up the mountain. I appreciated the relaxed pace although I could have pushed the pace. At 8:35 AM we started up the mountain and I could feel a slight pain in my heels but it was better than I thought it might be. We paused briefly and I took off my hoody. I had already opened all the zippers and was still sweating profusely. Fortunately, the rain had stopped although the skies were still overcast.

The first part of the trail is a gentle climb and I was feeling pretty good with an occasional stop to let the others catch up. The trail was mostly dry but the small amount if rain had made all the rocks just wet enough to be very slippery. Over the next half mile the trail gains about 750 feet before leveling off which means an average of around a 28% grade! The trail has a lot of rocks and roots with more and more being exposed by the erosion caused by more people using the trail. I also noted the trail was getting wider as people were not sticking with the established route. Sheila is always able to hike faster than I can and she was running far ahead on the trails and then taking off following game trails through the woods. We kept moving along with Sheila always ahead of us but not too far which encouraged me. The climb seemed shorter than I remembered since we were all talking to each other which helped pass the time. Several times I thought we were near the trail to the lean-to but had another steep section to climb. Finally we reached the trail to the lean-to and continued straight up the hill through a short but steep climb. We passed the 3500 foot sign and the trail became a small stream from the spring just above. We arrived at the spring which was actually flowing better than I had expected. Sheila got a drink before we left the spring and climbed the stone steps to the summit plateau where the trail flattens a little. Some people had reported giant hogweed near the spring. The plants I saw that looked a little like hogweed were barely waist high and were definitely not "giant". They may have been cow parsnip but I thought they looked more like Queen Anne's Lace! It amazes me how ignorant people can spread misinformation to other ignorant people so quickly! Once we were on the flatter part of the trail, I felt much better since we were not climbing. We passed the Millbrook Ridge Trail to Alder Lake which is also the route of the FLT. As we continued on to the fire tower clearing, we passed the relocated privy on the right side of the trail. We arrived at the tower clearing at 9:40 AM after hiking 1.7 miles. The skies were still overcast without any direct sunlight. I put my pack down on the picnic table and leashed Sheila to a leg of the table so she would not follow me up the tower. Unlike many other dogs, Sheila will climb all the way up the tower and back down! I walked over to the tower with my camera and started to climb. I saw that some of the steps had been replaced and were slightly wider and sturdier than the old ones. As I rose above the treeline, the breeze hit me but I did not really feel cold. I took pictures of the surrounding landscape as I climbed and more at the top of the tower. I stopped on the landing just below the cab and looked around. The scene was beautiful and, as always, I knew that pictures could not do it justice. I took a number of shots of the trees and cabin below and then turned my attention to the mountains. I took shots in all directions getting pictures of the Devil's Path to the north and some of Graham. Eventually I was satisfied I had enough pictures and wanted to get back down to Sheila. On the way down I took a few shots of Sheila underneath the picnic table. I walked back to my pack and put away my camera, took a drink and got out a bar.

After the others had visited the tower, we headed down the Millbrook side of the mountain at 10:00 AM. Raj had originally planned a true out-and-back but I suggested the loop as the steep descent can be tricky. So far this year, I have transported two people who injured their leg or ankle descending the steeper trail! We walked down the trail on the other side of the mountain passing the cabin. The trail was very dry on the descent and covered in many small rocks which made things very "slippery". When the trail flattened some, we came to areas which are usually muddy. All of these areas were dry except for one area that had quite a bit of mud. On the way down we encountered a couple hiking up from Millbrook. A little further along we met an older, solo hiker who said he also was coming from Millbrook Road. Soon we were approaching the junction with the Dry Brook Ridge Trail that connects Millbrook Road to the Beaverkill Road. Just before the gate at the bottom of the trail, we met two men also hiking up from Millbrook Road. Whenever we met people, I would tell Sheila to go to the side of the trail and sit which she did without fail. We came to the trail junction with Sheila in the lead and I said to her "Back to the car" without making any signal Sheila immediately turned right and walked down the trail! There was a sign at the junction warning hikers to stay on the trails and that Graham Mountain was closed to all hikers. The trail has a lot of rocks and they were all wet and mossy which made them slippery. There isn't much to see on this return trip so I was glad to have other people along. I pointed out the Gulf of Mexico below and explained that the trail had once been a wagon road. We encountered some blowdowns which were old and would require a chainsaw to remove. There were also a few new blowdowns. Some of the new trees would require a chainsaw but at least one could be cut with hand tools. I looked down into the Gulf of Mexico several times but did not see or hear any water. The trail. Which had been very narrow, was wider since more people were using it. After just less than a mile, we were back at the trail junction where we had turned up the mountain earlier. We continued on toward the car by retracing our steps. As we approached the register, we met two more women who knew Malabika. They were also hiking the fire tower challenge. We were happy that the temperature had remained cool but pleasant and that the rain had stayed away. We were back in the parking area at 11:40 AM after hiking 4.4 miles in 3 hours and 40 minutes with 55 minutes stopped time. We had climbed 1200 feet in elevation. The temperature at the car was 67 degrees. Raj and Malabika were going on to hike Red hill but I drove straight home without stopping.

On Monday, August 15th, I asked Brad, my son-in-law, if she wanted to go hiking and he agreed. The forecast had changed so the chance of showers was minimal. We decided to go to Trout Pond to walk the loop and visit Russell Brook Falls. I was interested to see the effect the lack if rain was having on the water going over the falls and the level of Trout Pond. When I got up at 9:00 AM, the skies were bright and sunny with a few white clouds. The temperature was in the high 60's and the humidity seemed low compared to the last few days. We started to get ready at 11:00 AM with Sheila acting very enthusiastic about getting out. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top without a base layer as it was warm enough. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Cascade hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Fulton insoles which are cork based and seem to be molding nicely to my feet. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. I added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I packed my LT Wright Overland machete in case we had some time to cut back the Japanese knotweed. We put our gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and pulled out of Livingston Manor at 11:20 AM. I headed to Roscoe on State Route 17, got off at exit 94 and got on Route 206. I followed it across the Delaware County line to Morton Hill Road. After a left turn on Morton Hill Road, I drove toward the intersection with Russell Brook Road. There was one car parked in the "lot" at the intersection. This area is private property but people insist on parking there despite the signs. I turned left on Russell Brook Road to drive to the lower parking area. There was a tent set up at the first camping area on the right and another, larger tent erected at the first area on the left.

I stopped on the right side of the road near the paths that lead down to the upper drop of Russell Brook Falls. I grabbed my camera and Brad and I walked down the steep path to the overlook. The path was well-used and very dry which made it surprisingly slippery. I knew the flow at the falls would be reduced but I was surprised that the falls were barely a trickle! It was hard to see the flow of water through the lens of the camera. I took pictures being careful to avoid the bright sunlight behind the falls. When I was done, we walked back up to the car where a frantic Sheila was waiting. I drove down to the lower parking area where there were only a few cars parked. There was one group of people reading the map at the kiosk so I ask Brad to put Sheila on her leash. I found that I had forgotten my GPS unit so I got out my iPhone and fired up the Avenza app. I had not used it in some time and did not know how long the battery would last. we started down the woods road to the bridge across Russell Brook at 11:45 AM. The group that had been at the kiosk got in there car and drove away! We crossed the bridge and found that the Japanese knotweed was growing back from where I had cut it about a month before. I hoped we would have time to get rid of some of it on our return trip. It is a shame the DEC has not kept this trimmed back as the area is very popular and used by many people. We turned right on the path toward Russell Brook Falls and found it also had almost grown closed despite the traffic. We walked the path toward the falls. As we started down the bank, I could see there was nobody at the falls which I knew would make taking pictures easier. Sheila ran down to the stream to get a drink and walk in the water. The bank in this area was also well-used and we took are time getting down to the streambed. I got out my camera and took pictures of the falls and the stream. There was almost no flow over the falls and the stream was barely moving. Sheila went to pose in front of the falls although I had to clear the rock she normally sits on. I took several pictures of Sheila and a few more of the falls before returning to my pack. I stowed the camera and prepared to climb back up the bank. We walked up the bank and back out the way we came. Instead of walking back out to the main trail, we turned right and headed up the bank to another viewpoint over the upper falls.

I took a few shots from the top of the climb and then looked for a way to get down to the streambed. I let myself down one level and took a few shots. I worked my way down to the streambed and took pictures of the falls from that angle. I also took pictures downstream toward the top of the lower falls. The remains of the dam that had been placed here to control the flow of the stream was clearly visible. I finished taking pictures and climbed back up to the upper level where I stowed my camera. We walked down the path and back out to the main trail. At the main trail we turned right and then left where the trail split. We started out on the Mud Pond Trail crossing the outlet stream from Trout Pond on the bridge. As we passed by the large campsite on the right, we noted that no one was camped but we could smell a smoldering fire. I was surprised since this is one of the most popular campsites. The trail began to climb the hill and in .6 miles we gained over 350 feet. Along the way we removed some loose branches and moved at least one trunk to the side of the trail. The climb is a little steep at times so moving the branches and blowdowns gave me a couple of breaks. At one point Sheila alerted and I saw a couple ahead with what looked like a Jack Russell terrier. Brad put Sheila on her leash as we passed the couple who had pulled off the side of the trail. There are several places where small stream cross the trail and all of these were completely dry. The trail itself was dry and extremely rocky which made walking difficult. Soon we were at the top of the hill and began a slight descent toward the trail junction. The trail remained dry even in places that were normally wet. When we reached the trail junction, we turned right on the Mud Pond Trail and began a long climb. We stopped to try to move a large trunk but it just would not give in even after I whacked it several times with the machete. We ran into two more medium sized trunks lying ion the ground across the trail but we easily stepped over them. As we walked, the skies began to grow darker and then a few drops of rain began to fall. I hoped that the rain would stay as a brief shower but these hopes were in vain. The drops turned to many drops and we stopped just before the top of the climb so that I could cover my pack. I was glad I hade put on my pack cover as immediately began to pour. The climb seemed to go on for a long time and when we got to the top I was glad the rest of the hike was downhill or flat.

As we began our descent, I was feeling I was as wet as I could get and I was a little cold. I was wrong as sheets of rain began to fall! All my clothing was wet and the water was pooling in my boots. The descent from the highest point on the hike to the outlet bridge is .7 miles and loses 455 feet in elevation. The trail is rocky but I can normally make good time on the descent. The rocks were so wet I had to carefully looked to see where I was placing my feet. We ran into some pooled water and some running water that I am sure originated with the storm. On the final descent to the pond, we made a slight right turn to start down to the pond. The rain began to let up and I could even see some blue in the sky and some sun. We arrived at the outlet end of the pond where I had intended to take some pictures. Instead of stopping we continued across the bridge over the inlet stream. I was surprised that this stream was completely dry which I had never seen before. We continued on the trail and decided to stop at the lean-to for a few minutes. I noticed that the roof of the lean-to was leaking and that was generally in poor shape. A lot of effort has been put into repairing lean-tos that are in the high peaks areas but the ones in the western Catskills are ignored. The rain had slacked off so we decided to head for the car. We walked out to the Trout Pond Trail and started toward the outlet end of the pond. We found the large campsite on the left of the trail unused. The trail was wet from the storm and the rain was still falling. My boots were so wet it really didn't matter where I walked. At one point there was a place to walk off the trail to take some pictures of the pond and there was some interesting mist rising off the water. I thought about stopping but decided against it because of the rain. We continued down the trail and I decided not to stop at the beach to take pictures. I did notice that the pond was low enough so that there was at least 10 feet of beach! We continued on the main trail setting a rapid pace as this part of the trail has less rocks. The trail descends gently losing 260 feet over .7 miles on a wide woods road. We passed the junction with the Mud Pond Trail and walked by Te trail register as we continued on the trail and back to the car. We arrived at 2:30 PM after walking 4.6 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes. The elevation gain was about 900 feet. The temperature at the car was 67 degrees!

On Friday, August 12th I wanted to go to Frick Pond to remove a blowdown on the Logger's Loop that makes up part of the loop around Frick Pond. My son-in-law Brad was at our house and he is a great asset in doing this kind of work. We had planned to start in the morning but several ambulance calls delayed our start time. By 1:00 PM we started to get ready to head out with the treasure a comfortable 78 degrees and a low humidity. Sheila was watching us quietly but making sure that we did not leave without her. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with no baselayer because of the temperature. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Cascade hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Fulton insoles which are cork based and seem to be molding nicely to my feet. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. I added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I packed my Silky Sugowaza and Katanaboy saws and two felling wedges. I took my Council Tools American felling ax which Brad could carry. We got all our gear in the car and put Sheila in the backseat and drove out the Debruce Road at 1:35 PM. I drive about 6 miles before turning left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. I parked next to the only car in the smaller parking area. The car thermometer read 76 degrees as I set my GPS to get ready for the hike. At 1:50 PM we headed out the woods road toward the trail register. The woods road was damp with a few muddy places.

We continued straight ahead at the register and headed out the woods road toward Frick Pond. The trail was only damp with no standing or running water and only a few muddy places. At Gravestone Junction, we turned right to get on the Logger's Loop heading toward Times Square. The grass and brush was overgrowing the trail which meant my maintainer had not been around in some time. At least the grass was dry as was the rest of the trail. The sky was blue and had some puffy white clouds. We walked passed the designated campsites looking for the blowdown the maintainer had reported. We followed the trail as it turned a little to the left to parallel the eastern shore of Frick Pond. There are usually some wet and muddy spots along the way but these were almost completely dried up. We stayed on the main trail and avoided the "detours" which hikers had created. We topped the small hill and began walking down the other side as I wondered if I had been mistaken about the location of the blowdown. We walked a little farther and found the tree across the trail almost at the bottom of the descent. The tree was a little bigger in diameter than I remembered! I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I took some "before" pictures from both sides of the blowdown as the sunlight was bright and was overexposing my photographs. Brad and I discussed how we would do the job. We decided to cut the main trunk on one side of the trail and then on the other. We knew this would produce a short piece that we could easily move on the root end of the tree. We also knew there would be the longer center piece which we might be able to move or might have to cut again. Brad grabbed the ax and started in on the first cut. The wood was a little softer than it looked but Brad was swinging hard producing large chips. I spelled Brad briefly and we completed the cut quickly. As we anticipated, it was easy to roll the smaller piece off the trail. We went to the other end of the log and found it sitting about waist high off the ground.

This makes cutting with the ax more difficult and we though about using the Katanaboy saw. In the end we decided to use the ax as the position of the trunk would cause it to collapse and bind the saw. Brad started the cut and I finished it. The section was large and heavy. We were able to roll, push and lift it off the trail and get it well over to the side. I took a few "after" shots and then we packed up. It had taken a little more than an hour to finish the job and we decided to continue to walk around Frick Pond to complete the loop. We continued to Times Square on the Logger's Loop where we turned left and started the short loop around Frick Pond which I knew was barely 2 miles. The Big Rock Trail had some damp areas but the really muddy spots were dry. We crossed the bridges over the outlet streams and I stopped to take a few pictures. The water that normally flows under one of the bridges was completely dried up. I could not tell whether this was due to the drought conditions or a beaver dam somewhere. We entered the spruce forest which is always a treat. I pointed out to Brad the large hemlock tree I had cut. The wooden walkways were almost dry and, therefore, not very slippery. I stopped to take some pictures but was not sure if they would be very good due to the lighting conditions. When we reached the end of the Big Rock Trail, we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head toward the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. The trail was barely damp including the place that is usually a mud pit. At the bridge, I stopped and dropped my pack to take a few pictures even though I have hundreds and maybe thousands from this same spot. I put the camera away and shouldered my pack to walk up the hill to Gravestone Junction. We walked back along the Quick Lake Trail and the woods road to the parking area. We were back at the car at 4:00 PM after hiking 2.1 miles in a little over 2 hour. Of course, over and hour of that time was spent clearing the blowdown and taking some pictures. The overall elevation gain was around 165 feet.

On Wednesday, August 10th I had decided to finally get in hike to Ginat Ledge and Panther Mountain. I knew my grandson Bryce would be at my house around 9:00 AM and would want to hike. An ambulance call in the middle of the night meant that I slept in until 9:00 AM and was a little less energetic than when I had planned the hike the night before. Bryce arrived a little after 9:00 AM but I needed a little time to get ready. I did not know if we could get a parking space at Giant Ledge so I decided to take along my ax and sawt. If the plan for Giant Ledge fell through, we could go to Frick Pond and cut some trees on the Logger's Loop. The temperature was 68 degrees on the back porch as I began to get ready at 9:45 AM. While I was getting ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer as it was so warm. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Cascade hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Fulton insoles which are cork based and seem to be molding nicely to my feet. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. I added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. We got our gear together and put Sheila in the back seat as Bryce sat beside me in the front. I headed out the DeBruce Road at 10:10 AM with the temperature in the high 60's. At the end of Pole Road I turned left onto the Frost Valley Road and drove toward Slide Mountain and Giant Ledge. We both noticed that the level of water in the Neversink River was very low. There were no cars parked at Biscuit Brook but quite a few in the Slide Mountain parking area. When we arrived at the big bend in Route 47, the lot for Giant Ledge and Panther was full which I found interesting for a Wednesday! I was able to find a parking spot well off the road just below the parking area. There were a few people getting ready to start out and I wanted to get ahead of them so that I did not have to keep Sheila on her leash for the whole hike.

I set my GPS and we crossed the road to start the hike at 10:55 AM with the temperature at 65 degrees. The humidity was low and the hiking conditions were almost ideal. The trail was damp in spots from some recent storms and there was a little mud. Most of the trail was though was dry. The stream under the bridge barely had any water running. As we climbed over the normally rocky areas, I was reminded of how many small but very rocky climbs are on this trail! I had given Bryce Sheila's leash so that he could restrain her when we passed other people or when others passed us. Several times along the trail groups passed us or we caught up to others. Each time Bryce put Sheila on her leash and walked her off the side of the trail to allow others to pass. Within about 35 minutes we had hiked the .75 miles to the trail junction meeting a few people coming down the trail and passing a few more going up. I have made this in 15 minutes under ideal conditions but we weren't in any real hurry on this day. The trail straight ahead would take us to Woodland Valley but we made a left turn to go to Giant Ledge. The next .3 miles or so was almost flat and the trail was still dry with just a few damp spots. We ascended through a few small climbs. We passed a couple of hikers and again met a few coming down from the ledges. The trail is incredibly rocky and we took every chance to let Sheila off her leash. Soon we began the climb up to Giant Ledge passing the sign for the spring on the way. I thought about visiting the spring to determine its flow but decided to wait until the return trip. We started the final climb up to the Giant Ledge plateau by passing a few more people who seemed to have started a bushwhack to the right of the climb. As we started the ascent. One of the hikers in the group called out to us asking about the trail to Ginat Ledge. I indicated they were off the trail and we were following it. They tanked us and started up behind us. I was surprised at how quickly this last part went and before I knew it we were at the top. Bryce had Sheila on her leash as we would soon be at the ledges where I knew there would be a lot of people. We walked across the trail and down toward the first lookout where there were a couple of hikers. I put down my pack and got out my camera. I left Bryce and Sheila in a spot off the trail and went down to the ledge to take some pictures. The view was spectacular and the light was almost ideal. I did notice that the viewpoint was beginning to blocked by brush. I took a number of pictures at slightly different zooms and slightly different angles. The couple who were at the viewpoint asked me a number of questions which I was able to answer. We could see Slide, Cornell and Wittenberg to the right. After that was Friday and in the distance the mountains of the Devil's Path. On the far left was Panther Mountain. At this point others began arriving and I decided to let Bryce have a look before we moved on.

Bryce and I decided to move on and visit some other unoccupied viewpoints so that I could take some more pictures. I knew the hike wasn't very long and wanted to walk the entire ledge plateau until it began to descend to the col with Panther. We continued to the next lookout which was empty. I took some pictures of Sheila and Bryce on the ledge and then took more pictures of the valley below and the surrounding mountains. We visited two more viewpoints and stopped where the trail began to descend. I was ready to hike to Panther and asked Bryce who politely declined the offer. It was after noon and Bryce had not eaten lunch. I was a little disappointed that we were not continuing on to Panther but I was happy we had done a short but challenging hike. It was 12:35 PM when we turned around after hiking about 1.8 miles. We started back across the plateau of the ledges passing a few groups eating lunch. Soon we were starting down from the ledges. We met several groups heading back at the same time and we tried to pass several of these that were moving slowly. We continued to meet hikers and groups still coming up the trail. We passed people descending ahead of us. Each time we met a group Bryce put Sheila on her leash. We did not meet any other dogs which surprised me as I almost always meet some. When we came to the side trail to the spring, we turned right and started walking out to the spring. I had never been on this trail and it was longer than I thought. Eventually the trail ended and I had to assume the small trickle of water was the spring. There was no way to get water from the spring. We turned around and walked back out to the main trail where we turned right to head back to the car. Eventually we were at the trail junction where we turned right to start down the final .75 miles of trail. We passed group at the top of the descent but were being "chased" by another larger group. We began a rather fast descent down the trail. We both agreed that the fact that there were many similar descent was annoying. These descents are where the rockiness of the trail becomes even more evident than on the climb! We finally arrived at the descent to the bridge over the stream. We crossed the bridge where Sheila usually likes to get a final drink and to cool off. There was not enough water to make the effort worthwhile. As we walked out the trail to the road several other small groups were headed up the trail. The lot was still full and cars were parked on the side of the road below the parking area. We were back at the car at 2:00 PM after covering 3.6 miles in 3 hours and 5 minutes with an ascent of about 1150 feet.

On Monday, August 8th, I found out my grandson Bryce would be coming to my house but not until 11:00 AM. I knew by that time the heat index would be climbing so I planned to hike a route at Frick Pond to inspect some of the trails for blowdowns after some recent storms. I got some work done around the house and Bryce arrived at 11:00 AM as promised. I started to get ready at 11:15 AM when the temperature was 86 degrees with high humidity. As I was getting dressed, Sheila was very quiet but did not let me out of her sight. I decided to put on a short-sleeved wicking shirt I had gotten some years ago at a cross country race. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my newer Keen Cascade hiking boots with a new pair of Fulton cork insoles. I felt I need more foot support as I was having some pain especially in my Achilles' Tendons. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat while Bryce sat beside me in the front. We left Livingston Manor at 11:30 AM as I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. When we arrived at the parking areas, there was one car parked in the larger lot. I pulled into the smaller lot and parked. The skies were sunny and blue with a few clouds and a slight breeze blowing. The temperature right at 82 degrees which was cooler than I thought it might be. I set my GPS unit and we started out the woods road to the register. As we walked out the woods road, we saw a couple of hikers at the register. I asked Bryce to put Sheila on her leash and hold onto her. At the register we continued straight ahead on the Quick Lake Trail. From the register the trail was only damp with very little standing or running water and some mud. The trail would have been dry but there had been a few showers the previous evening. The couple who were hiking stopped at the Lobdell memorial marker and we passed them on the way to the trail junction.

At Gravestone Junction, we stayed left on the Quick Lake trail heading toward the bridge at the outlet to Frick Pond. This area of the trail had more mud but it was minimal compared to what it usually looks like. When we arrived at the bridge, I looked at the scene and decided to take some shots even though I have hundreds from the same location. The pond was very low which was partly due to the fact that someone had ripped out the beaver dam! I took pictures of the whole scene and some of Beech Mountain. The couple caught up to us but decided to walk to the shore of the pond and look around. Before we started out again, Bryce and I both applied insect repellant as the mosquitoes and other biting insects were numerous. We continued around the west side of the pond where the trail was just damp with a small amount of mud here and there. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we headed left on the Quick Lake Trail which was almost dry. I had been removing smaller branches but there were a few larger ones in this area that Bryce and I managed to drag off the trail. It is always a pleasure to hike with Bryce as we talk about such a range of topics. Now that he is 11 years old he can actually do a lot of work on the trails. As we walked through the spruce tunnel, we came upon a rather large blowdown almost blocking the trail. Fortunately, it was loose and Bryce and I were able to pull it off the trail and clean up the trail. When we came to the small stream across the trail, we found it almost dry and easy to step across. I took a few pictures and then moved on. We continued on up the Quick Lake Trail toward Iron Wheel Junction. This part of the trail is usually wet and muddy but this day it was damp in most places with only a few muddy spots.

When we got to the junction, we turned right on the Logger's Loop without taking pictures of the iron wheels that gave the junction its name. As we started out, the trail seemed to have almost no water and I was hopeful this would continue. We were lucky and the trail remained very dry for the entire length. We did run across another large blowdown which we were able to muscle off to the side of the trail. A little farther along there was another large trunk that had fallen across the trail. This one was above head high and would be difficult to cut with hand tools. There had been a few other trunks lying on the ground and I thought about getting the local ranger to tackle them with me. All of the streams that run across the trail or under it were dry. Even the outlet stream from Hodge Pond was dry! This was completely different than the last time I had hiked when there had been water in all of these streams. We came to the large cherry tree that had broken off high up and fallen so that it was arching across the trail. This tree was not blocking the trail and it was clear it was not coming down soon. We passed the seasonal pond on the left side of the trail and I could see that it was completely dry. We continued downhill to Times Square which was also almost dry. I thought about turning left and climbing the Big Rock Trail to add mileage but Bryce wanted to stay on the Logger's Loop and I didn't object as I wanted to see if there were any blowdowns. We walked straight across Times Square to stay on the Logger's Loop and started uphill. Just before the beginning of the uphill was another streambed which we crossed and it was also dry. Although the trail is slightly uphill we were setting a fast pace. We did find another medium sized trunk across the trail which would have to be dealt with. We continued walking on the trail and crested the hill to walk out to Gravestone Junction. We turned left at the Gravestone Junction and headed back to the car on the woods road. At the register we continued straight ahead on the woods road back to the car. It was 2:00 PM and we had spent 2 hour and 15 minutes hiking 3.7 miles with an elevation gain was a modest 400 feet. We had spent 30 minutes stopped to take pictures and clear the trail. The temperature had risen to 86 degrees.

On Saturday, August 5th I wanted to get out for a Ike after two days off for ambulance calls and some work at the church. Sheila had spent most of Friday getting her teeth cleaned general anesthetic. When I picked her up, she was a little off balance and obvious still feeling the effects of the anesthetic. Y Saturday morning she seemed back to normal so I decided to take her hiking. I decided to go across the street and hike on Round Top as I so often do in these circumstances. I am lucky that I have a place so close to hike but it has become very familiar. I have found that even a short hike helps to keep my blood pressure in check and I am hoping I can get my weight down also. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike but she was being a good dog and just whining a little bit. It was 88 degrees on the back porch so I decided to put on a short-sleeved wicking shirt I had gotten some years ago at a cross country race. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my newer Keen Cascade hiking boots with a new pair of Fulton cork insoles. I felt I need more foot support as I was having some pain especially in my Achilles' Tendons. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. At 12:35 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I thought we could hike our usual two figure 8's which would give us about an hour of exercise.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and continued directly up the hill to the trailhead. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal was to make it all the way up the hill without stopping. At the top of the hill we turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was very dry and that continued as we entered the woods. I was not surprised that the trails were so completely dry as we had not had any significant rain for some time. I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There was a slight breeze which cooled us off but I wondered if it was a precursor to a thunderstorm! Sheila was already panting and I was feeling a little dry. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. I was happy to see that the trail work Cindy and I had done was Holcomb up. We had trimmed back brush along this trail and removed a large blowdown. No more brush had fallen into the trail as I thought it might. We turned right on the blue trail and started to climb the hill. I began to think about my sermon for Sunday and the hiking went very quickly. We turned right on the switchback in the blue trail which I had constructed to ease the erosion on the main trail and allow people to have a slightly more gentle climb. At the end of the switchback we turned right on the main blue trail and passed the white crossover trail on the way to the summit. We crossed over the summit and started down the blue rail on the other side. We again passed the white crossover trail continuing on to the yellow trail. We had not run into any blowdowns blocking the trail but I had removed a few small braces. We turned right and again walked along the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and headed down toward the lookout. The trail bed was clear but some ferns were beginning to encroach on the trail. The forest here was a sea of ferns gently waving in the breeze. When we reached the viewpoint, I noticed that the view was almost completely blocked by the trees. I made a note to contact the town supervisor to see if we could work something out. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. We had completed a figure 8 and were ready to start another.

We immediately turned around and started back up the short but steep hill to the lookout. The trip back up the hill to the lookout was pretty easy which, again, surprised me because I have not been hiking long hikes to get me in shape. At the top of the hill we turned right to follow the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. We turned right to follow the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started uphill toward the summit. When we came to the white crossover trail, we turned left and walked the trail until it met the blue trail on the other side of the hill. At the blue trail, we turned left and then left again on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed the switchback out and back to the main trail and turned left to walk down to the yellow trail. We turned left and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned right on the yellow trail and followed it downhill to the woods road. We walked down the woods road to the first trail junction. This time we turned left and walked out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot. We crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. When we arrived home, it was 1:35 PM and we had hiked around 2 miles in an hour.

On Wednesday, August 3rd I wanted to hike a little longer and a little farther away from home. I had not hiked since the previous Friday as I had been at a church Conference. I decided to head to the Neversink Unique Are near Rock Hill since there are several waterfalls which I knew would be flowing. I was anxious to see how much water was in the Neversink River and Mullet Brook as the weather had been very dry. The temperature was in the high 80's by the time I started to get ready at noon and the humidity was high. As soon as Sheila realized I was getting ready to hike, she began whining and would not leave my side. I got my gear ready and dressed for what was going to be a warmer day than I had expected. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer as it was so warm. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Cascade hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Fulton insoles which are cork based and seem to be molding nicely to my feet. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. I added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. We left Livingston Manor at 12:20 PM and headed down State Route 17 toward Rock Hill. I took the Rock Hill exit and drove down Katrina Falls Road until I saw the Dead End sign. I turned left on Wolf Lake Road and after a short distance found the access road to the parking area. There was a nice parking area near the road but I wanted to drive to the end of the road and park abate upper parking area. The road was in decent shape but had several washed out areas. The powerlines in the area are very impressive as they are carried by tall steel towers in several different directions. I drove to the parking area 12:45 PM. I set my electronics and we were on our way shortly after that with the temperature at 88 degrees and high humidity.

We picked up the yellow trail out of the parking area. The trail was dry and well-trimmed which made walking very easy. The trail is was slightly longer and more downhill than I remembered. The hike in on the side trail was .6 miles and it was mostly downhill losing about 100 feet. Soon we arrived at the red trail where we turned left knowing that we would have to walk uphill to the car at the end of the hike no matter which way we went. We walked along the trail finding a few muddy and damp areas. At one point I looked up to find three women hiking toward us. I ushered Sheila off the trail and we exchanged greetings a they passed. At .7 miles we crossed the upper bridge over Mullet Brook. The bridge had a tree fall across it some time ago. The tree has been removed but the bridge is still in disrepair. There wasn't much water in the stream so I did not stop to take pictures. We followed the trail as it made a sharp right turn and headed downhill. We could hear the brook falling over the stony streambed as we hiked the trail. I could also hear voices in the area of Mullet Brook Falls and wondered how many people I might find there. We continued along the trail and at 1.25 miles we came to the yellow blazed spur trail to Mullet Brook Falls and turned right to visit this attraction. As we walked along the trail I could still hear the loud voices and it sounded like quite a crowd. The spur trail is less than .2 miles and we were soon near the falls. I tied Sheila to a tree and left my pack with her. I grabbed my camera and walked out toward the falls. I was surprised to find only three young people near the base of the falls! I was able to position myself to get some pictures of the falls without people in them. The lighting was difficult as the sub was bright and shining directly in the falls. I returned to my pack and Sheila, got a drink and then headed back out the spur trail to the main trail. We turned right and walked downhill to the junction where the red trail meets the blue trail at 2.8 miles. The blue trail stretches from the Katrina Falls parking area all the way south to High Falls where it ends. Future plans may included blazing this trail farther south along existing woods roads to reach the southern part of the Neversink Unique Area. We turned right on the blue trail and then almost immediately turned left on the yellow spur trail to Denton Falls.

The trail was dry and in pretty good shape and but a few more markers need to be added in places. Just after the turn we met a family of four coming back up from the river. I escorted Sheila off the trail and they stopped to talk for a few minutes. We parted and headed in opposite directions. The trail is about .3 miles long but over that length it loses 175 feet to the lowest point on the hike at the Neversink River. We met one more hiker coming up the trail working his way trough the maze of paths created by hikers who cannot find the trail markers! As the trail leveled, we ran into some very muddy areas despite the lack of rain. There are springs in the area and runoff from the hill keeps the area wet. Someone had taken the time to install a makeshift corduroy which did help us through the mud. The trail down to the falls is very eroded from use and there are many roots and rocks to trip over. As we got to the river, I could see a mother and two children on the rocks by the falls. I took my pack off and got out my camera. The water was very low but there were still falls. I was able to walk out on the rocks above the falls farther than I ever have. I took pictures upstream and downstream while Sheila got a drink and played in the water. I put Sheila on her leash and we work our way passed the family and down to the rocks below the falls. This was not easy as the rocks were wet and slippery. Again, I was able to walk out on rocks I had never seen before. This allowed me to get some good pictures of the falls from a different angle. Eventually, I was done and we walked back up to my pack. The family asked me some questions about the area and about fishing. Sheila and I started back up the hill and were soon back at the main blue trail where we turned left to complete the loop.

We came to the lower bridge across Mullet Brook which has been replaced with twin steel I-beams for support and all new wood. The water level was low and I was interested in getting back to the car as the heat and humidity were both very high! Sheila did take the time to jump in and get wet all over again. We continued to hike the blue trail which continued descending. The trail was dry for the most part even in places which usually have small streams. At 2.85 miles we came to the trail junction where the blue trail bends to the left and the red trail begins. We turned right on the red trail knowing we were now headed back to the car but also knowing the trip would be all uphill! This part of the trail was also dry but there were a few large blowdowns along the way. In some places the laurel was beginning to encroach on the trail. The trail took us south and then at about 3.4 miles turned to the east. As we were nearing the top of the climb we met the same family we had met on the trail to Denton Falls. We gain stopped to talk for a few minutes before continuing on. At 3.75 miles we came to the trail junction with the yellow trail to the Wolf Lake parking area and our car. We had gained over 400 feet in .9 miles and the climb was never steep but it was continuous. We turned left on the yellow trail and continued to climb back toward the upper parking area. We gained another 140 feet over the half mile back to the parking lot. When we arrived at the upper parking area, I was glad I could get in the car and turn on the air conditioning. The thermometer on the car read 95 degrees! We arrived back at the car at 3:25 PM having hiked 4.3 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes with about 25 minutes stopped for pictures. I honestly thought we had set a quicker pace but in any case we had great fun.

On Friday, July 29th, I wanted to get out and do a longer hike but a morning ambulance call delayed my departure until late morning. I decided that I wanted to go to Alder Lake to hike to the Beaver Meadow Lean-to which would be better named the Beaver Pond lean-to as the beavers have returned. They have built an impressive dam and there are at least two lodges. I thought I would take along my Silky Sugowaza saw and wedges just in case I came across any small blowdowns to cut. I started to get ready at 1:30 PM when the temperature was 78 degrees. Sheila was hovering around me as she can always detect when I am getting ready for a hike. It was almost as warm as the day before so I decided to put on a light short-sleeved crew shirt made of wicking material. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my newer Keen Cascade hiking boots which fit well. I had added a pair of Fulton cork insoles that were in the process of molding to my feet to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. I decided to wear my wide-brimmed floppy hat for some protection from the sun. I stowed my Silky Sugowaza saw in my pack and put on a pair of OR BugOut gaiters to combat the ticks that have been around. I got my gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 1:45 PM and drove north and west on Old Route 17 toward Roscoe. Just outside of town I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and headed north. I continued on the Beaverkill Road through Lew Beach and Turnwood toward Alder Creek Road where I made a left. I continued to the end on the road where I turned right toward Alder Lake. I drove up the access road very slowly as there are some very rough spots. When I got to the parking area there were five vehicles parked in the lot with at least one getting ready to start a hike. The temperature was 74 degrees and there was a cool breeze blowing. There was evidence that the state was cutting some trees and brush to widen the access after the gate and around the remains of the Coykendall Mansion which makes me nervous! The skies were bright and sunny with lots of blue but and many puffy white clouds to provide contrast. I set my GPS and we started out on the path toward the "lawn" at 2:15 PM.

We walked along the path which passes by the stone foundations which marks the last remnants of the Coykendall Mansion. The house had been built as a large hunting lodge and then was gifted to the Boy Scouts of America. When the state took over the property, the mansion fell into disrepair with campers tearing boards away to use for campfires. The state added a fence but it did not deter people so the house was eventually burned to the ground. As we walked down the right side of the lawn, I noticed that none of the grass had been cut and the picnic tables that were present were hiding in the tall weeds. I don't know whether this is done on purpose by the DEC or whether they just lack staff. In either case, it is a shame that such a beautiful place is treated so shabbily with almost no maintenance. I walked toward the dam as there was a family on the "beach" where I normally tale pictures. I took pout my camera and snapped some shots of the lake and the hills around it. The lighting was almost perfect and there were interesting reflections in the lake. The breeze caused ripples on the lake which added another element to my pictures. We started to walk across the lawn toward the trail around the left side of the lake but were intercepted by an unleashed barking dog. I get so tired of irresponsible dog owners who only consider what is easiest for them. I politely suggested to the owner that he get a leash and he politely suggested that I calm down! We made it to the other side of the lawn and started walking east along the trail on the north side of the lake. The trail was mostly dry and the brush had been beaten back by use. We found a few muddy spots but nothing like the ones that are often present. The brush and branches that had overgrown the trail were now dead and the walking was much easier. Sheila was happy to be out and ran ahead and then returned to me. I began to remove small branches from the trail and moved one larger one. As we approached the bridges, Sheila alerted and I could see two people fishing along the shore. We stopped to talk and I found the one man was someone I knew from Livingston Manor.

We continued on the trail and I could see a young couple coming up behind us with their dog on a leash. We crossed the bridges on the trail near the head end of the lake and I could see the beaver dam that impounded some water from the inlet streams was still intact. I decided to wait to take pictures on the way back. We continued on the trail toward the junction with the Millbrook Ridge Trail. At the point where a path leads to the left to some primitive campsite, some large trees had fallen across the trail. We were able to step over them but it was not easy. I could cut them with my hand tools but it would take a long time! I made a note to call the local ranger to see if we could schedule a time to remove them with a chainsaw. At the trail junction, we turned left to head toward the lean-to on the Millbrook Ridge Trail. The trail was dry in most places but we did run into a stretch of nettles. Fortunately, the trail showed more use than I had expected and the nettles were well back from the trail. There were a few small blowdowns which I removed from the trail. There were also some older and rotten trunks that I was able to move and this continued for the rest of the hike. I did find a few blowdowns that I thought I might cut on the return trip. We crossed some stream that were almost dry and even Alder Creek was down to a trickle. We did find a few large, older blowdowns which would be hard to clear with hand tools so I thought about getting get a crew with a sawyer to remove some of the larger ones from trail. The trail is pretty obvious and the blazes easy to see in most places. For the next 1.5 miles the trail climbed and then leveled off several times. The elevation gain is several hundred feet but the grade is never more than 12% and averages around 6%. There isn't too much to see along the way but this day was very pleasant because of the temperature and my mood. We enjoyed the sounds and sights of Alder Creek as it flows parallel to the trail much of the way even though the volume was low.

The trail leveled off at the first beaver meadow and we crossed a small stream that feeds it. At 2.2 miles we began the last climb and I found that the going was easier than I thought it would be. As we started the climb, we came across a few more blowdowns. Soon we arrived at the beaver pond. Where there had once been a beaver meadow, there was now a pond with a dam and a beaver lodge. The pond was the same size as the last time I had visited occupying the entire meadow. As we came to the spot on the trail opposite the beaver dam, we walked off the trail to the right and found a good viewpoint. I took pictures of the pond and the dam which I thought would be good as there were reflections in the pond and white clouds in the sky. I also took some shots of the beaver lodge with the lean-to in the background. As I looked around I was overcome by the feeling of joy at seeing what God has created! I realized that the return trip would be much easier as it was almost all downhill but that I might stop to remove some trunk and branches. We walked over to the lean-to and found it in a shambles. The lean-to has been largely ignored while others are repaired or entirely reconstructed. This is a popular spot but it is not near a 3500 foot peak. I took some pictures of what is now an open-air "outhouse" since the structure surrounding it was long ago torn down. I also noticed large holes in the roof and took some more pictures. After I got a drink and ate a bar, we started back on the trail. I did take some time at various places to remove larger branches and some rotten trunks. By the time I was done there were six or seven large trunks that would be easier to cut with a chainsaw and a few smaller ones that could be taken with hand tools. The walk did go quickly and we were soon at the loop trail around Alder Lake where we turned right to return the way we came. When we came to the bridges there was the open view of Cradle Rock Ridge but the skies were overcast and black clouds were gathering. We continued on the trail toward the parking area and at one point I got another view of Cradle Rock Ridge so I took the opportunity to snap some shots. We met one person walking along the trail toward us and a person on a mountain bike! In both cases I took Sheila to the side of the trail. We also met another couple with their two dogs. Unfortunately, one was on a leash but the other was not. As we approached the parking area the black clouds were gathering over Cradle Rock Ridge. As the trail came to the "lawn" we turned right and walked up the hill toward the stonework of the mansion. We walked back to the car. We were back at the car at 4:55 PM after hiking 4.6 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes with 20 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 650 feet. Our moving speed was 2 MPH. We did not run into any rain on the way hoe but at home it was obvious it had rain hard!

On Wednesday, July 27th, I wanted to get out and hike a mountain not too far from home. I have been sleeping late because almost every night brings an ambulance call or two and Tuesday night was no exception. I decided I would combine a shorter hike up a mountain with some trail maintenance. The Touch-Me-Not Trail from Beech Hill Road to Cabot Mountain seemed like a good choice. Since I had done the maintenance from Barkaboom Road to Cabot Mountain earlier, this would complete my maintenance except for a little lopping to do in a few spots. I am the Finger Lakes Trail Conference Trail Coordinator for the eastern Catskills from Route 206 to the top of Slide Mountain which is the trail's eastern terminus. I also maintain this section of trail for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference. By 11:00 AM it was already 76 degrees with some lingering humidity from the rain showers. I got my gear ready and dressed for what was going to be a warmer day than I had expected. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer as it was so warm. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Cascade hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Fulton insoles which are cork based and seem to be molding nicely to my feet. I decided to take my Leki poles and forego an ax as I expected to do only so light work. I added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I also put on my OR BugOut gaiters to make sure the ticks stayed on the outside. I put my Silky Sugowaza saw and two felling wedges in my pack. Sheila was ready to go as we pulled out of Livingston Manor at 11:20 AM. I drove north on Old Route 17 before turning right on the Beaverkill Road. I got behind some slower traffic as was further delayed by some tree trimming. I passed through Lew Beach and turned left on Beech Hill Road Road. I drove up the road about 2.6 miles and parked at the small pullout on the right side of the road at the beginning of the trail. The temperature was 74 degrees but a light breeze was blowing. There was one other car parked in the lot.

I set my electronics and we walked down through the field and into the woods to begin our hike at 11:40 AM. The first part of the trail is flat and usually very wet but on this day the grass had been cut and the trail was relatively dry. We walked along a stone wall and almost immediately came to a few small trunk across the trail. I moved the ones I could and decided to leave the ones that I would need to cut for the trip back. As we walked, I picked up a few branches and threw them aside. The trail was damp and with a few muddy spots. Some of the rocks were damp and slippery. There were no major blowdowns on the flat part of the trail. At .2 miles the trail begins to climb and in about half a mile it gains almost 600 feet averaging a 20% grade. This is not as steep as the other side but is plenty challenging. After climbing a little we ran into a stand of nettles that continued for a few hundred feet and then ended. We did not see any more nettles for the rest of the trip. I did see several large logs that I had cut last year or before. We continued up the trail which has a few switchbacks and several flatter areas. We came to a steep section which was bare of vegetation. Sheila alerted and I looked up to see two men walking down the trail toward us. They had no poles and each carried a water bottle. I pulled Sheila off the trail as they passed. They stopped for a minute and I asked them about the trail ahead. They told me it was mostly clear. After they passed, we continued up the mountain. As we climbed the steep trail, I though about the descent which is always tricky! We found a large tree trunk on the trail that was almost completely rotted. Just passed this was another large diameter trunk across the trail with a red trial marker on it. Hikers had begun to walk around the end of the log.

At about .7 miles the trail levels off and then rolls over several bumps to the Cabot Mountain Vista at 1.6 miles. Shortly after the trail flattened we came to another tree that had fallen across the trail. It had several trunks and I knew I could not completely remove it by myself with the small saw. I thought I might ne able to cut away enough branches to allow hikers to walk upright through the mess. We continued along the trail climbing a few bumps and descending others. Two young men in their teens approached us and we greeted each other as they passed. Sheila was having a great time as she roamed ahead and followed some game trails always coming back at my call. We passed many blowdowns that I remember clearing and I was surprise that the trail was in such good shape. The trailbed was ease to follow and there were bough trail markers to designate the trail. We continued along the flat part of the trail toward the viewpoint. As we were only a half mile from the overlook we met a man and woman with a four year old child. I again pulled Sheila off the trail. The couple slowed as they passed and I told them I was confused as I had met three groups of people and there was only one car. They told me that the two teenagers were part of their family so that just left the first two men I had met! There was one more tree across the trail as we were approaching the viewpoint. We arrived at the lookout at about 12:50 PM. The view was starting to grow back in after it had been cut out a few years ago. The individual puffy white clouds had started to come together into an overcast. I took some pictures including a few of Sheila sitting on the lookout with Little Pond in the background. We both got a drink and I could tell that I was dehydrated and knew I would face the consequences in the from of leg cramps at night! I knew that the trip back should go quickly and I was glad that I had brought poles to help. As we started back we ran into a blowdown that could be stepped over but I decided to cut off a few branches to make it easier. I took some pictures and then used the saw to remove a few branches to make the hike easier. I took some "after" pictures and the we moved on.

While walking a low hanging branch grabbed hold of me. I broke off the branch but I noticed a dead tree standing near the trail. I knew the tree would soon fall onto the trail so I though I should remove the dead tree. I decided to give it a push and see what would happen. I gave it a push and heard a crack but the tree did not fall! I looked up to see the tree had cracked in half further above me. I decided that I would try again and positioned myself so that I was sure any falling pieces would miss me. I gave it a push and the bottom section fell in front of me across the trail. Before I could move, the top section fell about 6 inches from my left elbow. I was startled. As I began to pick up the pieces I found that they were very light but I was sure that it they had hit me it would have HURT! I finished cleaning up the mess and moved on. I stopped a couple of times to roll or lift some larger branches off the trail. I also cut several branches that had sharp ends sticking out into the trail. As we started to leave the for a long time section to begin the descent we came to three with two trunks that was blocking the trail. I decided to improve what I could. I took some pictures and then got to work. I cut some branches off the main trunks and removed them to the side of the trail. I then removed all the loose branches in the area where the trunks were highest above the ground. I then began to cut and remove all the branches in that area to clear a way for hikers to walk through. I looked at what I had done and called it good. I took some pictures and we began our descent. We came to the larger trunk across the trail and followed the path other hikers had used around one end. Just below this was the large rotten trunk. I kicked this one several times and found it was in section. I took the time to remove the rotten sections by lifting and rolling. By the time I was done there was almost nothing left. We started down the mountain trying to keep a fast pace. Sheila had no problems but I had to be careful in the steep sections even with poles. Soon we were on the last flat section before the car. I thought about clearing the last few small trunks but knew I could get these at any time. We walked back to the car arriving at 2:20 PM after spending 2 hours and 40 minutes hiking 3.2 miles and doing some trail work. I spent about 50 minutes stopped at the viewpoint and the various work sites. I was surprised that the elevation gain was only 900 feet!

On Tuesday, July 26th I decided I wanted to go over to Round Top to clear the brush on the trail that Ariana and I had found the day before. Some morning ambulance calls pushed this off to the afternoon. I asked Cindy if she would go hoping that having tow people would make the work go more quickly. As we started to get ready at 1:30 PM the temperature had risen to 72 degrees with partly sunny skies. It was cooler than the day before so I decided to again put on a light short-sleeved crew shirt made of wicking material. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my newer Keen Cascade hiking boots which fit well. I had added a pair of Fulton cork insoles that were in the process of molding to my feet to support my arches. I decided to forego any poles as I would be carrying some maintenance tools. I decided to wear my wide-brimmed floppy hat for some protection from the sun. I put my Silky Sugowaza in my pack and carried my extensible Corona loppers. At 1:50 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. The heat and humidity were high but not as bad as they had been. The forecast for the late afternoon included some thunderstorms so I wanted to get finished as soon as possible. We put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat as I drove across the street and up the roads to the trailhead. I parked on the side of the road and we got started on the trail. I knew Cindy wanted to use her poles so I carried the loppers. Just before the first trail junction there was a small tree that had broken off and I wanted to clear the branches encroaching on the trail. I put my pack down but did not bother to take pictures. Cindy had walked ahead so I was on my own. I decided to not just cut the small branches but to eliminate the problem at the source. I used the saw to cut off the largest branches which I would eventually drag off the trail. Cindy came back to watch me work and eventually helped moved some brush off the trail.

When we were done, we walked to the first trail junction and turned right to start up the woods road which is the easier f the two approaches to the trail system. We stopped at a tree that had been hanging over trail for some time and looked ready to fall. I tried shaking it loose but concluded we would have to wait for the next wind storm. We continued up the trail removing branches that had blown off the trees in the storm the night before. We followed the yellow makers as they turned off the road and along the trail up through the woods. I stopped several times to cut brush that was beginning to lean over into the trail. It took me longer as I had to cut the brush and remove it from the trail. It wasn't very long until we came to the junction with the blue trail where we turned left. We walked along the yellow trail as I continued to cut and remove some small and not so small branches. We soon ran into the biggest blowdown which was little more complex than I thought. This time I took some pictures before I started. The tree was very long but on the top had fallen onto the trail so there was no large trunk to cut. I removed some lose branches and then cut a few small ones to reveal what remained. It looked to me like I could walked along the trunk and "top" the tree. I removed a few more branches and pulled them out of the way because after topping the tree I wanted to drag to tops back into the woods. I made three cuts and the started dragging the tops into the woods. The first was the largest and it gave me some trouble until I decided it was going. I noticed Cindy had taken the clippers and was working a little farther down the trail. I dragged the other two tops off the trail and was surprised that the job was almost finished. I cut some ore small branches and asked Cindy to use the loppers on a few more. I took some after pictures and then moved a little but along the trail. I moved some branches Cindy had cut to the large pile I had created from the blowdown. This made things look neater and created a bigger brush pile for rabbits and other animals. Cindy and I worked to clear branches that were leani9ng into the trail and other dead branches that could potentially obstruct hikers. We spend some time cutting back the trail and stacking the cuttings on the large brush pile. Soon we were at the junction with the blue trail where we turned right head up the hill.

As we started up the hill, we came to a small tree that had broken off about 5 feet up from the ground and had fallen so that it was hanging over the trail. I knew it was just a matter of time before this tree fell. I took some shots and then tried rocking the tree back and forth. It stayed lodged high in the other tree and would not budge. I decided to cut it near where the break was on the trunk hoping it would fall to the ground and dislodge on the other side. I made the cut which was nerve wracking as I did not know how the trunk would twist. Fortunately it fell neatly onto the trail. I made one more cut further up the trunk which allowed the rest of the trunk to swing off the trail. I removed the piece I had cut off, took some pictures and moved on. We followed the switchback in the blue trail but found nothing major to remove. We continued up the hill on the blue trail. On the summit we cleared a few small beaches and cut back a tree or two. It was getting late as we made our way down the other side of the hill toward the yellow trail. We lopped off some branches and I cut a few larger ones with the saw. We removed everything and I continued down the blue trail to the junction with the yellow trail with Cindy lagging a little behind. I turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. I turned left to follow the yellow trail down to the lookout to make sure there were Ni major blowdowns on this part of the trail. I wasn't find much but at some point I noticed Cindy was not behind us! I had no idea what she had done but decided to continue on my route. I did move a few larger branches off the trail but was able to leave the saw in my pack. We turned left at the viewpoint and started down the steep hill toward the first trail junction where I could see Cindy waiting. We walked straight out the trail to the car, put our gear in the back, and headed home. We arrived home at 3:50 PM after spending 2 hours in the hear clearing the trail system!

On Monday, July 25th my granddaughter Ariana was at our house. She had been there for the weekend but the weather had been hot and humid when it was not raining. We finally decided to go out on Monday even though the weather was still "sticky". We decided to go across the street to hike on Round Top. As we started to get ready at 3:00 PM the temperature had risen to 80 degrees with partly sunny skies and high humidity. It was almost as warm as the day before so I decided to put on a light short-sleeved crew shirt made of wicking material. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my newer Keen Cascade hiking boots which fit well. I had added a pair of Fulton cork insoles that were in the process of molding to my feet to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. I decided to wear my wide-brimmed floppy hat for some protection from the sun. At 3:15 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. The heat and humidity were high but not as bad as they had been. The forecast for the late afternoon included some thunderstorms so I wanted to get finished as soon as possible. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We walked out the driveway and crossed the street to walk along the street to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the lot and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church.

The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila was giving me a little pull but Ariana was having no problem climbing the hill on her own. At the top of the hill we stopped to look around. I showed Ariana the work that a crew had done in repairing some headstones that had fallen over. I talked to her about "hillside creep" and how it effects the cemetery. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. The trailhead was dry and that continued as we entered the woods. At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill to the lookout over town. The trails were pretty dry despite the rain that had fallen. When we reached the top of the hill, we walked out the path to the lookout over town. I pointed out the gap in the path and explained to Ariana why I did not want to encourage people to hike on the path. We stood on the viewpoint and I pointed out various buildings in town and the spot on the opposing hill where a development has been proposed. I explained to Ariana that we are not standing on solid rock but on a shelf with a "cave" underneath. We decided to go down below to see the cave. We walked a little further along the ledge and found a crack that allowed us to descend to a narrow path to the cave. We turned left and walked along the path until we were under the ledge where we had just been standing. Ariana was impressed by the thin layers of sedimentary rock that made up the supporting structure of the viewpoint. After taking a look, we turned around and started back up the way we came. We were soon back on the viewpoint. We continued up over a small ledge to the clearing above. Someone had stared a small fire without a stone ring which could be very dangerous. We picked up the yellow trail and ascended through the woods. The trail continued to be dry with only a few damp spots here and there but plenty of ferns. When we reached the junction with the blue trail we turned right to stay on the yellow trail. As we continued on this trail along the base of Round Top we found many branches leaning into the trail and one large blowdown almost blocking the trail. I knew I would have to come back soon to clear this part of the trails. We were able to walk by these branches and soon came to the second junction with the blue trail. Here we turned left and started up the blue trail toward the summit of Round Top. We bypassed the white trail and continued over the top and started down the other side.

When we came to the switchback in the blue trail, we followed it to the right out into the woods and then back as it rejoined the main blue trail. When we came to the junction with the yellow trail, we turned left and again walked along the base1 of Round Top through the brush that was on the trail. This time when we came to the trail junction, we turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the woods road that would return us to the very first trail junction. As we were walking, Ariana and I were having a great conversation about many topics. I don't get to see her as much as some of the other grandchildren and found talking to her very interesting. We were also removing many small branches from the trail until we came to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and started back up the woods road and the yellow trail. I pointed out many of the interesting ledges and cliffs along the trail. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned left to again follow the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. At that junction we turned right and headed up the hill toward the summit. We turned right on the switchback and followed it around and back to the main blue trail. We continued up the blue trail over the summit and down the other side. At the trail junction we turned right and made one final trip across the yellow trial. We continued to follow the yellow trail when it turned left at the trail junction. We walked downhill through the waving ferns to the viewpoint. We turned left and continued on the yellow trail down the steep hill to the first trail junction. We continued straight ahead and walked out to the trailhead. We turned right to start down the hill to the church parking lot. At the bottom of the hill we walked out to the parking lot. We walked through the parking lot to Rock Avenue. After crossing the street to our driveway, we walked back to the house. We were home by 4:15 PM after hiking a little less than three miles in an hour.

On Wednesday, July 20th I wanted to clear a large evergreen trunk that I had lefty across the trail the day before. Lisa and I has removed a few blowdowns on the Big Rock Trail and then had come to this large evergreen in the "spruce tunnel" on the west side of Frick Pond. We had worked to clear all the breaches that had obscured the trail leaving only the trunk. The trunk was large and I wanted to have a larger ax to handle it. I knew my Grandson Bryce would be coming to the house so I decided to ask him if he wanted to go. Bryce arrived at 9:30 AM and we took some time to do work around the house. At 11:45 AM we decided to go remove the one trunk with the temperature at 88 degrees. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer as it was so warm. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Cascade hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Fulton insoles which are cork based and seem to be molding nicely to my feet. I decided to take my Leki poles as Bryce would be carrying my Council Tool 4lb felling ax and the Silky Katanaboy saw. I added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my Silky Sugowaza saw and two felling wedges in my pack. We put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat at noon with the temperature at 90 degrees. I drove out the Debruce Road about 6 miles and turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. At the split, I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. There was one cars parked in each parking lots as I pulled into the smaller area. The thermometer read 86 degrees. I hoped that being under the trees would be cooler! There did not seem too be many insects so we skipped the repellant. At 12L15 PM we started our hike by heading out on the wood road to the trail register and the Quick Lake Trail.

The woods road was damp with a few small muddy spots. The Quick Lake Trail after the register was wetter and muddier but we could avoid most of these spots. At Gravestone Junction we sated to the left on the Quick Lake Trail and headed toward Frick Pond. When we arrived at the pond, we crossed the bridge and saw that someone had vandalized the beaver dam. I think I know who is doing this but I have been unable to determine of they have permission to do it! We continued to hike on the Quick Lake Trail along the west side of Frick Pond. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we turned right to get on the Big Rock Trail. There were a few wet and muddy spots on this trail but we easily got by them. After passing over some wooden walkway, we came to the large trunk across the trail at just less than a mile. I dropped my pack and took some "before pictures" and then went to look at the trunk. Because of its position and the fact that it was almost flat on the ground, I decided to use the ax to make a cut off the trail toward the butt end where the trunk was thickest. After completing that cut, my plan was to make another cut of the trail ward the top of the tree where the diameter was smaller. I was concerned as there had been so many branches that I knew there would be knots which are much harder than the softer evergreen wood. Bryce and I both noticed that the mosquitoes were gathering so we put on some insect repellent which seemed to work.

I got the Council Tools felling ax and began the rather straightforward work. I was determined to get the cut wide enough which meant I had to start by cutting quite a bit of wood. The bigger ax is a beast and works very will for this purpose. With each swing I can develop more momentum and have the ax bite deeper. The drawback is that the ax is twice as heavy as the composite Fiskars pack ax and it takes a lot more energy to swing it. I alternated chopping from each side and taking a few breaks. It wasn't too long until I was breaking through. I walked to the other side of the trail and immediately began to make the second cut. I was tired but the diameter was smaller so the work went quickly. Once I cut through there was a long section of trunk that had to be moved. I knew that cutting it in half would make it easier but I was not enthusiastic about that solution. I thought we could pivot the section downhill and roll it off the trail but it proved to be too long to get around another tree. Bryce and I were able to slide the section a few feet downhill so that it would clear the other tree. I lifted the section which was heavier than I thought and, after several tries, I got it around the other tree. Bryce and I rolled it down hill and then well off the trail. We stepped back to look at our work and decided it was good. We took the time to clean up some small branches. I took some "after pictures" including a few with Bryce and Sheila. It had taken almost 45 minutes to clear the trunk! We turned around and hiked back to the car. We did stop at the bridge where I took a few shots. We were back at the car at 1:45 PM after hiking about 2 miles and working on the large trunk. We were both wet with sweat but satisfied we completed the work. The temperature at the car was 91 degrees and the humanity was high.

On Tuesday, July 19th, I wanted to get out to clear some blowdowns that hikers had reported on the Big Rock Trail. I had not surveyed the Big Rock Trail in some time but the report was that there were several large trees and branches all but blocking the trail. The snowmobile club clears these trail but I knew they would not be around until fall. Lisa had Aled and wanted to go on a hike. When I suggested this trial maintenance, she readily agreed. She would come to my house at 9:30 AM and I would drive to the trailhead. I started getting ready at 9:00 Am with the temperature at 78 degrees. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer as it was so warm. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Cascade hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Fulton insoles which are cork based and seem to be molding nicely to my feet. I decided to take my Leki poles as Bryce would be carrying my Council Tool 4lb felling ax and the Silky Katanaboy saw. I added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my Silky Sugowaza saw and two felling wedges in my pack and decided to carry my Fiskars pack ax. I don't like hiking without poles but sometimes I do not have a choice. Lisa arrived on time and Sheila was overjoyed to see her. We put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat at 9:40 AM with the temperature at 86 degrees. We left Livingston Manor as I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and drove up the road to the intersection with Beech Mountain Road. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking areas on the left. I pulled into the smaller parking area which where no cars were parked. The larger lot also had no cars in it. I set my GPS and we cross the road to begin our hike at 0L00 AM.

Lisa and I discussed the trees that had been cut and not clear and agreed they were an eyesore. I also showed her the increased erosion as the water runs off the road and down the trail. The Flynn Trail is sited along what used to be Beech Mountain Road which was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We walked the trail through the woods and I pointed out the one large blowdown Cindy and I had cut. We turned right on the woods road and set a good pace up the hill despite finding only a few damp and muddy spots. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.7 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The day was warm and humid and the first time we stopped I sprayed on some insect repellent. We had been picking up a few branches here and there but there weren't many as I had been through a week before. I pointed out to Lisa some of the blowdowns Cindy and I had cleared several of which were impressive. We approached and passed the clearing to the right of the trail but did not stop. We kept walking uphill and we were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. It was 10:50 AM and we had covered the 1.7 miles in 50 minutes including clearing some branches. We turned left to walk down the Big Rock Trail and I anticipated that we would now begin to work on the numerous blowdowns hikers had reported. The hike went quickly since we were setting a fast pace and because we were finding NO BLOWDOWNS! On the first descent, we did find large hole in the trail. We blocked the whole by putting in a rock to plug it and placing a flat stone over it. Finally at 11:10 Am we found a large trunk across the trail with a few branches. The trunk was a little larger than I want to clear with the Fiskars ax. I took some pictures and then used the saw to remove some branches. Lisa and I both swamped and cleared what we could from the trail. I was still anticipating more blowdowns and decided to leave this one. I took some :after" shots and we continued on down the trail. To my surprise and dismay we found only a few branches and no blowdowns. I did cut one or two small trees that were encroaching on the trail but the situation certainly did not match the descriptions I had been given. This trail can be tricky as there are several levels that make it seem like the bottom of the hill.

We were soon at Times Square where we continued our hike by walking straight across Times Square to stay on the Big Rock Trail. Again, we were noir finding any blowdowns to clear. We crossed the two small bridges over the inlets to the pond and this time I stopped to take pictures. The sun was out now and gave a warm feeling to the setting. When we got to the area that was covered by tall evergreens, we finally ran into a large evergreen across the trail. It must have been their for some time as hikers were beginning to work their way around it. I took some pictures even though the light was poor because the sun was so bright. Lisa and I cleared the loose branches moving them well off the trail. I used the Sugowaza to begin to cut off the branches which was easy as the wood is soft. I kept cutting as Lisa dragged branches off the trail. I stopped to remove some of the larger ones and then began cutting again. After almost 45 minutes, I had cut all the branches. I helped Lisa remove everything that was loose. I was tired and though I might need bigger ax to cut the trunk so I reluctantly decided to leave the trunk. In reality, it was very easy to step over the trunk as it lay on the ground. I took some after pictures and we departed. We walked out the Big Rock Trail to the quick Lake Trail where we turned left. The trail to the bridge was mostly dry. We stopped at the bridge for me to take a few quick pictures and the continued on. The Quick Lake Trail back to the car was wet and muddy in spots but it was mostly just damp. We arrived at the car at 12:51 PM having hiked 4.1 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes with an elevation gain of 690 feet. Our stopped time was just over an hour! The temperature had risen to 86 degrees and the humidity was palpable. I have no idea where the hiker that reported all the blowdowns was hiking but it was NOT the Big Rock Trail.

On Saturday, July 16th I wanted to clear some blowdowns on the Flynn Trail from the trailhead to Hodge Pond. I had surveyed the blowdowns and thought I could get them completed with hand tools. I asked Cindy if she would like to go as she said "Yes" despite a sore back. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer as it was so warm. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Cascade hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Fulton insoles which are cork based and seem to be molding nicely to my feet. I decided not to take my Leki poles as I would be carrying an ax. I added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my Silky Sugowaza saw and two felling wedges in my pack and decided to carry the Fiskars pack. We put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat at 9:05 AM with the temperature at 74 degrees. I drove out the Debruce Road about 6 miles and turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. At the split, I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. There were a few cars parked in both parking lots as I pulled into the smaller area. The thermometer read 76 degrees as I set my GPS but the sun was out and it was humid making it feel warmer. I hoped that being under the trees would be cooler! There did not seem too be many insects so we skipped the repellant. At 9:25 AM we started our hike by crossing the road to start out on the Flynn Trail. There were a few trees that had been cut but they were not in the trail. The erosion at the beginning of the trail gets worse each time it rains but I do not know how to fix the problem.

Just before the turn onto the woods road we encountered the first blowdown. A dead tree had fallen across the trail taking a few other smaller live ones with it. I put down my pack and got out the camera to take my "before" pictures. I grabbed the saw and began to make cuts and pull away what I removed. Cindy could not help so I had to cut and swamp. Soon I had eliminated all but the dead tree across the trail. I used the saw to make a cut at the upper end of the trunk where it was rather thin. The cut went faster than I expected although the dead wood was hard. As I was preparing to make another cut, Sheila alerted and we could see a couple coming toward us with their dog. We put Sheila on her leash and their dog was also restrained. As they passed by they greeted us and said "This is a nice day for a hike." I thought it was a nice day for a hike but it was also 'a nice day to work doing trail maintenance to make hiking more enjoyable for others!' I decided to cut the trunk off the trail near the butt end with the ax. I made my first strike and found the wood was very hard. Fortunately, I was able to make the cut all the way through the log. I tried pivoting Te section uphill but that was not working. I was able to pull the section toward one side of the trail and then swing the other end around so that the section ended up off the trail and parallel to it. I was satisfied with the result and took some after shots. It had taken 30 minutes to do the work. I packed up and we continued on the trail to the woods road toward Hodge Pond. We turned right at the end of the trail and started up the road. We passed the large spruce where Cindy and I had cut a tunnel. The DEC crew had been through and removed the tree. Not too far after this was a single small diameter trunk across the trail. I almost removed it without taking picture but I gave in mad took some shots. I cut the top end of the trunk off the trail with the saw. I grabbed the ax and cut again off the trail on the other side. The section was very long but of small diameter so I was able to pivot it off the trail. I took my 'after' pictures and then we got back underway. As we hiked up the road, the insects, especially the mosquitoes began to swarm. We stopped and applied insect repellent to our skin and clothes. When we got back in motion, the insects seemed to be less aggressive.

We walked a few more minutes up the trail and ran into a third blowdown. This tree had broken off high on the right side of the trail and was draped across it. I took my before pictures and then got to work. I used the saw to cut as high as I could on the right side of the trail. The cut went quickly and the entire tree was now on the ground. I stayed with the saw and began to cut off branches. I have found that removing branches takes only a few seconds and makes it easier to handle the blowdowns. I kept cutting and stacking the branches until only the main trunk was left. I cut the main trunk and dragged the pieces off the trail. After taking my after shots, I packed up and we continued toward Hodge Pond. At 1 miles we passed by the path to the clearing to the right of the trail. On this day I was most interested in doing as much work as possible. We descended a little bit and then began a gentle climb to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. Along the way I took the time to cut two logs that were sticking out into the trail. When we reached the trail junction, we continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail. I had not surveyed the rest of the trail after this point but a hiker had told me there were blowdowns near Hodge Pond. I had been a little tired climbing the Flynn Trail but was rejuvenated as the trail flattened out. We passed through the gate that separates state land from land owned by the Beaverkill Land Trust. When the trail split we stayed left to follow the Flynn Trail.

Almost immediately we came to another blowdown which was the largest of the day. A large tree had fallen in the woods taking other with it. Some of those other trees and fallen into the trail. Although the trail was not completely blocked, the blowdown needed to be removed. I took my camera out of the pack and snapped some 'before' shots from different angles. I put the camera away and began to evaluate the blowdown and make a plan. There was one tree that was hanging over the trail which worried me but a few pull on it convinced me it was not coming down soon. I tried to penetrate the blowdown but it repelled me. I took the saw and went around the other side. I found a place to begin to cut braces so I made a few cuts and the dragged what I had cut out of the pile. I found a spot where I could drag the branches and make a pile well off the trail. I continued to cut and stack and, at times, it did not seem the blowdown was getting and smaller. I switched to the other side of the blowdown and made some more cuts. As usually happens when I am away, my phone signaled that we had an ambulance call. I knew I was too far out to respond but knew there were others who could go on the call. At this point, a couple approached us coming up the Flynn Trail and heading toward Hodge Pond. The couple greeted us but did not acknowledge the work we were doing. I kept cutting and dragging away what I had cut until the blowdown was cleared as wide as the road. I took some after shots. It had taken almost an hour to do the work. I knew there was at least one more blowdown near Hodge Pond but Cindy indicated she would not be able to make it there and back! We turned around and started back at 12:35 PM. The trip back was about 2.1 miles but I knew we could make the trip quickly as it was all flat or downhill. We set a fast pace and did not stop at all. We passed through the gate and then continued straight ahead at the trail junction. From there we walked downhill on the wide woods road. We turned left on the trail just after the first gate to avoid the private property around the cabin. We were back at the car at 1:20 PM after hiking 4.1 miles in 3 hours and 50 minutes. Our total stopped time was 1 hour and 45 minutes to do the work. The elevation gain was 640 feet. As we left the parking area, the temperature was 78 degrees but the humidity made it feel warmer. The 2.1 mile trip back took only 45 minutes which was an average of 2.8 mph!

On Thursday, July 14th I wanted to get out for a longer hike after taking some shorter hikes the previous few says. I had an overnight ambulance call so I tried to sleep in but another morning call ruined that idea. When I got home, I did some chores and waited for Cindy as she said she might hike with me. When she arrived home, it was obvious she did NT want to hike with me so I began to make alternate plans. I decided to get ready and go to the Frick Pond area to hike the Flynn Trail and the snowmobile trail to Mongaup Pond. From Mongaup Pond I would walk the roads back to the car with the possibility of lengthening the hike by going around the pond. A visit to the falls on the outlet creek was also a possibility. I began to get ready at 1:30 PM when the temperature was 78 degrees on the back porch. Sheila was watching me very closely as I got dressed. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer to protect me from the biting insects often present at Frick Pond. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Cascade hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Fulton insoles which are cork based and seem to be molding nicely to my feet. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and headed out the DeBruce Road just before 2:00 PM. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there was one car parked in the large lot. I pulled into the smaller lot with Sheila was acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she ran around and headed for the trail. The temperature was 76 degrees and the skies were blue with white clouds with a reasonable humidity. Every now and then the clouds would cover the sun making it seem like the weather was burning but that did not last long. I got my gear ready to go and set my GPS unit. We headed across the road to get on the Flynn Trail at 2:15 PM.

The Flynn Trail was damp from the rains the night before and it was obvious that there had been more erosion of the beginning of the trail from the heavy rains. The first blowdown we ran into was a medium sized tree across the trail in the woods. I knew this would be an easy one to cut in the near future. At the end of the trail, we turned right on the woods road that was once the Beech Mountain Road to the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. I once again noticed that although the Flynn Trail ascends to the junction with the Big Rock trail, it seemed much easier now that I have recently been hiking more. We passed the large spruce where Cindy and I had cut a tunnel. The DEC crew had been through and removed the tree. There were some branches encroaching on the trail and two more small blowdowns. At a mile we hit a high point and passed by the path on the right to a large clearing. The skies were still blue with plenty of sun. Just after this point, Sheila alerted and I saw a woman hiking toward us. I grabbed Sheila as the woman stopped for a moment to talk. She had hiked around Hodge Pond and said there were some more blowdowns across the trail in that area. The insects started to gather as I was stopped so I took the time to spray some insect repellant on me. It didn't seem long at all until we were approaching the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 1.7 miles into the hike. By the time we were at the junction, we had already gained 600 feet and only had a little more elevation gain until we would start downhill. The trip up the Flynn Trail had only taken 50 minutes even though I had been removing branches and had stopped to talk with the other hiker. We turned right at the junction on the snowmobile trail and climbed another 120 feet to the highest point on the hike at a little over 1.9 miles. After hitting the high point, most of the rest of the hike was downhill. The Flynn Trail heads directly north from the trailhead but the snowmobile trail wanders first east, then south, the east, then north before finally heading southeast and south toward Mongaup Pond. As we descended from the high point we found evidence that there had been a stream of water flowing down most of the trail. The trail has become highly eroded and difficult to hike because of all the exposed rocks. Many of the rocks were covered with a thin film of water making them very slippery. Sheila was wandering off trail and then returning to us never getting very far away.

We encountered another blowdown which I walked around. After that there were more blowdowns of various sizes than I could count. When I was looking at the radar the night efface it seemed that the Frick Pond area was getting more of the storm than Livingston Manor. The mess on the trail that extended more than half a mile seemed to indicate that. The snowmobile club will clear the blowdowns but not until the late fall. I thought about notifying the local ranger or doing the work myself. At 3.1 miles we followed the trail as it turned southeast and then east still descending toward the pond. We finally hit a woods road and the trail leveled out. Just before getting to the roads that run through the campground we passed by a swamp on the left. Even though it had rained there were no small streams across the trail as there usually are. When we got to the campground roads, I put Sheila on her leash as I expected the campgrounds to be packed. We turned right and walked out to the main loop road. We turned right and headed south on the loop road. After a short walk, we turned left and walked over to a bench near the shores of the pond. Sheila declined to take a dip in the pond but did get a drink. I took a look at the scene and decided it was interesting enough to take pictures. The sky was blue with me interesting clouds. We walked out to the loop road and continued heading south. After walking a little more than half a mile, we came to the observation deck which had been under construction but now was completed. I stopped again to take a few shots and then we continued on the loop road out to the entrance of the campground. We walked out the access road to begin the walk back to the car. The access road is easy to walk but is always longer than I remember except on this day when it seemed short. From the booth at the campground entrance to the intersection with Beech Mountain Road it is only 1.1 miles and on this day it seemed shorter as we pushed the pace. In fact, I remember leaving the campground and a few cars along the way but the rest is a blur. At the intersection, I considered walking down to the falls but I wanted to get home for supper. We turned right and walked up the hill for .3 miles to the car. One car that had been in the lot was gone but another car had pulled in next to mine. It was 5:10 PM and we had spent 2 hours 55 minutes hiking 6.5 miles for an overall average speed of 2.3 mph and a total climb of 960 feet. The temperature was 74 degrees and as I drove home.

On Tuesday, July 12th I wanted to get out for hike with my Granddaughter Brynn who was at our house for the day. Around noon I asked Cindy and Brynn if they would like to hike the Parksville Rail Trail. The walk is less than 3 miles round trip and almost completely flat. It does have a few limited views and a nice waterfall. It was 82 degrees when we started to get ready and the skies were blue with some nice white clouds. Sheila's expectant gaze and sharp bark "encouraged" me to continue the hiking plans. It was warm and I did not expected a lot of water or mud on the trail so I dressed accordingly. I put on a NYNJTC cotton T-shirt without a baselayer as it was so warm. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Cascade hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Fulton insoles which are cork based and seem to be molding nicely to my feet. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. At 12:15 PM we put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat with Brynn. I headed out Old Route 17 across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. Just after this intersection is the western parking area for the rail trail. The parking lot was empty.

As we started out on the trail the sun was beating down and I felt very hot. When we entered the shade of the trees, it immediately seemed a little cooler. The stream volume looked a little lower than average. I hoped the falls would have enough water to be interesting. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose. Just after entering the woods we came to an area that is often but on this day it was barely damp. We found that the trail was very dry with inky a few damp places here and there. We were soon at the wooden walkways where I stopped, put my pack down and took out the camera. I took some shots of the stream below with nice blue skies and white clouds. I put away the camera and picked up my pack to continue over the walkways. The wooden surface was dey but had a coating of dried mud. The problem is that a rock slide has blocked the culvert under the small bridge causing water, mud and stones to be diverted over the walkway. Unblocking the culvert and covering the walkways with some screening would help. There was some water running down the hill and over the area between the bridge and the walkways. We continued on the trail with me talking to Brynn as we walked. Brynn is six years old but knows so much and is willing to share what she knows with you!

We continued on the trail and came to the falls. Brynn was excited as she could hear the falls before we could see them. I wanted to get down to the streambed so that I could take pictures from in front of the falls. It was relatively easy to work my way down the bank to the streambed. I got out the camera and took some shots down stream and the turned my attention to the falls. The water level was low but the falls were still interesting. I took numerous pictures of the falls and the area in front. The water was very clear and the red rock beneath the water really showed through. Sheila, of course, decided to jump in and cool off so I took some shots of her. When I was done, we worked our way back up the bank. I took a few pictures of the falls from the edge of the trail where I had a good view. I brought Brynn over so that she could safely view the falls below. We continued on the trail to a bench where a path leads down to the stream. I left my pack on the bench and took the camera with me to the stream's edge. I took shots upstream and downstream with some close-ups right in front of me. I repositioned myself and took some more pictures downstream toward the falls. I finished and walked back to the bench to stow the camera. From the falls to the other end of the trail there were a few areas that can be wet but they had all dried out. We met a couple with two young dogs so I put Sheila on her leash as we passed. The two dogs started to bark loudly but we were soon passed them. I left Sheila on her leash which proved to be a good idea because another couple approached with their dog. This canine was much better behaved and we passed by without incident. We set a quick pace for the rest of the hike to the Parksville end of the trail. Just after the gate at that end, we stopped to read the sign which outlined the milk that the O&W transported. The sign also mentioned the large number of hotels that had been in the area. We turned around and headed back to the car. We continued back to the car without stopping and passed by both the couples with their dogs. The two younger dogs that had barked last time were quite as we passed by them. We were back at the car at 2:00 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 25 minutes including the stopped time for pictures. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike except the short trips down to the streambed.

On Monday, July 11th, I wanted to go to Balsam Lake Mountain to remove two blowdowns across the trail that several hikers had reported. Most maintainers do not want to cut these larger blowdowns but I like to use my saws and axes. I was not sure of the exact location of these blowdowns but they seemed to be between the Beaverkill Road trailhead and the first trail junction. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and she said "Yes". I thought that after we cleared the blowdowns we could get in the short hike to Vly Pond. At 10:15 AM we started to get ready with the temperature at 82 degrees on the back porch. The skies were a bright blue with billowing white clouds and the forecast had no hint of rain.Sheila was pretty excited as I started to get ready as we had not hiked for two days. It was warm enough that I decided to just put on a short-sleeved NYNJTC cotton shirt. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my newer Keen Cascade hiking boots with a new pair of Fulton cork insoles. I felt I need more foot support as I was having some pain especially in my Achilles' Tendons. I decided to forego my Leki external lock poles as I would be carrying at least an ax. For maintenance equipment I packed my Silky Sugowaza saw, Silky Kanaraboy saw, and two Oregon splitting wedges. I brought along my Fiskars pack axe but left the heavier Council Tools felling ax at home. I put all our gear in the car and Sheila jumped into the backseat with some enthusiasm. I headed out the driveway and turned north toward Roscoe on Old Rt 17. I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and continued north toward Lew Beach and Turnwood. The Beaverkill Falls were barely flowing as we had not had any significant rain. The road conditions were pretty good even when the pavement ended. I laughed when I saw the "Rough Road" sign! The town of Hardenburgh had been working on the dirt road by smoothing it with a scraper and widening it slightly. Toward the end the road becomes very narrow and I was glad I did not meet any cars. We arrived at the parking area at 12:10 PM and found two cars parked in the lot and two parked, for some reason, in the snowplow turnaround. One of the cars in the lot was parked along the edge of the lot instead of pulling into a parking space! I did not bother to set my GPS as we were going to do more maintenance than hiking. The temperature was 80 degrees when we left the car at 11:15 AM.

The trail was completely dry but did have a few sticks and pieces of wood here and there and these we removed. We walked toward the register and we looked up and ahead to see a tree across the trail just after the register box. The tree arched over the trail and we would have to wait for it to fall before attempting to remove it. A short distance after the register was a tree down across the trail. The central trunk was about 9 inches in diameter and there were quite a few branches that were tangled with each other and some other trees. I knew I would have to make at least two cuts, one on each side of the trail. I has unsure whether or not I would have to make a third cut to enable us to get the section we removed off the trail. I took a few pictures before starting the work. Before starting to cut, Cindy and I removed all the loose branches including a rather larger one hanging over the work area. I also pushed over a large rotting trunk so that it would not fall on us as we worked. I used the Sugowaza saw to start to cut and remove small branches and then larger ones. I made some cuts off the trail to separate the top of the tree from the main trunk. I also cut another large branch so that only the main trunk remained. I decided to use the Fiskars ax to cut the main trunk off the trail to produce one large section. I hoped we could move that large section without making another cut. After making the first couple of cuts with the ax, I checked to see if it was sharp. The ax was sharp but the wood was cherry and a little harder than I thought. I tried to keep the cut wide but, as usual, it narrowed quickly. I thought I would have to finish with the saw but was able to cut all the way through with the ax. Cindy and I were able to move this large section off the trail. I took my final "after" pictures and the we packed up all the tools and headed on up the trail. It had taken over 45 minutes to do this work.

As we walked, we came to several places where branches were sticking out into the trail. We had not brought a pair of loppers but I used the saw to trim these branches as Cindy moved them off the trail. We kept walking but did not see another blowdown. I decided we would go as far as the first trail junction and then turn around. As soon as this decision was made, we saw another blowdown ahead. This was a tall tree with a smaller diameter that had fallen across the trail taking some other small trees with it. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take some "before" pictures. I grabbed the Sugowaza and began to cut the small branches which Cindy piled off the trail. This wood was much softer and the cuts went quickly. I cut one of the smaller trees and dragged the top away and the turned my attention to the main trunk. I cut the top off and dragged it way before turning my attention to the main trunk. Since it was a small diameter and a less dense wood, I was pretty sure I could make one cut and then move the section off the trail. The trunk was close to the ground so I chose to use the axe to cut through the wood. The work went quickly and I was able to drag and roll the section off the trail. I took my "after" pictures and the we packed up all the tools and headed on up the trail. I decided we would walk as far as the first trail junction before heading back to the car.

A short distance up the trail we came to two tree that had fallen so that were arching over the trail. One was pretty high above the trail but the other was a head height. I remembered doing a rescue on the Balsam Lake Mountain trail and how these kinds of blowdowns hindered our response as we had to remove them to allow the fire department UTV to pass. I took some shots and then got to work. My plan was to use the ax to cut the tree near the base just off the trail. This, I hoped, would drop the tree low enough to make one cut off the trail near the top. I used the ax to quickly cut through the trunk which dropped just as I planned. I the used the saw to make the cut off the trail on the other side. The center section dropped to the ground and the upper section dropped and pivoted off the trail. It is not often that plans like this work perfectly! I was able to move the center section off the trail and finish the work. I took my "after" pictures and the we packed up all the tools and headed on up the trail toward the trail junction. Sheila and I were moving quickly with Cindy a little behind. When I got to the junction, I turned left and started up the mountain just to check there were no more blowdowns nearby. There were none so I returned to the junction and walked a short distance further on the Dry Brook Ridge trail. I found no more blowdowns so I returned to the junction. We met up with Cindy and started back toward the parking area. This part of the hike is almost all downhill and we set a quick pace. I had been feeling tired but now was feeling refreshed with a sense of accomplishment. Along the way we noticed some more branches hanging in the trail but I decided I would return with a set of loppers at a later date. We were back at the car at 2:00 PM after hiking 2 miles and removing 3 blowdowns in 2 hours and 45 minutes.

On Friday, July 8th I went to my church early in the morning to prepare some material for my first Sunday service there. As an added bonus the telephone company came to fix the phone. The repairman turned out to be one of my students from almost 30 year ago! When I got home at noon, I did some work around the house and hung out to cover ambulance calls. By 5:00 PM I knew I had to take a short walk so I decided to go across the street with Sheila. I didn't even ask Cindy as I knew she would not want to go out as the temperature was still 80 degrees. I am lucky that I have a place so close to hike but it has become very familiar. I have found that even a short hike helps to keep my blood pressure in check and I am hoping I can get my weight down also. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike but she was being a good dog and just whining a little bit. It was warm enough that I decided to just put on a short-sleeved NYNJTC cotton shirt. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my newer Keen Cascade hiking boots with a new pair of Fulton cork insoles. I felt I need more foot support as I was having some pain especially in my Achilles' Tendons. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. At 5:00 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I thought we could hike our usual two figure 8's which would give us about an hour of exercise.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and continued directly up the hill to the trailhead. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal was to make it all the way up the hill without stopping. At the top of the hill we turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was very dry and that continued as we entered the woods. I was not surprised that the trails were so completely dry as we had not had any significant rain for a few days. I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There was a slight breeze which cooled us off and Sheila was panting while I was feeling a little dry. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail along the vase of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. Here returned right on the blue trail and started to climb the hill. I began to think about my new church and the hiking went very quickly. We turned right on the switchback in the blue trail which I had constructed to ease the erosion on the main trail and allow people to have a slightly more gentle climb. At the end of the switchback we turned right on the main blue trail and passed the white crossover trail on the way to the summit. We crossed over the summit and started down the blue rail on the other side. We again passed the white crossover trail continuing on to the yellow trail. We turned right and again walked along the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and headed down toward the lookout. The trail bed was clear but some ferns were beginning to encroach on the trail. The forest here was a sea of ferns gently waving in the breeze. When we reached the viewpoint, I noticed that the view was almost completely blocked by the trees. I made a note to contact the town supervisor to see if we could work something out. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. We had completed a figure 8 and were ready to start another.

We immediately turned around and started back up the short but steep hill to the lookout. The trip back up the hill to the lookout was pretty easy which, again, surprised me because I am not yet in very good shape. At the top of the hill we turned right to follow the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. We turned right to follow the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started uphill toward the summit. We bypassed the white crossover the trail and continued to the summit. I did think the climb was a little steep but we did not slow down. We continued over the summit and darted down the other side of the hill. We ignored the white crossover trail but turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed the switchback out and back to the main trail and turned right to walk down to the yellow trail. We turned left and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the bile trail, we turned right on the yellow trail and followed it downhill to the wood road. We walked down the woods road to the first trail junction. This time we turned left and walked out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot. We crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. It was 6:05 PM and we had hiked just around 2 miles in an hour and 5 minutes.

On Wednesday, July 6th I wanted to get out for a longer hike not too far from home. The forecast was for temperatures in the mid to high 80's with high humidity so I knew Cindy would not be interested in going. I decided to go to Big Pond for a hike to Little Pond and back. I had several possibilities to complete this loop including staying on the trails, walking back on the roads and making a side trip to Cabot Mountain. The temperature was in the high 70's in the morning but we knew it would get warmer in the afternoon. I started to get ready at 11:30 AM by putting on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer as it was so warm. a short-sleeved base layer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Cascade hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Fulton insoles which are cork based and seem to be molding nicely to my feet. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I slipped by Silky Sugowaza saw in my pack to ate care of small brush along the way. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and pulled out of Livingston Manor at 11:45 AM. I drove toward Roscoe on Old Route 17 and turned right on Beaverkill Road after 1.3 miles. I continued north on Beaverkill Road for 10.8 miles passing through Lew Beach. As the Beaverkill Road turned right, I turned left onto Barkaboom Road and drove .8 miles to the parking area for Big Pond on the right. There were two vehicles parked in the lot. I got ready to hike by setting my GPS. The temperature was 81 degrees and the humidity was palpable.

We crossed the road at 12:10 PM to begin our hike up Touch-Me-Not Mountain on the Touch-Me-Not Trail which is part of the Finger Lakes Trail. The first part of the trail is an old woods road, and it is pretty easy to follow. I let Sheila off her leash as we walked up the first hill passing the trail register. The trail was completely dry without any dampness or mud. I maintain the section of trail from Alder Lake to Beech Hill Road so I immediately began to remove sticks, rocks, branches and a few small tree trunks from the trail. I noticed there were little pieces of garbage on the trail including a lot of broken glass. This is a phenomenon that both puzzles and annoys me! The first mile of the trail gains about 775 feet with an average grade of 15%. Some places are almost flat which means there are a few steeper places. I began to notice that the blazing of the trail could be better. Volunteers used to be able to put up trail markers, but the DEC decided that a forester must now do this. Most of the time I just follow Sheila who seems to be able to find the right direction no matter what. It was obvious in several areas that there had been significant rain at some point as the trail was badly eroded. The further we walked the more nettles I began to see. I am loathe to make a trip with my Stihl string trimmer which does a great job of eliminating this problem but is a beast to carry. Along the way there were three or four large blowdowns. Some were on the ground and easy to step over but at least one blocked the trail at just the wrong height. I cut a few small trees that were across the trail. In a few places, the trail traveled along the side of the hill, and this made for some tricky footing. Despite the incline and the heat, we made good time and at 1:10 PM we had hiked 1.1 miles to the highest point on the trail on the shoulder of Touch-Me-Not Mountain. After a slight descent, we came to a large blowdown that had once blocked the trail. A good piece of the trunk had been cut away to provide an easy path. We walked down the hill to the next trail junction and turned right on the yellow loop trail around Little Pond.

The loop trail is very popular with campers during the season and the trail bed was a little more obvious. At one point the trail passed between two large boulders forming a sort of rock cut. I asked Sheila to pose and I took several shots of her between the boulders. I also took some shots of the rock ledges but the sun was very bright which limited the possibilities. We continued along the trail descending another rocky area to find a large tree across the trail. It was obvious hikers had been walking to the left around the butt end of the tree which is what we did. At 1.6 miles we had finally arrived at the cutoff to Cabot Mountain. I thought about summiting Cabot or at least going as far as the field of nettles to scope them out. In the end I decided not to do this as it was very warm and humid and the skies were getting darker with a definite wind. We continued our hike by bearing left to stay on the loop trail. There were several blowdowns in this area that would require tools to remove. I fought about removing them but Te trail is supposed to be DEC maintained so I decided to give the ranger for the area a call before doing any work. After a short walk, we came to a large, flat stone on the right side of the trail. I remembered taking pictures of our grand children there. As we passed by, I realized how much I missed my grandchildren. At 1.8 miles we arrived in the clearing that acts as a viewpoint. It is hard to see Little Pond from this lookout since the trees have grown up. This is a place that holds many memories as we hiked the loop many times when I was younger. We stopped, and I got out the camera to take pictures of the hills and the blue sky. The scene kept changing as the light played off the hills in different ways and reflected off the haze. The clouds were getting darker and it certainly looked like a storm was brewing! I packed up, and we continued the hike passing the small foundation of a long-forgotten homestead cabin. I noticed the pond to the right of the trail but decided not to inspect it on this trip. The main trail which is often covered in water from the outlet of the pond was absolutely dry. Ahead of us on the trail was one of the biggest blowdowns I had seen in some time. A huge tree with three different trunks had completely blocked the trail. The DEC sawyers had been through and cleared a path through this monster. The main trail soon turned left off the woods road.

The trail headed down through the forest and was bone dry and dusty but extremely eroded making the walk difficult. We walked downhill encountering another large blowdown that blocked the trail near a large beaver pond but had been cut. We stopped at the shore of the beaver pond to take some pictures. The skies were dark and the scene was bleaker than usual. I picked up and as we walked the short distance to the loop trail around Little Pond I could see that there was almost no water in the inlet stream. At the pond, we turned right to walk around the western shore of Little Pond. As we walked along the shore to the boat launch area, we could see Touch-Me-Not Mountain where we had been a short time ago. We stopped at the boat launch area, and I took some photos of Touch-Me-Not Mountain and the pond. Directly across from us there was blue sky and sun over Touch-Me-Not Mountain. To the left over Cabot Mountain the sky was dark with billowing gray clouds. Sheila decided to go wading. I took a pictures of her swimming before we continued the hike. As we walked along the road, several of the campsites were occupied and there were a few people on the beach. We turned left on the path to the bridge and crossed the outlet end of the pond. I dropped my pack to take a few pictures before leaving the Little Pond area. I considered sitting in the aviation just in case it rained but the skies over us remained blue. The parking area had a half dozen cars in the lot. We now had a choice to return on the roads or hike back up Touch-Me-Not Mountain on the Campground Trail. I had planned the trail hike but thought better of it and decided to leave it for another day. I decided we would walk back to Big Pond using the access road and Barkaboom Road. We walked over to the parking area and turned right to walk out the access road. We walked out to the gatehouse and I saw that there was an attendant there. We started down the hill toward Barkaboom Road with Sheila on her leash. She walks very well on her leash although her pace is a little fast for me! The walk was very peaceful as there were only a few cars going to the campgrounds. We walked a little less than a mile down to Barkaboom Road and turned left to hike up the road back to Big Pond. The hike back to the car was about .6 miles and it is all uphill so I appreciated Sheila's pull. The stream beside the road had some water but the level was low. We walked up the hill and back to the car in the parking area. I put Sheila in the car and walked down to the shore of Big Pond to take some pictures. Getting pictures of the pond without the people proved challenging. I walked back up to the car and turned on the air conditioning. We were back at the car at 2:55 PM having hiked 4.8 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes. The elevation gain was about 1000 feet.

On Friday, July 1st I wanted to clear a large blowdown on the Flynn trail northwest of Hodge Pond. I wasn't sure I could get it completed with hand tools as some of the trunks were pretty large. I knew that my grandson Bryce would be at the house around 9:00 AM and that he would be willing to go. Bryce is now 11 years old but is tall and strong which was just what I needed. Bryce arrived a little after 9:00 AM and we completed some tasks around the house before starting to get ready at 9:45 AM. There were blue skies and white clouds but the temperature was already 80 degrees which is not ideal for a work day. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer as it was so warm. a short-sleeved base layer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Cascade hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Fulton insoles which are cork based and seem to be molding nicely to my feet. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I knew Bryce could carry some of the equipment so that I could use my poles as I prefer. I added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my Silky Sugowaza saw and two felling wedges in my pack and gave Bryce the Fiskars pack ax and Silky Katana Boy saw. We put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat at 10:10 AM. I drove out the Debruce Road about 6 miles with Bryce in the passenger's seat. I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. At the split, I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. There were a few cars parked in both parking lots as I pulled into the smaller area. I showed Bryce that some of the trees around the parking areas had been cut but that most of them were rotten. The thermometer read 80 degrees as I set my GPS but the sun was our and it felt warmer. I hoped that being under the trees would be cooler! There did not seem too be many insects so we skipped the repellant. At 10:30 AM we started our hike by crossing the road to start out on the Flynn Trail. There were a few trees that had been cut but they were not in the trail. At the end of the trail through the woods we turned right on the woods road that was once the extension of Beech Mountain Road. I had intended to hike at a relaxed pace but Bryce was leading the way and he wasn't wasting any time! The trail was mostly dry but there were a few damp areas. It was obvious that a pickup truck had been driven up trail and I pointed this out to Bryce. The Flynn Trail ascends 1.7 miles to the Big Rock Trail junction gaining 600 feet. We approached the large hemlock tree across the trail where Cindy and I had cut a "tunnel" through the branches. I showed Bryce how it had been completely cut away. I explained to him that this was agood thing as it allowed access for emergency vehicles. At 1.1 miles, we came to the area where there is a clearing to the right of the trail. I decided that we would bypass a visit to this area and continued on the main trail.

By 11:30 AM we had hiked the 1.7 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We were moving slower than I had on my last trip a few days earlier but it was hotter and we were carrying equipment. I pointed out a sign on the right side to Bryce. The sign indicated the Big Rock Trail continued over the hill toward Mongaup Pond. I am becoming accustomed to mistakes on DEC signs but that doesn't make them acceptable. The Big Rock Trail only turns left! The trail to the right is a snowmobile trail. We continued straight ahead staying on the Flynn Trail heading toward Hodge Pond. The trail seemed drier than the last time I was here. We passed through the gate that separates state land from the Beaverkill Land Trust, formerly OSI property and were soon at the next trail junction where we stayed to the left on the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond. The downhill walk went quickly and were soon in the clearing at the outlet end of the pond. We walked over to the shore of the pond where I dropped the pack to get out the camera. The leaves were bright green which contrasted with the blue sky and white clouds. I took some shots and the returned to my pack. Sheila jumped into the water to swim and she stopped in the water seeming to invite me to take pictures which I did. We got a drink and decided to put on some insect repellant before heading back to the Flynn Trail. It was nice to be in the shade again but both of use were feeling the heat. We followed the Flynn Trail along the west side of Hodge Pond. To this point the trail had been relatively dry but as we continued on the west side of Hodge Pond the Flynn Trail began to be wetter and a little muddy. At one time this part of the trail was heavily sodded and drained well. OSI had decided for some reason to rake a way the sod and run large tractors through to mow. This causes deep ruts in the mud which results in a real mess. As we walked along the western shore, we came to a spot where we could turn left or right. We turned left to stay on the Flynn Trail and began a slight up hill climb toward the gate where the trail turns to the left. Just after we turned, we found a small tree across the trail.

I put down my pack and took some "before" pictures. I used the saw to clear a few small saplings that were in the way. I then used the saw to cut down the larger blowdown. Bryce grabbed the butt end of the tree and dragged it off the trail for some distance all by himself! I took my "after" shots and then we continued up the trail to the gate where we turned left. Immediately we ran into the large blowdown which was bigger and gnarlier than I remembered. Hikers had been walking around the blowdown which must have been there for some time as the workaround was worn in. I put down my pack and took a few pictures of the blowdown so that I could document its demise. Both Bryce and U were already hot and tired but we started our work. I gave Bryce the smaller saw and he began cutting the smaller branches that were in the way while I swamped for him! It took about 30 minutes to get all the small branches cut ad removed as we worked on both side of the blowdown. Many of the branches where I would like to have used the ax were too far up in the air. At times using the saw was difficult because of the twist branches and trunks. We worked for another 30 minutes until I felt exhausted. I knew we had almost 4 miles to hike back to the car so we called it quits. Most of the rest of the blowdown would require a chainsaw or a cooler day to work. Everything left COULD be removed with hand tools but the multiple cuts would be made more easily with a power saw. I took some final pictures and we shared some water. We continued our walk along the Flynn Trail which is pretty flat in this area. The trail is often the lowest point which allows water to collect with nowhere to go. The trail was wet and a little muddy in spots. Despite this the trail was not as wet as it sometimes can be and was drier than a few days before. Hiking with Bryce is always a pleasure as we have interesting discussions as he tells me about the books he is reading. Bryce noticed that Sheila was pretty careful to walk around the muddy areas as I had trained her to do. There were a few branches on the trails which I removed as we walked but I had no real enthusiasm. We arrived at Junkyard Junction at 1:20 PM about 3.3 miles into the hike. From here, the rest of the hike is primarily downhill with a few small hills along the way. We turned left on the red Quick Lake Trail and found it damp in spots. Some section of the trail are washed out leaving a lot of rocks behind and making the downhill hiking not as much fun as it could be. There were at least two large trunks down across the trail which would require tools. At about 3.8 miles the trail turned due south and we continued downhill. There wasn't much to see so we hiked quickly enough that I missed the junction with the snowmobile trail.

We arrived at Iron Wheel Junction at 2:00 PM after hiking 4.9 miles. I gave Bryce the last water which seemed to keep his spirits up. We turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. At this point the yellow Logger's Loop continued straight ahead. The trail here was muddier than in any other section and the mud continued for some time. We continued on the trail and soon came to the little stream in the woods. The stream was not very high as I had cleared a blockage downstream which allowed a better flow. Sheila did wade in to get a drink. We crossed the stream and continued toward Frick Pond. There were some blowdowns lying flat on the ground which were large and easy to step over. We easily stepped over the large tree that lies across the trail. Cindy and I had cleared some branches the last time we passed by making the crossing easier. This is another blowdown that would be easier to cut with a chainsaw. There were a few wet and muddy spots on the rest of the trail but most were drier than I expected. We passed the junction with the Big Rock Trail that goes around the north end of Frick Pond and walked toward the bridge across the outlet of the pond. We crossed the bridge and I dropped my pack to take out my camera so that I could take some pictures. The beavers had started to rebuild their dam but I know the fish hatchery will send someone to tear it out. I packed up and we continued back on the Quick Lake Trail toward the trail register. The brush along the trails was starting to grow into the trails and I hoped that my maintainer would be making a trip. There were some wet and muddy spots along the way. I noticed that the Lobdell Memorial was still standing and I debated whether or not to trim the short path to it. As we headed for the register, Sheila alerted and we could see SA man with three dogs coming toward us. Fortunately, all the dogs were in leashes! The trail to the register was wet but the drainage work we had done seemed to be working. At the trail register we continued straight ahead on the woods road to the smaller parking area. It was 2:40 PM and we had hiked 6.3 miles in 4 hours and 10 minutes with an elevation gain of 890 feet. We had stopped for 1 hour and 25 minutes. The temperature was 87 degrees but it felt much warmer. We sat in the air conditioned car to relax for a few minutes before I drove home.

On Thursday, June 30th, I had planned to hike Giant Ledge and probably throw in Panther. I wanted to do a 3500 foot peak and the parking lot at Giant Ledge was almost empty the day before. I was getting ready at about 9:00 AM when I found out my grandson Bryce was across the street with my son Karl. I called Karl and asked if Bryce was available and he sent him across the street. We decided we would get some work done and then do a shorter walk together. We loaded the car with recyclables and then went to the ambulance building to clean it out. I had recently order a lot of supplies and the boxes were piled in the meeting room. It took some effort but we were able to get all of the boxes into the car and deliver them to the transfer station. By the time we got home it was time for lunch and Bryce never misses a meal. I started getting ready at 12:30 PM with the temperature at 80 degrees under sunny skies. As usual, Sheila was excited but was trying to be the "good dog". I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top but decided against a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Keen Cascade hiking boots which are pretty new. I also made sure I had a pair of Fulton cork insoles installed to help support my feet. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since twist locks have proved unreliable. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat with Bryce riding beside me. We left the house at 12:55 PM as I drove out Old Route 17 toward Roscoe and turned right on Beaverkill Road. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. There were a few cars parked in the lot with people swimming at the beaches below the bridge. A glance at the river showed that the level had dropped quite a bit since my last visit. The last time I had been here the had water covered the sandy beach and the rock I usually stand on to take pictures was underwater. Today, both of these were exposed.

We started out at 1:15 PM by walking out of the parking lot to the bridge with the temperature at 82 degrees. The skies were bright blue with puffy white clouds. When we got to the other side, I was surprised to see that the gate just off the road was fully open! I looked at the trail and saw that it was very dry. We turned left on a woods road that parallels the river and started down a short hill. We passed the spring house and continued on the deserted woods road where I could detect no recent footprints. We came to an area with a little path down to the river. Just passed this area the trail had been eroding due to the water running down the bank. The DEC had replaced a culvert pipe and installed a second. They had also brought in fill and packed it to reconstruct the path. I found this interesting as the campsites along this path are no longer used and are abandoned. I walked down to the edge of the river very carefully as the rocks were slippery and the water looked deep and cold. I took some pictures downstream and some upstream to the bridge. There were several places where trees at the edge of the river had fallen into the water testifying to the power of the river when it is high. When I was done, we got back on the trail and passed several areas with unused picnic tables. The state had mowed around many of the tables so that they could be used by people who wanted to picnic. Others sit unused and rotting along the road, a testimony to better days. We walked by these tables which had not been used in many years. A little later we came to what was once a bathroom for some campsites that had long since disappeared. There were more tables in this area. There was a path over to the river so I walked over and found the water was sparkling in the sun and was very clear. I took some pictures of the sun reflecting off the water both upstream and downstream.

At about .7 miles the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites. We continued on the road through the campsites and along the river. Many of the campsites were occupied by campers using everything from tents and awnings to trailers and RVs. It was obvious that some crews had been working to clear downed trees and those that had deteriorated. The trees had been sectioned and piled and they lined the road. We walked to the last campsite where the trail ends and walked down to the edge of the river. I was careful to watch where I was walking but the water was low and warm. I stopped to take some pictures of the river especially downstream. Sheila decided to take a dip in the water and I took some shots of her. Bryce walked out on some rocks and I took shots of them. We continued a little further passed the last campsite and then turned around. The water was very clear with a slight greenish tint from looking through to the bottom. As we walked back passed the last campsite, we stayed to the left of the last bathroom to walk back on the other paved road through the campsites. This road parallels the one we walked out on to make a sort of loop. We retuned the way we had come although at a quicker pace. As we approached the bridge, I saw that there was a large group of people on the beach by the bridge and more cars parked in the lot. I had thought about taking some pictures of the bridge but gave up that idea. We walked through the bridge and turned right to go back to the car. We were back at the car at 2:10 PM having hiked 2.7 miles in 55 minutes. The car's thermometer read 82 degrees.

On Wednesday, June 29th I had planned to hike Giant Ledge and probably throw in Panther. I wanted to do a 3500 foot peak and Giant Ledge has a great view of many of the high peaks. I slept in after an ambulance call the evening before and then had some work to do around the house. I decided to asked Cindy if she wanted to do a more local hike like Huggins Lake but she declined. I began to get ready at 12:30 PM when the temperature was 74 degrees. As soon as I started to get ready, Sheila began to run around and bark anticipating getting out of the house. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top but decided against a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided not to add gaiters. I have not seen as many ticks as in the past but I know they are out there. I decided to wear my Keen Cascade hiking boots which fit well and are very comfortable. I made sure I had a pair of Fulton cork insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I got my gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat. We left Livingston Manor at 12:50 PM and drove north on Old Route 17. I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and left on Campsite Road. At the bottom of the hill I turned right and drove down to the campgrounds parking area and across the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. At the end of the road I turned right and followed Berry Brook Road to the trailhead for Huggins Lake. We arrived at the road to the parking area to find it very rough with a lot erosion. There was a car parked on the road with the driver sitting in it. I guessed he thought the access road was too rough. I decided to give it a try and was able to get to the parking lot. I got my equipment ready and I set my GPS as we started off at 1:10 PM. The sun had been out all day and the sky was a beautiful blue with white clouds. The temperature was 76 degrees as we headed out on the wide woods road to the lake but a slight breeze made it feel cooler. The hike isn't long, less than 4 miles, and the trail is maintained by the DEC although we did see a few blowdowns along the way.

The first 1.2 miles is all uphill and gains almost 700 feet. Sheila was running up and down the trail following game paths into the woods. I often wonder how many miles she puts on. I was deep in thought about pastoring my new church and it seemed that we were setting a fast pace. The ascent has several spots which appear to be the top of the climb but are not. After the initial climb, the trail descends, levels some and then climbs again until the final descent to Huggins Lake. As we continued, the trail made a sharp turn from southeast to north at about 1.6 miles. We enjoyed the downhill trek to the shores of the pond even though we had to walk around some blowdowns on the trail. I have found the maintenance on the woods road to be spotty at best. I knew we would soon have to turn around and climb back up the hill. When we arrived at the lake, I noticed that the water level was high. I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take pictures of the lake. The sky was almost perfect and the lighting very good. I took some pictures of the lake and the hills that surround it. At the outlet I could immediately see that the beavers had dammed the water flow and that reeds had grown to all but block the outlet flow. Sheila took a dip in the water. I found an area where there were some salamanders swimming and I took some pictures which turned out well. I took a few more pictures of the lake before returning to my pack and stowing the camera. Sheila had already taken a dip in the water and had taken a drink! We spent about 10 minutes at the lake and then packed up at 2:15 PM and started up the hill and back to the car. The only negative point about Huggins Lake is that there is only one trail and so there are no variations available. I had thought about bushwhacking around the lake but the ascent on the other side is very steep. The ascent on the woods road went smoothly for the most part as we climbed the hill back to the highest point on the trail. From there we started down the other side of the hill on the trail. Downhill was definitely easier than uphill! Sheila seemed very interested in following game trails off the main trail and I had to keep calling her back. It was all downhill to the car. We arrived back at the car at 3:00 PM after hiking 3.9 miles in 1 hour and 50 minutes with a total elevation gain of 920 feet.

On Sunday, June 26th I wanted to get in a longer hike than just the trails on Round Top across the street. After returning from church and eating unch1, I was not as enthusiastic. By 2:15 PM I was feeling like I should not waste the beautiful day and I started to get ready to go to Frick Pond to hike the "big loop" up the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond and then back passing Frick Pond. I started to get ready with blue skies and white clouds with the temperature around 86 degrees. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer as it was so warm. a short-sleeved base layer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Cascade hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Fulton insoles which are cork based and seem to be molding nicely to my feet. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat at 2:45 PM and drove out the Debruce Road about 6 miles. I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. At the split, I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. There were a few cars parked in both parking lots as I pulled into the smaller area. I noticed that some of the trees around the parking areas had been cut but that most of them were rotten. I wondered if the DEC crews had been out in the trails. The NYNJTC maintainers are supposed to e-mail the forester to announce when they are working but the DEC never notifies us when their crews go out. The thermometer read 81 degrees as I set my GPS. The sun was still shining but the clouds had increased and there was a slight breeze blowing which made things a little cooler. There did not seem to be many insects so I skipped the repellant. At 3:05 PM we started our hike by crossing the road to start out on the Flynn Trail. There were a few trees that had been cut but they were not in the trail. At the end of the trail through the woods we turned right on the woods road that was once the extension of Beech Mountain Road. I had intended to hike at a relaxed pace but instead set a quick pace with Sheila roving out ahead kicking up a few birds as we hiked. The trail was mostly dry but there were a few wet areas. It was obvious that a pickup truck had been driven up trail and I assumed this was the DEC crew. The Flynn Trail ascends 1.7 miles to the Big Rock Trail junction gaining 600 feet. We approached the large hemlock tree across the trail where Cindy and I had cut a "tunnel" through the branches. The tree had been completed cut away as I had suspected! At first I was annoyed but then I realized it would allow better access for emergency vehicles. I took a few pictures before we continued to set a quick pace up the trail. At 1.1 miles, we came to the area where there is a clearing to the right of the trail. I decided that we would bypass a visit to this area and continued on the main trail. I didn't see much more work done by the DEC crew. They did cut a few more inches off a blowdown I had already cleared. In the same area they cut up the brush piles I had made. I did not see the benefit of either of these. By 3:50 PM we had hiked the 1.7 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. This meant the trip had only taken us 40 minutes of moving time which was a new record for us! I noticed a sign on the right side of the trail indicating the Big Rock Trail continued over the hill toward Mongaup Pond. I am becoming accustomed to mistakes on DEC signs but that doesn't make them acceptable. The Big Rock Trail only turns left! The trail to the right is a snowmobile trail. We continued straight ahead staying on the Flynn Trail heading toward Hodge Pond. The trail seemed dry but the layer of leaves covered some wet and muddy areas. We passed through the gate that separates state land from the Beaverkill Land Trust, formerly OSI property and were soon at the next trail junction where we stayed to the left on the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond.

The downhill walk went quickly and were soon in the clearing at the outlet end of the pond. We walked over to the shore of the pond where I dropped the pack to get out the camera. The leaves were bright green which contrasted with the blue sky and white clouds. I thought that the overcast might have ruined the view but the scene was beautiful. I took some shots and the returned to my pack. Sheila jumped into the water to swim and she stopped in the water seeming to invite me to take pictures which I did. I threw a stick and Sheila retried it a couple of times before losing interest. I got a drink and then we headed back to the Flynn Trail and turned right to follow it along the west side of Hodge Pond. To this point the trail had been relatively dry but as we continued on the west side of Hodge Pond the Flynn Trail began to be wetter and a little muddy. At one time this part of the trail was heavily sodded and drained well. OSI had decided for some reason to rake a way the sod and run large tractors through to mow. This causes deep ruts in the mud which results in a real mess. As we walked along the western shore, we came to a spot where we could turn left or right. We turned left to stay on the Flynn Trail and began a slight up hill climb toward the gate where the trail turns to the left. Just after the gate, we ran into a large blowdown which would require a saw and ax to clear. Hikers have been walking around the blowdown which must have been there for some time as the workaround was worn in. I took a few pictures of the blowdown so that I could plan its demise. We continued our walk along the Flynn Trail which is pretty flat in this area. The trail is often the lowest point which allows water to collect with nowhere to go. The trail was wet and a little muddy in spots. Despite this the trail was not as wet as it sometimes can be. I noticed that Sheila was pretty careful to walk around these areas as I had encouraged her. There were a few branches on the trails which I removed as we walked. We arrived at Junkyard Junction at 4:30 PM about 3.3 miles into the hike. From here, the rest of the hike is primarily downhill with a few small hills along the way. We turned left on the red Quick Lake Trail and found it damp in spots. Some section of the trail are washed out leaving a lot of rocks behind and making the downhill hiking not as much fun as it could be. There were at least two large trunks down across the trail which would require tools. Another blowdown had several branches that were hard to get through. I realized that most of these branches were loose and spent a few minutes moving them out of the way. At about 3.8 miles the trail turned due south and we continued downhill.

There wasn't much to see so we hiked quickly passing the junction with the snowmobile trail. We arrived at Iron Wheel Junction at 5:15 PM after hiking 4.9 miles. We turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. At this point the yellow Logger's Loop continued straight ahead. The trail here was muddier than in any other section and the mud continued for some time. We continued on the trail and soon came to the little stream in the woods. The stream was not very high as I had cleared a blockage downstream which allowed a better flow. Sheila did wade in to get a drink. We crossed the stream and continued toward Frick Pond. There were some blowdowns lying flat on the ground which were large and easy to step over. I easily stepped over the large tree that lies across the trail. Cindy and I had cleared some branches the last time we passed by making the crossing easier. There were a few wet and muddy spots on the rest of the trail but most were drier than I expected. We passed the junction with the Big Rock Trail that goes around the north end of Frick Pond and walked toward the bridge across the outlet of the pond. We crossed the bridge and I dropped my pack to take out my camera so that I could take some pictures. The beavers had started to rebuild their dam but I know the fish hatchery will send someone to tear it out. Anyone else that did this would be ticketed for disturbing a wetland! I packed up and we continued back on the Quick Lake Trail toward the trail register. The brush along the trails was starting to grow into the trails and I hoped that my maintainer would be making a trip. There were some wet and muddy spots along the way. I noticed that the Lobdell Memorial was still standing and I debated whether or not to trim the short path to it. The trail to the register was wet but the drainage work we had done seemed to be working. At the trail register we continued straight ahead on the woods road to the smaller parking area. It was 5:55 PM and we had hiked 6.3 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes with an elevation gain of 890 feet. The temperature was 82 degrees.

On Friday, June 24th I wanted to get out for hike after taking acre of some business for most of the day. Around 3:15 PM I asked Cindy if she would like to at Frick Pond but she indicated, as usual, that she would like a flatter and shorter route. We decided to go to hike the Parksville Rail Trail as it fits that description. The walk is less than 3 miles round trip and almost completely flat. It does have a few limited views and a nice waterfall. It was 75 degrees when we started to get ready and the skies were blue with some nice white clouds. Sheila's expectant gaze and sharp bark "encouraged" me to continue the hiking plans. It was warm and I did not expected a lot of water or mud on the trail so I dressed accordingly. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer as it was so warm. a short-sleeved base layer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Cascade hiking boots which fit well and are newer than what I have been wearing. I added a new pair of Fulton insoles which are cork based and seem to be molding nicely to my feet. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. At 3:30 PM we put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. Just after this intersection is the western parking area for the rail trail. The parking lot had one car parked. As we were getting ready, a forest ranger pulled up and got out of his truck. It was Ricky Franke who I knew from his time as a student at Liberty HS. We talked for a while as Cindy took Sheila and started slowly up the trail.

After ending my conversation with Ranger Franke, I started out on the trail to catch up with Cindy and Sheila. As we entered the shade of the trees, it immediately seemed a little cooler. The stream volume looked a little higher than average. I knew the falls would have enough water to be interesting. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose. Just after entering the woods we came to a muddy area although the rest of the trail had been dry. The few wet and muddy areas we would find on the trail were easily circumvented. We were soon at the wooden walkways where I stopped, put my pack down and took out the camera. I took some shots of the stream below with nice blue skies and white clouds. I put away the camera and picked up my pack to continue over the walkways. The wooden surface was dey but had a coating of dried mud. The problem is that a rock slide has blocked the culvert under the small bridge causing water, mud and stones to be diverted over the walkway. Unblocking the culvert and covering the walkways with some screening would help. There was some water running down the hill and over the area between the bridge and the walkways. We continued on the trail and soon heard the noise of a dirt bike coming toward us. The rider flew by us heading in the opposite direction. I don't think motorized vehicles are allowed on the trail but I didn't think I had a chance of communicating that to the rider!

We continued on the trail and came to the falls. I wanted to get down to the streambed so that I could take pictures from in front of the falls. It was relatively easy to work my way down the bank to the streambed. I got out the camera and took some shots down stream and the turned my attention to the falls. I took numerous pictures of the falls and the area in front. The water was very clear and the red rock beneath the water really showed through. Sheila, of course, decided to jump in and cool off so I took some shots of her. When I was done, we worked our way back up the bank. I took a few pictures of the falls from the edge of the trail where I had a good view. As we were preparing to leave, two men came walking by and we said "Hello" as we went in opposite directions. We continued on the trail to a bench where a path leads down to the stream. I left my pack on the bench and took the camera with me to the stream's edge. I took shots upstream and downstream with some close-ups right in front of me. I repositioned myself and took some more pictures downstream toward the falls. I finished and walked back to the bench to stow the camera. The trail had been wet and a little muddy in places but we managed to walk around them. From the falls to the other end of the trail there were a few wet areas and some mud. We set a quick pace for the rest of the hike to the Parksville end of the trail. Just after the gate at that end, we stopped to read the sign which outlined the milk that the O&W transported. The sign also mentioned the large number of hotels that had been in the area. We turned around and headed back to the car. In a short distance, we met the two men that had passed by before and we stopped for a short conversation. They were from liberty and said they often hiked the rail trail there. When we parted, Cindy and I continued back to the car without stopping and without seeing any other people except for the dirt bike on the return trip. We were back at the car at 5:20 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 30 minutes including the stopped time for pictures. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike except the short trips down to the streambed.

On Tuesday, June 21st I planned to go for my first hike of the summer! I had a hike planned to Giant Ledge and Panther but an ambulance call in the morning got in the way. When I returned I decided that the weather look unfavorable for a longer hike. I decided to again to go across the street and hike a few loops on Round Top. Cindy did not favor this idea but I knew Sheila would be eager to go! I am lucky that I have a place so close to hike but it has become very familiar. I have found that even a short hike helps to keep my blood pressure in check and I am hoping I can get my weight down also. As I started to get ready just before 1:00 PM, the temperature was 70 degrees but overcast without much direct sun. The forecast was for afternoon showers and a few drops had already fallen. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and we had not been out for some time. She was very vocal about hurrying me along. It was warm enough that I decided to just put on a short-sleeved NYNJTC cotton shirt. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my newer Keen Cascade hiking boots with a new pair of Fulton cork insoles. I felt I need more foot support as I was having some pain especially in my Achilles' Tendons. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. At 1:15 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I thought we could hike two big and two small loops which I had not done in some time. We walked out the driveway and crossed the street to walk along the street to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and continued directly up the hill to the trailhead. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal was to make it all the way up the hill without stopping. At the top of the hill we stopped to look around but there wasn't much to see that I hadn't seen before. We turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was very dry and that continued as we entered the woods. I was not surprised that the trails were so completely dry. Just before the first trail junction there was a small tree that had broken off. It had been hanging into the trail but someone had bent it back off the trail and secured it being another tree. I made a note to bring a saw to remove it completely. I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There was a slight breeze which cooled us off and Sheila was panting while I was feeling a little dry. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and continued straight ahead toward the top of the hill. On the way up we bypassed the white crossover trail and instead took the blue trail over the summit. We started down the other side bypassing the white crossover trail again. We turned left on the switchback in the blue trail and followed it out and back to the main blue trail. People were slowly beginning to use the switchback which I put in to avoid erosion on the main trail that used to continue straight up the hill. When the switchback came back to the main trail, we turned left and headed downhill to the yellow trail. At the trail junction, we continued straight ahead on the yellow trail toward the lookout. When we reached the viewpoint, we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. We had completed a big loop rather than a figure 8 which I usually do.

We immediately turned around and started back up the short but steep hill to the lookout. The trip back up the hill to the lookout was pretty easy which, again, surprised me because I am not yet in very good shape. At the top of the hill we turned right to follow the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. We turned right to follow the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned right and headed down the yellow trail to the woods road. The yellow trail follows the woods road downhill and back to the first trail junction. The trail remained dry and easy to hike. When we reached the first trail junction we had completed a small loop and, again, turned around and headed back up the woods road on the yellow trail. At the junction with the blue trail we stayed on the yellow by turning right and walking along the base of Round Top. At the second junction with the blue trail we again turned right and walked the yellow trail downhill to the viewpoint. We turned left and followed the yellow trail back down to the first trail junction. That completed another small loop so that we had done a large loop and two small loops. I decided to get in another large loop although Sheila was headed for the trailhead! We turned around and headed up the short but steep hill to the viewpoint. We continued on the yellow trail as it turned right and headed uphill through the fern forest. At the first junction with the blue trail we stayed straight ahead on the blue trail. Not too far up the hill we turned right on the switchback in the blue trail and then right again at the end of the switchback on the main blue trail. I thought about turning right on the white crossover trail but continued straight ahead on the blue trail over the summit of Round Top. We descended the other side of the hill to the yellow trail. To complete the last big loop, we continued straight ahead on the yellow trail and walked downhill to the woods road. The woods road brought as back to the first trail junction. This time we turned left and walked out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot. We crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. It was 2:45 PM and we had hiked just 3 miles in an hour and a half.

Spring 2022

On Monday, June 20th I wanted to get out to hike after a weekend of family commitments and ambulance calls. I had planned to do a longer hike but an overnight ambulance call delayed my start as I needed to get some sleep. I decided to go across the street to hike on Round Top. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she said "Yes". As I started to get ready at 12:45 PM the temperature had risen to 68 degrees with partly sunny skies. I decided to put on my White Sierra light long-sleeved crew shirt. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my newer Keen Cascade hiking boots with a new pair of Fulton cork insoles. I felt I need more foot support as I was having some pain especially in my Achilles' Tendons. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. I decided to wear my wide-brimmed floppy hat for some protection from the sun. At 1:15 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. The forecast for the late afternoon included some showers so I wanted to get finished as soon as possible. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We walked out the driveway and crossed the street to walk along the street to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the lot and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church.

The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." At the top of the hill we stopped to look around. I noted that a crew was mowing the cemetery which certainly needed it! We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. The trailhead was dry and that continued as we entered the woods. At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill to the lookout over town. When we reached the top of the hill, we followed the yellow trail as it turned to the right and ascended through the woods. The trail continued to be dry with only a few damp spots here and there. When we reached the junction with the blue trail we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up the trail to the summit. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued on the blue trail over the summit. As we started down the other side again bypassed the white trail but turned left on the switchback on the blue trail. People were slowly beginning to use the switchback which I put in to avoid erosion on the main trail that used to continue straight up the hill. When the switchback came back to the main trail, we turned left and headed downhill to the yellow trail. We turned left and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top At the junction with the blue trail we turned right to stay in the yellow trail and descend to the woods road that brought us back to the first trail junction. The woods road was dry and the descent was easy.

We immediately turned around and started back up the woods road and the yellow trail. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the hill. He turned right on the switchback and followed it until it wound its way back to the main trail. We turned right and then almost immediately right again on the white crossover trail. We followed this trail along the shoulder of Roudn Top until it came to the blue trail. We turned right and headed downhill to the yellow trail. We turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left to stay on the yellow trail and walked down hill through the ferns to the lookout. At the viewpoint we turned left on the yellow trail and walked down the steep hill to the very first trail junction. We walked straight out to the trailhead and turned right to start down the hill to the church parking lot. At the bottom of the hill we walked out to the parking lot. We walked through the parking lot to Rock Avenue. After crossing the street to our driveway, we walked back to the house. We were home by 2:30 PM after hiking a little less than 2 miles in a little more than an hour.

On Friday, June 17th I planned to get up early and go to Giant Ledge and Panther. Am early morning ambulance call changed those plans. When I got home at 12:30 PM, I did not feel like doing the longer hike especially as the forecast included a chance of thunderstorms. I decided to go to Trout Pond and cut the knotweed that was encroaching on the path. I knew I would be only a few minutes away from the car if there was a thunderstorm. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and she declined. I did not ask Sheila as I knew she would always prefer to get out of the house even though she would be sitting around fro a good part of this outing. I began getting ready at 12:45 PM with bright blue skies and puffy white clouds with a few areas of dark clouds. As I was getting ready the temperature was 75 degrees. Sheila was pretty excited as I started to get ready as she always is when we go hiking. I got dressed in my White Sierra light crew top which blocks the sun and isn't too warm. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my old Vasque Talus hiking boots which are pretty beat up and will soon have to be retired. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles even though I would probably not do much hiking. I wanted to wear my OR BugOut gaiters as the ticks have been pretty numerous late but somehow forgot them. I brought along my LT Wright Overland machete which I keep very sharp and is ideal to cut the knotweed. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 1:00 PM as I drove north on the Quickway towards Roscoe. I got off at exit 94 and headed north on Route 206 towards Downsville. After crossing the Rockland Flats and passing the Roscoe Nursing Home, I turned left on Morton Hill Road and drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. There were no cars sitting in the "lot" at the intersection of the two roads. People see the open space and park there without thinking about the fact that the land is private. I decided to drive down the road to park in the lower lot as that is where my work would be. Russell Brook Road is a seasonal maintenance road and it did look like it had recently been maintained. In fact, the road looked as if a fresh layer of gravel had been aid down and rolled. As I drove down the road, I had the feeling that I would meet one of the forest rangers in the parking area but when I arrived there were only a few cars parked.

We started out at 1:25 PM by walking down the woods road toward the bridge across Russell Brook. The road was damp but not very muddy. As we crossed the bridge, I could see that the brook wasn't very high as we had not had any recent rain storms. We walked to where the stand of knotweed begins on the right and I dropped my pack. I immediately leashed Sheila to a convenient bush making sure she was in the shade. I took out my camera and took some "before" pictures of the knotweed which was starting to overgrow the trail from the right and some bushes on the left side. I put the camera away and got out the machete. The job of cutting the knotweed is pretty straight forward. I cut a few stalks and then threw them on the opposite side of the trail and then repeated it. My object was to cut the knotweed back to the posts that were buried in the stand. Since it had rained the night before, the knotweed was full of water but cutting it was rather easy. The knotweed is a grass similar to bamboo. It does off in the late fall so that the stand of knotweed is flatten out and brown. Anyone would think that it could not possibly come back but it does every spring. If it is not cut back it overgrows the path so that hikers would need a machete to get through it. I kept cutting and piling until a couple came along looking for the falls. I gave them instructions and they went in the opposite direction! I continued cutting and piling some of the stalks on the trail to remove later. The skies began to darken and the wind came up but no rain fell. Sheila was behaving well and I made sure she had some water to drink. The couple returned from their car and walked out to the falls. I cut some of the woody bushes on the left side of the trail. Loppers would have been better but the machete did a good job and it really opened up the trail. Another couple came by and we talked about the falls, the loop around the pond and the history of the area. When they left, I continued to cut as several groups passed by. I finally was approaching the path to the falls. At this point a group of three people were walking down the trail from Trout Pond and one of them was Forest Ranger Stephen Ellis. We had worked together several times and immediately recognized each other. He stopped to talk to me a helped me finish cutting an cleaning up the main trail which I really appreciated. He shared with me that he was going to cut out the area and thanked me for beating him to it. We walked back to my pack and Sheila was very polite and even sniffed Ranger Ellis' hand I took the time to take some after picture before we walked back to the parking area. We again stopped to talk for a few minutes and the parted ways. Ranger Ellis had "stealth parked" his truck farther down Russell Brook Road. I was back in my car at 3:25 PM after taking 2 hours working. I knew that I wanted to return to cut out the path to the falls perhaps bringing my Stihl string trimmer to get the work done.

On Tuesday, June 14th I planned to get in a slightly longer hike with a little elevation gain. From Saturday morning to Monday afternoon I had been on over a dozen ambulance calls including a trip to Garnet Middleton and I needed to get away! I asked Cindy if she would like to go to Trout Pond and she agreed. I had been up early for ambulance call and though I might go back to bed but I decided to stay up and go hike. We began getting ready at 9:30 AM with bright blue skies and puffy white clouds with plenty of sun. As we were getting ready the temperature was 62 degrees. Sheila was pretty excited as I started to get ready as she always is when we go hiking. I got dressed in my White Sierra light crew top which blocks the sun and isn't too warm. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my old Vasque Talus hiking boots which are pretty beat up and will soon have to be retired. I wasn't expecting some water and mud and thought the old shoes would be the best choice. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also wore my OR BugOut gaiters as the ticks have been pretty numerous late. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 9;50 AM as I drove north on the Quickway towards Roscoe. I got off at exit 94 and headed north on Route 206 towards Downsville. After crossing the Rockland Flats and passing the Roscoe Nursing Home, I turned left on Morton Hill Road and drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. There were no cars sitting in the "lot" at the intersection of the two roads. People see the open space and park there without thinking about the fact that the land is private. I did not want to have to walk back up Russell Brook Road at the end of the hike so I decided to drive down the road to park in the lower lot. Russell Brook Road is a seasonal maintenance road and it did look like it had recently been maintained. In fact, the road looked as if a fresh layer of gravel had been aid down and rolled. I drove down the road but this time I did not stop to look at the upper falls. There was a car parked at the camping area on the left side of the road and a tent was pitched. I drove down to the lower parking area where one other car was parked. The car was not parked in the correct direction so it was taking up at least three spots. I didn't anticipate that this would be a big problem on a Tuesday but the place can be pretty full on a weekend.

I set my GPS unit and we started our hike at 10:15 AM by walking down the woods road toward the bridge across Russell Brook. The road was damp but not very muddy. As we crossed the bridge, I could see that the brook wasn't very high as we had not had any recent rain storms. We decided not to go to the falls at the beginning of the hike and to save a visit for the return trip.The Japanese knotweed that had died and was a dead brown color was now bright green and overgrowing the trail. The history of this area is very interesting. Russell Brook Falls had been the site of a dam that impounded water for a waterwheel in Butternut Grove. The wheel was still there a few years ago. The area near the register box was the "landing zone" for loggers who cleared the evergreen trees, not for tanning but, for the production of wood alcohol. The trees were transported on narrow gauge railway that ran parallel to Russell Brook. The railway met the mainline O&W near Butternut Grove where the logs were unloaded. There were several acid factories in the area that produced wood alcohol. There was also a factory on the lower part of Russell Brook that produced khaki dye for the uniforms of American troops during World War I. We followed the main trail bypassing the path out to the falls. We continued passed the register box and up the main trail toward Trout Pond. The trail was almost dry which was a contrast to my last trip when it was covered in water with several small streams flowing across the trail. Cindy was pushing the pace and the walk seemed to go very quickly as we passed the path to the first primitive campsite. We could hear the outlet stream from Trout Pond and I explained to Cindy how, on my last visit, I had walked down to the stream and bushwhacked up to the dam at the outlet end of Trout Pond. I told her about all the interesting rapids and small falls I had seen. Soon we were at the outlet end of the pond and we walked over to the shore where the water was high which limited the size of the "beach". I dropped my pack to take pictures of the lake with the blue sky and puffy white clouds. I immediately noticed the battery was low. After taking a couple of shots, I went to my pack to change batteries and found I had no spare battery. Sheila took a quick dip and I packed up and we returned to the main trail to walk the flat woods road toward the inlet end of the pond. This trail is always damp but on this day the large ponds that had been present the last time were almost dry! The small stream just before the trail junction near the leanto was easily crossed. When we came to the bridge, I stopped to take a few pictures of the pond from just before the bridge and from the bridge itself. At this point the camera gave up for good but I was almost relived as I wanted to just hike. We crossed the bridge and stayed to the right on the Mud Pond Trail which would take us over Cherry Ridge and form our loop back to the parking area. There was new beaver activity and a small dam just downstream of the bridge causing the water to back up. The trail was nearly dry but very rocky as we started to ascend the hill. As we continued up the trail, we both slowed a little as the grade increases. There had been some very large trees across the trail but they had been cut by a DEC crew or the rangers.

From the bridge at the inlet we had climbed 430 feet over the next .75 miles. The trail headed west from the inlet until turning sharply south at around 2.3 miles. The highest point on the trail was at 2.2 miles after which most of the rest of the hike is downhill. As we started down the other side, the trail had some mud in spots but there was no standing or running water. The relatively dry conditions continued for the rest of the trip making the hike more enjoyable than my last outing here. We ascended a small hill to the stand of small birch trees and then descended the other side where there was some mud. At 3.7 miles we had descended 420 feet from Cherry Ridge to the snowmobile trail near Mud Pond. I could see that the trail was just damp so we stayed on the woods road. As we made the left turn, we could see two hikers heading out the trail toward Mud Pond. I hoped they knew where they were going as the trail is always wet and comes to a dead end at what was Russell Brook Road. We ascended a small hill before starting downhill back toward the parking area. This section had some running water across the trail but very little mud. There was also a stream that paralleled the trail but the volume was very low. The last stream that we crossed on the trail had a good flow but was easy to cross. All told, we dropped another 380 feet over the next .7 miles back to the bridge just before the trail register. We stopped on the bridge over the outlet stream from Trout Pond and I pointed out to Cindy how high it had been last time. We continued on the trail to the junction. and turned right and continued on the main trail toward the parking area. We decided not to go to the falls as we have been there so many times. We continued across the bridge and up the trail to the parking area where there were now 4 cars parked. We were back at the car at 12:45 PM and we had hiked 4.3 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes with an elevation gain of 863 feet. We had stopped for only 12 minutes.

On Friday, June 10th, I wanted to go to Frock Pond to remove some blowdowns on the Loggers Loop. These blowdowns are usually handled by the snowmobile club but their fall maintenance trip was too far away for me to wait. My track season had ended so I had as much time as I needed to hike and clear the trail. I asked Cindy If she would like to go as it is a good idea to have somebody else along when doing this kind of work. We started to get ready at 11:15 AM when the temperature was 70 degrees on the back porch. I suspected it would be cooler at the trailhead. As I started gathering my equipment and getting dressed, Sheila was very quiet but did not let me out of her sight. I got dressed in my White Sierra light crew top which blocks the sun and isn't too warm. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my old Vasque Talus hiking boots which are pretty beat up and will soon have to be retired. I was expecting a lot of water and mud and thought the old shoes would be the best choice. I also put on my OR BugOut gaiters to deal with the mud and insects that I knew would be present. I put my Silky Sugowaza curved saw in my pack along with two plastic felling wedges. I decided I would forgo the hiking poles in favor of carrying my Fiskars pack ax. This ax is very light but seems to do the job even on larger trees. I would have liked to carry the larger Silky Katanaboy 500 folding saw but I did not want the extra weight. We got our gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 11:35 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. When we arrived at the parking areas, there were a few cars parked in both lots. I pulled into the smaller lot and parked. The skies were bright and blue with some interesting clouds.

I noted that the temperature was 68 degrees with a slight breeze and that I felt a little cool. We started out the woods road to the Quick Lake Trail at 11:55 AM. From the register on the trail was wet with some standing water and some flowing water and lots of mud. I wasn't able to avoid some of the water but it was shallow and I walked through it. As we approached Gravestone Junction there was one small tree leaning over into the trail. I dispatched it easily with the saw and cut a few prickers that were hanging into the trail. The prickers gave me more trouble than the tree showing that having the right tool makes all the difference. In this case the right tool would have been a pair of loppers. As I was working, we heard voices ahead and two young women appeared with two dogs. One dog was on a leash and one was not. I immediately leashed Sheila and took her to the side of the trail. The dog that was off leash simply walked by but I wish dog owners would learn to use some common courtesy! At Gravestone Junction, we turned right to get on the yellow Logger's Loop heading toward Times Square. The trail was damp and had more muddy spots than the Quick Lake Trail. I stopped after a short distance and took some pictures of the white clouds, the blue sky and very green vegetation. As we continued, the trail did look like hikers had been using it and bypassing some of the muddiest spots by creating walkarounds. These let the muddiest sections dry out but also widen the trail. Our crew has tried to get some of these areas to drain but it is very difficult as the trial is worn in deeper than the surrounding area. Soon we were hiking downhill toward Times Square with me looking for the first blowdown. I found that the small tree had been cut by some "helpful" hiker. I hoped that no one else had "helped" or I trip would be wasted. I have several areas that need attention and try to plan to do the work. We crossed a stream that parallel's the Big Rock Trail but it was almost dry. Earlier in the year the stream had a good volume of water. The source of the water is a mystery although I assume it must be from seasonal springs and runoff. We stopped for a minute and I applied some insect repellent and let Cindy use some. The mosquitoes in particular were pretty dense and biting every chance they got. The repellent did work well. At Times Square we continued straight ahead on the Logger's Loop which was wet and muddy but not as bad as I have seen it in the past. We started a slight uphill climb on the trail but the hiking was relatively easy. The trail flattened and we came to the small, seasonal pond on the right side of the trail. The pond had more water than during my last trip but really wasn't a pond at this point. I was surprised as I thought it might have some water from the recent rains. I stopped to take a few shots of what was now almost a meadow and then continued our walk avoiding the water and the mud.

Shortly, we came to a tree with many branches across the trail. I dropped my pack and took out my camera to get some 'before' shots. Most of the branches would be easy and drag away. The biggest problem was that the larger end of the trunk was hung up in another tree off the trail. I tried swinging it back and forth to see if it would come down. The trunk moved quite a bit but did not budge. I knew I would have to make my cuts and be constantly on the lookout if the tree came loose. I got out the saw and started to cut each branch and neatly stack them off the trail Cindy was enthralled with the work I was doing as she stood watching my progress. Eventually, there were just two small trunk left as all my cutting and pulling had not dislodged anything. I used the ax to cut one of the trunks and then cut the other one. I made the cut so that the remainder of the trunk would swing off the trail. The manuever worked so I took some after shots and we moved on. As we continued on the Logger's Loop we came to two large plastic culverts lying ion top of the ground. The DEC has started a project to replace the metal culverts and to install culverts were they were needed but did not exist. That project began at least three years ago but was not completed and the black culverts stand out like a sore thumb. I have no idea whether these have been forgotten or are on a work schedule somewhere. As we walked downhill and came to a large culvert there was another blowdown across the trail. This one did not have many branches but the trunk had a large diameter which would make it difficult to cut. I again out down my pack and got out the camera to document the job. I then used the saw to cut away as many small branches as possible. Cindy made this easier by moving the branches while I cut. Soon we were left with a large rotten trunk and a live but slightly smaller one. We worked on chopping sawing and bashing the rotten trunk until we had removed enough to make the trail more than ;passable. We had only the live trunk on the ground to removed. I knew I would have to use the ax as the trunk was right on the ground and I could not cut it with the saw. To complicate things further, a good part of the blowdown hung over the stream and I did not want it all to fall in the water. I decided to cut the upper end of the blowdown so that the remaining trunk would pivot toward the ground and hold the rest of the tree out of the stream. This plan worked well and only the large part of the blowdown remained. I decided to go to the other side of the trail and make a cut with the ax. I knew the section would be heavy but I hoped I could pivot it, spin it and roll it downhill off the trail. The cut took me a little longer than I thought it would as I was getting tired. Once I cut all the way through I was able to remove the section from the trail. I was feeling good as I was 3 for 3! I took some after pictures and we continued on to Ironwheel Junction.

It wasn't long before we were walking downhill and climbing a small hill to Iron Wheel Junction. The trail from the junction is slightly downhill which allowed us to keep up a good pace even though we had to work our way around a significant amount of water and mud. When we came to the small stream in the woods, we found the water level elevated compared to our last trip. Sheila decided to take a dip and I took some shots of her. Cindy used some stepping stones to get across but I walked upstream to a spot I thought was shallower. Walking through the "spruce tunnel" was easier than some of the rest of the hike but there was still water and mud. There were a few blowdowns that would best be cleared by chainsaw including one that was solid with a large diameter. This blowdown was higher off the ground than the others and another tree beside it with some branches that made getting across the larger trunk difficult. Down went the pack and out came the camera. I used the saw to cut away everything except the large trunk which would definitely need a chainsaw! I took some 'after' shots and we moved on. Eventually we walked out the other side where the trail was wetter and muddier. We arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail and turned right to stay on the Quick Lake trail and head toward the bridge at Frick Pond. The trail was wet and muddy in several places. What had been a huge mud pit was easier to cross due to the work the trail crew had completed. We continued on the Quick Lake Trail to the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. We crossed the bridge and stopped at the other side. I dropped my pack to get out the camera despite the fact that I have taken hundreds of pictures from this location. The skies were blue with white clouds which was ideal for photography. I tried to get some pictures of several fish breaching the water but they were too fast for me. I also took shots of the pond and of Beech Mountain. I packed up and we continued up the hill and back to Gravestone Junction. This section of trail was also muddy and seemed to be getting worse on each trip. At Gravestone Junction we continued out the Quick Lake Trail and back to the car. We arrived at the car at 3:15 PM having hiked 3.7 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes with an elevation gain of 380 feet. Much of this time was devoted to the work of clearing the blowdowns. The temperature at the car had risen to 75 degrees.

On Wednesday, June 8th Lisa contacted me to see if I wanted to hike on Round Top. I countered with a hike on Beer Mountain. She agreed and said she would be at my house at 10:15 AM. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and, to my surprise, she agreed. Cindy is not fond of hiking up hills! I did not ask Sheila as she is always ready to go! Beer Mountain is the hill behind the Upward Brewery in Livingston Manor. The property was originally purchase by a wealthy developer who hoped to build a casino on top of the hill. Those plans fell through as did the developer's fortune. Eventually, a group of businessmen bought the land and built the brewery. There is a small pond on the property and it is nicely landscaped. The owners also enhanced the hiking trails on the property and they are open to the public although I am sure the brewery would appreciate a purchase! The trails were the site of a trail run on Saturday and I walked a small section. I started to get ready at 9:45 AM as the skies cleared from overcast to bright blue with puffy white clouds. I got dressed in my White Sierra light crew top which blocks the sun and isn't too warm. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my old Vasque Talus hiking boots which are pretty beat up and will soon have to be retired. I wasn't expecting a lot of water or mud but thought the old shoes would be the best choice. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. At 10:15 AM Lisa pulled into our driveway and I suggested we drive separately to the brewery. We put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and I drove to Main Street and headed south on Shandelee Road toward Youngsville. About half a mile from the traffic light in town I turned left at the sign for the brewery just before Treyz Hill Road. I turned left at the sign that said "Beer Mt Parking" and parked in the lot next to Lisa. I got my gear ready and put Sheila on her leash. We started out at 10:25 AM with the temperature right at 70 degrees. A slight breeze was blowing but the skies were bright and sunny.

We walked toward the pond and then turned right a little to start up the hill with the brewery on our right. We found the dirt path and signs where the trails begin. We started up the hill and immediately came to a trail junction. I knew the trail to the left worked its way through a pine forest passing some rock ledges to a dirt road. This was the path of the race from Saturday which I had walked. I also knew that a skunk lived in that area so I suggested we continue straight ahead. This trail soon flattened and went through a switchback as it worked its way toward the top of the hill. The weather was nice and the trail was beautiful with a few ledges and rocks. We broke out of the trees onto a gravel road that had been built for construction vehicles to work on top of the hill. I had just been here two days ago so I decided to limit my photography as the conditions were almost the same. We continued straight ahead on the road to the summit of Beer Mountain. A little further along we came to an area where the red shale had been removed to help build the road. We continued on toward the summit where the trail continued straight ahead. We turned left to walk to the clearing at the top. The summit had a large fire pit and some picnic tables. I set down my pack and got out the camera to take some pictures of the surrounding hills and the clouds in the sky. The trees had grown up since my last visit 8 years before and the views were not quite as good. After I had taken a few pictures, I shouldered the pack and we walked back to where the trail continued down the back side of the hill. This section was downhill for .35 miles as we lost over 200 feet at an 11% grade. The trail had quite a few loose rocks and slippery pine needles. Blowdowns had been cut and painted with orange paint so the runner could see the. I was surprised that near the bottom of the descent a tree trunk spanned the trail. I was able to easily walk under it but anyone who was 6 feet or more might have a problem. At the end of the descent the trail began to ascend again. The ascent was less than a quarter mile but I could feel the 15% grade. The trail began to descend and we were soon at the point where we had started the final ascent to the summit earlier. This time we turned right on the gravel road and began to descend the gravel road. We came to the point where the "skunk" trail intersected the road. We continued on the road! Within a short distance, the trail flatten as it returned us to the grounds of the brewery. We had been out for only an hour which I knew meant that we had hiked only 2 miles. We returned to our cars. We were back at the car at 11:30 PM after hiking 2 miles in 1 a little over an hour. The elevation gain was 450 feet which surprised me a little as it felt like more!

On Monday, June 6th I wanted to explore the trails on Beer Mountain. Beer Mountain is the hill behind the Upward Brewery in Livingston Manor. The property was originally purchase by a wealthy developer who hoped to build a casino on top of the hill. Those plans fell through as did the developer's fortune. Eventually, a group of businessmen bought the land and built the brewery. There is a small pond on the property and it is nicely landscaped. The owners also enhanced the hiking trails on the property and they are open to the public although I am sure the brewery would appreciate a purchase! The trails were the site of a trail run on Saturday and I walked a small section. I started to get ready at 11:30 AM as the skies cleared from overcast to bright blue with puffy white clouds. I got dressed in my White Sierra light crew top which blocks the sun and isn't too warm. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my old Vasque Talus hiking boots which are pretty beat up and will soon have to be retired. I wasn't expecting a lot of water or mud but thought the old shoes would be the best choice. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. At 11:45 PM I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I drove to Main Street and headed south on Shandelee Road toward Youngsville. About half a mile from the traffic light in town I turned left at the sign for the brewery just before Treyz Hill Road. I parked in the lot which was empty. I got my gear ready, put Sheila on her leash and set my GPS. We started out at 11:55 AM with the temperature right at 75 degrees. A slight breeze was blowing but the skies were bright and sunny.

We walked toward the hill with the brewery on our right toward the dirt path and signs where the trails begin. We started up the hill and immediately came to a trail junction. I knew the trail to the left worked its way through a pine forest passing some rock ledges to a dirt road. This was the path of the race from Saturday which I had walked. I also knew that a skunk lived in that area so I decided to continue straight ahead. This trail soon flattened and went through a switchback as it worked its way toward the top of the hill. The weather was nice and the trail was beautiful with a few ledges and rocks. We broke out of the trees onto a gravel road that had been built for construction vehicles to work on top of the hill. I took a few shots of the area and the decided to continue straight ahead on the road to the summit of Beer Mountain. A little further along we came to an area where the red shale had been removed to help build the road. I took some pictures of this quarry before continuing to the summit. Near the summit the trail continued straight ahead but I turn left to walk to the cleared at the top. The summit had a large fire pit and some picnic tables. I set down my pack and got out the camera to take some pictures of the fire pit and the surrounding hills. The trees had grown up since my last visit 8 years before and the views were not quite as good. After I had taken a few pictures, I shouldered the pack and walked back to where the trail continued down the back side of the hill. This section was downhill for .35 miles as we lost over 200 feet at an 11% grade. The trail had quite a few loose rocks and slippery pine needles. Blowdowns had been cut and painted with orange paint so the runner could see the. I was surprised that near the bottom of the descent a tree trunk spanned the trail. I was able to easily walk under it but anyone who was 6 feet or more might have a problem. At the end of the descent the trail began to ascend again. The ascent was less than a quarter mile but I could feel the 15% grade. The trail began to descend and we were soon at the point where we had started the final ascent to the summit earlier. This time I turned right on the gravel road and began to descend the gravel road. We came to the point where the "skunk" trail intersected the road. I thought about turning left on the trail but decided to continue on the road. Within a short distance, the trail flatten as it returned us to the grounds of the brewery. We had been out for only an hour which I knew meant that we had hiked only 2 miles. I considered doing another loop of some kind but decided to return to the car, We were back at the car at 12:55 PM after hiking 2 miles in 1 hour. The elevation gain was 450 feet which surprised me a little as it felt like more!

On Sunday, June 5th I wanted to get out for hike after a week of track meets and ambulance calls. I had explored some of the trails on Beer Mountain, the hill behind upward Brewery in Livingston Manor, and wanted to return to hike there. Cindy agreed to go after church. When we got home from church, we both agreed that the brewery would be too busy on the weekend and that we should make other plans. I had spoken to some people, who had hiked the rail trail from Parksville toward Livingston Manor on Saturday and it sounded interesting. Cindy agreed with my plan so we started to get ready just before 1:00 PM. I got dressed in my White Sierra light crew top which blocks the sun and isn't too warm. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my old Keen Targhee II hiking boots which are pretty beat up and will soon have to be retired. I wasn't expecting a lot of water or mud but thought the old shoes would be the best choice. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. At 1:15 PM we put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. Just after this intersection is the western parking area for the rail trail. The parking lot had one car parked but the owner seemed more interested in resting than hiking.

I set my GPS and we started out at 1:30 PM with the temperature right at 70 degrees. A slight breeze was blowing but the skies were bright and sunny. We walked under the Quickway on Fox Mountain Road and crossed the bridge over a stream. We stepped over the guard rail where I saw a definite trail on the right. Almost immediately we came what was left of the trestle supports that carried the trail tracks over the stream. I stopped to take a few pictures. There was so much sunlight that I knew the pictures might not be the best. I knew I could always return on a morning when there was less sun. I packed up and we walked up the trail to the top of the trestle. As we entered the shade of the trees, it immediately seemed a little cooler which was a relief. I was surprised to find that the trail was well defined and stretched ahead for some distance. Like most rail trails it was very straight. Town of Liberty Supervisor Frank DeMayo had told me that this was state land and the town had an agreement from the state to use it during the summer. The hope is to connect the Parksville Rail Trail to all the sections that stretch as far as Livingston Manor. We started to walk along the trail and I noticed there was quite a bit of traffic on the Quickway! The land dropped off steeply to the Little Beaverkill on the right. On the left were some "cliffs" which were the result of the railroad cutting a path for the tracks. We continued to walk along the well-defined trail. It was a pleasant walk without many insects. There were two places along the trail where there were piles of garbage. It was hard to determine why they were there. Both piles had tarps over them which seemed to indicate someone once valued the items. We soon came to a gate on the trail which was odd since it was state land. No one seems to know why the gate is there or who placed it. We walked around the gate and continued on the trail,

Soon we came to a small pond on the right with a red building behind it. The building looked to be in good shape but the windows were all boarded up. I took some pictures of the pond and then we continued on the trail. After hiking about 1.3 miles, we came to a driveway on the left which leads to the Sonoma Falls property. I knew this was private land but two town supervisors had said it was alright to visit it. It had been more than 12 years since I had visited this area. At one time there was a campground on the property. Some local business people bought the property and built a cider mill and market. They took the time to construct some hiking trails along the stream. I remember that the falls were very nice with at least five separate drops which increased in height the farther upstream one ventured. I took a few shots of the main building which still had the lettering from the cider mill. The business closed when not enough people would go out of their to visit. We walked to the stream just behind the building and I got my first look at the falls. They had not changed much! There was a falls right in front and one visible farther upstream. I started taking the first of what would be a large number of pictures. We walked the trail up to the second falls but it was hard to get a clear shot. Getting down to the base of the falls looked a little dangerous so I settled for some shots from the top. I walked a little farther upstream to the third set of falls and worked my way down to the stream bed. I was able to get some good shots head on at the falls. After taking some more shots, Sheila and I walked back up the bank to where Cindy was standing. My wife does not like getting too close to the edge of the streams and prefers to admire from a safer distance. We continue to walk and came to a small pond at the base of the highest falls so far. I took some wide angle shots and some that were zoomed in. I wanted to get some shots of the upper falls so we walked up the path a short way. Cindy decided to stay were she was while Sheila and I continued up a steep hill to a point across from the upper falls.

I took some shots and then decided to continue a little further up the steep hill. As I crested the hill, another even more impressive and higher falls came into view. I put my pack down and started taking shots. To get some better pictures I walked a little farther. When I finished my photography, I decided to return to Cindy even though I suspected there might be more falls upstream. Once we met Cindy we walked back down the trail toward the main building. We decided to walk over to a small building by a small pond. The sign said "Stock Pond" and offered fish for $11 each with $3 for cleaning! I took some pictures of the sign, the building and the pond before packing up and walking back out to the trail. I decided I wanted to walk all the way out to Old Liberty toad and set a quick pace as I knew Cindy would rather turn around. The walk along the old road was interesting as there were some impressive rock cuts on the left and a very lazy river on the right. The walk was about .4 miles which was a little longer than I thought. When we arrived at Old Liberty Road, I saw that the trail actually continued straight ahead parallel to the road. I decided to explore this part of the trail on another visit. Sheila and I turned around and walked back to Cindy. We set a pretty fast pace on the way back and did not stop. For the 1.63 miles back we averaged just over 3 mph. We were back at the car at 3:40 PM having hiked 4 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes with 0 minutes of stopped time. The ascent was 335 feet almost all of which was the climb to the waterfalls. I do hope the plans to connect the sections of the trails is successful!

On Wednesday, June 1st I wanted to get out to hike after more than a week of track meets, ambulance calls and bad weather. I had planned to do a longer hike but overnight ambulance calls delayed my start as I needed to get some sleep. I decided to go across the street to hike on Round Top. I planned to try to vary my regular routine and get in a few loops for two or three miles. As I started to get ready at 11:30 AM the temperature had risen to 70 degrees with partly sunny skies. It was almost as warm as the day before so I decided to put on my White Sierra light long-sleeved crew shirt. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my old Vasque Taku hiking boots which are pretty beat up and will soon have to be retired. I made sure I had a pair of Super Green insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. I decided to wear my wide-brimmed floppy hat for some protection from the sun. At 11:45 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. The heat and humidity were high but not as bad as they had been. The forecast for the late afternoon included some thunderstorms so I wanted to get finished as soon as possible. I also had a final meeting with my track athletes that had qualified for the state qualifier meet. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We walked out the driveway and crossed the street to walk along the street to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the lot and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church.

The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." At the top of the hill we stopped to look around. I noted the work that a crew had done over the weekend in repairing some headstones that had fallen over. I was surprised that there were quite a few that still remained toppled and I hoped the crew would be back to finish the job. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. The trailhead was dry and that continued as we entered the woods. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill to the lookout over town. When we reached the top of the hill, we followed the yellow trail as it turned to the right and ascended through the woods. The trail continued to be dry with only a few damp spots here and there. When we reached the junction with the blue trail we continued straight ahead on the blue trail and started up the steeper hill. When we came to the switchback in the blue trail, we turned to the right and followed the switchbacks that people were slowly beginning to work in. When the switchback came back to the main trail, we turned right and headed for the summit bypassing the white crossover trail. We crossed over the summit and started down the other side again bypassing the white crossover trail. When we came to the junction with the yellow trail, we continued straight ahead and down the yellow trail to the woods road. We followed the yellow trail along the woods road back to the very first trial junction.

We immediately turned around and started back up the woods road and the yellow trail. At the junction with the blue trail, we continued straight ahead on the blue trail toward the summit of Round Top. At the intersection with the white crossover trail, we turned left and followed that trail along the shoulder of Round Top to the blue trail on the other side of the hill. We turned left on the blue trail and almost immediately left on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed the switchback back to the blue trail and turned left. When we reached the yellow trail we continued straight ahead on the yellow trail toward the lookout. We passed the "sitting rock" and turned left as the yellow trail turned left at the viewpoint. It was a short trip down the steep hill to the first trail junction. We turned around and walked back up the hill. I had been tiring a little but walking up the hill seemed easy. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right at the lookout. We walked the trail through a sea of ferns to the junction with Te blue trail. This time we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned right to stay on the yellow trail and started down to the woods road. We walked down the woods road back to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right to start down the hill to the church parking lot. At the bottom of the hill we walked out to the parking lot. We walked through the parking lot to Rock Avenue. After crossing the street to our driveway, we walked back to the house. We were home by 12:45 PM after hiking around three miles in a little more than an hour.

On Tuesday, May 31st I wanted to get out for a quick hike after a week of track meets and ambulance calls and before any afternoon thunderstorms. I knew that there was a rather complex blowdown on the Parksville Rail Trail and thought I might go remove it as I had gotten permission from the town supervisor. I knew there was a trail cleanup on June 4th which is National Trails Day but I did not think they would be carrying axes and saws. I started to get ready ay 11:15 AM with the temperature at 70 degrees under sunny skies. Sheila's expectant gaze and sharp bark "encouraged" me to hurry up getting ready. The Parksville Rail Trail is close to my house and has a nice waterfall. The hike is less than 3 miles round trip and it is very flat. I knew that there might me a few muddy areas. I got dressed in my White Sierra light crew top. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my old Vasque Taku hiking boots which are pretty beat up and will soon have to be retired. I wasn't expecting a lot of water or mud but thought the old shoes would be the best choice. I decided against taking hiking poles as I would be carrying my trail maintenance equipment. I put my Silky Sugowaza saw in my pack and brought along my Silky Katanaboy 650, Fiskars pack ax and Council Tools American felling ax. At 11:35 AM I put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. Just after this intersection is the western parking area for the rail trail. The parking lot had no cars parked.

I grabbed the Katanaboy and the Fiskars pack ax and we started on the trail at 11:50 AM with the temperature right at 74 degrees. I knew that if I needed the bigger ax it would be a short trip back to the car. A slight breeze was blowing but the skies were bright and sunny and it was humid. As we entered the shade of the trees, it seemed a little cooler which was a relief. The stream volume looked lower than I had seen it in some time. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose. A little after this we came to a point where a small stream enters the Little Beaverkill to augment its flow. Shortly, we ran across the rather large blowdown that was blocking the trail. It was 12:05 PM when I put down my pack and got out the camera to take my before pictures. Sheila came over to pose in front of the blowdown so I took some pictures of her. There was one large tree than had fallen across the fence and onto the trail from state land. This tree had taken down another medium sized trunk. There was one smaller trunk that had bent across the trail and was hung up. I knew this might be the hardest to handle. As always I used the Sugowaza to remove braches and some of the smaller trunks. I threw the pieces over the bank and far away from the trail. By 12:20 PM I had trimmed all the smaller branches and removed them from the trail. I continued to use the Sugowaza and Fiskars ax to clear the smaller trunks. I switched to the Katanaboy to cut the large birch which went quicker than I expected as it was decayed. Clearing these larger pieces was more difficult than I expected. The largest section I simply rotated and left it off the trail near the fence.

By 12:48 PM, all that was left was the small tree that was leaning across the trail. It was hung up on the other side of the trail so I started to rock it. I rock it back and forth as much as I dared but it would not come down. I used the Fiskars ax to cut the tree near the ground. As soon as the trunk was severed it hit the ground and dug in. I had gained nothing as the anchor was almost as strong as before the cut. I checked by rocking the trunk but it was still hung up and I could not pull the butt end free. I put the ax to work again and made a cut 5 or 6 feet up the trunk. This didn't seem to help much but I was determined not to let this small trunk beat me. I dragged away the piece I had cut off and then grabbed the section that was still hung up and began to rock it and pull the base along the trail. I heard some cracking and crashing and the trunk dislodged and hit the ground. I used the ax to divide this section into two and dragged one piece off to the side. The final piece was still hung up a little. I was unable to free it completely so I used the saw to make a few cuts off the trail. With the final section free, I threw the last piece off the trail. I was a little tired and pretty sweaty from the high humidity. I cleaned up the trail and then took some "after" pictures. I packed up everything and headed back to the car at 1:00 PM. We were back at the car by 1:15 PM. We had only been out for an hour but I felt we had gotten some exercise and done a service.

On Sunday, May 22nd I wanted to get out to hike after more than a week of track meets, ambulance calls and bad weather. I had planned to do a longer tike after preaching in Jeffersonville but three overnight ambulance calls made me scale back my plan and go across the street to hike on Round Top. I planned to get in a few loops for two or three miles. As I started to get ready at 12:30 PM the temperature had risen to 88 degrees with partly sunny skies. It was almost as warm as the day before so I decided to just put on a shortsleeved cotton T-shirt. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my old Vasque Taku hiking boots which are pretty beat up and will soon have to be retired. I made sure I had a pair of Super Green insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. I decided to wear my wide-brimmed floppy hat for some protection from the sun. At 12:35 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. The heat and humidity were palpable. The forecast for the late afternoon included some thunderstorms so I wanted to get finished as soon as possible. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We walked out the driveway and crossed the street to walk along the street to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the lot and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." At the top of the hill we stopped to look around. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. The trailhead was dry and that continued as we entered the woods. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill to the lookout over town. When we reached the top of the hill, we followed the yellow trail as it turned to the right and ascended through the woods. The trail continued to be dry with only a few damp spots here and there. We followed the yellow trail when it turned right along the base of Round Top at the first junction with the blue trail. Walking was easier on the flatter ground. Sheila was running ahead and then back to me which was fine as it gives her more exercise. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the second junction with the blue trail.

At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up the hill toward the summit. As we ascended, there were only a few damp spots which were somewhat slippery. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued over the summit of Round Top. We walked across the flat summit and started down the hill bypassing the white crossover trail. We turned left on the switchback which sidehills quite a bit. At the end of the switchback, we turned left on the main blue trail and walked down to the junction with the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail, we turned left and walked along the base of Round Top again following the trail. This time when we reached the junction with the yellow trail, we turned right and walked downhill carefully to the woods road. We followed the trail along woods road and back down to the first trail junction. As we walked we took a good look at the ledges that line the trail. We continued back to the first trail junction. I immediately turned around and headed back up the woods road following the yellow blazes. Sheila seemed to be a little reluctant but soon turned around and followed me. At the end of the road, we followed the yellow blazes up the hill to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. When we reached the next junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the hill toward the summit. We turned on the switchback in the blue trail and followed it out and then back to the main blue trail. I was going to again bypass the white crossover trail but Sheila insisted on following the crossover trail. The trail was in good shape with no major blowdowns. At the end of the crossover trail we turned right on the blue trail. We simply followed the blue trail downhill to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right and again followed it along the base of Round Top. This time when we reached the junction with the blue trail, we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill to the viewpoint over town. The view was much the same as on many trips before. We continued to follow the yellow trail as it turned left and headed downhill to the first trail junction. From there we walked straight out to the trailhead and turned right to start down the hill to the church parking lot. At the bottom of the hill we walked out to the parking lot. We walked through the parking lot to Rock Avenue. After crossing the street to our driveway, we walked back to the house. We were home by 1:45 PM after hiking around two miles in a little more than an hour.

On Saturday, May 14th, I wanted to get out for a hike near home that was not on Round Top. I decided to go to Beaverkill Campgrounds as I was interested to see the level of the water in the Beaverkill after the recent dry spell. There were two ambulance calls overnight so I slept a little later than usual and got up at 10:00 AM. I got some breakfast and started to get ready with the temperature at 65 degrees with some clouds in a blue sky with the sun shining. I knew that showers were forecast for the afternoon so I wanted to get going as soon as possible. As usual, Sheila was excited but was trying to be the "good dog". It was so warm and the hike is so short that I just put on a short-sleeved cotton t-shirt. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which are pretty beat up and will soon have to be retired. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since twist locks have proved unreliable. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left the house at 11:15 AM as I drove out Old Route 17 toward Roscoe and turned right on Beaverkill Road. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. There were a few cars parked in the lot but I saw no people. A glance at the river showed that the level had dropped quite a bit since my last visit. The last time I had been here the had water covered the sandy beach and the rock I usually stand on to take pictures was underwater. Today, both of these were exposed.

We started out at 11:35 AM by walking out of the parking lot to the bridge with the temperature at 70 degrees. Clouds had now started to close in forming an almost complete overcast. When we got to the other side, I was surprised to see that the gate just off the road was fully open! I looked at the trail and saw that it was very dry. We turned left on a woods road that parallels the river and started down a short hill. We passed the spring house and continued on the deserted woods road where I could detect no recent footprints. We came to an area with a little path down to the river. Just passed this area the trail had been eroding due to the water running down the bank. The DEC had replaced a culvert pipe and installed a second. They had also brought in fill and packed it to reconstruct the path. I found this interesting as the campsites along this path are no longer used and are abandoned. I walked down to the edge of the river very carefully as the rocks were slippery and the water looked deep and cold. I took some pictures downstream and some upstream to the bridge. There were several places where trees at the edge of the river had fallen into the water testifying to the power of the river when it is high. When I was done, we got back on the trail and passed several areas with unused picnic tables. They sit unused and rotting along the road, a testimony to better days. We walked by these tables which had not been used in many years. A little later we came to what was once a bathroom for some campsites that had long since disappeared. There were more tables in this area. There was a path over to the river so I walked over and found the water was sparkling in the sun and was very clear. I took some pictures of the sun reflecting off the water both upstream and downstream. In several areas the DEC had placed large rocks along the shore and covered them with heavy wire to reduce erosion. At about .7 miles the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites. We continued on the road through the campsites and along the river. Many of the campsites had a cement block fireplace with a grill but some were upgraded to poured concrete. Everything was very quiet except for the water in the river. This was not surprising as the campsites are closed until Memorial Day. It was obvious that some crews had been working to clear downed trees and those that had deteriorated. The trees had been sectioned and piled and they lined the road. I took some pictures of the empty campsites and the campsite road as well as the piles of wood. The skies continued to cloud over and block the sun.

We walked to the last campsite where the trail ends and I walked down to the edge of the river. I was careful to watch where I was walking as I did not want to slip into the cold water. I stopped to take some pictures of the river especially downstream. Sheila decided to take a dip in the cold water and I took some shots of her. I encouraged her to get out but she stayed in for a while. We continued a little further passed the last campsite and walked a path along the river. The water was very clear with a slight greenish tint from looking through to the bottom. As we walked back passed the last campsite, we stayed to the left of the last bathroom to walk back on the other paved road through the campsites. This road parallels the one we walked out on to make a sort of loop. We retuned the way we had come although at a quicker pace. We still had not seen any people on the trails and very few cars had passed by on the roads. As we approached the bridge, I saw that there was a large group of people on the beach by the bridge and more cars parked in the lot. I had thought about taking some pictures of the bridge but gave up that idea. We walked through the bridge and turned right to go back to the car. We were back at the car at 12:30 PM having hiked 2.7 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes. The car's thermometer read 74 degrees and the sun had come back out making it feel even warmer.

On Friday, May 13th I planned to go for my first hike in a week. When track season ramps up my time becomes even more limited. Coupled with an increasing number of ambulance calls further limits hiking. In addition, I had been sick since turning from a Saturday tack meet where the weather was not ideal. I took it easy for three days and retuned to practice on Thursday. Doing this seemed to allow me to recover more quickly than usual. I slept late as we had another overnight call. After doing some work around the house, I decided to go across the street with Sheila to hike on Round Top. I am lucky that I have a place so close to hike but it has become very familiar. I have found that even a short hike helps to keep my blood pressure in check and I am hoping I can get my weight down also. As I started to get ready just before 1:00 PM, the temperature was 72 degrees but overcast without much direct sun. The forecast was for afternoon showers and a few drops had already fallen. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and we had not been out for some time. She was very vocal about hurrying me along. It was warm enough that I decided to just put on a short-sleeved NYNJTC cotton shirt. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my old Vasque Taku hiking boots which are pretty beat up and will soon have to be retired. I made sure I had a pair of Super Green insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. At 1:15 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I thought we could hike two figure 8's which I knew from experience should take a little over and hour. We walked out the driveway and crossed the street to walk along the street to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We stopped to talk a friend who had just finished cutting the grass at the church and then continued on our hike.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and continued directly up the hill to the trailhead. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." My goal was to make it all the way up the hill without stopping. I was surprised that I made it as being sick had compromised y breathing! At the top of the hill we stopped to look around but there wasn't much to see that I hadn't seen before. We turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was very dry and that continued as we entered the woods. I was not surprised that the trails were so completely dry. I had heard several calls for brush fires lately in Sullivan County despite a burn ban. Just before the first trail junction there was a small tree that had broken off. It had been hanging into the trail but someone had bent it back off the trail and secured it being another tree. I made a note to bring a saw to remove it completely. I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There was a slight breeze which cooled us off and Sheila was panting while I was feeling a little dry. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The yellow trail was dry in this area also and largely clear of branches. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned right and headed up the blue trail toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. Everything was very dry. We continued down to the yellow trail and turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and walked the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We passed the "sitting rock" and were soon at the viewpoint. A quick peek at the view showed nothing new but I did notice that the skies were now blue with white clouds. We turned left to start the steeper downhill. The trip down to the first trail junction went quickly. We turned around and started back up the hill toward the lookout to start our second figure 8.

The trip back up the hill to the lookout was pretty easy which, again, surprised me because of my recent downtime. At the top of the hill we turned right to follow the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. We turned right to followed the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up toward the summit. When we got to the white crossover trail, we continued on the blue trail as I wanted to get the full length of the hike. We hiked the last short section to the summit and then followed the blue trail down the other side. We bypassed the white crossover trail but turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed the switchback until it again rejoined the main blue trail. We turned left and headed down the main blue trail. We walked downhill to the trail junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and headed down the yellow trail to the woods road that leads to the first trail junction. As we walked down the road, we passed by many interesting ledges to the right of the trail. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot. We crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. It was 2:25 PM and we had hiked just over 2 miles in a little over an hour.

On Friday, May 6th I wanted to get out for a longer hike as I did not have track practice in the afternoon. That plan was interrupted by an ambulance call that took a good part of the morning. I did get home by 11:00 AM but decided to stay close to home as I was not feeling well. I decided to take Sheila to hike the Parksville Rail Trail. I am looking forward to the time when the county can get some of these pieces of rail trails connected to form a longer trail. I started getting ready at 11:15 AM. It was 58 degrees and the skies were blue with some white clouds. Sheila's expectant gaze and sharp bark "encouraged" me to continue the hiking plans. I decided I would not bother with my pack which I only take to carry my camera. I had many recent pictures and thought it would be nice to just set a fast walking pace. The hike is less than 3 miles round trip and it is very flat. I suspected that the trail might be a little wet and muddy. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top but knew I would not need a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my old Vasque Taku hiking boots which are pretty beat up and will soon have to be retired. I wasn't expecting a lot of water or mud but thought the old shoes would be the best choice. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I knew I would not need a jacket even though there was a slight breeze. At 11:35 AM I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. Just after this intersection is the western parking area for the rail trail. The parking lot had no cars parked.

I set my GPS unit and we started on the trail at 11:50 AM with the temperature right at 60 degrees. The breeze that was blowing which made me feel cool but I knew I would warm up as we hiked. As we entered the shade of the trees, it immediately seemed a little cooler. The stream volume looked high but not as high as during the last visit. I knew the falls would have enough water to be interesting. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose. We came to the point where a small stream enters the Little Beaverkill to augment its flow which happens several times along the trail. I found some of the markers that delineated the O&W right-of-way along the left side of the trail. We were soon at the wooden walkways where there is a nice view of the stream. The wooden surface of the walkways was dry but it was clear there had been a coating of mud. The problem is that a rock slide has blocked the culvert under the small bridge causing water, mud and stones to be diverted over the walkway. Unblocking the culvert and covering the walkways with some screening would help. We continued on the trail and came to the falls. I normally go down to the streambed to take pictures but on this day I walked to the picnic table to get some views from above. I walked to the edge of the trail where I had a good view. We continued on the trail to a bench where a path leads down to the stream. I walked down to the stream's edge to get a better look and the returned to the main rail. The trail had been damp and a little muddy in places but we had managed to walk around these areas. We set a quick pace for the rest of the hike to the Parksville end of the trail. Just after the gate at that end, we stopped to read the sign which outlined the milk that the O&W transported. The sign also mentioned the large number of hotels that had been in the area. We turned around and headed back to the car without stopping and without seeing any other people. We were back at the car at 12:15 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike.

On Wednesday, May 4th I had planned to get up early and get away from Livingston Manor for a hike. I thought about going to Frick Pond or Trout Pond or even Alder Lake. All these plans were cancelled by some overnight ambulance calls and one in the early morning. I had to get some sleep and finally got up at 10:00 AM. I had a track meet in the afternoon if it was no cancelled as the forecast rain moved in. I decided once again that my only choice was to head across the street to hike on Round Top. I think that I could now do this hike blindfolded but I am still lucky that I have a place so close to hike. I have found that even a short hike helps to keep my blood pressure in check and I am hoping I can get my weight down also. As I started to get ready the temperature was 60 degrees but overcast without much sun. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was very vocal about hurrying me along. It was warm enough that I decided to just put on my Mammut longsleeved crew top. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my old Vasque Taku hiking boots which are pretty beat up and will soon have to be retired. I made sure I had a pair of Super Green insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. I did not see any need for any jacket because it was so warm. I also knew I would not need a hat or gloves. At 10:45 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I thought we could hike two figure 8's which I knew from experience should take a little over and hour. We walked out the driveway and crossed the street to walk along the street to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and continued directly up the hill to the trailhead. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." At the top of the hill we stopped to look around but there wasn't much to see with the overcast. We turned left and entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was very dry and that continued as we entered the woods. I was a little surprised that the trails were so completely dry. I understood why I had heard so many calls for brush fires in Sullivan County. Just before the first trail junction there was a small tree that had broken off. It had been hanging into the trail but someone had bent it back off the trail and secured it being another tree. I made a note to bring a saw to remove it completely. I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There was no breeze and Sheila was panting while I was feeling a little dry. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The yellow trail was dry in this area also and largely clear of branches. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. There were a few damp spots on the summit but everything else was dry. We continued down to the yellow trail and turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and walked the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We passed the "sitting rock" and were soon at the viewpoint. A quick peek at the view showed nothing new so we turned left to start the steeper downhill. The trip down to the first trail junction went quickly. We turned around and started back up the hill toward the lookout to start our second figure 8.

The trip back up the hill to the lookout was pretty easy and I seemed to have gotten a second wind. At the top of the hill we turned right to follow the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. We turned right to followed the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up toward the summit. When we got to the white crossover trail we continued on the blue trail as I wanted to get the full length of the hike. We hiked the last short section to the summit and then followed the blue trail down the other side. We bypassed the white crossover trail but turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed the switchback until it again rejoined the main blue trail. We turned left and headed down the main blue trail. We walked downhill to the trail junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and headed down the yellow trail to the woods road that leads to the first trail junction. As we walked down the road, we passed by many interesting ledges to the right of the trail. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot. Our quiet hike was interrupted by a small, noisy dog which kept its distance. We crossed the parking lot and Rock Avenue to get to our driveway. It was 11:55 AM and we had hiked just over 2 miles in a little over an hour.

On Monday, May 2nd I wanted to make up for the day before. On Sunday, I ha planned to come home from church and take Cindy and Sheila out for a real hike. As we were getting ready to hike, the ambulance pager sounded and I responded. When I returned around 3:00 PM there was still enough daylight get in a hike so we again got ready and again there was an ambiance call. By the time I returned home there was not enough time to get out for a walk. Now I wanted to get out for even a short walk before track practice as the weather was sunny and warm as it had been the day before. Whenever I have a limited amount of time to hike, I head across the street to hike on the trails I created on Round Top. I can do a few loops to get in two or three miles and waste no time on driving to a trailhead. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she agreed which pleased Sheila who likes to hike with both of us. As I started to get ready at 12:00 PM the temperature had risen to 60 degrees with partly sunny skies. It was almost as warm as the day before so I decided to just put on a longsleeved cotton T-shirt. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my old Vasque Taku hiking boots which are pretty beat up and will soon have to be retired. I made sure I had a pair of Super Green insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. I did not see any need for any jacket because it was so warm. I also knew I would not need a hat or gloves. At 12:15 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We walked out the driveway and crossed the street to walk along the street to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the lot and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." At the top of the hill we stopped to look around. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. The trailhead was dry and that continued as we entered the woods. At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill to the lookout over town. When we reached the top of the hill, we followed the yellow trail as it turned to the right and ascended through the woods. The trail continued to be dry with only a few damp spots here and there. We followed the yellow trail when it turned right along the base of Round Top at the first junction with the blue trail. Walking was easier on the flatter ground and allowed us to catch our breath. Sheila was running ahead and then back to us which was fine with me. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the second junction with the blue trail. I was enjoying talking to Cindy in the beauty around us.

At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up the hill toward the summit. As we ascended, there were only a few damp spots which were somewhat slippery. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued over the summit of Round Top. We walked across the flat summit and started down the hill bypassing the white crossover trail. We turned left on the switchback which sidehills quite a bit. At the end of the switchback, we turned left on the main blue trail and walked down to the junction with the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail, we turned left and walked along the base of Round Top again following the trail. This time when we reached the junction with the yellow trail, we turned right and walked downhill carefully to the woods road. We followed the trail along woods road and back down to the first trail junction. As we walked we took a good look at the ledges that line the trail. We continued back to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and headed back up the woods road following the yellow blazes. At the end of the road, we followed the yellow blazes up the hill to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. When we reached the next junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the hill toward the summit. We turned on the switchback in the blue trail and followed it out and then back to the main blue trail. We again bypassed the white crossover trail and continued on the blue trail over the summit and back down the other side. We simply followed the blue trail downhill to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right and again followed it along the base of Round Top. This time when we reached the junction with the blue trail, we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill to the viewpoint over town. The view was much the same as on many trips before. We continued to follow the yellow trail as it turned left and headed downhill to the first trail junction. From there we walked straight out to the trailhead and turned right to start down the hill to the church parking lot. At the bottom of the hill we walked out to the parking lot. We walked through the parking lot to Rock Avenue. After crossing the street to our driveway, we walked back to the house. We were home by 1:40 PM after hiking around two miles in a little more than an hour. The rain had just started Our track meet was cancelled.

On Friday, April 29th I wanted to get out for a hike, even a short hike, after several days of track meets and ambulance calls. I waited until 11:00 AM when Cindy returned home and asked her if she wanted to go across the street on Round Top. She said she would like to go and we started to get ready. Round Top is a short set of trails but it does not require us to drive and is very handy for a quick walk. Sheila was making it clear she wanted to go outside and was thrilled that Cindy was going with us! I have found that even a short hike helps to keep my blood pressure in check and I am hoping I can get my weight down also. As I started to get ready the temperature was 62 degrees with plenty of sun. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was very vocal about hurrying me along. It was so warm I decided to just put on a longsleeved cotton T-shirt. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my old Vasque Taku hiking boots which are pretty beat up and will soon have to be retired. I made sure I had a pair of Super Green insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. I did not see any need for any jacket because it was so warm. I also knew I would not need a hat or gloves. At 11:45 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I though we could hike two figure 8's which I knew from experience should take a little over and hour. We walked out the driveway and crossed the street to walk along the street to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and stopped once or twice as we were setting a fast pace. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." At the top of the hill we stopped to look around and then entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was dry and that continued as we entered the woods. I was a little surprised that the trails were completely dry. Just before the first trail junction there was a small tree that had broken off and was hanging across the trail. I made a note to bring a saw to remove it. We followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two which I thought Cindy would appreciate. There was no breeze and Sheila was panting while I was feeling a little dry. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The yellow trail was dry in this area also and largely clear of branches. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. There were a few damp spots on the summit but everything else was dry. We continued down to the yellow trail and turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and walked the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We passed the "sitting rock" and were soon at the viewpoint. A quick peek at the view showed nothing new so we turned left to start the steeper downhill. We passed by what used to be a side trail to the lookout that I blocked with brush. This side trail has a gap that hikers have to walk over and it can be dangerous for some people. Unfortunately, some 'helpful' person had removed the brush without asking or knowing why it was there. The trip down to the first trail junction went quickly. Although Cindy was reluctant, we turned around and started back up the hill toward the lookout to start our second figure 8.

The trip back up the hill to the lookout was pretty easy and I seemed to have gotten a second wind. At the top of the hill we turned right to follow the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. We turned right to followed the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up toward the summit. When we got to the white crossover trail we turned let and followed that trail across the slope below the summit to the main blue trail. We turned left and then left again on the switchback in the blur trail. We turned left and head down the main blue trail. We walked downhill to the trail junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and headed down the yellow trail to the woods road that leads to the first trail junction. As we walked down the road, we noticed all the interesting ledges to the right of the trail. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot and over to the driveway to the house. It was 1:10 PM and we had hiked around 2 miles in a little over an hour. I was happy that Cindy had come with us.

On Monday, April 25th I wanted to get in a hike before track practice as the weather was again sunny and warm as it had been the day before. Whenever I have a limited amount of time to hike, I head across the street to hike on the trails I created on Round Top. I can do a few loops to get in two or three miles and waste no time on driving to a trailhead. As I started to get ready at 12:15 PM the temperature had risen to 60 degrees with partly sunny skies. It was almost as warm as the day before so I decided to just put on a longsleeved cotton T-shirt. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my old Vasque Taku hiking boots which are pretty beat up and will soon have to be retired. I made sure I had a pair of Super Green insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. I did not see any need for any jacket because it was so warm. I also knew I would not need a hat or gloves. At 12:30 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We walked out the driveway and crossed the street to walk along the street to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the lot and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." At the top of the hill we stopped to look around. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. The trailhead was dry and that continued as we entered the woods. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill to the lookout over town. We passed the path to the left that goes out to the lookout and I saw that most of the brush I had placed to block the trail had been removed by some "helpful" people. The path has a gap that could trip up some hikers and I have tried to indicate it is not a trail be removing the blazes and blocking it with brush. When we reached the top of the hill, we followed the yellow trail as it turned to the right and ascended through the woods. The trail continued to be dry with only a few damp spots here and there. We followed the yellow trail when it turned right along the base of Round Top at the first junction with the blue trail. Walking was much easier on the flatter ground and allowed us to catch our breath. Sheila was running ahead and then back to us which was fine with me. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the second junction with the blue trail. I was enjoying the beauty around me and was getting lost in my own thoughts.

At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up the hill toward the summit. As we ascended, there were only a few damp spots which were somewhat slippery. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued over the summit of Round Top. We walked across the flat summit and started down the hill bypassing the white crossover trail. We turned left on the switchback which sidehills quite a bit. At the end of the switchback, we turned left on the main blue trail and walked down to the junction with the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail, we turned left and walked along the base of Round Top again following the trail. This time when we reached the junction with the yellow trail, we turned right and walked downhill carefully to the woods road. We followed the trail along woods road and back down to the first trail junction. As we walked we took a good look at the ledges that line the trail. Our ambulance corps is scheduled to participate in a low angle rope rescue drill with our fire department and the local forest ranger. I had pointed out to the ranger that many people hike these trails even though the are right in town and there could be a need to rescue someone who was injured. We continued back to the first trail unction. We immediately turned around and headed back up the woods road following the yellow blazes. At the end of the road, we followed the yellow blazes up the hill to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. When we reached the next junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the hill toward the summit. We turned on the switchback in the blue trail and followed it out and then back to the main blue trail. We again bypassed the white crossover trail and continued on the blue trail over the summit and back down the other side. We simply followed the blue trail downhill to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right and again followed it along the base of Round Top. This time when we reached the junction with the blue trail, we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill to the viewpoint over town. We continued to follow the yellow trail as it turned left and headed downhill to the first trail junction. From there we walked straight out to the trailhead and turned right to start down the hill to the church parking lot. At the bottom of the hill we walked out to the parking lot. We walked through the parking lot to Rock Avenue. After crossing the street to our driveway, we walked back to the house. We were home by 1:40 PM after hiking almost two miles in a little more than an hour.

On Sunday, April 24th I returned home from preaching at a local church intending to stay in and get some work done in the afternoon. I was tired from attending our first track invitational in Sidney on Saturday. I ate lunch and got a few things done. I probably would have stayed inside but the weather was beautiful and Sheila was making it clear she wanted to go outside! I have found that even a short hike helps to keep my blood pressure in check so I decided to go across the street to hike on Round Top with Sheila. As I started to get ready at 3:00 PM the temperature was 65 degrees with plenty of sun. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was very vocal about hurrying me along. It was so warm I decided to just put on a longsleeved cotton T-shirt. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my old Vasque Taku hiking boots which are pretty beat up and will soon have to be retired. I made sure I had a pair of Super Green insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. I did not see any need for any jacket because it was so warm. I also knew I would not need a hat or gloves. At 3:15 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike two figure 8's which I knew from experience should take a little over and hour. We walked out the driveway and crossed the street to walk along the street to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and stopped once or twice as we were setting a fast pace. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." At the top of the hill we stopped to look around and then entered the woods to begin our hike. The trailhead was dry and that continued as we entered the woods. I was a little surprised that the trails were completely dry. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a few branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail or by using my poles on the smaller ones. There was no breeze and Sheila was panting while I was feeling a little dry. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The yellow trail was dry in this area also and the branches that had been laden with snow the week before had sprung back into place. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. There were a few damp spots on the summit but everything else was dry. We continued down to the yellow trail and turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and walked the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We passed the "sitting rock" and were soon at the viewpoint. I took a quick peek at a view I had seen many times before and then turned left to start the steeper downhill. We passed by what used to be a side trail to the lookout that I blocked with brush. This side trail has a gap that hikers have to walk over and it can be dangerous for some people. Unfortunately, some 'helpful' person had removed the brush without asking or knowing why it was there. The trip down to the first trail junction went quickly. We turned around and started back up the hill toward the lookout to start our second figure 8.

The trip back up the hill to the lookout was pretty easy and I seemed to have gotten a second wind. At the top of the hill we turned right to follow the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. We turned right to followed the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up toward the summit. When we got to the white crossover trail we continued on the blue trail toward the summit. I wanted to do two complete figure 8's rather than cut off some distance on the crossover trail. We continued up and over the summit and started down the other side. By this time Sheila and I were both thirsty. As we descended the other side of the hill, we again bypassed the white trail but turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. Walking downhill on the switchback was a little tricky as it sidehills in several places. At the end of the switchback we turned left and walked downhill to the trail junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and headed down the yellow trail to the woods road that leads to the first trail junction. As we walked down the road, I noticed all the interesting ledges to the right of the trail. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot and over to the driveway to the house. It was 4:20 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in a little over an hour. I was happy that Cindy was home after attending a church women's retreat at Spruce Lake in Pennsylvania.

On Wednesday, April 20th, I wanted to get out and hike to a higher elevation to see how much snow I could find. My grandson Bryce was at the house and was agreeable to hike. Bryce is 10 years old and can easily keep up with me on any hike! Rather than travel too far we decided to go to Frick Pond and hike the Flynn Trail where I knew there would be snow. This would give us some choices of how far we wanted to hike. I had some things to do around the house and at the ambulance building so we did not start getting ready until 11:00 AM when the temperature on the back porch was 38 degrees. I decided to dress a little warmly with layers as I did not know how much warmer it would be at the trailhead. While we began to get ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. I got dressed in my Mammut crew neck top with a long-sleeved thermal baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but knew I would not need tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and wore a light pair of gloves. I made sure to pack a pair of warm mittens. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the snow and to keep my lower legs warm. I decided not to take snowshoes as I knew the melting snow would ball up on the bottoms and that any postholes would soon be gone. I made sure my Hillsound Trail Crampons were in my pack just in case I decided I needed them. We left Livingston Manor at 11:15 AM and I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and drove up the road until we came to a Town of Rockland road crew clearing trees that had fallen across the road. I considered turning around to hike somewhere else but decided to wait. The crews cleared a path in less than 5 minutes and we continued on our way to the point where the road splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking areas on the left. I pulled into the smaller parking area which was partly plowed but where no cars were parked. The larger lot remained unplowed. I checked the trails and found at most 3 inches. No one else had been hiking and the snow was pristine. I decided to bareboot it but carry my Hillsound Trail Crampons in my pack. I set my GPS as we got ready to head out on the Flynn Trail with the temperature at 37 degrees. We crossed the road and began our hike at 11:30 AM.

The Flynn Trail is sited along what used to be Beech Mountain Road which was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We walked the trail through the woods which was covered in 2 to 3 inches of slushy snow. I immediately noticed that every step that I took was a plant and a slip which I knew would create fatigue the further we hiked. We turned right on the woods road and set a good pace up the hill despite the slippery snow. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.7 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The day was cool but the sun was out and the temperature was rising. I began to get warm so we stopped so that I could open the zippers on the hoody. As long as we were stopped, I took a few pictures of the trail in both directions showing off the pristine, white snow. I could hear branches cracking in the woods from the weight of the heavy snow. I pointed out to Bryce some of the blowdowns Cindy and I had cleared several of which were impressive. I began to feel a hotspot on the back of my right heel and hoped it would not be a problem. As we approached and passed the clearing to the right of the trail, the snow was noticeably deeper and we started to sink a few inches into the snow. The depth was now 6 to 8 inches. Snow had drifted across the track in some areas increasing the depth of the snow. We kept walking uphill and we were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I expected the snow would be deep here and it was. We were now walking through 10 to 12 inches of snow! It was 1:15 PM and we had covered the 1.7 miles in an hour and 45 minutes. This was more than twice the time it usually takes me. I considered trying to hike to the lookout on Beech Mountain but decided against it. We turned left to walk down the Big Rock Trail. As I expected, the trail had lots of snow but the depth decreased as we descended. I was a little surprised there were no snowmobile tracks. The hike down the trail went well and Bryce and I both remarked that we were able to get a controlled glide. It was definitely easier than the uphill hike. The hike went quickly since we were setting a fast pace. I did stop to take a few more pictures. This trail can be tricky as there are several levels that make it seem like the bottom of the hill. The large blowdowns that had been on the trail were now gone and I assumed the snowmobile club had taken care of them.

We were soon at Times Square and I thought about turning right to hike up and around the Logger's Loop to add some distance to our hike. I decided against this and we continued our hike by walking straight across Times Square to stay on the Big Rock Trail. The trail was completely covered in several inches of snow but we found areas of deep mud underneath. We crossed the two small bridges over the inlets to the pond and this time I stopped to take pictures. The sun was out now and gave a warm feeling to the setting. When we got to the area that was covered by tall evergreens, I took some pictures even though the light was poor. The wooden boardwalks were covered in snow but were not as slippery as they looked. I took some shots and then we crossed the bridges quickly. I pointed out another larger blowdown Cindy and I had cleared. At the next trail junction we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. I looked to the right and saw that no one had hiked the Quick Lake Trail. We walked along the west side of Frick Pond to the bridge across the outlet of the pond. I stopped at the bridge for a minute and took a few more photographs. I took a couple of Bryce and Sheila on the bridge before we walked up the hill toward Gravestone Junction. We continued to Gravestone Junction and passed the Lobdell memorial marker. The marker is a memorial to two children who died in the 1930's in a fire that consumed their cabin. The trail to the register was almost completely covered in snow but there were a ew places where small stream persisted in running across the trail. Just short of Te trail register there were footprints coming from the parking lot. There seemed to be quite a few people but the prints abruptly stopped indicating the people had turned around! At the trail register I checked to see if they had signed in and a party of 8 was signed in with a notation that they had stayed 2 hours. My first thought was that they must be very slow hikers. I assumed that they had not planned properly and were not equipped to handle the conditions. We continued straight ahead to follow the woods road out to the car in the small lot. We arrived at the car at 2:55 PM having hiked 4.2 miles in 3 hours and 25 minutes with an elevation gain of 690 feet. The temperature had risen to 42 degrees and the snow was starting to melt.

On Tuesday, April 19th I wanted to get out to hike in the snow that had fallen overnight. It seemed we had only gotten an accumulation of 3 or 4 inches in town as a lot of the precipitation had fallen as rain. I wanted to bet to a higher elevation and see what had fallen there. I shoveled my walks and the ambulance building and then stayed on call for any ambulance calls. We only had one vehicle that ran off the road and the driver was not injured. I finally decided to go across the street to Round Top at around 2:00 PM. As I was getting ready to go it began to snow again but the temperature was 37 degrees. Sheila was behaving herself nicely but was always in a position to keep her eye on me. I got dressed in my Patagonia wool 1/4 zip top but decided against a baselayer as the wool is very warm. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants as it was cool even though I had been using my Railriders recently. I knew that keeping my feet warm and dry would be an issue so I got out my Salomon B-52 which are insulated and as waterproof as anything I have. I made sure I had a pair of Portalus insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat and wore a pair of light gloves. I add my OR Crocodile gaiters to keep my lower legs warm and dry. I decided to carry my pack as it is the easiest way to take my camera with me. I decided I did not need snowshoes but had still had spikes in my pack. At 2:30 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We walked out the driveway and crossed the street to walk through the field to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. Much of the snow had already melted on the roads and even the snow on the grass was mostly slush.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and stopped once or twice as we were setting a fast pace. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." The trail up the hill was covered with snow but no one had been out walking or sledding! At the top of the hill we stopped to look around. Although it was overcast and snow was falling, I got out my camera to take some pictures. I took shots of the trees with snow on the branches and some more of the hills around town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. The trailhead was covered in snow and that continued even as we entered the woods. There were still only a few inches of snow on the trail but it was slippery! At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill to the lookout over town. The ascent wasn't too hard but we were getting hit with some of the snow and ice coming off the trees. We turned left on the path that goes out to the lookout. I had placed brush to block the path but had been removed by some "helpful" people. The path has a gap that could trip up some hikers and I have tried to indicate it is not a trail by removing the blazes and blocking it with brush. At the viewpoint I put down my pack and got out the camera. The conditions were not great for photography but I took some pictures anyway. I asked Sheila to go up to the lookout above so that I could take a few shots of her. When I was done I worked my way to the upper level and we followed the yellow trail as it turned to the right and ascended through the woods. The trail continued to be covered in snow and there was more snow as we continued the walk. The deeper snow was probably due to the increasing elevation and the fact that we were on the north and west sides of the hill. We followed the yellow trail when it turned right along the base of Round Top at the first junction with the blue trail. I stopped and took more shots of the snow which had formed a heavy coating on the branches. The bushes lining the yellow trail were leaning over and blocking the trail. I was able to "clear" a path by knocking the snow off them causing them to spring up an off the trail. Walking was much easier on the flatter ground and allowed me to catch my breath. Sheila was running ahead and then back to me which was fine with me. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the second junction with the blue trail. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up the hill toward the summit. As we ascended, there was more and more snow which made walking a little more difficult.

We turned left on the white crossover trail and followed it back to the blue trail on the other side of the hill. We turned left on the blue trail and then almost immediately left on the switchback which sidehills quite a bit. The slippery layer of snow made this section a little difficult to walk. At the end of the switchback, we turned left on the main blue trail and walked down to the junction with the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail, we turned left and walked along the base of Round Top again following the trail. This time when we reached the junction with the yellow trail, we turned right and walked downhill carefully to the woods road. We followed the trail along woods road and back down to the first trail junction. As we walked we took a good look at the ledges that line the trail. Our ambulance corps is scheduled to participate in a low angle rope rescue drill with our fire department and the local forest ranger. I had pointed out to the ranger that many people hike these trails even though the are right in town and there could be a need to rescue someone who was injured. We continued back to the first trail junction. At this point I was ready for another figure 8 so we turned around and walked back up the woods road to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left to stay on the yellow trail and walked to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and started up the steep hill. We turned right on the switchback in the blue trail and followed it until it rejoined the main blue trail. We turned right and almost immediately right again on the white crossover trail. We followed that trail across the side of the hill to the blue trail and turned right. At the junction with the yellow trail at the bottom of the hill, we turned right and again walked along the base of the hill. When the yellow trail turned left, we followed it downhill to the lookout. After turning left, we continued down the steep hill to the first trail junction. This time we continued straight ahead out to the trailhead. We turned right to start down the hill to the church parking lot trying not to slip on the snow. At the bottom of the hill we walked through the parking lot to Rock Avenue. The roads were bare but we were careful crossing as drivers sometimes exceed the speed limit. After crossing the street to our driveway, we walked back to the house. We were home by 3:45 PM after hiking a little less than 2 miles in an hour an 15 minutes.

On Friday, April 15th I wanted to get out for hike with my son-in-law Brad. It would be our third outing in a row and we had worked hard the day before on some trail maintenance. We had a couple of ambulance calls in the morning and did not start getting ready until 1:15 PM. It was 56 degrees and the skies were blue with some mice white clouds. Sheila's expectant gaze and sharp bark "encouraged" me to continue the hiking plans. I decided we would go hike the Parksville Rail Trail as it was close and has a nice waterfall. The hike is less than 3 miles round trip and it is very flat. I knew that there would be no snow or ice but suspected that the recent rainstorms may have made the trail wet and muddy. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top but knew I would not need a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my old Vasque Taku hiking boots which are pretty beat up and will soon have to be retired. I wasn't expecting a lot of water or mud but thought the old shoes would be the best choice. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I suspected that I might not need the jacket but there was a slight breeze. I put on a light hat and brought a pair of light gloves. At 1:35 AM we put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. Just after this intersection is the western parking area for the rail trail. The parking lot had no cars parked.

I set my GPS unit and we started on the trail at 1:50 PM with the temperature right at 58 degrees. The breeze that was blowing convinced me to keep on my hoody. As we entered the shade of the trees, it immediately seemed a little cooler. The stream volume looked high but not as high as during the last visit. I knew the falls would have enough water to be interesting. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose. Just after entering the woods we came to a small tree that had broken off and was leaning across the trail. This blowdown was there on my last trip but I had hoped someone would have removed it! Brad and I were able to push it out of the way and Brad lifted it over the fence and out of the way. A little after this we came to a point where a small stream enters the Little Beaverkill to augment its flow. I was able to get a good angle and some good light to snap a few shots. I pointed out some of the markers that delineated the O&W right-of-way. I also told him a little about the railroad and the proposed upgrade to the railtrails in Sullivan County. We were soon at the wooden walkways where I stopped, put my pack down and took out the camera. I took some shots of the stream below with nice blue skies and white clouds. I put away the camera and picked up my pack to continue over the walkways. The wooden surface was wet and had a coating of mud. This made a slippery layer but it was better than during my previous visit. The problem is that a rock slide has blocked the culvert under the small bridge causing water, mud and stones to be diverted over the walkway. Unblocking the culvert and covering the walkways with some screening would help. Brad and I looked at this area for some time and came to the conclusion it might take a small backhoe to clean it out!

We continued on the trail and came to the falls. I wanted to get down to the streambed so that I could take pictures from in front of the falls. It was relatively easy to work my way down the bank to the streambed. I got out the camera and took some shots down stream and the turned my attention to the falls. I took numerous pictures of the falls and the area in front. The water was very clear and the red rock beneath the water really showed through. Sheila, of course, was right with me and making me nervous by getting very close to the cold, rushing water. When I was done, we worked our way back up the bank. I took a few pictures of the falls from the edge of the trail where I had a good view. We continued on the trail to a bench where a path leads down to the stream. I left my pack on the bridge and took the camera with me to the stream's edge. I took shots upstream and downstream with some close-ups right in front of me. I repositioned myself and took some more pictures downstream toward the falls. I finished and walked back to the bench to stow the camera. The trail had been wet and a little muddy in places but we had managed to walk around them. From the falls to the other end of the trail there were several very wet areas and a lot of mud. We set a quick pace for the rest of the hike to the Parksville end of the trail. Just after the gate at that end, we stopped to read the sign which outlined the milk that the O&W transported. The sign also mentioned the large number of hotels that had been in the area. We turned around and headed back to the car without stopping and without seeing any other people. We were back at the car at 3:15 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 25 minutes including the stopped time for pictures. There is virtually no elevation gain on the hike except the short trips down to the streambed.

On Thursday, April 14th I wanted to go to the Long Pond area to look for some blowdowns on the Long Pond Beaverkill Ridge Trail off Flugertown Road. Some hikers had reported some blowdowns on the first section starting at the junction with the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail. My son-in-law Brad was visiting and I knew he would want to go along. Brad and I have worked together many times before and he really gets the job done. At 10:15 AM we started to get ready with the temperature at 70 degrees! Sheila was watching quietly but making sure that we did not leave without her. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top but decided against a baselayer since the temperature was warm and getting warmer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my old Vasque Taku hiking boots which are pretty beat up and will soon have to be retired. I wasn't expecting a lot of water or mud but thought the old shoes would be the best choice. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I usually leave them home when I do maintenance but Brad was available to carry some tools. I decided not to take a jacket, hat or gloves as the weather was so warm. I was aware that severe thunderstorms were predicted for the afternoon so we would have a limited amount of time to get some work done. I did take my Silky Sugowaza saw, Fiskars pack axe, and two felling wedges. We put all the gear in the car and put Sheila in the backseat and started out the DeBruce Road at 10:40 AM. I drove 11 miles to Flugertown Road and turned left. I drove another 2 miles up Flugertown Road passing onto the seasonally maintained road. I drove across the first bridge and parked in a spot on the right side of the road. I set my GPS unit and we began our hike at 11:00 AM by walking back down Flugertown Road to the point where the trail crosses the road.

The first .4 miles of the trail are maintained by the snowmobile club and this section of trail was in good shape with only a few branches and one trunk in sections to remove. This short section of trail is an ascent with a 13% grade and I was feeling it! At .4 miles we turned right onto the Long Pond Beaverkill Ridge Trail and began to inspect the trail. The trail was in pretty good shape and we removed a few branches here and there. The trail has been cleared several times to the point where it begins to climb the ridge. Beyond that point there is some clearing and marking to do! The DEC has decided that maintainers cannot put up trail markers any more but they do not get around to marking many trails. We came to one rather large trunk flat on the round and decided to bypass it as it was easy to step over. A little farther up the trail was a much large and older tree across the trail. Fortunately, it was easy enough to get over as it was a little larger than I wanted to cut with hand tools. At 11:30 AM we came to a small mess on the trail. I took some shots before we started. We spent about 10 minutes cleaning up the trail and made only a few cuts to get it cleared. I took my after shots and we continued our hike. At 11:45 we came to another small area to clear. This one took just over 5 minutes including some before and after pictures. We walked on and at 11:50 AM found another slightly larger tree down on the trail. I took some shots and then we got busy clearing a small but long trunk and the branches it had brought down with it. With two of us working the job went quickly and in less than 10 minutes we were done. I was beginning to think there would be no really difficult blowdowns but I was wrong. At 12:10 PM we ran into a mass of branches and a couple of larger trunks on the trail. I took my before pictures and then we both started to clear whatever was loose on the trail. We cleared a few hemlock branches and then some hardwood ones. We used the saw to cut a few benches that remained on the trail and put the ax to work clearing one of the Turks. We lifted and pivoted pieces off the trail until it was clear. After 20 minutes, we were done and we continued along the trail after I took some shots of the work we had done. At 12:35 PM we ran into our most difficult job. I took some pictures of the large trunk that was across the trail. It had many of its own branches and had brought down some from other trees. We started in by clearing everything that was loose and then sing the saw and ax to remove the reaming branches and saplings that were in the way. To get rid of the trunk, we used the saw to make a cut off the trail near the top of the tree. This went pretty quickly as we took turns making the cut. To finish off this job, I began a cut with the ax on the other side of the trail where the trunk was much thicker. Brad and I alternated with Brad doing more of the work until the cut narrowed and we were almost through. We switched to the saw and finished the cut. The section that was still on the trail was heavy but we were able to lift it to the side of the trail. This one had been challenging taking us 30 minutes to dispatch. It was 1:10 PM and the wind was coming up as the skies darkened. We decided to head back which was the right decision. The return trip was mostly downhill and we did not stop. It took us a little over 20 minutes to get back. We were back at the cars at 1:30 PM after hiking 2.5 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes. Of course, the pace was slow as we had spent over an hour hiking and an hour and a half doing trail work. As we left the parking area, the temperature was 75 degrees but the skies were dark and the wind was coming up.

On Tuesday, April 12th, I wanted to get out for a short hike near home that was not on Round Top. I though maybe Cindy would go with us to the Beaverkill Campgrounds but when I asked her she turned me down. I was interested to see the level of the water in the Beaverkill after the recent rains. There were no ambulance calls during the night so I has able to get some sleep and got up at 9:00 AM. I got some breakfast and started to get ready with the temperature at 50 degrees with the sun shining brightly. As usual, Sheila was excited but was trying to be the "good dog". I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top but decided against a baselayer since the temperature was warm and getting warmer. I decided my Columbia Titanium insulated pants would be much too warm so I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my old Keen Targhee II hiking boots which are pretty beat up and will soon have to be retired. I was expecting a lot of water and mud so I thought the old shoes would be the best choice. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also packed a light hat and light gloves even though I was pretty sure I would not need them. I thought I might not even need a jacket but donned my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat if necessary. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left the house at 9:45 AM as I drove out Old Route 17 toward Roscoe and turned right on Beaverkill Road. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. There was one pickup truck in the parking area and the owner was getting a fly rod ready. A glance at the river showed that the level was very high. The water covered the sandy beach and the rock I usually stand on to take pictures was underwater.

We started out at 10:00 AM by walking out of the parking lot to the bridge with the temperature at 60 decrees with lots of sun. When we got to the other side, I looked at the trail and saw that it was almost dry with a few damp and muddy spots. We turned left on a woods road that parallels the river and started down a short hill. When we came to the spring house, I decided to take a few shots and some more of the bright green water plants next to it. The plants were floating in a small "stream" that extended from the spring house and parallel the trail. I decided I wanted to keep my camera out of the pack and handy to take pictures. I knew I really didn't need my hiking poles on the flat trail so I decided to hide the, in the brush rather than collapse them and tow the in my pack. We continued on the deserted woods road where I could detect no footprints. We came to an area with a little path down to the river. Just passed this area the trail had been eroding due to the water running down the bank. I was surprised to see that the DEC had replaced a culvert pipe and installed a second. They had also brought in fill and packed it to reconstruct the path. I found this interesting as the campsites along this path are no longer used and are abandoned. I walked down to the edge of the river very carefully as the rocks were slippery and the water looked deep and cold and was flowing swiftly! I took some pictures downstream and some upstream to the bridge. When I was done, we got back on the trail and passed several areas with unused picnic tables. They sit unused and rotting along the road, a testimony to better days. We walked by these tables which had not been used in many years. A little later we came to what was once a bathroom for some campsites that had long since disappeared. There were more tables in this area. I took the opportunity to take some more pictures of random picnic tables and the bathroom. There was a path over to the river so I walked over and found the water was running high but was very clear. I took some pictures of the sun reflecting off the water both upstream and downstream. In several areas the DEC had placed large rocks along the shore and covered them with heavy wire to reduce erosion. At about .7 miles the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites. We continued on the road through the campsites and along the river. Many of the campsites had a cement block fireplace with a grill but some were upgraded to poured concrete. Everything was very quiet except for the water in the river. This was not surprising as the campsites are closed. It was obvious that some crews had been working to clear downed trees and those that had deteriorated. The trees had been sectioned and piled and they lined the road. I took some pictures of the empty campsites and the campsite road as well as the piles of wood. The skies were blue with some interesting white puffy clouds that make for good pictures so I took some more pictures

We walked to the last campsite where the trail ends and I walked down to the edge of the river. I was careful to watch where I was walking as I did not want to slip into the cold water. I stopped to take some pictures of the river especially downstream. Sheila decided to take a dip in the cold and rapidly flowing water but stayed close to the shore. I encouraged her to get out and could not believe she would go into the water. We continued a little further passed the last campsite and walked a path along the river. I took some shots downstream where the river turned to the left. The water was very clear with a slight greenish tint from looking through to the bottom. As we walked back passed the last campsite, we stayed to the left of the last bathroom to walk back on the other paved road through the campsites. This road parallels the one we walked out on to make a sort of loop. I took some shots of the bathroom and some more of the piles of wood stacked around the campsites. We retuned the way we had come although at a quicker pace. We still had not seen any people on the trails and very few cars had passed by on the roads. On the way back I knew I had to pick up my poles but I apparently had done a good job of hiding them! It took me a few minutes to find them and then we continued to hike. We walked through the bridge and turned right to go back to the car. I decided to drop my jacket at the car and then continue along the near side of the river to the bench near the edge of the rover. We walked by the newest bathhouse and through a gate. In front of us was what looked like a cement sidewalk. An arm of the river used to pass through this area and the "sidewalk" was there so that cars could ford the shallow water. The section of river had been diverted and only the ford remained. As we walked on the woods road we came to some piles of stones used in the campsites. I took some pictures of the stones and then some of another unused bathrooms. We walked down to the edge of the stream and I took a few ore shots. We continued to walk until we came to the stone bench. Sheila jumped up on it and I took a few pictures. We took slightly different route back passing in back of the bathroom. Before returning to the car, we walked to the left and down to the edge of the river. I took pictures of the bridge and the river flowing under it. There weren't many places to stand as the water was so high. When I was done, we walked over to the car. We were back at the car at 11:45 PM having hiked 2.7 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes with 20 minutes of stopped time. The car's thermometer read 62 degrees and the sun made it feel even warmer.

On Sunday, April 10th I wanted to get in a hike after returning from preaching at a local church. I ate lunch with my woe and then asked if she would like to go across the street to take a short walk on Round Top. It was clear from her equivocating answer that she had little interest in hiking. I have found that even a short hike helps to keep my blood pressure in check so I decided to go with Sheila. As I started to get ready at 1:15 PM the temperature was a cool 36 degrees with a stiff breeze blowing. I also thought I saw a few snowflakes! Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was very vocal about hurrying me along. I got dressed in my longsleeved Mammut crew top with a light longsleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants as it was cool even though I had been using my Railriders recently. I knew that keeping my feet warm and dry would not be an issue so I donned my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I made sure I had a pair of Super Green insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and wore a pair of light gloves. At 1:30 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike two figure 8's which I knew from experience should take a little over and hour. We walked out the driveway and crossed the street to walk along the street to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and stopped once or twice as we were setting a fast pace. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." At the top of the hill we stopped to look around. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. The trailhead was bare and that continued even as we entered the woods. I was surprised that the trails were barely damp after the rain we had over the previous two days. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a few branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail or by using my poles on the smaller ones. The breeze was varying in intensity and a few flakes continued to fall. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The yellow trail was bare with only a layer of wet leaves and a few branches here and there. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. There were a few muddy and slippery places but otherwise the trail was in good shape. We continued down to the yellow trail and turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and walked the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We passed the "sitting rock" and were soon at the viewpoint. I took a quick peek at a view I had seen many times before and then turned left to start the steeper downhill. We passed by what used to be a side trail to the lookout that I blocked with brush. This side trail has a gap that hikers have to walk over and it can be dangerous for some people in the winter season. Unfortunately, some 'helpful' person had removed the brush without asking or knowing why it was there. The trip down to the first trail junction went quickly. We turned around and started back up the hill toward the lookout to start our second figure 8.

The trip back up the hill to the lookout was pretty easy and I seemed to have gotten a second wind. At the top of the hill we turned right to follow the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. We turned right to followed the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up toward the summit. When we got to the white crossover trail we continued on the blue trail toward the summit. I wanted to do two complete figure 8's rather than cut off some distance on the crossover trail. We continued up and over the summit and started down the other side. The wind has increased in intensity and the skies were much darker. Small ice pellets began to fall albeit briefly. As we descended the other side of the hill, we gain bypassed the white trail but turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. Walking downhill on the switchback was a little tricky as it sidehills in several places. At the end of the switchback we turned left and walked downhill to the trail junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and headed down the yellow trail to the woods road that leads to the first trail junction. As we walked down the road, I noticed all the interesting ledges to the right of the trail. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot and over to the driveway to the house. It was 1:40 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in a little over an hour.

On Friday, April 8th I planned to go hiking with Cindy at the Beaverkill Campgrounds. We had gotten almost 3 inches of rain day before and I thought it would be nice to see the Beaverkill flowing at high volume. I went on an ambulance call in the morning and by the time I returned Cindy was no loner interested in hiking. I changed my plans and decided to go to at Trout Pond to see Russell Brook Falls. I began getting ready at 12:45 PM with bright blue skies with puffy white clouds and plenty of sun. As I was getting ready the temperature was 52 degrees. Sheila was pretty excited as I started to get ready as she always is when we go hiking. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top but decided against a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my old Keen Targhhe II hiking boots which are pretty beat up and will soon have to be retired. I was expecting a lot of water and mud so I thought the old shoes would be the best choice. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also packed a light hat and light gloves as I was not sure I would need them. I donned my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat if necessary. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 1:10 PM as I drove north on the Quickway towards Roscoe. I got off at exit 94 and headed north on Route 206 towards Downsville. After crossing the Rockland Flats and passing the Roscoe Nursing Home, I turned left on Morton Hill Road and drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. There was only one car sitting in the "lot" at the intersection of the two roads. People see the open space and park there without thinking about the fact that the land is private. I did not want to have to walk back up Russell Brook Road at the end of the hike so I decided to drive down the road to park in the lower lot. Russell Brook Road is a seasonal maintenance road and it did look like it had recently been maintained. I drove down the road and pulled over on the side of the road near the path down to the upper falls. I let Sheila out of the car and retrieved my camera from my pack. We walked down the path to the viewpoint above the upper falls and found them roaring. The volume of water was greater than I had seen in some time. I took pictures at various zooms and with different settings. I also shot a short video to get a feeling for the volume of water from the sound. I also took pictures of the chute between the two falls and a few of the top of the lower falls. When I was done, we returned to the car and I drove down to the lower parking area. There were three cars already parked and a forest ranger's truck. As I was getting ready to hike, I saw the ranger start to walk down the road toward the falls. I hoped we would meet him as I wanted to discuss a work detail to clear some trails.

I set my GPS unit and we started our hike at 1:30 PM by walking down the woods road toward the bridge across Russell Brook. The road was wet but not very muddy. As we crossed the bridge, I could see that the brook was very high from the recent rain storms. I decided to go to the falls at the beginning of the hike as the skies were beautiful. The Japanese knotweed had died and was a dead brown color but I knew it would be back later in the spring. The history of this area is very interesting. Russell Brook Falls had been the site of a dam that impounded water for a waterwheel in Butternut Grove. The wheel was still there a few years ago. The area near the register box was the "landing zone" for loggers who cleared the evergreen trees, not for tanning but, for the production of wood alcohol. The trees were transported on narrow gauge railway that ran parallel to Russell Brook. The railway met the mainline O&W near Butternut Grove where the logs were unloaded. There were several acid factories in the area that produced wood alcohol. There was also a factory on the lower part of Russell Brook that produced khaki dye for the uniforms of American troops during World War I. We followed the path out to the falls and turned right to walk down to the streambed. The path and all the rocks and roots were wet making them very slippery.At the bottom of the path, I put down my pack and got out the camera to take pictures of the falls and the stream. The falls were incredibly loud with an enormous volume of water. The spray from the falls made getting pictures difficult but I was able to get some of the falls and the stream. I packed up to continue the hike. We walked back out the path toward the main trail but I thought it would be nice to visit the upper falls. We turned right and walked up the hill to the viewpoint above the falls. This is a flat area which is really beautiful and secluded. I got out the camera and took some pictures of the falls from a different angle. I also got some shot to the pool below the falls and upstream where there was a small rapids. I again packed up and we walked back out to the main trail. On the way out a father and son were walking in toward the falls and I said "hello"> they were the only people we would see on the trails all day.

At the main trail, we turned right to head up to the pond. We continued passed the register box and up the main trail toward Trout Pond. The trail was covered in water with several small streams flowing across the trail. The walk seemed to go very quickly as we passed the path to the first primitive campsite. I could hear the outlet stream from Trout Pond and I looked down to see some interesting rapids. I decided we would walk down to the stream and bushwhack up to the pond. As soon as we reached the stream, I saw a place I wanted to take some pictures. I positioned myself and took some shots of the stream and the rapids. We moved a little father upstream and I took some more photographs. We continued to follow this pattern until the bank became too steep and we walked up to the trail just short of the pond. Along the way I managed to bang my shins into some trees and rocks as a memento of the trip. Soon we were at the outlet end of the pond and we walked over to the shore although the water was so high there wasn't much "beach" to stand on. I dropped my pack to take pictures of the lake with the blue sky and puffy white clouds. I was surprised that all the ice was gone from the pond. I took pictures looking for the contrast between the bare trees and the lake and for some interesting reflections in the still waters. Sheila decided not to take a dip as the water was cold. I took the time to take some pictures at the dam which had some water flowing over it. I walked to a point below the dam and took some pictures of the water falling over the dam. I packed up and we returned to the main trail to walk the flat woods road toward the inlet end of the pond. This trail is always damp but on this day it was covered in water that at times was higher than the tops of my boots! Where there wasn't much water there was plenty of mud and in some places there was both. I attempted to bushwhack around some of these areas but a few were so large it was not possible. The small stream just before the trail junction near the leanto has wider and deeper than I had seen it. When we came to the bridge, I stopped to take a few pictures of the pond from just before the bridge and from the bridge itself. I also took some shots upstream of the inlet stream that was wide and deep. We crossed the bridge and stayed to the right on the Mud Pond Trail which would take us over Cherry Ridge and form our loop back to the parking area. There was new beaver activity and a small dam just downstream of the bridge causing the water to back up. The inlet stream had overflowed and the entire trail was more like a stream than a trail. The trail is very rocky and there continued to be a lot of water even as we started to ascend the hill. As we continued up the trail, the water disappeared and I foolishly thought it was a permanent condition. There is a small stream that parallels the trail but it was swollen and I could see and hear it from the trail. I considered walking over to the stream but I was beginning to tire a little. The water came back with a vengeance turning the trail into a stream once again. There had been some very large trees across the trail but they had been cut by a DEC crew or the rangers.

From the bridge at the inlet we had climbed 430 feet over the next .75 miles. The trail headed west from the inlet until turning sharply south at around 2.3 miles. The highest point on the trail was at 2.2 miles after which most of the rest of the hike is downhill. As we started down the other side, the trail had some mud in spots but there was little standing or running water and I, again, hoped that this would last. Unfortunately, the trail again turned into a stream with several large ponds along the way. I tried bushwhacking gain staying away from the edge of the trail. In a few places, I just gave up and waded through the water choosing the shallower spots. We ascended a small hill to the stand of small birch trees and then descended the other side where there was some mud. At 3.7 miles we had descended 420 feet from Cherry Ridge to the snowmobile trail near Mud Pond. I could see that the trail was covered in deep water so I again bushwhack on a line parallel to the trail until it began to ascends on the water turned into a small stream. I ascended a small hill before starting downhill back toward the parking area. This section had some standing water until we began the steeper descent when it again turned into a stream. The stream on the trail was bigger than some of the streams in the forest. Occasionally a strewn would flow across the trail and collect the water flowing down the trail. There was also a stream that paralleled the trail with some interesting rapids and falls. The situation continued on and off all the way down the trail to the last stream that crossed the trail. This stream was wide, fast and deep but I managed to cross it. All told, we dropped another 380 feet over the next .7 miles back to the bridge just before the trail register. Someone had a tent set up at the large campsite to the left of the trail. They were sitting outside and we waved as Sheila and I passed by. We stopped on the bridge over the outlet stream from Trout Pond as it was flowing well. I took a few pictures upstream and downstream before we continued on the trail to the junction. We turned right and continued on the main trail toward the parking area. We continued across the bridge and up the trail to the parking area where there were now 8 cars parked. We were back at the car at 4:20 PM and we had hiked 4.7 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes with an elevation gain of 1000 feet. We had stopped for 25 minutes.

On Tuesday, April 5th, I wanted to get out and do a longer hike but I had track practice in the afternoon so I knew it would have to be quick. I decided that I wanted to go to Alder Lake to hike to the Beaver Meadow Len-to which would be better named the Beaver Pond lean-to as the beavers have returned. They have built an impressive dam and there are at least two lodges. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and she agreed. We started to get ready at 9:45 AM when the temperature was 42 degrees. Sheila was hovering around me as she can always detect when I am getting ready for a hike. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without any tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Taku boots have seen better days and will soon have to be "retired". I did not expect much snow although the possibility of mud and frozen mud was on my mind. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and also wore a pair of light gloves. At the last minutes, I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the snow and mud which I was sure we would find. Cindy and I both made sure our Microspikes were with us just in case they were needed. I got our gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 10:15 AM and drove north and west on Old Route 17 toward Roscoe. Just outside of town I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and headed north. I continued on the Beaverkill Road through Lew Beach and Turnwood toward Alder Creek Road where I made a left. Alder Creek Road had almost washed out in one of the rainstorms in the fall but the Town of Hardenburgh had done a great job and the area that was effected had been reinforced and showed no further signs of erosion. I continued to the end on the road where I turned right toward Alder Lake. The gate to the access road was unlocked so I drove up the access road very slowly as there are some very rough spots. When I got to the parking area there was one pickup parked and I thought they might be fishing. The temperature was still 42 degrees but there was no breeze. There was evidence that the state was cutting some trees and brush to widen the access after the gate and around the remind of the Coykendall Mansion which made me nervous! The skies were bright and sunny with lots of blue but no white clouds to provide contrast. I set my GPS and we started out on the path toward the "lawn" at 10:45 AM.

We walked along the path which passes by the stone foundations which marks the last remnants of the Coykendall Mansion. The house had been built as a large hunting lodge and then was gifted to the Boy Scouts of America. When the state took over the property. The mansion fell into disrepair with campers tearing boards away to use for campfires. The state added a fence but it did not deter people so the house was eventually burned to the ground. I walked toward the dam where the sound of the water was thunderous. I took pout my camera and snapped some shots of the spillway and a few more of the lake and the gills around it. The lighting was difficult because of the bright sun and the lack of clouds made the sky look very flat. I walked toward the trail around the left side of the lake to meet Cindy who had headed that way. As we walked along the trail we found a few spots of ice and open water with patches of mud. The brush and branches that had overgrown the trail were now dead and the walking was much easier. Sheila was happy to be out and ran ahead and then returned to us. We began to remove small branches from the trail and moved one larger one. As we approached the bridges, Sheila alerted and I could see one person fishing along the shore and another walking along the edge of the lake. We crossed the bridges on the trail near the head end of the lake and continued on the trail toward the junction with the Millbrook Ridge Trail. At the point where a path leads to the left to some primitive campsite, a some large trees had fallen across the trail. We were able to step over them but it was not easy. I could cut them with my hand tools but it would take a long time! I made a note to call the local ranger to see if we could schedule a time to remove them with a chainsaw. At the trail junction, we turned left to head toward the lean-to on the Millbrook Ridge Trail. The trail was mostly bare but there continued to be wet and muddy spots which required us to pay attention to where we placed our feet. We encountered a few small blowdowns which were all easy to step over but I knew I would need to return with tools to remove them. Some were old but others were the product of recent high winds. I thought about getting get a crew with a sawyer out to remove some of the larger ones from trail. The trail is pretty obvious and the blazes easy to see in most places. There were no tracks from other hikers. For the next 1.5 miles the trail climbed and then leveled off several times. The elevation gain is several hundred feet but the grade is never more than 12% and averages around 6%. There isn't too much to see along the way but this day was very pleasant because there was snow on the hillside across the creek and an increasing amount of snow on the trail. We enjoyed the sounds and sights of Alder Creek as it flows parallel to the trail much of the way as the volume was high. I looked over at the creek and saw that there was a good volume of water and that the rocks were covered in snow and ice. I thought about trying to get down to the creek bed for some shots but decided against it.

The trail leveled off at a beaver meadow and we crossed a small stream that feeds it. At 2.2 miles we began the last climb and I found that the trail was now covered in snow . At this point Cindy decided to sit on a log and let Sheila and I do the last little climb to the beaver pond on our own. This was disappointing but not surprising. As we started the climb, I was slipping and sliding some but decided I would not stop to put the spikes on as the climb was short. I did take a few pictures of the snowy trail. Soon we arrived at the beaver pond. Where there had once been a beaver meadow, there was now a pond with a dam and a beaver lodge. The pond was much larger than the last time I had visited! As we came to the spot on the trail opposite the beaver dam, we walked off the trail to the right and found a good viewpoint. I took pictures of the pond and the dam even though the skies were still a flat blue. I also took some shots of the beaver lodge with the lean-to in the background. The snow gave the scene the feeling of winter even though the temperatures was pushing 50 degrees. As I looked around I was overcome by the feeling of joy at seeing what God has created! I realized that the return trip would be much easier as it was almost all downhill but that it would be important to watch my foot placements so that I did not fall on steeper descents made slippery by the snow. I stopped at one spot on the way back to take some pictures of Alder Creek. The walk did go quickly and we were soon at a point where we could see Cindy sitting on a log. She whistled for Sheila but Sheila waited until I told her "Find Mom" and the took off running at top speed. We set a faster pace on the way back as Cindy was rested and we were still heading downhill. We had to cross several wet spots and hop a couple of stream but we were soon at the loop trail around Alder Lake where we turned right to return the way we came. When we came to the bridges there was the open view of Cradle Rock Ridge. In the foreground on this scene were some rushes and the beginnings of a small beaver dam. We did not stop as I had taken a few pictures on the way out. We continued on the trail toward the parking area and noticed that the other people we had seen were now on the opposite side of the lake. As the trail came to the "lawn" we turned right and walked up the hill toward the stonework on the mansion. I took some pictures of the mansion site and then we walked back to the car. I considered walking down to the creek to take some pictures of the waterfalls but decided to leave it for another visit. We were back at the car at 1"20 PM after hiking 4.6 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes with 20 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 675 feet. Our moving speed was 2 MPH.

On Saturday, April 2nd, I had planned to hike the Pelnor Hollow nad Little Spring Brook Trail with a friend who needed it for her all Trails Challenge. My wife had agreed to give us a ride as parking is still not allowed on Pelnor Hollow Road! I went out on an early morning ambulance call and found the wind was blowing at about 30 mph. The day that had been forecast to be bright and sunny seemed to be headed for cloudy and windy. I contact my friend and we agreed to postpone the effort for another day. I started to do a few things around the house but noticed the wind was dying down and the sky was clearing. By 11:00 AM I had decided I wanted to get out and asked Cindy if she would like to go to Frick Pond to trim the rest of the blowdowns on the upper part of the Flynn Trail. She said "Yes" and we began to get ready to go with the temperature at 40 degrees. While we began to get ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top and added a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Taku boots as I did not think I would need an insulated boot. These shoes still fit well but will have to be retired soon as even with insole they do not provide much support. I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat for warmth and donned a pair of light gloves. I made sure my microspikes were in my pack just in case I needed them at some point. I decided to go without hiking poles as I would be carrying tools. I packed my Silky Sugowaza curved fixed blade saw which can handle surprisingly large trees and my Fiskars pack axe which is light but handles bigger trees very well. I also threw some felling wedges in my pack as they can be used if my saw became pinched. We left Livingston Manor at 11:25 AM as I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking areas on the left. I pulled into the smaller parking area where there was one car parked. The larger lot had fur cars parked but in a pattern that would limit others options for parking! I checked the trail and there was no snow or ice at the beginning of the Flynn Trail. I decided not to set my GPS as most of our time would be spent clearing blowdowns and the route was a familiar one. We got ready to head out on the Flynn Trail with the temperature at 42 degrees. We crossed the road and began our hike at 11:45 AM.

The Flynn Trail is sited along what used to be Beech Mountain Road which was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We walked the trail through the woods which was covered in hard-packed snow which was a little slippery on the uphill parts. We turned right on the woods road and set a quick pace up the hill which was almost completely bare. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.7 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The day was cool but the sun was out and the temperature was rising. I began to get warm as we set a quick pace so we stopped so that I could open the zippers on the hoody. We had been clearing a few branches as we walked. At 12:12 PM we came to the first small blowdown across the trail. I took some pictures, grabbed the saw, made 1 or 2 cuts, and pivoted the pieces off the trail. Cindy and I cleaned up what was left and I took some after shots. The whole job took less than 10 minutes and we were off to the next one. We cam to the second blowdown at 12:35 PM. It was a single small trunk. We used the same procedure and again we were done in under 10 minutes. Things were going well and I expected it would not take us long to clear all the blowdowns to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. My optimism was short-lived! At 12:45 PM we came to a new blowdown that had not been there on the last trip. One large tree had broken off up high and had fallen over the trail. A second, smaller tree was hanging over and into the trail. There was a third trunk or large branch on the ground. The mess was not exactly blocking the trail but I wanted to get rid of as much of it as I could. I took my 'before' pictures and then began to inspect the complex blowdown. I looked at the connections of the blowdowns to the main trunks that were still standing and found they looked pretty solid. I tried pushing and pulling on them and they seemed solid. The problem with working with hand tools is that it takes much longer than with a chainsaw. I began cutting the branches off the trunk on the ground and clearing them. Cindy elected to stay clear which made the job that much harder but having one of us out of harm's way was a good idea. I continued to use the saw to cut off pieces of all three trees and then cut them up so that I could make a neat stack just off the trail. I walked to the other side of the mess and cleared some more including cutting overhead so that I could remove some branches that were hanging down. I used the ax to cut up the trunk on the ground to get it out of the way. The going was slow but soon I was done. One blowdown had swung out of the way but had not come down and the biggest was not going anywhere anytime soon. The trail was clear and I took some 'after' photographs to prove it. This one had taken me 40 minutes to finish.

We moved on at 1:25 PM and came to the path to the large clearing on the right. Immediately after this there was another single trunk on the ground. I took a few quick shots and then moved to use the saw to remove the branches at the top of the tree. I threw this piece off of the trail and thought we could pivot the reminder but it was solidly anchored. I made one more cut that allowed Cindy and I to move the trunk to the side. A few 'after' pictures and we were done in less than 10 minutes. I did take a few minutes to record some shots of the ice and icicles on the rocks along the trail. I wasn't sure how many more blowdowns were left but I was beginning to get tired. We ran into two or three large branches in the trail. I didn't even take my pack off for these but used the ax to make a few cuts and move the pieces off the trail. We were nearing the junction iota the Big Rock Trail when we came to another slightly larger blowdown at 2:02 PM. This one required a combination of ax and saw but was pretty easy to remove. In just over 10 minutes we were done including a few final pictures. We moved on only to find another small blowdown almost at the trail junction. Sheila must have been feeling left out as she went and sat in front of the blowdown so that she could get in the 'before' pictures. I used the ax to section the two small trunks. I cut large pieces and dragged them well off the trail. It seemed longer but it took only 10 minutes to complete the last blowdown on the Flynn Trail. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail we turned left and started the long downhill walk. I Dod not have my poles which always help me when walking downhill but I was feeling good after doing so much work. Cindy and I did clear a few branches off the trail before running into a larger dead trunk across the trail. Cindy pointed out that it was cracked in two places. I grabbed the top end and started to move it. A section just the right size broke off and I deposited it off the trail. Cindy and I were able to move the larger section which cracked in just the right place. This one hardly sowed own our walk! We continued down the Big Rock Trail without encountering another obstacle. We did not some large holes on the trail in a few places. At first I thought it might be an animal. A second looked seemed to indicate that the top of a culvert had collapsed and a hole had opened. The Big Rock Trail is tricky as there area several places that appear to be the end of the trail but are not.

We continued the downhill journey grateful for the sunnier and warmer weather. We were soon at Times Square where we continued our hike by walking straight across Times Square to stay on the Big Rock Trail. The trail had a little snow and several areas with water and mud. We crossed the two small bridges over the inlets to the pond but did not stop to take pictures. The water was high and flowing freely. It was so clear I wanted to get a drink. I did not but Sheila did. When we got to the area that was covered by tall evergreens, I took some pictures even though the light was poor. The wooden boardwalks still had some frozen snow but were not as slippery as they looked and we crossed the bridges quickly. As we were crossing, Sheila alerted and I saw a young couple seated on the walkway with their dog. I had forgotten Sheila's leash but I took her by the collar to cross. The other dog seemed very calm. As we were crossing the young man said "Mr. Bressler" and I realized he was a former student. We stopped to talk for a few m minutes before moving on. The last part of the Big Rock Trail was very muddy in contrast to the Flynn Trail which had been almost dry. We worked our way through the mud but it made me think that our trail crew might address the issue. At the next trail junction, we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. The trail continued to be very wet with running and standing water. There was also significant ice on the trail. We walked along the west side of Frick Pond to the bridge across the outlet of the pond. I stopped at the bridge where I have taken hundreds of pictures. The skies were blue but without any clouds for contrast. However, the water on the pond was high and very still with the tress reflected in the water. I took out my camera to capture a few shots of the pond and Beech Mountain. We walked up the hill toward Gravestone Junction and found some ice still present on the trail. We continued to Gravestone Junction finding plenty of mud and water on the trail. We passed the Lobdell memorial marker and found it vertical. The marker is a memorial to two children who died in the 1930's in a fire that consumed their cabin. I had not been cutting out the trail to the marker to discourage vandalism but it had been cleared. Once again "helpful" people were doing unauthorized work. The Quick Lake Trail to the register was partly covered in snow and ice but there was also a lot of mud and water. There were at least three places where small streams were running across the trail. At the trail register we continued straight ahead to follow the woods road out to the car in the small lot. We arrived at the car at 3:30 PM having hiked 4 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes with an elevation gain of 670 feet. Much of the time was spent doing trail work. The temperature had risen to 48 degrees.

On Thursday, March 31st I wanted to get out for hike and was considering a couple of longer hikes in the area. The forecast for heavy afternoon thunderstorms changed my mind! By 10:30 AM , it was 50 degrees but the skies were overcast with a heavy mist in the air. I thought about just not going and waiting for a better day but Sheila convinced me otherwise. Her baleful gaze and sharp bark "encouraged" me to continue the hiking plans. I decided we would go hike the Parksville Rail Trail as it was close and has a nice waterfall. The hike is less than 3 miles round trip and it is very flat. I was pretty sure that the recent warm weather had probably eliminated all of the snow and most of the ice. I already had my spikes in my pack but was pretty sure I would not need them. just in case they were needed. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top and added a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but knew I would not need tights underneath. I wore Keen Targhee II boots which are worn but still good for short hikes. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to keep the mud and water off my lower legs. . Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and brought a pair of light gloves. At 11:00 AM I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. Just after this intersection is the western parking area for the rail trail. The parking lot was free of any snow or ice and there was one other car parked. On the way to the trailhead, light rain or heavy mist had collected on the windshield.

I looked at the trail and it was bare as I expected. I decided to start out with bare boots and carry my spikes until they might be needed. I set my GPS unit and we started on the trail at 11:15 AM with the temperature right at 52 degrees. The trail had some footprints as we walked up the slight grade toward the woods. As we entered the shade of the trees, it immediately seemed a little cooler. As we walked along the trail, there were only a few patches of ice which were easy to avoid. The stream volume looked high and I knew the falls would be roaring. Sheila was taking her own route and following her nose. We were setting a fast pace and I considered walking through to the other end without stopping for pictures. I decided against this option as I knew that the conditions on the way back might not be as good for photography. Along the way, Sheila alerted and I saw a young woman running toward us. I moved to the side of the trail and had Sheila sit beside me. As the runner passed we exchanged greetings and she looked familiar. We were soon at the wooden walkways where I stopped, put my pack down and took out the camera. I took some shots of the stream below but was disappointed that the sky was overcast without any blue patches or white clouds. I put away the camera and picked up my pack to continue over the walkways. The wooden surface was wet and had a coating of mud. This made such a slippery layer I almost fell twice! The problem is that a rock slide has blocked the culvert under the small bridge causing water, mud and stones to be diverted over the walkway. Unblocking the culvert and covering the walkways with some screening would help.

We continued on the trail and came to the falls. I wanted to get down to the streambed so that I could take pictures from in front of the falls. On my previous visit, I started down the path which was untouched and was making good progress until the packed snow started to slide. This time there was no snow at all and it was relatively easy to work my way down the bank to the streambed. I got out the camera and took some shots down stream and the turned my attention to the falls. I took numerous pictures of the falls and the area in front. Sheila, of course, was right with me and making me nervous by getting very close to the cold, rushing water. When I was done, we worked our way back up the bank. I took a few pictures of the falls from the edge of the trail. We continued won the trail to a bench where a path leads down to the stream. I left my pack on the bridge and took the camera with me to the stream's edge. I took shots upstream and downstream with some close-ups right in front of me. I repositioned myself and took some more pictures downstream toward the falls. I finished and walked back to the bench to stow the camera. I saw some impressive ice patches ahead so I took some shots before putting the camera in my pack. We set a quick pace for the rest of the hike to the Parksville end of the trail. Just after the gate at that end, we turned around and headed back to the car without stopping. We were back at the car at 12:20 PM after hiking 2.7 miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes including the stopped time for pictures. There is with virtually no elevation gain on the hike accepted the short trips down to the streambed.

On Tuesday, March 29th I wanted to get in a hike after doing some work for my track team and then going to track practice. Track practice in the afternoon limits my ability to go on longer hikes as I cannot enjoy myself knowing I have to be back at a certain time. As I started to get ready at 10:00 AM the temperature had risen to 38 degrees but it felt much warmer as there was no breeze. From previous trips I thought there would be no snow on Round Top as the recent warn weather had eliminated all the snow and ice even in the woods. It turns out I had forgotten about the short but heavy snowfall on the weekend! I decided I would not need any traction devices to complete a few loops. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was very vocal about hurrying me along. I got dressed in my Patagonia wool 1/4 zip top but decided against a baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants as it was cool even though I had been using my Railriders recently. I knew that keeping my feet warm and dry would not be an issue so I donned my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I made sure I had a pair of Super Green insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and wore a pair of light gloves. At 10:30 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike two figure 8's but knew plans might change depending on the conditions and time. We walked out the driveway and crossed the street to walk along the street to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and stopped once or twice as we were setting a fast pace. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." The trail up the hill was bare with no snow or ice. At the top of the hill we stopped to look around. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. The trailhead was bare and that continued even as we entered the woods. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a few branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail or by using my poles on the smaller ones. There was no snow or ice on the trail and we could see none in even the shadiest spots. I almost immediately started to get warm so I stopped to open the zippers on my hoody. I don't know why I decided on the very warm wool top. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The yellow trail was bare with only a layer of wet leaves and a few branches here and there. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail toward the summit. I got a big surprise as the entire hill including the trail was covered in snow! The snow that had fallen on the north and west side of Round Top over the weekend had remained. Climbing even with the snow was very enjoyable as I could still get a good grip in most places. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. We continued over the summit, where there was no snow at all, and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. There were a few muddy and slippery places but no snow or ice in sight. We continued down to the yellow trail and turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and walked the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We passed the "sitting rock" and were soon at the viewpoint. I took a quick peek at a view I had seen many times before and then turned left to start the steeper downhill. We passed by what used to be a side trail to the lookout that I blocked with brush. This side trail has a gap that hikers have to walk over and it can be dangerous for some people in the winter season. Unfortunately, some 'helpful' person had removed the brush without asking or knowing why it was there. The trip down to the first trail junction went quickly. We turned around and started back up the hill toward the lookout to start our second figure 8.

The trip back up the hill to the lookout was pretty easy and I seemed to have gotten a second wind. At the top of the hill we turned right to follow the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. The one short climb along the way was easy and the poles helped. We turned right to followed the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up toward the summit. When we got to the white crossover trail we turned left and followed that trail. I wanted to make sure that I had walked all the trails to see how they had faired after some windy days. As we walked the white trail around toward the blue trail, we again started to pick up the snow. We walked to the point where it intersected the blue trail and turned left on the blue trail and then left again on the switchback in blue trail. Walking downhill on the switchback was a little tricky as it sidehills in several places. At the end of the switchback we turned left and walked downhill to the trail junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and headed down the yellow trail to the woods road that leads to the first trail junction. As we walked down the road, I noticed all the interesting ledges to the right of the trail. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked down the hill to the church parking lot and over to the driveway to the house. It was 11:40 AM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in a little over an hour.

On Friday, March 25th I had not planned to hike as the weather report was for cool and raw conditions with a chance of rain showers. Lisa sent me a text early in the morning asking if we could take a short walk on Round Top as she had been "trapped" inside all week. Lisa is moving her store "Morgan Outdoors" to Hurleyville, another hamlet in Sullivan County. Another couple will be opening an outdoor store in the same space but I will miss Lisa! We agreed to meet at the church at 2:00 PM. I did not have track practice in the afternoon so I was free to do some work in the morning and then hike in the afternoon. As I started to get ready at 1:30 PM the temperature had risen to 52 degrees with overcast skies. I knew from previous trips there was no snow or ice on the trails. Sheila was behaving herself nicely but was always in a position to keep her eye on me. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top but decided against a baselayer as it was warm outside. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I knew that keeping my feet warm and dry would not be an issue so I donned my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I made sure I had a pair of Super Green insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and took a pair of light gloves. At 1:55 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We walked out the driveway and crossed the street to walk along the street to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. Lisa was waiting for us in the parking lot. As soon as Sheila saw Lisa, she fan to strain and pull on her leash. Sheila sometimes takes some time to warm up to people but Lisa is part of her "pack". We all said "Hello" and the started up the hill behind the church.

We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and stopped once or twice as we were setting a fast pace. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." The trail up the hill was bare with no snow or ice. At the top of the hill we stopped to look around. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. The trailhead was bare and that continued even as we entered the woods. At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill to the lookout over town. We passed the path to the left that goes out to the lookout and I saw that most of the brush I had placed to block the trail had been removed by some "helpful" people. The path has a gap that could trip up some hikers and I have tried to indicate it is not a trail be removing the blazes and blocking it with brush. When we reached the top of the hill, we followed the yellow trail as it turned to the right and ascended through the woods. The trail continued to be bare with no snow or ice. We followed the yellow trail when it turned right along the base of Round Top at the first junction with the blue trail. Walking was much easier on the flatter ground and allowed us to catch our breath. Sheila was running ahead and then back to us which was fine with me. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the second junction with the blue trail. Lisa and I always have something to talk about and we had not hiked together for some time. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up the hill toward the summit. As we ascended, there were only a few muddy spots which were somewhat slippery. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued over the summit of Round Top. We walked across the flat summit and started down the hill bypassing the white crossover trail. We turned left on the switchback which sidehills quite a bit. At the end of the switchback, we turned left on the main blue trail and walked down to the junction with the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail, we turned left and walked along the base of Round Top again following the trail. This time when we reached the junction with the yellow trail, we turned right and walked downhill carefully to the woods road. We followed the trail along woods road and back down to the first trail junction. As we walked we took a good look at the ledges that line the trail. Our ambulance corps is scheduled to participate in a low angle rope rescue drill with our fire department and the local forest ranger. I had pointed out to the ranger that many people hike these trails even though the are right in town and there could be a need to rescue someone who was injured. We continued back to the first trail unction. At this point I was ready for another figure 8 but Lisa wanted to finish which was Ok with me. We turned left and walked straight out the trail to the trailhead and turned right to start down the hill to the church parking lot. At the bottom of the hill we walked out to Lisa's car in the parking lot. We said our goodbyes after which Sheila and I walked through the parking lot to Rock Avenue. The roads were bare but we were careful crossing as drivers sometimes exceed the speed limit. After crossing the street to our driveway, we walked back to the house. We were home by 2:45 PM after hiking a little more than a mile in a little more than 45 minutes.

On Tuesday, March 21st I decided it would be appropriate to take my first hike of the spring on Round Top across from my house as I am there so often! I now have track practice in the afternoon which limits my ability to go on longer hikes as I cannot enjoy myself knowing I have to be back at a certain time. As I started to get ready at 10:00 AM the temperature had risen to 42 degrees and the breeze made it feel cooler. I knew from the day before that there was no snow or ice on the trails. due to the recent warm weather. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and we had not been out in two day. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top but decided against a baselayer even though I knew I might be a little cool at the beginning. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I knew that keeping my feet warm and dry would not be an issue so I donned my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I made sure I had a pair of Super Green insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using for some time. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and took a pair of light gloves. At 10:30 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike two figure 8's but knew plans might change depending in the conditions. We walked out the driveway and crossed the street to walk along the street to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill to the lookout over town. We passed the path to the left that goes out to the lookout and I saw that most of the brush I had placed to block the trail had been removed by some "helpful" people. The path has a gap that could trip up some hikers and I have tried to indicate it is not a trail be removing the blazes and blocking it with brush. When we reached the top of the hill I, decided I did not want to continue to follow the trail as I had been doing that so much lately. I walked up the hill to the right and started to walk along the top of the ledges. After a short distance, I noticed Sheila was not with me and had to call her several times before she came. Sheila often picks her own path and follows animals tracks. We walked along the ledges taking the same path we had often taken before until we came out on the yellow trail at the base of Round Top. I thought we might just bushwhack directly to the summit. I took a few steps into the woods and then realized I had used Sheila's tick repellant on her but had not put any on me nor had I worn gaiters. I decided we would follow the trails so I turned right and followed the yellow trail to the junction with the blue trail. At the junction, we turned left and started up the blue trail, toward the summit. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued over the summit and down the other side. We gain bypassed the crossover trail but turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed the trail as it turned back toward the main blue trail and I again made a note that this part needed some work to make the walking easier. When we reached the main trail, we turned left and turned left again on the yellow trail at the base of the hill.

We walked along the base of Round Top to the next junction where we turned right to follow the yellow trail downhill toward the first trail junction. We continued to follow the trail as it turned to the right and followed the old woods road back to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and headed back up the woods road to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. At the next trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right and headed up the hill. We followed the switchback in the blue trail as it headed right into the woods and then made an almost 180 degree turn to head back to the main blue trail. We turned right and then almost immediately right again on the white crossover trail. These trails were clear of blowdowns but were slippery even though there was no snow or ice due to the with wet leaves. We walked the crossover trail back out to the blue trail where we turned right and walked down to the yellow trail. We turned right and again walked along the yellow trail to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and walked the yellow trail down to the lookout. We continued to follow the yellow trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. We walked out to the trailhead and turned right. We walked to the road through the church parking lot and over to the driveway to the house. It was 11:35 AM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in a little over an hour.

Winter 2021-2022

On Monday, March 21st I wanted to get in a hike after a weekend of ambulance calls and Preaching in two churches. I now have track practice in the afternoon which limits my ability to go on longer hikes as I cannot enjoy myself knowing I have to be back at a certain time. I asked Cindy if she would like to go across the street to hike on Round Top and she agreed. As we started to get ready at 10:30 AM the temperature had risen to 46 degrees but it felt much warmer as there was no breeze. A quick look at Round Top revealed no snow and I felt the recent warn weather had probably eliminated all the snow and ice even in the woods. We decided we would not need any traction devices to complete a few loops. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and we had not been out in two day. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top but decided against a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I knew that keeping my feet warm and dry would not be an issue so I donned my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I made sure I had a pair of Super Green insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and took a pair of light gloves. Cindy wore a similar outfit. At 11:00 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike two figure 8's but knew plans might change depending in the conditions. We walked out the driveway and crossed the street to walk along the street to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a few branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail or by using my poles on the smaller ones. There was no snow or ice on the trail and we could see none in even the sadist spots. I almost immediately started to get warm so I stopped to open the zippers on my hoody. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The yellow trail was bare with only a layer of wet leaves and a few branches here and there. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail toward the summit. Climbing without ice or snow was very enjoyable and I began to think it would be OK if winter was done. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. There were a few muddy and slippery places but no snow or ice in sight. We continued down to the yellow trail and turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and walked the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We passed the "sitting rock" and were soon at the viewpoint. I took a quick peek at a view I had seen many times before and then turned left to start the steeper downhill. We passed by what used to be a side trail to the lookout that I blocked with brush. This side trail has a gap that hikers have to walk over and it can be dangerous for some people in the winter season. Unfortunately, some 'helpful' person had removed the brush without asking or knowing why it was there. The trip down to the first trail junction went quickly. We turned around and started back up the hill toward the lookout to start our second figure 8.

The back up the hill to the lookout was pretty easy and I seemed to have gotten a second wind. At the top of the hill we turned right to follow the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. The one short climb along the way was easy and the poles helped. We turned right to followed the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up toward the summit. When we got to the white crossover trail we turned left and followed that trail. I wanted to make sure that I had walked all the trails to see how they had faired after some windy days. There was one small tree across the white trail which I was able to drag out of the way. We walked the white trail to the point where it intersected the blue trail. We turned left on the blue trail and then left again on the switchback in blue trail. Walking downhill on the switchback was a little tricky as it sidehills in several places. At the end of the switchback we turned left and walked downhill to the trail junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and headed down the yellow trail to the woods road that leads to the first trail junction. As we walked down the road, I noticed all the interesting ledges to the right of the trail. At the first trail junction, I debated doing another loop of some kind but decided just to head out to the trailhead. We walked out to the trailhead and turned right. We walked to the road through the church parking lot and over to the driveway to the house. It was 12:10 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in a little over an hour.

On Friday, March 18th, I was ready to go back to Frick Pond to remove as many as eight blowdowns on the Flynn Trail. Cindy had an eye doctor's in the morning but said she would go with me in the early afternoon. It is very helpful to have two people to do the work and it is also safer. We knew that there would be no snow or ice where we were going so we did not bring our snowshoes although I did have my spikes in my pack. As we began to get ready at 12:45 PM the temperature was already 55 degrees with plenty of sun. As we started gathering our equipment and getting dressed, Sheila was very quiet but did not let me out of her sight. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top but decided not to wear a baselayer due to the warm temperature and the work we would be doing. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots as they keep my feet warm and dry. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and made sure I had a pair of light gloves. I made sure my Microspikes were in my pack just in case they were needed. I decided to go without hiking poles as I would be carrying tools. I decided to take only one water bottle as the hike is less than 2 miles round trip. I packed my Silky Sugowaza curved fixed blade saw which can handle surprisingly large trees and my Fiskars pack axe which is light but handles bigger trees very well. I also threw some felling wedges in my pack as they can be used if my saw became pinched. We got our gear and Sheila in Cindy's car and left Livingston Manor at 1:05 PM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. When we arrived at the parking areas, we found that the smaller lot had two cars parked so I pulled in and parked next to them. I set my GPS to record how long it took us to hike and clear the blowdowns. We crossed the road and started out on the Flynn Trail through the woods at 1:30 PM with the temperature at 62 degrees. The sun was shining brightly and it seemed even warmer than the air temperature.

The Flynn Trail is sited along what used to be Beech Mountain Road which was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We walked the trail through the woods which had no snow or ice cover. We turned right on the woods road and set a quick pace up the hill. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.7 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The day was warm and the sun was out with the temperature rising. We had been clearing a few branches as we walked. The trail had a well-defined track which made walking pretty easy. At 1:45 PM we had walked .5 miles and were at the first blowdown. Although this was a small blowdown which I could simply drag off the trail, I took some "before" pictures. I put the camera down and dragged the large branches off to the side of the trail. The whole job took only a few minutes. I took some "after" shots and we continued along the trail. The next blowdown was also small and only a few hundred feet up the trail. I took some pictures and then made only two cuts with the saw to enable me to drag the blowdown off the trail. After taking some pictures, we began to hike again looking for the next challenge. At 2:00 PM we arrived at the next blowdown at .6 miles. This one had two parts with the first consisting of several larger trunks and the second many smaller branches. I took my "before" shots and then began to survey the blowdown. I used the Silky saw to remove the smaller branches that were in the way. Cindy stood by and watched so I had to cut and drag away the branches. I continued to use the saw to cut the larger branches taking time to drag them well away from the trail. When only the largest trunks were left, I grabbed the Fiskar's ax and sectioned the trunks. I dragged one section off the trail and was able to pivot the other to the side. I took some "after" pictures before turning my attention to the branchy blowdown just beyond.

I noticed that I was getting tired and moving slower. The branches were projecting out into the trail blocking about half of it. I took pictures and then cleared some of the branches that were already free. After that, I started using the saw to cut and then remove smaller branches. I continued to cut but there always seemed to be more branches. Every time I removed a branch and tried to move it off the trail I seemed to have a problem. I finally used the ax to cut a few larger branches and the job was finished. I took some "after" shots before packing up to move on. It had taken almost an hour to clear the complex blowdowns. We walked up the trail and found another trunk lying across the trail. I took the pictures and then used the ax to cut off the branches at the top. I dragged them away and then turned my attention to the remaining trunk. I used the ax to section the two smaller trunks and with my last ounce of energy I threw them off the trail. I took a few more shots and then packed up everything so we could walk back to the car. It was so warm I packed my jacket for the trip back. The hike back was downhill all the way and went quickly. We arrived back at the car at 3:30 PM having hiked 1.3 miles in 2 hours. An hour and 25 minutes was spent working. The temperature had risen to 64 degrees! As we were putting our gear in the car, a young couple were looking at the maps at the trailhead. I asked them if they needed help and they said they were looking for a waterfall. I gave them instructions to Mongaup Falls but was not sure they understood where they were going.

On Wednesday, March 16th, I was ready to go to Frick Pond to remove a blowdown on the Big Rock Trail on the west side of Frick Pond. I thought that when I was done I might be able to clear some of the blowdowns on the Flynn Trail. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and she said :Yes:. It is very helpful to have two people to do the work and it is also safer. We knew that there might be some loose snow but only a few inches and it would soft as the temperature was already 46 degrees as we began to get ready at 10:45 AM with plenty of sun. As we started gathering our equipment and getting dressed, Sheila was very quiet but did not let me out of her sight. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top but decided not to wear a baselayer due to the warm temperature and the work we would be doing. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants as it was still cool but thought that soon I might be exchanging them for my Railriders. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots as they keep my feet warm and dry and work well with snowshoes. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and made sure I had a pair of light gloves. I made sure my Microspikes were in my pack just in case they were needed. Cindy and I had decided not to take any snowshoes knowing the snow would not be deep enough and would be clumping easily. I decided to go without hiking poles as I would be carrying tools. I decided to take only one water bottle as the hike is less than 2 miles round trip. I packed my Silky Sugowaza curved fixed blade saw which can handle surprisingly large trees and my Fiskars pack axe which is light but handles bigger trees very well. I also threw some felling wedges in my pack as they can be used if my saw became pinched. We got our gear and Sheila in Cindy's car and left Livingston Manor at 11:00 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. When we arrived at the parking areas, we found that only the smaller lot had been partly plowed. There were two cars in the smaller lot so I pulled in and parked next to them. I took a look at the trail and found there was only a thin layer of snow and ice remaining proving the decision not to bring snowshoe. I decided I did not need to use my GPS as we were not going very far. We started out on the woods road from the parking area at 11:25 AM with the temperature at 56 degrees. The sun was shining brightly and it seemed even warmer than the air temperature.

We started out the woods road and then the Quick Lake Trail from the trail register. There was almost no snow and we are happy to there was scattered among patches of ice and open water. We continued straight ahead at the register on the woods road that heads out to the trail system. The woods road was completely covered in soft snow and ice which made it tricky walking. There was open water running across the trail in several places and ice covered some water in others. I was not having any problem with bare boots and Cindy had her poles to help her out. At Gravestone Junction we stayed left on the Quick Lake trail heading toward the bridge at the outlet to Frick Pond. The snow on the trail hid the ice underneath so I walked on the bare ground near the side of the trail. When we arrived at the bridge, I put my pack down and got out the camera. I was disappointed that the sky was a flat blue without any clouds but the scene was still pretty. I took some pictures of the bridge and some shots downstream as the water was high. I also took shots of the pond and of Beech Mountain. I returned to my pack and stowed the camera so we could continue our walk. The trail stayed about the same with snow and ice as we continued across the bridge toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued along the west side of Frick Pond and at the junction with the Big Rock Trail we headed right on the Big Rock Trail. Within a few hundred feet we came to the blowdown which all but blocked the trail. It was 11:55 AM when I put my pack down and took some 'before' pictures of the blowdown. I went to inspect the blowdown and was surprised that it was more complicated than I had remembered. A rather large tree had fallen at an angle across the trail and had hung up in the trees on the other side. The tree had a bifurcated trunk and was entwined with other, smaller trees. I called Cindy over to take a look and we began to develop a plan. What I wanted to do was to completely remove the whole blowdown as if it had never been there. Because of the way it was leaning and hung up, I knew I might have to settle for clearing enough to allow hikers to pass easily.

I got the Silky Sugowaza saw and began to cut away the smaller branches that were in the way. I also cut a few saplings that I thought might be supporting the larger tree but nothing moved. Cindy began removing what I cut and piling neatly off the trail. It was not long before all that remained were the two larger trunks; one lay near the ground but the other was hung up in other trees. I took a few "during" pictures and then got my Fiskars ax. I used the ax to cut the smaller trunk off the edge of the trail. The cut went more quickly than I expected and Cindy and I were able to roll it well off the trail. At this point the trail was clear to hike with only the larger trunk hanging over the trail. I shook the trunk and it seemed well anchored but I wanted to see if we could remove it. I decided to use the ax to cut the larger trunk near the edge of the trail hoping we could flip the lower section off the trail and that the upper portion would fall to the ground. The height and angle of the cut I chose made the work difficult and the footing on the soft snow was tricky. It took some effort but I finally was able to cut through the trunk. The lower part was completely free and looked like we might be able to move it. The upper section remained firmly entangled in the branches of other trees. Cindy and I took our positions to flip the lower section off the trail. It was heavy and did not want to flip as we tried to roll it. We kept working on it until it was upright and for a moment I was not sure we could get it over. We were able to complete the flip and the section was well off the trail. I pulled on the upper section but it was not moving. I cut a few more branches that I thought might be holding it but nothing happened. There seemed to be one sapling that was still holding it against the other trees but I did not know what would happen if I cut it. I decided to give it a try and used the saw to cut through it. I was able to pull the sapling away but the trunk did not fall. I was able to grab the lower portion of the trunk and pull on it until it came crashing down. At that point I knew that it was just a matter of a little final cleanup. I used the saw to section the trunk into two sections. We moved the lower section off the trail and I dragged the upper section to the pile that Cindy had made. We cleaned up a few branches and I took my "after" pictures. I stowed the camera and saw and picked up the ax. We started back the way we had come at 1:10 PM. When I checked the time, I was surprised it had only taken an hour and 15 minutes to clear the blowdown. We were back at the car at 1:30 PM having spent 2 hour and 35 minutes hiking and clearing the blowdown. I was tired but felt good about the work we had done. The temperature was 58 degrees.

On Tuesday, March 15th, I wanted to get out for the second day in a row as the weather was again beautiful. Since I had track practice in the afternoon, I decided I did not have enough time to really enjoy a long hike before going to school. I decided to return to Frick Pond to hike the Flynn Trail to the Big Rock Trail and back along the Quick Lake Trail. At 10:00 AM it was 48 degrees so I decided to dress a little less warmly than I had been. While I began to get ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top and added a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots as they keep my feet warm and dry. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and donned a pair of light gloves. I made sure my microspikes were in my pack just in case I needed them at some point. We left Livingston Manor at 10:40 AM and I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking areas on the left. I pulled into the smaller parking area where there were no cars parked. I checked the trail and there was hardly any snow or ice at the beginning of the Flynn Trail. I decided to bareboot it but carry my microspikes in my pack. I set my GPS as we got ready to head out on the Flynn Trail with the temperature at 42 degrees. We crossed the road and began our hike at 11:00 AM.

The Flynn Trail is sited along what used to be Beech Mountain Road which was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We walked the trail through the woods which was covered in hard-packed snow which was a little slippery on the uphill parts. We turned right on the woods road and set a quick pace up the hill which was almost completely bare. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.7 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The day was cool but the sun was out and the temperature was rising. I began to get warm as we set a quick pace so we stopped so that I could open the zippers on the hoody. I had been clearing a few branches as we walked. The trail had a well-defined track which made walking pretty easy. We approached and passed the clearing to the right of the trail and kept walking uphill. We were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. It was 11:50 AM and we had covered the 1.7 miles in 50 minutes. We turned left to walk down the Big Rock Trail. As I expected, the trail was almost free of snow but there was some ice were the trail had been packed by snowmobiles. The hike down the trail started out well but I soon discovered that I had to walk on the side of the trail to avoid some of the ice. I thought about putting on my spikes but decided against it. Despite these conditions the hike went quickly since we were setting a fast pace. This trail can be tricky as there are several levels that make it seem like the bottom of the hill. The large blowdowns that had been on the trail were now gone and I assumed the snowmobile club had taken care of them. As we started down the bottom third of the trail, the ice was gone and the trail was bare although there was some water. This was a result of the recent rain that had run down the "ditch" at the edge of the trail.

We were soon at Times Square and I thought about turning right to hike up and around the Logger's Loop to add some distance to our hike. I decided against this and we continued our hike by walking straight across Times Square to stay on the Big Rock Trail. The trail had some snow and several areas with water and mud. We crossed the two small bridges over the inlets to the pond but did not stop to take pictures. When we got to the area that was covered by tall evergreens, I thought about taking some pictures but the light was poor. The wooden boardwalks still had some frozen snow but were not as slippery as they looked and we crossed the bridges quickly. At the next trail junction, we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. We walked along the west side of Frick Pond to the bridge across the outlet of the pond. I stopped at the bridge for a minute but did not take any pictures. We walked up the hill toward Gravestone Junction and found some ice still present on the trail. We continued to Gravestone Junction and passed the Lobdell memorial marker. The marker is a memorial to two children who died in the 1930's in a fire that consumed their cabin. Thankfully, the stone was upright. I had not been cutting out the trail to the marker to discourage vandalism but it had been cleared. Once again "helpful" people were doing unauthorized work. The trail to the register was partly covered in snow and ice but there were three places where small stream were running across the trail. At the trail register we continued straight ahead to follow the woods road out to the car in the small lot. We arrived at the car at 1:10 PM having hiked 4 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes with an elevation gain of 670 feet. The temperature had risen to 52 degrees.

On Monday, March 15th I wanted to go for a hike near home as I had my first spring track practice in the afternoon and several tasks to get done before that time. We had received 6 to 8 inches of snow on Saturday and I thought we might get in a hike with snowshoes before the warmer temperatures during the week. Cindy said she wanted to go too but she had conditions. She wanted a short and flat hike while I had thought about a longer and hilly hike. We decided to go to Frick Pond and hike the loop around the pond. We started getting ready at 10:20 AM when the temperature was 32 degrees. I was hoping the temperature would be a little colder at the trailhead so that we could use the snowshoes without the snow clumping. Sheila was watching us quietly but making sure that we did not leave without her. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top and added a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots as they keep my feet warm and dry. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and donned a pair of light gloves. Cindy and I decided not to take our snowshoes as the snow outside was already clumping. We both took our spikes just in case they were needed. I got all our gear in the car and put Sheila in the backseat and drove out the Debruce Road at 11:00 AM. I drove about 6 miles before turning left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. The smaller lot was partly plowed but the larcener lot was still covered in snow. There were no cars in either lot so I parked in the smaller lot. The car thermometer read 34 degrees as I set my GPS to get ready for the hike. At 11:20 AM we headed out the woods road toward the trail register. The woods road was covered in 4 to 6 inches of snow and there was a track set. The track looked like at least one person had worn snowshoes on Sunday and there were several other sets of boot prints.

We continued straight ahead at the register and headed out the woods road toward Frick Pond. I felt a little guilty not wearing snowshoes but the snow was very wet and clumping on our shoes. As we walked, I noticed we were not sinking in much at all and that there appeared to be less snow than had fallen in town. The trail was covered in snow but there were several places wear small stream ran across the trail. There were also a few spots where the trail had some standing water. The drainage work we had done seemed to have helped in some places but made little impact in others. At Gravestone Junction, we turned right to get on the Logger's Loop heading toward Times Square. The snow coeditor remained about the same but the softening and melting continued to increase. I considered taking some pictures but the skies were a flat blue and I was more interested in pushing the pace. The walking was a little more difficult as with each footstep my boots would slip. We walked passed the designated campsites and followed the trail as it turned a little to the left to parallel the eastern shore of Frick Pond. The snow in this area was the deepest we found on the whole hike as the wind causes drifting of the pond. We started to walk downhill to Times Square and crossed a stream which drains water from the area of the Flynn Trail. I suggested we walk straight ahead up the Logger's Loop Trail to add a little distance but Cindy vetoed this. We turned left and started the short loop around Frick Pond which I knew was barely 2 miles. The Big Rock Trail had some wet and muddy areas which are almost impossible to drain. The snow here was minimal and there was still a track set down. We crossed the bridges over the outlet streams and found it was pretty but not remarkable. Entering the spruce forest is always a treat. The wooden walkways were covered in snow but just barely and the walking was easy. In one place, I noticed that the sections of walkway were offset vertically and I made a note to check on this as soon as the snow disappeared. When we reached the end of the Big Rock Trail, we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head toward the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. The trail had a good layer of snow but was little different than what we had already hiked. The pit we had worked on was completely frozen over and we got across without a problem. At the southern end of Frick Pond, we crossed the bridge finding the view beautiful as always. As we started up the hill, a dog came walking down the trail with his people right behind him. I grabbed Sheila but the other dog came to say "Hello". The other hikers got a grip on their dog. There were six young people all in bare boots. They said they were just going to hike around the pond. We walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction where we had turned right earlier. We walked back along the Quick Lake Trail and the woods road to the parking area. We were back at the car at 12:20 PM after hiking 2.0 miles in 1 hour. This made our overall speed 2.0 mph and our moving average 2.1 mph. The elevation gain was only 165 feet. The temperature was 40 degrees and the snow was very soft.

On Friday, March 11th I wanted to get to hike after a week of ambulance calls and poor weather. My grandson Bryce was going to be at our house around noon and I wanted to hike with him. I went on a morning ambulance call and returned to find Bryce and Brynn at the house. We decided it would be best to go across the street to hike on Round Top. Bryce wanted to eat lunch so by the time we were ready to get going it was 1:00 PM. The temperature had risen to 30 degrees but it felt much warmer. Although a storm was forecast to drop up to a foot of snow on Saturday, a quick look at Round Top revealed little snow. I decided we would not need snowshoes or spikes. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and we had not been out in a while. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top and added a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots as they keep my feet warm and dry. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and donned a pair of light gloves. Bryce had a jacket and hiking shoes that were adequate for a short hike. At 1:30 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike two figure 8's but knew that might be ambitious given the possible ice and snow we might still find. We walked out the driveway and crossed the street to walk along the street to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church.

We continued to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." The trail up the hill was mostly bare with a path of snow at the beginning. At the top of the hill we stopped to look around. We could see there were still some white patches on the surrounding hills. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. The trailhead was bare and that continued as we entered the woods. At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she started directly up the hill toward the lookout. The hill was completely bare with only a layer of leaves. Sheila loves the cold weather as she has some Husky in her and her longer coat has a warm undercoat. For some reasons she does not get the iceballs on her feet that plague some dogs. The climb up the hill was rather easy as there was no ice most of the way. I noticed that I immediately began to get warm but I was not ready to open the zippers to dump any heat. We passed by what used to be a side trail to the lookout that I blocked with brush. This side trail has a gap that hikers have to walk over and it can be dangerous for some people in the winter season. Unfortunately, some 'helpful' person had removed some of the brush without asking or knowing why it was there. At the top of the hill, we followed the yellow trail as it turned to the right and ascended through the woods. We began to find the trail covered in a layer of slippery slush which was wet but not too much of a problem on the flat parts of the trail. Ascending a short uphill proved challenging but we found some bare ground that gave us more traction. These conditions continued as we followed the yellow trail when it turned right along the base of Round Top. Walking was easier on the flatter ground even though some snow was still present. Every time we started up a small incline we had to look for alternate routes as the trail was too slippery. Sheila was running ahead and then back to us which was fine with me. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the second junction with the blue trail. Bryce and I always have something to talk about. He told me about his school and I described some of my ambulance calls. We also had an interesting conversation about religion.

At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up the hill toward the summit. As we ascended, we confirmed that spikes would have made the hike much easier. Walking up the hill was slippery but I knew walking down the other side would be even more interesting. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued over the summit of Round Top. We walked across the flat summit and started down the hill bypassing the white crossover trail. Bryce was doing much better than I seeming to have better balance. As soon as we started downhill, I knew it would be an adventure although Bryce, who was not using poles, was having an easier time. We turned left on the switchback which sidehills quite a bit. Walking this trail required us to find some places off-trail where there was some snow that allowed us to get some traction. At the end of the switchback, we turned left on the main blue trail and walked down to the junction with the yellow trail. Going downhill without and traction was dicey at best. At the junction with the yellow trail, we turned left and walked along the base of Round Top again following the trail. This time when we reached the junction with the yellow trail, we turned right and walked downhill carefully to the woods road. We followed the trail along woods road and back down to the first trail junction. I was not enthusiastic about walking the hills again but we decided to walk a small loop. We turned around and started back up the woods road we had just descended. On the way back up, I pointed out to Bryce some of the areas along the base of the ledges. Our ambulance corps is scheduled to participate in a low angle rope rescue drill with our fire department and the local forest ranger. I had pointed out to the ranger that many people hike these trails even though the are right in town and there could be a need to rescue someone who was injured. We continued back up the trail to the trail junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. At the next trail junction with the blue trail, we turned left again and walked downhill toward the lookout. Even though this downhill is not very steep there were some tricky areas. At the viewpoint we turned left and walked down the hill to the first trail junction. This descent was easy since the trail was bare. We walked straight out the trail to the trailhead and turned right to start down the hill to the church parking lot. At the bottom of the hill we walked out through the parking lot to Rock Avenue. The roads were bare but we were careful crossing as drivers sometimes exceed the speed limit. After crossing the street to our driveway, we walked back to the house. We were home by 2:30 PM after hiking a little less than 2 miles in an hour. I was a little tired but glad we had gotten out. I promised myself that next time I would err on the side of picking an appropriate traction device.

On Thursday, March 10th, I was ready to get in a hike after coming home from my 6:15 AM men's Bible study at church. Snow had fallen overnight and was sticking to the trees. I wanted to get some pictures before the sun came out and the snow fell off the trees. When I returned home, I asked Cindy if she would Ike to hike or perhaps snowshoe and she agreed. I had planned to hike the Flynn Trail to the Hodge Pond Lookouts but knew Cindy would not want to climb the hills involved. I change plans so that we would hike a loop near Frick Pond using the Logger's Loop. I knew that there might be some loose snow but only a few inches. When we were starting to get ready at 8:30 AM the temperature was 26 degrees but the sun was out and I knew it would get warm quickly even at the trailhead. As We started gathering our equipment and getting dressed, Sheila was very quiet but did not let me out of her sight. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top and added a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots as they keep my feet warm and dry and work well with snowshoes. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth. I made sure my Microspikes were in my pack just in case they were needed. Cindy and I decided to take snowshoes knowing the snow would not be deep but that wearing them would preserve any track that was present or help us to create one. We both took our Tubb's Flex VRT which have the Boa binding. This system uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet wheel which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents and take some strain off the calf muscles. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! We got our gear and Sheila in Cindy's car and left Livingston Manor at 9:00 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. When we arrived at the parking areas, we found that only the smaller lot had been partly plowed. Neither lot had any cars and I pulled into the smaller lot and parked. I took a look at the trail and decided snowshoe would be best. Cindy and I started getting ready by putting on our snowshoes. I set my GPS and we started out on the woods road from the parking area at 9:15 AM with the temperature at 30 degrees. The sun was shining brightly and almost immediately the snow began to clump on our snowshoes. I decided to go back to the car and leave mine there while Cindy decided to keep her's on. I took off the snowshoes and decided to use only boots.

We started out the woods road and then the Quick Lake Trail from the trail register. There was 2 or 3 inches of new powder with ice underneath and we were the first people to be on the trails. We continued straight ahead at the register on the woods road that heads out to the trail system. The woods road was completely covered in snow and the ice underneath made it tricky for my as I had no traction. There was open water running across the trail in several places and ice covered some water in others. I was not having any problem with bare boots but Cindy was having a lot of snow clumping on her snowshoes. At Gravestone Junction we stayed left on the Quick Lake trail heading toward the bridge at the outlet to Frick Pond. The snow on the trail hid the ice underneath so I walked on the snow near the side of the trail. When we arrived at the bridge, I put my pack down and got out the camera. I was disappointed that there was less snow on the trees where we were hiking than in town. I came to the conclusion that only snow had fallen at Frick Pond. In town the snow was preceded by some freeing rain that helped the snow stick to the trees. I took some pictures of the bridge and then some of Sheila and Cindy on the bridge. I also took shots of the pond and of Beech Mountain. The trail stayed about the same with snow and ice as we continued across the bridge toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued along the west side of Frick Pond and at the junction with the Big Rock Trail we headed left on the Quick Lake Trail. There were no foot prints but only a few inches of snow. The trail is slightly uphill which is not very noticeable under most conditions but was noticeable with the slippery snow covering it. There were areas of open water and soft ground under the snow which made picking each step important. We walked through the spruce tunnel where I stopped to take a few shots and came to the small stream across the trail. The stream was wider and deeper than it had been in the last few trips. Cindy made it across but got some water in her boot. I walked upstream and crossed just below the small waterfall taking a few pictures in the process. The walk up the trail was less tiring for me as I was not wearing snowshoes. There continued to be areas of open water and other places that were soft with water underneath the snow.

When we got to the junction, I stopped to take pictures of the wheels and the untouched trails. The Logger's Loop is often packed by snowmobiles but on this day there was no track. I took a few shots and then was ready to turn right on the Logger's Loop toward Times Square. I knew going this way would be longer than turning around but I wanted to complete a loop. We turned right and began following the snowmobile trail which made for easier walking. Even though the trail began an ascent, my legs did not seem tired. The skies were a bright blue and the sun was out making it seem even warmer. The trail had several wet areas like much of the trail we had already hiked. We came to the large cherry tree that had broken off high up and fallen so that it was arching across the trail. This tree was not blocking the trail and it was clear it was not coming down soon. We came to the seasonal pond on the left side of the trail. There was enough water in the pond for me to stop and take some pictures before continuing downhill to Times Square. We walked straight across Times Square to stay on the Logger's Loop. The streambed which is usually dry or flowing with a small trickle had more water in it than I ever remember seeing. I took some shots and decided I wants to bushwhack upstream on a subsequent trip as I could not figure out where the water originated. The trail started uphill and my legs started to ache but I knew we didn't have far to go. Although the trail is slightly uphill we were setting a fast pace. Cindy was a little farther behind but I slowed a little so she could catch up. I heard a noise and looked back to see Cindy on the ground. She had caught a snowshoe on some ice and had fallen pretty hard. After a few moments she was able to get up with only a few sore spots. We continued walking on the trail and crested the hill to walk out to Gravestone Junction. We turned left at the Gravestone Junction and headed back to the car on the woods road. At the trail register, we continued straight ahead to stay on the woods road back to our car. It was 11:55 AM and we had spent 2 hour and 20 minutes hiking 4.0 miles. We had only stopped for 15 minutes! The elevation gain was a modest 400 feet. The temperature had risen to 34 degrees.

On Saturday, March 5th I planned to go to the Neversink Unique Area to hike the loop including Denton Falls and Mullet Brook Falls. Fortunately, there were no overnight ambulance calls and none that interrupted me as I prepared for the hike! When I got up at 9:00 AM, it was 28 degrees but the sun was out and I knew the temperature would rise. I decided I would not need snowshoes but would definitely take along both my Kahtoola Microspikes and Hillsound Trail Crampons. I knew I was getting a late start and had heard that the Neversink Unique Area had been crowded. I planned to head for the end of Katrina Falls Road and if that was packed I could divert to the Wolf Lake MUA entrance. I started to get ready at 10:00 AM. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top and added a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots as they keep my feet warm and dry and work well with snowshoes. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 10:30 AM as I drove east on the Quickway towards Rock Hill. I drove to Rock Hill and got off at exit 109. I turned right off the exit and drove to the parking area at the end of Katrina Falls Road. There was only one other car parked in the lot. The car was running with only the driver present. I took a look at the parking lot and the trail leading down toward the river. Everything was a sheet of ice and I immediately decided to put on the microspikes. When I went to set my GPS. I found the batteries were low and I left it in the car. I knew the route and had several recordings so I just needed to remember the times I hit certain points. The temperature was 34 degrees but felt a little colder and nothing seemed to be melting. The wide woods road was surprisingly icy so the spikes were the right choice. There was one blowdown across the trail but it was easy to step over. I could hear Wolf Brook roaring as we walked down the trail which parallels the brook. At .5 miles we came to a yellow spur trail on the right side of the main trail. A new sign indicated that this trail led to Hackeldam on the Neversink River. This was the area where a "swinging bridge" crossed the Neversink and was an important area of commerce and industry.

We turned left and walked down a sheet of ice to the small bridge that crosses Wolf Brook. I stopped to take some picture of the bridge and of the brook. The brook was flowing with good volume and I could see that the small channel above the bridge had widened and diverted some of the water. There was a lot of ice in the brook and along the shores. The bridge had been patched which was nice but a replacement would have been better. After I completed my pictures, we walked up the trail crossing the place where the brook had overflowed across the trail. Some stepping stones had been placed to make it easier for hikers to cross. At the top of the hill we came to the split in the trails with the red trail going left and the blue trail heading right. There was a new sign at the junction showing that the red trail to the right was the Mullet Brook Trail Loop and the Wolf Brook Access. There was a concern that people were getting lost in the Neversink Gorge due to the lack of signs and this is a welcome addition. Mileages had been and the sign indicated that the blue trail to the right went to Denton Falls. We stayed to the right on the blue trail which was well trimmed with only a few branches which I threw off the trail. The trail rolled up and down a little until we reached another yellow spur trail on the right that was labeled Old River Way. We continued straight ahead on the main blue trail. As we approached the bridge across Mullet Brook, I walked off the trail to the right and stopped at the edge of the brook. I took some shots of the brook and some of the small falls and rapids. When I was done, I returned to the main trail and walked uphill to the bridge. The bridge had been replaced a few years ago after it had almost fallen into the brook. I took some pictures of the steel I-beam construction and then asked Sheila to pose for a few shots. I also took some pictures upstream and downstream before continuing across and up the hill. The next yellow spur trail Lead down to Denton Falls so we turned right and followed the trail. I wanted to go to Denton Falls to see a falls on the Neversink as I expected the volume of water would be high. There was a sign but, again, it had no mileage. The trail was covered in hard-packed snow and the spikes were working well. It was disappointing that the markers were still few and far between. The missing markers cause hikers to make their own paths which makes the best path unclear. When we came to the steeper section of the trail that descends to the river, the trail became a sheet of hard ice and the microspikes were not getting a good grip. I knew I could turn around or try the Hillsounds. I decided on the latter and change spikes. The Hillsounds made all the difference as they were getting a much better bite into the ice. We followed the track down to the marked trail and then turned left to parallel the river. There are always some muddy spots on this section but all the mud was frozen and covered in ice. Walking along the narrow ledge covered in ice was tricky. When we got to the rocks "steps" that go down to the river, I was very careful to work my way over the roots and the ice. We walked out on the rocks and over to a large boulder where I dropped my pack and got out the camera. The water was high and flowing with power and there was a lot of ice in the river and on the banks. I took some pictures upstream and downstream although the sky was flat and overcast. I found a way to get downstream but the footing was very sketchy due to the high water and slippery rocks. I finally got to a point below the falls with good footing. I took pictures of the falls from several different angles and zooms. I also took shots downstream and upstream. I shot a video to get a feeling for the sound and power of the river. We walked back up the rocks to my pack where I stowed the camera.

We started back up the trail. Sheila alerted and I looked up to see a woman walking toward us with spikes but no poles. She asked about the falls and I told her they were nice. She said her daughter was following with spike but the her friend had only YakTrax and had already slipped on the descent. I told her I would check on them and we continued along the trail. I met the daughter at the bottom of the descent and she continued on to meet her mother at the river. Their friend was "stuck" on the hill. I advised her that the falls was not spectacular and that it would be safer for her to wait where she was. We talked for a while and then Sheila and I continued up the trail. Ascending with the Hillsounds was no problem and we were soon at the top of the ascent on the more level trail. A family of four came walking toward us. I noticed that they all had spikes and the two children had poles. I was still concerned about their descent. We talked for a few minutes and then went our separate ways. I didn't get very far before I heard a scream and frantic voices. I immediately turned around and walked back to a point where I could see the family. The young boy had slipped and slid down the trail before a tree stopped him. I asked if he was okay and the father said he had scraped his hand. I volunteered my first aid skills but the father had something to bandage the hand. By this time the mother and daughter were coming back up the hill to meet their friend. Their friend had worked her way up the hill but now faced a steeper uphill or a sidehill section to get back to the flat part of the trail. I walked over to her and offered the use of my microspikes which she gladly accepted. Once she had these on it was relatively easy for her to walk on the slippery slope. As we were returning, Sheila decided to join us even though I had told her to stay. She lost traction on the steep slope and slid downhill on her belly rather quickly. Sheila just missed taking out one of the family members that was standing on the trail. Sheila recovered quickly and climbed back up the hill without any trouble. I was glad to see she was not hurt! I suggested to the three women that we could all hike together so that the friend could keep wearing my spikes. They readily agreed and we started back for the main blue trail. At the main blue trail, we turned right and immediately ran into another trail junction. The blue trail continues to the right and parallels the river heading toward High Falls. The red trail turns left and heads over the hill back toward the parking area. There was a sign indicating the purpose of the red trail but none for the blue trail.

We turned left on the red trail to start the loop and to visit Mullet Brook Falls. The red trail was almost bare with leaves showing through only a small amount of snow. We talked and I learned that all three were experienced hikers who lived in the Monroe area. I gave them some hikes to waterfalls that they had not done. We turned left on the yellow spur trail to Mullet Brook Falls. We arrived at the falls and found no one else was there. We could see that the falls were spectacular with a good flow of water and ice frozen in front and on the sides of the falls. I put my pack down and got out the camera. I headed across the rocks to an area directly in front of the falls. I took a number of shots with different settings and zooms. While I was doing this, the rest of the party was also taking pictures ending with a few selfies oof the group. When I was done, we worked our way back to my pack. I got a drink and we headed back out the yellow trail toward the main red trail. As we started up from the falls, the family we had met on the yellow trail to Denton Falls showed up. The young boy was a little subdued and said his hand hurt. They had not continued to the falls but had turned around which I thought was a good idea! On the way out we also met with a couple who had two large and young German Shepherds with them. They had their dogs on a leash so I leashed Sheila. We passed each other with a short greeting and all the dogs were well-behaved. We turned left on the red trail and headed uphill which usually tires me out but felt good on this day. For a half mile we walked uphill gaining 250 feet. On the way we met a couple coming toward us in short sleeves! They did have hiking boots but were not wearing spikes and did not have poles. We were soon at the upper bridge across Mullet Brook. The trees that had come down on the bridge had been cleared but the bridge needs repairs. We came to the spur trail that leads to a parking area in the Wolf Brook Multiple Use Area. I explained this was a good place to park if the lot at the end of Katrina Falls Road was full. We turned left to stay on the red trail passing by the trail leading out to the parking area. The rest of the hike was downhill except for the hill back up to the parking area. For the next .85 miles we lost 400 feet. There were no blowdowns across the trail but we did run into some areas where the trail was covered in a thick layer of ice. We wondered how the couple we had met who were not wearing spikes made it through these areas. We were soon back at the junction with the blue trail. We turned right and walked down the hill to cross the bridge over Wolf Brook. We turned right to follow the trail up the hill to the parking area. The steepest section of the trail was less than 10% but I was really tired by this time. Just before the parking area we met a group of six young women who did not look like they were prepared for the trails. None had hiking boots, spikes or poles. I spoke with them about the very icy conditions and suggested they try another hike. They said they were staying in Liberty and I suggested going to the Parksville Rail Trail which I had hiked in bare boots the day before. They thanked me for the suggestion and asked about the breweries in Livingston Manor and Roscoe. These young ladies were from Philadelphia and had just graduated from Drexel Medical School! We continued back to the parking area where I recovered my spikes. I usually hike alone but had a great time hiking with the group. We were back at the car at 2:25 PM after hiking 5.7 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes. This included the stops to aid other hikers and to take pictures. We gained about 1220 feet in elevation. The temperature was 40 degrees as we left the parking lot.

On Friday, March 4th I wanted to get out for hike and was considering a couple of longer hikes in the area. When I got up at 8:00 AM, it was 25 degrees and the sun was shining. I thought about several hikes in the area at Trout Pond or even Giant Ledge. Some overnight ambulance calls and one in the morning made me rethink my choice of destination. When I finally returned home at 11:00 AM, I asked Cindy if she would like to go hike the Parksville Rail Trail and she agreed. The hike is only 3 miles round trip and it is very flat. There is a nice falls along the trail and I wanted to see what it would look like in the winter. I was pretty sure that the recent cold weather probably hardened everything on the trails making snowshoes unnecessary. I thought we would take our spikes just in case they were needed. As we started to get ready at 11:00 AM the temperature was still 26 degrees. I don't like to take Sheila out too often when the temperature is too cold but the high 20's seemed alright and has never shown any ill effects from the cold. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top and added a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots as they keep my feet warm and dry and work well with snowshoes. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth. At 11:30 AM we put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. Just after this intersection is the western parking area for the rail trail. We were surprised to see that the parking lot was not plowed as I had talked to the town supervisor about this before. It is a shame that the lot is not maintained as it would take about 15 minutes to plow and allow people access to the rail trail from both ends. There was not much snow in the lot although there was some ice. I pulled in and parked without any problems.

I looked at the trail and it had more snow than I thought it would. I decided to start out with bare boots and carry my spikes until they were needed. Cindy decided to put her spikes on at the car. I set my GPS unit and we started on the trail at 11:45 AM with the temperature right at 28 degrees and with a slight breeze blowing. The trail had some boot prints as we walked up the slight grade in the sun. As we entered the shade of the trees, we both commented that it immediately seemed cooler. We walked along the trail and I was not having a problem without spikes. Sheila jet walking along the stream side of then trail very close to the slippery edge and I asked her to come back several times. We seemed to be setting a fast pace and were soon at the wooden walkways. I stopped, put my pack down and took out the camera. I took some shots of the stream below but was disappointed that the sky was overcast without any blue patches or white clouds. I also took some pictures of the rock cut that was made to allow the O&W railroad to lay track. We continued on the trail and came to the falls. I again dropped my pack to retrieve my camera. I wanted to get down to the streambed so that I could take pictures from in front of the falls. I started down the path which was untouched and was making good progress until the packed snow started to slide. I found that the snow layer was separating from the ice underneath. I grabbed a tree and decided to make my way back up to the main trail. This was easier said than done but I was able to make it back up. I was regretting not putting on my spikes but I am not sure they would have helped. I thought about trying again but decided to take my shots from the main trail! When I was done, I moved down the trail following Cindy who had gone on ahead. We both were warm when walking but started to cool off standing around. I stopped at a spot just above the falls and got the camera out again. I walked down to the edge of the stream and took pictures downstream toward the falls and upstream. I also took a few shots of the water flowing by and of the ice on the stream. I finished and walked back up to the main trail. We set a quick pace and were soon at the Parksville end of the trail. We immediate turned around and started back toward the car. I did not plan to stop at all on the way back and we stuck to that plan. We met no one else hiking on the trail. When we broke out of the shade into the sun, the temperature stemmed to shoot up. Cindy was having some problems with snow clumping on her spikes but we were almost down with our walk. We were back at the car at 1:15 PM after hiking 2.7 miles in 1 hour and 25 minutes with virtually no elevation gain.

On Wednesday, March 2nd, I wanted to get in a hike to a 3500 foot peak as it had been a long time since I had hiked one or put in a similar amount of effort on a hike. For some reason I now feel like I would like to do some of the high peaks. I decided to start out with Balsam Lake Mountain which is close to where I live and has a fire tower as an extra goal. I was concerned about the condition of the last section of the road which some people had reported was impassable. I decided to go there and try it myself! When I got up in the morning at 8:30 AM it was only 24 degrees with a slight breeze blowing. The forecast was for some overnight snow with little to accumulation. The forecast was wrong as several inches of snow had fallen. I cleaned up the sidewalks and then started to get ready to go. As usual, Sheila was excited as she loves to be outside. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was still below freezing. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away and added a pair of light merino wool tights underneath. I wore my old Salomon B-52 winter boots which are still waterproof and fit well. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also added a fuzzy orange hat and light gloves since it was cool. I donned my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat if necessary. I added my OR Crocodile gaiters to further waterproof my lower legs and to keep the snow out of my boots. I did not know how much snow there would so I decided to take my Tubbs Flex VRT snowshoes which have the Boa binding. This system uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet wheel which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I also both packed a set of Kahtoola microspikes and Hillsound Trail Crampons. The latter have slightly longer spikes and are better on ice. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and left the house at 10:45 AM. I headed toward Roscoe on Old Rt 17 and I turned right on the Beaverkill Road. I headed north toward Lew Beach and Turnwood. There was snow on the road and more snow once I passed into the Town of Hardenburgh. The Beaverkill Falls were freely flowing with a very high volume and I thought I might stop on the way back for a few shots. The road conditions were pretty good but deteriorated when the pavement ended. I passed the White Castle and the Buddhist monastery and continued on as the amount of snow increased.

When I got to the "Seasonal Maintenance" sign, I could see that the plowing had stopped and there were several inches of snow on the road. It seemed that people had driven on the road when it was soft and muddy causing deep ruts to form. I was most concerned that there was ice under the snow which was hidden. Despite all the drawbacks, I decided to make a run to the parking area knowing I would not meet any other vehicles. The trip went well as I did not find any ice and had minimal problems with the ruts. We arrived at the parking area at 11:30 AM and found no other cars in the lot. I was not surprised given the state of the road. I can only assume that the remote location of the parking area and the weather forecast had something to do with the lack of cars. The temperature was 26 degrees and when I stepped out of the car the breeze hit me making it feel even cooler. Fortunately, the skies were blue with some nice white clouds and the ground and the trees were covered in a light blanket of snow. From the amount of snow and the trail reports I had read I decided to leave the snowshoes in the car and put on the Kahtoola Microspikes. I also kept the Hillsound Trail Crampons in my pack. I set my GPS and we were off at 11:35 AM. As we got on the trail, it was obvious that no one had been on this section of trail for some time. The snow was just the right temperature and consistency that it was not clumping on my shoes. The trail register had been repaired from the pieces that were there on my last trip. As we walked up the trail, there were a few blowdowns on the trail. Walking was easy as long as I stayed on the spine. If I walked to either side of the packed trail, the snow was soft enough that I sank it but only a few inches. I had to slow myself down a little bit as I was eagerly hiking at top speed. I knew when we started up the mountain I would need all my energy. We headed toward the first trail junction where I intended to turn left and hike up the steep side of the mountain. The approach seemed longer than I remembered and I was getting warm as we hiked so I opened the zippers on my hoody. We did run onto several blowdowns that would require tools to clear in the spring. We finally made the trail junction at .9 miles at noon. We turned left up the mountain without stopping as I was wondering how I would do on the steep but relatively short climb.

The first part of the trail is a gentle climb and I was feeling pretty good without stopping to rest. The spikes were working well for traction but the sun was out and the snow was beginning to melt a little. The softening of the snow meant that it began to clump on my spikes. This was disappointing as I knew I would have to contend with this at least until the summit! Over the next half mile the trail gains about 750 feet before leveling off which means an average of around a 28% grade! The trail has a lot of rocks and roots but these were all hidden under the blanket of snow making the walking easier than in other seasons. I began to breathe heavily but I slowed my pace and took a few breaks which allowed me to continue. Meanwhile Sheila was running far ahead on the trails and then taking off following game trails through the woods. I kept moving along with Sheila always ahead of me but not too far which encouraged me. The climb seemed much longer than I remembered and several times I thought we were near the trail to the lean-to but had another steep section to climb. The clumps of snow on my spikes required that I stop frequently and remove what I could. Finally we reached the trail to the lean-to and we continued straight up the hill through a steep climb. There are a couple of icy spots but I was able to work my way past them. We passed the 3500 foot sign and the trail became a stream from the spring just above. Finally we arrived at the spring where I stopped to get a drink and take a few pictures. As I looked around I saw that all of the trees were covered in hoard frost. The trees against the blue sky were beautiful. We left the spring and climbed the stone steps to the summit plateau where the trail flattens a little. I felt much better since I was not climbing. I walked a little farther and then stopped to take a few shots of the balsam fir trees covered in frozen snow. We passed the Millbrook Ridge Trail to Alder Lake and continued on to the fire tower clearing. We arrived at the tower clearing at 1:10 PM after hiking 1.7 miles. The skies were blue with white clouds and I knew that pictures from the tower would be nice. There was frozen snow on the trees and hoar frost on the tower above the tree tops. The frost seemed to get thicker higher up on the tower. I put my pack down on the picnic table. Sheila jumped up on the table top so I took some pictures before turning my attention to the tower. There was almost no ice on the steps so I removed my spikes for the climb. I had forgotten Sheila's leash so I knew she would try to comb the tower as I ascended. Sheila has no problem going up and down the steps but it makes me nervous. I walked over to the tower with my camera and noticed a pile of boards near the base of the tower. I knew these were to replace the steps and the landings and that the tower would not be open unless it was safe but they did make me pause for a moment. As I started to climb, I saw that some of the steps had already been replaced and were slightly wider and sturdier than the old steps. As I rose above the treeline, the wind hit me and made me colder. I took pictures of the surrounding landscape as I climbed and some shots of the frost on the netting at the top of the tower. I stopped on the landing just below the cab and looked around. The scene was beautiful and, as always, I knew that pictures could not do it justice. I took a number of shots of the trees covered in frost and cabin below and then turned my attention to the mountains. I took shots in all directions getting pictures of the Devil's Path to the north and some of Graham. Eventually I was satisfied I had enough pictures and wanted to get out of the wind. On the way down I took a few shots of Sheila on top of the picnic table. I walked back to my pack and put away my camera, took a drink and got out a bar.

We headed down the Millbrook side of the mountain at 1:20 PM. We walked down the trail on the other side of the mountain passing the cabin. The trail was covered in packed snow and it was colder so it was not clumping on my spikes. Walking down the mountain seemed MUCH easier than the climb up the other side. As we descended, we began to run into some drifts and deeper snow. I began to drag my feet to set a track which was abscess technique. Soon we were approaching the junction with the Dry Brook Ridge Trail that connects Millbrook Road to the Beaverkill Road. There is a gate at the bottom of the trail and just after this gate was a pile of materials which I knew would have to be transported to the top of the mountain. We came to the trail junction with Sheila in the lead and I said to her "Back to the car" without making any signal Sheila immediately turned right and walked down the trail! There was a sign at the junction warning hikers to stay on the trails and that Graham Mountain was closed to all hikers. The trail was packed under the new snow but did not look very well-traveled. The sun was out and the temperature had risen so the snow began clumping again on my spikes. The clumping was worse this time than on the ascent! There were a few branches hanging into the trail and a few blowdowns. Most of the blowdowns were old and would require a chainsaw to remove. There were also a few new blowdowns. I looked down into the Gulf of Mexico several times but did not see or hear any water. The trail was narrow and slippery and I contemplated what slipping of the trail toward the gulf would mean. After just less than a mile, we were back at the trail junction where we had turned up the mountain earlier. I kept stopping to knock the snow off the shows. The clumps were causing me to walk with my heel dropped which was over stretching my Achilles tendons and calf muscles. We continued on toward the car by retracing our steps. We had been blessed with blue skies and sun all the way back from the summit and the trip had seemed to go quickly. We had met no hikers at all on the trip. We were back in the parking area at 2:35 PM after hiking 4.5 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes with 25 minutes stopped time. We had climbed 1200 feet in elevation. The temperature at the car was 34 degrees. I drove straight home without stopping.

On Monday, February 28th, I planned to go for a hike to Balsam Lake Mountain as I had not been on a 3500 foot peak in some time. There were no ambulance calls during the night so I has able to get some sleep and got up at 9:00 AM. I got some breakfast and was getting ready to hike when the pager went off. My driver and I ended up doing THREE calls out of our district before returning home. By the time I finished the documentation and returned hoe it was 1:30 PM and I knew Balsam Lake Mountain was out of the question. I asked Cindy if she would like to take a short hike somewhere and we decided on the Beaverkill Campgrounds. The maximum hike here is 3 miles but it is pleasant to walk along the river. We started to get ready immediately with the temperature still at 26 degrees with the sun shining brightly. We didn't know what we would need to wear on our feet so I decided to take along snowshoes and spikes. As usual, Sheila was excited and even more so since Cindy was going also. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was still below freezing. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my old Salomon B-52 winter boots which are still waterproof and fit well. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also added a fuzzy orange hat and light gloves since it was cool. I donned my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat if necessary. I wanted to add my OR Crocodile gaiters to further waterproof my lower legs and to keep the snow out of my boots but Cindy had them on already so I decided to go without. We decided to take our Tubbs Flex VRT snowshoes which have the Boa binding. This system uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet wheel which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! We also both packed a set of spikes. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and left the house at 1:50 PM. I drove out Old Route 17 toward Roscoe and turned right on Beaverkill Road. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. The parking area was covered in snow and ice and had not been touched. The lot was empty so I pulled in and parked. A glance at the river showed that the level was high. There was very little snow so Cindy put on her spikes. I decided to walk over the bridge and out mine on when I reached the other side.

We started out at 2:10 PM by walking out of the parking lot to the bridge. I stopped for a few minutes to take some pictures upstream and downstream before continuing across the bridge to the trail. When we got to the other side, I looked at the trail and decided not to don my spikes. We turned left on a woods road that parallels the river and started down a short hill. Cindy had no problem as she had her spikes on. I was careful to look for snow rather than ice and made it down without a problem. We walked by a spring house and continued on the deserted woods road where there were only a few footprints. We came to an area with a little path down to the river. I walked down to the edge of the river very carefully as the rocks were slippery and the water looked deep and cold! I took some pictures downstream and some upstream to the bridge. There were some interesting icicles along the edge of the river and a culvert had spewed some water that was frozen on some bushes. I took pictures of both. Just after this area, the trail was even more eroded by water running across and under the trail than during our last visit. There was an area with several picnic tables which sit unused and rotting along the road. This was just the first of several similar areas. We walked by these tables which had not been used in many years. A little later we came to what was once a bathroom for some campsites that had long since disappeared. There were more tables in this area. I took the opportunity to take some more pictures of random picnic tables and the bathroom. I also took some shots of the snow covered woods road. There was a path over to the river so I walked over and found some large ice blocks that were on shore several feet above the level of the water. I took some pictures of the sun reflecting off the water both upstream and downstream and some more shots of the ice blocks all along the shore. In several areas the DEC had placed large rocks along the shore and covered them with heavy wire to reduce erosion. While I was getting ready to move on, Sheila alerted and we could see some deer running up the hill away from the river. Sheila started after them but came back as soon as I called her. At about .7 miles the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites. Everything was unplowed and the snow was pristine except for some animal tracks. We continued on the road through the campsites and along the river. Many of the campsites had a cement block fireplace with a grill but some were upgraded to poured concrete. Everything was very quiet except for the water in the river. This was not surprising as the campsites are closed for the winter. I took some pictures of the empty campsites and the campsite road covered in snow. The skies were blue but lacked the interesting white puffy clouds that make for good pictures.

We walked to the last campsite where the trail ends and I walked down to the edge of the river around the ice blocks. I was careful to watch where I was walking as I did not want to break through the ice into the cold water. I stopped to take some pictures of the river especially downstream. I also took pictures of some more ice blocks. Sheila showed no interest in taking a dip but stayed close to the shore. We continued a little further but then turned back without following the path along the river after the last campsite which was covered in blocks of ice. We stayed to the left of the last bathroom and the way back walking on the other paved road through the campsites. This road parallels the one we walked out on to make a sort of loop. We stopped again to look at some interesting tracks. I took some pictures and speculated they were from something like an otter as I thought I could see where the animal had dragged its tail. We retuned the way we had come although at a quicker pace. We still had not seen any people and very few cars had passed by on the roads. ! We walked through the bridge and turned right to go back to the car. I decided to go down to the river to take some pictures while Cindy went back to the car. Sheila does not like to be separated from me so she came along. The water level in the river was very high. I walked to the edge of the river and took pictures of the bridge and the river flowing under it. I walked downstream a little and made it too a flat rock that juts put into the stream. I took some more shots from that angle. When I was done we headed back to the car. We were back at the car at 3:45 PM having hiked 2.3 miles in 1 hour and 35 minutes with 20 minutes of stopped time. I had though about walking along the other side of the river but ultimately decided not to do so. The car's thermometer read 28 degrees but the sun made it feel much warmer.

On Wednesday, February 23rd, I wanted to get out for a hike which was a little harder than I had been doing. I also wanted to get in some elation gain do I decided I would hike to the Red Hill fire tower from the newer trailhead on Denning Road. The trailhead on Dinch-Coons Road is difficult to access in the winter as the road is not cleared and it is equally difficult when it is muddy. Many people park at the top of the hill where there is limited parking. It is a half mile downhill to the trailhead parking lot. The return trip can be nearly impossible if there is ice, packed snow or mud on the road. The new trailhead and parking area is on Denning Road 1.7 miles from the Claryville Post Office. By the time I came back from an ambulance call at 10:15 AM, the temperature was 45 degrees and the forecast was for almost 60 degrees in town. I knew the trailhead and summit would be cooler but that hiking would warm me up. I began to get ready with Sheila keeping a close watch on my movements. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was already cool and I thought it might be cooler at the trailhead. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my old Salomon B-52 winter boots which are still waterproof and fit well. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also added a fuzzy orange hat and light gloves since it was cool. I donned my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat if necessary. I added a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters to further waterproof my lower legs and to keep the snow out of my boots. I decided I would not need snowshoes but that spikes would be a good idea. I put my Hillsound Trail Crampons in my pack and brought along the Kahtoola microspikes. The latter would probably be good enough as I expected some ice and some mud. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and we left Livingston Manor at 10:45 AM. I headed out the DeBruce Road passing through DeBruce and Willowemoc. At the end of the road I turned right on Route 47 and drove out to the Denning Road. Here I turned left and drove through Claryville. I drove 1.7 miles from the Claryville Post Office, we came to the new parking area on the right side of the road and pulled into the lot. There is a sign hanging from the support on the side of the road to designate the parking area and a kiosk with a description and maps. There were two other cars parked in the lot. I walked over to the trail and saw some ice and decided to put on the microspikes. I found one of the spikes had a broken link so I used my SOG multitool to repair it. I set my GPS unit and we walked to the back of the parking area and started up the trail at 11:20 AM with the temperature standing at 50 degrees.

As we began the walk up the trail, the ice disappeared for as far as I could see so I stopped to remove the spikes. I also took some pictures of the nearly bare trail. We almost immediately came to a set of stone steps. They were well constructed and in just the right place to help out hikers. I also noticed that a woods road ran off to the right and thought about walking up it some other time. We continued up the trail and as we rounded a corner there was another stretch of ice. I could see past this patch to another bare area so I decided to keep the spikes in my pack. This pattern continued with some of the icy areas being very challenging to work over or around. We continued on the trail which was still in good shape even after it had been in place for over a year. The treadway was wide and flat with few obstacles. There were several switchbacks and it was obvious that one requirement of the construction was a moderate grade. The forest at these lower elevations was primarily evergreen which is unusual in the Catskills. We did run across a few branches on the trail which I removed. At .4 miles the trail turned sharply to the left in one of its many switchback and we entered an area of hardwoods. There was a small stream that ran across the trail and the construction crew had create a deep ditch along the side of the trail. The ditch directed the water across the trail and at that point there was a stone construction to allow the water to cross the trail and hikers to easily cross the water. This was repeated several other times on the trail. These areas were very icy as most of the water had frozen but on this warm day it was starting to melt. At .7 miles I could see a series of ledges ahead and stone steps that wound between them. I stopped to take some pictures but knew that this would be repeated several more times over the next quarter mile. Getting up the steps was tricky but I was able to walk on the front edge of the treads which had no ice. Each time I stopped to take pictures and each time Sheila posed nicely for some shots. Sheila was also having no problems walking over the ice. The last set of steps was the worst as they were completely covered in ice. I was able to work my way around them and back to the trail. At 1.3 miles we came to a trail junction with the trail that comes in from the Dinch-Coons Road trailhead. The signs indicated the Dinch Road trailhead was .8 miles to the left and the fire tower was .6 miles to the right. We stopped for a few minutes to get a drink and then continued toward the tower.

After walking a short distance, I began to see more ice ahead where the trail became steeper. I decided I would put the spikes on and leave them on to the tower. After the first patch of ice there was bare trail and mud. The spikes worked well on this surface but not as well on the bare rocks that are present in some places. After about a quarter mile, there was a spur trail to a spring on the right side of the trail and then a short switchback. This switchback was very icy and I was glad I had the spikes on. The grade increased from a consistent 10% to a steeper 20% and I could feel it. I had not climbed much on my recent hikes but this trip seemed to be easier than I had expected. There was plenty of sun which made me feel good but was also contributing to making me pretty warm. This warmth was offset by a stiff wind that blowing at 20 mph. The last .3 miles averages a little over a 20% grade and is challenging but did not seem too bad. There were some patches of snow and ice that made the last section a slog. At 12:50 PM we arrived at the tower clearing. There was another hiker sitting in the sun on the porch and we greeted each other. I walked over to one of the picnic tables, dropped my pack and got out my camera to take some pictures of the tower. I decided to tether Sheila to a picnic table knowing she would follow me up the tower. Unlike some dogs, Sheila has no problem climbing up and down the open steps but I did not want to chance it on this day. I inspected the steps and found no ice. I removed my spikes and started to climb the tower. Without looking, I could tell when I was above the treeline as the wind hit me at about 30 mph! I eventually made it to the landing below the cab. I began to take pictures of the surrounding scenery in all directions. There was no haze in any direction and the views were good in all directions. When there is no haze or fog, the views of the Catskill peaks from this tower are spectacular. There was snow on most of the peaks and the reservoir was easy to see. After taking quite a few shots, I descended the tower. I got a drink before starting the hike back down the mountain. The other hiker offered to take a picture of me but I declined. We began to talk and I found out he was a ham radio operator. The ham operators have a peak list of their own. They go to the peaks and broadcast their coordinates. Other ham operators who are listening find their location and everybody gets point.

At 1:05 PM we started back down the trail. It had taken us 1.5 hours to hike to the summit and I hoped we would make the trip back go faster. I decided to put the spikes on and leave them on for the entire descent which would allow me to move faster. We moved quickly down the steeper section of the trail only having to be careful on one or two sections. As we approached the spur trail to the spring, Shiela alerted and I looked up to see three hikers coming toward us with an leashed dog well ahead of the. I put a leash on Sheila and asked the others to call their dog. They called their dog but the dog had no intention of listening. The dog approached Sheila and Sheila let it know she was not interested. The irresponsible dog owner came to secure his dog by the collar and mumbled an apology. The other two hikers passed by and Sheila and I continued our hike down the trail. The walk to the junction went quickly and as we approached we saw a hiker coming up the trail from Denning Road. I put Sheila on her leash and made the left turn to head back to the car. I expected to see the hiker but he had disappeared! I looked to the left and found he had decided to walk off trail to the trail that ascends the hill. We continued to keep a fast pace which was made easier by the spikes. As we started through the bottom section, Sheila began to alert and we saw a mother and three children stopped at the side of the trail. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked by them. They commented that Sheila was a pretty dog and I thanked them. We continued down the trail and were soon descending the last few steps to the parking area. It was 2:15 PM and we had hiked 3.7 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes with 45 minutes of stopped time. The trip up took an hour and 30 minutes but the return trip only took us an hour and 5 minutes. Our elevation gain was 1170 feet. The temperature was still 50 degrees but there was now more clouds than sun. On the way home I stopped in DeBRuce to take some pictures of the Willowemoc Creek. The water was high and there were large slabs of ice on the shores and on the islands in the stream.

On Friday, February 18th I wanted to get to hike after a week of ambulance calls, sporting events and terrible weather. My son-in-law Brad was at our house for the weekend so we planned to get out early before the end picked up. As often happens, two ambulance calls came in back to back delaying our hike until the afternoon. By the time we were ready to get going at 1:00 PM we were both tired and decided once again to go across the street to Round Top. At 1:15 PM the temperature was still only 22 degrees and a wind was blowing but the sun was out. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and we had not been out in a while. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top and added a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Keen Targhee II boots as I knew there would not be much snow. In fact, I did not think there would be much ice or snow left in the woods after the warm weather and rain that fell the day before. Since the temperature had dropped, I knew there might be some ice in places. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also added a fleecy orange hat and gloves since it was cool. I donned my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat if necessary. I added a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters to further waterproof my lower legs and keep them warm. I decided that the trails would be packed so I would not need my snowshoes and that we could probably walk around any ice on the trails. At 1:30 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike two figure 8's but knew that might be ambitious given the possible ice and my lack of conditioning. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked along the street to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church.

We continued to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." The trail up the hill was mostly bare with a snow bank at the beginning and a few icy patches on the way up the hill. At the top of the hill we stopped to look around. We could see there was still some white patches on the surrounding hills. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. The trailhead was bare but as we entered the woods I was surprised at how much hand-picked snow and ice was still on the trail. We were able to avoid the icy patches but I started to think I had made a mistake and should have worn spikes. At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she started directly up the hill toward the lookout. The hill was completely with only a layer of leaves. Sheila loves the cold weather as she has some Husky in her and her longer coat has a warm undercoat. For some reasons she does not get the iceballs on her feet that plague some dogs. The climb up the hill was rather easy as there was no ice most of the way. I noticed that I immediately began to get warm but I was not ready to open the zippers to dump any heat. We passed by what used to be a side trail to the lookout that I blocked with brush. This side trail has a gap that hikers have to walk over and it can be dangerous for some people in the winter season. Unfortunately, some 'helpful' person had removed the brush without asking or knowing why it was there. at the top of the hill, we began to find the trail covered in ice and hard packed snow. The icy and snow continued as we followed the yellow trail as it turned right and started the gentle ascent through the open woods. The high winds that had blown on and off for the previous week had brought down some branches so Brad and I picked them up and moved them off the trail. Walking was no easy but was easier on the flatter ground. Every time we started up a small incline we had to look for alternate routes as the trail was too icy. Sheila was running ahead and then back to me which was fine with me. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction with the blue trail. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. There was a layer of hard snow and ice on this trail which continued to make walking difficult. Sheila decided to run ahead and the dash back toward us at high speed.

At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up the hill toward the summit. As we ascended, we confirmed that spikes would have made the hike much easier. Walking up the hill was slippery but I knew walking down the other side would be even more interesting. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued over the summit of Round Top. We walked across the flat summit and started down the hill bypassing the white crossover trail. As soon as we started downhill, I knew it would be an adventure although Brad, who was not using poles, was having an easier time. We turned left on the switchback which sidehills quite a bit. Walking this trail required me to find some places off-trail where there was some snow that allowed me to get some traction. I made a note to work on this during the spring and summer. At the end of the switchback, we turned left on the main blue trail and walked down to the junction with the yellow trail. Going downhill without and traction was dicey at best. At the junction with the yellow trail, we turned left and walked along the base of Round Top again following the trail. This time when we reached the junction with the yellow trail, we turned right and walked downhill carefully to the woods road. We followed the trail along woods road and back down to the first trail junction. I was not enthusiastic about walking the hills again but we decided to walk a small loop. We turned around and started back up the woods road we had just descended. On the way back up, I pointed out to Brad some of the areas along the base of the ledges. Our ambulance corps is scheduled to participate in a low angle rope rescue drill with our fire department and the local forest ranger. I had pointed out to the ranger that many people hike these trails even though the are right in town and there could be a need to rescue someone who was injured. Brad and I continued back up the trail to the trail junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. At the next trail junction with the blue trail, we turned left again and walked downhill toward the lookout. Even though this downhill is not very steep there were some tricky areas. At the viewpoint we turned left and walked down the hill to the first trail junction. This descent was easy since the trail was bare. We walked straight out the trail to the trailhead and turned right to start down the hill to the church parking lot. At the bottom of the hill we walked out through the parking lot to Rock Avenue. The roads were bare but we were careful crossing as drivers sometimes exceed the speed limit. After crossing the street to our driveway, we walked back to the house. We were home by 2:30 PM after hiking a little less than 2 miles in an hour. I was a little tired but glad we had gotten out. I promised myself that next time I would err on the side of picking and appropriate traction device.

On Thursday, February 10th I planned to get out to hike a fire tower, either Balsam Lake or Red Hill. My plans were again changed by ambulance calls that left me sleeping in until 9:00 AM. I did some work around the house and when I checked the thermometer at 10:30 AM it was 30 degrees. I decided to go across the street and get in a short hike before the end of season track party. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and we had not been out for a few days. She was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my old Salomon B-52 winter boots which are still waterproof and fit well. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also added a light hat and gloves since it was cool. I donned my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat if necessary. I added a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters to further waterproof my lower legs and to keep the snow out of my boots. I decided the snow would still be hard enough to just use spikes as I would only be out for about an hour. At 11:00 AM we walked out the door to start the hike with the temperature at 32 degrees which seemed warm compared to some of the temperatures the week before. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike two figure 8's and hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and climbed the snow bank on the ether side of the road to walk across the field to the back of the church. Any tracks I had made before were completed drifted in and the snow was deeper than I thought but hard and well consolidated. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I let Sheila pull me uphill with her leash . There was a track from some hikers and from kids sledding. At the top of the hill we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. The skies were bright blue with some white clouds. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. There was still a good amount of snow in the woods and on the trail. There were tracks from other people but as far as I could tell none had worn snowshoes.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a few branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail or by using my poles on the smaller ones. The snow continued to be hard enough to support me as long as I stayed on the trail. When I stepped off the trail, I sank several inches into the snow. I almost immediately started to get warm so I stopped to open the zippers on my hoody. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The yellow trail was covered in about 6 inches of snow but it was all hard and packed. There were no new branches on the trail. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail toward the summit. Climbing with the spikes was much easier than with bare boots! When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. I was able to feel safe and secure with the spikes on my feet even though the snow was hard and there was some ice. We bypassed the white crossover trail again and continued down to the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and walked the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We passed the "sitting rock" and were soon at the viewpoint. I took a quick peek at a view I had seen many times before and the turned left to start the steeper downhill. We passed by what used to be a side trail to the lookout that I blocked with brush. This side trail has a gap that hikers have to walk over and it can be dangerous for some people in the winter season. Unfortunately, some 'helpful' person had removed the brush without asking or knowing why it was there. The trip down to the first trail junction went quickly. We turned around and started back up the hill toward the lookout to start our second figure 8.

We immediately turned around and started back up the hill to the lookout. The spikes made the climb pretty easy and I seemed to have gotten a second wind. At the top of the hill we turned right to follow the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. The one short climb was easy and the poles helped. We turned right to followed the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up toward the summit. When we got to the white crossover trail we continued straight ahead toward the summit. We walked over the summit and started down the other side bypassing the white crossover trail. We turned left on the switchback in blue trail. Walking downhill on the switchback was a little tricky as it sidehills in several places. At the end of the switchback we turned left and walked downhill to the trail junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. I noticed that the snow was getting a little softer as the temperature was rising. This time we turned right and headed down the yellow trail to the woods road that leads to the first trail junction. As we walked down the road, I noticed all the interesting ledges to the right of the trail. At the first trail junction, I debated doing another loop of some kind but decided just to head out to the trailhead. We walked out to the trailhead and turned right. We walked to the road through the church parking lot and over to the driveway to the house. It was 12:109 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in a little over an hour.

On Wednesday, February 9th, I had planned to hike to Red Hill from the parking area on Denning Rd. I had asked Cindy if she wanted to go the night before and took her answer to be "Yes". I waited for her in the morning but by that time her answer was "no". I decided I did not have enough time to really enjoy the hike before going to school for our track party and pictures. Instead of Red Hill, I decided to go to Frick Pond to hike the Flynn Trail to the Big Rock Trail and back along the Quick Lake Trail. At 9:00 AM it was 22 degrees so I decided to dress a little warmly. While I began to get ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. I got dressed in my Patagonia long-sleeved 1/4 zip top with a long-sleeved thermal baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away and decided to wear tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and wore a light pair of gloves. I made sure to pack a pair of warm mitt. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the snow and to keep my lower legs warm. I decided to take snowshoes knowing I could make a decision about wearing them at the trailhead. I took my Tubb's Flex VRT snowshoes which have the Boa binding. This system uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet wheel which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. I made sure my Hillsound Trail Crampons were in my pack just in case I decided they were the best choice. We left Livingston Manor at 9:40 AM and I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking areas on the left. I pulled into the smaller parking area where a forest ranger's truck was parked. I looked over and saw it was Eric Stratton, the local ranger. I got out but left Sheila in the car. Eric got out of his truck and we greeted each other. Eric had not been working for some weeks as he and his wife had just had a baby! We talked about several trail-related topics until I decided I needed to get hiking. I checked the trail and the snow was rock hard. I decided to bareboot it but carry my Hillsound Trail Crampons in my pack. I set my GPS as we got ready to head out on the Flynn Trail with the temperature at 24 degrees. We crossed the road and began our hike at 10:10 AM.

The Flynn Trail is sited along what used to be Beech Mountain Road which was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We walked the trail through the woods which was covered in hard-packed snow which was a little slippery on the uphill parts. We turned right on the woods road and set a quick pace up the hill despite a layer of new snow on top of the icy hard packed layer. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.7 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The day was cold but the sun was out and the temperature was rising. I began to get warm as we set a quick pace so we stopped so that I could open the zippers on the hoody. As long as we were stopped, I took a few pictures of the trail in both directions. I could hear branches cracking in the woods. I had been clearing a few branches as we walked. The trail had a well-defined and hard packed track which made walking pretty easy. As we approached and passed the clearing to the right of the trail, the track seemed to disappear and I started to sink a few inches into the snow. Snow had drifted across the track in this area but after a short distance the track reappeared. We kept walking uphill and we were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. It was 11:05 AM and we had covered the 1.7 miles in 55 minutes. We turned left to walk down the Big Rock Trail. As I expected, the trail was well-packed by snowmobiles. It seemed that one machine had been on the trail since the new layer of snow had fallen but I had not seen or heard it. The hike down the trail started out well but I soon discovered that the thin layer of new snow covered a very slippery layer of ice beneath. I thought about putting on my spikes but decided against it. I did take to the side of the trail in the worst areas as the softer snow there allowed better traction. Despite these conditions the hike went quickly since we were setting a fast pace. I did stop to take a few more pictures. This trail can be tricky as there are several levels that make it seem like the bottom of the hill. The large blowdowns that had been on the trail were now gone and I assumed the snowmobile club had taken care of them. As we started down the bottom third of the trail, I noticed that the edges of the trail were bare with leaves showing through. This was a result of the recent rain that had run down the "ditch" at the edge of the trail.

We were soon at Times Square and I thought about turning right to hike up and around the Logger's Loop to add some distance to our hike. I decided against this and we continued our hike by walking straight across Times Square to stay on the Big Rock Trail. The trail was completely covered in snow so there was no mud and no running water. We crossed the two small bridges over the inlets to the pond but did not stop to take pictures. When we got to the area that was covered by tall evergreens, I thought about taking some pictures but the light was poor. The wooden boardwalks were covered in frozen snow but were not as slippery as they looked and then we crossed the bridges quickly. At the next trail junction we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. I looked to the right and saw that no one had hiked the Quick Lake Trail. We walked along the west side of Frock Pond to the bridge across the outlet of the pond. I stopped at the bridge for a minute and took a few more photographs. We walked up the hill toward Gravestone Junction which was difficult as it was icy. We continued to Gravestone Junction and passed the Lobdell memorial marker. The marker is a memorial to two children who died in the 1930's in a fire that consumed their cabin. Thankfully, the stone was upright. I had not been cutting out the trail to the marker to discourage vandalism but it had been cleared. Once again "helpful" people were doing unauthorized work. The trail to the register was completely covered in snow but there were three places where small stream persisted in running across the trail. At the trail register we continued straight ahead to follow the woods road out to the car in the small lot. We arrived at the car at 12:10 PM having hiked 4 miles in 2 hours with an elevation gain of 670 feet. I was happy with the time as I thought it might take longer with the snow. The temperature had risen to 36 degrees and the snow was starting to melt.

On Saturday, February 5th I had not planned to hike after the ice storm the day before. I thought that I would give the road crews a chance to do their work. I was also trying to avoids falling branches brought down by the ice and winds. When I got up in the morning, it was 9 degrees which further supported my decision. I caught up on some work around the house including some work on the very icy sidewalk. By 10:00 AM the temperature was up to 18 degrees and the skies were blue with some sun. I decided I would try going to Mongaup Falls and Frick Pond just to get out of the house and get some much needed exercise. I started to get ready with Sheila watching my every move. I put on my Patagonia long-sleeved merino wool 1/4-zip top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants with a light baselayer. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and wore a light pair of gloves. I made sure to pack a pair of warm mitt. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the snow and to keep my lower legs warm. I made sure my Microspikes were in my pack just in case they were needed. I decided to take snowshoes knowing the snow would not be deep but that wearing them would preserve any track that was present and help me get good traction. I took my Tubb's Flex VRT snowshoes which have the Boa binding. This system uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet wheel which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents and take some strain off the calf muscles. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I got my gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 10:15 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed right as I wanted to park in the small pullout on the right so that we could hike to Mongaup Falls. Unfortunately, the plows had piled up snow on the edge of the road and had not plowed out the parking spots.

The road was plowed pretty wide and was clear of snow and ice. I decided to pull over as fast as I could and park on the side of the road. I parked and inspected my work and decided it would have to do. I walked over to the woods road down to the stream. I judged there WA enough snow to wear snowshoes. I walked back to the car where Sheila was whining since I had left her alone. I put on my snowshoes, shouldered my pack and let Sheila out of the car. It was 14 degrees with a wind blowing as we started our hike at 10:30 AM. We walked back to the woods road and down to the small bridge across the stream. I noticed that there were the impressions of snowshoes along then path we were taking. We walked along the edge of the stream which was frozen in places but not as much as I thought it might be. There was almost no ice on the trees and very little on the ground. The snow was frozen so hard that I really didn't need the snowshoes but they were offering good traction. We walked to a point even with the upper falls where I dripped my pack and got out my camera. I walked to a point just in front of the upper falls and took some shots using a few settings. The water volume was high from the rainfall the day before and there was not as much ice as I had hoped for. I finished taking pictures and went back to my pack to stow the camera. I shouldered the pack again. We walked to the narrow path that leads from the top of the lower falls to the bottom. I thought there was no way I could get down this path but there was quite a bit of snow so I gave it a try. I was able to get down to the streambed without a problem but chose not to think of getting back up. I walked to a point on a rock below the falls and got out the camera to take some interesting picture. The lower drop is much larger and higher than the upper drop and the volume of water was high. I took pictures downstream and then several of the falls. I made sure I used some different exposures and different zooms. When I was done, I stowed the camera and started to see how I was going to get back up the narrow path. Fortunately, the climb back up the path was easier than I thought and I was soon back up on the path back to the car. The wind had come up so I didn't want to stop to take pictures of the stream. I also did not want to leave the car on the road any longer than I had to so we walked back to the car without stopping. We were back at the car at 10:50 AM. I put my gear and Sheila in the car and started for the parking area at Frick Pond.

I turned the car around and turn right on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. When we arrived at the parking areas at 10:55 PM there were no cars parked in either lot so I pulled into the smaller lot. The skies were sunny with a few clouds and a 15 mph wind blowing. The temperature was right at 14 degrees but the breeze made it feel cold. I did not bother to set my GPS unit as we were just going around the pond. I put on my snowshoes even though I knew I could barefoot or just wear spikes because the snow was frozen slid. We climb over a small snow bank and started out on the woods road to the register. I could see the outlines of snowshoes from another hiker but I could not tell when the print were made. I planned to walk around Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail, Big Rock Trail and Logger's Loop. As we walked out the woods road to Frick Pond, I found that the snow was frozen solid and that only three of the small stream across the trail were running. All of this made walking with the snowshoes almost like walking in any other season with boots. At Gravestone Junction, we stayed to the left on the Quick Lake Trail to go to the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. As we approached the bridge, I could feel the wind blowing stronger and noticed that snow was falling. We walked over the bridge and then stopped to get out of the wind. I took out my camera so that I could take pictures as I always do. I snapped a few shots as the wind blew the snow directly at me. I stowed my camera and we continued around the west side of the pond.

The spot that is always very wet and muddy was completely frozen over and covered with snow. We continued on the trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The last time Cindy and I had hiked here we had turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and had to break through several inches of snow as no one had hiked in that direction. This time there were no tracks going in that direction as everyone had turned right on the Big Rock Trail. We also turned right on the Big Rock Trail and found the muddy area was also frozen solid making crossing it very easy. Being out of the wind made me feel much warmer. I was monitoring Sheila for signs that she was getting cold but I did not notice any signs. We continued over the wooden walkways which were covered in frozen snow. As we walked over the bridges over the inlet streams I looked for an opportunity to take some pictures but could not find any. We continued on the trail around the north end of the pond where the few wet areas were frozen. When we arrived at Times Square, I found that the Logger's Loop was well packed by snowmobiles. I considered lengthening the hike by climbing the Big Rock Trail but decided to turn right and head back. We continued our walk as the trail started uphill. It was hard to tell if someone had been hiking on the trail as the tracks had drifted in. I had been disappointed that there was no ice on the trees but as we crested the hill I saw that the trees were sparkling. There was some ice on the branches and the sun shining on them was responsible for the sparkle. I stopped to take some pictures of the trees with the sun behind them. It was hard to see what I was photographing as the sunlight was blinding. We continued our walk toward Gravestone Junction and turned left on the Quick Lake Trail. We walked back out to the parking area without seeing another person. It was 11:55 AM and we had hiked the 2.0 miles in 1 hour with an elevation gain for 150 feet. The temperature had risen to 16 degrees!

On Tuesday, February 1st I planned to get out for the first hike of February. The night before I thought about going to Frick Pond or some other destination but I was beat from 8 ambulance calls over the weekend. When I got up at 7:00 AM the temperature was -7 degrees and I wondered if was going to be able to take Sheila anywhere. I did some work around the house and when I checked the thermometer at 10:30 AM it was 20 degrees. I decided to go across the street and get in a short hike before track practice. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and we had not been out for a few days. She was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. wore my old Salomon B-52 winter boots which are still waterproof and fit well. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also added a fleecy orange hat and gloves since it was cool. I donned my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat if necessary. I added a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters to further waterproof my lower legs and to keep the snow out of my boots. The last time I had hiked on Round Top I had worn only my spikes. This turned out to be a bad idea so this time I knew I would wear snowshoes! I decided to wear my Tubbs Flex VRT which have the Boa binding. This system uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet wheel which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! At 11:00 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike two figure 8's and hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and climbed the snow bank on the ether side of the road to walk across the field to the back of the church. Any tracks I had made before were completed drifted in and the snow was deeper than I thought and consolidated. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I let Sheila off her leash so that I could use my poles up the hill. There was a track from some hikers and from bids sledding. I tried to break a nice track as I ascended the hull. At the top of the hill we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. The skies were overcast with some sun and a few white clouds. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. There was still a good amount of snow in the woods and on the trail. There were tracks from other people but as far as I could tell none and worm snowshoes.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a few branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail or by using my poles on the smaller ones. I continued to be careful to make a nice track although the forecast for rain and ice was discouraging. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The yellow trail was covered in about 6 inches of snow. There were only a few new branches here and there on the trail. I stopped to remove the branches or used my poles to flick the smaller ones aside. I was getting warmer as we hiked but I was not ready to open any zippers on my hoody. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail toward the summit. Climbing with the snowshoes proved to be much easier than using spikes! When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. As we walked over the high point, I was pleased to pass by a small tree which I had removed so that it no linger encroached on the trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. I was able to get a pretty good glide downhill on the snowshoes as it did not seem that anyone else had been over the summit. We bypassed the white crossover trail again and continued down to the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. Normally I would turn left here to do a figure 8 but for a variation I turned right and we started back up toward the summit.

We turned right on the switchback in the blue trail and followed it back to the main blue trail. We turned right and almost immediately right again on the white crossover trail. This trail had not been used by people but there were plenty of animals tracks. We followed the trail until it intersected the blue trail on the other side of the hill. We turned right and walked down to the junction with the yellow trail. Here we turned right and walked a short distance before I struck out to the left on a bushwhack along the top of the ledges that overlook the woods road. The snow was fresh and unbroken in most spots although we found several areas where deer had bedded down. I looked down over the ledges and was surprised by how far down it was. We continued walking downhill along the ledges as I looked for the spot to walk down to the trail near the lookout. I began following Sheila and she led me right to the spot. We turned left on the yellow trail just below the lookout. I glided down to the first trail junction which was made a little harder since several people had been on the hill without snowshoes. At the first trail junction, I debated doing another loop of some kind but decided just to head out to the trailhead. We walked straight out to the trailhead and turned right. We walked to the road through the church parking lot and over to the driveway to the house. It was 12:15 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in a an hour and 15 minutes.

On Thursday, January 27th I wanted to get to hike but had limited time as I had slept in after an ambulance call in the middle of the night. I had to be ready for track practice in the afternoon so I decided going across the street to Round Top was better than nothing. At 10:30 AM the temperature was still only 22 degrees but I knew it would be a short hike a and close to home. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top and add a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my old Salomon B-52 winter boots which are still waterproof and fit well. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also added a fleecy orange hat and gloves since it was cool. I donned my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat if necessary. I added a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters to further waterproof my lower legs and to keep the snow out of my boots. I decided that the trails would be packed so I would not need my snowshoes but I thought adding microspikes would be a good idea. At 11:00 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike two figure 8's but knew that might be ambitious given the snow and my lack of conditioning. As we went outside, I stopped to put on the microspikes which always give me some trouble. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and mounted the snow bank on the other side. As we were walking across the field to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church, I noticed that the snow was pretty deep and unconsolidated. I begin to wonder if I would pay for my decision to forego the snowshoes!

We continued to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." The trail up the hill was packed and the spikes were working fine. At the top of the hill we stopped to look around. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. There was only about 6 inches of snow on the trail under the trees which was not consolidated. I was pretty sure I had made a mistake an should have worn snowshoes. I could see one set of footprints that had been made after the last snow. In fact, it looked as if the print had been made earlier in the day! It was clear the hiker had bare-booted it. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she started directly up the hill toward the lookout. Sheila loves the snow as she has some Husky in her and her longer coat has a warm undercoat. For some reasons she does not get the iceballs on her feet that plague some dogs. The climb up the hill was slippery but seemed easier than I thought it might be. The spikes helped but snowshoes would have been better. I noticed that I immediately began to get warm and sweat so I opened some zippers to dump the heat. We passed by what used to be a side trail to the lookout that I blocked with brush. This side trail has a gap that hikers have to walk over and it can be dangerous for some people in the winter season. Unfortunately, some 'helpful' person had removed the brush without asking or knowing why it was there. We continued to the upper part of the lookout as I wanted to get a view of town with the snow. After a quick look, we followed the yellow trail as it turned right and started the gentle ascent through the open woods. Sheila was running ahead and then back to me which was fine with me as she was breaking the trail. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction with the blue trail. There were a few branches on the trail that I removed as we hiked. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. There was a layer of snow on this trail but it felt good to be walking on the level ground. Sheila decided to run ahead and the dash back toward me at high speed.

At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up the hill toward the summit. As we ascended, I confirmed that snowshoes would have made the hike easier. The spiked I was wearing could not penetrate the snow to get a grip and I kept slipping. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued over the summit of Round Top. We walked across the flat summit and started down the hill, we bypassed the white crossover trail but turned left on the switchback. When we made the turn on the switchback, I noticed that the trail sidehilled quite a bit and that I was slipping downhill. I made a note to work on this during the spring and summer. At the end of the switchback, we turned left on the main blue trail and walked down to the junction with the yellow trail. Going downhill with the snowshoes felt really good. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned left and walked along the base of Round Top following the trail we had already broken. The broken trail made walking much easier. This time when we reached the junction with the yellow trail, we turned left again to start up toward the summit. This was not my usual route but I just wanted to try something different! We turned left on the white crossover trail and walked it to the main blue trail where we turned left. We walked down the blue trail and turned left to walk along the base of Round Top. After a short distance, we turned right to start bushwhacking across the top of the ledges. We walked along the edge of the ledges until we came close to the lookout. Here we walked down to the yellow trial and turned left to head back down the hill to the first trail junction. We walked straight out the trail to the trailhead and turned right to start down the hill to the church parking lot. At the bottom of the hill we headed across the field to the road. The roads were bare and I was careful to cross as I still had the microspikes on my feet. After crossing the street to our driveway, we walked back to the house. We were home by 12:15 PM after hiking a little more than 2 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes.I was tired but glad we had gotten out.

On Tuesday, January 25th, I was ready to get in a hike that was not on Round Top! I decided to hike the Logger's Loop at Frick Pond. I knew some of this loop would be packed by snowmobiles so I though I could do it even if I had to break some trail. When I mentioned hiking to Cindy, she said she would like to come along. When we were starting to get ready at 9:45 AM the temperature was 26 degrees but I suspected it would be colder at the trailhead. As We started gathering our equipment and getting dressed, Sheila was very quiet but did not let me out of her sight. I put on my Patagonia long-sleeved merino wool 1/4-zip top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants but didn't bother with a baselayer. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the snow and to keep my lower legs warm. I made sure my Microspikes were in my pack just in case they were needed. Cindy and I decided to take snowshoes knowing the snow would not be deep but that wearing them would preserve any track that was present or help us to create one. We both took our Tubb's Flex VRT which have the Boa binding. This system uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet wheel which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents and take some strain off the calf muscles. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! We got our gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 10:15 AM. We were surprised that the snow that had fallen overnight amounted to about two inches! I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. When we arrived at the parking areas, we found that both lots had been plowed after the previous large storm but had a layer of snow from the storm the night before. Neither lot had any cars and I pulled into the smaller lot and parked. As Cindy and I were getting ready, I heard a noise coming up the road which turned out to be a Town of Rockland plow. The operator plowed the small lot and then started on the larger one. The temperature was 24 degrees and a slight breeze was blowing. There was three inches of new snow and snow was still falling. The skies overcast and cloudy but some areas showed a little blue. I set my GPS and we both put on our snowshoes. We carried our spikes although I could not think of a place we would use them.

We started out the Quick Lake Trail from the parking area to the register and found that many people had been on the trail and it seemed as if only a few had worn snowshoes! This was typical as people are either ignorant of how bare-booting ruins a trail or just don't care. There was about 3 inches of new powder with 8 inches more of base off the trails. We continued straight ahead at the register on the woods road that heads out to the trail system. The woods road was completely covered in snow and we tried to set a good snowshoe trench. We did not see any open water but there was some ice. The snowshoes were working well and I did not notice that walking was much harder with them. At Gravestone Junction we stayed left on the Quick Lake trail heading toward the bridge at the outlet to Frick Pond. When we arrived at the bridge, I put my pack down and got out the camera. Taking pictures was difficult as the falling snow kept hitting the lens. Beech Mountain was almost completely obscured by snow. The track was well-packed as we continued across the bridge toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued along the west side of Frick Pond and at the junction with the Big Rock Trail we headed left on the Quick Lake Trail. We immediately noticed that all other hikers had stayed left on the Big Rock Trail. There was no broken track on the Quick Lake Trail which meant I would have to break the trail to Iron Wheel Junction. I had broken the track here in the past and it can be very tiring. The trail is slightly uphill which is not very noticeable under most conditions but was very noticeable as I broke through the snow. At least the snow had stopped falling. We walked through the spruce tunnel and came to the small stream across the trail. There was a snow bridge over the water and we crossed easily. I noticed at this point that my legs were tired especially my inner thighs. This always happens and comes from the constant lifting. I decided that I would try to go as far as Iron Wheel Junction to see if there had been any snowmobiles over the trail to pack the snow. As we walked we tried to set a nice trench. The walk up the trail was making me more tired the farther we went so I stopped occasionally to move some branches out of the way. The good part was that there was no open water or soft mud to impede our progress. I was really hoping that when we got to Iron Wheel Junction there would be snowmobile track which would make the walking easier.

When we got to the junction, we could hardly see the iron wheel as it was almost completely covered by snow. The Logger's Loop was packed by snowmobile passes. I took a few shots and then was ready to turn right on the Logger's Loop toward Times Square. I knew going this way would be longer than turning around but I wanted to complete a loop. We turned right and began following the packed snowmobile trail which made for much easier walking. Even though the trail began an ascent, my legs did not seem as tired. As we walked we continued to clear some small branches. The skies cleared some and I stopped to take a few pictures of the trails with the ahead of us with the new snow. The sun came out briefly but disappeared almost as quickly. We came to the large cherry tree that had broken off high up and fallen so that it was arching across the trail. This tree was not blocking the trail and it was clear it was not coming down soon. We passed by the seasonal pond on the left side of the trail and continued downhill to Times Square. We walked straight across Times Square to stay on the Logger's Loop. The trail started uphill and only showed one or two sets of foot prints. My legs started to ache again but I knew we didn't have far to go. Although the trail is slightly uphill we were setting a fast pace. Cindy was a little farther behind but I slowed a little so she could catch up. We continued walking on the trail and crested the hill to walk out to Gravestone Junction. I again stopped to take some shots as the sun was peeking through the trees. We turned left at the Gravestone Junction and headed back to the car on the woods road. At the trail register, we continued straight ahead to stay on the woods road back to our car. It was 12:55 PM and we had spent 2 hour and 20 minutes hiking 3.8 miles on snowshoes. We had only stopped for 15 minutes! The elevation gain was a modest 400 feet. The temperature had risen to 28 degrees but the snow had stopped.

On Wednesday, January 19th I wanted to get out for hike but did not want to go too far from home. Cindy agreed to go along if the trail was relatively flat and short. I knew that the deep freeze overnight had probably hardened everything on the trails making snowshoes unnecessary and any postholes dangerous. We agreed to hike the Parksville Rail Trail which is short, less than 3 miles, but has a nice waterfall. As we started to get ready at 9:30 AM the temperature was still 26 degrees. I don't like to take Sheila out too often when the temperature is too cold but the high 20's seemed alright and has never shown any ill effects from the cold. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top and add a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots as they keep my feet warm and dry and work well with snowshoes. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth. For snowshoes Cindy and I decided to take our Tubbs Flex VRT which have the Boa binding. This system uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet wheel which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! We knew these might not be necessary so we also made sure we had spikes with us. At 9:55 we put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. Just after this intersection is the western parking area for the rail trail. We were surprised to see that the parking lot was not plowed. It is a shame that the lot was inaccessible as it would take about 15 minutes to plow and allow people access to the rail trail from both ends. I continued to drive into Parksville turning right at the stop sign on Short Avenue. I noticed the large lot at the corner was plowed but I turned right on Main Street and parked on the side of the street where there was plenty of room. My intention was to check out the trail and then park in the other lot. I got out of the car and walked to the point where the trail entered the woods. The snow wasn't very hard and it seemed that snowshoes would be the best choice. I did find that the trail was chewed up with postholes from ignorant people who did not know that they should wear snowshoes. It seemed many of them had come out after the first major snowstorm of the year. They had sunk deeply into the soft snow and ice.

We decided to park where we were as it was closer to the trailhead and there were no other cars around. We put on our snowshoes to begin the hike. When I went to set my GPS unit I found it was not charged. This normally would bother me but I had a track already recorded so I knew I just needed to note the times. We started on the trail at 10:10 AM with the temperature right at 28 degrees but with no breeze blowing. The boot prints in the trail were every bit as annoying as I thought they might be and they were spread across the entire width of the trail. There was also a trail from a set of cross country skis. I was careful to avoid the ski tracks but picked a set of footprints and began to lay down a snowshoe track along the almost flat trail. It was cooler under the trees but as long as we kept moving we were warm enough. At about .4 miles we came to the Parksville Falls. The areas above the falls had a lot of ice with water flowing under it. The water was so clear we could see the bedrock beneath the flowing water. The volume of the stream was impressive despite the ice. I took some shot from the trail and then walked down a path to the edge of the stream. I took some more pictures upstream and then took some of the water going over the top of the falls. When I was done, I walked back up to the main trail and continued for a short distance to the area at the top of the falls. I noticed that there were now snowshoe tracks on the trail. It was hard to tell if there was more than one person or whether one person had walked out and back from the other parking area. In any case, whoever it was did not know how to lay down a single well-worn track! I took a few shots of the falls and then decided I wanted a closer look. I worked my way down a path through some deep snow toward an area in front of the falls that I have used before to take pictures. I was not able to get the direct view that I wanted because the snowshoes were not getting the kind of grip I needed and the trail was narrow. I did take some more shots and then worked my way back up to the main trail. Cindy was already well ahead of me trying to keep warm by moving. Sheila spent her time running up and down the trail between us. At .8 miles we crossed several bridges over an area that has some seasonal streams and drainage off State Route 17. At the end of the bridges I stopped to take some long distance shots down the stream. The skies were overcast and there was some haze so the pictures were not as dramatic as I had hoped. After taking some pictures, I continued along the trail westward toward the trailhead near Fox Mountain Road. I noticed that after the bridges there were few if any boot prints. I decided I would just walk to the point where the trees ended. When I got to that point, the pull of the other trailhead was too strong and I decided to walk all the way to the other parking area. Cindy stayed behind and Sheila and I set a quick pace. We continued to walk along the trail and broke out into the sun where it seemed warmer. We walked to the trailhead and then turned around to start back. Sheila kept whining and running ahead to find Cindy but she came back when I called. We met Cindy just as the trees began to overshadow the trail. I did not plan to stop on the way back so the return trip was much faster than the trip out. We continued to set a good snowshoe track. We continued to walk out the trail back to the car. We were back at the car at 11:50 AM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 40 minutes with virtually no elevation gain.

On Monday, January 17th I wanted to get in hike after almost two weeks without getting out. I had a cold and in the past I have always hiked anyway. This year I decided to stay inside. Sitting at home may be a little crazy but I think it helped physically. Sunday into Monday we had received between 6 and 8 inches of heavy, wet snow. I decided it would be unwise to try to go to any trailhead as they would not be plowed which left me with another trip across the street to Round Top. I reasoned this would be a challenge as I was two weeks out of shape and the snowshoeing would add a level of difficulty. Fortunately, the ambulance calls that we were called to had been canceled and by 11:00 AM I was ready to get out. The temperature was 30 degrees and I worried that the snow would clump on my snowshoes which makes for a miserable outing. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike. She normally behaves herself but could not contain her excitement after such a long layoff. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top and add a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my old Salomon B-52 winter boots which are still waterproof and fit well. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also added a fleecy orange hat and gloves since it was cool. I donned my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat if necessary. I added a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters to further waterproof my lower legs and to keep the snow out of my boots. I grabbed my Tubbs Flex VRT snowshoes which have the Boa binding. This system uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet wheel which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents and take some strain off the calf muscles. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I brought my pack along since it was the easiest way to carry my camera and Kahtoola microspikes. At 11:30 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike two figure 8's but knew that might be ambitious given the heavy snow and my lack of conditioning. As we went outside, I stopped to put on the snowshoes which is pretty easy with their binding system. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and mounted the snow bank on the other side. Walking across the field to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church was pretty easy even though this was my first time on snowshoes since last year.

We continued to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I was surprised that the snow was not sticking to the snowshoes but the going was tough and I stopped several times on the way up the hill. At the top of the hill we stopped to look around. I got out the camera and took pictures of the cemetery covered in snow and of the snow covered trees. I also took some shots of the surrounding hills although the snow that was still falling obscured some of them. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. There was only about 4 inches of snow on the trail under the trees which made the walking even easier. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she started directly up the hill toward the lookout. Sheila loves the snow as she has some Husky in her and her longer coat has a warm undercoat. For some reasons she does not get the iceballs on her feet that plague some dogs. The climb up the hill was slippery but seemed easier than I thought it might be. I noticed that I immediately began to get warm and sweat so I opened some zippers to dump the heat. We passed by what used to be a side trail to the lookout that I blocked with brush. This side trail has a gap that hikers have to walk over and it can be dangerous for some people in the winter season. Unfortunately, some 'helpful' person had removed the brush without asking or knowing why it was there. We continued to the upper part of the lookout as I wanted to get a view of town with the snow. The view was blocked so we worked our way down to the lower ledge. I constantly have to call Sheila back as she likes to walk along the edges of ledges. I got out my camera and took some shot hoping they would show how beautiful the town appeared under a layer of snow. When I was done, I packed up and headed back to the yellow trail and followed it as it turned right and started the gentle ascent through the open woods. The snow was sticking to the north and west side of the trees so I stopped to take a few pictures. Sheila was running ahead and then back to me which was fine with me as she was breaking the trail. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction with the blue trail. There were a few branches on the trail that I removed as we hiked. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, I stopped to take some more shots of the unbroken trail toward the summit and the trail along the base of Round Top. We turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. There was a layer of snow on this trail but it felt good to be walking on the level ground.

At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up the hill toward the summit. As we ascended, I could tell I was out of shape and tired! We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued over the summit of Round Top. We walked across the flat summit and started down the hill, we bypassed the white crossover trail but turned left on the switchback. When we made the turn on the switchback, I noticed that the trail sidehilled quite a bit and that I was slipping downhill. I made a note to work on this during the spring and summer. At the end of the switchback, we turned left on the main blue trail and walked down to the junction with the yellow trail. Going downhill with the snowshoes felt really good. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned left and walked along the base of Round Top following the trail we had already broken. The broken trail made walking much easier. This time when we reached the junction with the yellow trail, we turned right and started down the trail to the woods road that would lead us out to the first trail junction. This part of the trail is flat in places but is most a gentle downhill. Walking down the woods road was easy and we were soon at the first trail junction. We turned around and walked back up the woods road and trail to the first junction with the blue trail. Along the way I questioned whether this was a good idea as my inner thighs were aching. We turned left on the yellow trail and walked it along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up toward the summit. When we reached the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. We continued up to the summit on the blue trail with me concentrating on what I knew was the last ascent! We continued over the summit and then down the blue trail to Te junction with the yellow trail skipping the white crossover trail along the way. At the junction with the yellow trail, we turned right and followed the well-broken trail along the base of Round Top. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned left on the yellow trail to walk down to the lookout. I was glad we were going downhill! At the viewpoint we turned left and followed the yellow trail back to the first trail junction. Gliding down the hill was fun. We walked straight out the trail to the trailhead and turned right to start down the hill to the church parking lot. At the bottom of the hill we headed across the field to the road. The roads were bare and I was careful to cross as I still had the snowshoes on my feet. After crossing the street to our driveway, we walked back to the house. We were home by 1:15 PM after hiking a little more than 2 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes.I was tired but glad we had gotten out as the wind-chill on Tuesday was supposed to be below zero for a good part of the day!

On Tuesday, January 4th I planned to get out for first day hike much sooner but ambulance calls, bad weather and cold conspired to keep me away from the woods. I finally decided I would get out even though I only had the time and energy for Round Top. I guess this is fitting as I have been going there a lot lately. I started to get dressed at 11:00 AM with the temperature a rather cool 22 degrees. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and we had not been out for some time. She was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I decided to wear my Keen Cascade hiking boots which are pretty new and fit well. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also added a fleecy orange hat and gloves since it was cool. I donned my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat if necessary. At 11:15 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike two figure 8's and hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. There was a little snow which made the walking a bit tricky but it would have been impossible to wear spikes. At the top of the hill we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead where I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. There was still a small amount snow in the woods and a thin layer on the trail.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a few branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail or by using my poles on the smaller ones. We reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The yellow trail was covered in a thin layer of snow as was the woods off the trail. There were only a few new branches here and there on the trail. I stopped to remove the branches or used my poles to flick the smaller ones aside. I was getting warmer as we hiked but I was not ready to open any zippers on my hoody. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail, toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. As we walked over the high point, I was pleased to pass by a small tree which I had removed so that it no linger encroached on the trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. The trail was solid and but the snow made the descent slippery. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked down the yellow trail toward the lookout passing the sitting rock. Sheila was wandering off the trail following her nose.

When we reached the lookout, we turned left and followed the yellow trail followed downhill to the first trail junction. This descent was a little slippery but the poles made it manageable. We immediately turned around and started back up the hill to the lookout. At the top of the hill we turned right to follow the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. The one short climb was easy and the poles helped. We turned right to follow the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up toward the summit. When we got to the white crossover trail we turned left and followed it across the hill and back to the blue trail. We turned left on the blue trail and then almost immediately turned left on the switchback. Walking downhill on the switchback was a little tricky as it sidehills in several places. At the end of the switchback we turned left and walked downhill to the trail junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and headed down the yellow trail to the woods road that leads to the first trail junction. As we walked down the road, I noticed all the interesting ledges to the right of the trail. At the first trail junction, I debated doing another loop of some kind but decided just to head out to the trailhead. We walked out to the trailhead and turned right. We walked to the road through the church parking lot and over to the driveway to the house. It was 12:20 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in a little over an hour.

On Tuesday, December 30th I wanted to get in a longer hike but the weather forecast was for heavy fog and light rain all day. Brad and I had responded to five ambulance calls from the previous evening to the early morning so we both slept in. When we got up, we did some choired around the house until we finally started to get read to hike at 1:30 PM. We decided to go across the street to hike on Round Top which would allow us to respond to a call should be pager go off. The temperature was a rather warm 42 degrees which made it feel like spring. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top but deiced I did not need a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided not to add gaiters. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I made sure I had a pair of Super Green insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and because it was still hunting season. I wore a light pair of gloves although I did not know if I would Ned them. At 1:50 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. There was no ice or snow which made the footing very good. At the top of the hill we stopped to look around. The fog and the mist was so thick we could not see anything beyond the cemetery . We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead where I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. There was no some snow on the trail but there was mud and a few leaves making it slippery.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she started directly up the hill toward the lookout. The climb up the hill was slippery but seemed easier than usual. We passed by what used to be a side trail to the lookout that I blocked with brush. This side trail has a gap that hikers have to walk over and it can be dangerous for some people in the winter season. We continued on the yellow trail as it turned to the right and started the gentle ascent through the open woods. I was already getting warm from making the ascent in the hoody but not warm enough to open any zippers. Only a few leaves were hanging on to the trees while the rest formed a slippery blanket on the trail. Sheila was making her own way by staying on the trail sometimes and then running off-trail and chasing game trails. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction with the blue trail. There were a few branches on the trail that we removed as we hiked. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. There was still a thin layer of snow on this trail and it was slipperier than expected. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up the hill toward the summit. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued over the summit of Round Top. There was some snow on the trail which, in places, covered up some slippery mud. As we started down the hill, we bypassed the white crossover trail but turned left on the switchback. When we made the turn on the switchback, there was a layer of snow which made walking difficult as the switchback slants downhill. This reminded me that I needed to do some work in the spring to create a better path on the switchback. At the end of the switchback, we turned left on the main blue trail and walked down to the junction with the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned left an walked along the base of Round Top. This time when we reached the junction with the yellow trail, we turned right and started down the trail to the woods road that would lead us out to the first trail junction. On the way out, I pointed out to Brad the tree I had cut off the trail. Walking down the woods road was easy and we were soon at the first trail junction. I asked Brad if we could do another loop and he agreed. We turned around and walked back up the woods road and trail to the first junction with the blue trail. We turned left on the yellow trail and walked it along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up toward the summit. When we reached the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. We turned right and almost immediately right again on the white switchback trail. The trails had been snowy on this side of the hill and the switchback trail was covered also. At the end of the switchback trail, we turned right on yellow trail and walked it along the base of Round Top. This time when we reached the junction with the blue trail we turned left and walked downhill toward the lookout. At the viewpoint we walked out to the edge of the upper lookout. I was a little surprised to see a young couple sitting on the rocks of the lower lookout. We said "Hello" and they responded. I was going to show Brad the spot on the opposing hill where a development was proposed. This did not prove possible as the fog was too thick to see much. We turned left and walked down the hill to the first trail junction. We walked straight out the trail to the trailhead and turned right to start down the hill to the church parking lot. At the bottom of the hill we headed across the church parking lot to the street. After crossing the street to our driveway, we walked back to the house. We were home by 3:00 PM after hiking a little more than 2 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes.

On Tuesday, December 28th I planned to go hiking at Trout Pond after several days of ambulance calls. Brad was at the house and we did three calls overnight. I finally got to bed at 4:30 AM! I finally got up at 11:30 AM although I was still tired. I asked Brad if he would like to go hiking and he agreed. We began getting ready at 1:00 PM knowing another storm was rolling in and we would have to hike quickly as sundown was still rather early. As I started to get ready it was still only 35 degrees with some blue sky and white clouds. Sheila was pretty excited as I started to get ready as she always is when we go hiking. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which are pretty beat up but fit well. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also added a fleecy orange hat and gloves since it was cool. I decided to wear my OR Crocodile gaiters as I knew there might be some mud and they keep my lower legs warm. I donned my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat if necessary. We put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 1:25 AM as I drove north on the Quickway towards Roscoe. I got off at exit 94 and headed north on Route 206 towards Downsville. After crossing the Rockland Flats and passing the Roscoe Nursing Home, I turned left on Morton Hill Road and drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. There were at least five cars illegal parked in a "lot" at the intersection of the two roads. People see the open space and park there without thinking about the fact that the land is private. I did not want to drive down Russell Brook Road as it is a seasonal maintenance road and it did not look maintained. Fortunately, there was enough room for me to park on the side of the road which is legal. Several people were just leaving their cars to hike and some were returning. Brad and I decided to put on our microspikes to start the hike. I set my GPS unit and we started our hike at 1:50 PM by walking down Russell Brook Road. The spikes gave us a good grip allowing us to hike quickly. We caught up and passed a mother and her two young girls who seemed to be having a good time. As we headed down the steeper part of the road, we met another group of three hikers coming up the road with their dog. I pulled Sheila to the side of the road as the other dog, which fortunately was on a leash, went nuts growling and barking.

We continued down the road and were soon at the path that leads down to the lookout over the upper falls. We carefully worked our way down to the lookout. I was glad I had my spikes and poles as it was very slippery. I put my pack down and got out the camera. I took shots of the falls and some of the surrounding rocks ledges using different settings. When I was done, I packed up and we walked back to the road to continue downhill to the lower parking area. As we walked down the road, two cars from the lower lot came driving up the road and passed us. Both Brad and I wondered if they would be able to get up the steeper, slippery spots. When we arrived at the lower parking area, there was only one car parked and they seemed to be leaving. Just as we started out two hikers came up to the parking lot from the stream and we said "Hello" as we passed them. We started out on the Trout Pond Trail along a wide woods road that leads down to and across Russell Brook. As we crossed the bridge, I could see that the brook was not as high as I had seen it after some of the recent rain storms. The skies were starting to become more overcast and there was little blue left. We decided to go to the falls at the beginning of the hike as I did not know how dark it would be on the way out. The Japanese knotweed had died and was a red brown color so I took a few shots of it knowing it would be back in the spring. The history of this area is very interesting. Russell Brook Falls had been the site of a dam that impounded water for a waterwheel in Butternut Grove. The wheel was still there a few years ago. The area near the register box was the "landing zone" for loggers who cleared the evergreen trees, not for tanning but, for the production of wood alcohol. The trees were transported on narrow gauge railway that ran parallel to Russell Brook. The railway met the mainline O&W near Butternut Grove where the logs were unloaded. There were several acid factories in the area that produced wood alcohol. There was also a factory on the lower part of Russell Brook that produced khaki dye for the uniforms of American troops during World War I. We followed the path out to the falls and turned right to walk down to the streambed. I put down my pack and got out the camera to take pictures of the falls and the stream. Sheila immediately posed in front of the falls so I took some shots of her. I took some more shots of the falls using different settings to get the silky look that some people like. Water that had overflowed on the right side of the falls had frozen and was starting to develop into a mirror of the falls. I took pictures of the stream and then packed up to continue the hike. We walked back up to the path out to the main trail.

At the main trail, we turned right to head up to the pond. We continued passed the register box and up the main trail toward Trout Pond. There was a layer of ice on the trail and a small amount of snow. We considered removing the spikes but in the end we left them on. There was some water on the trail and mud in a few places. Soon we were at the outlet end of the pond and we walked over to the shore which was not as high as it had been earlier in the year. I dropped my pack to take pictures of the lake but the blue sky was now gone replaced by a solid overcast. I took pictures looking for the contrast between the bare trees, the overcast sky and the lake. Sheila decided not to take a dip as the water was cold. I took the time to take some pictures at the dam which had some water flowing over it. I packed up and we returned to the main trail where there was a group of three hikers. I put Sheila on her leash as they did not seem to want to move aside. The woman in the group asked if she could "Say Hello" to Sheila. She seemed offended when I said "No"! We walked the flat woods road toward the inlet end of the pond which was wet and muddy in many spots without much ice or snow. When we came to the bridge, I stopped to take a few pictures of the pond from just before the bridge and from the bridge itself. We crossed the bridge and stayed to the right on the Mud Pond Trail which would take us over Cherry Ridge and form our loop back to the parking area. There was new beaver activity and a small dam just downstream of the bridge causing the water to back up. The trail was very rocky and there did not seem to be much ice or snow so we removed our spikes. As soon as we continued up the trail, we began to run into more snow and ice making us wonder if removing the spikes was a good idea. The constant slipping on the ice and snow was slowing our pace but we were still moving at a good pace. We had been removing branches and small tree trunks as we hiked but now we began to run into more branches and some very large trees across the trail. There were at least three trunks that would most likely have to be cut with a chainsaw and would have to wait until spring.

From the bridge at the inlet we began a climb of 430 feet over the next .75 miles. The trail headed west from the inlet until turning sharply south at around 2 miles. Along the way there were several blowdowns that had been cut by a DEC sawyer I met during the summer. The highest point on the trail was at 2.2 miles after which most of the rest of the hike is downhill. As we gained elevation, I began to notice that I was getting warm and sweating some so I opened the front zipper on my hoody. As we started down the other side, the trail had some mud in spots but there was little standing or running water and the snow and ice diminished. We did find several more large blowdowns which could be cut with and tools but would be a challenge. At 3.4 miles we had descended 420 feet from Cherry Ridge to the snowmobile trail near Mud Pond. We turned left here to head east but had to walk in the woods as the snowmobile trail had a lot of ruts and mud. It was beginning to get dark and we tried to quicken our pace. We ascended a small hill before starting downhill back toward the parking area. This section had a mix of mud, water, snow and ice. The downhill was a little slippery but the spikes were not necessary. There were some small streams flowing across the trail but their volume was low. All told, we dropped another 380 feet over the next .7 miles back to the bridge just before the trail register. We stopped on the bridge over the outlet stream from Trout Pond as it was flowing well. We continued on the trail to the junction. We turned right and continued on the main trail toward the parking area. I stopped to take a few pictures of the dead knotweed before continuing on. We continued across the bridge and up the trail to the parking area where there were no cars. We quickened our pace as the dark settled around us. We were back at the car at 4:35 PM and we had hiked 5.5 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes with an elevation gain of 1120 feet. We had stopped for 20 minutes.

On Monday, December 27th I planned to get out for a longer hike to Balsam Lake Mountain and Vly Pond but the weather forecast was calling for freezing rain and ice. I decided I would just take a short hike on Round Top while waiting for my daughter and her family to arrive from Pennsylvania. I had a few blowdowns to remove from the trail and this would be a good time to do it. I started to get dressed at 11:05 AM with the temperature a rather cool 26 degrees. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on me as we dressed. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which are pretty beat up but fit well. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also added a fleecy orange hat and gloves since it was cool. I donned my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat if necessary. I put my Silky Sugowaza saw in my pack as I knew it would be able to handle the small trees I was going to cut. At 11:25 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike two figure 8's and remove any blowdowns I found. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. There was no ice or snow which made the walking easier. A few small patches of snow and ice were scattered along edge of the road. At the top of the hill we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead where I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. There was still a small amount snow in the woods but none on the trail. The trail was almost dry as most of the precipitation had frozen on the trail.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a few branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail or by using my poles on the smaller ones. As we reached the end of the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail, we came to a large tree that had fallen parallel to the trail. Some of the branches were in the trail so I put my pack down and got out the camera. I took some 'before' pictures including a few of Sheila. I put the camera away and took out my saw. The branches were small so I cut the biggest and dragged them off the trail. I then cut the smaller branches and removed them as well. Within 15 minutes the trail was clear. I took some 'after' pictures of the cleared trail and then we continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The yellow trail was covered in a thin layer of snow as was the woods off the trail. There were only a few new branches here and there on the trail. I stopped to remove the branches or used my poles to flick the smaller ones aside. I was getting warmer as we hiked but I was not ready to open any zippers on my hoody. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail, toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. As we walked over the high point, I found a small tree with some branches in the trail. I put down my pack and got out the saw. I made one cut to remove the small tree and a few other to remove some branches. After removing all the branches, I put the saw away as we continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. The trail was solid and almost dry but I was glad I had my poles. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right. We walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked down the yellow trail toward the lookout passing the sitting rock. Sheila was wandering off the trail following her nose.

When we reached the lookout, I decided to walk down to the lower ledge to get a view of town. We worked our way down to the ledge. The views of town and the surrounding hills were great but the skies were very gray. I got out my camera and too a few shots including some with Sheila. When I was done we walked back up to the main trail followed it downhill to the first trail junction. This descent was a little slippery but the poles made it manageable. We immediately turned around and started back up the hill to the lookout. At the top of the hill we turned right to follow the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. The one short climb was easy and the poles helped. We turned right to follow the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up toward the summit. When we got to the white crossover trail we turned left and followed it across the hill and back to the blue trail. We turned left on the blue trail and then almost immediately turned left on the switchback. Walking downhill on the switchback was a little tricky as it sidehills in several places. At the end of the switchback we turned left and walked downhill to the trail junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and headed down the yellow trail to the woods road that leads to the first trail junction. As we walked down the road, I noticed all the interesting ledges to the right of the trail. At the first trail junction, I debated doing another loop of some kind but decided just to head out to the trailhead. On the way out I cut one more branch that was encroaching on the trail. We walked out to the trailhead and turned right. We walked out to the road through the church parking lot and over to the driveway to the house. It was 12:55 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in an hour and a half. It took a little over 30 minutes to do the trail maintenance.

On Thursday, December 23rd I wanted to try the new route to Hodge Pond From Shin Creek Road in Lew Beach. I did not have track practice or ant contests to time so I could take a leisurely walk. The Beaverkill Land Trust has created a parking lot on a woods road off Shin Creek Road in Lew Beach. The woods road leads to Hodge Pond near the site of the former Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. I spent some time doing chores around the house and waiting for the temperature to go up a few degrees but it seemed stuck at 26F. I asked Cindy if she would like to go but she declined. I was a little doubtful as the wind was blowing making it seems even colder. By 11:45 AM I decided I wanted to get out and knew we could always turn around if it was too cold for Sheila. I put on a Patagonia long-sleeved wool zip top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool in town but might be colder at the trailhead. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants and put on a pair of Mountain Hardwear tights as a baselayer. I wore my Salomon B-52 winter boots with a pair of Protalus insoles. These shoes are discontinued but seem to be warm enough and handle the snow and mud very well. I grabbed my Leki poles with external locks which I trust over the internal twist locks. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud and water that I knew would be present. I made sure my Microspikes were in my pack just in case they were needed. There had been an ice storm the day before and it was snowing lightly in town. I knew this combination can be slippery even on flatter trails. I was even a little worried about getting to the trailhead as Shin Creek Road is "seasonal maintenance" inky and the road into the parking area is not maintained. I got my gear in the car and put an excited Sheila in the back seat. At 12:15 PM I drove north on Old Route 17 to the Beaverkill Road. I drove north to the four corners just after the Beaverkill Valley fire house. Here I turned right and started up Shin Creek Road. The drive on this road is beautiful but the road soon becomes a seasonal maintenance road and very rough. After the sign, the road was covered with snow over ice and it was obvious no one else had ventured past that point. When we came to the road on the right I turned and found it no worse than Shin Creek Road. I passed a small pulloff on the right and continued up the road to the parking area on the left. I pulled in to park and noticed the temperature was 21 degrees. When I stepped out of the car, a strong breeze was blowing and snow was lightly falling making me feel colder. I set my GPS and we began our hike at 12:35 PM by starting up the road.

We walked over the gate and crossed the stream on a bridge constructed to support cars. My objective was to get warm and get to the lookouts on Beech Mountain so I passed up taking any pictures on the way up the road. The road was uphill all the way but the grade was gentle. The problem was that the road had a thin layer of snow that covered a layer of ice in most places. I watched Sheila to see where she slipped but this didn't work as she had "spikes" on all four feet! I walked in the center of the road on a strip of grass and leaves or along the sides of the road. Despite the footing, I was making good time and the hike was going faster than I expected. I was warming up but was not so warm that I wanted to open any zippers to dump heat. At 1.15 miles the road leveled and I recognized the site of the former Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. The cabins had deteriorated so much that the Beaverkill Land Trust had them cleared away. We walked out to the road junction and turned left and then left again on the woods road that goes toward the top of Beech Mountain. I wasn't really tired and was actually feeling much better so we pushed the pace a little. When we go to the old sand and gravel pit where the trail levels the sun came out and glistened off the snow on the trees but I did not see the ice on the trees I was hoping for. The trail began to gain elevation again and we passed by a spring house on the right where Sheila sometimes likes to dig in the water and get a drink. She decided not to get into the cold water on this day. There are several twists and turns along this road and it is sometimes hard for me to know exactly where I am. The amount if snow on the road increased as did the ice underneath. I continued to watch my step and only had a few minor steps. At 1.65 miles we came to a lookout on the left of the trail. The lookout had been "cut out" so that the hills and valleys beyond were much more visible. I decided not to stop for pictures as the view was not spectacular and I wanted to reach the other two lookouts. We followed the road uphill as it made a sharp right turn. Just after this the road turned to the left and another trail branched off to the right. We continued on the road to the left and passed over what would be the highest point on our hike. After this slight incline, the trail began to lose elevation and turned to the right. The trail opened up to a clearing with a beautiful view to the east.

I was hoping there would be some snow on the 3500 foot mountains visible from this viewpoint and I was not disappointed. The panorama from this lookout takes in the Burroughs Range and many of the other Catskill peaks. There was also a layer of ice on the trees around the clearing and the sun was sparkling off them. I got out my camera and took pictures of the mountains to the east even though the sky was flat and without clouds. I also took some shots of the ice on the trees and found the skies blue with interesting clouds in that direction. When I was done, I picked up the pack and we continued on the woods road back up to the woods road around Beech Mountain. We climbed a short hill and turned left at the top. We walked clockwise around the summit of Beech Mountain and I noticed some very interesting ledges on the right side of the trail. Soon we arrived at the Hodge Pond Lookout. The lookout had been cut out but the brush is beginning to grow back. I put y pack down and got out the camera. I took pictures of the ledges behind the lookout and the snow on the trails. Sheila was wandering around on the icy lookout rock. I had her sit down and took a few pictures of her with the pond in ha background. The mountains around the had ice on the trees so I took some shots. After taking a few pictures down to the pond, I packed up and we continued on the dozen trail back to the road that climbs the mountain. We turned left on the road and almost immediately came to the other lookout facing west. I decided to take a few shots and the continue down the hill. I was feeling pretty good and not really paying attention to my footing. My feet began to slip on the ice but my poles saved me.I was much more careful the rest of the way to the junction with the road to the Shin Creek parking. At the bottom of the hill we turned right, walked along the flat part of the trail and started the 1.3 miles descent to the car. I had to be careful as the trip back seemed much slipperier than the walk in. We were back at the car at 1:25 PM and I regretted not lengthening the hike by going around Hodge Pond. We had hiked 4.3 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes gaining 920 feet along the way. Our overall speed was 2.0 mph with moving average of 2.2 mph with 10 minutes of stopped time. The temperature was only 23 degrees but the sun was shining and the wind had died down.

On Tuesday, December 21st I planned to get out for a longer hike but overnight ambulance calls meant hat I slept in. With track practice in the afternoon, I knew I did not have enough time to do anything except go across the street to Round Top. I almost decided not to go but knew I would feel better if I did. In addition, I wanted to hike on the first day of winter. I started to get dressed at 11:15 AM with the temperature a rather cool 30 degrees. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on me as we dressed. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I decided to put on my Keen Cascade hiking boots which are new and fit well. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also added a fleecy orange hat and gloves since it was cool. I donned my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat if necessary. At 1:45 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. There was no ice or snow which made the walking easier. At the top of the hill we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead where I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. There was still a layer of leaves on the trail but they were almost dry and any mud was frozen pretty solid. It was much easier walking without the snow and ice that had been on the trail after the last storm.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a few branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area for a few days. There was one large tree that had fallen parallel to the trail just after the left turn off the woods road. Some of the branches were in the trail and would require tools to remove them. We walked up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The trails were bare with only a few new branches here and there. I stopped to remove the branches or used my poles to flick the smaller ones aside. The walk was more reminiscent of a hike in the middle of the fall after he leaves have fallen. I was getting warmer as we hiked but I was not ready to open any zippers on my hoody. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail, toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. We walked over the high point and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. The trail was solid and almost dry but I was glad I had my poles. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right. We walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked down the yellow trail toward the lookout passing the sitting rock. Sheila was wandering off the trail following her nose. I looked up when I saw some movement . It was large grey squirrel that had been foraging and was surprised by my presence. The squirrel took off down the trail and out into the woods with some very high and long leaps and bounds. When we reached the lookout, we turned left to follow the yellow trail downhill to the first trail junction. This descent was a little slippery but the poles made it manageable. We immediately turned around and started back up the hill to the lookout. At the top of the hill we turned right to follow the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. The one short climb was easy and the poles helped. We turned right to follow the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up toward the summit. When we got to the white crossover trail we continued up toward the summit as I wanted two full figure 8's. When we reached the white crossover trail on the other side we passed by it and turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. Walking downhill on the switchback was a little tricky as it sidehills in several places. At the end of the switchback we turned left and walked downhill to the trail junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and headed down the yellow trail to the woods road that leads to the first trail junction. As we walked down the road, I noticed all the interesting ledges to the right of the trail. At the first trail junction, I debated doing another loop of some kind but decided just to head out to the trailhead. We walked out to the trailhead and turned right. We walked out to the road through the church parking lot and over to the driveway to the house. It was 12:20 PM and we had hiked 2 miles in a little over an hour.

Fall 2021

On Friday, December 17th, I was ready to go back to the Logger's Loop at Frick Pond to remove blowdowns on the Logger's Loop and Quick Lake Trails. I did not have track practice in the afternoon so I knew I would have plenty of time to get the work done. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and help and she agreed. We started to get ready at 10:30 AM when the temperature was 45 degrees on the back porch. I suspected it might be cooler at the trailhead. As I started gathering my equipment and getting dressed, Sheila was very quiet but did not let me out of her sight. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was warm in town but might be cooler at the trailhead. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants but didn't bother with a baselayer. I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which pretty beat up but still are good for hiking in the mud! I didn't expect to find any snow but these boots are getting pretty worn so I thought I would get what I could out of them. I decided not to bring poles as I would be carrying tools. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud and water that I knew would be present. I made sure my Microspikes were in my pack just in case they were needed. I grabbed my tools including my Silky Sugowaza curved saw which can handle surprisingly large trees, a Silky Katanboy 500, and my Fiskars pack axe which is light but handles bigger trees very well. I also threw some felling wedges in my pack as I would not have any help if my saw became pinched. I got our gear and Sheila in my car and we left Livingston Manor at 10:55 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. When we arrived at the parking areas, there was one car park in each lot. I pulled into the smaller lot and parked. The skies were bright and blue but without any interesting clouds.

I set my GPS unit and noted that the temperature was 45 degrees. I grabbed the axe which I would carry by hand with the two saws and wedges in my pack. We started out the woods road to the Quick Lake Trail at the register. From the register on the trail was wet with standing water and some frozen and some soft mud. Since this is a woods road, we were able to avoid most of the water and mud by picking our steps carefully. At Gravestone Junction, we turned right to get on the yellow Logger's Loop heading toward Times Square. The trail was wet and muddy but not quite as bad as the Quick Lake Trail. The trail did look like hikers had been using it and I also saw some mountain bike tracks. Soon we were hiking downhill toward Times Square. We crossed a stream that parallels the Big Rock Trail. The stream was dry in this day but can have a pretty good volume. The source of the water is a mystery although I assume it must be from seasonal springs and runoff. At Times Square we continued straight ahead on the Logger's Loop which was wet and muddy but not as bad as I have seen it in the past. There were a few smaller branches that I removed. We started a slight uphill climb on the trail but the hiking was relatively easy. We came to a small blowdown just before the trail started to flatten. I took a few "before" pictures and then took out the Sugowaza curved saw. I began cutting branches and Cindy and I dragged them off the trail. We tried to pile then neatly and a little off the trail. The cutting a clearing went quickly and I took some "after" shots before packing up to move on. The trail flattened and we came to the small, seasonal pond on the right side of the trail. The pond was almost empty which surprised me as I thought it might be full from the recent rains. There were two small blowdowns across the trail and I got out my camera to take pictures. I again used the saw to cut the small trunk and drag them off the trail almost whole. I continued to cut and clear from both blowdowns until everything was gone. After taking a few pictures of the result, we moved on.

Shortly, we came to a large tree with many branches across the trail. This one had some large branches and a trunk with a large diameter. I took my "before" shots and then began to examine the blowdown. I used the Sugowaza to start to cut branches and remove them. Some I was able to pile on one side of the trail. The larger ones I pulled well off the trail and out of the way. Two larger section I was able to pivot off the trail. All that was left was the larger trunks that still projected onto the trail. I decided to use the Fiskars axe to remove the trunks finishing with the saw if I needed it. The smaller trunk went quickly and I pulled it off the trail. I started in on the larger trunk which was cherry. I started the cut rather small but the work went quickly and I was sorry I hadn't made the cut a little larger. Near the bottom on the cut, I switched to the saw and quickly cut through the rest of the trunk. I was able to flip the section off the trail. I took a few "after" pictures and then packed up and started up the trail. A little further along there were two more trees. Both of these blowdowns had large diameter trunks but it was easy to step over them. As we continued on the Logger's Loop we came to two large plastic culverts lying ion top of the ground. The DEC has started a project to replace the metal culverts and to install culverts were they were needed but did not exist. That project began at least three years ago but was not completed and the black culverts stand out like a sore thumb. I have no idea whether these have been forgotten or are on a work schedule somewhere. The rest of the Loggers Loop to Iron Wheel Junction had several deep ponds that ran from one side of the trail to the other. We picked my way through them and it wasn't long before we were walking downhill and climbing a small hill to Iron Wheel Junction. There was no snow and the wheels were clearly visible. We turned left to head back toward Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail.

The trail is slightly downhill which allowed us to keep up a good pace even though we had to work our way around the some water and mud. We came to a blowdown that had what seemed like hundreds of small branches. I put down my pack and got out the camera to take some "before" shots. I pulled away some loose branches and piled them off the trail. I used the saw to begin cutting a few large branches and pulling them into the woods. I continued to cut small branches and methodically pile them off the trail. I was beginning to get tired and bored but finally finished the job. I took a moment to look at what I had done as it always surprises me what I can do with hand tools. I took some final pictures and then we moved on. When we came to the small stream in the woods, we found the water level slightly higher than on our last trip. The stream was a little wider and deeper than I would have liked but we used a stepping stone to get across.Walking through the "spruce tunnel" was easier than some of the rest of the hike as there was little water and mud. There were a few blowdowns that I would eventually have to clear but they were on the ground and I decided to leave them for another trip. Eventually we walked out the other side where the trail was again wet and muddy. We arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail and turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and head toward the bridge at Frick Pond. The trail was wet but what had been a huge mud pit was easier to cross due to the work the trail crew had completed. We continued on the Quick Lake Trail to the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. We crossed the bridge and started up the hill on the other side. Halfway up the hill a small tree had finally dipped low enough to block the trail. I was tired so I did not bother to take pictures. I cut a few smaller branches off the trunk with the saw and then cut the upper section off. I dragged what I had cut off the trail and then cut the main trunk. I rolled this section aside and packed up to continue out the trail to the car.This section of trail was also muddy and seemed to be getting worse on each trip. At Gravestone Junction, we continued out the Quick Lake Trail and back to the car. We arrived at the car at 2:45 PM having hiked 3.7 miles in 3 hour and 30 minutes with an elevation gain of 375 feet. Our time moving was 1 hour and 40 minutes while our stopped time was 1 hour and 45 minutes! The temperature at the car was till 45 degrees.

On Tuesday, December 14th, I was ready to get in a hike that was NOT on Round Top near my house. I had track practice in the afternoon so I decided to stay local and hike the Loggers Loop at Frick Pond to see what might have come down in the last wind storm. I started to get ready at 10:15 AM when the temperature was 45 degrees on the back porch. I suspected it would be cooler at the trailhead. As I started gathering my equipment and getting dressed, Sheila was very quiet but did not let me out of her sight. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was warm in town but might be cooler at the trailhead. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants but didn't bother with a baselayer. I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which pretty beat up but still are good for hiking in the mud! I didn't expect to find any snow but these boots are getting pretty worn so I thought I would get what I could out of them. I grabbed my Leki poles with external locks which I trust over the internal twist locks. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud and water that I knew would be present. I made sure my Microspikes were in my pack just in case they were needed. I got my gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 10:40 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. When we arrived at the parking areas, there were no cars parked in either lot. I pulled into the smaller lot and parked. The skies were bright and blue with some interesting clouds.

I set my GPS unit and noted that the temperature was 42 degrees with a slight breeze that made me feel cold. we started out the woods road to the Quick Lake Trail at the register. From the register on the trail was wet with standing water and some frozen and some soft mud. Since this is a woods road, I was able to avoid most of the water and mud by picking my steps carefully. At Gravestone Junction, we turned right to get on the yellow Logger's Loop heading toward Times Square. The trail was wet and muddy but not quite as bad as The Quick Lake Trail. The trail did look like hikers had been using it and I also saw some mountain bike tracks. Just after we made the turn, I looked up to see some amazing clouds in the very blue sky. Many times pictures of the sky do not seem to do the scene justice but I just had to take some shots. In a few minutes we started back on the trail. Soon we were hiking downhill toward Times Square. We crossed a stream that parallel's the Big Rock Trail and had a good volume of water. The source of the water is a mystery although I assume it must be from seasonal springs and runoff. At Times Square we continued straight ahead on the Logger's Loop which was wet and muddy but not as bad as I have seen it in the past. Just after Times Square there was a large tree that the snowmobile club had cut into sections and moved off the trail. There were a few other smaller branches that I removed and a few large trunks that I was able to move off the trail without tools. We started a slight uphill climb on the trail but the hiking was relatively easy. The trail flattened and we came to the small, seasonal pond on the right side of the trail. The pond was Almost empty which surprised me as I thought it might be full from the recent rains. We passed by and continued our walk avoiding the water and the mud. I was thinking that I was lucky that there were no major blowdowns across the trail but that was a mistake. Shortly, we came to a large tree with many branches across the trail and then another. Both trees would require tools to remove and I was not sure when the snowmobile club would be able to get around to it as there was not much snow in the forecast. A little further along there were two more tree. Both of these blowdowns had large diameter trunks but it was easy to step over them.

As we continued on the Logger's Loop we came to two large plastic culverts lying ion top of the ground. The DEC has started a project to replace the metal culverts and to install culverts were they were needed but did not exist. That project began at least three years ago but was not completed and the black culverts stand out like a sore thumb. I have no idea whether these have been forgotten or are on a work schedule somewhere. The rest of the Loggers Loop to Iron Wheel Junction had several deep ponds that ran from one side of the trail to the other. I picked my way through them and it wasn't long before we were walking downhill and climbing a small hill to Iron Wheel Junction. There was no snow and the wheels were clearly visible. We turned left to head back toward Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail. The trail is slightly downhill which allowed us to keep up a good pace even though we had to work our way around the some water and mud. There were at least two tree that needed to be cleared and I did what I could without tools. When we came to the small stream in the woods, we found the water level slightly higher than on our last trip. The stream was a little wider and deeper than I would have liked but I used a stepping stone to get across. I took some pictures before we continued the hike on the trail. Walking through the "spruce tunnel" was easier than some of the rest of the hike as there was little water and mud. There were a few blowdowns that I would have to clear. Eventually we walked out the other side where the trail was again wet and muddy. We arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail and turned right to stay on the Quick Lake trail and head toward the bridge at Frick Pond. The trail was wet but what had been a huge mud pit was easier to cross due to the work the trail crew had completed. We continued on the Quick Lake Trail to the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. We crossed the bridge and stopped at the other side. I dropped my pack to get out the camera despite the fact that I have taken hundreds of pictures from this location. The skies were blue but now there were no clouds but the scene was a little "warmer" than the temperature. I also took shots of the pond and of Beech Mountain. I packed up and we continued up the hill and back to Gravestone Junction. This section of trail was also muddy and seemed to be getting worse on each trip. At Gravestone Junction we continued out the Quick Lake Trail and back to the car. We arrived at the car at 12:45 PM having hiked 3.8 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes with an elevation gain of 380 feet. Our time stopped was 6 minutes. The temperature at the car had risen to 45 degrees.

On Sunday, December 12th I had planned to come home and rest after preaching in two churches. I came home and started to change and then realized I would feel better if I went out for even a short hike. At 1:30 PM I decided to go across the street to hike on Round Top and Sheila was very happy with that decisions. I started to get dressed with the temperature a rather cool 38 degrees. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on me as we dressed. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I decided to put on my Keen Cascade hiking boots which are new and fit well. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also added a fleecy orange hat and gloves since it was cool. I donned my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat if necessary. At 1:15 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. There was no ice or snow which made the walking easier. At the top of the hill we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead where I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. There was still a layer of wet leaves on the trail but it was much easier walking without the snow and ice.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a few branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area for a few days. There was one large tree that had fallen parallel to the trail just after the left turn off the woods road. Some of the branches were in the trail and would require tools to remove them. We walked up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The trails were bare with only a few new branches here and there. I stopped to remove the branches or used my poles to flick the smaller ones aside. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail, toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. We walked over the high point and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. The mud and leaves were slippery coming down the blue trail and I was glad I had my poles. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right. We walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked down the yellow trail toward the lookout passing the sitting rock. Sheila alerted and I saw two women hiking toward us with their dogs. I pulled Sheila off the trail to let them pass. Since they had no leashes for their dogs, they picked them up and carried them as the y passed by. When we reached the lookout, we turned left to follow the yellow trail downhill to the first trail junction. This descent was slippery but the poles made it manageable. We immediately turned around and started back up the hill to the lookout. At the top of the hill we turned right to follow the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. The one short climb was slippery but the poles helped. We turned right to follow the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. As we neared the trail junction, we could see the two women and their dogs hiking out the woods road. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up toward the summit. When we got to the white crossover trail we turned right and followed it across to the blue trail. There were only a few small branches on this trail. We turned left and almost immediately turned left again in the switchback in the blue trail. Walking downhill on the switchback was a little tricky as it sidehills in several places. At the end of the switchback we turned left and walked downhill to the trail junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and headed down the yellow rail to the woods road that leads to the first trail junction. As we walked down the road, I noticed all the interesting ledges to the right of the trail. At the first trail junction, I debated doing another loop of some kind but decided just to head out to the trailhead. We walked out to the trailhead and turned right. We walked out to the road through the church parking lot and over to the driveway to the house. It was 2:20 PM and we had hiked 2 miles in a little over an hour.

On Thursday, December 9th, I wanted to get out and do a longer hike since I did not have track practice in the afternoon. I decided that I wanted to go to Alder Lake to hike to the Beaver Meadow Len-to which would be better named the Beaver Pond lean-to as the beavers have returned. They have built an impressive dam and there are at least two lodges. I had some work to do for the ambulance corps and was not able to start to get ready until 12:15 PM when the temperature was still only 30 degrees. Sheila was hovering around me as she can always detect when I am getting ready for a hike. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I knew I might be cold just getting out of the car but that I would warm up as we hiked. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without any tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I did not expect much snow although the possibility of mud and frozen mud was on my mind. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat since it was cold and hunting season was still in effect. I also wore a pair of light gloves. At the last minutes, I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the snow and mud which I was sure we would find. I made sure my Microspikes were in my pack just in case they were needed. I got my gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 12:30 PM and drove north and west on Old Route 17 toward Roscoe. Just outside of town I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and headed north. I continued on the Beaverkill Road through Lew Beach and Turnwood toward Alder Creek Road where I made a left. Alder Creek Road had almost washed out in one of the rainstorms in the fall but the Town of Hardenburgh had done a great job and the area that was effected had been reinforced and showed no further signs of erosion. I continued to the end on the road where I turned right toward Alder Lake. The gate to the access road was unlocked so I drove up the access road very slowly as there are some very rough spots. When I got to the parking area there was one car parked parallel rather than perpendicular. I knew this meant the occupant had never been to Alder Lake before. I was a little surprised there weren't more cars as Alder Lake in popular and has become more popular for the hike to Millbrook Ridge. The temperature was now 28 degrees but the breeze hit me when I got out of the car making it feel colder. The tracks of the other hiker showed there was one person and a dog. The skies were completely overcast with no blue and no sun. I set my GPS and we started out on the path toward the "lawn" at 12:55 PM. The temperature was 28 degrees with a slight breeze.

We walked along the path which passes by the stone foundations which marked the last remnants of the Coykendall Mansion. The house had been built as a large hunting lodge and then was gifted to the Boy Scouts of America. When the state took over the property. The mansion fell into disrepair with campers tearing boards away to use for campfires. The state added a fence but it did not deter people so the house was eventually burned to the ground. The skies over Alder Lake were completely overcast and the view was dark. I decided to wait to take pictures on the way back as I was not sure how long my hike would take. We walked toward the trail around the left side of the lake. As we walked along the trail we found a few spots of ice and open water. The brush and branches that had overgrown the trail were now dead and the walking was much easier. Sheila was happy to be out and ran ahead and then returned to us. I began to remove small branches from the trail and moved one larger one. As we approached the bridges, Sheila alerted and I could see a hiker coming toward us with his dog. I walked off the side of the trail with Sheila and waited fro them to pass. We said "Hello" and I asked the other hiker how far he had gone. He replied that he had only hiked around the lake. We crossed the bridges on the trail near the head end of the lake and continued on the trail toward the junction with the Millbrook Ridge Trail. At the point where a path leads to the left to some primitive campsite, a some large trees had fallen across the trail. We were able to step over them but it was not easy. I could cut them with my hand tools but it would take a long time! At the trail junction, we turned left to head toward the lean-to on the Millbrook Ridge Trail. The trail was covered in snow with a few patches of ice here and there. The blowdowns we encountered were all easy to step over but I knew I would need to return with tools to remove them. Some were old but others were the product of recent high winds. I thought about getting get a crew with a sawyer out in the spring to remove them from trail. I did remove a few larger blowdowns by loosening them and pulling them off the trail or by breaking them off. The trail is pretty obvious and the blazes easy to see in most places. There were no tracks from other hikers. For the next 1.5 miles the trail climbed and then leveled off several times. The elevation gain is several hundred feet but the grade is never more than 12% and averages around 6%. There isn't too much to see along the way but this day was very pleasant because the snow adds a beauty to the woods. We enjoyed the sounds and sights of Alder Creek as it flows parallel to the trail much of the way. I looked over at the creek and saw that there was a good volume of water and that the rocks were covered in snow and ice. I thought about trying to get down to the creek bed for some shots but decided against it. The trail leveled off at a beaver meadow and we crossed a small stream that feeds it. At 2.2 miles we began the last climb and I found that the snow had a little more ice underneath it. I was slipping and sliding some but decided I would not stop to put the spikes on as the climb was short.

Soon we arrived at the beaver pond. Where there had once been a beaver meadow, there was now a pond with a dam and a beaver lodge. The pond was much larger than the last time I had visited! We continued passed the dam and followed the yellow blazes over to the path down to the lean-to. It was empty and in disrepair needing at least a roof. The outhouse behind the lean-to had been torn apart by thoughtless campers and needs to be replaced. I have been unable to find out which entity is responsible for the maintenance of this lean to. The lean-to is on DEC land but the Finger lakes trail passes right by it. The NYNJTC could also be the sponsor. I took some pictures of Sheila in the lean-to and then walked to the edge of the pond and took some more shots. After I got a drink, we started back to Alder Lake. I knew the trip back would be quicker than the trip out and that I would have some time for pictures. As we came to the spot on the trail opposite the beaver dam, we walked off the trail to the left and found a good viewpoint. I took pictures of the pond and the dam even though the skies were still gray. I also took some shots of the beaver lodge with the lean-to in the background. As I looked around I was overcome by the feeling of joy at seeing what God has created! I realized that the return trip would be much easier as it was almost all downhill but that it would be important to watch my foot placements so that I did not fall on steeper descents. I stopped at one spot on the way back to take some pictures of Alder Creek. The walk did go quickly and we were soon at the loop trail around Alder Lake where we turned right to return the way we came. When we came to the bridges there was an open view of Cradle Rock Ridge. In the foreground on this scene were some rushes and the beginnings of a small beaver dam. I decided to stop and take a few pictures. When I was done, we continued on the trail toward the parking area. As the trail came to the "lawn" we turned left and walked to the "beach" area. Even though the skies were still overcast I took some pictures of the lake and the surrounding hills. We walked up the hill to the parking area and I considered walking down to the creek to take some pictures of the waterfalls but decided to leave it for another visit. We were back at the car at 3:30 PM after hiking 4.6miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes with 25 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 690 feet. The walk out had taken 1 hour and 20 minutes while the trip back was 1 hour and 15 minutes because of the time to take pictures! Our moving speed was 2 MPH.

On Tuesday, December 7th I wanted to get in a hike but had limited time in between ambulance calls and track practice. By the time I was ready to hike I knew that I only had time to go across the street to hike on Round Top. It was 11:30 AM by the time I started to get dressed with the temperature a rather cool 33 degrees. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on me as we dressed. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I decided to put on my Keen Cascade hiking boots which are relatively new and fit well. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also added a fleecy orange hat and gloves since it was cool and still hunting season. I donned my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat if necessary. At 11:50 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. There was some ice and packed snow which made the footing very poor but I was able to walk around the worst patches. At the top of the hill we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead where I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. There was still some snow on the trail making it slippery on top of a layer of leaves.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she started directly up the hill toward the lookout. The climb up the hill was slippery but seemed easier than usual. We passed by what used to be a side trail to the lookout that I blocked with brush. This side trail has a gap that hikers have to walk over and it can be dangerous for some people in the winter season. We continued on the yellow trail as it turned to the right and started the gentle ascent through the open woods. When I built the trail I purposely kept it a good distance away from the property line so that hikers would not trespass. I decided on this day that we would bushwhack down to that line and follow it to the summit of Round Top. We turned to the left and walked down to the first posted sign I could find. We walked along the line of posters until I could see a steep incline to the right which I knew was the way to the summit of Round Top. We started up the incline which was actually very steep. When we came to what I thought was the top, there was a flat area and then another climb. We continued to walk up the hill until we came to a well-worn path. It took me a few seconds to realize this was the blue trail heading over the summit of Round Top. We turned left and walked over the summit and down the other side of Round Top to the yellow trail. I decided to continue straight ahead on the yellow trail down to the woods road. There was a large tree that had fallen parallel to the trail but some of the branches were in the trail. I tried to move them or break them off but found I needed a saw. We walked down the woods road to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and headed back up the woods road to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. At the next trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right and headed up the hill. We followed the switchback in the blue trail as it headed right into the woods and then made an almost 180 degree turn to head back to the main blue trail. We turned right and then almost immediately right again on the white crossover trail. These trails were clear of blowdowns but were slippery with snow. We walked the crossover trail back out to the blue trail where we turned right and walked down to the yellow trail. We turned right and again walked along the yellow trail to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and walked the yellow trail down to the lookout. We continued to follow the yellow trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. We continued straight out to the trailhead and turned right to start down the hill. When we reached the church parking lot, I put Sheila on her leash and we walked across the street to our driveway and back to the house. It was 12:55 PM and we had hiked around 2 miles in a little over an hour.

On Sunday, December 5th, Cindy and I left the Beaverkill Campgrounds after a walk that had lasted less than an hour. I had wanted to hike at Alder Lake but settled for the very short walk at Beaverkill. As we were headed home, I asked Cindy if she wanted to stop at Waneta Lake to check it out. She said "Yes" so I pulled into the parking area which was empty. I had only been at this small lake once years ago when the LMFD was having an ice rescue drill. I had driven passed the lake hundreds of times and wanted to see if there were any paths or trails. We all got out of the car. I set my GPS and Cindy and I grabbed our poles. We started our hike by walking over to the dam at 2:45 PM with the sun dropping low in the sky. We immediately came to the dam with no obvious way to get across. I walked downstream from the dam and climbed down the bank. Without much trouble I was able to find some rocks to use to cross the outlet stream which was low anyway. On the other side I climbed the bank and worked through some brush. I found an open clearing on the shore of the lake. I also noticed that there was a road that came in from the Beaverkill Road which would be a much easier way to access the area where I was standing but I did not know if it was on private property. I dropped my pack to take some pictures of the lake which was frozen over. After I took some shots, I noticed Cindy was not with me. I walked back to the dam and found she had some problems crossing. I gave her a few suggestions and she soon joined me. Sheila was very happy so she started zooming around. To my horror, she decided to run out onto the ice! I immediately called her back and admonished her. I went over to test the ice with my pole and found it was quite thick. I picked up my pack and we followed the road as it started around east side of the lake. We gained a little elevation and then the road turned sharply to the left away from the lake. I decided we would start to bushwhack around the lake and see if we could make a complete loop and hike back on the road. I knew the worse that could happen was that we would have to turn back the way we came. We started off through the open woods staying pretty close to the lake. After a few minutes, I looked up to see a yellow DEC trail marker! I took a picture and then looked ahead and saw some more.

I waited until Cindy caught up with me and pointed out the markers. I followed them for a short time and then could not find any more so I returned to a path near the lake. I walked down1 to the shore to rake some shots while Cindy caught up with me. When I retuned from the shore, I noticed the path along the shore looked as if it was constructed of laid stones. We continued to walk along the shore using the path of least resistance. It did occur to me that if we could not cross over at the far end we would be walking all the way back! We crossed a few small stream and gained a little elevation before finding a large fire ring and some chairs. I took a few pictures of the site and then we continued through the woods. I could not find a well-defined oath but the walking was easy. I watched Sheila as she walked ahead of me and she soon led us to a path. We followed the path it started to bend around the south end of the lake. The path narrowed until I realized it was actually a narrow causeway between the main lake on the right and a smaller pond or section of the lake on the left. I stopped where there was no brush in the way and took some pictures. After walking across to the other side, I took some pictures of the construction of the causeway. We continued to walk up the path to Beaverkill Road. It was then that I realized I had not bothered to bring Sheila's leash. I decided to walk back on the road without a leash as Sheila knows where to walk and obeys commands very well. The walk on the road was only .4 miles and went quickly for the most part. There were some deer bones lying alongside the road and Sheila insisted on investigating each one. We were back at the car at 3:45 PM after hiking 1.3 miles in an hour with 20 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was only 110 feet. I was pleased as this was a hike that I had not done before. It reminded me how much fun exploring can be!

On Sunday, December 5th, I wanted to go for a hike with Cindy after church. I had a rare Sunday off when I was not preaching at a church but we both had some things to do at church after the service. I knew the hike would have to be shorter and flatter than I wanted but I really wanted to go to the lean-to at Alder lake. This hike is about 4.5 miles with some elevation gain but we vas done it many times before. When we arrived home, I proposed the hike and Cindy suggested that Sheila and I go without her. This was not what I wanted to do so I asked Cindy if she would like to go to the Beaverkill Campgrounds and she agreed. We started to get ready a little after 1:00 PM when the temperature was still only 38 degrees. As usual, Sheila was excited and even more so since Cindy was going also. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved base layer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Taku boots which have seen better days but still fit well. I thought we might encounter wet and muddy conditions and felt these boots could do the job. I considered wearing my OR Crocodile gaiters to fend the mud and to keep my lower legs warm but let Cindy wear them instead. I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and put on a light pair of gloves. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and left the house at 1:25 PM. I drove out Old Route 17 toward Roscoe and turned right on Beaverkill Road. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. As I parked, there was one other car in the lot.

I set my GPS and put Sheila on her leash as we started our hike at 1:45 PM by crossing the bridge to the west side of the river. Just as we started to cross the owner of the other car came running across the bridge but Sheila paid him almost no attention. We turned left on a woods road that parallels the river and started down a short hill. I had expected some snow or ice but the trail was bare. The ground was frozen and my poles were enough to make sure I did not slip. I was not very happy to be hiking such a short flat route so I decided to try to keep my pace high to get some exercise. I also decided that I would not take any pictures as the views had not changed much from our last trip. We walked passed a spring house and continued on the deserted woods road. We came to an area with a little path down to the river where I usually take some pictures but this time I walked on by. I knew Cindy could keep my pace but she chose not to so I decided to keep walking and stop to wait for her at some point. Just after this area, the trail was even more eroded by water running across and under the trail than during our last visit. There was an area with several picnic tables which sit unused and rotting along the road. This was just the first of several similar areas. There was not a single person in sight. We bypassed the first abandoned bathroom and continued on to the next. There was a path over to the river but I kept walking! Just after this spot was another place where the road had been washed away and the DEC had filled in with some gravel. At about .7 miles the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites. The road was covered in a layer of ice and snow so I bypassed it by walking on the grass. We continued on the road through the campsites and along the river. Many of the campsites had a cement block fireplace with a grill but some were upgraded to poured concrete. Everything was very quiet except for the water in the river. This was not surprising as the campsites are closed.

We walked to the last bathroom where the trail ends. We usually walk out to the river but I decided just to make the turn and head back. We turned to start back and walked the other road through the campsites which parallels the one we walked out on to make a sort of loop. We passed groups of randomly arranged picnic tables that had been collected after the summer and fall camping season. We retuned the way we had come keeping a quicker pace. We walked through the bridge and turned right. I walked passed the car toward the end of the parking area. We passed through a gate and walked over a patch of concrete that used to act as a ford through a shallow branch of the Beaverkill. The water had been redirected many years ago so the path was dry. We walked along the path which paralleled the river to a stone bench in a grove of evergreen trees. Cindy sat on the bench for a short break and then we headed back along a woods road. We were back at the car at 2:35 PM having hiked 2.3 miles in 55 minutes with 2 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 150 feet but it was hardly noticeable. Our moving average was 2.7 mph.

On Friday, December 3rd, I wanted to get in my first hike of December close to home with Cindy. The ambulance pager had been quiet all night until I got up at 9:00 AM. Cindy and I both had work to do before hiking. I took Sheila to the vet as her eye was watering and I always have her treated as soon as possible. The vet diagnosed conjunctivitis and prescribed an eye drop. When I got home, Cindy was still out doing errands. Just before 2:00 PM we started getting ready to hike. We had decided to go to the Parksville Rail Trail as it is flat which is what Cindy like best. As we started to get ready just before 2:00 PM, the temperature on the back porch was 38 degrees and I knew the rail trail was shaded. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved base layer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Taku boots which have seen better days but still fit well. I thought we might encounter wet and muddy conditions and felt these boots could do the job. I considered wearing my OR Crocodile gaiters to fend the mud and to keep my lower legs warm but let Cindy wear them instead. I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and put on a light pair of gloves. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. We stepped out of the house at 2:10 PM. We put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor and drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville. Just after Fox Mountain Road, I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road at 2:25 PM. There were two cars in the lot as we began to get ready. I decided to take my pack since it is the easiest way to carry my camera. I set my GPS and we set off on the trail with the car thermometer reading 38 degrees.

I had considered bringing spikes but had decided against it. I almost regretted my decision as the first part of the trail was ice and packed snow. Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was a little cooler but I was warm enough in what I was wearing. The trail was wet, icy and muddy in spots from the snow and rain that had fallen several days before. The stream was flowing with a good volume but was not as high as it had been on other previous trip. As we walked we removed sticks and branches from the trail but it was clear of any blowdowns and well-maintained. We came to a nice view down to the Little Beaverkill and I stopped to take a few shots. The sun was pretty low in the sky which gave a golden color to the horizon. Just after this point was a boardwalk and bridge. The approach was wet and there was ice on the bridge. We walked to the other end of the complex noting that heavy rains had carried dirt and rocks onto the bridge and had also blocked the ability of the water to flow under the bridge. We passed several benches placed for people to rest and Sheila alerted. Two hikers were headed toward us with their dogs on leashes. I put Sheila on her leash as the two hikers pulled off the trail and sat on one of the benches. We passed by and struck up a brief conversation. Cindy and I continued on the trail and soon we could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls was just ahead. We stopped to look at the falls which had a good flow of water going over it. The stream was not as high as other times and I considered walking down to the stream bed to take pictures. After looking at the ice and snow on the path, I decided to do my photography from the trail. I took some shots and then repositioned to take a few more. It was hard to get clear shots but I did my best to capture the small rapids below the falls and the two drops of the main falls. When I was done, I packed up and moved to a spot a little farther along just above the falls. I found an interesting rapids there and took a few pictures at different angles and exposures.

On the far side of the stream there are large open rock shelves and I thought about trying to access them from the other side of the stream. I walked back up to the trail to collect my pack and continue the hike toward the end of the trail in Parksville. As we approached the end of the trail, I put Sheila on her leash as there was a fairly large and aggressive dog on the other side of a fence during our last visit. I was happy to see that most property owners were cleaning up the mess just across the stream. On the Parksville end of the trail we stopped at the small garden which has a very informative sign. The sign listed the businesses and hotels that existed in Parksville during its heyday. The Young's Gap Hotel had room for 600 guests! The sign also explained the role of the railroad in the dairy industry which was a thriving one in all of Sullivan County. The sign made the comment that the area produced 9 million cans of milk annually. There was also a coal scuttle with clinkers and a railroad spike. After a brief pause, we began the walk back on the trail. I decided we would just hike back without any stops as I had taken all the photos I wanted. We walked quickly on the trail and continued back to the car. It seemed a little warmer as we walked and eventually broke out into the sun. We were back at the car at 3:50 PM after hiking 2.7 miles in 1 hour and 25 minutes with only 10 minutes of stopped time. Our moving average was 2.2 mph and the elevation gain was 235 feet which I found very unlikely.

On Tuesday, November 30th I had planned to get up early and do a longer hike but slept in a little later to make up for some overnight ambulance calls. I still wanted to get out for a hike even though I had winter track practice in the afternoon. By the time I was ready to hike I knew that I only had time to go across the street to hike on Round Top. It was 11:00 AM by the time I started to get dressed with the temperature a rather cool 35 degrees. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on me as we dressed. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I decided to put on my Keen Cascade hiking boots which are new and fit well. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also added a fleecy orange hat and gloves since it was cool. I donned my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat if necessary. At 11:15 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. There was a lot of ice and packed snow which made the footing very poor. At the top of the hill we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead where I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. There was still a lot of snow on the trail making it slippery on top of a layer of leaves.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. We walked up the road to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The trails were snowy and there were a few new branches on the trail. I stopped to remove the branches or used my poles to flick the smaller ones aside. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail, toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. We walked over the high point and down the blue trail toward the junction with the blue trail. Coming down the blue trail was exciting as it was very slippery. I was glad I had my poles and thought that spikes might have been a good idea. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right. We walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked down the yellow trail toward the lookout passing the sitting rock. There was a good amount of snow left on the forest floor but not much left on the trees because of the wind. When we reached the lookout, we turned left to follow the yellow trail downhill to the first trail junction. This descent was also very slippery and I was glad I had my poles. We immediately turned around and started back up the hill to the lookout. At the top of the hill we turned right to follow the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. The one short climb was slippery but the poles helped. We turned right to follow the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up toward the summit. When we got to the white crossover trail we turned right and followed it across to the blue trail. We turned left and almost immediately turned left again in the switchback in the blue trail. Walking downhill on the switchback was tricky as it sidehills in several places. At the end of the switchback we turned left and walked downhill to the trail junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and headed down the yellow rail to the woods road that leads to the first trail junction. As we walked down the road, I noticed all the interesting ledges to the right of the trail. At the first trail junction, I debated doing another loop of some kind but decided just to head out to the trailhead. We walked out to the trailhead and turned right. We walked carefully down the hill trying to avoid the ice. We walked out to the road through the church parking lot and over to the driveway to the house. It was 12:25 PM and we had hiked 2 miles in a little over an hour.

On Friday, November 26th I wanted to get out for a short hike after sleeping in from some late night ambulance calls. Brad was ready to go with me even though it had been snowing lightly all morning. At 11:30 AM we decided to hike some loops on Round Top. We started to get ready when the temperature was 35 degrees. The skies were overcast and it was still snowing lightly although there were no accumulations. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on me as we dressed. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved base layer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Taku boots which have seen better days but still fit well. I thought we might encounter wet and muddy conditions and felt these boots could do the job. I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to fend the mud and to keep my lower legs warm. I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and because it was still the beginning of various hunting seasons. I also wore a light pair of gloves. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. We stepped out of the house at 9:50 AM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We walked to the church parking lot and to the back of the church. As we started up the hill, I noticed that it was easier climbing the hill as I had been hiking more often.

We continued the ascent of the steep hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". I let Sheila pull me up the hill which she was willing to do. At the trailhead, we paused to look around and could see that there was snow beginning to build up on the surrounding hills. It was still snowing lightly where we were but it was melting as it hit the ground. I let Sheila off her leash and she immediately began to bound up the trail. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I paused to look around and saw that the far hills had a light covering if snow. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight up the hill toward the viewpoint. There was a slight breeze blowing but I was already getting warm from making the ascent in the hoody. I made sure to open all the zippers I could which made me a little cooler. The climb up the hill was a little easier than usual except for a layer of slippery leaves. At the viewpoint, I noticed that the brush that I had placed in the trail was still there and that someone had added a few more pieces. I wish people would not be so "helpful" as I walk these trails at least once a week. This path has a dangerous spot and we have piled brush on it to discourage people from using it. We continued on the main trail and headed to the right to follow it as it turned and headed up the gentle hill through the hardwood forest. As we made the turn we almost immediately began to run into snow on the trees and on the ground. It was very beautiful but I had not rough a camera! Fortunately, Brad had his cell phone and snapped a few pictures here and throughout the hike. Only a few leaves were hanging on to the trees while the rest formed a slippery blanket under the snow. Sheila was making her own way by staying on the trail sometimes and then running off-trail and chasing game trails.

We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction with the blue trail. There were a few branches on the trail that we removed as we hiked. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, we turned followed Sheila as she continued straight up the hill. This is not my usual route but I thought it would be a nice variation. When we came to the switchback on the blue trail, we turned right and followed it as it turned back to the main blue trail farther up the hill. We bypassed the white crossover trail and confined over the summit of Round Top. There was some snow on the trail which, in places, covered up some slippery mud. At the junction with the yellow trail we continued straight ahead downhill to the woods road. We followed the woods road out to the first trail junction. I wanted a little more distance so we turned around and started back up the yellow trail toward the junction with the blue trail. On this side of the hill there was no snow and the trail was simply wet and muddy. At the junction with the blue trail we continued straight ahead toward the summit of Round Top. We bypassed the white crossover trail and again walked over the top. As we headed down the other side we passed the white crossover trail. We turned left on the switchback and walked along the trail until it met the man blue trail. We turned left and walked down to the yellow trail. We continued straight ahead on the yellow trail and followed it passed the "sitting rock" to the lookout. At the lookout, we turned left and followed the yellow trail back to the first trail junction. From here, we walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill and headed across the church parking lot to the street. After crossing the street to our driveway, we walked back to the house. We were home by 12:45 PM after hiking about 2 miles in just under an hour.

On Wednesday, November 24th, I wanted to get out for a hike close to home with my son-in-law Brad and grandson Bryce. We began to get ready at 10:00 AM when the temperature was still only 37 degrees but with some blue skies and sun. While we were getting ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. I got dressed in my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved thermal baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Taku boots which have seen better days but still fit well. I thought we might encounter wet and muddy conditions and felt these boots could do the job. I did not wear any gaiters as I did not think the conditions warranted them. I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and because it was the beginning of various hunting seasons. I also wore a light pair of gloves. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. We left Livingston Manor at 10:20 AM and I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking areas on the left. I pulled into the smaller parking area which was empty as was the larger lot. I set my GPS as we got ready to head out on the Flynn Trail with the temperature at 35 degrees with a breeze blowing. We crossed the road and began our hike at 10:40 AM.

The Flynn Trail is sited along what used to be Beech Mountain Road which was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We walked the trail through the woods which was covered in a thick layer of leaves. We turned right on the woods road and set a quick pace up the hill. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.7 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The day was cool and the breeze continued to blow but we were sheltered in the woods. I began to get warm as we set a quick pace so we stopped so that I could open the zippers on the hoody. We passed through the arch Cindy and I had cut through an enormous hemlock that had fallen across the trail. I pointed out to Brad and Bruce the branches I had cut off to eliminate the sharp ends that someone left sticking down into the opening. It is a constant battle to deal with the problems well-meaning hikers leave behind doing unauthorized trail "maintenance". There were some muddy places on the trail but we still were making good time. We had been clearing a few branches and small trunks as we walked. At one point we stopped so that Brad and I could clear a small tree across the trail. We kept walking uphill and talking as we went. Hiking with someone always seems to make the time pass more quickly and we were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. It was 11:25 AM and we had covered the 1.7 miles in 45 minutes including the time to stop and clear the trail. We turned left to walk down the Big Rock Trail. The hike down the trail went quickly since we were setting a fast pace. This trail can be tricky as there are several levels that make it seem like the bottom of the hill. There were a few large blowdowns on the trail but they were not blocking hikers and I knew the snowmobile club would be out to work on them. The trail also showed signs of erosion from the heavy rainstorm the week before.

We were soon at Times Square and I thought about turning right to hike up and around the Logger's Loop to add some distance to our hike. I decided against this and we continued our hike by walking straight across Times Square to stay on the Big Rock Trail. The trail had some muddy spots in the low areas. When we reached the two small bridges over the inlets to the pond, we stopped so that I could take some pictures. When we got to the area that was covered by tall evergreens. I took some more shots. The wooden boardwalks looked a little green but they were not slippery. I took some more pictures and then we crossed the bridges quickly. At the next trail junction we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. I stopped at the bridge for a minute and took a few more photographs. We walked up the hill toward Gravestone Junction and found areas of trail that were as muddy as any we had encountered but much of the mud was frozen. It is hard to drain this trail and frequent use by a number of people churns up the mud. We continued to Gravestone Junction and passed the Lobdell memorial marker. The marker is a memorial to two children who died in the 1930's in a fire that consumed their cabin. Thankfully, the stone was upright. I had not been cutting out the trail to the marker to discourage vandalism but it had been cleared. Once again "helpful" people were doing unauthorized work. The trail to the register was wet in some spots, muddy in others, and frozen elsewhere. At the trail register we continued straight ahead to follow the woods road out to the car in the small lot. We arrived at the car at 12:35 PM having hiked 4 miles in 1 hour and 55 minutes with an elevation gain of 720 feet.

On Monday, November 22nd I had planned to get up early and do a longer hike but slept in a little later to make up for some overnight ambulance calls. I still wanted to get out for a hike even though I had winter track practice in the afternoon. By the time I was ready to hike I knew that I only had time to go across the street to hike on Round Top. It was 10:00 AM by the time I started to get dressed with the temperature a rather cool 38 degrees. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on me as we dressed. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I decided to put on my Keen Cascade hiking boots which are new and fit well. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also added a fleecy orange hat and gloves since it was cool. I donned my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat if necessary. At 10:15 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. At the top of the hill we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead where I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail was mostly dry with a few muddy spots and layer of wet and slippery leaves.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. We walked up the road to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The trails were a little damp and there were a few new branches on the trail. I stopped to remove the branches or used my poles to flick the smaller ones aside. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail, toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. We walked over the high point and down the blue trail toward the junction with the blue trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right. We walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked down the yellow trail toward the lookout passing the sitting rock and a sea of dead ferns. When we reached the lookout, we turned left to follow the yellow trail downhill to the first trail junction. There were quite a few slippery leaves on the trail covering areas of slippery mud. We immediately turned around and started back up the hill to the lookout. At the top of the hill we turned right to follow the yellow trail to the first junction with the blue trail. We turned right to follow the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up toward the summit. When we got to the white crossover trail we continued straight ahead toward the summit. We walked over the summit and down the other side on the blue trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail but turned left on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed the switchback as it headed out into the woods and then back to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked down the blue trail to the yellow trail. We turned left and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and headed down the yellow rail to the woods road that leads to the first trail junction. As we walked down the road, I noticed all the interesting ledges to the right of the trail. At the first trail junction, I debated doing another loop of some kind but decided just to head out to the trailhead. We walked out to the trailhead and turned right. We walked down the hill and out to the road through the church parking lot. We walked over to the driveway and back to the house. It was 11:15 AM and we had hiked a 2 miles in an hour.

On Friday, November 19th, I had returned home earlier than I expected from a trip to some interesting spots around Ellenville. I decided that I wanted to go to the Frick Pond area to cut a few blowdowns on the trail. There was one particular large one that was close to blocking the trail. I was already wearing my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved thermal baselayer, my Columbia Titanium insulated pants and Vasque Taku boots. I had put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to keep my lower legs warm and my Mammut hoody to block the wind and keep me warm. I was wearing a fleecy orange hat for warmth and because hunting season was about to begin. I also had a pair of light gloves. The temperature was 36 degrees at the house but the wind was coming up and it looked like it might snow. I saw no reason to change any clothing. I grabbed my tools including my Silky Sugowaza curved saw which can handle surprisingly large trees, a Silky Katanboy 500, and my Fiskars pack axe which is light but handles bigger trees very well. I also threw some felling wedges in my pack as I would not have any help if my saw became pinched. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and left my house at 2:15 PM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left. I continued up the road to the point where it splits and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. It was a short drive to the parking areas on the left. Both parking areas were empty. I parked in the smaller lot. We crossed the road at 2:35 PM to begin our hike on the Flynn Trail with the temperature at 33 degrees!

The first part of the trail near the road had become further eroded by the recent rains and there was a stream of water running down the trail. The walk through the woods was relatively easy although there was a thick layer of leaves which made the trail slippery in places. The leaves also hid a few muddy spots on the trail. When we turned right onto what once was Beech Mountain Road, there continued to be a layer of leaves as well as a few new branches on the trail. I removed the branches as we walked. When we came to the "spruce tunnel", I noted the jagged spikes sticking down where someone had broken off branches for some unknown reason. I hoped to clear this up on the way back. I doubt a forest ranger would have done such a careless hob so I suspected someone who had no business doing trail work. We set a fast pace up the Flynn Trail but I was not finding the blowdown I was looking for. I thought the tree was closer to the big spruce but it was actually almost a mile up the trail. When we arrived at the blowdown, I put my pack down and started to get out my camera. I realized I had not started my GPS and turned it on at this time. I took my "before" pictures and then got to work following my usual pattern. I cleared all of the loose branches and then grabbed the Sugowaza saw to remove many of the smaller branches that were in the way. I was concerned that the main trunk had broken off about 12 feet off the ground and was still attached. As I was cutting, it became clear that it was well attached and would not fall on me but I was still careful. I started to use the saw to cut larger branches and dragged them away as I cut them. Eventually, I was left with a couple of larger branches. I got my Fiskars ax and cut one and then the other. The last one had the largest diameter but the cut went quickly with the ax. When the cut was done, I was able to lift and roll the section off the trail. I took some "after" pictures and the packed up. It had taken me 30 minutes to do the job.

We walked 180 feet up the trail to a dead trunk that had fallen across the trail. I decided not to take pictures and got right to work. One fork of the trunk was broken in two places and I was able to break them off and throw them to the side of the trail leaving only a single trunk. I used the saw to cut the 6 inch trunk and then pivoted it off the trail. I packed up and we started the walk back down the Flynn Trail. As we walked the skies began to get dark, the wind started to blow and a few snowflakes fell. At 3:40 we came to the large spruce that I wanted to "clean up". By now the wind was really blowing and the snow was falling for real. I got out the Katanaboy saw which I was going to use to cut of the wooden spears as they were overhead and this saw has a better reach. I cut a few small branches that were down low and then turned my attention to the larger ones overhead. For a softwood tree the spruce was pretty hard and cutting overhead was not easy for me. I managed to cut four of the worst offenders flush with the trunk of the tree. The snow continued to fall and I decided to pack up and go home. We walked down the trail to the gate and then turned left to stay on the Flynn Trail and avoided the private property around the cabin. We were back at the car at 4:05 PM after hiking around 2 miles in an hour and a half. I felt good about getting the work done.

On Friday, November 19th, Cindy and I had visited Hanging Rock Falls. After visiting the falls, we headed for Bear Hill Preserve which is a private preserve in Cragsmoor near Sam's Point. I did an Internet search and found that we should turn onto left onto Road A just before Cragsmoor Road off Route 52 heading south toward Pine Bush. I drove through Ellenville and headed up the mountain on Route 52. As I drove up the mountain, there were several pulloffs offering beautiful views of Ellenville in the valley below. In the distance there were views of the Catskills shrouded I a blue haze. I stopped at one pullout and took some pictures before continuing to Bear Hill. Near the top of the hill I found Road B and then Road A. I turned left and started up the road which was private and heavily rutted by the rainstorms. We came to a point where there were two different ways to go but there was no sign for the Bear Hill Preserve. I tried the roads in both directions but each led to a private home. I gave up and decided to do some more research to find the preserve.

I drove out to Route 52 and asked Cindy if we could visit the Stone Chapel in Cragsmoor. She agreed so I turned left on Route 52 and then left again on Cragsmoor Road. Just after the Cragsmoor Library I continued straight ahead and followed the sign for the "Stone Church". When we arrived there was one other car looking for parking. I pulled over and parked at Te side of the church driveway. There was a construction trailer out front as the ere was work being done on the roof. This was disappointing as it was difficult to get a clear picture of the church. When I got out of the car, I could immediately see the iconic stone arch in back of the church. I took some pictures of it including one with a mountain framed by the arch. As I walked toward the arch, I realized Cindy was still in the car. I walked to the arch and was stunned by the breathtaking views of all of the hills and the Catskills. I took some shots and then turned around and took some obituaries of the church. I walked around the front of the church and tried to get some pictures without the trailer. The chapel was open so I went inside and found it was beautiful with stone walls and a wooden vaulted ceiling. After saying a prayer I returned to the car.

Cindy wanted to get some lunch so we headed back into Ellenville to Gaby's Mexican restaurant. We parked in the lot across from the restaurant, walked in and were seated at a table. Cindy ordered Chimichangas de Carne and I ordered, as I always do, Enchiladas de Mole. We snacked on chips and salsa until our meals came. When the food arrived my dish was spicier than I remembered which is a good thing. I did an internet search for Bear Hill Preserve and found it was actually on Dellenbaugh Road on top of Cragsmoor. I knew the walk was less than 2 miles round trip but I did not know if the preserve would be open. I thought this would be a great walk after our meal so I asked Cindy if we could go. Cindy said that after hiking half a mile and riding in the car she was too tired do hike any more. I knew the day was over and began the drive home. By the time we got home we had driven an hour and a half to hike half a mile! On the drive home I thought about driving back to Ellenville right away but knew I would want to do some other hikes so waiting to another day was the best idea. I also thought about going to the Frick Pond area to cut some blowdowns but decided I would wait until I got home.

On Friday, November 19th, I wanted to go somewhere that I knew Cindy could handle. I planned an adventure in the Evansville area to include Hanging Rock Fall, Bear Hill Preserve, Neville Falls, and Buttermilk Falls in Spring Glen. All of these hikes are very short with Bear Hill being the longest at 1.5 miles. They are also relatively flat. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she agreed as long as we could eat in Gaby's in Ellenville. When I got up at 8:00 AM it was only 30 degrees on the back porch but I knew the temperature was forecast to rise throughout the day. We started to get ready at 9:15 AM with the skies blue with some puffy white clouds to the south and east but with heavy dark clouds to the north and west. Sheila was pretty excited as I started to get ready as we have not been hiking a lot lately. I got dressed in my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved thermal baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Taku boots which have seen better days but still fit well. I thought we might encounter wet and muddy conditions and felt these boots could do the job. I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to keep my lower legs warm. I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and because it was the beginning of various hunting seasons. I also wore a light pair of gloves but also put a pair of mitts in my pack. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and left the house at 9:45 AM.

I drove east on State Route 17 and got off at exit 100 heading east on Route 52. I drove through Loch Sheldrake and Woodbourne heading toward Evansville. After passing through Greenfield Park, I began looking for Hacienda Road about 17 miles from the traffic circle at Exit 100 in Liberty. I turned left into Hacienda Road and followed it as it wound up an around to Markus Road on the right. After the right hand turn, I stayed on Marcus Road until it met Ulster Heights Road. I turned right and drove a little more than .3 miles to a pulloff on the right. There were no signs or trail markings to announce the falls but I did see a sign in the woods that said "Please Keep This Place Clean". I parked the car and when I got out I could hear the water running in the Beer Kill. I had read that the stream is called the Beer Kill because the water is slightly yellow and foams as it runs over the rocks. We walked on a path down the hill toward the stream. The path met a woods road and we turned right and continued to walk toward the stream. The path passed over some exposed bedrock and led us to the stream. I was immediately impressed at the width of the stream and the volume of water! I put down my pack and took out my camera. I carefully worked my way out onto some rocks that faced the falls and took my pictures. I had to be careful as the rocks were damp and sloped slightly toward the water. Sheila insisted on walking to the edge to see what was going on! I turned my attention from upstream to downstream and realized that there were more falls in that direction. I took a few shots and the walked back to my pack to stow my camera in preparation for heading downstream.

I saw Cindy walking back up the path and assumed she was going back to the car. Sheila and I turned off the path and followed a faint track downstream to the next falls. I again inched my way out onto the rocks and took pictures of an even larger falls. As I was photographing, I noticed a ra5her fresh deer carcass on some rocks in the middle of the falls. The deer was a buck with 6 to 8 points. I once again packed up and we worked our way down to the next falls. I looked to see if we could go farther as the last falls dropped down to a pool at some 30 feet below. The drop was nearly vertical. I had the feeling I could find a way down but might not be able to easily make it back up. I settled for taking pictures of the third falls from where I was. I took some pictures of the pool below and then some of the falls. There was some brush in the way and I saw a path to a clear lookout. The problem was that the rocks were wet and slanted toward the stream. I decided to be satisfied with taking pictures from where I was. When I was done, I looked for a way back up to the "main" path. I knew we could go back the way we came but I decided to explore.We walked along the base of some ledges and then turned in a direction that I knew would bring us back to the path, the woods road or the highway. Soon the terrain leveled and I saw the path ahead. When we hit the path, I was about to turn right to go back up to the car but I caught a flash of white in the direction of the falls. I knew I had seen Cindy's jacket so we walked along the path where she was sitting on a rock. I have no idea why she had decided to stay there but we turned around and walked back up the hill to the car. The walk was about half a mile and took 45 minutes. I judge it well worth the time. I decided it was time to try and find Bear Hill Preserve.

On Tuesday, November 16th, I wanted to get in a longer hike than I had been doing. Winter Track practices along with ambulance calls had been limiting my hiking. When I got up at 8:00 AM it was only 33 degrees on the back porch but I knew the temperature was forecast to rise throughput the day. I wanted to get out and hike to some elevation to see how much snow there was and to take some pictures effort it disappeared. I decided to head to Beech Mountain where I though there would be some snow and where there are several good viewpoints. I started to get ready at 9:15 AM with the skies blue with some puffy white clouds. Sheila was pretty excited as I started to get ready as we have not been hiking a lot lately. I got dressed in my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved thermal baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which have seen better days but still fit well. I thought we might encounter wet and muddy conditions and felt these boots could do the job but wondered how they would hold up if there was much snow. I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to fend off snow and mud and to keep my lower legs warm. I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and because it was the beginning of various hunting seasons. I also wore a light pair of gloves but also put a pair of mitts in my pack. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and left my house at 9:30 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left. I continued up the road to the point where it splits and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. It was a short drive to the parking areas on the left. The larger parking areas had one pickup in it. I parked in the smaller lot where there were no cars. There was a good covering of snow but I could see the road surface. I took a few shots before I set my GPS. We crossed the road at 9:50 AM to begin our hike on the Flynn Trail with the temperature at 35 degrees.

The first part of the trail near the road had become further eroded by the recent rains and there was a stream of water running down the trail. The walk through the woods was relatively easy although there was a thick layer of leaves covered by snow which made the trail slippery in places. The leaves and snow also hid a few muddy spots on the trail. I immediately noticed that someone had ridden a mountain bike on the trail. I don't mind the bikes too much as there are very few of them. The only problem I have is that they do not help machination the trails in this area. When we turned right onto what once was Beech Mountain Road, there continued to be a layer of leaves and snow as well as a few new branches on the trail. I removed the branches as we walked. When we came to the "spruce tunnel", I noticed someone had broken off branches to make the opening wider. This left jagged spikes sticking down which did not make me happy. I doubt a forest ranger would have done such a careless hob so I suspected someone who had no business doing trail work. I began to get warm immediately from the sun shining on my back but was comfortable as we continued up the trail. We set a fast pace up the Flynn Trail which seemed to go quickly as we walked even though the amount of snow kept increasing. A little after the spruce tree there was a large branch on the trail which I moved to the side. A little farther along there was a tree that had broken off 10 or 12 feet up the trunk. I knew I would need tools to clear this one but we were able to get by without a problem. We did stop a couple of times so that I could take some pictures of the snow on the trail and on the impressive ledges on the right side. The Flynn Trail is uphill all the way for the first 1.7 miles to the Big Rock Junction. We passed the mile mark around the point where there is a clearing to the right of the trail. There was another small tree across the trail but I was able to pivot off without a problem. We were soon walking the final uphill section to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. It was 10:45 AM so we had covered the 1.7 mile distance in 55 minutes which was pretty good as it included the time to take pictures and to clear blowdowns. We continued through the junction and passed through the gate which is the boundary between state land and Beaverkill Land Trust property. It was a short walk to the point where the Flynn Trail heads downhill to Hodge Pond. Here we turned to the right on the woods road and walked along the road to the junction of some roads above the pond. At this junction a road turns left to go down to the pond. Just a little further on the road splits with the left fork passing by the site of the former Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp and ending up on Shin Creek Road in Lew Beach. The camp has been bulldozed by the Land Trust. The road out to Shin Creek Road is now available for hiking and has a nice parking area near Shin Creek Road. We continued up the hill toward the Hodge Pond Lookouts on a woods road that surrounds Flynn's Point on Beech Mountain, the highest point in Sullivan County. As we walked, I could see that there had not been any vehicles on the road as there were no tracks in the snow. Even though there was a deepening layer of slippery snow the hill did not seem to slow us down much.

I wasn't really tired so we pushed the pace a little. When we go to the old sand and gravel pit where the trail levels the sun came out and glistened off the snow on the trees. I stopped and took a few pictures before going on. The trail began to gain elevation again and we passed by a spring house on the right where Sheila sometimes likes to dig in the water and get a drink. She decided not to get into the cold water on this day. There are several twists and turns along this road and it is sometimes hard for me to know exactly where I am. At 2.7 miles we came to a lookout on the left of the trail. The lookout had been "cut out" so that the hills and valleys beyond were much more visible. I decided to stop to take a few shots because my experience told me that the view could change by the time we returned. There was a great views to the west of the hills with a covering of snow. There was almost no haze on the hills of in the valleys as I snapped several pictures. When I was done, we followed the road uphill as it made a sharp right turn. Just after this the road turned to the left but another trail branched off to the right. We turned onto this woods road on the right. After a slight incline, the trail leveled. Snow and leaves covered the trail but there was almost no mud except in a spot where a small stream flows off the hill. I walked along the trail following Sheila most of the time. The ledges on the left side of the trail were covered in snow. At 2.9 miles we arrived at the Hodge Pond Lookout. This lookout has also been cut out giving a much better view than in the past. I dropped my pack and took some pictures of the pond below and the hills in the distance. I also took some pictures of Sheila sitting on the lookout with the pond in the background. The view was as clear as I have seen it and, again, the hills and even the area round the pond were covered in snow. When I was done taking pictures, I got a drink and then continued on the woods road traveling counterclockwise around Beech Mountain.

There are some impressive ledges and cliffs on the left side of the trail which blocked the wind that had been blowing on the west side of the mountain. This meant there was even more snow on the trees so I stopped to take a few shots. At 3.1 miles, the trail forked and we stayed to the right to head down to an incredible view to the east. I was hoping there would be some snow on the 3500 foot mountains visible from this viewpoint and I was not disappointed. The panorama from this lookout takes in the Burroughs Range and many of the other Catskill peaks. I got out my camera and took some pictures despite the bright sun which made getting the proper exposure difficult. When I was done, I picked up the pack and we continued on the woods road. We climbed a short hill and started down the other side heading back to the point where we had turned off the road. I noticed a woods road on the left side of the road we were walking and remembered that I had taken it up to a higher level and from there had walked the length of the Beech Mountain ridge. We passed the lookout on the road and followed it as it turned left and started downhill. The trip down was much quicker than the trip up and I avoided slipping on the snow by using my poles. When we reached the bottom of the hill, I thought about walking down to Hodge Pond but decided to make the hike a true out-and-back. I had some tasks to accomplish before track practice and wanted to get back home as quickly as possible. We walked out to the Flynn Trail, turned left and were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 4.5 miles. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail. The trip down the Flynn Trail can seem to take forever but on this day it went quickly. The large hemlock across the trail came into sight and just after it the gate. We passed through the arch of the tree that Cindy and I had cut through the tree. Just before the gate, we turned left on the Flynn Trail to avoid the private property around the cabin. We walked the trail back to the car arriving at 12:40 PM. There were no cars parked in either lot and the temperature was 38 degrees. We had hiked 6.3 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes gaining 1076 feet along the way. Our overall speed was 2.2 mph with moving average of 2.5 mph with 20 minutes of stopped time.

On Monday, November5th I wanted to get out for a short hike after sleeping in from some late night ambulance calls. I also had my first winter practice to coach in the afternoon. At 10:30 AM I decided to hike some loops on Round Top. I started to get ready when the temperature was 32 degrees. The skies were overcast and I couldn't tell whether there was any precipitation. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on me as we dressed. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved base layer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Taku boots which have seen better days but still fit well. I thought we might encounter wet and muddy conditions and felt these boots could do the job. I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to fend off snow and mud and to keep my lower legs warm. I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and because it was the beginning of various hunting seasons. I also wore a light pair of gloves. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. We stepped out of the house at 10:50 AM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We walked to the church parking lot and to the back of the church. As we started up the hill, I noticed that it was easier climbing the hill as I had been hiking more often. We continued the ascent of the steep hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". I let Sheila pull me up the hill which she was willing to do. At the trailhead, I let Sheila off her leash and she immediately began to bound up the trail. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I paused to look around and saw that the far hills were covered in snow and that there was a light layer of snow over the eatery and the hiking trails.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight up the hill toward the viewpoint. There was a slight breeze blowing but I was already getting warm from making the ascent in the hoody. I made sure to open all the zippers I could which made me a little cooler. The climb up the hill was a little easier than usual except for a layer of slippery snow on top of a layer of lapper leaves. The higher we climbed the more snow there was on the trail. It was snowed a little, rained a little and then stopped. This was repeated several times. At the viewpoint, I noticed that the brush that I had placed in the trail was still there and that someone had added a few more pieces. I wish people would not be so "helpful" as I walk these trails at least once a week. This path has a dangerous spot and we have piled brush on it to discourage people from using it. We continued on the main trail and headed to the right to follow it as it turned and headed up the gentle hill through the hardwood forest. What was left of the ferns on the forest floor was covered in snow. Only a few leaves were hanging on to the trees while the rest formed a slippery blanket under the snow. Sheila was making her own way by staying on the trail sometimes and then running off-trail and chasing game trails. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction with the blue trail. There were a few branches on the trail that I removed as we hiked. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. This section was in good shape without any blowdowns and the brush and grass had remained at bay. At the next junction, we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued up and over the summit. There was one small tree down on the summit which would require a saw to remove it. I decided we would skip the white crossover trail but take the switchback on the blue trail. We followed the switchback as it headed out into the woods and then back to the main trail where we turned left. At the bottom of the hill, we turned left on the yellow trail, and walked along the base of Round Top. At the trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right to walk down to the woods road. It was a snap to walk downhill and out the woods road. It was obvious Sheila felt the same way as she was running and bounding ahead of me and then running back up the trail. At the first trail junction, I turned around and started back up the woods road to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked along the yellow trail following the base of the Round Top summit. At the next junction, we turned right and started up the steeper side of the hill on the blue trail. This time we again took the switchback in the blue trail. At the end of the switch, we turned right and continued on the main blue rail to the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. We continued on main blue trail over the top and then down on the other side of the hill. We turned right at the end to take the yellow trail along the base of Round Top once again. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned to the left to stay on the yellow trail to the lookout. At the lookout, we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. We walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill and headed across the church parking lot to the street. After crossing the street to our driveway, we walked back to the house. We were home by 11:50 AM after hiking a little over 2 miles in 1 hour.

On Thursday, November 11th, I was still recovering from the day before when we covered five ambulance calls in one day, a personal record for me. My plan for the week had been to hike everyday but there was no time to get out on Wednesday. I got up at 5:15 AM for my men's bible study and retuned home by 8:00 AM. I was so tired I was having trouble putting thoughts together so I tried to take a nap. I did get some rest but it was not nearly as satisfying as a full night's sleep. When Cindy returned home from church at noon, I asked her if she wanted to go for a short hike at Frick Pond and she agreed. We dragged our feet and did not start getting ready until 1:15 PM. The temperature was 49 degrees and the skies were getting cloudy. While we were getting ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. I got dressed in my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved thermal baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Taku boots which have seen better days but still fit well. I thought we might encounter wet and muddy conditions and felt these boots could do the job. I did not wear any gaiters as I did not think the conditions warranted them. I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and because it was the beginning of various hunting seasons. I also wore a light pair of gloves. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. We left Livingston Manor at 1:35 and I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking areas on the left. I pulled into the smaller parking area which was empty. The larger lot had one car in it. I set my GPS as we got ready to head out on the Flynn Trail with the temperature at 48 degrees with a breeze blowing. We crossed the road and began our hike at 1:50 PM.

The Flynn Trail is sited along what used to be Beech Mountain Road which was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We walked the trail through the woods which was covered in a thick layer of leaves. We turned right on the woods road and set a quick pace up the hill. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.7 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The day was cool but I began to get warm as we set a quick pace even though I had all the zippers on the hoody open. We passed through the arch Cindy and I had cut through an enormous hemlock that had fallen across the trail. Someone had enlarged the opening by breaking off additional branches leaving some sharp ends sticking down into the opening. It is a constant battle to deal with the problems well-meaning hikers leave behind doing unauthorized trail "maintenance". There were some muddy places on the trail but we still were making good time. At one point Sheila alerted and I could see a woman hiking toward us. I ushered Sheila off the trail as she passed. We said "Hello" and the hiker responded telling us 'The trail is good but you can check it out'! I had no idea what she meant. We had been clearing a few branches and small trunks as we walked. When we stopped so that I could clear another small tree across the trail, I took the time to remove and store the Mammut crew top. I thought I might be cool with only the thermal top on under the hoody but I was definitely warm enough. We kept walking uphill and talking as we went. Hiking with someone always seems to make the time pass more quickly and we were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. It was 2:40 PM and we had covered the 1.7 miles in 50 minutes including the time to stop and clear the trail. We turned left to walk down the Big Rock Trail. The hike down the trail went quickly since we were setting a fast pace. This trail can be tricky as there are several levels that make it seem like the bottom of the hill. There were a few large blowdowns on the trail but they were not blocking hikers and I knew the snowmobile club would be out to work on them. The trail also showed signs of erosion from the heavy rainstorm the week before.

We were soon at Times Square and I turned right to hike up and around the Logger's Loop to add some distance to our hike. Cindy immediately let me know she was too tired to follow the plan I had laid out. I am now used to this but I was unhappy we would be doing only about 4 miles! So instead of turning right, we continued our hike by walking straight across Times Square to stay on the Big Rock Trail. The trail had some muddy spots in the low areas. We crossed the two small bridges over the inlets to the pond where the water was high. It was getting dark especially in the area that was covered by tall evergreens. The wooden boardwalks looked a little green but they were nit slippery and we crossed them quickly. At the next trail junction we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. I stopped at the bridge for a minute but did not see anything remarkable so I continued across. We walked up the hill toward Gravestone Junction and found areas of trail that were as muddy as any we had encountered. It is hard to drain this trail and frequent use by a number of people churns up the mud. We continued to Gravestone Junction and passed the Lobdell memorial marker. The marker is a memorial to two children who died in the 1930's in a fire that consumed their cabin. Thankfully, the stone was upright. I had not been cutting out the trail to the marker to discourage vandalism but it had been cleared. Once again "helpful" people were doing unauthorized work. The trail to the register was wet in some spots and muddy in others. At the trail register we continued straight ahead to follow the woods road out to the car in the small lot. We arrived at the car at 3:35 PM having hiked 4 miles in 1 hour and 50 minutes with an elevation gain of 680 feet.

On Tuesday, November 9th I had planned to hike Giant Ledge and probably throw in Panther. I wanted to do a 3500 foot peak and the parking lot at Giant Ledge was almost empty the day before. I was getting ready at about 8:30 Am when an ambulance call came in. By the time I returned it was noon and I knew that by the time I got to Giant Ledge I would be pushing to finish Panther which is not a feeling I enjoy. I decided to asked Cindy if she wanted to do a more local hike like Huggins Lake and she agreed. We began to get ready at 1:15 PM when the temperature was 56 degrees. As soon as I started to get ready, Sheila began to run around and bark anticipating getting out of the house. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top and added a short sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided not to add gaiters. I have not seen as many ticks as in the past but I know they are out there. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I made sure I had a pair of Super Green insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and because it was the beginning of various hunting seasons. I also packed a light pair of gloves although I did not think I would wear them. I got our gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat. We left Livingston Manor at 1:40 PM and drove north on Old Route 17. I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and left on Campsite Road. At the bottom of the hill I turned right and drove down to the campgrounds parking area and across the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. At the end of the road I turned right and followed Berry Brook Road to the trailhead for Huggins Lake. We arrived at the road to the parking area to find it very rough with a lot erosion. I decided to park on the side of Berry Brook Road where there was a pulloff. We got our equipment ready and I set my GPS as we started off at 2:00 PM. The sun had been out all day but now the sky was clouding up and getting dark. There was no rain in the forecast and I hoped somebody told the clouds that! The temperature was 59 degrees as we headed out on the wide woods road to the lake. The hike isn't long, less than 4 miles, and the trail is maintained by the DEC although we did see a few blowdowns along the way.

The first 1.2 miles is all uphill and gains almost 700 feet. Sheila was running up and down the trail following game paths into the woods. Cindy and I were both taking it slow as we had no reason to hurry. We both noted that the ascent has several spots which appear to be the top of the climb but are not. I had all the zippers open on my hoody and I was still warm. After the initial climb, the trail descends, levels some and then climbs again until the final descent to Huggins Lake. As we continued, the trail made a sharp turn from southeast to north at about 1.6 miles. We enjoyed the downhill trek to the shores of the pond even though we had to walk around some blowdowns on the trail. I knew we would soon have to turn around and climb back up the hill. When we arrived at the lake, I noticed that the water level was high. I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take pictures of the lake. The sky was cloudy and dark and very "flat". I took some pictures of the lake and the hills that surround it. Also took shots of the outlet stream which was lined with some trees that still had colorful leaves. At the outlet I could immediately see that the beavers had dammed the water flow and that reeds had grown to all but block the outlet flow. I took a few more pictures of the lake before returning to my pack and stowing the camera. Sheila had already taken a dip in the water and had taken a drink! We spent about 10 minutes at the lake and then packed up at 2:20 PM and started up the hill and back to the car. The only negative point about Huggins Lake is that there is only one trail and so there are no variations available. I had thought about bushwhacking around the lake but the ascent on the other side is too steep for Cindy. The ascent on the woods road went smoothly for the most part as we climbed the hill back to the highest point on the trail. From there we started down the other side of the hill on the trail. Downhill was definitely easier than uphill! Sheila seemed very interested in following game trails off the main trail and I had to keep calling her back. It was all downhill to the car. We arrived back at the car at 3:10 PM after hiking 3.9 miles in 2 hours with a total elevation gain of 960 feet.

On Monday, November 8th, I asked Cindy if she would like to hike the Ashokan Quarry Trail and she agreed. Since the trail is only 2 miles, I thought we might go to the Ashokan Promenade afterwards as I had never been. The Promenade is almost flat which Cindy likes. When I got up at 8:00 AM it was only 30 degrees but I knew the temperatures would be rising to almost 60 degrees. We started getting ready at 9:00 AM with Sheila watching us carefully. I put on my long-sleeved White Sierra crew top with a light long-sleeved baselayer underneath as I knew the temperature would rise. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Talus boots which have seen better days but still fit well. I thought we might encounter wet and muddy conditions and felt these boots could do the job. I did not wear only gaiters as I did not think the conditions warranted them. I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and because it was the beginning of various hunting seasons. I also packed a light pair of gloves although I did not think I would wear them. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. As we left Livingston Manor at 9:35 AM, the sun was shining brightly and the temperature had just reached 50 degrees. I east on State Route 17 to Liberty and then took Route 55 over the Neversink Dam to Grahamsville. Just after the TriValley School, I turned left on Route 55A and continued to the point where it turned to the right over the Rondout Reservoir. I continued straight ahead on Sundown Road which becomes Peekamoose Road. We passed the parking for Peekamoose and the Blue Hole. A little further on a I pulled over to the left and parked at the small lot by Buttermilk Falls. The light was just right so I took my camera and walked to the road bridge and took a few pictures of the falls. I walked back to the car and let Sheila out. We walked over to the falls and I took some more shots from closer to the falls. When I was done, we walked back to the car and I continued the drive. Peekamoose Road passed by Peekamoose Lake which has very steep terrain on both sides. The lake was completely still without even a ripple. The reflection of the trees in the lake made it look like a deep gorge and the effect was mesmerizing. Peekamoose Road turned to Watson Hollow Road until the intersection with Route 28A. I turned right and drove 5 miles to the parking for the Ashokan Quarry Trail. When I pulled into the parking lot, there were only two cars already there. The parking lot is very well done and can accommodate at least 10 cars. I set my GPS and we were off on the trail at 10:50 AM with the temperature at 54 degrees.

The first part of the trail was covered in angular stones which we both found uncomfortable. Just before the first trail junction at .3 miles, there was an interesting foundation on the left side of the trail. Most stone foundations are laid up from field stone but this one was obviously constructed of quarried stone. As I was taking some pictures, a woman came walking by from the direction of the quarry. When I was finished taking photographs, I packed up and we returned to the trail. We turned left at the first trail junction and started a slight uphill walk. At about .6 miles we came to a nice viewpoint. There were views to the north and west and into the quarry below. The Yale Quarry was used to obtain stone for the building of the dam for the Ashokan Reservoir. There was still some color left on some of the trees but the sky was very flat. After a short stop, we continued along the top of the quarry and I stopped several times to take pictures. We finally dropped down to another level where we had a more open view down into the quarry. The pool of water in the quarry below was much larger than I had ever seen it. I took some pictures and then we followed the trail along the edge of the quarry. Sheila alerted and we looked up to see a woman walking toward us with her leashed dog. I immediately put Sheila on her leash as the woman and her dog passed by. Both dogs looked at each other as if they would have liked to meet. I stopped to take some more shots and then around we walked to the end of the quarry and dropped down toward the quarry floor. At .9 miles, we turned left on a spur trail that ran down to a stone loading platform and some other interesting ruins. The quarried stone was loaded onto railroad cars to be transported to the site of the dam. There was also a stone crushing plant that processed as much as 70 tones of stone an hour. I took pictures of everything and then we walked back up to the main trail. We turned left and almost immediately came to the floor of the quarry. I put down my pack and got out the camera to take pictures of the vernal pool that had formed in the quarry. I also took pictures of the high "walls" that were formed as the stone was removed. We got back on the trail and began passing through an area where there were piles of discarded stone and the dust formed as the stone was quarried. Of course, I had to take more pictures in this area also. Just before we reached the first trail junction, a large stone massif appeared on the right side of the trail. I took a couple of shots and then we walked back to the parking area. It was 12:20 PM and we had hiked 2 miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes. The elevation gain was only 280 feet. The hike was short but the historic interest was worth it.

We left the parking area and turned right on Route 28A to head for the parking area of the Ashokan Promenade. I was excited to walk in this area as it was new to me and passes over the dam for the Reservoir. The parking area was less than half a mile on the left. I pulled in and parked. I decided to leave my jacket since I was already warm and my poles as I would have Sheila on her leash. His route was once open to vehicle traffic but now is only accessible to pedestrians. There were some signs left over from the days of vehicle traffic and one small sign that indicated "No dogs". I assumed that the sign was also a "leftover" as there was no obvious reason not to allow dogs. I took a picture of the long promenade and then we began our walk. Almost immediately we were presented with an outstanding view of the reservoir surrounded by hills and mountains. I stopped to take picture before continuing on toward the dam. When we arrived at the dam, new mountains came into view so I took more pictures. As I was about to continue, Cindy said she did not want to go any further. She was worried about having Sheila with us. I was very disappointed as I was looking forward to seeing more but I knew there was no chance of changing her mind. We walked back to the car. I headed west and north on Route 28A toward Route 28. I thought about parking and hiking on the Ashokan Rail Trail but I did not know if dogs were allowed and I did not feel like dealing with people. I decided that we would head toward Big Indian and perhaps hike Rochester Hollow which I though Cindy would enjoy. As we approached Route 47, I asked Cindy if she would like to do that hike but she turned it down. I turned left on Route 47 intending to just head home disappointed. As we came to Giant Ledge, I was surprised to see that there were many spots left in the parking area. I thought about hiking to Giant Ledge but I looked at the time and considered my mood and decided to leave it for another day. I drove a little over 3 hours to hike less than 3 miles.

On Sunday, November 7th, I wanted to go to cut a blowdown on the FLT from Alder Lake toward Big Pond. A hiker had sent an e-mail alerting me to the tree across the trail and I could see the trail was blocked. I had a limited amount of time between the end of church and a hike I had promised to take with Lisa and a group from Morgan Outdoors to the lookout on Round Top. I got home from church later than I expected but started to get ready at 12:30 PM with the temperature in the low 50's. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top with a light long-sleeved baselayer underneath. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which have seen better days but still fit well. I thought we might encounter wet and muddy conditions and felt these boots could do the job. I decided not to wear gaiters. I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and because it was the beginning of various hunting seasons. I also wore a light pair of gloves. I decided to go without hiking poles as I would be carrying tools. I decided to take only one water bottle as the hike is less than 3 miles round trip. I packed my Silky Sugowaza curved saw which can handle surprisingly large trees and my Fiskars pack axe which is light but handles bigger trees very well. I also threw some felling wedges in my pack as I would not have any help if my saw became pinched. As we left Livingston Manor at 12:50 PM, the sun was shining brightly and I hoped for a productive trip. I drove up the Beaverkill Road with Sheila in the back seat more than ready to hike anywhere. I continued through Lew Beech and Turnwood until I got to Alder Creek Road. I turned left and drove to the point where the road makes a sharp right toward the Alder lake access road. I turned around and parked on the side of the road at the point where the FLT crosses. It was 1:15 PM when I set my GPS, grabbed my pack and ax and headed down the bank to cross the creek. Fortunately, the water was just low enough to allow me to use some stepping stones to get to the other side. We continued on the trail and started up a hill that was a little longer and steeper than I remembered. I cleared a few branches on the way but kept moving toward my objective. There were a few large and old blowdowns on the trail that were easy to step over. The day was beautiful with blue skies and plenty of sun.

I was getting pretty warm as we passed by the rock ledges that let me know we were nearing the top of the climb. The trail had been dry most of the way except for one muddy spot covered by a layer of leaves. At .65 miles we hit the highest point on the route and began to descend. This area was very muddy and I slipped and almost fell several times. I was beginning to wonder where the blowdown was located as I though we would have run into it before the high point. We continued downhill toward a small stream and a beaver meadow. Just after the beaver meadow the blowdown came into sight. It was much larger than I expected and consisted of at least two different trees. It was definitely blocking the trail and need to be removed. I immediately wondered if I could get it all cleared in the time alloted as it was already 1:45 PM. I put my pack down and took the camera out to take some "before" pictures. After that, I began to remove all the loose branches that I could to clear the area. Some came easily but other were entwined and trapped. I used the Silky Sugowaza saw to cut the smallest branches which I removed. I kept working and within half and hour I stepped back to find that I had reared a pathway through the mess. I decided to keep working for another half hour or so. I began to cut the larger branches that were not supporting the trees. Most of these came away easily even if I had to cut them twice. Both trees were beeches and cut much more easily than the cherries and maples I had been cutting lately. I cut some branches overhead and was careful to stay out of the way as they fell...most of the time. One branch twisted and hit my right shoulder. It hurt a little but I could still move my arm. Finally, there were two large pieces of the trunks to cut. I grabbed the ax and dispatched one easily as it was not supporting any weight. I debated whether or not to cut the last one as it was mot really obstructing the path and looked like it was supporting the larger tree. I decided to cut it and, although it had the largest diameter, the cut went quickly. As I broke through, I got ready to run but the piece simply fell off. The larger trunks were supported by their roots and other large branches resting farther up on the bank. I cleaned up a little and then too the :after pictures. I packed everything and headed back at 2:55 PM after spending over an hour working on the blowdown. We set a fast pace going back but I did stop twice to remove blowdowns from the trail. We were back at the car at 3:25 PM after hiking 2 miles in under and hour and working for an hour and 10 minutes. I had plenty of time to get back to Livingston Manor for the hike to Round Top.

On Friday, November 5th I planned to hike the Touch-Me-Not Trail from Big Pond to the summit of Touch-Me-Not Mountain to remove some blowdowns that I had found the previous Wednesday. The forecast was for a cool but clear day without any rain so I asked Cindy if she would like to go. She agreed and I made my plans. An overnight ambulance call severely reduced my hours of sleep so I slept in. When I got up at 9:00 AM it was still only 26 degrees on the back porch. Cindy and I had some chores to do around the house so it was 11:15 Am before I started to get ready to hike. I maintain the Finger Lakes Trail from Beech Hill Road over Cabot Mountain over Touch-Me-Not Mountain to big pond and then on to Alder Lake. This is about 7 miles of trail which includes some interesting climbs and some flatter sections. Most of the maintenance involves removing blowdowns and cutting back the nettles and briars. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top with a light long-sleeved baselayer underneath. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Talus boots which have seen better days but still fit well. I thought we might encounter wet and muddy conditions and felt these boots could do the job. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters. I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and because it was the beginning of various hunting seasons. I also wore a light pair of gloves but packed a heavier pair. I decided to go without hiking poles as I would be carrying tools. I decided to take only one water bottle as the hike is less than 3 miles round trip. I packed my Silky Sugowaza curved saw which can handle surprisingly large trees, my Silky Katnaboy folding saw for bigger jobs, and my Fiskars pack axe which is light but handles bigger trees very well. I also threw some felling wedges in my pack as I would not have any help if my saw became pinched. As we left Livingston Manor at 11:40 AM, the sun was shining brightly and I hoped for a productive trip. I drove up the Beaverkill Road with Sheila in the back seat more than ready to hike anywhere. We arrived at Big Pond at noon to find no other cars in the lot. I set my GPS and grabbed my axe as we crossed the road to begin the hike. My plan was to hike to a tree that was across the trail and blocking easy passage. This tree was near the highest point ion the trail. I planned to ignore other blowdowns and get as many as I could on the way back.

We hiked up the trail taking a few breaks now and then as the saws and ax made my load heavier. In addition, not having poles made hiking harder especially because the trail was slippery with wet leaves and mud. Cindy and I began to notice that the trail was missing many blazes and the ones that were present were few and far between. In the spring and summer the trail is more obvious but with a layer of leaves or a foot of snow it is much harder to find. Volunteers are no longer allowed to places trail markers as the DEC wants this done my rangers or foresters. The problem is that the rangers and foresters depend on volunteer reports! This seems like a cumbersome system which is borne out by the lack of blazes on many trails. As we hiked we came across at least tow large blowdowns that could be removed by hand tools but would more easily be cleared with a chainsaw. We also passed by two other trees I knew that I wanted to remove in the way back. The trail alternates between steeper areas and more level ground and the blowdown I was looking for was a little farther up the trail than I thought. We finally arrived to find a tree across the trail. It was impossible for a hiker to get under it but also difficult to easily get over it. I climbed over and took off my pack. I got out the camera and took some 'before' pictures. I was puzzled because I was sire this was the blowdown I had encountered two days before but it now seemed quite a bit smaller. I go out the Sugowaza and sawed off the end of the trunk near the top that was on one side of the trail just to get it out of the way. I decided to use the ax to cut through the larger diameter of the tree on the other side of the trail. The width of the trunk was about 8 inches and I was soon almost all the way through. I finished with the saw and then flipped the section I had cut off the trail. I took the "after" pictures and then packed up. I decided to continue to the trail junction with the Campground Trail just to make sure there were no other areas that needed attention. We walked to the highest point on the trail and then down to the junction and I found nothing. We turned around and started back down the trail.

We passed by the blowdown I had cut and continued down the trail to another one. This blowdown consisted of a trunk lying on the ground and a small sapling bent over into the trail. I put down my pack and took some quick "before" pictures. I used the Sugowaza to cut the sapling after which I pulled it off the trail. The trunk looked old and dry but I tried the ax anyway and it seemed to work well. When I was almost through the trunk, I used the Sugowaza to complete the cut. I pulled the section off the trail and took "after" pictures before moving on. We hiked won the trail which was more difficult for me as I had no poles! After descending a couple of levels, we came to a small tree across the trail. I took my "before" shots and then used the saw to cut each small section indictable. I pulled everything off the trail and took my final "after" pictures. We continued down the trail encountering the same blowdowns we had crossed on the way out. The walk back to the car went quickly and we arrived back at the lot at 2:25 PM. We had hiked 2.2 miles in 2 hours and 25 minutes stopping for a little over 1 hour. The vertical gain was 782 feet. We walked over to the shore of Big Pond and I took some pictures. As we walked back to the car I noticed the dam at the end of the pond and decided to investigate as Cindy went back to the car. I walked out onto the dam and took some shots. I thought it might be interesting to take some pictures from downstream of the dam and found a way to get to the stream without falling. I took my shots of the dam with Big Pond and the hills framed by the opening. I noticed that there was more to the stone structure than just a dam and walked further downstream. When I looked back upstream, I could see that the structure looked like it had been a mill of some kind. I took a number of pictures before looking for a way back up to the car. Sheila picked a path and I followed her up to the road and back to the car.

On Wednesday, November 3rd I wanted to get out for a slightly longer hike with Lisa not too far from home. The forecast was for the temperature not to rise much above 40 degrees and that would be in the afternoon. Lisa needed to be back by 1:30 PM as she was scheduled to help with a cleanup on the Parksville rail trail. We decided to hike from Big Pond over Touch-Me-Not Mountain and down to Little Pond. From there we could choose to hike back over the mountain using the Campground Trail or to use the roads to walk back to the car. When I got up at 7:00 AM the temperature was 25 degrees so I planned to dress warmly as I knew that it would be cooler at the trailhead than in town. When I began to get my gear together Sheila seemed very pleased although we had hiked on Round Top the day before. I put on my long-sleeved Patagonia wool zip top with a light long-sleeved baselayer underneath. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which have seen better days but still fit well. I thought we might encounter wet and muddy conditions and felt these boots could do the job. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material.I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters. I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and because it was the beginning of various hunting seasons. I also wore alight pair of gloves but packed a heavier pair. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and pulled out of Livingston Manor at 8:45 AM. I drove toward Roscoe on Old Route 17 and turned right on Beaverkill Road after 1.3 miles. I continued north on Beaverkill Road to the top of Johnston Mountain where I picked Lisa up at her house. Sheila was very happy to see Lisa. We pulled out and I headed north for a total of 10.8 miles passing through Lew Beach. As the Beaverkill Road turned right, I turned left onto Barkaboom Road and drove .8 miles to the parking area for Big Pond on the right. There were no other vehicles parked in the lot. As we started to get ready to hike and eagle flew overhead. I grabbed my camera and walked down to Big Pond which was covered in a mist. It was hard to see the surrounding mountains or even the shoreline of the pond. I took a number of pictures before returning to the car to begin our hike. I got ready to hike by setting my GPS. The temperature was 26 degrees.

We crossed the road at 9:15 AM to begin our hike up Touch-Me-Not Mountain on the Touch-Me-Not Trail which is part of the Finger Lakes Trail. The first part of the trail is an old woods road, and it is pretty easy to follow. I let Sheila off her leash as we walked up the first hill passing the trail register. Lisa signed in at the register and took the lead. She was picking branches off the trail as we walked leaving some of the larger ones for me. I had not brought any tools si when we ran into some larger blowdowns I made note of then for a future maintenance trip. The trail was wet and muddy in places and the thick layer of leaves hid the trail in some places. I maintain the section of trail from Alder Lake to Beech Hill Road and am the Regional Trail Coordinator for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference covering the FLT from Downsville to the eastern terminus on Slide Mounatin. The first mile of the trail gains about 775 feet with an average grade of 15%. Some places are almost flat which means there are a few steeper places. We began to notice that the blazing of the trail could be better especially when the trailbed is covered with leaves. Volunteers used to be able to put up trail markers, but the DEC decided that a forester or ranger must now do this. Most blazes were too far apart. Some were very old and faded with others grown into the trees. A few were on the side of the tree meaning they were not visible from either direction on the trail. Several times we just followed Sheila who seems to be able to find the right direction no matter what. It was obvious in several areas that there had been significant rain at some point as the trail was badly eroded and the leaves were displaced. In a few places, the trail traveled along the side of the hill, and this made for some tricky footing with the wet leaves and the mud. As we neared the high point of the trail, we encountered several larger blowdowns which would require tools to remove. I though about coming back in the near future to remove them before the snows. We made good time despite the work we were doing to remove branches and had hiked 1 mile to the highest point on the trail on the shoulder of Touch-Me-Not Mountain in about 50 minutes. After a slight descent, we came to a large blowdown that had once blocked the trail. A good piece of the trunk had been cut away to provide an easy path. We walked down the hill to the next trail junction and turned right to stay on the red Touch-Me-Not Trail.

The loop around Little Pond is very popular with campers during the season. At one point the trail passed between two large boulders forming a sort of rock cut. I stopped to take a few shots as this in one of my favorite spots on the trail. We continued along the trail descending another rocky area to find a large tree across the trail. It was obvious hikers had been walking to the left around the butt end of the tree which is what we did. At 1.6 miles we had finally arrived at the point where the Touch-Me-Not Trail continued straight ahead over Cabot Mountain. The signs here were poor with some missing and others too old to read. We thought about summiting Cabot to the vista over Little Pond but in the end we decided not to do this. We continued our hike by turning left to pick up the yellow Little Pond Trail. After a short walk, we came to a large, flat stone on the right side of the trail. I remembered taking pictures of my grandchildren there. As we passed by, I realized how much I missed my grandchildren going on hikes now that they are all in school. At 1.8 miles we arrived in the clearing that acts as a viewpoint. It is hard to see Little Pond from this lookout since the trees have grown up. This is a place that holds many memories as we hiked the loop many times when I was younger. We stopped, and I got out the camera to take pictures of the hills and the blue sky. The scene kept changing as the light played off the hills in different ways. There was still some colorful leaves left on the trees. I packed up, and we continued the hike passing the small foundation of a long-forgotten homestead cabin. I noticed the pond to the right of the trail and decided to inspect it. The pond used to be very small but had gotten larger over the years. It is obvious that it is fed mostly by runoff which is why the water level was high from the recent storms. I took some shots of the pond and the wetlands developing around it. I also noticed a foundation near the pond that I had not seen before and took some shots of it also. We walked back out OT the main trail which was covered in water from the outlet of the pond. I stopped to take a few pictures of the stone walls in the area. Ahead of us on the trail was one of the biggest blowdowns I had seen in some time. A huge tree with three different trunks had completely blocked the trail. The DEC had come through with a chainsaw and removed the branches that had been blocking the trail. They cut a path through the trunks so that hikers could pass through. We walked through on the path that had been cut and soon turned left off the woods road. I noticed that the road continued straight ahead and thought it might be nice to follow it sometime.

The trail headed down through the forest and was very wet and muddy in most places. It was extremely eroded making the walk difficult. We walked downhill and sound several large blowdowns that had blocked the trail but had been cut by the DEC. We soon came to a large beaver pond where I stopped to take some pictures. There was no indication of new beaver activity but the dam they had constructed was sturdy and still impounded a large volume of water. I took some shots and then packed up to return to the main trail. At the outlet end of the beaver pond, we inspected the dam which is was a good example of how the beavers work. As we walked the short distance to the loop trail around Little Pond I could see that there was a good amount of water in the inlet stream. At the pond, we turned right to walk around the western shore of Little Pond. As we walked along the shore to the boat launch area, we could see Touch-Me-Not Mountain where we had been a short time ago. There were snowflakes in the air despite the sun and I wondered how long it would be until we could snowshoe! We stopped at the boat launch area, and I took some photos of Touch-Me-Not Mountain and the pond. As we walked along the road, I began to see picnic tables leaning on the fireplaces at the campsites. Just before we turned left on a trail to head for the bridge at the outlet of Little Pond there was an employee on a riding lawnmower! We came to and crossed the bridge at the outlet end of the pond. I dropped my pack to take a few pictures before leaving the Little Pond area. The campgrounds were closed so there were no cars in the parking area. We now had a choice to return on the roads or hike back up Touch-Me-Not Mountain on the Campground Trail. I had planned the trail hike but thought better of it as Lisa needed to get back for her appointment. We decided we would walk back to Big Pond using the access road and Barkaboom Road. We walked over to the parking area and turned right to walk out the access road. We walked out to the gatehouse started down the hill toward Barkaboom Road. The walk was very peaceful as there were no cars going to the campgrounds. We walked a little less than a mile down to Barkaboom Road and turned left to hike up the road back to Big Pond. I put Sheila on her leash. She walks very well on her leash although her pace is a little fast for me! The hike back to the car was about .6 miles and it is all uphill so I appreciated Sheila's pull. The stream beside the road had a good volume of water. We walked up the hill and back to the car in the parking area. There were still no cars in the lot. I put Sheila in the car and walked down to the shore of Big Pond to take some pictures without the haze that had been there earlier. I walked back up to the car at 12:10 PM having hiked 4.8 miles in 2 hours and 55 minutes including 30 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was about 1010 feet. On the way back to Livingston Manor, I dropped Lisa at her house. The hike was shorter than I would have liked but the climb up Tooch-me-not was good exercise.

On Tuesday, November 2nd I had planned to hike the Pelnor Hollow and Little Spring Brook Trails with a hiking partner, Sharon. When I got up at 6:15 Am the temperature was 30 degrees and there was some freezing rain in the air. The forecast was calling for some showers throughout the day. I consulted Sharon and she agreed that we would postpone. I still wanted to get out for a hike even though I had a cross country practice in the afternoon. I slept a little later as we had an overnight ambulance call. By the time I was ready to hike I knew that I only had time to go across the street to hike on Round Top. It was 10:30 AM by the time I started to get dressed with the temperature a rather cool 48 degrees. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on me as we dressed. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Cascade hiking boots which are new and fit well. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also added a light hat and gloves since it was cool. I donned my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat if necessary. At 11:50 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. At the top of the hill we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead where I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail was mostly dry with a few muddy spots and layer of wet and slippery leaves.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. We walked up the road to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The trails were a little damp and there were a few new branches on the trail. I stopped to remove the branches or used my poles to flick the smaller ones aside. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail, toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. We turned right and then turned right again on the white crossover trail. We walked the crossover trail to the end to the blue trail. We turned right and walked down to the junction with the yellow trail where we turned right. We walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked down the yellow trail toward the lookout passing the sitting rock and a sea of now dead ferns. When we reached the lookout, we turned left to follow the yellow trail downhill to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and started back up the hill to the lookout. At the top of the hill we turned right to follow the yellow trail through the ferns to the first junction with the blue trail. We turned right to follow the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up toward the summit. When we got to the white crossover trail we turned left and followed it across the shoulder of Round Top to the main blue trail. We turned left and almost immediately left again on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed the switchback as it headed out into the woods and then back to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked down the blue trail to the yellow trail. We turned left and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and headed down the yellow rail to the woods road that leads to the first trail junction. As we walked down the road, I noticed all the interesting ledges to the right of the trail. At the first trail junction, I debated doing another loop of some kind but decided just to head out to the trailhead. We walked out to the trailhead and turned right. We walked down the hill and out to the road through the church parking lot. We walked over to the driveway and back to the house. It was 12:45 PM and we had hiked a 2 miles in a little under an hour. The weather for the day turned out to be cool but beautiful with no threat of rain until very late in the day!

On Friday, October 29th I planned to go hiking at Trout Pond after several days of ambulance calls and cross country meets. An early morning ambulance call caused me to revise my plans of starting early. I also had to be back by 3:00 PM to represent the ambulance corps at the School for a Halloween event. I decided I would go to Trout Pond and park at the lower parking area to hike the loop around Trout Pond counterclockwise. As I started to get ready at 10:15 AM it was still only 48 degrees with clouds and a breeze. Sheila was pretty excited as I started to get ready as we have not been hiking a lot lately. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also added a light hat and gloves since it was already cool and I knew it might be cooler at the trailhead. I dinned my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat if necessary. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 10:35 AM as I drove north on the Quickway towards Roscoe. I got off at exit 94 and headed north on Route 206 towards Downsville. After crossing the Rockland Flats and passing the Roscoe Nursing Home, I turned left on Morton Hill Road and drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. We turned left to drive down to the lower parking area and was pleased to find the road in pretty good shape with now trees blocking the way. When we arrived at the lower parking area, there were three cars parked but shortly after we arrived two more cars came driving down the road. I wanted to get ahead of the other hikers and stay ahead of them so I set my GPS and we got ready to start out on our hike at 11:00 AM with the temperature at 50 degrees. Just as we started out two hikers came up to the parking lot from the stream with a dog on a leash. I was happy that Sheila paid no attention and started out on the trail.

We started out on the Trout Pond Trail along a wide woods road that leads down to and across Russell Brook. As we crossed the bridge, I could see that the brook was very high from the storms that caused flooding in the area on Tuesday and into Wednesday. The sun was peeking out and the sky was blue with a lot of interesting white clouds. I decided to go to the falls on the way out so we turned right on the path to the falls. The Japanese knotweed had almost overgrown the path as the DEC ignores this part of trail maintenance. Fortunately, the knotted was now dying back for the winter. The history of this area is very interesting. Russell Brook Falls had been the site of a dam that impounded water for a waterwheel in Butternut Grove. The wheel was still there a few years ago. The area near the register box was the "landing zone" for loggers who cleared the evergreen trees, not for tanning but, for the production of wood alcohol. The trees were transported on narrow gauge railway that ran parallel to Russell Brook. The railway met the mainline O&W near Butternut Grove where the logs were unloaded. There were several acid factories in the area that produced wood alcohol. There was also a factory on the lower part of Russell Brook that produced khaki dye for the uniforms of American troops during World War I. We followed the path out to the falls and turned right to walk down to the streambed. I put down my pack and got out the camera to take pictures of the falls and the stream. Sheila immediately posed in front of the falls so I took some shots of her. I took some more shots of the falls and some of the stream before packing up. We walked back up to the path out to the main trail. As we walked out, a couple of hikers were coming in to look at the falls and these were the last people we saw on our hike. At the main trail, we turned right to head up to the pond. We continued passed the register box and up the main trail toward Trout Pond. There was water on the trail and mud in many places. It was obvious that a torrent of water had cascaded down the trail as there were leaves that had been disrupted. In addition, the loose gravel and dirt on the trail had been washed away in many places leaving exposed rocks which made the trail harder to hike. I noticed some fresh tire tracks on the trail but could not tell how fresh they were or the vehicle that made them. Soon we were at the outlet end of the pond and we walked over to the shore which was barely a strip since the pond was so full. I dropped my pack to take pictures of the lake with the blue sky overhead. The water was right up to the grass on the shoreline and was overflowing the dam. I took quite a few pictures looking for the contrast between the bare trees, the blue sky with white clouds and the lake. Sheila decided not to take a dip as the water was cold. I took the time to take some pictures at the dam and then walked below the dam to take pictures of the waterfall it created. I packed up and we returned to the main trail. We walked the flat woods road toward the inlet end of the pond which was wet and muddy in many spots. In some places it extended across the trail which made walking more difficult. We crossed the bridge that is just before the lower lean-to and inspected the old trout hatching box. At the trail junction near the lower lean-to we turned to the left on the blue blazed Mud Pond Trail which would take use over Cherry Ridge and form our loop back to the parking area. I took some pictures from the bridge of the pond and the inlet stream. The stream had as large a volume as I had ever seen. There was new beaver activity and a small dam just downstream of the bridge causing the water to back up. I walked down to the shore of the lake and took some more pastures before returning to my pack. We walked over the bridge and turned right to start up the Mud Pond Trail toward Cherry Ridge. The trail was more like a small stream as water was coming down the trail and some was being added from a small stream that came from the larger inlet stream.

Even though we were gaining elevation, we continued at a good pace. Every now and then I would remove a small branch or a larger trunk from the trail. This part of the trail showed that there had been a lot of water running on the trail but was not very wet. From the bridge at the inlet we began a climb of 430 feet over the next .75 miles. The trail headed west from the inlet until turning sharply south at around 2 miles. Along the way there were several blowdowns that had been cut by a DEC sawyer I met during the summer. The highest point on the trail was at 2.2 miles after which most of the rest of the hike is downhill. As we gained elevation, I began to notice that I was getting warm and sweating profusely due to the hoody. I made sure all the zippers were open which helped some. I also took off my hat. As we started down the other side of the trail had some mud in spots but there was little standing or running water. As we continued the descent we began to find areas of running water and large standing ponds. There were also areas of mud in many spots but all-in-all we were able to get by these areas. We did find several large blowdowns which could be cut with and tools but would be a challenge. At 3.4 miles we had descended 420 feet from Cherry Ridge to the snowmobile trail near Mud Pond. We turned left here to head east and ascended a small hill before starting downhill back toward the parking area. This section was muddy with some running water but I had seen it far worse. The downhill was a little slippery because of the water and mud both of which were plentiful! The small streams flowing across the trail were running high and were overflowing so that water was running down the trail. The largest of these streams required me to use stepping stones although my feet were already soaked. The overflow from this stream continued down the trail until it found another place to exit. All told, we dropped another 380 feet over the next .7 miles back to the bridge just before the trail register. We stopped on the bridge over the outlet stream from Trout Pond as it was very high. I took some shot both upstream and downstream. I picked up my pack and we\ continued on the trail to the junction. We turned left and continued on the main trail toward the parking area. I stopped to take a few pictures of the encroaching knotweed before continuing on. We continued across the bridge and up the trail to the parking area. It was 1:15 PM and we had hiked 4.4 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes with an elevation gain of 870 feet. We had stopped for 15 minutes.

On Monday, October 25th I wanted to get out for a short hike after sleeping in from some late night ambulance calls. I also had cross country practice to coach and a soccer game to time in the afternoon. At 10:30 AM I decided to hike some loops on Round Top. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go but she declined. We started to get ready when the temperature was 52 degrees. The skies were partly sunny with some impressive puffy white clouds. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on me as we dressed. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved base layer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to wear my Keen Cascade hiking boots which are new and all-leather which means they need some work to break them in. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I also put on my Mammut hoody as it was cool and looked like it might rain. We stepped out of the house at 10:50 AM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We walked to the church parking lot and to the back of the church. As we started up the hill, I noticed that it was easier climbing the hill as I had been hiking more often. We continued the ascent of the steep hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". I let Sheila pull me up the hill which she was willing to do. At the trailhead, I let Sheila off her leash and she immediately began to bound up the trail. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight up the hill toward the viewpoint. There was a slight breeze blowing but I was already getting warm from making the ascent in the hoody. I made sure to open all the zippers I could which made me a little cooler. The climb up the hill was a little easier than usual. At the viewpoint, I noticed that the brush that I had placed in the trail was still there and that someone had added a few more pieces. I wish people would not be so "helpful" as I walk these trails at least once a week. This path has a dangerous spot and we have piled brush on it to discourage people from using it. We continued on the main trail and headed to the right to follow it as it turned and headed up the gentle hill through the hardwood forest. The ferns covering the forest floor were all brown as the temperatures at night were dipping into the 30's. Most of the leaves were off the trees forming a carpet on the ground. The leaves were slippery in places and in other spots they covered some mud. Sheila was making her own way by staying on the trail sometimes and then running off-trail and chasing game trails. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction with the blue trail. There were a few branches on the trail that I removed as we hiked. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. This section was in good shape without any blowdowns and the brush and grass had remained at bay. At the next junction, we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued up and over the summit. There was one small tree down on the summit which would require a saw to remove it. I decided we would skip the white crossover trail but take the switchback on the blue trail. We followed the switchback as it headed out into the woods and then back to the main trail where we turned left. At the bottom of the hill, we turned left on the yellow trail, and walked along the base of Round Top. At the trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right to walk down to the woods road. It was a snap to walk downhill and out the woods road. It was obvious Sheila felt the same way as she was running and bounding ahead of me and then running back up the trail. At the first trail junction, I turned around and started back up the woods road to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked along the yellow trail following the base of the Round Top summit. At the next junction, we turned right and started up the steeper side of the hill on the blue trail. This time we again took the switchback in the blue trail. At the end of the switch, we turned right and continued on the main blue rail to the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. We continued on maun blue trail over the top and then down on the other side of the hill. We turned right at the end to take the yellow trail along the base of Round Top once again. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned to the left to stay on the yellow trail to the lookout. At the lookout, we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. We walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill. We headed across the church parking lot to the street and crossed the street to our driveway. We were home by 11:50 AM after hiking a little over 2 miles in 1 hour.

On Saturday, October 23rd, I wanted to go for a hike with Cindy so I knew it would have to be shorter and flatter than I wanted. I asked Cindy if she would like to go to the Beaverkill Campgrounds and she agreed. We both had some things to do before hiking so we did not start to get ready until 11:00 AM when the temperature was still only 48 degrees. As usual, Sheila was excited and even more so since Cindy was going also. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was still below 50. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles I wore my Keen Cascade boots which are new but are pretty well broken in. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I put on a light hat and packed a pair of light gloves. I put our gear in the back of the car and Bryce and Sheila in the back seat and left the house at 11:20 AM. I drove out Old Route 17 toward Roscoe and turned right on Beaverkill Road. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. As I parked, there were two other cars in the lot which was a sharp departure from the crowds that were present this summer. Once car belonged to a fisherman who was "parking challenged" and the couple from the other car were returning and soon left. A glance at the river showed that it had a good amount of water.

I set my GPS and put Sheila on her leash as we started our hike at 11:40 AM by crossing the bridge to the west side of the river. We turned left on a woods road that parallels the river and started down a short hill. I had left my poles in the car and almost regretted the decision as the leaves were slippery. We walked passed a spring house and continued on the deserted woods road. We came to an area with a little path down to the river. I walked down to the edge of the river and took some pictures downstream and some upstream. Just after this area, the trail was even more eroded by water running across and under the trail than during our last visit. There was an area with several picnic tables which sit unused and rotting along the road. This was just the first of several similar areas. I decided to take pictures that showed the deserted campgrounds which was even more dramatic now that there was not a single person in sight. I took pictures of the picnic tables and, a little later, what was once a bathroom for some campsites that had long since disappeared. I took some more pictures of random picnic tables along our route. At the next bathroom, we stopped so that I could take some more pictures. There was a path over to the river so I walked over and took some pictures of the sun reflecting off the water both upstream and downstream. In several areas the DEC had placed large rocks along the shore and covered them with heavy wire to reduce erosion. Just passed this spot was another place where the road had been washed away and the DEC had filled in with some gravel. The streambed next to the road was now dry but must have had a large volume of water to erode the road. I took some more pictures before we moved on. At about .7 miles the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites and we continued on the road through the campsites and along the river. Many of the campsites had a cement block fireplace with a grill but some were upgraded to poured concrete. Everything was very quiet except for the water in the river. This was not surprising as the campsites are closed. I took some pictures of the empty campsites and the campsite road. The skies were blue with lots of interesting white puffy clouds.

We walked to the last campsite where the trail ends and walked down to the edge of the river. There was a strip of sand that made a small "beach" and I stopped to take some pictures. I worked my way out to a rock that jutted into the river and took some more shots up and down the stream. Sheila decided not to take dip but stayed close to the shore. We continued out the path along the river after the last campsite. Once this path became too difficult to walk I stopped to take some pictures. We turned around to start back and walked the other road through the campsites which parallels the one we walked out on to make a sort of loop. We stopped again so that I could take some pictures of the unused bathrooms and groups of randomly arranged picnic tables. I also took a few shots of the roads and the maintenance building. We retuned the way we had come although at a quicker pace. I took some pictures upstream before crossing the river on the bridge. We still had not seen any people! We walked through the bridge and turned right to go back to the car. I decided to go down to the river to take some pictures while Cindy and took Sheila back to the car. Unfortunately, Sheila does not like to be separated from me and whined the whole time. I walked to the edge of the river and I took pictures of the bridge and the river flowing under it. I walked downstream a little but the view didn't change so I returned to the car. We were back at the car at 12:45 PM having hiked 2.3 miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes with 7 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 190 feet but it was hardly noticeable. The car's thermometer read 55 degrees. I considered stopping at Waneta Lake on the way home but decided to wait for another day.

On Friday, October 22nd, I wanted to go to Balsam Lake Mountain to remove a large tree trunk across the trail that my maintainer was unable to clear. Most maintainers do not want to cut these larger blowdowns but I like to use my saws and axes. I was not sure of the exact location of this blowdown or its diameter. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and she said "Yes". I hoped that after we cleared the blowdown we could bet in the short hike to Vly Pond. At 11:15 AM we started to get ready with the temperature at only 54 degrees on the back porch. The skies were overcast but I could see areas of blue sky and some sun. Sheila was pretty excited as I started to get ready even though we had hiked the day before. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my old Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I packed a light hat and gloves as I knew it might be cooler at the trailhead. For maintenance equipment I took my Silky Sugowaza saw, Silky Kanaraboy saw, Fiskars pack axe, Council Tools felling ax, and two Oregon splitting wedges. I put all our gear in the car and Sheila jumped into the backseat with some enthusiasm. I headed out the driveway and turned north toward Roscoe on Old Rt 17. I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and continued north toward Lew Beach and Turnwood. The Beaverkill Falls were flowing with a decent volume of water as there had been some rain. The road conditions were pretty good even when the pavement ended. I laughed when I saw the "Rough Road" sign! The town of Hardenburgh had been working on the dirt road by smoothing it with a scraper and widening it slightly. Toward the end the road becomes very narrow and I was glad I did not meet any cars. We arrived at the parking area at 12:25 PM and found four other cars in the lot. I set my GPS and we started out on the trail with both saw, both axes and the felling wedges. The temperature was 52 degrees but the air felt warmer to me.

The trail had a thick layer of fallen leaves covering some pretty deep mud. We picked our way carefully heading toward the register. I looked up and looked ahead to see a tree across the trail just after the register box. We walked up to the tree and I put down my pack to inspect the job. The maintainer had removed all of the branches and hikers could easily step over the tree. The blowdown was between knee and thigh high with a diameter of about 14 inches. I knew I would have to make at least two cuts, one on each side of the trail. I has unsure whether or not I would have to make a third cut to enable us to get the section we removed off the trail. I grabbed by Council Tools felling ax and marked a cut on the upper end of the tree. I thought that I would use the ax to start the cut and then finish it with the saw. I took a few pictures before starting the work. The first couple of blows with the ax indicated the tree was tougher than I thought. I continued to use the ax and found that the wood was saturated with water and that there was a rotten core that was dripping water. This meant that almost every time I struck the wood I was getting splashed. I alternated axes and was almost sorry that I had not made a wider initial cut so that I could finish with an ax. Eventually, I switched to the Katanaboy and alternated with the Sugowaza. When the saws started to bind, I set the wedges and started an undercut. Within minutes I heard a cracking and tearing and the end of the section dropped to the ground. I took a couple of shots and then again inspected the blowdown for my next cut. Unfortunately, the when I made the first cut the blowdown fell so that it was resting on the ground. It seemed to me the only way to make the cut on the other side of the trail was with an ax. I marked my cut and then began with the big Council Tools ax. I made sure the cut was wide as it will always narrow the deeper it is. Swinging the heavy ax was really taking it out of me so I switched to the Fiskars which is lighter and has a much shorter handle. Despite the fact that it is lighter the Fiskars was helping me make good progress as it was taking deeper bites. I alternated axes and was soon nearly through the trunk. Inevitably, the cut got very narrow and I got very tired. I tried using the wedges to finish the jib but some more cutting as in order. I cleared the dirt and debris on either side of the cut and used the Katanaboy top finish the cut as it has a straight blade wile the Sugowaza is curved. I heard cracking and tearing as the final wood fibers and bark let go. There was now a large section of the blowdown lying in the middle of the trail. I took a few shots and decided that although hikers could get over it more easily now it had to go. Fortunately, the trail had a slight downhill grade! Cindy and I were able to roll the section downhill until one end got stuck. This allowed me to pivot the section so that it was well off the trail and parallel to it. We looked back at the trail and it was completely clear. I took my final "after" pictures including some with Cindy and Sheila. We packed up all the tools and headed back to the car.

When we got to the car, I felt like doing some more hiking and it was obvious that Sheila agreed. I suggested we head out on the Neversink Hardenvurgh Trail to Vly Pond. Cindy was not enthusiastic but agreed to go. We headed out the trail finding a thick layer of leaves and lots of mud underneath. I stopped to take some picture of Balsam Lake Mountain and then we continued on the trail passing the register box. The trail continued to be muddy with a few old blowdowns that were lying flat on the ground making them easy to step over. Cindy remarked that she did not like walking downhill at the beginning of a hike because of the up hill return trip. The trail did continue to lose elevation until we got to the bridge over Black Brook. The views both upstream and downstream were pretty so I took some pictures. We had hiked only about half a mile but Cindy informed me she did not want to continue. I knew that the trip to Vly Pond was only about another mile but I also knew it was useless to try to convince Cindy to go on. She apparently thought we had hiked some significant distance when I knew otherwise. I was terribly disappointed but we turned around and started back. I set a pretty fast pace and we were soon back at the car. We had hiked an embarrassing 1.4 miles. The drive is around 40 minutes and I had hoped to get a real hike in! My consolation was the work we had done in removing the blowdown without having the DEC have to come with a chainsaw!

On Thursday, October 21st, I wanted to get in a longer hike than I had been doing. Cross country meets and practices along with ambulance calls had been limiting my hiking. I had a 6:15 AM men's group at church and decided to stop for breakfast on the way home. When I got home I waited for Cindy to get home from church and asked if she would like to hike to the Hodge Pond Lookouts. I was disappointed she declined but decided I would take Sheila and go even though it was getting late in the day. At 1:15 PM I started to get ready with the temperature at 71 degrees on the back porch. The skies were overcast but I could see areas of blue sky and some sun. Sheila was pretty excited as I started to get ready as we have not been hiking a lot lately. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I did not feel the need for a hat or gloves even though I knew it might be cooler at the trailhead. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and left my house at 1:30 PM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left. I continued up the road to the point where it splits and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. It was a short drive to the parking areas on the left. The larger parking areas had one car in it. I parked in the smaller lot where there were no cars. I took the time to set my GPS and we crossed the road at 1:50 PM to begin our hike on the Flynn Trail with the temperature at 67 degrees.

The first part of the trail near the road had become further eroded by the recent rains. After that, the walk through the woods was relatively easy although there was a thick layer of leaves which made the trail slippery in places. The leaves also hood a few muddy spots on the trail. When we turned right onto what once was Beech Mountain Road, there continued to be a layer of leaves as well as a few new branches on the trail. I removed the branches as we walked. When we came to the "spruce tunnel", I noticed someone had broken off branches to make the opening wider. This left jagged spikes sticking down which did not make me happy. I doubt a forest ranger would have done such a careless hob so I suspected someone who had no business doing trail work. I began to get warm immediately from the sun shining on my back but was comfortable as we continued up the trail. We set a fast pace up the Flynn Trail which seemed to go quickly as we walked and talked. We did stop a couple of times so that I could take some pictures of the fallen leaves on the trail and the impressive ledges on the right side. The Flynn Trail is uphill all the way for the first 1.7 miles to the Big Rock Junction. We passed the mile mark around the point where there is a clearing to the right of the trail. We were soon walking the final uphill section to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. It was 2:33 PM so we had covered the 1.7 mile distance in 43 minutes! We continued through the junction and passed through the gate which is the boundary between state land and Beaverkill Land Trust property. It was a short walk to the point where the Flynn Trail heads downhill to Hodge Pond. Here we turned to the right on the woods road and walked along the road to the junction of some roads above the pond. At this junction a road turns left to go down to the pond. Just a little further on the road splits with the left fork passing by the site of the former Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp and ending up on Shin Creek Road in Lew Beach. The camp has been bulldozed by the Land Trust. The road out to Shin Creek Road is now available for hiking and has a nice parking area near Shin Creek Road. We continued up the hill toward the Hodge Pond Lookouts on a woods road that surrounds Flynn's Point on Beech Mountain, the highest point in Sullivan County. As we walked, I could see that there had been vehicles on the road as the leaves were matted down. The hill did not seem to slow us down much.

I wasn't really tired so we pushed the pace a little. We passed an old sand and gravel pit where the trail levels some. The trail began to gain elevation again and we passed by a spring house on the right where Sheila likes to dig in the water and get a drink. There are several twists and turns along this road and it is sometimes hard for me to know exactly where I am. At 2.7 miles we came to a lookout on the left of the trail. The lookout had been "cut out" so that the hills and valleys beyond were much more visible. I decided to stop to take a few shots because my experience told me that the view could change by the time we returned. Most of the leaves were off the trees but there were still some bright colors in the leaves on the beaches. There was almost no haze on the hills of in the valleys as I snapped several pictures. We followed the road uphill as it made a sharp right turn. Just after this the road turned to the left but another trail branched off to the right. We turned onto this woods road on the right. After a slight incline, the trail leveled. Leaves covered the trail but there was almost no mud except in a spot where a small stream flows off the hill. I walked along the trail following Sheila most of the time. At 2.9 miles we arrived at the Hodge Pond Lookout. This lookout has also been cut out giving a much better view than in the past. I dropped my pack and took some pictures of the pond below and the hills in the distance. I also took some pictures of Sheila sitting on the lookout with the pond in the background. The view was as clear as I have seen it but, again, most of the leaves were off the trees. When I was done taking pictures, I got a drink and a bar and then continued on the woods road traveling counterclockwise around Beech Mountain.

There were some impressive ledges and cliffs on the left side of the trail but I have taken shots if them before. At 3.1 miles, the trail forked and we stayed to the right to head down to the cabin which was an incredible view to the east. I was hoping some leaves would be remaining but when we arrived it was clear almost all of them were down. The panorama from this lookout takes in The Burroughs Range and many of the other Catskill peaks. I got out my camera and took some pictures despite the lack of brilliant colors. When I was done, I picked up the pack and we continued on the woods road. We climbed a short hill and started down the other side heading back to the point where we had turned off the road. I noticed a woods road on the left side of the road we were walking and remembered abet I had taken it up to a higher level and from there had walked the length of the Beech Mountain ridge. We passed the lookout on the road and followed it as it turned left and started downhill. The trip down was much quicker than the trip up and I avoided slipping on the leaves by using my poles. When we reached the bottom of the hill, I thought about walking down to Hodge Pond but decided to make the hike a true out-and-back. We walked out to the Flynn Trail, turned left and were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 4.5 miles. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail. The trip down the Flynn Trail can seem to take forever but on this day it went quickly. The large hemlock across the trail came into sight and just after it the gate. We passed through the arch of the tree that Cindy and I had cut through the tree. Just before the gate, we turned left on the Flynn Trail to avoid the private property around the cabin. We walked the trail back to the car arriving at 4:30 PM. There was one car parked next to mine and none in the other lot. We had hiked 6.1 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes gaining 1076 feet along the way. Our overall speed was 2.3 mph with moving average of 2.5 mph with less than 10 minutes of stopped time.

On Wednesday, October 20th I wanted to get out for a short hike after sleeping in from some late night ambulance calls. I also had cross country meet in the afternoon. At 11:30 AM I decided to hike some loops on Round Top. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she agreed. We started to get ready when the temperature was 66 degrees. The skies were partly sunny with some impressive puffy white clouds. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on me as we dressed. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved base layer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to wear my Keen Cascade hiking boots which are new and all-leather which means they need some work to break them in. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. We stepped out of the house at noon. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We walked to the church parking lot and to the back of the church. As we started up the hill, I noticed that it was easier climbing the hill as I had been hiking more often. We continued the ascent of the steep hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". I let Sheila pull me up the hill which she was willing to do. At the trailhead, I let Sheila off her leash and she immediately began to bound up the trail. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the viewpoint. There was a slight breeze blowing but I was already getting warm from making the ascent. The climb up the hill was a little easier than usual. At the viewpoint, I noticed that the brush that I had placed in the trail was still there. This path has a dangerous spot and we have piled brush on it to discourage people from using it. We continued on the main trail and headed to the right to follow it as it turned and headed up the gentle hill through the hardwood forest. The ferns covering the forest floor were all brown as the temperatures at night were dipping into the 40's. Most of the leaves were off the trees forming a carpet on the ground. The leaves were slippery in places and in other spots they covered some mud. Sheila was making her own way by staying on the trail sometimes and then running off-trail and chasing game trails. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction with the blue trail. There were a few branches on the trail that I removed as we hiked. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. This section was in good shape without any blowdowns and the brush and grass had remained at bay. At the next junction, we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued up and over the summit. There was one small tree down on the summit which would require a saw to remove it. The trails were mostly dry with only a few muddy spots. I decided we would skip the white crossover trail but take the switchback on the blue trail. We followed the switchback as it headed out into the woods and then back to the main trail where we turned left. At the bottom of the hill, we turned left on the yellow trail, and walked along the base of Round Top. At the trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right to walk down to the woods road. It was a snap to walk downhill and out the woods road. It was obvious Sheila felt the same way as she was running and bounding ahead of me and then running back up the trail. At the first trail junction, I turned around and started back up the woods road but Cindy was unsure that she wanted to do another loop. I told her we would take it easy and she believed me! We started back up the woods road to the junction with the blue trail at a more relaxed pace. We turned left and walked along the yellow trail following the base of the Round Top summit. At the next junction, we turned right and started up the steeper side of the hill on the blue trail. This time we again took the switchback in the blue trail. At the end of the switch, we turned right and right again on the white-blazed crossover trail. We continued on crossover trail to the blue trail on the other side of the hill. We turned right at the end and walked down to the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail and followed it along the base of Round Top once again. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned to the left to stay on the yellow trail to the lookout. At the lookout, we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. We walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill. We headed across the church parking lot to the street and crossed the street to our driveway. We were home by 1:15 PM after hiking a little over 2 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes.

On Wednesday, October 13th, I wanted to get in a hike close to home with Cindy. The ambulance pager had been going off almost twice a day and I just wanted to get away for a quiet hike. I had cross country practice in the afternoon so I wanted to be finished by no later than 1:00 PM. I suggested a hike of the Parksville Rail Trail since it is flat and short but has a nice waterfall. Cindy agreed that she could handle this hike so we began to get ready at 10:45 M. As we started to get ready, the temperature on the back porch was 66 degrees but I knew the rail trail was shaded. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I wore my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which are showing some serious wear but fit well. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. We put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 11:10 AM and drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville. Just after Fox Mountain Road, I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road at 11:25 PM. There were no cars in the lot as we began to get ready. I decided to take my pack since it is the easiest way to carry my camera. I set my GPS and we set off on the trail with the car thermometer reading 68 degrees.

Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was a little cooler and the long sleeves did not seem too hot. The trail was wet and muddy in spots from the rain that had fallen several days before. The stream was flowing with a good volume but was not as high as it had been on our previous trip. We could see a l tree had fallen across the stream and I wondered what impact it would have in catching debris when the water was higher. As we walked we removed sticks and branches from the trail but it was clear of any blowdowns and well-maintained. We came to a nice view down to the Little Beaverkill and I stopped to take a few shots. The sky was overcast and there was not much blue and no puffy white clouds. The leaves showed some nice colors but the lack on sunlight timed down their brilliance. Just after this point was a boardwalk and bridge. We walks to the other end of the complex and I took some pictures. Heavy rains had carried dirt and rocks onto the bridge and had also blocked the ability of the water to flow under the bridge. The walkway had a lot leaves on it and was slippery from the rain. We passed several benches placed for people to rest but saw no people. Soon, we could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls was just ahead. We stopped to look at the falls which had a good flow of water going over it. The stream was not as high as last time which meant some of my favorite perches to take pictures from near the stream were pone. I walked down the bank and worked my way to an area in front of the falls. I was able to walk out onto some rocks in the stream to take pictures. These rocks had all been covered by high water during our last visit. I took some shots and then repositioned to take a few more. There are two drops to the falls but from the bottom of the lower falls it is hard to see the upper drop.

I took some shots downstream and then walked back up the bank and took a picture from above the falls. We walked down the trail a short distance where another path led down to the creek. The water was low enough that I could walk down to a point near the edge of the stream to take pictures. This spot had also been under water the last time we came. I took pictures over the top of the falls and then turned to take some upstream. On the far side of the stream there are large open rock shelves and I thought about trying to access them from the other side of the stream. I walked back up to the trail to collect my pack and continue the hike toward the end of the trail in Parksville. As we approached the end of the trail, I put Sheila on her leash as there was a fairly large and aggressive dog on the other side of a fence. I was happy to see that most property owners were cleaning up the mess just across the stream. On the Parksville end of the trail we stopped at the small garden which has a very informative sign. The sign listed the businesses and hotels that existed in Parksville during its heyday. The Young's Gap Hotel had room for 600 guests! The sign also explained the role of the railroad in the dairy industry which was a thriving one in all of Sullivan County. The sign made the comment that the area produced 9 million cans of milk annually. After a brief pause, we began the walk back on the trail. I stopped at the point where two stream meet and walked down the bank to take my last pictures of the day. After that I walked back up to the trail a we continued back to the car. As we neared the end of the trail my phone sounded to announce an ambulance call. We hiked quickly back to the car but I decided to let MobileMedic take the call as I would be delayed in getting to the building. We were back at the car at 12:50 PM after hiking 2.7 miles in 1 hour and 30 minutes. Our moving average was 2.5 mph and the elevation gain was 235 feet which I doubted.

On Saturday, October 9th I wanted to try a new route to Hodge Pond with my son-in-law Brad who was at our house for the long weekend. The Beaverkill Land Trust has created a parking lot on a woods road off Shin Creek Road in Lew Beach. The woods road leads to Hodge Pond near the site of the former Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We spent some time doing chores around the house and did not start getting ready until 11:15 AM. The temperature was 62 degrees on the back porch but I knew it might be cooler at the trailhead. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top and a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are wearing out but still have a few miles in them. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I also packed a light hat, a pair of gloves, and a light windbreaker. Brad and I got my gear in the car and put an excited Sheila in the back seat. At 11:40 AM I drove north on Old Route 17 to the Beaverkill Road. I drove north to the four corners just after the Beaverkill Valley fire house. I turned right and started up Shin Creek Road. The drive on this road is beautiful but the road soon becomes a seasonal maintenance road and very rough. I did not know exactly where the new parking area was located so when we came to a road on the right I decided to drive a little farther. This proved to be a bad idea as the road became very narrow and rough. We found no parking lot and I finally found a place to turn around to investigate the road we had passed. On the way back we stopped to take a look at a turtle in the road. I took some pictures of the turtle which was not happy about our presence and moved far faster than I had thought it could. I also walked over to the stream which paralleled the road and took some pictures of some small but beautiful cascades. We packed up and I turned left on the dirt road. A few hundred feet in there was a place to pull off on the right side of the road. This didn't look like a parking lot but I decided to park. The temperature was 65 degrees as I set my GPS at 12:25 PM. We started our hike by walking up the wide dirt road.

In a short distance we came to a wetland on the right side of the road and we stopped so that I could take some pictures. We continued on and at .3 miles came to a gate and a large, well-constructed parking area on the left side of the road. This was the lot that the Beaverkill Land Trust had constructed and the road to it was in good shape. I took some pictures of the parking area and the gate. We walked over the gate and stopped at the bridge across the creek. I took some shots of the small rapids in the brook and then we continued up the road. We stopped again so that I could take some more pictures of the stream. Just after this point the road turned to the right away from the stream. The road was uphill all the way but the grade was gentle and we kept a fast pace. The surface of the road was covered in leaves and the trees around us were in various stages of changing color. We heard a noise like a car coming up the road and soon it appeared coming from the direction of Shin Creek Road. The car slowed and the occupants said "Hello" as they passed. I assumed they were driving up to the cabin for the long weekend. We continued hiking and talking which made the walk go quickly. At 1.55 miles the road leveled and I recognized the site of the former Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. The cabins had deteriorated so much that the Land Trust had them cleared away. We walked out to the road junction and turned right and then right again on the woods road that goes toward Hodge Pond. We walked down the road and turned right on the jeep road that goes around the upper end of Hodge Pond. After walking a short distance we turned left on a path that leads to the shore of the pond. I got out my camera to take some shots of the pond and the colorful trees surrounding it. Sheila decided to take a dip in the pond and I took a picture of her. The leaves were still pretty but were almost past peak. We walked back out to the jeep road and turned left to continue our walk around the pond. As we started up a little hill, the four people from the car that had passed us came walking toward us. I had Sheila sit at the side of the trail as the party went by us.

We continued around the pond to the Flynn Trail where we turned left to continue our trip around the pond. The Flynn Trail was a little muddy and we removed two trees that had fallen across the trail. When we broke out into the field where the camp canteen used to be, we stopped so that I could take some more shots of the leaves. We continued along the Flynn Trail through the woods to the clearing at the outlet end of the pond. As we turned to walk toward the pond, we were presented with an unusual sight. Parked in the clearing was the car the other hikers had driven up the road! I was annoyed but then remembered that they could get to the point where they parked on land owned by the Beaverkill Land Trust. We walked to the edge of the pond and I took some more pictures of the pond and the leaves on the trees. When I was done taking pictures, we walked up the hill on the east side of the pond to head back the way we came after finishing the loop of the pond. We heard voices ahead and we knew who it was. I again moved Sheila to the side of the trail to let the four hikers pass and get back to their car. We continued up the hill to the woods road and turned left and left again to walk by the site of the camp. I expected returning would go quickly as it would be all downhill and without any photography. At one point we looked up to see a person on a mountain bike climbing the road at a good clip. We walked a little farther and another bike went passed up. We eventually came to the bridge and the gate and continued down the road to the car. Just as we arrived at the car both bikers zoomed passed us without any notice. We were back a the car at 2:30 PM after hiking 4.5 miles in 2 hours and 5 minutes. Our overall pace was 2.2 mph but out moving speed was 2.5 mph. The elevation gain was 740 feet. Parking at the lot would make the distance 4 miles and the elation gain 680 feet.

On Friday, October 8th I wanted to get back to Hodge Pond to see how the colors of fall had progressed at Hodge Pond and the lookouts on Beech Mountain. I planned to get started early as I had a soccer game to time in the afternoon but a late nigh ambulance call caused me to sleep in until 9:30 AM. I almost decided not to go but the sunshine burned off the fog leaving sunny blue skies with beautiful puffy white clouds. Even though I was feeling a little off, I decided hiking would make me feel better. And I started to get ready at 10:15 Am when the temperature was 62 degrees on the back porch. I knew it might be cooler at the trailhead so I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top and a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are wearing out but still have a few miles in them. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I also packed a light hat, a pair of gloves, and a light windbreaker. I got my gear in the car and put an excited Sheila in the back seat as I drove out the DeBruce Road toward Frick Pond at 11:40 AM. After about 6 miles, I turned left on the Mongaup Pond and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road at the fork. There was only one cars parked in the big lot and none in the smaller lot as I pulled in at 11:55 AM. I set my GPS and we started our hike by crossing the road and headed out on the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. When we hit the wide woods road that is the Flynn Trail, we turned right and noticed that the grass was wet and there were some muddy spots on the trail. The woods road once led to the Beech Mountain Boy Scouts Camp. The camp was serviced by the extension of Beech Mountain Road which is now the Flynn Trail. The temperature was 60 degrees and I was glad I had worn a baselayer as the breeze made it feel even cooler. The sun was out and there were white, puffy clouds in the sky. We were keeping a pretty fast pace but it didn't seem to bother me. We walked through the arch Cindy and I had cut in a large hemlock tree that had fallen across the trail. At 1.2 miles we passed the clearing on the right side of the trail. I have never heard a definitive explanation for the existence of the clearing but I suspect it was stripped of dirt to build Beech Mountain Road. In most places there is very little topsoil and the bedrock is close to the surface. We continued on the main trail and headed for the junction with the Big Rock Trail. Along the way I removed some large branches that had fallen on the trail. It took us only 43 minutes to reach the first trail junction with the Big Rock Trail at 1.7 miles into the hike. This was close to a record for me an include a stop or two for pictures.

We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail until we came to the gate that separates state land from Beaverkill Valley Trust property. We walked around the gate and in a relatively short time, we arrived at the point where the Flynn Trail bears left down to Hodge Pond. We turned right on the woods road toward the site of the Boy Scout camp and the lookouts on Beech Mountain. The woods road we were walking on was once Beech Mountain Road leading to the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. After a short walk, another woods road trail turned off to the left to go down to the pond and the road we were on continued straight ahead. Another road was sandwiched in between the two and leads to the site of the former Boy Scout camp which has been leveled by the Beaverkill Valley Land Trust. We continued straight ahead on the road that started up the hill. The road was covered in leaves which were mostly brown and yellow. We passed a spring house on the right and Sheila stopped to get a drink. The grade became steeper as we climbed the hill and at about 2.6 miles the road made a sharp turn to the right. We stopped so that I could take some pictures from a small viewpoint. As I was practicing my photography, my phone sound with an ambulance call just as it had the last time I was hiking here only a week ago! The call was also for the same patient but sounded more serious. I never like to miss a call and I hoped we could cover it. The were colors in the leafy landscape I could see from the viewpoint were more brilliant and varied than on my previous trip. They looked at near peak color. After I finished my photography, we continued on the road. We followed the road as it made another sharp turn, this time to the left. I planned to return on the trail that went off to the right at this point. The trail circles Beech Mountain which is the highest point in Sullivan County. We walked up hill briefly and then downhill on the road toward another lookout. I had been seeing indications that there had been a truck on the road. When we arrived at the viewpoint, which is near a small cabin, there were some workers doing some construction. This was the first time I had seen anyone at the lookout and I asked them if it was Ok for us to be there. They told me it was fine so I took off my pack to get some pictures. This lookout has views of the Burrough's Range and other major peaks. The leaves were more colorful than during our last visit but there was still plenty of green mixed with the yellows and reds. I took quite a few shots and then we continued our hike by walking uphill on the road in a clockwise direction We passed several tent platforms and then came to a junction. We turned left to continue around Beech Mountain. As we walked there were some impressive ledges on the right side of the woods road.

We continued on the path around Flynn's Point on Beech Mountain until we came to the lookout over Hodge Pond on the left. When I walked out to the stone ledge that makes up the viewpoint, I could see some great colors in the trees around Hodge Pond. Some of these trees seems to be loosing their leaves but the trees in the distance were more colorful than they had been on our last trip. I took several pictures at different zooms and at different angles. When I was done, I packed up and we continued in a clockwise direction around Beech Mountain on the woods road. When we came back to the "main" road we turned left and headed back downhill toward Hodge Pond. We continued on the road setting a quick pace down the hill. Sheila again stopped at the spring and this time dug at the opening to the culvert until water was freely flowing through it. On the way down we met two people coming toward us. I recognized one of them as Terry, a friend from Livingston Manor. He and his hiking partner had parked at a new lot on Shin Creek Road. He explained that the Beaverkill Land Trust had built the parking area and were encouraging people to use it and to hike on the woods road to the Hodge Pond area. After a few minutes of conversation, we headed in opposite directions. At the base of the hill, we turned right on the woods road that leads down to Hodge Pond. We turned left when the road intersected a jeep trail and ended up at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. We walked over to the shore of the pond where I dropped my pack and got out the camera. Sheila decided not to go wading or swimming in the pond. The colors I had seen from the lookout were nice but many of the leaves had fallen. The colors were not as bright as I had hoped but I took some shots of the pond concentrating on the leaves. The sky was blue with puffy white clouds. When I was done, I ate a bar and got a drink before picking up and walking to where the Flynn Trail enters the woods. We started climbing the hill back to the junction where we had turned right some time before. This ascent can sometimes seem long but on this day it went quickly. At the top of the hill we stayed to the right on the Flynn Trail and followed the route we had taken out. We passed through the gate and continued on the trail. We were soon approaching the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I thought about whether to return on the Flynn Trail or add a little mileage by taking the Big Rock Trail. I decided that since time was a factor we would return by walking down the Flynn Trail the way we had come. My object was to get back as quickly as possible so we set a fast pace and did not stop. We turned left at the gate at the bottom of the road to stay on the Flynn Trail and avoid the private property around the cabin. By 1:55 PM we were back at the car after hiking 6.7 miles in 2 hours and 55 minutes with 20 minutes of stopped time. This was good for an overall 2.3 mph pace. We also gained 1240 feet of elevation gain

On Wednesday, October 6th I wanted to get out for a hike even though I had a cross country meet at Bear Mountain in the afternoon. I slept a little late as we had an overnight ambulance call. By the time I was ready to hike I knew that I only had time to go across the street to hike on Round Top. It was 10:00 AM by the time I started to get dressed with the temperature a rather "cool" 62 degrees. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on me as we dressed. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top and a long-sleeved thermal baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Keen Cascade hiking boots which are new and all-leather which means they need some work to break them in. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. At 10:30 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. At the top of the hill we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead where I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail was mostly dry with a few muddy spots. The trail was worn showing that people had been using it.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. We walked up the road to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The trails were a little damp and there were a few new branches on the trail. I stopped to remove the branches or used my poles to flick the smaller ones aside. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail, toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. We turned right and then turned right again on the white crossover trail. We walked the crossover trail to the end to the blue trail. We turned right and walked down to the junction with the yellow trail where we turned right. We walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked down the yellow trail toward the lookout passing the sitting rock and a sea of now dead ferns. When we reached the lookout, we turned left to follow the yellow trail downhill to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and started back up the hill to the lookout. At the top of the hill we turned right to follow the yellow trail through the ferns to the first junction with the blue trail. We turned right to follow the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up toward the summit. We crossed the summit where there was a small tree that needed a saw for removal. We started down the other side of the hill and bypassed the white crossover trail but turned left on the switchback. We followed the switchback as it headed out into the woods and the back to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked down the blue trail to the yellow trail. We turned left and again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and headed down the yellow rail to the woods road that leads to the first trail junction. As we walked down the road, I noticed all the interesting ledges to the right of the trail. At the first trail junction, we turned left to walk out to the trailhead. We turned right, walked down the hill and out to the road through the church parking lot. We walked over to the driveway and back to the house. It was 11:40 AM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in an hour and 10 minutes.

On Monday, October 4th I wanted to get out for a short hike after sleeping in from some late night ambulance calls. I also had cross country practice in the afternoon. At 11:00 AM I decided to hike some loops on Round Top. I started to get ready when the temperature was 60 degrees. The skies were partly sunny with some impressive puffy white clouds. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on me as we dressed. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved base layer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to wear my Keen Cascade hiking boots which are new and all-leather which means they need some work to break them in. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. We stepped out of the house at 11:30 AM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We walked to the church parking lot and to the back of the church. As we started up the hill, I noticed that it was easier climbing the hill as I had been hiking more often. We continued the ascent of the steep hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". I let Sheila pull me up the hill which she was willing to do. At the trailhead, I let Sheila off her leash and she immediately began to bound up the trail. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the viewpoint. There was a slight breeze blowing but I was already getting warm from making the ascent. The climb up the hill was a little easier than usual. At the viewpoint, I noticed that the brush that I had placed in the trail was still there. This path has a dangerous spot and we have piled brush on it to discourage people from using it. We continued on the main trail and headed to the right to follow ot as it turned and headed up the gentle hill through the hardwood forest. The ferns covering the forest floor were mostly brown as the temperatures at night were dipping into the 40's. Sheila was making her own way by staying on the trail sometimes and then running off-trail and chasing game trails. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction with the blue trail. There were a few branches on the trail that I removed as we hiked. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. This section was in good shape without any blowdowns and the brush and grass had remained at bay. At the next junction, we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued up and over the summit. There was one small tree down on the summit which would require a saw to remove it. The trails were mostly dry with only a few muddy spots. I decided we would skip the white crossover trail but take the switchback on the blue trail. We followed the switchback as it headed out into the woods and then back to the main trail where we turned left. At the bottom of the hill, we turned left on the yellow trail, and walked along the base of Round Top. At the trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right to walk down to the woods road. It was a snap to walk downhill and out the woods road. It was obvious Sheila felt the same way as she was running and bounding ahead of me and then running back up the trail. At the first trail junction, I turned around and started back up the woods road. We started back up the woods road to the junction with the blue trail at a more relaxed pace. We turned left and walked along the yellow trail following the base of the Round Top summit. At the next junction, we turned right and started up the steeper side of the hill on the blue trail. This time we again took the switchback in the blue trail. At the end of the switch, we turned right and right again on the white-blazed crossover trail. We continued on crossover trail to the blue trail on the other side of the hill. We turned right at the end and walked down to the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail and followed it along the base of Round Top once again. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned to the left to stay on the yellow trail to the lookout. At the lookout, we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. We walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill. We headed across the church parking lot to the street and crossed the street to our driveway. We were home by 12:35 PM after hiking a little over 2 miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes.

On Saturday, October 2nd I had committed myself to picking up a hiker at Alder Lake at 8:00 AM and dropping him where the FLT crosses Route 206. I decided I would take Sheila and my gear to go for a hike after I dropped the hiker off. I planned to hike the FLT to the Rock Rift fire tower from the west to remove an old "Trail Closed" sign that was confusing people. At 4:00 AM the ambulance pager went off and I did not get back home until after 6:00 AM. I changed my plan so that I would drop off the hiker, come home and get a few hours of sleep, and then hike to the Hodge Pond lookouts to see some fall colors. I got ready to go to Alder Lake at 7:15 AM and left the house just after 7:30 AM. There was a lot of fog in town as I drove north on Old Route 17 to the Beaverkill Road. Once I turned right and started up the Beaverkill Road the fog disappeared with elevation. As I continued on the road, there were several spots where the fog had gathered in the valleys and the road was high above them. I arrived at Alder Lake at 8:00 AM and Chris was waiting. We said "Hello" and got started on the trip to Route 206. I decided to go back to the Beaverkill Road and drive out Beaverkill Valley Road to Route 206 just north of Roscoe. As I drove Chris and I talked. He is from around Canandaigua Lake, is a tree pathologist and has hiked the Finger Lakes Trail from Allegheny State Park to Route 206. After this weekend, he will have to hike from Alder Lake to Slide Mountain. I turned right on Route 206 and drove over Cat Hollow to the parking area on the left. I dropped Chris off just after 8:30 AM and the headed home through Roscoe. When I got home, I took at 2 hour "nap" getting up at 11:00 AM. I started to get ready at 11:15 AM with Sheila watching my every move. The temperature was 68 degrees on the back porch with some sun but I knew it might be cooler at the trailhead. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top and a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are wearing out but still have a few miles in them. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I also packed a light hat, a pair of gloves, and a light windbreaker. I got my gear in the car and put an excited Sheila in the back seat as I drove out the DeBruce Road toward Frick Pond at 11:40 AM. After about 6 miles, I turned left on the Mongaup Pond and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road at the fork. There were two cars parked in the big lot and two in the smaller lot as I pulled in at 11:55 AM. I set my GPS and we started our hike by crossing the road and headed out on the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. When we hit the wide woods road that is the Flynn Trail, we turned right and noticed that the grass was dry as was the trail bed. The woods road once led to the Beech Mountain Boy Scouts Camp. The camp was serviced by the extension of Beech Mountain Road which is now the Flynn Trail. The temperature was in mid 60's and I was glad I had worn a lighter top and without a jacket. The sun was out and there were white, puffy clouds in the sky. We were keeping a pretty fast pace but it didn't seem to bother me. We walked through the arch Cindy and I had cut in a large hemlock tree that had fallen across the trail. At 1.2 miles we passed the clearing on the right side of the trail. I have never heard a definitive explanation for the existence of the clearing but I suspect it was stripped of dirt to build Beech Mountain Road. In most places there is very little topsoil and the bedrock is close to the surface. We continued on the main trail and headed for the junction with the Big Rock Trail. Along the way I removed some large branches and small trunks that had fallen on the trail. It took us 50 minutes to reach the first trail junction with the Big Rock Trail at 1.7 miles into the hike.

We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail until we came to a small tree that had fallen to partly block the trail. I put my pack down and tried to push the tree off the trail. As I was doing this a hiker with a camera walked by on the trail. He passed with a quick "Hi". I tried dragging the sapling off the trail but it was still anchored at the base. I shouldered my pack and we continued on the Flynn Trail passing through the gate that separates state land from Beaverkill Valley Trust property. We could see the other hiker just ahead walking with his camera. After walking for a relatively short time, we arrived at the point where the Flynn Trail bears left down to Hodge Pond. The other hiker turned right and we followed on the woods road toward the site of the Boy Scout camp and the lookout over the pond. The woods road we were walking on was once Beech Mountain Road leading to the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. As we walked I had been removing small branches from the trail by habit. After a short walk, a trail turned off to the left to go down to the pond and the road we were on continued straight ahead. Another road was sandwiched in between the two and leads to the site of the former Boy Scout camp which has been leveled by the Beaverkill Valley Land Trust. We continued straight ahead on the road that started up the hill. The road was covered in leaves which were mostly brown and yellow. We passed a spring house on the right and Sheila stopped to get a drink. She must have been warm as she splashed around a "dug" in the water for several minutes. The grade became steeper as we climbed the hill and at about 2.6 miles the road made a sharp turn to the right. We stopped so that I could take some pictures from a small viewpoint. There were some colors in the leafy landscape but it seemed they were still far from peak color. As I was getting ready to leave the viewpoint, I got a call from one of our EMTs who had taken a call. He needed an access code which I gave him and which, fortunately, worked. After I finished my photography, we continued on the road. As the road made another sharp turn, this time to the left, a trail went off to the right.

We turned right and walked along the wide path passing some interesting ledge on the left. I stopped to take a few pictures of these impressive stone formations. We continued on the path around Flynn's Point on Beech Mountain until we came to the lookout over Hodge Pond on the right. When I walked out to the stone ledge that makes up the viewpoint, I could see some great color. Most of these colors were around Hodge Pond. I took several pictures at different zooms and at different angles. When I was done, I packed up ad we continued in a counter clockwise direction around Beech Mountain on the woods road. I stopped at one point to take some more pictures of the cliffs and ledges that surround the southern face of Beech Mountain. We started downhill on the woods road and walked a short distance to a beautiful lookout to the east.This lookout has views of the Burrough's Range and other major peaks. I was a little disappointed that the leaves were mostly green with a few patches of yellows and reds. I took quite a few shots and then we continued our hike by walking uphill on the road. I considered bushwhacking to Mongaup Mountain which has some nice views to the north but decided to pass up the opportunity on this hike. We were soon back at the point on the road where he had turned onto the trail around Beech Mountain. We continued on the road and set a quick pace down the hill. Sheila again stopped at the spring and this time dug at the opening to the culvert until water was freely flowing through it. At the base of the hill, we turned right on the woods road that leads down to Hodge Pond. We turned left when the road intersected a jeep trail and ended up at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. We walked over to the shore of the pond where I dropped my pack and got out the camera. Sheila decided to go wading and swimming while I took a look at the pond. The colors I had seen from the lookout were even better from the level of the pond. The colors were not as bright as I had hoped but I looked forward to coming back in a week to see how they developed. I too some shots of the pond concentrating on the leaves. The sky was blue with a few wispy white clouds. I also took some pictures of Sheila in the water. When I was done, I ate a bar and got a drink before picking up and walking to where the Flynn Trail enters the woods. We started climbing the hill back to the junction where we had turned right some time before. This ascent can sometimes seem long but on this day it went quickly. At the top of the hill we stayed to the right on the Flynn Trail and followed the route we had taken out. We passed through the gate and looked up to see some other hikers approaching. I directed Sheila off the trail and she sat down as the others approached. I said "Hello" to the hikers and we struck up a conversation. They are from Livingston Manor and know Lisa Lyons from Morgan Outdoors. I explained my role as a trail supervisor and they let e know they would be interested in doing trail maintenance. As we were talking I got another call form our EMT on a scene asking about the call he was on. We talked for a few moments and then I went back to talking to the hikers. We eventually parted company while Sheila and I continued on the trail.

We were soon approaching the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I though about whether to return on the Flynn Trail or add a little mileage by taking the Big Rock Trail. I decided on the Big Rock Trail since it would allow me to check out more trails. We turned right on the Big Rock Trail and started the long downhill hike. The walk down the Big Rock Trail went quickly even though there are several points where it seems the descent has ended only to continue toward Times Square. We were soon at Times Square where we continued straight across to stay on the Big Rock Trail. Times Square which is usually wet and muddy was almost dry. The trails had been almost completely dry up to this time but there were many muddy areas on the Big Rock Trail. As we continued on the trail, we came to the two bridges over the inlet streams. The bridge abutments are beginning to deteriorate and really need to be replaced. I stopped at both bridges to take some shots of the water flowing under the bridges and a few colorful trees. As we continued to hike, we walked through the beautiful spruce forest and over the wooden walkways which also need repair. Some sections of the walkways are poorly supported and some have boards are coming loose. We avoided the mud pit just before the junction with the Quick Lake Trail by following the detour hikers have created. Soon we were at the junction with the Quick Lake Trail where we turned left toward the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. The large mud pit that the Willowemoc Trail crew had worked on was still easy to cross due to the increased drainage and stepping stones. Once passed the muddy area, it wasn't long until we were at the bridge. Despite the fact that I have hundreds of pictures from this spot, I took a few more. The trees around the pond were colorful but not quite as far along as the ones around Hodge Pond. I finished my photography and we started up the hill to Gravestone Junction. I noticed that the Lobdell memorial marker was upright. The marker is a memorial to two children who died in the 1930's in a fire that consumed their cabin. As we walked along the Quick Lake Trail back to our cars, I noticed that the trail was pretty wet with surface water and some flowing water. The Willowemoc Trail Crew had done some work here but it is hard to drain the trail as it is the lowest spot in most areas. At the trail register, we continued straight ahead to return to the car in the smaller parking area. By 3:35 PM we were back at the car after hiking 7.3 miles in 3 hours and 40 minutes with 40 minutes of stopped time. This was good for an overall 2.0 mph pace. We also gained 1290 feet of elevation.

On Friday, October 1st I wanted to get out for a short hike between work I had to do at home and cross country practice in the afternoon. At 11:30 AM I asked Cindy if she wanted to go across the street and hike some loops on Round Top but she declined. I started to get ready when the temperature was 62 degrees with a slight breeze blowing. The skies were [partly sunny with some impressive clouds some of which looked a little dark. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on us as we dressed. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with no base layer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to wear my Keen Cascade hiking boots which are new and all-leather which means they need some work to break them in. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned my Mammut hoody as the temperature and the breeze made it feel cool. We stepped out of the house at noon. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We walked to the church parking lot and to the back of the church. As we started up the hill, I noticed the number of headstone that were still "down" due to "hillside creep" and a few holes that were opening up. I hope that the town will take the responsibility to maintain the cemetery. We continued the ascent of the steep hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". I let Sheila pull me up the hill which she was willing to do. At the trailhead, I let Sheila off her leash and she immediately began to bound up the trail. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I knew that other people were using the trails from comments on Facebook and because the trails were becoming well-worn as more and more people use them.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the viewpoint. There was a slight breeze blowing but I was already getting warm from wearing the hoody and making the ascent. The climb up the hill was a little more tiring than usual. At the viewpoint, I noticed that the brush that I had placed in the trail was still there. This path has a dangerous spot and we have piled brush on it to discourage people from using it. We continued on the main trail and headed to the right to follow ot as it turned and headed up the gentle hill through the hardwood forest. The forest was green but the ferns covering the forest floor were beginning to turn brown as the temperatures at night were dipping into the 40's. Sheila was making her own way by staying on the trail sometimes and then running off-trail and chasing game trails. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction with the blue trail. There were a few branches on the trail that I removed as we hiked. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. This section was in good shape without any blowdowns and the brush and grass had remained at bay. At the next junction, we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued up and over the summit. There was one small tree down on the summit which would require a saw to remove it. The trails were mostly dry with only a few muddy spots. I decided we would skip the white crossover trail but take the switchback on the blue trail. We followed the switchback as it headed out into the woods and then back to the main trail where we turned left. At the bottom of the hill, we turned left on the yellow trail, and walked along the base of Round Top. At the trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right to walk down to the woods road. It was a snap to walk downhill and out the woods road. It was obvious Sheila felt the same way as she was running and bounding ahead of me and then running back up the trail. At the first trail junction, I turned around and started back up the woods road. We started back up the woods road to the junction with the blue trail at a more relaxed pace. We turned left and walked along the yellow trail following the base of the Round Top summit. At the next junction, we turned right and started up the steeper side of the hill on the blue trail. This time we again took the switchback in the blue trail. At the end of the switch, we turned right and right again on the white-blazed crossover trail. We continued on crossover trail to the blue trail on the other side of the hill. We turned right at the end and walked down to the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail and followed it along the base of Round Top once again. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned to the left to stay on the yellow trail to the lookout. At the lookout, we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. We walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill. We headed across the church parking lot to the street and crossed the street to our driveway. We were home by 1:05 PM after hiking a little over 2 miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes.

On Wednesday, September 29th, I wanted to get out for a hike which was a little harder than I had been doing. Lisa wanted to get out for a hike and we decided she would come to my house at 9:00 AM and that we would hike to the Red Hill fire tower from the newer trailhead on Denning Road. The trailhead on Dinch-Coons Road is difficult to access in the winter as the road is not cleared and it is equally different when it is muddy. Many people park at the top of the hill where there is limited parking. It is a half mile downhill to the trailhead parking lot. The return trip can be nearly impossible if there is ice, packed snow or mud on the road. The new trailhead and parking area is on Denning Road a little less than 2 miles from the Claryville Post Office. When I awoke, the temperature was 44 degrees but the sun was out and I knew that would cause the temperature to rise. At 8:30 AM I began to get ready with Sheila keeping a close watch on my movements. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was already cool and I thought it might be cooler at the trailhead. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I packed a light hat and a pair of light gloves. Lisa arrived at 9:00 AM and I went out to meet her. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and we left Livingston Manor at 9:10 AM. I headed out the DeBruce Road passing through DeBruce and Willowemoc. At the end of the road I turned right on Route 47 and drove out to the Denning Road. Here I turned left and drove through Claryville. Two miles after the Claryville Post Office, we came to the new parking area on the right side of the road and pulled into the lot. There is a sign hanging from the support on the side of the road to designate the parking area and a kiosk with a description and maps. There were no other cars parked. I set my GPS unit and we walked to the back of the parking area and started up the trail at 9:35 AM with the temperature standing at 46 degrees.

As we began the walk up the trail, it was obvious that the trail was pretty dry with only a few damp spots. I wasn't sure this would continue to the summit as there had been some rain during the week. We almost immediately came to a set of stone steps. They were well constructed and in just the right place to help out hikers. I also noticed that a woods road ran off to the right and thought about walking up it some other time. We continued on the trail which was still in good shape even after it had been in place for over a year. The treadway was wide and flat with few obstacles. There were several switchbacks and it was obvious that one requirement of the construction was a moderate grade. The forest at these lower elevations was primarily evergreen which is unusual in the Catskills. We did run across a few branches on the trail which we removed. There was one very large tree across the trail which was easy enough to get over but will require a sawyer crew to remove. At .4 miles the trail turned sharply to the left in one of its many switchback and we entered an area of hardwoods. There was a small stream that ran across the trail and the construction crew had create a deep ditch along the side of the trail. The ditch directed the water across the trail and at that point there was a stone construction to allow the water to cross the trail and hikers to easily cross the water. This was repeated several other times on the trail. We stopped to take a few pictures of the trail. Shortly, we ran into the one wet spot on the trail but it was easily avoided. At .7 miles I could see a series of ledges ahead and stone steps that wound between them. I stopped to take some pictures but knew that this would be repeated several more times over the next quarter mile. Each time I stopped to take pictures and each time Sheila posed nicely for some shots. At 1.3 miles we came to a trail junction with the trail that comes in from the Dinch-Coons Road trailhead. There were new signs and one sign indicated the Dinch Road trailhead was .8 miles to the left and the fire tower was .6 miles to the right. We stopped for a few minutes to get a drink and then continued toward the tower.

After walking about quarter mile, there was a spur trail to a spring on the right side of the trail and then a short switchback. The grade increased from a consistent 10% to a steeper 20% and I could feel it. Fortunately, there was still very little mud but there were plenty of rocks and roots to trip over. There was plenty of sun which made me feel good but was also contributing to making me pretty warm. The last .3 miles averages a little over a 20% grade and is challenging but did not seem too bad. Lisa and I talked as we walked which made the hike go much more quickly. At 11:00 AM we arrived at the tower clearing which we had to ourselves. I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take some pictures of the tower. I decided not to tether Sheila to a picnic table knowing she would follow me up the tower. Unlike some dogs, Sheila has no problem climbing up and down the open steps. Lisa and I started to climb the tower with Sheila right behind me. Without looking, I could tell when I was above the treeline as the wind hit me. We eventually made it to the landing below the cab. I began to take pictures of the surrounding scenery in all directions. There was no haze in any direction and the views were good in all directions. When there is no haze or fog, the views of the Catskill peaks from this tower are spectacular. The leaves were just beginning to change color but were far from spectacular. After taking quite a few shots, we descended the tower. I noticed the shadow of the tower in the clearing a took a picture as well as some pictures of the cabin. I got a drink before starting the hike back down the mountain at 11:15 PM. It had taken us 1.5 hours to hike to the summit and I hoped we would make the trip back go faster. We moved quickly down the steeper section of the trail to the junction. We made the left turn onto the new trail and continued to keep a fast pace. The trail surface was excellent and allowed us to keep moving. As we started through the bottom section, Sheila began to alert and we saw an older couple hiking toward us. I pulled Sheila off the trail to allow them to pass by. A little further on Sheila again altered and almost immediately a loose dog came up the trail followed closely by another dog and the owner. The first dog wanted to "play" with Sheila but Sheila was not interested. I pulled her off the trail and the owner of the other dogs got them leashed. She passed by with an apology and we continued down the trail. Soon we were descending the last few steps to the parking area. It was 12:15 PM and we had hiked 3.7 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes with 35 minutes of stopped time. The trip up took an hour and 25 minutes but the return trip only took us an hour. Our elevation gain was 1200 feet. The temperature had risen to 52 degrees.

On Monday, September 27th I wanted to get out for a hike after several days of being away from the trails. A combination of rain, cross country meets, and ambulance calls had kept me away from the activity that relaxes me the most. I slept a little late as we had an overnight ambulance call. By the time I was ready to hike I knew that I only had time to go across the street to hike on Round Top. It was 11:00 AM by the time I started to get dressed with the temperature a rather "cool" 64 degrees. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on me as we dressed. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top but decided against a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Keen Cascade hiking boots which are new and all-leather which means they need some work to break them in. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. At 11:30 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. I looked at the many headstones that have tipped over and the holes developing. I hoped the town would take responsibility to do some repairs on the headstones that have fallen over and the holes that have developed. At the top of the hill we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead where I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail was mostly dry with a few muddy spots. The trail was worn showing that people had been using it.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. We walked up the road to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The trails were a little damp and there were quite a few new benches on the trail. I stopped to remove the branches or used my poles to flick the smaller ones aside. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail, toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. We turned right and passed by the white crossover trail. We passed over the summit and continued on the blue trail down the other side of the hill. We passed the white crossover trail and then turned right on the yellow trail. We again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill passing the "Resting Rock" to the lookout. The forest floor was becoming covered with leaves that had fallen from the trees. Most of these leaves had gone from green to brownout passing through the brilliant colors that make autumn in the Catskills so beautiful! Many the ferns were starting to turn brown as the nights are getting cooler. At the viewpoint, we turned left and started to follow the yellow trail downhill to the first trail junction. I noticed that there was still some brush blocking the path to the viewpoint. People who are just trying to "help" sometimes clear the brush but it just means that I have to find branches and brush to throw on the path to block it. The path has a potentially dangerous gap especially in the winter. We started down the steep hill toward the first trail junction. At the bottom of the hill we turned around to start back up the hill to the viewpoint. At the top of the hill we followed the yellow trail as it turned right and started uphill. At the first junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up the blue trail toward the summit. We came to the white crossover trail again and turned left to take it over to the main blue trail. We turned left and then left again on the switchback. We walked the switchback toward the main blue trail and turned left to continue downhill on the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and walked down the yellow trail to the woods road that took us back to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead at the top of the cemetery hill. On the way out we met a woman coming toward us with two small dogs. She picked up the smaller one as it was barking and snarling. The other she allowed to walk along the trail without a leash saying 'That one is friendly.' I noticed two cars parked at the trailhead and asked if one ones hers. At first she said one was and then denied it. I mentioned we did not advise people to park there as they block the road which is inconsiderate. At the trailhead, I noticed that one car had a woman in the drivers' seat. She waved at me and I shook my head and waved back. We walked down the hill and out to the road through the church parking lot. We walked over to the driveway and back to the house. It was 12:25 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in an hour.

On Wednesday, September 22nd I wanted to continue my string of consecutive days of hiking. I had planned another longer hike but circumstances intervened. The morning proved to be a bust as I had work to do a the ambulance building. When I finished stocking the rigs, a call came in to finish off the morning and start the afternoon. At 1:00 I asked Cindy if she wanted to go across the street and hike some loops on Round Top and she agreed. We started to get ready when the temperature was 71 degrees with a slight breeze blowing. The skies looked like it might rain which was the forecast. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on us as we dressed. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with no base layer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to wear my Keen Cascade hiking boots which are new and all-leather which means they need some work to break them in. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. We stepped out of the house at 1:45 PM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We walked to the church parking lot and to the back of the church. As we started up the hill, Cindy and I noticed the number of headstone that had fallen over from "hillside creep" and a few holes that were opening up. We discussed our hope that the town would take the responsibility to maintain the cemetery. We continued the ascent of the steep hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". I let Sheila pull me up the hill which she was willing to do. At the trailhead, I let Sheila off her leash and she immediately began to bound up the trail. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I knew that other people were using the trails from comments on Facebook and because the trails were becoming well-worn as more and more people use them.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the viewpoint. There was a slight breeze blowing and Cindy remarked that it was keeping us cool and blowing the insects away. The climb up the hill was a little more tiring than usual. At the viewpoint, I noticed that the brush that I had placed in the trail was still there. This path has a dangerous spot and we have piled brush on it to discourage people from using it. We continued on the main trail and headed to the right to follow ot as it turned and headed up the gentle hill through the hardwood forest. The forest was green but the ferns covering the forest floor were beginning to turn brown with the coming of fall. Sheila was making her own way by staying on the trail sometimes and then running off-trail and chasing game trails. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction with the blue trail. There were a few branches on the trail that we removed as we hiked. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. This section was in good shape without any blowdowns and the brush and grass had remained at bay. At the next junction, we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued up and over the summit. The trails were mostly dry with only a few muddy spots. I decided we would skip the white crossover trail but take the switchback on the blue trail. We followed the switchback as it headed out into the woods and then back to the main trail where we turned left. At the bottom of the hill, we turned left on the yellow trail, and walked along the base of Round Top. At the trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right to walk down to the woods road. It was a snap to walk downhill and out the woods road. It was obvious Sheila felt the same way as she was running and bounding ahead of us and then running back up the trail. At the first trail junction, I turned around and started back up the woods road. Cindy was unsure she wanted to continue but I was able to convince her to come along. We started back up the woods road to the junction with the blue trail at a more relaxed pace. We talked about many things as we took our time walking. We turned left and walked along the yellow trail following the base of the Round Top summit. At the next junction, we turned right and started up the steeper side of the hill on the blue trail. This time we again took the switchback in the blue trail. At the end of the switch, we turned right and right again on the white-blazed crossover trail. We continued on crossover trail to the blue trail on the other side of the hill. We turned right at the end and walked down to the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail and followed it along the base of Round Top once again. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned to the left to stay on the yellow trail to the lookout. At the lookout, we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. We walked straight out to the trailhead. The skies were beginning to cloud over and a few drops of rain fell from the sky. We turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill. We headed across the church parking lot to the street. We crossed the street to our driveway and were home by 2:55 PM after hiking a little over 2 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Summer 2021

On Tuesday, September 21st I wanted to get in a longer hike than just the trails on Round Top across the street. I knew this would be the last hike of the summer so I wanted it to be good. I was up by 8:30 AM and decided to head out to do a loop of about 6 miles at Hodge and Frick Ponds. I had not hiked UP the Flynn Trail to do the big loop around Hodge Pond in some time and made that my intended route. The temperature was 64 degrees as I was getting ready but I knew it could be a little cooler at the trailhead. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved base layer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat at 9:00 AM and drove out the Debruce Road about 6 miles. I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. At the split, I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. There were no cars parked in either parking lot as I pulled into the smaller area. I was surprised since lately there had been a few people at the trailhead no matter the day or time. The thermometer read 61 degrees as I set my GPS. It seemed a little cool but I knew I would warm up as I hiked. The skies were a little overcast with some blue in areas. Other parts of the sky were completely overcast and there wasn't much sun. There was also a breeze blowing which made things a little cooler. At 9:20 AM we started our hike by crossing the road to start out on the Flynn Trail. There were no large blowdowns in the woods but I did remove a few small branches. At the end of the trail through the woods we turned right on the woods road that was once the extension of Beech Mountain Road. I had intended to hike at a relaxed pace but instead set a quick pace with Sheila roving out ahead kicking up a few birds as we hiked. The trail was mostly dry but there were a few wet areas. The Flynn Trail ascends 1.7 miles to the Big Rock Trail junction gaining 600 feet. The more I hike the quicker I can hike and easier it seems. At 1.1 miles, we came to the area where there is a clearing to the right of the trail. I decided that we would go off the trail to visit the clearing as I had not done this in some time. We stopped at the edge of the clearing where I dropped my pack to get out the camera. I had hoped to see a little more color in the trees but I took some shots anyway. I packed up and we walked back down to the trail and continued toward Hodge Pond. By 10:10 AM we had hiked the 1.8 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I noticed a sign on the right side of the trail indicating the Big Rock Trail continued over the hill toward Mongaup Pond. I am becoming accustomed to mistakes on DEC signs but that doesn't make them acceptable. The Big Rock Trail only turns left! The trail to the right is a snowmobile trail. We continued straight ahead staying on the Flynn Trail heading toward Hodge Pond. The trail seemed dry but the layer of leaves covered some wet and muddy areas. We passed through the gate that separates state land from the Beaverkill Land Trust, formerly OSU, property and were soon at the next trail junction where we stayed to the left on the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond.

The downhill walk went quickly and were soon in the clearing at the outlet end of the pond. We walked over to the shore of the pond where I again dropped the pack to get out the camera. The leaves were just beginning to change and the sun was playing tricks. The sun would come out from behind the clouds and illuminate the trees and then quickly disappear again. I took my shots and the returned to my pack. Sheila had not jumped into the water to swim as it was a little cold. I got a drink and a bar as we headed back to the Flynn Trail and turned right to follow it along the west side of Hodge Pond. To this point the trail had been relatively dry but as we continued on the west side of Hodge Pond the Flynn Trail began to be muddy. At one time this part of the trail was heavily sodded and drained well. OSI had decided for some reason to rake a way the sod and run large tractors through to mow. This causes deep ruts in the mud which results in a real mess. As we walked along the western shore, we came to a spot where we could turn left or right. We turned left to stay on the Flynn Trail and began a slight up hill climb toward the gate where the trail turns to the left. We ran into blowdown which would require a saw and ax to clear. We continued our walk up the hill and through the gate. This part of the Flynn Trail is pretty flat and the trail is often the lowest point which allows water to collect with nowhere to go. The trail was wet and muddy and I had to walk around several areas where the mud looked to be above my boot tops. Despite this the trail was not as wet as it sometimes can be. I noticed that Sheila was pretty careful to walk around these areas as I had encouraged her. There were a few branches on the trails which I removed as we walked. We arrived at Junkyard Junction at 11:00 AM about 3.4 miles into the hike. From here the rest of the hike is primarily downhill with a few small hills along the way. We turned left on the red Quick Lake Trail and found it was also muddy in spots. Some section of the trail are washed out leaving a lot of rocks behind and making the downhill hiking not as much fun as it could be. There were at least two large trunks down across the trail which would require tools. Another blowdown had several branches that were hard to get through. I realized that most of these branches were loose and spent a few minutes moving them out of the way. At about 3.8 miles the trail turned due south and we continued downhill.

There wasn't much to see so we hiked quickly passing the junction with the snowmobile trail. We arrived at Iron Wheel Junction at 11:45M after hiking 5.0 miles. I stopped to take a few pictures as we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. At this point the yellow Logger's Loop continued straight ahead. The trail continued to be muddy but we made good time. We continued on the trail and soon came to the little stream in the woods. The stream was not very high as I had cleared a blockage downstream which allowed a better flow. Sheila did wade in to get a drink while I took a few pictures. I stopped to take a shot of the small waterfall just above the point where I crossed. We continued toward Frick Pond and found several more blowdowns which were large and easy to step over. There were a few wet and muddy spots but most were drier than I expected. We passed the junction with the Big Rock Trail that goes around the north end of Frick Pond and walked toward the bridge across the outlet of the pond. We crossed the bridge and I dropped my pack to take out my camera so that I could take some pictures. The trees around Frick Pond were showing some color but those on Beech Mountain were still green. I packed up and we continued back on the Quick Lake Trail toward the trail register. The brush along the trails was starting to grow into the trails and I hoped that my maintainer would be making a fall trip. I noticed that the Lobdell Memorial was still standing and I debated whether or not to trim the short path to it. The trail to the register was wet but the drainage work we had done seemed to be working. At the trail register we continued straight ahead on the woods road to the smaller parking area. It was 12:30 PM and we had hiked 6.4 miles in 3 hours and 10 minutes with an elevation gain of 930 feet. The temperature was 68 degrees.

On Monday, September 20th I wanted to get out for a hike after a week of being away from the trails. A combination of cross country meets and ambulance calls had kept me away from the activity that relaxes me the most. After a week of hiking only once, I wanted to get in as many days in a row as possible. I slept a little late as we had two overnight ambulance calls. By the time I was ready to hike I knew that I only had time to go across the street to hike on Round Top. It was 11:15 AM by the time I started to get dressed with the temperature a rather "cool" 66 degrees. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on me as we dressed. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top but decided against a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Keen Cascade hiking boots which are new and all-leather which means they need some work to break them in. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. At 11:30 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. I looked at the many headstones that have tipped over and the holes developing. I hoped the town would take responsibility to do some repairs on the headstones that have fallen over and the holes that have developed. At the top of the hill we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead where I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail was mostly dry with a few muddy spots. The trail was worn showing that people had been using it.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. We walked up the road to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail, toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. We turned right and passed by the white crossover trail. We passed over the summit and continued on the blue trail down the other side of the hill. We passed the white crossover trail and then turned right on the yellow trail. We again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill passing the "Resting Rock" to the lookout. The forest was green but some of the ferns were starting to turn brown as fall was approaching and the nights ere getting cooler. At the viewpoint, we turned left and started to follow the yellow trail downhill to the first trail junction. I noticed that there was still some brush blocking the path to the viewpoint. People who are just trying to "help" sometimes clear the brush but it just means that I have to find branches and brush to throw on the path to block it. The path has a potentially dangerous gap especially in the winter. We started down the steep hill toward the first trail junction. At the bottom of the hill we turned around to start back up the hill to the viewpoint. At the top of the hill we followed the yellow trail as it turned right and started uphill. At the first junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up the blue trail toward the summit. We came to the white crossover trail again and turned left to take it over to the main blue trail. We turned left and then left again on the switchback. We walked the switchback toward the main blue trail. As we were almost back to the main trail. We continued downhill on the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and walked down the yellow trail to the woods road that took us back to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead at the top of the cemetery hill. We walked down the hill and out to the road through the church parking lot. We walked over to the driveway and back to the house. It was 12:20 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in a little more than an hour.

On Monday, September 13th, I wanted to hike the Campbell Mountain Trail from Route 206 to the junction with the Little Spring Brook Trail. From there I planned to hike the Little Spring Brook Trail to Little Spring Brook Road. This is a little over 5 miles so I thought parking two cars and hiking point to point would be a good way to handle it since I needed to be back for cross country practice. I thought I had Cindy onboard for this adventure but in the end she bowed out. This left me with a dilemma. I wanted to hike the Little Spring Brook Trail as two of my maintainers tried to follow it on Saturday and lost the trail. When I woke up at 8:00 AM, it was already 66 degrees. I check my e-mail and found out that a friend from school had passed away which was a shock. I thought about giving up on the hike but knew I would feel better if I went out. I decided that I would hike the Little Spring Brook Trail out and back from Little Spring Brook Road. I started to get ready at 9:00 AM with Sheila staring at me the whole time. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved base layer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and pulled out of Livingston Manor at 9:15 AM. I headed to Roscoe on State Route 17, got off at exit 94 and got on Route 206. I followed it across the Delaware County line and drove north to Little Spring Brook Road. I turned right and drove along the road looking for my friend's property where I planned to park. I found the property but continued to the end of the road where I found a parking area not marked on the map. I decided to park there where the trail began. I set my GPS and started out on the trail at 9:35 Am with the temperature at 67 degrees

As we started out on the trail, I could immediately see that it was going to be a wet and muddy trip. The trail was lined with weeds and there was water running across it and down it with large muddy patches. The trail roughly followed an old woods road and paralleled Little Spring Brook. The trail markers were yellow but most were labeled New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Nature Trail which is a marker I had never seen before. I kept working my way along the trail. At one point there was a large culvert under the trail indicating that the road was once quite substantial. At .4 miles the markers disappeared and it was hard to tell where to walk. It look like there might be a trail through the woods but this was only a path. O continued to walk through the weeds finding some deep water and mud. The trail eventually came to a small but beautiful pond. I stopped to take some pictures and then we continued on the trail. The trial was drier after this as we walked through the woods and started up a small hill. I had been removing some small branches and trunks along the way and moved a few more in this area. At .7 miles we came to the junction with the Campbell Mountain Trail and the Pelnor Hollow Trail. I stopped for a moment and took some pictures of the signs at the intersection. The information on one sign was almost completely wrong. The sign pointed toward the Pelnor Hollow Trail but was labeled Little Spring Brook Trail. One line showed the Pelnor Hollow Trail was .6 miles away. It also showed the Campbell Mountain Trail was .6 miles in the same direction. This was odd as we were at the junction with those trails! The mistakes are confusing and it is sad that the DEC places these signs. We turned around and started back on the trail. As we neared the pond, I decided we would walk back through the woods along a stone wall. This was a much better route than the trail out and I am going to see if I can reroute the trail. I stopped at the culvert on the way back and took some pictures and also took some pictures of the stream where the water cascaded over some rocks. We continued back to the car walking through the water and mud again. I noticed that the sign at the trailhead said that Cat Hollow Road was 1.7 miles up the Little Spring Brook Trail! This was another mistake by the DEC. We were back at the car by 10:45 AM hiking 1.4 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes. The elevation gain was 180 feet.

We left Little Spring Brook and drove out to Route 206. I turned right and drove over Cat Hollow to the parking area where the Finger lakes Trail crosses Route 206. I parked at 10:55 AM and set my GPS. We cross the road and started out on the trail. The trail was wet in a few spots and muddy in many spots. There were some trail markers missing but we were soon climbing Brock Mountain. This climb was a little steeper than I remembered. Over the first .5 miles we gain 440 feet at an average 17% grade. I could see higher ground on my left which I knew was Brock Mountain but could not remember where the quarry was located. At .5 miles the trail leveled and even descended a little. At .65 miles the trail began to ascend again for .25 miles at 17%. At 1 miles the trail turned right and headed south. At this point the road to the quarry was on the left. We walked up the road to the point where the quarry roads began. I dropped my pack and got out my camera and put my GPS unit in my pocket. We walked over to on old truck that had been used in the quarry and I took some pictures. I took some pictures of the stone left over after the quarrying. We then walked to the main part of the quarry where I took some pictures. We walked to the top of the quarry and I took a number of pictures as we walked along the edge. Soon we were back at the pack. I put the camera away and got a drink. I shouldered my pack and we headed back down the mountain to the car. As I walked along the trail, I had my mind in several things I had to get done during the day. Since I was not paying attention to my foot placement, I hot a muddy spot on a steep section and slipped. I fell pretty hard on my right side hitting my hip and knee. I picked myself up and had some pain but everything seemed to work. I brushed off some of the mud and started back down the trail. The rest of the trip was uneventful and we were back at the car at 12:15 PM after hiking 2.2 miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes. The elevation gain was 765 feet.

On Wednesday, September 8th I wanted to get in a hike even though I had to leave early for an away cross country meet. I had planned to go for a slightly longer hike at Frick Pond but several ambulance calls overnight made me rethink my plans. I slept until 9:30 AM and decided I would go across the street and hike some loops on Round Top. I had a few things to get done around the house but finally started to get ready at 11:00 AM when the temperature was 75 degrees with a slight breeze blowing. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on us as I dressed. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top but decided against a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Keen Cascade hiking boots which are new and all-leather which means they need some work to break them in. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. At 11:20 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. Some workers were trimming the cemetery before mowing. I hope they can address some of the holes developing and right some of the headstones that have fallen over. At the top of the hill we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead where I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail was completely dry and showed that people had been using it.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. We walked up the road to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail, toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. We turned right and passed by the white crossover trail. We passed over the summit and continued on the blue trail down the other side of the hill. We passed the white crossover trail and then turned right on the yellow trail. We again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill passing the "Resting Rock" to the lookout. The forest was very green as all the vegetation was in bloom. At the viewpoint, we turned left and started to follow the yellow trail downhill to the first trail junction. I noticed that there was still some brush blocking the path to the viewpoint. People who are just trying to "help" sometimes clear the brush but it just means that I have to find branches and brush to throw on the path to block it. The path has a potentially dangerous gap especially in the winter. There were two women with a young child coming up the trail so I put Sheila on her leash and we stepped off onto the path. As the other hikers passed by, I busied myself finding a few more branches to add to the pile. After a few moment, we started down the steep hill toward the first trail junction. At the bottom of the hill we turned around to start back up the hill to the viewpoint. At the top of the hill we followed the yellow trail as it turned right and started uphill. The other hikers had hiked down to the lower lookout from the upper and were enjoying. At the first junction with the blue trail we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up the blue trail toward the summit. We came to the white crossover trail again and turned left to take it over to the main blue trail. We turned left and then left again on the switchback. We walked the switchback toward the main blue trail. As we were almost back to the main trail, the other hikers were headed up toward the summit. I told them the trail actually follows the switchback to avoid erosion. They turned onto the switchback and started hiking toward us. I pulled Sheila aside and asked the hikers if they had ever been to the area below the lookout. They said they had not been there and I described the "rock shelter" that was there. We continued downhill on the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and walked down the yellow trail to the woods road that took us back to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead at the top of the cemetery hill. We walked down the hill and out to the road through the church parking lot. We walked over to the driveway and back to the house. It was 12:20 PM and we had hiked over 2 miles in an hour.

On Monday, September 6th, I asked Cindy if she wanted to go hiking and she agreed. We decided to go to Trout Pond to walk the loop and visit Russell Brook Falls. When I got up at 8:00 AM, the skies were bright and sunny with a few white clouds. The temperature was in the mid 60's and the humidity seemed low although it had rained overnight. I started to get ready at 9:15 AM and tried to get Cindy not to wait too long as there was a forecast for rain in the afternoon. Sheila seemed to be very enthusiastic about getting out as she was running upstairs to check on Cindy and then back downstairs to me. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved base layer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to put on my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks. I also added a new OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put our gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and pulled out of Livingston Manor at 9:40 AM. I headed to Roscoe on State Route 17, got off at exit 94 and got on Route 206. I followed it across the Delaware County line to Morton Hill Road. After a left turn on Morton Hill Road, I drove toward the intersection with Russell Brook Road. There were two cars ahead of us and I thought they might be going the same place we were headed. I wondered if the lower parking area might be full on Labor Day. The cars ahead of us turned left on Russell Brook Road and I followed them. We drove down to the lower parking area where there were only a few parking spaces left after the other two cars parked. There were several groups of people present so I put Sheila on her leash. I set my GPS and we started down the woods road to the bridge across Russell Brook at 10:00 AM.

We crossed the bridge and found that the Japanese knotweed had all but overgrown the path. It is a shame the DEC has not kept this trimmed back as the area is very popular and used by many people. We turned right on the path toward Russell Brook Falls and found it also had almost grown closed despite the traffic. We walked the path toward the falls. As we started down the bank, I could see a family in the streambed below the falls. I out Sheila on her leash and gave it to Cindy so that I could safely get down over the slippery rocks to the stream. After that, I took the leash and let Sheila come down followed by Cindy. I got out my camera and took pictures of the falls and the stream. The falls were flowing freely but the volume was not exceptional. I let Sheila loose and she went to pose in front of the falls. Two men were trying to get a drone to work but it didn't look like they were having much luck. I put Sheila on her leash in preparation for climbing back up the bank. Before we left, I noticed a fire ring and took the time to remove some wet wood, scatter the ashes and dismantle the stones. We walked up the bank and back out the main trail meeting a few people on the way. At the main trail we turned right. Where the trail split, we turned left on the Mud Pond Trail. We crossed the outlet stream from Trout Pond on the bridge and passed by the large campsite on the right. The campsite was empty and there was no garbage left behind. I was surprised since this is one of the most popular campsites. The trail began to climb the hill and in .6 miles we gained over 350 feet. Along the way I removed some loose branches and moved at least one trunk to the side of the trail. The climb is a little steep at times so we took a couple of breaks. Soon we were at the top of the hill and began a slight descent toward the trail junction. The trail was wet in places from the storm the previous night which had tracked north of Livingston Manor. When we reached the trail junction, we turned right on the Mud Pond Trail and started a long climb. We could see two people approaching the junction behind us but they contributed straight ahead on the Mud Pond Trail toward Mud Pond. I hoped they knew where they were going as the trail in that direction is very wet and muddy. In a short distance we ran into the first blowdown which was a single medium sized trunk across the trail. As we walked I continued to clear small branches and pulled some trunks off the trail. The trail was in good shape and I knew that a DEC sawyer and swamper had been through the last time I had visited. The climb seemed to go on for a long time and near the top there was another trunk across the trail. We continued to the top of the hill. I was glad the rest of the hike was downhill or flat.

The descent from the highest point on the hike to the outlet bridge is .7 miles and loses 455 feet in elevation. Along the way I picked up a few more branches and moved some more trunks. I noticed that several of the large blowdowns had been cut and moved by the DEC crew. We also encountered one more blowdown that would have to be cut and removed. On the final descent to the pond, Sheila alerted and I could see some people ahead on the trail. I took Sheila off the trail as they passed. There were at least 8 people and 3 dogs including some children. One dog was a young and beautiful Golden Doodle that was very "high energy". We arrived at the outlet end of the pond and I tried to find a place to walk out to the shore through the weeds. There was no good place so I walked over to the bridge and took a few pictures of the pond. The sky was blue with plenty of sun and some white puffy clouds. There were some people coming down the Mud Pond Trail so I packed up and we continued along the trail finding no one at either lean-to. We turned right on the Trout Pond Trail and found the large campsite on the left of the trail unused. The trail was wet and muddy but the center was dry enough that walking was not problem. At one point there was a place to walk off the trail to take some pictures of the pond. We continued down the trail and decided to stop at the beach to take some shots. We turned right and walked over to the beach. Sheila did not want to swim again but I did get out my camera to take some more shots of the pond. Sheila finally decided to take a dip and I took a picture. We walked back to the main trail and turned right to descend the trail to the trail register. Three hikers went by headed toward the upper end of the pond. The trail descends gently losing 260 feet over .7 miles on a wide woods road. Along the way we met a series of hikers coming up the trail including several dogs. As we neared the register, a man was approaching with a beautiful white dog. He pulled off the trail and I complimented his dog on the way by. He returned the favor. I was pretty sure the dog was a young White American Shepherd. Despite the dog being young and full of energy, it was very well-behaved. We continued on the trail and back to the car. We arrived at 12:45 PM after walking 4.5 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes. The elevation gain was about 880 feet.

On Friday, September 3rd I wanted to get out for a hike with my grandson Lukas and granddaughter Lilly who were coming to my house. Luke and Lilly are twins and I had never been out hiking with both of them. I did some work around the house but at 12:30 PM I asked them if they would like to go across the street to hike on Round Top. They both said "Yes" and we started to get ready to go. As I got ready, Sheila seemed very happy to be going out. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with no base layer even though the temperature was only in mid 60's. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Vasque Taku hiking boots which are showing some serious wear but fit well. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks. We stepped out of the house at 12:55 PM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We walked to the church parking lot and to the back of the church. As we started up the hill, we began the ascent of the steep hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". I was surprised that the twins practically skipped up the hill! I let Sheila pull me up the hill which she was willing to do. At the trailhead, I let Sheila off her leash and she immediately began to bound up the trail. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I knew that other people were using the trails from comments on Facebook and because there was one car parked at the bottom of the hill. The trails were becoming well-worn as more and more people use them. As we passed the trees that I had cut I pointed them out to the twins. In several places, Luke remembered what I had told him on a previous trip and repeated it to his sister.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the viewpoint. The climb up the hill was not particularly tiring and the cooler weather felt great. The brush we had been piling on the path to the viewpoint was still there. This path has a dangerous spot and we have piled brush on it to discourage people from using it. We walked down to the lower viewpoint from the upper one and looked out across Livingston Manor. In the winter when the leaves are off the trees there is a clearer view of the town. We had trouble seeing very much as the leaves blocked our view but the school and the "farm" on the opposite hill was visible. I Luke and Lilly if they would like to go down below the viewpoint and they agreed. We worked our way down with Luke in the lead. He really likes the rock scrambles and was surprised that there was a "cave" below the lookout. Lilly also enjoyed the descent to the path below the lookout. We went around the corner and the twins walked into the rock overhang. Luke peeked around the corner on the other side of the path and was impressed with the steepness of the path. We reversed our route and started back up. We worked our way back up to the main trail and continued to follow it as it headed up the gentle hill through the hardwood forest. The forest was very green and ferns covered the forest floor. Sheila was making her own way by staying on the trail sometimes and then running off-trail and chasing game trails. She was also picking up sticks and dragging them along and off the trail. We talked about their recent family vacation and I found out a few more of the places they had hiked. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction with the blue trail and the twins didn't seem to be slowing down at all. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. This section was in good shape without any blowdowns and I could now really notice what a good job I had done with my Stihl trimmer. At the next junction, we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued up and over the summit. When we started down the other side, I decided we would skip the white crossover trail and the switchback on the blue trail. People seemed to be avoiding the crossover trail but the switchback looked more well-worn. At the bottom of the hill, we turned left on the yellow trail, walked along the base of Round Top. At the trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right to walk down to the woods road. It was a snap to walk downhill and out the woods road. It was obvious Sheila felt the same way as she was running and bounding ahead of us and then running back up the trail. I pointed out the rock ledges and shelters along the right side of the trail. We walked the woods road out to the first trail junction. I wanted to do a loop in the opposite direction so we turned round and headed back up the woods road to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right to walk along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. Here we turned right and started uphill. When we came to the switchback, we turned right and followed it as it headed out and then turned back to the main trail. We turned right and then right again on the white crossover trail. We walked this trail to the other side of the hill and turned right on the main blue trail. At the bottom of the hill at the junction with the yellow trail, we turned right. We walked a short distance and then turned left off the trail to bushwhack along the top of the ledges. We found a pretty obvious herd path and followed it with a few "detours" to the edge of the ledges. We walked down a level and found a tree with a crossarm and another with a metal bracket. I think these were from the time when there was a TV antennae on Round Top that supplied reception for many people in town. We continued to walk through the woods until we reached a spot just above the trail to the viewpoint where Bryce and I had cut a tree off the trail. We walked down to the main trail and turned left to walk down to the first junction. We walked straight out to the trailhead and turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill. We headed across the church parking lot to the street. We crossed the street to our driveway and were home by 1:45 PM after hiking a little more than 2 miles in 1 hour and 50 minutes.

On Thursday, September 2nd, I wanted to get in a hike close to home with Cindy. The ambulance pager had been going off almost twice a day and we had just had a whole day of torrential rain. I had cross country practice in the morning and returned home at 12:30 PM. I suggested a hike of the Parksville Rail Trail since it is flat and short but has a nice waterfall. Cindy agreed that she could handle this hike so we began to get ready at 1:00 PM. As we started to get ready, the temperature on the back porch was only 70 degrees but I knew the rail trail was shaded. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I wore my Vasque Taku hiking boots which are showing some serious wear but fit well. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks. We put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 1:25 PM and drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville. Just after Fox Mountain Road, I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road at 1:35 PM. There were no cars in the lot as we began to get ready. I decided to take my pack since it is the easiest way to carry my camera. I set my GPS and we set off on the trail with the car thermometer reading 69 degrees.

Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was a little cooler and the long sleeves did not seem too hot. The trail was very wet and muddy from the rain that was part of Hurricane Ida. There was standing water in some places and small stream running down the trail in others. I tried several times to get down close to the stream as it was flowing with a high volume. Once I did get down close to the stream I found it hard to get any really good shots through the trees. In one spot a large tree had fallen over taking a slightly smaller one with it. Someone had come through and cut the tree with a chainsaw clearing the trail. As we walked we removed sticks and branches from the trail. We came to a nice view down to the Little Beaverkill and I stopped to take a few shots. There were some nice puffy white clouds in the sky but the stream was a roiling and muddy mess. Just after this point was a boardwalk and bridge and I again took some pictures. There was a lot of water in this area and the heavy rain had carried dirt and rocks onto the bridge. This had also blocked the ability of the water to flow under the bridge which forced the water and mud onto the bridge and trail. The walkway had some leaves on it and was very slippery from the rain. The day was sunny and the sky was very blue with some white clouds. We passed several benches placed for people to rest. Soon, we could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls was just ahead. We stopped to look at the falls which had more water going over it than I had ever seen. The stream was very high which made the drop of the falls look shorter than usual. I walked down the bank and worked my way to an area in front of the falls. The water was brown with white caps. I took some shots and then repositioned to take a few more. There are two drops to the falls but from the bottom of the lower falls it is hard to see the upper drop. I walked back up the bank and took a picture from above the falls. We walked down the trail a short distance where another path led down to the creek. When the water is low this leads along the edge of the stream to just above the falls. On this day the stream was so high that the path lead just to the edge of the water and then ended. I walked down to this point and took a few pictures. I walked back up to the trail and then followed another short path to the edge of the stream for a few more shots. As we were getting ready to continue our hike, a couple of hikers approached us from Parksville. We said "Hello" and they responded as we continued to walk toward Parksville. As we approached the end of the trail, I put Sheila on her leash. I was happy to see that most property owners were cleaning up the mess just across the stream. We passed some buildings on the left side of the trail that were ruined and falling down. On the Parksville end of the trail we stopped at the small garden which has a very informative sign. The sign listed the businesses and hotels that existed in Parksville during its heyday. The Young's Gap Hotel had room for 600 guests! The sign also explained the role of the railroad in the dairy industry which was a thriving one in all of Sullivan County. The sign made the comment that the area produced 9 million cans of milk annually. After a brief pause, we began the walk back on the trail. The return trip was uneventful but we did meet the two hikers coming back. We were back at the car at 3:10 PM after hiking 2.9 miles in 1 hour and 30 minutes. Our moving average was 2.2 mph and the elevation gain was 240 feet which I doubted.

On Monday, August 30th I wanted to get out for a hike after a weekend filled with ambulance calls. My grandson Bruce would be available to hike but I had to go to cross country practice at school first. I returned home at noon with the temperature at 75 degrees with high humidity. Bryce and I talked about where to hike and since we were both a little tired we just decided to go across the street and hike on Round Top. As I got ready, Sheila seemed very happy to be going out. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with no base layer because the temperature was in the high 70's with high humidity. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to wear my Keen Cascade hiking boots which are new and all-leather which means they need some work to break them in. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. We stepped out of the house at 1:15 PM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We walked to the church parking lot and to the back of the church. As we started up the hill, there were two men starting up the hill. One man walked off the road and into the cemetery. The other man continued up the hill toward the trailhead. We began the ascent of the steep hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". I let Sheila pull me up the hill which she was willing to do but then gave the leash to Bryce so that I could use my poles. At the trailhead, I let Sheila off her leash and she immediately began to bound up the trail. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I knew that other people were using the trails from comments on Facebook and because the trails were becoming well-worn as more and more people use them.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the viewpoint. After the short walk from the house, I was already soaked in sweat from the humidity. The climb up the hill was a little more tiring than usual. At the viewpoint, I noticed that the brush that I had placed in the trail was still there but that someone had tried to "help" by removing some. Bryce and I spent some time piling the brush back on the trail and adding a few more pieces. This path has a dangerous spot and we have piled brush on it to discourage people from using it. We continued on the main trail and headed to the right to follow ot as it turned and headed up the gentle hill through the hardwood forest. The forest was green and the ferns covering the forest floor were still flourishing. Sheila was making her own way by staying on the trail sometimes and then running off-trail and chasing game trails. She was also picking up sticks and dragging them along and off the trail. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction with the blue trail. There were a few branches on the trail that we removed as we hiked. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. This section was in good shape without any blowdowns and I could now really notice what a good job I had done with my Stihl trimmer. At the next junction, we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued up and over the summit. As we started down the other side, the man who had started out on the trails came hiking toward us. We said "Hello" as we passed. I decided we would skip the white crossover trail and the switchback on the blue trail. People seemed to be avoiding the crossover trail but the switchback looked more well-worn. At the bottom of the hill, we turned left on the yellow trail, and walked along the base of Round Top. At the trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right to walk down to the woods road. It was a snap to walk downhill and out the woods road. It was obvious Sheila felt the same way as she was running and bounding ahead of us and then running back up the trail. As we walked the woods road out to the first trail junction we found several small blowdowns across the trail. We took the time to remove these from the trail by carrying them off. At the first trail junction, we immediately turned around and started back up the woods road to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked along the yellow trail following the base of the Round Top summit. At the next junction, we turned right and started up the steeper side of the hill on the blue trail. This time we again took the switchback in the blue trail. At the end of the switch, we turned right and right again on the white-blazed crossover trail. We continued on crossover trail to the blue trail on the other side of the hill. We turned right at the end and walked down to the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail and followed it along the base of Round Top once again. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned to the left to stay on the yellow trail to the lookout. At the lookout, we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. By this time Bryce and I were both hot and drenched in sweat, so walked straight out to the trailhead. The skies were beginning to cloud over and a few drops of rain fell from the sky. We turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill. We headed across the church parking lot to the street. We crossed the street to our driveway and were home by 2:30 PM after hiking a little over 2 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes. As we reached the house, the skies opened up and it began to pour!

On Friday, August 27th I planned to hike with Sharon on a hike sponsored by the Catskill Mountain Club and the ADK MidHudson Chapter. Sharon wanted to finish the trails from Beech Hill over Cabot Mountain and around Little Pond for the All rails Challenge. I agreed to meet the group sometime after 9:30 AM at the Beech Hill parking area where the Finger lakes Trail crosses Beech Hill Road. The night before I found out that my grandson Bryce would be able to join the hike which made me very happy. I was up at 7:30 AM and found the air already heavy with humidity and the temperature already at 68 degrees! Bryce arrived at just after 8:00 AM so we had some time before I wanted to leave at 9:00 Am. I was hoping that the ambulance pager would stay quiet! Bryce was ready to go except for the act he had not brought his hydration pack. We found him a large fanny pack and gave him two bottles of water. I started to get ready at 8:30 AM with the temperature at 71 degrees on the back porch. Sheila was watching my every move as I got ready and I think she was particularly happy that Bryce was going with us. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top which is insect-repellent with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles I wore my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which are showing some serious wear but fit well. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I decided to put my Silky Sugowaza saw in my pack just in case we ran into any blowdowns on the trails as I had not been on them in some time. I got my gear in the car while Sheila and Bryce got in the back seat at 9:00 AM. I had enough gas to get there and back twice but decided to fill up before leaving town which meant we headed out at 9:10 AM. I was not worried as I knew we would be the first ones there. I drove north toward Roscoe on Old Route 17 turning right on the Beaverkill Road. I continued up the Beaverkill Road passing through Lew Beach. A half mile after entering Ulster County I turned right on Beech Hill Road and drove 2.5 miles to the parking area on the right side of the road. We were the only car parked at 9:35 AM and I did not know how long we would have to wait for the others. I stepped out of the air conditioned car and was hit by the 76 degree air with very high humidity. The skies were mostly overcast and somewhat bland but I knew there was no rain in the forecast until the evening. The parking area had been mowed and there was a swathe of grass cut almost to where the trail entered the woods. Two other cars finally appeared at 10:00 AM and Bryce, Sheila and I got out to meet the others. Sharon was there with 5 other hikers from diverse geographic areas and backgrounds. We introduced ourselves and Sharon mentioned some of the "rules" of the hike. In particular, she emphasized that the pace would be relaxed and that we would all hike together. I set my GPS and we started off at 10:10 AM.

There were a few large branches on the trail as we entered the woods and Bryce and I took the time to remove them. The initial section of trail is flat and is usually wet and that was true on this day. We had to be careful stepping on the rocks as our feet were wet and the rocks were already slippery. After only .15 miles, we started to climb. The trail ws damp and we continued to find a few branches here and there which Bryce and I removed. We noticed that all of the other hikers simply stepped on or around the branches rather than remove them from the trail. I thought once again how much easier trail maintenance would be if each hiker did their part! The trail continued an unrelenting ascent for the next .6 miles still heading northeast. The average garde was 21% with several steeper areas. Sharon called a break every now and then to try to keep us all together as several people did not seem to understand the meaning of "relaxed". I was happy that Bryce and I did not have to cut any blowdowns but only had to move a few branches and trunks here and there. It was only .7 miles to the top of the main climb but seemed a little longer in the humidity. The trail turned a little to the east and then southeast before we began a final climb at 1.1 miles. his climb was only about 100 feet and then we descended to the "Beaverkill Vista" at 1.45 miles. The vista is a flat rock that looks down the Beaverkill Valley and has a great view of Little Pond. We stopped here for a break and I took some pictures. I gave Sheila a drink which she seemed to appreciate after which he started in again. The trail headed north briefly and then east. At 1.5 miles we began the initial descent of Cabot Mountain. This descent get as steep at 38% in places and has a lot of loose rock and dirt. On this day the rocks were slippery from the humidity and the descent seemed slower than the ascent. We stopped briefly at a rock overhang where I took some pictures of Bryce and Sheila before finishing the trip down. I knew there was a large tree across the trail. I found that the DEC had cut another smaller blowdown but had left the larger tree across the trail just above head height. They did slap a trail marker on it. Below this area there is usually a sea of nettles but the increased traffic on these trails has beaten them back. The trail out to the junction with the Little Pond Trail is litter with old large blowdowns which the DEC sawyers had cut. This made walking the trail much easier. We arrived at the trail junction and waited until all were gathered.

Sharon wanted to walk the Touch-Me-Not Trail to the junction with the Campground Trail and then turn around and walk back to the junction where we were standing. She needed this for the all Trail Challenge and I had no objection as it is a short section with some interesting rock formations. We continued straight ahead and almost immediately ran into a messy blowdown at 2.35 miles. There has a detour for to the right but it passed beneath a large trunk hanging by the bark. I decided Bryce and I would stay and remove the blowdown while the others hiked to the next trail junction. I took some 'before' pictures and then Bryce and I surveyed the work. We pulled away a few loose branches and the I started to use the Silky Sugowaza to cut up the blowdown. There were at least three trees intertwined and it was hard to figure out which to cut first. As I cut some large branches, Bryce dragged them away without requiring much help from me. We continued to cut and clear until there was just one small sapling left. I cut it and Bryce dragged it so that it was off the trail and blocked the detour. I was taking my 'after' pictures as then group returned. They were surprised we had cleared the blowdown so quickly! We walked back to the junction with the Little Pond Trail and turned left on the yellow blazed trail. This trail heads southwest and then south toward Little Pond. It is flat or downhill for its entire length. Somehow three of the group got ahead of us and did not seem to want to wait. I assumed Bryce was with them and I was not happy. We came to a point where the trail passes through a clearing with a nice view of the valley and surrounding hills. I stopped to take some pictures and the we continued on. We spent a few minutes inspecting an old house foundation and then passed by a small pond to the right of the trail. All the time there was no sign of Bryce or the rest of the group.

The trail followed an old woods road and there was a very large blowdown blocking it which had been there for some time. As we approached the blowdown, I could see that it had been cut so that hikers could pass through. Shortly after this point, the trail turns left off the road and descends through some pines. The trail was wet and very slippery. The walk to the beaver pond went quickly. The pond and the dam are very impressive but I could not see any new work. I took some pictures and we continued without any sight of the rest of our group or Bryce. We walked downhill along the stream to the trail that runs around Little Pond. Since the trail splits here, I was sure the group would have waited for us. They did not! We turned left and walked back to the parking lot. I was very worried that Bryce would not be there but as we approached I could see him with the rest of the group. I decided to walk to the dam to take some pictures of Little Pond and Cabot Mountain and to cool off a little before I spoke to Bryce. I took my pictures and then walked over to the cars. Before I could speak, Bryce, realizing he had made a mistake, explained that they had just gotten out ahead of us. I explain calmly why this was not acceptable. Sharon gave us a ride back to our car on Beech Hill Road. I thanked her for good hike. The temperature on the car thermometer read 82 degrees as we pulled away. The clouds along Beech Hill Road were so impressive I stopped to take a few shots. We ended our hike at 1:45 PM after covering 4.1 miles in 3 hours and 35 minutes with 1 hour and 15 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was only 910 feet!

On Thursday, August 26th I had planned to visit four different waterfalls in the Evansville area. When I returned from cross country practice just before noon the temperature was 90 degrees and it was very humid. Cindy was not enthusiastic about going out and I reasoned that the children who were still on summer break might be at these falls. Since I wanted a view of these falls without the people, I decided to put it off for another day. I decided that I would take Sheila and go across the street to Round Top and hike a few loops. I began to get ready at 1:00 PM with the skies starting to darken a little. As I got ready, Sheila seemed very happy to be going out even though it was hot. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with no base layer because of the temperature and high humidity. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to wear my Keen Cascade hiking boots which are new but seem to be broken in. I put Sheila on her leash and we headed out the driveway at 1:30 PM. We crossed the street and walked across the field by the Presbyterian Church. We started up the hill behind the church on the border of the cemetery. This hill is the steepest part of the hike to Round Top and can really get the blood pumping! Sheila was pulling me up the hill which made it a much easier walk. At the trailhead we turned left and I let Sheila off her leash. We started out on the trail and immediately ran into a small tree blocking the trail. It had been less than a week since I had cleared a large blowdown just passed this point. This emphasized to me that maintainers can go out and clear a trail and the next day it can be ruined by a storm. We turned around and walked back out to the trailhead. I put Sheila on a leash and we walked down the hill to the church. We walked across the parking lot, crossed the street and walked back down the driveway. I put Shiela in the car and walked inside to get some tools. I got my Silky Sugowaza saw and Fiskars pack ax. I shouldered my pack with my camera and two Oregon plastic felling wedges. I put my gear in the back of the car with Sheila in the back seat. I drove out the driveway and across the street to the cemetery. I parked at the trailhead, grabbed the Sugowaza saw and my pack and walked only a few feet to the small blowdown. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take pictures of the blowdown from several different angles. I returned the camera to my pack and retrieved the Sugowaza. I removed some loose branches and then used the Sugowaza to cut branches. It did not take me long to strip away the smaller branches leaving the trunk. I cut the trunk off the trail and dragged it off the trail. I took my 'after' pictures and packed everything up and returned to the car. It had taken be about 20 minutes to do all the work.

I decided we would hike a couple of figure 8's for the exercise and to see if there were any other messes to clean up. We started out on the trail again and at the first trail junction, we turned right to walk up the more shallow approach to Round Top on the wide woods road. The trails were surprisingly dry as it had not rained for several days. I had trimmed the trail pretty wide the last time I had done trail work and that had kept the brush and weeds off the trail. There were a few branches to pick up that were newly deposited on the trail. At the first junction with the blue trail, we turned left and continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The grass and weeds were under control and even the brush was well back from the trail. There were one or two larger branches on the trail so I picked them up and disposed of them. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and headed up the steep side of the hill. I decided to walk straight up the hill to the summit avoiding both the switchback on the blue trail and the white crossover trail. We followed the blue trail over the summit and then walked down the other side. We again bypassed the white crossover trail and continued down the blue trail to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail to once again walk along the base of Round Top. This time when we reached the second junction with the blue trail we turned left on the yellow trail and followed that downhill to the viewpoint over town. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left to go back down to the first trail junction. I found that the brush I had placed in the path was still in place. I put the brush in the path to discourage people from walking along the path. This path can be dangerous for some and I wanted it blocked to discouraged its use. We continued down the hill to the very first trail junction completing our first figure 8. We immediately turned around and hiked back up the steeper trail to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and began the long but gentle climb to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the second junction with the blue trail. We turned left and followed the blue trail to the white crossover trail. We turned left and followed the trail along the side of the hill to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left and left again on the switchback and followed it back to the main the blue trail. We walked straight down the hill to the junction with the yellow trail. By this time I was beginning to sweat and despite the breeze it felt warmer. We turned left on the yellow trail and again followed it to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the wide woods road that brought us back to the first trail junction. I decided we would return to the house. We walked out to the trailhead and got in the car. I drove home with the air conditioning turned on high. We were home by 3:45 PM after doing the initial trail maintenance and then hiking 2 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes.

On Tuesday, August 24th I planned to hike with my grandson Bryce after I returned from cross country practice. When I got home Bryce was waiting, so I started to get ready at 11:50 AM with the temperature at 79 degrees on the back porch. Sheila was watching my every move as I got ready. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top which is insect-repellent with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles I wore my new Keen Cascade all-leather boots which so far seem to fit well and support my feet. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I decided to carry my Silky Sugowaza saw just in case we ran into any blowdowns from the last few days of storms. I got my gear in the car while Sheila and Bryce got in the back seat. Bryce was dressed for hiking and had his own hydration pack with him. I drove out the DeBruce Road toward Frick Pond at 12:15 PM. After about 6 miles, I turned left on the Mongaup Pond and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road at the fork. There were several cars parked in the small lot and as I pulled in at 12:35 PM. I set my GPS and we started our hike by crossing the road and headed out on the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. When we hit the wide woods road that is the Flynn Trail, we turned right and noticed that the grass was wet and that there was evidence that a lot of water had run down the trail. It was 75 degrees but humid. The sun was out and there were a few white, puffy clouds in the sky. We were keeping a pretty fast pace but it didn't seem to bother me or Bryce. At 1.2 miles we passed the clearing of the right side of the trail. I have never heard a definitive explanation for the existence of the clearing but I suspect it was stripped of dirt to build Beech Mountain Road. We continued to walk toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I like to hike with Bryce because even though he is 10 years old he is very well informed and very bright. We talked about school and COVID and later about the genetics of blood types. It took us 50 minutes to reach the first trail junction with the Big Rock Trail at 1.7 miles into the hike.

We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail passing through the gate that separates state land from what is now Beaverkill Land Trust property. After walking for a relatively short time, we arrived at the point where the Flynn Trail bears left down to Hodge Pond. We turned right on a woods road to hike toward the Boy Scout camp and the lookout over the pond. The woods road we were walking on was once Beech Mountain Road leading to the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. I was surprised that we had not run into any blowdowns and only had to remove a few branches from the trail. After a short walk, a trail turned off to the left to go down to the pond and the road we were on continued straight ahead. There was a new road heading off to the left between the two. I found out on my last trip that this road led to what used to be some of the remaining buildings from the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. The buildings have been bulldozed and removed by the Beaverkill Land Trust. I know that this was probably necessary as the building were in such disrepair but I was disappointed that they had removed this last bit of history from the area. We continued straight ahead on the road and walked uphill toward the lookout. We passed a spring house on the right and Sheila stopped to get a drink. She must have been warm as she splashed around a "dug" in the water for several minutes. There was more water coming out of the spring than I have seen in some time. The grade became steeper as we climbed the hill and at about 2.7 miles the road made a sharp turn to the right. We stopped so that I could take some pictures from a small viewpoint. Like many lookouts, this one was growing in and the view was all but obscured. We continued on the road. As the road made another sharp turn, this time to the left, a trail went off to the right. This trail goes to the lookout but I decided we would continue on the main road and make a loop back to the lookout. We topped the hill and then walked downhill to another nice lookout just after the road turned to the right. This lookout has views of the Burrough's Range and other major peaks. I took some shots and then we continued our hike by walking uphill and around the base of Flynn's Point on Beech Mountain. This is the highest spot in Sullivan County and there were some interesting ledges. We continued around the south end and came to the lookout over Hodge Pond. The lookout is a flat rock ledge that has been cut out and offers a good view of the Hodge Pond. The path did have a "DANGER" sign posted. We walked out to the viewpoint and I took some pictures. I had Bryce and Sheila pose and I took some shots of them. We got a drink and the started out again on the trail.

We were soon back at the road that we had hiked up the hill. We turned left and set a quick pace down the hill. Sheila again stopped at the spring and this time dug at the opening to the culvert until water was freely flowing through it. At the base of the hill, we turned right on the woods road that leads down to Hodge Pond. We turned left when the road intersected a jeep trail and ended up at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. We walked over to the shore of the pond where I dropped my pack and got out the camera. Sheila decided to go swimming. I too some shots of the pond since the sky was blue with puffy, white clouds. Bryce got a stick and threw it into the water for her to retrieve. I took some pictures as we threw the stick for her several times. When we were done, we picked up and walked to where the Flynn Trail enters the woods and started climbing the hill back to the junction where we had turned right some time before. At the top of the hill we stayed to the right on the Flynn Trail and followed the route we had taken out. We passed through the gate and were soon approaching the junction with the Big Rock Trail. Sheila alerted and I looked up to see a couple coming toward us. We exchanged greetings and continued on our separate ways. I thought about turning right on the Big Rock Trail but checked my watch and knew the quickest way was to return on the Flynn Trail. This was as far as I had hiked in the Keen Cascades and they were beginning to cause a hotspot on my right foot. I took a moment to put some tape on my foot which made it feel much better. We set a very quick pace down the Flynn Trail and continued to converse which made the trip go even faster. By 4:20 PM we were back at the cars after hiking 6.9 miles in 3 hours and 40 minutes with 20 minutes of stopped time. This was good for a moving 2.0 mph pace. We also gained 1240 feet of elevation.

On Saturday, August 21st I planned to go back to Round Top to complete the removal of a large blowdown that had fallen across the trail not far in from the trailhead. Krista and I had worked on it the day before and had removed all the smaller branches and trunks leaving just the biggest trunk on the trail. My son-in-law Brad was coming up from Pennsylvania and I planned to wait for him as it was a two person project. At noon we started getting ready to go with the temperature at 76 degrees and humidity high enough to make the air feel heavy. As we got ready, Sheila seemed very happy to be going out. I put on a Mountain Hardwear long-sleeved crew top with no base layer because of the temperature and high humidity. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which are showing some serious wear but fit well. I got my Silky Sugowaza saw, Silky KatanaBoy 500 saw , Fiskars pack ax and Council Tools Felling ax even though I didn't think we would need them all. I also brought my pack which is the easiest way to carry my camera, first aid supplies and plastic felling wedges. We put all our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. I put my gear in the back of the car with Sheila in the back seat. I drove out the driveway and across the street to the cemetery. I parked at the trailhead and put a sign on the windshield indicating we were parked to maintain trails. I grabbed the Sugowaza Katanaboy and Fiskars ax and shouldered my pack as we started out on the trail at 12:15 PM. We walked up the trail to the blowdown where I dropped my pack. I had already taken "before" pictures which were the "after" pictures from the day before. Brad and I looked over the blowdown and decided to cut off a few pieces. These pieces would make the rest of the trunk lighter and easier to move. Brad used the saw to cut off two pieces and I moved them off the trail. We also cut off a smaller piece of the trunk which I thought was supporting the weight of the rest of the blowdown but it came away easily. All that was left now was the main trunk. We decided to make two cuts even though this would leave two large sections. We used the saw to start a cut off the trail on the end of the trunk near the roots. The diameter of the trunk here was 14" to 16" but we took turns using the Katanaboy to cut the trunk. As we were cutting a couple came hiking toward us from the trailhead. They paused and asked if they could walk passed us. We suspended our cutting and they continued their hike. Brad and I continued to cut alternating between the top of the trunk and the bottom. It took a little while but as I was cutting down from the top I heard a crack and the section I was cutting fell away. I was happy that the cut did not close up and bind the saw. We now had to cut the remaining section into two we could move off the trail. I decided to start to make the cut with the ax. The Fiskars ax bit well into the hardwood and I was soon almost three-quarters of the way through. Brad finished the cut with the saw and all we had to do is see if we could move the two sections off the trail. We were able to move the thinner section off the trail without too much trouble. The remaining section was the largest and had some "bumps" which might have prevented it from rolling. We looked for a lever to help work the section off the trail but gave up. Together we were able to skid, roll, and lift the section off the trail after which it rolled down the hill. We replaced some of the stone along the side of the woods road. It was 1:45 PM as we started to pack up and head out to the trailhead. When we got to the car and stowed our equipment. I realized I had forgotten to take the "after" shots. I asked Brad if he wanted to walk a figure 8 to check the rest of the trails. This way I could inspect the other trails for blowdowns and get in a little more hiking. I decided to take my pictures when we returned.

We started at the trailhead and walked the trail passed what we had cut to the first trail junction. We followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the viewpoint. The climb up the hill was not particularly tiring. We met the couple that had hiked passed us as we were cutting and they reported they had seen no other trees down on the loop over the summit. They also thanked us for our work. The trees I had put across the path to the viewpoint were still there. This path has a dangerous spot and I have piled brush on it to discourage people from using it. We continued to follow the yellow trail as it turned right and headed up the gentle hill through the hardwood forest. The forest was very green and ferns covered the forest floor. Sheila was making her own way by staying on the trail sometimes and then running off-trail and chasing game trails. She was also picking up sticks and dragging them along and off the trail. Brad and I talked about EMS calls and related topics. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction with the blue trail. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. This section was in good shape but there was one small tree on the ground. Fortunately, the tree was completely broken off and we were able to easily move it off the trail. At the next junction, we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. Whence came to the white crossover trail there were two small trees lying in the trail. We moved both of them off the trail and continued up the hill and over the summit. When we started down the other side, I decided we would skip the white crossover trail but take the switchback on the blue trail. People seemed to be avoiding the crossover trail but the switchback looked more well-worn. There were no blowdowns on the switchback and at the end of the switchback we turned left onto the main blue trail. I could hear people walking on the trails below us and see them through the trees. At the bottom of the hill, we turned left on the yellow trail and walked along the base of Round Top. At the trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right to walk down to the woods road. It was a snap to walk downhill and out the woods road. As we walked down the trail, we met another couple walking toward us. I was a little surprised and very happy that so many people were using the trails. It was obvious Sheila felt the same way as she was running and bounding ahead of us and then running back up the trail. We walked the woods road out to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead. I grabbed my camera and headed back to where we had cut the blowdown. I took a few shots and returned to the car. There was a car parked behind us and I wanted to leave a not to tell them parking on the hill was prohibited but I did not have a piece of paper. We got in the car and I drove home arriving at 2:30 PM>

On Friday, August 20th I had planned to go on a hike at Frick and Hodge Ponds or perhaps drive to some waterfalls. When I got up at 9:00 AM, the temperature was 72 degrees and the skies were overcast and looking like it might rain. I had some things to do around the house but decided I would take the dogs across the street to hike on Round Top. Sheila always goes with me but I thought I would take Pierce, my daughter Krista's dog. Pierce is a little larger than Sheila and is a mix breed Labrador Retriever - Husky. He is not used to hiking so I would have to keep him on a leash. At 10:30 AM I started getting ready to go with the temperature at 74 degrees and humidity high enough to make the air feel heavy. As I got ready, Sheila seemed very happy to be going out but Pierce was oblivious to what was in store. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with no base layer because of the temperature and high humidity. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to wear my Keen Cascade hiking boots which are new but seem to be broken in. I put Sheila and Pierce on their leashes and we headed out the driveway at 10:45 AM. Sheila was behaving well but pierce seemed overwhelmed by the experience. We crossed the street and walked across the field by the Presbyterian Church. We started up the hill behind the church on the border of the cemetery. This hill is the steepest part of the hike to Round Top and can really get the blood pumping! The dogs were pulling me up the hill which made it a much easier walk. At the trailhead we turned left and I let Sheila off her leash. I put Sheila's leash on Pierce as I thought it would be easier to walk him that way. We started out on the trail and almost immediately ran into several large trees blocking the trail. It had only been a week but people were starting to reroute the trail up the bank around the blowdown. I knew this would disturb the vegetation and cause erosion onto the trail. I thought we would walk a figure 8 and then go back to the house. By the time we got to the lookout, I was tired from trying to control Pierce and wanted to get started on the blowdown. We turned around and walked back out to the trailhead. I put Sheila on a leash and we walked down the hill to the church. We walked across the parking lot, crossed the street and walked back down the driveway. I put Shiela in the car and walked Pierce inside.

I got my Silky Sugowaza saw, Silky KatanaBoy 500 saw , Fiskars pack ax and Council Tools Felling ax. I shouldered my pack with my camera and two Oregon plastic felling wedges. I put my gear in the back of the car with Sheila in the back seat. I drove out the driveway and across the street to the cemetery. I parked at the trailhead, grabbed the Sugowaza saw and Fiskars ax and we started out on the trail at 11:15 AM. We walked up the trail to the blowdown where I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I took pictures of the blowdown from several different angles and the walked to the other side and took more pictures. I returned the camera to my pack and retrieved the Sugowaza. I removed some loose branches and began a pile on the reroute of the trail. I used the Sugowaza to cut branches and as I cut them I removed them to the pile. It did not take me long to strip away the smaller branches leaving larger branches and the trunks. I stepped off the trail to cut the top off a small trunk so that I could drag the rest of it off the trail. The trunk looked like it might rotate when I cut it but I went ahead. As I finished the cut, the trunk rotated and a lower branch I had not seen smacked me in the side of the head. I was stunned for a second and then felt the side of my head. My face and head seemed to be alright except for some cuts inside my mouth. My glasses were missing and I tried looking around for them without stepping on them. I decided that I could use some help so I put Sheila on her leash and headed home. I explained the situation to Cindy and Krista and Krista got ready to return with me. I guess I didn't look too bad as they did not mention anything but a scrape on my face. Krista and I walked back across the street with me thinking of the problems my missing glasses would cause. We walked up the hill and turned onto the trail. I showed Krista where I had been standing and she carefully started looking. It was only a few minutes before she found my glasses unscathed! I was relieved and decided to stay on to cut as much of the blowdown as possible. Krista afraid she would stay with me to help out which made me very happy.

Krista and I cleared a few more branches and the small trunk. What remained in the main blowdown were some pretty big trunks so we turned our attention to a smaller tree just beyond the main mess. The tree spanned the trail and was hung up in another tree. We tried to shake it loose but it would not budge. I decided to cut the trunk in the middle so that we could putt the top out of the other tree. As I was planning the cut a solo female hiker approached us. She started to cross the blowdown and I asked her to wait until I had made the cut. I made the cut without a problem and Krista and I were able to pull the tree top down. I told the hiker she should continue and she passed by us. I cut off a few branches and we piled them off the trail. We threw the upper trunk off the trail and turned our attention to the main trunk. I cut the tree near the base and together we were able to pick up the trunk and move it off the trail. At this point I considered waiting to remove the rest of the blowdown until Brad, my son-in-law, arrived Saturday morning. I decided to make a few more cuts. I grabbed the ax and started to cut one of the larger trunks. Even though the Fiskars ax isn't very heavy it cuts very well. I started a wide cut so that I could get through the whole 10 inch diameter. As I was doing this a young couple approached and said "Hello" as they continued up the trail. When I saw almost done , I used the Sugiwaza to cut the remaining bark and to smooth the cut. Krista and I were able to push and roll the large section of the trail. I used the ax again to cut off a branch that was bearing most of the weight. I moved what I had cut and the looked for some other sections to cut. I used a combination of saw and ax to cut two more large branches connected to the blowdown off the trail. This left another large trunk to cut and I decided we would use the KatanaBoy 500 to make the cut. Krista and I took turns cutting and made good progress. At one point the saw seemed to get hung up and I checked the blade. One of the teeth was out of place having cracked and bent! I was disappointed as we had not hit a stone and had only been using it on wood! I used the poll of the ax to straighten the tooth and we continued the cut. When we finished we had a nice, clean cut and we were able to move the section we cut off the trail. It was almost 2:00 PM and there was not much else we could cut easily. We picked up the tools and I got out the camera to take the "after" pictures. After taking the pictures, we packed up and carried the tools out to the car. I drove home feeling lucky and satisfied.

On Monday, August 16th, I planned to go out for a long day of trail maintenance on the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail starting at Mongaup Pond. My son-on-law Brad was at the house and I knew he wouldn't mind combining business with pleasure. The forecast for the rest of the week was questionable but the one for Tuesday looked good except for higher temperatures in the afternoon. At Least, there was no chance of showers. My plan was disrupted by a mutual aid call in Liberty for MobileMedic in the middle of the night. I slept in until after 10:00 AM and questioned whether we should just go for a hike or try to get some work done. In the end I decided we would try to work on the trail as two people can get more than twice as much done. The maintainer for the trail said that he had been out but I had surveyed the trail and found many places for improvement. I started to finally get ready at 12:45 PM with the temperature at 76 degrees. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which are showing some serious wear but fit well. I decided to take my Leki Makalu carbon poles with the internal twist locks as they are light and not a problem on most trails. I also put on my OR floppy hat which keeps the insects off and protects me from the sun. I stowed my Silky Segovia saw in my pack and also threw in two Oregon plastic splitting wedges and a pair of Fiskars hand clippers. Brad said he could carry the Fiskars ax and Corona loppers so I could use y poles. We put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 1:15 PM as I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed right on Mongaup Pond Road to head for the campgrounds. When I entered the campgrounds I pulled over and parked on the right. I went to the booth and explained to the attendant that I was the trail supervisor and wanted to enter without paying a fee and park on the side of the road near the trailhead. I presented my card from the trail conference which made things easier and also showed him Sheila's rabies certificate. After signing in, the attendant told me to park in the field near campsite 161 which was near the trailhead. I followed his directions and parked my car. The weather was beautiful although warm at 74 degrees with a slight breeze that kept the insects away. I set my GPS unit and we started out on the campsite roads at 1:40 PM. we walked out to the road and turned left to walk to the beginning of the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail.

We turned left onto the trail and walked toward the pond following the trail as it turned north along the shore. As we continued along this section of the trail, we could already see that there was some trimming needed to make the trail easier to travel. We decided to leave that for the end of the hike or for another trip. At the north end of the pond we turned left at .4 miles to stay on the blue blazed Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail. There was a group of people at the trail junction debating what they should do. They didn't look like long distance hikers to me but I answered their questions as we started up the trail. The trail heads north to Mongaup Mountain and gains 830 feet over 1.5 miles with an average grade of 11%. We began removing some small and large branches from the trail. There were also some old trunk across or intruding on the trail and we were able to remove many of these. Not very far along we came to a set of roots and began to work on them. Brad did a great job of cutting them away until almost nothing was left. As we were working the group came along and passed by excusing themselves. In a few places, we had to be satisfied with walking around or climbing over large blowdowns that would require a chainsaw. In other spots we used the ax and saw to remove large branches and trunks to make the hiking experience more enjoyable for others. Most of the trail was well defined but some markers needed to be replaced. At 2:225 Pm we came to a large white birch across the trail. It was too large for us to remove it completely but we improved the area and then moved on. At 1 mile we used the ax to remove an old blowdown and open up the trail. The large trunk at 1.15 miles was on the side of the trail but we decided to use the ax again. We cut it once and then we were able to move it off of the trail completely. I always try to take before and after pictures. Sheila has now gotten in the habit of posing in the after pictures.

We passed the group of hikers and then they repassed us while we were working. At 1.35 miles another large blowdown fell under the ax. Somewhere along the way my phone sounded and I found a message that said we had an ambulance call which sounded serious. I was happy that we covered the call which can be hard to do during the day. A little farther on we confronted another small trunk which Brad dispatched quickly. I noticed that Brad get Te ax head moving very quickly and I tried to get a few action shots. We had passed the hiking group on the final ascent to Mongaup Mountain and it looked like they might turn a round.We hit the summit of Mongaup Mountain at 1.8 miles and found a mess. There were two separate set of trees down with one almost blocking the trail. I took my before shots and we began to clear away all the loose branches from the one that was farthest north. Brad was able to rotate the large trunk but could not get it quite off the trail. I used the saw to cut out the top and remove it. This allowed us to rotate the large trunk off the trail and remove a smaller one lying beneath it. We turned our attention to the other, large trunk. The main trunk was on the ground but too large for us to cut. I cut a smaller tree and then removed a branch from the large trunk. One more cut with the saw left just the trunk which was easy to step over. We also removed another trunk. By this time it was 4:05 PM and although we had not gotten to the worst part of the trail I knew it was time to turn around. On the way back we tried to keep a fast pace and ignore anything on the trail. We tried hard but stopped briefly a few times. At 4:55 PM we were on the shores of Mongaup Pond. Sheila took a dip and I took some pictures. The weather had changed and the skies were now overcast. We continued along the trail and roads back to the car. We were at the car at 5:05 PM after hiking only 3.6 miles in 3 hours and 25 minutes. However, we had done a lot of work and had stopped for 1 hour and 25 minutes. The elevation gain was 925 feet. As we left the temperature was reading 78 degrees.

On Friday, August 13th, I had committed to giving Jennifer Jane, an FLT hiker, a ride from her car at the Bear Spring Horse Camp on map 29 to the beginning of her hike at the intersection of Dryden and Faulkner Roads at the western end of map 28. She planned to hike the 25 miles in one day despite the heat. It is not something I could do but she is a stronger hiker than I am and has done some incredible hikes. I was going to pick her up at 7:00 AM which meant I needed to get up around 5:30 AM. I decided I would dress for hiking and take Sheila with me. I thought I might hike to the Rock Rift fire tower or maybe at Bear Spring. I wanted to be done no later than 1:00 PM to avoid the heat and humidity in the afternoon. When I got up at 5:30 AM it was already 68 degrees and I could feel the humidity in the air. I started to get ready but had to call Sheila to come downstairs as we seldom go out early. I put on a Columbia short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer in anticipation of the heat later in the day. I wore a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which are showing some serious wear but fit well. I decided to take my Leki Makalu carbon poles with the internal twist locks as they are light and not a problem on most trails. I also put on my OR floppy hat which keeps the insects off and protects me from the sun. I donned a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks. I got my gear and Sheila in the car and headed north and west on State Route 17 at 6:15 AM. I took exit 94 and followed Route 206 through Downsville to the top of Bear Spring. I turned left on East Trout Brook Road and drove south to the Horse Camp. I turned into the parking area where Jennifer Jane was parked and said "hello". We put her gear in the back of the car and I introduced her to Sheila. I drove back to Route 206 and turned left to head toward Walton. In Walton I got on Route 10 South to head toward the Cannonsville Reservoir. When I left the house, there was a lot of fog but this had cleared and the skies were sunny with a few clouds. I drove to Dryden Road and turned right. It was a short drive to Faulkner Road where I dropped Jennifer Jane off making sure she had my cell number just in case. I decided Sheila and I would hike to the fire tower from the Apex Bridge so I headed north on Route 10 and pulled into the parking area at 7:30 AM. When I got out of the air-conditioned car, I was glad I had put on a short sleeved shirt as the hot and humid air almost took my breath away! I set my GPS and we headed across the road to start our hike at 7:35 AM with the temperature at 72 degrees.

The beginning of the trail is just a little south of the parking area and we turned right to get on the trail. The beginning of the trail was rather steep with a few branches in the trail and a muddy area where a small spring kept the ground damp. At .2 miles the trail leveled off and began to descend a little. The trail rolled through some gullies and I noticed that the damp areas were bringing out the mosquitoes. I stopped to put on some repellent and found I was not wearing my hat! The repellent seemed to help some although the insects were still buzzing. At .85 miles we crossed road and followed the trail to a field that had been mowed. The trail was mowed also and a stake in the middle held a trail marker. When we reached the other side of the filed, I stopped to take few shots. The trail entered the woods and then descended to a small stream where Sheila cooled off and got a drink. Coming up from the stream the trail was unclear and there were no markers. We walked up the hill and found a white blaze. The trail had several large blowdowns and many smaller ones. Most could be walked around or over but the trail needs to be cleared. Finally at 1.2 miles we turned left onto the woods road that once acted as an access road to the tower when it was active for fire observation. I knew that the climb to the tower was steep in places but that the crew who had constructed the trail built in a few switchbacks to help. On this day the trail was pretty dry with only a few muddy spots here and there. What I did notice was that there were still plenty of biting insects! Sheila and I climbed the familiar trail keeping a pretty steady pace despite the steep sections. The trail was little red with branches and had a lot of blowdowns. Over the next 1.5 miles we headed due north gaining a total of over 1100 feet from the turn. Several ascents were more than a 25% grade. I was beginning to get tired and I was sweating profusely. I stopped to get a drink and gave some water to Sheila also. We followed the switchbacks on the final ascent which made the walk a little easier than walking straight up the fountain. At about 2.5 miles the trail reached the top of the steepest ascent and continued to climb but at a grade that felt almost flat. We were walking through some weeds and grass along a path that someone had made. I looked up to see Jennifer Jane coming toward us. We stopped to talk for a minute and she told me that the trail coming up the other side was also in poor shape. We parted heading in opposite direction. By 9:20 AM we had hiked 2.7 miles are were at the base of the tower. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take a few pictures. The bottom flight of stairs have been removed from the tower to discourage anyone from ascending and the cab is in disrepair. I took a few shots from under the tower that looked interesting. There is a plan to restore the tower which would be a wonderful project. When I stowed my camera, I got us a drink and a snack and spread insect repellant liberally.

I felt considerably better than I did on the scent but decided we would return the way we came. We turned around and started back on the trail. Descending was much easier than ascending with only problem being the "toe ham" especially on my right foot. On the way down I did notice that there were many small stumps in the trail that were perfect for tripping hikers. When we reached the turn for the trail back to the bridge, I decided we would walk down to the road and walk back on Route 10. The trip down to the road went quickly and when we reached Route 10 we turned right heading south toward the bridge. Sheila wanted to pull me along as she always does but I wondered if her feet were too warm on the pavement. Every chance I got I let her walk on the grass. It was only a mile to the bridge and the road rolled only slightly. As we approached the parking area, I saw a car pull up to the kiosk. People got out of the car and started to read the postings. We were back at the car at 10:45 Am after hiking 5.3 miles in 3 hours and 5 minutes with only 15 minutes of stopped time. This was a speed of 1.7 mph overall and 1.85 mph moving. The elevation gain was 1510 feet. Jennifer Jane was also in the parking area taking a break before walking across the bridge to continue her hike. I wished her "Good Luck" as she started out again. I took a few pictures of the Cannonsville Reservoir from the bridge before getting into the car. I drove over the bridge and headed toward State Route 17 which is the quickest way home. I hadn't been home for too long before I got a text from Jennifer Jane. She asked if I could pick her up because the heat was just too much. I agreed and left the house almost immediately. I was concerned that she had already overheated but when I picked her up on Chase Brook Road she said she had plenty to drink. I drove back through Walton and dropped her at her car in the Horse Camp parking area. I think she made the right decision and I know it takes a lot of hiking savvy to make that decision.

On Wednesday, August 11th, I planned to meet with a prospective trail maintainer for the section of the FLT from Berry Brook Road to Little Spring Brook Road. We were scheduled to meet on Berry Brook Road at 10:00 AM and hike out and back on the trail as it would be less than 5 miles. We both agreed to bring some trail maintaining equipment to work on the trail as I did not know when it had last been trimmed. The forecast for the day included a heat advisory but I though that we would be done in time to avoid the worst. I got up at 8:30 AM and did a few things before starting to get ready at 9:00 AM hen the temperature was already 75 degrees and the humidity was high. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which are showing some serious wear but fit well. I decided to take my Leki Makalu carbon poles with the internal twist locks as they are light and not a problem on most trails. I also put on my OR floppy hat which keeps the insects off and protects me from the sun. I put on my OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks. I put my gear in the back of the car including my Fiskars ax, Silky Sugowaza saw, LT Wright Overland machete and 2 plastic felling wedges. Sheila jumped into the back seat as we left Livingston Manor at 9:30 AM as I drove north on Old Rt 17 toward Roscoe. I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and drove as far as Campground Road where I turned left. At the T, I stayed right and drove across the covered bridge and continued to Berry Brork Road. T turned right drove 3.6 miles north to the point where the FLT crosses the road. I pulled into the lot at 9:55 AM wit the temperature at 78 degrees. When I got out of the car, I could immediately feel the humidity. By 10:00 AM my prospective maintainer had not showed up. I waited until 10:10 Am and the decided to start out on the trail. There is no cell service at the trailhead but I hoped he would catch up with me at some point on the trail. I set my GPS unit and Sheila and I crossed the road leaving the ax in the car. The trail starts out through a stand of trees and then intersects a power line right of way. The trail was in good shape and at least one small blowdown had been cut with a chainsaw. There were a few muddy patches but they were drying up. When we came to the right of way, I dropped my pack and go out the camera to take a few shots. The skies were overcast and hazy but the view was interesting. I could hear the distinct crackle and snap of the power line overhead.

We crossed the right of way, and headed for a small back on white arrow that guided us through some high weeds and back into the forest. I thought about coming back at some time and using my Stihl line trimmer to cut a swath through the weeds. The trail through the forest showed signs that water had been running freely at some point. There were a few small branches for me to flick off the trail and a rotten trunk to move here and there. The trail began to climb and over the next .9 miles we gain 495 feet to the junction with the Pelnor Hollow trail. There were areas that were almost flat and some with a grade of 17% as we headed mostly southwest. Along the way there were some interesting rock formations and I stopped several times to take some pictures. We did run into several trees that were leaning over the trail. They were all too large and too difficult to cut safely. As we approached the trail junction, I heard a voice from behind call my name. It was Matt who had gone to the wrong trailhead but had caught up with me anyway! We said "Hello" and then continued to hike and talked as we walked. Matt works at the Catskill Fly Fishing Cneter and has experience creating and maintaining trails. He also has hiked extensively in the Catskills and beyond. The trail continued to be in great shape as we came to the junction with the Pelnor Hollow Trail at 1.1 miles. The trail to the left toward Pelnor Hollow is maintained by the DEC and looked like it was in good shape. I knew that the DEC planned to send a crew through to clear the whole trail. We turned right and started downhill toward the Split Rock Lookout. In .12 miles the trail dropped 150 feet at a 26% grade. Along the way there were some more interesting facial erratics and I made sure to take s few shots. When we reached the lookout the view was better than I expected but there was a lot of haze. I took some shots and then made my way out onto another level of the lookout. The rocks were slippery and the view was not much better! We returned to the main trail and continued north and then northeast. We came to one blowdown that I thought we might cut but Matt muscled it off the trail. At 1.6 miles the trail turned abruptly south and continued to descend. We found some more trees leaning over the trail but the were high enough to easily walk under. The trail was wet in spots and showed signs that a lot of water had run down the trail. Some sections were highly eroded. We continued to remove a few small branches and an occasional large branch or trunk. At 1.8 miles the trail turned 90 degrees to head WNW but it continued to descend as we headed for the trail junction with the Little Spring Brook Trail.

We had been hiking through primarily hardwood for but entered and area that had some red pines which appear to have been planted. There was one small tree leaning across the trail which I thought we might cut on the way back. The trail began to get grassy and a little damp. I knew that the last time I had hiked this trail the junction was not well marked so I check Avenza to make sure of where we were. The map showed us that we had only a few hundred feet to go! When we reached the junction, I was happy to see some new signs until we looked at them carefully! The sign indicated that the Pelnor Hollow Trail was .6 miles back the way we had come but it was the Pelnor Hollow Trail that we had been on that got us to the intersection. The sign also stated that the Campbell Mountain Trail was .6 miles back the way we had come when that trail goes in the opposite direction and starts right where the sign was posted. The other two signs at the junction seemed to be correct but I was again disappointed at the confusion and official DEC sign could cause! I took pictures of the signs and we turned around to start back at 12:15 PM. It was definitely hotter and more humid but we were in the shade and a slight breeze was blowing. To get to the point we were at we had 1.25 miles and dropped 650 feet from the junction with ten Mary Smith Hill Trail. I knew this meant the first part of the return trip would be all uphill. On the way back we stopped at one small leaner and Matt cut through it quickly and we got it off the trail. We walked and talked which made the trip easier. I stopped a couple times for a quick break and made sure to get a drink and give one to Sheila. Matt and I talked about diverse topics which made for an interesting trip. I was happy when we reached the junction with the Mary Smith Hill Trail as I knew it was all downhill after that. In this case that is a good thing. We stopped again at the right of way since there was less haze but the pictures were much the same. We were back ay the car at 1:55 PM after hiking 4.6 miles in 3 hours and 40 minutes including 45 minutes of stopped time. The total elevation gain was 1205 feet and the temperature was 84 degrees! I had great fun hiking with Matt and best of all he agreed to maintain that section of trail for the FLT.

On Tuesday, August 10th, I wanted to complete the trail maintenance on the Neversink Hardenburgh Trail. I had gone in from the north and south with other people and had cleared the trail except for about 1.2 miles right in the center. After trying the trail from both ends, I decided it would be easier to approach this task from the Balsam Lake Parking area at the end of the Beaverkill Road. The section of this trail up to the Beaverkill was adopted last year by a new maintainer who seemed very enthusiastic. I went out with her last October and showed her the trail and what was expected of her as a maintainer. Since then she has failed to contact me or respond to any e-mails. This was a big disappointment. As the trail supervisor, I have been told I do not have to maintain the trails when other maintainers fail to do their work but I feel responsible. As I started to get ready at 9:30 Am the temperature was already in the low 70's but the humidity was manageable. Sheila was playing the good dog but watching our every move. As we started to get ready the temperature was 70 degrees and the humidity was uncharacteristically low. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit me well but have been discontinued. I decided to take my Leki Makalu carbon poles with the internal twist locks as they are light and not a problem on most trails. The hike was long enough that I would for the ax and large loppers for the poles. I also added a new OR floppy hat which shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I donned my OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks and mud that I expected to find. At 9:50 AM I put my equipment in the car including my Silky Sugowaza saw, Fiskars loppers and two Oregon splitting wedges. Sheila jumped into the backseat with some enthusiasm and we headed out the driveway. I headed toward Roscoe on Old Rt 17 and I turned right on the Beaverkill Road. I continued north toward Lew Beach and Turnwood. The Beaverkill Falls were flowing but just barely as there had been no significant rain for some days. The road conditions were pretty good even when the pavement ended. I laughed when I saw the "Rough Road" sign! The town of Hardenburgh had been working on the dirt road by smoothing it with a scraper and widening it slightly. Toward the end the road becomes very narrow and I was glad I did not meet any cars. We arrived at the parking area at 10:35 AM and found four other cars in the lot. I set my GPS and we started out on the trail with the Sugowaza, wedges and Fiskars clippers in my pack and the temperature was at 72 degrees.

I immediately ran into a few branches hanging down into trail but decided to leave them as I wanted Ti get to the part of the trail which had not been cleared. We passed the register walking downhill and saw no new blowdowns. The same blowdowns we had left last time were still there and I made a note to get in contact with someone who could supply a sawyer. The first half mile of the trail loses about 200 feet to a bridge that crosses Black Brook. As I walked I cleared a few branches but the trail was still in good shape. From Black Brook we began a climb gaining back the elevation we had lost over .35 miles. There was at least one blowdown across the trail that we had to duck under and a few we had to climb over. Other blowdowns were very large and hikers had created appropriate detours around them. The trail rolled a little and then descended to Gulf of Mexico Brook which we crossed on a nice bridge. At 1.5 miles we came to the outlet stream from Vly Pond. I decided that on this day I did not want to bushwhack the few hundred feet upstream to the pond. The stream was a little lower than normal but the rocks looked slippery. I found a way to cross without falling and we continued our walk. From the Vly outlet brook we climbed some and then started to drop down. I knew that we were approaching the Beaverkill because there was a small pond on the left side of the trail which I remembered from my last trip. There was a very large and complex blowdown in the area of this pond but we were able to climb over it. This blowdown was one that will have to be cleared by a sawyer crew. At 2.0 miles we crossed a small stream and almost immediately after came to the Beaverkill. The trail turned left and paralleled the stream. It was very eroded which I assume came from a period of flooding. We walked along the stream to 2.1 miles where I had turned around last time. This is where the work began! As I began to walk up the trail, I immediately came to a blowdown that had been cut enough to allow hikers to pass. I stopped only a little farther up the trail at a blowdown that had been cut with an ax. It seemed to me that someone had walked along the trail with an ax making a few cuts here and there in blowdowns. It seems that this person had not removed anything that was cut and therefore did little good. I took a few shots and then used the saw to cut the blowdown and remove all the pieces from the trail. I took some 'after' pictures and then move along the trail.

Not very far up the trail was a large trunk across the trail and this became a theme for the rest of this section. To really clear the trail will require a sawyer to cut these large trees. I kept walking and found another trunk across the trail. Fortunately, there was a walk around to allow hikers to pass. This was true of the next blowdown also which was a pine tree with several branches sticking up. I kept walking and found another large trunk with a smaller one right after it. I cut the smaller one to make it easier for hikers to pass by on the trail. The next one was a large tree arching over the trail which would be too dangerous to cut even with a chainsaw. Along the way we crossed a small bridge that was covered with moss. Many of the board on the bridge were missing and some gave me the impression they might break. At 12:30 PM we came to the primitive campsite near Tunis Pond. The campsite has a nice fire ring and benches so I took some pictures. We walked over to the Beaverkill to where a bridge used to cross the river. I took pictures of the area where the bridge used to cross and then walked down to the stream and took some more shots. When I was done, I stowed the camera and then continued on the trail toward the place where the trail for the river. The trail followed the river and then started up a hill when the land ran out. The rest of the trail to the for had a few small blowdowns and an area of brush encroaching on the trail. We pushed through and reached the for at 12:50 PM. I took a few pictures and then we started back. On the way back I got out the Fiskars clippers and trimmed some of the brush. I also removed the small blowdowns by dragging them off the trail sometimes using the saw. We were almost back to the spot where we started our work when we ran into a blowdown that I wanted to clear. The birch trees were pretty thick but I cut them and moved them off the trail. I took pictures before and after. When we were done, we started the walk back and did not top until we got to the car at 2:35 PM after hiking 6.1 miles in 4 hours with 50 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 1000 feet. As we left the parking area, the temperature was 82 degrees.

On Monday, August 9th I had plans to get out and complete some trail maintenance on the Neversink Hardenburgh Trail starting at the Balsam Lake Mountain parking area. After a rough night, I decided to sleep in and take a hike with my 5 year old granddaughter Brynn. I did some work around the house before starting to get ready at 12:30 PM. I decided I would take Sheila and Brynn and go across the street to hike on Round Top just to get out of the house. The temperature was 82 degrees as we got ready. Sheila was watching me and seemed very happy to be finally going out. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with no baselayer because of the temperature and humidity. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to wear a new pair of Keen Cascade hiking boots so I could get an idea of how they felt on my feet. They are a little heavier than what I normally wear as they are all leather and more of a backpacking boot. I decided to take my Leki Makalu Lite poles which are made of aluminum with cork grips and external locks. I had been using a pair of Leki Makalu poles made from carbon fiber with internal twist locks and immediately noticed the poles with the external locks were heavier. I had recently replaced the tips on these poles and found out they were hard to get as they have a special antishock mechanism built in. The tips were slightly larger than suggested but seemed to be a good fit. Brynn always wears a dress but had brought pants and hiking shoes to go out with me. I was surprised that she had put her pants on under her dress but she looked ready to hike. We stepped out of the house at 12:45 PM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the trunk of my car and we walked up the driveway. Brynn had told me she would not get tired on the hike but I had never been out with her before. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could run free. I knew that other people were using the trails from comments on Facebook. The trails was becoming well-worn as more and more people use them. Brynn did not seem at all tired after hiking up the hill and was ahead of me on the trail.

At the first trail junction, we turned right to walk up the more shallow approach to Round Top on the wide woods road. The trails were surprisingly dry as it had not rained for several days. I had trimmed the trail pretty wide the last time I had done trail work and that had kept the brush and weeds off the trail. I taught Brynn about the meanings of the different trail blazes. Brynn made up hiking sings as we walked. At the first junction with the blue trail, we turned left and continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The grass and weeds were under control and even the brush was well back from the trail. Brynn asked me if I had cleared the trails. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and headed up the steep side of the hill. I decided to turn right on the switchback on the blue trail. I explained the purpose of the switchback as we walked out and then back to the blue trail. We followed the blue trail over the summit, skipping the white crossover trail, and then walked down the other side. We again bypassed the white crossover trail and continued down the blue trail to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail to once again walk along the base of Round Top. Brynn seemed a little confused but soon caught on to the pattern we were walking. This time when we reached the second junction with the blue trail we turned left on the yellow trail and followed that downhill to the viewpoint over town. Brynn told me that her code for walking downhill was 'X Point down'! The forest floor was getting greener all the time as more and more ferns popped up. At the lookout we walked down the small ledge to the flat rocks that made up the viewpoint. We looked around at what we could see and I lifted Brynn briefly so that she could see more. When we were done, we walked the narrow path back out toward the yellow trail. I found that the brush I had placed in the path needed to be replaced as someone had "helpfully" removed it. I put the brush in the path to discourage people from walking along the path. This path can be dangerous for some and I wanted it blocked to discouraged its use. I replaced the brush that had been placed beside the trail and then went to find some more. By the time I was done there was about twice as much brush on the path. We continued down the hill to the very first trail junction completing our first figure 8. Brynn was showing no signs of getting tired and I had heard no complaints. We immediately turned around and hiked back up the steeper trail to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and began the long but gentle climb to the first junction with the blue trail. In several places Brynn was skipping or running. At the junction we turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the second junction with the blue trail. We turned left and followed the blue trail to the white crossover trail. We turned left and followed the trail along the side of the hill to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left and followed the blue trail straight down the hill to the junction with the yellow trail. By this time I was beginning to sweat and despite the breeze it felt warmer. We turned left on the yellow trail and again followed it to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the wide woods road that brought us back to the first trail junction. I got the feeling that Brynn was ready to go for at least one more round but I decided we would return to the house. We walked out to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill and headed across the church parking lot to the street. We crossed the street to our driveway and were home by 2:00 PM after hiking 2 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes.

On Saturday, August 7th I had plans to get out and complete some trail maintenance on the Neversink Hardenburgh Trail starting at the Balsam Lake Mountain parking area. An ambulance call came in at 3:30 AM to lift a patient back into their chair. The call didn't take long but I had trouble getting back to sleep. I slept late and decided that I did not want to do the trail maintenance since the weather forecast included a chance of thunderstorms. At 1:30 PM I decided I would take Sheila and go across the street to hike on Round Top just to get out of the house. The temperature was 75 degrees as I got ready. Sheila was watching me and seemed very happy to be finally going out. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with no baselayer because of the temperature and humidity. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to wear a new pair of Keen Cascade hiking boots so I could get an idea of how they felt on my feet. They are a little heavier than what I normally wear as they are all leather and more of a backpacking boot. I decided to take my Leki Makalu Lite poles which are made of aluminum with cork grips and external locks. I had been using a pair of Leki Makalu poles made from carbon fiber with internal twist locks and immediately noticed the poles with the external locks were heavier. I had recently replaced the tips on these poles and found out they were hard to get as they have a special antishock mechanism built in. The tips were slightly larger than suggested but seemed to be a good fit. We stepped out of the house at 2:00 PM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the trunk of my car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for at least two figure 8's but thought I might do four. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could run free. I knew that other people were using the trails from comments on Facebook. The trails was becoming well-worn as more and more people use them.

At the first trail junction, we turned right to walk up the more shallow approach to Round Top on the wide woods road. The trails were surprisingly dry as it had not rained for several days. I had trimmed the trail pretty wide the last time I had done trail work and that had kept the brush and weeds off the trail. At the first junction with the blue trail, we turned left and continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The grass and weeds were under control and even the brush was well back from the trail. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and headed up the steep side of the hill. I decided to skip both the switchback on the blue trail and the white crossover trail as we headed directly for the summit. We followed the blue trail over the summit and down the other side. We again bypassed the white crossover trail and continued down the blue trail to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail to once again walk along the base of Round Top. This time when we reached the second junction with the blue trail we turned left on the yellow trail and followed that downhill to the viewpoint over town. The forest floor was getting greener all the time as more and more ferns popped up. At the lookout we turned left to follow the yellow trail back to the very first trail junction. I check the path to the viewpoint and found that the brush I had placed in the trail needed to be replaced to discourage people from walking along the path. This path can be dangerous for some and I wanted it blocked to discouraged its use. We continued down the hill to the very first trail junction completing our first figure 8. We immediately turned around and hiked back up the steeper trail to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and began the long but gentle climb to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the second junction with the blue trail. We turned left and followed the blue trail to the white crossover trail. We turned left and followed the trail along the side of the hill to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left and almost immediately turned left again on the switchback trail. We followed the switch back until it led as back to the main blue trail where we turned left. We followed the blue trail downhill to the junction with the yellow trail. By this time I was beginning to sweat profusely been though it did not seem to be too hot or humid. We turned left on the yellow trail and again followed it to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the wide woods road that brought us back to the first trail junction.

Sheila seemed ready to go home but I had other ideas. We turned around and started back up the woods road turning left at the first junction with the blue trail. We turned left on the yellow trail and walked along the base of Round Top to the second junction with the blue trail. We turned right and started up the blue trail turning right on the switchback which we followed back to the main blue trail. We turned right and then almost immediately right on the white crossover trail. At the end of the white trail, we turned right on the blue trail and walked down to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right and walked the yellow trail to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left and continued on the yellow trail to the lookout. We followed the yellow trail sit turned left to return us to the first trail junction. Sheila started out to the trailhead but I called her back as I wanted to do one more figure 8. We turned around and hiked back up the hill to the lookout with an increased pace. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and continued up hill through the ferns. At the first junction with the blue trail, we turned right and once again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the second junction with the blue trail we turned right and started up toward the summit. At the white crossover trail we turned left and followed it to the blue trail. We turned left and left again on the switchback which we followed until it came to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked down to the yellow trail. We turned right, followed it along the base of Round Top and turned right at the second junction with the blue trail. We followed the yellow trail down to the woods road and back out to the first trail junction. This time Sheila turned left and ran toward the trailhead with me following right behind. At the trailhead, I put Sheila on her leash and as we turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill. We headed across the church parking lot to the street. We crossed the street to our driveway and were home by 3:50 PM after hiking just under 4 miles in 1 hour and 50 minutes.

On Friday, August 6th, I planned to survey the Finger Lakes Trail from Downsville going towards Route 206 with my grandson Bryce. I have recently become the Regional Trail Coordinator for the FLTC for the Eastern Catskills. This section of the trail runs from Downsville to Slide Mountain. Some sections are maintained by the FLTC and others by the NYNJTC. These news responsibilities overlap with my role as Trail Supervisor for the NYNJTC in the Balsam Lake Wild forest, Willowemoc Wild Forest and Big Indian Wilderness. Some hikers had reported some blowdowns on the trail and a lack of markers and I wanted to check out these reports. Although my primary purpose was to check out the trail, I decided to take along my Silky Sugowaza and Fiskars pack ax just in case we needed to cleanup something. My plan was to park on Mink Brook Road in Downsville and walk the FLT until it turns left off the snowmobile trail toward Route 206. This was the spot I turned around on a previous trip. Bryce arrived at my house shortly after 9:00 AM and I began to ready at 9:45 AM when the temperature was 72 degrees. While I was getting ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top over a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit me well but have been discontinued. I decided to take my Leki Makalu carbon poles with the internal twist locks as they are light and not a problem on most trails. I also my OR floppy hat which shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I donned my OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks and mud that I expected to find. I slid my Silky Sugowaza into my pack just in case I needed it and gave Bryce the Fiskars ax. At 10:10 AM I put our gear in the car and Sheila and Bryce in the backseat and left Livingston Manor. I drove west on State Route 17 getting of at exit 94 for Roscoe. I drove North on Route 206 to the Pepacton Reservoir and turned left on Route 30 toward Downsville. I had decided to see if I could park on Mink Brook Road so that we did not have to walk on the road from the covered bridge to the point where the FLT entered the woods. As I came down the hill passed the dam, I watched for Mink Brook Road and turned left. As I went up the road I turned left again into what looked like it might be a driveway. I drove to the end where I could see the FLT markers going through a clearing and into the woods. I put on a mask and knocked on the door of the house. A young man came to the door and I explained I wanted to park to do trail work. He graciously gave me permission to park. We parked at 10:40 AM when the temperature was 72 degrees. I set my GPS, out Sheila on her line, and handed Bryce the ax. We headed up through the clearing and watched to see where the FLT markers and arrows indicated that the trail entered the woods.

It had not occurred to me that we would be started our hike considerably lower than the other end of the trail on Route 206! After we entered the woods, the first .35 miles saw us gain 380 feet with a 21% grade. The trail was wet in several places with water running down and across the trail. The trail seems to roughly follow a set of wagon roads and snowmobile trails. Where there are large blowdowns, the trail was simply routed around them rather than cut the large and numerous tree trunks. There were some very large trees that had been cut but the work seemed to have been done some time ago. After about .5 miles we came to a large blowdown blocking the trail after passing by several that had been cut. This one was too big to cut so I took some pictures and moved on. Just passed this blowdown was another, larger one that had been neatly cut from the trail. This one was bigger than the last and I took a few shots before continuing. Bryce and I were both removing small branches, large branches and old tree trunks from the trail while trying to avoid the nettles. At .75 miles we found a single medium sized tree trunk across the trail and decided to remove it. I took my 'before' shots and then grabbed the saw to cut the top off the trunk. When I was dine, I switched to the ax and made another cut near the base of the tree. The wood was harder than I thought but I eventually cut through. The center piece I had cut out was heavier than I thought but I was able to move it out of the way. I took some pictures and we continued on the trail. The trail followed the deeply eroded wagon road until there were some major blowdowns and then moved to the elevated side of the trail or took a route through the woods. The markings and the trail were adequate but a few more would have been nice. Again at .85 miles there was a mess to clean up. Much of this was removing loose branches and trunks. We did cut off a sharp piece of wood sticking out at about head high! Around .9 miles a series of blowdowns completely block the woods road so the trail detoured through the woods to the left. We followed the trail as it snaked its way passed the mess and back up onto the road. This was repeated several times. We found another mess at 1.0 miles. This consisted of one trunk too large for us to cut and another, smaller one. We picked up some loose branches and removed the smaller trunk. We also cut and removed some other branches and the result was an improvement. Around 1.2 miles we came to two large trunks across the trail which had caused a reroute to the right. The problem was that a small trunk and some branches were now hanging low over the trail. We took a few minutes for me to use the saw and cut down the mess while Bryce dragged them away. At 10 years old Bryce is able to really contribute and seems to enjoy it.

Not very far up the trail we ran into another two very large trunks which I could not cut. The problem was amplified by some branches that were in the way. We again took the time to improve the area before moving on. I was trying to keep track of how far we had to go to get to the point where I had turned around the last trip. I had not expected to have to stop so many times and had forgotten that the hike was all uphill. We passed by a rather branchy blowdown that blocked the trail and came to a huge structure constructed of stones on the right side of the trail. It was not a stone wall but it was also not a foundation. I took q few shots and began to think it might have been used to load logs on a wagon. Just beyond this area and up a hill we could see a clearing and we decided to investigate. We climb the hill and broke out into an open field. The grass was high and very green and the sky was blue with some white clouds. I took a few pictures and then we walked back down to the trail. I looked at the mileage and found that we would have to walk another 1.5 miles to get to the turnaround point. We talked about it and decided to turn around, cut the blowdown we had passed and then walk back to the car. We walked back to the blowdown where I took some 'before' shots. We then removed all the loose branches and I began to use the saw to cut the rest. There were some large branches that I cut which Bryce was able to handle. A few of the largest ones we worked together to move. When we finished, it was hard to tell the trail had ever been blocked. I took my final pictures and we packed up to start back to the car. On the way back there were several blowdowns we could have worked on but we stuck to our "pact" and kept hiking. The first half of the return trip went quickly but then we ran into the mud. Further down the trail we ran into the steepest section with wet and slippery rocks. We were back at the car at 2:45 PM after hiking only 2.7 miles but doing a lot of work along the way. We had taken 4 hours and 5 minutes but 1 hour and 45 minutes was hiking and 2 hours and 20 minutes was spent working. Our elevation gain was 915 feet.

On Thursday, August 5th I wanted to get out for a hike with my grandson Bryce who was coming to my house. When the grandchildren arrived, I was surprised to find that it was 8 year old Lukas who had come. I had not taken Luke out to hike in a long time but I asked him if he would like to go across the street to hike on Round Top. He said "Yes" and I started to get ready to go. As I got ready, Sheila seemed very happy to be going out. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with no base layer because the temperature was in the low 70's with high humidity. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to wear a new pair of Keen Cascade hiking boots so I could get an idea of how they felt on my feet. They are a little heavier than what I normally wear as they are all leather and more of a backpacking boot. I decided to take my Leki Makalu carbon poles with the internal twist locks as they are light and not a problem on most trails. I also put on my OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks and the mud I knew would be on the trail. We stepped out of the house at 11:30 AM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We walked to the church parking lot and to the back of the church. As we started up the hill, we began the ascent of the steep hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". I was surprised that Luke practically skipped up the hill! I let Sheila pull me up the hill which she was willing to do. At the trailhead, I let Sheila off her leash and she immediately began to bound up the trail. I started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I knew that other people were using the trails from comments on Facebook and because there was one car parked at the bottom of the hill. The trails were becoming well-worn as more and more people use them.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the viewpoint. After the short walk from the house, I was already soaked in sweat from the humidity. The climb up the hill was not particularly tiring. We moved a small tree that had blown down so that it was across the trail to the viewpoint. This trail has a dangerous spot and we have piled brush on it to discourage people from using it. Luke and I walked out to the viewpoint and looked out across Livingston Manor. In the winter when the leaves are off the trees there is a nice view of the town. We had trouble seeing very much as the leaves blocked our view. I asked Luke if he would like to go down below the viewpoint and he agreed. We worked our way down with Luke in the lead. He really likes the rock scrambles and was surprised that there was a "cave" bolo the lookout. Luke went around the corner and I heard a noise and saw some birds flying away. I think some doves have made their nest under the lookout and it certainly made for a bit of excitement. We reversed our route and started back up. Luke found and old medicine bottle with some fluid in it and carried it for the rest of the hike. We worked our way back up to the main trail and continued to follow it as it headed up the gentle hill through the hardwood forest. The forest was very green and ferns covered the forest floor. Sheila was making her own way by staying on the trail sometimes and then running off-trail and chasing game trails. She was also picking up sticks and dragging them along and off the trail. Luke and I talked about his recent vacation with the family and he gave me very detailed accounts of their hikes. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction with the blue trail. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. This section was in good shape without any blowdowns and I could now really notice what a good job I had done with my Stihl trimmer. At the next junction, we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued up and over the summit. There were a few branches leaning over into the trail but I broke them off and made sure they no longer were in the way. When we started down the other side, I decided we would skip the white crossover trail but take the switchback on the blue trail. People seemed to be avoiding the crossover trail but the switchback looked more well-worn. At the bottom of the hill, we turned left on the yellow trail, walked along the base of Round Top. At the trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right to walk down to the woods road. It was a snap to walk downhill and out the woods road. It was obvious Sheila felt the same way as she was running and bounding ahead of us and then running back up the trail. We walked the woods road out to the first trail junction. I wanted to do a loop in the opposite direction but Luke seemed opposed to the idea. I decided I would provide a little more excitement for him so we hiked up the hill toward the lookout again. T the top of the hill we turned right and bushwhacked along the cliffs and ledges that overlook the trail. I showed Luke a crossarm on a tree and bracket. I think these were from the time when there was a TV antennae on Round Top that supplied reception for many people in town. We continued to walk through the woods with Luke taking every opportunity to climb up and over the rocks. We eventually came out on the yellow trail and turned left. At the junction with the blue trail we turned left again and walked back down to the lookout. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and headed down the hill. By this time we were all hot so we walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill. We headed across the church parking lot to the street. We crossed the street to our driveway and were home by 12:45 PM after hiking around 2 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes.

On Tuesday, August 3rd, I wanted to survey the Finger Lakes Trail from Route 206 going towards Downsville. I have recently become the Regional Trail Coordinator for the FLTC for the Eastern Catskills. This section of the trail runs from Downsville to Slide Mountain. Some sections are maintained by the FLTC and others by the NYNJTC. These news responsibilities overlap with my role as Trail Supervisor for the NYNJTC in the Balsam Lake Wild forest, Willowemoc Wild Forest and Big Indian Wilderness. Some hikers had reported some blowdowns on the trail and a lack of markers and I wanted to check out these reports. Although my primary purpose was to check out the trail, I decided to take along my Silky Sugowaza just in case I needed to cleanup something. My plan was to park on Route 206 and walk the FLT until it turns right off the snowmobile trail toward Downsville. I needed to get some work done around the house so I started getting ready at 10:30 AM when the temperature was 68 degrees. While I was getting ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top over a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit me well but have been discontinued. I decided to take my Leki Makalu carbon poles with the internal twist locks as they are light and not a problem on most trails. I also my OR floppy hat which shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I donned my OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks and mud that I expected to find. I slid my Silky Sugowaza into my pack just in case I needed it. At 11:10 AM I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and left Livingston Manor. I drove west on State Route 17 getting of at exit 94 for Roscoe. I drove North on Route 206 for 9 miles to the point where the FLT crosses Route 206. I turned around and parked in the pulloff at 11:30 Am with the temperature still at 68 degrees. I set my GPS unit and we started off down the trail. The first part of the trail had some high grass and weeds ut these disappeared as we continued. The trail was wet in most places with some running water and some mud. Many of these trails are snowmobile trails so that they are well maintained at least from the early fall to the late winter. At other times the snowmobile club ignores the trails and the maintainer is responsible to keep it clear.

As the trail flattened out near the brook, we came to a tree that had collapsed across the trail. As the soil becomes saturated with water from the rains, some trees with shallow routes have fallen over. The tree had three good-sized trunks and hikers had already started to detour around it. I took some pictures and decided to simply clear out the detour. I only had to make a few cuts and remove a few loose branches and the job was done. I took my 'after' shots, packed up and continued along the trail. We walked on the trail as it paralleled the brook and then crossed on the foot bridge. The bridge was in poor repair and will need to be fixed or replaced in the near future. I took some pictures and we moved on. I began removing branches from the trail and, in some spots, took the time to lift some tree trunk off the trail. Many of these were old and many were broken and easy to pivot. After descending for about .7 miles, we began to climb and over the next .9 miles we gained about 600 feet of elevation. At 1.2 miles we came to the side trail to the Campbell Mountain lean-to and walked over to inspect it. The lean-to was in good shape but I could see light coming in between some of the logs. The privy was also in good shape. I took some pictures and we continued up the trail passing through some switchbacks. I knew that the FLT was co-aligned with the snowmobile that turned right near the top of the ascent. At 1.6 miles there was a back on white arrow pointing to the right and an FLT blaze. The trail was wide but not well marked and this continued the further we went. There were no FLT signs or blazes and the snowmobile markers were few and far between. For the most part this was not a problem on the first part of the trail which was either level or descending. We passed through some nice clearings some with laurel and some with ferns. Since this trail is lightly traveled, it was hard to see where it entered the woods on the other side of the clearing and the lack of markers did not help. There were also some very swampy sections but t5hey were short. At 2.35 miles the trail turned right and we were confronted by a large blowdown blocking the trail. There was the beginnings of a reroute to the right but I thought it would be better to see if I could remove this one. I looked it over and there were a lot of branches but none of them were more than 5" in diameter. I took some 'before' pictures and then began to remove the loose branches. Once I did that I began to use the saw to cut and the remove the other branches. Once I was down to a few reaming trunks, I took some pictures and then finished the work. Once I was done, I took some shots of the perfectly cleared trail and then packed up. It had taken 35 minutes to do the work.

Soon we ascended slightly to the top of Campbell Mountain. The markings on the trail were now practically non-existent. We came upon some nice yellow signs warning about turns and a large blowdown that I had no intention on trying to clear. On the other side there were few FLT markers that led down the hill passing some nice rock ledges and the through some switchbacks. There was another blowdown that I was almost able to clear by taking the loose branches off the trail and pivoting the large trunk. By this time I had stopped counting the number of large branches and small trunks I had removed. We continued down the hill skipping a few blowdowns that I though I might remove on the way back. At 32. Miles the trail turned sharply to the right. At this point the turn was marked and a sign labeled "Campbell Mountain" pointed back in the direction that we had just come from. We turned right and walked only a short distance to a sign that said "Downsville" pointing to the right. Just after this sign were also a few confirming FLT markers. I admit that I knew what I was looking for but I thought the marking were adequate and that it would be hard to miss the. Having accomplished my objective, we turned around to start back at 2:35 PM after hiking 3.25 miles. We made the left turn and came to a few small blowdowns. I was a little tired and just wanted to get home but knew I would regret leaving these across the trail. It only took a few minutes on each one to get them out of the trail. We hiked up the hill and continued along the trail. There were still a few branches and trunks to remove here and there but the trail was looking much better. Once we were on the flatter part of the ridge the walk went quickly. Soon were making the left and turn onto the Campbell Mountain Trail. From this high point we dropped 640 feet in a little over a mile to the ascent from the stream up to the trailhead and the parking lot. We were back at the car at 4:30 PM after hiking 6.4 miles in 4 hours and 55 minutes with an elevation gain of 1390 feet. An hour and a half of the time was spent stopping to clear blowdowns.

On Saturday, July 31st, I wanted was torn between doing some more trail maintenance and taking a longer hike to reward myself. I decided on a longer hike in the Frick Pond area so that I could carry a saw to do any needed tree removal. I caught up on some sleep I had missed from ambulance class and then did a few things around the house. I started getting ready at 10:45 AM when the temperature on the back porch was 68 degrees with low humidity which felt very comfortable. While I was getting ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top over a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit me well but have been discontinued. I decided to take my Leki Makalu carbon poles with the internal twist locks as they are light and not a problem on most trails. I also my OR floppy hat which shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I donned my OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks and mud that I expected to find. I slid my Silky Sugowaza into my pack just in case I need it. At 11:15 AM I put my equipment in the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor and I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking areas on the left. I pulled into the smaller parking area which had three other cars parked. The larger lot also had a few cars in it and someone was shouting and playing loud music. I set my GPS unit and started out on the woods road that leads to the Quick Lake Trail at 11:30 AM with the temperature only 61 degrees. I was reminded of the problem of horses on the trail by a pile of manure on the trail. Horses are not supposed to be on foot trails but some people simply do not care. We joined the Quick Lake Trail at the trail register. The trail was damp with a few muddy spots but lacked the standing and running water if previous trips. The trail was beginning to close in as we approached Gravestone Junction and I knew I would be back to cleanup this part. The path to the Lobbdell Memorial stone was complete overgrown but when I peeked in I saw that someone had push it over! I inspected the base and it was not tilted so I knew it was vandalism. This kind of senseless act still surprises me but not as much as in the past. I think I am coming to expect these kinds of thoughtless acts by some people.

We continued to Gravestone Junction and veered to the left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. The flat part of the trail before the decent to the pond had several very muddy spots. I took the time to cut and remove a few small trees leaning into the trail. When we reached the bridge over the outlet, the skies were cloudless and a little flat but I took pictures anyway. There was a nice breeze off the pond but the insects were starting to circle so I sprayed my hat and shirt and my exposed skin. We continued on the Quick Lake Trail passing by what was once a large mud pit on the west side of the pond. Some work by our trail crew had drained the area and placed stepping stones making it much easier to pass. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we stayed to the right to head toward Ironwheel Junction. This part of the trail is often very wet and muddy but it was now only damp. I removed several branches that were on the trail. We walked through the "spruce tunnel" to a small stream that crosses the trail. The stream level was rather low as I had improved the drainage. I took some pictures as Sheila took a dip and got a drink. We crossed the stream and continued up the trail. Sheila alerted and I could see a young couple approaching with two dogs that were not leashed. This is a consistent problem and I wish dog owners would be more responsible. I leashed Sheila and took her to the side of the trail. The young lady announced her dogs were "friendly" and I let her know that Sheila sometimes was not. They escorted their dogs passed us and we never saw them again. The rest of the trail to Ironwheel Junction was wet and muddy in most places. I took the time to remove some larger branches from the trail. At Ironwheel Junction we turned left and continued on the Quick Lake Trail. This section of trail was almost dry. I stopped to remove a larger blowdown which required the use of my saw. I made sure to document my efforts with pictures. Just after I finished another young couple approached us coming from the direction of Hodge Pond. We all said "Hello" as they passed. We continued on the trail walking uphill most of the time. I kept flicking small branches off the trail with my poles and stopping to remove a few bigger ones. At 1:10 PM we arrived at Junkyard Junction after hiking 3.1 miles.

We turned right on the blue-blazed Flynn Trail and started the walk to Hodge Pond. I dreaded this part of the hike a little as this section of the Flynn Trail is flat and usually collects water. I was surprised as there were only a few muddy spots and none of the larger puddles I had encountered on the last hike. There were a few branches to move but not many. When we reached the gate on the trail, I noticed a new sign which said 'Entering Private Land - Please stay on the trail' and the name at the bottom was Beaverkill Land Trust. Previously this land had been in the care of the Open Spaces Institute and I wondered about this change and if it would have any effects on hiking. We follow the Flynn Trail to a point near the shore of Hodge Pond where it meets the jeep trail around the upper end of the pond. We turned right to walk along the trail which is sited on a woods road. This road was damp in spots with mud in a few others. We met and older couple who were walking toward us and exchanged a few words. Soon Sheila and I broke out of the woods into the field which once was the site of the dining hall for the Beech Mounatin Boy Scouts Camp. We continued across the field and re-entered the woods. After a short walk, e were in the clearing at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. As we started to walk over to the pond, we could see a man sanding in the water fly-fishing. I walked over to a spot near the pond and took off my pack to get out the camera. Sheila did not seem interested in the man and he had not spoken to use. I took some pictures which were rather ordinary due to the featureless sky. After a drink and a bar, we turned around and headed back to where the Flynn Trail enters the woods. The climb up the hill seemed easy and went quickly. I began to think of a way to logically lengthen the hike over the usual 6 miles. I decided we would use the snowmobile trails to hike to Mongaup Pond and return using the roads.

At the top of the hill, we stayed to the right on the Flynn Trail and walked toward the four-way junction with the Big Rock Trail and the snowmobile trail to Mongaup Pond. At the next gate there was another sign from the Beaverkill Land Trust outlining the do's and don'ts of using their land. We continued to the junction and turned left to start up the snowmobile trail. I stopped to inspect a DEC that indicated the snowmobile trail was the Big Rock Trail which it is not. The sign also stated Mongaup Pond was 1.8 miles away when it is really at least 2.3 miles. Mistakes on official signs like these are really inexcusable. It means that somebody had to supply the wrong information which the person making the sign did not check and the person posting the sign did not verify. Not having signs is bad but having incorrect signs is, I think worse. We walked to the top of the hill and I knew from that point on the hiking was downhill or slightly rolling. The snowmobile trail was pretty dry and in good shape but I could not help removing branches as I walked. Several large blowdowns had been cleared by chainsaw. Mongaup Pond is south-southwest of the trail junction but the snowmobile trail meanders quite a bit and even heads north before finally joining the loop roads at the campgrounds. As I was walking, I marveled at the fact that there were no special sights to Se but that everything was beautiful and that I could only hear the sounds of nature. By 3:00 PM we had hiked 7 miles and were at the loop road. The campgrounds seemed busy with the campsites full and people using the volleyball nets. There was one dog that was barking constantly at everything and I wondered how the other campers felt about it.

Sheila and I walked out to the main road and turned right. After a short distance, we walked off the road on a path to the left which brought us to the shore of the pond. The bench there was occupied by a young couple so I took my pack off and told Sheila to lie down by my pack. She did as I asked and never moved. I went to the shore and took pictures of the water, sky and trees. There were some ducks on the pond and I did my best to capture them. When I was done, I stowed my camera and we walked back out to the road. In another .6 miles we came to the newly reconstructed viewing platform and boat ramp. Nobody was there so we walked out onto the platform where I took some more pictures. There were a few young people around in canoes and kayaks and no one was wearing a PFD. I thought to myself that it had been a number of years since I had been to Mongaup Pond with the ambulance for a drowning! At this point, I really just wanted to be back at the car so Sheila and I set a fast pace on the road passing through the entrance and out the road to the intersection with Beech Mountain Road. A few cars passed us going both in and out. We were walking next to the outlet stream from Mongaup which is beautiful. I have stopped several times in the past to take pictures so this time I just kept walking. Soon we were at the intersection where we turned right and walked uphill to the car. It was 4:00 Pm and we had hiked 9.4 miles in 4 hours and 25 minutes with an elevation gain of 1265 feet. This eluted to a moving average of 2.3 mph with an overall speed of 2.1 mph.

On Friday, July 30th, I wanted to investigate a mysterious "Trail Closed" sign on the main Finger Lakes Trail near the Cannonsville Reservoir. The sign was at the junction of the main trail and the hunting bypass just north of the Apex Bridge at the junction of Route 268 and Route 10. The closure was not listed on the FLT website and no one in the organization seemed to know about it. Trying to contact the NYC DEP by phone or e-mail was useless so I planned to visit the DEO Police substation on Route 10 near Walton to see if I could speak to someone in person. I also thought I might get in some hiking in the area perhaps to the Rock Rift fire tower if the trail was open or in some other spot like Bear Spring. Cindy had agreed to go along and Sheila was playing the good dog but watching our every move. As we started to get ready, the temperature was 62 degrees and the humidity was uncharacteristically low. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit me well but have been discontinued. I decided to take my Leki Makalu carbon poles with the internal twist locks as they are light and not a problem on most trails. I also took my OR floppy hat which keeps the insects off and protects me from the sun. I put on my OR Bugout gaiters as we would be on trails that might be overgrown. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 11:15 AM as I drove west on the Quickway towards Roscoe. I got off the Quickway at exit 87A for Cadosia and took Route 268 north toward Route 10 and the Cannonsville Reservoir. We crossed the Apex Bridge and I turned right on Route 10 to head toward Walton. I drove 6 miles toward Walton and turned into the DEP Police substation. I tried pishing all the buttons I could but no one would answer. Fortunately, a car pulled into the parking lot and an officer got out. He didn't know about the trail closure but took me inside to talk to the people who would not answer the doorbell! They were all very accommodating but didn't know anything about the sign. They tried to call someone who might know about the sign and the trail closure but got no answer. After about 20 minutes, I left knowing no more than I had when I got there! I decided to check to see if the sign was still there. I drove back to the Apex Bridge and then drove another 1.7 miles to a small parking pulloff on the left side of the road just after the Finger Lakes Trail bypass intersected the road.

It was 12:15 PM when I set my GPS and we started out on the bypass trail with the temperature a comfortable 70 degrees. The trail was eroded and poorly marked with many of the paint blazes faded and hard to see. There were also several blowdowns. In .25 miles the trail gained 220 feet for an 18% grade. When we came to the trail intersection, the sign indicating that the area was closed ahead was still there. I copied down the phone number on the sign and we turned around and headed back down the hill to the road. We crossed the road to stay on the bypass trail that runs along the edge of the reservoir. The trail had not been maintained in some time so there were branches across the trail in some places and thick stands of nettles and briars in others. In a short distance we reached the shore of the reservoir and I walked out to take some pictures. I could see Clabber Peak, Little Clabber and Speedwell to the north and west. As I was taking my shots the wind picked up. Sheila tried getting a drink and taking a swim but the waves and whitecaps bothered her so much she came running away from the water. I packed up and we started along the trail again. Um about .5 miles the trail joined the old path of Route 10. We walked down toward the water, over some driftwood to the edge of the water. I took out my camera to take some more pictures of the reservoir and the surrounding hills. I also took pictures of the road disappearing beneath the water! We turned around and began to follow the trail which followed the old route of the road. The trail took us through a gravel storage area and then continued along the old road.

We passed through some grassy and open areas and then entered the woods. At about 1.6 miles from the road, the trail turned left up the bank but we continued along the road where I had never been before. We passed some cliffs and areas where the edge of the road dropped straight down to the water. After less than a quarter mile there was no place to go so we turned around and walked back to the marked trail. We walked up the bank to Route 10 following the trail. When we got to the road, I wanted to complete the "trail" by walking on Route 10 to the Apex Bridge. Cindy did not want to walk along the road so she decided to go back to the car. Sheila and I turned right and almost jogged to the parking lot by the bridge. We immediately turned around and set a blistering pace back to the car arriving just as Cindy got there. I drove back to the parking lot by the bridge so that I could take some pictures. The view was even better from here than from the edge of the water. I found myself wishing I was kayaking on the water! I wanted to do a little more hiking on the FLT on the other side of the bridge since I remembered it was sited along an old railroad bed with some interesting cuts. Cindy was not interested which was a big disappointment to me but I have learned there is no point in arguing. We returned home. We had hiked 4.6 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes with and elevation gain of 590 feet. Most of the elevation gain was on the first section of the hike as the part near the reservoir is almost flat. After all of this, I still had no more information about the trail "closure".

On Tuesday, July 27th, I planned to go to do some trail maintenance in the Willowemoc Wild Forest with another hiker and hike leader. Marv is from New Jersey and has about a 3 hour drive. He had recently had no one sign up for a CMC hike on the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail. He knew how much trail maintenance is needed in my area and volunteered to help. We were originally going to work on the south end of the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail but I asked if we could switch to the south end of the Neversink Hardenburgh Trail as Cindy and I had done the north end last week. Marv was game and we agreed to meet at the large parking area on Wild Meadow Road. I did not sleep well and got up at 7:15 AM when the temperature was only 57 degrees. I knew the forecast was for temperatures in the mid 80's. I started to get ready at 8:00 AM. While I was getting ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit me well but have been discontinued. I decided to forego bringing any hiking poles as I would be carrying trail maintenance equipment. I also put on my OR floppy hat which shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I also wore my OR BugOut gaiters to deal with the mud and ticks that I was sure we would encounter. at 8:30 AM I put my equipment in the car including my Fiskars axe, Silky Sugowaza saw, Silky KatanaBoy saw, two Oregon splitting wedges and the Corona loppers. We left Livingston Manor and I drove out the DeBruce Road about 15 miles to Wild Meadow Road near Round Pond. I turned left and drove up the road to the large parking area on the right. I pulled in and there was only one car and it had a New Jersey license plate! I walked over to the car and introduced myself to Marv. He agreed to follow me to the end of the road where we would take a private road to a hunting camp. I had obtained permission from an owner of the camp to park at the camp and do trail work. As we started out on the private road, it was obvious that it was in much poorer condition than the last time I had been there. It was a little nerve wracking but we made it to the end and parked our cars. We got out and introduced ourselves and decided which tools we would bring. Marv had a KatanaBoy 650 and a pair of clippers. I brought the Silky Sugowaza, Fiskars ax and wedges. We both set our GPS units at AM with the temperature now in the low 70's.

We started our hike at 9:25 AmM by walking across the lawn of the hunting camp to the yellow-blazed Neversink Hardenburgh Trail. As we entered the woods it immediately became obvious that the trail would be wet and muddy in many places. As we walked, Marv and I talked and found we had much in common. We are both right around 70 years old. Both of us are EMTs and volunteer with our local ambulance squads although Marv is relatively new and this is my 35th year. We also both worked for the Bell Telephone Company at some point. The first blowdown we cleared was a good warm up. It was an old birch and Marv made quick work of it with the KatanaBoy 650. We rolled it off the trail and crossed a small stream on stepping stones. Our next challenge was an old decaying log which we were able to pick apart and move off the trail. This happened several more times on our trip. We moved a few more trunks from the trail and then ran into another old and decaying trunk that we cut and removed. Parts of the trail were almost dry while others sections and standing or running water. The worst sections had deep mud and they were hard for me as I had no poles. Eventually we came to a swampy area with a view to Doubletop so I took a few shots. This area is also the headwaters of the Beaverkill and of Fall Brook which flow in opposite directions. At 11:45 AM we arrived at the Beaverkill and I stopped to take some pictures of the bee balm. We decided to cross and bushwhack some on the opposite side of the river eventually rejoining the trail. We crossed with no problem but had trouble finding a good route along the other shore. It occurred to us at about the same time that if we were doing trail maintenance we should not be avoiding the trail! We walked back to where we had crossed and recrossed the river.

The trail is a little sketchy in this area due to years of neglect and erosion from the river. We followed the markers that led us over some rocks. We were impeded by some small tree lying in the trail so we cut them and removed them. Before we moved on, I saw some water insects skimming the river. They casts interesting shadows on the rocks under the water so I took some pictures. The trail climbed steeply up than bank ad at the top was a large birch which made staying on the trail difficult. It took several cuts and both of us working together to cut and remove this blowdown. We walked a short distance and found a large cherry across the trail. It had fallen from the bank above and was at a difficult angle to cut. Hikers had been ducking under but we decided we had to at least improve the situation. We cut off all the branches that were in the way. We then cut the end nearest the river and removed it. When we did this the rest of the tree moved down so that it was still in the trail. At ;east now, hikers could easily step over it. We decided to walk to the point where the trail crosses the river and then turn around. We found a few branches which we removed but no more blowdowns. I took some pictures at the ford and a few more of some interesting rapids a little farther upstream as we walked back. When we came to the cherry, we both though it was a good idea to try again. It took two more cuts through the cherry to make the trail completely clear. We then began the walk back. I was pretty tired and just wanted to get back to the car. Heading back raised my spirits but the unrelenting water and mud took a toll. At 2:35 PM we were back at the cars after hiking about 4.8 miles in 5 hours and 10 minutes. My GPS showed we had actually spent more time stopped than hiking although, upon reflection, this was not surprising. The elevation gain was only 390 feet. We decided that one the way out we would make sure that both of us made it over the rough road to Wild Meadow Road. I went first and drove very slowly. When I was about 2/3 of th way out, I saw headlights coming at me. We continued toward each other until the other car suddenly veered off the side of the road! I though for sure they would get stuck but when I looked back they were back on the road. I wondered if they were members of the hunting camp or just following their GPS direction! When I got out to the road, I waited a few minutes and Marv appeared behind me. I did not envy him his drive home but really appreciated his fine work and companionship. I still have to cover the "middle" part of the trail which will be easier from the north.

On Monday, July 26th, I planned to go to do some trail maintenance on the Dry Brook Ridge Trail at Balsam Lake Mountain. The section I was looking at was between the south and north junctions with the Balsam Lake Mountain Trail. This is in the supervisory area and a trail maintainer is assigned but the maintainer failed to make a visit for the spring and I was getting reports of blowdowns on the trail. I was planning to leave Livingston Manor by 9:00 Am but the ambulance page got me up at 8:00 AM. I responded to the call and to a second one on the way back from the hospital. By the time I got home, I had almost given up on the idea but Sheila looked like she wanted to go so I began to get ready at 11:30 Am with th temperature at 78 degrees. The humidity was noticeable but even more noticeable was the smoke hanging in the air. The smoke was from fires burning in the west and in Canada and I could even smell it! While I was getting ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top but did not put on a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit me well but have been discontinued. I decided to forego brining any hiking poles as I would be carrying trail maintenance equipment. I also put on my OR floppy hat which shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. Just before noon I put my equipment in the car including my Fiskars axe, Silky Sugowaza saw, Silky KatanaBoy saw, two Oregon splitting wedges and the Corona loppers. I headed toward Roscoe on Old Rt 17 and I turned right on the Beaverkill Road. I continued north toward Lew Beach and Turnwood. The Beaverkill Falls were flowing with a good volume from the recent rains and I thought we might stop on the way back for a few shots. The road conditions were pretty good even when the pavement ended. I laughed when I saw the "Rough Road" sign! Toward the end the road becomes very narrow and I was glad I did not meet any more cars. We arrived at the parking area at 12:30 PM and found only one other cars in the lot. We started out on the trail with the Sugowaza saws and wedges in my pack and me carrying the Fiskars ax. The first part of the trail was muddy in places and some spots could use some lopping but I had decided I was looking for the more difficult jobs! I did remove a few branches and old trunks along the way.

We were making good time but quickly ran into a blowdown across the trail, It was a single trunk about 8 inches in diameter and laying pretty close to the ground. I took some 'before' pictures and decided to use the ax to cut it on each side of the trail. Once I had made the cuts I would try to flip or roll the center section off the trail. I cleared a few branches that were in the way and then started in with the ax. Despite its small size the Fiskars ax does a good job and is much lighter than the Council Tools felling ax I sometimes employ. It took me less than 20 minutes to make the two cuts. I lifted one end of the center section and flipped it off the trail successfully but it was close! I took some 'after' pictures and packed up to continue our hike. In a few moments Sheila alerted and I saw a young lady hiking toward us. She might have gone right by us but I said "Hello" and she responded. I asked her if she had done the trail loop and she indicated she had gone out and back on the steeper slope. We continued on the trail passing the turn up the mountain so that we stayed on the Dry Brook Ridge Trail. It wasn't long before a real challenge presented itself. There was another trunk across the trail but this one was a little larger at about 10 inches. Just before this was another blowdown with a number of branches. Together they were making the trail harder than it needed to be. I took pictures and then planned my attack. First, I would use the Sugowaza to cut the branching blowdown throwing the branches down into the ravine in the right side of the trail. I cut and removed the branches one at a time until they were all gone which took a little over 20 minutes. I took some pictures of this first step of my handiwork and then took a look at the bigger trunk. It was higher off the ground than the previous one but I decided I would still use the ax to cut the trunk just off the trail on the right side which was toward the top of the tree. This went pretty well and when I finished the cut the trunk remained in the air supported by the roots. I decided hat I would use the saws to make the second cut. I broke out the KatanaBoy which is harder to use than the curved Sugowaza but does a great job. It seemed like the cut was going well and soon I was almost done. I finished with the Sugowaza and then rolled the large center section off the trail. I took my 'after' pictures of the entire project which was a job well done. This second part had taken almost 30 minutes to complete.

We continued our walk up the trail my intention was to walk to the north junction with the Balsam Lake Mountain Trail clearing as much as I could on the way. The next situation we ran into was a few small trees hanging down into the trail from a ledge. The trees would have been easy to cut if they had been close to the ground but to get to these I knew I would have to climb the steep bank, inch my way out onto the ledge and cut at and odd angle. I took some pictures and then grabbed the Sugowaza and then started up the bank to the ledge. I worked my way out to a spot where I could cut most of the small trees. It was a good thing the wood was soft as the angle was difficult. I cut all but one trunk and then went back down to the trail. I dragged away the material I had cut and then turned my attention to the remaining tree. I was able to pull it down with my left hand and cut it pretty high up. I removed it from the trail and took some shots showing the improvement. I was done in 20 minutes and we moved on. There were plenty of small branches to remove from the trail. The next blowdown was a very large and very old trunk. Hikers had walked around it and I knew I could not cut it easily. I did cut a few branches and removed a spine of wood sticking out into the path. We moved on and I cut a small tree that had fallen across the trail. The next blowdown was big and lying flat on the trail making it easy to step over. I cut a few branches and removed them to make the area a little cleaner. I knew that eventually I would remove this or get a sawyer crew to do so. Just after this blowdown was a series of three more old trees across the scale within a short distance. These were easy enough to walk around but very hard to cut which was another reason for me to sound out Forester Dunn or Andy Garrison for a chainsaw party. I was determined to reach the end of the trail and, for there were no more blowdowns. The trail was a little longer than I remembered and definitely had more elevation gain. It was a little after 3:00 PM when we turned around and started back. I promised myself that we would just hike on the way back but I managed to stop twice to clear some small trees. We were back at the parking area at 4:30 PM after spending 4 hours hiking 3.7 miles and doing a lot of work. The elevation gain was 800 feet.

On Friday, July 23rd, it was my birthday and I wanted to go to do some trail maintenance on the northern end of the Neversink Hardenburgh Trail from the Balsam Lake Parking area at the end of the Beaverkill Road to the Beaverkill. This section if trail was adopted last year by a new maintainer who seemed very enthusiastic. I went out with her last October and showed her the trail and what was expected of her as a maintainer. Since then she has failed to contact me or respond to any e-mails. This was a big disappointment. As the trail supervisor, I have been told I do not have to maintain the trails when other maintainers fail to do their work but I feel responsible. At 7:43 AM the ambulance pager sounded and I was off to a structure fire to standby and rehab firefighters. Fortunately, there were no injuries and I retired home by 10:15 AM ready to execute my plans. Cindy had agreed to go along and Sheila was playing the good dog but watching our every move. As we started to get ready the temperature was 70 degrees and the humidity was uncharacteristically low. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit me well but have been discontinued. I decided to forego brining any hiking poles as I would be carrying trail maintenance equipment. I also added a new OR floppy hat which shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I donned my OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks and mud that I expected to find. At 10:45 AM I put our equipment in the car including my Fiskars axe, Silky Sugowaza saw, Corona loppers, Fiskars loppers and two Oregon splitting wedges. Sheila jumped into the backseat with some enthusiasm and we headed out the driveway. I headed toward Roscoe on Old Rt 17 and I turned right on the Beaverkill Road. I continued north toward Lew Beach and Turnwood. The Beaverkill Falls were flowing with a good volume from the recent rains and I thought we might stop on the way back for a few shots. The road conditions were pretty good even when the pavement ended. I laughed when I saw the "Rough Road" sign! Toward the end the road becomes very narrow and I was glad I did not meet any more cars. We arrived at the parking area at 10:25 AM and found four other cars in the lot. There were also two cars parked in the snowplow turnaround on the road which I did not understand. I set my GPS and we started out on the trail with the Sugowaza and wedges in my pack and me carrying the Fiskars ax and Corona loppers. Cindy carried the Fiskars clippers.

We started out on the Neversink Hardenburgh Trail at 11:35 AM with the temperature at just 67 degrees. We immediately ran into a few branches hanging down into trail which we cleared. Just after the register there was a blowdown which we cleared. The first half mile of the trail loses about 200 feet to a bridge that crosses Black Brook. We walked and talked clearing some branches and blowdowns as we hiked. I kept removing some old pieces of wood that had been left on the trail for some time but seemed to be potential hazards to trip up hikers. We left some blowdowns that were on the ground because they were easy to step over. From Black Brook we began a climb gaining back the elevation we had lost over .35 miles. We continued to clear the trail which was in decent shape for not being maintained since last fall. There was at least one trail across the trail that we had to duck under and a few we had to climb over. Most of these were large enough that I decided I would try to get a sawyer crew to work on them. Other blowdowns were very large and hikers had created appropriate detours around them. The trail rolled a little and then descended to Gulf of Mexico Brook which we crossed on a nice bridge. At 1.5 miles we came to the outlet stream from Vly Pond. I decided that on this day I did not want to bushwhack the few hundred feet upstream to the pond> The stream was a little higher than normal and I did not have my poles. I found a way to cross without falling and we continued our work. From the Vly outlet brook we climbed some and then started to drop down. I knew that we were approaching the Beaverkill because there was a small pond on the left side of the trail which I remembered from my last trip. There was a very large and complex blowdown in the area of this pond but we were able to climb over it. This blowdown was one that will have to be cleared by a sawyer crew. Since we were nearing the river, I decided to ignore some of the blowdowns in the way and handled them on the way back.

At 2.0 miles we crossed a small stream and almost immediately after came to the Beaverkill. Cindy decided to wait while Sheila and I went ahead to the river. The trail turned left and paralleled the stream. It was very eroded which I assume came from a period of flooding. We walked along the stream to 2.1 miles where I took a few shots of the Beaverkill. We turned around a began our trip back picking up Cindy on the way. We continued our walk and even cleared few blowdowns and branches. The Fiskars ax proved invaluable as I was able to dispatch several blowdowns with only a few blows. We cut a total of four obstructions on the way back with most of them being before the stream from Vly Pond. I had been making good decisions in clearing the blowdowns. The cuts went well and the pieces I cut were just the right size or me to move off the trail. Even though we were clearing as we walked, we were keeping a fast pace and were soon walking up the final hill. Carrying the loppers and ax without my poles was harder than I thought and I was happy to soon be passing the trail register. As we came to the flat part of the trail near the parking area, we cleared a few branches that were hanging in the trail. As we walked out to the parking area, there were only three cars left besides our own. We had not seen any other hikers on the trail all day! As I was putting our gear in the car, a young couple came from the direction of the trail to the mountain. I asked them about the condition of the trails in that direction and they reported that the conditions were good. Strangely, they had hiked up the steep side of the mountain and had come back the same way because they could not find the other trail! We left the parking area as soon as possible and I was glad that we did not meet any cars until the road widened.

On Thursday, July 22nd, I planned to go to the Frick Pond area to remove some blowdowns on The Flynn Trail and to inspect the Big Rock Trail. I had some things to get done around the house and did not start getting ready until 11:00 AM when the temperature was in the mid 70's which felt comfortable. While I was getting ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top but did not put on a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit me well but have been discontinued. I decided to forego brining any hiking poles as I would be carrying trail maintenance equipment. I also my OR floppy hat which shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I donned my OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks and mud that I expected to find. At 11:15 AM I put my equipment in the car including my Fiskars axe, Silky Sugowaza saw, Council Tools American Felling ax, and two Oregon splitting wedges. We left Livingston Manor and I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. On the way I ran into a crew painting lines on the road which lengthened the trip considerably. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking areas on the left. I pulled into the smaller parking area which had two other cars parked. The larger lot also had a few cars in it. We got ready to head out on the Flynn Trail to cut two blowdowns on the part of the trail just after the register. I took both axes and both saws with us and we soon arrived at the first and largest blowdown. I took some 'before' pictures and then got to work. I removed some smaller branches that were in the way. I used the Council Tools ax to cut the trunk off the trail in two places. This ax is much harder to use than the Fiskars but when used correctly makes short work of even the largest trunks. Even though the section I cut was large and heavy, I was able to pivot and roll it off the trail. I took my 'after' shots and then moved on to the next blowdown. This one was very small so I used the Fiskars ax to cut it in one place. I was able to drag the section I cut off the trail. We returned to the car and met a man signing in at the register. When we got to the car, I decided we would go for a short hike.

I set my GPS at 12:30 PM and we walked across the road to get on the Flynn Trail. This trail is sited along what used to be Beech Mountain Road which was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We walked the trail through the woods passing the new work that I had just done. We turned right on the woods road and set a quick pace up the hill. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.7 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The day was warm and a little humid but it was good to be just hiking. We passed through the arch Cindy and I had cut through an enormous hemlock that had fallen across the trail. There were some muddy places on the trail but we still were making good time. At one point Sheila alerted and I could see the man we had met at the register just ahead of us. When we caught up with him, we began to talk and walk together. Tom was from Otisville and worked in corrections for 25 years. He had been a Boy Scout and attended camp at the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp and was in the CIT program. We kept walking uphill and talking as we went. Hiking with someone always seems to make the time pass more quickly and we were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. Tom was going on to Hodge Pond but I decided to stick with my original plan. We turned left to walk down the Big Rock Trail. The hike down the trail went quickly since we were setting a fast pace. This trail can be tricky as there are several levels that make it seem like the bottom of the hill. Along the way we ran into a cloud of mosquitoes and I chose to simply hurry along rather than stopping to put on repellent. We were soon at Times Square and I continued our hike by walking straight across Times Square to stay on the Big Rock Trail. The trail had some muddy spots in the low areas. We crossed the two small bridges over the inlets to the pond where the water was very high. Once we were back under the trees, I stopped to take some pictures of the boardwalks and the very green moss in the lower areas.

At the next trail junction we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. I stopped at the bridge to take a few shots even though I have hundreds from this same spot. We walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction and continued toward the trail register. On the way Sheila alerted and I looked up to see two horses coming toward us. I put Sheila on her leash and as we passed I said "Hello" to the riders who are from Livingston Manor. Horses are allowed in the Willowemoc Wild Forest but NOT on marked hiking trails. This means there are very few places that horses can legally be ridden. I like horses but they can be a problem on hiking trails. Heavy usage can increase trail erosion and riders never clean up what their mounts leave behind. I have told these riders this but they will not obey the rules. At the trail register we continued straight ahead to follow the woods road out to the car in the small lot. We arrived at the car at 2:30 PM having hiked 4 miles in 2 hours with an elevation gain of 680 feet. I was surprised that there was no horse trailer in the lots. I pulled out of the lot and started down the road. Within a short distance in such a way the horse trailer parked along the side of the road! As I made the right turn onto Mongaup Road, I saw two busses unloading at least 60 girls at Mongaup Falls. I was pretty sure that the camp did not have a permit and that the falls could not support this number of visitors at one time. Unfortunately, I finished my hike with two incidents that highlight how little people care for others. When I got home, I called the local forest ranger who confirmed that both of these incidents are against regulations and could result in fines.

On Monday, July 19th After visiting Delphi Falls in Delphi Falls County Park, I headed for Tinker Falls in the Labrador Hollow Unique Area which borders Morgan Hill State Forest in Cortland County. I was surprised that it was less than 20 minutes from Delphi Falls and the route took us through some more beautiful country. I wanted to Vist Tinker Falls as I was hoping it would have some volume after the recent rains. Every other time I have been there the falls have been only a trickle. I knew the walk was only about .3 miles from the parking area on Route 91 to the base of the falls. I though that we might hike to the hang glider lookout or maybe even go to hike the trails at the Labrador Hollow Unique Area. I have looked down on this area several times from the hang glider viewpoint but have never hiked there. We arrived at the parking area at 12:20 PM and found plenty of spaces to park. I put Sheila on her leash and crossed the road with just my camera in hand. The walk to the end of the path at the stream's edge went quickly. There are some benches along the trail and two at the end for people that don't want to cross the stream. There is a partial view of the falls from here and that partial view was a little disappointing. There was water going over the fall but just barely but this made it easier to cross the creek. Once across, we walked carefully over the wet and slippery rocks to the base of the falls. Two people were coming down the stone steps on the right side of the falls and they were doing so very carefully. I took pictures of the falls as a whole and then some shots of interesting parts. We climbed the steps for a short distance and I took a few more pictures. The trail continues up the steps, in back of the falls, and then up another set of steps to the top of the falls. From the top there are several hiking options. I decided I was OT interested in hiking somewhere I had already been and would rather hike the Labrador follow Unique Area. We turned around and hiked back down the steps and across the creek. We walked back out to the car. I drove north on Route 91 to Labrador Crossing Road and turned left. I drove down the road and pulled into the first lot on the left.

I had an Avenza map which showed I was in the right lot to begin a hike of the boardwalk or the other trails. When I parked, one other car pulled in behind us and there were two people with their motorcycle parked in the shade. I repeated the same thing I had done four times before on this day by putting Sheila on her leash and leaving the car with my camera. The Labrador Hollow Unique Area is 172 acres of land set aside to preserve and protect endangered and threatened species. It has a 100 acre pond which avenges only 4 feet in depth. The pond is surrounded by wetlands. An elevated boardwalk winds its way through these wetlands to the northern end of the pond. The boardwalk is well constructed and is a lollipop with a loop on the end near the kind. There are comfortable benches in several spots for people to reset of just take in the quiet beauty of the area. As we walked, we stopped several times so that I could take pictures of the boardwalk and the surrounding marshes and vegetation. When we reached the viewpoint over the pond, I was a little disappointed to find a haze hanging over the pond but it was till beautiful. To the east was the ridge that has the viewpoint over the pond from the hang gliding spot. I could easily see the opening on the ridge and when I zoomed in I could see a couple sitting and looking down at the kind! We continued our walk with me taking some additional pictures. We met the couple from the motorcycle and I stopped to talk to them for a few minutes. We went our separate ways with Sheila and I returning to the parking area. I investigated one of the other trails. It looked like a nice trail through the woods but I knew it was an Out and back with no options for a loop. It was 1:15 PM and I decided it was time to head for home. I did not have enough signal to use the phone's GPS but, fortunately, I knew my way home.

On Monday, July 19th After visiting Pratts Falls At Pratts Falls County Park in Pompey, I headed for Delphi Falls County Park near Cazenovia. The hamlet is actually named Delphi Falls! The route took us through Cazenovia which is a beautiful college town which would be interesting to explore. It is on the shores of Cazenovia Lake which also was beautiful. Delphi Falls County Park is actually a new Madison County park which is just being developed. It opened to the public in August 2018 and contains two waterfalls, a house, a barn and surrounding woodland. Currently, the falls are accessible for viewing from the bottom via a newly created stone dust path and there are no other trails. The trip from Pratts Falls to Delphi Falls was less than 20 minutes. We arrived at 11:45 AM to find six cars in the parking lot. I parked and put Sheila on her leash taking on my camera with me. It looked to me that this was once a private residence with a barn and a beautiful house. I took some pictures of the house and grounds and imagined what it must have been like to have a waterfall in the backyard.

We walked along the stone dust path to the back of the house and found the falls with a good flow. The water fell over the rocks and into a pool below. Some other people were close to the falls taking picture so I let Sheila get a drink. Since the people were taking their time, I let Sheila off her leash and she immediately jumped into the stream. When the other people finally left, I put Sheila back on her leash and went to stand in front of the falls. I took some shots although there was really only one angle. I looked up the bank to see if there was a way to climb it but it was steep and it was obvious the county did not want anyone straying from the path. I look forward to the possibility that there will eventually be paths to the top of the falls. We walked back along the path to the parking area. It was just after noon and I wanted to visit Tinker Falls which is in the Labrador Hollow Unique Area in Cortland County. I enter this into my phone and was surprised to see that it was less than 20 minutes away! I pulled out of the parking area and followed the directions to our next destination.

On Monday, July 19th After visiting Chittenango Falls in Chittenango State Park, I headed for Pratts Falls. The route took us through Cazenovia which is a beautiful college town which would be interesting to explore. It is on the shores of Cazenovia Lake which also was beautiful. Pratts Falls Park is actually located in Pompey and is an Onondaga County park which asks for a $2 donation. There are scenic trails that lead to a 137' waterfall formed by retreating glaciers. The falls was the site of Onondaga County's first mill operation in 1796. The mill was built by Menoah Pratt and his business partner as a sawmill. We pulled into the parking area around 11:10 Am. By this time the temperature was 75 degrees and the humidity made the air feel heavy. Again, I put Sheila on her leash but only took my camera with me. We walked toward the sound of the falls and found the trail that led down to the stream below. The stone steps were wide and had a good handrail but they were rough and wet which made good footwear a must. The descent down the stairs was also steep in places. We took the section of trail that headed back upstream toward the falls and met a few people walking toward us. The trail ended at a lookout toward the falls. The views were partly blocked by the trees but I was able to get some good shots. There were some paths that led down toward the stream but these were clearly off limits. One young lady felt it was necessary to break the rules and head down one of these paths. I must admit I was tempted since I though I could get better pictures but I decided to practice what I preach.

After taking a few more pictures, Sheila and I walked back up the stones steps and continued passed the steps that we had taken down to the trail. The path continued along the gorge but a good distance above the stream. It was a peaceful walk and continued for some distance. There were not as many people as I expected and I began to worry the other places I wanted to visit would be filling up. Just as we were about to head down a hill, I decided to turn around and return to the car. When we got to the lot, there still weren't many cars. We walked along the fence that runs along the edge of the gorge to the lookout over the falls. The viewpoint gave a nice view of the gorge and the hills beyond but the view of the falls was somewhat limited. I did take some pictures of the tall but thin waterfall. I could see the young lady who had walked beyond the barriers at the bottom of the falls! After I finished, we walked back to the car and took advantage of the air conditioning. I entered Delphi Falls into my phone and found they were less than 20 minutes away and that the phone was giving me the same directions I had printed from my computer. I pulled out of the parking area and followed the directions.

On Monday, July 19th I planned to finally go north and visit some waterfalls in the area of Cazenovia. I thought I would get up early to avoid the crowds and the heat. When the ambulance pager went off before 5:00 AM, my first thought was 'This is too early!' We went on the call which sounded critical but got there just after another corps. The patient was not seriously injured and we were able to turn around and go back into service. By the time we got back and I finished my documentation it was 6:00 AM. I decided I would stay up and leave early as I had planned despite my lack of sleep. Cindy had jury duty so that left only Sheila to go with me. As I started to get ready at 8:00 AM it was 68 degrees with high humidity. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with no baselayer as I did not expect to hike very much with my pack. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which are showing some serious wear but fit well. I decided to take my Leki Makalu carbon poles with the internal twist locks as they are light and not a problem on most trails. I also took my OR floppy hat which keeps the insects off and protects me from the sun. I decided not to wear my OR Bugout gaiters as we would be on trails and would not be hiking much. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 8:20 AM as I drove west on the Quickway towards Roscoe. When I got off the Roscoe exit, I took Route 206 to Downsville and then to Walton. After this, I just followed my phone's directions to Chittenango Saate Park a little northeast of Cazenovia. I suspected that my original driving directions from my computer were a more direct route but the phone GPS showed my some nice back roads and some beautiful scenery. I stopped once in Sidney to use the bathroom and get a snack and then continued on to the park. We arrived at the park at 10:15 AM and I could not find a way to pay the $5 fee so I assumed they were not collecting one on this day. We almost immediately got out to start our walk. I put Sheila on her leash and took only my camera with me.

Chittenango Falls is a picturesque 167-foot waterfall that is the main attraction of Chittenango Falls State Park. Glacial sculpting over 400 million-year-old bedrock is responsible for this scenic feature. An interesting variety of both plants and wildlife may be found along the trails. We followed a sign that said "Falls Overlook" and when we got to the stream we headed upstream passing under the road bridge on a walkway. I took some pictures as we continued upstream until I decided to turn around. There was a lot of water in the creek and I hoped the falls would be impressive. We walked downstream on the sidewalks until we came to falls overlook. There was a pretty good view of the falls but it was from the side. I took pictures of the falls and a few upstream. The shots upstream showed an island in the middle of the stream with some trees. We continued on the path and soon found some stone steps that led down to the streambed below the falls. The steps were rough and wet which made them slippery. I would suggest that anybody walking this trail wear appropriate hiking shoes or boots. I did find another viewpoint that looked out at the side of the falls and I took some more shots. We continued down the steps and came across a small falls running of the rock ledges. The trail finally ended at a bridge across the stream. We walked out onto the bridge and were treated with a spectacular head-on view of the falls! The falls were roaring and I immediately took some pictures. I decided that a video would best show the power of the falls as it would capture the motion of the water and the sound it was making. I was having trouble with most on my lens even though we were pretty far away from the stream. I finished my photography and we started up the other side of the gorge. We followed the trail and came across another small falls. The trail looped back to the road bridge where it split. One section of the trail continued under the bridge to follow the water upstream. We took the left branch which led up to the road bridge. We stopped on the bridge so that I could take a few more shots and the walked back to the car. I was surprised there were only a few people at the falls but as we were getting ready to leave the lit was filling up. I entered Pratts Falls into by phone and got the same directions as I had from my computer printout.

On Friday, July 16th I planned to do some trail maintenance between Big Pond and Alder Lake. I went to bed early and slept late which allowed me to catch up on some much needed hours of sleep. We have had more ambulance calls than usual lately. I went on a call in Roscoe the day before and transported the patient to Wilson Hospital in Binghamton, more than an hours ridge each way! When I got up, the heat and humidity were already high and I decided I would wait to do the work. I also decided I wanted to go for a hike with Sheila that was not across the street, at Frick Pond or in the Trout Pond area. I settled on the Neversink Unique Area even though I knew it might be crowded. I planned to head for the end of Katrina Falls Road and if that was packed I could divert to the Wolf Lake MUA entrance. As I started to get ready at 10:15 AM it was 82 degrees with high humidity. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which are showing some serious wear but fit well. I decided to take my Leki Makalu carbon poles with the internal twist locks as they are light and not a problem on most trails. I also put on my OR floppy hat which keeps the insects off and protects me from the sun. I donned my OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 10:40 AM as I drove east on the Quickway towards Rock Hill. I drove to Rock Hill and got off at exit 109. I turned right off the exit and drove to the parking area at the end of Katrina Falls Road. I could see several cars parked along the road but I found one spot left in the lot when I arrived at 11:10 AM. I set my GPS and we got ready to start out on our hike at 11:15 AM with the temperature at 78 degrees and high humidity. The wide woods road was surprisingly dry and had been cleared of all the blowdowns that had been there the last time I had hiked. I could hear Wolf Brook roaring as we walked down the trail which parallels the brook. At .5 miles we came to a yellow spur trail on the right side of the main trail. A new sign indicated that this trail led to Hackeldam on the Neversink River. This was the area where a "swinging bridge" crossed the Neversink and was an important area of commerce and industry.

We turned right and walked about .2 miles down to the river where I put down my pack and got out the camera. We walked over to Wolf Brook where it enters the Neversink. There were stone walls and structures there indicating a mill. I took pictures and then walked out to a view of the river and took a few more. I picked up my pack and started back up the trail. I pink ribbon marked a path to the left and we took it. I was not sure of this had a historical significance or was just placed there by fisherman. We followed the ribbons to the river where I again put down the pack and got read to take a few shots. There were some rapids on the river and I took some pictures upstream and downstream. I repositioned a little bit upstream and took a few more shots. When I was done, I put the camera away, picked up my pack and followed the pink ribbons along the shore. We came to another spot on the river where the water was flowing fast and deep. I could see a structure across the river so I once again put down the pack and retrieved my camera. As I was doing this I heard a noise and turned around to see Sheila in the river hanging on to the shore with her front paws! I rushed over and grabbed her by the collar to help her onto shore. I talked to her at length about being safe and staying away from the river on this day! I took pictures of the rock structure on the other side of the river which matched another on my side. These were the anchor points for the bridge that crossed the Neversink. After finishing my photography, I packed up and we walked up a slippery rock ledge to the spur trail and then back to the main trail. At the main trail, we turned right and walked down to the small bridge that crosses Wolf Brook. I stopped to take some picture of the bridge and of the brook. The brook was flowing with good volume but it was not as high as I have seen it. The bridge had been patched which was nice but a replacement would have been better. After I completed my pictures, we walked up the trail crossing a place where the brook had overflowed across the trail. Some stepping stones here would make it easier for casual hikers to cross. At 1.3 miles we came to the split in the trails with the red trail going left and the blue trail heading right. There was a new sign at the junction showing that the red trail to the right was the Mullet Brook Trail Loop and the Wolf Brook Access. There was a concern that people were getting lost in the Neversink Gorge due to the lack of signs and this is a welcome addition. The problem is that no mileages are given and there is no sign that indicates anything about the blue trail! We stayed to the right on the blue trail which was well trimmed with only a few branches which I threw off the trail. The trail rolled up and down a little until we reached another yellow spur trail on the right at 1.85 miles. We turned right to head down toward the river which was only .25 miles away. The view of the river at the viewpoint wasn't much different than at the previous point but I could see downstream to Denton Falls. I took some shots in both directions and then we turned around and headed back up to the main trail.

We turned right on the main trail and within .1 miles came to the lower bridge on Mullet Brook. I was going to take some pictures from the bridge but there wasn't anything interesting so I let Sheila get a drink and cool off in the stream before continuing. A short walk up the hill led to the next yellow spur trail which would take us down to Denton Falls. I had already decided we would not be going to High Falls so I wanted to go to Denton Falls to see a falls on the Neversink. There was a sign but, again, it had no mileage. We turned right and started down the trail to the falls. The trail was much more worn in but it was disappointing that the markers were few and far between. The missing markers cause hikers to make their own paths which makes the best path unclear. We followed a track down to the marked trail and then turned left to parallel the river. There are always some muddy spots on this section and the recent rains had made it worse. For someone had placed branches to act as corduroy is several places. When we got to the rocks "steps" that go down to the river we both could hear voices. We started down to the river and when I saw that there was a dog without a leash I put Sheila on hers. We walked out on the rocks and passed by the family that had all but camped out on the rocks by the river. I found a way to get downstream but the footing was very sketchy due to the high water and slippery rocks. I finally got to a point below the falls with good footing. I took pictures of the falls from several different angles and zooms. I also took shot downstream and upstream. I packed up and we started back toward the trail. On the way back I took a slightly different track which turned out to be a bad idea! I placed my foot on a rock and before I knew it I was heels over head with my body part on the rock and part on the water! I got up quickly and found that my left and hurt a little but that I was otherwise alright albeit a little wet. I did notice that the water ran off the Railriders pants very quickly without soaking them. I walked back onto the rock and as I passed the family they asked if I was okay. I said that I was and continued up the trail. I actually really appreciated their concern. We headed back up the trail following a slightly different path. At the main blue trail, we turned right and immediately ran into another trail junction. The blue trail continues to the right and parallels the river heading toward High Falls. The red trail turns left and heads over the hill back toward the parking area. There was a sign indicating the purpose of the red trail but none for the blue trail. As I was marveling at the signage, a couple came hiking up the blue trail from the direction of High Falls. I spoke to them and they said they had not gone to High Falls but thought the trail went to Mullet Brook Falls. I didn't say anything but I couldn't believe that even with signs people could get lost!

The couple turned right up the red trail and we turned left to follow them. They were actually moving pretty fast which was good as it created a buffer between us. I thought I could hear the family group behind us which quickened my pace. At 3.2 miles we turned left on the yellow spur trail to Mullet Brook Falls. We arrived at the falls just after the couple who had headed directly for the area in front of the falls. I put my pack down and got out the camera. I headed to the right side of the falls since I knew that was a good angle and the rock was drier. Once I was in position I took pictures of the falls with different settings and zooms. The sun angle was not as bad as I expected but there was not as much water going over the falls as I had hoped. I worked my way across the rocks to a point in front of the falls and took a few more shots. When I was done, we worked our way back to my pack. I got a drink and we headed back out the yellow trail to the main red trail. I was sweating profusely and when we turned left on the red trail and headed uphill I could tell I was tired. For a half mile we walked uphill gaining 250 feet. On the way we met three different groups of people coming down the hill toward us. Two groups had well-behaved dogs on leashes. As we approached the upper bridge over Mullet Brook, I could see two adults and a half dozen children on the bridge. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked across the bridge surprising some of the boys. As we continued on the trail, I heard one of the boys say he was going to destroy a large fungus he had found. I almost turned back to explain LNT but continued on the trail. At 4.2 miles we passed by the trail leading out to the parking area at the Wolf Brook MUA. The rest of the hike was downhill except for the hill back up to the parking area. For the next .85 miles we lost 400 feet. There were three large blowdowns across the trail which need to be removed but otherwise the trail was in good shape. We did meet another group coming up the trail. At 5.1 miles we were back at the junction with the blue trail. We turned right and walked across the bridge over Wolf Brook. We turned right to follow the trial up the hill to the parking area. The steepest section of the trail was less than 10% but I was really tired by this time. We met several groups coming down the trail and Sheila got more compliments. We were back at the car at 2:35 PM after hiking 5.7 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes. We were stopped for 30 minutes and gained 1220 feet in elevation.

On Wednesday, July 14th my grandson Bryce was at my house and I thought we might get in a longer hike than we had the day before when we did trail maintenance on Round Top. go across the street to Round Top to remove a difficult blowdown near the viewpoint on the yellow trail. As I was talking to Bruce about where we might hike, the ambulance pager sounded and I was off on a call. After delivering the patient to the hospital, your rig would not start. After waiting almost an hour, our assistance arrived and got the rig started. We delivered the rig to the local garage and then got a ride to our building. By the time I finished the documentation and got home it was 1:00 PM. I ate some lunch and asked Bryce if he wanted to go for a short hike at Frick Pond, He agreed and we decided to go up the Flynn Trail and return on the Big rock and Quick Lake Trails. I knew we might have to hike quickly as the forecast called for afternoon thunderstorms. While we were getting ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a new pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which are showing some serious wear but fit well. I decided to take my Leki Makalu carbon poles with the internal twist locks as they are light and not a problem on most trails. I also put on my OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks and mud I was sure we would find. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and we left Livingston Manor at 1:30 PM. I drove out the Debruce Road about 6 miles and turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road. Where the road the split, I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. There were no cars in either lot so I pulled into the smaller area with the thermometer reading 73 degrees as I set my GPS. The skies were blue in some areas with plenty of sun and lots of billowing white clouds. I took the time to spray both Bryce and ,self with insect repellent as the mosquitoes are usually prevalent in this area. As we were getting ready to leave, another car pulled up and parked in the same lot. Three people got out with a dog. The dog was on a leash and I had Bryce hold Sheila until I could put her on the leash. I hoped this group would head out to Frick Pond which they did as we crossed the road to head up the Flynn Trail at 1:50 PM. The recent rains had eroded the beginning of the trail even more than before. As we walked on the trail we removed a few branches and then came to a large blowdown across the trail. Fortunately, it was easy to step over. Unfortunately, it will be difficult to clear as it will have to be cut in two places. A little further along there were tow smeller trunks across the trail. I was able to pivot one off the trail but the other was too big and will have to be cut. At the end of the trail through the woods we turned right on the woods road that was once the extension of Beech Mountain Road. As we started up the hill, we continued to remove a few branches but found no more large blowdowns. The Flynn Trail ascends 1.7 miles to the Big Rock Trail junction gaining 600 feet. The more I hike the quicker I can hike and the easier it seems. On this day Bryce was right with me. After we passed the big spruce tree that forms an arch over the trail, the trail was wet but did not seem very muddy. Sheila took the time to get a drink and play in the water flowing in the ditch alongside the trail. The wind began to pick up as we hiked and the sky seemed to get darker. As we neared the highest point on the hike, some rain began to fall and I weighed our options carefully. We hit the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 2:30 PM after hiking 1.7 miles and I decided we would turn around and go back down the Flynn Trail. The rain would not bother me but keeping my grandson out in a thunderstorm would. We turned around and began a quick decent of the trail. I don't think we were trying to set a speed record but we walked and talked and the hiking went quickly. Of course, the rain stopped and the skies became sunny! We did noticed that the trail was muddy and both of us slipped several times. As we neared the gate, we followed the trail through the woods to avoid private property. We were back at the car at 3:00 PM. We had hiked up the trail in 40 minutes and back in 30 minutes for a total of 1 hour and 10 minutes for 3.4 miles. There were now several other cars in the lot and the dog from the cabin was wandering around because the owners don't care enough to keep him inside of on a line! One group got out of the car with two dogs. Both dogs were on leashes but one owner was worried since her pit bull dos not get along with all other dogs. We left before any confrontations occurred, On the way out I thought we might stop at the Mongaup Falls as I thought they would be roaring after all the rain. Once I saw that the small pulloff had three cars and the one nearer the falls had four, I decided just to drive home.

On Tuesday, July 13th my grandson Bryce was at my house and I thought we might go across the street to Round Top to remove a difficult blowdown near the viewpoint on the yellow trail. Bryce is old enough to really help me do trail maintenance including removing brush and using my Silky saws. We spent much of the morning doing some chores around the house including a run to the landfill. At 1:20 PM we started getting ready to go with the temperature at 78 degrees and humidity high enough to make the air feel heavy. As we got ready, Sheila seemed very happy to be going out. I put on a Mountain Hardwear long-sleeved crew top with no base layer because of the temperature and high humidity. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also put on my OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks and the mud I knew would be on the trail from the recent rains. I put my Silky Sugowaza and two felling wedges in my pack. I gave Bryce my Silky KatanaBoy 500 and Fiskars pack ax. We put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. Bryce is now old enough and big enough to ride in the front passenger's seat. I drove out the driveway and across the street to the cemetery. I parked at the trailhead and we started out on the trail at 1:40 PM. We walked up the trail and went straight ahead at the first trail junction up the hill toward the lookout. When we arrived, I had to admit that it was more complicated than I remembered. Bryce and I explored the blowdown which was anchored to a trunk on one side and had landed on a high rock ledge on the other side. This meant most of the trunk was above my head which made cutting it directly almost impossible. The situation was made more difficult since all the rocks were wet and slippery.

Bryce and I agreed that it would be best to try to cut the top of the tree on the rock ledge so that it would fall down onto the trail. If we could accomplish this, then we could cut the trunk on the ground. I took some before pictures of the scene. The first thing I did was to cut down a small beech that was intertwined with the tree that had fallen across the trail. It was bent over by the other tree and I did not want it spring back at me as we worked on the project. The tree came down easily and I used the ax to cut off some branches which we stacked on the path to the lookout to prevent people from walking out on it. We then climbed up the hill to the rock ledge and began to clear the smaller branches by cutting them off and dragging them away. It didn't take long to get everything cleaned up so that we could get a look at the main structure. I took some more pictures and continued to take shots as we progressed through the cleanup. I used the saw to cut one of three large branches. This first branch was not bearing any weight and I had a secure perch to anchor myself as I cut. I cut through the branch and Bryce dragged it away. The other two branches were harder to cut as I had to stand on the edge of the ledge and cut with one hand. I positioned myself and used the Sugowaza to cut one branch with some difficultly. It turned out that this branch was not holding much weight and I finished off the cut with the axe. I tried to cut the last branch as far out as I could hoping the trunk would then fall. I finished the cut and the trunk fell but only a few feet before the end hung up on the rock. I used the poll of the ax to beat on the branch until the trunk fell a few more feet. I walked down to the trail and cut one of the two remaining branches with the ax. After I cut through the branch and it fell, the trunk was still held up by the final branch jammed against the rock ledge. I decided that the ax had worked so well I would try it again. To my surprise the cut went easily and the trunk finally fell to the trail. Bryce and I celebrated but knew we weren't done yet. There was still a large trunk across the trail. I decided I would use the ax to cut the trunk near the stump end off the trail. This cut took a little more time but went pretty easily and I was able to finish it off with the ax. Bryce and I used a large piece of the braches we had cut as a lever to move the butt end of the trunk further off the trail. I was able to lift the remaining piece and roll and pivot it off the trail. The trail was now clear but I spent a few more minutes cutting the first tree I had felled close to the ground. I took a few shots of the cleared trail and then had Bryce and Sheila pose for a few more. We pack up the tool, s and started back toward the car at 3:10 PM having spent 1.5 hours working on the project. I was drenched in sweat and it was still hot and humid.

On Monday, July 12th I wanted to get out for a hike after a weekend trip to Geneva, NY, to watch my son compete in his first Ironman 70.3 triathlon. This race consists of a 1.2 mile swim in Seneca Lake, a 56 mile bike leg and a 13.1 mile run. Karl placed 23 in his age group and I am very proud of him. Thunderstorms were in the for so I decided to go across the street to hike on Round Top so that I could control how long we were out hiking. As I got ready, Sheila seemed very happy to be going out. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with no base layer because the temperature was in the high 70's with high humidity. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I decided to take my Leki Makalu carbon poles with the internal twist locks as they are light and not a problem on most trails. I also put on my OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks and the mud I knew would be on the trail from the recent rains. We stepped out of the house at 12:15 PM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We walked to the church parking lot and to the back of the church. As we started up the hill, we began the ascent of the steep hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". I let Sheila pull me up the hill which she was willing to do. At the trailhead, I let Sheila off her leash and she immediately began to bound up the trail. I started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I knew that other people were using the trails from comments on Facebook and because there was one car parked at the bottom of the hill. The trails were becoming well-worn as more and more people use them.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the viewpoint. After the short walk from the house, I was already soaked in sweat from the humidity. The climb up the hill was not particularly tiring. Right at the top of the hill a large tree had fallen across the trail. It was still attached at the base and the upper branches rested on a rock ledge. It was easy to walk under the trunk but I spent a few minutes looking and planning how I might remove it. At the viewpoint, I noticed that the brush that I had placed in the trail was still there. This trail has a dangerous spot and we have piled brush on it to discourage people from using it. I could see some people walking down the yellow trail to the lookout so I put Sheila on her leash. I spoke to the group and asked them if they owned the car that was parked on private property. They said they did and apologized saying they did not know where to park. I suggested that they could park in town or at the church as long as it was not Sunday. Sheila and I continued on the main trail and headed to the right to follow ot as it turned right and headed up the gentle hill through the hardwood forest. The forest was becoming much greener and ferns covered the forest floor. Sheila was making her own way by staying on the trail sometimes and then running off-trail and chasing game trails. She was also picking up sticks and dragging them along and off the trail. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction with the blue trail. I had been noticing the trimming I had done on my last trip. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. This section was in good shape without any blowdowns and I could now really notice what a good job I had done with my Stihl trimmer. At the next junction, we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued up and over the summit. There were a few branches leaning over into the trail but I broke them off and made sure they no longer were in the way. When we started down the other side, I decided we would skip the white crossover trail but take the switchback on the blue trail. People seemed to be avoiding the crossover trail but the switchback looked more well-worn. At the bottom of the hill, we turned left on the yellow trail, walked along the base of Round Top. At the trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right to walk down to the woods road. It was a snap to walk downhill and out the woods road. It was obvious Sheila felt the same way as she was running and bounding ahead of us and then running back up the trail. We walked the woods road out to the first trail junction where we immediately turned around and started back up the woods road to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked along the yellow trail following the base of the Round Top summit. At the next junction, we turned right and started up the steeper side of the hill on the blue trail. This time we again took the switchback in the blue trail. At the end of the switch, we turned right and right again on the white-blazed crossover trail. We continued on crossover trail to the blue trail on the other side of the hill We turned right at the end and walked down to the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail and followed it along the base of Round Top once again. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned to the left to stay on the yellow trail to the lookout. At the lookout, we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. By this time Sheila and I were both hot so walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill. We headed across the church parking lot to the street. We crossed the street to our driveway and were home by 1:25 PM after hiking a little over miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes.

On Friday, July 9th, I left the falls below Tompkins Falls and drove back to the Beaverkill Road. I turned left and drove through Turnwood. I drove by Quill Gordon Lodge and saw the Beaverkill Falls on the right. They were pumping out a good volume so I turned around and parked my car. I grabbed my camera and walked down the road to the path that leads to the falls. This land is private property so anyone visiting must get permission. I walked to a rock where I had a good view of the falls and took some pictures downstream and then some of the falls itself. The light was not quite right but the falls were impressive in their volume! The rocks were very slippery so I was careful to keep a solid footing. I took many pictures of the falls just upstream from our position and more pictures downstream. I walked back to the car and drove back home. All in all it was a successful day even though the hiking was short.

On Friday, July 9th, I dropped Cindy and Sheila off at the house after we had hiked the Parksville Rail Trail. I then headed out to Tompkins Falls and the other falls on the same stream. I drove north on Old Rt 17 to the Beaverkill Road where I turned right. I drove through Lew Beach toward Turnwood. At the intersection with the Barkaboom Road I stayed to the left on Barkaboom Road and drove to the pulloff for Tompkins Falls which is near the end of the road. I grabbed y camera and walked down the road to the bank that overlooks the falls. The falls were flowing nicely nad I have walked down to the stream bed in the past. This requires a descent of a steep bank and a walk along a narrow concrete shelf. On this day I was happy to take pictures from the bank using the zoom. Back at the car I walked down to the top of the falls and took more pictures. Some of the views here were very nice and the water volume was high for the season but not as high as I expected after the rain storms. Some foundations and rock work were visible on the other side. Tompkins Falls was once dammed and was used to provide electrical power to Shavertown, Pepacton and Arena. These towns were flooded when the Pepacton Reservoir was created. After I finished taking, we returned to the car for the ride home.

When I was finished at Tompkins Falls, I went back to the car and drove to the intersection with the BWS roads near the Pepacton Reservoir. I turned around and started slowly up the road looking for another set of falls. In a very short distance, I saw a pulloff and a path leading down to the stream. I pulled over and got out of the car taking my camera with me. I had heard about these falls but had never visited them. I walked down and could see that they were not as high as Tompkins Falls and That it would be hard to get downstream to get a good picture. I took some shots of the upper falls and then saw a way to descend the rocks by the stream to get closer to the "front" of the falls. In retrospect, this may not have been the best idea. The rocks were covered in moss and were wet and slippery. I did manage to get in front of and downstream from the falls but it was hard to get the entire galls in the picture. I took my shots and then started back up the slippery rocks. As is often the case, going back up is harder than coming down but I made it. I searched for another WY to get downstream but decided not to press my luck! I went back to the car and decided to visit Beaverkill Falls.

On Friday, July 9th, I wanted to get in a hike close to home with Cindy. I had been out for two ambulance calls in the early morning hours so I went back to sleep when I got home and was up until 11:00 AM! I suggested a hike of the Parksville Rail Trai since it is flat and short but has a nice waterfall. Cindy agree that she could handle this hike so we began to get ready at 12:15 PM. As we started to get ready, the temperature on the back porch was already 80 degrees but I knew the rail trail was shaded. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I decided to take my Leki Makalu carbon poles with the internal twist locks as they are light and not a problem on most trails. We put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 12:50 PM and drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville. Just after Fox Mountain Road, I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road at 1:05 PM. There were no cars in the lot as we began to get ready. I decided to take my pack since it is the easiest way to carry my camera. I set my GPS and we set off on the trail with the car thermometer reading 82 degrees.

Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was a little cooler and the long sleeves did not seem too hot. The trail was very wet and muddy from two days of rain and thunderstorms. There was standing water in some places and small stream shunning down the trail in others. In one spot a large tree had fallen over taking a slightly smaller one with it. I judged that this mess might require a chainsaw. As we walked we removed sticks and branches from the trail. In several places branches were hanging into the trail and would require some trimming. We came to a nice view down to the Little Beaverkill and I stopped to take a few shots. Just after this point was a boardwalk and bridge and I again took some pictures. There was a lot of water in this area and the heavy rain had carried dirt and rocks onto the bridge. This had also blocked the culvert under the bridge forcing water and mud onto the bridge and trail. The walkway had some leaves on it and was very slippery from the rain. The day was sunny and the sky was very blue with some white clouds. We passed several benches placed for people to rest. Soon, we could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls was just ahead. We stopped to look at the falls which had more water going over it than I had ever seen. The stream was very high which made the drop of the falls look shorter than usual. I walked down the bank and worked my way to an area in front of the falls. The water was brown with white caps. I took some shots and then repositioned to take a few more. There are two drops to the falls but from the bottom of the lower falls it is hard to see the upper drop. I walked back up the bank and took a picture from above the falls. We walked down the trail a short distance where another path led down to the creek. When the water is low this leads along the edge of the stream to just above the falls. On this day the stream was so high that the path lead just to the edge of the water and then ended. As we were getting ready to continue our hike, three men approached us from Parksville. We said "Hello" and they asked about access to the stream. O told them about the path to the bottom of the falls and then we went in opposite directions. We continued on the trail toward Parksville and soon saw two women coming in our direction. One woman was enjoying the beautiful scenery by talking on her cell phone! As we approached the end of the trail, I put Sheila on her leash. I was happy to see that at least one property owner was cleaning up the mess just across the stream. We passed some buildings on the left side of the trail that were ruined and falling down. On the Parksville end of the trail we walked out to the trailhead and then turned around to begin the walk back. We stopped at the small garden which has a very informative sign. The sign listed the businesses and hotels that existed in Parksville during its heyday. The Young's Gap Hotel had room for 600 guests! The sign also explained the role of the railroad in the dairy industry which was a thriving one in all of Sullivan County. I had Bryce read the sign and we discussed some of the information especially the comment that the area produced 9 million cans of milk annually. After a brief pause, we decided began the back on the trail. The return trip was uneventful but we did meet the two women coming back and overtook the three men who were still looking for stream access. We were back at the car at 2:30 PM after hiking 2.9 miles in 1 hour and 25 minutes. Our moving average was 2.3 mph and the elevation gain was 280 feet which I doubted. I decided it might be good to visit some other waterfalls.

On Wednesday, July 7th I planned to go hiking at Trout Pond after two days of trail maintenance. I decided I would park at the lower parking area and then hike the loop around Trout Pond counterclockwise. As I started to get ready at 10:45 AM it was 82 degrees with high humidity. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which are showing some serious wear but fit well. I decided to take my Leki Makalu carbon poles with the internal twist locks as they are light and not a problem on most trails. I also put on my OR floppy hat which keeps the insects off and protects me from the sun. I donned my OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 11:00 AM as I drove north on the Quickway towards Roscoe. I got off at exit 94 and headed north on Route 206 towards Downsville. After crossing the Rockland Flats and passing the Roscoe Nursing Home, I turned left on Morton Hill Road and drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. We turned left to drive down to the lower parking area and was pleased to find the road in pretty good shape. When we arrived at the lower parking area, it was almost filled but I found one space to park. I set my GPS and we got ready to start out on our hike at 11:25 AM with the temperature at 78 degrees and Hugh humidity.

We started out on the Trout Pond Trail along a wide woods road that leads down to and across Russell Brook. As we crossed the bridge, I could see that the brook was not as high as I had expected. The sun was out and the sky was blue with puffy white clouds. I decided I just wanted to hike some and would leave the falls for the return trip. The Japanese knotweed was growing profusely and encroaching on the trail. I had brought my machete which does an excellent job on the knotweed but I decided to put that off until the end of the hike. As we continued passed the register box, we caught up with a couple who were reading the trail signs. They had on sneakers and were carrying a single bottle of water. I hoped they were planning a short hike to Trout Pond and back. We continued up the main trail toward Trout Pond. There was water on the trail and some mud which was isolated to several small areas. We caught up to and passed a group of 2 men and 3 women who were also casually dressed but better prepared than the couple. I noticed some fresh tire tracks on the trail but could not tell how fresh they were or the vehicle that made them. Soon we were at the outlet end of the pond and we walked over to the shore. I dropped my pack to take pictures of the lake with the blue sky overhead. The water was right up to the grass on the shoreline and was overflowing the dam. I took quite a few pictures looking for the contrast between the green trees, the blue sky with white clouds and the lake. Sheila waded in to take a dip and I took her picture. I threw a stick for her to retrieve but she did not seem interested. I heard the noise of an ATV coming down the trail and looked up to see it pass. The driver had on an orange hard hat and I assumed he was working for the DEC. I packed up and we returned to the main trail. We walked the flat woods road toward the inlet end of the pond which was wet and muddy in some spots. In some places it extended across the trail which made walking more difficult. We crossed the bridge that is just before the lower lean-to and inspected the old trout hatching box. At the trail junction near the lower lean-to we turned to the left on the blue blazed Mud Pond Trail which would take use over Cherry Ridge and form our loop back to the parking area. There were two men sitting at the lean-to. I looked to see if there was any work being done by the DEC on the lean-tos or bridge but none was visible. I took some pictures ROM the bridge and then from another point on the trail. There were several tents pitched too close to the shore just below the upper lean-to. He turned right and started up the Mud Pond Trail toward Cherry Ridge.

Even though we were gaining elevation, we continued at a good pace. Every now and then we would remove a small branch or a larger branch from the trail. This part of the trail showed that there had been some water running on the trail but was not very wet. From the bridge at the inlet we began a climb of 430 feet over the next .75 miles. The trail headed west from the inlet until turning sharply south at around 2 miles. As we started this ascent, a family of four came hiking down the trail toward us. They passed by and we exchanged "hellos". Along the way there were several blowdowns some of which were old and some that were new. Some of these were on the ground and easy to step over while others were interfering with walking on the trail. The highest point on the trail was at 2.2 miles after which most of the rest of the hike is downhill. As we gained elevation, I began to notice that I was getting warm and sweating profusely due to the humidity. The trail had some mud in spots but there was little standing or running water. At one point I could hear two men overtaking us and I stepped off the trail to let them pass. They had a small and noisy dog with them but at least he was on a leash. The place where I had pulled over had a very large fungus so I took done shots before moving on. At 3.4 miles we had descended 420 feet from Cherry Ridge to the snowmobile trail near Mud Pond. We turned left here to head east and ascended a small hill before starting downhill back toward the parking area. This section was a little muddy but I had seen far worse. The downhill was a little slippery because of the water and mud. The small streams flowing across the trail were almost dry. We dropped another 380 feet over the next .7 miles back to the trail junction by the register. We turned left on the path to Russell Brook Falls which was narrow due to the encroaching knotweed. We walked the path until it descended to the streambed. The family that we had met hiking was close to the falls and it did not seem like they were going to move. I took some pictures of the falls which had much less water flowing than I had expected. I was happy there were no piles of rocks in the stream but I did notice the boy was throwing stones at the falls! I almost said something about LNT and disturbing the ecosystem but decided against it. I packed up and we walked back out to the main trail. We turned left and walked to the bridge across Russell Brook. The history of this area is very interesting. Russell Brook Falls had been the site of a dam that impounded water for a waterwheel in Butternut Grove. The wheel was still there a few years ago. The area near the register box was the "landing zone" for loggers who cleared the evergreen trees, not for tanning but, for the production of wood alcohol. The trees were transported on narrow gauge railway that ran parallel to Russell Brook. The railway met the mainline O&W near Butternut Grove where the logs were unloaded. There were several acid factories in the area that produced wood alcohol. There was also a factory on the lower part of Russell Brook that produced khaki dye for the uniforms of American troops during World War I. We continued across the bridge and up the trail to the parking area. It was 1:55 PM and we had hiked 4.6 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes with an elevation gain of 870 feet. We had stopped for a little over 20 minutes.

On Tuesday, July 6th I had planned to go across the street and trim all the trails on Round Top with my Stihl gas-powered trimmer. I use four-cornered Rhino line and it will cut brush as big as my little finger! I wanted to get out early as the afternoon temperature was forecast to be in the low 90's. The ambulance pager went off early in the morning but no driver responded to the call. I had trouble getting back to sleep so I stayed in bed a little later than I had planned. At 9:30 Am I got up and immediately started to get ready with the temperature in the low 80's. Sheila was watching me as I was getting ready but I had to explain to her that she could not go which did not make her happy! I put on a Mountain Hardware long-sleeved crew top with no baselayer because of the temperature and humidity. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Vasque Taku hiking boots which are showing some serious wear but fit well. I grabbed my Corona loppers. Silky Sugowaza saw and LT Wright Overland machete and out them in the car. I loaded up the Stihl trimmer and the pack that has the gas-oil mixture and extra line. I pulled out of my driveway at 9:50 AM and drove across the street and up the cemetery hill. I parked at the top of the hill at the trailhead and parked putting my volunteer sign on the dashboard. I got out the trimmer and made sure it would start. I had just replaced the line but filled the fuel tank as I knew I would start trimming as soon as we hit the trails. I put on the pack and started out on the trails. There wasn't much to trim up to the first trail junction. At the junction I turned right and started up the trail. When the trail turned off the woods road, I began to run into weeds and brush to trim. I started the trimmer and began to cut weeds, ferns and brush. I trimmed several feet back from the tread so that it would stay that way for some time. At the next junction I turned left to stay on the yellow trail. I knew this is where the majority of the trimming would take place.

For the first section of the trail I trimmed a lot of long grass and weeds and some brush on both sides of the trail. Eventually, I began trimming more brush and had to be careful to keep tapping the cutting head to release more line. I began to notice that my forearms were getting sore and that my hands were vibrating even when I wasn't holding the trimmer. I continued to trim along this trail until I reached the junction with the blue trail. I turned right and trimmed a little bit on the way up the hill. When the switchback turned right, I followed it and trimmed some grass and ferns. There wasn't much brush to trim on this section. When the switchback met the main blue trail, I turned left and started for the summit trimming as I went. I bypassed the white crossover trail and continued over the summit where I took down some brush and briars. I started down the hill and continued to trim a lot of brush both low and high. My firearms were burning but I made it to the yellow trail where I refueled the trimmer and headed back up the blue trail. This time I turned left on the white crossover trail and started to trim mostly ferns and weeds growing on the trail. This trail section is the one that is lest traveled and the trimming really made it more obvious. When the white trail came to the blue trail, I turned left and walked down the hill to the junction with the yellow trail. I continued straight ahead on the yellow trail as it started downhill toward the lookout. The trimming here started out as brush and weeds and then turned to mostly ferns. Along the way I came to a blowdown across the trail which I had intended to clear with my saw later. I looked at the tree and found it very long but loose at the base. I broke off the top and then went to the base of the truck and started to drag it off the trail. This went well and I was able to get it completely off the trail. I continued down the trail cutting ferns as I went. When we got to the lookout, I turned the trimmer off and walked down the steep trail to the first trail junction. I continued straight ahead and walked out to my car. I stowed the trimmer and prepared to leave. The temperature was 86 degrees and I had spent 2 hours and 30 minutes walking and trimming. I was very sweaty and covered in pieces of vegetation. I was looking forward to getting home to take a shower.

On Monday, July 5th I had planned to hike a longer hike by going to Hodge and Frick Ponds to do some maintenance on The Flynn and Quick Lake Trails. I was up at 9:00 AM when the temperature was 73 degrees on the back porch. I had not hiked UP the Flynn Trail to do the big loop around Hodge Pond in some time and made that my intended route. While I was getting ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which are showing some serious wear but fit well. I decided not to take any poles as I would be carrying maintenance equipment. I also put on my OR floppy hat which keeps the insects off and protects me from the sun. I put on my OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks. I packed my Silky Sugowaza saw and brought along my Corona loppers which are large with extendible handles. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and we left Livingston Manor at 10:10 AM. I drove out the Debruce Road about 6 miles and turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road. Where the road the split, I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. There was one pickup parked in the larger lot but nothing parked in the smaller one. I pulled into the smaller area with the thermometer reading 68 degrees as I set my GPS. The skies were blue in some areas with plenty of sun and lots of billowing white clouds. There was a slight breeze blowing which made things a little cooler but did not keep the insect away. At 10:30 AM we started our hike by crossing the road to start out on the Flynn Trail. The recent rainstorms had eroded the beginning of the trail even more than before. At the end of the trail through the woods we turned right on the woods road that was once the extension of Beech Mountain Road. I could immediately tell that I would be missing my poles as I was carrying the loppers in my hand. I had intended to hike directly to the Flynn Trail between Hodge Pond and Jukyard Junction to begin my trail maintenance but there seemed to be a few branches encroaching on the trail as we hiked up the hill. The Flynn Trail ascends 1.7 miles to the Big Rock Trail junction gaining 600 feet. The more I hike the quicker I can hike and easier it seems. After we passed the big spruce tree that forms an arch over the trail, I began to trim branches from the sides of the trail. I also picked up sticks and branches off the trail. As we neared the highest point on the hike, we ran into two small blowdowns so I stopped, removed my pack and started to make some cuts to remove them. I usually take before and after pictures but these small trees were not worth the effort. Just after the 1 mile mark was another blowdown which also went quickly. By 11:35 AM we had hiked the 1.7 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued straight ahead staying on the Flynn Trail heading toward Hodge Pond. The trail had been wet and muddy in spots on the way to the junction but the flatter area was even wetter with more mud. I continued to clip branches making sure I cut them back to allow for growth and cut overhead to allow for taller hikers and snowshoers. We passed through the gate that separates state land from the OSI property and were soon at the next trail junction where we stayed to the left to stay on the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond.

As we headed down toward the pond, I cut a few branches on the wide woods road. When we emerged into the clearing at the outlet end of the pond, I looked at the scene and decided to walk over to the shore of the pond. Before I could drop my pack, Sheila jumped into the water to swim and to get a drink. I took off my pack and took out the camera. I turned my attention to taking some shots of the pond. The scene was blue water and blue skies with puffy white clouds and green trees in all the shore. I took some shots of Sheila in the water and then quite a few of the pond. When I was done, I got a drink and packed up. We headed back to the Flynn Trail and turned right to follow the trail along the west side of Hodge Pond. As we continued on the west side of Hodge Pond, we found that the Flynn Trail was very muddy. OSI decided some years ago to bring in a road scarper to remove all the grass and sod that mode up this woods road. The sod had been able to absorb the water and the trail was seldom muddy. Scraping it down to dirt was a bad idea and now there are deep ruts on the road from the tractor OSI uses to mow. As we walked along the western shore, we came to a spot where we could turn left or right. We turned left to stay on the Flynn Trail and began a slight uphill climb toward the gate where the trail turns to the left. I continued to trim branches and moved a few older, rotten trunks off the trail. We continued our walk up the hill and through the gate. This part of the Flynn Trail is pretty flat and the trail is often the lowest point which allows water to collect with nowhere to go. The rain earlier in the week had made the trail wet and I had to walk through several wet and muddy areas. There were a few branches to trim but fewer than I though there might be. There were also a few blowdowns across the trail which I removed. There was one larger blowdown that was flat on the ground which would make it hard to cut with the saw. I decided I would have to leave it until next time when I could bring an ax. As I cleaned up a few branches, I noticed that the trunk was broken. I was able to drag one piece of the trunk off the trail and pivoted the other piece out of the way. I noticed that Sheila was pretty careful to walk around these areas as I had encouraged her. The last part of the trail approaching Junkyard Junction required a little more trimming. We arrived at Junkyard Junction at 1;05 PM about 3.4 miles into the hike. From here the rest of the hike is primarily downhill with a few small hills along the way. We turned left on the red Quick Lake Trail and found it was also wet and muddy. Some section of the trail are washed out leaving a lot of rocks behind and making the downhill hiking not as much fun as it could be. I had decided that I would not trim this trail but I was still had some energy and there were plenty of branches to trim. There were several large puddles on the trail and many muddy areas. At about 3.8 miles the trail turned due south and we continued downhill. There was one blowdown that required me to use the saw but it went quickly.

There wasn't much to see so we hiked passed the junction with the snowmobile trail. I cut a few more branches along the way to Iron Wheel Junction. We arrived at at 2:00 PM after hiking 4.9 miles. We turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail since the yellow Logger's Loop continued straight ahead. The trail was muddy and wet with a few branches to trim here and there. We continued on the trail passing through the clearing which was more like a swamp. We soon came to the little stream in the woods which was not as high as the last time I had walked the trail. I had cleaned out some leaves and brush which let the water flow more freely. I crossed on the stepping stones and did not stop to take pictures. I noticed that Sheila had simply waded across the stream getting a drink and cooling off! We continued toward Frick Pond and found several more blowdowns which were large and easy to step over. There were many wet and muddy spots which extended across the trail. I simply decided to walk through them as I was already wet. We passed the junction with the Big Rock Trail that goes around the north end of Frick Pond and walked toward the bridge across the outlet of the pond. The spot that had been a mud pit was almost dry after the work we had done on the last trail maintenance trip. We crossed the bridge and I put my pack down. I took pictures of the pond and the puffy white clouds in the blue sky. I packed up and we continued back on the Quick Lake Trail toward the trail register. The trail just before Graveyard Junction was muddy. We stayed to the right on the Quick Lake Trail which was becoming overgrown with grass and brush. The trail back to the car was wet but not very muddy. At the trail register we continued straight ahead on the woods road to the smaller parking area. The pickup was still parked in the larger lot along with one other car. It was 2:45 PM and we had hiked 6.4 miles in 4 hours and 29 minutes with an elevation gain of 900 feet. The temperature was 73 degrees.

On Saturday, July 3rd I had plans to get out and hike a few miles after several days of torrential rain and numerous ambulance calls. The ambulance pager went off early in the morning and we were on our way to Middletown which takes almost 3 hours roundtrip. When I got home, I knew I wanted to get out but thought I would not have much time before more Iran started to fall. The temperature was cooler hovering in the low 60's so decided to go across the street and hike on Round Top. Sheila was watching me and seemed very happy to be finally going out. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with no baselayer because of the temperature and humidity. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which are showing some serious wear but fit well. I decided to take my Leki poles with the internal twist locks as they are good for most trails. We stepped out of the house at 10:40 AM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the trunk of my car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could run free. I knew that other people were using the trails from comments on Facebook. The trails was becoming well-worn as more and more people use them.

At the first trail junction, we turned right to walk up the more shallow approach to Round Top on the wide woods road. The trails were wet and muddy and the rain had caused some of the brush along the trails to grow and then lean over into the trails. I knew I would have to come and do some trimming. I began to break off some branches and I was surprised when they broke easily and allowed me to get them out of the way. At the first junction with the blue trail, we turned left and continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The grass and weeds were starting to grow up n the trail and I thought about bringing the string trimmer next tine. At the second junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the steep side of the hill. When the switchback turned to the right, we turned right and followed it as it wound up the hill. At the end of the switchback we turned right and started up the main blue trail to the summit. On the way we bypassed the white crossover trail. We followed the blue trail over the summit and down the other side. We again bypassed the white crossover trail and continued down the blue trail to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail to once again walk along the base of Round Top. This time when we reached the second junction with the blue trail we turned left on the yellow trail and followed that downhill to the viewpoint over town. The forest floor was getting greener all the time as ferns began to pop up with some interspersed windflowers. At the lookout we turned left to follow the yellow trail back to the very first trail junction. I check the path to the viewpoint and found that the brush I had placed in the trail needed to be replaced to discourage people from walking along the path. This path can be dangerous for some and I wanted it blocked to discouraged its use. We continued down the hill to the very first trail junction completing our first figure 8. We immediately turned around and hiked back up the steeper trail to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and began the long but gentle climb to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the second junction with the blue trail. We turned left and followed the blue trail to the white shortcut trail. We turned left and followed the trail along the side of the hill to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left and followed the blue trail downhill to the junction with the yellow trail. By this time there was a heavy mist in the air but I could not tell if it was actually raining. We turned left on the yellow trail and again followed it to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the wide woods road that brought us back to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked back out to the trailhead. We turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill and headed across the church parking lot to the street. We crossed the street to our driveway and were home by 11:40 AM after hiking a little over 2 miles in an hour.

On Tuesday, June 29th I wanted to get out for a short hike with my grandson Bryce even though the weather was oppressive. As we started to get easy at 10":45 AM the temperature was 82 degrees and the fee-like temperature was 103 degrees! We decided to go across the street and hike on Round Top. Sheila was watching me and seemed very happy to be going out. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with no baselayer because of the temperature and humidity. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Zamberlain hiking shoes which are low cut and very light but supportive. Every time I wear them hiking I remember how comfortable and light they are. I decided to take my Leki poles with the internal twist locks as they are good for most trails. We stepped out of the house at 11:00 AM and immediately noticed the heat and high humidity. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the trunk of my car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I gave the leash to Bryce an Sheila helped him along by pulling him up the hill. I used my poles to help me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could run free. I knew that other people were using the trails from comments on Facebook. The trails was becoming well-worn as more and more people use them.

At the first trail junction, we turned right to walk up the more shallow approach to Round Top on the wide woods road. The trails were mostly dry with a damp spot here and there. At the first junction with the blue trail, we turned left and continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The grass and weeds were starting to grow up n the trail and I thought about brining the string trimmer next tine. At the second junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the steep side of the hill. When the switchback turned to the right, we condoned straight up the hill. We followed the main blue trail up the hill to the summit. We followed the blue trail over the summit and down the other side. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued down the blue trail to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail to once again walk along the base of Round Top. To take our minds off the conditions, I talked to Bryce about a variety of topics. This time when we reached the second junction with the blue trail we turned left on the yellow trail and followed that downhill to the viewpoint over town. The forest floor was getting greener all the time as ferns began to pop up with some interspersed windflowers. At the lookout we turned left to follow the yellow trail back to the very first trail junction. I check the path to the viewpoint and found that the brush I had placed in the trail was still there albeit sparse. The path can be dangerous for some and I wanted it blocked to discouraged its use. We continued down the hill to the very first trail junction completing our first figure 8. We immediately turned around and hiked back up the steeper trail to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and began the long but gentle climb to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the second junction with the blue trail. We turned left and followed the blue trail to the white shortcut trail. We turned left and followed the trail along the side of the hill to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left and followed the blue trail downhill to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned left on the yellow trail and again followed it to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the wide woods road that brought us back to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked back out to the trailhead. We turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill and headed across the church parking lot to the street. We crossed the street to our driveway and were home by 12:20 PM after hiking a little over 2 miles in a little more than 1 hour.

On Sunday, June 27th I was leaving to go to church when the ambulance pager went off. I called in and changed and went to the building but no driver was available. When I got back home I decided it was too late to head to church. I decided instead to go do some trail maintenance from Big Pond toward Alder Lake on the Finger Lakes Trail. Someone let me know that another person had been working on this trail so I didn't know what work needed to be done. Sometimes well-meaning people go out and work on trails without being authorized to do so. This is against DEC policy and causes problems for the assigned trail maintainers. Anyone who wants to maintain trails should contact the FLTC or the NYNJTC so that a trail can be assigned to them. I began to get ready at 10:15 with the temperature reading 78 degrees and high humidity. While I was getting ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which are showing some serious wear but fit well. I decided not to take any poles as I would be carrying maintainance equipment. I also put on my OR floppy hat which keeps the insects off and protects me from the sun. I put on my OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks. I packed my Silky Sugowaza saw, my LT Wright Overland machete, and two plastic felling wedges. I also brought along a Fiskars ax which is light with a composite handle. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and we left Livingston Manor at about 10:30 AM. I drove north on Old Rt 17 to the Beaverkill Road where I turned right. I drove through Lew Beach toward Turnwood. At the intersection with the Barkaboom Road I stayed to the left on Barkaboom Road until I came to the access road to the upper parking area at Big Pond. I drove up to the parking lot and was able to find a spot although the lot was almost full. I set my GPS with the temperature at 79 degrees and the humidity still high. We started out on the trail toward Alder Creek Road at 10:50 PM.

The initial part of the trail is pretty flat for a long time and passes several campsite areas before descending a little. I was glad to see that the path showed use and was easy to follow. After that the trail began to ascend on an old woods road. As I started up the trail, I noticed that several small trees had been cut and removed from the trail. This was done by the "helper" who is not assigned to the trail! At .5 miles we followed the trail as it turned off the woods road and continues to ascend through the hardwood forest. Just after this 90 degree turn, we came to a tree that had fallen across the trail. The tree was rather large and was at a height that made it impossible to get over but also difficult to get under. Hikers had started to walk around the tree which seemed the easiest approach. I cleared some of the branches on this reroute and also made note of the location to report it to the DEC. We continued to walk up the trail gaining elevation as we went and passing through some damp areas. There were several more trees that had been cut along the way. At the top of the hill the trail broke out into an open area which encouraged the growth of both briars and nettles. In this area there were also some old blowdowns that were easy enough to step over. The trail was clear but could have used some trimming. I considered dragging my Stihl trimmer up the trail to cut the briars and nettles that abound along the middle section of the trail. I had been removing branches along the way but now I found a tree that had fallen across the trail. I assumed that this was where the "helper" had stopped. I took some "before" pictures and then started to assess the mess. Since the area was n the sun, it seemed even warmer than under the trees. I thought I might just cut a few branches and leave the two larger trunks to step over. I used the saw to cut a small tree that was hanging in the trail and removed it. I cut a few more branches until only the trunks remained. I looked at those trunks and decided they needed to go. I started my first cut with the ax just a little off the trail. I started the cut wide but maybe not wide enough. I kept cutting until I was almost through the log and then switched to the saw. I completed the cut which freed the smaller trunk underneath. This part was rotten and I was able to break it and remove it from the trail. I now realized I would have to cut the larger trunk again as I could not muscle it of the trail by myself. The trunk forked on the other side of the trail so I used the ax again to cut both smaller branches. After this, I was able to move the larger piece of the trunk off the trail. I admired my work and took some "after" pictures. I got Sheila and I a drink and then packed up so that we could move on.

We walked through some more briars and then under the trees again. Almost immediately we ran into another blowdown blocking the trail. This one was old and I took some "before" shots before working on it. I gave the blowdown a kick and it fell to the ground! I did not want to leave this as a "step over" so I sued the saw to make a cut which went quickly enough. I removed all the parts from the trail and took my "after" shots. We moved on but didn't get too far before we came to another, smaller blowdown. I quickly cut the tree and dragged the two parts off the trail. I was starting to run low on water and the day seemed even hotter and more humid. I decided I would go no further than the stream which is about half way to Alder Lake. The trail again broke out into an open area and this time there was a good crop of nettles at least two feet high on each side of the trail. Since I wore pants, they really didn't bother me. There were a few small trees across the trail that I decided to leave until the return trip or another trip. As we walked the trail passed through several swampy areas that were wet despite the recent dry spell. I just walked across and ignored the mud. We passed by some foundations left from when the area was farmed. As we began the descent toward the stream, we came to another blowdown that was blocking the trail. This one was one large log with a lot of branches and some smaller trees that had been taken down. I took the "before" pictures and then got to work cleaning the branches that were loose. I moved on to use the saw to cut the rest of the branches and a small tree leaning into the trail. I also removed the stubs of some larger branches that were pointed as I did not anyone to fall onto them. After cleaning up, I had Sheila sit next to the log and I took the "after" shots. I looked down the trail and saw another mess so I walked a little further to inspect it. I lifted some an old trunk off the trail and decided it was time to turn back. I packed up and started back to the car. In a short distance Sheila alerted and I saw a man and woman hiking toward us. The man had on light hiking pants but the woman was wearing shorts. Their questions was 'Are there more nettles ahead?' Unfortunately, I had to confirm that there were! Sheila and I continued on the trail until we saw two more hikers coming toward us. It was a father and his daughter and I knew I had finally run into Jason Pelton and his daughter Luna. Luna has completed the 35's and the 35's in the winter and now is working on the CMC AllTrails Challenge. We stopped and talked for a little while and then went in our separate directions. We did not stop on the way back but I did admire my work on the way back. We were back at the car at 2:20 PM after hiking only 3.2 miles in 3.5 hours with and elevation gain of about 625 feet. This was one of the few times I spent more time stopped than I did hiking!

On Friday, June 25th, my plan was to meet a hiking friend, Sharon, at Little Pond where she was camping. I would pick her up in my car and drive to the Finger Lakes trailhead on Berry Brook Road. We would then hike the Finger Lakes Trail back to Little Pond. I thought this might be a little ambitious as the distance was around 9 miles but with five significant climbs along the way. The forecast was for highs in the high 70's with increasing humidity but when I got up at 7:30 AM it was only 52 degrees. As I started to get ready at 8:00 AM the ambulance pager went off for a car fire. I responded with the rig but was cancelled on the way. By the time I got back to the house it was already 8:25 AM but I thought I had a good chance to make it to Little Pond by 9:00 AM if I hurried to get ready. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which are showing some serious wear but fit well. I decided to take my Leki Makalu carbon poles with the internal twist locks as they are light and not a problem on most trails. I also put on my OR floppy hat which keeps the insects off and protects me from the sun. I put on my OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 8:35 AM as I drove north on Old Rt 17 toward Roscoe. I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and immediately saw signs indicating that they were still working on the road. Ulster County had paved their portion of the road from outside Lew Beach north and had been finished for some time. Sullivan County chose the cheaper method of crushed gravel and oil which is an inferior solution. I drove up the road but was stopped at the junction with Campground Road. We waited there for at least 10 minutes and then were allowed through following a pilot truck. I though we were done but we were stopped again at the Beaverkill Valley Firehouse. After 5 minutes, the pilot truck appeared and guided us through. By this time it was 9:05 AM and I hoped Sharon would be waiting. I pulled up to the Little Pond gatehouse at 9:15 AM but did not see Sharon. As I was talking to the attendant, Sharon appeared and we were allowed to drive to the main parking area. We transferred Sharon's gear to my car and started the trip to Berry Brook Road. I decided that I did not want to wait for the construction so I turned right on Beech Hill Road and drove out to Route 30. The trip was longer than I expected but the scenery was beautiful. I turned left on Route 30 at the Pepacton Reservoir and drove to Holiday Brook Road. I turned left and drove until the parking area appeared on the left. There were no cars in the lot as I pulled in and parked. We got our gear ready and I set my GPS as we started our hike at 9:55 AM. I did notice that my GPS was detecting the maximum number of satellites but that the elevation was reading over 4100 feet! The temperature was now 62 degrees and I could feel the humidity.

The first part of the trail passes through an easement on private property before it enters the forest. The trail seemed very well traveled and soon we were passing through some nettles and starting a climb. The trail heads northeast toward Mary Smith Hill. Over the next half mile we gained 500 feet for an average grade of 20%. Within this section some parts were approaching a 30% grade! We passed over the top of a small hill and descended the other side before starting the climb to the shoulder of Mary Smith Hill. At .9 miles we finished a climb as the trail turned 90 degrees and started heading southwest. We passed by the summit of Mary Smith Hill and continued to descend until we started up to the top of the next hill. The trail rolled a little but at 1.5 miles we began to climb in earnest. We passed by the summit of an unnamed hill at 2.2 miles and started a long descent. I find it interesting that this hill is 165 feet higher than Mary Smith Hill but has gone unnamed. Initially the descent was moderate and there was even a flat area but at 2.7 miles that changed. Over the next .4 miles we lost 480 feet of elevation without any switchbacks to moderate the descent. The was an average of a 23% grade and I was feeling it when we got to Mary Smith Hill Road at the bottom. Sharon is a hike leader for several different organizations and we were having an ongoing discussion about training hike leaders to handle medical problems on hikes. Sharon completed the Wilderness First Aid course but wanted to practice what she had learned and to know more. We talked about sponsoring a training session for hike leaders. We stopped for a few minutes to inspect the fire ring and primitive campsite before crossing the road to begin the next section of trail. The sign said it was 2 miles which seemed reasonable but signs can be deceiving. I was feeling pretty good as we started out even though the temperature was in the mid 70's and the humidity had increased.

We walked a short distance and came to an interesting stone wall where we stopped to take a few pictures. After that the climb began forcing us to pass through another section of nettles. The nettles grow well in moist areas which also brings on the insects so we hurried to get through this section. As we eared the woods we stopped to apply some insect repellant which seemed to do the job. We were heading east when we came to a short climb up what almost looked like steps. The grade was 32% and we were glad when we got to the top. Near the top there was an interesting set of ledges and I tried to take some pictures but the bright sun was my enemy. There were also some outcroppings that very clearly showed sedimentary layers. I knew the climb wasn't over and for the next .35 miles we gained 400 feet at about a 20% grade. I began to wonder about climbing Cabot Mountain which would be our last section of the hike. This is a difficult climb with an equally difficult descent. I knew Sharon was feeling the effects of the climb and the heat and the humidity. My phone woke up and I asked Sharon if she wanted me to call my wife to pick us up on Beech Hill Road. She agreed and to my surprise I got trough to Cindy easily. She agreed to pick us up and I estimated we would be an hour. I thought this was good decision even though I was pretty sure I could have completed the hike. We knew we still had to descend Middle Mountain and then climb Beech Hill to get to our ride. Knowing that we would not have to hike another 3.5 miles up a mountain seemed to lift our spirits. We descended about 300 feet to the col between Middle Mountain and Beech Hill which seemed so easy after the ascent. Now we had to ascend only 150 feet to the top of Beech Hill after which it was all downhill. The decent off Beech Hill took us through several stands of nettles but we ignored them for the most part. In .6 miles we descended 500 feet to a dirt road. We walked out the dirt road to Beech Hill Road and turned right. Sheila and I set a fast pace as I was hoping Cindy was at the appointed meeting place. As we approached the trailhead, Cindy came walking toward us and Sheila took off running to meet her. We all piled into the car and I drive Sharon back to Little Pond. After dropping Sharon off, I drove back down the Beaverkill Road to Campground Road. We passed through the covered bridge and I drove out to Berry Brook Road where I turned right. I drove to the trailhead where my car was parked. I got into my car and Cindy followed me in hers. We drove to Roscoe and back to Livingston Manor on State Route 17.

On Wednesday, June 23rd, I wanted to get out for a longer hike on a day when the forecast looked perfect. There was no chance of showers and the temperature was not supposed to reach much more than 70 degrees with low humidity. My plan was to go to Mongaup Pond Campgrounds to check out the southern end of the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trai. I had been getting many reports that it was overgrown and hard to follow but the maintainer reported he had worked on the trail. I got up 8:15 AM with the temperature at 54 degrees on the back porch. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which are showing some serious wear but fit well. I decided to take my Leki Makalu carbon poles with the internal twist locks as they are light and not a problem on most trails. I also put on my OR floppy hat which keeps the insects off and protects me from the sun. I put on my OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 9:15 AM as I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed right on Mongaup Pond Road to head for the campgrounds. When I entered the campgrounds I pulled over and parked on the right. Leaving Sheila in the car, I went to the booth and waited some time for the person ahead of me to register for a campsite. I explained to the attendant that I was the trail supervisor and wanted to enter without paying a fee and park on the side of the road near the trailhead. I presented my card from the trail conference which made things easier and also showed him Sheila's rabies certificate. After signing in, the attendant told me to park in the field near campsite 161 which was near the trailhead. I followed his directions and parked my car. The weather was beautiful with a slight breeze that kept the insects away. I set my GPS unit and started out on the campsite roads at 9:45 AM. we walked out to the road and turned left to walk to the beginning of the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail.

We turned left onto the trail and walked toward the pond following the trail as it turned north along the shore. As we passed one small clearing on the left, I saw a single whitetail deer just standing and eating some grass. I had Sheila on her leash in the campgrounds but the deer wasn't taking any chances and bolted for the woods. As we continued along this section of the trail, I could already see that there was some trimming needed to make the trail easier to travel. At the north end of the pond we turned left at .4 miles to stay on the blue blazed Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail. The trail headed north to Mongaup Mountain. We gained 830 feet over 1.5 miles with an average grade of 11%. The weather continued to be perfect and the climb was not very tiring. Most of the trail was well defined but some markers needed to be replaced. At .85 miles we ran into our first blowdown and I decided to mark them on my GPS which may have been a mistake. By the time we submitted Mongaup Mountain, I had marked 13 issues! To be fair, some of the issues like missing trail markers and very large blowdowns will have to be addressed by the DEC. There were other blowdowns that could be stepped over or walked around. I like to keep my trails free of all blowdowns but other maintainers are more "liberal" especially on backcountry trails. Still, there were some blowdowns that could easily be removed and I threw quite a number of large branches off the trail. I had not brought any tools as I was just doing a survey but I could already see that getting this trail in shape might require a crew. From the top of Mongaup Mountain the trail turned east and then southeast on the descent. The descent and the col between Mongaup and Middle Mongaup Mountains is an area I call "The Mess". There are numerous large blowdowns for hikers to climb over them or duck under them. Some hikers have started to walk around them and the trail markers are hard to find. This area needs some real help and I plan to hike through this area with DEC For Ian Dunn to get his opinion on the best course of action.

From the col between the mountains to the summit plateau of Middle Mongaup Mountain is a little over half a mile and the elevation gain is 380 feet for a modest 13% grade. Unfortunately, the trail has not been trimmed and markers are missing so the trail disappears in places making the experience feel more like a bushwhack. Fortunately for me, I travel by CPS, canine positioning system. Sheila always seems to be able to find the trail even when it is lightly traveled and nonexistent to my eyes. We walked across the summit plateau of Middle Mongaup for about .2 miles before we came to the descent. I had thought I would turn around here but consulted my maps and found the junction with the Long Pond Beaverkill Ridge Trail wasn't very far ahead. This junction marks the boundary between two different trail maintainers and I thought it would be a good place to turn a round. As we descended the blowdowns kept coming with some hidden by the brush that had not been cleared. The trail continued to be hard to find. At 3.3 miles we hit a flat spot that lasted for .2 miles until the climb up to the Beaverkill Ridge and the trail junction. As we started the climb I could find no trail markers at all! The climb was short, only .2 miles, and didn't gain too much elevation, only 140 feet, but parts of it were close to a 30% grade! When we came to the junction, I found a cairn to mark the turn. Ian Dunn said the signs are finished and that we would hike together to replace them in the near future. It was 12:50 PM when we turned around to start back making the "out" trip a 3 hour affair. I hoped that setting a faster pace and not having to mark all the blowdowns would make the trip back faster. We did set a fast pace on the way back but were slowed by the blowdowns and poor trail conditions. In the sketchy areas, I just followed Sheila which worked out well. I lost track of where we were at one point and was not sure if we were descending the last mountains or had one more to climb. I was also confused as the time seemed to indicate we had several miles to go. I decided just to hike and found we were descending Mongaup Mountain. The decent is not short but we were soon on the shore on Mongaup Pond. No one was around so I let Sheila take a dip while I snapped a few shots of the pond and the blue sky with white puffy clouds. I packed up and we headed back to the car. We were back at 2:55 PM which meant the return trip took only 2 hours! We had hiked 8.1 miles in 5 hours and 10 minutes with an elevation gain of 1925 feet. We had not seen another hiker all day. I was disappointed with the conditions of the trail especially the section after Mongaup Mountain. I had logged 32 issues which I will have to deal with to improve the trail. As I drove to the entrance of the campgrounds, I was surprised by the number of occupied campsites especially since it was the middle of the week.

On Monday, June 21st I wanted to go to Mongaup Pond to check out the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail which some hikers reported was in bad shape. I had my paperwork and Sheila's in order so that the attendants would let me enter the campgrounds without paying a fee and park near the trailhead. The forecast was for hot and humid weather with afternoon thunderstorms so I knew I had to get a relatively early start. When I got up at 8:00 AM it was already 74 degrees on the back porch and the humidity was over 50%. As I started to get ready, the ambulance pager sounded and I was off on a call. The call took longer than expected and I returned home just before 11:00 AM. I started to get ready immediately with the temperature at 84 degrees and the humidity at 60%. I decided to go across the street to hike on Round Top so that I could control how long we were out hiking. As I got ready, Sheila seemed very happy to be going out. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with no baselayer because of the temperature and humidity. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Zamberlain hiking shoes which are low cut and very light but supportive. Each time I wear them I realize how comfortable and light they are. I decided to take my Leki Makalu carbon poles with the internal twist locks as my other poles were waiting for replacement tips to arrive. We stepped out of the house at 11:25 AM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We walked to the church parking lot and to the back of the church. As we started up the hill, we began the ascent of the steep hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". I let Sheila pull me up the hill which she was willing to do. At the trailhead I let Sheila off her leash and she immediately began to bound up the trail. I started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I knew that other people were using the trails from comments on Facebook. The trails were becoming well-worn as more and more people use them.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the viewpoint. The climb up the hill was not particularly tiring. At the viewpoint, I noticed that the brush that I had placed in the trail was still there. This trail has a dangerous spot and we have piled brush on it to discourage people from using it. We continued to the main trail and headed to the right to follow the main yellow trail as it turned right and headed up the gentle hill through the hardwood forest. The forest was becoming much greener and ferns covered the forest floor. Sheila was making her own way by staying on the trail some times and then running off trail and chasing game trails. She was also picking up sticks and dragging them along and off the trail. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction with the blue trail. There was a slight breeze blowing which discouraged the insects and made the air feel cooler. The skies were cloudy with some bright sunlight. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. This section was in good shape without any blowdowns but needed some trimming which I knew I could do with my Stihl trimmer. At the next junction, we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued up and over the summit. When we started down the other side, I decided we would skip the white crossover trail and the new switchback on the blue trail and just continue down the hill. The steepest part of the hill can be tricky but the poles helped me to keep my balance. People seemed to be avoiding the crossover trail but the switchback looked more well-worn. At the bottom of the hill we turned left on the yellow trail, walked along the base of Round Top. At the trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right to walk down to the woods road. It was a snap to walk downhill and out the woods road. It was obvious Sheila felt the same way as she was running and bounding ahead of us and then running back up the trail. We walked the woods road out to the first trail junction where we immediately turned around and started back up the woods road to the junction with the blue trail. I had to call Sheila back as she was following game trails and inspecting the "caves". We turned left and walked along the yellow trail following the base of the Round Top summit. At the next junction we turned right and started up the steeper side of the hill on the blue trail. This time we again avoided the switchback in the blue trail and continued up toward the summit. When we came to the white-blazed crossover trail, we continued passed it toward the top. We continued on the main trail over the summit and then started down the other side to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail and followed it along the base of Round Top once again. At the junction with the blue trail we turned to the left to stay on the yellow trail to the lookout. At the lookout we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction.

We normally end our hike at this point but I decided we would do two more figure 8's using the switchback and crossover trails. We turned around and started up the steep hill to the lookout. We followed the yellow trail as it turned to the right and started back up through the hardwood forest. We past the "sitting rock" and continued up the slope to the junction with the blue trial. We turned right on the yellow trail and walked along the base of Round Top to the second junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned left on the blue trail heading toward the summit of Round Top. This time we turned left on the white switchback trail and followed it through the forest to the blue trail on the other side of the hill. This trail was not well-traveled but was covered in ferns. At the blue trail we turned left and then almost immediately left again on the switchback on the blue trail. We followed the switchback to the blue trail and then turned left and walked the main blue trail to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and walked along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trial. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail down the hill to the woods road. We walked on the woods road back out to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and walked back up the woods road turning left at the top and walking the yellow trail to the second junction with the blue trail. Here we turned right and walked uphill to the switchback where we turned right. We walked the switchback to the main blue trail and turned right and then right again onto the white switchback trail. Where the deckchair trail met the blue trail we turned right and walked the blue trail down to the yellow trail. We turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We turned left at the junction with the blue trail, walked downhill to the lookout and the downhill to the first trail junction. By this time Sheila and I were both hot so walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill. We headed across the church parking lot to the street. We crossed the street to our driveway and were home by 12:55 PM after hiking a around 4 miles in 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Spring 2021

On Friday, June 18th, I really wanted to get out for a longer hike after a Thursday packed with aggravation and meetings. I had an 11:15 AM appointment at the dentist so I knew I wouldn't get started until the afternoon. My plan was to come home and go to Mongaup Pond Campgrounds. I wanted to check out the southern end of the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail as I had been getting many reports that it was overgrown and hard to follow. I got home just before 12:30 PM and immediately started to get dressed with the temperature at 78 degrees on the back porch. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which are showing some serious wear but fit well. I decided to take my Leki Makalu carbon poles with the internal twist locks as my other poles were waiting for replacement tips to arrive. I also put on my OR floppy hat which keeps the insects off and protects me from the sun. I put on my OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 12:P5 AM as I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed right on Mongaup Pond Road to head for the campgrounds. When I entered the campgrounds I pulled over and parked ion the right. Leaving Sheila in the car, I went to the booth and explained that I was the trail supervisor and wanted to enter without paying a fee and park on the side of the road near the trailhead. I presented my card from the trail conference which made things easier. Everything was going well until the attendant spotted Sheila and asked for proof of a current rabies vaccination. Sheila's tag was for 2019 and although I was sure the vaccination was still good I was refused entrance. I was not happy but I understood so I decided to drive home to make sure I could find the certificate or get one at the veterinarian. As I arrived in my driveway, an ambulance call came in and I was off to respond. The call was short and I returned home. Cindy found a note from the doctor that said the rabies vaccine was good until July of 2022! I decided to go back to Mongaup Pond to make sure what I had was acceptable even though it was too late to do Te hike I had planned. A different attendant looked at the paperwork and said that it was OK. I decided to drive to Frick Pond and do a shorter hike and save the longer hike on the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail for another day. I drove to the parking area at Frick Pond and was surprised to see no cars in either lot. It was 72 degrees when I set my GPS unit and started out toward Frick Pond at 3:10 PM.

The woods road to the register was barely damp and the Quick Lake Trail from the register to Gravestone Junction was also pretty dry. There was no standing water and very little running across the trail. There were a few muddy areas as we made the turn to the left at the junction. We walked down the hill to the bridge at the outlet end of the pond. I usually stop here to take some pictures but n this day I was more interested in hiking quickly. My plan was to take the Big Rock Trail around the back of Frick Pond and then up the hill to the Flynn Trail. I would use the Flynn Trail to return to the car with 1.7 miles of downhill! The mud hole on the west side of Frick Pond was wet but easily crossed. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail we stayed right to get on the Big Rock Trail. We were setting a fast pace as we walked across the wooden walkways. I did find a large spruce tree that had fallen parallel to the trail. Some of the branches were encroaching on the trail and I could not leave them there. Fortunately, the branches were loose or easy to break off so it only took a few minutes to clear everything. We continued around the north end of the pond to Times Square passing a few damp areas. At Times Square, we headed up the hill toward the Flynn Trail. There are three different "tiers" to the trail and 1.1 miles to the top gains 600 feet. This part can sometimes go very slowly but this time we were at the top before I even thought about it. At 4:05 PM we hit the Flynn Trail and turned right after hiking 2.2 miles. Sheila had stayed with me most of the time but she was now ranging out to follow some game trails. I saw her run into the ferns and all of a sudden 4 grouse shot up. Sheila loves birds and almost had one. She has brought me grouse before but they have always been alive and in good shape. She continued to beat the bushes until I call her and we continued down hill. I did notice that there were a lot of biting flies and mosquitoes around but continuing to move discouraged them some. Before I knew it, we were approaching the gate that separates state land from private property. We stayed to the left at the gate to avoid the private property around the cabin. We arrived in the parking area at 4:40 PM with the temperature at 76 degrees and a noticeably higher humidity. We had covered 4.0 miles in 1 hour and 30 minutes with and elevation gain of 670 feet. On the trip down the Flynn Trail we had averaged 3 mph with an overall average of 2.6 mph.

On Wednesday, June 16th, I had big plans to inspect some of the trails in my area. I planned to park a car at Mongaup Pond and then have my wife drop me at the beginning of the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail on the Beaverkill Road. This would allow me to hike the whole trail and inspect its condition. When I woke up in the morning at 8:00 AM, I mentioned my plan to Cindy and she said she would like to hike as the temperature was only 57 degrees and the skies were completely clear. We decided that we would park on the Beaverkill Road at the beginning of the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail and hike to the junction with the Long Pond Beaverkill Ridge Trail. This would allow me to check out the maintenance status of the trail and I could check the other half from Mongaup on another day. I had not been on the trail in some time and thought we might hit Willowemoc Mountain and Sand Pond Mountain while we were there. These two peaks are on the Catskill Highest Hundred list. Willowemoc Mountain has sort of a view but Sand Pond Mountain does not. Sheila was happy we would be getting out and stayed near me to make sure I knew she wanted to go. I started to get dressed at 8:45 AM. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which are showing some serious wear but fit well. I decided to take my Leki Makalu carbon poles with the internal twist locks as my other poles were waiting for replacement tips to arrive. I also put on my OR floppy hat which keeps the insects off and protects me from the sun. I took along my Silky Sugowaza saw in my pack along with two plastic wedges. We put all the gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and drove out the driveway at 9:10 AM.

I headed north toward Roscoe on Old Route 17 and turned right on the Beaverkill Road. I drove about 18 miles on the road passed the point near Quill Gordon Lodge where it turns from pavement to packed dirt. We arrived in the parking area at 9:50 AM with the temperature at 57 degrees. There were no other vehicles in the lot. As we began to get ready I discovered I had forgotten to put on my gaiters so I sprayed my pant legs with insect repellant. I set my GPS unit and we walked down the steep trail to the suspension bridge over the Beaverkill at 9:55 AM. The bridge consists of two towers at either end constructed of steel beams. The wooden decking is placed longitudinally on the bridge rather than crossways. The decking is suspended from several steel cables strung between the towers. The bridge sways considerably as you walk across and I am never too happy about walking across the bridge. Sheila on the other hand had no problem going across and coming back several times. I did notice that a few of the boards on the bridge should be repaired and that one of the cables was broken! We finally crossed the bridge and started up the ascent to the ridge. From the bridge the trail gains 750 feet over .7 miles at about a 20% grade. I did not remember this climb and it was a little tiring for Cindy. As we walked along the trail we removed random small branches that had fallen on the trail. We also stopped a few times to remove some large branches and trunks and even had to break out the saw. There were quite a few large and old blowdowns either on the ground or elevated across the trail. All of these were too large for us to cut and I knew I would have to see if Andy Garrison or the local ranger could come to cut them with a chainsaw in the spring. The other choice was to let them remain where they are since they can be negotiated with out too much of a problem. Along the way there were several climbs through rock ledges which were interesting and beautiful in their own way.

Over the next mile the trail gains about 250 feet as it flattens some and then climbs once again. I had been cool at the trailhead but the hiking and the climbing had warmed me up. At 2 miles into the hike we passed by Willowemoc Mountain which was off the trail to our left. We decided to leave a climb to the summit for the trip back if there was time. A short distance passed this point, Cindy announced she had gone as far as she could go. I had expected this but it was still disappointing. I decided to continue down the other side of Willowemoc Mountain just to get a little more ascent on the way back. As Sheila and I started down the other side we ran into some blowdowns but hikers had already detoured around them so I left them where they were. The descent was rocky and steep on the other side. The trail flattened and then descended again. After about 20 minutes, I decided to turn around as I did not want to leave Cindy waiting for too long. I knew the trip back would probably take less time since it was mostly flat and downhill. It had taken us 2 hours and 20 minutes to hike out. Sheila and I turned around and set a fast pace up the mountain and back to Cindy. I let Sheila go as we approached the top of the ascent and she made a beeline for Cindy. I told Cindy to start back along the main trail while I quickly bushwhacked to the highest point on Willowemoc Mountain. Once at the top, I looked around for some view but the foliage blocked any lookout. I retuned to the trail and caught up with Cindy. We tried to push the pace on the flat ground near the top of Willowemoc Mountain. At one point I looked ahead and saw the trail stretching almost straight for some distance. I was lost deep in my thoughts and we didn't talk much. Even so the trip back went quickly. We descended a ledge and stopped to take some pictures of the rock formations. Shortly after this we both could hear the river ahead. We descended to the bridge and Sheila went down to the river to get a drink. I took some pictures of the bridge. We crossed over the bridge and I stopped to take a few more shots of the bridge. I walked back up the hill to the car to join Cindy. It was 1:50 PM and we had hiked 5 miles in 3 hours and 50 minutes which was a slow pace but included the time we spent to remove blowdowns and for me to take pictures. The elevation gain was 1495 feet. The temperature at the car was 67 degrees.

On Monday, June 14th I wanted to get out for a short hike after getting up later than usual. I did some work around the house and then started to get ready to go across the street and hike on Round Top at 11:00 AM. The temperature was 70 degrees and the humidity seemed reasonable. Sheila was watching me and seemed very happy to be going out. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with no baselayer because of the temperature and humidity. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Zamberlain hiking shoes which are low cut and very light but supportive. I had not worm them hiking in some time and had forgotten how comfortable and light they are. I also donned my OR BugOut gaiters to combat the ticks and are treated to resist insects. I decided to take my Leki poles with the internal twist locks as I was waiting to replace the tips on my Leki poles with external locks. I noticed that the tips on these poles were worn and made a note to buy new ones at Morgan Outdoors. We stepped out of the house at 11:30 AM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the trunk of my car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. I stopped to look at some of the headstones in the cemetery which have fallen over due to the steep angle of the hill and hillside creep. When we got to the top of the hill, I stopped to look around at the hills around town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could run free. I knew that other people were using the trails from comments on Facebook. The trails was becoming well-worn as more and more people use them.

At the first trail junction, I turned right to walk up the more shallow approach to Round Top on the wide woods road. The trails were mostly dry with a damp spot here and there. At the first junction with the blue trail, we turned left and continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The grass and weeds were starting to grow up n the trail and I thought about brining the string trimmer next tine. At the second junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the steep side of the hill. When the switchback turned to the right, we followed it as it led us up the hill and back to the original route. This trail showed signs of use while the trail up the hill was starting to grow in. We turned right on the blue trail and headed toward the summit but almost immediately turned right on the white shortcut trail. This trail seemed almost unused as if people were avoiding it and heading up the blue trail and over the summit. We followed that trail across the hill to the blue trail coming down from the summit. We turned right to head back down the hill to the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail to once again walk along the base of Round Top. This time when we reached the second junction with the blue trail we turned left on the yellow trail and followed that downhill to the viewpoint over town. The forest floor was getting greener all the time as ferns began to pop up with some interspersed windflowers. At the lookout we turned left to follow the yellow trail back to the very first trail junction. I check the path to the viewpoint and found that the brush I had placed in the trail was still there albeit sparse. The path can be dangerous for some and I wanted it blocked to discouraged its use. We continued down the hill to the very first trail junction completing our first figure 8. We immediately turned around and hiked back up the steeper trail to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and began the long but gentle climb to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the second junction with the blue trail. We turned left and followed the blue trail to the white shortcut trail. We turned left and followed the trail along the side of the hill to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left and almost immediately left again on the switchback. We followed the switchback back to the main blue trail and turned left to walk down to the lower yellow trail. We turned left on the yellow trail and again followed it to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the wide woods road that brought us back to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked back out to the trailhead. We turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill and headed across the church parking lot to the street. We crossed the street to our driveway and were home by 12:30 PM after hiking a little over 2 miles in 1 hour.

On Saturday, June 12th I wanted to get out for a longer hike after three days off for track meets and a few shorter hikes before that. I planned to get started early and did get up at 7:00 AM. However, I was tired from several ambulance calls the day before so I hung around the house for a while. The skies were completely overcast and the called for a chance of showers all day. I decided to get ready and go to the Frick Pond area to hike the Flynn Trail and the snowmobile trail to Mongaup Pond. From Mongaup Pond I would walk the roads back to the car with the possibility of lengthening the hike by going around the pond. A visit to the falls on the outlet creek was also a possibility. I began to get ready at 9:30 AM when the temperature was 66 on the back porch. Sheila was watching me very closely as I got dressed. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer to protect me from the biting insects often present at Frick Pond. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which are showing some serious wear but fit well. I also donned my OR BugOut gaiters to combat the ticks and are treated to resist insects. I decided to take my Leki Makalu carbon poles with the internal twist locks as my other poles were waiting for replacement tips to arrive. I decided to wear my OR floppy hat which keeps the insects off and protects me from the sun. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and headed out the DeBruce Road a little after 10:00 AM. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there was one other cars parked in the small lot. I pulled into the smaller lot with Sheila was acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she ran around and headed for the trail. The temperature was 64 degrees and the skies were completely overcast but with a reasonable humidity. I got my gear ready to go and set my GPS unit. We headed across the road to get on the Flynn Trail at 10:25 AM. The grass on the Flynn Trail was wet from the rain the day before and from the dew but the trail was otherwise dry and very well defined. I once again noticed that although the Flynn Trail ascends to the junction with the Big Rock trail, it seemed much easier now that I have recently been hiking more. We passed through the tunnel Cindy and I had cut in the big spruce tree across the trail and continued on up the trail. At a mile we hit a high point and passed by the path on the right to a large clearing. The skies were still overcast and I wondered if it would rain. I was grateful that the insects were only bad when I stopped. Because of this, my plan was simply not to stop!

It didn't seem long at all until we were approaching the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 1.7 miles into the hike. By the time we were at the junction, we had already gained 600 feet and only had a little more elevation gain until we would start downhill. The trip up the Flynn Trail had only taken 40 minutes which was one of our fastest times. We turned right at the junction on the snowmobile trail and climbed another 120 feet to the highest point on the hike at a little over 1.9 miles. After hitting the high point, most of the rest of the hike was downhill. The Flynn Trail heads directly north from the trailhead but the snowmobile trail wanders first east, then south, the east, then north before finally heading southeast and south toward Mongaup Pond. As we descended from the high point we found evidence that there had been a stream of water flowing down most of the trail. The trail has become highly eroded and difficult to hike because of all the exposed rocks. Many of the rocks were covered with a thin film of water making them very slippery. Sheila was wandering off trail and then returning to us never getting very far away. On one descent, Sheila alerted and I looked up to see a mountain biker headed up the hill toward us. I pulled Sheila to the side of the trail and said "Hello" to the biker as he passed. He told me he would be heading back down after hitting the high point. At 3.1 miles we followed the trail as it turned southeast and then east still descending toward the pond. We finally hit a woods road and the trail leveled out. Just before getting to the roads that run through the campground we passed by a swamp on the left. There are usually a few small streams across the trail but on this day there were only a few damp spots. When we got to the campground roads, I put Sheila on her leash as I expected the campgrounds to be packed. Three kids passed us on bikes and rode out onto the main loop without stopping or looking for cars. We turned right and walked out to the main loop road. We turned right and immediately met a group of people walking on the road. One of them had a dog that was not on a leash and was heading straight for us. As the dog approached I put my poles in its face which slowed it down. The owner came running to grab the dog. I couldn't help thinking that simply obeying the campground rules and keeping the dog on a leash would avoid potential problems. We headed south on the loop road and after a short walk, we turned left and walked over to a bench near the shores of the pond. Sheila took a dip in the pond. I took a look at the scene and decided it was not interesting enough to take pictures. Sheila came out of the pond and shook off the water. We walked out to the loop road and continued heading south. After walking a little more than half a mile, we came to the observation deck which had been under construction but now was completed. We continued on the loop road out to the entrance of the campground. We walked out the access road to begin the walk back to the car. The access road is easy to walk but is always longer than I remember except on this day when it seemed short. From the booth at the campground entrance to the intersection with Beech Mountain Road it is only 1.1 miles and on this day it seemed shorter as we pushed the pace. At the intersection, I considered walking down to the falls but the clouds were gathering and I did not want to get wet. We turned right and walked up the hill for .3 miles to the car. One car that had been in the lot was gone but two other cars had appeared. It was 1:00 PM and we had spent 2 hours 35 minutes hiking 6.4 miles for an overall average speed of 2.6 mph and a total climb of 960 feet. The temperature was 66 degrees and as I drove home the skies were clearing.

On Tuesday, June 8th I wanted to get out for a hike before track practice. I knew I would get out on Wednesday as we had a sectional track meet at home. Around 11:15 AM I decided to try to get across the street to hike on Round Top. As I began to get ready the temperature was 78 degrees and the moist air felt heavy. As I got ready, Sheila seemed very happy to be going out. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with no baselayer because of the temperature and humidity. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Zamberlain hiking shoes which are low cut and very light but supportive. I had not worn them hiking in some time and had forgotten how comfortable and light they are. I also donned my OR BugOut gaiters to combat the ticks and are treated to resist insects. I decided to take my Leki Makalu carbon poles with the internal twist locks as my other poles were waiting for replacement tips to arrive. We stepped out of the house at 11:45 AM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We walked to the church parking lot and to the back of the church. As we started up the hill, we began the ascent of the steep hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Someone had been working on the "road" that climbs the hill. They side of the road had been cleared back but the pavement was the worse for wear and I hoped the plan was to pave that stretch. I let Sheila pull me up the hill which she was willing to do. At the trailhead I let Sheila off her leash and she immediately began to bound up the trail. I started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I knew that other people were using the trails from comments on Facebook. The trails was becoming well-worn as more and more people use them.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the viewpoint. The climb up the hill was not particularly tiring. At the viewpoint, I noticed that the brush that I had placed in the trail was still there. This trail has a dangerous spot and we have piled brush on it to discourage people from using it. We continued to the main trail and headed to the right to follow the main yellow trail as it turned right and headed up the gentle hill through the hardwood forest. The forest was becoming much greener and I saw many ferns rising from the for floor. Sheila was making her own way by staying on the trail some times and then running off trail and chasing game trails. She was also picking up sticks and dragging them along and off the trail. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction with the blue trail. There was a slight breeze blowing which discouraged the insects but made the air feel much cooler. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. This section was in good shape without any blowdowns but needed some trimming which I knew I could do with my Stihl trimmer. At the next junction, we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued up and over the summit. When we started down the other side, I decided we would skip the white crossover trail and the new switchback on the blue trail and just continue down the hill. The steepest part of the hill can be tricky but the poles helped me to keep my balance. People seemed to be avoiding the crossover trail nut the switchback looked well-worn. At the bottom of the hill we turned left on the yellow trail, walked along the base of Round Top. At the trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right to walk down to the woods road. It was a snap to walk downhill and out the woods road. It was obvious Sheila felt the same way as she was running and bounding ahead of us and then running back up the trail. We walked the woods road out to the first trail junction where we immediately turned around and started back up the woods road to the junction with the blue trail. I had to call Sheila back as she was following game trails and inspecting the "caves". We turned left and walked along the yellow trail following the base of the Round Top summit. At the next junction we turned right and started up the steeper side of the hill on the blue trail. This time we again avoided the switchback in the blue trail and continued up toward the summit. When we came to the white-blazed crossover trail, we continued passed it toward the top. We continued on the moan trail over the summit and then started down the other side to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail and followed it along the base of Round Top once again. At the junction with the blue trail we turned to the left to stay on the yellow trail to the lookout. At the lookout we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. We walked straight out to the trailhead and turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill. We headed across the church parking lot to the street. We crossed the street to our driveway and were home by 12:40 PM after hiking a little over 2 miles in 55 minutes.

On Sunday, June 6th I was not planning on doing any hiking after church as I was tired from previous days and had other work to do. On the way home I asked Cindy if she would like to go to Frick Pond to cut a blowdown that was blocking the Quick Lake Trail just after the snowmobile trail junction north of Iron Wheel Junction. To my surprise she said "Yes"! This was completely unexpected since she does not like to hike in the heat and it caught me off guard. I recovered and decided going to cut this tree would get us out of the house together. The tree had broken off about 10 feet up the trunk and was leaning over across the trail. My intent was to trim it, fell it and remove all of the tree from the trail. I dropped Cindy at home and went to the ambulance building to do a quick bit of documentation. When I returned home, Cindy was already dressed so I started to get ready at about 12:20 PM with the temperature at 85 degrees and with high humidity. Sheila was watching quietly but making sure that I did not leave without her. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are wearing out but still have a few miles in them. I also donned my OR BugOut gaiters to combat the ticks and are treated to resist insects. I decided not to take my Leki poles since I would be carrying trail maintenance equipment. I did take my Silky Sugowaza saw, Fiskars pack axe, and two felling wedges. I put all the gear in the car and put Sheila in the backseat and started out the DeBruce Road at 12:45 PM. I drove about 6 miles before turning left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. The larger lot was empty and there were only two cars in the smaller lot. I parked in the smaller lot as a couple of hikers walked over to the kiosk to look at the maps. I asked if they wanted some help and they said "Yes". They wanted to do the loop around Frick Pond so I directed them to the Quick Lake Trail that leaves the back of the larger lot. The car thermometer read 82 degrees as I set my GPS to get ready for the hike. At 1:05 PM we headed out the woods road toward the trail register. The woods road was damp with a few muddy places.

We continued straight ahead at the register and headed out the woods road toward Frick Pond. The trail was very wet with some standing and running water and some muddy places. The drainage work we had done seemed to have helped in some places but made little impact in others. At Gravestone Junction, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail toward the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. There were a few muddy spots going down to the bridge. We walked across the bridge and continued along the trail on the west side of Frick Pond. I decided that I might take pictures on the return trip. The mud pit that we had drained was still draining well and the stepping stones helped us make it across. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we stayed to the left as I wanted to keep hiking the Quick Lake Trail. The first part of the trail was damp and muddy and we had to walk through the mud in places. This is not an easy place to improve drainage as there is a lot of water and the edges of the woods road are higher than the trail. We entered the evergreen tunnel which was drier and had only a few damp areas. When we came to the small stream across the trail, Sheila easily jumped across the water and we used the stepping stones to get across. Sheila took a dip and a drink and played in the water for a few minutes. Clearing the leaves and branches downstream had made this possible. Just after this crossing we made our way up the bank and back on the trail. We continued to push toward Iron Wheel Junction and made good time even though the trail was wet and muddy most of the way. When we came to Iron Wheel Junction, we turned left to head toward Hodge Pond at 1:43 PM after hiking 1.4 miles. My pack was beginning to get heavy and the warm weather did not help much. We were soon at the junction with the snowmobile trail and just passed the junction was the blowdown I wanted to remove.

I put down my pack a took a few "before" pictures of the tree which had a larger diameter than I remembered. I got out the Silky Sugowaza saw and started to remove the branches that were blocking the trail. This didn't take too long and Cindy help by holding some branches and removing a few small ones. The opening was sufficient for even the tallest hiker to get through. I looked at the trunk of the tree which was about a foot. I also found another tree behind it. I decided that the opening was large enough for the time being and that felling the tree would be a little too much for this day. I did cut a few more branches to clean things up a bit but none that supported the tree. I took a few "after" pictures and then we picked up and started back the way we had come. When we got to the stream through the woods, Sheila again dove in to get cool and then jumped out only to dive in again. We crossed on the stepping stones and Sheila began to run up and down the trail. We walked through the "spruce tunnel" and passed by the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We again crossed the mud pit and then the bridge. We stopped at the bridge and I took a few shots. I always stop here and always take pictures as if I am drawn to it. Cindy walked up the hill out of the heat while I practiced my photography. I packed up and walked up the hill to join Cindy. We walked back on the Quick Lake Trail passing Gravestone Junction and the Lobdell Memorial marker on the right. We continued back to the parking area arriving at 3:05 PM after hiking 3.3 miles in 2 hours. We had stopped for 35 minutes to clear the tree and our elevation gain was a modest 380 feet. The temperature at the car was 82 degrees.

On Saturday, June 5th I was scheduled to meet one of my new maintainers, Dan, at the trailhead for the Long Pond Beaverkill Ridge Trail on Flugertown Road. We agreed we would meet around 10:00 AM at the trailhead. In the morning I got a call that he was running a little late. At 9:30 AM I started to get ready with the temperature at 72 degrees. Sheila was watching quietly but making sure that I did not leave without her. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with no baselayer because of the temperature and humidity. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are wearing out but still have a few miles in them. I also donned my OR BugOut gaiters to combat the ticks and are treated to resist insects. I decided not to take my Leki poles since I would be carrying trail maintenance equipment. I did take most of the trail maintenance equipment that I use including a Silky Sugowaza saw, Silky Katanaboy saw, Fiskars pack axe, Corona loppers, LT Wright machete, and two felling wedges. I didn't intend to carry all of this on the hike but to see what Dan would bring and decide at that time. I put all the gear in the car and put Sheila in the backseat and started out the DeBruce Road at 10:00 AM. I drove 11 miles to Flugertown Road and turned left. As I drove I saw one car ahead of me with and ADK sticker. The car turned into the first large parking lot on the right but I had a feeling that it was the maintainer I was looking for I turned into the lot and spoke to the driver of the other car who was, in fact, the person I was meeting. I told him to follow me to the trailhead. We drove another 2 miles up Flugertown Road passing onto the seasonally maintained road. We drove across the first bridge and parked in a spot on the right side of the road. We got out of our cars and introduced ourselves. Dan had several pairs of clippers and loppers so I decided to take my Silky Sugowaza, Fiskars pack axe and felling wedges. I set my GPS unit and we began our hike at 10:20 AM by walking back down Flugertown Road to the point where the trail crosses the road.

The first .4 miles of the trail are maintained by the snowmobile club and this section of trail was in good shape anyway. This short section of trail is an ascent with a 13% grade and I was feeling it. At .4 miles we turned right onto the Long Pond Beaverkill Ridge Trail and began to inspect the trail. This trail had not been maintained for many years until we got a crew together and worked on it last September. It had numerous blowdowns and also needed a good trimming and lopping. The crew had cleared about half the trail until it began to climb the ridge where we stopped. I had gone back and completed the rest of the trail finding numerous blowdowns and areas where the trail was very poorly marked. The DEC has decided that maintainers cannot put up trail markers any more but they do not get around to marking many trails. I hoped the work that we had done last year would give Dan, the new maintainer, a head start on keeping the trail cleared. As we walked along the trail, we talked to get acquainted. The work we had done last year had paid off as the trail only needed some branches lopped here and there. There were a few larger branches down on the trail. Most of these we could drag off but a couple required cutting with the saw or axe. We passed through a very nice grove of evergreen trees and then passed some of the large blowdowns Andy Garrison and I had removed. The trail markers began to become scarce so we followed Sheila who always seems to know the location of the trail. We came to the area where the trail starts up to the ridge and walked around a huge blowdown which was at least 3 feet in diameter. As we began the climb we had to walk through a narrow gap in another huge blowdown. I would like to enlarge the gap but the log is too big. As we worked our way up the trail, we continued to remove a few branches and clip others that intruded on the trail. To our left we could see some nice cliffs and ledges but the trail continued passed them. The last time I was on the trail there had been no leave son the trees so it looked very different. We came to some areas that required some serious trimming. We also found places where it was difficult to find any markers which made it feel like we were bushwhacking. Eventually we started to climb more steeply and reached a spot where the trail leveled. It was 12:45 PM and we had hiked 1.8 miles in almost 2 and a half hours. Dan had to leave by 2:00 PM so we decided to turn around. I knew the trip back would be faster than the trip out but I did not want to chance making Dan late. We turned around and Dan took the lead setting a quick pace. I was having a little trouble keeping up especially as I usually rely on my poles! Many of the rocks were wet and slippery but we were soon down to the flatter ground. We walked out continuing to talk about the many things we had in common. We were back at the cars at 1:30 PM after hiking 3.5 miles in 3 hours and 10 minutes. Of course, the pace was slow as we had spent over an hour stopped to work on the trail. Dan said he would be back to work on the upper half of the trail which still needs some work. As I pulled out of the parking lot the temperature was 82 degrees.

On Friday, June 4th I wanted to go to Frick Pond to remove a blowdown my maintainer had reported on the Logger's Loop near Gravestone Junction. Rain was forecast in the afternoon and an early morning ambulance call had delayed our departure. We started getting ready at 12:15 PM when the temperature was up to 75 degrees with high humidity. Sheila was watching us quietly but making sure that we did not leave without her. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with no baselayer because of the temperature and humidity. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are wearing out but still have a few miles in them. I also donned my OR BugOut gaiters to combat the ticks and are treated to resist insects. I decided not to take my Leki poles since I would be carrying trail maintenance equipment. I packed my Silky Sugowaza saw and two felling wedges and brought along my Fiskars pack axe. I got all our gear in the car and put Sheila in the backseat and drove out the Debruce Road at 12:35 PM. I drive about 6 miles before turning left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. Both lots were empty so I parked in the smaller lot. The car thermometer read 72 degrees as I set my GPS to get ready for the hike. At 12:55 PM we headed out the woods road toward the trail register. The woods road was damp with a few muddy places.

I had decided we would hike the loop around We continued straight ahead at the register and headed out the woods road toward Frick Pond. The trail was very wet with some standing and running water and some muddy places. The drainage work we had done seemed to have helped in some places but made little impact in others. At Gravestone Junction, we turned right to get on the Logger's Loop heading toward Times Square. The grass was still wet but the rest of the trail was dry. The sky had some puffy white clouds but they were starting to gather and get darker. We walked passed the designated campsites looking for the blowdown the maintainer had reported. We followed the trail as it turned a little to the left to parallel the eastern shore of Frick Pond. There are some wet and muddy spots along the way and places where hikers had created detours around them. Eventually I could see pretty far ahead on the trail and there was no blowdown. I don't know what had been on the trail or where it was but there was nothing to remove. We walked downhill to Times Square which was wet with water running down the Logger's Loop. I suggested we walk up the Big Rock Trail or around the Logger's Loop to add a little distance but Cindy vetoed this. We turned left and started the short loop around Frick Pond which I knew was barely 2 miles. The Big Rock Trail had some muddy areas which are almost impossible to drain. We crossed the bridges over the outlet streams and then entered the spruce forest which is always a treat. The wooden walkways were almost dry and, therefore, not very slippery. When we reached the end of the Big Rock Trail, we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head toward the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. A hiker approached from the right and I stopped to talk to him. I noticed that he was hiking in bare feet! We discussed trail maintenance and I found that he was a trail supervisor in the Shawangunks. He told me the trails he had hiked were in good shape and I knew he was right as I had recently hiked them .The trail was damp until we got to the mud pit. The pit was wet but the water was draining well and the stepping stones we had placed allowed us to get across without a problem. At the bridge, I stopped and dropped my pack to take a few pictures. Since the clouds were getting darker, I put my camera away, shouldered my pack and we walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction. We walked back along the Quick Lake Trail and the woods road to the parking area. We were back at the car at 2:00 PM after hiking 2.1 miles in 1 hour. This made our overall speed 2.1 mph and our moving average 2.4 mph. The elevation gain was only 165 feet.

On Wednesday, June 2nd I wanted to get out for a short hike after getting up later than usual. An early morning ambulance call for a tractor trailer that had run off the road had necessitated sleeping in. I also knew the rest of the week would be busy and that rain was in the forecast for most days. The temperature was 75 degrees and the humidity was very high so I decided to hike across the street on Round Top. Around noon I began to get ready with Sheila watching me and very happy to be going out. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with no baselayer because of the temperature and humidity. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I wore my Zamberlain hiking shoes which are low cut and very light but supportive. I had not worm them hiking in some time and had forgotten how comfortable and light they are. I also donned my OR BugOut gaiters to combat the ticks and are treated to resist insects. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I noticed that the tips on the poles were worn and made a note to buy new ones at Morgan Outdoors. We stepped out of the house at 12:20 PM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the trunk of my car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. I stopped to look at some of the headstones in the cemetery which have fallen over due to the steep angle of the hill and hillside creep. Someone had been working on the "road" that climbs the hill. The side of the road had been cleared back but the pavement was the worse for wear and I hoped the plan was to pave that stretch. When we got to the top of the hill, I stopped to look around at the hills around town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could run free. I knew that other people were using the trails from comments on Facebook. The trails was becoming well-worn as more and more people use them.

At the first trail junction, I turned right to walk up the more shallow approach to Round Top on the wide woods road. The trails were mostly dry with a damp spot here and there. At the first junction with the blue trail, we turned left and continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The grass and weeds were starting to grow up n the trail and I thought about brining the string trimmer next tine. At the second junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the steep side of the hill. When the switchback turned to the right we followed it as it led us up the hill and back to the original route. This trail showed signs of use while the trail up the hill was starting to grow in. We turned right on the blue trail and headed toward the summit but almost immediately turned right on the white shortcut trail. This trail seemed almost unused as if people were avoiding it and heading up the blue trail and over the summit. We followed that trail across the hill to the blue trail coming down from the summit. We turned right to head back down the hill to the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail to once again walk along the base of Round Top. This time when we reached the second junction with the blue trail we turned left on the yellow trail and followed that downhill to the viewpoint over town. The forest floor was getting greener all the time as ferns began to pop up with some interspersed windflowers. At the lookout we turned left to follow the yellow trail back to the very first trail junction. I check the path to the viewpoint and found someone had again "helped" by removing the brush I had placed in the trail. The path can be dangerous for some and I wanted it blocked to discouraged its use. I stopped to find some brush to throw onto the path. We continued down the hill top the very first trail junction completing our first figure 8. We immediately turned around and hiked back up the steeper trail to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and began the long but gentle climb to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the second junction with the blue trail. We turned left and followed the blue trail to the white shortcut trail. We turned left and followed the trail along the side of the hill to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left and almost immediately left again on the switchback. We followed the switchback back to the main blue trail and turned left to walk down to the lower yellow trail. We turned left on the yellow trail and again followed it to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the wide woods road that brought us back to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked back out to the trailhead. We turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill and headed across the church parking lot to the street. We crossed the street to our driveway and were home by 1:20 PM after hiking a little over 2 miles in 1 hour.

On Tuesday, June 1st I wanted to get out for a longer hike after almost a week of track commitments and foul weather.I decided to go to Frick Pond to do the Frick Pond to Hodge Pond loop on the Quick Lake and Flynn Trails which is a little over 6 miles. I started to get ready just before 10:00 AM with the temperature hovering at 62 degrees with slightly overcast skies. Sheila sat watching my every move to make sure she would not be left behind. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer for a little extra warmth as I did not intend to wear a jacket. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are wearing out but still have a few miles in them. I also donned my OR BugOut gaiters to combat the ticks and are treated to resist insects. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and drove out the Debruce Road at 10:20 AM. I drive about 6 miles before turning left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. Both lots were empty so I parked in the smaller lot. The car thermometer read 62 degrees as I set my GPS to get ready for the hike. At 10:40 AM we headed out the woods road toward the trail register. The woods road was damp with a few muddy places

We continued straight ahead at the register and headed out the woods road toward Frick Pond. The trail was very wet with some standing and running water and some muddy places. The drainage work we had done seemed to have helped in some places but made little impact in others. There were a few spots where I cleared leaves from watercourses which seemed to get the water flowing. At Gravestone Junction, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and head down to Frick Pond. The muddy area just after the junction was damp but the stepping stones helped. There was some more mud along the way but it was easy to negotiate. We stopped at the bridge across the outlet to Frick Pond and I took some shots of the pond and Flynn's Point. I always stop to take pictures even when the scene is not remarkable. I also too a shot of the outlet stream below the bridge. We didn't stay long and were soon walking along the west side of Frick Pond where there is a mud pit that had been almost impassable. We had worked to drain the water and put in stepping stones. Our work had paid off and the area was draining well and the stepping stones made an easy path across the area. There was one small muddy area along the trail. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we stayed to the left as I wanted to keep hiking the Quick Lake Trail. The first part of the trail was very wet and I had to jump over some wet spots and walk through the mud in others. This is not an easy place to improve drainage as there is a lot of water and the edges of the woods road are higher than the trail. We entered the evergreen tunnel which was drier and had only a few damp areas. When we came to the small stream across the trail, Sheila easily jumped across the water and I used the stepping stones to get across. Clearing the leaves and branches downstream had made this possible. Just after this crossing I made my way up the bank and back on the trail. We continued to push toward Iron Wheel Junction and made good time even though the trail was wet and muddy most of the way. When we came to Iron Wheel Junction, we turned left to head to Hodge Pond at 11:20 AM after hiking 1.5 miles.

The sun was out which always makes me feel better but the insects were not as much of a problem as I anticipated. Sheila was having a great time staying on the trail with me most of the time with a few off-trail excursions. The next mile of trail is all uphill but the grade only averages around 8%. At times this can seem like a long slog but on this day it seemed to go quickly. There was a lot of water along the way flowing down the trail. The constant climb did begin to tire my legs and although the scenery was beautiful it began to get repetitive. We hit the flatter ground where there were some pools of water and muddy areas. As we made the right turn following the trail, we started downhill toward Junkyard Junction where we arrived at noon after hiking 3.1 miles. We turned right to start out on the Flynn Trail and almost immediately I noticed that the trail was very wet and muddy. Sheila and I worked our way along the trail through the water and the mud. I decided not to walk around the worst areas but through them. We arrived at the gate which separates the state land from the Open Spaces Institute land around Hodge Pond. We continued on the Flynn Trail by turning right and following the trail downhill to an area near the shore of Hodge Pond. The downhill stretch was very enjoyable and I was glad that the last 1.7 miles of the hike is all downhill on the Flynn Trail. We turned right to stay on the Flynn Trail and walked along the woods road which was in good shape. We walked through the forest and then out to the field where the sun was brightly shining. We walked back into the trees and I saw a couple hiking toward Hodge Pond. We continued to the point where the Flynn Trail enters a clearing at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. We turned left and walked over to the shore of the pond. The hikers were near the shore so I kept Sheila close to me. I said "Hello" to the hikers as they started back to the Flynn Trail to continue their hike in the opposite direction. I took some pictures of the pond and the surroundings despite the overcast and the flat sky. I got a bar and then we headed back across the field to the point where the Flynn Trail enters the forest and began the walk up the hill on the Flynn Trail. This was the last climb before the long downhill back to the car.

The walk up this hill often seems tedious but on this day it went quickly. We were soon at the top of the hill. We walked along the flat trail under the trees passing through the other gate. This part of the trail was barely damp and there were no muddy areas. We arrived at the junction with the Big Rock trail at 12:45 PM after hiking 4.7 miles. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail. The trail was in good shape with only few small blowdowns. I much prefer walking up the Flynn Trail but like to vary the route from time to time. We reached the spot where there is an interesting clearing to the left of the trail but I decided to stay on the main trail. We continued on the trail and soon were passing through the tunnel Cindy and I had cut in a large spruce tree that had fallen across the trail. At the gate at the bottom of the hill, we turned left on the trail to avoid the private property around the cabin. When we got back to the parking area, there were two cars in the small lot next to mine. It was 1:25 PM when we got back to the car after hiking 6.3 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes with an elevation gain of 895 feet. We had maintained an overall speed of 2.2 mph with a moving average of 2.4 mph which I thought was good for the conditions. The temperature was 64 degrees and we were both ready to go home.

On Wednesday, May 26th, I had so much to do that I had not planned to hike but this would be Bryce's last time to hike on Wednesday. Bryce's school is changing to 5 days of in-person instruction until the end of the year. Bryce had a morning class meeting so we began to get ready at 10:15 AM. We decided to head to Frick Pond to hike a shorter route. We started to get ready at 10:15 AM when the temperature was 75 degrees. As we started gathering our gear and getting dressed, Sheila was very quiet but did not let me out of her sight. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top which is insect-repellent. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are wearing out but still have a few miles in them. I also donned my OR BugOut gaiters to combat the ticks and are treated to resist insects. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I got our gear in the back of the car and Bryce and Sheila in the back seat and left Livingston Manor at 10:40 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. When we arrived at the parking areas, there were no cars parked in either lot. I pulled into the smaller lot and parked. The skies were sunny with a few clouds and a slight breeze. The temperature was right at 78 degrees which was cooler than I thought it might be. I set my GPS unit and we started out the woods road to the Quick Lake Trail at the register. At the register we turned left on the woods road which is the Quick Lake Trail. From the register the trail was only damp with very little standing or running water and some mud. As we walked along the trail, we check some of the work our crew had done the previous Sunday. It was hard to tell how successful we had been as there had not been much rain to test if our work had improves the drainage.

At Gravestone Junction, we stayed left on the Quick Lake Trail heading toward the bridge at the outlet to Frick Pond. This area of the trail was almost dry even thou we could see where it had been muddy as people had churned it up by walking around and widening the trail. When we arrived at the bridge, I thought I might simply continue but decided, as I often do, to take a few pictures. I snapped some shots of the pond and Flynn's Point on Beech Mountain. We continued around the west side of the pond where the crew had worked on the large mud pit which was the wettest area. We had widen the ditch that drains this pool and placed some stepping stones. Although there had not been much rain, it did look like the drainage had been a success. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we headed left on the Quick Lake Trail which was almost dry. We had been removing smaller branches but there were a few larger ones in this area that we managed to drag off the trail. We walked through the spruce tunnel and came to the small stream across the trail. The last time I had hiked I had cleared some leaves and branches that were holding back the water. The water level in the stream was now low enough to use the stepping stones to cross. Sheila decided to take a dip to cool off and then posed so that I could take a picture. I took a few more pictures and then moved on. We continued on up the Quick Lake Trail toward Iron Wheel Junction. This part of the trail is usually wet and muddy but this day was an exception which made the hiking much easier.

When we got to the junction, we turned right on the Logger's Loop. As we started out, the trail seemed to have almost no water and I was hopeful this would continue. We were lucky and the trail remained very dry for the entire length. Even the outlet stream from Hodge Pond was dry! We came to the large cherry tree that had broken off high up and fallen so that it was arching across the trail. This tree was not blocking the trail and it was clear it was not coming down soon. In a short time, we came to the seasonal pond on the left side of the trail and I walked over to it to see how full it was. The pond was beginning to dry out and looked more like a wetland. There was no wildlife present but I took a few shots despite the condition of the pond. We continued downhill to Times Square which was also almost dry. I thought about turning left and climbing the Big Rock Trail to add mileage but a check of my watch indicated that was a bad idea. We walked straight across Times Square to stay on the Logger's Loop and started uphill. Just before the beginning of the uphill was another streambed which we crossed and it was also dry. Although the trail is slightly uphill we were setting a fast pace. We continued walking on the trail and crested the hill to walk out to Gravestone Junction. We turned left at the Gravestone Junction and headed back to the car on the woods road. At the register, we continued on the woods road to the parking area. It was 12:40 PM and we had spent 1 hour and 40 minutes hiking 3.6 miles with an elevation gain was a modest 370 feet. The temperature had risen to 82 degrees.

On Tuesday, May 25th I wanted to get in a hike even though I had to leave early for an away track meet. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and she said "Yes"> We decided to go across the street and hike some loops on Round Top. I was up at 8:00 AM but had some tasks to accomplish before I could hike. I finally started to get ready at 10:00 AM when the temperature was 68 degrees with a slight breeze blowing. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on us as we dressed. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top which is insect-repellent. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are wearing out but still have a few miles in them. I also donned my OR BugOut gaiters to combat the ticks and are treated to resist insects. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. At 10:35 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. Cindy and I stopped to look at some of the headstones in the cemetery which have fallen over due to the steep angle of the hill and hillside creep. At the top of the hill we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead where I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail was completely dry and showed that people had been using it.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right an started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. We walked up the road to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We could hear voices coming down from the summit. It sound like a family group with children that were having a lot of fun. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail, toward the summit. On the way up we passed by the switchback and the white crossover trail. We passed over the summit and continued on the blue trail down the other side of the hill. We passed the white crossover trail and then turned right on the yellow trail. We again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill passed the "Resting Rock" to the lookout. The forest was very green as all the vegetation was in bloom. At the viewpoint, we turned left and started to follow the yellow trail downhill to the first trail junction. I noticed that someone had cleared the path to the lookout which has a potentially dangerous cleft. I know people are trying to "help" but it just meant that I had to find branches and bush to throw on the path to block it. At the bottom of the hill we turned around to start back up the hill to the viewpoint. At the top of the hill we followed the yellow trail as it turned right and started uphill. At the first junction with the blue trail we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up the blue trail toward the summit. We passed by the white crossover trail again and continued over the summit. We passed over the summit and continued downhill on the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. We passed by both the white crossover trail and the switchback. We continued down the steepest section of the blue trail to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and walked down the yellow trail to the woods road that took us back to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead at the top of the cemetery hill. We walked down the hill and out to the road through the church parking lot. We walked over to the driveway and back to the house. It was noon and we had hiked over 2 miles in an hour and 15 minutes. Just as we entered the house the ambulance pager went off but that is another story.

On Sunday, May 23rd I planned to go to Frick Pond on a trail maintenance trip with the Willowemoc Trail Crew. Lisa had organized the trip through the NYNJTC and I was just along the help work and supervise. Our goal was to create some ditches to drain water off the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond. Unfortunately, the weather has been so hot that very little water remained on the trails so Lisa and I would have to rely on our memory. Our other goal was to work on the large mud pit just after the bridge across the outlet of Frock Pond. This spot is always wet and muddy and I was sure we could improve it in some way. I started getting ready at 12:15 PM and had to explain to Sheila that she could not go this time. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top which is insect-repellent. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are wearing out but still have a few miles in them. I decided not to take my Leki poles as I would be carrying trail maintenance tools. I did put on my OR BugOut gaiters to combat the ticks and are treated to resist insects. I got my gear in the car including a plastic sled to move rocks, a pick and a short-handled round-pointed shovel. I drove out the DeBruce Road toward Frick Pond at 12:30 PM. After about 6 miles, I turned left on the Mongaup Pond and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road at the fork. There was only one car parked in the big lot and as I pulled in at 12:45 PM, I recognized Melissa. As Melissa and I talked, other people began to arrive including Lisa with all the required paperwork. I learned some names and where people lived as they filled out the VSA. We finally started out on the Quick Lake Trail at 1:15 PM. I decided not to apply any insect repellent and hoped I had made the right decision. Just after the trail register I began to point out places where we could clean out a few existing ditches and dig a few more. It was not easy without water actually being present but we did our best. Lisa took the rest of the group to work on the deep mud pit on the other side of the Frick Pond bridge. My group continued along the trail cleaning and improving existing waterways and creating a few new ones. As we continued toward the pond, we found Lisa and her group working hard on a long ditch by the side of the trail. I wanted to make sure we got to the mud pit and volunteered my crew to go work on that project. We walked to Gravestone Junction and then to the bridge and I was able to tell the group about some of the history of the area. When we got to the mud pit, I asked the others for ideas and we decided on a plan of action. I used my machete to expose a ditch that ran down toward the pond while others used various tools to clean out the ditch and place stepping stones across the pit. It wasn't long before I could see that the ditch suddenly dropped almost a foot which was good news as it would help to make our work easier. Some of the people in Lisa's group brought some stones from the old dam near the bridge and we used those for stepping stones. More than once the skies clouded over and at lest once some drops fell. We finished what we could do at about 3:30 PM so we picked up and got ready to start back. I took some pictures of our finished work but was annoyed I had not taken a few shots before we started. When we met Lisa's group, they were almost done so we decided to start back. On the way back to the parking area some rain fell but then stopped. We were back at the cars and ready to leave by 4:00 PM. This was one of the best groups I have ever worked with and their tireless efforts got the job done.

On Friday, May 21st I had planned a hike with Melissa Cascini, the New York Program Coordinator for the New York New Jersey Trail Conference. Melissa is new to this job and wanted to get out to visit some areas in the Catskills. We agreed to meet at the Frick Pond trailhead at 9:00 AM. Melissa planned to be with us again on Sunday when we had a trail crew working on remediating water problems around Frick Pond so I wanted to hike a different route. I planned to hike the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond including the lookout over the pond. I thought we might hike down the Big Rock Trail and along the western side of Frick Pond along the wooden walkways. From there we would take the Quick Lake Trail over the outlet bridge and back to the parking area. The original weather forecast included thunderstorms by 1:00 PM but that forecast had changed to include sun throughout the day with highs nearing 90 degrees. I started to get ready at 8:15 AM with Sheila watching my every move. She has gotten a lot better with other people on hikes and it is easier to bring her along now. I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top which is insect-repellent. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are wearing out but still have a few miles in them. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I did put on my OR BugOut gaiters to combat the ticks and are treated to resist insects. I got my gear in the car and put an excited Sheila in the back seat as I drove out the DeBruce Road toward Frick Pond at 8:45 AM. After about 6 miles, I turned left on the Mongaup Pond and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road at the fork. There was only one car parked in the big lot and as I pulled in at 9:00 AM, I recognized Melissa. Melissa and I talked for a minute as I made sure she had several hours to hike. As I was driving up Mongaup Road, there were swarms of insects jotting my windshield, so I applied some insect repellent. I set my GPS and we started our hike by crossing the road and headed out on the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. When we hit the wide woods road that is the Flynn Trail, we turned right and noticed that the grass was very dry. I described some of the history of the area to Melissa including the Frick homestead and the Beech Mountain Boy Scouts Camp. The camp was serviced by the extension of Beech Mountain Road which is now the Flynn Trail. The temperature was already in the 70's and I was glad I had worn a single layer and light, summer hiking pants. The sun was out but there were no white, puffy clouds in the sky. We were keeping a pretty fast pace but it didn't seem to bother me. At 1.2 miles we walked off the trail to the left and headed up to a clearing. There is a road that leads to the clearing but we simply walked the more direct route. We stopped at the edge of the clearing and I got out my camera to take some pictures. I have never heard a definitive explanation for the existence of the clearing but I suspect it was stripped of dirt to build Beech Mountain Road. In most placed there is very little topsoil and the bedrock is close to the surface. I also talked about the set of interesting ledges between the clearing an Mongaup Pond. We returned to the main trail and turned right to walk to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. It took us 55 minutes to reach the first trail junction with the Big Rock Trail at 1.7 miles into the hike.

We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail passing through the gate that separates state land from OSI property. After walking for a relatively short time, we arrived at the point where the Flynn Trail bears left down to Hodge Pond. We turned right on a woods road to hike toward the Boy Scout camp and the lookout over the pond. The woods road we were walking on was once Beech Mountain Road leading to the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. As we walked Melissa and I had both been removing small branches from the trail by habit. After a short walk, a trail turned off to the left to go down to the pond and the road we were on continued straight ahead. I was surprised to see another road that was completely new heading off to the left between the two. We walked to the left on this road and found it came to a dead end quite quickly. We walked passed the end of the road and came to the area where some of the of buildings from the Boy Scout camp had been. I was again surprised to see that the buildings had been bulldozed and removed! I know that this land is owned by OSI but I was disappointed that they had removed this last bit of history from the area! I took some pictures of the area. We walked back to the road that started up the hill and turned left to walk uphill toward the lookout. We passed a spring house on the right and Sheila stopped to get a drink. She must have been warm as she splashed around a "dug" in the water for several minutes. The grade became steeper as we climbed the hill and at about 2.7 miles the road made a sharp turn to the right. We stopped so that I could take some pictures from a small viewpoint and then continued on the road. As the road made another sharp turn, this time to the left, a trail went off to the right. This trail goes to the lookout but I decided we would continue on the main road and make a loop back to the lookout. We topped the hill and then walk downhill to another nice lookout just after the road turned to the right. This lookout has views of the Burrough's Range and other major peaks. I took some shots and then we continued our hike by walking uphill and around the base of Flynn's Point on Beech Mountain. This is the highest spot in Sullivan County and there were some interesting ledges. We continued around the south end and came to the lookout over Hodge Pond. Someone had moved a rock into the path out to the flat rock ledge that serves as a viewpoint. The rock did not block the path but did have a "DANGER" sign leaning against it. We walked out to the viewpoint and I took some pictures. I mentioned to Melissa that I would like the trail conference to contact OSI to see if they would allow us to blaze a trail to this lookout. We got a drink and the started out again on the trail.

We were soon back at the road that we had hiked up the hill. We turned left and set a quick pace down the hill. Sheila again stopped at the spring and this time dug at the opening to the culvert until water was freely flowing through it. At the base of the hill, we turned right on the woods road that leads down to Hodge Pond. We turned left when the road intersected a jeep trail and ended up at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. We walked over to the shore of the pond where I dropped my pack and got out the camera. Sheila decided to go swimming. I too some shots of the pond but the sky was a for a long time blue without clouds. When I was done, we picked up and walked to where the Flynn Trail enters the woods and started climbing the hill back to the junction where we had turned right some time before. At the top of the hill we stayed to the right on the Flynn Trail and followed the route we had taken out. We passed through the gate and were soon approaching the junction with the Big Rock Trail. Sheila alerted and I looked up to see three hikers and their dog coming up the Flynn Trail. The dog was a male yellow lab and bigger than Sheila. He looked like he wanted to play but we declined the offer and we, after saying "Hello", turned right on the Big Rock Trail. The walk down the Big Rock Trail went quickly and I had time to brief Melissa about the walkways on the west side of Frick Pond. I also mentioned the muddy areas on the Balsam Lake Mountain Trail. These muddy areas are on the section of trail running from the tower down to the Dry Brook Ridge Trail that comes in from Millbrook Road. The problem is that people continue to walk around the edges making these areas wider. One solution is some kind of bridging but that would involved the DEC giving approval. We were soon at Times Square where we continued straight across to stay on the Big Rock Trail. Times Square which is usually wet and muddy was almost dry. There were a few muddy areas on the Big Rock Trail but they were minimal compared to several weeks ago. As we continued on the trail, we came to the two bridges over the inlet streams. The bridge abutments are beginning to deteriorate and I told Melissa that I hoped they were on a list for repair. As we continued to hike, we walked thought the beautiful spruce forest and over the wooden walkways which also need repair. We look at area where the walkways are poorly supported and where boards are coming loose. Soon we were at the junction with the Quick Lake Trail where we turned left toward the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. This trail had been a torrent of water a few weeks ago but now was dry. We did encounter a muddy pit that I knew the trail crew would try to fix. Once passed the muddy area, it wasn't long until we were at the bridge. Despite the fact that I have hundreds of pictures from this spot, I took a few more. When I pointed out Beech Mountain to Melissa, she was surprised that we had been that high in elevation. I finished my photography and we started up the hill to Gravestone Junction. I showed Melissa the memorial marker and told her the story of two children who died in the 1930's in a fire that consumed their cabin. As we walked along the Quick Lake Trail back to our cars, we noticed that the trail was almost dry. I knew this would make it harder to do the trail work as it was hard to see where the water had been collecting. At the trail register, we turned right to stay on the Quick lake Trail. By 12:45 PM we were back at the cars after hiking 7.5 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes with 20 minutes of stopped time. This was good for an overall 2.0 mph pace. We also gained 1390 feet of elevation.

On Wednesday, May 19th, I wanted to go for a hike with my grandson Bryce who comes to our house every Wednesday. He has Zoom meetings four his classes in the morning and afternoon so we had a short window from just before noon to just after noon. This meant we would have to do a hike closer to home and asked Cindy where she would like to go. Cindy chose the Beaverkill Campgrounds which was shorter than I had expected but I knew was scenic. I started to get ready at 10:45 AM with the temperature at 70 degrees on the back porch. As usual, Sheila was excited and even more so since Cindy and Bryce were going also. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with no baselayer since the temperature was already very warm. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are wearing out but still have a few miles in them. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I did put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to combat the ticks but made a note to retire these for the summer and get out my OR Bugout gaiters which are shorter and treated to resist insects. I put our gear in the back of the car and Bryce and Sheila in the back seat and left the house at 11:00 AM. I drove out Old Route 17 toward Roscoe and turned right on Beaverkill Road. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. As I parked, there were three other cars in the lot which was a sharp departure from the crowds that were present last summer. The river was higher than I thought it might be.

I set my GPS and put Sheila on her leash as we started our hike at 11:20 AM by crossing the bridge to the west side of the river. We turned left on a woods road that parallels the river and started down a short hill. We walked passed a spring house and continued on the deserted woods road. We came to an area with a little path down to the river. I walked down to the edge of the river which was really roaring and took some pictures downstream and some upstream. Just after this area, the trail was even more eroded by water running across and under the trail than during our last visit. There was an area with several picnic tables which sit unused and rotting along the road. This was just the first of several similar areas. I decided to take pictures that showed the deserted campgrounds which was even more dramatic now that there was not a single person in sight. I took pictures of the picnic tables and, a little later, what was once a bathroom for some campsites that had long since disappeared. At the next bathroom, we stopped so that I could take some more pictures. There was a path over to the river so I walked over and took some pictures of the sun reflecting off the water both upstream and downstream. In several areas the DEC had placed large rocks along the shore and covered them with heavy wire to reduce erosion. Just passed this spot was another place where the road had been washed away and the DEC had filled in with some gravel. The streambed next to the road was now dry but must have had a large volume of water to erode the road. I took some more pictures before we over on. At about .7 miles the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites and we continued on the road through the campsites and along the river. Many of the campsites had a cement block fireplace with a grill but some were upgraded to poured concrete. Everything was very quiet except for the water in the river. This was not surprising as the campsites are closed. I took some pictures of the empty campsites and the campsite road.

We walked to the last campsite where the trail ends and walked down to the edge of the river. There was a strip of sand that made a small "beach" and I stopped to take some pictures. I worked my way out to a rock that jutted into the river and took some more shots up and down the stream. Sheila decided to take dip but stayed close to shore out of the current. We continued out the path along the river after the last campsite. Once this path became too difficult to walk I stopped to take some pictures. We turned around to start back and walked the other road through the campsites which parallels the one we walked out on to make a sort of loop. We stopped again so that I could take some pictures of a group of picnic tables randomly arranged and another group stacked against each other. I also took a few shots of the roads. We retuned the way we had come crossing the river on the bridge. We still had not seen any people! We walked through the bridge and turned right to go back to the car. I decided to go down to the river to take some pictures and took Sheila with me. Unfortunately, there were some children down by the river so I had to walk around their gear that they had spread out on the path to the river. Sheila and I walked to the edge of the river and I took pictures of the bridge and the river flowing under it. We walked downstream a little but the view didn't change so we returned to the car. We were back at the car at 12:35 PM having hiked 2.3 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes with 15 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 190 feet but it was hardly noticeable. The car's thermometer read 78 degrees.

On Monday, May 17th I knew I had to get out for a hike as the rest of the week only got busier. The forecast was for sun and comfortable temperatures so I decided to do some work around the house and then get out for a hike across the street on Round Top. Around 11:30 I began to get ready with the temperature at 60 degrees. As I got ready, Sheila seemed very happy to be going out. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with no baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are wearing out but still have a few miles in them. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. We stepped out of the house at noon. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We walked to the church parking lot and to the back of the church. As we started up the hill, we began the ascent of the steep hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Someone had been working on the "road" that climbs the hill. The side of the road had been cleared back but the pavement was the worse for wear and I hoped the plan was to pave that stretch. I let Sheila off her leash so that I could use my poles to get up the hill. Sheila immediately began to bound up the hill as I followed. When we got to the top of the hill, I stopped to look around at the hills around town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I knew that other people were using the trails from comments on Facebook. The trails was becoming well-worn as more and more people use them.

At the first trail junction, I turned right to walk up the more shallow approach to Round Top on the wide woods road. The trails were mostly dry with a damp spot here and there. At the first junction with the blue trail, we turned left and continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the second junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the steep side of the hill. When the switchback turned to the right we followed it as it led us up the hill and back to the original route. We turned right on the blue trail and headed toward the summit but almost immediately turned right on the white shortcut trail. We followed that trail across the hill to the blue trail coming down from the summit. We turned right to head back down the hill to the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail to once again walk along the base of Round Top. This time when we reached the second junction with the blue trail we turned left on the yellow trail and followed that downhill to the viewpoint over town. The forest floor was getting greener all the time as ferns began to pop up with some interspersed windflowers. At the lookout we turned left and followed the yellow trail back to the very first trail junction completing our first figure 8. We immediately turned around and hiked back up the steeper trail to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and began the long but gentle climb to the first junction with the blue trail. At the junction we turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the second junction with the blue trail. We turned left and followed the blue trail to the white shortcut trail. We turned left and followed the trail along the side of the hill to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left and almost immediately left again on the switchback. We followed the switchback back to the main blue trail and turned left to walk down to the lower yellow trail. We turned left on the yellow trail and again followed it to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the wide woods road that brought us back to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked back out to the trailhead. We turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill and headed across the church parking lot to the street. We crossed the street to our driveway and were home by 1:05 PM after hiking a little over 2 miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes.

On Saturday, May 15th, I had planned to get up early and do a longer hike away from home after several days of rain and track meets. I thought about hiking in Schoharie County and working on some of the Scary 19's. I was also considering going to Morgan Hill State Forest to hike a big loop there. Sharon Klein contacted me about a hike she was leading at Mud and Trout Ponds for the Mid-Hudson ADK Chapter. She invited me on the hike as I know some of the history of the area and I decided to go. We agreed to meet at the Russell Brook Trailhead parking area at 9:30 AM. Sharon also graciously said that I could bring Sheila. I was glad as I otherwise would have to declined the invitation. When I got up at 8:00 AM the temperature was already 52 degrees but I knew it might me cooler at the trailhead. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles I decided to wear my Keen Traghee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also knew that parts of the trail might be very muddy and I don't mind getting these shoes dirty. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the internal twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put a light hat and a light pair of gloves in my pack. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud and water that I knew would be present. I also remembered to make sure I had several concoctions to repel insects as I knew the mayflies were out. As I was getting ready Sheila stayed near me so that I would not "forget" her but was being a very well-behaved dog. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. She was happy to be going anywhere and crouched in the back seat with her head on the console. We left Livingston Manor at 8:50 AM under blue skies with white puffy clouds and the temperature reading 54 degrees. I got on Route 17 heading west and got off at exit 94. I turned left and drove out the Rockland Flats on Route 206. Just after the Roscoe Nursing Home I turned left on Morton Hill Road and followed it for 3 miles to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned left on Russell Brook Road and found it in good shape. I drove to the end of the drivable road to the parking area which was nearly full. There was one other hiker waiting for the group to assemble. I decided to walk down Russell Brook Road to see if I could locate the foundation of the Russell Brook School which was built for the children of the workers in the various industries that were in the Rea in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. I found the remains of the school on the left side of the road and returned to my car. Several cars pulled up. One was Sharon and the others held the rest of the for a total of seven hikers. I decided to remove my hoody as I was warm just standing in the parking lot! We spent a few moments getting ready and introducing ourselves. Before we began I told the group a little about the history of the area. I set my GPS and we started down the woods road toward Russell Brook at 9:45 AM. Sheila was extremely well-behaved and even let a few people pet her!

We crossed the bridge and I noticed that the Japanese knotweed was just beginning to show some green. I mentioned the invasive species problem and how the knotweed had to be cut back. I also told the group the story of Samuel Cable who bought 2000 acres of land in 1880 to begin a wood products factory. Cable built a narrow gauge railway to move his products from the factory to the O&W for transport. We continued our walk and stayed to the left at the register to walk the blue trail uphill to the Mud Pond Trail. In .7 miles the trail gains 375 which is only an 11% grade but Sharon was setting a good pace. The trail was dry in most places with only a little mud and some streams that crossed the trail. We topped the hill and started down the other side arriving at the Mud Pond Trail at 1.0 miles into the hike. Ahead we could see two hikers coming up from Mud Pond and continuing on the trail around Mud Pond. We continued passed the junction and started on the trail around Mud Pond. We passed by some foundations which I believe are from farms in the area. As we continued around the pond we ran into and area of mud that extended for some distance without letting up and in most places went from one side of the trail to the other. We did our best to walk through the mud or use a detour but the going was tough. At 1.4 miles the trail turned 90 degrees left and the =mud all but disappeared. The trail was drier now and easer to walk. We passed several designated campsites and at 1.85 miles came to the path down to the dam at the outlet end of Mud Pond. We decided to visit this area on our way back so we continued on the main trail. We now started a descent of .7 miles losing 435 feet at a 13% grade. The descent wasn't that hard but I knew we would have to come back up the hill! Along the way I noticed that there was a large volume of water in the outlet stream and this had produced several small cascades that I wanted to visit. I decided to take a look at the waterfalls on the way back. Toward the end of the decent there was a large amount of broken rock on the right side of the trail. It looked like tailings from a quarry but I have instigated the area and never found one. A little farther I saw a woods road on the right with built-up stonework to support it. I never remember seeing this before and put it on a list of things to investigate. The trail was now almost flat and we crossed a small creek that drains a beaver pond. When we got to the beaver pond, we found the dam to be sound but also found there was no new building going on. I took some pictures including some of a painted trillium which is hard to find. Just after the beaver pond there was a large hemlock down across the trail nut we found a way to climb over it. I had been removing branches as we hiked and noticing a lot of uncleared blowdowns. The trail needs a lot of maintenance as it is one of the least-used trails in the area. After another short but steep descent of .2 miles we were at the end of the Mud Pond Trail at what is left of Russell Brook Road. At one time the road was in good shape and passable by car. After several storms that washed away the road, the Town of Colchester decided not to repair it and the road is now more like a brook. This leaves the trailhead nearly inaccessible except as an out and back. We took a short rest here as it was noon and we had hiked 3.2 miles at this point. I told the group about the Beaver Kill Dye Works that was established just before World War I. A German Chemist named Hans Bruning bought the factory which produced most of the khaki dye for American military uniforms.

After taking a rest it was time to get started again. Some of the group was taking longer than others to get going so I decided to walk ahead to visit the cascades I had seen. On the way up the hill I met three different groups of hikers and Sheila behaved beautifully as I pulled her off the trail to let them go passed us. Just as we started up the hill, Sheila and I went off the trail to the right to visit some of the cascades. I was concerned that I did not see the others but I could hear them farther back on the trail. I took pictures of some of the waterfalls and then walked upstream to take a few more pictures. It was definitely the case that they were prettier in person that in the pictures! The group appeared on the main trail and we waived as they continued up the hill. When I was done, Sheila and I climbed the steep bank and had to hurry to catch up to the group. Just as we reached the top of the hill, we turned right on the path down o the outlet end of Mud Pond. The group decided to take another break here after hiking 4.4 miles with a long ascent. There is a nice fire ring here and another designated campsite on the other side of the dam. I took pictures of the pond from the dam from several angles. I noticed that the water leaving the pond was not going over the dam so I assume there is a culvert pipe under the dam. Sheila decided she wanted to swim so I threw a stick that she retrieved several times. Eventually, we had to leave knowing that we faced the muddy area on the way back! We worked our way back through the mud with one member of the group unfortunately taking a fall. We met two more group of hikers coming toward us through the mud. We continued on the trail and met another group of four young men headed out toward Mud Pond. At 1:45 PM we had hiked 5.25 miles and had arrived at the trail junction again. Our choice was to hike back the way we came or hike up Cherry Ridge and around Trout Pond. The group voted unanimously to turn left and take the longer route around Trout Pond. As we started out we met more hikers than I had ever seen in the area. Some hikers were solo, others were hiking as couples or family groups. The trail in this area was drier than it usually is and we made good time. At 2:20 PM we had hiked 6.4 miles and were at the highest point on our hike. It felt good to know the rest of the hike was downhill or flat. We continued as the trail turned east and headed downhill to the shores of Cable's Lake. I walked out to the shore and took some citers and then crossed the bridge. I took some more pictures from the bridge and then returned to my pack to et a bar and a drink. I noticed that there was a tent set up in the lean-to. This is discourteous and actually against the rules. I have seen ranger tell people to take down the tent and allow others to share the lean-to.

We walked the main trail down the east side of the lake to the outlet end. There were two people with a full-sized canoe at the beach. I commented that the canoe must be heavy but the owner lifted it with one hand. The canoe was entirely constructed of carbon fiber making it strong but light. I took picture of Trout Pond and noticed that the water was very high. I walked over to the dam and took some pictures of the high volume of water rushing out of the pond. I decided to walk to the area below the dam and took a few more pictures. I walked back up to the shore and joined the rest of the group. We walked back out to the main trail and started down toward the area of the falls. We passed several more groups of hikers on the trail. The camping area on the right of the trail was occupied and I noticed that there was a lot of water in the outlet stream. I had gotten ahead of the group so I waited a few minutes until they came down the trail. We continued down to the trail register where there were campers on the left of the trail. The campers had their music turned up as loud as possible making sure everyone else would hear it. I realize people come to have fun and relax but I don't think someone's fun should annoy others. We turned left on the path out to the falls. There were tow people down in the stream bed and a few others walking up the trail to the viewpoint over the falls. We walked down to the streambed where I put down my pack and got out my camera. I took pictures from the falls and some of Sheila in front of the falls. I told the group about the dams that had been created here to moderate the water flow. After a few group pictures, we walked back up the bank and then out to the main trail. We crossed the brook and walked up the trail to the parking area. It was 4:00 PM and we had hiked 8.7 miles in 6 hours and 10 minutes with an hour and a half of stopped time! This made our moving average 1.8 mph. Over the hike we gained 1620 feet of elevation. This was a sow pace for me as I seldom stop on a hike except for pictures but I really enjoyed hiking with the group.

On Tuesday, May 11th, I was ready to get some chores done around the house and then get out for a hike before going to track practice in the in afternoon. I like coaching but the afternoon practices limit my hiking options as I don't want to be late. I thought about Trout Pond and Cabot Mountain from Beech Hill Road but these involve longer drives than I wanted to make and I had been in both areas recently so I decided to once again head for the Frick Pond area. The forecast was for temperatures in the 50's but when I got up in the morning it was 38 degrees. I started to get ready at 9:45 AM when the temperature was up to 33 degrees. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a light long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Keen Traghee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the internal twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud and water that I knew would be present. As I was getting ready Sheila stayed near me so that I would not "forget" her but was being a very well-behaved dog. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. She was happy to be going anywhere and crouched in the back seat with her head on the console. We left Livingston Manor at 10:15 AM under blue skies with the temperature reading 56 degrees. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left. I continued up the road to the point where it splits and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. It was a short drive to the parking areas on the left. There were no cars in either lot so I pulled into the smaller parking area. My plan was to hike up the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond and make a decision where to go when we reached the intersection with the Big Rock Trail. I set my GPS to get ready to hike with the temperature at 50 degrees and a slight breeze blowing.

We crossed the road at 10:45 AM and got on the Flynn Trail to walk around the private property around the cabin at the end of the road. I immediately noticed a number of small and larger branches on the trail. I picked up the branches and removed them from the trail and thought how easy this would have been for other hikers to do the same. Many people seem to hike the trails without any thought about making them better. I know this is true because I was once one of those people. At the end of the trail through the woods we turned right on a woods road which is sited along what was once the Beech Mountain Road. This road was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We began the ascent on the trail following a well-worn track of the wide woods road. The day was crisp and clear with blue skies and plenty sun with some nice white clouds. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.7 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We passed through the arch Cindy and I had cut through an enormous hemlock that had fallen across the trail. We walked up the trail and I decided we would just walk as fast as we could without making any stops for pictures. The trail was almost dry with a few slick places but it was easy to set a fast pace. I notice lately that I start out with a really fast pace which makes me breathe heavily but then I seem to get used to it. I was thinking about a hike I was planning with Melissa Cascini the new New York Program Coordinator for the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. She wanted to come hike in the area I supervise for the trail conference. I decided we would hike the Flynn Trail to the old Boy Scout camp and maybe to the viewpoint over Hodge Pond. When we came to the clearing on the right, we passed by as I wanted to stay on the main trail. The clearing is interesting as no one knows exactly why it was cleared. I think the dirt was used to help build Beech Mountain Road. After this point we began to run into a few small blowdowns that would require a saw to clear. As we neared the highest point on the trail at the junction with the Big Rock Trail, I looked at the time and decided to head down the Big Rock Trail and leave Hodge Pond for another day. We reached the junction after hiking 1.7 miles uphill in 45 minutes and now would have over a mile descent.

We turned left and started down the Big Rock Trail which was also mostly dry with a few damp spots. I was deep in thought as we kept a fast pace downhill but noticed Sheila straying at times to check out a game trail led by her nose. She is very good about coming back when I call her and I seldom have to remind her with the electronic collar. The walk down to Times Square is pretty but there are several places that always fool me into think we have arrived when there is another section if trail waiting. The trip downhill went quickly and we were soon at Times Square. We continued straight across to stay on the Big Rock Trail. The trails up to this point had been almost dry but this changed at Times Square. The Logger's Loop was very wet to the right with a lot of surface water draining down to the trail junction. The Big Rock trail ahead of us had numerous pools and puddles and muddy pits. I saw how some of these could be drained but others would prove much more difficult. We came to the bridges over the streams that feed Frick Pond where there was a large volume of water flowing under them. I was tempted to stop to take some shots but continued hiking instead. When we came to the large spruce log that had fallen across the trail, I was glad that I had been able to remove it because it made hiking the trail so much easier than having to climb over it. We walked along the trail under the spruce trees before crossing the wooden walkways that were wet and slippery in places. This is another spot I wanted to show Melissa as the DEC feels the walkways are in good shape and I feel differently. We used the detour to get around the mud pit on the Big Rock Trail and at the end turned left on the Quick Lake Trail. As we walked toward the bridge over the outlet stream, the trail was covered in running water with a large pool and mud pit between the two small bridges. This was new and added another job for the trail crew I addition to the large mud pit we are already planning on remediating. When we got to the bridge over the outlet, I could not resist the ire to stop and take a few shots. The skies were blue with puffy white clouds and the green of the new leaves. After taking the pictures, I took put a bar, packed up and we continued up the hill to Gravestone Junction. We continued on the trail and back out to the car. The Quick Lake Trail back to the parking area was very wet with standing water in some places and running water in others. There were also some very muddy places. At the register we continued straight ahead on the woods road. We arrived at the car at 12:30 PM after hiking 3.9 miles in 1 hours and 40 minutes which made our moving anaerobe 2.4 mph. The elevation gain was 670 feet. The temperature at the car was 51 degrees.

On Monday, May 10th I knew I had to get out for a hike after too many days of rain, ambulance calls and family commitments. The forecast was for rain showers on and off throughout the day but around 11:30 Cindy and I decided to try to get across the street to hike on Round Top. As we began to get ready the temperature was 47 degrees and the moist air felt raw. As we got ready, Sheila seemed very happy to be going out. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a light baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are wearing out but still have a few miles in them. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. We stepped out of the house at noon. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We walked to the church parking lot and to the back of the church. As we started up the hill, we began the ascent of the steep hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Someone had been working on the "road" that climbs the hill. They side of the road had been cleared back but the pavement was the worse for wear and I hoped the plan was to pave that stretch. I let Sheila off her leash so that I could use my poles to get up the hill. Sheila immediately began to bound up the hill as Cindy and I followed. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I knew that other people were using the trails from comments on Facebook. The trails was becoming well-worn as more and more people use them.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the viewpoint. The climb up the hill was not particularly tiring. At the viewpoint, Cindy and I noticed that the brush that Bryce and I had placed in the trail was still there. This trail has a dangerous spot and we have piled brush on it to discourage people from using it. We continued to the main trail and headed to the right to follow the main yellow trail as it turned right and headed up the gentle hill through the hardwood forest. The forest was becoming much greener although I did not see any ferns rising. Sheila was making her own way by staying on the trail some times and then running off trail and chasing game trails. She was also picking up sticks and dragging them along and off the trail. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction with the blue trail. There was a slight breeze blowing which discouraged the insects but made the air feel much cooler. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. This section was in good shape without any blowdowns or need for trimming. At the next junction, we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued up and over the summit. When we started down the other side, I decided we would skip the white crossover trail and the new switchback on the blue trail and just continue down the hill. The steepest part of the hill can be tricky but the poles helped Cindy and I to keep our balance. At the bottom of the hill we turned left on the yellow trail, walked along the base of Round Top. At the trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right to walk down to the woods road. It was a snap to walk downhill and out the woods road. It was obvious Sheila felt the same way as she was running and bounding ahead of us and then running back up the trail. We walked the woods road out to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and started back up the woods road to the junction with the blue trail. I was happy that Cindy decided to come with us. I had to call Sheila back as she was following game trails and inspecting the "caves". We turned left and walked along the yellow trail following the base of the Round Top summit. At the next junction we turned right and started up the steeper side of the hill on the blue trail. This time we followed the switchback in the blue trail which was showing signs of use. We followed the switchback as it turned back toward the main trail. We turned right on the main trail and right again almost immediately on the white-blazed crossover trail. This trail was less used than the main trails and I had to look closely to find the track. On the other side of the hill we came to the main trail and turned right to hike downhill to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail and followed it along the base of Round Top once again. At the junction with the blue trail we turned to the left to stay on the yellow trail to the lookout. At the lookout we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. We walked straight out to the trailhead and turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill. We headed across the church parking lot to the street. We crossed the street to our driveway and were home by 12:55 PM after hiking a little over 2 miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes.

On Thursday, May 6th I wanted to get out on a longer hike after several days of rainy weather. I had a men's fellowship at church in Liberty at 6:15 AM so I planned to get an early start. When I got home I decided to go to Long Pond as it is about 6 miles and isn't too far from my house. The temperature was 38 degrees as I was getting ready at 9:00 AM. As I started to get ready and Sheila was there to watch my every move. I decided I would dress warmly. Sheila was sitting quietly being a good dog. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Keen Traghee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud and water that I knew would be present. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat as we left Livingston Manor at 9:15 AM with skies that were blue but with a few puffy white clouds that make for good pictures. We headed out DeBruce Road toward Long Pond for about 8 miles to Flugertown Road where I made a left. I drove up the road and parked in the lot a short distance up the road on the right where no other cars was parked. After I pulled into the lot, I started to get ready by setting my GPS. We got started on the trail by crossing the first bridge at 9:40 AM. I hoped we could set a quick pace but knew that the water and mud I expected to find would slow us down. The first .6 miles gains about 350 feet to the highest point on the hike. It isn't very steep but does act as a nice warm-up! I set off very fast and found I was soon out of breath. We did run into one large blowdown that was almost blocking the trail. This trail is in the Willowemoc Wild Forest which I supervise but on a snowmobile trail not assigned to the NYNJTC. I knew I would have to contact the local forest ranger to see if I could get it removed. Once the trail leveled it was easier walking but there were many wet and muddy spots. At 1.1 miles we were at the spur trail that leads down to the shore of Long Pond. We turned right and went down to the pond so that I could take some pictures. At the shores of the pond I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take some pictures. The path to the actual shore of the pond was flooded with water and was very muddy. I told Sheila to stay where she was and she laid down to wait for me. The skies were a flat blue but there were a few clouds to make the scene more interesting. The clouds were right across the pond and were reflected in the water. I took a few pictures of all angles of the pond. I returned to my pack where I got a bar before packing up as we returned to the main trail. We turned right and were soon at the first trail junction. We turned right at the junction at 1.3 miles and continued to find wet and muddy places on the trail. Some of these spots ran from one side of the trail to the other and were hard to avoid. We ran into a few more blowdowns but these were on designated hiking trails so I could remove them. By 10:30 AM we had walked 1.8 miles and were passing the yellow spur trail to the lean-to.

After passing the trail to the lean-to, we continued to find many wet and muddy places. There isn't much to see on this section of trail so I concentrated on avoiding the deep mud as much as possible without ruining the trail. We continued on the main trail to the point where it intersects a woods road at 2.6 miles. We turned left on the woods road and found it to be a maze of mud, standing water and running water. We followed the road until the intersection with Basily Road at 2.85 miles where we continued on Basily Road by bearing left. This section of road was also wet and muddy in most spots but it did not slow us down too much. Sheila took advantage of the water in one of the small streams to get a drink and play in the water. It did seem to get getting warmer the longer we hiked. As we approached the Peters Hunting Camp, I got ready to put Sheila on her leash. The beaver pond was as full of water as I had ever seen it. The road was flooded and the small foot bridge was covered. We had seen this before and I assumed the beavers had been at work both on the main dam and on a secondary dam further downstream. As I stepped on the bridge, I found it was floating but had no choice but to step across. Fortunately, I did not get very wet and I stopped to take a few pictures. I took pictures of the beaver pond and the flooded road. We continued on the trail and I stopped to take some more pictures of the beaver pond from the other side to get a different angle. We came to the bridge over the stream near the camp which is showing signs of wear from snowmobiles passing over it even though there is a sign that states "Private Bridge". I have secured permission to hike across this land in the past and "Stay on the trail" signs seem to indicate that the owners will allow hikers. I assume the "Private Bridge - No thru traffic" refers to motorized vehicles and not hikers. We crossed the bridge to continue the trip back to the car and started up the little hill from the hunting camp. We stopped again so that I could take a few shots of the valley which looked peacefully bucolic. Once we started walking again we kept a fast pace as the road now had less water and mud. The road is gravel until it breaks out of the forest where it is paved. There were several people camped along the road but we met only one person walking on the road. As we neared the end of the gravel road, I could not resist walking to the shore of the stream and taking some pictures. The water was high and the sunlight was sparkling off of the surface. After I finished my photography, we continued down the road toward the parking area and our car at a near record pace. We walked down the road to a bridge over a stream and saw the beavers had again been at work. We continued at an accelerated pace back to the parking area. We were back at the car at 12:10 PM having hiked 5.9 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes with only 10 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was only about 550 feet most of which was at the beginning of the hike.

On Sunday, May 2nd I did some much needed yard work around the house until about 3:45 PM. Lisa had contacted me wanting to hike after she closed her shop. I called her and we agreed to meet at the Frick Pond trailhead at 4:30 PM. The temperature was 74 degrees as I began to get ready. When I had finished hiking yesterday, the temperature was 37 degrees. This was quite a temperature swing in a 24 hour period! I put on my long-sleeved White Sierra crew top which is treated to repel insects. I decided to wear my RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I wore my Keen Traghee II boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and have been discontinued. I brought a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using since spring as I have found internal twist locks are unreliable. The external locks have not failed me yet and the cork handles really do allow a good grip. I put on my OR Bugout gaiters which are treated to repel insects. I got my gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 4:20 PM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. When we arrived at the parking areas at 4:35 PM Lisa was parked in the smaller lot. There were one car parked in the larger lot and a woman and her yellow lab were returning from a hike The dog was not on a leash so he came to visit us and ignored his owner's calls. She got in her car and pulled out of the parking area with her dog running after the car. Lisa and I knew that the dog was the smarter of the two! The skies were sunny with a few clouds and a 15 mph wind blowing. The temperature right at 74 degrees but the breeze made it feel cool. I set my GPS unit and we started out the woods road to the register.

Our purpose was to walk around Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail, Big Rock Trail and Logger's Loop to evaluate the trail conditions for workday on May23rd with the Willowemoc Trail crew. There is a maintainer assigned to the trail so we would be working on drainage. Some of the trails can be wet and muddy and we like to try to keep them so that novice hikers can walk them without waterproof hiking boots. As we walked out the woods road to Frick Pond, we found a lot of water on the trail, and we talked about how we might encourage it to drain. We also discussed how many people might be needed for each task and the tools we would require. At Gravestone Junction, we stayed to the left on the Quick Lake Trail to go to the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. We stopped at the bridge so that I could take pictures as I always do. I snapped a few shots and then we continued around the west side of the pond. We came to a very wet and muddy spot and stopped a minute to analyze how we would try to alleviate the problem. We decided to drain as much water as we could and install some stepping stones. We continued on the trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We turned right on the Big Rock Trail and found another muddy area but this one had a well-established reroute. We continued over the wooden walkways which are deteriorating. Neither Lisa nor I remember when these walkways were last repaired. We stopped at the bridges over the inlet streams and I took a few more pictures. We continued on the trail around the north end of the pond where there were a few wet areas. When we arrived at Times Square, we were surprised to find that it was one of the drier spots. We turned right on the Logger's Loop and continued our walk as the trail started uphill. Along the trail there were a few wet spots and we discussed how we might fix them. We walked to Gravestone Junction and turned left on the Quick Lake Trail. We walked back out to the parking area. It was 5:40 PM and we had hiked the 2.0 miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes with an elevation gain for 150 feet. Before we left to go home we discussed the size of the group we would assigned to each task. We also talked about the tools we would require from the NYNJTC.

On Saturday, May 1st I had planned to meet a friend, Sharon, for a one-way hike from Campbell Mountain Road to the parking area on Russell Brook Road. Sharon needed this for her All Trails Challenge and it had been some time since I was on this route. Sharon was brining along a friend of hers, Jill, who wanted to get out for a hike a her dog. I wondered how Sheila would handle new people and a dog but I knew we could make it work. We agreed to meet at the Russell Brook trailhead at 9:30 AM. Our plan was to ride in one car to Campbell Mountain Road and hike back to the Russell Brook trailhead. When I got up at 8:00 AM, it was 33 degrees and the wind was still blowing. I decided I would dress warmly. Sheila was sitting quietly being a good dog. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was warm but I expected I might get wet. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants but didn't bother with a baselayer. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I didn't expect to find any snow but these boots are getting pretty worn so I thought I would have to replace them before next winter. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud and water that I knew would be present. Just as I was about to step out the door, the ambulance pager sounded for a call in Roscoe. I debated what to do for a moment and, fortunately, Roscoe got a crew. I got my gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 9:10 AM. I got off at exit 94, turned left and drove out the Rockland Flats on Route 206. Just after the Roscoe Nursing Home I turned left on Morton Hill Road and followed it for 3 miles to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned left on Russell Brook Road and found it in good shape. I drove to the parking area where there were already four cars parked. It was 9:30 AM and it wasn't long before Sharon and Jill arrived in separate cars. Sharon had not brought her dog which I knew would make things easier. We decided to get in Sharon's car and drive to Campbell Mountain Road. As we left the parking area, a few snowflakes were falling. Further up Morton Hill Road, we began to notice there was a layer of white covering the forest floor. We turned right on Campbell Brook Road and drove past Jug Tavern Road. Sharon pulled over at the parking spot on Campbell Brook Road. I too some pictures of the snow covering the ground and then set my GPS to began our hike at 9:55 AM with the temperature at 37 degrees.

The first .3 miles of the trail dropped downhill heading southwest. The trail was wet and muddy and we expected this to continue for much of the hike. At .3 miles the trail began to climb and turned west. At .75 miles the trail headed south and then southeast. This trails follows old woods roads for almost its entire length and has been eroded by water in may places. On the climb I took the time to open some zippers as the exertion was warming me up quickly. At 1.4 miles we reached the top of the hill and began a descent which I found welcome. At 1.5 miles the trail headed south toward Campbell Brook Road. The last few hundred feet of the trail was very wet with water running down the middle. At the road we turned left and walked a short distance to the point where the trail entered the woods and passed through a gate. Once again we descended for about .3 miles and came to a bridge over a stream. The stream was flowing freely and there were a few small rapids. I walked off the trail to the stream and took out my camera. I took pictures of the stream and the bridge and some of the rapids. I kept my camera in hand and walked up to the bridge where I took some pictures upstream of the bridge. I put the camera away and we started up the trail. Looking to the left, we saw a nice waterfall and we decided to walk over to see it. When I arrived at the stream, I got out my camera and took a number of shots. I have been to this waterfall before but it emphasized how much the direction of travel on trails matters. Coming from the opposite direction the waterfalls is much less noticeable. We returned to the main trail which is an old woods road which was been highly eroded so that it has high sides. Walking on this trail almost has the feel of walking in a canal! The trail turned west in a switchback up the mountain until at 2.9 miles it headed south. At 3 miles we came to the top of the hill and past by the snowmobile trail on the left. There was less snow at the top of this hill as we began the descent to Trout Pond. The forest was very green and we saw many wildflowers and flowering trees. In many places the forest for was covered in what we used to call "princess pine". We came to a tree with an unusual formation near its base and I took a picture. I thought it looked like a particular body part but that is probably in the eye of the beholder! We continued down the hill until I could see the water of Trout Pond and the lower lean-to.

We walked over to the lean-to to take a break and found it was filled with camping supplies. Nobody was "home" so we took a break without disturbing anything. I took my camera over to the inlet end of the lake and took some pictures. The sky was blue with a few puffy white clouds which made the pictures more interesting. I returned to the lean-to and got out a bar to eat as we walked. Several groups of people and couples passed by the lean-to and we met several other groups as we headed down the trail to true outlet end of the lake. A majority of these groups had dogs but they were all leashed and well-behaved. At the outlet end of the lake, we walked off the trail to the right to the "beach". The water was high and looked cold but Sheila decided to wade and then swim. I took some pictures but there were no clouds and the sky looked very flat. I took some pictures of the area around the dam which showed some beaver activity. I threw a stick for Sheila to retrieve and she did it a couple of times. We packed up and returned to the main trail. The descent went quickly even though the trail was wet and muddy in spots. We met a few more hikers and noticed that the campsite to the right of the trail near the stream was occupied. When we reached the trail register, we turned left on the path to the waterfalls. Neither Sharon or Jill had been to the streambed below the falls and were pleasantly surprised. I took out my camera and took some shots even though I have hundreds from this location. I had been giving Sharon and Jill a history of the area including the wood alcohol and dye factories and the dams at the falls. We walked up the bank from the streambed and met a few more people. I turned right and headed uphill and upstream to show my hiking companions the upper falls. I took some pictures of the upper falls from a different angle while more people came up the path. We walked back down the path to the main trail and crossed the bridge to walk up to the parking area. The lot was almost filled with cars with a few spaces open. We were back at the cars at 1:40 PM after hiking 5.6 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes with 45 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 1040 feet but the elevation loss was 1430 feet! Jill's car was at the lot so Sharon and I said "Goodbye" as we got into my car for the ride to Sharon's car. I drove up to the intersection of Russell Brook Road and Morton Hill Road and noticed that at least half a dozen cars were illegal parked on private property at the clearing on the corner. The land is clearly posted but people insist on parking illegally. I know the owner is not pleased. This is an increasing problem in the Catskills where people do what pleases them without a thought for others. I dropped Sharon at her car and she followed me back into Roscoe. I usually hike only with Sheila but this hike showed me what I am missing hiking with others.

On Wednesday, April 28th I knew I had to get out for a hike despite the fact that we had our first track meet in the afternoon. My grandson Bryce was at the house and had some school work to complete so we waited until 11:30 AM to start to get ready to work. We decided that we would go across the street and hike on Round Top. As we got ready, Sheila seemed very happy to be going out. The temperature was in the high 60's so I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a no baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are wearing out but still have a few miles in them. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. We stepped out of the house at noon. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We walked to the church parking lot and to the back of the church. As we started up the hill, We began the ascent of the steep hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I let Sheila off her leash so that I could use my poles to get up the hill. Sheila immediately began to bound up the hill as Bryce and I followed. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I knew that other people were using the trails from comments on Facebook. The trails was becoming well-worn as more and more people use them.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the viewpoint. The climb up the hill was not particularly tiring. At the viewpoint, Bryce and I noticed that someone had "helped" clear the trail to the left to the lookout. This trail has a dangerous spot and we ha piled brush on it to discourage people from using it. Bryce and I replaced the brush. We returned to the main trail and headed to the right to follow the main yellow trail as it turned right and headed up the gentle hill through the hardwood forest. The forest was becoming much greener although I did not see any ferns rising. Sheila was making her own way by staying on the trail some times and then running off trail and chasing game trails. She was also picking up sticks and dragging them along and off the trail. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction with the blue trail. There was a slight breeze blowing which dissipated some of the heat. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. This section was in good shape without any blowdowns or need for trimming. At the next junction, we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued up and over the summit. When we started down the other side, I decided we would skip the white crossover trail and the new switchback on the blue trail and just continue down the hill. The steepest part of the hill can be tricky but the poles helped me to keep my balance and Bryce and Sheila had no problems. At the bottom of the hill we turned left on the yellow trail, walked along the base of Round Top. At the trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right to walk down to the woods road. It was a snap to walk downhill and out the woods road. It was obvious Sheila felt the same way as she was running and bounding ahead of us and then running back up the trail. We walked the woods road out to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and walked back up the woods road to the junction with the blue trail. I had to call Sheila back as she was following game trails and inspecting the "caves". We turned left and walked along the yellow trail following the base of the Round Top summit. At the next junction we turned right and started up the steeper side of the hill on the blue trail. This time we followed the switchback in the blue trail which was showing signs of use. We followed the switchback as it turned back toward the main trail. We turned right on the main trail and right again almost immediately on the white-blazed crossover trail. This trail was less used than the main trails and I had to look closely to find the track. On the other side of the hill we came to the main trail and turned right to hike downhill to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail and followed it along the base of Round Top once again. At the junction with the blue trail we turned to the left to stay on the yellow trail to the lookout. At the lookout we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. We walked straight out to the trailhead and turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill. We headed across the church parking lot to the street. We crossed the street to our driveway and were home by 1:15 PM after hiking a little over 2 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes.

On Tuesday, April 27th I had taken off several days from hiking. I was up at 8:00 AM but had some tasks to accomplish before I could hike. I finally started to get ready at 10:00 AM when the temperature was 52 degrees with a slight breeze blowing. I decided to take Sheila and cross the street to hike on Round Top. I thought we might do a couple of figure 8's using the newer switchback and crossover trails. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed. I put on a cotton longsleeved T-shirt with no baselayer as I knew I would warm up on the hike. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are wearing out but still have a few miles in them. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which I knew might be unnecessary but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. At 10:30 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead where I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail was completely dry and showed that people had been using it.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right an started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. We walked up the road to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail, toward the summit. On the way up we passed by the switchback and the white crossover trail. We passed over the summit and continued on the blue trail down the other side of the hill. We passed the white crossover trail and then turned right on the yellow trail. We again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill passed the "Resting Rock" to the lookout. At the viewpoint, we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill to the very first trail junction. Sheila continued straight ahead but I called her back as we turned around to start back up the hill to the viewpoint. At the top of the hill we followed the yellow trail as it turned right and started uphill. At the first junction with the blue trail we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up the blue trail toward the summit. We turned left on the white crossover trail and continued to the main blue trail on the other side. We turned left and almost immediately left again on the switchback trail. We followed the switchback to the main blue trail. We continued down the steepest section of the blue trail to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and walked down the yellow trail to the woods road that took us back to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead at the top of the cemetery hill. We walked down the hill and out to the road through the church parking lot. We walked over to the driveway and back to the house. It was 11:15 AM and we had hiked just over 2 miles in an hour and 15 minutes.

On Saturday, April 24th I had planned to go to Schoharie County to work on the Scary 19 list. This plan was derailed by a request for the ambulance corps to participate in a send-off for the Roscoe/Livingston Manor football team. The team was headed to Pawling to compete in the Section IX 8-man football championship. I got back to the house at 10:15 AN and really wasn't feeling like a hike. I knew I would feel better if I went out and the anticipation in Sheila's look sealed the deal. I started to get ready with the temperature at 56 degrees. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top and decided that the temperature would probably go up so I would not wear a light baselayer. I decided to put on my Columbia Titanium insulated pants but knew I did not need a baselayer. I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are wearing out but still have a few miles in them. I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to keep the ticks off my legs. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I grabbed a light hat and gloves to put in my pack. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat as we left Livingston Manor at 10:50 AM. I had decided we would go to Big Pond and hike to Cabot Mt and then return by way of Little Pond. The trailhead is relatively close to home and the hike has some easy spots but some challenging ones also. This would also allow me to evaluate this trail that I maintain for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference for work I would have to do in the future. I drove up the Beaverkill Road with Sheila in the back seat more than ready to hike anywhere. We arrived at Big Pond at 11:05 AM to find the parking almost lot full of cars. I found a space at the end of the lot and pulled in. I looked in the lot by the pond and found a spot that must have been recently vacated and immediately pulled into it. I set my GPS and we crossed the road at 11:10 AM to get on the red Touch-Me-Not Trail to hike over the hill toward Cabot Mt. The trail starts with a nice little ascent to get the heart pumping and then levels off some.

I was surprised to find the trails only damp with a few muddy spots. Immediately we came to a large tree blocking the trail almost completely. I dragged some loose branches away to make passing the blowdown a little easier. Although the tree was large it consisted of two trunks and I thought I would be able to remove it with hand tools. We walked around one end of the tree and continued on the trail. I started flicking branches aside with my poles and dragging larger ones off. We encountered another tree that had broken off 5 or 6 feet up the main trunk and then had fallen across the trail. This one was easy to walk underneath and close inspection showed it would be hard to cut. The trail remained almost dry and I continued to remove branches. Farther along, we began the real ascent up the mountain. In this area there was a very muddy spot where a small stream comes down the mountain and a spring originates near the edge of the trail. I started to clear some branches in the area and heard some voice to the right of the trail as Sheila alerted. I saw at least two people and after a moment I concluded they were harvesting ramps. I hoped if that was the case that they were doing it for personal use only. This area is also where the nettles begin but it was too early and it was nice walking the trail without them. The briars were also missing! As we started to climb I noticed I was breathing heavily but easily. Over the first mile we gained 790 feet to the shoulder of Touch-Me-Not Mountain where the trail starts a descent. I had come across some more blowdowns on the way up but most could be handled with hand tools or just by rolling them if the trail. As we started to descend we ran across a blowdown that had been there for some time. The DEC had cleared some of it but left a large trunk hanging over the trail. We continued to the junction with blue Campground Trail where Sheila alerted and we saw a hiker coming toward us on the Touch-Me-Not Trail. I stopped and stepped off the trail with Sheila. The hiker and I exchanged greetings and information about the trails. Sheila and I kept to the right on the Touch-Me-Not Trail and continued our descent. Along the way we descended through some slots between rocks and I decided not to stop as I had taken pictures there recently. There were some blowdowns along the trail and one large one that blocks the trail on a descent. Hikers have created a detour around this blowdown and it may have to stay like that as it is too large to cut easily with hand tools. At 1.6 miles, we reached the junction with the Little Pond Trail. The sign said "Beaverkill Vista .5 miles" but I knew it was more like .65 miles and that the climb was challenging. I wasn't too enthusiastic about the climb an felt a Little tired but knew I needed the challenge. I was starting to get very warm and thought about taking off the Mammut jacket but decided instead to open it up as much as possible. I also got a drink and reminded myself that I needed to start carrying two water bottles or switching over to a reservoir.

We continued straight ahead on the red trail to climb up Cabot Mountain. Sheila was all over the place looking for chipmunks, squirrels and, most of all, birds! The hike to the base of Cabot was littered with old blowdowns which had not been eliminated and I knew I would need to bring a crew to do the work. We walked about a quarter mile to the base of Cabot Mountain. This was another spot where nettles are thick when they are in season but in this day the trail was wide open. As we began the climb, I looked up to see a very large tree down across the trail. The tree looked like it was high enough to walk under but it had taken down other trees and branches to help block the trail. The vertical gain on the climb up Cabot is less than 500 feet but the horizontal distance is only .4 miles. The average grade is 25% with some areas over 30%. I climbed up the slopes with loose dirt, rocks and slippery leaves with the help of some trees I could grab and pull myself up. After the first climb, the trail leveled a little but I could see the next climb ahead. It had been a while since I had climbed something this steep but I knew it was short. Just when I thought my legs might give out, we reached the top of the steepest climbs where the trail levels off a little. We continued on the trail to the next short climb that leads to the plateau and the Vista. We climbed the last few feet and started walking along the flat trail to the lookout. As we approached, we could see that the Vista was empty and there was a good view. At the lookout, I took off my pack and got out my camera. I walked out to the lookout and was happy that not much had grown up where the viewpoint had been cut out. The view down to Little pond was clear and unobstructed and I could see the trees that had been cut below. I took some shots of Sheila on the lookout and then some of the view down to the pond. The best pictures from this viewpoint were probably those of the white, puffy clouds in the sky. After taking some more shots, I got a drink and gave Sheila one since there had been no water sources along the way. I ate a bar before I picked up my pack and reversed the course back down the mountain. We continued to the steeper part of the descent where I paused again to take some pictures of the massive rocks on the side of the trail. I posed Sheila several times to take a few pictures before we continued our descent. When we got to the trail junction, I thought about making it a true out and back. Since I didn't want to miss some of the views on the Little Pond Trail, we turned right on the yellow Little Pond Trail. After a short distance, we came to a large, flat rock that we had been to before with the whole family.

We continued on to an open field that was once part of a farm. We stopped again so that I could take some pictures of the surrounding hills and valleys from the vista supplied by the field. We continued on the trail and stopped for a few pictures at the foundation of what was once the farmhouse. As we continued our hike I looked to the right at the small pond but decided it was not very interesting. The outlet of the pond was completely dry and the rest of the trail had little or no mud. There was still a very large blowdown across the woods road and we followed the detour other hikers had used to the right of the tree. I began to wonder who was responsible for clearing this trail and why they were not doing it. At 3.5 miles we turned left off the woods road to follow the trail down toward Little Pond. This trail is usually muddy with streams of running water but on this day it too was dry. Just before the final trail section to the pond, we stopped at a large beaver pond and dam on the left side of the trail. I took a few pictures and then we walked down to the loop trail around the pond. We walked around the west side of the pond stopping once at a boat launch so that I could take pictures of Touch-Me-Not Mountain on the other side of the pond. I was surprised that Sheila decided to take a dip in the water. I took some more pictures of her in the water. We continued around the pond and followed the trail as it headed left off the road to cross the bridge at the outlet dam. I took a few pictures of the pond, Cabot Mountain and the campground buildings. There was no one in sight anywhere and all was peaceful. I came to the realization that I was taking pictures at the mountain and the viewpoint we had just left! We walked out the campground roads to the entrance and so no one. From the entrance, we started down the access road to get back to the car At Big Pond. When we were in the shade and a breeze was blowing, the temperature seemed much cooler. The upper gate was closed but, apparently, the lower gate was open as several cars drove up the road, turned around and drove back out. The walk to Barkaboom Road is about .9 miles and when we reached the road we turned left to walk another .6 miles back to the car. Sheila had been off her leash but at this point I put her on her leash. The walk from the entrance to the campgrounds seemed to go quickly and we were back ay the car by 3:00 PM after hiking 6.1 miles in 3 hours and 50 minutes. The elevation gain was 1585 feet and our moving average was 2 mph. There was now only one car in the parking area. I put Sheila in the car and walked to the shore of Big Pond to take a few pictures.

On Friday, April 23rd, I had so much to do that I had not planned to hike. In the late morning, I decided I needed to get out and decided to head to Frick Pond to hike some shorter route. I started to get ready at 10:15 AM when the temperature was 48 degrees. As I started gathering my equipment and getting dressed, Sheila was very quiet but did not let me out of her sight. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a light long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants but didn't bother with a baselayer. I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are wearing out but still have a few miles in them. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put a light hat and a light pair of gloves in my pack. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud and water that I knew would be present and to discourage the ticks. I got my gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 10:45 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. When we arrived at the parking areas, there were no cars parked in either lot. I pulled into the larger lot and parked. The skies were sunny with a few clouds and a 15 mph wind blowing. The temperature right at 52 degrees which was warmer than I thought it might be. I set my GPS unit and we started out the Quick Lake Trail to the register. At the register we turned left on the woods road which is the Quick Lake Trail. From the register the trail was only damp with very little standing or running water and some mud. There was a slight coating of snow along the trail and in the shady areas of the woods. Since this is a woods road, I was able to avoid most of the water and mud by picking my steps carefully.

At Gravestone Junction, we stayed left on the Quick Lake trail heading toward the bridge at the outlet to Frick Pond. This area of the trail had more mud that had been churned up by recent use. When we arrived at the bridge, I noticed some movement and splashing on the pond. I put down my pack and got out the camera. I was able to zoom in on the area and saw two ducks diving on the pond. The wind gusts were buffeting the camera but I was able to get some shots. I snapped some shots of the rest of the pond and Flynn's Point on Beech Mountain. We continued around the west side of the pond where the wettest area had enlarged. I made mental note to bring a shovel and pick mattocks to deepen and widen the ditch that drains this pool but I was not sure that would solve the problem. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we headed left on the Quick Lake Trail which was almost dry. I had been removing smaller branches but there were a few larger ones in this area that I managed to drag off the trail. We walked through the spruce tunnel and came to the small stream across the trail. The last time I had hiked I had cleared some leaves and branches that were holding back the water. The water level in the stream was now low enough to use the stepping stones to cross. I took a few pictures and then moved on. We continued on up the Quick Lake Trail toward Iron Wheel Junction. This part of the trail is usually wet and muddy but this day was an exception which made the hiking much easier.

When we got to the junction, I took some pictures of the iron wheels with Sheila posing by them. I also took a quick shot of the sign before turning right on the Logger's Loop. As we started out, the trail seemed to have almost no water and I was hopeful this would continue. We were lucky and the trail remained very dry for the entire length. Even the outlet stream from Hodge Pond was dry! This was completely different than the last time I had hiked. We came to the large cherry tree that had broken off high up and fallen so that it was arching across the trail. This tree was not blocking the trail and it was clear it was not coming down soon. We came to the area where there had been a large tree that had fallen across the trail. I knew the snowmobile club would not be clearing this one soon so I had brought my son-in-law Brad on a previous hike to clear it. We came to the seasonal pond on the left side of the trail and I walked over to it to see how full it was. The pond was beginning to dry out and no wildlife was present. I took a few shots despite the condition of the pond. We continued downhill to Times Square which was also almost dry. I thought about turning left and climbing the Big Rock Trail to add mileage but a check of my watch indicated that was a bad idea. We walked straight across Times Square to stay on the Logger's Loop and started uphill. Just before the beginning of the uphill was another streambed which we crossed and it was also dry. Although the trail is slightly uphill Sheila and I were setting a fast pace. We continued walking on the trail and crested the hill to walk out to Gravestone Junction. We turned left at the Gravestone Junction and headed back to the car on the woods road. We immediately saw two hikers ahead of us also going toward the parking area. I put Sheila on her leash and we eventually passed them at the register. We talked for a few minutes and I suggested that they visit Mongaup Falls. I gave them directions and they seemed grateful. Sheila and I turned right at the register to walk the Quick Lake Trail back to the car. It was 12:45 PM and we had spent 1 hour and 40 minutes hiking 3.8 miles with an elevation gain was a modest 410 feet. The temperature had risen to 56 degrees.

On Wednesday, April 21st I wanted to go for a hike with my grandson Bryce. Bryce and I started to get ready to hike at 10:00 AM when the temperature was hovering around 50 degrees. I had decided we would go to the Frick Pond area and do some maintenance on the Flynn Trail. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a light baselayer. I decided to put on my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but knew I did not need a baselayer. I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are wearing out but still have a few miles in them. I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to keep the ticks off my legs. I decided not to take my Leki poles as we would be carrying trail maintenance equipment. I grabbed a light hat and gloves to put in my pack. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. I brought along my Silky Sugowaza saw, Silky Katanaboy 500 saw, Fiskars pack ax, and two felling wedges. I put my gear in the back of the car and Bryce and Sheila in the back seat as we left Livingston Mnaor at 10:25 AM. I headed out the DeBruce Road to Mongaup Pond Road where I turned left and headed up toward Mongaup Pond. Where the road split, I stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road where the road forks. When we arrived at the parking area, there were no cars in either lot. I parked in the smaller parking area and got ready to hike. I set my GPS unit at the trailhead and we crossed the road to start the hike at 10:40 AM. The skies were beginning to become overcast indicating the forecast storm was approaching. The first part of the trail through the woods was damp but there was no mud, snow or ice. We kept up a fast pace to the end of the trail through the woods. We turned right on the woods road which was once the extension of the Beech Mountain Road and started up the Flynn Trail. We began picking up loose branches that had fallen on the trail and continued to do so for most of the hike. The trail was damp in places with some mud but otherwise dry making the walking easy. Sheila was roaming around running up and down the trail. Just before we came to the "hemlock tunnel", we came to a small blowdown on the trail. I took some quick before pictures and then we got to work. The trunk was low to the ground so I used the axe to cut the blowdown. The cut went quickly and Bryce and I were able to easily remove it from the trail. After some after pictures, we moved on. Passing through the "tunnel" Cindy and I had cut in a large hemlock tree that had fallen across the trail.

Not long after this there was another, larger blowdown which was the main object of the work I wanted to complete. I put down my pack and got out my camera. I took several before pictures including one of Bryce and Sheila near the blowdown. Bryce and I cleared any loose branches that were around and then considered how to best eliminate the large and bushy blowdown. I decided we would use the saw to remove branches and drag then away until the job was done. Bryce asked if he could use the saw so I showed him how. He really enjoyed it and was quite good at making the cuts. We alternated using the saw and dragging away the branches until almost nothing was left. Bryce was able to cut through the last large trunk and we helped each other drag it off the trail. I took the after pictures including one of Bryce and Sheila posing next to the last remains of the large tree. I put the camera away and we picked up our tools. It had taken about 40 minutes to clear the trail. By this time the wind had picked up and the skies were darker. I decided to continue up the trail and turn around at the top of the hill where there is a clearing on the right side of the trail. As we approached that goal, we found one more large trunk across the trail. I took my pictures and then we got busy clearing the trail. We cut down a small sapling on the right that was hanging into the trail. On the left, we cut a few more branches and saplings and then removed a dead trunk that had fallen and broken into pieces. The remaining trunk was dead but water-logged and close to the ground. I decided to use the axe. It wasn't easy but I soon cut through it. Bruce and I were able to stand it up and flip it off the trail. I took some pictures and then we packed up and walked to the top of the hill. We immediately turned around and started back down the hill as quickly as we could go. The wind was blowing and a few times raindrops fell. When we came to the gate we turned left and followed the Flynn Trail through the woods back to the car. We had hiked 2.2 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes but 1 hour and 40 minutes was time we had stopped to remove blowdowns. I drove back to Livingstin Manor as the rain began to fall. Shortly after our return the temperature had dropped to 36 degrees and snow began to fall.

On Monday, April 19th I wanted to get in another slightly longer hike close to home and decided to return to the Frick and Hodge Pond area. The temperature at 9:00 AM was 60 degrees on the back porch but I suspected it would cooler at the trailhead. At 9:50 AM I began to get ready and the temperature was still about 60 degrees. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top and decided that despite the temperature I would wear a light baselayer. I decided to put on my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but knew I did not need a baselayer. I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are wearing out but still have a few miles in them. I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to keep the ticks off my legs. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I grabbed a light hat and gloves to put in my pack. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat as we left Livingston Mnaor at 10:10 AM. I headed out the DeBruce Road to Mongaup Pond Road where I turned left and headed up toward Mongaup Pond. Where the road split, I stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road where the road forks. When we arrived at the parking area, there was one car in the smaller lot. I parked in the smaller parking area at 10:30 AM and got ready to hike. I decided to hike up the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond and then do a loop around the pond before returning. I set my GPS unit at the trailhead and we crossed the road to start the hike at !0:35 AM. The skies were blue with a few white clouds in one direction and darker and overcast in another. The first part of the trail through the woods was damp but there was no mud, snow or ice. I kept up a fast pace and was a little winded when we got to the end of the trail. We turned right on the woods road which was once the extension of the Beech Mountain Road and started the 1.7 mile climb up the Flynn Trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I began picking up loose branches that had fallen on the trail and continued to do so for most of the hike. The trail was damp in places with some mud but otherwise dry making the walking easy. Sheila was roaming around running up and down the trail. There was a small blowdown on the trail but it was too large to remove without tools. We passed through the "tunnel" Cindy, and I had cut in a large hemlock tree that had fallen across the trail. Not long after this there was another, larger blowdown which I knew I would have to return with tools to clear. At 1.1 miles we passed by the path to the clearing on the right of the trail. We continued on the Flynn Trail toward the junction with the Big Rock trail passing several smaller blowdowns that I would include on my next maintenance trip. We arrived at the junction at 11:15 AM taking only about 40 minutes to hike 1.7 miles.

We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail passing through the gate that marks the beginning of the OSI property. A little further on, at the junction with the jeep trail, we turned left to walk the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. At 2.4 miles we broke into the clearing at the southern end of Hodge Pond. We continued straight ahead to walk across the clearing to the shores of Hodge Pond. I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take pictures of the pond. The skies were completely overcast and the scene was bleak. Sheila decided not to walk out into the cold water or to take a swim so we packed up to leave. I decided to walk around the pond to the right and follow the jeep trail around the back of the pond to the junction with the Flynn Trail. We walked to the right of the pond and along the east side of the pond on the jeep trail. I was setting a pace that surprised even myself as we continued around the pond on the jeep trail. I had thought I might walk down to the shore of the pond to take some more pictures but looked up to find we were at the junction with the Flynn Trail. We turned left and began the walk back to Hodge Pond along the Flynn Trail. The trail was muddy in spots but there was a lot less mud than I had expected. We came to a clearing as we exited the woods which was once the site of the mess hall for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We continued on the trail back to the clearing at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. To follow the Flynn Trail, we turned right and walked up the hill. The walk up the hill can sometimes seem long and tiring but on this day it went quickly. We followed the Flynn Trail back through the woods to the junction with the Big Rock Trail and continued straight ahead. The rest of the walk was mostly down hill. We walked down the trail and across the flats and soon reached the gate that marks the end of state land. We stayed to the left to continue on the Flynn Trail and to avoid the private property around the cabin. We were back at the car at 12:45 PM after hiking 5.7 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes with only 5 minutes of stopped time. Our overall speed was 2.6 mph and our elevation gain was 860 feet.

On Saturday, April 17th I knew I would be busy most of the day covering a soccer game and football game at the local high school for my local volunteer ambulance corps. This is by 35th year as a volunteer EMT and we take pride in helping the community. We transported a soccer player to the ER for a painful chick to the lower leg and ended up covering another call during the football game. We returned to base tired at about 4:00 PM. As I was completing my documentation, the ambulance pager sounded for a hiker with a fractured ankle on Balsam Lake Mountain. Our ambulance corps covers the Beaverkill side of the mountain but the initial information implied the hiker was on the Millbrook side of the mountain. The hikers did not have cell service so one hiker left the injured hiker on the mountain, hike to the trailhead and drove to the Zen monastery where they were able to call 911 on a landline. The hiker then left and went back to the trailhead. Unfortunately, that hiker did not stay at the trailhead but went back to the injured hiker. We left our base and started up the Beaverkill road knowing that it was a 40 minute drive to the trailhead. As we were driving additional information convinced me that the hiker was on the Beaverkill side of the mountain on the red Balsam Lake Trail not very far up from the blue Dry Brook Ridge Trail. The Beaverkill Valley Fire Department was assembling at the trailhead and we met up with them there. They had already sent two members up the trail to assess the trail conditions and to find the exact location of the hiker. We put all our gear that we would need to treat the patient and stabilize his ankle in a UTV and started up the trail behind another ATV with fire-fighters and chainsaws. I was skeptical about the possibility of getting up the trail with the UTV but the driver did a great job and we made good progress until we ran into several large blowdowns. We decided to start to walk to try to access our patient as soon as possible as we though he had probably been sitting injured on the trail for around 2 hours. We reached the trail junction and turned left up the mountain and immediately contacted one of the fire-fighters who informed us the hiker was only a short distance up the trail and that his LEG was injured. This caused me some concern since I did not have the equipment necessary to splint a leg. We reached the patient and I quickly interviewed him finding him in pain but in rather good spirits. The two hikers had ascended the steep trail on the Beaverkill side and visited the fire tower. They had gone back the way they had come. The injured hiker had slipped on a wet rock just short of the trail junction. I removed a makeshift split and found that his lower leg was injured and would require splinting. The fire-fighters cut two tree branches which we used to splint his leg as I had brought what was needed to splint an ankle. As we were preparing to move the hiker it began to snow and rain. Fortunately, the snow and rain did not last very long. We placed the hiker in a Stokes basket and the fire-fighters carried him down the mountain to the trail junction. Carrying the Stokes basket out by hand would have taken more manpower than we had so we decided to use the UTV. I was again skeptical whether or not we could provide the hiker with a "smooth" ride but the UTV driver did an excellent job of driving along the rough woods road back to the trailhead. We loaded the hiker in the ambulance and stared the 1 hour trip to the hospital. We briefly stopped along the way to pick up a paramedic who could administer pain medication. We transported the hiker to the hospital, accepted his gratitude, and returned to our base.

I learned several lessons from this incident. Bad things can happen on hikes and anybody who says something like this would never happen to them is foolish. Most of the mountains and locations we hike are not right in town and most are covered by volunteer ambulance crops and fire departments. Not all locations have cell service so you may have to make hard decisions like leaving somebody behind to go to get help. It is very important that you know where the injured party is located and can communicate it clearly to the dispatcher. It is very important that you stay on the line with the dispatcher and answer as many questions as you can about the injury. The ambulance corps and the fire department worked very closely together to provide the best possible outcome. You often cannot transport all the equipment you will need so you sometimes have to improvise (tree branch splints) to get the job done. Clearing a woods road so that hikers can use it may not be sufficient if a rescue attempt must be made. Each situation is different but some trails need to be cleared with more than hiking in mind. Placing water bars using vertically placed rocks blocks the passage of emergency vehicles and slows rescue attempts.

On Wednesday, April 14th I had planned to hike somewhere with Lisa. We decided that I would pick her up at her house at 11:00 AM to go to Huggins Lake. I had not hiked there for almost a year and it is a short but pretty hike. I began to get ready at 10:30 AM when the temperature was below 60 degrees. As soon as I started to get ready, Sheila began to run around and bark anticipating getting out of the house. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer since it was warm already. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles but I decided to add a pair of OR Bugout gaiters. I have not seen as many ticks as in the past but I know they are out there. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I made sure I had a pair of Protalus insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I took a light hat and gloves but knew I would probably not need them. At the last minute I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as another ticket prevention measure. I got my gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat. We left Livingston Manor just before 11:00 AM and drove north on Old Route 17. I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and drove up Johnson Mountain to Lisa's House. As we approached Sheila, began to whine as she really like hiking with Lisa. Lisa was ready and hopped in the car to Sheila's delight. I drove down the Beaverkill Road and turned left on Campsite Road. At the bottom of the hill I turned right and drove down to the campgrounds. I drove across the covered bridge and at the end of the road I turned right and followed Berry Brook Road to the trailhead. We arrived at the road to the parking area to find it very rough with some new erosion. I easily made it to the small lot parking at 11:20 AM. There were no other vehicles in the parking area which was what I had expected. We got our equipment ready and I set my GPS as we started out at with the temperature at 62 degrees under increasingly cloudy skies.

The first 1.2 miles is all uphill and gains almost 700 feet. Sheila was running up and down the trail following game paths into the woods and then back out. Lisa and I were taking it slow as we had no reason to hurry. We both noted that the ascent has several spots which appear to be the top of the climb but are not. After the initial climb, the trail descends, levels some and then climbs again until the final descent to Huggins Lake. The trail was surprisingly dry with very little mud. There were a few blowdowns and Lisa and I kept removing small beaches from the trail. As we continued, the trail made a sharp turn from southeast to north at about 1.6 miles. We enjoyed the downhill trek to the shores of the pond but I knew we would soon have to turn around and climb back up the hill. When we arrived at the lake, I noticed that the water level was high. I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take pictures of the lake. Buds on the leaves were just starting to come out and most were red giving the landscape an interesting hue. The sky was now very cloudy and a slight breeze had started up. I took some pictures of the lake and then walked along the dam on the narrow path to take a few more shots. I could see a primitive campsite with a fire ring in the field southeast of the dam. At the outlet I could immediately see that the beavers had dammed the water flow but few of the sticks looked new. I took a few more pictures of the lake before returning to my pack and stowing the camera. Sheila had already taken several dips in the water and was now dashing back and for across the dam. At some point I got the idea that we should bushwhack around the lake and up the steep hill through the ledges to the trail. Lisa agreed and we started off around the pond counterclockwise. The last time I had tried this I ran into wet ground and thick brush. As we started around the pond, we found relatively dry ground and less brush with what seemed to be a path. The beavers had cut down much of the brush and small trees near the shore which made the walking easier.

As we walked along the shore we came to an old beaver lodge and a designated campsite. I was surprised at the campsite as it was very primitive with two small fire rings and little flat ground. I took some pictures of the lake, the lodge and the campsite before moving on. At 2.3 miles we reached the northern end of the lake where we found the only stream that enters the lake. We continued around the lake heading counterclockwise and to the southwest. At 2.4 miles we found a fire ring with a pile of wood and some benches. I stopped to take some pictures of the campsite and the lake with heavy cloud cover. We found another old and smaller beaver lodge. I suggested we head up the hill as I knew if we continued the grade would become much steeper. Lisa wants to continued along the shore so we stayed low. We saw some waterfowl on the lake and came to a spring. The spring was obviously manmade with a wooden box outlining it. I took some shots of it and a few across the lake to the dam. At 2.6 miles we began to work our way up the hill toward the trail. I had been correct about the steepness of the grade! I followed Sheila as she worked her way up the hill. I cut back once or wince and had to really use my poles to dig in. Several times I grabbed trees and in other spots got on my hands and knees. The route was only .12 miles but gained 200 feet averaging between 30% and 35%!At thee top of the hill the ground leveled and within no more than 40 feet we were on the trail. We turned right and to walk downhill toward the trailhead. We picked up some garbage along the way and were soon back at the car. It was 2:00 PM and we had hiked 4.0 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes with a total elevation gain of 955 feet. We had spent 40 minutes stopped with most of that time being at Huggins Lake. The bushwhack around the lake was definitely worth the effort.

On Monday, April 12th I had taken off two days from hiking due to some family commitments. When I woke up, I realized I had promised to take the ambulance for service so I got dressed and went to the ambulance building and drove the rig to the local service station. When I returned home, I decided that if I was going to hike it should be immediately as rain was forecast for later in the morning. The temperature was in the high 40's but felt cooler due to the moisture in the air and the slight breeze blowing. I decided to take Sheila and cross the street to hike on Round Top. I thought we might do a couple of figure 8's without using the newer switchback and crossover trails. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed. I put on a cotton longsleeved T-shirt with no baselayer as I knew I would warm up on the hike. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without a baselayer. I wore my Vasque Taku boots since they were dry and light enough for hiking. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. At 10:15 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead where I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail was completely bare as all the snow had disappeared. There were a few spots of mud but the rest of the trail was dry.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right an started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. We walked up the road to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned right and headed up the blue trail, toward the summit. On the way up we passed by the switchback and the white crossover trail. We passed over the summit and continued on the blue trail down the other side of the hill. We passed the white crossover trail and then turned right on the yellow trail. We again followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill passed the "Resting Rock" to the lookout. At the viewpoint, we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill to the very first trail junction. Sheila continued straight ahead but I called her back as we turned around to start back up the hill to the viewpoint. At the top of the hill we followed the yellow trail as it turned right and started uphill. At the first junction with the blue trail we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and headed up the blue trail toward the summit. We again bypassed the crossover trail and continued over the summit on the blue trail. We followed the blue trail down the steepest section of the blue trail to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and walked down the yellow trail to the woods road that took us back to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead at the top of the cemetery hill. We walked down the hill and out to the road through the church parking lot. We walked over to the driveway and back to the house. It was 11:15 AM and we had hiked just over 2 miles in an hour.

On Friday, April 9th, I wanted to get out for a hike which was a little harder than I had been doing. I considered Balsam Lake Mountain but Cindy wanted to go with me and preferred something a little less challenging. I also had to be back to time a soccer game in the afternoon. We decided to hike to the Red Hill Fire Tower from the Denning Road trailhead. The trailhead on Dinch-Coons Road is difficult to access in the winter as the road is not cleared and it is equally different when it is muddy. Many people park at the top of the hill where there is limited parking. It is a half mile downhill to the trailhead parking lot. The return trip can be nearly impossible if there is ice, packed snow or mud on the road. The new trailhead and parking area is on Denning Road a little less than 2 miles from the Claryville Post Office. The trail is now officially open and the parking lot has a sign and a kiosk. When I awoke, the temperature was in the high 40's but the sun was finally out causing the temperature to rise. At 9:30 AM we began to get ready with Sheila keeping a close watch on my movements. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was warm but I thought it might be cooler at the trailhead. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants but didn't bother with a baselayer. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I didn't expect to find any snow but thought there might be some mud. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I packed a light hat and a pair of light gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud and water that I though would be present. I made sure my Microspikes were in my pack just in case they were needed. I got our gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 10:00 AM to head out the DeBruce Road. At the end of the road I turned right on Route 47 and drove out to the Denning Road. Here I turned left and drove through Claryville. Two miles after the Claryville Post Office, I came to the new parking area on the right side of the road and pulled into the lot. There was now a sign hanging from the support on the side of the road and the kiosk had a description and maps. There were no other cars parked. I set my GPS unit and we walked to the back of the parking area and started up the trail at 10:30 AM with the temperature standing at 54 degrees.

As we began the walk up the trail, it was obvious that the trail was pretty dry without any snow or ice. I wasn't sure this would continue to the summit. We almost immediately came to a set of stone steps. They were well constructed and in just the right place to help out hikers. I also noticed that a woods road ran off to the right and thought about walking up it some other time. We continued on the trail which was new but looked as if it had been in place and used for several years. The treadway was wide and flat with few obstacles. There were several switchbacks and it was obvious that one requirement of the construction was a moderate grade. The forest at these lower elevations was primarily evergreen which is unusual in the Catskills. At .4 miles the trail turned sharply to the left in one of its many switchback and we entered an area of hardwoods. There was a small stream that ran across the trail and the construction crew had create a deep ditch along the side of the trail. The ditch directed the water across the trail and at that point there was a stone construction to allow the water to cross the trail and hikers to easily cross the water. This was repeated several other times on the trail. Shortly, we ran into the one wet spot on the trail but it was easily avoided. At .7 miles I could see a series of ledges ahead and stone steps that wound between them. I stopped to take some pictures but knew that this would be repeated several more times over the next quarter mile. Each time I stopped to take pictures and each time Sheila posed nicely for some shots. We had encountered two very small patches of ice but nothing requiring us to break out the spokes. At 1.3 miles we came to a trail junction with the trail that comes in from the Dinch-Coons Road trailhead. There were new signs and one sign indicated the Dinch Road trailhead was .8 miles to the left and the fire tower was .6 miles to the right. We stopped for a few minutes to get a drink and for me to remove a layer. As we were getting ready to continue, a pair of hikers came toward us from the direction of the tower. They said they had parked at the Dinch Road trailhead and that the road was rough but not too muddy.

After walking about quarter mile, there was a spur trail to a spring on the right side of the trail and then a short switchback. The grade increased from a consistent 10% to a steeper 20% and I could feel it. Fortunately, there was still no snow or ice and very little mud. There was plenty of sun in the sky which made me feel good but was also contributing to some dehydration. The last .3 miles averages a little over a 20% grade and is challenging but did not seem too bad. At noon we arrived at the tower clearing which we had to ourselves. I asked Cindy if she wanted to climb the tower and she said she was not. I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take some pictures of the tower. I decided not to tether Sheila to a picnic table knowing she would follow me up the tower. Unlike some dogs, Sheila has no problem climbing up and down the open steps. I started to climb the tower with Sheila right behind me. Without looking, I could tell when I was above the treeline as the breeze hit me. I eventually made it to the landing below the cab. I began to take pictures of the surrounding scenery in all directions. There was no haze in any direction and the views were good in all directions. When there is no haze or fog, the views of the Catskill peaks from this tower are spectacular. I also took some shots of the Ashokan Reservoir and the cabin at the summit. I descended the tower and took a few pictures of Sheila on the steps. I also took a shot straight up through the tower. I got a drink and ate a bar as did Cindy. We started the hike back down the mountain at 12:15 PM. It had taken us 1.5 hours to hike to the summit and I hoped we would make the trip back go faster. We moved quickly down the steeper section of the trail to the junction. We made the left turn onto the new trail and continued to keep a fast pace. The excellent trail surface and lack of snow allowed us to keep moving. Soon we were descending the last few steps to the parking area. It was 1:10 PM and we had hiked 3.7 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes with 35 minutes of stopped time. The return trip only took us 55 minutes. Our elevation gain was 1200 feet.

On Wednesday, April 7th I had planned to get out and do a longer hike with Balsam Lake Mountain in mind. When I got up late, I knew I had some things to do before cross country practice in the afternoon so I scaled back my hike to Round Top which is just across the street. I started to get ready at 10:45 AM when the temperature was 50 degrees. My grandson Bryce was at our house and was ready to go with us. Sheila seemed very happy that we would be going out since we had skipped two days! I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew without a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have a Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided I did not need either gloves or a hat. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with ticks which I knew might be present. I decided not to bring my Kahtoola Microspikes as I was pretty sure all of the snow and ice was gone. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. We stepped out of the house at 11:00 AM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We walked up the road to the church and then through the parking lot to the back of the church. As we started up the hill behind the church, I let Sheila pull me about half way up and then let her off her leash so that I could use my poles the rest of the way. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town and I could only see no snow anywhere on the hills. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We followed the trail and Bryce and I started picking up branches. It was very obvious that many people had been using the trail. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction. At the junction, we turned left and followed the track to the next trail junction. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. When we came to the steepest section of the trail, we continued straight ahead bypassing the switchback. A little farther up we also passed by the white crossover trail and contused to the summit on the blue trail. We passed over the summit and started down the other wide again avoiding the white crossover trail on the way down. At the bottom of the hill, we turned right on the yellow trail and walked along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill to the lookout. We turned left and stopped at the section of trail that used to lead out to the lower viewpoint. I had removed the marking from this trail to discouraged people from using it due to a large cleft that runs almost all the way across the trail. Someone had removed some branches and brush I had sued to block the trail. Bryce and I took the time to put all the brush and branches back on the trail. We continued on the yellow trail back to the very first trail junction. We immediately turned around and headed back up the steep section of trail to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right at the lookout and headed uphill toward the junction with the blue trail. At the junction, we turned right and walked along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. At the junction, we turned left and started up the trail to the summit. This time we turned left on the white crossover trail and followed it to the blue trail on the other side. We turned left on the blue trail and almost immediately left again to take the switchback downhill. At the end of the switchback we turned left on the blue trail and walked down to the junction with the yellow trail. When we got to the bottom of the blue trail, we turned left on the yellow trail and walked to the next junction. We turned right and walked down the yellow trail to the woods road and out to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead. The sun was out but the breeze had picked up. We made quick work of the downhill walking behind the church and across the field to our driveway. We were back at the house at 12:15 PM having walked a little over 2 miles in a little more than an hour.

On Saturday, April 3rd, I was ready to get in a longer hike and planned to go to Schoharie County to work on the Scary 19. My son-in-law Brad was visiting with his family and I knew he would be willing to go. As so often happens, Brad and I had an ambulance call in Liberty in the middle of the night so we slept in. Brad took his family to out church for an Easter egg hunt and a puppet show and was back around noon. We decided to stay local and hike and get some work done by clearing a tree that had fallen across the Loggers Loop at Frick Pond in the last wind storm. We started to get ready at 12:15 PM when the temperature was in the high 40's on the back porch. I suspected it would be cooler at the trailhead. As I started gathering my equipment and getting dressed, Sheila was very quiet but did not let me out of her sight. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was warm in town but might be cooler at the trailhead. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants but didn't bother with a baselayer. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I didn't expect to find any snow but these boots are getting pretty worn so I thought I would have to replace them before next winter. I decided against poles as I would be carrying trail maintenance tools. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud and water that I knew would be present. I made sure my Microspikes were in my pack just in case they were needed. I brought along my Silky Sugowaza saw, Silky Katanaboy 500 saw, Fiskars pack ax, Council Tools felling axe and two felling wedges. This represents only a part of the trail maintenance tools that I own! We got our gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 12:35 PM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. When we arrived at the parking areas, there were two cars parked in each lot. I pulled into the smaller lot and parked. The skies were completely bright and blue but there were no clouds.

Before we could get started two people came up the woods road and walked to their car. Two more people came up the woods road with their dogs on leashes. They cut through the woods apparently oblivious to the fact that the Quick Lake Trail would have taken them there from the register. I set my GPS unit and we started out the woods road to the Quick Lake Trail at the register. From the register on the trail was wet with standing water and some mud with some running water across the trail. Since this is a woods road, we were able to avoid most of the water and mud by picking my steps carefully. At one point I looked off to the left of the trail and saw there was still a good covering of snow in the shade of the evergreens. At Gravestone Junction, we turned right to get on the yellow Logger's Loop heading toward Times Square. The trail was wet and muddy but not quite as bad as it had been a few days before. Soon we were hiking downhill toward Times Square. We crossed a stream that parallel's the Big Rock Trail and had a good volume of water. The source of the water is a mystery although I assume it must be from seasonal springs and runoff. At Times Square we continued straight ahead on the Logger's Loop which was wet but not as bad as I have seen it in the past. Just after Times Square there was a large tree that the snowmobile club had cut into sections and moved off the trail. We started a slight uphill climb on the trail but the hiking was relatively easy. The trail flattened and we came to the small, seasonal pond on the right side of the trail. The pond was very full and part of it that was in the shade was covered with ice. We passed by and continued our walk avoiding the water and the mud.

I pointed out to Brad several large plastic culverts along the way. The DEC has started a project to replace the metal culverts and to install culverts were they were needed but did not exist. That project began at least two years ago but was not completed and the black culverts stand out like a sore thumb. At 1:40 PM we had hiked 1.6 miles and came to the blowdown we needed to clear. Unlike many trees that fall across the trail that have numerous smaller branches, this one was all trunk! The wood was maple and there were two distinct trunks with one that was forked. We laid out our tools and I leashed Sheila to a tree so she would not get in our way. I took my before pictures with the camera including some with Sheila and then we got to work. I grabbed the Sugowaza to work on the few smaller branches while Brad out The council Tools ax to work on the lower part of the largest trunk. When I was finished, Brad was still working so I used the Fiskars ax to cut through the upper part of the other trunk. I finished my cut with the Sugowaza and then moved what I had cut off the trail. Brad was still working on his cut and I helped him finish it up. Our problem was that the piece Brad had cut was large and hard to move. Brad found a sturdy branch to use as a lever and we rolled and slid the trunk off the trail. I started in with the Fiskars ax at the base of the other large trunk while Brad used the Sugowaza to cut up a smaller trunk that was underneath the others. When Brad finished, he used the Council Tools, ax to spell me on the cut I was making. Together the work went much faster and we finished the final cut with the Katanaboy. Brad used his lever again and we moved this large trunk off the trail. I started to cut the final small trunk and found it softer than the others. Brad finished it up and we moved it off the trail. I took my final pictures including a couple with Sheila and then checked my watch. It had taken us almost and hour and a half to finish the work. We clean up our tools and decided to complete the loop rather than walk back the way we came.

The rest of the Loggers Loop to Iron Wheel Junction had several deep ponds that ran from one side of the trail to the other. We picked our way through them and it wasn't long before we were walking downhill and the climbing a small hill to Iron Wheel Junction. There was very little snow and the wheels were clearly visible. We turned left to head back toward Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail. The trail is slightly downhill which allowed us to keep up a good pace even though we had to work our way around the water and the mud. When we came to the small stream in the woods, we found the water level slightly lower than it had been several days ago. I pointed out to Brad the places I had cleared downstream to let the water flow more freely. We walked upstream and found a place to cross. We walked back to the main trail and found that there was a covering of snow in the shade. I took some pictures before we started back on the trail. Walking through the "spruce tunnel" was easier than some of the rest of the hike as there was little water and mud. Eventually we walked out the other side where the trail was again wet and muddy. We arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail and turned right to stay on the Quick Lake trail and head toward the bridge at Frick Pond. The trail was wet and there was one mud pit that I have been trying to drain. We continued on the Quick Lake Trail to the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. We crossed the bridge and stopped at the other side. I dropped my pack to get out the camera despite the fact that I have taken hundreds of pictures from this location. The skies were blue with no clouds but the scene was a little "warmer" than the temperature. I also took shots of the pond and of Beech Mountain. I took a few more pictures of the outlet stream which was sparking in the sunlight. I packed up and we continued up the hill and back to Gravestone Junction. This section of trail was also wet and muddy. At Gravestone Junction we continued out the Quick Lake Trail and back to the car. We arrived at the car at 3:50 PM having hiked 3.7 miles in 2 hours and 55 minutes with an elevation gain of 380 feet. Our time stopped was 1 hour and 20 minutes most of which was time spent working to clear the blowdown.

On Wednesday, March 31st, I was ready to get in a longer hike and planned to go to Schoharie County to work on the Scary 19. After consulting the weather forecast I changed my mind. The forecast in that area called for rain and then snow. I did not feel like driving and hour and a half to hike in those conditions so I decided to stay local and hike. I had some chores to do around the house so I was not able to start to get ready until 9:45 AM. The rain was forecast to start around 1:00 PM so I hurried to get ready and go after deciding I would go to the Frick and Hodge Pond area. As I started to get ready, the temperature was 52 degrees but I suspected it would be cooler at the trailhead. As I started gathering my equipment and getting dressed, Sheila was very quiet but did not let me out of her sight. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was warm but I expected I might get wet. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants but didn't bother with a baselayer. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I didn't expect to find any snow but these boots are getting pretty worn so I thought I would have to replace them before next winter. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud and water that I knew would be present. I made sure my Microspikes were in my pack just in case they were needed. I got my gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 10:15 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. When we arrived at the parking areas, there were no cars parked in either lot. I pulled into the smaller lot and parked. The skies were completely overcast and a heavy mist was in the air and starting to fall. The temperature right at 50 degrees which was warmer than I thought it might be.

I set my GPS unit and we started out the woods road to the Quick Lake Trail at the register. From the register on the trail was wet with standing water and some mud with some running water across the trail. Since this is a woods road, I was able to avoid most of the water and mud by picking my steps carefully. At Gravestone Junction, we stayed left on the Quick Lake trail heading toward the bridge at the outlet to Frick Pond. This area of the trail had more mud that had been churned up by recent use. When we arrived at the bridge, I almost passed up taking some pictures but decided to stop as I always do and snap some shots. Beech Mountain was hidden behind a cloud and the mist was even heavier now. There was some snow remaining at the far end of the bridge so I took a picture of Sheila with the snow in the background.We continued around the west side of the pond where the wettest area had enlarged. I made mental note to bring a shovel and mattocks to deepen and widen the ditch that drains this pool. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we headed left on the Quick Lake Trail which was also very wet. Again, the trail was wide enough for me to avoid most of the water and mud. I had been removing smaller branches but there were a few larger ones in this area that I managed to drag off the trail. We walked through the spruce tunnel and came to the small stream across the trail. I walked upstream to cross as the stream was too wide for me to get across at the trail. I took a few pictures and then decided to see if I could clean out the stream a little. I used my hiking poles to clean out some leaves and then grabbed some branches and dragged them out of the stream. When I was done, I opened up some of the zippers on my hoody and put the cover on my pack as the mist had turned into a light rain. We continued on up the Quick Lake Trail toward Iron Wheel Junction. This part of the trail is always wet and muddy and this day was no exception. There were several large branches that I was able to remove from the trail without tools.

When we got to the junction, I took some pictures of the iron wheels and the sign before turning right on the Logger's Loop. As we started out, the trail seemed to have less water and I was hopeful this would continue. Unfortunately, this trail had more water than the other and in some places it spanned the entire width of the trail. I was able to work around the deep pools and even stopped to take some pictures of the impressive amount of water. The outlet stream from Hodge Pond was higher than I had ever seen it and I would have bushwhacked up it but the rain was getting more serious. We came to the large cherry tree that had broken off high up and fallen so that it was arching across the trail. This tree was not blocking the trail and it was clear it was not coming down soon. We came to a larger tree that had fallen across the trail. I knew the snowmobile club would not be clearing this one soon and began to make plans to get rid of it. We came to the seasonal pond on the left side of the trail and I walked over to it to see how full it was. The pond was as full as I have ever seen it so I took a few shots. I was a little disappointed there were no wildfowl on the pond. We continued downhill to Times Square which was not as wet as it has been in the past. We walked straight across Times Square to stay on the Logger's Loop and started uphill. Just before the beginning of the uphill was another stream which we crossed. I began to think about the origins of that stream and could not imagine where that much water came from. Although the trail is slightly uphill Sheila and I were setting a fast pace. We continued walking on the trail and crested the hill to walk out to Gravestone Junction. We turned left at the Gravestone Junction and headed back to the car on the woods road. About halfway to the register, I could see four hikers approaching us with two dogs on leashes. I pull off the trail with Sheila and waited until the other hikers passed. They complimented Sheila on her good behavior and I thanked them. At the trail register, we continued straight ahead on the woods road to return to our car. It was 12"30 PM and we had spent 1 hour and 50 minutes hiking 3.7 miles with an elevation gain was a modest 385 feet. The temperature had risen to 54 degrees.

On Tuesday, March 30th I had planned to get out and do a longer hike with Balsam Lake Mountain in mind. When I got up late, I knew I had some things to do at the ambulance building so I scaled back my hike to Round Top which is just across the street. I started to get ready at 11:45 AM when the temperature was 46 degrees. Sheila seemed very happy that we would be going out since we had skipped two days! I put on a long-sleeved cotton shirt as I knew we would not be out for very long. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have a Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with ticks which I knew might be present. I knew I would not need snowshoes but I also decided not to bring my Kahtoola Microspikes as I was pretty sure all of the snow and ice was gone. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. We stepped out of the house at 11:45 AM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We walked up the road to the church and then through the parking lot to the back of the church. As we started up the hill behind the church, I let Sheila pull me about half way up and then let her off her leash so that I could use my poles the rest of the way. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town and I could only see a few spots of snow. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead and almost immediately ran into a family group with a dog on a leash. I pulled Sheila off the trail and waited until they passed by.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. I followed the trail picking up branches as I went. It was very obvious that many people had been using the trail. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction. At the junction, we turned left and followed the track to the next trail junction. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. When we came to the steepest section of the trail, we continued straight ahead bypassing the switchback. A little farther up we also passed by the white crossover trail and contused to the summit on the blue trail. We passed over the summit and started down the other wide again avoiding the white crossover trail on the way down. At the bottom of the hill, we turned right on the yellow trail and walked along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill to the lookout. We turned left and continued on the yellow trail back to the very first trail junction. We immediately turned around and headed back up the steep section of trail to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right at the lookout and headed uphill toward the junction with the blue trail. At the junction, we turned right and walked along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. At the junction, we turned left and started up the trail to the summit. This time we turned left on the white` crossover trail and followed it to the blue trail on the other side. We turned left on the blue trail and almost immediately left again to take the switchback downhill. At the end of the switchback we turned left on the blue trail and walked down to the junction with the yellow trail. When we got to the bottom of the blue trail, we turned left on the yellow trail and walked to the next junction. We turned right and walked down the yellow trail to the woods road and out to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead. The sun was out but the wind had picked up. We made quick work of the downhill walking behind the church and across the field to our driveway. We were back at the house at 12:55 PM having walked a little over 2 miles in a little more than an hour.

On Saturday, March 27th, I wanted to return to Schoharie County to work on a few of the Scary 19 high points. This list was created by Jason Pelton who lives in Schoharie County and chose 19 high points in state forests. When I looked at the weather forecast, it showed that Schoharie County would have highs of near 50 degrees so I knew that most of the snow would be gone as the temperatures had also been high during the week. Cindy had said she would go along so I planned to try to get to NE Fulton Hill in Mallet Pond State Forest and Petersburg Mountain in Petersburg State Forest. These are the high points that are farthest away and I hope I could get to them both in one day. When Cindy awoke at 8:30 AM she told me that she was not feeling well and was not going. I started to get ready at 9:00 AM with the temperature still in the low 40's and overcast skies. Sheila was hanging around being a good dog but it was clear she was happy we were going outside. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without a baselayer underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light Mountain Hardwear hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters which some almost to my knee to keep my lower legs warm and to deal with the mud I was sure we would find. I decided to take snowshoes and spikes as I did not know the snow conditions in the area. I knew the increasing temperatures would make any remaining snow soft. I decided to take our Tubbs Flex VRT which have the Boa binding. This system uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet wheel which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents and take some strain off the calf muscles. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I brought my Kahtoola microspikes which I hoped would be enough.I got my gear and Sheila in the car and headed north on State Route 17 at 9:35 AM. I got off at exit 94 for Roscoe and headed north in Route 206 toward Downsville. Just passed the traffic light in Downsville, I turned right on Telford Hollow Road and followed it over the mountain to Route 10. I turned right and headed north on Route 10 passing through Delhi, Bloomville, South Kortright, Hobart, Stamford and Jefferson.

When I reached Summit, I turned right on Sawyer Hollow Road and a short distance later left on Rossman Fly Road. After 1.7 miles, I came to the beginning of the state forest and the end of any road maintenance. Last week the road was covered in snow and was impassable. The road still had some packed snow and ice but I decided to try driving on it. I made it through the first part without a problem and continued for .4 miles to Rossman Valley Road. Beyond this point Rossman Fly Road looked questionable so turned right on Rossman Valley Road and parked on the shoulder at 11:20 AM. The temperature was 43 degrees under overcast skies and there was no snow in sight. I decided to use bare boots until and if I needed spikes. I set my GPS and we started our hike by walking back up the road to Rossman Fly Road. When we came to the intersection, we turned right and walked down a steep hill on Rossman Fly Road toward Mallet Pond State Forest. The gravel road was soft but I was pretty sure I could have driven it with my car. At the bottom of the hill, we started to walk back uphill. The sides of the road had been lined with POSTED signs but now we began to see state forest markings. I wasn't quite sure how I was going to access NE Fulton Hill and was especially concerned about crossing any streams which I assumed would be high. At .6 miles we turned right onto a road that seemed to head down to Mallet Pond but after looking at the map I had, I decided this was not the best route. I had hoped to find the Rossman Cemetery that was marked on the map but I did not see it. We walked back to Rossman Fly Road and turned right. We walked downhill to .8 miles where another road led downhill to two smaller ponds. There was a gate that was closed after a short distance but it looked as if snowmobiles and ATVs simply bypassed it. I looked at the map and this appeared to be the best access so we walked the very muddy trail down to the first pond. The skies were overcast but the pond was still interesting and the trail was sited across the dam. I stopped to take a few pictures including some of the beaver lodge on the far shore. I put the camera away and shouldered my pack as we continued to walk along the dam until I could see that the earthen dam did not go all the way across. There was a beaver dam that was allowing water through and was about 20 feet long. It was too wet for me to walk cross! I looked back from where we had come and saw that the water collected into a deeper stream before emptying into another, larger one. We walked back and I was easily able to jump across the stream, walk the shore around to the other end of the dam and pick up the snowmobile trail.

The level of water in the pond was almost as high as the shore and the water was overflowing the in some places. The trails continued to be very muddy and Sheila and I took to the forest in some spots. At 1.4 miles we came to an even smaller pond where I again stopped to take pictures. We could hear a cacophony of sound coming from a swampy area on the other side of the pond and I knew the "peepers" were out. We continued on the snowmobile trail and found a long stretch of it covered in packed snow and ice. I made my way to the end of this section and then stopped to take pictures of the trail with the ice. I then turned around and took pictures of the completely clear trail in the other direction. We walked slightly uphill through a pine plantation to 1.65 miles where the trail turned south. I had decided to continue east to work my way up to the ridge and the follow the ridge to the high point on NE Fulton Hill. The initial walk through the woods found me pushing through some brush and small pines following Sheila who always seems to pick a good route. As we gained the ridge the forest opened up a little and there were more hardwoods. We crossed several woods roads on the way up but none were going in our direction. At 1.85 miles we turned 90 degrees and started heading due south staying on the highest part of the ridge. We immediately began to run into a series of beautiful stone walls. I took pictures including some with Sheila posed on top. Each time I promised my self I would not get out the camera for the next one and each time I did! I tried to follow the highest part of the ridge without dipping down and eventually we came upon a woods road which seemed to head directly for the highest point. This gave out just short of the last small ascent so we continued south and I made sure we crossed the point given as the highest. I had intended to go back the way we had come or to follow the woods road we had found. Just ahead of us I saw another stone walls which I decided to investigate. It was the largest and most extensive one yet so more pictures ensued. When I was done with my photography, we turned west and started to work are way down what looked to be very steep ground on the map.

In reality there were a few modest ledges but it would have been easy to ascend in this direction. It was only about .2 miles and we were again on the snowmobile trail. I took a few pictures and then we turned right heading north. The walk along the trail was easy until I stepped in one spot which almost swallowed my right foot in mud! After this I was more careful and at 2.9 miles we were back at the point we had left the snowmobile trail to ascend to the ridge. We followed our route back to Rossman Fly Road at 3.7 miles. We turned left to head west back to the car. I had every intention of hiking back to the car and heading over to Petersburg Mountain but as we neared the place that was marked as a cemetery on the map I decided to have another look. We turned left on the road we had turned on before and I scanned the woods. Almost immediately I saw a gravestone in the forest on the right side of the trail. We walked in that direction and saw a stone wall was surrounding perhaps 8 markers. I like the history contained in these places but am always a little sad that they are often in such disrepair as this one was. There was brush growing all over and a large tree had partially fallen into the cemetery. The gravestones were from the mid 19th century to the early 20th century and despite their age most were legible. I took some pictures and stopped to read the inscriptions and contemplate their meaning. When I was done, we walked back out to the road and turned left to head west back to the car. We set a fast pace even as we walked up the final steep hill. We were back at the car at 1:45 PM after hiking 4.5 miles in 2 hours and 25 minutes with 25 minutes of stopped time and 740 elevation gain. I thought about hiking in the area again some time by starting on Sawyer Hollow Road (Route 20) and hiking out and back. I knew I had enough time to at least investigate Petersburg Mountain. I drove out to Route 20 on Rossman Valley Road which was paved after a short distance. This is a better way to access the area that Rossman Fly Road. I turned left on Route 20 and headed east. I drove 3.8 miles to West Hilton where I turned right on West Futon Road. I started to drive north and had second thoughts. I knew I probably would not hike to Petersburg Mountain this day and it was a waste of time just to drive there and turn around. I reversed direction and drove out to Route 30 to head home.

On Tuesday, March 23rd, I was ready to get out for my first hike of the spring before going to my first cross country meet of the season in the in afternoon. I like coaching but it limits my hiking options as I don't want to be late. Lisa had called me the night before and we agreed to meet at Frick Pond at 10:00 AM just to get out as she also had commitments. I though this was appropriate for a first of the season hike as I go there so often. My grandson Bryce would also be coming along and I expected him to arrive around 9:00 AM. As I started to get ready at 9:15 AM the temperature was up to 45 degrees. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer as I like to be warm. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without a baselayer underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light Mountain Hardwear hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I decided against gaiters as it was warming up and I did not expect much snow. I decided not to take snowshoes but carried my microspikes as always. I did not have a pair for Bryce so I hoped he would not need them and that his poles would be sufficient. As I was getting ready Sheila stayed near me so that I would not "forget" her but was being a very well-behaved dog. Bryce had not appeared by 9:30 AM so I thought I might have to leave without him. Minutes later he showed up ready to go! I put our gear in the car and Sheila and Bryce in the back seat. Sheila was happy to be going anywhere and crouched in the back seat with her head on the console. We left Livingston Manor at 9:45 AM under blue skies with the temperature reading 48 degrees. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left. I continued up the road to the point where it splits and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. It was a short drive to the parking areas on the left. There were no cars in either lot when we arrived at 10:00 AM which was stage since Lisa is usually early. I pulled into the smaller parking area and only had to wait a few minutes before Lisa drove in and parked. Our plan was to hike up the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond and then down the Big Rock Trail to Times Square. From here we would hike the Big Rock Trail back toward Frick Pond. I checked out the snow on the Flynn Trail and found much more than I had expected but it seemed to be supporting my weight. I put on my microspikes and set my GPS to get ready to hike. The dog from the cabin came to visit and I could hear a woman calling him. He listened to her about as well as he listens to the man that often calls him. Neither owner seems to have heard of a leash or, for that matter, of dog training.

We crossed the road at 10:10 AM, went up and over the snow bank and got on the Flynn Trail to walk around the private property around the cabin at the end of the road. I immediately noticed that there was a well defined icy crest surrounded by bare ground. This continued for most of the trail until just before we turned right onto the woods roads Here we initially encountered snow and then completely bare spots where there was plenty of sunlight. Not very far along the trail was covered in snow and this continued for most of the rest of the hike. The snow was firm where there had been a snowshoes track but I broke through several times when I moved branches off the trail and stepped off the track. We picked many small branches and moved a few larger ones off the trail. In a few place some large branches and small trunks needed tools and I knew I would return later. The woods road which was used for the Flynn Trail was once the Beech Mountain Road. This road was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. The day was warm and sunny with blue skies but very few clouds. We passed through the arch Cindy and I had cut through an enormous hemlock that had fallen across the trail. We stopped a couple of times so that I could take some pictures of the snow-covered trail which was a big contrast to our Sunday hike on the Shavertown Trails where there was no snow. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.75 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. When we came to the clearing on the right, we passed by as I wanted to stay on the main trail. Sheila was with us on the trail most of the time but several times I called her back to me as she had followed her nose off trail. As we neared the highest point on the trail at the junction with the Big Rock Trail, I looked at the time and decided to head down the Big Rock Trail and leave Hodge Pond for another day. We reached the junction after hiking 1.7 miles uphill and now would have over a mile descent.

We turned left and started down the Big Rock Trail which was well-packed by snowmobiles. It was a little warmer now and the very top layer of snow on the trail was soft. Bryce had done well thither any traction on his feet and now used that to his advantage. He would take few quick steps and then "ski" down the trail. He did this pretty consistently keeping is balance quite well. The trail still had several inches of snow but it had been some time since snowmobiles or other hikers, for that matter, had used it. We set a faster pace as we descended the trail passing through the various twists and turns that often make it seem like the bottom of the hill is close. The trail was well packed by the snowmobiles and was even easier to hike than when there was no snow as it was very smooth. The trip downhill went quickly and we were soon at Times Square. We continued straight across to stay on the Big Rock Trail. There was still some snow on the trail but it was thinner and there were more places which were bare. There were some places where water was flowing across the trail in small streams. We came to the bridges over the streams that feed Frick Pond where there the water was flowing freely and most of the ice was gone. We stopped so that I could take a few pictures before continuing on. When we came to the large spruce log that had fallen across the trail, Bryce remarked about the act that it had been completely removed. I realized that the last time he had been in this route we worked to remove parts of the trunk but he had not seen it completely cleared. I was glad that I had been able to remove it because it made hiking the trail so much easier than having to climb over it. We walked along the trail under the spruce trees before crossing the wooden walkways that were laden with snow. At the end of the Big Rock Trail, we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and walked to the bridge over the outlet stream. I took some pictures of the beaver dam, the pond and Flynn's Point on Beech Mountain as I often do. The snow that had drifted to almost cover the dam and the outlet stream had disappeared and there was no ice on the pond. After taking the pictures, I packed up and we continued up the hill to Gravestone Junction. We continued on the trail and back out to the car. The Quick Lake Trail back to the parking area was almost completely frozen over with a combination of packed snow and ice. The small streams that normally cross the trail were now flowing freely. At the register we continued straight ahead on the woods road. We arrived at the car at 12"30 PM after hiking 4.0 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes. The elevation gain was 670 feet. The temperature at the car was 52 degrees.

Winter 2020 - 2021

On Sunday, March 21st I decided I wanted to hike closer to home after driving3 and half hours round trip to Schoharie County the day before. I asked Cindy if she would like to hike the trails in the Shavertown Parcel after church and she agreed. The Catskill Mountain Club created the trails in this area and added an additional trail in the fall with a lookout over the Tremperskill Valley. The weather forecast was for a bright and sunny day with high temperatures over 50 degrees. When we returned from church, Cindy ate some lunch and then we started to get ready. Sheila lay quietly on my floor but her eyes watched every movement I made. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top but decided not to wear a baselayer since the temperature was unseasonably warm. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without a baselayer underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light Mountain Hardwear hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters more out of habit than necessity. I wasn't sure if we would encounter any snow but I was pretty sure we would not need snowshoes. We both brought our Kahtoola microspikes which I hoped we would not have to use. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the backseat and left Livingston Manor at 12:50 PM. I headed north on the Quickway and got off at exit 94 for Roscoe. I drove through Roscoe and across the Rockland Flats on Route 206. I continued on Route 206 to the Pepacton Reservoir. Along the way we seemed to get behind people who wanted to travel well below the speed limit! At the Pepacton, I turned right on Route 30 to drive toward the bridge across the reservoir. After 12 miles, I turned left onto the bridge. At the other end of the bridge, I turned left and left again into the parking area. The lot was almost filled but I parked in an empty space. I hoped all of the people were not hiking the trail. I set my GPS and we headed north at 1:25 PM on CR 1 toward the trailhead which is only .1 miles from the parking area. There was no snow visible anywhere and the temperature was 54 degrees.

We turned right off the road and onto the trail. My first reaction was that it looked much more "used" than the last time I hiked it. The trail was mostly dirt with a few rocks and roots toward the upper end. There was some mud in spots and two or three small streams crossing the trail. There was no snow or ice to be seen anywhere. In .25 miles the trail gains 220 feet at a 16% grade which is a good way to get started. As we approached the end of the trail three young women came down the trail toward us. I pulled Sheila off to the side so that they could pass. The three hikers pulled their shirts over their mouths and said "Hi" as they passed. I took no offense but thought it a sad commentary on our COVID world! This section of trail ends on a road and there is a set of signs just across the road that direct hikers. We chose to cross the road and head toward the "Overlook". The trail we were on now was one that Cindy and I had helped create when the DEP closed the road that was being used to get to Snake Pond because of a logging project. This part of the trail was also worn in and was covered in pine needles and leaves. The stream that crossed the trail was as high as I have seen it but proved to be no obstacle. After .1 miles or .5 miles into the hike, we came to a sign that indicated that the new trail to the overlook turned to the left. We made the turn and started heading north gaining a little elevation as we continued along the trail. The trail was a little more worn in than when we had first hiked it in the fall and there were a few muddy spots along the way but still no snow or ice. At .7 miles the trail began to gain elevation more seriously. At times the trail followed old woods roads but only briefly. I expected to meet some people but we had the trail all to ourselves. Over the next half mile we continued to travel north gaining 350 feet. This is an average 14% grade but the last ascent is 26%. Just after the last ascent the trail turned west and descended slightly to a large rock shelf that serves as the overlook. The overlook gives a nice view of the Pepacton to the southwest and the Tremperskill Valley to the northwest. I dropped my pack and took out the camera. I took quite a few pictures of the scenery and some of Cindy and Sheila sitting on the rock. Sheila also posed for some solo pictures. I walked back out the trail to where there were some impressive rock formations and took a few shots. I did catch a glimpse of some snow and took a picture. We got a bar and a drink and the started back down the trail. Just as we started the steeper descent, I stopped to take some pictures of the ledges that made up the viewpoint. The return trip went quickly as we only had the few muddy spots to slow us down. We still had not met any people.

When we arrived back at the trail to the pond, we turned left and began to climb a little more. Cindy was a little tired of climbing but I slowed down and started to talk to her. The hike up to the pond was only .2 miles but we did gain another 155 feet. We emerged at the bench just below the pond but we continued up to the bench on the edge of the pond. I put my pack down and took out my camera. While I was doing this, I heard a splash and turned to see Sheila taking a swim in the icy water! I snapped some shots of the reservoir and the pond and then Cindy and I started walking clockwise around the pond. I stopped in several spots to take pictures. As we walked around the back of the pond, I noticed that the earthen bank that contained the water in the pond had been rebuilt. This meant that the trail around the back of the pond was in much better shape. I took some more pictures of the inlet and outlet of the pond which, strangely, are within a few feet of each other. We hiked up the road to the top of the hill above the pond and started to walk back to the car. The road was paved with large crushed stones and there were some patches of snow. Within a short distance the road opened up into a large field. Despite the lack of clouds and the overall bleak landscape, I decided to stop and take a few shots. A little further down the road, I stopped again to take some pictures of the meteorology equipment in the field. We continued our walk down the road entering the trees. We met a young couple hiking up the hill without any equipment at all. I realized that the hike to the pond and back is very short and I am always overprepared. At 2.75 miles we turned left on the trail which was well-marked with a large sign. The weather was still nice with plenty of sun and not even a slight breeze blowing. The trip down the trail was much quicker than the trip up. We did meet one man hiking up the trail even though it was late in the afternoon. When we reached the road we turned left and walked back to the car. It was 3:50 PM and we had hiked 3.1 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes with 35 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 980 feet. I wanted to determine the condition of Dibble Road that accesses the Pepacton Plateau Unit (DEP) so I headed north on CR 1 for 2.5 miles. I turned left on Dibble Road which was dirt and gravel and drove uphill to the end. I found a small parking area on the right where I pulled over. I got out of the car and tried to orient myself. I walked across the road and out to a field following a GPS track I had drawn and overlaid on my Avenza map. It showed I was in the right place so I returned to the car. I decided to drive counterclockwise around the reservoir which I had not done in some time. I though we would stop at the Pepacton Cemetery where the remains of those that had been buried in the valley now flooded by the reservoir had been reinterred. I though Cindy might enjoy the history but as we approached the cemetery she made it clear she had no interest so I drove home.

On Saturday, March 20th, I was finally going to Schoharie County to work on a few of the Scary 19 high points. This list was created by Jason Pelton who lives in Schoharie County and chose 19 high points in state forests. When I looked at the weather forecast, it showed that Schoharie County would have highs of near 50 degrees so I wanted to get an earlier start so that we could take advantage of the frozen snow before it melted. I planned to try to get to the Lutheranville HP in Lutheranville State Forest, NW Fulton HP in Mallet Pond State Forest and Petersburg Mountain in Petersburg State Forest. These are the high points that are farthest away and I hope I could get to them all in one day. At 5:00 AM I responded to an ambulance call in Roscoe for the second night in a row returning at 7:30 Am. I questioned whether I should go as I was tired so I asked Cindy if she would like to come along. I knew that would limit me to only two of the hikes but I like the company. Cindy agreed and we started to get ready with the temperature still in the low 20's but with plenty of sun. Sheila was hanging around being a good dog but it was clear she was happy we were going outside. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without a baselayer underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters which some almost to my knee to keep my lower legs warm. We decided to take snowshoes and spikes as I did not know the snow conditions in the area. I knew the increasing temperatures would make the snow soft and I knew that wearing them would preserve any track that was present. For snowshoes we decided to take our Tubbs Flex VRT which have the Boa binding. This system uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet wheel which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents and take some strain off the calf muscles. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! We both brought our Kahtoola microspikes which I hoped would be enough. We got our gear and Sheila in the car and headed north on State Route 17 at 8:45 AM. I got off at exit 94 for Roscoe and headed north in Route 206 toward Downsville. Just passed the traffic light in Downsville, I turned right on Telford Hollow Road and followed it over the mountain to Route 10. I turned right and headed north on Route 10 passing through Delhi, Bloomville, South Kortright, Hobart, Stamford and Jefferson. When I reached Summit, I turned left on Charlotte Valley Road and left on Spruce Lake Road at the top of the hill. This road was crushed stone alternating with large patches of snow. I had hoped to take this road through to Mud Lake Road to park near Mud Lake but after 1.2 miles the road was impassable. Spruce Lake met Moot Road near Fly Lake but Moot Road was also unplowed. There were several cars parked here and I judges it close enough that we could hike to the Lutheranville High Point from this intersection. I parked the car behind another and we began to get ready. We decided to wear our spikes as the road was packed snow and ice and the snow along the side of the road supported my weight. As we were getting ready an older man who had been cross country skiing came over to talk to us. He was from nearby Richmondville and said he often cross country skied and biked in the area. I set ny GPS and we started north on the road at 10:40 AM.

As we started out on the road, there was a breeze coming off the lake that was chilling but the bright sun compensated. Initially, there was a lot of ice on the road but that soon changed to hard packed snow with a layer of and inch or so of softer snow. The road had been groomed for snowmobiles and was well-traveled. We had decided to follow the roads to stay off private property and make the hike easier. For about a mile we continued to see POSTED signs on either side of the road. At the mile mark state forest signs appeared and we could see three skiers coming toward us. The skiers had a dog with them that was not on a leash. I put Sheila on her leash but the other dog was not interested in "making friends". We stopped to talk to the skiers who also had some knowledge of hiking. They were also local and often skied the roads in the area. We parted company and went our separate ways. In another .2 miles, we hit Mud Lake Road and turned left to start up a hill. After the first .3 miles, Moot Road had been a slight ascent but Mud Lake Road was steeper. Over the next .4 miles, we gained 190 feet with a 9% grade. I was looking for a snowmobile trail marked on the map. We found the snowmobile trail but it had not been used and did NT seem to offer an advantage. There was a clear cut on the right side of the road and we could see the high point at the top. We turned right and started to walk along the edge of the clear cut. The snow was supporting us for the most part but we broke through in a couple of places. We stopped a couple of times so that I could take pictures up the hill. The scene was pleasant but the lack of clouds made the sky look flat. The higher we got the more we could see the mountains and ridges around us. We entered the woods and kept pressing ahead through some thick brush toward the highest spot we could find. I stopped and check my GPS and found that the spot I thought was highest corresponded with the Latitude and longitude I had written down. We decided to head back the way we had come and followed our tracks back down to the road. Cindy broke through at one point and sank to above her knee.

When we got to the road, we turned left and started back down the hill. Cindy's spikes kept collecting snow as the temperature rose so she decided to take them off. I was not having the same problem so I left mine on. The downhill went quickly and we soon made the turns onto Moot Road. The trip back was slightly downhill and we set a fast pace. We were back at the car at 12:50 Pm after hiking 3.9 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes with 25 minutes of stopped time for a moving average of 2.1 mph. The elevation gain was 460 feet. I began to plan our route to Mallet Pond State Forest and our approach to NE Fulton Hill. It was then that Cindy announced she could not hike anymore uphill which meant that we could not hike anymore! This did not surprise me as it has happened before but I was disappointed and frustrated. Driving 3 and a half hours to hike 4 miles was not my idea of a good day. I decided I would drive over to Mallet Pond State Forest to check out the state of the roads. I drove out Spruce Lake Road and turned left on Charlotte Valley Road. In Summit, I turned left on Route 10 and then almost immediately right on Route 20, Sawyer Hollow Road. After a mile, I turned left on Rossmman Fly Road which looked promising and in good shape. After 1.7 miles, we came to the beginning of the state forest and the end of any road maintenance. Hiking from this access would require hiking .9 miles along Rossman Fly Road to Mallet Pond. From there it would be a mile to a mile and a half to NE Fulton Hill. I drove back out to Route 20 and turned left on Sawyer Hollow Road to check out the route from a snowmobile parking area on that road. As we drove along the road, it was clear why it was called Sawyer HOLLOW Road as there was a lot of downhill driving. I pulled over in the parking area and walked across the road to check out the trail. The trail was obvious and the distance to NE Fulton Hill was less than 2 miles but there seemed to be a lot of uphill hiking. I walked back to the car and drove home. On the way home it was all I could do to stay awake!

On Friday, March 19th, I was planning to go to Schoharie County to work on a few of the Scary 19 high points. This list was created by Jason Pelton who lives in Schoharie County and chose 19 high points in state forests. When I looked at the weather forecast, it showed that Schoharie County would be 10 degrees colder than Livingston Mnaor with wind chills in the single digits until noon. I decided to do a hike closer to home and asked Cindy where she would like to go. Cindy chose the Beaverkill Campgrounds which was shorter than I had expected but I knew was scenic. I had been out the night before on an ambulance call from 3:45 AM to 7:00 AM so I slept in until 10:00 AM. When I got up, the temperature was 36 degrees. I took a quick trip to Liberty to collect a paycheck and then came back home and started to get ready. As usual, Sheila was excited and even more so since Cindy was going also. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without a baselayer underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters which some almost to my knee to keep my lower legs warm. I decided to take snowshoes and spikes as I did not know the trail conditions. I knew the increasing temperatures would make the snow soft and I knew that wearing them would preserve any track that was present. I decided to take my TSL Symbioz snowshoes which have a lot of flex and are good for most terrain except for the steepest ascents on the 35s. They have a ratchet type binding and a televator for steeper climbs. The televator elevates the hiker's heel on ascents and take some strain off the calf muscles. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! Cindy decided she would only take her spikes only. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and left the house at 12:45 PM. I drove out Old Route 17 toward Roscoe and turned right on Beaverkill Road. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. As I parked, there were no other cars in the lot which was a sharp departure from the crowds this summer. The river was higher than I thought it might be.

Cindy put on her spikes at the car which meant she would be walking on the pavement. I decided to carry my spikes and put them on at the beginning of the trail if needed. I set my GPS and we started our hike at 1:10 PM by crossing the bridge to the west side of the river. As we exited the bridge, I looked down the trail to the left and decided to forego the spokes. We turned left on a woods road that parallels the river and started down a short icy hill. I almost regretted not putting on the spikes as the ice extended across the trail. We both made it down without incident and walked passed a spring house. We continued on the deserted woods road which was almost clear of snow. We came to an area with a little path down to the river. I walked down to the edge of the river which was really roaring and took some pictures downstream and some upstream. Just after this area, the trail was highly eroded by water running across and under the trail. There was an area with several picnic tables and we noticed that there were piles of snow that had been piled up by plows. For some reason the DEC had plowed the old road that was no longer used! I decided to take pictures that showed the deserted campgrounds which was even more dramatic now that the snow was melting revealing what had been hidden. I took pictures of the picnic tables and, a little later, what was once a bathroom for some campsites that had long since disappeared. At the next bathroom, we stopped so that I could take some more pictures. There was a path over to the river so I walked over and took some pictures of the sun reflecting off the water both upstream and downstream. In several areas the DEC had placed large rocks along the shore and covered them with heavy wire to reduce erosion. At about .7 miles the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites and we continued on the road through the campsites and along the river. Many of the campsites had a cement block fireplace with a grill but some were upgraded to poured concrete. Everything was very quiet except for the water in the river. This was not surprising as the campsites are closed. I took some pictures of the empty campsites and the plowed campsite road with banks of snow.

We walked to the last campsite where the trail ends and walked down to the edge of the river. There was a strip of sand that made a small "beach" and I stopped to take some pictures. I worked my way out to a rock that jutted into the river and took some more shots up and down the stream. We turned around to start back and walked the other road through the campsites which parallels the one we walked out on to make a sort of loop. We stopped again so that I could take some pictures of a group of picnic tables randomly arranged and another group stacked against each other. I also took a few shots of the roads. We retuned the way we had come crossing the river on the bridge. We stopped at the west end of the bridge and I took a few pictures upstream. We walked through the bridge and turned left as I wanted to walk upstream along the edge of the river which I had not done in some time. As we turned left in front of the cabin, we noticed a small stone memorial. It commemorated the founding of the National Campers and Hikers Association on July 4, 1949, at the Beaverkill Campgrounds. We walked over to the edge of the river and walked along the bank. I stopped and took some pictures upstream including a spot where the river splits. When I was done, we walked back toward the car. I walked over to the steps that lead down to the river. I was able to walk to a large rock that projects out into the stream. I took pictures of the bridge and bridge abutments. When I was done, I walked back to the car where Cindy was waiting. We talked about walking along the other side of the river but concluded it was time to go home. We were back at the car at 2:45 PM having hiked 2.4 miles in 1 hour and 40 minutes with 30 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 200 feet but it was hardly noticeable. The car's thermometer read 39 degrees.

On Wednesday, March 17th I wanted to get out for a longer hike but knew it had to be local as I had cross country practice at 3:15 PM. I had been avoiding Trout Pond for most of the winter as the parking situation is poor. Russell Brook Road is not maintained in the winter so the only parking is along the side of Morton Hill Road which only works when there are no snowplows working. When I got up at 8:00 AM it was already 30 degrees. Some snow had fallen overnight but not enough that the plows would be out. I waited for my grandson Bryce to arrive as I wanted to take him with me. When he showed up at 9:00 AM, he informed me that he had remote classes on and off for the rest of the day. I knew Sheila and I were on our own. I started to get ready at 9:45 AM and Sheila was especially excited as I began to dress so she watched every move I made. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without a baselayer underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters which some almost to my knee to deal with the snow and to keep my lower legs warm. I decided to take snowshoes as I knew the increasing temperatures would make the snow soft and I knew that wearing them would preserve any track that was present. I decided to wear my TSL Symbioz snowshoes which have a lot of flex and are good for most terrain except for the steepest ascents on the 35s. They have a ratchet type binding and a televator for steeper climbs. The televator elevates the hiker's heel on ascents and take some strain off the calf muscles. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the backseat and headed for Roscoe on the Quickway at 10:300 AM. I got off at exit 94, turned left and drove out the Rockland Flats on Route 206. Just after the Roscoe Nursing Home I turned left on Morton Hill Road and followed it for 3 miles to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the shoulder of the road to avoid parking in the private lot. The temperature was 33 degrees with overcast skies. There was one car parked illegally on the private property near the intersection. I took a quick look at Russell Brook Road and found it a frozen mess if snow and ice and deep ruts where someone had thought they could drive. I did see some snowmobile tracks which I knew would make walking easier.

I put on my snowshoes and set my Garmin GPS unit and we started down Russell Brook Road as I planned to make the upper falls our first stop. Once we were passed the deep ruts the snow was for a long time and frozen solid. I noticed fresh bare boot tracks and wondered how far the two people from the other car would get. The frozen snow allowed me to make good time hiking downhill. Sheila always makes good time. Before we reached the campsite on the left of the trail, Sheila alerted and I could see two hikers coming toward us with their Samoyed. The dog was on a leash but seemed to be very interested in meeting Sheila. I pulled over to the side if the trail but the man with his dog on a leash decided to let him check out Sheila. Both Sheila and I indicated this was not a good idea! Both people looked at me and said "You are prepared. We were not." I gave them credit for turning around when they found their boots alone weren't sufficient. We headed in our opposite directions. We continued to walk quickly downhill to the path down to the viewpoint above the falls. We turned down the path to the upper falls which had some snow on it. I soon realized that the thin layer of snow covered a thick layer of ice. Fortunately, my snowshoes had enough traction to handle the situation. I called Sheila away from the edge of the gorge and put down my pack and got out the camera. There was more water going over the falls than I thought there might be as I took several shots with differing settings. Once I finished the photography, I packed up, and we walked back up to the road. The lot, of course, was empty but there were snowmobile tracks across it which headed down toward Russell Brook. We walked down the woods road to cross Russell Brook. We crossed the bridge and found that the Japanese knotweed was completely dead. It was so dead it looked like it could never come back but it does every year. We turned right on the informal path to the falls and walked the path until we came to the path down the bank. The path had almost no snow until we came to the descent to the streambed where there was a combination of hard packed snow and ice. At the point where I was about to try to get down to the streambed, I noticed it was solid ice. I decided to take pictures from where I was standing which offered a view almost as good as from lower down. The falls were flowing with a good volume as high as I had seen it in some time. I took some pictures of the falls and then some of the stream. I took a few more pictures of the falls and a few of Sheila with the falls in the background. When I was done I stowed the camera and we carefully walked back up the stream bank and out to the main trail.

We turn right to walk to the trail register and found that this was where the couple we had met turned around. We stayed to the right at the trail junction just after the register and continued straight ahead to walk up to Trout Pond. The trail was packed by snowmobiles and easily supported my weight and would have without snowshoes. There were a few places where the snow was thin and where small streams crossed the trail or ran down it. Not too far up the trail we came to the spot where Ranger Steven Ellis and I had worked on a blowdown that had blocked the trail. When we had finished what we could do, the trail was open but Ranger Ellis deiced that clearing the rest of that blowdown would require the operations crew. The blowdown was no longer there and had been very neatly removed. We continued our walk up the trail and I began to feel warm. When we arrived at the pond, we turned left and walked out to the "beach" at the outlet end of the pond. The level of the pond was high enough to allow water to pass over the outlet even thigh the pond was still covered with ice. The skies were completely overcast as I got out my camera. As Sheila walked out on the ice, I took shots of the pond including some of Sheila on the ice. I took some pictures of the whole scene and then zoomed in on different parts. After getting a drink and a snack, I packed up and we headed back to the main trail. We turned left and continued on the main trail on the east side of Trout Pond walking toward the inlet end and the lean-tos. The trail was snow covered and well-packs in most places with a few open spots. I did stop at one spots to take some more pictures of the pond and surrounding hills. No one was camping at the large campsite on the right side of the trail before the lean-tos or at the lean-tos themselves. As we crossed the bridge at the inlet end of the pond, I noticed that the inlet stream was high. I decided not to stop to take pictures of the pond from the bridge as I was on a tight schedule. We continued on the trail by turning right and starting up a hill which is the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. I had been worried that I would have to break trail here but the snowmobile tracks continued all the way up and over the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. We easily walked up the hill and I noticed it was easier walking on the smooth packed trail than over the rocks and roots that are usually there. A large cherry trunk had broken off high up and fallen with the butt on the trail. It was firmly wedged up above and I knew it would not be safe to cut it. As we continued to hike, we ran into a few blowdowns from the recent winds. A few of the larger ones had been cut with a chainsaw and removed from the trail. Other blowdowns were smaller and covered in snow so that they would have to wait until all the snow was gone. Soon we were at the highest point on Cherry Ridge and starting down the other side.

I anticipated that the trail would have some open areas with water and I was right. There were places that had some standing water and some flowing like a stream. Of course, in these areas walking with snowshoes was more difficult. We passed by several spots where I had cleared blowdowns previously. We continued on the trail to the point where we were ascending to the area where there is a forest of small birch trees. Sooner than I thought we were at the woods road and snowmobile trail that runs by Mud Pond. We turned left and started the short walk uphill. This part of the trail still had a good covering of snow that made the hiking easier. At the top of the hill, we began the long descent back to the trail junction where we had started. The descent lasts for .7 miles and drops 385 feet to a bridge that crosses the outlet stream from Trout Pond. The further we descended, the less snow was on the trail. I wanted to keep the snowshoes on so I ended up walking on the side of the trail where there was still some snow or on a layer of ice. The campsite at the bottom of the hill on the left side of the trail was also empty but by this time there was more snow on the trail. I knew I was behind schedule so we continued on the trail crossing the bridge over the stream and walking back out to the trail register. We turned right and headed back toward the lower parking area on the main trail. We walked up the short path to the lower parking area and continued up the road to the car. The hike up the hill to the car proved to be less of a challenge than when there is no snow. As we came to Morton Hill Road, I could see a forest ranger's truck at the top of the hill. The truck was running with the ranger inside so I stopped to say "Hello". The occupant was Ranger Joe Brink who has been in Delaware County foe 13 years. He told me that he and Ranger Ellis had cleared the blowdown. We raked about trail conditions and equipment. We also discussed the recent rescue at Kaaterskill Falls and the recovery of a body from the top of the Becker Hollow trail on Hunter Mountain. I excused my self and walked to the car. We arrived back at the car at 2:05 PM after hiking 5.5 miles in 3 hours and 10 minutes with a 1115 foot total ascent. The temperature on the car thermometer was 36 degrees.

On Tuesday, March 6th I knew I had to get out for a short hike before I got ready for afternoon cross country practice. I decided that I would go across the street and hike on Round Top since I would not have to spend time traveling. When I awoke at 6:30 AM, the temperature was only 25 degrees with a slight breeze. I had several things to do around the house so I did not start getting ready until 11:30 AM. Sheila seemed very happy to be going out. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without a baselayer underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I did not expect much snow although the possibility of mud was on my mind. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters which some almost to my knee to deal with the snow and to keep my lower legs warm. I decided to forego the snowshoes and wear my Kahtoola microspikes as it had been cold during the day and at night and I was rue the trail would be frozen. We stepped out of the house at noon. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We mounted the snow bank left by the plow and headed across the field by the church. The snow was very sparse but what was there was firmly frozen. As we started up the hill, I realized that there wasn't much snow left in the areas exposed to the sun. It did not look like anyone had been on the trail in some time. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I let Sheila off her leash so that I could use my poles to get up the hill. Sheila immediately began to bound up the hill as I followed. There was still some snow visible on the surrounding hills. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. There was a haze or fog hanging in the valley and a light mist surround us. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. The track was pretty well preserved but was starting to deteriorate from melting. I also noticed some boot prints and postholes to the side of the track.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the viewpoint. The climb up the hill was not particularly tiring but was a little tricky as there was almost no snow or ice and I was wearing spikes! At the viewpoint there wasn't much to see so Sheila and I headed to the right to follow the main yellow trail as it turned right and headed up the gentle hill through the hardwood forest. The snowshoe track had deteriorated some from the melting and there were plenty of postholes from those unprepared to hike on soft snow. The snow was hard and even when I stepped off the track the snow still supported my weight. Sheila was making her own way by staying on the trail some times and then running off trail and sticking her head under the snow at every opportunity. She was also picking up sticks and dragging them along and off the trail. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction with the blue trail. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. This section was a mess of craters which made the hiking dangerous. At the next junction, we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued up and over the summit. When we started down the other side, I decided we would skip the white crossover trail and the new switchback on the blue trail and just continue down the hill. I was able to get a pretty good grip with my spikes but some areas were very icy as the snow had melted and refrozen several times. The steepest part of the hill was tricky but the poles helped me to keep my balance and get down without falling. At the bottom of the hill we turned left on the yellow trail, walked along the base of Round Top. At the trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right to walk down to the woods road. It was a snap to walk downhill and out the woods road. It was obvious Sheila felt the same way as she was running and bounding ahead of me and then running back up the trail toward me. We walked the woods road out to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and walked back up the woods road to the junction with the blue trail. I had to call Sheila back as she was following game trails and inspecting the "caves". We turned left and walked along the yellow trail following the base of the Round Top summit. At the next junction we turned right and started up the steeper side of the hill on the blue trail. The spikes were very helpful as the trail was icy. This time we followed the switchback in the blue trail which was not broken out but still supported my weight. It was also obvious that not many people had taken this trail as the track was hard to find. We followed the switchback as it turned back toward the main trail. We turned right on the main trail and right again almost immediately on the white-blazed crossover trail. This too was less used than the main trails and I had to look closely to find the track. On the other side of the hill we came to the main trail and turned right to hike downhill to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail and followed it along the base of Round Top once again. At the junction with the blue trail we turned to the left to stay on the yellow trail to the lookout. At the lookout we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended over bare ground to the first trail junction. We walked straight out to the trailhead and turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill. We headed across the church parking lot and the field next to it. We crossed the road to our driveway and were home by 1:15 PM after hiking a little over 2 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes.

On Saturday, March 13th, I had planned to hike some of the Scary 19 in Schoharie County including Bates HP and High Knob. On Thursday I took advantage of an opportunity to get the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and was feeling a little off on Friday. The weather report for Saturday included temperatures below freezing with winds making the "feel like" temperature in the low 20's. I wasn't sure I wanted to take Sheila out to take Sheila out in temperatures that cold so I went to bed unsure of what I would do. When I got up it wasn't that cold in Livingston Manor and the wind was blowing at a moderate speed. I finally decided that I wanted at least go to scout out some of the Scary 19. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she agreed. We finally started to get ready at 10:00 AM. I put on my long-sleeved Patagonia wool zip top with a light long-sleeved baselayer underneath. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away with a pair of light tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots as they keep my feet warm and dry and work well with snowshoes. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I went with my new Follow Hollow alpaca sock which are thick and warm and come to my midcalf. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth. For snowshoes Cindy decided to take her Tubbs Flex VRT which have the Boa binding. This system uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet wheel which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents and take some strain off the calf muscles. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I decided to wear my TSL Symbioz snowshoes which have a lot of flex and are good for most terrain except for the steepest ascents on the 35s. They have a ratchet type binding and a televator for steeper climbs. I had no idea what the conditions might be like since most of the Scary 19 hikes are bushwhacks and there might not be a trench. I also always pack my microspikes since they are sometimes more appropriate. I put our gear in the back and Sheila in the back seat and we left Livingston Manor at 10:30 AM. I head north on State Route 17 to Roscoe to take Route 206 toward Downsville. I thought I had covered everything until I asked Cindy if she had brought her spikes. She said "No" and I wondered if we would be okay on some of the routes we might encounter. I decided we would continue knowing that being unprepared would limit our choices.

At the Pepacton Reservoir, I turned right on Route 30 and headed toward Margaretville. I continued north on Route 30 through Roxbury and Grand Gorge. This ride is beautiful and usually enjoyable but I was in a hurry to get where I was going. A little outside of Grand Gorge I turned east on Route 990V and continued through the Conesvilles. The road became Potter Mountain Road and I continued another 2.6 miles after Durham Road split to the right. I turned left on Goodfellow Road and came to Bates Forest Road on the right. The "road" was marked private and followed a power line right-of-way. I turned right and drove in a short way but ended up backing out as I could not find a place to park. I got back on Potter Mountain Road heading west and turned right on East Conesville Road. I drove 1.2 miles uphill to the point where Bates Forest Road came in from the right. This end was also marked "Private" and was covered in snow so I decided to drive on to Shale Pit Road to see what the access to High Knob looked like. I drove another .75 miles and turned right on Shale Pit Road. The first part of this road looked promising but it soon narrowed and snow covered. I drove to a point where I could see High Knob on the right across a field but there was no place to park. I back out until I could turn around and drove back to East Conesville Road. I turned left and drove back to Bates Forest Road. I decided to park on the shoulder of the road and walk to Bates HP. Cindy did not want to do this so I continued back to Paotter Mountain Road thinking about being 0 for 2 so far. I turned right on Potter Mountain Road and drove back toward Route 30 thinking about going anywhere to get in a hike. Cindy suggested Mine Kill but I knew she would need spikes. I also knew Vroman's Nose would probably require spikes also. I decided to go to Hubbard Hill and Leonard Hill just north of Broome Center. I had hiked here before in the winter so I did not need then for the Scary 19 but I knew it would probably be a good snowshoe hike. I drove north on Route 30 to Breakabeen where I turned right on Route 36. After a short drive uphill, I turned right on Route 17 to drive to Broome Center. I turned left on Route 61 and immediately right on Leonard Hill Road. The road was clear as I drove 1.2 miles to a small parking area on the left of the road. I was surprised to see that the sign for Leonard Hill State Forest was missing but I knew we were in the right spot. When we got out of the car, the temperature was 35 degrees but a stiff breeze made me feel cold. I set my GPS and grabbed my snowshoes out of the car. Cindy took her snowshoes and immediately started to put them on. I walked up the road to the start of the trail and put my snowshoes on where the snow began.

We started out on the trail which is sited along a woods road for the entire hike. There was over a foot of snow on the trail which was packed by snowmobiles. I could also see some old snowshoe tracks. As we walked we were able to stay on top of the snow without sinking in. In a few places the very top layer of snow had become soft but it did not stick to our shoes. When I stepped off the trail, I sank deeply into the snow. Sheila was just glad to be out again as she ran ahead of us and explored off the trail a little. Over the first .7 miles, the trail headed southwest and uphill as we gained 275 feet. The grade was only 8% and we made good time. We gained a little more elevation was we approached Hubbard Hill and followed the road as it turned to the west at .9 miles. I pointed out to Cindy that we were passing Hubbard Hill on our right. I decided to bypass Hubbard on the way out and hit it on the return trip. The last time I was in the trail, which was 8 years ago, I had not been sure of the exact location of the tower or what trail might lead to it. I remembered the description that said the road led to the fire tower and the story that the fire tower was moved from Gilbert Lake State Park. It was relocated to Hubbard Hill but the Conservation Department named it after a nearby hill, Leonard Hill. At least this was how the story went! I now knew that the hills and the fire tower were named correctly! We walked uphill a little more as the trail skirted Hubbard Hill. We hit the a high point and then began a .3 mile descent to the col between Hubbard Hill and Leonard Hill. We were now walking northwest again toward Leonard Hill. After only about .35 miles I looked to my left and saw the fire tower. We continued walking on the road which led around the mountain and right to the base of the tower. I continued a short distance beyond the turn to the tower to a lookout to the north and west. I took some pictures while waiting for Cindy to catch up. When Cindy arrived, I told her to come see the views but she decided to sit on a log. I put away my camera and walked over to the base of the fire tower. The clearing was small so it was difficult to get pictures of the tower. I took some shots and then walked to the other side where I could get further way from the tower. From that direction I could get more of the tower in the picture but the sun was in the field of view.

I inspected the tower and it looked in good shape. I could see that the floor of the cab was missing but that the rest of the tower appeared to be in good shape. The bottom two sets of steps had been removed but could easily be replaced. I am not sure why this tower doesn't get the love that other towers get but I think it could easily be restored. Sheila and I got a drink and we all started back at 2:05 PM. The snow was a little softer on the way back but the packed trail still supported us. As we approached Hubbard Hill at 2.2 miles, I left the trail to the right and started the ascent of Hubbard Hill which is a few feet higher than Leonard Hill. Cindy decided to continue on the trail. Sheila and I walked up the hill. The first ascent was a little steep but then there was a gradual climb to the highest point through open woods. At some point I realized Sheila was no longer with me and I assumed she had gone to find Cindy. I called her but she did not come which did not make me happy. At the highest point I found a snowshoe track from someone else who was doing the Scary 19. I followed it downhill to the main trail where I met Cindy and Sheila. We set a faster pace as we crossed some level ground and then a long downhill back to the trailhead. When we got to the road, I removed my snowshoes and carried them back to the car. Cindy decide to walk back to the car with her snowshoes on. We were back at the car at 3:05 PM after hiking 3.4 miles in 2 hours. We had stopped for 22 minutes but our moving average was 2.1 mph. The elevation gain was 588 feet. On the way back, I turned left off Route 17 onto Campbell Road to see if I could find a place to park for Keyserkill State Forest. After .6 miles an access road appeared on the right but there did not seem to be a place to park. I drove back out to Route 17. At the end of that road we turned right which was a wrong turn! We ended up in Middleburgh which added some distance to the drive home. I had considered stopping at Mine Kill but decided I just wanted to stay in the car!

On Tuesday, March 9th I had promised to hike somewhere with Lisa. We discussed several places to hike but did not know if parking would be available. We agreed to go to Big Pond and hike up Touch-Me-Not Mountain to the site of an old farm on the Little Pond Trail. Lisa would not be available until 10:30 AM so I was not sure how far we would be Abel to hike as I had to be back for cross country practice in the afternoon. I started to get ready at 10:00 AM when the temperature was already 46 degrees. As I was starting to get dressed, Lisa texted me saying she was leaving Livingston Manor at 10:10 AM so I tried to speed up getting ready. Sheila seemed happy that I was getting dressed and kept watching me. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without a baselayer underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters which some almost to my knee to deal with the snow and to keep my lower legs warm. I decided to take snowshoes as I knew the increasing temperatures would make the snow soft and I knew that wearing them would preserve any track that was present or help us to create one. I decided on wearing my Tubb's Flex VRT which have the Boa binding. This system uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet wheel which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents and take some strain off the calf muscles. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the back seat and left Livingston Manor at 10:25 AM. I drove north on Old Route 17 toward Roscoe and turned right on the Beaverkill Road. I followed Beaverkill Road through Lew Beach and turned left on Barkaboom Road just before the hamlet of Turnwood. I drove up the road to Big Pond and parked in the lot at the side of the road where Lisa was already waiting.

Sheila became very exited when she saw Lisa and I let her out of the car to say hello. Lisa and I put on our snowshoes and I set my GPS. The temperature was 42 degrees as we headed across the road to the beginning of the trail up Touch-Me-Not Mountain on the Touch-Me-Not Trail which is part of the Finger Lakes Trail. The first part of the trail is an old woods road, and it is pretty easy to follow. There was at least a foot of snow packed on the trail and more to either side. Although the temperature was above freezing, the snow was still firm. We stopped at the register so that Lisa could sign in and then started back up the trail. I maintain the section of trail from Alder Lake to Beech Hill Road for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference and was interested to see how the trail had fared over the winter. The first mile of the trail gains about 775 feet with an average grade of 15%. Some places are almost flat which means there are a few steeper places. I began to notice that the blazing of the trail could be better. Volunteers used to be able to put up trail markers, but the DEC decided that a forester must now do this. Most blazes were too far apart. Some were very old and faded with others grown into the trees. A few were on the side of the tree meaning they were not visible from either direction on the trail. We followed the snowshoe trench which followed the trail. We found one new blowdown that had fallen diagonally across the trail and would be tricky to clear. The trench was in pretty good shape although there were some postholes. In a few places, the trail traveled along the side of the hill, and this made for some tricky footing. We took it easy on the steeper parts of the trail toward the top of the climb and started down toward the junction with the Campground Trail. We passed under another large blowdown with barely enough room. This blowdown is no big problem in other seasons but the buildup of snow made it more difficult. At the junction we turned right to stay on the Touch-Me-Not Trail. I told Lisa we did not have enough time to hike to the site of the old farm. Lisa wanted to hike to a particular old and majestic maple tree so we started down the trail. We stopped at one spot where the trail descends between some rocks. I took a few pictures of Lisa and Sheila and some of the trail. We continued our walk and arrived at the tree. I took some pictures of Lisa and Sheila at the tree and the we started back. The hike back to the trail junction went quickly. When we started own the mountain toward the car, we picked up the pace. The snow was getting softer and we were both sinking in much more than on the ascent. We passed the register and walked down to the road. My snowshoe became tangled in a small root that was hidden under the snow. I took a spill but quickly righted myself. Sheila and I walked across the road to the shores of Big Pond. I took pictures of the pond and the mountains behind. There were people ice fishing on Big Pond and there was open water near the out let. We were back at the car at 1:15 PM after hiking 2.6 miles in 2 hours and 25 minutes. The temperature was 46 degrees but the sun made it feel much warmer.

On Sunday, March 7th I wanted to get out for a longer hike after a series of shorter hikes. I asked Cindy if she wanted to hike but she declined as see thought she might be coming down with a cold. I decided to go to Frick Pond to do the Frick Pond to Hodge Pond loop on the Quick Lake and Flynn Trails which is a little over 6 miles. After church, I started to get ready with the temperature hovering at 32 degrees and blue, cloudless skies. Sheila sat watching my every move to make sure she would not be left behind. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without a baselayer underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters which some almost to my knee to deal with the snow and to keep my lower legs warm. I decided to wear my TSL Symbioz snowshoes which have a lot of flex and are good for most terrain except for the steepest ascents on the 35s. They have a ratchet type binding and a televator for steeper climbs. The televator elevates the hiker's heel on ascents and take some strain off the calf muscles. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I knew I would wear the snowshoes for the entire trip. Even though I expected much of the trail to be packed by hikers and snowmobiles, I thought that the Flynn Trail from Junkyard Junction to Hodge Pond might be lightly traveled. I also wanted to make sure I improved the track and left no postholes if the snow softened. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and drove out the Debruce Road about 6 miles. I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. The smaller lot was full of cars with one group getting ready to head out. I parked in the larger lot as there were no cars there. The car thermometer read 29 degrees as I set my GPS but a slight breeze made it feel colder. At 12:50 PM we headed out the Quick Lake Trail toward the trail register.

As we approached the register, two hikers were coming back from the direction of the pond and were heading up the woods road to the smaller lot. They were wearing only boots. We turned left at the register and headed out the woods road toward Frick Pond. The trail was covered in hard packed snow and showed a few bare boot prints but no snowshoes. A few of the small streams that cross the trail were running with some water but were easily crossed. The snow was crystalline and was not sticking to my snowshoes. At Gravestone Junction, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and head down to Frick Pond. We stopped at the bridge across the outlet to Frick Pond and I took some shots of the pond and Flynn's Point. I always stop to take pictures even when the scene is not remarkable. The outlet stream below the bridge was still covered in snow and snow drifts. We didn't stay long and were soon walking along the west side of Frick Pond where the snow was still packed. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we stayed to the left as we wanted to keep hiking the Quick Lake Trail. The track now was very narrow and there did not seem to be evidence of any new travel except for some ski tracks. The tracks looked new as if they had been made only minutes before we got there. It was not easy navigating the first part of the trail as there were some postholes and several places where there was some open water. We entered the evergreen tunnel where the track became a little more consolidated. When we came to the small stream across the trail, Sheila easily jumped across the water but I had my doubts. The water level was low enough to allow me to step on a small stone and make it across the stream. Just after this crossing I had to make my way up a steep bank of snow but the snowshoes worked well and I had no problem. We continued to push toward Iron Wheel Junction and made good time even though the track was in poor shape in many places. When we came to Iron Wheel Junction, I had to decide if I wanted to take the shorter route on the Logger's Loop or continue with the original plan to got to Hodge Pond. The Quick Lake Trail to the left was packed by snowmobiles and I was feeling fresh so I decided to head to Hodge Pond by turning left at 1:40 PM after hiking 1.5 miles.

The sun was out which always makes me feel better but the temperature did not seem much warmer. This was probably good since the snow remained frozen and did not clump in my snowshoes. Sheila was having a great time staying on the trail with me most of the time with a few off-trail excursions. We could hear some snowmobiles in the distance but none of them ever passed by us as we hiked. The next mile of trail is all uphill but the grade only averages around 8%. At times this can seem like a long slog but on this day it seemed to go quickly. IN some ways the walk was easier since the trail was absolutely smooth without the eroded gulleys that lie beneath. The constant climb did begin to tire my legs and although the scenery was beautiful it began to get repetitive. We hit the flatter ground and started downhill toward Junkyard Junction where we arrived at 2:30 PM after hiking 3.1 miles. We turned right to start out on the Flynn Trail and almost immediately I noticed that the trail was packed by snowmobiles. I knew this would make the hiking easier but I was disappointed that the snowmobiles had ignored the signs at both ends of this trail that say SNOWMOBILES PROHIBITED". There are always some hikers that trespass and do not follow rules. I guess the snowmobile community also have those that do whatever they want to do. Just after making the turn, we both heard some conversation. I looked in the woods on the left side of the trail and saw two men sitting and relaxing. I struck up a conversation and found that they were the skiers whose tracks I had seen. They had gone as far as Hodge Pond were now returning the way they had come. Sheila and I worked our way along the trail until wee arrived at the gate which separates the state land from the Open Spaces Institute land around Hodge Pond. We continued on the Flynn Trail by turning right and following the trail downhill to an area near the shore of Hodge Pond. The downhill stretch was very enjoyable and I was glad that the last 1.7 miles of the hike is all downhill on the Flynn Trail. We turned right to stay on the Flynn Trail and walked through the forest and then out to the field. I stopped to take a few pictures of the sun ion the snow and of Beech Mountain which is not visible fro the outlet end of the pond. The track was almost completely drifted in where the snow had been blown by the wind coming off the pond. I packed up and we walked to the point where the Flynn Trail enters a clearing at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. We walked over to the shore of the pond and found the sky was a flat blue without any clouds. I took some pictures of the pond and the surroundings but a stiff breeze off the pond had me hurrying to pack up and leave. We headed back across the field to the point where the Flynn Trail enters the forest and began the walk up the hill on the Flynn Trail. This was the last climb before the long downhill back to the car.

The walk up this hill often seems tedious but on this day it went quickly as there was a packed snowmobile track. We were soon at the top of the hill. We walked along the flat trail under the trees passing through the other gate. The snowmobiles had simply ignored the gate and the signs and had driven around the gate! We arrived at the junction with the Big Rock trail at 3:25 PM after hiking 4.8 miles. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail. I had hoped to have a relaxing trip down the hill but this was not the case. The entire Flynn Trail back to the parking area was a mess. The people who had sued snowshoes did not seem to know about forming one well-packed trench! At one point, I counted five different sets a parallel snowshoes tracks. This was compounded by set of postholes made by barebooters who are either ignorant or inconsiderate of others. Of course, all of these had frozen making an easy and smooth walk back impossible. I tried to pick the best path but the walk back was anything but pleasant and seemed to take a long tome. I much prefer walking up the Flynn Trail but like to vary the route from time to time. We Finlay reached the spot where there is an interesting clearing to the left of the trail but there were no tracks going in that direction so I decided to stay on the main trail. We continued on the trail and soon were passing through the tunnel Cindy and I had cut in a large spruce tree that had fallen across the trail. At the gate at the bottom of the hill, we turned left on the trail to avoid the private property around the cabin. Most people had done this but there were some boot prints that continued through the gate proving people can't read or don't care. When we got back to the parking area, there were two cars in the small lot and only mine in the larger. It was 4:10 PM when we got back to the car after hiking 6.4 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes with an elevation gain of 905 feet. We had maintained an overall speed of 2.0 mph with a moving average of 2.1 mph which I thought was good for the conditions. The temperature was 28 degrees and we were both ready to go home.

On Friday, March 5th I had planned to get out and do a longer hike with Balsam Lake Mountain in mind. Once again the ambulance called and I responded leaving the house at 1830 and returning until 2330! When I got up late, I looked at the forecast for wind chills below 0 and decided it would be too cold to take Sheila on a long hike. Despite this Sheila was begging to get out so I decided to go across the street to Round Top and do a few loops. I started to get ready at 11:15 AM when the temperature was 25 degrees and the wind was blowing with some heavy gusts. Sheila seemed very happy that we would be going out even though we had been out several times during the week. I put on a Patagonia wool sweater which is very warm so I decided not to wear a baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without a baselayer underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I did not expect much snow although the possibility of mud was on my mind. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters which some almost to my knee to deal with the snow and to keep my lower legs warm. I decided to forego snowshoes as I was pretty sure the snowshoe track I had set earlier in the week would be packed and frozen. I did decide to wear my Kahtoola Microspikes for some traction on the trails. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. We stepped out of the house at 11:40 AM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We mounted the snow bank left by the plow with some difficulty and headed across the field by the church. As we started across the field, I could see the track I had set and stayed in it. The packed snow in the track supported me without a problem. As we started up the hill behind the church, I realized that there was still a lot of snow! The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila off her leash so that I could use my poles to get up the hill. Sheila immediately began to bound up the hill as we followed. The cemetery was covered in snow and some snow was still visible on the surrounding hills. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. I walked off the track and found the crust would support me while standing but I left significant holes when walking. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. There were no new prints on the trail.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. I followed the snowshoe track that I had set the day before which made the walking much easier. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction. At the junction, we turned left and followed the track to the next trail junction. There was some snow that had blown into the track but I could easily follow the trench. I did notice that I was not cold at all and, in fact, was sweating a little. It helped that the trees protected us from the wind which was howling through the treetops. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. On this ascent the trench was almost completely drifted in and I left a few prints in the loose snow. Just before the steepest section we turned right on the switchback trail marked with blue paint blazes. I could see the track on this trail but I had only walked over it one time with snowshoes so it was not well packed. Still, the track supported me without me sinking into the snow. We continued to follow these blazes as they made a sharp left turn and headed back to the main blue trail. We turned right on the blue trail and continued up the blue trail. Within a few feet, we turned right on the white crossover trail which I also had only walked one time with snowshoes. We followed the trail to the end where it intersected the blue trail on the other side of Round Top. We turned right and headed down to the junction with the blue trail. At the junction, we turned right and walked slog the base of Round Top again to the second junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill to the lookout. The packed track continued to support me without a problem. At the viewpoint, we turned left and walked downhill to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and headed back up the steep section of trail to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right at the lookout and headed uphill toward the junction with the blue trail. At the junction, we turned right and walked along the based of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. At the junction, we turned left and started up the trail to the summit. We passed over the summit and started down the longest and steepest section on the trail. I decided to bypass the white crossover trail and the switchback on the blue trail. When we got to the bottom of the blue trail, we turned left on the yellow trail and walked over the well-packed trench to the next junction. We turned right and walked down the yellow trail to the woods road and out to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead. The sun was out but the wind had picked up. We made quick work of the downhill walking behind the church and across the field to our driveway. We were back at the house at 12:40 PM having walked a little over 2 miles in an hour.

On Wednesday, March 3rd, I was ready to get out for a hike before going to cross country practice in the in afternoon. I like coaching but the afternoon practices limit my hiking options as I don't want to be late. Several of the places I thought about like Trout Pond and Cabot Mountain from Beech Hill Road have questionable parking situations so I decided to once again head for the Frick Pond area. The forecast was for temperatures in the 40's but when I got up in the morning it was 30 degrees. I started to get ready at 9:45 AM when the temperature was up to 33 degrees. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without a baselayer underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters which some almost to my knee to deal with the snow and to keep my lower legs warm. I decided to wear my TSL Symbioz snowshoes which have a lot of flex and are good for most terrain except for the steepest ascents on the 35s. They have a ratchet type binding and a televator for steeper climbs. The televator elevates the hiker's heel on ascents and take some strain off the calf muscles. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! As I was getting ready Sheila stayed near me so that I would not "forget" her but was being a very well-behaved dog. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. She was happy to be going anywhere and crouched in the back seat with her head on the console. We left Livingston Manor at 10:15 AM under blue skies with the temperature reading 35 degrees. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left. I continued up the road to the point where it splits and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. It was a short drive to the parking areas on the left. I pulled into the smaller parking area where there was one other car parked. There was a car and a pickup truck in the larger lot with a group of hikers getting ready to start. My plan was to hike up the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond and make a decision where to go when we reached the intersection with the Big Rock Trail. I put on my snowshoes and set my GPS to get ready to hike with the temperature at 33 degrees. I was concerned that as the temperatures rose the snow would start to melt and clump on the snowshoes.

We crossed the road at 10:35 AM, went up and over the snow bank and got on the Flynn Trail to walk around the private property around the cabin at the end of the road. I immediately noticed that there was a well defined snowshoe track with almost no new snow in the track. I could see that another hiker had been on the track and was not wearing snowshoes. I hoped that the hiker had made the right decision and would not chew up the track with postholes as the snow got deeper at higher elevations and softer as the temperature rose. I also immediately noticed a number of small and larger branches on the trail. I picked up the branches and removed them from the trail and thought how easy this would have been for the other hiker. Many people seem to hike the trails without any thought about making them better. I know this is true because I was once one of those people. At the end of the trail through the woods we turned right on a woods road which is sited along what was once the Beech Mountain Road. This road was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We began the ascent on the trail following the snowshoe track. There was one well set track but someone had ignored the track and had walked beside the main track. In some places there were as many as three sets of snowshoe prints. I am always amazed when I see people wearing snowshoes but ignoring the common sense practice of making one well-packed trench! Using snowshoes is pretty easy but having the common sense to create a track apparently is not. I have always thought that snowshoeing did not require any particular skills but I am beginning to think there should be courses! The day was crisp and clear with blue skies and some sun. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.75 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We passed through the arch Cindy and I had cut through an enormous hemlock that had fallen across the trail. We walked up the trail with a few stops for me to take some pictures and catch my breath. As we gained elevation the snow became softer and the hiker ahead of us kept switching from one track to another to avoid sinking in. The hiker was not successful and began to leave deeper and deeper holes in the snow. It was hard for me to do too much repair as the snow was still frozen. The further we went the more snow had drifted into the trench and the more annoying the holes became. I thought it a shame that someone's poor planning ruined the experience for other people. When we came to the clearing on the right, we passed by as I wanted to stay on the main trail. I was having some problems with the snow sticking to my snowshoes but I had expected this an periodically lifted the shoes and banged them with a poles to clear them. A short distance after the clearing at one mile the snow increased to two feet off the track. The last half mile or so to the junction with the Big Rock Trail was not as enjoyable as I broke the trail through the drifted snow and tried to smooth out the mess the barebooter had made. Several times I called Sheila back to me and then had her run back up the trail. She did a very effective job of helping to break out the trail. As we neared the highest point on the trail at the junction with the Big Rock Trail, I looked at the time and decided to head down the Big Rock Trail and leave Hodge Pond for another day. We reached the junction after hiking 1.7 miles uphill and now would have over a mile descent.

We turned left and started down the Big Rock Trail which was well-packed by snowmobiles. I could see that the barebooter had also turned down the Big Rock Trail and I was happy that they would not ruin any more trails. As we walked down the trail, we could hear snowmobiles and I thought the noise was coming from the Flynn Trail. I waited on the trail and could see the machines coming from the direction of Hodge Pond. This trail is off-limits to snowmobiles but it was obvious these riders didn't care! They turned down the Big Rock Trail and slowed to pass us. I took it as another example of people who feel they are entitled to do whatever they want. We set a faster pace as we descended the trail passing through the various twists and turns that often make it seem like the bottom of the hill is close. The trail was well packed by the snowmobiles and was even easier to hike than when there was no snow as it was very smooth. About halfway down the trail, two more machines came up the trail from Times Square. These machines had trail maintenance equipment on them and I assumed they were members of the snowmobile club doing some trail clearing. The trip downhill went quickly and we were soon at Times Square. We continued straight across to stay on the Big Rock Trail. I immediately noticed that some of the tracks were from snowshoes and some from bare boots including fresh tracks from the hikers we had been following. Snowshoes were helpful for me but I could have walked without as so many had chosen to do. We came to the bridges over the streams that feed Frick Pond where there was some water flowing under the ice that had formed on top. We stopped so that I could take a few pictures before continuing on. When we came to the large spruce log that had fallen across the trail, I was glad that I had been able to remove it because it made hiking the trail so much easier than having to climb over it. We walked along the trail under the spruce trees before crossing the wooden walkways that were laden with snow. At the end of the Big Rock Trail, we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and walked to the bridge over the outlet stream. I took some pictures of the beaver dam, the pond and Flynn's Point on Beech Mountain as I often do. The snow had drifted to almost cover the dam and had filled in the outlet stream below the bridge. After taking the pictures, I packed up and we continued up the hill to Gravestone Junction. We continued on the trail and back out to the car. The Quick Lake Trail back to the parking area was almost completely frozen over with a combination of packed snow and ice. The small streams that normally cross the trail were also almost completely frozen. At the register we continued straight ahead on the woods road. We arrived at the car at 1:00 PM after hiking 3.9 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes. The elevation gain was 680 feet. The temperature at the car was 36 degrees. The pickup truck in the large lot was still the only other vehicle.

On Monday, March 1st I knew I had to get out for a hike despite the forecast that called for rain and then high winds. We had not been out hiking for a week due to the terrible weather and my substituting as school nurse for several days. I decided that I would go across the street and hike on Round Top since I would not have to spend time traveling and could return home if the rain began to fall. When I awoke at 6:30 AM, the temperature was already 34 degrees with some light rain falling. I delayed my hike until the rain all but stopped and the temperature had risen to 38 degrees. I started getting ready at 9:30 AM and Sheila seemed very happy to be going out. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without a baselayer underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I did not expect much snow although the possibility of mud was on my mind. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters which some almost to my knee to deal with the snow and to keep my lower legs warm. I decided to wear my TSL Symbioz snowshoes which have a lot of flex and are good for most terrain except for the steepest ascents on the 35s. They have a ratchet type binding and a televator for steeper climbs. We stepped out of the house at 10:15 AM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We mounted the snow bank left by the plow and headed across the field by the church. The snow was very heavy and wet but did not stick to my snowshoes. There was a breeze blowing that I hoped would disappear once we got on the trails. As we started up the hill, I realized that there was still a lot of snow and I was glad I could still see the track I had set. It did not look like anyone had been on the trail in some time. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I let Sheila off her leash so that I could use my poles to get up the hill. Sheila immediately began to bound up the hill as I followed. The cemetery was still covered in snow and all there was till snow on the surrounding hills. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. There was a haze or fog hanging in the valley and a light mist surround us. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I knew that other people were using the trails from comments on Facebook. The track was pretty well preserved but I noticed some boot prints and postholes to the side of the track.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the viewpoint. The climb up the hill was not particularly tiring as we had the track and not that much new snow. At the viewpoint, Sheila and I headed to the right to follow the main yellow trail as it turned right and headed up the gentle hill through the hardwood forest. The snowshoe track made the walking much easier even though there was a layer of a few inches of snow on top of the track. The snow remained wet and heavy but was not balling up on the snowshoes. Several times I stepped off the track slightly and found more than a foot of soft snow. Sheila was making her own way by staying on the trail some times and then running off trail and sticking her head under the snow at every opportunity. She was also picking up sticks and dragging them along and off the trail. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction with the blue trail. There was a slight breeze blowing which began to increase as we walked. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. This section was easier, even though the snow was a little deeper, as it was flat. At the next junction, we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued up and over the summit. When we started down the other side, I decided we would skip the white crossover trail and the new switchback on the blue trail and just continue down the hill. I was able to get a pretty good glide on the snow but I had to watch my speed and balance. The steepest part of the hill was tricky but the poles helped me to keep my balance and get down without falling. At the bottom of the hill we turned left on the yellow trail, walked along the base of Round Top. I was surprised at how much easier it was walking in the trail I had just broken. At the trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right to walk down to the woods road. It was a snap to walk downhill and out the woods road. It was obvious Sheila felt the same way as she was running and bounding ahead of me and then running back up the trail toward me. We walked the woods road out to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and walked back up the woods road to the junction with the blue trail. I had to call Sheila back as she was following game trails and inspecting the "caves". We turned left and walked along the yellow trail following the base of the Round Top summit. At the next junction we turned right and started up the steeper side of the hill on the blue trail. This time we followed the switchback in the blue trail which was not broken out. It was also obvious that not many people had taken this trail as the track was hard to find. We followed the switchback as it turned back toward the main trail. We turned right on the main trail and right again almost immediately on the white-blazed crossover trail. This too was less used than the main trails and I had to look closely to find the track. On the other side of the hill we came to the main trail and turned right to hike downhill to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail and followed it along the base of Round Top once again. At the junction with the blue trail we turned to the left to stay on the yellow trail to the lookout. At the lookout we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. We walked straight out to the trailhead and turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill. We headed across the church parking lot and the field next to it. We crossed the road to our driveway and were home by 12:30 PM after hiking a little over 2 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes.

On Monday, February 22nd I wanted to get out for a longer hike but the weather forecast was calling for up to 6 more inches of snow! I decided that I wanted to do the hike from Alder Lake to Millbrook Ridge and I wanted to do it on this day. I had no idea the condition of the roads or whether the Alder Lake access road and parking would be plowed but I just wanted to get out. The last time I was at Alder Lake I found a nice snowshoe trench developing on the Millbrook Ridge Trail and I hoped that would continue to the top of the ridge. When I started to get ready at 8:00 AM, the temperature was 26 degrees and there was no snow falling. As I started to dress, Sheila came to smell my clothes and then made sure she kept an eye on me. I put on my Patagonia wool long-sleeved zip top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants with a light pair of tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the snow and to keep my lower legs warm. I made sure my Microspikes were in my pack just in case they were needed. I knew I would need snowshoes for traction on the trails and to deal with the new snow that had fallen. I decided to wear my TSL Symbioz snowshoes which have a lot of flex and are good for most terrain except for the steepest ascents on the 35s. They have a ratchet type binding and a televator for steeper climbs. The televator elevates the hiker's heel on ascents and take some strain off the calf muscles. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I got my gear and Sheila in the car and we left Livingston Manor at 8:30 AM.

I drove north on Old Route 17 toward Roscoe and turned right on the Beaverkill Road which had some snow cover and was a little narrow with all the snow banks along the road. I followed Beaverkill Road through Lew Beach and then Turnwood. After passing through that small hamlet, I turned left on Alder Creek Road and drove to the access road for Alder Lake. The gate was open and some sand had been put down at some time so driving up the road was relatively easy. The access road in now only one car wide but I was pretty sure I would not meet anybody coming out. When we arrived at the parking area, it was completely empty but well plowed. As I set my GPS and put on my snowshoes, flakes began falling. The temperature was 28 degrees and the wind began to pick up. The snowshoe trench that began at the parking area was well-defined but I could not tell the last time somebody had hiked it which surprised me as I thought it would have been well-traveled over the weekend. We followed the track down to the area near the dam and then followed it along the "beach" to the north side of the lake. I decided I would wait to take pictures as there was nothing very special about the overcast skies with snow falling more heavily. We walked along the trail on the northern side of the lake and I noticed some boot prints and some deep postholes but at least they were few and far between. At .8 miles we turned left onto the Millbrook Ridge Trail that ends on Balsam Lake Mountain. The track was obvious but it did not look like anybody in snowshoes had used it recently. There was a set of boot prints that seemed recent and some postholes when the hiker hit softer snow. At 1 mile into the hike we began the first climb which went quickly after which the trail leveled at 1.5 miles. We passed by a beaver meadow and crossed a small stream before starting the next and somewhat longer climb. Over the next .3 miles we gained 180 feet until the trail level at the beaver pond. Somewhere along the way the boot prints had stopped and I was now trying to follow a snowshoe track that was quickly being covered by snow. It was also difficult for me to see through the snow and the fog and snow on my glasses. I thought about visiting the beaver dam but was concerned at how fast the snow was piling up. The snowshoe track left the marked trail and headed on a more direct route toward the lean-to and I followed.

At the lean-to, we took a short rest as I shot a few pictures of the pond and the hills behind it through the falling snow. I got a drink and then we walked out to the snowshoe track which was now back on the main trail. We passed by another beaver meadow without stopping. The trail began to gain some elevation as we climbed toward Millbrook Ridge. We passed by some huge and interesting boulders and glacial erratics. The layers in the sedimentary rock were very clear. It was interesting that many of these rocks had trees growing on top of them in only and few inches of soil. Over the next 1.1 miles we gained 735 feet to the high point on Millbrook Ridge. The snowshoe trench remained good all the way but was hard to see as more snow fell. At 3 miles the direction of the trail switched from heading northeast to southeast. At that point I though I saw some snowshoe tracks coming in from the northwest and assumed it was from someone bushwhacking from Kelly Hollow. When we reached the high point of the ridge there wasn't much to see so we turned around and headed back. I thought that the descent would be much quicker than the ascent but the time was only marginally shorter. The first part of the descent to the beaver meadows was steep and there were some rocks and branches. Sheila was doing a good job removing the branches from the trail. She did not seem to mind the snow or the temperature and would occasionally shake herself off. A few times she bang running ahead and then dashing back toward me. On the way back we bypassed the lean-to and kept a good pace as the entire trip was downhill or flat. The farther we went the deeper the new fallen snow became and the more it obscured my tracks from earlier. We reached the trail junction with the loop trail around Alder Lake and turned right to retrace our path to the parking area. After crossing the IRS bridge, I stopped to take a few shots of the lake. The snow was still falling so hard that I could not see Cradle Rock Ridge across the lake. Once we started in again, we hiked as fast as I could toward the parking area. I kept looking across the lake but could only see the trees and the shore. From the "lawn" I surveyed the scene and decided no pictures were necessary. We walked up the hill to the parking area where I found at least 4 inches of snow on the car. We arrived back in the parking area at 1:10 PM. We had hiked 7.1 miles in 4 hours and 15 minutes with several stops along the way. The elevation gain was 1480 feet and this counted as a 3500 foot peak according to club rules. On the way home the roads were barely plowed and there was very little sand. I chased a coyote for about a quarter mile down Alder Creek Road. I decided not to chance Johnson Mountain on the Beaverkill Road so I headed to Roscoe on the back roads. These roads had been plowed and sanded. I took State Route 17 from Roscoe to Manor and found very little traffic.

On Sunday, February 21st, I was ready to get in a longer hike after returning from church and had decided to hike the big loop around Frick and Hodge Ponds. I knew some of this loop would be packed by snowmobiles so I though I could do it even if I had to break some trail. When I mentioned hiking to Cindy, she said she would like to come along even after I outlined my route. When we were starting to get ready at 12:30 PM the temperature was 30 degrees but I suspected it would be colder at the trailhead. As I started gathering my equipment and getting dressed, Sheila was very quiet but did not let me out of her sight. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants but didn't bother with a baselayer. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the snow and to keep my lower legs warm. I made sure my Microspikes were in my pack just in case they were needed. Cindy and I decided to take snowshoes knowing the snow would not be deep but that wearing them would preserve any track that was present or help us to create one. Cindy took her Tubb's Flex VRT which have the Boa binding. This system uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet wheel which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents and take some strain off the calf muscles. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I decided to wear my TSL Symbioz snowshoes which have a lot of flex and are good for most terrain except for the steepest ascents on the 35s. They have a ratchet type binding and a televator for steeper climbs. We got our gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 12:50 PM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. When we arrived at the parking areas, we found the smaller lot plowed but the larger one was still covered in freshly fallen powder. The smaller lot was full of cars that seemed to have been parked haphazardly with no real plan! There was only one car in the larger lot so I pulled into that one and parked without a problem. As Cindy and I were getting ready, one car pulled out of the smaller lot. The skies were a beautiful blue but lacked any white clouds for contrast. The temperature right at 26 degrees with a slight breeze blowing. I set my GPS and we both put on our snowshoes. We carried our spikes although I could not think of a place we would use them.

We started out the Quick Lake Trail from the parking area to the register and found that many people had been on the trail and it seemed as if all had worn snowshoes! This was a pleasant surprise as a nice snowshoe track had developed. There was about 4 inches of new powder with a foot or more of base off the trails. We turned left at the register onto the woods road that heads out to the trail system. The woods road was completely covered in snow and had a good snowshoe trench with the only open water in the small streams that transect the trail. The snowshoes were working well and I did not notice that walking was much harder with them. At Gravestone Junction we stayed left on the Quick Lake trail heading toward the bridge at the outlet to Frick Pond. When we arrived at the bridge, I almost passed in taking some pictures but decided to stop as I always due and snap some shots. As I was packing up Sheila alerted and we could hear voices coming from the west side of the pond. We waited and a group of four people came toward us. One, who was wearing snowshoes, crossed the bridge and greeted us. Three more stopped on the bridge and we waited fro them to cross. Since they were not moving, we eventually crossed and I noticed one had snowshoes and one did not. Although the track was well-packed, I was disappointed that someone would not wear snowshoes just to be sure they did not chew up the trench. We continued over the bridge and along the west side of Frick Pond and immediately met a young couple neither of whom had snowshoes. They decided to walk off the trail into the deep snow even though she was carrying a baby. We greeted them as we passed and I mentioned that snowshoes made the hike much easier. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we headed left on the Quick Lake Trail where only one other person had hiked recently and it was obvious they had not worn snowshoes! I had broken a track here sometime before and I could still see it. The barebooter had taken advantage of my work and had walked right down the middle of the track leaving holes from 2 to 10 inches deep. The snow was now between 12 and 24 inches and the footprints were annoying. I tried to widen the narrow track and smooth over the depressions. We walked through the spruce tunnel and came to the small stream across the trail. There was a snow bridge over the water and we crossed easily. I noticed at this point that the holes had stopped but there was a rather well-defined snowshoe track. As we walked we tried to widen and deepen the track to a nice trench. The walk up the trail was pretty easy but we did move some branches out of the way. There was no open water or soft mud to impede our progress. I was pretty sure when we got to Iron Wheel Junction there would be snowmobile tracks which would make the walking easier.

When we got to the junction, we could hardly see the iron wheel as it was almost completely covered by snow. Some drifts here were almost three feet deep! The Logger's Loop was completely packed by multiple snowmobile passes. I took a few shots and then was ready to turn left to head toward Hodge Pond. At this point Cindy informed me that she wanted to turn right to take a much shorter route. I knew this might happen as it often does but I was not happy to be hiking less than 4 miles when I had planned on 6. We turned right and began following the pack snowmobile trail which made for very easy walking. As we walked we continued to clear some small branches. After a short distance, Sheila alerted and we both heard the sound of snowmobiles approaching from ahead. We walked off the trail as the three machines approached and slowed as they passed us. We continued to set a good pace along the open trail. It was only a few minutes until the snowmobiles returned and I wondered why they had not gone farther on the well-groomed trails. The skies continued to be blue and cloudless with a bright sun shining down on us. We came to the large cherry tree that had broken off high up and fallen so that it was arching across the trail. This tree was not blocking the trail and it was clear it was not coming down soon. We heard snowmobiles again and walked off the trail to let two different machines pass us. We passed by the seasonal pond on the left side of the trail and continued downhill to Times Square. We continued straight across Times Square to stay on the Logger's Loop. We started the uphill and could see two hikers ahead of us who seemed to be using snowshoes. Although the trail is slightly uphill Sheila and I were setting a fast pace and the other hikers had stopped. We soon passed them offering a brief "Hello". Cindy was a little farther behind but she also passed them and I slowed a little so she could catch up. We continued walking on the trail and crested the hill to walk out to Gravestone Junction. We turned left at the Gravestone Junction and headed back to the car on the woods road. At the trail register, we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail back to our car. It was 3:25 PM and we had spent 2 hour and 5 minutes hiking 3.7 miles on snowshoes. The elevation gain was a modest 395 feet. The temperature had risen to 28 degrees.

On Friday, February 19th a two day snowstorm extending from early Thursday through late Friday morning had dropped 6 inches of snow and some ice on downtown Livingston Manor. Surprisingly there had been only a couple of ambulance calls in the middle of the storm. I did not go out on Thursday as I did not want to chance being an accident on the slippery back roads. Friday morning the roads in town looked better but I knew the back roads would still be dangerous. I did not want to drive anywhere as the roads to hiking areas and the parking areas would not be plowed. I decided to go across the street and hike on Round Top. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go but she declines. Sheila, on the other hand, thought hiking was a great idea. I started getting ready at 10:30 AM when the temperature was a warm 28 degrees with overcast skies and some light snow still hanging around. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a light baselayer underneath. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters which some almost to my knee to deal with the snow and to keep my lower legs warm. I decided to wear snowshoes which would keep the trails in good shape by setting a nice track. I decided to wear my TSL Symbioz snowshoes which have a lot of flex and are good for most terrain except for the steepest ascents on the 35s. They have a ratchet type binding and a televator for steeper climbs. The televator elevates the hiker's heel on ascents. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. I took my pack with me as it is the easiest way to carry my camera. We stepped out of the house at 10:50 PM. After I put on my snowshoes, I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We mounted the snow bank left by the plow with some difficulty and headed across the field by the church to the hill that ascends to the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash and she went to the church parking lot to look around. I think she was looking for Lisa who we often meet there. As we started up the hill, I realized that there was a lot of snow! I could pick out the track I had set before the storm and this made walking easier. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I had already let Sheila off her leash so that I could use my poles to get up the hill. Sheila immediately began to bound up the hill with me following close behind. We stopped in the middle of the hill so that I could take pictures toward the "Flats" to the southeast. The cemetery was covered in snow and all the trees on the surrounding hills were snow clad. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. I took some more pictures across the valley to "Beer Mountain" and some to the north and west. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. There were no tracks on the trails as we were the first ones out to hike.

I knew that other people were using the trails from comments on Facebook. The track was pretty well preserved but I noticed some boot prints and postholes to the side of the track. At the first trail junction, we stopped so that I could take some pictures of the trails and the impressive cliffs and ledges covered in snow. I put my camera away and we continued straight ahead up the hill toward the viewpoint. Again, the climb up the hill was not particularly tiring as we had the track and not that much new snow. At the viewpoint, Sheila and I headed to the left and walked out to the overhanging rock shelf that forms the lookout. Even though it was still snowing, I took pictures of town and the school. I also took some shots of the hills around town. When I was done, we walked to the main trail and followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed up the gentle hill through the hardwood forest with trees encased in snow. There was a slight breeze which would occasionally blow some snow off the trees. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. This section was easier, even though the snow was a little deeper, as it was flat. At the next junction, we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued up and over the summit. When we started down the other side, I decided we would skip the new switchback on the blue trail and just continue down the hill. I was able to get a pretty good glide on the snow but I had to watch my speed and balance. The steepest part of the hill was tricky but the poles helped me to keep my balance and get down without falling. At the bottom of the hill we turned left on the yellow trail, walked along the base of Round Top. I was surprised at how much easier it was walking in the trail I had just broken. At the trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right to walk down to the woods road. It was a snap to walk downhill and out the woods road. It was obvious Sheila felt the same way as she was running and bounding ahead of me. We walked the woods road out to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and walked back up the woods road to the junction with the blue trail. I had to call Sheila back as she was following game trails and inspecting the "caves". We turned left and walked along the yellow trail following the base of the Round Top summit. At the next junction we turned right and started up the steeper side of the hill on the blue trail. This time we followed the switchback in the blue trail which was not broken out. It was also obvious that not many people had taken this trail as the track was hard to find. We followed the switchback as it turned back toward the main trail. We turned right on the main trail and right again almost immediately on the white-blazed crossover trail. This too was Leeds used than the main trails and I had to look closely to find the track. On the other side of the hill we came to the main trail and turned right to hike downhill to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail and followed it along the base of Round Top once again. At the junction with the blue trail we turned to the left to stay on the yellow trail to the lookout. At the lookout we followed the yellow trail as it turned right and descended to the first trail junction. I was interested to see that the trail had begun to fill in with the fine snow that was falling. We walked out to the trailhead and turned right to walk to the bottom of the hill. We headed across the church parking lot and the field next to it. We crossed the road to our driveway and were home by 12:40 PM after hiking a little over 2 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes. By the time it took to hike this figure 8, the difficulty was twice that of the same route without snow. We walked out to the trailhead and down the hill. I put Sheila on her leash in the church parking lot and we crossed the street to our driveway. We were home by 10:25 AM after hiking a little over a mile in almost an hour and a half!

On Wednesday, February 17th I wanted to get out for hike but did not want to go too far from home. I was still letting my back recover and I had an early track practice in the afternoon. I knew that the deep freeze overnight had probably hardened everything on the trails making snowshoes unnecessary and any postholes dangerous. I asked Cindy if she wanted to take a walk and she said "Yes". We agreed to hike the Parksville Rail Trail which is short, less than 3 miles, but has a nice waterfall. As we started to get ready at 10:30 AM the temperature was still 18 degrees. I don't like to take Sheila out too often when the temperature is below 20 degrees but she has never shown any ill effects from it and this would be a short hike. I put on my long-sleeved Patagonia wool zip top with a light long-sleeved baselayer underneath. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away with a pair of light tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots as they keep my feet warm and dry and work well with snowshoes. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I went with my new Follow Hollow alpaca sock which are thick and warm and come to my midcalf. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using all season. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth. For snowshoes Cindy and I decided to take our Tubbs Flex VRT which have the Boa binding. This system uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet wheel which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! We knew these might not be necessary so we also made sure we had spikes with us. At 10:55 we put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. Just after this intersection is the western parking area for the rail trail. We were surprised to see that the parking lot was not plowed. It is a shame that the lot was inaccessible as it would take about 15 minutes to plow and allow people access to the rail trail from both ends. I continued to drive into Parksville turning right at the stop sign on Short Avenue. I noticed the large lot at the corner was plowed but I turned right on Main Street and parked on the side of the street where there was plenty of room. My intention was to check out the trail and then park in the other lot. I got out of the car and walked to the point where the trail entered the woods. The snow was so hard I made no dent in it. I did find that the trail was chewed up by ignorant people who did not know that they should wear snowshoes. Many of them had come out the day before when the temperatures were above freezing. They had sunk deeply into the soft snow and ice. The flash freeze overnight had turned their mistake into a minefield.

We decided to park where we were as it was closer to the trailhead and there were no other cars around. We also decided that we did not need snowshoes. Cindy put on her spikes but I decide to carry mine with me. I set my GPS and we started on the trail at 11:10 AM with the temperature right at 20 degrees with a slight breeze blowing. The boot prints in the trail were every bit as annoying as I thought they might be and they were spread across the entire width of the trail. We were careful and avoided the worst ones as we hiked along the almost flat trail. It was colder under the trees but as long as we kept moving we were warm enough. At about .4 miles we came to the Parksville Falls. The areas above the falls had a lot of ice with water flowing over it. The water was so clear we could see the bedrock beneath the flowing water. The volume of the stream was impressive. I took some shot form the trail and then walked down a path to the edge of the stream. I took some more pictures upstream and then took some of the water going over the top of the falls. When I was done, I walked back up to the main trail and continue for a short distance to the area at the top of the falls. I took a few shots of the falls and then decided I wanted a closer look. I worked my way down a path through some deep snow to an area in front of the falls. I was not able to get the direct view that I wanted because the rocks I normally use as a base were all covered in ice. I did take some more shots and then worked my way up to the main trail. Cindy was already well ahead of me trying to keep warm by moving. Sheila spent her time running up and down the trail between us. At .8 miles we crossed several bridges over an area that has some seasonal streams and drainage off State Route 17. At the end of the bridges I stopped to take some long distance shots down the stream. The skies were so blue and the contrast with the snow-covered landscape was dramatic. After taking some pictures, I continued along the trail westward toward the trailhead near Fox Mountain Road. I noticed that after the bridges there were few if any boot prints and most were just prints with deep holes. As we approached the trailhead parking, I met Cindy and Sheila coming toward us. Cindy decided to head back to the car without me so I kept Sheila with me. We continued to walk along the trail and broke out into the sun where it seemed so much warmer. We walked to the trailhead and then turned around to start back. Sheila kept whining and running ahead to find Cindy but she came back when I called. I did not plan to stop on the way back but did pause at one point to take some pictures of the deep postholes in the trail. As we approached the bridges, Sheila alerted and I saw a family with a dog ahead of us. I put Sheila on her leash and we slowed down a little as I cleared some branches that had come down in the ice storm. We continued to walk out the trail just behind the family. We were back at the car at 12:45 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1.5 hours. The trail could be dangerous after the next snow covers up the frozen postholes.

On Monday, September 17th I wanted to get out for a longer hike than I had been doing to "test" my back. My problem was the dire forecast which mad me think I should stay close to home. I had really wanted to do some of the Scary 19 list but decided they were too far away. I thought about Millbrook Ridge but finally decided to go to the Frick Pond area to see how my snowshoe track had held up. At 10:15 AM I decided to stop waiting on the weather and start to get dressed to hike. As I was getting ready Sheila was watching me intently as we had not hiked for two days. The temperature was 28 degrees and there was light snow falling mixed with something else. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was just cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants with a pair of light Mountain Hardwear tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I also made sure that I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters since I was not sure of the snow depth. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and wore a light pair of gloves. I decided to wear my TSL Symbioz snowshoes which have a lot of flex and are good for most terrain except for the steepest ascents on the 35s. They have a ratchet type binding and a televator for steeper climbs. The televator elevates the hiker's heel on ascents which reduces calf strain and allows the toe crampon to get a better bite. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I put my gear in the car and left the house at about 10:45 AM with a very happy Sheila in the backseat. I drove out the Debruce Road and found the surface was in good shape. At about 6 miles I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. This road was covered in snow with some ice so I took it slow. I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at Frick Pond. There were no cars parked in either lot which I found strange as it was a Federal holiday I pulled into the small lot and parked. The car thermometer read 28 degrees as I set my GPS. The skies were overcast and there was still stuff falling from the skies but there was no wind. The dog from the cabin at the end of the road was again running loose and came to visit us with his owner yelling to him to no avail. The dog is pretty smart but the wonder is a slow leaner!

At 11:05 AM we started our hike by crossing the road to start out on the Flynn Trail. After crossing the snow bank left by the plows I was surprised to find a perfect snowshoe trench! Sheila and I continued along the trail with the dog from the cabin following us and his owner still calling him. When we got to the end of the trail through the woods, we turned right on the woods road that was once the extension of Beech Mountain Road. The dog's owner was there to get hold of him and take him home. The track up the Flynn Trail seemed to have a lot of indentations and postholes from bareboots. I couldn't figure out how they got there until I looked back at the gate that separates the private property around the cabin from the state land. There was a large number of boot prints coming up from the parking area. Apparently, the thoughtless people who will not wear snowshoes to reserve the snowshoe track are also those who don't mind trespassing! Of course, the boot prints continued right up the snowshoe track on the Flynn Trail. As we started up the Flynn Trail I tried to fill in the worst postholes but it was difficult since the snow had already frozen solid. There weren't too many deep holes but each smaller indentation caused by snowshoes to twist. It would have been so much nicer to continue on a smooth snowshoe track. In some places there were two snowshoe tracks and both had been chewed up! The overcast skies kept spitting out a combination of snow, sleet and rain but it was all pretty light. I knew I had several options if I needed to cut short my hike. At 1 mile we passed by the open field on the right of the trail. There was no evidence that anybody had visited this area and we kept moving. By 12:10 PM we had hiked the 1.7 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued straight ahead staying on the Flynn Trail heading toward Hodge Pond. I was sorry to see that some snowmobilers who could not read had ignored the "Snowmobiles Prohibited" sign and had used the Flynn Trail. We passed through the gate that marks the OSI property as did the snowmobile tracks. It felt good to walk this flat part of the trail and soon we were at the next trail junction where we continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail. This section of the trail down to Hodge Pond was the worst with many boot prints that were deeper than on the other trail section. As we approached Hodge Pond, we ran into drifts at least two feet in depth. The barebooters had struggled through these leaving postholes that were more than knee deep. I decided to walk on top of the crofts and had no problem staying there. The snowmobiles had crossed the area by Hodge Pond and continued out the Flynn Trail. We walked over to the shore and found a beautiful sight. All of the trees on the other side of the pond were covered in ice. I took off my pack and got out the camera to try to preserve the scene to show others.

When we were done, I decided we would walk up the jeep trail on the east side of the pond. The snowmobiles had packed the snow which made the walking easier although the hill was steeper than I remembered. We stayed to the left and followed the woods road up the hill and then trued right at the T to get back to the Flynn Trail At the Flynn Trail, we turned left and walked the flat section of the Flynn Trail back to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The hike can seem long as there are several places that make it seem as if you have reached the bottom of the hill at Times Square. The trail was packed by snowmobiles which made the downhill very enjoyable. I was surprised that we did not hear or see a machine all day. As we walked down the trail Sheila alerted and I heard voices from people walking toward us up the trail. I put Sheila on her leash and we continued until we saw the approaching group of five hikers and their dog. I was surprise for a second time as they were all wearing snowshoes and their dog was on a leash! We stopped to talk briefly. They were from Brooklyn and had rented snowshoes at Morgan Outdoors. I suggested that they take a side trip to Hodge Pond and described the frozen scene. We part continuing in opposite directions. Sheila and I set a quick pace and were at Times Square by 1:35 PM after hiking 4.4 miles. At Times Square we walked straight across to stay on the Big Rock Trail. I had expected there to be a lot of boot prints around the pond but there was a nice snowshoe track instead. I could also see that the group I had met ha come this way. We passed over the bridges over the inlet streams and I noticed that the streams were almost completely covered in snow. I was happy that I had removed the large hemlock that had fallen across the trail as it was much easier to walk through this area without having to hop over the tree. We walked through the beautiful area of pines where there was less snow and then over the wooden walkways covered in snow. At the end of the Big Rock Trail, we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and walked toward the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. At the bridge, I dropped my pack and took out my camera. The scene was interesting as there was a fog or haze hanging over the pond and obscuring Flynn's Point. The area of the out let from the pond was covered in snow as was the outlet stream downstream from the bridge. I took shots of the pond and the stream and some toward the direction of Flynn's Point. I packed up and we walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction. The memorial was covered in snow and the trail was not broken. We followed the Quick Lake Trail and the woods road back to the car. Both of these showed heavy use but there was still a pretty clear track to follow. We were back at the car at 2:15 PM after hiking 5.5 miles in 3 hours and 10 minutes with an elevation gain of 840 feet. The temperature had risen a degree to 29 degrees.

On Friday, February 12th my back was feeling better even after a snowshoe the day before. It had taken almost a week for me to work out the muscle strain from an incorrect lift on an ambulance call. I felt like taking off on a longer hike with my pack but knew that would not be the smartest choice. I had a tentative plan to Go to Clapper Hollow and then over to Stone Store to get two of the winter Scary 19 destinations but the forecast called for highs of 16 degrees which I though was a little cold for Sheila. I asked Cindy if she would like to go snowshoeing at Alder Lake as I knew that would keep me in check. She agreed and we discussed seeing how the track we had set around the lake the previous Friday had faired. When I got up at 6:30 AM, the temperature was 3 degrees and I knew we would be waiting a little while. No new snow had fallen overnight but about 6 inches of snow had fallen in the week since we had been at Alder Lake. We started to get dressed around 11:00 AM. Sheila was underfoot as she was eager to go and did not want us to forget her. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was just cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants with a pair of light Mountain Hardwear tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I also made sure this time that I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters that I had forgotten to wear last time! I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and wore a light pair of gloves. For snowshoes Cindy had her Tubbs Flex VRT which have the Boa binding. This system uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet wheel which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I decided to wear my TSL Symbioz snowshoes which have a lot of flex and are good for most terrain except for the steepest ascents on the 35s. They have a ratchet type binding and a televator for steeper climbs. We put our gear in the car and left the house at about 11:15 AM with a very happy Sheila in the backseat. I headed out Old Rt 17 toward Roscoe and turned right or north on the Beaverkill Road to head toward Alder Creek Road. The main roads were only wet but the Beaverkill Road still had a covering of snow and slush. At the intersection with the Barkaboom Road I stayed to the right on Beaverkill Road until we came to the left turn for Alder Creek Road. After turning left, I drove to the end of Alder Creek Road which was plowed wide and had only a little snow on the surface.

At the end of the road I turned right to pass through the gate to Alder Lake. The gate and parking lot had been closed for the winter but the DEC had agreed to open it. Millbrook Ridge was recently added to the 3500 list as Graham Mountain was closed and the Millbrook Ridge Trail from Alder Lake is a popular way to get there. The access road was plowed wider than the week before and it even looked like some sand had been put down. There was one car in the lot when we parked but a quick survey of the snow indicated that probably two people had left the parking area WITHOUT snowshoes! The temperature was 21 degrees and a slight breeze made it a little cooler. The skies at hoe had been blue with some nice clouds but here they were mostly overcast and dark. I set my GPS and at 11:40 AM we walked over the snow bank left by the plow toward the lake following a faint snowshoe track. We passed by the stone remains of the Coykendall mansion and walked downhill to a point near the shore of the lake. I put down my pack and got out my camera to take a few shots. The skies were completely overcast to the south and east but there was some blue to the north. After taking my pictures, we looked at the tracks and it seemed as if the other hikers had gone along the north shore. I hoped they would only go a short distance and the turn around. I packed up and we started out on the trail along the southern shore of the pond to start our counterclockwise loop. We wanted to go in this direction so we could compare the trail our effort and our time to the previous Friday when we had to break the trail all the way around the lake. The snow was either shallow or frozen across the dam as it was very easy walking. As soon as we stepped off the dam, we began to follow the trail we had made which was barely visible as it had drifted in. It did not seem like many people had been on the trail but those that had been were barebooting. I kept thinking "There's snow, wear snowshoes! The snow off the track varied in depth from a foot to two feet as we walked across the open area and into the woods. As we walked, I kept stopping every few feet to fill in the deepest holes some inconsiderate hiker had made by failing to be prepared to hike in snow. We continued to follow the snowshoe track which we had set and the walking was much easier than a week ago. Cindy doesn't like to break trail and even Sheila was staying behind me. After we crossed the small bridge on the south side of the pond we began to find more drifts that looked more like sand dunes. I remembered how hard it was to negotiate these on the previous hike. This time it was much easier.

At one point Sheila alerted and I looked up to see a young couple headed toward us without snowshoes. They were sinking in enough to chew up the trail but, since, our track was well set, there were no deep postholes. As they approached, I tried to think of something "educational" to say but the young lady spoke first. She said "You have the idea. We've been doing a lot of hikes without snowshoes but I can see the wisdom in using them." I responded by saying "Yes, it makes it easier for you to walk and preserves the trail for others." We continued in opposite directions with me now filling in the indentations they had made. Fortunately, the trail reaches a high point and the descends some as it approaches the east end of the lake and downhill is always easier. We came to the bridge over Alder Creek and I made sure to stay to the left out of the dry creek bed which is an easier approach. Even the bridge had over a foot of snow and getting up the steps on one side and down them on the other was challenging. We continued to the junction with the Millbrook Ridge Trail. I was surprised that the Millbrook Ridge Trail had not been used at all during the week as there appeared to be at least 4 inches of new snow over a well-defined snowshoe track. I turned right and walked up the trail a short distance and found it to be firm without many holes. I walked back to Cindy at the trail junction and we continued on the trail around the lake. We stopped at one break in the trees so that I could get some shots of the lake facing west. Just before we crossed the bridges across the inlet stream, we stopped so that I could get some more shots. The light seems to be the best I had seen and I took strictures across the lake to Cradle Rock Ridge. We continued along the north shore of the lake there was slightly less snow and where our track was a little better preserved. We broke out of the trees near the "lawn" and we continued to the base of the hill up to the parking area. I decided to cut across the area near the "beach" and join back with the track we had taken on the way. We walked up the hill toward the parking area.

I got the idea that it would be nice to take a look at one of the waterfalls on Alder Creek below the dam. I did my best to convince Cindy that it would be "fun" but she was too smart for that. I mounted the snowbank and headed directly down the steep bank to the creek through 2 to 3 feet of snow. Sheila and I walked parallel to the creek and I stopped to take a few shots of the ice frozen near one of the small rapids. We continued along the creek to the first waterfall. We walked down another steep bank and out onto a rock outcropping that faced the falls. I took off my pack and got out the camera. I took some pictures of the waterfall which was almost completely frozen. I noticed some ducks in the stream and took pictures of them. I could not see Sheila so I called her and she did not come. I looked around and then down toward the stream. I could see her below the rock outcrop I was standing on and called her to come up to me. She tried but could not as she had jumped down and now could not get an traction on the icy rocks. We tried several times to no Vail. I knew that she could walk farther downstream and then up the bank where it was not as steep. I packed up and began walking downstream along the bank calling for her. I looked down the bank and did not see her and was just a little scared until I look behind me and found Sheila following. I was relieved and quickly discussed with her the merits of following my instructions. We started to walk out the woods road toward the pillars. The snow was at least two feet deep and I found a place to cut up to the access road through some very deep snow. Once we were on the access road it was a short walk back to the parking area and the car. We arrived at 1:30 PM after walked 2.1 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes with 25 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was only 210 feet. I was happy to be back but I was already making plans to come back and hike up the Millbrook Ridge Trail.

On Thursday, February 11th I decided to try a short hike on Round Top. I had not hiked for 4 days while trying to rest my back from some painful muscle spasms. I had pulled some muscle on an incorrect lift on an ambulance call and then aggravated the same area on another call. I started to get ready at 11:00 AM when the temperature was 30 degrees. Sheila seemed very happy that we would be going out as we had not been out in 4 days! I knew that the trails would be broken and that I would only have to use snowshoes for traction. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without a baselayer underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I did not expect much snow although the possibility of mud was on my mind. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters which some almost to my knee to deal with the snow and to keep my lower legs warm. I decided to wear my TSL Symbioz snowshoes which have a lot of flex and are good for most terrain except for the steepest ascents on the 35s. They have a ratchet type binding and a televator for steeper climbs. Sheila kept Bryce and I in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. We stepped out of the house at 11:20 AM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We mounted the snow bank left by the plow with some difficulty and headed across the field by the church. There was a stiff breeze blowing that I knew would disappear once we got on the trails. As we started up the hill, I realized that there was a lot of snow and I was glad Cindy and I had broken the trail he previous week! We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I let Sheila off her leash so that I could use my poles to get up the hill. Sheila immediately began to bound up the hill as I followed. The cemetery was covered in snow and all the trees on the surrounding hills were snow clad. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. There were no tracks on the trails.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued up the hill toward the lookout. Walking up the hill was not too difficult and my back felt OK. At the top of the hill we followed the snowshoe track and the yellow markers as they turned right. The trail begins a gentle uphill and the walking was easy except for one short, steep section where I had to be sure my snowshoe crampon bit into the snow. At the junction with the upper blue trail we turned right and followed the yellow trails along the base of Round Top. The next time we met the blue trail we turned left and started up toward the summit. I was really feeling fresh and we seemed be going at a pretty fast pace as we passed the white crossover trail. Once we got to the summit we walked across it and started down the other side. This is the steepest part of the trail which is why I added a switchback. I decided to avoid both the crossover trail and the switchback and simply head straight for the bottom. I sued my poles for balance and picked up the tips of my snowshoes for a quick descent to the trail junction. We turned left on the yellow trail and again followed it to the junction with the blue trail. I usually turn right to complete a figure eight but this time we turned left and again headed for the summit. As we ascended, we turned left on the white crossover trail and followed it back to the main blue trail on the other side of the hill. We turned left and almost immediately left again on the switchback. We followed the switchback to the main blue trail again and turned left to descend to the trail junction. One more time we turned left on the yellow trail and followed it to the junction with the blue trail. We trued right to stay on the yellow trail and walked down the woods road to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked out to the trail head and down the hill to the church. We walked across the field to the road. Sheila waited until Is aid "Cross!" And then she headed for our driveway. We walked down the driveway and were back home at 12:30 POM taking a little over and hour to cover a little less than2 miles.

On Saturday, Februaru 6th, I had decided to take off from hiking as I had tweaked my back on several ambulance calls. I had ignored the discomfort and hiked the day before which proved not to be a good idea. I got up late trying to in catch up on some sleep I had missed from late night ambulance calls. At 9:00 AM the temperature was 33 degrees on the back porch and the sun was shining with some wispy white clouds. I knew I could not resists these conditions so I planned too take a short snowshoe somewhere. I thought about going back to Alder Lake and hiking clockwise around the lake or out the Millbrook Ridge Trail. I instead decided to go to the Beaverkill Campgrounds and hike along the river. I started to get ready at 10:15 AM with the temperature at 33 degrees under sunny skies. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was just cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants with a pair of light Mountain Hardwear tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and wore a light pair of gloves. I decided to wear my TSL Symbioz snowshoes which have a lot of flex and are good for most terrain except for the steepest ascents on the 35s. They have a ratchet type binding and a televator for steeper climbs. I put my gear in the car and left the house at 11:30 AM with a very happy Sheila in the backseat. I headed out Old Rt 17 toward Roscoe and turned right or north on the Beaverkill Road to head toward Lew Beach. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge.

As I parked, there were no other cars in the lot which was a sharp departure from the crowds this summer. The river was higher than I thought it might be with part of it flowing and another part frozen. As I was getting ready, a car pulled into the lot and two young women in stylish boots got out. They tried to walk over to the bridge but their boots kept slipping on the ice. I set my GPS and we started our hike at 10:55 AM by crossing the bridge to the west side of the river. I carried my snowshoes as I did not ant to wear them on the road or bridge. As we exited the bridge, we turned left and I stopped to put on the snowshoes. The woods road that parallels the river had only a few inches of snow and I knew this would be easier on my back that breaking trail in deeper snow. There were two sets of old boot prints in the snow and I followed them to try to create a track. We walked past a spring house and continued on the deserted woods road. The snow began to get deeper and was about 6 to 10 inches which I could feel in my back. We came to an area with a little path down to the river. I walked down to the edge of the river and took some pictures downstream and some upstream which included the bridge. Soon we came to a picnic table surrounded by snow with snow piled on top of it. I decided to take pictures that showed the deserted campgrounds which was even more dramatic now that the snow was piled round. I took pictures of the picnic tables and, a little later, what was once a bathroom for some campsites that had long since disappeared. At the next bathroom we stopped so that I could take some more pictures. I walked to the edge of the river and took some pictures of the sun reflecting off the water. In several areas the DEC had placed large rocks along the shore and covered them with heavy wire to reduce erosion. Before leaving I also took pictures of the deteriorating bathrooms. At about .7 miles the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites. I had almost decided to turn around here but it did not seem like an appropriate place to end.

It looked like the DEC had plowed once before the big storm but there was plenty of snow left. We continued our hike on the unplowed road along the river. Many of the campsites had a cement block fireplace with a grill but some were upgraded to poured concrete. Everything was very quiet except for the water in the river as it ran beneath the ice on the surface of the river. This was not surprising as the campsites are closed. I took some pictures of all the empty campsites. Even though the hike is almost flat I was feeling every step in my back. We walked to the last campsite where the trail ends and I walked down to the river to take some pictures of the ice on top of the flowing water. I also took pictures downstream which caught the blue sky with clouds. We turned around to start back and I decided to walk back in the same track we had come out on. This was the best way to set a good track. Walking back was easier as the track was broken but I was trying to walk so that I packed down the part of the track I had missed on the way out. I did notice that my stride length on the way back was shorter than on the way out! I did not stop to take any pictures so things did go a little faster. We came to the last uphill to the road and it was easier than I thought it would be. I decided to take off my snowshoes before crossing the bridge. I found that it was easier to sit on the top bar of the gate to get the shoes off. I picked up the snowshoes and we walked across the bridge to the car. I was about to take some pictures of the bridge when another car pulled in. This car had a dog in it and the owner did not have a leash. I have grown used to inconsiderate dog owners so I put Sheila in the car. I took my camera and walked over to take a few shots of the bridge and the returned to the car. It was 12:50 PM and we had hiked 2.2 miles in 2 hours with an elevation gain of 190 feet.

On Friday, February 5th I wanted to go somewhere away from home to snowshoe in some unbroken snow. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go knowing here two primary criteria were "short and flat". When I suggested a hike around Alder Lake, she agreed. We both thought this would be an easy hike. celebrate National Trails Day by doing some trail maintenance, being a trail angel and hiking. When I got up, the temperature was 30 degrees and about two inches of new snow had fallen overnight. I knew that the temperature would be going up slightly but that it might be cooler at the trailhead. The forecast called for some wind which I knew would make the temperature feel lower. We started to get dressed around 10:45 AM. Sheila was underfoot as she was eager to go and did not want us to forget her. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was just cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants with a pair of light Mountain Hardwear tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and wore a light pair of gloves. For snowshoes Cindy had her Tubbs Flex VRT which have the Boa binding. This system uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet wheel which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I decided to wear my TSL Symbioz snowshoes which have a lot of flex and are good for most terrain except for the steepest ascents on the 35s. They have a ratchet type binding and a televator for steeper climbs. We put our gear in the car and left the house at about 11:15 AM with a very happy Sheila in the backseat. I headed out Old Rt 17 toward Roscoe and turned right or north on the Beaverkill Road to head toward Alder Creek Road. The main roads were only wet but the Beaverkill Road still had a covering of snow and slush. At the intersection with the Barkaboom Road I stayed to the right on Beaverkill Road until we came to the left turn for Alder Creek Road. After turning left, I drove to the end of Alder Creek Road which was plowed wide and had only a little snow on the surface.

At the end of the road I turned right to pass through the gate to Alder Lake. The gate and parking lot had been closed for the winter but the DEC had agreed to open it. Millbrook Ridge was recently added to the 3500 list as Graham Mountain was closed and the Millbrook Ridge Trail from Alder Lake is a popular way to get there. The access road was a little slippery but the parking lot was completely plowed. We were both happy to be the only car in the lot and a quick survey of the snow indicated that at most two people had been there since the major storm at the beginning of the week. The temperature was 33 degrees and a slight breeze made it a little cooler. The skies were mostly overcast and as we looked past the head end of the lake it looked like it might still be snowing on Balsam Lake Mountain. I set my GPS and we walked over the snow bank left by the plow toward the lake following a faint snowshoe track. We passed by the stone remains of the Coykendall mansion and walked downhill to a point near the shore of the lake. I put down my pack and got out my camera to take a few shots. The skies were completely overcast and a mist or fog hung over some of the surrounding hills. After taking my pictures, I packed up and we started out on the trail along the southern shore of the pond to start our counterclockwise loop. I had no reasons for going in this direction other than the fact that we usually go the other way. The snow was either shallow or frozen across the dam as it was very easy walking. As soon as we stepped off the dam, we began to sink into the snow and the work we would have to do became clear. The snow varied in depth from a foot to two feet as we walked across the open area and into the woods. We continued to follow the snowshoe track which split several times leading me to believe there may have been two people. Not very far along the trail the track started off to the right of the trail and then crossed the trail and headed down to the shore of the lake. We never saw any evidence of that trail or nay other and we were on our won. Cindy doesn't like to break trail and even Sheila was staying behind me. It was difficult keeping a fast pace but I have realized as I get older it is more about finishing than finishing quickly. After we crossed the small bridge on the south side of the pond we began to find more drifts that looked more like sand dunes. I tried walking on the lee side of them but finally decided to go up on top of the dunes. The drifted snow was so consolidate that I could walk on top and only sink a few inches in most places.

Fortunately, the trail reaches a high point and the descends some as it approaches the east end of the lake. We came to the bridge over Alder Creek and I realized we were walking in part of the stream bed which carries water when the creek overflows. The side were steep so Cindy walked back a short distance on the trail while Sheila and I tried to scale the bank. At one point Sheila was moving her legs very fast but going nowhere. She eventually caught hold and made it up the bank. I learned from what she had done and dug the crampon on my snowshoe into the bank and used my poles to boost myself up. Even the bridge had over a foot of snow and getting up the steps on one side and won them on the other was challenging. We continued past the junction with the Millbrook Ridge Trail. I noticed someone had put up a hand-lettered sign and wondered why people believe they are allowed to do this. The official sign on the other side of the trail gave much the same information. We continued on the trail around the lake stopping at one break in the trees so that I could get some shots of the lake facing west. As I packed up, I thought I saw Sheila shivering a little and resolved to pick up the pace. Usually Sheila simply runs around a little to get warm but it was difficult with all the snow. We crossed both of the bridges across the inlet stream and started along the north shore of the lake. I had hoped that the snow depth would be less on this side of the lake but that was not the case. I tried to keep a faster pace and did for the most part. As we broke out of the trees and neared the "lawn", the sun came out briefly and we stopped so that I could take a few pictures. From that point we continued to the base of the hill up to the parking area. I decided to cut across the area near the "beach" and join back with the track we had taken on the way. We walked up that and back to the car. We arrived at 1:50 Pm after walked 1.8 miles in 2 hours and 5 minutes with 30 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was only 150 feet. I was happy to be back but I was already making plans to come back and hike up the Millbrook Ridge Trail. Driving out the access road went better than I had thought but winter tires and all-wheel drive certainly help.

On Wednesday, February 3rd I had agreed to hike with Lisa on Round Top at 11:30 AM. I knew my grandson Bryce would be at the house and would like to go along. I did two ambulance calls overnight and was feeling both tired and exhausted by the time 9:00 AM rolled around. We have responded to more than 1 call a day on the average for this year which is far above our average volume. I though about calling Lisa and backing out but knew I would feel better and that the hike would be relatively short. I have wanted to get out for a longer hike but the recent massive snowstorm makes breaking trail solo difficulty and many of the parking lots a re still unplowed. We started to get ready at 11:00 AM when the temperature was 30 degrees. Sheila seemed very happy that we would be going out even though we had snowshoed the day before. I brought Bryce's MSR Tykers up from the basement. They are really too small for him but the adult shoes I have are just a little large. I knew that the trails would be broken and that he would only use them for traction. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without a baselayer underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I did not expect much snow although the possibility of mud was on my mind. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a light baselayer underneath. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was just cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters which some almost to my knee to deal with the snow and to keep my lower legs warm. I decided to wear my TSL Symbioz snowshoes which have a lot of flex and are good for most terrain except for the steepest ascents on the 35s. They have a ratchet type binding and a televator for steeper climbs. Sheila kept Bryce and I in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. We stepped out of the house at 11:20 PM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We mounted the snow bank left by the plow with some difficulty and headed across the field by the church. As we started across the field, we could see Lisa parked by the church getting ready to hike. When Sheila saw her, she began to pull toward her. Sheila can be cautious around people but once you are part of her "pack" you are good forever. Sheila said "Hello" to Lisa and we waited for her to be ready before to the hill that ascends to the trailhead. There was a stiff breeze blowing that I knew would disappear once we got on the trails. As we started up the hill, I realized that there was a lot of snow and I was glad Cindy and I had broken the trail the day before! We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I let Sheila off her leash so that I could use my poles to get up the hill. Sheila immediately began to bound up the hill as we followed. The cemetery was covered in snow and all the trees on the surrounding hills were snow clad. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. The only tracks on the trails were the ones Cindy and I had made the day before.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We followed the snowshoe track that Cindy and I had set the day before which made the walking much easier. Bryce was doing fine with his snowshoes and poles and Sheila was making her own way sticking her head under the snow at every opportunity. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction. At the junction, we turned left and followed the track to the next trail junction. Some of the snow on the trees had fallen off with the wind but the scene was still beautiful. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. Just before the steepest section we turned right on the switchback trail marked with blue paint blazes. This trail was not broken which made the hiking a little more difficult. We continued to follow these blazes as they made a sharp left turn and headed back to the main blue trail. We turned right on the blue trail and continued up the blue trail. Within a few feet, we turned right on the white crossover trail which also was not broken out. Breaking trail through the snow was actually fun and we followed the trail to the end where it intersected the blue trail on the other side of Round Top. I decided to take a slightly different route so we turned left and started up the hill to the summit of Round Top. Even though the trail was broken, going uphill was a little more strenuous. We crossed over the summit and got ready to descend the steeper side of the hill. I started down keeping my weight on my heels and kept my balance as I quickly descended. Once I was passed the rock in the trail, I began taking longer strides which increased my speed. Bryce slipped a little on the way down but was soon with me followed by Lisa. We turned left on the yellow trail which now had well-packed track. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up toward the summit. When we reached the white crossover trail, we turned left and followed it over to the main blue trail on the other side of the summit. We turned left and then left again on the switchback to help pack the trail we had broken earlier. At the end of the switchback we turned left and walked down to the trail junction. This time we continued straight ahead on the yellow trail headed for the lookout. Going downhill on gently sloping broken trail seemed so easy. We stopped at the lookout and Lisa took some pictures of us at the viewpoint. We started down the yellow trail to the first trail junction. We continued out to the trailhead where we turned right and headed down the hill. We walked behind the church and said "Goodbye" to Lisa at her car. When we started across the field to our driveway, I noticed that the track we had set earlier was almost completely drifted in. We walked across the field to our driveway. We were back at the house at 1:15 PM having walked a little over 2 miles in an hour and 45 minutes.

On Tuesday, February 2nd a snowstorm during the day on Monday continued overnight dropping 15 inches of snow on downtown Livingston Manor. As is often the case, there had been several ambulance calls in the middle of the storm. On Monday I was ready to step out the door and the pager went off. I had a lot of explaining to do to Sheila when I got back home. An early call on Tuesday brought me back home at 7:30 AM. I decided it would better to take a hike before settling down to get a nap. The wind was starting to blow and I wanted to get some pictures of the snow on the trees. I did not want to drive anywhere as the roads to hiking areas and the parking areas would not be plowed. I decided to go across the street and hike on Round Top. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she agreed. We started getting ready at 8:30 AM when the temperature was a warm 30 degrees with overcast skies and some light snow still hanging around. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a light baselayer underneath. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was just cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and wore a light pair of gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters which some almost to my knee to deal with the snow and to keep my lower legs warm. Cindy and I decided to wear snowshoes which was the main reason we were going out! Cindy had her Tubbs Flex VRT which have the Boa binding. This system uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet wheel which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I decided to wear my TSL Symbioz snowshoes which have a lot of flex and are good for most terrain except for the steepest ascents on the 35s. They have a ratchet type binding and a televator for steeper climbs. Sheila kept us both in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. I took my pack with me as it is the easiest way to carry my camera. We stepped out of the house at 9:10 PM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We mounted the snow bank left by the plow with some difficulty and headed across the field by the church to the hill that ascends to the trailhead. As we started up the hill, I realized that there was a lot of snow! We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I let Sheila off her leash so that I could use my poles to get up the hill. Sheila immediately began to bound up the hill with Cindy and I following close behind. The going was more difficult than I had expected and I had to pause a few times. We stopped in the middle of the hill so that I could take pictures toward the "Flats" to the southeast. The cemetery was covered in snow and all the trees on the surrounding hills were snow clad. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. I took some more pictures across the valley to "Beer Mountain" and some to the north and west. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. There were no tracks on the trails as we were the first ones out to hike.

At the first trail junction, we continued straight ahead up the hill toward the viewpoint. Again, the climb up the hill was pretty tiring especially since I only had Sheila to break trail ahead of me with Cindy following. At the viewpoint, Sheila and I headed to the left and walked out to the overhanging rock shelf that forms the lookout. Cindy decided to continue on the trail to the upper part of the lookout. Even though it was still snowing, I took pictures of town and the school. I also took some shots of the hills around town. Cindy took some shots from where she was including a nice one of Sheila sitting in the snow. Sheila bounded up from the lower lookout to where Cindy was standing and I followed somewhat more slowly. We walked to the main trail and followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed up the gentle hill through the hardwood forest with trees encased in snow. There was no wind and everything was very still. At the first trail junction with the blue trail we stopped so that I could take some pictures of the pristine trails along the base of Round Top. The bushes and trees were laden with snow which made a beautiful sight. We turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. This section was easier, even though the snow was a little deeper, as it was flat. At the next junction, we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. Cindy and I both felt the elevation gain as we hiked ho the hill. Sheila was unaffected. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued up and over the summit. When we started down the other side, I decided we would skip the new switchback on the blue trail and just continue down the hill. I was able to get a pretty good glide on the snow but I had to watch my speed and balance. The steepest part of the hill was tricky but the poles helped me to keep my balance and get down without falling. I looked back and saw Cindy taking her time and waited until she was down the hill. At the bottom of the hill we turned left on the yellow trail, walked along the base of Round Top. I was surprised at how much easier it was walking in the trail I had just broken. I suggested that we make another loop over the crossover trail and the switchback but Cindy declined. I decided that I would go home with her so we turned right to walk down to the woods road. It was a snap to walk downhill and out the woods road. It was obvious Sheila felt the same way as she was running and bounding ahead of me. We walked the woods road out to the first trail junction. By the time it took to hike this figure 8, the difficulty was twice that of the same route without snow. We walked out to the trailhead and down the hill. I put Sheila on her leash in the church parking lot and we crossed the street to our driveway. We were home by 10:25 AM after hiking a little over a mile in almost an hour and a half!

On Saturday, January 30th, I was ready to get out for a hike after bitterly cold weather and numerous ambulance calls had prevented me from getting out. I always take Sheila with me and I was worried about her getting too cold when the temperatures had been in the teens with a wind-chill much lower. I decided to head for Cabot Mountain from Beech Hill Road as I really wanted to gain some elevation as see what the snow looked like up high. I also maintain this trail for the FLT and wanted to see how it had fared in the ice and wind. I started to get ready at 10:00 AM when the ambulance pager sounded and we were off to cover a call in Liberty. By the time I retuned home at noon I didn't feel like going to Cabot so I set my sights a little lower and decided to head to Frick Pond. I put on my long-sleeved Patagonia wool zip top with a light long-sleeved baselayer underneath. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away with a pair of light tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots as they keep my feet warm and dry and work well with snowshoes. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I went with my new Follow Hollow alpaca sock which are thick and warm and come to my midcalf. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles I have been using all season. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided to wear my TSL Symbioz snowshoes which have a lot of flex and are good for most terrain except for the steepest ascents on the 35s. The binding is very good and they have ample traction. As I was getting ready Sheila stayed near me so that I would not "forget" her but was being a very well-behaved dog. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. She was happy to be going anywhere and crouched in the back seat with her head on the console. We left Livingston Manor at 1:10 PM under blue skies with the temperature reading 26 degrees. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left. I continued up the road to the point where it splits and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. It was a shirt drive to the parking areas on the left. I pulled into the smaller parking area where no one else was parked. There was only one pickup truck in the larger lot. It surprised me that there weren't more people hiking but I thought they might have finished and left. My plan was to hike up the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond and then back to the Big Rock Trail. We would follow the Big Rock Trail to the junction with the Quick Lake Trail and take that back to the car. I put on my snowshoes and set my GPS to get ready to hike with the temperature at 21 degrees.

We crossed the road at 1:30 PM, went up and over the snow bank and got on the Flynn Trail to walk around the private property around the cabin at the end of the road. I immediately noticed that there only about 6 to 8 inches of snow but that there was a well defined snowshoe track. I was surprised since many of the people who hike in this area never think of anything but barebooting. At the end of the trail through the woods we turned right on a woods road which is sited along what was once the Beech Mountain Road. This road was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We began the ascent on the trail following the snowshoe track. There was one well set track but someone had ignored the track and had walked beside the main track. The day was crisp and clear wit blue skies and some sun. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.75 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We passed through the arch Cindy and I had cut through an enormous hemlock that had fallen across the trail. We walked up the trail with a few stops for me to take some pictures and catch my breath. As we gained elevation the snow got deeper as more had fallen and drifting had occurred. Now I could see as many as four different snowshoe tracks and some from bare boots. I am always amazed when I see people wearing snowshoes but ignoring the common sense practice of making one well-packed track! Using snowshoes is pretty easy but having the common sense to create a track apparently is not. At least the bare hooters had stayed out of the snowshoe track. When we came to the clearing on the right, we passed by as I wanted to stay on the main trail. At this point Sheila came back to me and appareled to be favoring her right front paw. I inspected it and did not find an injury but I did not want a small problem to become a bigger one. A short distance after this point the snow increased to over a foot and I could barely find a well-defined snowshoe track. Either some of the snowshoers had turned around or the track had drifted in. Worse yet the bare booters had decided to walk in what was left of the track. The last half mile or so to the junction with the Big Rock Trail was very difficult as I broke the trail and tried to smooth out the mess the barebooters had made. Several times I called Sheila back to me and then had her run back up the trail. She did a very effective job of helping to break out the trail. As we neared the highest point on the trail at the junction with the Big Rock Trail, I could also feel my legs beginning to get just a little tired especially in my inner thighs. I thought about Sheila's paw and decided we would turn down the Big Rock Trail and leave Hodge Pond for another day. As we approached the junction we could hear snowmobiles coming up the Big Rock Trail from Times Square. We reached the junction with the Big Rock Trail and waited as a group of ten snowmobiles went through the junction and gathered on the trail. All of the machines slowed as they came toward the junction and saw us. We turned left to descend to Times Square. We had hiked the 1.7 miles uphill to the junction and now would have over a mile descent.

We set a faster pace as we descended the trail passing through the various twists and turns that often make it seem like the bottom of the hill is close. I was glad I had chosen a shorter hike although Sheila did not seem to be having any problems with her paw. The trail was well packed by the snowmobiles and was even easier to hike than when there was no snow as it was very smooth. Two more machines came over a rise and immediately slowed. These were the last people we would see for the day. The trip downhill went quickly and we were soon at Times Square. We continued straight across to stay on the Big Rock Trail. I immediately noticed that all of the tracks were from boot alone and that no one had worn snowshoes. Snowshoes were helpful for me but I could have walked without as so many had chosen to do. What people do not realize is that there many deep impressions in the snow will freeze making walking harder for everyone! We crossed the bridges over the streams that feed Frick Pond where there was some water flowing under the ice that had formed on top. When we came to the large spruce log that had fallen across the trail, I was glad that I had been able to remove it because it made hiking the rail so much easier than having to climb over it. I stopped once under the trees to take some pictures before crossing the wooden walkways that were laden with snow. At the end of the Big Rock Trail, we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and walked to the bridge over the outlet stream. The sun was beginning to get low in the sky which gave the pond a different look so I stopped to take some shot. I did notice that the breeze coming off the pond was making me colder. I took some pictures of the dam and the pond. I packed up and we continued up the hill to Gravestone Junction. We continued on the trail and back out to the car. The Quick Lake Trail back to the parking area was almost completely frozen over with a combination of packed snow and ice. The small streams that normally cross the trail were also almost completely frozen. At the register we continued straight ahead on the woods road. We arrived at the car at 3:40 PM after hiking 3.9 miles in 2 hours and 5 minutes. The elevation gain was 680 feet. The temperature at the car was 23 degrees. The pickup truck in the large lot was still the only other vehicle.

On Monday, January 25th I was ready to go out for a hike to see how the snowmobile club fared with clearing the trails around Frock and Hodge Pond especially the Loggers Loop that had several large trees down. The temperature at 9:00 AM had risen to 23 degrees which was higher than I thought it would be all day. I started to get ready at 9:30 Am when the temperature was still in the 20's with a slight breeze. I asked Cindy of she wanted to go but she thought it was too cold! I did not have to ask Sheila as she is always ready to hike. I put on my long-sleeved Patagonia wool zip top with a light long-sleeved baselayer underneath. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away with a pair of light tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots as they keep my feet warm and dry and work well with snowshoes. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I went with my new Follow Hollow alpaca sock which are thick and warm and a little above midcalf. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles I have been using all season. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided to wear my TSL Symbioz snowshoes which have a lot of flex and are good for most terrain except for the steepest ascents on the 35s. The binding is very good and they have ample traction. As I was getting ready Sheila stayed near me so that I would not "forget" her but was being a very well-behaved dog. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. She was happy to be going anywhere and crouched in the back seat with her head on the console. At 10:00 AM I headed out the DeBruce Road. After about 6 miles, I turned left on Mongaup Pond Road and stayed left where the road split falling Beech Mountain Road to the trailhead. When we arrived at the parking area, there were no car parked in either lot.

The temperature was 26 degrees with a slight breeze but the sun made it feel a little warmer and the skies were nice and blue. I noticed that the woods road out to the register had a wide and obvious snowshoe track broken. I put on my snowshoes and set my GPS as we headed out the woods road to the Quick Lake Trail at 10:20 AM. I immediately noticed that the snowshoe track was well set and that the bare boot prints ran along the side of the trail well out of the snowshoe track. Developing one well-constructed snowshoe track is the best idea and I was happy people had finally begun to realize that. Wearing snowshoes in more than 8 inches of snow makes a hike more enjoyable for the wearer and shows concern for other hikers. We passed the trail register and headed toward Frick Pond. The trail was snow-covered and all the water I could see was frozen although some must have been flowing under the ice. We continued on the trail to Gravestone Junction where we turned right to get on the yellow Logger's Loop heading toward Times Square. There was a snowshoe track broken on the Logger's Loop which made me happy as it makes the hiking much easier. We headed out the trail which had about a 8 inches of snow off the track. It was cold enough that the snow was not packing on my snowshoes which made the walking even easier. Soon we were hiking downhill toward Times Square still following the snowshoe track that had been set. At Times Square I continued straight ahead on the Logger's Loop which was well-packed by snowmobiles. Just after Times Square there was a large tree that the snowmobile club had cut into sections and moved off the trail. I stopped to take a few shots before moving on. We started a slight uphill climb on the snow-covered trail but the hiking was easy on the packed trail. Just before the trail flattened there was another smaller blowdown that the club had cleared and I took some pictures. Because I was not breaking trail my hips and inner thighs were no aching as they often do.

We continued our hike as the trail flattened a little which made the hiking a breeze. I kept looking for other blowdowns that had been cleared but I didn't see any. I was getting very warm in the wool top and tights but I just opened some zippers on my Mammut hoody. I did notice several large plastic culverts along the way. The DEC has started a project to replace the metal culverts and to install culverts were they were needed but did mot exist. That project began at least two years ago but was not completed and the black culverts stand out like a sore thumb. I stopped to take a few shots and then we were off again. It wasn't long before we were walking downhill and the climbing a small hill to Iron Wheel Junction. I was happy to find a trail broken by some bare booters and a cross country skier. I tried to stay out of the ski tracks but the trail is too narrow. I did not see any snowshoe tracks. We turned left to head back toward Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail. The trail is slightly downhill which allowed us to keep up a good pace even which was further augmented by the existing track. There were almost no wet spots as most were frozen solid. We came to the small stream in the woods which was almost completely frozen over. I crossed the stream with one big step and avoided getting my snowshoes wet! Walking through the "spruce tunnel" was as easy as the rest of the hike had been. Eventually we walked out the other side where the trail was again covered in snow. We arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail and found the trail well packed. We continued on the Quick Lake Trail to the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. We crossed the bridge and stopped at the other side. I dropped my pack to get out the camera despite the fact that I have taken hundreds of pictures from this location. The skies were blue with only a few clouds and the scene was a little "warmer" than the temperature. I also took shots of the pond and of Beech Mountain. I took a few more pictures of the outlet stream which was almost completely frozen over. Sheila posed on the bridge and I took her picture also. I packed up and we continued up the hill and back to Gravestone Junction. At Gravestone Junction we continued out the Quick Lake Trail and back to the car without seeing a single person. We arrived at the car at 12:15 PM having hike 3.7 miles in 1 hours and 55 minutes with an elevation gain of 380 feet. The temperature was 28 degrees but felt warmer.

On Wednesday, January 20th, I was scheduled to meet Lisa at the Neversink Unique area to hike a loop including Denton Falls on the Neversink River and Mullet Brook Falls On Mullet Brook, a tributary to the Neversink. An early morning ambulance call put me behind schedule and it seemed that everything from my gaiters to the gas pump was out to get me. I started getting ready at 9:45 AM when the temperature was 25 degrees with overcast skies. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I knew this might be overkill but I did it anyway. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I did not expect much snow but wanted to keep my feet warm. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and wore a light pair of gloves. At the last minutes, I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the snow and to keep my lower legs warm. I made sure my Microspikes were in my pack just in case they were needed. I decided to take snowshoes knowing the snow would not be deep but that wearing them would preserve any track that was present or help us to create one. I brought my pair of Tubbs Flex VRT for me and Cindy's pair for Lisa who was coming from Connecticut and did not have snowshoes with her. I got my gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 9:35 AM which I knew might be too late to make it to the end of Katrina Falls Road by 10:00 AM. As I left, snow was falling pretty heavily and the wind was blowing. Many of the trees were already covered in a coat of snow and I was looking forward to taking pictures on our hike. I got on Route 17 and started for Rock Hill. By the time I passed the hospital in Harris the snow was subsiding and it looked as if it had not snowed there at all! I got off the Quickway at exit 109 and turned right on Katrina Falls Road to drive to the end of the road. I parked at 10:05 AM in the small parking area where Lisa was already parked. We said "Hello" and looked at the trail conditions. I was disappointed to find that there was little snow on the ground or on the trees although there was plenty of ice. We decided to leave the snowshoes in the car and wear our spikes. I set my GPS and started off through the gate and down the woods road at 10:10 AM.

The woods road had spots of ice covered in a thin layer of crunchy snow and I thought the spokes might not be necessary but they proved useful. At the bottom of the hill we turned left to stay on the main blue trail. At this point a yellow spur trail goes down to the river. All of the yellow trails in the area branch off the main blue and red trail, go to a destination like the Neversink River and the return. Just after the turn we came to a small bridge over Wolf Brook. The water in the brook was flowing freely and was as high as I have seen in some time. In addition, the creek had overflowed and flooded the trail beyond the bridge. I decided to stop and take some pictures as it was a beautiful scene without too much bright sunlight. After taking my shots, we crossed the bridge and hiked up a small hill. I noticed the condition of the bridge had deteriorated even more than on previous trips and looked like it would soon collapse. I hope the DEC will fix before it collapses as its present condition does not allow the use of a UTV to transport injured hikers. At the next trail junction, at the top of the short hill, we stayed to the right on the blue trail and descended through before starting up another small hill. The spikes allowed us to simply walk where we wanted and not have to pick our ways round the ice. We stop once to take some shots of the green rhododendron and the white trail which was a nice contrast. At 1.2 miles another yellow spur trail headed down to the river but we stayed on the blue trail. As we approached a bridge, we could hear the water rushing down Mullet Brook. At 1.4 miles we came to the lower bridge across Mullet Brook. The old bridge which was falling apart had been replaced with one based on steel i-beams. I took some pictures of the stream before heading on up the trail. Almost immediately after crossing the bridge, we turned right on the yellow spur trail that goes down to the river at Denton Falls. The trail down to the river is steep in spots and some areas looked dangerous even with spikes. We walked beside the trail where we had better traction and were able to descend to the flatter area below. The blazes are few and far between so hikers had been forging there own routes. Since maintainers are now prevented by the DEC from placing markers, they must be placed by forest rangers or foresters. This regulation means that trails are not as well marked as they should be. When the trail leveled and began to follow the land contours, we ran across several muddy areas which were partly frozen but still wet. These were being widened as more and more hikers tried to find their way around these mud pits. I was careful to keep my footing and walk around the wettest places. At 11:05 AM we had hiked 1.6 miles and we were at the edge of the river.

I took off my pack and leaned it against the rock that I usually use as a base. I took my camera out of my pack and began to look for photographic opportunities. The scene was pleasant and the water in the river was high but it lacked the ice and snow I expected to find. We walked out onto the rocks by the river and I called Sheila to make sure she did not jump into the river. The level of water in the river was lower than I had expected but there was enough to make the falls interesting. I took pictures upstream and downstream. I then worked my way to the rocks below and right in front of the falls where I was able to take pictures of the falls and a few more downstream. I had Sheila pose on some rocks and took some pictures with the river in the background. Before we left the river, we made sure to get a drink and a bar. We walked back up the steep trail to the main blue trail and the ascent seemed easier than the descent. We were bale to walk up the icy spots we had avoided on the way down without any Robles. When we got to the main trail, we turned right to continue the loop back to the car. At the top of the hill I briefly thought about going to High Falls but knew that the scenery would not be much different. We stayed to the left to start up the hill. After a brief walk uphill of .15 miles, we turned left onto the short trail down to Mullet Brook Falls. I was wondering what Mullet Brook Falls might look like since there was such a good volume on the main river. As we approached the falls, we could hear the water falling. We walked down to the edge of the stream where I usually stop and I dropped my pack to get out my camera. The water coming over the falls was far from a deluge but was still very beautiful. The sun was still absent so there was little glare. I worked my way up the right side of the rocks below the waterfalls to an area where I could take pictures. There was some thick ice in this area so I took some close-ups and then incorporated it into the pictures of the falls. I then retreated from my position and worked my way to a spot in front of the falls and took some more shots. I took some pictures of the falls and then posed Sheila for a few more. I took a few more shots of the falls using settings to soften the water falling over the rocks. There was ice framing the falls and some large icicles hanging from the rocks. When I was done, we headed back to where I had left my pack where I put away my camera and shouldered my pack. Lisa had been taking some pictures farther downstream and we were both ready to leave. We walked back out to the main trail and turned right to head up the longest and steepest hill on the hike.

The hill is exposed to the sun so there was very little snow and no much ice. Our spikes kept getting clogged with snow and we stopped often to clear the buildup. When we came to the top of the hill, I knew e were not far from the bridge. The bridge still had several bright orange caution tapes on it and had not been repaired in any way. We walked up to the bridge and saw pieces of bridge and pieces of the tree that had fallen on it. The logs that acted as supports looked like they might be slightly cracked but they held our weight with no problem. We crossed the bridge and continued on the trail which stays level for a short time and then is mostly downhill. After a brief walk, we were at a trail junction 3.1 miles into the hike. Walking straight ahead on the trail leads to the Wolf Lake Multiple Use Area. We turned left and began to descend off the ridge. The walk seemed to go quickly as Lisa and I discussed various topics including activities to get young people away from their computer screens and outside. As we continued to hike downhill, I noticed that the trail remained clear of brush although there were several new and large blowdowns. We walked downhill for some time and eventually came to the trail junction near the bridge over Wolf Creek where we had started the loop earlier. We continued to walk straight ahead over the bridge to return to the parking area. Once on the other side of the brook we made the right turn on the woods road back to the car. We arrived at the parking area at 1:00 PM having hiked 4.7 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes including the stops at the two falls. The vertical gain was only about 980 feet. We had met no other hikers and there were no other cars parked in the lot. I felt so good I regretted that I did not have time to continue to hike. There was some blue in the sky and the sun was peeking through at times. The temperature was still only 30 degrees.

On Monday, January 18th, I was ready to get in a longer hike and had decided to hike Millbrook Ridge from Alder Lake. Millbrook Ridge is the last "peak" on the 3500 Club list now that Doubletop and Graham are closed. When I mentioned hiking to Cindy, she said she would like to come along but the hike would have to be shorter and flatter. We agreed to go to the Frick Pond area and hike The Quick Lake Trail and Loggers Loop. It wasn't quite 30 degrees when I got up at 7:00 AM but the temperature was going up. I wanted to get an early start but had various tasks to accomplish in the morning so I didn't start getting ready until 10:00 AM when the temperature was 33 degrees. I started gathering my equipment and getting dressed. Sheila had been very quiet but did not let me out of her sight as I was getting ready. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I knew this might be overkill but I did it anyway. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I did not expect much snow but wanted to keep my feet warm. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and wore a light pair of gloves. At the last minutes, I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the snow and to keep my lower legs warm. I made sure my Microspikes were in my pack just in case they were needed. Cindy and I decided to take snowshoes knowing the snow would not be deep but that wearing them would preserve any track that was present or help us to create one. I got Cindy's Tubb's Flex VRT from the cellar as she had not been snowshoeing this season. Whole I was there, I decided to wear my TSL Symbioz snowshoes which have a lot of flex and are good for most terrain except for the steepest ascents on the 35s. We got our gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 10:40 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. When we arrived at the parking areas, we found them both plowed but no cars were in the lots. I pulled into the smaller parking area to park and almost immediately another car came up the road and decided to park in the same lot. As Cindy and I were getting ready, the people in the other car did not exit their vehicle. The lies were completely overcast and it looked like it might snow with the temperature right at 32 degrees. I set my GPS and we both put on our snowshoes. We carried are spikes although I could not think of a place we would use them.

We started out the woods road to the register and found that many people had been on the trail but none had worn snowshoes. There was very little snow but there were already some frozen footprints which were now thawing. We tried to walk single file so that we could smooth a track knowing the next hikers would probably be in bare boots. The woods road was mostly covered in snow with the only open water in the small streams that transect the trail. The snowshoes were working well and I did not notice that walking was much harder with them. At Gravestone Junction we stayed left on the Quick Lake trail heading toward the bridge at the outlet to Frick Pond. When we arrived at the bridge, I almost passed in taking some pictures but decided to stop as I always due and snap some shots. After packing up we continued over the bridge and along the west side of Frick Pond. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we headed left on the Quick Lake trail where almost everyone else had turned right around the pond. The snow was now between 4 and 6 inches and the footprints were annoying. I tried to widen the narrow track and smooth over the depressions. We walked through the spruce tunnel and came to the small stream across the trail. I thought the water level was a little high so I walked upstream to cross. Cindy somehow made it across the wider area on the trail. The walk up the trail was pretty easy but we did move some branches out of the way. There was no open water or soft mud to impede our progress. The bare boot prints continued to be a problem. I was pretty sure when we got to Iron Wheel Junction There would be snowmobile tracks which would make the walking easier. When we got to the junction, we were both surprised to see untouched snow to the right on the Logger's Loop. We turned right and began breaking trail through no more than six inches of snow. This was actually easier than trying to widen the narrow bare boot track!

As we walked we continued to clear some small branches. We both noticed a few snowflakes in the air and a breeze that had kicked up. At the same time there were some rays of sunlight but we could see they would be short-lived. We ran into the large cherry tree that had broken off high up and fallen so that it was arching across the trail. This tree was not blocking the trail and it was clear it was not coming down soon. We passed by the seasonal pond on the left side of the trail and continued downhill to Times Square. As we passed through Times Square, we looked back to find two hikers with their dog on a leash. I noted they were not wearing snowshoes and had probably chewed up the track we had just laid down! We continued straight head on the Logger's Loop while the others turned right onto the Big Rock Trail. We walked up a slight hill and out toward Gravestone Junction. By now the snow was falling noticeably so I elected not to take pictures and get back to the car. We turned left at the Gravestone Junction and headed back to the car on the woods road. At the trail register, we continued straight ahead to retrace our route back to the parking area. It was 1:15 PM and we had spent 2 hour and 15 minutes hiking 3.6 miles on snowshoes. The elevation gain was a modest 395 feet. The temperature still 32 degrees and as I pulled away from the parking area five more cars came up the road!

On Friday, January 15th, I had planned for some time to hike Halcott. I am not sure why I had this on my mind but I had not been there in some time. When I got up at 8:00 AM it was 28 degrees but I new that would rise some during the day. I started to get ready at 8:30 AM with Sheila hovering around me. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I knew this might be overkill but I did it anyway. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants with a light pair of tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I did not expect much snow but wanted to keep my feet warm. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat for warmth and wore a light pair of gloves. At the last minutes, I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the snow and to keep my lower legs warm. I made sure my Microspikes were in my pack just in case they were needed. I got my gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 9:10 AM. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat. The skies were blue completely overcast, there was some moisture in the air and a breeze was blowing. I headed out DeBruce Road and turned left at the end on Route 47 to head toward Big Indian and Route 28. There were no cars parked at Biscuit Brook. The Slide Mountain parking area had four cars parked. The parking area for Giant Ledge and Panther was a little more than half full but looked very icy. As we passed these spots where we have hiked before Sheila would "moan" as if she was asking me if we could stop and hike. I turned right on Route 28 and then left on Route 42 to head toward Spruceton. After 5 miles, I pulled into the parking area for Halcott on the right side of the road. There was one other car parked at an angle taking up at least 2 parking spots. I began to get ready and decided to keep my spikes in my pack until they were needed. I set my GPS and started up the slope near the falls at 10:20 AM.

As I worked my way up the slope, it was very icy and it was clear I should have put on my spikes. I made it to the top and followed a track across the creek above the falls. I immediately stopped to put on my spikes and felt much more secure once they were on. In my previous trips I had usually headed west and slightly north to gain the ridge and then walked that ridge to Halcott. I had also hiked north to Sleeping Lion, a peak on the Catskill Hundred Highest list, and then southwest to Halcott. Both of these routes avoid some of the steepest climb to the summit of Halcott. The track that I was following appeared to be made by 4 to 6 people so I decided to follow it. There was several inches of snow on the ground which was packed in the track I was following. The track headed WSW toward Bushnellsville Creek and crossed a few wet areas. I knew that the creek was small but had cut a deep drainage that could not be crossed until much further up the mountain. At about .4 miles, the track came to a point overlooking that deep drainage and turned right. From here the track headed northwest and up gaining elevation until it started to sidehill and flatten at .75 miles turning more west. We crossed the drainage at .85 miles. We were now surrounded by fog and a light mist. I was already a little tired but I kept think 'At least there are no nettles!' At this point the climbing began for real. Over the next .6 miles we gained over 950 feet with an average grade of 28% and a few steeper areas. The track headed southwest and then at 1.1 miles started to veer south. On one of the steepest section I spotted the other hiker coming down toward us with his dog. I stepped aside with Sheila and he put his dog on a leash as he passed. We exchanged greetings and he parted with 'You still have a long way to go!' I knew that there was still some climbing but I did not need his affirmation. As we continued toward the summit I considered nailing out several times. I kept telling myself we were close and the return trip was all downhill. It did not help that we would climb a steep section to find a slightly more level spot only to see another climb ahead. This happened three times until we finally got to the summit plateau which looked familiar.

The wind on the top was gusting to 30 mph and there was a layer of ice on all the trees. I had been warm up to this point but was starting to cool off. The track to the canister wound back and froth until I finally spotted an orange blob on a tree. I was very happy and I immediately took off my pack and got out the camera. I took pictures of Sheila, my pack and the canister. I also took some shots of the ice on the trees and the bleakness of the summit. It was at this point I saw another hiker approaching. We greeted each other and he got the book out of the canister. He signed in and then handed it to me and I signed my name and Sheila. We talked for a moment and then both decided it would be good to start down and get out of the wind. Sheila and I started to follow the track back down the mountain. I looked around and did not see the other hiker and assumed he had tried a different route. I started down as fast as I could which went well for a while until we hit the very steep sections. As I was negotiating one section, the other hiker showed up. I stepped aside for him to pass but after went by us he slowed a little and we stayed together for the rest of the descent. The hiker was from Saylorsville, Pennsylvania and was staying for the weekend to get in some Catskill Peaks. I learned he had hiked Balsam earlier in the day and complimented him. I had considered doing Rusk after Halcott but had quickly decided against that. We had a very pleasant talk on the way down and parted after descending to the falls. I walked over to the falls and took quite a few shots from different angles. We walked down to the car arriving at 1:15 PM after hiking 3.2 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes. The elevation gain was 1740 feet. Our speed was 1.1 mph when moving and only 1.4 overall! Despite the short distance, the steep climb had proved challenging for me.

On Wednesday, January 13th, I had planned to do a longer hike taking in some 3500 foot peaks but Lisa wanted to hike to the beaver Meadow (Pond) lean-to at Alder Lake so I agreed to go. My grandson, Bryce, would also be at the houses and I planned to take him also. Bryce had a 9:00 AM Zoom meeting with his teacher so I arranged to pick up Lisa at 10:00 AM at her house. When I got up at 8:30 AM it was 26 degrees but I new that would rise some during the day. I started to get ready at 9:30 AM with Sheila hovering around me. I put on my Patagonia wool long-sleeved top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I knew this might be overkill but I did it anyway. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants with a light pair of tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I did not expect much snow although the possibility of mud was on my mind. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a Mountain Hardwear hat and wore a light pair of gloves. At the last minutes, I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the snow and mud which I was sure we would find. I made sure my Microspikes were in my pack just in case they were needed. I got my gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 10:00 AM. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. I put my gear in the car and Sheila and Bryce in the backseat and we left Livingston Manor at 9:50 PM. I drove out the driveway and turned left on Old Route 17 toward Roscoe. Just outside of town I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and headed north. At the top of Johnston Mountain, I pulled into Lisa's driveway to pick her up. I continued on the Beaverkill Road through Lew Beach and Turnwood toward Alder Creek Road where I made a left. Lisa pointed out the Beaverkill Fish Hatchery to Bryce and told him a little about the history. Alder Creek Road had almost washed out in one of the rainstorms in the fall but the Town of Hardenburgh had done a great job and the area that was effected had been reinforced and showed no further signs of erosion. I continued to the end on the road where I turned right toward Alder Lake. The gate to the access road was locked but there were no cars parked in the few spaces outside the gate. I was a little surprised as Alder Lake in popular and has become more popular now that Millbrook Ridge is the temporary alternative for Graham Mountain until the 3500 Club can determine the status of that mountain with the Gould family. The temperature was now 30 degrees but the breeze hit me when I got out of the car. The tracks of the other hikers showed someone may have worn snowshoes but I knew this was unnecessary from previous hikes. I did see cross country ski tracks and a suggestion that some people had worn skis. I hoped the drops of blood on the snow were from fish caught on the lake. The skies were completely overcast with no blue and no sun. I set my GPS and we started up the access road at 10:25 AM.

There was some ice beneath the snow but I was not slipping much and the walking was not much more difficult than on dry ground. We walked uphill for about .35 miles to the parking area which, of course, was completely empty. Lisa told Bryce a story about brining friends to snowshoes at Alder Lake for the first time. We headed down to the "lawn" passing by the stone foundations which marked the last remnants of the Coykendall Mansion. We walked toward the trail around the left side of the lake. As we walked along the trail we found a few spots of ice and open water. The brush and branches that had overgrown the trail were now dead and the walking was much easier. Sheila was happy to be out and ran ahead and then returned to us. I decided that since it was late I would not stop for any more pictures on the way out. Lisa suggested that we walk silently to the bridges over the inlet streams so that we might see some otters. I had never seen an otter at Alder Lake but we walked with making any noise until we passed the bridges. We crossed the bridges on the trail near the head end of the lake and continued on the trail toward the junction with the Millbrook Ridge Trail. At the trail junction, we turned left to head toward the lean-to on the Millbrook Ridge Trail. The trail was covered in snow with a few patches of ice here and there. The blowdowns we encountered were all easy to step over but I knew I would need to get a crew out in the spring to remove them from trail. Bryce and I did remove a few larger blowdowns by loosening them and pulling them off the trail or by breaking them off. The trail is pretty obvious and the blazes easy to see in mist places and we followed the tracks of other hikers. For the next 1.5 miles the trail climbed and then leveled off several times. The elevation gain is several hundred feet but the grade is never more than 12% and averages around 6%. There isn't too much to see along the way but this day was very pleasant because the snow adds a beauty to the woods. We enjoyed the sounds and sights of Alder Creek as it flows parallel to the trail much of the way. I looked over at the creek and saw that there was a good volume of water and that the rocks were covered in snow and ice. I thought about trying to get down to the creek bed for some shots but decided against it. The trail leveled off at a beaver meadow and we crossed a small stream that feeds it. At 2.2 miles we began the last climb and I found that the snow had a little more ice underneath it. Bryce and I looked up and found that Lisa had decided to forge ahead without us but we kept our steady pace. I was slipping and sliding some but decided I would not stop to put the spikes on as the climb was short.

Soon we arrived at the beaver pond. Where there had once been a beaver meadow, there was now a pond with a dam and a beaver lodge. Lisa had walked out to the beaver dam and was now waiting for us on the trail. We walked over to the lean-to to find it empty although there were signs people had recently been there. It was noon so we got a drink and a bar before starting back. It was then that Bryce informed me he had a Zoom meeting at 2:00 PM as wells as 3:00 PM. I knew the trip back would be quicker than the trip out but decided we should get going right away. We packed up and went back out to the trail assuming Lisa was right behind us. After a few minutes I looked back and saw she was still at the lean-to. We decided to press on as I knew she would catch up to us. As we came to the spot on the trail opposite the beaver dam, I thought about stopping to take some pictures but decided to bypass the opportunity this time. I realized that the return trip would be much easier as it was almost all downhill. I knew that it would be important to watch our foot placements so that we did not fall on steeper descents. Bryce had not hiked in some time and was a little tired but we set a good pace. Soon we saw Lisa was just behind us. She caught us and passed us and we chose not to join the race! The walk did go quickly and we were soon at the loop trail around Alder Lake where we turned right to return the way we came. We did catch up to Lisa as she was taking a few pictures near the lake. It was difficult but we were able to match her pace and even get in a little conversation as we walked along the shore of the lake. I was glad the skies were still overcast and the scene was not conducive to photography. We walked up the hill to the parking area and I considered walking down to the creek to take some pictures of the waterfalls but I knew we were on a tight schedule. Lisa sign out at the register an we walked out the access road and down the hill to the car. We were back at the car at 1:05 PM after hiking 5.32 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes. The elevation gain was 745 feet. The walk out had taken 1 hour and 25 minutes while the trip back was 1 hour and 10 minutes! Our overall speed was 2 MPH with moving average of 2.12 MPH.

On Tuesday, January 12th I was ready to get out and do another real hike and considered Halcott or Rusk or may =be both. In the end I decided to go to Yagerville to hike to Vernooy Kill Falls and then loop back to the car using the Long Path and snowmobile trails. This was a new hike for me which doesn't happen too often and I estimated the distance to be between 6 and 8 miles. When I started to get ready at 9:30 AM the temperature was 26 degrees but there was no wind blowing. The skies were overcast and there was moisture in the air which made it seem raw. Sheila was excited to be getting out and would not let us out of her sight. I put on my Patagonia wool long-sleeved top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I knew this might be overkill but I did it anyway. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants with a light pair of tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I also applied a new waterproofing and leather preservative which has proved very effective. I did not expect much snow although the possibility of mud was on my mind. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a Mountain Hardwear hat and wore a light pair of gloves. At the last minutes, I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the snow and mud which I was sure we would find. I made sure my Microspikes were in my pack just in case they were needed. I got my gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 10:00 AM. I drove east on State Route 17 to Liberty and then got on Route 55 headed toward Grahamsville. After passing the TriValley school, I turned left on Route 55A and drove toward Sundown. Where Route 55A turned right, I continued straight ahead on Sundown Road to Sundown. In Sundown I turned right just after the bridge on Greenville Road and drove to the top of the hill to the intersection with Dymond Road. I turned left on Dymond Road and parked in the small pulloff on the right. The temperature was 30 degrees as I set my GPS to begin the hike. We crossed the road to start out on a snowmobile trail toward Vernooy Kill Falls.

As we started the sign indicated 1.8 miles to the falls but I knew the signs were often incorrect. I knew that the falls were lower than where I had parked so that we would be descending quite a bit on the way to the falls. The first part of the trail was bare in some places with ice and some snow. I was surprised to see several sets of footprints going in both directions. Eventually the trail became snow covered with only a few inches of snow most of which was packed. There was no need to wear spikes and the walking went quickly. After a little more than half a mile we ran into several large blowdowns which forced me to drop my pack to duck under or to walk around the end. I suspected that no one had been on this trail with a snowmobile in some time and since it was not a hiking trail very little maintenance had been done. Sheila alerted and I looked up to see a young man stopped near a small stream. I put Sheila on her leash as we approached him. I stopped to talk and found out that he was doing the hike in the opposite direction having started at Upper Cherrytown Road. He told me he was from Ithaca and was now living in Poughkeepsie and attending the State University at New Paltz. He was building up his mileage so that he could backpack from Poughkeepsie to Ithaca using the Long Path and Finger Lake Trail. We parted knowing that we would see each other at least one more time as we were both doing the loop. We walked a little farther and entered an area where the laurel was encroaching on the trail. I stopped to take some pictures of the snow on the laurel and of Sheila on the trail. We started a short ascent before dropping to the falls and I saw another hiker ahead. He walked well off the trail and made a cryptic comment as we passed. I wished him well and we continued on our way. Sooner than I thought we were descending to the falls. I took a picture of the bridge and then walked out onto the bridge to take pictures of the falls. I was surprised to see that the falls were almost completely frozen over when the water had been freely flowing in late December. I dropped my pack and poles on the other side of the bridge and took my camera. I took pictures from the bridge and then walked downstream along the bank to take some more shots. I was able to walk out onto a rock that did not have ice and get some pictures of the falls head on. After getting a number of shots, I retuned to the pack and stowed the camera. I got a drink and put a bar in my coat to warm. I shouldered my pack and we started out from the falls headed north on the Long Path.

Since the falls was the lowest point on the hike, I knew we would have to ascend some but by looking at the map there were no steep climbs. As we walked along, I was surprised that there were no markings on the trail at all. I knew it was about a mile to where the Long Path split from the snowmobile trail and I hoped it was well marked. Sheila once again altered and I saw a very large dog coming our way. It looked like a young golden retriever but it was huge and its owners had no control. He came over to Sheila and kept running around us as the male owner lamely tried to get hold of him. I thought I has going to have to whack the dog with my hiking pole but knew it would be more appropriate to chastise the owner! He never was able to grab the dog but herded him away as Sheila and I walked the other way. At 2.8 miles the Long Path made a left turn away from the snowmobile trail which continued to Trail's End. We now had to climb Polple Hill which was rather easy as the distance was about .3 miles and the elevation gain less than 200 feet at a 10% grade. After the hill, the trail began to roll but mostly descended to Spencer Road. Along the way we met the young man we had met before. We stopped for a short conversation. He told me Spencer Road was an unmaintained and seasonal road which was in pretty good shape. He also told me that the turn toward Dymond Road and away from the Long Path was a little tricky. We part and soon Sheila and I arrived at Spencer Road which had very little snow, some ice and a few vehicle tracks. We continued to descend and head north until at 4.7 miles the road began to ascend. It was a very easy slope which was hardly even noticeable. We eventually came to the Vernooy Kill again which flowed under the road through a culvert. I stopped to take a few more pictures and to check Avenza on my phone. I had left the iPhone in my pack and the battery was quickly dying.

There was still some distance to go before the turn off the Long Path and we set a quick pace. Our pace was slowed in some places by the ice on the road but I walked around it and Sheila did not seem to mind. As we neared where I though the turn should be, a road turned to the left. I looked down the road and could see one markers so I decided to continue on a little farther. Just as I was considering turning back, we came to a group of signs at 5.7 miles indicating that the Long Path veered to the right and the snowmobile trail continued almost straight ahead for .9 miles to Dymond Road. I was glad I now knew where we were going and we set off along the rolling road. As we neared Dymond Road, I saw a pickup truck parked on the side of Spencer Road with someone getting out of the truck. As a courtesy, I put Sheila on her leash just as two hunting dogs boiled out of the truck and headed for us. Once again, the owner had little control over his dogs and one aggressively approached us. I chased him away and the owner finally got him on a leash. As the other dog was growling at us, the owner assured me he was harmless! We hurried past the truck and continued on to Dymond Road at 6.5 miles. We turned left on the road which was plowed and sanded. The road descended slightly and then began to climb back to the intersection where I had parked the car. We walked a half Nile to the south along the road to the car. We were back at the car at 2:10 PM after hiking 7 miles in 3.5 hours. The elevation gain was 735 feet. Our overall speed was just over2 mph with the moving average being 2.4 mph which I considered very respectable.

On Monday, January 11th I knew I had to get out and hike if only for the exercise. I decided to go across the street to hike on Round Top and Cindy agreed to go along. Sheila seemed very happy that we would be going out and that both of us were going with her. At 12:00 PM, we started to get ready with the temperature hanging at 26 degrees and overcast skies. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without a baselayer underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I did not expect much snow and knew that what was once mud would now be frozen mud. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat and wore a light pair of gloves. We stepped out of the house at 12:30 PM. We had decided to put on spikes as we did not know how much ice we would find on the trails. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. Since we had our spikes on, we walked across the field next to the church so we did not dull the spikes on the road. When we stepped onto the parking lot, there was a layer of ice and I was glad we had the spikes. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church that was covered in packed snow and ice. We both walked up the hill getting a good grip from the spikes. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila always helps me up the hill by giving me a good pull in her leash living up to the husky in her blood. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. There were a lot of boot tracks on the trails but I could not tell whether they were from earlier in the day or from days before.

At the first trail junction we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the steep hill toward the lookout. We bypassed the icy viewpoint and turned right as the main trail turned right and headed up the gentle hill through the hardwood forest. There was no wind and everything was very still except for the crunch of us walking using the spikes. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. This section was easier even though there was some snow because it is mostly flat. At the next junction, I decided we would do the figure 8 so we turned left and started up the hill to the summit. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued up and over the summit. When we started down the other side, I decided we would skip the white crossover trail and the new switchback on the blue trail and just continue down the hill. We were able to get a pretty good grip with the spikes and poles but the trail was icy especially on the steepest part! At the bottom of the hill we turned left on the yellow trail, walked along the base of Round Top and then turned right to walk down to the woods road. We walked the woods road out to the first trail junction where Cindy announced she was ready to go home. I counter with a proposal to walk back up toward the lookout and then a bushwhack along the ledges. Cindy agreed and we started off. It is surprising how much territory there is within the trail loops we had created. As we walked along the ledges, I showed Cindy the crossarm Bryce and I had found on one downed tree and the insulator bracket on another. We continued to walk in the woods until we came to the yellow trail along the base of round top. We turned left and walked to the trail junction with the blue trail. Cindy decided to head home but I wanted to check out the other trails for blowdowns which I had been removing as we were hiking. There had nit been much wind but the weight of the ice had brought down some large branches. Sheila and I turned right and started up the blue trail toward the summit of Round Top. When the switchback headed to the right we followed it but found no branches down on the trail. When we arrived back at the main blue trail, we turned right and then almost immediately right on the white crossover trail. We walked along the crossover trail finding only a few small branches. When we arrived at the blue trail, we turned right and walked own to the yellow trail. Here we turned right, walked along the base of Round Top and turned left at the next junction with the blue trail. We hiked downhill to the viewpoint and followed the yellow trail as it descended to the first trail junction. We walked out to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We walked down the steep hill and across the field by the church to our driveway. We were back at the house at 2:00 PM having walked a little over 2 miles in an hour and 30 minutes.

On Friday, January 8th, I had planned to do a longer hike taking in some 3500 foot peaks but slept in a little later due to some late night ambulance calls. For some reason the ambulance calls had been coming in frequently and in bunches but most were not COVID related. The calls combined with family related responsibilities had meant almost a week without hiking! When I got up at 6:30 AM it was 16 degrees but I new that would rise during the day. I had to take Sheila to the vet and when I finally returned home at 11:45 AM I was ready to go hiking. The temperature was only 25 degrees and a slight breeze was blowing. Sheila was ready to go as soon as I started to get out the hiking gear. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without a baselayer underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and found it improved the support for my feet immensely. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I had recently used a new leather preservative and waterproof wax on the boots and I was anxious to see how it worked. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat and wore a light pair of gloves. Even though I did not expect the snow to be very deep I also wore my OR Crocodile gaiters. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. I put my Silky Sugowaza saw in my pack just in case I ran into any blowdowns that were blocking the trail and added by Kahtoola Microspikes as I expected the trails to be slippery. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and we left Livingston Manor at 12:30 PM. I drove out the driveway and turned left on Old Route 17 toward Roscoe. Just outside of town I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and headed north. As I drove up Johnston Mountain, I got behind a garbage truck and some other cars that were intent on traveling 30 mph! I continued through Lew Beach and Turnwood toward Alder Creek Road where I made a left. The final truck pulling trailer with ATVs finally turned off at the Beaverkill Fish Hatchery. Alder Creek Road had almost washed out in one of the rainstorms in the fall but the Town of Hardenburgh had done a great job and the area that was effected had been reinforced and showed no further signs of erosion. I continued to the end on the road where I turned right toward Alder Lake. The gate to the access road was locked and there were already three cars parked. I thought I would have to look for another place to hike but there was just enough room for me to park without blocking the gate for emergency vehicles. I wondered if any of the cars belonged to the people on Facebook who had said they were hiking Millbrook Ridge on this day. Millbrook Ridge is the temporary alternative for Graham Mountain until the 3500 Club can determine the status of that mountain with the Gould family. The temperature was now 26 degrees and the breeze hit me when I got out of the car. I also realized I had failed to bring my snowshoes which I had planned to put in the car. I check the snow depth and knew I would not need them as long as the snow did not get any deeper. The tracks of the other hikers showed no snowshoes or spikes. The skies were a bright blue with some interesting clouds. I took a few pictures before setting my GPS and starting up the access road at 1:10 PM. There was some ice beneath the snow but I was not slipping much and the walking was not much more difficult than on dry ground. We walked uphill for about .35 miles to the parking area which, of course, was completely empty. We headed down to the "lawn" passing by the stone foundations which marked the last remnants of the Coykendall Mansion. We walked toward the trail around the left side of the lake but I decided to stop and take some pictures. I took shots of the lake including Millbrook Ridge and Cradle Rock Ridge. The trees at the higher elevations still had some snow and ice which was beautiful. We then headed over to the trail and as we walked along the trail which had a few spots of ice and open water. The brush and branches that had overgrown the trail were now dead and the walking was much easier. Sheila was happy to be out and ran ahead and then returned to us. I decided that since it was late I would not stop for any more pictures on the way out.

We crossed the bridges on the trail near the head end of the lake and continued on the trail toward the junction with the Millbrook Ridge Trail. At the trail junction, we turned left to head toward the lean-to on the Millbrook Ridge Trail. The trail was covered in snow with a few patches of ice here and there. The blowdowns we encountered were all easy to step over but I knew I would need to get a crew out in the spring to remove them from trail. The trail is pretty obvious and the blazes easy to see in mist places and we followed the tracks of other hikers. For the next 1.5 miles the trail climbed and then leveled off several times. The elevation gain is several hundred feet but the grade is never more than 12% and averages around 6%. There isn't too much to see along the way but this day was very pleasant because the snow adds a beauty to the woods. I enjoyed the sounds and sights of Alder Creek as it flows parallel to the trail much of the way. I looked over at the creek and saw that there was a good volume of water and that the rocks were covered in snow and ice. I thought about trying to get down to the creek bed for some shots but decided against it. The trail leveled off at a beaver meadow and we crossed a small stream that feeds it. At 2.2 miles we began the last climb and I found that the snow had a little more ice underneath it. I was slipping and sliding some but decided I would not stop to put the spikes on as the climb was short. Soon we arrived at the beaver pond. Where there had once been a beaver meadow, there was now a pond with a dam and a beaver lodge. I could hear people up ahead and assumed they were at the lean-to. As we approached we could see people at the lean-to so I put Sheila on her leash. We walked over to the lean-to to find four men who looked as if they were camping for the night. We said "Hello" and walked out to the area near the pond where I put my pack down. I got out my camera and took some pictures although the sun was at exactly the wrong spot. When I finished, I returned my camera to my pack and we walked back over to the lean-to. I struck up a conversation wit the hikers who were from Clintondale near New Paltz. There was a father and his two sons and a friend and they did plan to stay overnight at the lean-to. They were experienced hikers and we exchanged stories with me giving them some new ideas for hikes in the area. After bout 20 minutes, I knew it was time to start back. We walked out to the main trail and turned left to head back.

As we came to the spot on the trail opposite the beaver dam, I decided to walk out to the shore of the pond just downstream of the dam. The shore was cleaned back at least 10 feet of all trees but the brush and weeds had begun to grow back. I took pictures of the whole scene and then more shots of the dam and the pond. The skies were very blue with different kinds of clouds. The dam looked like it had been built up and was covered in snow. We walked back out to the main trail and turned left to head back to Alder Lake with the sun dipping below the ridge. I realized that the return trip would be much easier as it was almost all downhill. I knew that it would be important to watch my foot placements so that I did not fall on steeper descents. The walk did go quickly and we were soon at the loop trail around Alder Lake where we turned right to return the way we came. After crossing one bridge, I stopped to take some shots of the lake and Cradle Rock Ridge. As we continued to walk along the trail back to the outlet end of the lake, I could see people out on the ice. It looked like they were ice fishing and I wondered how much ice was on the lake. We arrived back at the "lawn", I took some more pictures of the lake and the surrounding ridges as the light had changed. We walked up the hill to the parking area and I considered walking down to the creek to take some pictures of the waterfalls. I decided I would wait for another day. We walked out the access road and down the hill to the car. I was wondering where the people out on the ice ha parked.They had parked there car in the snow bank right next to mine blocking any access for emergency vehicles. I noticed they were from another state and that their license plate cover completely obscured the plate. We were back at the car at 4:20 PM after hiking 5.3 miles in 3 hours and 10 minutes. The elevation gain was 745 feet.

On Saturday, January 2nd an overnight storm of sleet and freezing rain had left a coating on the trees so I decided to go across the street to Round Top to take some pictures. I had to get to the landfill first as the house was filled with Christmas wrappings and recyclables. I also wanted to make sure that people were driving carefully and that there was a reduced chance of an ambulance call. I started to get ready at about 9:00 AM and to my dismay the temperature had already risen to 35 degrees. I hurried to get ready and take my pictures before the ice melted. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without a baselayer underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and found it improved the support for my feet immensely. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat and wore a light pair of gloves. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. I took my pack with me as it is the easiest way to carry my camera. We stepped out of the house at 9:30 AM. I put on my Kahtoola Microspikes as I expected the hill and the trails to be slippery. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway which was very icy and made my glad I had put on my spikes. We crossed the street and walked across the field by the church so the spikes would not become dull on the pavement. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church and I found there was only a thin layer of ice that was already breaking up. I walked beside the pavement on the grass to prevent the spikes from becoming useless. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I let Sheila off her leash so that I could use my poles to get up the hill. Sheila immediately began to bound up the hill with me following close behind. We stopped in the middle of the hill so that I could take pictures toward the "Flats" to the southeast. It was already clear that the ice was melting off the trees which was a big disappointment. Underneath the trees it was like walking in the rain except some of the "rain" was hard pieces of ice! The cemetery was covered in ice and all the trees on the surrounding hills were ice clad. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. I took some more pictures across the valley to "Beer Mountain" and some to the north and west. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. There were some tracks on the trails but I could not tell whether they were from today or the day before.

At the first trail junction, I continued straight ahead up the hill toward the viewpoint. Again, the climb up the hill was a little tiring as there was enough icy to make me slip and slide. At the viewpoint, we headed very carefully to the left to walk out to the overhanging rock shelf that forms the lookout. The snow was all gone and the rocks were covered in ice. Even Sheila slipped a little and I had to call her back since she likes to go right to the edge of the lookout. I took pictures of town and the school. I also took some shots of the hills around town. We walked back out to the main trail and followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed up the gentle hill through the hardwood forest with trees encased in ice. There was no wind and everything was very still except for the ice melt off the trees and pelting us. At the first trail junction with the blue trail, turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. I usually take some pictures here but most of the ice had already melted and I just wanted to finish what was becoming a disappointing hike. This section was easier, even though there was ice because it is mostly flat. At the next junction I had to make a decision whether we would just do a small loop or go for the figure 8. I decided we would do the figure 8 so we turned left and started up the hill to the summit. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued up and over the summit. When we started down the other side, I decided we would skip the new switchback on the blue trail and just continue down the hill. I was able to get a pretty good grip with the spikes and my poles but the trail was very icy especially on the steepest part! At the bottom of the hill we turned left on the yellow trail, walked along the base of Round Top and then turned right to walk down to the woods road. The ice continued to melt off the trees and I was getting wetter than some hikes I have taken in the rain. We walked the woods road out to the first trail junction. I decided I was wet enough and we turned left to walk out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked down the hill. I put Sheila on her leash in the church parking lot and we crossed the street to our driveway. We were home by 10:15 AM after hiking a mile in 45 minutes!

On Thursday, December 31st I decided to get out and hike despite the freezing mist in the air. My choice was to go across the street and hike the trails that I helped to create and maintain on Round Topan. My son-in-law, Brad, agreed to go with me and Sheila seemed very happy that we would be going out. At 1:15 PM, we started to get ready with the temperature hanging at 33 degrees and overcast skies with some light freezing mist still hanging around. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without a baselayer underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I did not expect much snow although the possibility of mud was on my mind. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat and wore a light pair of gloves. We stepped out of the house at 1:45 PM. We had decided to put on spikes as we did not know how much ice we would find on the trails. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. Since we had our spikes on, we walked across the field next to the church so we did not dull the spikes on the road. When we stepped onto the parking lot, there was a layer of ice and I was glad we had the spikes. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church that, surprisingly, did not have much ice. We both walked beside the pavement on the frozen grass. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila always helps me up the hill by giving me a good pull in her leash living up to the husky in her blood. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. There were some boot tracks on the trails but I could not tell whether they were from earlier in the day or from days before.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. The trail had a light coating of icy snow which was slippery but did not really require spikes. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction. The snow was slippery but with the spikes we were able to manage without too much of a problem. At the junction, we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. Along the way we picked up or removed many small branches and dragged several large ones off the trail. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. Just before the steepest section we turned right on the switchback trail now marked with blue paint blazes. We continued to follow these blazes as they made a sharp right turn and headed back to the main blue trail. We turned right on the blue trail and continued up the blue trail. Within a few feet, we turned right on the white crossover trail and followed it to the end where it intersected the hue trail on the other side of Round Top. We turned right and walked downhill to the yellow trail. We turned right on the yellow trail and walked along the base of Round Top. This time we turned left at the junction with the blue trail and walked down to the lookout. The view from the lookout was ordinary so we continued the hike. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and walked back up the hill to the lookout and followed the yellow trail as it turned right. We followed the trail as it made a gentle ascent to the junction with the blue trail. We continued to follow the yellow trail by turning right and following along the base of Round Top. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started the ascent of the hill. When the white crossover trail came up and the left, we continued straight ahead on the blue trail and passed over the summit of Round Top. We continued downhill on the blue trail ignoring the crossover trail and the switchback in the blue trail. Coming down this steeper section was definitely tricky and would have been difficult without spokes. We finished the walk downhill and at the yellow trail we turned left. We walked back along the base of Round Top and turned right at the next junction. We walked down to the woods road that took us back to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead where I out Sheila on her leash. We walked down the steep hill and across the field by the church to our driveway. We were back at the house at 3:00 PM having walked almost 3 miles in an hour and 15 minutes.

On Tuesday, December 29th Cindy and I had visited Vernooy Kill Falls from the Upper Cherrytown Road parking area. I decided to see if I could find Buttermilk Falls in Spring Glen as I had never been there. At one time the falls was located on private property but it is now part of the Shawangunk Ridge State Forest. The falls comes down from the ridge and flows over the rocks before cascading into a pool. The base of the falls "hides" the opening to the Horseshoe Mine which was an exploratory lead mine. Almost no history of the mine can be found. It may have belonged to the North American Coal and Iron Company which had other mines in the area. These mines were active between 1838 and 1850. I drove back out to Route 209 and turned right to head back toward Evansville. As we passed through Evansville, Cindy asked that we stop at MacDonald's to get something to eat. The stop was short and we were soon on our way. From the intersection of Routes 209 and 52 in Evansville, I drove south on Route 209 for 4.6 miles to Mountain Road. I turned left and immediately left again on Lewis Road. Lewis Road is a dead end. I drove passed the Spring Glen Campgrounds and after .8 miles came to a stream passing under a small bridge on the left side of the road. Contrary to some reports, I could see a waterfall set back from the road. I pulled over on the left side of the road. We finished eating our lunch and then got out of the car to walk to the falls. I took only my camera rather than the entire pack. I took a few pictures of the stream as it passes beneath the small bridge. We walked up and incline to the O&W rail Trail. Turning left here and walking about 4 miles north on the rail trail leads back to the old Nevelle Hotel near Ellenville. We continued across the rail trail following an old road and the stream to the waterfall. The waterfall was beautiful with the water falling down over the rocks and then emptying into the pool at the bottom. The opening to the mine was clearly visible. I got busy taking pictures as the skies were cloudy over again and snow was beginning to fall! When I was done, we walked back to the car. I drove to the end of Lewis Road to turn around. As I was turning around, I saw a stone structure which proved to be part of the D&H Canal. I stopped the car and got out to take some pictures. I retuned to the car and drove out Route 209 to Wurtsboro. Along the way were numerous signs for the D&H Canal Linear Park and I though I might return at another time to check it out.

On Tuesday, December 29th I wanted to visit some waterfalls in the Ellenville area including Vernooy Kill Falls near Kerhonksen, Buttermilk Falls in Spring Glen. And Hanging Rock Falls in Ulster Heights. The first two are in state forest and the third is on private property but the landowner allows public access. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she agreed. When we started to get ready at 8:45 AM the temperature was 26 degrees and the wind was blowing. On the bright side the sun was shining and the skies were blue with white, puffy clouds. Sheila was well-behaved but would not let us out of her sight. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants with a light pair of tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I had recently put a pair of Protalus insoles in these shoes and was anxious to see how they performed. The insoles in most hiking boots are a flimsy and flat piece of material. I did not expect much snow although the possibility of mud was on my mind. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using since the spring since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat and wore a light pair of gloves. At the last minutes, I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud which I was sure we would find. We got out gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 9:15 AM. The recent rains had caused widespread flooding and the destruction of some roads so I was ready to change plans if we ran into nay questionable conditions. I drove east on State Route 17 to Liberty and then got on Route 55 headed toward Ellenville. I drove through Loch Sheldrake and then Woodbourne. In Ellenville in turned left on Route 209 and drove through Kerhonksen. Just outside of town I drove up a hill and turned left on Samsonville Road. After 1.3 miles, I turned left on Cherrytown Road. I drove 3.5 miles and took the left onto Upper Cherrytown Road. In about 3.0 miles I saw the parking area on the right and pulled in at 10:15 AM. There were only two other cars in the lot. I set my GPS and we walked across the road to begin our hike at 10:20 AM with the temperature at 33 degrees.

Almost immediately we met a hiker coming out of the trail. We said "Hello" to him and he greeted us as we headed in different directions. The trail is a wide woods road almost all the way to the falls. It is marked as a snowmobile trail, a hiking trail and the Long Path. The problem is that the markings are very few and far between. In fact, the ONLY blaze I saw for the Long Path was the one at the beginning of the trail just off the road. I had promised Cindy a relatively flat hike but I had not been to Vernooy Kill Falls in 9 years and it was much hillier than I remembered! I try to stay a way from the area in the warmer seasons as there are usually some rattlesnakes in the area. In about a mile it gains 550 feet which is a 10% grade. This is by no means excessive and at no time is the trail steep but it is a good workout. A good part of the trail is covered in loose rock which always makes the hiking more difficult. On this day there was ice, mud, frozen mud and some open water. A short way into the hike we had to cross a small stream swollen by the recent rains. We made it across but the footing was tricky. As we began to start the ascent, I looked back to see a dog coming up the trail behind us with no owner in sight. I called Sheila over to me to put her on her leash and found I had left it in the car. The dog retreated but then the owner and her other dog appeared. The owner said "Hi" but did not seem to realize it would be courteous to put her dogs on a leash or at least control them. We let her pass and then continued our hike. In a short distance, two young men came up behind us moving at a good pace and we greeted each other as they passed us. We followed the trail around a turn and her a horrendous noise coming from up ahead on the trail. It sounded as if a dog was attacking someone or being attacked. We could see a solo hiker coming down the trail carrying a small dog that was making the noise. The hiker passed us mumbling an apology and we continued in relative silence. We crossed a bridge over a substantial stream and I stopped to take a few shots before continuing. After about a mile the trail leveled hitting the highest point at about 1.3 miles. It was nice to hit level ground but now the trail was even wetter and muddier than before except for the areas of ice. From the high point the trail drops slightly to the falls at 1.7 miles. The stream crossing near the falls was easy due to some stepping stones.

We arrived at the falls around 11:20 AM and found a large volume of water roaring over the falls and under the bridge. By the time we reached the falls the skies were still sunny but starting to cloud up some. I dropped my pack and poles by the register box and grabbed my camera. I stood on the bridge to take shots of the falls upstream. After taking some shots, I headed downstream from the bridge to stand on some rocks to take pictures of the bridge and the falls beneath it. The rocks were wet and ice which made them slippery so I was cautious of where I stepped. I also took some shots of the ruins of the mill which once operated on the power of the water in the stream. After returning to the bridge, we walked upstream along a well-defined path. There were several side paths down to the stream and I stopped at each to take pictures of the individual falls and rapids along the way. There was a lot of interesting foam on the water and quite a few icicles and ice along the opposite shore. As I was taking pictures a few snowflakes began to fall and this eventually turned into snow squall that quickly covered the ground. I took a few more pictures of the trail and the falls with the snow coming down. As we got ready to leave, Cindy decided to put on her spikes but I elected not to do so. At about 11:45 AM we started back toward the car by crossing the small stream on the stepping stones and then climbing the small hill. We negotiated the icy sections of the trail with Cindy and her spikes having the advantage. As we approached the wettest and muddiest section of the trail, I could see two young women trying to get their dog across this area. They explained that the dog did not like water! We wished them weel and allowed them to pass and then continued our hike. The snow had stopped but started in again perhaps even harder than before. We met one more group coming up the hill and we walked off the trail to allow them to pass. The snow stopped and we made good time back to the car with only a slight pause crossing the stream. We were back in the parking area at 12:40 PM after hiking 3.4 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes with 35 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was only 680 feet. I decided I wanted to check out Buttermilk Falls in Spring Glen and visit Hanging Rock Falls another day.

On Sunday, December 27th we had visited Angel Falls on Sholam Road in Yagerville and Buttermilk Falls on the Peekamoose Road. I decided to return home by way of the back roads to check their condition and to visit Mongaup Falls if I wanted. I drove back down the Peekamoose Road into Sundown. I continued toward the Rondout Reservoir and turned right in Sugarloaf Road. I took Sugarloaf Road and the Red Hill Road over to the Denning Road. I turned left to drive through Claryville and right on Route 47 just south of Claryville. I continued on the road toward the Frost Valley YMCA Camp as OI wanted to see how the road improvements along the winding road had held up to the Neversink River swollen by the recent rains. I was again surprised to see that the Neversink was higher than normal but not raging. All of the improvements seemed to be holding up to the increased volume. I turned around and drove back toward Claryville but turned right on Pole Road. As I drove up the hill and along the road, it was obvious that the Town of Neversink did not think this road was very important. The road was very icy and there was almost no sand or salt. Pole Road turned to Willowemoc Road and the conditions improved slightly. In DeBruce, I turned right on Mongaup Pond Road and followed it north until the road split. Just before the split a pickup truck was parked on the side of the road and a man with hiking poles was looking down the bank toward the stream. I assumed he was looking for the falls. At the split in the road A HSEG crew was doing some work but they let me pass to head to the right and park in the small lot on the right.

The crew left and Sheila and I walked along the road back to the intersection. Here we turned left down what used to be Hunter Road. The road is now eroded and had a little more than an inch of snow on it. We crossed the creek on what is left of a culvert which acted as a bridge. We turned right and walked along the edge of the stream to the two-tiered falls. The stream was roaring and an exceptional volume of water was going over the falls. I decided to photograph the lower and larger drop first. I put My pack down and got out my camera. I looked to see if I could climb down the rocks to the base of the falls as I usually do but that was out of the question. The rocks were either covered with water from the falls or covered in ice because of the spray. I decided to walk along the rim of the gorge cut by the stream to a point downstream and more in from of the falls. This proved to be an adventure as the rim was icy and the ice was cored with a layer of snow! I OT what I though might be some good shots and retuned to my pack without falling. Sheila alerted and I could see the man that had been along the road and a woman walking toward us. I told Sheila to stay with me which she did. I turned my attention to the upper falls. I could not get down to the for a long time rocks by the stream bed so I settled for another viewpoint that was almost as good and much safer. I took pictures of the upper falls itself and some upstream from the falls. I also took some pictures downstream showing the gorge and some impressive icicles that had formed. Eventually, I had photographed everything that I could so I returned to my pack. I put away the camera, shouldered the pack and we walked back to the car. I was pleased with our adventures and the pictures I had taken.

On Sunday, December 27th we visited Angel Falls on Sholam Road in Yagerville. When we had finished there, I decided to head to Peekamoose Road to visit Buttermilk Falls. I drove up Sholam Road and turned right on Yagerville Road to head toward Sundown. Where the road split in Sundown, I turned right on Peekamoose Road. I drove 4.3 miles to the parking are for Buttermilk Falls on the left about a mile passed the parking area for Peekamoose Mountain and the Blue Hole. The Peekamoose parking area had three cars parked. The previous parking areas had one car parked in each. When I parked the car by Buttermilk Falls there was only one other car in the lot. The car was a small, sporty convertible with the top down! I left Sheila in the car and walked to the bridge over the stream to take some shots. I was surprised that the volume of the falls was only slightly greater than on most days. I took a few pictures from the road but decided not to walk to the stream bed. I returned to the car and decided not to visit any of the other falls as finding a place to park is a problem. I did decide to go home by way of the back roads so that I could stop at Mongaup Falls if I wanted.

On Sunday, December 27thI wanted to get out of the house after four days without hiking. The Christmas holiday, numerous ambulance calls and rainy weather had conspired to keep us inside or at least away from hiking! I wanted to go see some waterfalls as I knew they should have a high volume after the recent rains. I decided to start with Angel Falls on Sholam Road in Yagerville to hike to the upper and lower falls. By the time I started to get ready at 11:30 AM the temperature was 26 degrees. Sheila was frantic as she had not been out in several days and was running around the house barking. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer since the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants but decided against tights underneath. I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I did not expect much snow although the possibility of mud was on my mind. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a fleecy orange hat and wore a light pair of gloves. At the last minutes, I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud which I was sure I would find. I got my gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at around noon. The recent rains had caused widespread flooding and the destruction of some roads so I was ready to change plans if I ran into nay questionable conditions. I drove east on State Route 17 to Liberty and then got on Route 55 to Grahamsville. I turned left onto Route 55A just after the Tri-Valley school and toward Sundown. I followed RT 55A as it turned right and crossed the Rondout Reservoir. I drove to Yagerville Road where I turned left and drove another 1.2 miles to Sholam Road. Here I turned right and drove to where the road dead ends. I parked in the small lot that has been created for hikers at 12:40 PM and got ready to hike. We started off almost immediately down what used to be Sholam Road. The road is very eroded but makes a good trail which is why I was surprised to see the sign. The sign posted by the DEP stated that the road was seasonal use only and was not maintained. I found this funny since no one would think that this "road" was fit for any vehicle except for a four wheeler! I was pleased that I could hear a roar coming from the falls apparently indicating a good volume of water. We walked along the road which had some patches of snow and ice and one wet area. I was surprised that the rest of the ground was pretty hard and there wasn't much mud. We passed the top of the falls and continued upstream a little farther. There was a good volume of water so I walked over to the side of the stream and out onto a flat rock. As I looked at the stream, I could see that a bridge sued to cross at this point. I wondered why I had never discovered this before in my many trips. There was also a small waterfall at this point so I took some pictures of the falls and some upstream and downstream. I considered walking a little more along the stream or on what was left of the road but instead turned around and walked back to the top of the falls. At the top of the falls I turned left on a path that parallels Trout Creek. I looked down at the falls and saw that it was higher than I had seen it in some time. Trout Creek is rather long extending around 5 miles from Balsam Swamp. Over its course it picks up a few tributaries.

Sheila and I walked along the path which had a few wet and muddy spots but was nothing like I had expected. I was looking for a way down to the stream bed and found a steep path heading to the left and down to the creek bed. I started down the path but immediately ran into ice. Fortunately, I was able to get around the ice and work my way down to the edge of the stream right in front of the falls. Sheila was leading the way and we ended up at some rocks near the base of the falls. I could see some of the rocks were covered in a layer of ice but others appeared to be almost dry. I should have known better but I stepped ion one of the "dry" rocks and almost lost my balance! These rocks were covered with the frozen spray from the falls. Once I was safe, I contemplated putting on my microspikes but saw that I had a good view from where I was. I decided to play it safe and took my pictures including a video from where I was. I took shots of the falls and some downstream. To capture the volume and character of the falls, I shot a short video before packing up and heading back up to the main trail. Although the trail isn't really maintained, someone had cut a few of the trees that had been across the trail. We continued down the path heading toward the lower falls. The trail can be overgrown with weeds but was relatively clear as the cold weather had killed them off. I was happy that there was almost no broken glass around the area. We walked to the top of the falls and this time I stayed back from the flat rock shelf I normally use as it was covered in ice. We walked a little farther downstream where I found another vantage point just below the top of the falls and I took some more pictures of the falls. The spot I often use was too close to the water and covered in ice. When I was done at this spot, we headed down the path to the base of the falls where there are some old foundations. I took some pictures of the foundations from a slight elevation. With all the leaves off the trees the ruins stand out more prominently. I walked down to the creek bed and was able to get out onto some rocks which gave me a good view of the falls. This drop is not as high as the upper falls but is still pretty in its own way. After taking a few pictures. I carefully made my way back to my pack. I have always wanted to go to the other side if the stream as I have seen people there but I do not know how to get access. As we started back to the car, I noticed a large white pine with four or five intertwined trunks. I took a few shots of this before continuing up the hill. We worked our way up a steep path back to Sholam Road and back to the car. It was 1:20 PM and we had hiked only .9 miles in about one hour with 200 feet of elevation gain. I decided to drive to Buttermilk Falls on the Peekamoose Road to take some pictures and check out the road conditions.

On Wednesday, December 23, I had developed no specific plan to hike. I even though I might take the day off but knew the heavy rain in the forecast would ruin the hiking. An ambulance call in the middle of the night caused me to sleep in until about 10:00 AM. When I got up, I did some work around the house but then decided I needed to get out before the storm. I decided to go back to the Frick Pond area to remove three blowdowns; two on the Flynn Trail and one on the Big Rock Trail. One blowdown was near the parking area so I knew I could walk there with my tools and without snowshoes. My plan was to remove that blowdown and then go back to the car, put on the snowshoes and exchange my ax for poles. I was pretty confident I could get the other two blowdowns with just a saw. The temperature was 33 degrees as I started to get ready just before noon. I knew I would get warm from hiking and working so I got dressed in a Mountain Hardwear 1/4 zip top which is buttery soft and did not out on a baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided I did not need a pair of tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots which have been discontinued but are my favorite boots for winter. I put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters as I did not know the depth of snow we would encounter. I grabbed the pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I put on a fleecy orange hat and a pair of light gloves. I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided to carry my microspikes in case they were needed. I opted to bring my Tubbs Alp Flex VRT snowshoes. The Boa binding on these uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I put two plastic felling wedges in my pack along with my Silky Sugowaza fixed saw in its scabbard. This saw is amazing and I sometimes forget the size of some of the trees I have sliced through with it. I also brought along my Fiskars pack ax. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at about 12:10 PM and I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking areas on the left. I pulled into the smaller parking area just as another car also parked there. There were no cars in the larger lot. The temperature was 35 degrees but it seemed warmer. I got ready to head out on the Flynn Trail leaving the snowshoes and poles in the car and carrying my ax.

We walked across the road to get on the Flynn Trail. We passed the trail register walked the trail through the woods to the blowdown that was blocking the trail. I put my pack and ax down and took some pictures of the trees that lay across the trail. I developed a plan and used the ax to cut the first and smaller of the two tree on one side of the trail. I had hoped to simply flip the remaining part of the trunk off the trail. It was at this point I found out that the remaining portion was connected to a larger trunk and I would have to cut it again. Although the wood was largely frozen, it cut pretty easily. I finished my cut and then was able to pivot the section off the trail. I cut a few more smaller branches to get them out of the way and turned my attention to the other trunk. This trunk was longer and bigger in diameter. I used the ax to cut it away from the larger trunk but this produced a section that was a little two heavy for me to lift. I was able to use gravity to move the section to the side of the trail but had to cut it again with the saw to get it clear of the trail. I looked up to see a young woman coming toward us with her dog. She had a leash for the dog but apparently did not know how to use it. She was using poles but had no snowshoes. I pulled Sheila off the trail to allow her to pass. I asked her to walk beside the snowshoe track rather than ruin it with her boots. I looked at what I had done and was pleased. I took some pictures of the finished work and then picked up my tools and headed back to the car. I put the ax in the car and got out my poles and snowshoes. The lot now had four cars and another pulled in as I was getting ready. There were no cars in the larger lot and I wondered why people did not make use of both lots if only to socially distance. It was 1:15 PM when Sheila and I crossed the road and started back out on the Flynn Trail.

As soon as we turned right onto what was once Beech Mountain Road, I could feel how tired I was. My hips and lower back had dull aches and I was just tired overall. I pushed myself to continue but I found myself stopping frequently for brief rests. I noticed that the young woman had not been kind enough to do as I asked and was walking in the snowshoe track. I reasoned that it didn't matter too much as the rain that was coming would take away most of the snow but it was still annoying. At first, I thought I might turn around but I eventually developed a pace that I could live with. At 2:15 PM we were almost to the junction with the Big Rock Trail and arrived at the second blowdown. This one had more branches and much smaller trunk than the first one. I took some pictures and then started to remove branches. Some of the branches were buried in the snow and freeing them was harder than the cutting. Eventually, I was left with just the main trunks so I cut them and removed them from the trail. I took some pictures of the clear trail and then noticed Sheila by my pack. She seemed to be hiding behind it so I took some shots before packing up at 2:40 PM. It was a short walk to the junction with the Big Rock Trail where I planned to turn left and walk downhill on the packed snowmobile track. It was then that I saw the young woman and her dog returning from Hodge Pond. We made the left urn onto the Big Rock Trail quickly as I was afraid I would say something to her that I would regret.

Walking down the Big Rock Trail was very enjoyable as it was packed by snowmobiles and one had recently passed, I did pick up a few rocks and threw them off the trail for everybody's benefit. By this time I was tired but going downhill helped. I had already decided that the remaining blowdown would have to wait for another day or be cleared by the snowmobile club. We descended the first two levels of the Big Rock Trail. As we started the third descent that old lead to Times Square, we cam to the third blowdown. It was 3:00 Pm and as I surveyed the mess I saw that these trunk were the largest yet. Despite this, I decided to take a crack at clearing what was blocking the trail. I took a few shots and then got to cutting and clearing smaller branches first. Once again, the cutting was fairly easy but pulling from under the snow was harder. I had to clear a few branches that were hanging overhead and some that were underfoot. After cutting and cleaning the branches, I turned my attention to the trunk. I cut them and flipped or pivoted them off the trail. I noticed that there was a second set of branches interfering with clear passage on the trail so I spent some more time getting rid of this second set. I stood back to look at my work and saw that one of the sections of trunk was too close to the edge of the trail. I dragged this section to the other side of the trail and pronounced my work for the day complete. I took some shots of the work I had done and then packed up to leave at 3:30 PM. We walked down the last descent to Times Square where there was some water and open areas. We stayed on the Big Rock Trail by walking straight across the junction. I was tired but Sheila seemed fresh as she ran up the trail and then back to me. We crossed the two small bridges over the inlet streams and then negotiated the wooden walkways. I was too interested in finishing to stop and take picture. At the junction with the Quick Lake Trail, we turned left and walked toward the bridge at the out let end of Frick Pond. We had to cross one very wet area and I wondered what this would look like after the rain. As we crossed the ridge, I took at look at the pond and decided there was nothing that was very interesting to photograph. We walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction and the followed the Quick Lake Trail to the register. At the register, we continued on the woods road back to the car. It was 4:15 PM when we arrived at the car and we were the last car in the lot. We had covered about 5 miles and removed 3 goo-sized blowdowns in 3 hours and 45 minutes with an 800 elevation gain. I drove home on DeBruce Road and encountered a turkey that felt it had the right-of-way. The turkey did not fare well but my car seemed to be unharmed.

On Tuesday, December 22nd, I was ready to get out for my first hike of the winter. I had hoped to hike on Monday on the very first day of the season but our new ambulance arrived. I met the representative of the dealer to accept the new rig and pointed out some issue. I spent the rest of the day stocking the ambulance and putting essential equipment on it.When I got up at 8:00 AM the temperature was in the high 20's and I knew it was supposed to rise some during the day. There were also some flurries or snow showers in` the forecast. The rising temperatures might make cause the snow to clump on the snowshoes but I knew it was better to try a hike rather than just write the day off. Although I have been there many times I decided to go to Frick Pond. I used to think that hiking a Frick Pond so frequently was boring but I now find it comforting. I know every trail and distance around Frick and Hodge Ponds and can easily add or remove trails to make a hike of any length. By 9:00 AM the temperature had risen to 30 degrees and I started to get ready to go. I got my gear together and decided to try to not overdress which I do frequently. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a light, long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided I did not need a pair of tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots which have been discontinued but are my favorite boots for winter. I put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters as I did not know the depth of snow we would encounter. I grabbed the pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I put on a fleecy orange hat and a pair of light gloves. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided to carry my microspikes in case they were needed. I decided to wear my Tubbs Alp Flex VTR snowshoes. The Boa binding on these uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 9:25 AM and I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left. I continued up the road to the point where it splits and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. It was a short drive to the parking areas on the left. Both parking area were empty as I pulled into the smaller lot. The temperature was 30 degrees under completely overcast skies and there was now light wind blowing. There was still snow everywhere and some ice on the road. I cheeked out the beginning of the Flynn Trail and found the snow packed with a pretty good track set. I put on my snowshoes, set my GPS and shouldered my pack as we crossed the road to start the hike at 9:45 AM.

We had to climb over a low snow bank left by the plows to start out on the Flynn Trail. After that, the walk through the woods was relatively easy. Along the way we came to two trees that were lying across the trail. These trees had been hanging overt he trail for some time and I had wondered of they would ever fall. I had no tools to clad them and knew I would have to come back another day to clear them. When we turned right onto what once was Beech Mountain Road, there were two different snowshoe tracks. This is foolish as setting one track makes the most sense but people don't seem to have much common sense. Some people seemed to have worn bare boots which is their choice but I wish they would stay out of the snowshoe track. The warm weather the previous two days had softened and consolidated the snow so that in most placed there was a depth of only 6 to 8 inches. As we walked up the trail, the skies were still overcast and I beloved that we might get some precipitation. Despite the cool breeze. I began to warm up quickly. At one point I stopped to take a few pictures and open some of the zippers on my hoody. We continued up the hill passing the clearing on the right side of the trail just after 1 mile. The Flynn Trail dipped briefly before climbing the last .6 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We did encounter one small tree across the trail and we followed the snowshoe track thought the woods and around the tree, I was happy to see that some snowmobiles had come over from Mongaup Pond packing the Big Rock Trail. We turned left to descend the Big Rock Trail. I was happy to see that there were no snowmobile tracks headed toward Hodge Pond. Walking down the packed Big Rock Trail seemed very easy. Just after we started, I stopped or a minute to take some pictures of the trail. The Big Rock Trail has several spots where the trail levels some and bends to the right. These spots sometimes fool me into thinking we are near to Times Square when we are not. There was one tree across the trail and the snowmobiles had found another path through the woods and around the tree which we followed. On this day I was lost in my thoughts and the walk went quickly. At 11:25 PM we had hiked 2.85 miles and stood at Times Square where the Big Rock Trail and Logger's Loop cross. I decided that since I was feeling fresh and the trail was packed, we would turn right and hike the Logger's Loop to the Quick Lake Trail at Iron Wheel Junction.

As we started out on the Logger's Loop, the trail was covered in ice with almost no snow. This did not last very long and soon we were again walking on the snow packed by snowmobiles. As we started up the hill, I could hear hard ice pellets hitting my jacket. The skies were very dark and I wondered how serious the storm would get. The trail heads northwest and gains about 200 feet in .8 miles where it turns southwest. Along the way I noticed the beauty of the high rocks and small cliffs on the right side of the trail. I also noticed that the ice pellets had stopped falling although the skies were still dark. From the highest point on the trail we began to descend slightly to Iron Wheel Junction at 4.15 miles. We turned left to follow the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond. This part of the trail had a snowshoe track that I had set some days before and walking was a little more difficult. The skies darkened again and the ice pellets and snow began to fall in earnest! The trails had less snow here with water underneath which made the snow clump on the bottoms of the snowshoes. We walked downhill to the small stream in the woods and found it was still too high to cross on the trail. A short trip upstream helped us find a place to cross but I stumbled a little getting the bottoms of both feet wet. This further added to the fluming of the snow. We got back on the main trail and walked through the "spruce tunnel". This went quickly and we were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We stayed to the right on the Quick Lake Trail and walked to the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. I stopped for a few minutes to get some pictures. Each time I pass this way I seem to be attracted to the beauty of the scene. I took some pictures of Flynn's Point on Beech Mountain with the snow falling. I also took some more of the pond and the outlet. I picked up my pack and walked to the top of the hill where Sheila was waiting. We walked toward Gravestone Junction where we stayed to the right on the Quick Lake Trail. This part of the trail was completely-packed down since many people only walk out to the pond or do the loop around it. There were areas where there was bare rock and some areas of open water. We continued along the Quick Lake Trail passing the register box to walk the last few hundred feet to the car. It was 12:45 PM and we had hiked 5.5 miles in 3 hours with an elevation gain of 910 feet.

Fall 2020

On Saturday, December 19th I was ready to go out for a hike to take advantage of the 16 inches of snow that had fallen two days before. I decided to go to Frick Pond to hike a route which I thought might be a variation of the Loggers' Loop. The temperature at 6:00 AM was -3 degrees so I was in now hurry to get out the door. By 8:00 AM I was thinking about getting ready but at that point the ambulance page sounded and I was off on a call. When I returned at 10:00 AM, it was still cold so I delayed a little longer. I finally started to get ready at 11:45AM as the temperature had just hit 20 degrees. I asked Cindy of she wanted to go but she thought it was too cold! I did not have to ask Sheila as she is always ready to hike. I put on my long-sleeved Patagonia zip top with a light long-sleeved baselayer underneath. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided to forego wearing tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots as they keep my feet warm and dry and work well with snowshoes. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles I have been using all season. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided to wear my Tubbs Alp Flex VTR snowshoes. The Boa binding on these uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! As I was getting ready Sheila stayed near me so that I would not "forget" her but was being a very well-behaved dog. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. She was happy to be going anywhere and crouched in the back seat with her head on the console. At 12:10 AM I headed out the DeBruce Road. After about 6 miles, I turned left on Mongaup Pond Road and stayed left where the road split falling Beech Mountain Road to the trailhead. When we arrived at the parking area, there was only one car parked in the smaller lot with three more in the larger lot.

The temperature was 20 degrees with a slight breeze but the sun made it feel a little warmer. I noticed that the woods road out to the register had a snowshoe track broken. I set my GPS and we headed out the woods road to the Quick Lake Trail at 12:35 PM. I immediately noticed that there were two tracks and some obvious boot prints. I know that there isn't one way to hike in the winter but I wonder if some people lack common sense or are ignorant of basic hiking principles. Developing one well-constructed snowshoe track is the best idea. Wearing snowshoes in more than 8 inches of snow makes a hike more enjoyable for the wearer and shows concern for other hikers. We passed the trail register and headed toward Frick Pond. The trail was snow-covered with some water underneath in a few places. As we approached Gravestone Junction, I could see a couple approaching us with a small dog on a leash. I pulled up my buff and walked off the trail with Sheila. The couple passed and they were not wearing snowshoes making the score 0 for 1. We got back on the trail and at Gravestone Junction we turned right to get on the yellow Logger's Loop heading toward Times Square. There was a snowshoe track broken on the Logger's Loop which made me happy as it makes the hiking much easier. We headed out the trail which had a bout a foot of snow. There were some wet spots and I found that the snow was beginning to pack on my snowshoes as they got wet. I had to stop several times to tip up my snowshoes and knock the snow of the bottom. Soon we were hiking downhill toward Times Square still following the snowshoe track that had been set. At Times Square I had to make a decision whether to continue around Frick Pond on the Big Rock Trail or to continue straight ahead on the Logger's Loop. The Logger's Loop was pristine with no trail but I decided to try it any way knowing I could turn around at any time. We continued straight ahead on the Logger's Loop starting a slight uphill climb on the snow-covered trail. Hiking uphill and breaking trail almost made me regret my decision. My hips and inner thighs began to ache but a brief rest quickly refreshed me. S we continued the slight ascent, I looked up to see a young man approaching. I hailed him but he seemed very intent on what he was doing. I again pulled up by buff and walked off the trail with Sheila. As he passed, I noticed although he had poles he was not wearing snowshoes. Was he a newbie or somebody who just didn't care about others? The score was now 0 for 2!

We continued our hike as the trail flattened a little which made my muscles much happier. The trail was covered in snow but there seemed to be less than on Round Top with my estimate being about 12 inches. We continued our walk along the trail trying to avoid the wet spots which made the snow cling to the snowshoes. I looked up to see another young man coming toward us with no poles and no snowshoes. We said "hello" as I moved off the trail with Sheila. I mentioned that he did not have snowshoes and he responded by saying he wished he had them. I informed him about the damage he was doing to the track and that Morgan Outdoors would rent snowshoes and poles at a reasonable price. He seemed interested but the score was now 0 for 3. It wasn't long before we were walking downhill and the climbing a small hill to Iron Wheel Junction. I was happy to find a trail broken by the two barebooters and someone who was on snowshoes. I was surprised that the track turned up the Quick Lake Trail! We turned left to head back toward Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail. The trail is slightly downhill which allowed us to keep up a good pace even which was further augmented by the existing track. There were few wet spots which I tried to avoid to prevent snow from clumping on the snowshoes. I was a little surprised that the set track was so narrow that had no choice but to widen it. I began to suspect that the track was set by a cross country skier. We came to the small stream in the woods which had a little too much water to cross on the trail. We walked upstream a little and found a narrower spot to cross where others had previously crossed. When we walked back out to the main trail, I could see the marks of skis confirming by assumption. Walking through the "spruce tunnel" was easier than on the rest of the trail as there was less snow. Eventually we walked out the other side where the trail was again covered in snow. I stopped at one point to take a few shots and then we continued toward Frick Pond. We arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail and found the trail even more packed but there were still two tracks in most places. We continued on the Quick Lake Trail to the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. As we approached the bridge, I heard voices so I pulled up the buff and put Sheila on her leash. There were two hikers on the bridge taking pictures. Since they did not seem to want to move, we walked by them. They did not have snowshoes on their feet so the final score was 0 for 4! I stopped at the other side of the bridge and dropped my pack to get out the camera despite the fact that I have taken hundreds of pictures from this location. The skies were blue with some clouds and the scene was a little "warmer" than the temperature. I also took shots of the pond and of Beech Mountain. I took a few more pictures of the ice and snow crystals in the outlet stream. I packed up and we continued up the hill and back to Gravestone Junction. At Gravestone Junction we continued out the Quick Lake Trail and back to the car without seeing another person. We arrived at the car at 3:00 PM having hike 3.8 miles in 2 hours and 25 minutes with an elevation gain of 380 feet. The temperature was 21 degrees but felt much warmer.

On Thursday, December 17th an overnight snowstorm had dumped 15 inches of snow on Livingston Manor. Even more amazing than this was that there had been no ambulance calls in the middle of the storm. I got up at 7:30 AM and got dressed to go out to shovel. By the time I got outside, my neighbor had used his snowblower to clear, all the walkways, most of the parking area and the whole driveway! His snowblower is the largest I have ever seen and he does a great job with it but it is a beast to control. I worked on digging out my car and then turned my attentions to the front steps. The steps lead down to the street and the snowplows that go by really pack the snow against them. After I finished the steps, I drove down to the ambulance building to make sure we could get the rig out. I was expecting to have to do a lot of shoveling but the town had done a great job of plowing the parking area and in front of the bay doors. I did make sure the entrance door was cleared and I removed the remaining snow from in front of the bay doors. I returned home at 9:15 AM debating whether I should go out for a hike immediately or wait. I decided I wanted to go right away and asked Cindy. She wanted to do a snowshoe that was flat and I could not think of any nearby. When I settled on visiting Round Top, she declined because of the hills. I did not want to go anywhere that required parking in a lot as I knew they would probably not be plowed. At 9:30 AM, I started to get ready with the temperature hanging at 25 degrees and overcast skies with some light snow still hanging around. I got dressed in a long-sleeved Patagonia wool zip top but decided I did not need a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have a Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes. I thought about getting out a pair of winter pants but knew I wouldn't need them on this day. I also decided against wearing tights even though the temperature seemed cold enough since I knew it would be a relatively short hike. I did put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to keep my lower legs dry and a little warmer. I decided to wear my Salomon B-52 winter hiking boots which fit well but have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a blaze orange fleece hat for visibility and warmth. My final layer was my Mammut hoody which is light but blocks the wind and was pitzips to dump heat. I also wore a pair of light gloves. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. I took my pack with me as it is the easiest way to carry my camera. We stepped out of the house at 9:45 PM. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and put it on her to safely cross the street. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. I tried to mount the snow bank left by the plow but was unsuccessful so we walked down the street to the parking lot at the Presbyterian Church. Someone had partly cleared the lot and it was not until I stepped into the snow at the back of the church that I realized that there was a lot of snow. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I let Sheila off her leash so that I could use my poles to get up the hill. Sheila immediately began to bound up the hill with me following close behind. The going was more difficult than I had expected and I had to pause a few times. We stopped in the middle of the hill so that I could take pictures toward the "Flats" to the southeast. The cemetery was covered in snow and all the trees on the surrounding hills were snow clad. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. I took some more pictures across the valley to "Beer Mountain" and some to the north and west. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. There were no tracks on the trails as we were the first ones out to hike.

At the first trail junction, I continued straight ahead up the hill toward the viewpoint. Again, the climb up the hill was pretty tiring especially since I only had Sheila to break trail ahead of me. At the viewpoint, we headed to the left an walked out to the overhanging rock shelf that forms the lookout. I took pictures of town and the school. I also took some shots of the hills around town. My final pictures were of Sheila sitting in the snow on the trail. We walked back up to the main trail and followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed up the gentle hill through the hardwood forest with trees encased in snow. There was no wind and everything was very still. At the first trail junction with the blue trail we stopped so that I could take some pictures of the pristine trails along the base of Round Top and up the hill toward the summit. We turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. This section was easier, even though the snow was a little deeper, as it was flat. At the next junction I had to make a decision whether we would just do a small loop or go for the figure 8. I decided we would do the figure 8 so we turned left and started up the hill to the summit. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued up and over the summit. When we started down the other side, I decided we would skip the new switchback on the blue trail and just continue down the hill. I was able to get a pretty good glide on the snow but I had to watch my speed and balance. The steepest part of the hill was tricky but the poles helped me to keep my balance and get down without falling. At the bottom of the hill we turned left on the yellow trail, walked along the base of Round Top and then turned right to walk down to the woods road. I was surprised at how much easier it was walking in the trail I had just broken. It was also a snap to walk downhill and out the woods road. It was obvious Sheila felt the same way as she was running and bounding ahead of me. We walked the woods road out to the first trail junction. By the time it took to hike this figure 8, the difficulty was twice that of the same route without snow. We walked out to the trailhead and down the hill. I put Sheila on her leash in the church parking lot and we crossed the street to our driveway. We were home by 11:15 AM after hiking a mile in an hour and a half!

On Wednesday, December 16th I knew that My grandson Bryce would be with us and that he might like to hike. I thought we might go to the Frick Pond area to hike before the storm that was forecast for Thursday dumped more than a foot of snow on our area. When Bryce arrived at 9:00 Am, he immediately had to join a remote session for school. When he was done, he told me he had other sessions at 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM so I knew that going top Frick Pond would not work out. We decided to go cross the street after is 11:00 AM session to hike on Round Top. It turned out that his 11:00 AM session was over by 11:30 AM and we were able to start to get ready for our hike. Bryce had a nice warm jacket which was good as the temperature was in the mid-20's with a slight breeze. The pants he had, however, were a little less approbate so I was glad we were just going across the street. Sheila could hardly contain herself as she ran around barking with excitement that Bryce was going with us. I got dressed in a long-sleeved Patagonia wool zip top but decided I did not need a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have a Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes. I thought about getting out a pair of winter pants but knew I wouldn't need them on this day. I also decided against wearing tights even though the temperature seemed cold enough since I knew it would be a relatively short hike. I did add my OR Crocodile gaiters which add some warmth to my lower legs and prevent snow from getting in my boots when the pants don't. I decided to wear my Salomon B-52 winter hiking boots which fit well but have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a blaze orange fleece hat for visibility and warmth. My final layer was my Mammut hoody which is light but blocks the wind and was pitzips to dump heat. I also took with me a pair of light gloves. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. We stepped out of the house at 11:45 PM and I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car. We walked up the driveway and I realized I had forgotten my poles. I chose not to go back for them and we continued up the driveway and crossed the street. We walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church and to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill but I noticed the hill seemed easier as I have been hiking more. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. Most of the snow that had fallen on Monday was now gone but some was still visible on the hills around town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore.

At the first trail junction, we continued straight ahead up the hill toward the viewpoint. At the viewpoint, we headed to the left an walked out to the overhanging rock shelf that forms the lookout. I pointed out various buildings in town to Bryce. We walked back up to the main trail and I pointed out the crevice that almost splits the trail. I have removed the blazes leading to the viewpoint to avoid leading people to a place that might be tricky to cross. We were going to follow the yellow trail as it turned right and headed up the gentle hill but I mentioned to Bryce that I was bored with hiking the same trails over and over. Bryce readily agreed so I made a sharp right and began to bushwhack along the top of the ledges. The ledges are really impressive and there are several different levels each with its own interesting places to explore. We came to a large tree that had broken off one of two stumps. The tree had a crossarm on it so we looked around us to see if there were any other trees equipped in this way. We could not find any and began to inspect the stump. In one stump we found a metal bracket that was sued to hold a glass insulator to which wire was affixed. I knew that, at one time, there was a TV antennae on Round Top that was hared by many families in Livingston Manor. I thought this might have been part of that system. We continued to wander along the ledges until we were almost to the trail. This final ledge has an enormous flat rock that slid off the ledge and forms a "cave" or shelter underneath. Both sides of the opening have rock walls piled up but I do not know how old they are. When we hit the Yellow trail that runs along the base of Round Top we crossed it and continued to bushwhack up toward the summit. We passed a few large rocks and small ledges and were soon at the blue trail that passes over the summit. We crossed the blue trail and headed down the hill toward the Quickway. When we reached a line of "posted" signs we turned more to the north and followed that property line until we were back at the yellow trail as it descended toward the lookout. We crossed the trail and walked down through the woods to the area where we had started the bushwhack.

We decided we needed a little more adventure so we crossed the trail and descended a short but steep and slippery incline near the ledges that make up the viewpoint. My intention was to walk below the overhang and then up the crevice on the other side. We started to sidehill across to the ledges. This was quite an adventure as the ground was frozen and icy. We walked along the bottom of one of the ledges and found a crevice that was sketchy but looked like it could be climbed. Bryce went up first, almost on his hands and knees, and only had a little trouble right at the top. I followed and found the going difficult. When I reached the point where Bryce had difficulties, I was unable to get myself up. I was faced with descending the slippery ground to the bottom of the crevice. I managed this and them continued the traverse along the base of the ledges. There was some snow and ice but I made it to the large "cave" underneath the viewpoint. I continued to traverse as I knew there was another crevice on the other side which I hoped I could negotiate. I found the area where I wanted to ascended and watch as Sheila went up through it with ease. I followed her somewhat more slowly until we were standing on the lookout. I thought that I would see Bryce but he was not there. I yelled his name and the response came from below! Bruce had decided to climb back down by himself and do the traverse without me! I was not too happy about him being alone but I realized I had not specified what he should do while waiting for me. Pretty soon Bryce's head popped out of the crevice to the right on the lookout. We walked back out to the main trail and down the yellow trail to the first trail junction. We walked out to the trailhead where I put Sheila ion her leash. We walked down the hill and across the street to our driveway. We were home by 1:15 PM after hiking an hour and a half which I estimated was a little more than 2 miles.

On Monday, December 14th I was getting ready to go hike a loop at Frick Pond to take in the snow that was still falling. At that moment the ambulance pager sounded and I was off on two calls. This set me back in my schedule and I was a little tired by the time I got home. Despite my lethargy, I decided to take Sheila and go across the street to hike and take some pictures on Round Top. At 1:30 PM, I started to get ready with the temperature hanging at 33 degrees and overcast skies with light snow. We had not hiked for two days so Sheila could hardly contain herself as she ran around barking. I got dressed in a long-sleeved Patagonia wool zip top but decided I did not need a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have a Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes. I thought about getting out a pair of winter pants but knew I wouldn't need them on this day. I also decided against wearing tights even though the temperature seemed cold enough since I knew it would be a relatively short hike. I decided to wear my Salomon B-52 winter hiking boots which fit well but have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a blaze orange fleece hat for visibility and warmth. My final layer was my Mammut hoody which is light but blocks the wind and was pitzips to dump heat. I also took with me a pair of light gloves. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. I took my pack with me as it is the easiest way to carry my camera. We stepped out of the house at 1:45 PM and I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. I decided we would probably just do two figure 8's which would allow me to get a variety of pictures and would be enough exercise. We walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church and to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill but I noticed the hill seemed easier as I have been hiking more. We stopped in the middle of the hill so that I could take pictures toward the "Flats" to the southeast. The cemetery was covered in snow and all the trees on the surrounding hills were snow clad. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. I took some more pictures across the valley to "Beer Mountain" and some to the north and west. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. There were no tracks on the trails as we were the first ones out to hike.

At the first trail junction, I continued straight ahead up the hill toward the viewpoint. At the viewpoint, we headed to the left an walked out to the overhanging rock shelf that forms the lookout. I took pictures of town and the school. I also took some shots of the hills around town. My final pictures were of Sheila posed on a rock looking regal. We walked back up to the main trail and followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed up the gentle hill through the hard wood forest with trees encased in snow. There was no wind and everything was very still. At the first trail junction with the blue trail we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction we turned left and started up the hill to the summit. We bypassed the white crossover trail and continued up and over the summit. When we started down the other side, I decided we would skip the new switchback on the blue trail and just continue down the hill. The steepest part of the hill was tricky but the poles helped me to get down without falling. At the bottom of the hill we turned left on the yellow trail, walked along the base of Round Top and then turned right to walk down to the woods road. We walked the woods road out to the first trail junction. I wanted a little more exercise so we turned around and walked back up the woods road and the yellow trail. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned left and walked along the base of Round Top. At the next junction, we turned right and climbed the blue trail straight up and over the summit. Going up was easier than coming down! We descended the blue trail on the other side of the hill and turned right on the yellow trail. We walked along the base of Round Top and turned left at the next junction following the yellow trail down to the viewpoint. We turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. This time we walked out to the trailhead where I put Sheila ion her leash. We walked down the hill and across the street to our driveway. We were home by 3:00 PM after hiking 2 miles in a little more than an hour.

Note: As of December 7, 2020, this trail has not officially opened. The DEC would prefer that hikers wait to hike this trail until it officially opens. It I supposed to be a "secret" until that time. If you read this, please DO NOT tell others! On Friday, December 11th, I wanted to go back to Red Hill to get a better GPS track than I got on a previous trip. The trail is a one to the Red Hill fire tower that eliminates the trip down an unmaintained dirt road to the trailhead on Dinch-Coons Road. The access in the winter is difficult as the road is not cleared and it is a long downhill to the trailhead. The return trip can be nearly impossible if there is ice or packed snow on the road. Many people park at the top of the hill and walk a little more than half a mile to the trailhead parking lot. The new trailhead and parking area is on Denning Road a little less than 2 miles from the Claryville Post Office. I knew the trail had not officially opened but there is nothing that says the trail is closed. Cindy and I both had dental appointments in the morning so any hiking would have to take place after noon. When Cindy arrived home, she said she would like to come along so we started to get ready with the temperature at 42 degrees. I began to get ready with Sheila keeping a close watch on my movements. I got dressed in a long-sleeved Mammut crew top and a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have a Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes. I thought about getting out a pair of winter pants but knew I wouldn't need them on this day. I decided to wear my Salomon B-52 winter hiking boots which fit well but have been discontinued. I made sure to pack my microspikes as I did not know how much snow would be present on the hill. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a blaze orange fleece hat for visibility and warmth. My final layer was my Mammut hoody which is light but blocks the wind and was pitzips to dump heat. I put our gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and headed out the DeBruce Road. At the end of the road I turned right on Route 47 and drove out to the Denning Road. Here I turned left and drove through Claryville. Two miles after the Claryville Post Office, we came to the new parking area on the right side of the road and I pulled into the lot. There was still no sign hanging from the support on the side of the road and the kiosk was empty. To make sure I got a good GPS track I had my Suunto GPS watch, the Avenza app on my iPhone and my Garmin GPS handheld unit. I set all my GPS units and then realized I had forgotten to bring my light gloves. It was a little too cold to go barehanded so I took out a pair of Gordini mittens. Cindy had already begun to walk up the trail to generate some heat and I followed beginning the hike at 1:10 PM. The temperature was 37 degrees but it felt a little cooler in the shade of the mountain.

As we began the walk up the trail, it was obvious that the trail was going to be frozen and snow covered most of the way. I had to set a fast pace to catch up with Cindy and was out of breath by the time I ascended the set of stone steps and the first part of the hill. It was getting late in the day and I did not know how long it would take to complete the hike with Cindy who usually is a little slower than I am. Because of this I had decided to concentrate showing the trail to Cindy and getting my GPS track rather than taking pictures. We continued on the trail which is new but looks as if it has been in place and used for several years. The treadway was wide and flat with few obstacles. There were several switchbacks and it was obvious that one requirement of the construction was a moderate grade. The forest at these lower elevations was primarily evergreen which is unusual in the Catskills. At .4 miles the trail turned sharply to the left in one of its many switchback and we entered an area of hardwoods. There was a small stream that ran across the trail and the construction crew had create a deep ditch along the side of the trail. The ditch directed the water across the trail and at that point there was a stone construction to allow the water to cross the trail and hikers to easily cross the water. This was repeated several other times on the trail. Shortly, we ran into the one wet spot on the trail but it was easily avoided. At .7 miles there was a series of ledges and stone steps that passed between them. The first time I hiked this trail, it seemed that it was heading too far to the east but that was before I realized the way the trail had been sited. At about 1.3 miles, there was an enormous boulder on the right side of the trail and I knew we were near the trail junction. Almost immediately we came to a trail junction with new signs. The trail to the left goes to the Dinch Road trailhead. Trial to the right goes to the fire tower in .6 miles. We turned right and headed toward the fire tower. The grade of the trail started to increase and I knew Cindy might not be able to make the summit.

As we hiked along the trail, I noticed that there was more snow on the trail. Cindy began to slow down and told me to go for the summit. I have tried in the past to encourage her usually to no avail. I started up the hill at an increased pace. After walking about quarter mile, there was a spur trail to a spring on the right side of the trail and then a short switchback. The grade continued to increase from a consistent 10% to a steeper 20% and I could feel it. As the snow had increased on the trail it began to get slipperier and I wondered about the return trip down the hill. There was some sun in the sky which made me feel better if not warmer. The last .3 miles averages a little over a 20% grade and is challenging but did not seem too bad compared to other trips I had made. At 2:20 PM we arrived at the tower clearing and I walked over to a picnic table in the clearing. I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take some pictures of the tower. I had not intended to stop for pictures but I had made good time and hoped to find the surrounding hills covered in snow! I did not tether Sheila to the picnic table but gave her a "Stay" instruction at the bottom of the tower. Unlike some dogs, Sheila has no problem climbing up and down the open steps and I thought it might be slippery. I started to climb the tower with Sheila starting to whine at the bottom of the stairs. There was almost no snow on the steps and only a little on the landings. Above the treeline there is normally a breeze but on this day it was very still. I eventually made it to the landing below the cab and was disappointed that the scene was not much different than a few days before. There was little or no snow on the hills and there was some haze that had not bee there on the previous trip. I began to take pictures of the surrounding scenery. The views of the Catskill peaks from this tower are spectacular. I also took some shots of a reservoir and the cabin at the summit. As I descended the tower, I called Sheila up so that I could take some pictures of her on the tower. We descended the tower and walked back over to the picnic table. I got a quick drink and we started the hike back down the mountain. I did not know whether Cindy had stopped to wait for us or had started back down so I wanted to move as quickly as possible. I had to be careful because the melting snow on the steep slope was slippery. About half way to the intersection of the trails, Sheila alerted and I saw Cindy ahead. I gave Sheila permission to leave me and she immediately ran down the trail to her. Cindy had put on her microspikes but I elected to continue to bareboot. We continued down the trail and made the left turn onto the new trail. We continued to keep a fast pace. The excellent trail surface allowed us to keep moving. As we passed through some of the ledges, I asked Cindy to pose with Sheila and I took a few shots. As we descended the last few steps to the parking area, I saw that only our car was in the lot. We walked over to the car and I stopped all the GPS units. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. It was 3:30 PM and we had hiked 3.7 miles in 2 hours and 25 minutes with 25 minutes of stopped time. Our elevation gain was 1205 feet. From what I could see on the GPS units, I had several good GPS tracks.

On Thursday, December 10th I was tired from several days and nights of ambulance calls so I decided I would wait until the next day to hike. After noon, I came to the realization that I would often be tired and would not want to go out but that going out would make me feel better. I asked Cindy if she would like to go across the street to hike on Round Top and she agreed. At 2:00 PM we started to get ready with the temperature hovering in the high 30's with some mist in the air. We had not hiked for several days and Sheila was anxious to get out. I got dressed in my Mammut long-sleeved crew top and put on a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have a Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes. I decided to wear my Salomon B-52 winter hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a blaze orange fleece hat for visibility and warmth and a pair of light gloves. My final layer was my Mammut hoody which is light but blocks the wind and was pitzips to dump heat. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. We stepped out of the house at 1:45 PM and I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. I decided we would probably do at least two figure 8's to cover all the trails and tire me out a little. We walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church and to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill but I noticed the hill seemed easier as I have been hiking more. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. There was some snow in the woods and some on the surrounding hills. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. I could see some boot prints in the snow meaning at least one person had been out on the trails since the snow fell.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction. The snow was slippery but we were able to manage without too much of a problem. At the junction, we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. Along the way we picked up or removed many small branches and dragged several large ones off the trail. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. Walking uphill we passed through what remained of the ferns of the summer all with brown edges. Just before the steepest section we turned right on the switchback trail now marked with blue paint blazes. We continued to follow these blazes as they made a sharp right turn and headed back to the main blue trail. We turned right on the blue trail and continued up the blue trail. Within a few feet, we passed the white crossover trail and continued on the original blue trail to the summit. We walked up and over the top and started down the other side from the summit. We turned right on the yellow trail and walked along the base of Round Top. This time we turned left at the junction with the blue trail and walked down to the lookout. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. At this point, Cindy decided she would walk home. Sheila and I immediately turned around and walked back up the hill to the lookout and followed the yellow trail as it turned right. We followed the trail as it made a gentle ascent through the brown ferns to the junction with the blue trail. We continued to follow the yellow trail by turning right and following along the base of Round Top. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started the ascent of the hill. When the white crossover trail came up and the left, we continued straight ahead on the blue trail and passed over the summit of Round Top. We continued downhill on the blue trail ignoring the crossover trail but turning left on the switchback trail. We followed the switchback to the main blue trail where we turned left and finished the walk downhill. At the yellow trail we turned left, walked back along the base of Round Top and turned right at the next junction. We walked down to the woods road that took us back to the first trail junction.

I decided I wanted a longer hike so we turned around and started back up the woods road. At the top of the hill, we turned left on the yellow trail and walked to the next junction with the blue trail. We walked up the hill taking the switchback and the turning right on the white crossover trail. We walked the crossover trail to the blue trail on the other side of the hill. Both the switchback and the crossover are relatively new and I noticed that in some areas where there was sidehilling the trail was very slippery. I knew that in the spring we would have to cut out these trails to make the walking easier. At the blue trail we turned right and walked down to the yellow trail. We turned right and walked to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and walked down to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and headed downhill to the first trail junction. I debated going back to the house but decided to try one more figure 8. We turned around and walked back up the hill to the viewpoint where we followed the yellow trail as it turned right. We walked uphill to the trail junction with the blue trail. We stayed on the yellow trail by turning right and walked around the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. Here we turned left and walked up the hill to the point where the white crossover trail began. We turned left and followed the crossover trail to the blue trail on the other side of the hill. Here we turned left and almost immediately left again to follow the switchback trail down to the yellow trial. We turned left and the right at the next junction to take the trail down to the woods road. We followed the woods road back down to the first trail junction. This time we turned left and walked out to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We walked down the hill to the parking lot and across the road to our driveway. We were home by 3:30 PM after hiking more than 3 miles in a an hour and 45 minutes.

Note: As of December 7, 2020, this trail has not officially opened. The DEC would prefer that hikers wait to hike this trail until it officially opens. It I supposed to be a "secret" until that time. If you read this, please DO NOT tell others! On Monday, December 7th, I wanted to get out for a hike which was a little harder than Round Top that I had hike the day before. I was just beginning to hike again after taking a week off to recover from a bad cold. I was still felling a little sick but wanted to see how I fared on a more difficult hike. Someone I know in Grahamsville had told me of a new trail to the Red Hill fire tower and that same trail was mentioned on a blog I read. The trailhead on Dinch-Coons Road is difficult to access in the winter as the road is not cleared and it is a long downhill to the trailhead. The return trip can be nearly impossible if there is ice or packed snow on the road. Many people park at the top of the hill and walk a little more than half a mile to the trailhead parking lot. The new trailhead and parking area is on Denning Road a little less than 2 miles from the Claryville Post Office. I knew the trail had not officially opened but I though I would go to find out where it was and if I could hike it. When I awoke, the temperature was still in the mid 20's so I did not hurry to get ready immediately as I had some things to do around the house. At 11:00 AM I began to get ready with Sheila keeping a close watch on my movements. I got dressed in a long-sleeved Patagonia wool zip top a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have a Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes. I thought about getting out a pair of winter pants but knew I wouldn't need them on this day. I decided to wear my Keen Traghee II hiking boots which fit well but are beginning to show too much wear. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a blaze orange fleece hat for visibility and warmth. My final layer was my Mammut hoody which is light but blocks the wind and was pitzips to dump heat. I also took with me a pair of light gloves and packed a pair of mittens. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and headed out the DeBruce Road. At the end of the road I turned right on Route 47 and drove out to the Denning Road. Here I turned left and drove through Claryville. Two miles after the Claryville Post Office, I came to a new parking area on the right side of the road and pulled into the lot. There was no sign hanging from the support on the side of the road and the kiosk was empty. I did not see anything that indicated I could not hike but I did see a trail sign and clear blue markers for the trail. I decided we would attempt the hike so I took some pictures of the parking area and then set my GPS. I realized I had forgotten to put my spikes in my pack and considered bringing the Stabilicers that were in my car. I left them where they were and we walked to the back of the parking area and started up the trail at 11:55 AM with the temperature standing at 32 degrees.

As we began the walk up the trail, it was obvious that the trail was dry or at least frozen and I hoped it stayed that way. We almost immediately came to a set of stone steps. They were well constructed and in just the right place to help out hikers. I took some pictures including some of Sheila sitting in the steps. She has trained herself to stop and sit on the trail whenever I get out my camera. I also noticed that a woods road ran off to the right and I assumed this could be the old jeep road to the fire tower. We continued on the trail which was new but looked as if it had been in placed and used for several years. The treadway was wide and flat with few obstacles. There were several switchbacks and it was obvious that one requirement of the construction was a moderate grade. The forest at these lower elevations was primarily evergreen which is unusual in the Catskills. At .4 miles the trail turned sharply to the left in one of its many switchback and we entered an area of hardwoods. There was a small stream that ran across the trail and the construction crew had create a deep ditch along the side of the trail. The ditch directed the water across the trail and at that point there was a stone construction to allow the water to cross the trail and hikers to easily cross the water. This was repeated several other times on the trail. I took some pictures of the construction and of the trail stretching out ahead and then we continued. Shortly, we ran into the one wet spot on the trail but it was easily avoided. At .7 miles I could see a series of ledges ahead and stone steps that wound between them. I stopped to take some pictures not realizing that this would be repeated several more times over the next quarter mile. Each time I stopped to take pictures and each time Sheila posed nicely for some shots. As we continued on the trail, it seemed that we were heading too far to the east and were definitely on the north side of the mountain. By the time we had walked 1.3 miles there was a good dusting of snow in the woods but none on the trail. A little further on the snow got a little deeper and there was an enormous boulder on the right side of the trail. I stopped and took some pictures of the rock and the trail and then started up the trail again. Almost immediately we came to a trail junction with new signs. One sign indicated the Dinch Road trailhead was .8 miles to the left and the fire tower was .6 miles to the right. After taking a few pictures, we turned right and headed toward the fire tower.

As we hiked along the trail, I noticed that there was more snow on the trail and that tings were looking a little familiar. After walking about quarter mile, there was a sour trail to a spring on the right side of the trail and then a short switchback. I finally realized that we had turned off the new trail onto the existing trail. The grade had also increased from a consistent 10% to a steeper 20% and I could feel it. Fortunately, even though the snow had increased the trail did not seem very slippery. There was also some sun in the sky which made me feel better if not warmer. The last .3 miles averages a little over an 20% grade is challenging but did not seem too bad compared to other trips I had made. At 1:20 PM we arrived at the tower clearing to find a couple of hikers sitting on one of the picnic tables. We exchanged greetings and I walked over to another picnic table in the clearing. I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take some pictures of the tower. I tethered Sheila to the picnic table this time as I did not want her following me up the tower. Unlike some dogs, Sheila has no problem climbing up and down the open steps and I thought it might be slippery. I started to climb the tower with Sheila starting to whine below. There was some snow on the steps but I used the railing and had no problems. Without looking, I could tell when I was above the treeline as the breeze hit me. I eventually made it to the landing below the cab. I began to take pictures of the surrounding scenery and Sheila and the ground below. There was no haze in any direction and the views were the best I had seen in years! When there is no haze or fog, the views of the Catskill peaks from this tower are spectacular. I also took some shots of the Ashokan Reservoir and the cabin at the summit. I descended the tower, released Sheila and got out a Dang bar for the trip back. I like Quest bars but they freeze solid on cold days. The Dang bar has a higher fat content and did not seem to be effected by the cold. We started the hike back down the mountain and made good time though I had to be careful of the snow and slippery rocks. We made the left turn onto the new trail and continued to keep a fast pace. The excellent trail surface and lack of snow allowed us to keep moving. As we descended the last few steps to the parking area, I saw a truck parked in the lot. I walked Sheila over to the car and out her in the backseat. It was 2:30 PM and we had hiked 4.0 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes with 40 minutes of stopped time. Our elevation gain was 1200 feet. I noticed that there was a man at the truck and I said "Hello" and he responded. He was getting ready to go out hunting but we had a short conversation before heading our separate ways.

On Sunday, December 6th I finally got out for my first hike of December. My plan was to hike my first December hike on December 1 and make it a substantial one. As it turned out, I came down with a head and chest cold that out me out of action for an entire week. In the past I have ignored being ill and have hiked anyway. This made me feel psychologically better but pronged the sickness. By Sunday, after seven days without hiking I felt well enough to go for a short hike on Round Top. At noon, when I returned from church, the skies were bright and sunny but the temperature was only 38 degrees. I decided I would go across the street to hike on Round Top for some exercise. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go across the street to Round Top and she declined as she also had the cold I had contracted. At 12:15 PM I started to get ready. We had not hiked for a week so Sheila could hardly contain herself as she ran around barking. I got dressed in a long-sleeved Patagonia wool zip top but decided I did not need a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have a Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes. I thought about getting out a pair of winter pants but knew I wouldn't need them on this day. I decided to wear my Keen Traghee II hiking boots which fit well but are beginning to show too much wear. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a blaze orange fleece hat for visibility and warmth. My final layer was my Mammut hoody which is light but blocks the wind and was pitzips to dump heat. I also took with me a pair of light gloves. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. We stepped out of the house at 12:30 PM and I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. I decided we would probably do some different loops this time as I was tiring of my regular figure 8's. We walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church and to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill but I noticed the hill seemed easier as I have been hiking more. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that at least a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails.

At the first trail junction, I continued straight ahead up the hill toward the viewpoint. On the way up, Sheila alerted and we could see a young couple and their large dog headed down the hill. Fortunately, they had their dog on a leash and we passed each other with a quick "Hello". At the viewpoint, we followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed up the gentle hill through the brown remains of the once green ferns. The wind was blowing strongly but we were sheltered by the trees. At the first trail junction with the blue trail we continued straight ahead up the steeper side of Round Top. When we came to the new switchback on the blue trail, we continued straight ahead on the steeper, original trail. We also bypassed the new white crossover trail and headed directly to the summit of Round Top. We walked over the top of the hill and started down the other side staying on the blue trail as we passed the opposite end of the crossover trail. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top back to the first junction with the blue trail. We turned right to headed up the hill but this time took the switchback trail which is becoming more and more the trail of choice as I had hoped. When the switchback rejoined the main blue trail, we turned right and almost immediately turned right on the white crossover trail. We followed this trail back to the blue trail and turned left to head back over the summit. I had decided to do some multiple loops on the upper trails instead of the figure 8's I normally walk. We walked over the top of Round Top and started down the other side. This time we turned left on the switchback trail and followed it back to the main blue trail. We turned left and walked down to the yellow trial. I decided to turn left and hike the yellow trail along the base of Round Top and back to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left and started up the blue trail turning left on the white crossover trail. When the crossover trail came to the main blue trail we turned left and headed downhill staying on the main blue trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned left and walked back to the next junction with the blue trail. This time We turned right on the yellow trail and walked down t the woods road and then back to the very first trail junction. I was surprised at how good I was feeling but decided not to press my luck. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We walked down the hill to the parking lot and across the road to our driveway. We were home by 1:30 PM after hiking 2 miles in an hour.

On Saturday, November 28th, Brad, my son-in-law, and I planned to hike the Mongaup-Hardenburgh Trail from the Beaverkill Road to the junction with the Long Pond-Beaverkill Ridge Trail to check out the maintenance status of the trail. I am the trail supervisor for the NYNJTC that covers this trail and the maintainer was unable to make a fall trip. I had not been on the trail in some time and thought we might hit Willowemoc Mountain and Sand Pond Mountain while we were there. These two peaks are on the Catskill Highest Hundred list. Willowemoc Mountain has sort of a view but Sand Pond Mountain does not. I had hoped to leave the house by 9:30 AM to get a started on the trial at around 10:00 AM but my plans were changed as Brad and I covered two ambulance calls. The evening call took us to Garnet Medical Center in Middletown but we were back by 11:00 PM. The second call came in around 3:00 AM and we did not get back from Garnet Catskills until 5:00 AM. Needless to say we both slept in and did not start to get ready until 11:00 AM. The skies were overcast and there was some precipitation but we decided to go any way. Sheila was happy we would be getting out and stayed near me to make sure I knew she wanted to go. I got dressed in a my Mammut crew neck shirt with a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I hoped this would be enough so that I would not have to wear gaiters. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using since spring. The external locks have not failed me yet and the cork handles really do allow a good grip. I put on my Mammut hoody and brought a pair of light gloves. I also donned a blaze orange fleece hat for warmth and for visibility. I put my Silky Sugowaza saw in my pack along with two plastic wedges. I also brought the Fiskars pack ax. We put all the gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and drove out the driveway at noon.

I headed north toward Roscoe on Old Route 17 and turned right on the Beaverkill Road. I drove about 18 miles on the road passed the point where it turns from pavement to packed dirt. We arrived in the parking area just before 12:30 PM. There was one other vehicle in the lot and as we began to get ready I discovered I had left my GPS unit at home. I was annoyed as I like to record a track for each hike but I knew it would not effect what we had to do. The air temperature was 36 degrees and a slight breeze was blowing as we darted out on the trail. We walked down the steep trail to the suspension bridge over the Beaverkill and stopped so that I could take some pictures of this interesting structure. The bridge consists of two towers at either end constructed of steel beams. The wooden decking is placed longitudinally on the bridge rather than crossways. The decking is suspended from several steel cables strung between the towers. The bridge sways considerably as you walk across it but I stopped to get a few spots from mid span. I am never too happy about walking across the bridge but Sheila had no problem going across and coming back several times. We finally crossed the bridge and started up the ascent to the ridge. I did notice that a few of the boards on the bridge should be repaired and that one of the cables was broken! The bridge was slippery as the boards were wet and the trail was covered in slippery, wet leaves. From the bridge the trail gains 750 feet over .7 miles at about a 20% grade. I did not remember this climb and it was a little tiring for me. As we walked along the trail we removed random small branches that had fallen on the trail. We also stopped a few times to remove some large branches and trunks and even had to break out the ax and saw. There were quite a few large and old blowdowns either on the ground or elevated across the trail. All of these were too large for us to cut and I knew I would have to see if Andy Garrison or the local ranger could come to cut them with a chainsaw in the spring.

Over the next mile the trail gains about 250 feet as it flattens some and then climbs once again. The skies began to get more and more overcast until sleet began to falls. The sleet fell for a few minutes and then turned to snow. We decided to continue as it was now cold enough that the precipitation was not melting on our clothing. The snow stick to the trail making for an interesting sight and a more slippery trail. At 2 miles into the hike we passed by Willowemoc Mountain which was off the trail to our left. We decided to leave a climb to the summit for the trip back if there was time. We continued on the trail heading toward the junction with the Long Pond-Beaverkill Ridge Trail. Over the next .5 miles we dropped over 350 feet. Now that we had "gone over the hill" and were on the south side of the ridge, there was much less snow. At some points the trail was poorly marked. It was 3:00 PM and I knew our time was short. The trip back would probably take less time since it was mostly flat and downhill but I didn't want to hike out in the dark. It had taken us 2 hours to hike the 2.5 miles out. Now we had to turn around a hike back up the hill we had just descended! We stopped in a couple of places so that I could take some pictures of interesting trees and the snow on the princess pine on the forest floor. There was also a clearing at the top of the climb that defined "bleak" and I took a few shots there. The temperature had increased just slightly so that the snow that had fallen on the north side of the ridge had all but disappeared. We encountered the same blowdowns on the way back but they didn't slow us down much. I took a few shots of the trail without the snow and of some other interesting trees. We tried to push the pace on the flat ground near the top of Willowemoc Mountain. On the final descent I used my poles to avoid slipping and falling on the wet leaves. The descent seemed to take too long but we finally made it to the bridge and scooted across to the car. It was 4:00 PM and we had hiked 5 miles in 3.5 hours which was a slow pace but included the time we spent to remove blowdowns and for me to take pictures. The elevation gain was 1495 feet. The sun was setting and it was getting dark as I drove home.

On Tuesday, November 24th, I wanted to try once more to hike Giant Ledge and Panther. Panther Mountain itself has limited views but to get there from Route 47 the trail passes over Giant ledge which was a great view of Panther Mountain, the entire Burroughs Range and the valleys below. Every time I had planned to do this hike lately, the parking area was filled by 9:00 AM. My plan was to arrive at the parking area around 9:00 AM and hope that it would not be mobbed. When I got up at 8:00 AM, the temperature was 31 degrees. I knew that the temperature was supposed to rise throughout the day but that it would be colder on a 3500 foot peak. I also was aware that the recent rains would make the trails wet but that snow may have fallen at the higher elevations. I got dressed in a my Mammut crew neck shirt with a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I hoped this would be enough so that I would not have to wear gaiters. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using since spring. The external locks have not failed me yet and the cork handles really do allow a good grip. I put on my Mammut hoody and brought a pair of light gloves. I also donned a blaze orange fleece hat for warmth and for visibility. As I was getting ready, Sheila quietly watched me positioned so that I could not get by her without falling over her. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat. I drove out the DeBruce Road and eventually passed Round Pond. At the end of the road, I turned left on Route 47 and drove passed the Frost Valley YMCA. There were no cars parked at the Biscuit Brook trailhead and only four at the Slide Mountain trailhead. When we arrived at the parking area for Giant Ledge and Panther on Route 47 at 9:10 AM there were only two cars parked as I pulled in. Another car pulled in as we were getting ready so we got started pretty quickly by crossing the road and headed out on the trail at 9:15 AM. The temperature was 34 degrees and a wind was blowing making me feel very cool. As I suspected, the trail was pretty wet from the rains the previous few days and there were definitely areas of deep mud. I let Sheila off the leash almost immediately after crossing the road and she was behaving by staying on the trail.

As we crossed the bridge over the small stream, there was a good volume of water running in the stream. The bridge had a light coating of snow and ice which proved to be an indication of what was to come. I forgot how annoying the many rocks that cover the trail to the turnoff can be! In addition, there are several short climbs and each one seems to be the last. Despite the fact that I had been hiking, I noticed that making good time up the climbs was tiring although I enjoyed the elevation gain. There were a few streams running across the trail down low but there were not too many wet areas through the rocky climbs. I did have to watch for a few icy areas and areas with wet, slippery leaves. We finished the sixth short climb and arrived at the turn to Giant Ledge and Panther at about 9:50 AM. I didn't feel like we were going slow but it took 35 minutes to walk the .8 miles from the road, one of our slower times. We turned left to head toward Giant Ledge. The trail after the turn was also wet and muddy in most spots but we made use of the stepping stones along the way. The temperature felt like it was dropping and the increase in frozen mud seemed to bear this out. I was beginning to get warm so I opened the pitzips on my hoody. When the climb began, I pushed my pace as best I could to keep up with Sheila. When she alerted, I turned around to find a younger hiker closing in on us. We walked a little father and then I pulled over to the slide with Sheila to allow him to pass. As we continued, I noticed some areas where there are limited views of Slide which are better when the leaves are not on the trees. When we got to the last field of rocks with the a rocky climb after it, I had to be careful as the snow and ice had increased making every foot placement an adventure. Sheila was doing a good job of picking just the right path for me despite her ability to climb almost anything. We climbed up the last rocky ascent and walked to the first lookout arriving at about 10:30 AM after the 1.5 mile climb. There were no hikers on the first viewpoint so I walked out to take some pictures. Sheila was right on my heals as she has no fear of heights! The skies were still overcast with just a little sun peaking through. This created a pattern of light and shadows on the scene in front of m which my camera had trouble capturing. and full of puffy white clouds. I took variety of pictures and then took a few of Sheila sitting on the ledge with the mountains behind here. The whole Burroughs Range is visible to the right with Friday visible as a "bump" between Slide and Cornell is Friday. Panther is all the way to the left and I could see the north side was covered in snow.

We got a drink and then I had to make a decision. My shoes were water resistant but were proving not to be water proof. I really wasn't "feeling it" as far as climbing Panther and had a few other excuses. I deiced to put these away and at least make the attempt at Panther. I hoped the wind would die down or we would be bore protected on the climb. We left the first lookout to go back to the main trail along the ledges. Sheila is fearless about heights and sometimes scares me a little when she walks right to the edge of the cliffs and looks down! As we hiked along the ledges, I decided not to stop at any more of the lookouts as I wanted to concentrate ny efforts on climbing Panther. Sheila walked to the edge of most of the lookouts. Descending into the col between Giant Ledge and Panther proved to be a challenge as many of the rocks had just enough ice to make things interesting. Along the way we met a hiker coming back from Panther and we greeted each other as we passed. We walked through the relatively flat area of the col for a little while and then started the climb up Panther. Parts of the Panther trail get a little steep at times but there always seems to be a switchback or flatter area. All of the climbs had rocks covered in ice and I was glad I had brought my Stabilicers for the return trip. Where the trail flattened, there were vast areas of mud across the trail and beyond. There were two areas in particular that seemed to offer no good way to avoid the mud. A fee slips resulted in even wetter feet! We continued up the trail with Sheila checking out some of the paths that lead to limited viewpoints along the way. We stopped at one and walked out to a rock which had a good view of Giant Ledge and Slide with no trees in the way. I took some pictures before we went back to the main trail. We were soon up the steeper climbs with only a final, short ascent of Panther to go. The last part of the ascent on Panther isn't too long or steep but it was all I could manage as it was also covered in ice and a light layer of snow. As the trail flattened near the top, we had to avoid some areas of mud. We passed the lookout just before the summit, and continued on to the flat rock that marks the top of the mountain. We arrived at the summit of Panther at 12:00 PM after hiking 3.3 miles. The view from the summit has been improved by the removal of some of the trees blocking the view. I took a couple of shots of the scenery. We walked back to the viewpoint just below the summit and ascended the rock which acts as the lookout. I took a few shots of the scenery which had the same dappled appearance as the view from Giant Ledge. As we were getting ready to leave two young me passed by and then another group of three hikers. We turned around and started to head back down the mountain. The sun came out just as we started down which improved my mood and even seemed to make my feet feel warmer. As we descended Panther, Sheila alerted and I saw one woman headed toward with a young girl. I walked off the trail to allow them to pass by and both complimented Sheila on her good looks and exemplary behavior. These were comments that were repeated many times during the day. I tried to keep a good pace but found the descent almost as difficult as the climb up! I had to watch that I did not slip as falling down a mountain is worse than falling up.

Sheila alerted and the hiker that had passed us coming up Giant Ledge was right behind us. I again pulled over and let him pass. He told me he was from Connecticut and had come all the way just to hike Panther. He was without poles but was setting a fast pace. We gain had to negotiate the muddy areas and a few more slippery rocks on the way to the col. We finally made it down to the col and negotiated the muddy areas. The ascent proved easier than I thought it might be as I could see the icy areas and avoid them. When we had finally made the ascent to Giant Ledge, I was happy because I knew that everything else was down or flat. On our way across the ledge, we met a couple at one of the viewpoints. By their comments, they were very impressed with the views. As we cam to the first lookout, I could see there was nobody there and I decided to go down to take a look. The sun was now out and the area was fully illuminated, so I took a few more shots.Now I really wanted to just get back to the car. As we walked back up to the main trail and the toward the steep descent, we net a couple with a small dog on a leash. We finally got to the descent off the Ledge and I could see a woman ahead of us with a small dog and no leash. When Sheila met this dog, she behaved well as did the other dog. We passed them and continued down the rocky slope. A little father along, I looked up to see a big, black dog but no owner! Seconds later, another big black dog came up the trail followed closely by the owners. These owners seemed like nice people who had never heard of a dog leash. They though they could control their dogs but they could not. The dogs came over to "visit" Sheila who let them know she was not in the mood. We passed by and continued our descent. The flatter portion of the trail seemed to last a long time as we used the stepping stones to avoid the mud as much as possible. There was a group of younger hikers behind us and I was determined not to let them catch up! I looked up to see a group of six women and girls coming toward us. Several had sticks they were using for walking and one was carrying what looked like a tree trunk! We finally made it to the right turn in the trail and started down the numerous rocky descents. By this time my feet were damp but not very cold and I concentrated on picking the best and quickest route for the descent. The descent went more quickly than the ascent but I had several close calls. As we neared the bridge over the small stream, we met two young women with a small dog that looked like a fox on a leash. We crossed the bridge, and walked out to the road. We crossed to the parking lot which was now full. We were back at the car at 2:15 PM having covered 6.5 miles in 5 hours including numerous stops adding up to almost an hour. The elevation gain was 2150 feet. I was satisfied at the accomplishment but it reminded me to take my own advice that conditions at the summit may not match conditions at the trailhead. Now I need to find a pair of my insulated and waterproof boots.

On Monday, November 23rd the weather was lousy and I decided I would wait until the next day to hike since the weather forecast was better. After noon, I came to the realization that the weather going forward would be cold, sometimes overcast and never really ideal for hiking. This means I had to get used to hiking in these conditions or give up hiking for four months or so. I decided I would go across the street to hike on Round Top for some exercise. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go across the street to Round Top and she agreed. At 1:00 PM I started to get ready with the temperature hovering in the high 30's with some mist in the air and a slight breeze. We had not hiked for several days and Sheila was anxious to get out. I got dressed in my Mammut long-sleeved crew top but decided I did not need a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have a Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Traghee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a blaze orange fleece hat for visibility and warmth. My final layer was my Mammut hoody which is light but blocks the wind and was pitzips to dump heat. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. We stepped out of the house at 1:15 PM and I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. I decided we would probably do two figure 8's to cover all the trails and tire me out a little. We walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church and to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill but I noticed the hill seemed easier as I have been hiking more. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that at least a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction. At the junction, we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. Along the way we picked up or removed many small branches and dragged several large ones off the trail. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. Walking uphill we passed through what remained of the ferns of the summer all with brown edges. The trails were damp from the light rain overnight and the leaves made some places slippery. Just before the steepest section we turned right on the switchback trail now marked with blue paint blazes. We continued to follow these blazes as they made a sharp right turn and headed back to the main blue trail. We turned right on the blue trail and continued up the blue trail. Within a few feet, we passed the white crossover trail and continued on the original blue trail to the summit. We walked up and over the top and encounter a small blowdown halfway across the trail. We started down the other side from the summit and turned right on the yellow trail. We turned right to walk along the base of Round Top. This time we turned left at the junction with the blue trail and walked down to the lookout. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. At this point, Cindy decided she would walk home. Sheila and I immediately turned around and walked back up the hill to the lookout and followed the yellow trail as it turned right. We followed the trail as it made a gentle ascent through the brown ferns to the junction with the blue trail. We continued to follow the yellow trail by turning right and following along the base of Round Top. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started the ascent of the hill. When the white crossover trail came up and the left, we continued straight ahead on the blue trail and passed over the summit of Round Top. We continued downhill on the blue trail ignoring the crossover trail but turning left on the switchback trail. We followed the switchback to the main blue trail where we turned left and finished the walk downhill. At the yellow trail we turned left, walked back along the base of Round Top and turned right at the next junction. We walked down to the woods road that took us back to the first trail junction. This time we turned left and walked out to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We walked down the hill to the parking lot and across the road to our driveway. We were home by 2:30 PM after hiking more than 2 miles in a little over an hour.

On Friday, November 20th I had planned to hike a longer hike early Possibly to Giant Ledge and Panther Mountain. I needed to catch up on some lost sleep and did not get up until 9:30 AM! I knew that the parking at Giant Ledge would probably be an issue so I changed my mind and decided to do a loop of about 6 miles at Hodge and Frick Ponds. I had not hiked UP the Flynn Trail to do the big loop around Hodge Pond in some time and made that my intended route. The temperature was 55 degrees as I was getting ready but I knew it could be a little cooler at the trailhead. I got dressed in a My Mammut crew neck shirt with a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I hoped this would be enough so that I would not have to wear gaiters. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using since spring. The external locks have not failed me yet and the cork handles really do allow a good grip. I put on my Mammut hoody and brought a pair of light gloves. I also donned a blaze orange fleece hat for warmth and for visibility. I also decided to bring my Silky Sugowaza saw as I remembered several small trees that should be removed from the trail. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and drove out the Debruce Road about 6 miles. I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. Along the way the temperature continued to drop until it was 48 degrees at the fish hatchery. At the split, I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. There were no cars parked in either parking lot as I pulled into the smaller area. I was surprised since lately there had been a few people at the trailhead no matter the day or time. The thermometer read 50 degrees as I set my GPS. The skies were blue in some areas with plenty of sun and lots of billowing white clouds. Other parts of the sky were more overcast and there wasn't much sun. There was also a breeze blowing which made things a little cooler. At 11:00 AM we started our hike by crossing the road to start out on the Flynn Trail. At the end of the trail through the woods we turned right on the woods road that was once the extension of Beech Mountain Road. I had intended to hike at a relaxed pace but instead set a quick pace with Sheila roving out ahead kicking up a few birds as we hiked. The Flynn Trail ascends 1.7 miles to the Big Rock Trail junction gaining 600 feet. The more I hike the quicker I can hike and easier it seems. As we neared the highest point on the hike, we ran into two small blowdowns so I stopped, removed my pack and started to make some cuts to remove them. I usually take before and after pictures but these small trees were not worth the effort. Just after the 1 mile mark was another blowdown which also went quickly. By 11:55 AM we had hiked the 1.7 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued straight ahead staying on the Flynn Trail heading toward Hodge Pond. The trail seemed dry but the thick layer of leaves covered some wet and muddy areas. We passed through the gate that separates state land from the OSI property were soon at the next trail junction where we stayed to the left to stay on the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond.

As we approached the pond, I looked at the scene and decided to walk over to the shore of the pond. Sheila did not jump into the water to swim as she has a good sense of when it is too cold. I turned my attention to taking some shots of the pond. The scene was somewhat bleak looking like winter but without the snow. By now there was some blue sky and the sun was out. When I was done, I got a drink and packed up. We headed back to the Flynn Trail and turned right to follow the trail along the west side of Hodge Pond. To this point the trail had been relatively dry but as we continued on the west side of Hodge Pond the Flynn Trail began to be muddy. As we walked along the western shore, we came to a spot where we could turn left or right. We turned left to stay on the Flynn Trail and began a slight up hill climb toward the gate where the trail turns to the left. We ran into another blowdown and I decided to clear it. This one was a little larger than the others but only required two cuts and some energetic dragging to get it off the trail. We continued our walk up the hill and through the gate. This part of the Flynn Trail is pretty flat and the trail is often the lowest point which allows water to collect with nowhere to go. The rain earlier in the week had made the trail wet and I had to walk around several wet and muddy areas. Despite this the trail was not as wet as it sometimes is and not as wet as I thought it would be given the rain that had fallen. I noticed that Sheila was pretty careful to walk around these areas as I had encouraged her. There were a few branches on the trails which I removed as we walked. We arrived at Junkyard Junction at 12:45 PM about 3.4 miles into the hike. From here the rest of the hike is primarily downhill with a few small hills along the way. We turned left on the red Quick Lake Trail and found it was also wet and muddy in spots. Some section of the trail are washed out leaving a lot of rocks behind and making the downhill hiking not as much fun as it could be. There were several large puddles on the trail which were frozen over. When I probed the ice on one, I found it was almost half an inch thick. At about 3.8 miles the trail turned due south and we continued downhill.

There wasn't much to see so we hiked quickly passing the junction with the snowmobile trail. We arrived at Iron Wheel Junction at 1:35 PM after hiking 5.0 miles. We turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail since the yellow Logger's Loop continued straight ahead. The trail continued to be muddy but we made good time. We continued on the trail and soon came to the little stream in the woods. The stream was not as high as the last time I had walked the trail but I had to go stream to get across. I stopped to take a shot of the small waterfall just above the point where I crossed. I noticed that Sheila had simply waded across the stream! We continued toward Frick Pond and found several more blowdowns which were large and easy to step over. There were a few wet and muddy spots but most were drier than I expected. I had been noticing new ruts on the trail and could not figure out what made them. It almost looked like a dirt bike of some kind. We passed the junction with the Big Rock Trail that goes around the north end of Frick Pond and walked toward the bridge across the outlet of the pond. As we approached the bridge, Sheila alerted and I could see there were three men at the bridge with two dogs. I put Sheila on her leash and one of the men called the other dogs. I continued toward the bridge but the other dogs did not go to the man who was calling but approached us. He eventually grabbed their collars but did not seem to have leashes for them. This is becoming a common occurrence of inconsiderate dog owners owning some really nice dogs. I crossed the bridge and tied Sheila to a tree so I could take some pictures. The sun was a little low in the sky and the pictures looked like they were being taken at sunset. All the while I was taking these shots, the owner of the dog was hanging onto them. All three men had hunting gear and I assumed they would camp out for the first day of deer season on Saturday. I wondered how they expected to hunt legally with dogs along! I packed up and we continued back on the Quick Lake Trail toward the trail register. At the trail register we continued straight ahead on the woods road to the smaller parking area. There was one pickup parked in the larger lot which I assumed belonged to the hunters. It was 2:05 PM and we had hiked 6.5 miles in 3 hours with an elevation gain of 900 feet. The temperature was 54 degrees.

On Thursday, November 20th I returned from by men's fellowship group at church and ate breakfast at Café 43. I had some work to do around the house and was waiting for Cindy to get home from church. When she returned at noon we ate lunch and I asked if she wanted to go across the street to do a short hike on Round Top. She declined so I decided Sheila and I would go. At 1:00 PM I started to get ready with the temperature hovering in the mid 40's which was almost 20 degrees warmer than the day before. We had not hiked for several days and Sheila was anxious to get out. I got dressed in my Mammut long-sleeved crew top but decided I did not need a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have a Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Traghee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a blaze orange fleece hat for visibility and warmth. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. We stepped out of the house at 1:15 PM and I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. I decided we would probably do two figure 8's to cover all the trails and tire me out a little. We walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church and to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill but I noticed the hill seemed easier as I have been hiking more. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that at least a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction. At the junction, we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. Along the way we picked up or removed many small branches and dragged several large ones off the trail. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. Walking uphill we passed through what remained of the ferns of the summer all with brown edges. The trails were damp from the light rain overnight and the leaves made some places slippery. Just before the steepest section we turned right on the switchback trail now marked with blue paint blazes. We continued to follow these blazes as they made a sharp left turn and headed back to the main blue trail. We turned right on the blue trail and continued up the blue trail. Within a few feet we turned right on the white crossover trail and I noticed that this trail was getting more use than the original blue trail to the summit. When the white trail met the blue trail Ming down from the summit we turned right and continued downhill to the yellow trail. We turned right to walk along the base of Round Top. This time we turned left at the junction with the blue trail and walked down to the lookout. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and walked back up the hill to the lookout and followed the yellow trail as it turned right. We followed the trail as it made a gentle ascent trough the brown ferns to the junction with the blue trail. We continued to follow the yellow trail by turning right and following along the base of Round Top. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started the ascent of the hill. When the white crossover trail came up and the left, we continued straight ahead on the blue trail and passed over the summit of Round Top. We continued downhill on the blue trail ignoring the crossover and switchback trails. At the yellow trail we turned left, walked back along the base of Round Top and turned right at the next junction. We walked down to the woods road that took us back to the first trail junction. This time we turned left and walked out to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We walked down the hill to the parking lot and across the road to our driveway. We were home by 2:15 PM after hiking around 2 miles in a little over an hour.

On Monday, November 16th, we had hiked the new trail on Ticetonyk Mountain and the Ashokan Quarry trail. I drove back toward Boiceville on Route 28A and the turned left on the Peekamoose Road. I followed the road as it passed Moonhaw Road and then wound its way up the hill passing the parking area for Ashokan High Point. This reminded me that this would be a good hike one of these days especially now that the leaves were down. Eventually I came to a falls on the right side of the road tucked back in the woods. I found a place to park and walked back to take pictures of the falls. The water simply cascades down a rock face and on this day the recent rains had provided plenty of water. I returned to the car and drove to the next falls. I repeated the routine of finding a place to park and walking back on the road to the falls. I stood at the roadside and took my shots. A woman was walking her dog and asked said to me "Please don't jump in!" I was not sure what she meant but I surmised she meant that I should respect the private property signs. I walked back to the car to continue my drive.

I looked at the next falls where I usually stop but, for some reason, there was not much water flowing over them so I drove on to Buttermilk Falls. I parked in the lot for the falls and was surprised I was the only car. I took my camera and walked to the road bridge to take pictures of the falls. I decided not to walk to the base of the falls as the pictures from the road were good. Once again I returned to the car thinking I was finally done. I drove passed the Blue Hole and the parking area for Peekamoose. When I passed Bear Hole Brook, the scene looked so nice I pulled into a lot and got out my camera. I though Sheila might burst if I did not take her this time so I got out her leash. We walked back up the road to the brook and trough the ugly barriers and caution tape. These measures were necessary as inconsiderate people were parking wherever they wanted along the road. We walked out the path to the first little falls and I took shots of this falls and the brook further upstream. We walked down to the brook near the road bridge and while Sheila got a drink, I took a few more pictures. We returned to the car and this time I drove all the way home.

On Monday, November 16th, I had promised to give an FLT hiker a ride from Capmbell Mountain Road to the Horse Camp on East Trout Brook Road in the area of Bear Spring WMA. I was to pick her up at 7:00 AM and I decided that I would take along Sheila and my hiking gear so that we could go on a hike after I dropped off the hiker. When I got up at 6:00 AM it was 30 degrees but a stiff breeze was blowing. The forecast for the day called for temperatures in the low 40's but with windchills in the low 20's. I decided to dress warmly knowing I could always removed clothing if needed. Sheila was happy to be included but seemed confused that we were getting ready so early. I got dressed in a medium-weight Patagonia wool top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I hoped this would be enough so that I would not have to wear gaiters. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using since spring. The external locks have not failed me yet and the cork handles really do allow a good grip. I put on my Mammut hoody and brought a pair of light gloves. I also donned a blaze orange fleece hat for warmth and for visibility. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out the driveway 6:30 AM. I drove north on State Route 17 getting off at exit 95 for Roscoe. I headed north on Route 206 through Roscoe and Rockland and up Brock Mountain. I turned left on Jug Tavern and then right on Campbell Mountain Road. When I arrived at the trailhead, my passenger was there and ready to go. We loaded her pack in my car and I headed back out the same way I had come to Route 206. At the Pepacton Reservoir I turned left to stay on Route 206 through Downsville. Soon we were headed up Bear Spring Mountain. Near the top I turned left on East Trout Brook Road and drove all the way south to the Horse Camp. I let my passenger out and wished her good luck. I considered my options for hiking. I was not feeling my best but knew that hiking would make me feel better. I decided we would go to Ticetonyk Mountain to try the new trail that the Catskill Mountain Club had constructed on DEP land. I thought after we completed that hike we might go to the Ashokan Quarry Trail.

I drove back to Downsville and around the reservoir on Route 30. At the Dunraven Bridge I stayed to the right and took the BWS road to Route 28 near Margaretville. I continued on Route 28 all the way to Boiceville where I turned left on Upper Boiceville Road just after Onteora High School. The next turn was a left onto Bostock Road and then another left onto Peck Road. After passing the YMCA Camp at .25 miles, I turned left into the small parking area for the new Ticetonyk Mountain trail. The parking area is only big enough for three or four cars and two cars were already parked. It was 9:15 AM when I set my GPS and we started out on the trail heading first northeast and then northwest. It was much warmer than I had anticipated and there was almost no wind and I suspected I would get warmer when we started to climb the mountain. I met one hiker on the flat part of the trail heading back to his car. The trail passed in back of the YMCA camp and I could see some of their buildings. At .65 miles two things happened. The trail turned northeast and the climb began. Over the next .7 miles the trail gained 720 feet with an average grade of 21%. Most of the trail was in good shape and relatively dry. There were a few areas that were rocky especially near the top just before the trail leveled some. The biggest problem was the slippery oak leaves and I was glad I had my poles. After a bit of climbing, I noticed that I was very warm and I decided to remove the wool top and stow it in my pack. I zipped the zippers on the hoody but after a little more of the ascent I unzipped them again. I met the second hiker coming down the mountain and we passed with a quick "Hello".

At 1.3 miles the trail began to level as we reached the highest point on the trail. Several paths branched off but were blocked while the blazed trail turned to the left and headed west. It descended slightly to a rocky lookout with view of the mountains to the west and the Ashokan Reservoir. I immediately sat down on the rock to take off the tights which it was clear I did not need. I took pictures from the rock and a little farther up the trail. Sheila jumped up on the rock to pose so I took some shots of her. When I parked the car the skies were overcast but the further up the mountain we hiked, the clearer the sky became. I knew this lookout was not the one I had visited when hiking from the DEC parking area a little further along Peck Road. The sky was now blue with white clouds and the sun cast interesting patterns on the landscape. When we were ready to leave, I decided to follow one of the paths which lead north. After a short distance, the paths started to lead down the mountain and I turned around a returned to the place where we had started. From there it was just a matter of reversing the route we had used to ascend the mountain. We met only one hiker coming up the trail and he had his dog with him. Sheila was very good at ignoring the other dog as we passed. We were back down the mountain and at the car at 11:10 AM after hiking a total of 3.2 miles or 2.8 miles on the trail. The total elevation gain on the trail was 945 feet. I decided I had enough time and enough energy to hike the Ashokan Quarry Trail.

On Saturday, November 14th, I was scheduled to meet one of my trail maintainers, Christopher, at the Balsam Lake Mountain Beaverkill trailhead. I like to meet all of my maintainers and get to know them and this was the first opportunity I had to meet Christopher. He maintains the Dry Brook Ridge Trail to the south junction with the Balsam Lake Mountain Trail and the Balsam Lake Mountain Trail to the junction with the Millbrook Ridge Trail. He lives and teaches on Long Island and we had agreed to meet at the trailhead at 9:00 AM which made me wonder how early he would have to get up! Fortunately, the ambulance pager did not go off over night so I was able to sleep until 7:00 AM. When I got up the temperature was 33 degrees in town and I thought it might be colder at the trailhead even though we were meeting later in the day. Sheila was waiting and ready to go as I got dressed and gathered my gear. I got dressed in my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of light tights and then a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I hoped this would be enough so that I would not have to wear gaiters. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. Before putting on the shoes I tapped the back of my right heel just to make sure I did not get a repeat experience with blisters. I decided to bring a pair of external lock Leki poles even though I would have to carry my maintenance gear since I did not want to climb the steep trail on Balsam Lake Mountain without them. I put on my Mammut hoody and brought a pair of light gloves. I also donned a blaze orange fleece hat for warmth and for visibility. I decided to bring my Silky Sugowaza saw, Fiskars pack ax, LT Wright Overland machete, a round point shovel and a pick mattocks. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out Old Route 17 toward the Beaverkill Road at 8:15 AM. I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and headed north toward Lew Beach and Turnwood. The Beaverkill Falls were flowing with a good volume from recent rains and I thought I might stop on the way back for a few shots. The road conditions were pretty good even when the pavement ended. I continued on the road under beautiful blue skies with white clouds. Toward the end the road becomes very narrow and I was glad I did not meet any cars. We arrived at the parking area at 8:45 AM which meant the 45 minute drive had only taken us 30 minutes. There were 4 other cars in the lot and I was pretty sure more would be arriving given the beautiful weather. Christopher pulled in just before 9:00 AM and we greeted each other. He has a place near Stamford so the trip was short than it would have been from Long Island. We talked for a few minutes as we got ready to go and decided on the tools each of us would carry. I was surprised that Sheila immediately accepted Christopher and allowed him to pet her without protest.

At 9: 30 AM we headed out on the trail. There were some wet and muddy spots right at the beginning of the trail but there was no way to fix them. We found several branches hanging over the trail but we were able to pull them down and throw them off the trail. We continued along the trail picking up a few branches as we went. This part of the trail has some large and very old trunks on the trail. They do not block the trail but should be removed. These trunks are large enough that they will need a chainsaw to remove the. Chris and I finally came to a tree that was interfering with passage on the trail. Someone had cut a few branches but had then left the branches on the trail creating quite a mess. We set down our packs and I took some "before" pictures after which we assessed the job. We cleared some branches that were loose and then went to work cutting some smaller branches that were attached to a larger trunk. As we were working a few groups of people walked passed and thanked us for our work. I was happy that Sheila simply sat by my pack and behaved herself. Chris and I set to working with our saws to cut off and drag away larger branches. When we were done, only the larger trunk remained and I knew we could not cut it with the tools we had. After taking some "after" shots, we picked up and moved on. We cleared a few more small trees and branches that were hanging over the trail. We arrived at the turn to the left up the mountain. There was a group ahead of us with a dog and they turned up the mountain at a good pace. We continued up the mountain which averages over a 25% grade. I was glad I had brought my poles. We had lots of time to talk as there was almost no work to do on the trail. I found Chris very easy to talk to and we worked through many topics. It helped that I had spent 11 years on Long Island between college and teaching. Soon we were passing the spur trail to the lean-to on the right. Just passed the spur trail we started the last steep climb where we found the 3500 foot sign. We stopped at the spring so that I could take a few more pictures and while we were there some more people passed us. We soon continued up the stone "steps" to the summit plateau. There was a tree with some branches hanging down in the trail so we used the loppers to cut them. As we walked toward the tower, we came to the junction with the Millbrook Ridge Trail which is the end of Chris' responsibility. We decided to go to the tower and then turn around and retrace our steps to the car.

We worked our way along the trail toward the tower and I was reminded that this section is always a little longer than I think. We did find one tree leaning over the trail and I cut it and dragged it off the trail with the help of a passing hiker. When we arrived at the tower clearing, there were about a dozen people in various places. I dropped my pack and leashed Sheila to a tree as there were people and other dogs around. She was not happy as she likes to climb the tower with me! I waited until the tower was clear and then began the climb with my camera. Although the sun was out making the clearing seem warm there was a breeze blowing. As I rose to a level above the tree line, the force of the wind was a little surprising. I climbed to just below the cab and began to take pictures. My fingers immediately began to feel cold but I continued to snap shots. I zoomed in a little as the sunlight changed and took some more photos. Eventually my fingers and the people waiting below convinced me to descend. I took several shots of the tower and then returned to my pack. I got a bar from my pack then shouldered the pack and retrieved Sheila. We headed back down the trail. I had not descended the steep side of the mountain in some time as I prefer to do a loop. Descending I was glad I had decide to bring poles as the slippery leaves made the trail slippery. We passed several people on the way down and we stopped for a minute to talk to them. Chris has been a trail maintainer for 3 years and has volunteered at the tower for 15 years so together we have a lot of advice we can offer. I was happy when I saw the trail junction ahead. At the junction we turned right to head back to the parking area. We passed a few people on the way back. We arrived in the parking area at 1:00 PM after hiking 3.4 miles and doing trail work in 3.5 hours. The elevation gain was 1180 feet. The parking area was filled with cars with some overflow parking on the road below. On the way home I considered stopping at Beaverkiil Falls but I found I was more interested in getting home.

On Thursday, November 12th, I wanted to go to Long Pond to remove a rather large blowdown on the Long Pond Beaverkill Ridge Trail where we had already cleared the trail with a chainsaw. The blowdown came down with the wind from a recent storm and was blocking the trail which was otherwise clear. I attended a men's fellowship meeting at y church at 6:15 AM. The temperature had dropped from 60 degrees at 10:00 PM the night before to 34 degrees in the morning and it was still raining. When I returned from church, I ate breakfast at Café 43 and then went home. The forecast was for rain through 10:00 AM so I found some things to do around the house. I was recovering from some heel blister that I had gotten wearing a pair of shoes that I have used for some time.so I did not plan on hiking very far. The blowdown was only about .75 miles from the road so that was a perfect situation. When I started getting ready just before 11:00 AM the temperature was 48 degrees. Sheila was anxious to get out as we had not hiked for four days! I got dressed in my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I hoped this would be enough so that I would not have to wear gaiters. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I decided to forego bringing poles as I would have carry my maintenance gear. I put on my Mammut hoody and brought a pair of light gloves. I also donned a blaze orange fleece hat for warmth and for visibility. I decided to bring my Silky Sugowaza saw, Silky Katanaboy 500 saw, Fiskars pack ax, Council Tools felling axe and two felling wedges. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out DeBruce Road at 11:10 AM. I passed through DeBruce and then Willowemoc and turned left on Flugertown Road. I drove out Flugertown Road and passed the trailhead on the left. After crossing the small bridge, I parked at one of the empty campsites on the right side of the road where there was already a small camper parked. There were also campers using the site on the other side of the road. I decided to take both saws but only the larger ax. At 11:30 AM the temperature was 44 degrees as we walked back down the road a short distance and turned right onto the trail. The trail climbs a little and then descends only to climb again to the trail junction at .4 miles. At .4 miles we turned right to stay on the Long Pond-Beaverkill Ridge Trail.

The trail was in good shape as we had worked on it in late September. The wind storms that had occurred since then had brought down a few branches and I picked up most of them as we walked along. Within a short distance, we came to the blowdown I wanted to clear. It was a rather large tree down across the trail with quite a few branches. The main trunk was about 14 inches in diameter and it looked like I would have to cut it twice. At 11:50 AM, I took my "before" pictures and then got to work. I cleared all the loose branches on both sides of the blowdown and then started to use the Sugowaza to remove smaller branches. I cleared all the branches as I went and then started to cut larger branches. When I had reduced the blowdown to the larger diameter branches and trunks, I took some more pictures. I cut the larger branches with the Sugowaza and cut down one small tree that was in the middle of the mess. Somehow as I was clearing, I grabbed a piece of wood which slipped out of my hand leaving a laceration behind. I took a minute to wrap some tape around my hand and then continued to work. I thought it ironic that I was using some sharp tools and was cut by some wood! I was finally down to the large trunk so I took a picture and began cutting. I sued the ax to cut a length off the upper part of the trunk. This large ax is too heavy to carry very far into the woods but it does a great job of biting through large trunks of hard wood. I rolled and flipped the piece of the rail and then looked at what remained. I decided to use the saws to cut the 14 inch diameter trunk. I started wit the large, straight Katanboy which certainly got things going. This saw takes a lot of muscle and endurance to use so I thought I would try switching to the smaller saw. Since the saw is 17 inches, I reasoned I might be able to cut through the trunk with it. The curved design of this fixed blade works best for me. The trunk didn't give up easily so I opened the kerf with a wedge. This did the trick and the piece fell to the ground. I took a quick shot and the tried to get that piece off the trail. It was a little longer and heavier than I thought but I eventually rolled and flipped it off the trail. I took my "after" pictures of the totally cleared and then put away all the tools. It was 12:50 PM when we turned around and started back under overcast skies with just a hint of sun. It had taken an hour to clear the blowdown which I thought was reasonable. The trip back went quickly as it was all downhill or flat. We were back at the car at 1:10 PM.

I was a little tired and I did not want to overwork my foot where I had the blisters. I did not have poles and didn't really feel like hiking around Long Pond. In the end, I decided not to give into the excuses and to hike the short loop to Long Pond. At 1:15 PM I set my GPS and we walked back down the road to turn left on the Long Pond Beaverkill Ridge Trail toward Long Pond. The trail crosses two bridges over the creek and then, in .2 miles, climbs 125 feet at a 20% grade. I was feeling the fact that I did not have poles! After that the trail still climbs but much more gently. Along the way there were several very wet and muddy spots which we worked around until we were at a trail junction at .75 miles. We turned right on the snowmobile trail and hiked a short distance to where the spur trail goes down to the shore of Long Pond. I took a minute to sit on the remains of an old fireplace and tape the back of my right heel. There was no pain or hint of a blister but I did not want to take any chances. We walked down to the shore of the pond and I told Sheila to "Stay!" as I walked out to take a few pictures. The skies were still overcast so I only took a few shots. The atmosphere was the definition of "bleak". I went back to my pack to stow the camera and we walked back up to the main trail We turned left and walked slightly uphill on the snowmobile trail. There continued to be several wet and muddy areas until we started to descend the hill to the large parking area at 1.5 miles. The hill was a little drier but was covered in slippery leaves. Over .6 miles we lost 340 feet to the parking lot. From the lot we walked out to Flugertown Road where I put Sheila on her leash. We turned right and started the 1.6 mile walk back to the car. My GPS shows that this walk is slightly up hill but it is not very noticeable. At 2.6 miles we came to the point where the pavement ends but I decided to keep Sheila on her leash. I did stop once to take a few shots of the road before hurrying back to the car. At 2:45 PM we were back at the car after hiking 3.8 miles in 1.5 hours with a 450 foot elevation gain. Our overall speed was 2.6 mph with a moving average of 2.8 mph. The temperature had dropped to 42 degrees and the breeze was blowing harder. I was pleased that I was able to clear the blowdown and get in a hike.

On Saturday, November 7th, I wanted to go to Long Pond to survey the entire Long Pond Beaverkill Ridge Trail for blowdowns so that I could let Andy Garrison know if we should schedule a chainsaw trip. We had already worked on some of the worst blowdowns on the lower part of the trail and there were some big ones. The trail has not had a maintainer for some time and the area has lack a trail supervisor until I took over at the beginning of the fall. I had planned on getting up early to have as much time as possible to survey the trail and clear as much as I could. An early morning ambulance call changed my plans as I needed to catch up on my sleep. When I got up, I spent some time gathering garbage and recyclables to take to the transfer station. It was just before 11:00 AM when I started to get ready with the temperature at 58 degrees. Sheila was watching my every move but was doing so quitely. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I hoped this would be enough so that I would not have to wear gaiters. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I decided to forego bringing poles as I would have carry my maintenance gear. I did pack a light windbreaker but I expected the temperature to rise throughout the day. I decided to bring my Silky Sugowaza, Fiskars pack ax and two felling wedges. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out DeBruce Road at 11:15 AM. As I approached DeBruce a small dark animal ran across the road and I assumed it was a large black squirrel. It stopped on the other side of the road and I could see it was a mink! I passed through DeBruce and then Willowemoc and turned left on Flugertown Road. I drove out Flugertown Road and passed the trailhead on the left. After crossing the small bridge, I parked at one of the empty campsites on the right side of the road. I was surprised that there were no campers using the site. I set my Garmin GPS and we walked back down the road a short distance and turned right onto the trail. The trail climbs a little and then descends only to climb again to the trail junction at .4 miles. I cleared a few branches but left other for the return trip as my plan was to get to the top of the ridge as soon as possible. At .4 miles we turned right to stay on the Long Pond-Beaverkill Ridge Trail.

The trail was in good shape as we had worked on it in late September. The wind storms that had occurred since then had brought down a few branches and I picked up most of them as we walked along. Within a short distance, we came to a rather large tree down across the trail. There were quite a few branches and the trunks were a good size. We found a way to walk around the mess and continued on the trail. I thought I might tackle the blowdown on the way back or come back another day. I knew it would be challenging to cut the trunks but I knew I could do it with my big ax and saw. As we walked along the trail we passed by the trees Andy and I had cut and I was really impressed with the diameter of several of them. I followed Sheila as she followed the trail and her ability is uncanny even on little used trails like this one. At 1.25 miles we came to the base of the climb up to the ridge. The trail turned almost 90 degrees to the right heading northeast. At 1.4 miles we came to the place where Andy and I had stopped cutting. This is also the boundary between the Willowemoc Wild Forest and the Big Indian Wilderness. In the next .5 miles we gained 400 feet with an average of a 15% grade. I was feeling the climb as I was hiking without poles which really made a difference on the little traveled trail with uneven ground. At 1.6 miles the trail turned almost due west and then at 1.7 miles it headed north. I didn't find many blowdowns on the climb and the few that were present were small or easy to step over or around. At 1.8 miles we hit a high point and started a little descent to 2.1 miles where we started to climb again. Over the next .8 miles the trail continued ascend but was always headed north. The grade averaged only 6% but the walk was longer than I remembered. Along the way we hit a variety of problems. There were areas where the trail was poorly marked and I was lucky have Sheila who is flawless. In other places there were blowdowns that had been there for some time and had caused hikers to reroute the trail. There were a couple of blowdowns that were large and difficult to get over or under. My plan was to continue to the trail junction and then clear some of the small blowdowns on the return trip and take pictures of others. The marking of the trail was also confusing as someone had placed new markers above or below existing markers. Two markers stacked means a turn but there were no turns! At 1:30 PM we arrived at the trail junction which, ironically, was blocked by a blowdown with trail markers.

As we turned to start back, I was concerned about two things. I did not want to walk out using a headlamp although both of mine were working. My second concern was a stinging sensation coming from my right heel which I assumed was a blister. I took a picture of the blowdown at the junction which was the first of many. As we started back, I started to removed blowdowns that were in the trail, hanging over the trail or would trip up hikers. I started to count but lost track after 15! Most of these were simply moving things of the trail or making a few cuts with the saw or ax. I did clear two blowdowns that had many small branches blocking the trail in two different spots. In these cases I took before and after pictures which showed some good results. I also took pictures of some of the blowdowns that were blocking the trail that I could not cut. I finally stopped to take a look at my right heel which did have a broken blister. I taped over it with medical tape which did a better job than I expected. After this we set a faster pace and I noticed going down hill hurt my heel less and was easier than I anticipated without poles. I realized how lucky I am to be able to use CPS (canine positioning system) as all I have to do is watch Sheila and follow her. Soon we were making the final descent off the ridge. It was 3:30 PM when we crossed over to the Willowemc Wild Forest and the sun was beginning to dip low behind the trees. When we finally reached the new blowdown, I just took a picture and decided to leave it for later. At 4:00 PM and 5.6 miles we reached the left turn to take us back to Flugertown Road. On the way back down the hill, I did take the time to remove two larger blowdowns. Just as we were starting to descend the last hill, Sheila alerted and I looked up to see the outline of a dog's head on the right side of the trail ahead. I put Sheila on her leash and watched the head but it did not love. As we approached, I could see it was a stump with two upward pointing projections that looked like ears. I think Sheila saw it at the same time. When we hit the road, we turned left and I could see there were now people at the campsite. We were immediately greeted by a small, yipping dog that was not on a leash. I yelled for the owners to control their dog which would not have been necessary if the had it on a leash! We were back at the car at 4:15 PM after hiking 6.1 miles in 4 hours and 35 minutes with an elevation gain of 1180 feet. We had been stopped for 1 hour and 20 minutes to do trail maintenance.

On Friday, November 6th, I planned to hike from the Frick Pond Trailhead along the Flynn Trail to the highest Mongaup Mountain and then to the Hodge Pond Lookout. I had planned this hike several times but on this day I hoped may plan would come to completion. As I started to get ready at 9:00 AM, the temperature was still in the low 40's but the sun made it feel much warmer. As I got my gear together, Sheila seemed very excited even though we had been hiking during the week. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top and a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using since spring. The external locks have not failed me yet and the cork handles really do allow a good grip. I also added a blaze orange fleece hat for warmth and visibility. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat at which point the ambulance pager went off. I let Sheila back out of the car and went on the call. I returned at 10:00 AM and again got ready to hike. I once again put Sheila in the car and drove out DeBruce Road at 10:15 AM. After 6 miles, I turned left on Mongaup Road and continued to where the road split. I stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road to the parking areas for Frick Pond. I parked in the small lot where there was one other car. This was a big improvement over the last few times when the lots were almost full. I set my GPS and we crossed the road to get on the Flynn Trail to start our hike at 10:40 AM with the temperature at 55 degrees. There were lots of leaves on the trail and no leaves left on the trees.

At the end of the trail we turned right to continue our hike on the Flynn Trail which, in this area, follows the old Beech Mountain Road. I thought I was feeling tired but as soon as we started up the trail I began to feel fresh and set a good pace. We passed through the "tunnel" Cindy and I had cut in a huge spruce tree that fell across the trail. I had no one to talk to so I was lost in my thoughts which seems to make the hike go faster. I kept noticing that a breeze was blowing but that the sun was shining brightly. The rest of the sky was blue with puffy white clouds. At .7 miles I noticed a bright pink ribbon to the right of the trail at the start of a woods road that parallels the Flynn Trail. I decided to follow the woods road which I knew would hit a high point and then come back down to the trail. As I hiked along the road, I continued to find a path of pink ribbons. My first thought was to remove them since I could not imagine why they had been placed there. I decided to contact the local forest ranger first to see if he knew the meaning of flagging. At .9 miles we hit the high point and I stopped to take some pictures of the road, the ledges and the stone structure that was constructed to support the road. From here we walked back down to the Flynn Trail at 1.0 miles. At 11:35 AM we were at the junction with the Big Rock Trail after hiking 1.75 miles in an hour. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail and passed through the gate that separates state land from the OSI Beech Mountain Nature Preserve. When the trails split after the gate, we turned right. We followed the woods road passed the turn to the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp and started up the hill toward the top of the hill. The road is dirt and rocks and was covered with fallen leaves. Over the next .4 miles we gained 450 feet which is only a 12% grade and sometimes leaves me tired. On this day I was still feeling great. At 2.7 miles we stopped at a viewpoint to the west. I got out my camera and could see that there were very few leaves remaining on the trees and those had very little color. We got a drink and then headed up the hill to a high point before starting down the other side.

At the base of the short descent the road turned to the right but we went left. The highest Mongaup Mountain, the one on the CHH list, is almost due north of this point and we headed in that direction. Every time I have done this hike it was a bushwhack although a rather easy and obvious one. The route travels along a line of ledges on the right and eventually follows a crest or ridge that points to the summit of Mongaup Mountain. I was surprised to find that the path was now as clear as most trails and that there were some markers along the way. I was disappointed as this really spoils the bushwhack feel of the trip. We walked along the path which was impossible to miss and several landmarks looked familiar. Twice I walked up to a higher point to the right of the path to see if there was a viewpoint but there was not. One spot was so convincing I even hit it on the way back! At about 3.5 miles the path started to head west but I could see higher ground straight ahead to the north. We continued through the woods and up on a true bushwhack. I kept heading for higher ground and eventually found a moss-covered rock which seemed like the highest ground. I took a picture of Sheila on the rock. We got a drink and then headed a little farther north as I remembered a viewpoint. We wandered around a little but I finally decided to give up and head south. Our rout back was a little more to the west so I turned southeast and ran into the route we had followed up. Along the way we found a very large tree with two large trunks so I took a picture. The walk back went quickly and at 1:05 PM we had hiked 4.6 miles and were back at the woods road.

I decided to walk straight ahead aiming to walk around clockwise Beech Mountain on the trail. In a short distance we came to a cleared area with a great view to the east. I had been here recently when the leaves were on the trees and there was some color. I stopped to take a few pictures and the continued up a short hill to the trail that surrounds Beech Mountain, We turned left and headed south around that end of the summit. There are some fanatic ledges and cliffs here but it is hard to get a good picture through the trees. The woods road seems wider and more well-maintained every time I use it. The walk to the Hodge Pond Lookout was short so we were there very quickly. I put my pack down and got out my camera. As I stepped out onto the rock ledge that forms the viewpoint, I was glad that someone had cut some trees and brush to open up the view. I could see the trees that had been cut at the base of the viewpoint so I took a shot of them. I took pictures of Hodge Pond and the hills beyond even though the trees were mostly bare. I put my camera away and gave Sheila a drink and got one for myself. We continued on the trail that surrounds the summit of Beech Mountain traveling in a clockwise direction. We were soon back at the woods road that comes up the hill where we made a left and started back down toward the ruins of the Boy Scout camp. When we arrived at the junction near the old Boy Scout camp, we continued straight ahead on the woods road. At the junction with the Flynn Trail, we turned left. I felt pretty good since I knew the rest of the hike was downhill or flat. We passed through the gate and were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We set a fast pace down the Flynn Trail which we had all to ourselves. I had to call Sheila back a few times as she is much faster than I am and she was distracted by some animals off the trail. There was one small blowdown that I tried to pull off the trail. I found it would need to be cut so that it could be removed. Soon we passed through the "tunnel" and arrived at the gate. We turned left on the Flynn Trail to avoid the private property around the cabin. As we emerged from the Flynn Trail, we found there were now three cars parked in the small lot and only one in the large lot. We arrived back at the car at 2:30 PM after hiking 8.0 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes which was an average speed of 2.1 mph. The elevation gain was 1325 feet.

On Thursday, November 5th I had planned to do a longer hike to the Mongaup Mountain on the CHH list with a possible trip to Hodge Pond Mountain. Events conspired to make this plan impossible. I was contacted by a woman who needed a ride from the Slide Mountain trailhead to the trailhead on Campbell Mountain Road. She was hiking the Finger Lakes Trail and had gotten a price of $150 for the ride. I volunteered to do it for much less. Whenever I volunteer to help someone out, I do not take any money. We agreed to meet at noon and I knew it would take about an hour to make the trip. My day began with an ambulance call at 5:00 AM. I returned home at 6:05 AM which left me just enough time to get to my men's fellowship group at my church. I returned to Livingston Manor at 7:45 AM, ate breakfast at Café 43 and finished the paperwork from the ambulance call. When I returned home, I did some work around the house until I got ready to leave the house to go to Slide Mountain. I arrived at the trailhead to find the hiker I was transporting already there. We left almost immediately and as I drove we talked. The trip seemed to go quickly and by 1:10 PM we were at the Campbell Mountain Road trailhead. I said goodbye to the hiker and wished her well in her 4 day trip back to Slide Mountain. I returned home arriving at 2:00 PM. Sheila seemed to remember that I had promised that we would go out when I got home. She was running madly around the house and barking at me. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go across the street to hike a couple of loops on Round Top and she agreed. We started to get ready with the temperature a surprisingly warm 63 degrees. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top but decided I did not need a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have a Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. We stepped out of the house at 2:30 PM and I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. I decided we would probably do two figure 8's to cover all the trails and tire me out a little. We walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church and to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill but I noticed the hill seemed easier as I have been hiking more. Two small dogs came running at us from one of the houses because the owner does not know about leashes! When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that at least a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails. I showed Cindy the large blowdown I had cut removed and then cut again to eliminate it from the trail.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. The trail was covered in a thick blanket of leaves which were slippery and made the climb more difficult. We turned right at the top of the hill following yellow trail up the hill. The trees were devoid of leaves which were now on the ground but the scene was still interesting with the sun filtering through the trees. At the next trail junction with the blue trail, we turned right following the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the second junction, we turned left and started up the hill toward the summit. When we arrived at the white crossover trail, we turned left and followed the new crossover trail to the blue trail as it came down off the summit of Round Top. We started downhill but almost immediately turned left onto the new switchback that we had created for the blue trail. The switchback moderates the steepness of the blue trail and reduces the erosion that has occurred as more people walk the trail. The switchback is short and at the end we turned left to follow the blue trail back to the trail junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and again walked along the base of Round Top to the second trail junction. This time we turned right and continued downhill to the woods road that returned us to the very first trail junction. We immediately turned around and started back up the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction and when we reached it we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. Walking uphill we passed through what remained of the ferns of the summer all with brown edges. Just before the steepest section we came to the turn for the switchback but we continued straight up the hill. It was obvious that fewer people were taking this section of the trail by the lack of a defined treadway. We continued over the top of the hill and started down the other side. We passed by the white crossover trail and came to the junction with the yellow trail. Here we turned right to walk along the base of Round Top. This time we turned left at the junction with the blue trail and walked down to the lookout. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. This time we turned left and walked out to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We walked down the hill to the parking lot and across the road to our driveway. We were home by 3:45 PM after hiking around 2 miles.

On Tuesday, November 3rd, I wanted to go to Trout Pond to cut a blowdown that was blocking the trail to Trout Pond. I emailed one of foresters for Region 4 on Monday about doing the work but got no answer. In the past it has been just a matter of notifying the Dec but this is not by assigned area so I was not sure how to proceed. I decided to go and do enough work to clear the trail so hikers could get through the rather complex blowdown. I started getting ready at 11:15 AM when the temperature was 39 degrees. The wind was blowing harder than predicted but the skies were clear and the sun was out. We had not been out in two days so Sheila had her eyes glued on me as I got dressed. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top and a long-sleeved baselayer. I wore a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided not to wear a pair of tights under the pants. I put on my Vasque Taku boots which are supportive enough, surprisingly roomy and have been discontinued. I wore these because I did not expect any snow or ice and my winter boots have less support. I also added a blaze orange fleece hat for both warmth and visibility. I put on my Mammut hoody which has plenty of zippers to dump heat when I get warm. I knew I would not need poles on this short hike and that I could not carry them and my maintenance gear. I grabbed my Fiskars pack, Council Tools Velvicut Felling ax, Silky Sugowaza saw, Silky Katanaboy 500 and two felling wedges. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the back seat. At 11:40, I headed to Roscoe on State Route 17, got off at exit 94 and got on Route 206. I followed it across the Delaware County line to Morton Hill Road. After a left turn on Morton Hill Road, I drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I decided to drive down to the trailhead parking to make carrying my gear easier. As I drove down the road, I could see a forest ranger's truck ahead. I decided this was good fortune as I could ask the ranger about cutting the blowdown. We both parked in the empty lot. I left Sheila in the car and got out to talk to the ranger. The ranger was, Steven Ellis, who works out of the Stamford substation and who I had met before several times. He was unsure about me cutting the blowdown in an area where I was not assigned. Although he had simply come to hike the trails, he quickly volunteered to cut the blowdown with his chainsaw. I asked if I could help and he agreed. Ranger Ellis began to get his equipment ready and we chatted as he did. He will have been in the area for only a year this December after transferring from the Tupper Lake area. Before becoming a forest ranger, he worked as an instructor at Paul Smith's College and coached the Timbersports team! I decided to let Sheila out of the car and she began to roam around. She passed by the ranger several times and was well-behaved despite his uniform and hat. This behavior continued throughout the day with Sheila actually showing that she liked him! I shouldered my pack but left my equipment behind as we started out on the trail. We started up the hill toward Trout Pond and very shortly ran into the blowdown.

I took some before pictures and then Ranger Ellis began to assess the blowdown. He developed a plan and began to dissect the tree that was not supporting the rest of the mess. I could tell that he was an expert with the saw because he cut quickly and confidently but carefully. As soon as piece started to come off and it was safe, I began to move them well off the trail. The first trunk went quickly and we turned our attentions to the other branches from the larger tree that were blocking the trail. It became obvious that we would only be able to open up a path for hiking and that the rest of the blowdown would have to be removed by an operations crew. Cutting some of the blowdown would require a powerhead on a pole to safely cut overhead. Ranger Ellis began cutting one of the branches that was under stress using a scoring technique I had never seen before. At one point the saw got pinched and there was no way to easily release it. Neither of us had brought a hand saw so we walked the short distance back to the parking lot to get them. Our trip to the parking lot gave us more time to exchange information. When we got back to the blowdown, Ranger Ellis removed the powerhead from the saw. I made one cut on the branch which freed the bar. As he put the saw back together I used my handsaw to trim a few branches and to clear everything that had been cut out of the way. Once the chainsaw was in operation again the last part of the work went quickly. Ranger Ellis cut and I removed what he cut until we had cut everything that was safe to cut. We spent a little more time trimming a few branches and cleaning up what was left. While we were working two hikers went by and thanked us for the work. We finished up around 1:15 PM and spent a few more minutes talking before heading back to the parking area. The work done was exactly what I wanted to accomplish but went much faster than if I had done it alone with hand tools. I also got to work with an interesting sawyer who taught me several things. Back at the parking area Ranger Ellis gave me his card so that I could get in touch with him. I left the parking area at about 1:30 PM after spending a little over 2 hours walking and working. Ranger Ellis was putting away his gear and intended to go back and mark the blowdown with some bright colored flagging so that hikers would not run into any of the remaining branches.

On Saturday, October 31st, I wanted to get out for a hike as the next two days had rain in the forecast. I had some things to do around the house in the morning which didn't bother me as the temperature was 20 degrees at 7:00 AM. I began to get organized around 11:30 AM when I asked Cindy if she wanted to hiked. Cindy declined but Sheila came running when I called. I decided to go to Trout Pond and hike the loop in a clockwise direction with a possible redirection to Campbell Mountain and Morton Hill Road. It was 37 degrees when I started to get ready at 11:30 AM. Sheila got wind of what was going on and began running around the house barking. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top and a long-sleeved baselayer. I wore a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear a pair of tights under the pants. I put on my Keen Targhee II boots which are supportive enough, surprisingly roomy and have been discontinued. I wore these because I did not expect any snow or ice and my winter boots have less support. I also added a blaze orange fleece hat for both warmth and visibility. I put on my Mammut hoody which has plenty of zippers to dump heat when I get warm. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the back seat. I headed to Roscoe on State Route 17, got off at exit 94 and got on Route 206. I followed it across the Delaware County line to Morton Hill Road. After a left turn on Morton Hill Road, I drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the side of the road to avoid the parking area which is private. As I was getting ready to leave, two ATVs came up from the first house on the left of Russell Brook Road. One ATV stopped and I talked to the rider who owns the property at the intersection which looks like a public parking area. He confirmed that it is private property and he would prefer people not park there. He also gave me permission to park along the side of the road which I don't think is his call but made me happy that I was not bothering him. I set my GPS and put Sheila on her leash as we began our hike down Russell Brook Road at 12:20 PM. The temperature was 34 degrees but the sun was shining brightly which made it feel almost warm. There were several tents set up at the illegal campsite on the right side of the road playing loud music. Russell Brook Road was wet with a thin layer of slippery mud but I did not see any snow. As we walked along the road, something was falling around us on the ground. I looked up to see that there was till some snow and ice on the trees which was coming down with the increased temperature and a slight breeze. We met one man walking a noisy little poodle up the road which would become a theme for the day. The campsite on the left was also set up and loud music emanated from one tent. I have trouble understanding why you would come to a remote campsite and disturb the quiet. We continued on down Russell Brook Road to the overlook over the upper falls. There was a good amount of water going over the falls but not as much I expected from the two days of rain during the week. We walked down to the overlook and I put down my pack and got out the camera. I took some shots and then packed up to continue the hike. I put Sheila on her leash as we continued down toward the parking area where there were several cars already parked. There were two men who looked like hunters who had returned to their truck. I said "Hello" as we walked passed them and down the woods road toward the falls.

We got on the woods road that goes down to the bridge that crosses the brook. The bridge was in the shade and still had a coating of ice covering much of the bridge. The Japanese knotweed was brown and shriveled and I stopped to take some pictures. I decided to walk to the falls since I could see there were no people there at the time. The informal path to the falls was pretty clear as I had cut back the vegetation earlier in the season. We walked along the path and then down the bank to the streambed. The falls were flowing freely and the water looked cold. I took some shots including some of Sheila who "automatically" posed in front of the falls. I was happy to see that there were no rock piles in the area below the falls. When I was done, we headed back up the bank and out to the main trail. We turned right and then at the trail junction, we turned to the left to climb the steeper hill toward Mud Pond. The trail was wet and muddy with a layer of leaves and the outlet stream from Trout Pond was high. I was surprised that no one had claimed the large camping site on the right side of the trail. The sun was out and as soon as we started to climb the hill, I felt warm and opened some zippers on my hoody. Just as we started up the trail we passed a woman and her two children going down the hill. The youngest looked to be about 5 years old and was sitting in the trail as his mother encouraged him to walk! We reached the top of the hill at 1:10 PM after hiking 1.5 miles. The woods road down the other side was also wet but not as wet as I expected. I began to see some snow on the trail and in the woods. At 1.7 miles we made a right to follow the trail up to the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. When we started on the trail, I again noticed that there was water even in places that are had been dry all season. We walked through the forest of small birch trees and down the other side. There were also a few small blowdowns along the trail that needed to be cleared. Most of these could easily be removed with hand tools. There were also several large trunk on and across the trail but they were not really blocking hikers. The ascent continued for the next 1.2 miles and the amount of snow increased dramatically. I stopped several times to take pictures of the snow on the trail and in the woods. At 2.7 miles into the hike we were at the highest point and ready to start the descent to Trout Pond. The trail was now completely covered in snow which made the descent tricky and my feet a little cold.

The descent of the trail went more quickly than I had thought. We did come across one large trunk that had broken off and planted itself upright on the trail. As we were approaching the pond I could hear a commotion at the upper lean-to and see a group of people headed toward the lower one. When we arrived at the bridge at the inlet end of the pond, I decided to stop and take some pictures as the clouds were nice and there were some reflections in the water. The group of hikers had left the lean-to and were headed toward us. They stopped to allow Sheila and I to pass and we exchanged greetings. The group was obviously a family and were dressed in sort of retro hiking outfits and carrying heavy wooden walking sticks. The lower lean-to was not occupied and the other camping site a little further along the trail was also empty. When I was done, we continued on the main trail toward the outlet end of the pond. We had been hearing barking dogs near the outlet end for some time and it sounded like a whole pack based on the amount of noise. This part of the trail had a few wet and muddy places but no more than usual. By this time the snow had completely disappeared and it looked more like fall again. As we approached the outlet end of the pond, a dog without a collar or leash came running toward us. He backed off when I yelled and right behind him were the owners and another dog with no leash. Since the owners were not concerned about their dogs I requested that they control them. The young man begrudgingly called the dog and the asked me if I was going to stay on the trail. I told him I was and he took the dogs off the trail into the woods. This is the second day in a row that I have met people with beautiful dogs that were uncollared and without leashes. Not only in this completely inconsiderate of other hikers but it makes me questions whether they deserve to own dogs! At the lower end of the pond, I could hear more barking. We turned right and walked out toward the beach where there were two dogs on leashes.

The first dog was very muscular and very vocal. The owner was having trouble controlling the dog but asked "Do you mind if he says Hello?". I said "Yes" as I did not want the dog anywhere near Sheila. The owner proceeded to allow her dog to get near Sheila as she apparently could not understand my answer. I pulled Sheila away and repeated by intentions. The owners left with their dogs and headed back down the trail toward the trailhead. Sheila and I walked over to the shore so that I could take some pictures of the pond. There were some nice reflections on the clouds in the water and the fall conditions contrasted sharply with the snow on Cherry Ridge. I snapped a few shots and then out Sheila on her leash as we headed back to the main trail. The hike from the outlet to the trail junction is all downhill but on this day it was wet. I set a quick pace and we started to catch up with the dogs that had left ahead of us. About halfway down, we met a young couple with a dog that was not on a leash. Fortunately, this dog had no interest in me or in Sheila. As we neared the trail register and trail junction, we came to at least two trees that almost blocked the trail. I was able to work my way through them but it was not easy. I stopped on the other side to examine how I might remove enough of the blowdown to make the trip easier. By 2:55 PM we had hiked 4.9 miles and were back at the trail junction and register box. We continued on the main trail to hike back to the car. The bridge over Russell Brook was still icy. We walked up to the lower parking area which was now almost completely filled. As we walked up the road back to the car, I could see there were only a few people down at the falls. I was glad we had visited it at the beginning of the hike. We continued up the road passing both of the occupied campsites blaring their music. We continued to walk back up the road to the car. We arrived back at 3:10 PM having covered 5.6 miles and 1127 vertical feet in 2 hours and 50 minutes. The temperature was 44 degrees as I pulled away.

On Friday, October 30th my plan was to get up and hike a medium to long distance hike somewhere relatively close to home. As often happens, the ambiance pager sounded at 5:00 AM but the call was cancelled before I got to the building. I was a little disappointed as we were supposed to get snow and it was still raining. Once I got back to sleep, I knew I would need to rest until I woke up again. Once again the pager went off and this time it was for a water rescue at Mongaup Pond. This time we got about smile from the turn onto Mongaup Pond Road and were again cancelled. A hunter in a kayak had overturned in the pond which brought many questions to mind. Fortunately, he was out of the water and being transported by private vehicle. By now the rain had changed to snow and several inches had fallen. The trees on the hills were covered in snow and I wanted to get out for a hike and to take pictures. When I got home, I asked Cindy if she wanted to go for a walk and she agreed. We decided to go to the Frick Pond area to hike around Frick Pond using the Logger's Loop and returning on the Big Rock Trail. We began to gather get read at 10:45 AM with Sheila making sure we could not forget her. We had not been out in two days due to the weather and Sheila was more than ready to venture out in the snow even though the temperature was only 36 degrees. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top and a long-sleeved baselayer. I wore a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear a pair of tights under the pants. I put on my Salomon B52 winter boots which are supportive enough, surprisingly roomy and have been discontinued. I also added a blaze orange fleece hat for both warmth and visibility. I put on my Mammut hoody which has plenty of zippers to dump heat when I get warm. For protection from the snow and mud I added a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I put our gear in the car and drove out DeBruce Road at 11:00 AM. After 6 miles, I turned left on Mongaup Road and continued to where the road split. I stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road to the parking areas for Frick Pond. I pulled into the smaller lot as there were no other cars in sight. The temperature was 34 degrees at the trailhead and a slight breeze was blowing. I took some pictures of the snow on the road and in the parking areas. I then set my GPS as we started out on the woods road that leads to the Quick Lake Trail.

The trees were covered in snow and many branches were bending low. I knew it would be a long hike as I love taking pictures in the snow. The woods road to Frick Pond had some snow but also had a lot of water even in places that had been dry all fall. This was due to the rain the day and night before. There was standing water and running water. I stopped in one spot just before Gravestone Junction to take some pictures and remove some leaves to allow the water to drain. We stayed to the left at Gravestone Junction to keep on the Quick Lake Trail to the bridge at the outlet end of Frick Pond. The snow on the trees around the pond and on Beech Mountain was dramatic and I took quite a few pictures. The first I took was of the bridge which was pristine. The only problem is that the skies were overcast and there was some haze or fog in the air. I picked up my pack and we continued along the west side of the pond. There were many muddy areas and many where water had collected and it wasn't easy to avoid all of them. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we stayed to the left on the Quick Lake Trail. This trail also had snow covered trees and lots of wet and muddy places! I could not resist taking pictures here and there of the trail and the snow on the trees. When we arrived at the stream through the woods, we found that the water level was very high so while I took some pictures, Cindy walked upstream to find a crossing. When I was done I walked up to the point just below a small "waterfall" and crossed the stream without any problems. We continued up the trail working our way around pools of water and muddy areas. The trees continued to be covered in snow. As we were walking, I began to get warm so I opened some of the zippers on the hoody. We continued until we reached Iron Wheel Junction where I took some pictures of the namesake and of the snow-covered trees and trails. We turned right and started out on the Logger's Loop where I almost immediately stopped to take some pictures. The scene showed there was even more snow and many of the pictures looked black and white except for some moss on the rocks and some trail markers. We hiked along the trail until we came to a large culvert where I again took some pictures of the stream and some water falling off the bank on the left side of the trail. This area had a lot of water as the culverts and ditches were blocked with leaves.

We walked up a small hill and down the other side and found not a trail but a small stream instead. Once again the path that the water could follow across the trail was blocked so the water took the path of least resistance downhill on the trail. Cindy and I spent at least 15 minutes clearing the leaves and some rocks to open up a better drainage directly across the trail. I was surprised that when we were done we could actually see the difference in the water flow. After some more pictures, we continued on the trail passing the area where there is sometimes a small, seasonal pond on the left. This area was dry so we continued on down the hill to Times Square. I considered simply following the Logger's Loop but finally decided to turn right on the Big Rock trail. We both like the wooden walkways on the west side of Frick Pond. We walked on the trail which was wet and muddy and continued through the evergreen forest. I took a few shots as this is a beautiful area. I pointed out the large spruce log that I had cut and that the crew had removed on our last trip. I had intended to take pictures of the snow-covered walkways but the temperature was rising and they were mostly wet. Both Cindy and I almost slipped and fell several times of the walkways. We continued along the trail to the junction with the Quick Lake Trail where we turned left. We walked back along the west side of the pond to the bridge. I had not intend to stop but the skies were now lighter and very blue. I took a number of shots which contrasted with what I had taken earlier. We walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction and then started back along the woods road to the car. Along the way Sheila alerted and I saw a couple coming toward us with two dogs. I put Sheila on her leash as a courtesy but neither of the other dogs were on a leash and one did not even have a collar! Both dogs were beautiful animals and I had intended to talk to the owners until I realized they could not control their dogs! We passed by them as fast as possible. I thought they were perhaps the most irresponsible dog owners I had ever met and did not deserve to have those dogs. Cindy and I walked out the woods road to our car. We looked over at the other parking area and saw a large SUV parked in the MIDDLE of the lot. It did not surprise us! It was 1:45 Pm and we had hiked 3.8 miles in 2 hours and 25 minutes with 45 minutes of stopped time. Our overall average was only 1.6 mph but our moving speed was 2.2 mph which reflected my photography and the time we took for maintenance.

On Tuesday, October 27th, Bryce, our grandson, was at our house. After he finished his school work, we decide to go for a walk. I had worked with Andy Garrison the day before for over 7 hours clearing blowdowns. I am not ashamed to say I saw still tired and a little sore. We decided to go to the Beaverkill State Campgrounds which is only a 3 mile walk but is beautiful. The weather was cool but the skies were blue which was a sharp contrast to the overcast and rainy day the day before. I asked Cindy if she wanted to hike and she agreed. We started to get ready at 11:15 AM with the temperature at 45 degrees under sunny skies. The first thing I had to do was put my pack back together. It had been pretty damp from the day before and I had emptied it to let it dry out. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots as my Keen Targhee II hiking boots were drying out from the day before. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a fleecy orange hat. I donned my Mammut Hoody on top of everything as it has enough zippers to dump heat when I get too warm. As I stepped out of the house the temperate was only 48 degrees but it felt much warmer in the sun. We put our gear in the back of the car and Bryce and Sheila in the back seat and left the house at 11:35 AM. I drove out Old Route 17 toward Roscoe and turned right on Beaverkill Road. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. As I parked, there were no other cars in the lot which was a sharp departure from the crowds this summer. The river was higher than I thought it might be. As we were getting ready, a car pulled into the lot. We walked down to the river downstream of the bridge so that I could take some pictures.

We returned to the car where I set my GPS and we started our hike at 11:55 AM by crossing the bridge to the west side of the river. As we exited the bridge, we turned left on a woods road that parallels the river. We walked passed a spring house and continued on the deserted woods road. We came to an area with a little path down to the river. I walked down to the edge of the river and took some pictures downstream and some upstream which included the bridge. Soon we came to a picnic table surrounded by high grass and weeds. I decided to take pictures that showed the deserted campgrounds which was even more dramatic now that the leaves were off the trees. I took pictures of the picnic tables and, a little later, what was once a bathroom for some campsites that had long since disappeared. At the next bathroom we stopped so that I could take some more pictures. There was a picnic table near the river so I took some pictures of table and then walked down to the river. I took some pictures of the sun reflecting off the water. In several areas the DEC had placed large rocks along the shore and covered them with heavy wire to reduce erosion. Before leaving I also took pictures of the deteriorating bathrooms. At about .7 miles the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites and we continued along the river. Many of the campsites had a cement block fireplace with a grill but some were upgraded to poured concrete. Everything was very quiet except for the water in the river. This was not surprising as the campsites are closed. I took some pictures of all the empty campsites. As we walked we all talked to each other as Bryce is very bright and talkative. We walked to the last campsite where the trail ends and continued out on a path to a point were the river bends almost 90 degrees to the left. I stopped and tool some pictures. I worked my way out to a rock that jutted into the river and took some more shots up and down the stream.

We turned around to start back and I pointed to Bryce another set of campsites to our left. As we walked back the way we came, we did walk the other road through the campsites which parallels the one we walked out on makes a sort of loop. We stopped again so that I could take some pictures of a group of picnic tables randomly arranged and another group stacked against each other. I had thought we might walk up the hill and take the road back but we decided it would be nicer to stay on the wood road. We retuned the way we had come crossing the river on the bridge. Instead of stopping at the car we walked out the far end of the parking lot passing the bathhouse and following a path. Cindy and I both remembered a ford that crossed the river many years ago and we had located it on our last visit. As we walked and came to the depression which was an old stream channel. I pointed out this channel and the concrete paving to Bryce. This was the ford that we remembered and it crossed a branch of the river which is now dry. We continued our walk and soon came to a series of palettes with stone piled on them. This was obviously stone that was to be used to constructed fireplaces or walls but it did not look like it had been accessed in some time. The path we are on passed through a grove of tall evergreens and ended at a stone bench. The bench was formed from an enormous slab of stone mounted on cement blocks. The stone had visible drill marks on it and we both wondered where it had been quarried. I took some pictures of the bench and a few of the river. Bryce, Sheila and Cindy sat on the bench and I took a few pictures. When we were done, we retraced our steps following the route we had used on the way out. We were back at the car at 1:40 PM having hiked 2.9 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes with 30 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 240 feet but it was hardly noticeable. The car's thermometer read 52 degrees.

On Monday, October 26th, I had agreed to help Andy Garrison clear some blowdowns on the Pine Hill-West Branch and Curts-Ormsbee Trails. Andy had three days scheduled in the Slide Mountain Wilderness and I knew his schedule was tight. Andy asked me to meet him at 8:30 AM at the Denning trailhead which I knew was about 45 minutes from my house. When I awoke at 7:00 AM it was 39 degrees and raining. I called Andy and he was ready to go if I was so I agreed. As I began to get dressed I tried to distract Sheila by sending her upstairs to Cindy which seemed to work. I didn't want to take her since we would be using a chainsaw but I knew she would want to go. I decided to make sure I was dressed warmly as I could always take something off if I was properly layered. I got dressed in a long-sleeved Mammut crew top which is a little heaver than what I have been wearing. I put on a long-sleeved baselayer. I wore a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I wore a light pair of tights underneath the pants. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and, of course, have been discontinued. I put on OR Bugout gaiters to combat the sticks and the mud. On top of all this I wore my Mammut Hoody which is at least rain resistant. I grabbed and orange fleece hat for its warmth and a pair of fleece lined work gloves. Sadly, I left behind my hiking poles as I knew Andy would have things for me to carry. I packed a rain jacket and a pair of lighter gloves and took along a pair of mittens and a heavier wool top. When I stepped out the door, I realized it was cool but not cold and I would probably be overdressed for working. I loaded my gear into my car and left Livingston Manor and 7:45 AM. I headed out the DeBruce Road all the way to Round Pond and at the end I turned right onto Route 47. I drove out to the Claryville Road and turned left to go to the Denning trailhead. I drove through Claryville and on toward the end of the road. I arrived at the trailhead parking area at 8:20 AM. Andy was already there getting all his equipment ready for the day. It was 42 degrees, misty and there was a breeze blowing. There was only one other car in the lot. We got our gear ready and set out on the trail at 8:40 AM. I had decided to leave my GPS and camera at home and also left behind my phone. Andy was carrying the saw and related equipment. I had the oil, gas and, most important, a complete first aid kit! As we started out in the trail three young men who had camped out overnight approached the trail register. One of the young men asked Andy how to get involved with trail, maintenance and indicated he had the required chainsaw certification. Andy immediately gave him his e-mail as this was too good to pass up! The first 1.3 miles of the trail is almost flat rolling a little along a woods road. The trail was very wet with both standing and running water. Andy and I talked to each other and the walk to the intersection with the long path went quickly. Soon we were at the intersection which still has the sign that designates the eastern terminus of the Finger Lakes Trail. I thought this had been moved to the top of Slide Mountain but that may not be official yet.

From this point on the trail consisted of a covering of leaves over loose rock which made the hiking difficult. The next 1.7 miles to the junction with the Curtiss-Ormsbee Trail gains 780 feet and averages about a 9% grade. This is where we did the majority of the work cutting six large blowdowns on the way up the trail. We left a few smaller ones for the trip back. Our procedure for each blowdown was the same. Andy would size up the cutting always removing branches to clear the way for the main cuts. I was the "swamper" and my job was to remove everything Andy cut. One blowdown was a spruce that was at least 18 inches in diameter. Another was an even larger birch which was followed by a cherry that was just as large. I kept throwing branches off the trail and rolling or flipping the pieces of trunk so that they were out of the way. Andy and I work well together and I learn to anticipate what he is about to do. The chainsaw got hung up pretty badly one but we were able to free it with wedges and a hand saw. I had not hiked this trail in a long time and was surprised when we came to a deep gully where we had to walk down into the gully and up the other side. I remembered a stone culvert or bridge at that site and Andy said it was washed out in the storms of 2011! Between the fast hiking and working I had to open the zippers on my hoody and remove the Mammut shirt that I was wearing. As we began the final hike up to the Curtiss-Ormsbee Trail we stopped for lunch which is something I seldom do. I had to close the zippers on my hoody as standing around made me cold. I ate a bar as I normal do but Andy had a nice 3 course lunch! The precipitation had been varying from a heavy mist to a drizzle to outright rain. When we got to the trail junction we turned right and almost immediately ran into a blowdown. Andy used his phone to confirm that this one was not the one he had intended to clear but we would do it anyway. As we were planning the attack, the only hiker we met for the whole day walked by. He acted more like we were in his way than anything else and barely greeted us. It took some time to clear the complicated blowdown but soon it was gone. We picked up and started off in search of the last blowdown which Andy thought was about a quarter mile up the trail. Andy was fresher than I was and got a pretty good lead on me. The trail proceeded up through some ledges and then kept climbing at about a 15% grade. I could not see Andy and had no idea how far I would have to go. Just as I was considering whether I would continue, I saw another climb ahead with a tree across the trail and Andy "hiding" behind it. This tree was not the biggest we had cut but it had several parts and was in a difficult place. Fortunately, as Andy cut pieces off the trunks they tended to roll downhill which made my job easier. Andy finally declared the end of our work and I was very happy until I realized we had a 3.5 mile hike back! Walking down the trail to the junction was tricky especially without my poles and with both hands full. I had already fallen once on the slippery rocks while clearing the last blowdown so I was very careful on the descent. At the trail junction, we turned left and started down the leaf-covered trail with the loose rocks. We cut two more blowdowns on the way down and removed a number of loose logs until, finally, Andy took off his chaps indicating the real end of the work. It seemed like forever to get to the junction with the trail to Table Mountain. Just after the junction the trail flattened and the surface became easier to walk on. We arrived in the parking lot at 3:55 PM. There were now two new cars in the lot and the one that had been parked was gone. The temperature had risen to 48 degrees but the drizzle and the breeze were still present. We had spent 7 hours and 15 minutes hiking 7 miles and clearing at least 10 blowdowns. I was tired and sore and glad to be going home. Andy pronounced it an average day. He will be returning to the area tomorrow to hike over Table and Peekamoose with his saw and some other helpers to clear the blowdowns on the trail.

On Friday, October 23rd, I planned to hike from the Frick Pond Trailhead to the Hodge Pond Lookout and to see if I could find a lookout from Beech Mountain to the east. I thought I might also hike to Mongaup Mountain if I had time as it also has a viewpoint. I had some things to do at home so I did not get start to get ready until 10:30 PM when the temperature was already 65 degrees. As I got my gear together, Sheila seemed very excited even though we had been hiking during the week. I put on a long-sleeved White Sierra crew top and a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using since spring. The external locks have not failed me yet and the cork handles really do allow a good grip. I also added a wide-brimmed, floppy OR hat which protects me from the sun. I decided I did not need a jacket but I packed a waterproof top as the various weather forecasts differed on whether or not there would be rain showers. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and drove out DeBruce Road at 10:50 AM. After 6 miles, I turned left on Mongaup Road and continued to where the road split. I stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road to the parking areas for Frick Pond. I parked in the small lot where there was one other car. This was a big improvement over the last few times when the lots were almost full. I set my GPS and we crossed the road to get on the Flynn Trail to start our hike at 11:10 AM with the temperature at 68 degrees. There were a lot of leaves on the trail and the leaves left on the trees were mostly yellow, orange or brown.

At the end of the trail we turned right to continue our hike on the Flynn Trail which, in this area, follows the old Beech Mountain Road. I was a little tired from the trail maintenance work I had done the day before but we still set a pretty fast pace. We passed through the "tunnel" Cindy and I had cut in a huge spruce tree that fell across the trail. I had no one to talk to so I was lost in my thoughts which seems to make the hike go faster. I kept noticing that a breeze was blowing and the sun seemed to be under a cloud. The rest of the sky was blue with puffy white clouds. At 11:50 PM we were at the junction with the Big Rock Trail after hiking 1.7 miles in 40 minutes. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail. We passed through the gate that separates state land from the OSI Beech Mountain Nature Preserve. When the trails split after the gate, we turned right. We followed the woods road passed the turn to the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp and started up the hill toward the Hodge Pond Lookout. The road is dirt and rocks covered with fallen leaves. Over the next .4 miles we gained 450 feet which is only a 12% grade but I was feeling tired. At 2.65 miles we stopped at a viewpoint to the west. I got out my camera and could see that there was little color left in the leaves and the distant hills since most of the leaves had fallen. The leaves around me were colorful so I took some pictures of them before continuing on the hike. We got a drink and then headed a short distance up the hill before turning right on a woods road.

The woods road seems wider and more well-maintained every time I use it. The walk to the Hodge Pond Lookout is only a quarter mile so we were there very quickly. I put my pack down and got out my camera. As I stepped out onto the rock ledge that forms the viewpoint, I was glad that someone had cut some trees and brush to open up the view. I could see the trees that had been cut at the base of the viewpoint. I took pictures of Hodge Pond and the hills beyond even though the trees were mostly bare. Sheila posed the rock ledge so I took some pictures of her. I put my camera away and gave Sheila a drink and got one for myself. We continued on the trail that surrounds the summit of Beech Mounatain traveling in a counterclockwise direction. As we came to the south side of the mountain, we walked off the trail and I began to look for a viewpoint. We bushwhack quite a bit heading southeast. When I didn't see anything that looked like a viewpoint I headed a little more northeast walking along another set of impressive ledges. At 3.2 miles into the hike we climbed some ledges to our left and walked north a short distance. Again, I saw nothing interesting so, we climbed another set of ledges and found a trail. I thought this was the trail I usually take around Beech Mountain but I quickly realized it was one that branches to the right off that trail. I have always wanted to see where it led. I followed this road until it opened up to a viewpoint facing east. There was a fantastic view of many of the Catskills and the view seemed to go on forever. I took quite a few pictures and tried to distinguish which mountains I was seeing. There were very few leaves left but the view was still breathtaking. I could only imagine what it looked like when the leaves were at peak color. When I was done, I packed up the camera we headed out the road and started up a hill. On the right, as we turned up the hill, I noticed a familiar area that I beloved was the way to Mongaup Mountain. I found a path and started to walk out on it. The path was very prominent and quite wide. I decided I did not have enough time to do Mongaup Mountain and would save it for another day.

We walked up the hill and passed the trail I normally use to walk around Beech Mountain. We walked over the hill and in a short distance we were back at the trail we had used to go to the Hodge Pond Lookout. We began to walk down the hill which was not as easy as it could have been due to the presence of so many wet leaves. When we arrived at the junction near the old Boy Scout camp, we continued straight ahead on the woods road. At the junction with the Flynn Trail, we turned left. I felt pretty good since I knew the rest of the hike was downhill or flat. We passed through the gate and were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The leaves were so colorful in this are that I stopped to take a few pictures before continuing down the Flynn Trail. We set a fast pace down the Flynn Trail which we had all to ourselves. There was one small blowdown that I tried to pull off the trail. I found it would need to be cut so that it could be removed. Soon we passed through the "tunnel" and arrived at the gate. We turned left on the Flynn Trail to avoid the private property around the cabin. As we emerged from the Flynn Trail, we found there were now no cars parked in the small lot and only two in the large lot. Two hikers were emerging from the woods road that leads to Frick Pond. We arrived back at the car at 2:10 PM after hiking 6.5 miles in 3 hours. The elevation gain was 1150 feet.

On Thursday, October 22nd I decided to go to Round Top to remove a blowdown that I had noticed the day before. When I returned from church, there was still some fog and mist so I decided to do some work around the house. After noon, the weather had cleared and the temperature had risen to 70 degrees. Before going across the street, I decided to remove a tree that had fallen next to our house. I picked up the branches that had broken off when the tree fell and was even able to remove part of the trunk. The rest of the trunk was solid and would need to be cut. I used my Fiskars ax to cut a length from the top of the trunk and removed that piece I piled everything in a neat pile so that I could load it onto Karl's truck. This left a rather large piece of the trunk that has quite heavy. I was able to drag the piece up the bank and was contemplating how to cut it up when the ambulance pager sounded. The call was rather short as the patient did not want to go to the hospital. When I returned home, I found Karl had parked his truck in our driveway and he had moved the trunk near the trunk. My neighbor volunteered to use his chainsaw to cut up the trunk while I had an online coaches meeting. When I was done at about 3:30, I went back outside to find the trunk neatly cut into 4 pieces. I loaded them on the truck and made the necessary trips to load the rest of the branches. I was tired when I finished but still decided I would go across the street to do the work I had planned. Somehow Sheila knew my plans an pestered me unceasingly as I began to get ready. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top but decided I did not need a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have a Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Traghee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I knew I would not need poles as I would be carrying axes and saws for a short distance. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. I grabbed my Fiskars pack, Council Tools Velvicut Felling ax and Silky Sugowaza saw. We stepped out of the house at 4:00 PM and put the tools in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. I drove across the street and through the cemetery to the road to the trailhead. Unfortunately, someone had parked blocking the road so I drove to the base of the hill and backed all the way up to the trailhead. I parked here on the side of the road and let Sheila out of the back seat. I grabbed my tools and we started out on the trail.

As we walked along the first part of the trail, two people with two dogs came walking toward us. One of the women picked up one dog but the other came toward us off leash. Once again it is not the dog's fault but the fault of the owners. As they passed, I asked if they had parked their car in the cemetery and they said "yes". I asked them not to do that again and made suggestions on where they could park. Despite my admonishment, they both thanked me for maintaining the trails. Sheila and I walked passed the tree I had cut last time and turned right at the first trail junction. We walked uphill on the woods road. We continued as the trail turned left and immediately ran into the blowdown. At first, I thought it was a little smaller than I remembered. I decided to cut the trunk on one side of the trail and hope that I could roll the section off the trail. I used the heavy felling axe to make the cut. I need practice with the heavier axe but when used correctly it is a beast! After the cut was completed and the section of trunk dropped to the ground, I tried lifting the section. It was clear that I would have to make another cut so I got to it. This cut went quickly and I was able to remove the two sections from the trail leaving it completely clear. I picked up my tools and we walked back down the woods road back to the first trail junction. We turned left here and were soon at the trees that I had cut recently to clear the trail. Even though I was tired, I decided to remove two trunks that were encroaching on the trail. I used the heavy ax to cut through the first making a rather long section that I knew I could not left. When I was done, I was able to pick up one end of the log and pivot it off the trail. I used the same technique on the second trunk which gave me some problems but succumbed in the end. I also was able to pivot this section off the trail. I picked up the tools and we walked back to the car at the trailhead. I put the tools and Sheila in the car and drove back home. We were back at 5:30 PM after spending almost and hour and a half clearing the trails.

On Wednesday, October 21st I had planned to do a longer hike with my grandson Bryce but the rain persisted throughout the morning contradicting the forecast. At noon we decided to go across the street and hike a few figure 8's on Round Top since Bryce had to be back by 3:00 PM for an online conference with his teacher and class. We started to get ready with the temperature a surprisingly warm 59 degrees. We had not hiked for several days and Sheila was anxious to get out. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top but decided I did not need a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have a Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Traghee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added my OR floppy hat. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. We stepped out of the house at 12:45 PM and I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. I decided we would probably do two figure 8's to cover all the trails and tire me out a little. We walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church and to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill but I noticed the hill seemed easier as I have been hiking more. Bryce, of course, was right with me but he was able to talk normally the whole way up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. There was some mist still hanging in the valley and it was clear that the leaves in our area were far past their prime. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that at least a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails. I showed Bryce the large blowdown I had cut the last time and mentioned I might have to cut once or twice more.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. As we continued to follow the yellow trail toward the first junction, we came to a blowdown across the trail. The trunk was 6 to 8 inches in diameter and would take some work with axe and saw to remove it. We stepped over the blowdown and continued on to the first trail junction. We turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. Along the way we picked up or removed many small branches and dragged several large ones off the trail. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. Walking uphill we passed through what remained of the ferns of the summer all with brown edges. The trails were damp from the light rain overnight and Bryce kept slipping. Just before the steepest section we turned right on the switchback trail now marked with blue paint blazes. We continued to follow these blazes as they made a sharp left turn and headed back to the main blue trail. We turned right on the blue trail and continued up the blue trail to the summit of Round Top eschewing the white crossover trail this time. We walked down to the yellow trail and turned right to walk along the base of Round Top. This time we turned left at the junction with the blue trail and walked down to the lookout. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and walked back up the hill to the lookout and followed the yellow trail as it turned right. We followed the trail as it made a gentle ascent trough the brown ferns to the junction with the blue trail. We continued to follow the yellow trail by turning right and following along the base of Round Top. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started the ascent of the hill. When the white crossover trail came up and the left, we turned and followed it back to the blue trail on the other side of the hill. We turned left and continued straight ahead on the blue trail we walked down to the yellow trail. We turned left, walked back along the base of Round Top and turned right at the next junction. We walked down to the woods road that took us back to the first trail junction again stepping over the blowdown. This time we turned left and walked out to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We walked down the hill to the parking lot and across the road to our driveway. We were home by 2:30 PM after hiking around 2 miles.

On Saturday, October 18th my plan was to go to Frick Pond to at 1:00 PM to meet a small group of people who wanted to do some trail work. The "event" has to pass through the NYNJTC and the DEC with a few more steps than in the past due to COVID-19. With The cooperation of Olivia Sohn of the trail conference and DEC Region 3 Forester Ian Dunn we were able to host this event. When I returned from church at noon, I began to gather my clothing and trail maintenance gear. The temperature was still only 54 degrees with a slight breeze blowing but with plenty of sun. Sheila was watching me get ready but I had to explain to her that she could not go this time. A few extra bones helped soften the blow. I put on a long-sleeved White Sierra crew top and a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Keen Traghee II boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and have been discontinued. I also added a wide-brimmed, floppy OR hat which protects me from the sun. I also put on my Mammut hoody which has plenty of zippers to dump heat when I get warm. I decided to forego my hiking poles as the hike would be short and I would carrying maintenance gear. I decided to take along a variety of tools to show the participants including my Silky Sugowaza saw, Silky Katanaboy 500, Fiskar chopping axe, Corona loppers and LT Wright Overland machete. I put my gear in the car and drove out DeBruce Road at 12:45 PM. After 6 miles, I turned left on Mongaup Road and continued to where the road split. I stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road to the parking areas for Frick Pond. I suspected there would be some people in the area and both lots were almost filled. I pulled into the smaller lot right next to Lisa Lyons. Don, Alyce, Eva and Kate, the four participants, gathered with Lisa and I at my car. We took care of some paperwork and the introductions before walking over to the trail kiosk to take a look at our route. After a few minutes we start out on the Quick Lake Trail at 1:05 PM.

The trails around Frick Pond already have a maintainer assigned so we did not have to do any work. We set a quick pace to Frick Pond staying to the left at Gravestone Junction to keep on the Quick Lake Trail. We crossed the bridge at the outlet end of Frick Pond and continued along the west side of the pond. There were a few muddy areas and some where water had collected but we easily avoided them. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we stayed to the left on the Quick Lake Trail. We started to trim some branches and cut a few saplings that were in the trail. As we worked and walked we also talked to learn more about each other. We moved a few larger branches and small trunks off the trail and then entered the hemlock tunnel. There were a few big blowdowns along the trail but they were on the ground and easy to step over. When we arrived at the stream through the woods, we found that it had some water flowing but we were able to use some stepping stones to get across. We continued up the trail lopping branches and removing blowdowns from the trail. We came across a large, water-logged trunk at one point and decided to eliminate it. It was too heavy for all of us to lift so I decided to cut it with the axe. The log was rotten in some places but still solid in others Don and I worked on it for about 15 minutes. Once we had broken through we were able to pivot the log off the trail with the help of Kate and Alyce. We continued cutting here and there until we reached Iron Wheel Junction. Here we turned right and started out on the Logger's Loop. Almost immediately we came to a tree whose branches were protruding into the trail. We decided to trim it back en though we knew the snowmobile club would be out soon to maintain the trail. When we were finished, we continued along the trail but there was very little work to do. We passed the area on the left of the trail which, in wetter times, holds a small pond. From there we continued downhill to Times Square.

We turned right on the Big Rock Trail as there was one more project I wanted to work on. All along the trail there had been leaves covering the ground and the Big Rock Trail was no exception. We crossed the two bridges over the inlet streams and came to the remains of a large tree that had blocked the trail. I had spent several hours on different trips cutting completely through the trunk in two places and removing the wood. Part of the trunk still infringed on the trail and I wanted to see if we could remove it. I used the axe to split of sections to remove. Dion pointed out that one side was almost split off and a few swings of the axe removed a large section. Eventually the trunk seemed small enough for us to move. Don, Alyce and I were able to move it off the trail but not without some trouble. We all helped remove some of the remaining wood and I pronounced the project completer. I did not take any "before" pictures bout I had them from previous trips. I did take some "after" shots to commemorate a job well done. We continued our hike out by walking over the wooden walkways and back to the Quick Lake Trail. We turned left and walked to the bridge where we stopped for a moment. I took some shots of the pond as did some others. After a short break, we walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction. From there we walked back out the Quick Lake Trail to the parking areas. Along the way we met two groups of people hiking toward the pond. We were back at the cars at 4:00 Pm after hiking 4 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes. Our elevation gain was only 360 feet, Our overall pace was not fast but we had stopped for 50 minutes to work. The other members of the group asked when the next event was taking place so I count the work and the will to do more a success.

On Saturday, October 17th, I had planned to get up early an hike either a long trail hike or a bushwhack. I was wary of a bushwhack because of the hunting season now in progress. I also knew that most trails, especially those to the high peaks, would be busy as people tried to get in some final views of the leaf colors. I was tired and went back to sleep to catch up some after a number of ambulance calls over the week. When I got up at 10:00 AM, it was still only 49 degrees. I asked Cindy if she wanted to hike and she said "Yes". We began to debate where we should go. I thought we could stay local and hike Huggins Lake or some other more remote hike. Cindy suggested going to hike the Catskill Scenic Trail which is a railtrail that runs between Bloomville and Roxbury in Delaware County. I though there might be some nice color but I am not thrilled with the flat terrain unless it is a long section. This rail trail follows the route of the old O&W and other lines for 26 miles from Bloomville to Roxbury. As I got my gear together, Sheila seemed very excited since we had not hiked the day before because of the rain. I put on a long-sleeved White Sierra crew top and a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Keen Traghee II boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using since spring. The external locks have not failed me yet and the cork handles really do allow a good grip. I also added a wide-brimmed, floppy OR hat which protects me from the sun. I also put on my Mammut hoody which has plenty of zippers to dump heat when I get warm. I also packed a light windbreaker. We put our gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and drove north on State Route 17 toward Roscoe. I got off at exit 94 and headed north on Route 206. On the way, Cindy and I started to talk and she wanted to change our plans and go to Bramley Mounatain so that we could get a view down into the valleys. I thought it would be too crowded but did not argue. When we reached the Pepacton Reservoir, I turned right on Route 30 and drove toward the Dunraven Bridge. At the end of the bridge I turned left on Tremperskill Road and followed it into Andes where I turned left on Route 28 North. After 5.8 miles, I turned right on Lee Hollow Road which turned into Bramley Mountain Road. I soon realized I was on the wrong road! At CR-18 I turned left and drove to GlenBurnie Road. I drove up the road for .7 miles to the parking area which, as I had suspected, was filled with cars parking on the road. I turned around, drove back down to Cr-18, turned left and drove to Fitches Bridge. I turned right on the bridge and the right on Route 10. I drove 5 miles north on Route 10 to Bloomville and pulled into the parking area for the Catskiil Scenic Trail.

It was 1:30 PM when we pulled into the lot and I was surprised that there were only four cars in the lot. The temperature was 54 degrees with a slight breeze and I set my GPS and we started off on the trail. We could see that the trail was in great shape with hard packed with cinder and some short grass here and there. There were a few wet and muddy spots but the were far between. After a short distance, a large, round foundation appeared on the left of the trail and I had to take some pictures. It looked to me like it might have been a turntable for a roundhouse but it was off the track. A little farther along was a stone marker the had K 86 engraved on it indicating 86 miles to Kingston, New York. I took more pictures and then quickly packed up as we continued on the trail. The leaves along the trail were bright and colorful. The trail was mostly shaded but at .75 miles it broke out into the open and I could see this would continue for some time. The leaves on the surrounding hills were colorful and I did take some pictures of the farm fields and the hills as I thought it all very bucolic. I packed up and we headed for a bridge over a small stream where some trees put us in the shade again. We began to meet people walking toward us on the trail. There were also a number of people riding bicycles with some traveling toward us and others coming up behind. In each case I pulled Sheila off the trail so she would not interfere with others. I kept trying to pick up the pace since I knew my stopping to take pictures were slowing us down. I was wondering where the farm animals were and soon some cows appeared in a field on the right side of the trail. I took some pictures before continuing on the trail. At 1.6 miles the West Branch of the Delaware River came close to the trail but it was muddy and shallow. At 2 miles we came to the first of three bridges over the river within a short distance. The builders had used the original train bridge as a support structure but had built a new treadway and handrails on top of it. I took some pictures of the bridge and the river. I also asked Cindy to sit on a nearby bench with Sheila and I took a few pictures of them.

We started back on the trail but at 2.2 miles a sand and gravel pit appeared on the right of the trail. I walked off the trail to the berm that surrounded the pond that the mining had created. I took pictures of the pond and the machinery with the colorful trees behind them. Back on the trail we continued to encounter a number of hikers and bikers but they were well spaced and we were all very polite. We noticed that some people had passed us in one direction and were no going in the other direction. I continued to stop and take picture since each new view had something different than the one before. We were making good time despite my photography and I asked Cindy if she would like to try to make it to South Kortright. I was surprised but pleased when she agreed. We crossed the third bridge at 2.7 miles and at about 3.2 miles we came out of the trees to a long stretch of trail across open fields. We were only about 1.1 miles from South Kortright but Cindy announced she wanted to turn around. I was disappointed but not really surprised! I walked to a point where the trail intersected a small dirt road. I took some pictures of the next part of the trail which was sheltered by trees. I also made sure to take pictures of the surrounding hills which were lit up with beautiful colors. We turned around and set a very fast pace back toward Bloomville and our car. Cindy kept pace most of the time and I only stopped once to wait for her. I mostly kept my head down and put on the speed as I was afraid I would see something else to photograph. A we neared Bloomville, I looked up to see three side by side UTVs coming toward us on the trail! I was pretty sure this was illegal. The three machine came out of a section covered by trees and pulled over in a field. The occupants looked like people who should no better but I hoped they might be involved with trail maintenance. I thought about asking them what they were doing but thought better of it. We entered the tree-covered section and continued our fast pace. A moment later I looked up see another UTV headed toward us. I stayed in the middle of the trail until the last minute as the driver pulled over and slowed down. As we passed he revved his engine and sped away. We continued back to our car arriving at 4:25 PM after hiking 7 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes. Our overall speed was 2.4 mph with a moving average of 3.1 mph. Our trip out took 1 hour and 45 minutes but the trip back was just over a hour! We decided to return through Delhi and use Telford Hollow Road as a shortcut to Downsville. As we ascended Telford Hollow the sun was hitting the trees at just the right angle. I pulled over to take a few final shots!

On Thursday, October 15th I met the trail maintainer for the Frick Pond Loop, Deanna, at the Quick Lake trailhead. Since I am the new Trail Supervisor for the NYNJTC in the area I wanted to meet all the experienced and new trail maintainers in my area. Our purpose in meeting was to get acquainted and to hike the Frick Pond loop looking for problem areas and clearing any small problems we found. Deanna arrived at 4:20 PM and we spent a few minutes in the parking area getting acquainted and oriented. I had already been hiking twice but those were short and the Frick pond loop is just over two miles. I was dressed in my long-sleeved White Sierra crew top and a short-sleeved baselayer. I had on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I wore my Keen Traghee II boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and have been discontinued. I had a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using since spring in the car. The external locks have not failed me yet and the cork handles really do allow a good grip. I elected not to bring them as we would be doing some trail work. I still had on my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat. I had my Silky Sugowaza saw and LT Wright Overland machete in my pack in case we needed them for any trail work. We started the hike by walking out the back of the larger parking area on the Quick Lake Trail. The section of the trail all the way to the trail register had only a few small sticks to remove. Sheila seemed to be okay with Deanna which made me happy. At the trail register we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail toward Gravestone Junction.

The woods road was covered in leaves as we walked but there was no work to do. Some places were a little damp under the leaves and Deanna pointed out some wet spots which I already knew about. At Gravestone Junction stayed to the left to follow the Quick Lake Trail down to the bridge at the outlet end of Frick Pond. We stopped at the bridge and talked about the fact that the water level was so low as someone had vandalized the beaver dam. Deanna remarked that the beavers had been "aggressive" toward some people and I told her that people should be advised to stay clear of the wildlife. I took some pictures even though it was beginning to get dark in the area s the sun dropped lower in the sky. The leaves which had been so brilliant the week before were no longer on the trees. We continued around the pond stopping to inspect a tree that someone keeps vandalizing with a machete. I am at a loss to explain these senseless acts. We inspected the two bridges on the west side of the pond and agreed that they need some repair work before they have to be replaced. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we turned right on the Big Rock Trail and continued along the west side of the wetlands at the head of the pond. We both agreed that the wooden walkways also need repair, a fact we have mentioned to both the DEC and the NYNJTC. Repairing them now will be much easier than replacing them later!

Deanna complimented me on the large spruce tree that I had cut a path through. It seems to me that more can be removed when we do our trail work with the Willowemoc Trail Crew. The next two bridges are also in poor shape as the flooding in the summer is washing away their support at either end. The north end of the pond was damp in places but not too bad. I was enjoying talking to Deanna about her concerns and her hiking experience. We stopped at Times Square to remove some branches and then turned right to complete the loop around Frick Pond on the Logger's Loop. This trail is a very gentle climb and then a slight descent to Gravestone Junction to complete the loop. This trail had nothing much to remove but we did look at several wet areas. Deanna voiced a concern about some logs that had been installed to cross the mud as she felt they were holding back the water. We continue along the trail and were soon back at Gravestone Junction where we turned left. We walked the Quick Lake Trail back to the trail register. At this point we said goodbye and I walked the woods road back out to the small lot where my car was parked. It was 5:10 PM and we had hiked the 2.2 miles in1 hour and 15 minutes with an elevation gain for 200 feet.

On Thursday, October 15th I had two different hikes planned. After finishing at Walnut Mountain at 10:00 AM, I returned to Livingston Manor and ate breakfast before returning home. I thought I might go out immediately for a hike but I was pretty tired. I did some work at home but by 2:00 PM I decided to go to the Frick Pond area to visit Mongaup Falls and get in a hike before my 4:30 PM meet with my trail maintainer. I got dressed again by putting on a long-sleeved White Sierra crew top and a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using since spring. The external locks have not failed me yet and the cork handles really do allow a good grip. I also packed a light hat and a light pair of gloves as it was only 40 degrees on the back porch. I put on my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and drove out DeBruce Road at 2:40 PM. After 6 miles, I turned left on Mongaup Road and continued to where the road split. I stayed to the right and immediately pulled into the small parking area on the right side of the road where one car was already parked. I got my gear ready and Sheila and I walked back toward the intersection and then turned left to walk down to the stream. We crossed the old bridge and walked along the edge of the stream toward the falls. There was water in the creek but it was low.

We walked to the top of the first drop of the falls and I put my pack down and got out my camera. I was able to get almost in front of the falls and took a number of shots with different settings. The sun was bright and that made it difficult to get the right shot. When I was done, I moved along the rocks and carefully worked my way down the side of the lower falls. I was able to get to a rock right in front of the falls. I took more shots trying to get a good one at a longer exposure to get the silky quality. I worked my way back to solid ground and then up the side of the falls. I stowed the camera and shouldered the pack. We walked back to the bridge and, realizing I had a lot of time left, I decided to walk up the side of the stream near the road just to see what I could see. After a short distance, we came to a small stone foundation and another stone structure. I took some shots and then we continued along the stream. At several different spots I took some pictures of the stream. At one point the stream was so close to the road that we walked on the road until it swung back into the woods. Eventually the banks of the stream were too steep and we walked up to the road. I decided at this point to turn around and walk back to the car. We set a quick pace and were soon back at the car. I drove up to the Frick Pond lots where I parked with two other cars in the smaller lot.

It was only 3:45 PM so I decided to walk the first part of the Flynn Trail and do a little trimming. I took my pack when in reality all I needed was the machete. I used the machete to cut a large branch lying partly on the trail and moved it to the side. I cut some branches off the small trees near the trail and also cut a few small saplings. We moved on down the trail to where a large branch was encroaching on the trail. I tried to drag it off the trail but it was very large and I thought I would have to cut it. When I was about to give up, it broke and I was able to drag each piece off the trail separately. I heard some car doors slam and shortly three hikers came walking toward us. I took Sheila off the trail and waited until they passed with a "Hello". I continued up the trail cutting branches as I went until I reached the other end. I started back to where I had left my pack and noticed a young couple coming toward us. Once again I took Sheila to the side so hath they could pass. We greeted each other and as the young woman passed I smelled smoke. She was smoking a cigarette on a hike! I suppose this was once more common but it was the first time it had happened all year! I shouldered my pack and we walked back to the car. I noticed that there was now a car in the larger lot and it was 4:20 PM. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked over to meet my trail maintainer, Deanna.

On Thursday, October 15th I had two different hikes planned. The first was at 8:00 AM at Walnut Mountain where I was to meet two members of the Sullivan County Retired Teachers Association who wanted to start walking and hiking. The second hike was at 4:30 PM when I was scheduled to meet one of my Trail maintainers, Deanna, at Frick Pond. I am the new Trail Supervisor in that area and I wanted to get to meet the experienced trail maintainers and those that are just starting. I start each Thursday be leading a men's Bible study group at our church from 6:15 to 7:15 AM. This meant I would have to be dressed in my hiking clothes to go from the church to Walnut Mountain. I put on a long-sleeved White Sierra crew top and a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using since spring. The external locks have not failed me yet and the cork handles really do allow a good grip. I also packed a light hat and a light pair of gloves as it was only 40 degrees on the back porch. I put on my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat. At 5:45 AM, I put my gear in the car and drove to my church in Liberty. When my men's group was done I lingered for a few minutes and then headed over to the West Lake Street parking area for Walnut Mountain Park. When I pulled into the paring area, Mike and Joan were waiting for me. We talked for a minute as I set my GPS and then we walked through the gate to start our hike. I suggested we aim for the lookout on Walnut Mountain and they agreed. We continued straight ahead on the wide carriage road heading south and uphill toward the main complex of the park. The temperature had risen as the sun had come out. It was a beautiful day and I was beginning to feel warm as we exited the woods at about .45 miles. We were keeping a slow but steady pace so that we could talk and get acquainted. We walked to the entrance road and then turned right to walk up to the parking area.

From the parking area at .65 miles, we began to walk up the Mountain Overlook which is also a carriageway. The trail winds a little as it ascends to a junction with the West Lake West trail which continues straight ahead. We paused a minute before turning left at .9 miles. The Mountain Overlook Trail was now headed southwest as it continued its gentle climb. At 1.25 miles we passed a trail unction and continued straight ahead to the overlook. The trees around the overlook had been cut down and the brush cleared. The view from the overlook was much more open and it was easy to see down to Swam Lake. The leaves were colorful and the sky was blue with some interesting clouds. I dropped my pack and took out my camera. I took some pictures of the lookout and the turned my attention to the view. I took numerous pictures of the landscapes and some of the sky. After I had finished, we turned around and started back the way we had come. In a short distance, at the trail junction, we turned right so that we could take a different route back on the West Lake East Trail. We walked down the carriageway to a wide-open field. The sun was bright as we continued along the edge of the field to pick up the trail which turned left at 1.6 miles heading north. The trail descended to a flat area next to the disc golf course. I took a few more pictures here and then packed up to finish the hike. We continued straight ahead through an old quarry and then entered the woods. After a short walk through the woods, we came to the playground and walked out to the parking area. From here we walked along the edge of the baseball field back down to the trail we had used to walk in on. We turned left and walked on the carriageway to the point where we entered the trees. The walk was now downhill through the trees and we were soon back at the parking area. It was 9:45 AM and we had hiked 2.7 miles in 1 hour and 50 minutes. Our elevation gain was a modest 445 feet and our moving average was 1.7 mph but it was an enjoyable trip one the less.

On Wednesday, October 14th I had planned a day of hiking with my grandson Bryce as he is at our house Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I got a call to be the substitute for the Liberty HS nurse which put and end to hiking for the entire day. I did plan to get home as soon as possible sleep and hike for a short time on Round Top. I was anxious to get out and so was Sheila as we had not been hiking since Saturday! When I got home at 3:15 PM the temperature was in the high 60's and I decided I would quickly change my cloths and get across the street. Bryce and Cindy were ready to go and Sheila was jumping around like we hadn't been out all fall! I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top but decided I did not need a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have the Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks but I thought they would do for a short hike. I decided to wear my Vasaue Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. We stepped out of the house at 3:35 PM and I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. I decided we would do enough loops to cover all the trails and tire me out a little. We walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church and to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church with Cindy and I using our poles and Bryce managing Sheila on her leash. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I noticed the hill seemed easier as I have been hiking more. Bryce, of course, was right with me but he was able to talk normally the whole way up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town and I commented that the leaves were past their prime. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that at least a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails.

As we approached the first trail junction, we found that the trail was blocked by several large trees that had fallen across the trail. This was near a set of large trees I had cut some time ago and there was really no convenient way to get around the mess. Hikers had been ducking under some low logs but this is not for everyone. I decided I would go back to the house and get tools to remove the blowdown while Cindy and Bryce would continue to hike. They agreed to do a figure 8 to walk most of the trails to see if there were any other blowdowns. I walked home as fast as I could and gathered the tools I might need. I took my Silky Sugowaza and Silky Katanaboy 500 saws. The Sugowaza is a 17" curved and fixed blade which fits in a scabbard. The KatanaBoy is almost two feet long and is a folding saw with a nylon carrier. Both are remarkably sharp and can take care of some large tree trunks. I brought along my light Fiskars X27 axe leaving and the full-sized Council Tools Velvicut. The latter has a 4 pound head so I don't bring it unless I don't have to carry it very far and this blowdown was almost at the trailhead. I also remembered to bring my camera to take some pictures. I put all the tools in the back of the car and drove across the street and parked near the trailhead. I grabbed the camera, the Sugowaza and the Council Tools ax and walked on the trail to the blowdown. I took a few pictures of the whole mess and then ducked under the trunks to the other side where I took a few more shots.

I began at 4:10 PM by using the saw to remove a lot of small branches which I threw far off the trail with the other branches that were loose. Cindy and Bryce returned from their loop and reported one small tree down above the lookout. Bryce started to help me remove the larger branches I was now cutting. There was actually more work to do than I initially though and the main trunks were not small. We continued to work with me cutting and Bryce removing branches until most of the smaller branches had been removed and it was time for Bryce and Cindy to leave. I leashed Sheila to a tree off the trail as I could hear voices approaching from further up the trail. I cut and removed a few more bigger branches with the saw until the hikers arrived, It was a younger man and an older man who immediately thanked me for the work. As I cut a branch, they asked me about my tools and we got into a long discussion about saws and axes. It was very interesting and they eventually moved on and I got back to work. I took some intermediate pictures after removing the leafiest branches. I started to use the axe to cut off the largest branches and small trunks. This axe is a best but it can be hard to control. The momentum really helps it bite into the wood but I have to be careful to strike accurately and take it easy when I am about to finish a cut. As I was working a man and woman approached from the trailhead and started up the trail to the lookout. I had the impression that the viewpoint was their destination. I removed almost everything from the trail making it almost as wide as it had been. I used the saw again to remove a few more branches and then decided I was done. I took some "after" pictures and was pleased with the work I had done. At this point the couple who had walked up the trail came back and thanked me for what I had done. I could also see someone parking at the trailhead and starting out on the trail. I cleaned up a little more and as she came by I asked her not to park at the trailhead in the future. I looked at my watch and was surprised it was already 5:30 PM.

I decided we would go cut the other tree off the trail Cindy and Bryce both said it was between the lookout and the junction with the blue trail. They both agreed it was small. I was tired but I hid the axe and grabbed the camera and saw and started up toward the lookout. I did not see the young lady who had walked by and thought she might have taken the woods road to the right. We followed the yellow trail to the viewpoint and to the left where it turns up the hill. I did not see any trees down in the path and was about to turn around. At the last minute I spotted a small tree across the path. It was indeed much smaller than the other I had work on. I made two cuts with the saw and then dragged the branches off the trail. We turned round and moved quickly back down the trail. I picked up the axe and we started out to the trailhead. A woman was just entering the trail with her Yellow Labrador puppy. She had a leash but her dog was not on the leash. I had Sheila sit at the side of the trail but the puppy came at her full force. Sheila let the puppy know she was not pleased. The woman came and retrieved her dog and we went our separate ways. I will never understand people who cannot control their dogs and do not have them on a leash around other digs and people! We walked out to the car where I loaded the tools and rove back to the house. It was 5:55 PM and I was just in time for my ambulance shift.

On Saturday, October 10th, I planned to hike from the Frick Pond Trailhead to the Hodge Pond Lookout. I also wanted to hike to the Sullivan County High Point on Beech Mountain and look for a viewpoint from Beech Mountain to the east. I had some things to do at home so I did not get start to get ready until 12:45 PM when the temperature was 62 degrees. I asked Brad if he wanted to go and he said "Yes". As I got my gear together, Sheila seemed very excited even though we had done a big hike the day before. I put on a long-sleeved White Sierra crew top and a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using since spring. The external locks have not failed me yet and the cork handles really do allow a good grip. I also added a wide-brimmed, floppy OR hat which protects me from the sun. I decided I did not need a jacket but I packed a light windbreaker. We put our gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and drove out DeBruce Road at 1:10 PM. I got behind one car whose driver did not go over 35 mph! After 6 miles, I turned left on Mongaup Road and continued to where the road split. I stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road to the parking areas for Frick Pond. I suspected there would be some people in the area on a beautiful Columbus Day weekend. I did not expected to find the small lot filled and only three spots left in the larger lot! I pulled into a spot right next to the slower driver I had followed from Livingston Manor. There appeared to be some people getting ready to leave the lot so Bard and I got ready to get out in front of them. I set my GPS and we crossed the road to get on the Flynn Trail to start our hike at 1:30 PM with the temperature at 66 degrees. There were a lot of leaves on the trail but the leaves left on the trees were mostly green.

At the end of the trail we turned right to continue our hike on the Flynn Trail which, in this area, follows the old Beech Mountain Road. I was a little tired from the hike the day before but we still set a pretty fast pace. We passed through the "tunnel" Cindy and I had cut in a huge spruce tree that fell across the trail. Brad and I walked and talked which helped to make the hike seem shorter. We noticed a father and son with camping gear ahead of us. They seemed to be hiking quickly and then stopping and this kept them just ahead of us. Sheila alerted as a young couple approached us from behind. They stopped to talk to us and, since it was their first time in the area, I gave them some suggestions on routes they might take. They continued ahead of us and as we approached the 1 mile point we passed a hiker who was stopped and appeared a little tired. His friend was a little farther ahead and we said "hello" as we passed. At 2:15 PM we were at the junction with the Big Rock Trail after hiking 1.7 miles. There were two hikers at the junction and they commented on the well-maintained trails. I told them I was the trail supervisor for the area MD thanked them for noticing the trail work. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail still trailing the father and son by a little. We passed through the gate that separates state land from the OSI Beech Mountain Nature Preserve. When the trails split, the father and son stayed on the Flynn Trail by going left while Brad and I turned right. We followed the woods road passed the turn to the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp and started up the hill toward the Hodge Pond Lookout and the Sullivan county High Point. The road is dirt and rocks covered with fallen leaves. Over the next .4 miles we gained 450 feet which is only a 12% grade but I was feeling tired. At 2.65 miles we stopped at a viewpoint to the west. I got out my camera and could see that there was some color in the leaves. We got a drink and then headed a short distance up the hill before turning right on a woods road.

The woods road seems wider and more well-maintained every time I use it. The walk to the Hodge Pond Lookout is only a quarter mile so we were there very quickly. I put my pack down and got out my camera. As I stepped out onto the rock ledge that forms the viewpoint, I was surprised that it was more open than the last time I was there. I could see the trees that had been cut at the base of the viewpoint. I took pictures of Hodge Pond and the hills beyond. I put my camera away and Brad and I looked for a way up to the top of Beech Mountain. We finally decided just to pick a spot and go up. This worked out pretty well although the climb was steep. Once we got to the summit plateau we walked to the highest point at 3118 feet and then walked to the eastern edge of the plateau. I was looking for a viewpoint which someone had mentioned. We walked north along the eastern edge but could find no views. We turned around and walked back to the spine, over the high point and back to the eastern edge. This time we walked south but still could not find any views. I picked a point to descend and we walked down to the woods road around Beech Mountain. We turned left to walk around the mountain in a counterclockwise direction. We kept looking to our right or to the east for some light. Brad and I both saw a spot where there seemed to be a gap in the trees. We walked out to this spot to find a cabin. I knew this was private property so we retreated back to the woods road. The road eventually ended at the road we had come up so we turned left, walked up a slight hill and then started the long downhill hike. We passed the viewpoint to the west and kept a fast pace on the descent.

When we arrived at the junction near the old Boy Scout camp, we continued straight ahead on the woods road. At the junction with the Flynn Trail, we turned left. I felt pretty good since I knew the rest of the hike was downhill or flat. We set a fast pace down the Flynn Trail which was only interrupted by groups of hikers coming up the trail. At the point where there was about a mile left, we met the hiker who we had seen on the way out. He was stopped and still looked tired but did say "Hello". Talking to Brad on the return trip certainly helped the time to pass as the return on and out and back can be boring. As we approached the gate where we would turn left, we could see someone standing on the trail. I put Sheila on her leash and I immediately recognized the person as the "friend" of the man who was obviously having some trouble completing the hike. We spoke briefly and then turned left to stay on the Flynn Trail. Both Brad and I remarked that a hiking "friend" would stay with their partner to encourage them! As we emerged from the Flynn Trail, we found there were now cars parked along the road which I have never seen before. We walked over to our car and found the driver of the car next to us had also finished his hike. He mentioned that there were a dozen people camping at Hidge Pond. Camping there is permitted but must be 150 feet from water and 150 from the trail. I hope these people are considerate and pick up their trash.We arrived back at the car at 4:35 PM after hiking 6.5 miles in 3 hours and 5 minutes. The elevation gain was 1180 feet. After looking at the maps, I realized where the viewpoint I was looking for might be located.

On Friday, October 9th, I planned to go to Giant Ledge and Panther Mountain to catch some of the last colorful leaves. I knew I should get started early so I got up at 8:00 AM and started to get ready. The temperature was only 36 degrees but the forecast was for highs in the low 60's. As I got my gear together , Sheila seemed to be in complete agreement with my decision as she followed me around as I was dressing. I put on a long-sleeved White Sierra crew top and a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using since spring. The external locks have not failed me yet and the cork handles really do allow a good grip. I also added a bright orange hat to keep my head warm and to signal hunters I was not their prey. I put on my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat. I also packed a light windbreaker in case I needed less warmth. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and drove out DeBruce Road at 8:30 AM. I continued all the way to the end of the road where I turned left on Route 47. I passed by the Frost Valley YMCA camp and came to the Biscuit Brook parking area which had three cars. The next parking area was Slide Mountain where there were over a dozen cars parked. I began to wonder if I would find a place to park for Giant Ledge. I soon got my answer as the parking area was already full and some cars were parked along the road. I thought about parking further up the hill and walking out on the easement from the Winnisook Club. I decided against this as we would still have to deal with too many people. I decided we would go to hike Belleayre from Giggle Hollow. I continued to the intersection with Route 28 where I turned left and drove 2.1 miles and turned left off Route 28 on the access road to Belleayre Beach. The area was closed so I parked on the gravel at the side of the road at 9:45 AM. The temperature was only 45 degrees so I decided to leave my Mammut hoody on. I promptly set my GPS unit to get ready for the hike.

We walked across the covered bridge to the parking area near the pavilions and then walked uphill toward the pavilions. I found the blue blazed Giggle Hollow Trail where it leaves the upper end of the area near the pavilions heading south. I had been on this trail before but had never hiked all the way to Belleayer from it. Just at the start of the hike the trail passes under some railroad tracks so I stopped to take some pictures. I packed up and we started back on the trail which immediately started to climb steeply. The trail is sited along a woods road so is easy to follow but I was surprised at the lack of blazes. In several places there were blowdowns and it did not look like there had been any maintenance for some time. There were also spots where other roads or paths turned off the road we were on and there were no markers to emphasize the direction to go. The trail is steep at times and then levels until it is steep again. At one point it crossed a small stream but there was almost no water. The trail initially heads southwest but at 1.1 miles it started a switch back to the southeast and then another at 1.5 miles so that it is heading west. The climb continued for the entire 1.8 miles of the trail gaining 1355 feet for an average 14% grade. I was glad Sheila was along to help support me and to encourage me as I wanted to take a break several times. As we neared the junction with the blue blazed Pine Hill-West Branch Trail the markers became even sparser and the trail was not well trimmed. We turned left at the end of the trail heading west toward the Belleayre summit at 2.8 miles. Just after this the Lost Clove trail came up on the left but we stayed to the right on the blue blazed trail. I forgot that the trail continues to climb and I was glad the grade was more moderate. At 2.4 miles we came to the Belleayer Mountain lean-to located on the right of the trail. We stopped and I took a few quick shots. At 2.8 miles the Pine Hill-West Branch Trail turned south toward Balsam Mountain. This was once the site of a fire tower and the remains of the anchors can be seen. There is also a USGS marker to mark the summit. We stopped and I took some pictures and noticed that the leaves were vibrant and mostly still on the trees. I put the camera away and we walked straight ahead to pick up the red blazed Belleayer Ridge Trail that continues northwest to the ski area. The trail ascended some and as we approached the Cathedral Glen Trail I saw a hiker coming toward us. I put Sheila on her leash and waited for the hiker to pass by but he stopped. We approached and I struck up a conversation. He said he had hiked up one of the ski slopes and would probably go back the same way. I told him my route and that I planned to take the Cathedral Glen Trail back. As we closed our conversation, I noticed that the hiker was pointing toward the side of the trail. It wasn't until I passed that I realized he was pointing to the Cathedral Glen Trail! I knew right where the trail was but wanted to visit the ski area first to take in the views and, I hoped, some colorful leaves.

We continued our hike and at 3.25 miles there was another shelter on the right of the trail. I walked over and took a few pictures before returning to the trail. We reached the ski area which appeared to be almost deserted. We walked over to the concession which was closed and found a young couple on the deck. They said "Hello" and commented on how well-behaved Sheila was acting. I was very happy when I looked out across to the surrounding peaks. The leaves were bright and numerous so I got out my camera to capture what I could. I find that no matter how I try I cannot take pictures that match the beauty of being there. There were views here to the west, southwest and south. When I was done, we walked to the left of the ski lift and found a group of six young people relaxing and taking pictures. The colors on this side were even nicer than on the other. The trees were especially bright in the alley around Pine Hill. I took numerous shots including some of the interesting cloud formations. I kept the camera out as we walked back up toward the ski lift. I took some shot of the lift, the concession building and the ski patrol facility. I out the camera away before continuing back along the ridge. We stopped again at another spot where the views were slightly different. I decided not to take the trail back to the Cathedral Glen Trail as I knew I could walk down one of the access roads and pick it up further down the hill. We stayed to the left on the gravel road that heads down the mountain parallel to the trail but slightly farther north. There were great views from here also and I stepped to take more pictures. The group of young people passed us just as I was putting the camera away. Sheila and I set a fast pace down the road and passed the group. Where the road made a sharp left turn we continued straight ahead to the Cathedral Brook ski slope where the Cathedral Glen Trail is located. The trail was marked with blue blazes along the side of the slope and was very steep averaging a 21% grade for some distance. When in doubt, I headed right on the descent and watched to see if the blazes entered the woods. This is a trail I have been up but never down! When we got to the bottom of the steep upper section, I pulled out the camera to try to capture how steep the trail was that we had just descended. Eventually the trail came to a sort of clearing and then entered the forest. There was a where there is an "Out of Bounds" sign for skiers at this point. The trail now was more of a trail and paralleled the stream which had just enough water to make some noise. The gorge it had cut was deep but I wondered if it would be worth investigating some other time. As the trail began to level off near the end, I could see a body of water down the bank on the left.

We passed through some big evergreen trees and at 6.1 miles the trail ended at some railroad tracks. We turned right and started to walk on the level tracks. Most of these rail trails have had both the tracks and ties removed but this section had both intact. As we walked, I stopped several times to take pictures of the tracks. It wasn't hard to imagine a time when the railroad was in use and engine pulling cars would pass through. After walking the tracks for .6 miles, we came to the streets of Pine Hill. We walked straight ahead off the tracks and then turned left on Mill Street. Almost immediately we walked under a railroad bridge and I took a moment to inspect it by walking up the bank. The weeds had overgrown the tracks and the light was wrong so we continued won Mill Street to Bonnie View Avenue where we turned right. At the next intersection, we turned right on Main Street. As we walked, I took the time to read the menus on several small restaurants and became very hungry. We continued on Mains Street heading toward Route 28 when a man and his dog approached us. The German Shepherd was young and was not on a leash. He came over to say "Hello" to us and ignored his owner calling him. I stopped until the owner got the dog under control. Another dog that is smarter than his person. We continued on Main Street until just before it started up to Route 28. I turned right on Lake Street and followed it to the dead end. We turn right and walked down to a stream. I thought I remembered abridge but could not find it. The best option was just to walk out to Route28 so I decided to walk across a cement culvert holding on to the rails! Once on the other side we walked to the pond where I took some more pictures. I decided we would walk clockwise around the pond on the wide berm. When we got to some picnic tables, I stopped to take a few more shots of the pond including the ducks swimming on it. We walked up to the parking lot and down to the covered bridge. After taking a few pictures of the bridge, we walked back to the car. We arrived at the car at 2:20 Pm having hiked 8.0 miles in 4.5 hours gaining 2335 feet along the way. We had stopped for 40 minutes but our moving average speed was over 2 mph so I was pleased.

On Wednesday, October 7th, I planned to go for a hike with my grandson Bryce who comes to our house Tuesdays and Wednesdays since these are days he is not in school. I wanted to get an early start as Bryce would arrive at 9:00 AM and had no school work to do but the ambulance pager went off at 8:00 AM and I responded. I returned just after 9:30 AM to find the school had called to see if I could come in as the nurse. I scrapped the idea of hiking and started to get dressed to go to school. The school called to cancel me and I told Bryce we would be leaving to hike as soon as possible before anything else happened. I had thought we would to the Frick Pond area and hike to the Hodge Pond lookout where I thought there might be some colorful views. A rather extensive rainstorm was due to pass through at 2:00 PM so we would have to move fast. As I got my gear together at 10:00 AM, Sheila seemed to be in complete agreement with my decision as she followed me around as I was dressing. The temperature was in the high 50's and it felt at least that warm because of the bright sun. I put on a long-sleeved White Sierra crew top and a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued by Keen. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using since spring. The external locks have not failed me yet and the cork handles really do allow a good grip. I also added a new OR floppy hat which shields me from the sun and rain.I put a very light windbreaker in my pack in case I needed an added layer. I put my gear in the car and Bryce and Sheila in the backseat and drove out DeBruce Road at 10:30 AM. After 6 miles I turned left on Mongaup Road. Where the road splits, I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and parked in the smaller lot with two other cars at 10:45 AM. There were two more cars in the other, larger lot. I promptly set my GPS unit to get ready for the hike.

We crossed the road and started out on the Flynn Trail which was badly eroded just off the road. We knew that the rain might start at any time so we set a fast pace on the trail through the woods. At the end of the trail we turned right on what was once Beech Mountain Road and started the long but gentle ascent to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. There was a slight breeze blowing which made us feel a little cool at first but this feeling disappeared as we hiked. The sky was blue with white clouds and all the trees were changing color to some degree. The trail was only damp in places which made keeping a fast pace easier. Bryce and I talked about many different subjects from books he was reading to Bible stories. I was trying to make the junction as quickly as possible and it took us only 40 minutes to hike the 1.7 miles to the junction. The sky was now completely overcast and I considered turning left of the Big Rock Trail. Bryce and I decided we could make Hodge Pond and then turn around and retrace our steps. I really wanted to get to the lookout and a viewpoint on Beech Mountain but they would have to wait for another day. We did not stop at the trail junction but continued straight ahead toward Hodge Pond. This section of the trail is almost flat and we passed through the gate separating state land from OSI property. At the split in the trail, we stayed to the left and followed the Flynn Trail down to the shores of the pond. I chose to do this since the walk back up this hill always seems long even though the slope is gradual. When we broke out into the clearing at the outlet end of Hodge Pond we could see that clouds had begun to gather over Hodge Pond and the wind was blowing harder. I set my pack down and took out my camera to take some pictures of the pond. I took pictures of the trees around the pond which did not look very bright as there was no sun. I also took some shots of the clouds over the pond. Sheila walked to the edge of the water but did not seem interested in jumping into the pond. After taking some more pictures, I packed up and we turned around to follow the Flynn Trail back the way we had come. The hike up the hill seemed easy and short. I attributed this to the discussion I was having with Bryce and the fact that I have been hiking more. At the top of the hill we stayed to the right to follow the Flynn Trail back to the junction with the Big Rock Trail.

At the junction, we turned right and started down the Big Rock Trail toward Times Square. The downhill walk went quickly although I still am fooled by the three different descent all of which look like the last! When we arrived at Times Square, we continued straight across on the Big Rock Trail. I was surprised that the area was much drier than when we had worked on the drainage several trips ago. The trail here was covered in leaves which was true of the rest of the hike but was accentuated here. The trail around the back of the pond was damp and slightly muddy in spots. We entered the spruce trees where I stopped to take a few pictures of the moody landscape. As we crossed the wooden walkways, drops of rain began to fall. We hurried over the rest of the trail. At the end of the Big Rock Trail, we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to continue on to the bridge over the outlet stream from Frick Pond. Along the way we passed a tree that had been vandalized by someone with what looked like a machete. They had felled the tree to block the trail and I had removed it from the trail. Now the remaining trunk showed more cuts of the same kind! I thought about mounting a game camera as I would really like to catch this idiot. At the bridge, we stopped and I took off my pack to take a few more pictures. I have many pictures from this spot but can never resist taking a few shots. I find this one of the most beautiful places in the Catskills. This time I was again annoyed as someone had vandalized the beaver dam by completely tearing it up! The manager of the Debruce Fish Hatchery has done this in the past but I have never been able to confirm that he has permission to do so. I know that if I waded in a did this I would be fined. When I was finished taking pictures, I packed up and we continued on the Quick Lake Trail through Gravestone Junction. The woods road back to the car was damp and covered in leaves. Along the way we met a young couple and their dog headed toward Frick Pond. We pulled off the trail with Sheila as they passed with their dog on a leash. We set a quick pace as the drops turned to a rain shower. We arrived back at the car at 1:00 PM after hiking 5.4 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes. The elevation gain was 855 feet.

On Monday, October 5th, I wanted to get in a hike as the forecast was calling for rain during the week. I thought something with a waterfall might be nice and I hoped to see some colorful leaves. I asked Cindy for some ideas but she was not enthusiastic about hiking. I suggested the Neversink Unique Area loop that includes Denton and Mullet Brook Falls. The loop is less than 5 miles but Cindy didn't seem interested and I knew from experience that it would be a bad idea to try and convince her. I started getting ready at 10:30 AM when the temperature was 55 degrees with partly sunny skies. I decided to wear my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I put on my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which have become my "go to" boots which Keen has discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using since spring. The external locks have not failed me yet and the cork handles really do allow a good grip. I thought about taking my Mammut hoody knowing I could take it off at any time but in the end I decided to leave it home although I packed a light windbreaker. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the back seat and we left Livingston Manor a little after 11:00 AM. I got on Route 17 and started for Rock Hill. I got off the Quickway at exit 109 and turned right on Katrina Falls Road to drive to the end of the road. I parked at 11:30 AM in the small parking area which was already almost full. It looked like a car had just left so I pulled into the vacant spot. As I set my GPS, a young man started off on Te trail to begin his hike. Despite the cars in the lot, I did not expect to see many people as the area is large. The trail was dry with only a few muddy spots here and there.

At the bottom of the hill we turned left to stay on the main blue trail. At this point a yellow spur trail goes down to the river. All of the yellow trails in the area branch off the main blue and red trail, go to a destination like the Neversink River and the return. Just after the turn we came to a small bridge over Wolf Brook. The water in the brook was flowing freely but was lower than the previous week. I decided to stop and take some pictures. After taking my shots, we crossed the bridge and hiked up a small hill. I noticed the condition of the bridge had deteriorated even more than on previous trips and looked like it would soon collapse. I hope the DEC will fix before it collapses as its present condition does not allow the use of a UTV to transport injured hikers. At the next trail junction, at the top of the short hill, we stayed to the right on the blue trail and descended through before starting up another small hill. At 1.2 miles another yellow spur trail headed down to the river but we stayed on the blue trail. As we approached a bridge, we met two different groups of people coming toward us so I stepped off the trail with Sheila. Both groups complimented Sheila on her behavior and good looks! At 1.4 miles we came to the lower bridge across Mullet Brook. The old bridge which was falling apart had been replaced with one based on steel i-beams. I had planned to take some pictures but there was nothing remarkable in the scene. Almost immediately after crossing the bridge, we turned right on the yellow spur trail that goes down to the river at Denton Falls. The trail down to the river is steep in spots and was slippery from the dampness. The blazes are few and far between so hikers had been forging there won routes causing excessive erosion in places. Since maintainers are now prevented by the DEC from placing markers, they must be paced by forest rangers or foresters. This regulation means that trails are not as well marked as they should be. when the trail leveled and began to follow the land contours, we ran across several extremely muddy areas which were being widened as more and more hikers tried to find their way around these mud pits. I was careful to keep my footing and walk around the wettest places. At 12:25 PM we had hiked 1.65 miles and we were at the edge of the river.

There were two hikers who had established themselves on the rock I usually use as a base so I moved downstream a little and took off my pack. We walked out onto the rocks by the river and I called Sheila to make sure she did not jump into the river and did not bother the other hikers. The level of water in the river was lower than I had expected but there was enough to make the falls interesting. I grabbed my camera and took pictures upstream and downstream. I was a little disappointed that the leaf colors were not more brilliant. I then worked my way to the rocks below and right in front of the falls where I was able to take pictures of the falls and a few more downstream. I had Sheila pose on some rocks and took some pictures with the river in the background. Before we left the river, we made sure to get a drink. The other hikers had left ahead of us. We walked back up the steep trail to the main blue trail and the ascent seemed easier than the descent. When we got to the main trail, a hiker was standing there looking at the trail markings. He asked me several questions about the colors for the trails. I told him that the yellow trails were always out-and-back trails that led from the main red and blue trails to some destination. He thanked me as Sheila and I turned right to continue the loop back to the car. At the top of the hill I briefly thought about going to High Falls but knew that the scenery would not be much different. We stayed to the left to start up the hill. After a brief walk uphill of .15 miles, we turned left onto the short trail down to Mullet Brook Falls. I was wondering what Mullet Brook Falls might look like since there had been rain last week but none since. As we approached the falls, we could hear the water falling. We also saw ahead of us the young woman who had been at Denton Falls. She walked to a point in front of the falls to take some pictures while I dropped my pack and got out my camera. The water coming over the falls was not a trickle but was far from a deluge. The water comes from a large swamp further upstream and is full of tannins which give it a brown color. I worked my way up the right side of the rocks below the waterfalls to an area where I could take pictures. I then moved over to a point in front of the falls and took some more shots. I took some pictures of the falls and then posed Sheila for a few more. I took a few more shots of the falls using settings to soften the water falling over the rocks. We headed back to where I had left my pack where I put away my camera and shouldered my pack. I decided we would try climbing up the rocks to the right of the falls. I had descended these rocks before but had never climbed up them and never when they were damp. We started up the rocks with Sheila leading the way and is was not as difficult as I thought.

At the top it took a few minutes and some twists but I eventually got to the top of the falls. I put my pack down and took some shots of a small falls just above the main falls. I also walked closer to the top of the falls and took some pictures. I packed up and we started to work our way up the stream. My object was to bushwhack the entire length of the stream the upper bridge which I had never done. We walked along the edge of the stream stopping in several spots so that I could take shots of several smaller waterfalls and rapids. In some places we had to move away from the stream but we always came back. In one spot, we could hear and then see people on the trail. After a while, I began to look for the bridge and soon I could see it ahead crossing the stream. It was even more visible than usual as it had several bright orange caution tapes on it! We walked up to the point where the red trail crossed the bridge and I found pieces of bridge and pieces of tree. I assume a tree had fallen across the bridge breaking both handrails. The logs that acted as supports looked like they might be slightly cracked but they held our weight with no problem. We turned left and crossed the bridge and I picked up my pace. I did not expect much excitement on the return trip as it is all on trail and mostly downhill. After a brief walk, we were at a trail junction 3 miles into the hike. Walking straight ahead on the trail leads to the Wolf Lake Multiple Use Area. We turned left and began to descend off the ridge. As we started to walk downhill, we met several more groups hiking in the opposite direction. Each time I pulled Sheila to the side of the trail and made her sit. Several groups had young who asked if they could pet her but I politely declined. As we continued to hike downhill, I noticed that the trail had been cleared since my last visit and that it was wide open and easy to walk. All the blowdowns had also been removed. We walked downhill for some time and eventually came to the trail junction near the bridge over Wolf Creek where we had started the loop earlier. There were several more large groups of people coming toward us. I asked them if they knew where they were going and the most common answer was "Not exactly." I spoke to each group about the number of people who have gotten lost over the summer and I gave them specific directions to complemented hike. We continued to walk straight ahead over the bridge to return to the parking area. Once on the other side of the brook we made the right turn on the woods road back to the car. We continued to meet small groups of people heading out on a hike without a real idea of where they were going. We arrived at the parking area at 2:25 PM having hiked 4.5 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes including the stops at the two falls and the bushwhack up the stream. The vertical gain was only about 980 feet. There was a group of four young men at the kiosk looking at the maps. I asked if they had any questions and they did. We determined that they wanted to hike as far as High Falls and I gave them some hints. I especially mentioned turning left when coming up from High Falls so that they did not end up lost!

On Saturday, October 3rd, I was scheduled to meet a new trail maintainer, Molly, at the Balsam Lake Mountain trailhead at the end of Beaverkill Road. Her trail assignment was from the parking area to the Beaverkill on the Neversink Hardenburgh Trail. When I got up in the morning at 5:30 AM, it was only 42 degrees and the forecast was for a high of 58 degrees. I did some things around the house until I began to get ready at 8:30 AM. By this time the temperature was still only 45 degrees and I knew it would be cooler in the woods. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and she agreed. Sheila had not been feeling well but she seemed better and I knew getting out for a hike would make her feel better. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit me well but have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately but knew I would probably not use them as I would be carrying trail maintenance tools. I also added a new OR floppy hat which shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put on my Mammut hoody knowing I could take it off at any time. At 9:15 AM I put our equipment in the car including my Fiskars axe, Silky Sugowaza saw, Silky Katanaboy saw, LT Wright Overland machete, Corona loppers, Fiskars loppers and two Oregon splitting wedges. I knew we would not use all of these but I wanted to show Molly the variety of tools that can be sued. Sheila jumped into the backseat with some enthusiasm and we headed out the driveway. I headed toward Roscoe on Old Rt 17 and I turned right on the Beaverkill Road. I continued north toward Lew Beach and Turnwood. The Beaverkill Falls were flowing with a good volume from the recent rains and I thought we might stop on the way back for a few shots. The road conditions were pretty good even when the pavement ended. I laughed when I saw the "Rough Road" sign! Toward the end the road becomes very narrow and I was glad I did not meet any more cars. We arrived at the parking area at 9:50 AM and found two other cars in the lot. There were also three cars parked in the snowplow turnaround on the road which I did not understand. I expected Molly at 10:00 AM but when I checked my texts I found one from her saying that she was running late. As we were waiting several more cars pulled in with people getting ready to go to the fire tower. I took out my camera and walked over to a point where I could get a view of Balsam Lake Mountain. I was a little disappointed by the lack of color in the leaves but I took a few shots before returning to the car. Molly pulled into the parking lot at 10:20 AM with a friend, Gabe. I gave her some "gifts" from the NYNJTC and showed her and Gabe the tools that I had. I put the Sugowaza in my pack along with the machete and wedges. Molly had her own saw and Cindy carried the Fiskars clippers. I gave Gabe the Corona loppers to carry.

We started out on the Neversink Hardenburgh Trail at 10:30 AM with the temperature at just 50 degrees. My intention was to walk out to the end of the trail section and do the work on the way back but we immediately ran into a few branches hanging down into trail which we cleared. The first half mile of the trail loses about 200 feet to a bridge that crosses Black Brook. We walked and talked clearing some branches and blowdowns as we hiked. We left some blowdowns that were on the ground for the return trip. From Black Brook we began a climb gaining back the elevation we had lost over .35 miles. Just after we hit this high point, we heard voices behind us so I took Sheila off the trail. Two young girls came hiking by with enough equipment for a night out. Behind them was another young girl followed by their father. He had and enormous pack and confirmed that they were headed to a primitive campsite near Tunis Pond. We continued to clear the trail which was in decent shape for not having a maintainer several years. There were some large blowdowns. Some were on the round and easier to step over. Some were hanging over the trail but were easy to duck under. Others were very large and hikers had created appropriate detours around them. The trail rolled a little and then descended to Gulf of Mexico Brook which we crossed on a nice bridge. We again heard voices behind us and I saw two young men coming our way. As they passed I asked them where they were going and they said they were going to camp near Tunis Pond. They were also interested in doing some fishing. At 1.5 miles we came to the outlet stream from Vly Pond. I explained to the others that I wanted to bushwhack a few hundred feet upstream to the pond and they agreed. The bushwhack was easy and we were soon at the beaver dam that impounds Vly Pond. The dam was in disrepair and I did not see any indication of beaver activity. I took some picture of the pond and of Doubletop in the background. I had hoped for brilliant colors but they were muted. We returned to the main trail and turned left to continue on our mission.

From the Vly outlet brook we climbed some and the started to drop down. As we approached 2.3 miles, we could see a small body of water on the left side of the trail. We followed a path to the little pond which I had never seen before. This pond was new and there were signs of recent beaver activity on a nice dam. There were some dead pine trees in the middle of the pond which created an eerie effect as they were very white against the colorful leaves. I took some pictures of the pond before packing up and walking back out to the main trail I knew we were close to the turnaround point as we turned left and advanced along the trail. At 2.5 miles we crossed a small stream and almost immediately after came to the Beaverkill. The trail turned left and paralleled the stream. It was very eroded which I assume came from a period of flooding. We walked along the stream to 2.6 miles where I took a few shots of the Beaverkill. We turned around a began our trip back. I had not enticed that the sky had become overcast and that clouds were gathering. There was inly a 10% chance of rain but it began to fall. At first it was a few drops but that progressed to a shower. There wasn't too much getting through the trees until the rain stepped up another notch! I stopped and put on my pack cover to protect my camera. We continued our walk and even cleared few blowdowns and branches despite the rain. The Fiskars ax proved invaluable as I was able to dispatch several blowdowns with only a few blows. Even though we were clearing as we walked, we were keeping a fast pace and were soon passing the trail register. As we came to the flat part of the trail near the parking area, we cleared a few branches that were hanging in the trail. As we walked out to the parking area, we were all surprised that every spot was filled and cars were parked out on the road! Molly said that she enjoyed the trip and Gabe asked if there was a section of trail open that he could adopt! This made me feel that the whole trip was worthwhile. We left the parking area as soon as possible and I was glad that we did not meet any cars until the road widened. I stopped at the Beaverkill Falls because it had a nice volume flowing. I took a few quick shots before heading home.

On Thursday, October 1st I was scheduled to hike the Neversink Unique Area trails and paths from the Katrina Falls trailhead to the trailhead at Skinners Road near Westerbrookville. I had been asked to do this hike by Alex Rau of the Sullivan County Emergency Services Control Center to test radio coverage in the gorge area. There were several instances of hikers getting lost in this area over the summer and radio coverage was an issue. Alex wanted to test a setup of portable repeater stations for the gorge. I and one of his assistants would hike through the gorge with pa radio and periodically check communications to determine any "dead" areas. I was excited to do the hike as I had never hiked all the way through the gorge since the one-way distance is over 8 miles! The plan was for us to be picked up and Skinners Road when we finished the hike. Below High Falls there are no marked trails. There are old paths and woods roads but these can appear and disappear causing hikers have to bushwhack and get lost. The southern end had more defined woods roads. I was able to create a route from previous tracks and I turned it into a geospatial PDF that I could use with the Avenza app. I attended my men's group meeting at our church at 6:15 AM and the returned home at 7:45 AM. I did some work around the house and started to get ready to hike at 9:15 AM when the temperature was 60 degrees. It had rained the day before and overnight but the skies were blue with some puffy white clouds. I knew that we would not be visiting any of the falls on this hike as that would only lengthen what was already a challenging trip. As I started to get ready, Sheila was watching my every move but was doing so quitely. She had not been feeling well lately and I had decided to let her stay home and rest. I got dressed my long-sleeved White Sierra crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added my OR floppy hat. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put all my gear in the back of the car and headed east on State Route 17 at 9:45 AM. I drove to Rock Hill and got off at exit 109. I turned right off the exit and drove to the parking area at the end of Katrina Falls Road. There was one narrow spot left in the lot when I arrived at 10:30 AM. A young woman was looking at the maps on the kiosk and I asked her if she needed some help. She said "Yes" and I made some suggestions to fit her requirements. Alex had sent me a text indicating he would be a little late s so I waited until 10:45 AM when he and Erin pulled into the parking area. Erin took the radio and I set my GPS as we set off down the woods road at 10:50 AM.

We followed the blue trail which runs parallel to the river. At the first junction we stayed on the blue trail rather than turn on the yellow trail which goes down to the river. The blue and red trails cover the bulk of the hiking routes with the yellow trails being spur trails. We stopped for a minute where an old bridge crosses Wolf Brook as I wanted to take a few pictures. The water was higher than I expected And the brook was very pretty. I packed up and we started up the trail trying to avoid the water that was flowing on the trail since the brook was clogged with debris and had not been cleared. We walked up the hill and stayed to the right at the next junction to take the blue instead of the red trail. The trails are on wide woods roads so the walking was pretty easy. Erin did a couple of radio checks as we passed by two more spur trails that go down to the river. At 1.4 miles we crossed Mullet Brook on the bridge. I had planned to take a few shots here but there was nothing of interest to photograph. Just after the bridge we came to the trail to Denton falls and Erin checked in. After this we arrived at the junction with the red trail that forms a loop back to the parking area. Since we wanted to hike to Nigh Falls and Beyond, we stayed to the right on the blue trail. This trail is more of a trail than a woods road but that didn't slow us down much. The trail descends a little at first and then climbs before descending again. All the while it roughly parallels the river and we could hear the water. The trail is rough in most spots with many stones and roots. I was surprised that we met several hikers coming back from high falls including a couple with a very noisy dog. The hike from the trail junction to the end of the blue trail is 1.8 miles. There is a yellow spur trail down to the falls. Someone was placed some laminated paper signs to help hikers but there was no "To the Parking area" sign for hikers returning from the falls! Erin did a road check before we started the adventure part of the hike. At this point we had hiked 3.3 miles in 1 hour and 30 minutes for a moving average of 2.3 mph!

We continued passed the sign that said "End of Blue Trail" knowing we would now have to be careful to look for woods roads and paths and rely a little more on my Avenza GPS track. The path that we started out on was indistinguishable from the trail we had left except there were no blazes. At 3.6 miles the path headed toward the river and I followed it. I commented to Erin that had been some time since I had been in this area and that the path did not look familiar. As we neared the river, I realized that it did not look familiar since it was the wrong path. We back tracked a little and found what looked like a woods road so we followed it. Over the next .8 miles we lost and found the road several times and were generally following the route I had on Avenza. At 4.6 miles we lost the road and began to wander toward the river. We bushwhacked across a drainage and then came to a stream with very steep banks. We started to walk up the near bank looking for a way to cross but the opposite bank was steep. I ended up walking up the stream until I began to recognize where we were. A few hundred feet up the stream was a woods road that I recognized and I called to Erin to come to meet me. Erin was great about doing radio checks which was the whole point of the hike. We set off on this well-define woods road and were able to pick up our pace again. Every now and then there was something in the path and our biggest bane became the numerous and large spider webs! At 5.3 miles we came to a hunter's cabin which was collapsing. I took a few pictures. The road splits here with a left turn heading up the ridge. We continued straight ahead knowing we would have to make the ascent later in the hike.

The road was even more open and almost flat in this area and we made good time. We began to have some trouble communicating with Alex at the Katrina Falls trailhead and Chris at Skinner's Road. I gave Erin the GPS coordinates and she wrote them down to have a record. At 6 miles we came to a sign that said "Peterson's Turnpike" and marked the point where we would turn to climb up to the top of the ridge. I considered walking straight out to Griffin Road which was about the same distance but did not involved a climb but both Erin and I agreed we would stick to the original plan. We made the turn ad started to climb. The road was wide but rocky in many places and it varied from a gentle ascent to a steeper climb. At 6.5 miles the climb as almost complete as the terrain leveled off. We had climbed 445 feet in .5 miles for an average grade of 17%. The road turned to the right and headed southeast. Although the road was now either flat or on a slight descent I knew we still had some hiking to do to get to the trailhead and our ride. At 6.9 miles we passed by the southern end of Bear Swamp but the road remained dry and we could barely see the swamp. We were passing through mostly hardwood forest but the color of the leaves was only average. We did walk through some interesting stand of evergreen trees with a lot of smaller and younger trees and a few enormous, older trunks. There was also a nice meadow on the right side of the trail but I just wanted to get to the trailhead. At 7.7 miles we passed the southern end of Ash Swamp and came to a clearing with roads going right and left. We chose left which was the correct choice. The road continued heading downhill and southeast to 8.2 miles where it turned east. At this point I realized that we were almost at the trailhead and in a few hundred feet we passed the trail register, walked through the gate and found Chris and his truck. It was 3:05 PM and we had hiked 8.8 miles in 4 hours and 15 minutes for a moving average speed of 2.2 mph. Our elevation gain was 1360 feet and the elevation of the Skinners Road trailhead was almost the same as the Katrina Falls Road trailhead. The ride back up Skinner's Road was bumpy. We stopped to break down the repeater station which Chris had placed in a field. It was a pleasure to ride the roads back to the Katrina Falls Road trailhead and my car.

On Tuesday, September 29th I had planned to sleep in after a night of ambulance calls. Unfortunately, a call came in at 8:00 AM and I was on the run again. I returned home from the call at about 9:45 AM to find my grandson Bryce waiting for me. He had just finished some work and we decided to go across the street to hike on Round Top even though the heavy mist outside was developing into a light rain. We started to get ready with the temperature a surprisingly cool 64 degrees. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top but decided I did not need a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have a Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Traghee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added my OR floppy hat. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. We stepped out of the house at 11:45 AM and I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. I decided we would do enough loops to cover all the trails and tire me out a little. We had recently finished creating a switchback on the steepest trail and a crossover trail to let hikers avoid the summit and to allow for some variations. We walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church and to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill but I noticed the hill seemed easier as I have been hiking more. Bryce, of course, was right with me but he was able to talk normally the whole way up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that at least a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. Walking uphill we passed through a sea of green with some brown edges from the recent frosts. The trails were damp from the light rain overnight. Just before the steepest section Ariana we turned right on the switchback trail now marked with blue paint blazes. We continued to follow these blazes as they made a sharp left turn and headed back to the main blue trail. We turned right on the blue trail and almost immediately turned right on the white blazed crossover trail. This trail is showing more wear in the tread which means people are actually using it. When the trail intersected the blue trail we turned right and walked down to the yellow trail. We turned right to walk along the base of Round Top and this time we turned left at the junction with the blue trail. We walked down to the lookout and followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and walked back up the hill to the lookout and followed the yellow trail as it turned right. We followed the trail as it made a gentle ascent trough the now brown ferns to the junction with the blue trail. We continued to follow the yellow trail by turning right and following along the base of Round Top. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started the ascent of the hill. When the white crossover trail came up and the left, we turned and followed it back to the blue trail on the other side of the hill. We turned left and then left again to stay on the blue trail as the switchback took use into the woods and back out to the blue trail. We turned left again and walked down to the yellow Trail. We turned left, walked back along the base of Round Top and turned right at the next junction. We walked down to the woods road that took us back to the first trail junction. This time we turned left and walked out to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We walked down the hill to the parking lot and across the road to our driveway. We were home by 1:00 PM after hiking around 2 miles.

On Monday, September 28th I was scheduled to work with Andy Garrison and some other volunteers clearing the Long Pond-Beaverkill Ridge Trail. This trail had not been maintained for many years and had numerous blowdowns. It also needed a good trimming and lopping. I hoped the new work that we planned would give the new maintainer a head start on keeping the trail cleared. Unfortunately, the ambulance pager went off early which meant I would be late. It turned out that the call was only for a lift assist and I was able to scurry around the house after I returned to try to get to the meeting at Long Pond on time. As I started to get ready at 8:20 AM, Sheila was watching my every move but was doing so quitely. I had bad news for her though as I could not take her where chainsaws were being used. The temperature was already 65 degrees but it was raining. I hoped the rain would stop as we hot ready to do the work but I knew it would still be damp in the forest. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I hoped this would be enough so that I would not have to wear gaiters. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I decided to forego bringing poles as I would have carry some gear for the team. I put my gear in the car with a dejected Sheila watching me. I headed out DeBruce Road at 8:40 AM hoping I could meet the group at the large parking area on Flugertown Road. I passed through Willowemoc and turned left on Flugertown Road. I drove to the parking area and found a group of people gathered. Andy was there and told me that another sawyer and at least two volunteers were no-shows. I met Melissa Cascini who is the new New York Program Coordinator for the NYNJTC. Also present were Patrick and Claire who are part of AmeriCorps and acted as stewards this summer of Slide Mountain and Giant Ledge. After introductions, we got in our cars and drove out Flugertown Road to the trailhead. We parked at one of the empty campsites along the road and Andy distributed some equipment. Andy and I would cut the big blowdowns with Andy operating the chainsaw and me acting as his swamper. The other three volunteers would lop and trim branches on the trail. I out my pack cover on but took out the GPS and camera so they would not get wet as it was still raining. We walked back down the road a short distance and turned right onto the trail. The trail climbs a little and then descends only to climb again to the trail junction at .4 miles. We cleared a few branches from the trail but knew the snowmobile club would get what we missed. At .4 miles we turned right to stay on the Long Pond-Beaverkill Ridge Trail. Andy and I started to walk up the trail looking for blowdowns as the other began trimming. The trail begins as almost flat but soon starts to gain elevation.

The first couple of trees that we removed went rather easily as Andy cut and I removed what he cut. I have worked with several different sawyers under different conditions but Andy is an expert. He made just right cuts and was able to anticipate what would happen when a cut was made. I appreciated that he cut pieces small enough that I could roll, flip or lift them off the trail. It continued to rain for some time and then the rain tapered off and the sun came out. As we walked farther along the trail the blowdowns began to get larger and more complex. Around 10:45 AM we ran into a monster with several different trunks. The main trunk's diameter was over twice the length of the chainsaw bar! Andy cut away all of the surrounding branches and then got to work on the main trunk. He had to cut from one side and then the other to make it through the tree. He began to cut chunks that I could roll off the trail. When this log had finally been dispatched, there was a pile of sawdust on the ground. There was also one more trunk which was almost buried in the ground. It was 11:30 AM so Andy and I decided to walk back to find the others and eat lunch. We found them not too far down the trail and walked back up the trail until we could find some logs to sit on. We had a good time spending about 45 minutes eating and talking. When we were done, Andy and I headed back to where we had left the chainsaw. We decided to leave the log in the ground for the return trip. We walked up the trail to another blowdown that had been in place for so long that hikers had created a detour. We decided to restore the original trail. This blowdown also had several parts and the biggest trunk was lying on a stone in such a way that we both knew it would slide once it was released. Andy was very careful to make cuts in a way that he and I would not be in danger. Eventually he cut the largest log and once it was released it slid off the rock as we knew it would. A few more cuts allowed me to move everything off the trail while Andy finished his work. We cleared a few more smaller blowdowns and walked to the point where the trail begins the real ascent to the ridge. In this area a tree with a 36 inch diameter was lying across the trail. Hikers had managed to work their way around it and we decided to follow the route they had chosen. Removing the huge blowdown was not impossible but would take too much time. We decided we had done a good amount of work and that we should head back. On our return trip, we removed the trunk that was partly buried in the dirt which made a nice, clear trail. We also cut one other blowdown. We were soon reunited with the others and we headed back to the cars.

On the way, I suggested we take a walk over to Long Pond to see the status of the leaf colors. When we got back to the cars, Patrick decided to leave while the rest of us headed for Long Pond at about 2:00 PM. We walked down the road a short distance and then turned left on the Long Pond-Beaverkill Ridge Trail. After crossing the two bridges, the trail starts a short but steeps ascent and then levels off. From the top of the hill to the trail junction there are usually some very wet and muddy spots. I thought that since it had been dry this might not be the case but I was wrong. There were several very muddy areas but they were smaller than usual and we made it through with no problem. At the trail junction we turned right and walked the snowmobile trail until we came to the path on the left down to the shores of Long Pond. I was disappointed that the sun had disappeared and that the leaf colors were far less spectacular than at Frick Pond on Saturday. I did take a number of pictures before we turned around to retrace our steps to the cars. As we crossed the bridge, I stopped to take a few pictures of the creek. We walked back to the cars and I departed for home just after 3:00 PM. We had spent 6 hours walking working and hiking. The total distance was probably around 5 miles and the work we got done was priceless.

On Saturday, September 26th I decided I wanted to go out on a short hike near home. I settled on going to Frick Pond to remove a tree I knew was on the trail and to work on a large blowdown that I had attacked several times before. As I started to get ready at 12:15M, Sheila was watching my every move but was doing so quitely. The temperature was already 71 degrees although it did not seem humid. The skies were overcast but there was no rain in the forecast. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I hoped this would be enough so that I would not have to wear gaiters. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I decided to forego bringing poles as I would have carry my maintenance gear and I knew the hike would be short. I wedged my Silky Sugowaza, Silky Katnaboy and LT Wright Overland machete in my pack which really weighed it down. I put all my gear in the back of the car and put Sheila in the backseat. I headed out DeBruce Road at 12:30 PM and after six miles I turned left on Mongaup Pond Road. At the fork in the road I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. The smaller parking lot had two cars in it and the larger lot had four. I parked in the smaller lot and got ready to hike by setting my GPS. At 12:20 PM we began the hike by walking out the woods road to the register on the Quick Lake Trail. My plan was to hike out to Frick Pond and then hike clockwise around the pond taking care of the two known obstructions as we went. The woods road was almost dry with just a dampness in some places. As we hiked by the memorial stone on the left side of the trail, I noticed that someone had cleared the briars. At Gravestone Junction, we stayed to the left and walked down the hill to the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. The skies were overcast without any blue but the color of the trees was beautiful. I dropped my pack and took out the camera. I took several shots complete surprised that the colors were already popping. I stowed the camera and picked up my pack and we walked over the bridge and almost immediately ran into the first job.

I dropped my pack and took out the camera to take some "before" pictures. Someone had used what seemed to be a machete to needlessly cut down a pine tree which was about six inches in diameter. The tree was bow across the trail. I decided to do everything with the axe as I did not want pine sap on the saws. I used the ax to remove the branches on the downed portion on the trunk. I then used the axe to cut through the trunk just off the trail. The cuts went quickly as the wood was very soft. I was able to flip the piece of trunk that I had cut off the trail without a problem. I took my "after" pictures and then cleaned everything up. We walked along the trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We turned right and walked along the trail finding one of the few muddy spots her the beginning of the trail. We walked through the pine tunnel and over the wooden walkways to arrive at a large blowdown that had fallen across the trail.

This blowdown was at peat 18 inches in diameter and probably approached 24 inches. It was very difficult to get over so I had initially cut a shallow step in it and then deepened it to make it even easier to get over the obstruction. I felt if I cut through the log without making it wider that it might collapse into the gap. This would be worse than leaving it as just a step. My plan was to widen the gap by making a cut in the log with the Katanaboy and the using the axe to remove pieces. I thought that doing this several times would make a wider step. I could then decide if I wanted to cut all the way through the log on both sides of the step and remove the resulting chunk. I put down the pack and got out the camera to take several "before" pictures. I began by using the big saw to make a cut on the left side of the step far enough away that the new step would be twice as wide. The cut went well and identified some dead areas that I next attacked with the axe. I was able to cut away a good amount of material but a problem arose. One area of the wood was hard to cut as there was a branch that formed a knot of harder wood. As I was contemplating what to do, a group of hikers approached and I stopped working to take Sheila off the trail. The hikers passed and commented that Sheila was beautiful and well-behaved. I kept using the axe to remove wood. Some areas were easy while other were more difficult. One axe stroke loosened and almost removed a huge chunk that contained the knot. I work on that piece until it came loose. I leveled out the new part of the step so that it matched the part I had cut on previous trips. The cutting at the left end of the step was going so well that I kept cutting with the axe and to my surprise I cut through the entire log! I took some pictures of what I hoped was an intermediate stage as my plan was to cut on the right side of the step to remove a section of the blowdown altogether. Cutting straight down with an axe is almost impossible so I got the Katanaboy and started to cut on the right side of the step.

The wood here was much harder and none of it was rotten. The cutting was difficult and I alternated between cutting vertically on both sides and then almost straight across. I kept cutting and testing to see if the piece was ready to fall. It seemed I was almost all the way through but the chunk did not want to wall. I decided to get out the curved Sugowaza and try it out. It must be something about the curved blade but the smaller saw seemed to cut through the remaining wood in nothing flat. The chunk fell off and I was able to move it off the trail. As I was getting ready to take some shots, a group of hikers approached and I stopped working to take Sheila off the trail. The hikers passed and commented that Sheila was beautiful and the work I was doing was impressive. I talked to them about the history of the area. They asked me about where I thought they should hike and I suggested that they continue up the hill on the Big Rock trail and then return to their car on the Flynn Trail.I took some time to square up the ends. I wanted to remove some more of the pieces from the trail but I was a little too tired. I took my "after" pictures and then packed up. We continued around the pond on the Big Rock Trail to Times Square. We turned right on the Logger's Loop to complete the hike around Frick Pond. There were a few damp spots on the Big Rock Trail but the Logger's Loop was dry. The walk uphill on the Logger's Loop can sometimes be taxing but on this day it went quickly. As we started down toward Gravestone Junction, I could hear noise coming from the designated campsite on the right of the trail. As we approached the Junction, there were three people standing and waiting for their friends. They asked which way I was going and moved out of the way as we turned left to walk back to the car. We arrived at the car at 2:20 PM after hiking 2 hours and working for an hour and 15 minutes. As we were getting into the car, two men stopped to ask about the beginning of the Quick Lake Trail which I indicated was in the corner of the larger parking area. The temperature was 75 degrees as we left and the skies were even more overcast. It had been a busy day for the area. I had met at least 4 groups of hikers with between 3 and 5 hikers in each group!

On Friday, September 25 I wanted to take advantage of some beautiful weather and a favorable forecast to hike a 3500 foot peak. I had planned to hike to Windham High Peak from Big Hollow and maybe include Acra Point on the way back. When I asked Cindy if she wanted to go, she said "Yes" to my surprise. Cindy isn't too excited about climbing mountains but I thought this one was relatively easy and hoped for some nice views as a reward. I knew that what I had planned was to big a hike for Cindy so I decided we would hike from Peck Road. This trailhead starts at almost 2100 feet which is about 400 feet higher than Elm Ridge and it is also the shortest approach. The temperature was 58 degrees as we were getting ready at 9:15 AM. I started to get ready and Sheila was there to watch my every move. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have a Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Traghee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added my OR floppy hat. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. We put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat as we left Livingston Manor at 9:45 AM with skies that were blue with the puffy white clouds that make for good pictures. I drove out the DeBruce Road to the Frost Valley Road. I turned left on the Frost Valley Road and drove passed the YMCA camp and the parking for Big Indian, Slide Mountain and Giant Ledge. Each parking area already had quite few cars and hikers preparing to get on their way. I began to be worried that there would be no room at Peck Road which has a small parking area! I turned right on Route 28 in Big Indian and headed east to Route 42. I turned left to head north to Lexington where I took Route 23A east toward Hunter. I turned north on Route 296 and followed it North to Route 23C where I turned right. I knew the road I was looking for and knew it was marked by a giant American flag on the right. I found it and turned left on Route 40 which took me to Maplecrest. At the bottom of the hill I turned right on Big Hollow Road. I drove 1.8 miles and turned left on Peck Road.

I drove to the end and was happy to find only one car parked. A man was standing by the car in a Civil War kepi and shirt. I said "Hello" and he looked at me but did not speak! He started out on his hike as we got ready to depart. I set my GPS and we headed out on the trail at 11:20 AM with the temperature at 68 degrees. It had been many years since I had hiked Windham from this trailhead so nothing really looked familiar. The lower part of the trail is flat and then it rises gently. The trail was completely dry and very dusty. There are some interesting rocks and ridges along the trail so I stopped to take a few pictures before moving on. Not too far along Te trail a blue trail branched to the left but we stayed on the yellow trail. I was sorry I had not brought a map as the trails in this area change as the mountain bikers add new ones. At about .6 miles the woods road we were on continued straight ahead but the yellow blazes headed off to the left. I decided to follow the yellow blazes although I was sure that the trail used to go straight ahead on the woods road. At .75 miles the trail began to climb and at 1 mile we came to another fork in the trail. This fork had a map and confirmed that there was a major trail junction just ahead. A few hundred feet ahead the yellow Elm Ridge Trail ended at the blue Escarpment Trail. There was a group of three hikers resting on a rock at the junction. We said "Hello" as we made the turn and started up the Escarpment Trail. A short distance up the trail, the Elm Ridge lean-to appeared on the right side of the trail. I was surprised that the lean-to had not been claimed for the weekend. Over the next mile we continued to walk uphill and through the "Enchanted Forest". The pine trees here have roots that are above ground making for an interesting hike. We walked over the puncheons at the end of this section although the were hardly needed since the ground was dry. The trail heads mostly east and at 1.75 miles the terrain flattened some before the climb began again at 2.1 miles. The trail from here became rockier and the grade began to increase as it headed south and the turned northwest at 2.5 miles.

As we got into this climb I had to walk slower and slower as Cindy was lagging behind. I came to a point where the trail leveled a little and there was a nice big rock. I waited for Cindy and asked her if she wanted to wait for me and she agreed. As we were talking a young man came up the trail moving at a good pace and passed us. I gave Sheila a drink and left the bottle with Cindy so she could get a drink. I took off up the mountain with Sheila knowing it wasn't very far To the summit plateau. At 1:25 PM we passed the 3500 foot sign. The trail, rather than heading right up the ridge, hung on the edge of the ridge and slowly ascended to the top with a few short climbs. Along the way we met the man that we had seen at the trailhead. I again said "Hello" nut got no response. We climb over a rock at the top of the last climb and were finally on the summit plateau. We walked along the trail until the lookout toward the Blackhead Range came up on the right. We walked off the spur trail and I could see two young women sitting and eating lunch on the rock that has the best views. I put Sheila on her leash and tied her to a tree. I got out my camera and walked over to the viewpoint. I took some pictures although the sun had gone under a cloud and there was some haze on the mountains. The two young women went on with their conversation without speaking to me. Some other hikers arrived but seemed reluctant to approach more than one at a time. I put my camera back in my pack and released Sheila from the tree but kept her on her leash. I headed out to the main trail and heard the hikers discussing the view. I told them what they were looking at and they thanked me. I walked further to the east on the main trail passing over the summit to the lookout beyond. There was no one at the lookout to the north so I let Sheila go and took out the camera. On a clear day Albany is visible but there was too much haze for that. I took pictures of Burnt Knob to the east and some to the north and west. I wanted to get back to Cindy so I packed up and started back.

I passed over the USGS marker without taking a picture. I stopped by another lookout to the north but did not stay as the view was much the same. As I got back on the main trail, the sun came out so I stopped by the viewpoint toward the Blacks to take a few shots. I left the lookout and started a quick trip back to Cindy. On my way down, I passed the ladies I had talked to about the view. I also met several groups coming up the trail. Cindy was farther away than I remembered but I got there pretty quickly. She seemed refreshed and ready to go so we started own the mountain as fast as possible. We set a blistering pace and I had to slow down only a few times to let Cindy catch up. A few groups passed us going up the trail but soon we were at the bottom of the climbs near the lean-to. As we approached this area, I could hear some people talking loudly. There was a group of 10 young women stopped by the side of the trail. I encouraged Sheila to pass by and I followed her. Cindy stopped a moment to talk to them and they asked her how far they had to go. When she said at least an hour, they did not seem discouraged. Cindy and I advanced to the trail junction where there were three mountain bikers. We turned left and made good time following the yellow trail back to the parking area. We arrived at the car at 3:15 PM after hiking 6.5 miles in 4 hours with an elevation gain of 1695 feet. I felt like I could hike quite a bit more. The temperature was 75 degrees. I suggested we go to Pancho Villa's in Tannersville which is where we always eat when we hike in this area. Cindy said "No" which was very disappointing.

On Thursday, September 24th I was going to take the day off but the weather was beautiful and Sheila kept staring at me. I asked Cindy if she would like to go across the street to Round Top to hike a few loops. She said "Yes" so we started to get ready with the temperature a surprisingly warm 71 degrees. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top but decided I did not need a with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which keeps the sticks and ticks out. I decided to wear my Keen Targhe II hiking boots which fit reasonably well but have been discontinued. I added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. We stepped out of the house at 2:00 PM and I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. I decided we would do enough loops to cover all the trails and tire me out a little. We had recently finished creating a switchback on the steepest trail and a crossover trail to let hikers avoid the summit and to allow for some variations. We walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church and to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill but I noticed the hill seemed easier as I have been hiking more. Cindy had not hike hills in some time so I waited at the top for her to catch up. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that at least a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. Walking uphill we passed through a sea of green with some brown edges from the recent frosts. The trails were very dry as it had not rained for some time. Just before the steepest section Ariana we turned right on the switchback trail now marked with blue paint blazes. We continued to follow these blazes as they made a sharp left turn and headed back to the main blue trail. We turned right on the blue trail and passed the switchback trail which is marked with white paint blazes. We continue on the blue trail over the summit of Round Top and started down the other side. We walked down the blue trail, passed the other end of the switchback trail and came to the yellow trail where we turned right. We continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top and turned left at the second junction. We walked down to the lookout where we got a good view of town except for the lone tree in the middle of the view. We followed the yellow trail as it headed downhill toward the first trail junction. At this point, I turned around to hike another loop but Cindy decided to walk out to the trailhead and go home. Sheila and I walked back up the hill to the lookout and followed the yellow trail as it curved to the right. After a slight stretch of uphill, we came to the junction with the blue trail where we turned right to walk along the base of Round Top to the second trail junction. At this junction we turned left and started up the blue trail toward the summit. When we reached the crossover trail, we turned left to follow the white blazes over to the blue trail. The white trail was easy to follow and it seemed that more and more people were using it. When the crossover trail, met the blue trail, we turned left and walked down the hill to the yellow trail. We turned left and walked the yellow trail back to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the woods road and back to the first trail junction. I was still fresh So I decided we would do one more trip. We turned around and walked back up the woods road to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked along the base of Round Top to the next junction. We turned right on the blue trail and walked up the hill. We followed the switchback trail until it came back to the main blue trail where we turned right. Almost immediately we turned right on the white crossover trail and walked it until we met the blue trail again. We turned right and followed the blue trail to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right and followed the yellow trail to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail down to the lookout and then down to the first trail junction. This time we walked out to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We walked down the hill to the parking lot and across the road to our driveway. We were home by 3:30 PM after hiking around 3 miles.

On Wednesday, September 23rd I wanted to get out on a hike with my grandson Bryce who is at our house Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Bryce had a morning zoom meeting with his class and another one at 3:00 PM. I knew we would have enough time to go to Long Pond to remove at least one large blowdown that was obstructing the trail. The trail is a snowmobile trail but the club would not be out to clear it for another month. The temperature was 60 degrees as we were getting at 11:00 AM. I started to get ready and Sheila was there to watch my every move. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have a Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Traghee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I also packed my Silky Sugowaza saw, LT Wright Overland machete and two felling wedges. I let Bryce carry the Fiskars pack ax. The Silky Sugowaza saw is a 17" curved and fixed blade which fits in a scabbard. It is remarkably sharp and can take care of trees larger than one would think. The Fiskars axe is light but cuts well and is easier to carry than a full-sized felling ax. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila and Bryce in the back seat as we left Livingston Manor at 11:40 AM with skies that were blue but without the puffy white clouds that make for good pictures. We headed out DeBruce Road toward Long Pond for about 8 miles to Flugertown Road where I made a left. I drove up the road and parked in the lot a short distance up the road on the right where no other cars were parked. I pulled into the lot and started to get ready by setting my GPS. We got started on the trail by crossing the first bridge at noon. I hoped we could set a quick pace because the trails were much drier than they had been in some time and I wanted have as much time to spend on clearing the blowdowns as possible. The first .6 miles gains about 350 feet to the highest point on the hike. It isn't very steep but does act as a nice warm-up! Once the trail leveled it was easier walking with only a few wet and muddy spots. We kept up a running conversation which made the hike go very quickly. At .85 miles we came to the blowdown and it was larger and more complex than I thought.

I took some pictures of the mess on the trail. I took some shots with Bryce and Sheila and some without. As we were getting started., Sheila alerted and a man with a small dog on a leash came toward us from the Long Pond direction. We said "Hello" as he passed by. We got down to work by removing all the loose branches that we could. Some of the branches seemed loose but were trapped under other, larger branches. It seemed that one large but forked trunk had come down taking another large trunk with it and several small ones. Bryce seemed eager to use the saw so I showed him how to make a cut. After the first cut, I was not sure he would be able to help much. When he started the next cut, his technique improved and he was very helpful cutting branches. He is also surprisingly strong and was able to help me lift and haul some very heavy branches well off the trail. We cut a lot of the smaller branches off the larger trunk before starting to cut the bigger stuff. I sued the saw to cut some larger limbs and the work we did was noticeable. I took some pictures when we were about half done. At this point another man came hiking from the direction of the parking area. He passed by us without saying much and I remarked to Bryce that I really appreciate a 'Thank you for your work'. There were mostly large trunks remaining so I used the axe to make some cuts. Sites the fact that the wood was hard, the work went quickly. Some of the pieces were longer than I thought and heavy but Bryce helped my remove them. I was able to cut all of the trunks and limbs back to clear enough room for hiking. The last chores was to cut a piece off a large but rotten trunk that protruded into the trail. It was cracked so I thought it would go easily but is was surprisingly resistant. When the work was finally done, I took some "after" pictures and we packed everything up for the return trip. When I looked at my GPS, I was surprised to see that we had "traveled" over a mile while working on the blowdown! Apparently the GPS was recording movement while it was sitting still in my pack. This was not particularly encouraging for its accuracy in other situations! It was 1:40 PM when we started back. I had considered trying to cut one more blowdown but I was tired and did not want Bryce to be late for his Zoom meeting. We hiked back to the car and arrived there at 2:00 PM. We had only hiked 1.7 miles but had worked on the blowdown for 1 hour and 30 minutes!

On Tuesday, September 22nd I wanted to get out on a hike with my grandson Bryce who is at our house Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I had a morning doctor's appointment and Bryce had to be back by 3:00 PM for a zoom meeting. When I got home we decided to go to Long Pond as it is about 6 miles and isn't too far from our house. I asked Cindy if she wanted to hike and she said "Yes". The temperature was 58 degrees as we were getting at 11:00 AM. I started to get ready and Sheila was there to watch my every move. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have a Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Traghee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. We put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat as we left Livingston Manor at 11:35 AM with skies that were blue but without the puffy white clouds that make for good pictures. We headed out DeBruce Road toward Long Pond for about 8 miles to Flugertown Road where I made a left. I drove up the road and parked in the lot a short distance up the road on the right where two other cars was parked. I pulled into the lot and started to get ready by setting my GPS. We got started on the trail by crossing the first bridge at noon. I hoped we could set a quick pace because the trails were much drier than they had been in some time. The first .6 miles gains about 350 feet to the highest point on the hike. It isn't very steep but does act as a nice warm-up! Once the trail leveled it was easier walking with only a few wet and muddy spots. We kept up a running conversation which made the hike go very quickly. At 1.1 miles we were at the spur trail that leads down to the shore of Long Pond. We turned right and went down to the pond so that I could take some pictures. At the shores of the pond I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take some pictures. Sheila tried to follow Bryce and I but I discouraged her because of the mud. The skies were a flat blue without any clouds. I took a few pictures of all angles of the pond. I returned to my pack where I got a bar before packing up as we returned to the main trail. We turned right and were soon at the first trail junction. We turned right at the junction at 1.3 miles. We continued to find wet and muddy places on the trail which were easily avoided. By 12:55 PM we had walked 1.8 miles and were passing the yellow spur trail to the lean-to.

After passing the trail to the lean-to, we continued to find a few wet and muddy places on the trail but nothing compared to what is often present. There isn't much to see on this section of trail but we kept talking. We continued on the main trail to the point where it intersects a woods road at 2.6 miles. We turned left on the woods road and found it to be almost completely dry. We followed the road until the intersection with Basily Road at 2.85 miles where we continued on Basily Road by bearing left. This section of road was also wet and muddy in a few spots but it did not slow us down much. Sheila took advantage of the water in one of the small streams to get a drink and play in the water. It did seem to get getting warmer the longer we hiked. As we approached the Peters Hunting Camp, I got ready to put Sheila on her leash. The beaver pond was full of water as was the road and. We had seen this before and I assumed the beavers had been at work both on the main dam and on a secondary dam further downstream. I stopped to take a few pictures. I took pictures of the beaver pond and the flooded road. We continued on the trail and I stopped to take some more pictures of the beaver pond and the stands of corn near the hunting camp. We came to the bridge over the stream near the camp which is showing signs of wear from snowmobiles passing over it even though there is a sign that states "Private Bridge". I have secured permission to hike across this land in the past and "Stay on the trail" signs seem to indicate that the owners will allow hikers. I assume the "Private Bridge - No thru traffic" refers to motorized vehicles and not hikers. We crossed the bridge to continue the trip back to the car and started up the little hill from the hunting camp. We stopped again so that I could take a few shots of the valley which looked peacefully bucolic. Once we started walking again we kept a fast pace as we were a little behind schedule. The road is gravel until it breaks out of the forest where it is paved. We continued down the road toward the parking area and our car at a near record pace. We walked down the road to a bridge over a stream and noticed that an engineering firm was inspecting the bridge. We continued at an accelerated pace back to the parking area. We were back at the car at 2:30 PM having hiked 6.1 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes with 5 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was only about 550 feet most of which was at the beginning of the hike.

Summer 2020

On Monday, September 21st I wanted to get out for a longer hike after pitting in only a few miles over the weekend. I asked Cindy and she agreed to go along. I had some things to take care of in the morning so I didn't start to get ready until 11:00 AM. When I looked outside, the skies were blue but cloudless and the temperature was only 50 degrees. . I decided to go to Frick Pond to do the Frick Pond to Hodge Pond loop on the Quick Lake and Flynn Trails which is a little over 6 miles. I started to get ready with Sheila watching my every move. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. The shirt has an insect repellent built-in which I knew I would appreciate as I anticipated a swarm on Mat flies. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and also combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I also wore my Mammut hoody knowing I could take it off at the trailhead or put it in my pack. I packed a light OR windbreaker, a pair of light gloves and a light hat. Sheila in particular was anxious to get out as we had only hiked 3 miles two days before. I put our gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and drove out the Debruce Road about 6 miles. I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. There was only one car in the smaller lot and two in the larger one as I parked in the smaller. No one was in sight as we got ready to hike. The thermometer read 51 degrees as I set my GPS but I removed my hoody as I thought I would be too warm. . The skies were blue with no clouds. As we were almost ready to start, two women came walking up the woods road to the parking lot. They commented on the beautiful day and said they had hiked around Frick Pond. At 11:50 AM we headed out the woods road to the Quick Lake Trail.

Once we passed the register on the Quick Lake Trail the trail was drier than it had been for some time. There are a few muddy spots but none of the running or standing water I had encountered on recent hikes. At Gravestone Junction, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and head down to Frick Pond. This short piece of trail1 had been a mud pit but was now barely damp. We stopped at the bridge across the outlet to Frick Pond and I took some shots of the pond and Flynn's Point. I noticed that the beaver dam had been partly destroyed but was being reconstructed and that the water level was rising. I hoped that no one would tear it down again as has happened in the past. We didn't stay long and were soon walking along the west side of Frick Pond which was easier as there was so little water and mud. We came to the tree that someone had cut for no reason. I inspected the tree and became more convinced it had been cut with some kind of machete. I had asked Ranger Eric Stratton to take a look but he had not gotten back to me. We continued on the trail and at the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we stayed to the left as we wanted to keep hiking the Quick Lake Trail. The first part of this section was dry and the next section was about the same with only a few damp areas. We entered the evergreen tunnel where the trail continued to be in good shape. When we came to the small stream across the trail, we found that the water level was low enough that we could simply walk across it on some stones. We continued to push toward Iron Wheel Junction and made good time as we were not hampered by having to take detours around muddy areas on the trail. We stopped briefly at Iron Wheel Junction as I took a few shots of the iron wheels which I had not done in some time. We reached Iron Wheel junction at 12:40 PM after hiking 1.5 miles.

We turned left at the junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and head for Junkyard Junction and the Flynn Trail. The temperature had warmed up a few degrees. The next mile of trail is all uphill and the grade only averages around 8%. At times this can seem like a long slog but on this day it seemed to go quickly. I attributed this to the fact that Cindy and I were having a good conversation which made time pass more quickly. We hit the flatter ground and started downhill toward Junkyard Junction where we arrived at 1:25 PM after hiking 3.1 miles. We turned right to start out on the Flynn Trail and almost immediately I noticed that the trail was much drier than it had been in several trips. This trail is often wet as it is fairly flat and lower than much of the surrounding ground. We worked our way along the trail removing a few branches along the way. We arrived at the gate which separates the state land from the Open Spaces Institute land around Hodge Pond. We continued on the Flynn Trail by turning right and following the trail downhill to an area near the shore of Hodge Pond. We turned right to stay on the Flynn Trail and walked through a field and to the point where the Flynn Trail enters a clearing at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. We walked over to the shore of the pond where three other hikers were stopped with their dog. The small dog kept barking but Sheila showed little interest. The sky was a flat blue without any clouds. I took some pictures of the pond and a few of Sheila swimming before packing up and heading back across the field to the point where the Flynn Trail entered the forest. We began the walk up the hill on the Flynn Trail which was the last climb before the long downhill back to the car. Just as we started up the hill we could see another hoer coming down the hill toward us. I immediately recognized Ranger Eric Stratton. I put Sheila on her leash and we stopped to talk. He felt the tree on the west side of Frick Pond was cut with a machete and that it was an isolated incident. We talked about trail maintenance in the area before parting company.

The walk up this hill often seems tedious but on this day it went quickly and we were soon at the top of the hill. I was pretty sure the rest of the trail would also be dry and that seemed to be the case. We walked along the flat trail under the trees passing through the other gate and arriving at the junction with the Big Rock trail at 2:20 PM after hiking 4.8 miles. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail setting a fast pace over the flat part of the trail before starting the downhill. I much prefer walking up the Flynn Trail but like to vary the route from time to time. In any case the 1.7 miles back to the parking area can be slow as there is not much to see. We reached the spot where there is an interesting to the left of the trail but we had been there recently and stayed on the main trail. We continued on the trail and soon were passing through the tunnel we had cut in a large spruce tree that had fallen across the trail. We turned left on the trail to avoid the private property around the cabin. When we got back to the parking area, there was one car in the small lot and two in the larger. It was 3:00 PM when we got back to the car after hiking 6.3 miles in 3 hours with an elevation gain of 905 feet. We had maintained an overall speed of 2.1 mph with a moving average of 2.5 mph. The temperature was 58 degrees and we were both ready to go home.

On Saturday, September 19th, I wanted to try one of the many bushwhacks I had lined up. I asked Cindy if she would like to go hike along a stream and up a hill and she agreed. I wanted to go to the Westkill area and hike in the Vinegar Hill Wildlife Management Area, Roarback Brook DEP Parcel and the DEC Westkill Unit along Schoharie Creek. The temperature overnight was 30 degrees and I needed to catch up on some sleep so we got a late start. As I began to get ready at 10:30 AM the temperature was still only 48 degrees. Sheila was watching me carefully in case I forgot she wanted to go hiking. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. Since most of the hike would be a bushwhack, I also put on my OR Bugout gaiters which are treated to repel insects. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I also put a warmer hat and a pair of gloves in my pack. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I put on my Mammut hoody which I knew I could put in my pack at any time. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the backseat and we left Livingston Manor at 11:00 AM. The skies were blue but there were no clouds. I headed out DeBruce Road and turned left at the end on Route 47 to head toward Big Indian and Route 28. The work on the Neversink River looked almost complete and I wondered if it would hold back the mudslides once the river was at full capacity or beyond. There was a group ready to leave for a hike at the Biscuit Brook parking area. The Slide Mountain parking area was full and cars were illegally parked along the road. The same was true of the parking for Giant Ledge and Panther. As we passed these spots where we have hiked before Sheila would "moan" as if she was asking me if we could stop and hike. I turned right on Route 28 and then left on Route 42 to head toward Spruceton. There were several cars at the Halcott parking area. I passed by Spruceton Road and drove until we came to the new parking area on the left of Route 42 near Roarback Brook. There were three cars parked in the small lot. We got out of the car and I checked the trail mowed through the grass behind the kiosk. I went back to the car and set my GPS. It was 51 degrees when we headed through the field at 12:15 PM. The view was so pretty I decided to stop and take a few shots.

We continued on the trail which turned slightly to the left as we came to the tree line. We walked a short distance and then turned right into the forest just before reaching Roarback Brook. We immediately began to see old farm equipment so I stopped and took some pictures of wheels and harrows and even an old saw blade. When we got back on the woods road, we began walking uphill to the northwest for about a half mile. The woods road passed through a combination of evergreens and hard woods. Along the way we met a group of 4 people and 2 dogs who said they had walked up the woods road but had not "done the whole thing". At .8 miles the trail leveled and I walked down to the brook to take a few pictures. When I walked back up from the brook, we continued through some grass and brush toward a rocky area. The ground was pretty wet in this area but we soon arrived at an area where there was a stone wall and other discarded stones. It was hard to tell whether this was a quarry or an old foundation. I took some shots and walked a little farther to take a few more pictures of the open field and Beech Ridge beyond. I wanted to walk a little more to the west and northwest to explore the field and take in as much of the area as possible. Cindy, on the other hand, had another plan. She suggested we walk more to the north. Despite the fact that I had the GPS and the maps, I followed her almost due north. I knew this would cut off part of the hike but it was easier than arguing. We made our way slowly uphill until we reached a stone wall bordering a field. At this point Cindy no longer wanted to lead and I took over. I could see that it was a short hike uphill to the powerline and that there was a rock that would offer a great view. The problem was that I did not want to walk through the field of prickers to get to that view. I led us up the side of the stone wall through some trees, crossed over the stone wall and found road on the powerline right-of-way. I walked along the road to the rock I wanted to use as a viewpoint. The view was amazing with 270 degrees of mountains and ridges. I took out my camera and snapped shots in all directions.

When I was done taking pictures, I put my camera back and consulted my maps. It was clear from where we were we would have to travel almost due east to Vinegar Hill. I also knew that the summit was on private poetry which I wanted to avoid. Conveniently, there was a woods road heading in that direction so Cindy and I started off on the road. As we walked I was a little disappointed that the road seemed to head a little too much to the southeast. This problem was solved as the road split several times and we took the left fork which ended up putting us just south of the summit. I saw a paint blaze which I knew could mark a property line and I consulted my Avenza app which confirmed we were close. Since the road had ended, we started off through the woods which at first was pretty open. I headed to the southeast to avoid private property and ran into an area where a lot of trees had been cut down. I was aiming to meet the DEC Westkill parcel at which point we would head north along the side of the hill. Eventually I planned to walk down to Schoharie Creek and then walk along the creek to Louckes Road. I planned to walk that rood and Route 2 back to the car. We walked down a pretty steep slope through the downed trees and I began to hear grumbling from behind me. I knew that my plan would have to change as Cindy would not make it through what I wanted to do. I saw what looked like a woods road and worked my way down to it. We turned southeast right where I had planned to turn northwest. The new plan was to walk back to the route we had taken on the way in and follow it back to the car. We followed this road for only about .2 miles when it turned northwest. I decided we would head due south and bushwhack through the woods since I could control our direction that way. I found a relatively clear path and we walked downhill and due south for .2 miles. Because of the terrain and the brush, I turned a little to the southeast and found a steep but decent route downhill for another .2 miles. At this point we walked out into a field .1 miles from the parking area. We turned left and walked back to the lot which now only had one car. It was 2:45 Pm and we had hiked 3.2 miles in 2.5 hours. Our elevation gain was only 775 feet. I was a little disappointed as I was still fresh and ready to go and had not executed the plan I had. To get home I drove west on Route 23A and then south on Route 30. We ended up at the northern end of the Dunraven bridge across the Pepacton Reservoir. We stopped in the parking area to pick up dinner from a barbecue vendor named "Mary's Cookin' Again" out of Roxbury. The $15 price tag for a meat and two sides was reasonable especially because the portions were huge!

On Thursday, September 17th I had a meeting with Kendra from the NYNJTC to be "onboarded" as the Trail Supervisor for the Willowemoc Wild forest and part of the Big Indian Wilderness. I returned from an early morning men's fellowship meeting at church and decided to get some work done rather than taking a "nap". At 9:45 I decided to get dressed to hike so that Kendra and I could go directly from our meeting to hiking at Frick Pond. As I was getting ready I knew that Sheila, who was watching me intently, would be disappointed when I left to go to my meeting without her. The temperature was still in the low 50's and there was fog and haze in the valley. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellent on it rather than on me. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I put my gear in the back of the car and drove down to the ambulance building for my 10:30 AM meeting. Kendra arrived right on time and carefully outlined my duties and responsibilities. She also introduced me to the paperwork involved. We finished at 11:45 AM and got ready to go to hike at Frick Pond. I asked her if I could bring my dog and she readily agreed. She followed me to my house where I picked up a worried but excited Sheila. I drove out the Debruce Road with Kendra following me. At about 6 miles I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at Frick Pond. There were two cars parked in the larger lot but none in the small lot. We pulled into the small lot and parked. The car thermometer read 62 degrees as I set my GPS. The skies were overcast but it seemed to be warming up with no threat of rain. The dog from the cabin at the end of the road was again running loose but seemed happy to stay on his own property. Sheila seemed to be happy that Kendra was hiking with us. Kendra has a 5 month old labradoodle and was looking for tips on training her dog. At 12:15 PM we started our hike by crossing the road to start out on the Flynn Trail. I pointed out the erosion of the trail to Kendra and we talked about possible remedies. We noticed that two small saplings appeared Ti have been cut but did not think much of it. When we got to the end of the trail through the woods, we turned right on the woods road that was once the extension of Beech Mountain Road. I described some of the history of the area to Kendra as we walked. At 1 mile we walked off the trail to the right and up to the open field. No one seems to know exactly why the clearing is there but it was a nice place to stop for lunch. I took some pictures while Kendra ate and then I had a bar and a drink.

We walked back down to the Flynn Trail and turned right to walk toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The Flynn Trail ascends 1.7 miles to the Big Rock Trail junction gaining 600 feet. The more I hike the quicker I can hike and easier it seems. By 1:25 PM we had hiked the 1.9 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued straight ahead staying on the Flynn Trail heading toward Hodge Pond. We passed through the gate that marks the OSI property and soon were at the next trail junction where we turned right on the woods road to head towards the Beach Mountain Boy Scout Camp Pond. We walked passed the road down to Hodge Pond and continued to the next left. We turned onto the road and walked a short distance to the remaining cabins from the Boy Scout camp. I was surprised to see that several of the cabins had collapsed. We took some pictures and then turned around and headed back the way we came. This time we turned right and walked down the hill toward Hodge Pond. At the next junction we turned right to walk down the road to the clearing at the end of the Hodge Pond. Sheila alerted and I could see three hikers at the fire ring. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down to the shores of the pond. We said "hello" to the others hikers and they responded. I let Sheila off her leash and she headed for the water to swim. I took some pictures of the pond which weren't too interesting as the sky was still overcast. Kendra found a stick and I threw it into the water so that she could retrieve it. I retuned the camera to my pack and we walked to the point where the Flynn Trail enters the woods. This section of trail climbs a hill and can seem long but having someone to talk to made this trip seem short. We continued on the flat section of the Flynn Trail back to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. There always seems to be a lot of mosquitoes in this area but on this day there were none. The hike can seem long as there are several places that make it seem as if you have reached the bottom of the hill at Times Square. On this day, we set a quick pace and talked to each other as we walked. We made it down the hill in what seemed like record time.

At Times Square we walked straight across to stay on the Big Rock Trail. This area was damp with a little mud but it was easy to avoid those spots. We passed over the bridges over the inlet streams. The large hemlock I had worked on was still there but much easier to get over. Kendra was impressed by the progress I had made with hand tools. We could smell campfire smoke and saw a tent pitched on the right side of the trail. We walked through the beautiful area of pines and over the wooden walkways. I pointed out to Kendra that these walkways were deteriorating and that they could use repair or replacement before they become useless. Just before the end of the Big Rock Trail, we were surprised by a couple of hikers sitting under a tree resting and eating a sank. At the end of the Big Rock Trail, we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and walked toward the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. We saw a tree in the trail ahead and I made a note to come remove it. When we got to the tree, we noticed that it appeared not to have fallen from "natural causes". I could not determine how it was felled and decided I would call the local forest ranger so that he could take a look at it. At the bridge, I dropped my pack and took shots of the pond and Flynn's Point. I did not see any wildlife but was glad the beaver dam was still intact. I packed up and we walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction. I told Kendra the story of the two children who had died in the fire and of the memorial gravestone close to the junction. We followed the Quick Lake Trail and the woods road back to the car. The trail was mostly dry with only a few damp spots. We were back at the car at 3:30 PM after hiking 6.0 miles in 3 hours and 10 minutes with an elevation gain of 930 feet. Our moving average was 2.2 mph with 30 minutes of stopped time.

On Tuesday, September 15th, I wanted to get in a hike close to home with Cindy and my grandson Bryce. I suggested a hike of the Parksville Rail Trai since it is flat and short but has a nice waterfall. Bryce arrived at 9:00 AM and shortly after that the ambulance pager sounded. I responded to the call but we were cancelled and I returned home. Bryce and I did some chores and then started to get ready at 11:00 AM. As we started to get ready, the temperature on the back porch was still only 60 degrees. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. We put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila and Bryce in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 11:30 AM and drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville. Just after Fox Mountain Road, I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road at 11:40 PM. There were no cars in the lot and as we began to get ready. I decided to take my pack since it is the easiest way to carry my camera. I set my GPS but left my poles in the car as it is a short hike. The car thermometer reading 64 degrees as we started out on the trail.

Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was even a little cooler and I was glad I had worm long sleeves. The trail was almost completely dry except for a few wet and muddy places. We came to a nice view down to the Little Beaverkill and I stopped to take a few shots. Just after this point was a boardwalk and bridge and I again took some pictures. The day was sunny and the sky was very blue but there were no white clouds. We passed several benches placed for people to rest. As we walked, we talked about chemistry and other science topics which made the time go faster. Soon, I could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls was just ahead. We stopped to look at the falls which had a good amount of water passing over it. I walked down the bank and worked my way to the area directly in front of the falls. I took some shots and then repositioned to take a few more. There are two drops to the falls but from the bottom of the lower falls it is hard to see the upper drop. I walked back up the bank and took a picture from above the falls. We walked down the trail a short distance where another path led down to the creek. I walked down the trail and then carefully made my way along a narrow band of mossy rocks. These rocks lie up against a wall that holds back the earth from entering the creek. The rocks were slippery but I made my way to a ledge above the lower falls. From here I could take pictures of the lower falls from the top to the bottom. I also took shots of the upper drop further upstream. I was even able to get an image of the two falls in one frame. When I was done, I carefully walked back up to the main trail where Cindy and Bryce were waiting. We continued on the trail toward Parksville, As we approached the end of the trail, I put Sheila on her leash. I was happy to see that at least one property owner was cleaning up the mess just across the stream. We passed some buildings on the left side of the trail that were ruined and falling down. On the Parksville end of the trail we stopped at the small garden which has a very informative sign. The sign listed the businesses and hotels that existed in Parksville during its heyday. The Young's Gap Hotel had room for 600 guests! The sign also explained the role of the railroad in the dairy industry which was a thriving one in all of Sullivan County. I had Bryce read the sign and we discussed some of the information especially the comment that the area produced 9 million cans of milk annually. After a brief pause, we decided to walk back on the trail as it was in such good shape. The return trip was uneventful and we were soon back at the car. We were back at the car at 1:05 PM after hiking 3.0 miles in 1 hour and 30 minutes. Our moving average was 2.3 mph and the elevation gain was 280 feet which I doubted.

On Monday, September 14th, I was ready to do a more challenging hike after two days off over the weekend for family commitments. I thought about Windham from the Batavia Kill parking area but didn't like the long ride. Finally, I chose Westkill because of Diamond Notch Falls and the Buck Ridge Lookouts. Westkill is a special place for me as I spread the ashes of a previous hiking partner, Sheba, at the Buck Ridge lookouts. When I initially woke up at 6:30 AM the temperature was only 46 degrees and it was very foggy so I decided to wait a little longer. As I began to get ready at 8:20 AM the temperature was still only 58 degrees with a slight breeze. Sheila was watching me carefully as we had not been out in two days. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I took my Mammut hoody with me and packed a light windbreaker. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the backseat and left Livingston Manor at 8:45 AM. The skies were overcast with some areas of blue and there was a breeze blowing. I headed out DeBruce Road and turned left at the end on Route 47 to head toward Big Indian and Route 28. The work on the Neversink River looked almost complete and I wondered if it would hold back the mudslides once the river was at full capacity or beyond. There were a few cars at the Biscuit Brook parking area with some bucket trucks that looked like they were getting ready to work on some trees. The Slide Mountain parking area had a few more cars but was almost empty compared to the summer. The same was true of the parking for Giant Ledge and Panther. As we passed these spots where we have hiked before Sheila would "moan" as if she was asking me if we could stop and hike. I turned right on Route 28 and then left on Route 42 to head toward Spruceton. There was one car at the Halcott parking area. I turned right on the Spruceton Road and drove until we came to the point where the road turns to dirt. To my surprise there seemed to be work going on to replace one of the bridges across the Westkill. Along the road we passed the Spruceton Inn which was gained a nice reputation and also the West Kill Brewery where I had stopped on a previous trip. I drove almost to the end of the road and parked at the lot for Westkill. The temperature was 59 degrees and a slight breeze was blowing. making it seem just a little cool. I set my GPS and we headed up the Spruceton Road to the trail at 10:05 AM.

We passed through the gate and started out on the trail toward the falls. The trail was wet in places with some standing water and some streams running across the trail. I was surprised that the level of the stream was pretty high and running well. The stream was beautiful and I was tempted to stop several times to take pictures. I decided to put this off until the return trip. At the falls, we turned right on the Devil's Path and then right again at the end of the bridge. We looked at the sign there and laughed. The distances given were to the hundredth and they were obviously wrong. The sign put the Buck Ridge Lookouts beyond the summit. It is too bad that this is not the only mistake I have seen on DEC signs. I was again tempted to take pictures but decided to wait until the trip back. As we continued to follow the trail it began to get steeper and wetter in a few spots which made it slipperier. Many of the rocks had some condensation which also made the going difficult. It was also obvious that the trail was more well-used than usual which reflected the overall increase in trail use. I was beginning to get warmer and was glad I had left the hoody in the car. As we continued the ascent, I began to remember that the ascent was long and steep in some places and that the hardest part was right at the beginning of the climb. We came to a section of trail that requires some side-hilling but found it was much more worn in than I remembered. Sheila visited a spring to get a drink and found it running. I was feeling surprisingly fresh which reflects the fact that I have been climbing more mountains lately. I was walking and thinking and soon we were at the spot where there is a near vertical climb. This is a short ascent but leads to a longer one. In the winter this is often a sheet of ice and can be exciting on the way up and the way down. Sheila scrambled up without much trouble and I followed making use of the roots as handholds. Once we passed this point there were still some steep areas to conquer. The mile climb from just after the falls to where the trail begins to level averages a 20% grade and can be very tiring.

Once we got to the more level part there were still some small climbs and a few descents but the going was easier. From that point to Buck Ridge and the summit is still well over a mile. On our way to the rock overhang or "cave" we passed the 3500 foot sign. I could have sworn the sign used to be just above the overhand but I checked my GPS and the new placement seems more correct. When we arrived at the cave, it was larger than I remembered but I decided to pass by and head for the summit. We were soon above the "cave" and after this the trail turns almost due west and levels off slightly. This section of trail along the ridge is long and a little boring. We finally came to the little descent before the final ascent to the Buck Ridge Lookouts. We worked our way down and were soon at the base of the final ascent. We climbed up to Buck Ridge arriving at 12:05 PM. It had taken us 2 hours to hike 3 miles! So much for keeping a good pace. We continued on the Devil's Path heading toward the summit which is a short trip and serves no purpose other than to allow a hiker to claim they got to the summit. It is only about .1 miles and it took us about 15 minutes to get up and back to the lookouts. There is still a sign at the summit that says "Westkill Mt. Summit" but the large stone cairn had been dismantled. I took a few shots of Sheila, the sign and the cairn before we turned around and walked back to the lookouts. I took pictures from the lookout to the south and then walked a little farther west to another lookout to take some more shots. I also took some pictures Sheila sitting on the ledge with the mountains in the background. We walked over to the lookout to the north where I had taken my favorite picture of Sheba. There was no view from the large boulder as it is completely blocked by trees now. I took a few shots of the boulder and then we walked back to my pack and started back down the trail from Buck Ridge at 12:30 PM.

We tried to keep a quick pace on the way down without stopping but the going was not easy in some of the steeper spots. The trail has lots of rocks and roots on the upper part which slowed me down. We continued down the trail which was certainly easier than hiking up! We met no more hikers coming up. Just before the falls we walked down to the stream bed and I took a number of pictures from that angle. Rather than walk up to the bridge, we crossed the stream. I took more pictures from that angle and then decided to walk up the bank and head back. Before leaving, Sheila took several dips in the cool water and then began to dash madly around. The stream has actually changed its course slightly and now flows more on the left rather than the right side of the bed. We continued hiking back toward the car. There were two places where there were small rapids in succession. Some fallen leaves dotted these areas and I knew the right pictures would be beautiful. I stopped at the first and then the second. Both times I walked down to rocks in the stream just in front of the rapids to take pictures. I made sure I had a few at the automatic setting and a few that give the water the wispy appearance that some people enjoy. As we walked back to the car, a young couple came walking toward us. I took Sheila off the trail and said "Hello" to the hikers as they passed. We were back at the car at 2:35 PM after hiking 6.2 miles in 4 hours and 30 minutes with 45 minutes of stopped time. Our moving speed was 1.6 mph. The total ascent was 2080 feet. I was tired but glad we had made the trip. The hike did point out that I am getting in better shape.

On Friday, September 11th, I had not really planned a hike as I was still sore from a fall I had taken. Around noon I decided I wanted to do something and settled on going to Alder Lake to cut some blowdowns on the Millbrook Ridge Trail. As I started to get ready the temperature was 70 degrees but a slight breeze made it feel cooler. The skies were blue but without many white clouds to make it interesting. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which keeps the sticks and ticks out. I decided to wear my Keen Targhe II hiking boots which fit reasonably well but have been discontinued. I left the poles home as I knew I would be carrying tools. I added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I packed my Silky Sugowaza saw which is a 17" curved and fixed blade which fits in a scabbard. It is remarkably sharp and can take care of trees larger than one would think. I also took my Fiskars pack axe and two felling wedges. The Fiskars axe is light but cuts well and is easier to carry than a full-sized felling ax. I put our gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and we left Livingston Manor at 12:40 PM. I drove out the driveway and got on Old Route 17 headed north toward Roscoe. At the Beaverkill Road, I turned right and continued through Lew Beach and Turnwood toward Alder Creek Road. Here I made a left and rove toward Alder Lake. The road had almost washed out in a recent storm and there was still construction work in progress. After a brief stop, we continued to the end where I turned right onto the access road for Alder Lake. I drove to the Alder Lake parking lot and pulled into a spot. There were six other vehicles in the lot by the lake including a forest ranger's truck. Two hikers were sorting out a heap of camping. By the noise, there seemed to be a good volume of water flowing down Alder Creek. The temperature was 72 degrees with a slight breeze and low humidity. The skies were still blue but cloudless. At 1:05 PM we headed down to the "lawn" passing by the stone foundations which marked the last remnants of the Coykendall Mansion. The lawn had not been mowed and we could barely see the picnic tables through the high grass. This is such a beautiful place and it is a shame the DEC does not keep it maintained. We walked toward the trail around the left side of the lake and walked along the trail. I kept an eye out for any bears that might be enjoying the berries. Brush and branches had overgrown the trail and needed some pruning. Sheila was happy to be out and ran ahead and then returned.

We crossed the bridges on the trail and I saw the ranger walking toward us. It was Eric Startton and we stopped to talk. Eric is often out hiking and has also helped us train with the fire department for rope rescues. We talked about the Willowemoc Wild Forest and the Neversink Unique Area both of which have some problems. After our conversation, we continued in our separate directions. At about .8 miles we turned left to head up the Millbrook Ridge Trail. The trail was wet and muddy in several places. The trail tread was obvious and it looked like people had been using it. There were quite a few nettles but they were far enough back from the trail that we passed through without any "encounters". I had a particular blowdown in mind to clear but we stopped at a smaller white birch that was encroaching on the trail. I took some shots and then used the saw to start dissecting the blowdown. As I cut each piece I threw it off the trail. I finished the job by using the axe to sever the last piece. After making the last cut, I took some final pictures and we moved on. At 1.1 miles we came to the blowdown I wanted to clear. Someone had cut some of the branches but had left them in place. They also had failed to clear enough branches to allow most people to pass through the blowdown. Because of this hikers had begun to walk around the blowdown creating another "trail". I roped my pack and got out the camera to take some "before" pictures and then surveyed the work. I first pulled out all the loose branches and piled them where hikers had started to walk. I felt this committed me to finishing the work. I had to use the saw several times to cut intertwined branches to free them. This took longer than I expected because there were quite q few of them.

After clearing all the smaller branches, I turned my attention to some larger ones. I started cutting with the saw and was able to cut branches up to six inches in diameter without much problem. After cutting each one, I had to pick it up and put it on the pile which was growing larger. I continued to cut and stack even though some aches and pains were showing up. I was able to drag a large trunk that had fallen just beyond the main blowdown off the trail. This took some effort as it was heavy and long but I did not want to cut it. I was finally left with one smaller trunk laying on the trail. This one was easy to step over. A larger trunk was across the trail and was at a height that made it difficult to negotiate. I knew I should make three cuts but decided on two. One cut would be through the upper part of the trunk where it was about 8 inches in diameter. The second cut would be lower and closer to the butt end where the diameter was between 10 and 12 inches. I grabbed the axe and started cutting. I found that this maple was hard! I always have to remember to make the initial cut wide so that it stays wide enough as I taper down to the final cut. The light Fiskars axe works against me since there is not as much momentum when I swing it. It took me some time but I cut all the way through. I now knew that the second cut would be that much more difficult. I started in making sure I made a wide cut. As I was chopping Sheila alerted as a family group approached us. The two men in the group genuinely offered to help chop but I knew that was not a good idea due to insurance concerns. I turned them down and they moved on. I got back to chopping and eventually got through the log. I was very happy to hear the last gasp of the wood as it fell to the ground. I went over to lift the smaller end and found it was heavier than I thought. My idea was to pivot the upper end off the trail but I wasn't sure I could even do that. I kept moving it little by little and was even able to lift it over the trunk that was still on the ground. I got it to a position where it would not roll and was happy with a job well done. I took my "after" pictures and then looked at the remaining trunk. I decided I was done for the day and we headed back to the car the way we came. We were back at the car at 3:25 PM after hiking 2.1 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes with a modest 170 foot elevation gain. We had stopped for 1 and a half hours for me to do the work!

On Wednesday, September 9th, I had planned to do a longer hike taking in some 3500 foot peaks. As I was getting ready an ambulance call for a motor vehicle accident came in. By the time I returned I decided to ask Cindy if she wanted to go somewhere which I knew would be a shorter hiked than I had planned. She decided on Alder Lake which was okay with me even though I had been there recently. When I got up at 6:30 AM it was 54 degrees but the humidity seemed high. I knew the forecast was for highs in the high 70's and high humidity. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which keeps the sticks and ticks out. I decided to wear my Keen Targhe II hiking boots which fit reasonably well but have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put our gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and we left Livingston Manor at 11:00 AM. I drove out the driveway, drove out Old Route 17 and headed up the Beaverkill Road. I continued through Lew Beach and Turnwood toward Alder Creek Road where I made a left. Alder Creek Road had almost washed out in the last storm and there was still construction work in progress. After a brief stop, we continued to the end where I turned right onto the access road for Alder Lake. I drove to the Alder Lake parking lot and pulled into a spot. There were two other vehicles in the lot by the lake and one hiker was just heading out. By the noise, there seemed to be a good volume of water flowing down Alder Creek. The temperature was 70 degrees with a slight breeze but relatively high humidity. The skies were overcast with just a little blue. At 11:40 AM we headed down to the "lawn" passing by the stone foundations which marked the last remnants of the Coykendall Mansion. The lawn had not been mowed and we could barely see the picnic tables through the high grass. This is such a beautiful place and it is a shame the DEC does not keep it maintained. We walked toward the trail around the left side of the lake but I decided to stop and take some pictures. I took shots of the lake including Millbrook Ridge and Cradle Rock Ridge. We then headed over to the trail and as we walked along the trail I kept an eye out for any bears that might be enjoying the berries. Brush and branches had overgrown the trail and needed some pruning. Sheila was happy to be out and ran ahead and then returned to us. We stopped once on this section of trail so that I could take some pictures of Cradle Rock Ridge. As I took those pictures I noticed some ducks diving on the lake. I zoomed in to see that they were grebes but I could never really get a good shot.

As we crossed the bridges on the trail, I pointed out to Cindy the remnants of the beaver dams that the DEC had opened up when they relocated the beavers. I showed her where the water had backed up so much that the trail had been flooding. We continued on the trail toward the junction with the Millbrook Ridge Trail. I looked ahead and saw a couple with a dog at the trail junction. As we approached, I put Sheila on her leash. The couple asked which way we were going and I indicated that we were head out on the Millbrook Ridge Trail. The couple let us pass and then head in a different direction. I felt bad as we never saw them again. At about .8 miles we turned left to head toward the lean-to on the Millbrook Ridge Trail. The trail was wet and muddy in several places and there were a few blowdowns to contend with. Some of the blowdowns had been cut but whoever did the cutting left what they cut in the trail! Others were cut in several, places but the job was left incomplete. The trail tread was obvious and it looked like people had been using it. There were quite a few nettles but they were far enough back from the trail that we passed through without any "encounters". For the next 1.5 miles the trail climbed and then leveled off several times. The elevation gain is several hundred feet but the grade is never more than 12% and averages around 6%. There isn't too much to see along the way but this day was very pleasant. I enjoyed the sounds and sights of Alder Creek as it flows parallel to the trail much of the way. Hiking with Cindy is always a pleasure as we can talk about various subjects and Sheila really enjoys it when we hike together. At one point the hiker that we had seen in the parking lot came up behind us and passed us. We passed by a beaver meadow on the right side of the trail. At 1.85 miles we began the last climb and soon arrived at the beaver pond. Where there had once been a beaver meadow, there was now a pond with a dam and a beaver lodge. We walked out to the shore of the pond just downstream of the dam. The shore was cleaned back at least 10 feet of all trees but the brush and weeds had begun to grow back. I took pictures of the whole scene and then more shots of the dam and the pond. When I finished, I returned my camera to my pack and we walked back out to the main trail to the lean-to. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take a few shots. I noticed that the privy was now completely torn apart by thoughtless campers looking for some firewood. One person starts the vandalism and the rest join in! We got a drink and a snack. The lean-to has been in need of repair for some time but I know of no plan to upgrade this popular spot.

We walked back out to the main trail and turned right to walk along the main trail to the next beaver meadow. After .1 miles and some climbing over large blowdowns, we were at the beaver meadow. I took some pictures and we got a bar and a drink. We turned around and started to walk back toward Alder Lake. When we arrived at the area of the lean-to, I turned right and walked a few hundred feet to the spring. The piped spring was running slowly but it would fill a waterborne in a short time. I retuned to the main trail and we continued to walk back toward the parking area. We both realized that the return trip would be much easier as it was almost all downhill. We were soon at the loop trail around Alder Lake where we turned left to complete the loop around the lake. We walked over the bridge and continued on the main loop trail which was muddy in spots. We saw an older couple ahead of us and I put Sheila on her leash. We walked by the two hikers on the opposite side of the trail and greeted them as we passed. As we continued along the woods road toward the dam, we came to a path that I thought might lead to Cradle Rock Ridge. I turned left on the path but only found a campsite at the end. I returned to the trail which ascends some as it approaches the dam but the slope is gentle and then there is a descent. We came to a deep ravine cut by a small stream where a bridge across the stream had been replaced. We continued to walk on the trail coming out of the woods in a small clearing very near the dam. The trail here was wet and muddy. We walked up to the dam and crossed it. I stopped to take a few pictures and then headed up the hill toward the parking area. There were quite a few people on the shores of the lake and one person swimming a distance out in the pond. We arrived at the car at 2:30 PM after hiking 5.0 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes with an elevation gain of 725 feet. The temperature was now 78 degrees.

On Tuesday, September 8th, my grandson Bryce was scheduled to be at my house and the weather report was for sun all day. I thought this would be a great day to finish marking the Round Top trails. We had repainted the marking on the yellow trail. Now we had to blaze the new crossover trail with white paint and the switchback on the upper trail with blue. I also wanted to remove the blazes on the steepest part of the blue trail which I hope to elemental with the switchback. I also hoped to have time to touch up the blazes on the rest of the blue trail. Bryce arrived a little after 9:00 AM. I had to pick up something for the ambulance corps in Liberty so I left to get that task accomplished. When I return, Bryce and I packed up the recyclables and garbage and I visited the transfer station. It was close to lunchtime so we ate and started to get ready to go across the street and paint. Sheila seemed interested in going as she lay watching every move I made. I wore a short-sleeved hiking crew with no baselayer as the temperature was 84 degrees. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which help keep the sticks and stones out of my shoes and the ticks at bay. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which still fit reasonably well but have been discontinued. I knew I would not need poles and decided against gaiters. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I packed my LT Wright Overland machete. The machete is great for trimming brush and hacking small trees. In this case I would need it to scrape the area on the trees that I was painting and to cut brush that block the view of any blazes. I put the paint and bushes and the machete in the back of the car. Sheila and Bryce were in the back seat and Cindy, who had decided to go, sat in the front passenger seat. I usually just walk across the road to hike or do work but there was a little too much to carry. I drove out the driveway and to the highest part of the cemetery to the trailhead. We started out at 1:00 PM by walking into the woods with each of us carrying some gear. When we got to the first trail junction, Sheila continued straight ahead toward the lookout so we followed her. At the lookout, we followed the trail as it turned right. We arrived at the junction with the blue trail and turned left to start up the hill. When we arrived at the new crossover trail, I asked Cindy if she could remove all the old ribbons. I would paint and Bryce would hand me the machete when needed. We walked along the trail painting blazes and clearing some brush as needed. Some of the blades had to be put on small trees as there were no larger trees in the right spots. It did not take us long to finish the trail. I made sure to put blazes indicating the beginning and end of the trail. We walked back to where we had started and walked downhill a few feet to the crossover trail. I switched paint colors and we used the same procedure to mark this trail. Once we were back at the main blue trail we walked downhill to the trail junction. Cindy decided to leave and let Bryce and I finish the job. Sheila was torn between leaving and staying but I convinced her to stay. Bryce and I started back up the blue trail repainting the existing blazes. Bryce was dragging a little from the heat but we got the job done. When we reached the switchback I used the machete to scrape the paint of the trees on the main trail as I want people to use the switchback. At the other end of the switchback, a little higher on the hill, I again started touching up the blue blazes. I had to clear some brush along the way but we still made good time. As we started down the hill, two women came walking over the summit and passed by with a "Hello". We worked our way down the fill to the junction with the yellow trail. At this point, I saw that Bryce did not have a paintbrush I had given him and I knew just where he had dropped it. I told him to stay put as Sheila and I walked quickly all the way back up to the summit. I picked up the brush and headed back to Bryce. We walked down the yellow trail to the woods road that took us back to the first trail junction. We walked back out to the car and put our tools in the back. It was 3:00 PM when I drove down the hill and back home. I thought the 2 hours was time well spent.

On Monday, September 7th, I was planning to hike Table and Peekamoose from Denning. As often happens, an early morning ambulance call came in and I did not return home until 8:00 AM. I decided that I would leave immediately for a hike but reconsidered my destination. I really wanted to hike Table and Peekamoose from Peekamoose Road because of the views from the lookouts south of the summit. It was also very hazy and I did not know when the haze would clear. I decided to go to Trout Pond and hike a slightly longer version of the hike I normally do. I thought I would take along my LT Wright Overland machete to cut some knot weed and any branches that might be in the trail. It was 55 degrees when I started to get ready at 8:00 AM. Sheila got wind of what was going on and began running around the house barking. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I packed my LT Wright Overland machete. The machete is great for trimming brush and hacking small trees. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the backseat and left Livingston Manor at 8:45 AM. The skies were completely overcast and there was a breeze blowing. I headed to Roscoe on State Route 17, got off at exit 94 and got on Route 206. I followed it across the Delaware County line to Morton Hill Road. After a left turn on Morton Hill Road, I drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the side of the road to avoid the parking area which is private. I set my GPS and put Sheila on her leash as we began our hike down Russell Brook Road at 9:10 AM. The temperature was 59 degrees, a breeze was blowing and the humidity was very low. There were two cars parked in the lot. As we started to walk down Russell Brook Road, I saw there were people camped at the illegal camping spot on the right. Russell Brook Road was damp and just a little muddy as we continued on down the road to the overlook over the upper falls. There was enough water in the stream to make the upper falls interesting so I decided to take some pictures as the light seemed just right. We walked down to the overlook and I put down my pack and got out the camera. I took some shots and the packed up to continue the hike. We continued down toward the parking area where there were six cars already parked.

We got on the woods road that goes down to the bridge that crosses the brook. I decided to walk to the falls since I could see there were no people there at the time. The Japanese knotweed had regrown and was in full flower encroaching on the path. The informal path to the falls was also overgrown and I thought about coming back on another day to do some trail clearing. We walked along the path and then down the bank to the streambed. The falls had a reduced flow even though there had been some rain. I was happy to see there were no ridiculous rock stacks (RRS) anywhere in sight. I took some shots including some of Sheila who posed in front of the falls. When I was done, we headed back up the bank. I decided to walk up the hill to the area above the upper falls. I had not been there in some time and it is really pretty. I took off my pack and got out the camera. I worked my way down the narrow path to the bottom of the falls. I found one RRS which I dismantled. I took pictures of the top of the lower falls and then some of the upper falls from right in front of it. I climbed back up the path to my pack and stowed the camera. We walked back down the path to the main trail. We turned right and at the trail junction, we turned to the left to climb the steeper hill toward Mud Pond. The trail was damp and slightly muddy. The outlet stream from Trout Pond was at low volume but I could see that someone had tried to dam the stream with rocks. The water was flowing over and around the rocks so I decided to leave them there until another trip. I was surprised that no one had claimed the large camping site on the right side of the trail. We started to climb the hill and I removed a few small branches from the trail. The ascent went quickly and I could feel how much fitter I was getting with each hike. We reached the top of the hill at 10:10 AM after hiking 1.9 miles. The woods road was also wet and muddy in spots. At 2.1 miles we arrived at the trail junction where we normally turn right on the Mud Pond Trail to start over the trail to Trout Pond. I decided we should continue straight ahead on the Mud Pond Trail to visit the dam at the outlet end of Mud Pond. I remembered that the hike to the dam was longer than it seems but I forgot how far it was.

We passed one designated camping area which was occupied and some ruins on the left side of the trail. We began to walk uphill slightly to find very wet and very muddy areas. I tried to avoid them as much as possible but the mud spanned the trail in several places. At 2.5 miles the trail turned south at the point where a snowmobile trail started off to the right. The trail became a little drier and less muddy. We crossed several streams and passed by a second designated campsite which was also occupied. I checked Avenza to make sure I had not passed the turn. At 2.9 miles the third designated campsite appeared on the left and we turned onto the trail to walk down to the campsite and the dam. I put down my pack and got out the camera. The skies were still overcast but I took pictures of the pond and zoomed in on some features I found interesting. I took some pictures of the dam and the fire ring and then packed up to go. We walked back up to the main trail and turned right to return the way we had come. The walk back on the trail seemed to go much more quickly than the walk out. On the way back I stopped at the ruins and took pictures of the foundations and walls which were much more extensive than I realized. As I was taking my shots, three women walked by heading out on the Mud Pond Trail. I went back to my pack, stored my camera and continued on the trail. When we reached the junction with the snowmobile trail, we turned left to stay on the Mud Pond Trail. As we walked along the trail, I was surprised to see that the three women were now coming up the trail behind us. As I was moving a trunk off the trail, the women passed us. I said "Hello" and they complimented Sheila on her behavior and appearance. After clearing the trail, we continued to hike and soon caught up to the female hikers.

We stopped for a few minutes and conversed. I found out they were from Catskill, NY and were out for a hike and a swim away from places were there were too many people. We passed the three hikers and continued up the trail which continued to be wet in spots. I stopped to remove another tree trunk from the trail and the three hikers caught up to us. One of them helped me remove a trunk and then they passed us. A part of the trunk remained on the trail but I could not remove it. I wanted to cut off the part that what still in the trail but had not brought a saw. The only tool I had was my machete so I decided to try that. It took me some time and more swings than I would like but I eventually cut through the trunk and removed it from the trail. I took a few pictures and then continued on our hike. We continued to walk uphill passing through some briars and areas where I had previously cleared blowdowns. At 5.1 miles we hit the highest point on the hike on the shoulder of Cherry Ridge and started our descent. The descent went quickly and at 5.3 miles we followed the trail as it turned east toward Trout Pond. I looked ahead and saw a tree blocking the trail with a lot of leafy branches. Hikers had formed a path walking around the tree. I looked at the branches and thought I could clear it with the machete. I put my pack down. took a picture and then started in with the machete. I cut away the smallest branches first and kept cutting larger ones until everything was cleared. I took another picture and then we continued on our way. It didn't take long until we were at Trout Pond where we turned left on walked to the bridge over the inlet stream.

I decided to stop and take some pictures even though the skies were still overcast. Neither lean-to was occupied and the other camping site was also empty. When I was done, we continued on the main trail toward the outlet end of the pond. This part of the trail did have a few wet and muddy places. At the lower end of the pond, we turned right and walked out to the beach. I again stopped to take pictures of a scene I had photographed many times! The water level in the pond was much lower than I expected. The skies were a little more blue with many clouds. On this day Sheila started to swim on her own. I threw a stick several times into deeper water and she retrieved it each time. There were some people at the dam and they were leaving so I packed up and headed out to the trail. The hike from the outlet to the trail junction is all downhill and was slightly wet and muddy. About halfway down, we met a young couple carry a young child up the hill toward the pond. I was pretty sure that the pond was as far as they would make it! We met two more groups of hikers coming up the trail. By 1:15 PM we had hiked 7.25 miles and were back at the trail junction and register box. We continued on the main trail to hike back to the car. I could hear quite a few people at the falls. We walked up to the lower parking area which was now completely filled with at least one car parked along the road above the lot. I was amazed that it was early afternoon on Monday and the area was so busy. As we walked up the road back to the car, I could see quite a few people down at the falls and was glad we had visited it at the beginning of the hike. We continued up the road and one car headed down while four cars drove passed us toward Morton Hill Road. We continued to walk back up the road to the back to the car. When we arrived, I informed one group that they were parking on private property. We arrived back at 1:30 PM having covered 7.9 miles and 1424 vertical feet in 4 hours and 20 minutes. The temperature was 71 degrees as I pulled away.

On Saturday, September 5th I had planned to hike all the trails on the Shavertown Parcel. The Catskill Mountain Club created the trails in this area and recently added an additional trail with a lookout over the Tremperskill Valley. I wanted to produce a geospatial PDF that can be used in the Avenza app as the club has not made one available. I asked Cindy if she would like to go the night before and she agreed. Once again my plans were modified by a 5:00 AM ambulance call. When I returned, it was still very foggy and I decided I would try to get a little more sleep. The fire siren went off at around 10:00 AM and I decided to get up even though it did not result in and ambulance call. By this time the fog had disappeared and the skies were blue and sunny with some nice white clouds. The temperature was sill only 66 degrees but I knew it would warm up as the sun came out. As we began to get ready at 11:00 AM, Sheila, lay quietly on my floor but her eyes watched every movement I made. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have Velcro closures at the ankles as some do to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the backseat and left Livingston Manor at 11:30 AM. I headed north on the Quickway and got off at exit 94 for Roscoe. I drove through Roscoe and across the Rockland Flats on Route 206. I continued on Route 206 to the Pepacton Reservoir. Along the way we seemed to get behind people who wanted to travel well below the speed limit! At the Pepacton, I turned right on Route 30 to drive toward the bridge across the reservoir. After 12 miles, I turned left onto the bridge. At the other end of the bridge, I turned left and left again into the parking area. The lot was almost filled but I parked on the grass at the end of the line of cars. I hoped all of the people were not hiking the trail. Just as we were about to leave a group of six people and a dog started out toward the trailhead. I set my GPS and we headed north on CR 1 toward the trailhead which is only .1 miles ROM the parking area.

We turned right off the road and onto the trail. My first reaction was that it looked much more "used" than the last time I hiked it. The trail was mostly dirt with a few rocks and roots toward the upper end. There was some mud in spots and two or three small streams crossing the trail. In .25 miles the trail gains 220 feet at a 16% grade which is a good way to get started. This section of trail ends on a road and there is a set of signs just across the road that direct hikers. We chose to cross the road and head toward the "Overlook". The trail we were on now was one that Cindy and I had helped create when the DEP closed the road that was being used to get to Snake Pond because of a logging project. This part of the trail was also worn in and was covered in pine needles or leaves. There was at least one small stream that crossed the trail but proved to be no obstacle. After .1 miles or .5 miles into the hike, we came to a sign that indicated that the new trail to the overlook turned to the left. We made the turn and started heading north gaining a little elevation as we continued along the trail. The trail was obviously new and not as well-worm as the other, older trail sections. It was a little rough in places and a few more trail markers could make the route easier to follow. At .7 miles the trail began to gain elevation more seriously. At times the trail followed old woods roads but only briefly. We were now meeting several groups of people coming toward us and one group told us the trail became "very steep". Over the next half mile we continued to travel north gaining 350 feet. This is an average 14% grade but the last ascent is 26%. Just after the last scent the trail turns west and descends slightly to a large rock shelf that serves as the overlook. The overlook gives a nice view of the Pepacton to the southwest and the Tremperskill valley to the northwest. I dropped my pack and took out the camera. I took quite a few pictures of the scenery and one of Cindy and Sheila sitting on the rock. We got a bar and a drink and the started back down the trail. The return trip went quickly and would have been even faster except for the number of people we met! Each time I saw a group coming, I walked off the trail with Sheila. We did get many compliments on a well-behaved and beautiful dog! I agree.

When we arrived back at the trail to the pond, we turned left and began to climb a little more. Cindy was a little tired of climbing but I slowed down and started to talk to her. The hike up to the pond was only .2 miles but we did gain another 155 feet. We emerged at the bench just below the pond where Cindy decided to rest as I walked around the pond taking picture. I took my camera and Sheila on her leash and hiked up to the shore of the pond. As we crested the little hill I saw two young women and a large German shepherd. The dog was not on a leash and came bounding toward us with the owner yelling "He is friendly" and me responding "Mine is not". The shepherd was beautiful and only 4 years old. The owner took him over to the pond where he took a swim. I snapped some shots of the reservoir and the pond and then started walking clockwise around the pond. I stopped in several spots to take pictures. As we walked around the back of the pond, I noticed that the earthen bank that contained the water in the pond had been rebuilt. This meant that the trail around the back of the pond was in much better shape. I let Sheila off her leash and she took a quick swim while I took some more pictures. There was also a new crushed stone road which headed up the hill toward the road that we would use to return to the car. We hiked up the road and turned right to walk back to Cindy at the bench. When we returned to where we started, I realized that I had not carried my GPS and would have to repeat the walk around the pond to get a track. I picked up my pack and we all headed back up to the pond. We encountered the other dog again but this time I knew what to expect. We walked around the pond and then up the road to the area above the pond. I gave Cindy Sheila's leash and hurried down to the bench to complete the track. I immediately turned around and walked back up to Cindy. We started to walk down the road to get back to the car. The road was paved with large crushed stones and shortly opened up into a large field. The clouds were so outstanding that I decided to stop and take a few shots. A little further down the road, I stopped again to take some more pictures of the clouds and some of the meteorology equipment in the field. We continued our walk down the road entering the trees. We met a young couple with their baby hiking up toward the pond. At 2.9 miles we turned left on the trail which was well-marked with a large sign. The weather was still nice with a slight breeze blowing. The trip down the trail was much quicker than the trip up. We did meet two people coming up the trail even though it was late in the afternoon. When we reached the road we turned left and walked back to the car. It was 2:20 Pm and we had hiked 3.3 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes with 30 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 1030 feet. We drove across the road to a barbecue vendor named "Mary's Cookin' Again" out of Roxbury. The $15 price tag for a meat and two sides was reasonable especially because the portions were huge!

On Friday, September 4th, I was ready to get a hike with some maintenance included. Cindy and I had hiked around Frick and Hodge Ponds the day before and we had found many small and some larger blowdowns. I find that hiking relieves stress but swinging an axe relieves even MORE stress! It wasn't quite 60 degrees when I got up at 7:00 AM but the temperature was going up. I wanted to get an early start but had various tasks to accomplish in the morning so I didn't start getting ready until 11:30 AM. I started gathering my equipment and getting dressed. Sheila had been very quiet but did not let me out of her sight as I was getting ready. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I packed my Silky Sugowaza saw, LT Wright Overland machete and Fiskars axe. The Sugowaza is a 17" curved and fixed blade which fits in a scabbard. It is remarkably sharp and can take care of trees larger than one would think. The machete is great for trimming brush and hacking small trees. The Fiskars axe is light but cuts well and is easier to carry than a full-sized felling ax. I left my poles at home knowing I would be carrying the tools the whole way to do trail work. I got my gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and left Livingston Manor at noon. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. I pulled into the smaller parking area where two cars were already parked. There was only one car in the larger lot. There were only a few insects and the temperature had risen to about 74 degrees with virtually no humidity in the air. I set my GPS and we walked out the woods road to the Quick Lake Trail at the register. The trail was as wet and muddy as it had been the day before. As we walked along the trail, Sheila alerted and we saw three hikers coming toward us followed by another hikers a little farther behind. The first three hikers had a dog and I pulled Sheila off the trail as they passed. They thanked me as they passed and Sheila and I continued toward Gravestone Junction. We turned left to walk down to the pond. The spot near the junction where we had placed stepping stones was wet and muddy as was the rest of the flat section of trail. At the bridge over the outlet I dropped my pack to take some pictures even though I have hundreds from the same spot and had taken some the day before. The water in the pond seemed high probably due to the rain we had gotten over the last few days. After taking some shots, I packed up and we continued around the west shore of the pond. It was wet and muddy with a large puddle in one spot. At the next trail junction we stayed left on the Quick Lake trail heading toward Iron Wheel Junction.

This part of the trail was wet and muddy for the entire length until it again entered the trees. I removed a couple of branches on the trail and cut a few branches with the ax. We came across our first job which consisted of small tree arched low across the trail followed by another just after it. I took some before pictures and then used the ax to fell the small tree which was surprisingly easy. I sued the saw to cut the trunk at one end then pivoted the trunk off the trail. I cleaned up a few more pieces and then moved up the trail a little to the other blowdown. This one was a little larger and a little trickier to fell. I experimented by shaking the trunk a little and the trunk crashed to the ground. I cut the trunk and dragged it off the trail. I took my "after" pictures and packed up to move on down the trail. We passed through a wet area and I saw another very small tree to cut down. Another group of family group of hikers was approaching so I took Sheila with me to the other side of the trail. I cut the small tree before the hikers arrived and dragged it off the trail. I waited until they passed and then packed up and continued on the trail. We entered the "spruce tunnel" and came to another more substantial trunk across the trail. This tree had been dead for some time but was solid and water logged. I took a picture and then used the ax to cut the trunk on one end. It took some time to finish the cut. I tried rotating the trunk off the trail in one direction and when that did not work I tried rotating it in the other direction which did work. I took the after pictures and then we started back up the trail. We walked to the stream through the woods over a section of trail that was, like many others, wet and muddy. The water level was high so we walked upstream to cross. As we walked up the trail, we came to a large branch lying by the side of the trail. The branch really wasn't blocking the trail but the look did not please me. I always use the same method which means I cut away the branches that are in the way and drag them off the trail before cutting the main trunks of the tree. This took a little longer than I expected as there were more branches and they were intertwined. I finally got them all cut and took some after pictures. I collected my gear and we continued to walked along the trail. I pulled down a few low-hanging branches and cut them off to clear the trail. We came to another single trunk across the trail. I took pictures and then used the ax to cut the 8 inch trunk on the left side of the trail. I went to the other side of the trail and used the ax to cut the trunk on that end. After finishing the cut, I was able to move the main piece of the trunk off the trail. I took a picture and we continued on to Iron Wheel Junction where we turned right onto the Logger's Loop.

As we walked we continued to clear some small branches. I did not intend to do too much work as it was getting late and I was a little tired. Shortly after the turn, we ran into another small tree leaning diagonally across the trail. I began by taking pictures and then using the saw to cut the tree on the right side of the trail near the butt end. After making this cut, I was able to drag the upper end of the trunk off the trail. I took my final pictures and packed up. A little farther down the trail, we ran into an almost identical small tree across the trail and treated it much the same way. After clearing this tree, we walked for some time before running into the most complex blowdown of the day. A large cherry tree had broken off high up and fallen so that it was arching across the trail. This tree was not blocking the trail but it had brought down others that were. I took a careful look at the large cherry and it was clear it was not coming down soon. I turned my attention to the other trees and took a before picture. I then dragged off all the loose branches. I then began to apply the same method which means I cut away the branches that are in the way and drag them off the trail before cutting the main trunks of the tree.

This took a little longer than I expected as there were more branches and they were intertwined. I finally got them all cut and dragged off the trail. I cut the main trunk and was able to pivot it off the trail which saved time making other cuts. I took some after pictures, collected my gear and continued to walk along the trail. We continued to Times Square and found no more blowdowns. We passed through Times Square which was as wet as always with plenty of mud. The problem of properly draining this area has escaped me as there is surface runoff after it rains and some spring which keep things wet. We continued straight head on the Logger's Loop and up a slight hill. After cresting the hill, we continued out to Gravestone Junction. By now there were some nice puffy white clouds in the sky so I stopped to take a few pictures. We turned left at the Gravestone Junction and headed back to the car. At the trail register, we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail so that I could check to see if there were any blowdowns. We found no problems on the trail. When we reached the parking area, we walked out to the road and over to the smaller parking area. There was a family group of three with their dog so I quickly got Sheila in the car. It was 3:30 PM and we had spent 3 hours hiking 4.1 miles and doing a lot of trail work. The elevation gain was a modest 410 feet. The temperature was 78 degrees as I pulled away from the parking area.

On Friday, September 4th, I was ready to get a hike with some maintenance included. Cindy and I had hiked around Frick and Hodge Ponds the day before and we had found many small and some larger blowdowns. I find that hiking relieves stress but swinging an axe relieves even MORE stress! It wasn't quite 60 degrees when I got up at 7:00 AM but the temperature was going up. I wanted to get an early start but had various tasks to accomplish in the morning so I didn't start getting ready until 11:30 AM. I started gathering my equipment and getting dressed. Sheila had been very quiet but did not let me out of her sight as I was getting ready. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I packed my Silky Sugowaza saw, LT Wright Overland machete and Fiskars axe. The Sugowaza is a 17" curved and fixed blade which fits in a scabbard. It is remarkably sharp and can take care of trees larger than one would think. The machete is great for trimming brush and hacking small trees. The Fiskars axe is light but cuts well and is easier to carry than a full-sized felling ax. I left my poles at home knowing I would be carrying the tools the whole way to do trail work. I got my gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and left Livingston Manor at noon. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. I pulled into the smaller parking area where two cars were already parked. There was only one car in the larger lot. There were only a few insects and the temperature had risen to about 74 degrees with virtually no humidity in the air. I set my GPS and we walked out the woods road to the Quick Lake Trail at the register. The trail was as wet and muddy as it had been the day before. As we walked along the trail, Sheila alerted and we saw three hikers coming toward us followed by another hikers a little farther behind. The first three hikers had a dog and I pulled Sheila off the trail as they passed. They thanked me as they passed and Sheila and I continued toward Gravestone Junction. We turned left to walk down to the pond. The spot near the junction where we had placed stepping stones was wet and muddy as was the rest of the flat section of trail. At the bridge over the outlet I dropped my pack to take some pictures even though I have hundreds from the same spot and had taken some the day before. The water in the pond seemed high probably due to the rain we had gotten over the last few days. After taking some shots, I packed up and we continued around the west shore of the pond. It was wet and muddy with a large puddle in one spot. At the next trail junction we stayed left on the Quick Lake trail heading toward Iron Wheel Junction.

This part of the trail was wet and muddy for the entire length until it again entered the trees. I removed a couple of branches on the trail and cut a few branches with the ax. We came across our first job which consisted of small tree arched low across the trail followed by another just after it. I took some before pictures and then used the ax to fell the small tree which was surprisingly easy. I sued the saw to cut the trunk at one end then pivoted the trunk off the trail. I cleaned up a few more pieces and then moved up the trail a little to the other blowdown. This one was a little larger and a little trickier to fell. I experimented by shaking the trunk a little and the trunk crashed to the ground. I cut the trunk and dragged it off the trail. I took my "after" pictures and packed up to move on down the trail. We passed through a wet area and I saw another very small tree to cut down. Another group of family group of hikers was approaching so I took Sheila with me to the other side of the trail. I cut the small tree before the hikers arrived and dragged it off the trail. I waited until they passed and then packed up and continued on the trail. We entered the "spruce tunnel" and came to another more substantial trunk across the trail. This tree had been dead for some time but was solid and water logged. I took a picture and then used the ax to cut the trunk on one end. It took some time to finish the cut. I tried rotating the trunk off the trail in one direction and when that did not work I tried rotating it in the other direction which did work. I took the after pictures and then we started back up the trail. We walked to the stream through the woods over a section of trail that was, like many others, wet and muddy. The water level was high so we walked upstream to cross. As we walked up the trail, we came to a large branch lying by the side of the trail. The branch really wasn't blocking the trail but the look did not please me. I always use the same method which means I cut away the branches that are in the way and drag them off the trail before cutting the main trunks of the tree. This took a little longer than I expected as there were more branches and they were intertwined. I finally got them all cut and took some after pictures. I collected my gear and we continued to walked along the trail. I pulled down a few low-hanging branches and cut them off to clear the trail. We came to another single trunk across the trail. I took pictures and then used the ax to cut the 8 inch trunk on the left side of the trail. I went to the other side of the trail and used the ax to cut the trunk on that end. After finishing the cut, I was able to move the main piece of the trunk off the trail. I took a picture and we continued on to Iron Wheel Junction where we turned right onto the Logger's Loop.

As we walked we continued to clear some small branches. I did not intend to do too much work as it was getting late and I was a little tired. Shortly after the turn, we ran into another small tree leaning diagonally across the trail. I began by taking pictures and then using the saw to cut the tree on the right side of the trail near the butt end. After making this cut, I was able to drag the upper end of the trunk off the trail. I took my final pictures and packed up. A little farther down the trail, we ran into an almost identical small tree across the trail and treated it much the same way. After clearing this tree, we walked for some time before running into the most complex blowdown of the day. A large cherry tree had broken off high up and fallen so that it was arching across the trail. This tree was not blocking the trail but it had brought down others that were. I took a careful look at the large cherry and it was clear it was not coming down soon. I turned my attention to the other trees and took a before picture. I then dragged off all the loose branches. I then began to apply the same method which means I cut away the branches that are in the way and drag them off the trail before cutting the main trunks of the tree.

This took a little longer than I expected as there were more branches and they were intertwined. I finally got them all cut and dragged off the trail. I cut the main trunk and was able to pivot it off the trail which saved time making other cuts. I took some after pictures, collected my gear and continued to walk along the trail. We continued to Times Square and found no more blowdowns. We passed through Times Square which was as wet as always with plenty of mud. The problem of properly draining this area has escaped me as there is surface runoff after it rains and some spring which keep things wet. We continued straight head on the Logger's Loop and up a slight hill. After cresting the hill, we continued out to Gravestone Junction. By now there were some nice puffy white clouds in the sky so I stopped to take a few pictures. We turned left at the Gravestone Junction and headed back to the car. At the trail register, we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail so that I could check to see if there were any blowdowns. We found no problems on the trail. When we reached the parking area, we walked out to the road and over to the smaller parking area. There was a family group of three with their dog so I quickly got Sheila in the car. It was 3:30 PM and we had spent 3 hours hiking 4.1 miles and doing a lot of trail work. The elevation gain was a modest 410 feet. The temperature was 78 degrees as I pulled away from the parking area.

On Thursday, September 3rd I planned to do a hike close home but a little easier and flatter than the Becker Hollow hike I had done on Monday. It had been two days since I hiked and I was ready to get out. I knew that the trails might be wet and muddy as it had rained the day before. I had some calls to make and some work to do so I didn't start thinking about getting ready until noon. I asked Cindy if she would like to hike and she said "Yes" and I suggested the Frick and Hodge Pond loop. Cindy agreed and we began to get ready to hike with the temperature at 80 degrees. Sheila had been very quiet but did not let me out of her sight as I was getting ready. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and I pulled out of Livingston Manor at 11:35 AM. I drove out DeBruce Road about 6 miles and turned left on Mongaup Pond Road. When the road split, I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road to the Frick Pond trailhead. There were six cars parked in the larger lot so I chose the smaller lot where no one was parked. I set my GPS and we started out on the woods road toward Frick Pond at 12:55 PM. The trail was muddy and as soon as we passed the register it was covered with water. There was also water running across the trail in several places. As we neared Gravestone Junction, Sheila alerted and I could see three hikers coming toward us. I took Sheila off the trail as the hikers passed. One of them complimented Sheila on her looks and her calm behavior! At Gravestone Junction, we stayed to the left and walked along the wet and muddy trail down to the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. The skies were almost completely overcast and I did not plan to stop but this scene always mesmerizes me. I took off my pack and got out the camera and took shots of the pond and Beech Mountain. As I was clicking some shots, some more hikers came by and I pulled Sheila aside. After a short pause, I packed up, and we continued our hike. We walked along the west side of the pond where the trail was very wet and muddy.

At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. We followed the trail which was wet and muddy for its entire length. I removed some blowdowns from the trail and checked on some trees arching over the trail. We walked through the "spruce tunnel" and came to the small stream through the woods. It was flowing freely with a greater volume than I had seen in a long time. I stopped to take a few pictures of the stream and Sheila who had decided to wade in the water. We walked upstream to cross in a shallower and more narrow area. After crossing we continued on the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel Junction. This part of the trail showed signs that the heavy rains had eroded parts of the trail and there were still pools of water and muddy spots. At Iron Wheel Junction, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. When we came to the junction where the snowmobile trail turns left, I noticed that there was some indication that people had walked on the trail. It is 1.6 miles from Iron Wheel Junction to Junkyard Junction with an elevation gain of almost 500 feet. This walk often seems long and this was one of those days since the water and the mud slowed us down. The trail was eroded in many places showing the power of the water that had run down the trail. Along the way, Cindy's phone rang and she answered as it was her sister. After a video conversation, we continued on our way setting a slightly faster pace as the skies were getting even cloudier. When we came to Junkyard Junction, we turned right onto the Flynn Trail and started toward Hodge Pond. This trail was wet and muddy along its entire length and was a miserable hike. The Flynn Trail from Junkyard Junction to Hodge Pond is .85 miles and drops 165 feet to the shores of the pond. After passing through the gate that marks the boundary with the OSI property, we walked down the hill toward the pond and turned right to stay on the Flynn Trail. This part of the trail was also wet and muddy but not as bad as some of the trails up to this point. We soon left the trees and entered a field. As we crossed this open area, I noticed a woman kneeling in the field. She looked like she was picking something. She said "Hello" and gave Sheila her second compliment of the day.

We continued on the trail to the clearing at the south end of Hodge Pond. We walked over to the shores of the pond where I put down my pack and got out the camera. The skies had grown darker but I took some pictures of the pond. Sheila went wading so I threw a stick for her to retrieve. The water in the pond was so shallow that Sheila did not have to swim much to get the stick. After a short time, I ate a bar, we took some water and packed up to continue on the Flynn Trail.We walked back to the Flynn Trail to the point where it re-entered the woods and began the walk up the hill. This part of the trail was almost dry with only a few spots of mud here and there. The Flynn Trail is relatively flat to the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 4.8 miles into the hike. We passed through the gate marking the border with the OSI property and soon after arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The Flynn Trail continued straight ahead and we continued in that direction. At least the Flynn Trail either descends or is flat all the way back to the car. The walk on this day seemed to go quickly as we set a fast pace brought on by the gathering clouds. At 5.4 miles we came to the path to the clearing on the east side of the trail. At this point the rain began to fall as a few drops. I decided to put my pack cover on as I knew it would deter the rain. We continued on down the trail at an accelerated pace as the rain began to fall a little harder. It seemed as if the "tunnel" that Cindy and I had cut in the large spruce tree came up sooner than I expected. Just before the gate we turned left to follow the Flynn Trail and to avoid the private property around the cabin. We continued on the trail passing the register box and crossing the road to the car. The trail from the road to the register box was very eroded and each rain erodes the area more. I have no ideas how to fix this problem. When we arrived back at the parking lot, there was one other car present in the small lot and one in the larger lot. We were back at the car by 4:15 PM having covered 6.5 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes with 25 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 920 feet. Our moving speed was 2.2 mph with an overall speed of 2.0 mph.

On Monday, August 31st the weather forecast called for partly cloudy skies, cooler temperatures, low humidity and no rain. I knew these would be excellent conditions for hiking a mountain with a view. I decided to take a long, grueling hike up Hunter Mountain to the fire tower using the Becker Hollow Trail. My intention was to return by the Hunter Mountain Trail and the Devil's Path to Notch lake. A 1.5 mile walk on the road would get us back to the car. I planned to get an early start in the morning but as so often happens and ambulance call around 7:00 AM set me back. When I got home, I almost decided not to go but I stayed with my plan. I started to get ready at 9:30 AM when the temperature was only 58 degrees. As I was getting ready Sheila knew something was "up" and stayed close to me as I got dressed and got the gear together. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have a Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and I pulled out of Livingston Manor at 11:00 AM. I drove out DeBruce Road to the end of the road and turned left on Route 47 to drive passed the Frost Valley YMCA Camp. I noticed that there were 6 vehicles parked at Biscuit Brook which surprised me a little. There were 8 cars at the Slide Mountain parking area and the same number at the parking area for Giant Ledge. I continue on the road to the junction with Route 28. I turned right and drove to the turn for Phoenicia where I turned left. I made another left turn on Route 214 and headed north passing the Devil's Tombstone Campsite and Notch Lake. In another 1.6 miles I pulled into the Becker Hollow parking area. There were already seven cars parked already with one group returning and another pair of hikers getting ready to leave. I parked and got Sheila out of the car and on her leash. I set my GPS and we started out on the trail at 11:25 AM by passing through the stone columns at the beginning of the trail.

The trail at the bottom is wide and flat without many stones or roots. This part is an old woods road as is easy walking. I walked off trail to take some pictures of some stone foundations. The trail parallels a stream and we could hear the water running in it. I walked over to get a view but there was more noise than water. We stopped at a "new" bridge that had been constructed to cross the stream and I toke some pictures of the bridge. I also took a few pictures of the stream but the lighting was not the best. After a short distance a dam appeared on the left and we walked off the trail just below the dam so that I could take some pictures of the small waterfall created by the dam. We walked back up to the trail and I took some pictures of the rather long concrete dam. At this point the sun was very bright, almost too bright to take good pictures! The trail began to narrow and gain elevation at this point. There were also several brooks running across the trail and despite the fact that most of the trail was dry or just damp, these areas were wet. This was surprising since most hikes streams on my latest hikes had been dry or at least reduced to a very low volume. There was enough water in many places to support a healthy and thriving crop of nettles! Fortunately the trail was wide enough to prevent any close encounters. These streams also allowed Sheila to get a drink. The trail starts ascending right from the beginning and the ascent does let up for 2.2 miles when it gets to the summit plateau. At about .7 miles the ascent begins in earnest with a 22% grade for about .5 miles. It was in this area that we passed two hikers taking a break on the climb. They started to hike again just after we passed them and I thought they would arch us but we never saw them again.

I was surprised that the trail was in such poor shape with a lot of erosion which exposed many rocks and roots. It had been some time since I had hiked this route and I suppose that time and increased usage are responsible for the poor condition of the trail surface. At 1.2 miles the trail leveled a little but than began to climb again at a 31% grade. We met several groups coming back down the trail and the way they were traversing convinced me that we would not be returning this way! At 1.65 miles the trail again leveled just enough to give me some hope and then continued its steep climb with some areas at a 35% grade. The ascent is challenging up to 3500 feet which occurs at about 1.85 miles from the trailhead but then it gets even steeper. At this point the trail becomes rockier with looses stones and dirt. This is cruel since my legs are already tired from the climb up to this point! From 3500 feet there is still over 500 feet to ascend. The trail in this area was once open and exposed to the sun which offered some great views. The trees have now formed a canopy in most places which shades the trail but also blocks the views. at 2 miles we arrived at the trail junction with the yellow spur trail that is the most direct route to the fire tower. I turned right on the spur trail but then decided I wanted to complete the Becker Hollow Trail. Once we started to climb the last .2 miles to the summit plateau I began to regret the decisions. The first .1 miles averaged a 35% grade! I breathed an audible sigh of relief when we reached the top. We turned right and began the .4 mile hike to the fire tower which was longer than I had remembered although several times I have simply taken the spur trail. The flat trail to the tower was very muddy in many spots so the trip was less than enjoyable. At 2.45 miles we finally reached the clearing at the summit with the tower and cabin.

I took off my pack and leashed Sheila to the structure used for mounting horses as there were other people present and at least one dog. Sheila did not like being left behind as I walked over to climb the tower. The sun was still shining and there wasn't very much wind even when I cleared the treetops and continued climbing to the landing just below the cab. There was almost no haze hanging over the surrounding mountains and valleys which meant I took quite a few pictures using different angles and zooms. It took me a minute to get oriented but seeing the ski slopes below gave me a "north: orientation. I took pictures of the Blackhead Range, Kaaterskill High Peak, the rest of the Devil's Path and all the other mountains. I even took several shots down at Sheila and some through the supports of the tower. I returned to the base of the tower and walked a short distance away to get pictures of the tower and the cabin before returning to my pack. I talked to a pair of hikers that had been ahead of us on the trail and they said they were going to return by Becker Hollow. I told them my plan to make a loop by taking the long way down the Hunter Mountain Trail and Devil's Path to Notch Lake and then walking back on the road. They left and I got a drink and a bar before leaving the clearing and walking the .4 miles back to the junction with the Becker hollow Trail. For some reason the mud on the way back did not seem to be as much of a problem. As we were hiking down the Hunter Mountain Trail we met several groups of people headed up including two young men running up the trail. I though it was late but there was still plenty of hours of daylight left. This trail was wet in spots with running water and was very rocky and eroded. The trail was a deep channel and hard to walk so hikers had been walking on the elevated sides which causes further erosion. We continued down to the trail junction with the Devil's Path where a couple were having a long discussion about where they should hike. I waited for them to pass but finally gave up and turned left on the Devil's Path at 4.1 miles to head down to Notch Lake.

I had already decided to forgo the side-trip to Leavitt Peak and had no reason to visit the Devil's Acre Lean-to which was just a short distance in the other direction. I had only a vague memory of this trail as I had been hiking Hunter from Spruceton. The first part of the Devil's Path is nearly level although narrow in places. The part that is almost flat but with a gentle descent lasts for about .7 miles before the real descent begins. At times the descent is so steep that I wondered how some hikers could make it without using poles. I could catch glimpses of Plateau as we descended and I could swear that the view didn't change even though it was obvious we were losing elevation! We did meet two different solo hikers headed up the mountain. For .6 miles the trail descended at a relatively moderate 18% grade. We then followed a series of switchbacks that helped to moderate the descent through a series of rock ledges. There were several spots where there were some interesting rock scrambles to negotiate. After the switchbacks the trail continued to descend for another .4 miles to the flatter area near Notch Lake. In this stretch the trail passes over, around and through some interesting boulders and bedrock formations. One large rock seems to have been split down the middle. I took some pictures and then we continued on to the lake. This section of the Devil's Path was in poor shape with many eroded sections exposing rocks and roots that made hiking unpleasant. We stopped at the lake and I took more pictures of the lake and the dam. We crossed the bridge and walked up to Route 214. We turned left and started the 1.6 mile road walk back to the car. Sheila still had enough energy to pull me along in the leash which helped me up the hills and kept me moving on the flats. We were back at the car at 4:50 PM having hiked 7.8 miles in 5 hours and 25 minutes. We had stopped for almost an hour and our overall average speed was just 1.5 mph with a moving speed of 1.75 mph. The overall elevation gain was 2424 feet. This was by far the most challenging hike I had done in some time.

On Friday, August 28th my plan was to hike from Flugertown Road near Long Pond over the Beaverkill Ridge Long Pond Trail to the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail and the west to Mongaup Pond. From here I would take the snowmobile trails and Mongaup Willowemoc Trail back to the car. This is an almost 10 mile hike over trails that I knew had not been maintained in some time. I recently found out that I will be appointed the position of Trail Supervisor for the Willowemoc Wild Forest and part of the Big Indian Wilderness area. After a meeting with the Trail Conference representatives, I will be able start to coordinate the efforts of the trail maintainers in this area. I was concerned that these trails needed to be maintained since the last time I was on them they were in poor shape. I had already been on the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail and found it in good shape so I asked Cindy if she would help me spot a car at the junction of Mongaup Road and Beech Mountain Road. In this way I could hike out the park roads and back to the car. The hike would be a little shorter and hiking the roads would be much easier than returning on the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail. Cindy agreed but wanted to shop downtown before we left. I began to get ready at 10:00 AM when the temperature was only 66 degrees. As I was getting ready Sheila knew something was "up" and stayed close to me as I got dressed and got the gear together. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have a Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I decided to wear my OR Bugout gaiters as I knew the trails in many places were more like bushwhacks. I put our gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and Cindy and I pulled out of Livingston Manor in separate cars at 10:15 AM. We drove out DeBruce Road for 6 miles where we turned left on Mongaup Pond Road. We drove to the small pulloff just after the intersection of Mongaup Pond and Beech Mountain Road. I parked my car there and hopped in Cindy car to drive to Flugertiwn Road in Willowemoc. I turned left on Flugertown Road and passed the parking area on the right and continued to drive until the road turned to gravel. The gravel road was in good shape and I continued to drive to the point where the Long Pond Beaverkill Ridge Trail and Mongaup Willowemoc Trail meet the road, a total of 2.4 miles from the main road. I turned around and pulled over to the side of the road where I let Sheila out of the car and got my gear out of the back. I set my GPS and we started off at 11:50 AM as Cindy pulled away. The temperature was still only 68 degrees but it felt good although I was glad at this point that I wore long sleeves.

The trail began as a very wide snowmobile trail that was clear of blowdowns and had only a few sticks in the way. I had not been on these trails in some time and forgot that it was all uphill to the trail junction at .4 miles. I found my self getting warmer and breathing a little harder until we turned right to get on the Long Pond Beaverkill Ridge Trail. This trail had been almost impossible to find the last time we hiked but now seemed in a little better shape. It was obvious that its had not been trimmed or maintained in nay way but the tread was more noticeable. The AllTrails Challenge from the Catskill Mountain Club has gotten more people to walk trails they never would have tried before! For about .4 miles the trail rolled a little until we got to the 1.0 mile mark where the climb started. This was also the point where we began to run into some very large trees across the trail. Of course, any tree can be removed with hand tools but I made a note to contact the local forest ranger or the DEC forester for the area to ask about getting a sawyer crew in to work on the many large blowdowns. We worked our way passed the blowdowns and continued to follow the blazes. In place where I could not find blazes, I followed Sheila who always seems to be on the trail. Over the next .7 miles we gained 470 feet heading north to a bump. The grade was about 12% which seemed easy compared to some other I had done recently. From here there was a slight and a flat area before we started the next climb at 2.1 miles. We continued to ascend for the next .8 miles through some interesting rock formations. When Sheila climbed to the top of one of the rocks, I stopped to take a picture of her and the rock. I was also noticing some very large maple, cherry and beech trees along the way. As the climb went on, I stopped once to check my Avenza app since I did not remember that the climb was as long as it was. We were right on the trail and close to the trail junction. At 2.9 miles we hit the top of one of the peaks on the Beaverkill Ridge and turned left on the blue-blazed Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail.

I could immediately see that this trail also poorly maintained and need all the brush to be cut back to expose the tread. Many of the blowdowns on this trail had a lot of branches which obscured the trail. Hikers had already created small detours but these blowdowns could be removed with hand tools. We were now headed west in a descent from one peak. We hit a flat area and then climbed the last bump on The Beaverkill Ridge. At 3.6 miles we began a serious descent that lasted for half a mile and lost 380 feet. The overall average grade was 13% but some areas were more than 20%. At 4.1 miles we began our last scent of the hike by starting up the easternmost Mongaup Mountain. On the way up we ran into two or three large blowdowns that completely blocked the trail. Sheila showed me a way around that other hikers had been following. The ascent lasted less than half a mile but gained 430 feet making the average grade 18% with some sections well over 20%. We stopped at the top of the mountain to get a drink before starting down the trail to the shores of Mongaup Pond. The trail turned south and we descended 1.4 miles to the shores of the pond losing 850 feet in the process. We took a break at the shore as I took some pictures of Sheila swimming and of the pond. I sky was completely overcast but the scene was still interesting. I zoomed in on what I thought was a duck but it was not moving. I took some shots and had myself almost convinced it was a rock. I moved closer and it swam away! We left the shore and continued to walk the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail until it met the campground road. I put Sheila on her leash and we set a quick pace back toward the car. Many of the campsites were occupied and the size of some of the campers was impressive. Just off the road on the north end of the large part of the pond is a bench and a nice viewpoint. We took the time to walk over so that I could take a few more shots and then we quickly got back on the road. At 7.5 miles we passed through the entrance to the campgrounds and headed out the access road back to the car. We hiked the last 1.1 miles in 22 minutes which is 3 mph. We were back at the car at 4:40 PM after hiking 8.6 difficult miles in 4 hours and 45 minutes with 30 minutes of stopped time. This was a moving speed of only 2 mph which I considered good for the terrain we were hiking. The elevation gain was 1800 feet.

On Wednesday, August 26th my plan was to hike to Ashokan High Point with my friend Kevin after a 9:00 AM telephone call with the NYNJTC. The call ended with me being appointed the Trail Supervisor for the Willowemoc Wild Forest and Big Indian Wilderness area. After a meeting with the Trail Conference representatives, I will be able start to coordinate the efforts of the trail maintainers in this area. An over night ambulance call had tempered my resolve to hike AHP and I decided to ask Kevin if he wanted to hike to Tunis Pond from Black Bear Road. This is a flatter hike of a little over 7 miles. The hike parallels Fall Creek and the Beaverkill passing by the Fall Creek Lean-to, the headwaters of the Beaverkill and ending at Tunis Pond. I began to get ready at 9:30 AM when the temperature was only 62 degrees. As I was getting ready Sheila knew something was "up" and stayed close to me as I got dressed and got the gear together. I got dressed in a White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have a Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put our gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and waited for Kevin to arrive. When Kevin pulled in the driveway, I told him my plan and he agreed. We pulled out of Livingston Manor at 10:15 AM. I drove out DeBruce Road for 15 miles to Round Pond and turned left on Wild Meadow Road. I drove to the end of the road and pulled the car over to park. There is some question about where it is legal to park along the road. I decided that no one would bother me if I was the only car at the end of a dead end road. I set my GPS and we left on our hike at 10:45 AM with the temperature at 68 degrees. We started by walking out the woods road toward the hunting camp on the Hardenburgh Neversink Trail. The road was in good shape and dry in most places except for a few muddy areas. I was actually a little cool even though I was wearing a long-sleeved top but keeping a fast pace helped warm me up.

We made it to the hunting camp in just over 10 minutes and passed by it to continue on the road/trail. I have never been passed the camp when the "lawn" was not perfectly mowed. The trail continued to be mostly dry with a few wet spots. In some areas the trail was very rocky and in others it was almost flat. We crossed over a brook and headed up a little gaining some elevation. It took us 50 minutes to get to the Fall Brook lean-to which is 1.8 miles into the hike. We stopped for a minute to inspect the lean-to and then continued on the trail. As we walked along the trail Sheila alerted and I saw a hiker coming toward us. The young man wore a t-shirt that said "Horseheads Cross Country" so we talked for a minute about possibilities for the season. We walked on in our separate directions. Soon a swampy area appeared on the right of the trail which led into a series of beaver ponds and beaver meadows. Doubletop was in the background and I can remember hiking THROUGH the beaver ponds with Harry Rampe on my first bushwhack. In this area, the water than flows south is part of Fall Creek and the water that goes north forms the Beaverkill. I stopped to take some pictures before continuing on the trail. It paralleled the Beaverkill for a short distance and then ended at the edge of the stream. I checked the map and it showed that the trail crossed the stream a little further down. I was able to pick up the yellow trail markers ahead. The stream had simply eroded away the trail so we bushwhacked along and then up the bank and back down following the trail. When we reached the area where the trail crossed the stream, it was relatively easy for us to cross. We picked up the trail on the other side. Since my last time on the trail, it had been rerouted to the right to avoid a very narrow portion that clung to the bank of the stream. We met two more hikers headed in our direction and I walked off the trail with Sheila on her leash. They stopped and we talked for a minute. They said they could not find Tunis Pond and had walked on to camp near Vly Pond. I found this strange since they seemed to know what they were doing but obviously had not planned ahead and did not have a map. At 3.15 miles we found an interesting primitive campsite on the right side of the trail with a fire ring and a "bench" made up of an iron beam. The fire ring had ashes that were warm! It was obvious that the men we had met had camped here and really had no idea where they were. I wondered where the iron beam had come from and as we left I walked over to the stream. It was clear that a road crossed here and that there had been a bridge.

We continued down the woods road until I began to recognize some landmarks and knew it was time to head to the right of the trail and climb a little hill to get to Tunis Pond. The climb was steep but short but we had to head a little more northwest to avoid some dense areas of brush. We arrived on the shore of the pond and I dropped my pack to get out my camera. I took pictures of the hills to the northwest and some of the beaver lodges in the pond. The colors seemed vibrant and I had trouble pulling myself away. The water was very blue and the secluded pond was quiet. I packed up and got out a bar. We headed back out to the trail by a slightly different route. I decided to head almost directly south and down the hill which was more direct line to the main trail. It seemed we were taking too long to get back to the trail but I could see Sheila up ahead walking along the trail! When we got to the trail, we turned left and began the walk back. We had now hiked 3.75 miles. On the way back we stuck to the path that put us closer to the river. This path narrowed to almost nothing in a few spots but it was nice being nearer to the water. I stopped in several places and lowered myself into the stream bed to take pictures. Trying to take shots was difficult as the light was against me. Sheila took to swimming in the stream and at one point got the "zoomies" which seemed to entertain Kevin. We reached the spot where we had crossed and again made it over the water with no problem. The walk back on an out and back can be boring but we were talking which made it go faster. We set a good pace as we had no reason to stop and eventually crossed the small stream near the hunting camp where Sheila took a last dip. At this point two young men and two young women came hiking toward us so I stepped off the trail with Sheila. They stopped to talk briefly and we found they were going to camp near Tunis Pond. Soon we were at the hunting camp and walked the last part of the trail back to the car. It was 3:00 Pm and we had hiked 7.3 miles in 4 hours and 15 minutes with an elevation gain of only 680 feet. The temperature was still only 72 degrees.

On Thursday, August 24th I had planned to hike a longer hike from Long Pond to Mongaup Pond and then over the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail to the Beaverkill Ridge Long Pond Trail. I wanted to evaluate the trail conditions to help the trail maintainer make plans to improve these trails. The forecast was for thunderstorms in the afternoon so I decided to go to Frick Pond for a shorter hike so that I was sure to be done by 1:00 PM when the storms were forecast to start. As I began to get ready at 10:15 Am, the temperature was 76 degrees and the humidity seems high. I had not hiked UP the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond in some time and made that my intended route. As I began to get ready, Sheila, lay quietly on my floor but her eyes watched every movement I made. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have Velcro closures at the ankles as some do to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the backseat and drove out the Debruce Road about 6 miles. I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at Frick Pond. There was one car parked in the small lot but none in the large lot. The thermometer read 72 degrees as I set my GPS. The skies were blue with plenty of sun and lots of billowing white clouds. There was a slight breeze which seemed to be dispersing the insects but they were still numerous. I did not spray any insect repellant as I do not like the smell. Just as I was about to start my hike, A car with a family of 6 pulled in and parked at the far end of the small lot. Another car with a young woman and her dog also parked and they started out on the Flynn Trail almost immediately. I noted that the dog was not on a leash which is inconsiderate of others. At 10:45 AM we started our hike by crossing the road to start out on the Flynn Trail. The family was looking at the map on the trailhead kiosk so I asked them if they needed help. I gave them directions for the short hike around Frick Pond and they thanked me. When Sheila and I got to the end of the trail through the woods we turned right on the woods road that was once the extension of Beech Mountain Road. I expected that the young woman and her dog to have a good lead as they had started out quickly. To my surprise the two were just ahead of us hiking at just a slightly slower pace. The dog was wandering in the forest and would come out behind us and run passed. The dog seemed to be oblivious to Sheila but Sheila certainly wanted to "meet" the other dog. I kept a quick pace with Sheila pulling me along on her leash. Finally the other hiker pulled to the side of the trail and we passed her with a "Hello". Sheila and I sped up to stay ahead of them and I let Sheila off her leash. As we neared the top, I looked around and could not see the other hiker. The Flynn Trail ascends 1.7 miles to the Big Rock Trail junction gaining 600 feet. The more I hike the quicker I can hike and easier it seems. By 11:25 AM we had hiked the 1.7 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued straight ahead staying on the Flynn Trail heading toward Hodge Pond. We passed through the gate and soon were at the next trail junction where we stayed to the left to keep on the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond.

As we walked down the hill, I noticed it seemed warmer and more humid but that there was a slight breeze. As we approached the pond, I looked at the scene and decided to walk over to the shore of the pond. Sheila immediately jumped into the pond to get wet and swim around. I took some pictures of her and then turned my attention to taking some shots of the pond. I took some shots even though there were no clouds over the pond. I also turned 180 degrees and took a few more shots as the sky in that direction were filled with clouds. We headed up the hill to the right of the pond on the jeep trail. Where the trail split we kept top the right and walked up the steeper slope to the woods road near the ruins of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We turned right at the top of the hill and headed back toward the Flynn Trail. At the Flynn Trail we turned left and walked the for a long time section through the gate to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We turned right to head down the Big Rock Trail. For some reason there always seems to be a lot of mosquitoes in this area. In addition, the hike can seem long as there are several places that make it seem as if you have reached the bottom of the hill at Times Square. On this day, Sheila and I set a quick pace and made it down the hill in what seemed like record time. At Times Square we walked straight across to stay on the Big Rock Trail. This are was the wettest and muddiest we had seen but it was easy to avoid those spots. We passed over the bridges over the inlet streams. The large hemlock I had worked on was still there but much easier to get over. We walked through the beautiful area of pines and over the wooden walkways. At the end of the Big Rock Trail, we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and walked to the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. I dropped my pack and took a shot of Sheila on the bridge and several more of the pond. I did not see any wildlife but did not the beaver dam was still intact. I packed up and we walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction. From there we followed the Quick lake Trail and the woods road back to the car. The trail was mostly dry with only a few damp spots. We were back at the car at 1:00 PM after hiking 5.5 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes with an elevation gain of 850 feet. Our moving average was 2.7 mph with and overall speed of 2.5 mph. I was disappointed that we had not tried the longer hike as I felt fresh and there was no hint of the thunderstorms that had been predicted.

On Saturday, August 222nd I had planned to do a 10 mile loop from Long Pond to Mongaup Pond and over the Mongaup Mountains. When I got up in the morning I wasn't really feeling it and Cindy expressed a desire to hike. I asked her where she wanted to go and she eventually responded with "bear Spring". Her requirements were that she didn't want to hike for too long and wanted to avoid hiking hills. This is not easy in an area which has valleys and ridges. I decided we would park on East Trout Brook Road right off Route 206. From here we could hike the eastern ridge and down to Launt Pond using the roads to return to the car. As we were getting ready Sheila knew something was "up" and stayed close to me as I got dressed and got the gear together. I got dressed in a Columbia short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have the Velcro closures at the ankles like some styles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put our gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and pulled out of Livingston Manor at 12:00 PM. The skies were blue with puffy white clouds with plenty of sun. I drove north and west on State Route 17 and got off at Exit 94. From here I drove north toward Downsville on Route 206. At the Pepacton Reservoir, I turned left to head towards Downsville. We passed through Downsville and headed up the mountain toward Walton. Near the top of the hill I turned left on East Trout Brook Road and parked in the lot on the left at 12:30 PM. We immediately got out of our cars and got our gear ready. I set my Garmin GPSmap 64st handheld unit and we started out uphill on the snowmobile trail that parallels the road. The temperature was 72 degrees and there was a slight breeze. At .4 miles we hit the top of the hill and walked downhill to the next snowmobile trail where we turned right at .6 miles. This trail follows a woods road along what used to be a clear cut on the hillside. The clear cut area was ugly but it provided great views across to the next ridge and down the valley. The clear cut is now grown up and there are no views. As we walked along we found some interesting mushrooms and I took a few pictures of them. I also stopped to take a few pictures of the trail under sunny blue skies. Eventually we entered the woods again but stayed on the wide woods road.

We walked and talked which made the walking go quicker. There wasn't much to see along the trail but everything was very green and it was peaceful. At around 1.8 miles we began to climb a hill and shortly after a trail turned off to the right. This trail is a spur trail that leads down to Launt Pond and I knew we wanted to continue to the next trail. At 2.5 miles we came to a snowmobile trail that comes out at a parking area on East Trout Brook Road just south of Launt Pond. The trail heads downhill and south but at 2.6 miles it makes nearly a 180 degree turn and parallels the upper woods road that we had come in on for almost a mile. At first the trail did not seem familiar but I began to recognize certain features. There were quite a few new blowdowns on the trail which I assumed the snowmobile club would clear. The descent went quickly as it is all downhill and because we pushed the pace. At 3.75 miles we arrived at the parking area on East Trout Brook Road just south of Launt Pond. From our highest point on the ridge we had descended 650 feet in 1.5 miles. We walked out to the road and turned right to head north. I put Sheila on her leash and she still had enough energy to help pull me up the hill. When we got to Launt Pond, I told Cindy I wanted to stop to take a few pictures. Sheila and I turned into the lower entrance and walked over to the dam. I took some shot of the pond and the clouds. I also took a few pictures of the beach where there were a few people swimming and playing. I got ready to leave but I did not see Cindy. I assumed she had followed us so that she could rake a break on one of the benches. As we started to walk out the upper entrance, I saw Cindy standing on the road. We joined her and turned left to head north on the road. I had hiked from Launt Pond to Route 206 several times and it is not an easy walk at the end of a hike. It is .9 miles and the elevation gain is 270 feet which is only a 6% grade and on this day we could walk in the shade. I was surprised that it took us less than 15 minutes to arrive at the car. It was 3:05 PM when we got to the car after hiking 5 miles in 2.5 hours. Our elevation gain was 875 feet and our overall speed was 2 mph with a moving average of 2.4 mph. I was happy Cindy and I could hike together and our 5 mile adventure was satisfying enough for me.

On Thursday, August 20th, I agreed to do a car shuttle for two hikers working on the Finger Lakes Trail. I picked the two women up at Alder Lake at 7:30 AM and drove them to Big Pond on Barkaboom Road. I had transported the same two people the day before. Signs said that the road was closed and we found that the first bridge was in the process of being replaced. There was a detour around the construction so we were only delayed for a few minutes. Even though the trail starts in the upper parking lot I dropped the hikers at Big Pond since it would be the most scenic place on their hike back to Alder Lake. They thanked me and I wished them good luck as I drove away at 8:00 AM. I returned home and did some work around the house as I had a 1:00 PM appointment in Liberty. I was home from that appointment by 2:30 PM and decided to go over to Round Top to do some more work on the trails there. The new crossover trail and the switchback on the trail to the summit needed to be trimmed a little more. There were also some rocks and roots and stumps that needed to be removed. Sheila seemed interested in going as she lay watching every move I made. I wore a cotton T-shirt as I knew whatever I wore would be covered in pieces of vegetation or dirt. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which help keep the sticks and stones out of my shoes and the ticks at bay. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which still fit reasonably well but have been discontinued. I knew I would not need poles and decided against gaiters and a hat. I took my Fiskars ax, Silky Sugowaza saw, Corona loppers and Overland machete. I also took a short round pointed shovel and a pick-mattocks to deal with the rocks and roots. I put everything in the car and Sheila and in the back seat. I drove to the trailhead at the top of the cemetery. I don't normally park here as we try to encourage others not to but I had too much equipment to carry over from the house. I couldn't take all the tools so I settled on the shovel, pick and Silky saw. We entered the trails at about 3:00 PM so that I could begin the work. I removed a few roots that were "looping" on the trail and cut some small stumps. I then turned my attention to two large stones that were right on the edge of the trail. With the leverage of the pick I was able to lift one and flip another well off the trail. I filled the divots that were left behind. My last effort on the first piece of trail was to remove a capstone that somebody had placed on the trail in a muddy spot to "help". The problem was that the stone created a lip on the trail which increased the chances someone would trip. The stone was thin and had broken so I was able to easily remove it. Sheila and I walked to the first trail junction and turned right on the woods road. I stopped at an spot where a tree had fallen off to the right of the trail. The tree was not in the way but its roots had broken the ground and were now causing a hazard. I dug around the root and removed all the dirt and stones before using the Silky saw to cut up from the bottom and sever the root in two places. As I was working I saw a group of six people headed up the trail toward the lookout. I used the dirt I had removed plus some from off the trail to fill in the hole left behind by the root removal. We continued up the woods road and turned left where the trail turned toward the junction with the blue trail. I sawed off a couple of stumps and removed some more roots At the junction we continued straight ahead on the blue trail where I removed a few more branches encroaching on the trail. When we reached the new crossover trail I dropped the shovel and pick and started to use the saw to trim back some branches and small trees to finish the trail. I was able to get everything trimmed back for the entire length of the trail even though the loppers would have been a better choice for most of the small branches. I noticed that there was some side-hilling in places but only for short stretches. When we got to the blue trail on the other side of the hill, I dropped the saw and went back to retrieve the shovel and pick. As we walked back, I used the pick to pry up a couple of old blowdowns and move them off the trail. When we arrived at the blue trail, we turned left and walked a few steps to the switchback where we turned left. I cut a few branches and small trees that were in the trail. Just before the turn on the switch back I used the pick to remove most of an old, rotten stump from the middle of the trail. We made the turn and I started to cut quite a few branches to open up the trail. I had been worried about a few holes and rocks on the trail but I was able to move the tread a few feet uphill and avoid those spots. The switchback is short and I finished it quickly. I picked up all the tools and headed down to the junction with the yellow trail. We continued straight ahead and walked down to the lookout. I cut one stump along the way. At the lookout we turned left to follow the yellow trail down to the first trail junction and out to the car at the trailhead. It was 4:30 when we finished another 1.5 miles on the trails. The last step will be to paint blazes on the two new trails and to repaint any fading blazes on the blue trail.

On Wednesday, August 19th, I agreed to do a car shuttle for two hikers working on the Finger Lakes Trail. I picked the two women up at Alder Lake at 7:30 AM and drove them to the Balsam Lake Mountain trailhead on Beaverkill Road arriving at 8:00 AM. Along the way we got acquainted and I found out they are from Yates County and live on the northern end of Keuka Lake. We talked about the trail from the parking area to the summit and I suggested that they visit the fire tower although it is technically not on the FLT. I also mentioned the lookout over Beecher Lake and the Beaver Meadow Lean-to which now had a beaver pond. After dropping them off, I returned to Livingston Manor and ate breakfast at Café 43. When I returned home at 10:00 AM, my grandson Bryce was there. I planned to do a little trail work with Bryce in the afternoon but got a little extra rest first. Around 1:30 Bryce and I started to get dressed and get the tools we would need together. I wore a cotton T-shirt as I knew whatever I wore would be covered in pieces of vegetation or paint scale. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which help keep the sticks and stones out of my shoes and the ticks at bay. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which still fit reasonably well but have been discontinued. I knew I would not need poles and decided against gaiters and a hat. My main interest was to repaint the markers on the yellow trail. I found the yellow paint but it was at least two years old and unusable. The blue paint was newer and seemed good but I knew I would eventually need one more color for the new crossover trail. We put everything in the car and Sheila and Bryce got in the back seat. I drove to the hardware store in town and bought a quart of yellow paint, a quart of white paint and some sponge brushes. I then drove to the trailhead at the top of the cemetery. I don't normally park here as we try to encourage others not to but I had too much equipment to carry over from the house. I poured some yellow paint into a container and got a new sponge brush. I gave Bryce the Overland machete which I would use to scrape the old blazes and cut any branches that block a view of the blazes. As we started out, a mother a daughter were sitting on the steps and did not seem willing to move but finally allowed us to get through. Bryce and I began the process of stopping at every blaze that we could find. Bryce would hand me the machete and I would scrape the old paint off and also get rid of any loose bark. I would then repaint the blaze on both side of the tree. I tried to get the blazes at around eye height and all the same sized rectangle. As we reached the second set of blazes, the mother a daughter passed us and headed up to the lookout. Shortly after that a group of four hikers did the same thing. When we got to the first trail junction, Bryce started up the hill toward the lookout and I followed. Sheila was being very good and following us as we went even though it was slow going. I don't pay much attention to the blazes when I hike so I was surprised that the blazes were in such poor shape. We made the turn at the lookout and headed up through the woods. Looking ahead it was hard to find the blazes but looking behind us we could see the new, bright yellow markers. We turned right at the junction with the blue trail and continued to mark the trail. I used the machete in several places to clear brush and branches that were blocking the paint blazes. At the next junction we again turned right to follow the yellow trail down the trail. I cut back some brush on the trail and we were soon at the woods road that would take us back to the first trail junction. I was surprised how long it took us to do a good job on every blaze. I identified a few issues along the trail including some large stones in the trail, a few stumps sticking up and some roots that could trip hikers. We retuned to the car and made sure the paint was securely covered. I drove down the steep hill and back to the house. We were back at 4:00 PM after spending 2 hours working on the trails.

On Tuesday, August 18th, I wanted to get in another 3500 foot peak so I decided to go for two and hike Vly and Bearpen. The weather forecast called for temperatures in the low 70's but more importantly there was close to a 0% chance of rain. I checked my hiking log and found that I had not been on these peaks for almost 10 years! When I got up at 7:00 AM, the temperature was 65 degrees. I had a few chores to do before leaving but the temperature did not increase very much. I started to get ready to go at 9:30 Am with Sheila keeping a close watch on everything I did. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectShield which does tend to repel insects without spraying on any chemicals. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which help keep the sticks and stones out of my shoes and the ticks at bay. I decided to wear my Keen Targhe II hiking boots which fit reasonably well but have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I decided that since these two peaks are not really trailed I would wear my OR Bugout gaiters which are treated with insect repellent. By 9:55 AM I was ready to go and we left Livingston Manor to head toward Fleischmanns. Although both the Peekamoose Road and Route 47 passed Frost Valley were open, I decided it would be easiest to go through Roscoe and take Route 30 around the Pepacton Reservoir. When we got to Route 28, I turned right and drove through Margaretville and Arkville to get to Fleischmanns. Once in town, I turned left on Breezy Hill Road to head toward Halcott Center. I sometimes have trouble remembering the various turns but not this day. I continued to follow Route 3 and at the final Y I stayed to the right instead of going left on Johnson Hollow Road. I drove to the end of the paved road and parked in the snowplow turnaround just after 11:00 AM. There were no other cars.

I set my GPS and we started to hike up the road which is the beginning of the trail at 11:10 AM. Sheila, as always, was very glad to be out of the house and on a trail she had not been on before. As we walked up the road, I realized that it was a little steeper and longer than I remembered. What I did remember was that there were a lot of large, round stones and each step was a potential turned ankle. After about .9 miles and 25 minutes, we were at the hunter's shack in the col between the two mountains. I decided that Vly was a bit harder and turned right onto the herd path which was very clear. Sheila was off and seemed to have no problem following the path as it looked like a well maintained trail "blazed" my the blue property line paint markers. There had been some rain the night before and some of the dirt was loose which made several of the sections of the trail a little tricky. As I remembered the herd path had three sections. The first section was a steep section of rock scrambles followed by a flatter section and then another steeper piece. We made our way through a few rock scrambles over .2 miles gaining about 230 feet for an average of a 24% grade. The flatter section lasted only .2 miles and bent a little to the east form the southerly path we had been on. I remember getting "lost" in this section but now the path was so clear it was not a problem. We started the final climb at 1.3 miles We started up the final climb to Vly which was longer than I remembered and had several places that looked like the summit. After hiking .3 miles and gaining 450 feet we reached the flat summit plateau. I was a little tired as the climb averaged 28% and had some very slippery patches. I had stopped to take a few pictures of the rocks and Sheila on the final climb but the light was far from ideal. We reached top and walked a short distance to the canister. It was 12:20 PM and we had covered about 1.6 miles.

I reached up and got the book out of the canister and signed my name and wrote a short note about conditions. There was a slight wind blowing that made it a little bit cooler at the top. I took a picture of the canister and of Sheila. I decided to walk around looking for a viewpoint and headed first to the east. There didn't seem to be any lookout available and I did not want to go any further. We went back to the canister and headed west through some briars. I found the small boulder with blue boundary paint that serves as a lookout but the view was blocked by the trees. We headed back to the canister where I packed up. I got a drink and a bar before heading down the mountain. The trip down actually went very quickly although there were a few slips and slides. As we approached the hunter's shack, we began to hear engines. We made it down the mountain by 1:10 PM after covering about 2.5 miles. When we reached the hunting shack, there were two ATVs present. There was one young woman riding the first machine and another young couple on the second. I stopped to talk to them for a minute knowing that they were ignoring the rules that prohibited ATV riding in the area! Sheila and I continued on our hike by starting on the woods roads and snowmobile trails that lead to the summit of Bearpen. The series of roads and snowmobile that can be confusing and I intended to take a "shortcut" that is the way I have approached the peak in the past. The first part of the trail is flat but then we made a left turn where the road quickly gets steeper. At a hairpin turn another trail turned off the main snowmobile trail but I knew this was not the one I wanted to use. At this point the ATVs caught up to us and I told them to continue on the snowmobile trails. I got a drink and started to walk up to the next turn and the next trail. Very quickly the riders returned so I knew they had not found the summit. I showed them my Avenza app which seemed to help and I sent them on their way. We walked up the hill a little father and at 3.1 miles I found the "shortcut" on the left. After a short distance, the trail turned left and began to ascend the mountain. The last time I was on this trail it was a newly cut snowmobile trail and there were still some markers along then way. The trail apparently had been abandoned as it was narrow and clogged with weeds and briars

After about .6 miles and a gain of 300 feet the trail ended at a snowmobile trail that I recognized. We turned right on the snowmobile trail to walk toward the summit and the viewpoint to the north. The snowmobile trail gained a few more feet of elevation as we walked northwest. We had to avoid four separate mudholes caused by the illegal ATV use! At 2:05 PM after hiking a total of 4 miles we passed the summit and arrived at the lookout. The ATVs had already left so we had the place to ourselves. I took pictures to the north of the Schoharie Reservoir, Huntersfield, Richmond and Ashland Pinnacle. The clouds in that direction were towering an very interesting. I also took a shot of the fire ring and then walked over to the old rope tow for the ski area. After this we, got a drink and then started back. I decided to simply retrace our route from the way up as it seemed to be the shortest way back. The hike back went quickly as the trail was easy to negotiate and the snowmobile trails were manageable. We arrived back at the shack in the col at 2:55 PM about 5.5 miles into the hike. We turned right down the road and hiked the .9 miles back to the car. The hike back to the car was the worst part of the return trip because of the many rocks and my impatience. We arrived in the parking area at 3:15 PM after hiking 6.4 mile hike in about 4 hours and 5 minutes. Our elevation gain was 2150 feet and we had stopped for 35 minutes The temperature at the car was still only 73 degrees.

On Sunday, August 16th, I returned from church and called Lisa to ask her opinion on the construction of the switchback and new trail on Round Top. Lisa said she would be available at 4:00 PM after her shop closed. I told her that I might go over a little earlier and cut the grass, weds Na brush on the new sections to expose the tread. This would allow us to see what was underneath and expose any work that needed to be done. Lisa agreed this would be a good idea. I looked at the weather forecast which indicated a chance of rain at 4:00 PM> I decided not wait and decided to go over to Round Top to get my work done. At 2:00 PM I got dressed in modified hiking attire. I wore a cotton T-shirt as I knew whatever I wore would be covered in pieces of vegetation. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which help keep the sticks and stones out of my shoes and the ticks at bay. I decided to wear my Keen Targhe II hiking boots which fit reasonably well but have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I also wore my OR Bugout gaiters which are treated with insect repellent. I prepared my Stihl 135R trimmer by fueling it and checking the line. I put the fuel container and a roll of line in my pack just in case I needed more of either while I was cutting. I put my gear in the car and headed across the street with Sheila in the back seat. Sheila would not take "No" for an answer. I parked at the trailhead at 2:30 PM and headed out on the trails at 2:30 PM. At the first trail junction we turned left and headed up the woods road which is the first part of the trail. We turned up the hill and I used the trimmer to cut some weeds and bush that were encroaching in the trail. At the junction with the upper blue trail we continued straight ahead on the blue trail toward the summit. I again fired up the trimmer and cut out the trail in a few places. When we came to the new trail, I dropped my pack. We turned left and I began to cut the weeds, ferns and small branches on the trail. I had intended to tie Sheila to a tree but she seemed to be able to stay out safe without wandering too far away. The cutting went more quickly than I thought it would since quite a few people had been walking the trail. There were a few branches that would require some loppers and a saw but the trail was much more distinct when I was done. I also noticed a few holes on the trail and several places that might require a little work with the shovel. When I finished the new trail I was on the other side of the hill on the blue trail. I turned left and in a short distance reached the switchback trail which will replace a section of the main trail. This section is becoming eroded as it goes straight up the hill and more and more people are using the trail. I gave this trail the same treatment as the other trail and was soon back on the blue trail further down the hill. Since I needed to pick up my pack, we turned right and headed up the blue trail to the summit. I cut a few briars on the summit before heading down the blue trail. I pick up the pack and we continued won the blue trail to the junction with the yellow trail. We continued straight ahead on the yellow trail and the woods road back to the first trail junction. At the first junction, we turned left and walked back out to the car. At 3:40 PM, I loaded up the gear and drove downtown to Lisa's shop. She said they had been swamped for the whole day and we agreed to put any more work off until another day. Lisa did go and walk the trails after work and approved of what I had done.

On Saturday, August 15th, I wanted to hike but knew I would have to pick a route that was not popular to avoid the crowds. I decided to go to the Mongaup Pond area and hike around the pond on the snowmobile trails and then return on the Flynn Trail or the roads. It was 70 degrees when I started to get ready just after 10:00 AM. Sheila knew that we were going to hike but was relatively quiet watching my every move. I got dressed in a Columbia short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and pulled out of Livingston Manor at 10:30 AM. The skies were blue with puffy white clouds with plenty of sun. I drove out the Debruce Road about 6 miles and turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road. I continued to where the road split and stayed to the right on Mongaup Pond Road. I pulled into one of the spaces in the small pulloff on the right and was surprised to see no cars parked there or at the falls. The thermometer read 70 degrees as I set my GPS. The skies were blue with plenty of sun and white, puffy clouds. There was a slight breeze. I did not spray any insect repellant as I do not like the smell and there were no swarms of insects around me. At 10:50 AM we walked back toward the intersection and turned left down the woods road that used to be Hunter Road. Hunter Road connected to Terwilliger Road at one time so there is a small bridge across the outlet creek from Mongaup Pond. I could hear the falls to the right but they were not my objective on this day.

We crossed the creek on the small "bridge" that is still present and began to climb a little hill. The hill was a lot of rocks and gravel but on this day there was almost no water running down. As we started up the hill, Sheila alerted and I could hear someone coming toward us. It was a family group of 5 hiking from their campsite at Mongaup Pond. We passed each other with a "Hello". After .4 miles of climbing the little hill, we came to a trail junction where we continued straight ahead on the snowmobile trail. I was amazed to see that the Japanese knotweed was almost blocking the trail. We descended a little to swampy area and then started to climb and other rocky hill. After another .5 miles, we came to the junction with a snowmobile trail on the left. I stopped and applied some insect repellent as the mosquitoes had been biting viciously. We turned left and walked through an open area of ferns before entering the forest. It didn't seem very warm but it was humid. I was grateful that there was a breeze every now and then. The trail headed northeast and starting at 1.4 miles we walked uphill for 1.3 miles with the trail turning sharply southeast at 2.35 miles. From the top of this hill we began to descend following the trail as it again turned northeast at 2.9 miles. The trails were drier than I expected and we only had to walk around a few wet and muddy areas. There were obvious ATV tracks on the trail and I hoped they were from someone removing blowdowns. After walking around several blowdowns, I concluded that someone was simply breaking the rules! The total descent was about 1.2 miles and we lost 360 feet which is a gentle grade. I knew, however, that we would have to regain all of that elevation on the way back. At 3.8 miles we came to a trail junction where we turned left on the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail. Almost immediately we began a .5 mile climb heading northwest. The trail was eroded and very rocky. I noticed the heat and humidity but almost immediately a breeze started to blow. I looked up to see three hikers coming toward us. I walked off the trail with Sheila. As the hikers passed, I asked them where they were going. They said they were headed for the falls and had not made the turn back near the campgrounds. I gave them directions since they seemed to want to continue the way they were going. I am always amazed that people go walking in the woods without any idea of what they are doing and with no map and compass!

Once we came to the top of the hill, we started downhill for .65 miles to the junction with a snowmobile trail. This area is always very wet but on this day it was only damp and we easily avoided the mud. I could hear some people behind this and they seemed to be headed in our direction so we set a quick pace. We were now headed north and still walking downhill. We crossed three or four bridges and lost the other hikers. At 5.5 miles we came to the junction with the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail and stopped at the head of the pond. Sheila jumped in the pond as I got my camera out to take some pictures. After taking a few shots, I got a bar and we continued around the pond on the trail. We met another group of four people hiking toward us and passed a couple and their dog sitting near the shore of the pond. We continued out to the campsite loop road where we turned right to walk out to the main road around the pond. I had decided that we would walk the roads back to the car at this point as I knew it would be a little more than 8 miles. I was surprised that so many of the campsites were occupied and that the bathrooms appeared to be open. When I got home I checked the website and found that they were now accepting new reservations but that all the campsites were reserved for most dates. We came to an area where I like to walk to the shore of the pond to take pictures and where there is a small bench. A pickup truck was illegally parked on the side of the road. When I walked toward the bench, I could see that there were people there and then their two dogs began to bark. I stayed away from the bench and walked to the shore with Sheila. The dogs continued to keep barking despite the owners efforts to quiet them. Sheila behaved herself by lying down as I took pictures of the pond, the mountains and the clouds. We walked back out to the road with the dogs still barking at turned left to walk south along the west side of the pond. We stopped one more time at the observation deck which was been in the process of reconstruction for some time. I took a few shots and then we got back to walking. I decided we would hike as fast as we could from the park entrance to the car. It took us 21 minutes to hike 1.1 miles which is 3 mph and I thought we could have gone faster. We were back at the car at 2:20 PM after hiking 8.1 miles with an elevation gain of 1200 feet. Our average speed was 2.3 mph with a moving average of 2.5 mph. On the way back home I drove of Beech Mountain Road to check out how many cars were parked at the Frick Pond trailhead. The parking lots were almost full with a total of 15 cars!

On Thursday, August 13th, I had planned to hike with my friend Kevin somewhere in the Livingston Manor area. I looked up our past hikes and found he had never been to Alder Lake. We agreed that he would be at my house at 9:00 AM and that we would take my car to Alder Lake to hike. When I got up at 6:30 AM it was 56 degrees and the humidity was low although I knew the forecast was for highs in the low 80's. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectSjeild which does tend to repel insects without spraying on any chemicals. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have Velcro closures at the ankles which are on some models. I decided to wear my Keen Targhe II hiking boots which fit reasonably well but have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. Kevin arrived just before 9:00 AM so I put our gear and Sheila in the car. When Kevin tried to get into the car, Sheila greeted him with a bark until I explained to her that she should knock it off! I drove out the driveway and headed up the Beaverkill Road somewhere around 9:10 AM. I headed toward Turnwood and Alder Creek Road where I made a left. Alder Creek Road had almost washed out in the last storm and there was still construction work in progress. After a brief stop, we continued to the end where I turned right onto the access road for Alder lake. I drove to the Alder Lake parking lot and pulled into a spot. There were a few other vehicles in the lot by the lake but no elope were in sight. By the noise, there seemed to be a good volume of water flowing down Alder Creek. The temperature was 72 degrees with a slight breeze but relatively high humidity. The skies were blue with some white clouds. At 9:40 AM we headed down to the "lawn" passing by the stone foundations which marked the last remnants of the Coykendall Mansion. The lawn had not been mowed and we could barely see the picnic tables through the high grass. This is such a beautiful place and it is a shame the DEC does not keep it maintained. We walked toward the trail around the left side of the lake but when I saw the clouds over the lake I decided to stop and take some pictures. I took shots of the lake including Millbrook Ridge and Cradle Rick Ridge. We then headed over to the trail and as we walked along the trail I kept an eye out for the occupants of the vehicles in the parking area. Brush and branches were beginning to grow into the trail and they needed some pruning. Sheila was happy to be out. One or two of the campsites had tents set up.

As we crossed the bridges on the trail, I pointed out to Kevin the remnants of the beaver dams that the DEC had opened up when they relocated the beavers. I showed him where the water had backed up so much that the trail had been flooding. We continued on the trail toward the junction with the Millbrook Ridge Trail. At about .8 miles we turned left to head toward the lean-to on the Millbrook Ridge Trail. The trail was wet and muddy in many places and there were a few blowdowns to contend with. Some of the blowdowns had been cut but whoever did the cutting left what they cut in the trail! Others were cut in several, places but the job was left incomplete. The trail tread was obvious and it looked like people had been using it. There were quite a few nettles but they were far enough back from the trail that we passed through without any "encounters". For the next 1.5 miles the trail climbed and then leveled off several times. The elevation gain is several hundred feet but the grade is never more than 12% and averages around 6%. There isn't too much to see along the way but this day was very pleasant. I enjoyed the sounds and sights of Alder Creek as it flows parallel to the trail much of the way. Hiking with Kevin is always a pleasure as we have things in common but also have divergent interests. I kept thinking we would meet some other hikers but we did not. Kevin began to point out various fungi and mushrooms as we walked. We must have seen over a dozen different species and Kevin took pictures of most of them. I was interested that I never really look for fungi on hikes but I became pretty adept at spotting them. We passed by a beaver meadow on the right side of the trail. At 1.85 miles we began the last climb and soon arrived at the beaver pond. Where there had once been a beaver meadow, there was now a pond with a dam and a beaver lodge. We walked out to the shore of the pond just downstream of the dam. The shore was cleaned back at least 10 feet of all trees but the brush and weeds had begun to grow back. I took pictures of the whole scene and then more shots of the dam, the beaver lodge and the pond. When I finished, I returned my camera to my pack and we walked along the shore and then back out to the main trail to the lean-to. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take a few shots. I noticed that the privy was now completely torn apart by thoughtless campers looking for some firewood. One person starts the vandalism and the rest join in! We got a drink and a snack. The lean-to has been in need of repair for some time but I know of no plan to upgrade this popular spot.

We walked back out to the main trail and turned left to start back to the car. Once we turned around, we both realized that the return trip would be much easier as it was almost all downhill. We did stop a few times to inspect some interesting mushrooms but otherwise kept a quick pace. We were soon at the loop trail around Alder Lake where we turned left to complete the loop around the lake. Shortly after the turn we came to the bridge where than was a young man in the creek. We said "Hello" and continued on our way. We walked on the main loop trail which was muddy in spots and sported some more mushrooms to examine. We finally saw a family group of hikers headed toward us with a Great Pyrenees. I stepped off the trail with Sheila so that they could pass. I talked to the group who said they were walking around the lake and suggested a trip to the beaver pond. As we continued along the woods road toward the dam, we noticed more capers at sites near the ale and more sites on the left of the trail. One path was rather evident without a campsite designation. It looked like the area where I usually start to climb Cradle Rock Ridge and I thought about exploring it some other day. The trail ascends some as it approaches the dam but the slope is gentle and then there is a decent We came to a deep ravine cut by a small stream where a bridge across the stream had been replaced. We continued to walk on the trail coming out of the woods in a small clearing very near the dam. The trail here was very wet as we walked up to the dam and across it. We passed by the remains of the mansion and I asked Kevin if he had some time to explore the waterfalls below the dam. He said he had the time.

We walked down the trail toward the spring and then took a path to a woods road that runs parallel to the creek. The paths were much more well defined than ever before. This is becoming a theme as more and more people are hiking everywhere in the Catskills! Very soon I could see the first real falls and we walked down to the edge of the stream. I took some pictures with different settings. Having Kevin with me was a little embarrassing as he is a professional ,photographer and I use a point and shoot camera! We walked along the bank to the second falls which I had also photographed before. I took some pictures from a rock that gave me a head-on view from above the falls. I noticed a way to get down to stream level and I climbed down as Kevin went to investigate a patch of mushrooms. From my new vantage point, I took some more pictures of the falls which I could now knew had two drops. After completing my photography, I walked to the mushroom patch but Kevin had already moved downstream to another falls! Kevin was standing at the top of the falls and Sheila was dashing back and forth from the brink of the falls around me and back. From where Kevin was standing it was hard to get a picture of the falls so knew I had to move downstream again. Kevin decided to wait for me on the hillside as I descended to a point in front of the falls. I took my shots and then decided it was time to return to the car. I put away the camera and shoulder my pack to climb the step bank. When we reached the woods road, we turned left and followed it to where it met the access road. We headed right on the access road and walks back to the car. We arrived at the car at 1:10 PM after hiking 5.3 miles in 3.5 hours with an elevation gain of 795 feet. Kevin said he enjoyed the hike and would like to join me again.

On Tuesday, August 11th I had planned to travel to Salt Spring State Park near Montrose, Pennsylvania on an adventure to explore the park. The drive was about 1.5 hours and I didn't know much about the park. I did know it had three water falls and that was a good start! Cindy said she wanted to go and we agreed we would try to leave at about 8:30 AM. When I got up at 6:30 AM it was only 57 degrees and seemed quite comfortable but I knew the forecast for Montrose was for highs in the high 80's. Fortunately, the ambulance pager remained quiet as we prepared to hike at around 8:00 AM. Sheila is always excited about going but gets particularly worked up when Both Cindy and I are going. I got dressed in a Columbia short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have Velcro closures at the ankles as some do to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided against wearing my OR Bugout gaiters. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the backseat and headed west on State Rout 17 toward Binghamton at 9:00 AM. I drove 70 miles to exit 75 which took me to I-81 South. We were on I-81 for about 5 miles before getting off at exit 1. We turned right off the exit and after a short distance turned left on NY-7 South and then west for 3 miles. I turned right on PA-29 South and drove 6.4 miles to State Route 4008. I turned right and after a short distance left into the park. There were already quite a few cars in the lots and people had obviously been hiking and swimming. We parked and I note the temperature was already 78 degrees at 10:30 AM. I set my GPS and put Sheila on her leash as we walked out to find the trails I wanted to hike. We walked around on one side of Falls Brook but I wanted to be on the other side. We saw no way to get over to the other side so we walked around some more. Eventually I gave up and decided we would walk on the west side of the brook on the Gorge Trail. I finally saw a trail that looked like it headed up the to the rim of the gorge. As we started out on the trail, I finally saw the sign "Gorge Trail"! This continued to be a problem throughout the day. The area is beautiful and heavily used nut the trails are poorly marked and poorly maintained. The high usage means that people walk in many different places so there is no one tread to follow.

The Gorge Trail started out with a very steep climb as evidenced by a rope on the side of the trail. I had left my poles in the car as I had Sheila on her leash but she helped pull my up the trail. This first climb was only .1 miles but it had a 20% grade. I was looking for three different falls near the beginning of the trail. I could hear a the first falls and I could get a glimpse of it from the rim but I could not get any shots. We walked a little farther and the same thing happened at the second falls but this time took a picture through a break in the trees. Finally, at about half a mile we came to the third falls which didn't seem quite as high as the first two. It had two drops and a good volume. I tried taking some pictures from the side of the falls but could only get the upper drop and the wrong angle. I decided to work my way down to a rock shelf below the first drop. I let Sheila off her leash as there was no one else around and I wanted her to be able to follow me. I started down the rocks at the side of the falls which looked easy until I realized how slippery they were. I made it to a good vantage point without incident and found it was worth the trouble. I was almost directly in front of the falls and was able to get some great shots. I tried several settings while attempting to avoid the bright sunlight. I snapped both drops together and then individually. I wondered how it would be going back up the bank but it was easier than going down. I packed up and we walked along the edge of the stream avoiding places were people were swimming. I could see people walking downstream on the other side but was not sure how or if they had crossed the stream. Finally, I asked a pair of hikers and they told us there was a road a little father upstream and we could cross on the bridge. We walked away from the stream and found a blazed path that took us up to a field. We walked along the edge of the field briefly and then headed back down toward the stream. Within a short distance, we saw the road and the bridge. This was much farther downstream than where I had planned to cross but the upstream crossing did not seem to have a bridge. I decided we could lengthen the hike in other ways which proved to be wrong. We turned left on the road, walked across the bridge and looked for a trail. There did not seem to be a trail and there were certainly no blazes or signs. I turned left onto a sort of path and walked in through the weeds. I almost turned around but then saw trail red blazes. We followed this trail until it abruptly ended.

There was an informal path that led up the steep bank so we hiked up and found another trail although this one was also not marked. Cindy saw a bench a little higher up and headed for it. Sheila and I walked the path which ran above the creek until we saw a viewing platform. We climbed the hill to get to the platform where Cindy joined us. The platform had a sign that explained the gorge but there was no view! We walked on a boardwalk until we found a white blazed path which I think was part of the Hemlock Trail. There are some hemlocks in this forest that are estimated to be 500 years old. Like all hemlocks in the northeast they are threatened by the hemlock woolly adelgid. We continued on the trail as it descend to the stream again. I walked over to another interpretive sign placed next to a "pool". This was one of the salt springs that gave the park its name. The sign explained that the spring had been frequented by native Americans and by white settlers. It was enthalpy turned into a commercial venture. Today the spring has seen better days but does have some water bubbling up from far below the ground. We decided to try to walk along the eastern bank to the first falls. This trip was not easy as the rocks were slippery and there was only Avery informal path. Eventually I made it to a point almost in front of the first falls. Unfortunately there were quite a few people who decided to walk in from of the falls and one group who thought it would be a good idea to climb the slippery rock. I took pictures anyway trying to avoid people. I did take a few of the people climbing the falls to show people what not to do! After taking pictures, we looked for a way to cross to the other side but gave up and walked back the way we came. Cindy wanted to sit and get a drink and a bar so we found a picnic table. I began to plan another loop as we had hiked only about 2 miles. At this point Cindy informed me that she could not climb any hills. I should have know that this was the end of our hiking but I tried to find a for a long time trail to try. We crossed the creek on some very large stepping stones that had a rope to grip. I noticed that there were some bridge abutments indicating there had once been another way to cross. We walked out toward the parking area and to the west through a field as I tried to find the Silver Creek Trail. We finally walked toward the creek and found the red trail blazes. These continued for a few hundred feet and then disappeared. I decided that there was nothing else to do but return to the car and go home. We were back at the car at 12:30 PM after hiking 2.5 miles in 2 hour with and elevation gain of only 360 feet. I was very disappointed that and adventure had again turned to frustration with a 3 hour drive to hike 2.5 miles. I decided I would return at some point explore the other 12 miles of trails that I had missed.

On Monday, August 10th I wanted to get out for a hike locally as I planned to go to a state park in Pennsylvania the next day. When I got up at 6:30 AM it was only 60 degrees and seemed quite comfortable but I knew the forecast was for highs in the high 80's. I decided to go hiking at Trout Pond to see how Russell Brook Falls had fared after the storm the previous week. I responded to an ambulance call which delayed my departure but by 10:30 AM I started to get ready to leave. Sheila was especially excited as I began to dress as we had not really been hiking in two days so she watched every move I made. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have Velcro closures at the ankles as some do to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided against wearing my OR Bugout gaiters. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the backseat and headed for Roscoe on the Quickway at just after 11:00 AM. I got off at exit 94, turned left and drove out the Rockland Flats on Route 206. Just after the Roscoe Nursing Home I turned left on Morton Hill Road and followed it for 3 miles to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the shoulder of the road to avoid parking in the private lot. The temperature was 78 degrees and it seemed a little humid!

We got out of the car, I set my Garmin GPS unit and put Sheila on her leash. We started down Russell Brook Road as I planned to make the upper falls our first stop. There were campers occupying the first campsite on the right with three vehicles parked. I thought I recognized the tents from the previous week. I am not sure the campsite is legal since it is very close to the water and is not designated but the rangers never seem to ask people to move. I road was fairly dry and we made good time hiking downhill. There were no campers at the next site on the left of the trail although several cars were parked along the road. I assumed they just didn't know any better or were too lazy to park in the lot. We continued to walk quickly downhill to the path down to the viewpoint above the falls. We turned down the path to the upper falls, and I put down my pack and got out the camera. There was more water going over the falls than I thought there might be as I took several shots with differing settings. Once I finished the photography, I packed up, and we walked back up to the road. As we turned right and started down to the parking area, a car stopped and asked us about the area. After answering some questions, we continued down the road to the lower parking area. The lot was over half filled which surprised me for a Monday. We avoided several groups of people who were gathering and walked down the woods road to cross Russell Brook. We crossed the bridge and found that the Japanese knotweed was starting to encroach again on the trail despite the fact that I had cut it back several weeks before. We turned right on the informal path to the falls which I had cut wide enough so at least it was visible. We walked the path until we came to the path down the bank. Sheila and I walked down the bank to the streambed and carefully descended to the brook. The falls were flowing with a good volume as high as I had seen it during the summer. I immediately noticed that someone had again decided to improve on nature and build some stacks of rocks in the stream. I was happy there were no other people present as I carefully dismantled them. I made sure to move most of the rocks onto the top of other rocks so as not to further damage the microcomputer of the brook. The doctrine of Leave No Trace says that as much as possible we should visit nature and leave it as we found it. I even wonder sometimes about clearing and marking trails. I took some pictures of the falls and then some of the stream. I took a few more pictures of the falls and a few of Sheila sitting in front of it. When I was done I stowed the camera and we walked back up the stream bank and out to the main trail.

We stayed to the right at the trail junction just after the register and continued straight ahead to walk up to Trout Pond. The trail was damp in a few places with some muddy patches. As we walked up the trail, I noticed a family ahead of us stopped on the trail. They moved to one side and we passed them on the other with a brief "Hello". I removed some small branches as we went and took the time to take a few larger ones off the trail. I spotted a young couple ahead of us with a child in a backpack carrier but they were moving fast enough to stay ahead of us. When we arrived at the pond, we turned left and walked out to the "beach" at the outlet end of the pond. The level of the pond was high enough to allow some water to pass over the outlet which had not happened all season. The skies were very blue with some white clouds. As Sheila took a dip, I took out my camera and took some shots of the pond. I took some pictures of the whole scene and then zoomed in on different parts. Sheila swam around some and retrieved a stick I threw in the water and I got a few pictures of her. After getting a drink and a snack, I packed up and we headed back to the main trail. We turned left and continued on the main trail on the east side of Trout Pond walking toward the inlet end and the lean-tos. The trail was wet in spots with some mud. No one was camping at the large campsite on the right side of the trail before the lean-tos or at the lean-tos themselves. There were two people sitting in lawn chairs and fishing from the shore just after the bridge. As we crossed the bridge at the inlet end of the pond, I noticed that the inlet stream was high. I stopped to take some pictures of the pond from the bridge. We continued on the trail by turning right and starting up a hill which is the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. At the turn, the trail was almost dry but as we walked there was some dampness on the trail which made the stones slippery. We easily walked up the hill and I noticed it was easier than earlier in the year. Not very far from the turn was a new large blowdown partly blocking the trail. People had simply walked over the top of the branches. We stopped and I removed all the loose branches which were covered with leaves and some dirt. It was obvious in this and several other places that there had been a lot of water flowing down the trails during the tropical storm. The remaining part of the blowdown was a large cherry trunk which had broken off high up and fallen with the butt on Te trail. It ws fitly wedged up above and I knew it would not be safe to cut it. As we continued to hike we kept running into blowdowns from the recent storm. All of these were new since I had been through about two weeks before and cut everything. Soon we were at the highest point on Cherry Ridge and starting down the other side.

I anticipated that the trail would have quite a bit of water and there were places that had some standing water and some flowing like a stream but these were few. At one point a family was coming toward us and we recognized each other. They were the ones who had stopped and talked to me at the beginning of the hike. We talked for a few minutes and I found they were from New Jersey. I gave them some places they might like to hike in New Jersey and then we continued our hikes. We passed by several spots where I had cleared blowdowns and then ran into a large tree across the trail. It was easy enough to walk around one end but I thought I might come back and remove it from the trail. We continued on the trail to the point where we were ascending to the area where there is a forest of small birch trees. I stopped to take a few quick shots before continuing. Sooner than I thought we were at the woods road and snowmobile trail that runs by Mud Pond. We turned left and started the short walk uphill. This part of the trail was also a little wet and muddy. At the top of the hill, we began the long descent back to the trail junction where we had started. The descent lasts for .7 miles and drops 385 feet to a bridge that crosses the outlet stream from Trout Pond. This part of the trail was also wet with several small streams running across the trail. As we descended, we came to a spot where a small stream crosses. This time there was a good flow in the stream when before it had been only a trickle. We met two more groups of people as we continued down the hill on the main trail toward the campsite at the bottom of the hill on the left side of the trail. This campsite was also empty. I looked around for trash but it was very clean. We continued on the trail crossing the bridge over the stream and walking back out to the trail register. We turned right and headed back toward the lower parking area on the main trail. We walked up the short path to the lower parking area which was now packed with cars. As we continued up the road to the car, I was surprised I could not see any people down at the falls. The hike up the hill to the car proved to be les of a challenge that last time. We arrived back at the car at 2:10 PM after hiking 5.7 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes with a 1145 foot total ascent. The temperature on the car thermometer was 86 degrees and the humidity seemed higher.

On Friday, August 7th I started the day with an ambulance call and then had two more throughout the day. By the time the afternoon rolled around, I had decided that I was going to take a day off. I changed my mind when my granddaughter Ariana who was staying asked to go for a hike. I decided we would go across the street and hike the "new trails" on Round Top. I wanted to see how many people had chosen to walk these newly marked trails and I was sure Ariana would like the hike. Sheila was always near but not too near to be considered under foot. I got dressed in a cotton short-sleeved t-shirt as all my hiking apparel was in the wash and I knew the hike was short. I put on a pair of light Columbia nylon pants which I don't usually use for hiking. I decided against wearing my OR Bugout gaiters. I put my Merrell Moab 2 mid hiking boots which are actually a little too wide but would be acceptable for this hike. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a new OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. We stepped out of the house at 2:30 PM and I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. I decided we would try to do just two figure 8's which would allow us to cover all the trails. We walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church and to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. Cindy had not hike hills in some time so I waited at the top for her and Ariana to catch up. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped to look around at the hills around town. A breeze had begun to blow which made it a little cooler and I hoped would keep away the insects. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that at least a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. It was obvious that the warm weather and rain had caused an explosion of growth and the trails were beginning to get overgrown with brush and high grass. This was despite the fact that I had trimmed back the trail with the Stihl trimmer. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. Walking uphill we passed through a sea of green brought on by the warm weather and frequent rain showers. Just before the steepest section Ariana and I turned right on the switchback trail marked with yellow ribbon while Cindy continued up the "old" trail. We continued to follow these ribbons as they made a sharp left turn and headed back to the blue trail where we met Cindy. We turned right on the blue trail and almost immediately turned right on the orange crossover trail. We walked this trail and I noticed there was a little sidehilling which might have to be mitigated. I also noticed that the trail was beaten down indicating others had walked it. We walked out to the blue trail and turned right. We walked down the blue trail to the yellow trail and turned right. We continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top and turned left at the second junction. We walked down to the lookout where we got a good view of town except for the lone tree in the middle of the view. Ariana wanted to go down to the lower part of the lookout and I followed her with Cindy waiting above. I mentioned to Ariana that there was a "cave" below the lookout and we decided to go down to take a look at it. The rocks were slippery but we made it down and looked around. I had though we would continue to walk around the rocks and back up to the trail but I found several blowdowns and a lot of weeds in the way. I decided we would go back the way we came which was easier than I expected. When we got to the top, Cindy was not there so I assumed she had walked won the trail some. We followed the yellow trail as it headed downhill toward the first trail junction but we did not see her! I was pretty sure she had walked home without telling us but we decided to do another loop in the other direction just to make sure. As we were walking down the trail toward the first trail junction, several young people appeared at the bottom of the hill. Before I could out Sheila on her leash, she went to greet them. I called her back and informed her that she had to listen.

The young people turned on the woods road and Ariana and I continued to the first trail junction. We turned around and walked back up the yellow trail to the lookout and followed it as it turned right. As we started up the hill some more young people started up behind us. I let Sheila off her leash as we walked uphill through a sea of ferns to the first junction with the blue trail. We turned right and walked the yellow rail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and headed up toward the summit. We continued on the existing blue trail over the summit and started down the other side. As we started downhill, I wondered out loud why we had not scene any other others on the trail. Almost immediately they appeared ahead of us walking down the hill. We followed the blue trail to the junction and turned left to again walk the yellow trail to the next trail junction. The young people continued straight ahead toward the lookout. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the woods road that took us back to the first trail junction. This time we turned left and walked back out to the trailhead. There was a car with a Maine license plate parked so that the road was completely blocked. I did not have paper and pen to leave a note but thought about putting as sign on the map asking people not to park at the trailhead. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down the cemetery hill toward the church parking lot. We walked across the parking area to the driveway and were home just after 4:00 PM. We were glad that Cindy was at home. From walking the "new" trails several times now it is obvious that it is time to cut them out. When we marked these trails with paint blazes, we will also remark the other trails although it would be hard to get lost!

On Wednesday, August 5th, Lisa and I had finished exploring the out end of Trout Creek where it enters the Rondout Reservoir and decided to head for the Red Hill fire tower. We drove back toward Grahamsville on Route 55A but turned right after crossing the reservoir. Almost immediately after that, I turned left on Sugarloaf Road and drove almost 4 miles to near the top of a hill. On the drive I got behind someone who felt the speed limit was 25 mph but I tried to enjoy the scenery. I turned left of Red Hill Road and then almost immediately right on Dinch-Coons Road. This is a gravel road that becomes a seasonal road after the top of the hill. As I started downhill toward the trailhead, I was surprised to find that he road was in the best shape I had ever seen. When I pulled into the parking area at 12:25 PM there was only one car in the lot and the temperature was still in the low 70's. Lisa pulled in right after me and we were both happy there would be no crowding on the hike. I set my GPS and we started to hike at 12:30 PM by heading off on the trail at a relaxed pace talking as we hiked. Lisa signed in at the trail register and then we continued along the trail. We could hear the small stream cascading through the woods making a bit of noise. There was some water in the stream but we crossed it without any problems and continued along the trail. Lisa commented about the tree roots and the rocks making it a little more difficult hike even though the distance round trip is under 3 miles. I agreed as we hit the first little steep section at the beginning which ends with a rock field to negotiate. We removed some branches as we walked and I am always surprised that other hikers will simply ignore these branches as if they were not there! The trail has a few steep spots at the beginning but then levels out a little before beginning the final climb. I was happy that we did not have to stop for me to catch my breath since I have been hiking more and throwing in few 3500 foot mountains. The weather conditions were almost ideal and there was even a slight breeze blowing. I kept looking for Sheila ahead on the trail but when there are two people on a hike she tends to follow me.

We had been hiking southwest but at 1 mile the trail turns south and then southeast. The last .3 miles averages a little over an 20% grade is challenging. On the way up we met a solo male hiker coming down the trail. I pulled Sheila to the side to let him pass and we exchanged greetings as he went by. As we approached the tower we could see there were quite a few leaves on the ground from the wind the day before. There was also a patch of dead trees to our left which neither of us remembered seeing before. At 1:25 PM we arrived at the tower clearing and I walked over to the first picnic table in the clearing. I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take some pictures of the tower. Sometimes I tether Sheila to the picnic table but this time I did not as there was no one else at the summit. Unlike some dogs, Sheila has no problem climbing up and down the open steps and I didn't care if she wanted to follow us to the top. Lisa and I started to climb the tower with Sheila following close behind. Without looking, I could tell when we were above the treeline as the wind hit us. We eventually made it to the landing below the cab. I began to take pictures of the surrounding scenery and Sheila. There was no haze in any direction and the views were the best I had seen in years! When there is no haze or fog, the views of the Catskill peaks from this tower are spectacular. We descended the tower, got a drink and a bar and started the hike back. The trip down went fast even though we had to be careful of the wet and slippery rocks. As the trail flattened near the bottom a family of our approached and I took Sheila off the trail so that they could pass. Just before the stream we heard some noise ahead and saw another family of 8 approaching. The kids looked like they were having fun but the mom asked "Is it much farther?" after hiking a quarter of a mile at the most. I wished them well and we continued across the stream and out to the parking area. Just as we arrived another car pulled in with a dog so I put Sheila in the car immediately. It was 2:30 Pm and we had hiked 2.6 miles in 2 hours with 20 minutes of stopped time. Our elevation gain was 800 feet. As I pulled out of the parking lot, I thought about visiting another waterfall but decided to just go home by way of DeBruce Road.

On Wednesday, August 5th Lisa and I planned to visit some waterfalls after Tuesday's tropical storm dumped 5 inches of rain on the Catskills. My plan was to go to Angel Falls on Trout Creek in Yagerville first and the decide where to go from there. I planned to get up around 8:00 AM which was good since that is when the ambulance pager went off! I texted Lisa and she said she would wait until I got back. By the time I finished the call and paperwork it was almost 10:00 AM. I went home and quickly got ready to hike with Sheila watching my every move. The temperature was still in the high 60's with very low humidity. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles that fend off ticks and detritus that can get into hiking boots. I put an old pair of Vasque Taku hiking boots which I wear when I know I may get my feet wet. I put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters for some mud and tick protection. and grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a new OR floppy hat which shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. Sheila would not leave my side as I was getting ready as she wanted to make sure she was going too! I called Lisa and we agreed to meet at the TriValley School as soon as possible. I got Sheila and my gear in the car and drove east on State Route 17 to Liberty and then got on Route 55 to Grahamsville. As I approached the school there were several trees down and there were crews cleaning them up. Lisa was already at the school and she said she would follow me. I turned left on Route 55 and left onto Route 55A just after the school. I followed RT 55A as it turned right and crossed the Rondout Reservoir. I drove toward Yagerville Road but when we arrived we found the road blocked with cones. I assumed there were more trees down and blocking the road. We turned around and pulled into the parking area on the opposite side of the road. After some discussion, we agreed to walk down to Tout creek upstream of the bridge to take a look at Trout Creek. At 10:30 AM, We walked across the road and found an informal path down to the stream.

The water level in the stream was higher than I would expect in the summer but not quite as high as I thought it would be after the rainfall the day before. This simply attested to the fact that it ground had been very dry. We walked along the stream which offered plenty of opportunities to take pictures from the bank of from rocks jutting out into the stream. I was careful to watch my footing on the rocks and to restrain Sheila who wanted to swim. There was a least one waterfall and some nice rapids and it was fun being somewhere I had not explored before. The path led us under the road bridge where I stopped to take a few shots of the bridge and the Rondout Reservoir beyond. On the other side the path led us down to the shore of the reservoir where Sheila again had to swim. I took pictures and then we continued on a path that paralleled the shore. There were numerous rowboats on shore and most were not chained or locked. At several spots we stopped and I took pictures of the rocky shore and the hills on the other side of the reservoir. I even took some shots of the powerhouse at the other end! We rounded one point to find a sandy beach with a few boats. We could have continued to walk for some time but there was a path through the woods which we decided to follow back to the parking area. Along the way I took some shots of a nice stone wall. We are back at the cars by noon. Lisa suggested we go to hike to the Red Hill fire tower. I was reluctant since I had planned on visiting more falls but agreed and we set off.

On Monday, August 3rd I had planned to get up rather early and hike Vly and Bearpen as a two-for-one 3500 foot peak hike. These peaks are both bushwhacks with well-defined path to each peak. Vly even has a canister! I got up much earlier than I expected as the ambulance pager went off at 5:15 AM. By the time I got home I was tired and knew I would need a little more sleep before going out to hike. When I did get up for the second time, I decided to ask Cindy if she wanted to go on a shorter hike and postpone the "double" for another day. I thought that hiking a figure 8 at Kelly Hollow would be fun and Cindy agreed. The hike is only about 4 miles but there are some interesting sites including a stream that runs between the trail out and the trail back. There is also a beaver pond on the trail with a lean-to. The temperatures were forecast to be a little cooler than they had been and as I go ready it was only 68 degrees with lower humidity. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles that fend off ticks and detritus that can get into hiking boots. I put a new pair of Merrell Moad 2 mid hiking boots that I wanted to try out. I got the wide version as I need it in most models but they almost seemed too wide. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a new OR floppy hat which shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. Sheila would not leave my side as I was getting ready as she wanted to make sure she was going too! We got Sheila and our gear in the car and headed north on State Route 17 toward Roscoe at 10:40 AM. I prefer using the Beaverkill and Barkaboom Roads which saves 5 miles but Cindy prefers fewer back roads. I took exit 94 and drove north toward the Pepacton Reservoir on Route 206. At the junction with Route 30, I turned left and followed Route 30 to the Dunraven Bridge. Here I turned right and the BWS roads until reaching the junction with the Barkaboom Road. I turned left on BWS 9. After 4.5 miles, I turned right on Millbrook Road and continued 5.25 miles to the parking lot for Kelly Hollow on the right. We parked at 11L30 AM with three other cars in the lot. I took a moment to set my GPS before starting our hike by heading out on the trail marked with yellow XC skiing blazes. The temperature was 73 degrees and the humidity was very low. The skies were blue with numerous puffy white clouds. My plan was to walk the trail in a figure 8 which is something I had done several times before. We followed the trail as it crossed a small stream and then turned right on the woods road heading south and ascending slightly passing through a gate. Along the way the trail was wet and muddy in spots.

At .3 miles we came to the short spur trail to a designated campsite but I knew there was not much to see so we continued on the main trail. At .6 miles we came to the cutoff to the right for the Short Loop hike. We turned right to walk down the cutoff trail to the bridge where Sheila immediately found the deepest spot to frolic and get a drink. I took some pictures of Sheila and the stream before we crossed the ridge and headed up the trail to the main loop trail on the other side. After Sheila went "swimming" in the stream, she ran up the bank dashing back and forth madly. As we ascended to the loop trail we could hear and the see people with a dog at top of the hill. Once we arrived at the main trail, we could see they were descending toward the parking areas. We turned left on the loop trail heading southwest and then south toward the beaver pond and lean-to. Over the next .4 miles we gained almost 300 feet for a 12% grade. Although this is not a steep climb it was more than I remembered. Along the way, we met a family of four coming toward us with their dog on a leash and we said "Hello" as we passed. At 1.3 miles we were at the beaver pond which had more water in it than I had seen in some time. I did not see any increased beaver activity so I do not think there are any beavers in the area. There were some nice puffy white clouds in the blue sky so I took some pictures before we continued around the pond. The grass and briars were beginning to completely take over the trail and I had to push my way through in several places. We stopped again on the other side and I took a few more pictures before continuing on to the lean-to in the woods. The lean-to was in good shape except for a dirty seat but it is beginning to deteriorate. I don't know who maintains this area but the trails need some care and the privy could use some cleaning. There is a project to rebuild some lean-tos and this one could use some care. After a break, we continued on the trail now heading northeast and downhill. The trail made a turn so that we were heading southeast and we crossed a few bridges over small streams. At one point we started to walk through a grove of pines and I stopped to take a few shots including a couple straight up. At 2 miles we came to the spot where I had bushwhacked up to Millbrook Ridge to look down on Alder Lake. At 2.3 miles we made and almost 180 degree turn and started heading north. I noted that this would be a good place to try another bushwhack as it was only .7 miles to the trail that runs along Millbrook Ridge but the contours show a steep climb. We continued north on the trail still descending. We were headed toward the crossover trail which we would again use to finish or figure 8.

After talking, we continued in opposite directions. At 3 miles we again came to the crossover trail and turned left to cross the middle of the figure 8. We crossed the bridge and walked up the hill on the other side to the main trail. This time we turned right and started to walk 1.1 miles back to the car. The day was very pleasant with a slight breeze blowing and walking downhill made a big difference. This part of the trail was not well marked but the path was pretty obvious as it followed a woods road. This section of trail was also wet and muddy. At 3.9 miles we came to the Middletown Cemetery which I have explored several times. Several gravestone have special markers designated the interred as Civil War veterans. One grave has a marker indicating the deceased had fought in the Revolution and had died in 1792! We continued by walking into the camping area to find the trail back to the car. There was one car with one man camping. We did not want to bother him so we decided to walk out the access road to Millbrook Road. This road was very muddy so I took Sheila off it into the woods to walk around those areas. We turned right on Millbrook Road and walked the final .3 miles back to the car. I was in the lead with Sheila and had the choice of keeping her pace or pulling on her leash. We made it back to the car a few minutes ahead of Cindy. One more care was parked in the lot and the temperature was 81 degrees. It was 1:50 PM and we had spent 2 hours and 20 minutes hiking 4.2 miles with an elevation gain of 700 feet. We had paused for only 7 minutes! I asked Cindy if she wanted to do anything else and what route she wanted to take back but she didn't seem to care. I thought about visiting the covered bridge on Millbrook Road or stopping by Tompkins Falls. I decided against this as I planned to visit falls on Wednesday after the remains of a tropical storm passed through on Tuesday! On the way back I decided to take the same route I had on the way to the hike. I was disappointed in the Merrell Moab 2 mid hiking boots as my feet seemed to slip around a lot despite heavy socks and tight lacing. I felt they would be good on walks but not climbing mountains.

On Saturday, August 1st I wanted to get out for a hike but knew it would be best to avoid the more popular areas including many of the high peaks. After considering several options, I decided to go to Bear Spring WMA between Downsville and Walton to hike a 9 mile loop on the central and eastern ridge. I knew this would be good exercise and good training for hiking multiple 3500 foot peaks. The area has many snowmobile and horse trails that are wide and grassy. The trails have a good surface and there are no major mountains but the climbs to the ridges can be challenging. When I got up in the morning, the temperature was a cool 57 degrees but I knew that would rise rapidly. As I started to get ready. Sheila started to get excited but was controlling herself as best she could. I got dressed in a short-sleeved Columbia crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants do not have Velcro closures at the ankles that some models have to fend off ticks and detritus that can get into hiking boots. I put a pair of Keen Targhee II boots which fit nicely and have been discontinued! I did add my OR Bugout gaiters for extra tick and mud protection. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a new OR floppy hat which shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I got my gear in the car and put Sheila in the back seat. I drove to Roscoe and then took County Route 206 through Downsville to the top of Bear Spring Mountain near Walton, NY. As we started out of Downsville, I noticed a small waterfall on the left side of the road and thought we might stop on the way back. Further up the mountain, we passed Bear Cub Pond also on the left side of the road. I had often thought I might stop there but never had. I decided this could be another stop on the way home. As we neared the top of the mountain, I continued past East Trout Brook Road and turned left on West Trout Brook Road near the top of the hill. I parked in the large main lot on the left side of the road at 10:25 PM. The temperature was 68 degrees with a slight breeze blowing. There was a pickup truck in the lot but we have hiked here many times and seldom see anyone on the trails. I set my GPS and we got right on the trail. `

We crossed the road and got on trail 7 to start a short uphill. The trail had quite a few weeds and several deep puddles which were very muddy. It looked to me as if the state workers had used a large tractor with a gang mower to cut the grass. It was nice not to have to walk in waist high vegetation but this was negated by the damage to the trails. I also noticed that my boots were getting wet from the dew and the Keen Dri was pretty much useless like most other waterproof linings. The trail leveled and at .5 miles we crossed Beers Brook Road. Since the trail is offset, it to me a moment to remember to turn left and re-enter the woods, staying on trail 7. We continued hiking slightly uphill to 1.1 miles where we came to a T. Since I had not hiked here for some time and never in this direction, I was not sure which way to turn. I turned right but after a short distance I realized we were headed toward Houck Mountain. We turned around and headed the other way and soon crossed West Trout Brook Road. We were now on Trail 5 which would take us along the central ridge toward Fork Mountain. The clouds were spectacular although there was not much else to see. I did take a few shots as I knew this would not change. The trail continued south ascending and descending some small hills. We continued to walk through wet grass and weeds and had to avoid ruts and large puddles. I knew I was looking for trail 4 on the left which would allow us to descend off the central ridge. At one point, a trail appeared on the left but it was not labeled as trail 4 and I chose to keep going. There were a lot flies buzzing around us and I finally decided to stop and apply some repellent. The flies continued to buzz around but fewer were landing. At 2.85 miles we passed the shoulder of Fork Mountain and started a little descent which made me believe that the trail I was looking for would be coming up soon. The walk was longer than I though but at 3.7 miles the trail appeared on the left and we turned onto it.

It immediately became clear that few people had used this trail and it was not being maintained by the state. The first part was covered by nettles and there was no path through them. I managed to follow Sheila as she made a small opening. This continued for some time and then the nettles gave way to briars. I did stop once to take some pictures of the clouds hanging over the eastern ridge. As I looked at that ridge and its elevation, I realized that we would have to regain all of the elevation we were losing to get to that ridge! The trail became a little less cluttered with weeds but it was wet making it slippery. At 4.7 miles we crossed East Trout Brook Road and found one car parked in the lot. We walked down trail 2 to the bridge over the dam that impounds Middle Pond. Sheila immediately went into the water while I took a few pictures of the pond. I got a drink and gave Sheila one. I took out a bar and packed up to begin the climb to the eastern ridge. I knew I had several options including simply hiking up East Trout Brook Road. I decided tom stay with the original plan but as we started up trail 2 I wondered if my decision was wise. I was beginning to fell very warm and my legs were tired as we climbed. It didn't help that we were walking in and out of the shade. Walking in the sun was much warmer so I tried to stay in the shade. As we made our way up the hill, two hikers about my age came walking downhill toward us. I pulled Sheila over to the side of the trail as they passed. We said "Hello" and they complimented Sheila's behavior. On our way up the hill there continued to be some nice views of the valley and the clouds so I stopped once to take some shots. At 5.4 miles, trail 2 turned slightly to the right but we stayed to the left on trail 3, the McCoy Hill Cutoff. Just before the trail entered the woods, I stopped to take a few pictures. I looked down to see Sheila laid out in the sun by my pack. My first thought was she was in trouble from being too warm but as soon as I said her name she jumped up and ran up the trail. Being in the shade again was great and made me feel much better. What was discouraging was that this trail was much longer than I remembered and my legs were definitely tired. I kept thinking we were at the top and then there would be another climb.

At 6.2 miles we were finally at the top of the hill! We had climbed 730 feet in 1.3 miles from Middle Pond. As we walked along the edge of the field, Sheila ran ahead chasing some turkeys. I called Sheila back and we both had a drink. We turned left on trail 2 to walk west and then northwest along the eastern ridge. The grass was drier now and there were fewer mudholes along the way. Over the next 2.1 miles the trail rolled over some bumps. We finally came to what had been a clear cut on the right side of the trail but was now all grown in. I did take a couple more shots of the clouds. At 8.25 miles we arrived at the junction with trail 1 which would take use back to the parking area and the car. I had thought about hiking back on the road but we turned left on trail 1 and started a short hike up a hill. When the trail split, we stayed to the right on trail 1 and started a downhill walk to East Trout Brook Road. Along the way I picked up some garbage to take home with me. We crossed the road and started up another long but gradual ascent as the trail left the woods and crossed a field. There was no path in the field indicating to me that no one had been using the trail. Once we entered the woods, I knew we were close to the car. There was one more mudhole to negotiate and then we were in the parking lot. It was 2:40 PM and we had hiked 9.3 miles in 4 hours and 15 minutes with 20 minutes if stopped time. Our elevation gain was 1515 feet and our overall pace was 2.2 mph which I thought was rather good.

On Friday, July 31st, my grandson Bryce was coming to my house and I knew we would be going for a hike. I had an appointment in the afternoon so I Laos knew it would have to be a quick hike. Bryce arrived at 9:15 AM and we discussed where we should hike after I did a few chores. We agreed that we would go to Frick Pond as it was close. I began to get ready to hike and as I gathered my clothing Sheila got wind of what was going on and began running around the house barking. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants do not have Velcro closures at the ankles that some models have to fend off ticks and detritus that can get into hiking boots. I put a pair of Keen Targhee II boots which fit nicely and have been discontinued! I did add my OR Bugout gaiters for extra tick and mud protection. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a new OR floppy hat which shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put Bryce and Sheila in the back seat and we left Livingston Manor at 10:25 AM with the temperature reading 68 degrees. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left. I continued up the road to the point where it splits and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. It was a shirt drive to the parking areas on the left. I pulled into the smaller parking area next to one other car. I set my GPS and we got ready to head out on the Flynn Trail. The plan was to hike up the Flynn Trail and then descend the Big Rock Trail to Times Square. From the trail junction we would continue straight across to the end of the Big Rock Trail and then take the Quick Lake Trail back to the car.

We crossed the road at 10:40 AM and got on the Flynn Trail to walk around the private property around the cabin at the end of the road. The beginning of the trail continues to erode with each rainstorm but it is hard to develop a way to fix the problem. At the end of the woods trail we turned right on a woods road which is sited along what was once the Beech Mountain Road. This road was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We began the ascent on the trail which was a narrow path through grass and weeds beaten down some by hikers passing through. Everything was very green and a little wet from the dew and the rain the night before. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.75 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We passed through the arch Cindy and I had cut through an enormous hemlock that had fallen across the trail. We walked up the trail without stopping as green is not my favorite color and we wanted to finish the hike quickly. When we came to the clearing on the right, I decided to take a quick visit since I had not been there is some time. We walked through the weeds and up the steep bank to the clearing which, like everything else, was very green. No one I have spoken to really knows why this clearing exists. There is a very thin layer of soil on top of bedrock and a road leads from the main woods road to the southern end of the clearing. My assumption is that dirt was removed from this area to build the original Beech Mountain Road. I took some pictures and then we returned to the main trail. As we neared the highest point on the trail, I could also feel my legs beginning to get just a little tired and I new they would appreciate the long downhill coming up. We reached the junction with the Big Rock Trail and turned left to descend to Times Square. We had hiked the 1.7 miles uphill to the junction and now would have over a mile descent.

We set a faster pace as we descended the trail passing through the various twists and turns that often make it seem like the bottom of the hill is close. I was glad I had chosen a shorter hike so that I would have time to get ready for my afternoon appointment. On the way down the hill we ran into clouds of mosquitoes that were so bad that we considered stopping to put on repellent. In the end we decided to out run them and we were soon at Times Square. We continued straight across to stay on the Big Rock Trail. As we hiked around the back of the pond, we met a group of six hikers who seemed to be part of the same family. We crossed the bridges over the streams that feed Frick Pond where there was some water flowing under both the bridges. The large spruce log that had fallen across the trail was still intact except for the large notch I had put in it. I took a few shots as we passed over the series of wooden walkways which continue to deteriorate. At the end of the Big Rock Trail, we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and walked to the bridge over the outlet stream. The beaver dam was still intact which was surprising as the manager of the fish hatchery often has some of his workers dismantle it to supply more water for the hatchery. I took some pictures of the dam and the pond. It was odd that while driving to the hike the skies had been filled with puffy white clouds and now there was only one small cloud in the sky. I packed up and we continued up the hill to Gravestone Junction where I could hear hikers approaching on the Logger's Loop. We continued on the trail and back out to the car. The Quick Lake Trail back to the parking area was wet nad muddy in spots. We arrived at the car at 12:30 PM after hiking 4.0 miles in 1 hour and 50 minutes. The elevation gain was 709 feet.

On Wednesday, July 29th, I decided I wanted to hike Slide Mountain as I had not been there in almost two years and I recently had started to become interested in hiking the 3500 foot peaks again. I like to throw in a 3500 foot peak every now and then for the challenge and to prove to myself I can still hike elevation as well as distance. When I woke up at 8:00 AM it was 66 degrees outside but I knew the temperature would increase throughout the day. I started to get ready at 8:30 AM and Sheila was very excited indicating she didn't care where we went as long as we got out of the house. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I put a pair of Keen Targhee II boots which fit nicely and have been discontinued! I did ad my OR Bugout gaiters for extra tick and mud protection. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a new OR floppy hat which shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I headed out the DeBruce Road at about 9:00 AM and found that road crews were beginning to pave sections of the road. We had to wait about 5 minutes and then ran into another road repair project just before passing Round Pond. I drove down the hill to Route 47 and turned left to drive toward Frost Valley. Almost immediately we ran into construction crews working in the river to remove some tree trunks and improve the water flow in the east branch of the Neversink River. I drove by the Frost Valley YMCA camp and the Biscuit Brook parking area which had only one car in it. I wondered if Slide would be crowded. I pulled in just at 9:50 AM and found five cars in the lot. I set my Garmin GPS unit and we got on the trail right away. Starting out on the main trail we immediately came to the Neversink River which was completely dry so that the rocks in the river bed were not even wet. Despite the dryness of the stream bed, the trail was damp and muddy in many places but initially there was no water on the trail. We crossed two more small streams which had some water running in them and were soon climbing through a very rocky area. This reminded me of the biggest problem with liming Slide! In 20 minutes we covered just less than half a mile and had worked our way through the rocky ascent and turned right on the woods road.

I had thought about turning left on the woods road and taking the Dutcher Step Trail up Slide. This trail is right on the boundary of Winisook Club property and state land and I usually call for permission first. The trail was the first trail cut in the 1870’s by James Dutcher, a local guide. It was some beautiful features and is far less rocky than the usual ascent we now use. Dutcher was the only guide and had a boarding house on the slopes of Panther Mountain. He would guide his boarders up Slide and show them the view from the summit tower he built. I decided I wanted to take the "usual" trail to see if it had changed much in two years. Almost immediately the trail became wet with some standing and running water. There were also a few blowdowns that had not been cleared. Hikers had been making their own detours around these problem areas which widens the trail and increases the erosion. At .7 miles we turned left and started up the main trail to Slide Mountain which, according to the sign, was 2 miles away. The trailhead for Slide has a relatively high elevation so, although it is the highest peak in the Catskills, the elevation gain and grade are relatively modest. The temperature seemed high as did the humidity and I was feeling a little down but I made up my mind to take it easy and enjoy the hike. We continued up the trail working around the wet areas. We passed by the designated campsite to the right of the trail and as we started up the steeper climb Sheila alerted. A young couple was coming up behind us and I pulled over to let them pass. They said "Hello" as they walked by with one small water bottle each. I got a drink and gave Sheila one before starting up again. I was surprised that the drink and short rest bade me feel so much better. The trail was every bit as rocky as it ever was which makes ascending difficult and descending worse. I kept looking for the 3500 foot sign but did not see it. Soon we started to enter the transition zone from hardwoods to evergreens and I knew we were passed 3500 feet. I could smell the strong odor of balsam fir and we noticed that the temperature had dropped a little and there was a slight breeze.

At 1.7 miles the trail started to level some as the grade became more shallow and all these factors combined to raise my spirits. The trail here has a layer of sand and small rocks. The glimpses I could get of the sky showed bright blue with white clouds and plenty of sun. We continued up the trail and I began to notice that some blowdowns had been cleared from the trail by chainsaw. There were still quiet a few trees leaning over the trail which I do not think is a good situation. There were several lookouts along the way that hikers had created on their own but most were not interesting. There were one or two that did have possibilities but I decided to wait until the return trip to take any pictures. We met one woman descending with her dog and then another two hikers headed down. Sheila was very well-behaved and seemed more interested in the walk than the people or the dogs. Soon the trail leveled again as we had done most of the climbing. At 2 miles we passed the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail as it came in from the left from the Denning trailhead. The trail leveled some here and I enjoyed walking along the path strewn with pine needles. The trail continued to have a few muddy spots. Soon we were tackling the last real climb. At 2.3 miles we were at the viewpoint toward Panther and Giant Ledge. I decided to stop and take some pictures since some of the trees that had obscured the viewpoint had been removed. I could easily see Giant Ledge and Panther but Cornell and Wittenberg were also visible. I took my shots as a group of six to eight young people passed by with a dog. Two more people wanted to use the lookout so I packed up to leave.We returned to the main trail and soon were passing by the highest point on Slide. Cement blocks mark the location where a fire tower once stood. We continued to the rock outcropping to find the group of young people spread out. The views were clear but the trees blocked most of the views. I did attempt to take some pictures of the Ashokan Reservoir and Cornell and Wittenberg. As I was angling for my shots some of the young people moved out of my way which was very thoughtful. I decided to go down to the spring to see if it was flowing and to see if there were any more viewpoints. I knew there were some rough climbs and I did not know how they had fared with more and more people hiking.

< style="clear: both"> We walked around the rock outcrop and headed down passed the Burroughs plaque. The trail was very rough and many branches and blowdowns had been trimmed back. I tried to find a decent viewpoint but many that had been acceptable were now blocked by trees. I worked my way down through two difficult areas and still could not find any lookouts. We came to the wooden steps and started to descend them. I took a few pictures of Sheila on the steps but the light was not very good. After descending the second set of steps, we were at the spur trail to the spring. I could hear voices and we found a young couple getting water from the spring which had a good flow. I talked to them for a few minutes while I took in a beautiful view of Cornell and Wittenberg. I had found my viewpoint! The couple was backpacking the Burroughs Loop and had spent the previous night camping between Slide and Cornell. We talked about their experiences and other hikes in the Catskills. I took quite a few shots and then packed up to start back.Sheila seemed to really want to take a trip over to Cornell but I decided I simply wanted to return to the car. The climb back up to the summit is only .2 miles but I found it was tiring for my leg muscles. Several times Sheila bounded almost straight up the rocks only to return and go back up an easier way. I knew she was "leading" me as she has done this before. At 12:30 PM we were back at the summit and ready to start our trip down. The young people had cleared off the rock outcrop and two older men were talking to a younger hiker. Sheila and I started back down which, I am glad to say, seemed much easier than the hike up. I did have to be careful to watch my footing as there are lots of loose rocks and dry dirt and gravel on the trail. I tried to think of other things to keep my mind off the descent. No one passed us on the way down but there were several small groups of the people headed up. Each time Sheila and I moved off the trail so that she did not bother anyone and so that my lack of a mask did not offend anyone. We did meet some people who were wearing masks and I hoped they had slipped them on when they saw us and were not wearing them for the entire hike. At 5.1 miles we hit the Phoenicia-East Branch Trail and turned right. Walking this section of flat trail was a relief even though it was wet. At 5.3 miles we turned left to follow the trail and had another short descent through a boulder field. I was glad when we were finally down to the short, flat section of trail that led back to the car. We were back at the car at 2:05 PM after hiking 6 miles in 4 hours and 15 minutes with 35 minutes of stopped time. Our elevation gain was 2060 feet. The temperature on my car as I drove away was 86 degrees.

On Monday, July 27th, I wanted to get in a hike after taking two days off and knowing the weather on Tuesday called for heavy thunderstorms. I thought about climbing Table and Peekamoose in some combination but realized I had not hiked a 3500 foot peak in almost a year.For some reason I now feel like I would like to do some of the high peaks. I decided to start out with Balsam Lake Mountain which is close to where I live and has a fire tower as an extra goal. When I got up in the morning at 6:30 AM it was already 68 degrees and the forecast was for a high near 90 degrees. I started to make excuses and did some things around the house until I decided at 9:30 AM that I would go. By this time the temperature was using 80 degrees but I hoped it would be cooler in the woods. I got dressed in a Columbia short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have the Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks but we would be hiking on trails most of the time. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit me well but have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a new OR floppy hat which shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. At 10:05 AM I put my equipment in the car and Sheila in the backseat and headed out the driveway. I headed toward Roscoe on Old Rt 17 and I turned right on the Beaverkill Road. I headed north toward Lew Beach and Turnwood. Just before Lew Beach I got behind a logging truck which was traveling at 35 mph but I was in a good mood and didn't mind the slower speed. The truck pulled over near Barkaboom Road in Turnwood and waived me passed and I began to make better time. The Beaverkill Falls were flowing but with a reduced volume nicely and I thought I might stop on the way back for a few shots. The road conditions were pretty good even when the pavement ended except everything was dry and dusty. Just before the Buddhist monastery a car approached from the other direction. The driver seemed to want the middle of the road so I got as far over to the right as I could. The farther I moved to the right, the farther the other driver moved to his left until I though a head on collision was inevitable. I was already in the ditch so I leaned on my horn and the other driver finally moved to the right. As he passed I could see a look of confusion on his face. The only explanation I could think of was that he was used to driving in a country where they drive on the left side of the road! I continued on and let the beautiful day calm my pulse and blood pressure. Toward the end the road becomes very narrow and I was glad I did not meet any more cars. We arrived at the parking area at 10:45 AM and found no other cars in the lot. I was surprised since I had assumed all the 3500 foot peaks would have visitors. I can only assume that the remote location of the parking area and the weather forecast had something to do with the lack of cars.

The temperature was 76 degrees and when I stepped out of the car but the humidity seemed high. Fortunately, the skies were blue with some nice white clouds and there was a slight breeze blowing. I set my GPS and we were off at 10:45 AM. As we got on the trail it was obvious that no one had been out to maintain the trail as the weeds were beginning to close in. The trail register was in pieces with the door lying on the ground. As we walked up the trail there were numerous blowdowns on the trail. Most of these were old and where there were ones that blocked the trail hikers had created detours which were rather well worn. There were a few damp areas but these were easily avoided. We headed toward the first trail junction where I intended to turn left and hike up the steep side of the mountain. The approach seemed longer than I remembered and I was getting very warm as we hiked. We finally made the trail junction at .9 miles at 11:10 AM. We turned left up the mountain without stopping as I was wondering how I would do on the steep but short climb. The first part of the trail is a gentle climb and I was feeling pretty good without stopping to rest. Over the next half mile the trail gains about 750 feet before leveling off which means an average of around a 28% grade! The trail was dry with loose gravel and dirt but no blowdowns or blanches across the trail. I began to breathe heavily but was able to continue without stopping even though the water was dripping off me! I kept moving along with Sheila always ahead of me but not too far which encouraged me. The climb seemed much longer than I remembered and several times I thought we were near the trail to the lean-to but had another steep section to climb. A slight braze at times kept things bearable and I did not want to stop until we were at the spring. Finally we reached the trail to the lean-to and we continued straight up the hill through a steep climb. We passed the 3500 foot sign and arrived at the spring where I stopped to get a drink and take a few pictures. We climbed the stone steps to the summit plateau where the trail flatten a little. I felt much better now that I was not climbing and gave up the idea of returning the same way we had come. There were a few damp spots on the trail but soon we were passing the Millbrook Ridge Trail to Alder Lake.

We arrived at the tower clearing at 11:55 AM after hiking 1.7 miles. The skies were blue with white clouds and I knew that pictures from the tower would be nice. I took pictures of the clearing and the tower and then tied Sheila to the picnic table where she would have some shade. Sheila is the only dog I have seen that will willing climb the towers and then easily descend. I walked over to the tower with my camera and noticed a pile of boards near the base of the tower. I knew these were to replace the steps and the landings and that the tower would not be open unless it was safe but they did make me pause for a moment. As I rose above the treeline, the wind hit me which felt good but was certainly cooling. I stopped on the landing just below the cab and looked around. The scene was beautiful and, as always, I knew that pictures could not do it justice. I took a number of shots of the trees and cabin below and then turned my attention to the mountains. I took shots in all directions getting pictures of the Devil's Path to the north and some of Graham. Eventually I was satisfied I had enough pictures and wanted to get out of the wind. On the way down I took a few shots of Sheila under the picnic table. I walked back to my pack and put away my camera, took a drink and got out a bar. We headed down the Millbrook side of the mountain at 12:15 PM. We walked down the trail on the other side of the mountain passing the cabin. Walking down the mountain seemed MUCH easier than the climb up the other side. Just after the cabin I looked up to see four hikers coming toward us. I put Sheila on her leash and walked off the trail. The other hikers had two small dogs and one was very loud. We said "hello" to each other as they passed. They were all wearing masks and I hoped they would not wear the for the whole hike. The trail was tricky in some place as it was dry and covered with loose dirt and stones. Soon we were approaching the junction with the trail that connects Millbrook Road to the Beaverkill Road. There is a gate at the bottom of the trail and just after this gate was a pile of materials which I knew would have to be transported to the top of the mountain. We came to the trail junction with Sheila in the lead and I said to her "Back to the car" without making any signal. Sheila immediately turned right and walked down the trail! The trail was obviously more travels than it had been in the past. There were a few branches hanging into the trail and a few blowdowns. The sun was still out and it was hot but walking downhill made things easier. I looked down into the Gulf of Mexico several times but did not see or hear any water. After just less than a mile, we were back at the trail junction where we had turned up the mountain earlier. We continued on toward the car by retracing our steps. We had been blessed with blue skies and sun all the way back from the summit and the trip had seemed to go quickly. We had met no other hikers. We were back in the parking area at 1:25 PM after hiking 4.3 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes with 25 minutes stopped time. We had climbed 1180 feet in elevation in hot and humid conditions. The temperature at the car was 84 degrees.

On Thursday, July 24th, I decided to go to Trout Pond and remove some of the blowdowns especially on the trail that leads up Cherry Ridge on the west side of the pond. When I got up in the morning, the skies were overcast and despite a temperature in the mid 70's the humidity made it feel like it was over 80 degrees. I started to get ready at 10:00 AM and tried to convince Cindy to come with me. She did not want to go because of the heat but I knew I could count on Sheila to be enthusiastic about getting out. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to put on my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I did not bring poles as I would have carry my ax. I wedged my Silky Sugowaza in my pack Wong with two felling wedges. I also got my Fiskars ax which I have found is a nice balance of light and capable of getting the job done. I decided to quickly sharpen the ax which already had a good edge. I also added a new OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and pulled out of Livingston Manor at 11:20 AM. The skies were overcast with some blue showing in spots. I headed to Roscoe on State Route 17, got off at exit 94 and got on Route 206. I followed it across the Delaware County line to Morton Hill Road. After a left turn on Morton Hill Road, I drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned left on Russell Brook Road and drove down to the lower parking area where there were four cars parked. There were no people present so I kept Sheila off her leash as we walked down the woods road to the bridge across Russell Brook. As we approached the trail register, two young people were reading the signs at the trail junction. I was glad they continued toward Trout Pond since Sheila and I were turning left to start the climb toward Mud Pond.

We crossed the outlet stream from Trout Pond on the bridge and passed by the large campsite on the right. The campsite was empty and there was no garbage left behind. The trail began to climb the hill and in .6 miles we gained over 350 feet. Along the way I removed some loose branches and moved at least one trunk to the side of the trail. The climb is little steep at times but soon we were at the top of the hill and began a slight descent toward the trail junction. Sheila alerted and ahead I could see a group of six people stopped at the junction. They seemed to be looking at maps and soon were headed away from us on the Mud Pond trail which leads to Mud Pond and a trailhead on Russell Brook. The trail was wet in places from the storms the previous night which had tracked north of Livingston Manor. When we reached the trail junction, we turned right on the Trout Pond Trail and started a long climb. In a short distance we ran into the first blowdown which was a single medium sized trunk across the trail. I took a before picture and then got to work. It did not take long to make a cut with the axe and drag the upper portion of the tree off the trail. After another picture, we wee on our way. I immediately noticed that even a small amount of work made me sweat quite a bit in the high humidity. Almost immediately we came to another, smaller trunk across the trail which I dispatched easily. As we walked I continued to clear small branches and, in a few cases, used the ax to clear some larger ones. The next one was a medium sized cherry tree that had fallen across the trail and wedged in another tree. I cut through it with the ax and was able to pivot the portion near the roots off the trail. The other piece was still hung up in the other tree and was still encroaching on the trail. I knew that I could easily cut through this piece with the saw since it would fall away without binding. As I was contemplating this, Sheila alerted and I looked up to see two hikers coming toward us. I led Sheila off the trail as they passed. I noticed both hikers raised their masks even though Sheila and I were more than 10 feet off the trail. They did say "thank you." I made the cut and wrestled this piece off the trail. I cleaned up some more loose branches and we were off.

The next obstacle was a few large branches that seemed they might be a bigger problem than they turned out to be. I used the ax and the saw to make some cuts and then dragged the tops off the trail. Dragging these long branches far enough off the trail turned out to be the biggest problem. The next situation involved a larger tree with many branches that had blocked the trail long enough for hikers to create detour to the left. I looked at was once the main trail and I looked at the detour and decided the detour looked like better footing. I spent some time trimming smaller branches on this "new" trail and then cut some small blowdowns. When I looked at the result, I was pleased. As we moved on I noticed that I was very wet and I was getting tired. I made sure to drink and also to give Sheila some water. As I get tired it seems that every action takes ore out of me and I have to be very deliberate so that I maintain safety. As we continued on the trail, there was a loud coach to our left and I assumed a tree or some branches had fallen. Sheila was not happy so we moved on quickly. The next blowdown was similar to the last in that a detour had been created and it had better footing than the main trail. I cleared the detour including one medium sized trunk. I was pretty sure this was the last blowdown and was happy to be able to just finish the hike and get back to the car. Almost immediately we came to another small tree across the trail which I knew I had to eliminate and right after it was another which also succumbed to the ax. We walked what I knew was the last hill through some briars and found another blowdown consisting of two large branches from a cherry tree. I put down my pack, took pictures, and then got out my saw. I was able to cut away smaller branches from the larger ones and dispose of them. Eventually only the two larger branches remained. I pivoted one off the trail but it rolled back and smacked me in the shoulder. After checking to make sure I was only bruised, I reconsidered my plan and was able to roll that branch and keep it off the trail. I dragged the other branch off the trail and I was done in more way than one! I packed up and we continued to the top of the hill. I was glad the rest of the hike was downhill or flat.

The descent from the highest point on the hike to the outlet bridge is .7 miles and loses 455 feet in elevation. Along the way I picked up a few more branches and used the ax to trim some that were in the trail. We also encountered two more couples who were hiking toward us with their dogs. We arrived at the bridge and I took a few pictures of the pond while Sheila went down to the stream to get wet. The overcast had cleared and there was some blue sky with white clouds. We continued along the trail finding no one at either lean-to or the large campsite on the left of the trail. The trail was wet and muddy but the center was dry enough that walking was not problem. At one point Sheila walked off the trail to take a dip and I decided to take some pictures of her and of the pond. I had thought that I would not stop at the beach but as we approached the outlet end I decided to walk over to take some shots. We turned right and walked over to the beach. Sheila did not want to swim again but I did get out my camera to take some more shots of the pond. We walked back to the main trail and turned right to descend the trail to the trail register. The trail descends gently losing 260 feet over .7 miles on a wide woods road. Along the way we met two more couples both of which had a dog on a leash. I walked off the trail with Sheila in both cases as the other hikers passed by. We continued on the trail and back to the car. We arrived at 3:20 PM after walking and working for 4.8 miles and 3 hours and 40 minutes. The elevation gain was about 850 feet. I was glad to be in the air-conditioned car and I was definitely tired.

On Thursday, July 23rd, I wanted to get in a hike locally since it was my 68th birthday! The night before I found out my grandson Bryce would be visiting which would make the hike even more special. Bryce arrived at 9:00 AM and we talked about where we would hike. The weather seemed unsettled and the skies were overcast so I didn't want to plan something too long. I decided we would go to Alder Lake and hike to the lean-to and the beaver pond. The temperature was in the high 70's and it was humid as we began to get ready at 10:00 AM. Sheila was ready to go and stayed close to me to make sure she was going along. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have the Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks but we would be hiking on trails most of the time. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit me well but have been discontinued. I knew I would not need hiking poles as work was the order of the day not hiking. I also added a new OR floppy hat which shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. At 11:15 AM I put our equipment in the car and Bryce and Sheila in the backseat and headed out the driveway. I drove north and west on Old Route 17 and turned right on Beaverkill Road heading toward Lew Beach. I passed through Lew Beach and followed the road as it passed through Turnwood. A little farther along, I turned left on Alder Creek Road and drove toward the junction with Cross Mountain Road and the access road to Alder Lake. About halfway up the road the Ulster County DPW was working on what looked ,Ike a washout of the road on the right side. Livingston Manor had gotten very little rain from the storms the night before but quite a bit fell in a short period of time to the north. I assumed that the rain combined with previous undercutting had caused the road to collapse. I started to make other plans but one of the workers assured me that we could pass within 5 minutes. Soon we were on our way and I turned right on the access road to Alder Lake and drove to the parking area. The lot had four cars parked as I pulled in. I set my GPS unit and put Sheila on her leash as there were some people coming back to the parking lot. We started our hike at 11:40 AM by walking out the path passing the remains of the Coykendall mansion. We to walked down to the lakeshore and found some geese swimming near the shore with three goslings. I took some pictures of them and then a few of the lake even though the skies were overcast. I took some of the entire lake and then zoomed in for some more. There was quite a bit of water going over the dam and I thought we might visit the waterfalls on the creek downstream from the dam when we returned from the beaver pond.

I put away my camera. picked up my pack and we headed out on the trail along the north shore of the lake. We kept up a good pace and passed the campsites which were unoccupied. The first part of the trail had a lot of weeds and briars encroaching on the trail and I was not sure anyone was going to trim them. The trail was wet with some muddy spots along the way. At one point I stopped I take some pictures of the lake and Cradle Rock Ridge across the lake. I noticed some brown-headed ducks sitting on a log and took some pictures of them as they slipped into the water. We heard some people on the far side of the lake at one of the campsites. We continued on the trail and crossed the first bridge. The beaver dams that had been backing up water over the trail had been removed. I like beavers and don't like to see their work destroyed but this step was necessary. We crossed the second bridge and shortly after turned left to head toward the lean-to on the Millbrook Ridge Trail. The trail was very wet and muddy in many places. There were several blowdowns along the way which almost blocked the trail although some had been cut just enough to allow passage. All of the streams crossing the trail were running but not with as much water as I had expected. As we walked, we could hear Alder Creek to the right of us but a quick look showed there was very little water. We began to climb one of the ascents which did not seem much of a challenge at all. We stopped at the first beaver meadow but one look told me the scene was not worth getting wet! We came to a large blowdown blocking the trail and turned right on the detour that had been created. Fortunately the detour was not very wet. For the next 1.5 miles the trail climbed and then leveled off several times. The elevation gain is several hundred feet but the grade is never more than 12% and averages around 6%. There isn't too much to see along the way but this day was very pleasant and I had Bryce to talk to. We enjoyed the sounds and sights of Alder Creek as it flows parallel to the trail much of the way. There were several large blowdowns across the trail which would have been easy to clear with a chainsaw but nothing had been touched. We walked over or around these blowdowns. The trail in this area was very wet and muddy. As we approached the lean-to, we saw the beaver pond where there had been a beaver meadow. We walked out to the shore of the pond just downstream of the dam. The shore was cleaned back at least 10 feet of all trees but the brush and weeds had begun to grow back. I took pictures of the whole scene and then more shots of the dam, the beaver lodge and the pond. When I finished, I returned my camera to my pack and we walked back put to the main trail to the lean-to.

It had taken an hour and 30 minutes to get to the lean-to which was a decent pace given the times I stopped to take pictures. There was no garbage at he lean-to which pleased me as I did not want to carry it back to the car. The lean-to itself is in poor shape and has needed repair or reconstruction for some time. The privy has been destroyed and there doesn't seem to be much concern about fixing the situation. I started to walk out to the edge of the beaver pond to take pictures but was stopped by the high weeds. I took some shots from where I was including some of the pond and the beaver lodge. I looked for some wildlife hoping to see beavers but everything was quiet. After we got a drink and I ate a bar, we walked back to the main trail and turned left to head back to the car. The walk back seemed to go very quickly as Bryce told me everything there is to know about Minecraft! When we came to the loop trail around the lake, we turned right. Almost immediately we saw a young couple coming toward us. We moved to the side of the trail and took Sheila by the collar. The couple thanked us and told me they are just hiking around the lake. We continued on the trail passing the many unoccupied campsites. As we walked up the trail to the Coykendall Mansion a young couple was sitting at one of the picnic tables with a young child. I thought is was a shame that the state no linear maintained the "lawn" as this is a beautiful place to visit. On the way back I was attracted to the noise Alder Creek was making. I wanted to go down to the creek and explore the waterfalls I had found there. We walked out the access road as I tried to find a place that did not require us to walk through waist high weeds. I could not find a spot and gave up on the idea of hiking down to the spring and following the creek. We walked back to the car and I noticed that a car was parked blocking the gate despite many free spaces in the lot. This car would be in the way of any emergency vehicles that might need to get to the lake. I wrote a short message on a piece of medical tape that I had and placed it on the car's driver side window. We were back at 1:25 PM having covered 4.8 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes total time. The total elevation gain was 720 feet.

On Tuesday, July 21st, I was very tired from a string of ambulance alls including one in the middle of the night. I decided to sleep in, do some work around the house and forego the hiking for a day. This plan was disrupted by an ambulance call at the clinic in town at around 9"00 AM. I was the only responder from Livingston Manor do I took the ambulance to first respond until Roscoe arrived to take the call. When I returned home I did some chores including cleaning and lubricating my Stihl trimmer. This got me thinking about the knotweed encroaching on the trails near Russell Brook Falls. I did not want to haul my trimmer up there but decided to take Sheila and head up to Trout Pond to start the trimming knowing I could finish it on another day. I put my two machetes in my pack and made sure I had water as the temperatures was already in the low 80's. Sheila got wind of what was going on and began running around the house barking. I got dressed in a Columbia short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have the Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which I don't wear for serious hikes anymore but are perfect for work. I knew I would not need hiking poles as work was the order of the day not hiking. I also added a new OR floppy hat which shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and pulled out of Livingston Manor at 1:00 PM. The skies were blue with towering puffy white clouds with plenty of sun. I headed to Roscoe on State Route 17, got off at exit 94 and got on Route 206. I followed it across the Delaware County line to Morton Hill Road. After a left turn on Morton Hill Road, I drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned left on Russell Brook Road and drove down to the lower parking area where there were a few free spaces. There were quite a few people milling around. Some were getting in their cars to leave while other were getting ready to start out. The temperature was 82 degrees and the humidity seemed high. I out Sheila on her leash and we walked down the woods road to the bridge across Russell Brook. We walked a little farther and I tied Sheila to a tree with plenty of shade. I took "before" pictures of the knotweed encroaching on the road. I also took pictures of the path to the falls which was almost completely blocked.

I put my camera away and got out my LT Wright Overland machete. This is almost the perfect tool for cutting the knotweed. I had not remembered sharpening it in some time but when I ran my finger across the blade it was very sharp. I didn't know how long I would work or how far I would get but I knew I could always come back and finish the job. I started cutting at the end nearest the bridge and started to develop a rhythm almost immediately. After I cut some stalks, I had to pile them which increased the time. I established a pile on the other side of the road and continued to pile the cut stalks there for some time before establishing the next pile. I made sire to cut back further than seemed necessary as the remaining stalks often lean over into the path and new stalks tend to grow back. Every now and then I would evaluate my work and cut a few more that I had missed. I kept working and soon found an hour had passed. I gave Sheila ad rink and got one myself. I then continued to trim making my goal to cut all the knotweed up to the path to the falls. I could then come back the next day and trim that path. As I worked several groups of people cam by with some heading out and some returning. Each group thanked me for my work with some enquiring if I was a volunteer. I gave them a quick lesson on who maintains the trails in the Catskills and on the history of the area. After two hours, I was at the path to the falls. I still had some energy and didn't want to leave without finishing. I made sure Sheila had water and got a drink myself. I the started to attack the path. The problem was that the path was blocked by both knotweed and other weeds and briars. I cut the knotweed on the one side and then sliced into some of the weeds on the other side. Some weeds required I grab them with one hand while slicing with the other. I was very careful to pay attention to what I was doing to avoid a conflict between body parts and machete. Dragging away the briars was probably the worst part of the job. After 2 hours and a half hours I had completed what I wanted to finished on the path. I cut a few more stalks that were hanging over the road and then packed up. Sheila had been very patient the whole time but seemed to be eager to leave. As we walked to the end of the bridge, I noticed a few stalks that needed to be removed. It did not take long to eliminate them. As I was finishing, a woman came by and we struck up a conversation while walking back up the hill to the parking lot. We were back at the car at 3:50 PM after spending 2 and a half hours of work. The temperature was 86 degrees with high humidity.

On Monday, July 20th my grandson Bryce was going to be at the house and I wanted to get a hike in with him. I had a doctor's appointment at 9:00 AM in Monroe but it was a quick checkup and I was able to leave by 9:20 AM. When I arrived home a little after 10:30 AM, Bryce was there and I decided we would go to hike at Trout Pond. I wanted to see if the recent rains had augmented Russell Brook Falls and Bryce was ready to go. Sheila was especially excited as I began to dress as we had not really been hiking in three days so she watched every move I made. I got dressed in a Columbia short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have Velcro closures at the ankles as some do to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided against wearing my OR Bugout gaiters. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my gear in the back of the car and Bryce and Sheila in the backseat and headed for Roscoe on the Quickway at 10:45 AM. I got off at exit 94, turned left and drove out the Rockland Flats on Route 206. Just after the Roscoe Nursing Home I turned left on Morton Hill Road and followed it for 3 miles to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the shoulder of the road to avoid parking in the private lot. The temperature was 78 degrees and it seemed a little humid!

We got out of the car, I set my Garmin GPS unit and put Sheila on her leash. We started down Russell Brook Road toward the upper falls. I was expecting everything to be very wet but the road was pretty dry and we made good time walking downhill. There were campers occupying the first campsite on the right and another large group at the campsite further down the road on the left. There were also several cars parked along the road and I assumed they just didn't know any better or were too lazy to park in the lot. We continued to walk quickly downhill to the path down to the viewpoint above the falls. We turned down the path to the upper falls, and I put down my pack and got out the camera. There was less water going over the falls than I thought as I took several shots with differing settings. I remembered how dry it had been before the recent rain and how the rain did not last very long. Once I finished the photography, I packed up, and we walked down the road to the lower parking area. The lot was over half filled which surprised me for a Monday. We walked down the woods road to cross Russell Brook. We crossed the bridge and found that the Japanese knotweed was now encroaching on the trail and I knew I would have to make an "emergency" trip to cut it back. We continued on the road and arrived at the informal path to the falls. The path was almost invisible and was blocked by knotweed, other weeds and briars. We turned right on the path to the falls and pushed our way through the mess. We walked over to the path down the bank. Sheila, Bryce and I walked down the bank to the streambed and carefully descended to the brook. The falls were flowing with a good volume but not as much as I had anticipated. We immediately noticed that someone had decided to improve on nature and build some stacks of rocks in the stream. I took a picture of the cairns before Bryce and I dismantled them. I also moved rocks that someone had placed to dam up the stream. The doctrine of Leave No Trace says that as much as possible we should visit nature and leave it as we found it. I even wonder sometimes about clearing and marking trails. I took some pictures of the falls and then some of the stream. I took a few more pictures of the falls and a few of Sheila sitting in front of it. I also took a picture of Sheila and Bryce together in front of the falls. Bryce, Sheila and I walked back up the stream bank and out to the main trail.

We turned right and at the trail junction just after the register, we continued straight ahead to walk up to Trout Pond. The trail was damp in a few places but there was almost no mud. As we walked up the trail, I noticed a couple hiking behind us but they turned to the left to hike toward Mud Pond. Bryce and I picked up small branches as we went. In Ione spot we stopped and were able to drag a large branch which partially blocked the trail off to the side. When we arrived at the pond, we turned left and walked out to the "beach" at the outlet end of the pond. The level of the pond was very low and much of the beach was exposed. A young couple with a young child were exploring the area by the dam. The skies were very blue with towering white clouds. As Sheila took a dip, I took out my camera and took some shots of the pond. I took some panoramic pictures and then zoomed in on different parts of the scene. Sheila didn't seem to want to swim much even when I threw a stick in the water. After getting a drink and a snack, I packed up and we headed back to the main trail. We turned left and continued on the main trail on the east side of Trout Pond walking toward the inlet end and the lean-tos. The trail was wet in spots with some mud. No one was camping at the large campsite on the right side of the trail before the lean-tos or at the lean-tos themselves. As we crossed the bridge at the inlet end of the pond, I noticed that the inlet stream was not very high. I stopped to take some pictures of the pond from the bridge. We continued on the trail by turning right and starting up a hill which is the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. At the turn, the trail was almost dry, and we easily walked up the hill. I had to admit that I was beginning to get tired and the humidity seemed oppressive. Not very far from the turn was a large blowdown along the side of the trail which had been cleared since my last hike. After we had walked for some time, As we continued to hike we kept running into blowdowns from the recent storms. Some of these were older and some newer. Some could be easily stepped over while other required more effort to bypass. I knew it was time too bring my tools to hike the loop. Soon we were at the highest point on Cherry Ridge and starting down the other side.

I anticipated that the trail would have quite a bit of water, but there was little even in places that are often under water. We continued on the trail ascending to the area where there is a forest of small birch trees. Some of these trees were blown down across the trail. Soon we were at the woods road and snowmobile trail that runs by Mud Pond. We turned left and started the short walk uphill. This part of the trail was also completely dry. At the top of the hill, we began the long descent back to the trail junction where we had started. The descent lasts for .7 miles and drops 385 feet to a bridge that crosses the outlet stream from Trout Pond. This part of the trail was just as dry as the other sections. As we descended, we came to a spot where a small stream crosses and this time it was just a trickle. We continued down the hill on the main trail toward the campsite at the bottom of the hill on the left side of the trail. This campsite was also empty. We continued on the trail crossing the bridge over the stream and walking back out to the trail register. We turned right and headed back toward the lower parking area on the main trail. We walked up the short path to the lower parking area and then up the road to the car. There were several cars in the parking area and I could see people down at the falls. The hike up the hill to the car proved to be a challenge for me but Bryce, as he had for the entire hike, had no problem. We arrived back at the car at 2:15 PM after hiking 5.7 miles in 3 hours and 5 minutes with a 1130 foot total ascent. The temperature on the car thermometer was 82 degrees.

On Saturday, July 18th I wanted to go to Round Top to get in a short hike between ambulance calls and family commitments. Brad and I started to get ready around 10:30 AM. Sheila was always near but not too near to be considered under foot and we got ready. She was obviously excited since we had not been out in two days! I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top but decided against a baselayer as the temperature was in the low 80's. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided against wearing my OR Bugout gaiters. I decided to put on my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also picked out a pair of external lock Leki hiking poles. I also added a new OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. We stepped out of the house at 11:00 AM and grabbed Sheila's leash from the car. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church and to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. As we neared the top, I realized that there was burial taking place and I kept Sheila near as we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that at least a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails.

At the first trail junction, we continued straight ahead on the yellow trail as it took us up the hill to the lookout over town. We took a quick look at the viewpoint and found it becoming blocked by some trees that need to be eliminated. We turned right and followed the yellow trail uphill through a sea of green ferns. At the junction with the blue trail we turned right to stay on the yellow trail and walk along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and started up the hill to the summit. We passed by the new crossover trail which is marked with orange ribbon. We passed over the top an found there were very few branches leaning into the trail. We started down the steep part of the trail and passed the other end of the crossover trail. Just after the orange ribbon, we turned left on the switchback trail which will replace the steepest part of the trail to the summit which is eroding. We followed the blue ribbons of the switchback and it was obvious that others had been doing the same. As we hiked this short section on trail it seemed that we riled up a swarm of mosquitoes as I started to swat them as they bit me. We continued on the blue trail back to the yellow trail and turned left to again follow it along the base of Round Top. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned right this time to follow the yellow trail down to the woods road. We continued along the woods road back to the very first trail junction. We turned around and started back up the woods road as I wanted to get in at least one more figure 8. At the first junction with the blue trail we turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the second junction. We turned right on the blue trail and headed toward the summit by passing the switchback trail this time. At the orange ribbons we turned right to follow the new crossover trail. We walked along the trail heading toward the blue trail on the other side and bypassing the summit. I did notice that there was a little more schilling on this route than I wanted but I knew that could be adjusted as we finalize the trail. Soon we were at the blue trail where we turned right. We followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top and turned left at the next junction with the blue trail. We followed the yellow trail down to the overlook where we turned left and followed the trail back to the first trail junction. It was almost noon which was our deadline so we continued straight out to the trailhead. We turned right and I put Sheila on her leash as we descended the hill to the church parking lot. We crossed the street to the driveway and walked to the house. We had covered a little over 2 miles in 1 hour.

On Wednesday, July 15th I wanted to get in a longer hike close to home after a late morning coaches' meeting. Lisa contacted me and wanted to hike from Big Pond toward Alder Lake doing some trimming as we went. I told her that Brad and I had been working on the last few hikes and I would rather just hike. She agreed and I told her we would meet her at Big Pond at 12:30 PM. When I got up at 7:30 AM, the temperature was still in the high 60's. I did some things around the house and retrieved the mail. The meeting began at 10:30 AM and most coaches were present. During the meeting, we discussed the possibilities for the fall sports season. We came away with the idea that we will have to wait and see what the state has in store for a reopening to school. The meeting ended at 11:30 AM and I began to get ready to hike. I got dressed in a Columbia short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the cuffs as some do to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which are on their last legs but still fit well. I knew the route we were taking could be very wet and muddy and these shoes were a good solution. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added my OR Bugout gaiters to fight off the mud and the ticks. We put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the backseat and drove out Old Rt 17 to the Beaverkill Road where I turned right. I drove through Lew Beach toward Turnwood. At the intersection with the Barkaboom Road I stayed to the left on Barkaboom Road until I came to the access road to the upper parking area at Big Pond. I decided to check for Lisa at the lower Big Pond parking lot and she was there. I told her we were going to park at the upper lot and turned around. I turned left on the access road and drove to the parking area which was filled. I turned around and parked off the side of the road. As we were getting ready just before 12:40 AM the temperature was 78 degrees with a slight breeze. Lisa came up the road and parked in front of us and Sheila greeted her enthusiastically and started running around.

I set my GPS unit and we started out on the trail toward Alder Creek Road. The initial part of the trail is pretty flat for a long time and passes several campsite areas before descending a little. The grass was pretty high but the trail was well worn from the increased use. After the campsites, the trail begins to ascend on an old woods road. This part of the trail was pretty dry but there were several blowdowns that we would need to return to remove with tools. At .5 miles the trail turns off the woods road but continues to ascend until about 1 mile gaining 450 feet at a 10% grade. This isn't very steep but we were keeping a fast pace and I was getting winded. We removed a few branches along the way and rolled some larger trunks off the trail. On the way up the trail, we met a young couple coming toward us with camping gear. I took Sheila off the trail as they passed ny. They stopped a minute to talk and told us they had parked at Big Pond the day before and hiked to Alder Lake to camp. They were no headed back to their car. They said the trail was in pretty good shape except for one area of briars. The trail passed through an evergreen forest and then broke out into the sunlight. The trail now was overgrown with brush and briars. I knew this would need to be cleared and that the easiest way was with my Stihl trimmer. The problem with using the trimmer is carrying it the distance needed to do the rimming! This area of trail also had some major blowdown across the trail which were too big for hand tools. After about the 1 mile mark, the trail flattens and then begins to descend into a little valley cut by a seasonal stream. After we left the briars, the nettles began to appear as the trail got a lot wetter. There were several wet and muddy areas caused by drainage from the high ridge to our left. One area was very wet and muddy and was the reason that I wore the Taku shoes. We passed an old foundation and several extensive stone walls. I knew then that we were headed down to the small stream. It was nice to be hiking downhill but the nettles began to increase and there were a few more blowdowns. When we got to the stream, I was surprised to find that there was no water. It was 1:40 PM and Lisa decided to return to her car as she had some things to do.

Brad and I continued across the stream and started walked uphill on a woods road toward the beaver meadow. The uphill walk was a little tiring but we were soon at the beaver meadow after hiking about 2 miles. We came to the beaver meadow but I decided not to take any pictures and we continued on the trail. At 2.2 miles we turned east and completed the climb to the top of the hill. Once again we began to descend a hill as we headed for Alder Creek Road and I thought about the climb back up the hills! Eventually the trail flattened out and we walked across a flat area before starting down again. We passed by some interesting rock ledges on the left with some large rocks and boulders on the right. The trail continued to descend again on a woods road and at 2.75 miles turned left as the descent continued. At the base of the hill the trail flattened and we followed it to Alder Creek. As Sheila got a drink Brad and I crossed it easily and walked up to the road where we turned around at 2:15 PM to retrace our steps to the car. We now had to walk up all the hills we walked down on the way out! We set a pretty fast pace and did not stop for pictures. At 3.6 miles we descended a hill and made a left turn to head south passed the beaver meadow. After crossing the stream, we began another long hike uphill. The hike from the stream to the top of the hill was .8 miles and gained over 300 feet but seemed easier than I thought it might. We crossed the wet and muddy spots quickly and then had to walk uphill through the briars. Walking uphill seemed to be more difficult than walking downhill through them. At 4.8 miles we hit the top of the last hill and I was glad that the rest of the trip was downhill. At one point, I looked up to see a young woman hiker coming toward us. I moved Sheila off the trail so that she could pass. She told us she had parked at Alder Lake and hiked to Big Pond the day before. She camped at Big Pond and was walking back to Alder Lake to her car. As we started up the last small hill toward the campsite a young man came walking down the hill. We said "hello" as we passed. Brad and I looked at each other because the hiker had no gear at all including no water! We were back at the car at 3:50 PM after hiking 5.8 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes. The total elevation gain was 1400 feet. The temperature was now 84 degrees. Many of the cars were gone from the parking area but they had been replaced by others. I had thought about going to Alder Lake to explore the waterfalls on Alder Creek but I was tired and wanted to just go home.

On Monday, July 13th, Brad was in town for a week so I planned to go for a hike in Frick and Hodge Pond area to clear some blowdowns from the trails. My plan was to hike to Hodge Pond on the Flynn Trail and then return to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. From here I would hike to the end of the Big Rock Trail around the back of Frick Pond and then on the Quick Lake Trail back to the parking area. As often happens the ambulance pager sounded at 0830 and Brad and I were off on a call. When we returned we decided to get ready to go. As I got my gear together at 11:15 AM, Sheila seemed to be in complete agreement with our decision as she followed me around as I was dressing. The temperature was in the low 70's and it felt at least that warm with pretty high humidity. I got dressed in a Columbia short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the cuffs as some do to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. We put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the backseat and drove out the Debruce Road about 6 miles. I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. There were several cars parked in the larger lot but only one in the small lot where I parked. The thermometer read 72 degrees. I found I had left my GPS home but I knew we would my hiking a route I had hiked before. The skies were blue with plenty of sun and lots of billowing white clouds. There was a slight breeze which seemed to be dispersing the insects but they were still numerous. I did not spray any insect repellant as I do not like the smell.

At 11:10 AM we started our hike by crossing the road to start out on the Flynn Trail. At the end of the trail through the woods, we turned right on the woods road that was once the extension of Beech Mountain Road. We kept a quick pace with Sheila roving out ahead kicking up a few birds as we hiked. Along the way we cleared a few branches off the trail. The Flynn Trail ascends 1.7 miles to the Big Rock Trail junction gaining 600 feet. The more I hike the quicker I can hike and easier it seems. As we neared the highest point on the hike, we ran into the first of three small blowdowns and stopped to remove it from the trail. Brad used the ax to cut this small trunk into two pieces while I cut off some smaller branches and dragged them off the trail. Brad was able to pivot the top half of the trunk off the trail and we were done. We picked up and found the next one a short distance away. This one had broken up high but was still hung up. I cut the trunk in the middle and the part attached to the standing trunk pivoted easily off the trail. Brad dragged the upper part of the trail and we were off again. The last blowdown before the junction was a small tree. I made a cut and Brad dragged away the upper part while I trimmed what was left. We continued on the Flynn Trail passing through the junction with the Big Rock Trail and heading toward the gate that separates state land from land owned by OSI. Just after the gate we cut another small blowdown and then dispatched anther just after that. I asked Brad if he would mind making a loop around Hodge Pond. Since he had no objection, we continued on the Flynn Trail to the next junction. The Flynn Trail turned left and descended to Hodge Pond. We turned right and walked the woods road toward the ruins of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. At the next junction, we turned left on a road that headed down toward the shores of the pond. When we reached the jeep trail, we turned right to loop around the back of the pond. We found the path that leads down to the shore and turned left. Sheila immediately ran to jump in the pond and I got out my camera. I was able to get some pictures of her in the water and then took more shots of the pond. There were some very nice puffy white clouds at the outlet end of the pond. I also took pictures of the water which was clear enough to reveal the sandy bottom. I picked up and we continued around the pond. At the Flynn Trail we turned left to confine along the west side of the pond. This trail was wet and muddy but we avoid those areas with no problem. We crossed the field where the main mess hall for the camp had stood and passed under some trees. When we reached the clearing at the outlet end of the pond, we turned left and walked to the shore of the pond. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take some pictures. I captured shots of the pond from several angles and then out the camera back in the pack.

I got a drink and a bar before we turned around and headed for the point where then Flynn Trail entered the woods and headed uphill. The walk up this hill sometimes deems long even though the grade is moderate. On this day we set a quick pace and kept talking which made the hike go faster. At the top of the hill we turned right to stay on the Flynn Trail. We hiked back to the junction with the Big Rock Trail where we turned right. Walking downhill seemed so easy that we were almost running at times. We stopped only once to remove a small branch that was encroaching on the trail. We kept descending passing the larger blowdown I had removed the previous time I had done maintenance. The mosquitoes became unbearable so we stopped and sprayed on some repellant which seemed to help. We came to Times Square, which was wetter than it had been in some time, and continued straight ahead on the Big Rock Trail around the upper end of Frick Pond. The trail was wet and muddy in spots but soon we were at the bridges over the inlet streams. Just after the bridges I showed Brad the large spruce tree that had blocked the trail and the work I had been doing on it. We continued on the Big Rock Trail and over the wooden walkways. We avoided a few muddy spots and came to the junction with the Quick Lake Trail. I knew of one more blowdown that was across the Quick Lake Trail so we turned right and started to walk north. The trail was the wettest we had walked yet and we had to get creative to walk around some of the spots. It wasn't long before we came to the blowdown that partially blocked the trail. I cut the trunk in one spot and as the pieces separated the piece attached to the standing trunk tore away. Brad dragged the other piece off the trail and we were done. We turned around and on the way back we removed one more small tree. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we continued straight ahead on the Quick Lake Trail. We stopped at the bridge over the outlet stream and I dropped my pack to take out the camera. Brad pointed out that he thought he saw the blue heron standing completely still in the pond. I zoomed in with the camera and four he was right! I took pictures of the horn and of the pond. I also got pictures of Flynn' Point and of the beaver dam which was till intact. By this time I was hot, sticky and tired. We walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction and continued straight ahead on the Quick Lake Trail back to the car. This part of the trail had some water but it was easily avoided. We were back at the car by 2:25 PM having hiked 6.2 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes with an elevation gain of 915 feet. I found a note on my car from my brother-ion-law Jeff stating that he had brought his daughter's family to hike and was parked next to my car! The temperature was now 78 degrees and the humidity was oppressive.

On Saturday, July 11th I wanted to go to Round Top to trim some brush that was encroaching on the trail and one tree that had was arching over the trail. My son-in-law Brad was in town and wanted to go with me. Sheila was always near but not too near to be considered under foot and we got ready. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top but decided against a baselayer as the temperature was in the low 80's. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided against wearing my OR Bugout gaiters. I decided to put on my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I decided to forego bringing poles as I would have carry my maintenance gear and I knew the hike would be short. I wedged my Silky Sugowaza and LTW Overland machete in my pack. I also got my Fiskars ax which I have found is a nice balance of light and capable of getting the job done. I decided to quickly sharpen my Corona loppers and bring them along. I also added a new OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. We stepped out of the house at 12:30 PM and I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. We walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church and to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, I stopped to look around at the hills around town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that at least a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails. As we approached the first trail junction, a family of four came toward us. They had done the lower loop and seemed very happy to be out together.

At the first trail junction, we turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first next junction with the blue trail. The trail was wet and muddy in spots from the rain that had fallen. When we turned left from the woods road onto the trail, we trimmed a few branches that were hanging into the trail. This was despite the fact that I had trimmed back the trail with the Stihl trimmer. At the trail junction we continued straight ahead on the blue trail. We trimmed some branches and brush until we arrived at a medium sized white birch that was broken and arched over the trail. I took a look and decided to notch it with the ax and them cut through with the Silky Sugowaza. The cutting with the ax went quickly as did the cut with the saw. Brad helped pull it down. Rather than make another cut, we were able to split the trunk where it was cracked. We then lifted both parts of the trunk well off the trail. We continued up the trail toward the summit trimming as we went. I pointed out the orange ribbons marking the new crossover trail to Brad. We walked across the summit and found only a few branches to cut. As we walked down the steeper section of the blue trail we trimmed a few branches. I pointed out the other end of the crossover trail to Bard and both ends of the switchback trail. The steepest part of the trail was wet, muddy and slippery and I found it tricky to negotiate without poles. At the bottom of the hill we turned left on the yellow trail and started along the base of Round Top. There were quite a few branches leaning into the trail and we cut them off and threw them off the trail. We continued along the trail trimming as we went. As we approached the junction with the blue trail, Brad got a phone call. It was Cindy telling us we had an ambulance call at the brewery in Roscoe and no one else was responding. I called EMS control to tell them we were going and they told me it was a BLS call. Brad and I began running down the trail at a pretty good pace being careful to avoid the slippery places. Sheila seemed to enjoy the pace! We continued to jog out to the trailhead and down to the church parking lot. We crossed the street to the driveway and took a moment at the house to get ready to go. I drove down to the building and we headed for Roscoe. It only took us 5 minutes more to respond than usual! The injured party at the brewery did not want to go to the hospital so we returned to base.

On Thursday, July 9th I had planned to hike a longer hike early at Bear Spring since the forecast called for rain in the afternoon. When I got up at 9:30 AM, I changed my mind and decided to do a loop of about 6 miles at Hodge and Frick Ponds. I had not hiked UP the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond in some time and made that my intended route. I got dressed in a Columbia short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have Velcro closures at the ankles as some do to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I put on my OR Bugout gaiters just in case the ticks were active. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the backseat and drove out the Debruce Road about 6 miles. I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. There were three cars parked in the larger lot but none in the small lot where I parked. The thermometer read 72 degrees as I set my GPS. The skies were blue with plenty of sun and lots of billowing white clouds. There was a slight breeze which seemed to be dispersing the insects but they were still numerous. I did not spray any insect repellant as I do not like the smell. At 10:30 AM we started our hike by crossing the road to start out on the Flynn Trail. At the end of the trail through the woods we turned right on the woods road that was once the extension of Beech Mountain Road. I kept a quick pace with Sheila roving out ahead kicking up a few birds as we hiked. The Flynn Trail ascends 1.7 miles to the Big Rock Trail junction gaining 600 feet. The more I hike the quicker I can hike and easier it seems. as we neared the highest point on the hike, we ran into four small blowdowns and I made note that I would handle them on the next hike. By 11:15 AM we had hiked the 1.7 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued straight ahead staying on the Flynn Trail heading toward Hodge Pond. We passed through the gate and found a few more small blowdowns. We soon were at the next trail junction where we stayed to the left to stay on the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond.

As we approached the pond, I looked at the scene and decided to walk over to the shore of the pond. Sheila immediately jumped into the pond to get wet and swim around. I took some pictures of her and then threw a stick for her to retrieve. I then turned my attention to taking some shots of the pond. When I was done, I got a drink and packed up. We headed back to the Flynn Trail and turned right to follow the trail along the west side of Hodge Pond. To this point the trail had been relatively dry but as we continued on the west side of Hodge Pond the Flynn Trail began to be muddy. As we walked along the western shore, we came to a spot where we could turn left or right. We turned left to stay on the Flynn Trail and began a slight up hill climb to the gate where the trail turns to the left. This part of the Flynn Trail is pretty flat and the trail is often the lowest point which allows water to collect with nowhere to go. The rain earlier in the week had made the trail wet and I had to walk around several wet and muddy areas. Despite this the trail was not as wet as it sometimes is and not as wet as I thought it would be given the rain that had fallen. I noticed that Sheila was pretty careful to walk around these areas as I had encouraged her. There were a few branches on the trails which I removed as we walked. We arrived at Junkyard Junction at noon about 3.3 miles into the hike. From here the rest of the hike is primarily downhill with a few small hills along the way. We turned left on the red Quick Lake Trail and found it was also wet and muddy in spots. Some section of the trail are washed out leaving a lot of rocks behind and making the downhill hiking not as much fun as it could be. At about 3.8 miles the trail turned due south and we continued downhill. There was a crash to the right side of the trail which caught the attention of us both. My first thought was that it was a bear cub or another animal that had fallen out of a tree! I quickly realized it was more likely that a tree or branch had fallen. In any case, I told Sheila to stay with me and we quickened our pace.

There wasn't much to see so we hiked quickly passing the junction with the snowmobile trail. We arrived at Iron Wheel Junction at 12:40 PM after hiking 5.0 miles. We turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail since the yellow Logger's Loop continued straight ahead. The trail continued to be muddy but we made good time. At one point I looked up an saw two people approaching us with a dog. The dog was very small and did not look like it was happy on the trail. The owner of the dog asked me how much further it was to the Flynn Trail. When I said it was about 2 miles, he seemed discouraged. I did not tell him that they would then have another 3 miles to complete the loop! We continued on the trail and soon were crossing the little stream in the woods. The stream was easy to cross and there were some stepping stones to help. I looked upstream and could not see any running water. We continued toward Frick Pond and found several more blowdowns. One of these I was able to pivot off the trail but the other would require tools. There were a few wet and muddy spots but most were drier than I expected. We passed the junction with the Big Rock Trail that goes around the north end of Frick Pond and walked to the bridge across the outlet of the pond. As we approached the bridge, Sheila went ahead to take a quick dip and I noticed movement in the pond. I called Sheila and looked to see a great blue heron standing in the water not very far away. I kept Sheila with me and dropped my pack. I took out my camera and walked to the bridge to take some pictures. I was disappointed to find the heron had move farther out in the pond but I was still able to get some shots. I also took pictures of the pond as the sky was blue with puffy white clouds. I got a drink and gave Sheila one as I was sweating profusely. I picked up and we continued back on the Quick Lake Trail toward the trail register. Along the way I saw two people coming toward us so I put Sheila on her leash and moved off the trail. The two gentleman had on masks and said "Hello". One of them complimented Sheila and I thanked him. We continued on our way. At the trail register we continued straight ahead on the woods road to the smaller parking area. There was one car parked next to my car and several parked in the larger lot. It was 1:20 PM and we had hiked 6.4 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes with an elevation gain of 900 feet. The temperature was 83 degrees and the humidity was still oppressive.

On Tuesday, July 7th Lisa and I decided to go to Frick Pond to pick up and garbage left behind by campers and to do some lopping on the trail around Frick Pond. Lisa had asked me to go down to the community garden and do some weed whacking. I wanted to get down to the garden early but a middle of the night ambulance call kept me in bed until almost 9:00 AM. I got up and immediately dressed to whack. I grabbed my Stihl weed whacker and headed down to the garden. The weeds Lisa had be cut had pretty woody stems and it hurt a little as I wore short sleeves. I talked to Lisa and we agreed to meet at the Frick Pond parking at 11:00 AM> I went home and cleaned up a little. As I started to get ready at 10:15 AM, Sheila was watching my every move but was doing so quitely. The temperature was already in the mid 70's and it was very humid. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I hoped this would be enough so that I would not have to wear gaiters. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I decided to forego bringing poles as I would have carry my maintenance gear and I knew the hike would be short. I wedged my Silky Sugowaza in my pack and added two plastic felling wedges. I also got my Corona loppers which have extendible handles which allow me to reach higher and get more leverage. I put all my gear in the back of the car and put Sheila in the backseat. I headed out DeBruce Road and after six miles I turned left on Mongaup Pond Road. We caught up to a car and I realized it was Lisa. What was funny was that Sheila began to get excited as she recognized the car also! At the fork in the road I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. The smaller parking lot had one car and the larger lot was empty. Lisa and I both parked in the smaller lot and got ready to hike. At 11:00 AM we began the hike by walking out the woods road to the register on the Quick Lake Trail. Our plan was to hike out to Gravestone Junction without doing any work. We would then hike clockwise around the pond lopping branches and visiting some campsites to pick up any trash.

As we hiked out, we saw several branches that we knew we would try to trim on the way back. We turned left at Gravestone Junction and headed down to the bridge at the outlet end of the pond. The beaver dam was still intact and the water level in the pond was elevated without much outflow. I declined to take pictures as the skies were overcast and I have many pictures from this spot. As we continued on the QuickLake Trail on the west side of the pond, we began to lop a lot of branches sticking out into the trail or hanging down. I like to trim back a little further than is absolutely necessary so that the taming needs to be done less often. I also like to trim pretty high up since these trails are used to snowshoe in the winter. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail I pointed out to Lisa the tree Bryce and I had cut. We continue on the trail and did not have to do too much trimming. At one point we walked off the trail to the left and came upon a fire ring and campsite where I had seen people camping over the weekend. We were ready to pickup trash but there was none! We took a slightly different route back to the wooden walkways and continued around the pond. We came to the large spruce log across the trail. I had put a notch in the log to make it easier for hikers to get over it. As I looked at the log this time, I could see it would not take too much to get all the way through it. We continued on the Bog Rock Trail around the upper end of the pond. There wasn't much trimming to do so we continued to Times Square. At Times Square we noticed how dry this normally wet area was. We turned right on the Logger's Loop and began walking uphill. The first part of the trail did not need much trimming but as the trail narrowed we began to trim again. We cut quite a few branches on the sides of the trail and overhead. We also had to move the branches off the trail which slowed us down a little. We continued on the trail to the point where a path leads off to the right and goes to another fire rind and campsite. We did a little trimming to get to the campsite. We again looked for trash but could not find any although it was clear people had recently camped there. We walked back out to the main trail to Gravestone Junction, We turned left and started back to the cars. On the way back we did quite a bit of trimming but I knew it would be necessary to bring my Stihl to completely trim the area. We were back at the parking area at 12:45 PM after hiking 2.2 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes. Our stopped time was 30 minutes although I suspect it was a little more.

On Sunday, July 5th I decided I wanted to go to Frick Pond to work on some trail maintenance on the Big Rock Trail after church. When I returned from church around 10"30 AM the temperature was 80 degrees and the humidity was high. The forecast indicated that the weather would only get more uncomfortable during the day and throughout the week. As I started to get ready Sheila was watching my every move but was doing so quitely. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I hoped this would be enough so that I would not have to wear gaiters. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I decided to forego bringing poles as I would have carry my maintenance gear and I knew the hike would be short. I wedged my Silky Sugowaza and Katanaboy in my pack and added two plastic felling wedges. I also got my Fiskars ax which I have found is a nice balance of light and capable of getting the job done. I put all my gear in the back of the car and put Sheila in the backseat. I headed out DeBruce Road and after six miles I turned left on Mongaup Pond Road. At the fork in the road I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. The smaller parking lot was filled and the larger lot was almost filled. I parked on the very end of the lot and made sure others could get by my car. At 11:30 AM we began the hike by walking out the Quick Lake Trail. Almost immediately I found a trunk across the trail. It looked like I could pivot it off the trail without cutting so I drop my pack. I was able to lift the upper and lighter end and get it off the trail in a secure location. I shoulder my pack and we continued to walk out the trail. I could hear that another car had parked in the lot and I wanted to stay ahead of this group. I found another, larger trunk protruding into the trail but with plenty of room to walk around it. I decided to leave this one for the return trip and we walked out to the trail register. The trail which had been wet from the rains was now barely damp. We walked out the Quick Lake Trail toward Gravestone Junction and met a family of three coming toward us with a dog. I pulled Sheila over to the side of the trail so that they could pass. We said "Hello" and then Sheila and I continued on the trail. Almost immediately another group of people came walking toward us from Frick Pond. There were six of them and most were carrying coolers or some other forms of party equipment. They all said "Hi" and I wondered if they had camped overnight. At Gravetsone Junction, we turned to the right on the Logger's Loop.

We walked out the Logger's Loop toward Times Square clearing one large branch on the way. This section of trail was a little wetter with some muddy areas but we easily avoided them. At the trail junction, we turned right and started up the Big Rock Trail. The pack I was carrying was several pounds heavier due to the tools and I did not have poles to help me up the hill. In addition, the temperature had increased and I could feel the humidity. There was one blowdown blocking the trail that I wanted to clear but I was not sure how far up the trail it was. We walked up the first incline and then across a more level area before starting up the next ascent. Near the top of the ascent after about .65 miles and 300 feet of climb we reached the blowdown. I took some "before" pictures and then got down to work. The blowdown blocked the trail effectively and hikers had begun to work around their way around it. I cleared some loose branches and then began to make some cuts of the smaller branches with the Sugowaza. The cuts went quickly and I took the time to drag the branches off the trail and into the woods. Eventually I was left with two pieces of larger trunk to eliminate. I used the ax to cut one and flipped it end for end off the trail. The last trunk was a little smaller and I used the saw to cut it and then moved it off the trail. I cleaned up a little bit and then took some "after" pictures.

We turned around and hiked back down the Big Rock Trail to Tomes Square. I had to admit it was much easier going downhill! At Times Square we continued straight ahead on the Big Rock Trail around the head end of Frick Pond. The trail had a few muddy patches but we were soon at the bridges over the inlet streams. Just beyond the second bridge was the large spruce tree blocking the trail. I had worked on this tree a few days earlier creating a notch to make it easier for hikers to get over the log. My plan was to cut the notch deeper and wider. I eventually hoped to be able to cut through the entire trunk and remove most of it from the trail. I started to chip away at the trunk with the ax and found the going easier now that the trunk was dried out. I got out the Katanaboy and made a couple of cuts on the side of the log. This allowed me to use the ax to chip off a large section. As I was working two men came toward us from the direction of the Frick Pond bridge. They complimented me on my work and thanked me. I continued to work a little longer and then decided I was tired and that I did not want to cut any further as it might collapse the log.

When I stepped back to take some pictures, it was clear I was more than halfway through! As I was packing up my tools, A young couple came walking toward us from the outlet end of Frick Pond. Sheila immediately seemed very interested and I saw they had a dog. I walked Sheila off the trail and let them pass. I finished packing and then we continued on the Big Rock Trail over the wooden walkways. We arrived at the Quick Lake Trail and turned left to head toward the bridge at the outlet end of Frick Pond. We crossed the bridge and I took a look at the scene. I decided it was not spectacular and that I did not want to stop to take out my camera. We walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction and continued out the trail toward the register. At the register we turned right to follow the Quick Lake Trail to the parking area. We were back at the car at 1:50 PM. We had covered 3.5 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes with almost an hour of stopped time. The elevation gain was 460 feet with a moving average of 2.6 mph. The temperature at the car was 82 degrees and I was glad to be headed home.

On Friday, July 3rd I was going to take a day off but decided it was such a nice day that I would go across the street and hike the "new trails" on Round Top. I wanted to see how many people had chosen to walk these newly marked trails. Sheila was always near but not too near to be considered under foot. I got dressed in a Columbia short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. Despite this I decided against wearing my OR Bugout gaiters. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a new OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. We stepped out of the house at 12:30 PM and I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. I decided we would try to do just two figure 8's which would allow me to cover all the trails. We walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church and to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, I stopped to look around at the hills around town. A breeze had begun to blow which made it a little cooler and I hoped would keep away the insects. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that at least a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. It was obvious that the warm weather and rain had caused an explosion of growth and the trails were beginning to get overgrown with brush and high grass. This was despite the fact that I had trimmed back the trail with the Stihl trimmer. I set a quicker pace than usual as I did not plan to hike for very long. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. Walking uphill we passed through a sea of green brought on by the warm weather and frequent rain showers. Just before the steepest section we turned right on the switchback trail marked with yellow ribbon. We continued to follow these ribbons as they made a sharp turn and headed back to the blue trail. We turned right on the blue trail and almost immediately turned right on the orange crossover trail. We walked this trail and I noticed there was a little sidehilling which might have to be mitigated. I also noticed that the trail was beaten down indicating others had walked it. As we approached the blue trail coming down from the summit , In such a way there was a family of five coming down the trail. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked out to the blue trail and turned right. We walked down the blue trail to the yellow trail and turned right. We continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top and turned left at the second junction. We walked down to the lookout and followed the yellow trail as it turned left and headed downhill to the first trail junction. To get a real feel for the new trails, we turned around and walked back up the yellow trail to the lookout and followed it as it turned right. We walked uphill through a sea of ferns to the first junction with the blue trail. We trend right and walked the yellow rail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and headed up toward the summit. As we neared the summit we turned left on the trail marked with orange ribbon and followed it across OT the blue trail. We walked downhill but immediately turned left on the switchback and followed it back to where it joined the blue trail. We followed the blue trail to the junction and turned left to again walk the yellow trail to the next trail junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the woods road that took us back to the first trail junction. This time we turned left and walked back out to the trailhead. I put Sheila on her leash and walked won the cemetery hill toward the church parking lot. Two unleashed dogs were running around but a few stern commands made them back off. We walked across the parking area to the driveway and were home just after 1:30 PM.

On Thursday, July 2nd I decided I wanted to go to Frick Pond to work on some trail maintenance on the Big Rock Trail. I found out that my grandson Bryce would be coming around 9:30 AM and I looked forward to him helping me. I got up at 5:00 AM to go to my men's group at the church at 6:15 AM. I returned to Manor, ate breakfast at Café 43 and returned home. Bryce arrived and I decide we should get ready to go immediately as the temperature was 75 degrees and the humidity was high. The forecast indicated that the weather would only get more uncomfortable. As I started to get ready Sheila was watching my every move but was doing so quitely. I got dressed in a Columbia short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I hoped this would be enough so that I would not have to wear gaiters. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. They were a little wet from the hike the day before when we had encountered some rain showers. I decided to forego bringing poles as I would have carry my maintenance gear and I knew the hike would be short. I wedged my Silky Sugowaza and Katanaboy in my pack and added two plastic felling wedges. I checked the edge on the Fiskars ax and decided it needed to be sharper. I couldn't find the sharpener that came with it so I used a round stone that I had and was surprised at how quickly I could put an edge on it. I put all my gear in the back of the car and got Bryce and Sheila in the backseat. I headed out DeBruce Road and after six miles I turned left on Mongaup Pond Road. At the fork in the road I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and parked in the smaller lot where only a motorcycle was parked. The other lot was empty. At 10:30 AM we began the hike by walking out the wood road to the trail register on the Quick Lake Trail. The trail was still wet from the rains but the water was only on the surface and there was very little mud. We walked down the hill to the bridge over the outlet stream. I did not bother to take pictures as I had done that the day before. We continued along the west side of the pond to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The trail was blocked by a tree that had fallen across the Big Rock and Quick Lake Trails. I dropped my pack and took a "before" picture and then got down to work.

Bryce and I cleared the loose branches and threw them as far as possible off the trail. I cut some more of the small branches the fallen tree had brought down. I was trying to clear the trail and a spot so that I could safely use the ax to cut the tree trunk on the trail. Bryce and I worked together until the branches were cleared. As we were working a woman came strolling down the trail from the north end of the pond. We greeted each other as she passed. I used the ax to cut the tree trunk near the edge of the trail. I then cut the trunk on the other side of the trail.I pivoted the piece of trunk off the side of the trail which left only a few branches to clear to get the trail cleared. Bryce and I then worked to clear the rest of the tree off the Quick Lake Trail. We tried to pivot it off the trail but it was too long. I used the saw to make a cut and then threw the piece I had cut off the trail. We were almost down when the woman came strolling back in the opposite direction headed back toward the north end of the pond. Both Bryce and I wondered if she was lost! We finished cleaning up and I took my "after" pictures. I packed up my tools and we continued on the Big Rock Trail toward Times Square.

As we passed over the wooden walkways, I warned Bryce about the fact that they could be slippery. I did have to worry as the walkways were dry. At one point we heard a noise on the side of the trail away from the pond. We looked over to see the woman that had been walking the trail next to a tent in a small campsite. I could not see whether she was alone or had a companion. Bryce and I arrived at the large tree that was blocking the trail. Bryce was impressed and I agreed as the tree was larger than I remembered. The trunk was a least 2 feet in diameter and was probably a spruce. Most of the wood appeared rotten and was coming off the trunk in shreds. I put down my pack and got out my camera to take my "before" pictures. My plan was to clear as much of the shredded wood and bark off the trail as possible. I didn't think it would be possible to cut through the trunk with hand tools, at least not in one session. I decided I would be happy to cut a notch in the trunk and remove any sharp branches that were sticking out.

Bryce and I began removing the mess that was already on the trail. I took the saw and began to remove some sharp branches that were sticking out of the trunk. I then grabbed the ax and began the long process of removing an area about 14 inches long on the trunk. Some of the wood was very rotten and came off easily. Other parts of the trunk were more solid and took more effort to remove. After chopping for a while, I stopped and Bryce and I cleared what I had cut. It was tedious work and I could tell that the temperature and humidity had both increased. I continued to make cuts and eventually had an obvious notch which provided a flatter and more stable surface for hikers trying to get over the trunk. I cleaned it off and decided to call it a day. I thought I might return and try using a saw to score the wood and then remove it with the ax. I took some "after" pictures and then packed up to go. All the time I was working, Sheila was curled up in the shade waiting. I decided we would head around the pond to complete the loop. Bryce and I walked the Big Rock Trail to Times Square where we turned right on the Logger's Loop. This trail was wet and muddy in spots but there were no blowdowns. We walked to the side of the trail in some spots as we continued uphill. The trail flattened and we were soon at Gravestone Junction. We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and walked back out to the parking area. We had walked 2.2 miles and done almost 2 hours of maintenance. The temperature was 82 degrees and the humidity was palpable.

On Wednesday, July 1st I had almost decided to take another day off since the forecast was calling for showers and thunderstorms throughout the day. Around 11:00 AM I stepped outside and it was such a beautiful day with blue skies and white clouds that I decided to go across the street to hike on Round Top. It was 75 degrees with somewhat high humidity as I began to get ready to hike. As I started to get ready Sheila was watching my every move but was doing so quitely. I got dressed in a Columbia short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have Velcro closures at the ankles as some do to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. Despite this I decided against wearing my OR Bugout gaiters. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. When I stepped out the door, it was so nice I decided to change plans and head to the Frick Pond area for a slightly longer hike. I went inside which confused Sheila. I picked up my pack and went back outside. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and drove out the Debruce Road about 6 miles. I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. There were two cars parked in the smaller lot and I pulled in beside them. The thermometer read 72 degrees as I set my GPS. The skies were blue with plenty of sun and lots of billowing white clouds but the sky to the west was looking a little dark. There was a slight breeze which seemed to be dispersing the insects. I did not spray any insect repellant as I do not like the smell and there were no swarms of insects around me. At 12:10 PM we started our hike by heading out the short woods road that leads to the Quick Lake Trail even though I had not decided on our exact route.

The grass on the trail was wet and there was plenty of mud. As we passed the register the trail became wetter but most of the water remained on the surface and there wasn't too much mud. As we approached Gravestone Junction, I noticed that the trail could use some lopping and the grass could be cut back. At the junction, we stayed to the left on the Quick Lake Trail to walk down to the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. This section was wet but lacked the mud that had been there in the spring. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take some pictures of the pond. I noticed that the beaver dam was being reconstructed by the beavers even though someone keeps destroying it. I took some pictures and then packed up to leave. We crossed the bridge and walked the trail along the west side of the pond. Again, it was wet but not too muddy. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we turned right on the Big Rock Trail to get to Times Square. The wooden walkways were wet and very slippery and continuing to show their age. I have done my best to repair and shore them up but the DEC needs to do major repairs or a replacement. I stopped to take a few pictures of the walkways. We continued on the trail and found an enormous tree trunk blocking the trail just before the first small bridge. The trunk was rotten but I knew it would take a lot of effort with hand tools to whittle it down and more to remove it. I straddled it to get to the other side and found it was soaked which soaked me. We continued on the trail to Times Square. This area is always wet but on this day it was just damp. We continued straight ahead up the hill toward the Flynn Trail. The trail from Times Square to the Flynn Trail stretches 1.1 miles and gains almost 600 feet. Along the way there are three places that are much the same and seem to signal the junction with the Flynn Trail. As we hiked up the trail it began to rain. At first it was just a few drops but this changed to more of a shower. I stopped to put on my pack cover thinking this would surely stop the rain! I was immediately surrounded by hungry insects so I sprayed some repellant before covering up my pack. The rain did not stop and even became a little heavier as we ascended. There were two blowdowns that encroached on the trail but could easily be removed with hand tools. The ascent went very quickly as I had been hiking more. At 1:10 PM we had hiked 2.3 miles and were at the junction with the Flynn Trail.

The rain had diminished to just a few drops and the skies to the east and south looked blue. The skies to the west and north were overcast and darker. I considered my options as I wanted to lengthen the hike by walking around Hodge Pond but did not want to get caught in a thunderstorm. I turned left and started toward Hodge and the turned around. I finally decided that I was wet already and that I should go for Hodge. We hiked out the Flynn Trail passing through the gate that separates state land from the OSI property. There were one or two blowdowns which were easily avoided but that I would remove with hand tools. At the next junction with a woods road, we stayed left and followed the Flynn Trail down toward Hodge Pond. It began to rain harder and as we approached the pond I could hear the rain pounding on the canopy above. When we cleared the trees and walked into the clearing at the end of the pod, the rain was really coming down. I looked across the pond and could see the rain falling while on the other side the skies were clear and blue. I wanted that picture but knew there was no way to get it. We turned left and followed the Flynn Trail along the west side of Hodge Pond. The trail was wet but we soon arrived at the jeep trail around the back of the pond. We stayed to the right to follow the jeep trail around the back of the pond. As we walked I heard a peal of thunder in the =distance which reminded me that I did not want to get caught in a real thunderstorm. I walked down to the sore of the pond and found that someone had enlarged the clearing there into a campsite. Sheila took a quick dip in the pond while I snapped a few shots of the pond. I packed up and we walked back up to the jeep trail. We turned right and walked to the next junction where we turned left. We walked up the hill to the woods road and turned right to walk back to the Flynn trail. At the Flynn Trail we turned left to complete the loop and walked back to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. At the junction we continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail. The grass was wet and I began to notice a lot of red efts on the trail. I tried to avoid them which kept my mind off what can be a long walk down the trail to the parking area. The Flynn Trail descends 1.7 miles to the parking area losing a little 600 feet. The rain had stopped but the grass was still very wet. Before I knew it we were walking through the arch in the large spruce tree just before the first gate. We turned left into the woods to follow the Flynn Trail and avoid the private property around the cabin. We were back at the parking area at 2:30 PM after hiking 6.0 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes. The elevation gain was 900 feet most of which was on the ascent of the Big Rock Trail.

On Monday, June 29th I thought I might go to Bear Spring to hike between 9 and 10 miles on the ridges. I asked Cindy if she wanted to hike she said "Yes" and I knew I would have to scale back by hiking distance. We talked about some loop at Frick Pond as we got ready at 9:45 AM. The temperature was 68 degrees but I thought it might rise a little. There was also the possibility of a thunderstorm. I started to get ready and Sheila was there to watch our every move. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. The shirt has an insect repellent built-in which I knew I would appreciate as I anticipated a swarm on Mayflies. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have Velcro closures at the ankles as some do to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. To make up for this I put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters which are also insect resistant. I decided to wear my Keen Traghee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. We put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat as we left Livingston Manor at 11:10 AM with skies that were blue with puffy white clouds and just the right amount of sun. As we headed out DeBruce Road, I got the idea that we should go to Long Pond since it was pretty flat and the loop was about 6 miles. Cindy agreed so I drove for about 8 miles to Flugertown Road where I made a left. I drove up the road and parked in the lot a short distance up the road on the right where one other car was parked. I pulled into the lot and started to get ready by setting my GPS. I thought we might start by hiking up the road but Cindy wanted to hike under the trees and up a rather steep little hill. We got started on the trail by crossing the first bridge at 11:30 AM. I hoped we could set a quick pace but we immediately ran into wet and muddy trails which surprised me a little. The trails had been very dry and I did not think the rain we had gotten the day before would make the trails as wet as they were. The first .6 miles gains about 350 feet to the highest point on the hike. It isn't very steep but does act as a nice warm-up! Once the trail leveled it was easier walking but the trail sayed wet and muddy. At 1.1 miles we were at the spur trail that leads down to the shore of Long Pond. We turned right and went down to the pond so that I could take some pictures. At the shores of the pond I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take some pictures. Sheila tried to follow me through the mud but I discouraged her. The skies were blue with a puffy white clouds. I took quite a few pictures of all angles of the pond. I returned to my pack where I got a drink and a bar before returning to the main trail. We turned right and were soon at the first trail junction. We turned right at the junction at 1.3 miles. We continued to find wet and muddy places on the trail and some were very deep but most were easily avoided. By 12:35 PM we had walked 1.8 miles and were passing the yellow spur trail to the lean-to.

After passing the trail to the lean-to, we continued to find wet and muddy places on the trail. There isn't much to see on this section of trail but I kept "busy" by avoiding the muddy spots, thinking about several issues and talking to Cindy. We continued on the main trail to the point where it intersects a woods road at 2.6 miles. Both Cindy and I commented that the walk had seemed a little longer than usual. We turned left on the woods road and found it to be very wet with some mud. We followed the road until the intersection with Basily Road at 2.85 miles where we continued on Basily Road by bearing left. This section of road was also wet and muddy but it did not slow us down much. Sheila took advantage of the water in one of the small streams to get a drink and play in the water. It did seem to get getting warmer and the humidity was high. I also noticed that the Mayflies were beginning to appear in greater numbers. As we approached the Peters Hunting Camp, I got ready to put Sheila on her leash. The beaver pond was full of water as was the road. For the first time I can remember the water was also right at the level of the footbridge. I assumed the beavers had been at work both on the main dam and on a secondary dam further downstream. I stopped to take a few pictures. The skies were still very blue with high, billowing, white clouds. I took pictures of the beaver pond, the flooded road and clouds in the blue sky. We continued on the trail to the bridge over the stream near the camp. The bridge is showing signs of wear from snowmobiles passing over it even though there is a sign that states "Private Bridge". I have secured permission to hike across this land in the past and "Stay on the trail" signs seem to indicate that the owners will allow hikers. I assume the "Private Bridge - No thru traffic" refers to motorized vehicles and not hikers. We crossed the bridge to continue the trip back to the car and started up the little hill from the hunting camp. We stopped again so that I could take a few shots of the valley which looked peaceful with the nice skies behind it. Once we started walking again we kept a fast pace despite some water and mud. As we hiked, I noticed two tents on the right side of the road. Further along, we could hear noises coming from the left side of the road and saw several cars and tents creating a large campsite. I wondered whether this was legal since the canister was not designated and was right next to the stream. No one seems to know the rules or to obey them when they know what they tare. We continued down the road toward the parking area and our car. On the way a car and a pickup truck passed us which surprised me since I rarely see anyone on this hike. We arrived at the place where the road is paved and stopped so that I could take a few more shots. We walked down the road to a bridge over a stream and noticed that the large beaver dam downstream to the right was no longer there. We continued at an accelerated pace back to the parking area. We were back at the car at 2:20 PM having hiked 6.0 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes with 15 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was only about 550 feet most of which was at the beginning of the hike.

On Friday, June 26th I wanted to get away from Livingston Manor for a hike and Cindy and Sheila agreed. Of course, Sheila always agrees as long as we are going outside! I had considered doing a longer loop at Bear Spring WMA but knew it would be too long for Cindy. I suggested we go to Huntersfield Mountain just north of Prattsville. When I got up at 7:00 AM, the temperature was in the high 50's. I had wanted to get an early started but just wasn't motivated to get moving. I decided we would hike from the parking area just off Huntersfield Road and return using some woods roads that would make the walking much easier. Cindy and I had done this route more than two years ago and I remembered it was interesting. The Long Path used to go over Huntersfield but has been rerouted to avoid a "dead end" that occurred when the Long Path came to some private property on nearby Sickler's Mountain. I got dressed in a Columbia short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have the Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters which are also insect resistant. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a floppy OR hat which keeps the sun off my head and allows me to spray insect repellant on it rather than on me. We left Livingston Manor at 10:30 AM and headed toward Roscoe where we picked up Route 206 toward the Pepacton Reservoir. At the reservoir I turned right on Route 30 and headed toward Margaretville on the BWS roads. In Margaretville I picked up Route 30 north through Roxbury and Grand Gorge where I got on Route 23 to Prattsville. Although I had not been to Huntersfield in some time, I remembered the route without any problems. I turned left onto Washington Street which soon became Route 10. I drove up and through some impressive mountains and at the Y and I turned left on Route 11. Route 11 turned into Marv Rion Road and at the end I turned right on Huntersfield Road. We passed by the Huntersfield Christian Training Center which has some beautiful views of mountains to the south. The paved road ends at a "DEAD END" sign and the dirt road begins. The dirt road was not in very good condition but I knew the drive was very short. My new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross sits higher than my Lancer and we had no problems driving up to where I wanted to park. I turned around and parked the car. To get ready to hike I set my GPS and shouldered my pack. We set off at noon under sunny, blue skies with puffy white clouds

We started out almost immediately with the air temperature in the low 70's nut somehow high humidity. The trail was poorly marked which unfortunately has become common lately. The DEC decided that volunteers were no longer allowed to post trail markers which would have to be done by DEC foresters. Since the DEC foresters never get out to mark the trails, the result is poorly marked trails. This is not the fault of the foresters who are busy doing many other jobs. The first part of the trail paralleled a small stream and then crossed it. The trail did not appear to be much used with a few branches here and there. The trail was mostly dry but there were a few wet and muddy places. In a very short distance we turned left onto a woods road and entered a red pine plantation. The thought crossed my mind that bushwhacking a direct route would be quicker but I decided to stay on woods road to respect property rights and the environment. The trees were very tall and the road well defined but without many blazes. I stopped to take a few pictures of the trees and the continued. There were several large puddles on the trail but they were easy to walk around. I was afraid there might be a lot of insects but there were far less than I expected. At about 1.1 mile into the hike, the trail turned right into the woods. We had been hiking almost due north and the grade was about 5% which made it an easy walk. Now the trail started to head east and southeast up a ridge leading to the summit and the grade became steeper with section of 17%. The walking was definitely more challenging but at least there only a few wet patches along the way. We worked our way over some rocks and the lack of appropriate blazes was, at times, puzzling. At 1.25 miles I saw a viewpoint to the right and walked over to take a look. There was a view to the south and west but it was mostly blocked by the leaves on the trees. I took some pictures of the mountains in that direction. As we hiked up the trail there were many good views through the trees but none that offered photographic opportunities. All along the way I looked for other viewpoints but none seemed evident but I knew that some were available from points on the summit. We passed several rock outcroppings and ledges and intersected at least one woods road. Several times Cindy and I both thought we were near the top only to find there was some more climbing to do. I had not been on the mountain in some time and the climbs were steeper and longer than I remembered

Eventually we reached the flat and wooded summit of the mountain and continued to walk over the top. Cindy was a little behind me so I stopped when I found the USGS benchmark and took a picture. We continued across the summit to the junction with the yellow trail to the lean-to. The red trail continued east toward Ashland Pinnacle and looked to be in good shape. We turned right on the yellow trail and almost immediately came across a viewpoint to the east. We stopped so that I could take some pictures toward the Ashland Pinnacle and Richmond Mountain. By now the skies had darkened and a wind had blown up. It was odd because to the east where I was photographing there was still plenty of sunlight. We returned to the trail and were at the lean-to in only a few minutes. Rain began to fall. There were only a few drops at the beginning but then more began to fall. The view at the lean-to was to the south into the heart of the Catskills. The mountains of the Devil's Path were clearly visible but Slide Mountain in the distance dominated the view. From here it looked more impressive than ever. I took several pictures and we got a drink and a snack while waiting to see what the rain would do. I suggested we start hiking back as the rain was very light. We continued on the yellow trail passed the lean-to and started downhill. It wasn't long before the yellow trail turned right off the woods road but we contused straight ahead. We continued on the woods road with only a few drops of rain falling and blue skies ahead of us. The walk was easy on the wide woods road and it was all downhill! The grade was around 10% and in 1.25 miles we lost 625 feet heading southwest. At 3.5 miles we came to a large pile of red shale and walked out to a dirt road. We were at the junction of Jim Cleveland Road coming up from the south and Huntersfield Road. I took a few shots of the "quarry" as the rain had stopped. We turned right to walk the woods road back to the car. The road was in good shape and I knew that I could have driven my car on it. We continued to follow the woods road northest and at 4.1 miles it turned west and continued a steep descent. It wasn't long until we spotted the car. We were back at the car at 2:40 PM after hiking 4.5 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes with 25 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 1220 feet and our moving average speed was 2 mph. The ascent had taken 1 hour and 40 minutes while the descent, which was the same length, had taken 1 hour. I though new might do another short hike but Cindy declined. This was Ok with me as I had to be home to participate with the ambulance corps in a graduation parade at 5:00 PM.

On Monday, June 22nd my grandson, Bryce, was at our house for the afternoon. When I returned from an ambulance call, I suggested we go across the street and clean up the new trails Lisa and I had marked on Round Top. I had already remarked the switchback trail and crossover trail in different colors but I now wanted to make it easier for people to hike the paths and give us some feedback. Around 2:00 PM Bryce and I started to get ready to go across the street to do the work. I got dressed in a Columbia short-sleeved crew top with no baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have the Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters which are also insect resistant. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a floppy OR hat which keeps the sun off my head and allows me to spray insect repellant on it rather than on me. I grabbed my Corona loppers from the house and Sheila's leash from the car. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked out the driveway and across the street to the Presbyterian Church. We walked in back of the church and started up the highest hill in the cemetery where the trailhead is located. Sheila helped me by pulling me up the hill. At the trailhead, we turned left to get on the trails. I released Sheila from her leash and we walked to the first trail junction. We continued straight ahead up to the lookout. As we walked, I showed Bryce which branches to lop and he cut them. I threw the branches to the side of the trail and we the followed the yellow trail as it turned to the right at the viewpoint. We walked through a sea of ferns heading slightly uphill to the junction with the blue trail. As we waled we continued to cut branches. We cut a few roots that had become exposed on the trail and were ready to trip people. We also took some loose rock off the trail in one spot. We walked straight ahead at the first junction with the blue trail. I watched for the yellow ribbon that I had used to mark the switchback trail. We turned right off the trail at the yellow ribbon and began to clean up the switchback path. We did not want to completely clear the trail so we cut only a few branches that were blocking a walk-through of the path. We also cleared any branches that were on switchback so that people exploring would not trip. At one point we noticed that people had cut the switchback a little short. I piled some branches on the route they had taken. We continued to trim a few branches here and there. We also walked over some sections more than once to make the path more obvious. We eventually reached the main trail just above the section we needed to close down because of the erosion. Just above the switchback we came to the orange ribbon I had placed to mark the crossover trail. Bryce and I used the same treatment on this path that we had on the other. We followed the ribbons cutting a few branches and cleaning fallen branches off the path. Near the end of the crossover, we did have to cut a few extra branches to allow people to pass more easily. Once we reached the trail coming down from the summit, we turned right and headed down toward the junction with the yellow trail. We continued to trim branches and move them off the trail. At the junction we turned right and walked the "middle" trail back toward the other junction with the blue trail. Cindy and I had cleared out this area but there were still a few branches to clip and remove. At the next junction, Bryce and I turned right and walked up the steep trail to the summit of Round Top. We cut a few branches especially across the top of the hill and down the other side to the spot where the orange trail meets the blue trail. At the yellow trail we continued straight ahead on the trail walking down to the woods road. We walked the wood road back to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead. We turned right, I put Sheila or her leash and we all walked back to our driveway and home.

On Wednesday, June 24th, the weather was beautiful and I wanted to take advantage of the lower temperatures and humidity. I asked Cindy if she wanted to hike and she agreed but she wanted to do a much shorter hike than I was ready to do. I wanted to do between 6 and 8 miles and Cindy suggested we go to the Beaverkill Campgrounds to hike 2.5 miles. So, I agreed to go to the Beaverkill Campgrounds. We started to get ready just before 11:00 AM with the temperature at 70 degrees and a strong breeze blowing. I got dressed in a Columbia short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have the Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters which are also insect resistant. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a floppy OR hat which keeps the sun off my head and allows me to spray insect repellant on it rather than on me. We put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and left the house at 11:10 AM. I drove out Old Route 17 toward roscoe and turned right on Beaverkill Road. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. As I parked, there were already 5 cars in the lot and people spread out across the near shore of the stream. The river was not as high as it had been earlier in the year but there was still a good volume. As we were getting ready, several more vehicles pulled into the lot so I immediately put Sheila on her leash and we got ready to leave.

I set my GPS and we started our hike at 11:30 AM by crossing the bridge to the west side of the river. As we exited the bridge, we turned left on a woods road that parallels the river. We walked passed a spring house and continued on the desert woods road. I also noticed some water on the other side of the road which was covered in what looked like floating duckweed. Soon we came to a picnic table surrounded by high grass and weeds. I decided to take pictures that showed the deserted campgrounds. I took pictures of the picnic tables and, a little later, what was once a bathroom for some campsites that had long since disappeared. At the next bathroom we stopped so that I could take some more pictures. There was a picnic table near the river so I took some pictures of table and then walked down to the river. I took some pictures of the sun reflecting off the water. In several areas the DEC had placed large rocks along the shore and covered them with heavy wire to reduce erosion. Before leaving I also took pictures of the deteriorating bathrooms. At about .7 miles the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites and we continued along the river. We could hear someone using a string trimmer to maintain the campsites. We both wondered why they were doing the work if they did not intend to open! The campsites each had a cement block fireplace with a grill but were very close together. Everything was very quiet except for the maintenance worker. This was not surprising as the campsites are closed. I took some pictures of all the empty campsites. We walked to the last campsite where the trail ends and then turned around to start back. I noticed another set of campsites to our left and we walked over to them. We did a short loop and walked back out to the main road through the campgrounds. We did walk the other road through the campsites which parallels the one we walked out on makes a sort of loop. We stopped again so that I could take some pictures of a group of picnic tables randomly arranged. I had thought we might walk up the hill and take the road back but we decided it would be nicer to stay on the wood road. We retuned the way we had come crossing the river on the bridge.

Instead of stopping at the car we walked out the far end of the parking lot passing the bathhouse and following a path. Cindy and I both remembered a ford that crossed the river many years ago but we had not been able to locate it. As we walked we came to a depression which was an old stream channel and this channel had concrete paving across it. This was the ford that we remembered and it crossed a branch of the river which is now dry. We continued our walk and soon came to a series of palettes with stone piled on them. This was obviously stone that was to be used to constructed fireplaces or walls but it did not look like it had been accessed in some time. The path we are on passed through a grove of tall evergreens and seemed to end at a stone bench. The bench was formed from an enormous lab of stone mounted on cement blocks. The stone had visible drill marks on it and we both wondered where it had been quarried. I took some pictures of the bench and a few of the river. When I was done, we retraced our steps following the route we had used on the way out. We were back at the car at 1:00 PM having hiked 2.6 miles in 1 hour and 25 minutes with 20 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 200 feet but it was hardly noticeable. The car's thermometer read 78 and the humidity seemed to be rising. The parking lots now had 17 cars in them which meant there were a lot of people around the stream. One young man asked me about hiking and I directed him to the other side of the stream.

On Tuesday, Jun 23rd I wanted to get out for a longer hike not too far from home. The forecast was for temperatures in the mid to high 80's with high humidity so I knew Cindy would not be interested in going. I decided to go to Big Pond for a hike to Little Pond and back. I had several possibilities to complete this loop including staying on the trails, walking back on the roads and making a side trip to Cabot Mountain. The temperature was in the high 70's in the morning but we knew it would get warmer in the afternoon. I had planned on betting an early start but the ambulance pager went off at 6:30 AM so I knew we would be hiking in the heat! When I got home I began to get my gear together which pleased Sheila. I got dressed in a Columbia short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have the Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters which are also insect resistant. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and pulled out of Livingston Manor at 9:45 AM. I drove toward Roscoe on Old Route 17 and turned right on Beaverkill Road after 1.3 miles. I continued north on Beaverkill Road for 10.8 miles passing through Lew Beach. As the Beaverkill Road turned right, I turned left onto Barkaboom Road and drove .8 miles to the parking area for Big Pond on the right. There were two vehicles parked in the lot. One was a convertible with the top down which I though took real nerve! I got ready to hike by setting my GPS. The temperature was 83 degrees and the humidity was palpable. Some Mayflies were starting to gather but I hoped they would stay away.

We crossed the road at 10:10 AM to begin our hike up Touch-Me-Not Mountain on the Touch-Me-Not Trail which is part of the Finger Lakes Trail. The first part of the trail is an old woods road, and it is pretty easy to follow. I let Sheila off her leash as we walked up the first hill passing the trail register. The trail was completely dry without any dampness or mud. I maintain the section of trail from Alder Lake to Beech Hill Road so I immediately began to remove sticks, rocks, branches and a few small tree trunks from the trail. The first mile of the trail gains about 775 feet with an average grade of 15%. Some places are almost flat which means there are a few steeper places. I began to notice that the blazing of the trail could be better. Volunteers used to be able to put up trail markers, but the DEC decided that a forester must now do this. I made a note to call Stamford to tell them that they needed to have someone add markers before winter when it would be harder to find the trail. Most blazes were too far apart. Some were very old and faded with others grown into the trees. A few were on the side of the tree meaning they were not visible from either direction on the trail. Several times I just followed Sheila who seems to be able to find the right direction no matter what. It was obvious in several areas that there had been significant rain at some point as the trail was badly eroded. The further we walked the more nettles I began to see. I knew that this would mean a trip with my Stihl string trimmer which does a great job of eliminating this problem. In a few places, the trail traveled along the side of the hill, and this made for some tricky footing. Despite the incline and the heat, we made good time and at 10:50 AM we had hike 1.1 miles to the highest point on the trail on the shoulder of Touch-Me-Not Mountain. After a slight descent, we came to a large blowdown that had once blocked the trail. A good piece of the trunk had been cut away to provide an easy path. We walked down the hill to the next trail junction and turned right on the yellow loop trail around Little Pond.

The loop trail is very popular with campers during the season and the trail bed was a little more obvious. At one point the trail passed between two large boulders forming a sort of rock cut. In April there had been some snow piled up in the shade but it had LONG since disappeared with the 80+ degree temperatures. We continued along the trail descending another rocky area to find a large tree across the trail. It was obvious hikers had been walking to the left around the butt end of the tree which is what we did. At 1.6 miles we had finally arrived at the cutoff to Cabot Mountain. I thought about summiting Cabot or at least going as far as the field of nettles to scope them out. In the end I decided not to do this as it was very warm and humid and the skies were getting darker with a definite wind. We continued our hike by bearing left to stay on the loop trail. There were several blowdowns in this area that would require tools to remove. After a short walk, we came to a large, flat stone on the right side of the trail. I remembered taking pictures of our grand children there. As we passed by, I realized how much I missed my grandchildren. At 1.8 miles we arrived in the clearing that acts as a viewpoint. It is hard to see Little Pond from this lookout since the trees have grown up. This is a place that holds many memories as we hiked the loop many times when I was younger. We stopped, and I got out the camera to take pictures of the hills and the blue sky. The scene kept changing as the light played off the hills in different ways and reflected off the haze. I packed up, and we continued the hike passing the small foundation of a long-forgotten homestead cabin. I noticed the pond to the right of the trail and decided to inspect it although I could see that the water level was very low. The pond used to be very small but had gotten larger over the years. It is obvious that it is fed mostly by runoff which is why the water level had dropped so much. I took some shots and notice the flies were now congregating so we move on. The main trail which is often covered in water from the outlet of the pond was absolutely dry. Ahead of us on the trail was one of the biggest blowdowns I had seen in some time. A huge tree with three different trunks had completely blocked the trail. I stood in awe for a minute planning how I might cut it with hand tools! We walked around to the right of the tree and then back out to the main trail which soon turned left off the woods road.

The trail headed down through the forest and was bone dry and dusty but extremely eroded making the walk difficult. We walked downhill encountering a large blowdown that blocked the trail near a large beaver pond. I wanted to stop at the shore of the beaver pond to take some pictures but the insects were swarming and I knew stopping would make it unbearable! As we walked the short distance to the loop trail around Little Pond I could see that there was almost no water in the inlet stream. At the pond, we turned right to walk around the western shore of Little Pond. As we walked along the shore to the boat launch area, we could see Touch-Me-Not Mountain where we had been a short time ago. We stopped at the boat launch area, and I took some photos of Touch-Me-Not Mountain and the pond. Sheila decided to go wading. I took a pictures of her swimming and then threw a stick and took some more pictures. As we walked along the road, I began to see picnic tables leaning on the fireplaces at the campsites. Just before we turned left on a trail to head for the bridge at the outlet of Little Pond there was an occupied campsite! I was supplied as it was the first I had seen at any of the local DEC campsites. We came to and crossed the bridge at the outlet end of the pond. I dropped my pack to take a few pictures before leaving the Little Pond area. The parking area had cones to space the cars properly but there were a half dozen cars in the lot. We now had choice to return on the roads or hike back up Touch-Me-Not Mountain on the Campground Trail. I had planned the trail hike but thought better of it and decided to leave it for another day. I decided we would walk back to Big Pond using the access road and Barkaboom Road. We walked over to the parking area and turned right to walk out the access road. We walked out to the gatehouse and I saw that there was an attendant there. She said that the campgrounds were open for day use and to those who had made reservations before the COVID pandemic. We started down the hill toward Barkaboom Road with Sheila on her leash. She walks very well on her leash although her pace is a little fast for me! The walk was very peaceful as there were no cars going to the campgrounds. We walked a little less than a mile down to Barkaboom Road and turned left to hike up the road back to Big Pond. There were some contractors working to trim trees on the road. The hike back to the car was about .6 miles and it is all uphill so I appreciated Sheila's pull. The stream beside the road had some water but the level was far below what I had seen in April. We walked up the hill and back to the car in the parking area. The lot was no filled with many people going down to Big Pond to wade and swim or to boat. I put Sheila in the car and walked down to the shore of Big Pond to take some pictures. Getting pictures of the pond without the people proved challenging. I walked back up to the car and turned on the air conditioning. We were back at the car at the car at 12:30 PM having hiked 4.8 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes. The elevation gain was about 1000 feet.

On Monday, June 22nd I returned from a hike with Cindy on the Parksville Railtrail. Sheila and I both had some energy left so I decided we would head over to Round Top to reblaze the switchback and the new crossover trail Lisa and I had laid out. We had marked both trails in a bright green which caused two problems. The color blends easily with the leaves and the fact that we used the same color did not let us distinguish one trail from the other. We wanted to collect some feedback from people about the trail so I needed to use different, visible colors. My neighbor gave me some orange ribbon and I bought a roll of yellow from the local hardware store. I decided to take just two rolls of tape and Sheila. I put the tape in my pocket and grabbed Sheila's leash from the car. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked out the driveway and across the street to the Presbyterian Church. We walked in back of the church and started up the highest hill in the cemetery where the trailhead is located. Sheila helped me by pulling me up the hill. At the trailhead, we turned left to get on the trails. I released Sheila from her leash and we walked to the first trail junction. We continued straight ahead up to the lookout and the followed the yellow trail as it turned to the right. We walked through a sea of ferns heading slightly uphill to the junction with the blue trail. The steepest section of this trail is showing some erosion because of increased use and because it goes straight up the hill. Lisa and I planned out a switchback to alleviate the problem. I watched for the green ribbon carefully and found it just before the steep section. I marked the tree on the trail near the start wit yellow ribbon and then started to follow the green ribbons. Now that there were ribbons to follow, I could see that some were placed so that they were hidden by trees or brush. I used the yellow ribbon to replace the green ribbon or to place new ribbons where they could more easily be seen. After heading away from the "main" trail for a while, I followed the green ribbons as they turned left and headed back. The uphill was much easier and offered a few more "attractions" than heading straight up the hill. Soon I was back at the main trail above the steep section where I marked a tree with the yellow ribbon. The crossover trail begins less than 20 feet above the end of the switchback and I quickly found the beginning. I marked the tree on the trail with orange ribbon and then started to follow the green ribbons using the same procedure I had used for the other trail. Even though we had only walked this path twice, it was easy enough to follow. I made sure the orange ribbons weren't hidden and placed a few extra. As I went I also removed some brush and small trees from the path to make it easier to follow. We eventually ended up on the other side of the hill where I tied a n orange ribbon on a tree. Sheila and I turned right and walked down the trail to the junction with the yellow trail. We continued straight ahead to the woods road that leads to the first trail junction. We turned left at the junction and walked out to the trail head. We turned right, I put Sheila or her leash and we walked back to our driveway and home. The next step will be to clear the paths a little and then get feedback from some of the people who actively use the trail. Once the routes are set we will clear the trails and mark them with paint. The Yellow and blue trails also need some reblazing since the paint has been up for two years.

On Monday, June 22nd, I wanted to get in a hike close to home on a day that was slated to be very hot and humid. I though about a loop from Big Pond To Little Pond but I knew there was no chance Cindy would do that. When I suggested a hike at the Beaverkill Campgrounds, Cindy made a counteroffer of the Parksville Railtrail. Since it would be a short hike anyway, I really didn't care and agreed I to go to Parksville. I would have preferred to wait until 3:00 PM when it would be hottest but Cindy wanted to go as soon as possible so we started getting ready at noon. As we started to get ready, the temperature on the back porch was nearing 90 degrees with high humidity. I got dressed in a short-sleeved Columbia crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have the Velcro closures at the ankles which some models have to dissuade ticks but we would be on trails the whole time. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a floppy OR hat which keeps the sun off my head and allows me to spray insect repellant on it rather than on me. We put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 12:20 PM and drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville. Just after Fox Mountain Road, I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road at 12:35 PM. There were no cars in the lot and as we began to get ready. II decided not to take my pack, GPS or poles as the hike is so short. We left the car at 12:40 PM with the car thermometer reading 84 degrees.

In the direct sunlight it felt like the temperature was over 90 degrees and the high humidity did not help! Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was a little cooler but still warm. The trail was almost completely dry except for two places which were damp. It was obvious someone had been in to clear some blowdowns and install new picnic tables and benches. I had made the decision not to take any pictures and that decision proved to be a good one as not much had changed from the last few times e had hiked this trail. The day was sunny and the sky was very blue with towering white clouds. We passed several benches placed for people to rest in warmer weather. As we walked, I could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls was just ahead. We stopped briefly to look at the falls which had a good amount of water passing over it. Soon we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail and I was happy to see that at least one property owner was cleaning up the mess just across the stream. We passed some buildings on the left side of the trail that were ruined and falling down. On the Parksville end of the trail we found a small garden and a very informative sign. The sign listed the businesses and hotels that existed in Parksville during its heyday. The Young's Gap Hotel had room for 600 guests! The sign also explained the role of the railroad in the dairy industry which was a thriving one in all of Sullivan County. After a brief pause, we decided to walk back on the trail as it was in such good shape. The return trip was uneventful. We met a woman with two young children. They appeared to be heading to a place to swim. Just before we were back at the car we met a young woman walking toward us. I said "hello" and she returned the greeting. I could not understand why she was wearing a mask! We were back at the car at 1:34 PM after hiking 2.5 miles in 56 minutes. Our moving average was 2.7 mph and the elevation gain was 230 feet which I doubted.

On Saturday, June 20th, I had planned to take a day off from hiking but then found out it was the summer solstice, the first day of summer. I decided I wanted to a longer and harder hike than the day before. I knew that trying to go to any of the molecular places on a Saturday would be a disaster since they would all be overrun with people so I decided to go to the Mongaup Pond area and hike around the pond on the snowmobile trails and then return on the Flynn Trail. This was a hike I had tried the week before with Cindy but had to change and walk back on the local roads. It was 70 degrees when I started to get ready just before 10:00 AM. Sheila knew that we were going to hike but was relatively quiet watching my every move. I got dressed in a Columbia short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have the Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters which are also insect resistant. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and pulled out of Livingston Manor at 10:10 AM. The skies were blue with towering puffy white clouds with plenty of sun. I drove out the Debruce Road about 6 miles and turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road. I continued to where the road split and stayed to the right on Mongaup Pond Road. I pulled into one of the spaces in the small pulloff on the right and was surprised to see no cars parked there or at the falls. The thermometer read 72 degrees as I set my GPS. The skies were blue with plenty of sun and white, puffy clouds. There was a slight breeze. I did not spray any insect repellant as I do not like the smell and there were no swarms of insects around me. At 10:30 AM we walked back toward the intersection and turned left down the woods road that used to be Hunter Road. Hunter Road connected to Terwilliger Road at one time so there is a small bridge across the outlet creek from Mongaup Pond. I could hear the falls to the right but they were not my objective on this day.m and down the woods road toward the falls.

We crossed the creek on the small "bridge" that is still present and began to climb a little hill. The hill was a lot of rocks and gravel but on this day there was almost no water running down. After .4 miles of climbing the little hill, we turned left on the snowmobile trail. I was amazed to see that the Japanese knotweed was almost blocking the trail. The first part of this trail passes through some pines and it was relatively dry. As we continued to walk the trail I expected the trail to be wet but found it mostly dry with a few damp and muddy spots that were easily avoided. became very wet and muddy and it was difficult to find a way to stay dry. Even the section the cliffs and ledges to the right was remarkably free of the water which drains onto the trail and then to a swampy area on the left of the trail. At 1.95 miles we came to the point where the trail turns to the right. To the left is a short trail that runs out to the campgrounds. We turned right and I knew the area that lay ahead is usually the wettest and muddiest. What we found was almost dry trail with a few damagers that were easily avoided. We continued to 2.6 miles where the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail came in from the right. We walked straight ahead and downhill toward the head end of the pond. The trail crossed four different bridges and at one point we met a couple coming up from the pond carrying a baby. We said "hello" as we passed them and at 3.1 miles we arrived at the junction with the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail on the right. Sheila ran toward the pond and jumped in to swim. I walked down to the shore and took some pictures of the pond and of Sheila while she was swimming. The couple caught up to us and passed us as we were stopped at the viewpoint. I go a drink and a bar and noticed that it was hotter than when we started out. I picked up and we continued around the head of the pond on the blue trail. We caught up to the couple and they stepped aside to let us passed. We walked the trail out to the road and turned right to start to walk down the west side of the pond.

We walked a little more than a tenth of a mile and then turned right into a campsite to pick up the snowmobile trail that would take us over the hill to the Flynn Trail. The trail initially passed by a swamp and can be very wet. On this day there was only a trickle of water flowing and we easily bypassed it to head up the hill. I had no recollection and no record of every having hiked in this direction before and I did not know what I was in for! The snowmobile trail meanders for 1.8 miles starting out to the northwest, then heading due south before turning west and then north again to the highest point on the hike. In the process it gains over 700 feet and averages a 7.5% grade with some much steeper spots. The climb is constant and I had no clues as to when it would end. Several times I was fooled into thinking we were at the top only to find more hill. The trail is eroded and covered in sticks and rocks to make the walking even more fun. At 12:55 PM we had hiked 5.5 miles and were at the highest point with an elevation of 2880 feet. I stopped to get a drink as I was dripping with sweat. I also gave Sheila drink since her last drink was at the pond. She wandered off into some ferns so I thought it would be nice to take a few shots. When I was done, I packed up and we headed downhill to the Flynn Trail at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We turned left on the Flynn Trail and started downhill back to the car. I often think that the Flynn Trail takes a long time to hike. Even though it is only 1.7 miles it sometimes drags. After the 1.8 mile ascent, the Flynn Trail was such a relief it felt like we were running! In fact, it did take only 40 minutes to get to the Frick Pond parking area. Toward the end we walked off the woods road and followed the Flynn Trail into the woods to avoid the private property around the cabin. The trails continued to be dry and dusty. When we arrived at the Frick Pond parking area, there were 2 cars in the smaller lot and 5 in the larger. We were not quite done as we turned left and hiked down Beech Mountain Road for .3 miles back to the car. We arrived at 1:50 PM after hiking 7.8 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes. We gained 1150 feet of elevation and our moving average was 2.4 mph. The temperature at the car had risen 10 degrees to 82 degrees and it also seemed more humid.

Spring 2020

On Friday, June 19th, I was ready to get out for a hike somewhere close to home as I had a scene department meeting scheduled for 2:00 PM. I knew I did not want to go to the Frick Pond area again so I decided to go to Trout Pond and hike the loop in a clockwise direction. It was 70 degrees when I started to get ready at 9:00 AM. Sheila got wind of what was going on and began running around the house barking. I got dressed in a Columbia short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have the Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. I put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters which are also insect resistant. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a new OR floppy hat which shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and pulled out of Livingston Manor just before 10:00 AM. The skies were blue with towering puffy white clouds with plenty of sun. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the back seat. I headed to Roscoe on State Route 17, got off at exit 94 and got on Route 206. I followed it across the Delaware County line to Morton Hill Road. After a left turn on Morton Hill Road, I drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the side of the road to avoid the parking area which is private. I set my GPS and put Sheila on her leash as we began our hike down Russell Brook Road at 10:15 AM. The temperature was 75 degrees and the humidity seemed high. There was somebody camped at the spot on the right with a dog off-leash but it did not come out to bother us. Russell Brook Road was dry and dusty as we continued on down Russell Brook Road to the overlook over the upper falls. There was enough water in the stream to make the upper falls interesting so I decided to take some pictures as the light seemed just right. We walked down to the overlook and I put down my pack and got out the camera. I took some shots and the packed up to continue the hike. We continued down toward the parking area where There were several cars already parked. There were several groups of people milling around and at least one group had enough camping gear for a month! We said "Hello" as we walked passed them and down the woods road toward the falls.

We got on the woods road that goes down to the bridge that crosses the brook. I decided to walk to the falls since I could see there were no people there at the time. The Japanese knotweed that was a brown patch several weeks ago was now green and already encroaching on the path. The informal path to the falls was also overgrown and I thought about coming back on another day to do some trail clearing. We walked along the path and then down the bank to the streambed. The falls was reduced to two streams of water flowing over the rock. I took some shots including some of Sheila who posed in front of the falls. When I was done, we headed back up the bank and out to the main trail. We turned right and at the trail junction, we turned to the left to climb the steeper hill toward Mud Pond. The trail was dry and the outlet stream from Trout Pond was at low volume. I was surprised that no one had claimed the large camping site on the right side of the trail. The sun was out and as soon as we started to climb the hill, I felt hotter and really began to sweat. The trail was very dry with no water or mud. The ascent went quickly and I could feel how much fitter I was getting with each hike. We reached the top of the hill at 10:55 AM after hiking 1.4 miles. The woods road was also very dry with no water. At 1.6 miles we made a right to follow the trail up to the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. When we started on the trail, I again noticed that there was no water even in places that are usually wet. There were also a lot of blowdowns along the trail that need to be cleared. Most of these could easily be removed with hand tools. The ascent continued for the next 1.2 miles and just before the highest point we met an older couple coming down the trail toward us. I pulled Sheila of the trail to let them by and we said "Hello" to each other as they passed. I noticed that both were wearing masks and I felt bad that I did not warm them of the problems this could cause. At 2.7 miles into the hike when we were at the highest point and ready to start the descent to Trout Pond. There were several small blowdowns across the trail which I could not clear without tools. I stopped to get a drink as I was dripping with sweat. I noticed a middle-aged couple walking up the trail toward us with a dog that was not on a leash. I leashed Sheila and pulled her to the side of the trail. The other dog decided to say hello and Sheila voiced her objections. We continued in our opposite directions.

The trail remained dry which made the descent go quickly except for some more blowdowns. When we arrived at the bridge at the inlet end of the pond, I decided to stop and take some pictures as the clouds were really remarkable. Neither lean-to was occupied and the other camping site was also empty. When I was done, we continued on the main trail toward the outlet end of the pond. This part of the trail did have a few wet and muddy places. At the lower end of the pond, we turned right and walked out to the beach. I again stopped to take pictures of a scene I had photographed many times! The water level in the pond was much lower than it had been all spring. The skies were very blue and the clouds were towering. On this day Sheila started to swim on her own. I threw a stick several times into deeper water and she retrieved it each time. The hike from the outlet to the trail junction is all downhill and mostly dry. About halfway down, we met a young couple carry a young child up the hill toward the pond. I was pretty sure that the pond was as far as they would make it! By 12:30 PM we had hiked 4.8 miles and were back at the trail junction and register box. We continued on the main trail to hike back to the car. We walked up to the lower parking area which was now completely filled with at least one car parked along the road below the lot. I was amazed that it was early afternoon on Friday and the area was so busy. As we walked up the road back to the car, I could see quite a few people down at the falls And was glad we had visited it at the beginning of the hike. We continued up the road and a car stopped to ask about the falls. I told them where it was but that they might want to park at one of the upper spots as the lower lot was full. We continued to walk back up the road to the back to the car. We arrived back at 12:50 PM having covered 5.5 miles and 1110 vertical feet in 2 hours and 30 minutes. The temperature was 82 degrees as I pulled away.

On Tuesday, June 16th I wanted to get out for a longer hike after a few shorter ones in a row. Cindy decided not to go but I had to meet Lisa at 3:00 PM to scout out some new trails on Round Top. I decided to head out to the Frick Pond area to do some sort of longer loop. The temperature was 70 degrees as I began to get ready at 9:15 AM. I decided to head up the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond a circle it before heading back to the Big Rock Trail. I would hike down the Big Rock Trail to Times Square and then hike the Loggers Loop to Iron Wheel Junction. From there I would walk the Quick Lake trail back to the car passing by the outlet to Frick Pond. As I started to get ready Sheila was watching my every move but was doing so quitely. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. The shirt has an insect repellent built-in which I knew I would appreciate as I anticipated a swarm on Mat flies. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have Velcro closures at the ankles as some do to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and to combat ticks. To make up for this I put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters which are also insect resistant. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and drove out the Debruce Road about 6 miles. I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. There were no cars parked in either lot. The thermometer read 72 degrees as I set my GPS. The skies were blue with plenty of sun but without many clouds. There was a slight breeze. I did not spray any insect repellant as I do not like the smell and there were no swarms of insects around me. At 10:05 AM we crossed the road and started through the woods on the Flynn Trail.

The first thing I noticed was how dry the trail was as we walked through the forest to the woods road that leads north toward Hodge Pond. At the end of the trail we turned right to stay on the Flynn Trail. This trail is sited on the old Beech Mountain Road that ran to the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We walked up the trail with ease although the grass was getting pretty long. The trail continued to be bone dry. All the vegetation was out and very green which completely changes the look of the trail compared to other seasons. I tried to set a quick pace without pushing too hard. At about a mile we walked passed the area where a path leads to a clearing on the right of the trail. The original of the large clearing is unclear although some speculate that dirt from this area was used to build the road. We passed by the path and descended a little before climbing again to the junction with the Big Rock trail at 1.7 miles. We passed through that junction and continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail. We passed through the gate and found one blowdown still in the trail. At the next split in the trail, the Flynn Trail heads left to descend directly to Hodge Pond. We turned right on a woods road and walked a short distance to a road that descends toward the pond. We turned left here and walked down to the jeep road that runs around the back of the pond. We turned right on this road and walked around the upper end of the pond. About halfway around, we turned left on a path that led down to the shore. The weeds had grown up and were all but blocking the path. I dropped my pack to get out the camera to take some pictures of the pond. The sky was blue but lacking the white puffy clouds that make the best pictures. I took a shot OD Sheila in the water and then threw a stick for her to retrieve. I don't know why but Sheila was not interested in retrieving sticks! We packed up after getting a bar and a drink and headed back up to the jeep road. We turned left and continued around the pond where the jeep road meets the Flynn Trail again. We turned left and walked along the Flynn Trail through a field to the outlet end of the pond. We walked over to a point near the shore and I again took some more pictures of the pond.

When I was done with my photography, we turned around and entered the woods again on the Flynn Trail. The next .4 miles of the trail is all uphill and can seem long but I barely noticed it. At the top of the hill we turned right to walk back to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. At 3.9 miles we arrived at the four-way junction and turned right to start downhill on the Big Rock Trail. Hiking down this trail is much easier than hiking up. There are several different levels but they all went by quickly. There was one large blowdown nearly blocking the trail about halfway down. I thought about making another trip soon to cut these blowdowns out of the way. At 5 miles we reached Times Square which is the lowest point on the hike. I decided to add some more miles by turning right on the Loggers Loop. We started up the hill which seemed minimal on this day and at 5.3 miles we came to the little seasonal pond on the right side of the trail. I had decided not to stop but I thought it was remarkable that the area was almost devoid of water but filled with grasses and ferns. I took some pictures and though I could see a small puddle of water in the middle. After taking the pictures, we returned to the main trail and continued to hike toward Iron Wheel Junction. This trail did have a few damp spots but they were easily avoided. At 6.25 miles we arrived at Iron Wheel Junction and immediately turned left to start back to the car on the Quick Lake Trail. This trail is for a long time downhill or flat. This was the only trail we hiked that was wet and muddy in many places. When we reached the small stream through the woods, it seemed to be a little higher than during our last trip but was still easily crossed on stepping stones. We entered the spruce tunnel and walked almost to the end when I saw a man walking toward us. I took Sheila off to the side of the trail to allow the hiker to pass. We said "Hello" and began a conversation. Kyle is from Margaretville and regularly hikes Dry Brook Ridge. He has almost completed the All-Trails Challenge but needs the Kaaterskill Falls Trail which is presently closed. We parted and continued our hikes is opposite directions. The Quick Lake Trail continued to be wet and at 7 miles we were at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued straight ahead crossing the two small bridges and finally arriving at the bridge over the outlet stream. I got out my camera and noticed that the level of the pond was lower. Someone had removed the dam the beavers were trying to construct as they had last year! The beavers had not given up and there were some fresh branches in place already. I am again going to report this to the forest ranger since I believe this kind of vandalism is illegal. After finishing taking my shots, we started up the hill to Gravestone Junction. The Quick Lake Trail was damp in places but not nearly as wet as on other trips. We were back at the car at 1:40 PM after hiking 7.7 miles in 3.5 hours. The elevation gain was 1105 feet and our moving speed averaged 2.4 mph which was quite snappy.

On Sunday, June 14th I was ready to go to church for an "in-person" service for the first time since March 15. These plans were put on hold by an ambulance call at around 8:00 AM. When we returned from the call, I thought I might have just enough time to get to the church service. At that point we were paged for another call. By the time we returned from the hospital and I completed the paperwork it was around noon. I returned home and asked Cindy if she wanted to go across the street to trim the lower trail on Round Top. She agreed so we began to get ready. I knew that I would take my Stihl weed whacker with extra fuel and cutting line in a pack. Cindy would use a pair of loppers to cut anything that was too large for the string trimmer. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with no baselayer. The shirt has an insect repellent built-in which I knew I would appreciate as I could not rule out a swarm on May flies. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles but I also put on my OR Bugout gaiters. The ticks have not been very numerous so far this season but a little prevention is always best. The gaiters would also keep whatever I cut from going into my boots. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which are now my "go to" hiking boots but have been discontinued. I also wore a new OR floppy hat which shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. Sheila in particular was anxious to get out as we had not hiked the day before. Sheila was always near but not too near to be considered under foot. We put our gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and we drove across the street to the cemetery. I tried to drive to the highest point of the cemetery where the trails begin but the road was blocked by a fallen tree. I drove to the base of the steep hill to drive to the trailhead. I decided that I would back up the hill which made Cindy very nervous. I parked the car at the trailhead with the temperature at 68 degrees. The sun was out but it felt very comfortable for trail work. I got out the Stihl and the pack with fuel and line. Cindy took the loppers. We started out on the trail to the first junction at 1:00 PM. There was little to trim along this section. When we arrived at the first trail junction, we turned right and walked the woods road uphill turning top the left to follow the yellow trail. We ran into some brush and grass to trim. Cindy went ahead to trim some heavier branches while I fired up the Stihl. It started right up and I began to trim the grass and brush on the trail. I followed Cindy cutting a few things she missed until I got to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left and I continued to cut brush and grass. I like to cut a rather wide swath so that the trail remains clear even when the brush and grasses start to grow back. This section of trail was a little longer than I though especially when carrying the trimmer. I remember when I was growing up that I always wanted to use the power tools. Now that I can use the power tools it isn't all that great! After using the Stihl for a short period of time, my hands get numb from the vibration. There was a lot to cut but we finally made it to the second junction with the blue trail.

We turned right and began to walk up the steep side of the hill toward the summit. The first section of the trail did not have did not have much to trim so I concentrated mostly on cutting some grass and ferns near the edges of the trail. The trail is becoming more and more distinct as more and more people use the trails. A little over half way up the hill, the brush began to close in and so Cindy moved a little farther ahead so that what I was cutting would not hit her. I bean to cut brush some of which was rather large. The larger the brush the quicker the line is used up. When I got to the top of the trail I continued to cut grass, ferns and brush across the summit. As we made the turn to start down the hill, the brush became even thicker and heavier. Cindy cut t5he biggest branches and I followed cutting the rest including some overhead. Even though using the Stihl is much easier than cutting everything by hand it is still tiring work. I was glad when we came to the trail junction. We turned right and walked across the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the junction with the blue trail, I stopped the trimmer to refuel it. I also checked the line and found it was almost out. Refilling the line means winding it manually and I had not done it since last year. The process is pretty straightforward and it all went quickly. Just before we started up again, a group of hikers with two dogs came up the trail from the lookout. They wanted to know a little about the trails and thanked us for clearing them. That made me feel good as Cindy and I have put in a lot of work. We turned left to follow the yellow trail down to the viewpoint. There was very little brush along the trail but I cut some of the ferns and grass that were encroaching on the trail. At the lookout we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill and then back out to the trailhead. Cindy was ready to go home but I wanted to cut the grass and weeds on the steps and around the sign. Cindy put Sheila on her leash and started down the hill. I moved the car forward and then made sure I put on the parking brake. I had to refuel the Stihl and put more line on the spool before I could finish the job. It only took a few minutes to trim the trailhead. I packed everything into the car and drove home. It was 3:00 PM and we had spent about 2 hours making the trails better for others.

On Friday, June 12th, I though I might go to Bear Spring WMA and hike a 9 mile loop on the central and eastern ridge. When I got up in the morning, I just wasn't feeling it so I asked Cindy if she wanted to go for a walk. She said "Yes" and I suggested we go to Mongaup Pond and hike a loop up the Flynn Trail over the snowmobile trail to the pond and then around the pond clockwise and back to the car on the snowmobile trails. I had some work to complete for school so we didn't begin to get ready until just before noon when the temperature in town was nearing 80 degrees! I got dressed in a Columbia crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles but I also put on my OR Bugout gaiters. The ticks have not been very numerous so far this season but a little prevention is always best. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which are now my "go to" hiking boots but have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a new OR floppy hat which shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I took along a light OR windbreaker although I knew it was doubtful I would need it. Sheila in particular was anxious to get out even though we had hiked the day before. I packed two bottles of water and loaded my gear into my pack under the watchful eye of Sheila who is always near but not too near to be considered under foot. I put our gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat an we finally pulled out of Livingston Manor at 12:15 PM. I drove out the Debruce Road about 6 miles and turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road. I had planned to hike up the Flynn Trail but Cindy didn't want to do that so I changed the plan. I continued to where the road split and stayed to the right. I pulled into one of the two spots just off the road on the right. The thermometer in the car read 72 degrees as I set my GPS. The skies were mostly bright and blue with some white clouds but there was a slight breeze. I hoped the breeze would discourage the insects as I do not like insect repellent. At 12:40 PM we headed down the road that leads to the creek. This road used to be a paved road that connected to Terwilliger Road.

We crossed the creek on the small "bridge" that is still present and began to climb a little hill. The hill was a lot of rocks and gravel and on this day there was a lot of water running down. We tried to avoid as much water as possible as we hiked the first .4 miles to the snowmobile trail. As we turned left on the snowmobile trail, I was amazed to see that the Japanese knotweed was almost blocking the trail. I had been through this trail less than two weeks before and the knotweed was brown and lying flat. The first part of this trail passes through some pines and it was relatively dry. As we continued to walk the trail became very wet and muddy and it was difficult to find a way to stay dry. This problem is caused by the cliffs and ledges to the right which drain onto the trail and then to a swampy area on the left of the trail. At 1.95 miles we came to the point where the trail turns to the right. To the left is a short trail that runs out to the campgrounds. We turned right and I knew there would be more wet areas to deal with. Sheila was doing a good job of staying out of the mud until she suddenly bolted up the trail and into the woods. I saw that she was chasing after two deer and called her back immediately. I knew she was only responding to the movement and meant no harm but I did not want her to develop bad habits. We continued to fight the poor trail conditions to 2.6 miles where the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail came in from the right. We continued straight ahead and began to walk downhill toward the head end of the pond. The trail crossed four different bridges and at 3.1 miles arrived at the junction with the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail on the right. Sheila ran toward the pond and jumped in to swim. I walked down to the shore and took some pictures of the pond and of Sheila while she was swimming.

We got a drink and a snack and then continued around the pond on the trail. We could hear the sound of lawn mowers and weed whackers which gave me the impression that the campgrounds would be opening although no date has been set. We walked out to the road and turned right to walk toward the point where the snowmobile trail climbs the hill to the Flynn Trail. At 3.6 miles I started to turn right on the trail and Cindy asked what I was doing. I explained my intentions as I had explained them to her before we started the hike. She made it clear that she wanted to simply continue on the roads back to the car I HATE hiking on roads when nice trails are available and I HATE changing my plans but I knew I could not win! We continued on the roads and after a short distance I walked off to the left to a bench near the shores of the pond. The views from here are slightly different than from the head of the pond and I decided I might as well get some shots. The clouds were interesting as the low ones were illuminated by the sun and the higher ones were dark. After finishing my photography, I packed up and walked back out to the road. Cindy decided to spend a little more time by the pond so Sheila and I took off at a fast pace. I knew that I would stop at the boat launch for some more pictures which would let Cindy catch up. When I walk on the road, I usually set a fast pace as I just want to finish and it is the only way to get some exercise. We reached the boat launch at 4.4 miles and I took some shots of the incomplete deck and the pond. When Cindy reached us, I picked up and started out again. We passed through the entrance to the park at 4.6 miles. The walk back to the car along Mongaup Road can be pleasing as it run s parallel to the stream. On this day I just wanted to get it over with so I put my head down and allowed Sheila to pull me along. The first part of the walk undulates a little but the second part is mostly downhill. We were back at the car at 3:20 PM after hiking 5.7 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes. The elevation gain was 570 feet and our moving speed was 2.3 mph.

On Thursday, June 11th I was ready to get out for a hike after several days of poor weather and various commitments. I had planned for some time to hike Ashokan High Point but each time my plans were interrupted. This day was not different as the ambulance pager sounded as I was beginning to get ready. Once I returned home, I had some work to do which did not bother me as it was still raining. By 1:00 PM the rain had stopped but I had some work to finish. At 3:00 PM I was ready to go hike and decided I had enough time to go across the street on Round Top. The temperature was just 70 degrees but it was humid as I began to get dressed. Sheila began barking and running around frantically since we had not hiked since Sunday! I got dressed in a short-sleeved Columbia top without any baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have the Velcro closures at the ankles which some models have to dissuade ticks but I would be on trails the whole time. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. At 3:15 PM, we stepped out of the house and I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car. We walked up the driveway and crossed the street. I decided we would try to do just two figure 8's as the skies were beginning to get dark again. We walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church and to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, I stopped to look around at the hills around town. A breeze had begun to blow and it was obvious that a storm was blowing in. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that at least a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. It was obvious that the warm weather and rain had caused an explosion of growth and the trails were beginning to get overgrown with brush and high grass. I made a note that I would have to fire up my Stihl trimmer which would take care of everything from the grass to the heavy brush. The trails were wet with some muddy spots. I set a quicker pace than usual so that I we could finish our hike without getting wet. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. Walking uphill we passed through a sea of green brought on by the warm weather and frequent rain showers. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. All of these parts of the trail needed trimming although following the trail was no problem. I had not been out to trim the trail except for one trip to remove a tree leaning over the trail. Soon we were back at the yellow trail. We turned right and walked the yellow trail to the next trail junction. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. There wasn't much to see from the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The walk had gone quickly, so we turned around and started back up the hill back to the lookout. Sometimes Sheila resists another loop but this time she had no objection. I did notice that the breeze was still blowing and it was getting darker. We followed the yellow trail uphill toward the lookout and turned right to continue up to the next trail junction with the blue trail. At the trail junction, we turned right to stay on the yellow trail. At the next junction we turned left to climb the shallower side of the summit ascent. We again walked across the flat summit and descended the steeper trail. At the trail junction, we turned left and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction we turned right this time to follow the trail down to the woods road that leads out to the first trail junction. We completed the figure 8 ending up back at the very first trail junction. I decided it was time to go home so we turned left and walked out to the trailhead. As we approached the trailhead, I put Sheila on her leash as we walked out to the cemetery. Sheila and I walked down the hill and through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. It was 4:05 PM and we had hiked around 2 miles in about an hour and 5 minutes.

On Sunday, June 7th, I asked Cindy if she wanted to go for a walk. She said "Yes" and I suggested we go for a hike that was a little farther from home. I suggested Morgan Hill State Forest and she agreed. I wanted to hike the eastern loop that goes by Shackham Pond and uses some dirt and gravel roads. Fortunately the heat wave had broken and the weather forecast was for sunny skies with highs only in the high 60's and much lower humidity. In fact, the temperature at 8:00 AM was 60 degrees and it seemed very comfortable. I remembered the directions to Morgan Hill and knew that the 130 mile trip would take a little over 2 hours. I wanted to get an early start but we seemed to be in slow motion as we ate breakfast and got ready. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. The shirt has an insect repellent built-in which I knew I would appreciate as I could not rule out a swarm on May flies. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles but I also put on my OR Bugout gaiters. The ticks have not been very numerous so far this season but a little prevention is always best. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which are now my "go to" hiking boots but have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a new OR floppy hat which shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I took along a light OR windbreaker. Sheila in particular was anxious to get out as we had not hiked the day before. I packed two bottles of water and loaded my gear into my pack under the watchful eye of Sheila who is always near but not too near to be considered under foot. I put our gear in the car and Shea in the backseat an we finally pulled out of Livingston Manor just after 9:00 AM when the temperature was 62 degrees. The trip is pretty straightforward but I have not driven this far to hike in some time. I drove west and north on Route 17 to Binghamton and then north on I81 to exit 11. I turned right and headed north on Route 13 north which took us about 10 miles to Route 91 in Truxton. I turned left and after about 3.6 miles, right on Shackham Road in Morgan Hill State Forest. After about .5 miles, there is a pulloff at the side of the road where North Country Trail crosses but I knew this was the lower crossing so I continued to drive until I saw a large parking area on the right and a state forest sign on the left.

I drove a little farther up the road and within .5 miles found another pulloff on the right and signs for the North Country Trail. There were already a few cars parked at the side of the road. The North Country National Scenic Trail stretches approximately 4,600 miles from Crown Point on Lake Champlain in eastern New York to Lake Sakakawea State Park in central North Dakota in the United States. I parked the car at 11:20 AM and we were on the trail by 11:25 AM. Immediately I noticed signs that said "Hiker Warning: Flood Area Ahead" but without any more information. We headed east on the NCT and it was only a short distance to the shores of Shackham Pond. The pond was pretty and was surrounded by very green trees. The water was completely still and the trees and sky were reflected on the surface of the water. The skies had enormous, billowing, puffy white clouds! The beavers had been at work shoring up the dam that impounded water in the pond. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I did put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters which are also insect resistant. I took along a light OR windbreaker. Sheila in particular was anxious to get out as we had only hiked 3 miles the day before. I took some pictures before we headed back to the main trail. Within a few hundred feet, the trail split and I stayed to the left to walk over a small hill and down to the shore. In a clearing we found the gravestones from the Hodgson family who once owned the property. I got my camera out and took a few more pictures. There was a group of people on the main trail on the dam but they were headed back out to the road. We walked out on the main trail to get a better view of the pond and I zoomed in on the Great Blue Heron nests on the far side of the pond. I was disappointed that the nests were not occupied. I took some more pictures of the pond before we moved on. There was a breeze blowing and I was actually a little cool. We passed across the top of the dam that creates the pond. At the end of the dam the trail was flooded by another beaver dam which explained the signs. We were easily able to work our way around this area and stay on the trail.

We resumed our hike by turning left heading north through mostly hardwood forest. We met one man walking toward us with one water bottle. We greeted each other as we passed. At about .7 miles we came to a well-maintained dirt road called Herlihy Road. At this point Cindy told me there was a light coming from my pack. My Mammut headlamp was lit and I could find no way to turn it off except to remove a battery. There was a small group of young hikers coming up behind us making quite a bit of noise. They crossed the road and continued north on the trail. I wanted to go in the same direction but Cindy suggested we turn right on the road. I pointed out that we would already be hiking a majority of the hike on roads but I knew it was useless to argue. We turned right on the dirt road and started walking northeast and uphill toward Morgan Hill Road. The dirt road connects Morgan Hill Road and Shackham Road and there was more traffic than I expected. Cars passed by us in both directions but Sheila stayed right by my side. We also encounters bikers and some other hikers. At 1.6 miles we came to Morgan Hill Road and turned sharply right to head south. The road also continued to the right but it is very rough and not easily traveled by vehicle. This is where we would have arrived if we had taken the trail. Walking on the road may not be excited but it is easy and the first part of it seemed pretty secluded. The road had been "paved" with rather large stones which tended to turn the ankle unless one paid close attention. It was almost like walking a woods road. We continued to meet cars coming in both directions and a few bikers and hikers. The day was beginning to get warmer especially since we were now walking in and out of the sunlight. A nice breeze helped keep us cool and the humidity was still low. From previous trips I knew that the hike on the road would be pretty long so I settled in and started to think about the beauty around me. At 4.2 miles Eaton Hill Road came in from the left and I knew it would be only a half mile or so until the trail would appear on the right. A car me toward us and stopped. An older couple was looking for a fire tower and a pond. I told them how to take Herlihy Road to Shackham Road to get to Shackham Pond. We continued on the road noticing the single track trails that paralleled and crossed the road in various places. At 4.25 miles the NCT came up on the right side of the road. We turned right into the forest and headed almost due east along a tributary of Shackham Brook. I started hiking quickly as the trail went downhill but had to wait for Cindy to catch up. We navigated a muddy section of trail on our way to a beautiful ravine. At 5.2 miles we walked down the trail into the ravine. The trail crossed the brook here but I could see a small waterfall just upstream but there was not enough water to bother visiting it this time.

At 5.5 miles we came to a small cascade on a tributary to Shackham Brook. There wasn't much water but I stopped to take a few pictures. Sheila decided to race around running through the water and then back out. I got her to stay still for one picture. We moved on and met a couple with a dog coming toward us. I moved over to the side of the trail but they said they were turning around. The trail almost immediately met a woods road and followed it for some distance until the point where the trail turned to the right off the woods road and headed down. We started to walk parallel to the brook and I noticed several small waterfalls. At one point I saw a larger cascade and walked to the edge of the high bank. There were too many trees and too little water to make taking pictures worthwhile. We continued to walk parallel to the brook continuing on the trail toward Shackham Road. We met a few more people on the trail coming from the lower parking lot on the road and at least one had a dog. At 5.8 miles a nice footbridge crossed the stream and as I looked down I saw that the streambed was solid rock. Shackham Brook in this area flows for at least several hundred feet over solid bedrock. I took a few pictures of the stream and some of the bridge. There were two people waiting on the other side of the bridge so we crossed and worked our way up the steep bank and uphill Toward Shackham Road. It was a short walk to Shackham Road 5.9 miles into the hike at 2:20 PM. The car was still 1.5 miles up the road which is paved and mostly uphill! I would have continued on to Jones Hill and Tinker Falls but I knew Cindy was tired. Also, the falls are usually a disappointment unless there was been a recent, hard rainfall. I put Sheila on her leash as we turned right to start north and back to the car. As we walked, I saw a couple coming toward us with a beautiful German Shepherd. We stopped to talk for a few minutes and then continued in our separate directions. I was still feeling very good as Sheila and I set off heading north on Shackham Road at a good pace with Cindy keeping up. We were in the sunlight and walking uphill but the temperature was still only 66 degrees. The walk went quickly and we arrived back at the car at 2:55 PM after hiking 7.3 miles in 3.5 hours with an elevation gain of 950 feet. Despite over 20 minutes of stops we had averaged over 2 mph overall and 2.3 while moving.

On Friday, June 5th I wanted to get out for a longer hike after a week of poor weather. Cindy decided not to go so I thought about heading for Bear Spring to hike a loop. When I looked outside, it was very cloudy and looked like it might rain even though the forecast did not call for showers until evening. I decided to go to Frick Pond to do the Frick Pond to Hodge Pond loop on the Quick Lake and Flynn Trails which is a little over 6 miles. I started to get ready a little before 10:00 AM with Sheila watching my very move. The temperature was in the low 60's and I knew it would get warmer. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. The shirt has an insect repellent built-in which I knew I would appreciate as I anticipated a swarm on Mat flies. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and also combat ticks. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I did put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters which are also insect resistant. I took along a light OR windbreaker. Sheila in particular was anxious to get out as we had only hiked 3 miles the day before. I put my gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and drove out the Debruce Road about 6 miles. I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. There was only one car in the larger as I parked in the smaller one. No one was in sight as we got ready to hike. The thermometer read 70 degrees as I set my GPS. The skies were still overcast and there was a slight breeze. I did spray some insect repellant on my hat and hoped that would be enough to keep the insects away. At 10:35 AM we headed out the woods road to the Quick Lake Trail.

Once we passed the register on the Quick Lake Trail the trail was drier than it had been for some time. There are a few muddy spots but none of the running or standing water I had encountered on recent hikes. At Gravestone Junction, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and head down to Frick Pond. This short piece of trail1 had been a mud pit but was now barely damp. We stopped at the bridge across the outlet to Frick Pond and I took some shots of the pond and Flynn's Point. I noticed that the beaver dam was being reconstructed and that the water level was rising. I hoped that no one would tear it down as has happened in the past. We didn't stay long and were soon walking along the west side of Frick Pond which was easier as there was so little water and mud. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we stayed to the left as we wanted to keep hiking the Quick Lake Trail. The first part of this section was dry and the next section was about the same with only a few damp areas. We entered the evergreen tunnel where the trail continued to be in good shape. When we came to the small stream across the trail, we found that the water level was low enough that we could simply walk across it on some stones. We continued to push toward Iron Wheel Junction but were hampered by having to take detours around muddy areas on the trail. This was by far the wettest spot we had so far encountered. As we walked along the trail, I heard a noise to the right and Sheila alerted. I did not immediately recognize the sound until I heard it again and saw the owl fly off to another tree. We reached Iron Wheel junction at 11:15 AM after hiking 1.5 miles.

We turned left at the junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and head for Junkyard Junction and the Flynn Trail. The temperature had warmed up a few degrees but there was a breeze at times. The breeze kept us cool and drove away some of the flies. I noticed that I could see blue sky with white clouds instead of the overcast that had been present. The next mile of trail is all uphill and the grade only averages around 8%. At times this can seem like a long slog but on this day it seemed to go quickly. I attributed this to the fact that I had many things on my mind and was often lost in thought. We hit the flatter ground and started downhill toward Junkyard Junction where we arrived at noon after hiking 3.1 miles. We turned right to start out on the Flynn Trail and almost immediately I noticed that the trail was much drier than it had been in several trips. This trail is often wet as it is fairly flat and lower than much of the surrounding ground. By this time my feet were getting wet which was an uncomfortable feeling even though it was a warm day. We worked our way along the trail until we got to the gate which separates the state land from the Open Spaces Institute land around Hodge Pond. We continued on the Flynn Trail by turning right and following the trail downhill to an area near the shore of Hodge Pond. It is possible to turn in either direction at this point and I chose right to stay on the Flynn Trail. This part of the trail was also drier than usual and we made good time as we headed toward the outlet end of Hodge Pond. We walked through a field where the dining hall had been for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp and then walked through a short stretch of woods to the clearing at the south end of Hodge Pond. Sheila and I walked to the shore of the pond where I dropped my pack to get out my camera. By this time the sky was blue with white clouds and I took pictures of the beautiful scene. Sheila was in and out of the water so I took some pictures of her. When we were done, I packed up and we headed to the point where the Flynn Trail entered the woods. We began the walk up the hill on the Flynn Trail which was the last climb before the long downhill back to the car.

The walk up this hill often seems tedious but on this day it went quickly and we were soon at the top of the hill. I was pretty sure the rest of the trail would also be dry and that seemed to be the case. We walked along the flat trail under the trees passing through the other gate and arriving at the junction with the Big Rock trail at 12:45 PM after hiking 4.7 miles. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail setting a fast pace over the flat part of the trail before starting the downhill. I much prefer walking up the Flynn Trail but like to vary the route from time to time. In any case the 1.7 miles back to the parking area can be slow as there is not much to see. We reached the spot where there is an interesting to the left of the trail but we had been there recently and stayed on the main trail. We continued on the trail and soon were passing through the tunnel we had cut in a large spruce tree that had fallen across the trail. We turned left on the trail to avoid the private property around the cabin. As we neared the end of the trail, I looked up to see a large dog coming toward us. Both the dog and Sheila seemed to want to meet but the other owner and I both restrained our dogs. She took her dog off the trail and we spoke briefly as Sheila and I passed. She said she was about to do the loop we had just completed but in the opposite direction. When we got back to the parking area, the only vehicle was a truck with a DEC symbol on the door indicating the other hiker probably worked at one of the campgrounds. It was 1:25 PM when we got back to the car after hiking 6.3 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes with an elevation gain of 900 feet. We had maintain an overall speed of 2.3 mph. The temperature was 72 degrees and we were both ready to go home.

On Thursday, June 4th, I wanted to get in a hike close to home after several morning commitments. I had men's Bible study at the church at 6:15 AM and Cindy had one at 10:30 AM. When I arrived home, I did some chores around the house knowing that I had a science department meeting online at 3:00 PM. Cindy did say she wanted to take a short walk so I waited until she was done with her class around noon. We decided to just go to Parksville and hike the rail trail even though it is under three miles out and back. By the time we started to get ready at 12:30 PM, the temperature was 70 degrees. I got dressed in a long-sleeved White Sierra crew top without any baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectShield which helps keep the insects away. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have the Velcro closures at the ankles which some models have to dissuade ticks but I would be on trails the whole time. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. We put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 12:50 PM and drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville. Just after Fox Mountain Road, I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road at 1:00 PM. One car was parked in the lot and as we began to get ready two women were returning to the car. They happened to be from Livingston Manor and we talked to them for a few minutes. I set my GPS and we started out on the trail at 1:08 PM.

In the direct sunlight it felt like the temperature was over 80 degrees! Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was a little cooler but still warm. The trail alternated between mostly dry areas and with only a few muddy ones. The trail was in about the same shape as when we hiked it in May. It was obvious someone had been in to clear some blowdowns and install new picnic tables and benches. I decided not to take pictures as nothing had changed too much since March when I had taking quite a few shots. The day was sunny and the sky was very blue. We passed several benches placed for people to rest in warmer weather. As we walked, I could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls was just ahead. We stopped briefly to look at the falls which had a good amount of water passing over it. Soon we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail and a group of eight hikers came toward us. Some were adults and some were teens and they seemed to be keeping a pretty good pace. We passed many rundown and dilapidated buildings on the left side of the trail and it seemed that many were being clean up. On the Parksville end of the trail we found a small garden and a very informative sign. The sign listed the businesses and hotels that existed in Parksville during its heyday. The Young's Gap Hotel had room for 600 guests! The sign also explained the role of the railroad in the dairy industry which was a thriving one in all of Sullivan County. After a brief pause, we decided to walk back on the trail as it was in such good shape. The return trip was uneventful until we came to the last third where we could see the group of hikers ahead of us. As we arrived in the parking lot, the group was there and stopped us to ask about other railtrails and hikes in the area. I gave them some ideas but it seemed they were from out of the area as they did not know the names of many places. We were back at the car at 2:04 PM after hiking 2.5 miles in 56 minutes. Our moving average was 2.7 mph and the elevation gain was 230 feet which I doubted.

On Tuesday, June 2nd I was ready to get out for my first hike of the month of June. I had planned for some time to hike Ashokan High Point but each time my plans were interrupted. This day was not different as the ambulance pager sounded as I was beginning to get ready. Once I returned home, I had some work to do which did not bother me as it was raining. By 1:00 PM the rain had stopped and I was ready to go hike across the street on Round Top. The temperature was just 60 degrees as I began to get dressed. Sheila began barking and running around frantically even though we had been hiking regularly. I got dressed in a long-sleeved White Sierra crew top without any baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectShield which helps keep the insects away. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have the Velcro closures at the ankles which some models have to dissuade ticks but I would be on trails the whole time. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. At 1:35 PM, we stepped out of the house and I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car. We walked up the driveway and across the street. I decided we would try to do four figure 8's to make up for the lack of hiking due to the predicted rain and thunderstorms. We walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church and to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, I stopped to look around at the hills around town. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that at least a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. The trails were completely dry with no mud. I set a slower pace than usual so that I could just enjoy the walk. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. Walking uphill we passed through a sea of green brought on by the warm weather and frequent rain showers. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. I had not been out to trim the trail except for one trip to remove a tree leaning over the trail. Soon we were back at the yellow trail. We turned right and walked the yellow trail to the next trail junction. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. There wasn't much to see from the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The walk had gone quickly, so we turned around and started back up the hill back to the lookout. Sometimes Sheila resists another loop but this time she had no objection. We followed the yellow trail uphill toward the lookout and turned right to continue up to the next trail junction with the blue trail. At the trail junction, we turned right to stay on the yellow trail. At the next junction we turned left to climb the shallower side of the summit ascent. We again walked across the flat summit and descended the steeper trail. At the trail junction, we turned left and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction we turned right this time to follow the trail down to the woods road that leads out to the first trail junction. We completed the figure 8 ending up back at the very first trail junction. I was still fresh and even though repeated figure 8's are a little boring. I decided to head up the woods road and repeat the first figure 8. Sheila only hesitated for a moment before bounding ahead of me. We completed the route and then turned around and did another one. After the fourth figure 8, we headed out toward the trailhead. As we approached the trailhead, I put Sheila on her leash as we walked out to the cemetery. Sheila and I walked down the hill and through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. It was 3:25 PM and we had hiked around 4 miles in about an hour and 50 minutes.

The trail in this area are not always well marked and there are many logging roads and informal paths. I suggest you print out the map you find here. The description and distances given here are based on an actual hike. A corrected version of this without the extra explorations can be found in the "trails" section of this website. On Sunday, May 31st I planned to get out of my normal local hiking area and head north to southwestern Schoharie County to Clapper Hollow just north of Jefferson. I was pretty sure there wouldn't be many people and that social distancing would not be a problem. I have been very good about "Hike Locally" but I just felt I had to stretch the limits some. I asked Cindy I she wanted to go since I was pretty sure the area was interesting but had not big hills. She said she would like to go along. The weather forecast was for temperature that would not break 60 degrees and low humidity which would make hiking more comfortable. I knew that this also meant the insects would be under control. When I got up in the morning, the temperature was in the mid 40's but it began to rise so that is was in the low 50's at 8:15 AM when I began to get ready. Sheila watched me very closely as I got dressed which always surprises me since I never go hiking without her. I got dressed in a long-sleeved White Sierra crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectShield which helps keep the May flies away. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants do not have the Velcro closures at the ankles which some models have to dissuade ticks so I added my OR Bugout gaiters which are treated to repel insects. I have not seen many ticks this season but I know they are out there. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I wore an OR floppy hat. I like the hat as it shades me from the sun and allows me to spray insect repellant on it rather than on me. I also put on a light windbreaker since I knew I could remove it and stow it at any time. We got our gear and Sheila in the car and headed north on State Route 17 at 9:00 AM. I got off at exit 94 for Roscoe and headed north in Route 206 toward Downsville. Just passed the traffic light in Downsville, I turned right on Telford Hollow Road and followed it over the mountain to Route 10. I turned right and headed north on Route 10 passing through Delhi, Bloomville, South Kortright, Hobart and Stamford. When we reached Jefferson, I turned right to stay on Route 10. A little more than 2 miles out of town, I turned left on Route 15 and immediately right on Clapper Hollow Road. In a little less than a mile we came to the parking area on the right side of the road. When I pulled in at 10:40 Am there was only one other car. I was surprised to see that the sign read "Clapper Hollow Nordic Ski Trails" which was a first for me. I set my electronics and we started out on the trail at 10:50 AM.

The trail we started out on was wide and generally "smooth" and dry. The signs designated it as Trail 4. Within a very short distance a trail seemed to go off to the right but it was not marked and was not well maintained. I was pretty sure this might be marked Trail 10 on the map but we continued on the trail we were on. The trail ascended through a hardwood forest and then started to descended. At .4 miles we came to a trail junction where we turned right or north on Trail 1. At .75 miles we came to another junction and, after inspecting some blazes, we decided to turn left to stay on Trail 1. Trying to follow the blazes proved fruitless as there were so few of them and because they eventually just stopped. We retraced our steps back to the previous junction where we got on Trail 3 heading east. (I thought our exploration on Trail 1 was taking us west but I was not paying attention and we had looped around to head east!) This was interesting as there was no Trail 3 marked on the map! Within a short distance we came to a junction with Trail 5. I really wanted to see the lean-to and pond that someone had mentioned was really beautiful. After consulting the map and my GPS, we decided to turn left and head north on Trail 5. This trail climbed continuously but gently for the next .8 miles through mixed hardwood and evergreen forests. The trail were generally wide and mostly dry which made the hiking easy. As we were hiking, I looked down at the trail and saw a lady slipper. I don't often see these so I steered Sheila away from it and too a picture. I then noticed that there were several more in the shade off the trail and I took some shots of them. We continued along the trail and at about 1.75 miles I saw a deer ahead in a clear cut and warned Sheila not to follow. We broke out into the clear cut and I got out my camera to take pictures. The sky was very blue with white clouds and the green leaves on the trees. These were in stark contrast to the clear cut which had a few dead trees pointing up toward the sky. After the clear cut, the trail passed through some nice evergreens and I took the opportunity to walk to another cut and take a few more pictures. Soon the Trail 5 brought us to another junction. I had the feeling we should turn right on Trail 6 and when I consulted the GPS it seemed I was right. We turned right on Trail 6 and followed it as it wound through the woods.

A short distance in the trail made a sharp right and it seemed to be taking too long to get to the pond. I began to doubt myself and then saw water through the trees on the left of the trail. We continued along the trail, made a sharp left and almost immediately saw the pond and the lean-to. We walked across a small bridge to the lean-to. I put down my pack and got out the camera to take pictures of Sheila in the pond and the lean-to. The lean-to had a tree down across its roof but looked none the worse for wear. I took pictures of the pond with a blue sky and clouds in the background. It was soon time to move on as I wanted to do a loop which included two more trails on the extreme northern end of this area. We left the lean-to heading away and first east then north. A logging road headed west but we followed the trail as it headed north. At 2.7 miles it turned northwest and then at 3 miles it turned southwest. Parts of this section of the trail were very wet and we had to walk on the sides to avoid getting wet. At 3.1 miles I realized we had not seen a trail marker and were starting to head east rather than west. We backtracked and found the spot where the trail headed west out to a truck road. I wanted to head north and hike Trail 9 but Cindy was getting tired and the clouds were getting dark. We turned left or south on the truck road and walked .3 miles to the junction with Trail 5. Unfortunately the truck road comes in from the north and dead ends shortly after this junction. We trend left and headed east on Trail 5 for .3 miles back to the junction where we had taken Trail 6 earlier. We turned right and started to retrace our route back the way we had come. I wanted to try taking Trail 2 south as is paralleled trail 5 but I missed the turn. As we approached the clear cut, I looked up to see four hikers approaching. I put Sheila on her leash as we met the four local teens who were hiking to the pond. They were very polite and I was glad to see them out hiking. We continued to walk south passing the junction where we had picked up Trail 5 earlier. At 4.7 miles we came to the junction with Trail 10 that heads back up the ridge and the drops quickly back down to an area near the parking lot. I knew Cindy would not want any "up" so I continued straight ahead on an informal path toward trail 1. At 4.9 miles we actually crossed one section of Trail 1 but I missed the turn and we continued straight ahead to do the bottom loop of the trail. This section of trail was in good shape with a few damp spots. It headed south and then east for a total of .6 miles to the parking area. We were back at the car at 2:00 PM having hiked 5.5 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes with an elevation gain of 555 feet.

On Friday, May 29th we got a text from Karl inviting us to go to Bethel to hike near Lake Superior with his family. Cindy and I wanted to hike and wanted to see our grandchildren so we readily agreed. We decided to meet at their house at 1:00 PM and then decide on the hike. We began to get my gear together at 12:15 PM which made Sheila watch me very closely. I got dressed in a long-sleeved White Sierra crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectShield which helps keep the May flies away. It was 70 degrees but I thought the long sleeves might dissuade the mosquitoes. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. These pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which dissuade ticks but I added my OR Bugout gaiters which also are treated to repel insects. I have not seen many ticks this season but I know they are out there. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I wore an OR floppy hat. I like the hat as it shades me from the sun and allows me to spray insect repellant on it rather than on me. We got our gear and Sheila in the car and headed out over Dahlia Road to White Sulphur Springs. From there we took the back roads through the Woodstock site to Route 17B. I took a left on 17B and then a right on Dr. Duggan Road. We arrived at Karl's house at 1:00 PM. Karl and the grandchildren came out to meet us and we said "Hello" keeping our distance. We decided to drive to a parking lot to begin our hike. We parked on Dr. Duggan Road by a small pond at 1:10 PM. I set by GPS and we started out by hiking over to the pond where I took a few pictures. The sun was out and the temperature was now 82 degrees with palpable humidity. The sky was blue with billowing white clouds. The forecast was for thunderstorms by 5:00 PM but I knew we would be finished hiking by then. We hiked up over a hill and through a field to Indian Field Road. Taking a right on the road we headed toward Indian Field. Just before the club's POSTED signs began on the right we turned onto a woods road which is the boundary between the club's private and the Lake Superior State Park. The Rocky Run Road is part of the old Newburgh-Cochecton Turnpike and we hiked it extensively when I was growing up on Dr. Duggan Road. The turnpike ran from Newburgh on the Hudson River to Cochecton on the Delaware River. The woods road was very prominent and showed traces of tracks. I remembered many of the twists and turns and the ridges that line the road in places. After about two miles, we came to the end of the public property. The woods road continues to meet Pucky Huddle Road but I did not want to walk across the private land.

We turned around and began to walk back along the trail for about .8 miles where the trail came closest to the lake. We turned left and began a .3 mile bushwhack to the shore of the lake. We walked through some thick laurel and some equally thick brush until we finally descended to the shore of the lake. Sheila immediately dove into the lake with the children close behind. I dropped my pack. Got out the camera and began to take some pictures of Sheila in the water and some of the lake and sky. We spent some time in these pursuits and then moved on to walk along the lakeshore. The problem with hiking along the shore of the lake is that there are thick stands of laurel which are hard to push through. We would hike along the shore and then head away from the shore when confronted with the laurel. Several times we walked down to the shore to take pictures. The sky continued to be blue with magnificent, billowing clouds. Several spots along the shore looked like small campsites and I suspect people access these areas by boat. The closer we got to the outlet end of the lake the more prominent the path became. At the outlet I walked to the marshy land that separates the lake from the outlet stream. I took pictures of the lake spread out before me and a few down the stream. I also took a few shots of the beach area where a few people were walking. We continued to follow the small "stream" that connects the lake to the small pond where we had parked. This all brought back a lot of memories since my friends and I crossed and recrossed this area so many years ago. We ran across the large ant hills that I remembered. There were over two dozen of them with the largest being 4 feet in diameter and more than a foot high! As we approached the pond, the group separated from me as I wanted to move slowly and reminisce. I chose to take the "low road" and hike as near the shore as possible. There is also a path higher up that walks along the ridge above the pond. I stopped to take pictures of the pond and the dam at the outlet end. I met the rest of the family at a picnic table. We walked back to our vehicles arriving at 4:10 PM covering the 4.4 mile hike in 3 hours with an elevation gain of 355 feet.

On Wednesday, May 27th, I had planned to hike to Ashokan High Point as I had not been there for some time. When I mentioned this to Cindy, she said she would like to hike but I knew she would probably not be able to do the whole High Point hike especially since the temperature was supposed to reach into the high 70's. I suggested we stay even closer to home and Long Pond was the only place I had not been recently. When I got up at 8:00 AM, the temperature was already 70 degrees. I thought we should get ready to go immediately but then the ambulance pager sounded. I went on the call and returned around 10:00 AM. The temperature on the back porch read 86 degrees and Cindy took that as a reason to stay home. I knew the temperature was only 76 degrees but I also knew enough not to try to convince Cindy to go. Sheila could see I was getting ready to go and was finding it hard to contain her enthusiasm. I put on only a light short-sleeved crew top as the temperature was so warm but put a on a light baselayer also since it prevents my pack from irritating my back. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants lack the Velcro closures at the ankles which some models have but I added my OR Bugout gaiters which are treated to repel insects. I have not seen many ticks this season but I know they are out there. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also wore my OR floppy hat as it shades me from the sun and allows me to spray insect repellant on it rather than on me. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. At 10:35 AM I drove out the DeBruce Road and through Willowemoc to the Flugertown Road. I turned left and drove to the first parking area on the right. The temperature was 78 degrees when I got out of the car and I could feel that the humidity was rather high. As I was getting ready to hike, Sheila ran around the parking lot. A pickup pulled up at the side of the road opposite the parking lot and then two more cars joined it. I could not understand why they did not pull into the lot! I got my gear out of the car and set my electronics. I put Sheila on her leash and we left the parking area to start up Flugertown Road at 11:05 AM.

Everything was very green with blue skies and many puffy white clouds. The first part of the hike is virtually flat but then starts to climb very gently for some distance. The first .5 miles follows the paved portion of Flugertown Road. At the end of the paved portion, I stopped to take a few pictures of the countryside before moving on. Once we were on the unpaved, dirt road, I released Sheila from her leash as I felt the chance of meeting a vehicle was minimal. Sheila was good about staying on the road but she kept wandering to the other side to look at the stream. The road was shaded by the trees making it a little cooler than the road walk. It seemed to be getting warmer as we kept up a very fast pace passing the first trail junction and the informal campsites along the way. At the first set of campsites a few young people were gathered around their tents. We continued on to the point where Flugertown Road turns into Basily Road and heads over a small hill and down to the Peters Hunting Club. We stopped at the top of the hill where I dropped my pack and got out the camera. The bucolic scene was beautiful with the green leaves popping out fresh on the trees overhung by the blue sky. After taking some shots, I Packed up and we continued on the road toward the bunting camp. The hunting club has a private bridge over the creek and at one point denied access to hikers. The bridge is now open and the snowmobile trail passes over it so I have hiked it many times. The camp has also repaired some boards that were missing on the bridge. There was no one at the cabin as we continued across the bridge. It was noon and we had hiked 2.5 miles. We crossed the outlet to the beaver pond by walking on the small footbridge due to the fact that the road was flooded from the overflow of the beaver pond. The dam was well-constructed and sturdy but did not show much new work. From that point the road began to ascend slightly but we increased our efforts to keep up the pace. This part of the road was wetter than th rest had been so far. The water and mud on the road seemed to bring out the mosquitoes. I decided to simply keep walking rather than to stop on put on insect repellant. The skies were blue with some clouds and it was definitely warmer than when we had left the car.

We came to the split in the road at 3.2 miles where Basily Road heads to the left and continues out to Wild Meadow Road. I realized that I had not been that way in some time but that it would require two cars to make that hike. We stayed to the right and soon were approaching the point were we would turn right onto the trail back to Long Pond. We made the right turn and started to hike back on the snowmobile trail. I was surprised that the gate on the trail was wide open! Parts of the trail were both wet and muddy which I found strange since the rest of the trail was so dry. There were also tire tracks but I could not tell how old they were. We walked along the trail ands Sheila did a good job for the most part of staying close. At one pint she veered quickly off the trail to chase a chipmunk. The chipmunk ran under a rock and Sheila put her nose to it as the chipmunk ran out the other side and up a tree. We passed the trail to the lean-to at 12:45 PM about 4.2 miles into the hike. It was only .4 miles to the junction with the trail that leads out to Flugertown Road. In only another .2 miles we were at the spur trail down to the shore of Long Pond. I let Sheila decide which way we would go and she turned left on the spur trail to the pond. When we arrived at the shores of the pond, I got out my camera and took a number of pictures of the pond and the surrounding area. The light was favorable and a beautiful blue sky hung over the water. I kept Sheila away from the pond as it was so muddy. Before leaving, I got a drink and gave Sheila one. We walked back out to the main trail and turned left to head back to the car. Immediately the trail began to climb for .35 miles on a very rocky and eroded section of the trail. At 5.25 miles we hit the highest point on the trail at 2250 feet and began a .65 mile downhill walk back to the car. The last part of the hike went quickly as we descended the hill back to the parking area. There were a few wet and muddy areas near the bottom of the hill but these we avoided. Over the last .7 miles we lost 370 feet. We were back at the car by 1:35 PM having covered 5.9 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes with a 530 foot elevation gain. As we left the parking area, the temperature was 82 degrees.

On Tuesday, May 26th I had decided to take a day off from hiking after two good hikes in a row. By early afternoon the temperature had risen to over 80 degrees and I decided to cross the street to hike on Round Top just to say I was out in the hot and humid weather. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed. I put on only a light short-sleeved crew top as the temperature was so warm. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants lack the Velcro closures at the ankles which some models have but I added my OR Bugout gaiters which are treated to repel insects. I have not seen many ticks this season but I know they are out there. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee II hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also wore my OR floppy hat as it shades me from the sun and allows me to spray insect repellant on it rather than on me. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. At 2:30 PM we walked out the door to find that it was raining. The shower was not forecast but was hard enough to make me turn around to wait in the house. By 2:50 PM we walked out the door to try to start the hike again and found the rain had stopped leaving behind an even higher level of humidity. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead where I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail was completely dry and it was much cooler under the trees.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight up the hill toward the viewpoint. At the top of the hill, we continued on the trail turning right. We followed the trail as it gently gained elevation toward the junction with the blue trail. At the next trail junction, we turned right and walked along the base of Round Top Ti the next junction with the blue trail Here we turned left and began the ascent up the more shallow slope of the blue trail to the summit. We walked across the flat summit which was very green. The heat and the humidity had made the leaves pop out over the past several days. We continued on the blue trail down the steep hill to the junction with the yellow trail. Here we turned left and walked again along the base of Round Top to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and walked downhill on the yellow trail to the wide woods road. On the way down we passed the tree that I had felled to clear the trail. The trip down the woods road went quickly and we were soon back at the first trail junction. All the trails had been completely dry. Sheila seemed to want to go back home but I turned around and started back up the gentle slope of the woods road. At the next trail junction with the blue trail, we turned left and walked along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. Here we turned right and walked up the steep side of the hill to the summit. Again we crossed the summit and this time descended the more shallow slope to the yellow trail. We turned right and walked along the base of Round Top turning left at the next junction with the blue trail. We walked downhill to the lookout and followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. This time Sheila and I were in agreement that we should return home. We walked back out to the trailhead. We turned right and continued down the hill. I put Sheila on her leash and walked out through the church parking lot to the road and our driveway. It was 4:00 PM and we had hiked 2 miles in just over an hour.

On Monday, May 25th I wanted to get in a longer hike that was still close to home. I was running out of variations at my regular spots but chose to go to Frock Pond to hike a loop to Mongaup Pond. Cindy told me she did not want to go as we had hiked the day before. I slept in and then did some work around the house before starting to get ready to go for the hike. It had rained a few drops and the skies were overcast but I was hoping no more rain would fall. I began to get my gear together at 12:15 PM which made Sheila watch me very closely. I got dressed in a long-sleeved White Sierra crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectShield which helps keep the May flies away. It was 70 degrees but I thought the long sleeves might dissuade the mosquitoes. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants lack the Velcro closures at the ankles which some models have but I added my OR Bugout gaiters which also are treated to repel insects. I have not seen many ticks this season but I know they are out there. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also wore a light jacket and an OR floppy hat. I like the hat as it shades me from the sun and allows me to spray insect repellant on it rather than on me. I got my gear and Sheila in the car and headed out the DeBruce Road at 12:35 PM. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking areas they were both almost full but no hikers were in sight. I found a spot in the smaller lot and parked. Sheila was acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she ran around and headed for the trail. The temperature was 72 degrees and the skies were overcast with higher than normal humidity. I did notice that the skies were beginning to clear with the sun shining through the clouds and I knew the temperature would rise. I got my gear ready to go and set my electronics. We headed across the road to get on the Flynn Trail at 1:00 PM. The Flynn Trail through the woods was bone dry. At the end of that section we turned right onto the woods road that was once the access road to the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. Within a few hundred feet, I saw a young couple approaching and walked off to the side of the trail as they passed. The trail continued to be dry but I was surprised that the leaves were almost completely out even compared to a few days before. At one point I stopped to take some pictures of the cliff and ledges and to remove my light jacket which was no longer needed. The sun was out now and I could see that most of the sky was blue. The Flynn Trail ascends for 1.7 miles to the junction with the Big Rock trail and gains 600 feet in the process. On this day the ascent seemed to go quickly as I have been hiking more frequently and am finally getting into better shape.

It didn't seem long at all until we were approaching the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 1.7 miles into the hike. By the time we were at the junction, we had already gained 600 feet and only had a little more elevation gain until we would start downhill. We turned right at the junction on the snowmobile trail and climbed another 120 feet to the highest point on the hike at a little over 1.9 miles. After hitting the high point, most of the rest of the hike was downhill. The Flynn Trail heads directly north from the trailhead but the snowmobile trail wanders first east, then south, then east, then north before finally heading southeast and south toward Mongaup Pond. As we descended from the high point we found evidence that there had been a stream of water flowing down most of the trail. The trail has become highly eroded and difficult to hike. There were also many blowdowns which had not been cleared as the snowmobile club had little snow to work with the past winter. The trail was completely dry as we headed down toward the pond except for one small damp spot. Sheila was wandering off trail and then returning to us never getting very far away. At 3.1 miles we followed the trail as it turned southeast and then east still descending toward the pond. We finally hit a woods road and the trail leveled out. Just before getting to the roads that runs through the campground we passed by the swamp on the left and crossed a few small streams across the trail and some standing water. This was the only spot on the trail so far that had been wet at all. When we got to the roads, I wondered whether I should put Sheila on her leash as the campgrounds were supposed to be open. We turned left on the road and began walking passed empty campsites. At 4.1 miles the blue Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail started on the left side of the road. We turned left here and began to head north toward the upper end of the pond. As we walked I could see and hear several groups of people on the pond in kayaks and canoes. When we arrived at the upper end of the pond, we walked to the edge of the water. A little further along on the shore was a large family group just getting ready to leave. I dropped my pack and took out the camera while Sheila walked out into the water. I took pictures of the pond but was disappointed that the blue sky had few if any white clouds. I threw a stick for Sheila but she did not seem very interested.

I packed up and we continued around the pond on a snowmobile trail as the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail turned left and headed north. I had not decided whether we would continue on the snowmobile trails as we had last week or use the roads to return to the car. The half mile to the next trail junction was slightly uphill and a little muddier than the rest of the trail had been. We crossed three bridges with water running in small streams which allowed Sheila to get a drink of fresh water. At 4.9 miles we came to the junction with the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail. From this point on I knew the trail was very muddy in several places. As we walked, I found the trail drier than it had been a few days before but still wet. When we arrived at the junction with the trail to the falls, I decided to continue straight ahead and out to the campground roads. I knew it would be very warm walking the roads but the trail to the falls had been so muddy the last time I chose to avoid it. As we walked straight ahead, we immediately found a wet area where a stream crosses the trail and a culvert has been blocked for some time. We worked our way through this area and then out the campsite 38 where we picked up the campground roads. We walked out to the main loop road where we turned left. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked out toward the park entrance. Several people were wading in the water but there was no lifeguard. It did not seem that there were any canoe or kayak rentals. It did not seem much was different from the week before. We walked out the entrance of the campgrounds and started the hike back to the car on Mongaup Pond Road. The walking was not as hot as I thought it would be and the noise of the stream next to the road was pleasing. There was quite a bit of traffic on the road but is slowed when passing us. I stopped in two places to take some pictures of the stream. We reached the intersection with Beech Mountain Road at 7 miles and turned right. The final .3 miles was all uphill but Sheila helped by giving me a pull. We arrived back at the parking area at 4:15 PM having hiked 7.3 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes. The elevation gain was 1030 feet. Two young women were looking at the map at the trailhead. I asked if they needed help but they responded that they had just returned from the loop hike around Frick and Hodge Ponds.

On Sunday, May 24th Cindy and I had planned to go on a belated Mother's Day hike with Kurt and his family. They were to meet us at our house at noon and we would go to the trailhead from there. Cindy and I discussed possibilities for a hike knowing that any popular place would be mobbed because of the beautiful weather and the long weekend. We decided to hike to Huggins Lake which is less than 4 miles with some uphills. The lake at the end of the out and back hike is pretty. On Sunday morning we got a text from Kurt saying that they would be late which was not unexpected. Cindy came up with the idea of trying to go to the Beaverkill Campgrounds as the hiking would be flatter and easier since Kurt might have to carry Kaden who is very big for being 2 years old. I began to get ready at 12:30 PM when the temperature was just 70 degrees. As soon as I started to get ready, Sheila began to run around and bark anticipating getting out of the house. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles but I decided to add a pair of OR Bugout gaiters. I have not seen as many ticks as in the past but I know they are out there. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I made sure I had a pair of Protalus insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I took my OR floppy hat and put on a light jacket that would stow easily in my pack. Kurt and family arrived just before 1:00 PM and after a brief greeting we left for our hike. I got our gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat. We left Livingston Manor just after 1:00 PM and drove north on Old Route 17. I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and left on Campsite Road. At the bottom of the hill I turned right and drove down to the campgrounds parking area. To our disappointment the parking lot was completely filled with groups of people spread throughout the area. I drove across the covered bridge and at the end of the road I turned right and followed Berry Brook Road to the trailhead. We arrived at the road to the parking area to find it very rough with some erosion. We easily made it to the small lot parking at 1:25 PM. There were four vehicles in the parking area but I knew those people would be spread out over a 2 mile trail which is a wide woods road. We got our equipment ready and I set my GPS. Kurt put Kaden, who is a large child, in a child carrier. Sheila and Kurt's dog Ryder seemed to be getting along very well and neither needed to be on a leash. The sun was out and the temperature was 70 degrees as we headed out on the wide woods road to the lake. As we started out there continued to be lots of sun and the skies were blue as we climbed up the hill. The hike isn't long and the trail is well-maintained and it looked like some work had been done lately as there were no blowdowns along the way.

The first 1.2 miles is all uphill and gains almost 700 feet. Sheila and Ryder were running up and down the trail with Sheila following game paths into the woods. Kurt seemed to be doing well carrying Kaden and Ariana was walking with no problems. Cindy and I were both taking it slow as we had no reason to hurry. We both noted that the ascent has several spots which appear to be the top of the climb but are not. After the initial climb, the trail descends, levels some and then climbs again until the final descent to Huggins Lake. Along the way we met a group of 8 people coming toward us. I called Sheila and walked to the side of the trail and th rest of the group also allowed the others to pass. We exchanged greetings as they passed us. As we continued, the trail made a sharp turn from southeast to north at about 1.6 miles. We enjoyed the downhill trek to the shores of the pond but I knew we would soon have to turn around and climb back up the hill. When we arrived at the lake, I noticed that the water level was high. I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take pictures of the lake. The leaves had burst out over the last few days and the sky was blue with sun and a few white clouds. I took some pictures of the lake and then walked along the dam on the narrow path to take a few more shots. At this point I noticed a woman with a fishing pole sitting in a chair on the far side of the dam. I made sure to keep Sheila with me so we would not bother her. I could see a tent set up in the field southeast of the dam. At the outlet I could immediately see that the beavers had dammed the water flow and that reeds had grown to all but block the outlet flow. I took a few more pictures of the lake before returning to my pack and stowing the camera. Sheila had already taken several dips in the water and I threw a stick several times which she swam to retrieve. Kurt and Aimee took there kids along the dam to see the outlet. Sheila began to run back and forth on the trail with Ryder chasing her. I took a few pictures of the family as a group and we continued to enjoy ourselves for some time. It seemed that the longer we were there, the more the insects began to zero in on us. At 2:50 PM we packed up and started up the hill and back to the car. Kaden did not want to ride in the backpack so Kurt and Aimee took turns carrying him. The only negative point about Huggins Lake is that there is only one trail and so there are no variations available. The ascent went smoothly for the most part as we climbed the hill back to the highest point on the trail. From there we started down the other side of the hill on the trail. Downhill was definitely easier than uphill especially for Kurt and Aimee! Sheila seemed very interested in following game trails off the main trail and I had to keep calling her back. As we started down the last section of trail I could see two hikers coming toward us. I again took Sheila to the side of the trail as they passed. From this point it was all downhill to the car. We arrived back at the car at 3:50 PM after hiking 3.8 miles in 2 hours and 25 minutes with a total elevation gain of 955 feet. We had spent just under half an hour stopped with most of that time being at Huggins Lake.

On Friday, May 22nd I had started out to drive upstate to see some new sites. I found out that I could not go it alone on this day and returned home. By 11:00 AM I was ready to go out on a local hike and chose to walk the snowmobile trails on the east side of Mongaup Pond. There isn't much to see there and the trails can be wet but at least I know the route and had not been there in some time. As I started to get ready the temperature on the back porch was 80 degrees and the skies were very blue with white clouds. There was no sign of the afternoon showers that were forecast. As soon as I started to get ready, Sheila began to run around and bark anticipating getting out of the house. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles but I decided to add a pair of OR Bugout gaiters. I have not seen as many ticks as in the past but I know they are out there. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I made sure I had a pair of Protalus insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I knew I would not need gloves but I did take my OR floppy hat. I also put on a light jacket that would stow easily in my pack. I got my gear in the car and Sheila, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, in the backseat. I started out the DeBruce Road at 11:35 AM and turned left after six miles on Mongaup Pond Road. As I drove up the road, I could see the sky was blue with white puffy clouds. At the split in the road I stayed to the right on Mongaup Pond Road and pulled into the small parking area on the right side of the road. There were no other cars in the lot and none parked at Mongaup Falls. The temperature on the car read 70 degrees and felt more comfortable than in town. As I got out of the car I could feel the humidity but it was not overpowering. What was bothersome was the cloud of insects swarming around my head. I don't like insect repellant but I decided it was needed in this case.

I got my GPS set and then let a frantic Sheila out of the car so that we could begin our hike at 11:55 AM. We walked back toward the intersection to turn left to hike down what used to be Hunter Road. We walked across the small bridge over the stream and continued up the rocky hill toward the snowmobile trails that make up most of this hiking loop. The road had water running down it in several places and I thought that this was not a good start to the hike. At .4 miles we passed by a snowmobile trail that we could use on the return trip. I knew this trail could be very wet and thought we might use the roads to walk back. After a short descent, we again began to climb on the rocky and rather wet woods road toward Terwilliger Road. At 1 mile we turned left as the snowmobile trail turned into the woods. Here the trail was much drier and the surface was flat which made walking go very quickly. I stopped in an open glade covered in ferns but decided not to take pictures. A little farther along a bridge crossed a small stream and Sheila got a quick drink. The trail dropped a little as we headed northeast and then at 1.4 miles we began to climb again. Somewhere around 2 miles ledges of rock began to appear on the left side of the trail and I knew that on the other side of the ledges was the return trail. I was still feeling a little off but decided I could not afford to give up twice in one day so we continued on the trail. At 2.35 miles we were still climbing as the trail headed southeast to reach the highest point on the trail at 2.7 miles. From here the trail began to descend and at 2.9 miles the trail again turned northeast and continued dropping in elevation. The trail had been wet and muddy in places but these were easily avoided. At 3.8 miles we reached the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail where we turned left and started heading northwest. We started climbing again over some very rocky terrain. I knew that this climb was coming up but that didn't make it any easier. We reached the top of a hill at 4.5 miles and started to descend the other side. There had been several blowdowns along the trail which were large and had been removed by the use of a chainsaw. There were several others that needed to be removed but these had been there for some time as hikers had started to create detours. It was getting much warmer and a little more humid so I stopped several times to get a drink. I had long ago removed and stowed my jacket. The trail was wet and muddy and showed evidence that there had been a lot of water flowing over them. There was also evidence that someone had been operating a large ATV on some of the trails which left ruts perfect for catching water. We continued our descent until at 5.2 miles the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail ended at a snowmobile trail.

Just before the junction, I caught sight of a man sitting on a log. I put Sheila on her leash as we approached and struck up a conversation. He said that he had come over from Flugertown Road and was going back on the same route. After a few minutes, I excused myself and Sheila and I continued on our hike. We turned left on the snowmobile trail which was wet and muddy in many places showing more ruts from prohibited vehicles. This trail is often very wet as it is lower than the land to the east and water draining from the higher land floods the trail. It was a short walk of around a half mile to another trail junction. The snowmobile trail turned left here to return to the area of Mongaup Falls. Continuing straight ahead would take us out to the campgrounds where we could walk the roads back to the car. As we had been hiking the skies had been getting darker with increasing clouds. Despite the negatives, I decided we would turn left and walk the snowmobile trail back to the car. After we made the turn, I almost immediately regretted the decision as this part of the trail was the wettest section we had been on. The wet and muddy spots alternated with places that were completely dry. There were two significant bumps along the trail but these went quickly. Soon I recognized that we were near the end of the trail. An old orchard appeared on the left followed by a pine plantation on the right. We broke out into a clearing and I followed Sheila as she walked out to the trail we had come in on more than 3 hours before. We turned right and began to walk down hill toward the falls. The rocky road was still wet and the rocks were slippery. As we neared the stream, I looked up to see a young couple coming toward us. I walked off the trail and held Sheila by her collar. As the couple approached, I asked where they were headed and they replied they were walking to the falls. I redirected them to the path that leads along the stream to the falls. Sheila and I crossed the bridge and walked up to the road. We were back at the car at 3:30 PM after hiking 7.7 miles in 3 and a half hours. The elevation gain was 1208 feet. I felt much better after hiking and knew I would try the upstate adventure soon!

On Friday, May 22nd I was ready to break with the "Hike Locally" protocol I had been following and go for an adventure further upstate that I had been planning for a week! The centerpiece of my plan was to head for Chittenango Falls State Park in Madison County near Cazenovia. The drive is 2 and a half hours but by all reports it would be worth the trip. To maximize the long drive I planned to visit Pratts Falls County Park in Onondaga County near Manlius. The drive from Chittenango Falls is only 20 minutes which I thought manageable. Finally, after leaving Pratts Falls, I planned to stop at Delphi Falls County Park in Madison County which is on the route back home. As I was finalizing these plans, I found out that the Gorge Trail at Chittenango Falls is closed for scaling and construction and may not open until August. This trail is the one that gives the best view of the falls and I did not want to drive so far and be disappointed. I looked at other areas and other falls in the same are but did not find anything very interesting. After looking at a few Facebook posts, I got the idea to go to Lake Ontario and Chimney Bluffs State Park. The features of the bluffs and the fact that it is on the lake sounded really interesting but I wondered about the 3 hour and 20 minute drive! I printed out the directions to Chimney Bluffs and then the directions to the other two waterfalls which would be on the way home. I was excited to present the plan to Cindy because I thought she would like to get away from Livingston Manor and visit some places we had not been together. I was disappointed when she said she did want to drive so far. I tried to point out how interesting it would be and that we were getting out of Sullivan County but she would not change her mind. I decided that if I was going to see these sites I would have to do it by myself. I got up at 6:15 AM and got ready to go. Th weather looked ideal and I dressed accordingly. Sheila was happy to be going but was well-behaved. I has pretty down as I did not want to go alone. I got my gear including an extra pair of socks and an extra shirt in the car. I put Sheila in the backseat and left Livingston Manor at 7:15 AM. I drove north on State Route 17 watching my GPS tick off the miles. The further I drove, the more I felt the sting of going alone. When I reached the Cook Falls exit, I got off, turned around and rove Mack to Livingston Manor. On the way I promised Sheila we would go out to hike later in the day. When we got home, I changed out of my hiking clothes and went upstairs to read a book still smarting from my change of plans. Around 11:00 AM I stopped feeling sorry for myself and made to decisions. It was time to get out for a hike and if I wanted to see the sites I had planned on seeing I would have to go alone!

On Wednesday, May 20th I woke up just after 6:00 AM and was not able to get to sleep. I decided to go across the street to Round Top to remove a blowdown that was on the trail. A tree at the edge of the trail had broken off about 7 feet above ground and the broken portion was hanging over the trail. I did not want to take the chance that it would fall on someone so my plan was to remove the part hanging over the trail and the standing portion. I knew that doing the work by myself would be tricky but I though I could safely do it. The temperature was just below 50 degrees as I began to get ready at 6:30 AM. I got dressed in a long-sleeved cotton T-shirt as I did not expect to be out very long. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to help deal with rocks that find their way into hiking boots and ticks. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I made sure I had a pair of Protalus insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I wore my OR floppy hat and also put on a light jacket. For tools I took my Fiskars chopping axe, two felling wedges and two Silky saws; the smaller, fixed Sugowaza and larger, folding Katanaboy 500. At 6:45 AM we walked out the door to start the hike to the work. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. Sheila was happy to get out as we crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. At the first trail junction, we turned right on the woods road and walked uphill to where the trail turned off the road and headed up the hill. Just after this turn was the tree I wanted to cut.

I put my pack and all my tools down and took a before picture of the tree. I began to inspect the situation and decided to cut the piece hanging over the trail. I would cut it on the opposite side of the trail hoping the remaining piece would help pull the trunk downhill when I cut through it. I grabbed my axe and quickly severed the branch. I swung the remaining piece up hill and then looked at how it was connected to the standing trunk. I thought I might be able to tear the piece free but it was attached by more than just bark. I thought for a moment that I would go home to get my pole saw but decided against it.

I got the axe and began to cut a notch on the downhill side of the standing trunk. I found that a part of the trunk was rotten and the cutting was easy. About a third of the way through I hit live wood which slowed me down. Each time I swung the axe I listened for a cracking noise as I was not sure of the stability of the trunk. When I thought I had cut enough, I dropped the axe and got my Katanaboy saw. I began to saw on the backside of the tree expecting the saw to bind but that did not happen. I removed the saw at one point and tried using the felling wedges to nudge the tree over. When that did not work, I went back to using the saw.

Eventually a couple of pushes on the trunk caused it lean well over. I realized that I should have cut a more angular notch but it had been some time since I had felled a tree. I went back to the saw and finally heard the cracking I desired. The trunk fell parallel to the trail but well off of it. The upper portion fell on the trail so I thought about sectioning it to remove it from the trail. After further consideration, I decided to try picking up the portion that lay across the trail. I tried lifting it and it proved heavier than I thought. Despite the weight, I was able to pivot it off the trail and lift it over the stump. I looked at the work that now appeared complete.

All the time I had been working on the tree, Sheila was lying quietly by my pack. I decided that she needed a reward so I pick up my pack and tools and started up the trail. We would complete a small loop on the lower, yellow trail and then head home. At the trail junction with blue trail we turned left and walked along the base of Round Top to the next junction. We turned left to stay on the yellow trail and headed downhill. When we arrived at the lookout, we turned left to follow the trail down to the first trail junction. We continued out to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We walked down the hill and out through the church parking to the driveway. We were home at 8:15 AM.

On Tuesday, May 19th I planned to hike somewhere close to home after I had completed my school day around 3:00 PM. When I woke up in the morning, I was mentally exhausted and in a bad mood. I worked on some things around the house and on school work until about 2:15 PM when I started to get ready to hike. The temperature was just 60 degrees and it seemed very dry. The skies were blue with a few clouds and a slight breeze blowing. I asked Cindy but she did not think she wanted to hike. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday last year. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles but I decided to add a pair of OR Bugout gaiters. I have not seen as many ticks as in the past but I know they are out there. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I made sure I had a pair of Protalus insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I knew I would not need gloves but I did take my OR floppy hat. I also put on a light jacket that would stow easily in my pack. I got my gear in the car and Sheila, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, in the backseat. I started out the DeBruce Road at 2:35 PM and turned left after six miles on Mongaup Pond Road. At the split in the road I stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road following another car up to the parking areas. When we arrived, there was one SVU in the large parking lot which pleased me as I would rather hike deserted trails. I immediately noticed that the insects were swarming and considered putting on a repellant but did not because I hate the smell. I set my GPS and we got ready to hike just as another car pulled into the small lot where I was parked. A couple got out and began to get ready as we walked out the woods road toward Frick Pond at 2:50 PM. The first part of the trail was dry but by the time we got to the register it became wet and muddy in many places that had to be avoided. The woods road out to Frick Pond continued to be very wet with some areas of standing and running water. As we approached Gravestone Junction, a young man came walking toward us from the opposite direction. I walked off the trail with Sheila and he passed us wearing a bandana. I hoped he had not worn the bandana for the entire hike and wondered why he felt the need to pull it up when passing us. We stayed left at Graveyard Junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. When we arrived at the bridge across the outlet, I decided to stop and take pictures despite the fact that I have hundreds from this location. The water level in the pond was lower than it had been the week before after the rains. There was a very blue sky with some white clouds. I took some shots of the pond and the sky. We continued on around the pond staying left at the Big Rock Trail junction on the Quick Lake Trail. The trail was dry for a short distance and then was wet and muddy in spots. We continued on our hike passing through the "Spruce Tunnel". The small stream through the woods was running freely and was very high. Sheila simply jumped across but I walked upstream a little to a narrower and more shallow area to cross. By 3:35 PM we had walked the 1.5 miles to Iron Wheel Junction. We turned right and headed out on the Logger's Loop Trail which was almost completely dry.

The Logger's Loop is mostly downhill in this direction and we made good time but occasionally encountered some small blowdowns along the way. The Logger's Loop really is a loop which starts north, turns east and eventually heads south towards Times Square. The walk went quickly and about two-thirds of the way along Sheila alerted. Ahead of us were two deer feeding ion the trail! I warned Sheila to stay by me and she did. I got out my camera and took some pictures before they noticed us and were gone. We continued to walk and just before starting the descent to Times Square we came to the area that is sometimes and pond and sometimes a wetland on the left side of the trail. This pond is seasonal but has been growing in size for several years. I stopped to take a few pictures as the pond was so much smaller than the last time I had been there. The area where I was standing had obviously dried. As I was standing there, the May flies began to swarm and I quickly packed up to leave. By 4:05 PM we were at Times Square and about 2.7 miles into the hike. The area was wet but we worked around the muddy areas and turned left to walk uphill on the Big Rock Trail. The Big Rock Trail gains 600 feet to the Flynn Trail over 1.1 miles for an average grade of only 10%. However, the route has three different climbs and can seem long. We set a pretty fast pace on the climb and I found that although my heart rate was elevated I felt good. We encountered two small blowdowns on the trail that would need tools to be cleared. In the middle of the final climb, I stopped, not because I was tired, because I wanted to. I leaned on my poles and closed my eyes. The only sounds I could hear was the wind blowing through the trees and the birds chirping softly. I don't normal stop like this but it was so very peaceful. We reached the Flynn Trail at 4:45 PM after hiking 3.8 miles and stopped for a drink. After a short break, we turned right and began the descent back to the car. I was glad to be hiking downhill but Sheila did not seem to care. She was still excited at this point and was running up the trail and back to me. She was taking a few excursions off the trail to follow animal tracks but was pretty close so I let her explore. The trip down the Flynn Trail went very quickly and we were soon at the arch Cindy and I had cut through a huge evergreen tree. We arrived at the gate that blocks Beech Mountain Road and turned left to stay on the Flynn Trail. The trail through the woods avoids the private property around the cabin. Some hikers cannot read the signs and have annoyed the property owner by trespassing! We continued down to the parking area on the trail. We were back at 5:25 PM having covered 5.5 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes with a vertical gain of 895 feet. There were now 3 cars parked in the two parking areas but none were the same as when I had left! I had just enough time to get home for a live interview with WJFF.

On Monday, May 18th I wanted to get in a light walk after taking a day off to let my foot improve from a mild case of plantar fasciitis. I waited until 2:30 to begin to get ready to go across the street to Round Top to hike. Cindy said she wanted to go and we kept watch on the weather as it looked like the forecast rain would come any minute. As we got ready the temperature was in the mid 60's with a slight breeze. I began to get ready and Sheila showed her appreciation by barking and running around. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday last year. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles so I did not put on any gaiters. I have not seen as many ticks as in the past but I know they are out there. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I made sure I had a pair of Protalus insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. At 3:00 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. Immediately I noticed that the skies were beginning to become overcast particularly to the west. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do some figure 8's on the Round Top Trails. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. The road was drier than I expected with only a few muddy areas. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. Along the way there was one new tree broken off and hanging over the trail. I knew I would have to remove that tree to make it safe for hikers. By the look of the trails more people were hiking them than ever. We kept a quick pace as we walked even an at the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right. We started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. As we ascended the trail, I looked for a possible start for a switchback and found a game trail in a good place. I decided to follow the game trail as it wound its way up the hill. When the path no longer went in the direction I wanted, I walked over toward the trail to meet Cindy. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. Descending was also rather easy as the trail was dry and well worn in. Soon we were back at the yellow trail where we turned right and walked to the next trail junction. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. I stopped to take a look down to the school and town. I was surprised that there were very few cars in Peck's parking lot. We continued on the trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. This part of the trail Was also worn in and dry. This section of trail gets the most traffic as some people simply walk up to the viewpoint and then back down. At the first trail junction, Cindy decided the May flies were too much and headed back home. Sheila and I turned around and started back up the hill toward the viewpoint. When the trail turned to the right, we followed it as it gained elevation to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right and continued to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked up the blue trail to cross the summit of Round Top. The descent on the other side was tricky in places but we did make it down without incident. At the trail junction with the yellow trail we turned left and followed the trail along the base of Round Top again. At the next trail junction, we turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road and out to the first trail junction. There was an uncomfortable feeling in my right foot and I decided I did not need to push myself for any more distance. We walked out toward the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We walked down the hill and through the church parking lot to the road and our driveway. It was 4:10 PM and we had hiked over 2 miles in a little over an hour with elevation gain of about 600 feet.

On Saturday, May 16th, Cindy and I left the Lennox Forest on Arbor hill Road and headed north toward Delhi. I continued passed the golf course and after 2.5 miles parked on the left side of the road near the kiosk for the Smith Pond Trail. I got Sheila out of the car and set my GPS before we started off on the trail. The sign said follow the orange disks which I found difficult because there were so few of them. The trail a woods road or ATV track that I was familiar with from a previous trip. I remembered that the trail had been very wet in spots and was not looking forward to fighting the water and mud. There was grass on either side in most places and the trail was very close to the road which was above on the bank. Most parts of the trail were drier than I expected but there were a wet spots. The trail was mostly flat with a few ups and downs along the way. At .33 miles the orange markers left the road and headed into the woods and toward the river. It was obvious that someone was trying get the trail off the road and make it a more interesting walk. At one point the trail came very close to the river and then headed back up and through some evergreens. The trail did not seem to be very well used and needed a little more construction and maintenance. At .5 miles the trail rejoined the road and started downhill to Smith Pond. At the bottom of the hill was an intermittent stream that had a bridge that seemed unnecessary. Underneath the bridge was a beaver dam and to the right of the bridge was a pond. I stopped to take a few pictures of the pond with a nice blue sky behind it.

The trail took us through a rather wet area and to the edge of the river. I decided to take some shots of the river. While I was taking pictures, I heard some noise and noticed several kayaks coming downstream. The kayaking looked like fun and the people on the river confirmed it. We continued along the trail and not very much farther along it split. The trail headed left but many people seemed to be following the road. We followed the trail to the edge of a field and walked along the edge until the trail again entered the woods. As we reentered the woods, there were several large puddles and muddy areas to avoid. We began a short but steep climb which ended at Route 28 after passing a lean-to. I stopped long enough to take a picture of the lean-to which seemed to have been cleaned up since the last time I was on the trail. We walked up to the sign at the trailhead and then turned around to begin the trip back. After walking along the edge of the field, we stayed to the right and took the hiking trail and again stopped at the edge of the river. Once again a kayak came by and this time it spun around facing upstream. I though the occupants were inept but as I watch they began to try to paddle upstream. I gathered they were just practicing their paddling skills. We followed our route back to Smith Pond and uphill to the point where the trail branched off to the right. We followed the trail all the way back to the point where it joined the woods road. From there we followed the road back to the car. It was 2:15 PM and we had hiked 2.1 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes with and elevation gain of 260 feet. Cindy wanted to go to Frog Pond Farm in Bainbridge and I called to see that they were open. We drove all the way to Bainbridge to find the place swamped by people with cars parked along the road. Cindy decided she didn't want to brave the crowd so I drove back to Walton and then home.

On Saturday, May 16th, I woke up with a very sore right foot. I decided that I wanted to hike anyway and didn't care if I had to venture a little farther away from home. I asked Cindy and she suggested some trails around Delhi since we would be heading away from the invasion of hikers from other areas that has plagued the Catskills! I thought we might try the Lennox Forest and Smith Pond Trail since that would break our hiking into two sections and allow me to judge how my foot was feeling. The first hike has some hills but the second is almost flat. As we started to get ready at 10:30 AM the temperature was in the high 60's and the forecast was that it would rise. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday without a baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles but I still added a pair of OR Bugout gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I made sure I had a pair of Protalus insoles in the shoes to support my arches. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I took a light hat and light gloves which I did not think I would need. I also took along my Mammut hoody but wore a light windbreaker which was all I thought I would really need. We put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. Sheila loves to get out an hike anywhere and she had kept her eye on both of us as we were getting ready. As we left Livingston Manor at 10:30 AM, the skies were blue and sunny with a few puffy white clouds. I drove north and west on State Route 17 to exit 94 (Roscoe) and headed north on Route 206 toward Downsville. From the top of Brock Mountain I could see that many of the valleys were still filled with fog or clouds. At the Pepacton Reservoir, I turned left to stay on Route206/30 and drove through Downsville heading toward Walton. Just after the light in Downsville, I turned right on Telford Hollow Road. After driving over the hill, I turned right at the bottom of the hill and drove out to Route 10. After passing through Hamden, I turned right toward Delancey and then left on Back River Road. After 4 miles, I turned right into the parking area for the John Lennox Memorial Forest.

I parked and we got out of the car to find it was very warm and humid. I walked to the gate and found a sign that said "No Trespassing - Camp in Session" but the sign looked old. Another sign suggested calling the Cornell Cooperative Extension for permission to hike which I tried last time only to find the number disconnected. I started my GPS and we began the hike by passing through the gate and walking up a hill. Within less than a tenth of a mile the trail split and I decided to go to the right which was the path I had followed last time. The trail was a grassy woods road and I was surprised the grass was almost dry despite the heavy rains the night before. The trail continued to ascend as we headed south but at .3 miles it turned sharply left to head northeast as the ascent continued. At .5 miles we were again faced with a split in the trail. I chose to bear to the right on a woods road as we did the last time. It soon became obvious that someone had cleared the trail as it was much easier to walk than during my last trip. At .85 miles we came to another trail and turned right and almost immediately turned right again on the trail that would take us to the lean-to. I looked ahead and saw that the trail few much steeper without and end in sight. Cindy seemed game but I knew she would not be enthusiastic about the climb. We continued climbing the trail through beautiful evergreen forest heading north avoiding a few blowdowns that had not been cleared. I stopped to take a few pictures of some interesting rocks. There were a few places that had been cut out but not enough to expose clear views. At 1.1 miles the trail began to curl to the east. The trail continued to turn right until we were on the flat summit where we found a privy! We had climbed over 300 feet in .4 miles for an average grade of 14% but several sections approached 20%! As we walked around the top, I walked to the right where the trail went down to a lookout and a shelter. The lean-to was in good shape and had a fire ring on top of a large, flat rock. The viewpoint was mostly blocked with trees as are so many. Cutting out this viewpoint would be rather easy as the access to the trees is off the trail we had just climbed. I took a few pictures before we returned to the summit where I took a picture of the privy. After that, we started back down the mountain. When we arrived at the place where we turned up the hill at 1.8 miles, we turned right to complete a loop back to the parking area. The trail started out heading north bit almost immediately turned southwest. At that point, another woods road headed off to the right but I decided to leave that for another day. At 2.1 miles we were back at the trail junction where we had made our first turn at the beginning of the hike. We continued straight ahead through the gate and back to the car. It was 12:55 PM and we had hiked 2.1 miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes with and elevation gain of 620 feet. My foot was actually feeling better after the walk so I decided there was time to go to the Smith Pond Trail to hike.

The pictures shown here are from March not May but the views were much the same. On Thursday, May 14th, I wanted to get in a hike close to home as the day had not really gone as planned. I had men's Bible study by Zoom at 6:15 AM and Cindy had one at 10:30 AM. What I did not expect was the ambulance call at 9:30 AM which set back some of my plans! Cindy did say she wanted to take a short walk so I waited until she was done with her class around noon. We decided to just go to Parksville and hike the rail trail even though it is under three miles out and back. By the time we started to get ready at 12:30 PM the temperature was right around 60 degrees. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top but did not wear any baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants even though they would probably be too warm. I wore my Keen Targhee II boots since I didn't feel that I needed insulated boots. I did not wear gaiters even though I knew we might encounter some mud. I decided to take a pair of Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I grabbed a light hat and gloves. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. We put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at just before 1:00 PM and drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville. Just after Fox Mountain Road, I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road at 1:10 PM. A small SVU was parked in the lot but left as we were getting ready. I set my GPS and we started out on the trail at 1:15 PM.

Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was a little cooler but still warm. The trail alternated between mostly dry areas and with only a few muddy ones. The trail was in much better shape than when we had hiked it exactly two months ago. It was obvious someone had been in to clear some blowdowns and install new picnic tables and benches. I decided not to take pictures as nothing ha cabbaged too much since March excepted for the lack of ice! As we were walking I could see a runner approaching from Parksville. I got Sheila off the trail so that he could pass and tem resumed our hike. The rail trail runs parallel to the Little Beaverkill and the new section of State Route 17. It follows the route of the O&W railroad and is very flat. As I looked down toward the river, I saw several cement posts and I finally found a way to get down to inspect them. The posts were old and marked NY and I assumed they were assailed with the railroad in some way. I worked my way back up to the main trail and we continued our hike. I was surprised the water level in the stream was not much higher than it had been in March despite the recent rains. The day was sunny and the sky was very blue. We passed several benches placed for people to rest in warmer weather. As we walked, I could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls was just ahead. Near the falls we looked down to see a lone fisherman at the base of the falls. The runner that had passed us returned from the other end of the trail and Sheila made some objection to his presence.

Soon we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail passing many rundown and dilapidated buildings which should be removed. On the Parksville end of the trail we found a small garden and a very informative sign. The sign listed the businesses and hotels that existed in Parksville during its heyday. The Young's Gap Hotel had room for 600 guests! The sign also explained the role of the railroad in the dairy industry which was a thriving one in all of Sullivan County. After a brief pause, we decided to walk back on the trail as it was in such good shape. The return trip was uneventful although we did see one couple walking ahead of us back to the parking area. We were back at the car at 2:15 PM after hiking 2.5 miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes. Our moving average was 2.5 mph and the elevation gain was 230 feet which I doubted. As I drove away from the parking area toward home, I tried to convince Cindy that we should go to another spot to get in a little more walking. She was unconvinced so I considered dropping her at the house and going on another hike. In the end I decided to go home. This proved to be a good decision as I was not home 5 minutes before the ambulance pager announced another call!

On Tuesday, May 12th I wanted to do another "local" hike but was willing to travel a ,little distance to do it. I have hiked the most local hikes so many times I may never do them again. I decided to head to Rock Hill to hike the Neversink Unique Area. I asked Cindy but she did not want to go so I began to plan a longer hike which might encompass all three falls in the area. The early morning temperature was in the mid 30's but I had some work to do around the house. As I started to get ready around 11:30 AM the temperature was pushing 60 degrees but it still seemed cool outside due to a stiff breeze. The skies were sunny and blue with some nice white clouds. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a light baselayer since the temperature felt cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants but decided against tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Taku boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I purchased since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and wore a light pair of gloves. At the last minute, I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the ticks and the mud which I was sure we would find. I got my gear in the car and put Sheila in the back seat. I drove to Rock Hill on State Route 17E and got off at exit 109. I turned right off the exit and drove to the parking area at the end of Katrina falls Road. The parking area was full and cars were parked on the side of the road. I decided I did not want to add to this crowd so I turned around and drove back .5 miles to Wolf Lake Road where I turned right. I drove another .5 miles and turned right on Powerline Road where there is a parking area for the Wolf Lake Multiple Use Are. I really wanted to drive to the end of the road since hiking along it is not particularly interesting. The gate was open but a DEC truck blocked the road. I got out of the car and walked over to talk to the forest ranger who was draining a large puddle off the bridge. I asked him if it was permitted to park at the upper end and he said "Yes". He immediately moved his truck and I drove to the end of the road where there is a small parking area. I set my GPS and noticed I did not have the remote for Sheila's collar. A quick call home revealed I had left it on my desk! As we were about to get on the trail, a group of four people entered the parking area from the trail accompanied by a beautiful German Shepherd. They continued down the road and I assumed they must have been one of the cars parked at the lower lot. Sheila and I got on the trail at 12:25 Pm to begin our hike. `

The first .6 miles of the trail is a spur trail that connects the parking area with the main trail system. The trail is all downhill and I knew that menat an uphill comb to get back to the car at the end of then hike. I was surprised to see that all the brush had been cut back and that there were no blowdowns along the way. We met another family of three coming toward us. It was nice to see people out but the five year old buy with this group was, for some reason, allowed to yell at the top of his voice! I pulled over to the side of the trail to let them pass before Sheila and I continued to the junction with the main trail. At the junction we turned left to begin our hike down to Mullet Brook Falls. Even though we were walking downhill, I was getting warm and opened up the zippers on my hoody. At .7 miles we came to the bridge over Mullet Brook where I sometimes stop to take pictures. On this day I was more interested on getting to the falls so we simply continued across the bridge. Just after the stream the trail turned sharply to the right and began heading west as it continued to descend. I looked up to see three women coming toward us and I again stepped to the side of the trail to let them pass. I enquired about people at the falls and they told me there were two groups; one large and one small. I wasn't thrilled to hear about large groups but decided to visit anyway. When we reached the spur trail to Mullet Brook Falls at 1.25 miles, we turned right and began the short walk to the falls. We saw no one on the trail and I could not hear any noise coming from the falls so I hoped that the people who had been there had moved on. When the falls came into sight, I was disappointed to see the two groups of people were still present. One "group" was three people sitting on the rocks near the far side of the falls. The other group was a different story! There were 8 to 10 young women sitting close together on a rock without any face masks. I began to understand at that moment the challenges that Sullivan County faces for the summer. I tied Sheila to a tree and got out my camera. I carefully walked over the rocks to a position in front of the falls where I could take pictures without seeing either group of people. I took multiple pictures of the falls from different zooms and slightly different angles and then walked back to my pack. I couldn't resist taking one more picture of the larger group before Sheila and I walked back out to the main trail. On the way out we met another family group consisting of two parents and two young children.

At the main trail we turned right as I wanted to visit the other falls. I decided that it would be better to go to High Falls first as I thought there would be fewer people there. At the next trail junction at 1.65 miles, we turned left and started toward High Falls on the main Neversink River. The distance to the falls is a little over 2 miles and can be challenging although the destination is worth the trip. High Falls is only slightly higher and more impressive than Denton Falls and the latter is just off the main trail. This is why many people skip High Falls and simply visit Mullet Brook Falls and Denton Falls. As we continued toward High falls, I noticed that the trail was less well maintained with brush starting to close in and several large blowdowns across the trail. The first .2 miles of the trail were a slight downhill followed by .35 miles of uphill. As we hiked, I saw a family of three ahead of us traveling in the same direction. They moved over and allowed us to pass. I wondered if the young girl would be able to hike all the way to the falls and back. They kept up with me for some time and then I did not see them again. A little farther along an older man came walking toward us. We exchanged greetings and I asked if he had seen any more people. He said he had not which made me happy. I also asked him about the amount of water going over the falls. He gave me and odd look and then said that he had not gotten that far! The trail leveled briefly and then began the long descent to the river. Over the next 1.35 miles we dropped almost 500 feet to the edge of the river. Along the way the trail meanders back and forth to mitigate what would otherwise be a steep descent on the way out and an equally steep climb on the way back. At 2.7 miles the trail made a turn to the left and followed the river as it started to flow almost due south. As we approached the last and steepest descent to the river a path went off to the left. This path leads to informal paths and trails that continue south along the river to a parking area and trailhead near Westerbrookville. The distance to the southern parking area is another 4.7 miles with other routes possible. I also knew that another .85 miles to the south would put us at a point opposite the trail that leads to the river from Cold Spring Road in Monticello. Some tentative plans to connect and expand the trail system have been around for a while but nothing has come of them. We worked our way down to the falls which we could hear long before they came into sight. Once at the edge of the river, we were able to work our way along the rocks to a point at the side of the falls. I got out my camera and took a number of shots of the falls from different angles. I also took a one minute video to record the powerful sound of the water rushing downstream. I was able to safely work my way to some rocks in front of the falls and took a few more pictures. At 2:30 PM I packed up and we started the long walk back.

Despite the fact that the walk back is mostly uphill, it seemed to go faster than the walk out which I can only attribute to the knowledge that we were headed back to the car. At 3:30 PM after hiking 5.7 miles, we were back at the trail junction with the main loop trail. I was tired but still feeling like I could hike a little more. I knew that I would not feel right unless I visited Denton Falls to complete the trilogy. I knew the walk down to the river was only .35 miles and that helped to convince me. We turned left to walk to the spur trail to the falls and met two men coming toward us. They said they had parked at the Wolf Lake parking area, had visited Mullet Brook Falls and were on there way back to the car. We discussed the carious falls in the area and then went our separate ways. I wondered about the route they had taken. We turned left on the spur trail and walked downhill to the falls. The trail had become much more well-worn from more people using it. There are several points that are usually damp but these spots were muddy pits which were hard to work around. There were also several highly eroded areas with protruding tree roots and rocks. We avoided any pitfalls and made it down to the river's edge without a problem. We worked our way along the rocks to a point in front of the falls. I took pictures of the falls and a few upstream as well. The view wasn't much different than the one at High Falls so we didn't stay very long. Once again, the trip back up seemed to go quickly and at the top of the hill we turned right on the main trail to continue the out-and-back hike. At the trail junction we stayed to the left to head back up the trail passed Mullet Brook Falls and eventually out to the car. I have to admit that I was tired now and the uphill was a battle. From the junction with the trail to High Falls to the junction with the spur trail to the parking area was 1.1 miles uphill gaining 550 feet in the process. This is by no means a really steep grade but I was warm and tired. We turned right onto the spur trail to the car and had the pleasure of walking the last half mile uphill. I am not that familiar with this trail and several times thought we were at the end. Sheila was a great help as she pulled me up the hills showing no sign of fatigue. We were back at the car at 4:45 PM after hiking at least 7.7 miles in 4 hours and 20 minutes with 20 minutes stopped for pictures. The elevation gain was 1690 feet. As I drove out the access road along the powerlines, we passed the two men we had meet just before we went down to Denton Falls.

On Sunday, May 10th Cindy and I wanted to do another "local" hike after church and decided to head to Bear Spring Wildlife Management Area between Downsville and Wlaton on Route 206. The area has many snowmobile and horse trails that are wide and grassy. The trails have a good surface and there are no major mountains but the climbs to the ridges can be challenging. I planned a route from a parking area on East Trout Brook Road up to the ridge and then looping to near Launt Pond and then back to the car. As we started to get ready the temperature was in the mid 40's with a slight breeze gusting at times. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a light baselayer since the temperature felt cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants but decided against tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Taku boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I purchased since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and wore a light pair of gloves. At the last minute, I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the ticks and the mud which I was sure we would find. We got our gear in the car and put Sheila in the back seat. I drove to Roscoe and then took County Route 206 through Downsville to the top of Bear Spring Mountain near Walton, NY. As we started out of Downsville, I noticed a small waterfall on the left side of the road and thought we might stop on the way back. Further up the mountain, we passed Bear Cub Pond also on the left side of the road. I had often thought I might stop there but never had. I decided this could be another stop on the way home. As we neared the top of the mountain, there was a significant amount of snow beneath the trees on the left side of the road. The elevation and the shade had combined to produce this effect. I turned left on East Trout Brook Road and drove south passed Launt Pond for another 1.3 miles. I parked on the left side of the road in the parking area at about 12:55 PM with no other cars in the lot. We have hiked here many times and seldom see anyone on the trails. I set my GPS and we got right on the trail. `

We walked down the wide path/road and across the dam that creates Middle Pond on East Trout Brook. I decided to take pictures on the way back so we continued straight up the hill. I pointed out to Cindy the sign to the right that said "New Trail". The "New Trail" is now several tears old! The trail that continues straight up the hill is a wide grassy snowmobile/horse trail. The sun was out and the skies were blue with a some interesting clouds in different directions. I knew that we could do a clockwise or anticlockwise loop and that I would leave that up to Cindy. The first left turn seemed to be a trail but I remembered from a previous trip that it ended in a small field. On one occasion I had simply bushwhacked along the brook which was easy in most spots with a few areas of dense brush. At .4 miles another trail came in from the left and I knew this was the trail we could take for a clockwise loop. Cindy elected to continue up the hill to get the major ascent in at the beginning of the hike. A little further up the hill there was an old orchard and I stopped to take some pictures of the gnarled, old trees with the blue sky and mountains behind them. The problem with stopping was that the May flies began to swarm. We continued up the hill to the area of a small pond where I took a few pictures and Sheila where Sheila decided to swim in the murky water. At .65 miles we came to the junction with the McCoy Hill Cutoff which is the most direct route to the ridge. We stayed to the right to follow the trail on the longer route to the top of the ridge.

Over the next mile, the trail gained 480 feet with around a 10% grade. This seems reasonable but it was a challenging ascent. A short way up the trail we began to pass through some evergreens and we stopped so that I could take some pictures of the "tunnel" and some of the snow on the ground from the snowfall the night before. At 1.2 miles the trail split. I knew the right fork headed down to the horse camp so we stayed to the right which involved more climbing. We stopped several times on the way toward the highest point but at 1.6 miles the trail leveled and the began to roll a little over a few small bumps. It was nice to be on flatter ground but it also meant that there were wetter and muddier spots on the trail. Eventually we passed the point where a trail turns to the right to head down to Downsville. I knew that the next turn to the left would be the McCoy Hill Cutoff but OT was a little farther than I thought. At 3 miles we arrived at the cutoff but continued straight ahead for another .35 miles to a trail that would take us down to the East Trout parking area. We turned left and started down the hill which was a real pleasure. The trail has several switchbacks and follows, I assume, an old road up the ridge. At 3.6 miles one of those switches turned us northwest and headed away from our car. We walked for a little over a mile to a point just short of the parking area where another trail turned us almost 180 degrees so that we were heading southeast. This trail was almost flat and had some wet areas due to the drainage off the ridge. After walking about a mile, there was a split again in the trail at 5.5 miles and it was obvious the left fork was the correct direction. Unfortunately, this part of the trail had a steep ascent which was , fortunately, short. Once we hit the top of then hill it was only a quarter mile until we completed the loop and turned right at 5.9 miles to head back to the car. When we came to the bridge over the dam, we stopped for me to take a few pictures. The pond was lower than I had seen it. As I was taking some shots, Sheila decide to take one last swim in the murky water. We walked back up to the car arriving at 4:15 PM after hiking 6.3 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes with a 1260 foot elevation gain. Both our overall and moving average speeds were around 2 mph.

We left Middle pond and headed north toward Route 206. As we approached Launt Pond, I decided to pull over and walk to the pond to take a few shots. Cindy didn't care to go so Sheila and I walked over to the dam at the outlet end of the pond. There was a fisherman on the other end of the dam so I stopped on the near side and took some pictures of the pond and the surrounding hills. I also took pictures of the buildings and picnic tables. I though how sad it would be if the area could not open for the summer due to the COVID19 pandemic. Sheila and I walked back to the car and I drove to Route 206 where I turned right. I drove down the hill toward Downsville and remembered I had considered stopping at Brea cub Pond. I pulled over and got my camera. I could see two geese headed toward the pond so I decided to leave Sheila in the car. I walked the short road toward the edge of the pond and positioned myself to take a few pictures. The pond wasn't that interesting but I noticed that the Twp adult geese had four or five goslings in tow. I took a few sots of them before returning to the car. I continued to headed toward Downsville stopping just short of town to inspect the waterfalls on the right side of the road. I had driven by this areas dozens of times and had never spotted these falls. I got out to take some pictures and found a sign that gave the history of Tub Mill Falls. One point it made was that there were two drops to the falls with only one visible to the road. Since there were "Posted" signs I stayed on the edge of the road and walked to a pint opposite of the falls. I took some pictures and was able to position myself to see part of the upper drop. When I was done, I walked back to the car and drove home.

On Saturday, May 9th I woke up to a little more than a dusting of snow on the ground and temperatures in the low 30's. I had a lot of school work and thought I might skip any hiking as the wind was making the temperature feel like it was in the 20's. This weather came after a Sunday when the temperatures were in the low 70's! Around 2:00 PM, the skies were blue even though the wind was still blowing so I decided to go across the street and hike Round Top. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go but she declined. I began to get ready and Sheila showed her appreciation by barking and running around. I put on my Mammut crew top without a baselayer even though it was still cold outside. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against tights underneath. I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I purchased since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and wore a light pair of gloves. At 2:30 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. Immediately I noticed that the skies were beginning to become overcast particularly to the west which I knew meant there was more snow on the way. I decided to continue since I knew we could always turn around and return home quickly. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do some figure 8's on the Round Top Trails. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. There was snow on the grass but the roadways were clear. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. As we entered the woods, the snow storm hit and the wind increased.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. The road had a layer of snow and there were areas that were wet and muddy. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. We kept a quick pace as we walked even though the trail was wet and slippery in places. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. As we ascended the trail, the amount of snow on the ground increased slightly. There were a few places where the trail was muddy and slippery but walking beside the trail to get traction was difficult. We walked across the flat, snowy summit of Round Top and started down the other side. Descending was also tricky as there was snow and some wet and slippery spots. Soon we were back at the yellow trail where we turned right and walked to the next trail junction. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. I stopped to take a look down to the school and town. I was surprised that there were very few cars in Peck's parking lot. We continued on the trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. This part of the trail had snow on it but the squall had stopped and the sun was out again. This section of trail gets the most traffic as some people simply walk up to the viewpoint and then back down. We turned around and started back up the hill toward the viewpoint. When the trail turned to the right, we followed it as it gained elevation to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right and continued to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked up the blue trail to cross the summit of Round Top. As we ascended more snow it and was falling a little harder than before. The descent on the other side was tricky but we did make it down without incident. At the trail junction with the yellow trail we turned left and followed the trail along the base of Round Top again. At the next trail junction, we turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road and out to the first trail junction. I checked the time and determined that we should return home. As we walked out toward the trailhead the snow stopped. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down the hill and through the church parking lot to the road and our driveway. It was 3:40 PM and we had hiked over 2 miles in a little over an hour with elevation gain of about 600 feet. Later in the day the snow really picked up several times. At one point the wind was blowing hard enough to create blizzard-like conditions.

On Thursday, May 7th I decided to get in some hiking close to home but at some location I had not frequented lately. With the COVID19 pandemic "Hike Local" suggestion. I had hiked most of the local locations several times. I decided to hike the Campbell Mountain Trail from Route 206 and make a loop by returning on the local roads. These roads are almost devoid of traffic except for the last half mile on Route 206. Cindy was not enthusiastic about going but Sheila, as usual, was ready to get out. The temperature in the early morning when I got up was 29 degrees but the forecast called for the temperature to rise. By the time I started to get ready to leave the house if was in the high 50's. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer knowing that it would probably be too warm. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants even though I suspected my Railriders would have been a better choice. I wore my Vasque Taku boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I purchased since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I took along a light hat and a light pair of gloves. At the last minutes, I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the ticks and the mud which I was sure we would find. I got my gear and Sheila in the car and left the house at 1:25 PM. I drove north and west on State Route 17 exiting at exit 94. I drive through Roscoe and Rockland on Route 206 and drove toward Downsville until we arrived at the pulloff on Route 206 at 1:40 PM. The temperature was in the low-60's with a bright blue, sunny sky with puffy white clouds. There was a slight breeze which helped blow away the gathering May flies. I put on some sect repellant and set my GPS. We got on the trail immediately and noticed that there was water o the trail and some mud. Within a few hundred feet, the trail became muddier and water was flowing across the trail and down it like a river. At the bottom of the hill the trail flattened and we crossed a small stream. This area has several different foundations but I had already explored most of tem. I did take some pictures of one foundation on the right of the trail since I did not remember seeing it before. The trail ran along the stream and then crossed it on a bridge. I stopped to take a few pictures of the bridge and the stream that flowed beneath it. After crossing the bridge, we immediately began the climb up Campbell Mountain. The trail is never very steep but gains over 700 feet in a little more than a mile gets the heart pumping. This part of the trail was drier than I expected even though it follows a highly eroded woods road that I though would make a stream. There were very few blowdowns blocking the trail and the walk was easier than I expected. At about 1.25 miles we came to the spur trail to the lean-to and I stopped to take a few pictures. I got a drink and we continued the climb. I knew the snowmobile trail branched off to the right a short distance after the lean-to. This is also the new route for the Finger Lakes Trail. When I hiked this route the last time, I was sure there had been a sign, trail blazes and a register box when we hiked it but I saw none of those this time.

We made good time to the top of the mountain and I decided I would stick with the original plan. We continued over a short, flat piece of trail before descending. There were several interesting rocks at the top of the mountain so I stopped to take some pictures. The rocks were obviously sedimentary and had thin but well-defined layers. I packed up and we continued own the other side of the hill. The temperature seemed to be rising at times and cooling at others but I had long ago opened all the zippers on my jacket! The descent to Campbell Mountain Road was only .4 miles with a loss of 235 feet in elevation. We hit Campbell Mountain Road at about 3:05 PM after hiking 2.4 miles. We turned left and hiked slightly uphill toward the intersection with Jug Tavern Road. As we walked, we heard gunshots and then saw two men standing by a pickup shooting into the woods. I was apprehensive but continued on the road with Sheila on her leash. A motorcycle passed by us and the men saw us coming and stopped shooting. As we walked by them, we struck up a short conversation about the weather forecast. It didn't take long for us to hike the .7 miles to the intersection with Jug Tavern Road and the dirt road seemed almost like a trail. At the intersection we turned left and continued our hike toward Route 206. There are a few hunting cabins and second homes along the road and several permanent dwellings. One new home was being constructed and the builders were actively working to complete it. We did stop at one small pond hoping to see some wildlife like a blue heron but nothing presented itself. I did take a few pictures since I hoped to capture some of the blue sky and clouds. We kept up the quick pace which was enhanced since I had put Sheila on her leash and she was trotting along very quickly. At one point a truck pulled up from behind. It was Forest Ranger Stephen Ellis who we had met at Trout Pond in late April. He recognized us although I think he probably recognized Sheila rather than me. We talked for a few minutes before continuing on our way. We made the 1.5 miles or so in good time and turned left on Route 206 to complete the loop. It was less than a mile back to the car and we arrived at 4:15 PM. We had covered 5.4 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes with an overall speed of 2.2 mph. The elevation gain was 1020 feet and strenuous enough to give me a good workout.

On Tuesday, May 5th I planned to go hiking at Trout Pond with Cindy and Ed and Robin Sostak, the pastors from our church. The plan was for them to meet us at our house at 10:00 AM and then drive to the trailhead in separate cars. We had been waiting to do this for some time so the night before I decided to try to break my toe running into a chair. I didn't quite succeed but it was pretty sore in the morning. I decided we would park at the lower parking area and then hike the loop around Trout Pond counterclockwise. I knew we had done this hike before with the Sostaks but my record showed it had been 11 years ago! As I started to get ready at 9:30 AM it was just 40 degrees outside. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer since the temperature was forecast to get warmer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants but decided against tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Taku boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I purchased since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and wore a light pair of gloves. At the last minutes, I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the ticks and the mud which I was sure we would find. We got my gear and Sheila in the car and waited for our friends who arrived right on time. After a brief conversation from a "safe" distance, we headed up the Quickway towards Roscoe. We got off at exit 94 and headed north on Route 206 towards Downsville. After crossing the Rockland Flats and passing the Roscoe Nursing Home, we turned left on Morton Hill Road and drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. We turned left to drive down to the lower parking area and was pleased to find the road in pretty good shape. We arrived at 10:20 AM to find two other cars in the lot with no one in sight. I set my GPS and we got ready to start out on our hike. On the way down the road I slowed to look at Russell Brook and found the water level as high as I had ever seen!

We started out on the Trout Pond Trail along a wide woods road that leads down to and across Russell Brook. As we crossed the bridge, I could see that the brook was very high. The sun was out and the sky was blue and we could feel the temperature increasing. We turned right on the path to walk over to the falls. We worked our way down the path to the streambed. I took pictures of the brook and then some more of the falls which was roaring. I managed to get Sheila to pose in front of the falls and took a picture of her. We left the falls and walked back out to the main trail turning right to head toward the register box. We continued passed the box and up the main trail toward Trout Pond. There was water on the trail and some mud which was isolated to several small areas. Cindy and Robin lead the way while Ed and I followed. It was a pleasure to have them along as we have so much in common on so many subjects. Soon we were at the outlet end of the pond and we walked over to the shore. I dropped my pack to take pictures of the lake with the blue sky overhead. The water was right up to the grass on the shoreline and was overflowing the dam. I took quite a few pictures looking for the contrast between bare trees, the blue sky and the lake. We returned to the main trail and walked the flat woods road toward the inlet end of the pond. This part of the trail was wet and muddy in most spots. In some places it extended across the trail which made walking most difficult. We crossed the bridge that is just before the lower lean-to and inspected the old trout hatching box. At the trail junction near the lower lean-to we turned to the left on the blue blazed Mud Pond Trail which would take use over Cherry Ridge and form our loop back to the parking area. Cindy and Robin went to inspect the outhouse while Ed and I stood on the bridge looking out at the pond. I took the opportunity to take a few ore pictures. When we were all together again, we continued on the trail.

Even though we were gaining elevation, we continued at a good pace. Every now and then we would remove a small branch or a larger trunk from the trail. Since maintenance has been suspended, there were several branches and larger trees across the trail that would need tools to remove them. From the bridge at the inlet we began a climb of 430 feet over the next .75 miles. The trail headed west from the inlet until turning sharply south at around 2 miles. The highest point on the trail was at 2.3 miles after which most of the rest of the hike is downhill. As we gained elevation, I began to notice that I was getting very warm and stopped for a moment to open the zippers on my hoody. The trail had some mud in spots while other areas had standing or running water. At 3.5 miles we had descended 450 feet from Cherry Ridge to the snowmobile trail near Mud Pond. We turned left here to head east and ascended a small hill before starting downhill back toward the parking area. The downhill was a little slippery because of the water and leaves and there were several stream flowing across it. We dropped another 380 feet over the next .7 miles back to the trail junction. We stopped at the bridge across the outlet of Trout Pond and I related some of the history of the area. Russell Brook Falls had been the site of a dam that impounded water for a waterwheel in Butternut Grove. The wheel was still there a few years ago. The area near the register box was the "landing zone" for loggers who cleared the evergreen trees, not for tanning but, for the production of wood alcohol. The trees were transported on narrow gauge railway that ran parallel to Russell Brook. The railway met the mainline O&W near Butternut Grove where the logs were unloaded. There were several acid factories in the area that produced wood alcohol. There was also a factory on the lower part of Russell Brook that produced khaki dye for the uniforms of American troops during World War I. We continued on and turned right at the trail junction. We walked up to the parking area where there was one less car as when we had started. We never saw any other people. It was 1:20 Pm and we had hiked 4.5 miles in 2 hour and 52 minutes with an elevation gain of 870 feet. We had stopped for a little over 30 minutes. We talked for a few minutes and then got in our cars and left as two more cars were pulling in.

On Sunday, May 3rd I wanted to get out for a longer hike after making barely a mile the day before. I originally was ordering the Huckleberry and Dry Brook Ridge Loop which is about 12 miles. I decided that jumping from 6 or 7 miles to 12 was not wise. I thought about going to Frick Pond to hike a loop that included some snowmobile trails that would lengthen the distance to over 8 miles. I asked Cindy if she wanted to hike and she scurried me by saying "Yes". I told her we could do the Frick Pond to Hodge Pond loop on the Quick Lake and Flynn Trails which is a little over 6 miles. We watched our church service together and then started to get ready at 11:30 AM. The temperature was already in the mid 60's and I knew it would get warmer so I decided to change my dress for the first time since late fall. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. The shirt has an insect repellent built-in which I knew I would appreciate as I anticipated a swarm on Mat flies. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles to discourage sticks and gravel from getting into my shoes and also combat ticks. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I did put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters which are also insect resistant. I took along a light OR windbreaker. Sheila in particular was anxious to get out as we had only hiked a mile the day before while exploring waterfalls. We put our gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and I drove out the Debruce Road about 6 miles. I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. There were only two cars in the smaller lot where I parked with another 5 or 6 in the larger lot. No one was in sight as we got ready to hike. Thermometer read 70 degrees as I set my GPS. The skies was clear and blue with plenty of sun. A slight breeze was blowing but the flies were gathering. We both sprayed on some insect repellant and headed out the woods road to the Quick Lake Trail. Just as we were leaving a couple were returning and they reported the trails were muddy. This was no surprise to us as we had gotten almost 5 inches of rain over the previous two day.

Once we passed the register on the Quick Lake Trail there was water everywhere and with the water came the mud. There was standing water on the trail and running water across and on the trail. The mud was particularly slippery and we had to watch our footing even on flat terrain. Just before we got to Gravestone Junction, we met a family of three and their dog. The dog was on a leash and I had put Sheila o hers. We stopped to talk a moment keeping our distance and then went in opposite directions. At Gravestone Junction, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and head down to Frick Pond. This short piece of trail1 was a mud pit until we started down the hill. We stopped at the bridge across the outlet to Frick Pond and I took some shots of the pond and Flynn's Point. Snapping shots with all the flies around was challenging but I managed to get a few fly free photos. We didn't stay long and were soon walking along the west side of Frick Pond trying to avoid the water and mud. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we stayed to the left as we wanted to keep hiking the Quick Lake Trail. The first part of this section was dry but the next section made up for it. We entered the evergreen tunnel where the trail was only damp. Here wet met two women hiking toward us with masks. We kept our distance as did they but we did manage to exchange a few sentences before moving on. When we came to the small stream across the trail, we walked upstream to where we usually cross but found the water higher than we expected. After a quick look, it was still th best pace to cross and we did so without problems. I took a few shots of the stream and if the small "waterfall" the stream makes. We continued to push toward Iron Wheel Junction but were hampered by having to take detours around muddy areas and places where thee was water on the trail. We reached Iron Wheel junction at 1:20 PM after hiking 1.5 miles.

We turned left at the junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and head for Junkyard Junction and the Flynn Trail. The temperature had warmed up a few degrees and there was a breeze at times. The breeze kept us cool and drove away some of the flies. The next mile of trail is all uphill and although the grade only averages around 8% it seemed like a long slog in the heat. Cindy was lagging behind and seemed tired. We stopped briefly to rest and offered to turn around since we had not gotten half way but she decided to press on. We soon hit some flatter ground and started downhill toward Junkyard Junction. We arrived the junction at 2:15 PM after hiking 3.1 miles. We turned right to start out on the Flynn Trail and almost immediately ran into more mud and water than we had seen elsewhere. This trail is always wet as it is fairly flat and lower than much of the surrounding ground. By this time my feet were getting wet which was an uncomfortable feeling even though it was a warm day. We worked our way along the trail until we got to the gate which separates the state land from the Open Spaces Institute land around Hodge Pond. We continued on the Flynn Trail by turning right and following the trail downhill to an area near the shore of Hodge Pond. It is possible to turn in either direction at this point and Cindy chose right to stay on the Flynn Trail which was also my preference. As we turned two more people were coming our way so I stepped to the side of the trail to let them pass. This part of the trail was not quite as wet as other parts and we made good time as we headed toward the outlet end of Hodge Pond. We walked through a field where the dining hall had been for the Beech Mountain BoyScout camp and then walked through a short stretch of woods to the clearing at the south end of Hodge Pond. Sheila and I walked to the shore of the pond while Cindy hung back in the shade. I dropped my pack to get out my camera and took pictures of the beautiful blue sky with some white, puffy clouds. I decided to take a 360 degree set of shot to see if I could make a panorama of them. Sheila was in and out of the water so I threw a stick and took some pictures of her. When we were done, I packed up and we headed to where Cindy was waiting. We began the walk of the hill on the Flynn Trail which was the last climb before the long downhill back to the car.

The walk up this hill often seems tedious but on this day we continued to talk to each other and were soon at the top of the hill. I was pretty sure the rest of the trail would seem dry compared to what we had already hiked and that seemed to be the case. We walked along the flat trail under threes passing through the other gate and arriving at the junction with the Big Rock trail at 3:05 PM after hiking 4.7 miles. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail setting a fast pace over the flat part of the trail before jotting the downhill. I much prefer walking up the Flynn Trail while Cindy likes walking down it. In any case the 1.7 miles back to the parking area can be slow as there is not much to see. We reached the spot where there is an interesting to the left of the trail but we had been there recently and stayed on the main trail. I was somewhat lost in my thoughts when Cindy alerted me to a mountain biker coming up the trail. Bikes are legal on the trails but this is the very first time I have seen one in many trips to this area. The biker alerted us that there was another bike coming up the trail so I kept Sheila on her leash. As we approached the end of the trail, we saw three people ahead. A young girl was sitting in the middle of the trail but moved as we approached. A woman was sitting on the side of the trail with her feet in the cool water. All three looked as if they were ready to be finished hiking! We passed them and then ran into another member other party who seemed more fit and a little impatient. We continued won the trail and soon were passing through the tunnel we had cut in a large spruce tree that had fallen across the trail. We could see a group of three people standing where the trail turns off the woods road. As we approached, we all kept outdistance but they asked us some questions about the Flynn Trail. They had just come from trying to get to Frick Pond and found the trail too wet and muddy. We suggested they continue on the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond and then turn around and come the same way. They thanked us and we moved on. We trend left on the trail to avoid the radiate property around the cabin. It was 3:50 Pm when we got back to the car after hiking 6.4 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes with an elevation gain of 905 feet. Despite the water and the mud we had maintain an overall speed of 2.1 mph. The temperature was 72 degrees and we were both ready to go home.

On Saturday, May 2nd we visited Angel Falls on Sholam Road in Yagerville. When we had finished there, we decided to head to Peekamoose Road to visit Buttermilk Falls and the other waterfalls along the road. I drove up Sholam Road and turned right on Yagerville Road to head toward Sundown. As we crested a hill, I pulled over and parked on the right side of the road. I took out my camera and walked back down the road to take some pictures of the Shawangunks which are clearly visible form this viewpoint. As I gazed to my left which was easy, I saw a building on top of a ridge. I zoomed in confirmed my suspicions that it was the Smiley Tower at Mohonk. I took some more pictures but knew they would not do justice to the beautiful scene before me. As I turned around to go, I noticed an old house on the right side of the road. Although it was dilapidated and certainly had not been lived in for some time, I could see the character of the stone and remaining timbers. I took a few pictures and then returned to the car. We drove away and where the road split in Sundown, I turned right on Peekamoose Road. I drove 4.3 miles to the parking are for Buttermilk Falls on the left about a mile passed the parking area for Peekamoose Mountain and the Blue Hole. The Peekamoose parking are was full with some cars parking along the road. The previous parking areas for the camping spots had been cordoned off to allow extra space between cars. At Bear Hole Brook there were cars parked along the road and not in the parking area a few hundred feet down the road. I suspect these people were just too lazy to park in the designated areas. When I parked the car in we are happy to appeared to be the last available spot. We decided I would go zone to take a few shots. I got out of the car and walked to the falls and down to the stream bed. There were a few people around but I had an unimpeded view to the falls. I took my shots and then considered climbing to the top of the falls. I quickly decided against it as there were already people at the top and I knew the views were not that good.

I returned to the car and drove further up the road to take a look at other two falls on the road side of the river. We could also see several seasonal falls on the other side of the river. I stopped just passed the next falls where there were no people and walked to the bridge to take some pictures. This waterfall had some logs blocking the water and the views were not great. I walked back to the car and drove a little farther up the road where there is another falls that I think is higher than Buttermilk. I drove passed the falls and turned around to park in a small pullover just before the falls. This time Cindy and I both got out to walk over to the falls which drove Sheila crazy. We both took some pictures of this falls which was easy since there were no other people. I was able to get a good angle by standing just off the road. As I walked back to the car, I also took some shots of the river. When we were I turned around and drove back toward Sundown. As we approached Bear Hole Brook I decided to pull over and take a few pictures. I again left Cindy and Sheila in the car and walked out the path to the small falls. This falls is more of a rapids but it is pretty. Two women were sitting in front of the falls and did not give any indication they would move so I took some shots anyway. I decided to walk back out to the road and walk on the path closer to the stream. By the time I did this, the two women had left th falls and I got some more good pictures. I went back to the car and suggested a few short hikes that we could do but Cindy was not interested. I was disappointed since we had hiked only about a mile but I knew I could hike on Sunday which would be an even nicer day. On the way home we tried to stop at McDonals at around 1:30 PM butt he line was up to the road so we headed home to support our local Chinese restaurant.

On Saturday, May 2ndI wanted to get out of the house after two straight days of rainy weather. I asked Cindy if she would like to go see some waterfalls as I knew they should have a high volume after the recent rains. I suggested driving to Angel Falls on Sholam Road in Yagerville to hike to the upper and lower falls and then driving to Peekamoose Road to Buttermilk Falls and the other waterfalls along that road. Cindy agreed and we started to get ready around 9:00 AM. Sheila was frantic as she had not been out in several days and was running around the house splitting her time between us. The temperatures were forecast to be warm with highs in the 60's but as we were getting ready it was just 50 degrees. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer since the temperature was already warm. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants but decided against tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Taku boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I purchased since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and wore a light pair of gloves. At the last minutes, I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the tick s and the mud which I was sure we would find. We got our gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at around 9:45 AM after checking the mail. I drove east on State Route 17 to Liberty and then got on Route 55 to Grahamsville. I turned left onto Route 55A just after the Tri-Valley school and toward Sundown. I followed RT 55A as it turned right and crossed the Rondout Reservoir. I drove to Yagerville Road where I turned left and drove another 1.2 miles to Sholam Road. Here I turned right and drove to where the road dead ends. I parked under the powerlines at 10:30 AM and we got ready to hike. We noticed there were a great number of May flies so we both put on some repellant before starting the hike. I set my GPS and we started off down what used to be Sholam Road. The road is very eroded but makes a good trail which is why I was surprised to see the sign. The sign posted by the DEP stated that the road was seasonal use only and was not maintained. I found this funny since no one would think that this "road" was fit for any vehicle except for a four wheeler! I was pleased that I could hear a roar coming from the falls apparently indicating a good volume of water. We walked along the road passing the top of the falls and continuing upstream a little farther. There was a good volume of water so I walked over to the side of the stream and out onto a flat rock. This allowed me to take pictures upstream and downstream. I considered walking a little more along the stream or on what was left of the road but instead tuned around and walked back to the top of the falls. At the top of the falls I turned right on a path that parallels Trout Creek. I looked down at the falls and saw that it was higher than I had seen it in some time. Trout Creek is rather long extending around 5 miles from Balsam Swamp. Over its course it picks up a few tributaries.

We walked along the path which was very wet and muddy from two days of rain. I was looking for a way down to the stream bed and found a steep and slippery path heading to the left and down to the creek bed. I was not sure this was the path I had used before as it was very steep. I was able to make my way down using my poles that were absolutely essential. I worked my way down the bank with Sheila leading the way but Cindy elected to stay on the upper path. We ended up at some rocks at the base of the falls. All the rocks were slippery which did not bother Sheila but concerned me. I was able to get out my camera and walk out on some of the rocks to get a good view of the falls. I took shots of the falls and some downstream. To capture the volume and character of the falls, I shot a short video before packing up and heading back up to the main trail. Although the trail isn't really maintained, someone had cut a few of the trees that had been across the trail. We continued down the path heading toward the lower falls. The trail can be overgrown with weeds but was relatively clear as this is a popular spot for people in the area. I was happy that there was almost no broken glass around the area. We walked to the top of the falls and I walked out on a flat rock shelf. The shelf allowed me to take pictures of the falls and upstream. I also took some more shots over the falls and downstream. We walked a little farer downstream where I found another flat rock that is just below the top of the falls and gives a view directly at the falls. I worked my way down to the rock by squeezing between some other rock outcroppings. I was able to take shots of the waterfalls head on. I also took some as the water flowed passed me and down to the lower pool. I worked my way back up to where I had left my pack and headed down the path to the base of the falls where there are some old foundations. I walked down to the creek bed and out onto some rocks which gave me a good view of the falls. This drop is not as high as the upper falls but is still pretty in its own way. After taking a few pictures. I carefully made my way back to my pack. I have always wanted to go to the other side if the stream as I have seen people there but I do not know how to get access. I took a few pictures of the foundations and then walked a little farther away from the stream to find an even larger set. After finishing, I headed up the hill Weber Cindy and Sheila were Waiting. We worked our way up a steep path back to Sholam Road and back to the car. It was 11:30 AM and we had hiked only .9 miles in about one hour with 200 feet of elevation gain.

On Tuesday, April 28th I wanted to get out for a longer hike not too far from home. I eked Cindy if she would like to go and she said "Yes, as long as its not too far or too hilly!" After some discussion, we decided we would go to Big Pond for a hike to Little Pond and back. I had several possibilities to complete this loop including staying on the trails, walking back on the roads and making a side trip to Cabot Mountain. The temperature was in the high 30's in the morning but we knew it would get warmer in the afternoon. We both had work to do so we did not start getting ready until1:30 PM when the temperatures was 54 degrees. I started to get ready, and Sheila seemed happy that both Cindy and I were going hiking. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer since the temperature was already warm. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants but decided against tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Taku boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I purchased since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and wore a light pair of gloves. At the last minutes, I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the tick s and the mud which I was sure we would find. We left Livingston Manor at 1:55 PM and I drove toward Roscoe on Old Route 17. I turned right on Beaverkill Road after 1.3 miles and continued north on Beaverkill Road for 10.8 miles passing through Lew Beach. As the Beaverkill Road turned right, I turned left onto Barkaboom Road and drove .8 miles to the parking area for Big Pond on the right. There were two pickup trucks parked and it seemed the occupants were fishing from the shore. I grabbed my camera and walked down to the shore of the pond to take some pictures. The water was placid with blue skies overhead. The most striking discovery was that the south faces of the surrounding hills were covered in a white layer of snow! I returned to the car and Cindy and I got ready to hike. We noticed that there were quite a few cars passing by on this small back road and that many were from New Jersey! This once again proves the ignorance and selfishness of so many people. I set my GPS noticing that the temperature was 52 degrees with a slight breeze blowing. Some April flies were starting to gather and I hoped they would stay away.

I put Sheila on her leash, and we crossed the road at 1:15 PM to begin our hike up Touch-Me-Not Mountain on the Touch-Me-Not Trail which is part of the Finger Lakes Trail. The first part of the trail is an old woods road, and it is pretty easy to follow. I let Sheila on her leash for a while and let her pull me up the first hill passing the trail register. When I let her off her leash, she began running all over the place as we trudged up the trail. The trail was pretty dry with a few areas of slippery mud. The first mile of the trail gains about 775 feet with an average grade of 15%. Some places are almost flat which means there are a few steeper places. I began to notice that the blazing of the trail could be better. This is a trail I maintain for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference from Big Pond all the way over Cabot Mountain to Beech Hill Road. Volunteers used to be able to put up trail markers, but the DEC decided that a forester must now do this. I made a note to call Stamford to tell them that they needed to have someone add markers before winter when it would be harder to find the trail. Most blazes were too far apart. Some were very old and faded with others grown into the trees. A few were on the side of the tree meaning they were not visible from either direction on the trail. Many of the turns were not properly marked. Several times I just followed Sheila who seems to be able to find the right direction no matter what. It was obvious in several areas that there had been significant rain as the trail was badly eroded. In several spots the water and mud on the trail forced us to work our way around them by walking off the trail. I was happy that there were only two small blowdowns which I knew I could remove myself. In a few places, the trail traveled along the side of the hill, and this made for some tricky footing. We found ourselves walking beside the trail which is not good as it simply widens the area for more erosion. We removed a lot of branches as we walked. We alternated times of conversation with periods when we were lost in our own thoughts. I WA surprised when at 2:05 PM we had hike 1.1 miles to the highest point on the trail on the shoulder of Touch-Me-Not Mountain. After a slight descent, we came to a large blowdown that had once blocked the trail. A good piece of the trunk had been cut away to provide an easy path. I realized that there were several other blowdowns on the trip up that were missing and assumed a DEC crew had been through since the early summer. We walked down the hill to the next trail junction and turned right on the yellow loop trail around Little Pond.

The loop trail is very popular with campers during the season and the trail bed was a little more obvious. At one point the trail passed between two large boulders forming a sort of Rick cut. I noticed some snow piled up in the shade and took some pictures. I went first through the "cut" and then has Cindy and Sheila pause for some shots. We continued along the trail descending another rocky area to find a large tree across the trail. It was obvious hikers had been walking to the left around the butt end of the tree which is what we did. At 1.6 miles we had finally arrived at the cutoff to Cabot Mountain. I asked Cindy if she would like to climb to the summit to get the view of Little Pond from the vista. She said 'No' and I can't say I was disappointed. We continued our hike by bearing left to stay on the loop trail. There were several blowdowns in this area that would require tools to remove. After a short walk, we came to a large, flat stone on the right side of the trail. I remembered taking pictures of our grand children there and had Cindy and Sheila poses fro some pictures. As we left, I realized how much I missed our grandchildren. At 1.8 miles we arrived in the clearing that acts as a viewpoint. It is hard to see Little Pond from this lookout since the trees have grown up. This is a place that holds many memories as we hiked the loop many times when I was younger. We stopped, and I got out the camera to take pictures of the hills and the blue sky. The scene kept changing as the light played off the hills in different ways. I packed up, and we continued the hike passing the small foundation of a long-forgotten homestead cabin. I noticed the pond to the right of the trail and decided to inspect it and take some pictures. The pond used to be very small and had gotten larger over the years. I took some shots and notice the flies were now congregating so we move on. The main trail was covered in water from the outlet of the pond but we crossed easily. Ahead of us on Te trail was one of the biggest blowdowns I had seen in some time. A huge tree with three different trunks had completely blocked the trail. I stood in awe for a minute planning how I might cut it with hand tools! As we walked around to the right of the tree, we both noticed a small building a little farther off the trail. I had seen this before and assumed it was an outhouse but decided to explore. I walked up to the building and confirmed it was an outhouse. I took a few pictures wondering why the outhouse was in an area with no other foundations. I walked back out to the main trail which soon turned left off the woods road.

The trail headed down through the forest and was wet and extremely eroded making the walk difficult. We walked off trail to avoid the worst spots. The trail continued to be wet with water in places where I had not seen any water before. We walked downhill encountering a large blowdown that blocked the trail near a large beaver pond. We bushwhacked around the tree and to avoid the flooded trail. I stopped at the shore of the beaver pond to take some pictures and then again at the dam. Both the pond and the dam were larger than I remembered! We walked a short distance to the loop trail around Little Pond. At the pond, we turned right to walk around the western shore of Little Pond. As we walked along the shore to the boat launch area, we could see Touch-Me-Not Mountain where we had been a short time ago. We stopped at the boat launch area, and I took some photos of Touch-Me-Not Mountain and the pond. Sheila decided to go wading. I took a picture and the, for some reason, told her to sit. She started to sit in the cold water and thought better of it and came running out of the water. As we walked along the road, I began to see picnic tables leaning on the fireplaces at the campsites. We turned left on a trail to head for the bridge at the outlet of Little Pond. We crossed the bridge, and I dropped my pack to take a few last pictures before leaving the Little Pond area. We now had a choice to return on the roads or hike back up Touch-Me-Not Mountain on the Campground Trail. I knew Cindy was not enthusiastic at the prospect of hiking back up the mountain and back down the slippery trail to Big Pond. I decided we would walk back to Big Pond using the access road and Barkaboom Road. We walked over to the parking area and turned right to walk out the access road. We walked out to the gatehouse and started down the hill toward Barkaboom Road. Ahead, we could see a man cutting some trees that had fallen on the road. As we passed him we said "hello". He was the only person we saw except at the Big Pond parking area. The road was closed at the second gate, and the walk was very peaceful. We walked a little less than a mile down to Barkaboom Road and turned left to hike up the road back to Big Pond. I put Sheila on her leash for the .6 mile hike back to the car even though there was no traffic. The stream beside the road was full of water. I pointed out to Cindy an old foundation near the stream with what looked like a smaller stream running near it. I thought this might be the remnants of an old mill. We walked up the hill and back to the car in the parking area. We were back at the car at the car at 4:20 PM having hiked 4.8 miles in 3 hours and 5 minutes. The elevation gain was about 1000 feet. I put Sheila in the car, stowed my gear in the back and headed home.

On Monday, April 27th it was still only in the mid 40's but there was some sun. I asked Cindy if she would like to hike across the street on Round Top and she agreed. We did some chores around the house and then started to get ready to hike at 11:30 AM. Sheila showed her appreciation by barking at me and running from where I was getting ready to Cindy. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer since the temperature was rising slightly. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against tights underneath. I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I purchased since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and wore a light pair of gloves. At noon we walked out the door to start the hike. Immediately I noticed that the skies were sunny and that it was warmer than I thought it would be. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do some figure 8's on the Round Top Trails. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. There was no snow or ice anywhere which was not surprising since the temperatures had been a little warmer recently. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. The road had areas that were wet and very slippery with mud. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. We kept a quick pace as we walked even though the trail was wet and slippery in places. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. As we ascended the trail, there were places where the trail was muddy and slippery but walking beside the trail to get traction was difficult. I began to think that my idea of putting in a switchback or two was a good idea. I saw that putting one to the left of the trail would not work as the terrain was even steeper there. I took a quick look to the right and saw a perfect place to divert the trail. We finished the ascent and walked across the flat summit of Round Top to start down the other side. Descending was also tricky as there were wet and slippery spots. I began to think that heading straight up the hill and straight down was not the best idea. Several different solutions came to mind including, once again, rerouting the trail to include a switchback or two. Soon we were back at the yellow trail where we turned right and walked to the next trail junction. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. I stopped to take a look down to the school and town before continuing on the trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. Even this part of the trail was a little muddy and slippery. This section of trail gets the most traffic as some people simply walk up to the viewpoint and then back down. At the first trail junction we turned around and started back up toad the viewpoint. We continued to follow the yellow trail as it turned right at the viewpoint and then gained elevation to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right and continued to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked up the blue trail to cross the summit of Round Top. The ascent went well but we did have to watch for some muddy areas. The descent on the other side was tricky but we did make it down without incident. At the trail junction with the yellow trail we turned left and followed the trail along the base of Round Top again. At the next trail junction, we turned right this time and walked down the trail to the woods road and out to the first trail junction. I checked the time and determined that we should return home. We walked out toward the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We walked down the hill and through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. It was 1:10 PM and we had hiked around 2 miles in a little over an hour with elevation gain of about 600 feet.

On Saturday, April 25th, I had planned to hike locally but longer than some of the hikes I had been taking. I decided to hike at Trout Brook but to do a loop that was at least 7 miles long including a walk along Campbell Brook Road and Morton Hill Road. I got up late again after some ambulances calls the day before. I started to get ready at 11:00 AM when the temperature was already 51 degrees. We had missed a walk the day before so Sheila was more than ready to hike. I put on my Mammut crew top but decided to forego a baselayer as I knew the forecast called for warmer temperatures. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without baselayer although I knew they might be too warm. I wore my Vasque Taku boots since they were dry and light enough for hiking. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. Finally, I put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud and the ticks. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat as we left Livingston Manor at 11:30 AM to head toward Roscoe on Route 17. Sheila was happy since she was getting used to the increased number of hikes. I got off the Quickway at exit 94 and headed north on Route 206 through Roscoe and across the Rockland Flats. Just after entering Delaware County, I turned left on Morton Hill Road and drove to Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the side of the road to avoid parking in the large lot which is on private property. When I got out of the car, the first thing I noticed was that there were a lot of April flies around my head. I checked my pack and found some repellent which sprayed on my face and neck. I let Sheila out of the care and put her on her leash as I could see a truck parked at the first camping area on Russell Brook Road. I set my GPS and we began our hike at 11:45 AM by starting down Russell Brook Road. We passed the camping area where there was country music blaring drowning out all the silence and sounds of the country. I let Sheila off her leash to run some as we continued down the road. We moved over twice to allow cars to pass. I decided I wanted to mostly hike and only take a few pictures, if any. As we passed the lookout over the upper falls, I took a look and found the water level was lower than the last time I had visited. I decided we would forego the falls. When we arrived at the lower parking area, there were at least 6 cars parked and two or three groups of people getting ready to hike. Several of the cars had New Jersey license plates! So much for 'Hike Locally'. Forest Ranger Stephen Ellis from the Region 4 Zone B office was in the parking area and I spoke to him for a couple of minutes before heading out on the trail.

We turned right on the trail out of the parking area following a couple. We crossed the bridge and the couple decided to visit the falls while we continued straight ahead on the trail up to Trout Pond. A family of three as following us so I tried to set a quick pace to stay ahead of them. It seems that they would match our speed but we did not see them again so I assumed they turned left to hike up to Mud Pond. The trail was wet with some running and some standing water which generated some mud and made everything slippery. At one point Sheila alerted and I looked up to find father and son coming toward us with their dog. The dog was on a leash and the mother was just a little farther bind. As we passed, we said "Hello" and then continued in our opposite directions. As we approached the pond, I changed my mind about pictures and walked over to the beach. I got my camera out of the pack. I took few pictures of the pond since the sky had the puffy white clouds that I like on a background of bright blue. I got a bar and had a drink since I was very warm. I ha opened all the zippers on the hoody which helped a little. After a few minutes, we departed and continued toward the lean-tos at the upper end of the pond. The main trail was wet and muddy but we made good time. As we approached the upper end of the lake, I saw a young couple crossing the first bridge and then bearing to the right to continue up the Campbell Brook Trail. This was the route I intended to take but they were moving pretty fast so I hoped we would not catch them. When we arrived at the lower lean-to, I was surprised to find it unoccupied. We continued to the right of the lean-to and started to ascend the Campbell Brook Trail toward Campbell Brook Road. This trail was obviously less used than the trails around the pond and had a little more ascent than I remembered. A short distance up the trail there was a group of people stopped in the trail. As we approached they moved to the side. I could see it was the couple we had been following and three other young men. I stooped to talk keeping my distance. As we talked in seemed that none of them knew exactly we are happy to trail they were on or where they had parked! The couple said they had parked at the end of the snowmobile trail on Campbell Brook Road and had hiked that trail to the highest point. They said there was even some snow still in the woods. I thought that it was strange that they didn't have a map but I wished them well and moved on. Over the next .75 miles we gained 420 feet to the highest point on the hike at 2470 feet which was an average of a 10.5% grade. Near the top of the climb a snowmobile trail heads off to the right but I wanted to make sure we got in over 6 miles so we continued to the left on the Campbell Brook Trail. The sign at the top clearly stated Campbell Brook Road but the distance looked like it could be 1.0 miles or 1.9 miles! We immediately began to descend which was easier than the ascent and the trail was in much better shape than I remembered. In the next .75 miles we lost most of the elation we had gained at about the same grade. The trail went through a number of switchbacks which moderated the grade. Since there were still no leave son the trees it was easy to see the ridges and sky to the north. The sky was a bright blue and there was plenty of sun. At 3.5 miles we crossed and recrossed Campbell Brook on two good bridges. I stopped to take a few pictures of the bridges and the stream. We began a slight ascent and the trail, which had bee dry, began to get wet again. I looked ahead and could see what looked like a road with abrade black culvert.

We hit Campbell Brook Road at 3.8 miles and immediately turned right to start the road walk back. I did not notice any cars in the small parking area. I left Sheila off her leash for the road walk but kept it in my pocket in case I needed it. Several vehicles did pass us but most slowed down and Sheila is very good about staying by my side. As we started walking east on Campbell Brook Road I checked at the trailhead for the snowmobile trail. No one was parked and there was no evidence a vehicle had been parked there. We walked along the road in the shade until there were no more trees and as we broke out into the sun the difference was noticeable. At 4.25 miles Campbell Mountain Road goes off to the left but we continued straight ahead on Morton Hill Road. The road continued to ascend until at 4.6 miles the road turned sharply south and started a long descent. There wasn't much to see along the road although the walk was pleasant. Several vehicles went by one way or the other including Footrest Range Stephen Ellis who stopped to talk. He also was puzzled by the couple I had met. We continued our walk until we came to a pond on the left side of the road at about 5.4 miles. I stopped to take some pictures but was immediately surrounded by a huge swarm of April flies. I tried to snap a few shots and them covered myself in insect repellent and took off. A slight breeze began to blow and that, coupled with our fast pace, seemed to keep the flies away. We contused south on Morton Hill Road until we again entered the shade of the trees. I knew we were close to the car. I could see a pickup truck pulled into the woods and almost off the road just ahead. Two people were walking back to the truck and called to me as we passed. They wanted to know about trailhead with fewer people than Trout Pond and I gave them some options. I noticed their New Jersey license plate but decided that asking questions would prove pointless. We moved on and soon were back at the car. At 2:45 PM we were back at the car after hiking 7 miles in 3 hours with an average speed of 2.4 mph and an elevation gain of 1163 feet. The temperature at the car was now 62 degrees. On the way home I stopped at Northern Farmhouse Pasta and scored some wild ramp ravioli and two kinds of pasta.

On Thursday, April 23rd, the weather was horrendous with rain, snow and sleet all morning an temperatures below 40 degrees! I had almost decided to take a day off when I looked at the weather and saw that it was supposed to rain all day Friday! I asked Cindy if she wanted to hike and agreed but, like me, wanted to try something new. I had thought about going to the Beaverkill Valley and hiking a 6 mile road loop on Craigie Claire Road and Beaverkill Valley Road. I knew Cindy would not want to hike that far but would like a relatively flat route. I suggested we park at the Beaverkill State Campgrounds near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge and hike around the campgrounds. Cindy agreed but we both wanted to wait until there was a break in the weather. At 2:00 PM the break we were waiting for occurred although the forecast seemed to indicate it would be short. The temperature was 44 degrees but the dampness made it feel colder as we began to get ready. I got dressed in a wool Patagonia half zip top with no baselayer. This top is very warm but adjusts well to both cold and warm weather. It is very soft and comfortable. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Taku boots which have been discontinued but were dry and offer good support. I decided not to wear gaiters as there was no snow and I expected we would be on roads are wide trails most of the time which reduced the chance of ticks. I decided to take my new pair of Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I grabbed a light hat and gloves. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. We put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and left the house at 2:45 PM. I drove out Old Route 17 toward roscoe and turned right on Beaverkill Road. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. As I parked, there was only car in the lot. I grabbed my camera and walked over to an area downstream of the covered bridge to take some pictures. Sheila came with me and stayed close by as I took pictures of the bridge and a few downstream. The river was higher than usual from the recent rains. As we started back to the car, three more vehicles pulled into the lot so I immediately put Sheila on her leash.

We started our hike at 3:05 PM as I set my GPS and headed out be crossing the bridge to the west side of the river. As we exited the bridge, we turned left on a woods road that parallels the river. We walked passed a spring house and I a short distance later we stopped so that I could take some shots of the river. I also noticed some water on the other side of the road which was covered in what looked like floating duckweed. I also took some pictures of it before continuing on. Soon we passed what was once a bathroom for campsites that had long since disappeared. At the next bathroom we stopped so that I could take some more pictures. There was a picnic table so I took some pictures of Sheila and Cindy and then some of the river which made a bend there. In several areas the DEC had placed large rocks along the shore and covered them with heavy wire to reduce erosion. Before leaving I also took pictures of the deteriorating bathrooms. At about .7 miles the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites and we continued along the river. The campsite each ad a cement block fireplace with a grill but were very close together. Everything was very quiet as the campsites are closed. We walked to the last campsite where the trail ends and then continued a little farther on a path. Eventually the path ended and the way ahead became steeper with many rocks. I took a few shots as the river disappeared around a bend and then we started back the way we came. We did walk the other road through the campsites which parallels the one we walked out on makes a sort of loop. I had though we might walk up the hill and take the road back but we decided it would be nicer to stay on the wood road. We retuned the way we had come crossing the river on the bridge.

Instead of stopping at the car we walked out the far end of the parking lot passing the bathhouse and following a path. Cindy and I both remembered a ford that crossed the river many years ago but we had not been able to locate it. As we walked we came to a depression which was an old stream channel and this channel had concrete paving across it. This was the ford that we remembered and it crossed a branch of the river which is now dry. We continued our walk and soon came to a series of palettes with stone piled on them. This was obviously stone that was to be used to constructed fireplaces or walls but it did not look like it had been accessed in some time. The path we are on passed through a grove of tall evergreens and seemed to end at a Stine neck. The bench was formed from an enormous lab of stone mounted on cement blocks. The stone had visible drill marks on it and we both wondered where it had been quarried. I took some pictures of Cindy and Sheila and a few of the river. As we were about to turn around, a stone structure in the woods caught my eye. We walked away from the river and crossed a small stream to inspect the stone structure. It was a chimney now laying on its side with a stone base in place. There did not seem to be another foundation around. The chimney was in the shape of a pyramid tapering upward with stone sticking out as "shelves". It was also line with clay flue pipe. I took a lot of pictures before we headed back across the stream. We retraced our steps following the route we had used on the way out. We were back at the car at 4:45 PM having hiked 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 40 minutes with over 20 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 225 feet but it was hardly noticeable. The weather had cooperated nicely and I thought it had gotten warmer as we hiked. The car's thermometer bore me out registering in the high 40's. In addition, we experienced no precipitation during any of the hike.

On Wednesday, April 22nd I had taken off tow days from hiking due to some nasty weather. When I woke up, there was a fresh dusting of snow and it was windy with a temperature right around freezing. By early afternoon the temperature had risen to only 40 degrees and the wind was still blowing but I decided to take Sheila and cross the street to hike on Round Top. I wanted to find a different route and decided to do lollipops which would cover all of both trails. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed. I put on my Mammut crew top but decided to forego a baselayer as I knew I would warm up on the hike. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without baselayer despite the cool weather. I wore my Vasque Taku boots since they were dry and light enough for hiking. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. At 1:30 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead where I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail was completely bare as the snow had disappeared. There were a few spots of mud but the rest of the trail was dry.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right an started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. We walked up the road to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail and continued straight ahead on the blue trail to the summit. The climb was not difficult but I did have to watch out for a few muddy patches. We walked across the summit and started down the other side. Some people will tell you about difficult ascents and some are. In this case, the descent down the slippery path was tricky but a slip would probably mean muddy pants and no more. We made it down to the next trail junction and turned left on the yellow trail to walk along the base of Round Top back to the other junction with the blue trail. Here we turned right and walked back down the woods road to the very first junction. This formed a lollipop with the head being the loop over the summit and the stick being the woods road. This time we turned right and headed up the steeper part of the yellow trail to the lookout. There wasn't much to see at the viewpoint so we followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed uphill slightly. We passed the Resting Rock" and continued to the junction with the blue trail. At the junction we continued straight ahead and ascended the steepest part of the trail to the summit. The slippery parts of the ascent were difficult but I ended going little off the trail to find an easier way up. We walked across the summit and won the other side to the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right and walked the yellow trail salon the base of Round Top. At the next junction, we followed the yellow trail to the left and downhill to the viewpoint. The trail turned left here so we followed it back to the first trail junction. I decided to do a big loop and a small loop so we turned left and walked back up the woods road on the yellow trail. We took the blue trail over the summit and back down the other side. Once again we continued straight ahead following the yellow trail downhill passed the viewpoint to the first trail junction. I checked my watch and concluded we were finished. We continued straight ahead and walked back out to the trailhead. We turned right and continued down the hill. We walked out through the church parking lot to the road and our driveway. It was 2:40 PM and we had hiked just over 2 miles in just over an hour.

On Sunday, April 19th, I had decided to take a day off until a text message from Lisa changed my mid. She wanted to hike the Flynn Trail at Frick Pond to the lookout over Hodge Pond. We agreed to meet at the trailhead at noon. When I got up at 6:20 AM it was 22 degrees which isn't that cold except for the fact it ia April! At 11:00 AM, when I started to get ready, the temperature was up to 40 degrees and the sun was shining. There was still a small amount of snow on the ground and I knew there could be more at the trailhead and that the temperate might be a little lower. Sheila was pretty calm as I started to get ready as we have been hiking a lot lately. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots which have been discontinued but are my favorite boots for winter. I put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters as I did not know the depth of snow we would encounter. I decided to take my new pair of Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I grabbed a light hat and gloves. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided to carry my microspikes in case they were needed. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and left my house at 11:45 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left. I continued up the road to the point where it splits and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. It was a short drive to the parking areas on the left. Both parking areas had several cars already parked. I did not consider going to another trailhead as there are miles of trail in the area and I have seldom met any people. I parked in the small lot where Lisa was already parked and getting ready. There was some snow on the grass and in the woods but the roads were clear. I spoke to Lisa as she got ready and took the time to set my GPS> I could see the dog from the cabin was loose again but he stayed there. I did put Sheila on her leash as we crossed the road at 12:05 PM to start our hike.

The first part of the trail near the road had become further eroded by the recent rains. After that, the walk through the woods was relatively easy although some areas may require a little work with a shovel. When we turned right onto what once was Beech Mountain Road, there was some snow with several sets of footprints. I only saw bare boots although one may have had traction devices. I saw no reason to put on my spikes so we continued up the trail. As we walked up the trail, I began to get warm immediately from the sun shining on my back. We set a moderate pace up the Flynn Trail which seemed to go quickly as we walked and talked. We did stop a couple of times so that I could take some pictures. The Flynn Trail is uphill all the way for the first 1.7 miles to the Big Rock Junction. There continued to be several inches of snow on the trail with a more open track where people had walked. We passed the mile mark around the point where there is a clearing to the right of the trail. We stopped so that I could take some shots of the snow and the bright blue sky. We were soon walking the final uphill section to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. It was 1:05 PM so we had covered the 1.7 mile distance in and hour. We continued through the junction and passed through the gate which is the boundary between state land and OSI property. It was a short walk to the point where the Flynn Trail heads downhill to Hodge Pond. Here we turned to the right on the woods road and walked along the "high road" to the junction of some roads above the pond. At this junction a road turns left to go down to the pond. Just a little further on the road splits with the left fork passing by the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp and ending up on Shin Creek Road in Lew Beach. As we approached the junction, we heard a howling sound from ahead on the trail. It sounded much like a coyote although I had never seem them out and about in full daylight. I listened and was pretty sure I heard voices. We decided to continue up the hill toward the Hodge Pond Lookout which is just below Flynn's Point on Beech Mountain, the highest point in Sullivan County. As we walked, we could see fresh boot prints in the snow and a dogs paw prints. The road was a little steeper than I remembered and a little longer.

I wasn't really tired so we pushed the pace a little. We passed an old quarry where the trail leveled some. The road was slippery from a combination of snow and some mud underneath. The trail began to gain elevation again and we passed by a spring house on the right. There are several twists and turns along this road and it is sometimes hard for me to know exactly where I am. At 2.7 miles we came to a lookout on the left of the trail. The lookout had been "cut out" so that the hills and valleys beyond were much more visible. I decided to stop to take a few shots because my experience told me that the view could change by the time we returned. It was hard to take pictures as the bright sun made looking through the viewfinder difficult. There was almost no haze on the hills of in the valleys as I snapped several pictures. We followed the road uphill as it made a sharp right turn. Just after this the road turned to the left but another trail branched off to the right. The tracks we had been following turned left but we turned onto the trail on the right. Isa remarked that this trail was more distinct than the last time she had been on it. After a slight incline, the trail leveled. Snow covered the trail but there was two inches or less. There was a significant amount of water on this flat trail as it drains off the higher ground to the left. We walked along the trail following Sheila most of the time. At 2.9 miles we arrived at the Hodge Pond Lookout. This lookout had also been cut out giving a much better view than I had seen in years. I dropped my pack and took some pictures of the pond below and the hills in the distance. I also took some pictures of Sheila sitting on the lookout with the pond in the background. The view was as clear as I have seen it but the bright sun made using the viewfinder difficult. On the walk back, we tried to avoid the wettest spots. We passed the lookout on the road and followed the trail as it turned left and started downhill. The trip down was much quicker than the trip up but we had to avoid slipping by using our poles. When we reached the bottom of the hill, I thought about walking down to Hodge Pond but decided to make the hike a true out-and-back. We walked out to the Flynn Trail, turned left and were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 4.6 miles. As we continued on the Flynn Trail we noticed that the snow that had been there on the way up had disappeared! We walked a little farther and the stopped so that I could take some pictures of the now bare trail. The trip down the Flynn Trail can seem to take forever but on this day it went quickly. We continued to notice how much snow had disappeared in such a short time. The large hemlock across the trail came into sight and just after it the gate. We passed through the arch of the tree that Cindy and I had cut through the tree. Just before the gate, we turned left on the Flynn Trail to avoid the private property around the cabin. We walked the trail back to the car arriving at 3:15 PM. The vehicles in the lot were still there and as we put our gear in the car a small group of people began to hike the Flynn Trail. It looked like they had started to hike up the road to the cabin but turned around when they saw us on the trail. We had hiked 5.9 miles in 3 hours and 10 minutes gaining 1026 feet along the way. It was now 52 degrees which explained the melting snow.

On Saturday, April 18th I awoke at 7:00 AM to find that ablest 4 inches of snow had fallen overnight. The snow had accumulated on the grass and trees but had melted on the roads. It was still snowing a little and I decided I should get out to take some pictures before the weight of the snow and increasing temperatures caused the snow to fall. The temperature was 32 degrees but I knew it only had to warm a few degrees. I began to get ready and Sheila showed her appreciation by lying quietly on the floor following my every move. I put on my long-sleeved Patagonia wool top without a baselayer which I knew was probably too warm. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 boots which are as waterproof as any pair I have, insulated and surprisingly roomy. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I purchased since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I also shouldered my pack since this is the easiest way to Cary my camera. At 8:00 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. Immediately I noticed that it was still snowing and the skies were completely overcast. Everything was covered in snow which was quite beautiful. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do some figure 8's on the Round Top Trails but my main object was to take pictures which I normally don't do when I hike Round Top. Sheila was happy to get out as we crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. The road was just wet as all the snow had melted as it fell. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church.

There was no snow on the paved surface but several inches everywhere else. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, I dropped my pack and took out the camera. I took quite a few pictures of the trees covered in snow and several across to the other hills. The skies were overcast and very flat but I hoped I some of the pictures would be good. When I was done, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore.Once we walked into the woods, I again took more shots of the snow on the trail and the trees. I was pretty sure we would be the first people on the trail which proved to be true although there were plenty of animal tracks. At the first trail junction, I started up toward the viewpoint as I wanted to make sure I got pictures of the school and town. Walking up the hill was not hard but it was slippery with the snow on top of some mud. At the spur trail to the lookout, we stayed to the left to get out to the lower rock ledge. I got out my camera and took some pictures of the trees above the ledge and some others that were covered in snow. I then turned my attentions to the view down to the school and the town. I took several pictures and then packed up. We hiked back out the spur trail and turned left to continue on the yellow blazed lower loop trail. As we walked up the trail I kept wanting to stop but realized one tree with snow is a lot like another. We did stop at one rock by the side of the trail which people often use as a seat to take a rest. I took some pictures and then we continued to the first trail junction with the upper blue rail. We turned right to stay on the yellow trail and walked along the base of Round Top. This part of the trail has quite a few bushes and they were covered in snow. Once again, I stopped to take some shots before continuing to the next trail junction. This time we turned left and headed up the trail to the summit. This side is not as steep as the other and my poles really helped.

Once on the summit there was another time for some pictures and the we started the descent down the steeper side. This descent went better than I expected but there were a few tricky spots. When we reached the trail junction we turned left to retrace our steps across the middle of the figure 8. When we reached the trail junction this time, we turned right and headed downhill to the wide woods road that leads back to the very first junction. I stopped once to take more pictures and this time I focused on the cliffs and ledges. Once we are back at the first junction, I looked at the time and found it had taken 55 minutes to complete the first figure 8 which I knew was influenced by all the stops for photography. I decided we would do another and this time would concentrate on just hiking. We turned around and headed back p the woods road keeping an accelerated pace. I found that carrying my pack was a little more exercise but that I was not any more tired than when I don't carry the pack. When we reached the junction with the upper blue trail, we turned left and continued along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the upper trail. This time we turned right and started up the steepest section of the trail. There were some places where it was slippery enough that I was only able to stay on the trail by using my poles. We crossed the summit and started down the more gentle slope. At the trail junction we turned right and hiked the yellow trail all the way down to the viewpoint. A quick glance showed that the snow was falling off the trees and the skies were clearing a little. We turned left and followed the yellow trail back to the first trail junction. This time we continued straight ahead to the trailhead. I stopped to take a few "after" pictures and then continued won the hill. I put Sheila on her leash before we crossed the road to our driveway. At the house, I checked the GPS. It was 9:30 AM and we had hiked 2.1 miles in 1.5 hours with and elevation gain of about 600 feet.

On Thursday, April 16th I was up early to meet with my men's Bible study group at 6:15 AM by Zoom. When this meeting concluded, I went back to bed to see if I could make up for some of the sleep I had lost throughout the week. When I got up it was sill only in the mid 40's but there was some sun so I decided to go across the street to hike on Round Top. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go but she declined. I began to get ready and Sheila showed her appreciation by barking and running around. I put on my long-sleeved Patagonia wool top without a baselayer which I knew was probably too warm. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against tights underneath. I wore my Keen Targhee II boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I purchased since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and wore a light pair of gloves. At 2:30 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. Immediately I noticed that the skies were beginning to become overcast which I knew was a forerunner of a storm coming in the overnight hours. I decided to continue since I knew we could always turn around and return home quickly. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do some figure 8's on the Round Top Trails. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. There was no snow on the grass, roadway or in the forest. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. The road had no snow but there are areas that were wet and muddy. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. We kept a quick pace as we walked even though the trail was wet and slippery in places. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. As we ascended the trail, there were places where the trail was muddy and slippery but walking beside the trail to get traction was difficult. I began to think that my idea of putting in a switchback or two was a good idea. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. Descending was also tricky as there were wet and slippery spots. I began to think that heading straight up the hill and straight down was not the best idea. Several different solutions came to mind including rerouting the trail to include a switchback or two on each side of the hill. Soon we were back at the yellow trail where we turned right and walked to the next trail junction. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. I stopped to take a look down to the school and town before continuing on the trail as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. Even this part of the trail was a little muddy and slippery. This section of trail gets the most traffic as some people simply walk up to the viewpoint and then back down. We continued to follow the yellow trail as it gained elevation to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right and continued to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked up the blue trail to cross the summit of Round Top. The ascent went well but I did have to watch for some muddy areas. The descent on the other side was tricky but we did make it down without incident. At the trail junction with the yellow trail we turned left and followed the trail along the base of Round Top again. At the next trail junction, we turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road and out to the first trail junction. I checked the time and determined that we should return home. We walked out toward the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We walked down the hill and through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. It was 3:45 PM and we had hiked around 2 miles in a little over an hour with elevation gain of about 600 feet.

On Tuesday, April 14th, I had some time to hike on what was forecast to be a much better day than the day before when rain and wind swept our area for an entire day. The day was forecast to be sunny but the highs would only be in the mid 40's. When I got up the temperature was only 33 degrees and the skies were overcast. I decided to do some work around the house and wait to see how the weather would develop. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she said "Yes". We decided to go to Margaretville and hike to the viewpoint on Dry Brook Ridge from Hill Road. I began to get ready with Sheila was on my heels the whole time sensing we would be going out. I put on my Mammut crew top with a light baselayer as the temperature was cool. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants without a baselayer as they are warm an hiking makes me even warmer. I wore my Vasque Taku boots since they were dry and light enough for hiking. I also decided to wear my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud and the ticks. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. We got our gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and left Livingston Manor. I knew Cindy wanted to avoid the back roads as much as possible so I headed toward Roscoe on State Route 17. I got off at the Roscoe exit and headed north toward Downsville on Route 206. The road was in good shape and we were soon at the Pepacton Reservoir. Here I turned right onto Route 30 and continued to the Shavertown Bridge. I turned right on BWS 8 and followed it until it became BWS 9. Where the road changed to BWS 10 at the intersection with Barkaboom Road, I turned left. I followed BWS 10 until it changed to Southside Road just outside Margaretville. I continued on Southside Road to Huckleberry Brook Road where I turned right. Shortly after the turn I turned left on Hill Road and drove 1.3 miles to the parking pulloff on the right. A road crew was actually sweeping the gravel off the road! There was no one else parked in the small lot which surprised me a little as I have often met people here before. The temperature was 45 degrees when I parked and there was a breeze blowing. The skies which had been blue with white clouds and plenty of sunshine were now overcast. We crossed the road and began our hike at 12:45 PM.

The first part of the hike is a nice wide trail that ascends through a red pine plantation. The ascent continues for about 1.9 miles when the trail levels off after gaining 1130 feet. I began to warm up immediately because of the climb and also found I was a little winded from the lack of hiking fast and on steeper trails. From the sound of Cindy's breathing she was having a similar reaction. As we walked, there were several blowdowns across the trail from near the bottom until the trail leveled. We moved some branches off the trail but others required tools to remove. It was also obvious that there had been a lot of rain on the trail as there were huge piles of pine needles in several spots. The trail had drained nicely and was almost dry on the steeper grades with some mud in a few places. The light through the pines was beautiful but the breeze kept the temperature down. After passing through the pines, we entered a predominantly hardwood forest before passing again through some pines. Sheila seemed to delight in racing away from us and then careening headlong back toward us. There were a lot of animal tracks along the trail and some crossing it and Sheila was busy investigating these tracks. The hike seemed longer than I remembered and the number of different ascents greater. After 1.9 miles, the trail leveled off and turned almost 90 degrees from northeast to southeast. We were glad the climbing was done at least for a few minutes. We walked across a flat area dipping down a little to the junction with the blue Dry Brook Ridge Trail at 2.3 miles. We stopped and got a much needed drink and a bar. As we turned right on this trail, I noticed that all the signs were in poor condition with some lying on the ground. Many still had incorrect distances. One sign that was broken in half said the Hill Road parking was 1.7 miles away. I had to laugh! I expect distances to vary some but .5 miles is a pretty big gap. Another sign stated it was 5.5 miles to Millbrook Road which is pretty close but also indicated that the lean-to was 3.3 miles away. This is about .8 miles short! We started along the ridge trail which follows the edge of the ledges until about 2.7 miles where it veers away and heads a little to the east and northeast. Initially the trail ascends a small bump and then descends the other side before leveling off for a while.

The level areas of the trail were very wet with standing water and mud and we had to negotiate around several of these areas. This would continue to be a problem for most of the rest of the way to the lookouts. As we approached the last few climbs to the lookout, Cindy decided she could not do any more climbing. I decided to go ahead and complete the hike as she seemed perfectly happy to sit on a log. Sheila and I continued over the first two ascents which were slippery from the rain and mud. Soon we were climbing the last of three short ascents to the area of the lookout. The total elevation gain from the trail junction to the lookouts is 285 feet. From 2.95 miles to the lookout the trail gains just under 200 feet in elevation and begins to follow the edge of the escarpment turning almost due south. Sheila and I continued on the main trail toward the spur trail to the viewpoint. When we arrived at the viewpoint at 3:05 PM, the breeze was blowing slightly but the sun had appeared to illuminate the landscape below. The sky was a mix of overcast and blue with puffy white clouds. Most of the hills and valleys were covered in a haze but the Pepacton Reservoir was clearly visible with a high volume of water. Everything was still bleak with only a little green showing but I got out my camera to take some pictures. I took a few of Sheila posed on the rock and then more in all directions. I got a drink and then started the walk back to the car which was all flat or downhill. We walked down the first few small descents and then came to the first major one. Sheila gave me an indication that she thought Cindy was at the bottom of the descent. I informed her of her error and we continued together. She did the same thing at the second descent. When we came to the third, I could see Cindy sitting below and I released Sheila who immediately dashed down the hill to Cindy. I walked down the steep descent and joined Cindy for the trip back. The trip back to the trail junction went more quickly than I had expected but avoiding the small ponds along the way was annoying. We didn't bother to stop again at the trail junction but simply turned left to head back down the trail to the parking area. The skies looked bluer and the sun was out which always improves my mood. We both set a very quick pace using our poles to maximum advantage because we both wanted to get back to the car. Despite the pace it seemed to be taking forever! We finally entered the last stand red pines which we both knew that the end of the hike was near. Near the end, I could see the road ahead and then caught sight of the parking lot with our car. We arrived back at the car at 5:00 PM. We had hiked 6.4 miles in 4 hours and 15 minutes with an elevation gain of 1640 feet. The trip down was about 30 minutes shorter than the trip up! I drove away from the parking area and started home on the same route we had used on the way out. When I got to Beech Hill Road, I turned left and followed it out to the Beaverkill Road.

On Sunday, April 12th I wanted to hike after listening to our church's Easter worship service. The weather forecast for Monday was horrible with rain, thunderstorms and highs winds predicted. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and she said "Yes". We had a long debate about where to go and the length of the hike. We finally decided to go to the Frick Lind area to hike up the Flynn Trail and then bushwhack down the ledges on the west side of Mongaup Pond. We would walk the roads back to our car. The thermometer read over 60 degrees but it was in the direct sun so I expected it was actually cooler. I began to get ready with Sheila was on my heels the whole time sensing we would be going out. I put on my Mammut crew top without a baselayer as the temperature was warm. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants despite the warm weather but knew I would not need tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Taku boots since they were dry and light enough for hiking. I also decided to wear my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud and the ticks. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. We left the house at 12:20 PM to drive out DeBruce Road for about 6 miles to Mongaup Pond Road. I turned left and drove to where the road split and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. When we arrived at the parking Rea there were four cars in each lot. Two of the cars had people in them and they did not seem to be doing anything except talking. I thought about leaving and parking at a different trailhead but I knew no one would be taking the route we would be taking. I parked in the remaining spot small lot and got ready to hike. I set my electronics and we started our hike by crossing the road at 12:45 PM. The trail was damping places with a little mud. As we walked through the woods we could hear voices ahead and I saw a family of four coming toward us. I put Sheila on her leash and walked off the trail as the family passed. We continued on the Flynn Trail to the woods road. We turned right on the woods road which was once an extension of Beech Mountain Road and started our climb. We kept up a quick pace talking as we walked until we came to the spot where there is a clearing a little off the trail on the right at 1.15 miles. We turned into the woods and walked a path up to the clearing. I took my pack off and got the camera to take some pictures of the clearing. No one seems to know eagerly why the clearing is there but some speculate the dirt was used to build the Beech Mountain Road up to the Boy Scout camp. The clearing has a thin layer of dirt over bedrock and is unusual since it supports a wide variety of plants. There is a thick layer of moss in most place and the moss represents several different species. The area is often quite wet but on this day it was fairly dry. I picked up my pack and walked toward the tree line trying to find a break where we could begin our bushwhack east to Mongaup Pond. I found a spot and we started walking through the mostly open woods heading east and slightly southeast.

In less than a quarter mile from the clearing we came to the first series of ridges and found a path to descend through them. Just before I started down, I looked ahead and saw the water of Mongaup Pond ahead. I look at my GPS and we were only .4 miles away from the pond. I took a few shots of the rock ledges and some icicles on them. We continued to work our way down being careful of our steps as the wet leaves were slippery and there were plenty of loose rocks. The grade was pretty steep averaging about 18%. We worked our way down through another level and I took a few more pictures including some of interesting mosses and lichens. We continued to descend and turn a little more to the southeast. At one point I found a nice overgrown woods road heading southeast so we started to follow it. The road paralleled a drainage which conducts water down toward the pond. Sooner than I thought we were at the loop road around the pond. I took a few pictures of the deserted road until I realized some people were approaching from the north. We turned right and walked the road south until we came to the gate on the road just before the deck. A car pulled up and a man got out. He was looking for his friends but he was unsure about where they told him to meet them and what trail they would hike. After a brief conversation, he got in his car to drive off. I noticed as he left that he had a New Jersey license place. So much for hiking locally! The deck was being reconstructed so I took some pictures of the pond and the partially constructed deck. The skies were completely overcast and not very interesting. We continued our hike by walking along the shore until we were at the entrance to the campgrounds. We headed out Mongaup Road to complete our loop. The road walk went very quickly this time and didn't seem boring at all. We both noticed that the creek was quite far below the road level which is hard to notice from a car. Where the creek came closer to the road I stopped to take a few shots of a small rapids as it sparkled in what seemed like the only ray of sun. After 1.1 miles we were at the intersection of Beech Mountain Road and Mongaup Pond Road.

I wanted to visit the falls but Cindy's ankle was bothering her so she decided to go back to the car. There were two cars parked in the small pulloff but I decided to go down to the falls hoping they were not there. Sheila and I turned left and walked down the rocky woods road. The road used to be a town road that connected to Terwilliger Road but now it is abandoned. We crossed the small bridge and turned right to walk the path downstream. When we arrived at the top of the falls, I was relieved to find no one in sight. I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I also let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore a little. Sheila immediately went to get a drink and play in the rapidly moving water just above the falls! I decided to work my way down the bank to the area below the lower drop. The rocks were slippery but I made it down without mishap. I took pictures from the side of the falls and then stepped out onto a big rock a few feet away from the bank. From this vantage point I could take pictures of the falls from directly in front. Eventually, I hopped back to the bank and walked back up to my pack. I walked over to the lookout just below the upper drop and took some more pictures there. When I was finished, I returned my camera to the pack and we walked back along the stream and up the hill to the road. I out Sheila on her leash and we Aled back uphill to the car. I looked at some of the license plates and found a couple from New Jersey and one from Virginia and Pennsylvania. One group of people was tailgating and were shoulder to shoulder. I hope they were all from the same daily. The temperature at the car was 60 degrees which was only a few degrees warmer than when we had started. It was 3:25 PM and I had hiked 4.4 miles in two hours and 40 minutes with 35 minutes of stopped time. The total elevation gain of 805 feet. When I checked the GPS track at home I found our bushwhack almost exactly followed the route I had taken before!

On Friday, April 10th I had planned to get out on a longer hike and was even thinking about Balsam Lake Mountain. It had rained and snowed on and off for two days and in the morning it was still cold and snowing. At 8:00 AM the ambulance pager sounded for a motor vehicle accident just outside of town. By the time I returned at 10:00 AM the snow showers had abated but the temperature was only 38 degrees. There was also a breeze blowing that made it seem even colder. I delayed a little before getting ready but by 11:00 AM I knew if I did not get started I would not go at all. I decided to go across the street since it was close and I could always return if conditions worsened. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go but she declined. I began to get ready and Sheila showed her appreciation by barking and running around. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut top without a baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Taku boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I purchased since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and wore a light pair of gloves. At 11:30 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. Immediately I noticed that the skies to the northwest looked snow-filled and that the wind was picking up. I decided to continue since I knew we could always turn around and return home quickly. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do some figure 8's on the Round Top Trails. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. There was a light covering of snow on the grass but the roadway was only wet. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, the snow hit and the wind picked up even more. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trees helped hold back some of the wind and snow. The woods were covered in snow with only a narrow track which was the trail bed.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. The road had less snow that the other parts of the trail but there was a good covering of snow off the trail. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. We kept a quick pace as we walked even though the trail was wet and slippery in places. The narrow track of the trail was the only part of the woods that was not covered in snow. This ribbon of brown and green through the covering of white snow was quite beautiful. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. The snow was even more pronounced here as the trail faces the north. As we ascended the trail, there were places where the trail was muddy and slippery but walking beside the trail to get traction was difficult evacuee of the snow. I began to think that my idea of putting in a switchback or two was a good idea. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. Descending was also tricky as there were wet and slippery spots. I began to think that heading straight up the hill and straight down was not the best idea. Several different solutions came to mind including rerouting the trail to include a switchback or two on each side of the hill. Soon we were back at the yellow trail where we turned right and walked to the next trail junction. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. I stopped to take a look down to the school and town both of which were covered in a thin layer of snow. We continued on the trail and followed it as it turned left and descended to the first trail junction. Even this part of the trail was a little muddy and slippery. This section of trail gets the most traffic as some people simply walk up to the viewpoint and then back down. Snow continued to fall as we turned around and walked back up the hill to the lookout. We continued to follow the yellow trail as it gained elevation to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right and continued to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked up the blue trail to cross the summit of Round Top. The ascent went well but I did have to watch for some muddy areas. The descent on the other side was tricky but we did make it down without incident. At the trail junction with the yellow trail we turned left and followed the trail along the base of Round Top again. At the next trail junction, we turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road and out to the first trail junction. I checked the time and determined that we should return home. We walked out toward the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. The snow that had been on the grass was almost all gone as the temperature was rising and snow had stopped falling. We walked down the hill and through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. It was 12:45 PM and we had hiked around 2 miles in a little over an hour.

On Tuesday, April 7th I had decided to take a day off from hiking after two good hikes in a row. By early afternoon the temperature had risen to nearly 60 degrees and Cindy and I decided to cross the street to hike on Round Top. I wanted to find a different route and decided to do lollipops which would cover all of both trails. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed. I put on only a light baselayer as the temperature was so warm. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants despite the warm weather but knew I would not need tights underneath. I wore my Keen Targhee II boots since they were dry and light enough for hiking. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. At 2:30 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. We aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead where I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail was completely bare and mostly dry with a few spots of mud.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight up the hill toward the viewpoint. At the top of the hill, we continued on the trail turning right. We followed the trail as it gently gained elevation toward the junction with the blue trail. At the next trail junction, we continued straight ahead up the steep hill on the blue trail. There were a few muddy and slippery spots on the trail but we had no problem making it to the top. We were soon passing over the top of the hill and starting down the other side. The trail continued to be slippery but I used my poles and we were soon back at the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top Back to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the viewpoint. At the lookout, we found a mother and her two daughters looking out over town. We said "Hello" as we continued one way and they the other. We followed the yellow trail as it turned to the left and took us back to the first trail junction. We immediately turned left and started up the gently sloped woods road to the junction with the blue trail. We continued straight ahead up the blue trail to the summit. As we were starting up the hill, the mother and her girls were coming along the yellow trail and talking about hiking the blue trail someday. We passed over the summit and began to work our way down the steep trail to the bottom. There were several spots on this side that were much trickier going down that they were going up. At the trail junction we turned left on the yellow trail and walked along the base of Round Top. At the trail junction, we turned right and walked back down the woods road to the first trail junction. At this point, we both decided that we would return home. We turned left and walked back out to the trailhead. We turned right and continued down the hill. We walked out through the church parking lot to the road and our driveway. It was 3:35 PM and we had hiked just under 2 miles in just over an hour.

On Monday, April 6th, Lisa had texted me the night before and asked about a hike a little farther from home. I thought about places that wouldn't have too many hikers and that would have a view as the forecast was for a sunny day. I asked Lisa if she would like to hike Bald Mountain in Stamford and she agreed. Our plan was to meet in front of my house at 10:00 AM. Cindy did not want go as we had hiked the day before. The mountain has many marked trails but no maps are available making the markings useless. There is an abandoned ski slope on the north face of the mountain which has great views. There are also several other places to get a view. I got up late and started to get ready at 9:30 AM with the temperature at 42 degrees which felt more like 50. Sheila seemed happy to be going out two days in a row as she hovered around my pack. Sheila being exceptional excited that we were both going. The temperature on the back porch was 60 degrees but I knew it would probably be a little colder at the trailhead. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top without a baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants despite the warm weather but knew I would not need tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Taku boots since they were dry and light enough for hiking. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided to wear my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud on the trails and the ticks which has started to appear. I got Sheila and my gear in the car and drove around to meet Lisa in her car in front of my house. We spoke briefly about our route and then we got started just after 10:00 AM. We drove north and west on State Route 17 to exit 94 (Roscoe) and headed north on Route 206 toward Downsville. At the Pepacton Reservoir, we turned left to stay on Route206/30 and drove through Downsville heading toward Walton. Just after the light in Downsville, we turned right on Telford Hollow Road. We turned right at the bottom of the hill and drove out to Route 10. We turned right and drove through Delhi continuing on Route 10 north for 20 miles to the first traffic light in Stamford. We drove straight through the light continuing on Route 10 for 1 more mile before pulling into the parking area for Archibald Field. We pulled in to park at 11:30 and were surprised to see no other cars in the lot. I waited for Lisa to get ready and then set my GPS unit to start our hike at 11:40 AM.

We started out on the gravel road that heads almost due east toward Bald Mountain. The mountain itself was not visible from the parking area but I remembered to head east and up! As we started our hike the temperature was in the low 50's but a breeze made me feel a little cool. The gravel and dirt road that ran along the south side of the fields. It became a woods road and crossed a footbridge over a stream as it entered the forest. This area had an old beaver dam and the water was high. We could hear peepers in all the ponds around us. As we walked, Lisa asked who owned the land and I had to answer that I did not know but that it was open for hiking. We continued east and took a right at the first junction passing several other trails along the way. As promised the trails were marked in various ways but the markings meant little without a map to follow. I am sure there are many different ways to get to the top of the mountain and the route I chose was meant to a combination of one I had taken before and some new trails. At .8 miles we turned right and headed almost due south. From what I could remember this was the route I had followed the last time. Along the way we met an older man hiking and I asked him if he knew who owned the land. He said "yes, I do. I own the land." His name was Doug Murphy and he explained that his family had owned the land for some time and that it was indeed open to hikers. He told me how I could find a rough map online and how I could contact him. I offered to restart an effort to accurately map and mark the trails. We parted and at 1 mile we passed a trail to the left that I knew would take us toward the summit. We continued up a short hill to an open field where I knew there was a great view. There was a small pond in the open field. To the east and south we could see Mount Utsayantha with the fire tower, Churchill Education Center and communication towers. To the north we could see more mountains. I dropped my pack and got out the camera and took quite a few shots of the scenery. As we were stopped a couple came walking up into the field and we said "hello" keeping a proper distance.

I decided we would return to the trail that ascended the mountain so we retraced our steps and turned right on the trail. The trail headed northeast and then turned east as it started to gain some elevation. We passed several side trails that I had used the last time to lengthen the hike. At 1.6 miles the trail up the mountain continued straight ahead but another trail veered off to the right. We followed this trail until it started to go downhill. Without a map both of us agreed to turn around and take the steeper trail up. We came to another woods road where we made a quick left then right to continue the march up the mountain. We continued up the steep trail which averaged over a 20% grade with some areas approaching 30%. At 2.2 miles we came to another woods road and met the couple we had encountered in the field. We turned right and continued toward the summit. At 2.4 miles we were at the top of the ski slopes where we met a couple of mountain bikers we had seen before. Lisa realized that she knew the woman. We chatted for a while and speculated about the snow we saw on a mountain to the east. The only area that fit was Windham with a second sighting a little further to the south being Hunter. I dropped my pack and got out my camera. I took pictures of the surrounding mountains to the east and then walked to a spot where I could get a view to the north. The ski area was called Scotch Valley or Deer Run and closed in 1998. The buildings at the base of the north slope were the site of the lodge and a bowling alley. I took pictures of the ski lifts and slopes and then walked back to my pack. I took some more shots including some of the ski-lifts and other equipment. We packed up and started back down the trail.

On the way down we continued straight ahead On the woods road that descended the mountain to the West and then turned southwest and south. We ended up approximately where we had started the steep climb. Instead of returning the same way by turning left we turned right and headed down a woods road to the north. The road continued to descend and head north. Since we did not have a map we decided to turn around and start back the way we came. We were back at the point where we had started the ascent at about 3.3 miles and continued back the way we had come until at 3.6 miles we were at the trail that led up to the field we had visited. At this point turning right would take us back the way we came to the parking area. I decided we should continue straight ahead and see where that trail took us. This woods road was very wide and well-maintained and skirted the edge of a very large field. We continued along for some time until I decided to check my GPS. The GPS showed we were headed southwest and away from Archibald Field. We were headed into Stamford and I knew we could walk the streets back to the cars. We decided to continue along the trail. Sheila alerted and I could see a woman coming toward us with a small black ball of fur in her arms. She confirmed that we were headed into Stamford. We passed each other but soon the black ball of fur was loose and chasing us. The puppy wanted to play by nipping at Sheila and I knew Sheila would only tolerate it for so long. The woman eventually grabbed her dog and in the process approached well within 6 feet. Once again I had met an ignorant dog owner who really didn't acre about their pet or others on the trail. We continued out to the end of the trail on Church Street. We turned right and then right again onto Route 23 at the end of the street. We walked a short distance to an intersection and then up a hill to Route 10. We turned right and walked north .8 miles to the cars. It was 3:15 PM and we had walked 5.9 miles in 3 hours and 35 minutes with 45 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 1253 feet. I left the parking area and turned right on Route 10 to head toward Jefferson. After about 1.5 miles I turned onto what used to be called Scotch Valley Road that once lead to the ski resort. In the fields I saw a camel and some Highland cattle. I stopped to take their pictures and also included a few up the ski hill to the summit were I had been earlier.

On Sunday, April 5th I asked Cindy if she wanted to go for a hike and she agreed. We decided to go to Kelly Hollow although I wondered how many people would be at this ice weel-kept secret. In the morning the sky was overcast and there were some rain showers. By 11:30 Am I decided it was time to go no matter the forecast or the current weather. We began to get ready with Sheila being exceptional excited that we were both going. The temperature on the back porch was 60 degrees but I knew it would probably be a little colder at the trailhead. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top without a baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants despite the warm weather but knew I would not need tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Taku boots since they were dry and light enough for hiking. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided to wear my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud on the trails and the ticks which has started to appear. We got Sheila and our gear in the car and headed north on State Route 17 toward Roscoe at noon. I prefer using the Beaverkill and Barkaboom Roads which saves some miles but Cindy prefers fewer back roads. I took exit 94 and drove north toward the Pepacton Reservoir on Route 206. At the junction with Route 30, I turned right and followed Route 30 to the Dunraven Bridge. I turned right on the BWS road and drove along these roads until reaching the junction with the Barkaboom Road. I turned left on BWS 9. After 4.5 miles, I turned right on Millbrook Road and continued 5.25 miles to the parking lots for Kelly Hollow on the right. I decided to park in the first area and do the figure 8 in the opposite direction I have used before. We parked at 12:50 PM with one other car in the lot. I didn't know how many cars might be in the other lot but knew that any hikers present would be spread over 4 miles of trail. I took a moment to set my GPS before starting our hike at 12:55 PM by heading out on the trail marked with yellow XC skiing blazes. This trail is the more to the west and heads southeast and then south. The temperature was 57 degrees under overcast skies. There was no ice or snow but the trail were wet and muddy in most places. The first .5 miles of the trail is a long uphill which gains about 200 feet of elevation and the levels a little. Along the way a young couple approached us from the opposite direction with what appeared to be a puppy on a leash. As we passed we exchanged greetings and the told us the puppy was 8 months old.

At .65 miles on the trail, I looked to the left toward the stream below. I could see an interesting waterfall on the stream below. The bank was steep but I started to make my way down to the stream bed with Sheila in the lead. I found a way to cross both streams and found another waterfall to the left on the other stream. I dropped my pack and took pictures on the first waterfall an different angles and zooms. As I turned my attention to the second waterfall, I could see a hiker and his dog on the trail above. The dog started down toward us but the owner immediately called it back. I took shots of the second waterfall and then crossed the streams again. Getting up the bank was much more difficult than getting down but I was soon back on the main trail. We continued south and up the hill to the crossover trail that allows hikers to make a short loop. We turned left on this trail and walked downhill toward the stream. This part of the trail was the wettest and slipperiest we had seen so far. We crossed then first bridge where I took some pictures upstream and then a few of Cindy and Sheila on the bridge. We continued to the second bridge and walked up the hill to the main trail on the east where we turned right and continued uphill heading southeast. Almost immediately Sheila alerted and I saw a family group coming toward us with their dogs. The dogs were on leashes and we passed each other with a few words of greeting. The trail continued to be wet and slippery but at least the skies had cleared a little. At 1.6 miles I looked down to the stream on the right and saw another waterfall. I immediately started to look for a way down to the stream bed. Sheila and I worked our way down following some paths but the bank was really steep. When we got to the bottom, I found a place to drop my pack and took out the camera. The falls had three tiers and I took pictures of all of them together and then individually. When I had finished my photography, I looked for a way up the bank. It seemed a lot steeper from the bottom and ascending was not easy. Eventually we were back up to the main trail where we continued south. We met another family group coming toward us. Again we passed by with a few words as the other hikers moved well off the trail. At 2 miles the trail crossed a stream and turned north northwest. From this point the Millbrook Ridge Trail that leaves Alder Lake is only .7 miles to the south southeast. I have bushwhacked to the ridge but never to the trail and out to Alder Lake. A direct route gains over 940 feet in less than a mile which is very steep. We continued to follow the trail as it turned first west and then southwest at 2.4 miles. This part of the trail was on contour and we got to take a break from ascending.

After a short ascent, we arrived at the lean-to at 2.8 miles. Cindy decided to take a short break so I waked out to the edge of the beaver pond. The pond showed no beaver activity and is now much smaller than it has ever been. I took some pictures of the pond, the old lodge and the surrounding forest. I noticed some people on the other side of the pond headed our way as Cindy walked up to me. We started around the pond but stopped for me to take a few more shots. I picked up my pack and walked off the trail so that the other hikers could pass. I walked along the trail to catch up to Cindy and we rounded the pond . I stopped to take a few more pictures and then was ready to quickly hike back downhill to the car. We were now heading north and then northeast downhill along the wet and muddy trail. At 3.4 miles we were approaching the crossover trail again and I noticed a group of hikers coming up the crossover trail toward us. This group had three dogs and only one was one a leash. One owner called his dog as it approached us but the dog did not listen! He finally lunged and grabbed the dog which growled at him. This also placed him less than three feet from us! We walked off the trail to avoid the others but there was still one dog that was not leashed. Once again it takes only one inconsiderate dog owner to sour an otherwise enjoyable hike! We walked down the wet and muddy trail to the bridge. As I started to cross the bridge I heard Cindy exclaim and turned to find her lying in the mud. She got up after a few minutes complaining mostly of right shoulder and elbow pain. We continued on the trail and crossed the second bridge. We walked up the hill to the main trail and turned left to get back to the car. This part of the trail was a slight downhill grade and we soon passed through the gate. We turned left and headed west crossing a small stream to get to the second parking lot. I was prepared to walk out to the road and use it to get back to the car. At this point I noticed a trail that headed west from the parking area through the woods. We followed this trail which brought us back to the frit parking area and our car. There were now several other cars in the area. I put my gear and Sheila in the car with Cindy. I had noticed a building a short distance in front of the car and decided to investigate. I found what looked like a relatively new privy and then returned to the car. It was 3:45 PM and we had hiked 4.5 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes with an elevation gain of 745 feet.

On Thursday, April 2nd I wanted to get in a quick hike after a morning of rain showers and ambulance calls. At 3:00 PM I decided to go across the street to hike. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she agreed. The temperature was right around 40 degrees with a wind of about 20 mph but some sun. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed. Sheila misses the hiking as much as I do since I have returned to full-time teaching for the rest of this school year! I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top without a baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants despite the warm weather but knew I would not need tights underneath. I wore my Keen Targhee II boots since they were dry and light enough for hiking. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. At 3:30 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would do some loops as I was tired of doing figure 8's. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill.

We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead where I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail was completely bare with no snow and I could see no snow in the woods. The trail was mostly dry with a few spots of mud in spots. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight up the hill toward the viewpoint. At the top of the hill, we continued on the trail turning right. We followed the trail as it gently gained elevation toward the junction with the blue trail. The trail surface was a little slippery but there was still no snow. At the next trail junction, we continued straight ahead up the steep hill on the blue trail. There were a few muddy and slippery spots on the trail but we had no problem making it to the top. We were soon passing over the top of the hill and starting down the other side. The trail continued to be slippery but I used my poles and we were soon back at the junction with the yellow trail. We continued straight ahead on the yellow trail down to the woods road that took us downhill to the first trail junction. We turned around and walked back up the woods road to the junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walked along the base of Round Top on the yellow trail. At the next junction with the blue trail we turned left to continue downhill on the yellow trail to the viewpoint. We continued to the left on the yellow trail and walked back down the hill to the first trail junction. We had now completed a big loop and a small loop and Cindy was ready to return home. Sheila and I turned around and started back up the hill toward the viewpoint. At the top of the hill, we continued on the trail turning right. We followed the trail as it gently gained elevation toward the junction with the blue trail. I had intended to do another big loop, small loop combination. I changed my mind to doing a figure 8. At the next trail junction, we turned right to follow the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. At the next trail junction we turned left and headed up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. I had no problem making it to the top. We were soon passing over the top of the hill and starting down the other side. The trail continued to be slippery but I used my poles and we were soon back at the junction with the yellow trail. At the bottom of the hill we turn left to follow the yellow trail to the next trail junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the woods road that returned us to the first trail junction. All the time Sheila explored off-trail but stayed close enough to hear my voice. When we reached the first trail junction, I decided I wanted to go home We turned left and walked out toward the trailhead. We turned right and I put Sheila on her leash. We continued Down the hill and out through the church parking lot to the road and our driveway. It was 4:45 PM and we had hiked over 2 miles in just over an hour.

On Wednesday, April 1st, Lisa contacted me to see if I wanted to hike. I agreed and we decided to meet on Beech Hill at the trailhead for Cabot Mountain. The round trip hike is only 3 miles but the initial uphill is long and steep. Our plans had to be revised as I was called out on a morning ambulance call that pushed our start time to 11:30 AM. I got home at 10:30 AM with the temperature showing 40 degrees in my car. I maintain the trails from Alder Lake to Big Pond over Touch-Me-Not Mountain and Cabot Mountain to Beech Hill Road for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference. These trails are part of the Fingers Lakes Trail that stretches across New York State. I got dressed in a medium weight Patagonia wool top but decided I would forego a baselayer. I decided to put on my Columbia Titanium insulated pants, again, without a baselayer. I wore my Salomam B52 boots which are all leather and insulated since I did not know if we would encounter any snow. I decided to wear my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud on the trails and the ticks which has started to appear. I decided to take my new pair of Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I grabbed a light hat and gloves. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided to carry my microspikes in case they were needed. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. As we left Livingston Manor at 11:15 AM, the sun was peeking out from behind some clouds. Sheila was happy to be going anywhere and was standing in the backseat looking over my shoulder. I drove north on Old Route 17 before turning right on the Beaverkill Road. I passed through Lew Beach and turned left on Beech Hill Road Road. I drove up the road about 2.6 miles to the small pullout on the right side of the road at the beginning of the trail and pulled in to parking lot. Lisa was already there getting ready to hike. The temperature was cooler than in town and was around 38 degrees. When I got out of the car a slight breeze was blowing king it feel even cooler. Lisa and I talked as she got ready and then we were ready to start. I set my GPS unit and we started out on the hike by walking along the edge of an open field which was very wet. As we entered the forest, I noticed all the rocks were wet and there were muddy spots and pools of water everywhere.

The first part of the trail is flat and we spent some time hopping over and walking around mud and pools. I had put up new red markers two of three years ago but the trail markings had faded. At .2 miles the trail begins to climb and in about half a mile it gains almost 600 feet averaging a 20% grade. This is not as steep as the other side but is plenty challenging. We continued up the trail which has a few switchbacks and several flatter areas. The climb seemed shorter and went faster than I expected. There were a few spots along the way that were slippery with mud and leaves. At about .7 miles the trail levels off and then rolls over several bumps to the Cabot Mountain Vista at 1.6 miles. Along the way we saw a tree on the left side of the trail. There were extensive wood chips at the base of the tree. There were several noles higher on the trunk where wood had been pulled out. Sheila was having a great time bounding ahead and them coming back to find us. She occasionally followed some game trail. As we reached the flatter summit area, I found a few small blowdowns. The trail also became muddy again in spots as the water does not drain well. The walk to the vista on Cabot Mountain seemed to take longer than I remembered but we arrived at the lookout at 12:55 PM. The skies had grown more overcast and the sun was hidden behind clouds. I wanted to get back for a conference call so we did not plan to stay long. I took a few pictures of Sheila sitting on the lookout and then a few more of Little Pond. I also took some shots of the clouds. I packed up and got a drink and a bar. I headed out while Lisa stayed a few more minutes at the viewpoint. I turned around at 1:05 PM and started to retrace my steps back to the car. The walk back to the descent went very quickly even though I stopped to take some pictures of the tree with the holes in Te trunk. We continued back on the trail to the steeper descent which proved to be tricky because of the dampness, mud and leaves. I slipped and nearly fell several times but we were soon on the flatter part of the trail. We worked our way around the wet and muddy spots and then walked the edge of the field back to the car, We were back at the car at 2:10 PM. We spent 2 hours and 35 minutes hiking 3.0 miles with an elevation gain of 890 feet! We had stopped for almost 30 minutes.

On Tuesday, March 31st, I wanted to get out for a hike but a late night call required I sleep in until 10:00 AM. Karl had indicated he might be able to leave work early so I called him around 1:00 PM. He indicated he could be ready by 2:30 PM which made me happy as we do not get many opportunities to hike together. Cindy also agreed to go so I began to think of an appropriate hike to fit our time frame. I decided to go to Frick Pond and do the Logger's Loop in some form. We started to bet ready just after 2:00 PM and Karl showed up a little early at 2:15 PM. It was still only 38 degrees as we were getting ready to go but there was little or no wind. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top and decided I would forego a baselayer. I decided to put on my Columbia Titanium insulated pants, again, without a baselayer. I wore my Vasque Taku boots which are all leather and I did not think we would encounter much snow. I decided to wear my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud on the trails and the ticks which has started to appear. I decided to take my new pair of Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I grabbed a light hat and gloves. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided to carry my microspikes in case they were needed. Since Karl was with us, Sheila was more crazed than usual even though we had been out the last two days. We put our gear in the trunk and Karl and Sheila in the backseat as we left Livingston Manor just before 2:30 PM to head out the DeBruce Road. At six miles I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road . Where the road split I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road to the parking areas. There were no cars in either lot so I pulled into the smaller one and parked. I set my electronics and we headed out the woods road to get on the Quick Lake Trail at the register. At the trail register we continued straight ahead on the wide woods road which in the Quick Lake Trail and leads to Frick Pond. The trail was muddy and wet with some standing water and plenty of water flowing down and across the trail.

We stayed left at Gravestone Junction to walk down to the pond. At the bridge, I put my pack down and got out my camera and took pictures of the pond and Flynn's Point. We walked across the bridge and around the west edge of the pond. At the next trail junction, we turned right to get on the yellow-blazed Big Rock Trail and headed around the back of Frick Pond. This is one of Karl's favorite spots with hemlock groves and wooden walkways. I stopped to take some picture of the evergreens and of the walkways. The walkways were wet and very slippery as they often get even when there is no ice. After passing over the wooden walkways we came to a bridge where there was a good view of the wetlands at the head of the pond. We headed toward Time Square over the trail that was still wet and muddy. Times Square was wet and muddy in all directions. We have talked about improving drainage in this area but it is not easy to see how. We turned left on the Logger's Loop and tried to avoid the wettest spots as we began a climb the hill. The trail ascends a bit and then levels off. On the right side of the trail we could see the small pond that has formed. I stopped to take some pictures and was surprised to see Te water level looked lower than a few days before deposit the rain. We continued on the Logger's Loop toward Iron Wheel Junction as some rain began to fall. Soon we were at the trail junction where we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head back to Frick Pond. I took a few pictures of the iron wheels at the junction. The trail was wet and muddy but we had gotten accustomed to this. Walking downhill toward the little stream in the woods was easier than walking uphill or even on flat sections. When we arrived at the stream through the woods, I elected to walk upstream to cross as I did not want to chance stepping in the water which was wide and deep. We all crossed upstream and then walked back to the main trail. We walked through the "spruce tunnel" and then exited all the time walking around water and mud. We arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail and continued straight ahead. Soon we were back at the bridge over the outlet to Frick Pond where it was clear the rain had increased from the drops in the pond. We did not stop but crossed the bridge and walked up the hill to follow the Quick Lake Trail back to the register. At Gravestone Junction I checked to make sure the memorial stone was upright. We walked the woods road back out to register and continued straight ahead on the woods road to the car. We arrived back at 4:45 PM after hiking 3.8 miles in 2 hours. The overall elevation gain was a modest 350 feet.

On Sunday, March 29th the weather was overcast all day with rain showers on and off. I finally decided to go across the street and hike on Round Top. I began to get ready at 1:20 PM and Sheila showed her appreciation by barking and running around. The temperature was 42 degrees but the overcast and the moisture in the air made it feel colder. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut top without a baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against tights underneath. I wore Keen Targhee III boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I grabbed my Leki external lock poles which I purchased since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and wore a light pair of gloves. At 1:40 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. Immediately I noticed that there was a heavy mist bordering on rain. I considered going back in the house but decided both Sheila and I could use the workout. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do some figure 8's on the Round Top Trails. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. There was no snow or ice to be seen anywhere. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails. Once we entered the woods there was even more water falling on us but I decided it was probably from the trees and we continued.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. On the way up the old woods road, we came across several areas where I had cleared trees on previous trips. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. We kept a quick pace as we walked even though the trail was wet and slippery in places. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. As we ascended the trail, there were places where the trail was muddy and slippery causing me to walk beside the trail to get traction. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. Descending was also tricky as there were wet and slippery spots. I began to think that heading straight up the hill and straight down was not the best idea. Several different solutions came to mid including rerouting the trail to include a switchback or two on each side of the hill. Soon we were back at the yellow trail where we turned right and walked to the next trail junction. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We continued down to the lookout and followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. Even this part of the trail was a little muddy and slippery. This section of trail gets the most traffic as some people simply walk up to the viewpoint and then back down. The walk had gone quickly so I decided to do another figure 8 which pleased Sheila immensely. We turned around and walked back up the hill to the lookout. We continued to follow the yellow trail as it gained elevation to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right and continued to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walk up the blue trail to cross the summit of Round Top. The ascent went well but I did have to watch for some muddy areas. The descent on the other side was tricky but we did make it down without incident. At the trail junction with the yellow trail we turned left and followed the trail along the base of Round Top again. At the next trail junction, we turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road and out to the first trail junction. I checked the time and determined that we should return home given the time. We walked out toward the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We walked down the hill and through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. It was 2:45 PM and we had hiked around 2 miles in a little over an hour.

On Friday, March 27th I got an e-mail from Lisa asking if I wanted to hike to Hodge Pond and then bushwhack the outlet stream. We had talked about this on our last trip in that area and I agreed it would be an interesting hike. The tracks posted here are only for the hike on the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond. Everybody will bushwhack differently! The forecast called for rain in the morning so we agreed to meet at the trailhead at noon. As it turned out the rain did not fall and the sun came out so that the morning temperatures were in the high 40's. At 11:15 AM I began to get ready as the temperature was approaching 50 degrees. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top and decided that despite the temperature I would wear a light baselayer. I decided to put on my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away with light tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 boots as I did not now how much snow we would encounter. I decided to wear my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud on the trails and the ticks which has started to appear. I decided to take my new pair of Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I grabbed a light hat and gloves. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided to carry my microspikes in case they were needed. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat as we left Livingston Manor at 11:40 AM. I headed out the DeBruce Road to Mongaup Pond Road where I turned left and headed up toward Mongaup Pond. Where the road split, I stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road where the road forks. When we arrived at the parking area there was one car in the big lot and one car in the small lot which was Lisa. We talked as Lisa got ready to hike. We decided to hike up the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond. I set my GPS unit at the trailhead and we crossed the road to start the hike at 12:00 PM. The skies were blue with a few white clouds and plenty of sun. The first part of the trail through the woods was damp with some mud. We turned right on the woods road which was once the extension of the Beech Mountain Road and started the 1.7 mile climb up the Flynn Trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail.

The trail was wet but there was no snow or ice and the sun on our backs felt very warm. Sheila was roaming around running up and down the trail. We passed through the "tunnel" Cindy, and I had cut in a large hemlock tree that had fallen across the trail. We were walking and talking which made the hike go fast. At 1.2 miles we crested a hill and passed by the path to a clearing on the fit. We continued on the Flynn Trail toward the junction with the Big Rock trail passing several blowdowns. We arrived at the junction at 1:00 PM taking about an hour to hike 1.7 miles. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail passing through the gate that marks the beginning of the OSI property. A little further on, at the junction with the jeep trail, we turned left to walk the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. Just after this intersection the expanse of snow we had seen on the previous hike was almost completely gone. At 2.4 miles we broke into the clearing at the southern end of Hodge Pond where there was no snow remaining from the drifts that come off the pond. We continued straight ahead to walk across the clearing to the shores of Hodge Pond. I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take pictures of the pond. Sheila decided to walk out into the cold water to get a drink. I took some pictures of her and then we packed up to leave. We walked over to the point where the Flynn Trail leaves the clearing and heads out along the west side of Hodge Pond. Lisa decided we should walk on different sides of the outlet stream so she headed down the left side and I walked down the right. Once I broke through some small beeches the walk was mostly open.

Almost immediately we came to a metal culvert pipe which was buried under some layers of stone and earth. It was obvious that a road had passed over this culvert and what remained of the road was clearly visible. I took some pictures before we continued downstream with both of us walking on the same side. We found another culvert similar to the first and a metal casing which may have been an old catch basin. We continued walking along the stream and it was obvious we were losing a lot of elevation. It was also clear that the stream had cut a rather large gorge. I tired to take some pictures from high on the bank but finally decided to work my way down to the streambed. Once I was at the stream, I took out my camera to take some pictures. I walked upstream along the edge of the stream and got to a point where I could take some pictures of the deep V the stream had cut. The sun was very bright which made taking shots difficult. I walked back to my pack and stowed the camera so that I could walk back up the bank to Lisa. We continued downstream where there were several small but pretty waterfalls. I took a few more pictures before the grade declined and became almost flat. At 2:20 PM, after hiking, 3.2 miles we were at the Logger's Loop where a culvert carried the stream under the trail. The bushwhack down the outlet stream was only about .6 miles. Lisa coded to turn right on the Logger's Loop while I continued downstream. The stream was fairly easy to follow for about .2 miles when it branched out into a wetland. I walked around for a little while but was unable to find the stream even with the aid of my GPS and Avenza app. I decided to head east to the Logger's Loop which was only 500 ft away.

Once on the Logger's Loop, I turned right to head south toward Frick Pond. At 3.7 miles, we came to what is now a small pond on the left side of the trail. I was going to pass by but stopped to take a few pictures. I could hear peepers and see at least two pairs of ducks on this small body of water. I took pictures even though the sun was unfavorable and then went back to the trail. We walked downhill to Times Square where the trail was very wet and muddy. At Times Square we turned right on the Big Rocck Trail so that we could walk around Frick Pond. The trail was wet and muddy until we entered the area under the evergreen trees. This area still had some snow and ice so I stopped to take some pictures. We continued through the evergreens and over the bridges that span the two inlet streams. After that we walked over the wooden walkways which were free of snow despite some snow that still remained in the woods. The last section of the Big Rock Trail to the junction with the Quick Lake Trail was very muddy. We turned left onto the Quick Lake Trail and encountered more mud all the way to the bridge. We stopped at the bridge and I took some pictures of the pond, Flynn's Point and the outlet stream. By this time I was pretty tired, so I set a quick pace up the hill and out the Quick Lake Trail to the register box. This part of the trail had water flowing across the trail and down the trail and standing on the trail. Sat the register we continued straight ahead on the woods road back to the car. We arrived at the car at 3:35 PM having hiked 5.1 miles in 3 hours and 35 minutes with an elevation gain of 725 feet. The average moving speed was just under 2 mph but we were moving slowly on the bushwhack portion. Our stopped time was almost 1 hour!

On Thursday, March 26th, I wanted to get to hike locally. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she agreed suggesting Alder Lake. Cindy had not been to the lean-to since the beaver meadow had changed to a beaver pond and I thought she would enjoy it. The temperature was in the low 50's with plenty of sun and the conditions seemed perfect for a spring hike. We began to get ready at 1:10 PM with Sheila was ready to go and stayed close to me to make sure she was going along. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top and decided I would forego a baselayer. I decided to put on my Columbia Titanium insulated pants, again, without a baselayer. I wore my Vasque Taku boots which are all leather and I did not think we would encounter much snow. I decided to wear my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud on the trails and the ticks which has started to appear. I decided to take my new pair of Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I grabbed a light hat and gloves. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided to carry my microspikes in case they were needed. At 1:20 PM we put our equipment in the car and Sheila in the backseat and headed out the driveway. I drove north and west on Old Route 17 and turned right on Beaverkill Road heading toward Lew Beach. I passed through Lew Beach and followed the road as it passed through Turnwood. A little farther along, I turned left on Alder Creek Road and drove to the junction with Cross Mountain Road and the access road to Alder Lake. I turned right on the access road and drove to the parking area. The lot had four cars parked as I pulled in. I set my GPS unit and put Sheila on her leash as there were some people coming back to the parking lot. We started our hike at 1:40 PM by walking out the path passing the remains of the Coykendall mansion. I decided to walk down to the lakeshore and take some pictures. The sky was mostly blue but there were a few wispy clouds in the sky. It was very sunny but the sun was behind me so I decided to take some shots. I took my camera out of my pack and took some shots. I took some of the entire lake and then zoomed in for some more. There were some geese on the lake so I look some pictures of them. I noticed that although the immediate area had no snow there was plenty of snow on the hills especially those face north and west

I put away my camera. picked up my pack and we headed out on the trail along the north shore of the lake. We kept up a good pace and passed the campsites which were unoccupied. The trail was very wet with many muddy spots along the way. At one point I stopped I take some pictures of the lake and Cradle Rock Ridge across the lake. I noticed some people on the far shoreline and then saw that they had set up camp. We continued on the trail and crossed the first bridge. The beaver dams that had been backing up water over the trail had been removed. I like beavers and don't like to see their work destroyed but this step was necessary. We crossed the second bridge and shortly after turned left to head toward the lean-to on the Millbrook Ridge Trail. The trail was very wet and muddy with a covering of snow which increased the longer we hiked. There were several blowdowns along the way which almost blocked the trail. There were areas of standing water and other places where the trail seemed like a stream. All of the streams crossing the trail were high and some were a little challenging to cross. As we walked, we could hear Alder Creek to the right of us and see the sun sparkling off the water. Almost immediately I could feel my shoes begin to leak which was only tolerable because the temperature was no over 50 degrees. As we began to climb one of the ascents, Sheila alerted and I saw a hiker coming toward us. I put Sheila on her leash but soon I realized the hiker was Lisa, the owner of Morgan Outdoors in Livingston Manor. We stopped to hike for a few minutes before continuing on the trail. Not much farther along we met three people hiking toward us with a dog on a leash. We passed by and had a short conversation. We stopped at the first beaver meadow to take a few pictures. After taking a few shots, I got back on the main trail and caught up to Cindy. We met two other hikers resting on a log and struck up a conversation. One hiker had been coming to the area since 1972 when we camped with the Boy Scouts. We didn't ask but we were both pretty sure they were from Long Island. For the next 1.5 miles the trail climbs and then levels off several times. The elevation gain is several hundred feet but the grade is never more than 12% and averages around 6%. There isn't too much to see along the way but this day was very pleasant. We enjoyed the sounds and sights of Alder Creek as it flows parallel to the trail much of the way. There were several large blowdowns across the trail which would have been easy to clear with a chainsaw but nothing had been touched. We walked over or around these blowdowns. The trail in this area was very wet and the snow was deeper. We had to find ways to avoid the mud. As we approached the lean-to, we saw the beaver pond where there had been a beaver meadow. Cindy walked directly toward the lean-to but I walked out to the shore of the pond just downstream of the dam. The shore was cleaned back at least 10 feet of all trees and brush. I took pictures of the whole scene and then more shots of the dam, the ledge and the lean-to. When I finished, I returned my camera to my pack and walked along the shore to the lean-to to meet Cindy.

It had taken an hour and 45 minutes to get to the lean-to which was a decent pace given the snowy conditions and the times I stopped to take pictures. I walked out to the edge of the beaver pond and took pictures of the blue sky which now had some clouds. I included a series so that I could make a panorama. The sun was moving to the west and provided the light I needed to take pictures. I looked for some wildlife but everything was quiet. After I got a drink and ate a bar, we walked back to the main trail and turned left to head back to the car. At one point I noticed the water in the creek and wanted to head down the bank to Alder Creek to take a few picture. I decided against that as the time was growing late and the bank was covered in snow. At one point we followed the blazes that took us on a detour around the large tree that blocked the trail. The detour was clear on the way back but had been poorly marked on the way out. When we came to the loop trail around the lake, we turned right. We continued on the trail passing the many unoccupied campsites. When we got back to the lawn, I decided I would investigate a piece of Corrugated pipe we could see to the right of the stonework from the Coykendall Mansion. I walked to the right on a woods road to what looked like a piece of culvert pipe stick vertically in the ground. There was a handle on the pipe so I pulled on it. When the "door" opened, I found a toilet seat. I took some pictures of the pit privy which I had never noticed before. I walked back to the mansion to join Cindy as we walked back to the car. On the way back I was attracted to the noise Alder Creek was making. I decided to take Sheila down to the creek to explore but Cindy stayed in the car. Sheila and I walked down to the spring and then down to the creek. We walked along the edge of the creek to an area near the dam. I stopped to take some pictures of the dam before turning around and walking downstream. One spot had some nice rapids and some very green moss. I stopped to take a few shots there and then worked my way back up the bank. As we walked downstream, I could see the water from the creek drop suddenly. I discovered a nice waterfall of at least 15 feet. I regretted that I had not brought my poles but I worked my way down the slippery bank. I took some pictures of the falls from a rock outcropping and then again ascended the bank. I continued downstream to another waterfall and walked down a more shallow bank to a viewpoint right in front of the falls. This falls had two drops for a total of about 30 feet. There was also another small falls below the viewpoint. I took several pictures and then decided I was done. Sheila and I walked back up several levels to the parking lot and back to the car. We were back at 5:10 PM having covered 5.0 miles in 3.5 hours total time. The total elevation gain was 685 feet.

On Tuesday, March 25th I decided I wanted to hike somewhere near home since the back roads were still snow covered from the storm the day before. It was almost 11:00 AM before I was prepared to get ready to hike! I asked Cindy if she wished to hike and she decided not go. I thought about different possibilities and decided to head for Long Pond to do the big loop which is about 6 miles. I had not been to Long Pond in some time so I was anxious to see how the trails had faired after the recent rains and snow. I started to get ready and Sheila was there to watch our every move. The temperature was in the high 30's as I was preparing to hike. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top and decided I would wear a light baselayer. I decided to put on my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away with light tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are all leather and seem to be waterproof with sufficient insulation. I decided to wear my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud on the trails and the ticks which has started to appear. I decided to take my new pair of Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I grabbed a light hat and gloves. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided to carry my microspikes in case they were needed. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. We put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat as we left Livingston Manor just before 11:30 PM with skies that were blue with puffy white clouds and just the right amount of sun. I got Sheila in the car and ut my gear in the trunk and headed out DeBruce Road for about 8 miles to Flugertown Road where I made a left. As I drove up the road, I saw two traffic cones ahead. Before I could see why the comes were there, I was driving through a patch of snow, ice and slush on the road where a ditch was overflowing across the pavement. I took my foot off the accelerator and did not brake which allowed me to drive through the mess. I parked in the lot a short distance up the road on the right where we found no other cars. I pulled into the unplowed lot and started to get ready. I took a few pictures, put Sheila on her leash and set my GarminGPS. We got started on the trail by crossing the first bridge at 11:45 AM. I hoped we could set a quick pace but the wet snow on the trail was very slippery and covered a significant amount of water in some places. The first .6 miles gains about 350 feet to the highest point on the hike. It isn't very steep but does act as a nice warm-up! Once the trail leveled it was easier walking but the trail became wetter and muddier beneath the snow. At 1.1 miles we were at the spur trail that leads down to the shore of Long Pond. We turned right and went down to the pond so that I could take some pictures. At the shores of the pond I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take some pictures. Sheila tried to follow me through the mud but I discouraged her. The skies were blue with a puffy white clouds. There was little or no ice on the pond and some color was beginning to show on the buds on the trees. I took quite a few pictures of all angles of the pond. I made sure to include a series of pictures I hoped to turn into a panorama. I returned to my pack where I got a drink and a bar before returning to the main trail. We turned right and were soon at the first trail junction. We turned right at the junction at 1.3 miles. We found plenty of wet and muddy places on the trail but most were easily avoided. By 1:15 PM we had walked 1.8 miles and were passing the spur trail to the lean-to.

After passing the trail to the lean-to, we continued to find wet and muddy places on the trail. There isn't much to see on this section of trail but I kept "busy" by avoiding the muddy spots and thinking about several issues. At one point we found a lot of turkey tracks on the trail. Sheila had her nose to the ground when I looked up to see at lest two dozen turkeys crossing the trail. A moment later Sheila looked up and took off after the turkeys. I walked along the trail and called her until she finally reappeared. I don't like it she disappears but find it hard to scold her too much when she is after birds! We continued on the main trail to the point where it intersects a woods road at 2.6 miles. We turned left on the woods road and found it to be very wet and snow covered. We followed the road until the intersection with Basily Road at 2.85 miles where we continued on Basily Road by bearing left. This section of road was also wet and muddy but it did not slow us down much. As we approached the Peters Hunting Camp, I got ready to put Sheila on her leash. The area near the footbridge across the outlet to the beaver pond was full of flowing water and I stopped to take a few pictures. The skies had become overcast as we hiked toward the camp but were now blue again. We continued on the trail to the bridge over the stream near the camp. The bridge which is relatively new is already showing signs of wear from snowmobiles passing over it even though there is a sign that states "Private Bridge". I have secured permission to hike across this land in the past and "stay on the trail" signs seem to indicate that the owners will allow hikers. I assume the "Private Bridge - No thru traffic" refers to motorized vehicles and not hikers. We crossed the bridge to continue the trip back to the car and started up the little hill from the hunting camp. We stopped again so that I could take a few shots of the valley which looked peaceful with the nice skies behind it. Once we started walking again we kept a fast pace despite the mud and snow on the road. In the area where the Mongaup-Willowemoc Trail crosses the road, there was a single car pulled into a small parking area with a tent set up. Footprints led from the tent out to the Mongaup-Willowemoc Trail. We continued down the road toward the car. On the way a car and a pickup truck passed us which supplied me since I rarely see anyone on this hike. We arrived at the place where the road is paved and where there was no longer any snow on the road. We walked down the road to a bridge over a stream. We stopped since I wanted to take a picture of the stream which was flowing freely. Once I was done, I stowed my camera and we continued at an accelerated pace back to the parking area. We were back at the car at 2:35 PM having hiked 6.0 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes with 15 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was only about 550 feet most of which was at the beginning of the hike.

On Sunday, March 22nd Cindy and I decided to go on the first hike of the spring the day before we were expected to get between 2 and 8 inches of snow! We watched our church service at 10:30 AM. The service was recorded with only six people present due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the striations in place for gatherings. We wanted to stay away from other hikers as much as possible and make the hike short as Cindy was still recovering from a respiratory infection. We chose to go to Huggins Lake off of Holiday Brook Road in the Beaverkill Valley. The hike is less than 4 miles but has some good uphills and the lake at the end of the out and back hike is pretty. The temperature was in the low 40's as we started getting ready at 12:30 PM. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top and decided I would wear a light baselayer. I decided to put on my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away with light tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Taku boots which are all leather and seem to be almost waterproof although not very warm. I decided to wear my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud on the trails and the ticks which has started to appear. I decided to take my new pair of Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I grabbed a light hat and gloves. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided to carry my microspikes in case they were needed. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. We put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat as we left Livingston Mnaor just before 1:00 PM. I drove north on Old Route 17 and then up the Beaverkill Road. I turned left on Campsite Road and stayed to the right at the bottom of the hill to cross the covered bridge. At the end of the road I turned right and followed Berry Brook Road to the trailhead. We arrived at the road to the parking area to find it very rough with some erosion and a few branches in the way. I chose to chance it and easily made it to the small lot parking at 1:10 PM. No one else was in the lot as we got our equipment ready and I set my GPS. The sun was out but the temperature was only 37 degrees as we headed out on the wide woods road to the lake. As we started out there continued to be some sun and the skies were mostly blue as we climbed up the hill. The hike isn't long and the trail is well-maintained and it looked like some work had been done lately as there were no blowdowns along the way. The first 1.2 miles is all uphill and gains almost 700 feet. Sheila was running up and down the trail and following game paths into the woods. Cindy and I were both taking it slow as we had no reason to hurry. We both noted that the ascent has several spots which appear to be the top of the climb but are not. After the initial climb, the trail descends, levels some and then climbs again until the final descent to Huggins Lake. The trail makes a sharp turn from southeast to north at about 1.6 miles. We enjoyed the downhill trek to the shores of the pond but I knew we would soon have to turn around and climb back up the hill.

When we arrived at the lake, I noticed that the water level was high. We walked out along the dam on a narrow path through the weeds. The area around the lake looked a little desolate with no leaves on the trees and a flat blue sky. It was still sunny but cool with a breeze at times. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take some pictures of the trees and the pond. I also got some shots of the outlet stream and the water around the lake. At the outlet I could immediately see that the beavers had dammed the water flow and that reeds had grown to all but block the outlet flow. I took a few more pictures of the lake before returning to my pack and stowing the camera. I made sure that Sheila did not dive into the pond as the water was cold with ice in places on the water. The only negative point about Huggins Lake is that there is only one trail and so there are no variations available. We though about hiking round the pond but Cindy was at her limit so we started back up the hill on the trail. The ascent went smoothly for the most part as we climbed the hill back to the highest point on the trail. From there Cindy started down the other side of the hill on the trail but I decided to take Sheila and bushwhack a little through the woods. I knew that I could easily get back to the trail and catch up with Cindy or meet her at the car. We explored the woods for a short time trying to find a high spot but the highest spot always seemed just a little farther away. I decided to turn back to the trail and we soon found it as the walk was all downhill. I was surprised that I had labored a little climbing the hill at the beginning of the hike but felt very fresh on the way back. Sheila seemed very interested in following game trails off the main trail and I had to keep calling her back. As we started down the last section of trail I could see Cindy ahead and Sheila took off to meet her. We walked back to the car together. As we approached the parking lot, we were surprised to see another car pull in. The occupants were also from Livingston Manor where they run the Brandenburg Bakery. We stood around talking about hiking for some time while the couple two daughters ran around. We retread to our car as they started out on their hike. We arrived back at the car at 3:25 PM after hiking 3.8 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes with a total elevation gain of 995 feet. I was surprised to find that my bushwhack added almost nothing to the length of the hike. In looking at my maps I discovered that another 1.4 miles of hiking would have taken me over a hill with an elevation of 2880 feet and landed me on the trail to Mary Smith Hill! I will be doing this sometime in the near future.

Winter 2019-2020

On Wednesday, March 18th I wanted to get in another slightly longer hike close to home. Lisa had emailed me and suggested we go to the Frick Pond area to hike. I had been there many times in the last few months but agreed to go since I was anxious to have a hiking partner. We agreed to meet at the Frick Pond parking area at 11:00 AM. The temperature in the morning was 30 degrees but I knew it would being getting warmer throughout the day. At 10:15 AM I began to get ready and the temperature was still about 40 degrees. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top and decided that despite the temperature I would wear a light baselayer. I decided to put on my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away with light tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Talus boots which are all leather and seem to be almost waterproof although not very warm. I did not wear gaiters as I knew there would not be snow deep enough on the trail the warrant wearing them. I decided to take my new pair of Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I grabbed a light hat and gloves. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided to carry my microspikes in case they were needed. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat as we left Livingston Mnaor at 10"40 AM. I headed out the DeBruce Road to Mongaup Pond Road where I turned left and headed up toward Mongaup Pond. Where the road split, I stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road where the road forks. When we arrived at the parking area there were three cars in the larger lot and none in the smaller. I parked in the smaller parking area and waited for Lisa to arrive. At 11:05 Am Lisa pulled in beside my car and we got ready to hike. We decided to hike up the Flynn Trail and do the large loop to Hodge Pond returning on the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond. I set my GPS unit at the trailhead and we crossed the road to start the hike at 11:15 AM. The skies were blue with a few white clouds and plenty of sun. The first part of the trail through the woods was damp but there was now mud, snow or ice. We turned right on the woods road which was once the extension of the Beech Mountain Road and started the 1.7 mile climb up the Flynn Trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail.

We began picking up loose branches that had fallen on the trail and continued to do so for most of the hike. We noticed that several blowdowns had been cut by chainsaw. I was a little disappointed and a little relieved. The trail was wet but there was no snow or ice and the sun on our backs felt very warm. Sheila was roaming around running up and down the trail. We passed through the "tunnel" Cindy, and I had cut in a large hemlock tree that had fallen across the trail. At one point we noticed a woods road just above the trail and decided we would investigate it. We walked up the bank to the road We walked on the road which was open in places and full of small beeches in others. We came to the road where there was a lookout on the left and some high ledges on the right. I suggested we walk up to the top of these ledges which we did. Once on top we walked along the edge of the ledges as I looked for a way to get back down to the road. I found a place and we walked down only to find we were back on the trail! I assume the road ended which means it did not really go anywhere. We continued on the Flynn Trail toward the junction with the Big Rock trail passing several blowdowns. We arrived at the junction at 12:15 PM taking about an hour to hike 1.7 miles. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail passing through the gate that marks the beginning of the OSI property. A little further on, at the junction with the jeep trail, we turned left to walk the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. Just after this intersection was an expanse of snow several inches deep was surprising since there was little snow anywhere else. At 2.4 miles we broke into the clearing at the southern end of Hodge Pond where there was a large amount of snow. I stopped to take a few shots before we continued straight ahead to walk across the clearing to the shores of Hodge Pond. I dripped my pack and got out my camera to take pictures of the pond. Sheila decided to walk out into the cold water to get a drink and then to walk on the thin ice. I took some pictures of her and then we packed up to leave. Lisa was concerned about returning to town in time for a meeting so we decided to walk around the pond and follow the Flynn Trail back to the car. We walked to the right of the pond and along the east side of the pond on a jeep trail. We continued around the pond on the jeep trail turning left at one point and walking down to the shore of the pond. I took a few pictures from this vantage point. We got a drink and a snack before returning to the jeep trail and walking around to the intersection with the Flynn Trail.

We turned left and began the walk back. The trail was muddy in posts but the only standing water was just before we broke out into a field. This area once was the site of the mess hall for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We continued on the trail back to the clearing at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. To follow the Flynn Trail, we turned right and walked up the hill. The walk up the hill can sometimes seem on and tiring but on this day it went quickly. We followed the Flynn Trail back through the woods to the junction with the Big Rock Trail and continued straight ahead. The rest of the walk was mostly down hill. At one point Sheila alerted an I saw a man approaching. He happened to be a friend of Lisa's so we stopped and talked for a few minutes. As we continued down the trail, we decided that we would try to find the end of the woods road we had explored and explore it a little more. We were soon at the point where an interesting clearing lies to the east side of the trail. A mother an her two daughters were approaching on the trail and we stopped to talk. These were also friends of Lisa's so we spent some time talking. As we continued down the trail, we saw the point where the road started and we turned left to take the road. A few hundred feet in we came to the lookout where we had been before. We realized that this part of the road was very short. Lisa decided to go back to the trail while I continued on the road. My object was to walk the length of this road until it met the trail again. Sheila and I set a good pace despite the small beeches that block are way. It turned out the walk was only .25 miles before we were back on the trail. I waited for Lisa and she soon appeared. We walked together down the trail and across the flats and soon reached the gate that marks the end of state land. We stayed to the left to continue on the Flynn Trail and to avoid the private property around the cabin. As we approached the trail register, we could hear some noise from the parking area. Back at the car we saw a family getting ready to hike and Lisa offered some suggestions. We were back at the car at 2:15 PM after hiking 5.9 miles in 3 hours with almost a half hour of stopped time. Our overall speed was just under 2 mph and our elevation gain was 930 feet.

On Monday, March 16th, I decided to make good use of the three weeks off I had been given by the coronavirus panic. My school was closed and I though solo hiking would be the best "social distancing" for me. My hiking time has been limited by full-time teaching and coaching track. I slept in to about 9:00 AM trying to catch on some sleep from a number of ambulance calls. I asked Cindy if she would like to go but she declined as she was still fighting a respiratory infection that she has had for some time. At 10:30 AM it was 45 degrees as I began to get ready to hike with Sheila watching me very closely. I decided we would go to trout Pond and hike the loop with a possible visit to Mud Pond. I knew the round trip was just under 6 miles which was a distance I could handle even though I have not been hiking as much as I would like. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top and decided that despite the temperature I would wear a light baselayer. I decided to put on my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away with light tights underneath. I wore my Salomon b52 boots which are insulated as I did not know if I would be walking through any snow or ice. I did not wear gaiters as I knew there would not be snow deep enough on the trail the warrant wearing them. I decided to take my new pair of Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I grabbed a light hat and gloves. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided to carry my microspikes in case they were needed. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. Sheila was especially excited as she had not been out all week. We left Livingston Manor at just at 11:15 AM and drove to State Route 17 toward Roscoe. I got off at exit 94 and got on Route 206 headed north through Roscoe and Rocklan. I followed it across the Delaware County line to Morton Hill Road. After a left turn on Morton Hill Road, I drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the side of the road to avoid the parking area which is private. There was one car parked in the private lot and this has been a problem in the past. I set my GPS and we began our hike down Russell Brook Road at 11:40 AM. Russell Brook Road was almost completely bare as we started our hike.

We continued on down Russell Brook Road to the overlook over the upper falls. There was enough water in the stream to make the upper falls interesting and I had not taken pictures there in some time. We worked our way down the bank where I dropped my pack and took out the camera. I took pictures of the falls from several angles and then put the camera away and walked back up the bank. We walked down to the lower parking lot which was empty. The road down to the bridge was clear except for a small amount of ice near the bridge. Just after the stand of knotweed, we turned right on the path that leads to the falls. We stayed to the right and walked along the path until we could turn to the right and walk down to the stream bed. This area was a little slippery and tricky to negotiate but we were soon in the streambed. I dropped my pack and pulled out the camera to take pictures of the falls. I made sure to have Sheila pose in front of the falls so I could take some shots of her also. After finishing the photography, we walked back out OT the main trail and turned right toward the trail register. At the trail junction, just after the register, we turned to the right to hike the gentler ascent to Trout Pond. The trail was damp in places with a small amount of mud which was easily avoided. There was some sun shining on the trail and I was beginning to get very warm. I stopped and opened all the zippers on my hoody which did seem to vent enough heat to keep me comfortable. When we arrived at the pond, we turned left and walked out to the "beach" at the outlet end of the pond. The pond was still covered in ice for the most part but there was some open water near the shore and the dam. The skies were blue but almost completely cloudless which was not very interesting. I took out the camera and took some pictures of the pond especially around the sore and the dam. There was still a large snow bank where the snow had drifted at the end of the pond. I took some pictures of the snow and then noticed Sheila was walking on the thin ice of the pond. Before I called Sheila off the ice, I took a few pictures of her. Sheila decided she would go into overdrive and began running around at breakneck speed including a few passes over the ice! After getting a drink and a snack, I packed up and headed back to the main trail. We continued on the main trail on the east side of Trout Pond walking toward the inlet end and the lean-tos. The trail was wet in spots with some fairly large puddles. No one was camping at the large campsite on the right side of the rail before the lean-tos or at the lean-tos themselves.

As we crossed the bridge at the inlet end of the pond, I noticed that the inlet stream was flowing freely. I stopped to take some pictures of the pond from the bridge and spoke of the stream. We continued on the trail and I decided to turn left and walk out to the shore of the pond. I took some more pictures from here before walking back to the main trail and starting up the hill which is the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. At the turn, the trail was almost dry without ay snow or ice, and we easily walked up the hill. Not very far from the turn was a large blowdown along the side of the trail which had been cut and moved to the side. After we had walked for some time, I noticed a few large trees that had been cut with a chainsaw. I then remembered that there were places on the trail which previously had large blowdowns that were no longer present! I assumed a DEC crew had been sent through to clear the trail. Of course, since the crew had done their work there had been more storms, and there were several smaller blowdowns across the trail. As we began to climb the north-facing part of the trail, there was some snow on the trail and in the woods. Soon we were at the highest point on Cherry Ridge and starting down the other side. This side of the hill had now snow and the trail had only a few wet spots in isolated places. As we walked along Sheila alerted and I saw two dogs approaching us. One dog was a smaller white hound while the other was a larger brown dog which I thought might be a lab mix. The dog stopped and seemed confused. I put Sheila on her leash and she pulled toward the other dogs. I told the dogs to "Go away!" and they both turned around and ran away. I kept Sheila on her leash for some time think we would meet the dogs and their owner but then I let her off again. We continued on the trail ascending to the area where there is a forest of small birch trees. This was also the only area where there was standing water and a few muddy areas. Once again the dogs appeared and retreated when I spoke to them. I began to wonder and worry about the dogs and about their owner. Soon we were at the woods road and snowmobile trail that runs by Mud Pond. We turned right to walk down to Mud Pond.

After about 500 feet, we turned left on a path that runs down to the shore of the pond. There was a campsite on the path and areas were very muddy. When we got to the shore of Mud Pond, I took some pictures although there wasn't much that was very interesting. We walked back up to the main trail and turned right. We continued straight ahead and up the hill on the trail. This part of the trail was also barely damp with a few small areas of running water crossing the trail. At the top of the hill, we began the long descent back to the trail junction where we had started. The descent lasts for .7 miles and drops 385 feet to a bridge that crosses the outlet stream from Trout Pond. This part of the trail was just as dry as the other sections. As we descended, we came to a spot where a small stream crosses and this time it was fairly swollen but easily crossed. We continued down the hill on the main trail toward the campsite at the bottom of the hill on the left side of the trail. No one was present at the campsite. We continued on the trail crossing the bridge over the stream and walking back out to the trail register. We turned right and headed back toward the lower parking area on the main trail. We walked up the short path to the lower parking area and then up the road to the car. There was one car in the parking area and another parked at one of the campsite halfway up the road. As we neared the car, I could see that the other car was stilled parked in the lot. We arrived back at the car at 2:35 PM after hiking 5.9 miles in 2 hours and 55 minutes with a 1160-foot total ascent. My average speed overall was just over 2 mph which I counted good for the conditions and the number of stops I made. As I drove down Morton Hill Road, an animal ran across the road. At first, I thought it might be a coyote but it had a very bushy tail. This led me to believe it was a fox.

On Saturday, March 14th, I wanted to get in a hike as my hiking time has been limited by full-time teaching and coaching track. I had planned to sleep in but got up early. I did chores around the house and then decided to get ready for a hike. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and she agreed. Cindy has been fighting a respiratory infection for some time so we knew she could not hike for very long. At 10:30 AM it was 38 degrees as we began to get ready to hike. I decided we would go to Parksville and hike the rail trail. I knew the round trip was less than 3 miles which was less than I was prepared to do but would be just right for Cindy. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top but did not wear any baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but did not wear tights underneath. I wore my Keen Targhee III boots since I didn't feel that I needed insulated boots. I did not wear gaiters as I knew there would be no snow on the trail. I decided to take my new pair of Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I grabbed a light hat and gloves. Finally, I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided to carry my microspikes in case they were needed. We put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. Sheila was especially excited as she had not been out all week. We left Livingston Manor at just before 11:00 AM and drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville. Just after Fox Mountain Road, I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road at 11:10 AM. The temperature was 37 degrees and a stiff breeze was blowing which made me almost regret not dressing more warmly. A pickup truck was parked in the lot and another car pulled in as we were getting ready. I set my GPS and we started out on the trail at 11:15 AM. As we walked along the first part of the trail, I noticed the car had a dog and several small children. One of the occupants asked about Sheila and I told her that she was not very friendly with other dogs. We never saw this group again on the hike.

Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees the wind abated and I felt warmer. The trail alternated between dry areas and muddy ones with extensive areas of ice in some sections. I took some pictures of the trail before continuing our hike. The rail trail runs parallel to the Little Beaverkill and the new section of State Route 17. It follows the route of the O&W railroad and is very flat. I kept looking down toward the river and I finally found a way to get down to the riverbed to take some pictures. I got my camera out of the pack and took some pictures of the river both up and down the stream. There were some rapids upstream with blue sky and clouds in the background. I worked my way back up to the main trail and we continued our hike. I looked ahead to see a group of 4 people coming toward us. As we passed each other, one member of the group said "Hello" and I recognized him as someone from Livingston Manor that I had hiked with before. We continued along the trail avoiding some ice patches. I once again I went down to the stream to take some pictures. The day was sunny, almost too sunny for pictures, but I took some shots anyway. Back on the main trail we passed several benches placed for people to rest in warmer weather. As we walked, I could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls was just ahead. I began to work my way down the steep bank to the stream bed just below the falls. The descent was tricky as loose mud covered the ice below. I finally made it to the stream, put down my pack and got out the camera. I took many pictures of the falls and some downstream as well. When I completed my photography, I scratched my way back to the top of the bank and the trail. The next stretch of the trail was completely covered in ice. There was a nice view from the trail down to the falls so I took some more pictures. I crossed the ice to Cindy who was sitting on a bench.

We carefully picked our way along the trail trying to avoid the ice. Soon we were nearing the end or the beginning of the trail depending on your perspective. On the Parksville end of the trail we found a small garden and a very informative sign. The sign listed the businesses and hotels that existed in Parksville during its heyday. It also explained the role of the railroad in the dairy industry which was a thriving one in all of Sullivan County. As we were reading the sign the other hikers we had met approached us. We walked down the street and out to the road by the Dead End Café. There are many interesting buildings along a short stretch of road but most are unoccupied and crumbling. When we got to the road, we turned left and walked on a gravel path that paralleled the road. The path continued to a parking area and then exited the other side. We continued on this path passing the building which once held Memories where I had bought several items at auction. The path ended in another parking area so we had to walk the shoulder of the road to get back to our car. There was more traffic on the road than I had expected but the shoulder was wide and the drivers considerate. We arrived back at the car at 12:45 Pm after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 and a half hours. My GPS showed the elevation gain as 243 feet which I doubted but could have been from the descents to the river.

On Sunday, March 8th I wanted to get in a quick hike after church since teaching, coaching timing sporting events had conspired to keep me off the trails. At 2:00 PM I visited the funeral home with my wife as a member of our church had passed away. When we got home, I decided to go across the street for a couple of figure 8's on Round Top. The temperature was right around 52 degrees with almost no breeze and lots of sun. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes to hike and she was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed. Sheila misses the hiking as much as I do since I have returned to full-time teaching for the rest of this school year! I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top without a baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants despite the warm weather but knew I would not need tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Talus boots as I could see not snow on the hill. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. At 3:35 PM Sheila and I walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do at least two figure 8's which might be enough given the situation. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. The roads seemed clear with only water on the surface. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill.

We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead where I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail was completely bare with no snow and I could see no snow in the woods. The trail was mostly dry with a few spots of mud in spots. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight up the hill toward the viewpoint. At the top of the hill, we continued on the trail turning right. We followed the trail as it gently gained elevation toward the junction with the blue trail. The trail surface was a little slippery but there was still no snow. At the next trail junction, we turned right to follow the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. There was a small amount of ice and snow on the trail and a little snow off the trail. At the next trail junction we turned left and headed up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. I had no problem making it to the top. We were soon passing over the top of the hill and starting down the other side. The trail continued to be slippery but I used my poles and we were soon back at the junction with the yellow trail. At the bottom of the hill we turn left to follow the yellow trail to the next trail junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the woods road that returned us to the first trail junction. All the time Sheila explored off-trail but stayed close enough to hear my voice. As we were approaching the junction, Sheila alerted and I saw a couple, their dog and young child coming down from the lookout. They continued out to the trailhead so Sheila and I walked to the first trail junction. When we reached the first trail junction, we turned around and walked back up the woods road. At the first junction with the blue trail we turned left and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the second junction, we turned right and walked up the blue trail to the summit of Round Top. We walked down the other side to the junction and turned right. We followed the yellow trail turning left and the next junction to walk down to the lookout. On the way down I could see two young women ahead of us. At the lookout we stayed to the left and walked down the hill to the first trail junction. I was satisfied that I had done enough. We continued straight ahead and walked out toward the trailhead. The two young women stayed ahead of us as I put Sheila on her leash to walk down the hill. We continued out through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. It was 4:45 PM and we had hiked over 2 miles in just over an hour.

On Saturday, February 29th, I wanted to get in a hike as my hiking time has been limited by full-time teaching and caching track. I had planned to sleep in after getting home late from a track meet but a 6:00 AM ambulance call ended that plan. The call didn't last that long so I went back to bed to get a couple extra hours of sleep. At 10:00 Am it was still 20 degrees as I went downtown to get some breakfast. A pretty good snow squall rolled in covering the grass and streets but soon stopped. I decided to go hiking to the Frick Pond area with the intention of hiking to the Hodge Pond Lookout. I began to get ready at 11:30 AM which made Sheila very happy. Since it was 24 degrees with a stiff wind blowing, I decided to dress warmly. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away with a pair of light tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots which have been discontinued but are my favorite boots for winter. I put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters as I did not know the depth of snow we would encounter. I decided to try out my new pair of Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I grabbed a light hat and gloves. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided to carry my microspikes in case they were needed. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at noon and I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left. I continued up the road to the point where it splits and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. It was a short drive to the parking areas on the left. The large parking area had one pickup and a car and a pickup took up most of the room in the small lot since they did not know how to park. I parked in the small lot and noted that the temperature 18 degrees. When I stepped out of the car, the wind hit me and I was cold. I initially regretted not putting on a warmer top but I knew I would warm up on the trail. There was snow everywhere and some seemed to be relatively new. There was some ice under the snow which made for a slippery combination. I checked out the beginning of the Flynn Trail and found the snow well-packed but not icy enough to wear spikes. I set my GPS and shouldered my pack as we crossed the road at 12:15 PM to start our hike.

We had to climb over a low snow bank left by the plows to start out on the Flynn Trail. After that, the walk through the woods was relatively easy. When we turned right onto what once was Beech Mountain Road, there were several sets of footprints in the snow. I only saw bare boots although one may have had traction devices. I saw no reason to put on my spikes so we continued up the trail. As we walked up the trail, I was still cold despite some sun shining on my back. I set a fast pace up the Flynn Trail powered by the desire to keep warm! The Flynn Trail is uphill all the way for the first 1.7 miles to the Big Rock Junction. At one point Sheila alerted and I saw a young couple hiking down the trail toward us. I put Sheila on her leash and we exchanged greetings as we passed. I thought about asking them the route they took but we were passed them very quickly. A little farther up the rail I could see where they had turned around. From this point on there were no new tracks in the snow. We passed the mile mark around the point where there is a clearing to the right of the trail. I had been to this clearing on a previous hike so I continued on the main trail. and on this day it took almost an hour. I did see some snowmobile tracks coming over from Mongaup Pond and continuing down the Big Rock Trail. We continued through the junction and passed through the gate which is the boundary between state land and OSI popery. Unfortunately, at least one snowmobile could not read the sign that prohibits snowmobiles on this trail! We continued on the trail to the point where the Flynn Trail heads downhill to Hodge Pond. Here we turned to the right on the woods road and walked along the "high road" to the junction of some roads above the pond. There were no tracks here at all and there was some fresh snow but the walking was easy. At this junction a road turns left to go down to the pond. Just a little further on the road splits with the left fork passing by the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp and ending up on Shin Creek Road in Lew Beach. To my surprise this road showed tracks of what looked like a pickup and there was some evidence of plowing. We continued straight ahead to climb the road up the hill which also had these tracks in the snow although they were old. The road was a little steeper than I remembered and a little longer.

I was tired but despite the incline I pushed the pace. As we passed an old quarry where the trail leveled some Sheila darted to the right side of the trail. I didn't know what she had seen but I called her back and she came quickly. The trail began to gain elevation again and we passed by a spring house on the right. There are several twists and turns along this road and it is sometimes hard for me to know exactly where I am. Eventually the tracks stopped and we were walking on unbroken snow. At 2.7 miles we came to a lookout on the left of the trail. The lookout had been "cut out" so that the hills and valleys beyond were much more visible. I decided to push on to the lookout and take pictures on the way back. We followed the road which made a sharp right turn. Just after this the road turned to the left but another trail branched off to the right. Sheila and I turned onto the trail on the right which was a little less defined because it was covered in snow. After a slight incline, the trail leveled. The snow was drifted and deep averaging week over 12 inches. In some places I broke through the crust and the snow reached almost to my knee! We walked along the trail with me following Sheila most of the time. The wind was still blowing and some flakes were now falling. At 2.9 miles we arrived at the Hodge Pond Lookout. This lookout had also been cut out giving a much better view than I had seen in years. I dropped my pack and took some pictures of the pond below and the hills in the distance. I also took some pictures of Sheila sitting on the lookout with the pond in the background. Some snow was beginning to roll in from the west and I decided we should get moving. On the walk back, I tried to avoid the spots where I had fallen through the crust. When we reached the lookout on the road, I stopped to take a few shots. I thought the view would be much the same as the lookout over the pond but it seemed different enough to warrant some pictures. The trip down was much quicker than the trip up and I avoided slipping on the ice by careful use of my poles. When we reached the bottom of the hill, I thought about walking down to Hodge Pond but decided to make the hike a true out-and-back. We walked out to the Flynn Trail, turned left and were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 4.6 miles. As we continued on the Flynn Trail I noticed that a good-sized group of people on snowshoes had passed through. It was hard to tell which way they were traveling but they had certainly packed down the snow. The trip down the Flynn Trail can seem to take forever but on this day it went quickly. The large hemlock across the trail came into sight and just after it the gate. We passed through the arch of the tree that Cindy and I had cut through the tree. Just before the gate, we turned left on the Flynn Trail to avoid the private property around the cabin. We walked the trail back to the car arriving at 3:20 PM. The vehicles in the lot were still there and as I put my gear in the car a small group of people on snowshoes came up the Quick Lake trail and across from the larger lot. We had hiked 5.8 miles in 3 hours gaining 1007 feet along the way. It was now 16 degrees and the wind was still blowing.

On Saturday, February 22nd I had planned once again to hike Balsam Lake Mountain but, once again, circumstances intervened. The morning was occupied by a bots basketball game which I timed returning home at 1:00 PM. The temperature was in the high 30's and the sun made it feel warmer. I decided to go across the street and hike on Round Top. I began to get ready at 1:30 PM and Sheila showed her appreciation by barking and running around. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut top without a baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away. I wore my Salomon B52 boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. They are my "go to" winter boots and were long ago discontinued. I grabbed my new pair of Leki external lock poles which I purchased since twist locks have proved unreliable. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I knew that snowshoes would not be needed but I also judged I would not need my spikes. At 1:45 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. This in itself was tricky as there were still large patches of ice and Sheila wanted to pull me along. I decided we would try to do some figure 8's on the Round Top Trails. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. There was more snow than I had anticipated and I almost regretted not wearing my spikes. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill which was even more important due to the ice and snow on the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails. Once we entered the woods there was MUCH more snow than I had anticipated and it was packed down meaning spikes would have been ideal.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. On the way up the old woods road, we came across several areas where I had cleared trees on previous trips. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. We kept a quick pace as we walked even though it was difficult to walk on the slippery snow. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. As we ascended the trail, it became obvious that spikes would certainly have help the ascent. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. I had trimmed much of the trail earlier in the summer but this part still had some branches encroaching on the trail. Soon we were back at the yellow trail where we turned right and walked to the next trail junction. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We continued down to the lookout and followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. Even this part of the trail had more snow than I had expected. The walk had gone quickly so I decided to do another figure 8 which pleased Sheila immensely. We turned around and walked back up the hill to the lookout. We continued to follow the yellow trail as it gained elevation to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right and continued to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walk up the blue trail to cross the summit of Round Top. The ascent went well as there was less now on this side of the hill and the grade is less than the other side. The descent on the other side was tricky without spikes but we did make it down without incident. At the trail junction with the yellow trail we turned left and followed the trail along the base of Round Top again. At the next trail junction, we turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road and out to the first trail junction. I checked the time and determined that we should return home given the time. We walked out toward the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We walked down the hill and through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. It was 2:45 PM and we had hiked around 2 miles in a little over an hour.

On Monday, February 17th, I had planned to hike to the Balsam Lake mountain fire tower since I had not done a 3500 foot peak in some time and I wanted a view. In the middle of the night the ambulance pager went off and I went to the building just in time to be canceled. When I got home, I had a time getting to sleep so I got up later than usual. The temperature at 8:00 AM was still in the teens and I did not want to take Sheba on a 6 mile hike up a mountain with the temperature that low. I decided to wait a while, alter my plans and go to Frick Pond. I used to think that hiking a Frick Pond so frequently was boring but I now find it comforting. I know every trail and distance around Frick and Hodge Ponds and can easily add or remove trails to make a hike of any length. By 10:00 AM the temperature had risen to 30 degrees and I started to get ready to go. I got my gear together and decided to dress warm. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away with a pair of light tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots which have been discontinued but are my favorite boots for winter. I put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters as I did not know the depth of snow we would encounter. I decided to try out my new pair of Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks fail. I grabbed a light hat and gloves. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided to carry my microspikes in case they were needed. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 11:40 AM and I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left. I continued up the road to the point where it splits and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. It was a short drive to the parking areas on the left. The small parking area was empty but there was one car parked in the larger lot. The temperature was 30 degrees and there was now wind blowing. There was snow everywhere and some ice but all of it was old. I cheeked out the beginning of the Flynn Trail and found the snow well-packed but not icy enough to wear spikes. I set my GPS and shouldered my pack as we crossed the road to start the hike at to get ready to begin the hike.

We had to climb over a low snow bank left by the plows to start out on the Flynn Trail. After that, the walk through the woods was relatively easy. When we turned right onto what once was Beech Mountain Road, there were several sets of footprints ion the snow. Most people seemed to have worn bare boots but at least two of the sets of prints were from snowshoes. As we walked up the trail, the sun was shining brightly and directly on my back and I warmed up quickly. At one point I stopped to take a few pictures and open some of the zippers on my hoody. We continued to 1.15 miles where there is a clearing on the right side of the trail. I decided to explore and walked off the packed trail. There was at least 8 inches of snow with a hard crust on top and since it was unbroken the going was slow. We walked up a small hill to the edge of the clearing. I put my pack down and got out the camera to take some shots of the large clearing with a blue sky in the background. Before I packed up, Sheila posed for a few pictures. We walked back to the trail and turned right to continue on the Flynn Trail. The trail dipped briefly before climbing the last .6 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I was happy to see that some snowmobiles had come over from Mongaup Pond packing the Big Rock Trail. I took some pictures at the junction before turning left to descend the Big Rock Trail. I was not happy to see that at least two machines had headed out the Flynn Trail which is off limits to snowmobiles. Walking down the packed Big Rock Trail seemed very easy and this was enhanced by the bright sunlight and blue skies. I stopped again to take a couple of shots and to get a drink as I was beginning to feel thirsty. The Big Rock Trail has several spots where the trail levels some and bends to the right. These spots sometimes fool me into thinking we are near to Times Square when we are not. On this day I was lost in my thoughts and the walk went quickly. At 12:25 PM we had hiked 2.95 miles and stood at Times Square where The Big Rock Trail and Logger's Loop cross. I decided that since I was feeling fresh we would turn right and hike the Logger's Loop to the Quick Lake Trail at Iron Wheel Junction.

As we started out on the Logger's Loop, the trail was covered in ice with almost no snow. This did not last very long and soon we were again walking on the snow packed by snowmobiles. The trail heads northwest and gains about 200 feet in .8 miles where it turns southwest. Along the way I noticed the beauty of the high rocks and small cliffs on the right side of the trail. From the highest point on the trail we began to descend slightly to Iron Wheel Junction at 4.15 miles. We turned left to follow the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond. This part of the trail had only a few footprints and the walking was much more difficult. We walked downhill to the small stream in the woods and found it was still too high to cross on the trail. A short trip upstream helped us find a place to cross and we were soon back on the trail. The rest of the walk through the "spruce tunnel" went quickly and we were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We stayed to the right on the Quick Lake Trail and walked to the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. I stopped for a few minutes to get some pictures. Each time I pass this way I seem to be attracted to the beauty of the scene. I took some pictures of Flynn's Point on Beech Mountain and some more of the pond and the outlet. I picked up my pack and walked to the top of the hill where Sheila was waiting. As we walked toward Gravestone Junction, Sheila alerted and I could hear people talking and a dog barking ahead. I put Sheila on her leash as the other dog, a small breed of some kind, approached. The owner eventually was able to call his dog while Sheila and I walked by. There was a group of people using a plastic toboggan to slide down the hill on the trail. The trail was now very smooth and I knew that when the temperature dropped it would become extremely slippery. I knew these people had no idea what they were doing but it still bothered me. So many people today only think about themselves and never consider the results of their actions. We continued along the Quick Lake Trail passing the register box to walk the last few hundred feet to the car. It was 1:45 PM and we had hiked 5.6 miles in 3 hours with an elevation gain of 925 feet.

On Saturday, February 8th I had planned to hike a 3500 foot peak and had settled on Balsam Lake Mountain. When I woke up, the roads looked in good condition and the temperature was in the mid 20's. I was ready to get dressed and hike a mountain! Just before 9:00 AM the ambulance pager went off and my plans were again altered. When I returned from the call, the conditions had not changed much but I decided I did not want to drive to the Millbrook trailhead to hike BLM. I decided once again to return to the Frick Pond area to hike some route. I was a little tired so I planned to hike a shorter route perhaps hiking up the Flynn Trail and down the Big Rock Trail which is a little over 4 miles. I got my gear together and decided to dress warm since the temperature was still below 30 degrees and a slight breeze was blowing. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away with a pair of light tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots which have been discontinued but are my favorite boots for winter. I put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters as I did not know the depth of snow we would encounter. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with internal twist that I have been using lately. I grabbed a light hat and gloves. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided to carry my microspikes in case they were needed. As I put my gear in the back of the car, I noticed that there was a rather stiff breeze blowing. I put Sheila in the back seat and we left Livingston Manor at 11:30 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left. I continued up the road to the point where it splits and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. It was a short drive to the parking areas on the left. Both parking areas were empty. The temperature was 25 degrees and there was a stiff breeze blowing. There were several inches of snow covering everything and there was some snow falling. I took a few pictures and then set my GPS and shouldered my pack to get ready to begin the hike.

We crossed the road at 11:50 AM to start our hike. There was a thin layer of snow over a frozen layer of snow with ice underneath. This made for some very slippery walking. As we started the hike, a car pulled up to the small parking area. It looked like the occupants were checking out the maps on the kiosk. At this point the occupant of the cabin drove up the road in his pickup and I wondered if we would see his dog. The dog is a beautiful pointer of some type who will not listen to his owner. The owner has done nothing to train him and refuses to use a leash. Sheila and I walked out the Flynn Trail to the woods road and turned right. Almost immediately the dog from the cabin came running to meet us. The owner called him to no effect. Sheila and this dog seem to get along well but I told him "Go home" and had no more effect than the owner. I heard the owner calling so I stopped and waited so he could come get his dog. I looked around and saw that the owner was standing at the cabin making no attempt to come get his dog. I decided that I was not going to ruin my hike so Sheila and I continued up the trail with the other dog following us. We passed through the "tunnel" Cindy and I had cut in a large spruce tree across the trail. Snow was still falling lightly and the dog was still following. I began to retreat into my thoughts and the hike seemed to go quickly. At some point the other dog returned to his house. At 12:45 PM we arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 1.7 miles into the hike. I had thought I would turn down the Big Rock Trail but I was feeling better than I thought I would at this point. There were several inches of snow at this point and there was a hard crust. Walking was a little difficult as I kept breaking through the crust. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail passing through the gate and arriving at the junction with the woods road toward Beech Mountain. We stayed left on the Flynn Trail to walk down toward Hodge Pond. I stopped to take some pictures of the snow covering the trees and then continued the hike to the pond. As we walked out into the field at the outlet end of the pond, I could see that the snow was falling over and around the pond. We walked to the shore of the pond where I could feel the wind blowing. I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I took some pictures of the pond and the area surrounding it. I didn't wait very long before packing up and heading to the right on the jeep trail around the pond.

As we started to ascend the trail, there were drifts of snow more than a foot deep. On the way up the hill, I noticed that one of my poles had shortened. I tried to adjust and tighten it but it would not tighten. I took it apart and eventually fixed it. I had to do the same for the other pole. I reminded myself that I had other poles at home with external locks! Fortunately, the poles did not loosen again. We continued on the jeep trail around the back of the pond. Sheila alerted and I could hear some other hikers at the outlet end of the pond. I decided not to stop at the upper end of the pond so we walked around to the junction with the Flynn Trail. As we approached the junction, I could see a young couple hiking through and the Flynn Trail. We exchanged quick greetings and went our separate ways. Soon we were back at the outlet end of Hodge Pond where we turned right and retraced our route up the Flynn Trail. This part of the hike can seem long but in this day it went quickly. The snow had all but stopped and the sun was beginning to peek through the clouds in placed. We walked to the junction with the Big Rock Trail and arrived at 2:05 PM about 4.1 miles into the hike. I decided to turn right and hike down the Big Rock Trail. The downhill felt really good and I could see some footprints going down and coming up! This trail has several tiers that look very much the same. On this day the hike went quickly and we were soon at Times Square. I was very thirsty so I got a drink and a quick snack. We continued straight ahead on the Big Rock Trail around the back of Frick Pond. The conditions at this lower elevation were very different than higher up. There was less snow and some standing water on the trail. We walked over the bridges and wooden walkways without stopping as I saw no particularly special photographic opportunities. At the junction with the Quick Lake Trail, we turned left to head to the outlet of Frock Pond. As we crossed the bridge, I saw a very familiar sight. After crossing the bridge, I decided to stop and take a few shots. Only a few flakes were falling but the breeze lowered the temperature. After taking a few pictures, we continued up the hill toward Gravestone Junction. The hill was icy which did not bother Sheila at all but forced me to stay on the sides where the traction was better. At Gravestone Junction, we continued straight ahead on the Quick Lake Trail. This trail was mostly ice with a thin covering of snow to make it slippery. I thought about putting on my spikes but my poles helped with getting traction. I was surprised there was some open water flowing across the trail. We passed the register and walked the woods road back to the car. There were two other cars in the lot when we arrived at 3:15 PM. We had hiked 6.3 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes. Our moving speed was 2.1 mph and the elevation gain was 935 feet.

On Saturday, February 1st I had planned to hike a 3500 foot peak and had settled on Balsam Lake Mountain. I had a track meet at West Point the night before. The meet ran late and I did not get home until just before 2:00 AM. I was able to sleep until 9:00 AM but then remembered I had a low-angle rope rescue drill with the LMFD and the NYS Forest Rangers. I went downtown and ate breakfast and then headed over to the corps building. After a quick introduction to what we were going to do, we headed toward Mongaup Pond to practice rescue techniques. The site was between the turnoff to Beech Mountain Road and the campgrounds. The scenario was a fisherman who had slipped and broken his lower leg over the bank and near the stream. We practiced rigging a stokes basket, loading the patient and transporting them up the bank over the snow-covered rocks and logs to the road where the ambulance was located. We also practiced bringing the patient back down the bank. After several trips, we gathered for a debriefing and everyone agreed that the drill was a success and that more should be scheduled. We returned to the ambulance building where I got to practice filling out the first ePCR for our corps. New York State has set a deadline for all corps to switch from paper records to electronic ones and our corps has taken the initiative to begin early. I returned home and mentioned hiking to Sheila who immediately went crazy. I decided, that despite my being very tired, we would head to Frick Pond to do a short hike. The skies were completely overcast but the temperature was 37 degrees. I got my gear together and decided to dress warm despite the relatively "warm" air temperature. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away with a pair of light tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots which have been discontinued but are my favorite boots for winter. I put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters as I did not know the depth of snow we would encounter. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles that I have been using lately. I grabbed a light hat and gloves. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided to carry my microspikes in case they were needed. As I put our gear in the back of the car, I noticed that there was a rather stiff breeze blowing. I put Sheila in the back seat and we left Livingston Manor at 12:40 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left. I continued up the road to the point where it splits and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. It was a short drive to the parking areas on the left. To my surprise the smaller parking area was full of cars so I turned around and parked in the larger lot which was empty. I set my GPS and shouldered my pack to get ready to begin the hike.

As we turned to walk out the back of the parking area on the Quick Lake Trail, a young couple and their dog appeared returning to the parking area. I put Sheila on her leash and they did the same for their dog. We exchange brief greetings and went our separate ways. We descended the steps and headed out on the trail Almost immediately we encountered a rather large branch in the trail. I picked it up and moved it out of the way. I wondered why the young couple had not done this and ho many people must had walked by that branch without making any effort to help clear the trail! At the register box, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. The water on the trail was mostly frozen as the temperatures had been high the previous week. There was a coating of snow on the ice which made the walking slippery but we easily found ways to avoid most of the ice. Several groups of people were returning from the pond so I put Sheila on her leash. The first two groups exchanged greetings with me. A third group of adults and children came toward us and I said "Hello" twice but got no response. One woman was carrying a reusable shopping bag! I said "hello" to the last young man in line who was the only one that returned my greeting. At Gravestone Junction we stayed to the left and walked down the hill to Frick Pond. There was a breeze blowing off the pond and the scene was bleak and "blank". There was some interesting ice on the trees on Beech Mountain but I decided that it was late already and that we would push on. There were a lot of tracks around the pond. When we came to the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we stayed to the left on the Quick Lake Trail. A few boot prints were visible on the trail but most people had stayed right to walk around the pond. The trail was mostly frozen with a few soft spots. We walked through the spruce tunnel to the small stream through the woods. The water level was high enough to make me walk upstream and cross where the water level is lower. We regained the trail and walked uphill to Iron Wheel Junction. My plan had been to turn right here and follow the Logger's Loop to Times Square and back to the car. I felt pretty good at this point and decided to turn left and hike the Quick Lake Trail to Junkyard Junction. From that intersection I would hike the Flynn Trail back to the car. I knew that it would be getting dark as I finished but I felt prepared.

We turned left on The Quick Lake Trail and found that there were no other footprints on the trail. We walked uphill passing the turn to Quick Lake on the snowmobile trail. The walk is mostly up hill for a mile after which it rolls some to Junkyard Junction. As we walked, I noticed that the skies were even cloudier and I thought it might rain or snow. This part of the hike is always a little longer than I anticipate but by 3:35 PM we had hiked the 3.1 miles to Junkyard Junction. We turned right on the Flynn Trail and started heading southeast toward Hodge Pond. This .5 mile walk went quickly as it is flat to the gate and then downhill to the area near the pond. The trail was mostly frozen with a few areas of open, running water. We turned right near the pond to follow the Flynn Trail to the outlet end of the pond. As we passed through the open field the snow depth increased and, as I gazed, to my left I saw the ice on the trees on Beech Mountain. When we came to the clearing at the outlet end of the pond, I decided to walk to the edge of the water and take some pictures. I put my pack down and got out my camera. I took some shot of the pond and then some of the trees. Before packing up, I got a bar and a drink. I often forget to drink during the winter and then get massive leg cramps! We walked across the field and started up the hill on the Flynn Trail. I expected the uphill to be difficult but in reality it wasn't. At the top of the hill we stayed to the right and followed the Flynn Trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We had now hiked 4.7 miles and it was 4:30 PM. It was beginning to get noticeably darker and I knew we had 1.7 miles to go. Fortunately the walk is almost all downhill with a short uphill and some flat portions. I increased my pace which did not phase Sheila in the slightest. There are several places on the trail which usually fool me into thinking we are closer to the end than we really are. We were soon passing through the arch Cindy and I had cut in the larger spruce tree. Just before the gate, we turned left to stay on the Flynn Trail and avoid the private property around the cabin. We walked through the woods and back to the car. We arrived at the parking area at 5:15 PM after hiking 6.4 miles in 3 hours and 25 minutes. The elevation gain was 915 feet. It was dark but still 37 degrees as I pulled out of the parking lot.

On Sunday, January 26th I wanted to take a hike after I returned from church. Teaching full-time and other responsibilities have seriously cut into my hiking time and Sheila let's me know about it. When I returned from church. The temperature was in the high 30's but it was cloudy with moisture I the air. I decided to go across the street and hike on Round Top. I began to get ready at 12:30 PM and Sheila showed her appreciation by barking and running around. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut top with a light baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away. I wore my Vasque Talus boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles that I have been using lately. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I knew that snowshoes would not be needed but I also judged I would not need my spikes. At 12:45 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do some figure 8's on the Round Top Trails. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. There was more snow than I had anticipated and I almost regretted not wearing insulated boots and spikes. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill which was even more important due to the ice and snow on the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. On the way up the old woods road, we came across several areas where I had cleared trees on previous trips. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. We kept a quick pace as we walked even though it was difficult to walk on the slippery snow. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. As we ascended the trail, it became obvious that spikes would certainly have help the ascent. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. I had trimmed much of the trail earlier in the summer but this part still had some branches encroaching on the trail. Soon we were back at the yellow trail where we turned right and walked to the next trail junction. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We continued down to the lookout and followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The walk had gone quickly so I decided to do another figure 8 even though my feet were getting wet and cold. We turned around and walked back up the hill to the lookout. We continued to follow the yellow trail as it gained elevation to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right and continued to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left and walk up the blue trail to cross the summit of Round Top. The descent on the other side was tricky without spikes but we did make it down without incident. At the trail junction with the yellow trail we turned left and followed the trail along the base of Round Top again. At the next trail junction, we turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road and out to the first trail junction. I checked the time and determined that we should return home given the time. We walked out toward the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We walked down the hill and through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. It was 1:05 PM and we had hiked around 2 miles in a little over an hour.

On Monday, January 20th, I wanted to get out and hike on snowshoes but I knew there would probably not be enough snow for them to be effective. My plan was to drive to the Millbrook trailhead and hike Balsam Lake Mountain. I would rather hike from the Beaverkill trailhead but the road is not reliably maintained and the new snow that had fallen would prove a problem. When I awoke in the morning it was only 9 degrees and I knew I would have to wait. I always take Sheila with me and I thought anything below 20 degrees might be too cold for her on this hike. Eventually I began to get ready to hike. As soon as I started, the ambulance pager went off and I knew my plans would have to change when I returned. I returned home at 12:15 PM and asked Cindy if she would like to go for a shorter hike at Frick Pond. She agreed and we began to get ready. The temperature was only 19 degrees but I judged Sheila would be alright on a shorter hike. As I gathered my clothing and equipment, Sheila got wind of what was going on and began running around the house barking. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away with a pair of light tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots which have been discontinued but are my favorite boots for winter. I put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters as I did not know the depth of snow we would encounter. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles that I have been using lately. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. Both Cindy and I decided to carry our microspikes in case they were needed. As I put our gear in the back of the car, I noticed that there was a rather stiff wind blowing. I put Sheila in the back seat and we left Livingston Manor at 12:40 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left. I continued up the road to the point where it splits and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. It was a shirt drive to the parking areas on the left. I pulled into the smaller parking area and noticed that there were no other cars. The smaller lot had been partly plowed after the snowstorm but the larger lot was untouched. There was only about 4 inches of snow but the temperature was 17 degrees and the wind was noticeable. As we got out of the car, the dog from the cabin came to visit but the owner called him and this time he obeyed. I set my GPS and we got ready to head out on the Flynn Trail. The plan was to hike up the Flynn Trail and then descend the Big Rock Trail to Times Square. From the trail junction we would continue straight across to the end of the Big Rock Trail and then take the Quick lake Trail back to the car.

We crossed the road at 1:00 PM and got on the Flynn Trail which is sited along what was once the Beech Mountain Road. This road was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. There was only about 4 inches of snow as we walked through the woods. When we got to the woods road, we turned right and began the ascent on the trail. We were surprised to find that the snow showed multiple boot prints and evidence of some snowshoes. We gathered that a group had taken advantage of the snow and had hiked on Sunday. I wondered how far they had gotten. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.75 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We passed through the arch Cindy and I had cut through an enormous hemlock that had fallen across the trail. We walked up the trail stopping a few times so that I could take pictures of the snow on the trail and in the woods. The snows began to get deeper but never exceeded 6 inches. At the trailhead, I wondered if I should have dressed more warmly but once we began hiking I was fine. There didn't seem to be any need for our spikes which made walking easier. We passed by the clearing on the right and continued along the trail. As we hiked, I pointed out to Cindy some of the blowdowns I had cleared the week before. As we neared the highest point on the trail, we ran into a few more blowdowns. I could also feel my legs beginning to get a little tired in the inner thighs but it was much less than with snowshoes. We reached the junction with the Big Rock Trail and decided we would continue with the plan and descend to Times Square. We had hiked the 1.7 miles uphill to the junction and now would have over a mile descent. After I took a few pictures, we turned left to walk down the Big Rock Trail and immediately appreciated the downhill. We were able to take long strides and almost glide downhill in may places. We set a faster pace as we descended the trail passing through the various twists and turns that often make it seem like the bottom of the hill is close. I had to wait for Cindy a few times as she was getting tired. I was glad I had chosen a shorter hike than the Millbrook approach to Balsam Lake Mountain! We were soon at Times Square and we continued straight across to stay on the Big Rock Trail. As we hiked around the back of the pond, I pointed out to Cindy a major blowdown I had cleared. We continued to the bridges over the streams that feed Frick Pond. There was some water flowing under both the bridges. I took a few shots before we passed over the series of wooden walkways which continue to deteriorate. At the end of the Big Rock Trail, we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and walked to the bridge over the outlet stream. There was a nice flow of water coming out of the pond and the sun was forming an interesting pattern on the trees on the north side of the pond. The wind was blowing harder so Cindy walked up the hill while I took some pictures. After a few minutes, I continued up the hill to Gravestone Junction where Cindy was waiting. We continued on the trail and back out to the car. The Quick Lake Trail back to the parking area was completely covered in snow and most of the water was frozen. We arrived at the car at 3:20 PM after hiking 4.0 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes. The elevation gain was 670 feet.

On Saturday, January 18th I was ready to go out for a hike before the predicted snowstorm began at noon. I decided to go to Frick Pond to hike a route which I thought might be a variation of the Loggers' Loop. The temperature was 18 degrees with a breeze blowing. There was also a moist feeling in the air. I asked Cindy of she wanted to go but she thought it was too cold! I did not have to ask Sheila as she is always ready to hike. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top with a light long-sleeved baselayer underneath. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away and decided to wear light tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots even though there was only a little snow as they keep my feet warm and are waterproof. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles as I knew they would help getting traction on the ice. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided against snowshoes but put my microspikes in my pack in case they were needed. As I was getting ready Sheila stayed near me so that I would not "forget" her. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. She was happy to be going anywhere and crouched in the back seat with her head on the console. At 11:15 AM we headed out the DeBruce Road. After about 6 miles, I turned left on Mongaup Pond Road and stayed left where the road split falling Beech Mountain Road to the trailhead. When we arrived at the parking area, there were no cars parked in the smaller lot but one in the larger. The temperature was 20 degrees. I set my GPS and we headed out the woods road to the Quick Lake Trail at 11:35 PM. We passed the trail register and headed toward Frick Pond. The trail was mostly frozen and covered in a light layer of snow. I walked along the sides of the trail to avoid the ice. There was a set of footprints heading out toward the pond and another returning. At Gravestone Junction we turned right to get on the yellow Logger's Loop heading toward Times Square.

We headed out the trail passing several places where we had cut branches and some rather large trunks. Soon we were hiking downhill toward Times Square avoiding several muddy and wet spots along the way. At Times Square I found that the area was wet and that the trail ahead on the Loggers Loop was a sheet of ice. We continued straight ahead on the Logger's Loop starting a slight uphill climb on the icy trail. We continued our hike as the trail continued to rise and then flattened a little. I stopped on the trail near the pond on the right side of the trail to take some pictures. The trail was covered in snow from some snow showers earlier in the week. Just as I started to take some pictures, the snow started to fall right on schedule. I did not walk off the trail to take pictures of the pond as I wanted to get back home before the snow really started to fall. We continued our walk along the trail trying to avoid the icier spots which covered some water. It wasn't long before we were at Iron Wheel Junction where we turned left to head back toward Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail. The trail is slightly downhill which allowed us to keep up a good pace even though there was ice, water and mud on the trail. We came to the small stream in the woods which had a little too much water to cross on the trail. We walked upstream a little and found a narrower spot to cross. Walking through the "spruce tunnel" was easier as it was a little drier than the rest of the trail. Eventually we walked out the other side where the trail was again wet. We arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail and I considered walking around the back of the pond but decided against it because of the snow which was falling harder. We continued on the Quick Lake Trail to the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. I stopped at the bridge despite the fact that I have taken hundreds of pictures from it. I took a few shots of the bridge with Sheila posed on it. I also took shots of the pond even though the snow was falling hard enough to obscure Beech Mountain. I packed up and we continued up the hill and back to Gravestone Junction. At Gravestone Junction we continued out the Quick Lake Trail and back to the car. We arrived at the car at 1:10 PM having hike 3.6 miles in 1 hours and 35 minutes with an elevation gain of 380 feet. The temperature was 24 degrees and the snow was falling even harder.

On Sunday, January 12th I decided I would go to the Frock Pond area after church to removed some blowdowns on the Flynn Trail if the weather allowed. The previous day I had counted more than 10 blowdowns across the trail ranging from small, single trunks to much larger ones, The rain had moved off by morning but the wind was still gusting. I wanted to get he work in while I had the time and because of the forecast for snow at the end of the week, We left church at noon and came directly home. I decided I would go despite the wind but Cindy elected to stay home. I was disappointed to again be hiking alone and I knew I would not get as much work done without any help. The temperature was 55 degrees, the rain had stopped but the wind was still gusting. I knew I would not need to dress too warmly. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top without a baselayer underneath. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B52 boots since they are waterproof. I donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I added a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters. I out a pair of felling wedges in my pack and added my Silky Katanaboy and Sugowaza saws. I also took my Fiskars ax which is light but capable of cutting most trees. I got my gear into the car, put Sheila in the backseat and headed off to the trailhead at 12:40 PM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking areas on the left. I pulled into the smaller parking area and noticed that there were several cars parked in the larger lot. The parking area, which had been was completely covered in ice on the previous day, was clear of ice and snow. It was 1:05 PM when I set my GPS unit and crossed the road to start our hike up the Flynn Trail. The trail was clear of all snow and ice as we made our way to the woods road that the Flynn Trail follows up the hill. The trail was wet and muddy n spots. We passed through the tunnel Cindy and I had cut in am evergreen tree and continued on the trail. Soon Sheila alerted and I saw a couple coming down the trail toward us. We passed them and said "Hello" and Sheila went over to sniff their hands. We continued up the hill.

Around 1:37 PM we came to the first blowdown at about a mile from the parking lot. I always follow the same procedure when clearing large blowdowns. I took out my camera and snapped some "before" shots of the blowdown. I surveyed the blowdown which had one small trunk with several large branches. I removed all the loose branches and then got my small saw. I cut a branch and moved it to a brush pile and repeated that action many times. Eventually I cut the main trunk and removed it to the side of the trail. I took some "after" pictures and noted that it had taken about 30 minutes to do the job. I packed up and headed up the trail with Sheila close behind. I wasn't long until we came to the next job where I repeated a similar set of steps. This blowdown was a larger cherry log. This required I use the larger saw which has huge teeth. The big teeth remove material rapidly but it can be hard to keep it moving. After cutting the smaller branches I turned my attention to the main truck. It looked like I would have to cut it twice so I concentrated on the biggest diameter cut first. I did have a hard time keeping the saw going especially since the trunk wanted to shift and bind the saw. In the end I used the edges to keep the kerf open and used the smaller saw to undercut. The lower part of the trunk was heavier than I thought it would be but I saw able to move it off the trail. I made another cut near the top of the trunk and this one went faster. I was able to removed everything and take my after pictures. Even though there were fewer cuts and less material to move, the job had taken about 30 minutes. Walking to the next blowdown took a little more time and I was not sure how many more I could do. We arrived at 2:40 PM to find a pile of brush on the trail with a few central trunks. After taking my pictures, I began to use the small saw to cut away branches that were underfoot or interfering with my cutting. I had to make a lot of cuts and drag away a lot of branches! As I started to make the final cuts on the trunks, I realized that my back was aching. I decided to use my ax so that I could sue a different set of muscles. The sitting went a little more slowly than I had thought it might. I realized that the trunks were maple which is much harder than beech or birch. By 3:26 PM I had cut, cleared and stacked a large pile of brush and logs. I took my :after" pictures including few of Sheila lying by my pack. I decided that I was dome for the day so we turned around and started the downhill walk back to the car. I was satisfied with what I had accomplished all by myself and anxious to get back to the car. We refaced our route back to the parking area arriving at 4:05 PM. It had taken us 3 hours to hike less than 3 miles!

On Saturday, January 11th I finally had a chance to get out for my first hike of the new year after almost two weeks. I had a morning breakfast meeting with my pastor. When I returned home, the temperature was almost 50 degrees and the rain had stopped. I knew I would not need to dress too warmly. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top with a light long-sleeved baselayer underneath. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Taku boots since I did not need insulation. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles that I have been using lately. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I added a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters. I decided against snowshoes and microspikes since I expected the trails to be mostly clear of snow and ice. I got my gear into the car, put Sheila in the backseat and headed off to the trailhead at 11:30 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking areas on the left. I pulled into the smaller parking area and noticed that there was one other car. The parking area was completely covered in ice with a layer of water! A man with a dog was at the kiosk looking at the map. His dog was a 7 months old Muensterlander and they had been out "hunting" to train the dog. He warned me that the trail out to the pond was icy and even offered to lend me a pair of spikes. I told him I was grateful for the offer but thought I could make it. My plan was to hike to Iron Wheel Junction and walk the Logger's Loop to times Square. From Times Square, I would hike up the Big Rock Trail to the Flynn trail and then back to the car. It was 11:45 PM when I set my GPS unit and started out on the woods road to the trail register and the Quick Lake Trail. The temperature was 50 degrees.

It became immediately obvious to me that I was going to be in trouble without spikes. There was still a lot of ice on the trail nut there did seem to be enough open ground that I thought I could hike safely. At Gravestone Junction, I turned left to head down to Frick Pond. The water level in the pond was a little higher than it had been and there was some ice over some areas of the pond. I had thought I would not stop to take pictures but I couldn't resist even though the scene was bleak. After taking a few shots, I put the camera in the pack and continued on the Quick Lake Trail around the pond bearing left at the next trail junction to stay on the red trail. The ice seemed to dissipate and there was very little snow. The trail was very wet and muddy and my shoes were getting pretty soaked. Soon we came to the "pine promenade" and the little stream through the woods. The water level in the stream was higher than it had been in some time and I had to walk upstream to cross without getting wet. Just before the junction there was a large branch and a pile of smaller ones on the trail and I removed these.We arrived at Iron Wheel Junction at 1.6 miles. Although the skies were dark and the wind had picked up, it was still warm and I was happy to be out. I decided to change my plans and try the big loop up the Quick Lake Trail toward Hodge Pond. We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and started the long uphill climb toward Junkyard Junction. The trail had no snow or ice but was wet and muddy in places. I realized that I was sweating a lot so I stopped and opened up the sippers on my hoody. I also took off my hat and gloves as I was very warm. The long climb and slippery conditions continued to wear on me but it was still great to be out. We were headed for Junkyard Junction at 3.2 miles as Sheila followed a few game trails. The hike seemed a little longer than usual. I did see evidence that someone had cut some blowdowns on the trail including a very large one. I assumed this was the snowmobile club as it was clear a chainsaw was used. At Junkyard Junction, we turned right onto the blue Flynn Trail. I had hoped the trail would be a little drier but it was very wet and muddy. In some places pools extended across the entire trail forcing us to get around them by going into the woods. By this time my feet were wet so I was glad the day was warm. There were no major blowdowns but we continued to remove branches that littered the trail.

When we got to the gate, we turned right to stay on the trail and head down toward Hodge Pond. At 3.75 miles the Flynn Trail heads right but we turned left to go around the back of the pond. The jeep trail was damp but it was much easier to walk than the other trails. We turned right and walked down to the shore so that I could take some pictures. There was a layer of ice on the pond but I could not determine the thickness. I took some shots and then got a bar and a drink.We walked back to the trail and continued clockwise around the pond. We turned left on the woods road that ascended the hill to an area near what remains of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. At the top of the hill, we turned right on the woods road and walked to the Flynn Trail where we turned left. The Flynn Trail had a little snow where the trees shaded the trail but the walk to the junction with the Big Rock Trail went quickly. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail and I knew it was only another 1.7 downhill miles to the car. As we walked, we began to encounter numerous blowdowns on the trail. Some where small and would require only one cut to remove them. Other blowdowns were more complicated and a few were larger. This continued until the area where there is a clearing on the left side of the trail about 1.1 miles from the parking area. After this point, there were only a few branches. This walk sometimes seems long, but on this day it went quickly. We walked through the arch Cindy and I had cut in a big evergreen tree and then turned left just before the gate to avoid the private property around the cabin. The trail through the woods had some ice and snow. As we approached the register, Sheila alerted and I saw another hiker approaching with his unleashed dog. I put Sheila on her leash and the other hiker asked if she was friendly. I answered "sometimes". We continued on the trail while the other hiker headed up through the woods to the driveway for the cabin! This is private property and I suspected that the hiker did not have permission to hike there. I almost called out to him but in the end let him go. I have turned back on hikes or altered my route to avoid private property so it always amazes me when people trespass. I am never sure whether they just don't care or are unaware but the result is the same. We continued on the trail and were back at the car at 2:45 PM. We had hiked 6.4 miles in just under 3 hours for a moving rate of 2.3 mph. Our elevation gain was 905 feet.

On Tuesday, December 31st, I wanted to get out for a final hike of 2019. The storm on Monday had left a sloppy mess in the valleys but I could see ice on all the trees at 1800 feet and above. I decided to hike to the Red Hill Fire Tower since son-on-law Brad had never been there and I thought we could safely drive there. The roads in town were in good shape but I knew the back roads might be a problem especially when we started to gain elevation to get to Red Hill. I also knew the access road to the parking area for the fire tower would probably be impassable. We began to get ready around 11:30 AM. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top with a light long-sleeved baselayer underneath. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away and decided to wear light tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots even though there was no snow as they keep my feet warm and are waterproof. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles as I knew there were several climbs where they would come in handy. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided against snowshoes but Bard and I both put microspikes in our packs in case they were needed. As I was getting ready Sheila stayed near me so that I would not "forget" her. We put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. As we left Livingston Manor the roads were clear and the temperature was 37 degrees. I drove out the Debruce Road until it ended at Route 47. I turned right and drove to the Claryville Road where I turned left to drive through Claryville. I watched for Red Hill Road on the right and as I made the turn I could see the road was in good shape. As I drove up the hill, we immediately began to see a lot of ice on the trees and wires. There were some branches in the roadway. As the road began to level we ran into a contracted crew working on the power lines and the trees around them. I stopped to take some pictures at a point where there is a lookout on the right. It was sunny and the sunlight sparkled on the ice. I stepped into a field just enough to keep the wires out of my pictures. I took several shots of the hills with ice and some of the trees that were nearer and also covered in ice. After driving a total of three miles on Red Hill Road and I turned left on Coons-Dinch Road. This road is gravel and dirt and was in pretty poor shape . Just after the top of the hill, the road became rougher. At the beginning of the downhill cars were parked off the road on the right side and I found a spot to park. When we exited the car, we could see ice falling off the trees and here trees falling in the woods. I might have turned around but Brad encouraged me to hike. I took a few more pictures of the ice and then got ready to hike. Both Brad and I put on our spikes and I set my GPS. We were in no real hurry as another family with their dog had started just before us. I set my GPS and we started to hike at 12:40 PM with the temperature at 36 degrees. The road down to the parking area was covered in ice and snow and after a short distance there was a barrier that closed the road. The walking downhill was easy but I remembered we would have to walk back up the hill at the end of our hike. After .7 miles, we reached the parking area and headed off on the trail at a relaxed pace talking as we hiked.

We crossed a small stream that was flowing freely and continued along the trail. All the trees were covered in ice which was melting. At times, a slight breeze blew which pelted us with ice. There were a lot of branches down on the trail and Brad and I began removing them as we walked. I am always surprised that other hikers will simply ignore these branches as if they were not there! A couple approached us with their dog on a leash and we said "Hello" as we passed. This would happen three more times on the ascent and once at the summit and all but one group had a dog. The trail has a few steep spots at the beginning but then levels out a little before beginning the final climb. We stopped a few times along the way so that I could catch my breath and to look at the beautiful forest. As we gained elevation we could see that the sun had disappeared and that we were in a fog or perhaps cloud. The last .3 miles which averages a little over an 20% grade was challenging. It did seem that hiking without spikes would be foolish. At 1:55 PM we arrived at the tower clearing and walked passed a family and there dog to one of the picnic tables in the clearing. It was clear that we were surrounded by a thick fog or cloud but at least we could see the trees around us. I dropped my pack and tethered Sheila to the picnic table. Unlike some dogs, Sheila has no problem climbing up and down the open steps and I didn't want her following us to the top as I knew the steps would be slippery. I took some shots of the tower and then Brad and I started to climb the steps. There was a which layer of ice on everything and I would not have attempted the climb without spikes. I took some pictures of the ice on the tower and we eventually made it to the landing below the cab. I began to take pictures of the surrounding trees, the cabin and Shiela. I took some shots of the ice on the tower and the trapdoor to the cab. We could see than no one else had been to the upper levels as the ice was undisturbed. The climb down was a little more harrowing then the ascent but soon we were on the ground. I took a shot of the cabin, got a drink and a bar and started the hike back. The trip down went fast and would have been quicker except we had to avoid the barnacles leaning over into the path. We also slowed to remove a few more branches. By 2:55 PM we were back at the regular parking area with only the walk up the road between us and the car. I have to admit that the .7 miles back to the car seemed much longer to me. We stopped a few times until I saw able to catch my breath. At 3:15 PM we were back to car and found we were the last ones to return. We had hiked only 3.8 miles in 2.5 hours but I was happy we had hiked on the last day of the year.

On Saturday, December 28th I decided I wanted to hike to Jensen Ledges between Long Eddy and Lordville. I had been planning to do this for some time and the fairest for the day called for temperatures near 40 and partly sunny skies. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and she agreed. I was unsure of the road from Lordville to the trailhead so I decided we would try hiking from Long Eddy, a route I had never tried before. We began to get ready just before 10:00 AM. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top with a light long-sleeved baselayer underneath. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away and decided to wear light tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots even though there was no snow as they keep my feet warm and are waterproof. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles as I knew there were several climbs where they would come in handy. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. Cindy and I decided against snowshoes but we both put microspikes in our packs in case they were needed. As I was getting ready Sheila stayed near me so that I would not "forget" her. I got our gear into the car, put Sheila in the backseat and headed off to the trailhead at 10:00 AM. I left Livingston Manor and headed over Shandelee taking the backboards to get on Route 97 just south of Hankins. I headed north on Route 97 and it was a short drive to Long Eddy. We could Se that there was parking at the Basket Historical Society on Route 97 in Long Eddy but we decided to drive down Acid Factory Road to check out the route. I turned left and drove about .4 miles where the dirt road deteriorated an signs sated "No Motorized Vehicles". I could see that someone had ignored the signs but decided to drive back to the historical society and park. We parked and started out at 10:50 AM after I set my GPS. We walked north on Route 97 and almost immediately turned left on Kinney Road which became Acid Factory Road in a short distance. A small sign on the left side of the road explained some of the industrial history of Long Eddy which included logging and wood alcohol production. We continued down the road and passed the point where we had turned around. I let Sheila off her leash and we began walking the road which was covered in mud, water, ice and snow! I was not sure where the trail actually began but was looking for a gate which was mentioned in some accounts.

As we walked we passed several cabins which were in disrepair but also saw some very well-kept houses and cabins. I was beginning to wonder if we were on the right track when I looked ahead to see a gate. The gate was about 1 mile from the car and there were signs indicating state property. I could see some red trail markers and I knew we were in the right place. The road beyond the gate was definitely a woods road but the walking was relatively easy except for a few blowdowns which we easily avoided. There should have been no motorized vehicles on the trail but we saw plenty of evidence that someone had ignored these rules. The temperature was just below 40 degrees but a wind was blowing and the air felt damp. As we walked, we could look down to the Delaware River on the left. We could also see the railroads tracks which were doubled in at least one spot. The trail was dry in places and wet, muddy and icy in others. At 1,2 miles the trail began to turn from west to north. We had been walking an almost flat trail until at 1.6 miles it began to gain elevation. The grade was pretty gentle but the change was obvious. As we climbed I got warmer and opened the zippers on my hoody. At 2.25 miles the trail leveled some and then began to gain elevation again at a slightly steeper grade. There were some large blowdowns to work around as we neared the highest part of the trail which I knew meant the Ledges were near. We encountered some signs indicating that trespassing was not allowed. My understanding was that the Falcon Rod and Gun Club had given permission for hiking on the trail nut the signs made me wonder if the stays had changed.

At 2.9 miles, the trail split and we turned left to head up to the Ledges. When we arrived, I made sure that Sheila stayed back from the edge as there was some ice. The skies were overcast and there was some haze. I took quite a few pictures of the river in both directions and a few across to the Pennsylvania side. Cindy and I then walked a little farther along the Ledges to the area of the quarry. Bluestone had been quarried here and there were many small pieces left over. Patient visitors had created some "furniture" a elaborate cairns. I took some pictures down to the river and some more of the cairns. I even took some shots of Cindy and Sheila sitting in a "chair". I could hear the waterfall just a little farther along and decided to visit it without taking my pack. Sheila and I walked the path to the waterfall as Cindy had declined the invitation. As we approached the waterfall, the ground was frozen and there was some ice. I though about the people who had fallen down the cliffs here and knew I had to be very careful. I could hear and see some people on Te main trail coming from Lordsville and told Sheila to stay close. I worked my way down to the edge of the stream and took some pictures of the falls including one of the steep drop. After finishing my photography, I put Sheila one her leash and we returned to the area of the quarry. The couple with a child and a puppy on a leash were at the quarry. I asked if they knew anything about the posted signs and they assured me that the arrangement for hiking had not changed. They also told me that the road from Lordsville to the trailhead was passable. I walked back to Cindy and noticed that the sun was now out. I took a few pictures from the quarry and then we walked back to the Ledges. I took a few more shots here as the sun gave the landscape a completely different look. Finally, I packed up and we started back. We knew the route back was almost all downhill and flat. I though the trip back would go quickly but was supplied when I looked up to see the gate! From the gate it was only a mile back to the car. We did take some time to look at some of the buildings along the way including a stone structure that was probably once used as a well house. I also took a few pictures of the river. Along the way we could hear voices from the river and we looked won to see two men in a small motorboat. On our way back to the car a local resident stopped us to ask us about our hike. We were back at the car at 1:50 PM having hiked 6 miles in 3 hours with an elevation gain of 730 feet.

On Thursday, December 26th, I wanted to go for a hike but had to be back rather early in the afternoon. I thought about going to Jensen Ledge but was not sure of the condition of the road that accesses the trailhead. I decided that I would take Sheila and go to the Tusten Mountain Trail and do the loop in a counterclockwise direction. The Tusten Mountain Trail between Barryville and Narrowsburg just off Route 97. I had not been to the area in several years and prefer not to go there unless the weather is cold due to the possibility of encountering rattlesnakes. The trail has a nice lookout over the Delaware River from the top of the mountain, a stone arch bridge and several stone quarries along the path. The temperature was in the low 30's when I got up and the skies were overcast so I did not hurry to get ready. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top with a light long-sleeved baselayer underneath. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away and decided to wear light tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots even though there was no snow as they keep my feet warm and are waterproof. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles as I knew there were several climbs where they would come in handy. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided against snowshoes but put my microspikes in my pack in case they were needed. As I was getting ready Sheila stayed near me so that I would not "forget" her. I got my gear into the car, put Sheila in the backseat and headed off to the trailhead at 10:00 AM. I left Livingston Manor and headed over Shandelee to Youngsville to get on Route 52. I followed Route 52 through Jeffersonville, Kenoza Lake, and Lake Huntigton to Route 97. I turned left or south and drove for a few minutes. I realized I was not sure if I was going in the right direction or how far I should rive! I pulled over and found that, fortunately, I had internet access. I quickly brought up my own website and found I needed to drive about 5 miles south to Crawford Road. I followed my own instructions and turned right onto Crawford Road and drove down to the trailhead. Just before the boat access on the right, we spotted the small sign board and the trailhead parking on the right. We parked and I set my GPS as we started to hike out the access were hiking by 11:15 AM. The air felt cold and damp and the breeze made it feel even cooler. We walked along Tusten Road which is a seasonal maintenance road that parallels the river for less than a quarter mile. The surface of the road was covered in packed snow and ice which made then walk very slippery and I considered donning my spikes. As we approached the stone arch bridge that crosses a small creek that flows into the river, I decided to walk down the bank to a point just downstream of the bridge. This would give me the best angle to take pictures of the stream and the bridge. The bank was too slippery and steep to descend without spikes, so I stopped to put them on. We walked down to the edge of the stream and I took some pictures of the bridge and the water. I repositioned and took some more shots before walking back to my pack and stowing the camera. I noticed a man walking with is dog as they passed us, crossed the ridge and continued along a road. We walked to the bridge and stopped so that I could take some more pictures of the stream before continuing on. The road was icy in some places and snowy in others. There were even some bare spots. I put Sheila on her leash and we passed the man and his dog and did not see them again. As we walked I noticed a small pond on the right and realized that the water filled what was left of a stone quarry. I enjoy visiting quarries and mines as they tell a story of the past. I decided to keep walking and take pictures on the way back. At the .6 mile mark, a sign pointed to the trail on the right. Tusten Road continued straight ahead and I thought we might walk along it when we came back from the trail loop. We turned right and came to the trail register. The trails splits and hikers can choose to go left or right. I had always hiked the trail in the clockwise direction so this time we turned right to start the trail in a counterclockwise direction.

Over the next .4 miles the trail remained mostly flat but we did gain some elevation. The forest was mostly evergreen and there was almost now snow there. We crossed a small bridge and passed a lean-to and privy. There were several blowdown which were too big to move so we walked around them. At 1.2 miles the trail split. The yellow trail turned left while a red trail marked TMR continued straight ahead. As I was contemplating which choice I would make, an unleashed dog appeared from farther untie yellow trail. As soon as the dog saw us, he turned around and walked back u the trail. I decided we would stay on the yellow trail and so we turned left. Within a few hundred feet, we met the dog again and the people he was hiking with. The owner leashed the dog which wasn't really necessary and we stopped to talk briefly. Sheila and I continued on the trail which began to gain some elevation as it headed due north. We came to a mound of rock on the right side of the trail which I knew represented the castoff stone from the quarries. I took some pictures before stowing my camera and climbing the hill to the top of the pile of stones. On the left side of the trail was one of the quarries which was an extended cut along some cliffs. I stopped to take some pictures of the cut and the piles of discarded rock. We returned to the main trail where I took a few more pictures. I walked straight ahead while Sheila turned up the hill at about 1.5 miles. I called her back but then realized she was following the trail. I should know by now that Sheila has an uncanny ability to stay on trails even I they have not been recently traveled! We walked to the top of the steep but short climb where the trail turned left. The trail gained a little more elevation and then flattened as it followed the edge of the mountain. Some views were available through the trees but there is a better view at the highest point on the trail. I did stop to take a picture of a flat stone that had been removed from the quarry but not used. This stone had drill marks along the edge which were used to score the stone.

We continued heading due west until we came to the last short, steep climb to the highest point on the trail. The lookout here gave an expansive view so I took some shots. There was a haze over the valley and surrounding hills and the sun was directly ahead. Even though the conditions were not the best, I took pictures. When I finished, I packed up and we continued on the trail along the edge of the summit plateau which, being exposed to the sun, had little or no snow. At about 1.9 miles the trail turned to the left and started to descend to the southwest. I could see there was almost now snow on the trail ahead and decided to remove my spikes. The trail widened as it joined a woods road and the descent went quickly. As we started to get to a lower elevation where more trees covered the path, the snow returned. I debated putting the spikes back on but kept them off and walked in the softer snow beside the trail. I was surprised when the register box came into sight at 2.4 miles. We turned right to walk out to the woods road and I saw two boys stop briefly at the trail entrance and then continue north on the road. We walked out to the road and turned left to get back to the car. The road was still slippery but I continued to walk along the side to avoid the worst of the ice. I stopped at the quarry I had seen on the way out and took some shots. From that point on we just walked along the road, over the bridge, and back to the car. I put Sheila in the car and grabbed the camera. I walked down the bank to the Delaware River and took some pictures up and down the river. The water was flowing swiftly but there was some ice gathered near the shore. After taking some shots, I returned to the car. We had hiked 3 miles in just under 2 hours with an elevation gain of only 620 feet. I thought about going to Cobey Pond but decided to return home and leave it for another day.

On Monday, December 23rd, I asked Cindy if she would like to hike and she said "Yes". I though about going to the Hodge Pond Lookout to see what the view looked like without the leaves on the trees. Sheila seemed to be very excited about going as soon as she realized we both were getting out hiking clothes. The temperature at the house was pushing 40 degrees so I knew I would not need to dress too warmly. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top with a light long-sleeved baselayer underneath. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots even though there was no snow as they keep my feet warm and are waterproof. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided against snowshoes but put my microspikes in my pack in case they were needed. We got our gear into the car, put Sheila in the backseat and headed off to the trailhead at 11:30 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking areas on the left. I pulled into the smaller parking area and noticed that there were no other cars. It was 11:45 PM when I set my GPS unit and we crossed the road to head up the Flynn Trail with the temperature at 41 degrees. We walked through the trail in the woods to get to the woods road that continued toward Hodge Pond. I had given Cindy my microspikes as she had forgotten hers and the trail was snow-covered and somewhat slippery. When we turned right on the woods that is the beginning of the Flynn Trail, there was one set of footprints that looked several days old. I was surprised the trail was so lightly used and that there were no other hikers out on such a beautiful day. We set a fast pace up the Flynn Trail powered by the beautiful weather but somewhat hindered by the slippery conditions. I removed several branches and one larger blowdown along the way. The Flynn Trail is uphill all the way for the first 1.7 miles to the Big Rock Junction and on this day it took almost an hour. We continued through the junction and passed through the gate which is the boundary between state land and OSI popery. We continued on the trail to the point where the Flynn Trail heads downhill to Hodge Pond. Here we turned to the right on a woods road and walked along the "high road" to the junction of some roads above the pond. At this junction a road turns left to go down to the pond. Just a little further on the road splits with the left fork passing by the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp and ending up on Shin Creek Road in Lew Beach. We continued straight ahead to climb the road up the hill. The road was a little steeper than I remembered and a little longer. Up to this point Cindy had been right behind me but on the uphill she began to lad behind. The sun had started to melt some of the snow and ice which made the surface even slipperier but these were easily avoided.

I slowed my pace to allow Cindy to catch up some and we soon passed an old quarry where the trail leveled some. The trail began to gain elevation again and we passed by a spring house on the right. At 2.6 miles we came to a lookout on the left of the trail. The lookout had been "cut out" so that the hills and valleys beyond were much more visible. I stopped to take a few pictures and to wait for Cindy. When she arrived at the lookout, she told me to continue as she took a break. I followed the road which made a sharp right turn. Just after this the road turned to the left but another trail branched off to the right. Sheila and I turned onto the trail on the right which was well defined but covered in snow. After a slight incline, we walked to 2.9 miles over flat ground to the Hodge Pond Lookout. This lookout had also been cut out giving a much better view than I had seen in years. I dropped my pack and took some pictures of the pond below and the hills in the distance. I also took some pictures of the rocks on the other side of the trail from the lookout and a few of the snow on the trail. I grabbed a drink and then turned back on the trail to return to where Cindy was waiting. When I reached Cindy, We headed back down the hill. The trip down was a little more exciting than the trip up due to the slippery spots that seemed much slipperier on the way down! When we got to the base of the hill at the junction of the roads, I stopped to take a few pictures of the old cabins from the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. I had planned to walk down to Hodge Pond but Cindy asked that we continue straight ahead to the Flynn Trail. We walked out to the Flynn Trail, turned left and were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 4.6 miles. My plan was to hike down the Big Rock Trail and to walk around the back of Frick Pond. Again, Cindy asked that we take the Flynn Trail directly back to the car. I hate out and back hikes but I knew she was hurting so we continued straight ahead. The trip down the Flynn Trail seemed to take forever even though it felt we were setting a faster pace. Every time it seemed we were nearing the end, there was another section of trail. Finally, the large hemlock across the trail came into sight. We passed through the arch we had cut through the tree and turned left on the Flynn Trail to avoid the private property around the cabin. We walked the trail back to the car arriving at 2:50 PM. We had hiked 5.8 miles in 3 hours gaining 1020 feet along the way.

On Saturday, December 21st I planned to sleep late as I had returned hoe just before midnight from a track meet at West Point. A morning ambulance call changed that plan. When I got home from the call, I did some chores around the house and then took a nap. By 2:15 PM I was ready to get outside to do some kind of hike. I decided to just go across the street and remove a large blowdown on Round Top. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes the snow and she was keeping a careful eye on me as I started to get ready. Sheila misses the hiking as much as I do since I have returned to full-time teaching for the rest of this school year! I started to get ready with the temperature hovering just below 30 degrees. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top with a light long-sleeved baselayer underneath. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots even though there was no snow as they keep my feet warm and are waterproof. I grabbed my Fiskars axe instead of a pair of hiking poles. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided against snowshoes or microspikes since I planned to hike the gentle slope of the woods road to the blowdown and then return home. At 2:45 PM Sheila and I walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. The driveway was the first indication that spikes might have been a good idea. The ice and packed snow made the driveway a slippery mess so I had to walk on the snow along the edge. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked through the field to the back of the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill which was covered in snow and ice.

There was a few inches of snow and then ice on top as we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail was completely covered in snow and ice. At the first trail junction, we turned right and started up the woods road where the walking was relatively easy. We turned off left off the woods road to follow the trail and immediately ran into the blowdown. I got right to work by clearing a few loose branches. I grabbed the axe and cut the top out of one of the trees that had fallen. The cuts went quickly as the wood was frozen. I dragged the two large branches off the trail and then removed a few more large branches. Another cut freed a large branch which I removed. One other small trunk had to be removed and I was almost done. I cut a large section of the trunk as it was hanging over onto the trail and then moved it to the side. The whole process had taken about 20 minutes. As I finished Sheila began to run up the trail. It was still early enough to take a little walk so I followed her up to the junction with the blue trail. I decided we would do a figure 8 as I did not want to come down the steeper side of the hill. We turned left and walked along the base of Round Top to the next trail junction. Here we turned right and began the climb to the summit. It seemed clear to me that the only tracks on the trail were the ones I had put there on the previous Tuesday. My tracks were frozen and it was difficult going without poles or any traction on my feet. At the top we crossed the flat summit and began to descend the other side. The descent was also slippery so I hung on to a few trees on the way down. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and again walked the yellow trail to the junction with the blue trail, This time we turned left and followed it downhill to the lookout. We continued to follow the yellow trail as it turned left and took us downhill to the first trail junction. I thought we were done but Sheila turned around and headed back up the trail to the lookout. I decided we would do a small loop so I followed her back up to the viewpoint. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and continued to the junction with the blue trail. A right turn took us along the base of Round Top to the second junction with the blue trail. We turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the woods road. As we passed by the blowdown I had cleared I inspected the work and found it to be a good job. When we arrived at the first trail junction we turned left and walked out to the trailhead. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down the hill, out through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. It was 4:00 PM and we had hiked about 2 miles in just over an hour including the time to do the trail work.

Fall 2019

On Tuesday, December 17th I had a day off from school because of a snow and ice storm that hit the area. By mid-morning the storm had let up leaving a sloppy mess on the roads. By 11:00 AM, there was still a mix of sleet and rain nut I decided to head across the street anyway since Sheila would not leave me alone. I wanted to get in a quick hike and knew I could cut it short if I was getting too wet. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes the snow and she was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed. Sheila misses the hiking as much as I do since I have returned to full-time teaching for the rest of this school year! At 11:00 AM I started to get ready with the temperature hovering just below 30 degrees. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top with a light long-sleeved baselayer underneath. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots even though there was no snow as they keep my feet warm and are waterproof. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I decided against snowshoes but did put on microspikes to make sure that I had some traction in the ice and snow. At 11:30 PM Sheila and I walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do at least two figure 8's which might be enough given the situation. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked through the field to the back of the Presbyterian Church. The roads were a mess but the pre-treating seemed to be effective in limiting the ice. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill.

There was a few inches of snow and then ice on top as we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail was completely covered in snow and ice. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight up the hill toward the viewpoint. At the top of the hill, we continued on the trail turning right. We followed the trail as it gently gained elevation toward the junction with the blue trail. The trail surface was slippery but the spikes did a good job of giving me traction. Several places along the way I stopped to remove branches, some large and some small, from the trail. At the next trail junction, we turned right to follow the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. At the next trail junction we turned left and headed up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. I had no problem making it to the top. We were soon passing over the top of the hill and starting down the other side. The trail continued to be slippery but I used my poles and was soon back at the junction with the yellow trail. At the bottom of the hill we turn left to follow the yellow trail to the next trail junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail down toward the woods road. Halfway down there was a large blowdown nearly blocking the trail. I removed some of the branches but it was clear I would need tools to completely clear the trail. We continued down the trail that returned us to the first trail junction. I decided that I was pretty wet but that I would go home and get an axe to come back and clear the blowdown. At the trail junction. we turned left and continued straight ahead toward the trailhead. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down the hill, out through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. The rain and sleet was coming down harder and I was getting wet. When we arrived home, I decided NOT to return to clear the blowdown but to leave it for another day. It was 11:45 AM and we had hiked a little over a mile in just under an hour.

On Sunday, December 15th I wanted to get in a quick hike after church since teaching, coaching timing sporting events had conspired to keep me off the trails. When I got home from church, I decided to make a quick run to Pecks and then get outside. Cindy was sick and I knew Sheila would be happy just getting outside, so I chose to go across the street for a couple of figure 8's on Round Top. The temperature was right around 32 degrees but the wind and intermittent precipitation made it1 feel much colder. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes the snow and she was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed. Sheila misses the hiking as much as I do since I have returned to full-time teaching for the rest of this school year! I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top with a light long-sleeved baselayer underneath. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but decided against wearing tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots even though there was no snow as they keep my feet warm and are waterproof. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. At 1:30 PM Sheila and I walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do at least two figure 8's which might be enough given the situation. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. The roads seemed clear with only water on the surface. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill.

We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead where I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail was completely bare with no snow. It was wet and muddy in spots. There were a few small areas of snow in the woods.covered in snow but the path was obvious. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight up the hill toward the viewpoint. At the top of the hill, we continued on the trail turning right. We followed the trail as it gently gained elevation toward the junction with the blue trail. The trail surface was a little slippery from the recent rain and some ice that had fallen. At the next trail junction, we turned right to follow the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. At the next trail junction we turned left and headed up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. I had no problem making it to the top. We were soon passing over the top of the hill and starting down the other side. The trail continued to be slippery but I used my poles and was soon back at the junction with the yellow trail. At the bottom of the hill we turn left to follow the yellow trail to the next trail junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the woods road that returned us to the first trail junction. All the time Sheila explored off-trail but stayed close enough to hear my voice. When we reached the first trail junction, we turned around and walked back up the woods road. At the first junction with the blue trail we turned left and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the second junction, we turned right and walked up the blue trail to the summit of Round Top. We walked down the other side to the junction and turned right. We followed the yellow trail turning left and the next junction to walk down to the lookout. At the lookout we stayed to the left and walked down the hill to the first trail junction. I was satisfied that I had done enough. We continued straight ahead and walked out toward the trailhead. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down the hill, out through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. It was 2:45 PM and we had hiked over 2 miles in just over an hour.

On Saturday, December 7th, I wanted to get out and hike on snowshoes as the forecast seemed to indicate the snow would be gone or at least reduced by midweek. When I got up the temperature was in the low 20's but the sky was blue with many white, puffy clouds. I asked Cindy if she would like to go to Frick Pond and hike and she said "Yes". We decided to wait a little while so I didn't start to get dressed until 10:00 AM. As I gathered my clothing and equipment, Sheila got wind of what was going on and began running around the house barking. I got dressed in a Patagonia 1/4-zip wool long-sleeved top for some extra warmth. I also put on a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away with a pair of light tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots which have been discontinued but are my favorite boots for snowshoeing. I put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters as I did not know the depth of snow we would encounter. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. Both Cindy and I decided to use our Tubbs Alp Flex VTR snowshoes. The Boa binding on these uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 10:10 AM as I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking areas on the left. I pulled into the smaller parking area and noticed that there were no other cars. The lots had been plowed after the major snowstorm but still had some snow in them. We put on our snowshoes and got ready to head out on the Flynn Trail with a slight breeze making the 25 degree temperature seem even colder. I had forgotten my GPS until but knew the route and the time it should take. The plan was to hike up the Flynn Trail and then descend the Big Rock Trail to Times Square. From the trail junction we would continue straight across to the end of the Big Rock Trail and then take the Quick lake Trail back to the car.

We crossed the road and got on the Flynn Trail which is sited along what was once the Beech Mountain Road. This road was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. There was only about 4 inches of snow as we walked through the woods. When we got to the woods road, we turned right and began the ascent on the trail. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.75 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We passed through the arch Cindy and I had cut through an enormous hemlock that had fallen across the trail. We walked up the trail stopping a few times so that I could take pictures of the snow on the trail and in the woods. The snows began to get deeper hovering around 8 inches with some drifts up to a foot. As we neared the top I could feel my legs beginning to get tired especially in the inner thighs. We reached the junction with the Big Rock Trail and decided we would continue with the plan and descend to Times Square. We had hiked the 1.7 miles uphill to the junction and now would have over a mile descent. We turned left to walk down the Big Rock Trail and immediately appreciated the downhill. We were able to take long strides and glide downhill in may places. We set a faster pace as we descended the trail passing through the various twists and turns that often make it seem like the bottom of the hill is close. We did stop a few times so that I could take some shots of the snow and sky. We were soon at Times Square and we continued straight across to stay on the Big Rock Trail. As we hiked around the back of the pond, I pointed out to Cindy a major blowdown I had cleared. We continued to the bridges over the streams that feed Frick Pond. There was some water flowing under both the bridges. We passed over the series of wooden walkways which continue to deteriorate. At the end of the Big Rock Trail, we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and walked to the bridge over the outlet stream. There was a nice flow of water coming out of the pond and the sun was forming an interesting pattern on the trees on the north side of the pond. By the time I put my pack down and got out the camera the lighting had changed but I took some pictures anyway. After a few minutes, I continued up the hill to Gravestone Junction where Cindy was waiting. We continued on the trail and back out to the car. The Quick Lake Trail back to the parking area was completely covered in snow and most of the water was frozen. We arrived at the car at 1:30 PM after hiking 4.0 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes. The elevation gain was 670 feet.

On Monday, December 2nd I had an extra day off from school due to the first big snowstorm of the winter. Although it was still snowing lightly in the morning, I decided to go across the street and hike on Round Top. My main objective was to get some pictures of the snow-covered trees but I knew getting some exercise would be a good idea also. Before I could go hiking, I had to shovel the walks and clean off my car. I was surprised to find only about 6 inches of accumulated snow. The bottom layer was frozen and packed making getting everything cleared a chore. When I was done I came inside to change into hiking clothes. The temperature was relatively warm at 32 degrees so I planned to dress accordingly. Sheila was ready to go as she really likes the snow and she was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed. Sheila misses the hiking as much as I do since I have returned to full-time teaching for the rest of this school year! I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top with a light baselayer underneath. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away with a pair of light tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots which have been discontinued but are my favorite boots for snow. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a blaze orange hat and wore a medium weight pair of gloves. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away but did not put any tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots which have been discontinued but are my favorite boots for snow. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a blaze orange hat and wore a medium weight pair of gloves. I thought about wearing snowshoes or at least taking spikes but decided in the end they would not be necessary. At 12:30 PM Sheila and I walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do at least two figure 8's which might be enough given the situation. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. The roads seemed clear with only water on the surface. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. I stopped to survey the scene and decided to take a few pictures looking up the hill. All the trees were covered in snow and the snow on the hill was unbroken since children no longer ride sleds. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. I paused at the top of the hill and got out my camera to take pictures of the snow-covered trees and some of the buildings in town.

We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead where I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail was completely covered in snow but the path was obvious. We walk into the woods a little way and then I took some more pictures. At the first trail junction, I stopped again to take more pictures of the trails in both directions. After packing up my camera, I followed Sheila as she continued straight up the hill toward the viewpoint. At the top of the hill, I turned left and walked out to the lookout. All the trees and buildings in town were covered in snow. There was also snow still falling forming a "haze". I took out my camera and took numerous pictures since everything was so beautiful. When I was done, I walked back the way I had come and turned left on the main trail. We turned right and followed the trail as it gently gained elevation toward the junction with the blue trail. The trail surface was a little slippery and snowshoes could have been used but were not necessary. At the next trail junction, we turned right to follow the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. I once again fit out the camera to take a few more shots. At the next trail junction we turned left and headed up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. This was definitely a challenge without any traction device but I had no problem making it to the top. We were soon passing over the top of the hill and starting down the other side. The trail was slippery but I used my poles and was soon back at the junction with the yellow trail. At the bottom of the hill we turn left to follow the yellow trail to the next trail junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the woods road that returned us to the first trail junction. All the time Sheila explored off-trail but stayed close enough to hear my voice. When we reached the first trail junction, we turned around and walked back up the woods road. I decided I would not take any pictures on this loop. At the first junction with the blue trail we turned left and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the second junction, we turned right and walked up the blue trail through the ferns to the summit of Round Top. We walked down the other side to the junction and turned right. We followed the yellow trail turning left and the next junction to walk down to the lookout. At the lookout we stayed to the left and walked down the hill to the first trail junction. I was satisfied that I had done enough. We continued straight ahead and walked out toward the trailhead. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down the hill, out through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. It was 1:45 PM and we had hiked over 2 miles in just over an hour.

On Sunday, December 1st, the first big snowstorm of the year was forecast to dump as much as 20 inches of snow and .25 inches of ice over two days. I decided that I would go for a short "first day" hike before the brunt of the storm hit. I felt a little guilty that I was not staying home for possible ambulance class but I thought most people would be sensible enough to stay off the roads. When I got up just before 8:00 AM, the temperature was 22 degrees and it seemed raw outside. I knew I wanted to get started and finished as soon as possible. Brad was not available so it would be just Sheila and I on the hike. I started to get ready at 8: 30 AM. Sheila got wind of what was going on and began running around the house barking. I got dressed in a Patagonia 1/4-zip wool long-sleeved top for some extra warmth. I also put on a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away with a pair of light tights underneath. I wore my Salomon B-52 insulated boots which have been discontinued but are my favorite boots for snow. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. Finally, I also donned my Mammut hoody which blocks the wind and keeps me warm but has enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a blaze orange hat and wore a medium weight pair of gloves. I found an orange vest and put it on Sheila who did not seem to mind. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. As we were about to leave, sleet began to fall. I decided to head for Frick Pond to see what the road conditions were like knowing I could always turn around. We left Livingston Manor at 9:45 AM as I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking areas on the left. I pulled into the smaller parking area and noticed that there was one car parked in the larger lot. My original plan had been to hike up the Flynn Trail to the lookout over Hodge Pond on Beech Mountain. I revised my plans and decided I would start hiking around Frick Pond clockwise and make a decision about my route when I reached Times Square. Just as we were about to begin rain and sleet began to fall despite the fact that the temperature was 26 degrees. I decided to start hiking and see what happened. I set my GPS and we walked out the woods road to the Quick Lake Trail at the register. The woods road was a mix of frozen mud and ice. The ruts caused by the DEC crews doing trail work did not seem to be "improvements" to me. Within a short distance, a dog began barking and I looked up to see a dog coming our way. I immediately put Sheila on her leash as the other dog advanced. The owner of the other dog called it back and got out a leash. As we passed, she offered an apology saying "I didn't expect to see anybody else." We continued in our separate directions and at Gravestone Junction we stayed left to walk down to Frick Pond.

At the bridge I decided to take a few pictures even though the scene was bleak and some precipitation was falling. I was surprised that the trees on Beech Mountain were not covered in frozen snow and ice. I snapped a few shots and then decided to get going. As we walked around the west side of the pond, I noted that the usually wet spots were completely frozen and that there were more ruts on the trails we had so carefully tried to preserve. At the next trail junction we turned right on the Big Rock Trail to walk around the pond on the wooden boardwalks. The boardwalks were covered in a layer of ice and snow which was very slippery. Since the boardwalks are elevated and surrounded by air, they are colder than the surrounding ground and often freeze. I took a few pictures and then we continued through the evergreen tunnel and across two more bridges. We passed by the large blowdown I had cleared on my last trip and I was glad to see it was still clear. When we reached Times Square, I decided I need the climb to the Flynn Trail for exercise. We continued straight ahead on the Big Rock Trail up the hill. From Times Square to the Flynn Trail junction the Big Rock Trail rises 625 feet in 1.1 miles. This doesn't sound like much but it always seems to be a little farther and a little longer than I remember. A little more than a third of the way up the trail we began to run into snow covering the ground. I stopped to take a few photographs and then continued up the hill. There are three different "tiers" to the trail and they sometimes go very slowly but this time I was near the top before I even thought about it. I have not been hiking as much as I would like and am out of shape. Soon we had walked 2.2 miles and were at the junction with the Flynn Trail. There was more snow here than anywhere else so I took some shot before continuing. We turned right to head down the Flynn Trail to the car. This return trip Sometimes seems longer than the 1.7 miles that is posted which is the correct distance. The trail is pretty but has no views. On this day it seemed to go much faster probably since it is mostly downhill after the climb up the Big Rock Trail. On the last section of the trail, the mixture of sleet and snow began to fall again only harder than before. Near the end of the trail we came to the "arch" Cindy and I had created through an enormous hemlock tree that had fallen across the trail. I noticed that there was a new blue marker on the tree marking it as official. I took a picture of the tree and another with Sheila. We continued on the Flynn Trail back down to the car staying to the left at the gate to avoid the private property around the cabin. We arrived in the parking area at 2:45 PM with the sleet and snow really coming down. We had covered 4.0 miles in 1 hour and 50 minutes with and elevation gain of 680 feet. The roads on the way home we starting to get very slippery. When I arrived home, I found out there had been several motor vehicle accidents on Route 17.

On Friday, November 29th, I was ready to get out for a hike after nearly two weeks of school, coaching and other commitments. I had planned to head north to Chittenango State Park and some county parks in the area tom hike to some waterfalls but the forecast was for early morning freezing rain. The freezing rain and the two and a half hour drive put a damper on my enthusiasm so I began to look for someplace closer to home. Brad and Krista were in for the holiday and Bryce was available to hike so I decided to go to Trout Pond which would allow me to stop by the Roscoe Brewery to pick up a few bottles of their bourbon barrel-aged stout. It was 24 degrees when I got up at 8:00 AM and the forecast did not have the temperature increasing much. I picked up Bryce at 9:00 AM and dropped him at our house while I headed to Liberty to pick up some Bourbon County Stout which is a traditional adventure on Black Friday. The Liberty delivery had not arrived so I headed to Monticello where I scored 4 bottles. Monticello did not have any variants so I thought I might stop back in Liberty later in the day. I returned home to get ready to hike with the temperature still in the high 20's. Sheila got wind of what was going on and began running around the house barking. I got dressed in my Mammut long-sleeved crew that is warmer than most other tops I have. I also put on a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away with a pair of light tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Taku boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a blaze orange hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I found an orange vest and put it on Sheila who did not seem to mind. I lent Brad one of my many softshell jackets for warmth and to block the wind. At about 10:45 AM the skies were blue with some white clouds. There was even some sun although the temperature was still in the high 20's. We put our gear in the trunk and Sheila and Bryce in the back seat. I headed to Roscoe on State Route 17, got off at exit 94 and got on Route 206. I followed it across the Delaware County line to Morton Hill Road. After a left turn on Morton Hill Road, I drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the side of the road to avoid the parking area which is private. I set my GPS and we began our hike down Russell Brook Road at 11:10 AM. Russell Brook Road looked almost completely bare as we started our hike. We continued on down Russell Brook Road to the overlook over the upper falls. There was enough water in the stream to make the upper falls interesting but I decided not to take any pictures as we were all a little cold. We continued down toward the parking area where three men were standing near the tailgate of a truck. We said "Hello" as we walked passed them but I could not determine whether they were hikers or hunters.

We got on the woods road that goes down to the bridge that crosses the brook. I decided not to walk to the falls and continued on the main trail to the register. The Japanese knotweed was all brown and dead but I knew it would be back next year. At the trail junction, just after the register, we turned to the left to climb the steeper hill toward Mud Pond. The trail was frozen and there were some patches of ice along the way. There were also a number of branches down on the trail and we spent time picking them up. The sun was out and as soon as we started to climb the hill, I felt warmer but was still cool. The ascent went quickly but I could feel that I was completely out of shape! We reached the top of the hill at 11:45 AM after hiking 1.4 miles. The woods road was wetter than the trail up but much of the water was frozen. At 1.6 miles we made a right to follow the trail up to the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. When we started on the trail, it was clear of ice and snow but the more elevation we gained the more snow we found on the trail. There were also areas where the trail was covered in water and we had to walk on the sides of the trail to avoid getting wet. The ascent continued for the next 1.2 miles and just before the highest point we stopped so I could take some pictures of the light covering of snow on the trail and in the woos. At 2.7 miles into the hike when we were at the highest point and ready to start the descent to Trout Pond. There were several small blowdowns across the trail which we could not clear without tools. We had been hiking the southern exposure and as we started down the other side there was a little more snow on the trail and there was frozen snow and ice on the trees. I stopped to take some additional pictures as the conditions were a real contrast to the previous section of trail. I also noticed that the skies were now grey and the sun had disappeared. Some precipitation was falling from the sky which appeared to be snow and ice. The trail remained snowy and slippery as we descended the trail toward the bridge at the inlet end of the pond. I decided to stop and take some pictures even though there was nothing remarkable about the scene. We continued on the main trail toward the outlet of the pond and found some wet and icy areas.

At the lower end of the pond, we turned right and walked out to the beach. I again stopped to take pictures of a scene I had photographed many times! The water level in the pond was much higher than it had been all summer and fall. There was ice accumulated at the edge of the water and it looked like the pond may have been frozen over at some time. The skies were still overcast but the precipitation had stopped. The hike from the outlet to the trail junction is all downhill but we had to be careful to avoid icy spots. Sheila did not seem to mind the icy or snow! By 1:40 PM we had hiked 4.8 miles and were back at the trail junction and register box. I decided that I wanted to walk over to the falls and we turned left on the path to the falls. We walked up the path toward the lower falls and then down the bank to the streambed. I was happy when I saw that the falls was flowing freely. I took a few quick pictures of falls including a few with Sheila and Bryce. We walked back up the bank and out to the main trail to continue our hike back to the car. We walked up to the lower parking area where a few people were gathered at the kiosk looking at the maps. None of them was wearing blaze orange or any bright colors. I advised them to stay on the trails as we had seen several hunters in the area. As we walked up the road back to the car, I stopped at the overlook but decided not to walk down to take pictures of the upper falls. We continued up the road and back to the car. We arrived back at 2:05 PM having covered 5.6 miles and 1120 vertical feet in 2 hours and 55 minutes. On the way home, we stopped at the Roscoe Brewery where I picked up three bottles of their bourbon barrel aged stout. I dropped Brad and Bryce at the house and went to Liberty Beer World to score two bottles of a Bourbon County variation.

On Saturday, November 16th, I did some chores in the morning. It was the first day of deer rifle season so I wanted to wait until mid-morning to start my hiking. I decided that I would go to Frick Pond and do some trail maintenance on the Flynn Trail. Some recent high winds had brought down some trees on the trail which I had found on a previous hike. Cindy was not interested in going with me so I knew I would be alone. As I started to get ready at 10:30 AM, the temperature was in the low 30's but the sky was blue and there was some sun. Sheila got wind of what was going on and began running around the house barking. I got dressed in my Mammut long-sleeved crew that is warmer than most other tops I have. I also put on a long-sleeved baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away with a pair of light tights underneath. I wore my Vasque Taku boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a blaze orange hat and wore a light pair of gloves. I found an orange vest and put it on Sheila who did not seem to mind. I decided not to take poles as I would be carrying my Fiskars axe. I packed my Silky Sugowaza and Katanaboy saws which do an excellent job of clearing blowdowns. I also put in a pair of felling wedges in case the saws happened to bind. We left Livingston Manor at 10:40 AM and I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking areas on the left. I pulled into the smaller parking area where several other cars were already parked. As we got ready to head out on the Flynn Trail, another car pulled into the lot. A woman walked over to the trailhead kiosk to look at the map. I asked if she needed some help but she told me her husband knew where they were going. I did notice that neither of them were wearing any bright colors! I set my GPS and we walked across the road to get on the Flynn Trail at 11:00 AM. This trail is sited along what used to be Beech Mountain Road which was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We walked the trail through the woods and turned right on the woods road. I set a very quick pace up the Flynn Trail despite the load I was carrying since I was trying to stay ahead of the couple who left after us. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.75 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The temperature was still in the low 30's and there was a slight breeze blowing so I was glad I had dressed warmly. We passed through the arch Cindy and I had cut through an enormous hemlock that had fallen across the trail. After some time, I saw the couple approaching from behind and I stopped to move some brush off the trail. As they passed I suggested that they stay of the trails since the area in heavily hunted.

The first blowdown we came to was not really blocking the trail but I wanted to remove it. I dropped my pack and took 'before' pictures. I picked up some loose branches and then used the Sugowaza to trim some small branches. A few cuts with the small saw and I was able to drag the rest of the branches off the trail. I took some "after" pictures and we continued to the next blowdown. The second blowdown was a single tree that had broken off partially about 6 feet above ground. The rest of the tree had fallen across the trail. After taking pictures I used the axe to section the small tree. I made two cuts and was able to easily move the sections off the trail. I took some shots and then we continued on the hike. The next obstacles we ran across were a larger dead log and a small tree across the trail. I was able to pivot the log off the trail. After one cut with the small saw, I dragged the smaller tree sections off the trail. I was feeling a little warmer from the work as we continued up the Flynn Trail. The next blowdown was a large tree that I had partly trimmed on a previous trip. This one had a large diameter but I thought I could trim in back enough to clear the trail without cutting the main truck. I took some pictures and then got to work. I was able to use the large saw to cut off the pieces that were blocking the trail. I decided I did not want to fight with the large, main trunk so I took some "after" shots and walked to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I had intended to turn around and walk back down the Flynn Trail but I remembered Lisa had told me about a large blowdown on the Big Rock Trail just after Times Square. After hiking 1.7 miles to the junction, we turned left and started down the Big Rock Trail toward Times Square. The trail was largely clear of branches and I did not have to remove any on the trip down. I set a very fast pace as we descended the trail passing through the various twists and turns that often make it seem like the bottom of the hill is close. We were soon at Times Square and I continued straight across to stay on the Big Rock Trail. I noticed that a few branches had been cut by chainsaw just after Times Square which I assumed was the work of a DEC crew. The tire tracks in the mud were still visible and were the result of the DEC crew running an ATV under wet conditions. I wondered of this was the blowdown Lisa had seen. We continued along the wet and muddy trail although most of the mud was frozen.

Just before we entered the trees again, we came to a huge, complex blowdown that almost completely blocked the trail. I walked through it and dropped my pack on the other side. I immediately took pictures and then began to examine the mess. I used the small saw to begin to cut off small branches which is what I always do first. I continued to cut away smaller branches and the slightly large ones. At one point, Sheila barked and I saw a couple hiking toward us from Times Square. I told Sheila to "Stay" and said "Hello" as they passed. They thanked me for the trail maintenance and asked me if I needed some help. I considered the offer but in the end said "Thank you, no!" I had everything cleared down to the larger branches. I grabbed the large saw and began to cut. This saw has extra large teeth which cut deeply with each stroke but can more easily buck when cutting. Eventually, I had everything cleared off the trail leaving some of the blowdown which had fallen off the trail. I was tired as I took some final pictures and packed up my tools. We continued to the bridges over the streams that feed Frick Pond. There was water flowing freely under both bridges. We continued along the Big Rock Trail and passed over the series of wooden walkways which continue to deteriorate. As we neared the end of the Big Rock Trail, I heard an saw two hikers coming toward the trail junction on the Quick Lake Trail. I put Sheila on her leash as we approached the junction. The hikers turned out to be the couple that had come by while I was working. We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and walked to the bridge over the outlet stream. There was plenty of water coming out of the pond and I decided to stop to take some shots. I also told the other hikers that Beech Mountain was the highest point in Sullivan County and we had a short discussion before they moved on. After a few minutes, Sheila and I were ready to leave just as a bow hunter came down the hill toward us. We said "Hello" and the continued toward Gravestone Junction. We continued on the Quick lake Trail back to the parking area. The trail was frozen with patches of ice and frozen mud. As we walked along the trail we met two more hunters with rifles headed toward the pond. We arrived at the car at 2:10 PM after hiking 4.4 miles in 3 hours and 5 minutes. The elevation gain was 700 feet and our moving speed was 2.3 mph!

On the way home I was thinking about a blowdown on the Round Top Trails. There was only one that I knew about but and it was not really blocking the trail. The blowdown consisted of one medium diameter tree which was hanging over the trail. The tree was very long and I did not like the fact that it was hanging over where people walked. As I drove into town, I decided top drive up to the Round Top trailhead and dispatch the blowdown. As I pulled up to the trailhead, I was surprised to see a couple stretched out on the steps taking in the sun. I parked and got Sheila and my tools out of the car. As we approached the steps, the couple did not move and did not speak to us. We walked to the first trail junction and turned right to walk up the old woods road. Almost immediately we came to the blowdown which was longer than I remembered. I walked passed it, dropped my pack and took some pictures. The tree had broken about 6 feet above the ground and I checked to see if it would just fall. The downed part was still securely connected to the standing trunk so I decided to section the trunk with the axe. I had just sharpened the axe and it bit deeply into the wood with very stroke. After making one cut I made another expecting that all the chopping would loosed the rest and it would fall. When the remaining section did not fall, I thought I might cut the standing trunk. I finally decided to use the big saw to make one more cut. This time when the cut was finished the reaming section swung down next to the standing truck. I rolled all the sections off the trail, took some pictures and returned to the car.

On Monday, November 11th I wanted to take a hike but had to remain at home as we were having our in-ground oil tank replaced. Around 9:00 AM, Cindy let me know that Bryce would be coming and that I might be able to get away for a short hike. Bryce and Karl did arrive just before 10:00 AM. Karl went to work leaving Bryce with me to hike. I decided we would take a short walk on Round Top which is just across the street from my house. The day was warmer than previous days and the temperature was in the low 40's as we started to get ready. Sheila had been in her kennel all morning and so was more than happy to being going outside. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut top without a baselayer. I decided to wear my Columbia Titanium insulated pants to keep the chill away. I wore my Keen Targhee III boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I also donned my Mammut hoody which was enough zippers to dump heat when needed. I put on a light hat and wore a light pair of gloves. At 11:00 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do some figure 8's knowing Bryce had to be back a little after noon. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. On the way up the old woods road we came across a tree that had come down across the trail. We could easily pass under the tree but I made a note to make another trip with a few tools to get rid of it. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. We kept a quick pace as we walked and talked. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. As we ascended the trail, Sheila alerted and I looked back to see a couple hiking up the trail behind us. I put Sheila on her leash and we continued up the trail clearing a few branches along the way. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. I had trimmed much of the trail earlier in the summer but this part still had some branches encroaching on the trail. Soon we were back at the yellow trail and the couple behind us had caught up. We stopped to talk and I explained I had helped construct and maintain the trails. It was their first time on the trails despite having a home in the area for 12 years. When we were done with our conversation, we turned right and walked the yellow trail to the next trail junction. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We continued down to the lookout and followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The walk had gone quickly, so I decided we should explore some off the trails. We started up the woods road again but almost immediately turned left and followed a route up through the cliffs. Bryce and Sheila easily ascended the steep path up the hill and between some rocks. It took me a little longer but I was rewarded by a nice lookout. We walked to another set of rocks and climbed to the top of those. From there we walked along the edge of a small ravine eventually intersecting the yellow trail. We crossed the trail and began to bushwhack and ascent to the summit of Round Top. At the top of the hill, we found the blue rail and turned left to descend to the yellow trail. We turned left and followed the yellow rail back to the junction with the blue trail. Here we turned right and headed down the yellow trail to the woods road. On the way down we turned right and walked over to the base of the "cliffs" to a large slab of rock that seemed to have slipped off the others. We found that someone had built up some rooks walls and gathered wood. After a short inspection, we returned to the yellow trail on the woods road. we ended up back at the very first trail junction. I checked the time and determined that we should return home given the time. We walked out toward the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We walked down the hill and through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. It was 12:15 PM and we had hiked for a little over an hour.

On Saturday, November 9th I planned to hike in the afternoon following a joint drill between the LMFD and the LMVAC. We gathered at 9:00 AM at the firehouse for a drill involving an unconscious hunter in a tree stand. When we were paged, we headed off to the location on the Beaverkill Road. We all staged at an open space on the side of the road near the access trail to the tree stand. The fire department established a command post and sent resources up the hill using a newly commissioned UTV. I walked up the hill to the site which was les than a quarter mile. While the fire company was rigging ropes, I put on a harness and climbed the ladder of the tree stand to assess the patient. After I completed my assessment, I descended and participated in setting up a pulley and rope system to lower the patent to the ground. We completed the "rescue" and talked a little about the effort. We decided to repeat the exercise and this time it went much faster. Sometime after 11:00 AM, we returned to the ambulance and then to the building. I returned home and waited for Cindy to return from an appointment. When she arrived home, she did not feel like hiking so I began to get ready. The temperature was only 32 degrees despite some sun so I knew I would have to dress warmly. I began to get my gear together closely watched by Sheila who knew that we were going hiking. I got dressed in a Mammut long-sleeved crew top that is warmer than most I have. I wore a long-sleeved baselayer beneath it. I put on a pair of Columbia Titanium insulated pants over a light pair of tights. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. These boots are not insulated and I new I would have to start wearing an insulated pair given the cold weather in the forecast. I topped this all off with my Mammut hoody, a light hat and a pair of light gloves. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately and made sure I had a full water bottle. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and left the house at 1:00 PM. I headed out the DeBruce Road and after six miles I turned left on Mongaup Road. Where the road split I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking lots. There were already several cars in the lots as I pulled in to park. I got ready to get on the trail by setting my GPS.

The temperature was 34 degrees and there was a slight breeze as we left the parking area at 1:15 PM. We headed out on the woods road that connects to the Quick Lake Trail at the register. The woods road after the register box was wet and muddy with some areas of frozen mud. There were several deep ruts on the trail made, I believe, by a DEC crew placing new signs and blazes. As we approached Gravestone Junction, I looked to the left at the memorial marker which was still in place. At Gravestone Junction I took note of the new sign which is still somewhat back from the trail but much more visible. We stayed to the left on the red Quick Lake Trail crossing the stepping stones the Willowemoc Trail Crew had installed. We walked down to the pond and I removed my pack to get out the camera. There was about an inch of snow on the ground and the was cloudy with some sun shining. The scene was much the same as always but I stopped to take a few pictures anyway. I took pictures of the pond and Flynn's Point. I picked up my pack and we crossed the bridge with Sheila madly dashing back and forth on the trail. We walked on the trail along the west side of the pond where there was more mud and frozen mud. At the trail junction with the Big Rock Trail, we headed left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. We were keeping a pretty fast pace as we headed for Iron Wheel Junction. Sheila was running around following game trails and chasing a few chipmunks and squirrels. I began to notice a set of tracks that looked like two different boot prints. We passed through "spruce tunnel" to the small stream through the forest. The water was too high to cross where the trail crossed so I walked upstream to a shallower spot. I crossed without problems and Sheila crossed back and forth several times. We continued on the trail and arrived at Iron Wheel Junction. Here we turned left to head toward Hodge Pond staying on the Quick Lake Trail. We kept a quick pace up the hilly part of the trail and as we walked the snow depth increased to about two inches. The trail was washed out in several places by past and recent rains. The trail was wet and muddy but we were able to work our way around the worst spots. We continued on the trail until it leveled off and descended slightly to Junkyard Junction at 3.1 miles. We turned right at this intersection and headed across the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. The Flynn Trail was mostly wet and muddy along the entire length. The trip across this part of the Flynn Trail went relatively quickly.

Soon we were at the gate where the trail turns right and heads down toward Hodge Pond. We reached the area near the shore of the pond and turned right to stay on the Flynn Trail along the west shore of Hodge Pond. The sky was still blue with some clouds and the sun was beginning to drop low in the sky. When we reached the open area at the southern end of the pond, I decided to stop for a few moments to take some pictures. The pond was very placid and almost bleak. After taking some final shots, we turned around and walked toward the opening where the Flynn Trail enters the woods. The hill up from Hodge Pond often seem long but on this day the walk went quickly. At the top of the hill, we turned right to stay on the Flynn Trail. The walk along the flat part of the Flynn Trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail went quickly. As we neared the junction, Sheila alerted and I could see two hikers ahead of us. I assumed these were the footprints I had seen in the snow. I put Sheila on her leash as the other hikers headed down the Flynn Trail ahead of us. We had about 1.7 miles to go to get back to the car. This stretch can often seem long and boring but on this day I was occupied clearing a few blowdowns along the way. It seems the wind from the recent storms had brought down several trees across the trail. I was only able to clear a few loose branches from each before moving on. As we hiked, we nearly caught up to the couple ahead of us several times but fell back as I cleared the trail. Eventually we were close enough that I out Sheila on her leash so that we could pass them as they stopped to allow us to pass them. We said a quick "Hello" and then Sheila and I increased the pace. As we lost elevation there was less snow and soon we were passing through the opening Cindy and I had cut in a huge spruce that lies across the trail. This was still in good shape and allowed us to pass easily. We followed the Flynn Trail to the gate and then turned left to continue on the trail to avoid the private property around the cabin. We followed the trail through the woods and back to the car. As we were approaching the road, two cars pulled out from the parking area and started down the road. Before going to the car, I inspected the new map at the kiosk and found it to be a great improvement over what had been posted. We arrived back at 3:50 PM after hiking 6.4 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes with 890 feet of elevation gain. We stopped for only 8 minutes and our moving average speed was 2.6 mph.

On Saturday, November 2nd Cindy and I were returning from a hike on the Catskill Scenic Trail and a visit to Mine Kill Falls. On the way home I decided to take Barkaboom Road to Turnwood and then home. As I drove up the road, we could see the stream was flowing with some volume. I stopped at Tompkins Falls which was flowing nicely. I left Cindy and Sheila in the car and walked downstream on the road so that I could take some pictures. I have walked down to the stream bed in the past but this day I just walked down the bank to the narrow concrete shelf. From there I took pictures of the falls. I walked back up the bank and then back to the car. From here I walked down to the top of the falls and took more pictures. Some of the views here were very nice and the water volume was high. Some foundations and rock work were visible on the other side. Tompkins Falls was once dammed and was used to provide electrical power to Shavertown, Pepacton and Arena. These towns were flooded when the Pepacton Reservoir was created. After I finished taking, we returned to the car for the ride home.

On Saturday, November 2nd we left South Kortright and drove North on Route 10 toward Stamford. In Stamford I took Route 23 into Grand Gorge. From here I drove north on Route 30 toward Middleburg. After 5.5 miles, I turned into Mine Kill State Park and found the parking lot almost full. At 2:25 PM we got out of the car and headed down toward the viewing platform with the temperature hovering in the mid 40's. We knew the hike was short but I wanted to record a GPS track and take some pictures. I set my electronics and shouldered my pack. Since there were others enjoying the park, I put Sheila on her leash as we walked down the path toward the viewing platform. We walked down the steps to the platform passing a few people on the way. When we got to the platform, I put my pack down and got out my camera. There was another dog present so Sheila was excited. I took pictures from the wooer part of the platform as the water flows through a narrow crevice in the rocks. I walked back to the upper platform and took pictures of the falls under the road bridge. The water level was high but we had seen it higher. We left the platform and walked back up the trail. Just after the steps, we turned left and started to follow the trail down toward the base of the falls. The aqua blazes on the trail designated this as part of the Long Path. The trail was wet and muddy in places as it wound down to the pool at the base of the falls. I dropped my pack and took out the camera to get some pictures of the falls. The lighting was better than at other times but it still reflected off the water of the falls. The intermittent falls to the right of the main falls was flowing weakly. This falls has a higher drop than the main falls but a much lower volume. I was able to get pictures of the water as it flows between the rocks as well as shots of the lower falls as it spills into the pool. I also took pictures of the water falling from high off the cliffs. While I was doing this, another hiker with a dog said "Hello". I recognized the hiker as Jack, the principal of a local high school, who had worked in my school district. Cindy took a picture of Sheila and I in front of the falls. Jack offered to take a picture of all of us and Cindy gave him her cell phone. We talked for a minute and then headed back up the trail. We walked from the bottom of the falls back to the top and turned left to go back to the car. We were back at the car and leaving the parking area at 3:00 PM. I drove out to Route 30 and turned left to head toward Grand Gorge. I considered going to Pratt Rock or Red Falls but decided just to drive toward home. I thought I might stop at Tompkins Falls on the Barkaboom Road on the way home.

On Saturday, November 2nd, I wanted to get out for a hike after a long week at school. I knew that Cindy would want a relatively flat hike so I suggested we hike a section of the Catskill Scenic Trail from South Kortright toward Bloomville. This was the only section I lacked to complete the trail. I estimated this would be about 84 to 5 miles round trip which is within our abilities. It was 26 degrees when I woke up but the sun was out and I hoped it would warm up some. The weather report indicated a beautiful day with no rain and plenty of but highs only in the mid 40's. I had to do some chores before we left so I didn't start to get ready until just before 10:00 AM. I got dressed in my Mammut pullover which is a little heavier than some of my other tops. I wore this over a short-sleeved baselayer but debated wearing a long-sleeved one. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I though about wearing insulated pants but thought I would be warm enough without them. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee III hiking boots which fit well especially when there are no mountains involved. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately and added a light windbreaker, light Mountain Hardwear hat and a pair of light Outdoor Research gloves. I put our gear in the car around 10:30 AM and let Sheila in the back seat. Sheila loves to get out an hike anywhere and she had kept her eye on both of us as we were getting ready. As we left Livingston Manor at 10:30 AM, it was still only 40 degrees. I drove north and west on State Route 17 to exit 94 (Roscoe) and headed north on Route 206 toward Downsville. At the Pepacton Reservoir, I turned left to stay on Route206/30 and drove through Downsville heading toward Walton. Just after the light in Downsville, I turned right on Telford Hollow Road. After driving over the hill, I turned right at the bottom of the hill and drove out to Route 10. I turned right and drove toward Delhi. I continued on Route 10 north for 13 miles to South Kortright and turned right on CR-18. I drove across a beautiful stone bridge over the West Branch of the Delaware River. At the end of the road, I turned right and almost immediately found the point where the trail crosses the road across from the South Kortright Cemetery. I turned around and found a place where I could pull off the road and park. I set my GPS and we started south on the trail toward Bloomville at 11:40 AM.

The trail is wide and flat for its entire length and this section is extreme flat. The first part of the trail passes through the backyard of some homes in South Kortright. I noticed that the duck pond near the cemetery was no longer completely. Green. Most of the trees had no leaves. We walked "through" a small farm with a house on the left and a barn on the right. The yard by the house had six small dogs all of which were yapping at the top of their lungs. There were to large boats in the yard one of which looked like an old lake tour boat. The trail passed through some trees with views of the flat valley and low surrounding hills on both sides. We could look ahead for at least half a mile. At one point, an ATV and a dirt bike came at us from the opposite direction. I did not think they were supposed to be on the trail but I grabbed Sheila to put on her leash. The riders waved and exited the trail until we passed by when they continued on their journey. I stopped to take a few pictures. As we continued on the trail we broke out of the trees into open farm land. I again took a few shots. We eventually entered the trees again where the river came closer to the trail on the right with a smaller creek on the left. Both streams were high and the water was flowing quickly. At 1.85 miles we came to a bridge and I knew that this should be the point where I had ended hiking from Bloomville toward South Kortright. Nothing looked familiar so we continued and crossed another bridge. At 2.5 miles we came to another bridge that had a bench on the other side. I knew that I had been there before so I told Cindy we would turn around.

We got a drink, shared a bar and started back at 12:45 PM. I took some pictures of the river before we started out and then stopped at the second bridge to take some more. We came to a point where there was a sand pit on the right of the trail. I got out my camera and walked off the trail to take some shots. The sand and gravel pit was large than I though but it was filled with water. Despite the equipment still in place I thought it might be unused. We continued along the trail setting a fast pace as the return trip had nothing that the trip out did not have. All of the crops had been harvested leaving only short stalks behind. One farmer was using a disc harrow to till his field. Fortunately, the dogs that had greeted us at the beginning of the hike were not present when we returned. We were back at the car at 1:45 PM having hiked 5 miles in 2 hours and 5 minutes with only 150 feet of elevation gain. Since we still had some time, we decided to go to Mine Kill Falls to check out the waterfalls there.

On Saturday, October 26th, I wanted to work on completing the Catskill Scenic Trail which is a rail trail that runs between Bloomville and Roxbury. The biggest section I had left was between Grand Gorge and Roxbury which I estimated was about 6 miles. I knew I could probably hike the distance round trip but I asked Cindy if she wanted to take two cars. Two cars would allow us to park one in Grand Gorge and drive to Roxbury allowing us to hike the trail one way. Cindy declined so I decided to go by myself. The weather forecast seemed prefect with sunny to partly cloudy skies and highs in the high 50's. It was cool and foggy early in the morning but I decided to get ready and leave. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I also wore a light OR windbreaker and a pair of light gloves. Sheila loves to get out an hike anywhere and she had kept her eye on me as I was getting ready. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and left Livingston Manor at 8:45 AM. The temperature was in the mid 40's and there was still some fog and haze. I drove north and west on State Route 17 to exit 94 (Roscoe) and headed north on Route 206 toward Downsville. At the Pepacton Reservoir, I turned right to get on Route 30 and drove to the Dunraven Bridge over the Pepacton Reservoir. I turned left and crossed the bridge continuing on Route 30. At the end of the road I turned right to continue of Route 30 and then turned left in Margaretville following Route 30 toward Roxbury. I passed through Roxbury and parked on the side of Hardscrabble Road across from the trailhead for the Catskill Scenic Trail. The trail as many nice features but parking is not one of them! The temperature was in the nigh 40's as I set my GPS and put Sheila on her leash to cross the road at 10:10 AM.

The trail is wide and flat for its entire length and this section was no exception. As we started out on the trail, I was surprised that there were still leaves on the trail and enough color to make the landscape interesting. I stopped several times to take pictures of the trail and the surrounding mountains. Ti the right of the trail are Schultice and Irish Mountains that are on the Catskill highest Hundred list. In a short distance we crossed Teichman Road and passed through the grounds of a small factory. The smells coming from the facility were unpleasant so we hurried by as quickly as possible. I took some more pictures and then we continued crossing Schuman Road. The two mountains were on our right with others ahead of us. We came to the area which is marked as the "Headwaters of the East Branch of the Deleware River". There was evidence of beaver activity all along the waterways with water impounded by dams. At one point several ducks arose from a small pond along with a blue heron. I made sure to take pictures of all the K markers which marked the distance from Kingston on the railroad. The only person we saw on this stretch was a runner who passed us from the direction of Roxbury and again on his return trip. We passed several places where cars can access the trail from Route 30 and we were soon approaching Grand Gorge. As we passed behind the Firestone tire dealership, I noticed that the ground was very wet. We skirted the area to the side but soon came to the reason for the water. The beavers had put up a small dam which was backing up the water. We tried to find a way around but eventually turned around and walked back to the last access point. We walked out to Route 30 and walked east toward Grand Gorge. We passed the garage and I could see that the trail crossed the road. We turned left onto the trail and started to walk toward Route 23 where I had stopped on my last trip. There were some nice stone walls along this section of trail but the trail was also wet and muddy. We came to a nice "cut" through a small hill and I took a few shots. We continued to walk eventually crossing a side road. The distance was longer than I expected so I checked my GPS device and the Avenza app on my phone. Both showed we were on the right track and close to my goal.

At 1:00 PM we crossed Route 23 and prepared to retrace our route back to the car. I checked my GPS and was surprised to see we had hiked 7.25 miles. I was certainly tired and knew that the return trip might be quicker as I did not intend to stop for pictures but that it would also be boring. We again crossed the road and began the walk back. Within a short distance, I heard "On your right" immediately behind me. A male rider passed us on his mountain bike. I thought that a little more advanced notice would have been nice! The walk back to Route 30 went quickly and we turned right to head back toward Roxbury. At the first access point we came to, we turned left and then right onto the rail trail. My back had begun to hurt and I tried stretching it occasionally. I eventually got a drink, gave Sheila one and dumped out the rest of the water. The pack seemed much lighter which made the walk easier. The trail on the way back looked familiar but there were few ways to tell exactly where we were and how far we had to go. We did meet a couple hiking toward us and I exchanged a "Hello" with them. I was still hurting and wishing the hike would end. When we broke out from under Te trees, I could see that the sky was filled with clouds and that some were very interesting. I stopped to take some shots and noticed some people with dogs further back toward Grand Gorge. They turned to walk away from us. When we passed marker 62, I knew we had just over a mile to go. We walked in back of the factory and continued to the point where the trail ended. We crossed the trail and I was never so happy to be back at the car. It was 3:50 PM and we had hiked 14 miles in 5 hours and 40 minutes with over 30 minutes of stopped time. The GPS unit showed 670 feet of elevation gained but I am not sure I believe it.

On Monday, October 24th I was tired when I came home from school. Sheila met me and, as always, was happy to see me. I knew that she wanted to go for a walk so I asked Cindy if she would like to go across the street to take a short walk on Round Top. Cindy agreed and we got ready to go. The day was sunny and the temperature was in the mid 60's. I put on my long-sleeved White Sierra top without a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee III boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I also donned a light windbreaker and put on my a floppy hat Cindy had bought me. At 4:05 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do just two figure 8's. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. We stopped once on the way up to take a look at the fall colors but there wasn't much in the way of any brilliant spots. When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. We kept a quick pace as we walked and talked. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. Walking uphill we passed through what had been a sea of green ferns but was now a little brown and dried out. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. I had trimmed much of the trail earlier in the summer but this part still had some branches encroaching on the trail. I sort of like the branches untrimmed as it makes the trail seem "wilder"! Soon we were back at the yellow trail. We turned right and walked the yellow trail to the next trail junction. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We continued down to the lookout and followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The walk had gone quickly, so we turned around and started back up the hill back to the lookout. Sheila seemed happy we were going to stay out a little longer. We followed the yellow trail uphill toward the lookout and turned right to continue up to the next trail junction with the blue trail. At the trail junction, we turned right to stay on the yellow trail. At the next junction we turned left to climb the shallower side of the summit ascent. We again walked across the flat summit and descended the steeper trail which was almost completely dry. At the trail junction, we turned left and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction we turned right this time to follow the trail down to the woods road that leads out to the first trail junction. We completed the figure 8 ending up back at the very first trail junction. I checked the time and determined that we should return home given the time. We walked out toward the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We walked down the hill and through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. It was 5:00 PM and we had hiked around 2 miles in about an hour.

On Saturday, October 19th, I was with my ambulance corps standing by at a half marathon and 5K in Livingston Manor. Last year we did the same thing and were able to save the life of one of the runners who went into cardiac arrest. This year things went smoothly and the weather was nearly perfect. By 1:00 PM most of the runners had finished and we returned to our building. I went home and grabbed some lunch and waited until 1:30 PM to go out to hike. I had been planning to go to Alder Lake and hike to the Beaver Meadow Lean-to. The lean-to overlooks a beaver meadow which once a beaver pond. Recently, some pictures have been posted showing that the meadow is now a pond. The temperature was in the high 50's with plenty of sun and the conditions seemed perfect for a fall hike. As I began to get ready, Sheila was ready to go and stayed close to me to make sure she was going along. I got dressed in a new White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles but I decided to add a pair of OR BugOut gaiters. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles. I put on a light windbreaker and new OR hat that was also a present from my wife. At 1:40 PM I put my equipment in the car and Sheila in the backseat and headed out the driveway. I drove north and west on Old Route 17 and turned right on Beaverkill Road heading toward Lew Beach. I passed through Lew Beach and followed the road as it passed through Turnwood. A little farther along, I turned left on Alder Creek Road and drove to the junction with Cross Mountain Road and the access road to Alder Lake. I turned right on the access road and drove to the parking area. The lot was almost full but I was able to find a spot to park at 2:00 PM. I set my GPS unit and put Sheila on her leash as there were some people in the area. We started our hike almost immediately by walking out the path passing the remains of the Coykendall mansion. I decided to walk down to the lakeshore and take some pictures. I was disappointed to find that most of leaves had fallen from the trees and there were no clouds in the sky. I took my camera out of my pack and took some shots. I was disappointed to find that the beautiful lawn at Alder Lake had been neglected with grass growing over knee high. Alder Lake is a popular spot for many people and I do not understand why the DEC has chosen to neglect it!

I picked up my pack and headed out on the trail along the north shore of the lake. We kept up a good pace and passed several occupied campsites along the way. The trail was very wet with many muddy spots along the way. We crossed the bridge and I found that the beaver dams that had been backing up water over the trail had been removed! I like beavers and don't like to see their work destroyed but this step was necessary. We crossed the second bridge and turned left to head toward the lean-to on the Millbrook Ridge Trail. The trail had several blowdowns along the way and it was very wet and muddy. There were areas of standing water and other places where the trail seemed like a stream. All of the streams crossing the trail were high and some were a little challenging to cross. As we walked, we could here Alder Creek to the right of us and see the sun sparkling off the water. We met a few people coming back down the trail and soon we could see some people hiking ahead of us. There seemed to be two groups with the first hiking a little faster. I stopped at the first beaver meadow to take a few pictures. After taking a few shots, I got back on the main trail and caught up to the slower hikers. They allowed us to pass and I sped up to get ahead of them. For the next 1.5 miles the trail climbs and then levels off several times. The elevation gain is several hundred feet but the grade is never more than 12% and averages around 6%. We caught up to the faster group of hikers as they pulled over to let us pass. One of them asked me about the trail ahead and I told her about the beaver pond. She had an Eastern European accent and they were all speaking a language other than English. There isn't too much to see along the way but this day was very pleasant. I enjoyed the sounds and sights of Alder Creek as it flows parallel to the trail much of the way. At one point there was a large blowdown across the trail which would have been easy to clear with a chainsaw but nothing had been touched. I ducked under some large branches and squeezed through an opening. The trail in this area was very wet and I had to find ways to avoid the mud. As I approached the lean-to, I saw that there was a pond where there had been a beaver meadow. Soon we arrived at the lean-to to and I dropped my pack to walk down the path to the beaver pond with my camera.

It had taken just over an hour to get to the laen-to. I walked out to the edge of the beaver pond and took pictures of the blue sky which had no clouds to add contrast. The sun was also hanging over the pond which made photography difficult. I looked for some wildlife but everything was quiet. After I got a drink and ate a bar we walked back to the main trail and continued east to the next beaver meadow. There wasn't much to see there but I took a fee shots before turning around and heading back to the car. On the way back I walked off the trail to the left to tale some pictures of the beaver pond with the sun more behind me. The group of hikers was there and I could hear a strange whirring sound. I finally figured out that it was a drone. I took my shots and ft back on the trail walking quickly. At one point I noticed the water in the creek and headed down the bank to Alder Creek to take a few picture. The group of hikers passed us as I was taking pictures at the creek. I walked back up the bank to the main trail and continued to hike. As we crossed a small stream we met the group of hikers again. I asked them if they were staying in the area and they said "yes". I suggested that they hike Balsam Lake Mountain on Sunday to see the view from the tower. At one point I decided to follow the blazes took us on a detour around the large tree that blocked the trail. The detour was clear on the way back but had been poorly marked on the way out. We continued along the trail and passed three more hikers who were having trouble with the water and the mud since they were wearing low-cut sneakers. When we came to the loop trail around the lake, we turned right. As we approached the bridges, some hikers were coming toward us so I leashed Sheila and let them pass. Sheila and I continued on the trail passing again many occupied campsites. When we got back to the lawn, we walked over to the dam and I looked at the spillway where there was a lot of water leaving the lake. I dropped my pack and took some pictures of the lake and of Cradle Rock Ridge on the south side of Alder Lake. I shouldered my pack and we walked back to the parking area which was still full of cars. We were back at 4:30 PM having covered 4.8 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes total time. The total elevation gain was 660 feet.

On Monday, October 14th, I wanted to get for a long hike on a school holiday. The weather forecast seemed prefect with sunny to partly cloudy skies and highs in the low 60's. I decided to hike a section of the Catskill Scenic Trail from Hobart to Stamford and back. I estimated this would be about 8 miles which is long but the walk is almost completely flat. It was cool and very foggy early in the morning so I delayed my departure. I got dressed in my Mountain Hardwear long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I also wore a light OR windbreaker. Sheila loves to get out an hike anywhere and she had kept her eye on me as I was getting ready. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and left Livingston Manor at 9:45 AM. The temperature was in the mid 50's and most of the fog and haze had burned off. I drove north and west on State Route 17 to exit 94 (Roscoe) and headed north on Route 206 toward Downsville. At the Pepacton Reservoir, I turned left to stay on Route206/30 and drove through Downsville heading toward Walton. Just after the light in Downsville, I turned right on Telford Hollow Road. As I was driving over the hill, I could see a lot of color in the leaves and thought I might stop on the way back to take pictures. I turned right at the bottom of the hill and drove out to Route 10. I turned right and drove toward Delhi. I drove through Delhi and continued on Route 10 north for 17 miles to Hobart. I turned on CR-18 and drove across a beautiful stone bridge over the West Branch of the Delaware River. I pulled into the parking lot of the bank and parked my car. I might not have done this on a business day but on this day the bank was closed. The temperature had just turned to 60 degrees. I set my GPS and we crossed Railroad Avenue to begin our hike at 11:05 AM.

The trail is wide and flat for its entire length but does game some elevation on this section. The elevation gain is barely noticeable in all but a few locations. Ahead of us on the trail was a woman with two young children. As we passed under some trees, we came to an area where the railroad ties had not been completely removed but piled at the side of the trail. We continued on the rail which passed through the Hobart Industrial Park and then started out into the countryside. The trail was very straight and it seemed like I could look ahead for at least a mile. I took some pictures and then continued on the trail. In a short distance, we came to a field full on pumpkins on the left side of the trail. I stopped and took pictures and noticed that the leaves had more color than the last time I was in the area. We continued on the trail without see much more than beautiful countryside with some bright leaves and barns. At one point, I looked up to see cattle in a field on the right. I stopped to take some pictures and the noticed the hills beyond had some nice colors. I took some pictures of the hills and the noticed the donkeys in the field. Donkeys accompany the cattle as they discourage coyotes. I walked a little farther and got a better view of more cows so I took some more shots. Some of the cows started to "Moo" and I mooed back. The cattle looked up so I called again which made the cattle come closer. I grew up on a farm and am glad to see I haven't lost the ability to call cows! We continued our hike along the flat and straight trail. A little farther along I saw a mountain with towers at the top and I knew this was Mount Utsayantha and that I was nearing Stamford. To the right and a little closer was another mountain with some nice color which I knew was Churchill Mountain which I had climbed as part of the Catskill Highest Hundred. We continued the hike and were soon at a street crossing. Directly across the street was the Stamford Railroad Station which now acts as the headquarters for the Stanford Historical Society and the Catskill Scenic Trail. There were some maps in the kiosk and I took one. It was only 12:45 PM and I had hiked 4.1 miles in 1 hour and 40 minutes with plenty of stops along the way. I really wanted to extend the hike and maybe even hike to Grand Gorge. I knew this would be at least 10 miles and that I could not hike 20 mile round trip. I decided to call my brother-in-law Jeff who lives in Delhi to ask him if we would pick me up in Grand Gorge. I felt lucky that I had service and that Jeff was home. He readily agreed to my request and I can't thank him enough. I told him to give me 2 and a half hours which translated to 3:15 PM.

I had just passed a sign that indicated 6.0 miles to Grand Gorge but a little further along the trail another sign said 6.6 miles! Several other trail markers seemed to be in disagreement also. Since I didn't know exactly how far we had to hike I decided to keep a fast pace and only stop for exceptional pictures. As we crossed a street to stay on the trail I saw a woman with a dog farther up the trail. The dog was not on a leash and as we approached she asked if my dog was friendly. I said "Sometimes" so she leashed her dog. As we continued, I noticed a series of walkways over and around a wetland. Signs indicated that this was part of a Stamford park. I wanted to stop but knew I needed to keep a good pace. Not too far up the trail we ran into the first mile marker I had seen on this section of trail. The "K 73" marker indicated 73 miles from Kingston, NY. I took pictures of the marker and one of Sheila on the bench next to the marker. At 6.7 miles we came to Mayham Pond on the left or north side of the trail. It was hard to get a clear shot of the pond but I found a spot that gave a partial view. There was a larger number of geese on the pond and I took several pictures including some zoomed in. I noticed one of the geese had a very long neck and upon further examination I determined it was a blue heron. I took some more shots and then continued on the trail as quickly as possible. By this time my legs were beginning to feel tired and I still wasn't sure how far I had to hike. We continued along the trail which had turned east instead of northeast. At 10.0 miles we crossed Bruce Pond Road where a sign announced ".7 miles to Grand Gorge". I called Jeff who told me he was about 10 minutes away from Grand Gorge. I stepped up my pace so he wouldn't have to wait for me. The walk went quickly and at 10.7 miles the trail intersected Route 23. I called Jeff to see if he wanted to pick me up where I was but he did not answer. He did not answer because he was pulling up next to me! I opened the door to let Sheila into the backseat of the pickup truck. When she jumped in, she practically attacked Jeff showering him with "kisses"> It is a good thing he likes dogs! On the way to Hobart, Jeff and I talked and I again thanked him for giving us a ride. On the way back, I stopped on Telford Hollow Road to take some pictures of some of the best leaf colors around. We had hiked 10.7 miles in 4 hours for an overall speed of 2.7 mph and a moving speed of 3.2 mph. The elevation gain was almost 400 feet with over 500 feet of descent.

On Sunday, October 13th I had planned to hike after returning from church. When services were over, I had meeting. As I was leaving the meeting, my wife called and told me there were two ambulance calls. I hurried home and met Brad at the ambulance building. We arrived at the site of the call and returned to the building shortly thereafter. We drove home to get ready to hike at about 1:45 PM. The temperature was in the low 60's with plenty of sun and the conditions seemed perfect for s fall hike. As I began to get ready, Sheila was ready to go and stayed close to me to make sure she was going along. I got dressed in a new White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles. Brad and I put our packs in the car and headed out the DeBruce Road at 2:05 PM. After six miles I turned left on Mongaup Road. Where the road split I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking lots. There were already several cars in the lots as I pulled in to park. My plan was to walk up the Flynn Trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail and start trimming the Flynn Trail to the junction with the Woods road. From here we would walk down to Hodge Pond and follow the Flynn Trail from beginning to end. At Junkyard Junction we would pick up the Quick Lake Trail and follow it back to the car. I put Sheila on her leash and set my GPS unit before we crossed the road and picked up the Flynn Trail. I asked Brad to keep Sheila on her leash until we reached the woods road. I was surprised that the dog from the cabin did not come out to greet us!

We turned right on the woods road that was once the extension of Beech Mountain Road and I let Sheila off her leash. It is a long climb toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail but it seemed to me we were moving very quickly and I was feeling full of energy. I knew that this was partly due to hiking 3500 foot peaks which made the smooth trail surface and easy grade feel so much easier. It was also true that talking to Brad made things go more quickly. At about 1.2 miles we came to the point where I sometimes turn off the trail to visit an interesting clearing. Since we were looking for fall colors, I decided we should make the visit. We walked uphill to the open field and I put my pack down to take some pictures. The scene was pretty but the leaf colors were only average. We returned to the main trail and continued toward the trail junction passing a rather large blowdown. We had cut the blowdown back on our last work trip but I would like to cut it back a little more. Our walk to the Big Rock Junction went quickly and we arrived after hiking 1.7 miles. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail to the next trail junction. We stayed to the left to follow the Flynn Trail down to Hodge Pond. The grass on the trail had been mowed by OSI which owns the land. As we walked out into the sun, I noticed the apparent increase in temperature. I also noticed there was a breeze which helped offset the sun. We walked down the rest of the Flynn Trail and out into the field by Hodge Pound. We walked over to the shore and I took a few pictures. The sky was blue and there were nice white clouds to increase the contrast with the rest of the sky. The leaf colors were nice enough but not what I had hoped for. I did throw a few sticks for Sheila but she was not enthusiastic about swimming to retrieve them. I noticed a couple had come down to the field and followed the Flynn Trail along the west side of Hodge Pond. After a few minutes, we walked back to the Flynn Trail and followed it along the west side of the pond.

The trail was wet and muddy in places but these were easily avoided. At the next trail junction we stayed to the left to take the Flynn Trail up the hill rather than the jeep road around the back of the pond. The trail here was a little damper with more muddy spots. The walk to the Quick Lake Trail at Junkyard Junction went quickly. It was 3:55 PM and we had hiked 3.4 miles which is a little more than halfway through the hike. We turned left to start the hike back and we set a quick pace as we walked and talked. The trail initially rolls some but eventually descends toward Iron Wheel Junction. The trail was damp and muddy in several places. We did come across several new blowdowns but I knew I could return later to work on them or allow the snowmobile club to remove them. Just before the junction with the snowmobile trail, we spotted the couple we had seen before hiking away from us. We turned right at Iron Wheel Junction after hiking 5 miles. The turn allowed us to stay on the Quick Lake Trail heading for Frick Pond. The couple ahead of us stopped by the side of the trail and allowed us to pass by. We came to and crossed the small stream through the woods without a problem as it was almost dry. We walked through the spruce tunnel and out the other side. There were a few blowdowns but they were flat on the ground and easy to step over. This part of the trail was wet and muddy in places. We passed by the junction with the Big Rock Trail on the left and were soon at the bridge over the Frick Pond outlet. I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I have taken hundreds of pictures form the bridge but can't resist stopping to take a few more. The water level was very low although some water was still flowing in the outlet stream. Once again the leaf colors were nice but not spectacular. After I took some picture, we walked up the hill from Frick Pond to Gravestone Junction. The memorial stone was still in place and had not been moved. We continued straight ahead on the Quick Lake Trail. The trail was dry for almost the entire way back to the car. We passed by the register and walked the woods road back to the parking area. There were still a few other cars in the parking areas. We were back at the car at 5:05 PM having hiked 6.6 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes with a vertical gain of 963 feet.

On Saturday, October 12th I knew I had some chores to do in the morning and a family gathering in the afternoon. This left a limited amount of time to get in hike across the street on Round Top. I had planned to take a longer hike the day before but I got a call from my son Kurt early Friday morning. He was in the ER so I drove to Poughkeepsie and 5:00 AM to be with him. After a short time I drove him home and then returned to Livingston Manor. By the time I got home, I was only in the mood for a long nap! Brad, my son-in-law, was visiting and he decided to accompany me on the hike. After I finished my chores, we started to get ready around 10:30 AM. The temperature was in the high 50's so I knew I might want a light jacket. I put on my long-sleeved White Sierra top without a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee III boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. At 11:15 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do just two figure 8's. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. We stopped once on the way up to take a look at the fall colors but there wasn't much in the way of any brilliant spots. When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. We kept a quick pace as we walked and talked. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. Walking uphill we passed through what had been a sea of green ferns but was now a little brown and dried out. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. I had trimmed much of the trail earlier in the summer but this part still had some branches encroaching on the trail. I sort of like the branches untrimmed as it makes the trail seem "wilder"! Soon we were back at the yellow trail. We turned right and walked the yellow trail to the next trail junction. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We continued down to the lookout and followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The walk had gone quickly, so we turned around and started back up the hill back to the lookout. Sheila seemed happy we were going to stay out a little longer. We followed the yellow trail uphill toward the lookout and turned right to continue up to the next trail junction with the blue trail. At the trail junction, we turned right to stay on the yellow trail. At the next junction we turned left to climb the shallower side of the summit ascent. We again walked across the flat summit and descended the steeper trail which was almost completely dry. At the trail junction, we turned left and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction we turned right this time to follow the trail down to the woods road that leads out to the first trail junction. We completed the figure 8 ending up back at the very first trail junction. I checked the time and determined that we should return home given the time. We walked out toward the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We walked down the hill and through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. It was 12:15 PM and we had hiked around 2 miles in about an hour.

On Tuesday, October 8th I came home immediately after school and wanted to get in a short hike. I asked Cindy she wanted to hike a few loops on Round Top and she declines. Sheila began barking, running around frantically and spinning in place. Sheila misses the hiking as much as I do since I have returned to full-time teaching for the rest of this year! The temperature was in the high 50's so I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top. I knew this might be a little too warm but felt I don't mind being warm. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee III boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. At 4:05 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do at least two figure 8's which might be enough given the situation. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. The hill seemed much easier as I had been hiking the 3500 foot mountains with Bryce during the summer. I paused before the top of the hill to see if there were any colors to be seen in the leaves but nothing much was visible.

When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming more and more worn which means that quite few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight up the hill toward the viewpoint. At the top of the hill I gazed out over the town but didn't stop as the view was very familiar. We turned right and followed the trail as it gently gained elevation through a sea of ferns. At the next trail junction, we turned right to follow the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. I had been on the trail in July cutting back the brush and grass with my Stihl trimmer and loppers. I was glad to see that the trail was still nice and wide and had not been overgrown again. At the next trail junction we turned left and headed up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. As we hiked, I noticed that there were some branches encroaching on the trail but I didn't really mind. We were soon passing over the top of the hill and starting down the other side. The trail bed was a narrow path through a sea of green ferns which were quite pretty. At the bottom of the hill we turn left to follow the yellow trail to the next trail junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the woods road that returned us to the first trail junction. All the time Sheila stayed pretty close to me taking only a few off-trail excursions. When we reached the first trail junction, we turned around and walked back up the woods road. At the first junction with the blue trail we turned left and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the second junction, we turned right and walked up the blue trail through the ferns to the summit of Round Top. We walked down the other side to the junction and turned right. We followed the yellow trail turning left and the next junction to walk down to the lookout. At the lookout we stayed to the left and walked down the hill to the first trail junction. I was satisfied that I had done enough. We continued straight ahead and walked out toward the trailhead. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down the hill, out through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. It was 5:00 PM and we had hiked over 2 miles in just under an hour.

On Saturday, October 5th, Cindy and I had hiked at Vroman's Nose and were still looking for some fall colors. We decided to head for Bald Mountain near Stamford in Delaware County to see if the leaves there were any brighter than those we had seen so far. I had only hiked this mountain once before and that had been 6 years ago! The mountain has many marked trails but no maps are available making the markings useless. I drove back to Grand Gorge on Route 30 and then turned right heading northwest on Route 23. Once we were in Stamford, I turned right to head northeast on Route 10 passing through Stamford. It was easy to find Archibald Field and I pulled in to park at 1:50 PM. There was one car already parked in the lot with two women getting ready to hike. I set my PGS unit and we started out on the gravel road that heads almost due east toward Bald Mountain. The mountain itself was not visible from the parking area but I remembered to head east and up! As we started our hike the temperature was in the low 50's and I kept on my light windbreaker to start the hike. We started to the east on a gravel and dirt road that ran along the south side of the field. The road became a woods road and crossed a footbridge over a stream as it entered the forest. We continued east and took a right at the first junction passing several other trails along the way. As promised the trails were marked in various ways but the markings meant little without a map to follow. I am sure there are many different ways to get to the top of the mountain and the route I chose was meant to be the shortest. At .8 miles we turned right and headed almost due south. From what I could remember this was the route I had followed the last time. We passed the slower of the two women who were ahead of us and at 1 mile passed a trail to the left that I knew would take us toward the summit.

We continued up a short hill to an open field where I met the other woman. There was a small pond in the open field. To the east and south we could see Mount Utsayantha with the fire tower, Churchill Education Center and communication towers. To the north we could see more mountain.s I dropped my pack and got out the camera and took quite a few shots of the scenery. I decided we would return to the trail that ascended the mountain so we retraced our steps and turned right on the trail. The trail headed northeast and then turned east as it started to gain some elevation. We passed several side trails that I had used the last time to lengthen the hike. By the time we reached 1.7 miles, we had already made some steep climbs. Another steep but short climb ahead was a little too much for Cindy. She decided to wait as Sheila and I hike to the summit of the mountain. Sheila and I started up the steep trail which averaged over a 20% grade with some areas approaching 30%. At 1.9 miles we turned right and continued toward the summit. At 2.1 miles we were at the top of the ski slopes where I dropped my pack and got out my camera. I took pictures of the surrounding mountains to the east and then walked to a spot where I could get a view to the north. I took pictures of the ski lifts and slopes and then walked back to my pack. I took some more shots including some of the ski-lifts and other equipment. As I was taking my shots, I noticed two ATVs coming up the slopes from the north. They parked near the lifts and shut off their machines. The riders were a local couple and we chatted for a few minutes. They told me that what looked like a hotel at the base of the slopes was once a "village" associated with the slopes but was now between owners. I decided to get back to Cindy so I packed up and we started back down the trail. The descent of the steep trail wasn't easy as the fallen leaves made it slippery. As we neared the bottom, Sheila ran ahead to find Cindy. I decided we would simply retrace our route back to the car as we knew what the trails were like. The first part of this route was difficult because of the steepness but after this the hike went pretty easily. We were back at the car at 3:55 PM after hiking 4 miles in 2 hours with an elevation gain of 980 feet. I hope that someone creates maps of the area as they would greatly enhance the experience. The other car was still in the lot which concerned me as I though the other hikers should have been back. As we left the raking lot, I turned right to drive north on Route 10 to the "village" I had seen from the mountain. When we came to the entrance, I turned in but found a sign that said "The Zone" and one that said "No trespassing". As I was about to pull away, Cindy pointed out there was a camel in the field. I got out my camera and took some pictures of the camel and some long-horned cattle in the corral.

On Saturday, October 5th I wanted to go somewhere to look for some fall colors. I knew that any of the local 3500 peaks and places like Giant Ledge would be mobbed by others looking for the same views. I decided to head for Vroman's Nose and Pratt Rock which I hoped would have fewer visitors. I asked Cindy if she would like to come along and she said "yes". When I got up in the morning the temperature was 31 degrees and there was a heavy fog. I decided to get a little more sleep after a busy week in school. I finally got up at 9:30 AM, ate breakfast and started to get ready. The temperature on the back porch was 48 degrees in the sun! Sheila was very happy to be getting out as we got dressed, packed our gear and got ready to go. The temperatures were forecast to be in the mid 50's but with a stiff breeze for most of the day. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. We left Livingston Manor just after 10:00 AM. I took State Route 17 to Roscoe and then Route 206 to Route 30 at the Pepacton Reservoir. I made a right on Route 30 and then followed it along the reservoir to Margaretville and then through Roxbury and Grand Gorge to Middleburgh. Just outside of Middleburgh I turned left on Mill Valley Road. Less than a mile up the road I parked in the Vromans Nose parking lot on the left side of the road. The association that maintains the area had increased the parking lot to more than double its former size which is a good thing because there were more than 30 cars in the lot. I almost decided to go somewhere else but decided to hike where we were. I set my GPS and we started our hike at noon. I left my poles in the car and put Sheila on her leash. People were leaving the lot ahead of us and others were returning to their cars. It seemed like every other hiker had a dog and this continued for the whole hike. The trail was much drier than it had been in my last few visits. As we walked through the open field that leads to the trails, we found the trail to the right was still closed to allow the "old" trail to recover from overuse. We turned to the left to hike the steeper side first which would allow us to return on the gentle side. As we turned onto the yellow blazed trail I noted that it did not seem familiar and I questioned whether or not I was on the correct path but I soon realized it was just that I was traveling in a direction I had only taken only a few times before. My intention was to continue on the yellow path all the way to the top passing the Long Path as we went. We continued to meet people and dogs but Sheila was very well-behaved. We came to the more gentle trail that comes in from the right at .2 miles but decided to climb the steeper trail and continued straight ahead. I would much rather climb a steep trail than descend it especially when the teal is covered in oak leaves. The half mile from where we entered the trail to the top averaged about an 18% grade. We met many people coming down the steep trail looking very unsure of themselves.

Soon we arrived at the top and I immediately began to take pictures. Fortunately, there were no people in the area. The fields below were still green and the Schoharie Creek had more water than many I have seen. At the very first lookout I took pictures in all directions including some of the crumbling rock that makes up the Nose. I was disappointed that the leaf colors were muted and many of the leaves had not yet changed. I decided to bypass a few of the lookouts along the way as the view is better from the top. I took a few pictures of Sheila and Cindy and then continued on the trail. The aqua blazes indicated this is the route of the Long path, a hiking trail that runs form New York City to Albany. Once on the summit I dropped my pack and got out the camera as Cindy took over holding Sheila's leash. I took some pictures to the south where the Catskills were prominent. From the top there were some glimpses of brightly colored leaves along the cliff. I was a little disappointed as the sky was a solid blue with no clouds. I took some pictures concentrating on the farmland below with alternating patches of green and brown. There was at least one harvester at work filling trucks which would drive away when full only to be replaced by another.Vromans Nose has an elevation of about 1220 feet above sea level which makes it about 500 feet higher than the surrounding plain. It isn't very high but it gives a great view of the plain below and the peaks both near and far. We continued our hike by walking along the edge of the cliff. We stopped at the far end of the cliffs where I again took some more shots concentrating on the hills to the north and the bends in the Schoharie Creek below. The descent starts out a little steep and slippery but soon become a wide path with a gentler slope. We passed the point where the Long Path comes up on the left. This is a very steep ascent which I made when I hiked the Long Path. The trail back was a mess with water and mud covering the trail from side to side almost all the way back. At this rate this trail will have to be closed to allow it to "rest". We turned right at 1.1 miles and continued to follow the trail as it looped back to the trail we used at the start of the hike. At 1.4 miles we turned left and hiked back to the car. We were back at the car at 1:00 PM having hiked 1.6 miles in 1 hour with an elevation gain of 500 feet. I suggested we leave the area to look for leaf colors in a different area. We decided to head for Bald Mountain outside of Stamford.

On Friday, October 4th I came home immediately after school and wanted to get in a short hike. As I began to get ready to go Sheila began barking and running around frantically. Sheila misses the hiking as much as I do since I have returned to full-time teaching. The temperature was in the high 50's so I knew I might want a light jacket. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top which is a little heavier than what I have been wearing and put on a light short-sleeved baselayer. I knew this might be a little too warm but felt I don't mind being warm. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee III boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. At 3:45 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do just two figure 8's. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. I set a slower pace than usual so that I could just enjoy the walk. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. Walking uphill we passed through a sea of green ferns that grew very close to the narrow trail. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. I had trimmed much of the trail earlier in the summer but this part still had some branches encroaching on the trail. I sort of like the branches untrimmed as it makes the trail seem "wilder"! Soon we were back at the yellow trail. We turned right and walked the yellow trail to the next trail junction. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We continued down to the lookout where there wasn't much to see. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The walk had gone quickly, so we turned around and started back up the hill back to the lookout. Sometimes Sheila resists another loop but this time she had no objection. We followed the yellow trail uphill toward the lookout and turned right to continue up to the next trail junction with the blue trail. At the trail junction, we turned right to stay on the yellow trail. At the next junction we turned left to climb the shallower side of the summit ascent. We again walked across the flat summit and descended the steeper trail. At the trail junction, we turned left and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction we turned right this time to follow the trail down to the woods road that leads out to the first trail junction. We completed the figure 8 ending up back at the very first trail junction. That was enough for me given the time. We walked out toward the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. There was a car parked at the trailhead and the occupants were still in the car. I thought about suggesting they not park blocking the road but I decided against it. We walked down the hill and through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. It was 4:40 PM and we had hiked around 2 miles in about an hour.

On Sunday, September 29thth I decided I wanted to hike somewhere near home after returning from church. It was almost 1:00 PM before we got home from church and I might have given up the hike but Sheila convinced me to go! I asked Cindy if she wished to hike and she agreed as long as we did not have to drive very far. We talked about different possibilities and I suggested we head for Long Pond to do the big loop which is about 6 miles. We had not been to Long Pond in some time so I was anxious to see how the trails had faired after the recent rains and winds. We started to get ready and Sheila was there to watch our every move. The temperature was in the low 70's as we prepared to hike. I got dressed in a new White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. When we left the house at about 1:30 PM the skies were partly sunny. I got Sheila in the car and we put our gear in the trunk and headed out DeBruce Road for about 8 miles to Flugertown Road where I made a left. I parked in the lot a short distance up the road on the right where we found no other cars. As we pulled in and started to get ready another car pulled in and parked. Sheila really wanted to see who or what was in the car and I suspected thee might be another dog. I put Sheila on her leash just as the occupants began to exit the other car with their dog. I set my GarminGPS and we got started on the trail right away crossing the first bridge at 1:45 PM. I hoped we could set a quick pace and stay ahead of the other hikers. Sheila hand I had hiked the day before on Round Top but you wouldn't know it from the way she carried on. At the start the trail was dry which made it easier to keep a fast pace. The first .6 miles gains about 350 feet to the highest point on the hike. It isn't very steep but does act as a nice warm-up! Once the trail leveled it was easier walking but the trail became wet and muddy in spots. At 1.1 miles we were at the spur trail that leads down to the shore of Long Pond. We turned right and almost immediately ran into a large blowdown across the trail. We worked through the blowdown and went down to the pond so that I could take some pictures. At the shores of the pond I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take some pictures. Sheila tried to follow me through the mud but we discouraged her. The skies were blue with a few wispy clouds. The colors were not as bright as I had hoped but there were some brilliant trees. I took quite a few pictures trying to concentrate on the color. I returned to my pack and we returned to the main trail. We turned right and were soon at the first trail junction. We turned right at the junction at 1.3 miles. We found plenty of wet and muddy places on the trail but they were easily avoided. By 2:40 PM we had walked 1.8 miles and were passing the spur trail to the lean-to.

After passing the trail to the lean-to, we continued to find wet and muddy places on the trail but there was a little less than before. There isn't much to see on this section of trail but we kept busy by avoiding the muddy spots and talking. We continued on the main trail to the point where it intersects a woods road at 2.6 miles. We turned left on the woods road and found it to be very wet and recently used by vehicles. We followed the road until the intersection with Basily Road at 2.85 miles where we continued on Basily Road by bearing left. This section of road was also wet and muddy but it did not slow us down much. As we approached the Peters Hunting Camp, I got ready to put Sheila on her leash. The area near the footbridge across the outlet to the beaver pond was almost dry and I stopped to take a few pictures despite the paucity of fall colors. I heard a voice and then saw a mountain biker headed toward us and toward the camp. I grabbed Sheila as she passed. I remember wondering if she had permission to be on the private land and bridge. We continued on the trail but stopped after a short distance so that I could take some pictures of the cornfields around the hunting camp. The new bridge over the stream near the amp is already showing signs of wear from snowmobiles passing over it even though there is a sign that states "Private Bridge". We crossed the bridge to continue the trip back to the car but stopped so that I could take some pictures of Cindy and Sheila. The ford downstream of the bridge looked like it had been getting a lot of use by vehicles since the water was very shallow. We started up the little hill from the hunting camp and stopped again so that I could take a few shots of the valley which looked peaceful with the nice skies behind it. There were some isolated trees with nice colors and I wondered whether the colors would get better before the leaves fell off the trees. Once we started walking again we kept a fast pace since the road was now drier. At one point I noticed that there were some rocks in the stream covered with moss. I took a few pictures and then Sheila alerted. I hiker was approaching with her dog on a leash. I leashed Sheila which proved to be a good idea as the other dog began to bark and growl. We continued down the road toward the car until we arrived at the place where the road is paved. We stopped since I wanted to take a picture of a dead tree against the blue sky. Cindy suggested I take some close-ups of some brightly colored leaves. I noticed an apple, tree and took some pictures including some close-ups of the apples at Cindy's suggestion. Once I was done, I stowed my camera and we continued at an accelerated pace back to the parking area. We were back at the car at 4:25 PM having hiked 6.0 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes with 20 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was only about 550 feet most of which was at the beginning of the hike.

On Saturday, September 28th I was ready to get out for my first hike of the week and the first one of the fall season. I had been busy with a spate of after school and family commitments! I was scheduled to be on duty with the ambulance at the only home football of the season so I knew I couldn't go to far away from home. I did some chores around the house and decided I would go across the street to hike on Round Top. Before I could return home my ambulance pager sounded and I went to the building to wait for a driver. The call was cancelled and I went home to start to get ready around 9:30 AM. As I began to get dressed to go Sheila began arking and running around frantically. Sheila misses the hiking as much as I do since I have returned to full-time teaching. The temperature was in the low 70's so I knew I should dress for warm weather. I put on my long-sleeved light Mountain Hardwear crew top. I knew this might be a little too warm but felt I don't mind being warm. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku boots which are supportive, surprisingly roomy and discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. At 9:50 AM, I grabbed Sheila's leash from the closet as we walked out the door to start the hike. We walked up the driveway and across the street. I decided we would try to do four figure 8's to make up for the lack of hiking during the week. We walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church and to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, I stopped to look around at the hills around town. I had hoped to see some fall colors but there were none to speak of. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. I set a slower pace than usual so that I could just enjoy the walk. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. Walking uphill we passed through a sea of green ferns that grew very close to the narrow trail. The ferns were a little damp as was the trail which made hiking a little slippery. I also noticed that I was a little tired which I attributed to the lack of hiking. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. I had trimmed much of the trail earlier in the summer but this part still had some branches encroaching on the trail. I sort of like the branches untrimmed as it makes the trail seem "wilder"! Soon we were back at the yellow trail. We turned right and walked the yellow trail to the next trail junction. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We continued down to the lookout where there wasn't much to see and I noticed the lack of color in the leaves. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The walk had gone quickly, so we turned around and started back up the hill back to the lookout. Sometimes Sheila resists another loop but this time she had no objection. We followed the yellow trail uphill toward the lookout and turned right to continue up to the next trail junction with the blue trail. At the trail junction, we turned right to stay on the yellow trail. At the next junction we turned left to climb the shallower side of the summit ascent. We again walked across the flat summit and descended the steeper trail. At the trail junction, we turned left and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction we turned right this time to follow the trail down to the woods road that leads out to the first trail junction. We completed the figure 8 ending up back at the very first trail junction. I was still fresh and even though repeated figure 8's are a little boring. I decided to head up the woods road and repeat the first figure 8. We completed the route and then did another one. After the fourth figure 8, we headed out toward the trailhead. As we approached the trailhead, I saw two people getting ready to come onto the trail. I put Sheila on her leash as we walked out to the cemetery. The hikers asked how far it was to the lookout and I let them know it was less than half a mile round trip. Sheila and I walked down the hill and through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. It was 11:15 PM and we had hiked around 4 miles in about an hour and a half.

Summer 2019

On Saturday, September 21st, I wanted to get out for a hike after a long week at school. I knew that Cindy would want a relatively flat hike so I suggested we hike a section of the Catskill Scenic Trail from South Kortright to Hobart. I estimated this would be about 8 miles which is long but the walk is almost completely flat. It was cool and very foggy early in the morning so we delayed our departure. The weather report indicated a beautiful morning with no rain and highs in them 80's. I got dressed in a new White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately and made sure I had two water bottles since I expected to hike at least 8 miles. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and waited for Cindy. Sheila loves to get out an hike anywhere and she had kept her eye on both of us as we were getting ready. As we left Livingston Manor just after 10:30 AM, it was still a little foggy and the temperature was in the low 70's. I drove north and west on State Route 17 to exit 94 (Roscoe) and headed north on Route 206 toward Downsville. From the top of Brock Mountain I could see that many of the valleys were still filled with fog or clouds. At the Pepacton Reservoir, I turned left to stay on Route206/30 and drove through Downsville heading toward Walton. Just after the light in Downsville, I turned right on Telford Hollow Road. After driving over the hill, I turned right at the bottom of the hill and drove out to Route 10. I turned right and drove toward Delhi. As we drove through Delhi there was a street fair going on and the town was packed. I continued on Route 10 north for 13 miles to South Kortright. I turned on CR-18 and drove across a beautiful stone bridge over the West Branch of the Delaware River. At the end of the road, I turned right and almost immediately found the point where the trail crosses the road across from the South Kortright Cemetery. I turned around and found a place where I could pull off the road and park. I set my GPS and we started north on the trail toward Hobart at 11:55 AM.

The trail is wide and flat for its entire length but does game some elevation on the section we hiked. The elevation gain is barely noticeable in all but a few locations. The first part of the trail passes through the backyard of some homes in South Kortright. At one point we came to a small fenced-in area with two miniature horses and another horse across the trail. I stopped to take a few pictures before continuing on the way. A young lady passed us on the trail walking quickly but did not answer our greetings. At .5 miles we crossed Madison Hill Road and continued on the other side. The day was almost perfect but we both noticed it was getting warmer as we hiked. At 1.8 miles we crossed CR-18 on a diagonal and parallel the road briefly. I began to notice that the color of the trees to the east was still mostly green but the trees to the west were beginning to turn color. I stopped to take a few pictures of the colors. A little further along a couple riding bicycles caught up to us coming from South Kortright. At 2.8 miles the trail again came close to CR-18 and I began to hear loud voices. As we walked further along the trail, it became clear that the voice was an auctioneer on a farm. The trail crossed the farm's driveway where some children were playing and then again crossed CR-18 at 3.2 miles. I knew we must be getting close to Hobart from my own calculations and the trail signs at the crossings. At 3.6 miles we came to the first substantial bridge which crossed Town Brook. Cindy stopped to get a drink and a snack while I took pictures of the brook and the bridge. We continued on the trail and were soon in Hobart. I decided I wanted to walk to an area where there was parking so that I could start there o the next hike. I crossed Pearl St and Maple Avenue and walked to the next trail sign on Railroad Avenue where I turned around.

I walked back to where Cindy had stopped and a large hound came running up to us. He seemed friendly enough but I am always upset by dog owners who let there dogs run loose. We eventually convinced the dog to get lost as we hiked back to Pearl Street. I had noticed a large cemetery and turned right on Pearl Sreet to walk to Locust Hill Cemetery. I took a few pictures and then returned to the trail. We set a very fast pace on the way back and I did not intend to stop at all. I got ahead of Cindy on some sections and did stop to take some shots and allow her to catch up. We passed all the "attractions" we had seen on the way out. As we neared South Kortright a couple passed us on bicycles with the fattest tires I had ever seen. The bikes were a heavy construction and the woman muttered about the trail as she went passed us. We continued along walking as fast as we could and in a short time the couple came up behind us and passed us again. By 3:05 we were back at the car after hiking 8.1 miles in 3 hours and 10 minutes for an average speed of 3.0 mph moving and 2.5 mph overall. The elevation gain stood at 290 feet. I walked over to the South Kortright Cemetery to take a few pictures. On the way back to the car, I noticed a pond covered in green duckweed. There appeared to be two animals in the pond. I took some pictures of the pond and then zoomed in on the animals which were ducks!

On Wednesday, September 18th I came home from school and felt like taking a hike close to home but in a location that was not Round Top or Frick Pond. I decided to go to Huggins lake. The hike is less than 4 miles but has some good uphill and the lake at the end of the out and back hike is pretty. I was hoping to see the beginnings of some fall colors. The temperature was in the low 70's as we started getting ready at 3:30 PM. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which discourage the ticks which have been numerous this season. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. We left Livingston Manor just before 4:00 PM as I drove north on Old Route 17 and then up the Beaverkill Road. I turned left on Campsite Road and stayed to the right at the bottom of the hill to cross the covered bridge. At the end of the road I turned right and followed Berry Brook Road to the trailhead. We arrived at the road to the parking area to find it very rough with some erosion and a few branches in the way. I chose to chance it and easily made it to the small lot parking at 4:10 PM. I got my equipment ready and set my GPS. There were no other cars in the lot when we headed out on the wide woods road to the lake. The temperature was in the low 70's and there was a slight breeze making the conditions perfect. There was some sun and the skies were mostly blue as we started the climb up the hill. The hike isn't long and the trail is well-maintained and it looked like some work had been done lately as there were no blowdowns along the way. The first 1.2 miles is all uphill and gains almost 700 feet. Sheila was running up and down the trail and following game paths into the woods. After the initial climb, the trail descends, levels some and then climbs again until the final descent to Huggins Lake. The trail makes a sharp turn from southeast to north at about 1.6 miles. We enjoyed the downhill trek to the shores of the pond but I knew we would soon have to turn around and climb back up the hill.

When we arrived at the lake, I noticed that the water level was high. We walked out along the dam on a narrow path through the weeds. The leaves had not really changed but a few leaves were beginning to show some color. It was still sunny and the skies were blue with puffy white clouds. The clouds and trees were reflected in the pond which was very placid. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take some pictures of the trees and the pond. I also got some shots of the colorful flowers and the reeds around the dam. At the outlet I could immediately see that the beavers had dammed the water flow and that reeds had grown to all but block the outlet flow. I took a few more pictures of the lake and Sheila before returning to my pack and stowing the camera. I made sure that Sheila did not dive into the pond as the water was muddy. The only negative point about Huggins Lake is that there is only one trail and so there are no variations available. The ascent went smoothly for the most part as we climbed the hill back to the highest point on the trail. From there we started down the other side of the hill. I was surprised that I had labored a little climbing the hill at the beginning of the hike but felt very fresh on the way back. Sheila seemed very interested in following game trails off the main trail and I had to keep calling her back. We arrived back at the car at 5:45 PM after hiking 3.7 miles in 1 hour and 35 minutes with a total elevation gain of 950 feet.

On Monday, September 16th I came home immediately after school and wanted to get in a short hike. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and she said "Yes". Cindy and I began to get ready to go with Sheila barking and running around frantically. Sheila misses the hiking as much as I do since I have returned to full-time teaching. The temperature was in the low 70's so I knew I should dress for warm weather. I put on my long-sleeved light Mountain Hardwear crew top. I knew this might be a little too warm but felt I don't mind being warm. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee III boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. At 4:05 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do just two figure 8's as I knew that was all Cindy would want to do. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. I set a slower pace than usual so that I could just enjoy the walk. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. Walking uphill we passed through a sea of green ferns that grew very close to the narrow trail. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. I had trimmed much of the trail earlier in the summer but this part still had some branches encroaching on the trail. I sort of like the branches untrimmed as it makes the trail seem "wilder"! Soon we were back at the yellow trail. We turned right and walked the yellow trail to the next trail junction. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We continued down to the lookout where there wasn't much to see. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The walk had gone quickly, so we turned around and started back up the hill back to the lookout. Sometimes Sheila and Cindy resist another loop but this time they had no objection. We followed the yellow trail uphill toward the lookout and turned right to continue up to the next trail junction with the blue trail. At the trail junction, we turned right to stay on the yellow trail. At the next junction we turned left to climb the shallower side of the summit ascent. We again walked across the flat summit and descended the steeper trail. About half way down the trail we met two local residents coming up the trail toward us. We stopped to talk for a few minutes and I was glad they were enjoying the trail. At the trail junction, we turned left and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction we turned right this time to follow the trail down to the woods road that leads out to the first trail junction. We completed the figure 8 ending up back at the very first trail junction. That was enough for us given the time. We walked out toward the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We walked down the hill and through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. It was 5:15 PM and we had hiked around 2 miles in about an hour.

On Sunday, September 15th, I wanted to get out and hike after church. When I got home the temperature was in the low 70's and the sky was blue with many white, puffy clouds. Cindy was not available so it would just be Sheila and I on the hike which meant we could get in a little more distance. Sheila got wind of what was going on and began running around the house barking. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which discourage the ticks which have been numerous this season. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I put my OR Bugout gaiters and grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. We left Livingston Manor around 1:30 PM and I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking areas on the left. I pulled into the smaller parking area where there were two other cars. The larger area also had two or three cars in it. We got ready to head out on the Quick Lake Trail with a few insects circling. I set my GPS and we walked out on the short access trail to the register at 1:50 PM. The trail was damp and muddy in spots from the recent local rains that had fallen the previous evening and night. At Gravestone Junction we turned right on the Logger's Loop. After a short distance, we stopped so that I could take some pictures of the blue sky and billowing white clouds. We continued on the Logger's Loop to Times Square and along the way the trail continued to be wet in spots. At Times Square we turned right and started up the Big Rock Trail.

The Big Rock Trail gains 600 feet over 1.1 miles to the junction with the Flynn Trail. Along the way there are three distinct spots where the trail gains elevation and then levels. Sometimes I am fooled by these sections but on this day I kept track of exactly where I was. I felt strong climbing the hill and we were soon at the junction with e Flynn Trail. We turned left and started out on the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. It was refreshing to be walking on the flat ground on the trail we had recently trimmed. When we arrived at the junction with the woods road that continues to the old Boy Scout camp, we stayed to the left on the Flynn Trail. We walked down the hill under bright and sunny skies to the clearing at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. From the trail we walked over to the shores of the pond. I dropped my pack and got out my camera as Sheila headed to the pond to take a swim. As I began to take pictures, I noticed a few of the trees were beginning to change colors. I took pictures of the pond and the trees. I also took a few shots of Sheila in the water and the magnificent clouds hanging over the pond. Once I had enough pictures, I called Sheila and we headed back to the Flynn Pond. We followed the Flynn Trail along the west side of Hodge Pond avoiding the wet and muddy areas. Where the Flynn Trail veered to the left , we stayed right on the jeep trail around the back of the pond. We walked down the path to the shore of the pond where I took some more pictures of the pond and the clouds. After returning to the main trail we continued to the point where the woods road turns left and heads up the hill. We climbed the steep but short hill to what was once Beech Mountain Road. At the top of the hill we turned right and walked back to the Flynn Trail.

A left turn on the Flynn Trail and a short walk brought us back to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We turned right on the big Rock trail and began the 1.1 mile descent back to Times Square. As we descended the various sections, I began to hear noises from the woods on either side of the trail. The noises weren't exactly a howl and they were at some distance but there was definitely a "conversation" going on. I could not tell whether the calls were coyotes or people practicing coyote calls but I decided we would increase our pace down the hill. When we reached Times Square, I decided that we would not try completing the Logger's Loop. I did not want to find out the source of the calls and I knew our total distance would be over 6 miles. We continued straight across Times Square on the Big Rock Trail. This trail was also muddy as we kept up a good pace over the bridges and through the dark spruce forest. I did stop to take a few shots before continuing across the wooden walkways to the junction with the Quick Lake Trail. We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and walked to the bridge over the outlet of Frick Pond. I stopped to take some pictures of the pond where some trees were beginning to change color. After finishing my photography, we walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction and continue out the trail toward the parking area. On the way out, I saw a dog ahead of us on the trail with its owners. I put Sheila on her leash and we soon caught up to them. We began to talk as our dogs got acquainted. The couple had recently moved to Willowemoc and were looking for places to hike. We walked together to the parking lot as I suggested places for them to hike. We arrived at the car at 4:35 PM after hiking 6.3 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes. Our elevation gain was 973 feet with an overall pace of 2.3 mph.

On Friday, September 13th I came home immediately after school and wanted to get in a short hike after a week of school and family commitments. I began to get ready to go with Sheila barking and running around frantically. Sheila misses the hiking as much as I do since I have returned to full-time teaching. The temperature was in the low 70's so I knew I should dress for warm weather. I put on my long-sleeved light Mountain Hardwear crew top. I knew this might be a little too warm but felt I don't mind being warm. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee III boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. At 3:45 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do four figure 8's to get a little more exercise. I aimed to hike for over an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. I set a slower pace than usual so that I could just enjoy the walk. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. Walking uphill we passed through a sea of green ferns that grew very close to the narrow trail. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. I had trimmed much of the trail earlier in the summer but this part still had some branches encroaching on the trail. Soon we were back at the yellow trail. We turned right and walked the yellow trail to the next trail junction. This time we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. We continued down to the lookout where there wasn't much to see. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The walk had gone quickly, so we turned around and started back up the hill back to the lookout. Sometimes Sheila resists another loop but this time she had no objection. We followed the yellow trail uphill toward the lookout and turned right to continue up to the next trail junction with the blue trail. At the trail junction, we turned right to stay on the yellow trail. At the next junction we turned left to climb the shallower side of the summit ascent. We again walked across the flat summit and descended the steeper trail. At the trail junction, we turned left and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction we turned right this time to follow the trail down to the woods road that leads out to the first trail junction. I still had some energy in me so we turned around and repeated the first loop. As we came around to the second trail junction we met a couple and their three year old daughter. They had just been to the summit and were walking back to their car. We talked and they said they were staying at Mongaup Campgrounds. I made suggestions about hikes at Frick Pond and to Mongaup Falls which they appreciated. We parted as Sheila and I began our ascent of the blue trail to the summit. We completed the figure 8 ending up back at the very first trail junction. That was enough for me given the time. We walked out toward the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We walked down the hill and through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. It was 5:15 PM and we had hiked just less than 3 miles in just under an hour and a half.

On Monday, September 9th, I wanted to get out and hike after school. When I got home the temperature was in the low 70's and the sky was blue with many white, puffy clouds. I asked Cindy if she would like to go to Frick Pond and hike and she said "Yes". Sheila got wind of what was going on and began running around the house barking. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which discourage the ticks which have been numerous this season. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I put my OR Bugout gaiters and grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. We left Livingston Manor just before 4:00 PM and I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking areas on the left. I pulled into the smaller parking area. We got ready to head out on the Flynn Trail with a few insects circling our heads. I set my GPS and we walked across the road to get on the Flynn Trail at 4:15 PM. This trail is sited along what used to be Beech Mountain Road which was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. As we walked the trail through the woods, the dog from the cabin near the parking area came running through the woods. His owner was calling for him but he was paying no attention. I did put Sheila on her leash as she gets nervous when other dogs approach. This is what usually occurs when we come to hike these trails. The owner just doesn't seem to care or isn't smart enough to remedy the situation. We stopped so that the owner might catch up to his dog but the dog was smarter. We walked to the end of the trail and stopped again at which point the owner was finally able to grab his dog. We turned right on the woods road and began to set a very quick pace up the Flynn Trail. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.75 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The day was somewhere between cool and warm with a sky that was quickly becoming overcast. Cindy and I both noticed that the woods were very quiet with almost no animal noises. We passed through the arch Cindy and I had cut through an enormous hemlock that had fallen across the trail.

We walked quickly up the trail stopping once so that I could take some pictures of the rock ledges. At 5:00 PM we had hiked the 1.7 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We turned left to walk down the Big Rock Trail. The trail was largely clear of branches and it appeared that someone had been hiking it. We set a very fast pace as we descended the trail passing through the various twists and turns that often make it seem like the bottom of the hill is close. We were soon at Times Square and I continued straight across to stay on the Big Rock Trail. I noticed that there were tire tracks in the mud and it seemed that some vehicle had been driven on the trail. New trail markers had been placed on the trail so I assumed it was the DEC that had placed them and had decided to use a vehicle to tear up the trails. I might be wrong. We continued to the bridges over the streams that feed Frick Pond. There was some water flowing under the first bridge but the stream that usually flows under the second bridge was completely dry. I took a few pictures before we continued along the Big Rock Trail. We passed over the series of wooden walkways which continue to deteriorate. If there is a plan on the part of the DEC to replace them, they have not made it known. At the end of the Big Rock Trail, we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and walked to the bridge over the outlet stream. There wasn't much water coming out of the pond but I decided to stop to take some shots. After a few minutes, we continued up the hill to Gravestone Junction and out the trail back to the car. The Quick lake Trail back to the parking area was completely dry. We arrived at the car at 5:50 PM after hiking 3.9 miles in 1 hours and 35 minutes. The elevation gain was 670 feet and our moving speed was 2.6 mph!

On Saturday, September 7th, I planned to get out and hike about 8 miles locally. I decided that I might hike the snowmobile trails on the west side of Mongaup Pond. There isn't much to see or photograph but I had not hiked the complete loop in some time. When I woke up in the morning, the temperature was in the low 50's with a heavy fog hanging over the valley. I decided to hold off a little while before starting out on my hike. When I did get up, I asked Cindy if she would like to hike and she said she would. I knew she would want to hike a shorter distance without too many hills. Cindy asked about hiking the Delhi Rail Trails and I reluctantly agreed. Rail trails are flat and straight and the only goal can be to walk as fast as you can. I got dressed in a new White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I put my OR Bugout gaiters as I did not know the nature of the trails we would be hiking. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately. At around 10:00 AM we put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. Sheila loves to get out an hike anywhere and she had kept her eye on both of us as we were getting ready. As we left Livingston Manor, it was still a little foggy. I drove north and west on State Route 17 to exit 94 (Roscoe) and headed north on Route 206 toward Downsville. From the top of Brock Mountain I could see that many of the valleys were still filled with fog or clouds. At the Pepacton Reservoir, I turned left to stay on Route206/30 and drove through Downsville heading toward Walton. Just after the light in Downsville, I turned right on Telford Hollow Road. After driving over the hill, I turned right at the bottom of the hill and drove out toward Route 10. Just before the intersection, I pulled into a parking area on the left side of the road. I had decided we would hike the entire West Branch rail Trail end to end as an out and back from this end. I took some pictures of the fields and the cloud-filled sky from the parking area. I set my GPS unit and we started out on the trail at 10:40 AM.

I had hiked this trail from the "middle" in July so I knew what to expect. It was clear that someone had used a tractor drawn mowing machine to clear the trail and there were only a few weeds leaning in at a few spots. Shortly after we started, I took some pictures to the north which included some part of the West Branch of the Delaware River. A little farther on, we came to a spot where there had been a large frog pond on the right side of the trail. I was surprised to see that the "pond" was almost completely dry with only little mud remaining. I took some pictures and then we continued on our way. After a short distance, I put Sheila on her leash as we were coming to an area where we had met a dog on Ur last hike. We passed through that area without meeting the dog. At 1 mile we came to the trail that comes down from the parking area on Route 10. The trail had been flat and dry with only a few damp spots. After this intersection, we ran into some muddy spots but they were easily avoided. At 1.6 miles a small spur trail led down to the river on the left side of the trail. I had not used this trail the last time but this time I walked down to the river. Upstream the river was almost dry with mostly mud flats. Downstream I could see more water and a small set of rapids. I took pictures in both directions and some close-ups of the river and Japanese knotweed. When I returned to the main trail, we continued our hike toward the opposite end of the rail trail. There was not much to see along the way except for some muddy areas and some garbage dumped down the bank form the road. As we approached the end of the trail, we came into the area of the Delaware County Landfill. The sights and sounds and smells were not very attractive so we quickly turned around and headed back the way we came. On the way back we decided to walk as fast as we could and did not stop. We were back at the car at 12:30 PM after hiking 4.8 miles in 1 hour and 50 minutes. My GPS unit indicated an elevation gain of 263 feet but that number was much closer to perhaps 50 feet. Our average speed was 2.6 mph with a moving average of 3.9 mph. I was ready to get in another short hike but Cindy suggested we return home to get ready for a party.

On Wednesday, September 44th I came home immediately after school and wanted to get in a short hike. I asked Cindy she wanted to hike a few loops on Round Top. She said "yes" so we began to get ready to go. Sheila began barking, running around frantically and spinning in place. Sheila misses the hiking as much as I do since I have returned to full-time teaching for the rest of this year! The temperature was in the low 70's so I put on my long-sleeved light Mountain Hardwear crew top. I knew this might be a little too warm but felt I don't mind being warm. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee III boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. At 4:10 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do at least two figure 8's which might be enough given the situation. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. The hill seemed much easier as I had been hiking the 3500 foot mountains with Bryce during the summer.

When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming more and more worn which means that quite few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails. At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight up the hill toward the viewpoint. At the top of the hill we gazed out over the town but didn't stop as the view was very familiar. We turned right and followed the trail as it gently gained legation through a sea of ferns. At the next trail junction, we turned right to follow the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. I had been on the trail in July cutting back the brush and grass with my Stihl trimmer and loppers. I was glad to see that the trail was still nice and wide and had not been overgrown again. At the next trail junction we turned left and headed up to the summit of Round Top on the blue trail. As we hiked, I noticed that there were some branches encroaching on the trail and made a note to make another trip to do some trimming before winter. We were soon passing over the top of the hill and starting down the other side. The trail bed was a narrow path through a sea of green ferns which were quite pretty. At the bottom of the hill we turn left to follow the yellow trail to the next trail junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the woods road that returned us to the first trail junction. All the time Sheila stayed pretty close to us taking only a few off-trail excursions. When we reached the first trail junction, we turned around and walked back up the woods road. At the first junction with the blue trail we turned left and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the second junction, we turned right and walked up the blue trail through the ferns to the summit of Round Top. We walked down the other side to the junction and turned right. We followed the yellow trail turning left and the next junction to walk down to the lookout. At the lookout we stayed to the left and walked down the hill to the first trail junction. Cindy and I agreed that we had done enough. We continued straight ahead and walked out toward the trailhead. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked won the hill, out through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. It was 5:20 PM and we had hiked over 2 miles in just over an hour.

On Friday, August 30th, I was ready to get out and hike with my grandson Bryce. My plan was to finally go to the Blackhead Range after several; aborted attempts. My plan was to hike Blackhead from the east and then hike Black dome leaving Thomas Cole for another day. When I awoke at 7:00 AM the temperature in town was 49 degrees and I hoped Bryce would come properly dressed. Bryce arrived at about 7:30 AM with long selves and long pants but no jacket. We found one he could wear since I didn't know what the temperature would be at the trailhead. I began to get my gear together closely watched by Sheila who knew that we always go hiking when Bryce is visiting. I got dressed in a new White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I put my OR Bugout gaiters and added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately and made sure I had two water bottles as I thought we might be hiking almost 7 miles over challenging terrain. At 8:00 AM I put our gear in the car and Sheila and Bryce in the back seat to get on the road to hike. The sky has bright and blue with some clouds. I headed out the DeBruce Road and at the end I turned left onto Route 47. We were soon passing by the Frost Valley YMCA. I continued on Rt 47 passing the trailheads at Biscuit Brook, Slide Mountain and Giant Ledge/Panther. There were a few cars at each spot but they didn't look very crowded. At Route 28 I turned right and drove 8 miles before turning left and heading north on Main Street in Phoenicia. At some point I realized a more direct route would have been Route 42 to Lexington but decided not to turn around. After a short distance, I turned left on Route 214 and drove north for 12 miles to Route 23A where I turned left heading toward Hunter. I turned right on Bloomer Road and at the end I turned right on Platte Clove Road. Where the road forked I stayed left on Platte Clove Road and continued straight ahead for 4.5 miles to Prediger Road. I turned right on Scribner Hollow Road and at the end I made a left on Route 23C. I was hoping I could find the big flag on the left at the turn onto CR-40 and was a little surprised it was there. I turned right on CR-40 and followed it into Maplecrest passing Barnum Road on the way down the hill. Where the road turned left, I turned right onto CR-56, Big Hollow Road, which led to the trailhead. We were following another car and the farther we went the clearer it became that the car was headed to the trailhead. I drove to the end of the road and parked in one of the remaining parking spots. I wanted to get started before the occupants of the other car so I set my GPS watch and hand unit. Bryce took off his coat as it was 66 degrees while I decided to leave my light windbreaker on for awhile. We walked up the road that leads to the red-blazed Black Dome Trail.

Surprisingly, the sign at the beginning of the trail makes no mention of the mountains in the list of destinations. As we started up the trail, Bryce was convinced we were going in the wrong direction! We hiked uphill crossing the Batavia Kill twice on bridges which were hardly necessary as the water level was so low. At .6 miles the trail split and we stayed left on the yellow-blazed Batavia Kill Trail. This sign mentioned Blackhead which made Bryce feel better. The trail continued to gain elevation at a moderate rate. We met one young man hiking toward us with some water bottles and I suspected he was staying at the lean-to just up the trail and was looking for water. He confirmed this and we continued in separate directions. At 1.5 miles we started on a switchback and at 1.6 miles we were at the junction with the blue-blazed Escarpment Trail. At this point we had gained almost 700 feet of elevation but I knew the major elevation gains were yet to come. We turned right and immediately started to climb over rocks and roots gaining elevation now more quickly. I stopped so that we could have a drink and so that I could take off my windbreaker. We continued on the trail as it became steeper with fewer places to catch a breath. I kept looking for some of the viewpoints that used to be present but these had disappeared as the trees grew. I did find a few places to take some shots and a limited viewpoint at around 2.1 miles. We got a drink and a snack before continuing up the trail. The last piece of trail to the summit was steep but short and we were soon at the junction of the Escarpment Trail and the Blackhead Mountain Trail. We had gained 1770 feet over the 2.45 miles from the trailhead! I turned left on the Escarpment Trail which again baffled Bryce. We walked a short distance to the rock which has "1936 Camp Steel" painted on it. This used to be a decent lookout but it too had been reclaimed by the trees. We walked back to the summit and I took some pictures of Bryce by the sign.

We walked straight ahead on the trail along the relatively flat summit of Blackhead and then began a gentle decent. I was looking for the lookout toward Black Dome hoping that it had not disappeared also. We began the steeper descent and a viewpoint appeared. I stopped to take some shots while Bryce went ahead a little. The viewpoint was limited by I heard Bryce exclaim that he had found a better one. I walked down the trail to him and found a wide-open lookout toward Black Dome. I took several pictures and noticed that the sky was getting dark and the wind was starting to blow. We began the steep descent to Lockwood Gap which was very dry and had a lot of loose stones. We were both careful and avoided any major falls. At 12:25 PM we had hiked 3.15 miles and had to make a decision. Black Dome is only .6 miles from Lockwood Gap but the climb I steep and it is hard to make any time either up or down. It does have a nice lookout to the south but I wondered how it would be with the skies so overcast. I really wanted to try to bag Black Dome but I did not want to get caught in a thunderstorm with an 8 year-old. In the end, I made the painful but adult decision to head down the mountain. We turned right on the Black Dome Trail and started down through the switchbacks. We almost immediately met a young couple hiking up. We discussed the weather and then went our separate ways. Within a few minutes the sun came out and then went behind some dark clouds. This alternated for the rest of the hike. I was disappointed that there was no clear view of the peaks from the trail as there once had been. I remembered the view of the peaks coming up the trail as one of the most intimidating in the Catskills! Hiking down the dry and rock strewn trail became old very fast but it was better than the Jimmy Dolan Notch Trail. One hiker caught up to us from behind and we exchanged greetings. Further down the mountain two groups of hikers passed us going up the trail. We were soon crossing the stream again on the bridges and made some time getting back to the car. We were back at the parking area at 1:30 PM after hiking 5.0 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes for a moving average of 1.7 mph. This was sow but I had been holding back a little expecting to summit Black Dome. Our vertical gain was 1805 feet.

On Monday, August 26th, I was ready to get out and hike with my grandson Bryce. My plan was to go to Tannersville to hike Indian Head as that was the last peak Bryce had not hiked on the Devil's Path. When I awoke at 7:00 AM the temperature in town was 48 degrees and I hoped Bryce would come properly dressed. Bryce arrived at about 7:30 AM with long selves and long pants but no jacket. We found one he could wear since I didn't know what the temperature would be at the trailhead. I began to get my gear together closely watched by Sheila who knew that we always go hiking when Bryce is visiting. I got dressed in a long-sleeved Columbia crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I like even when I wear gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I put my OR Bugout gaiters as I did not know how much mud would be on the trails we would be hiking. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately and made sure I had two water bottles as I thought we might be hiking almost 7 miles over challenging terrain. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. AT 8:30 AM I put our gear in the car and Sheila and Bryce in the back seat to get on the road to hike. The sky has bright and blue with some clouds. I headed out the DeBruce Road and at the end I turned left onto Route 47. We were soon passing by the Frost Valley YMCA. I continued on Rt 47 passing the trailheads at Biscuit Brook, Slide Mountain and Giant Ledge/Panther. There were a few cars at each spot but they didn't look very crowded. At Route 28 I turned right and drove 8 miles before turning left and heading north on Main Street in Phoenicia. After a short distance, I turned left on Route 214 and drove north for 12 miles to Route 23A where I turned right heading toward Tannersville. I turned right on Bloomer Road and at the end I turned right on Platte Clove Road. Where the road forked I stayed left on Platte Clove Road and continued straight ahead for 4.5 miles to Prediger Road. I turned right and continued to the trailhead parking. There were a few cars in the lot and one pickup had pulled in just ahead of us. An older man had his dog running around the parking lot showing complete disregard for anyone else present. Fortunately, he started off on the trail and I hoped we would not meet him again. The temperature was in the low 60's and there was a slight breeze so we both decided to keep on our light jackets. I set my GPS unit and we left the parking area at 10:15 AM under bright, sunny skies.

We started out on the red-blazed Devil's Path as we left the parking area. The trail was dry and showed a lot of use as this is a very popular route. At .3 miles the trail split and we stayed left on the Devil's Path. I like to ascend the east side of Indian Head as it is very interesting with viewpoints and rock scrambles. It is longer than the route up Jimmy Dolan Notch but that trail is one of my least favorites in the Catskills and misses the best lookouts. Over the next 1.3 miles we gained and then lost some elevation. Along the first half of the trail everything was remarkably dry and I remarked to Bryce that there is usually a lot of mud in this area. All the small stream were dry except for one and we stopped so that I could take some pictures of Bryce and Sheila on the small stone bridge. As we came to the second half of this part of the trail, I regretted my comment about mud. We ran into some very wet areas that spanned the trail and made us get creative to avoid sinking to our ankles. At 1.6 miles we turned right to stay on the Devil's Path. I decided not to visit the quarry to the left to save time and to avoid any possibility of a rattlesnake encounter. It was a very short walk to the next trail junction where the Devil's Path turns right and starts the ascent up the mountain. The sign at the junction indicates a vertical gain of over 1300 feet! We started up the trail and immediately encountered some steep little climbs over rocks and roots. I let Bryce know there were steeper areas to come but he seemed to relish the prospect. Some of the rocks were wet but Sheila and Bryce bounced up the trail almost running at times. We did stop at one point to get a drink and to stow our jackets in my pack. At 2.85 miles we had just made a left turn after climbing over 1000 feet from the beginning of the ascent. At this point we came to Sherman's Lookout which still was great views to the east. The span of the views is more than 10 degrees and takes in Kaaterskill High Peak and Round Top to the north and the Hudson River to the east. Also visible are the Catskill Bruderhof in the shadow of KHP and Plattekill Mountain to the southeast. I took off my pack and got out the camera and took pictures of the scenery. I also took some shots of Bryce and Sheila sitting on the lookout with the mountains and the river in the background. We got a drink and a snack and then started off on the trail again.

As we were climbing I was waiting for a near vertical ascent that I seemed to remember was on the trail somewhere. Just after we left Sherman's Lookout, we made a sight ascent and turned a little to the west as the trail flattened out. I told Bryce to watch for another lookout and we soon arrived at one pointed south. This viewpoint had grown in some so the views were more limited than in the past. I did take some shots of Overlook Mountain and Echo Lake before we packed up and headed out along the relatively level trail. Some things began to look familiar and I was pretty sure that the last major, nearly vertical climb, was just ahead. Bryce was ahead of me on the trail and I heard him exclaim "oh, my gosh!" And I knew he had found the climb. I told him to wait while I caught up and surveyed the ascent together. I could hear someone approaching from behind but I told Bryce to go up so that I could take a few pictures. He did and I took some shots at different levels as he climbed. He was soon at the top and two young men had reached me as they ascended the trail. I talked to them and they told me they were doing the entire Devil's Path in what sounded like two days. They had dropped their car at the Mink Hollow end of the Devil's Path and got a $70 ride to Prediger Road! They intended to stay at the Devil's Tombstone overnight and then complete the hike on Tuesday. I suggested they might try staying at the Mink Hollow lean-to and then hiking Plateau and Westkill the next day to better break up the hike. I let them pass me to do the ascent and get on their way. Once they had finished the climb, I let Sheila loose and she climbed up without a problem. I made my way up and joined Bryce and Sheila at another nice lookout to the east. This one had a great view of the false summit on Indian Head and a view of the Hudson. After I took some shots, we headed up the trail climbing some more through some rocks and walking along the edge of a cliff.

We got to a point where it seemed we had hit the summit so I took some pictures. We continued our walk and found a higher spot so I checked the Avenza app which indicated that we were at the summit. I took a few shots and found a limited viewpoint. This lookout clearly showed the television tower on Overlook at to the left of it the Overlook fire tower. I tried to take some pictures before we started our descent. As we started down the mountain, I looked for some views over to Twin as I remembered that there were some good ones. As we descended the rocky trail, no viewpoints appeared and I concluded that they had grown in over time. At 4.2 miles we were at Jimmy Dolan Notch which is the col between Indian Head and Twin. We got a drink and then turned right to begin the descent back to the car on the Jimmy Dolan Notch Trail. I remembered this trail as being a nightmare of rocks and roots and my memory was good! I think both Bryce and I simply went Ito an "automatic" mode trying to get down as quickly and safely as possible. We did meet a small group coming up the trail at around 2:30 PM and I wondered where they were going. The trail began to flatten but was still filled with rocks and roots. It had been reputed at least once and meandered back and forth making the agony that much longer. Bryce followed the blue blazes and I followed Bryce as we encountered muddy areas just to enhance the experience. In may areas there really was no trail to follow except for the markers. We again encountered a group of people starting up the trail and I wondered if they knew what they were getting into. I did not think they looked like they would be able to make any of the summits and I would not pick this trail for a casual walk. Finally, at 5.9 miles we completed the loop and had only the final .3 miles to walk back to the parking area. Even this last short walk was annoying. We were back at the parking area at 3:20 PM after hiking 6.2 miles in 5 hours and 5 minutes with a total elevation gain of 1845 feet. On the drive home I was feeling tired and wanted to talk to Bryce but he was already asleep!

On Sunday, August 25th I had planned to do some trail maintenance with the Willowemoc Trail Crew after preaching at the Grahamsville Reformed Church. The trail crew was scheduled to meet at the trailhead for Frick Pond at 1:00 PM. When I returned from church at 11:30 AM, the temperature was in the low 70's with plenty of sun and the conditions seemed perfect for the work we were going to attempt. As I began to get ready, Sheila was ready to go and stayed close to me but I had to tell her that she had to stay hoe this time! I got dressed in a new White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I put my OR Bugout gaiters and added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my pack in the car and added my trail maintenance tools. For tools I brought along my Silky Sugowaza and KatanaBoy saws, Fiskars axe, LT Wright Overland machete, Corona loppers and a pair of plastic felling wedges. I headed out the DeBruce Road at 12:30 PM and after six miles turned left on Mongaup Road. Where the road split I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking lots. There were already several cars in the lots as I pulled in to park. Lisa was already there with several other people. A few other people arrived and we introduced ourselves and I talked about the work we would do. The plan was to walk up the Flynn Trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail and start trimming the Flynn Trail to the junction with the Woods road. From here we would walk down to Hodge Pond and follow the Flynn Trail along the west side of the pond to the point where the Flynn Trail turns away from the pond. We would then trim the Flynn Trail to Junkyard Junction. Lisa and Kitty thought they would probably Leave a little early but Lou, Tom, John and I thought we would be able to walk the entire loop. I packed up my Silky Sugowaza and machete along with the felling wedges. I decided to carry the Corona loppers. We crossed the road at 1:05 Pm to begin our hike followed closely by another group of hikers.

The temperature was 70 degrees was we quickly walked along the Flynn Trail through the woods. As we walked, we all picked up a few stick and removed them from the trail. As we turned right on the woods road that was once the extension of Beech Mountain Road, the dog from the cabin joined us. He would not return to his owner so we stopped and waited for him to come grab his dog. This happens every time I hike in the area as the owner apparently is unaware of leashes. The other hikers caught up with us and once the dog was gone I walked and talked wit them for some time. Eventually they separated and I talked to the workers in our group. Most had not been in the area before so I talked to them about the trails and the history of the area. It is a long climb toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail but it seemed to me we were moving very quickly and I was feeling full of energy. I knew that this was partly due to hiking 3500 foot peaks which made the smooth trail surface and easy grade feel so much easier. It was also true that talking to other people made things go more quickly. At about 1.25 miles we came to the point where I sometimes turn off the trail to visit an interesting clearing. As we continued up the trail, we ran into a rather large blowdown that was new. Fortunately, the tree had broken in several places when it fell. I used the saw to cut off some of the branches and others dragged them away. We cleared a path for hikers and I decided I would return with some bigger tools at another time. Our walk to the Big Rock Junction went quickly and we arrived after hiking 1.7 miles. Lisa and Kitty turned left to head down the Big Rock Trail while the rest of us continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail. We immediately began to trim branches that were encroaching on the trail. We were careful to trim wide and high in preparation for snowshoers in the winter. Walking on a foot to three feet of snow means that some branches mat be hitting people in the face unless they are trimmed carefully.

We continued along the Flynn Trail cutting branches until we arrived at the next trail junction. We stayed to the left to follow the Flynn Trail down to Hodge Pond. The grass on the trail had been mowed by OSI which owns the land. As we walked out into the sun, I noticed the apparent increase in temperature. I also noticed there was a breeze which helped offset the sun. As we approached Hodge Pond, I saw three hikers approaching us with an unleashed pitbull. The dog seemed friendly but this is just another example of how inconsiderate some people can be on the trail. We walked down the rest of the Flynn Trail and out into the field by Hodge Pound. We walked over to the shore and I took a few pictures. The sky was blue and there were nice white clouds to increase the contrast with the rest of the sky. After a few minutes, we walked back to the Flynn Trail and followed it along the west side of the pond. The trail was wet and muddy in places but tees were easily avoided. At the next trail junction we stayed to the left to take the Flynn Trail up the hill rather than the jeep road around the back of the pond. We cut a few branches before we passed through the gate. The Trail was a little damper with more muddy spots. We immediately began to lop branches and throw them off the side of the trail. We traded off several times as we had three sets of loppers for four people. I found the men I was working with were very eager to get the job done. They did a great job of trimming the trail all the way to the Quick Lake Trail at Junkyard Junction. It was 3:35 PM and we had hiked 3.4 miles which is a little more than halfway through the hike. We turned left to start the hike back and I informed the group that we did not have to do any more trimming. We set a quick pace as we walked and talked. The trail initially rolls some but eventually descends toward Iron Wheel Junction. The trail was damp and muddy in several places. We did come across several new blowdowns but I knew I could return later to work on them or allow the snowmobile club to remove them.

At 4:15 PM we turned right at Iron Wheel Junction after hiking 4.9 miles. The turn allowed us to stay on the Quick Lake Trail heading for Frick Pond. As we walked, I noticed that the mosquitoes had returned. The White Sierra shirt did a good job of keeping them off but they were landing and biting my hands and face. I stopped and sprayed on some repellant. We came to and crossed the small stream through the woods without a problem as it was almost dry. We walked through the spruce tunnel and out the other side. There were a few blowdowns but they were flat on the ground and easy to step over. This part of the trail was wet and muddy. We passed by the junction with the Big Rock Trail on the left and were soon at the bridge over the Frick Pond Outlet. I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I have taken hundreds of pictures form the bridge but can't resist stopping to take a few more. The water level was very low although some water was still flowing in the outlet stream. I pointed out Beech Mountain to the others since it is the highest point in Sullivan County. We walked up the hill from Frick Pond to Gravestone Junction. The memorial stone was still in place and had not been moved. We continued straight ahead on the Quick Lake Trail. The trail was dry for almost the entire way back to the car. We passed by the register and turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. There were still other cars in the parking areas when we said our goodbyes and left. We were back at the cars at 5:00 PM having hiked 6.6 miles in 3 hours and 55 minutes with a vertical gain of 900 feet. We had stopped for 45 minutes and our pace was slowed in spots by the work we were doing.

On Friday, August 23rd, I planned to go to North South Lake and hike a loop of about 15 miles including the whole Escarpment Trail, North Point and stoppel Point. I knew this was an ambitious endeavor but I wanted to get as much in as possible since it is almost an hour and a half drive and I had not been there in some time. When I awoke in the morning, the temperature was in the high 50's and I knew it would be a perfect day to hike. I asked Cindy if she would like to go with us and she said "Yes" as long as I shortened the distance. I decided on a shorter loop along the Escarpment rail to the Palenville Lookout and then back through the site of the Catskill Mountain House. I began to get ready and Sheila was especially excited as I began to dress. I got dressed in a new White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I put my OR Bugout gaiters as I did not know the nature of the trails we would be hiking. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately and made sure I had two water bottles as I thought we might be hiking almost 9 miles. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my pack in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out the DeBruce Road at 9:45 AM. At the end I turned left onto Route 47 and passed by the Frost Valley YMCA. I continued on Rt 47 passing the trailheads at Biscuit Brook, Slide Mountain and Giant Ledge/Panther. There were no cars at Biscuit Brook and only a few cars the other spots. At Route 28 I turned right and drove a few miles before turning left and heading north on Route 42 toward Lexington. The road had been paved most of the way and the ride was fast and smooth. I drove all the way to Lexington where I turned right on Route 23A heading toward Hunter and then Tannersville. After passing through Hunter, I continued passed the junction with Route 214 and through Tannersville to North Lake Road. I turned left and drove to the entrance to the campgrounds where I turned right on Schutt Road. I parked in the lot at 11:15 AM where there were quite a few parks already present. I set my GPS and we crossed the road to start our hike on the Escarpment Trail. As we started out on the Escarpment Trail, there were several areas that were damp and muddy but the trail appeared well-used.

Initially, I let Sheila loose for a little while and she stayed close by. As we approached people, I either put her on her leash or instructed her to sit at the side of the trail. We crossed the two railroad grades and crossed Spruce Creek on the footbridge. Just after the bridge we came to the junction with the Scutt Road Trail and turned right down a woods road to stay on the blue blazed Escarpment Trail. The creek was nearly dry and I wondered what the many visitors headed to Kaaterskill Falls would think. We stayed to the left on the Escarpment Trail and kept meeting groups coming toward us from the falls. At .8 miles we came to the trail to the right that descends to the falls. After this point, we met fewer groups although we did encounter several walking toward us. We continued on the trail heading for the Layman Memorial. The trail to the memorial is downhill and the memorial is almost 500 feet below the elevation of the parking lot. The trail was very dry and I had stowed my poles in my pack. This did allow me to make a fast if somewhat reckless descent. We stopped briefly at the monument dedicated to a fire fighter who died in 1900 fighting a forest fire in the area. The view from the memorial was better than I remembered and it looked as if someone had cleared a few small trees. We could see down to the parking area for Kaaterskill Falls which was already full. Work may have been done to improve the trail to the falls and increase the safety for hikers but getting from the parking area to the trailhead may be the most dangerous part of the hike! I took pictures of the monument and from the viewpoint. The trail from the monument ascends back up to the escarpment and there are several short rock scrambles and high steps along the way. We were able to ascend without much problem to the area where the Escarpment Trail flattens some. It had been several years since I had taken this route and I had forgotten how beautiful and breathtaking the views can be. There are several famous named spots along the way but there are other, smaller lookouts that are just as nice. We passed the yellow shortcut trail at about 1.7 miles into the hike. Shortly after this we arrived at Sunset Rock and then Inspiration Point. There used to be signs designating these spots but they are gone. I assume they are now decorating someone's living room!

The view from the trail is to the south but the sun was hidden behind some billowing clouds most of the time. We could look up the Clove and see the Hunter Mountain Ski Area behind the houses of Twilight Park. The houses seem to hang on the side of the mountain and they must have spectacular views. Of course, Kaaterskill High Peak and Round Top are visible across the way. I could also see several stream drainages as they snaked there way down the mountain. From Inspiration Point we got our first look at the Hudson River. At 12:55 PM we had hike 2.7 miles and arrived at the junction with the horse trail that leads down to the Palenville Lookout and the Harding Road Trail. I started to walk straight ahead to go down to the Palenville Lookout as was my plan. At this point Cindy decided she did not want to make the descent! I was annoyed as this was my main objective but have learned that there is no use in discussing the route. From this point on I was most interested in just finishing the hike that Cindy had now planned. We turned left to continue to follow the Escarpment Trail. From the junction the Escarpment Trail heads more "inland" to the area of the site of the Kaaterskill Hotel. The trail has been rerouted in this area due to erosion but is well marked. At the top of a short climb the trail flattens and the walking becomes the easiest on the entire route. After a brief detour from the escarpment, the trail returns to the edge of the cliffs making a large bend to pass Split Rock and Boulder Rock. I continued straight ahead on the shortcut Trail as I knew Cindy would not want to hike any "extra" mileage.

The trail was dry but there were several rocky areas which required a little scrambling to negotiate. As we approached the final descent to the Catskill Mountain House site, I walked out to a nice lookout. The view was very good and I put down my pack to get out my camera. I took pictures of the Hudson River and the edge of the escarpment cliff. After getting a drink and a bar, we worked our way down the trail to the open field that was once the site of the Catskill Mountain House. I kept Sheila by me as there were several groups of people present. We walked out to the edge of the cliff where I took some more pictures. I took pictures of the open space with a few well constructed benches. I also photographed the view and tried to imagine the hotel and its clientele at the height of its popularity. I put my camera away after which we started down the access road toward North Lake. We bore to the left on the access road rather than follow the trail and came to a parking area. I had hoped to walk a little farther and return by way of the Mary's Glen Trail and the trail on the north side of the lakes. I asked Cindy and she said she preferred to return to the car. I knew this would mean walking a lot on the roads but we turned left and started back. At 5.4 miles we were at the south end of South Lake. I wanted to take some pictures but was more interested in simply getting the hike done! We walked up the hill and back to the car covering 1.7 long miles on the road. We arrived back in the parking area at 2:25 PM having hiked 6.1 miles in 3 hours and 5 minutes with a little under 30 minutes of stopped time. Our elevation gain was just under 1240 feet. As we started the drive back home, we both decided it would be nice to stop at Pancho Villa's in Tannersville for a meal. Unfortunately, the restaurant was closed so we headed to Northern Farmhouse Pasta in Roscoe to buy some ravioli. They were sold out putting a fitting end to a less than perfect day.

On Tuesday, August 20th I wanted to get in a hike where there was a waterfall that might have been augmented by the recent rain. After visiting Russell Brook Falls the day before, I was pretty sure this was a good idea. The forecast was again calling for temperatures in the high 80's with high humidity and possible thunderstorms in the afternoon. I got a little extra sleep and awoke at 9:00 AM to find the at my grandson Bryce was at the house. For me this was great news as hiking with Bryce is always a pleasure. I decided we would go to the Neversink Unique Area at the end of Katrina Falls Road in Rick Hill and hike a loop that included High Falls. I had not been that far down the river in several years and was looking forward to it. The round trip hike is about 8 miles and Bryce would have no problem hiking this far. I began to get ready and Sheila was especially excited as I began to dress as we always go hiking when Bryce is at the house. I got dressed in a new White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I put my OR Bugout gaiters as I did not know the nature of the trails we would be hiking. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately and made sure I had two water bottles as I thought we might be hiking almost 9 miles. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my pack in the car and Sheila and Bryce in the back seat and headed south and east on the Quickway toward Rock Hill at 10:00 AM. I took the Rock Hill exit and drove down Katrina Falls Road until I saw the Dead End sign. There were no other vehicles in the lot when we arrived but as we were getting ready a car pulled in. I made sure Sheila was on her leash as I turned on my GPS and reset it to start the hike. The occupants of the other car had some questions and for the second hike in a row. I told them about the area another said they were going to try the hike to High Falls. I doubted that would be a good idea but let them make their own choice.

We set off down the woods road at 10:40 AM with the temperature hovering right around 80 degrees. The trail was completely dry and we made good time walking downhill. At the first trail junction, we turned left to stay on the main trail. The trail straight ahead leads down to the Neversink River and was covered in pine needles. As we neared the small bridge that crosses Wolf Brook, we could hear the water rushing in the stream. I decided not to stop to take pictures as the water was not that high and I wanted to stay ahead of the other group. We were soon headed up the small hill to the junction where the main trail splits. We turned left to make the loop in a clockwise direction since I had not used this route in some time. The trail started out flat but soon began to climb. It stayed dry with only a few damp spots and no water or mud. Over the next .9 miles, we gained almost 400 feet. The ascent was never steep, but we maintained a good pace which elevated my heart rate. There was evidence that the brush that had been overgrowing the trail had been trimmed back and several blowdowns had been cleared. As we walked, we picked up a lot of garbage left behind by a group of slobs. At 1.5 miles we came to another trail junction. The trail to the left leads out to the Wolf Lake Multiple Use Area, so we turned right to continue on the main trail which from this point on is mostly flat or downhill. After making the turn, we were headed south and soon crossed Mullet Brook on the upper bridge. The stream volume was ,WO but I stopped to take a few pictures of the stream and Bryce and Sheila on the bridge. We continued on the trail, and at 1.7 miles we made another right turn heading almost due west starting a long descent toward the Neversink Gorge. As we hiked, we watched for the short spur trail to the right which goes down to Mullet Brook Falls. It was a little farther along than I thought it was, but at 2.2 miles we made the right turn and walked down to the falls. The falls were flowing but the volume was not extraordinary. I dropped my pack and poles and took out the camera. Bryce climbed up on a rock to remove a towel from a tree and I took pictures of Bryce and Sheila on the rock. We picked up some more garbage. I worked my way over the rocks and toward the falls, I took a few shots and then walked almost to the base of the falls and took some more. There was a little too much sunlight but I tried to compensate as best I could. I was careful as some of the rocks were wet and slippery. I took pictures of the falls and the pool below. I worked my way back to my pack where Bryce and I stowed the garbage. We also got a drink and a snack before resuming our hike back out to the main trail. We turned right and continued down the trail. We heard voices coming toward us which turned out to be the group we had met in the parking area. It was clear they had not decided to go down to High Falls and I doubted they had even made it to Denton Falls. We passed by each other and continued on the main trail. At 2.7 miles we arrived at the junction with the trail to the left that leads to High Falls. We turned left to begin the 2 mile trip to High Falls.

The hike to High Falls is mostly downhill and I knew that meant we would face an uphill walk on the way back. The trail follows the river and at 3.75 miles it turned south. The trail rolled some but once we turned south it was all downhill. The brush on the trail had been trimmed back but there were several blowdowns blocking the trail. At 4.5 miles we turned right on a yellow marked trail to go down to High Falls. At this point a path continues straight ahead but is not marked. The path continues south to Westerbrookville. We followed the trail down to High Falls. At the edge of the river we worked our way carefully to a wide shelf of rock just downstream from the falls. I put my pack down and got out my camera. I took wide angle shots upstream of the falls and then zoomed in on specific parts. I had Bryce and Sheila pose in several different as I took their pictures. We got a drink and another snack and then began the long uphill hike back to the trail junction. Even though the hike was uphill it seemed to go quickly. By 2:30 PM we had walked 6.7 miles and were back at the trail junction. We continued straight ahead on the main trail bypassing the yellow spur trail to Denton Falls. We were both tired enough and time was becoming an issue. The hike back to the car was rather straightforward as we crossed the lower bridge over Mullet Brook Falls. The trail was mostly downhill until at 7.5 miles we closed the loop and began retracing our steps to the parking area. We made the right turn and began walking uphill along the woods road. This part of the hike is only .6 miles with a very moderate grade but it seemed a little steeper on the way back. We arrived back at the car at 3:05 PM after hiking 8.2 miles in 4 hours and 25 minutes with 25 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 1770 feet.

On Monday, August 19th I wanted to get in a hike where there was a waterfall that might have been augmented by the recent rain. I had been confined to Livingston Manor for four days during the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock. The anticipated calls did not occur which seemed to be due to good planning on the part of the emergency services in the county. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go hiking in the Trout Pond area but she declined thinking the temperature and humidity would be too high. The forecast was calling for temperatures in the high 80's with high humidity and thunderstorms in the afternoon. I slept in after a late night and finally began to get ready at 10:30 AM with the temperature on the back porch reading 90 degrees. Sheila was especially excited as I began to dress as we had not been hiking in five days so she watched every move I made. I got dressed in a new White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I put my OR Bugout gaiters as I did not know the nature of the trails we would be hiking. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately and made sure I had two water bottles as I thought we might be hiking almost 7 miles over challenging terrain. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my pack in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed for Roscoe on the Quickway a little before 11:00 AM. I drove out the Rockland Flats on Route 206. Just after the Roscoe Nursing Home I turned left on Morton Hill Road and followed it for 3 miles to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the shoulder of the road to avoid parking in the private lot. The temperature was 73 degrees which was 10 degrees lower than in Livingston Manor!

We got out of the car, I set my Garmin GPS unit and we started down Russell Brook Road toward the upper falls. The road was pretty dry and we made good time until a car came up the road and stopped. The occupants wanted to know the location of the falls so I told them to turn around and park in the lower lot. We continued to walk quickly downhill to the path down to the viewpoint above the falls. At this point the same car came back down the road and slowed as it approached us. The couple inside wanted to know how to get to the falls after parking. I again gave them directions and they drove down the road. We turned down the path to the upper falls, and I put down my pack and got out the camera. There was less water going over the falls than I thought as I took several shots with differing settings. Once I finished the photography, I packed up, and we walked down the road to the lower parking area. There were two cars in the lot as we bypassed them and walked down the woods road to cross Russell Brook. We crossed the bridge which had been redecked and found that the Japanese knotweed had been cut back at least 6 feet down to the ground. We continued on the road turning right on the path to the falls. This path was not trimmed but we pushed our way through the weeds. We walked over to the path down the bank. I could see the couple that had asked me questions ahead on the path to the viewpoint overlooking the falls. Sheila and I walked down the bank to the streambed and carefully descended to the brook. The falls were flowing with a good volume but not as much as I had anticipated. I got out my camera and took some pictures of the falls and then some of the stream. I took a few more pictures of the falls and a few of Sheila sitting in front of it. The couple were carefully descending the path and I was afraid they might slip as they both were wearing only sneakers. They stopped on the bank and we talked some. They had attended the Woodstock festivities from the state of Florida. The gentleman said he was a fly fisherman and regretted not having enough time to fish the streams in the area. After a pleasant conversation, Sheila and I walked back up the stream bank and out to the main trail. I took a few shots of the knotweed before continuing the hike.

At the trail junction just after the register, we continued straight ahead to walk up to Trout Pond. The trail was damp Ina few places but there was almost no mud. As we walked up the trail, it seemed that the skies were growing darker. I decide we would continue to the pond and the decide whether to turn around or continue the hike. When we arrived at the pond, we turned left and walked out to the "beach" at the outlet end of the pond. The level of the pond was very low and much of the beach was exposed. The skies were completely overcast with only a few streaks of blue toward the north. I took some panoramic pictures and then zoomed in on different parts of the scene. Sheila loves the water and jumped right in so I took a few shots of her in the water. Sheila decided she would go into overdrive and began running around at breakneck speed. When I leaned over to replace the camera in my pack, Sheila jumped over the pack and just under my chin! After getting a drink and a snack, I packed up and headed back to the main trail. We continued on the main trail on the east side of Trout Pond walking toward the inlet end and the lean-tos. The trail was not wet and was barely damp at all. No one was camping at the large campsite on the right side of the rail before the lean-tos or at the lean-tos themselves. As we crossed the bridge at the inlet end of the pond, I noticed that the inlet stream was not very high. I stopped to take some pictures of the pond from the bridge. Sheila alerted and I saw two people around the spawning box we had just passed. I assumed they were the owners of the other car in the lot. We continued on the trail turning right and started up a hill which is the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. At the turn, the trail was almost dry, and we easily walked up the hill. Many of the rocks were damp which made them slippery making for very poor footing. Not very far from the turn was a large blowdown along the side of the trail which partially blocked it. After we had walked for some time, I noticed a few large trees that had been cut with a chainsaw. I then remembered that there were places on the trail which previously had large blowdowns that were no longer present! I assumed a DEC crew had been sent through to clear the trail. Of course, since the crew had done their work there had been more storms, and there were several smaller blowdowns across the trail. Soon we were at the highest point on Cherry Ridge and starting down the other side.

I anticipated that the trail would have quite a bit of water, but there was none even in places that are often under water. We continued on the trail ascending to the area where there is a forest of small birch trees. Many of these trees were blown down across the trail. This was also the only area where there was standing water and a few muddy areas. Soon we were at the woods road and snowmobile trail that runs by Mud Pond. I had considered walking down to Mud Pond, but decided that there was still the possibility of thunderstorms. We turned left and started the short walk uphill. This part of the trail was also completely dry. At the top of the hill, we began the long descent back to the trail junction where we had started. The descent lasts for .7 miles and drops 385 feet to a bridge that crosses the outlet stream from Trout Pond. This part of the trail was just as dry as the other sections. As we descended, we came to a spot where a small stream crosses and this time it was just a trickle. We continued down the hill on the main trail toward the campsite at the bottom of the hill on the left side of the trail. We continued on the trail crossing the bridge over the stream and walking back out to the trail register. We turned right and headed back toward the lower parking area on the main trail. We walked up the short path to the lower parking area and then up the road to the car. There were several cars in the parking area and I could see people down at the falls. As we neared the car, all of the cars that had been in the lot passed us coming up the road. We arrived back at the car at 2:05 PM after hiking 5.7 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes with a 1150-foot total ascent. The temperature on the car thermometer was 73 degrees.

On Wednesday, August 14th, I planned to do a rather long hike although I had not really solidified the destination. When I got up in the morning, it looked like rain was imminent although the forecast from the night before had not mentioned it. Cindy said she would like to go for a walk as long as it was less than six miles and relatively flat. I thought of the trail from Cold Spring Road down to the Neversink River. I explained the hike to Cindy and she agreed. We weren't in any really hurry to get going as it started to sprinkle in Manor and the radar looked like there might be rain in Monticello. I knew the trail was not clearly marked, so I created a geospatial PDF that I could use on my iPhone with the Avenza Maps app. This app not only shows where I am on a topo map but also shows the trail which makes it invaluable on trails that are not well marked. After the skies did not clear, we decided to get ready and go. We could make a decision once we saw what the conditions were like at the trailhead. I began to get my gear together closely watched by Sheila who knew that Cindy was also going hiking. I got dressed in a new White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I put my OR Bugout gaiters as I did not know the nature of the trails we would be hiking. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately and made sure I had two water bottles as I thought we might be hiking almost 7 miles over challenging terrain. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. Just before 9:30 AM, we put our gear in the car to get on the road to hike. As we left the house, the temperature was in the low 70's but it was raining lightly and the skies were overcast. We left the house at about 9:30 AM and headed south on Route 17 toward Monticello. I got off at exit 105A and headed toward Broadway where I turned right. At the next light I turned left on St. John Street which soon became Cold Spring Road. I drove down Cold Spring Road looking for the parking area which I thought would be on the left. I had my iPhone map to help out so I knew I would find the spot eventually. At 7.45 miles from Broadway the parking area appeared on the left with a typical yellow on brown sign. The sign indicated that this parking area would allow access to the Neversink Unique Area which is exactly what I wanted. We parked at about 10:00 AM. It was raining here as well and I thought I might just take Sheila for a short walk and the return home. Cindy suggested that we start the hike as we had planned and see what happened along the way and I agreed. It took me a few minutes to set my electronics and read the signs and maps in the kiosk. I found where the trail appeared to leave the parking area since it was well worn but I did not see any blazes. We began our walk and within a few hundred feet there was a trail register and red blazes began to appear. I was surprised that the blazes were the "official" NYNJTC disks even though the trails are not an "official" NYNJTC trail.

The day was warm but the rain soon tapered off although the trail, of course, remained wet and muddy in places. Everything was slick and slippery so we had to be careful as we hiked. We walked slightly uphill for .4 miles to the point where the map showed another trail coming in from the left. When we arrived at this point, I could not see the trail anymore as it was completely overgrown. The main trail on remains open because many fishermen use it to access the river. As far as I can tell there is no trail maintenance. We continued to walk along the wide marked trail and I noticed that whenever I stopped I was surrounded by insects. The White Sierra shirt was doing its job and I elected not to stop to put on insect repellant. At .55 miles the trail began to descend and this descent would continue for some time. At 1.1 miles we ran into an area where the trail became very wet for about a quarter of a mile. There had been several blowdowns along the way but there was a large one almost blocking the trail at about 1.25 miles. We continued downhill but at 1.4 miles the trail split with a single marker on a trail at the V. I knew from my previous hike to bear left and head downhill. We soon found the next red marker. The trail began to get very rocky but was still easy to follow. At 1.7 miles we came to an open area and the blazes made a 90 degree left turn off the road and down a small drainage. We followed the markers until they indicated a right turn which was backed up by a stone cairn. The trail continued to head south following a woods road.Along the way we ran into a huge blowdown that all but hocked the trail. I decided to take the long way around but Cindy was able to crawl over it. We both ended up back on the trail in the same place at about the same time. At 2.1 miles the trail ended on a jeep road that went both left and right. The road to the left was marked with blue markers as I remembered from the last time I had hiked here. We turned left to head down to the river. I remembered that some maps showed that this trail crossed the river. At one time there was a bridge across the river at this point but it had long since been demolished. Just after the turn we ran into another big blowdown blocking the trail and the trail in this area was very wet and muddy. The trail continued downhill until at 2.3 miles we came to Little Eden Brook. The brook was deep in places and running fast but it wasn't very wide. Cindy and I used a couple of stones to get across but Sheila decided she needed to take a dip. The trail leveled off a little and came to an open clearing. I remembered that the trail turned right here to get down to the river and there was once a sign. This time there was no sign but it was clear when the trail turned. At 2.6 miles we turned to the right toward the river. A wide jeep road continued straight ahead and also turned up the hill to the left. We walked along the road downhill and toward the river. The trail began to parallel the river and we walked along until I decided that at 2.75 miles I would cut down to the edge of the river.

Cindy decided to stay on the trail but Sheila and I walked down the bank to the water. This time there were no anglers in the river. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take some shots even though the skies were gray and the lighting a liable too bright. After a few pictures, we headed back up to the trail. We walked back the way we had come and I began looking for the signs that said "Unsafe Bridge" and "Scheduled for Demolition". The signs were well hidden but I found them and took some shots. I seemed to remember that one of the floods had damaged the bridge and that it had been removed. Apparently the state did not feel it was necessary to remove the sign! Sheila and I worked our way down a trail to the river's edge once again. I put down my pack and got out my camera to take a few more pictures. As I was finishing my photography, I noticed that it had begun to rain. This was not just a few sprinkles but a steady rain! We walked back up to the pointed where we had turned down to the river and where Cindy was waiting. We decided we might as well head back since we would get wet either way. We walked back up to the clearing and turned left to walked back to the red trail. We crossed Little Eden Brook again and turned right on the red trail. It was still raining although lightly and I knew it would be a long uphill trek back to the parking area. We continued to follow the trail and the markers which were much clearer on the way back than the way out. We continued to hike in silence uphill on the trail passing through the wet and muddy areas. I though we were keeping a pretty good pace uphill although the grade was not steep. As we hit the highest point on the hike and began to descend to the parking area, the rain stopped and the sun came out although I was thoroughly soaked. At 12:45 PM we were back at the parking area having hiked 5.6 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes. The elevation gain was 815 feet. The temperature at the car was 72 degrees. It had taken us about an hour and 20 minutes to hike out and an hour and 15 minutes to hike back!

On Thursday, August 8th, I was ready to get out and hike with my grandson Bryce and son-in-law Brad. I had thought we might go to the Blackhead Range and hike Blackhead and Black Dome. I did not know when Bryce might arrive in the morning but I got a text that said he would be at our house early. My mistake was asking how early he would arrive. I woke up at about 8:00 AM and walked downstairs to find out that Bryce had arrived an hour earlier. I was disappointed that no one had gotten me up earlier as I was anxious to get started since the Blackhead range is almost a 2 hour drive. I began to get my gear together closely watched by Sheila who knew that we always go hiking when Bryce is visiting. I got dressed in a new White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I put my OR Bugout gaiters as I did not know the nature of the trails we would be hiking. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately and made sure I had two water bottles as I thought we might be hiking almost 7 miles over challenging terrain. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. Just before 9:30 AM, we put our gear in the car to get on the road to hike. As we left the house, the temperature was in the mid 60's and the humidity seemed low. The sky has bright and blue with some clouds. I headed out the DeBruce Road and at the end I turned left onto Route 47. We were soon passing by the Frost Valley YMCA. I continued on Rt 47 passing the trailheads at Biscuit Brook, Slide Mountain and Giant Ledge/Panther. There were a few cars at each spot but they didn't look very crowded. At Route 28 I turned right and drove a few miles before turning left and heading north on Route 42 toward Lexington. The road had been paved most of the way and the ride was fast and smooth. I looked at the time and decided that the Blackheads would again have to wait as I wanted to get hiking sooner than later. I decided we would go to Sugarloaf since Bryce had not yet hiked this 3500 foot peak. I drove all the way to Lexington where I turned right on Route 23A heading toward Hunter and then Tannersville. After passing through Hunter, I continued passed the junction with Route 214 and turned right on Bloomer Road. At the end of Bloomer Road, I turned right on Platte Clove Road. Where the road forked I stayed right on Elka Park Road and continued straight ahead at the next split. The road turned to dirt and we were soon at the Roaring Kill parking area where we would begin our loop hike. My plan was to hike a loop in a clockwise direction over the summit and back to the parking area.

Just as we were about to start our hike another car pulled in and I could see they had a dog. I put Sheila on her leash as the couple in the car asked if we were coming or going. I told them we were starting our hike and they asked me if they should put their dog on a leash. I told them Sheila sometimes reacts poorly to other dogs. I set my GPS and we started out on the trail at 11:00 AM. The temperature was 72 degrees and the humidity seemed comfortable. As we hiked the .25 miles to the first trail junction, the skies were blue and there was plenty of sun. We tried to keep up a fast pace to stay ahead of the other hikers but the trails were very muddy and everything was slippery. At the trail junction we stayed left on the Pecoy Notch Trail hoping the other hikers would choose to go right. We kept up a good pace but soon we could hear the other hikers coming up behind us. I grabbed Sheila and walked off the trail as they passed us. We continued uphill through a patch of nettles. As the trail flattened we cam to the beginning of the bluestone quarries present in this area. We stopped and I got out my camera to take some pictures of the discarded stones and some which had been made into chairs by passing hikers. I took a few shots of Bryce and Sheila before I packed up and we continued on our way. We walked along the level but muddy trail and then came to an area where the trail descended to another part of the quarry. This area is called Dibble's Quarry and has a number of chairs and tables constructed from the stone that was left behind after the quarrying was over. I dropped my pack to tale some pictures while Bryce explored the structures. There was a nice view down Platte Clove and good views of Kaaterskill High Peak and Round Top. I took a few shots and noticed the sky was still blue with some white clouds and plenty of sunshine. I took pictures of the stone constructions and some of Bryce, Brad and Sheila sitting n the chairs. I had told Bryce to be careful where he walked and sat and I kept Sheila close to me. I had never seen any rattlesnakes in this area and had not heard of any reports but I still think caution is a good idea. I packed up and left the quarry to continue our hike. We walked through another area where there had been extensive quarrying and them crossed a small stream. At one time there was a bridge in this area but it is long gone. We were able to cross the stream easily as there was very little water. I though that crossing when the water is higher could be a problem. I did stop to take a few pictures upstream as the moss was very green and the small amount of water made it very attractive.

The trail continued to gain elevation but at about 1.5 miles we came to an area that, at one time, was a beaver pond. I remember the large dam and the large volume of water impounded. The dam Is now gone and the pond is slowly turning into a beaver meadow. At this point, we could hear the other hikers ahead of us. Soon they came toward us apparently done with their hike! I stopped to take some pictures. From one angle Twin Mountain is clearly visible. We walked a little farther and I took some shots of the pond from where the dam used to be with Sugarloaf now as the backdrop. At this point, Brad and I both noticed that the skies over Sugarloaf were very dark and that the wind had picked up. We discussed turning around but decided to continue. Shortly after the beaver meadow the trail turns right and begins to climb to Peco Notch at 1.9 miles. At this point the trail ends at the Devil's Path where you can turn left or right. Left would take us to Twin Mountain which Bryce had already climbed so we knew we would be turning right to go to Sugarloaf. We stopped to get a drink and a snack before attacking the climb up Sugarloaf which is very steep and difficult. As we started the ascent, we noticed that all the rocks and roots were very slippery and that other sections of the trail were muddy. This slowed us down considerably as we had to plan each step so that we would not slip. In many places we had to hold onto roots to pull ourselves up the steep slope. There are no vertical places but some that come very close. At 2.25 miles there is a path that leads out to an open rock ledge that has great views of Twin Mountain. We had to be careful since the path has a spot where you must drop off a rock. I was not too worried about the return trip as I had others that could help me. The view from the ledge was great and I took a lot of pictures of Twin including the impressive slide on it west slope. We returned to the main trail making it up and over the dropoff with only a little trouble. A viewpoint a little farther along was almost completely blocked with trees. We had noticed the skies were getting darker as we climbed and the wind was picking up. I began to pray that we would not get caught in a thunderstorm. I have been out a few times in torrential downpours with lightning striking around me and was not anxious to repeat that experience.

We continued our climb as I heard a peal of thunder. From Pecoy Notch to where the trail begins to level somewhat is .5 miles. In that distance the trail gains almost 800 feet at an average 25% grade. Even when the trail levels somewhat, it continues to ascend to the summit for another .5 miles gaining 270 feet. There were several spots where the trail would level and then ascend again. Each time I hoped it was the last until we finally passed over the summit. There area, of course, no markings at the summit but at some point we started a clear descent. We passed the spur trail to the lookout on the left. I wanted to stop but knew the views would not be good because of the weather. In addition, I wanted to keep walking as I felt rain was inevitable! The descent began moderately and then became serious. The western side of Sugarloaf is steeper than the eastern side which I steep. Everything was still slippery so we had to take greater acre than usual and plan our routes carefully. As we descended, the sun began to come out and I was happy the treat of rain had passed. At some point we could also see that we were actually in a cloud that was beginning to mice off the mountain. Our adventures continued as we descended 1150 feet in .85 miles to the Mink Hollow Trail averaging a 25% grade. Along the way I took my only nasty fall of the day but recovered quickly. The sign at the junction said 2.7 miles to the parking area which was a little longer than I remembered. As we turned onto the trail, the skies again became dark and a wind came up making me think that the threat of rain was again real. We followed the trail as it rolled up and won through patches of nettles. At one point we lost the trail blazes and had to bushwhack a little to the right to find it again. We never did find out how this was possible. Although the trail was flatter the rocks were still slippery and we continued to gain and lose elevation for the next 1.85 miles. I did stop at one small lookout that I had been to before. I took some quick shots of Plateau before continuing on the trail. At 5.7 miles into the hike we finally came to the point where the trail was all downhill. There were still plenty of muddy areas and lots of roots but the hiking was easier. We were all ready for the hike to be over but I was very glad it had not rained. At 6.6 miles we came to the turn for the Roaring Kill Trail that led us back out to the parking area. It was 4:45 Pm and we had covered 6.9 miles in 5 hours and 40 minutes with an elevation gain of 2570 feet. This was very slow but understandable given the conditions. On our way home it began to rain and the wind began to blow.

On Monday, August 5th I planned to start hiking early with Bryce so that we could complete both Blackhead and Black Dome and maybe even Thomas Cole. On Sunday night I got a text saying Bryce had a dentist's appointment at 12:30 PM and I knew I would have to change my plan. Bryce would be at the house by 7:00 AM so I knew we could still get an early start but would have to hike locally. I decided we would simply go to Frick Pond and hike the big loop to both Frick and Hodge Ponds. Bryce arrived just before 7:00 AM and was ready to go so I began to get ready. The temperature was only 53 degrees and there was some fog in the valley. I began to get my gear together closely watched by Sheila who knew that we always go hiking when Bryce is visiting. I got dressed in a new White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I put my OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks and any mud we would find. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately and made sure I had two water bottles even though we would be out less than 3 hours. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. Just before 7:30 AM, I put my gear in the car and Sheila and Bryce in the back seat. Since DeBruce Road was being paved, I drove out Old Route 17 to State Route 17 East toward Parksville. I got off at exit 98 and continued straight ahead at the intersection to Lily Pond Road. I turned left on Lily Pond Road and followed it for 5 miles to Willowemoc Road. Here I turned left onto Willowemoc Road and then almost immediately right onto Mongaup Pond Road. At the split in the road, I stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road. When we arrived at the parking area, there were no cars in either lot. I got ready to get on the trail by setting my GPS.

I was cool and Bryce actually seemed cold as we headed out at 7:55 AM on the woods road that connects to the Quick Lake Trail at the register. The woods road after the register box was damp in places but much drier than it had been earlier in the season. As we approached Gravestone Junction, I looked to the left at the memorial marker and found that someone had toppled the upper part of the marker off the base. I was stunned as this had not happened in the 15 years I had been hiking in the area. It is sad to me that as more people get out an hike the incidents of vandalism increase. Bryce and I tried to lift the marker but it was too heavy for us. At Gravestone Junction we stayed to the left on the red Quick Lake Trail crossing the stepping stones the Willowemoc Trail Crew had installed. We walked down to the pond and I removed my pack to get out the camera. The scene was much the same as always but I stopped to take a few pictures anyway. I took pictures of the Pond and Flynn's Point and some of Bryce and Sheila on the bridge. I picked up my pack and we crossed the bridge with Sheila madly dashing back and forth on the trail. We walked on the trail along the west side of the pond. The trail continued to be dry with only a few damp places. At the trail junction with the Big Rock Trail, we headed left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. We were keeping a pretty fast pace as we headed for Iron Wheel Junction. Sheila was running around following game trails and chasing a few chipmunks and squirrels. We removed a few branches from the trail as we walked along. We passed through "spruce tunnel" to the small stream through the forest. The water was very low so we simply used a stepping stone to walk across. When we arrived at Iron Wheel Junction, we turned left to head toward Hodge Pond staying on the Quick Lake Trail.

We kept a quick pace up the hilly part of the trail. The trail was washed out in several places and we continued to remove small obstacles. The trail was dry and the vegetation was drier than I though it might be. At one point we stopped and we both put on some insect repellant as the mosquitoes were becoming an annoyance. We continued on the trail until it leveled off and descended slightly to Junkyard Junction at 3.1 miles. We turned right at this intersection and headed across the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. The Flynn Trail was mostly dry and the places that are usually under water were only damp. This allowed us to continue our fast pace. The trip across this part of the Flynn Trail went quickly. Soon we were at the gate where the trail turns right and heads down toward Hodge Pond. We reached the area near the shore of the pond and turned left to follow the jeep trail around the back of the pond. The sky was still blue but the clouds were diffuse and in undefined layers. I decided to stop for a few moments at the head of the pond to take some pictures and give Sheila a chance to swim. The pond was very placid and there were almost no sounds. Sheila went for a swim and I took a few pictures of her and the pond. On the east side of the pond we turned left up the hill toward the ruins of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. The climb up this trail is steeper than the trail from the outlet of Hodge Pond but it is also shorter! When we got to the top of the hill, we turned right to head back toward the Flynn Trail. Once we were back at the Flynn Trail, we turned left to head to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We set a fast pace to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued straight through the junction staying on the Flynn Trail. We had about 1.7 miles to go to get back to the car. This stretch can often seem long and boring but on this day Bryce and I were talking which made the trip seem shorter. Everything was very green but not interesting enough to take pictures. As we neared the gate, we came to the huge spruce tree that lies across the trail. Cindy and I had cut an opening through it to allow hikers to pass. This was still in good shape and allowed us to pass easily. We followed the Flynn Trail to the gate and then turned left to continue on the trail to avoid the private property around the cabin. We followed the trail through the woods and back to the car. There were still no other cars in the parking lots. We arrived at 10:30 AM after hiking 6.4 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes with 890 feet of elevation gain. We stopped for only 15 minutes and our moving average speed was 2.7 mph.

On Friday, August 2nd, I was ready to get out and hike with my grandson Bryce. I had thought we might try some of the offtrail peaks on the DEP property around Walton. I changed my mind when I remembered that it was the 100th anniversary of the Balsam Lake Fire Tower. Laurie and Tom Rankin, who volunteer at the fire tower, would be presenting information at Morgan Outdoors from 4 - 7 PM Laurie's father was an observer in the BLM tower for many years. I though Bryce and I should hike to the tower and perhaps throw in Grham afterwards! Bryce had already done Balsam Lake but had not check Graham off his list. I did not know when Bryce might arrive in the morning but I got a text that said he would be at our house early. Bryce did arrive by 8:15 AM but had to eat breakfast first. I began to get my gear together closely watched by Sheila who knew that we always go hiking when Bryce is visiting. I got dressed in a new White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I put my OR Bugout gaiters as I did not know the nature of the trails we would be hiking. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately and made sure I had two water bottles as I thought we might do the two peaks and water is scarce. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. Just before 9:30 AM, I put my gear in the car and Sheila and Bryce in the back seat. As we left the house, the temperature was in the low 70's and the humidity seemed low. The sky has bright and blue with some clouds. I headed north on Old Route 17 and turned right on the Beaverkill Road. I drove up the Beaverkill Road all the way to the very end. The further I drove the better the skies looked with some sun and expanses of blue with white clouds. We arrived in the parking area at about 10:10 AM to find two other cars present. As I was setting my GPS, a man appeared from the BLM trail, got in to one of the cars and drove away. We began our hike at about 10:15 AM by walking out the trail toward Balsam Lake Mountain. There were a few wet and muddy spots on the trail but the rest was absolutely dry. As we passed the trail register, we noticed that the door was unattached and stuffed in the register. The walk to the first trail junction seemed to go quickly as Bryce and I talked to each other. As soon as we made the turn, I realized that I had been hiking longer distances but on mostly flat trails. Bryce and Sheila were easily scampering up the slope while I followed. I was pleased that the climb did seem easier than I expected and went by quickly. In half a mile the trail gains 750 feet averaging a 28% grade. The trail faltered a little bit as we came to the spur trail that leads out to the lean-to and, just beyond, we passed the 3500 foot sign. The spring was just beyond and was flowing freely. We stopped for a moment so that Sheila could get a drink. The steps to the top were a little overgrown and they were slippery because they were wet. We came to the top of the steps where the trail flattens but continues to gain some elevation. We kept up a good pace and were soon passing by the trail junction to Alder Lake. The distance to Alder Lake is another 6.6 miles and I wanted to do that hike again at some point but it is best done with a car spot. We continued on the trail toward the tower and arrived in the clearing at 11:30 AM after hiking 1.7 miles and gaining almost 1200 feet from the trailhead.

We walked over to the picnic table where I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take some pictures of the tower. There were two new signs on the tower celebrating the anniversary and giving some information about the tower. I leashed Sheila to the table since there were no other hikers present. Bryce and I walked over to the tower and climbed to the top to the landing just below the cab. Al though the sun was bright, a slight breeze made the temperature seem almost cool. I took lots of pictures in all directions as the conditions were the best I had experienced in some time. Sheila was not happy about being left behind but she was now relaxing under the table. We descended the tower and I released Sheila so I could take some pictures of Bryce and Sheila on the picnic table and the rocks next to the tower. We got a drink and a snack before packing up to continue the hike. We started down the Millbrook side of the mountain and I felt so good I began to think that hiking Graham was a real possibility. Bryce and I continued our talks which always makes the hike go faster. The hike down was tricky as there was loose dirt and slippery rocks. Having my poles saved me more than once but Bryce seemed to be able to negotiate the trail without a problem. We were soon at the bottom of the climb at the trail junction. I asked Bryce if he wanted to do another mountain and he said "Yes!" We turned left and made the commitment to climb Graham. On the way to the herd path, we met a couple coming toward us. We exchanged greetings and they told us they had not hiked Graham but were headed to the fire tower. I had not been up Graham in some time but was anxious to see what the countryside looked like from some of the lookouts. The herd path is now very easy to spot and is even more open than the last time I was there. Once we started on the path, we lost a little over 150 feet in elevation as we descended the trail to Graham. There were a few wet areas and some blowdowns that lay across the path. All of these were easily avoided and did not delay us. Walking downhill to then ascend a mountain is not my favorite thing but hiking with Bryce made it much easier.

At 3.75 miles into the hike we began the climb up the mountain. From the beginning of the climb it is about .8 miles to the summit of Graham with a gain of 650 feet. There are some steeper portions but the average grade is 15%. Along the way we passed several areas where it looked like there might be some viewpoints but I knew the effort would be futile. At one point, we looked up to see a couple coming down the trail toward us. We talked briefly before continuing in opposite directions. As we continued up the trail, I looked to the left and saw an enormous tree I had not seen before. I wanted to take some pictures that showed the size of the trunk. So I had Bryce puts is arms around the trunk. I took some pictures and then had Bryce "measure" the circumference. Bryce had two move at least three times and maybe a little more . My estimate for the circumference was well over 15 feet. We continued up the trail and I looked for the viewpoint on the left side of the trail just below the summit. I found this with no problem but it was almost completely block by vegetation that had grown up. I could not see the telephone pole which at one time supplied the tower with power and communications through lines that ran from pole to pole. We bypassed this area and completed the walk to the top of the mountain. It was 1:35 PM and we had hiked 4.5 miles. The breeze was blowing across the summit and we got a drink and took a short rest. I took a few pictures of the ruins and a few more of the landscape before starting the return trip. The building at the top has started to collapse and I am not sure whether it is doing this on its won or with the "help" of visitors. We left the summit at 1:40 PM and made our way down the mountain and back out to the trail. Walking down the path back to the trail junction went quickly but there were areas where I had to pick my way carefully. The weather was still nice but the sun seemed to be going behind some clouds at times. When we got to the trail, we turned left and were back at the trail junction at 2:50 PM. We continued straight ahead back to the parking area. I looked for some views along the way but the leaves on the trees blocked any I could have found. I explained to Bryce that the trail had once been a road that connected the Beaverkill Valley with the Millbrook-Arena area. The stonework used to support the road is still evident in many places. We were soon passing the trail that ascends the steeper side of Balsam Lake Mountain. We continued on the trail back to the parking area and, I have to admit, this part seemed long. As we passed the trail register, we both noticed that the door had been fixed! We were back at the car by 3:40 PM having hiked 8.5 miles in 5 hours and 30 minutes which included over 45 minutes of stopped time. The vertical gain was 2165 feet.

On Tuesday, July 30th, I finished hiking the Delhi Rail Trail but wanted to hike more than the 3.9 miles we had already put in. There were many options but I decided to go to Bloomville to visit the Catskill Scenic Trail. This rail trail follows the route of the old O&W and other lines for 19 miles from Bloomville to Grand Gorge. I would like to hike the entire trail by using two cars. On this day I planned to simply hike out a distance and then hike back to the car. I left Delhi and drove north on Route 10 for 9 miles to Bloomville. Just after the enter of town, I saw a sign on the right for the trail and just after that a driveway to a parking area on the right. There was one other car in the lot when I pulled in and parked. The owner of that car was walking back toward it as I checked out the very informative sign at the trailhead. She said "Hello" as she opened her car door and I responded in kind. I could see that the trail was in great shape. It was hard packed with some cinder and some short grass here and there. I set my GPS and we started out on the trail at 12:30 PM with temperatures in the high 80's and high humidity. After a short distance, a large, sound foundation appeared on the left of the trail and I had to take some pictures. A little farther along was a stone marker and next to it a metal housing. I took more pictures including some of a nice bench. I quickly packed up and we continued on the trail. We passed a sign for the half marathon run that uses the rail trail from Bloomville to Stamford. I knew this would be a good way to check our mileage and speed. The trail was mostly shaded but at .75 miles it broke out into the open and I could see this would continue for some time. The heat from the sun and the heat coming up from the ground was truly oppressive. I did take some pictures of the farm fields and the hills as I thought it all very bucolic. I packed up and we headed for a bridge over a small stream where some trees gave us a little shade. I took a few pictures of the trail before continuing on. When we came to the marker for mile 1 decided to step up my pace to see how fast I could comfortably walk.

At 1.6 miles the West Branch of the Delaware River came close to the trail but it was muddy and shallow. At 2 miles we crossed the first bridge over the river. The builders had used the original train bridge as a support structure but had built a new treadway and handrails on top of it. When we got to the 2 mile marker, I checked my watch and found we had done it in 18 minutes which I considered very good since it was very hot. I decided to press on a little farther until the time was 1:30 PM. At 2.35 miles we crossed another bridge and another at 2.7 miles. I went a little farther and then decided to turn around. I knew I could still hike some more but I was getting bored. I also knew that Sheila was hot and I did not want to chance getting caught in any thunderstorms. We got a drink and the we turned around to head back. As I looked ahead I could see a man walking toward us. We passed with a brief greeting. I stopped to take some pictures of the bridge and the wetlands. We continued on the trail with as fast a pace as I could muster. Sheila took a minute to swim in one of the small stream which had clean cool and deep water. I stopped once more at the first bridge to take a few shots and then it was back to the car as fast as possible. Within the final mile, I looked up to see another hiker and this one had a dog. He stopped and controlled his dog which was a medium-sized Rottweiler. We passed by and I could not see whether or not he had a leash for his dog. As we finally approached the parking area we met one more younger man decked out with large headphones. He waved but I had to wonder why anyone would go out in nature and not listen to nature's music. When I got in the car, the thermometer read 93 degrees. Even after I was on the road for a few minutes, it only dropped to 91 degrees. I Took Route 10 back to Delhi where I stopped to buy a drink. I continued on Route 10 to Telford Hollow Road which had been closed in the morning. The road was now open so I turned left and found a flagman who guided me through some work being done. A pole was being replaced. I assumed that a truck had come down the hill on Telford Hollow and failed to make the turn!

On Tuesday, July 30th, I planned to complete hiking a series of trails in the Delhi, NY area by hiking the Delhi Rail Trail which starts on Sherwood Road. Rick Roberts had sent me a series of GPX tracks for some short forest trails and some rail trails that he wanted me to list on my websites. I wanted to go hike the trails myself so that I could get a complete GPS track of the hike. I also wanted to experience the trails so that I could give a description of what I found. This rail trail was the last one I had left and it seemed to be about 4 miles in total length. It was 64 degrees and very foggy when I got up early in the morning so I didn't hurry too much. The weather report indicated a beautiful morning with the possibility of heavy thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening. Around 9:00 AM, I got dressed in a new White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I put my OR Bugout gaiters as I did not know the nature of the trails we would be hiking. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately and made sure I had two water bottles as the temperatures were forecast to be in the high 80's. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. Sheila loves to get out an hike anywhere and she had kept her eye on both of us as we were getting ready. As we left the house at 9:25 AM, it was still a little foggy. When I tried to get on State Route 17, I ran into a delay for paving. I almost turned around to take Old Route 17 to Roscoe but then the flagman waved me through. I drove north and west on State Route 17 to exit 94 (Roscoe) and headed north on Route 206 toward Downsville. Along the way I go stuck behind a slow-moving truck hauling a trailer. At the Pepacton Reservoir, I turned left to stay on Route206/30 and drove through Downsville heading toward Walton. Just after the light in Downsville, I tried to turn right on Telford Hollow Road but a worker there informed me that there was an accident on the road. He assured me I could get through so I made the turn. In a little more than a mile, the road was closed and I had to turn around and drive to Walton on Route 206. In Walton I took Route 10 North toward Delhi which took me passed the West Branch Preserve. I continued through Hamden and on to Delhi. Just before the shopping center on the right, I turned right on Sherwood Road. Where the road made a sharp right turn, I continued straight ahead to park in the lot. The temperature was already in the low 80's and it seemed very humid. I set my GPS as we began our hike at 10:35 AM.

We walked uphill on a path that accesses the actual rail trail after about .25 miles. I decided to turn left and walk the longer section of the trail first. The surface was firm and dry in most places and definitely looked like a rail trail. There were a few sticks or the trail and a few weeds leaning in but otherwise the trail was in great shape. Most of the first part of the trail was shaded by trees and occasionally a breeze would blow. The trail parallels Route 10 so there is always the noise of traffic. The first part of the trail also parallels the West Branch of the Declare River but at around half a mile the river swings south and away from the trail. We crossed at least two driveways or access roads but the trail on the other side was always easy to find. At one point the trail left the woods and opened up in the bright sun. I could immediately feel the change in temperature but there were some ice views of hill and the blue sky. I decided to take pictures on the way back and we reentered the woods. In most places there was a high bank on the right side of the trail from Route 10 but in other spots there was also a high bank on the left side of the trail. The walk was very flat and at just under 1.5 miles we turned around to head back. We were keeping a good pace and stopped only to take pictures in one spot. At 2.75 miles we were back at the access path to the parking area but we continued on to walk the other section of the trail heading east. This part of the trail was also flat and well-maintained. There wasn't much to see and there were several access roads that crossed the trail. After walking .4 miles from the access oath the trail seemed to go to the right so we followed. This ended in a tangle of weeds so we went back down to the trail and forged straight ahead. This was just as bad as none of the high weeds and grass had been cut. The GPX track I had been given suggested the trail continued a few hundred feet more to the access road for a power distribution station but I decided to turn around. We walked back to the access path, turned left and walked back to the car. As we neared the parking lot, three more cars pulled so I put Sheila on her leash. It was just after noon and I thought maybe this was a popular place to eat lunch! We had hiked 3.9 miles in 1 hour and 30 minutes with an elevation gain of 270 feet. Our moving average was 2.9 mph which I expected on the flat trail. I decided that I wanted to hike some more and set my sights on the Catskill Scenic Trail starting in Bloomville which was only 9 miles away.

On Monday, July 29th, I left the Lennox Forest on Arbor hill Road and headed north toward Delhi. I continued passed the golf course and after 2.5 miles parked on the left side of the road near the kiosk for the Smith Pond Trail. I really noticed the hear when I got out of the car and could see clouds starting to gather. I knew that the rounder hike was about 2 miles so I decided we would try it. I got Sheila out of the car and set my GPS before starting off on the trail. The sign said follow the orange disks which I found difficult because there were so few of them. The trail seemed very new in places and was more of a road or ATV track than a hiking trail. There was tall grass on either side in most places and the trail was very close to the road which was above on the bank. Most parts of the trail were dry but there were a few mud holes that were hard to get around. The trail was mostly flat with a few ups and owns along the way. At .5 miles I momentarily lost the orange markers crossing a very muddy area that had not been cut out. I picked up the trail on the other side and just a little after this we crossed an intermittent stream that had a bridge that seemed unnecessary. The trail took us through a rather dry wetland and to the edge of the river. I decided to wait for the return trip to take pictures. Not very much farther along the trail split with what seemed to be the main trail heading right and a marked hiking trail going left. I followed the main trail to a field where the hiking trail ,joined in also. We walked along the edge of the field in the open and I got a taste of the full intensity of the sun!

As we reentered the woods we began a short but steep climb which ended at Route 28 after passing a lean-to. I stopped long enough to take a picture of the trailhead sign and the lean-to which seemed to be used mostly as a substrate for graffiti. Nowhere along the trail had I seen a pond! After waling along the edge of the field I stayed to the right and took the hiking trail which lasted for about 100 feet. We stopped at the edge of the river so that I could take a few pictures and then continued back through the wetland to the intermittent stream. This time I walked up unto the bridge and saw a shallow body of water. I had found Smith Pond! I took a few pictures before getting back on the trail. As I approached the wet area where I had lost the markers I could see that the trail headed a little bit downhill toward the river avoiding the wettest parts of the bog. When it rejoined the woods road, I looked for markers and had to admit I had missed them in the way out. At 2 miles there was another place where the trail left the woods road and I tried to follow it. This part of the trail had not been cut out and was choked with grass and weeds. I returned to the woods road and tried to avoid the mud. At 2.1 miles, I could see where the trail marked with orange disks rejoined the woods road. We continued back out the trail to the car. It was 2:15 PM and we had hiked 2.2 miles in 58 minutes with and elevation gain of 260 feet. I thought about trying to finish the last rail trail but the distance was at least 4 miles, I was tired and the clouds were gathering. I decided to drive home and leave the final trail for another day.

On Monday, July 29th, I left the West Branch Preserve on Route 10 near Hamden and drove north and east toward Hamden. After passing through Hamden, I turned right toward Delancey and then left on Back River Road. After 4 miles, I turned right into the parking area for the John Lennox Memorial Forest. I parked and then check my Avenza app to confirm that I was in the right place. I walked to the gate and found a sign that said "No Trespassing - Camp in Session" but the sign looked old. Another sign suggested calling the Cornell Cooperative Extension for permission to hike. I walked around until I got cell service and called the number only to find out it was disconnected. At that moment Jeff arrived and I told him the situation. We decided to hike as I had been asked to post the trail on my website. I started my GPS and we began the hike by passing through the gate and walking up a hill. Within less than a tenth of a mile the trail split and I decided to go to the right which was consistent with the GPS track a friend had sent me. The trail was a grassy woods road and our feet immediately picked up the dew which had still not disappeared. The trail continued to ascend as we headed south but at .3 miles it turned sharply to head northeast. The ascent continued. At .5 miles we were again faced with a split in the trail. Since nothing was clearly marked, I chose to bear to the right on a woods road. It soon became obvious that this was the wro9ng choice as the grass and weeds were very high indicating no one had been in the area for some time. I checked by GPX track on Avenza and found we were well north of the actual trail but that we should reconnect in a short distance. At .85 miles we turned right to get back on the trail we should have chosen and almost immediately turned right again on the trail that would take us to the lean-to.

I looked ahead and saw that the trail few much steeper without and end in sight. At that moment Jeff voiced the same idea! We continued climbing the trail through beautiful evergreen forest heading north to 1.1 miles where the trail began to curl to the east. In several places there appeared to be viewpoints on the left of the trail but they were all blocked. The trail continued to turn right until we were on the flat summit where we found a privy! We had climbed over 300 feet in .4 miles for an average grade of 14% but several sections approached 20%! As we walked around the top, I saw a trail down to a lookout and then realized there was also a shelter at that location. Since the trail had ended, we walked Dow the trail to the lean-to and lookout. The lean-to was in good shape and had a fire ring on top of a large, flat rock. Unfortunately, the viewpoint was blocked with trees as are so many. Cutting out this viewpoint would be rather easy as the access to the trees is off the trail we had just climbed. I took a few pictures and we started back down the mountain. When we arrived at the place where we turned up the hill at 1.8 miles, we turned right to complete a loop back to the parking area. The trail started out heading north bit almost immediately turned southwest. At 2,1 miles we were back at the trail junction where we had made our first turn at the beginning of the hike. We continued straight ahead through the gate and back to the cars. It was 1:05 PM and we had hiked 2.1 miles in 1 hour and 25 minutes with and elevation gain of 660 feet. The actual mileage staying on the correct trails is 1.9 miles with a 585 foot elevation gain. Jeff and I said parted so that he could head home. I decided there was time for one more hike to Smith Pond before the thunderstorms were predicted.

On Monday, July 29th, I planned to hike a series of trails in the Delhi, NY area. Rick Roberts had sent me a series of GPX tracks for some short forest trails and some rail trails that he wanted me to list on my websites. I wanted to go hike the trails myself so that I could get a complete GPS track of the hike. I also wanted to experience the trails so that I could give a description of what I found. It seemed that the total length of all the hikes was well over 10 miles since some would require hiking out and back along the same trail essentially doubling the distance. I had already hiked one of the trails and though I might get in the other four but I knew that would be challenging. My day began earlier than expected with an ambulance call at 4:40 AM. When I got back, I decided it was too late to get any more sleep and that I might as well get ready to hike. It was cool and very foggy so I didn't hurry too much. The weather report indicated a beautiful morning with the possibility of thunderstorms as early as 2:00 PM. I got dressed in a new White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I put my OR Bugout gaiters as I did not know the nature of the trails we would be hiking. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately and made sure I had two water bottles since I expected to hike at least 7 miles. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. Sheila loves to get out an hike anywhere and she had kept her eye on both of us as we were getting ready. As we left Livingston Manor just before 8:30 AM, it was still a little foggy. I drove north and west on State Route 17 to exit 94 (Roscoe) and headed north on Route 206 toward Downsville. From the top of Brock Mountain I could see that many of the valleys were still filled with fog or clouds. At the Pepacton Reservoir, I turned left to stay on Route206/30 and drove through Downsville heading toward Walton. Just after the light in Downsville, I turned right on Telford Hollow Road. After driving over the hill, I turned right at the bottom of the hill and drove out to Route 10. I turned left and began to look for a parking area on the right. After a mile, I pulled into the small parking area marked "West Branch Preserve - Nature Conservancy". The temperature was in the low 70's but it seemed very humid. The sun had finally broken thorough and the sky was blue with a few white clouds. I put Sheila on her leash and set my GPS as we began our hike at 9:05 AM.

I had produced a geospatial PDF that I could use with the Avenza phone app so I felt we could easily follow the trail but I knew I probably wouldn't need it on the rail trail. We crossed the road and started through a field on the path that led toward the West Branch of the Delaware and the rail trail that parallels it. I was surprised that the path was mowed as short as a lawn which was good as I could see a heavy dew on the grass. At the edge of the field, we entered the forest where the trail had not been cut and my shoes immediately began to soak up the dew. We walked down a bank and were on the rail trail which went it both directions and was absolutely flat. I decided to turn right and walk west to the dead end. The grass and weeds on the trail were wet but it was otherwise in good condition. A few branches lay on the trail and a few more were leaning over it. I did notice that there had been quite a bit of horse traffic as I could see the horseshoe imprints and what horses always leave behind. The walk was very flat and just a little boring but that let us keep good pace. At about .8 miles there was a set of rapids in the river and a lookout that provided a good view. I stopped to take some pictures of the rapids and the hills in the background. After a few minutes, I packed up and we continued on the trail. Along the way some paths and woods roads branched off from both sides. At one of these Sheila started to run down toward the river and I assumed she had spotted some ducks. I called her back and we continued along the trail. At 1.55 miles the trail abruptly ended at a dead end behind the Delaware County Landfill. We turned around and headed back. I had intended to walk down to the river but I could hear ducks and did not want Sheila chasing them or jumping into muddy water. We were back at the place where we had started on the rail trail at 3 miles. We continued straight ahead to walk the more eastern end of the trail.

This was also flat with a little less vegetation on the trail. The river was on one side of the trail while the other side had a high bank which gave way to a deep gully. At one point there was a house above us on the bank and a dog started to bark. I thought the dog was tied up but it soon followed us down the trail paying no attention to its owner. I had Sheila on her leash but she showed little interest on the other dog. A little further down the trail, the deep gully was filled with water forming a large frog pond that was a bright green. I took some pictures and then turned to the other side of the trail and took some pictures of the wetland there. We walked to the end of the trail on Route 26 near the junction with Route 10. We turned around and walked quickly back to the trail to the car. We arrived back at the car at 11:10 AM after hiking 5.1 miles in 2 hours and 5 minutes with an elevation gain of 300 feet. The elevation gain is deceptive since I considered the trail completely flat! Our moving average was 2.9 mph which I though was good. I put Sheila in the car and saw that the other car in the lot was from Delaware Opportunities and was full trail maintenance equipment. It was then that I saw a new trail that extended from the left side of the parking area. I walked along this trail as I could hear string trimmers at work. I saw two men cutting the grass in an area surrounded by a split rail fence. I though it might be a picnic area or a horse corral. As I walked up to one of the workers I could see some small headstones and realized it was a small cemetery. The worker shut off his machine and told me that he and his partner maintain about 30 cemeteries in the county most of which are small family cemeteries. I thanked him for his work and returned to the car. Before I left for Lenox Forest, I decided to call my brother-in-law Jeff to see if he wanted to meet me for the hike. I was surprised that I could reach him as cell service is spotty in the county. He agreed to meet me as soon as we both could get there.

On Saturday, July 27th, I had planned to hike a series of trails in the Delhi, NY area. Rick Roberts had sent me a series of GPX tracks for some short forest trails and some rail trails that he wanted me to list on my websites. I wanted to go hike the trails myself so that I could get a complete GPS track of the hike. I also wanted to experience the trails so that I could give a description of what I found. It seemed that the total length of all the hikes was well over 10 miles since some would require hiking out and back along the same trail essentially doubling the distance. I thought doing them all in one day would be possible but challenging. When I told Cindy where I was going, she said she wanted to come along. I immediately realized we would probably only be able to do two of the trails but I was happy to have someone hiking with me. In the morning is was cool and the weather report indicated a beautiful day with no rain in sight. I got dressed in a new White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I put my OR Bugout gaiters as I did not know the nature of the trails we would be hiking. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately and made sure I had two water bottles since I expected to hike at least 7 miles. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. We put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. Sheila loves to get out an hike anywhere and she had kept her eye on both of us as we were getting ready. As we left Livingston Manor at 10:00 AM, the sun was shining and the skies were bright blue with puffy white clouds. I drove north and west on State Route 17 to exit 94 (Roscoe) and headed north on Route 206 toward Downsville. At the Pepacton Reservoir, I turned left to stay on Route206/30 and drove through Downsville heading toward Walton. Just after the light in Downsville, I turned right on Telford Hollow Road. After driving over the hill, I turned right at the bottom of the hill and drove out to Route 10. I turned left and began to look for a parking area on the right. After a mile, I pulled into the small parking area marked "West Branch Preserve - Nature Conservancy". The temperature was in the high 70's and it seemed very humid. The sky was bright blue with plenty of sun and a few white clouds. I put Sheila on her leash and set my GPS as we began our hike at 10:35 AM.

I had produced a geospatial PDF that I could use with the Avenza phone app so I felt we could easily follow the trail. The first part of the trail was a beautiful grass trail which had been closely mowed. When we came to a kiosk with a map, I was slightly confused. My GPX track indicated a total trail length of only 1 mile while the map showed an orange trail two miles long and another, shorter blue trail which was listed as almost one mile long. I decided we would just follow the trails and try to cover them all. We passed the kiosk and in a short distance came to a green trail on the left. This was puzzling since the trail was not shown on the map. We turned left and followed the trail until it abruptly end after about .2 miles. We turned around and retraced our steps to the main trail and turned left. In a short distance, about .3 miles from the trailhead, we turned left on the orange trail. The trail was still in good condition but now looked much more like a forest trail. The trail was listed as a new trail but it had obviously been used for some time as the trail bed was well-worn. We crossed a small stream with a small amount of water and Sheila was able to get a drink. The trail had a few sticks and blowdowns but it was easy to walk around them. It seemed like we were not on the trail that I had on my phone. When I checked the Avenza app, it showed we were not on recorded trail. We decided to keep following the orange trails as long as we could see the trail bed and the orange markers. The trail headed north for .7 miles gaining 670 feet on an 18% grade. I could tell that the grade and the increasing temperature were taking their toll on Cindy. After a total of one mile on the trail, we hit the highest point and the trail turned east. In another .15 miles, the trail turned south and started a long descent. This was easier for both of us but I noticed that there was a cloud of small flies around my head. They weren't biting but they were annoying.

The trail continued to descend at a slightly shallower grade than the ascent. At 1.65 miles I saw the blazes for the blue trail coming in from the right and passed them. My intention was to complete the orange trail and then hike the blue trail. We continued south on the orange trail until at 2 miles we were almost back to the point where we had started on the orange trail. At this point the blue blazes indicated we should turn right and I followed. The trail immediately began an ascent which made Cindy groan but I explained it would be short. We stopped to get a drink and a bar while I took some pictures. The orange trail had moved mostly through hardwood forest while the blue trail we were now on was surrounding by huge evergreens. Some of them had fallen and were covered in brilliant green moss. There was a small, intermittent stream on the left side of the trail. The stream had cut a significant gully but now had only a trickle of water. We continued on Te trail but stopped again so that I could take some pictures of a small waterfall at 2.2 miles. I wondered what this might look like when there was a good volume of water flowing. As we packed up and began to move, two other hikers appeared on the other bank on the stream and I thought they were probably on the orange trail. At 2.25 miles the blue trail turned east, hit a high point and then intersected the orange trail at 2.35 miles. We turned right and retraced our steps down the orange trail. This time we stayed straight at the junctions and walked back out to the car. We had hiked 3.2 miles in 1 hour and 50 minutes with an elevation gain of 990 feet. Eliminating our "mistakes" brought the total length of the hike to exactly 3 miles. It was 83 degrees and humid but I was ready to cross the road and hike a section of the rail trail. Cindy declined the offer. As usual I was disappointed as a three mile hike means I was just getting warmed up! To make the best of the situation, I decided that I would rive to find the trailheads for the three other trails I wanted to explore. I found all of them easily which meant I could go back and hike them another day. I did notice that the temperature dropped to 77 degrees along Back River Road from Delancey to Delhi and then shot back up to 83 degrees!

On Thursday, July 25th, I had planned to hike a long hike somewhere close to home. I decided to park my car on Mary Smith Hill Road where the trail crosses and shuttle to the end of Pelnor Hollow Road. I would then hike the Pelnor Hollow Trail to the junction with the Mary Smith Trail. From there I would hike the Mary Smith Trail over Mary Smith Hill and back to my car. Some people had been asking about the status of the maintenance on these trails and the access at Pelnor Hollow Road. The trailhead at Pelnor Hollow Road is surrounded by private property and the owners do not want cars parked on their land. This is reasonable but at one time they had claimed hikers could not access the trail. Cindy agreed to help me drop my car at Mary Smith Hill Road and then drop Sheila and I at Pelnor Hollow. When I got up in the morning is was cool and the weather report indicated a beautiful day. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I often wear a long-sleeved top even on warm days as it protects me from the sun and allows me to spray insect repellant on it rather than on me. For this hike I knew there might be some areas of briars and this makes long sleeves almost mandatory. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which help keep out mud, sticks, stones and ticks. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I put on my OR Bugout gaiters to backup the closures on the pants as I was not sure if we would be hiking on trail or bushwhacking. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately and put my BaHK Mad Hatter machete in my pack. I made sure I had two water bottles even as the hike is between 7 and 9 miles. I put my gear in Cindy's car and Sheila in the back seat of my car. Sheila loves to get out an hike anywhere and she had kept her eye on both of us as we were getting ready. As we left Livingston Manor a little after 10:00 AM, the sun was shining and the skies were bright blue with puffy white clouds. We drove north on Old Route 17 and turned right on the Beaverkill Road. I wanted to get hiking as soon as possible but we got stuck behind a truck carrying asphalt for paving! We drove north to Lew Beach where we turned left on Mary Smith Hill Road. After a few miles, the paving ended and the road became packed dirt. I wasn't sure of the condition of the road and more questions arose when we passed the "ROAD CLOSED" sign. As it turned out the road had been widened and cleared and was in good shape. After 3 miles, we came to the small parking area where the trail crosses the road. I parked my car and transferred myself and Sheila to Cindy's car. I drove back down Mary Smith Hill Road to the Beaverkill Road where I turned right. I drove back to the Beaverkill Campground Road and turned right. Where the road split I turned left on Carigie Claire Road until it passed over the iron bridge and met Beaverkill Valley Road. I turned right and drove until Pelnor Hollow Road appeared on the left. I turned left and began the uphill drive on the dirt road. After about a mile, we arrived at the end of the road and the effective beginning of the Pelnor Hollow Trail. I got Sheila out of the car, set my GPS, said goodbye to Cindy and started our hike at 11:05 AM.

I put Sheila on her leash to keep her with me and off the private property that surrounds the easement New York State has to the state forest. The gate was open and signs posted by New York state indicated that there was no parking and that the land on either side of the woods road was private property. These signs continued all the way along the road to the state land boundary. I was obvious a wheeled vehicle had been on the road as the high grass was matted own. The road was wet and muddy in places but was passable. When we arrived at the first bridge, I was surprised to see that the old one had been replaced. I took some pictures before we continued up the road which was rocky and still wet. The second bridge was in poor condition and I wondered why someone had replaced one and not the other. We arrived at the cabin on the left side of the trail but no one was home. As we continued on the road I saw the state land signs appear. The road deteriorated making me believe that it would be unwise to bring any vehicle up the road. The gate at the end of Pelnor Hollow Road should be treated as the effective end or beginning of the trail. We eventually came to a wide spot in the trail where the road definitely ended. A sign indicated that the lean-to was .5 miles up the trail. The trail now narrowed from woods road width to trail width as we entered hardwood forest. It did seem that someone had driven a UTV through as I could see the tracks and the fact that some trail maintenance had been done. The walk to the lean-to seemed longer than a half mile and the trail had flattened. At 1.5 miles we came to the lean-to which appeared to be in good shape. I stopped to take some pictures and get a drink. There was a sign at the lean-to indicating distances which is unusual out in the middle of nowhere. I knew that passed the lean-to the trail could be hard to find and might be covered in briars but we pushed on anyway. It was immediately obvious that the trail maintenance continued beyond the lean-to and I began to suspect that a state crew had been at work. Everything was cleared to a width of from 4 to 6 feet in most places. Briars were cut back and branches and blowdowns cleared. The trail was easy to follow and pretty easy to walk. From the lean-to we walked about .7 miles uphill gaining 425 feet to just below the top of the hill. At this point the maintenance abruptly stopped and the briars had only a narrow path where someone else had walked.

While I was disappointed that we would now have to negotiate through the briars, I decided we would push on. As we got to the top of the hill the trail and trail markers disappeared and I spent some time wandering around. Eventually I got out Avenza which helped but the biggest aid in navigation was following Sheila who has built-in CPS. Even when the trail and markers disappear I can follow her and that she is walking from marker to marker. We continued to struggle to follow the trail and avoid the worst of the briars. Not only were the markers few and far between but there was not much of a worn trail bed as this trail is seldom used. We started won off the top of the hill and lost the trail again. I was growing tired and knew we had over a mile to go and another hill to climb just to get to the Mary Smith Trail. At 2.75 miles the briars were again cut and the trail easier to follow. Whoever had cut out the trail had left everything where it had fallen which made walking a little more difficult but I was grateful for the work they had done. We continued to descend to the area between the two hills at 3 miles before starting up the next hill. At the top of the hill there seemed to be the possibility of some viewpoints on the right side of the trail. I knew from previous experience that trying to find a lookout would result in an area where trees and brush would block the view. There were a series of interesting glacial erratics perched on the hill and I took some pictures. At 3.9 miles we came to the intersection with the Mary Smith Trail and turned right to follow the trail out to Berry Brook Road. I had not been on the trail in some time and it did not look familiar as I thought it might. The trail is mostly downhill for 1.1 miles to the road. It was hard to keep a good pace as the trail was wet and muddy in spots and has some interesting twists and turns. We walked out of the woods to the power line right-of-way. I stopped and took some pictures of the puffy white clouds against the blue sky. After getting a drink, I followed Sheila as she made a beeline for the trail on the other side. We walked out to the road and immediately crossed following the trail into the woods. I was tired and had considered calling Cindy for a pickup. I was especially concerned about climbing Mary Smith Hill and the other unnamed summit after it but decided to complete the hike.

The trail almost immediately began to climb as we walked through a large stand of nettles. At this point the trail really began to gain elevation made a little more difficult by wet and muddy areas. The trail has some very steep areas but a few switchbacks help mediate the climb. I again stopped to take some pictures of the massive boulders along the trail. For about .4 miles the grade is 20% and then the trail levels some. At 5.9 miles we were at the highest point of the trail on Mary Smith Hill. We began to descend and then hike through a trail section that rolls a little along the ridge. At 7.1 miles we reached the top of an unnamed hill which is about 150 feet higher than Mary Smith Hill. I knew that from this point it was downhill all the way but I had forgotten how steep the downhill was. This part of the hike seemed to take much longer than I remembered and I knew this was because I was tired and ready to be back at the car. From the top of the hill we descended to a viewpoint at 7.5 miles which actually had a view to the south. I took some pictures and got a final drink. From the viewpoint the descent lasts only .4 miles but loses 500 feet on a 23% grade. It was slippery and needed some maintenance as there were blowdowns and brush and briars at various points on the trail. As we neared the bottom, I caught a glimpse of the car which was a welcome sight. We arrived at the car at 4:15 PM having hiked 8 miles in 5 hours and 10 minutes with an elevation gain of 2275 feet. When I got home, I had and e-mail from Ranger Dylan McCartney who is responsible for the Pelnor Hollow Trail. The trail is in DEC Region 4 and ranger McCartney works out of Stamford. His e-mail confirmed the access to the Pelnor Hollow trail through an easement. He also explained that he had been working on the trail with some stewards and would return to finish the work. I thanked him, offered my help and asked him to be sure to place some more markers.

On Wednesday, July 24th, I had planned to hike a long hike somewhere close to home. I had considered the part of the Finger Lakes trail that runs from Beech Hill Road to the Split Rock Lookout. From there I would backtrack to the junction of the Pelnor Hollow Trail and walk that trail out to Pelnor Hollow Road. Some people had been asking about the status of the maintenance on these trails and the access at Pelnor Hollow Road. The trailhead at Pelnor Hollow Road is surrounded by private property and the owners do not want cars parked on their land. This is reasonable but at one time they had claimed hikers could not access the trail. Cindy had agreed to help me drop my car at Beech Hill and then drop Sheila and I at Pelnor Hollow. When I got up in the morning is was cool and the weather report indicated a beautiful day. I asked Cindy if she would like to take a trip to Fillmore Glen which is in the Finger Lakes region northwest of Cortland. It is over a two hour trip for us and she initially declined but then agreed. We started to get ready at about 9:30 AM which was later than I had hoped! I got dressed in a new White Sierra long-sleeved crew top that Cindy had gotten me for my birthday with a short-sleeved baselayer. The White Sierra top has InsectSheild and is quite light. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I decided to forego my OR Bugout gaiters as we would be on the trail most of the time. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately but knew I might not use them as Sheila would have to be on her leash most of the time. I made sure I had two water bottles even though I expected to hike only 5 miles. I also added a new OR floppy hat which was another present from Cindy. I have decided it shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. We put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. Sheila loves to get out an hike anywhere and she had kept her eye on both of us as we were getting ready. As we left Livingston Manor at 10:20 AM, the sun was shining and the skies were bright blue with puffy white clouds. I drove north and west on State Route 17 to Binghamton and then north on I81 to exit 12. From Homer I got on Route 90 heading north and west and drove 11 miles before turning right on Route 54. In 3.5 miles I turned right on Route 38 and almost immediately right into the park. I paid $7 at the park entrance, procured a park map and drove to a parking area in front of the visitor's center. We had stopped along the way once and visited the restroom before heading out on the trails so we began our adventure at 12:45 PM with the temperature in the high 70's.

There weren't any signs for the trails near the main building but since the trails parallel the glen, we headed for the swimming area. There was a bridge just upstream from the swimming area and signs indicating the South Rim, Gorge and North Rim Trails. There was also a sign indicating the Gorge Trail was closed at bridge 7 because of damage to the trail beyond that point. I was disappointed as I knew the waterfalls grew larger upstream and because my hiking plan would have to be revised. We decided to hike out as far as we could on the gorge trail and then return and do a loop on the Rim Trails. We turned right where the sign pointed to the Gorge Trail and were surprised to find a long step of old stone steps. We expected to be going down into the gorge! I took some pictures of the steps including a few with Cindy and Sheila posed on them. We walked up the steps and came to another sign where the Gorge and South Rim Trail split. There was a huge oak tree at this junction so I took a shot before we turned left to start out on the Gorge Trail. We followed the trail over some flat ground and then descended some more steps to the Gorge Trail along the stream bed. We were surprised that there was barely any water flowing in the stream since several storms had recently passed through the area. I took some pictures of the interesting rock layers and the erosion. The glen is a mix of finely layered shale mixed with harder limestone which sometimes "caps" the shale. The shale erodes much more quickly than the limestone. We walked along the trail through the glen meeting a few people as we made our way over bridges and up and down steps. Some bridges were old but bridge 4 had been replaced with the new construction which includes two steel I-beams to support the decking. In a few spots I took some pictures but the day was actually too sunny for many good shots. Sheila was well-behaved on her leash even when other leashed dogs approached. At one point water was flowing over a limestone deposit and won into the glen. The flow was very light but I could imagine what this waterfall would look like in a wetter season. As we crossed bridge 6, we noticed two people in the streambed piling rocks. One was older and the other younger so I assumed they were father and son. I don't know why people feel free to violate park rules and vandalize park property. I have no interest in seeing anything but the beauty but consoled myself knowing that nature would take care of this during the next high water event! We continued on to bridge 7 and found a sign clearly stating the trail was closed. I had though we might press on but the sign was clear. We turned around and walked back along the trail. We met some individuals but most people were in pairs or in family groups. We walked up the steps to the junction with the South Rim Trail and turned left.

I guess the rim in South Rim Trail should have been and indication that we would have to climb. The ascent was a 13% grade for a bout a quarter mile and then the trail leveled some but still gained some more elevation. There wasn't much to see but it was quiet and we met only a few people. As we neared the point where we would again descend to the glen to pick up the North Rim Trail, we began to hear loud noises and music from below. My first thought was noisy hikers with a boom box. We came to a bench and a lookout that was mostly blocked by trees. I could look below and could see that the noise was coming from a crew working to rebuild the Gorge Trail! Cindy rested on the bench and had a snack while I took some pictures from various angles. I also got a bar and a drink before we packed up and continued on the trail. The trail neared the access road and some workers were gathered by their trucks. I asked about crossing the gorge and one worker said that we could use the bridge but that the trail down to the stream was muddy. The workers had been using a UTV which did make some ruts but we had hiked under worse conditions. We worked our way carefully down to bridge 8 and crossed to the red-blazed North Rim Trail. The trail initially headed upstream and then went through a series of switchbacks. Over .2 miles we gained about 150 feet on a 14% grade. At the top of the climb was another bench. The North Rim Trail went both right and left. The left branch continued about a half mile upstream to another water fall and a dam. I thought this would be a nice, quick walk but Cindy declined. I was disappointed since I wanted to see everything but we turned left to return to the car. The trail meandered some along the rim of the glen. In a few spots we had to gain a little elevation but the trail was primarily downhill. It was also mostly dry with good footing. At one point we ran into an small stream that had gut a small gorge of its own perpendicular to the main glen. We had to walk upstream for a short distance to a bridge to cross this stream. It finally occurred to me that this was the stream that we had seen entering the main glen from the Gorge Trail. We continued on the trail meeting no other hikers. As we neared the end of the trail, we came to a series of new steps which were wooden boxes filled with dirt and gravel. The wooden construction may not last as long as stone but they are much smoother and better looking. We descended the steps and came to the swimming area. We turned right and walked across a small lawn to a foot bridge across the stream. Next to the foot bridge was a ford across the stream for cars to cross from one side of the park to the other. We walked back to the car and arrived at 3:25 PM. We had hiked 5 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes with and elevation gain of 1650 feet. We left Sheila in the car and walked over to a small cabin. The cabin is a replica representing the cabin where the 13th President of the United States, Millard Fillmore, was born in 1800. The original cabin was located about 5 miles from the park. I took some pictures of the cabin from the outside and a few on the inside. We walked back to the car to begin the 2 hour drive home.

On Sunday, July 21st, I wanted to get out and do some trail maintenance after church and before the afternoon heat and thunderstorms. I had surveyed Round Top across the street from my house and found it needed some serious trimming along parts of the trails. I decided I would take my Stihl FS 131 trimmer which is a beast when paired with Oregon square line. It is relatively light for what it does and cuts grass and brush easily. I am also impressed that in runs a long time on a tank of gas. When I got home from church, the temperature was 88 degrees and it was humid. The sun was out and I knew the temperature would rise. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top but decided to wear no baselayer. I usually wear long sleeves when I am doing trail work as they offer some protection. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to deal with the ticks and the "blowback" from trimming. I knew I would be carrying tools and not walking very far so I decided not to take poles. Besides the Stihl trimmer and gas container I took along the Corona loppers. Before I could get started, I had to reload string on the trimmer but this went quicker than I expected. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. I decided to drive to the trailhead across the street since I could not carry everything I was taking with me. Sheila was happy to be going anywhere. I drove across the street at 12:30 PM and through the cemetery to the highest point where the trail begins. I got out the trimmer and fueled it. It stared immediately so I cut some of the grass at the trailhead before shutting it down and heading along the trail. At the first junction, we turned right and walked up the woods road. Just after the trail turned to the left, we encountered some brush and ferns hanging into the trail. I did not intend to trim all the ferns but did want to cut back the brush. I began trimming working my way all the way up to the junction with the blue trail. The trimmer was taking out some pretty heavy brush with no problem. As I was trimming Sheila was walking ahead or behind investigating various tracks and smells. At the trail junction I turned left and continued to cut a wide swath through the encroaching vegetation. As the trail continued it widened following an old woods road. I began to cut the trail back to the width of this road hoping I would only have to do this once or twice a summer. I kept waiting for the fuel to run out but I eventually came to the next trail junction. I turned right on the blue trail and trimmed a short way up the trail until the brush gave out and the ferns took over. I returned to the junction and continued on the yellow trail cutting the light brush and a few ferns along the way. I got to a place where there was no brush and all ferns so I shut down the trimmer for the walk back to the car. I noticed that my hands were really tingling which happens every time I use the trimmer. We turned left at the lookout and walked down the hill to the first trail junction. We continued straight ahead to walk back out to the car. I put my gear away and let Sheila jump into the back seat. When I turned the car on, the thermometer read 100 degrees! It was 2:00 PM and we had spent about and hour and a half making the trail nicer for others.

On Friday, July 19th, I wanted to get out and do some trail maintenance before the weather got too warm and humid. I decided to go to Beech Hill Road as I knew there were a few blowdowns to remove on the FLT as it starts up Cabot Mountain. I also wanted to do a little lopping of some branches hanging into the trail. Two days before I had gotten soaked as I walked through the field because the grass and weeds were waist high so I thought cutting them back would be a good idea. When I got up, the temperature was 70 degrees but I knew that it would only get warmer. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top but decided to wear no baselayer. I usually wear long sleeves when I am doing trail work as they offer some protection. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to deal with the ticks and the mud. I knew I would be carrying tools and not walking very far so I decided not to take poles. I also added a floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I took along my Fiskars axe, Silky Sugowaza saw, Corona loppers, a machete, and grass whip. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. As we left Livingston Manor just before 9:30 AM, the sun was shining and the skies were almost cloudless. Sheila was happy to be going anywhere. I drove north on Old Route 17 before turning right on the Beaverkill Road. I passed through Lew Beach and turned left on Beech Hill Road Road. I drove up the road about 2.6 miles to the small pullout on the right side of the road at the beginning of the trail and pulled in to park. The temperature was cooler than in town and was around 73 degrees. When I got out of the car a slight breeze was blowing but it did feel humid. I started by cutting the grass and weeds around the trail register and then began cutting out the trail down to a kiosk near the woods. I had intended only to cut a narrow path but it kept getting wider and wider. The kiosk didn't have much current information but I cut around it anyway. I continued to cut some brush and weeds even after the trail entered the woods. The trail had been only damp on Wednesday but now was wet from the rains the night before. There were muddy areas and all the rocks were slippery. I returned to the car clearing a few more weeds as I went. I grabbed my loppers and saw and started back out on the trail to cut the large branch and a few others I remembered. I lopped and cut as I went and was soon at the point where the trail began to climb. It occurred to me that I had not seen the large branch I had come to dispatch. We walked a little up the ascent until I was convinced we should turn around. On the return trip I did not find the branch or any evidence of where it had been. Was I dreaming? Did someone come along and cut one branch? It is a mystery to me. I walked to the car and headed back home at 11:25 AM.

As I got closer to home, I realized I was still fresh and the temperature was still only 80 degrees. I decided to drive to the top of the Orchard Street Cemetery and do some work on the Round Top Trails. I parked at the trailhead and decided to take only my saw and loppers. Sheila seemed surprised we were getting out of the car again but was eager to go. We walked to the first trail junction where we turned right. There was a branch that had fallen and brought others down with it. It had broken off too high for me to completely eliminate it so I started to lop off branches and move them off the side of the trail. The Corona loppers have handles that extend and very wide jaws which are able to cut large branches. I continued to work switching to the saw where necessary. Eventually the area was cleared and we moved on up the woods road. There was another tree that had recent fallen and I began to make cuts with the saw. The work went quickly and I over the individual pieces off the trail. A little farther along, I dragged some other branches off the trail as we made a left turn to start a slight ascent. I was surprised when we ran into a lot of small branches and brush leaning over the trail. I used the loppers to clear many of these as far as the net trail junction with the blue trail. We turned left to stay on the yellow trail and found this entire section up to the next junction covered in brush leaning into the trail. I cut a few of the worst offenders but decided to leaving most of them until later. I thought I would bring my Stihil string trimmer to do the job. At the next trail junction, we turned right on the blue trail to head toad the summit of Round Top. There were more branches and some brush on the trail. I cut two small blowdowns on the way up and moved them off the trail. Soon there was less brush and more ferns as we crossed the summit. As we started down on the blue trail, we came to a medium sized white birch leaning low across the trail. I used the saw to cut off then top which fell off the trail. I though cutting the butt end might take some time but it went very quickly. I threw the trunk off the trail. We continued to descend to the trail junction and turned right on the yellow trail to continue to form our figure 8. At the next trail junction we stayed on the yellow trail by turning left. The rest of the trail was bordered by ferns all the way to the lookout. At the lookout we turned left and walked down the hill to the first trail junction and then straight out to the trailhead and the car. From there I drove across the street to the house. It was 12:30 Pm and we had spent about 3 hours doing trail work. The temperature was now over 90 degrees and the humidity was palpable.

On Wednesday, July 17th, I had planned to hike somewhere close to home and for a rather short time. The forecast was for 90 degree temperatures and high humidity followed by thunderstorms. I decided that I would go and hike Cabot Mountain from Beech Hill Road to see what maintenance needed to be performs. I maintain the trails from Alder Lake to Big Pond over Touch-Me-Not Mountain and Cabot Mountain to Beech Hill Road. I maintain this section of trail for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference as this is part of the Fingers Lakes Trail that stretches across New York State. When I got up, the temperature was already 70 degrees but I knew that it would only get warmer. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I usually wear long sleeves but I knew the temperature and humidity would be very high. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to deal with the ticks and the mud. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately and made sure I had two water bottles even though I expected to hike only 2 hours. I also added a floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. As we left Livingston Manor at 10:00 AM, the sun was shining but the skies were overcast with some haze. Sheila was happy to be going somewhere but seemed a little "under the weather" from her shots on Tuesday. I drove north on Old Route 17 before turning right on the Beaverkill Road. I passed through Lew Beach and turned left on Beech Hill Road Road. I drove up the road about 2.6 miles to the small pullout on the right side of the road at the beginning of the trail and pulled in to park. The temperature was cooler than in town and was around 73 degrees. When I got out of the car a slight breeze was blowing but it did feel humid. I set my GPS unit and we started out on the hike by walking through the tall grass along the side of an open field. The trails had been very dry but heavy storms the night before had drenched the area. As we walked through the grass and weeds, my shoes and pants became soaked! As we entered the forest, I noticed all the rocks were wet and made note to watch my step.

The first part of the trail is flat and there were a few wet spots. There are also many rocks which were covered in moss. Within a short distance, we came to a large branch that was blocking the trail. It appeared to be freshly fallen as it was very green and there was no trail that other hikers had used to avoid it. I had not brought any tools but it seemed that the blowdown could be removed with hand tools. The trail bed was well worn and the path easy to see which was good as the markers were often faded and far apart. The DEC has decreed that volunteers may no longer mark trails. This job falls on the foresters and rangers who have many other tasks to perform. Unfortunately, the trail marking has suffered as a result. At .2 miles the trail begins to climb and in about half a mile it gains almost 600 feet averaging a 20% grade. This is not as steep as the other side but is plenty challenging. We continued up the trail which has a few switchbacks and several flatter areas. The climb seemed shorter and went faster than I expected. At about .7 miles the trail levels off and then rolls over several bumps to the Cabot Mountain Vista at 1.6 miles. There were a few blowdowns across the trail and I decided to take pictures on the return trip. Most could be stepped or rolled over and did not slow me down. Removing them with hand tools would prove challenging. In areas where the sunlight could get through the trees there were some nettles although there were very few briars. Sheila meanwhile was having a great time bounding ahead and them coming back to find me. She occasionally followed some game trail. As we reached the flatter summit area, I found a few more blowdowns. The trail also became muddy in posts as the water does not drain well. The walk to the vista on Cabot Mountain seemed to take longer than I remembered but we arrived at the lookout at 11:30 AM. The sun was hidden behind clouds and there were darker clouds gathering all around. I did not want to get caught in a thunderstorm so did not plan to stay long. I took a few pictures of Sheila sitting on the lookout and then a few more of Little Pond. I also took some shots of the darkening clouds. I packed up and got a drink and a bar. By the time I shouldered my pack the sun was shining brightly but the dark clouds remained. We turned around at 11:35 AM and started to retrace our steps to the car.

The walk back to the descent went very quickly even though I stopped to take some pictures of the various blowdowns. At one spot I stopped and removed a large trunk that had fallen in pieces. The trunk was rotting and removing it was relatively easy to remove it and clear the area. I could not get a clear view of the skies but did not want to find a storm was still brewing. We continued back on the trail to the steeper descent which proved to be tricky because of the dampness. We were soon on the flatter part of the trail where I stopped one more time to take pictures of the large branch that was freshly fallen. I knew we were almost back to the car and hurried my steps. We were back at the car at 12:35 PM. We spent 2 hours and 10 minutes hiking 3.0 miles with an elevation gain of 900 feet! I was definitely tired but could easily have done a few more miles given the same conditions. I drove back down Beech Hill Road and stopped to take some pictures of Cabot Mountain and some of the other hills in the area. I wanted to check out the status of the southern end of the Pelnor Hollow Trail at the northern end of Pelnor Hollow road. I drove out to the Beaverkill Road and turned right. At the Beaverkill Campground I turned right and then left on Craigie Claire Road. It began to pour down rain at this point and the rain continued for some time. At the iron bridge, I turned right on Beaverkill Valley Road and shortly after left on Pelnor Hollow Road. This road is packed dirt and the water was running down the road in rivulets. Despite the conditions it was an easy drive to the dead end. Along the way the "No Parking" and "Neighborhood Watch" signs made it clear that someone found visitors unwelcome. At the end of the road there was a gate which was open. There were signs that said "No vehicles" and "No parking". Beside these signs was one indicating that these were by order of the NYS DEC. I assumed this meant that hiking along the trail was permissible but I was not going to try it on this day.

On Monday, July 15th, I wanted to hike a difficult hike close to home after a weekend away at a wedding. I had eaten a little too much and had a little too much to drink and needed the exercise. Sheila certainly agreed after a weekend of inactivity. I considered several different options but decided to hike a loop from Long Pond to Mon Gaul Pond and back. I had not hiked the Long Pond to Mongaup Pond loop is some time and only once in a clockwise direction. I checked my own website and found that the total distance was 9.8 miles and remembered that it had two significant climbs over Mongaup Mountain and Middle Mongaup Mountain. When I woke up at 6:30 AM, I was still tired and decided to get a little more rest. When I awoke again at 9:00 AM, I felt much better and I began to get ready to hike. The temperature was 70 degrees and the humidity seemed low. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I knew this might be a little warm but the long sleeves dissuade the mosquitoes and shield me from the sun. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to deal with the ticks and the mud. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately and made sure I had two water bottles as I expected we would hike for about 4 hours. I also added a floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat. As we left Livingston Manor at 10:30 AM, the sun was shining gut the skies were cloudless. As I headed out DeBruce Road, I was quickly reminded that the road was being paved. We had to wait some time to be able to pass the area that was being paved. I drove through DeBruce and Willowemoc and turned left on Flugertown Road. I drove up the road to the end of the pavement and then continued on the packed dirt road to the point where the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail meets the road. I was surprised to see a forest ranger's trick parked on the side of the road. I pulled into an area just after the bridge and parked. I immediately set my GPS and the we started down the road at 11:00 AM. We turned right onto the trail and started a short climb. We immediately came to several blowdowns on the trail which would be a theme repeated innumerable times on the hike. I noticed that climbing was tiring but the trail soon leveled off.

The first .5 miles gains about 250 feet to the trail junction. The red Long Pond Beaverkill Ridge Trail continues to the right but we turned left on the yellow Mongaup Willowemoc Trail which goes to the shores of Mongaup Pond. As we hiked I noticed that the trail was drier than I expected with several areas of dried mud. There were also fewer bugs hovering around me than I expected. The temperature was in the low 70's which made hiking very pleasant. The hiking trail in this area is also a snowmobile trail so it was wide and well-maintained with only a few blowdowns to block the path. It wasn't long before we crossed the private road to Sand Pond and then hit a low point as we crossed Butternut Creek, the outlet to Sand Pond. We walked along the creek for a short distance and then crossed one of the sturdy bridges at around 1.5 miles. I stopped to take a few pictures as I knew there were very few opportunities along the way. After the creek, the trail began an ascent of over 400 feet before descending to the shores of Mongaup Pond. There were some rocky sections along the way and I learned to take care as many of the rocks were slippery from condensation. We hiked 3.2 miles to the trail around Mongaup Pond where we turned right to head toward the upper end of the pond and the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail. The trail around the pond is usually wet abut it was relatively dry as it had not rained in some time. After walking only half a mile, we were at the trail junction. We stopped at the edge of the pond and I took a few pictures. Sheila took the opportunity to swim even though the water was full of some type of floating weeds. Before we turned around and started the next part of the hike, I got a drink and a bar. I remembered that the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail ascended the Mongaup Mountains and that the climb was interesting in spots. I also remembered that parts of the trail were not well marked or maintained with blowdowns and prickers. My memory was good as there seems to have been little maintenance with many blowdowns and branches encroaching on the trail. There were adequate blue markers though to mark the trail. For the next 1.5 miles the trail headed almost directly north gaining over 800 feet to the top of Mongaup Mountain at 5.2 miles with an elevation of just under 3000 feet. It looked like few others had hiked the trail and it remained hard to find. There were some steep but short climbs along the way. It was almost 2:00 PM and I felt we were taking a little too long to hike this route.

We started down the other side of the mountain and I noticed that the trail was even less distinct, less well marked and that there were quite a few blowdowns on the trail. We descended over 400 feet with some steep areas and places where the trail was completed obliterated by large blowdowns. I forgot that Middle Mongaup Mountain was only a few feet shorter than Mongaup Mountain! We regained almost all of our descent to reach the top of Middle Mongaup Mountain at 6.3 miles. My recollection of the trail was not complete so I was a little surprised when we descended again and then had to ascend East Mongaup Mountain to get to the trail junction with the Long Pond Beaverkill Ridge Trail. On the last section of our hike to the junction, the trail markers disappeared. At 6.9 miles, I was looking for the turn and almost missed it as there was no sign and the faded red markers were hard to see. We had been hiking through some prickers and over blowdowns on the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail but that did not prepare me for the Long Pond Beaverkill Trail. Once we turned onto the that trail, it became immediately obvious that there had been no maintenance on the trail in some time. I stopped counting major blockages when I ran out of fingers. There were few markers and all but the last ones on the trail were faded to pink or white. In several places the blowdowns and the poor marking combined to throw me well off the trail. In fact the trail was not really a trail but a series of markers to follow when I could find them. Sheila was a big help in finding where we were supposed to be. She has the uncanny ability to follow the markers despite the fact that the trail is obviously little used. This trail has not improved in 5 years and it is a sign of the times that whoever is responsible for its maintenance just doesn't care! A good part of the trail became more like a bushwhack and I began to wonder if the trail had been abandoned. The problem, of course, is that there are too few volunteers to maintain all of the miles of trails. It seems that he trails to the 3500 foot peaks are maintained while some of the "lesser" trails are ignored. From trail junction to trail junction we dropped 850 feet in 2.5 miles. When we hit the junction with the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail, we turned left to descend the last .5 miles back to Flugertown Road. We arrived at the car at 5:05 PM which was later than I expected due to the poor condition of the trails. The hike was definitely a workout which is what I wanted but there were few photographic opportunities. We hiked 9.9 miles in 6 hours with 2225 feet of elevation gain along the way.

On Tuesday, July 9th, I was ready to do a more challenging hike with my grandson Bryce and chose Westkill because of Diamond Notch Falls and the Buck Ridge Lookouts. Westkill is a special place for me as I spread the ashes of a previous hiking partner, Sheba, at the Buck Ridge lookouts. I got a text the night before that Bryce would be at my house around 7:00 AM which was fine as I wanted to get an early start. When I woke up at 6:30 AM the temperature was only 60 degrees and the humidity seemed low. Bryce did arrive just after 7:00 AM but needed a few minutes to eat the breakfast Cindy prepared for him. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I knew this might be a little warm but the long sleeves dissuade the mosquitoes and shield me from the sun. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to deal with the ticks and the mud. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately and made sure I had two water bottles as I expected we would hike for about 4 hours. As we left Livingston Manor at 8:15 AM, the sun was shining gut the skies were slightly overcast. I headed out DeBruce Road and turned left on Route 47 at the end to head toward Big Indian and Route 28. There were a few cars at the Biscuit Brook parking area but the Slide Mountain parking area was beginning to fill up. The same was true of the parking for Giant Ledge and Panther. As we passed these spots where we have hiked before Sheila would "moan" as if she was asking me if we could stop and hike. I turned right on Route 28 and then left on Route 42 to head toward Spruceton. I knew that Route 42 was being paved and expected a delay. There was one car at the Halcott parking area along with a lot of construction machinery. We had to wait in line until the single lane cleared but after that we were able to drive to Spruceton Road unimpeded. I turned right on the Spruceton Road and drove until we came to the point where the road turns to dirt. To my surprise there seemed to be work going on to pave the road! Unfortunately, whatever they were using was a very poor quality and had not been adequately packed. I hoped they would improve the work before calling it finished. Along the road we passed the Spruceton Inn which was gained a nice reputation and also the West Kill Brewery where I had stopped on a previous trip. Since the road worked seemed to go on toward the end of the road I chose to park at the lot for Hunter as there were plenty of empty spaces. The temperature was 71 degrees and a slight breeze was blowing making it seem very comfortable. I set my GPS, put Sheila on her leash and we headed out to Spruceton Road at 9:45 AM. We turned left to walk toward the woods road that is the beginning of the actual trail.

Walking on the material they had put on the road was not easy. I soon came to the conclusion that they were laying down the material they had stripped of Route 42! I don't know who came up with this idea but it seemed to be a bad one! We passed through the gate and started out on the trail toward the falls. The trail was nearly dry with only a few wet spots and I was surprised that the level of the stream was so low. The stream was beautiful and I was tempted to stop several times to take pictures. I decided to put this off until the return trip. At one point we looked up to see a trail runner coming toward us and I ushered Sheila off the trail to let him pass. Bryce and I wondered what route he had run but I suspected that it was not up the mountain. At the falls, we turned right on the Devil's Path and then right again at the end of the bridge. We looked at the sign there and laughed. The distances given were to the hundredth and they were obviously wrong. The sign put the Buck Ridge Lookouts beyond the summit. It is too bad that this is not the only mistake I have seen on DEC signs. I was again tempted to take pictures but decided to wait until the trip back. As we continued to follow the trail it began to get steeper and wetter in a few spots which made it slipperier. Many of the rocks had some condensation which also made the going difficult. I was beginning to get very warm so we stopped for a drink which made us both feel better. As we continued the ascent, I began to remember that the ascent was long and steep in some places and that the hardest part was right at the beginning of the climb. We came to a section of trail that requires some side-hilling but found it was much more worn in than I remembered. Sheila visited a spring to get a drink. I was feeling very tired as was Bryce. I got the feeling each of us might have given up but did not want to disappointed the other. Bryce began to tell me about the Percy Jackson books he was reading and this seemed to make the walk easier. It didn't take us long to get to a spot which is a near vertical climb. This is a short ascent but leads to a longer one. In the winter this is often a sheet of ice and can be exciting on the way up and the way down. Sheila and Bryce scrambled up without much trouble and I asked them to pose for a few pictures. After taking my shots, I followed making use of the roots as handholds. Once we passed this point there were still some steep areas to conquer. The mile climb from just after the falls to where the trail begins to level averages a 20% grade and can be very tiring.

Once we got to the more level part there were still some small climbs and a few descents but the going was easier. From that point to Buck Ridge and the summit is still well over a mile. On our way to the rock overhang or "cave" we passed the 3500 foot sign. I could have sworn the sign used to be just above the overhand but I checked my GPS and the new placement seems more correct. When we arrived at the cave, Bryce and Sheila went "inside" and I took a few pictures before continuing. We were soon above the "cave" and after this the trail turns almost due west and levels off slightly. A hiker approached us from behind and I grabbed Sheila as I always do. We said "Hello" and he asked about how far we were from the lookouts. I said we were close and he continued on his way at a very fast pace. We finally came to the little descent before the final ascent to the Buck Ridge Lookouts. We worked our way down and were soon at the base of the final ascent. We climbed up to Buck Ridge arriving at 12:15 PM. It had taken us 2 hours and 30 minutes to hike a little over 3 miles! So much for keeping a good pace. The hiker we had met was at the lookouts and I suggested to Bryce that we go to the summit before taking a break. I shouldered my pack and we headed toward the summit. Hiking to the summit of Westkill is a short trip but serves no purpose other than to allow a hiker to claim they got to the summit. It is only about .1 miles and it took us about 15 minutes to get up and back to the lookouts. There is still a sign at the summit that says "Westkill Mt. Summit" and a large stone cairn. I took a few shots of Bryce and Sheila before w turned around and walked back to the lookouts. I leashed Sheila to a tree and gave her a drink. Bryce and I also drank some water and we ate me bars. I took pictures from the lookout to the south and then walked a little farther west to another lout to take some more shots. I also took some pictures of Bryce sitting on the edge of the lookout with his feet dangling over the ledge. I talked to the other hiker and found out he had taken two days to do the Devil's Path and was thinking of doing North Dome. Finishing that peak would complete is 3500 list! I discussed his options and he decided to continue on the Devil's Path to the right hand turn and then decide on a trip to North Dome. When he left, I released Sheila and we walked over to the lookout to the north where I had taken my favorite picture of Sheba. Sheila jumped up on the large boulder there but the view is almost completely blocked by trees now. I took a few shots and then we started back down the trail from Buck Ridge at 12:40 PM.

We tried to keep a quick pace on the way down without stopping but the going was not easy in some of the steeper spots. The trail has lots of rocks and roots on the upper part which slowed me down. Bryce and Sheila did not seem to mind and were bouncing along ahead of me. We met several individuals hikers on the way down and at least two were completing the Devil's Path in two days. We continued down the trail which was certainly easier than hiking up! We continued down the trail and met no ore hikers coming up. Just before the bridge at the falls, I saw some hikers at the bridge and put Sheila on her leash. When we arrived at the bridge, the hikers, who had a leashed dog, asked me about the trails. They decided on the "easier" option of hiking out the trail toad the Diamond Notch parking area. I took some shots of the rocks under the bridge and then some of the bridge. We crossed the bridge at the falls and negotiated the short but steep drop to the base of the falls. Sheila took several dips in the cool water and then began to dash madly around us. I took pictures of the falls with several different settings on the camera trying to get the soft, wispy effect that some people like. The stream has actually changed its course slightly and now flows more on the left rather than the right side of the bed. We climbed back up the bank to trail and continued back to the car. The walk out seemed long and when we got to the road we still had to walk back to the parking area. We were back at the car at 3:05 PM after hiking 7.0 miles in 5 hours and 20 minutes. The total ascent was 2150 feet. I was tired but glad we had made the trip. The hike did point out that I need to get in shape!

On Monday, July 8th I had planned to do a longer hike near Long and Mongaup Ponds but decided to find a shorter route as I was scheduled to hike Westkill with Bryce the next day. I decided to go to Big Pond with some tools and clear two major blowdowns and a few smaller ones on the Touck-Me-Not Trail. I maintain the Finger Lakes Trail from Beech Hill Road over Cabot Mountain over Touch-Me-Not Mountain to big pond and then on to Alder Lake. This is about 7 miles of trail which includes some interesting climbs and some flatter sections. Most of the maintenance involves removing blowdowns and cutting back the nettles and briars. The temperature was forecast to be a little lower than it had been the previous few days with highs in the low 80's. When I got up at 6:30 AM, the temperature was only in the low 60's and it actually felt cool outside. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I knew this might be a little warm but the long sleeves dissuade the mosquitoes and shield me from the sun. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to deal with the ticks and the mud. I decided to go without hiking poles as I would be carrying poles. I decided to take only one water bottle as the hike is less than 3 miles round trip. I packed my Silky Sugowaza curved saw which can handle surprisingly large trees and my Fiskars axe. I also threw some felling wedges in my pack as I would not have any help if my saw became pinched. As we left Livingston Manor at 9:50 AM, the sun was shining brightly and I hoped for a productive trip. I drove up the Beaverkill Road with Sheila in the back seat more than ready to hike anywhere. We arrived at Big Pond at 10:10 AM and found only a few cars in the lot. A group of three hikers left the parking lot before us and we never saw them again. I set my GPS and carried my axe as we crossed the road to begin the hike. I began to remove obstacles on the trail and this continued for the whole hike. I cut a few branches but knew I would have to some back to trim the nettles and do some lopping. Within a few hundred feet there was a good sized branch hanging over the trail. It was supporting a large limb that had fallen and caused it to bend down. I trimmed a few smaller branches and the decided to cut the branch across the trail near the limb that was on top of it. I knew that I would have to watch out as I cut since the larger limb might fall. I was right! As I finished my cut, the large limb crashed down just missing me. Fortunately, I was unharmed and was able to clear the rest of the branches off the trail.

I packed up and we walked a little further up the trail to find the second of the two major blowdowns at .4 miles. I put down my pack and took pictures of the large tree that had fallen across the trail taking another, smaller tree with it. I have a procedure that I use that works well in most cases. I removed all the loose branches and cut a few that were in the way. I then began to cut the top out of the tree by making several cuts and dragging the loose branches off the trail. In the end I had several large branches to cut but the saw took all but one easily. On the last cut I was not quick enough and my saw became trapped. After several attempts to free it with wedges, I realized I could make another cut with the ax. It took only a few minutes to make the cut and free my saw. Now, all I had left was the smaller tree that was still arching over the trail. It was pretty fitly supported and I considered leaving it until it fell. In the end I cut the trunk near the ground with the axe hoping it would fall. The top of the tree was entangled in another tree so I had to lift the butt end and move it. I knew I should be careful because at any minute the top could let go. This is exactly what happened! As the butt kicked out, I fell string my right shin and then the tree crashed down with a branch striking me in the same spot! I quickly evaluated my leg and found it sore but intact. This reminded me that I should not be working alone but that when I do I have to be more careful. I cut the rest of the tree off the trail, took some "after" pictures and then packed up to continue along the trail. The temperature had risen, it was more humid and the work was harder than I thought. The first mile of the trail gains about 775 feet with an average grade of 15%. Some places are almost flat which means there are a few steeper places. I began to notice that the blazing of the trail was becoming intermittent due to the fact that several trees with blazes had fallen. The DEC will no longer let volunteers put up the trail markers so the forester or rangers have to come out to blaze the trail. As the trail became steeper, I began to realize how tired I was. We passed through a stand of nettles and I knew another blowdown was ahead just short of the trail junction. At one point Sheila altered and I looked up to see a couple hiking toward us. I guided Sheila to the side of the trail and we said "Hello" as they passed.

At 1.1 miles we came to the other blowdown. This tree was much larger and I wondered if my tools and I could handle it. I put my pack down and got out my camera to snap a few "before" shots. I began to remove loose branches and to cut other to remove. It wasn't long before only the largest branches were left. It was not clear to be whether or not any of these branches were supporting the tree trunk. I took no chances and cut everything that I knew could not act as a support. I then tackled the last branch. To my surprised the cut went quickly and the trunk did not move as it was counterbalanced on the butt end. I finished by making another cut to further clear the trail. I took my "after" shots and then packed up. I knew at this point I could turn around but decided to hike to the trail junction and then use the Campground Trail and the roads to get back to the car. We hiked up to the flatter part of the trail near the junction and I chose to remove one more small branch. As I was working, the couple who had passed us reappeared and thanked me for my work. We continued on to the trail junction and turned left on the blue Campground Trail. The Campground Trail is supposed to be maintained by the DEC but it looked as if little work had been done for some time. Within a few hundred feet we encountered a large blowdown which was difficult to negotiate and would require a chainsaw to remove. The sign at the trail junction said that the trail is .4 miles when it is actually almost 1.1 miles! We walked to the top of Touch-Me-Not Mountain and started down the other side. From the top of the mountain the trail drops 560 feet in .4 miles for an average grade of 26%. There are several areas where the descent is much steeper and the slippery oak leaves were not making the trip any easier. The trail eventually flattens as it near the parking area at Little Pond. The insects had not been a problem for most of the trip nut I began to notice them on this descent. We were soon at the parking area where I leashed Sheila and started the walk back on the Little Pond access road and Brakaboom Road. We walked out the access road and passed the main entrance. The walk out the access road is about .9 miles and is mostly downhill. We continued down to Barkaboom Road where we turned left and started the uphill walk back to the car. Having Sheila on her leash really helps as she pulls me up the hills quite nicely. I looked down at the stream and saw the old foundation. A "ditch" led from upstream through the foundation to farther downstream. This is a good indication that this was mill of some type and the stream led through the millrace and, most likely, and undershot wheel. This is further supported by the dam on Big Pond that looks as if it had a series of boards to control the water level. The walk back to the car went quickly and we arrived back at the lot at 1:25 PM. We had hiked 4 miles in 3 hour and 15 minutes with a vertical gain of 1055 feet. From previous hikes I could tell that I had worked for about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

On Friday, July 5th I wanted to get in a loner local hike and decided I would hike from Long Pond to Mongaup Pond on a loop including the Long Pond-Beaverkill Ridge Trail, Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail and the Mongaup, Willowemoc Trail. The total distance would be around 10 miles with some serious climbs over the Mongaup Mountains. As I was getting ready to go around 7:00 AM, the ambulance pager sounded and I was off on a call. When I returned from the call, I knew I still had time to do the hike but wondered if grandson Bryce would like to come to hike. I called my son Karl and said he could bring Bryce by around 10:00 AM and I readily agreed although I knew I would have to change the route I had planned. Just as Bryce was due to arrive a second ambulance call sent me out again. When I returned, Bryce was waiting and ready to go. I had most of my gear packed already and just needed to change into hiking clothes. As I began to get ready at 11:00 AM, the temperature was already in the low 80's and it seemed humid. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I knew this might be a little warm but the long sleeves dissuade the mosquitoes and shield me from the sun. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to deal with the ticks and the mud. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately and made sure I had two water bottles as I expected we would hike for about 4 hours. As we left Livingston Manor at 11:20 AM, the sun was shining brightly and I hoped for a good day of hiking despite the crazy start for the day. I decided we would go to Big Pond and hike to Cabot Mt. The trailhead is relatively close and the hike has some easy spots but some challenging ones also. This would also allow me to evaluate this trail that I maintain for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference for work I would have to do in the future. I drove up the Beaverkill Road with Sheila and Bryce in the back seat more than ready to hike anywhere. We arrived at Big Pond at 11:40 AM to find the parking lot full of cars with more parking along the sides of the road. I looked in the lot by the pond and found a spot that must have been recently vacated and immediately pulled into it. There were a lot of loud people walking round and I hoped they would stay at the pond. I set my GPS and we crossed the road and got on the red Touch-Me-Not Trail to hike over the hill toward Cabot Mt. The trail starts with a nice little ascent to get the heart pumping and then levels off some.

I was surprised to find the trails only damp with only a few branches dipping down Bryce and I both removed some branches and pushed other out of the way. As we walked we encountered a tree or two across the trail that would need some tools to clear. Farther along as we began the real ascent up the mountain, the nettles began to encroach on the trail. They were pretty thick and I knew I would have to get my Stihl gas trimmer powered up to handle the! The air was very heavy and we took it easy as we climbed. The nettles disappeared in the shaded areas but came back again on the final ascent up the mountain. There was also another blowdown to clear.Over the first mile we gained 790 feet to the shoulder of Touch-Me-Not Mountain where the trail starts a descent. We continued to the junction with blue Campground Trail where we kept to the right on the Touch-Me-Not Trail and continued our descent. Along the way we descended through some slots between rocks and I stopped to pose Bryce and Sheila to take a few shots. We could hear other hikers ahead of us on the Little Pond Trail as we approached the trail junction at 1.6 miles. The sign said "Beaverkill Vista .5 miles" but I knew it was a little farther and that the climb was challenging. I asked Bryce if he want to climb the mountain and he said he did so we continued straight ahead on the red trail to climb up Cabot Mountain. We could see a hiker ahead of us but they were moving at an good pace. Sheila was all over the place looking for chipmunks, squirrels and, most of all, birds! We walked about a quarter mile to the base of Cabot Mountain. The nettles were again prominent but not as bad as they have been in the past. I t seemed to me that more people were using the trail and beating back the nettles. The vertical gain on the climb up Cabot is less than 500 feet but the horizontal distance is only .4 miles. The average grade is 25% with some areas over 30%. We climb up slopes with loose dirt and rocks with the help of some trees to hang onto. Just when I thought my legs might give out, we reached the top of the steepest climbs whet the trail levels off a little. We continued on the trail to the next short climb that leads to the plateau and the Vista. Ahead, we could see a couple coming toward us with a dog so I took Sheila by the collar and stepped off the trail. The other dog was on a leash and the couple offered encouraging words. It was there first time on the trail and I explained that I maintain the trail and have been on it many times. They thanked me and we moved on in opposite directions.

We climbed the last few feet and started walking along the flat trail to the lookout. As we approached, we could see the hiker we had seen before relaxing at the lookout. I tied Sheila to a tree and Bryce went out to sit on the lookout and dangle his feet over the edge. I spoke to the other hiker as sheet started off toward Beech Hill Road. She decided to turn around when I informed her she was at the best viewpoint. After she left, I walked out to the lookout and was surprised to find that it had been cut out. The view down to Little pond was clear and unobstructed and I could see the trees that had been cut below. I took some shots of Bryce and Sheila on the lookout and then some of the view down to the pond. The best pictures from this viewpoint were probably those of the white, puffy clouds in the sky. After taking some shots, we got a drink and shared a bar before I picked up my pack and reversed our course back down the mountain. We continued to the steeper part of the descent where I paused again to take some pictures of the massive rocks on the side of the trail. I posed Bryce and Sheila to take a few pictures before we continued our descent through the nettles. When we got to the trail junction, we turned right on the yellow Little Pond Trail and walked a short distance. We came to a large, flat rock that we had been to before with the whole family. We stopped and I took a few shots before continuing on to an open field. The field was once part of a farm and the foundation of the house is still present. We stopped again so that I could take some pictures of the surrounding hills and valleys. We continued on down the trail and encountered less water than is usually present but did find some muddy spots. At 3.5 miles we turned left off the woods road o follow the trail down toward Little Pond. Just before the final trail section to the pond, we stopped at a large beaver pond and dam on the left side of the trail. I took a few pictures and then we walked down to the loop trail around the pond. I took advantage of a privy that was open leaving Sheila in with Bryce. We walked around the west side of the pond stopping once so that I could take pictures of Touch-Me-Not Mountain on the other side of the pond. This allowed Sheila to cool off by taking dip in the water. We continued around the pond and followed the trail as it headed left off the road to cross the bridge at the outlet dam. I took a few pictures of the pond and Cabot Mountain before deciding to walk down the access road and back to the car on Barkaboom Road. I considered taking the trail back up Touch-Me-Not but in the end chose the road route. When we were in the shade and a breeze was blowing, the temperature was bearable. As we walked out into the sun, the temperature seemed to soar. The walk to Barkaboom Road is about .9 miles and when we reached the road we turned left to walk another.6 miles back to the car. I put Sheila and Bryce in the car and turned on the air conditioner. I walked to the shore of Big Pond to take a few pictures. We had walked 6.2 miles in just under 4 hours with an elevation gain of 1590 feet.

On Wednesday, July 3rd I planned to hike with my grandson Bryce. Bryce is 8 years old but very athletic. I though about hiking Sugarloaf but settled on West Kill as it is slightly easier. I knew Bryce would like the falls and the rock scrambles along the way to the Buck Ridge Lookouts. I hoped Bryce would arrive before 9:00 AM so by 9:45 Am I decided to call my son to see if Bryce was coming. He informed me Bryce was NOT coming. I was very disappointed as I really wanted to hike a mountain! I asked Cindy if she wanted to hike and she agreed but we could not find a place we both wanted to hike. I decided I would tale Sheila and go for a longer loop hike at Frick and Hodge Ponds. As I began to get ready at 10:00 AM, the temperature was already in the mid 70's and it seemed humid. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I knew this might be a little warm but the long sleeves dissuade the mosquitoes and shield me from the sun. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to deal with the ticks and the mud. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately and made sure I had two water bottles as I expected we would hike for about 4 hours. As we left Livingston Manor, the sun was shining brightly and I hoped for a good day of hiking despite the disappointing beginning. We headed out the DeBruce Road at about 10:20 AM. After about 6 miles, I turned left on Mongaup Pond Road and stayed left where the road split following Beech Mountain Road to the trailhead. When we arrived at the parking area, the large lot was almost full so I parked beside one car in the smaller lot. When I got out of the car, I heard loud music and shouting from the larger lot. The large group of young people seemed to be having a good time. I just wished they could have quieter fun.

We headed out the woods road that meets the Quick Lake Trail at the register. We continued by passing the register and hiking out the Quick Lake Trail. The trail was still wet despite the work that had been done on the drainage. At Gravestone Junction we stayed left to walk down to Frick Pond. We stopped at the bridge and I took some pictures before packing up and continuing our hike. I took this opportunity to apply some insect repellant. We walked along the trail on the west side of Frick Pond staying left at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We walked through the spruce tunnel and were able to cross the stream in the woods as the water level was lower. At Iron Wheel we turned left to stay on the red Quick Lake Trail and were at the junction with the snowmobile trail that leads to Quick Lake. This trail is often covered with high and wet grass. This day the trail did have some high grass and ferns but there was a clearly defined path. The trail headed west and ascended over 300 feet for the next .6 miles where it turned sharply north. The trail began to descend and at 2.6 miles the trail again turned west. All along the trail was covered in green ferns but there were quite a few insects. At 2.9 miles the trail again turned north and would continue that way until it met the Quick Lake Trail. Over the next 1.2 mile the trail gained 350 feet. I did stop to photograph some rock ledges along the way. The trail leveled and then dropped and rose several times. I began looking for the junction with the Quick Lake Trail. Several times unmarked trails led off to the left or right but we continued on the main snowmobile trail soon we were at Coyote Junction. We turned right and followed the Quick Lake Trail toward Junkyard Junction. The trail rose and fell several times for 1.2 miles to the trail junction. I stopped once aconite way to take some pictures of a large tree growing around a large rock. At the junction we turned left to pick up the Flynn Trail and follow it to Hodge Pond.

The walk along the Flynn Trail was about .5 miles to the trail junction near Hodge Pond. The Flynn Trail had a lot of branches hanging into the trail but it was drier than it had been and the trip went quickly. Soon we passed through the gate and walked downhill to the trail junction. I decided to turn left and walk around the head end of the pond on the jeep trail. We did not stop on the way but continued around the pond and down to the open field at the outlet end of the pond. As we approached the "beach", we could hear loud voices and see some of the young people we had encountered in the parking area. I walked to the edge of the pond and said "Hello" to a few of the people there. I let Sheila off her leash to take a swim and I threw a stick several times for her. I took some pictures of the blue skies and puffy white clouds over the pond. After a short stay, I packed up and we headed for the Flynn Trail to ascend the hill and move towed the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The trip up the hill went quickly and I did not feel tired. We stayed to the right at the top of the hill to continue on the Flynn Trail. This part of the trail also needed some lopping. We were soon at the trail junction where we continued straight ahead. I knew it was 1.7 miles back to the car and downhill all the way! I hoped we could make quick work of the descent and set a quick pace. We made the descent in 40 minutes and were back at the car at 2:45 PM having hike for 4 hours and 5 minutes. We had hiked for 8.8 miles with an elevation gain of 1405 feet.

On Monday, July 1st I wanted to get in a longer hike and decided to head for Bear Spring Wildlife Management Area between Downsville and Walton. I have hiked almost all the trails in this area multiple times but had not been there is some time. The weather report was for sunny skies, no rain and highs in the high 70's. When I got up in the morning, I was tired from the trail maintenance work the day before and almost used this as an excuse not to go. Sheila was following me around and reminding me that I had promised I would take her out this day as she stayed home the day before! I started to get ready sometime after 10:00 AM. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I knew this might be a little warm but the long sleeves dissuade the mosquitoes and shield me from the sun. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to deal with the ticks and the mud. I grabbed a pair of Leki external lock poles I have been using lately and made sure I had two water bottles as I expected we would hike for about 4 hours. As we left Livingston Manor, the sun was shining brightly and I hoped for a good day of hiking. I drove north and west on State Route 17 getting off at Exit 94. From there I took Route 206 north to Downsville and continued toward Walton. Near the top of Bear spring Mountain I turned left on West Trout Pond Road and drove 2.2 miles south to the small parking area on the left side of the road near Middle Pond. My plan was to park on East Trout Brook Road at Middle Pond and hike up to Fork Mountain Ridge on Trail 4. From here I wanted to head north to the main parking area just off route 206. I planned to hike over to Wilson Hollow Road on Trail 1. From there we would hike out Trail 2 and use Trail 3 to go back down to Middle Pond and the car. All of the trails at Bear Spring are constructed with horses and snowmobiles in mind. This means there are NO BRIDGES so some water crossing can be tricky. It also means that the trail are wide and well maintained but without the traditional hiking blazes. There is an overview map at the main parking area at the top of Bear Spring Mountain and there may be maps in holders along the way at trail junctions. We arrived at the small parking area at about 11:20 AM and immediately started out by crossing the road to Trail 4.

The trail rises 750 feet from the road to the ridge over 1.2 miles. It was wet in places and there was a good crop of nettles. There are almost no trail marking and I had only been on this trail a few times but the correct path was pretty clear. I did stop a few times to take some pictures but there were no clear views of the valleys or mountains. After passing through one switchback, we were at Trail 5 which runs the length of the Fork Mountain Ridge. I noticed that while we were walking in the shade the temperature seemed almost cool but this changed when we were in the sun. At the top of the ridge we turned right or northwest to hike along the Fork Mountain Ridge. I knew the total distance to the main parking area was a little over 3.5 miles and we made good time as the trail continued northwest over a few bumps. A 1.85 miles we passed by the shoulder of Fork Mountain but this was far from the highest point on the trail. All of the trails had been mowed with a tractor and field mower. Along the way were some very muddy and wet spots. Some of these were hard to avoid as they extended across the trail and into the woods on both sides. Sheila was having a great time as there seemed to be a lot of game birds along the way. By 1:05 PM we were 3.2 miles into the hike and crossed East Trout Brook Road to continue on the trail. We did stop for a minute to get a drink and a snack. At 4.05 miles we crossed Beers Brook Road and turned left to walk a few steps before picking up Trail 7. Up to this point there had been some muddy and wet areas but the next section of the trail was especially boggy. We continued almost directly north now toward Route 206 working our way around the puddles and mud pits. At 1:35 PM we crossed West Trout Brook road again and walked to the main parking area which was empty. We got another drink before following the very familiar Trail 1 that parallels Route 206, crosses East Trout Brook Road an then ascends slightly before dropping to Wilson Hollow Road.

This woods road, designated Trail 2, is a grassy track and has never been paved but shows up on many maps with the same prominence as Route 206! At one time this area had a large clear cut area which allowed some nice views down the valley. The trees have grown up quickly and there are now no views. The skies were still blue and filled with puffy white clouds so I took a few shots. We continued the hike and found that this trail was a little less muddy but more uphill than I remembered. I was looking for Trail 11 which I had missed several times before. I found it although it did not seem well-used. We continued passed this trail along the ridge to Trail 3, the Middle Pond Shortcut Trail. I though about continuing on Trail 2 to add distance but I was a little tired a pretty warm. We turned right at 7.7 miles and walked along the edge of a freshly-mowed field to pick up the trail again. The rest of the trip is all downhill which my muscles appreciated. The walk down was a little better than I expected and the view from the top of the next clear cut a little worse. We walked out into a small field and I took some photographs before returning to the trail. We hit the trail junction with Trail 2 which winds its way around and down to this point. From here it was only .6 miles back to the car. Along the way we stopped at a small pond so that I could take a few pictures of the pond and a few down the valley. We stopped at the bridge at the outlet of Middle Pond and I was surprised that the water level in the pond was low despite a small beaver dam and the amount of rain that has fallen lately. I suspect that there is a beaver dam farther upstream. We walked slightly uphill from the bridge to get back to the car at 3:35 PM. We covered 9.2 miles in 4 hours and 15 minutes.

On Sunday, June 30th I was committed to do some trail work at Frick Pond after church. Cindy decided she would go with me to do trim some Burch and remove blowdowns on the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond and on the Loggers Loop Trail. When we got home from church the skies looked like there might be some rain but we decided to get ready to go and meet the rest of the group at the parking area. I had told Lisa I would need one or two hands to help get this work done. Lisa wanted to work on the drainage issue which I find frustrating and a waste of time. The temperature was in the mid 70's as we began to get ready so I knew I would have to dress for a warm and humid outing. I had to explain to Sheila that she could not go on this outing but I promised her a longer walk the next day. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I knew this might be a little warm but the long sleeves dissuade the mosquitoes and shield me from the sun. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I also put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to deal with the ticks and the mud. I decided not to take my GPS or camera due to the potential for rain. I did pack a variety of tools including a pick, shovel two grass whips, loppers, my Fiskars axe, a machete and two Silky saws. At 12:45 PM we headed out the DeBruce Road. After about 6 miles, I turned left on Mongaup Pond Road and stayed left where the road split following Beech Mountain Road to the trailhead. When we arrived at the parking area, the large lot was almost full so I parked beside one car in the smaller lot. We walked over to meet the group and I recognized Russ and Harry. There was another young man and an older couple with Lisa. Lisa explained that Cindy and I would work on trimming and that she was going to work on drainage. Unfortunately, no one chose to come with Cindy and me which was not what I had planned. Cindy and I headed out the Quick Lake Trail trimming as we went. The older couple were walking along the trail but seemed confused about where they were and what they were supposed to do. Lisa and all the rest of the crew hurried by us. Almost immediately it began to rain. Cindy and I returned to the car to wait for the rain to pass.

The rain stopped in less than 15 minutes and the skies began to clear. Cindy and I started out on the woods road that connects to the Quick Lake Trail at the register. Along the way we found the older couple walking toward us. We explained the pond was in the opposite direction. Cindy and I continued along the Quick Lake Trail trimming branches as we went. The branches need to be cut off considerably higher than sot people would think. This allows easier travel during the winter when several feet of snow are on the ground. We passed Lisa and another volunteer working an the same drainage issues we had addressed last time to no avail. As we approached Gravestone Junction we found the couple working to trim back some of the bushes and grass. They were doing a good job so we decided to turn right on the yellow Loggers Loop. The grass was high and very wet but no one had wanted to work on this important aspect of trail maintenance so it was left undone. Cindy and I continued to trim along the Logger Loop and eventfully met up with Russ and Harry who were trying to solve the wet and muddy trail issue. They had formed a sort of "bridge" over a muddy area with slippery logs perched on some rocks. Cindy and I talked to them for a minute and then walked along the drier side of the trail. We continued our way down to Times Square which was very wet. We stayed on the Loggers Loop by walking straight across Times Square and up the hill. Water was pouring out of springs on the trail. We immediately ran into our first blowdown and I dropped my pack to get to work. I normally take before and after pictures but did not have the camera with me this time. I few cuts with my Silky Sugowaza left me with several branches a pieces of trunk to remove from the trail. We picked up and started back up the trail passing by the seasonal pond on the right. As we passed by we ran into a swarm of mosquitoes. Shortly after the pound there as another, bigger lowdown. I dropped my pack and the first thing I did was to spray on some insect repellant. I used the saw to trim the tops and sallower trunks and then dragged them out of the way. That left me with a double trunk to work on. I used the Fiskars axe to cut off one trunk and remove it. I cut the other trunk off with the saw and pulled it off the trail. The left side of the trail was now clear and I knew the snowmobile club would clean up the rest. I decided I didn't want to leave the job almost done. I used a large branch as a lever and was able to pivot the large section of trunk remaining off the trail.

The sky kept getting dark and then clearing and Cindy and I were getting tired. I knew that Iron Wheel Junction was close and promised that once we got there we would head straight back to the car without doing any more work. We cam across a small lowdown across the trail which was easily dispatched with two cuts from the saw. We did a little more lopping and I cut a few bigger branches that were on the trail. As we approached the trail junction, I saw another blowdown which I had forgotten. This was the largest one so far and I regretted leaving my Silky KatanaBoy 500 saw in the car. I put the pack down and surveyed the situation. Cindy made some suggestions which sounded good so I made the cuts she suggested. The work went fast than I expected until I got to the last cut through the main trunk. I started in with the smaller Silky saw and was surprised how fast it went. I made the cut and then moved everything off the trail. We packed up and were soon at Iron Wheel Junction where we turned left on the red Quick Lake Trail. We started down the trail noticing several trees that would need to be addressed at some point in the future. We did trim a few more branches but kept a pretty steady pace. The stream in the woods was still high so we walked upstream to cross before getting back on the trail. I was annoyed that I had not brought Sheila as she would have been fine hiking with us! As we walked toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we cut a few last branches. We stayed on the Quick Lake Trail and crossed the bridge. The skies over the pond were blue with some nice clouds. He climbed up the hill and walked through Gravestone Junction. The Quick Lake Trail back to the car was still wet. As we were walking the last few hundred feet to that car, Cindy let out a loud exclamation. I looked around to see a trail runner who had come up from behind. He stopped to walk and asked me about other trails in the area. I described some other places he could try. We arrived back a the car at 4:15 PM having spent 3 hours and 15 minutes hiking 3.6 miles with an elevation gain of 390 feet. Of course, the work we did was the most important part and we were both tired.

On Friday, June 28th I was ready to go out for a hike one the first day after the close of school. I wasn't sure whether or not grandson Bryce would join me so I had several plans in mind. I thought about hiking Clabber Mountain on the Cannonsville Reservoir or a route a Bear Spring. When I woke up early, I decided I would go to Bear Poring and hike 9 to 12 miles on the two central ridges starting at Middle Pond. This is not a difficult hike and it is one I have done before that it does allow a variety of options. Shortly after I made this decision, I got a text saying Bryce would be arriving at 9:30 AM! I though the Bear Spring hike might be a little long for Bryce in the heat so I decided we would hike the loop to the Rock Rift fire tower starti8ng at the Apex Bridge at the junction of Route 268 and Route 10. Bryce arrived a few minutes after 9:30 AM ready to hike. While he ate breakfast, I got my gear ready to go. The treasure was already in the high 0's and I expected it to go up from there. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I knew this might be a little warm but the long sleeves dissuade the mosquitoes and shield me from the sun. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I also put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to deal with the ticks and the mud. Sheila was happy to be going anywhere and watched me carefully making sure I would not forget her. We left Livingston Manor at 10:15 AM as I drove north and west on State Route 17 toward Binghamton. I got off at Exit 87A for Cadosia and followed Route 286 north to the Apex Bridge over the Cannonsville Reservoir. Where the road met Route 10, I turned left and made and immediate left into the parking area. It was 82 degrees and seemed humid as I set my GPS and put on her leash. We crossed the road and immediately picked up the Finger Lakes Trail which is blazed in white with occasional NYC/FLT disks. The New York City DEP has opened much of the land around its reservoirs for public use. This has allowed the FLTC to reroute miles of trail off roads. The initial part of the trail was a steep but short climb after which is leveled and turned southeast.

We found the trail wet and with several blowdowns. The biggest problem was that it was poorly marked and we often had to search for the next blazes. I had only hiked this trail two or three times before and nothing looked very familiar. I regretted I had not brought a map but felt the trail marking should be enough. At .8 miles, we came to a dirt road which I did not remember but we followed the arrows which indicated a left turn. We walked up the road for some distance but did not see any blazes. Although the lack of blazes are not uncommon, we decided to turn around and walk back to the point where the trail met the road. Just as we were almost back at our starting point I saw a blaze on the other side of the road. The blaze was well-hidden in the leaves and well off the trail. It was almost impossible to see the trail which is not good for a trail that extends across the state! We followed the markers which almost immediately led to mowed field. There were no markers to indicate which way to go but I could see a "notch" across the field on the left. We walked to this area and found a well-mowed trail which we followed. The trail continued to head southeast to a greater extent than I remembered. The blazes were still spread thin and the trail was obviously not well-used. At 1.4 miles we completely lost the blazes and markers! We walked back and forth and could find nothing. We decided to walk out to the road and then back to the car. I followed Bryce as he chose a route out to the road which was only 400 feet away. We turned right and hiked the mile back to the car. As we approached the parking area, all three of us saw a small fawn walk across the road and hide in the grass. As we continued to walk the mother came to the edge of the road but returned to the trees as several vehicles sped by. We did not see the fawn or the mother as we arrived at the road junction. I decided to walk out onto the Apex Bridge. I took some pictures of the reservoir and we then returned to the car. We got a drink and a snack and I noticed the temperature was 93 degrees.

I decided to drive to the other access trail to the fire tower to see how far we were from making the connection when we turned to return to the car. I parked in the boat launch just southeast of the trail. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked the road to the beginning of the spur trail. It seemed a little cooler on this section of road and the walk was only a quarter mile. We crossed the road and headed uphill and north on the blue spur trail. After a total of .4 miles we turned left on the FLT although the route to the tower lay straight ahead. After only .1 miles we crossed an open area full of weeds and walk down a hill and up the other side to the area where we had turned back. We had missed connecting to the trail to the tower by about.15 miles. I was annoyed that the poor maintenance of the trail had resulted in our missing the connection. We turned around a returned to the trail junction. Bryce was very hot and a little tired so we returned to the car instead of trying for the tower on this day. I decided to drive north on Route 10 along the reservoir. I stopped several times to take pictures which is something I had wanted to do for some time. In Deposit I picked up State Route 17 south and east back to Livingston Manor. We had hiked only about 3.5 miles but it was fun to have an "adventure" with Bryce. We agreed we would hike to the tower on another day.

On Wednesday, June 26th I was ready to go out for a hike when I got home from school early at 2:00 PM. I decided to go to Frick Pond to hike a route which I thought might be a variation of the Loggers' Loop. The temperature was 84 degrees so I knew I would have to dress for a warm and humid outing. I asked Cindy of she wanted to go but she thought it was too hot! I did not have to ask Sheila as she is always ready to hike. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I knew this might be a little warm but the long sleeves dissuade the mosquitoes and shield me from the sun. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I also put on a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to deal with the ticks and the mud. Sheila was happy to be going anywhere and crouched in the back seat with her head on the console. At 2:30 PM we headed out the DeBruce Road. After about 6 miles, I turned left on Mongaup Pond Road and stayed left where the road split falling Beech Mountain Road to the trailhead. When we arrived at the parking area, there were no cars parked and the temperature was 82 degrees. I set my GPS and we headed out the woods road to the Quick Lake Trail at 2:45 PM. We passed the trail register and headed toward Frick Pond. The trail was wet and muddy despite the work we had done to improve the drainage. At Gravestone Junction we turned right to get on the yellow Logger's Loop heading toward Times Square.

I stopped just after the trail junction to take pictures of the blue sky with puffy white clouds. We headed downhill toward Times Square avoiding several very muddy and wet spots along the way. At Times Square I found that the area was still wet from the water streaming down the Logger's Loop Trail. We continued straight ahead on the Logger's Loop starting a slight uphill climb on the wet trail. We continued our hike as the trail continued to rise and then flattened a little. I stopped at the pond on the right side of the trail to take some pictures. It was even more flooded than the last time I had hiked here. As I finished taking my shots, I realized that the biting insects were swarming around me. I took a few moments to apply some insect repellant which I hoped would fend them off. We continued our walk along the trail trying to avoid the water and the mud. We were soon at Iron Wheel Junctionwhere we turned left to head back toward Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail. The trail is slightly downhill which allowed us to keep up a good pace. We came to the small stream in the woods which had a little too much water to cross on the trail. We walked upstream a little and found a narrower spot to cross. Walking through the "spruce tunnel" was easier as it was a little drier than the rest of the trail. Eventually we walked out the other side where the trail was again muddy and wet. We arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail and I considered walking around the back of the pond but decided against it because of the insets. We turned right to follow the Quick Lake Trail to the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. I stopped at the bridge despite the fact that I have taken hundreds of pictures from it. I took a few shots of the bridge with Sheila posed on it. I also took shots of the pond with some interesting reflections and Flynn's Point. We continued up the hill and back to Gravestone Junction. At Gravestone Junction we continued out the Quick Lake Trail and back to the car. We arrived at the car at 4:15 PM having hike 3.6 miles in 1 hours and 30 minutes with an elevation gain of 390 feet.

On Monday, June 24th I came home immediately after school and wanted to get in a short hike. I asked Cindy if her foot was better and if she wanted to hike a few loops on Round Top. She said "yes" so we began to get ready to go. Sheila began barking, running around frantically and spinning in place. Sheila misses the hiking as much as I do since I have returned to full-time teaching. The temperature was in the low 80's so I knew I should dress for warm weather. I put on my long-sleeved light Mountain Hardwear crew top. I knew this might be a little too warm but felt I don't mind being warm. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee III boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. At 4:05 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do at least two figure 8's which might be enough given the situation. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. We slowed a little to let Cindy test her foot.

When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails. At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. There was a branch hanging down into the trail and I made a note to bring my loppers on the next trip. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. I set a slower pace than usual although Cindy seemed to be doing OK. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. Soon we were back at the yellow trail. We turned right and walked the yellow trail to the next trail junction. Here we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. At one point I looked up to find two women walking toward us. They asked us if we knew the trail and I proudly exclaimed "We built it!". I answered a few of their questions and suggested a figure 8 which covers all the trail there is. We continued down to the lookout where there wasn't much to see. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The walk had gone quickly, so we turned around and started back up the hill back to the lookout. Sometimes Cindy and Sheila resist another loop but this time they had no objection. We followed the yellow trail uphill toward the lookout and turned right to continue up to the next trail junction with the blue trail. Along the way we met the women coming back toward us which means they had not done a figure 8 but would be able to take n the view from the lookout this time. At the trail junction, we turned right to stay on the yellow trail. At the next junction we turned left to climb the shallower side of the summit ascent. We again walked across the flat summit and descended the steeper trail. At the trail junction, we turned left and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction we turned right this time to follow the trail down to the woods road that leads out to the first trail junction. That was enough for me given the time. We turned left and walked out toward the trailhead. Just before we reached the kiosk, we saw two dogs roaming around with their owner calling them to no avail. This has happened before and is very annoying. I put Sheila on her leash and Cindy took the lead to run interference. Both dogs continued to ignore their owner but the bigger dog ambled away. It was the smaller dog that barked at us all the way down the hill! We walked out through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. It was 5:15 PM and we had hiked over 2 miles in just over an hour.

On Sunday, June 23rd I wanted to et out for a longer hike. With one more week of teaching ahead of me I knew my opportunities would be limited. I decided to go to Frick Pond and hike up the Flynn Trail and then over to Mongaup Pond. From there we could hike back on the roads or use the trails for a little more distance. When I returned from church the thermometer was reading 78 degrees and it seemed humid. As I began to get my gear together, Sheila watched very closely. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I knew this might be a little warm but the long sleeves dissuade the mosquitoes and shield me from the sun. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. I got my gear and Sheila in the car and headed out the DeBruce Road a little after 12:40 PM. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there were two other cars parked in the small lot. There was a pickup truck with a horse trailer in the larger lot and I immediately knew who it was. A couple from Livingston Manor insist on riding their horses on the hiking trails around Frick Pond. This is against the state regulations and they know it but do it anyway! It is annoying that they feel they can ignore the rules and leave horse manure wherever they go. Sheila was acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she ran around and headed for the Flynn Trail across the road. The temperature was 74 degrees and the skies were blue with most no clouds. I got my gear ready to go, set my electronics and headed across the road to get on the Flynn Trail at 1:05 PM. At the end of the trail through the woods, we turned right on the old Beech Mountain Road. I once again noticed that although the Flynn Trail ascends to the junction with the Big Rock trail, it seemed much easier now that I have been hiking a little more. We walked keeping a fast pace and the time seemed to pass very quickly.

It didn't seem long at all until we were approaching the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 1.7 miles into the hike. By the time we were at the junction, we had already gained 600 feet and only had a little more elevation gain until we would start downhill. We turned right at the junction on the snowmobile trail and climbed another 120 feet to the highest point on the hike at a little over 1.9 miles. After hitting the high point, most of the rest of the hike was downhill. The Flynn Trail heads directly north from the trailhead but the snowmobile trail wanders first east, then south, the east, then north before finally heading southeast and south toward Mongaup Pond. As we descended from the high point we found evidence that there had been a stream of water flowing down most of the trail. The trail has become highly eroded and difficult to hike. Many of the rocks were covered with a thin film of water making them very slippery. The Flynn Trail and the snowmobile had been mostly dry to this point but now there was water running across and down the trail. Sheila was wandering off trail and then returning to us never getting very far away. At 3.1 miles we followed the trail as it turned southeast and then east still descending toward the pond. We finally hit a woods road and the trail leveled out. Just before getting to the roads that runs through the campground we came to a swampy area on the left and crossed a few small streams across the trail and some standing water. There were also several muddy areas and I hoped this wouldn't continue on the other trails. When we got to the roads, I wanted to put Sheila on her leash but I had forgotten it and improvised a lead with a hiking pole. We turned left and walked out to the main loop road to a T. We turned right and headed north toward the upper bed of Mongaup Pond. Eventually we turned right at an unoccupied campsite and walked toward the shore to pick up the trail around the pond in a clockwise direction. I took Sheila off her leash but told her "with" so that she would stay by me. We continued on the trail to the head end of the pond. I walked down to the shore and dropped my pack to take some pictures. I got out the camera and took some shots of Sheila swimming a fetching a stick. I also took pictures of the pond a few boats. I noticed the insects were starting to form a cloud so I got a drink and a snack and picked up my pack.

We continued around the pond in the snowmobile trail crossing several bridges and trying to avoid the wet and muddy areas which were much more numerous than I had hoped. At 5 miles we passed the junction of the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail on the left. I though about taking that trail to get back but knew that would lengthen the hike to over 10 miles. We continued on the snowmobile trail avoiding the mud as much as we could until we came to another junction at 5.75 miles. The trail to the rights leads out to the campsite so we turned slightly to the left to stay on the snowmobile trail. This trail passes by a swampy area on the right and some cliffs on the left. The result is that water runs off the cliffs toward the swap but gets trapped on the trail! This was by far the worst area for mud and water but it went by quickly. We were soon approaching and area of red pines that had been planted and I knew we were near the old Hunter Road that would take us back to the car. We followed the path through an open field and passed by some Japanese knotweed before turning right at 7.25 miles. We walked downhill on the old road which was wet but not muddy. I could hear Mongaup Falls ahead and at 7.6 miles we turned left to follow the informal path along the creek to the falls. I dropped my pack and took some pictures of the upper falls. When I walked back up to my pack, I noticed another pack and camera case and a family gathered at the base of the lower falls. I worked my way down the rocks next to the falls which were looser than I remembered. I told Sheila to stay so she wouldn't bother the family and took some shots of the falls from the side. Isa id "hello" to some of the people and then went a little farther downstream to get some shots of the falls head on. Sheila stayed where she was and I quickly completed my photography and we both went back to the upper level. I packed up and we headed back out to the main trail, turned left and walked up the hill to MonhGaup Pond Road. We crossed the intersection and walked up Beech Mountain Road back to the parking area d the car. It was 4:40 PM and we had spent 3 hours and 40 minutes hiking 8.1 miles. The elevation gain was 1190 feet most of which was the climb up the Flynn Trail. I was tired but felt good after the exertion of the hike.

On Friday, June 21st I wanted to get out for a hike after I returned home from teaching chemistry for the day. Teaching has been fun and rewarding but also tiring but I knew I needed to get outside. I also wanted to et in a hike on the summer solstice even if it was a short one! By the time I returned home at 3:30 PM the temperature was 70 degrees. Although the skies were darkening, I decided to just go across the street to Round Top as we could easily return if it started to rain. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top but decided not to wear a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would discourage the ticks. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which have been my "go to" hiking boots. I had a pair of Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately. At 4:00 PM we walked out the door. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. She pulled me up the driveway knowing exactly where we were going. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked on the street to the parking lot of the Presbyterian Church. From there we headed through the lot to the back of the church. We started the walk up the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping as is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we paused for a moment to take in the view before turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash, and she began to explore the trail with her nose.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. I followed the yellow blazes up to the spur trail to the viewpoint and walked to the top of the hill. We made the turn to follow the trail uphill toward the next trail junction ignoring the lookout. At the junction, we turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The vegetation is begging to close in and I made a note that trip with tools will be Ned soon. At the next trail junction, we turned left on the blue trail and walked up toward the summit of Round Top. Soon we were walking across the summit plateau. We started down the steeper side where I found the going pretty easy except for a few slightly muddy areas. Once we got to the yellow trail, we turned left and walked to the trail junction again. This time we turned right and followed the trail down to the woods road. We walked downhill on the woods road to the first trail junction finding one tree across the trail. I was still feeling fresh so we turned around to do another figure 8 in the opposite direction. We started back up the more gentle slope we had just descended. We followed the yellow blazes up the woods road to the next trail junction where we turned left to walk along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned right and walked up the steepest hill on the trail. We made the summit of Round Top without a problem. Sheila was running around off the trail investigating various animal tracks. We walked across the summit and down the hill to the yellow trail. We turned right to again walk along the base of Round Top. At the next trail junction we turned left to walk down to the lookout. At the lookout we turned left and followed the yellow blazes on the trail back to the first trail junction. We continued straight ahead on the yellow trail to the trailhead. We walked down the cemetery hill under now sunny skies. At the base of the hill, I put Sheila on her leash and we walked back to our driveway. It was 5:00 PM and we had hiked 1.8 miles in just over an hour.

Spring 2019

On Saturday, June 15th I planned to start hiking early and perhaps do a 3500 foot peak or a flatter but longer route. On Thursday my son Karl called to see if we wanted to come watch their family run in the R4 5K Race in Rock Hill. Grandson Bryce, who is 8 year old wanted to run competitively with his dad. Luke and Lilly, the 6 year old twins, would run and walk with their mother Kathleen. Only 2 year old Brynn would not be in the race so her grandparents could watch her while the others ran. Cindy and I agreed so we met the family at the Rhulen building in Rock Hill just after 8:00 AM for the 9:00 AM race. Even Brynn had a number as she did not want to be left out! They all warmed up and then we made our way over to the start line. When the race started, I only saw Bryce as he began because the race is very popular and has many runners and walkers. I worked my way over to the finish line and then began to walk the course in reverse. I saw many runners that I knew and soon Bryce and Karl came in to view. I cheered them on and turned around to go back to the finish. I ran some in my heavy hiking boots and it felt pretty good despite the fact that it has been years since I ran! I found Cindy with Brynn along the way. Brynn wanted to find her mother and the twins so she and I turned around and followed the course in reverse. Brynn wanted to run and went for some distance before walking a little and the starting in again. We eventually found the rest of the family and Luke started running with his father as he wanted to keep a faster pace. We all ended up back at the finish line. Bryce printed out his results and found that his time of 26:27 was FIRST in the 10 and under age group! On the way back to the car, several Liberty students saw me and asked if they could join the cross country team. This was great news as I had though I would only have one or two runners but now have a good start on a team! I drive back to Livingston Manor to find Sheila ready to hike.

Since it was already 11:00 AM when we got home, I knew I would have to stay closer to home than I had originally planned. I decided to go to Frock Pond and hike the loop that included both ponds. I though I might extend the hike if I felt like it but had no specific plans. By the time I started to get ready, the temperature was just reaching 70 degrees. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would discourage the ticks. I decided to wear my Vasque Talus hiking boots which have been my "go to" hiking boots. I also put on a wide-brimmed hat to combat the bright sun. I had a pair of Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately. The skies were blue with a few clouds and I knew the forecast did not call for any rain. Sheila was eager to get in the car so I got her in the backseat and put my gear in the car. We left Livingston Manor at 11:20 AM to head for Frick Pond. I drove out the DeBruce Road and turned left after six miles on Mongaup Pond Road. At the split in the road, I stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road. When we arrived at the parking area, there were a few cars in the bigger lot. Two hikers were examining the kiosk map and I asked them if they wanted help. They declined so I got ready to get on the trail by setting my GPS. Sheila and I headed out the woods road that connects to the Quick Lake Trail at the register at 11:40 AM. The temperature was 73 degrees and there were clouds of insects swarming about. The woods road passed the register box to Frick Pond was wet from the rains which seem to fall several times a weak. At Gravestone Junction we stayed to the left on the red Quick Lake Trail crossing the stepping stones the Willowemoc Trail Crew had installed. We walked down to the pond and crossed the bridge over the outlet. The scene was much the same as always but I stopped to take a few pictures anyway. I picked up my pack and we walked on the trail along the west side of the pond. The trail continued to be wet and muddy in many spots but we were able to skirt most of them. At the trail junction with the Big Rock Trail, we headed left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. We were keeping a pretty steady pace as we headed for Iron Wheel Junction. Sheila was running around following game trails and chasing a few chipmunks and squirrels. I removed a few branches from the trail as I walked along. The trail was wet and muddy. We passed through "spruce tunnel" to the small stream through the forest. The water was still high due to some blockages downstream so I walked a short distance upstream and crossed the stream. Sheila took a dip and came out of the water dashing madly up and down the trail. When we arrived at Iron Wheel Junction, we turned left to head toward Hodge Pond staying on the Quick Lake Trail.

We kept a quick pace up the hilly part of the trail. The trail was washed out in several places and I continued to remove small obstacles but at least it was dry compared to the lower sections. At one point we stopped and I put on some insect repellant as the mosquitoes were becoming an annoyance. We continued on the trail until it leveled off and descended slightly to Junkyard Junction at 3.1 miles. We turned right at this intersection and headed across the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. The Flynn Trail was slightly damp in a few places and wet and muddy in others. The trip across this part of the Flynn Trail went quickly. Soon we were at the gate where the trail turns right and heads down toward Hodge Pond. We reached the area near the shore of the pond and turned left to follow the jeep trail around the back of the pond. The sky was still blue and there were a few more puffy white clouds so I decided to stop for a few moments at the head of the pond. The pond was very placid and there were almost no sounds. Sheila went for a swim and I took a few pictures of her and the pond. On the east side of the pond I turned left up the hill toward the ruins of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. The climb up this trail is steeper than the trail from the outlet of Hodge Pond but it is also shorter! When we got to the top of the hill, we turned right to head back toward the Flynn Trail. Once we were back at the Flynn Trail, we turned left on the Flynn Trail to head to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We set a fast pace to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I had thought about turning left at the junction and extending the hike by hiking over to Mongaup Pond. I decided I was a little too tired and it was a little too late so we continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail. We had about 1.7 miles to go to get back to the car. This stretch can often seem long and boring but on this day I kept getting lost in my own thoughts which made the trip seem shorter. Everything was very green but not interesting enough to take pictures. As we neared the gate, we came to the huge spruce tree that lies across the trail. Cindy and I had cut an opening through it to allow hikers to pass. This was still in good shape and allowed us to pass easily. We followed the Flynn Trail to the gate and then turned left to continue on the trail to avoid the private property around the cabin. We followed the trail through the woods and back to the car. There were a few more cars parked in the lots. We arrived at 2:35 PM after hiking 6.3 miles in 2 hours and 55 minutes with 890 feet of elevation gain. We stopped for only 10 minutes and our overall and moving average speeds were both about 2.2 mph.

On Sunday, June 9th I planned to do a hike with the youth group from Vine and Branch Church. After church, we had lunch and then headed over to Walnut Mountain for a short hike at 12:15 PM. I had changed into a long-sleeved Columbia crew top and a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Vasque Talus boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I had a pair of Leki external lock poles which I have been using lately. We had to wait for the whole group to gather but were able to start the hike at 12:45 PM with about a dozen chidden and adults. We started up the main carriageway from the parking area. When we arrived at the trail junction with the Overlook Trail, we continued straight ahead and around the "back" of the mountain on the West Lake West Trail. Soon we were climbing up the hill to the first lookout. We stopped for a minute at the lookout but the leaves on the trees obscured much of the view. We could see some new housing being built in Swan Lake. We returned to the trail and started out descending and then ascending to a trail junction with the Overlook Trail. We turned left and followed the trail a short distance to the upper overlook. The picnic table which is usually found here was missing so we only took a few minutes to get a drink. I took a few pictures before we continued on the trails. We hiked up on the Sunset Trail to the Mountain House Trail toward the summit.

When the trail leveled off, we walked by some old foundations. I told the young people about the hotel that used to be at this location and the ski slopes. We walked left off the trail and followed the single-track bicycle trails up to the summit where we found a picnic table. We stopped to have a snack and get another drink. The young people read a Bible verse and the others tried to guess its origin. We took some pictures and then packed up to leave. We walked around the summit on the single-track trails crossing over the bridges the mountain bike club built. We walked down the other side to a path and then out to the Mountain House Trail. When this trail intersected the Sunset trail, we turned right and walked down to the Overlook Trail. A right turn placed us on the Overlook Trail which we walked back to the lower lookout. This time we turned left and followed the East Trail down the hill. The trail passed by the Frisbee golf course and ended at the playground. Parents were already present to pick up their children. It was 2:25 PM and we had hiked 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 40 minutes. The total elevation gain was 490 feet. The hike went so well that others will be scheduled in the future.

On Saturday, June 8th I wanted to do a hike farther away from home with more distance and difficulty. I planned on going to North South Lake and hiking a good part of the Escarpment Trail. Cindy agreed to go with me and we began to get ready just before 9:00 AM when the temperature was already in the 60's! The highs for the days were forecast to reach 80 degrees in some places. As we got our gear together, Sheila seemed to be in complete agreement with my decision as she followed me around as I was dressing. I put on a long-sleeved Columbia crew top and a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Vasque Talus boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I put a very light windbreaker in my pack in case I needed an added layer. I added a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to combat the mud and the ticks. We put our gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and drove out DeBruce Road just after 9:00 AM. I drove to the end of the road and turned left on Route 47. We passed Frost Valley YMCA Camp and came to the parking area for Biscuit Brook. The lot was almost full. Further along, the parking area for Slide Mountain was also almost full. At the Panther-Giant Ledge area, the lot was full and cars were already parked on the road. Cindy and I decided that there would probably be too many people at North South Lake and many other places in that area. We considered Winter Clove but decided it was too far away. We settled on hiking to Bellayre from Lost Clove. I continued on Route 47 to Lost Clove Road where I turned left. I drove to the end and pulled into the parking lot which was empty! I set my GPS unit and we started out on the trail at 9:40 AM. We started right in as there is no trail register on this trail. Sheila was out like a shot well ahead of us as we had not hiked for two days. The first mile is an easement on private property. I remembered that the first part of the hike was steep but had forgotten how steep. For a good part of the first mile the trail simply goes UP with only short level parts to recover. To make things more difficult the trail has many loose stones. The temperature was in the low 80's with some humidity to make it more uncomfortable.

After 1.25 mile the trail meets the Pine Hill West Branch Trail. We turned left to head toward the Belleayre Ski Area. The trail continued to ascend although a little more gradually. At 1.5 we stopped at a lean-to on the right side of the trail. The lean-to is old and in poor shape but it gave us a chance to sit and get out of the sun. We had a drink and a bar and both of us felt better when we started back on the trail. We continued to ascend to 2 miles where the trail opened into a small clearing and flatten out. I walked to the left side of the trail and found the USGS seal. We continued to walk along the wide woods roads on the ridge as they rolled up and down. We passed the first ski run called Cathedral Glen and followed the trail until it brought us to the main ski area. This area has the ski lodge, the main lifts and the ski patrol headquarters. I pointed out to Cindy that the door to the lodge appeared to be open which seemed very strange. I walked over to the top of one of the ski runs and took some pictures. There was some haze in the valley and on the mountains but I thought I got some good shots. I worked my way along the ski area taking more pictures including some of the lifts and buildings. I intended to walk along the entire ridge to the Deer Run area but Cindy decided to stay behind. Sheila and I headed out the road toward the end of the ridge. We noticed a couple coming toward us and I put Sheila on her leash. These were the first people we had seen all day! As we walked I could see that there was construction ahead. I was surprised to see a gondola lift running with none of the cars occupied. We walked passed it to the point where the ridge began to drop. We turned around and walked back to the area of the gondola where I took some pictures and spoke to the operator. He said the gondola was about three years old and a round trip ride was $20 per person. As we turned to walk back to the ski lodge, I stopped once again to take some pictures along the ridge.

Sheila and I walked back and met Cindy. I took a few more pictures of the valley and mountains. We then walked over to the ski lodge which was indeed open. I had made a mistake and not brought enough water. I went inside and asked the attendant if she would fill a water bottle. She readily agreed so I gave Sheila the last of the water in the bottle and took it inside to be filled. From the porch on the lodge I took some pictures of Balsam and Eagle Mountains. At 12:25 PM we picked up to start back to the car. The walk along the ridge went quickly and we were soon walking the woods road back to the clearing with the USGS seal. We entered the woods and started down the trail passing the lean-to. Just before the trail junction we met another couple coming up the trail. We exchanged brief greetings and continued in our opposite directions. We had been descending and at 5.8 miles turned right to begin the final descent. I was getting more and more tired and my feet were beginning to bother me as my toes hit the end of my boots. Cindy was behind me and I could see she was not doing well. After descending some, we stopped and I gave her a drink and a bar and had some myself. This seemed to help some and we continued to descend. We stopped one more time when I knew we were within a few minutes of the car. We decided I would go ahead with both of our pack, put them in the car and then return for Cindy. Sheila and I hurried down to the car making it there in only a few minutes. I put the packs and Sheila in the car and then started back up the trail to help Cindy down. She had been able to make it down most of the trail and I helped her the rest of the way. I gave her some water and we stopped at a gas station where I got some juice. We had hiked 7.1 miles in 4.5 hours with and elevation gain of 2295 feet.

On Thursday, June 5th I came home immediately after school as we did not have track practice. My return to full-time teaching combined with coaching track has really cut into my hiking time! When I got home and asked Sheila if she wanted to go hiking, she began barking, running around frantically and spinning in place. Sheila misses the hiking as much as I do. Since I just wanted some exercise, I decided to go across the street to Round Top. The temperature was in the high 70's so I knew I could dress for warm weather. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top. I knew this might be a little too warm but felt I don't mind being warm. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Keen Targhee III boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. At 3:55 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do at least two figure 8's which might be enough given the situation. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill.

When we got to the top of the hill, I looked around and saw some clouds gathering that might bring rain. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I thought I heard some voices coming from the trail but couldn't be sure. I let Sheila off her leash, and she began to explore the trail with her nose. As we followed the trail, I again heard the voices and saw a group coming toward us. I pit Sheila back on her leash as they approached. There were several mothers with children and one had a dog on a leash. The dog was a four month old Saint Bernard puppy which was as big as Shiela. We passed each other in opposite directions with the two dogs showing great interest in each other. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. There was a branch hanging down into the trail and I made a note to bring my loppers on the next trip. I continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. Along the way I removed a small tree trunk that had fallen across the trail. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. Soon we were back at the yellow trail. We turned right and walked the yellow trail to the next trail junction. Here we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill to the lookout. There wasn't much to see at the lookout so we continued on the trail. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The walk had gone quickly, so we turned around and started back up the hill back to the lookout. Sometimes Sheila resists another loop but this time she was in the lead. We followed the yellow trail uphill toward the lookout and turned right to continue up to the next trail junction with the blue trail. At the trail junction, we turned right to stay on the yellow trail. At the next junction we turned left to climb the shallower side of the summit ascent. We again walked across the flat summit and descended the steeper trail. At the trail junction, we turned left and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction we turned right this time to follow the trail down to the woods road that leads out to the first trail junction. That was enough for me given the time. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead. Sheila was well-behaved and stayed with me most of the time. I put her on her leash and we walked down the cemetery hill. We walked out through the church parking lot to the road and to our driveway. It was 5:00 PM and we had hiked over 2 miles in an hour.

On Monday, June 3rd, I planned to go for a hike after coming home from school. This was the FIRST day in months that I did not have track practice after school as the season had ended. I knew I couldn't go very far from home and decided to go to Frick Pond. My plan was to hike to Hodge Pond on the Flynn Trail and then return to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. From here I would hike to the end of the Big Rock Trail around the back of Frick Pond and then on the Quick Lake Trail back to the parking area. I arrived home a little later than expected but the weather was beautiful and I decided to follow my plan. As I got my gear together just before 4:00 PM, Sheila seemed to be in complete agreement with my decision as she followed me around as I was dressing. The temperature was in the 50's and it felt at least that warm. I put on a long-sleeved Columbia crew top and a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Vasque Talus boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I put a very light windbreaker in my pack in case I needed an added layer. I added a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to combat the mud and the ticks. I put my gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and drove out DeBruce Road just before 4:00 PM. After 6 miles I turned left on Mongaup Road. Where the road splits, I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and parked in the smaller lot at 4:10 PM. There was one other car in the lot. I promptly set my GPS unit to get ready for the hike. We crossed the road and started out on the Flynn Trail at 4:15 Pm which was a little later than I wanted. Despite teaching for a full day, I felt very energetic and set a fast pace on the trail through the woods. At the end of the trail we turned right on what was once Beech Mountain Road and started the long but gentle ascent to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. There was a slight breeze blowing which made me feel a little cool at first but this feeling disappeared as I hiked. The sky was blue with white clouds and all the trees were very green. The trail was only damp in places which made keeping a fast pace easier. I was trying to make the junction in 30 minutes but it took us almost 40 minutes to hike the 1.7 miles to the junction.

We did not stop and continued straight ahead toward Hodge Pond. At the split in the trail, we stayed to the left and followed the Flynn Trail down to the shores of the pond. I chose to do this since the walk back up this hill always seems long even though the slope is gradual. Clouds had begun to gather over the pond a the breeze was blowing harder. I set my pack down and took out my camera to take some pictures of the pond. I was angularly interested in the clouds over the pond. Sheila jumped right into the water and walked around getting a drink. After taking some pictures, I packed up and considered my options. It was getting late so I decided not to hike around the pond since the only reason to do that was to add distance. I decided to follow the woods road up the hill on the east side of Hodge Pond. At the top of the short but steep climb, we turned right and walked the woods road back to the Flynn Trail. At the Flynn Trail. We turned left to walk back to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. At the junction, we turned right and started down the Big Rock Trail toward Times Square. The downhill walk went quickly and I must have been absorbed in my thoughts because I did not even notice the three distinct sections of the descent. When we arrived at Times Square, we continued straight across on the Big Rock Trail. I was surprised that the area was much drier than when we had worked on the drainage. The trail around the back of the pond was damp and slightly muddy in spots. As we entered the spruce trees, I stopped to take a few pictures before continuing on the trail. I found a couple of other spots to take some shots including a few of the wetlands at the north end of the pond and the wooden walkways. At the end of the Big Rock Trail, we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to continue on to the bridge over the outlet stream from Frick Pond. At the bridge, we stopped and I took off my pack to take a few more pictures. I have many pictures from this spot but can never resist taking a few shots. I find this one of the most beautiful places in the Catskills. When I was finished taking pictures, I packed up and we continued on the Quick Lake Trail through Gravestone Junction. The woods road back to the car showed the results of the work we had done on the drainage. It was certainly drier than I expected and it was evident the ditches we had created were working to direct water off the rail. We arrived back at the car at 6:15 PM after hiking 5.5 miles in 2 hours and 5 minutes. The elevation gain was 855 feet.

On Saturday, June 1st, I was ready to get out for hike on National Trails Day. Brad was back for weekend so I thought we might go to North South Lake but remembered that the weekends there are very busy. I decided on a visit to Dry Brook Ridge which has a nice climb and a good view of the Pepacton Reservoir. Bard and I collected the recyclables and garbage and went to the landfill. When we returned home the skies had clouded over and some rain was falling. Brad was going to have to stay home with a sick child so I changed my plans to stay closer to home. I decided I would go to Long Pond and hike a figure 8 loop of a little over 7 miles. This is an area that I visit often along with Frick Pond and Trout Pond. I hoped there wouldn't be too many people and that the trails would be in good shape. I started to get ready just before noon and Sheila made it clear she approved of my decision. I put on a long-sleeved Columbia crew top over an Underarmor short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Vasque Talus boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. The temperature was already in the 70's and the sun had returned so I knew I would not need a jacket although I did put a rain jacket in my pack. I added a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to combat the mud and ticks. I put our gear in the trunk and an overjoyed Sheila in the back seat as I headed out the DeBruce Road. As I drove, several other plans came to mind but I decided to stick to the original one. I passed Mongaup Pond Road and continued to Willowemoc where I turned left on Flugertown Road. After a short distance, I pulled into the parking lot in the right where I was surprised to find no other cars. I set my GPS and put Sheila on her leash as we began our walk up Flugertown Road with the temperature in the low 70's. There was a slight breeze and I did not notice any insects as we hiked northward on the paved road.

It was a beautiful day and all the trees were green as we hiked along the flat road. The streams that we crossed were high but not overflowing. After about half a mile we came to the spot where the pavement ends and the road turns to gravel. We walked a little farther before I released Sheila from the leash to continue the hike. We kept a quick pace along the road and the walk was pleasant with the creek flowing beside the road. In another mile, we turned right off the road onto the snowmobile trail and walked to the first bridge. I stopped and took a few pictures and then continued on over the next bridge. From that point the trail continued up a short but steep hill heading south toward a trail junction. Once the trail flattened at the top of the hill, there are several large ponds and mudpits that stretched across the trail. Other hikers had widened the trail and we were able to make our way around the worst spots. At 2.2 miles we came to the trail junction and turned left on the snowmobile trail heading east, south and then northeast. In less than half a mile, a spur trail headed off to the right. This trail goes to a lean-to just off the shore of Long Pond. We stayed on the main trail and continued to encounter muddy and wet areas which made for less than ideal hiking. At 3.3 miles, we passed through the gate across the trail and turned left on the woods road. The road had many ruts and was very muddy. As we walked, both Sheila and I heard a engine coming toward us. A pickup truck appeared and drove passed without stopping or the driver even acknowledging we were present. We continued along the road until we came to a stream flowing from a beaver pond at 4.2 miles. We stopped for a few minutes so that I could take a few pictures. Ahead of us was private property belonging to the Peters Hunting Club. It seems there may be a right-of-way across the land but the bridge across Willowemoc Creek is private. I had asked and been given permission to walk across the land and the bridge so we continued ahead. We crossed the bridge and followed the road as it made a sharp left turn. We stopped on the road just before it entered the woods and I took some pictures of the valley.

We continued along the road avoiding the wet spots and heading southwest for about .9 miles to the junction with the snowmobile trail. We turned left off the road and onto the same snowmobile trail we had traveled earlier in the hike. We again crossed the two bridges and walked uphill. The walk to the trail junction seemed to go quickly and we were soon back at the trail junction. This time we turned right and started back toward the parking area along the main trail. After .2 miles, a short spur trail branched off to the left leading down to the shores of Long Pond. At the end of the trail, I dropped my pack and took out my camera. I took some pictures of the pond and the surrounding area. I could hear several red-wing blackbirds and see a few but none were close enough to take pictures. I walked back to my pack, stowed the camera and walked back up to the main trail. We turned left and continued a little uphill trying to avoid the numerous muddy and wet areas. At one point we saw a hiker coming toward us so I put Sheila on her leash. We stopped for a minute to say "Hello" and then continued in opposite directions. The rest of the walk was a little over a half mile with over a 350 foot elevation drop. We arrived back at the car at 3:25 PM after hiking 7.2 miles in 3 hours and 10 minutes with a 760 foot elevation gain.

On Saturday, May 25th, I was ready to get out for a second day of hiking in a row, something I had not done for a very long time. My son-in-law Brad was visiting and wanted to come along. I decided we would go to Trout Pond since I knew the 3500 foot peaks would be busy because of the long weekend and the beautiful weather. When I got up, the temperature was already in the high 50's, and the sun was shining with bright blue skies. This was a welcome change from the previous days which were cloudy and rainy. We ate breakfast and took care of Moe things around the house before preparing to hike. We started to get ready just before 11:00 AM and Sheila made it clear she approved of our decision. I put on a long-sleeved Columbia crew top as I like the protection when working. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Vasque Talus boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I decided to put on a very light windbreaker and added a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to combat the mud. We put our gear in the trunk and an overjoyed Sheila in the back seat as we headed to Roscoe on State Route 17 at 11:20 AM. I got on Route 206 and followed it across the Delaware County line to Morton Hill Road. After a left turn on Morton Hill Road, I drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. The open area at the top intersection was already parked full with one car just pulling in. I parked legally along the side of the road. When I got out of the car, I informed the young couple that they were parking on private property and that the land owner, understandably, objected to his. They thanked me and pulled out to park somewhere else. The number of cars parked seemed to indicate that there would be quite a few people at Trout Pond. I set my GPS and put Sheila on her leash as we began our walk down Russell Brook Road at 11:40 AM. There were several cars parked at the first illegal campsite on the right side of the road. Several tents were set up and a portable generator was running. A perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of the world! We continued to walk down the road and found the next decimated campsite on the left filled and some cars blocking the trail on the right. We walked down the path to the area that overlooks the upper waterfalls. Even though I have many pictures from this spot, I often stop to take more as I find it beautiful. The water was high but not as high as I expected. I took quite a few pictures with different settings. We returned to the road and continued down to the lower lot which was almost filled with cars. The road had been very dry and I wondered if this would be true for the rest of the hike. As we crossed the bridge and started on the trail, we passed the Japanese knotweed which was just beginning to grow. I knew that I would be spending some time cutting this back in the bear future. We turned right onto the path to the falls, and I worked our way down the bank to the streambed. The path has become more and more delineated and easier to negotiate. The falls were flowing freely but did not have as much volume as I have seen. I got out my camera and took quite a few shots of the falls and the stream. Sheila posed in front of the falls and I took a few shots. We walked up the bank and turned left to walk back out to the main trail. We turned right and walked to the trail register. I noticed that the campsite to the right was also filled.

At the trail junction just after the register, we turned to the left to climb the steeper hill toward Mud Pond. The campsite on the right side of the trail just after the bridge had only one small tent. The trail continued to be very dry although there was evidence there had been a lot of water flowing down the trail. There were some occasional branches on the trail which we picked up and moved off the trail. The skies remained bright and blue with few clouds. On the ascent, we took a few breaks but it went quickly, and I was glad to see there were no major blowdowns on this part of the trail. We reached the top of the hill and walked down the wide woods road to the next trail junction at 1.6 miles. I continued to be surprised that the trail was so dry. We made a right to follow the trail up to the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. The trail sections that are usually underwater were barely damp. We continued to remove branches, but there were no major blockages. After passing through an area with many small diameter trees, we started a short descent. After that, there was an ascent which continued for the next 1.2 miles until at 2.7 miles into the hike when we were at the highest point and ready to start the descent to Trout Pond. At some point, I heard Sheila yelp and called her back to the trail. She came pretty quickly but she was limping! I was upset but it wasn't very long before she was running normally. I had found the climb tiring but fulfilling and knew the descent would be easier. As we descended toward Trout Pond, the skies began to cloud over and some light rain began to fall. We met a couple coming toward us who were headed toward Mud Pond to camp. The last part of the trail down to Trout Pond is usually a stream but on this day it was dry. As we approached the bridge at the inlet end of the pond, the rain began to increase and I scrapped the idea of stopping to take pictures. We walked over the bridge and suddenly the trail began to be extremely muddy with deep tire tracks. This was a complete contrast to what we had experienced so far. To get around the muddiest area, we detoured into the large camping area just as a group of hikers was approaching from the other directions. They seemed distressed that we might claim the campsite until I assured them we were not. We continued on the main trail toward the outlet of the pond with some difficulty since there were areas of water that spanned the width of the trail. There were also deep ruts wide enough to indicate a pickup or some other kind of truck. We met a few more hikers and groups of hikers headed toward the inlet end of the pond. I had intended to stop at the lower end of the pond, but the rain was falling so we stopped only long enough to deploy our pack covers. The hike from the outlet to the trail junction is all downhill, and we were able to make pretty good time despite the rain. On the way down the trail we met several groups coming toward us. One group of 5 or 6 people was hiking with five dogs. I immediately put Sheila on her leash but NONE of the dogs in the other group was leashed. This is ANOTHER example of inconsiderate dog owners whose only concern is their own convenience. We continued passed the trail register and crossed the bridge over Russell Brook. We walked up the hill to the parking area and then on up the road to the car. We arrived back at the car at 2:30 PM having covered 5.7 miles and 1120 vertical feet in 2 hours and 50 minutes.

On Friday, May 24th I decided to get out and hike with my grandson Bryce. Bryce is 8 years old and has already hiked many of the 3500 foot peaks with me and many other trails. I was trying to decide which mountain he should climb and had settled on something on the evil's Path or in the Blackhead Range. Bryce was supposed to arrive at our house between 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM. Around 8:15 AM, the ambulance pager sounded and I knew that would change my plans! When I returned from the call at 11:00 AM, Bryce was there. We did a few things around the house and then began to get ready to hike. We decided to go to Frick Pond and inspect the work that had been done the previous Sunday. As I got my gear together, Sheila seemed to be in complete agreement with my decision as she followed me around as I was dressing. The temperature was in the 60's and it felt at least that warm. I put on a long-sleeved Columbia crew top as I like the protection when working. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Vasque Talus boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I decided to put on a very light windbreaker and added a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to combat the mud. I had not completely planned a route but thought we would hike out the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel Junction and the make a decision which direction we would go. Sheila was happy to be going anywhere and crouched in the back seat with her head on the console. Bryce sat in the back with Sheila as I drove out DeBruce Road just after noon. After 6 miles I turned left on Mongaup Road. Where the road splits, I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and parked in the smaller lot at 12:25 PM. There were no other cars in the lot which surprised me since I expected some people might have extended the Memorial Day weekend. I set my GPS unit to get ready for the hike. We started out the woods road that becomes the Quick Lake Trail at the register box. Starting at the register the trail was wet and muddy but it was clear that the drainage work we had done was helping to direct some of the water off the trail. The woods road out to Frick Pond continued to be wet but we were able to avoid the worst spots. We stayed left at Gravestone Junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. When we arrived at the bridge across the outlet, I decided to stop and take pictures even though I have hundreds from this location. The water level in the pond was moderately high and the outlet stream was flowing freely. I took some shots of Bryce and Sheila on the bridge and a few of the pond and Flynn's Point.

We continued on around the pond staying left at the trail junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. Surprisingly, the trail was much drier than I expected with only a few damp spots and one wet spot which was easily crossed. We continued on our hike passing through the "Spruce Tunnel." The small stream through the woods was running freely and was very high. I walked upstream to find an easier place to cross the stream but Bryce headed downstream. We both made it across without problems and continued on the trail. There were several places on the trail where it was obvious that there had been a large flow of water. By 1:15 PM we had walked the 1.5 miles to Iron Wheel Junction. At the trail junction, we turned right of the Loggers' Loop as the skies were beginning to look like rain and this route gave us more options to bail out. The Logger's Loop is mostly downhill in this direction, and we made good time. This trail was also relatively dry and any wet spots were easily bypassed. Just before starting the descent to Times Square, we passed the small pond on the left side of the trail. This pond is seasonal but has been growing in size for several years, and the recent rains had filled it. We stopped so that I could take a few shots and then continued down the hill to Times Square. The final descent to the trail junction was wet. By 1:50 PM we were at Times Square and about 2.7 miles into the hike. The area was wet and will require some major work to fix the situation. At this point the skies seemed clear so we made the left turn up the Big Rock Trail. I considered simply walking the Logger's Loop back to Gravestone Junction as we were both tired but decided the challenge would be good. The Big Rock Trail gains 600 feet to the Flynn Trail over 1.1 miles. The average grade is only 10%, but the route has three different climbs and can seem long. We set a pretty fast pace on the climb, and I found that although my heart rate was elevated, I felt good. Having someone else along is always helpful and Bryce is a pleasure. We talked about hiking, school and the Bible. As we ascended the trail we both were tired but continued to talk to make the climb easier. We reached the Flynn Trail at 2:35 PM after hiking 3.9 miles, and immediately turned right and began the descent back to the car. Sheila was still excited at this point and was running up the trail and back to us. She was taking a few excursions off the trail to follow animal tracks but was pretty close, so I let her explore. The trip down the Flynn Trail was very dry and the trip, which can seem long, went quickly. We both agreed that our muscles were glad we were going down! We soon passed through the tunnel that Cindy and I had made through a large spruce tree across the trail. We arrived at the gate that blocks Beech Mountain Road and turned left to stay on the Flynn Trail as it continues through the woods. This avoids the private property around the cabin. Some hikers cannot read the signs and have annoyed the property owner by trespassing! We continued down to the parking area on the trail. We were back at 3:15 PM having covered 5.6 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes with a vertical gain of 900 feet.

On Sunday, May 19th Cindy and I planned to participate in a drainage project at Frick Pond organized by Lisa Lyons of Morgan Outdoors in Livingston Manor. We decided to schedule the work to begin at 1:00 PM to give me a chance to return from church and prepare for the work. The event had been postponed a week due to rain but the NYNJTC had advertised the event and there had been a short article in a local newspaper. I was back from church and in Livingston Manor by noon and changed into my hiking gear. The temperature was in the high 60's so I knew I could dress for warm weather. I put on a long-sleeved Columbia crew top as I like the protection when working. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Vasque Talus boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I decided to put on a very light windbreaker and added a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to combat the mud. I left my poles at home opting instead to take along some tools. I put my Silky Sugowaza saw and a machete in my pack. I also brought along a Fiskars axe although I knew I would probably leave it in the car. I put my gear in the car and added a pick mattocks and a short-handled shovel. As I was preparing to leave, Sheila was giving me pitiful looks as we had not been hiking in some time. I promised her we would get out as soon as possible and then I drove out the DeBruce Road. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When I arrived in the parking area, the smaller lot was almost full and there were only a few spots left in the larger lot. Lisa was already there along with several volunteers. We introduced ourselves and waited for a few more volunteers to arrive. Andy Garrison was the only volunteer I knew and he was a welcome addition to the workday. Andy is the Long Path North Local Trails Committee Chair and has built many of miles of trails in the Catskills and along the Long Path corridor. Andy had brought with him enough tools to equip the 11 volunteers who showed up for the day.

We got underway a little after 1:00 PM by heading out the Quick Lake Trail to the Trail register where the trail meets a woods roads that leads out to Gravestone Junction. This area of the trail is relatively flat and water pools easily. It is difficult to get the water to run off the trail as the trail is lower than much of the surrounding area. There was plenty of water present and we began to divide up into small groups to attack the problem. We worked that way for a while and then gathered together at one area where more hands were needed. We worked until we had most of the water running off the trail. I asked Andy if he would accompany me to Times Square to survey the area to see what he thought might be done to m intonate the major drainage problem in that area. We left the others to work on the trail and headed to Gravestone Junction. We turned right on the Logger's Loop and walked along the eastern shore of Frick Pond. It wasn't long before we ran into the group Lisa had taken to work in this area. They were doing some "light" work but Lisa decided to try to work on getting some of the water off the trail Andy and I continued toward Times Square. When we arrived, I could see the area was still a problem as ground water originates on the Logger's Loop and follows the trail down to the junction. In addition, it appeared that there had been a wheeled vehicle in the area which further aggravated the problem. Andy looked around to assess the situation while I worked on putting a few stepping stones across a small "stream" along the direst route through the mess. Andy came over and helped me finish putting in some rocks and then we removed a small tree from across the Logger's Loop. As we were doing this work, several hikers passed us and thanked us for the work we do. We decided to return the way we had come. As we are about to leave, several of the other volunteers came toward us from around the back of Frick Pond. We headed back to Gravestone Junction on the Logger's Loop and again met Lisa's group. Lisa gathered us together for a picture and then we all began to head back. Cindy went out ahead and I followed but not as quickly due to the load I was carrying. At Gravestone Junction, I realized that I did not have the shovel I had brought so I stopped to wait for the others to arrive. I recovered my shovel and found that Lisa was taking some of the volunteers down to see Frick Pond. I decided to head back to the car and along the way I inspected the work that had been done. I arrived at the car a little after 3:00 PM, packed up the gear and headed home.

We arrived home at about 3:30 PM and I was really tired from the work. Sheila looked so disappointed that I knew I had to take her out for a walk. I brought my gear inside and asked Sheila if she wanted to hike. Her answer was clear so I put on her electronic collar, grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately and we headed out the door. I took her leash from the car and we headed out the driveway to hike on Round Top. Sheila was obviously excited and I could not blame her. I decided I probably could only do one figure 8 but that it was better than nothing. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. As we followed the trail, I noticed that it was much drier than I expected based on the recent rains. I followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. Soon we were back at the yellow trail. We turned right and walked the yellow trail to the next trail junction. Here we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill to the lookout. There wasn't much to see at the lookout so we continued on the trail. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The walk had gone quickly but I was tired and Sheila seemed content. We continued out to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. We walked down the cemetery hill and through the parking lot to the street and our driveway.

On Thursday, May 9th I came home immediately after school as we did not have track practice. My return to full-time teaching combined with coaching track has really cut into my hiking time! When I got home and asked Sheila if she wanted to go hiking, she began barking, running around frantically and spinning in place. Sheila misses the hiking as much as I do. Since I just wanted some exercise, I decided to go across the street to Round Top. The temperature was in the high 50's so I knew I could dress for cool to warm weather. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top. I knew this might be a little too warm but felt I wanted to be warm. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Vasque Talus boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I decided against my Mammut hoody and put on a very light windbreaker. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. At 3:40 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do at least two figure 8's which might be enough given the situation. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking area by the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill.

When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. There was a car parked at the top of the hill which was blocking the road. I let Sheila off her leash, and she began to explore the trail with her nose. As we followed the trail, I noticed that it was much drier than I expected based on the recent rains. The trail bed is becoming worn it which means that a few people are using the trail. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. There was a branch hanging down into the trail and I made a note to bring my loppers on the next trip. I continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. Soon we were back at the yellow trail. We turned right and walked the yellow trail to the next trail junction. Here we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill to the lookout. There wasn't much to see at the lookout so we continued on the trail. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The walk had gone quickly, so we turned around and started back up the hill back to the lookout. Sometimes Sheila resists another loop but this time she was in the lead. We followed the yellow trail uphill toward the lookout and turned right to continue up to the next trail junction with the blue trail. At the trail junction, we turned right to stay on the yellow trail. At the next junction we turned left to climb the shallower side of the summit ascent. We again walked across the flat summit and descended the steeper trail. At the trail junction, we turned left and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction we turned right this time to follow the trail down to the woods road that leads out to the first trail junction. That was enough for me given the time. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead. Sheila was well-behaved and stayed with me most of the time. I put her on her leash and we walked down the cemetery hill. We walked across the field to our driveway. It was 4:35 PM and we had hiked over 2 miles in a little less than an hour.

On Wednesday, April 24th I decided I wanted to take of the nice weather and recent rains to take I some waterfalls. I decide to go to Rickett's Glen. Ricketts Glen is one of my favorite hiking spots in the northeast outside of New York. The Glens Natural Area is a National Natural Landmark with 22 named falls along a 7.3 mile loop trail. The falls vary in height from 11 feet to 94 feet and each has a different character. The weather report was for partly sunny skies with temperatures in the mid 60's. I wanted to arrive as early in the morning as I could so that I could return home for ambulance duty. Photographing the waterfalls in the glens can be tricky as too much sun makes the water too bright and not enough leaves the images too dark. The other drawback is that the area is so popular that there are usually a lot of people and many have elaborate photographic equipment. I was hoping that a Wednesday morning would limit the number of visitors. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she initially declined as she was tired. I had almost decided not to go but then changed my mind. When I told Cindy Sheila and I were going, she decided to come along! With the temperature forecast to reach into the 60's, I decided to make sure I was dressed in lighter clothes. I put on my long-sleeved light Columbia crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I knew this might be a little too warm but felt I could always remove a layer if needed. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Vasque Talus boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I decided against my Mammut hoody and put on a very light windbreaker. I did add a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks. I got Sheila and our gear in the car and we left Livingston Manor just after 9:00 AM and headed over the back roads toward Honesdale. The entire trip takes between 2.5 and 3 hours with a stop along the way. The drive went pretty quickly and began to look more familiar as we got nearer to our destination. I avoided any wrong turns and arrived in the parking lot at 11:40 AM. The parking area had been completely redone which was a big improvement. There were only a few cars in the lot but I knew there were other parking areas to choose from. We got ready to hike and I set my GPS unit as we started out on the trail by 11:45 AM. The first 1.4 miles of the trail to Murray Reynolds Falls rolls a little but is almost flat. In general the trails were in good shape but there always seem to be some muddy spots and places where water flows over the trail. The traffic is so high that the rocks are worn smooth and can be very slippery even when dry. When the rocks are wet, muddy and have fallen leaves on them, they become a recipe for disaster unless hikers are careful. Signs warn about proper footwear and respect for the difficulty of the trail. The first part of the trail seemed longer than I remembered and we stopped a few times so I could rake a few pictures even though I knew the falls would be much more impressive. As we hiked we met a few people some hiking a lone and some in small groups. Most hikers were wearing appropriate footwear which was encouraging.

At one point the trail split with the more difficult route following low along the stream and the easier route heading up away from the water. The trails rejoins at the first falls. We stopped at Murray Reynolds and I took some pictures by walking down to the stream bed. The water had enough volume to make the falls interesting but not enough from preventing positioning for good shots. The sun was still low in the sky making the lighting good. The basic story of my hike was hike to the next falls, walk to the stream to find a good angle, wait for people to clear out, take pictures and repeat. A brochure at the trailhead has a great map and descriptions of the various falls. Each one is just a little different and many change with water volume. I stopped at the next two falls and took pictures at each. I looked for the signs that used to be posted at each falls but found many were missing. Even though we stopped frequently, we soon arrived at Watersmeet where Ganoga Glen and Glen Leigh meet. Just before Watersmeet, there was a UTV next to the trail. I could see the route the UTV used but there were no workers in the immediate area. We paused for a moment so that I could take some pictures and then headed up Ganoga Glen. We would then return by way of Glen Leigh. From this point on the trail got steeper and there were a number of wooden walkways and bridges. The first two falls we came to were Erie and Tuscarora both of which are 47 feet high and were roaring impressively. I took a lot of pictures of both falls which, of course, slowed us down. More information and descriptions of all the falls and maps of the park are available on the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website.

We hiked along saying "Hello" to various groups and talking to some of the people. We soon caught on to the fact that many of the people were parked at the northern end of the glens are were hiking down Ganoga Glen and back up Glen Leigh. I always prefer to hike Up and the way out and down on the way back! We made a slightly longer stop at 94 foot Ganoga Falls, the highest in the park. Many of the falls now have short, informal paths to the streambed at the base of the waterfall which makes taking unobstructed photography much easier. We continued to hike and stop for me to take pictures. By 2:00 PM we had hiked 3.4 miles and were at the top of Ganoga Glen. We turned right on the Highlands Trail to get to the trail through Glen Leigh. This trail is almost exactly a mile long and we began to meet more people as many had started up Glen Leigh or had parked at the upper Lake Rose parking area. We hiked quickly but this section of trail seemed longer than I remembered. We passed through Midway Crevasse but did not stop to take any pictures. This is the midway spot on the Falls Loop and is a narrow pathway between some rocks. We came to a shortcut path and turned right to follow it but soon decided we would return to the main trail. Soon the trail down Glen Leigh accreted on the right and we turned to hike down Glen Leigh. The first falls we came to was Onandaga and I stopped to take some shots. We repeated the sequence of hiking and taking pictures. At 3:00 PM we came to Ozone Falls which, at 60 feet high, is the send tallest falls in the glen area. Hiking down the slippery trails and stone steps was a little more unnerving than hiking up. I did not have my poles as I had Sheila on her leash most of the time. I did let her off several times to descend the steps as she could not help but pull me. By this time the sun was beginning to shine down into the glen making some scenes a little too bright for good exposures. I made a mental note to reverse my hiking direction next time!

It wasn't very long before the trail began to flatten and the last few waterfalls came into view. There were several bridges that crossed and recrossed the stream and also provided a different perspective for picture taking. By 3:25 PM, we were back at Watersmeet after hiking 5.7 miles. We began the 1.7 mile walk back to the parking area. It was pleasant to just be able to hike without "worrying" about taking pictures. As I was headed toward the parking area there were still some people coming up then trail. It was hard to tell which groups were just beginning and which were turning to complete the loop. When we got to the point where the trail split, we headed to the right on the easier path back to the parking area. As we approached the bridge back to the parking area, Sheila and I continued across the road to visit Adams Falls while Cindy headed back to the car. Adams Falls is the last one in the park even though it is not in the glen area. This falls has made a deep cut in the rocks. There is a deep plunge pool at the end and it is evident that the stream has cut through the rock over the years. I thought about hiking the Evergreen Trail below this falls but decided against it as I was a little tired and knew I knew Cindy was waiting for me. I took pictures of the falls which was difficult do to the lighting. We turned around and walked back to the car and arriving at 4:15 PM having walked 7.5 miles in 4.5 hours with an ascent of over 1400 feet. On the way home we ran into some traffic near Scranton which helped me to stay awake!

On Tuesday, April 23rd I planned to hike a DEP parcel of land starting at Rehor Road just north of Tompkins Falls. This hike was inspired by James Hopson in a recent Facebook post. Cindy and I had hiked the first part of this route but I wanted to complete the hike. Lisa contacted me the day before and agreed that she would hike with me and that we would spot a car to shorten the hike by eliminating the road walk. This would mean a hike of about 5 miles. I couldn't start until after track practice in the morning so Lia and I agreed to meet at her house on Beaverkill Road and 11:15 AM. When I got up in the morning, it was already in the high 50's and I expected the temperature to rise throughout the day. I returned to track practice at 10:45 AM and began to get ready. Sheila knew that we were going hiking and kept an eye on us to make sure I would not forget her. With the temperature hovering around 70 degrees, I decided to make sure I was dressed in lighter clothes. I put on my long-sleeved light Columbia crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I knew this might be a little too warm but felt I could always remove a layer if needed. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Vasque Talus boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I decided against my Mammut hoody and put on a very light windbreaker. I put a pair of light gloves in my pack more for the briars and to keep my hands warm. I did add a pair of OR Bugout gaiters to combat the ticks. I got Sheila and my gear in the car and I drove north on Old Route 17 to the Beaverkill Road where I turned right. I continued on the Beaverkill Road to the top, of the hill and pulled into Lisa's driveway at 11:15 AM. We were on our way almost immediately heading up the Beaverkill Road through Lew Beach and Turnwood for 10.8 miles to Barkaboom Road. We turned left and followed the road passing Big Pond. Just before Tompkins Falls, we found Deerlick Brook Road on the right. We turned right and drove up the road to the intersection with Minor Road. We turned around and parked Lisa's car in a pullout just down the road from the intersection. Lisa got in my car and I drove back to Barkaboom Road. I turned right and continued passed Tompkins falls and to Rehor Road on the right about 4.2 miles from Beaverkill Road. I pulled over and parked on the shoulder of the road at 11:45 AM. The temperature was 70 degrees as we got ready to hike so I left my windbreaker in the car. I set my THREE GPS units including my Garmin handheld unit, my Suunto Traverse watch and the Avenza app on my iPhone. We began the hike by starting up abandoned Rehor Road passing through the gate.

The road was wide and, although abandoned, seemed to be maintained. I had decided to follow the road as far as it went before starting out on a true bushwhack. The first .65 miles of the road climbs at about 12% which is not difficult but does get the blood flowing. The general direction is east and slightly northeast. At .65 miles the road turns 90 degrees to the left and at this point there is a small pond on the right. As we walked I pointed out some points of interest to Lisa. We followed the trail as it continued uphill making a slight turn to the right. At .8 miles we came to a left turn in the road and at this point there were some interesting stone walls. There had been many stone walls along the way and all were well-constructed and higher than many. The walls at the turn were even higher. At this point we decided to turn right off the trail to continue north. We worked our way up the hill and found a stone wall going up the hill with a road beside it. We followed the road using the principle of "go up". Since we knew we were looking for the highest point around, we simply kept going up. We were a little farther to the west than when Cindy and I had hiked and I began to correct for this. I adjust our route a little more to the northeast since both the map and the terrain seemed to indicate this was a good idea. As we walked we ran into several stands of briars but had to put up with them as there did not seem any way to avoid them. We came to the top of another small hill and looked around for some views of the Pepacton Reservoir. We couldn't find any. As we looked to the northeast, we could see some more high ground so we headed in that direction. We again ran into some prickers but I was able to find a route that had fewer of them and eventually led to an open field at the top of a subpeak! There were no real views but the open field was as surprising this time as the last time when I was hiking with Cindy. Near the top of the hill was a small structure that had collapsed. We took a break for a few minutes and then walked toward a stand of evergreen trees to the northeast. We found a woods road headed in that direction but it headed down and I knew we wanted to continue to the northeast and up to the top of the ridge. We walked along a "bridge" of land that fell off on both sides. After crossing an open patch with some briars, we entered the woods and did not have to deal with many briars for the rest of the trip. At this point, Lisa announced that she had left her keys in my car. I knew this would lengthen the hike but at least the walking would be on a flat road surface.

We walked uphill toward the top of the west-east ridge and found the first of several different rock formations that were interesting. The rocks here showed very narrow bands of sedimentation so I took a few pictures before we moved on. We continued to the top of the ridge which was rather flat and at around 2.4 miles turned ESE to follow the ridge. The walking was mostly through open hardwood forest and easier than the briar patches we had encountered earlier. We hit a high point of a little over 2660 feet and then descended off the ridge before ascending to another bump. At 3.25 miles we turned southeast and continue to the highest point on this part of the ridge. There were some nice views to the north but it was impossible to get any good pictures. We did find a spot with two green plastic chairs! We continued to the highest point on the bump and then decided it was time to head down to Deerlick Brook Road. We turned south-southwest and started down a steep slope that averaged 18%. Along the way we found an impressive set of ledges and rock outcrops. We stopped so that I could take some pictures. I used Sheila to show the scale of the ledges. We continued down the hill until we could hear water and see the road. We worked our way around some springs that were flowing freely. I stopped to take a few shots of the springs and their outflow as everything was so green around them. We continued our hike out to the road crossing some small stream. Once on the road we turned right and headed west and then southwest following the road. We passed Minor Road and Lisa's car on the right. It was 1.5 miles to Barkaboom Road and the walk was pleasant. Deerlick Brook was flowing with crystal clear water and Sheila took a quick dip and got a drink. At Barkaboom Road I put Sheila on her leash, as we turned right and walked west-northwest toward the car. As we passed Tompkins Falls, a couple with a barking dog came up the bank. We passed by them and was glad for once that Sheila was not the most embarrassing dog around. I quickened my pace to stay ahead of them. I couldn't help but noticed how beautiful Barkaboom Brook was as it flowed over the rocks. At 4:00 PM we were back at the car after hiking 6.5 miles in 4 hours and 10 minutes. The elevation gain was 1437 feet. I considered hiking up to see the views from the hill above Rehor Road but a light rain was beginning to fall so I decided to leave that for another time. I drove Lisa back to her car and then headed home as the rain fell a little harder.

On Wednesday, April 17th, I decided I wanted to hike a 3500 foot peak and Balsam Lake was as good as any. I had hiked the day before and was a little tired but the weather for the rest of the week included showers almost very day. I knew that I could not start until after morning track practice but knew that would be enough time to hike Balsam Lake even though I intended to hike from the Millbrook trailhead. An trip up the Beaverkill Road the week before had convinced me that the trailhead at the end of the road would not be accessible. I thought I might also hike Graham if time and energy permitted. When I returned from track practice at 11:30 AM, the temperature was 50 degrees but it felt warmer. Sheila knew that we were going hiking and kept and eye on me to make sure I would not forget her. Since the weather was already warm, I decided to dress accordingly. I put on a light Columbia long-sleeved crew top. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Vasque Talus boots which are supportive and surprisingly roomy. I decided against my Mammut hoody and put on a very light windbreaker. I put a pair of light gloves in my pack more for the briars and to keep my hands warm. I decided to wear a light hat. We left Livingston Manor just before noon as I drove west and north on Old Route 17 toward Roscoe. I turned right on the Beaverkill Road to drive through Lew Beach to Turnwood. Just before Turnwood, I turned left on Barkaboom Road and drove to the intersection with BWS 9. I turned right and after a short drive I turned right again onto Millbrook Road. The 8 mile drive along the road was pleasant and the temperature held at 55 degrees. I pulled into the parking area at 12:45 PM to find no other cars. When I got out of the car, there was a stiff breeze and I felt a little cold. I knew I would warm up on the hike but I worried that the temperature would drop as we climbed higher. I set my GPS device and then we crossed the road to start the hike. Sheila could hardly contain herself so I got her across the road quickly and onto the trail.

The lower part of the trail was free from snow and ice but I didn't know if this would continue all the way to the summit. I was still a little cold on the trail but I soon warmed up as we hiked. The trail register is a little over a quarter mile up the trail and it cam up quickly even though the trail was a little wet in places. I must admit that I didn't remember much of the hike in from this direction. The terrain was not as flat as I had remembered with about a 450 foot gain in the first mile. At this point the trail passes through a switchback and then continues to climb. Along the way I noticed what appeared to be a woods road head off to the left. It wasn't very distinct but I wondered if it could be the continuation of the upper road that forms part of the path to Graham. At some point I also noticed that the right side of the road was supported by laid up stone similar to that on the other side. This road used to connect the Beaverkill Valley to Millbrook and was well maintained. As we continued to gain elevation there was some ice on the rocks on the right side of the trail and I stopped to take a few shots. In another spot there was a small pocket of water on the left side of then trail with a small stream flowing into it. Sheila went over to get a drink and then started to dig at the pool of water. Farther up the trail we began to run into snow. At first the snow was only in the woods but then it started to cover parts of the trail. Sheila went and sat in the snow so I took some pictures. I then took some pictures of the trail with the snow and ice. The walk seemed long but at 2.1 miles we passed by the path to Graham and at 2.2 miles we turned right on the trail to the summit.

As I started up the mountain, I realized that I was a little tired and the trail was wet and muddy in spots which made the walk harder. Just after we made the turn, we met a family of four coming down from the summit. They were from the Millbrook side but were hiking from the Beaverkill trailhead while I was doing the opposite. As we continued to gain elevation, there was more and more snow on the trail. Some of the snow had drifted and had not yet melted. In other places, there was a spine of snow packed in the middle of the trail where most people walk. After the 3500 foot sign there was a pretty consistent layer of snow and ice up until the cabin. The last .7 miles is all uphill and gains about 425 feet to the clearing with the fire tower. As we approached the tower, the snow disappeared and the tower clearing was mostly free of snow except for some under the trees. It was 2:25 PM when we arrived and I dumped my pack at the picnic table. I got out my camera and leashed Sheila to the picnic table as I did not want her to follow me up the tower. I headed up the tower with my camera and as soon as I was above the level of the trees, the breeze hit me. I climbed to the landing just below the cab noticing that several pieces of protective screening were missing or loose. From the landing, I took a lot of shots including some through the tower. The skies were blue and there were a few wispy, white clouds. I took a few shots of Sheila and the descended the tower and walked over to the picnic table. I released Sheila and then got a bar and a drink. I put on my spikes for the descent and started back on the route we had used to get to the summit. I decided that it was late enough that I would not make the loop or try for Graham.

The trip down the mountain to the trail junction went quickly as I was able to get a good grip on the ice and not worry about falling. We turned left to return to the car. Once we passed the cutoff to Graham I knew that the trail was downhill all the way. We were making good time! At some point Sheila seemed to be more interested in playing in the snow by running up and down the trail through it. I thought we would make much better time on the way back but the trip out and back were taking about the same amount of time. The trail had been highly eroded by the recent anis leaving exposed stones which made the hiking more difficult. When we arrived back at the parking lot, there was another car present. We were back at the trail head by 4:10 PM having covered 6 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes including the time at the tower. The temperature was in the low 60's as I drove away following the same route back home. On the Barkaboom Road, I considered stopping at Rehor Road and hiking to a viewpoint near the beginning of the old road. I decided that I was not interested in expending any more energy on this day. As we passed Tompkins Falls, I looked at the flow of water and decided it was no better than a week before when I got plenty of pictures.

On Tuesday, April 16th Cindy and I left Pratt Rock and headed east on Route 23. After a short drive, I turned left on Route 23A and drove north. Red Falls is impossible to miss on the right side of the road. I pulled over and parked on the side of the road. There are "No Parking" signs here so I never stay very long. This spot is popular with many young people and there is often garbage and broken bottles strewn about the area. The land is owned by the DEP and is open to the public. Cindy did not want to go to the falls and I decided to leave Sheila with her as the falls were as full as I had ever seen them. I walked to a short but steep path down the bank to the falls. I worked my way down the path to the edge of the falls. Much like the other waterfalls we had visited Red Falls was roaring with a high volume and rapidly flowing water. Fortunately, there was enough room on the rocks along the side of the falls to allow me to walk downstream. I took pictures of the falls as a whole from as far downstream as I dared go. The rocks were slippery and water was splashing onto them. I probably went a little too far but was able to keep my footing. I also took pictures of various parts of the falls and the water downstream. I started to work my way back up the rocks to the spot where I had come down to the creek. From there I walked back up the steep path to the car. We were all ready to return home after a day of visiting so many different attractions./p>

On Tuesday, April 16th after visiting Vroman's Nose and several waterfalls, Cindy and I decided to go to hike at Pratt Rock just east of Prattsville. From Mine Kill Falls I drove west on Route 30 and turned left on Route 990V which passes by the newly reconstructed Schoharie Reservoir dam. The water was roaring over the dam but there is no good place to get a look at the dam. I continued east on Route 990V passing Gilboa-Conesville Central School. In Conesville, I turned right and headed south on the Prattsville Road. I drove slowly over the bridge to take a look at Manorkill Falls. The falls upstream from the bridge was interesting but I decided not to stop since access and a good place to the view the falls is limited. We continued south to Prattsvile and turned left on Route 23. I drove east on Route 23 to the parking area for Pratt Rock just outside of town. I turned into the small parking area on the left and found there were no other cars in the lot. We started our hike at 2:25 PM by walking on the path passing the information kiosk and continuing up the path around the "back" of the cliffs. As we passed the first bench carved into the rock, we could see some of the carvings much higher up on the cliffs. We decided to bypass the trail that goes to the base of the cliffs and continued to walk west and up the trail that goes to the top of the cliffs. The trail is a little steep in spots and is highly eroded since it is a popular destination. It was also wet and muddy in spots. We were soon at the top of the cliffs taking in the view of the sparkling Batavia Kill below. The water was high and the flow showed the power of the stream. There were no other hikers in sight so I took quite a few pictures of the valley below. The sun angle was again not very advantageous but I did get some nice shots. We continued to walk up to the next set of lookouts which are more to the east. The angle of the sun was better here so I took some more shots of the stream below, the valley and the hills beyond. To the northeast a high mountain was visible and I was pretty sure it was Huntersfield Mountain which is on the CHH list. I took some more pictures before we headed back down the trail and found a shortcut to the trail that runs just below the cliffs. This trail was a tricky little descent but brought us out just below the carvings. There were no others present so I got out the camera and took some pictures of the rock carvings. The whole area is beginning to show some neglect. The carvings are deteriorating and are not whitewashed frequently. It is most distressing that a few people have found it necessary to deface the carvings with graffiti. The carvings are a real artistic and historic treasure which are being ignored. When I was done with my photography, we descended the trail back to the car. We were at the car by 3:10 PM after covering the short hike of less than a mile. We were ready to head to one last destination which was Red Falls on Route 23A only a short distance away.

On Tuesday, April 16th we were driving south and west on Route 30 after visiting Vroman's Nose and a few other spots. I had planned to visit some waterfalls in the area since I knew they would be roaring from recent rains. After passing by the Blenhiem-Gilboa Power Project, we came to the entrance for the parking lot for Mine Kill Falls on the left. I pulled into the parking area at 1:35 PM to find two other cars present. We knew the hike was short but I wanted to record a GPS track and take some pictures. I set my electronics and shouldered my pack. Since there were others enjoying the park, I put Sheila on her leash as we waked down the path toward the viewing platform. Just before the platform we turned right and I noted a couple coming up from the platform. We started to follow the trail down toward the base of the falls and never saw the other couple again. Either they had already been down the trail or had decided they did not want to walk to the base of the falls. The aqua blazes on the trail designated this as part of the Long Path. The trail was very wet and muddy in places as it wound down to the pool at the base of the falls. I dropped my pack and took out the camera to get some pictures of the falls. The lighting was poor as the sun was bright and shining directly on the water. The intermittent falls to the right of the main falls was flowing nicely. This falls has a higher drop than the main falls but a much lower volume. I was able to get pictures of the water as it flows between the rocks as well as shots of the lower falls as it spills into the pool. I also took pictures of the water falling from high off the cliffs. I took some more shots before we picked up and headed back up the trail. I followed the Long Path as it veered to the left and though that I did not remember hiking this section when I competed it. Later, by looking at my maps, it was obvious I had hiked it but from the other direction. We walked from the bottom of the falls back to the top and turned right to go to the viewing platform. There was no one else at the platform so I got out the camera and started to take pictures of the water flowing through the deep crevice in the rocks. I also took some pictures of another falls farther upstream just beyond the road bridge. This falls was flowing with a volume I had never seen before and it rivaled the lower falls for volume of water and noise. After I finished with my photography, we turned around and walked back to the car. I drove out to Route 30 and turned left to head toward Prattsville and Pratt Rock.

On Tuesday, April 16th I knew that I had to get out for a hike after the heavy rain on Monday. I wanted to try to pick a trail that would be relatively dry and thought about hiking Balsam Lake Mountain and Graham from the Millbrook trailhead. I knew the Beaverkill Road had been nearly impassible the week before and that the heavy rains would have made it worse. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she said she did not want to hike mountains. I thought about going to see some waterfalls knowing they should be roaring and decided that heading north to Vroman's Nose, Mine Kill Falls, Pratt Rock and Red Falls would be just the thing. Cindy agreed but had some work to do before we could get going. The temperature on the back porch was 50 degrees in the sun but stepping outside told another story. Sheila was very happy to be getting out as we got dressed, packed our gear and got ready to go. The temperatures were forecast to be in the low 50's but with a wind speed of 15 mph most of the day so I dressed accordingly. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on my pair of Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining. I decided against a baselayer under the pants as I thought that would be too warm. I decided to put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters anyway. I wore my Vasque Talus hiking boots which are supportive especially with third-party insole. I wore a light hat and threw a pair of gloves in the pack. We left Livingston Manor at 10:15 AM and I set the car's GPS for Middleburgh. The route it suggested was State Route 17 to Roscoe and then Route 206 to Route 30 at the Pepacton Reservoir. I made a right on Route 30 and then followed it along the reservoir to Margaretville and then through Roxbury and Grand Gorge to Middleburgh. Just outside of Middleburgh I turned left on Mill Valley Road. Less than a mile up the road I parked in the Vromans Nose parking lot on the left side of the road. The association that maintains the area had increased the parking lot to more than double its size! There were only a few other cars in the lot when we left to start our hike at 11:55 AM. Some people left just ahead of us so I left my poles in the car and put Sheila on her leash. It was obvious that the trail was going to be wet and muddy from what we found as we walked through the gate. As we walked through the open field that leads to the trails, we found the trail to the right was still closed to allow the "old" trail to recover from overuse. We turned to the left to hike the steeper side first which would allow us to return on the gentle side. As we turned onto the yellow blazed trail I noted that it did not seem familiar and I questioned whether or not I was on the correct path but I soon realized it was just that I was traveling in a direction I had only taken once before. My intention was to continue on the yellow path all the way to the top passing the Long Path as we went. We came to the more gentle trail that comes in from the right at .2 miles but decided to climb the steeper trail and continued straight ahead. The half mile from where we entered the trail to the top averaged about an 18% grade. The only people we passed were some returning on the more gentle trail after visiting the top.

Soon we arrived at the top and I immediately began to take pictures. The fields below were much greener than at home and the Schoharie Creek was swollen with water. At the very first lookout I took pictures in all directions including some of the crumbling rock that makes up the Nose. I decided to bypass a few of the lookouts along the way as the view is better from the top. I took a few pictures of Sheila and Cindy and then continued on the trail. The aqua blazes indicated this is the route of the Long path, a hiking trail that runs form New York City to Albany. Once on the summit I dropped my pack and got out the camera as Cindy took over holding Sheila's leash. I was a little disappointed as the sky was a solid blue with no clouds. A slight haze hung over the Catskills in the distance. I still took some pictures concentrating on the farmland below with alternating patches of green and brown. I also took some shots along the edge of the cliffs. Vromans Nose has an elevation of about 1220 feet above sea level which makes it about 500 feet higher than the surrounding plain. It isn't very high but it gives a great view of the plain below and the peaks both near and far. We continued our hike by walking along the edge of the cliff. We stopped at the far end of the cliffs where I again took some more shots concentrating on the hills to the north and the bends in the Schoharie Creek below. The descent starts out a little steep and slippery but soon become a wide path with a gentler slope. We passed the point where the Long Path comes up on the left. This is a very steep ascent which I made when I hiked the Long Path. The trail back was a mess with water and mud covering the trail from side to side almost all the way back. At this rate this trail will have to be closed to allow it to "rest". We turned right at 1.1 miles and continued to follow the trail as it looped back to the trail we used at the start of the hike. At 1.4 miles we turned left and hiked back to the car. We were back at the car 1:00 PM having hiked 1.6 miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes with an elevation gain of 500 feet. We got in the car and drove south and west on Route 30 toward Mine Kill Falls

As long as we were on Route 30, I decided to stop at a few places along the way. As we passed many flat fields on Route 30, we came to a small cemetery on the right. I pulled over as I had almost stopped where several times. A monument dedicated to a Jacob Hager caught my attention. The cemetery had about a dozen grave markers all dedicated to the Hager family. Jacob Hager had fought in the American Revolution in battles against Joseph Brandt in the Schoharie Valley. I took some pictures and then got back in the car to continue the journey.

On the drive to Vroman's Nose we had noticed that, to our complete surprise, the covered bridge in North Blenheim had been replaced. The bridge was the world's longest covered bridge at 210 feet and had an unusual double-barreled configuration with two different "lanes" separated by a divider. On August 28, 2011 Tropical Storm Irene caused Schoharie Creek to flood and the bridge was washed away. After several years of "negotiations", the reconstruction of the bridge began in 2017 and was finished in late 2018 at a total cost of nearly 7 million dollars! I pulled into the parking area near the bridge and got out with my camera to take some pictures. The bridge is an entirely new construction but I could see that it was as close to the historic bridge as possible. The same construction techniques were used with more modern materials and the bridge was raised between 10 and 15 feet to, hopefully, avoid the disaster that occurred in 2011. I walks the length of the bridge and back taking pictures as I went. I also took pictures of the entrance and some from the side. When I was done, I returned to the car and got back on Route 3o heading east.

There was one more stop I wanted to make before Mine Kill Falls. As we approached the Blenheim-Gilboa Reservoir, I turned right on Creamery Road and turned around at the end of the street. The Long Path goes down this road and passes by a cemetery and then into the woods. I parked along the right side of street with Mill Brook Falls in full view. I got out of the car and grabbed my camera to take a few pictures of the falls that were flowing nicely with high volume. Mill Creek Falls forms on Mill Creek as it flows southeast and empties into the West Kill. In the summer the falls is only a trickle and the West Kill a lazy stream. It is a popular place for children to go to get cool on a hot summer's day. On this day the West Kill was very high and flowing very fast. The falls were thundering as they spilled into the stream below. I took a few shots and then returned to the car. I drove south again on Route 30 as our next stop was Mine Kill Falls.

On Sunday, April 14th I wanted to get in a hike after church and before the rains started. I had missed hiking Saturday as I had an all-day track meet and Monday's forecast called for rain all day. As we drove home, I asked Cindy if she wanted to hike but she refused my offer. I really don't like hiking alone with Sheila but I often don't have much choice as Cindy often turns me down. I decided that despite the late start and threat of rain, I would check out a ridge near the Cannonsville Reservoir west of Walton on Route 10. This ridge includes some 2000 foot peaks including Clabber, Middle Clabber and Speedwell. The ridge is mostly on DEC land which has some woods roads but no marked trails. I thought at the very least I could check out the area to setup a hike for a later date. I started getting ready just after 1:00 PM when the temperature was just below 70 degrees! Sheila knew that we were going hiking and kept and eye on us to make sure we would not forget her. Since the weather was already warm, I decided to dress accordingly. I put on a light Columbia long-sleeved crew top. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which are my "go to" hiking boots but are showing some wear. I decided against my Mammut hoody and put on a very light windbreaker. I put a pair of light gloves in my pack more for the briars and to keep my hands warm. I got Sheila and my gear in the car and drove out to State Route 17 and headed north toward Hancock. I passed an MVA in our ambulance territory that I had missed while at church. I was upset that I was not available and that no one else on our ambulance corps desponded to this emergency which was serious enough to require a helicopter. I continued on the Quickway to exit 87A where I picked up Route 268 North toward the Cannonsville. As I drove, the skies continued to darken and I seriously questioned whether or not I should even start the hike. At the intersection with Route 10, I turned left and headed west passing by Dryden Broook Road and Chamberlain Brook Road. I had an idea where I might start from a Facebook post by another hiker. I turned around And parked on the opposite shoulder of the road at 2:00 PM. When I got out of the car, I almost got back in as the wind had picked up and the skies were dark. I decided that as long as I was hiking uphill, I could hike back to the car pretty fast. I set my GPS unit and Sheila and I crossed the road to start our hike.

I found a path up to a clearing and continued to head uphill and north. We crossed a right-of-way and then picked up a wood road that seemed to be headed in the right direction. The road was overgrown but easy to follow. The wind continued to blow and I made myself a promise that I would turn around if the rain started. I continued to check our route with my GPS and was annoyed that I had left my compass at home since it is much easier to use. The woods road crossed another road or right-of way as it wound its way up the hill. We crossed several brooks and the the road seemed to turn a little too much to the north and started to descend. I decided to follow it a little farther as it seemed to turn uphill a little farther ahead. I also saw a structure ahead that I wanted to investigate. At that moment the rain started first as a shower and then as something more. I turned around and started back intending to follow the same route we had taken in the way out. It was pretty easy to follow the road we had followed out and Sheila was ahead of me following the track. As we neared the end we followed a slightly different route but ended up back at the car at 2:50 PM after hiking only 1.5 miles. Of course, the rain had almost stopped. I decided to follow the same route back home and by the time I reached Route 268 it was pouring! When I got home I placed the track on my BaseCamp software to check our progress and to plan for next time. It was clear that the other hiker whose route I was following had not hit what is marked on the map as Clabber Peak. I was glad I had checked since Clabber Peak is a little farther north than I was headed. I planned a route for a future date starting where I was parked and continuing to Clabber Peak. After hitting Clabber, I intend to head south along the ridge passing over Middle Clabber and another bump before getting to Speedwell which is at the southernmost end of this ridge. I intend to work my way down to Route 10 and then back to the car.

On Sunday, April 7th, I wanted to get in a hike after church. I knew Cody would not be willing to hike two days in a row so the choice was up to me. I tried to think of a trail that might not be too muddy and came up with the hike from Alder lake to the Beaver Meadow leanto. When We got home from church, I immediately started to get ready trying to account for the 62 degree temperature at the house. I got dressed in my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with no baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles but I decided to put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters anyway. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which are my "go to" hiking boots but are showing some wear. Sheila would not let me leave her sight and seemed ecstatic that we are hiking two days in a row. I got my gear and Sheila in the car and headed up the Beaverkill Road somewhere around 1:00 PM. I headed toward Turnwood and Alder Creek Road. On the way I began to think it would be a good idea to hike to the fire tower on Balsam Lake Mountain. I passed by Alder Creek Road and continued on the Beaverkill Road passing Quill Gordon Lodge and Bevaerkill Falls. The road began to get very rough with potholes an deep ruts but I persisted thinking I would just drive slowly. Just before the Zen monastery there was a "Rough Road" sign and I decided to give up and return to Alder Lake. I turned around and drove back down the road. Near Bevaerkill Falls I pulled over and took out my camera. I walked down to a viewpoint for the falls and took some pictures. The sun was at a bad angle but I thought I got a few good shots. I returned to the car and drove to Alder Creek Road where I turned right and drove to the Alder Lake parking lot. The gate was open and I parked at 1:30 PM. There were a few cars in the lot as I set my GPS devices: Garmin handheld, Avenza on the iPhone and Suunto Traverse watch. We started out at 1:32 PM by walking the path passed the Coykendall Mansion. As we walked, I could hear the sound of a machine and found a motorcycle in front of the ruins. It really didn't surprise me as I know many people feel that rules are not meant for them! We headed down to the "lawn" passing by the stone foundations which marked the last remnants of the Coykendall Mansion. We stopped so that I could take some pictures of the lake which still had a covering of ice. The trees looked bare but there was hint of leaf buds on some. The sky was blue with puffy white clouds.

I packed up and decided to walk the trail around the lake in the opposite direction I normally choose. We turned right and walked over the dam and followed the path toward some campsites. I began to notice that the trail was poorly marked and I chose a lower path. We walked a short distance and then joined the actual trail. I noticed that there were signs indicating the campsite were closed as they had deteriorated from overuse. I wondered if this would make any difference to the campers who come to the lake in the summer! The trail was wet and muddy in spots and the farther east we walked the more snow we began to encounter. I was pleasantly surprised that the DEC had replaced the bridge that was broken and stopped to take a picture. We continued on the trail and crossed over the bridge over Alder Creek. I saw a fisherman approaching and put Sheila on her leash until we had passed him. We continued to walk and I could see a couple approaching. At that point a trail turned to the right and it looked like the Millbrook Ridge Trail. There was no sign and no blazes but I knew it was the trail we wanted. We turned right and started out on the trail. We had to walk a good distance before I saw one faded blaze. Ever since the DEC declared that volunteers are no competent to place blazes the trail markings in the Catskills have deteriorated. What a shame that the blazes are becoming less distinct as more and more people are frequenting the trails! I am not sure who the DEC has designated to mark the trails but they are not getting the job done. The trail was wet and muddy in many places and there were both old and new blowdowns to contend with. Some of the blowdowns had been cut but whoever did the cutting left what they cut in the trail! Others were cut in several, places but the job was left incomplete. I was almost sorry I did not have my saws but decided this was work for another day. I thought it would be nice to find out who the maintainer is for the trail and offer to help. For the next 1.5 miles the trail climbs and then levels off several times. The elevation gain is several hundred feet but the grade is never more than 12% and averages around 6%. There isn't too much to see along the way but this day was very pleasant. I enjoyed the sounds and sights of Alder Creek as it flows parallel to the trail much of the way. The further along the trail we walked the more snow was on the trail and in the forest. In one spot there was a large beaver dam on the left. There was a lot of water in Alder Creek and in the small triturates flowing across the trail. We passed by the first beaver meadow and continued hiking toward our destination.

Soon we arrived at the Beaver Meadow lean-to. We walked down to the lean-to and I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I noticed that the privy was now completely torn apart by thoughtless campers looking for some firewood. One person starts the vandalism and the rest join in! It had taken only an hour an 15 minutes to get to the beaver meadow even though we had stopped several times to clear the trail and take pictures. We walked out to the edge of the beaver meadow where there is a large flat rock and I took pictures of the meadow. There was still quite a bit of snow on the edges and the skies were now much more overcast. We went back to the lean-to and I got a drink and a bar. I took some pictures of the lean-to which is in terrible shape and wondered who makes the decisions on what lean-tos need repair or replacement. At 2:45 PM we started back to Alder Lake. I knew the trip back would be easier since it was all downhill or flat. We walked almost without stopping until we arrived at the Loop Trail around the lake. We turned right and started along the northern shore of the lake. I remembered that there had been some beaver dams that caused flooding of the trail and wondered if they were still in place. We crossed the first ridge and I could see a fisherman on the second. I Put Sheila on her leash and stopped to take a picture of a cherry tree that the beavers were working on felling. I also took pictures of an extensive series of dams which they had constructed and which will flood the trail in time. I like beavers but these guys need to control themselves. As we passed the fisherman, we struck up a conversation. He really wanted to talk but I wanted to get home so I excused myself. We continued along the trail with one stop to take a few shots of Cradle Rock Ridge. We hiked up the lawn and passed the mansion. I decided I had enough pictures of the mansion and walked back to the car. It was 3:55 PM and head had hiked 4.6 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes with several stops. The elevation gain was a modest 665 feet.

On Saturday, April 6th I planned to hike a DEP parcel of land starting at Rehor Road just north of Tompkins Falls. This hike was inspired by James Hopson in a recent Facebook post. My intent was to follow his route but hike a loop rather than using a car spot. This would mean a hike about 8 miles long rather than 5 miles. I knew this would be too long for Cindy if she came along so I contacted the caretaker of the property on Minor Road. It wasn't easy but I finally got in contact and received to hike down to Minor Road and out to Deerlick Road. When I got up in the morning it was already in the high 30's but there was still a light drizzle falling and a heavy fog in the valley. I knew we would wait until late morning to begin to hike since the skies were supposed to clear and the temperature was forecast to rise. I did some chores including going to the local landfill. Finally, we began to get ready around 10:00 AM when the skies were still cloudy, the fog was still hanging around and the temperature had only risen a few degrees. Sheila knew that we were going hiking and kept and eye on us to make sure we would not forget her. Although the forecast was for warmer temperatures, I decided to dress in layers. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I knew this might be a little too warm but felt I could always remove a layer if needed. I put on a pair of light tights under my Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would fend off any ticks which might be out in the warmer weather. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a light hat and gloves. I put on my Salomon B-52 winter hiking boots which are waterproof and warm. They don't have as much support as my regular boots but I was not planning on hiking over 10 miles! I did put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters. We had decided to take our spikes but to forgo the snowshoes. We got Sheila and our gear in the car and I drove north on Old Route 17 to the Beaverkill Road where I turned right. I continued on the Beaverkill Road through Lew Beach and Turnwood for 10.8 miles to Barkaboom Road. I turned left and followed the road passing Big Pond which was still covered in ice. Just before Tompkins Falls, we found Deerlick Brook Road on the right. I continued passed Tompkins falls and began to look for Rehor Road on the right. We cam to a road that looked promising. It was not marked but had a gate with a DEP sign. I check my Avenza app and found we were in the right place. The distance from Beaverkill Road was about 4.2 miles. I pulled over and parked on the shoulder of the road at 11:30 AM. The temperature was 39 degrees as we got ready to hike. I set my THREE GPS units including my Garmin handheld unit, my Suunto Traverse watch and the Avenza app on my iPhone. We began the hike by starting up abandoned Rehor Road passing through the gate.

The road was wide and, although abandoned, seemed to be maintained. I had decided to follow the road as far as it went before starting out on a true bushwhack. We stopped so that I could take some pictures of the road which was covered with a layer of snow. The snow made walking a little difficult but we made good time. The first .65 miles of the road climbs at about 12% which is not difficult but does get the blood flowing. The general direction is east and slightly northeast. At .65 miles the road turns 90 degrees to the left and at this point there is a small pond on the right. I walked down to the shore of the pond to take a few pictures before turning to the main trail. We followed the trail as it continued uphill making a slight turn to the right. At .8 miles we came to a left turn in the road and at this point there were some interesting stone walls. There had been many stone walls along the way and all were well-constructed and higher than many. The walls at the turn were even higher and I took some pictures. At this point we decided to turn right off the trail to continue north. We worked our way up the hill and found a stone wall going up the hill with a road beside it. We followed the road using the principle of "go up". Since we knew we were looking for the highest point around, we simply kept going up. The road leveled and seemed end at in a more open spot which looked familiar from some pictures I had seen. I took some shots and we decided to adjust our route a little more to the northeast since both the map and the terrain seemed to indicate this was a good idea. As we walked we ran into several stands of briars but had to put up with them as there did not seem any way to avoid them. We came to the top of another small hill and looked around for some views of the Pepacton Reservoir. We couldn't find any and we both remarked that if there were views we probably wouldn't see anything anyway as it was still cloudy with fog. As we looked to the northeast, we could see some more high ground so we headed in that direction. We again ran into some prickers but I was able to find a route that had fewer of them and eventually led to an open field at the top of a subpeak! There were no real views but the open field was surprising and we thought that someone must have been clearing it as the trees had not been able to reclaim the area. I put my pack down and took a few shots down the hill as Cindy approached. I noticed that there seemed to be a road heading in that direction. Near the top of the hill was a small structure that had collapsed and I took some picture of it. I walked farther up the hill and a little to the hoping to get a view of the reservoir but there was none.

We had to make a decision about the rest of the hike. I wanted to continue northeast to another ridge to see if we could get some views. I knew this would lengthen the hike and was pretty sure it would be more than Cindy would want to do. She agreed and we decided to see if we could find a way to shorten the hike. I was not too disappointed since the hike had been a good way to explore the area and set up the next hike. We decided to head down the hill to the southwest following what looked like a road. As we started in that direction we did find that there was a road and I hoped it would eventually take us to Deerlick Brook Road. The road was easy to follow but continued to head southwest rather than southeast or east. I reasoned that the wrist abet could happened is that we would eventually meet our route up the mountain. At 2.3 miles the road abruptly turned left and continued more steeply downhill. There were no "PSOTED" sign so we continue on the road which came to a gravel road at 2.8 miles. There was a nice barn here and some good views. We turned left on what I was sure was Minor Road which would take us down to Deerlick Brook Road. We continued down the hill following the road until it intersected Deerlick Brook Road at 3.1 miles. It was 2:00 PM when we turned right on the road and headed toward Barkaboom Road. The skies had cleared and there was some blue with white clouds. The sun was out and it did seem warmer. The sunlight sparkling off the brook along the road made me stop to take a few pictures. After I packed up, we continued down to Barkaboom Road without any more stops. We turned right to start back to the car. After .3 miles, Tompkins Falls came up on the left. I decided to go down the bank to take some pictures. Sheila went with me while Cindy waited seated on the guardrail. I took as many different pictures as I could and even walked upstream a little to take some pictures of some ice on the cliffs along the stream. By this time I was getting tired so we climbed back up the bank and continued down the road. I did stop one more time on the road to get some more pictures of the falls from right in front of them. We arrived back at the car at 2:55 PM having hiked 5.3 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes with over and hour of stopped time. The elevation gain was a respectable 1010 feet and the moving average of 2.2 mph was acceptable.

On Saturday, March 30th I planned to meet my brother-in-law Jeff for a hike. I called him the night before and, after some discussion, we decided to hike at Kelly Hollow. Jeff was not sure of the location so we agreed to meet at the parking area on the south side of the Dunraven Bridge across the Pepacton Reservoir at 10:00 AM. When I got up in the morning it was already in the low 40's and I knew it would grow warmer throughout the day. I asked Cindy if she wanted to hike and she agreed. The hike is only about 4 miles but there are some interesting sites including a stream that runs between the trail out and the trail back. There is also a beaver pond on the trail with a lean-to. We began to get ready ay 9:00 AM preparing to leave just before 9:30 AM. Sheila knew that we were going hiking and kept and eye on us to make sure we would not forget her. I dressed in my long-sleeved Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. I knew this might be a little too warm but felt I could always remove a layer if needed. I put on a pair of Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would fend off any ticks which might be out in the warmer weather. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a light hat and gloves. I put on my Keen Glarus hiking boots which have become my "go to" boots which Keen has discontinued. This last pair is hard to keep waterproof and the sole is delaminating before I would expect. I did put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters. We had decided to take our spikes but to forgo the snowshoes. We got Sheila and our gear in the car and I drove downtown to check the mail. We then headed north on State Route 17 toward Roscoe at 9:30 AM. I prefer using the Beaverkill and Barkaboom Roads which saves some miles but Cindy prefers fewer back roads. I took exit 94 and drove north toward the Pepacton Reservoir on Route 206. At the junction with Route 30, I turned right and followed Route 30 to the Dunraven Bridge. We pulled into the parking area at 10:05 AM and waited for Jeff to appear. At 10:15 AM, I decided to cross the bridge and drive toward Route 28 on Route 30. When we arrived at Route 28, Jeff was not there so I turned around and drove back to the bridge. There is no cell phone service in the area so when we did not find Jeff in the working area I turned left on the BWS road. I drove along these roads until reaching the junction with the Barkaboom Road. I turned left on BWS 9. After 4.5 miles, I turned right on Millbrook Road and continued 5.25 miles to the parking lot for Kelly Hollow on the right. We parked at 10:50 AM with one other car in the lot. We had hoped that Jeff might has found his way to the parking area but the car was not his. I took a moment to set my GPS before starting our hike at 10:55 AM by heading out on the trail marked with yellow XC skiing blazes. The temperature was a little above 50 degrees with a slight breeze blowing. The skies were overcast with white clouds but a few blue areas were peeking through. There was some snow in the parking area and a little ice on the trail but it was otherwise clear. My plan was to walk the trail in a figure 8 which is something I had done several times before. We followed the trail as it crossed a small stream and then turned right on the woods road heading south and ascending slightly passing through a gate. Along the way the trail was wet in spots from the rain the night before and there were more icy patches.

At .3 miles we came to the short spur trail to a designated campsite and passed by as there is not much to see. There was a lot of water flowing in the stream and we could hear and see it easily from above on the bank. At .6 miles we came to the cutoff to the right for the Short Loop hike. We turned right to walk down the cutoff trail to the bridge. The small waterfall below the bridge looked quite inviting so I decided to work my way down the bank to get a better vantage point. As I worked my way down the bank, I realized that the bank was frozen solid and in many places it was simply a thin layer of pine needles over ice. I finally got to a good viewpoint and took off my pack to get out my camera. I took quite a few pictures of the walls and the stream. I packed up and tried to find a good way back ho the bank. I ended up working my way along the stream and climbed the bank, with some problems. Near the bridge. The approach to the bridge was very icy but we worked our way across. I stopped on the bridge to take some pictures and then we continued along the trail. We came to another spot where I wanted to take a side trip down Ti the stream. Sheila alerted and I could see a dog coming toward us with no owner in sight. I put Sheila on her leash as the owner finally came into view. He called his dog to no avail although his dog seemed more interested in hiking. We exchanged grief greetings. This is just one of the many examples of a responsible dog owner meeting one who is either oblivious or irresponsible! I walked down to the stream to another waterfall and was able to get some pictures from the bank. Under better conditions, I would have continued to work my way down to the streambed to unobstructed pictures. I finished and walked back up to the trail. We crossed a bridge across the stream which had an icy approach. We walked up the hill and turned left on the loop trail heading southwest and then south toward the beaver pond and lean-to. Over the next .4 miles we gained almost 300 feet for a 12% grade. Although this is not a steep climb it was more than I remembered. At 1.3 miles we were at the beaver pond which is quickly becoming a beaver meadow. On this day there was quite a bit of water and some ice. Sheila decided to walk out on the ice which we did not appreciate! There are no more beavers in the area but there is a small lodge on the shore. There were some nice patches of blue in a sky full of puffy white clouds so I took some pictures before we continued around the pond. The grass and briars were still prominent on the trail. We crossed a small stream on a bridge and stopped again on the other side. I took a few more pictures before continuing on to the lean-to in the woods. The lean-to was in good shape but beginning to deteriorate so we passed by without stopping.

We continued on the trail now heading northeast and downhill. The trail made a turn so that we were heading southeast and we crossed a few bridges over small streams. There were several blowdowns to work around or over. This side of the trail had more ice and we considered putting on our spikes several times. At one point we started to walk through a grove of pines and I stopped to take a few shots. At 2 miles we came to the spot where I had bushwhacked up to Millbrook Ridge to look down on Alder Lake. At 2.3 miles we made an almost 180 degree turn and started heading north. I noted that this would be a good place to try another bushwhack as it was only .7 miles to the trail that runs along Millbrook Ridge. We continued north on the trail still descending. We were headed toward the crossover trail which we would again use to finish or figure 8. We came across a point where a larger waterfall was almost visible from the trail. The bank was too steep to descend so I took pictures as I could from the bank. Sheila alerted as we walked and we could see a couple approaching us. I again leashed Sheila and the couple passed by with a few welcoming words. We walked a little farther and I found a way to walk down the bank to a point I could get a better view. I though about descending down to the streambed. I realized I could slide down the bank but I could not slide up the bank. I decided to stay where I was an take some pictures. This is definitely is a spot I will return to under better conditions. At 3 miles we again came to the crossover trail and turned left to cross the middle of the figure 8. We again carefully crossed the bridge and walked up the hill on the other side to the main trail. This time we turned right and started to walk 1.1 miles back to the car. The day was pleasant with a slight breeze blowing and I had long ago removed my hat and gloves and had opened the zippers on my hoody. This part of the trail was not well marked but the path was pretty obvious as it followed a woods road. Along the way another substantial waterfall appeared and I just had to walk down the bank to get a better view. I took some shots and then returned to the trail. This part of the trail was very wet with a few patches of ice. At 3.9 miles we finished the descent and came to the Middletown Cemetery. We continued out the access road to Millbrook Road avoiding a great amount of mud on the access road. We turned right and walked the final .3 miles back to the car. It was 2:05 PM and we had spent 3 hours and 15 minutes hiking 4.5 miles with an elevation gain of 735 feet. We had paused for a little over 40 minutes most of which was for my streams exploration and photography breaks. The temperature when we returned to the car was 52 degrees.

On Saturday, March 13rd, I couldn't decide whether or not I was ready to hike again after having been out the day before. I finally decided that I would feel better going for a walk and chose to head back to Sam's Point. My plan was to hike the South Gully Trail from Route 52 to the Loop Road and Sam's Point. I remembered this a s a pleasant, rather flat hike along a stream with several small waterfalls. I didn't know whether I would find much snow but did think there might be some ice based on the conditions we had found at Sam's Point the week before. I did not bother to ask Cindy if she wanted to hike as I did not want to hear her say "No". I am always glad that I have Sheila because she always answers "Yes"! Since I have been teaching again full time, I have not had as much time to hike with Sheila so she kept her eye on me as I began to get ready. The temperature as I was getting ready at 11:15 AM the temperature was still in the mid 30's with a stiff wind blowing. I put on a long-sleeved base layer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of tights underneath my Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a hat and gloves. I wore my Solomon B-52 winter hiking boots as I did not know how much snow and ice to expect. I also put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters to fend off the ticks which I thought might be out. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I brought my spikes just in case I ran into more ice than I had anticipated. I also brought along my Tubbs Alp Flex VTR snowshoes with the Boa binding. This binding uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I got my gear in my car and put Sheila in the backseat before heading out the driveway. I stopped to check the mail and then I headed south and east on the Quickway to Liberty a little after 11:30 AM. I took Route 52 toward Woodbourne and Ellenville. In Ellenville I continued on Route 52 up the mountain toward Cragsmoor. Just after crossing South Gully on the road bridge, I turned around and parked on the east side of the road where the trail crosses. The temperature was just 40 degrees and there was no new snow at all! I knew I would not need the snowshoes. The air temperature felt warm but the wind seemed to cut through even my wind-resistant jacket. I set my GPS unit and we started out on the trail at 12:10 PM. We passed a sign that explained the importance of limiting the spread of invasive species and A sign that, incorrectly, gave the distances to South Gully Road and the Loop Road at Sam's Point. Shortly after starting on the trail, we approached a pile of branches on the trail. As I worked my way around these branches, the wind came up and a large branch fell beside me on the trail. I thought that it would have done some mage had it hit me but continued anyway.

I stopped to take a few shots of the trail which had patches of ice but not much snow. I also took some pictures of the stream below. My memory had betrayed me as we soon began to climb veering away from the stream. Over the next .7 miles we gained over 500 feet over a 15% grade. The trail was muddy in places but mostly alternated from clear to areas of ice. These alternating patches made it hard to put on spikes as they would soon be useless. There were many blowdowns and, in places, the trail was poorly marked. My impression was that some real work needs to be done to get this trail back in shape! At about 1 mile the trail began to descend back toward the stream. The trail was a sheet of ice and I stopped to put on my spikes. As I sat on a bank next to the trail, I had to find a way to prop myself up as even the frozen ground was slippery. I managed to get my spikes on and walk gingerly down the trail to an area covered in hard-crusted snow. I walked over to the stream and got a few pictures of some small waterfalls. There were none of the larger falls I remembered but I did notice that there was quite a bit of erosion along the stream. I walked back to the trail and started an ascent over a river of ice. There was no way to walk around this ice so I carefully worked my way to the top where it thinned out. Sheila, who has built-in crampons, seemed to have no trouble at all. Continuing along the trail we again ran into patches of clear trail alternating with ice. We also had to cross several small streams which was actually easier than I thought it would be. We again ran into a descent where I put my spikes on again and crossed a stream which was deeper and faster flowing than the others. After crossing the stream, I tried to follow the aqua blazes of the Long Path but could not find them along the path that seemed to be favored by previous hikers. Even Sheila was having trouble finding the trail. I returned to the area near the stream and looked ahead for the blazes. I was lucky enough to look to my left and see the blazes farther up the hill. There was no marking for a turn and this area certainly needs some attention. We walked up the hill parallel to the gully made by the stream. I knew we were nearing South Gully Road and I could soon see the pavement. At this point the wind began to blow again and another branch fell next to the trail! At 2:10 PM we arrived at South Gully Road after hiking 2.15 miles and gaining over 800 feet. The distance was almost half a mile farther than marked on the sign at the beginning of the trail. I was not having much fun, it was growing late and I was not looking forward to returning the way I had come. I decided we would walk back to the car on the roads.

I was actually excited to walk back on the roads as I knew we could make good time and it was a route I had never tried before. Walking roads on hikes is nothing new to us as we have done it often hiking the Long Path and the Finger lakes Trail. What I could not properly gauge is how long the road walk would be. I stowed my poles in my packs and put Sheila on her leash. We turned left and started northwest on the road. It was a pleasure to be walking downhill with good footing. I was surprised that quite a few cars passed us on the road ting in both directions. Sheila walks very nicely on her leash and I could soon see Route 52. At 3.65 miles the road turned north and began to head north which lengthened the distance back to the car. This last stretch of road down to Route 52 was a steep descent. We stopped along the way so that I could take pictures of a waterfall on the right side of the road. After getting a drink, we continued down to Route 52 where we turned left and started up hill. I took a quick look at my GPS and found it was less than a mile back to the car. We walked along the wide shoulder of the road avoiding the broken glass that always seems to be present. We stopped briefly so that I could look down from the bridge to the stream far below. I noticed that the temperature seemed to be much warmer as we arrived back at the car at 3:10 PM. We had hiked 5.4 miles in 3 hours gaining a total of 1215 feet. It had taken us 2 hours to fight up the 2.15 miles up the icy trail and only 1 hour to walk the other 3.2 miles back to the car! I thought about stopping to take some pictures from farther up the mountain. I also thought about stopping to take pictures of the waterfall that is on Route 52 in the village of Ellenville. In both cases, I decided I was just too tried and drove directly home.

On Saturday, March 22nd, I had wanted to get out on a hike after a snowfall the night before. It was ironic that we had a scheduled day off from school as a "give back" day because we had used so few snow days. All of the other schools in Sullivan County closed! I was supplied to hear from a few friends that up to 8 inches of snow had fallen at only slightly higher elevations around the valley. I knew that the Frick Pound area might have more snow that around Livingston Manor and decided to take try snowshoeing there. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and got a sort of noncommittal response. I began to get ready but delayed a little to let the road crews plow. When I started to put my gear together at 10:30 AM, Cindy told me she wasn't going. I was disappointed as we had been hiking together over the last few weeks. I knew that hiking in difficult conditions with snowshoes is easier when you have a human companion. I knew that once Cindy said "no" there was no use trying to convince her so I continued to prepare. I can always count on Sheila as she is always ready to go and this day was no exception. The temperature in town was 37 degrees but I knew it might be a few degrees colder at Frick Pond. I put on a long-sleeved base layer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of tights underneath my Columbia Omniheat hiking pants. These have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a heavier hat and gloves. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are all leather and seem to be waterproof with sufficient insulation. I decided to put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I decided to wear my Tubbs Alp Flex VTR snowshoes with the Boa binding. This binding uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I made sure my microspikes were in my pack as I was not sure whether I would use the snowshoes of the spikes. At 10:45 AM we walked out the door, got in the car and went to the post office to check the mail. I started out DeBruce Road toward Frick Pond and after 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. The road was not plowed which surprised me a little. When we arrived in the parking area, there were no cars in the parking lots and neither of the lots was plowed. I parked in the smaller lot as I planned to start at the beginning of the Flynn Trail. The temperature was 34 degrees and a sustained wind was blowing and then gusting. The wind was causing snow and slush to fall from the trees which was unpleasant. I got out of the car and found there was at least six inches of new snow and I knew this could increase as we gained elevation. I was unhappy hat the show was heavy and I knew this would mean it would clump on the snowshoes. I decided to put on the snowshoes as the Flynn Trail looked untouched. I finished getting ready by setting my GPS unit. We crossed the road and started our hike on the Flynn Trail at 11:15 AM. The trail was unbroken but there wasn't too much snow in the areas covered by the trees. At the end of the trail through the woods we turned right on the old Beech Mountain Road and continued to follow the Flynn trail uphill. The snow immediately became deeper where the trail was exposed.

Sheila started up the trail breaking a little track for me to follow. When she began to follow animal tracks, I directed her to stay in the middle of the woods road. I am no longer surprised when Sheila does exactly what I ask her as she is a great trail dog. When we came to the tunnel that I had cut in a big spruce tree that had fallen across the trail, we stopped so that I could take some pictures of that tree and the snow on the trail. The walking was tiring and it wasn't the kind of snow where Sheila could break much of a trail. We stopped every now and then so that I could catch my breath. On one stop I opened the zippers on my hoody. I was getting warm working on the ascent despite the wind. I missed talking to Cindy but that might have been hard since the wind continued to blow. I stopped again to take some pictures of the unbroken snow and the snow still clinging to the trees. It took almost an hour to hike a little over one mile to the area where there is a clearing on the eastern side of the trail. I was tired and knew there was still more than half a mile to the Big Rock Trail. My plan had been to hike to the trail junction and then to the lookout over Hodge Pond on Beech Mountain coming back to the Big Rock Trail and down to Times Square. I now knew that I would not be hiking to Hodge Pond. I knew that the Big Rock Trail would not be packed by snowmobiles and that I would have to break the trail all the way. It seemed like a long haul to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. After 1.7 miles of uphill hiking, we reached the Big Rock Trail after almost and hour and 15 minutes of walking. The trail was unbroken but at least I knew that most of the rest of the trip was downhill or flat! We turned left and started downhill on the heavy, freshly fallen snow which was a real pleasure! Sheila seemed to agree as she ran ahead and then doubled back at a furious pace despite sinking into deep snow. At the junction of the two trails there was at least 9 inches of freshly fallen snow with a few inches of base beneath. We made good time heading for Times Square. There are three separate areas where the trail levels and then descends and again but I was ready for these. On the way down the snow grew less but was sticking to my snowshoes. I kept stopping to knock the snow off which slowed the descent.

When we reached Times Square, we continued straight ahead on the Big Rock Trail around the back of Frick Pond keeping a fast pace. We cross both of the bridges over the small inlet streams to Frick Pond. We stopped in the woods and I took a few pictures of the trail through the spruce forest. We walked across the wooden causeways which were covered in snow. I had thought I would take some pictures but I was tired and there was nothing exceptional. We continued over the rest of the Big Rock Trail out to the Quick Lake Trail. We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail which also was covered in freshly-fallen snow. It was a short walk to the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. As we approached, the wind began blowing in earnest and more snow was falling. Even though I have taken many pictures from the bridge and the visibility was poor, I couldn't resist stopping to take a few more. I took shots of the pond and Beech Mountain, hidden in the snow. I packed up and we headed up the hill. We passed through Gravestone Junction and continued on the woods road back toward the parking area. This trail is usually wet but there were only a few spots of open of water with the rest frozen solid. As we approached the register box, I decided to continue straight ahead on the woods road that leads directly to the parking area. The walk was short and we emerged in the small parking area where there were two cars now parked. The other lot was still not plowed! We walked over to the car after hiking 4 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes with a vertical gain of 720 feet. The temperature was 34 degrees, the same as the beginning of the hike.

Winter 2018 - 2019

On Saturday, March 16th, I asked Cindy if she would like to go somewhere to hike. She said "Yes" but I knew she would not want to hike any huge mountains. I suggested we try to stay away from areas that would be exceptionally muddy and suggested Sam's Point. We had not been in the area for some time and I hoped that, although it was popular, there wouldn't be too many visitors. Cindy agreed and we planned to leave about 10:00 AM. Since I have been teaching again full time, I have not had as much time to hike with Sheila so she kept her eye on me as I began to get ready. The temperature as I was getting ready was still in the low 30's and the forecast was for brisk winds. I put on a long-sleeved base layer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of tights underneath my Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a hat and gloves. I wore my Keen Galrus hiking boots as I did not expect much snow. I did notice they felt a little tight from not having been worn in some time. I did put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters to fend off the ticks which II thought might be out in the warmer weather. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. Cindy and I both brought our spikes just in case we ran into more ice than I had anticipated. I got our gear in Cindy's car and put Sheila in the backseat before heading out the driveway. We stopped to check the mail and then I headed south and east on the Quickway to Liberty a little after 10:00 AM. I took Route 52 toward Woodbourne and Ellenville. In Ellenville I continued on Route 52 up the mountain toward Cragsmoor. At the top of the mountain I turned left and headed toward Cgrasmoor where I turned right on Sams Point Road. In a few minutes we were approaching the Visitor Center at Sam's Point. When we got to the parking area, there were a few cars and some people starting out to hike. I went to the Visitor's Center and paid $10 to park. The attendant cautioned me that the trails were icy and spikes would be a good idea. I went back to the car and got our gear ready to hike setting my GPS unit. We started hiking toward the Loop Road with Sheila on her leash. Where the road split, we turned right to head up to Sam's Point first. We were immediately presented with a sheet of ice covering the road. We both stopped and decided to put on our spikes as other hikers passed us slipping and sliding on the ice. The spikes went on quickly and we started hiking again. The spikes gave us great traction and we quickly passed those who had no traction. We followed the switchbacks to some ledges just below Sam's Point. I stopped here to take some pictures of the valley below. Cindy went to check out the ice ahead which seemed to be disappearing. As I took pictures of the blue skies and white clouds, the wind intensified and I decided to get off the ledges. Cindy reported that our spikes would not be necessary so I took them off and put them in my pack. We walked to the top of the hill and turned left on the path to Sam's Point. After a short walk, I put my pack down and gave Cindy Sheila's leash. I walked out to the point and took some more pictures. The wind was still blowing so I quickly finished my photography as some of the other hikers arrived. Cindy and I walked back out to the Loop Road and turned left.

This part of the Loop Road had some ice and snow but it was easy to avoid these patches. When we reached the road that leads to the Ice Caves, we turned right and walked downhill. At the trail to Verkeerder Kill Falls, we turned left and negotiated some ice to get on the trail. We had not been in this area since the fires that had destroyed hundreds of acres at Sam's Point. The trees in the area still showed the scars of that fire but we could also see that new, green branches were growing from the bases of most of these trees. We continued along the trail until I could see some great views of the valley below. From this vantage point we could also see Lake Awosting, Castle Point and Hamilton Point. We stopped so I could take some pictures and so that some hikers could pass us on the way to the falls. I packed up and we continued along the trail which alternated between bare rock, ice stretches and areas of flowing water. This part of the trail always seems longer than I remember and this days was no exception. The total distance to the falls is 1.75 miles and has an elevation drop of over 500 feet. The slope is not steep but it is relentless. There were some tricky spots along the way and we found it important to concentrate on what we were doing. The wind continued to blow but we were largely sheltered by the trees along the way. Soon we were approaching the falls and I began looking for a way to get to a ledge that overlooks the falls. I left Sheila with Cindy and walked through the brush to find a path down to the ledge. When I got to the ledge, I took off my pack and got out the camera. The falls were flowing freely with ice frozen along the side of the falls. At the bottom of the falls was a large amount of ice that had accumulated from the spray coming from the falls. I worked my way carefully along the ledge and took pictures of the falls, the area below the falls and some downstream from the falls. I looked at the other side of the falls and could see layers of ice covering many of the viewpoints. After taking a few more pictures, I packed up and headed back to Cindy. We decided that it would be too dangerous to cross the stream and try to see the falls from the other. We turned around and started back up the trail we had just descended.

As we hiked up the trail, we kept meeting hikers in groups coming down to visit the falls. By the time we were back at Ice Caves Road the number had swollen to 26 people. Climbing back up the trail was tiring but seemed easier than descending over the ice. The temperature seemed a little higher but the wind began blowing as we left the protection of the trees. At the road, we turned right and walked up to the Loop Road. We turned right here to hike around the Lake Maratanza and back to the car. As we approached the lake, we looked ahead and saw what looked like snow banks ahead. I could also see that the lake was still frozen. The snow banks were real and had formed as the winds swept the snow off the lake all winter! These drifts were almost three feet high in places. At one point we stopped, even though the wind was blowing hard across the lake, so that I could take some pictures of the lake and the snow drifts. We continued along the eastern shore of the lake slogging through the drifts. Along the way we met a half dozen people coming toward us. Soon we were on the north shore of the lake and the snow all but disappeared. The trail continued to have some ice and packed snow but not enough to warrant spikes. At 5.6 miles we came to the carriageway to High Point on the right and for a moment I thought about hiking there. The distance was 1.7 miles to the High Point Trail and I knew it was at least another .3 miles to High Point and I knew we were not ready for another 4 miles. We continued on the Loop Road passing several communications towers along the way. After descending a little, the trail flattened and we passed an area that had the remains of several berrypicker's shacks. From the mid 1800's to the mid 1900's, people camped in the area and picked blueberries. They sold the berries as a source of income and there is still a good crop of berries in this area. As we walked we passed by another shack and then the South Gully Trail on the right. The South Gully Trail is also the route for the Long Path and leads down to Route 52. It follows a stream which has many small waterfalls and cascades. At Route 52, hikers cross the road and follow the Long Path along the Shawangunk Ridge Trail to Wurtsboro. We continued on the road which was now covered in snow and ice. I stopped one more time to take some pictures of another shack. We walked down the final small hill to the parking area and the car. The parking area had considerably more cars than when we started. It was 3:20 PM and we had spent 4 hours and 5 minutes hiking 6.8 miles. The elevation gain was 885 feet and we had stopped for over 35 minutes. On the way home I stopped and Route 52 to take some pictures of the Catskills. We stopped at Gabby's in Ellenville for Mexican food before returning home.

On Saturday, March 9th, Cindy and I had already hiked at Ferncliff Forest near Rhinecliff and visited the tower there. We entered an approximate address for the Stissing Mountain Thompson Pond area and followed the directions. We followed Route 199 east and then took Route 308 south to Rhinebeck. Route 308 took us east and a little north before meeting Route 199 again! We followed Route 199 until just before the village of Pine Plains. On our way we could see the tower high on a mountain just to the south of the road. There are several different trails to the top of the mountain but I had read conflicting stories about them. Many of these stories asserted that two of the approaches crossed private land and that any easements had been revoked. I decided we would use the trail from the Thompson Pond area on Lake Road and so we made the turn south off Route 199. We drove along the road for about 1.3 miles to the parking area on the left side of the road. I remember we had trouble finding where to park last time. This time we found the parking area immediately but found there was no place to park. I turned the car around and parked along the side of the road. I walked over to the beginning of the trail to make sure I knew where we were gong. There wasn't much snow but there was some mud. I went back to the car, set my GPS, and put Sheila on her leash. We crossed the road at about 12:30 PM, walked through the gate and began to immediately climb. The road was very eroded so we walked along the side when we could trying to stay out of the mud and away from the occasional ice and snow patches. There was only a little snow and ice at this elevation. The climb from the road was steep and I remember thinking last time we were at this location that there is little time to warm up. Sheila alerted almost immediately and we could see a group of six hikers coming down the trail. As they approached, I took Sheila by the collar and walked off the side of the trail. The hikers said "hello" and continued down the trail. They seemed to know what they were doing but none had poles or traction devices. We continued up the trail encountering two more hikers one of whom had a dog on a leash. After a little more than .25 miles we came to a fork in the trail marked by a stone cairn. I decided we would climb the steeper trail to the left and descend the more gentle one to the right. I felt this was the safer plan remembering some of the "features" of the trail from previous trips. For the next .5 miles the trail averaged a 23% grade with some spots flatter and others steeper. We could see that several inches of snow covered a layer of ice. We decided to stop on put on our spikes. As we finished securing the spikes, we could see another hiker approaching with a dog. We continued up the steep trail hoping he would go the other way. He soon caught up to us and did not have his dog on a leash. I was annoyed and said a quick "Hello" as I stepped aside to let him pass. There were some tricky areas especially as we neared the summit. We had to work our way around several icy areas and I assumed anyone without spikes and ascended and descended the other trail which has a gentler slope. We were able to work around the icy areas and by 1:20 PM we were at the tower after only .75 miles.

Once at the tower I dropped my pack, leashed Sheila to a tree and took off my spikes. It was hard to get pictures of the tower as it is surrounded by trees. I estimated that the temperature had risen to the mid 30's and it was much warmer in the sun. There was a family on the tower and I waited until some of them came down to start my climb. Cindy decided to stay on the ground this time with Sheila. I climbed about three-quarters of the way up and found a breeze blowing which immediately chilled me. I took some pictures to the east. Thompson Pond and Stissing Lake were visible with the Taconic Mountain in the background. The ponds have a bog environment which was evident in their formation even from far above. I climbed into the cab of the tower to look around and took more shots from there. Eventually it was time to descend the tower. I shared a drink and a snack with Cindy before heading back down on the other trail to form a lollipop loop. As we started out another couple came up with a dog they had not bothered to leash. The dog would not listen to the owners so We had to stop until they could get a hold on the dog's collar. People can be very stupid and certainly inconsiderate! We walked passed the tower on the trail and tired right to head down. The trail was snow covered hiding a layer of ice underneath. This made for slow going but it was easier than the ascent. At the bottom of a short descent the trail turned right to parallel our route up the mountain. Our spikes definitely made walking over the ice easier. We crossed a small brook and continued to head down the mountain. I caught a glimpse of Little Stissing and it was clear we were headed between the two mountains. At 1.6 miles we were back at the stone cairn where the trail splits. We retraced our steps toward the car meeting one more hiker coming up the trail. I decided to take off my spikes on the rest of the short descent while Cindy left her's on. I thought it ironic that I slipped and almost fell more times on the mud than I had on the ice and snow. We were back at the car at 2:15 PM having covered 1.9 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes wit 30 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was only 900 feet but there were some very steep areas. On the way home we stopped at Gabby's in Ellenville for some very good Mexican food.

On Saturday, March 9th, I asked Cindy if she would like to go somewhere to hike. She said "Yes" but I knew she would not want to hike any huge mountains or for very many hours. I suggested we go to some fire towers on the east side of the Hudson River. I wanted to get away from the my usual haunts around Livingston Manor and the weather forecast seemed ideal. Although it was only 12 degrees when I got up at 6:00 AM, the temperature was supposed tom rise into the low 40's. Cindy agreed and we planned to leave about 9:00 AM. Since I have been teaching again full time, I have not had as much time to hike with Sheila so she kept her eye on me as I Egan to get ready. We knew that dogs were allowed where we were going as long as they were on a leash. I put on a long-sleeved base layer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of tights underneath my Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a hat and gloves. I wore my Keen Galrus hiking boots as I did not expect much snow. I did notice they felt a little tight from not having been worn in some time. I did put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters to fend off the snow and keep my lower legs warm. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. Cindy and I both brought our spikes and I threw in my Salomon b-52 winter boots just in case we ran into more snow than I had anticipated. When I looked at the temperature, it was only in the low 30's. I got our gear in Cindy's car and put Sheila in the backseat before heading out the driveway. We stopped to check the mail and then I headed south and east on the Quickway to Liberty. I took Route 52 toward Woodbourne and Ellenville. In Ellenville I picked up Route 209, headed north toward Kingston and crossed the Kingston Rhinecliff Bridge on Route 199. Our first objective was the fire tower at Ferncliff Forest between Rhinecliff and Rhinebeck. My directions were from Rhinebeck heading north so we turned south on River Road in Rhinecliff to head toward Rhinebeck. In only a few miles the road split and we turned left on Mount Rutsen Road. In about half a mile a parking area appeared on the right. The sign said "Ferncliff Forest" so we pulled in to park at about 10:30 AM. There were several cars parked in the lot which was almost devoid of snow but had several muddy areas. We decided not to put on our spikes immediately. I set my GPS and we were ready to go. I put Sheila on her leash as requested by the signs at the kiosk. There was a brochure at the kiosk with a map but it only had the trails without any legend or other markings. I wondered why a group would go to the trouble of producing a map and then not label it essentially rendering it useless. We headed up the wide road that led out of the parking area and found the snow hard packed an slippery along with several areas of ice. Almost immediately we were on the shores of a small pond. There was a pavilion and a lean-to on the shores of the pond. We found a sign marked "Tower" pointing to the right, so we turned right onto that trail. This trail was the East Tower Trail which we followed to the tower at about .65 miles.

The tower is an International Derrick which was moved from South Carolina and erected at Ferncliff a few years ago. We took pictures from the ground of the tower and then leashed Sheila to tree before climbing the tower. Sheila will try to follow us and does a pretty good job of climbing up and down. These steps were open metal so I thought it was better she stay on the ground. As we climbed toward the top of the tower, Cindy decided to stop abbot three-quarters of the way up. I continued to the top and found the cab open. The views to the east were OK but those to the west were outstanding. The Hudson River was below with the bridge clearly visible. Near the tower, on the eastern shore, were some fields separated by lines of trees. I took a lot of pictures in this direction at various zooms. There were also some interesting buildings. The main building had what looked like a steeple but the rest of the building looked more like a barn. On the western shore were some industrial buildings. In the background were the northeastern Catskills which certainly looked imposing from the tower. It was a little colder above the tree line so I headed back down. We decided to try to take the West Tower Trail back to form a loop since we knew we would not be hiking too much. We hiked away ROM the tower in the opposite direction we came and continued to hike without seeing the turn for the loop trail. We did see a sign that said there was private land ahead and that we should take the loop trail. We continued along expecting to find it but soon began to see private residences. I was very disappointed in the poor trail markings. We turned around and retraced our steps and found the West Tower trail with no marking for a turn. Most of the trails continued to have a few marking here and there but they were spotty at best. The trail wound around a little but soon a sign advised us to take the Circle Trail back. This trail passed through some wet areas but we were soon on the opposite side of the pond we had seen earlier. We walked around the pond and I stopped to take a few pictures of the pond and pavilions. We then retraced our steps to the car. The total hike was 2.2 miles. I know that this area is a favorite when the weather gets warmer and I was glad to see it when nobody else was around! We were ready to head south to Stissing Mountain for our second hike of the day.

On Wednesday, March 8th I wanted to get out for a hike after I returned home from teaching chemistry for the day. Teaching has been fun and rewarding but also tiring but I knew I needed to get outside. By the time I returned home at 3:30 PM the temperature was still only 18 degrees with a stiff breeze blowing. I decided to just go across the street to Round Top as we could easily return if we were too cold. I put on a long-sleeved base layer and wore a Panasonic medium weight wool top. I put on a pair of tights underneath my Columbia Omniheat hiking pants. These have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed but blocks the wind well. I put on a heavier hat and gloves. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are insulated against the cold. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I decided to leave my microspikes at home as I hoped there would be little snow and ice. At 3:55 PM we walked out the door. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. She pulled me up the driveway knowing exactly where we were going. The driveway was icy in places which we carefully worked around. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church with the wind making me feel very cold. We started the walk up the steepest hill behind the church. The hill had only a little ice but did have a dusting of snow. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping as is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we paused for a moment to take in the view before turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash, and she began to explore the trail with her nose. As we followed the trail, I noticed that there was more snow than I thought there might be.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. I followed the yellow blazes up to the spur trail to the viewpoint and walked to the top of the hill. As we made the turn to follow the trail uphill toward the next trail junction there was several inches of snow. At the junction, we turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The snow was soft and fluffy over a slightly harder, packed base. At the next trail junction, we turned left on the blue trail and walked up toward the summit of Round Top. This part of the trail faces east and south but still had a few inches of fresh snow. Soon we were walking across the summit plateau. We started down the steeper side where I found the going difficult as the layer of fresh snow hid several patches of ice and hard-packed snow. Once we got to the yellow trail, we turned left and walked to the trail junction again. This time we turned right and followed the trail down to the woods road. We walked downhill on the woods road to the first trail junction finding one tree across the trail. I was still feeling fresh so we turned around to do another figure 8 in the opposite direction. We started back up the more gentle slope we had just descended. We followed the yellow blazes up the woods road to the next trail junction where we turned left to walk along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned right and walked up the steepest hill on the trail. Ascending this steeper section with its icy patches was challenging in spots. We finally made the summit of Round Top without a problem. Sheila was running around off the trail investigating various animal tracks seemingly unfazed by the cold weather. We walked across the summit and down the hill to the yellow trail. We turned right to again walk along the base of Round Top. At the next trail junction we turned left to walk down to the lookout. At the lookout we turned left and followed the yellow blazes on the trail back to the first trail junction. We continued straight ahead on the yellow trail to the trailhead. We walked down the cemetery hill under overcast skies. At the base of the hill, I put Sheila on her leash and we walked back to our driveway. It was 5:00 PM and we had hiked 1.8 miles in just over an hour.

On Saturday, March 2nd, I was ready to get a longer hike in after teaching for a full week. When I woke up, I noticed Sheila was "coughing" and I could not determined whether it was a respiratory or digestive problem. The problem continued for some time problem and I was becoming concerned although Sheila seemed to be doing fine. I was trying to decided whether to take her to the et or not when the coughing became less frequent and eventually disappeared. I began to think we should try hiking but over a shorter distance. I decided to go to Frick Pond and hike a shorter loop to make sure Sheila was aright. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go along and she agreed. Sheila would like to go out everyday and was more than ready to go for a hike. Around 9:15 AM I began to get ready to leave. I put on a long-sleeved base layer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a hat and heavier gloves. I wore my Salomon B-52 boots which are old but fit well and are the boot I prefer for winter. I did put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters to fend off the snow and keep my lower legs warm. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately to go with the snowshoes. When I looked at the temperature, it was still right around freezing. I got our gear in the car and put Sheila in the backseat before heading out the driveway. We stopped to check the mail and then I headed out DeBruice Road. I turned left on the Mongaup Pond Road to head toward the Frick Pond trailhead. I stayed to the left where the road spilt and headed up Beech Mountain Road to the trailhead. Both parking areas had been plowed at some time but the snow had drifted in and there was some frozen snow in both lots. There were two pickup trucks parked in the larger lot. They had a light covering of snow so Assumed they had been there overnight. The temperature was only 28 degrees but there was no breeze. We both put on our microspikes and I set my GPS before starting out on the woods road toward the trail register. There was some ice and hard-packed snow as well as the newly-fallen dusting of powder. The woods road from the register out to Gravestone Junction had snow and ice but very little standing or running water. We stopped twice along so that I could take some pictures. There was still some snow encasing the branches on the trees. We stayed to the left at Gravestone Junction and walked down the hill to Frick Pond. The view of the pond was much the same as always but Flynn's Point had a covering of frozen snow on the trees. I decided to atop and take some pictures. After taking some shots, I packed up and we headed over the bridge to continue our hike. Sheila has not been out in several days and she was dashing around and really enjoying herself. She was not showing any signs of impairment from her earlier problems.

The trail on the west side of the pond was icy in places but the temperature was increasing making snow clump on the bottom of our spikes. At the next trail junction we stayed to the left to follow the Quick Lake Trail through the "Spruce Tunnel" to Iron Wheel Junction. I definitely felt that the spikes were becoming more of a problem than an asset as I had to stop frequently to use my poles to knock the snow off. There was still quite a bit of snow in the woods away from the trail averaging from 4 to 6 inches. We stopped at the small stream which was running with water. I took some shots of the stream and the trail before packing up to move on. We could not cross where the trail crossed so we walked upstream to cross where the stream is narrower. We continued up to Iron Wheel Junction still having problems with no clumping on our spikes. When we arrived at Iron Wheel Junction, we stopped to get a drink and a bar. We could see that the trail had been used by snowmobiles and could hear some machines on the Logger's Loop toward Times Square. As we were stopped several machines went through the junction. I took a few shots and then we turned right to get on the Logger's Loop to head toward Times Square. The sign told us that Times Square was about 1.2 miles away but I knew that we would go through a series of ups and downs along the way before hitting the highest point at 1.8 miles. Snow continued to clump on my spikes so I stopped to remove them. Cindy decided to keep her's on. Just before the highest point ion the trail, we stopped to allow another group of snowmobiles to pass us. Once we hit the high point it was all downhill to Times Square. At 2.4 miles we stopped at a small pond on the left side of the trail. I took a few pictures before we continued on the trail. We walked downhill to Times Square. At Times Square I took a quick look up the Big Rock Trail but decided to simply continue out the Logger's Loop. This part of the trail has a slight uphill but is probably the easiest way back to the parking area from Times Square. All along our hike I had been noticing the areas where we had cleared blowdowns. I also noted that there were areas that needed new trail markers which now can only be placed by the foresters. I was having no trouble walking without my spikes. We crested the small hill and started down to Gravestone Junction. Sheila alerted and I could see several tents pitched at the designated campsite on the right side of the trail near the privy. They were loud and seemed to be having a good time. We passed by the campers and continued toward Gravestone Junction. We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and began the walk back to the car. The walk went quickly and we were back at the car at noon having taken 2 hours and 15 minutes to hike 3.7 miles with an elevation gain of only 385 feet. The temperature was still right around freezing.

On Saturday, February 23rd, I had wanted to get out on a longer hike as early in the day as possible. I had to time a basketball playoff game which might be moved up to 2:00 PM due to another approaching ice storm. In addition, I wanted to get out while the snow was still frozen as I planned to wear spikes and not snowshoes. The recent warmer weather and rain had been followed by a freeze leaving a small amount of very hard snow. My intent was to go to the Frick and Hodge Pond areas and visit both ponds in some kind of loop. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she agreed and we hurried to get to the trailhead by 10:00 AM. I started to get ready with Sheila underfoot making sure that I knew she wanted to go. I put on a long-sleeved base layer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of tights underneath my Columbia Omniheat hiking pants. These have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a heavier hat and gloves. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are all leather and seem to be waterproof with sufficient insulation. I decided to put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I made sure my microspikes were in my pack as I expected to use them at some time. At 9:30 AM we walked out the door, got in the car and started out DeBruce Road toward Frick Pond. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area, there were no cars in the parking lots. I parked in the smaller lot as I planned to start at the beginning of the Flynn Trail. The temperature was 28 degrees. We both decided to put on our spikes as the Flynn Trail looked untouched and plenty icy. I finished getting ready by setting my GPS unit. We crossed the road and started our hike on the Flynn Trail at 9:50 AM. The trail was unbroken and we were sinking in slightly despite the heavy crust. This made walking arduous as our poles were also sinking in a catching on the crust. At the end of the trail through the woods we turned right on the old Beech Mountain Road and continued to follow the Flynn trail uphill.

The snow wasn't deep and I was able to see a slight hint of the track I had left earlier. Sheila started to follow that track and we followed her. When she began to follow animal tracks, I directed her to stay in the middle of the woods road and follow the existing track. I am no longer surprised when Sheila does exactly what I ask her as she is a great trail dog. We passed thorough the tunnel that we had cut in a big spruce tree that had fallen across the trail. The walking was tiring and it wasn't the kind of snow where Sheila could break a trail. We stopped every now and then to catch our breath as sinking into the snow and then lifting our feet was tiring. We like to talk when we hike but it was impossible to hear each other over the crunching of the snow so we mostly kept to ourselves. During one stop I took some pictures of the unbroken snow and of Sheila and Cindy on the trail. It took almost an hour to hike a little over one mile to the area where there is a clearing on the eastern side of the trail. We were both tired and knew there was still more than half a mile to the Big Rock Trail. My plan was to hike to the trail junction and then out and around Hodge Pond. We would then hike back to the Big Rock Trail and down to Times Square. I was pretty sure that this trail would be packed by snowmobiles. It seemed like a long haul to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. After 1.7 miles of uphill hiking, we reached the Big Rock Trail after almost and hour and 15 minutes of walking. The trail was well-packed by snowmobiles. I was ready to try the trip to Hodge Pond but Cindy was not. I was a little disappointed but I was tired also and time was not on my side. We turned left and started downhill on the packed snow which was a real pleasure! Sheila seemed to agree as she ran ahead and then doubled back at a furious pace despite sinking into the hard crust. We made good time heading for Times Square. There are three separate areas where the trail levels and then descends and again but I was ready for these.

When we reached Times Square, I looked around to see if there were snowmobile tracks on the Logger's Loop to the left or straight ahead on the Big Rock Trail. Fortunately, the only tracks I saw were tracks from hikers! We continued straight ahead on the Big Rock Trail around the back of Frick Pond keeping a fast pace. After a short distance, Sheila alerted and we saw three hikers coming toward us. We said "hello" and I noticed all three were wearing spikes. We cross both of the bridges over the small inlet streams to Frick Pond. We stopped in the woods and I took a few pictures of the trail through the spruce forest. We walked across the wooden causeways which were covered in snow but showed evidence that many people had been using them. We continued over the rest of the Big Rock Trail out to the Quick Lake Trail. We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail which was also packed. It was a short walk to the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. As we approached, I could see a couple coming across the bridge so I put Sheila on her leash. As we passed and greeted each other, I noticed these hikers also were wearing spikes. Even though I have taken many pictures from the bridge, I couldn't resist stopping to take a few more. I took shots of the pond and Beech Mountain including some interesting clouds. I packed up and we headed up the hill. We passed through Gravestone Junction and continued on the woods road back toward the parking area. This trail is usually wet but there were only a few trickles of water with the rest frozen solid. As we approached the register box, there were two more couples signing in and they also wore spikes! We continued straight ahead following the woods road back out to the parking area. The walk was short and we emerged in the small parking area where there were several cars now parked. We walked over to the car after hiking 4 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes with a vertical gain of 720 feet. The temperature was 28 degrees, the same as the beginning of the hike. As we drove away some sleet began to hit the windshield.

On Wednesday, February 20th an announcement was made early in the morning that school would close just after noon for an impending ice storm. I immediately began to plan a trip to Frick and Hodge Ponds providing it was still possible when I got home. I returned home just after 12:30 PM and it was still nice enough to take a quick trip to Frock Pond. I asked Cindy if she would like to go hiking. She said "Yes" but suggested going across the street to Round Top. I really did not want to do this but felt locked into it. I reluctantly agreed and started getting ready for a hike I had done dozens of times. The temperature outside was in the high 20's but it felt raw and colder than that. I started to get ready with Sheila encouraging me at very turn. I put on a long-sleeved base layer under my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of tights underneath my Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a heavier hat and gloves. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are all leather and seem to be waterproof with sufficient insulation. We decided that there was not enough snow for snowshoes and that spikes would also not be needed. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. At 1:00 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do at least two figure 8's which might be enough given the situation. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked across the field to the back of the church. I was surprised that there was only a couple of inches of snow in the field and that was frozen hard as a rock. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church which was almost completely bare of snow and ice. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill.

When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. The sun on the trailhead had melted all of the snow down to bare ground. I let Sheila off her leash, and she began to explore the trail with her nose. As we followed the trail, I noticed there was a covering of snow over a layer of harder packed snow and ice. and that there were footprints in it. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails. At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. There was one blowdown across the trail which would require an axe to clear. There wasn't much snow in the woods either and it was well-packed. My conclusion was that spikes would probably have been a good idea! At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. This section of the trail faces west and north so there was more snow and ice which made the going slippery. I was able to get a grip by planting my feet and poles but some sections were tricky! We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. Descending on the snow and ice proved to be a problem without any traction. Soon we were back at the yellow trail. We turned right and walked the yellow trail to the next trail junction. Here we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill to the lookout. There wasn't much to see at the lookout so we continued on the trail. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The walk had gone quickly, so we turned around and started back up the hill back to the lookout. Sometimes Sheila resists another loop but this time she was in the lead. We followed the yellow trail uphill toward the lookout and turned right to continue up to the next trail junction with the blue trail. Along the way a few spots were difficult to navigate. At the trail junction, we turned right to stay on the yellow trail. At the next junction we turned left to climb the shallower side of the summit ascent. This was easier than descending but the slipping and sliding were a good workout. We again walked across the flat summit and descended the steeper trail. The hard packed snow and ice made this descent the trickiest of all but we made it to the bottom without falling. At the trail junction, we turned left and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction we turned right this time to follow the trail down to the woods road that leads out to the first trail junction. That was enough for me given the time and the impending icy weather. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead. Sheila was well-behaved and stayed with us most of the time. I put her on her leash and we walked down the cemetery hill. We walked across the field to our driveway. It was 2:15 PM and we had hiked over 2 miles in a little more than an hour.

On Friday, February 15th we had a day off from school for a teacher's conference. I was not required to go as I am officially a per diem substitute teacher so I decided to call Karl and ask him to bring Bryce to the house ready to hike. Some rain was forecast for the afternoon and I had not hiked for almost a week so I decided to do a local hike. I wanted to pick my paycheck up in Liberty so I thought we might go to Walnut Mountain to hike. Bryce didn't arrive until about 9:30 AM and by the time we wee ready to go it was around 10:30 AM. I was surprised when I checked the temperature and found it was in the low 40's! I knew that this would make the snow very soft but I also knew there wasn't much left after the recent rain and warmer weather. I decided against snowshoes and just left my spikes in my pack. As I began to get ready Sheila was happily dancing about. Going back to teaching full-time and coaching has pit a real dent in our ability to get out and hike! I put on a long-sleeved Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own but did not add a base layer. I put on my Columbia Omniheat hiking pants but did not wear tights underneath. These pants have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed but blocks the wind well. I put on a lighter hat and gloves. I decided to wear my Salomon B52 boots which I thought would be better in the wet snow than the Vasque Talus hiking boots. I did put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters and grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I also grabbed Bryce's polls as we headed out to the car. I put the gear in the back of the car and Sheila and Bryce in the back seat. I drove out to the Quickway and headed to the Liberty High School to pick up my check. From there I drove out Route 52 to West Lake Street and turned left. As we drove passed the West Lake Street parking area, I decided we would go to the main parking lot on Walnut Mountain Road. I turned right on Route 55 at the end of West Lake Street and drove to Walnut Mountain Road where I turned right and drove toward the parking area. The road was plowed all the way to the parking lot but the gate was locked so we parked in one of the spots outside the gate just after 11"00 AM. There were no other cars which sited my just fine! I set my GPS and we started the hike at 11:10 AM by walking around the gate and up the road to the area of the pavilion. Walnut Mountain Park offers a great variety of trails and routes including carriage roads, trails and mountain bike tracks. I chose to walk up the main carriage road that passes the pavilion on the left. We turned right and started up the hill on the wide carriage road. Immediately we found out that the soft and melting snow hid patches of ice! We walked up the hill passing several side trails until the main trail split. We continued straight ahead on the carriage road which eventually met the Walnut Loop Trail West. This trail heads south along the west side of the mountain eventually climbing along hill to a viewpoint on the right. We stopped so that I could take a few pictures right around the 1.1 mile mark. I took some shots of the trail and out across the landscape toward the west and north. I knew we would probably get to the upper lookout which has a better view. We continued to follow the carriage road as it passed through a field and then made a sharp left turn becoming the Walnut Loop Trail East. We descended the hill heading back to the elevation of the main parking area and encountering some more ice along the way. We walked through and old quarry, out to the playground and back toward the pavilion.

We turned left and started back up the mountain the way we had gone the first time. Bryce and I were both a little tired and warm since the sun had come out full force. This time we turned left at he trail junction and headed south on the Mountain House Overlook Trail. After a short walk uphill. We turned right and continued to climb on the Sunset Trail which loops around the mountain. At 2.25 miles we followed the trail as it turned left or south paralleling the Walnut Loop West but at a higher elevation. At the south end of this trail I wanted to turn left to climb to the summit but first we walked straight ahead to the upper lookout. This had better views than the one below so I dropped my pack and got out the camera. While I took pictures, Bryce got a drink. I took shots toward Swan Lake and noticed that the skies to the northwest were getting very dark. We retraced our steps and followed the Mountain House Trail up toward the summit of Walnut Mountain. At one time there had been a small resort hotel on the mountain with a ski area. As the trail leveled off we followed some paths to the left that headed toward the summit. There were some mountain bike tracks that went up through the rocks and we had to be careful because of the ice. We walked along the tracks and crossed a wooden bridge put in by the bike club. We stopped at Ta picnic table just below the summit. Bryce sat down and Sheila jumped up beside him. I took some shots of them and then a few of the trails and the summit. I shouldered my pack and we headed over the summit and then looped back to the path we had taken up. We walked down to a mountain bike track and followed it north for a short distance before turning right and walking out to the Mountain House Trail. We walked back to the Sunset Trail and along the way I could see a hiker with two dogs running free. I put Sheila on her leash as we turned right on the Sunset Trail and walked back out to the Mountain Overlook Trail. The hiker must have called his dogs and continued to the overlook because we never saw them again. We retraced our route back to the main carriage road and out to the pavilion. From there we walked through parking area and back out to the car. It was 1L30 Pm when we finished and we had spent 2 hours and 20 minutes hiking 3.8 miles. The elevation gain was a modest 725 feet. We were both happy we got to hike together. It was in the upper 40's at the car and as we left raindrops began to fall.

On Saturday, February 9th I wanted to get out for a hike since I had not been out in a week and Sheila was giving me longing looks. The weather had alternated between good and bad but I was not able to get out during the week as I have taken on the role of chemistry teacher at Liberty. I had to think hard about the "opportunity" but decided to accept to help out the students, many of whom I know very well. The length of my assignment could be for several weeks or until the end of the year. After four days, I alternate between feeling comfortable and overwhelmed! The temperature in Livingston Manor was in the mid teens with a sustained 20 mph wind gusting to well over 30 mph. The wind chill was well below zero so I decided to wait until after I had done some chores around the house. By 10:15 AM I knew that if I waited I might not go. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she said "Yes". We decided to just go across the street to Round Top as we could easily return if we were too cold. I put on a long-sleeved base layer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of tights underneath my Columbia Omniheat hiking pants. These have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed but blocks the wind well. I put on a heavier hat and gloves. I wore my Vasque Talus hiking boots which are bore comfortable than most winter boots. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately but found the tip on one pole was broken. I grabbed another pair. Cindy and I decided we would take our microspikes as there had been packed snow on the trail and then rain which had frozen. I decided to leave my pack home as the snow had mostly disappeared. At 10:45 AM we walked out the door. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. She pulled me up the driveway knowing exactly where we were going. There was a large patch of ice at the end of the driveway which we carefully worked around. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church with the wind making us feel very cold. We started the walk up the steepest hill behind the church. The hill had no ice or snow and is short but gets the circulation pumping as is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we paused for a moment to take in the view before turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash, and she began to explore the trail with her nose. As we followed the trail, I noticed that there was almost no snow and only a few paces of ice.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. We followed the yellow blazes up to the spur trail to the viewpoint and walked to the top of the hill. As we made the turn to follow the trail uphill toward the next trail junction there was several inches of packed snow. We walked for a short distance and then put on our microspikes as we could see the snow covering the trail up to the summit. At the junction, we turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The snow was hard and crunchy and having the spikes on made us more confident. At the next trail junction, we turned left on the blue trail and walked up toward the summit of Round Top. This part of the trail faces east and south and had almost no snow or ice. Soon we were walking across the summit plateau. We started down the steeper side where I was partially glad we had worn the spikes. The trail had ice and snow in abundance. Once we got to the yellow trail, we turned left and walked to the trail junction again. This time we turned right and followed the trail down to the woods road. We walked downhill on the woods road to the first trail junction finding one tree across the trail. I was still feeling fresh so I asked Cindy if she would like to do another figure 8 in the opposite direction. When she said "Yes", we turned around and started back up the more gentle slope we had just descended. We followed the yellow blazes up the woods road to the next trail junction where we turned left to walk along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned right and walked up the steepest hill on the trail. I appreciated having the spikes to ascend this section as they allowed a sure grip on the iciest parts. We both had good traction and easily made the summit of Round Top without a problem. Sheila was running around off the trail investigating various animal tracks seemingly unfazed by the cold weather. We walked down the hill to the yellow trail and turned right to again walk along the base of Round Top. At the next trail junction we turned left to walk down to the lookout. At the lookout we turned left and followed the yellow blazes on the trail back to the first trail junction. We continued straight ahead on the yellow trail to the trailhead. I took off my spikes but Cindy left hers on. We walked down the cemetery hill under partly sunny skies. At the base of the hill, I put Sheila on her leash and we walked back to our driveway. It was 11:50 PM and we had hiked 1.8 miles in just over an hour.

On Saturday, February 2nd, I had wanted to get out early and hike Cabot Mountain or maybe even a 3500 foot peak. At 6:00 AM the temperature was -12 degrees which I knew was too cold for Sheila and too cold for me. I did some work around the house and waited until noon when the thermometer had made it all the way up to 24 degrees with some blue skies and sun. I knew it was too late to tacks what I had wanted but that Frick Pond had plenty of snow after the last storm dropped at least ten inches. I started to get ready with Sheila underfoot making sure that I knew she wanted to go. I put on a long-sleeved base layer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of tights underneath my Columbia Omniheat hiking pants. These have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a heavier hat and gloves. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are all leather and seem to be waterproof with sufficient insulation. I decided to put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I decided to wear my Tubbs Alp Flex VTR snowshoes with the Boa binding. This binding uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I made sure my microspikes were in my pack although I was sure I would not need them. At 12:25 PM we walked out the door, got in the car and started out DeBruce Road toward Frick Pond. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area, there were two cars in the large lot. The smaller lot where I usually park was block by a large pickup that was pulled across the front of the lot with two people sitting in it. I signaled and waited for them to move but they just sat there! I pulled in front of them and parked and they eventually pulled away. I parked in the smaller lot as I planned to start at the beginning of the Flynn Trail. The temperature was 28 degrees. I got out my snowshoes and starts to put them on and noticed a slight breeze was blowing. As I was getting ready a young dog started barking at the cabin at the end of the road and then started to approach us. The owner was calling the dog which was paying no attention. Fortunately the dog was friendly but I was annoyed by the inconsiderate owner. The same thing happened the last time we hike at Frick Pond so I concluded the owner is a slow learner. The owner tried to get a hold on his dog but could not. I finished getting ready by setting my GPS unit. We crossed the road and started our hike on the Flynn Trail at 12:45 PM. The trail was unbroken and there was at least 10 inches of fresh powder. The loose dog was still bouncing around us and a comment from the owner seemed to indicate I should do something about his problem. We walked up the Flynn Trail toward the woods road that ascends the hill. Near the end of the trail, I gave up and walked out to meet the owner since that was the only way he was going to get his dog to come to him. I was annoyed since I knew that this would continue to happen. We turned around and walked up the woods road and through the gate.

The snow was deep but I was able to see a slight hint of the track I had left earlier in the week before the last snowfall. Sheila started to follow that track and I followed her. When she began to follow animal tracks, I directed her to stay in the middle of the woods road and follow the existing track. I am no longer surprised when Sheila does exactly what I ask her as she is a great trail dog. We passed thorough the tunnel that I had cut in a big spruce tree that had fallen across the trail. The walking was tiring but following Sheila's track really helped. I stopped every now and then to catch my breath and knew that there was no way we could do the big loop I had planned. It took almost an hour to hike a little over one mile to the area where there is a clearing on the eastern side of the trail. I was tired and knew there was still more than half a mile to the Big Rock Trail. My plan was to hike down the Big Rock Trail to Times Square. I was pretty sure that this trail would be packed by snowmobiles as I could here machines running in the distance. As we walked Sheila tried to get behind me and I found it much more difficult to walk without her breaking the trail. I asked her to get out in front and she did plowing through some of the deepest snow. It seemed like a long haul to the junction with the Big Rock Trail and I considered turning around more than once. After 1.7 miles of up hill hiking is ever-deepening snow we reached the Big Rock Trail after almost and hour and a half of walking. The trail was well-packed by snowmobiles. I sighed a sigh of relief as we turned left and started downhill on the packed snow. Since the snow was packed, it was hard for me to get much of a glide but it was a pleasure going downhill! Sheila seemed to agree as she ran ahead and then doubled back at a furious pace. As we walked, Sheila alerted and I could also hear machines coming up the hill. We stepped over to the side of the trail as five machines approached. The snowmobiles immediately slowed and waved. I was surprised when they stopped. The lead rider took off his helmet and said "Hello". He was from Livingston Manor and a driver for our ambulance corps. We chatted for a few minutes before continuing in opposite directions. When Sheila and I got back on the trail we made good time heading for Times Square. There are three separate areas where the trail levels and then descends and again but I was ready for these. As we approached the base of the hill, Sheila alerted and I could see two hikers on snowshoes making the turn from the Logger's Loop onto the Big Rock Trail to make a loop around Frick Pond.

When we reached Times Square, I looked around to see if there were snowmobile tracks on the Logger's Loop to the left or straight ahead on the Big Rock Trail. Fortunately, the only tracks I saw were snowshoe tracks from hikers! We continued on the Big Rock Trail around the back of Frick Pond keeping a fast pace. We soon caught up to the other hikers who were stopped. They stepped off the trail to let us pass and we never saw them again. I stopped at the second bridge to take some pictures of the frozen stream and then stopped again just before the wooden causeways to take some more shots. As we walked, I saw a track down to the back of the pond and followed it. I put down my pack and got out my camera to take some shots. This was a nice view of the area which I could not remember photographing before. After taking a few pictures, I packed up and we walked the rest of the Big Rock Trail out to the Quick Lake Trail. We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail which was also packed and showed a track set by a cross country skier. It was a short walk to the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. Even though I have photographed from this spot more than any other in the Catskills, I decided to take a few more. I put down the pack and took out the camera. I took shots of the pond and Beech Mountain including some interesting clouds. I also noticed that water was flowing out of Frick Pond under the ice and tried to capture this. I also took some pictures downstream and a few of Sheila on the bridge. I packed up and headed up the hill. There was an obvious herringbone pattern where the skier had climbed up the hill. We passed through Gravestone Junction and continued on the woods road back toward the parking area. This trail is usually wet but there were only a few trickles of water with the rest frozen solid. When we reached the register box, we turned right to continue following the Quick Lake Trail. The walk was short and we emerged in the large parking area where there was one car. We walked over to the car after hiking 4 miles in 2.5 hours with a vertical gain of 684 feet. The temperature was 27 degrees showing a one degree drop since the beginning of the hike.

On Tuesday, January 29th I wanted to get out for a hike even though we had been out the day before. I knew that snow was on the way followed by a bitter attic blast of cold air. I got a text from Lisa asking if I would like to go for a snowshoe hike on Round Top. I agreed to meet her at 12:30 PM at the Presbyterian Church. By noon it had already snowed a few inches and more snow was on the way. The temperature was actually a little warmer than the day before hovering around 26 degrees. I suggested to Sheila that we go "out" for a "hike" and she instantly became crazed and would not leave my sight while whining all the time. Cindy was still fighting off a cold and preferred to stay inside. I put on a long-sleeved base layer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of tights underneath my Columbia Omniheat hiking pants. These have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a heavier hat and gloves. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are all leather and seem to be waterproof with sufficient insulation. I decided to put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I decided to wear my Tubbs Alp Flex VTR snowshoes with the Boa binding. This binding uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These snowshoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I decided to leave my pack home as I had many pictures from Round Top in the snow. At 12:25 PM we walked out the door where I put on my snowshoes. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. She pulled me up the driveway knowing exactly where we were going. There was a good covering of several inches of snow and the snowshoes helped a lot except when we crossed the road. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the side parking area at the church where Lisa was parked. When Sheila saw Lisa, she started to pull me toward her. She gave Lisa a joyful greeting as she got ready to hike. Lisa had decided to wear only spikes instead of snowshoes. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. She actually pulls harder when there is snow which has to be her Husky blood. When we got to the top of the hill, I paused for a moment to take in the view before turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash, and she began to explore the trail with her nose. As we followed the trail, I noticed that there was more snow than the day before although not enough to require snowshoes.

At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. We followed the yellow blazes up to the spur trail to the viewpoint and walked to the top of the hill. Town was covered in a blanket of snow and more was lightly falling. We followed the trail uphill a little toward the next trail junction. At the junction, we turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The snow was fresh and no one else had been on the trail since the snow. At the next trail junction, we turned left on the blue trail and walked up toad the summit of Round Top. The snowshoes gripped well and Lisa was also having a good time with her spikes. Soon we were walking across the summit plateau. We started down the steeper side and I was able to get a glide on the snowshoes down the hill. Once we got to the yellow trail, we turned left and walked to the trail junction again. This time we turned right and followed the trail down to the woods road. We walked downhill on the woods road to the first trail junction finding one tree across the trail. I was still feeling fresh so I asked Lisa if she would like to do another figure 8 in the opposite direction. We turned around and started back up the more gentle slope we had just descended. We followed the yellow blazes up the woods road to the next trail junction where we turned left to walk along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned right and walked up the steepest hill on the trail. We both had good traction and easily made the summit of Round Top without a problem. Sheila was running around off the trail investigating various animal tracks seemingly unfazed by the cold weather. We walked down the hill to the yellow trail and turned right to again walk along the base of Round Top. At the next trail junction we turned left to walk down to the lookout. At the lookout we turned left and followed the yellow blazes on the trail back to the first rail junction. We continued straight ahead on the yellow trail to the trailhead. We walked down the cemetery hill under partly sunny skies. At the base of the hill, I put Sheila on her leash and we walked back to Lisa's car. Sheila and I than walked across the field to our driveway. It was 1:50 PM and we had hiked 1.8 miles in an hour and 20 minutes.

On Monday, January 28th I had planned to go back to Frick Pond taking snowshoes with me this time for a hike up the Flynn Trail. Saturday I had done the big loop coming down the Flynn Trail. The trail from the parking area all the way to Iron Wheel Junction had been well-packed by people or snowmobiles. When I turned right onto the Flynn Trail, I ran into between 4 and 10 inches of snow. It was tough going most of the way without snowshoes! My plans once again changed as the ambulance pager went off at 6:00 AM. We covered one call in Roscoe and then immediately had another call in the backwoods of our own district. When I got back, I was tired but knew that getting out even for a short hike would make me feel better. I decided to go across the street to hike some figure 9's on Round Top. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go but she declined as she was battling a cold. The temperature outside had finally climbed to 18 degrees with a little sun and a slight breeze. I started to get ready with Sheila encouraging me at very turn. I put on a long-sleeved base layer under my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of tights underneath my Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a heavier hat and gloves. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are all leather and seem to be waterproof with sufficient insulation. I decided to put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I put on my Tubbs Alp Flex VTR snowshoes with the Boa binding. This binding uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These shoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately but chose to leave my microspikes at home. At 11:20 AM we walked out the door where I put on my snowshoes. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. I decided we would try to do at least two figure 8's which might be enough given the situation. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked across the field to the back of the church. I was surprised that there was only a couple of inches of snow in the field and that was frozen hard as a rock. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church which was completely bare of snow and ice. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill.

When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash, and she began to explore the trail with her nose. As we followed the trail, I noticed there was a covering of snow and that there were footprints in it. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. There was one blowdown across the trail which would require an axe to clear. There wasn't much snow ion the woods either and it was well-packed. My conclusion was that spikes would have done the job but that snowshoes were satisfactory. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. This section of the trail faces west and north so there was more snow And some was packed and slippery. I was able to get a grip with the snowshoes without a problem. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. Descending on the snow and frozen ground proved to be no problem with the snowshoes which have great crampons under the forefoot and steel rails that run the length of the plastic deck. Soon we were back at the yellow trail. We turned right and walked the yellow trail to the next trail junction. Here we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill to the lookout. There wasn't much to see at the lookout so we continued on the trail. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The walk had gone quickly, so we turned around and started back up the hill back to the lookout. Sometimes Sheila resists another loop but this time she was in the lead. We followed the yellow trail uphill toward the lookout and turned right to continue up to the next trail junction with the blue trail. Here we turned right to stay on the yellow trail. At the next junction we left to climb the shallower side of the summit ascent. We again walked across the flat summit and descended the steeper trail. The hard packed snow did not allow me to get the glide that I like and can get on looser powder. At the trail junction, we turned left and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction we turned right this time. To follow the trail down to the woods road that leads out to the first trail junction. That was enough for me given the time. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead. Sheila was well-behaved and stayed with me most of the time. I put her on her leash and we walked down the cemetery hill. We walked across the field to our driveway. It was 12:35 PM and we had hiked over 2 miles in a little ore than an hour.

On Saturday, January 26th I had planned to do a longer hike father away from home. Early in the week I thought about a 3500 foot mountain. Later, I contemplated going to Storm King or Harriman. Friday night we had a track meet at West Point and I arrived home at 1:06 AM! Shortly after that the ambulance pager went off and we went out to help a patient off the floor and into their chair. When I finally got home I slept for a while until we were again called for a fall victim. On my way home I evaluated my plans and knew that if I was going to hike it would be close to home. The temperature was 18 degrees but there were blue skies and some sun at 11:15 AM as I got ready to depart. I put on a long-sleeved base layer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of tights underneath my Columbia Omniheat hiking pants. These have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a heavier hat and gloves. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots which are all leather and seem to be waterproof with sufficient insulation. I decided to put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I took my Tubbs Alp Flex VTR snowshoes with the Boa binding. This binding uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These shoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I made sure I had my microspikes in my pack as I didn't know which I would be using. Sheila had been very quiet but did not let me out of her sight as I was getting ready. I got my gear ready and put it and Sheila in the car and headed out the DeBruce Road. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area, there were no other cars in the lots. I parked in the smaller lot as I planned to start at the beginning of the Quick Lake Trail. The temperature was 18 degrees. I checked the trail and found it hard packed so I decided to wear my microspikes and leave the snowshoes in the car. As we were getting ready a young dog started bring at the cabin at the end of the road and then started to approach us. The owner was calling the dog which was paying no attention. Fortunately the dog was friendly but I was annoyed by the inconsiderate owner. The owner finally got hold of his dog and apologized but I was not impressed. I set my GPS unit and at 11:55 AM we started out on the woods road that leads to the Quick Lake Trail from the smaller parking area. The trail was hard packed snow until the register when the ice took over. It seemed cold and the ice was hard but the spikes were working well. There were a few areas of open water but they were easily avoided. At Gravestone Junction, we stayed to the left and walked along the frozen trail down to the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. There was some sunlight shining from a blue sky with a lot of clouds. I did not plan to stop but this scene always mesmerizes me. I took off my pack and got out the camera and took shots of the pond, the water downstream from the bridge and Beech Mountain. After a short pause, I packed up, and we continued our hike. We walked along the west side of the pond where the trail continued to packed snow and ice.

At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. Immediately I noticed that there were snowmobile tracks coming from the Big Rock Trail and then heading out the Quick Lake Trail toward Iron Wheel Junction. These trails are off-limits to snowmobiles but some inconsiderate riders simply don't pay attention to the signs or the rules. Snowmobiles passing over the wooden walkways will quickly destroy the already fragile structures. It is sad that some people only think of themselves and give others in a group a bad name. I made a note to contact the Region 3 DEC office in New Paltz as well as the local forest rangers. I would love to see some tickets issued! We followed the trail which was packed from the snowmobiles. We walked through the "spruce tunnel" and came to the small stream through the woods. It was flowing freely with a greater volume than I had seen in a long time. The snowmobiles had made a mess of the crossing. I stopped to take a few pictures before walking upstream to cross in a shallower and more narrow area. Sheila came with me and hopped across the stream without getting wet. I had been worried about her feet getting too cold but she seemed unfazed. After crossing we continued on the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel Junction. This part of the trail showed signs that the heavy rains that came before the snow had washed over the trail and some areas were still wet. At the junction, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. This is a legal snowmobile trail and was packed making the walking easy. When we came to the junction where the snowmobile trail turns left, there continued to be some snowmobile tracks on the Quick Lake Trail and the packed snow made walking a breeze. It is 1.6 miles from Iron Wheel Junction to Junkyard Junction with an elevation gain of almost 500 feet. This walk often seems long, but I must have been lost in my thoughts as it seemed to go very quickly despite the increased difficulty of walking on the snow. The trail was eroded in many places showing the power of the water that had run down the trail. When we came to Junkyard Junction, we turned right onto the Flynn Trail at the junction and started toward Hodge Pond. I did not know whether or not the snowmobiles had been on the trails. The Flynn Trail was pristine with no tracks of any kind! This made walking much harder and I now regretted that I was not wearing snowshoes! The Flynn Trail from Junkyard Junction to Hodge Pond is .85 miles and drops 165 feet to the shores of the pond. The first part of the trail is flat but the snow varied from almost none to as much as 10 inches. I tried to walk where there was the lest amount of snow bit in places that was not easy. After passing through the gate that marks the boundary with the OSI property, we walked down the hill toward the pond and turned right to stay on the Flynn Trail. There was still about the same amount of snow but it seemed to have a harder crust that could support me at times. This part of the trail is, again, flat and is situated along a woods road that OSI cleared of all vegetation. We soon left the trees and entered a field. There was some blue sky and sun and it made me feel warmer except for the breeze blowing in the open area. We continued on the trail to the clearing at the south end of Hodge Pond. The snow was almost gone here but there was a nice icy covering. We walked over to the shores of the pond where I put down my pack and got out the camera. The skies had grown darker but I took some pictures of the pond and the clearing. After a short time, I ate a bar, took some water and packed up to continue on the Flynn Trail.

We walked back to the Flynn Trail to the point where it re-entered the woods and began the walk up the hill. The snow had drifted at the beginning of the trail to about a foot and it continued to be deep most of the way up the hill. Walking through the snow and sinking in going uphill was taking a toll on me but not on Sheila. Near the top of the hill Sheila began to alert and I eventually saw a man and his dog coming toward us on the Flynn Trail. He said his dog was friendly and I replied that mine was "sometimes friendly." I put Sheila on her leash and continued to walk up the hill. I stopped to talk to the other hiker was smart enough to wear snowshoes. After we had talked for a few minutes, we headed our separate ways. He was pretty sure he would continue on to compete the loop around both ponds in the opposite direction I had chosen. Unfortunately, the Flynn Trail here had snowmobile tracks but it did make the walking easier. The Flynn Trail is relatively flat to the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 4.7 miles into the hike. The snowmobiles had simply ignored the sign indicating the trail was not open for them and the large octagonal red sign that said "STOP". We passed through the gate marking the border with the OSI property and soon after arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The Big Rock Trail and the trail over the hill to Mongaup Pond both had snowmobile tracks. The Flynn Trail continued straight ahead and there were no snowmobile tracks. We continued on the Flynn Trail as I tried to follow the tracks left by the snowshoer we had met. This made the waking easier but not easy as I was still sinking in from one to four inches. At least the Flynn Trail either descends or is flat all the way back to the car. The walk on this day seemed long and I kept anticipating the end. As we walked along, Sheila alerted, and I saw a couple coming toward us. The man had no snowshoes but did have spikes. This made me feel a little better. The woman did have snowshoes but looked tired as she came toward us. We stopped to talk as Sheila behaved herself. The man said he had left his snowshoes behind and I indicated mine were also in the car. They asked about the distances to Frick Pond by way of the Big Rock Trail and I gave them that information. We parted as Sheila and I headed downhill. Somewhere along the way, I looked to the side of the trail and saw a pair of snowshoes! The male hiker had taken them off and left them on the trail. I was surprised because if I had been wearing snowshoes coming up the trail I would have congratulated myself on a good decision and continued wearing the. I though about putting them in and wearing them back to the parking area since I thought that would work for both of us. In the end I left them where they were assuming he would walk back uphill to retrieve them. We continued on down the trail and passed through the "tunnel" that Cindy and I had cut in the large spruce tree. Just before the gate we turned left to follow the Flynn Trail and to avoid the private property around the cabin. I heard barking and once again the same dog ran toward us. I was tired and very annoyed. I shouted at him to go home as the owner tried to call him. Once again the owner paid no attention. I put this all on the owner since he obviously had not learned anything from the encounter several hours before. When he finally took hold of the dog and mumbled "Sorry", I almost said "But not very sorry!" I kept my thoughts to myself and continued on the trail with Sheila on her leash. When we arrived back at the parking lot, there were three other cars present in the small lot and one in the larger lot. We were back at the car by 3:30 PM having covered 6.4 miles in 3.5 hours with an elevation gain of 910 feet. The temperature had risen to 23 degrees.

On Wednesday, January 23rd I wanted to get out for a hike after several days of snow, ice and rain and bitter cold. My plans were interrupted by an early morning ambulance call for in Roscoe. I returned from the call and ate breakfast at Café 43. When I got home, I suggested to Sheila that we go "out" for a "hike" and she instantly became crazed and would not leave my sight while whining all the time. I invited Cindy but she was starting to come down with a cold and preferred to stay inside. I decided that I would go across the street to hike on Round Top since rain and ice were in the forecast for late morning. In addition, I was confident that I would have to break the trail through the crusted snow and knew it would be tiring. The temperature was in the low 20's as I got ready to hike around 9:30 AM. The skies were completely overcast. I put on a long-sleeved base layer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of tights underneath my Columbia Omniheat hiking pants. These have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a heavier hat and gloves. I wore my Salomon b52 winter boots which are all leather and seem to be waterproof with sufficient insulation. I decided to put on a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I put on my Tubbs Alp Flex VTR snowshoes with the Boa binding. This binding uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These shoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! I shouldered my pack since I wanted to take some pictures. At 10:05 AM we walked out the door where I put on my snowshoes. I grabbed Sheila's leash from the car and we walked up the driveway. She pulled me up the driveway knowing exactly where we were going. There was only a light covering of snow but there were patches of ice which made the going slippery. The snowshoes helped a lot except when we crossed the road. I decided we would start with a figure 8's just for the exercise and then I would decide if I wanted to do anything more. I aimed to hike for about an hour. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. She actually pulls harder when there is snow which has to be her husky blood. When we got to the top of the hill, I paused for a moment and put down my pack. I got out my camera and took pictures of the snow covered town and the hills beyond. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash, and she began to explore the trail with her nose. As we followed the trail, I noticed that there was only between 4 and 6 inches of snow topped by a hard crust. The rain late on Sunday had reduced the amount of snow but the bitter cold on Monday had frozen the top layer.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. It was harder breaking trail through the crusty snow than I remembered! We followed the yellow blazes up to the spur trail to the viewpoint and followed it out to the rock outcropping. There is one spot where there is a gap that has to be crossed and it was a little tricky on snowshoes. At the viewpoint, I took off my pack and took out the camera. The skies were still overcast but I took pictures of town especially the school. I also snapped some shots of the hills around town and a few of Sheila posing on the upper part of the lookout. I walks up the steep trail to the upper lookout and picked up the yellow blazes again. We followed the trail uphill a little toward the next trail junction. At the junction, we turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The snow was fresh and no one else had been on the trail since the snow. At the next trail junction, we turned left on the blue trail and walked up toad the summit of Round Top. The snowshoes gripped well but I still slipped backwards several times. Soon we were walking across the summit plateau. We started down the steeper side and I was able to get a glide on the snowshoes down the hill. Once we got to the yellow trail, we turned left and walked to the trail junction again. This time we turned right and followed the trail down to the woods road. We walked downhill on the woods road to the first trail junction finding one tree across the trail. By this time I was feeling better especially going down the hill. When we arrived at the first trail junction, I decided we would do a small loop so we turned around and started back up the more gentle slope we had just descended. We followed the yellow blazes up the woods road to the next trail junction where we turned left to walk along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned left and began to walk downhill toward the lookout. I noticed by coat was wet and when we stopped I could see and hear rain beginning to fall. We followed the yellow trail down the hill to the lookout as the rain continued to fall mixed with a few snowflakes and some sleet. At the lookout we turned left and followed the yellow blazes on the trail back to the first rail junction. We continued straight ahead on the yellow trail to the trailhead. Sheila was well-behaved and stayed with me most of the time. We walked down the cemetery hill as the rain continued to fall. At the base of the hill, I put Sheila on her leash and we walked across the field to our driveway. It was 11:35 AM and we had hiked 1.8 miles in an hour and 25 minutes.

On Saturday, January 19th, I had planned to hike Cabot Mountain from Beech Hill Road before the snow began. I maintain the trail from Beech Hill Road to Alder Lake for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference and I thought it would be nice to see the condition of the trail after some of the high winds we experienced lately. Once again we responded to a late night and early morning ambulance call and I did not get to sleep until 2:00 AM. I slept in to almost 10:00 AM and decided to alter my plans and go to Frick Pond instead. I was feeling a little better after weeks of coughing and knew getting out would make me feel better mentally. My plan was to ascend the Flynn Trail and then get the long descent on the Big Rock Trail with, perhaps, a visit to Hodge Pond. I made a run to the landfill and ate breakfast before getting ready to go. The temperature was 27 degrees when I was about to get dressed but I knew that hiking in the snow always makes me very warm. I knew there would not be enough snow to snowshoe but the forecast was for a foot or more of snow and mixed precipitation overnight into Sunday. I put on a long-sleeved baselayer underneath my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I decided not to put on a pair of tights beneath my Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. In this case, I anticipated deeper snow, so I did wear a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a heavier hat and gloves. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots as they are insulated and almost completely waterproof. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately and made sure I had my microspikes in my pack. Sheila was more crazed than usual as I got my gear ready. We left Livingston Manor just after 11:30 AM to head out the DeBruce Road. It had snowed a little in the morning but DeBruce Road was clear. At six miles I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road which had some snow on it but had been plowed and sanded. Where the road split I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and parked in the small lot which was partly plowed. There were two vehicles in the larger lot and as I got ready another pulled in. I set my electronics noting the temperature was 25 degrees. There was a slight breeze and the skies were completely overcast as we crossed the road at 11:50 AM to start up the Flynn Trail. I was concerned that the snow might start before we were done and had several options to control the length of the hike. I found that I was warm as long as I was moving but felt cool as son as I stopped. I hoped that I had not dressed too lightly! The first part of the Flynn Trail through the woods is narrow and we passed under one low-hanging blowdown. I cleared some branches as we walked thinking it would make snowshoeing easier. Once we made the right turn into the woods road the going was easier. There were tracks from two people headed up the trail and one appareled to be a woman from the shoe size. Other tracks indicated they had a good-sized dog with them. Their were all kinds of tracks in the fresh snow made my various animals including Sheila as she bounded ahead joyfully. Walking on the few inches of snow was a little tiring but the traction was good. Not too far up the trail I noticed a couple coming toward us with a dog. I put Sheila on her leash and the other hikers did the same for their dog. When we met, we stopped to talk for minute. Their dog had the black and brown marking of a Rottweiler or Doberman and was playfully crouched in the snow. Sheila seemed to want to take him up on his offer. The couple said they had only hiked to the top of the hill and just wanted to get a short walk in before the storm. I suggested that they visit Frick Pond before leaving and they seemed interested. I described the Frick Pond Loop before we went in our Seagate directions. I stopped to open some zippers to dump some heat and while stopped took a few pictures of the snowy trail. As we gained some elevation, the snow got deeper until there was almost 4 inches.

We continued up the Flynn Trail toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I was feeling pretty good at first but as we approached the trail junction I could feel that walking on the snow was making my lower legs and feet tired. At 12:50 PM we were at the trail junction with the Big Rock Trail and it had begun to snow. In a few minutes it had changed from a few flakes to light snow so I decided to head down the Big Rock Trail. The snow on the Big Rock Trail showed signs that a snowmobile had been over it and I hoped the club had been working to remove some of the blowdowns. We turned lefty to start the long descent and my legs immediately felt better as gravity helped. I was sure I didn't have many more "ups" left in me but the descent felt great. The trip down the Big Rock Trail went quickly although it seemed a little longer than usual. In several places, large trees had been cut and moved by the snowmobile club. There are three places where the trail drops quickly and then levels off. The last place brought us right to Times Square where the Logger's Loop and Big Rock Trail cross. Sheila was having a great time and did not seem to be bothered in any way by the snow or temperature. She kept going off the trail to follow animals tracks but returned quickly when I called. We continued straight ahead at Times Square to go around the back of Frick Pond. I did stop for a minute to take a few shots before continuing the hike. I also got out a bar I had kept in an inside pocket in my hoody but it was still pretty stiff. The trail around the pond was completely broken by more tracks than I could count. The hike around the pond is a favorite and is one promoted by Lisa at Morgan Outdoors in Livingston Manor. I stopped in the evergreen forest to take some pictures before continuing to walk toward the bridges and wooden walkways. The skies were even more overcast snow, a wind was blowing and some snow was still falling. The wooden walkways were covered in snow that had been beaten down by the traffic so I did not stop to take pictures. We continued to walk until we came to the junction with the Quick Lake Trail. Here we turned left and headed for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. We stopped briefly at the bridge and I took a few pictures of the pond and Flynn's The pond still had some open water. Flynn's Point on Beech Mountain had a very clear line of debarkation above which there was ice on the trees. I was a little disappointed since I would have modified my hike to include that area. We walked up the hill from the pond to Gravestone Junction to head back to the parking area and I felt even this short uphill in my legs. The trail was well covered in snow with only a few spots where there was some water. At the trail register, we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail back t the parking areas. When we arrived at the parking lots, all the cars were gone! We were back at 1:50 PM having covered 4.0 miles in 2 hours and 5 minutes with an elevation gain of 680 feet.

On Thursday, January 17th I wanted to get in a longer hike even though I was till continuing to fight cold symptoms and a cough that had hung on for 4 weeks. I got up at 5:15 AM and went to my church to participate in a men's bible study group. When I returned to Livingston Manor, I ate breakfast at Café 43 and then headed home. I was still tired from lack of sleep due to the cold so I got some rest waking up at about 10:00 AM. At this point the temperature was still only 2 degrees but it was beginning to be almost sunny out and I knew the walk would make me feel better. I began to get ready to go for a hike from Big Pond to Alder Lake and back. I maintain this section of trail for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference and wanted to see what shape it was in after the recent heavy rain and high winds. While we were getting ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. I put on a long-sleeved baselayer underneath my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of tights beneath my Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a heavier hat and gloves. I wore my Vasque Talus hiking boots instead of the Salomon B-52 winter boots. I wear regular hiking boots whenever I can as I feel they are a better fit and offer more support. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately and made sure I had my microspikes in my pack. We left Livingston Manor at about 10:30 AM as I drove out Old Rt 17 to the Beaverkill Road where I turned right. I drove through Lew Beach toward Turnwood. At the intersection with the Barkaboom Road I stayed to the left on Barkaboom Road until I came to the access road to the upper parking area at Big Pond. I was pleased that the road had only a light covering of snow And I was able to drive into the empty parking area. As I was getting ready just before 11:00 AM the temperature was 18 degrees with a slight breeze. I was surprised to see several inches of snow on the rail and regretted my choice of boots since the Vasque Talus are not insulated. I also had not thought to put on a pair of gaiters! Sheila loves the snow and was running around until we started out on the trail toward Alder Creek Road. The initial part of the trail is pretty flat for a long time and passes several campsite areas before descending a little. After that the trail begins to ascend on an old woods road. At .5 miles the trail turns off the woods road but continues to ascend until about 1 mile gaining 450 feet at a 10% grade. This isn't very steep but I could feel that it was harder than I expected which is a direct result of my limited hiking and the sickness I have experienced. I removed a few branches along the way and found a couple of blowdowns that could be cleared with hand tools but would be more easily handled with a chainsaw. My feet were a little cold but at least the snow was not kicking up into my boots. After about the 1 mile mark the trail flattens and then begins to descend into a little valley cut my a seasonal stream. It was very hard to follow the rail as it is poorly marked in this area and several blowdowns blocked the trail. The DEC decided several years ago that volunteers could not be trusted to mark the trails with blazes and handed that job over to foresters. Since that time, the blazing of the secondary trails has been poor and few new blazes have been placed. There were also places along the trail that had some briars that I knew would have to be cleared in the spring.

I stopped to take a few pictures of the snowy landscape which was quite different than what we had in town. On the descent of the hill we ran into several areas that are usually wet and muddy but most of them were frozen enough to cross without a problem. We passed an old foundation and several extensive stone walls. I knew we were headed down to a small stream. When we got to the stream, I was surprised to find that there was a good flow of water. I stopped to take a few shots of the stream and the valley downstream from the area. My feet were still cold but I decided to walk at least as far as the beaver meadow. We crossed the stream and turn left to begin the walk uphill toward the beaver meadow. We ran into a blowdown blocking the trail but I was able to squeeze through it. The uphill walk was tiring but we were soon at the beaver meadow after hiking about 2 miles. We stopped at the beaver meadow where I took a few more shots. At 2.2 miles we turned east and completed the climb to the top of the hill. Once again we began to descend a hill as we headed for Alder Creek Road and I thought about the climb back up the hill! Eventually the trail flattened out and we came to Alder Creek. We crossed it easily and walked up to the road where we turned around at 12:45 PM to retrace our steps to the car. We now had to walk up all the hills we walked down on the way out! We set a pretty fast pace and did not stop for pictures. At 3.6 miles we descended a hill and made a left turn to head south passed the beaver meadow. After crossing the stream, we began another long hike uphill. Along the way, we stopped so that I could take some pictures of the old foundation and stone walls. I did notice that my feet were not as cold. The hike from the stream to the top of the hill was ,8 miles and gained over 300 feet but seemed easier than on the way out. At 4.8 miles we hit the top of the last hill and I was glad that the rest of the trip was downhill. We were back at the car at 2:30 PM after hiking 6.0 miles in 3 hours ad 30 minutes. The total elevation gain was 1425 feet. The sun was out and beginning to soften the snow but the air temperature was only 25 degrees. As I left the parking area, decided to go just up the road to Big Pond. I parked and walked down to the shore to take some pictures. The pond was covered in ice but there were some open spots near shore. There were several groups of people ice fishing. I walked back to the car and headed back down Barkaboom Road. I decided to go to Alder Lake to take some pictures. I knew that the gate would be closed but that it is only a short walk to the lake. I turned left on the Beaverkill Road and drove to Alder Creek Road where I turned left. I drove to the end of Alder creek Road and turned left and found...the gate to the access road to Alder Lake open! I drove in and parked near the other car in the lot. I let Sheila out of the car and grabbed the camera. I took some shots of the stonework that was once the Coykendall mansion and then walked down the "lawn" to a point near the shore. There was 5 or 6 inches of snow in places. The skies were clear and blue but there were very few clouds. I took several pictures of the lake and Cradle Rock Ridge and the turned around to take more pictures of the stonework. Sheila and I returned to the car and I drove out the access road bad home.

On Wednesday, January 16th I had planned to get in a longer hike perhaps near Alder Lake as I was feeling better. Once again there an ambulance call in the middle of the night. Even though it was cancelled, it was hard for me to get back to sleep so I slept until almost 9:0 AM. I finally decided at 10:00 AM that I would take Sheila and go across the street to Round Top since I had to leave early for a track meet at SCCC. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she agreed. The temperature outside registered as 29 degrees with a little sun. I started to get ready with Sheila encouraging me at very turn. I put on a base layer under my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a heavier hat and gloves. I wore my Vasque Talus hiking boots instead of the Salomon B-52 winter boots. I wear regular hiking boots whenever I can as I feel they are a better fit and offer more support. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately but chose to leave my microspikes at home. At 10:30 AM we walked out the door. I got Sheila's leash from my car and put her on it so that she could pull me up the slippery driveway. I decided we would try to do at least two figure 8's which might be enough given the situation. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked across the field to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church which was completely bare of snow and ice. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash, and she began to explore the trail with her nose. As we followed the trail, I noticed there was a covering of snow and that there were footprints in it. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails. At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. There was one blowdown across the trail which would require an axe to clear.

At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. This section of the trail faces west and north so there was more snow And some was packed and slippery. I was able to get a grip with little or no problem but Cindy struggled a little. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. Descending on the snow and frozen ground proved to be more of a challenge than I had expected and Cindy moved gingerly down the slope. Soon we were back at the yellow trail. We turned right and walked the yellow trail to the next trail junction. Here we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill to the lookout. There wasn't much to see at the lookout so we continued on the trail. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The walk had gone quickly, so we turned around and started back up the hill back to the lookout. Cindy made it clear she did not want to go back up to the summit so I decided we would do a short loop. Sometimes Sheila resists another loop but this time she was in the lead. We followed the yellow trail uphill toward the lookout and turned right to continue up to the next trail junction with the blue trail. Here we turned right to stay on the yellow trail. At the next junction we also turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road that leads back to the first trail junction. I wanted to get in some more hiking so I turned around and started back up the woods road and was a little surprised when Cindy followed me. We followed the lower yellow trail making another circuit up and down and back to the first trail junction. Cindy was done and headed home but Sheila and I turned around and walked back up toward the lookout. I intended to do another figure 8. At the lookout we followed the yellow trail to the right and back to the first junction with the blue trail. We turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction. We turned left and walked up the slippery slope to the summit of Round Top. We walked across the top and started down the other side. It was a little tricky on the descent but we soon returned to the lower trail. We turned left and walked back to the trail junction/ We trued right and followed the yellow trail down to the woods road and out to the very first trail junction. That was enough for me. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead. Sheila was well-behaved and stayed with me most of the time. I put her on her leash and we walked down the cemetery hill. We walked across the field to our driveway. It was around noon and we had hiked over 2 miles in an hour and a half.

On Saturday, January 12th I had planned to get in a longer hike perhaps near Alder Lake as I was feeling better and the hike the day before had felt good. Once again there an ambulance call in the middle of the night. I did not get back to bed until 3:00 AM and slept until almost 8:30 AM. I caught up one some work and emails that had accumulated while I was at a church retreat. I finally decided at 2:00 PM that I would take Sheila and go across the street to Round Top. The temperature outside registered as 24 degrees with a little sun. I didn't even feel like going across the street to hike but Sheila's enthusiasm prevailed. I started to get ready with Sheila encouraging me at very turn. I did not out on a base layer but wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a heavier hat and light gloves. I wore my Vasque Talus hiking boots instead of the Salomon B-52 winter boots. I wear regular hiking boots whenever I can as I feel they are a better fit and offer more support. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately but chose to leave my microspikes at home. At 2:30 PM Sheila and I walked out the door. I got Sheila's leash from my car and put her on it so that she could pull me up the slippery driveway. I decided we would try to do at least two figure 8's which might be enough given the situation. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked across the field to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church which only had a very light shrinking of snow. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash, and she began to explore the trail with her nose. As we followed the trail, I noticed there was a light covering of snow and that there were footprints in it. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. I noticed the footprints were headed down the trail while we were headed up. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. There was one blowdown across the trail which would require an axe to clear.

At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. Here I could see that the footprints were headed up so I assumed the other hiker had walked a big loop starting with the ascent to the lookout. This section of the trail faces west and north so there was more snow but I was able to get a grip with little or no problem. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. Descending on the snow and frozen ground proved to be more of a challenge than I had expected but we were soon back at the yellow trail. We turned right and walked the yellow trail to the next trail junction. Here we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill to the lookout. There wasn't much to see at the lookout as the skies were overcast. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The walk had gone quickly, so we turned around and started back up the hill back to the lookout. {Pierce was definitely enjoying his walk in the woods! Sometimes Sheila resists another loop but this time she was in the lead. We followed the yellow trail uphill toward the next trail junction. At the junction, we turned right and followed the yellow trail which was covered in snow to the next junction. We turned left and started uphill on the blue trail. This side of the hill was slippery going up with frozen ground and hard-packed snow. We crested the hill and walked across the summit and started down the other side. I slipped and slid to the trail junction where we turned left. We walked along the yellow trail to the next trail junction where we turned right and walked down to the woods road and out toward the first trail junction. Sheila alerted and I could see a young man hiking toward us. I put Sheila on her leash as he approached and she behaved herself rather well. We stopped to talk and he really wanted to pet Sheila but I advised against. It. His name was Jeff and he lives in Queens but has a home on White Roe Lake Road. It was his first time hiking on Round Top which was recommended by Lisa at Morgan Outdoors. I asked him where he was parked and he responded "In Peck's parking lot." I was glad he had parked downtown but I am not sure Peck's is the best place to park. We parted walking in opposite directions. When we arrived at the first trail junction, I was feeling pretty fresh but decided to head back home as we had hiked for about an hour. Sheila was well-behaved and stayed with me most of the time. We walked out to the trailhead and then down the cemetery hill. We walked across the field to our driveway. It was 3:35 PM, and we had hiked about 2 miles.

On Friday, January 11th I was attending a retreat for men with members of the my church, the Vine and Branch Free Methodist Church in Liberty. The retreat was at the Spruce Lake Retreat Center in Canadensis, PA which has outstanding facilities. I had not been out hiking in 9 days as I tried to fight off a cold that was going into its fourth week! After the morning program, lunch was served at 11:230 AM and the next program did not begin until 2:30 PM. I was not hungry for a big meal and decided to take a hike to the viewpoint on Spruce Mountain. The hike followed along a small stream and was supposed to have some nice views of waterfalls. I had hoped that someone else in the group of 12 would accompany me but there were no takers. I often hike by myself but always have my dog Sheila along. I had previewed the trail after breakfast and found the Lower Falls a few hundred feet behind the main program building. The trail was gravel which made for easy walking to the falls. I had walked a little farther and found theta after the trail crossed a camp road it became a typical hiking trail with rocks, roots and ice. Before starting the actual hike, I returned to my car to change into some more appropriate hiking gear which I had brought with me. The temperature was only 18 degrees and there was a constant wind blowing so I decided to dress warmly as warmly as I could. I had no base layer but I change into my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I already had on my Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a heavier hat and gloves. I wore a pair of Keen Revel III boots which are insulated but not very waterproof. I had not brought a pair of hiking poles but did have a pair of Stabilicers which I thought would be a good idea on the icy trail. At 11:45 AM I returned to the program center and walked passed it and turned left just before Carroll Cottage where the trails began. I had not brought a pack but did decide to carry my camera with me. After a few hundred feet, I turned left and walked down a path to the streambed. I climbed over some debris and blowdowns to a spot in front of the falls. I had an unobstructed view of the small falls. There was plenty of water and ice making the scene beautiful. I took a number of pictures and felt fortunate that the sun was behind me. As I was taking pictures, I notice that my camera battery was almost "dead". I quickly changed to a spare battery, packed up the camera and walked back up to the main trail. I walked out to the road, turned left and then immediately right onto the Spruce Mountain trail which was blazed in yellow.

The trail did have some ice in spots and a light covering of snow. The Stabilicers seemed perfect for the trail as they offer some grip but are "flatter" than microspikes and handle walking over rocks and dirt better. After a short walk there was a sign indicating that the yellow trail had been relocated away from the stream. I decided to follow the original trail which still had blazes. I wanted to be sure I saw all the waterfalls along the stream and it seemed the new location of the trail would miss them. I followed the old trail and found that it had most likely been relocated because it was flooded by the stream. I had to cross the stream several times and was careful as the water was obviously freezing. Along the way I took pictures of several small falls waiting for the one that was designated as the Upper Falls. I finally arrived at another, larger falls but had some problems getting pictures from the north bank. I worked my way above the falls and crossed the stream to find a better viewpoint. I was able to get below the falls and take some nice pictures. I came to the conclusion that this was not the Upper Falls and crossed back over to the other side of the stream. I continued to follow the old yellow blazes and soon could see another, much higher falls. I stopped just before the trail turned up toward the top of the falls. I got out the camera and took numerous pictures of the whole falls and individual sections. When I had taken all the pictures I wanted, I turned right an tried to follow the blazes up the steep terrain to the top of the falls. When the blazes faded, I simply bushwhacked to the top and walked toward the stream where I found the trail again. The blazes continued across the stream and I found a way to bridge the water without falling in. Another "trail Relocated" sign appeared but it wasn't clear to me what it meant. I followed the trail as it began to climb up Spruce Mountain on a woods road. The sun was out but the air temperature remained the same and the wind was till blowing. Despite this, I felt warm and almost opened some zippers on the hoody. The trail had a moderate grade and several switchbacks which made the walking rather easy. I was happy to have the Stabilicers and knew I would be even happier on the descent. My plan was to hike to the viewpoint and then to continue to follow the trail down the other side of the mountain where it intersected a road. I would walk the road back to the retreat center.

As I walked up the mountain, I kept looking for the spot where the relocated trail joined but never found it. Soon I was at the highest point on the trail. There was a view through the trees of the valley below and the mountain beyond but I was disappointed there was no open view. I did take a few pictures through the trees and then walked downhill to start the trip back. In a short distance, I noticed there was an opening on the left with a rock ledge and no trees. I had arrived at the lookout. The views were spectacular and I took pictures of the whole valley and the retreat center below. It was about 12:45 PM which meant I had been hiking for about an hour. I followed the trail along the cliffs but the yellow blazes soon disappeared and POSTED signs appeared. The signs did not have a name so I did not know whether I was still on the 888 acres owned by the Spruce Lake Retreat Center. I decided the safest approach was to return the way I came since I knew that would get me back in time for the afternoon session. I turned around and walked uphill passed the viewpoint and won the mountain. I looked up to see another hiker heading in my direction. We stopped and talked briefly. I told him about the viewpoint and then we wished each other well and continued on our separate ways. The walk downhill definitely went faster than the ascent and I was soon approaching the Upper Falls. I heard voices and looked below on the south bank to see a group of about twelve men hiking toward the falls. I watched for a minute and then continued to the falls where I saw yellow blazes that turned right descending passed the stream. I had found the trail relocation. By this time the group was making the very icy ascent to the top so I waited. I said "Hello" as they passed and noticed none had any traction devices and some did not have hiking boots! When the last person had made it to the top, I started the descent. Now I was VERY glad I had the Stabilicers. The view of the falls was better than from the other bank so I walked out to just below the falls to get some more pictures. I put down my camera and struggled to move a branch that blocked the falls. After moving the branch, I got out the camera and took a number of shots of the falls. After putting away the camera, I made my way back to the trail and continued to descend the trail. I was not impressed with the relocation as the area by the falls was dangerous and the rest of the trail was located haphazardly. The descent seemed to go quickly and I was soon back at the first "Trail Relocation" sign. I continued back on the same trail passing the Lower Falls and ending up back at the program center. It was 1:45 PM and I had hiked what I estimated was a little over 3 miles in two hours. I removed my Stabilicers and decided to go back to the car to drop the camera and Stabilicers. I wanted to contact my group but found my cell phone was dead. As I walked through the main building, I found them and explained what I was going to do. When I returned, we waited a few minutes and then decided to go to the program center for the afternoon session.

On Wednesday, January 2nd I was ready for the first hike of the new year. Lisa had contacted me the night before and asked if I wanted to hike and suggested Bramley Mountain near Delhi or Utsayantha in Stamford. Since I had to coach in the afternoon, I decided on Bramley as it is closer and more of an actual hike. Sheila seemed a little less enthusiastic than normal as I got ready to pick up Lisa at her home on the Beaverkill Road at 8:30 AM. The temperature was only 25 degrees and the high was forecast to be just short of freezing so I decided to dress warmly. I put on a long-sleeved base layer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a heavier hat and gloves. I wore my Vasque Talus hiking boots instead of the Salomon B-52 winter boots since I knew that any remaining snow would be frozen and hard-packed. I wear regular hiking boots whenever I can as I feel they are a better fit and offer more support. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately and made sure I had my microspikes at in my pack. I got my gear and Sheila in the car and headed up the Beaverkill Road to pick up Lisa. As soon as Sheila realized we are picking up Lisa, she began to get excited and greeted her with great enthusiasm. I drove through Lew Beach and turned left on Beech Hill Road. The road was a little rough but we are soon at Route 30. I turned right and then left over the Dunraven Bridge. I turned left on Tremperskill Road and followed it into Andes where I turned left on Route 28 North at the traffic light. After 7.5 miles, I turned right on Glen Burnie Road and drove 3.3 miles to the parking area for Bramley Mountain. The parking area is small but is well marked and it helped that we had been there before. I pulled into the parking area, turned around and parked at 9:15 AM. There were no other cars in the lot and I enticed the temperature was 24 degrees despite some sun peeking through the clouds. I set my GPS and we started to hike by getting on the blue trail that follows a woods road to the quarry. I chose this way even though I have hiked it before as we could make a steep ascent and then a moderate descent on the red trail from the summit. I didn't know how much ice there would be a preferred to encounter it on the ay up rather than on the descent. The woods road was very open and most of the water and mud was frozen. We walked along the road through the woods and I kept noticing features I had missed on previous hikes including a small pond on the left side of the trail. I had only hiked the trails in spring and summer and the absence of leaves made spotting some things easier. We eventually broke out into an open clearing where we continued toward the quarry. At about .8 miles we came to the quarry and I decided not to stop to take some pictures. When we started out again, we came to a spot where the trail seemed to split with blue markers going both left and right. There was no sign or indication which way we should go to get to the summit. I knew the answer was to bear right but first time visors might have a problem. Lisa, who had not been on the trails before, took a quick hike to the top of the left trail before joining me. We followed the main trail to the right.

The trail entered the woods and immediately turned almost 180 degrees. As we walked along the trail it headed up the mountain at points and then shifted so that it was parallel to the ridge. There are several impressive stone walls along the way but the forest was almost completely clear of obstructions. We did find that the blazes were few and far between and we relied heavily on Sheila to show us the way. Eventually the trail turned at began a steady climb up to the summit. The trail passed by several interesting ledges and rock formations and we stopped in one spot for some pictures. There were numerous switchbacks which made the walk longer but mitigated some of the steeper climbs. Surprisingly, there was very little ice on the trails which made the walk easier than I had expected. Near the top the trail passed around and went through some rock ledges and the trail crew had expertly created some steps out of natural materials. Three times the trail crossed woods roads that climbed the mountain. At 1.9 miles and just before the summit we stopped at a nice viewpoint. The valley below was illuminated by some sunlight and the views were clear. I took a few pictures including some of Sheila before we hiked the last few hundred feet to the top. Over the 1.1 miles from the quarry we gained over 800 feet with and overall average grade of 14% despite the many switchbacks. When we reached the summit, I saw all four of the old pilings for the fire tower and hoped that the rumors about reconstructing the tower were true. We walked over to the rock ledges that form a lookout and down to the edge of a small cliff. There was more haze than I had hoped for and almost no clouds but I took some shots anyway. To the south and southeast I could see the Pisgahs near Andes which were once the site of a ski area. I walked down to the lower part of the lookout and took a few more pictures. When I was finished, I returned to the summit where I had a drink and gave Sheila some water. We walked in the direction that the arrow pointed and found the markers for the red Summit Trail that we would take back to the parking area.

We started down the Summit Trail which starts out as wide woods road but at .15 miles from the summit markers clearly indicated a right turn. The trail follows another woods road and we immediately ran into a huge blowdown which blocked the trail. We went off the trail through some briars to avoid the tree. There was a nice view off to the left but it was not much different than the view from the summit. I did take a few pictures of the trail along the ridge. We continued to follow the woods road as it entered the woods and led out to the upper parking area. A major blowdown which had completely blocked the trail was absent. I was watching for the trail to turn right into the woods to connect to the lower parking area but somehow missed it. We walked back up the trail a few feet and turned left where the trail entered the woods and started downhill to the car. This part of the trail was soft and easy walking but only lasted .15 miles. We were soon back at the car. It was 11:45 AM and we had hiked 3.6 miles in just under 2 and a half hours. The elevation gain was 1025 feet. To get to the summit the red Summit Trail is both shorter and easier. The blue Quarry Trail and its extension is harder but also more interesting! On the way home we headed toward Delhi and crossed the stream at Fitches Crossing. Once we were in Delhi, I followed familiar route home over Telford Hollow and through Downsville.

On Monday, December 31st I had planned to get in a longer hike perhaps near Alder Lake. Once again Brad and I went on an ambulance call in the middle of the night. This one was to a remote location and the patient was uncooperative. What should have been a two hour call turned into almost three hours. I did not get back to bed until 4:00 AM and slept until almost 10:00 AM. The temperature outside registered as 37 degrees but it seemed colder due to the moisture in the air and a persistent wind. I didn't even feel like going across the street to hike but Sheila's enthusiasm prevailed. At about noon Brad and I started to get ready with Sheila acting like she hadn't been out in a month! I put on a short-sleeved base layer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a light hat and light gloves. I wore my Vasque Talus hiking boots instead of the Salomon B-52 winter boots since I knew that any remaining snow would be frozen and hard-packed. I wear regular hiking boots whenever I can as I feel they are a better fit and offer more support. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately but chose to leave my microspikes at home. At 12:20 PM Sheila and I walked out the door to wait for Bard. I got Sheila's from my car and saw that Brad as coming out with his dog, Pierce, on his leash. I was happy to see this as I knew Pierce would always like to come with us. Both dogs were eager to go and pulled us up the slippery driveway. I decided we would try to do at least two figure 8's which might be enough given the situation. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street with the dogs on their leashes and walked to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church which was icy ion spots. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." There was almost no snow in the field and only a little on the ascent up the hill. Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash, and she began to explore the trail with her nose. As we followed the trail, I noticed there was a light covering of snow and that there were footprints in it. I am always happy to see that someone else uses the trails. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. There was one blowdown across the trail which would require an axe to clear.

At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. This section of the trail faces west and north so there was more snow but I was able to get a grip with little or no problem. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. Descending on the snow and frozen ground proved to be more of a challenge than I had expected but we were soon back at the yellow trail. We turned right and walked the yellow trail to the next trail junction. Here we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill to the lookout. There wasn't much to see at the lookout as the skies were overcast. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The walk had gone quickly, so we turned around and started back up the hill back to the lookout. {Pierce was definitely enjoying his walk in the woods! Sometimes Sheila resists another loop but this time she was in the lead. We followed the yellow trail uphill toward the next trail junction. At the junction, we turned right and followed the yellow trail which was covered in snow to the next junction. We turned left and started uphill on the blue trail. This side of the hill was slippery going up with frozen ground and hard-packed snow. We crested the hill and walked across the summit and started down the other side. I slipped and slid to the trail junction where we turned left. We walked along the yellow trail to the next trail junction where we turned right and walked down to the woods road and out to the first trail junction. I was feeling pretty fresh but decided to head back home as we had hiked for about an hour. Sheila was well-behaved and stayed with us most of the time. Pierce seemed to walk well on his leash without pulling Brad too much. We walked out to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash, and we walked down the cemetery hill. We walked across the field to our driveway. It was 1:40 PM, and we had hiked about 2 miles.

On Saturday, December 29th I wanted to get in a slightly longer hike close to home since I had been limiting my outdoor activity due to a cold. My son-in-law Brad was at the house and wanted to go with me. We had been on an ambulance call in the middle of the night and slept late to get some much needed rest. It had rained almost all day on Friday and I wanted to pick a hike where I knew the trails would not be covered in water and mud. I decided we would go to the Frick Pond area and hike the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond. This trail drains well and is usually relatively dry compared to the other trails ion the area. We didn't start getting ready to go until about 11:00 Am when the temperature was 37 degrees. The skies were completely overcast and there was a stiff breeze which made it feel colder. I put on a short-sleeved base layer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a light hat and light gloves. I wore my Vasque Talus boots which are all leather and seem to be waterproof although not very warm. Sheila kept me in sight as I got ready to go making sure she would not be forgotten. We got our gear and Sheila in the car at about 11:20 AM and headed out the DeBruce Road to Mongaup Pond Road. As I drove we noticed a few flakes hitting the windscreen. I turned left and headed up toward Mongaup Pond but stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road where the road forks. When we arrived at the parking area there was one car in the smaller lot and one in the larges. I parked in the smaller parking area and we both noticed an additional sprinkling of snow. I set my GPS unit at the trailhead and we crossed the road to start the hike at 11:45 AM. The skies were completely overcast and the wind was blowing making the 33 degree air temperature seem even cooler. On the first part of the trail through the woods, there was one large blowdown which we passed under. We turned right on the woods road which was once the extension of the Beech Mountain Road and started the 1.7 mile climb up the Flynn Trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We began picking up loose branches that had fallen on the trail and continued to do so for the entire hike. The grass was wet and the rocks were slippery to step on. There was only a little snow here and there but there was ample evidence that there had been a lot of water running down the trail during the rain the day before. Sheila was roaming around running up and down the rail as Brad and I talked about EMS issues. We passed through the "tunnel" Cindy, and I had cut in a large hemlock tree that had fallen across the trail. As we hiked passed the path to the cleared area near the top of the hill, we remarked about the increased amount of "stuff" falling from the sky. Some of this was rain, some was sleet and some was snow. We hiked the 1.7 miles uphill in less than 50 minutes.

We continued on the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond and passed through the gate that marks the beginning of the OSI property. At the junction with the jeep trail, we turned left to walk the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. Just after this intersection was an expanse of snow several inches deep was surprising since there was little snow anywhere else. We stopped so that I could take some pictures of this patch of snow and some of the bare trails we had hiked/ At 2.4 miles we broke into the clearing at the southern end of Hodge Pond where we turned left to stay on the Flynn Trail. I knew the this would be the wettest part of the trail. We walked along the woods road which opens into a field where there were several puddles. When we entered the woods again, there were ruts in the mud on the road and these were filled with water. We skirted the mess by walking along the sides of the trail until we came to the point where the Flynn Trail head up the hill. We stayed right to walk the jeep trail around the back of the pond. I had not intended to take pictures, but as we rounded the back of the pond I decided to walk the path down to the shore. I was surprised that the pond was completely frozen over even after the warm weather and rain. We walked down to the shore and Sheila went to the edge of the pond but walk out onto the ice. I took out the camera and took some shots of the pond, the bleak landscape and overcast sky. Back on the trail, we walked up a hill and then down to the field at the southern end of the pond. We walked over toward the shore and stopped so that I could take pictures of what was now a bleak scene with dark skies. After I took a few shots, we turned to walk to the point where the Flynn Trail reenters the woods. The walk up the Flynn Trail can seem long, but we made an extra effort to hurry up the hill as the clouds gathered and more snow started to fall. The trail was a little longer than I remembered but not as steep, and we were soon at the top of the hill. We continued straight ahead to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We hiked passed the gate and by 1:45 PM we were back at the highest point on the hike after hiking 4.1 miles. The Flynn Trail is all downhill on the way back, and we set a pretty fast pace. I did have to keep calling Sheila back as she was setting an even faster pace. As we were starting on the last part of the trail, it began to snow pretty hard and in a short time the ground was starting to get covered. Soon we were descending the last part of the hill to the gate. We followed the Flynn Trail through the woods and back to the car. Along the way we looked up to find a couple walking toward us. I put Sheila on her leash as the others passed. The skies were dark, and the wind was blowing indicating to me that more snow was on the way. Surprisingly the descent had taken only a few minutes less than the ascent, and we had made no stops. We were back at the car at 2:30 PM having hiked 5.8 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes gaining 875 feet along the way.

On Thursday, December 27th I wanted to get out for a hike after almost two weeks of inactivity! Late December can be a difficult time to hike because of all the family and church commitments but for the last few years this has been exacerbated by some kind of sickness. This time I had a cold accompanied lung complications and I chose to take it easy rather than to push myself. This made me feel better physically, I think, but was mentally devastating. When I suggested to Sheila that we go "out" for a "hike" she instantly became crazed and would not leave my sight while whining all the time. I decided that I would start easy and go across the street to hike on Round Top. The temperature was 30 degrees as I got ready to hike around noon but the sun was shining. The forecast for Friday was for temperatures in the high 40's accompanied by rain for most of the day. I put on a long-sleeved base layer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a light hat and light gloves. I wore my Vasque Talus boots which are all leather and seem to be waterproof although not very warm. At 12:30 PM we walked out the door and up the driveway. I put Sheila on her leash, and she pulled me up the driveway knowing exactly where we were going. There was only a light covering of snow but there were patches of ice which made the going slippery. I knew snowshoes were out of the questions and I decided that spikes would be a bigger problem than an advantage. I decided we would do some figure 8's just for the exercise and to take a look at the condition of the trails. I aimed to hike for about an hour. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, I paused for a moment to enjoy the bright sun. We started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash, and she began to explore the trail with her nose. As we followed the trail, I noticed it was completely frozen and that there was some snow remaining.

At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. We followed the yellow blazes up to the viewpoint and then turned right to follow the trail uphill a little toward the next trail junction. At the junction, we turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. I was pleased to see several sets of footprints. One set was so fresh I thought we might meet the hiker as we walked! At the next trail junction, we turned left on the blue trail and walked up toad the summit of Round Top. The trail was a little slippery but we were soon walking across the summit plateau. We started down the steeper side which was also slippery as it has retained more snow. Once we got to the yellow trail, we turned right and walked to the trail junction again. This time we turned right and followed the trail down to the woods road. We walked downhill on the woods road to the first trail junction finding one tree across the trail. When we arrived at the first trail junction, I was feeling pretty fresh so we turned around and started back up the more gentle slope we had just descended. We followed the yellow blazes up the woods road to the next trail junction where we turned left to walk along the base of Round Top. At the next junction with the blue trail, we turned right and began the ascent of the snow covered hill which is the steepest part of the hike. At the top we crossed the summit and descended back to the yellow trail. We turned right and again walked along the base of the hill to the next trail junction. This time we turned left and walked down the hill on the yellow trail to the lookout. We followed the yellow trail to the left and walked down the hill to the first trail junction. My chest was hurting a little from the cold air and I decided that I was satisfied with what we had done. We continued straight ahead on the yellow trail to the trailhead. Sheila was well-behaved and stayed with me most of the time. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down the cemetery hill. We walked across the field to our driveway. It was 12:35 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in an hour.

Fall 2018

On Friday, December 14th, I wanted to hike after a week of track and other commitments and a healthy dose of lousy weather. The early morning was dominated by freezing drizzle followed by heavy fog and light rain. I finally asked Cindy if she would like to go somewhere and she agreed suggesting Long Pond. I had avoided that area s it is heavily hunted but remembered that big game rifle season had ended and though it was a good choice . We began to get ready around 9:30 AM when the temperature had climbed above freezing. While we were getting ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go by alternately checking on both of us. Because it was relatively warm in Livingston Manor, I got dressed in my Mammut pullover with a light, synthetic, long-sleeved baselayer. I put on my Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I also donned a pair of Outdoor Research Crocodile gaiters to keep my lower legs even warmer and to ward off any snow I might find. I put on a blaze orange light hat just in case and a pair of heavier gloves. I packed my microspikes knowing that snowshoes would not be needed. As always I chose to wear my Mammut Ultimate Hoody which is very light but very wind resistant with plenty of zippers to dump heat when needed. I wore my Salomon B-52 winter boots for their insulation and because they have relatively good support. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. We finished getting our gear together and put Sheila in the back seat and the gear in the way back. When we left the house at about 10:00 AM the skies were completely overcast and a light rain or heavy mist was hitting the windscreen. We headed out DeBruce Road for about 8 miles to Flugertown Road where I made a left and drove to the parking area on the right. I had not expected to find anybody in the lot but when we arrived there was a truck parked and the owner seemed to be getting ready to start out. I noticed his garb and his gun and knew he was going deer hunting with a muzzle-loader. I parked in the lot a short distance up the road on the right where we found one other car. When she saw the hunter, Sheila put up a fuss so I left her inside as I opened the trunk to get out my pack. It was still misting heavily and the fog was very heavy but we decided we would try to hike even if we did the shorter loop. I left my spikes in my pack and set the GPS. I took Sheila out of the car and put her on her leash at 10:20 AM. The hunter was just ahead of us starting up the hill. We caught up to him quickly as he stopped to let us pass. He explained he was headed for the lean-to which he would use as a base while he hunted. We wished him good luck and hurried up the hill. The first .6 miles gains about 350 feet to the highest point on the hike. It isn't very steep but does act as a nice warm-up! We had to be careful to avoid some icy spots which was easy. We both set a very quick pace up the hill hiking at a speed we usually can only keep on more level ground and on dry trails! Once the trail leveled it was easier walking but there was still a layer of a few inches of snow and not-quite-frozen puddles.

At 1.1 miles we were at the spur trail that leads down to the shore of Long Pond. I was slightly ahead of Cindy as I turned left and walked down to the edge of the pond with Sheila. At the shores of the pond I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take some pictures. Sheila walked out on the ice on the pond which supported her weight but did not look capable of holding my weight. The skies were completely overcast with dense fog everywhere. As I took picture my camera kept automatically shifting to close-up mode. I decided it was being fooled by the dense fog. I took a few shots anyway before going back to my pack. I noticed Cindy was not present and I hoped she was simply waiting back at the main trail. My pack was getting wet so I pulled out and out on the pack cover after taking my camera. I returned to the main trail to find Cindy sitting and waiting. We debated what to do as a light rain was falling. We decided to hike to the next trail junction and decide. and arrived at the first trail junction. We turned right at the junction at 1.3 miles. The trail junction was only .2 miles ahead and we quickly covered that distance. It did not appear the rain would let up so we turned left to walk back to the road and complete a short loop. I hike for fun and fitness and this hike wasn't much fun! It is also close to our house so we didn't feel a need to continue on a day with unfavorable conditions. The hike back out to Flugertown Road is all flat or downhill so it went quickly. There were some areas where we had to skirt large puddles on the trail. The puddles had ice over them but it was not strong enough to bear our weight and the puddles were deep with mud underneath. We soon started to descend toward the creek and the road. This proved a little tricky as there was some ice and wet snow on the descent. I stopped at the first bridge to take some pictures of the snowy bridge and the stream. We continued on toward the second bridge where I considered taking some shot but realized it was much the same scene as the first. We walked out to the road and turned left to head back to the parking area. The road is designated as "seasonal maintenance" but had been plowed at some point. There was a layer of fresh, wet snow and no tire tracks indicating anyone had been on it recently. After a few minutes, we did stop so that could take a final set of pictures of the snowy road and the creek. After that, my sole purpose to get back to the car as quickly as possible. We hiked about a mile and at 3.1 miles the "seasonal maintenance" ended and we increased our pace even more. I kept Sheila off her leash the whole time on the road but directed her to follow closely behind me using the command "With". The walk back to the car is .5 miles and took us only 10 minutes. We were back at the car at noon after hiking 3.6 miles in 1 hour and 40 minutes. Our elevation gain was only 440 feet but our moving average was 2.5 mph Which is good for the conditions.

On Thursday, December 13th I wanted to get out for a hike after several days of commitments and unfavorable weather. The forecast called for temperatures in the 30's but there was no precipitation on tap. I decided just to go across the street and hike some on Round Top since I had track practice in the afternoon. Sheila seemed excited to be going anywhere after several days of inactivity. I put on a long-sleeved base layer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a blaze orange light hat and light gloves. I wore my Vasque Talus hiking boots instead of the Salomon B-52 winter boots since I knew that any remaining snow would be frozen and hard-packed. I wear regular hiking boots whenever I can as I feel they are a better fit and offer more support. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately but chose to leave my microspikes at home. At 10:40 AM we walked out the door and up the driveway. I put Sheila on her leash, and she pulled me up the driveway knowing exactly where we were going. I decided we would try to do at least two figure 8's which might be enough given the conditions. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." There was almost no snow in the field and only a little on the ascent up the hill. Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash, and she began to explore the trail with her nose. As we followed the trail, I noticed there was a fresh layer of fluffy snow over the frozen snow and ground underneath. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. There was one blowdown across the trail which would require an axe to clear.

At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. This section of the trail faces west and north so there was more snow but I was able to get a grip with little or no problem. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. Descending on the snow and frozen ground proved to be more of a challenged than I had expected but we were soon back at the yellow trail. We turned right and walked the yellow trail to the next trail junction. Here we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill to the lookout. There wasn't much to see at the lookout as the skies were overcast. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The walk had gone quickly, so we turned around and started back up the hill back to the lookout. Sometimes Sheila resists another loop but this time she was in the lead. We followed the yellow trail uphill toward the next trail junction. At the junction, we turned right and followed the yellow trail which was covered in snow to the next junction. We turned left and started uphill on the blue trail. This side of the hill was slippery going up with frozen ground and hard-packed snow. We crested the hill and walked across the summit and started down the other side. I slipped and slid to the trail junction where we turned left. We walked along the yellow trail to the next trail junction where we turned right and walked down to the woods road and out to the first trail junction. I was feeling pretty fresh but decided to head back home as my feet were getting a little cold in the uninsulated boots. We had hiked for about an hour so I decided we would return home. Sheila was well-behaved and stayed with us most of the time. We walked out to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash, and we walked down the cemetery hill. We walked across the field to our driveway. It was 11:40 AM, and we had hiked about 2 miles.

On Friday, December 7th, I had a dental checkup in the morning and by the time I got home it was well after 11:00 AM. I had in mind a hike to a Catskill 35 and chose Balsam Lake Mountain. I asked Cindy if she would like to go but she declined my offer. There were some problems with my choice. It was already late in morning and the temperature was still in the low 20's and I was not sure if the road would be cleared all the way to the Balsam Lake parking area. However, I had a track meet all day on Saturday and I knew Sunday would allow even less time for hiking. The following week looked busy so I decided to go ahead with my plan. I exchanged the TSL Symbioz snowshoes for a pair of Tubbs Alp Flex VTR snowshoes with the Boa binding. This binding uses a thin steel cable system and a ratchet which tightens it to give a custom fit and a secure binding. These shoes also have a televator to elevate the hiker's heel on ascents. This is a feature that you didn't know you needed until you try it and then it is hard to live without it! While we were getting ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. Because it was cold in Livingston Manor, I knew it would be even colder at the trailhead and on the mountain. I got dressed in a Patagonia wool top with a light, synthetic, long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of light synthetic tights and my Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I also donned a pair of Outdoor Research Crocodile gaiters to keep my lower legs even warmer and to ward off the snow I might find at the higher elevations. I put on a blaze orange light hat and a pair of heavier gloves. I packed a pair of mittens and my microspikes just in case. As always I chose to wear my Mammut Ultimate Hoody which is very light but very wind resistant with plenty of zippers to dump heat when needed. I wore my Salomon B-52 winter boots for their insulation and because I was pretty sure I would be wearing the snow shoes at some time. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I got my gear together and put Sheila in the back seat and the gear in the way back. I pulled out of Livingston Manor and headed toward Roscoe on Old Rt 17. I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and headed north toward Lew Beach and Turnwood. As I drove up Johnson Mountain the snow began to fall and the skies were completely clouded over. As I drove through Lew Beach the sky turned blue and there was even some sun and interesting clouds. The road was in good shape and I hoped it would stay that way for the whole drive. We reached Barkaboom Road where I followed the Beaverkill Road to the right. The Beaverkill Falls were flowing nicely and I thought I might stop on the way back for a few shots. The farther I drove the worse the road conditions became until it was almost completely covered in snow. We again ran into snow showers and cloudy skies as we hit the point where the road turns to gravel and passes the Buddhist monastery. Just after the last house on the road it became clear that the road had not been plowed after the storm that dumped a few inches of snow overnight. The last section of road is uphill and it was full of frozen ruts and there were several icy patches. I made it up without a problem but worried about the return trip.

We arrived at the parking area at 12:15 PM and found no other cars in the lot. The temperature was 20 degrees and when I stepped out of the car there was a pretty good wind blowing. I got out the snowshoes and decided I would rather wear them than carry them even though there was not much snow in the lot. I set my GPS and we were off at 12:20 PM. As we got on the trail it was obvious that snowshoes were not needed and were actually a nuisance since I kept hitting rocks lying just beneath the snow. Several times I though about removing them but hoped that there would be more snow as we gained elevation. We headed toward the first trail junction where I intended to turn left and hike up the steep side of the mountain. As we walked up the trail we found several blowdowns. Some were new and some were old. I continued to have problems with the snowshoes but stubbornly kept them on my feet. It wasn't long before I began to generate a lot of heat and opened some zippers on my Mammut hoody. We finally made the trail junction at .9 miles at 12:45 PM. We turned left up the mountain without stopping. I was disappointed that there still wasn't as much snow as I had hoped and there were still plenty of rocks just beneath the snow that was there. This first part of the trail is a gentle climb and I was feeling pretty good without stopping to rest. Over the next half mile the trail gains about 750 feet before leveling off which means an average of around a 28% grade! I began to struggle and had to stop frequently to catch my breath. I considered turning around but knew that would make me feel terrible! I kept slogging along with Sheila always ahead of me but not too far. This actually encouraged me to keep going. The climb seemed much longer than I remembered and several times I thought we were near the trail to the lean-to but had another steep section to climb. The weather kept alternating between overcast skies with snow and blue skies with sun. Finally we reached the trail to the lean-to and I stopped to get a drink and take a few pictures. I felt good until we started to climb again and ran into a few blowdowns that I had to work around. We passed the 3500 foot sign and were soon at the spring. It was hard to find the trail at this point but we eventually found the stone steps to the summit plateau. The trees were all now covered in ice and frozen snow which made a beautiful sight. I stopped to take pictures of the trees and the now blue sky. There was finally enough snow to make the snowshoes practical although not completely necessary. We continued on the trail and stopped several more times so that I could take some pictures. Our final stop was in the evergreens which were hanging into the trail covered in frozen snow.

We arrived at the tower clearing at 1:45 PM after hiking 1.7 miles. The skies were blue and the sun was out. The tower itself was not encrusted in snow but it was clear I would need traction to climb the tower. I took pictures of the clearing and the tower and then tried to decide if I should attempt the climb. I knew if I did not go up and take some pictures that I would regret it. I took off the snowshoes and put on the spikes which was quite an operation. I walked over to the tower with my camera and Sheila at my heels. I gave her strict instructions to stay and wait for me which she immediately violated as I began to go up the steps. The steps were tricky but the spikes were just the thing. As I rose above the treeline, the wind hit me and I was instantly uncomfortably cold. I stopped on a landing just below the cab and looked around. The scene was absolutely beautiful and I only regret was that pictures could not do it justice. I was able to operate my camera with my gloves on which was a relief. I took a great number of shots of the trees and cabin below and then turned my attention to the mountains. I took shots in all directions getting pictures of the Devil's Path to the north and some of Graham. Eventually I was satisfied I had enough pictures and wanted to get out of the wind. On the way down I met Sheila on a landing and took some pictures of her. I walked back to my pack and pout away my camera and took a drink. I exchanged spikes for snowshoes and headed down the Millbrook side of the mountain at 2:05 PM. We walked down the trail on the other side of the mountain passing the cabin. Walking down the mountain seemed MUCH easier than the climb up the other side. There wasn't too much snow under the trees but in the open there was enough to allow me to get a glide at times. In some places the drifts were almost 3 feet high! Soon we were approaching the junction with the trail that connects Millbrook Road to the Beaverkill Road. There is a gate at the bottom of the trail and just after this gate is the trail junction. We turned right at the trail junction to start back toward the car and I found that there wasn't very much snow on the trail itself and that I was again running into rocks underneath. I solved the problem by walking most of the way on the snow along the sides of the trail. This was much more enjoyable and I didn't sink down much into the frozen snow. There were quite a few branches hanging into the trail and a few blowdowns. The sun was still pretty high in the sky but was soon blocked by the mountain on the right. As I looked across the Gulf of Mexico, I could see the sun illuminating the side of the hill and wanted to take a few shots but knew it would be difficult to capture the scene. After just less than a mile, we were back at the trail junction where we had turned up the mountain earlier. We continued on toward the car by retracing our steps. I tried to walk along the sides of the trail in the deeper snow but eventually gave up. I stopped, took off the snowshoes and carried them the rest of the way back to the parking area. We had been blessed with blue skies all the way back from the summit and it was still light which would make it easier to negotiate the road. We were back in the parking area at 3:25 PM after hiking 4.3 miles in 3 hours. We had climbed 1200 feet in elevation in snowy and icy conditions. On the way home, the road did not prove to be a problem. Sheila slept in the back seat as I was happy we had completed the hike.

On Wednesday, December 5th, I wanted to get in a hike a Little farther from home after hiking in town on Round Top the day before. I thought about Balsam Lake Mountain or another more distant location but knew I would have afternoon track practice hanging over me. I decided to go to Frick Pond and hike a loop. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she said "Yes". My plan was to hike up the Flynn Trail and down the Big Rock Trail to Frick Pond. We would then return to the car on the Quick Lake trail for about a 4 mile hike. The temperature was in the high 20's with a good breeze which made it feel colder. While we were getting ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. Because it seemed cold, I got dressed in a Patagonia wool top with a light, synthetic, long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of light synthetic tights and my Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I put on a blaze orange light hat and light gloves. I wore my Vasque Talus hiking boots instead of the Salomon B-52 winter boots since I knew that any remaining snow would be frozen and hard-packed. I wear regular hiking boots whenever I can as I feel they are a better fit and offer more support. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. We decided not to wear snowshoes since I felt the snow would be frozen and hard-packed but we did put our microspikes in our packs. We got our gear in the car and put Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at about 10:00 AM as I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking areas on the left. Where the road turned to dirt, there were some ruts frozen into the mud and we could see there was still quite a bit of snow. I pulled into the smaller parking area at 10:30 AM. There were no cars in either lot. I checked the beginning of the Flynn Trail which was icy but quickly became bare. We decided to carry the spikes in case we needed them. I set my GPS and we walked across the road to get on the Flynn Trail at 10:20 AM with the temperature in the mid 20's. This trail is sited along what used to be Beech Mountain Road which was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We walked the trail through the woods and then turned right on the woods road. There was one blowdown which was out of the way overhead and only a little snow under foot. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.75 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. There was very little wind on the sheltered trail but the sun which had been out disappeared behind a solid layer of clouds. We passed through the arch Cindy and I had cut through an enormous hemlock that had fallen across the trail. On the way up the trail Cindy pointed out some woods roads that seemed to head up the hill on the right of the trail. These roads were accentuated by the snow and the lack of leaves on the trees. We talked about exploring these roads under better conditions and when we had more time.

We were soon approaching the junction with the Big Rock Trail and I mentioned to Cindy that the trip so far had gone quickly. I suggested we extend our adventure to a walk around Hodge Pond but Cindy declined the offer. The trails in the area were all covered with frozen and hard-packed snow but we had not needed our spikes. I thought the trip down the Big Rock Trail might require spikes but the snow remain just soft enough to allow our boots to get a grip. Descending was much easier than the walk up the Flynn Trail and we made good time heading for Times Square. The hike down the trail went quickly and we were soon at Times Square. As we descended the amount of snow steadily decreased and the area around Times Square was almost devoid of any snow. We stopped for a moment so that I could take a few shots and then continued our hike by walking straight across Times Square to stay on the Big Rock Trail. There were a few areas of open water and mud but most of the ground was frozen. As we entered the trees, we found more snow on the ground. We crossed two small bridges over the inlets to the pond. I took a few pictures of the small stream from the second bridge as the water was high. As we continued to hike, I also took some more pictures in the area under the pines and then we started walking on the boardwalks. I took a few pictures of the snow still piled up on the wooden walkways. At the next trail junction we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. I decided not to stop at the bridge as the scene was bleak and I wanted to get home. We walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction and continued to the register on the trail. I was surprised that most of the water was now frozen with only a few "streams" running across the trail. At the register we continued straight ahead on the woods road back to the car. We arrived at the car at 1:30 PM having hiked 4 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes with an elevation gain of 680 feet.

On Tuesday, December 4th I wanted to get out for a hike after several days of commitments and cold, rainy weather. The forecast called for temperatures in the 30's but there was no precipitation on tap. I decided just to go across the street and hike some on Round Top since I had track practice in the afternoon. Sheila seemed excited to be going anywhere after several days of inactivity. I put on a long-sleeved base layer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a blaze orange light hat and light gloves. I wore my Vasque Talus hiking boots instead of the Salomon B-52 winter boots since I knew that any remaining snow would be frozen and hard-packed. I wear regular hiking boots whenever I can as I feel they are a better fit and offer more support. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately but chose to leave my microspikes at home. At 10:25 AM we walked out the door and up the driveway. I put Sheila on her leash, and she pulled me up the driveway knowing exactly where we were going. I decided we would try to do at least two figure 8's which might be enough given the conditions. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." There was almost no snow in the field and only a little on the ascent up the hill. Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash, and she began to explore the trail with her nose. As we followed the trail, I noticed there was almost no snow and the dirt was frozen solid except for a few small patches. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction. As we climbed to the junction the amount of snow increased and the trail was almost completely covered after we made the left turn.

At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. This section of the trail faces west and north so there was quite a bit of snow but I was able to get a grip with little or no problem. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. Descending on the snow and frozen ground proved to be more of a challenged than I had expected but we were soon back at the yellow trail. We turned right and walked the yellow trail to the next trail junction. Here we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill to the lookout. There wasn't much to see at the lookout as the skies were overcast. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The walk had gone quickly, so we turned around and started back up the hill back to the lookout. Sometimes Sheila resists another loop but this time she was in the lead. We followed the yellow trail uphill toward the next trail junction. At the junction, we turned right and followed the yellow trail which was covered in snow to the next junction. We turned left and started uphill on the blue trail. This side of the hill was slippery going up with frozen ground and hard-packed snow. We crested the hill and walked across the summit and started down the other side. I slipped and slid to the trail junction where we turned left. We walked along the yellow trail to the next trail junction where we turned right and walked down to the woods road and out to the first trail junction. I was feeling pretty fresh and it was still less than an hour of hiking so I decided to do another figure 8. Sheila had other plans and was trotting out to the trailhead. I turned around to do another figure 8 and had to call her to me. Once she realized I was serious about extending the walk she ran ahead of me on the trail. We completed another figure 8 matching the first one we had done. This time when we reached the first trail junction I decided that I was finished. We had hiked for a little more than one hour so I decided we would return home. Sheila was well-behaved and stayed with us most of the time. We walked out to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash, and we walked down the cemetery hill. We walked across the field to our driveway. It was a little after 11:45 AM, and we had hiked well over 2 miles.

On Thursday, November 29th, I was ready to get a hike in after several days of terrible hiking weather! There was no precipitation forecast for the day and the temperature was already 32 degrees when I returned from my men's bible study at 7:30 AM. I ate breakfast at Cafe 43 and the headed home to get ready to hike. I knew there would be some snow at Frick Pond but wasn't sure how much. After the previous trip without snowshoes, I decided to bring them this time. I have bee using my TSL Symbioz snowshoes which have a nice binding system and seem to shed snow well. I also knew that there would probably still be water on the trails from the rain that had fallen before the snow. I don't like these conditions very much but the forecast showed they would not change much over the next few days. Sheila would like to go out everyday and was more than ready to go for a hike. Around 9:15 AM I began to get ready to leave. I put on a long-sleeved base layer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a blaze orange light hat and light gloves. I wore my Salomon B-52 boots which are old but fit well and are the boot I prefer for winter. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately to go with the snowshoes. When I looked at the temperature it was still right around freezing. I got our gear in the car and put Sheila in the backseat before heading out the DeBruce Road. I turned left on the Mongaup Pond Road to head toward the Frick Pond trailhead. I stayed to the left where the road spilt and headed up Beech Mountain Road to the trailhead. This road had been plowed but beginning to get rutted. Both parking areas had been plowed at some time but the snow had drifted in and there was some frozen snow in both lots. This didn't matter too much as I was the only car in the lots. I was surprised when I stepped out of the car to find at least 4 inches of new snow. In addition, the temperature was only 30 degrees and the wind was blowing at least 15 mph making it seem colder. I put on my snowshoes and set my GPS before starting out on the woods road toward the trail register. There was some ice and hard-packed snow as well as the newly-fallen powder. The woods road from the register out to Gravestone Junction had snow but also several areas of standing and running water. We made the best of it by striding over the water or walking in the snow that remained on either side of the road. I actually headed off trail to the left several times to avoid the water. Each time Is stepped in some water and then back into the snow, I immediately got snow clumping on the bottom of the snowshoes! We stayed to the left at Gravestone Junction and walked down the hill to Frick Pond. By the time we got to the pond, the wind was blowing even harder. The view of the pond was much the same as always but Flynn's Point had a covering of frozen snow on the trees. I decided to atop and take some pictures. I was surprised that despite the temperature and the wind, I didn't feel too cold. After taking some shots, I packed up and we headed over the bridge to continue our hike. Sheila has not been out in several days and she was dashing around and really enjoying herself.

The trail on the west side of the pond was wet in places where it never is wet making the clumping of snow a continuing problem. At the next trail junction we stayed to the left to follow the Quick Lake Trail through the "Spruce Tunnel" to Iron Wheel Junction. I definitely felt that the snowshoes were giving me the grip I needed but I had to stop frequently to use my poles to knock the snow off the snowshoes. There was some water on the trail in this area which was hard to avoid. There was still quite a bit of snow in the woods away from the trail averaging from 4 to 6 inches. We stopped in the "Spruce Tunnel" where I took a few shots and then came to the small stream which was running freely with water from the rain. I could not cross where the trail crossed so I walked upstream where the stream is narrower. We continued up to Iron Wheel Junction still having to avoid water along the way. When we arrived at Iron Wheel Junction, I turned right to get on the Logger's Loop and head toward Times Square. The Logger's Loop is part of the snowmobile trail but there was not evidence that anyone had been out with a machine. The sign told us that Times Square was about 1.2 miles away but I knew that we would go through a series of ups and downs along the way before hitting the highest point at 1.8 miles. After a short distance, we stopped so that I could take a few pictures of the trail and the untouched snow further off in the woods. I also took some shots of the rocky ledges covered in snow on the north side of the trail. There continued to be long and wide stretches of water on the trail and constantly knocking the snow off the bottom on the snowshoes was getting tiresome. As we walked there were a few old blowdowns and several new ones. I knew the snowmobile club would clear these but I was hoping they would do it soon! Along the way it began to snow very lightly but I was worried it would turn to rain so I quickened our pace. Once we hit the high point it was all downhill to Times Square. At Times Square I took a quick look up the Big Rock Trail but decided to simply continue out the Logger's Loop. This part of the trail has a slight uphill but is probably the easiest way back to the parking area from Times Square. All along our hike I had been noticing the areas where I had cleared blowdowns. I also noted that there were areas that needed new trail markers which now can only be placed by the foresters. There was water on this part of the Loggers Loop but less than we had experienced on the way to Times Square. When we crested the small hill and started down to Gravestone Junction I was very happy as my legs had begun to ache a little as they always do on the first few snowshoe hikes. At Gravestone Junction we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and began the walk back to the car. I was less particular about avoiding the water on the way back and got some very large clumps of snow on the snowshoes. We were back at the car at noon having taken 2 hours to hike 3.6 miles with an elevation gain of only 380 feet. Unfortunately, I discovered a major flaw in the TSL Symbioz bindings. The nylon strap used to adjust the bindings passes through a plastic buckle which does not have sharp teeth. This allows the strap to slide freely through the buckle which allows the strap to loosen. The bindings work OK for my shoe size but those with smaller feet would be in trouble! What a shame for expensive snow shoes that otherwise are well-constructed.

On Saturday, November 24th I wanted to get out for a hike after several days or cold and then rainy weather. The forecast called for freezing rain starting at 11:00 AM so I decided just to go across the street and hike some on Round Top. Brad and Krista were visiting, and Brad agreed to go with me. We had a late night ambulance call and slept a little later than I expected. After a late breakfast, we began to get reading to hike at about 9:30 AM. Sheila seemed excited to be going anywhere. The temperature was only 25 degrees, but there was no breeze. The skies were overcast. I put on a short-sleeved base layer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a blaze orange light hat and light gloves. I wore my Salomon B-52 boots which are old but fit well and are the boot I prefer for winter. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately and put on my microspikes which I thought would be more useful than snowshoes. At 9:50 AM we walked out the door and up the driveway. I put Sheila on her leash, and she pulled me up the driveway knowing exactly where we were going. I decided we would try to do at least two figure 8's which might be enough given the conditions. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." The microspikes seemed to be helping on the packed and frozen snow. Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash, and she began to explore the trail with her nose. As we followed the trail, I noticed it was covered with frozen snow with only a small amount of loose snow remaining. At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right on the woods road which is the shallower approach to the trail system. We continued to follow the yellow trail to the first junction where we turned left and followed it to the next trail junction.

At this junction, we turned right and started up the steep blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. The spikes tuned out to be a good choice as the trail was very slippery and the spikes gave us good traction. We walked across the flat summit of Round Top and started down the other side. The spikes again gave us good traction on the descent to the trail junction. We turned right and walked the yellow trail to the next trail junction. Here we turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill to the lookout. There wasn't much to see at the lookout as the skies were overcast and there was a fog hanging over the town. We followed the yellow as it turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The walk had gone quickly, so we turned around and started back up the hill back to the lookout. We followed the yellow trail uphill toward the next trail junction. At the junction, we turned right and followed the yellow trail to the next junction. We turned left and started uphill on the blue trail. This side of the hill was slippery going up, and we were glad we had the spikes. We crested the hill and walked across the summit and started down the other side. We slipped and slid to the trail junction where we turned left. We walked along the yellow trail to the next trail junction where we turned right and walked down to the woods road and out to the first trail junction. We had hiked for a little more than one hour so I decided we would return home. Sheila was well-behaved and stayed with us most of the time. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash, and we walked down the cemetery hill. We walked across the field to our driveway. It was a little after 11:15 AM, and we had hiked a little over 2 miles.

On Wednesday, November 21st I wanted to get out and hike with my grandson Bryce. The forecast included some snow around 1:00 PM so I didn't want to go too far and decided we would go to Frick Pond and try the Flynn Trail. I planned to go up the Flynn Trail to the Big Rock Trail and then descend the Big Rock Trail to Times Square. From there we could continue on the Big Rock Trail along the western edge of Frick Pond and complete the loop by taking the Quick Lake Trail back to the car. Bryce arrived a little after 9:00 Am and ate breakfast while I looked for his snowshoes. I eventfully found them, and we got ready to depart with Sheila looking very happy! The temperature was hanging right around freezing, but there was a slight breeze blowing. I put on a short-sleeved baselayer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles, but on this day I put on gaiters to make sure the snow stayed out of my boots. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a blaze orange light hat and light gloves. I got my Salomon B52 boots out of the basement and chose a pair of TSL Symbioz snowshoe which I had been wearing on a few trips lately. The TSL snowshoes have a plastic deck which discourages clumping of snow. They have a ratcheting binding which securely holds the foot in place. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I gave Bryce a blaze orange hat although his jacket was a bright blue. We got our gear in the car, and I got a seat for Bryce. I drove out DeBruce Road around 10:20 AM for 6 miles to Mongaup Pond Road where I turned left. I drove to where the road split and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. When we arrived at the parking area, both the pull-off and the lot were plowed poorly, but it was easy enough to park. There were no other cars in the lots as we got ready to hike. I walked across the road to check the Flynn Trail and found that there was little snow and a lot of ice. Also, it was clear that the people who had used the trail had not worn snowshoes. I decided that using snowshoes would be difficult under the conditions, so we left them in the car. I set my GPS and noticed the breeze had become a wind which made the 33-degree temperature feel much colder. We started out on the Flynn Trail at 10:45 AM. Walking on the frozen snow with boot prints was difficult. At the end of the trail, we turned right on the woods road that was once the extension of Beech Mountain Road that ran to the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. The Flynn Trail follows this road until it splits and the trail runs down to the Hodge Pond while the road continues to what remains of the camp. We continued on the trail as the walking was somewhat easier since there were only a few inches of snow. We tried to walk behind each other to pack a trail and to leave room for other hikers who might want to use shoe shoes later. As we gained elevation, I noticed that the snow was getting much deeper which made the walking much more difficult. Also, the wind was blowing steadily at around 20 mph with gusts of 30 mph at times. Some snow was blowing off the trees, and I began to worry that some branches might start to come down. We continued up the trail as the snow became between 8 and 10 inches deep in most places. Both Bryce and I were becoming tired. In talking to Bryce, I realized that he had only a pair of sweatpants on his legs and that his feet were wet. I checked my GPS and found we were almost at the trail junction. We continued on to the junction arriving there at 12:05 PM. I had planned to descend the Big Rock Trail, but I asked Bryce what he wanted to do. He indicated that he wanted to return the way we had come by way of the Flynn Trail. I thought he had made a good choice since we would have the trail we broke to follow on the way back. We turned around and started back. Since we were both tired, we tried to set a fast pace and did not talk very much. Descending was easier than ascending, but it was still tiring, and the wind was still blowing. I wasn't spent, but I was glad when I saw the spruce across the trail where Cindy and I had cut an opening. We were soon at the gate where we turned left and followed the Flynn Trail through the woods to avoid the private property around the cabin. We walked back to the car arriving at 1:00 PM. The ascent had taken 80 minutes while the descent had last only 55 minutes! We had hiked 3.5 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes with an elevation gain of 600 feet. I had refrained from taking pictures as most would have been simply of snow on the trails.

On Friday, November 20th I was up at 6:30 AM and found that the trees were covered in a layer of frozen snow. The temperature was 33 degrees, and there was still a light mist falling. I decided that I would go across the street and take some pictures from Round Top. I didn't plan to hike much but just take some pictures and return home. I began to get ready as I knew that the snow would not remain on the trees with the temperature rising above freezing. Sheila seemed excited to be going anywhere and kept a watchful eye on me as I got dressed. I put on a short-sleeved baselayer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles, but on this day I put on gaiters to make sure the snow stayed out of my boots. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a blaze orange light hat and light gloves. I got my Salomon B52 boots out of the basement and chose to wear only microspikes instead of snowshoes. The boots are old and no longer produced, but they fit well and seem water resistant. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. At 7:30 AM we walked out the door and up the driveway. I put Sheila on her leash, and she pulled me up the driveway knowing exactly where we were going. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked across the field to the back of the church to start the climb up the hill. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill through the snow. I was surprised that there were several inches of new snow on the ground and that snowshoes might have been the better choice. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped so that I could take some pictures. I took off my pack, got out my camera and took shots in all directions. The snow on the trees was beautiful, and there was an interesting fog or layer of low clouds hanging over the valleys. The rising temperature was already beginning to cause some of the snow to fall from the trees. Despite the conditions, I decided that we would at least hike to the lookout before returning home. We started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead and breaking trail through the fresh snow. The snow on the trees in the woods was even prettier than out in the open. I let Sheila off her leash, and she began to explore the trail with her nose sometimes burying it beneath the snow.

At the first trail junction, we continued straight ahead up the steep hill to the viewpoint. As we walked, we were being pelted by the snow dropping from the trees. The snow was light but wet and more annoying than anything else. The microspikes gave me good traction up the hill, but it confirmed that snowshoes would have been more useful. We followed the yellow blazes up to the viewpoint and turned left to walk out to the lower level which has a better view. I don't usually bother with the viewpoint, but I wanted some pictures of the town and the surrounding hills. I put down my pack and took out my camera to take some pictures. Getting good pictures of the school and the rest of town was difficult as the fog caused by the cold snow and warmer air filled the valley. When I was done, we walked back out the trail where I decided to turn left and walk a loop as long as we were already out. We continued on the yellow trail toward the next trail junction. Along the way, I stopped to take a few pictures of the woods. We continued up the small hill on the trail and continued straight ahead at the next trail junction to walk to the summit of Round Top. I stopped at the trail junction and took some pictures along the lower trail where the brush was covered in frozen snow. Sheila was ranging far and wide, and I had to keep calling her back. I think we have been on Round Top so many times that Sheila feels like it is home. The steep trail up to the summit was slippery, but the microspikes provided sufficient traction to take me up to the summit. We walked across the summit and started down the other side. The snow continued to fall from the trees making the walk "unfriendly." At the next trail junction, we continued straight ahead on the yellow trail down to the woods road which took us back to the first trail junction. I knew I could use some more exercise but was tired of the conditions. We turned left and walked back out to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. The sky was still very overcast as we walked down the hill to the church. We walked across the field to our driveway. It was a little after 8:30 AM, and we had hiked a little over 1 mile in an hour.

On Saturday, November 17th I wanted to get out and snowshoe, but I knew the increasing temperatures would make the snow less than ideal. After some back and forth debate in my own mind, I asked Cindy if she would like to go to Frick Pond to do a loop and she agreed. It wasn't until the afternoon that we began to get ready to go. Sheila alternated between watching me get ready and running upstairs to amok sure Cindy was also coming. I put on a short-sleeved baselayer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles, but on this day I put on gaiters to make sure the snow stayed out of my boots. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a blaze orange light hat and light gloves. I got my Salomon B52 boots out of the basement and chose a pair of TSL Symbioz snowshoe which I hadn't worn in some time. The boots are old and no longer produced, but they are great for use with snowshoes. The TSL snowshoes have a plastic deck which discourages clumping of snow. They have a ratcheting binding which securely holds the foot in place. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. When we arrived at the parking area, both the pull-off and the lot were plowed poorly, but it was easy enough to park. There was one car in the small lot and one in the bigger lot as we got ready to leave. I set my GPS and noticed a slight breeze which made the 40-degree temperature feel colder. We put on our snowshoes and started out on the wood road that leads to the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond at 12:50 PM. The snow was wet as it was starting to melt and there were open areas of water on the trail. Some bare boot tracks were visible along with some snowshoe tracks. I knew there could easily be a mixture of hikers and hunters in the area. I had decided we would hike the loop around Frick Pond in a counterclockwise direction which is only about 2 miles. I felt this was a good compromise and would allow us to get some exercise without staying out too long in the less-than-ideal snow conditions. As we headed out on the trail, there were about 8 inches of snow in most places. The going was a little tough, but the snowshoes performed well. Sheila was ahead of us bounding through the snow, and the track she made was almost as good as another snowshoer breaking trail! Within minutes I was warm despite because of the relatively warm temperature and the work of hiking with snowshoes. When we got to the trail register, the trail along the woods road had been broken out by someone on snowshoes but also had many boot tracks which chopped up the trail. As we approached the trail junction with the yellow Loggers Loop Trail, Sheila alerted, and we looked up to see tow hunters. I put Sheila on her leash, and we stopped to talk to the hunters. They said they had seen plenty of tracks but no deer! We turned right to make the loop around the pond anticlockwise. The trail was broken out, and the walking was fairly easy as we headed out on the Loggers Loop. Sheila was still bounding along ahead of me but would occasionally take a break by following in my tracks. The skies were overcast and it almost looked like snow could be on the way! I do not often walk this loop anticlockwise and was surprised that it was a little uphill and a little longer than I thought. Soon we were walking downhill toward Times Square although it was still some work hiking through the snow. At 1:25 PM we arrived at Times Square after hiking almost exactly one mile. I was feeling great and suggested to Cindy that we either hike up the Big Rock Trail which is a long ascent or try the Logger's Loop. She declined my offer! We stuck to the plan and turned left to head around the back of Frick Pond on a trail partially broken by snowshoers. We crossed the two small bridges and entered the evergreen groves where there was quite a bit less snow on the ground. I stopped to take a few pictures under the trees and then stopped again to take some shots as we approached the longer sections of boardwalk. We continued on toward the outlet of Frick Pond and turned left on the Quick Lake Trail when the Big Rock Trail ended. We stopped at the bridge where I took a few shots of Frick Pond and Flynn's Point before heading back to the car. As we approached Gravestone Junction, we saw and heard a group of hikers at the junction. They read the sign and turned right to head out on the Logger's Loop. We noticed that they were all dressed in dark colors with no hint of blaze orange or any other bright color. None had snowshoes, and their coats looked like they would be more at home on city streets! We continued on the Quick Lake Trail which was an even bigger mess than when we had started out. We were back at 2:10 PM having hiked 2.2 miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes with only about 160 feet of elevation gain.

On Friday, November 16th the first major snowstorm of the season hit the Catskills. When I got up, there were at least 8 inches of snow with a crusty layer on top, and more snow was still falling. I had several tasks to accomplish including shoveling snow and getting snow tires on our two ambulances. I got a text from Lisa asking if I wanted to snowshoe on Round Top which fit into my plans nicely. We agreed to meet at the Presbyterian Church, and I started to get ready at 8:40 AM forgetting how long it takes to get ready for a winter hike. Sheila seemed excited to be going anywhere and kept a watchful eye on me as I got dressed. The temperature was 30 degrees with an overcast sky. I put on a short-sleeved baselayer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles, but on this day I put on gaiters to make sure the snow stayed out of my boots. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a blaze orange light hat and light gloves. I got my Salomon B52 boots out of the basement and chose a pair of TSL Symbioz snowshoe which I hadn't worn in some time. The boots are old and no longer produced, but they are great for use with snowshoes. The TSL snowshoes have a plastic deck which discourages clumping of snow. They have a ratcheting binding which securely holds the foot in place. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. At 9:00 AM we walked out the door and up the driveway. I put Sheila on her leash, and she pulled me up the driveway knowing exactly where we were going. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked across the field to meet Lisa who was parked at the church. Sheila was straining at her leash, and when she saw Lisa, I had to let her go. Sheila enthusiastically greeted Lisa as I walked over to her car. I put Sheila back on her leash as Lisa put on her snowshoes. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill through the snow. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped so that I could take some pictures. I took off my pack, got out my camera and took shots in all directions. The snow on the trees was beautiful, and the snow piled on the headstones was interesting. We started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead and breaking trail through the fresh snow. The snow on the trees in the woods was even prettier than out in the open. I let Sheila off her leash, and she began to explore the trail with her nose sometimes burying it beneath the snow.

At the first trail junction, we continued straight ahead up the steep hill to the viewpoint. Even though Lisa was breaking trail, I found the going more difficult that I remembered. We followed the yellow blazes up to the viewpoint and turned left to walk out to the lower level which has a better view. I don't usually bother with the viewpoint, but I wanted some pictures of the town and the surrounding hills. I put down my pack and took out my camera to take some pictures. When I was done, we worked our way up the bank to the upper level of the lookout. Lisa decided she needed to return at this point, so Sheila and I continued on our own on the yellow trail. Breaking trail by myself was definitely a challenge. We stopped by a large rock on the left of the trail which acts as a natural bench for hikers. I took a few pictures of the rock without Sheila and then a few with her posed on the rock. I also took a few shots of the woods. We continued up a small hill on the trail and turned right at the next trail junction to walk along the base of Round Top. Sheila was ranging far and wide, and I had to keep calling her back. I think we have been on Round Top so many times that Sheila feels like it is home. At the next trail junction, we turned left and started out on the blue trail that leads over the summit of Round Top. We continued over the summit and down the other side. On the descent, I was able to pick up the tips of my snowshoes and glide. At the trail junction, we turned left and walked on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. This part of the hike was easier as I had already walked over the trail once packing the snow. At the trail junction, we turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road and back to the first junction. We had only done one figure 8, but I was sufficiently tired to return home. We turned left and walked back out to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. The sun had come out, and the snow was beginning to fall from the trees. I stopped to take a few pictures as the scene looked quite different than when we had started the hike. I put the camera away and picked up my pack to walk down the hill to the church. We walked across the field to our driveway. It was a little after 10:15 AM, and we had hiked a little over 1 mile in a little over one hour. This seemed like a short hike and a long time, but the snow definitely made a difference.

On Thursday, November 15th I wanted to get out for a hike after my morning men's Bible study at the church. I went to Cafe 43 for breakfast and then returned home to do a few chores. I dropped my car at the local garage to have snow tires mounted. The forecast called for snow overnight on Thursday into Friday morning with ice coming at the end of the storm. I collected the recyclables and garbage to take them to the transfer station. When I finally returned home, I balked at the idea of hiking across the street on Round Top, but Sheila finally convinced me to go. I began getting ready at 9:30 AM and Sheila seemed excited to be going anywhere. The temperature was only 24 degrees with a breeze and some moisture in the air which made it feel even colder. I put on a long-sleeved base layer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a blaze orange light hat and light gloves. I wore my new Keen Targhee II boots which are canvas and leather. They are lighter than most of my boots but are a little large. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. At 9:50 AM we walked out the door and up the driveway. I put Sheila on her leash, and she pulled me up the driveway knowing exactly where we were going. I decided we could do some loops instead of figure 8's just for the exercise and to take a look at the condition of the trails. I aimed to hike for about an hour. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash, and she began to explore the trail with her nose. As we followed the trail, I noticed it was completely frozen and that there was some snow remaining. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead up the hill toward the lookout. We followed the yellow blazes up to the viewpoint and then turned right to follow the trail uphill a little toward the next trail junction. At the junction, we continued straight ahead on the blue trail up the steepest climb on the trail toward the summit of Round Top. We walked over the summit and down the other side to the next junction where we continued straight ahead on the yellow trail. At the bottom of the hill, we continued on the woods road as it turned right to take us back to the first trail junction. The walk had only taken a little more than 15 minutes.

I was feeling pretty fresh as we turned around and started back up the more gentle slope we had just descended. We followed the yellow blazes up the woods road to the next trail junction continuing on the blue trail over the summit of Round Top and down to the next trail junction. To complete this "big" loop, we continued on the yellow trail to the lookout. At the viewpoint, we turned left and walked downhill to the first trail junction. Since we had not yet hiked for one hour, we turned around and walked back up the steep slope to the viewpoint and followed the yellow trail up to the junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and stayed on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next trail junction, we turned right and walked down to the woods road and back to the first trail junction to complete a "small" loop. To finish our hike we turned around to make one more small loop by walking up the woods road on the yellow trail to the next trail junction. We turned left and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next trail junction. We turned left and followed the yellow trail downhill to the lookout. We followed the yellow trail as it turned left and took us back to the first trail junction. We had hiked for a little more than one hour so I decided we would return home. Sheila was well-behaved and stayed with me most of the time. We walked out to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash, and we walked down the cemetery hill. We walked across the field to our driveway. It was a little after 11:00 AM, and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in a little over one hour.

On Monday, November 12th I wanted to get in a longer hike and decided to go to Schunemunk, the highest point in Orange County, to complete a loop over both ridges. The weather looked good, so I had invited my grandson Bryce along even though the hike is grueling as it passes over the rocky ridges. Bryce, although he is only seven years old, is a very able hiker, and I had no doubt he could handle the loop. I decided that I would pick Bryce up at his house and we would leave from there for the hike in Orange County. When I got up in the morning, it was 21 degrees, so I did not hurry to get ready but knew I wanted to leave a little after 8:00 AM. Sheila saw me getting ready and watched as I dressed. I put on a long-sleeved base layer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I wore my Vasque Talus boots which are all leather and seem to be pretty waterproof. By adding a pair of Superfeet green insoles, the shoes have decent support. I donned my Mammut hoody which has enough zippers to dump heat if needed. I put on a blaze orange light hat and light gloves. I put my gear in the car with Sheila in the back seat and left Livingston Manor at about 8:15 AM. I drove to Bryce's house on Dr. Duggan Road in Bethel to pick up Bryce who was dressed and ready to go. We left the house at 9:00 AM and drove to Monticello to pick up State Route 17 south and east toward Middletown. I took exit 126 to pick up Route 94 through Chester to Washingtonville. I drove through Washingtonville and turned right on Orrs Mills Road in Salisbury Mills. After a short distance, I turned right on Clove Road and then left on Otterkill Road. When we arrived at the trailhead near the Moodna Train Trestle, I turned into the parking area on the left where there were a few cars already present. As we got ready to start our hike, we heard a strange humming noise which Bryce determined was a drone flying overhead! The temperature was in the mid 30's, but a slight breeze was blowing. Bryce was impressed by the train trestle as we walked out of the parking lot toward it with Sheila on her leash at 10:05 AM. We walked up the road and picked up the trail on the right just short of the trestle. We stayed on the white trestle trail as it climbed the 1.6 miles to the crest of the western ridge. Near the beginning of the hike we heard a train whistle, and soon four passenger cars and an engine appeared. It gave me the idea that it would be nice to ride the train over the trestle between the nearest two stops. The trail was wet and muddy in places and covered in slippery leaves. We stopped at one point, and I opened all the zippers on my hoody as the climb was making me very warm. Along the way, the trail alternates between steep areas and more level ones. In one place a short side trail leads to a viewpoint with a bench which allows the hiker to take a break. I snapped a few pictures of the countryside below and several of Bryce and Sheila on the bench. Back on the trail, we continued the climb to the junction with the red Barton Swamp Trail at 1.6 miles.

We turned left onto the red trail and enjoyed several viewpoints to the eastern ridge and the northeast before descending to the area between the ridges. The climb down was less than a quarter mile and drops only 200 feet, but the descent went slowly since there are several difficult areas. We stopped to take a few pictures of the rocky descent. We could hear the water of Baby Brook below, and it was loud. I thought it better to find out if we could cross this brook early in the hike rather than at the end. When we got to the brook, we found a tree across the brook that Bryce could use to get across and some stepping stones for me. I crossed the brook first and then took a short video of Bruce crossing on the log. We shared a bar and then walked to the next trail junction where we picked up the yellow Jessup Trail which ascends to the top of the eastern ridge. The eastern ridge is considerably higher than the western ridge, so the ascent is a long one although not quite so steep. The trail immediately began to ascend over the characteristic slabs and outcropping of conglomerates. The vegetation was predominantly scrub pine similar to the Gunks. As the trail ascends views of the western ridge and to the east become more prevalent. In .7 miles the elevation gain was over 400 feet. After this, the trail continues to ascend for some time before leveling somewhat. New views continue to appear, and on this day I stopped several times to take pictures. Along the way, we met three people and a dog who were headed toward us. We talked briefly before heading our separate ways. The trail starts to undulate and begin a series of excursions into hardwood stands slightly off the ridge before winding back to the edge of the ridge. In many places, the trail forced us to hike along narrow rock crests or slanted rock faces. These were damp in many places, and we had to be careful not to slip and fall. At 1:10 PM we were finally nearing the Megaliths after hiking 3.6 miles. I had wondered if we would ever reach this point and was beginning to questions my decision to start later in the day. At this point, there was no turning back, so we took the spur trail out toward these large blocks of rock. Descending across an open rock face that was damp was challenging. We entered the woods and quickly approached our goal. As we drew near, I watched for the vultures which often perch on these rocks but there were none. We climbed up onto the highest rock and I took some pictures of the landscape below and of the rocks themselves. We quickly returned to the trail and turned left to continue out the Jessup Trail still walking AWAY from the car. We walked the short distance to the Ridge to Ridge Trail and turned right on this blue marked trail.

The trail continued southwest briefly before turning due north and beginning a descent into Barton Swamp between the two ridges. The descent is steep and required us to walk along narrow parts of the trail and hop over some boulders. Some of these narrow ledges were wet, and there was some ice. We stayed close to the brush and made it to the steep descent off the eastern ridge. Some parts of the descent require rather long drops over large boulders which is interesting when the rocks are dry. The dampness on the rocks and the wet leaves added a level of difficulty to this short but steep descent. Crossing the swamp was difficult as the water was high, but there were just enough old logs and high spots to allow us to get to the red Barton Swamp Trail. We turned right to briefly follow both trails through the swamp. In a short distance, the trails parted, and we followed the Ridge to Ridge Trail as it turned left and ascended to the top of the western ridge and the Western Ridge Trail. We followed the Western Ridge Trail as it ascended steeply to the top of the ridge. This ridge is lower in elevation, so we did not have to ascend as far as we had descended. The Western Ridge Trail was drier than the Jessup Trail on the Eastern Ridge, and I was familiar with it as I had been there with Cindy recently. The trail does undulate some but less so than the Jessup Trail. The trail does wander back and forth across the ridge offering alternating views to the west and toward the Eastern Ridge. We came to a nice lookout that had views of a sand and gravel operation We were walking faster now, and within 1.5 miles we arrived at the area where the Western Ridge Trail descends toward the Hil-Mar Lodge. We continued on the red Barton Swamp Trail until it met the white Trestle Trail. Once on the Trestle Trail, we began to descend as quickly as we could reversing our steps from earlier in the day. It seemed that the trail went on forever and the cover of wet leaves slowed our progress. The trail is also rutted and eroded in places. It is covered for almost its entire length by loose rocks which roll underfoot. A layer of wet leaves on top makes the descent a difficult one since the trail is steep in many places. Soon we were finally back on the road and walking toward the car at the trailhead. We arrived back at 3:40 PM making the 7.4-mile round trip 5.5 hours with an elevation gain of 1962 feet. As we headed back home, both Bryce and I decided it would be a good idea to stop to eat at El Bandido in Middle town to eat.

On Saturday, November 10th I wanted to get out for a longer hike not too far from home. I thought about going to Balsam Lake Mountain to see how much snow was on the summit but Cindy did not want to climb a mountain. We decided we would go to Big Pond for a hike to Little Pond and back. I had several possibilities to complete this loop including staying on the trails, walking back on the roads and making a side trip to Cabot Mountain. I expected the temperature to be low in the morning and when I awoke the thermometer was 30 degrees, and the wind was blowing. By the time Cindy got up and did some things, she had to do it was 10:30 AM. The forecast was for some snow showers and lower temperatures later in the day. I started to get ready, and Sheila seemed happy that both Cindy and I were going hiking. I put on a short-sleeved baselayer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of Columbia Omniheat hiking pants which have a reflective lining and are heavier than my "go to" Railriders pants. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed until the snow gets deeper. I wore my Vasque Talus boots which are all leather and seem to be pretty waterproof. By adding a pair of Superfeet green insoles, the shoes have decent support. I donned my Mammut hoody although I thought it might be a little too light if the temperature decreased more than the forecast stated. I put on a blaze orange light hat and light gloves. We left Livingston Manor at 10:55 AM when the temperature had crept up to 34 degrees. I drove toward Roscoe on Old Route 17 and turned right on Beaverkill Road after 1.3 miles. I continued north on Beaverkill Road for 10.8 miles passing through Lew Beach. As the Beaverkill Road turned right, I turned left onto Barkaboom Road and drove .8 miles to the parking area for Big Pond on the right. There was another car parked in the lot, and two fishermen were getting ready to leave. Cindy and I got ready, and I set my GPS noticing that the temperature was 34 degrees with a wind blowing. I put Sheila on her leash, and we crossed the road at 11:15 Am to begin our hike up Touch-Me-Not Mountain on the Touch-Me-Not Trail which is part of the Finger Lakes Trail. The first part of the trail is an old woods road, and it is pretty easy to follow. I left Sheila on her leash for a while and let her pull me up the first hill passing the trail register. When I let her off her leash, she began running all over the place as we trudged up the trail. There was a good covering of snow in most places, and it felt like it might snow at any minute. One look at the clouds in the sky reinforced the possibility of some snow showers.

The first mile of the trail gains about 775 feet with an average grade of 15%. Some places are almost flat which means there are a few steeper places. I began to notice that the blazing of the trail could be better. This is a trail I maintain for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference from Big Pond all the way over Cabot Mountain to Beech Hill Road. Volunteers used to be able to put up trail markers, but the DEC decided that a forester must now do this. I made a note to call Stamford to tell them that they needed to have someone add markers before winter when it would be harder to find the trail. Most blazes were too far apart. Some were very old and faded with others grown into the trees. A few were on the side of the tree meaning they were not visible from either direction on the trail. Many of the turns were not properly marked. We had to stop and stare several times to find a marker and in other places simply continued in what I thought was the correct direction. Several times I just followed Sheila who seems to be able to find the right direction no matter what. In a few places, the trail travels along the side of the hill, and this made for some tricky footing. The trail started drier than I thought it would be but soon became wet and muddy. We found ourselves walking beside the trail which is not good as it simply widens the area for more erosion. There were several new blowdowns which would rehire tools to clear, but we removed a lot of branches as we walked. As we gained elevation, there was more snow which appareled as a frozen blanket on the ground. By 11:10 AM we had hike 1.1 miles to the highest point on the trail on the shoulder of Touch-Me-Not Mountain. After a slight descent, we came to a large blowdown that had blocked the trail. A good piece of the trunk had been cut away to provide an easy path. I realized that there were several other blowdowns on the trip up that were missing and assumed a DEC crew had been through since the early summer. I was puzzled as they had left two trees handing over the trail that they could have easily cut with a chainsaw! We walked down the hill to the next trail junction and turned right on the yellow loop trail around Little Pond. The loop trail is very popular with campers during the season, and I hoped it would be better marked than the trail from Big Pond. This trail was not as well marked as the other, but the trail bed was a little more obvious. By now it was snowing much harder, and the wind was blowing at 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. At 1.6 miles we had finally descended some interesting rock formations and had arrived at the cutoff to Cabot Mountain. I asked Cindy if she would like to climb to the summit to get the view of Little Pond from the vista. She said 'No' and I can't say I was disappointed. We continued our hike by bearing left to stay on the loop trail. At 1.8 miles we arrived in the clearing that acts as a viewpoint. It is hard to see Little Pond from this lookout since the trees have grown up. This is a place that holds many memories as we hiked the loop many times when I was younger. We stopped, and I got out the camera to take pictures of the snowy hills and the blue sky. The scene kept changing as the light played off the hills in different ways. I packed up, and we continued the hike passing the small foundation of a long-forgotten homestead cabin. We continued to walk out a woods road from the clearing now heading south passing a small pond on the right. Just after the pond, the trail became VERY wet and muddy which continued for more than half a mile.

In a few hundred feet we turned left to head south to the northern shore of Little Pond. The trail continued to be wet with water in places where I had not seen any water before. We walked downhill encountering a large blowdown that blocked the trail near a large beaver pond. We bushwhacked around the tree and to avoid the flooded trail. I stopped at the shore of the beaver pond to take some pictures and then again at the dam. Both the pond and the dam were larger than I remembered! We walked a short distance to the loop trail around Little Pond. At the pond, we turned right to walk around the western shore of Little Pond. As we walked along the shore to the boat launch area, we could see snow on Touch-Me-Not Mountain that seemed to be heading our way. We stopped at the boat launch area, and I took some photos of Touch-Me-Not Mountain as the snow began to fall around me. I also took some pictures of the rest of the pond obscured by the snow. As we walked along the road, I began to see picnic tables leaning on the fireplaces at the campsites. We turned left on a trail to head for the bridge at the outlet of Little Pond. We crossed the bridge, and I dropped my pack to take a few last pictures. By now the wind had increased in intensity, so I was quick to take a few shots before moving on. I knew Cindy was not enthusiastic at the prospect of hiking back up the mountain and back down to Big Pond. I decided we would walk back to Big Pond using the access road and Barkaboom Road. We walked over to the parking area and turned right to walk out the access road. We walked out to the gatehouse and started down the hill toward Barkaboom Road. The road was closed at the second gate, and the walk was very peaceful. Just before the gate there was evince of a logging operation. We walked a little less than a mile down to Barkaboom Road and turned left to hike up the road back to Big Pond. I put Sheila on her leash for the .6 mile hike back to the car even though there was no traffic. The stream beside the road was full of water. I pointed out to Cindy an old foundation near the stream with what looked like a smaller stream running near it. I thought this might be the remnants of an old mill, so I took a few pictures. We walked up the hill and back to the car in the parking area. A new car was parked with a couple that had some questions for us. They asked about the hiking trails and said they planned to camp overnight at Big Pond. They thought they would canoe over to the campsite and stay the night. We were back at the car at the car at 1:55 PM having hiked 4.8 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes. The elevation gain was about 1000 feet. I put Sheila in the car and stowed my gear except for the camera. I walked down to the shore of Big Pond and took a few pictures before heading back to the car and the drive home.

On Friday, November 9th I wanted to get out for a hike after sleeping in to almost 10:00 AM. I had planned to get up earlier and go somewhere before the predicted rain or snow moved in for the afternoon. Unfortunately, we responded to three ambulance calls from the late evening into the early morning, and I needed the rest. By 10:30 AM the temperature had risen some and the sky was overcast, but rain did not seem imminent. I decided to go across the street and hike on Round Top to get some exercise. I put on a short-sleeved baselayer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed. I wore my new Keen Targhee II boots which are canvas and leather. They are lighter than most of my boots but are a little large. I donned my Mammut hoody although I thought it might be a little too heavy if the temperature increased more than the forecast stated. I put on a blaze orange light hat and light gloves. As I was getting ready, I noticed that as I was getting dressed I was under the watchful eye of Sheila who is always near but not too near to be underfoot. Sheila was excited since she loves to be outside more than anything else. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. At 10:50 AM we walked out the door and up the driveway. I put Sheila on her leash, and she pulled me up the driveway knowing exactly where we were going. I decided we could do some figure 8's just for the exercise and to take a look at the condition of the trails. I aimed to do four figure 8's. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash, and she began to explore the trail with her nose. As we followed the trail, I noticed it was muddy and wet from the recent rains. I could also see that one or two bikes had been on the trail. The trail is supposed to be used only for hiking as the use by bikes causes serious wear and tear on the trail. (1) At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right on the more gentle ascent on an old woods road. We followed the yellow blazes as they turned left off the woods road and started up the hill to the next junction. We turned left and followed the trail along another woods road around the base of Round Top. At the next junction, we turned right on the blue trail which goes over the summit of Round Top. The trail was wet and muddy and was made slipperier by the fallen leaves. We continued up the steep trail to the summit and walked over the top and down the other side. The descent was a little tricky due to the wet and muddy conditions. At the trail junction at the base of the hill, we turned right on the yellow trail and again walked along the woods road at the base of Round Top. At the next junction, we turned left to follow the yellow trail down to the lookout. I took a glance from the viewpoint and could see that several trees partly blocked the scene. We turned left and walked down another steep but short hill to the first trail junction.

(2) I was feeling pretty fresh as we turned around and started back up the steeper path to the viewpoint. I tried to set a quick pace to get some aerobic and cardio exercise into the workout. We followed the trail to the right and started the gentle climb through the woods. The trail was gorgeous and clear of branches as was most of the trail. When we reached the next trail junction, we stayed to the right to follow the lower trail around the base of Round Top to the next junction. At the next junction, we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the steeper blue trail. We walked across the summit of Round Top and down the other side which is even steeper. When we got to the yellow trail, we turned left to follow it to the next trail junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail back to the very first trail junction. As we came down the trail, we could both hear voices ahead, so I put Sheila on her leash. As we neared the first trail junction, I could see children and adults walking up the trail toward the viewpoint. As we approached the junction, I struck up a conversation with some of the adults. They were from New Jersey and had found the trail on Google! I gave them some information about the trail and the town walking tour. One person asked about waterfalls, so I gave them detailed directions to Russell Brook Falls. The group of four adults and eight children continued up to the viewpoint while Sheila and I turned around to start our third figure 8. (3) We retraced our steps taking the more gentle path this time. When the yellow trail turned left, we followed it to the next trail junction. Along the way, I thought about sending the group I had met to Mongaup Falls near Frick Pond. At the junction, I saw the group taking pictures of the kids posed on a rock. I described the directions to the falls and spoke to one of the adults about hiking in New Jersey. The group continued on the yellow trail while I turned around and started up the hill on the blue trail. As we headed toward the summit, a wind began to blow and white flakes began to fall! We walked over the top and down the other side to the yellow trail again. Snow continued to fall but only a few flakes at a time. We turned right and followed the trail along the base of Round Top. Where the yellow trail turned left, we followed it to the left and down to the lookout. From the lookout, we walked downhill to the first trail junction. Sheila was well-behaved and stayed with me most of the time. After finishing the third figure 8, we walked out to the trailhead. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down the cemetery hill. I noticed that the people I met on the trail were parked on the side of the road through the cemetery. They were parked off the road allowing other cars to pass by but we are encouraging people to park in town at the municipal lot and walk to the trailhead! We walked across the field to our driveway. It was 12:35 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes. It must have been a good workout as I was tired. Later in the day it began to rain, sleet and snow. There were no MVAs in our ambulance district but several around the county.

On Wednesday, November 7th, I was ready to get out for a slightly longer hike that was NOT on Round Top! When I got up, the temperature was in the high 30's, and the sun was shiny with bright blue skies. This was a welcome change from the previous days which were cloudy and rainy. I ate breakfast and asked Cindy if she wanted to go for a hike. Initially, she declined but then decided it sounded like a good idea. We started to get ready at about 8:30 AM and Sheila made it clear she approved of our decision. I put on a short-sleeved base layer underneath my Mammut crew top. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed. I decided to wear my new Vasque Talus boots but remembered to change the factory insoles for a pair Superfeet green to improve the support. To finish off, I put on my Mammut Ultimate hoody, a blaze orange hat and a pair of gloves. We left Livingston Manor a little after 9:00 AM. I put our gear in the trunk and an overjoyed Sheila in the back seat as we headed to Roscoe on State Route 17. I got on Route 206 and followed it across the Delaware County line to Morton Hill Road. After a left turn on Morton Hill Road, I drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned left and drove carefully down the road toward the lower parking area. Cindy had an early afternoon appointment, and I knew this would save some time. I stopped on the road by the upper waterfall and got my camera out of my pack. I walked down the bank to the viewpoint for the upper falls. The water was flowing with a good volume but not quite as much as I expected. I took quite a few pictures with different settings. I returned to the car and drove down to park in the lower lot where one car was already parked. I set my GPS device, and we began our hike at 9:30 AM while the temperature was 45 degrees. The road was very wet and muddy in places. As we crossed the bridge and started on the trail, we passed the Japanese knotweed which was brown and hanging into the path. It looked completely dead, but I knew it would be back next spring. We turned right onto the path to the falls, and I worked my way down the bank to the streambed. The falls were roaring almost as high as during the spring flood season. I got out my camera and took quite a few shots of the falls and the stream. I walked up the bank and turned right to walk to the overlook for the lower falls. I took a few pictures and then put the camera away and headed out to the main trail. We turned right and walked to the trail register.

At the trail junction just after the register, we turned to the left to climb the steeper hill toward Mud Pond. The trail continued to be very wet and muddy, but we were able to work our way around the worst places. I had to stop at one point and open the zipper on my jacket as the temperature was rising and the effort of climbing was making me warm. There were some occasional branches on the trail which we picked up and moved off the trail. The skies remained bright and blue with few clouds and bright sun. On the ascent, we took a few breaks but it went quickly, and I was glad to see there were no major blowdowns on this part of the trail. We reached the top of the hill and walked down the wide woods road to the next trail junction at 1.6 miles. The trail continued to be wet and muddy. We made a right to follow the trail up to the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. This trail was, if possible, wetter that the sections of the trail we had covered. We continued to remove branches, but there were no major blockages. After passing through an area with many small diameter trees, we started a short descent. After that, there was an ascent which continued for the next 1.2 miles until at 2.7 miles into the hike when we were at the highest point and ready to start the descent to Trout Pond. I had found the climb tiring but fulfilling and knew the descent would be easier. As we descended toward Trout Pond, there were major blowdowns that would require an ax and saw to clear. The trail remained wet but a little less so in the descent. As we approached the bridge at the inlet end of the pond, there was a lot of water flowing down the trail and from the overflow of the stream. At the bridge, I decided to stop and take some pictures. The sun was bright, but I took some shots anyway before moving on. We continued on the main trail toward the outlet of the pond with some difficulty since there were areas of water that spanned the width of the trail. There were also deep ruts wide enough to indicate a pickup or some other kind of truck. At the lower end of the pond, we stopped so that I could take some pictures of a scene I had photographed many times! The sky was still bright blue, and there were a few white clouds. I took a few shots including one of Sheila and some of the outlet. The hike from the outlet to the trail junction is all downhill, and we were able to make pretty good time despite the wet conditions. We continued passed the trail register and crossed the bridge over Russell Brook. We walked up the hill to the parking area. We arrived back at the car by noon having covered 4.5 miles and 880 vertical feet in 2 hours and 35 minutes. The temperature was now 53 degrees!

On Sunday, November 4th I led the church service at the Delhi Presbyterian Church. After services, Cindy and I went to her brother's house to eat lunch. After a delicious lunch and a nice visit, we left at 2:00 PM to return home. I had told Lisa that I would co-lead a sunset hike to Round Top on this the first day after the change back to standard time. We were to meet members of the town board and some of the people who had worked on the trails on Round Top. I was tired but at 3:30 PM I got dressed in my hiking clothes preparing to drive down to the municipal parking lot to begin the hike. All the time Sheila was looking at me expectantly, and I regretted not being able to take her with me. I grabbed my camera and drove down to the parking lot arriving at 4:00 PM. Lisa was there with four other people. Unfortunately, no one from the town board showed up for the walk. We began by walking up Pearl Street to the blinker and turning right on Rock Avenue. We turned right on Orchard Street and walked around the back of the church. We walked the middle road to the other end of the cemetery and turned left to walk to the trailhead at the highest point of the hill. At the trailhead, we turned right into the woods. It was beginning to get dark as we continued straight ahead at the first trail junction. We walked up the steep but short hill and turned left near the top to walk out to the lower lookout. The views were good except for one tree in the middle of the view which should be removed! I took some pictures of the school and the town while waiting for the sun to go down behind the hills. Once the sun disappeared, I took some pictures, but there were no brilliant colors which was disappointing. I put away my camera and walked to the upper lookout. We decided to continue our walk by finishing the lower loop. We followed the yellow blazes toward Round Top and turned right at the next trail junction. We followed the trail along the base of Round Top and turned right at the next junction. We walked downhill to the woods road and then out to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead. At the trailhead, we turned right and walked down the hill to the church. From here we retraced our route back to the parking area.

On Friday, November 2nd I traveled with my lone cross country runner to Bear Mountain State Park for the Section 9 Cross Country Championship. The rain was falling hard in Sullivan County, but as we drove south and east on State Route 17, the rain ceased although the sky remained cloudy and overcast. We arrived at Bear Mountain for the first race at 10:30 AM, but my runner was not competing until 2:00 PM. As I watched the other races, I noticed that the leaves had some of the nicest colors I had seen this fall. I only had my iPhone, so I used it to take some pictures of the trees on Bear Mountain. There was some fog or a low cloud covering part of the mountain. I walked down to Hessian Lake and took some pictures there also. Throughout the day the sky grew darker, and I took a few more pictures. I want to return there to take some pictures on a hike if my schedule permits.

On Wednesday, October 31st I wanted to hike a little farther away from home somewhere I had not been in a while. I had cross country price after school, so my time was limited. I had hiked on Monday and Tuesday to make up for the previous week when I had not been able to get out at all. Lisa texted me the night before, and we agreed to go to the Neversink Unique Area at the end of Katrina Falls Road in Rock Hill. There are several waterfalls which I knew would be roaring due to the recent rains. Lisa said she would be at my house at 8:30 AM. Cindy decided she did not want to go. At 6:30 AM the temperature was 28 degrees, and I texted Lisa suggesting we start at 9:30 AM. She agreed, and I hoped the temperature would be a little higher by the time we started to hike. As soon as Sheila found out we were going hiking, she would not leave my side. I got my clothing and gear together to prepare to leave. I decided that despite the forecast for highs in the 50's I would wear a short-sleeved base layer on top and my Mammut crew neck top which is slightly heavier than some others I own. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed. I wore my new Keen Glarus boots which are leather and, although a little heavier than some boots, fit well and provide the support I need. I wore my Mammut hoody and took a pair of light gloves and a light blaze orange hat. I got Sheila and my gear in the car. Lisa arrived at 9:30 AM and Sheila gave her a wildly joyous greeting. We left Livingston Manor and headed down State Route 17 toward Rock Hill. I took the Rock Hill exit and drove down Katrina Falls Road until I saw the Dead End sign. There was one pickup truck in the lot with a state DEC seal on the door. The temperature was 40 degrees, and there was a slight breeze. I turned on my GPS and reset it to start the hike. We set off down the woods road at 10:05 AM. The trail was covered in wet leaves which made it a little slippery but pretty in a way. At the first trail junction, we turned left to stay on the main trail. The trail straight ahead leads down to the Neversink River and was covered in pine needles. As we neared the small bridge that crosses Wolf Brook, we could hear the water rushing in the stream. We stopped to take a few pictures before continuing on the trail. We were soon headed up the small hill to the junction where the main trail splits. We turned left to make the loop in a clockwise direction since I had not used this route in some time. The trail started out flat but soon began to climb. There were many wet and muddy spots, but most could be avoided by walking on theses of the trail. Over the next .9 miles, we gained almost 400 feet. The ascent was never steep, but we maintained a good pace which elevated my heart rate and generated some body heat. There was evidence that the brush that had been overgrowing the trail had been trimmed back and several blowdowns had been cleared. At 1.6 miles we came to another trail junction. The trail to the left leads out to the Wolf Lake Multiple Use Area, so we turned right to continue on the main trail which from this point on is mostly flat or downhill. After making the turn, we were headed south and soon crossed Mullet Brook on the upper bridge. The stream had a larger than usual volume of water flowing out of the swamp. We stopped to take a few shots both upstream and downstream. I also walked downstream to a large rock where I took a few shots upstream toward the bridge. We continued on the trail, and at 1.8 miles we made another right turn heading almost due west starting a long descent toward the Neversink Gorge.

As we hiked, I was watching for the short spur trail to the right which goes down to Mullet Brook Falls. It was a little farther along than I thought it was, but at 2.25 miles we made the right turn and walked down to the falls. The falls were flowing freely, but the volume was not extraordinary. I dropped my pack and poles and took out the camera. As I worked my way toward the falls, Lisa decided to take a break. My usual route to the falls seems to have changed as some rocks were missing. I worked my way to the right and over some rocks to an area right in front of the falls. I was careful as all the rocks were wet and slippery. I took pictures of the falls and the pool below. I also took a few shots of the stream below the falls as it headed toward the Neversink. I had Sheila pose in front of the falls, and I took her picture. It was even harder working my way back to my pack, but I did so without incident. I put the camera back in the pack, and we headed back out to the main trail where we turned right. At 2.6 miles we arrived at the junction with the trail to the left that leads to High Falls. I would have liked to add the extra 4 miles round trip to our hike but my time was too limited. We turned right and almost immediately turned left on the spur trail down to Denton falls on the Neversink. The trail was clear all the way to the falls as we hiked about .3 miles losing 180 feet. As we approached the river, we were careful to watch for wet areas. The trail was very muddy, and the descent was more difficult than usual. As we started the final descent to the edge of the river, I noticed a man sitting on the rocks near the falls. He had on a yellow reflective best, and I thought he was probably the state worker that had parked his truck in the lot. I put Sheila on her leash which made descending the last few feet more difficult.

The rocks near the shore were relatively, and I dropped my pack near one of the boulders along the shore. I tried to make enough noise that the person near the falls could hear me but the water was loud. I leashed Sheila to a bush so that she would not bother anyone. I got out the camera and took some shots upstream and a few across the river. I also took some pictures of the falls. I worked my way down toward the falls passing the man sitting on the rock. I said "Hello," and he responded. I found a good viewpoint below the falls and took more pictures downstream and a lot of pictures of the falls. I returned to my pack and took a shot of Lisa and Sheila. Lisa went to talk to the man sitting on the rock. I got a bar and unleashed Sheila from the bush. After a few minutes, Lisa and the state worker approached Sheila and I. This made me a little nervous as the man got pretty close to Sheila and he was wearing a uniform and a hot. To her credit, Sheila remained quiet and well-behaved. I returned the camera to my pack and Sheila, and I started back up the hill toward the main trail. It took a few minutes, but Lisa followed us. She said that the man was a forestry tech who was recording GPS tracks for the trails. He had told her that the DEC will be creating a trail from the Westerbrookville parking area to High Falls. Currently, there are informal paths, but a marked trail would be a great addition. We continued up the trail, and at the top of the hill we turned left and headed for the lower bridge on Mullet Brook. We crossed the bridge and walked parallel to Mullet Brook and then turned right as the trail started to parallel the Neversink River. We could see the river far below as we walked downhill along the trail. The trail stayed flat for a long time and even descended a little as we passed the trail junction where we had started the loop earlier. At 4 miles we crossed the bridge over Wolf Brook. Just after that, we made the right turn to head back UP to the car. We had commented on the way down that the last half mile of the hike was all uphill. We were back at the car at 12:45 PM having hiked 4.7 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes. We gained about 1032 feet along the way. This was certainly not the fastest I have hiked this route, but it was gratifying.

On Tuesday, October 30th I decided to get out and hike somewhere close to home as I had cross country practice after school. The temperature in the morning was in the low 30's with a strong wind blowing, but I didn't want to wait too long to get started. I began to get ready a little after 9:00 AM as I had decided to go to Frick Pond and hike some loop there that I had not done in some time. As I got my gear together, Sheila seemed to be in complete agreement with my decision as she followed me around as I was dressing. Although the thermometer read right in the mid 30's, the wind made it feel much colder. I elected to put on a short-sleeved baselayer and my long-sleeved Mammut pullover. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed. I wore my new Vasque Talus boots which are leather and, although a little heavier than some boots, fit well and are as waterproof as any boot I have. I donned my Mammut hoody as it has pit zips which allow me to dump heat while still staying protected from the wind. I put on a blaze orange light hat and light gloves. I planned to hike the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel Junction. From here we would hike the Logger's Loop to Times Square and then ascend the Big Rock Trail to the Flynn Trail to get back to the car. Sheila was happy to be going anywhere and crouched in the back seat with her head on the console. I drove out DeBruce Road just after 9:30 AM, and after 6 miles I turned left on Mongaup Road. Where the road splits, I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and parked in the smaller lot at 9:55 AM. There were no other cars in the lot as I set my GPS unit to get ready for the hike. There was a light dusting of snow in the parking lot, so I took a few pictures. We started out the woods road that becomes the Quick Lake Trail at the register box. As we started to hike the temperature was only 36 degrees, and I felt a chill despite my layers because of the wind. Starting t the register the trail was very wet and muddy, and I found it hard to find a spot to walk. Even the sides of the trail were muddy and wet from people trying to avoid the mud and water on the trail. The woods road out to Frick Pond continued to be very wet, and the hiking was anything but pleasant. I stopped once or twice to take some pictures of the water on the trail and the snow in the woods. Just before Gravestone Junction, the trail was completely flooded. We stayed left at Graveyard Junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and found more water and mud. In fact, the trail was wetter than I had ever seen it! When we arrived at the bridge across the outlet, I decided to stop and take pictures even though I have hundreds from this location. The ground was still covered by a dusting of snow. The water level in the pond was moderately high, and the outlet stream was flowing freely. The sky was blue with some clouds, and the light on the trees and pond kept changing. I took some shots of the pond and Flynn Point as well as the bridge and downstream from the bridge.

We continued on around the pond staying left at the trail junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. There was still plenty of water in this area which I tried to avoid. There were more branches along the trail, and I cleared as many as I could. There was also one blowdown which needed to be cleared with tools. We continued on our hike passing through the "Spruce Tunnel." The small stream through the woods was running freely and was very high. I stopped to take a few pictures and then Sheila, and I walked upstream to find an easier place to cross the stream. We encounter a few more blowdowns on the way to the next trail junction. By 10:40 AM we had walked the 1.5 miles to Iron Wheel Junction. At the trail junction, we turned right of the Loggers' Loop. The Logger's Loop is mostly downhill in this direction, and we made good time but encountered some more blowdowns along the way. This trail didn't have quite as much water but did have a little snow. Just before starting the descent to Times Square, we passed the small pond on the left side of the trail. I was surprised that the water level in the pond was much lower than I expected. This pond is seasonal but has been growing in size for several years, and I thought the recent rain would have filled it to overflowing. On the way down the hill to Times Square, there was one large blowdown that the snowmobile club will probably remove. By 11:15 AM we were at Times Square and about 2.7 miles into the hike. The area was wet as we made the left turn up the Big Rock Trail. I considered simply walking the Logger's Loop back to Gravestone Junction as I could see a blowdown I wanted to inspect. In the end, I opted to stick to the original plan and get a little more distance and difficulty by hiking up the Big Rock Trail. The Big Rock Trail gains 600 feet to the Flynn Trail over 1.1 miles. The average grade is only 10%, but the route has three different climbs and can seem long. We set a pretty fast pace on the climb, and I found that although my heart rate was elevated, I felt good. There was some snow in the woods along the trail most of the way. On the ascent, I noticed my right foot and upper leg began to hurt a little. I remembered that I had forgotten to put a pair of insoles in the shoes to provide proper support. Even the best hiking boots come with thin insoles that are totally inadequate for their intended use. There were several large blowdowns along the trail that had been cut and removed by the snowmobile club. We reached the Flynn Trail at 11:50 AM after hiking 3.9 miles, and we immediately turned right and began the descent back to the car. A light dusting of snow still covered the trail and could be seen in the woods. I stopped once or twice to take some shots of the snow. Sheila was still excited at this point and was running up the trail and back to me. She was taking a few excursions off the trail to follow animal tracks but was pretty close, so I let her explore. The trip down the Flynn Trail can seem long but this time it went quickly, and my muscles were glad I was going down! We soon passed through the tunnel that Cindy and I had made through a large spruce tree across the trail. We arrived at the gate that blocks Beech Mountain Road and turned left to stay on the Flynn Trail as it continues through the woods. This avoids the private property around the cabin. Some hikers cannot read the signs and have annoyed the property owner by trespassing! We continued down to the parking area on the trail. We were back at 12:30 PM having covered 5.6 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes with a vertical gain of 900 feet.

I pulled out of the parking area and drove down the Beech Mountain road to the Intersection with Mongaup Pond Road. It was still early, and I thought it might be nice to visit Mongaup Falls on the outlet stream for Mongaup Pond. I turned left and then pulled into a small parking area. I decided to take my pack but leave my poles behind. I set my GPS just to see the total distance for the hike. We walked back toward the road intersection and turned left down a path toward the stream. The path was once a road that connected Mongaup Pond Road and Terwilliger Road. We crossed the stream on a small bridge, and I noticed a sign that said "Road Closed." We turned right and followed the informal path along the stream. In several places, the path had shards of glass, and I tried to get Sheila to avoid them. I cannot understand why people have to spoil these beautiful areas for others by breaking bottles! It would be perfectly OK with me if they broke these bottles in their own backyards. We walked down the path to an area opposite the brink of the lower and higher falls. We had to cross some small streams along the way. I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I worked my way down the side of the falls which was very slippery. I took some shots from the side of the falls and then worked my way to the base of the falls. I took pictures from the stream bank with several different settings. After this, I saw a rock in the stream and decided to see if I could stand on it to take a few more photographs. Getting to the rock wasn't easy, but I was able to get some shots of the falls almost head-on. After taking all my pictures, I worked my way back up to the top of the falls and worked my way over to a view of the upper falls. Although the lower falls did not have the volume I expected, the upper falls seemed "frothier" than usual. I took pictures of the falls with different settings and then walked back to my pack. I stowed the camera, and we walked back to the car. The round trip hike was less than half a mile, but it pushed my total distance to over 6 miles!

On Monday, October 29th I wanted to get out for a hike for the first time in seven days! Several days as the school nurse and many days of rain had kept me inside for longer than I liked. The rain was not forecasted, so it rained for a good part of the morning. By 11:30 AM the rain seemed to have stopped, and I got a call from my cross country runner indicating he could not practice. The skies still looked like it might rain, so I decided to go across the street and hike on Round Top. I put on a short-sleeved baselayer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which means gaiters are not usually needed. I wore my new Keen Targhee II boots which are canvas and leather. They are lighter than most of my boots but are a little large. I donned my Mammut hoody although I thought it might be a little too heavy if the temperature increased more than the forecast stated. I put on a blaze orange light hat and light gloves. As I was getting ready, I noticed that as I was getting dressed I was under the watchful eye of Sheila who is always near but not too near to be considered underfoot. Sheila was excited since she loves to be outside and we had not been out for a week. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. At 12:20 PM we walked out the door and up the driveway. I put Sheila on her leash, and she pulled me up the driveway knowing exactly where we were going. I decided we could do some figure 8's just for the exercise and to take a look at the condition of the trails. I aimed to do four figure 8's. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash, and she began to explore the trail with her nose.

As we followed the trail, I noticed it was muddy and wet from the recent rains. I could also see that one or two bikes had been on the trail. The trail is supposed to be used only for hiking as the use by bikes causes serious wear and tear on the trail. (1) At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right on the more gentle ascent on an old woods road. We followed the yellow blazes as they turned left off the woods road and started up the hill to the next junction. We turned left and followed the trail along another woods road around the base of Round Top. At the next junction, we turned right on the blue trail which goes over the summit of Round Top. The trail was wet and muddy and was made more slippery by the fallen leaves. We continued up the steep trail to the summit and walked over the top and down the other side. The descent was a little tricky due to the wet and muddy conditions. At the trail junction at the base of the hill, we turned right on the yellow trail and again walked along the woods road at the base of Round Top. At the next junction, we turned left to follow the yellow trail down to the lookout. I took a quick glance from the viewpoint and could see that the scene was partly blocked by several trees. We turned left and walked down another steep but short hill to the first trail junction. (2) I was feeling pretty fresh as we turned around and started back up the steeper path to the viewpoint. We followed the trail to the right and started the gentle climb through the woods. The trail was gorgeous and clear of branches as was most of the trail. The trail bed was lined with very green ferns and pretty clearly delineated. When we reached the next trail junction, we stayed to the right to follow the lower trail around the base of Round Top to the next junction. At the next junction, we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the steeper blue trail. We walked across the summit of Round Top and down the other side which is even steeper. When we got to the yellow trail, we turned left to follow it to the next trail junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail back to the very first trail junction. (3) At the first trail junction, we turned around and retraced our steps taking the more gentle path this time. When the yellow trail turned left, we followed it to the next trail junction where we turned right and headed up the blue trail to the summit. We walked over the top and down the other side to the yellow trail again. We turned right and followed the trail along the base of Round Top. Where the yellow trail turned left, we followed it to the left and down to the lookout. From the lookout we walked downhill to the first trail junction. (4) I was pretty tired at this point but my goal was to do four figure 8's so we turned around to start back up the hill. It takes us about 20 minutes to do one complete figure 8 from the first trail junction. We repeated the same figure 8's as the second with me taking time to think about various topics. Sheila was well-behaved and stayed with me most of the time. After finishing the last figure 8, we walked out to the trailhead. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down the cemetery hill and across the field to our driveway. It was 2:05 PM and we had hiked about 3.3 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes. It must have been a good workout as I was tired.

On Monday, October 22nd I decided it was time to get out hiking after taking two days off for a cross country meet and church commitments. I had cross country practice in the afternoon, so I decided to stay local and hike at Frick and Hodge Ponds. I got up a little later than usual and finished some things around the house before getting ready to leave. The forecast was for cloudy skies with highs in the low 40's. It was only 38 degrees as I was getting ready to leave at 9:45 AM. Given the temperature, I put on a light short-sleeved baselayer and wore my Mammut pullover which is heavier than most others I own. I wore my new Vasque Talus boots which seem to be as waterproof as any I have. I donned my Mammut hoody although I thought it might be a little too heavy if the temperature increased more than the forecast stated. I grabbed a pair of Leki poles with external locks that I have been using lately. I put on a blaze orange light hat and light gloves. I got my gear ready, put Sheila in the car and left the house a little before 10:00 AM. When we arrived at the trailhead, there was one vehicle in the main lot. I thought I might start out on the Quick Lake Trail but decided to try a route that I had aborted on a previous visit. I set my electronics and at 10:15 AM we crossed the road and started out on the Flynn Trail. It was about 40 degrees but seemed cooler as there was a breeze blowing. There was no snow on the trail which was completely bare but still damp and muddy. When we got to the woods road, we turned right and followed the old Beech Mountain Road which serves as the Flynn Trail. We set a good pace as we headed for the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We walked through the "tunnel" Cindy, and I had created through the large spruce tree that was down across the trail. As I looked around, I decided that I would refrain from taking pictures unless something exciting appeared. We arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 10:55 AM and continued straight ahead through the intersection. We walked along the flat portion of the Flynn Trail and passed through the gate that marks the boundary of the state land and the land owned by Open Spaces. I again made note that my trail crew would have to do some work to move large boulders to block the gap between the gate and the trees to block the movement of snowmobiles and ATVs. At the next trail junction, we stayed left to stay on the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond. The walk down to the pond went very quickly, and we were soon at the clearing at the southern end of the pond. One look at the pond told me that we should move on. We turned left on the Flynn Trail and started to walk clockwise around the pond.

As we walked to the clearing, I looked ahead and saw a surveyor's transit set up in the clearing. I put Sheila on her leash and continued our hike. Shortly after that, we approached a surveyor who said "Hello." We continued on the Flynn Trail along the west side of the pond and passed the surveyor's assistant who did not bother to acknowledge us. At the point where the Flynn Trail heads left, we stayed to the right on the jeep trail around the back of the pond. The hiking seemed to go very quickly as we passed a point where I could get a view of the pond. Again, it was clear that there was no reason to take any pictures. We walked up a small hill and turned left to continue up to the woods road which was once the Beech Mountain Road. At the top of this hill, we turned right and walked back to the Flynn Trail. We turned left on the Flynn Trail and walked back through the gate to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. Without stopping, we turned right on the Big Rock trail and started to descend to Times Square. Over 1.1 miles we dropped 600 feet in 25 minutes. Times Square was wet as usual as we crossed to stay on the Big Rock Trail. We followed the trail passing over two wooden bridges and under some large evergreen trees. The hike over the wooden walkways was pleasant but tricky since they were damp and covered with leaves! We continued the hike to the junction with the Quick Lake Trail. A left turn and a short walk brought us to the bridge over the outlet to Frick Pond. On the way, a few snowflakes fell, and I contemplated that it would be interesting to hike in a snow shower. After a few flakes, the snow stopped falling. There was nothing to photograph, so we continued up the hill to Graveyard Junction. At the junction, we continued straight ahead on the Quick Lake Trail back to the car. As we arrived at the parking lot, the other car was gone. It was 12:40 PM as we walked over to the car after hiking 6.0 miles in 2 hours and 25 minutes. The elevation gain was 880 feet, and the temperatures were still in the low 40's!

On Friday, October 19th I wanted to get away from Livingston Manor and go to someplace I had not been for some time. Cindy wanted to pick up her sewing machine in Middletown, so we agreed to go to Schunnemunk Mountain to hike. I intend to hike from the Otterkill Road trailhead out the western ridge and back on the eastern ridge. The hike is only 6.5 miles but it has some steep climbs, and the walking along the exposed rock is difficult. We had done it several times before so I knew we would have no problem completing the hike. When I got up in the morning it as 25 degrees at 7:00 AM! I told Cindy we would wait until 9:00 AM to leave which would get us to the trailhead just after 10:00 AM when the temperature would be in the high 30's or low 40's. I began to get ready by putting on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks. I considered wearing a pair of Columbia pants that are insulated and have an Omniheat lining, but I thought These might be too warm. I put on a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I wore my old Keen Glarus boots which fit well and Have been discontinued. I also put on my Mammut Hoody and a light hat and gloves. The Hoody has pit zips which allow me to dump heat when necessary. I got our gear and Sheila in the car at about 9:00 AM and got on State Route 17 and headed east toward Middletown. I got off at the Chester exit and took Route 94 toward Washingtonville. After the intersection with Route 208, I drove another 2.25 miles to Orrs Mills Road. I turned right and then drove a short distance to Clove Road and turned right. In .7 miles I turned left on Otterkill Road and started looking for the trailhead parking on the left. When I pulled into the lot at 10:10 AM, there were no other cars parked. I immediately took out my camera and photographed the Moodna Viaduct. The Moodna Trestle is visible from the parking area and is an impressive structure. It is the largest free-standing steel structure east of the Mississippi. By some rating systems, it is the biggest train trestle in the United States! After taking some shots, I set my GPS and put Sheila on her leash for the road walk to the point where the trail begins just short of the trestle. The temperature was in the low 40's, and the sky was bright blue with a few wispy clouds. When we reached the trail, we turned right and started our walk through the woods. I was surprised to find that there were several trees across the trail and that it did not seem that anyone had cared enough to clear them. Further along, there were several more of these blowdowns which did not block the trail but were difficult to get around. We followed the white blazes of the Trestle Trail as they led us up the climb. There were several wet and muddy spots, but most of the trail was dry. For .5 miles the trail is very steep averaging a 24% grade. After this, it levels out some but continues to climb. We stopped at a bench along the way which is located on a short spur trail on the right. This was a good place to rest and an excellent viewpoint. The views are expansive, and I took pictures, but they do not do justice to the scene.

We continued to 1.7 miles where the Trestle Trail ended at the red Jessup Trail. We turned right and walked up and over some of the first open rock faces and down to the junction with the orange Western Ridge Trail which ascends from near the HilMar Lodge on Clove Road. We continued along that trail as it wound its way from one side of the ridge to the other. There were some lookouts to the left where we could see the eastern ridge. Eventually, we ascended to a high rock that gave us a nice view to the northwest. A sand and gravel operation is the major feature next to placid Lenni Lenape Lake. Beaver Dam Lake is also clearly visible from this lookout, and the Catskills can be seen far in the background. I took many pictures of all I could see before continuing on the Western Ridge Trail. We were keeping a rather slow pace, and I was concerned that we would take longer than I had anticipated finishing the hike. The trail heads back into the forest on top of the ridge where the trees vary from dwarf pines on the bare rock ridge to various hardwoods off the ridge. The geology of the ridges is interesting. As we hiked, we walked across much of the pink to red conglomerate that composes much of both ridges. The walking is interesting but difficult due to the open rock which is slippery and narrow in many places. I knew that Cindy was finding the walk difficult and might ask the question "How much longer will it be?" At any moment. At 12:30 PM after hiking for 2 hours and 15 minutes we had only traveled 2.8 miles but I knew we had only about .4 miles to go before we would head down to the area between the ridges and up to the eastern ridge. The Megaliths are one of my favorite spots, and I was looking forward to seeing them. At this point, Cindy asked the question "Are we halfway yet?" I knew this was the signal to turn around and head home. I considered explaining that turning around and continuing were about the same distance but decided against it. I was not looking forward to the trip back along the same route which we had just been on. I was also very disappointed that we would be failing to complete the hike I planned. Most of all I regretted not being able to visit the Megaliths that I had come to see. So I turned 180 degrees and began the long walk back. The trip across the relatively level ridge trail went rather quickly and by 1:00 PM we had walked the 1.1 miles back to the junction with the Jessup Trail. We quickly made our way back to the Trestle Trail and began the descent to Otterkill Road. The descent was easier than the ascent, but there were places where we had to slow down due got the loose gravel on the trail or the wet leaves. We continued on without stopping and at 2:00 PM we were back at Otterkill Road after hiking 2.8 miles. We turned left and hiked back to the car. We arrived back at the car at 2:05 PM after hiking 5.5 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes. Our total elevation gain was 1412 feet. It had taken us 2 hours and 15 minutes to hike out and only 1 hour and 30 minutes to hike back!

On Wednesday, October 17th I wanted to get in a slightly longer hike close to home since the forecast for most of the area included showers in the early afternoon. When I got up the temperature was in the mid 30's so I decided to wait a little while to get started. Around 10:15 I decided to head to the Frick and Hodge Pond area to do some sort of hike. I thought I might hike the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond, circle the pond and head back out the Flynn Trail. From there I would head down the Big Rock Trail to Frick Pond and back to the car on the Quick Lake Trail. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved base layer as the temperature in the low 40's. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks. I put on my new Keen Targhee III boots which fit well and are lighter than all-leather boots. I also put on my Mammut Hoody and a light hat and gloves. I got my gear and Sheila in the car at about 10:30 AM and headed out the DeBruce Road to Mongaup Pond Road. I turned left and headed up toward Mongaup Pond but stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road where the road forks. There were no cars in either lot as I parked in the smaller parking area. I set my GPS unit at the trailhead and crossed the road to start the hike at 10:45 AM. The skies had some blue, but the clouds were already gathering, and the wind was increasing in strength. On the first part of the trail through the woods, there was one large blowdown which we passed under. We turned right on the woods road which was once the extension of the Beech Mountain Road and started the 1.7 mile climb up the Flynn Trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The grass was wet, and the rocks were slippery to step on with slippery mud in most places. Sheila was roaming around running up and down the rail, and I was lost in thought. We passed through the "tunnel" Cindy, and I had cut in a large hemlock tree that had fallen across the trail. A little farther along, I stopped at the point where there are some ledges on the right side of the trail. I took some pictures and then Sheila, and I walked up the bank to the ledges. Sheila posed for some pictures, and then we returned to the main trail. Along the way, at about 1 mile, I noticed that the area where a shrine had been erected had almost been reclaimed by the falling leaves. We hiked the 1.7 miles uphill in about 50 minutes. We continued on the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond and passed through the gate that marks the beginning of the OSI property. At the junction with the jeep trail, we turned right to walk the jeep trail toward the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. At 2.2 miles we turned left to walk down the hill toward Hodge Pond. After descending the short hill, we headed around the back of the Pond on the jeep trail. I had not intended to take pictures, but as we rounded the back of the pond, I could see the billowing clouds and decided to stop.

We walked down to the shore and Sheila went to the edge of the pond but did not jump into the water. Sheila seems to be able to determine the temperature of the water and does not choose to swim as the water gets colder. I took out the camera and took some shots of the pond and the towering clouds. The clouds were getting darker, and the wind was starting to blow. I decided to get moving and began to think about cutting the hike a little short to avoid the showers. Back on the main trail, we walked toward the Flynn Trail where we turned left to complete the loop around the pond. The woods road was a little drier than it had been and we emerged from the woods into the field. We continued on the Flynn Trail, and at the clearing near the outlet, we walked over toward the shore. I again stopped to take pictures of what was now a bleak scene with dark skies and only a little color in the remaining leaves. In the few minutes since we had left the upper end of the pond, the clouds had grown darker in some places, and the wind was turning the leaves over. I grabbed a bar, took a drink and then turned around to walk to the point where the Flynn Trail reentered the woods. The walk up the Flynn Trail can seem long, but I made an extra effort to hurry up the hill as the clouds gather a few drops fell. The trail was a little longer than I remembered but not as steep, and we were soon at the top of the hill. We continued straight ahead to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We hiked passed the gate and by 12:25 PM we were back at the highest point on the hike. I had originally planned to head down the Big Rock Trail and then walk Big Rock Trail to Frick Pond to extend the distance of the hike. The skies were growing darker, and the wind was blowing so I decided to simply hike back down the Flynn Trail which would give me about 5.7 miles of hiking. Then Flynn Trail is all downhill on the way back, and I set a pretty fast pace. I did have to keep calling Sheila back as she was setting an even faster pace. As we were starting on the last part of the trail, it began to rain, and I feared it would continue in earnest. Fortunately, after a few minutes of raindrops, the shower ceased. Soon we were descending the last part of the hill to the gate. We followed the Flynn Trail through the woods and back to the car. The skies were dark, and the wind was blowing indicating to me that more rain was on the way. Surprisingly the descent had taken only a few minutes less than the ascent, and we had made no stops. We were back at the car at 1:05 PM having hiked 5.6 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes gaining 825 feet along the way.

On Tuesday, October 16th I had not been out hiking for a few days and wanted to get in a short hike before going to school to coach cross country. Lisa had called the night before, and I had tentatively promised to hike with her at 9:00 AM. When I got up, it was in the high 30's with a breeze and determined I was just too tired to hike. I let Lisa know that I wasn't up for a longer hike and would probably just go across the greet for a few loops. She accepted my decision but texted me back and offered to do some loops on Round Top with me. We agreed to meet at the church at 11:00 AM. As I started to get ready, Sheila was very interested in my every move. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved base layer as the temperature in the low 40's. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks. I put on my new Vasque Talus boots which fit well and are all leather. I also put on my Mammut Hoody and a light hat and gloves. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the parking lot at the church to meet Lisa. Sheila could see someone was parked at the church and started to pull. At first, I thought she was going to bark, but she greeted Lisa enthusiastically as part of her "pack"! We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church which is short but really gets the circulation pumping. It is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila responds well to the command "Pull," and the Siberian husky in her makes her well-suited for the job. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash, and she bounded ahead of us. The trails were wet and muddy in spots. At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she turned right and continued up the less steep part of the trail. Everything was very green, but many of the leaves had fallen without showing any brilliant colors. We followed the blazes for the yellow trail up to the trail junction. As we walked, we talked about various topics. Lisa is spearheading an effort to get a walking brochure together starting at the stop light in town and including the trails. We turned left at the trail junction and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next trail junction, we turned right on the blue trail and headed up the steepest hill to the summit of Round Top. On the summit, we followed the trail over the top. We continued down the other side and at the yellow trail we turned right. At the next trail junction, we stayed left to head down to the lookout. At the lookout, we walked out to the upper lookout and got a view of the town and the school. Since there are still some trees blocking the upper viewpoint, we walked down to the lower viewpoint which has a much better view. From the viewpoint, we walked back out to the main trail and turned right to descend the hill to the first trail junction. The skies were bright blue, and there was some sun, but it was still cool with a breeze. This is not as demanding as some of the 3500-foot peaks I have been doing the grandson Bryce, but it is much better than sitting at home! We turned around and headed up the steep section of trail to the viewpoint and followed the yellow trail to the right on a more gentle grade. At the junction with the blue trail, we stayed to the right on the yellow. We walked along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail and turned left. We followed the blue trail up and over the summit of Round Top and down the other side. I noticed that the steeper descents were tricky due to the slippery ground. Constant, intermittent rain showers have kept the trails damp and muddy in places. At the junction with the yellow trail, we turned left and followed it to the next junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the woods road and back to the very first trail junction. Sheila was headed out to the trailhead, and we decided to follow her. We headed out to the trailhead. I put Sheila on her leash as we headed down the cemetery hill and out to the main road. We walked to our driveway and headed home. We had spent an hour hiking a little more than 2 miles at a good pace without stopping.

On Friday, October 12th I wanted to get in a hike where there was a waterfall that might have been augmented by the recent rain. I had hiked the day before at Frick Pond where it was exceptionally wet. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go hiking in the Trout Pond area and she agreed. The forecast was calling for some morning fog and mist, so we decided to wait until 10:00 AM to leave even though I had a commitment in Liberty at 2:00 PM. We also knew that the trails in the Trout Pond area would probably be very wet due to the recent rains in the area. As I started to get ready, the temperature was only in the low 50's with a very stiff breeze. Sheila gets especially excited when both Cindy and I go on the hike, and as I got ready, she watched every move. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which fend off the ticks. I put my pair of Keen Glarus boots which fit even though they are getting worn. I also put on my Mammut Hoody which I knew might be too warm but would fend off the wind and is rain resistant. Cindy and I put our packs in the trunk and Sheila in the back seat and headed for Roscoe on the Quickway a little after 10:00 AM. I drove out the Rockland Flats on Route 206. Just after the Roscoe Nursing Home I turned left on Morton Hill Road and followed it for 3 miles to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned into Russell Brook Road and drove down toward the parking area to the end of the road. I slowed as we passed the upper falls and started to pull over to get out and take pictures. Cindy objected, so I drove to the parking area and parked where there were no cars. We got out of the car, and I set my Garmin GPS unit and started up Russell Brook Road toward the upper falls. Cindy chose to stay at the car, but Sheila came with me. We walked very quickly uphill to the path down to the viewpoint above the falls. We turned down the path to the upper falls, and I put down my pack and got out the camera. There was less water going over the falls than I thought as I took several shots with differing settings. Once I finished the photography, I packed up, and we walked back down the road to the car. I met Cindy, and we left the parking area to continue down the road toward the stream. We crossed the bridge and found that the Japanese knotweed that I had cut down had not infringed on the trail enough to block it. We continued on the road turning right on the path to the falls walking between the tall grass and the knotweed. We walked over to the path down the bank to the streambed and carefully descended to the brook. The falls were flowing with a good volume but not as much as I had anticipated. The sun had finally broken through enough to give some light, but the skies to the west were still dark. I got out my camera and took some pictures of the falls and then some of the stream. I took a few more pictures of the falls and a few of Sheila sitting in front of it. I put the camera away and walked back up the stream bank out to the main trail.

At the trail junction just after the register, we continued straight ahead to walk up to Trout Pond. The trail was wet and muddy in most places. Some small stream ran down the trail and others crossed it. When we arrived at the pond, we turned left and walked out to the "beach" at the outlet end of the pond. The level of the pond was high enough for water to be flowing over the spillway. The skies were blue toward the north with white clouds, so I knew I had to take some pictures. I took some panoramic pictures and then zoomed in on different parts of the scene. Sheila loves the water but chose not to jump into the pond. I believe she sensed it was too cold for a swim! I walked over to the spillway and took a few pictures. Sheila decided she would go into overdrive and began running around at breakneck speed. After getting a drink and a snack, we packed up and headed back to the main trail. We continued on the main trail on the east side of Trout Pond walking toward the inlet end and the lean-tos. The trail was not as wet as I had expected with most of the water confined to the ruts on either side of a "hump" in the middle. No one was camping at the large campsite on the right side of the rail before the lean-tos or at the lean-tos themselves. As we crossed the bridge at the inlet end of the pond, I noticed that the inlet stream was not very high. I stopped to take some pictures of the pond from the bridge and then continued on the trail. At this point, the trail turns right and starts up a hill which is the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. At the turn, the trail was almost dry, and we easily walked up the hill. In a few places, we had to walk on the sides of the trail to stay out of the water or mud on the trail. Walking was difficult as all the rocks were wet and everything was slippery. After we had walked for some time, I noticed a few large trees that had been cut with a chainsaw. I then remembered that there were places on the trail which previously had large blowdowns that were no longer present! I assumed a DEC crew had been sent through to clear the trail. Of course, since the crew had done there work there had been more storms, and there were several smaller blowdowns across the trail. Soon we were at the highest point on Cherry Ridge and starting down the other side.

I anticipated that the trail would have quite a bit of water, but there was much less than I expected. There were areas where the trail was simply a stream that overflowed on either side making it difficult to find a dry place to walk but much of the trail was almost dry. In other places, there was standing water with pools over a foot deep. As we walked the trail, Sheila alerted, and we saw a man walking toward us. As he approached, I saw he was wearing wading boots used for fishing and carrying a fly fishing pole. We greeted each other as we passed. I thought afterward that I should have taken a picture of a man carrying a fishing pole on a trail that looked like a stream! We continued on the trail picking our way around the wet areas which wasn't always easy. Soon we were at the woods road and snowmobile trail that runs by Mud Pond. I had considered walking down to Mud Pond, but the walk on the wet trail was tiring. We turned left and started the short walk uphill. This part of the trail was also wet, but we found places to walk including places on the trail that were wet but with only a shallow covering of water. At the top of the hill, we began the long descent back to the trail junction where we had started. The descent lasts for .7 miles and drops 385 feet to a bridge that crosses the outlet stream from Trout Pond. This part of the trail was just as wet as the other sections. The water was spread across the trail in a shallow covering making for wet and muddy conditions. As we descended, we came to a spot where a small stream crosses. The stream is usually just a trickle and easy to cross but this time it was a small torrent. We decided just to cross even if it meant getting our feet a little wet. I was able to find one dry stepping stone and place my foot on another one with only a few inches of water. We continued down the hill on the main trail carefully picking our way. We crossed another small stream and walked toward the campsite at the bottom of the hill on the left side of the trail. We continued on the trail crossing the bridge over a stream and walking back out to the trail register. We turned right and headed back toward the lower parking area on the main trail. We walked up the short path to the lower parking area. We arrived back at the car at 1:05 PM after hiking 4.7 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes with a 915-foot total ascent. The temperature on the car thermometer was 55 degrees, and the wind was still blowing.

On Wednesday, October 10th I wanted to get in a longer hike close to home and chose to go to the Rick Pond area to hike a loop to Frick and Hodge Ponds using the Quick Lake and Flynn Trails. The temperature was in the high 60's at 9:30 AM as I got ready to depart. I got dressed in a long-sleeved light crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks. I got my gear ready and put it and Sheila in the car and headed out the DeBruce Road. Sheila had been very quiet but did not let me out of her sight as I was getting ready. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area, there were no other cars in both lots. I parked in the larger lot as I planned to start at the beginning of the Quick Lake Trail. At 10:10 AM s we started out on the Quick Lake Trail from the back right corner of the parking area. I noticed that there was a carpet of leaves in the parking lot and on the trail. The leaves were partly green and partly yellow, but there were not many bright colors in the leaves still on the trees. We turned left at the register onto the woods road that leads to Frick Pond. Immediately it was clear that the hike would be a wet and muddy one! The woods road is often wet, but on this day it was a mass of standing water and deep mud. We walked along the sides of the trail avoiding most of the mud. At Gravestone Junction, we stayed to the left and walked through a muddy section of trail down to the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. There was some sunlight shining from a blue sky with white clouds. The colors of the leaves were not as bright as I had hoped and many had fallen. There was enough color to make pictures interesting, so I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I took pictures of Frick Pond as I have so many times before. I also photographed Flynn's Point and Sheila as she posed on the bridge. After a short pause, I packed up, and we continued our hike. We walked along the west side of the pond where the trail continued to be muddy. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. Immediately we ran into a few blowdowns across the trail, and I made a note to return later with tools to clear them before snowfall. The trail was wet until we entered the "spruce tunnel" where there was more mud. The small stream through the woods was flowing freely with a greater volume than I had seen this year. Sheila ran and jumped the stream with ease and then turned around to try it again and again. I took out my camera a too a few shots of the stream and the small "waterfall" that had formed upstream. I walked upstream and crossed to continue on the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel Junction. This part of the trail was also wet and muddy with a few branches which needed to be removed.

At the junction, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. As we walked along, I noticed that this part of the trail was slippery and wet, but there was less mud, and the walking was easier. It is 1.6 miles from Iron Wheel Junction to Junkyard Junction with an elevation gain of almost 500 feet. This walk often seems long, but I must have been lost in my thoughts as it seemed to go very quickly. As the trail flattened near Junkyard Junction, there were more muddy places and some standing water. We turned right onto the Flynn Trail at the junction and started toward Hodge Pond. The Flynn Trail from Junkyard Junction to Hodge Pond is .85 miles and drops 165 feet to the shores of the pond. The first part of the trail is flat and had several spots where there was standing water and mud. After passing through the gate that marks the boundary with the OSI property, we walked down the hill toward the pond and turned right to stay on the Flynn Trail. This part of the trail is, again, flat and is situated along a woods road that OSI cleared of all vegetation. The trail was muddy in spots until we left the trees and entered a field. The trees here were particularly bright, so I took a few pictures before continuing on the trail to the clearing at the south end of Hodge Pond. As we approached, I heard voices and put Sheila on her leash. When we emerged from the trees, a large black Labrador retriever approached us. The dog was not on a leash and would not listen to its owner. The dog had a disagreement with Sheila, but the owner eventually took hold of his collar and walked away with a "Sorry." I led Sheila over to the shores of the pond where I put down my pack and told her to stay. The skies had grown darker, and the leaf colors were less pronounced than at Frick Pond. I took some pictures and then threw a stick for Sheila to retrieve. After a short time, I ate a bar, took some water and packed up to continue on the Flynn Trail.

We walked back to the Flynn Trail to the point where it re-entered the woods and began the walk up the hill. The .4 mile walk can seem much longer, but on this day this section went quickly. At the top of the hill, we stayed to the right to follow the Flynn Trail. A left turn follows a woods road out to what remains of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. The Flynn Trail is relatively flat to the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 4.7 miles. The trail was slippery with a layer of mud. We passed through the gate marking the border with the OSI property and soon after arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued on the Flynn Trail whose condition remained much the same with a slippery layer of mud. As we walked along, Sheila alerted, and I saw a shadowy, dark figure ahead on the trail. I immediately put Sheila on her leash thinking that it might be a bear. After looking carefully ahead, I saw that the "bear" was actually two forest rangers walking toward us. We stopped to talk, and I found that the Rangers were just out for a hike. We discussed the trails in the area, and one ranger introduced himself as Eric Stratton. He and Kelly Baker are two rangers who are relatively new to the area, and I was glad to meet him. After a few minutes, we went our separate ways, and I released Sheila from her leash although she stayed close to me. We passed by the path to the clearing on the left and continued down the hill. Once again Sheila alerted, and I looked up to see a group of figures ahead on the trail all dressed in what appeared to be white rain jackets. My first thought was that it was a group out on a hike perhaps sponsored by Morgan Outdoors. I put Sheila on her leash, and as we approached, I could hear signing and see that the figures were women dressed in white tunics and grey headdresses. There was about a dozen standing across the entire trail! I decided rather than disturbing them I would walk around them and we stayed to the left as we passed by. I assumed these sisters were from Our Lady of Lourdes Convent and I knew they had taken a vow of silence. I did wonder why they found it necessary to block the trail. We continued on down the trail, and I soon saw a pickup truck on the trail! The Rangers had decided to drive through the gate and a few hundred feet up the trail. I wondered why they found it necessary to do this as it left ruts on the trail. Just before the gate we turned left to follow the Flynn Trail and to avoid the private property around the cabin. On the final part of the Flynn Trail through the woods, I noticed an interesting white fungus on a tree. I took some shots of it before passing on toward the car. When we arrived back at the parking lot, there were only two other cars present. We were back at the car by 1:10 PM having covered 6.5 miles in 3 hours with an elevation gain of 910 feet.

On Monday, October 8th I had not been out hiking for a few days and wanted to get in a short hike before the rain arrived as predicted in the forecast. My Son-in-law Brad was visiting and agreed to go with me. We decided to go out in the late morning after the fog had burned off and before the showers came. The skies were cloudy, but there was no rain, so we decided to head across the street to Round Top at 12:00 PM. We knew that if it did start to rain, we could make it back home quickly. As I started to get ready, Sheila was very interested in my every move. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with no baselayer as the temperature in the mid 60's. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks. I put on my Vasque Talus boots which fit well and have been discontinued. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church to begin the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila responds well to the command "Pull," and the Siberian husky in her makes her well-suited for the job. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash, and she bounded ahead of us. The trails were wet and muddy in spots. At the first trail junction, I followed Sheila as she turned right and continued up the less steep part of the trail. Everything was very green, but many of the leaves had fallen without showing any brilliant colors. We followed the blazes for the yellow trail up to the trail junction. We turned left at the trail junction and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next trail junction, we turned right on the blue trail and headed up the steepest hill to the summit of Round Top. On the summit, we followed the trail over the top. We continued down the other side and at the yellow trail we turned right. At the next trail junction, we stayed left to head down to the lookout. At the lookout, we turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The skies were still cloudy, and there was a heavy mist and some raindrops in the air. This is not as demanding as some of the 3500-foot peaks I have been doing the grandson Bryce, but it is much better than sitting at home! We turned around and headed up the steep section of trail to the viewpoint and followed the yellow trail to the right on a more gentle grade. At the junction with the blue trail, we stayed to the right on the yellow. We walked along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail and turned left. We followed the blue trail up and over the summit of Round Top and down the other side. I noticed that the steeper descents were tricky due to the slippery ground. Constant, intermittent rain showers have kept the trails damp and muddy in places. At the junction with the yellow trail, we turned left and followed it to the next junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the woods road and back to the very first trail junction. Sheila was headed out to the trailhead, and we decided to follow her. We headed out to the trailhead. I put Sheila on her leash as we headed down the cemetery hill and out to the main road. We walked to our driveway and headed home. We had spent an hour hiking a little more than 2 miles at a good pace without stopping.

On Friday, October 5th grandson Bryce and I were visiting some of the waterfalls in the Delaware Water Gap. I hoped they would be flowing with a high volume due to the recent rains. After visiting Buttermilk Falls on Mountain Road on the New Jersey side of the Water Gap, I drove back to Route 209 and turned right to head toward Milford. I decided we had just enough time to visit Shohola Falls on the other side of Milford. In Milford, I continued straight ahead on Route 6 West to the I-84 interchange. From here I drove 8.5 miles to a left-hand turn just before Shohola Lake. Left at the Shohola Inn and then a right into the parking area and we were there. There were a couple of cars in the lot, but as we were getting ready, the owners returned to their cars and departed. We could hear the falls from the parking lot and knew it was only a short walk, so I took only my camera as we walked toward the falls. The water was quite high, and the falls were flowing at full volume. From the first viewpoint, I could see down the creek and took some pictures of the falls from that angle. A path worked its way beside the creek, and the rocks were slick from the spray and recent rains. I told Bryce to stay in a safe place with Sheila as I worked my way out along the narrow and wet oath. The pool at the bottom was large, and there was an accumulation of thick foam. I could see a curved rock wall on the other side which was another viewpoint. The falls have a drop of about 70 feet and are probably that wide at their widest point. I went as far as I dared and then started taking pictures of the falls. This was an excellent vantage point. I also recorded a short video as I was impressed with the sound and the power of the falls. I worked my way back up the path to Bryce and Sheila and took a picture of them. We worked our way up the path, and I stopped to take a few pictures of a smaller falls near the top of the falls. We walked up to an open field to take a look at the dam, and I took a few pictures. We walked back to the parking area where I took some pictures of Shohola Lake with the zoom. We returned to the car for the 30 minutes drive to Bryce's house.

On Friday, October 5th grandson Bryce and I were visiting some of the waterfalls in the Delaware Water Gap. I hoped they would be flowing with a high volume due to the recent rains. After failing to access Dingman's Falls because the NPS had closed the area, I decided we would cross the river and take a look at Buttermilk falls in New Jersey. I drove to the traffic light at Dingman's Ferry and turned right. We went across the "historic" Dingman's Ferry Bridge. The bridge is old and not quite two lanes wide! The toll is taken by a person standing on the yellow line! Across the bridge, we took Route 560 to Route 640 and then NPS 615 at the Peters Craft Village. In Walpack Center we turned left and then right after a short distance on an unmarked road which was Mountain Road. I was following another car that was driving VERY slowly, but the road was a series of potholes. We continued our slow drive along the rough unpaved road until a parking area on our right, and a falls on our left signaled we had arrived at Buttermilk Falls at around 2:15 PM. There were quite a few cars in the lot as Bryce, and I got out to go to the falls. I decided that I would not take Sheila as there were quite a few people and a series of steps next to the falls. The falls are high but and there was more water falling than I had seen before. I took only my camera with us as we walked across the road to the falls. I took some pictures at the base of the falls using both horizontal and vertical formats and with several different settings. We walked over to the steps and started up the steep stairs and pathways next to the falls. The pathways wound back and forth to make the going easier. We bypassed the first viewing platform as it had too many people. I had a hard time keeping up with Bryce as he practically ran up the stairs to the top. I took some pictures from the viewing platform at the top. We started back down the steps, and this time we stopped a the first viewing platform. This allowed me to get some pictures from the side of the water coming down the falls. We walked back down the steps and across the road to the car. I decided to continue out the road instead of turning around to reserve our route. The road seemed to be better on the way out until we came to the paved portion just after crossing a small bridge. I had to slow to a crawl to get through the deep potholes. At the end, I turned right on NPS 615 and followed it back to Walpack Center. From there I followed the route I had used on the way in. We crossed the Dingman's Bridge, and I turned right on Route 209 to head back to Milford.

On Friday, October 5th grandson Bryce and I were visiting some of the waterfalls in the Delaware Water Gap. I hoped they would be flowing with a high volume due to the recent rains. After finishing at Indian Ladder Falls, I drove back down Emery Road and passed the PEEC facility. I turned left on Route 209 and drove back toward the traffic light at Dingman's Ferry. Just before the light, I pulled over to a parking area on the left side of the road just before the access road to Dingman's Falls. The road was closed to traffic, but I thought we would walk down the road to see what the situation was at the Visitor's Center and the boardwalks. I really wanted to see the condition of the boardwalks. We passed through the gates and began to walk down the wide, paved road. As we walked down the road, we Egan to hear gunshots which seemed to be coming from a firing range to the left of the road. As we neared the Visitor's Center, we began to hear the noise of machinery and saw a mowing machine coming toward us. As we approached the operator opened the door and told us he didn't think we were allowed on the road. I apologized, and we turned around and walked back to the car. I was disappointed that the NPS had not done any work on one of the most popular attractions in the Water Gap! I decided we would cross over into New Jersey and visit Buttermilk Falls which is right on Mountain Road.

On Friday, October 5th grandson Bryce and I were visiting some of the waterfalls in the Delaware Water Gap. I hoped they would be flowing with a high volume due to the recent rains. After finishing at Raymondskill Falls, we tried to visit the Childs Recreation Area and Tumbling Waters Falls, but both of these were closed by a large number of huge trees across the trails. From the Tumbling Waters parking area n Route 209 I turned around and drove back towards Dingman's Ferry. After about .6 miles, I turned left onto Brisco Mountain Road from Route 209 and headed north passed the PEEC. About two miles passed the PEEC the road crosses a small culvert over Hornbecks Creek, and I parked in a small pullout just on the other side at 12:35 PM. There was one other car parked there, and we immediately got out to start our hike. There was a path into the woods where the guidebook said it would be just a little to the right of the parking area. I got Sheila on her leash and shouldered my pack. The path quickly opened up to a wide path which was, at times, blocked by blowdowns. The blowdowns seemed old as hikers had made distinct paths around them. We followed the path along the creek and found the blowdowns had opened up some views that were blocked the last time I had hiked here. There were four different falls mentioned in the guidebook, and we soon came to the first side path that led down to the base of what I believed was the first falls. I was able to get some pictures from the side of the falls before turning around and walking back up to the main path. We turned right and in a short distance came to a point higher on the bank that gave a great view of the falls head on. I took some more pictures of the falls before confusing on the path along the creek.

The second falls was hard to photograph as the views were blocked by trees and brush. I did try to get some shots of the falls deep down in the ravine from several angles. When I walked back up to the main path where Bryce and Sheila were waiting, I heard a rattling to the side of the trail. I was pretty sure it was a noise made by some insect, but I mentioned to Bryce that there could be rattlesnakes in the area. I was surprised that he seemed more interested than scared. I did put Sheila on her leash as a precaution. I probably could have worked my way down to the streambed, but it did not seem worth the work. The third falls was a little more exposed but, again, there did not seem to be an easy way to get down to the stream level. I took quite a few shots that showed some aspects of the falls. The creek runs through a gorge here at it may be possible to get to the other side for better views on another day. The final falls required a walk on a little-used, steep path covered by loose gravel. The stones on the path were slippery, and the path was steep. Further down the dirt and small rocks were loose, and it was hard to get a grip. I had Sheila on her leash, and she was trying to pull me downhill. The fourth falls is a wide 40-foot slide and cascade over rocks. It was difficult to get a good view of the entire falls from the shore but trying to rock hop to the middle of the creek seemed like a bad idea. I worked my way to the edge of the stream below the falls and took quite a few shots. A one point Sheila came rushing by me and jumped into the stream. The pool she jumped into was deep, and I think it surprised her! She jumped out of the pool onto a small log and seemed to be considering her options. She decided to launch herself back to shore falling just short and pulling herself onto the bank. Since she was very wet, she decided to shake herself off right behind me. Now I was very wet. I finished photographing, and we all walked back to the main path and started back up the steep hill. The climb was short and went quickly. We walked the trail back to the car. It was, so Bryce ate some of his lunch while I considered our next move.

On Friday, October 5th grandson Bryce and I were visiting some of the waterfalls in the Delaware Water Gap. I hoped they would be flowing with a high volume due to the recent rains. After finishing at Raymondskill Falls, I drove back down the road to Route 209 and turned right to head towards Dingman's Ferry. I wanted to visit George Childs Recreation area which has three nice waterfalls; Factory Falls, Fulmer Falls, and Deer Leap Falls. Some signs ha indicated that this area might be closed from damage in March 2018, but I hoped that they would be repaired. After driving 4.9 miles, I turned right at the traffic light in Dingman's Ferry onto Route 739. I drove for 1.2 miles and then turned left on Silver Lake Road. I continued along Silver Lake Road for a little over 1.5 miles until the parking area for the Childs Area came up on the left. The area was roped off, and a sign said CLOSED. I caught a glimpse down the creek and saw how many trees were still down and decided we would not violate the CLOSED AREA. I was very annoyed that after six months this area was not open! I drove back down Silver Lake Road to Route 739, turned right and drove back to the traffic light on route 209. I turned right and decided to drive to Tumbling Water Falls which is right off Route 209. I drove south about 5.5 miles to a large parking area on the right side of the road which looked like the one for Tumbling Waters. On the way, I drove passed Brisco Mountain Road where the Pennsylvania Environmental Education Center is located. The Indian Ladders Falls are near this location, and I made a note as we might visit them next. After parking, I walked into the woods passing a CLOSED AREA just to confirm I was in the right spot. I noticed a low stone building to the left of the trail and knew I was in the right spot. I went back to the car to get Bryce and Sheila, and we all started back into the woods. We walked along the trail for a few minutes until we began to run into many large trees that had fallen across the trail. We walked over and under a few of these until it became obvious that we would have no fun trying to get to the falls. We turned around and walked back to the car so I could make my next plan. I was disappointed that the trail was blocked and realized that since the trail is not "official" that it may NEVER be cleared!

On Friday, October 5th grandson Bryce had a day off from classes and wanted to hike somewhere. I planned a hike to Balsam Mountain and the Belleayre Ski Area so that Bryce could get another 3500 oft peak and so that we might find some fall colors. As luck would have it, there was rain on Thursday and some rain overnight. I knew the trail would be wet and slippery and that the leaf colors would probably not be very bright. I decided we would go to the Delaware Water Gap and visit some of the many waterfalls which would I hoped would be flowing with a high volume due to the recent rains. Bryce arrived at about 9:00 AM, but I delayed leaving until 9:35 AM. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which help to discourage ticks. I wore my Keen Glarus boots in a 9W which fit well and have been discontinued. I took along a light windbreaker which I could take off if I became too warm. Sheila would not leave my side as I was getting ready as she wanted to make sure she was going too! The guidebook I used was Pennsylvania Waterfalls by Scott E. Brown, The book is a GREAT guide giving accurate directions to all the falls, information about the hike to them, a description of the falls and photography tips! I decided to go to Raymondskill Falls first, so I got on State Route 17 heading east toward Monticello. I got off at exit 104, and I took Route 42 from Monticello to Port Jervis and then Route 209 over the river to Matamoras. I continued on Route 209 south into Milford where I turned left to stay on Route 209 toward the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. I drove 3.25 miles watching for Raymondskill Road and the sign for Raymondskill Falls on the right. After turning right, I drove .7 miles to a parking area on the left, and I pulled in. Another parking area and a building with bathrooms are just up the road on the left. Before we started to hike, I spotted a sign that said the George Childs Recreation Area and Dingman's Falls were both closed because of damage in the March 2018 storms. I assumed these were old signs as the National Parks Service had six months to clean up this damage.

There was only one other car in the lot as we got out at 10:45 AM and started down the trail to the lower falls. The path was not long but dropped about 85 feet. A trail came in from the left and shortly after one came in from the right. The second trail led up to the visitors center, and I decided to investigate the other on the way back. The trail was wet, and the stone was slippery in some places. The walk to the falls was short, and I was soon at the lower viewing platform. There was plenty of water flowing over the falls which have a total drop of 180 feet. The water flows through a narrow slot a the top of the falls and then cascades into a pool below. To the left of the main falls was a smaller but very pretty horsetail falls from a tributary. I took pictures with several different zooms and settings. I took a couple of Bryce and Sheila and also shot a 40-second video to record the power of the falls. After taking many pictures, I walked back up to the path that led to the upper falls. Some steps were steep in places, but the walk was short. There was a small wooden deck where I took some pictures upstream including some of the foam that had collected. There is a nice pool here with dark green water. I leaned out over the railings and took some pictures down the falls to the plunge pool below. I also took a few of the lower viewing deck. We walked up the path to the bathrooms and then walked back on another path to the car. A group was just starting out on the walk to the falls, and I asked them about the closings of the Childs area and Dingman's Falls. One man said he was pretty sure they were still closed! I decided to find out for myself, but I was afraid he was right.

On Monday, October 1st I knew that I had to get out for a short walk after more than a week of inactivity due to a nasty early fall cold and some commitments. I thought a few figure 8's across the street on Round Top would be a good idea and Cindy agreed to go with me. I started to get ready at about 10:15 AM when the temperature was still in the high 50's with an overcast sky. I got dressed in a long-sleeved Mammut crew top but decided to wear no base layer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I wore a new pair of Vasque Talus boots in a 9W. They seemed a little narrow for wide shoes but comfortable none-the-less. They are all leather and will stretch some as they break in. I decided I would wear a light windbreaker which I could take off if I became too warm. Sheila would not leave my side as I was getting ready as she wanted to make sure she was going too! We left the house at 10:35 AM and crossed the street with Sheila on her leash. We walked to the back of the church to begin the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Sheila responds well to the command "Pull," and the Siberian husky in her makes her well-suited for the job. As we climbed the hill, I looked up to see a flock of turkeys crossing the road. Sheila saw the tykes at about the same time I did and redoubled her efforts to "help" me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash, and she bounded ahead of us looking for the turkeys. I did not hear any commotion, and she soon came back to us on the trail. Whenever I pass by the first major blowdown that I cleared on the trail, I am proud that I was able to do the work by myself with only hand tools. At the first trail junction, we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead on the steeper path to the viewpoint. At the lookout, I noted that there was no garbage and everything was in order. From the upper part of the lookout, the trees block most of the view despite the efforts of the Town of Rockland sawyer crew to cut down some trees. The leaves were just beginning to change color, but we noticed that many had already fallen from the trees and some trees were almost bare! I am hoping to be able to find some brilliant colors this fall before the leaves hit the ground. Getting to the lower lookout is a little difficult for the average person who causes an access problem. We followed the trail to the right and started the gentle climb through the woods. The trail was really beautiful and clear of most branches. The trail bed was lined with very green ferns and pretty clearly delineated.

When we reached the next trail junction, we stayed to the right to follow the lower trail around the base of Round Top to the next junction. At the next junction, we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the steeper blue trail. This time the slightly steep but short uphill went quickly, but I was really sweating. I did notice that I was not as tired as I thought I might be after taking more than a week off. We walked across the summit of Round Top and down the other side which is also a little steep. I noticed that the new boots were performing well and prevented my toes from hitting the front of the toe box on the way down. Sheila was off in the woods, and suddenly a whitetail deer came running at full speed from our left. It flew passed Cindy within about six feet. Sheila came running from the same direction but wasn't really chasing the deer although I think she would have followed if I had not sternly called her back. When we got to the yellow trail, we turned left to follow it to the second trail junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail back to the very first trail junction. At the trail junction, we turned around and retraced our steps taking the more gentle path this time. When the yellow trail turned left, we followed it to the next trail junction where we turned right and headed up the blue trail to the summit. We walked over the top and down the other side to the yellow trail again. We turned right and followed the trail along the base of Round Top. Where the yellow trail turned left, we followed it to the left and down to the lookout. Although I thought about making four loops, I decided not to tax my recovery and that two was enough! From the lookout, we walked downhill to the first trail junction. We walked out to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash, and we walked down the cemetery hill. We crossed the field and the street to our driveway. It was about 11:40 AM, and we had hiked a little less than 2 miles in slightly more than an hour.

Summer 2018

On Saturday, September 22nd, I had scheduled a hike up Table with my brother-in-law Jeff, Son Karl and grandsons Bryce and Lucas. Bryce and I have been working on his 3500's and I though Table was close and might have fewer people hiking compared to the Devil's Path or the Blacks. The weather report was for cloudy skies with some sun in the afternoon. I began to get dressed at 8:00 AM and Sheila knew we were going on a hike. She didn't leave my side and was underfoot for most of the time. The temperature was in the high 50's with a stiff breeze. I got dressed in a long-sleeved Mammut crew top which is a little heaver than what I have been wearing. I put on a short-sleeved baselayer and a light windbreaker. I wore a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. I decided to wear my keen Glarus hiking boots which fit well and, of course, have been discontinued. Jeff arrived at 8:40 AM and we loaded our gear into my car and left Livingston Manor. We headed out the DeBruce Road at 8:45 AM. At the end I turned right onto Route 47 and drove to the intersection with the road to the Denning trailhead. I turned left and drove through Claryville and on toward the end of the road. We arrived at the trailhead parking area at 9:15 AM. Karl was already there with the two boys and I was surprised to see that the parking area was almost full! It seemed most people had already left but the man in the car next to us was still getting ready. He informed me he was going to bushwhack in the area to hunt bear! We got our gear ready and I set my electronics as we set out on the trail at 9:25 AM. The first 1.3 miles of the trail is almost flat rolling a little along a woods road. The trail was very wet with both standing and running water. We all talked to each other and the walk to the turn toward Table went quickly. At the turn I pointed out the sign that designates the eastern terminus of the Finger Lakes Trail. We walked down through the rocks toward the river and I took a few pictures of the boys and Sheila perched on a big rock. We had to cross a deep little stream just before the first bridge but we all made it safely. The first bridge was in good shape even after several storms and someone had replaced a few of the boards. I took some pictures from one end and then some from the middle of the bridge. I also took a few after I crossed. I knew the second bridge would be tricky as it was constructed of two logs with just a cable to hold onto. When we arrived at the bridge, I was surprised to see that the two logs now had planks that formed decking and a nice wooden handrail. These additions looked new. I stopped to take pictures of the bridge before catching up to the others. As we continued, we passed by a cairn that marked the turn off to the Fisherman's Path and I mentioned the significance to the group. We continued along the trail passing some legal campsites before getting to the start of what would be a climb of over 1700 feet during the next 2.1 miles. At this point the "bear hunter" came toward us and I asked him how he was doing. He said he was looking for the Fisherman's Path along the river. I told him how to find it and we continued on.

We met three women coming down the trail with three dogs. We all put our dogs on their leashes as we passed each other. The women (and the dogs) had stayed at the lean-to overnight and were on their way out. We walked and talked and both boys seemed to be doing well. Bryce is seven and has been out with me before. Lucas is only five but he was doing well. There are two "bumps" before the final climb to the summit and several sets of rocks to work through. Some of the climbs are a little steep but they are followed by gentler grades. I was feeling a little tired as we worked our way up the mountain but Bryce was doing fine. Jeff told me he was beginning to feel like he might want to turns around before the summit and Lucas was beginning to lag. I suggested we get to the lookout on the way up the mountain and make a decision there. After the second bump at 2.75 miles and just before the final ascent, we walked along a path to the right that led to a lookout to the south. The sun was out and the view was beautiful! We could see the summit of Table to our left and then Peekamoose almost straight ahead. There were mountains in the background and Van Wyck Mountain was very prominent to the right. It has an unmistakable profile. I took some pictures of everything and a couple of the boys and the dog. We decided that Bryce and I would go on to the summit and I would then bring him home. Everybody else would return to the car and Karl would bring Jeff back to his truck in Livingston Manor. Bryce, Sheila and I left the lookout and returned to the main trail. We turned right and got ready for the final ascent to the summit. We passed over one more "bump" and then started the last climb which is .7 miles but gains over 600 feet. This final ascent up the mountain is not one of my favorites. In several places the trail hugs the side of the hill and is pretty rocky. We passed the spring and the lean-to and then started up the steepest part to the flat summit. We met two young men coming down the trail. They had started at the Peekamoose trailhead so that they could traverse both peaks. They said "Hello" as I pulled Sheila to the side of the trail so that they could pass. They were moving very quickly! I knew this would be an interesting descent as it was steep and wet. Once on the top we came to a path on the right that led to another viewpoint. We turned onto the path and walked out to the rock that makes up the lookout. The views were still good and at a little different angle than the previous spot whet we had stopped. I took more pictures and then packed up and walked back to the main trail. We turned right and continued to ascend toward the summit. I was surprised when the summit came up so quickly and that it was marked by a cairn. We walked a little passed that point to make sure the trail started to descend. We walked back to the summit to get a drink and a snack. I debated whether or not to remove the cairn and in the end I did what I always do. I don't build cairns but I don't knock them down either. It was 12:30 PM and it had taken us over 3 hours to cover the 3.8 miles.

We turned around and started our descent knowing there were still a few short climbs along the way. We met a man coming up the trail with what looked like a poodle! For a small dog it was doing quite well. The steep descent was slow as I suspected it would be but we made up some time and were soon neat the lean-to. The two young men we had met on our ascent were coming out of the spur trail to the lean-to. We never saw them again! We passed the spring and continued to descend through the rocks. I had to admit that going down WAS easier than going up but not as easy as I would have liked. The two "bumps" on the way back were not appreciated by either of us but both look a lot more imposing than they really are. We met a few people coming up the mountain and I thought it was rather late to go for the summit. Soon we were down to the last descent toward the river which is very rocky and took its toll. We crossed both bridges without incident and then had to work our way up the hill back to the trail to the parking area. We turned left at the top of the hill and headed back to the car. Along the way we met several groups of people including some young men looking for the nearest campsite and dragging large cooler. By this time we both had a sense of urgency to get back to the car and get home. The walk back was more pleasant with hiking buddy Bryce. The hike back on the woods road seemed to go faster than previous trips and we were both glad to see the gate and the parking lot. We arrived back at the car at 3:15 PM having covered 7.6 miles and 2325 vertical feet in 5 hours and 50 minutes with almost an hour of stopped time. I look forward to climbing Peekamoose with Bryce!

On Wednesday, September 19th I decided to hike despite a morning appointment and cloudy skies. When I arrived home from my appointment, I checked the weather report and found there was no rain in the forecast. I decided to go to the Frick Pond area and hike the Flynn Trail to the Hodge Pond Lookout and Flynn's Point, the highest point in Sullivan County. I could then take the Flynn Trail back or head down the Big Rock Trail to Frick Pond. As I started to get ready at 10:15 AM, the temperature was in the mid 70's. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and, of course, have been discontinued. Sheila seemed extra energetic as if she didn't want to get left behind. I loaded Sheila and my gear into the car and headed out the DeBruce Road. At 6 miles I turned left on the Mongaup Pond Road. Where the road splits I stayed left on the Beech Mountain Road and parked in the smaller at Frick Pond. There were no other cars in either of the lots as I got my gear ready and crossed the road to start our hike at 10:40 AM. The erosion at the beginning of the trail made it obvious that there had been a lot of water running down the trail. We set a quick pace up the Flynn Trail. I noticed very few new branches on the trail but I did stop to remove a few. The mosquitoes that I had hoped would be absent were fewer in number but still biting. At 11:20 AM we arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail passing the gate that separates state land from the OSI property. At 2 miles we turned right on a woods road toward the ruins of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. At 2.25 miles we passed the woods road leading down to Hodge Pond and stayed right at the split to start the hike up the hill to the lookout. The woods road is dirt and was wet and muddy in places from the recent rain.

The trail rises .4 miles gaining 270 feet for a 13% grade. As we hiked, Sheila alerted and I looked up to see a pickup truck and a surveyor's transit. I put Sheila on her leash and continued on the road. We met the surveyor and I stopped to talk. He said he was simply surveying the road for the surveyor who works for Larry Rockefeller. He indicated to me that he thought the road was on private property. I told him that I was continuing to the lookout but would research the ownership issue when I returned home. We continued up the trail passing the surveyor's assistant. At 2.65 miles the trail turns sharply right and there is a limited lookout to the north and west. We stopped and I took a few pictures before packing up and continuing on the road. We immediately turned right on another woods road which was much more well-defined than the last time I had hiked there. The trail over the next .3 miles was almost flat and very wet. At 2.9 miles we arrived at the rock that is the lookout over Hodge Pond. The trees have grown up and the view from the lookout is very limited. I took a few shots, made sure I got a drink and bar and then packed up for the return trip. I had decided that I would not hike up to the high point since it was very wet and the time was getting late. We walked back out the trail to the woods road and turned left to head back down the hill. The sun had come out so I stopped to take a few shots from the viewpoint and the continued. The surveyor's equipment was still in place but I did not see them men. Once we were off the hill we continued straight ahead and then turned right on the woods road down to Hodge Pond. We followed the road down to the field at the south end of Hodge Pond. We walked over to the edge of the pond where I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I took pictures of the pond and the blue skies with puffy white clouds. I also took a few pictures of Sheila next to my pack. Strangely, Sheila did not take a swim! I packed up and we walked up the Flynn Trail. This walk often seems long but in this day we set a rapid pace and this section went quickly. At the top of the hill we stayed to the right on the Flynn Trail heading toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. At the junction I decided to simply continue straight ahead on the Flynn Trail rather than walk down the Big Rock trail to Frick Pond. The final 1.7 miles down the Flynn Trail often seem long and boring especially on an out and back hike. On this day the return trip seemed to fly by. At the gate we stayed left on the Flynn Trail to avoid the private property around the cabin. We arrived back at the car at 1:20 PM after hiking 6.4 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes with a total elevation gain of 1180 feet.

On Saturday, September 15th I was scheduled to go to a cross, country meet at Bear Mountain. The night before I had two bouts of leg cramps so I decided to stay home from the meet. By the afternoon I was feeling better and knew I had to get out for a hike. I asked Cindy and we both decided a short hike would be good. The temperature was in the mid 80's and the humidity very uncomfortable as we started getting ready at 2:15 PM. We decided that Trout Pond might be a little too long and settled on Huggins lake which is about a 4 hour round trip. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. It was only 83 degrees and I knew I would be warm from hiking. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which fit well and, of course, have been discontinued. Sheila seemed extra energetic as if she didn't ant to get left behind in the confusion. We loaded Sheila and our gear into the car and headed out. I have come to the realization that Sheila would like to be out everyday! I drove up the Beaverkill Road and down the Campsite Road to cross the covered bridge. At the end of the road I turned right and followed Berry Brook Road to the trailhead. We arrived at the road to the parking area to find it very rough with some erosion and a few branches in the way. I chose to chance it and easily made it to the small lot parking at 2:45 PM. I got my equipment ready and set my GPS. There were no other cars in the lot when we headed out on the wide woods road to the lake. The temperature was in the mid 80's but the humidify was high making it a little uncomfortable to hike. There was some sun and the skies were mostly blue as we started the climb up the hill. The hike isn't long and the trail is well-maintained although there were a few blowdowns along the way. The first 1.2 miles is all uphill and gains almost 700 feet. Sheila was running up and down the trail and following game paths into the woods. After the initial climb, the trail descends, levels some and then climbs again until the final descent to Huggins Lake. The trail makes a sharp turn from southeast to north at about 1.6 miles. We enjoyed the downhill trek to the shores of the pond but I knew we would soon have to turn around and climb back up the hill.

When we arrived at the lake, I noticed that the water level was very high. There was a wet area and patches of mud on the trail just before it goes out along the shore. We avoided the mud and walked out along the dam. The leaves had not really changed colors but a few leaves were beginning to show some color. It was still sunny and the skies were blue with puffy white clouds. The clouds and trees were reflected in the pond which was very placid. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take some pictures of the blue sky with some white clouds in one direction. I also got some shots of the colorful leaves and the reeds around the dam. At the outlet I could immediately see that the beavers had dammed the water flow and that reeds had grown to all but block the outlet flow. I took a few more pictures of the lake before returning to my pack and stowing the camera. Sheila decided to dive into the pond water several times until a stern warning stopped her. I made sure to drink a half bottle of water and get a bar before heading back to the car. The only negative point about Huggins Lake is that there is only one trail and so there are no variations available. The ascent went smoothly for the most part as we climbed the hill back to the highest point on the trail. From there we started down the other side of the hill. I was surprised that I had labored a little climbing the hill at the beginning of the hike but felt very fresh on the way back. Sheila seemed very interested in something that was on the ridge to the left of the trail and I had to keep calling her back. We arrived back at the car at 4:40 PM after hiking 3.9 miles in 1 hour and 55 minutes with a total elevation gain of 935 feet.

On Wednesday, September 12th I had not been out hiking for FIVE days due to cross country and other commitments and the threat of rain showers. The forecast for Wednesday included showers in the afternoon so I decided to go out in the late morning after the fog had burned off and before the showers came. The skies were cloudy but there was no rain. Around 10:30 AM I decided to take Sheila across the street to hike on Round Top thinking that if it did start to rain we could make it back home quickly. As I started to get ready, Sheila was frenzied. Her excitement seems to be in direct proportion to how long it has been since she has hiked. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with no baselayer as the temperature in the high 60's with high humidity. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I put on a new pair of Keen Targhee II boots which I recently purchased. The boots are light as they are fabric and leather and they seem to fit OK. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church to begin the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Sheila responds well to the command "Pull" and the Siberian husky in her makes her well-suited for the job. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash and she bounded ahead of me following her nose. The trails were wet and muddy in spots. At the first trail junction I followed Sheila as she turned right and continued up the less steep part of the trail. Everything was very green but the humidity was high and I sweating almost immediately. We followed the blazes for the yellow trail up to the trail junction. We turned left at the trail junction and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next trail junction, we turned right on the blue trail and headed up the steepest hill to the summit of Round Top. On the summit we followed the trail over the top. We continued down the other side and at the yellow trail we turned right. At the next trail junction we stayed left to head down to the lookout. At the lookout we turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The skies were still cloudy but there was some sun so I decided to go for four complete figure 8's. This is not as demanding as some of the 3500 foot peaks I have been doing the grandson Bryce but it is much better than sitting at home!

We turned around and headed up the steep section of trail to the viewpoint and followed the yellow trail to the right up a more gentle grade. At the junction with the blue trail we stayed to the right on the yellow. We walked along the base of Round Top to the next junction with the blue trail and turned left. We followed the blue trail up and over the summit of Round Top and down the other side. I noticed that the steeper descents were tricky due to the slippery ground. Constant high humidity and intermittent rain showers have kept the trails damp and muddy in places. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned left and followed it to the next junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail down to the woods road and back to the very first trail junction. I was feeling much fresher now and turned to repeat the very first loop. Sheila was headed out to the trailhead but came back to accompany me. She immediately picked up a stick and began to carry it along the trail. I called "Bring it" and she brought the stick to me. I threw it several times as we walked up the trail to the next junction. We turned right at the junction with the blue trail and hiked up to the summit and down the other side. At the junction we turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of round Top. When we reached the next junction, we turned left and walked downhill to the lookout. Somewhere along the way Sheila started her "Mad Dash". She sprinted away from me along the trail at top speed and then turned into the woods to sprint back around behind me. She then sprinted toward me just missing me! She continued this for quite some time as I walked and laughed. Eventually she stopped as we got to the view point and hike back down to the first trail junction. Once more we turned around and repeated the route from our second figure 8. This time when we returned to the first trail junction, we headed out to the trailhead. I out Sheila on her leash as we headed down the cemetery hill and out to the main road. We walked to our driveway and headed home. The noon siren was sounding. We had spent and hour and a half hiking 3.5 miles at a good pace without stopping.

On Thursday, September 6th I decided that I would go to the Frick Pond area to do some trail maintenance that I knew needed to be done. On my last trip with Brad and Jeff I had noticed several trees down across the trail which were a little too big to move without cutting. There were also a few places where some branches needed to be removed. I decided to travel light and only take my Silky Sugowaza saw since I thought it would serve best for all the work. I began to get my gear together around 9:30 AM which made Sheila watch me very closely. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. It was only 65 degrees but I knew I wield be warm from hiking and workings. I did worry about the mosquitoes which had been vicious the last two times I had been in this area. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and, of course, have been discontinued. I got my gear and Sheila in the car and headed out the DeBruce Road at 9:45 AM. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there were no other cars parked in either lot. Sheila was acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she ran around and headed for the trail. The temperature was 68 degrees and the skies were overcast with high humidity. I got my gear ready to go and set my electronics before we headed across the road to get on the Flynn Trail at 10:00 AM. Almost immediately we ran into the first obstruction which was a small evergreen tree which I quickly cut and removed. I had decided not to take any pictures unless they were spectacular. The next blowdown was a bigger problem. A very large tree had fallen across that path and was hung up in another tree. Fortunately the tree across the trail was above my head and well supported. I knew I could not cut it but I felt it would be safe for some time. I cut all the low-hanging branches until the path beneath it was completely clear. I walked farther up the trail and cut some small trees and branches that were hanging down into the trail. After I was done, I walked back to my pack, pout the saw away and continued out to the woods road which was ounce the Beech Mountain Road leading to the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We turned right and started up the Flynn Trail. The grass on the Flynn Trail was wet from the heavy dew but the trail was otherwise dry. I once again noticed that although the Flynn Trail ascends to the junction with the Big Rock trail, it seemed much easier now that I have recently hiked several 3500 foot peaks. As we walked up the trail, I removed some loose branches and cut a few small blowdowns. I cut one slightly larger blowdown and thought I would have to cut it again but I was able to pivot it off the trail. By this time I began to notice a cloud of mosquitoes around me. I decided to try some Naturpel with Picardin and sprayed some liberally on arms, hands, neck and face. It seemed to do the job so I moved on.

We passed by the path that leads to an interesting clearing on the right. I cleared a few more blowdowns along the trail. Some had quite a few branches but they were easily removed. It didn't seem long at all until we were approaching the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 1.7 miles into the hike. By the time we were at the junction, we had already gained 600 feet. I had thought about continuing to Hodge Pond as I wasn't tired but the clouds were gathering and a wind was coming up making me think the rain might be moving in quicker than expected. I turned left on the Big Rock Trail and started down toward Times Square. There wasn't much to trim on this trail. There were some large but rotten trunks on the trail. I removed some pieces to clear the trail but left the trunks for the snowmobile club to remove later. I again began to notice that the mosquitoes had returned with a vengeance so I applied another repellant I had with me. This didn't seem to do much good and my plan no became to finish as quickly as possible. I increased my speed on the downhill which made Sheila very happy. The hike from the junction to Times Square is 1.1 miles and drops 580 feet. We made the descent in 25 minutes including few minutes of stopped time to do a little trail work. I decided to turn left on the Logger's Loop since it is a little shorter and a little more exposed to the sun. I though these conditions might limit the mosquitoes. I was wrong! We kept a very fast pace back to Gravestone Junction where we turned left on the Quick lake Trail. The mosquitoes did seem to abate somewhat as we hiked back to the car but they never disappeared and most seemed to disregard the "natural" repellant I had used. The trail was a little damp with some mud. We were back at the car at noon. We had hiked 4 miles in 1 hour and 55 minutes with 25 minutes of stopped time for maintainable. Our moving speed was 2.7 mph and the elevation gain was 705 feet.

On Tuesday, September 4th, I knew grandson Bryce was coming to the house early to hike. Even though the forecast was for higher temperatures and Humidity, I thought that if we started early we could hike Twin. We had been talking about doing this mountain for some time and I knew Bruce would love the rock scrambles and views! When I got up at 7:00 AM the temperatures was only 57 degrees but I knew it would warm up during the day. I filled my water bottles and put some bars in the pack. Bryce arrived at 7:35 AM but did not have his Camelbak so I knew I would be carrying the water! He put on his new hiking boots but Cindy wanted me to carry his old shoes just in case. That was more in the pack. As I began to get ready, Sheila was ready to go and stayed close so that I would not forget her. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my old Keen Glarus hiking boots on this longer hike since they fit so well. I got my gear together and put Sheila and Bryce in the back seat and headed out the DeBruce Road at 8:00 AM. At the end I turned left onto Route 47. We immediately ran into the road crews who were trying to restore the right lane of the road which had been washed away by the high waters of the Neversink River. The wait wasn't long and we were soon passing by the Frost Valley YMCA. I continued on Rt 47 passing the trailheads at Biscuit Brook, Slide Mountain and Giant Ledge/Panther. There were a few cars at each spot but they didn't look very crowded. At Route 28 I turned right and drove a few miles before turning left and heading north on Route 42 toward Lexington. I drove all the way to Lexington with a short wait at the bridge which is being repaired. I turned right on Route 23A heading toward Hunter and then Tannersville. After passing through Hunter, I continued passed the junction with Route 214 and turned right on Bloomer Road. At the end of Bloomer Road, I turned right on Platte Clove Road and continued for 4.3 miles to Prediger Road. I turned right and drove to the end of the road. I turned right on the access road to the parking area and drove to the lot where I parked at 9:30 AM. There were no other cars in the lot as we got ready.

I set my electronics and we were hiking by 9:35 AM. The temperature was 73 degrees and I had taken off my light windbreaker as the humidity was also high. The Jimmy Dolan Notch Trail is one of my least favorite trails in the Catskills due to the constant poor footing. There are roots and rocks and loose dirt the entire way to the col between Indian Head and Twin. The beginning of the trail was very muddy but the walk was relatively dry aver that. At .3 miles we crossed a stream that had some water but also had some stepping stones. I thought that a week before this would not have been as easy. This was also the point where we headed right on the Jimmy Dolan Notch Trail while the Devil's Path went left to the east side of Indian Head. The trail was a slight uphill and we were well into the rocks and roots but had not yet begun to climb. At 1.5 miles we began to climb over the rocks and over the next .6 miles we gained 580 feet to the notch. Bryce who had been acting a little tired perked up when he saw the rocks and took the most difficult path up and over the rocks. It was 11:00 AM and we had made 2.0 miles and 1105 feet of elevation gain. Of course, once you are in the col, there is still the climb to the peak. We stopped for a few minutes to rest and get a drink. I knew the most "interesting" climbs lay ahead of us. We turned right on the Devil's Path and started up the mountain. There are several very steep places on the climb to Twin and more than one requires some hand or hand to get up. Sheila does not have hands but she made all the climbs with no problem! Bryce again was picking the hardest way up most of the climbs and I worried a little at times about his ability to pull himself up! After a few climbs, we were approaching the viewpoint toward Indian Head which I had heard the DEC had cut out so I was anxious to see the view. We stopped at the small break in the trees and I got my camera out. It did not seem that the lookout had been cleared recently and some of the views I remembered were blocked by the trees. I did get some pictures of Indian Head and of the Hudson River. We got a drink and started out to finish the climb to the eastern peak of Twin. We reached the flat part just before the viewpoint and I was wondering what Bryce's reaction would be to the views. We broke out onto the open rocks that form one of the best viewpoints on the Catskills at 11:20 AM. Bryce was VERY impressed by the views and so was I. Once again, I didn't see that much had been cut out recently but I did see some places where trees had been removed. I took lots of shots of the higher peak of Twin, Sugarloaf, the open valleys, Overlook and the Hudson River. We rested for a few minutes taking in the views. I took a few shots of Bryce and Sheila and then the higher peak of Twin.

My plan was to hike over to the higher peak and then just reverse our route to get back. I had though of hiking down to Pecoy Notch and then walking the roads back to the car but this would add more mileage. The walk over to the west peak requires a drop of about 100 feet and then an ascent of around 150 feet. The distance, however, is only .7 miles. When we reached the west peak we stopped so that Bryce could eat his sandwich while I grabbed a bar. We both had a drink. I took a picture of Sheila and Bryce and then some more shots of Sugarloaf and some billowing clouds. We started back at 12:20 PM and I hoped to make some good time. We found that because the trail was very dry which made it impossible to gain any speed on the descent. Careful foot and pole placement was required in many places to prevent a spill for me although Bryce and Sheila seemed to be doing just fine! As we neared the col, we passed by a huge rock formation with a cap rock on top. I had Bryce pose underneath the rock with Sheila while I took a few shots. We continued down the devil's Path to the col. It was By 1:15 PM when we were back at the col and I judged the worst part of the descent was over as it was only about 2 miles back to the parking area. We turned left to head back down to the car but I forgot how interesting the descent can be. Parts of the trail were damp and the rocks here were slippery. Other parts of the trail were dry and the dirt and gravel had us slipping. We met a few people coming up the trail as we came to the end of the steeper section. The remaining part of the hike through the loose rocks, dirt and roots seemed to take forever. I relay thought it would never end. We met another couple coming up the trail in this section. I was very glad when we came to the small stream since I knew the parking area was just ahead. There were a few more cars in the lot. We were back at the car by 2:25 PM having covered 6.0 miles and 1850 feet of elevation gain in 4 hours and 45 minutes including an hour and 10 minutes of stopped time. The temperature was only 84 degrees and the humidity was not as high as I had expected. We had experienced a breeze for most of the day on the mountain and were comfortable as long as we were out of the direct sun.

On Saturday, September 1st Brad, my son-in-law, was at the house and Jeff, my brother-in-law, had contacted me to see if I wanted to hike. I certainly wanted to hike but I was at a loss to try to find a place to hike. This seemed odd to me as I know every trail in the Catskills. I wanted somewhere where Brad and Jeff had not hiked and a place that would not be too wet. I thought about the Frick Pond area as there were some trees that needed to be cleared but the mosquitoes there had been unbearable on my last trip. I told Jeff to come to the house at 9:00 AM and thought we could decide at that time. When I got up at 7:00 AM it was extremely foggy so I emailed Jeff and we agreed on 10:00 AM. Jeff arrived a little before 10:00 AM and we discussed the possibilities. We finally decided we would go to the Frick Pound area and hike a loop to Mongaup Pond using the Flynn trail on the way out and the roads to return. We would take some tools with us but I doubted we would use them in this day. We began to get our gear together which made Sheila watch us very closely. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. It was only 60 degrees and I thought the long sleeves might dissuade the mosquitoes. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit well and have been discontinued. We got our gear and Sheila in the car and headed out the DeBruce Road a little after 10:00 AM. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there were two other cars parked in the small lot. Sheila was acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she ran around and headed for the trail. The temperature was 64 degrees and the skies were completely overcast with high humidity. I got my gear ready to go and set my electronics leaving the tools in the car. We headed across the road to get on the Flynn Trail at 10:30 AM. The grass on the Flynn Trail was wet from the rain the day before and from the dew but the trail was otherwise dry. I once again noticed that although the Flynn Trail ascends to the junction with the Big Rock trail, it seemed much easier now that I have recently hiked several 3500 foot peaks. We walked and talked and the time seemed to pass very quickly. At just less than a mile something caught my eye on the left side of the trail. Someone had cleared a space and constructed a ring of rocks. They had added moss, a few statuettes and a cross. I was surprised since this mess had not been there a few days before. I was annoyed that someone felt they could do this on public land which is against all regulations. When I hike, I like nature to be as natural as possible. I want to see as little evidence of human alterations as possible. I am sure whoever did this had the best of intentions but it just shows how inconsiderate people have become. After a brief pause, we continued our hike up the trail.

It didn't seem long at all until we were approaching the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 1.7 miles into the hike. By the time we were at the junction, we had already gained 600 feet and only had a little more elevation gain until we would start downhill. We turned right at the junction on the snowmobile trail and climbed another 120 feet to the highest point on the hike at a little over 1.9 miles. After hitting the high point, most of the rest of the hike was downhill. The Flynn Trail heads directly north from the trailhead but the snowmobile trail wanders first east, then south, the east, then north before finally heading southeast and south toward Mongaup Pond. As we descended from the high point we found evidence that there had been a stream of water flowing down most of the trail. The trail has become highly eroded and difficult to hike. Many of the rocks were covered with a thin film of water making them very slippery. Sheila was wandering off trail and then returning to us never getting very far away. At 3.1 miles we followed the trail as it turned southeast and then east still descending toward the pond. We finally hit a woods road and the trail leveled out. Just before getting to the roads that runs through the campground we passed by a swamp on the left and crossed a few small streams across the trail and some standing water. When we got to the roads, I put Sheila on her leash as I expected the campgrounds to be packed. We turned right and walked out to the main loop road. We turned right and walked south on the loop road. After a short walk, we turned left and walked over to a bench. I took off my pack and was about to put it on the bench until I noticed a brown slime on the bench. I put my pack on the ground and took a few shots of the bench. I took pictures of the pond from the shore including some of the surrounding hills. I stowed the camera and shouldered my pack to walk out to the loop road. After walking a little more than half a mile, we came to the observation deck and found a few people enjoying the view. I took a few more pictures and then we continued on the loop road out to the entrance of the campground. We walked out the access road to begin the walk back to the car. The access road is easy to walk but is always longer than I remember. From the booth at the campground entrance to the intersection with Beech Mountain Road it is only 1.1 miles and on this day it seemed shorter as we pushed the pace. At the intersection we turned right and walked up the hill for .3 miles to the car. One car that had been in the lot was gone but another car had taken its place. It was 1:30 PM and we had spent 3 hours hiking 6.4 miles for an overall average speed of 2.2 mph and a total climb of 950 feet.

On Wednesday, August 29th I decided that I wanted to go hiking despite the forecast for temperatures in the high 80's with high humidity driving the heat index above 90 degrees! I knew I would not be able to start hiking until after XC practice which would put me at the beginning of the hottest part of the day. When I got home at 10:45 AM the temperature on the back porch registered 100 degrees! I knew that the temperature was actually lower and tried to convince Cindy to go hiking at Frick Pond. She refused but Sheila was more than eager to go. I thought we might do the longer loop around Hodge and Frick Ponds which would give Sheila a chance to swim in the cool water. As I began to get ready, Sheila was ready to go and stayed close so that I would not forget her. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my new Keen Targhee II hiking boots on this longer hike to see how they felt. I got my gear together and put Sheila in the back seat and headed out the DeBruce Road at 11:05 AM. After six miles, I turned left on Mongaup Pond Road and stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road when it split. When we arrived at the trailhead, there were two vehicles in the larger parking area. The temperature was 83 degrees when I set my GPS and we crossed the road at 11:30 AM to begin our hike. As we quickly walked along the Flynn Trail, we came to several blowdowns which had not been there a few weeks before. This continued throughout the hike and I knew I would have too make the trip again with tools to get rid of these problems. We turned right on the woods road that was once the extension of Beech Mountain Road and started the long climb toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. It seemed to me we were moving very quickly and I was feeling full of energy. I knew that this was partly due to hiking 3500 foot peaks which made the smooth trail surface and easy grade feel so much easier. At one point I looked up to see a couple walking toward us. I took Sheila by the collar and walked off the trail to allow the others to pass. As long as I was stopped I decided to get a drink and apply some insect repellant as the mosquitoes were swarming around me. At about 1.25 miles we came to the point where I sometimes turn off the trail to visit an interesting clearing. We continued up the trail to the Big Rock Junction at 12:10 PM after hiking 1.7 miles.

We continued along the Flynn Trail and I noticed that the trail needed some serious lopping. At the next trail junction, we stayed to the left to follow the Flynn Trail down to Hodge Pond. The grass on the trail had been mowed which was a big improvement from the tall grass on the first part of the Flynn Trail. As we walked out into the sun, I noticed the apparent increase in temperature. I also noticed there was a breeze which helped offset the sun. As we approached Hodge Pond, I saw two hikers approaching so I leashed Sheila. One of the hikers was Terry Schulz who I have hiked with before and he had a friend with him. We talked briefly before continuing in our opposite directions. We walked out into the field by Hodge Pound and then over to the shore. Sheila immediately went for a swim while I took some pictures of the pond. The sky was blue and there were nice white clouds to increase the contrast with the rest of the sky. I threw a stick for Sheila and she retried it several times. After a drink and a bar, we walked back to the Flynn Trail and continued on the west side of Hodge Pond. The bars I am using now are Quest which have 20 grams of protein and only 4 grams of carbs. The flavors are good but the consistency is the same as most other high protein bars. The trail was wet and muddy in places especially where Open Spaces had decided to remove the grass! At the next trail junction we stayed to the left to take the Flynn Trail up the hill rather than the jeep road around the back of the pond. We passed through the gate and found the trail was a little damper with more muddy spots. The trees and bushes were beginning to close in on the trail and really needed several people with loppers to cut them back. Soon we came to the Quick Lake Trail at Junkyard Junction. It was 12:55 M and we had hiked 3.3 miles which is almost exactly halfway through the hike. We turned left to start the loop back. The trail initially rolls some but eventually descends toward Iron Wheel Junction. The trail was damp and muddy in several places. There were also several new blowdowns.

At 1:35 PM we turned right at Iron Wheel Junction after hiking 4.9 miles. The turn allowed us to stay on the Quick Lake Trail heading for Frick Pond. As we walked, I noticed that the mosquitoes had returned so I stopped and sprayed on more repellant. We came to and crossed the small stream through the woods although I had to walk upstream to cross without getting too wet. Sheila took a moment to swim in the water even though the volume was very low. We walked out of the spruce tunnel and found some more branches on the trail and two blowdowns. I noticed that I was much warmer in the sunlight. This part of the trail was wet and muddy. We passed by the junction with the Big Rock Trail on the left and were soon at the bridge over the Frick Pond Outlet. I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I have taken hundreds of pictures form the bridge but can't resist stopping to take a few more. The beaver dam was still out but it looked like a few sticks had been replaced. I took some pictures of Sheila on the bridge before packing up to leave. We walked up the hill from Frick Pond to Gravestone Junction and continued straight ahead on the Quick Lake Trail. The trail was wet for almost the entire way back to the car and muddy in spots. We passed by the register and continued straight ahead on the woods road back to the car. There was now one other cars in the lot. We were back at the car at 2:10 PM having hiked 6.4 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes with a vertical gain of 900 feet. This was an average of 2.4 mph overall with about 10 minutes of stopped time. The temperature at the car was only 83 degrees. By the time we got back to the house the temperature was 91 degrees.

On Tuesday, August 28th I had not planned to hike as Bryce and I had done Plateau the day before and it tired me out. When I got home from XC practice, Bryce was at the house and wanted to go hiking across the street on Round Top. I thought a few figure 8's would be a good idea and I agreed to go despite the high temperature and oppressive humidity. I started to get ready at about 10:0$% AM when the temperature was already in the high 80's with bright sun. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I wore a new pair of Keen Targhee II boots in a 9W. They seemed a little short but the pair I had in 9.5W were too long. Sheila would not leave my side as I was getting ready as she wanted to make sure she was going too! We left the house at 11:00 AM and crossed the street with Sheila on her leash. We walked to the back of the church to begin the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Sheila responds well to the command "Pull" and the Siberian husky in her makes her well-suited for the job. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash and she bounded ahead of us following her nose. Whenever I pass by the first major blowdown that I cleared on the trail, I am proud that I was able to do the work by myself with only hand tools. At the first trail junction we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead on the steeper path to the viewpoint. We both noticed that it seemed cooler in the shade of the trees but that the humidity was more noticeable. At the lookout I noted that there was no garbage and everything was in order. From the upper part of the lookout the trees block most of the view despite the efforts of the Town of Rockland sawyer crew to cut down some trees. The problem is that getting to the lower lookout is a little difficult for the average person. We followed the trail to the right and started the gentle climb through the woods. The trail was really beautiful and clear of most branches. The trail bed was lined with very green ferns and pretty clearly delineated.

When we reached the next trail junction, we stayed to the right to follow the lower trail around the base of Round Top to the next junction. At the next junction we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the steeper blue trail. This time the slightly steep but short uphill went quickly but I was really sweating. We walked across the summit of Round Top and down the other side which is also a little steep. I noticed that the new boots allowed my toes to hit he front of the toebox on the way down but retying the shoes seemed to help. When we got to the yellow trail, we turned left to follow it to the second trail junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail back to the very first trail junction. At the trail junction we turned around and retraced our steps taking the more gentle path this time. When the yellow trail turned left, we followed it to the next trail junction were we turned right and headed up the blue trail to the summit. As we got to the top Bryce mentioned that he was sorry we didn't bring some water and I agreed. We walked over the top and down the other side to the yellow trail again. We turned right and followed the trail along the base of Round Top. Where the yellow trail turned left, we followed it to the left and down to the lookout. As we walked we could hear the noon siren signaling lunchtime. Although we had talked about doing four loops, we both agreed that two was enough! From the lookout we walked down hill to the first trail junction. We walked out to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down the cemetery hill. We crossed the field and the street to our driveway. It was about 12:15 PM and we had hiked a little less than 2 miles in a little more than an hour.

On Monday, August 27th I was itching to get out after resting for two days. Climbing Dry Brook Ridge from Hill Road on Thursday followed by Giant Ledge and Panther on Friday had left me needing to take a little time off. My grandson Bryce is great fun as a hiking partner and seems to be interested in climbing the 3500 foot peaks or any other mountains around! Although he is only 7 years old, he is in great shape and he is a great conversationalist. In addition, his optimistic outlook is encouraging and helps me when I feel I might just want to turn around. Bryce was available on Monday so I suggested he come and that we could hike Plateau from Notch Lake. I had not done this is some time and it is a little closer than some other choices. The trail from the Notch Lake is one of the steepest climbs around. I knew the temperatures were forecast to rise again this week so I wanted to get an early start. When I got up at 7:00 AM the temperature was already in the high 60's. Bryce arrived at 7:45 AM and I finished getting ready as he ate a little breakfast. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I put on my Keen Glarus hiking boots which fit nicely and are now discontinued. All the while I was getting ready, Sheila was hovering around me making sure I did not forget her. When we left the house at 8:30 AM, the skies were bright and sunny, and the humidity was high. We got our gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and left Livingston Manor. I drove out the DeBruce Road and eventually passed Round Pond. At the end of the road, I turned left on Route 47 and immediately ran into a red light! The construction project to try to keep the Neversink from destroying Rt 47 was still in progress. The wait was short and we were soon back in motion headed toward the Frost Valley YMCA. I continued out Rt 47 to Rt 28 where I turned right and drove east to the turn for Phoenicia. I pointed out to Bryce the turns for Fox Hollow and Woodland Valley and explained how they related to our hikes to Panther and Slide Mountain. Bryce seemed anxious to try hiking Wittenberg! I turned left to head into Phoenicia and then turned left on Rt 214 after crossing the bridge in town. I continued north on Rt 214 and ran into a crew patching the road. I turned into the parking area at Notch Lake although it was almost full of trucks and paving equipment with only one other car. I noticed that I was supposed to pay $6 for a "day use" fee but the flagger said they would come around and put a note on the car if they wanted the payment. I didn't feel too bad since all I was "using" was the parking space. Bryce and I got ready to go and left the parking area at 9:50 AM. I out Sheila on her leash as we crossed the road to follow the Devil's Path up Plateau.

After the first .2 miles the entire hike to the Plateau lookout and the plateau is all up. There are a few switchbacks but they don't do much to help. There isn't much of a view on the way up except in two or three areas where there are slides. We could hear the water in the reek that runs parallel to the trail but couldn't see much of it as we ascended. After a short ascent, Bryce climbed on a big rock and Sheila hopped up beside him. I took some shots before we started to tackle the trail in earnest. It was already getting warmer and the humidity was increasing. I was seating profusely but most of it was from the physical exertion. The trail is shaded in most places and there was a slightly breeze which help. There are some Stine steps on the lower ascent but much of the trail is eroded and covered in gavel which slips underfoot. As we neared the top, the trail leveled out some and there were a few springs where Sheila could get a drink. The final ascent was steeper with plenty of large rocks to scramble over which Bryce enjoyed. We finally arrived at the area just below the lookout. There is a vertical ascent that Sheila and Bryce both Made without a problem. I took off my pack and put it and my poles on top. I was able to work my way up but not without some difficulty. The views from the lookout were good even if they were a little hazy. We could see Hunter and the Hunter Ski area. There were also views up and down the notch. I took some picture and then had Bryce and Sheila sit on the viewpoint while I took pictures. It was 11:20 AM and we had taken 90 minutes to do the 1.25 mile ascent. This was slow but the average grade was over 25% with some section approaching 40%! We got a drink and then continued on the Devil's Path toward the summit of Plateau which was 1.9 miles away. We got back on the trail and headed along the plateau which is mostly flat with a few undulations. In about 5 minutes we were at the next lookout looking north toward Kaaterskill High Peak and Round Top. I took some shots of the mountains and another of Bryce perched on a rock. When we returned to the trail, we found a blowdown which seemed to have been across the trail for some time but had not been cleared. It could have easily been cut back with hand tools but no one had bothered. This seems to be the case with more and more Catskill trails!

The trail was a little muddy as we walked toward the summit. My intent was to walk passed the Warner Creek Trail to the summit. If we had time, I thought we might walk to the viewpoint toward Sugarloaf. From here we would turn around and retrace our route. After walking about 1.5 miles from the lookout, we came to the Warner Creek Trail on the right. One sign said "Mount Tremper Fire Tower 10.4 miles". I decided this might an interesting car shuttle at some point since the trail head for Mount Tremper is just outside Phoenicia! We passed the turn off and continued about .5 miles to the highest point on the trail. I decided we needed to turn around at this point as I needed to get back for XC practice. We got a drink and a snack before starting back. On the way back I noticed the temperature seemed warmer than ever. Bryce and I were both quite on the return trip as we tried to walk as quickly as possible. I don't know what Bryce was thinking about but I was contemplating the long descent from the lookout. I hoped we could go down more quickly than we had ascended but I knew safety was the primary concern. When we got to the lookout, I noticed that the view was even more hazy than before. I took off my pack and lowered myself down the vertical rock face. I had Bryce lower my pack and poles. He was eager to descend as he likes the rock scrambles and I positioned myself to help but none was needed. From there we tried to hurry down the steep descent just because there isn't much to see. The top part went rather quickly but the steeper sections were miserable. Both Bryce and I slipped several times. I never fell but came very close to several nasty falls. I know I could not do these descents without poles! A few times my right knee let me know that I should be careful about my foot placement. I was very glad when the trail leveled for the final time and we walked out to Rt 214. We crossed the road and were back at the car by 2:45 PM having covered 6.3 miles in 5 hours with and elevation gain of 2170 feet. These times tell me I need to get in better shape to hike the 35's!

On Friday, August 24th, I had a hiking date with my grandson Bryce. When I got up in the morning, I was definitely feeling the effects of hiking Dry Brook Ridge the day before with Cindy. We had tried to hurry the return trip to avoid the rain and this had taken a toll on my feet and Achilles tendons. I had planned to take Bryce to Twin Mountain on the Devil's Path but began to think of taken a much shorter, flatter and local hike. Although Bryce was at the house by 8:30 AM, it always seems to take us a while to get ready. I noticed that the temperature was 59 degrees and contemplated wearing long sleeves. In the end, I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I put on my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit nicely and are now discontinued. I also wore a light windbreaker that I new I could take off at any time. All the while I was getting ready, Sheila was hovering around me making sure I did not forget her. When we left the house at 9:30 AM, the skies were bright and sunny, the humidity was low and there was a slight breeze. We got our gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and left Livingston Manor. I drove out the DeBruce Road and eventually passed Round Pond. At the end of the road, I turned left on Route 47 and immediately ran into a red light! The construction project to try to keep the Neversink from destroying Rt 47 was still in progress. The wait was short and we were soon back in motion headed toward the Frost Valley YMCA. As I drove I began to think about getting back from Twin in time for XC practice and wondered if this was the day for the long trip. I decided that if there weren't too many cars at the parking area for Giant Ledge we would hike to Giant Ledge and Panther. I had two cell phone apps that help spot the peaks you are viewing and this would give me a good chance to try them out. Panther Mountain itself has limited views but to get there from Route 47 the trail passes over Giant ledge which was a great view of Panther Mountain, the entire Burroughs Range and the valleys below. There were two cars parked at the Biscuit Brook trailhead and about six at the Slide Mountain trailhead. When we arrived at the parking area on Route 47 at 10:05 AM there were only two cars parked there so I pulled in to park and explained the change to Bryce. He didn't mind at all and neither did Sheila. We got started pretty quickly by crossing the road and headed out on the trail at 10:15 AM. A check of the temperature on the car showed 68 degrees so I ditched my jacket but Bryce elected to keep his on. The trail was pretty wet from the rains the previous few days and there were definitely areas of deep mud. I let Sheila off the leash almost immediately after crossing the road and she was behaving by staying on the trail. As we crossed the bridge over the small stream, there was a good volume of water running in the stream. Bryce and Sheila were setting a good pace but I was feeling the effects of the day before! I forgot how annoying the many rocks that cover the trail to the turnoff can be! In addition, there are several short climbs and each one seems to be the last. Despite the fact that I had been hiking, I noticed that making good time up the climbs was tiring although I enjoyed the elevation gain. We finished the sixth short climb and arrived at the turn to Giant Ledge and Panther at about 10:50 AM. I didn't feel like we were going slow but it took 35 minutes to walk the .75 miles from the road, one of our slower times. We turned left to head toward Giant Ledge.

The trail after the turn was also wet and muddy in spots but we made use of the stepping stones along the way. When the climb began I pushed my pace as best I could to keep up with Bryce and Sheila. I pointed out to Bryce some areas where thee are limited views which are better in the winter. When we got to the last field of rocks with the a rocky climb after it, Bryce was impressed but really liked it. It seemed he was trying to take the more difficult paths while I was just trying to survive. We climbed up the last rocky ascent and walked to the first lookout arriving at about 11:25 AM after the 1.5 mile climb. There were two women relaxing on the first viewpoint so I leashed Sheila to a tree. I got out my camera to take some pictures as the skies were mostly clear and full of puffy white clouds. I took variety of pictures and then got out my iPhone to test out the Peak Finder and Peakvisor apps. Both apps produce an outline of the peaks visible from your viewpoint by using the GPS coordinates and compass heading of your phone. Peak Finder seemed to be a little office can be due to the inaccuracies of the GPS system and the compass declination. Peakvisor produces a transparent outline which it overlays on the view from your camera. The overlay can be adjusted so that it matches the view more accurately. Both apps need some instructions and a way to filter out peaks of certain heights and distances. They both showed Mount Frisell, the highest point in Connecticut, which is out there somewhere but certainly too far away to see! I liked Peakvisor a little better. I found that the "bump" visible between Slide and Cornell is Friday. As I suspected the most prominent peaks from Panther eastward are those found on the Devil's Path. The database for these apps must be pretty big because many smaller hills were listed. We got a drink and were ready to leave when I could hear other hikers approaching. Two teenage boys appeared to take in the view. I talked to them and found out they lived on Long Island less than a mile from where we lived when I taught there! I put Sheila on her leash and we left the first lookout to go back to the main trail along the ledges. Sheila is fearless about heights and sometimes scares me a little when she walks right to the edge of the cliffs and looks down! As we hiked along the ledges, we stopped at a few more of the major lookouts but I limited my photography as the views do not change much. Sheila walked to the edge of most of the lookouts. I decided that although I was tired we would go over to Panther which pleased Bryce. We descended into the col between Giant Ledge and Panther, walked flat for a little while and then started the climb up Panther. Bryce loved the descent through the rocks and I pointed out a spot where I had bushwhacked down below the ledges several times. Parts of the Panther trail get a little steep at times but there always seems to be a switchback or flatter area. The trail was mostly dry with a few muddy spots and some slippery rocks. I seemed to me that it had gotten warmer and more humid but that may just have been me being very tired. We continued up the trail with Sheila checking out some of the paths that lead to limited viewpoints along the way. We stopped at one and walked out to a rock which had a good view of Giant Ledge and Slide with only a few small trees in the way. I took some pictures before we went back to the main trail. We were soon up the steeper climbs with only a final, short ascent of Panther to go. We met a group of three Asian hikers headed down the mountain. We acknowledged each other. I was surprised that they all were wearing long sleeves! The last part of the ascent on Panther isn't too long or steep but it was all I could manage. Along the way we had to avoid some more mud. As we passed the lookout just before the summit, I saw a pack on the rock. Sheila went to inspect which is when I saw a camper in a hammock on the lookout! I am not surprised much any more about how inconsiderate people are but this did cause me to wonder! There is no explaining these actions except to understand that people are only concerned about themselves. We arrived at the summit of Panther at 1:05 PM after hiking 3.2 miles. The view from the summit has been improved by the removal of some of the trees blocking the view. I took a couple of shots of the scenery. Bryce and I ate some lunch and got a drink. We walked back to the viewpoint just below the summit and I leashed Sheila to a tree so she would not disturb the person in the hammock. We ascended the rock which acts as the lookout and I took a few shots of the scenery. We descended the rock and went back to where Sheila was tethered. I released here and consulted my watch. I knew we had to make good time on the way down and limit the number of stops. Bryce and Sheila were very energetic as we turned back to head down the mountain.

As we descended Panther, Sheila alerted and I saw one woman headed toward us with her dog on a leash. We spoke and she asked me for the distance to the summit and how she would recognize it. I gave her the information and we headed off in opposite directions. I tried to keep a good pace but found the descent almost as difficult as the climb up! It didn't help that Bryce and Sheila were bouncing from rock to rock! We finally made it down to the col and negotiated the muddy areas. Just before the climb back up to Giant Ledge, we stopped to get a drink. As we made the ascent, Bryce was talking freely and I asked him to suspend his questions until we made it to the top. We did meet a dog coming toward us with his owner right behind. She apologized and, in this case, everything was OK. When we had finally made the ascent to Giant Ledge I was happy because I knew that everything else was down or flat. We met a group of people hiking and visiting the various lookouts and they asked about the viewpoints. I gave them some information knowing that there could be more groups along the way as Giant Ledge is very popular. As we passed the first lookout, we could hear a large number of people talking. We finally got to the descent off the Ledge and I could see a young couple ahead of us coming up the rocky climb. They seemed to be arguing about which way to go which was funny since there is no "right" way. We passed them and continued down the rocky slope. We met two young ladies headed up the trail and I directed Sheila off the trail and told her to sit until they passed us. The flatter portion of the trail seemed to last a long time as we used the stepping stones to avoid the mud as much as possible. We made the right turn at the trail and started down the numerous rocky descents. By this time my feet were screaming and the descents were agony. As we neared the bridge over the small stream, we met two young men coming up the trail. As soon as we neared the bridge, Sheila ran toward the stream and jumped in to cool herself and get a drink. I let her have a few minutes before calling her back up to the trail. We walked out to near the trail register where I out her on her leash. We walked out to the road and crossed to the parking lot which was now full with some cars parked along the road. We were back at the car at 3:45 PM having covered 6.4 miles in 5 hours and 30 minutes including numerous stops adding up to just over and hour. The elevation gain was 2150 feet. I was satisfied at the accomplishment but knew I needed at least a day to recover!

On Thursday, August 23rd, I had some time to hike on what was forecast to be a beautiful, sunny day with highs near 80 degrees. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she said "Yes"> We decided to go to Margaretville and hike to the viewpoint on Dry Brook Ridge from Hill Road. I returned from my men's Bible study group at 8:30 AM and wanted to get going immediately. I began to get ready but somehow we didn't leave Livingston Manor until just after 10:00 AM. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I put on my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit nicely and are now discontinued. All the while I was getting ready, Sheila was hovering around me making sure I did not forget her. When we left the house, the skies were bright and sunny, the humidity was low and there was a slight breeze. We got our gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and left Livingston Manor. I knew Cindy wanted to avoid the back roads as much as possible so I headed toward Roscoe on State Route 17. I got off at the Roscoe exit and headed north toward Downsville on Route 206. The road was in good shape and we were soon at the Pepacton Reservoir. Here I turned right onto Route 30 and continued to the Shavertown Bridge. I turned right on BWS 8 and followed it until it became BWS 9. Where the road changed to BWS 10 at the intersection with Barkaboom Road, I turned left. I followed BWS 10 until it changed to Southside Road just outside Margaretville. I continued on Southside Road to Huckleberry Brook Road where I turned right. Shortly after the turn I turned left on Hill Road and 1.3 miles to the parking pulloff on the right. The temperature was 68 degrees when I parked and there was a breeze blowing. The skies were still blue with some bright sun and puffy white clouds. As we were getting ready another car pulled into the lot and a couple began to get ready to hike the same trail we were doing. We wanted to get ahead of the other couple so that I did not have to keep Sheila on her leash so we started off at a very quick pace. We were both surprised that the trail was soaked with standing water at the beginning which is something I had never seen before. We crossed the road and began our hike at 11:00 AM. The first part of the hike is a nice wide trail that ascends through a red pine plantation. The ascent continues for about 1.9 miles when the trail levels off after gaining 1130 feet. I began to warm up immediately because of the climb and also found I was a little winded from the lack of hiking Fast and on steeper trails. From the sound of Cindy's breathing she was having a similar reaction. As we walked, there were several blowdowns across the trail from near the bottom until the trail leveled. We moved some branches off the trail but others required tools to remove. It was also obvious that there had been a lot of rain on the trail as there were huge piles of pine needles in several spots. The trail had drained nicely and was almost dry on the steeper grades. The sun through the pines was beautiful but the breeze kept the temperature down and the low humidity completed the almost perfect conditions. After passing through the pines, we entered a predominantly hardwood forest before passing again through some pines. Sheila seemed to delight in racing away from me and then careening headlong back toward me. There were a lot of animal tracks along the trail and some crossing it and Sheila was busy investigating these tracks. After 1.9 miles, the trail leveled off and turned almost 90 degrees from northeast to southeast. We were glad the climbing was done at least for a few minutes. We walked across a flat area dipping down a little to the junction with the blue Dry Brook Ridge Trail at 2.3 miles. We stopped and we got a much needed drink and a bar.

As we turned right on this trail, I noticed that all the signs were in poor condition and had incorrect distances. One sign that was broken in half said the Hill Road parking was 1.7 miles away. I had to laugh! I expect distances to vary some but .5 miles is a pretty big gap. Another sign stated it was 5.5 miles to Millbrook Road which is pretty close but also indicated that the lean-to was 3.3 miles away. This is about .8 miles short! We started along the ridge trail which follows the edge until about 2.7 miles where it veers away and heads a little to the east and northeast. Initially the trail ascends a small bump and then descends the other side before leveling off for a while. The level area of the trail was very wet with standing water and mud and we had to negotiate around several of these areas. This would continue to be a problem for most of the rest of the way to the lookouts. The first two ascents were slippery from the rain and mud but soon we were climbing the last of three short ascents to the area of the lookout. The total elevation gain from the trail junction to the lookouts is 285 feet. From 2.95 miles to the lookout the trail gains just under 200 feet in elevation and begins to follow the edge of the escarpment turning almost due south. Just short of the lookouts Cindy decided she was not going to go any further. I knew it was less than a quarter mile but I also knew it was no use to try to convince her. I was very disappointed as Sheila and I headed off toward the viewpoint. The brush, briars and nettles had been overgrowing the trail in many spots but we had to push our way through the brush to get to the spur trail to the viewpoint. When we arrived at the viewpoint at 1:10 PM, the breeze was blowing slightly and the sky was blue with puffy white clouds. The Pepacton Reservoir was clearly visible and the view showed the high volume of water. Everything was very green I got out my camera to take some pictures including a few of Sheila posed on the rocks. I took some shots in all directions and zoomed in on the reservoir. I got a drink and then started the walk back to the car which was all flat or downhill. In a short distance I met the couple who had started after us and seemed glad they were at the lookout. A little further on I found Cindy sitting on a rock and she joined us for the trip back. The trip back to the trail junction went more quickly than I had expected but avoiding the small ponds along the way was annoying. We began to notice that the skies were getting darker but I knew the forecast had not mentioned even the possibility of rain. At that moment it began to sprinkle, the it began to rain. I decided to put on my pack cover and Cindy donned a light rain jacket. I never wear rainware unless it OS cold since I would rather be bathed in the fresh rain rather than my own sweat. Sometimes putting on the pack cover "causes" the rain to stop but this time it had the opposite effect. It started to pour! We didn't bother to stop again at the trail junction but simply turned left to head back down the trail to the parking area. The skies looked bluer up ahead but it seemed the rain clouds were following us. Despite the danger of descending quickly we both set very quick pace using our poles to maximum advantage. It wasn't too long until the rain abated and then stopped but by this time I was very wet an the vegetation along the trail was also soaked. The water on the plants transferred directly to my pants and boots as the trail desperately needed trimming. We entered the red pines as the skies began to cloud up again. I could see the road ahead and hoped the rain would hold off but it poured one more time before we got to the car. We arrived back at the car at 2:45 PM. We had hiked 6.5 miles in 3 hours and 40 minutes with an elevation gain of 1640 feet. The trip down was about 30 minutes shorter than the trip up! I decided to use the same route home that I had used on the way out. I had planned to stop to take some pictures of the reservoir but I was just too tired to do that and drove straight home.

On Monday, August 20thI wanted to do a 3500 foot peak with my grandson Bryce. We had already hiked Slide Mountain, the highest peak in the Catskills, and I thought hiking the second highest would be appropriate. I had planned to hike this peak last Wednesday but we visited a series of waterfalls instead which proved to be quite interesting. Hunter has a fire tower at the summit which is necessary as there are no views from the ground. I decided we would use the trail from Spruceton which is relatively easy and has a nice view from the John Robb lean-to along the way. The forecast was for early morning clouds which were supposed to clear by the late morning and there was no rain predicted. Bryce arrived around 7:30 AM and had a little more breakfast as I got ready to go. The temperature was in the high 50's as I was getting ready so Bryce and I both decided to wear light windbreakers. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I put on my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit nicely and are now discontinued. We got our gear in the car and got Sheila and Bryce in the backseat. Bryce insisted on taking a pair of poles which I didn't think he would need but I knew he wanted to be equipped like his grandfather. I had wanted to leave as early as possible but we didn't leave Livingston Manor until around 8:30 AM with the temperature in the lower 60's. I drove out DeBruce Road all the way to the end and the turned left onto Route 47. We immediately ran into the road crews who were trying to restore the right lane of the road which had been washed away by the high waters of the Neversink River. The wait wasn't long and we were soon passing by the Frost Valley YMCA. I continued on Rt 47 passing the trailheads at Biscuit Brook, Slide Mountain and Giant Ledge/Panther. There were a few cars at each spot but they didn't look very crowded. At Route 28 I turned right and drove a few miles before turning left and heading north on Route 42 toward Lexington. We passed the parking area for Halcott and I turned right on Spruceton Road to head out to the parking area for Hunter. I drove out Spruceton Road and turned left into the parking area. There was only one car as we got ready to hike with the temperature at 62 degrees. The cool temperature and low humidity seemed ideal for a hike. I set my Suunto Traverse GPS watch and my Garmin 64st handheld unit and we were ready to go.

The initial part of the trail has a gentle grade and parallels Hunter Brook which had quite a bit of water. The trail crosses the brook on a bridge at .5 miles and shortly after that makes a more than 90 degree turn as the grade begins to increase. I pointed out the well-defined head path at the turn and told Bryce that there was a bushwhack to Rusk Mountain in that direction. I wondered how well defined it remained further toward the summit. As we made the turn and the grade increased the trail got a little wetter but there still wasn't much mud or water. There were a few blowdowns across the trail which looked recent. I told Bryce to look to our right to see if he could spot the Westkill Ridge through the trees. It was hard to see much and when we could get a glimpse there was a lot of haze hanging on the mountains. I took off my windbreaker as I was getting warm but Bryce kept his on. I set a steady but slow pace and had to slow Bryce down several times. He is capable of doing the entire hike at an accelerated pace but I am not! The sun was out and the temperature was beginning to rise as we hiked up the trail. As we hiked Sheila was following animal tracks in many different directions. The trail was a little longer than I remembered but we made the saddle between Hunter and the Rusk ridge at 10:50 AM after hiking 1.7 miles. I contemplated the fact that we were half way through the trip as far as mileage went but I knew that the hardest part was yet to come. The trail from the turn to the summit averages a 12% grade but this includes spots where trail levels off. Some pieces of the ascent are around 20%! We made the right turn up the mountain and I immediately noticed that the grade increased. In a short distance we began to encounter water flowing down the trail and areas where the trail was highly eroded from the recent rains. We kept a good pace which had me sweating and breathing a little more than I had been. We continued to climb and came to the area just below the spring which was wet from the overflow. The spur trail to the lean-to was a little father away than I remembered and when we came to it I decided to stick to the original plan and continue to the summit. At 11:30 AM we passed the trail to the left that goes to the Colonel's Chair, the top of the Hunter Mountain ski complex. We had hiked 2.5 miles and still had about a mile and 450 feet of elevation to go! Even though we had stopped several times there were no signs of anyone following us on the trail. Bryce pointed out an almost perfect spider web just under the sign and I took a shot before continuing on the trail.

The final mile has a few spots where the trail levels off and a few where there are some sustained climbs. All of the flatter places had standing water and a lot of mud. We walked on the side of the trail as much as we could to stay out of the mud. At one point Bryce pointed out some colorful mushroom on the side of the trail. I took a few pictures of them and also of the trail which was now passing through pine trees as we were above 3500 feet. We passed by a small lookout on the left since I knew better things were to come. We continued on our way hiking the last ascent which was a little steeper and longer than I remembered. Bryce decided to challenge Sheila to a race to the top and they were off. They waited for me at the top and we continued on to the tower clearing. As we approached the tower clearing, I could see there was no one at the cabin but there was one hiker at the top of the tower just under the cab. We walked to the cabin where I dropped my pack by the picnic table. It was noon and we had hiked 3.5 miles. Since I had forgotten a leash for Sheila I connected her to a hiking pole to give Bryce more control. I took my camera and walked to the tower and started to ascend. I could tell when I was just above the treeline as a stiff breeze made me feel very cool. I stopped just below the other hiker and we exchanged a few comments. There was much less haze and clouds than I had expected and the views were very good. I took quite a few pictures in all directions. I took some of the ski slopes and a few of Bryce and Sheila below me. The other hiker and I began to descend together and I walked over to the picnic table. Bryce wanted to climb the tower so I made him promise to be careful and let him do it by himself. I knew that if we went up together Sheila would follow us all the way to the top as she is fearless about ascended and descending steep stairs and seems to love heights! Bryce climbed very deliberately and carefully until he was as far up as he could go. I took a few pictures of him at the top and a few more of him on the way down. Bryce walked back over to the picnic table and we ate some lunch and had a drink. Another hiker arrived and explained she had come up from the ski area. The first male hiker was from Salt Point in Duchess County while the woman was from White Plains! We talked for a while and another group of four hikers arrived and got their views from the tower. After talking to this group for a few minutes Bryce and I decided to leave. We said "Goodbye" and started back down the mountain at 12:30 PM. I thought about doing the loop through the Devil's Acre but decided that trail might be too wet and dangerous. As we started down, we noticed Bryce had forgotten his poles. He ran to get them and it seemed he was back as son as he had left!

We didn't get very far down the trail before I could hear a group approaching. This group was eight girls and a counselor from a Jewish girls camp. We said "Hello" and they asked how much further. I assured them it was much less than a mile. We walked a little farther and another group from the same camp approached asking for the same information. After answering, we continued on the trail avoiding the numerous ponds and mud pits and being careful to watch our step on the loose and wet gravel and rocks. As we approached the trail to the ski lifts, the woman we met at the summit caught up to us and a family group approached. The kids in the group were whining about hiking and I hoped they would pass by quickly. I had to grad Sheila each time because I had forgotten a leash. Once the family passed I let her go and we continued down the slope. To our surprise another member of the group, a teenage boy, came running up the trail toward me. Sheila took exception and barked at him but we passed by quickly. Soon we came to the spur trail to the lean-to and I decided we had to make the visit to let Bryce see the great views. We turned left to visit the lean-to and the lookout over true Spruceton Valley. Bryce enjoyed the fact that the trail squeezes between some rocks and then passes under and overhang. When we got to the lean-to, I dropped my pack to walk out to the lookout. I noticed some sawdust and several carpenter ants apparently working to destroy the lean-to! The view from the lookout was beautiful and I took pictures of the valley. I also snapped some shots of Westkill and Rusk. I had Bryce and Sheila sit on the rocks and took a few photographs of them. After returning to the lean-to for a few more pictures, I shouldered my pack and we headed back out to the main trail. We turned left and carefully made my way down the wet and eroded trail meeting a few more people on the way down. We were soon at the left turn where we picked up the pace down the wide woods road. On the descent to the sharp left turn we met a father an son hiking up with backpacking packs. I told them the lean-to was clear and they said that was where they were headed. We made the left turn and eventually crossed the bridge. I took a few pictures of the brook and some small "falls" along the way. Sheila alerted again and a man approached us pushing mountain bike. I was going to ask what he was doing but decided to continue down the trail. We were back at the parking area at 2:30 PM after hiking 7.1 miles in 4 hours and 35 minutes with an elevation gain of 2040 feet. Our total stopped time was 55 minutes.

On Saturday, August 17th the weather appeared unsettled and I didn't want to go too far from home. My brother-in-law Jeff wanted to get in some hiking so I suggested he come to Livingston Manor. My plan was to go across the street and hike on Round Top perhaps doing some light maintenance that I knew should be done. Jeff agreed to be at my house at 10:00 Am so I got some chores done before he arrived. Jeff arrived a few minutes after 10:00 AM with a complete array of trail maintenance tools! We went inside so that I could get ready. Sheila had rushed out to greet Jeff who is now considered part of her pack and she was reluctant to come back inside. I got ready quickly so that we could get to work. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top and a pair of RailRiders hiking pants. These are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I put on my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit nicely and are now discontinued. I decided just to carry the tools and forego the pack and hiking poles. Jeff brought his Fiskars loppers and I brought my Fiskars axe and Silky Sugowaza saw. I put Sheila on her leash as we walked out the driveway and crossed the street. We headed for the road behind the church and walked up the hill toward the trailhead. This hill is steep but short and the walk is quite aerobic. Sheila helped me by pulling on her leash. We turned left at the trailhead onto the trail system. I released Sheila from her leash since she always stays close especially on these trails. At the first trail junction we turned right and walked up the gently sloping woods road. Along the way we cut some branches and removed some that were already lying on the trail. At the next trail junction we continued straight ahead toward the summit on the blue trail. This trail had more branches on the ground and more leaning into the trail. We arrived at a larger white birch that I knew was down on the trail. Jeff lopped a few branches and I made one cut through the tree trunk. I removed the upper part of the tree and Jeff pivoted the other section off the trail. We cut a few more branches as we worked our way to the top of the hill and across the summit. We walked down the other side of the hill which was steep and slippery from the rain. When we reached the lower yellow trail junction, we turned right and walked downhill toward the lookout. There wasn't much work to do on this part of the trail. We did stop at the upper lookout and found we could get a limited view through the trees. After a few minutes, we continued down the trail to the first trail junction. The skies appeared to be growing cloudy but I decided we should turn around and walk a small loop to make sure that part of the trail was clear. We walked back up the hill to the viewpoint and followed the yellow trail to the right around the base of Round Top. At the next trail junction we turned right and followed the trail downhill on the old woods road as the skies grew darker. By the time we arrived at the first trail junction, the rain was beginning to fall. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash. As we walked down the cemetery hill, the rain began top fall harder and it was clear we were going to get soaked. We walked across the field by the church and down the driveway to the house. We headed inside to dry off. Jeff decided he was going to head home so we said goodbye. By the time he had reached the end of the driveway, the rain had stopped and the sun was shining brightly.

On Wednesday, August 15th we finished visiting and taking pictures at Platte Clove and headed west on Route 23A toward Prattsville. Just east of Prattsville I turned right on Route 23 and rove about a mile north to Red Falls on the Batavia Kill. The falls is easily visible from the road and impossible to miss even when the water level is low. On this day the water level was high and the falls were roaring but the water was a little muddy. I pulled over at the side of the road to park even though the signs indicated no parking was allowed. Once again Cindy elected to stay in the car which was fortunate as there is no alternative parking area. I grabbed my camera and Bryce and I walked back down the road and hopped over the guard rail. Decided to leave Sheila in the car as the roaring water made me nervous! We made our way down an informal path to the edge of the Batavia Kill. There are several levels of rock ledges next to the falls that allow viewing and they were all relatively dry. Bryce voluntarily decided to sit on some rocks as I worked my way down the ledges and downstream until I was almost beyond the bottom of the falls. I decided to take a 40 second video to record the power of the falls. After taking the video, I took some still shots and then worked my way back upstream taking a few pictures as I went including a few of Bryce. At the top of the falls I took a few more shots and then we headed back to the car. I drove west on Route 30 through Grand Gorge, Roxbury and Margaretville and continued on Route 30 toward Downsville. We crossed the Pepacton Reservoir noting that it was filling nicely from the recent rains. I turned left on Route 206 and drove to Roscoe where I picked up State Route 17 for the final get of the journey home. We were back in Livingston Manor at 4:30 PM having left at 9:00 AM. Bryce said he though our 7.5 hour adventure was great!

On Wednesday, August 15th we finished visiting and taking pictures at Kaaterskill Falls and headed west on Route 23A toward Hunter. We stopped in Tannersville to refuel the car and ourselves and then continued on Route 23A. Just outside of Tannersville, I turned left on Bloomer Road and then right on County Route 16 or Platte Clove Road. I continued driving passing the Dale Road and Prediger Road trailheads and the Catskill Community. Just after this I pulled over at the side of the road by the Platte Clove Preserve. Parking is no longer allowed here but Cindy was not interested in hiking anymore so she agreed to stay in the car. Unattended vehicles should be parked in the DEC lot about .2 miles east of the Preserve on the left hand side. I grabbed my camera and Bryce and I headed down the Preserve Waterfalls Trail which ends at the bottom of Plattekill Falls. The trail was wet and muddy but we were used to that by now. A short distance form the top the trail turned sharply right. A lookout had been cut out at this point and there was a beautiful view down the clove. There were also some signs that explained the geology and human history of the area. I took pictures of the clove and of Bryce reading the signs. We then followed the trail as it went through some switchbacks down to the creek. The trail had been redone and was good most of the way. The final descent to the stream was a little steep and very wet. I got out the camera and took some photographs of the falls which, like the others on this day, was flowing with a good volume. We walked back up the trail to the cabin and then started out on the Long Path toward the kingpost bridge.

After hiking a short distance, we turned left and followed a path down to the streambed. Again, the last few feet were very steep so I asked Bryce to stay higher on the bank. I worked my way down to a rock shelf that jutted out into stream and carefully positioned myself to take pictures of Old Mill Falls. The falls has two steps which drop about 16 feet. Upstream from the falls is the kingpost bridge that crosses the stream. The lighting was such that I could take pictures with a stetting that allowed me to soften the water flowing over the falls. I took some wider angle shots and then zoomed in on the falls. I hoped some of the shots would show the "softer water and the bridge in the background. I carefully turned around on the rock and was surprised to see how close I was to the top of Plattekill Falls. These falls drop more than 50 feet onto jagged rocks. I took a few shots and then returned to Bryce. We walked back up to the marked trail and then back to the car. I had at least three more waterfalls in mind in Delaware County but decided the last one we would visit would be Red Falls just east of Prattsville. I retraced my route to Route 23A and drove west through Hunter toward Prattsville.

On Wednesday, August 15th we finished visiting and taking pictures at Diamond Notch Falls and headed north on Route 42 toward Lexington. In Lexington a highway crew was working on the beige but we only had to wait a few minutes. I turned right on Route 23A and headed toward Hunter and Tannersville. Both towns were moderately busy but we passed through both without trouble. After driving through Haines Falls we began to descend the hill toward where Spruce Creek crosses the road. I wanted to park in the area just above this so that we could hike up to the falls from the bottom rather than down from the top. This way we could also take in Bastion Falls which is adjacent to the bridge over the creek on Route 23A. When we arrived at the parking area, we found it overflowing with cars so I turned around and headed back up the hill. I turned right on North Lake Road which leads to North-South Lake Campgrounds. I watched for Laurel House Road and turned right to drive down to the newer upper parking area. This parking area was also full but I was able to find a spot. I thought perhaps we would just visit the viewing platform to see what the falls looked like and then leave due to the number of people that were visiting the falls. We got out of the car and immediately noticed that it was both hot and humid! We began our walk following the signs on the wide paths which are covered in small gravel over a hard base. The paths have been constructed to have a very gradual grade and are ADA compliant. On the way to the platform I could see that the bridge to the other side of the creek had been completed. Previously hikers would have to pick their way across the stream which would have been almost impossible on this day given the high water level. The only other choice was to park in the Schutt Road lot but that would mean being unable to access the platform. Soon we were at the viewing platform and I was surprised there were so few people there. I attached Sheila to a tree by her leash, put down my pack and took out the camera. I walked down to the platform and got a great view of the upper falls which had so much volume that the water was shooting off into mid-air. I took pictures of the falls from several angles and with different settings. I also took some pictures down the clove with the Devil's Path to the west and Kaaterskill High Peak across from the falls. After taking the pictures, I put the camera back in my pack and retried Sheila. We began to walk up the trail turning right at the junction so that we could cross the creek on the bridge. I had made the decision to hike down to the lower falls!

As I crossed the bridge I could see some irresponsible people wading and swimming in the creek below. The DEC has done a good job of putting up fencing, posting signs and installing steps but it is impossible to eliminate the stupidity of some people. Visitors are still being rescued from the falls area, some with serious injuries, because they ignore warnings and lack common sense. After crossing the bridge, we started out on the blue Escarpment Trail which is a more typical Catskill trail with rocks and roots. It was very wet and muddy and all the rocks and roots were slippery. There were people walking ahead of us and some coming toward us. Most understood that it is best to walk to the right but a few did not know this "rule". I was not surprised but had to shake my head that so many people were wearing sandals or some other inappropriate footwear. Two girls passed us in what looked like new, white tennis shoes! I had Sheila on her leash and she was behaving very well obeying all my commands. There aren't too many other dogs but as we were hiking a dog did approach us with the owner right behind apologizing for not catching her dog in time. I remained quiet but wanted to point out that the rules in this area REQUIRED that dogs be leashed at all times! We continued on the Escarpment trail gaining a little elevation until we were about .15 miles from the creek. At this point the yellow spur trail to the falls turned off to the right and we started down the trail which continued to be wet and muddy. In some spots water ran down the trail and in others smalls reams crossed the trail. There was a steady stream of people coming up and a number, like us, headed down the path. We had been headed east but eventually the trail turned almost 180 degrees to head west.

Somewhere in this area we began to encounter the stone steps that had been installed until eventually the trail was all steps. Almost a mile from the creek another spur trail turned right. The trail was narrow, slippery and hugged the rock on the right. It lead out to the area at the bottom on the upper falls and the top of the lower drop. We walked out to the end of this path where quite a few people were gathered. The spray was coming off the upper falls and being blown by the wind so that it was getting us pretty wet. I took a couple of quick shots but the camera lese was almost immediately covered in spray! We packed up and went back to look for Cindy who had not followed us out. She was not at the junction so we turned right and began to descend the steps to the foot of the lower falls. On the way down I spotted her sitting on a rock waiting for us. I gave Sheila's leash to Cindy and got the camera out of my pack. I cleaned and dried the lens and then walked out to the viewing area at the base of the falls. There was less spray here so I took pictures of both the upper and lower falls and then each individually. I played around with angles and settings until I had enough shots. I noticed there were people in the pictures because they had walked beyond the warning signs that tell visitors to walk no farther! I put the camera away and we started back to the car. I started up the steps with great energy which ran out near the top of the first "flight". We paused at the top and then I allowed Sheila to assist me by pulling me up the remaining steps and the rest of the trail. From the lowest point at the base of the falls to the junction with the Escarpment rail is only .8 miles but the elevation gain is 600 feet. We passed a few people headed toward us and a few people who had paused on the side of the trail to catch their breath. Initially a large group had trailed us up from the lower falls but they disappeared the higher we climbed. We followed the Escarpment Trail back to the bridge and crossed the creek. I took a few shots of the bridge and a few downstream on Spruce Creek. We then walked back to the car to get ready for a drive to Platte Clove to take a look at Plattekill Falls and Old Mill Falls.

On Wednesday, August 15th we finished visiting and taking pictures at Halcott Falls on Route 42 and headed north to Spruceton. I turned right on Spruceton Road and drove all the way to the end. There were some DEC crews replacing the signs at the two parking areas. I drove to the snowplow turnaround and parked there. Even though this is a "No Parking Area", the unwritten agreement is that parking is allowed when there is no possibility there will be any snowplows turning around. There were no cars parked in this area and only pen or two in the other lots. The temperature was 80 degrees when we all got out of the car. Sheila was happy to be finally released and ran around sniffing everything. I set my GPS out of habit and we started up the trail at 10:15 AM. The trail was very wet with both standing and running water and mud in many places. Cindy and I both had on hiking boots but Bryce only had sneakers. He is growing so fast it is hard to keep him in appropriate footwear. The stream was high but the water was crystal clear where it wasn't white from rolling over the rocks. There were several places where I thought about taking pictures but decided to wait for the return trip. The trail is slightly uphill and a little longer than I remembered but after a little less than a mile we were at the falls. We could see from the trail that there was a good volume of water going overt he falls. We all worked our way down the steep and eroded path to the base of the falls.

Once at the base of the falls, I got out my camera to take pictures. I ran into a problem that would plague me all day. The great volume of water created a spray and a slight breeze was blowing the spray toward me and it was titling on the camera lens. I cleaned off the else and began to develop a technique of quickly taking a picture in between the gusts. I took pictures of both falls and tried to include the bridge above. I took a few shots downstream and tried several different setting on the camera. The last pictures I took were of Bryce, Cindy and Sheila with then falls in the background. We worked our way back up the bank and walked toward the bridge. I took some more shots of the falls from above and some of the bridge. I also took pictures from the bridge across the top of the falls and upstream. I walked off the end of the bridge and took some more shots of the top if the falls. Cindy and I looked at the sign and were puzzled. The sign indicated that the Buck Ridge lookouts were farther away than the summit of Westkill Mountain. This, of course, is incorrect and the DEC should be embarrassed to post these incorrect signs! Once we were finished at the falls, we headed back down the trail to the car. I stopped twice and worked my way down the slippery rocks to the streambed to take pictures. The sun was upstream but still rather low and there was a haze hanging over the stream. I hoped that some of the shots I took would capture this. The walk back down the trail seemed to go quickly despite the water on the trail and we were soon back at the car. It was 11:15 AM when we got back in the car and headed back out the Spruceton Road. At the end I turned right on Route 42 to head toward Lexington and Route 23A. Our next stop would be Kaaterskill Falls.

On Wednesday, August 15th I was ready to get out after 4 days of rain had made getting out to hike almost impossible. Since my grandson Bryce was available, I thought about hiking Hunter from Spruce since I knew that even though that trail would be wet it would be relatively safe both on the ascent and descent. I asked Cindy about doing the hike which we have done before but she declined. I began to think about all the rain that had fallen and decided to take advantage of it and visit as many waterfalls as we could. Cindy liked this idea and when Bruce arrived at our house at 7:45 AM he was enthusiastic about the plan. The skies were blue in spots but there were still a lot of clouds. We began to get ready to leave at about 8:30 AM which is when Sheila began to watch my every move. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I put on my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit nicely and are now discontinued. We got our gear in the car and got Sheila and Bryce in the backseat. I had wanted to leave as early as possible but we didn't leave Livingston Manor until around 9:00 AM with the temperature in the upper 70's. I drove out DeBruce Road all the way to the end and the turned left onto Route 47. We immediately ran into the road crews who were trying to restore the right lane of the road which had been washed away by the high waters of the Neversink River. The wait wasn't long and we were soon passing by the Frost Valley YMCA. I continued on Rt 47 passing the trailheads at Biscuit Brook, Slide Mountain and Giant Ledge/Panther. There were a few cars at each spot but they didn't look very crowded. At Route 28 I turned right and drove a few miles before turning left and heading north on Route 42 toward Lexington. There was another road crew doing some patching but we went passed them quickly.

Near the top of the hill in the notch, I pulled over and parked at the trailhead for Halcott and Sleeping Lion. Both are bushwhacks and on the Catskill Highest Hundred list with Halcott being a Catskill 3500 peak. We would not be climbing the mountains today but just looking at the waterfall which is within 100 feet of the parking area! Bryce and I got out of the car and I grabbed my Camera to walk over to the waterfall. There was a good volume going over the falls which ideally only a trickle. I took several shots from different angles. I explained to Bruce that I had bushwhacked parallel to the road several times in wet conditions and found several different waterfalls. Some of these only exist after heavy rains and dry up afterwards. I also explain to him the route up the side of the water fall and to Sleeping Lion and then Halcott. He is always very interested and asks a lot of questions. I answer them as best I can. We walked back to the car where I stowed my camera. I continued north on Route 42 toward Spruceton.

On Friday, August 10th I was ready to do a longer hike with son-in-law Brad after two days of rain had kept us inside and off the trails. Brad and I had done a late night ambulance call so we both slept in later than we normally would. The forecast for the day included some late day thunderstorms but the chance of rain up to 5:00 PM was near 0%. I decided that we would go to Ashokan High Point and when I checked my records I found I had not been there in three years! I thought that this was one of the lookouts that was to be "cut out" to restore the view that had diminished over time as the trees had grown up. When I got up at 9:30 AM the temperature on the back porch registered 94 degrees but I expected that was because it was in direct sunlight! The skies were blue in spots but there were a lot of clouds gathering especially to the north and west. We began to get ready to leave at about 10:30 AM which is when Sheila began to watch my every move. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I put on my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit nicely and are now discontinued. Brad and I got our gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat. At 11:00 AM we pulled out of Livingston Manor and headed to Liberty on Route 17. I took Route 55 toward Grahamsville passing over the Neversink dam where water was still going over the spillway. Just after the TriValley schools, I turned left on Route 55A and continued straight ahead on the Sundown Road. I continued on this road through Sundown and passed the Peekamoose parking area. There were a few cars parked there but I suspected more people were going to the Blue Hole to swim than were hiking the mountains. The Blue Hole has become so popular and overused that the DEC is now requiring free permits on weekends and holidays. The drive to the trailhead parking was longer than I remembered and there was a long descent which I had forgotten. I pulled into the Ashokan High Point parking area at about 11:45 AM and found several cars parked there. It also looked like there was some construction going on near the trail on the other side but I assumed we could get through to hike. The skies were a little dark but there were some blue spots and Brad and I decided we would try the hike as long as we had traveled so far. We got our gear ready and I set both my Garmin 64st handheld unit and my Suunto Traverse watch. I put Sheila on her leash and we quickly crossed the road to begin our hike. The temperature was 73 degrees but the humidity seemed high and the bugs were swarming. It was hard to determine what the construction workers were doing but there were many large blacks of rock and several machines present. There was a fence to prevent people from entering the construction area but it allowed us access to the trail. We crossed Kanape Brook on the bridge and started up the trail. The trail is rocky and on this day it was very wet which made all the rocks slippery. There was some standing water and some running water on the trail but we set a good pace on the flatter parts. The trail parallels Kanape Brook and we could hear the water as it cascaded over the rocks. There was water in the stream but I had expected it to be much higher than it was. We crossed several small streams and eventually a larger one that required a small foot bridge.

I was surprised that the trail was so poorly maintained with many old blowdowns and several new ones. Some were relatively easy to step over but others block the trail and required a detour. This is becoming a real problem even on some of the more popular trails in the Catskills. Several times we could hear rain falling on the trees but the drops never seemed to get through to us. At 1.5 miles the trail flattened a little and then started a somewhat steeper climb. We crossed another small bridge and entered a tunnel of pine trees. The ground was covered with small twigs broken from the trees and these formed a sort of carpet on the ground. From this point on the trail became much rockier as more water flowed on the trail eroding the soil between the stones. This trail is marked on some maps as the Kanape Jeep Trail. Along the way we met one solo hiker who had been hiking on Mombaccus Mountain. At 2.7 miles we reached the turn to the left where the trail begins the 1 mile climb to the High Point. It was 1:15 PM and I began to weigh our options once we reached the top. I remembered that the trail to the High Point was rocky and steep in places and that there were several places where there were steep climbs followed by more level spots. Some of the these climbs even had a series of stone steps. We came to a wide spot in the trail and stopped to get a drink and a bar. This improved my mood a little but I was still a little tired and beaten down by the humidity. A little farther up the trail, there were some switchbacks and then a small path went off to the right. I remembered following this path before and not finding any real views so we skipped it this time. We continued climbing toward the top with me questioning my fitness level! The overall grade averages about 17% with some flatter and some steeper areas. There are no real views along the way until near the very top. There are five different short climbs several of which have stone steps. At one point there is a rock overhang which forms a small shelter. I had passed this many times but this time I noticed I tree seemingly growing out of the very top of the rock. I made a note to stop on the way back to take a few pictures. By this time I had decided we would do an out and back hike since the loop adds over a mile and has few attractions. As we climbed the last ascent I remembered there used to be some nice views of Mombacus and Little Rocky from a rock outcrop on the trail. The skies were hazy and the view was now mostly blocked by the trees.

We finished the climb to the High point and found no one else there. I was VERY disappointed that the lookout had NOT been improved and that the trees had all but obscured the view of anything. I took a few pictures from the High Point but the views were too hazy to be really nice. I did take a shot of Brad and Sheila. We got a drink and found the USGS seal and the anchor points for a tower which had been removed a long time ago. I though about going to Little Ashokan High Point but decided that would have to be another day. Before turning around to head back, I decided we should walk a little farther along the trail to see if any of the other views remained. We walked over to the next lookout in the opposite direction but the views were much the same with trees blocking the view. We continued along the trail heading for an open field with a fire ring that always had good views. There are several small depressions along the way that collect water. They appear to be manmade but no one has been able to tell me anything about them. When we got to the open field, I was VERY disappointed that the views her were also blocked by the trees. Some mountains were just barely visible above the tree tops but they were covered in haze! I dropped my pack and took out the camera to try to take some shots of the Burroughs Range. I now knew that this was not a hike I would recommend to people unless they found their way to Little Ashokan High Point as the views are nonexistent! We turned around and returned on the trail to the High Point and began the descent back to the trail junction. I was worried that it would be a difficult descent but it went rather quickly. We did have to be careful as there were some slippery rocks and spots where it was easy to slip on the gravel. I did stop to take some pictures of the rock with the tree on it. We reached the trail junction in about the same time it had taken to do the ascent! Once we made the turn we quickened our pace on the downhill spurred on by the showers that kept appearing and disappearing. On the way back we concentrated on speed and were soon nearing the end of the trail as the showers became more persistent. We walked across the bridge and I stopped to take a few shots of the stream, the bridge and the construction project. We were back at the car at 4:25 PM having spent 4.5 hours hiking 7.8 miles and we had spent almost 5 hours hiking the 9.1 mile loop with about 30 minutes of stopped time. The vertical gain was 2130 feet. I had hiked Slide Mountain with Bryce on Monday and the vertical gain was only 1750 feet! The temperature at the car was 77 degrees and the rain was falling rather heavily.

On Tuesday, August 7th I had planned to go hiking somewhere close to home as I had hiked Slide Mountain the day before with my grandson Bryce. I decided I would hike a loop on the east side of Mongaup Pond. This was a loop that Cindy and I had started a few weeks ago but aborted. The temperature was in the high 70's at 9:00 AM when I started to get ready and the forecast called for it to get even warmer and more humid later in the day. There was also a chance of thunderstorms later in the day. Sheila was happy as I got my gear together and stayed close to me to make sure I knew she wanted to go. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I put on my Vasque Taku hiking boots which fit nicely and are now discontinued. I got my gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat. I started out the DeBruce Road at 9:15 AM and turned left after six miles on Mongaup Pond Road. As I drove up the road, I could see the sky was blue with white puffy clouds. At the split in the road I stayed to the right on Mongaup Pond Road and pulled into the small parking area on the right side of the road. There were no other cars in the lot and none parked at Mongaup Falls. The temperature on the car read 77 degrees and as I got out of the car I could feel the humidity hit me like a wall. I got my GPS set and then let a frantic Sheila out of the car so that we could begin our hike at 9:40 AM. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked back toward the intersection to turn left to hike down what used to be Hunter Road. I let Sheila off her leash and we walked across the small bridge over the stream. We continued up the rocky hill toward the snowmobile trails that make up most of this hiking loop.

At .4 miles we passed by a snowmobile trail that we could use on the return trip. I knew this trail would be very wet and thought we might use the roads to walk back. After a short descent, we again began to climb on the rocky and rather wet woods road toward Terwilliger Road. At 1 mile we turned left as the snowmobile trail turned into the woods. Here the trail was drier with some muddy spots along the way but the surface was flat which made walking go very quickly. I stopped in an open glade covered in ferns and I took some pictures before moving on. A little farther along a bridge crossed a small stream and I again stopped to take a few shots. The trail dropped a little as we headed northeast and then at 1.4 miles we began to climb again. At 2.35 miles we were still climbing as the trail headed southeast to reach the highest point on the trail at 2.7 miles. From here the trail began to descend and at 2.9 miles the trail again turned northeast and continued dropping in elevation. The trail had been wet and muddy in places. All the rocks were covered in water from the condensed humidity in the air making them very slippery. At 3.8 miles we reached the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail where we turned left and started heading northwest. We started climbing again over some very rocky terrain until we reached the top of a hill at 4.5 miles and started to descend the other side. There had been several blowdown along the trails which were just the size to remove with hand tools. I don't know who is responsible for these trails but I do know it would be fun to remove these obstacles. It was getting much warmer and more humid so I stopped several times to get a drink. The trail was wet and muddy and showed evidence that there had been a lot of water flowing over them. We continued our descent until at 5.2 miles the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail ended at a snowmobile trail. I knew that turning left on the snowmobile trail would be a wet experience. The trail is often very wet as it is lower than the land to the east and water draining from the higher land floods the trail. I decided we would walk straight ahead at this junction to access the roads at Mongaup State Campgrounds. This trail was VERY wet and muddy where a small stream spread out across the land. At 5.9 miles we walked across an empty campsite and out onto the campground roads. I put Sheila on her leash as we turned right and walked out to the loop road where we turned right again. We walked out to the entrance of the park and continued out to Mongaup Pond Road at 6.2 miles. As we walked along the road, the outlet stream ran parallel to us. As it came closer to the road, I decided to stop and take a few pictures. I took my shots and then we continued on the road to walk back to the car. We arrived at the car at 12:45 PM after having hiked 7.3 miles in 3 hours and 5 minutes with an elevation gain of 1095 feet. I considered walking down to Mongaup Falls to take some pictures but in the end I just in the car. The temperature was 82 degrees and it was still humid.

On Monday, August 6th, I decided I wanted to hike Slide Mountain as I had not been there is a year and it is close to home. I like to throw in a 3500 foot peak every now and then for the challenge and to prove to myself I can still hike elevation as well as distance. The night before I made arrangements for my grandson Bryce to hike with me. I knew Bryce wouldn't arrive until after 9:00 AM and that the temperatures were expected to rise into the high 80's by noon but I was willing to wait as hiking with Bryce is so interesting. The start of the day was very foggy but Bryce and I were aiming to get out as quickly as possible. Bryce arrived and as I started to get ready Sheila was very excited and indicated she didn't care where we went as long as we got out of the house. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I put a pair of keen Glarus boots which fit nicely and have been discontinued! I headed out the DeBruce Road at about 10:00 AM and drove passed Round Pond and down to Route 47. I turned left and drove toward Frost Valley. Almost immediately we ran into a stop light on the road. Construction crews were working to repair the road where the Neversink River had washed away a lane of the road. The wait wasn't long and after waiting at another construction project I drove by the Frost Valley YMCA camp. The Biscuit Brook parking area had only one car in it and I wondered if Slide would be crowded. I pulled in just before 10:30 AM and found a half dozen cars in the lot. Another car pulled in just as we were getting ready to leave. I set my Garmin GPS unit and we got on the trail right away. Starting out on the main trail we immediately came to the Neversink River which had a good volume of water flowing in it. Bryce was wearing low sneakers so we looked round for a way to get him across without getting wet. He saw a large tree down across the river and Bryce decided to use it to cross. I assumed he would sit on the trunk and shimmy across it so I looked for a route to get myself across. I used stepping stones to get across to a middle ground and the looked over to see how Bryce was doing. Bryce was on all fours nimbly crawling across the trunk! I wanted to take some pictures but decided I could do that on the way back. I worked my way across to the other side of the river. The trail was damp and muddy in many places but initially there was no water on the trail. We crossed two more small streams and were soon climbing through a very rocky area. In just less than half a mile we had worked our way through the rocky ascent and turned right on the woods road.

Almost immediately the trail became wet with standing and running water. At .7 miles we turned left and started up the main trail to Slide Mountain which, according to the sign, was 2 miles away. The trailhead for Slide has a relatively high elevation so, although it is the highest peak in the Catskills, the elevation gain and grade are relatively modest. The temperature seemed high as did the humidity and I was feeling a little down which was not helped by watching Bryce easily bound up the trail. We continued up the trail working around the wet areas. We passed by the designated campsite to the right of the trail and as we started up the steeper climb Sheila alerted. The hiker who had pulled into the parking area after us was catching up. He was setting a fast pace and we said "hello" as he passed us. I was feeling a little tired and very warm and sweaty. We stopped for a drink and then continued up the trail. The trail was every bit as rocky as it ever was which makes ascending difficult and descending worse. Bryce was still setting a good pace and I was slowing him down! I kept looking for the 3500 foot sign but did not see it. Soon we started to enter the transition zone from hardwoods to evergreens and I knew we were passed 3500 feet. Bryce and I both noticed that we could smell the strong odor of balsam fir and we also noticed that the temperature had dropped noticeably. At 1.7 miles the trail started to level some as the grade became more shallow and all these factors combined to raise my spirits. Bryce pointed out the sand on the trail and we talked about why it was there. The glimpses I could get of the sky showed bright blue with white clouds and plenty of sun. We continued up the trail and I began to notice that some of the blowdowns had been cleared from the trail by chainsaw. I assumed that a DEC crew had been assigned to clear the trail after the heavy storm in May. There were still quiet a few trees leaning over the trail which I do not think is a good situation. Some trees were low and had branches cut in such a way that the remaining pieces formed "spears" that pointed downward. I imagine some taller hikers may have had problems with these. There were several lookouts along the way but most were not interesting and what I could see was very hazy. There were one or two that did have possibilities but I decided to wait until the return trip to take any pictures. Somewhere along the way a young man came up behind us running up the trail! He quickly passed us and disappeared. Soon the trail leveled again as we had done most of the climbing. At 2 miles we passed the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail as it came in from the left from the Denning trailhead. The trail leveled some here and Bryce and I enjoyed walking along the path strewn with pine needles. The trail continued to be muddy which was unusual this high up on Slide. Soon we were approaching the last climb and I found a viewpoint that clearly showed Cornell and Wittenberg and the col between them. At 2.6 miles we were at the viewpoint toward Panther and Giant Ledge. I decided to stop and take a look and found the trees in front of the lookout had all but obscured the view.

We returned to the main trail and soon were passing by the highest point on Slide. Cement blocks mark the location where a fire tower once stood. We continued to the rock outcropping to find theater who had passed us, another male hiker and about 20 young women. It was 12:25 PM and we had covered 2.7 miles. Bryce sat down to eat his lunch as I got put the camera to take some pictures. I tried to take a few pictures of the Ashokan Reservoir, Cornell and Wittenberg and found the views were mostly blocked by the trees. There was a haze hanging over the far peaks but I still took a few pictures. I had considered going down the other side to the spring but wanted to make sure Bryce and I were fresh to walk back down the mountain. I got a drink and ate a bar to prepare for the return trip. I found out that the girls were from a Jewish camp. On Sunday they had hiked from Woodland Valley over Wittenberg and Cornell and camped in the designated camping area in the Col. On Monday they had hiked up Slide and were now heading for Denning on The Curtis-Ormsbee Trail. Their plan was to camp somewhere along the Neversink on Monday night and then hike over Table and Peekamoose on Tuesday. We said "Goodbye" and headed back done the mountain at 12:40 PM. We stopped at the first viewpoint on the right and I took a few pictures. The views of Giant Ledge and Panther were blocked but I got some pictures of Cornell and Wittenberg despite the haze. We stopped again at a lower lookout and I took a few more shots before we got back to the trail. I had hoped to make quick work of the descent but the rocks make the descent difficult to accomplish safely. The hiker who had pulled in just after us passed us on his way down. Soon a few of the girls from the group that had been at the summit caught up to us. I spoke to one about their plans and told them about the Avenza app. As we hiked own we met several groups of people headed up the mountain. Some seemed well-equipped but others were carrying a single small bottle of water. I always hike with poles even when it seems I don't need them. On this hike I was very glad I had them with me. Sheila was staying with us for the most part and alerting every time she saw someone coming toward us. We passed the 3500 foot level and continued down the trail. On the ascent I thought there seemed to be less rolling rocks than I remembered but they were all there on the descent. The water was more bothersome on the way down sine it made all the rocks slippery and we both knew that slipping on the Wat down was worse than on the ascent. We stopped to get a drink and then made the push to get back to the trail junction. When we arrived at the junction, we turned right on the woods road and hiked along the wet and muddy trail that leads back to the parking area. We turned left and started to descend through the very rocky area but we made good time back to the river bed. I stopped to take a few pictures of the water in the river. I asked Bryce to again cross on the log while I took a video. He made the crossing slipping in one spot but recovering nicely to make it to the other side. We crossed the last small bit of water and walked back to the car. There were fewer cars now in the parking area. We arrived at the car at 2:40 PM having covered 5.5 miles in 4 hours and 10 minutes with 1794 feet of elevation gain. Bryce was fresh and never complained about the hike!

On Saturday, August 4th I wanted to get in a hike where there was a waterfall that might have been augmented by the recent rain. I had hiked the day before on Round Top but had to cut it short as a thunderstorm rolled in. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go hiking in the Trout Pond area and she agreed. The forecast was calling for some morning showers so we decided to wait until noon to leave even though we knew the temperature and humidity would be higher at that time. We also knew that the trails in the Trout Pond area would probably be very wet due to the recent rains in the area. The showers never did materialize and as we began to get ready to leave home the temperature was already in the high 70's with high humidity. As I started to get ready, Sheila was frenzied. She gets especially excited when both Cindy and I go on the hike. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I put a pair of Vasque Taku boots which fit nicely and have been discontinued! Sheila was ready to go and stayed close so that I would not forget her. Cindy and I put our packs in the trunk and Sheila in the backseat and headed for Roscoe on the Quickway a little after noon. I drove out the Rockland Flats on Route 206. Just after the Roscoe Nursing Home I turned left on Morton Hill Road and followed it for 3 miles to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the side of the road avoiding the private parking area. When I opened the car door, I was hit my a blast of hot and humid air. I checked the car thermometer and found that it was only 80 degrees with the hint of a breeze. I set the my Garmin GPS unit and my Suunto Traverse GPS watch and started down Russell Brook Road. The road was wet in several places. I listened for the sound of the water in the brook and heard a good amount of noise. There were no cars parked at the campsites along the road which surprised me a little. When we came to the viewpoint over the upper falls, I could see there was a large volume of water going over the falls so I headed down the bank to a viewpoint. The steep path was slippery and I had to watch my step. I put down my pack and got out the camera. I took some shots of the falls with different settings. The sunlight was shining directly on the water making photography difficult. I took a few shots of the water passing through the narrow channel to the lower falls before packing up and climbing back up to the road. We walked down the road to the lower parking area and found it nearly full of cars. One or two people were at their car and seemed to be getting ready to leave. We continued down the road and just before we crossed the bridge over Russell Brook there was a fisherman in the brook. As we crossed the bridge we met three people heading toward us. We greeted each other and one of the others told us it was a fine day for a hike. We found that the Japanese knotweed that I had cut down had managed to grow back and had started to encroach on the trail once more. We continued on the road turning right on the path to the falls walking between the tall grass and the knotweed. We walked over to the path down the bank to the streambed and carefully descended to the brook. The falls were flowing with a volume almost as great as during the spring rains. The breeze blowing toward us from the falls was bringing the spray with it and wetting down all the rocks and roots. I got out my camera and took some pictures of the falls and then some of the stream. I took a few more pictures of the falls before putting away the camera and walking back out to the main trail.

At the trail junction just after the register we continued straight ahead to walk up to Trout Pond. The trail was damp in some spots and wet and muddy in others. Some small stream ran down the trail and others crossed it. When we arrived at the pond, we heard voices so I put Sheila on her leash as we turned left and walked out to the "beach" at the outlet end of the pond. The voices were coming from some people camping a the illegal campsite on the other side of the pond. The water level was high but not high enough for water to be flowing over the spillway. The skies were very blue with billowing white clouds so I knew I had to take some pictures. I took some panoramic pictures and then zoomed in on different parts of the scene. Sheila jumped into the water and began to swim around. I picked up a stick and threw it into the water for Sheila to retrieve. I did this several times and took some pictures each time. Each time Sheila came up out of the water she shook herself off usually next to one of us. After getting a drink and a snack, we packed up and headed back to the main trail. We continued on the main trail on the east side of Trout Pond walking toward the inlet end and the lean-tos. The trail was not as wet as I had expected with most of the water confined to the ruts on either side of a "hump" in the middle. No one was camping at the large campsite on the right side of the rail before the lean-tos. There was a large tent at the lower lean-to with several people present. As we crossed the bridge at the inlet end of the pond, I noticed that the inlet stream was very high. I stopped to take some pictures of the pond from the bridge and then continued on the trail. At this point the trail turns right and starts up a hill which is the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. At the turn the trail was covered in several inches of water from the overflow of the inlet stream and from a stream running down the trail. We stepped quickly through this area and started up the trail. The trail was acting as a very effective stream bed and we had to walk on the sides of the trail to stay out of the water. After some time, the running water abated only to start in a little farther along. At some places there was a stream to the right of the trail. These streams are normally running at only a trickle but they now had a large enough volume to have their own small falls! Walking was difficult as all the rocks were wet and everything was slippery. After we had walked for some time, I noticed a few large trees that had been cut with a chainsaw. I then remembered that there were places on the trail which previously had large blowdowns that were no longer present! I assumed a DEC crew had been sent through to clear the trail. Of course, since the crew had done there work there had been more storms and there were several smaller blowdowns across the trail. Soon we were at the highest point on Cherry Ridge and starting down the other side. I anticipated that the trail would have quite a bit of water but there was much more than I expected. There were areas where the trail was simply a stream that overflowed on either side making it difficult to find a dry place to walk. In other places there was standing water with pools over a foot deep. As we walked the trail, Sheila alerted and we saw a man walking toward us. As he approached, I saw he was wearing wading boots used for fishing and carrying a fly fishing pole. We greeted each other as we passed. I though afterwards that I should have taken a picture of a man carrying a fishing pole on a trail that looked like a stream!

We continued on the trail picking our way around the wet areas which wasn't always easy. Soon we were at the woods road and snowmobile trail that runs by Mud Pond. I had considered walking down to Mud Pond but the walk on the wet trail was tiring. We turned left and start the short walk uphill. This part of the trail was also wet but we found places to walk including places on the trail that were wet but with only a shallow covering of water. At the top of the hill we began the long descent back to the trail junction where we had started. The descent lasts for .7 miles and drops 385 feet to a bridge that crosses the outlet stream from Trout Pond. This part of the trail was just as wet as the other sections. The water was spread across the trail in a shallow covering making for wet and muddy conditions. As we descended, we came to a spot where a small stream crosses. The stream is usually just a trickle and easy to cross but this time it was a small torrent. We decided to just cross even if it meant getting our feet a little wet. I was able to find one dry stepping stone and place my foot on another one with only a few inches of water. Once we crossed the stream I decided to take some pictures of the trail and the stream. I even was able to take some shots of some small waterfalls upstream from the trail! We continued down the hill on the main trail carefully picking our way. We crossed another small stream and walked toward the campsite at the bottom of the hill on the left side of the trail. There were several tents at the campsite with people relaxing. We said "Hello" and had short conversation about the trails. We continued on the trail crossing the bridge over a stream and walking back out to the trail register. We turned right adhered back toward the lower parking area on the main trail. As we approached the parking area, I noticed a large group of people at the kiosk so I put Sheila on her leash and waited for them to pass by us. As they passed, they asked questions about the water fall which we answered. We walked up the short path to the lower parking area. Every spot in the parking lot was taken and some cars were parked along the road! This was as full as I have ever seen this parking area. Sometimes the walk back up Russell Brook Road seems long and tedious but walking on a relatively dry and even surface made the hike go more quickly. We arrived back at the car at 3:45 PM after hiking 5.6 miles in 3 hours and 5 minutes with a 1130 foot total ascent. The temperature on the car thermometer was 84 degrees and the humidity was still high. After leaving the trailhead, we stopped by Northern Farmhouse Pasta to pick up some ravioli for dinner.

On Friday, August 3rd I had not been out hiking for two days due to the rain showers and threat of rain showers. The forecast for Friday included showers and thunderstorms so I waited around the house all morning to see what would happen. The skies were cloudy but there was no rain. Around 11:30 AM I decided to take Sheila across the street to hike on Round Top thinking that if it did start to rain we could make it back home quickly. As I started to get ready, Sheila was frenzied. Her excitement seems to be in direct proportion to how long it has been since she has hiked. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go across the street but she declined. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I put a pair of Vasque Taku boots which fit nicely and have been discontinued! We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church to begin the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Sheila responds well to the command "Pull" and the Siberian husky in her makes her well-suited for the job. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash and she bounded ahead of me following her nose. The trails were wet and muddy in spots. At the first trail junction I followed Sheila as she turned right and continued up the less steep part of the trail. Everything was very green but the humidity was high and I sweating almost immediately. We followed the blazes for the yellow trail up to the trail junction. We turned left at the trail junction and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next trail junction, we turned right on the blue trail and headed up the steepest hill to the summit of Round Top. On the summit we followed the trail over the top. We continued down the other side and I found a birch tree that had fallen across the trail. It was hung up in another tree but I was able to loosen it and get it down to the ground. I knew this would make it easier to cut it the next time I visited. At the yellow trail we turned right and then left at the next trail junction to head down to the lookout. At the lookout we turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. The skies were getting very dark and the wind was coming up nut I decided we could get in at least one more figure 8. We turned around and started back up the hill to the lookout. When we arrived at the top of the hill, thunder began to sound. I decided we should turn around and head home before the storm hit. We walked down the hill and continued out to the trailhead. At the trailhead I put Sheila on her leash and we turned right to descend the hill. We walked across the field to the driveway and home. The skies were even darker and the thunder claps more frequent. We made it home before it rained or any lightning strikes could be seen. We were home at 12:30 PM having spent 40 minutes walking a little more than a mile and doing some light trail maintenance. A few raindrops fell but most of the storm went around us!

On Tuesday, July 31st I planned to hike somewhere with my grandson Bryce. I wasn't sure where we would go but I thought about doing the snowmobile trail loop on the east side of Mongaup Pond. This was the hike Cindy and I had failed to complete the day before because it is about 8 miles. Bryce arrived shortly after 9:00 AM but I dragged my feet and was not ready to leave until 10:00 AM. I got my gear together under the watchful eye of Sheila who was particularly excited that Bryce was going with us. The temperature was in the low 70's but the humidity was rather high. I knew the trails might be wet but I was not going to let this stop us. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I put on my Keen Glarus hiking boots which have become my "go to" boots which Keen has now discontinued. We got our gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and saw to it that Bryce was in his car seat. I started out the DeBruce Road and turned left after six miles on Mongaup Pond Road. As I drove up the road, I could see the clouds gathering and wondered if the showers forecast might arrive earlier. I also thought that 8 miles might be a little too far for Bryce. I decided to change my plans and hike a shorter route with some elevation gain. At the split in the road I stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road following another car up to the parking areas. When we arrived, there were no other cars present which pleased me as I would rather hike deserted trails. I immediately noticed that the insects were swarming and considered putting on a repellant. We started our hike at 10:20 AM by walking out the woods road to the trail register. The trail was wet and muddy in many places that had to be avoided. The woods road out to Frick Pond was also very wet with some areas of standing and running water. The grass was also very wet and I knew that my boots would soon wet through. We stayed left at Graveyard Junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. When we arrived at the bridge across the outlet, I decided to stop and take pictures despite the fact that I have hundreds from this location. The water level in the pond was higher than it had been after the recent rains. There was a very blue sky with plenty of billowing white clouds. I took some shots of the pond and several of Bryce and Sheila on the bridge. We continued on around the pond staying left at the trail junction on the Quick Lake Trail. The trail was still wet but with less standing water. We continued on our hike passing through the "Spruce Tunnel". The small stream through the woods was running freely and was very high. Sheila simply jumped across but Bryce and I walked upstream a little to a narrower and more shallow area to cross. By 11:05 AM we had walked the 1.5 miles to Iron Wheel Junction. We turned right and headed out on the Logger's Loop Trail which was also very wet.

The Logger's Loop is mostly downhill in this direction and we made good time but occasionally encountered some small blowdowns along the way. The Logger's Loop really is a loop which starts north, turns east and eventually heads south towards Times Square. The walk went quickly as Bryce and I talked about many things. Just before starting the descent to Times Square, I pointed out the area that is sometimes and pond and sometimes a wetland on the left side of the trail. This pond is seasonal but has been growing in size for several years. By 11:40 AM we were at Times Square and about 2.7 miles into the hike. The area was wet but we worked around the muddy areas and turned left to walk uphill on the Big Rock Trail. The Big Rock Trail gains 600 feet to the Flynn Trail over 1.1 miles for an average grade of only 10%. However, the route has three different climbs and can seem long. We set a pretty fast pace on the climb and I found that although my heart rate was elevated I felt good. Bryce doesn't mind hiking uphill too much but I knew he was not aware of the length of this uphill. Not very far up the trail we encountered a very large tree that had been across the trail. The snowmobile club had cleared this earlier in the season and I had done some finishing work with axe and saw. There was another large blowdown further up the trail which had also been cleared. Each time we ascended and uphill Bryce was sure it was the last but there always seems to be another climb. We reached the Flynn Trail at 12:20 PM after hiking 3.8 miles and we stopped for a drink and to eat lunch. After a short break, we turned right and began the descent back to the car. We were both glad to be hiking downhill even though there were a few large branches on or near the trail. Sheila was still excited at this point and was running up the trail and back to us. She was taking a few excursions off the trail to follow animal tracks but was pretty close so I let her explore. At 4.35 miles I asked Bryce if he would like to take a short trip off the trail. We walked up the steep bank to the clearing on the left side of the trail. I took a few pictures of the clearing. No one I have spoken to knows exactly why this clearing exists. There is a woods road leading from the Flynn Trail to the clearing. We walked out to the Flynn Trail and turned left to continue our hike. The trip down the Flynn Trail went quickly and we were soon at the arch Cindy and I had cut through a huge evergreen tree. We soon arrived at the gate that blocks Beech Mountain Road. We turned left to stay on the Flynn Trail as it continues through the woods to avoid the private property around the cabin. Some hikers cannot read the signs and have annoyed the property owner by trespassing! We continued down to the parking area on the trail. We were back at 11:05 AM having covered 5.6 miles in 2 hours and 55 minutes with a vertical gain of 925 feet. There were now 4 cars parked in the larger parking area.

On Monday, July 30th I had a meeting in the morning and some other things to accomplish before hiking. I arrived home around 11:30 AM and decided to do some kind of loop in the Frick Pond area. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and she agreed. I got my gear together under the watchful eye of Sheila who was particularly excited that Cindy was going with us. The temperature was in the low 70's but the humidity was rather high. I knew the trails might be wet but I was not going to let this stop me. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I put on my Keen Glarus hiking boots which have become my "go to" boots which Keen has now discontinued. We got our gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and started out the DeBruce Road. I drove out the DeBruce Road and turned left after six miles on Mongaup Pond Road. At the split in the road I stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road following another car up to the parking areas. I remembered that Cindy had talked about hiking the loop on the other side of Mainland Pond Road and asked her if she wanted to go there to hike. She said "Yes" which was the beginning of a hiking disaster. I assumed "Yes" meant that Cindy WANTED to hike the loop. Cindy assumed that I knew how far she wanted to hike. I turned around and drove back to the intersection and turned right toward Mongaup Pond. I pulled into the small parking area just passed the intersection taking up the second parking space next to a car that was already there. We got out of the car. I set my GPS, put Sheila on her leash and we headed toward the path down toward Mongaup Falls at 12:25 PM. We met a group of four people coming up from the stream and said "Hello" as we passed. We crossed the stream on an old road bridge and met another group of three people. We continued straight ahead on a path marked with yellow trail markers. The trail is not named on the map as many of the trails on the east side of Mongaup Pond are snowmobile trails. The trail continued uphill and was rocky and very wet. As we came to the top of the hill, the trail was almost obscured by brush. At .45 miles we turned left on a snowmobile trail heading northeast. The trail opened up into a small field with a fire ring. The trail continued across the field and reentered the woods. We were walking on a wide woods road through mixed hardwood and evergreen forest. The trail rolled over a few small hills and then dropped to a low area near a wetland. The trail was very wet and muddy from water running off the ledges on the right. After 2 miles, we came to a branch in the trail where we turned right to continue to the northeast on the snowmobile trail. The trail continued to be wet and muddy as we began to ascend over the next .7 miles to the junction with the yellow Mongaup Willowemoc Trail. We turned right on the trail and started up a rocky streambed. After a short distance, we stopped for a water break and I ate a bar. We continued up the trail and Cindy asked me if we were half way. I knew hat this meant and told here that we were not quite half way as the hike is about 8 miles. At this point she told me she could not hike 8 miles meaning she did not want to complete the hike! I was very disappointed as we turned around to return to the car. We walked back down the yellow Mongaup Willowemoc Trail to the snowmobile trail and turned left to retrace our route. When we came to the next junction, I decided to continue straight ahead and walk out to the road and follow it back to the car. I was not interested in returning on the wet and muddy trails. We crossed a wet area and were soon on the campsite roads. We turned left on the loop road and walked out to the entrance passing the booth. The 1.1 mile walk back to the car took only 20 minutes. I arrived back at the car at 2:40 Pm after hiking 5.1 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes. The elevation gain was 505 feet.

On Saturday, July 28th I planned to hike somewhere with my brother-in-law Jeff. We agreed to meet at 8:30 AM at the parking area on Route 206 between Roscoe and the Pepacton Reservoir. My plan was to meet at the parking area and then drive to the trailhead on Holiday Brook Road where the Finger Lakes Trail crosses. We would then hike back to the car on Route 206. The hike is about 6.4 miles and has two significant climbs. We also knew the trails would be wet from the rain during the week. In addition, the forecast called for some rain showers using the day. I went to bed too late after working on the website and had two instances of leg cramps during the night. When I awoke at 7:00 AM, I was not sure I wanted to follow through on the plan that I had developed and began considering alternate hikes. The forecast had improved so that the only showers were supposed to be around 8:00 AM. As I began to get ready to go, Sheila seemed pleased that we were hiking and stayed near me so that I would not "forget" to take her. Although the temperature was 68 degrees the humidity was high. The temperatures were forecast to be warm with highs in the 80's and high humidity. I dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I put on my Keen Glarus hiking boots which have become my "go to" boots which Keen has discontinued. I made sure I had two full bottles of water and got my gear and Sheila in the car. I left Livingston Manor at 8:10 AM and drove west and north on Route 17 to exit 94 for Roscoe. From here I drove north toward Downsville of Route 206. After passing over the top of Brock Mountain, I began watching for the place where the trail crosses the road just down the hill from Jug Tavern Road. I pulled into the small parking area where Jeff was waiting for me. He put his gear in my car and said "Hello" to Sheila. I drove north toward the Pepacton Reservoir and turned right on Route 30. After 4.6 miles, I turned right on Holiday Brook Road and drove another 2.8 miles to the trailhead parking. There were no other cars in the lots when we parked at 8:45 AM. We got our gear ready and both Jeff and I set our GPS units before crossing the road to begin the hike. We immediately ran into a large puddle across the trail which would set the theme for much of the hike! We walked around it and soon found more standing water on the trail. The trail as a whole was wet with areas of standing water and areas where the trail acted as a streambed. We crossed a powerline right-of-way and then entered the woods and started to climb toward the Pelnor Hollow Trail. In 1.1 miles the trail ascended over 500 feet to the top of a hill. Along the way we worked through some steeper areas and some rock scrambles. We began to notice that there were a lot of obstructions in the trail. There were some bushes leaning over and some weeds and nettles but mostly there were many trees lying across the trail. Some of these were easy to step over but others effectively blocked the trail requiring detours.

When we reached the Pelnor Hollow Trail, we turned right and began a steep descent to the Splitrock viewpoint. The descent was tricky but at 1.3 miles we were at the lookout. I had left my camera at home when I believed it would rain but now wished I had brought it along. The view was hazy but much clearer than I expected so I took some pictures with my iPhone which seemed to be effective. We stayed at the viewpoint long enough to get a drink and a quick snack and then headed out on the trail again. My boots were starting to wet through from the constant wetness on the trail. Over the next 1.1 miles we descended 470 feet over some difficult ground to a trail junction. The signs at the junction had been vandalized and the area was under water but we soon determined we should turn right on the blue Campbell Mountain Trail which is also a snowmobile trail. The trail was very eroded and covered in running water. We decided to walk a route parallel to the trail and were soon at a point where the trail turned left heading northwest off the snowmobile trail. Just after the trail we began to ascend and eventually the trail swung to the south. At 3.9 miles we began a serious ascent toward the top of an unnamed hill gaining 470 feet over .7 miles. The forests varied between hardwood and evergreen trees with the two often mixed. At 4.2 miles we ascended to an open area called Flat Rock which lived up to its name. I took a few pictures and we again got a drink and a bar. We continued on the trail reaching the highest point at 4.6 miles and then began to descend 300 feet over .5 miles heading northwest. When we reached 5.2 miles, we could see the beginnings of an old quarry on the right. There was a road that turned right off the trail to the quarry. There were obvious placed where stone had been removed and I took a few shots. On the ascent to Brock Mountain we made a short but steep ascent through an area where the trail was completely obscured by brush emphasizing the need for some trail maintenance. There was also the remains of an old truck probably used in the quarrying effort. I took a few pictures of it. Sheila had been following various animal tracks off the trail for the whole hike and at this point she heard something below us and took off. I called her back and encouraged her to return with her electronic collar. She came back but kept heading back in that direction. Jeff and I returned to the trail to begin the last section out to Route 206. The trail was slightly serpentine but we were heading west and descending through mostly hardwood forest. Over the final 1.1 miles we lost a total of 670 feet traveling over well-maintained trail. We came to Route 206 and crossed the road to the parking area. It was 1:20 PM and we had hiked 6.3 miles in 4 and a half hours. Our overall speed was 1.4 mph which seemed slow but the trail was in very poor shape. Our ascent was 1530 feet with a descent of 1800 feet. We got in Jeff's truck and he drove back to my car at the parking area on Holiday Brook Road. Jeff followed me back Livingston Manor where we parted company.

On Friday, July 27th Cindy and I wanted to get in some hiking close to home after a week of rainy weather. We had visited some falls the day before but only hiked a little more than a mile. I was planning on hiking a longer hike with my brother-in-law Jeff the next day. We both had things we needed to accomplish in the morning so we didn't get started until 1:00 PM when the temperature was in the mid 70's and the humidity was increasing. We decided to just go across the street and hike on Round Top. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I wore a new pair of Keen Targhee II boots in a 9.5W since the 9W had seemed a little short. Sheila would not leave my side as I was getting ready as she wanted to make sure she was going too! We left the house at 1:00 PM and crossed the street with Sheila on her leash. We walked to the back of the church to begin the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Sheila responds well to the command "Pull" and the Siberian husky in her makes her well-suited for the job. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash and she bounded ahead of me following her nose. Whenever I pass by the first major blowdown that I cleared on the trail, I am proud that I was able to do the work by myself with only hand tools. At the first trail junction we followed Sheila as she continued straight ahead on the steeper path to the viewpoint. At the lookout I noted that there was no garbage and everything was in order. From the upper part of the lookout the trees block most of the view despite the efforts of the Town of Rockland sawyer crew to cut down some trees. The problem is that getting to the lower lookout is a little difficult for the average person. We followed the trail to the right and started the gentle climb through the woods. The trail was really beautiful and clear of most branches. The trail bed was lined with very green ferns and pretty clearly delineated.

When we reached the next trail junction, we stayed to the right to follow the lower trail around the base of Round Top to the next junction. There were a few branches encroaching on the trail and I made a note to return in the next few days to do some more lopping. At the next junction we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the steeper blue trail. There were several places where addition lopping was needed especially near the top. We walked across the summit of Round Top where a few more bushes needed some trimming and down the other side which is also a little steep. When we got to the yellow trail, we turned left to follow it to the second trail junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail back to the very first trail junction. At the trail junction we turned around and retraced our steps taking the more gentle path this time. When the yellow trail turned left, we followed it to the next trail junction were we turned right and headed up the blue trail to the summit. We walked over the top and down the other side to the yellow trail again. We turned right and followed the trail along the base of Round Top. Where the yellow trail turned left, we followed it to the left and down to the lookout. From the lookout we walked down hill to the first trail junction. I was pretty tired at this point and I am sure the high humidity had contributed to this feeling. Cindy was also tired and we decided to walk out to the trailhead and home together. At the trailhead, I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down the cemetery hill and across the field to our driveway. It was about 2:00 PM and we had hiked a little less than 2 miles in an hour.

On Thursday, July 26thI wanted to get out of the house after four days of rainy weather. I asked Cindy if she would like to go see some waterfalls as I knew they should have a high volume after the recent rains. I suggested to driving to Buttermilk Falls on the Peekamoose Road and then hiking to driving Sholam Road in Yagerville to hike to Angel Falls. Cindy agreed but had a Bible study class which ended at noon. When she returned we started to get ready to hike. Sheila was frantic as she had not been out in five days and was running around the house splitting her time between us. The temperatures were forecast to be warm with high humidity so I dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I put on my Keen Glarus hiking boots which have become my "go to" boots which Keen has discontinued. We got our gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at around 1:00 PM. I drove east on State Route 17 to Liberty and then got on Route 55 to Grahamsville. I turned left onto Route 55A just after the Tri-Valley school and drove to Sundown. Where the road split I stayed to the left on Peekamoose Road. I drove 4.3 miles to the parking are for Buttermilk Falls on the left about a mile passed the parking area for Peekamoose Mountain and the Blue Hole. When I parked the car, no others were in the lot. When we got out of the car, the heat and humidity seemed palpable. I got my camera out of my pack and put Sheila on her leash and walked over to the short trail that leads to the falls. We walked until I was in position to take some pictures and I snapped quite a few. I then followed the trail toward the falls being sure to plant my feet securely on the wet and slippery mud and rocks. My new vantage point was a little to the side of the falls and gave a different angle. Sheila and I were able to get right up to the base of the falls and see the little pool formed as the water cascades about 40 feet down the rocks. I took some more pictures including a few of Sheila with the falling water in the background. After taking these photographs, I returned to the car and put Sheila in the back seat. I walked down the road and took a few more pictures from the bridge. Cindy and I walked back to the car and I drove further up the road to take a look at other falls. There are several more falls but the view from the road has been obstructed and they are on private property. I turned around and drove back toward Sundown. I slowed down as we passed Bear Hole Brook but these views also were not that spectacular.

In Sundown I turned left on Greenville Road and drove 3.6 miles to where the road turns sharply to the right and becomes Yagerville Road. The road climbs a good deal and finally levels off before starting to descend to Route 55A along the Rondout Reservoir. As the road started to descend a nice view of the Shawangunks appeared and I pulled over so that I could take some pictures. I continued on Yagerville Road watching for Sholam Road on the left. I turned left on Sholam Road which is marked by "Bridge Out" and "Dead End" signs. I drove to the end of the road and parked by a pile of dirt under the powerlines at 2:45 PM. When we got out of the car the hot humid air hit us again. I set my GPS unit and we immediately started to hike. We walked along what is left of Sholam Road which deteriorates more every year. I was pleased that I could hear a roar coming from the falls apparently indicating a good volume of water. We walked to a point opposite the top of the falls where a path turns right and parallels Trout Creek. I looked down at the falls and saw that it was higher than I had seen it in some time. Trout Creek is rather long extending around 5 miles from Balsam Swamp. Over its course it picks up a few tributaries. We walked along the path until a steep and slippery path turned to the left to head down to the creek bed. We worked our way down the bank with Sheila leading the way. We ended up at some rocks at the base of the falls. All the rocks were slippery which did not bother Sheila but concerned me. I was able to get out my camera and walk out on some of the rocks to get a good view of the falls. I took shots of the falls and some downstream. To capture the volume and character of the falls, I shot a short video before packing up and heading back up to the main trail. Although the trail isn't really maintained, someone had cut a few of the trees that had been across the trail. We continued down the path heading toward the lower falls.

The trail can be overgrown with weeds but was relatively clear as this is a popular spot for people in the area. I was happy that there was almost no broken glass around the area. We walked to the top of the falls and then down a path to some old foundations at the bottom of the falls. I walked down to the creek bed and out onto some rocks which gave me a good view of the falls. This drop is not as high as the upper falls but is still pretty in its own way. I carefully made my way back to my pack and took a few pictures of the foundations. I headed back up to the top of the falls. I took my camera and walked to a viewpoint that allowed my to take pictures of the upper drop of these lower falls. After taking a few shots I walked back up the bank and to the top of the falls. I walked out on the flat rocks being careful not to slip and fall. I took more pictures of the falls from the side and then took some downstream. I finally felt that I had taken enough pictures so I headed back to my pack. I stowed my camera and we worked our way up a steep path back to Sholam Road and back to the car. It was 3:25 PM and I was satisfied with the trip even though we had hiked only .7 miles in 45 minutes with 180 feet of elevation gain.

On Saturday, Jul 21st, I had planned to hike the Neversink Unique Area with by brother-in-law, Jeff. We had agreed to meet at my house at 9:00 AM and Jeff showed up right on time. The temperature was in the high 60's so I decided to wear a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I put on my Keen Glarus hiking boots which have become my "go to" boots which Keen has discontinued. When Jeff arrived I got Sheila and my gear in the car and Jeff pout his gear in and we left a little after 9:00 AM. I got on Route 17 and started for Rock Hill. I got off the Quickway at exit 109 and turned right on Katrina Falls Road to drive to the end of the road. I parked at 9:30 AM in the small parking area where there were three other cars. I set my GPS and showed Jeff how to set his and we started down the woods road toward the river at 9:35 AM. The trail was dry with only a few muddy spots here and there. At the bottom of the hill we turned left to stay on the main blue trail. At this point a yellow spur trail goes down to the river. Just after the turn we came to a small bridge over Wolf Brook. The water in the brook was low and I decided not to take any pictures. As we hiked up the small hill after the bridge we crossed a spot where there is always some overflow from the brook and it was bone dry. Jeff and I noticed the poor condition of the bridge which I hope the DEC will fix before it collapses. At the next trail junction, at the top of a short hill, we stayed to the right on the blue trail and descended through a wet area before starting up another small hill. At 1.2 miles another yellow spur trail headed down to the river but we stayed on the blue trail. at 1.4 miles we came to the first bridge across Mullet Brook. The old bridge which was falling apart was replaced with steel i-beams. We walked across the bridge while Sheila went down to the stream to cool off and get a drink. After crossing, the bridge we turned right on the yellow spur trail that goes down to the river at Denton Falls. Jeff and I were having a good time talking and walking along the trail. As we hiked, I was surprised we did not see any other people since there had been several cars in the lot. The trail down to the river is steep and was dry most of the way with some very wet spots. We were careful to keep our footing walk around the wettest places. At 10:30 AM we had hiked 1.65 miles and we were at the edge of the river.

We walked out onto the rocks by the river and I called Sheila to make sure she did not jump into the river. The water was very low in the river but the falls were still interesting. I grabbed my camera and took pictures upstream and downstream. I then worked my way to the rocks below the falls where I was able to take pictures of the falls and a few more downstream. I had Sheila pose on some rocks and took some pictures with the river in the background. Before we left the river, we made sure to get a drink. We walked back up the steep trail to the main blue trail and both Jeff and I commented that the trail didn't seem as steep on the way down. We turned right to continue the loop back to the car. At the top of the hill I mentioned to Jeff the option of going to High Falls but told him I would rather skip the extend trip on this day. We stayed to the left to start up the hill. After a brief walk uphill of .15 miles, we turned left onto the short trail down to Mullet Brook Falls. I was wondering what Mullet Brook Falls might look like since there had not been much rain lately. Soon the falls came into sight, the water was coming over the falls as only a trickle. The water comes from a large swamp further upstream and is full of tannins which give it a brown color. I dropped my pack where the trail ended and grabbed my camera to take some pictures. We worked my way across the stream which was almost dry and over the rocks. I noticed that someone had built several cairns at the base of the falls. I took some pictures of the falls and then posed Sheila for a few more. I took a few more shots of the falls using settings to soften the water falling over the rocks. We headed back to where I had left my pack where I put away my camera and shouldered my pack to head back out the spur trail. We walked back out to the main trail and turned left to complete the loop. As we climbed we noticed the rocky ledges to our right and I thought about exploring them at some time in the future. Jeff took the lead on the uphill walk and set a brisk pace. As the trail flattened out, Jeff and I noticed that there were several rocks overturned on and near the trail. We couldn't be sure but we both thought the rocks may have been overturned by a bear looking for grubs. Soon we crossed over the upper bridge spanning Mullet Brook. From the bridge the trail is flat or downhill for some time. As we hiked we met several small groups of people hiking toward us. Each time I led Sheila off the trail to let others pass. After a brief walk we were at a trail junction. Walking straight ahead on the trail leads to the Wolf Lake Multiple Use Area. We turned left and began to descend off the ridge. As we started to walk downhill, we met several more groups hiking in the opposite direction. As we hiked downhill, there were several areas of the trail that had brush beginning to encroach on the trail and there were several trees that needed to be removed. We walked downhill for some time and eventually came to the trail junction near the bridge over Wolf Creek where we had started the loop earlier. We continued to walk straight ahead to return to the parking area. Once on the other side of the brook we made the right turn on the woods road back to the car. Neither Jeff nor I were not enthusiastic about the uphill walk back to the car! We arrived at the parking area at 12:20 PM having hiked 4.6 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes including the stops at the two falls. The vertical gain was only about 980 feet. Jeff said he liked the hike and I agreed that it is one of my favorites.

On Friday, July 20th I wanted to get out for a short hike to try out a new pair of Keen Targhee II shoes to replace my Keen Glarus that are quickly wearing out. I also wanted to try out a new pair of loppers that I bought to do trail work. The loppers are the Corona DualLINK SL 4364. They are heavy duty bypass loppers with a padded grip and handles that extend to 37 inches. They are rated to cut branches up to 1 3/4 inches in diameter! I decided to go across the street and do some trail maintenance on the Round Top trails. I started to get ready around 1:00 PM and Sheila was excited even though we had been out the day before. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go across the street and she agreed. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I put on my new Keen Targhee II boots in size 9.5 as I thought my regular size 9 seemed too small. Sheila would not leave my side as I was getting ready as she wanted to make sure she was going too! We left the house at 1:30 PM and crossed the street with Sheila on her leash. Cindy carried my Silky Sugowaza saw and I carried the loppers. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash. We walked to the back of the church to begin the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Sheila responds well to the command "Pull" and the Siberian husky in her makes her well-suited for the job. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash and she bounded ahead of me following her nose. At the first trail junction we followed Sheila as she turned right and continued up the less steep part of the trail. I immediately began to use the loppers to cut various branches hanging onto or near the trail. The loppers worked smoothly and were especially good at cutting larger branches. We followed the blazes for the yellow trail up to the trail junction. Along the way I cut several large branches out of the way. We turned left at the trail junction and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. I cut a few small branches and then a lot of smaller ones. The loppers were really overkill for these smaller branches. At the next trail junction, we turned right on the blue trail and headed up the steepest hill to the summit of Round Top. On the summit we followed the trail over the top and I cut quiet a few branches along the way. We continued down the other side and I continued to cut branches. The loppers worked very well and the cushioned grips made the cutting very comfortable. At the yellow trail we turned right and then left at the next trail junction to head down to the lookout. I decided there wasn't much to cut so we just walked the trail. At the lookout we turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. We continued out to the trailhead where I put Sheila on her leash for the return trip. I decided that the Targhees were too large and allowed too much movement of my feet. At the trailhead I put Sheila on her leash and we turned right to descend the hill. We walked across the field to the driveway and home. The skies were still blue with puffy white clouds but the temperature was in the mid 80's with a high humidity. We were home at 2:30 PM having spent an hour and 30 minutes walking a little more than a mile and doing a lot of trimming.

On Thursday, July 19th I wanted to finally do the hike from Alder Lake to the lookout over Beecher Lake and the Zen Monastery. The Catskill Mountain Club had arranged to have the lookout cutout to restore the view as it had been years before. I was not able to participate as a volunteer due to a prior commitment but I was anxious to see the result. Cindy was not interested in this long a hike but I knew Sheila would not mind! I got up at 5:15 AM and got ready to go to the men's bible study at our church at 6:15 AM. When I returned to Livingston Manor at 7:30 AM, I noticed that there was still a lot of fog lying in the valleys so I decided to delay my departure and went to each breakfast at Cafe 43. I returned home and began to get ready under the watchful eye of Sheila. The temperatures were forecast to be a little cooler with lower humidity so I dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I put on my Keen Glarus hiking boots which have become my "go to" boots which Keen has discontinued. I got Sheila and my gear in the car a little after 9:00 AM and drove out Old Route 17 to the Beaverkill Road. I turned right and drove north on the Beaverkill Road through Lew Beach and Turnwood. When I came to Alder Creek Road on the left, I turned and followed the road until it took a sharp right. After the turn I continue straight ahead onto the access road for Alder Lake. When I arrived at the parking area I was surprised that the parking area was full an cars were beginning to park along the side of the road. I found a spot on the grass at the very end of the parking area. I set my GPS and put Sheila on her leash. The temperature was 68 degrees, a slight breeze was blowing and the humidity was very low. We headed toward Alder Lake passing by the remains of the Coykendall Mansion. I was sorry to see part of the ornate stone wall had collapsed and was marked with ugly caution tape. There was quite a noise coming from the area of the dam and it sounded like there were young people below the spillway. As we walked out onto the "lawn", I could see there was a group of people playing a game on the other side of the dam. I decided not to stop to take any pictures until we reached the viewpoint as this was definitely a destination hike. There were some geese on the lake but otherwise the scene was much the same as the last week when I had hiked with Bryce.

Sheila and I walked down to the trail along the north side of the lake and headed toward the upper end of the lake. The bushes and briars were beginning to close in on the trail and I wondered if the DEC was supposed to maintain the trail or if it was assigned to a volunteer. There were a few muddy spots but much of the trail was not even damp. Several of the primitive campsites were occupied by large groups. We crossed the first bridge and I saw that the beaver dams were still intact. The beavers have done such a good job that the trail between the two bridges is flooded making the walk more difficult. After crossing the second bridge, we walked up a little hill to the point where the Millbrook Ridge Trill branches to the left. We turned left and I let Sheila off her leash as we began the challenging part of the hike. The trail begins to climb almost immediately as it parallels the stream but the grade is initially minimal. There are at least three beaver meadows along the way but I ignored them as I was on a mission. The first beaver meadow is just off the trail at 1.85 miles and we walked on by it. After gaining about 200 feet over the next .4 miles, the trail leveled and there were two more beaver meadows. The first in this pair has a lean-to at the far end which is popular but beginning to show signs of needed repairs. The final beaver meadow has been my favorite as it is practically on the trail and I have taken some nice pictures of it. Just after the meadow the trail begins a more serious ascent. The highest point on the ridge is around 3480 feet meaning that only 20 more feet of elevation would make it a contender for the Catskill 3500 list. This part of the trail was a little longer than I remembered with several different climbs making me think we were at the top. The trail had not been maintained for some time with nettles closing in and several blowdowns that had not been touched and several others that were partially cleared. The trail is rocky and can be hard on the feet and legs on the ascent and descent. After 1.2 miles and over 700 feet of ascent we were at the highest point on the ridge! It was 11:15 AM and we had hiked a total of 3.5 miles. We began the descent down the other side of the hill which, of course, meant that this would be an ascent on the turn trip. The descent was much greater than I remembered and the walk a little longer. We lost 350 feet over the next .5 miles until the trail began to climb again. I already knew that I had underestimated the length of the hike and was disgusted that I had not checked my own website! I wasn't tired but I did keep wondering if I had somehow missed the lookout. The trail began to ascend and along the way there were several interesting rock formations. On formation looked as it "rockpeckers" had been working on the rocks. Again both the ascent and the distance were a little more than I remembered. The trail meandered back and forth until I was almost convinced I had somehow missed the viewpoint. After regaining 250 feet over .5 miles we were at the lookout.

It was 11:50 AM and we had covered 4.6 miles! The crew that cutout the lookout had done a magnificent job opening up the view down to the lake and across to the hills beyond. I took out my camera and took pictures of Sheila on top of the rock at the lookout with the lake and hills behind her. I took pictures of the lookout and the trees the drew had cut below. There were still a few larger trees farther away from the viewpoint that partially blocked the view but it was not possible to cut them. I used the Peak Finder app on my iPhone to identify some of the mountains in the distance before getting a bar and a drink. At noon I packed up and we started back down the trail toward Alder Lake. I had hoped that we could make some time on the way back but the climb back up to the highest point on Millbrook Ridge took some time. After that, there were the rocky and steep descent. Sheila had no problem but I had to be careful not to slip and somehow my poles were getting caught in crevices in the rocks. I noticed that On the way back the temperature was increasing and it was a little more humid. I was trying to keep track of my time and speed and we finally reached the beaver meadow and the lean-to. From here the descents were shallower and I was able to pick up some speed. By 2:05 PM we had hiked 8.25 miles are had arrived back at the trail around the lake. I looked to my left to check the condition of the bridge over the creek. The handrails were still missing from a tree that had fallen across the bridge. We turned right to make our way back along the north side of the lake. I immediately noticed that It was much quieter than it had been on the way out. As we approached the campsites, the noise increased but it was the noise of people having fun. I looked across at Cradle Rock Ridge and saw a man standing in the water about 20 feet from shore. I never though about the depth of the water in the lake but the water rose only as high as the man's thighs! We continued on the trail to the lawn where several people were relaxing on shore enjoying the sun. As we walked back up to the parking area, I could see a dog running around with the owner trying to convince him to obey. She eventually was able to get the dog in her car and Sheila and I continued on to the car. It was 2:25 PM and we had hiked 9.1 miles in 4 hours and 55 minutes with a vertical gain of 1992 feet. The temperature was 78 degrees but it was much hotter in the car which was black leather seating!

On Wednesday, July 18th I wanted to get out on a longer hike and decided to hike from Alder Lake to Millbrook Ridge and back. The lookout over Beecher Lake had recently been cleared and I wanted to see what it looked like. I got up at 8:00 AM and did a few things around the house before starting to get ready to hike. Sheila was excited as we had not been out for two days and she was ready to go. I was not sure which grandchild would be coming to the house so I waited around since I knew Bryce would want to go hiking. When Karl arrived at 9:15 AM he had Bryce with him but announced he would be picking him up at 2:30 PM. I didn't want to change my plans again but decided the 8 miles to Millbrook Ridge given the time constraint might be a little too far. I thought that hiking a figure 8 at Kelly Hollow would be fun and would allow Cindy to go along. I asked her and she agreed so we started to get ready to go. The hike is only about 4 miles but there are some interesting sites including a stream that runs between the trail out and the trail back. There is also a beaver pond on the trail with a lean-to. The temperatures were forecast to be a little cooler with lower humidity so I dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I put on my Keen Glarus hiking boots which have become my "go to" boots which keen has discontinued. Sheila would not leave my side as I was getting ready as she wanted to make sure she was going too! We got Sheila and our gear in the car and headed north on State Route 17 toward Roscoe. I prefer using the Beaverkill and Barkaboom Roads which saves over 0 miles but Cindy prefers fewer back roads. I took exit 94 and drove north toward the Pepacton Reservoir on Route 206. At the junction with Route 30, I turned left and followed Route 30 to the Dunraven Bridge. Here I turned right and the BWS roads until reaching the junction with the Barkaboom Road. I turned left on BWS 9. After 4.5 miles, I turned right on Millbrook Road and continued 5.25 miles to the parking lot for Kelly Hollow on the right. We parked at 10:45 AM with no other cars in the lot which suited me perfectly. I took a moment to set my GPS before starting our hike at 10:50 AM by heading out on the trail marked with yellow XC skiing blazes. The temperature was barely 70 degrees and the humidity was very low. The skies were blue with numerous iffy white clouds. My plan was to walk the trail in a figure 8 which is something I had done only once before. We followed the trail as it crossed a small stream and then turned right on the woods road heading south and ascending slightly passing through a gate. Along the way the trail was wet in spots from the rain the night before. It is always a pleasure to hike with Bryce as he is able to converse on many subjects and loves to discus Bible stories although he is only 7 years old.

At .3 miles we came to the short spur trail to a designated campsite and headed down the trail to check it out. There was enough water flowing in the stream to get water for camping and the area seems like a great place to stay overnight. We walked back up to the main trail and turned right to continue our hike. At .6 miles we came to the cutoff to the right for the Short Loop hike. We turned right to walk down the cutoff trail to the bridge. I took some pictures of Cindy, Bryce and Sheila before we crossed the ridge and headed up the trail to the main loop trail on the other side. Sheila went swimming in the stream and then ran up the bank dashing back and forth madly to Bryce's great delight. We turned left on the loop trail heading southwest and then south toward the beaver pond and lean-to. Over the next .4 miles we gained almost 300 feet for a 12% grade. Although this is not a steep climb it was more than I remembered. At 1.3 miles we were at the beaver pond which is quickly becoming a beaver meadow. There are no more beavers in the area and the pond is now a small puddle. There were some nice puffy white clouds in the blue sky so I took some pictures before we continued around the pond. The grass and briars were beginning to take over the trail and Bryce had on shorts making the short trip around the pond unpleasant. We stopped again on the other side and I took a few more pictures before continuing on to the lean-to in the woods. The lean-to was in good shape but beginning to deteriorate. We stopped to eat a snack and get a drink. Cindy and Bryce sat at the picnic table while I took some pictures of the lean-to and walked over to the privy. A tree had fallen just missing the privy. I opened the door and found the inside was a mess. I don't know who maintains this area but it the trails need some care and the privy could use some cleaning. There is a project to rebuild some lean-tos and this one could use some care. After a break, we continued on the trail now heading northeast and downhill. The trail made a turn so that we were heading southeast and we crossed a few bridges over small streams. Bryce began counting bridges as there were quite a few and more than I remembered. At one point we started to walk through a grove of pines and I stopped to take a few shots including a couple straight up. At 2 miles we came to the spot where I had bushwhacked up to Millbrook Ridge to look down on Alder Lake. At 2.3 miles we made and almost 180 degree turn and started heading north. I noted that this would be a good place to try another bushwhack as it was only .7 miles to the trail that runs along Millbrook Ridge. We continued north on the trail still descending. We were headed toward the crossover trail which we would again use to finish or figure 8.

Sheila alerted and I looked up to see a male hiker and his two dogs approaching. I immediately put Sheila on her leash but, of course, the other two dogs were running free. One dog approached Sheila and it clear they would not get along. The owner did get this dog leashed and the other seemed happy to keep his distance. We stopped to talk for a few minutes as I noticed both dogs were equipped with a combination training and GPS collar. I mentioned that Sheila had a training collar and told the owner I had first run across these devices when a dog appareled by my side on Friday Mountain a few years ago. I explained the dog kept "flinching" and that the owner finally appeared and explained the electronic collar. As we talked it became clear that the owner, Doug, was the same man I had met on Friday! He has two rather rare bur beautiful dogs. One is a Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog, the state dog of Louisiana, and the other a Plott Hound, the state dog of North Carolina. Both dogs are hunting dogs and often follow scent trails for miles so Doug has the collars that will track them. After talking, we continued in opposite directions. Within a short distance, we saw a couple approaching with two small dogs who were also running free. They ran at Sheila since their owners had no control over them. Sheila, Cindy and I discouraged their approach. The owners caught up and moved them up the trail without a word of apology and an attitude that showed we were at fault! At 3 miles we again came to the crossover trail and turned left to cross the middle of the figure 8. We crossed the bridge and walked up the hill on the other side to the main trail. This time we turned right and started to walk 1.1 miles back to the car. The day was very pleasant with a slight breeze blowing. This part of the trail was not well marked but the path was pretty obvious as it followed a woods road. At 3.9 miles we came to the Middletown Cemetery and Bryce and I decided to explore a little. Several gravestone had special markers designated the interred as Civil War veterans. One grave had a marker indicating the deceased had fought in the Revolution and had died in 1792! After looking at a few more stones, we continued out the access road to Millbrook Road. We turned right and walked the final .3 miles back to the car. It was 1:35 PM and we had spent 2 hours and 44 minutes hiking 4.3 miles with an elevation gain of 670 feet. We had paused for a little over 30 minutes. On the way back I decided to take the Barkaboom and Beaverkill Road route which saved us a little time. The temperature on the return trip was still only 73 degrees.

On Monday, July 16th I wanted to get out on a longer hike and decided to hike from Alder Lake to Millbrook Ridge and back. The lookout over Beecher Lake had recently been cleared and I wanted to see what it looked like. I got up at 8:00 AM and did a few things around the house before starting to get ready to hike. Sheila was excited as we had not been out for two days and she was ready to go. As I was about to get dressed the ambulance pager went off and I responded. By the time I returned home, I wasn't sure there was enough time to hike since the forecast called for afternoon thunderstorms. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go across the street and hike Round Top but she declined. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I could fend off the ticks which have been very numerous so far this season. I tried on my new Keen Targhee II boots but decided I might need a half size large and I switched to my Keen Glarus hiking boots. Sheila would not leave my side as I was getting ready as she wanted to make sure she was going too! We left the house at 12:50 PM and crossed the street with Sheila on her leash. We walked to the back of the church to begin the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Sheila responds well to the command "Pull" and the Siberian husky in her makes her well-suited for the job. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash and she bounded ahead of me following her nose. At the first trail junction I followed Sheila as she turned right and continued up the less steep part of the trail. It was really a pleasure to walk on the trails and we found there were no major blowdowns. I did spend some time clearing sticks and small branches from the trail.

We followed the blazes for the yellow trail up to the trail junction. We turned left at the trail junction and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next trail junction, we turned right on the blue trail and headed up the steepest hill to the summit of Round Top. On the summit we followed the trail over the top and then down the other side. This part went quickly. At the yellow trail we turned right and then left at the next trail junction to head down to the lookout. At the lookout we turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. We turned around and headed back up the hill to the lookout. We turned right at the top following the yellow trail on the long, gentle climb to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction. Here we turned left and followed the blue trail to the summit. We continued on the trail and once again we crossed the summit and started down the other side. We turned left on the yellow trail and then right at the next trail junction. It was enjoyable following the old woods road back down to the first trail junction. Even though doing repeat figure 8's is a little boring it allows me to think about other matters. We immediately turned around and did a third figure 8 which matched the first. I did notice that after the first one I was tired but now I was feeling pretty good. Sheila was taking a few breaks by laying down in the shade until I caught up. This sometimes means she is hot and thirsty. By the end of the third figure 8 it was definitely hotter and more humid. I decided to one more and we repeated the same route as the second figure 8. This time when we returned to the first trail junction we continued out to the trailhead. At the trailhead I put Sheila on her leash and we turned right to descend the hill. We walked across the field to the driveway and home. The skies were still blue with puffy white clouds but the temperature was in the high 80's with a high humidity. We were home at 1:35 PM having spent an hour and 45 minutes walking a little more than 3 miles. I plan on doing the Millbrook Ridge hike later in the week when the temperatures are forecast to be in the 70's!

On Friday, July 13th I wanted to get in a hike with Cindy somewhere. We had the whole day free so I knew we could hike close to home or travel farther away. Cindy said it had to be a hike that wasn't too strenuous. I asked her where she wanted to go and she suggested the Basha Kill. I asked if an 8.5 mile loop was acceptable and she said "No." I suggested going to Bowman Lake State Park to hike some of the trails around the lake which are flat but beautiful. Cindy said this was too far away. After a few more suggestions were turned down, I made up my mind to simply go and hike Millbrook Ridge from Alder Lake with Sheila. I made one last suggestion that we go to Frick Pond and hike the loop and Cindy agreed. I was not enthusiastic about this choice but I knew that it meant that I would get in at least 6 miles. By the time we finally decided where we were going it was 9:30 AM And the temperature was just reaching 70 degrees. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would discourage the ticks. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which are my "go to" hiking boots since I had not broken in the new Keen Targhee II boots. The skies were blue with a few clouds and I knew the forecast did not call for any rain. Sheila was eager to get in the car and doubly happy since both Cindy and I were going. We left Livingston Manor at 10:15 AM to head for Frick Pond. I had already decided that I would limit my photography and perhaps avoid stopping at all to take pictures. I drove out the DeBruce Road and turned left after six miles on Mongaup Pond Road. Just before the road split, Cindy and I both noticed a movement on the left side of the road. I slowed and we saw a single red fox in the woods. I backed up to get a better look and it stared at us for a moment before disappearing. At the split in the road I stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road. We were at the parking area and out on the Quick Lake Trail by 10:35 AM. There were no other cars so I did not expect to meet anyone. Sheila was more than ready to get going even though we had hiked 14 miles two days before. The temperature seemed cooler and the humidity lower than on Wednesday when I hiked 14 miles to Quick Lake. There was also a slight breeze which unfortunately did not discourage the insects. The woods road passed the register box to Frick Pond was damp but there were only a few areas of standing water and only a little mud. At Gravestone Junction we stayed to the left on the red Quick Lake Trail crossing the stepping stones the Willowemoc Trail Crew had installed. We walked down to the pond and crossed the bridge over the outlet. The scene was much the same as always and there was nothing distinguishing to photograph. I stayed with my plan and continued on the trail. As we walked on the trail along the west side of the pond the one area that was usually wet and muddy was almost dry. At the next trail junction with the Big Rock Trail, we headed left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. We were keeping a pretty steady pace as we headed for Iron Wheel Junction. Sheila was running around following game trails and chasing a few chipmunks and squirrels. I removed a few branches from the trail as I walked along. The trail was drier than I expected. Once we got to the "spruce tunnel" there were several trees down on the trail. The small stream through the forest was almost dry. I was also happy that the ferns and grasses were also dry compared to my experience two days before when everything was soaked! When we arrived at Iron Wheel Junction, we turned left to head toward Hodge Pond staying on the Quick Lake Trail.

We kept a quick pace up the hilly part of the trail. The trail was washed out in several places and I continued to remove small obstacles. At one point we stopped to get a drink and split a bar. I put on some insect repellant as the mosquitoes were becoming an annoyance. We continued on the trail until it leveled off and descended slightly to Junkyard Junction at 3.1 miles. On Wednesday I had turned left here to hike bore than 4 miles more to Quick Lake. On this day we turned right at this intersection and headed across the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. The Flynn Trail was slightly damp in a few places bit there was virtually no mud. The trip across this part of the Flynn Trail went quickly. Soon we were at the gate where the trail turns right and heads down toward Hodge Pond. We reached the area near the shore of the pond and turned left to follow the jeep trail around the back of the pond. The sky was still blue and there were a few more puffy white clouds so I decided to stop for a few moments at the head of the pond. The pond was very placid and there were almost no sounds. Sheila went for a swim and I took a few pictures of her and the pond. On the east side of the pond I turned left up the hill toward the ruins of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. The climb up this trail is steeper than the trail from the outlet of Hodge Pond but it is also shorter! When we got to the top of the hill, we turned right to head back toward the Flynn Trail. Once we were back at the Flynn Trail, we turned left for a straight shot back to the car. We set a fast pace to the junction with the Big Rock Trail and then had about 1.7 miles to go to get back to the car. This stretch can often seem long and boring but I alternated between talking to Cindy and getting lost in my own thoughts. Everything was very green with a few areas where the grass seemed to have died off. We did stop at some rock ledges for a quick drink before making the last push back to the car. As we neared the gate, we came to the huge spruce tree that lies across the trail. Cindy and I had cut an opening through it to allow hikers to pass. This was still in good shape and allowed us to pass easily. We followed the Flynn Trail to the gate and then turned left to continue on the trail to avoid the private property around the cabin. We followed the trail through the woods and back to the car arriving at 1:45 PM. We hiked 6.3 miles in hours and 5 minutes with 890 feet of elevation gain. We stopped for only 14 minutes and our overall and moving average speeds were both 2.2 mph.

On Wednesday, July 11th I had decided that I wanted to go on a much longer hike than I had been doing to see if I was at all ready for some sections of the Finger Lakes Trail. I settled on to the Frick Pond area and hiking from the trailhead to Quick Lake and back which I knew was a 14 mile hike. This was double the distance compare to most hikes I had been doing! The forecast was for temperatures in the high 70 or low 80's which moderate humidity and no rain. It did rain overnight and I knew that would mean everything would be wet. The trails I would be using are not well traveled and tend to be overgrown with grass and ferns in the open areas. I thought I would start earlier than I had been. I was awoken early by the ambulance pager which went off at about 6:00 AM. We went to Roscoe to investigate an activated medical alarm. We never found a patient which is annoying but it meant I was home by 7:00 AM. I decided to get ready to go and noted that the temperature was around 70 degrees. As I began to get ready, Sheila was ready to go and stayed close so that I would not forget her. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which seems to discourage the ticks! I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which are my "go to" hiking boots since I had not broken in the new Keen Targhee II boots and a 14 mile hike is not the time to do this. I got my gear together and put Sheila in the back seat and headed out the DeBruce Road at 8:45 AM. On the drive out I went over all the excuses for not doing the long hike. It was too big a jump in mileage. I was tired from not sleeping well and the ambulance call. The trails would be wet with rain and dew. Fortunately, I put all these behind me! After six miles, I turned left on Mongaup Pond Road and stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road when it split. When we arrived at the trailhead, there was one vehicle in the smaller parking area when I parked in the larger lot. The temperature was 68 degrees when I set my GPS and we walked out the back of the parking area to start out on the Quick Lake Trail at 9:10 AM. We turned left at the trail register on the wide woods road that heads out to Frick Pond. The trail was damp from the rain the evening before but was really wet or muddy. After a short walk, Sheila alerted and I looked ahead to find a group of campers hiking in our direction. I put Sheila on her leash as we passed by the group whose leaders had them all on the other side of the trail. Several remarked at how pretty Sheila was and I wished she was a little more friendly with strangers. At Gravestone Junction we kept to the left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. We passed over the bridge at the outlet end of Frick Pond. There wasn't much to photograph and I was on a mission to complete the hike. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we stayed to the left and continued on the Quick Lake Trail toward Iron Wheel Junction. The grass and weeds were wet and soon I could feel the moisture starting to get through to my feet. There were only a few damp spot on the trail and almost no mud. We passed through the spruce tunnel and crossed the small stream in the woods. The stream volume was very low and a few more dry days may see it disappear. The uphill to Iron Wheel junction didn't seem very challenging and we were soon at Iron Wheel Junction. We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail after hiking about 1.5 miles.

The trail from Iron Wheel Junction to Junkyard Junction is about 1.6 miles and it is all uphill gaining 465 feet. I was still fresh and Sheila was running well ahead of me. I would have liked to have another human hiking partner but I had a myriad of things to think about. At 10:30 AM we were at Junkyard Junction where we turned left to head toward Quick Lake. Sheila had already turned right on the Flynn Trail and when I called her back she gave me a strange look. This was new territory for her and I had not been out this part of the trail in over 5 years. The hiking trail is criss-crossed by snowmobile trails and in some places they run together for a distance. I wanted to make sure I stayed on the Quick Lake trail all the way to Quick Lake. After I reached the lean-to, I would make a decision about the return route. Over the next 1.1 miles the trail rolled up and down and was not crossed by any other trails. The trail was mostly covered by trees and I did not have to deal with too many wet ferns. We came to Coyote Junction and I checked the Avenza app on my iPhone as the trail and the junction was not well marked. I had noticed all along this part of the trail that the markers were few and far between and they were old. This trail is used expensively by snowmobilers but not by hikers. We turned to the right at Coyote Junction and followed the Quick Lake Trail for .6 miles to Bobcat Junction. This part of the trail was more open and my shoes became soaked from the wet grass and ferns. This section of trail also rolled and had a few interesting rock ledges. I noticed that an ATV had been through on the trails and had matted down some of the ferns and grasses making the walk easier. I stopped in one spot to take a few shots of the rock ledges and the trail. When we arrived at Bobcat Junction the snowmobile trail went off to the right but we continued straight ahead for about a mile on the Quick Lake Trail heading for Flat Rock Junction. Over this section of trail we began to descend losing 260 feet and I knew we would have to climb back up the trail to get back to the car. This part of the trail is not used as much by snowmobiles and the ATV had followed the snowmobile trail. It was harder to wade through the ferns and grass and it was much wetter. Sheila seemed to enjoy if as she would disappear through the ferns and reappear with a ruff of green ferns! Flat Rock Junction id a four-way junction as the snowmobile crosses the hiking trail. I knew the snowmobile trail to the left was the quickest way to Quick Lake but we walk straight across the junction to stay on the hiking trail. The trail circled to the north and finally rejoined the snowmobile trail after .9 miles. This trail was all downhill and I remembered the climb back was a killer. We walked another .4 miles downhill to the Quick Lake lean-to. The lean-to was in pretty good shape but Quick Lake is now more like Quick Pond! I took pictures of the lean-to with and without Sheila and then walked over to a viewpoint over the water. I took a few shots and returned to the lean-to. I got a drink and gave Sheila one while I ate a bar. It was 12:30 PM and the GPS indicated we had hiked 7.4 miles. I packed up and we started back toward the car.

The hike so far had been pretty but without any major sites except for Quick Lake. I was actually getting a little bored with seeing a lot of green ferns! I decided to try hiking back on the snowmobile trails for some variety even though the hiking and snowmobile trails do overlap. We hiked the .4 miles back to where the trails split and I stayed right on the snowmobile trail back to Flat Rock Junction. This turned out to be a little more than half the distance of the hiking trail but the elevation gain was the same resulting in a steeper ascent. The grade was less than 10% but I have to admit I was a little tired at this point. I was also worried about blisters and a pain in my right knee. At Flat Rock Junction we retraced our route out by continuing through Bobcat Junction to Coyote Junction on the Quick Lake Trail. Although out and back hikes are my least favorite, the familiarity of the trail was reassuring. At Coyote Junction we turned right to follow the snowmobile trail first east and then south for 1.25 miles losing 400 feet. I had been on this trail before but it had been a long time and I kept thinking we were farther along than we actually were! At 11 miles into the hike the trail turned east and then south as we climbed 270 feet to the highest point on that section. The climb wasn't steep or long but I was glad when we were at the top as I knew the rest of the trip was downhill or flat. I noticed that when Sheila got too far ahead of me she would lay down in the shade. I was a little worried but she always hopped right up and ran off down the trail. I realized she was just being smart. We started to descend and the trail turned east. After .7 miles I looked up to see that we had merged with the Quick Lake Trail just north of Iron Wheel junction. I could feel that my feet had swollen some and were drenched but I knew how far we had to hike and the trail was very familiar. We turned right at Iron Wheel junction and hiked downhill to the spruce tunnel where we recrossed the stream. We kept up a good pace and soon were passing by the junction with the Big Rock Trail. When we crossed the bridge at Frick Pond, I looked at the scene and had to stop to take a few pictures. After packing up, we walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction and then continued on the trail back to the car. The parking lot was empty when we arrived at 3:45 PM. We had hiked 14.3 miles in 6.5 hours with less than 15 minutes of stopped time. Our overall speed was just over 2 mph and I was surprised that the elevation gain was 2200 feet. I was tired but I still could have pushed a few more miles especially with dry feet!

On Monday, July 9th, I planned to take a longer hike somewhere but had not developed any specific plans. My brother-in-law, Jeff, contacted me Sunday night to see if I wanted to hike in the afternoon and I agreed. We decided to meet on Route 206 between Roscoe and Downsville and hike some route involving the trails around Campbell Mountain and Trout Pond. Our appointed meeting time was 12:30 Pm so I ha plenty of time to do a few chores around the house before heading out. As I began to get ready around 11:00 AM I noted that the temperature had just entered the low 70's so I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters to keep the ticks out. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which are my "go to" hiking boots although I had recently purchased a pair of Keen Targhee II boots. I packed only one bottle of water and loaded my gear into my pack under the watchful eye of Sheila who is always near but not too near to be considered under foot. We finally pulled out of Livingston Manor just after 11:45 AM when the temperature was still in the low 70's. I drove west and north on Route 17 to exit 94 for Roscoe. From here I drove north toward Downsville of Route 206. After passing over the top of Brock Mountain, I began watching for the place where the trail crosses the road just down the hill from Jug Tavern Road. I pulled into the small parking area to wait for Jeff. I was early so I had to wait a little while for him to arrive. When he did pull in, we talked briefly and decided to drive to Trout Pond and hike from there back to Route 206. Jeff got his gear in my car and sat in the front seat. I was concerned that Sheila might object but she greeted Jeff warmly as one of the "pack". I drove back toward Roscoe on Route 206 and turned right on Morton Hill Road just before the county line. As luck would have it, the Town of Colchester had just oiled and chipped the road but I drove slowly and did not hear too many stones hit the car. At Russell Brook Road I decided to drive down the road to the lower parking area. My new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross seemed to handle the rough road and we were soon parked in the lower lot. There was only one pickup truck parked as we got ready to hike. I set my GPS and we were off at 12:40 PM. We walked down the wide woods road to the stream and crossed over on the bridge. As we passed the Japanese knotweed I pointed out the work I had done cutting it back away from the trail. At the first trail junction we continued straight ahead toward Trout Pond. We both remarked that it was a very pleasant day with warm but dry air. The walk to the pond seemed to go quickly as we conversed on many topics. As we approached the pond, we could hear voices so I put Sheila on her leash. We stopped at the "beach" at the outlet end of the pond. I took a few pictures although the scene was not remarkable. Even though there were a few other people near the spillway, I let Sheila off her leash so that she could swim and retrieve a stick. After a few minutes, we continued our hike by walking back to the main trail.

The trail along the east side of the pond was damp in places and we could see the tracks of a motorized vehicle. It seemed larger than an ATV but we could never determine the exact type or purpose. As we approached the lean-to, I stopped to remove a tiny sharp stone from my right boot. It is surprising how annoying this can be! While stopped, we heard a high-pitched noise in the brush. It was most probably a bird but I began to think baby bear! The noise moved on and so did we as we stayed right at the lean-to the start over the hill to Campbell Brook Road. Over the next .8 miles we headed almost due north gaining 440 feet. This is about a 10% grade which is not extreme but we were certainly aware that we were ascending. Our conversations continued on a variety of topics which made the hiking seem to go faster. From the top of the hill we began a descent of 410 feet over .8 miles making the hill almost symmetrical except for the twists and turns on the way down. We made a short ascent to Campbell Brook Road at 3.2 miles into the hike. It was 2:30 PM and I began to realize the hike was a little longer than I thought and we were hiking a little slower than I had planned. I worried that Jeff would have a hard time making his 5:00 PM meeting in Delhi if we completed the entire hike. We turned left on Campbell Brook Road and walk a few hundred feet west to the point where the trail again entered the woods. This section of trail is not used very much so the blazing and maintenance leave something to be desired. We began to hiked north and then northwest on an ascent of 335 feet in .5 miles to the summit of an unnamed hill. We agreed that completing the hike might take a little too long. I took a chance and called my wife and was happy to be able to contact her. She agreed to meet us where the trail intersected Campbell Brook Road! Jeff and I began to descend the hill heading toward our pickup point. Somewhere along the way Sheila came loping along and Jeff noticed she was limping and favoring her right from foot. I was fearing that she had injured her leg or cut herself badly. I inspected her front left paw and found a large thorn over and inch long embedded in between her pads. I had to give it a firm tug to get it out. After I removed it, Sheila was back to running around without any after effects. She is a tough dog! We continued to descend the trail as it headed northwest and then east and northeast. We were having trouble finding blazes and there were many areas with high grass, briars and nettles. The trail was pretty obvious and at 4.7 miles we crossed Campbell Brook on a bridge and began to ascend. I was pretty sure the ascent on a grass woods road was simply the approach to Campbell Mountain Road so I began to call out Cindy's name. I didn't really expect her to answer but after a few calls she did! Soon we could see the car and Cindy and Sheila went running ahead to greet her. We arrived at the car at 3:30 PM after hiking 5.1 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes with an elevation gain of 1320 feet. Our average speed was a little under 2 mph which was okay for the rolling terrain. Jeff said he would contact me soon to try another hike. We agreed that we would like to actually hike over Campbell Mountain sometime!

On Saturday, July 7th, I asked Cindy if she wanted to go for a walk. She said "Yes" and suggested we go for a hike that was a little farther from home. I agreed but turned down the suggestion of Thacher Park as I knew it would be packed on the weekend. I suggested Morgan Hill State Forest and she agreed. I wanted to hike the eastern loop that goes by Shackham Pond and uses some dirt and gravel roads. Fortunately the heat wave had broken and the weather forecast was for partly sunny skies with highs only in the high 70's and much lower humidity. In fact, the temperature at 8:00 AM was 65 degrees and it seemed very comfortable. I remembered the directions to Morgan Hill and knew that the 130 mile trip would take a little over 2 hours. I wanted to get an early start but we seemed to be in slow motion as we ate breakfast and got ready. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which are my "go to" hiking boots. I packed two bottles of water and loaded my gear into my pack under the watchful eye of Sheila who is always near but not too near to be considered under foot. We finally pulled out of Livingston Manor just after 9:00 AM when the temperature was still in the mid 60's. The trip is pretty straightforward but I have not driven this far to hike in some time. I drove west and north on Route 17 to Binghamton and then north on I81 to exit 11. Route 13 north took us about 10 miles to Route 91 in Truxton where I turned left. After about 3.6 miles, I turned right on Shackham Road in Morgan Hill State Forest. After about .5 miles, there is a pulloff at the side of the road where North Country Trail crosses but I knew this was the lower crossing so I continued to drive until I saw a large parking area on the right and a state forest sign on the left. I drove a little farther up the road and within .5 miles found another pulloff on the right and signs for the North Country Trail. There were already a few cars parked at the side of the road. The North Country National Scenic Trail stretches approximately 4,600 miles from Crown Point on Lake Champlain in eastern New York to Lake Sakakawea State Park in central North Dakota in the United States. I parked the car at 11:05 AM and we were on the trail by 11:15 AM. We headed east on the NCT and it was only a short distance to the shores of Shackham Pond. The pond was pretty and was surrounded by very green trees. The water was completely still and the trees wand sky were reflected on the surface of the water. The only problem was that the skies had no puffy white clouds! I took some pictures before we headed back to the main trail. Within a few hundred feet, the trail split and I stayed to the left to walk over a small hill and down to the shore. In a clearing we found a few gravestones from the Hodgson family who once owned the property. I got my camera out and took a few more pictures. I noticed some large birds on the other side of the pond and zoomed in on them. There were at least four pairs of Great Blue Heron in very large nests. I took as many pictures as I could but I had to sit to steady the camera at the extreme magnification. After taking my pictures, I put the camera back in my packed and we headed back to the main trail. We passed across the top of the dam that creates the pond. I again dropped my pack and took some more pictures from a different angle.

We resumed our hike heading north through mostly hardwood forest. At about .7 miles we crossed a well-maintained dirt road and entered an evergreen forest. We passed by the FLT/NCNST register and continued on the trail. The trail paralleled a small stream for some time and was damp and muddy in places. In this area the trail was almost flat with only a few bumps. We passed by several woods roads and at 1.9 miles the trail again crossed a road before entering the woods again. I wasn't sure if this was Morgan Hill Road where I wanted to turn right and I had not brought a map. The FLT continued straight ahead into the woods but I knew it silly continued east and we wanted to head south. We turned right on the dirt road which became Morgan Hill Road at 2.2 miles after a gate which was open and familiar from one of my previous hikes. The road forked after this but I knew that we should stay to the left. Walking on the road may not be excited but it is easy and the first part of it seemed pretty secluded. It was almost like walking a woods road. The day was beginning to get warmer especially since we were now walking in and out of the sunlight. A nice breeze helped keep us cool and the humidity still was low. From previous trips I knew that the hike on the road would be pretty long so I settled in and started to think about the beauty around me. At 4.2 miles Eaton Hill Road came in from the left and I knew it would be only a half mile or so until the trail would appear on the right. We began to hear voices in the woods and then spotted some mountain bikers riding their trails. Two of the bikers came out into the road and said "Hello"> They asked if we had seen a parking area with a green Subaru farther down the road. I told them we had seen the parking area but there was no car. Cindy and I both got the impression they were looking for the place they had parked their own car! Just to make sure we didn't go to far and miss the turn onto the trail, I checked my own website which had some great instructions! We continued and the NCT crossed within a short distance. We turned right into the forest and headed almost due east along a tributary of Shackham Brook. We stopped to get a drink and a snack and two hikers with dogs on leashes chose to pass us. I knew that we were probably faster than they were. We started hiking and quickly caught up to the others but I stayed a little behind to avoid interactions with their dogs. They were very courteous and stepped off the trail to allow us to pass and we never saw them again. We navigated a muddy section of trail on our way to a beautiful ravine. At 5.2 miles we walked down the trail into the ravine. The trail crossed the brook here but I could see a small waterfall just upstream but there was not enough water to bother fisting it this time.

The trail almost immediately met a woods road and followed it for some distance until the point where the trail turned to the right off the woods road and headed down. We started to walk parallel to the brook and I noticed several small waterfalls. At one point I saw a larger cascade and walked to the edge of the high bank. There were too many trees and too little water to make taking pictures worthwhile. We continued to walk on parallel to the brook until 6.1 miles where there was another nice waterfall to the left of the trail. Although it wasn't that high and there wasn't much water, I stopped and took a few pictures before continuing on the trail toward Shackham Road. We met a few more people on the trail coming from the lower parking lot on the road. One group had a dog which was on a leash! A nice footbridge crossed the stream and as I looked down I saw that the streambed was solid rock. Shackham Brook in this area flows for at least several hundred feet over solid bedrock. I took a few pictures and then posed Sheila on the bridge for a few more shots. We found a way around a very muddy patch on the other side of the trail. From here it was a short walk to Shackham Road 6.65 miles into the hike at 2:35 PM. The car was still 1.5 miles up the road which is paved and mostly uphill! I would have continued on to Jones Hill and Tinker Falls but I knew Cindy was tired. Also, the falls are usually a disappointment unless there was been a recent, hard rainfall. I stowed my poles in my pack and out Sheila on her leash. I was still feeling very good as Sheila and I set off heading north on Shackham Road. At one point I looked back and saw that I needed to slow down as we were outpacing Cindy. We arrived back at the car at 3:05 PM after hiking 8 miles with an elevation gain of 1075 feet. The temperature was now 78 degrees but the black interior of my new car was considerably warmer. Despite over 30 minutes of stops we had averaged over 2 mph which I considered good!

On Thursday, July 5th I knew I needed to get out in the morning since showers were forecast for the afternoon. I decided to go to Frick Pond to cut some blowdowns I was nursing a blister on my foot and didn't want to hike too far. I slept in a little late but when I got up at 9:00 AM it was already in the high 70's and the humidity seemed oppressive! I was hoping the heat wave would break but today was not the day. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which are my "go to" hiking boots. I packed two bottles of water and loaded my gear into my pack Under the watchful eye of Sheila who is always near but not too near to be considered under foot. I packed both my Silky Katanaboy and Sugowaza saws and brought along my Fiskars X27 axe. The Sugowaza is a 17" curved and fixed blade which fits in a scabbard. The KatanaBoy is almost two feet long and is a folding saw with a nylon carrier. Both are remarkably sharp and can take care of some large tree trunks. I brought along my light Fiskars axe leaving the full-sized Council Tools Velvicut at home. The latter has a 4 pound head so I don't bring it unless I don't have to carry it very far. I left my poles at home knowing I would be carrying the tools the whole way to do trail work. I got my gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and left Livingston Manor around 9:45 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road but as I made the turn there was a line of traffic behind a truck painting lines on the road. I hoped they would stop or let the traffic by after passing under the Quickway but they continued out the DeBruce Road in the direction I was going. I knew I didn't want to follow them so I turned around and drove back home. My new plan was to hike on Round Top see inspect the condition of the trails. I parked the car which distressed Sheila greatly especially when I went inside to drop my pack and tools. I came back out quickly and rescued Sheila from the backseat. I put her on her leash and she pulled me out the driveway knowing exactly where we were going. I decided we could do some figure 8's just for the exercise and to take a look at the condition of the trails. My aim was to do four figure 8's which was what I was doing before the snow fell for the winter. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street at about 10:10 AM. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church. We were met by a very pretty dark brown male dog who was running around without an owner in site. He seemed friendly but was being an annoyance. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church with the other dog following closely behind despite my encouragement for him to "Go home!" I could hear someone calling him but the dog was paying no attention and the person calling was too lazy to run after him. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill.

When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. As we entered the trees, the other dog continued to follow us so I left Sheila on her leash and continued to yell at the dog. At the first trail junction we continued straight ahead to walk the steeper path to the viewpoint and the other dog finally lost interest and disappeared. I let Sheila off her leash as we climbed the hill. At the lookout I noted that there was no garbage and everything was in order. From the upper part of the lookout the trees block most of the view despite the efforts of the Town of Rockland sawyer crew to cut down some trees. I walked down to the lower lookout and found only one tree blocking the view. The problem is that getting to the lower lookout is a little difficult for the average person. We followed the trail to the right and started the gentle climb through the woods. The trail was really beautiful and clear of most branches. The trail bed was lined with very green ferns and pretty clearly delineated. When we reached the next trail junction, we stayed to the right to follow the lower trail around the base of Round Top to the next junction. There were a few branches encroaching on the trail and I made a note to rerun in the next few days to do some lopping. At the next junction we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the steeper blue trail. There were several places where lopping was needed especially near the top. We walked across the summit of Round Top where a few more bushes needed some trimming and down the other side which is also a little steep. When we got to the yellow trail, we turned left to follow it to the second trail junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail back to the very first trail junction. Along the way were a few branches hanging down unto the trail. At the trail junction we turned around and retraced our steps taking the more gentle path this time. When the yellow trail turned left, we followed it to the next trail junction were we turned right and headed up the blue trail to the summit. We walked over the top and down the other side to the yellow trail again. We turned right and followed the trail along the base of Round Top. Where the yellow trail turned left, we followed it to the left and down to the lookout. From the lookout we walked down hill to the first trail junction. I was pretty tired at this point and I am sure the high humidity had contributed to this feeling. Since my goal was to do four figure 8's we turned around to start back up the hill. It takes us about 20 minutes to do one complete figure 8 from the first trail junction. We repeated the first figure 8's with me taking time to think about various topics. By the time we were into this third figure 8, I was feeling better and ready for the final one! Sheila was well-behaved and stayed with me most of the time. After finishing the last figure 8, we walked out to the trailhead. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down the cemetery hill and across the field to our driveway. It was 11:55 AM and we had hiked about 3.3 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes. It must have been a good workout as I was tired. When I got home, I looked at the grass and decided I wanted to mow it before the rains came and it grew any more. I also wanted to start my Stihl string trimmer which I had not used since the previous fall. I was surprised that I remembered exactly how to use it and that it started with no problems!

On Tuesday, July 3rd, I wanted to get in a hike in the morning since thunderstorms were predicted for the afternoon. The forecast for the rest of the week also called for the possibility storms which I knew might limit my hiking. I decided that I needed a hike close to home but wanted to get away from the "usual places" that I frequent! I thought about a list of options and settled on a hike from Alder Lake to the lookout over Beecher Lake. This viewpoint had been recently cut out to restore the view of Beecher Lake that had been blocked by the trees that had grown up over the years. My grandson Bryce would be hiking with me and I wasn't sure that we could make the 8.5 mile round trip in time to avoid the afternoon storms. When I woke up at 8:00 AM it was already in the low 70's with high humidity. I knew this also might limit the distance we would want to hike. Bryce arrived shortly after 9:00 AM. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which are my "go to" hiking boots. I packed two bottles of water and Bryce brought his own Camelbak. I got my gear and Sheila in the car and headed up the Beaverkill Road somewhere around 9:45 AM. I headed toward Turnwood and Alder Creek Road where I made a left and drove to the Alder Lake parking lot. I parked at 10:10 AM started our hike almost immediately. There were a few other vehicles in the lot by the lake and we could hear machinery working near the dam. The temperature was 78 degrees with a slight breeze but relatively high humidity. The skies were blue with puffy white clouds. We headed down to the "lawn" passing by the stone foundations which marked the last remnants of the Coykendall Mansion. Bryce asked about them and I told him the story of the mansion and its final demise. A truck was parked by the ruins and another was positioned in the lawn by the dam. The lawn had been mowed and the truck by the dam had DEC marking although I could not see exactly what they were doing. We walked toward the trail around the left side of the lake but when I saw the clouds over the lake I decided to stop and take some pictures. Sheila immediately jumped into the water and I took some picture of her and more pictures of the lake including Millbrook Ridge and Cradle Rick Ridge. I pointed out all the features to Bryce. We headed over to the trail with Sheila on her leash and as we walked along the trail I kept an eye out for the occupants of the vehicles in the parking area. Brush and branches were beginning to grow into the trail and they needed some pruning. Sheila was happy to be out and so was Bryce. as we passed the last campsite, I noticed it was occupied and a pit bull came out to greet us. The owner claimed the dog was friendly and I told him mine was sometimes friendly. He controlled his dog and we passed by the campsite.

As we crossed the bridges on the trail, we both noticed the beaver dams that had water backed up so much that the trail was plodding. I stopped to take a few pictures before we continued on the trail toward the junction with the Millbrook Ridge Trail. As we approached the trail junction, we met two women with three dogs. All the dogs were on leashes but one women had trouble controlling two of the dogs. At about .8 miles we turned left to head toward the lean-to on the Millbrook Ridge Trail. As we turned, I noticed that the next bridge had been cleared of a large tree that had fallen across it. he trail was wet and muddy in many places and there were both old and new blowdowns to contend with. Some of the blowdowns had been cut but whoever did the cutting left what they cut in the trail! Others were cut in several, places but the job was left incomplete. I was almost sorry I did not have my saws but decided this was work for another day. I thought it would be nice to find out who the maintainer is for the trail and offer to help. For the next 1.5 miles the trail climbs and then levels off several times. The elevation gain is several hundred feet but the grade is never more than 12% and averages around 6%. There isn't too much to see along the way but this day was very pleasant. I enjoyed the sounds and sights of Alder Creek as it flows parallel to the trail much of the way. In one spot there was a large beaver dam on the left. Hiking with Bryce is always a pleasure. He will begging into second grade in the fall but talking to him is more like talking to a much older person. We discussed a few Bible stories which is his favorite topic. On this trip I taught him abut exponents and square roots. We also discussed history and science topics. Soon we arrived at the Beaver Meadow lean-to. We walked down to the lean-to and I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I noticed that the privy was now completely torn apart by thoughtless campers looking for some firewood. One person starts the vandalism and the rest join in! It had taken only an hour an 10 minutes to get to the beaver meadow even though we had stopped several times to clear the trail and take pictures. We walked out to the edge of the beaver meadow where there is a large flat rock and I took pictures of the very green scene. I also got a few shots of Sheila and Bryce on the rock. Sheila jumped into the stream running through the beaver meadow and came out a muddy mess! We went back to the lean-to and got a drink and shared a bar. I decided we would hike a little more so that we could visit the next beaver meadow and perhaps walk to the top of Millbrook Ridge. We both agreed that the longer hike to the lookout would have to be for another day. We weren't too tired but the heat was draining our energy and I wanted to make sure we were back before any thunderstorms rolled in.

When we got to the next beaver meadow, I took some pictures before continuing on the trail toward Millbrook Ridge. We hiked another .7 miles until the trail began to climb steeply and Bryce and I began to feel it was time to turn around. I had not been on the trail in some time and it was much steeper and longer than I remembered. We did pass through some interesting areas where there were large expanses of nettles! Once we turned around, we both realized that the rerun trip would be much easier as it was almost all downhill. We did not stop on the way back and the walk went quickly. We were soon at the loop trail around Alder Lake where we turned left to complete the loop around the lake. Shortly after the turn we came to the bridge that had been damaged by a very large tree that fell across it. I had cut some of the tree off the bridge the last time I was at Alder Lake and a DEC sawyer crew had finished the job. The railings still needed to be reapplies but the rest of the bridge was in good shape. The DEC had replaced an old bridge in the same location with a new bridge that had steel ibeams to support the deck. We walked back up to the main loop trail and turned right to continue back toward the dam. The trail ascends some as it approaches the dam but the slope is gentle. I pointed out to Bryce that Cradle Rock Ridge was on our left and climbing it is an enjoyable bushwhack. We came to a deep ravine cut by a small stream. There had been a bridge across the stream but it had been destroyed by a tree falling across it and now the DEC had removed it. The stream was dry so we walked won the bank, crossed the dry streambed and then walked u the other side. I was surprised to see several new, steel ibeams on the other side! I knew this meant the DEC was going to replace the bridge which I though was a great idea. I took some pictures of the site of the bridge and the beams. We continued to walk on the trail coming out of the woods in a small clearing very near the dam. We walked up to the dam and across it. I noticed the beautiful sky and clouds and took a few more pictures before walking up the hill to the mansion. We passed by the remains of the mansion and walked to the car. We were back at 1:50 PM having covered 6.0 miles in 3 hours and 35 minutes with 25 minutes of stopped time. The total elevation gain was 970 feet.

On Monday, July 2nd I had decided that I wanted to go hiking despite the forecast for temperatures in the 90's with high humidity driving the heat index above 100 degrees! I thought I would start early and hike the trail from Alder Lake to the lookout over Beecher Lake. This lookout was recently cut out to allow a clear view of the lake and the Zen monastery. The hike is around 8 miles and I knew starting early would be a good idea. When the ambulance pager sounded at 4:30 AM, my plans changed. We went to Roscoe to help lift an older gentleman from the floor to his chair. When I returned home, I decided to get a little more sleep and eventually got out of bed at 9:00 AM. The temperature was around 70 degrees so I decided to go to Frick Pond and hike the longer loop around Frick and Hodge Ponds. I asked Cindy if she would like to go but she declined based on the forecast. As I began to get ready, Sheila was ready to go and stayed close so that I would not forget her. I got dressed in a short-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which are my "go to" hiking boots. I got my gear together and put Sheila in the back seat and headed out the DeBruce Road at 9:30 AM. After six miles, I turned left on Mongaup Pond Road and stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road when it split. When we arrived at the trailhead, there were two vehicles in the smaller parking area. The temperature was 78 degrees when I set my GPS and we crossed the road at 9:45 AM to begin our hike. We quickly walked along the Flynn Trail to the woods road that was once the extension of Beech Mountain Road. We turned right on the woods road and started the long climb toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. Along the way I picked up a few branches and threw then to the side of the trail. It seemed to me we were moving very quickly and I was feeling full of energy. At one point I looked up to see a couple walking toward us. I took Sheila by the collar and walked off the trail to allow the others to pass. As long as I was stopped I decided to get a drink and apply some insect repellant. At about 1.25 miles we came to the point where I sometimes turn off the trail to visit an interesting clearing. We continued up the trail to the Big Rock Junction at 10:25 AM after hiking 1.7 miles. The 40 minute travel time was very fast.

We continued along the Flynn Trail and I noticed that the trail needed some serious lopping. At the next trail junction, we stayed to the left to follow the Flynn Trail down to Hodge Pond. The grass on the trail had been mowed which was a big improvement from the tall grass on the first part of the Flynn Trail. As we walked out into the sun, I noticed the apparent increase in temperature. I also noticed there was a breeze which helped offset the sun. We walked out into the field by Hodge Pound and then over to the shore. Sheila immediately went for a swim while I took some pictures of the pond. The sky was blue but there were no nice white clouds to increase the contrast with the rest of the sky. After a drink and a bar, we walked back to the Flynn Trail and continued on the west side of Hodge Pond. The bars I am using now are Quest which have 20 grams of protein and only 4 grams of carbs. The flavors are good but the consistency is the same as most other high protein bars. The trail was mostly dry with a few damp spots. At the next trail junction we stayed to the left to take the Flynn Trail up the hill rather than the jeep road around the back of the pond. We passed through the gate and found the trail was a little damper with more muddy spots. The trees and bushes were beginning to close in on the trail and really needed several people with loppers to cut them back. Soon we came to the Quick Lake Trail at Junkyard Junction. It was 11:05 AM and we had hiked 3.3 miles which is almost exactly halfway through the hike. We turned left to start the loop back. The trail initially rolls some but eventually descends toward Iron Wheel Junction. The trail was damp and muddy in several places. There were also several new blowdowns and I tried to remove as many as I could.

At 11:40 AM we turned right at Iron Wheel Junction after hiking 4.9 miles. The turn allowed us to stay on the Quick Lake Trail heading for Frick Pond. As we walked, I continued to pick up branches and noted some lopping would be a good idea. We came to and crossed the small stream through the woods. Sheila took a moment to swim in the water even though the volume was very low. There was a large hardwood tree down across the trail in the "spruce tunnel" but it was flat on the ground. There was another older tree a little farther along. We walked out of the spruce tunnel and found some more branches on the trail which I removed. This part of the trail was also dry compared to its usual status. We passed by the junction with the Big Rock Trail on the left and were soon at the bridge over the Frick Pond Outlet. I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I have taken hundreds of pictures form the bridge but can't resist stopping to take a few more. The beaver dam was still out but it looked like a few sticks had been replaced. I took some pictures of Sheila on the bridge and some ducks out on the pond. We walked up the hill from Frick Pond to Gravestone Junction and continued straight ahead on the Quick Lake Trail. The trail was a little damp but not really wet for almost the entire way back to the car. We passed by the register and continued straight ahead on the woods road back to the car. There was now one other car in the lot. We were back at the car at 12:20 PM having hiked 6.3 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes with a vertical gain of 900 feet. This was an average of 2.4 mph overall with about 10 minutes of stopped time.

On Saturday, June 30th, I was set to participate in an introduction to trail maintenance session sponsored by the NYNJTC and Morgan Outdoors. Alex Bradley, the new Catskills Program Coordinator, was scheduled to be at the session so that people could meet him. The session was postponed from an earlier date due to cool weather and rain to the weekend before July 4th which was supposed to be the hottest of the summer! I arrived at Morgan Outdoors at about 10:00 AM and Alex got there shortly after. I enjoyed talking with him as we waited for the participants to arrive. Some would meet us at 10:30 AM in town an other would be at the Frick Pond trailhead at 11:30 AM. I would have preferred to get started at least an hour earlier since the temperature was expected to rise to near 90 degrees during the day. One woman arrived with four children from a program she helps supervise and we got acquainted. They were all students in the Liberty school system where I taught and still coach. They were upper elementary or middle school students with one going into the ninth grade. We waited around until 11:00 AM and headed toward Frick Pond. I had hoped that when I arrived there would be a group of people waiting as I had work I really wanted to get accomplished but no one was there. The rest of the group arrived and I started them on the paperwork which included a one-time volunteer application for the DEC and a list of participants. At 11:30 AM one more adult and child appeared but the adult decided to go for a walk and send her son with us! There was one more person that Lisa was waiting for but we finally got started at about 11:45 Am. We walked out the back of the big parking area on the Quick Lake Trail. I gave a shovel to one young man to clean out a couple of drainages. The other young people took turns using some loppers. I showed them my Silky Sugowaza and machete as example of other tools that can be sued to clear trails. We cut a few branches on the way to the register and I explained we had to cut as high as we could reach because the trails were popular for snowshoeing in the winter. Two or three feet of snow put people's heads that much higher! We turned left at the trail register and continued lopping branches developing a nice system of taking turns cutting. The young man with the shovel did a good job of cleaning out some blocked drainages. I like working with students and have done it for over 40 years. The young people seemed to be having fun. After cutting some briars and brush near Gravestone Junction we stopped at the memorial marker just off the trail. I told the group the story of the two children that were killed when their cabin caught fire in the 1930's. At the junction we stayed to the left on the Quick Lake Trail and continued to cut branches with the saw or loppers. The young people began to develop a system where one would cut and the others would remove the brush which is exactly the kind of cooperation we are trying to foster. We walked down to the bridge over the out let of Frick Pond and everyone commented on the view. A father and daughter who were late to the initial gathering joined us and we had another round of introductions. Just over the bridge one of the young people knew of a geocache and retrieved it from the base of a pine tree. The box was gone and someone had left the plastic bag open so the list inside was pretty wet. After a few minutes, we continued on the trail. The young man with the shovel stayed with Alex to open a channel to drain a spot that usually has a lot of water. We continued along the trail to lop some more branches. At this point several of the adults decided to go on ahead. This was unfortunate as the young people with the loppers followed and I was soon left alone. I continued to trim some branches that the others had ignored. I walked ahead to the next trail junction and did not see anybody ahead. I often clear trails by myself and can be alone anytime. I decided I would rather attend my granddaughter's birthday party than be alone on the trail. I walked back toward the bridge and made sure that Alex knew I was leaving. I walked back to the bridge and out the Quick Lake Trail toward my car. There were several groups walking in the opposite direction in the trail. At the register I met a group that was confused about how to get to Frick Pond. I gave them directions. They were also interested in my tools so I stopped and talked to them for a few minutes. They particularly liked the Silky saw. I walked back on the Quick Lake Trail and left to drive back to Livingston Manor.

On Friday, June 29th I had planned to hike the Quick Lake Trail to Quick Lake and then return on Ty snowmobile trails. The round trip hike is over 14 miles and I wanted to test myself for longer hikes on the Finger Lakes Trail. An ambulance call during the night made getting up early difficult! By the time I got up and was ready to go I knew I would not arrive at the trailhead until 11:00 AM. A 14 mile hike would take at least 7 hours and would take me through a very warm and humid afternoon. I decided I would go to Trout Pond as I had not been there in some time. I thought I would take along my Silky Sugowaza saw to cut small blowdowns and a machete to work on the Japanese knotweed near the beginning of the trail. As I was getting ready to leave in the mid morning the temperature was already in the 70's and the humidity was high making the air seem "heavy". I decided to get dressed and get my gear together. Sheila was ready to go and stayed close so that I would not forget her. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which are my "go to" hiking boots. I got our gear together and put Sheila in the back seat as we headed for Roscoe on the Quickway a little around 10:30 AM. I drove out the Rockland Flats on Route 206. Just after the Roscoe Nursing Home I turned left on Morton Hill Road and followed it for 3 miles to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the side of the road avoiding the private parking area. When I opened the car door, I was hit my a blast of hot and humid air. I checked the car thermometer and found that it was 74 degrees with only a slight breeze. I grabbed my poles, set the GPS and started down Russell Brook Road. As we walked down the road I thought the first camping site on the right might be occupied but it was empty. The forecast was plenty of sun with the temperature rising into the high 80's with accompanying high humidity. I listened for the sound of the water in the brook and was supplied that I did not hear much since there had been a thunderstorm with plenty of rain the previous evening. The large car camping spot on the left was occupied and I made sure to keep Sheila on her leash as we walked by. When we came to the viewpoint over the upper falls, I could see there was only a small volume of water going over the falls so I decided to leave the pictures for later if I even bothered to take any. There were three cars in the lower lot and I expected some to be camping and others to be hiking. We continued down the road and crossed the bridge over Russell Brook. I found that the Japanese knotweed had really come back strong after the winter and was beginning to encroach on the trail. I hoped I would have enough motivation after the hike to get some of it cleared! We continued on the road to the trail junction just after the register and stayed straight ahead to walk to Trout Pond first.

The woods road was damp in spot but not really very wet. I picked up some branches and pieces of tree trunk along the way and moved them off the trail. In several spots I had to put down my pack and get out the saw to removed some small blowdowns. When we arrived at the pond, there were on other hikers present and Sheila made a dash for the lake. She jumped in and started to swim around while I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I took some shots of the pond with blue skies and a few puffy white clouds. I also too a couple of pictures of the outlet showing the water several feet from going over the spillway. I turned my attentions to Sheila and threw a stick several times into the pond so she could retrieve it. Each time I threw it a little farther and took pictures of her swimming. Eventually we both grew tired and I packed up and headed out. We continued on the main trail on the east side of Trout Pond walking toward the inlet end and the lean-tos. The trail continued to be damp in places but was much drier than I had seen it in some time. As we approached the first the first lean-to, I could see it was occupied. I really didn't determine how many people were present as I had my eye on a large dog! The dog was making a lot of noise but was on a leash proving there are some other responsible dog owners. We crossed the bridge over the inlet stream and I looked out at the pond to see a blue sky with white clouds. We walked a little on the trail to the upper lean-to and I took a few shots of the pond. We turned right to follow the trail up Cherry Ridge. As we hiked I found it satisfying to look at the many places where I had cleared branches and blowdowns from the trail. There were some new branches on the trail and several small blowdowns I was able to clear by moving them to the side of the trail. Many of the rocks were damp and slippery and I paid careful attention to where I put my feet. Soon we were at the highest point on Cherry Ridge and starting down the other side. This part of the trail can be a stream much of the time but on this day it was almost completely dry. It was obvious that there had been water on the trail from the green moss that was growing on all the rocks and roots. Sheila was having a great time following some animal trails and pouncing after chipmunks. Soon we were at the woods road and snowmobile trail that runs by Mud Pond. We turned left and started the short walk uphill on a trail that was barely damp. At the top of the hill we began the long descent back to the trail junction where we had started. The descent lasts for .7 miles and drops 385 feet to a bridge that crosses the outlet stream from Trout Pond. This part of the trail had a little more water but was not as wet as I have seen it before. The streambed next to the trail was completely dry. I continued to cut a few branches that were in the trail. When we came to the bridge over the outlet stream from the pond I was surprised that no one had occupied the large campsite there.

At the junction we turned right and headed back out toward the lower parking area. We turned left on the path that leads over to the base of the falls and fought through that'll grass on the left and the knotweed on the right. We walked over to the path down to the streambed and descended to the stream. There wasn't much water going over the falls and the stream had a greatly reduced volume. I got out the camera and took some pictures as I though the light was right. I posed Sheila in front of the waterfall and took a few more shots. I packed up and we headed back out to the main trail. It was about 1:35 PM and the temperature seemed to be in the low 80's. I still felt I had some energy left so I leashed Sheila to a tree and took some pictures of the knotweed on the trail. I put the camera away and took out my machete and started in on the knotweed. The machete is the perfect tool for this job and I quickly cut the hollow stalks. The problem was that I had to cut them and throw them on the other side of the trail. There was a LOT of knotweed to cut and each time I cut some stalks other would lean into the trail. I kept cutting and disposing of the weeds until I looked up and saw a dog coming toward me. One dog was followed by two more with the owner behind them. This owner obviously had no regard for the rules and no common courtesy. I informed her my dog was leashed to a tree and might no appreciate other dogs. This didn't stop her dogs from trying to say "hello" to Sheila who did not appreciate it. So many of these incidents could be avoided if dog owners would act responsibly! After the dogs and owners left, I continued to cut the knotweed including some near the bridge. After almost an hour of cutting, Sheila and I walked back up to the lower parking area and then up the road to the car. Sometimes the walk back up Russell Brook Road seems long and tedious but I was still feeling fresh Although a little tired. It was 2:45 PM when we arrived back at the car after hiking 5.7 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes with a total of 1 hour and 15 minutes stopped. We had a 1118 foot total ascent. The temperature on the car thermometer was 90 degrees!

On Tuesday, June 26th, my grandson Bryce was coming to our house and wanted to hike. He arrived at about 9:30 AM and we got ready to hike. I suggested we hike to the Balsam Lake Mountain since it is a 3500 foot peak and has a fire tower for a good view. The temperature was in the high 60's as we were getting ready to leave. The temperature was supposed to rise into the mid to high 70's. While we were getting ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which are a good choice for a rocky trail like the one to Balsam Lake Mountain. We got our gear together and put Sheila in the back seat as we headed toward Roscoe on Old Rt 17 at 9:45 AM. I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and headed north toward Lew Beach and Turnwood. The sky was almost cloudless as we drove through Lew Beach and the temperature was reading in the high 60's! Just passed Lew Beach at the Ulster County line the road was complete torn up and road crews were working to repave a section of road stretching almost to Turnwood. We waited until we were allowed to pass and I drove slowly on the unpaved road surface. Eventually we reached Barkaboom Road where I followed the Beaverkill Road to the right. I pointed out the Beaverkill Falls to Bryce although there wasn't much water in the stream. We hit the point where the road turns to gravel and passed the Buddhist monastery to continue toward the trailhead. There were a few places where the road which had narrowed was now a little wider than the last time I had been to Balsam Lake Mountain. As we neared the final section of road, there was a front-end loader from one of the road crews on the road. The operator politely pulled over so that we could pass and I assumed that the crew would be working to clear the ditches on the last section of road. We arrived at the parking area and found only one other car in the lot. The car had several stickers related to hiking and I told Bryce I probably knew the owner. The temperature was 70 degrees and the sun was shining with a slight breeze. We were on the trail at 10:50 AM heading toward the first trail junction where I intended to turn left and hike up the steep side of the mountain. As we walked up the trail I noticed several trees hanging over the trail and although they seemed safe I would prefer that they were gone. The trail had only a few muddy places and was mostly dry. There were also a few blowdowns across the trail that had been partially cleared but some more work needs to be done. A short distance up the trail, near the trail register, Sheila alerted and I saw a woman walking toward us. I put Sheila on her leash as the woman recognized me and said "Hello". It was Laurie Rankin who had been working on the trail. We stopped and talked for a few minutes about several hiking topics. Laurie and her husband Tom are volunteers who keep the fire tower open on weekends during the summer. We eventually parted and Bryce and I made the trail junction at .9 miles by 11:20 AM. We turned left up the mountain without stopping. I had decided to take my time since I had not hiked a trail this steep in some time but Bryce seemed to be undeterred. This first part of the trail is a gentle climb and I was feeling pretty good without stopping to rest. Over the next half mile the trail gains about 750 feet before leveling off which means an average of around a 28% grade! I had to keep calling ahead to Bryce wait for me and he would sit on a rock until I caught up and then immediately begin hiking again without allowing me to rest! I decided to stop a few times so that I could catch my breath but the pace was pretty fast and the stops were short. Despite the grade, the hike seemed to go pretty quickly and we were soon passing the spur trail to the lean-to. We passed the 3500 foot sign and were soon at the spring. I encouraged Sheila to take a drink but she seemed uninterested. We walked up the stone steps to the summit plateau and continued on toward the fire tower.

Bryce knew we were going to a fire tower but apparently Bryce thought it would be right at the top of the climb. As we hiked across the summit plateau, Bryce kept worrying that we had missed the tower. He was very relieved when we looked ahead and saw the clearing with the tower. We arrived at the tower clearing at 12:10 PM after hiking 1.7 miles and walked over to the picnic table. I got out my camera a took a few pictures of the tower and then posed Bryce and Sheila at the table and on the lower landing of the tower. After that I leashed Sheila to the table and we walked over to the fire tower. Bryce seemed to have no problem climbing the tower and we were soon at the landing just below the cab. There was one step with a red X which indicated it was suspected and needed to be replaced. I could tell as soon as we were above the tree line as the breeze picked up considerably. I took pictures in all direction but the landscape was mostly green without much of a break. The mountains in the distance were hazy but there were a few clouds to break up the sky. After taking a few pictures, we descended the tower. I told Bryce to hold onto the rail and I did also. Somehow I caught my thumb on a sharp edge and removed a chunk. My thumb started bleeding which did not please me! We continued to the bottom of the tower and walked back to the picnic table. I searched my pack for some first ad supplies and, with Bryce's help, I bandaged my thumb putting some pressure on it. We got a drink and gave Sheila one. Bryce and I split a bar for a snack and then I packed up my camera to continue our hike. We walked down the trail on the other side of the mountain passing the cabin. Walking down the mountain seemed MUCH easier than the climb up the other side. The trail was dry and we had to be careful about slipping on the loose gravel. Soon we were approaching the junction with the trail that connects Millbrook Road to the Beaverkill Road. There is a gate at the bottom of the trail and just after this gate is the trail junction. We turned right at the trail junction to start back toward the car. The trail is a little rough to begin with but it is a descent. There were quite a few branches hanging into the trail and a few blowdowns. When We arrived at the first trail junction Bryce took a quick look around and knew exactly where we were. We continued on toward the car by retracing our steps. We were back in the parking area at 1:45 PM after hiking 4.3 miles and climbing 1200 feet in elevation. I was happy to have hiked a 3500 foot peak but it made me realize I need to hike a few more! Bryce, on the other hand, did not seem to have any trouble with the climb. Laurie's car was gone but another car was in the parking lot. On the way home we again had to wait for the road work but the crews seemed to be making progress very quickly.

On Monday, June 25th I had decided to get in hike after an early morning doctor's appointment. I was home a little after 10:00 AM and asked Cindy if she wanted to hike to Giant Ledge and she agreed. The temperature was in the low 50's early in the morning but started to rise to the low 60's by the time we were getting ready to go. I hoped there would not be too many people at Giant Ledge since even though it is a very popular destination it was a Monday. While we were getting ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which are a good choice for a rocky trail like the one to Giant Ledge. We got our gear together and put Sheila in the back seat as we headed out the DeBruce Road around just before 11:00 AM. The temperature was in the low 60's as I drove along DeBruce Road. I turned left onto the Frost Valley Road and almost immediately ran into road construction. We were stopped for at least 15 minutes before we could pass through. Ulster County had a long section of road completely torn up so that I had to drive over piles of gravel and hope that nothing bounced up to damaged the car. Eventually we made it back to paved road but we both had decided we would take another way home! There were no cars parked at Biscuit Brook but quite a few in the Slide Mountain parking area. When we arrived at the big bend in Route 47, the lot was almost full which I found incredible for a Monday morning. I was able to find a parking spot at the end of the area near the portable bathroom. There were a few people getting ready to start out and I wanted to get ahead of them so that I did not have to keep Sheila on her leash for the whole hike. We crossed the road to start the hike at 11:35 AM. The trail was wet in spots with some mud but seemed to be drying out. The stream under the bridge was almost nonexistent. As I climbed over the normally rocky areas, I was reminded of how many small but very rocky climbs are on this trail! As we climbed one of the first we passed a woman sitting on a rock and another family group taking a rest. We could hear a group behind us and Cindy and I set a quick pace to avoid them. I let Sheila off her leash and she stayed very close. We caught up to and passed another group. Each time we met people, I put Sheila on her leash. Within about 30 minutes we had hiked the .75 miles to the trail junction meeting a few people coming down the trail and passing a few more going up. I have made this in 15 minutes under ideal conditions but I wasn't in any real hurry on this day. The trail straight ahead would take us to Woodland Valley but we made a left turn to go to Giant Ledge.

The next .3 miles or so was almost flat and the trail was still dry. We ascended through a few small climbs. We passed a couple of hikers and again met a few coming down from the ledges. The trail is incredibly rocky and I took every chance to let Sheila off her leash and use my poles. Soon we began the climb up to Giant Ledge passing the sign for the spring on the way. We started the final climb up to the Giant Ledge plateau by passing a few more people. I was surprised at how quickly this last part went and before I knew it we were at the top. I had Sheila on her leash and was carrying my poles. Sheila does a good job of pulling on uphill sections which really helps. It often seems to me that up, down and flat are all the same to her. We walked across the trail and down to the first lookout where there were a couple of young people from Long Island. I tied Sheila to a tree and got out my camera to take some pictures of the wonderful view from the first lookout. I took a lot of shots before getting my cell phone to use my Peak Advisor and Peak Finder apps to see if they could identify the mountains. They both did a good job and I showed them to the young hikers and answered some questions for them. We could see Slide, Cornell and Wittenberg to the right. After that was Friday and in the distance the mountains of the Devil's Path. On the far left was Panther Mountain. At this point father and his two sons arrived at the viewpoint. They are from Maryland and had been hiking in New Hampshire. On the way back they decided to stop in the Catskills for a few days. They had a lot of questions about places to visit and I gave them a lot of information. We decided to move on and visit some other unoccupied viewpoints so that I could take some more pictures. I knew the hike wasn't very long and wanted to walk the entire ledge plateau until it began to descend to the col with Panther. We continued to the next lookout which was empty. I took some pictures of Sheila and Cindy on the ledge and then took more pictures of the valley below and the surrounding mountains. We visited three more viewpoints and stopped where the trail began to descend. I was ready to hike to Panther and asked Cindy who politely declined the offer. It was 1:10 PM when we turned around after hiking about 1.8 miles. We started back down from the ledges with Sheila on her leash and without the use of my poles. There were several groups heading back at the same time and we tried to pass several of these that were moving slowly. I soon decided that my knees would do better with my poles and I let Sheila off her leash as often as I could. We continued to meet hikers and groups still coming up the trail. We passed people descending ahead of us and were passed only the father and his two sons. Each time we met a group I out Sheila on her leash. We did meet one or two more dogs which their owners had under control. I was moving very quickly but Cindy was having some trouble on the descent which is usually the case. Sheila and I waited a few times. Eventually we were at the trail junction where we turned right to start down the final .75 miles of trail. The descent is where the rockiness of the trail becomes even more evident than on the climb! We finally arrived at the fridge over the stream where Sheila got a drink and took a cooling dip before we continued out to the parking area. The lot was still full and cars were parked on the side of the road below the parking area. We were back at the car at 2:20 PM after covering 3.6 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes with an ascent of about 1195 feet. We decided to drive out to Route 28, turn left and drive to Margaretville. We stopped a at the gas station there and bough a few snacks before continuing on to take the BWS roads back toward Livingston Manor. After a few miles I could see an accident ahead. The driver of a low boy with a large piece of machinery had driven off the road. The recovery would take at least and hour. I tuned around and drove back to Route 30 where I turned left following Route 30 all the way to Route 206. It was a beautiful day for hiking and driving!

On Friday, June 22nd, my grandson, Bryce, only had an hour of school because it was the last day of school before summer vacation. I volunteered to pick him up and take him on a hike. I though this would be perfect for the first hike of summer after a long week of being away from the forests. Bryce agreed and I picked him up at 9:00 AM at his school. We had a few errands to do and we had to stop by his house to pick up a pair of long pants for hiking. By the time we got to Livingston Manor, Bryce needed something to eat so we weren't ready to leave the house until 11:40 AM. I decided we would return to Frick Pond and hike a loop up the Flynn Trail, down the Big Rock Trail to Times Square and then around the loggers Loop to Iron Wheel Junction. From here we would turn left and follow the Quick Lake Trail back to the car. This would be a slightly longer loop than we had done the previous Friday adding about 1.5 miles. I also decided to carry along my Silky Sugowaza saw to clear some of the small blowdowns I knew were on the trail. The temperature was in the mid 70's which felt comfortable. While we were getting ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which I had recently waterproofed as I knew the trails might be damp. We left Livingston Manor and I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking areas on the left. The road was smooth and hard packed after the Town of Rockland had worked on it. I pulled into the larger parking area as the smaller one had a horse trailer parked in it! This was the second time in a week that the same horse trailer had been at the trailhead. Horses are allowed in the Willowemoc Wild Forest but NOT on marked hiking trails. This means there are very few places that horses can legally be ridden. I like horses but they can be a problem on hiking trails. Heavy usage can increase trail erosion and riders never clean up what their mounts leave behind. I had explained the regulations to the riders the last time we met but they apparently did not believe me! We got ready to head out on the Flynn Trail with insects circling our heads. I set my GPS and we walked across the road to get on the Flynn Trail. This trail is sited along what used to be Beech Mountain Road which was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We walked the trail through the woods and just before the right turn onto the woods road we came to a locust tree overhanging the trail. The tree had long, sharp thorns so I approached it very carefully. I cut it down and then decided to cut it into a few pieces to make it easier to drag off the trail. It didn't take long and the job was done. We continued on the trail made the right turn onto the woods road. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.75 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The day was warm and humid but we had a good time as we hiked up the trail. We passed through the arch Cindy and I had cut through an enormous hemlock that had fallen across the trail. We stopped here to cut a few low branches and then continued. Along the way Sheila alerted and I looked ahead to see two horses coming toward us. I put Sheila on her leash and as we passed I simply said "Hello" as I knew my explanation of the rules would fall on deaf ears. A little farther up the trail Sheila lunged into the ferns to pounce on a baby bird. It took some very stern talk from me to get her to leave the birds alone as her instincts are very strong.

Along the way we had been picking up branches and throwing them off the trail. We had also been pulling down low branches and trimming them. Bryce helped by holding them down while I cut them with the saw. At 1.15 miles we stopped for a few minutes to cut a low branch. Just before cutting it, I realized that there was another, larger tree caught in the branch and ready to fall on my head. I borough down the dead tree and cut it into several pieces and threw them off the trail. After dispatching the low branch we continued our hike. We stopped again at 1.5 miles to remove another shall blowdown in the trail. At 1.7 mile we hit the junction with the Big Rock Trail where we stopped for a drink. We turned left and made a rather rapid descent of the trail. As we walked I quizzed Bruce on science and math and the Bible. I found his knowledge to be remarkable! We made a few brief stops to cut branches and a longer one at 2.7 miles to remove a blowdown. At 3 miles we were at Times Square where we turned right on the Logger's Loop. Times Square was damp but I have seen it much wetter. We walked up the hill and soon came to a large tree trunk that had broken off and lodged vertically at the side of the trail. I knew this one was here but it was a little larger than I remembered. I reluctantly left the trunk where it was and we continued to walk uphill. When the trail leveled some near the seasonal pond on the right, we stopped for another drink before continuing. We cut a few more branches on the way to Iron Wheel Junction where we arrived at 2:25 PM after 4.2 miles of hiking. We turned left and started down the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond. We continued to make good time stopping only a few times to cut branches. The small stream before the "spruce tunnel" didn't have much water and was easy to cross. I pointed out to Bryce a few of the larger trees I had cut on my last trip through. The trail was relatively dry and we were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued straight ahead on the Quick Lake Trail and came to the bridge over the outlet. The sky was overcast and I decided not to take any pictures and just get back to the car. We headed up the hill form the bridge and passed through Gravestone Junction. I could hear voices so I put Sheila on her leash as a couple of hikers approached us. We said "Hello" as we passed and I left Sheila on her leash. At the trail reviser we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and walked out to the larger parking area and the car. It was 3:05 PM and we had spent 3 hours and 5 minutes hiking 5.7 miles. We had stopped for 35 minutes to do trail work so our moving speed was 2.3 mph. The elevation gain was 890 feet. I think Bryce and I were both a little tired.

On Sunday, June 17th I wanted to get in a hike for Father's Day after church with my son Karl. After eating lunch at our house, Karl and I began to get ready to go for a hike from Big Pond to Alder Lake and back. I maintain this section of trail for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference and wanted to see what shape it was in after the winter and spring storms. Last year the trail needed extensive trimming to beat back the briars and nettles. While we were getting ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. I packed my Silky Sugowaza saw just in case there were some small blowdowns that could be cleared easily. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which I had recently waterproofed as I knew the trails might be damp. We left Livingston Manor at about 1:15 PM as I drove out Old Rt 17 to the Beaverkill Road where I turned right. At the intersection with the Barkaboom Road I stayed to the left on Barkaboom Road until I came to the access road to the upper parking area at Big Pond. The parking area was not as full as I expected but the large van that was carelessly parked took up several spaces. We got out of the car and were ready to hike almost immediately and started off at 1:40 PM. The temperature was 86 degrees and the humidity seemed high. There were more insects around than any previous hike this year as we started out on the trail toward Alder Creek Road. The initial part of the trail was covered in high grass and I knew I would have to get the string trimmer out to handle this job. We walked passed the primitive campsites and entered the woods where we immediately began picking up loose branches and kicking small trunks to the side of the trail. Soon the trail began to climb on an old woods road and we cut one or two blowdown that were blocking the trail. Several other were a little bigger and I knew I would need a bigger saw or an axe to clear them. We continued to climb up the hill and ran into another blowdown which we removed. From the point where we began to ascend to the top of the hill was .8 miles and we gained 440 feet. It was very hot and humid and we stopped to get a drink several times. I was reminded that I need to pack more water now that the heat has returned! I really enjoy hiking with Karl and we discussed a variety of topics as we hiked which distracted us from the heat. As we ascended the hill and started down the other side we ran into some tall grass and plenty of briars and nettles on the trail. I could see myself carrying the string trimmer and its supplies for the three miles from Big Pond To alder!

On the descent of the hill we ran into several wet and muddy areas with plenty of nettles. I knew we were headed down to a small stream. Along the way we passed several stones walls and old foundations. When we got to the stream, I was surprised to find that there was no water. I stopped to take a few shots but left quickly as the insects were hovering in a cloud around my head. We began to follow an old woods road and passed by a beaver meadow where I took a few more shots. At 2.2 miles we turned east and completed the climb to the top of the hill. There were some more blowdowns in this area but I decided to leave them for another trip. Once again we began to descend a hill as we headed for Alder Creek Road. Eventually the trail flattened out and we came to Alder Creek. We crossed it easily and walked up to the road. Karl pointed out that it was getting late so we got a quick drink and turned around to retrace our steps to the car. We now had to walk up all the hills we walked down on the way out! We set a pretty fast pace and did not stop for pictures. At 3.6 miles we descended a hill and made a left turn to head south passed the beaver meadow. Sheila alerted and we looked up to see a mother bear and cub heading away from us in the forest on the other side of the swale. I immediately called Sheila and out her on her leash as she was determined to go investigate. We made the turn and continue to hike downhill. After crossing the dry streambed, I finally let her off her leash. We continued our quick pace stopping only a few times for water. It was hotter than ever and we were both tired. At 4.8 miles we hit the top of the last hill and we both were glad that the rest of the trip was downhill. We were back at the car at 4:55 PM after hiking 5,8 miles in 3 hours ad 15 minutes. The total elevation gain was 1380 feet. As we pulled away from the parking area the temperature read 90 degrees!

Spring 2018

On Saturday, June 16th, my son Kurt called to say he and granddaughter Ariana wanted to come to Livingston Manor to go for a hike. I decided we would return to Frick Pond and Hike the loop we had done the day before with grandson Bryce. This time we would hike the loop in the opposite direction. Kurt arrived at about 11:00 and we took some time to get going. The temperature was in the mid 70's which felt comfortable. While we were getting ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which I had recently waterproofed as I knew the trails might be damp. We left Livingston Manor at about 11:305 AM and I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking areas on the left. The road was smooth and hard packed after the Town of Rockland had worked on it. I pulled into the larger parking area as the smaller one had a horse trailer parked in it! There were also a few cars in the larger lot. Horses are allowed in the Willowemoc Wild Forest but NOT on marked hiking trails. This means there are very few places that horses can legally be ridden. I like horses but they can be a problem on hiking trails. Heavy usage can increase trail erosion and riders never clean up what their mounts leave behind. We got ready to head out on the Flynn Trail with a few insects circling our heads. I set my GPS and we walked across the road to get on the Flynn Trail. This trail is sited along what used to be Beech Mountain Road which was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We walked the trail through the woods and then turned right on the woods road. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.75 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The day was warm and humid but we had a good time as we hiked up the trail. We passed through the arch Cindy and I had cut through an enormous hemlock that had fallen across the trail. Along the way Sheila alerted and I looked ahead to see two horses coming toward us. I put Sheila on her leash and as we passed I mentioned the regulation about horses. The rider, a woman I knew from Livingston Manor, seemed genuinely surprised and I felt guilty that I may have upset her.

At about a mile Ariana began to complain a little but we encouraged her and we were soon at the junction. We told Ariana that the hike back was downhill or flat and that seemed to cheer her up. We turned left to walk down the Big Rock Trail. I compared the trip down to the trip up the day before and decide I liked down a lot better. Ariana also asked about the ditch and the rocks on the trail and I explained that a hard rain had turned the trail into a stream temporarily. The hike down the trail went quickly and we were soon at Times Square. Ariana wanted to sit on a rock and take a break so I asked Kurt and Cindy to pose with her and Sheila while I took a few pictures. I began to notice the insects swarming so I continued our hike by walking straight across Times Square to stay on the Big Rock Trail. The others followed me along the trail which had some muddy spots in the low areas. We crossed two small bridges over the inlets to the pond. I took a few pictures in the area under the pines and then we started walking on the boardwalks. Ariana like the boardwalks and the green moss growing everywhere. At the next trail junction we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. I stopped at the bridge to take a few shots. Kurt was surprised at the height of the water but I told him it had been higher until someone destroyed the beaver dam! We walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction and continued to the register on the trail. At the register we turned right and followed the Quick Lake Trail back to the car. We arrived at the car at 2:05 Pm having hiked 4 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes with an elevation gain of 680 feet. On the way home we stopped at the state fish hatchery. We walked around the "tanks" and saw some fingerling trout and some larger trout used for stoke streams. I walked over to the covered pools where they keep the breeding stock and called everyone else over. The pools are dark but there is always a shaft of sunlight shining through. When one of the very large fish swims near or through the sunlight, it is truly amazing!

On Friday, June 15th, my grandson, Bryce, had a half of school. He said he wanted to go hiking so Cindy and I planned to go to Frick Pond and do a loop there. Bryce arrived at our house around noon. We had a quick lunch and then got ready to hike. The temperature was in the low 70's which actually felt a little cool. While we were getting ready, Sheila was always nearby making it very clear that she wanted to go. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which I had recently waterproofed as I knew the trails might be damp. We left Livingston Manor at about 12:30 PM as I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking areas on the left. The road was smooth and hard packed after the Town of Rockland had worked on it. I pulled into the empty parking area and we got ready to head out. I set my GPS and we walked out the woods road to the Quick Lake Trail at the register. The woods road was a little damp with a few muddy spots that we avoided easily. Within a short distance I looked up to see two dogs coming our way and I immediately pout Sheila on her leash. The other dogs were off leash and coming straight for Sheila with their owners calling them to no avail. Once again we had run into irresponsible dog owners who just didn't care that their dogs were bothering other people. They never put their dogs on a leash and one of them followed us for some distance with the owner calling it to no avail. A little farther along there were two more people with a small whippet that they had picked up so it did not bother us. At Gravestone Junction we stayed left to walk down to Frick Pond. At the bridge I decided to take a few pictures. As I was taking some shots we noticed that there were fish feeding but taking a picture was not easy. I took a couple of pictures of Bryce, Cindy and Sheila on the bridge before continuing our hike. As we walked around the west side of the pond, I noted that the usually wet spots were almost dry. At the next trail junction we turned right on the Big Rock Trail to walk around the pond on the wooden boardwalks. As we walked I was impressed that Bryce was picking up branches off the trail and throwing them to the side. I wish all hikers would do this as it would make trail maintenance so much easier.

The boardwalks were dry but there were a few muddy areas further along the trail as we approached Times Square. We continued straight ahead on the Big Rock Trail up the hill. From Times Square to the Flynn Trail junction the Big Rock Trail rises 625 feet in 1.1 miles. This doesn't sound like much but it always seems to be a little farther and a little longer than I remember. I started to quiz Bryce on several different subjects which makes the time pass more quickly. A little less than half way up the trail there is a deep ditch along the side of the trail. Bryce asked about the ditch and the rocks and I told him a large amount of erosion had occurred and there were a lot of large stones that had washed down the trail. This was from a heavy rainstorm that caused flooding in Livingston Manor. There are three different "tiers" to the trail and we told Bryce to watch for the "Caution" sign. Soon we had walked 2.2 miles and were at the junction with the Flynn Trail. We turned right to head down the Flynn Trail to the car. This return trip always seems longer than the 1.7 miles that is posted which is the correct distance. The trail is pretty but has no views. On this day it seemed to go much faster as we had Bryce who was interested in everything. Bryce was getting a little tired as we neared the end of the trail so I told him to watch for the "arch" Cindy and I had created through an enormous he lock tree that had fallen across the trail. We told him that right after that he would see the gate and the car was very near. We continued on the Flynn Trail back down to the car staying to the left at the gate to avoid the private property around the cabin. We arrived in the parking area at 2:45 PM having covered 4.0 miles in 1 hour and 55 minutes with and elevation gain of 700 feet.

On Tuesday, June 12th I decided to visit Bramley Mountain after hiking the newly relocated trail at Shavertown. I set the GPS on my car for Glen Burnie Road and followed the directions it gave me. Out of the parking area I turned left on Tremperskill Road and followed it into Andes where I turned left on Route 28 North. After 7.5 miles, I turned right on Glen Burnie Road and drove 2.8 miles to the parking area for Bramley Mountain. The parking area is small but is well marked and it helped that we had been there before. I pulled into the parking area, turned around and parked at 12:20 PM. When we got out of the car, I noticed that it was warmer and more humid! The car's thermometer read 72 degrees as I set my GPS and started to hike. I had two choices to start the hike. The red Summit Trail went to the right directly to the summit over 1.8 miles. I chose to go straight ahead on the blue Quarry Trail which passes through a quarry and then wends its way to the summit over 2.1 miles. The woods road was very open but damp and muddy in some places. I expected a great cloud of insects to surround me but they mostly stayed away. We walked along the road through the woods and eventually broke out into an open clearing where there was a lot of tall grass which was fortunately dry for the most part. At about .8 miles we came to the quarry and I decided not to stop to take a pictures. When we started out again, we came to a spot where the trail seemed to split with blue markers going both left and right. There was also a sign that said "Summit 1.2 miles" but it was not clear which way it was pointing. I had been here before and knew the trail went right. I followed the trail to the left and to a small hill overlooking part of the quarry. I took a few shots including a few of Sheila before going back down and following the main trail to the right. At this point I was not feeling well with some pain in the left shoulder. I was also feeling weary but decided to complete what I had started!

The trail entered the woods and immediately turned almost 180 degrees. As we walked along the trail it would head up the mountain at points and then parallel the ridge. I stopped to take a be pictures of an impressive stone wall and then continued on the trail. Eventually the trail turned at began a steady climb up to the summit. The trail passed by several interesting ledges and rock formations and I stopped in one spot for some pictures. There were numerous switchbacks which made the walk longer but mitigated some of the steeper climbs. Near the top the trail passed around and went through some rock ledges and the trail crew had expertly created some steps out of natural materials. Three times the trail crossed woods roads that climbed the mountain. At 1.9 miles and just before the summit was a nice viewpoint with a few logs for seats. We stopped and I took a few pictures before we hiked the last few hundred feet to the top. Over the 1.1 miles from the quarry we gained over 800 feet with and overall average grade of 14% despite the many switchbacks. When we reached the summit, I saw the old pilings for the fire tower and hoped that the rumors about reconstructing the tower were true. We walked over to the lookout and down to the edge of a small cliff. There was more haze than I had hoped for and almost no clouds but I took some shots anyway. To the south and southeast I could see the Pisgahs near Andes which were once the site of a ski area. I walked down to the lower part of the lookout and took a few more pictures. When I was finished, I returned to the summit where I had a drink and gave Sheila some water. I was feeling better now that I knew it was all downhill! We walked in the direction that the arrow pointed and found the markers for the red Summit Trail that we would take back to the parking area.

We started down the Summit Trail which starts out as wide woods road but at .15 miles from the summit markers clearly indicated a right turn. The trail follows another woods road but one that is covered in long grass which needs to be cut. The grass here was also pretty dry. There was a nice view off to the left but it was not much different than the view from the summit. We continued to follow the woods road as it entered the woods and led out to the upper parking area. Along the way there was one major blowdown which completely blocked the trail. Hikers had made a detour but the blowdown should be cleared even though it looks like a tough job. I was waiting for the trail to turn right into the woods to connect to the lower parking area. Soon we were almost to the road and I finally saw where the trail entered the woods and started downhill to the car. This part of the trail was soft and easy walking but only lasted .15 miles. We were soon back at the car. It was 2:15 PM and we had hiked 3.6 miles in just under 2 hours with only 10 minutes of time stopped. The elevation gain was 1015 feet. To get to the summit the red Summit Trail is both shorter and easier. The blue Quarry Trail and its extension is harder but also more interesting! On the way home we headed toward Delhi and crossed the stream at Fitches Crossing. Once we were in Delhi, I followed familiar route home over Telford Hollow and through Downsville.

On Tuesday, Jun12th, I had decided to hike the Shavertown Trail near the Dunraven Bridge across the Pepacton Reservoir to get a GPS track of the relocated trail. The DEP is allowing a contractor to log part of the property and they will be using the road on which part of the trail is located for access. Logging typically leaves the area being logged a mess and meeting a logging truck on a narrow road can be disconcerting. Cindy and I had worked on the relocation the previous Friday. Some of the other volunteers were going to do some blazing and other work on Sunday and Monday. When I awoke on Friday morning at 6:30 AM it was only 45 degrees but it was clear the day would get warmer. I decided to do some things around the house and wait for the temperature to warm some. Eventually I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which I had recently waterproofed as I knew the trails might be damp. I also put on a light jacket knowing I could remove it at any time. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go but she declined. Sheila was sure to stay close so that I would not forget her! We left Livingston Manor at about 10:00 AM after visiting the post office and filling the gas tank. I took Old Route 17 north and west to the Beaverkill Road where I turned right to head north. I followed the road through Lew Beach and into Ulster County. Where the road makes a sweeping right in Turnwood, I turned left on Barkaboom Road to head toward the Pepacton. The road was in good shape and when we got to the junction with BWS 8 and BWS 9, I turned left. I drove to the bridge, turned right to cross it and turned left at the other end and pulled into he parking area. The temperature had risen into the low 60's so I decided not to wear my jacket. I discovered I had forgotten to put on Sheila's neckerchief but, more importantly, I had left my poles behind! We were ready to go almost immediately so I set my GPS and we started to hike north On the road toward the trailhead at 10:30 AM. The sign for the trail was only a few hundred feet up the road so we crossed and started to hike on the trail. There were several wooden sticks at the register box and although I prefer a pair of poles I decided one stick was better than none. The first .25 miles of trail climbs 200 feet as it heads directly north and up the side of Perch Lake Mountain. As we walked I removed several large branches from the trail. There were several wet and muddy spots but they were bridged or easily avoided. I was surprised at how quickly we arrived at the gravel access road. The new trail is directly across the road and avoids using the road which will soon be used for logging. We crossed the road and climbed a few makeshift "steps" up the bank to start on the new trail through the woods.

The first part of the new trail from the road runs through some pine trees and there is some additional trimming that needs to be done. I was surprised that there were no blazes on the trees as I thought the were going to be placed on Sunday. The trail from the road is only about .35 miles but it gains 250 feet at a 15% grade. The temporary ribbons were still present and the trail bed was clear in most places. The trail needs to be raked and some weeds, ferns and grass cut in some places to make the path more obvious. We soon broke out of the woods and climbed to Snake Pond crossing two small bridges we had placed on the previous Friday. Once we got to the shore of the pond, I put down my pack and I could hear Sheila jumping in for a swim. I took out my camera and took some shots of the Pepacton Reservoir and a few of the pond. The day was pretty clear but there were no white, puffy clouds which always seem to set off the sky. I took a few pictures of Sheila in the pond before packing up to continue the hike. The pond was full and had some cattails growing in it. There were quite a few redwing blackbirds flying around the pond as this is their preferred habitat. We continued around the pond in a clockwise direction crossing the small bridge at the upper end and conning through a grassy area to the woods road. We turned right and walked back down to the trail where we had come up from below. I though that cutting the grass around the pond would make the trail obvious and allow a better experience for hikers. The upper trail that extended out into the woods is now closed for logging so we started back down the trail. The descent went even more quickly than the ascent and we were soon nearing the gravel road. Sheila and I both heard voices and I immediately pout her on her leash as I assumed it was loggers preparing the road. As we approached, a dog barked and someone called out "teddy". I knew this meant that Rick and Wendell were working on the trail. Sheila and Teddy got acquainted and I talked to the two men about the work they were doing. They were going to mark the trail with blazes and place one more bridge. Wendell had already deepened the cuts for the steps and placed some treads. After a brief conversation, Sheila and I continued down the trail back to the car. I decided to "borrow" he hiking stick for the rest of the day as I knew I was not yet down hiking. We were back at the car at 11:40 AM having covered only 1.6 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes with about a 530 feet of ascent along the way. I considered the other hiking options nearby including the Andes Trail and Palmer Hill. I decided I wanted to hike a mountain and set the GPS for Glen Burnie Road, The site of Bramley Mountain.

On Monday, June 11th, I was ready to get a hike with some maintenance included. I find that hiking relieves stress but swinging and axe relieves even MORE stress! It wasn't quite 60 degrees when I got up at 7:00 AM but the temperature was going up. I wanted to get an early start so I started gathering my equipment and getting dressed. I put on a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I wore a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which I had recently waterproofed as I knew the trails might be damp. I also put on a light jacket knowing I could remove it at any time. I packed both my Silky Katanaboy and Sugowaza saws and brought along my Council Tools Velvicut felling axe. The Sugowaza is a 17" curved and fixed blade which fits in a scabbard. The Katana Boy is almost two feet long and is a folding saw with a nylon carrier. Both are remarkably sharp and can take care of some large tree trunks. I brought a light Fiskars axe leaving the full-sized Council Tools Velvicut at home. The latter has a 4 pound head so I don't bring it unless I don't have to carry it very far. I left my poles at home knowing I would be carrying the tools the whole way to do trail work. I got my gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat and left Livingston Manor just before 8:30 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left and continued up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and almost immediately ran into a sign indicating road work. Ahead of me was a road grader making a serious effort to smooth the dirt road by removing a good chunk of the top layer. The grader was moving slowly but the trailhead parking is a short way up the road. I pulled into the empty parking area and got ready to head out. It was warm enough that I left my jacket behind. There were a few insects and the temperature had risen Tao bout 60 degrees with some humidity in the air. We walked out the woods road to the Quick Lake Trail at the register. There were a few branches hanging in the trail but I left those for lopping at a later date. As usual, the trail was damp and a little muddy in places. At Gravestone Junction we turned left to walk down to the pond. The spot near the junction where we had placed stepping stones was nearly dry. At the bridge over the outlet I dropped my pack to take some pictures even though I have hundreds from the same spot. The water in the pond seemed low even though the beaver dam looked as if some layers had been added. After taking some shot, I packed up and we continued around the west shore of the pond. Another wet spot that had been a large puddle the week before was now just a little muddy. At the next trail junction we stayed left on the Quick Lake trail heading toward Iron Wheel Junction.

This part of the trail is often wet but seemed to have died up some. Even the grass was almost dry! We came across our first job which consisted of one small trunk across the trail. I took some before pictures and then use a saw to cut the trunk at one end and drag it off the trail. I cleaned up a few more pieces and then moves up the trail a little to another blowdown. This one was larger with many branches. I always use the same method which means I cut away the branches that are in the way and drag them off the trail before cutting the main trunks of the tree. This took a little longer than I expected as there were more branches and they were intertwined. I finally got them all cut and took some after pictures. I collected my gear and we continued to walked along the trail. We entered the "spruce tunnel" and came to the main job of the day. There was a large branching tree that had fallen onto the trail parallel to the trail. This meant a lot more cutting than for some other blowdowns. I again took some pictures before starting and then began cutting off smaller branches to expose the larger trunks I needed to cut. The tree that fell also took a few smaller trees down and I cut them all and dragged them well off the trail. Soon I was down to some large trunks which I though I would start with the axe and finish with the saw. As it turned out the chopping went so well I was able to use the axe to do most of the work. When I was done, the trail was clear but I did not like the way the trunk was lying so close to the trail. I attacked it again with the axe to get another piece further off the track. I took my after pictures and then packed up and walked to the stream through the woods. The water level was low but a small tree had fallen across the stream. Its branches were collecting leaves and other detritus which was blocking the stream. I made a few cuts and dragged the tree out of the stream. I cleaned out most of the leaves to open up the stream and then continued on. A short way up the trail we ran into another set of small trees that were bent over the trail by a larger branch. I took some shots and then got to work. This wood was greener and the trees had a lot more spring which made cutting them more dangerous. I took my time and soon had almost everything cleared. I pulled down a few low-hanging branches and cut them off to clear the trail. I took some after shots and then we walked to Iron Wheel Junction.

As we walked we continued to clear some small branches. At the trail junction we turned right on the Logger's Loop as a way to loop back to the car. I did not intend to do too much work as it was getting late and I had an afternoon-evening commitment. Shortly after the turn, we ran into another tree blocking part of the trail and I decided I had enough time to clear it. I began by taking pictures and then working on what turned out to be a slightly more complex job than I thought. I kept cutting branches and dragging them aside until Sheila alerted and I saw another dog approaching. I put Sheila on her leash and tied her to a tree. The owners, who had English accents, called their dog and approached us. They apologized for their dog barking which I appreciated. I was a little too busy for conversation as 5 or 6 people passed by. I finally finished the work, took my final pictures and packed up to hurry along the trail. We continued to Times Square and found only one more blowdown near the side of the trail which I made note to clear later. We passed through Times Square which was as wet as always with plenty of mud. The problem of properly draining this area has escaped me as there is surface runoff after it rains and some spring which keep things wet. We continued straight head on the Logger's Loop and I could see another tree down across the trail up ahead. The tree was high enough in the air to allow hikers to pass underneath it but I knew I would return to clear it as I think these situations could be disastrous. We continued the slight uphill hike on the Logger's Loop which was wet in spots. After cresting the hill, we continued out to Gravestone Junction. By now there were some nice puffy white clouds in the sky but I was in a hurry to get home. We turned left at the trail junction and headed back to the car. When we reached the parking area, there was a roller packing the dirt on the road. I don't know whether they will pave the surface but their work had greatly improved the road. It was 12:35 PM and we had spent 3 hours and 45 minutes hiking 4.2 miles and doing a lot of trail work. The elevation gain was a modest 350 feet. The temperature was in the mid-70's as I pulled away from the parking area.

On Friday, June 8th Cindy and I had committed to helping the Catskill Mountain Club relocate the upper part of the Shavertown Trail. The DEP is allowing a contractor to log part of the property and they will be using the road on which part of the trail is located for access. Logging typically leaves the area being logged a mess and meeting a logging truck on a narrow road can be disconcerting. When we awoke on Friday morning at 6:30 AM it was only 56 degrees but it was clear the day would get warmer. We had to drop my car at the body shop at 8:00 AM in Harris to finally get the hail damage fixed. From there we intended to drive directly to the parking area on near the Shavertown Bridge across the Pepacton Reservoir which is near the trail head. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which I had recently waterproofed as I knew the trails might be damp. I also put on a light jacket knowing I could remove it at any time. I put our tools in the car including my two Silky saws, a Fiskars axe, two different loppers, a mattock, and a shovel. I had to explain to a very disappointed Sheila that she could not go with us as there would be power tools and too many other people. She was NOT happy! I got in my new car and Cindy followed me to the body shop. We arrived early and after a short wait we were able to leave at about 8:00 AM to drive north and west on State Route 17. I intended to take the Beaverkill and Barkaboom Roads to the Shavertown Bridge but we has to make a detour home for Cindy to get some things. After the stop, I drove north on Old Route 17 to the Beaverkill Road where turned right. I followed the road through Lew Beach and into Ulster County. Where the road makes a sweeping right in Turnwood, I turned left on Barkaboom Road to head toward the Pepacton. The road was in good shape and when we got to the junction with BWS 8 and BWS 9, I turned right. After driving a few miles, I realized I had turned the wrong way. I turned around and drove back to the junction and turned right on BWS 8. I drove to the bridge, turned right to cross it and turned left at the other end and pulled into he parking area. Wendell, the exceptive director of the CMC was already there with two other people. We talked for a minute a hen Wendell suggested we drive the gravel road up to Snake Pond as most of the work needed to be done in that area. Rick, the CMC president, and Bob had already driven up with the bridges that needed to be placed. We got in our cars and followed Wendell up the gravel road. The road was a little rough but passable. We dropped one car at the point where the trail crosses and then continued up to the pond. We met Rick and Bob, said "Hello" and started to work. Rick had his younger beagle, Teddy, with him and Teddy seemed to have a mind of his own. Beagles tend to find a track and follow their nose as far as the scent goes. I went with Rick and Bob to place a bridge over the overflow to the pond to make it easier to walk around the pond. We also placed a small bridge on the other side of the pond over a small ditch. I was now time to get busy cutting out the trail that had already been flagged.

Rick likes to use the power scythe so he took command of it. Bob had a chainsaw in case we ran into any large trees on the trail. I planned to use my Silky Sugowaza most of the time and the rest of the group had various types of loppers. After cutting through some weeds and brush we came to one more wet spot that needed a bridge. Bob and I went to the truck to get the bridge and place it across the wet area. It fit almost perfectly. Rick and Cindy went ahead cutting what they could with the power scythe and loppers. The power scythe tends to leave stubs behind which then require lopping anyway. My job was to cut some of the small trees that remained in the trail or hanging over the trail. Wendell and I also removed some older and rotten tree trunks in the trail. We continued on down the trail following the flagging and what Rick had cut. Occasionally we would hear Rick calling Teddy who was, for some reason, staying near us. As we descended the hill and neared the gravel road, we came across two small streams across the trail. These were easily crossed but Wendell decided to create a "bridge" from rocks. This was a good idea for those who might hike with less than adequate foot gear. The only problem is that wet rocks become slippery. I continued down the trail cutting a few small trees and trimming the branches on the pines near the road. The problem with loppers is that it is hard to cut close to the tree trunks. This can leave "spikes" sticking out from the trunks which can be dangerous should someone stumble against them. I continued to cut these spikes and branches until one hit me in the left temple. I put my hand to the affected area and came away with some blood. I couldn't tell if it was a scratch or a deeper cut so I called for Cindy. By the time she arrived, the bleeding had stopped and she told me it was only a small scratch. I continued to cut the branches heading for the road while Cindy supervised my work. Once I got to the road, we turned around and walked back up the trail to the small streams where the others were taking a lunch break. Cindy and I decided to head back up to the car to go home as most of the day's work was done. Wendell talked about cutting some steps from the road up the bank but we decided we had worked enough for the day. We walked back up to the pond with Bob. I took a few pictures of the pond and some from the lookout over the Pepacton. We walked back to the car and started down the road at 1:00 PM. We had spent about four hours helping with a very worthwhile project. The logging will eliminate access to the upper trail that wandered through some beautiful woods and will leave the walk considerably shorter than it was.

On Wednesday, June 6th I wanted to get in a hike close to home after my appointment for a dental cleaning in the morning. Track season had concluded so I had as much time as I wanted to hike. I was home by 11:00 AM and I got ready to leave. It felt good to leave the tools behind which lightened my pack considerably. I got dressed in a long-sleeved crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which I had recently waterproofed as I knew the trails might be damp. The temperature was in the mid 60's as I got ready so I put on a light jacket knowing I could remove it at any time. The skies were completely overcast and it looked like it could rain at any minute but the forecast did not include any showers. Sheila was eager to get in the car and we left Livingston Manor around 11:25 AM to head for Frick Pond. I had already decided that I would limit my photography and perhaps avoid stopping at all to take pictures. We were at the parking area and out on the Quick Lake Trail by 11:45 AM. There were no other cars so I did not expect to meet anyone. Sheila was more than ready to get going even though we had hiked the day before. Despite the cooler temperature it was very humid but there did not seem to be many insects around. The woods road passed the register box to Frick Pond was damp but there were only a few areas of standing and running water and only a little mud. At Gravestone Junction we stayed to the left on the red Quick Lake Trail crossing the stepping stones the Willowemoc Trail Crew had installed. We walked down to the pond and crossed the bridge over the outlet. The scene was much the same as always and there was nothing distinguishing to photograph. I stayed with my plan and continued on the trail. As we walked on the trail along the west side of the pond there was one puddle that I though could be drained. I put it on the list of things to do on our trail maintenance hike on Saturday, June 30. At the next trail junction we headed left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. We were keeping a pretty steady pace as we headed for Iron Wheel Junction. Sheila was running around following game trails and chasing a few chipmunks and squirrels. I removed a few branches from the trail as I walked along. The trail was drier than I expected . Once we got to the "spruce tunnel" there were several trees down on the trail. It looked to me like they would be relatively easy to clear with hand tools. I removed some old trunks that had fallen across the trail. A tree had fallen into the little stream through the woods and was blocking the water forming a pool. This was another task that will have to be handled. When we arrived at Iron Wheel Junction, we turned left to head toward Hodge Pond staying on the Quick Lake Trail.

We kept a quick pace up the hilly part of the trail. The trail was washed out in several places and I continued to remove small obstacles. We continued on the trail until it leveled off and descended slightly to Junkyard Junction. At this intersection, the Quick Lake Trail bears to the left and continues on to Quick Lake. We turned right and headed across the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. The Flynn Trail was damp and slippery with mud in some places but not as wet as it normally is this time of year. The trip across this part of the Flynn Trail went quickly. At one point I was not paying attention and stepped on a wet and mossy flat rock. I narrowly avoided a nasty fall! Soon we were at the gate where the trail turns right and heads down toward Hodge Pond. We reached the area near the shore of the pond and turned left to follow the jeep trail around the back of the pond. The sky was still overcast but I did stop for a few moments at the head of the pond. The pond was very placid and there were almost no sounds. On the other side of the pond I turned left up the hill toward the ruins of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. The climb up this trail is steeper than the trail from the outlet of Hodge Pond but it is also shorter! When we got to the top of the hill, we turned right to head back toward the Flynn Trail. Once we were back at the Flynn Trail, we turned left for a straight shot back to the car. We set a fast pace to the junction with the Big Rock Trail and then had about 1.7 miles to go to get back to the car. This stretch can often seem long and boring but I must have been deep in thought as the hike to the car seemed to go so quickly. The grass was wet along this trail but there was a pretty definite track to follow. Everything was very green. As we neared the gate, we came to the huge spruce tree that lies across the trail. Cindy and I had cut an opening through it to allow hikers to pass. This was still in good shape and allowed us to pass easily. We followed the Flynn Trail to the gate and then turned left to continue on the rail to avoid the private property around the cabin. We followed the trail through the woods and back to the car arriving at 2:30 PM. We hiked 6.2 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes with 888 feet of elevation gain. We stopped for only 4 minutes and our overall and moving average speeds were both 2.3 mph.

On Monday, June 4th I wanted to get out on a hike after serving as the high school nurse during the day. Track season had concluded so I came home right after school. I already knew that I was going to be the nurse on Tuesday and that we were cleaning up the track after school so I wanted to get out for some exercise. Even in the afternoon it was a little cooler than it had been with the temperature hovering in the mid 60's. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go across the street to hike on Round Top. She said "Yes" so we got dressed and walked out the door at about 3:30 PM. By this time half the sky was blue and sunny and the other half, especially to the west and north, was full of dark clouds. We decided that we were close enough to home to make a run for it if the rain started to fall. Sheila seemed thrilled at the decision to hike and was very excited that we all were going. As I got dressed I decided to put on a long-sleeved crew top with no baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which I had recently waterproofed as I knew the trails might be damp. Sheila would not leave my side as I was getting ready as she wanted to make sure she was going too! As we left the house Sheila made a mad dash for two young woodchucks that were foolish enough to be in our backyard. I raised my voice to Sheila and gave her some encouragement with her training collar which made her return to me. I did not want her harming the woodchucks nor did I want them to bite her. They were surprisingly aggressive in their own defense! We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church to begin the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Sheila responds well to the command "Pull" and the Siberian husky in her makes her well-suited for the job. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash and she bounded ahead of me following her nose. When we arrived at the area where a large blowdown had blocked the trail, I pointed out my work to Cindy. I had cleared a large tree by myself using only hand tools! At the first trail junction we followed Sheila as she turned right and continued up the trail. It was really a pleasure to walk on the trails and we found there were no major blowdowns. We did spend quite a bit of time clearing sticks and small branches from the trail which was damp from the rain during the day.

We followed the blazes for the yellow trail up to the trail junction. We turned left at the trail junction and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next trail junction, we turned right on the blue trail and headed up the steepest hill to the summit of Round Top. On the summit we followed the trail over the top and then down the other side. This part went quickly. At the yellow trail we turned right and then left at the next trail junction to head down to the lookout. At the lookout we turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. I knew we had not hiked enough so I suggested that we hike another figure 8. Cindy is not always enthusiastic about this but she agreed. We turned around and headed back up the hill to the lookout. We turned right at the top following the yellow trail on the long, gentle climb to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction. Here we turned left and followed the blue trail to the summit. At some point I decided to speed up our pace and Cindy stayed right behind me. By doing this we can get more work done and increase our aerobic capacity. This must have worked since I was breathing faster and my heart rate was increased when I reached the flatter summit. We continued on the trail and once again we crossed the summit and started down the other side. We turned left on the yellow trail and then right at the next trail junction. It was enjoyable following the old woods road back down to the first trail junction. At the trail junction we turned left and followed the trail back out to trailhead. At the trailhead we turned right and descended the hill. We walked across the field to the driveway and home. The skies were still black with clouds to the north but it had not rained a drop. We had spent about an hour walking a little more than 2 miles. The walk was just what I needed to get out of the house!

On Saturday, June 2nd I wanted to celebrate National Trails Day by doing some trail maintenance, being a trail angel and hiking. When I got up, the temperature was in the mid 60's but the humidity was very high. The forecast called for some showers throughout the day but I decided to go an get as much work and hiking as I could. After finishing some trail work at Alder Lake, Sheila and I got in the car and I drove back down Alder Creek Road to the Beaverkill Road. I turned right and drove back to the four corners in Lew Beach. I turned right on Mary Smith Hill Road and drove up the paved road until it turned to dirt and gravel. I continued to drive carefully until I reached the point where the Mary Smith Hill Trail crosses the road. I pulled into the small lot on the right at noon. My main task was to drop off several gallons of water for a group of hikers headed west to east on a section of the Finger Lakes Trail. I had purchased the water at Peck's Market earlier before heading to Alder Lake. The group would end up at the bivouac area where the trail crosses Mary Smith Hill Road. From their stay the night before at the Campbell Mountain Lean-to there are no water sources along the way. I decided I would hike to the top of Mary Smith Hill and maybe even to Holiday Brook Road. From what I could gather, I would probably meet the group somewhere along the way and hike back with them to my car. Looking at the skies was confusing since there was sun in one direction and dark clouds in another. I set my GPS and took my smaller saw with me just in case I needed to cut anything along the way. The temperature was now in the mid 70's but the humidity had to me almost 100%! We crossed the road and started out on the trail which begins and ascent rather quickly. Almost immediately we ran into a small tree down across the trail. I took a few quick pictures, cut the tree off the trail, took a few more shots and moved on. From the sign at the beginning of the trail the round trip to Holiday Brook Road would be 6.6 miles. The trail starts up an unnamed hill which is part of the Middle Mountain "range". In the first .45 miles the trail gains just less than 500 feet. As I had suspected the trail was very wet which made it very slippery. I was glad I had my poles. I stopped in several places to move trunks and branches off the trail. I was sweating no matter whether I was just hiking or clearing blowdowns and none of the sweat was evaporating to make me cooler. To make matters worse I had only brought one liter of water! The trail leveled briefly and we stopped at the Middle Mountain lookout. This was once a fairly open viewpoint offering nice views to the east and south. As with many of the lookouts it was grown in to limit what can be seen even on a clear day. On this day there wasn't much to see as the skies were overcast and there was a haze over the mountains!

From the lookout the trail continued to rise to 2910 feet at .9 miles. This is the highest point on the hike and has more elevation than Mary Smith Hill! From this high point the trail descends about 240 feet over the next 1.0 miles. At this point there was another lookout through the trees to the south and west but this has grown in so much that I did not stop. The trail was very wet and muddy in spots and I began to see foot prints in the mud. It was hard to tell how new they were or what direction they were going. I kept expecting to hear voices ahead but either Sheila nor I could hear anything. I began to wonder if the group had traveled faster than expected and had already passed by Mary Smith Hill Road or if they had been delayed. There was no way to get in contact with them so I just kept hiking. After the viewpoint, the trail drops slightly before starting up Mary Smith Hill. The climb was not as steep as the one from the car up the first climb but I was beginning to tire in the heat. The top of the hill was only .25 miles and 120 vertical feet from the col. We then dropped down the other side and headed toward the turn around point on Holiday Brook Road. Sheila and I started down the hill to the road which I estimated was a little more than .5 miles. I knew the descent was steep and covered with wet and slippery leaves making speed...dangerous. I listened again for voices and did not hear any. I checked the skies which were growing darker and decided we would turn around in an effort to avoid getting drenched. I knew the descent back down to the car would be even more difficult if it rained! It was 1:55 PM when we turned around and we had hiked 2.4 miles. I hoped the return trip would go quicker without any stops for pictures or trail clearing. The woods were very green and pretty but also very wet. My shoes were soaked through but at least they were warm. We kept up a good pace up and down the small hills on the ridge passing both lookouts quickly. I kept my eyes on the skies which got darker and darker as we approached the final descent. I slipped and slid in several places and took one real fall on a steep gravel area. The last .4 miles averages over a 20% grade which I found harder descending than ascending! We did not stop on the way back and arrived at the car at 3:20 PM without getting wet! We had taken 3 hours and 20 minutes to covered the 4.8 miles with an elevation gain of 1170 feet. I left three gallons of water at the bivouac area hoping the hiking group would find it. A text message I sent was not delivered so I have to hope they are OK.

On Saturday, June 2nd I wanted to celebrate National Trails Day by doing some trail maintenance, being a trail angel and hiking. When I got up, the temperature was in the mid 60's but the humidity was very high. The forecast called for some showers throughout the day but I decided to go an get as much work and hiking as I could. I took care of some work around the house and started to get dressed around 9:00 AM. Sheila was underfoot as she was eager to go and did not want me to forget her. I put on my Railriders pants that are a little heavy but stand up well to the trail work I do. I put on a short-sleeved baselayer and a long-sleeved crew top over it. This may be a little warm especially when working but I have found it offers a degree of protection I like. I wore my Keen Glarus boots knowing that I would soon have to find a replacement as Keen has discontented them! I took along a light rain jacket but knew I probably would not use it as I would rather get wet from rain rather than swelter in my own sweat while wearing a jacket. I left the house at about 9:30 AM with a very happy Sheila in the backseat. I had packed both my Silky Katanaboy and Sugowaza saws and brought along my Council Tools Velvicut felling axe. The Sugowaza is a 17" curved and fixed blade which fits in a scabbard. The Katana Boy is almost two feet long and is a folding saw with a nylon carrier. Both are remarkably sharp and can take care of some large tree trunks. I often carry a light Fiskars axe but bring the Velvicut or another full-sized axe when I don't have to carry it too far. I brought my poles hoping I would get in a hike after some trail work. My first stop was at Peck's Market to pick up three gallons of water for some hikers doing a west to east hike along the Finger Lakes Trail. They would end up at the bivouac area where the trail crosses Mary Smith Hill Road. From their stay the night before at the Campbell Mountain Lean-to there are no water sources along the way. After buying water, I headed out Old Rt 17 toward Roscoe and turned right or north on the Beaverkill Road to head toward Alder Lake where I wanted to check out a tree that had come down across one of the bridges. At the intersection with the Barkaboom Road I stayed to the right on Beaverkill Road until we came to the left turn for Alder Creek Road. After turning left, I drove to the end of Alder Creek Road and turned right to pass through the gate to Alder Lake. There were quite a few cars in the lot and I suspected many had been there overnight as Alder Lake is a popular camping spot. I set my GPS and got my tools ready to go. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked out the driveway to the lake. I noticed that the portable toilet that the DEC had placed at the entrance did not have a handle to lock the door. I sometimes wonder who is in charge and why they allow things like this to slip by. As we walked down the lawn toward the lake I noticed a family of geese swimming on the lake. I put down my pack and got out my camera to take a few shots. The skies were completely overcast with a mist or fog in the air. After taking my pictures, I packed up and we started out on the trail along the western shore of the pond. Three young men approached but headed along the shore toward the dam. One complimented me on my axe and asked if it was a Grandfors Bruks. I told him I had left that one home and that he was the first person ever to notice the axe I was carrying. Sheila and I continued along the path. The bushes and weeds along the path definitely need trimming and I was getting wet from the dew and rain. The trail was a little muddy but not as wet as I though it might be. All along the path we could hear and see people at various campsites. There were also two boats on the lake with fishermen.

We were soon at the trail junction with the Millbrook Ridge Trail on the left. We stayed to the right on the loop trail and soon came to the bridge over Alder Creek. The bridge is relatively new with steel I-beam supports. A Large cherry tree had fallen perpendicular to the bridge breaking the railings on both sides and obstructing easy passage over the bridge. I put my pack down and took some pictures before assessing the work to be done. I had to admit that there were a lot of factors that pointed to waiting for a DEC crew to clear the mess. The trees was at least two feet in diameter on one end and the way it had fallen would make cutting it with an axe or hand saw difficult. I decided to try to cut a little if I could. The surface of the bridge was wet and very slippery adding to the difficulty. I got my axe and started to cut. The wood was easier to cut than I thought but this is the adage of a full-sized axe with a four pound bit! The problem was that it was difficult to get the right angles to make the cut wide enough. I decided to cut what I could with the axe and finish off with the Katanaboy. I kept working and soon had cut through the large branch which was about a foot in diameter. One end of the truck was still on the bridge and the rest was in the stream. I knew I would have to cut some of the branches if I was going to get it off the bridge. At this point Sheila alerted and I saw the AFR for Alder Lake approaching. I think he was surprised to see me working and we struck up a conversation. He told me Forester Ian Dunn had been told about the problem and was trying to schedule a crew to clean it up. I told him I was a volunteer who maintained trails which, I think, eased his mind. I told him I would try to clear what I had cut and then rely on the Dec to clean up the rest. I did not tell him that the DEC is often very slow to do this kind of work! I went down to the stream level and cut some branches and removed them from the stream. When I tried to move the large trunk, it was clear it would take more cutting or some more people! I decided that the bridge was passable and that the DEC crew might handle it expeditiously. I took some pictures and then packed up to move on. We continued over the bridge and around the loop trail on the east side of the lake. There were fewer campers on the east side. We did run across several large blowdown but hikers had already created walkarounds for these. As we approached the south end of the lake, we found that the bridge on the trail had been completely destroyed by a tree falling on it. This seemed to be old and I remembered that I had not been on this trail for some time. I thought that this was another example of the DEC failing to maintain the trails. We continued on the trail until it broke out into a filed at the south end of the lake near the dam. We stopped at the dam so that I could take some pictures. The skies were a little sunnier but it was still overcast. As we walked up the hill toward the parking area, I noticed at group gathered just in front of the remains of the Coykendall Mansion. The once beautiful mansion was burned by the state as it had fallen into disrepair. The group was from Morgan Outdoors and was a hike around Alder lake in honor of National Trails Day. Lisa Lyons, the owner, had arranged for Heather Housekeeper to lead a hike to examine edible and medicinal plants in the area. Heather hiked the entire main Finger Lakes Trail and all the branch trails in one continuous trip. I listened to the discussion and said "Hello" to Lisa as the group started out around the lake. Sheila and I walked back to the car to get ready for the next part of our day.

On Wednesday, May 30th I wanted to go to Big Pond and do some trail maintenance on the Touch-Me-Not Trail that leads over the mountain toward Little Pond. I maintain this trail from Big Pond over Touch-Me-Not and Cabot mountains to Beech Hill Road for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference. I left Livingston Manor a little before 9:00 AM and headed up the Beaverkill Road with an excited Sheila in the back seat. The temperature was pushing toward 70 degrees and the humidity was high. I wore a lighter long-sleeved top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I chose a pair of Railrider pants which are well-constructed and tough. I wore my Keen Glarus boots knowing that I would soon have to find a replacement as Keen has discontented them! I had packed both my Silky Katanaboy and Sugowaza saws and brought along my Fiskars light axe. The Sugowaza is a 17" curved and fixed blade which fits in a scabbard. The Katana Boy is almost two feet long and is a folding saw with a nylon carrier. Both are remarkably sharp and can take care of some large tree trunks. I chose a Fiskars axe with a composite handle and rather small head. It is light an easy to carry for many miles. It also lives up to the "hype" as it is easy to keep sharp and cut well despite its small head. If I know I will be working close to a trailhead I may take my Council Tools felling axe that weighs in excess of 5 pounds! I also brought along two plastic wedges to help when a saw binds. We arrived in the parking area by Big Pond at 9:15 AM and got started almost immediately. The temperature was in the low 70's with a higher than normal humidity. I noticed that there were low clouds or fog hanging over Big Pond. There were no other cars parked in the lot as I set my electronics and headed across the road to get on the red Touch-Me-Not Trail. The trail starts with a nice little ascent to get the heart pumping and then levels off some. The trails were quite wet from the rain the day before making the leaves slippery and leaving patches of mud. There were a few small branches in the trail which I brushed aside with my poles. We stopped at one of the larger small trees across the trail which I had been unable to move off the trail on a previous visit. I took a few quick before pictures and then got to work. It didn't take very long to cut the soft wood in two places with the axe. I pulled both pieces off the trail and took a few shots before continuing on the trail. I continued to remove a few branches here and there but knew I wanted to get to a particular set of trunks blocking the trail. On the way up the steeper sections of the climb the mud became quite annoying but we made it without a problem. There were a few places where trees were hanging over the trail but they were too big for me to tackle and most had been there for some time. Over the first mile we gained 770 feet to the shoulder of Touch-Me-Not Mountain. There were several large blowdowns that were old and laying on the ground. I had asked that the Finger Lakes Trail conference to send someone to help remove them with a chainsaw but that had not happened despite several specific requests. I made a note to reiterate those requests and to speak to the NYNJTC and the DEC forester to see if someone could get the job done!

At 1.1 miles we came to the spot where the trail was effectively block by some trunks. As I assessed them it was clear the lower one was a bit large to clear by myself. I decided I could cut the upper one out of the way which would make it easier for hikers to pass. I put down my pack and took some pictures before I got started. Because the upper trunk was pretty far up in the air, I decided to use the Katanaboy to cut it. I cut the top on one side and almost got the saw stuck as I finished the cut. I dragged that piece off the trail and noticed that Sheila was alert. I didn't see or hear anyone so I went back to work. I began to cut the other end of the trunk which was considerably larger. I had to take a few breaks as the heat and humidity were taking their toll. Sheila became more agitated as a couple hiking approached us. I put Sheila on her leash and got her off the trail. The couple asked if I was a trail maintainer and I answered in the affirmative. They thanked me and said they were headed for Cabot Mountain. As they continued on the trail I got back to work. I cut through the trunk and managed to wrestle it off the trail. I turned my attention to the larger trunk which was nearly two feet in diameter. I knew I could cut it with the saw and axe but didn't know if I could on this day. As I started to cut with the saw, I knew that this would not be the day I would conquer this log! I decided that I would score and flatten the top by hewing it. This would make a better surface for those going over the trunk. I use the saw to make several cuts perpendicular to the trunk. I then used the axe to hew the top of the log. I was surprised that the small Fiskars axe did so well at this job. I worked for 20 minutes until I thought I had done a good enough job. I intend to return with more energy and a partner or two top complete the job! I took some pictures of the work and the decided I had done enough for the day. I packed up and we started the walk back to the car. I was surprised how tired I was but I attributed it to my being out of shape and the high heat and humidity. We were back at the car at 11:55 AM having spent 2 hours and 35 minutes hiking 2.4 miles and working on the trail. The time was almost evenly split between walking and working. The elevation gain was 750 feet.

On Wednesday, May 23rd I wanted to get in a local hike and decided to check out the TouchMeNot Trail which I maintain for the Finger Lakes Trail. I had thought about other options including Trout Pond but wanted to examine the trail to determine the work that might be needed to get it ready for the hiking season. I wanted to start at Big Pond and walk a loop returning on the Little Pond Trail and the roads. I left Livingston Manor a little after 9:30 AM and headed up the Beaverkill Road with an excited Sheila in the back seat. Even though the temperature was pushing toward 60 degrees I chose to wear my Mammut hoody since it was lots of zippers to dump heat and extra pockets. I did wear a lighter long-sleeved top with a short-sleeved baselayer. I wore a pair of Railrider pants which are well-constructed and tough. We arrived in the parking area by Big Pond at 10:05 AM and got started almost immediately. The temperature was 57 degrees and I noticed that there were low clouds or fog hanging over Big Pond. I got out the camera and took some pictures. There were no other cars parked in the lot as I set my electronics and headed across the road to get on the red Touch-Me-Not Trail to hike over the hill toward little Pond and Cabot Mt. The trail starts with a nice little ascent to get the heart pumping and then levels off some. The trails were quite wet from the rain the day before making the leaves slippery and leaving patches of mud. There were a few small branches in the trail which I brushed aside with my poles and several large ones that I was able to drag out of the way. There were also a few larger trunks that were broken making it easier for me to move them to the side of the trail. On the way up the steeper sections of the climb the mud became quite annoying but we made it without a problem. There were a few places where trees were hanging over the trail but they were too big for me to tackle and most had been there for some time. Over the first mile we gained 770 feet to the shoulder of Touch-Me-Not Mountain. There was one spot where the trail was effectively block by some trunks but it looked as if I could clear them with hand tools. There were several large blowdowns that were old and laying on the ground. I had asked that the Finger Lakes Trail conference to send someone to help remove them with a chainsaw but that had not happened despite several specific requests. I made a note to reiterate those requests and to speak to the NYNJTC and the DEC forester to see if someone could get the job done! As we approached the junction with e blue Campground Trail we came to a tree that had split three ways. One large trunk lay across the trail while another hung over the trail. I noticed that hikers had begun to hike around this mess and thought about rerouting the trail slightly the next time I was in the area. We continued to the junction with blue Campground Trail where we kept to the right on the Touch-Me-Not Trail and continued our descent. We ran across several large trees across the trail but they were old and had been there for some time. There were a few other rotten trunks that had fallen into the trail and I took the time to move them and clean up the area. As we approached the trail junction Sheila alerted and I put her on her leash even though I did not see or hear anything. After a few minutes, I could see THREE dogs headed our way with no owner in sight. They came right for us and the young lady who was there owner came running behind. At least one of the dogs got into an argument with Sheila and I had to encourage it to leave with my poles. The young lady tried to explain why they were off their leashes but I was a little too annoyed to listen!

After about 1.6 miles we arrived at the junction with the yellow Little Pond Trail on the left. I decided to make the left and hike a loop back to Big Pond as I did not feel that I had the time to ascend and descend Cabot. We turned left on the Little Pond Trail to start the loop back. Once we got to Little Pond we could follow the campground access road and Barkaboom Road back to the car. There were a couple of trees across the trail and quite a few branches but I decided not to do much work as this was someone else's responsibility. We continued hiking and were soon in the field on the Little Pond Trail that acts as a nice lookout over the valley below. I stopped to take a few pictures of the scenery as the sky was now clear with a few clouds. The leaves were green but there were also some yellow and red hues. Unfortunately, the area is beginning to grow up and the smaller trees and brush are beginning to obscure the view. After the field, we continued along the woods road passing a foundation on the left. The tiger lilies were growing but had not put up and spikes to flower yet. A little further along, we walked off the main trail to the right to a small pond. This pond was once very seasonal but now seems to have some water in it mall year. I took some pictures before returning to the main trail. The trail was wet as the out let from the pond crossed it. After a short walk, we turned left onto the trail that would take us down to Little Pond. The trail was very wet in most places requiring small detours to stay out of the mud. Along the way we came to what was once a beaver meadow but now has been transformed back into a beaver pond. I stopped to take a few shots and then continued on the trail. I did not see any freshly cut sticks and there was no lodge in the small pond that had formed behind the dam. I did take a few picture of the dam which has grown rather large. We continued down to the loop trail and turned left to start toward the gatehouse. We crossed a bridge and continued around Little Pond stopping at the "deck" so that I could take some pictures. As we neared the bathhouses, I put Sheila on her leash. Row boats, canoes and kayaks were lined up on the beach and the ropes were out to delineate the swimming area. The first big day of the camping season is Memorial Day weekend. We walked to the bridge over the dam and I took a few more pictures of Little Pond with Cabot Mountain in the background. The water was high and freely flowing at the outlet under the bridge. I stowed my poles for the walk out passed the gatehouse and down the access road to Barkaboom Road. This downhill section went quickly and soon we turned left on Barkaboom Road to begin the .6 mile uphill hike back to the car. We were back at about 12:50 PM having spent 2 hours and 40 minutes hiking around 5.0 miles with some time for trail maintenance and photography! The elevation gain was a modest 1010 feet.

On Friday, May 18th I wanted to get out on a hike after several days of storms and a bad cold. It was a little cooler than it had been with the temperature hovering in the low 60's as I began to get ready to head across the street to Round Top at 11:00 AM. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and she agreed. I needed the exercise but thought it would be a good opportunity to see how the high wins from Tuesday had effected the trails. Sheila seemed thrilled at the decision and couldn't wait to get going especially since we had not been out of the house since Monday. As I got dressed I decided to put on a long-sleeved crew top with no baselayer and a very light windbreaker. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants instead of my Columbia Omniheat winter pants. These pants are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which I had recently waterproofed as I knew the trails might be wet. Sheila would not leave my side as I was getting ready as she wanted to make sure she was going too! We stepped out onto the back porch and headed out the driveway at 11:00 AM. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church to begin the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Sheila responds well to the command "Pull" and the Siberian husky in her makes her well-suited for the job. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash and she bounded ahead of me following her nose. When we arrived at the area where a large blowdown had blocked the trail, I admired my work. I had cleared a large tree by myself using only hand tools! At the first trail junction we followed Sheila as she turned right and continued up the trail. It was really a pleasure to walk on the trails and I found it strange that there did not seem to be any major blowdown. We did spend quite a bit of time clearing sticks and small branches from the trail. On the way up this woods road I pointed out to Cindy the area where I had cleared one tree trunk that had fallen and had been hanging over the trail.

We followed the blazes for the yellow trail up to the trail junction. We turned left at the trail junction and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The trail was pretty open as I had done some maintenance to remove the blowdowns from the winter storms. At the next trail junction, we turned right on the blue trail and headed up the steepest hill to the summit of Round Top. On the summit we followed the trail over the top and then down the other side. This part went quickly. At the yellow trail we turned right and then left at the next trail junction to head down to the lookout. At the lookout we turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. I knew we had not hiked enough so we turned around and headed back up the hill to the lookout. We turned right at the top following the yellow trail on the long, gentle climb to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction. Here we turned left and followed the blue trail to the summit. We continued on the trail and once again we crossed the summit and started down the other side. We turned left on the yellow trail and then right at the next trail junction. It was enjoyable following the old woods road back down to the first trail junction. At the trail junction I suggested to Cindy that we do a short loop over the cliffs but she declined. We turned left and followed the trail back out to trailhead. At the trailhead we turned right and descended the hill. We walked across the field to the driveway and home. We had spent a little over an hour walking a little more than 2 miles. The walk was just what I needed to get out of the house!

On Tuesday, May 15th I wanted to go over to Round Top and do some trail work based on what I had seen the day before. There wasn't much work to do but I like to keep the trail as clear as possible. I got up early but had a few things to take care of before venturing out. I started to get dressed just before 9:00 AM when the temperature was in the mid 60's with plenty of sun. The forecast was for thunderstorms in the afternoon so I wanted to get out and get the work done. Sheila was thrilled at the decision and couldn't wait to get going. As I got dressed I decided to put on a long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer and a very light windbreaker. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants. These are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which I had recently waterproofed as I knew the trails might be wet. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. I brought my pack as I like to take pictures of the work. I packed both my Silky Katanaboy and Sugowaza saws and brought along my Council Tools Velvicut felling axe. The Sugowaza is a 17" curved and fixed blade which fits in a scabbard. The Katana Boy is almost two feet long and is a folding saw with a nylon carrier. Both are remarkably sharp and can take care of some large tree trunks. I often carry a light Fiskars axe but bring the Velvicut or another full-sized axe when I don't have to carry it too far. I left my poles home as I did not intend to hike much. I stepped out onto the back porch and headed out the driveway at 9:10 AM. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church to begin the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Sheila responds well to the command "Pull" and the Siberian husky in her makes her well-suited for the job. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash and she bounded ahead of me following her nose. When we arrived at the area where a large blowdown had blocked the trail, I admired my work. I put down my pack and got out the camera to take pictures of a trunk that was till protruding into the trail. I grabbed my axe and walked over to begin on the tree. My intent was to cut part way through with the axe and finish with a saw. I cleared away some brush and started in. The Velvicut is very different from the Fiskars as it has a longer handle and a bit that weighs almost twice as much. I have it sharpened to a razor's edge. I began the cut making sure to start at least as wide as the diameter of the trunk. The axe bit deeply with each stroke and I decided to cut all the way through with it and skip the saw. As always, my initial cut was a little narrow and my angle a little too steep but it didn't take long to cut all the way through the log. Fortunately, although the log was large, it was balanced on the edge of a dropoff and I was able to easily tip it up and off the trail. I took a few "after" pictures and then packed up to continue.

At the first trail junction we turned right and continued up the trail. It was really a pleasure to walk on the trails and it got me looking forward to more appropriate spring weather and to summer. As I walked, I removed a few loose branches that had blown down in the last wind. On the way up this woods road there was an area where one large branch or small trunk had fallen and caught in another tree. The branch was hanging over the trail. There were also two other small trunks hanging over the trail which I wanted to remove. I took a few pictures and then got out the Katanaboy to cut the overhead branch. This went very quickly and I was able to drag the piece I cut off the trail. I walked up the trail and cut a small tree that was bent over the trail. It only took a few strokes to get rid of it. There was one more tree that I had hoped to be able to drag off the trail but there was too much pressure holding it to the ground. I used the saw to cut the tree and as it separated one part brushed my right shoulder. This did not injure me but made me realize that it could have and that I have to be more careful especially when working alone. I dragged both parts off the trail and took some "after" pictures. I packed up and we headed up the trail. I followed the blazes for the yellow trail up to the trail junction. I stopped at the junction and got out a saw to remove a small tree just ahead on the blue trail. After cutting the tree, I dragged it off the trail and returned to my pack. I turned left at the trail junction and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The trail was pretty open as I had done some maintenance to remove the blowdowns. We stopped at one small tree across the trail which was too long to remove without cutting. I got out a saw and cut a few surrounding busses. I then cut the tree and dragged it off the trail. I cut a few more branches that were starting to encroach on the trail before packing up to continue. At the next trail junction, we turned left to stay on the yellow trail and down to the lookout. There were no other trees or branches to clear along the way. At the lookout we turned left and headed down the hill to the first trail junction. We had been out for about an hour and I was tired from doing all the clearing so I decided to walk out to the trailhead. At the trailhead I put Sheila or her leash and we turned right to descend the hill. We walked across the field to the driveway and home. We had spent a little over an hour walking and clearing the trail.

On Monday, May 14th I wanted to get out on a hike but didn't have much time to spend. It was a little cooler than the previous days but at 9:00 AM it was in the low 60's. I had work to do around the house a did not decide to head out until after 11:00 Am when the temperature had risen into the mid 60's. I decided just to head across the street and hike on Round Top. Sheila seemed thrilled at the decision and couldn't wait to get going. As I got dressed I decided to put on a crew top over a short-sleeved baselayer and put on a very light windbreaker. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants instead of my Columbia Omniheat winter pants. These pants are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which I had recently waterproofed as I knew the trails might be wet. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. Sheila would not leave my side as I was getting ready as she wanted to make sure she was going too! I stepped out onto the back porch and headed out the driveway at 11:20 AM. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church to begin the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Sheila responds well to the command "Pull" and the Siberian husky in her makes her well-suited for the job. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash and she bounded ahead of me following her nose. When we arrived at the area where a large blowdown had blocked the trail, I admired my work but was bothered by the one trunk still protruding into the trail. It was easy enough to walk around this trunk but it still bothered me and I knew I would be getting rid of it soon. I had cleared a large tree by myself using only hand tools and would do the same for this one! At the first trail junction we turned right and continued up the trail. It was really a pleasure to walk on the trails and it got me looking forward to more appropriate spring weather and to summer. As I walked, I removed a few loose branches that had blown down in the last wind. On the way up this woods road there was an area where one large branch or small trunk had fallen and caught in another tree. The branch was hanging over the trail and I knew it would have to go. There were also two other small trunks hanging over the trail which would have to be cleared.

I followed the blazes for the yellow trail up to the trail junction. I turned left at the trail junction and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The trail was pretty open as I had done some maintenance to remove the blowdowns. There was one small tree across the trail which was too long to remove. At the next trail junction, we turned right on the blue trail and headed up the steepest hill to the summit of Round Top. On the summit we followed the trail over the top and then down the other side. This part went quickly. At the yellow trail we turned right and then left at the next trail junction to head down to the lookout. At the lookout we turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. I knew we had not hiked enough so we turned around and headed back up the hill to the lookout. We turned right at the top following the yellow trail on the long, gentle climb to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction. Here we turned left and followed the blue trail to the summit. At the beginning of the blue trail was another small tree which was too long to drag off the trail. We continued on the trail and once again we crossed the summit and started down the other side. On the steep descent to the yellow trail I had to watch my footing as the leaves were wet. We turned left on the yellow trail and then right at the next trail junction. It was enjoyable following the old woods road back down toward the first trail junction. When we came to the path I had made up from the trailhead to avoid the blowdown, Sheila automatically turned left even though the trail was not very distinct. I called her back and we continued on to the trail junction. We turned left and followed the trail back out to trailhead. At the trailhead we turned right and descended the hill. We walked across the field to the driveway and home. We had spent a little over an hour walking a little more than 2 miles. The walk was a good workout even though I feel I could do it blindfolded!

On Tuesday, May 8th, I wanted to get in a hike close to home but wanted to get away from going across the street to Round Top. I also wanted to get in at least 6 miles and, preferably, do something I had not done before. My plan was to park at Frick Pond and then hike the roads to Mongaup Pond. From there I would take the park roads to the snowmobile trail which goes over the mountain to the junction with the Flynn and Big Rock Trails. From here I could return on the Flynn Trail or use the Big Rock Trail to get to Frick Pond. The temperature at 10:30 AM was already in the high 50's so I knew I would not have to dress too warmly. I decided just to put on a crew top over a short-sleeved baselayer and put on a very light windbreaker. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants instead of my Columbia Omniheat winter pants. These pants are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots which I had recently waterproofed as I knew the trails might be wet. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season especially farther south. Sheila was crazed as usual since we had not been out in several days. We left Livingston Manor just before 10:00 AM to head out the DeBruce Road. At six miles I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road and where the road split I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. The Town of Rockland was working at the intersection to improve the drainage in the ditches. I parked in the small lot which was empty. There was one car in the bigger lot. I was concerned about bugs and there were a few as we got ready to hike. I decided to wait to apply repellant as I prefer not to use it if it is not needed. I set my electronics, put Sheila on her leash and started back down Beech Mountain Road at 10:10 AM. The walk down the hill went quickly and Sheila behaved herself at the intersection where we turned left on the road to Mongaup Pond. The walk is mostly uphill and parallels the outlet stream from the pond. At one point the sunlight reflecting off the water caught my eye. I stopped to take a few pictures of the stream before continuing on to the park.

When we arrived at the park entrance, we walked through the entrance and stayed left to take the road on the west side of the pond. About a quarter mile from the entrance, 1.7 miles into the hike, we came to the observation deck on the right. We had walked about 1.6 miles in just over 30 minutes for a speed of around 3 mph! I let Sheila off her leash and walked out onto the deck to take pictures. This was one of the first days in a long time where the sky was blue and filled with white billowing clouds. The rest of the pond wasn't very interesting but I took quite a few pictures of the sky. As we were about to leave a truck appeared and I put Sheila back on her leash. The gate to the rest of the park was still closed so we walked around it. In a few minutes there was another nice place to take pictures on the pond. I walk over to a bench, released Sheila and took out my camera. The pictures from this viewpoint were much the same as the ones from the deck with a slightly different angle. The predominant feature of these shots were the clouds in the blue sky. After taking the pictures, I got a drink and then packed up to continue the hike. A few hundred feet up the road we turned left onto an access road and then quickly left again onto the snowmobile trail. I had walked this loop before but always in the opposite direction so I was anxious to see what it was like to walk uphill. The trail in this area passes by a swampy area and it was very wet and very green. I again stopped to take a few pictures. As we continued I found the problem was that the trail seemed to be part of the swamp which made travel a little difficult. Sheila didn't mind at all and I was able to walk on one side of the trail or other until we were through the area. At 2.7 miles the trail began to head northwest instead of north and the climb began. I looked down to see the first trout lilies of the year for me so I had to stop on take a few shots. The sun was out and the air was warm. The woods were beautiful and green with many spots covered in flowers. I almost didn't notice the fact that the hike was all uphill. At 3.3 miles the trail made a sharp turn and started heading south but continued to climb. Another turn at 3.7 miles sent us eastward toward the Flynn Trail. At 4.1 miles the trail turned north continuing its meanders. At 4.5 miles two things happened as the trail turned east again and we finally came to the high point on the hike. It was noon and we had ascended over 700 feet over 1.8 miles averaging over 2 mph! I was glad to continue over the top and down to the junction with the Flynn and Big Rock Trails. I now had to choose between the quicker trip back by the Flynn Trail or the longer but more scenic route down the Big Rock Trail and around Frick Pond. I decided on the later and Sheila and I continued straight through the junction and down the hill on the Big Rock Trail. My feet were feeling a little irritated on the descent but I ignored them and the situation never got too bad.

The trip down the Big Rock Trail did go quickly and seemed shorter than usual. In several places, where large trees had fallen across the trail the snowmobile club had completely removed them. There are three places where the trail drops quickly and then levels off. The last place brought us right to Times Square where the Logger's Loop and Big Rock Trail cross. This area is almost always wet and this day was no exception. We walked straight across Time Square to continue on the Big Rock Trail around the back of Frick Pond. This trail was wet in places but most people have chosen to follow the slight reroute on higher ground. When we came to the two bridges across the inlet stream, I did not notice anything too extraordinary so we kept going. The wooden walkways were dry but covered in small branches and pine needles. These walkways are in bad shape as the support underneath them continues to rot away. My concerns to the DEC have so far gone unanswered. Without these walkways the hike would be considerably less enjoyable! We arrived at the end of the Big Rock Trail at the Quick Lake trail where we turned left to head toward the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. The trail was damp with one area of water but otherwise was in good condition. Some lopping needs to be done but there is a workday for the Willowemoc Trail Crew scheduled for Saturday, May 19. When we arrived at the bridge, the scene was little different than the many times I have been there before but I decided to take pictures anyway. I dropped my pack, got out my camera and walked out onto the bridge to take shots of the pond, Flynn's Point and the beautiful white clouds. Sheila took a short dip on the water and then came up to the bridge for some pictures. It wasn't long before I stowed the camera and we head out the Quick Lake Trail to the car. The trail was wet as always but the water was shallow in most spots. Where the water was a little deeper on the trail, I walks around it. When we arrived at the register, I decided to turn right and walk out the Quick Lake Trail to the larger parking area. I had cleared this trail recently after the winter had littered it with blowdowns and branches. The trail was still clear as we walked up to the parking area and the car. The vehicle in the larger lot was gone but a car was parked in the smaller lot. It was 1:05 PM and we had spent 2 hours and 55 minutes hiking 7 miles with an elevation gain of 1035 feet. The bugs had not been bad enough to bug me. I was tired but felt I had accomplished a "real" hike.

On Saturday, May 5th I wanted to get away from Livingston Manor for a hike and Cindy and Sheila agreed. Of course, Sheila always agrees as long as we are going outside! I talked to Cindy the night before about Morgan Hill State Forest or Huntersfield Mountain but we did not make a decision. When I got up at 7:00 AM, the temperature was already in the mid 50's. I had wanted to get an early started but just wasn't motivated to get moving. The ambulance pager sounded and I called in and got ready to go. No one else had time to respond so I had to stand down which always puts me in a bad mood. I hoped hiking would help. I decided we would hike from the parking area just off Huntersfield Road and perhaps take a walk over to Ashland Pinnacle. I knew Cindy might not be prepared for a longer hike so I also thought about hiking a loop over Huntersfield which I had never done. The Long Path used to go over Huntersfield but has been rerouted to avoid a "dead end" that occurred when the Long Path came to some private property on one of the nearly mountains. I decided just to put on a crew top over a short-sleeved baselayer and put on a very light windbreaker. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants instead of my Columbia Omniheat winter pants. These pants are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and s generous cut which I really like. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots and a new pair of OR BugOut low gaiters. The ticks have been very numerous so far this season and I hoped going north would be better. We left Livingston Manor a little before 9:00 AM and headed toward Roscoe where we picked up Route 206 toward the Pepacton Reservoir. At the reservoir I turned right on Route 30 and headed toward Margaretville on the BWS roads. In Margaretville where I picked up Route 30 north through Roxbury and Grand Gorge where I got on Route 23 to Prattsville. Although I had not been to Huntersfield in some time, I remembered the route without any problems. I turned left onto Washington Street which soon became Route 10. I drove up and through some impressive mountains and at the Y and I turned left on Route 11. Route 11 turned into Marv Rion Road and at the end I turned right on Huntersfield Road. We passed by the Huntersfield Christian Training Center which has some beautiful views of mountains to the south. The paved road ends at a "DEAD END" sign and the dirt road begins. The dirt road was not in very good condition but I knew the drive was very short. My new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross sits higher than my Lancer and we had no problems driving up to where I wanted to park. I turned around and parked the car and we got ready to hike at 10:30 AM.

We started out almost immediately with the air temperature in the low 60's and the sun shining with only a few clouds in the sky. The trail was poorly marked which unfortunately has become common lately. The DEC decided that volunteers were no longer allowed to post trail markers which would have to be done by DEC foresters. Since the DEC foresters never get out to mark the trails, the result is poorly marked trails. This is not the fault of the foresters who are busy doing many other jobs. The first part of the trail paralleled a small stream and then crossed it. The trail did not appear to be much used with a few branches here and there. The trail was also very wet from the storms that had rolled through the night before. I stopped to take a few pictures of the stream and then we continued on. In a very short distance we turned left onto a woods road and entered a red pine plantation. The thought crossed my mind that bushwhacking a direct route would be quicker but I decided to stay on woods road to respect property rights and the environment. The trees were very tall and the road well defined but without many blazes. There were several large puddles or small ponds on the trail but they were easy to walk around. I was afraid there might be a lot of insects but there were far less than I expected. At about 1 mile into the hike, the trail turned right into the woods. We had been hiking almost due north and now the trail started to head east and southeast up a ridge leading to the summit. The walking was relatively easy with only a few wet patches along the way but the lack of appropriate blazes was, at times, puzzling. At 1.25 miles I saw a viewpoint to the right and walked over to take a look. There was a nice view to the south and west so I took some pictures of the mountains in that direction. As we hiked up the trail there were many good views through the trees but none that offered photographic opportunities. All along the way I looked for other viewpoints but none seemed evident and the reports I knew that some were available from points on the summit. We passed several rock outcroppings and ledges and intersected at least one woods road. Several times Cindy and I both thought we were near the top only to find there was some more climbing to do.

Eventually we reached the flat and wooded summit of the mountain and continued to walk over the top. Cindy was a little behind me so I stopped and looked down to see a USGS benchmark that poised for a picture. We continued across the summit to the junction with the yellow trail to the leant-to. The red trail continued east toward Ashland Pinnacle and looked to be in good shape. We turned right on the yellow trail and almost immediately came across a viewpoint to the east. We stopped so that I could take some pictures toward the Ashland Pinnacle and Richmond Mountain. We returned to the trail and were at the lean-to in only a few minutes. The view here was to the south into the heart of the Catskills. The mountains of the Devil's Path were clearly visible but Slide Mountain in the distance dominated the view. From here it looked more impressive than ever. I took several pictures but we didn't stay too long. I noticed that the yellow trail continued passed the lean-to and we decided to follow it. I brought up the Avenza app on my iPhone which confirmed we were headed down an unmarked woods road which would allow us to hike a loop rarer than and out-and-back. As we continued south and southwest on the woods road, the yellow blazes turned right to go back towards the summit. We continued on the woods road. The sun was out and it was warm. The walk was easy on the wide woods road and it was all downhill! At 3.6 miles we came to a large pile of red shale and walked out to a dirt road. We were at the junction of Jim Cleveland Road coming up from the south and Huntersfield Road. We turned right to walk the woods road back to the car. The road was in good shape and I knew that I could have driven my car on it. As we were hiking down the road, Sheila Alerted and I could hear a pickup truck headed up the road toward us. He slowed and waved as he passed. We continued down the road and Sheila alerted again for a young man hiking up the road toward us. Just behind him was another truck which happened to be a forest ranger. We passed by with a "hello" and a wave. Cindy thought it was the same ranger we had met last year on Windham! We continued to follow the woods road until we spotted the car. We were back at the car at 1:20 PM after hiking 4.4 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes. The elevation gain was 1240 feet. I suggested a few shorter hikes we might do on the way back but Cindy declined. I was a little disappointed as I had planned on a least 6 miles. I did return by way of the Barkaboom Road to Lew Beach. I stopped at Tompkins Falls which was flowing nicely. Cindy and Sheila stayed in the car while I took 15 minutes to snap some shots.

On Thursday, May 3rd I wanted to get out on a hike but didn't have much time to spend. I decided just to head across the street and hike on Round Top. Sheila seemed thrilled at the decision and couldn't wait to get going I had a few things to do first and wee did not get started until 9:30 AM. The temperature was very warm hovering in the high 60's so I decided just to put on a crew top and a very light windbreaker. For the first time since last fall, I put on a pair of lighter Columbia hiking pants instead of my Columbia Omniheat winter pants. Sheila would not leave my side as I was getting ready as she wanted to make sure she was going too! I stepped out onto the back porch and headed out the driveway at 10:30 AM. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. As soon as we entered the trees I released Sheila from her leash. At the first trail junction we continued straight ahead to walk the steeper path to the viewpoint. At the lookout we turned to the right and we continued our hike on the yellow lower trail. It was really a pleasure to be out and an even greater pleasure that it was warm. We followed the trail and started the gentle climb through the woods. When we reached the next trail junction, we stayed to the right to follow the lower trail around the base of Round Top to the next junction. At this junction we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the steeper blue trail. We walked across the summit of Round Top and down the other side which is also a little steep. I picked up a few branches along the way but found only one small blowdown on the yellow trail that would require a saw. When we got to the yellow trail, we turned left to follow it to the second trail junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail back to the very first trail junction to complete a figure 8.

Sheila and I turned around and retraced our steps taking the more gentle path this time. When the yellow trail turned left, we followed it to the next trail junction where we turned right and headed up the blue trail to the summit. We walked over the top and down the other side to the yellow trail again. I was beginning to get bored and my time was limited as we turned right and followed the trail along the base of Round Top. Where the yellow trail turned left, we continued to follow the trail to the left and down to the lookout. From the lookout we walked down hill to the first trail junction. I decided that since I had not spent an hour walking that we would turn around and do a big loop to finish up. We headed up to the lookout on the steeper trail and turned right to follow the yellow trail. When we arrived at the junction with the blue trail we continued straight ahead up to and across the summit. We walked back down the other side and at the junction continued straight ahead on the yellow trail back down to the first trail junction, It was time to head home so we turned left and walked out to the trailhead. At the trailhead, I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down the cemetery hill and across the field to our driveway. It was a little after 11:30 AM and we had hiked a around 2 miles in just over 1 hour. It must have been a good workout as I was tired after a few days without an activity.

On Saturday, April 28th, I had planned to get up early and hike Hunter and maybe Plateau. I got up a little later than I thought I might and found a heavy fog hanging over the valley. I didn't want to hike mountains only to find no view so I decided to change plans. I called Karl and asked where he wanted to hike with his family and we agreed on the Neversink Unique Area at the end of Katrina Falls Road in Rock Hill. We set 10:30 AM as the tentative time to meet but I knew that with four children they might be a little late. Even though the temperatures were supposed to rise it was still cool in the morning but I decided not to put on a baselayer and just wear my Mammut crew neck shirt on top. I wore my Columbia Omniheat pants knowing that they would probably be a little warm. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus hiking boots as I knew I would not need any insulation. I had used some waterproof polish on the boots the night before as they had been wetting through on previous hikes. I decided not to bother with gaiters but took along a light hat and gloves. I had been the school nurse for two days during the week and we had not been hiking since Sunday so Sheila was more than ready to go! I got my gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and we went downtown to make a few stops. We left Livingston Manor just before 10:00 AM with a very happy Sheila who seemed very happy to be going somewhere as she was very alert in the back seat. I got on Route 17 and started for Rock Hill. I got off the Quickway at exit 109 and turned right on Katrina Falls Road to drive to the end of the road. I parked at 10:15 AM in the small parking area where there were three other cars. Just after I parked another car entered the lot parking so that they took up two spots! I had brought a book with me to read while I waited. Around 10:30 AM the family arrived and it took a few minutes to get everyone ready to hike. I set my GPS and we started down the woods road toward the river. I knew that Bryce who is 7 years old could hike the loop to Denton and Mullet Falls but that Luke and Lilly who are 5 and Brynn who is 2 wouldn't be able to go that far. The trail was clear of all snow and was drier than I thought it might be. We didn't push the pace so that we could all stay together. At the bottom of the hill we turned left to stay on the main blue trail. At this point a yellow spur trail goes down to the river. Just after the turn we came to a small bridge over Wolf Brook. I dropped my pack to take some pictures which didn't take too long. As I packed up, I noticed the poor condition of the bridge.

At the next trail, junction at the top of a short hill, we stayed to the right on the blue trail and descended through a wet area before starting up another small hill. At 1.2 miles another hello spur trail headed down to the river but we stayed on the blue trail. at 1.4 miles we came to the first bridge across Mullet Brook. The bridge was recently replaced with iron i-beams instead of logs for support. We stopped so that I could take some pictures of the ridge and then a few of Bryce and Sheila on the bridge. The rest of the family caught up and we discussed our options. We decided to hike down to the Neversink River and then back up to the main trail. At this point we would split with Bryce and I continuing on the loop and the rest of the family returning the way we came. I took this opportunity to stow my Mammut hoody in my pack as I was very warm. After crossing, the bridge we turned right on the yellow spur trail that goes down to the river at Denton Falls. As we hiked, I was surprised we did not see any other people since there had been several cars in the lot. The trail down to the river is steep and was damp the whole way with some very wet spots. We were careful to keep our footing walk around the wettest places. At 11:45 we had hiked 1.65 miles and we were at the edge of the river. We walked out onto the rocks by the river and warned the kids to stay away from the water. I grabbed my camera and took pictures upstream and then worked my way to the rocks below the falls. From here I was able to take pictures of the falls and a few downstream. Several fishermen were in the water on the other side of the river. Before we left the river, we got the kids a snack and I took a group picture. We walked back up the steep trail to the main blue trail and I was surprised that the kids did so well. Bryce, Sheila and I turned right to start continue the loop as the others started back. At the top of the hill I offered Bryce the option of going to High Falls further downstream. When I told him it would be over 8 miles, he chose to do the shorter loop this time. We stayed to the left to start up the hill.

After a brief walk uphill of .15 miles, we turned left onto the short trail down to Mullet Brook Falls. I was excited to see what Mullet Brook Falls might look like after the recent rain. Soon they came into sight, I was pleased to find that the waterfall had a good amount of water flowing over it but not as much as I expected. The water comes from a large swamp further upstream and is full of tannins which give it a brown color. I dropped my pack where the trail ended and grabbed my camera to take some pictures. The problem was that the route to the area in front of the falls was wet and slippery from the spray from the falls. We all worked my way across the stream and over the rocks. I took some pictures of the falls and then posed Bryce and Sheila. I took a quick picture as they were getting wet from the spray. I took a few more shots of the falls and a few downstream before heading back to the pack. I put away my camera and shouldered my pack to head back out the spur trail. We walked back out to the main trail and turned left to complete the loop. As we climbed we noticed the rocky ledges to our right and I thought about exploring them at some time in the future. The uphill walk was tiring for me but I didn't hear Bryce say anything. It was clear the temperature was rising as the snow continued to get softer. Soon we crossed over the upper bridge spanning Mullet Brook. I stopped on the bridge to show Bryce the beginning of the large swamp on the right. From the bridge the trail is flat or downhill for some time. After a brief walk we were at a trail junction. Walking straight ahead on the trail leads to the Wolf Lake Multiple Use Area. We turned left and began to descend off the ridge. As we started to walk downhill, Bryce picked up the pace considerably so that I had to really exert myself to keep up. As we hiked downhill, there were several areas of the trail that had brush beginning to encroach on the trail and there were several trees that needed to be removed. We walked downhill for some time and eventually came to the trail junction near the bridge over Wolf Creek where we had started the loop earlier. We continued to walk straight ahead to return to the parking area. Once on the other side of the brook we made the right turn on the woods road back to the car. I was not enthusiastic about the uphill walk back to the car but as soon as Bryce saw the gate in the distance he decided to run ahead uphill! We arrived at the parking area at 1:45 PM having hiked 4.7 miles in 3 hours and 5 minutes including the stops at the two falls. The vertical gain was only about 990 feet. I got my gear in the car followed by Bryce and Sheila. It was then that I noticed the ticks on Sheila most of which were still crawling on her fur. I removed at least ten and remembered that I had not applied Advantix for some time! I check myself and Bryce and vowed to apply the anti-tick medication to Sheila when we got home. I headed back out Katrina Falls Road to take Bryce home. By the time we were on the Quickway, Bryce was asleep.

On Sunday, April 22nd, I wanted to do some trail maintenance on The Flynn Trail at Frick Pond after church. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she agreed. I knew there were several blowdowns that needed to be cleared and some large branches to move off the trail. My plan was to ascend the Flynn Trail clearing blowdowns on the way out. After the last blowdown, we would turn around and hike back to the car. When we got back from church, we ate a quick lunch and got ready to go. The temperature was already 50 degrees and it was sunny. I found myself wondering how much snow would be left on the trail as two days earlier there was several inches! I decided not to put on tights under my Columbia Omniheat pants. I did wear a Mammut pullover over a short-sleeved baselayer. I put on my Mammut Ultimate Hoody which I wear most of the time. I made sure I brought along a light hat and gloves. Sheila was crazed as usual since even though we had been two days earlier. I like using my axes and hand saws to clear trees on the trails as it reminds me of working with my father and uncles when is was younger. We logged a lot for firewood and often used hand tools as chainsaws were cumbersome and expensive. I have two Silky saws which are Japanese and cut on the pull stroke. The Sugowaza is a 17" curved and fixed blade which fits in a scabbard. The Katana Boy is almost two feet long and is a folding saw with a nylon carrier. Both are remarkably sharp and can take care of some large tree trunks. I usually carry a Fiskars axe with a composite handle and rather small head. It is light an easy to carry for many miles. It also lives up to the "hype" as it is easy to keep sharp and cut well despite its small head. If I know I will be working close to a trailhead I may take my Council Tools felling axe that weighs in excess of 5 pounds! I also brought along two plastic wedges to help when a saw binds. We left Livingston Manor at about 1:00 PM to head out the DeBruce Road. There was no snow on the ground along the DeBruce Road. At six miles I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road which was completely clear. Where the road split I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and parked in the small lot where three other cars were parked. There was no snow to be seen anywhere. I set my electronics and we crossed the road at 1:15 PM to face our first blowdown. A large branch had fallen across the trail and we immediately began to clear it. I took before pictures and the started to use the axe to cut off a few smaller branches which Cindy removed. I continued to cut branches until I was down to the largest ones. I cut the branches and dragged them off the trail. After cleaning up a little more, I took a few after pictures and then started up the Flynn Trail. We made the right turn onto the woods road and there was no snow to be seen. It was a real contrast to the condition of the trail two days earlier when there was 2 to 3 inches of snow! Within a short distance we ran across the VERY large hemlock across the trail and I decided that I would cut a "tunnel" through the tree rather than try to remove the whole thing. I put down my pack and took pictures before beginning to work. Cindy began to clear some loose branches while I used the axe to cut up a small tree that was across the trail. I cut it into three pieces and removed them. Many of the branches that I wanted to cut where too high to get with the axe. I got out the Boy saw which is long and I was able to reach some of the higher branches and remove them. We continued to work until we had cut a wide opening through the tree, We cleared some more branches and made sure there were no sharp protrusions to snag unwary hikers. I took some pictures to show the work we had done and the we continued up the trail.

The weather was beautiful and I considered removing my jacket. Instead I opened the zippers as we continued up the trail removing small blanches as we walked. We came to an area where there were a few bigger branches across the trail and I took a few shots before we removed them from the trail. There were some branches along the side of the trail and I decided to get rid of those also. I was feeling pretty confident with the axe and did all of my work with it. I took a few shots to show the cleared trail and then we moved on. Sheila alerted and we saw tow men walking toward us with small dogs. As they approached they picked up there dogs and I put Sheila on her leash. I cleared a few branches as they passed. We said a brief "hello" as they passed. We continued up the trail removing a few branches as we walked. We came to a rather large tree across the trail and I took a few shots using Sheila for perspective. I used the axe to clean off some of the smaller branches and Cindy dragged them away. I cut the top of the tree in several places and removed these branches. This left the main trunk of the tree. I decided it was easier to make several cuts and drag away smaller pieces. I worked on the smaller parts of the trunk until only the two main parts were left. I cut each of these and moved them off the trail. I had hoped I could pivot the remaining trunk but if has much too heavy. I decided it was far enough off the trail. I took pictures of the clear trail and the trunks I had cut. We headed on up the Flynn Trail as I knew there was one more major blowdown to clear. We came to one small tree and I dispatched it with ease. Finally we came to the last tree that I was going to clear for the day. I was now tired and I knew this tree would be a problem. The tree had broken off fairly high up and had twisted. I knew I would probably have to cut the vertical trunk which was on an angle. I fell into my routine. I took pictures before starting to work and the used the axe to cut off branches and to "top" the tree. Cindy was now too tired to help so I had to drag away all the branches by myself. I was soon down to the main trunk. I tried to cut it loose up high but could not safely swing the axe that far above my head. With some effort I was able to "fell" the tree by cutting through the trunk and bringing it to the ground. I still had to cut pieces of the trunk small enough to drag away. I made several cuts with the axe through the thick trunk and moved each piece off the trail. I finished about the time I ran out of energy. I took some final pictures before we turned around to return down the Flynn Trail to the car. I was glad we were descending and the walk which sometimes seems long went more quickly than I expected. It was satisfying to see the work we had done. We were back at the car at 5:00 PM having covered 3.8 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes with an elevation gain of 600 feet. I was puzzled at the distance as it seemed too long. Cindy pointed out that I walked around quite a bit clearing trees on the way out with my pack on which probably extended the mileage.

On Friday, April 20th, I wanted to get in a hike close to home but wanted to get away from going across the street to Round Top. Some snow had fallen in town on Thursday but had melted by Friday morning. My plan was to ascend the Flynn Trail and then get the long descent on the Big Rock Trail. The temperature at 11:00 AM was in the low 30's as I was about to get dressed. I decided to put on tights under my Columbia Omniheat pants. I wore a Mammut pullover over my long-sleeved baselayer. I put on my Mammut Ultimate Hoody which I wear most of the time. I made sure I brought along a hat and gloves. Sheila was crazed as usual since we had not been out in several days. We left Livingston Manor at about 11:20 AM to head out the DeBruce Road. There was no snow on the ground along the DeBruce Road. At six miles I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road which had some snow on it but had been well sanded. Where the road split I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and parked in the small lot which was plowed. There were no cars in the lot and no tracks indicating anyone had been there recently. There was a coating of snow on the ground and I began to wonder how deep the snow would get as I ascended the Flynn Trail. I set my electronics and we crossed the road at 11:45 AM to start up the Flynn Trail. The temperature was 33 degrees as we hit the trail. The beginning of the Flynn Trail still had a tree across the middle of the trail and I made a note that it would have to be cleared sooner than later. I decided to go "low" around the tree and then back to the trail. The first part of the Flynn Trail through the woods is narrow and I removed a few small branches as we walked. Once we made the right turn into the woods road the going was easier but I was surprised there was more snow as this part of the trail gets a lot of sun. We ran across the VERY large hemlock across the trail and I decided that I would be able to cut a "tunnel" through the tree rather than try to remove the whole thing. As we gained some elevation, the snow got deeper until there was two to three inches which was a real surprise. I stopped to take a few pictures before continuing on. We ran across several large branches on the trail and several blowdowns that would require tools to clear. We continued up the Flynn Trail toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail.

As we hiked the snow continued to melt on my boots which were getting wet. My right foot was also becoming cold. As we approached the trail junction I had to make a decision on whether to continue on the big loop all the way to Hodge Pond or cut the hike short. I started toward Hodge Pond and then decided I did not need to battle cold wet feet! We turned left to start down the Big Rock Trail to Times Square. The snow on the Big Rock Trail was somewhat less than on the Flynn Trail but I slipped and almost fell several times on the descent. There were several blowdowns along the way which are usually cleared by the snowmobile club. Since their season was over, I knew I would have to clear them! I knew that the downhill would go fast but I was getting a little tired! The trip down the Big Rock Trail did go quickly and seemed shorter than usual. In several places, where large trees had fallen across the trail the snowmobile club had completely removed them. There are three places where the trail drops quickly and then levels off. The last place brought us right to Times Square where the Logger's Loop and Big Rock Trail cross. Sheila was having a great time and did not seem to be bothered in any way by the snow or temperature. She kept going off the trail to follow animals tracks but returned quickly when I called. It was 1:00 PM when we continued straight ahead at Times Square to go around the back of Frick Pond. Here the snow was again covering the trail in most places except where there was some water on the trail. The hike around the pond is a favorite and is one promoted by Lisa at Morgan Outdoors in Livingston Manor. As we approached the bridges and wooden walkways there were some nice views of the upper reaches of Frick Pond but I did not feel like stopping to take pictures. The wooden walkways were covered in a layer of snow and I did stop to take a few pictures before continuing on toward Frick Pond. We continued to walk until we came to the junction with the Quick Lake Trail. Here we turned left and headed for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. We stopped briefly at the bridge and I took a few pictures of the pond and Flynn's Point. We walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction to head back to the parking area and I felt even this short uphill in my legs. The trail was well covered in snow But there were many areas that were open and several spots with water on the trail. It wasn't pretty but we made it to the trail register without any problems. At the register we turned right to walk the rest of the Quick Lake Trail back to the parking area. As we approached the parking lot, I admired the trail clearing work Cindy and I had done to make the loath more evident and easier to follow. We were back at the car at 1:40 PM having covered 4.0 miles in 1 hour and 55 minutes with an elevation gain of 690 feet.

On Tuesday, April 17th I wanted to get out on a hike but didn't have much time to spend. There had been a few "warm" days in a row with cold nights so I expected the snow on Round Top to be pretty much gone altogether. I decided just to head across the street and hike on Round Top. Sheila seemed thrilled at the decision and couldn't wait to get going. I had a few things to do first and we did not get started until 11:00 AM. The temperature was in the high 30's as I started to get dressed. As I got dressed I decided to put on a pair of tights under my Columbia Omniheat pants even though I knew I would probably be warm once I started hiking. I also put on a light, long-sleeved baselayer under my Mammut crew neck shirt. I put on my Mammut Ultimate hoody and wore a hat and a pair of gloves. I donned my Keen Glarus hiking boots as they are easier to walk in when additional insulation is not needed. Sheila would not leave my side as I was getting ready as she wanted to make sure she was going too! I stepped out onto the back porch and headed out the driveway at 11:00 AM. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church where I released Sheila from her leash. There was no snow in the field and the road up to the top of the cemetery was completely bare. The only snow was in a few small banks where the parking lots had been plowed. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. There no snow in the woods and the trails were clear. When we arrived at the area where a large blowdown had blocked the trail, I admired my work. I had cleared the large tree by myself using only hand tools! At the first trail junction we turned right and continued up the trail. It was really a pleasure to walk on the trails without snow and it got me looking forward to more appropriate spring weather and to summer. As I walked, I removed a few loose branches from the trail that had been hidden under the snow.

I followed the blazes for the yellow trail up to the trail junction. I turned left at the trail junction and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. The trail was pretty open as I had done some maintenance to remove the blowdowns. At the next trail junction, we turned right on the blue trail and headed up the steepest hill to the summit of Round Top. I saw a few patches of snow here and there but the trail was mostly clear. On the summit we followed the trail over the top an then down the other side. This part went quickly went quickly. At the yellow trail we turned right and then left at the next trail junction to head down to the lookout. At the lookout we turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. This hill had no snow as it is most exposed to the sun. We turned around and headed back up the hill to the lookout. We turned right at the top following the yellow trail on the long, gentle climb to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction. Here we turned left and followed the blue trail to the summit. Once again we crossed the summit and started down the other side. On the steep descent to the yellow trail I had to watch my footing as the leaves were wet and there were a few patches of snow left. We turned left on the yellow trail and then right at the next trail junction. It was enjoyable following the old woods road back down toward the first trail junction. When we came to the path I had made up from the trailhead to avoid the blowdown, Sheila automatically turned left even though the trail was not very distinct. I called her back and we continued on to the trail junction. We turned left and followed the trail back out to trailhead. At the trailhead we turned right and descended the hill. We walked across the field to the driveway and home. We had spent a little over an hour walking a little more than 2 miles. The walk was a good workout even though I feel I could do it blindfolded!

On Friday, April 13th I decided I wanted to hike somewhere near home but for at least 6 miles without doing any trail work. I asked Cindy if she wished to hike and she agreed as long as we did not have to drive very far. We talked about different possibilities and I suggested we head for Long Pond to do the big loop which is about 6 miles. We had not been to Long Pond in some time so I was anxious to see how the trails had faired over the late winter months. Just before 10:00 AM we started to get ready and Sheila was there to watch my every move. The temperature was still in the high 3's1 as we were getting early so I decided to wear a baselayer on top with my Mammut pullover. I did wear my Mammut Ultimate hoody and Columbia Omniheat pants with tights underneath as a baselayer. I opted to wear a regular pair of hiking boots rather than winter boots. My Keen Glarus boots are a great fit and more comfortable than any insulated winter boots I have. I also decided to use a pair of Leki Khumbu with external locks as my Leki graphite poles have twist locks which are unreliable. Every hike when I have used these poles they have shortened despite my best efforts to keep them tight! When we left the house at about 10:00 AM the skies were partly sunny. I got Sheila in the car and we put our gear in the trunk and headed out DeBruce Road for about 8 miles to Flugertown Road where I made a left. I parked in the lot a short distance up the road on the right where we found one other car. As we pulled in someone was walking across the road toward the car. Sheila put up a fuss so I left her inside as I opened the trunk to get out my pack. The man approached my car to ask me about fishing streams along the trail to Long Pond. I told him there were no streams and it was a better choice to fish the in the stream along Flugertown Road or in the Willowemoc. He thanked me and departed so that I was able to let Sheila out of the car. Sheila had not hiked in two days and she was ready to go when we got to the parking lot. There was some snow where the lot had been plowed and a little ice on the trail but Cindy and I elected to carry our spikes rather than put them on immediately. I set my GarminGPS and we started out on the trail at 10:20 AM. Right from the start the trail was wet and somewhat muddy with some ice and snow along the way. We walked to the side in several places to avoid the icy spots. The first .6 miles gains about 350 feet to the highest point on the hike. It isn't very steep but does act as a nice warm-up! We had to be careful to avoid the ice which wasn't easy in some spots. Once the trail leveled it was easier walking but the amount snow and ice increased dramatically. There was several inches of snow on the trail and as much off the trail in the woods. At 1.1 miles we were at the spur trail that leads down to the shore of Long Pond. We turned right and went down to the pond so that I could take some pictures. At the shores of the pond I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take some pictures. Sheila tried to follow me through the mud but we discouraged her. The skies were overcast with some blue showing through and a few white clouds. The pond was frozen over with only a little open water neat the shore. I took a few shots anyway before going back to my pack. We returned to the main trail and arrived at the first trail junction. We turned right at the junction at 1.3 miles. We found plenty of ice in spots and quite a bit of snow but the walking was easier as the ground was flat. By 11:30 AM we had walked 1.8 miles and were passing the spur trail to the lean-to.

After passing the trail to the lean-to, we continued to find ice and snow on the trail but there was a little less than before. There isn't much to see on this section of trail but we kept busy by avoiding the icy and wet spots. I stopped to take some pictures of the fog rising from the snow along the trail and in the woods. We continued on the main trail to the point where it intersects a woods road at 2.6 miles. We turned left on the woods road and found it to be very wet with icy patches. I was glad the ground was still partly frozen or this would have been a muddy mess. We followed the road until the intersection with Basily Road at 2.85 miles where we continued on Basily Road by bearing left. This section of road was icy and had covered in packed snow. The ice continued for some time and then abated somewhat. Along the way the it began to rain and this continued for some time. The rain varied from a few drops to a light shower. I finally decided to put on the pack cover to protect my camera and other electronics. As we approached the Peters Hunting Camp, I got ready to put Sheila on her leash. The area near the footbridge across the outlet to the beaver pond had freely flowing water and the beaver dam looked like it needed some repair. The bridge is starting to show its age and is not in good shape. I stopped to take some pictures of the beaver pond before we continued on the trail. The old bridge over the stream had deteriorated to the point that the hunting camp had to replace it. The new bridge is already showing signs of wear from snowmobiles passing over it even though there is a sign that states "Private Bridge". We crossed the bridge to continue the trip back to the car. The ford downstream of the bridge looked like it had been getting a lot of use by vehicles but the water can be a little deep and wide for foot traffic. As we started up the little hill from the hunting camp, the ice and snow on returned. I took a few shots of the valley which looked peaceful with the nice skies behind it. From this point on the ice returned and there was a significant amount of snow in the woods. In several spots I wanted to take some pictures but decided against it because it was still raining and I had my pack cover on. The creek was high and running fast as we continued down the road. We kept a fast pace even thought it was icy and eventually the road became paved. We continued down the road toward the car. As we approached the road bridge over the creek we could see quite a few trees had been gnawed down by beavers. The dam just downstream of the bridge was larger than before and was impounding a larger amount of water. We continued on the road back to the parking area. We were back at the car at 1:20 PM having hiked 6.0 miles in 2 hours and 55 minutes with 13 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was only about 540 feet most of which was at the beginning of the hike.

On Wednesday, April 11th I wanted to go do some more trail maintenance on Round Top to see if I could clear the rest of a large blowdown that had blocked the trail. On Monday I had done enough work to allow hikers to easily duck under a trunk and elk on the trail but I wanted to completely remove the blockage. I like using my axes and hand saws to clear trees on the trails as it reminds me of working with my father and uncles when is was younger. We logged a lot for firewood and often used hand tools as chainsaws were cumbersome and expensive. I have two Silky saws which are Japanese and cut on the pull stroke. The Sugowaza is a 17" curved and fixed blade which fits in a scabbard. The Katana Boy is almost two feet long and is a folding saw with a nylon carrier. Both are remarkably sharp and can take care of some large tree trunks. I usually carry a Fiskars axe with a composite handle and rather small head. It is light an easy to carry for many miles. It also lives up to the "hype" as it is easy to keep sharp and cut well despite its small head. If I know I will be working close to a trailhead I may take my Council Tools felling axe that weighs in excess of 5 pounds! I got my gear together as Sheila watched carefully and made sure I would not leave her behind. I did not intend to hike much but I knew she would rather by outside than in the house. We headed out the driveway a little after 10:30 AM with the air temperature in the low 30's. I had decided to wear tights and a baselayer on top under a Mammut crew neck pullover. I wore my Columbia Omniheat pants and, as always, my Mammut hoody. I decided to put on my Keen Glares hiking boots as I suspected the remaining snow would be gone. I added a pair of gloves and a hat. I knew I might be warm working but had options to open pit zips or remove some layers. We walked out the driveway and crossed the field by the church and headed up the hill by the cemetery to the trailhead. Sheila pulled me most of the way to the top where we trend left into the woods. I let her off her leash and we walked to the area where the trees were blocking the trail. There wasn't too much left to cut but it was all big and I knew I would have to make several cuts to get pieces I could move off the trail. I began by taking some "before" pictures of the mess. Sheila posed by the trees so that I could show some perspective as to the size of the trunks. I got out the saws, axes and felling wedges and got to work. I started by cutting the end off the trunk that remained high off the ground. I cut it with the saw and it went quickly. It was already off the trail so that was no problem. The other end of the trunk near the roots was thicker and over my head. I knew cutting it with the saw would be difficult but was reluctant to work with the axe over my head. I decided to cut as much as I could with the axe and them switch to the saw to finish the job. This proved to be a good plan and although it was tiring it went more quickly than I thought it might. The large piece of trunk fell to the ground and then I had to find a way to get it off the trail. I dragged it a short distance and then was able to roll it downhill off the trail.

Just beyond the first blowdown was another piece of the tree that littered the trail. It was easy to walk around but I wanted to clean it up a little. I cut a section that was lying on the trail and was able to coax it off by moving it down hill. What remained were some harp points projecting from a remaining piece. I cut them off with the saw so that they were less likely to injure anyone. I though I was done but I looked back at the main blowdown and saw one more trunk lying partly ion the ground and partly buried in it. This part could easily be walked over or around but I decided the job would not be complete without removing it. I started by cutting off a piece near the top of the tree which require I move some brush first. I chose to cut it with the axe and it went quickly. I then went back to the end near the roots where I had cut the first trunk earlier. This time the problem was that making the cut might pinch the saw as the two parts of the trunk were pinched together. I decided to use the axe to start and the finish with the saw. Cutting with the axe was hard because the angle was wrong but I removed enough wood to make using the saw pretty easy. After this cut I had a large piece of trunk, partly embedded in the ground, which I could not move. I tried freeing one end from under a larger piece of trunk. I tried removing some of the dirt from around the art that was buried. I finally decided to use the axe to cut the trunk in half. As I started this work, Sheila began to bark and I saw someone walking toward us. I think Sheila and I recognized that it was Lisa at about the same time. Sheila happily went to greet her and I stopped my work long enough to talk for a few minutes. Lisa continued on the trail to lop some branches. I sued the axe to divide the log which went very quickly. I was able to move both pieces off the trail and fill in the reining "ditch" with some dirt. When I was done, I actually shouted "And that's how it's done!" I picked up my tools and pout them in the pack. Before leaving I took some "after" pictures. I did notice one more piece of trunk I may have to cut. We walked down the cemetery hill with Sheila on her leash and crossed the road to our driveway. We were home by 12:30 PM after spending 2 hours working. I was tired but satisfied with the work I had done.

On Monday, April 9th I wanted to go do some more trail maintenance after a trip to Frick Pond to do some trail clearing on the previous Saturday. I like using my axes and hand saws to clear trees on the trails as it reminds me of working with my father and uncles when is was younger. We logged a lot for firewood and often used hand tools as chainsaws were cumbersome and expensive. I have two Silky saws which are Japanese and cut on the pull stroke. The Sugowaza is a 17" curved and fixed blade which fits in a scabbard. The Katana Boy is almost two feet long and is a folding saw with a nylon carrier. Both are remarkably sharp and can take care of some large tree trunks. I usually carry a Fiskars axe with a composite handle and rather small head. It is light an easy to carry for many miles. It also lives up to the "hype" as it is easy to keep sharp and cut well despite its small head. If I know I will be working close to a trailhead I may take my Council Tools felling axe that weighs in excess of 5 pounds! I decided I would go to Round top across from my house in Livingston Manor to tackle several large trees that had fallen less than 100 feet in from the trailhead and were blocking the trail. I got my gear together as Sheila watched carefully and made sure I would not leave her behind. I did not intend to hike much but I knew she would rather by outside than in the house. We headed out the driveway a little after 10:30 AM with the air temperature in the high 20's. I had decided to wear tights and a baselayer on top under a Mammut crew neck pullover. I wore my Columbia Omniheat pants and, as always, my Mammut hoody. I decided to put on my reliable Salomon B52 boots but left the gaiters home. I added a pair of gloves and a hat. I knew I might be warm working but had options to open pit zips or remove some layers. We crossed the field by the church and headed up the hill by the cemetery to the trailhead. Sheila pulled me most of the way to the top where we trend left into the woods. I let her off her leash and we walked to the area where the trees were blocking the trail. They were a little larger than I remembered and the job was complex. I began by taking some "before" pictures of the mess. Sheila posed by the trees so that I could show some perspective as to the size of the trunks. I got out the saws, axes and felling wedges and got to work. I first removed all the loose branches that I could and then cut away a few small branches to get everything cleared for the real work. I went to the far side of the mess and cut a few small branches away and then cut a larger branch that ran through the middle. My first thought was to create an arch so that people could easily walk under and over the remaining larger trunks.

I removed the middle branch rather quickly and made sure I got it well out of the way. The next trunk I handled was a larger one running right through the middle of the opening. I attacked this with the saws and was able to cut off the end nearest the top of the tree and move that piece out of the way. I then made another cut nearer the root end of the tree and on the right side of the trail. The trunk was much larger here but eventually succumbed to the saws. This piece was much harder to move out of the way as it had and odd shape and would not roll easily. Eventually I coaxed it off the trail and thought that perhaps I was done. I noticed that one of the remaining pieces of trunk had some sharp points and decided to cut them off. I started to saw them off and noticed the saw was not cutting as it should. I moved some wood aside to find that I was cutting into a rock that was embedded in the trunk! The saw still seemed sharp but did not cut well. I decided to cut off the entire trunk which was by far the thickest I had tried so far. I knew getting through the whole trunk with a saw would be difficult so I decided to cut it part way through with the axe and finish with the Katana Boy. I began to chop the trunk and eventually found that the heartwood was somewhat rotten. After a few more chops, I broke through the heartwood and a stream of dark fluid started to flow out. The tree was bleeding! Chopping became messy so I cut a channel to drain the fluid and chopped a little more. After this I started with the saw and although it was slow going, I was able to complete the cut. I had to use the axe as a lever to roll this one off the trail. I surveyed my work and was satisfied that people could now walk through by just ducking under the remaining trunk. I decided to leave that one for another day. I took my "after pictures" and then packed up to head home. We walked down the cemetery hill with Sheila on her leash. Another large dog whose owner had no control cam over to bother us all the way to the road. We crossed the road and were home by 1:00 PM after spending 2 and a half hours working. I was tired but satisfied with the work I had done.

On Saturday, April 7th when I got up I found several inches of snow had fallen overnight although the roads seemed almost clear. I wanted to go to Frick Pond to do some "emergency" tree clearing as there were several spots on the trail that were almost blocked by blowdowns. I wasn't sure I wanted to battle the snow and the trees but I decided to go to see what could be done. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she agreed. We started to get ready around 9:45 AM under the watchful eye of Sheila who did not want us to forget her. The temperature was only 28 degrees so I decided to wear tights and a baselayer on top under a Mammut crew neck pullover. I wore my Columbia Omniheat pants and, as always, my Mammut hoody. I decided to put on my reliable Salomon B52 boots, gaiters and added a pair of gloves and a hat. We had decided we would not take our snowshoes as the weather had been warm during the week and the new snowfall was not very deep. I did elect to carry spikes to give me some choices as I did not know the trail conditions. I packed both my Silky saws, a Fiskars ax and two felling wedges. The two Silky saws are Japanese and cut on the pull stroke. The Sugowaza is a 17" curved and fixed blade which fits in a scabbard. The Katana Boy is almost two feet long and is a folding saw with a nylon carrier. Both are remarkably sharp and can take care of some large tree trunks. The Fiskars axe has a composite handle and rather small head. It is light an easy to carry for many miles. It also lives up to the "hype" as it is easy to keep sharp and cut well despite its small head. If I know I will be working close to a trailhead I may take my Council Tools felling axe that weighs in excess of 5 pounds! We got our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed out the DeBruce Road at about 10:15 AM. The farther we drove the more snow there seemed to be! After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there were two other cars the smaller lot which was barely plowed. The larger lot had not been touched. One man and his dog were getting ready to hike up the Flynn Trail and I suspected that the occupants of the pickup truck had also gone that way. My plan was to head out the Quick Lake Trail to Graveyard Junction where we would turn right on the Logger's Loop to address a major blowdown blocking the trail. There was at least 5 inches of snow which made the scene quite beautiful but would not help as we tried to do our work. I knew that there would be a lot of snow falling onto us as we worked. I took some pictures at the parking area and then we headed over to the larger lot. We started out on the Quick Lake trail toward the trail register.

The last time I had been on this part of the trail Lisa and I were coming from the other direction and we totally lost the trail. With the blazes being few and far between and the numerous blowdowns and branches it was hard to find the trail. It doesn't help that in winter the trail bed is almost impossible to see. Just after walking down the steps, Cindy and I encountered the first set of branches blocking the trail. I took my "before" pictures and then I knocked the snow off and cut them with the saw while Cindy used the loppers to cut others. We dragged everything off the trail and, after taking some more pictures, we moved on. There was really quite a bit of snow but not enough to warrant snowshoes. We cleared several more spots before the register and then turned left on the woods road. This part of the trail was pretty clear and we picked up a few branches and lopped several others. I knocked the snow off some low hanging evergreen branches and most sprang upwards off the trail. We came to a spot where there were a few small trees across the trail so I documented it with some photos and got to work. I cut some small trunks and got them off the trail. While we were working, Sheila began to bark and we could see two hikers coming toward us from the trail register. We put Sheila on her leash and the couple stopped to say "Hello". Their British accent was obvious and they told us they had relocated to New York City from England because they like the Catskills so much! We talked a little more and I suggested they take a look at this website to get an idea of other places to hike. They were wearing snowshoes for the first time and there was enough snow to get an idea of how they work. They had rented the snowshoes for the day from Morgan Outdoors in Livingston Manor. Cindy and I finished our work at that location and after I took some pictures we continued on toward Gravestone Junction. We took some time to lop a few branches just before the junction and then turned right on the Logger's Loop. I took some pictures just after the turn since the sky was blue with white clouds and the snow still blanketed many of the trees. We continued for about .3 miles to the large blowdown I wanted to clear. The mess was much larger than I remembered with two trunks and lots of branches to remove.

The mess was much larger than I remembered with two trunks and lots of branches to remove. I took lots of "before" pictures and then surveyed the job to develop a plan. I started by cutting all the branches I could and dragging them well into the woods. Many of the branches were frozen deep into the snow and I had to pull on them to get them loose. Other times I would cut a branch and find it was pinned underneath another branch that was in turn pinned by another. I kept working and working on the branches until all were gone leaving only two large trunks behind. I took a few more pictures. As we were working another couple came toward us from Times Square. They looked ill-prepared for the snow but were cheerful in their greeting. I cut the top trunk twice as I knew I would not be able to move the pieces otherwise. As it was I struggled to get them off the trail. I was very tired by this time and contemplated leaving the final trunk as it was easy to step over or around. I decided I wanted to complete the job and started in on the last trunk. I had to cut this one twice also. Since part of it was almost on the ground I used the axe to sever it. As I tried to move it I found there was another branch hidden under the snow which was connected to the piece I was moving. I cut this branch and dug it out of the snow and then moved both off the trail. I finally started to cut the largest trunk with the saw. My arms were so tired I had to stop after every few strokes! I knew I would get the job done but it was tough going. Finally the last piece fell and I had just enough strength to roll it off the trail. I cleaned up the last few branches and then packed up my tools. I took my "after" pictures of what thought was a job well done! I had planned on clearing another tree on the Flynn Trail but knew that would not be possible on this day. I had started the work at 12:15 PM and finished at 2:20 PM! We walked back on the Logger's Loop to Gravestone Junction where I considered going down to Frick Pond but just turned left and headed back out the Quick Lake Trail to the car. It was 2:40 PM and we had spent 4 hours hiking 2 miles making it one of the slowest hikes I have ever done!

On Wednesday, April 4th I wanted to get out on a hike but didn't have much time to spend. There had been a few "warm" days in a row with cold nights so I expected the snow on Round Top to by pretty hard especially on the packed trails or perhaps gone altogether. I decided just to head across the street and hike on Round Top. Sheila seemed thrilled at the decision and couldn't wait to get going. I had a few things to do first and we did not get started until 11:00 AM. The temperature was in the low 30's as I started to get dressed. As I got dressed I decided to put on a pair of tights under my Columbia Omniheat pants even though I knew I would probably be warm once I started hiking. I also put on a light, long-sleeved baselayer under my Mammut crew neck shirt. I put on my Mammut Ultimate hoody and wore a hat and a pair of gloves. I donned my Salomon B52 boots but decided I did not need gaiters. Sheila would not leave my side as I was getting ready as she wanted to make sure she was going too! I stepped out onto the back porch and headed out the slippery driveway at 11:00 AM. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church where I released Sheila from her leash. There was very little snow in the field and the road up to the top of the cemetery was almost completely bare. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. There was a little more snow in the woods but no more than a few inches and it was pretty well packed. When we arrived at the large blowdown blocking the trail, I deiced to work my way through it rather than walk around it as we had been doing when there was more snow. It wasn't hard to sneak through the opening and it let me get a good look at the mess. I came to the conclusion that clearing the blowdown would be a real challenge. At the first trail junction we turned right and continued up the trail. There was still some snow on the trail but not enough to require any traction devices. As I walked, I removed a few loose branches from the trail and tried to free some of the trees that were still bent over.

I followed the blazes for the yellow trail up to the trail junction. I turned left at the trail junction and followed the yellow rail along the base of Round Top. The trail was pretty open as I had done some maintenance to remove the blowdowns. At the next trail junction, we turned right on the blue trail and headed up the steepest hill to the summit of Round Top. Here there was a little more snow and I thought having microspikes would have been a good idea. On the summit we followed the trail over the top an then down the other side. This part went quickly went quickly . At the yellow trail we turned right and then left at the next trail junction to head down to the lookout. At the lookout we turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. This hill had a little less snow than elsewhere as it is most exposed to the sun. I was tired but knew I needed at least an hour of exercise. We turned around and headed back up the hill to the lookout. We turned right at the top following the yellow trail on the long, gentle climb to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction. Here we turned left and followed the blue trail to the summit. Once again we crossed the summit and started down the other side. On the steep descent to the yellow trail I had to watch my footing as the packed snow was a little slippery. We turned left on the yellow trail and then right at the next trail junction. It was enjoyable following the old woods road back down toward the first trail junction. When we came to the path I had made up from the trailhead to avoid the blowdown, Sheila automatically turned left even though the trail was not very distinct. I called her back and we continued on to the trail junction. I still wanted a little more distance so we turned around and walked back up the woods road on the yellow trail to the junction with the upper blue trail. This time we continued straight ahead up to the summit. We crossed the summit and then headed down the steeper side toward the lower yellow trail. At the junction we continued straight ahead back down to the lookout. At the viewpoint we turned left to follow the yellow teal back down to the first trail junction. We continued straight ahead and walked back out to trailhead passing through the blowdown again. At the trailhead we turned right and descended the hill. We walked across the field to the driveway and home. We had spent a little over an hour walking a little more than 2 miles. The walk was a good workout even though I feel I could do it blindfolded!

On Saturday, March 31st I got up at 7:00 AM to drive to Berry Brook Road to meet two hikers at the Mary Smith Trail trailhead. Kevin and Brian are from Canandaigua and are hiking the Finger Lakes Trail. I saw Kevin's post on the FLT Yahoo group and volunteered to give them a ride. From hiking the Finger Lakes Trail farther upstate, I know how great it is to get a ride so that a hike can be all trail without the return trip. I drove from Livingston Manor out Old Route 17 and then north on the Beaverkill Road. I turned right to take Campground Road down to the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. After driving through the bridge, I turned right on Berry Brook Road which eventually becomes Holiday Brook Road. I drove north toward the Pepacton Reservoir passing the trailhead for Huggins Lake. As I pulled up to the parking area, I could see a pickup with two men so I stopped and got out of the car. It was about 7:45 AM and I was glad we had found each other without a problem. After a short introduction, we got in the car. I turned around and stayed on Berry Brook Road all the way out to Route 206. I turned right and headed north again toward the reservoir. After the top of Cat Hollow, I found Jug Tavern Road on the left. I turned and drove to Campbell Mountain Road where I turned right. The road is dirt and had plenty of frozen ruts and the temperature was only 26 degrees. We were soon at the point where the trail crosses the road. I stopped to let Kevin and Brian out. I wished them "Good luck" and then headed home through Roscoe. When I got home, I had a few chores to do. It was just before 11:00 AM when I finished so I asked Brad if he wanted to hike. He said "Yes" so we started to get ready to go. The temperature was in the mid 30's so I decided not to wear a baselayer. I put on my Columbia Omniheat pants and a Mammut crew neck pullover. I wore my Mammut hoody and a lighter hat and gloves. I put my Microspikes but decided the recent warm temperatures and two days of rains had reduced the snow pack making snowshoes unnecessary. I decided to wear gaiters but pit on my Keen Glarus boots which are regular hiking boots. Brad and I got our gear and Sheila in the car and headed out the DeBruce Road. Sheila had been very quiet but did not let me out of her sight as I was getting ready. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there were several other cars in both lots. A couple of groups of people were getting ready to hike and all of them seemed to be heading up the Flynn Trail. It had been my plan to go that way but I immediately decided to head out the Quick Lake Trail to avoid the crowd. Before we left, I advised one couple who were headed toward the cabin that they might want to start at the beginning of the Flynn Trail. As we started out the woods road toward Frick Pond, it became immediately obvious to me that we were going to be in trouble without snowshoes. There was still at least a foot of snow in the woods and almost as much on the trail. There were a few open spots with running water on the trail to Frick Pond but the rest of the trail was covered in snow and ice. The temperature had risen to 40 degrees and there was a bright sun in a cloudless sky. This contributed to very soft snow in many places. We were able to avoid sinking in too much but I knew this would get worse. At Gravestone Junction we turned left to head down to Frick Pond. The water level in the pond was a little higher than it had been and there was a pretty solid looking sheet of ice over much of the pond. I had thought I would not stop to take pictures but I couldn't resist the blue sky and icy pond. After taking a few shots, I put the camera in the pack and we continued on the Quick Lake Trail around the pond bearing left at the next trail junction to stay on the red trail. This part of the trail was wet and the snow continued to be soft. I began to think that I would cut the hike short at Iron Wheel Junction by taking the Logger's Loop back to the car! soon came to the "pine promenade" and the little stream through the woods. The water level in the stream was higher than it had been in some time and I had to walk upstream to cross without getting wet. I stopped to take a few pictures before we continued on the trail toward Iron Wheel Junction. I did remove a few loose sticks along the way but left a larger blowdown which would require a saw. Just before the junction there was a large branch and a pile of smaller ones on the trail. These branches had been hung up for some time and had finally come down in the strong winds. We arrived at Iron Wheel Junction at 1.6 miles.

We soon came to the "pine promenade" and the little stream through the woods. The water level in the stream was higher than it had been in some time and we walked upstream to cross without getting too wet. As we continued on the trail toward Iron Wheel Junction, the conditions continued to be difficult as we would walk on top of the snow for a few steps and then break through. This was very tiring and tough on the leg muscles! We arrived at Iron Wheel Junction at 1.6 miles and found the snowmobile trail packed but softer than I would have liked. I consulted with Brad and we both agreed to try the big loop up the Quick Lake Trail toward Hodge Pond. We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and started the long uphill climb toward Junkyard Junction. The trail here was a little more solid in most places but there was still the "suspense" of breaking through occasionally. I realized that I was sweating a lot so I stopped to take some pictures of the trail. I got a drink and opened all of the zippers on my Mammut hoody. I also took off my hat and gloves as I was very warm. The long climb and slippery conditions continued to wear on me so I was glad to have Brad along. We were headed for Junkyard Junction at 3.2 miles as Sheila followed a few game trails. On previous hikes the snow had been so deep that she had been following in my snowshoe tracks most of the time. On this day she was making up for it! We turned right onto the blue Flynn Trail. I had hoped that someone had broken and packed the trail or that the snowmobiles had made a few passes. We had no such luck as the trail was completely untouched! There was plenty of snow broken up by areas of standing water and the walking was miserable. By this time my feet were completely soaked and I was glad the day was getting warmer. There were no major blowdowns but we continued to remove branches that littered the trail. When we got to the gate, we turned right to stay on the trail and head down toward Hodge Pond. At 3.75 miles the Flynn Trail heads right and we followed it toward the outlet end of Hodge Pond. This part of the trail was a little more packed until we broke out into the field where the sun had completely softened the snow. The trail broke out into a field which we crossed and continued to follow the Flynn Trail toward the outlet of the pond. We walked through the clearing at the outlet end of the pond almost to the shore where I dropped my pack and got out my camera. This area was mostly clear of snow which was a welcome respite. The pond was covered in a layer of ice. I took shots of the pond with the blue skies . Before packing up, I got out a bar and offered one to Brad. I also took a long drink as my muscles were starting to feel like they might cramp.

I packed up and we walked back to the Flynn Trail to the point where it re-enters the woods. The snow always drifts here and I could see several drifts. Unfortunately the drifts were all soft and we kept sinking through. As we walked up the hill on the Flynn Trail the snow was soft under the direct rays of the sun. We kept talking to try to keep from thinking about the difficult conditions. At the top of the hill we stayed to the right to follow the Flynn Trail. A left turn follows a woods road out to what remains of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. The Flynn Trail is relatively flat to the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 4.5 miles. Along the way we met one hiker coming toward us on snowshoes with his dog. We passed with a quick "Hello" and I envied his footwear. I hoped when we got to the junction with the Big Rock that the Flynn Trail would be packed by snowshoers. We continued straight through the junction with the Big Rock Trail to follow the Flynn Trail back to the car. It was clear that the snow was even softer now and not packed at all by snowshoes. Fortunately, the snow was only a few inches deep in most places and we were going downhill most of the way. I was surprised that we did not see any of the other people who had headed up the Flynn Trail. It wasn't even clear whether or not we were seeing their snowshoe tracks. At least my feet could not get any wetter and they were not cold. We continued our descent until the gate was finally in sight. Just before the gate we turned left to follow the Flynn Trail and to avoid the private property around the cabin. The final part of the Flynn Trail through the woods did not have too much snow. When we arrived back at the parking lot there were only two other cars present. We were back at the car by 2:55 PM having covered 6.4 miles in 3 and a half hours with an elevation gain of 910 feet. I think we were both happy to be back at the car. As I drive away the car thermometer read 48 degrees.

On Monday, March 26th, I had planned to hike somewhere and thought about going to Trout Pond. In the morning I had an e-mail from a person who wanted to hike from Campbell Mountain over Cabot Mountain and was asking about snow conditions. I responded that I though there was plenty of snow and that snowshoes would be a good idea. After sending the e-mail, I decided that I would go and hike Cabot Mountain from Beech Hill Road and see for myself. I maintain this section of trail for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference and also wanted to evaluate the condition of the trail to see how much work I would have to do to get it in shape. When I got up the temperature was only 25 degrees but I knew that the snow conditions would be better at lower temperatures. I decided to wear tights and a baselayer on top under a Mammut crew neck pullover. I wore my Columbia Omniheat pants and, as always, my Mammut hoody. I decided to put on my reliable Salomon B52 boots, gaiters and added a pair of gloves and a hat. We had decided we would take our snow shows and carry spikes to give us some choices as we did not know the trail conditions. We both chose our Tubbs Alp Flex VTR snowshoes which are a little smaller than some and have the BOA binding system. I knew we wouldn't need the flotation since the trails were pretty well packed even though the snow depth was still over a foot. The BOA system uses a dial to tighten a thin but strong wire and seems to evenly tighten the binding around my foot. Sheila was ready to go as we pulled out of Livingston Manor at 9:25 AM. I drove north on Old Route 17 before turning right on the Beaverkill Road. I passed through Lew Beach and turned left on Beech Hill Road Road. I drove up the road about 2.6 miles to the small pullout on the right side of the road at the beginning of the trail but found it was not plowed. I found a wider spot in the road just before the parking area and got the car off the road as far as possible. From the amount of snow at the trailhead it was obvious that I would be wearing the snowshoes for the whole trip. The temperature was still in the high 20's and when I got out of the car a slight breeze was blowing. I put on my snowshoes and set my electronics and we walked up the side of the road on the snow banks from the plow at 9:40 AM. We turned down through the field where there was well over a foot of snow. I was able to walk on top of the snow without a problem although the sun was shinny brightly in a cloudless, blue sky. We entered the woods where the first part of the trail is flat but with a few wet spots. I avoided the water as in makes the snow stick to the snowshoes. We walked along a stone wall trying to follow the sparse blazes. In other seasons the trail bed helps guide hikers in the right direction but it is hard to find when the snow is on the ground. The DEC has decreed that volunteers may no longer mark trails. This job falls on the foresters who have many other tasks to perform. Unfortunately, the trail marking has suffered as a result. At .2 miles the trail begins to climb and in about half a mile it gains almost 600 feet averaging a 20% grade. This is not as steep as the other side but is plenty challenging. I immediately engaged the lifts on my snowshoes which help take some strain off the calf muscles. I was still walking on top of the snow which made the climbing easier but not easy. We continued up the trail which has a few switchbacks and several flatter areas. The climb seemed shorter than I expected but there were a few shorter climbs which I did not remember.

At about .7 miles the trail levels off and then rolls over several bumps to the Cabot Mountain Vista at 1.6 miles. A few of the spots on these shorter climbs were exposed to the sun and were beginning to get soft. In other spots the snow had drifted and was not quite as consolidated as on the steeper climb. I began to break through the top layer of snow which made the hiking harder. I was happy that I was not sinking in very far as in most places there was between 18 and 24 inches of snow. Sheila meanwhile was having a great time bounding ahead and them coming back to find me. She occasionally followed some game trail but this meant she had to wade through deep snow. We finally arrived at the lookout at 10:55 AM after what seemed like a very long walk along the ridge. The sun was bright but high in the sky so I took some pictures. The view was good but there isn't too much to see except the mountains in the background and Little Pond below. I got a drink and a bar and started back after only a short break. As I expected the snow was now melting in the areas exposed to the direct sunlight and it was beginning to stick to the snowshoes. I hoped this wouldn't be too much of a problem especially on the steepest descent. I knew that the trip back should go more quickly than the trip up but that I would be hampered by the consistency of the snow. The walk across the ridge seemed to go quickly and the snow was not as sticky as I thought. We were soon at the steep descent which did go quickly as I was able to stay on top of the snow. The only problem was that this pout a lot of pressure on my feet as they slipped forward in the boots. Once we got to the flatter area at the base of the descent, I knew we were almost back to the car. The snow in the open field was still supportive and we were back at the car at noon. We spent 2 hours and 15 minutes hiking 3.0 miles with an elevation gain of 900 feet! I was definitely tired but could easily have done a few more miles given the same conditions. I would not want to do this hike without snowshoes.

On Friday, March 23rd, I wanted to hike a 3500 foot peak for the first hike of spring and was thinking of Slide. I mentioned this to Cindy and she assured me she would not hike Slide. I didn't want to go too far from home so I countered with Balsam Lake Mountain and she agreed. I wasn't sure of the condition of the Beaverkill Road above the monastery and suggested we hike from the Millbrook trailhead which is right on Millbrook Road and is usually plowed. When I got up in the morning it was only 25 degrees so I was in no hurry to get started although I didn't want to wait too long as I was afraid the snow would get too soft later in the day. Cindy and I got dressed and got our gear ready to go. It was still in the high 20's a little after 10:00 AM so I decided to wear tights and a baselayer on top under a Mammut crew neck pullover. I wore my Columbia Omniheat pants and, as always, my Mammut hoody. I decided to put on my reliable Salomon b52 boots and gaiters and added a pair of gloves and a hat. We had decided we would take our snowshoes and carry spikes to give us some choices as we did not know the trail conditions. We both chose our Tubbs Alp Flex VTR snowshoes which are a little smaller than some and have the BOA binding system. I knew we wouldn't need the flotation since the trails were pretty well packed even though the snow depth was still over a foot. The BOA system uses a dial to tighten a thin but strong wire and seems to evenly tighten the binding around my foot. As usual Sheila was very excited as we put her in the backseat. We headed up the Quickway and took Route 206 towards Downsville. This route is a little longer than the Beaverkill Road but has less twists and turns. It seemed that every time we passed a spot where we had hiked before Sheila began to whine as if to say "Let's stop here!" I took a right on Route 30 when we reached the reservoir and then took the BWS roads to Millbrook Road. I turned right and drove passed Kelly Hollow and soon after pulled into the parking lot that serves Balsam Lake Mountain and Dry Brook Ridge. There was only one other car in the lot and we both parked parallel rather than pulling in because of the impressive snow banks. One check of the trail convinced me that we would be wearing snowshoes the whole way. I set my electronics and we put on our snowshoes. As we were getting ready a stiff breeze picked up and both if us felt chilly. we started the hike by crossing the road at 11:30 AM and climbing up the high and hard snow bank to get onto the trail. Unlike the climb from the Beaverkill Road which starts out almost flat, the ascent from Millbrook starts with an uphill gaining over 200 feet in the first half mile. The temperature at the parking area was 28 degrees but once we were on the trail, we both were comfortable and began to warm up on the ascent. The trail is really a wide woods road which is passable by a high clearance vehicle. There was a well-packed trail which showed the tracks of many snowshoes, at least one cross country skier and a snowmobile or two. Not far into the ascent Sheila alerted and we saw another hiker with a dog coming toward us. E both put our dogs and leashes. As the other hiker passed with a beautiful Irish Setter, I tried to strike up a conversation but Sheila was barking and growling at the other dog. Sheila only does this when Cindy is along!

At .8 miles we began a switchback which eventually brought us to a flatter area at about 1.25 miles. I had not hiked from this direction many times but it seemed longer than I remembered. The tradeoff between the two starts is that the Beaverkill start is flat for some time and then has a steep climb. The hike from the Millbrook side climbs from the beginning but is not as steep as from the Beaverkill Road. Along the way there were some interesting rocks including some that had been eroded so that there were only a few "pillars" left separating some layers. I stopped to take a picture or two and also took a few of the trail. The trail remained well-packed all the way and we were making pretty good time for the conditions. At 2.1 miles we came to the turnoff to the left for Graham and I knew the trail to the summit of Balsam Lake split off just ahead. The pat to Gram showed far less use than the one we were on. My plan had been to continue straight ahead and walk down to the steeper trail up the mountain. I like the challenge and this would allow us to make a sort of lollipop loop out of the hike. When we got to the point where the trail split, I could see Cindy needed the shortest and easiest approach possible. At 2.3 miles we turned right and started up the trail to the fire tower. Just after the start of the trail there is a metal gate and the fact that our feet were nearly even with the top of the gate attested to the snow depth. The sun had come out and the skies were a clear blue. The snow was beginning to soften and was just short of clumping on the snowshoes. I wondered what it would be like on the way back. The climb alternates between steeper and more level sections and it was tough going on both. I slowed to stay with Cindy and used the lifts on my snowshoes to make the steeper climbs easier. They go up and down easily by using poles so I kept putting them up where needed and collapsing them on the flats. We continued on our ascent and soon came to the 3500 foot sign. There were some pretty impressive drifts along the way. I noticed that the trail blazes were much lower than I remembered. I put my pole next to one and had Sheila pose while I took a picture. Walking through some of the areas where there were balsam fir was interesting as the snow depth and the low boughs combined to form a narrow passage. Just a short distance from the cabin I turned around to find that I could not see Cindy. I waited a few minutes and then walked back to find her. She wasn't too far back but told me she had gone as far as she could. I knew that the cabin and tower were just minutes ahead but I also knew she had made up her mind. I decided to continue to the summit. Soon I could see the cabin and just after that we broke out into the clearing with the tower.

It was 1:45 PM and we had hiked 3.1 miles. There was nobody else at the tower and the clear was very sunny with sparkling white snow. I was surprised that the door to the cabin was blocked by snow as if no one had sued it in some time. I walked over to the picnic table to get ready to climb the tower. The top of the table was just a little bit BELOW the level of the snow! I posed Sheila and the table and took some pictures. I removed my snowshoes to climb the tower but decided not to put on my spikes. I walked over to the tower sinking over my knee in one spot where the snow was soft. As I started to climb the steps, I realized that spikes would have been good idea as there was a lot of ice and snow! Sheila started to climb the steps with me but I told her to "Stay!" As I climbed the steps and rose above the treeline, I was hit by a gusting wind that chilled me immediately. I continued to the upper landing just below the cab and began to take pictures in all direction. I would have liked to see some puffy, white clouds in the sky but the mountains were beautiful. I took a lot of shots before realizing that someone else was with me. Sheila had quietly climbed all the way to the top of the tower. I was ready to leave anyway because of the chill wind and was surprised that Sheila had no problem negotiating the steps on the decent. I did have some problems as the icy steps were harder to handle going down than coming up. I took a few pictures of Sheila and the returned to my gear at the table. I donned my pack and we headed back down the trail to reunite with Cindy. She was right where we had left her which was farther away than I thought. We started back on the trail and it was definitely easier going down than up. Cindy did take one spill when her snowshoes lost traction due to the clumping snow. This was also a problem for me as the snow was very soft. Once we made the left turn onto the trail back to Millbrook Road we picked up the pace a little but we were really in no hurry. Once we passed the turn to Gram the snow was not quite as soft on the descent. This was because this area was not getting as much direct sun and because the skies were cloudy over. In fact, the skies were becoming a little grey and the wind was picking up. We kept up a good pace which was made easier as the snow was not clumping. After passing the trail register, Cindy slowed as her knees were bothering her on the long descent. When I got to the road, I waited and for some time before she appeared on the final descent. We hopped up on the snow bank and then crossed the road with a few snowflakes in the air! We were back at 3:30 PM after hiking 6.0 miles in 4 hours and 5 minutes with a 1275 foot elevation gain. The trip out took us about 2 hours and 15 minutes but the return took only 1 hour and 35 minutes.

Winter 2017-2018

On Wednesday, March 21st, I wanted to get in the first hike of the spring but realized that Spring starts on March 22nd according to the Catskill 3500 Club whose lead I follow. I had been thinking of going to Frick Pond when I got a text from Lisa suggesting we hike on Round Top. I texted her back suggesting Frick Pond and she agreed. The possibility of snow had caused all the schools in the county to announce and early closing and I had to pick my grandchildren up at 11:30 AM from pre-school. I told Lisa I would meet her at her shop downtown at 12:30 PM. My plan was to ascend the Flynn Trail and then get the long descent on the Big Rock Trail. The temperature at 12:15 PM was in the low 30's as I was about to get dressed and I knew that snowshoeing always makes me very warm. I decided not to put on tights under my Columbia Omniheat pants. I wore a Mammut pullover over my long-sleeved baselayer. I put on my Mammut Ultimate Hoody which I wear most of the time. I chose my Tubbs Alp Flex VTR snowshoes which are a little smaller than some and have the BOA binding system. I knew I wouldn't need the flotation since the trails were pretty well packed even though the snow depth was still over a foot. The BOA system uses a dial to tighten a thin but strong wire and seems to evenly tighten the binding around my foot. Sheila was crazed as usual even though we had been out the day before. I drove downtown just before 12:30 PM and met Lisa at her shop. I explained my plan which she liked so we put her gear in my car. Sheila gave her a lavish greeting from the back seat as we left Livingston Manor to head out the DeBruce Road. There was no hint of snow although the skies were completely overcast. At six miles I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road which had some snow on it but had been plowed and well sanded. Where the road split I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and parked in the small lot which was plowed. There were no cars in the lot and no tracks indicating anyone had been there recently. I set my electronics and we put on our snowshoes. We crossed the road at 12:55 PM to start up the Flynn Trail. The temperature was still right around 30 degrees so the snow was crunchy underfoot and was not clumping on the snowshoes. Lisa had chosen to bring her Crescent Moon snowshoes which are good on flat and rolling terrain. They have some of the best bindings and a teardrop shape. The beginning of the Flynn rail was a little puzzling as a tree had fallen across the middle of the trail. We decided to go "low" around the tree which I put on my list for trail maintenance. Lisa stopped to sign in at the trail register but I continued on the trail. I found that I was warm as long as I was moving but felt cool as son as I stopped. I hoped that I had not dressed too lightly! The first part of the Flynn Trail through the woods is narrow but I was having no trouble overlapping the smaller snowshoes. Once we made the right turn into the woods road the going was easier. There was an obvious snowshoe trail that appeared to be coming toward us and an additional track from a cross country skier! The snowshoes appeared to be quite long and the old style with a woven deck. There are some makers who are no producing these snowshoes again as custom or semi-custom models. I tried to get Sheila to follow the track but she kept going off exploring animal trails along the way. Eventually she dropped in behind me spending most of her time following my track. The snow was pretty hard and crunchy but following the previous snowshoe track was not as easy as I had hoped.

Despite the "warm" temperatures I felt no desire to open zippers and dump heat. We did stop once or twice so that I could take some pictures. We ran across one VERY large hemlock across the trail which will be a challenge to remove with an ax and saw! The walk with snowshoes is definitely more of a workout than without. As we gained some elevation, the snow got deeper until there was a foot to 18 inches in most spots and drifts up to 2 feet. I was surprised that there was still so much snow on the trails. .We continued up the Flynn Trail toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I was feeling pretty good at first but as we approached the trail junction I could feel some soreness in my hips from the content up and down motion with the extra weight. We were taking our time stopping to talk at point but by 2:20 PM we were finally at the trail junction with the Big Rock Trail. It had taken almost an hour and 30 minutes to walk the 1.7 miles from the parking area. The snow on the Big Rock Trail was well-packed by snowmobiles which Lisa decried but I celebrated. I knew that the downhill on the packed trail would go fast! At the trail junction we turned left to go down the Big Rock trail to Times Square. I was sure I didn't have any more "ups" left in me but the descent felt great. The trip down the Big Rock Trail went quickly and seemed shorter than usual. In several places, where large trees had fallen across the trail the snowmobile club had completely removed them. There are three places where the trail drops quickly and then levels off. The last place brought us right to Times Square where the Logger's Loop and Big Rock Trail cross. Sheila was having a great time and did not seem to be bothered in any way by the snow or temperature. She kept going off the trail to follow animals tracks but returned quickly when I called. It was 2:50 PM when we continued straight ahead at Times Square to go around the back of Frick Pond. We had made the 1.2 mile descent in 30 minutes for a speed of 2.4 mph! Here the snow showed some snowshoe tracks that were several days old or older and the trail was worn in. The hike around the pond is a favorite and is one promoted by Lisa at Morgan Outdoors in Livingston Manor. Some of the hikers had not been careful to follow the others who had gone before them and some had worn boots instead of snowshoes. Farthest reasons the trail was haphazard and a little hard to follow. As we approached the bridges and wooden walkways there were some nice views of the upper reaches of Frick Pond. I dropped my pack and took out my camera to get some pictures of the stream that flows under the bridge and the wetlands. The wooden walkways were covered so much snow it was hard to tell where they were located. We continued to walk until we came to the junction with the Quick Lake Trail. Here we turned left and headed for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. We stopped briefly at the bridge and I took a few pictures of the pond and Flynn's Point. I also took one of Sheila posed on the bridge. We walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction to head back to the parking area and I felt even this short uphill in my legs. The trail was well covered in snow But there were many areas where there was ice and some where snow and water had mixed and frozen. It wasn't pretty but we made it to the trail register without any problems. At the register Lisa signed us out and we turned right to walk the rest of the Quick Lake Trail back to the parking area. As we approached the parking lot, the trail disappeared and there were several different tracks left by hikers. There were no markers and several trees and bushes across the trail. We found our way to the lot and back to the car but this area will require some maintenance. We were back at 3:40 PM having covered 4.1 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes with an elevation gain of 680 feet.

On Tuesday, March 20th I wanted to get out on a hike but didn't have much time to spend. There had been a few "warm" days in a row with cold nights so I expected the snow on Round Top to by pretty hard especially on the packed trails. I decided just to head across the street and hike on Round Top. Sheila seemed thrilled at the decision and couldn't wait to get going. I had a few things to do first and wee did not get started until 11:00 AM. The temperature was in the low 30's as I started to get dressed. As I got dressed I decided to put on a pair of tights under my Columbia Omniheat pants even though I knew I would probably be warm once I started hiking. I also put on a light, long-sleeved baselayer under my Mammut crew neck shirt. I put on my Mammut Ultimate hoody and wore a hat and a pair of gloves. I donned my Salomon B52 boots but decided I did not need gaiters. Sheila would not leave my side as I was getting ready as she wanted to make sure she was going too! I stepped out onto the back porch, put on my microspikes and headed out the slippery driveway at 11:20 AM. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church where I released Sheila from her leash. There was some snow that had drifted over our track in the field and I was sinking in more than I would have liked. The drifts in back of the church were still pretty high. There was only 2 or 3 inches of snow on the cemetery hill where the wind had blown it away. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I continued to sink into the snow which was not as form as I had hoped. I knew I should have worn snowshoes but decided to continue. When we arrived at the large blowdown blocking the trail, I turned right into the woods and up the hill toward the trail that leads up from the first trail junction. My track from earlier trips was still visible and easy to follow. When we hit the trail, we turned right and continued up the trail.

Walking in the soft snow added a level of difficulty to the hike but I did not feel I was damaging the trail too much. As I walked, I removed a few loose branches from the trail and tried to free some of the trees that were still bent over. I followed the blazes for the yellow trail up to the trail junction. I turned left at the trail junction and followed the yellow rail along the base of Round Top. The trail was pretty open as I had done some maintenance to remove the blowdowns. At the next trail junction, we turned right on the blue trail and headed up the steepest hill to the summit of Round Top. The microspikes were better than bare boots but the snow was pretty deep so they were not digging in enough to prevent me from slipping. On the summit we followed the trail even though there were still some branches blocking the way. The trip down the other side went quickly even though I was not able to get a glide with the microspikes. At the yellow trail we turned right and then left at the next trail junction to head down to the lookout. At the lookout we turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. This hill had a little less snow than elsewhere as it is most exposed to the sun. I was tired but knew I needed at least an hour of exercise. We turned around and headed back up the hill to the lookout. We turned right at the top following the yellow trail on the long, gentle climb to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction. Here we turned left and followed the blue trail to the summit. Once again we braved the branches in the trail to cross the summit. On the steep descent to the yellow trail I had to watch my footing as I couldn't really get a glide and the microspikes were not giving me enough traction. We turned left on the yellow trail and then right at the next trail junction. It was enjoyable following the old woods road back down toward the first trail junction. When we came to the path I had made up from the trailhead, we turned left and walked back out to the cemetery. From there we descended the hill and walked across the field to the driveway and home. We had spent a little over an hour walking a little more than 2 miles. The walk was a good workout even though I feel I could do it blindfolded!

On Saturday, March 17th I had a men's breakfast at the church at 8:00 AM. I got up at 6:30 AM and found the temperature was in the teens! I went to church to help set up for the breakfast and while doing so received a text from JP, a friend, asking if we were going snowshoeing after the breakfast. I answered that I was going but wanted to return home first. I called Cindy and she wanted to go and we decided on Bear Spring WMA between Downsville and Walton. I called JP and told him we would meet him at 10:15 AM at the diner and then drive to Bear Spring. As we were getting ready Sheila knew something was "up" and stayed close to me as I got dressed and got the gear together. I had picked Bear Spring since I knew there would be snow and that the area was used by snowmobiles. This would allow us to wear snowshoes but we could walk on packed trails without slogging through deep snow and breaking our own trail! The temperature was still in the high 20's so I decided to dress warmly. As I got dressed I decided to put on a pair of tights under my Columbia Omniheat pants. I also put on a light, long-sleeved baselayer under my Mammut crew neck shirt. I put on my Mammut Ultimate hoody and wore a hat and a pair of gloves. I donned my Salomon B52 boots and put on gaiters just in case. Both Cindy and I chose our Tubbs Alp Flex VTR snowshoes. They are a little smaller than some but have the BOA binding system. The BOA system uses a dial to tighten a thin but strong wire and seems to evenly tighten the binding around the foot. There is a strap around the back which is easily adjustable. They have a superior grip and televators for walking up steep hills. We got all our gear in the car and I drove to the diner to meet JP. When we arrived, he was already there so we leaded north on State Route 17 to Roscoe. From There we took Route 206 toward Downsville. At the Pepacton Reservoir, we trend left to head towards Downsville. There seemed to be plenty of snow on the hills as we passed through Downsville and headed up the mountain toward Walton. I had planned to park at pulloff on the side of the road but it was not plowed. We continued on up the hill and turned left on West Trout Brook Road. At the top of the hill there is a parking lot and on this day it was almost full of trucks with snowmobile trailers. Fortunately there were a few spots free and we were able to park without blocking anybody. We immediately got out of our cars and got our gear ready. I set my Suunto Traverse GPS watch and my Garmin GPSmap 64st handheld unit. We put on our snowshoes and headed southeast on a trail that parallels Route 206. The snow was well-packed by the snowmobiles and we kept listening for them so that we could clear the trail. My experience with snowmobiles has been very good as they are usually courteous and slow down as they pass. We followed the track heading down to East Trout Brook Road. We crossed the road and stayed to the left as the trail branched and began to climb a hill. At the next T junction we turned left and headed down to the wide woods road. This was the road that we would have walked in on had we parked at the pulloff that was not plowed. We turned right onto the woods road and followed it for at least half a mile along an old clear cut. The clear cut area had at one time been a good place to get view down the valley but it has now grown up and views are few. Several snowmobiles passed us as we walked. I stopped to take a few pictures of the trail under sunny skies. Eventually we entered the woods again but stayed on the wide woods road.

We walked and talked which made the walking go quicker. I had thought we would do a big loop of a least 7 miles but I could see I that Sheila and I were the only ones who wanted to do that. I told Cindy and JP we would hike to the point where the snowmobile trail went down to East Trout Brook Road at Launt Pond. We would stow our snowshoes and then walk the road back to Route 206 and then to the car. We could then retrieve our snowshoes by driving to where we had left them. At around 2.2 miles we began to climb a hill. I was fresh and pushed myself up the hill. When I turned around, I noticed my companions were lagging so I slowed my pace to allow them to catch up. At 2.85 miles I came to the turn down to Launt Pond and stopped to wait for Cindy and JP. After waiting 5 minutes I walked back in the direction I had come from but did not see the. I didn't know what had happened by I suspected they had turned back. It as a tough decision but I turned around and started down toward Launt Pond. I set a very quick pace and was not happy that I did not know what had happened. The trail makes nearly a 180 degree turn and parallels the upper woods road that we had come in on for almost a mile. Sheila was with me and kept looking up toward the other trail and whining. I don't know how she knew that Cindy and JP were on the upper trail! The descent went quickly as it is all downhill and because I pushed the pace. At 4.1 miles we arrived at the parking area on East Trout Brook Road just south of Launt Pond. From our highest point on the ridge we had descended 650 feet in 1.5 miles. I stowed my snowshoes in a snow bank before Sheila and I walked out to the road and turned right to head north. I put Sheila on her leash and she still had enough energy to help pull me up the hill. We passed by Launt Pond and continued along the road under a bright and warm sun. I was till wondering where Cindy and JP were and ran some scenarios through my head. The hike to Route 206 was 1.2 miles which was longer than I though but the elevation gain was only 370 feet. Rather than walk back to the car on the trail, I decide to stay on the road. We walked out to Route 206 and turned left to walk the half mile back to West Trout Brook road. We turned left on walked up the hill to the car. Cindy and JP were not there. I wrote Cindy and note and started back out on the trail with bare boots to see if I could find them. The trail was firm so I wasn't sinking in very much. I walked across the field heading toward East Trout Brook Road but did not see them coming toward me. I entered the woods and continued on the trail praying I would meet them soon. Just before the road I heard voices and then saw them hiking toward me. I was relieved as we turned around and hiked back to the cars. It was 2:00 Pm and I had hiked 6.7 miles in 3 hours with an elevation gain of 1133 feet. The pace was faster than I had thought but the downhill to Launt Pond and subsequent road walk had certainly helped. I was tired from my adventure! I drove out to Route 206 and turned right and then right again on East trout Brook Road. I drove to Launt Pond and parked on the side of the road. I walked out to the pond to take some pictures and the returned to the car. I drove down to the parking area to retrieve my snowshoes which were right where I had left them.

On Thursday, March 15th I wanted to get out to hike on snowshoes while there was still snow remaining in the woods. I decided just to head across the street and hike on Round Top again as it is close and I just wanted the exercise. Sheila seemed thrilled at the decision and couldn't wait to get going I had a few things to do first and I did not get start getting until 11:00 AM. The temperature was in the high 20's as I started to get dressed. As I got dressed I decided to put on a pair of tights under my Columbia Omniheat pants. I also put on a light, long-sleeved baselayer under my Mammut crew neck shirt. I put on my Mammut Ultimate hoody and wore a hat and a pair of gloves. I donned my Salomon B52 boots and put on gaiters just in case. Sheila would not leave my side as I was getting ready as she wanted to make sure she was going too! I stepped out onto the back porch, put on my snowshoes and headed out the slippery driveway at 11:20 AM. I chose my Tubbs Alp Flex VTR snowshoes. They are a little smaller than some but have the BOA binding system. The BOA system uses a dial to tighten a thin but strong wire and seems to evenly tighten the binding around the foot. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church. There was some fresh snow in the field mostly from the drifting that a stiff breeze had caused. The drifts in back of the church were still pretty high. There was only 2 or 3 inches of snow on the cemetery hill where the wind had blown it away. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. As soon as we entered the trees I released Sheila from her leash. When we arrived at the large blowdown blocking the trail, I turned right into the woods and up the hill toward the trail that leads up from the first trail junction. Our track from the day before were still very visible and easy to follow. When we hit the trail, we turned right and continued up the trail which follows an old woods road. Sheila was happy to be going out in the snow as she loves to run and jump through it. She is mostly Yellow Lab but also has some Siberian Husky. Her longer coat keeps her warm in all but the coldest weather.

We continued to follow the woods road to the next trail junction with the upper blue trail. Rather than do figure 8s I decided to contuse straight up the hill to the summit and do a big loop. Climbing wasn't very difficult except for the occasional branch across the trail At the summit we followed the trail through a section that I had not yet cleared of branches. The snow had weighed down some beaches and pinned them to the ground almost blocking the trail. We continued over the summit and won the other side. I was able to lift the tips of my snowshoes and glide down the hill. The glide was pretty fast and at least once it was faster than I would have liked! When we reached the lower yellow trail we turned right and followed the trail down the gentle hill to the viewpoint. Here we turned left and continued down the trail to the first trail junction. I was undecided what to do next but thought it would be a good idea to break out all the trails for others who might like to use the trails. Sheila and I turned around and headed back up the steep hill to the lookout. We turned right to follow the yellow trail uphill through the woods through the junction with the blue trail. This time w turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of the Round Top summit. The trail was easy to break even though there was some new snow. The branches I had cleared earlier had not come back onto the trail. At the next trail junction we turned right to follow the yellow trail back down the hill. When we came to the point where we had entered the trail, we continued to walk straight ahead back to the first trail junction. This was the only part of the trail we had "missed" and I wanted to make sure I could saw we had packed all the trails. We turned around and headed back up the hill until we cut into the woods to follow our track back down to the trail and then out to the trailhead. We walked down the cemetery hill which was now bathed in bright sunlight. At the church we turned right and walked back across the field which was a little easier since we had already packed the trail. We crossed the street and walked back down the driveway to our house. We were home at about 1:00 PM after spending almost and hour and a half walking about two miles.

On Wednesday, March 14th I wanted to get out on a hike but didn't have much time to spend. I knew there was some fresh snow from the storm on Tuesday and wanted to take advantage of it with spring a little more than a week away. I decided just to head across the street and hike on Round Top. Sheila seemed thrilled at the decision and couldn't wait to get going I had a few things to do first and wee did not get started until 11:00 AM. The temperature was in the high 20's as I started to get dressed. Looking over at Round Top convinced me to wear snowshoes and I knew I would get warm. As I got dressed I decided to put on a pair of tights under my Columbia Omniheat pants. I also put on a light, short-sleeved baselayer under my Mammut crew neck shirt. I put on my Mammut Ultimate hoody and wore a hat and a pair of gloves. I donned my Salomon B52 boots and put on gaiters just in case. Sheila would not leave my side as I was getting ready as she wanted to make sure she was going too! I stepped out onto the back porch, put on my snowshoes and headed out the slippery driveway at 11:20 AM. I chose my Tubbs Alp Flex VTR snowshoes. They are a little smaller than some but have the BOA binding system. The BOA system uses a dial to tighten a thin but strong wire and seems to evenly tighten the binding around the foot. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church. There was more fresh snow in the field than I had expected and the drifts in back of the church were still pretty high. There was only 2 or 3 inches of snow on the cemetery hill where the wind had blown it away. I knew the snowshoes would grip the snow and would give me an additional workout. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. As soon as we entered the trees I released Sheila from her leash. When we arrived at the large blowdown blocking the trail, I turned right into the woods and up the hill toward the trail that leads up from the first trail junction. Our track from earlier in the week was still visible and easy to follow. When we hit the trail, we turned right and continued up the trail.

Walking through the four inches of new snow was fun but added a level of difficulty to the hike. As I walked, I removed a few loose branches from the trail and tried to free some of the trees that were still bent over. I followed the blazes for the yellow trail up to the trail junction. I turned left at the trail junction and followed the yellow rail along the base of Round Top. The trail was pretty open as I had done some maintenance to remove the blowdowns. At the next trail junction, we turned right on the blue trail and headed up the steepest hill to the summit of Round Top. On the summit we followed the trail even though there were still some branches blocking the way. The trip down the other side went quickly even though I was not able to get much of a glide. At the yellow trail we turned right and then left at the next trail junction to headed down to the lookout. At the lookout we turned left and descended the hill to the first trail junction. This hill had a little less snow than elsewhere as it is most exposed to the sun. I was tired but knew I needed at least an hour of exercise. We turned around and headed back up the hill to the lookout. We turned right at the top following the yellow trail on the long, gentle climb to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top to the next junction. Here we turned left and followed the blue trail to the summit. Once again we braved the branches in the trail to cross the summit. On the steep descent to the yellow trail I was able to get a great glide almost all the way from the top to the trail junction. We turned left on the yellow trail and the right at the next trail junction. It was enjoyable following the old woods road back down toward the first trail junction. When we came to the path I had made up from the trailhead, we turned left and walked back out to the cemetery. From there we descended the hill and walked across the field to the driveway and home. We had spent a little over an hour walking a little more than 2 miles. The walk was a good workout even though I feel I could do it blindfolded!

On Saturday, March 10th I was ready to go out for a hike before the temperature rose and made the snow too "clumpy". I also knew that the snow might disappear any day with warmer weather and rain! I wanted to get in a longer hike that was Not on Round top across from my driveway and decided to go to Frick Pond to hike a route. When I awoke in the morning the temperature was just above 20 degrees so I was not too eager to get a very early start. I did a few things around the house and then decided to get going before the snow got too soft. I asked Cindy of she wanted to go and she agreed. I did not have to ask Sheila as she is always ready to hike. Because the temperature was only in the high 20's , I decided to wear my Mammut hoody and warmer Columbia Titanium pants with tights underneath. On top I chose a long-sleeved baselayer under a Mammut pullover. The hoody has lots of zippers to help regulate temperature and I knew I could always take it off if I got too warm. I wore a heavier hat and gloves and out on my Salomon B52 winter boots and OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the deep snow. Cindy and I got all our gear ready including our snowshoes which we knew we would have to use due to the deep snow that had fallen during the week. We both chose our Tubbs Alp Flex VTR snowshoes. They are a little smaller than some but have the BOA binding system. The BOA system uses a dial to tighten a thin but strong wire and seems to evenly tighten the binding around the foot. Sheila was happy to be going anywhere and crouched in the back seat with her head on the console. Just after 10:30 AM we headed out the DeBruce Road. After about 6 miles, I turned left on Mongaup Pond Road and stayed left where the road split falling Beech Mountain Road to the trailhead. By the time we had arrived at the parking area, the was 28 degrees but a stiff breeze made it feel cooler. The lot had been plowed once but new snow had accumulated. There were no other cars in the lot and there were no tracks. A quick inspection of the trails showed that no one had been out on them since the last snowfall on Wednesday. I like breaking trail in untouched snow but it is very tiring! We put our snowshoes and headed out to the woods road to the Quick Lake Trail at 10:45 AM. The snow was deep and had some water underneath which I tried to avoid since it causes snow to stick to the bottom of the snowshoes. We passed the trail register and heading toward Frick Pond. I could see that there were a lot of branches that had been weighed down by the snow and were leaning onto the trail. We had to try to avoid these branches and the places where there was water on the trail. At Gravestone Junction we turned right to get on the yellow Logger's Loop heading toward Times Square.

I stopped once or twice to take pictures and a short rest as walking through the drifted snow was hard work. there were several large trees down across the trail and I knew we would have work to do to clear the trail in the spring. We walked around the blowdowns and headed downhill toward Times Square. I did not know what to expect at Times Square knowing that if the Logger's Loop was not packed by snowmobiles we probably could not hike it for the whole length! At Times Square we found that the trail had been packed by snowmobiles and that three machines were stopped ahead on the Logger's Loop. I could hear a chainsaw stunning and thought were probably members of The Sullivan County Trails Association. This is group that enjoys riding snowmobiles and keep all the trails they use free of blowdowns and blockages. This is a great help for hikers as they are allowed to use chainsaws which saves a lot of time on larger trees. As we approached the group, I introduced myself and found that This was Mike Barkley, president of the association, and his crew. We talked for a while and then decided to continue. The snowmobiles left first further packing the trail. We began to climb uphill but the walk was much easier on the packed trail. We had both walked through some slush which now attracted snow to the bottom of the snowshoes. We had to clear our snowshoes several times before we could walk comfortably. The trail was well packed by snowmobiles and almost immediately we could hear some machines coming from the direction of Mongaup Pond. Sheila ran right over to me and we all walked off the trail. As the machines approached and saw us, they slowed down to a crawl. We waved as they passed us and accelerated. Some people complain about the smell of the exhaust but it has never really bothered me. I realized that to me it smells like the exhaust from chainsaws which brings back a lot of good memories from when I was logging with my father 50 years ago. We continued our hike as the trail continued to rise and then flattened a little. Several times along the way we moved to the side of the trail to allow more snowmobiles to pass. It was a pleasure to walk on the packed trail and we were soon at Iron Wheel Junction. I stopped to take a few pictures of the contrast between the packed snowmobile trail and the fresh and untouched snow on the Quick Lake Trail. We turned left at the junction and headed back toward Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail.

As we started out on the Quick Lake Trail, I was breaking trail through about 6 inches of new snow that was piled on top of over a foot that had fallen in a previous storm. Occasionally I would break through the snow underneath which made the going even tougher. We stopped for a drink and a bar. As we were stopped, it started to snow! I took some pictures of the track we were leaving and the untouched snow ahead. The consistency of the snow and the air temperature combined to give the snow and almost "silky" feel. Some of the snow stuck to our snowshoes but it wasn't too bad. The trail is slightly downhill which was good since I was getting more tired by the minute. We came to the small stream in the woods which had a little too much water to cross on the rail. We walked upstream a little and found a narrower spot but still had to get our snowshoes wet! Immediately the snow began to stick to the bottom of the snowshoes and it took us several times to get it cleaned off. Walking through the "spruce tunnel" was not easy as there were several new blowdowns and many branches heavy with snow hanging down in the trail. Eventually we walked out the other side. The snow was deeper here and I developed a routine of counting steps to take my mind off the difficulty of the task. There were a few wet spots but we avoided them and finally arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I had hoped that someone had made a track here but the snow was pristine. We turned right to follow the Quick Lake Trail to the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. The snow had rifted to a depth of 2 feet in some paces but the drifts were firm which allowed us to stay on top of the. I stopped at the bridge despite the fact that I have taken hundreds of pictures from it. I took a few shots of the bridge with snow on it and some of Cindy and Sheila and a large drift at the western end of the bridge. I also took shots of the pond and Flynn's Point. The snow was still coming down but did not obscure the scene. I packed up and we continued up the hill and back to Gravestone Junction. The small hill was all I could handle as my leg muscles were shot. At Gravestone Junction we continued out the Quick Lake Trail and back to the car. Along the way it became obvious that several other hikers had been on the trail with snowshoes. Most of the way they had stayed in the track Cindy and I had started but at times deviated or walked side-by-side. We arrived at the car at 1:55 PM having hike 3.8 miles in 3 hours and 10 minutes with an elevation gain of 390 feet. I was glad to be back at the car and sitting down!

On Monday, March 5th I wanted to get out to hike before the 18 inches of snow that had fallen on Friday disappeared as had happened with other snowfalls. I wanted to go across the street to Round Top and hike the complete lower trail to see if it was blocked in any way by trees and bushes heavy with snow. When Cindy and I had hiked on Saturday, we had found several blowdowns that we had to walk around. I wanted to get started early before the temperature rose above freezing and made the snow soft. Under these conditions the snow often clings to the snow shoes forming clumps and making the experience less than enjoyable. As it happened it was after 10:00 AM before I was ready to go. It was around 30 degrees but actually felt warmer. I did not bother with tights under my Columbia Omniheat Pants but put on a baselayer on top under my Mammut pullover. As always I put on my Mammut Ultimate hoody and wore a hat and gloves. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots and put on OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the deep snow. I wore my Tubbs Alp Flex VTR snowshoes. They are a little smaller than some and have the BOA binding system. I knew I wouldn't need the flotation since the snow depth was only 6 to 10 inches. The BOA system uses a dial to tighten a thin but strong wire and seems to evenly tighten the binding around the foot. Sheila was happy to be going out in the snow as she loves to run and jump through it. She is mostly Yellow Lab but also has some Siberian Husky. Her longer coat keeps her warm in all but the coldest weather. We went outside, I put on my snowshoes and put Sheila on her leash. I decided to leave my pack home since I had taken quite a few pictures on Saturday right after the snowfall. We headed out the driveway at 10:15 AM and crossed the street. Once in the field, I released Sheila from her leash. I followed the faint trail we had made with the snowshoes on our last hike and was surprised that the packed track supported me quite well. This made walking much easier. A few forays off the packed track convinced me to stay on the track. We walked through the field next to the church with some effort and then started the walk up the steep but short cemetery hill. The snow on the road up the hill had drifted away so only a few inches remained until we got to the top of the hill. There were several tracks down the hill which showed that someone had been enjoying a slide down the hill on the snow. I was glad toy see this since often there are no tracks after it snows as kids tend to stay inside and use their electronic devices too much! Much of the snow that had piled up on the branches of the trees had fallen off due to the slightly warmer weather and the wind. We turned left and entered the trail stepping around one small blowdown across the trail. We worked our way around some bushes in the trail and I looked ahead to see a massive set of trees blocking the trail. Three or four large trunks had fallen from high to low across the trail completely blocking passage. I walked off the trail to the right to bypass the blowdown on the uphill side following the track we had made on Saturday. The bank was steep as I headed up toward the yellow trail. This was the trail that we normally take by turning right at the first trail junction. It wasn't long before we hit the trail where I turned left toward the trail junction. At the trail junction I turned right and we headed up to the lookout.

The blazes on the trees were much more evident than they had been on Saturday when the blown snow covered most of them. At the lookout I took a quick peek and the town and the school below. We turned right following the trail through the woods toward the junction with the blue upper trail. I continued to follow the track that Cindy and I had packed and had no problem sinking further into the snow. Where I could I widen the track a little on made sure to step on and snow in the track that was not packed. When we came to the junction, we turned right on the lower yellow trail which was still covered in unbroken snow. Walking on the unbroken snow was more difficult than in the packed track. There were quite a few bushes and small trees leaning over into the trail. We came to a spot where a rather large tree blocked the trail so I walked around it to the right. Back on the trail I continued toward the next junction and found another spot where a tree was down across the trail. This one I was able to step over with a little difficulty. When we arrived at the next trail junction, we turned right to stay on the lower yellow trail. I wanted to walk this trail since I had lost it coming from the other direction on Saturday and wanted to see why. Not very far down the trail we came to an area where the trail passes between some bushes and small thorn apple trees. These had been loaded with snow and as a result were leaning over completely blocking the trail. I walked around the blockage and got back on the trail. At this point I knew what I wanted to do. I decided to go back to the house, get my hand saws and clear these obstructions. We followed the trail and woods road back to where we had entered the trail from below and turned left. I followed my track back to the trailhead. We walked down the hill, across the field to our driveway and back to the house. I grabbed my pack and added my two Silky saws although I knew the KatanaBoy would be overkill for the jobs I had planned.

Sheila and I walked back across the street, across the field and up the hill to the trailhead. I noticed that walking with the pack was more difficult than without it. We turned left into the woods on the trail and followed the track we had made before to the yellow trail. Once at the yellow trail we turned right and followed the trail to the left turn up the hill. We came to the area where the trail was blocked. I put down my pack and got out my camera to take some "before" pictures. After taking the pictures, I got out my smaller Silky saw and cut each of the small trees and bushes. After cutting each tree or bush, I pulled it aside and out of the way. I found that snowshoes do not turn quickly and that it is impossible to backup with them on. I almost took them off while working but decided to keep them on and modify how I worked. I had to be careful working with the thorn apple since they are aptly named! It wasn't long before I had cleared the area. I took some "after" pictures and then picked up my gear and continued up the trail. At the trail junction I turned left and followed the yellow trail to the next blockage. I took pictures of the blowdown and then took out my saw to begin the process of clearing. The cutting was easy but dragging away the branches was harder. Many of the branches were still covered in snow and moving them was difficult. Eventually I finished cutting and dragging away all the branches. I took some pictures and then picked up my gear to move a short distance down the trail to the last blowdown. I repeated my process of clearing the area. I took "before" pictures and then got out my smaller saw. I carefully removed any smaller branches that were in the way and then started on the larger branches. I cut each branch and dragged them out of the way. Some branches I cut twice which made it easier to maneuver them off the trail. Even though this was the largest blowdown, clearing it went quickly. I took some "after" pictures and then picked up my gear to continue the hike. I was able to clear a few small branches from the trail. At the trail junction we turned left to follow the yellow trail downhill toward the lookout. At the lookout we turned left and walked down the steep section of the trail toward the first trail junction. It was nearing noon and it was clear to me that the temperature had risen as the snow was changing consistency. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked up the trail to where we had entered earlier. We turned right and walked back down toward the trailhead. Near the trailhead, I stopped one more time to lift a small tree out of the way. I also cut and removed a small tree trunk that was across the trail. We walked out to the trailhead and won the cemetery hill. The skies which had been blue were now a little overcast as we crossed the field by the church. We walked down the driveway to the house arriving home at 12:45 PM. We had spent a total of 2 and a half hours hiking and clearing the trails for others to enjoy.

On Saturday, March 3rd I wanted to get out to hike in the 18 inches of snow that had fallen on Friday. The snow started early Friday morning and just kept coming! Initially it was heavy and wet but became "drier" and fluffier later in the day. At times the snow fell at around 2 inches and hour. I waited around all day for our ambulance corps to be called to motorcycle accidents but, thankfully, no calls came. We didn't get a call until the snow almost stopped and that was for a medical condition. On Saturday morning it was still below freezing and I knew I had to get out in snowshoes. I knew that the back roads would be in poor condition and that the railheads would not be plowed. Cindy and I decided to head across the street and hike a loop on Round Top. By the time we got ready to go it was after 11:00 AM. It was around 30 degrees but actually felt warmer. I did not bother with tights under my Columbia Omniheat Pants but put on a baselayer on top under my Mammut pullover. As always I put Mon my Mammut Ultimate hoody and wore a hat and gloves. I wore my Salomon B52 winter boots and put on OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the deep snow. Both Cindy and I wore our Tubbs Alp Flex VTR snowshoes. They are a little smaller than some and have the BOA binding system. I knew I wouldn't need the flotation since the snow depth was only 6 to 10 inches. The BOA system uses a dial to tighten a thin but strong wire and seems to evenly tighten the binding around the foot. Sheila was happy to be going out in the snow as she loves to run and jump through it. She is mostly Yellow Lab but also has some Siberian Husky. Her longer coat keeps her warm in all but the coldest weather. We went outside, put on our snowshoes and I put Sheila on her leash. We headed out the driveway at 11:30 AM and crossed the street. Once in the field, I released Sheila from her leash. The snow was very deep and the walking difficult especially where the snow had drifted. We walked through the field next to the church with some effort and then started the walk up the steep but short cemetery hill. The snow on the road up the hill had drifted away so only a few inches remained until we got to the top of the hill. On the way up we stopped once so that I could take a few pictures. We stopped again at the top of the hill near the trailhead so I could take some more shots. The sky was still dark and the town was covered in snow. The snow had piled up on the branches of the trees and everything was pristine and beautiful. We turned left and entered the trail and I took more pictures of the bushes and trees bending to the ground under the weight of the snow. I could see one new blowdown across the trail. We worked our way around some bushes in the trail and I looked ahead to see a massive set of trees blocking the trail. Three or four large trunks had fallen from high to low across the trail completely blocking passage. I took a few pictures and tried to decide if there was any chance I could clear the blowdown with y hand tools. Cindy and I decided to walk off the trail to the right and bypass the blowdown on the uphill side. The bank was steep and as I headed up I could see we could not immediately cut back down to the trail. I decided to keep walking uphill until I hit the yellow trail. This would be the trail that we normally take by turning right at the first trail junction. It wasn't long before we hit the trail and turned right to start the loop. The snow was untouched and the trees were still covered in snow. I again took pictures before continuing up the hill.

We could barely see the blazes on the trees and when it came time to turn left up the hill, I could not pick out the actual trail. All of the bushes were weighed down with the snow and made things look so different. I wasn't too concerned as I knew we would eventually hit the trail. We walked uphill through the deep snow and I eventually found the yellow trail near the junction with the blue or upper trail. I waited for Cindy and then I headed up the blue trail toward the summit. Somehow I convinced Cindy that this was a good idea and we ascended the hill toward the summit. I could just make out the blue blazes in some places but the trail looked very different. When we reached the place where the trail turns right near the summit, I could see that it was blocked by low hanging bushes. I continued straight ahead walking through an area that is normally thick brush. The walking was easy as all the bushes were weighed down with snow. We regained the blue trail and headed across the summit to start the descent. On the descent I was able to lift the tips of my snowshoes and get a pretty good glide down the hill. It wasn't long before we were at the bottom of the hill at the junction with the yellow trail. We turned right and followed the yellow trail toward the lookout. There was still a lot of snow on the trail but we were walking slightly downhill. When we got to the lookout, I decided to walk from the upper level to the lower to get the best view of the town and school. I reached the lower level of the lookout and dropped my pack to get out my camera. I took a few pictures of Cindy and Sheila posed on the upper level of the lookout. I turned my attention to the view from the lookout and took several shots of the school, the town and the hills beyond. I put the camera away and started to walk out the lower spur trail. I came to the point where there is gap in the path that must be crossed. The snow here had drifted over the trail and I was not comfortable crossing that gap. I turned around and walked back to the upper level the way I had come down. We walked down the yellow trail to the first trail junction. On this descent we were again able to glide down the hill to the trail junction. Here we turned left and started to ascend the easier trail looking for where we had come up to the trail from below. We eventually found where we had joined the trail and turned right to descend back to the trailhead avoiding the enormous blowdown that blocked the trail. We walked out to the trailhead and then down the hill to the church. We walked back across the field which was a little easier since we had already packed the trail. We crossed the street and walked back down the driveway to our house. We were home at about 1:00 PM after spending almost and hour and a half walking about a mile. I was ready to do lore but was also more tired than I thought I would be!

On Wednesday, February 28th, I wanted to go for a hike on a beautiful day with the forecast for sunny skies and highs in the 50's! Lisa from Morgan Outdoors in Livingston Manor had contacted me the night before and asked about going for a hike and I thought the walk from Alder Lake to Big Pond and back would be nice. We wanted to survey the condition of the trail to see what work would have to be done in the spring. I have adopted this section of tail for the FLTC and did several days worth of work last spring. When I got up in the morning, the temperature was only 25 degrees but the sun was out. I decided to dress warmly despite the forecast. I elected to put on a full baselayer with tights under my Columbia Omniheat pants and a long-sleeved top under a Mammut pullover. I always wear my Mammut Ultimate hoody and I put on a heavier hat and gloves. I knew we would not need snowshoes and I also decided against gaiters. I wore my Keen Glarus hiking boots since I did not feel I would need insulation but I did put my spikes in the pack. Just before 8:00 AM I put my gear in the trunk and Sheila in the backseat. Sheila was obviously happy to go as I drove out Old Route 17 to the Beaverkill Road. I turned right and drove up Johnson Mountain to Lisa's house arriving at exactly 8:00 AM. Lisa was ready to go and and we started toward Alder Lake under sunny skies. Sheila was happy to be hiking and greeted Lisa enthusiastically. I drove up the Beaverkill Road through Lew Beach and Turnwood. I turned left on Alder Creek Road and drove toward the entrance to Alder Lake. As we neared the end of Alder Creek Road, I turned right and found the gate to Alder Lake closed. I backed up and turned around to park on the side of the road near the creek just before the entrance to the Cross Mountain Hunting Camp. We got our gear out of the car and started our hike at 8:20 AM with the thermometer on the car reading 28 degrees. We could hear the water in the reek and it sounded high! We walked down the bank to the creek which was running with a good volume and looked for a good place to cross. I walked upstream a little and found a narrow spot with some stones to step on. We crossed and started to hike along a broad woods road which was marked with red blazes. The sun was out although it was still cool. The sun on the leaves left over from the fall and the warmth of the rays set a perfect tone. Over the next half mile we gained about 300 feet climbing to the shoulder of a ridge. The trail was easy to follow and we had a great time talking about various projects we had planned. We noticed that there were posted signs on either side of the state land. From the ridge we started to descend on the same woods road to a small stream. The trail was wet and muddy in spots and there were many blowdowns across the trail. Some of the smaller branches we removed but others required a saw and an axe. A few were large enough the that a chainsaw might be the best answer. I was surprised since I had spent so much time on the trail last spring. At least there were no nettles or briars in this area. As we descended, we did come across one spot that was covered in snow. The descent was almost a mirror image of the ascent as we dropped about 300 feet in half a mile. Just before the stream crossing, I stopped to take some shots of a beaver meadow with a ridge behind it. As we approached the stream, the trail markers indicated a slight turn to the west off the woods road and across the stream. The woods had been very open but there was a very large open area just below the stream crossing. I took some pictures of the area and of the stream.

We crossed the stream and found that the trail began to follow another well-defined woods road. We also found that we were again climbing to the shoulder of another ridge. There were extensive stone walls in this area which hearkened back to a time when the land was farmed. There were also two foundations which could have been houses or farm buildings. As we topped the hill and the trail began to flatten, we came to Ana area that is always wet and muddy. This day was no exception but we were able to work around the mud without too much bother. The trail stayed muddy for some time. In a little more than half a mile we regained 200 feet and at 1.8 miles the trail turned to the west heading directly toward Big Pond. Along the way we began to find some very large trees across the trail which we could navigate but which could be removed. On a short ascent we came to the area where I had spent some time last spring cutting a sea of briars that had all but obstructed the trail. Some prickers were beginning to encroach on the trail and I knew I would need to do some work in the spring to keep it open. We reached the top of a small hill where the trail began to descend and due to Lisa's time constraints we decided to turn around. I knew we would not get to Big Pond and did not want to descend the hill just to turn around and walk back up it. We had been hiking about and hour and a quarter and thought we had made about 2 miles. We turned around and set a good pace on the way back stopping only occasionally for a picture or two. On the walk back we began to realize the stone walls in the area formed an extensive network which we had simply not seen on the way out. The walls were on both sides of the trail and, in some places, the trail crossed the walls. I have always been impressed by the work it took to collect the stones and the skill needed to turn them into stone walls that have stood for so many years! We were soon back at the initial stream crossing and we knew it was a short walk back to the car with only one ascent. All along the ay we had been hearing the "honks" of geese and seeing huge V's flying overhead. One V was completely white except for a few blacker birds. Other V's were almost completely dark. By the time we returned to the car 10:50 AM I was very warm as the temperature had risen into the high 40's and the sun's rays were more direct. It had been a beautiful day to hike and the out and back allowed us to see different aspects of the trail. We had hiked 4.1 miles in 2.5 hours and a vertical gain of only 930 feet. We had plenty of time for pictures and exploring this interesting area.

On Monday, February 26th, I had some time to hike on what was forecast to be a beautiful, sunny day with highs near 50 degrees. I have about a two week break from track practice as we transition from indoor track to spring track which gives me most of the day to hike and make up for a very poor showing in February! I decided to wait until later in the day to get started as the morning was foggy with an overcast sky. I got my gear together and got dressed to leave the house at just before 11:00 AM so that I could begin a hike from Hill Road near Margaretville to the Penguin Rocks lookout on Dry Brook Ridge. It was already in the high 30's and I knew it would get warmer as I hiked. I also did not expect much snow along the route due to the recent warm weather and rain. I decided I did not need tights underneath my Colombia Titanium Omniheat pants. On top I had a light synthetic baselayer with a my Mammut crew neck shirt on top. As always I had my Mammut Hoody as my top layer. I wore a hat and gloves as I could always take them off if I was too warm but could not put them on if I did not have them with me! I knew I would not need snowshoes but I put my Microspikes in my pack just in case I needed some traction. I decided not to wear gaiters or insulated boots. I put on my Keen Glarus hiking boots which are all leather and reasonably war,. All the while I was getting ready, Sheila was hovering around me making sure I did not forget her. When I left the house, the skies were still overcast and there was a little breeze which out a bite in the air. I wanted to avoid the back roads as much as possible as they are in poor shape so I headed toward Roscoe on State Rout 17. I got off at the Roscoe exit and headed north toward Downsville on Route 206. The road was in good shape and I was soon at the Pepacton Reservoir. Here I turned right onto Route 30 which was also in good shape. At the Shavertown Bridge I turned right on BWS 8 and followed it until it became BWS 9. Where the road changed to BWS 10 at the intersection with Barkaboom Road, I turned left. I followed BWS 10 until it changed to Southside Road just outside Margaretville. I continued on Southside Road to Huckleberry Brook Road where I turned right. Shortly after the turn I turned left on Hill Road and 1.3 miles to the parking pulloff on the right. The temperature was 40 degrees when I parked and there was a breeze blowing. The skies were now blue with some bright sun. There was also no snow in sight on the road or in the woods. We crossed the road and began our hike at 11:40 AM. The first part of the hike is a nice wide trail that ascends through a red pine plantation. The ascent continues for about 1.9 miles when the trail levels off after gaining 1130 feet. I began to warm up immediately because of the climb and also found I was a little winded from the lack of hiking. As we walked, there were several blowdowns across the trail from near the bottom until the trail leveled. Two were very large and probably require the trail to be rerouted around them while the others could be removed. It was also obvious that there had been a lot of rain on the trail as there were huge piles of pine needles in several spots. The trail had drained nicely and was almost dry. The sun through the pines was beautiful and it seemed very warm. I stopped to take some pictures of the red pines in an area where there was a dusting of snow on the ground. I also took this opportunity to open the zippers on my hoody and took down the hood. After passing through the pines, we entered a predominantly hardwood forest before passing again through some pines. Sheila seemed to delight in racing away from me through the snow and then careening headlong back toward me. There were a lot of animal tracks along the trail and some crossing it and Sheila was busy investigating these tracks. After 1.9 miles, the trail leveled off and turned almost 90 degrees from northeast to southeast. There was a few inches of hardened snow on the ground although most of the trail was pretty clear. We walked across a flat area dipping down a little to the junction with the blue Dry Brook Ridge Trail at 2.3 miles. We stopped and I got a much needed drink and a bar. I also took some pictures of the snow on the trail.

As we turned right on this trail, I noticed the sign that said the Hill Road parking was 1.7 miles away. I had to laugh! I expect distances to vary some but .5 miles is a pretty big gap. The trail along the ridge follows the edge until about 2.7 miles where it veers away and heads a little to the east and northeast. Initially the trail ascends a small bump and then descends the other side before leveling off for a while. The level area of the trail was very wet with standing water and I had to negotiate my way around this area. This would continue to be a problem for most of the rest of the way to the lookouts. The first small ascent was very icy across almost all the trail and I almost put on my spikes but was able to get some traction in the snow at the side of the trail. The two or three other short ascents along the way were exposed to the sun and almost bare of snow. We were soon climbing the last of three short ascents to the area of the lookout. The total elevation gain from the trail junction to the lookouts is 285 feet. From 2.95 miles to the lookout the trail gain is just under 200 feet in elevation and begins to follow the edge of the escarpment turning almost due south. The snow actually all but disappeared as we continued along the trail. When we arrived at the viewpoint at 1:35 PM, the wind was blowing slightly making it seem a little colder than the air temperature. The open rocks that make up the viewpoint were completely bare so I dropped my packed and walked out onto the viewpoint. The sky was blue not very interesting with only a very few puffy clouds. The Pepacton Reservoir was clearly visible and the view showed the low volume of water. Without much snow or any leaves on the trees, the scene was rather bleak. I did take some pictures including a few of Sheila posed on the rocks. I got a drink and then started the walk back to the car which was all flat or downhill. The trip back to the trail junction went more quickly than I had expected but avoiding the small ponds along the way was annoying. I made it down the small, icy hill just before the trail junction without a problem. We didn't bother to stop again at the trail junction but simply turned left to head back down the trail to the parking area. The trip down always seems to go quickly but on this day it seemed longer than usual. We arrived back at the car at 3:15 PM. We had hiked 6.5 miles in 3 hours and 40 minutes with an elevation gain of 1635 feet. The trip down was only about 15 minutes shorter than the trip up. I decided to use the same route home that I had used on the way out so good. I had planned to stop to take some pictures of the reservoir but I was just too tired to do that and drove straight home.

On Friday, February 23rd I got a call at 6:00 AM to cover for the middle school nurse which I reluctantly agreed to despite the fact that it killed my plans to go for a longer hike. At 6:03 AM I got another call announcing school was closed due to the impending ice storm which was to arrive by 11:00 AM. I figured this was a message to get out and hike early to be back before the storm hit. I decided to go to Frick Pond and hike some loop there that I had not done in some time. As I got my gear together Sheila seemed to be in complete agreement with my decision as she followed my around as I was dressing. Although the thermometer read right around freezing, the moisture in the air and a slight breeze made it feel much colder. I elected to put on a full baselayer with tights under my Columbia Omniheat pants and a long-sleeved top under a Mammut pullover. L always wear my Mammut Ultimate hoody and I put on a heavier hat and gloves. My plan was to hike the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel Junction. From here we would hike the Logger's Loop to Times Square an then ascend the Big Rock Trail to The Flynn Trail to get back to the car. There had been some snow the day before but the rain and warm weather during the week had destroyed the snow that was there making snow shoes unnecessary. I put my spikes in my pack not knowing whether there would be enough is to warrant their use. Sheila was happy to be going anywhere and crouched in the back seat with her head on the console. I drove out DeBruce Road just after 8:00 AM and after 6 miles I turned left on Mongaup Road. Where the road splits I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and parked in the smaller lot at 8:20 AM. It didn't take us long to walk the woods road out to the Quick Lake Trail to start our hike. There was frozen snow on many of the trees so I took a few pictures. As we started to hike the temperature was only 28 degrees and I felt a chill despite my layers. The trail had some very wet snow and areas of water that had to be avoided. On the way to the register box it was obvious the wind had brought down a lot of smaller branches and some larger branches. The woods road out to Frick Pond was also very wet with some exposed areas of standing and running water. There was still some ice which I avoided as it covered water beneath it and was often not strong enough to support my weight. We stayed left at Graveyard Junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. When we arrived at the bridge across the outlet, I decided to stop and take pictures despite the fact that I have hundreds from this location. The ground was still covered by snow and the trees had a coating of frozen snow which gave the scene some interest. The water level in the pond was high and the ice was partly melted. The sky was completely overcast and it looked like a storm might be moving in. I took some shots and then we continued on around the pond. We stayed left at the trail junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and found that there was still plenty of water in this area which I avoided. There were more branches along the trail and I cleared as many as I could. We continued on our hike passing through the "Spruce Tunnel". The small stream through the woods was running freely and was very high. Sheila simply jumped across but I walked upstream a little to a narrower and more shallow area to cross. I took some pictures here of the stream and the snow on the trails. By 9:15 AM we had walked the 1.5 miles to Iron Wheel Junction. At the trail junction I decided it would be a good idea to turn left and walk the entire big loop up to Hodge Pond. We did turn in that direction but after a short distance I noticed that there was rain and ice falling from the sky and decided to go back to my original plan. We turned around and headed out on the Logger's Loop Trail.

The Logger's Loop is mostly downhill in this direction and we made good time but encountered some more blowdowns along the way. This trail didn't have quite as much water but did have a little more snow. The rain wasn't falling heavily but it was steady. I knew it should have bothered me but I was so glad to be out I hardly noticed. Just before starting the descent to Times Square, we stopped at a small pond on the left side of the trail so that I could take some pictures. This pond is seasonal but has been growing in size for several years. It was surrounded by trees with a coating of snow which added some interest to an otherwise bleak scene. By 9:45 AM we were at Times Square and about 2.7 miles into the hike. The rain was coming in spurts, starting and stopping but I knew the forecast was for it to continue and get more steady. I considered simply walking the Logger's Loop back to Gravestone Junction as I could see a blowdown I wanted to inspect. In the end I opted to stick to the original plan and get a little more distance and difficulty by hiking up the Big Rock Trail. We turned left to start up the Big Rock Trail which gains 600 feet to the Flynn Trail over 1.1 miles. The average grade is only 10% but the route has three different climbs and can seem long. We set a pretty fast pace on the climb and I found that although my heart rate was elevated I felt good. Not very far up the trail we encountered a very large tree that had been across the trail. The snowmobile club had cleared this earlier in the season and I had done some finishing work with axe and saw. I knew that there was another large blowdown further up the trail which had not been cleared the last time I passed through. I had seen snowmobiles coming down the trail on another occasion and knew it had probably been removed. When we got to the blowdown, I found the snowmobile club had been at work cutting the blowdown and removing it from the trail. The diameter of the one trunk was at least three feet but it was rotten and hollow. I stopped to take a few shots but then noticed that the rain was starting again so we moved on quickly. We reached the Flynn Trail at 10:30 AM after hiking 3.9 miles and we immediately turned right and began the descent back to the car. The snow still covered the trail but there were areas where water had overflowed the ditch along the side of the road. There were a few large branches on or near the trail and there was one large blowdown a little further along which looked a lot like the one that I had spotted on the Logger's Loop. Sheila was still excited at this point and was running up the trail and back to me. She was taking a few excursions off the trail to follow animal tracks but was pretty close so I let her explore. She started to grab some rather large branches so I picked up a stick and threw it several times for here to retrieve. The trip down the Flynn Trail went quickly and my muscles were glad I was going down! We soon arrived at the gate that blocks Beech Mountain Road. We turned left to stay on the Flynn Trail as it continues through the woods to avoid the private property around the cabin. Some hikers cannot read the signs and have annoyed the property owner by trespassing! We continued down to the parking area on the trail. We were back at 11:05 AM having covered 5.7 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes with a vertical gain of 955 feet.

On Saturday, February 17th, I was ready to get out for a slightly longer hike that was NOT on Round Top! My son-in-law, Brad, was up for the weekend and I was sure he would want to go along. I did not get back from a track meet the night before Until 1:00 AM and wanted to sleep in the next morning. I was able to stay in bed to almost 9:00 AM and get a little extra sleep. When I got up I ate breakfast and asked Brad if he wanted to go for a hike and he agreed. We waited until a little after noon to get ready to go. The temperature on the back porch was just above freezing so I decided not to wear tights under my Columbia Omniheat pants. I did put on a long-sleeved baselayer underneath my Mammut crew top. I decided to wear my Keen Glarus boots as I did not expected much snow and they hike better than any of my winter boots. I also did not think I would need gaiters either due to the lack of snow. To finish off I put on my Mammut Ultimate hoody, a hat and a pair of gloves. I decided that snowshoes would not be appropriate but we took along a pair of Microspikes for both Brad and I. We left Livingston Manor at about 12:45 PM under overcast skies but with a temperatures just above freezing. Brad and I put our gear in the trunk and an overjoyed Sheila in the back seat as we headed to Roscoe on State Route 17. I got on Route 206 and followed it across the Delaware County line to Morton Hill Road. After a left turn on Morton Hill Road, I drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the side of the road to avoid the parking area which is private. Unfortunately, there was one car parked in the private lot! We began our hike down Russell Brook Road at 1:05 PM. The temperature was 28 degrees and there was more snow than I had anticipated. The road was also very icy but Brad and I decided to try to avoid the ice by walking on the snow. The road became even icier as we passed the overlook over the upper falls. I could see that there was about the same amount of water in the stream as the last time I had visited and that the bank was covered in ice. I decided I would not visit either falls and would concentrate more on hiking. We continued down toward the parking area where there were no cars but more and more ice. We decided to take the time to put on our Microspikes before we got on the woods road that goes down to the bridge that crosses the brook. We continue on the main trail to the register. At the trail junction just after the register we turned to the left to climb the steeper hill toward Mud Pond. The trail continued to have a few inches of snow with ice beneath making getting a good foot plant important. There were some occasional branches on the trail which we picked up and moved off the trail. The skies remained overcast but I was surprised at the snow and ice on the trail since this area is exposed to direct sunlight much of the time. I was having a little trouble on the ascent as it is steep and we were moving fast. This winter has been a disaster for my hiking between the extreme cold one week and then the rain the next. On the ascent we took a few breaks but it went quickly and I was glad to see there were no major blowdowns on this part of the trail

. We reached the top of the hill and walked down the wide woods road to the next trail junction at 1.6 miles. The trail continued to be icy and covered in snow. We made a right to follow the trail up to the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. This trail was also covered in snow but only about two inches of it. We continued to remove branches but there were no major blockages. After passing through an area with many small diameter trees, we started a short descent. The ascent continued for the next 1.2 miles until at 2.7 miles into the hike when we were at the highest point and ready to start the descent to Trout Pond. I had found the climb tiring but fulfilling and knew the descent would be easier. As we descended toward Trout Pond there were some major blowdowns that would require an axe and saw to clear. The trail remained covered in snow and ice but this covered many of the rocks and actually made descending easier. As we approached the bridge at the inlet end of the pond, I decided to stop and take some pictures. I stopped on the bridge and was hit by a blast of wind which convinced me to move on! We continued on the main trail toward the outlet of the pond over the snow and ice covered trail. Along the way Sheila alerted and I saw a group of young men headed out onto the pond from the inlet end. They seemed to be having a good time sliding on the ice and brad and I both hoped there was enough ice to support them. At the lower end of the pond we stopped so that I could take some pictures of a scene I had photographed many times! The sky was still very overcast and I only took a few shots including one of Sheila. The hike from the outlet to the trail junction is all downhill and we were able to make pretty good time despite the slippery conditions. On the way down the trail Sheila alerted and we saw another young couple coming toward us. I put Sheila on her leash as we passed and said a quick "Hello". I released Sheila and we continued down the trail toward the register. By 3:20 PM we had hiked 4.7 miles and were back at the trail junction and register box. I decided that I did not want to walk over to the falls since I had been there recently. We walked out to the parking area to continue our hike back to the car. As we walked up the road back to the car, I did not stop at the overlook over the upper falls but continued up the road. We continued up the road and back to the car. Another car was parking in the pulloff which is on private property and clearly posted. It is thoughtless people like these that cause problems for other hikers! We arrived back at 3:40 PM having covered 5.4 miles and 1105 vertical feet in 2 hours and 35 minutes. The temperature was still 28 degrees.

On Tuesday, February 13th I wanted to get out on a hike but didn't have much time to spend. I knew the conditions would be poor after the warm weather and rain had eliminated most of the lovely snow that had fallen only a week earlier. I decided just to head across the street and hike on Round Top. Sheila seemed thrilled at the division and couldn't wait to get going I had a few things to do first and wee did not get started until 11:30 AM. The temperature was much cooler than the day before and was in the high 20's as I started to get dressed. Looking over at Round Top convinced me to wear snowshoes and I knew I would get warm. As I got dressed I decided to forego a baselayer on the bottom but put on a light, short-sleeved baselayer under my Mammut crew neck shirt. I pit on my Mammut Ultimate hoody and wore a hat and a pair of gloves. I donned my Salomon B52 boots and put on gaiters just in case. Sheila would not leave my side as I was getting ready as she wanted to make sure she was going too! I stepped out onto the back porch, put on my snowshoes and headed out the slippery driveway at 11:45 AM. The temperature was 28 degrees as we crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church. I could immediately see that snowshoes were not necessary and spikes would have been a better call. There was only 2 or 3 inches of snow and it was frozen completely in most places. I knew the snowshoes would also grip the snow and would give me an additional workout. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. As soon as we entered the trees I released Sheila from her leash. At the first trail junction we continued straight ahead to walk the steeper path to the viewpoint. At the lookout we turned to the right and we continued our hike on the yellow lower trail.

We followed the trail and started the gentle climb through the woods which had two or three inches of packed and snow. When we reached the next trail junction, we stayed to the right to follow the lower trail around the base of Round Top to the next junction. At this junction we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the steeper blue trail. The snowshoes definitely made the going easier although they are better suited for looser, fluffy snow. We walked across the summit of Round Top and down the other side which is also a little steep. Again, the snowshoes helped in the descent but I was wishing there was more snow. When we got to the yellow trail, we turned left to follow it to the second trail junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail back to the very first trail junction to complete a figure 8. Sheila and I turned around and retraced our steps taking the more gentle path this time. When the yellow trail turned left, we followed it to the next trail junction where we turned right and headed up the blue trail to the summit. We walked over the top and down the other side to the yellow trail again. I was beginning to get bored and my time was limited as we turned right and followed the trail along the base of Round Top. Where the yellow trail turned left, we continued to follow the trail to the left and down to the lookout. From the lookout we walked down hill to the first trail junction. I decided it was time to head home so we continued straight out to the trailhead. I was a little depressed to think that the beautiful snow would soon be gone but knew it was still winter and more would be on the way. Sheila did not seem to be bothered by the cold at all and had been well-behaved staying with me most of the time. At the trailhead, I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down the cemetery hill and across the field to our driveway. It was after 12:45 PM and we had hiked a little under 2 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes. It must have been a good workout as I was tired after so many days without an activity.

On Friday, February 9th, I wanted to get out for a snowshoe hike since the forecast for the next two days included warmer temperatures and rain! I decided to go back to Frock Pond and do a different loop than Lisa and I had done earlier in the week. Cindy agreed to go along and after doing a few things around the house we dressed and got our gear together. It was still only 19 ogres as we were getting ready to go at 10:30 AM but there was little or no wind. I knew that snowshoeing always makes me very warm. I put on tights and wore a Mammut pullover over my baselayer. I put on my Mammut Ultimate Hoody which I wear most of the time. I chose my Tubbs Alp Flex VTR snowshoes which are a little smaller than some and have the BOA binding system. I knew I wouldn't need the flotation since the snow depth was only 6 to 10 inches. The BOA system uses a dial to tighten a thin but strong wire and seems to evenly tighten the binding around my foot. Cindy also decided to wear her version of the same snowshoe. Sheila was more crazed than usual even though we had been out a few days before. We left Livingston Manor just after 10:45 AM to head out the DeBruce Road. The road had some icy spots but for the most part was well plowed. At six miles I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road which had some snow on it but had been plowed and well sanded. Where the road split I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. The smaller lot had not been plowed at all so I parked in the larger lot which was plowed. There were no cars in the lot and no tracks indicating anyone had been there recently. I set my electronics and we put on our snowshoes. We headed out the back of the parking area on the Quick Lake Trail. The snow was deep in spots and snowshoes worked well although they may not have been necessary. I immediately noticed that the snow had a frozen upper crust which made walking more difficult. The snowshoe would break through, go down into the snow and then have to be pulled back up through the crust. I knew it would be tiring work if we had to break trail the whole way. At the trail register we turned left onto the wide woods road that leads to Frick Pond. I could see some depressions to indicate our tracks from a few days before but they were very faint. We stayed left at Gravestone Junction to walk down to the pond. At the bridge, I put my pack down and got out my camera and took pictures of the pond and Flynn's Point. Some snow was falling and Flynn's Point was almost obscured. I took a few shots of Cindy And Sheila before packing up to move on. We walked across the bridge and around the west edge of the pond. At the next trail junction I had intended to stay to the left on the Quick Lake Trail, hike to Iron Wheel Junction and then take the Logger's Loop back. Listening to Cindy, I turned right to get on the yellow-blazed Big Rock Trail and headed around the back of Frick Pond. After passing over the wooden walkways we came to a bridge where there was a god view of the wetlands at the head of the pond. I took some pictures of the snow-covered walkways. We headed toward Time Square knowing that a single lop around the pond would not be enough exercise. I thought about reversing the loop to break the trail for the next people that might want to use it.

At Times Square we were surprised to see snowmobile tracks coming down the Big Rock Trail and turning onto the Logger's Loop. Walking on the packed snow is much easier than breaking trail so we both agreed to turn left on the Logger's Loop knowing the trail would be packed all the way to Iron Wheel Junction. From there it would be a short trip breaking trail downhill back to Frick Pond. The trail, ascends a bit and then levels off. As the trail leveled we began to hear the sound of snowmobiles coming down the Big Rock Trail toward us. I wondered if the snowmobile club had cleared the larger blowdown on the Big Rock Trail or if somehow the snowmobilers had worked around them. As they got nearer, I took Sheila by the collar and we stepped off the trail. Within minutes three machines came toward us and slowed down as they passed. The riders waved but I was pretty sure they were not acquaintances or they would have stopped. We continued on the Logger's Loop toward Iron Wheel Junction appreciating the nicely packed trail. Soon we were at the trail junction where we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head back to Frick Pond. Walking downhill toward the little stream in the woods was easier than walking uphill or even on flat sections. However, the hiking was not easy as we had to contend with the crusty snow again. I noticed that for most of the hike Sheila had elected to stay between us walking in the broken trail. When we walked under trees where the snow was softer, she would take a few moments to wander off following her nose. When we arrived at the stream through the woods, I elected to walk upstream to cross as I did not want to chance stepping in the water and have snow frozen to my snowshoes for the rest of the hike. Cindy elected to cross the stream in the most direct way. When I got back to the main trail. I waited for her to pick herself up out of the snow and rejoin me. As we walked through the "spruce tunnel", the snow lacked the crust and the walking was much easier. When we exited, the trees the crusty snow started in again and my legs let me know we would be finishing soon! We arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail and continued straight ahead. Soon we were back at the bridge over the outlet to Frick Pond where it was clear the snow had increased in intensity. We did not stopped but crossed the bridge and walked up the hill to follow the Quick Lake Trail back to the register. At Gravestone Junction we found new tracks from someone with snowshoes who had headed out on the Logger's Loop. We walked the woods road back out to register and I noticed the snowshoer must have been a novice as they had made a new track rather than improve the one we had already laid down. Many beginners do this without thinking but it is a shame sine improving the existing track is always the best idea. At the register we turned right to follow the Quick Lake Trail back out to the car. We arrived back at 1:35 PM after hiking 3.9 miles in 2 and a half hours. The overall elevation gain was a modest 375 feet. Despite the length of the hike my legs felt as if they had gotten and adequate workout.

On Tuesday, February 6th, the snow had finally built up to a depth where using snowshoes would be possible although they were probably not necessary. I had not hiked in a week and that was a short hike on Round Top. When Lisa called the night before, we decided to meet at 10:00 AM at my house and go to Frick Pond. My plan was to ascend the Flynn Trail and then get the long descent on the Big Rock Trail. Unfortunately, I had an ambulance call in the middle of the night and was tired in the morning. I almost called to cancel but decided I needed to get out to hike! I did a few things around the hose and then got my equipment ready. The temperature was approaching 20 degrees when I was about to get dressed and I knew that snowshoeing always makes me very warm. I put on tights and wore a Mammut pullover over my baselayer. I put on my Mammut Ultimate Hoody which I wear most of the time. I chose my Tubbs Alp Flex VTR snowshoes which are a little smaller than some and have the BOA binding system. I knew I wouldn't need the flotation since the snow depth was only 6 to 8 inches. The BOA system uses a dial to tighten a thin but strong wire and seems to evenly tighten the binding around my foot. Sheila was more crazed than usual as it had been so long since we had been out. Lisa arrived and Sheila gave her a lavish greeting from the back seat. We left Livingston Manor just after 10:00 AM to head out the DeBruce Road. It had snowed a little in the morning but DeBruce Road was clear. At six miles I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road which had some snow on it but had been plowed and well sanded. Where the road split I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and parked in the small lot which was plowed. There were no cars in the lot and no tracks indicating anyone had been there recently. I set my electronics and we put on our snowshoes. I took a few pictures of the trailhead and the road before we crossed the road at 10:30 AM to start up the Flynn Trail. The temperature was still right around 20 degrees so the snow was crunchy underfoot and was not clumping on the snowshoes. Lisa had chosen to use my Crescent Moon snowshoes which are good on flat and rolling terrain. They have some of the best bindings and a teardrop shape. Lisa stopped to sign in at the trail register but I continued on the trail. I found that I was warm as long as I was moving but felt cool as son as I stopped. I hoped that I had not dressed too lightly! The first part of the Flynn Trail through the woods is narrow but I was having no trouble overlapping the smaller snowshoes. Once we made the right turn into the woods road the going was easier. There were no tracks at all in the fresh snow other than those made my various animals including Sheila as she bounded ahead joyfully. I tried to get her to make a nice straight path up the trail but she kept getting sidetracked following various tracks. It is surprising how much easier it is to move even in the shallow trail made by a small dog. Before we had gone half a mile I had stopped to open some zippers and dump some heat. The walk with snowshoes is definitely more of a workout than without. As long as we were stopped I took a few pictures of the unbroken snow on the trail. As we gained some elevation, the snow got deeper until there was almost 8 inches.

We continued up the Flynn Trail toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I was feeling pretty good at first but as we approached the trail junction I could feel some soreness on the inside of my thighs. This always happens for the first few times I snowshoe but then goes away as I snowshoe more. This winter I had only been out twice before and had not had time to get in shape! At 11:50 AM we were at the trail junction with the Big Rock Trail. It had taken just about an hour and 15 minutes to walk the 1.7 miles from the parking area. The snow on the Big Rock Trail was unbroken as we turned to start the long descent. At the trail junction we turned left to go down the Big Rock trail to Times Square. I was sure I didn't have any more "ups" left in me but the descent felt great. I like descending on snowshoes since, at times, you can almost ski down. The trail was completely unbroken and there was at least 8 inches of snow in most places. The trip down the Big Rock Trail went quickly although it seemed a little longer than usual. In several places, large trees had fallen across the trail and had not yet been cleared by the snowmobile club. I took a few pictures and then we continued our walk. There are three places where the trail drops quickly and then levels off. The last place brought us right to Times Square where the Logger's Loop and Big Rock Trail cross. Sheila was having a great time and did not seem to be bothered in any way by the snow or temperature. She kept going off the trail to follow animals tracks but returned quickly when I called. We continued straight ahead at Times Square to go around the back of Frick Pond. Here the snow showed some snowshoe tracks that were several days old. The hike around the pond is a favorite and is one promoted by Lisa at Morgan Outdoors in Livingston Manor. The snow on the trail was packed a little from the traffic but fresh snow had fallen on top of them. Once we approached the bridges and wooden walkways the snow was deeper and we stopped so that I could again take a few shots. The skies which had been overcast were clearing to blue with some clouds. The wooden walkways were covered in snow that was deeper than anywhere else. Some snow had fallen through the opening between the boards and this formed an interesting pattern. We continued to walk until we came to the junction with the Quick Lake Trail. Here we turned left and headed for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. We stopped briefly at the bridge and I took a few pictures of the pond and Flynn's Point. We walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction to head back to the parking area and I felt even this short uphill in my legs. The trail was well covered in snow with only a few spots where there was some water. We were back at 1:15 PM having covered 3.9 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes with an elevation gain of 680 feet.

On Tuesday, January 30th I decided I needed to get out for a walk despite the limited amount of time available. I had hiked with Cindy at Long Pond on Sunday but knew that the rest of my week would be busy. I decided we would go up on Round Top and do some figure 8's or loops. We waited until the snow and wind abated and got ready to go just before noon. As I got dressed I decided to wear a baselayer top and bottom and to wear a heavier Patagonia wool top under my Mammut Ultimate hoody. as the temperatures was in the teens and the wind was still blowing. I wore a heavier hat and a pair of gloves. I donned my Salomon B52 boots which are a little wider than the Nytros and put on OR Crocodile gaiters. I decided that there was not enough snow to wear snowshoes and I did not want to take my pack so I could not bring my spikes. Sheila, as usual, would not leave my side as I was getting ready as she wanted to make sure she was going too! We stepped out onto the back porch and headed out the driveway, which was slipperier than I thought, at 12:05 PM. The temperature was 20 degrees but the wind was blowing as we crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. As soon as we entered the trees I released Sheila from her leash and she began to run around enjoying the snow. At the first trail junction we continued straight ahead to walk the steeper path to the viewpoint.

As we approached the lookout, I had a good view down into town as we turned to the right to continue our hike on the yellow lower trail. We followed the trail and started the gentle climb through the woods which had few inches of snow. When we reached the next trail junction, we continued straight ahead on the blue rail toward the summit of Round Top. This trail is a little steep and it was slippery. I stayed to the side of the trail keeping one foot on the rougher surface at the side of the trail. We walked to the top and followed the trail across the summit and down the other side. The descent was tricky as the trail was packed and icy. When we reached the yellow trail, I decided to try a new variation so we turned right and followed the yellow trail along the base of Round Top and then back down to the lookout. We followed the trail to the left and walked back down to the first trail junction. This made sort of a lollipop with the upper blue loop forming the main body and the repeated part the stick. I was a little tired but I knew we would have to do another. This time we turned left and headed up the woods road which is the gentler approach. At the trail junction we continued straight ahead toward the summit of Round Top. We followed the blue trail across the summit and won the other side. The descent is steeper and required me to carefully plant my feet. When we reached the yellow trail, we turned left and followed it along the base of Round Top. At the trail junction we turned right to follow the yellow trail along the old woods road and back to the first trail junction. We had been out for over an hour so I decided to tune left and head back out to the trailhead. We walked won the cemetery hill to the church where I put Sheila on her leash. We traversed the field and crossed the street. After a short walk down the driveway we were home. We had covered a little over 2 miles in just over an hour. A short trip but better than none!

On Sunday, January28th I was trying to decide whether or not I would go for a hike after church. I was a little tired an a lot lazy and had almost decided to stay home. As we drove home from church, the cloudy skies began to clear and Cindy asked me if I intended to go hiking. I told her that if she wanted to go I would go. I suggested we head for Long Pond to do a sort of figure 8 which is about 7.2 miles. I knew the late start would limit our options but felt that the trails would be largely free of ice due to the recent rains and high temperatures. We had Laos not been to long Pond in some time. When we got home and said the word hike, Sheila immediately indicated it was a good idea. Cindy got some lunch and we both got dressed and put our gear together. I decided to only wear a very light baselayer n top with a lighter Mammut pullover. I did wear my Mammut Ultimate hoody and Columbia Omniheat pants. I opted to wear a regular pair of hiking boots rather than winter boots. My Keen Glarus boots are a great fit and more comfortable than any insulated winter boots I have. I also decided to use a pair of Leki Khumbu with external locks as my Leki graphite poles have twist locks which are unreliable. Every hike when I have used these poles they have shortened despite my best efforts to keep them tight! When we left the house at about 12:50 PM the skies were partly sunny and the temperature was 45 degrees which is warm for late January in the Catskills. I got Sheila in the car and we put our gear in the trunk and headed out DeBruce Road for about 8 miles to Flugertown Road where I made a left. I parked in the lot a short distance up the road on the right where we found no cars. Sheila had not hiked in two days and she was ready to go when we got to the parking lot. There was some snow where the lot had been plowed and a little ice on the trail but Cindy and I elected to carry our spikes rather than put them on immediately. I set my GarminGPS and we started out on the trail at 1:15 PM. Right from the start the trail was wet and somewhat muddy and we walked to the side in several places to avoid the icy spots. The first .6 miles gains about 350 feet to the highest point on the hike. It isn't very steep but does act as a nice warm-up! We had to be careful to avoid the ice which wasn't easy in some spots. Once the trail leveled it was easier walking but the partly frozen ground would occasionally give way under our feet. At 1.1 miles we were at the spur trail that leads down to the shore of Long Pond. We turned right and went down to the pond so that I could take some pictures. At the shores of the pond I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take some pictures. Sheila tried to follow me through the mud but we discouraged her. The skies were very blue and the pond was frozen over but the scene was pretty bleak. I took a few shots anyway before going back to my pack. We returned to the main trail and arrived at the first trail junction. My plan had been to turn left here to do a figure 8 walk but with the amount of ice and water I decided to simply do a big loop in a counterclockwise direction. This would allow us to walk back on the roads which are at least flat. We turned right at the junction at 1.3 miles. We found plenty of ice in spots and the frozen ground continued to be a problem but the walking was relatively easy. By 2:10 PM we had walked 1.8 miles and were passing the spur trail to the lean-to.

After passing the trail to the lean-to, the ice disappeared and we could hardly see any snow. There isn't much to see on this section of trail but we kept busy by avoiding the icy and wet spots. We continued on the main trail to the point where it intersects a woods road at 2.6 miles. We turned left on the woods road and found it to be very wet with icy patches. I was glad the ground was still partly frozen or this would have been a muddy mess. We followed the road until the intersection with Basily Road at 2.85 miles where we continued on Basily Road by bearing left. This section of road was very icy and for a while we tried walking on the sides where there was less ice. We finally came to a point where there was a downhill stretch completely covered over in ice and we agreed to stop on put on spikes. After donning my spikes, I took a pictures of a massive ice flow across the road. The ice continued for some time and then abated. We decided that as long as we were walking on soft ground we would keep the spikes on. As we approached the Peters Hunting Camp, I got ready to put Sheila on her leash. The area near the footbridge across the outlet to the beaver pond had freely flowing water and the bridge seemed to be almost superfluous with weeds growing around it. The bridge is starting to show its age and is not in good shape. I stopped to take some pictures of the beaver pond before we continued on the trail. As I looked over toward the private bridge over the creek, I noosed that it looked new. The old bridge was beginning to show its age and I knew the hunting camp would have to replace it eventually. We continued on the main trail to the bridge and found that it was all new and well-constructed. I took some pictures of it and a few pictures of the stream from it. We crossed the bridge to continue the trip back to the car. The ford downstream of the bridge looked like it had been getting a lot of use by vehicles but the water can be a little deep and wide for foot traffic. As we started up the little hill from the hunting camp, the ice returned so we were glad we had left our spikes on. I took a few shots of the valley which looked peaceful with the nice skies behind it. From this point on the ice returned and there was a significant amount of snow in the woods. I stopped to take a few shots and then we continued our hike. At one point I heard what sounded like a truck coming toward us but it was hard to hear above the noise of the creek. A red pickup truck approached us and I grabbed Sheila as the driver slowed as he passed. We kept a fast pace even thought was icy and eventually the road became paved. We stopped to remove our spikes and then continued down the road toward the car. As we approached the road bridge over the creek we could see quite a few trees had been gnawed down by beavers. There was a small dam just downstream of the bridge which was impounding a larger amount of water. I took out my camera and photographed the dam and the areas where the beavers had cut down trees. After a short stop, we started back for the car and on the way the red pickup passed us once again. We walked quickly down the road back to the parking area without meeting anyone else. We were back at the car at 4:10 PM having hiked 6.0 miles in 2 hours and 55 minutes with 20 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was only about 545 feet most of which was at the beginning of the hike.

On Thursday, January 25th I Wanted to get in a longer hike where there was a waterfall that might have been augmented by the recent rain and melting snow. I decided to hike the Trout Pond loop so that I could visit Russell Brook Falls. When I awoke at 6:30 AM the air temperature was in the single digits with a slight breeze and I really wanted to crawl back into a warm bed. I decided to wait a little while and do some chores around town. Just before 10:00 AM I decided I did not want to wait any longer and began to get dressed and out my gear together. I put on a baselayer top and bottom and wore a heavier Patagonia wool top. I put on my Columbia Omniheat pants and, as always, a Mammut Ultimate hoody. I wore a heavier hat and loves and packed a pair of mitts just in case. I knew I would not need snowshoes but put a pair of spikes in my pack. I also decided to put on a pair of winter boots settling on my Salomon B-52 which are a little wider than some. Sheila was ready to go and stayed close so that I would not forget her. I put my pack in the trunk and Sheila in the backseat and headed for Roscoe on the Quickway a little before 10:00 AM. I drove out the Rockland Flats on Route 206. Just after the Roscoe Nursing Home I turned left on Morton Hill Road and followed it for 3 miles to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the side of the road avoiding the private parking area. When I opened the car door, I was hit my a blast of cold air. I checked the car thermometer and found that it was only 14 degrees and that there was a stiff breeze. I knew the solution was to get moving so I grabbed my poles, set the GPS and started down Russell Brook Road. After only a few feet, I could tell I would need the spikes. I picked a spot on the side of the road and sat to put them on as I find it easier than trying to balance on one leg. Once the spikes were on I was confident that they would do the trick and walked down the road on the ice. It was so cold that the ice was very firm and the spikes made a lot of noise as they bit into the ice. The forecast was for cloudy skies but there was plenty of blue and the sun was out as we continued down the road. I listened for the sound of the water in the brook and heard a good amount of noise. When we came to the viewpoint over the upper falls, I could see there was a large volume of water going over the falls so I headed down the bank to a viewpoint. I put down my pack and got out the camera. When I took off my gloves, it was clear that it was still very cold! I took some shots of the falls with different settings and was glad that the bight seemed good. There were no cars in the lot but the gate was open to allow snowmobiles access to the trails. We continued down the road and crossed the bridge over Russell Brook. I found that the Japanese knotweed appeared completely dead but knew it would be back next spring. We continued on the road turning right on the path to the falls. We walked over to the path down the bank to the streambed and carefully descended to the brook. The falls were flowing nicely and there was another "falls" of frozen water to the right of the flowing water. I got out my camera and took some pictures of the falls and then posed Sheila sitting just in front of the falls. After Sheila walked away, I took a few more pictures before putting away the camera and walking back out to the main trail. At the trail junction just after the register we continued straight ahead to walk up to Trout Pond. The trail was almost bare in some spots where it had good exposure to the sun but once we were under the trees I was glad I kept the spikes on. When we arrived at the pond, we walked to the left to the "beach" at the outlet end of the pond. The water level was high and the pond was completely frozen over. The skies were very blue so I knew I had to take some pictures. I took some panoramic pictures and then zoomed in on different parts of the scene. Sheila decided to walk out on the thin ice which, fortunately, supported her weight. I took some pictures of her before stowing the camera to continue the hike.

We continued on the main trail on the east side of Trout Pond walking toward the inlet end and the lean-tos. The trail continued to be very icy but there were a few spots of open water to be avoided. I was beginning to get warm even though the climb is very gentle and the air temperature was still low with a breeze. I had thought we might turn around at the pond but I was in a good mood and warm enough to continue on the loop. We passed by the first lean-to and crossed the bridge over the inlet stream. I took a look at the scene and decided I did not want to take pictures. We turned right to follow the trail up Cherry Ridge. As we hiked I found it satisfying to look at the many places where I had cleared branches and blowdowns from the trail. There were some new branches on the trail and several small blowdowns I was able to clear by moving them to the side of the trail. There was ice and the trail and on the rocks and I paid careful attention to where I put my feet. The spikes work well on thick layers of ice but don't help as much with thin layers of ice on rocks. Soon we were at the highest point on Cherry Ridge and starting down the other side. I anticipated that the trail would have less ice with the southern exposure but the trail continued to be frozen. There were some places that had open water and I walked off trail several times to avoid it. Sheila was having a great time and never did anything to hint that she was uncomfortable in the cold. Soon at the woods road and snowmobile trail that runs by Mud Pond. We turned left and start the short walk uphill on a sheet of ice. At the top of the hill we began the long descent back to the trail junction where we had started. The descent lasts for .7 miles and drops 385 feet to a bridge that crosses the outlet stream from Trout Pond. This part of the trail was the first place where it was clear that the sun had beaten back the ice a little. There were still many icy spots so I left the spikes on as we crossed the bridge over the outlet stream from the pond. At the junction we turned right and headed back out to the lower parking area. Sometimes the walk back up Russell Brook Road seems long and tedious but I was still feeling fresh and the spikes gave me the confidence to push the pace. We started up the road and soon arrived back at the car. It was 1:05 PM when we arrived back at the car after hiking 5.6 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes with a 1130 foot total ascent. The temperature on the car thermometer was 18 degrees but I was satisfied with the hike and had not noticed the cold.

On Saturday, January 20th, the weather forecast was for a beautiful sunny day with highs reaching into the high 30's or near I . I wanted to do a hike close to home but NOT on Round Top or at Frick Pond. These are my "go to" places and I had gone to the too often over the previous few weeks. I thought the Neversink Unique Area might be interesting an mentioned it to Cindy. She looked at me a little strangely and said she had been thinking the same thing! We knew that the rising temperatures would make the snow unsuitable for using snowshoes by the afternoon so we tried to get out early. As we got our gear together, Sheila watched us carefully to be sure we couldn't "forget" her. Even though the temperatures were supposed to rise it was still cool in the morning so I put on a full baselayer but opted for a lighter Mammut crew top under my Mammut Ultimate Hoody. I also wore a warmer hat and gloves. I decided to swift to my older Salomon b52 boot as they are wider than the Nytros. We bother decided gaiters were a good idea and wore our OR Crocodiles which have a plastic strap that goes underneath the boot. It is surpassing how important that strap can be as many other gaiters have a cloth string that ties under the boot which collects snow making for a very uncomfortable experience as the snow builds up. We both took our Tubbs AlpFlex VTR snowshoes which are smaller than some others we have but have bindings with a boa system and are easy to get on and off. We left home at 10:05 AM. Sheila seemed very happy that all of us were going somewhere as she was very alert in the back seat. I got on Route 17 and started for Rock Hill. I got off the Quickway at exit 109 and turned right on Katrina Falls Road to drive to the end of the road. I parked at 10:25 AM in the small parking area where there were no other cars. I walked over to the trail and found it was packed by previous snowshoes and that the snow depth was only a few inches. Cindy and I decided that snowshoes would not be needed. She put on her spikes but I decided to carry mine in my pack. I set my GPS and we started down the woods road toward the river intending to hike the loop to Denton and Mullet Falls. I thought that the recent cold weather might have left some ice on the river and that Mullet Falls might be frozen. Both of these would be interesting for photography and I was hoping for good light for some shots. Sheila was certainly anxious to get going as both she and I prefer several hikes a week! The temperature was in the mid 20's and the breeze made it seem a little colder. As we walked down the hill passed the trail register, we both were satisfied we had made he right decision by leaving the snowshoes behind. The snow covered the many rocks usually found on the trail and made walking easier as we kept a quick pace. We turned left at the bottom of the hill to stay on the main trail and came to the small bridge over Wolf Brook. The water was pretty high and much of it was frozen so I had to stop to take a few pictures. The condition of the bridge continues to deteriorate and soon will be impassable. The trail after the bridge was frozen and there was no open water to negotiate. At the top of the next small hill, we stayed to the right to hike the loop counterclockwise hitting Denton Falls on the Neversink first and then the falls on Mullet Brook.

The snowshoers had gone straight ahead and the path we were taking was unbroken snow. This didn't seem like a problem as there were only a few inches but Cindy found that her spikes became useless as they developed huge clumps of snow. She removed them and stored them in my pack and we moved on. It seemed like it took longer than usual for us to arrive at the lower bridge over Mullet Brook. Walking on the snow meant a certain amount of slipping and sliding and the snow underfoot was uncomfortable at times. The bridge has been replaced with a new one that has a pair of steel I-beams as its main support and should last a long time. We stopped and I took a few pictures of the bridge and the frozen stream. I also posed Cindy and Sheila for a couple of shots. Cindy was not enthusiastic about hiking down the hill to the river and back but it was one of my "requirements" for this hike. At 1.4 miles we turned right following the yellow spur trail blazes downhill toward Denton Falls. The trail down to the falls is not well marked but we have been there many times and were able to pick up the blazes. As the trail began a steeper descent, Cindy announced that she would wait for us rather than go down to the river. I knew it wouldn't take us to long so Sheila and I continued. The descent was a little scary in places as the trail had both ice and snow and the spikes I had in my pack had proved to be ineffective. I slipped and slid down the trail until I was at the final descent to the river which was the trickiest part. After hiking 1.65 miles, we were at the rocks near the edge of Denton Falls which were covered in ice and snow. The river was flowing nicely and there were large chucks of ice and frozen areas in several places. I dropped my pack and started to take some pictures. Upstream the sky was bright blue with white clouds which contrasted to the view downstream which was largely overcast. Sheila seemed smart enough not to try to jump into the fast-moving water and frigid water. I was not able to walk along the rocks to get below the falls sine it was very slippery. I soon realized that we were walking on huge chunks of ice that had been pushed onto shore! I took quite a few pictures of the falls and some both upstream and downstream. The falls are hardly three feet high but the volume of water and the ice made the trip worthwhile. Sheila even posed for a few shots sitting on a rock by the falls. We headed back up the spur trail to the main trail which was made difficult by the snow which was getting slipperier as it melted. We rejoined Cindy and walked back to the trail junction and we turned right on the main trail and then left at the fork. The trail to the right leads to High Falls and I knew this would not be a good idea since it would add four miles of unbroken trail to our hike!

After a brief walk uphill, we turned left onto the short trail down to Mullet Brook Falls which did have some older snowshoe tracks which had come from the other direction. I was excited to see what Mullet Brook Falls might look like and soon they came into sight, I was pleased to find that the waterfall was encased in ice although it was a little brown. The water comes from a large swamp further upstream and is full of tannins which give it a brown color. I dropped my pack where the trail ended and grabbed my camera to take some pictures. The problem was that the route to the area in front of the falls was also encased in ice! I worked my way across the frozen stream hoping the ice would not break. I then carefully climbed on the rocks which were covered in ice and snow. Sheila had already run ahead and was cavorting on the icy rocks. I took some shots of the stream and the n turned my attention to the falls. The lighting was good so I took quite a few pictures of the falls and the pool below. There was a lot of ice which I knew would soon be gone with temperatures rising into the 40's early in the week. Eventually it was time to leave. I worked my way down the icy rocks and across the frozen stream without incident. I put away my camera and shouldered my pack to head back out the spur trail. We walked back out to the main trail and turned left to complete the loop. As we climbed we noticed the rocky ledges to our right and I thought about exploring them at some time in the future. The uphill walk in the snow was tiring but we were both glad the track was somewhat broken. It was clear the temperature was rising as the snow continued to get softer. Soon we crossed over the upper bridge spanning Mullet Brook. I stopped on the bridge to show Cindy the beginning of the large swamp on the right. From the bridge the trail is flat or downhill for some time. After a brief walk we were at a trail junction. Walking straight ahead on the trail leads to the Wolf Lake Multiple Use Area. We turned left and began to descend off the ridge. As we started to walk downhill, we met two young men hiking toward us and I held Sheila's collar to allow them to pass. As we hiked downhill, there were several areas of the trail that had plodded leaving large expanses of ice behind. We walked downhill for some time and eventually came to the trail junction near the bridge over Wolf Creek where we had started the loop earlier. We continued to walk straight ahead to return to the parking area. Once on the other side of the brook we made the right turn on the woods road back to the car. We were enthusiastic about the uphill walk back to the car made harder by the snow on the trail. We arrived at the parking area at 1:30 PM having hiked 4.7 miles in 2 hours and 55 minutes including the stops at the two falls. The vertical gain was only about 990 feet. We were both tired and thinking about making a stop for food on the way home.

On Wednesday, January 17th school was closed for the second day in a row as several inches of snow made the roads very slick in the morning. I wanted to get out to hike and take some pictures of the trees covered in snow but did not want to chance driving the back roads which would be the last to be plowed. Cindy and I decided we would go up on Round Top and do some figure 8's or loops. We waited until the snow and wind abated and got ready to go just before noon. As I got dressed I decided to wear a baselayer top and bottom and to wear a heavier Patagonia wool top under my Mammut Ultimate hoody. I wore a heavier hat and a pair of gloves. I donned my Salomon Nytro boots and put on OR Crocodile gaiters. Cindy and I decided that it had snowed enough to wear snowshoes even if they weren't exactly needed. She put on her Tubbs AlpFlex VTRs while I opted for my Crescent Moon Gold snowshoes. They are wider and longer than others I have and are good for breaking trail when I am not doing any "technical" hiking. Sheila, as usual, would not leave my side as I was getting ready as she wanted to make sure she was going too! We stepped out onto the back porch, put on our snowshoes and headed out the slippery driveway at 12:05 PM. I had my pack on as it is the only easy way to carry my camera. The temperature was 23 degrees but the wind was blowing as we crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church. I though about taking some pictures but decided to wait at least until we got to the hill. We did stop before climbing the hill behind the church so that I could take some pictures of the new and unbroken snow. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill which was a little harder to climb with the snowshoes. When we got to the top of the hill, we stopped and I took a variety of shots of the snow covered cemetery and town. We started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. As soon as we entered the trees I released Sheila from her leash and she began to run around enjoying the snow. At the first trail junction we continued straight ahead to walk the steeper path to the viewpoint.

As we approached the lookout, I turned to the left and walked out to the lower rock ledges which give a clearer view of the school and downtown. I took out my camera and took off my gloves. I took a few quick shots including some of Cindy and Sheila on the upper ledge. I put my camera back in the pack and put my gloves back on. In the short time I had bare hands they became very cold! I climbed to the upper ledge and we turned to the right and to continue our hike on the yellow lower trail. We followed the trail and started the gentle climb through the woods which had five or six inches of new and unbroken snow. When we reached the next trail junction, we stayed to the right to follow the lower trail around the base of Round Top to the next junction. We stopped for a few minutes so that I could again photograph the pristine snow on the branches and on the trail. At the next junction we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the steeper blue trail. The snowshoes definitely gave us good traction but the climb was not easy. We walked across the summit of Round Top and down the other side which is also a little steep. We were able to get some glide on the steeper part of the hill but found we kept hitting rocks and roots as the snow was not that deep. When we got to the yellow trail, we turned left to follow it to the second trail junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail back to the very first trail junction to complete a figure 8. At the trail junction I persuaded Cindy to do another figure 8 so we turned around and retraced our steps taking the more gentle path this time. When the yellow trail turned left, we followed it to the next trail junction were we turned right and headed up the blue trail to the summit. We walked over the top and down the other side gliding where we could to the yellow trail again. We turned right and followed the trail along the base of Round Top. Where the yellow trail turned left, we continued to follow the trail to the left and down to the lookout. From the lookout we walked an glided down hill to the first trail junction. We continued straight out to the trailhead. Sheila did not seem to be bothered by the cold at all and had been well-behaved except for a few longer forays off the trail following animal tracks. At the trailhead, I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down the cemetery hill and across the field to our driveway. It was after 1:45 PM and we had hiked a little under 2 miles in an hour and 45 minutes. It must have been a good workout as I was tired.

On Monday, January 15th I had the day off for Martin Luther King Day and wanted to get in a longer hike after too many days of inactivity and hiking only on Round Top. I decided to go to Frick Pond and found that this would be the FIRST hike of the winter at someplace other than Round Top! My plan was to wait until the temperature was in the teens and then go to Frick Pond and hike the loop in a clockwise direction. At 7:00 AM it was still 8 degrees out so I delayed my departure until after 11:00 AM. After doing a few chores around the house, I began to get my gear together which made Sheila watch me very closely. Even though we had been out on Saturday, I think she had the idea that this would be a longer hike as I was getting my pack ready. When I was ready to leave the temperature was only in the high teens but the sun was shining. As I stepped outside I found the sun was negated by the presence of a stiff breeze. I had on a full baselayer under my Columbia Omniheat pants and a heavier Patagonia wool top. I wore my Mammut hoody and Salomon Nytro insulated boots. I also wore a heavier hat and gloves and packed a pair of mitts just in case. I put my Microspikes in my pack hoping I could walk around the ice patches rather than wear them the whole time. I got my gear and Sheila in the car and headed out the DeBruce Road. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there was one other car parked in the small lot. Sheila was acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she ran around and headed for the trail. The temperature was 18 degrees and the constant breeze blowing made it seem colder. I got my gear ready to go and set my GPS. The skies were blue with only a few white clouds and the sun was shining brightly as we headed out the path to the register on Quick Lake Trail at 11:40 AM. The Quick Lake Trail from the start was covered in thick ice! I should have given up immediately and put on my spikes but I stubbornly decided to walk on the side of the trail following some other foolish hikers. I made it to Gravestone Junction without too much trouble and we turned left to head down to Frick Pond. The water level in the pond was a little higher than it had been and there was a pretty solid looking sheet of ice over the whole pond. I had thought I would not stop to take pictures but I couldn't resist the blue sky and icy pond. After taking a few shots, I put the camera in the pack and we continued on the Quick Lake Trail around the pond bearing left at the next trail junction to stay on the red trail. This part of the trail was also very icy in most places and even the parts with less ice were tricky as a thin layer of snow hid the ice. It was hard to find a place to get good footing without stepping on ice or in some water or mud. We were setting a fast pace despite the slippery conditions and soon came to the "pine promenade" and the little stream through the woods. The water level in the stream was higher than it had been in some time and I had to walk upstream to cross without getting wet. I stopped to take a few pictures before we continued on the trail toward Iron Wheel Junction. I did remove a few loose sticks along the way but left a larger blowdown which would require a saw. Just before the junction there was a large branch and a pile of smaller ones on the trail. These branches had been hung up for some time and had finally come down in the strong winds. We arrived at Iron Wheel Junction at 1.6 miles.

We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and started the long uphill climb toward Junkyard Junction. The trail continued to be icy from the heavy rains and quick freeze at the end of the week. There were signs that once again the hard rain had produced small streams that had run down the trail. We were headed for Junkyard Junction at 3.2 miles. With no one to talk to I was lost in my own thoughts as Sheila followed a few game trails. As we walked the clouds in the sky increased and the wind picked up a little. We turned right onto the blue Flynn Trail which is almost flat. It too was icy and wet in places. There were no major blowdowns but I continued to remove branches that littered the trail. When we got to the gate, we turned right to stay on the trail and head down toward Hodge Pond. At 3.75 miles the Flynn Trail heads right and I followed it toward the outlet end of Hodge Pond. I continued to be stubborn and refused to stop to put on my spikes even though there were vast expanses of ice all along the trail. The trail broke out into a field which we crossed and continued to follow the Flynn Trail toward the outlet of the pond. Just as the trail again broke out into the open field at the lower end of the pond, I noticed that the trees were covered in ice. The sunlight sparkled off the trees and I knew I needed some pictures. We walked through the clearing at the outlet end of the pond almost to the shore where I dropped my pack and got out my camera. I took shots of the pond with the blue skies an d clouds. Many of the trees around the pond were covered in ice and I tried to capture their beauty. Before packing up, I got out a bar and put it in an inner pocket to soften. I packed up and walked back to the Flynn Trail to the point where it re-enters the woods. The snow always drifts here and I could see several drifts. When I got to them, I was surprised since they were as hard as a rock. As we entered the woods, I looked back and saw the trees encased in ice and the blue pond. I couldn't resist a few more pictures. We started the climb up the hill and I was feeling quite fresh and concentrated on using my poles to help set a quick pace up the hill. At the top of the hill we stayed to the right to continue on the Flynn Trail. A left turn follows a woods road out to what remains of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. The Flynn Trail is relatively flat to the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 4.5 miles and there was less ice on this section. We continued straight through the junction with the Big Rock Trail to follow the Flynn Trail back to the car. I expected the walk back downhill to go quickly and that there would be less ice to contend with on this section of trail. I was wrong! In several places, the water had overflowed the "ditch" at the side of the trail or the watercourse was blocked by ice. The water found its way onto the trail and there were large sections that showed erosion. The water had frozen into large sheets of ice making the descent interesting. We walked as quickly as I could with Sheila leading the way. Sheila has built-in crampons and a nice warm coat. I was worried about her paws in the low temperatures but she did not seem bothered at all. As we approached the gate on the woods road, we turned left to avoid the private property around the cabin and to stay on the trail. This trail had also acted as a streambed during the heavy rains and was covered in ice for the first half. We finished our walk and were back at the car by 2:30 PM. We had covered 6.4 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes with an elevation gain of 950 feet. It still seemed cold as the temperature was only 19 degrees with some wind.

On Monday, January 8th I planned to finally get out on my first hike of 2018. It had been more than a week without a hike but with good reason. I had a cold AND the wind chill temperatures had been well below zero for many days in a row. In addition, Our ambulance corps had been responding to quite a few calls. Even though I had track practice in the afternoon, I planned to go to Frick Pond and get in a 6 mile hike since the temperature was in the high teens and climbing. I made my plans the night before and went to sleep thinking about hiking until phone call woke me up at 6:00 AM. Despite my plans I was needed as a substitute for the middle school nurse for two days! Its not what I wanted to do and I knew Sheila would be wondering why we weren't going out wanted to get out but there are very few people who can substitute for the nurse. I wasn't happy as I got dressed and headed off to school. The day went pretty quickly and some light snow began to fall after noon. An announcement was made indicating after school activities were canceled which I knew meant I could go home early. I began to think that I could get a quick hike in on Round Top before dark! I drove home arriving at about 3:30 PM and asked Cindy if she wanted to go. She has also had a cold but decided she wanted to get out in the "Warm" weather. As I got dressed I decided to forego a baselayer and to wear a lighter Mammut crew neck shirt under my Mammut Ultimate hoody. I wore a hat and a pair of gloves. I donned my Salomon Nytro boots but left the gaiters at home. Cindy and I decided that it had not snowed enough to wear snowshoes but that Microspikes would be a good idea. Sheila would not leave my side as I was getting ready as she wanted to make sure she was going too! We stepped out onto the back porch, put on our spikes and headed out the slippery driveway at 3:45 AM. The temperature was 23 degrees as we crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. As soon as we entered the trees I released Sheila from her leash. At the first trail junction we continued straight ahead to walk the steeper path to the viewpoint. At the lookout we turned to the right and we continued our hike on the yellow lower trail.

We followed the trail and started the gentle climb through the woods which had four or five inches of new and unbroken snow. When we reached the next trail junction, we stayed to the right to follow the lower trail around the base of Round Top to the next junction. At this junction we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the steeper blue trail. The spikes definitely made the going easier although they are better suited for ice or firmly packed snow. We walked across the summit of Round Top and down the other side which is also a little steep. Again, the spikes helped in the descent but I was still able to get a little glide. When we got to the yellow trail, we turned left to follow it to the second trail junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail back to the very first trail junction to complete a figure 8. At the trail junction Cindy decided to go home as the cool air was bothering her cold. Sheila and I turned around and retraced our steps taking the more gentle path this time. When the yellow trail turned left, we followed it to the next trail junction were we turned right and headed up the blue trail to the summit. We walked over the top and down the other side to the yellow trail again. It was beginning to get very dark as we turned right and followed the trail along the base of Round Top. Where the yellow trail turned left, we continued to follow the trail to the left and down to the lookout. From the lookout we walked down hill to the first trail junction. We continued straight out to the trailhead. I was a little depressed to think that the 40+ degree weather later in the week would eliminate all the beautiful snow! Sheila did not seem to be bothered by the cold at all and had been well-behaved staying with me most of the time. At the trailhead, I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down the cemetery hill and across the field to our driveway. It was after 5:00 PM and we had hiked a little under 2 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes. It must have been a good workout as I was tired after so many days without an activity.

On Friday, December 29th the temperature when I got up at 6:30 AM was 4 degrees with a breeze making the wind-chill well below zero. This had been true for several days in a row and I was tired of staying inside. Sheila seemed to agree with me as she kept "hinting" that she wanted to go outside. I decided to wait a little hoping that the temperature might rise. By 11:30 the temperature did rise to about 10 degrees! I would take Sheila and go across the street to hike on Round Top. I am getting bored hiking there but it gave us the best opportunity to hike close to home and to come home if it was too cold. I put on a full baselayer under my Columbia Omniheat pants and a heavier Patagonia wool top. I wore my Mammut Ultimate hoody and a pair of Salomon Nytro boots with Microspikes. Sheila was happy to finally et outside as I put her on her leash to walk across the street at 11:50 AM. We walked through the field next to the church and walked up the steep but short cemetery hill with Sheila giving me a little help as she pulled me up the hill. We turned left and entered the trail where I released Sheila from her leash. At the first trail junction Sheila turned right to head up the more gentle slope and I followed her. Where the trail split at the next junction I followed Sheila as she went straight up the hill on the blue trail toward the summit of Round Top. I was surprised that I was not very cold and was actually starting to sweat as we climbed the short but steep hill to the summit. We crossed over the top and started down the other side. I was glad I had on the Microspikes as it was steep and slippery as this side is out of the sun. I also noticed a slight breeze was making my exposed face cold. As I inhaled, I noticed that the air was very cold as my chest was cool. At the trail junction we continued straight ahead on the yellow trail toward the viewpoint. At the viewpoint we turned left and walked down the hill back to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and started back up the hill. Sheila was very eager and bounded ahead of me. This time we repeated the big loop we had just done but in reverse. As always we needed up back at the first trail junction. We again turned around and walked back up the more gentle slope toward the junction with the upper blue trail. At this junction we turned left on the lower yellow trail to execute a small loop. We continued to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top and down to the viewpoint. After turning left and walking downhill, we were back at the first trail junction. We turned around for one last time and walked a small loop in reverse. This time when we arrived at the first trail junction, we turned left and walked out to the trailhead. We walked down the cemetery hill with the sun shining brightly. At the base of the hill I put Sheila on her leash and we walked back across the field next to the church to our driveway. We arrived back at the house at 1:10 PM having spent 1 hour and 20 minutes walking a little less than 3 miles.

On Tuesday, December 26th I wanted to get out to hike but the temperature was 14 degrees at 11:00 AM with a breeze blowing dropping the wind-chill to the single digits. I didn't know how Sheila would fare so I decided to go across the street to hike on Round Top. I knew we could get there and back quickly and could lengthen or shorten our hike easily. Cindy decided she would go along despite the cold so we started to get dressed. I put on a baselayer and decided to wear a heavier Patagonia wool top underneath my Mammut Ultimate hoody. I also took a heavier hat and wore a pair of warm mitts. I donned my Salomon Nytro boots and wore high gaiters. Cindy and I decided that it had not snowed enough to wear snowshoes but that Microspikes would be a good idea. Sheila would not leave my side as I was getting ready as she wanted to make sure she was going too! I decided to take my pack along as a way to carry my camera. We stepped out onto the back porch, put on our spikes and headed out the slippery driveway at 11:15 AM. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, I paused to take a few pictures of the town covered in snow. We started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. As soon as we entered the trees I released Sheila from her leash. At the first trail junction we continued straight ahead to walk the steeper path to the viewpoint. At the lookout I turned to the left on the spur trail and walked out to the lower viewpoint that has the best view of the school. I took several pictures including a couple of Cindy and Sheila on the upper lookout. I walked up to the upper lookout and we continued our hike on the yellow lower trail.

We followed the trail and started the gentle climb through the woods which had two or three inches of new and unbroken snow. When we reached the next trail junction, we stayed to the right to follow the lower trail around the base of Round Top to the next junction. At this junction we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the steeper blue trail. The spikes definitely made the going easier although they are better suited for ice or firmly packed snow. We walked across the summit of Round Top and down the other side which is also a little steep. Again, the spikes helped in the descent which had been very icy on my previous trip. When we got to the yellow trail, we turned left to follow it to the second trail junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail back to the very first trail junction to complete a figure 8. At the trail junction we turned around and retraced our steps taking the more gentle path this time. When the yellow trail turned left, we followed it to the next trail junction were we turned right and headed up the blue trail to the summit. We walked over the top and down the other side to the yellow trail again. We turned right and followed the trail along the base of Round Top. Where the yellow trail turned left, I stopped to take a few shots of the trails in all directions. We continued to follow the trail to the left and down to the lookout. From the lookout we walked down hill to the first trail junction. Cindy was tired at this point and I was a little bored so we continued straight out to the trailhead. Sheila did not seem to be bothered by the cold at all and had been well-behaved staying with me most of the time. At the trailhead, I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down the cemetery hill and across the field to our driveway. It was 12:30 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes. It must have been a good workout as I was tired.

On Sunday, December 24th I knew I needed to get out after several days of substituting for the school nurse and some horrendous weather. In addition, the forecast for the coming week included snow and then temperatures with highs in the teens! After returning from church, Cindy decided to meet some of her family for lunch so I decided to simply head across the street to Round Top and do some figure 8's just for the exercise. This would be the first hike of the winter season and also a hike on Christmas Eve day. When we started down the driveway at 1:10 PM the temperature was in the high 30's which almost seemed warm. I did not put on a baselayer top or bottom but did take a hat and a pair of light gloves. Sheila was so happy to get out she kept winning and barking at me as I put her on her leash to walk down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. As soon as we entered the trees I released Sheila from her leash. At the first trail junction Sheila turned right so I followed her to start up the more gradual side of the hill. At the next junction Sheila continued straight ahead on the blue trail to the top of the hill so I again followed her toward the summit. I was surprised that there was still some snow on the trail. We had rain for most of Saturday but the temperatures were just above freezing so some of the snow did not melt. we walked over the top of the hill which did not have much shoe and then down the other side. The descent is the steepest on the trail and it was covered in snow and was a little tricky to negotiate. I was disappointed to find many ATV tracks criss-crossing the hiking trail. People developed the habit of going wherever they want without permission and breaking that bad habit may be almost impossible. At the next trail junction at the bottom of the hill we continued straight ahead on the yellow trail to walk down to the lookout. There was a good view of town but I had seen it before and did not linger. We continued down the hill to the first trail junction. Wee immediately turned around and walked back up the hill to walk the same route but in reverse. Climbing the steeper section of the trail seemed easier than descending it. Once we were again at the first trail junction we turned around and started back up the more gentle slope. This time we did a figure 8 by turning left at the next trail junctions and taking the lower yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the next junction we trend right and took the blue trail up to the top and back down to the yellow trail. We turned right and followed the yellow trail back to the viewpoint and back down to the first trail junction. When we reached the starting point, we turned around and did another Figure 8 by reversing the route we had just completed. When we finally were back at the first trail junction we turned left and walked back out to the trailhead. I put Sheila on her leash as we turned right and walk back down to the church and across the field to our driveway. We were back at the house at 2:45 PM after hiking 3.1 miles in 1.5 hours with a vertical gain of 1080 feet.

Fall 2017

On Monday, December 18th, I decided I needed to get out to hike with snowshoes even though they were probably not needed. The temperature was approaching 30 degrees when I woke up and I knew that overheating while snowshoeing was a possibility. I also knew that the snow tends to clump on snowshoes at this temperature which makes hiking much more difficult. Despite this I knew I wanted to get out and Sheila readily agreed by her antics. I convinced Cindy that we could take a short walk up the Flynn Trail and then take the long descent on the Big Rock Trail to Times Square. From there it is a relatively flat and short hike back to Frick Pond and out to the parking area. I did not put on tights and wore a lighter top over my baselayer. I did put on my Mammut Ultimate Hoody which I wear most of the time. I chose my Crescent Moon Gold snowshoes and I put Cindy' Tubbs Alpflex snowshoes in the car. We left Livingston Manor just before 10:30 AM and headed out the DeBruce Road. It was snowing a little but DeBruce Road was clear. At six miles I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road which had some snow on it but had been plowed and well sanded. Where the road split I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and parked in the small lot which was not plowed. From the tracks, it seemed like a one or two people had started up the Flynn Trail without snowshoes. I really couldn't blame them as the snow wasn't very deep. I set my electronics and we crossed the road at 10:45 AM to start up the Flynn Trail. The temperature had risen all the way up to 34 degrees which seemed warm. I had chosen to use my Crescent Moon Gold snowshoes which are good on flat and rolling terrain. They have some of the best bindings and a teardrop shape. The first part of the Flynn Trail through the woods is narrow and I was having a little trouble not overlapping the wider snowshoes. Once we made the right turn into the woods road the going was easier. We followed the boot tracks of the other hikers from a previous day. There wasn't much snow and the trail was bare in places where the sun had shown down. Before we had gone half a mile I had stopped to open some zippers and dump some heat. The walk with snowshoes is definitely more of a workout than without. As we gained some elevation, the snow got deeper until there was almost 8 inches. Since the snow was cold and the air was warm, fog was forming on the trail. I stopped to take some pictures. We continued up the Flynn Trail towed the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I was feeling pretty good and was setting a fast pace. I looked back and Cindy was pretty far behind so I slowed my pace and eventually stopped and waited for her. She was having more trouble with the snowshoes and the climb than I was. At 11:45 Am we were at the trail junction with the Big Rock Trail. It had taken just about an hour to walk the 1.7 miles from the parking area. This was actually a little faster than I thought we were moving.

At the trail junction we turned left to go down the Big Rock trail to Times Square. Cindy was sure she didn't have any more "ups" left in her but I was still feeling good. I like descending on snowshoes since, at times, you can almost ski down. The trail was completely unbroken and there was at least 8 inches of snow in most places. The trip down the Big Rock Trail went quickly although it seemed a little longer than usual. There are three places where the trail drops quickly and then levels off. The last place brought us right to Times Square where the Logger's Loop and Big Rock Trail cross. Sheila was having a great time and did not seem to be bothered in any way by the snow or temperature. She kept going off the trail to follow animals tracks but returned quickly when I called. We continued straight ahead at Times square to go around the back of Frick Pond. The snow showed many different tracks as the hike around the pond is a favorite and is one promoted by Lisa at Morgan Outdoors in Livingston Manor. The snow on the trail was packed from the traffic and some rocks were showing through. Once we approached the bridges and wooden walkways the snow was deeper and we had no problems. Up until this point I had little or no snow clumping on my snowshoes but now this became a problem. The skies were overcast and the views of the pond were ordinary but I took some pictures anyway. The wooden walkways were covered in snow that was deeper than anywhere else. We continued to walk until we came to the junction with the Quick Lake Trail. Here we turned left and headed for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. We stopped briefly at the bridge and I took a few pictures of the pond and Flynn's Point. It was almost invisible as it was shrouded in a cloud of fog. We walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction to head back to the parking area. The trail here had been well used and snow was absent in several places. We were back at 1:000 PM having covered 4 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes with an elevation gain of 670 feet.

On Saturday, December 16th the temperatures was in the low 20's and snow was falling lightly at home. I had last been out on Monday and then had a week of commitments and work as the school nurse. As Is started to get my gear ready, Sheila was glued to me to make sure I would not forget her. Cindy and I decided to head to Frick Pond to do a hike. My plan was to do the big loop but I knew that would depend on the conditions and Cindy. We decided we would not take snowshoes as there was only a few inches of light snow on the ground. It may seem that returning again and again to the same area is monotonous but each hike is different. On this hike having Cindy with me would be very nice even though the skies were cloudy and snow was falling. As we got dressed, I decided to put on tights underneath my Columbia Omniheat pants. On top I wore an Icebreaker light wool top over a baselayer with my Mammut hoody. I also wore a pair of heavier gloves and a hat. Both Cindy and I decided to where high gaiters. We put our gear in the car leaving the house at 10:15 AM. Sheila seemed particularly stoked as we headed up the DeBruce Road. I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road after 6 miles. DeBruce Road was in pretty good shape but Mongaup Pond Road was covered in snow and a little slippery. It was also obvious that there was more snow on the ground and more snow falling. I parked in the smaller parking area which was not plowed. The temperature was just 20 degrees as I set my electronics and quickly got ready to start the hike at 10:35 AM. The snow was still falling and there was about 4 inches of snow on the woods road as we started out. At the register we picked up the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond. There did seem to be one track from someone hiking but it was not very recent. The trail was covered in snow but the ground was still soft underneath and there was some water to avoid. At Gravestone Junction where the Quick Lake Trail and Loggers Loop meet we turned left to go down to Frick Pond. Sheila was racing around up and down the trail apparently unaffected by the cold or the snow! I began to get warm despite the temperature but not as warm as on some trips so I just opened my front zipper to dump some heat. When we got to the bridge, the skies were completely overcast and the snow was falling lightly but steadily. Flynn's Point was shrouded in snow and it seems it was snowing harder in that direction. I decided to stop to take a few pictures of the pond. I took several pictures and a picture of Cindy and Sheila on the bridge before we continued along the trail.

When we arrived at the junction of the Quick Lake Trail and the Big Rock Trail around the pond, we headed to the left on the Quick Lake Trail following the single track of footsteps now covered in snow. We continued on the Quick Lake Trail finding a small tree across the trail. I had not brought a saw and the trees would not move. A job for another day. We walked through the tunnel of evergreen trees and crossed the small stream. The stream was higher than I thought it might be but it was easy to cross with one foot in a shallow area. Sheila simply launched herself into the air with a jump that would have cleared a stream twice as wide. As we headed toward Iron Wheel Junction, the trail was slightly uphill and the deeper snow made the going a little more difficult than I expected. Cindy let me know that she was not prepared to hike the 6 mile loop. We arrived at Iron Wheel junction at 11:35 AM after hiking 1.5 miles. We turned right onto the Loggers Loop Trail which had no tracks but a nice layer of fresh snow. I knew that the DEC had been working to replace some culverts and had chosen the wettest time of the year to do the work. The last time I had hiked there were deep ruts all along the Loggers Loop and their efforts to improve the situation had actually resulted in severe damage to the trails. Several times as we were walking we had to avoid these ruts and in some cases we could not see them until we stepped into them. This kind of irresistible action could result in a hiker twisting and ankle or falling. I did take a few pictures along the way. I have to admit that I was glad to be descending the small hill on the Loggers Loop to Times Square as my thighs were beginning to feel the strain of hiking through the snow and stepping in the ruts. We arrived at Times Square at 12:15 PM about 2.7 miles into the hike. At this point he had to decide whether to continue on the Loggers Loop or to turn right and walk around the back of Frick Pond. I chose to stay on the Loggers Loop.

We continued to have to deal with the deep ruts left by the DEC workers and this area seems to be the worst. From just passed Times Square the trail rises slightly for about .2 miles. Neither the distance nor the rise are really significant but my legs were a little sore at this point. Soon we were on the more level ground at the top of the hill and it wasn't far to the Quick Lake Trail. The skies showed some sun breaking through but were still overcast and the snow was still falling. I was glad we had almost completed the loop as we turned left at Gravestone Junction onto the Quick Lake Trail. There were no new boot prints so I did not expect to see any other hikers. We walked out the Quick Lake Trail and woods road to the parking area. As I expected there were no other cars in the lots. The snow had stopped and more sun was visible but the temperature was still in the twenties. It was 12:45 PM and we had covered 3.7 miles in 2 hours and 5 minutes with 15 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was only 400 feet. This seemed like a short distance but our muscles told us otherwise!

On Monday, December 11th I planned to meet my brother-in-law, Jeff, to hike the Trout Pond loop. We agreed to meet at the Roscoe Diner at 9:00 AM since it is an easy place to find and meet. When I awoke at 6:30 AM the air temperature was 25 degrees with a slight breeze and I really wanted to crawl back into a warm bed. By 7:30 AM the temperature had dipped to 23 degrees which did not increase my enthusiasm. I knew that it would not be getting much warmer this winter and that I just needed to get out! I got my gear ready and made sure I had a set of spikes in my pack and another that Jeff could use. As I got dressed I put on a full baselayer including tights underneath my Columbia Omniheat pants. On top I decided to wear a medium weight Patagonia wool top. I wore a heavier hat and gloves putting a pair of mitts in my pack. I also decided to put on a pair of winter boots settling on my Salomon Nytros. I headed for Roscoe on the Quickway at 8:30 AM which was probably a little too early. I parked at the diner and waited for Jeff. When he arrived I wasn't sure how Sheila would react but Jeff has apparently become one of her "pack" as she greeted him in her overenthusiastic way. I suggested we ride ion my car as there is limited parking and Jeff agreed. I drove out the Rockland Flats on Route 206. Just after the Roscoe Nursing Home I turned left on Morton Hill Road and followed it for 3 miles to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the side of the road avoiding the private parking area. We both remarked at the amount of snow which was from 3 to 5 inches. It was 9:20 AM when I set my electronics and we began our hike with the temperature still in the high 20's. I like the walk down Russell Brook Road and Sheila seemed to be having fun running ahead and coming back to us. The forecast was for cloudy skies but there was plenty of blue and a little sun as we continued down the road. I was surprised that the road did not seem icy and we were able to make good time. I listened for the sound of the water in the brook and heard some noise but not as much as I expected. When we came to the viewpoint over the upper falls, I could see there wasn't as much water going over the falls as I had hoped so we continued on the road down to the lower parking area. There were no cars in the lot but the gate was open to allow snowmobiles access to the trails. We continued down the road and crossed the bridge over Russell Brook. I found that the Japanese knotweed appeared completely dead but knew it would be back next spring. We continued on the road turning right on the path to the falls. We walked over to the path down the bank to the streambed and carefully descended to the brook. The falls were flowing nicely but I was disappointed there was no "frozen falls" to the right as there often is in winter. I got out my camera and took some pictures of the falls and then posed Sheila sitting just in front of the falls. After Sheila walked away, I took a few more pictures before putting away the camera and walking back out to the main trail. At the trail junction just after the register we continued straight ahead to walk up to Trout Pond. As we walked, Jeff and I talked about many things that we had in common including our churches and coaching high school sports. When we arrived at the pond, we walked to the left to the "beach" at the outlet end of the pond. The water level was a little lower than it had been but the lower end of the pond was covered with ice. The skies were very blue so I knew I had to take some pictures. I took some panoramic pictures and then zoomed in on very parts of the scene. Sheila decided to walk out on the thin ice which, fortunately, supported her weight.

We continued on the main trail on the east side of Trout Pond walking toward the inlet end and the lean-tos. I told Jeff about some of the history or logging n the area for tanning and the wood alcohol industry. The trail continued to be covered in snow but there was not much ice. I was very warm even though the climb is very gentle. I opened all the sippers on my Mammut hoody to dump as much heat as possible. I also lowered the hood as the hat was warm enough. As usual, I had overdressed but I would rather that than be too cold. We stopped at the lower lean-to for a moment and I checked out the privy which was in reasonable condition. We stopped at the bridge over the inlet and I took a few shots before continuing on the trail. We turned right to follow the trail up Cherry Ridge. As we hiked I found it satisfying to look at the many places where I had cleared branches and blowdowns from the trail. There were some new branches on the trail and several small blowdowns we were able to clear by moving them to the side of the trail. There was even more snow on the trail in this area but it did not impede our hiking. The skies that had been all blue were now blue in one direction and dark and cloudy in another. Soon we were at the highest point on Cherry Ridge and starting down the other side. This part of the hike can drag sometimes but it seemed to go very fast with someone else along to talk to and we were soon at the woods road and snowmobile trail that runs by Mud Pond. We turned left and start the short walk uphill. At the top of the hill we began the long descent back to the trail junction where we had started. The descent lasts for .7 miles and drops 385 feet to a bridge that crosses the outlet stream from Trout Pond. At the junction we turned right and headed back out to the lower parking area. Sometimes the walk back up Russell Brook Road seems long and tedious but I was still feeling fresh and Jeff seemed to be doing just fine. We started up the road and soon arrived back at the car. It was 12:35 PM when we arrived back at the car after hiking 5.6 miles in 3 hours and 10 minutes with a 1120 foot total ascent. The temperature was still just below freezing. I drove Jeff back to his truck at the Roscoe Diner and we agreed to hike again as soon as possible.

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On Saturday, December 9 I was committed to an all-day track meet at West Point. On Friday the meet was cancelled due to the forecast of snow and I was free to plan a hike. I decided I would try one again to go to the Blacks and asked Cindy if she would like to go. I was very disappointed when she said "NO!". We had been hiking together on Saturdays and, I thought, we had taken some very nice trips. I did a few quick chores around the house and was ready to leave by (;00 AM. It was only 25 degrees so I put on a full baselayer and wore my Columbia Omniheat pants. I wore a heavy Mammut pullover underneath my Mammut hoody. I wore light gloves and a hat but brought warmer gloves and mitts along as I did not expect the temperature to rise much during the day. I decided I would go to Sugarloaf which was a little closer than the Blacks. The forecast was for cloudy skies and light snow in the afternoon. My plan was to park at Roaring Kill and hike up the eastern side of Sugarloaf. After hiking over the summit and down the western slope to Mink Hollow, I could decide whether or not I wanted to try Plateau. We left Livingston Manor at 9:00 AM and Sheila seemed very happy to be getting out of the house. I headed out the DeBruce Road and turned left at the end onto Route 47 which passes by Frost valley and the parking areas for Big Indian, Slide and Panther. There were a few cases in each lot. I turned right on Route 28 and decided to drive all the way to Phoenicia. I turned left on Route 214 and headed north through Chichester. At the end of Route 214 I turned right on Route 23A and then right onto Bloomer Road. When I got to Platte Clove Road I made another right and drove 3.3 miles to Dale Lane. I turned right and followed Dale Lane until it change to Roaring Kill Road where the surface was gravel. Shortly after that I turned left into the parking area and parked next to the only other car present. There was a slight wind blowing and the air seemed "raw" with an air temperature of 26 degrees. I set my electronics and we were on the trail by 10:00 AM. The first part of the trail to Pecoy Notch was frozen mud. After only .25 miles on the yellow Roaring Kill Trail we came to a trail junction. The blue Mink Hollow Trail turned right but we continued straight ahead on the blue Pecoy Notch Trail. I noted that having two different blue trails at the same junction is confusing! We continued on the trail ascending gently and began to run into evidences of bluestone quarrying. The trail flattened and then descended to Dibble Quarry at around .9 miles. Here visitors have built "furniture" and walls from the bluestone left lying around. I looked over toward Kaaterskill High Peak and Round Top and saw that they were enveloped in snow. So much for the forecast of snow in the afternoon! I knew this would not be good the snow would soon reach our location making the rocks slippery. It would mean the drive back home would also be interesting. I took pictures of the two mountains and then a few of Twin. I also took shots of the furniture. Sheila sat on one of the stone chairs and I took some photographs of her and the stonework before continuing. I knew that the beaver pond was not too far along and we arrived there at about 1.4 miles into the hike. There was no evidence the beavers had been at work recently. The pond was greatly reduced in size and was no on two smaller parts. I stopped to get some pictures. We walked to the area below the dam and had no problem crossing as the water level was so low. I stopped again to take a few more pictures of the pond and a few of Sugarloaf. The snow was now falling lightly and I put away the camera so we could continue on our way. We crossed a small stream and I took a few more pictures. As the snow fell, the rocks became slipperier and it was hard to see the patches of ice. Sheila was great help as I could see where she walked and either go the same way or avoid a questionable spot. From about 1.2 miles to 1.4 miles there was a steeper grade which led to a flat spot just before the trail ended at the red Devil's Path at Pecoy Notch at 1.9 miles. We made a right turn on the Devil's Path to continue up to the summit.

After making the turn, we began to encounter more than a thin layer of snow and ice on the rocks. This is due partly to elevation but also to the fact that the trail at this point has a northern exposure. As I was hiking along, I was being very careful to watch my footing and to watch where Sheila was going. I have had some interesting experiences on Sugarloaf. One winter I was hiking over a slab of ice with spikes. The ice was so hard I lost my footing and took a nasty fall. Fortunately, I was with other hikers and it was in an area where I could not slide very far! Another winter I did a solo ascent through several feet of snow. I remember that as I made the final approach to the summit I would take three steps forward and then slide back two! I am not sure how I finished that climb. I do remember that the return trip was much quicker. I was thinking of these things as we continued up some very steep rock scrambles which I knew would be worse on the way down. Just passed 2 miles we acme to a lookout toward Twin Mountain and I stopped to take a few pictures even though the snow was no falling more heavily. We went back to the main trail and started up the steepest part of the climb. There seemed to be less snow but more ice the farther up we went. Sugarloaf is one of the mountains that I always underestimate despite my checkered history on its slopes. I always think of it as a relatively easy hike and it is until the turn on the Devil's Path. After that turn, the next .5 miles average a 26% grade with some places being nearly vertical. Sheila was scampering ahead of me and doing a good job in most places of showing me a good line. Sheila and I continued through more steep places and until the trail leveled slightly as we approached the summit. We met no one on the way up as we passed the summit at about 3 miles. There was about an inch of snow in places and some ice but it was all manageable on the fairly level areas near the top. We started to head down the other side to make the loop but I noticed that going down was VERY slippery. Just a few hundred feet passed the summit is a spur trail to the left which gives views to the south but I was disappointed when we arrived as the views were mostly blocked by trees and obscured by the falling snow. Standing on the open stone ledge was very cold as the air temperature had dropped and the wind was blowing. At this point I decided we would abort the loop and return the way we had come. We headed back on the Devil's Path and across the summit to the descent. The increasing amount of snow made me think about every step I took and every foot placement I made.

At the lookout toward Twin I noticed I could barely see the mountain. Just below this as I was trying to negotiate a downclimb, Sheila began to bark and advance on the trail. I called her back and saw another hiker coming up the mountain. I moved off to the side of the trail but he stopped for a moment. He was wearing Microspikes which I had avoided as they do not work well on rock. He said we had just come down Twin which I knew was a very steep descent. He was determined to continue his climb and passed us as we continued down. There were still a few more steep rock scrambles and I had a few close calls. By 1:45 PM we had hiked about 4.6 miles and were back at Pecoy Notch. We turned left off the Devil's Path to take the Pecoy Notch Trail back down the mountain. This trail is not as steep as the areas on the Devil's Path but the increasing amount of snow made the going slow. Eventually we crossed the small stream again and walked passed the beaver ponds. I stopped just Before Dibble's Quarry and took some pictures of the piles of bluestone and the areas where it had been quarried. At Dibble's Quarry we stopped again so that I could take pictures. This time the rocks were nearly covered in snow and Twin was barely visible. The valley below and Kaaterskill High Peak were completely invisible. I picked up my pack and we continued won the trail until Sheila alerted again. This tome two young men were hiking toward us. We said "Hello" and I warned them about the ascent of Sugarloaf. I have been a volunteer EMT for some time and think often in those terms. I hoped none of these hikers would take a fall! We continued down the Pecoy Notch Trail to the trail junction where we picked up the Roaring Kill Trail back to the car. We arrived at the car at 3:05 PM after hiking 6.1 miles in 5 hours. The elevation gain was 2100 feet. As I have said before, climbing the 35's can be a humbling experience. The trip back was very slippery in places even though the road crews had advanced warning of the storm. The trickiest part was driving up the hill by the Giant Ledge and Panther Mountain parking area and trying to allow for the inexperienced drivers without winter tires or all-wheel drive!

On Thursday, December 7th my brother-in-law, Jeff, came to our house to do some "shopping". I have entirely too much hiking equipment and Jeff has recently decided to begin hiking. After picking out some boots and a set of poles, we decided we should check them out by going across the street to hike on Round Top. Jeff put on a new pair of boots and I got dressed to hike. The temperature was still in the high 30's so I wore my Mammut hoody since it has a lot of zippers to dump heat. Sheila was happy to go as I put her on her leash to walk across the street. We walked through the field next to the church and walked up the steep but short cemetery hill with Sheila giving me a little help as she pulled me up the hill. We turned left and entered the trail at about 10:15 AM. At the first trail junction Sheila turned right to head up the more gentle slope and we followed her. Where the trail split we continued to follow the yellow blazed lower trail which skirts the base of Round Top. At the next trail junction, we stayed on the yellow trail as it turned left. We walked down to the lookout over town and stopped for a few minutes to take in the view. We walked to the lower rock ledges to get a better look and then headed back to the main trail. We walked down the hill and back to the first trail junction. We turned around and headed back up to the lookout and followed the yellow trail to the trail junction. This time we continued straight ahead on the blue blazed upper trail which is a little steeper. We walked over the summit of Round Top and down the other side. At the trail junction we continued straight ahead on the lower trail and walked back to the first trail junction. At this point it was getting a little late so we turned left and headed out to the trailhead and down the cemetery hill to the church. We walked across the field and back to our driveway. It was about 11:30 AM and we had covered about 2 miles. What made the trip really worthwhile was that it allowed Jeff to "trail test" the boots which he found comfortable and supportive.

On Wednesday, December 6th I knew I needed to get out after several days of family commitments but I had to do it before my indoor track practice started. I decided to simply head across the street to Round Top and do some figure 8's just for the exercise. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street for a hike on Round Top at about 10:00 AM. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. As soon as we entered the trees I released Sheila from her leash. At the first trail junction we continued straight ahead to walk the steeper path to the viewpoint. At the lookout I noted that there was no garbage and everything was in order. We followed the trail to the right and started the gentle climb through the woods. When we reached the next trail junction, we stayed to the right to follow the lower trail around the base of Round Top to the next junction. At this junction we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the steeper blue trail. We walked across the summit of Round Top and down the other side which is also a little steep. When we got to the yellow trail, we turned left to follow it to the second trail junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail back to the very first trail junction. Just as we turned onto the woods road there was a small tree across the trail. It was long enough and heavy enough that I could not move it. I decided I would come back with a saw in the near future to remove it. At the trail junction we turned around and retraced our steps taking the more gentle path this time. When the yellow trail turned left, we followed it to the next trail junction were we turned right and headed up the blue trail to the summit. We walked over the top and down the other side to the yellow trail again. We turned right and followed the trail along the base of Round Top. Where the yellow trail turned left, we followed it to the left and down to the lookout. From the lookout we walked down hill to the first trail junction. My goal was to do four figure 8's. It takes me about 20 minutes to do one. We repeated the first two figure 8's with me taking time to think about various topics. Sheila was well-behaved and stayed with me most of the time except on the final round. She decided to go absolutely crazy and dash up and down the trail as she sometimes does. After finishing the last figure 8, we walked out to the trailhead. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down the cemetery hill and across the field to our driveway. It was 11:45 AM and we had hiked about 3.3 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes. It must have been a good workout as I was tired.

On Saturday, December 2nd, I had planned to hike Balsam Lake Mountain from the Millbrook side wife my wife, Cindy, and her brother, Jeff. After reading some of my descriptions of hiking, Jeff decided he wanted to try hiking the Catskill 35's and maybe even all the trails in the Catskills. I though that hiking the more gentle trail from the Millbrook trailhead to the Balsam Lake Mountain firepower would be a good introduction to the 3500 foot peaks. We agreed to meet at the trailhead at 10:00 AM since he lives in Delhi and we were coming from Livingston Manor. On Thursday night Cindy got a text from Jeff saying he had a commitment on Saturday and would be unable to hike. I was disappointed but decided I would do the hike any way since it had been some time since I had hiked to Balsam Lake from the Millbrook side. When I got up in the morning it was only 23 degrees so I decided to wait a little before starting out. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and she agreed. Cindy and I got dressed and got our gear ready to go. It was still only 35 degrees at a little after 10:00 AM so I decided to wear tights and a baselayer on top> I wore my Columbia Omniheat pants and, as always, my Mammut hoody. We hadn't hiked in two days so Sheila was very excited as we put her in the backseat. We headed up the Quickway and took Route 206 towards Downsville. This route is a little longer than the Beaverkill Road but has less twists and turns. It seemed that every time we passed a spot where we had hiked before Sheila began to whine as if to say "Let's stop here!" I took a right on Route 30 when we reached the reservoir and then took the BWS roads to Millbrook Road. I drove passed Kelly Hollow and soon after pulled into the parking lot that serves Balsam Lake Mountain and Dry Brook Ridge. The lot was almost full with some people already parking on the road which was surprising. I found a spot that an earlier vehicle had vacated and managed to park in tight quarters. I set my electronics and we started the hike by crossing the road at 11:15 AM. I was still feeling the effects of a lingering cold but was happy to be out although I wished Jeff could have joined us. Unlike the climb from the Beaverkill Road which starts out almost flat, the ascent from Millbrook starts with an uphill gaining over 200 feet in the first half mile. Although the temperature was still only 27 degrees we both were comfortable at the beginning of the hike and began to warm up on the ascent. The trail is really a wide woods road which is passable by a high clearance vehicle. We were making good time by keeping a fast pace but it was making me a little tired.

At .8 miles we began a switchback which eventually brought us to a flatter area at about 1.25 miles. I had not hiked from this direction many times but it seemed longer than I remembered. The tradeoff between the two starts is that the Beaverkill start is flat for some time and then has a steep climb. The hike from the Millbrook side climbs from the beginning but is not as steep as from the Beaverkill Road. Along the way there were some interesting rocks including some that had been eroded so that there were only a few "pillars" left separating some layers. There was some ice on the rocks and I stopped to take a picture and took one of Sheila licking the ice. The trail was icy in spots but it was easy to walk around it. The ice did remind me that packing spikes from now on would be a good idea! At 2.1 miles we came to the turnoff to the left for Graham and I knew the trail to the summit of Balsam Lake split off just ahead. My plan was to continue straight ahead and walk down to the steeper trail up the mountain. I like the challenge and this would allow us to make a sort of lollipop loop out of the hike. When we got to the point where the trail split, Cindy insisted on simply hiking to the top and then back out the way we had come. I was disappointed but knew there was no reason to argue. At 2.3 miles we turned right and started up the trail to the fire tower. Just after the start of the trail there is a metal gate. The climb alternates between steeper and more level sections and we were making good time on both. As we began the serious ascent, we met a group of three hikers coming down the mountain and heading back to Millbrook. They said there were some young people at the top and that there were bear tracks along the way. This did not surprise me as I have seen bear on the trail a number of times. As we continued up, we met a young man hiking down the trail and we said "Hello" as we passed. We continued on our scent and soon the trail flattened a little and we could see some old bear tracks in the ice. Several of the steeper ascents had ice and snow on them and we had to be careful as we negotiated our way around them. Soon I could see the cabin and hear voices. I put Sheila on her leash and just before the clearing I leashed her to a tree to keep her away from other people. There was a group of about a dozen young people at the summit clearing.

It was 12:50 PM and we had hiked 3 miles. I put down my pack and got put my camera and began to ascend the tower. I noticed that the skies were still cloudy and as I climbed the wind picked up. The winds that were not noticeable at ground level were certainly noticeable as I climbed to just below the cab. I could hear Sheila barking and whining and if she was loose she would have no problem following me up the steps of the fire towers! I took pictures in all directions even though the skies were not ideal. It was nice to get some views of the hills and valleys. Balsam Lake is the westernmost 3500 foot peak and most of the other peaks are visible from it. I took few shots through the tower structure. Before putting the camera away, I took a few pictures of the tower from the ground. Before we started our return trip, I struck up a conversation with the young people. They were members of a hiking class from Binghamton University along with their instructor. They seemed to be having a good time and the instructor seemed very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I asked them about the class and what hikes they do. Several members have taken Wilderness First Aid through SOLO. We started back down at 1:05 PM and I knew we probably would not be able to make good time because of the icy conditions. The sun was still pretty high in the sky as we began a careful descent of the icy path down to the Dry Brook Ridge Trail. Once we made the left turn onto the trail back to Millbrook Road we picked up the pace a little but we were really in no hurry. There were a few short ascents along the way but otherwise we kept moving quickly. We passed through the switchback which signaled to me that we were almost back to the car. Soon we were crossing the road and walking through the lot back to the car. We were back at 2:30 PM after hiking 6.0 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes with a 1350 foot elevation gain. Although this is not a difficult hike I was pleased with our pace and glad we had decided to do the hike.

On Wednesday, November 29th, I wanted to get in a longer hike but one not too far from home. I also wanted to stay in an area where there is not too much hunting and use well-established trails. I decided to go to Hodge and Frick Ponds and do a route I had not done before which would add a little mileage to my typical route. I had a few things to do around the house but eventually got my gear ready. The temperature on the back porch showed 52 degrees but I knew it would be colder at the trailhead. I donned my Columbia Omniheat pants but did not put on tights. I did wear a baselayer on top underneath a Mammut shirt and on top of that my Mammut Ultimate hoody. I made sure I had an orange hat and brought along a light pair of gloves. We had not been out in three days so Sheila was ready to go and kept an eye on me the whole time. We left Livingston Manor at 10:00 AM as I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Pond Road. I turned left and drive to where the road split and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. When we arrived at the trailhead parking at 10:15 AM there was one pickup truck in the small lot. I parked next to the truck and got ready to hike by setting my GPS devices. The temperature was 47 degrees so I put on my gloves and we headed out toward the trail register at 10:20 AM. The trail had deep ruts which seemed to be new and were far enough apart to be from a small truck. The trail was wet and muddy all the way to Gravestone Junction and the truck had really chewed up the trail. I intended do a figure 8 pattern so at the junction we turned right on the Loggers Loop. The ruts continued all the way to Times Square creating an ugly scene and destroying a good part of the trail. I began to think about the e-mail I would compose to the forester for the area again requesting a gate or a chain for the woods road leading from the parking to the Quick Lake Trail! The weather for hiking was almost ideal with blue skies and a few white, puffy clouds. The only drawback was the wind which was blowing all the time and producing some really big gusts. I kept hoping nothing would fall on us as we continued through Times Square on the Loggers Loop. There were quite a few branches on the trail and I removed them including a few larger ones that I had to take some time to drag off. I had hoped the ruts would end at Times Square and for a short distance it seemed like they did. The ground must have been harder as we climbed the Loggers Loop because within a shirt distance the ruts were back. At some point I started to notice that some work had been done around some of the culverts that cross the trail. The older metal culverts had been replaced by newer, plastic ones. I suspect that the DEC or a DEC contractor has been doing this work. If so, they picked a terrible time to work on the trails! The summer was very dry and the work could have been done without destroying the trails. I would have to say that the damage they have done is probably worse than the problems they are trying to correct!

At 11:10 AM we had hiked 2.2 miles and were at Iron Wheel Junction. I felt very fresh and we were keeping a fast pace. We continued straight ahead on the Quick Lake Trail heading for Junkyard Junction and the Flynn Trail. I cleared a couple more blowdowns on the way up the Quick Lake Trail and removed numerous smaller branches. The distance between the two junctions is a little over 1.5 miles and the elevation gain is about 480 feet. This means the grade averages only about 5% but the ascent is noticeable and continuous most of the way. The weather remained beautiful and I was in a particularly good mood which made the hiking go rather quickly. By 11:45 AM we had hiked 3.7 miles to Junkyard Junction where we turned right into the Flynn Trail. The walk along the Flynn Trail was uneventful but pretty. There were some muddy spots which we avoided. When we reached Hodge Pond we turned left on the jeep road around the back of the pond. I wanted to get the maximum distance for the hike and I wanted to avoid the section of the Flynn Trail to the outlet of Hodge Pond as it has been very muddy. As we walked around the head end of Hodge I couldn't help but stop and walk down to the shore of the pond to take a few pictures. The sun was already high and to the south which made photographing tricky. I took some pictures, got a drink and a bar and then headed back to the trail which we followed down to the outlet end of the pond. Here we walked over to the shore so that I could take a few more pictures. I was surprised to hear a tinkling noise and to see the wind blowing a thin sheet of ice toward the outlet. The spices of ice were hitting each other and the shore to make the noise. The wind was blowing fiercely across the pond so I took my shots quickly and returned to my pack. We walked to the Flynn Trail and up the hill toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The hill can sometimes seem long and tiresome but I was still feeling very good. About halfway up the hill, Sheila alerted and I could see three hunters headed toward us. I put Sheila on her leash as the hunter approached and we said "Hello" as we passed. I was going to asked them if they knew they were on private property and not state land but decided against it.

We continued to the top of the hill and walked the flat part of the trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We turned right and started our walk down the Big Rock Trail. The sun was still out ad despite then wind I was warm. The trail had obviously carried a lot of water recently and there was a wide and deep ditch on the northern side. About two-thirds of the way down, we came across two very large tree trunks across the trail. I stopped to take a few pictures to document the blowdowns and to send to members of the snowmobile club who are allowed to use chainsaws. These trees could, of course, be removed by hand tools but it would be a real challenge. At 1:00 PM we arrived at Times Square again after hiking 5.7 miles. We continued straight ahead on the Big Rock trail which travels around the head end of Frick Pond and down the western side to the Quick Lake Trail. We walked over the wooden bridges and then the wooden walkways. The water was high in the small creeks. The walkways have needed work for some time and we have done we are happy to we could to shore them up with stones but they need some major work. The DEC does not seem concerned and it seems that their attitude is to wait until things break and then repair them rather than do preventative maintenance. We were soon at the end of the Big Rock Trail at the junction with the Quick Lake Trail. We turned left to walk to the outlet of Frick Pond. We stopped at the bridge and I took a few pictures before the windchill made me retreat to my pack and don my gloves. We walked across the bridge and up the hill to Gravestone Junction. All that remained was to hike back out the short stretch of the Quick Lake Trail to the car. Just before the register, I looked up to see two hunters headed toward us. I leashed Sheila as we passed by wishing each other a "Good day". We were back at the car at 1:25 PM having hiked 7.7 miles in 3 Hours and 5 minutes with an elevation gain of 1100 feet. I was surprised that the distance wasn't over 8 miles. I was also surprised when I got home and plotted the "new" route only to find out I had done it before!

On Saturday, November 25th I wanted to get out for a hike but had to do some chores in the morning. When I was done, I decided to head for Big Pond even though rain was forecast for 1:00 PM. I decided a short hike was better than none at all. Brad was willing to come along so we got dressed and got our gear ready to go. The temperature was only in the high 30's but it was very sunny and felt much warmer. It was hard to believe that rain was in the forecast! I wore my Mammut hoody and Columbia Omniheat pants but did not put on a baselayer as I thought I would be too warm. I had considered several possibilities to do a loop from Big Pond to Little Pond but realized this would depend on the weather we found as we hiked. We left Livingston Manor a little before 11:00 AM and headed north on Old Route 17. Just outside Livingston Manor I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and drove toward Lew Beach. The further we went the cloudier the sky became and the more likely the forecast of rain became. I drove through Lew Beach and turned left on the Barkaboom Road just before Turnwood. I turned left on the Barkaboom Road and drove to the parking area for Big Pond on the right. There were a few cars parked including one with the door hanging open! As we were getting ready to hike, a young couple came up to the car from Big Pond. They were staying at the North Branch Inn and wanted to know a little bit about the trails in the area. I gave them some information about hiking to Little Pond as I set my GPS. We crossed the road and headed up the trail at 11:20 AM. As we passed the register box, we could see several branches and tree trunks across the trail. I had not planned to do much clearing and had not packed any tools. Despite my intentions both Brad and I began to remove obstacles on the trail and this continued for the whole hike. As we were slowed by the work we were doing, the couple we had spoken to caught up with us. They asked a few more questions and then went on ahead. The first mile of the trail gains about 775 feet with an average grade of 15%. Some places are almost flat which means there are a few steeper places. I began to notice that the blazing of the trail was becoming intermittent due to the fact that several trees with blazes shad fallen. The DEC will no longer let volunteers put up the trail markers so the forester will have to come out to blaze the trail. We continued our hike up Touch-Me-Not Mountain under skies that were increasingly dark! We found a couple of new blowdowns that would require my big saw and an axe. We also found several that had been on the trail for some time despite my request to the FLTC to schedule a sawyer to help me remove them. In a few places the trail travels along the side of the hill and this made for some tricky footing. At the trail junction we had to make a decision and we chose to turn left and hike the Campground Trail down to Little Pond. This decision was influenced by the gathering clouds and a wind that blew up suddenly.

The other hikers were taking a break at the junction as we made the left turn and started over the top of Touch-Me-Not Mountain. After a few moments, I looked back and saw them following us. I though that when we got to the campgrounds we could decide what route we would take as there were several possibilities for longer and shorter hikes. The Campground Trail is supposed to be maintained by the DEC but it looked as if no work had been done for some time. From the top of the mountain the trail drops 560 feet in .4 miles for an average grade of 26%. There are several areas where the descent is much steeper and the slippery oak leaves were not making the trip any easier. At some point I began to listen carefully and could hear the distinct sound raindrops hitting the leaves. We looked back several times but did not see the other hikers following us and wondered what had happened. The rain didn't keep up for very long and soon we were on the flatter part of the descent which led us out to the campgrounds just behind the main bathrooms. The skies were still dark and I did not feel like getting wet so we agreed to hike the roads back to the car. I was annoyed as I would have liked a longer hike but hoped we would get in about 4 miles anyway. The campgrounds are a little eerie when they are closed with no one around. We walked out the access road and passed the main entrance without seeing anyone at all. The walk out the access road is about .9 miles and is mostly downhill. We passed through the upper gate which was closed. There were four cars and trucks parked in a small pulloff near the gate and I knew these were hunters. We continued down to Barkaboom Road where we turned left and started the uphill walk back to the car. Having Sheila on her leash really helps as she pulls me up the hills quite nicely. Since there were no leaves on the trees we could get a good look at the stream that comes out of Big Pond. I looked down and saw an old foundation I had not seen before. A "ditch" led from upstream through the foundation to farther downstream. This is a good indication that this was mill of some type and the stream led through the millrace and, most likely, and undershot wheel. This is further supported by the dam on Big Pond that looks as if it had a series of boards to control the water level. The walk back to the car went quickly and we arrived back at the lot at 1:15 PM. We had hiked 4 miles in 1 hour and 55 minutes with a vertical gain of 1055 feet. I was disappointed that it had not rained and that we had cut our hike short anyway. Still, a short hike is better than no hike at all!

On Friday, November 24th, I wanted to get in a hike instead of worrying about Black Friday! We did have some things to take acre of in the morning so we didn't get started until just before 1:00 PM. I asked Brad if she wanted to hike and he said "Yes" and we agreed to go to the Frick Pond area. This is our "go to" spot since it is close to home and there area number of different rails that can be combined into a variety of hikes. I decided against wearing tights underneath my pants but did wear my Mammut hoody since it has several different zippers to vent heat. I took a hat and light gloves since it was only 46 degrees when we left the house. Sheila acted as if she had not hiked in a month as she jumped into the back seat. We arrived at 1:15 PM to find the small lot filled with four cars. I parked in the larger lot which was empty. I checked the temperature and it was 42 degrees at the trailhead! I set my Garmin GPS and we crossed the road to get on the Flynn Trail. There was no breeze blowing and the sun was out which made for a pleasant walk. We did meet two hikers approaching with a dog on a leash and we said "Hello" as we passed. We made the right turn up the wide woods road that is the Flynn Trail and started up what was once the Beech Mountain Road. The grass was a little wet and there was some mud in places. It was obvious there had been some wind as we were constantly moving branches off the trail. In a few places I had to drop my poles and take a few minutes to lift larger obstacles off the trail. Sheila was having a great time following animal trails and running up and own the main trail. We set a good pace on the ascent but really did not hurry. By 2:00 PM we had made the 1.7 uphill miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued on the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. The skies were still sunny and the temperature was warm enough that I had to pen the sippers on my jacket. Hikes with Bard always go quickly as we have a lot in common since we both have experience in EMS.

At the next trail junction we turned left to stay on the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. I had decided to stay on the Flynn Trail and Quick Lake Trail rather than take some of the other variations. When we reached the pond, we continued straight ahead and walked to the shore of Hodge Pond. There were very few clouds in the sky but there was a skim of ice on the pond. I decided to take a few pictures even though I have hundreds from this same spot. When I was done, we headed back to the Flynn Trail and followed it along the west side of the pond. The trail had been scrapped by OSI making it a muddy mess for some time but it was now slightly frozen so the mud was reduced. When the trail split, we headed left to stay on the Flynn Trail and walked uphill to the gate which marked the end of the OSI property. We headed toward Junkyard Junction on the Flynn Trail which was pretty wet with several muddy spots and some standing water. We cleared several larger branches and stopped to use the saw to clear one blowdown. At Junkyard Junction, we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to descend toward Iron Wheel Junction. The trail continued to have wet and muddy spots but we could walk around them without problems. We did continue to pick up branches and clear a few larger blowdowns as we went. This part of the hike went a little more slowly than usual but by 3:25 PM we had hiked 4.9 miles and had arrived at Iron Wheel Junction. We turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail which was also wet and muddy in spots. We cleared one log that was lying on the trail and crossed the small stream in the woods. We walked through the "spruce tunnel" and cleared one more blowdown just before exiting. As we passed the junction with the Big Rock Trail two women approached from the opposite direction. We said "Hello" and I watched to see the route they were going to take as it was getting late. They chose to turn on they Big Rock Trail to hike around the pond which is the shortest hike they could take. We were soon at the bridge over the outlet to Frick Pond. We stopped and I took some pictures of the pond which was bathed in an orange glow from the setting sun. It seemed that the beaver dam had again been disturbed which annoyed me greatly. I have tried to alert the local ranger and the wildlife division but no one really seemed to care! I am still waiting for a report as to the reasons that someone thought they could destroy the dam! We continued up the hill on the Quick Lake Trail back to the car. We were back in the parking lot at 4:05 PM after hiking 6.5 miles and 920 vertical feet in 2 hours and 50 minutes. Only one car was in the lot when we left.

On Wednesday, November 22nd I was ready to take a longer hike again after staying close to home for several hikes. The forecast for the day was for clouds and overcast for most of the day but when I got up there was a heavy mist bordering on rain. I was a little discouraged and decided I might not go out at all. By noon the weather was no better but I was itching to get out. It was still only 36 degrees outside so I dressed warmly with tights underneath my Columbia Omniheat pants. I also wore a long-sleeved baselayer underneath a top with my Mammut hoody over that. I did put on a blaze orange hat as it was rifle season in the area. Sheila seemed more than happy to be going out and by 12:30 Pm we were in the car with all my gear and ready to head out. After two quick stops in town I headed north on Route 17 to Roscoe and got off at exit 94. I headed out the Rockland Flats on Route 206 and just after entering Delaware County I turned left on Morton Hill Road. When I arrived at the intersection with Russell Brook Road, I found no cars parked in the private lot. The lot is clearly marked as private property and the owner does not like people to park there. I parked on the side of the road on the public right-of-way and as far off the pavement as possible. As soon as I parked, I could feel the breeze making me colder than the air temperature indicated. I had decided to hike from the intersection of Russell Brook Road and Morton Hill Road around Trout Pond and then take the Trout Pond Trail to Campbell Brook Road. I would hike out Campbell Brook Road to Morton Hill Road and then back to the car. I started down Russell Brook Road at 1:00 PM with a few snowflakes in the air. The small streams were flowing with water but I had decided I would do this hike as fast as possible without stopping to take pictures. As we approached the upper viewpoint over the falls I could hear the water roaring and looked down to see a large volume of water flowing over the falls. We continued down the road to the lower parking area where there was one pickup truck. We walked down the woods road and crossed the bridge on Russell Brook. When we reached the trail on the right to the lower falls, we simply continued on the main trail and at the first trail junction kept left to walk up the hill toward Mud Pond. The walk up the hill is about .8 miles and gains 400 feet. This isn't really steep but it does get the blood flowing right away. The first bridge over the stream was very slippery with water and some kind of slime. The walk up the hill was a little wet and muddy but it certainly warmed me up.

From the top of the hill we descended slightly and then turned right to go north along the west side of Trout Pond. I kept watching for hunters along the rail but never saw any. As we hiked along the trail there were quite a few spots where there was water running across the trail or gathered in pools. The skies were still gloomy and the wind picked up. There were also quite a few flakes in the air. Over the next 1.2 miles we gained another 400 feet to the highest pot on the hike on the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. From that point the trail descends 450 feet over .8 miles to the bridge at the inlet of Trout Pond. I was careful as I walked over the bridge as it was also slippery. I now had to make a decision since I was already tired. I decide to stay with the original plan and we turned left on the Trout Pond Trail to start the hike toward Campbell Brook Road at 3.6 miles. From the lean-tos the trail rises 435 feet over .8 miles to the col between two hills to an elevation almost as great as the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. The trail was damp which made the leaves on the trail slippery. At the top of the hill I relied I had not had any water to drink so I stopped and downed about half a bottle. It was only 2:45 Pm but it was only getting darker. The wind had picked up again and the snow was falling a little more. I decided to continuing on the hiking trail farther than take the snowmobile trail which is a little shorter. The trail descends the same amount as we had just ascended over about the same distance. The descent is steep in places and was slippery. In addition, no trail maintenance has been done in years and we had to leave the trail several times. We crossed the bridge over a small stream and at 5.25 miles we were on Campbell Brook Road. The road was very muddy with a slick layer over frozen and pack dirt. I put Sheila on her leash for the road walk as we turned right on the road. Campbell Brook Road climbs a little to the intersection with Morton Hill Road. After that intersection, Morton Hill Road climbs some ore to the top of a small hill. After that point the road is downhill or flat the rest of the way. I was happy that we were on the road and could pick up our pace. Several vehicles passed us as we hiked on the road but none stopped. There wasn't too much to look at as the skies were overcast and the snow kept falling. At one point we heard dogs in the woods but soon found a pickup truck and I assumed the owner was running his dogs. I wondered whether that was legal during deer season. We set a quick pace with Sheila pulling me along at every opportunity as we returned to the parking area. The walk on Morton Hill Road was about 2.7 miles and took us 52 minutes! We were back at the car at 4:15 PM having covered 8.4 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes with 1680 feet of ascent.

On Tuesday, November 21st I had time to get in a hike before indoor track practice. Since I had some time, I had decided to take a longer hike at Frick Pond. Before we could get started, Cindy's phone stopped working and we were off to the local store where they were able to get it working rather quickly. By the time we got home, it was too late to go very far to hike. We decided to go across the street and hike on Round Top. We began to get ready around noon when the temperature was still in the low 40's. I wore my Mammut hoody since it has a lot of zippers to dump heat. Sheila was happy to go as I put her on her leash to walk across the street. We walked through the field next to the church and walked up the steep but short cemetery hill with Sheila giving me a little help as she pulled me up the hill. At the top of the hill I took a look back down to town and over to the surrounding hills but all was pretty bleak. I set my GPS to record the track and we entered the trail at 12:30 PM. At the first trail junction Sheila turned right to head up the ore gentle slope and we followed her. Where the trail split we continued straight ahead on the blue-blazed upper trail over the summit of Round Top. When we reached the top we continued down the other side and turned right onto the lower yellow-blazed trail. We followed the trail out to the lookout and turned left to continue down the hill to the first trail junction to complete a big loop. I wanted to hike a little more and convinced Cindy we should do at least one more loop. She reluctantly agreed and we turned around and headed back up to the lookout to do the big loop in the opposite direction. At the lookout we followed the yellow trail to the right and continued to where the trails split. We continued straight ahead on the blue trail to again cross over the summit of Round top. We followed the trail back down to the yellow trail and walked straight ahead and down the yellow trail to the first trail junction. Cindy was done at this point but I knew I wanted to get in at least an hour of hiking. Cindy started back out to the trailhead while Sheila and I turned around and headed back up the shallow climb on the yellow trail. It was hard to keep Sheila with me as she wanted to follow Cindy but soon we were headed over Round Top again. We finished the big loop exactly as we had done the first time and then did another in the opposite direction. After completely four big loops, we headed back out to the trailhead and down the cemetery hill to the church. We walked across the field and back to our driveway. It was about 1:30 PM and we had covered three miles which made the trip worthwhile.

On Friday, November 17th I had planned to go with Cindy to hike the Conklin Hill Loop and show her the waterfalls we had visited on Wednesday. I also wanted to hike to the upper waterfall which we had missed, pick a route around the blowdowns from Hurricane Sandy and hike the west bank of the small, unnamed brook we had followed back to the Willowemoc. I wanted to do this before the start of rifle hunting season in our area. I don't have a problem walking established trails during hunting season but bushwhacking during this time seems foolish. The loop starts at Willowemoc Covered Bridge and explores a part of the Willowemoc Wild Forest south of Willowemoc Road. The majority of this wild forest is to the north of the road and encompasses the area around Frick and Hodge Ponds and Long Pond. The smaller parcel south of Willowemoc Road has no trails but does have a few woods roads and informal paths to follow. When I got up at 7:00 AM the temperature was 30 degrees and I knew it might be colder where we are going. I put on a baselayer top and bottom and wore my Columbia Omniheat pants with the Mammut hoody. I made sure I wore a blaze orange hat and brought along light gloves. We got dressed and collected our gear to leave the house a little before 10:00 AM. From the caboose in Livingston Manor I drove out DeBruce Road 7.3 miles to Conklin Hill Road. I turned right and followed the road .4 miles passing through the covered bridge. There is a small parking area big enough for three cars just on the other side of the bridge and I parked there. The temperature was still in the low 30's and the wind was blowing making it seems colder. I set my GPS devices and we crossed the stream that runs parallel to Conklin Hill Road at !0:20 AM. We followed the path along the creek which was small but very pretty. This time I walked closer to the creek especially on the lower section to get a good look at the many rapids on the stream and a few small water falls. At about .5 miles we came to the largest water fall with the water dropping over a ledge that extends in both directions. I took a few pictures but the scene was much the same as the last time I hiked here. Just as we were about to walk around of the ledges on the left several rifle shots rang out. There is an old shooting range which the state has closed but not everyone has gotten the message or obeys the signs. The shooting stopped so we continued to hike around the rocks and up to the top of the falls. As we worked our way up the stream several more shots came from across the stream. I yelled a couple of times and the shooting completely stopped which actually surprised me! We continued walking south and upstream to about .75 miles where there are the abutments for an old bridge. From here we continued upstream heading south to the next waterfall which is about a quarter mile away. As we neared the quarter mile distance, I could see what I thought was the falls ahead but we had run out of room to hike along the creek. The banks were very steep so we walked back downstream slightly and then scaled the bank to a flatter area higher on the bank. As we neared the waterfall, the path became less distinct and we had to sidehill some to get a view. The falls was interesting as it was pretty high with The water flowing down over the rock. They layers in the sedimentary rock look like steps. The view was ok but I could not get any good pictures. I worked my way down the steep bank until I could stand in front of the falls. I took some pictures and then climbed back up the bank to where Cindy was waiting. On our way back we stayed high on the bank and found a much easier route back to the bridge abutments.

We turned right and started walking northeast through what was once a farm. I was hoping I could repeat the route we had taken on the previous hike but bushwhacks sometimes seem to have a mind of the their own. We came across the foundation of the farmhouse and I took some pictures which I had not done last time. As we left the farmhouse I took a route I hoped would lead us to the remains of the barn. My pathfinder abilities are good and soon we were at the barn a little farther up a slope. There were cement feed troughs with stalls for 16 cows. We continued to head northeast into the evergreen forest. The trees were tall, straight red pines planted by the CCC in the 1930's. As we wandered through the forest I was looking for the hill where the trees and been blown down. I thought I was a little too far to the south and corrected my route to head more to the north. Soon I could see the hill and we walked to the base and then worked our way around it through some thick brush. We also had to work our way over or around some trees that had blown down in the storms. In a short distance we descended a small hill and the ground leveled and we began to walk through a wetter area with beautiful moss. We had to work our way around some swampy areas until we turned north to follow another unnamed stream. This stream started out very small and we could easily cross and recross it. As we continued to walk north and downstream the volume of water began to grow. We were walking on the western side of the stream and at 2.1 miles we came to a rather impressive waterfall. This time I wanted to stay high on the western bank to see how this compared to the route we had taken last time along the lower eastern bank. We stopped at a vantage point to observe the falls and I took some pictures. The falls were clearly visible but I definitely preferred the view from the eastern bank where we could get right don to the falls. We continued to work our way down the western side of the stream and found the hiking much more difficult than on the other side. There were few more lookouts with good views to the stream and the ledges and cliffs on the eastern side. Several times we adjusted our route so that we could stay closer to the stream. It wasn't long before I could see the Willowemoc and it was clear we would have to descend off the higher bank down to the stream bed. This proved a little tricky but we were able to get down without too many problems. At 2.5 miles the stream ended at the Willowemoc Creek. We were able to walk along the creek bed for a while and found a nice area of exposed rock. We walked out on the rocks and I was able to take some shots up and down the creek. We returned to the area near the shore and continued to walk along the creek bed until in appeared we would run out of walking space. We headed up the bank to walk the path along the northern side of the Willowemoc. Some cabins and houses began to appear on the other side and the path along the stream was very clear in most places. At one point Sheila alerted and I saw a man standing in the woods. We said "Hello" and talked about the upcoming hunting season. We dropped won off the bank and continued along the flatter path along the creek. It was very pretty and the walking was easy. I took a look at my Suunto watch and could see we were closing the loop quickly. Soon we could see the covered bridge ahead across the stream. We came to the brook we had crossed earlier and walked up to our cars. It was hard to get an exact mileage as we had taken several "side trips" but the loop was about 3.5 miles with an elevation gain of 600 feet. It was 12:50 PM and we had taken 2 hours and 35 minutes to do the walk with about 35 minutes stopped for exploring.

On Wednesday, November 15th I had planned to go with Lisa and mutual friend Randy and a bushwhacking adventure starting at the Willowemoc Covered Bridge and exploring a part of the Willowemoc Wild Forest south of Willowemoc Road. The majority of this wild forest is to the north of the road and encompasses the area around Frick and Hodge Ponds and Long Pond. The smaller parcel south of Willowemoc Road has no trails but does have a few woods roads and informal paths to follow. Randy lives in the area and has explored it extensively so we planned to follow him. When I got up at 7:00 AM the temperature was 30 degrees and I knew it might be colder where we are going. I put on a baselayer top and bottom and wore my Columbia Omniheat pants with the Mammut hoody. I made sure I wore a blaze orange hat and brought along light gloves. I wasn't sure whether I should bring Sheila because of the hunting in the area but decided she should come with me. Sheila seemed to appealed my decision. I met Lisa at the caboose in Livingston Manor at 8:00 AM and we drove out DeBruce Road to Conklin Hill Road where we turned right and followed the road .4 miles passing through the covered bridge. There is a small parking area big enough for three cars just on the other side of the bridge and Randy was waiting there for us. We parked and got out of our cars to get acquainted. After talking briefly, I set my GPS devices and we crossed the stream that runs parallel to Conklin Hill Road at 8:25 AM. We followed the path along the creek which was small but very pretty. I took a few pictures as we continued south and southeast along the creek. There were many rapids on the stream and a few small water falls. At about .5 miles we came to the largest water fall with the water dropping over a ledge that extend in both directions. I took quite a few pictures including some of Sheila in front of the falls. I also took shots of the ledges as we worked our way to the left around the rocks and up to the top of the falls. We continued walking south and upstream to about .75 miles where Randy pointed out the abutments for an old bridge. He said there was another waterfalls about a quarter mile upstream but we turned left and started walking northeast through what was once a farm. We came across what looked like the foundation of the farmhouse and a little farther up a slope the remains of the barn. There were cement feed troughs with stalls for 16 cows. I took some pictures of the barn and then we continued to head northeast into an evergreen forest. The trees were tall and straight and I think they were red pines planted by the CCC in the 1930's. At 1.1 miles we hit the highest point on the hike on the shoulder of a hill. We walked uphill to a small lookout that gave a vantage point on the forest below. We could see that the trees on the hilltop had been flattened by the storms from Hurricane Sandy.

From this highpoint we began to descend through some dense brush and small trees. We also had to work our way over or around some trees that had blown down in the storms. In a short distance the ground leveled and we began to walk through a wetter area with beautiful moss until at 1.4 miles we turned north to follow another unnamed stream. This stream started out very small and we could easily cross and recross it. As we continued to walk north and downstream the volume of water began to grow. We had been walking on the western side of the stream but at 1.5 miles we came to a rather impressive waterfall. We crossed the top of the falls and then worked our way down the eastern side of the stream eventually getting down into the stream bed. It seemed that few people visited this area as there was no garbage strewn around. I took pictures of the falls and the cliffs around it. When I was done, we had to decide whether we were going to backtrack to the top of the falls and follow Randy's normal route or continue along the eastern bank of the creek. We decided to explore a different route and continued down the side we were on carefully picking a route along the stream that revealed several areas of cliffs and ledges. At 1.95 miles the stream ended at the Willowemoc Creek. We were able to walk along the creek bed for a while and found a nice area of exposed rock. We walked out on the rocks and I was able to take some shots up and down the creek. We returned to the area near the shore and continued to walk along the creek bed until in appeared we would run out of walking space. We headed up the bank to walk the path along the northern side of the Willowemoc. Some cabins and houses began to appear on the other side and the path along the stream was very clear in most places. It was very pretty and the walking was easy. I took a look at my Suunto watch and could see we were closing the loop quickly. Soon we could see the covered bridge ahead across the stream. We came to the brook we had crossed earlier and walked up to our cars. It was hard to get an exact mileage as we had taken several "side trips" but the loop was about 3.1 miles with an elevation gain of only 470 feet. It was 11:05 AM and we had taken 2 hours and 45 minutes to do the walk with more than 45 minutes stopped for exploring. I defiantly will return with Cindy to show her this beautiful space.

On Monday, November 13th I had a day free without practice as cross country had finished on Saturday and indoor track was scheduled to begin on Tuesday. Lisa and I had been trying to get people to hike the new trails on Round Top so she scheduled some after school and lunchtime hikes to see if they would attract people. A walk was scheduled for noon but only three people had signed up. I decided that I had made a commitment to hike so I would keep it even though I doubted two of us would be needed. In the morning Lisa sent an e-mail indicating two of the people had cancelled which was even more frustrating. I began to get ready around 11:30 Am and Cindy agreed to go with me. The temperature was in the high 30's as we got ready to go so I wore my Mammut hoody since it has a lot of zippers to dump heat. Sheila was happy to go as I put her on her leash to walk across the street. We walked through the field next to the church arriving at exactly noon. We waited around but no one was in the parking lot and at 12:10 PM we decided to go hike on our own. We walked up the steep but short cemetery hill with Sheila giving me a little help as she pulled me up the hill. At the top of the hill I took a look back down to town and over to the surrounding hills but all was pretty bleak. Just as we were about to go into the forest Cindy spotted Lisa and another woman in the parking area. We waited as they walked up the road through the cemetery to the trailhead. The other woman had a dog on a leash and when they arrived we all said "Hello". Sheila and Pepper seemed to get along OK especially when they were both off their leashes. I set my GPS to record the trail and we finally entered the trail at 12:20 PM. At the first trail junction we continued straight ahead to the lookout. Lisa and the other hiker took a quick peak at the lookout and we then continued to follow the yellow trail. At the trail junction where the lower and upper trail split we continued to follow the yellow-blazed lower trail which is all that the other two hikers wanted to do. The trails were in good shape but there were some new branches on the trail which I removed. At the next trail junction we turned right and followed the woods road back down to the first trail junction. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead. Lisa and the other woman departed but I had no intention of hiking less than a mile so Cindy and I headed back into the woods. This time we turned right at the first trail junction and headed up the more gradual slope following the woods road and the yellow blazes. At the trail junction we continued straight ahead on the blue trail and worked our way up to the summit. The trail is short but steep. We walked over the summit and started down the other side. When we got to the yellow-blazed lower trail we turned right and walked down to the lookout. We continued to follow the yellow blazes down the hill and back to the first trail junction. We walked straight out to the trailhead. Cindy was finished for the day but I wanted to get in a little more hiking and wanted to record an accurate track of a single figure 8. Cindy walked down the cemetery hill while Sheila and I headed back into the forest. Sheila kept looking back as we separated but soon was running ahead of me. At the first trail junction we turned right again and walked the woods road up to the next junction where we turned left to follow the yellow trail around the base of Round Top. At the next junction we turned right and took the blue trail over the top of the hill and down the other side. When we came to the yellow trail, we turned right and followed the trail along the base of Round Top and won to the lookout. We walked down the hill and out to the trailhead. I now had a GPS track of the lower loop, upper loop and a figure 8. We had only walked 2.4 miles but I was a little bored so I decided to head home. By the time we were at he house we had hiked close to three miles. When I looked at the GPS track, I was surprised to see that even though we had walked the same trail repeatedly the tracks seemed to differ quite bit. I attributed this to the fact that the trails are short and cover a small area so when I zoom in on the tracks they seem not to overlap each other. I was able to separate out the three different routes we had taken.

On Sunday, November 12th I wanted to get in a hike after church since I did not know what the rest of the week might have in store. By the time got home from church it was well after noon so I knew we couldn't go far from home. Since we are back on standard time, it starts to get dark as early as 4:30 PM. I suggested to Cindy that we go to the Frick Pond trailhead and hike a loop to Mongaup Pond and use the roads to return as it would be a faster route back that way. She agreed and Sheila immediately sensed a hike was in the works. I had been at the state cross country championship on Friday and Saturday so Sheila had missed two days of hiking! We began to get our gear together which made Sheila watch us very closely. As we got ready to leave the house just before 1:00 PM, the temperature was only 37 degrees but the sun was shining. I wore my Mammut hoody over a heavier long-sleeved shirt and a light baselayer. I wore a pair of Columbia Omniheat pants which have become my favorite since Mountain Hardwear foolishly dropped their Winter Wander pants! I did wear a light hat and took a pair of gloves. We got our gear and Sheila in the car and headed out the DeBruce Road. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there were two other cars parked in the small lot. Sheila was acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she ran around and headed for the trail. The temperature was 34 degrees but the sun was shining. I got my gear ready to go and set my electronics. We headed across the road to get ion the Flynn Trail at 1:15 PM. The Flynn Trail was pretty dry without any snow but there was evidence that the rains from a few weeks before had caused small "rivers" on the trails. There were clearly areas where all the leaves had been swept away and deposited elsewhere. When we got to the woods road, we turned right and started to climb the Flynn Trail toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We set a pretty fast pace as the trail was in good shape. We did stop a few times to move larger branches out of the way and so that I could take a few pictures. It was hard to believe that the last time I hiked the trail it was covered in snow. It didn't seem long at all until we were approaching the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 1.7 miles into the hike. By the time we were at the junction, we had already gained 600 feet and only had a little more elevation gain until we would start downhill. We turned right at the junction on the snowmobile trail and climbed another 120 feet to the highest point on the hike at a little over 1.9 miles.

After hitting the high point, most of the rest of the hike was downhill. The Flynn Trail heads directly north from the trailhead but the snowmobile trail wanders first east, then south, the east, then north before finally heading southeast and south toward Mongaup Pond. As we descended from the high point we found more evidence that there had been a stream of water flowing down most of the trail. We also encountered some snow and I stopped to take some shots. We also found ice crystals protruding up from the dozen ground and I took a few more pictures. At 3.1 miles we followed the trail as it turned southeast and then east still descending toward the pond. We finally hot a woods road and the trail leveled out. Just before getting to the roads that run through the campground we passed by a swamp on the left and crossed a few small streams across the trail. When we got to the roads we turned right and walked out to the main loop road. Before turning right, I took a few pictures of the wetland in that area of the pond. We trend right and walked south on the loop road. After a short walk, I turned where I took off my pack and got out the camera. I took pictures of the pond from the shore including some of the surrounding hills. I stowed the camera and shouldered my pack to walk out to the loop road. After walking a little more than half a mile we came to the observation deck and found some people fishing. I took a few more pictures and then we continued on the loop road out to the entrance of the campground. We walked out the access road to begin the walk back to the car. We both noticed ash t the sun had dipped low in the sky and it was getting a little darker and a little colder. The access road is easy to walk but is always longer than I remember. From the booth at the campground entrance to the intersection with Beech Mountain Road is only 1.1 miles but it seemed longer even though we pushed the pace. At the intersection we turned right and walked up the hill for .3 mils to the car. One car that had been in the lot was gone and the wiener of the other car, who appeared to be a hunter, was just getting ready to leave. It was 3:55 PM and we had spent 2 hours and 40 minutes hiking 6.4 miles for an overall average speed of 2.4 mph and a total climb of 960 feet.

On Wednesday, November 8th, I got up to find the trees covered in frozen snow with about 2 inches of snow on then ground. The temperature at 6:30 AM was 27 degrees. I was anxious to get out and take some pictures of the sunlight shiny off the snow-covered trees. As I was getting my equipment ready, the ambulance pager went off! This happens frequently and I have just accepted the fact that my life will be interrupted at inconvenient times. I called in and met my driver at the building. We headed out the DeBruce Road and found increasingly beautiful scenes. We returned from the call at about 10:30 AM and I was hoping that the snow would still be on the trees on Round Top so that I could hike there and take some pictures. Unfortunately the direct sunlight had melted most of the snow on Round Top so I decided to head to Frick Pond where I hoped there would be more snow and colder temperatures. I got dressed and assembled my gear with Sheila watching closely. I got Sheila in the back seat and headed out the DeBruce Road a little before 11:00 AM. There was much less snow on the trees than earlier but at least there was some left. After about 6 miles, I turned left on the Mongaup Pond Road and drove until the road split. I stayed to the left on the Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking lot at the trailhead. There was already one car parked there and a couple was wandering round the lot. I got out of the car and the couple approached me for some information. They wanted to hike the "big loop" so I instructed them how to hike up the Flynn Trail and then take the Quick Lake Trail back to the parking area. It was 34 degrees at the trailhead and there was quite a bit of snow on the trees. I immediately took some pictures and then set my GPS. I was glad I had chosen to wear tights underneath my pants and had donned my Mammut hoody. At 11:10 AM we walked out the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond. The trail was covered in snow and was also very wet from the rain that preceded the snow. There was plenty of mud that seemed to have been churned up my a vehicle. At Gravestone Junction we stayed left on the Quick Lake Trail to head down the hill to the bridge at the outlet end of Frick Pond. The trail here was mostly shaded so there was still a good amount of snow left. I stopped to take a few pictures on the snow on the trail and on the trees. We stopped at the bridge to take a few pictures even though there wasn't much snow left on the trees. The pond was very blue and the trees around it were reflected in the water.

We continued along the west side of the pond to the first junction with the Big Rock Trail. We turned right on the Big Rock Trail to go to Times Square. There were a few muddy areas and the wooden walkways were a little slippery although most of the snow was gone. When we crossed the two small bridges, I stopped to take a few pictures before continuing to Times Square. We continued straight ahead on the Big Rock Trail up the hill. From Times Square to the Flynn Trail junction the Big Rock Trail rises 625 feet in 1.1 miles. This doesn't sound like much but it always seems to be a little farther and a little longer than I remember. I started to think about some issues that were on my mind and the walk seemed to go faster. I stopped several times to take pictures on the trail. A little less than half way up the trail I noticed a deep ditch along the side of the trail. A large amount of erosion had occurred and there were a lot of large stones that had washed down the trail. I found this strange until I remembered the flooding that had occurred in Livingston Manor several weeks ago. By 12:12 PM we had walked 2.2 miles and were at the junction with the Flynn Trail. I stopped to take a few pictures in all four directions at the trail junction. We turned right to head down the Flynn Trail to the car. This return trip always seems longer than the 1.7 miles that is posted which is the correct distance. The trail is pretty but has no views. There was still snow on the trail and I could see the boot tracks of the couple I had directed up the Flynn Trail. I thought about stopping at the clearing but decided that it was getting late. The clearing is interesting as much of it has a layer a sphagnum moss over bedrock. This moss is usually found in areas with a much deeper and richer subsoil. A small road curves up to the clearing but no one has been able to tell me why the area was cleared. Walking across the clearing and through the woods is interesting since there is a series of ledges that rims Mongaup Pond. There are numerous ways to negotiate these ledges and access the loop road at the state campgrounds. We continued on the Flynn Trail back down to the car staying to the left at the gate to avoid the private property around the cabin. We arrived in the parking area at 12:50 PM having covered 4.0 miles in 1 hour and 40 minutes with and elevation gain of 700 feet.

On Monday, November 6th I had several different chores to accomplish around the house and needed to be at cross country practice by 2:00, PM. I decided the solution was to take Sheila across the street to hike on Round Top. I had not been there since the week before and I like to walk the trails frequently to make sure they are in good shape. The temperature was in the high 40's as I left the house at 12:35 PM. I wore my Mammut hoody since it has a lot of zippers to dump heat. Sheila was happy to go as I put her on her leash to walk across the street. We walked through the field next to the church and then up the steep but short cemetery hill. Sheila gave me a little help as she pulled me up the hill. At the top of the hill I took a look back down to town and over to the surrounding hills but all was pretty bleak. We turned left at the trailhead and walked into the woods on the trail. I immediately let Sheila off her leash but she stayed very close to me for the entire hike. At the first trail junction, Sheila continued straight ahead to the lookout which was fine with me as we had not been that way in some time. I took a quick peak at the lookout and then continued to follow the yellow trail. When the lower trail turned right Sheila continued straight ahead on the blue-blazed upper trail and I followed her lead. The trails were in good shape and we were soon at the summit. We continued over the summit and down the other side of the hill. At the trail junction We continued straight ahead and down the wide woods road to the first trail junction. We turned right and continued back up to the lookout and then on around the lower trail. When we got to the trail junction this time, we turned right to stay on the lower trail. At the next junction we turned right again to follow the yellow trail back to the first trail junction to complete the lower loop. Sheila seemed to want to head back home but I turned around and revered the small loop we had just done. Once again we were back at the first trail junction and I turned left to do one more big loop over the summit of Round Top. Sheila reluctantly followed me. This time we continued straight out to the trailhead at the first junction. At the trailhead we turned right and I pout Sheila on her leash to go back to the house. When we arrived home it was 12:45 PM and we had spent an hour and 10 minutes hiking over 3 miles.

On Saturday, November 4th I again planned to hike the Blacks. The previous Saturday I was headed in that direction but stopped to hike Westkill instead. I checked the weather report which called for a clear and cool day with some sun and no rain. As I was getting ready, Cindy decided she wanted to hike but did not want to do the Blacks. I suggested we head in that direction and hike Windham from Route 23. I had hiked this route before but Cindy had not. It seems like only a short time ago but my records showed it was four years before! It was 31 degrees when I got up at 7:30 Am but the temperature was supposed to rise during the day. As I dressed I put on tights under my pants and chose to wear my Mammut hoody. This outfit had been too warm on Westkill but I though this day might be cooler. I took along a light hat and gloves. Sheila was happy as always to hike and stayed near me as I dressed and packed my gear. We left Livingston Manor just before 9:00 AM as I drove out the DeBruce Road to the Frost Valley Road. I turned left on the Frost Valley Road and drove passed the YMCA camp and the parking for Big Indian, Slide Mountain and Giant Ledge. Each parking area already had quite few cars and hikers preparing to get on their way. I turned right on Route 28 in Big Indian and headed east to Route 42. I tuned left to head north to Lexington where I took Route 23A east toward Hunter. I turned north on Route 296 and followed it all the way north to Route 23 in Windham. I turned right or east on Route 23 and drove 2.5 miles to the parking area near on the left near Cross Road. I was surprised that the lot was almost full. I pulled in and found a parking space and noticed that many of the cars had bikes and bike racks attached. There are over 10 miles of trails on both sides of the road and the area has become very popular. I set my electronics and out Sheila on her leash. The temperature was 45 degrees when we crossed the road at 10:30 AM to begin our hike. The first part of the trail is interesting as it passes through a low area with several bridges and wooden walkways. Near the trail register was a DEC signboard. We were walking along the Escarpment Trail but there were several places where bike trails turned off the main trail. Just passed the register the trail split with the blue Escarpment Trail continuing straight ahead. To the left were some red trails which are part of the Elm Ridge Multiuse Area. These trails are used by hikers who do not want to climb the mountain but are also used extensively by mountain bikers. The walk started to gain some elevation and went through a series of switchbacks starting at .85 miles as it climbed the shoulder of Elm Ridge. I was already beginning to get warm so I opened all the zippers on my Mammut hoody and cooled off some. We had already met a few hikers coming back down the trail and we wondered if they had been to the summit already.

At around 1.4 miles we were at the trail junction with the trail from Peck Road. There were two women stopped near the junction and we passed them. From this point on the trail was familiar but pleasant as I had not been on it in some time. As we approached the lean-to, we could see it was occupied which is not unusual. As we passed a small dog ran out and did not listen to its owner calling. We "discouraged" it and the dog return the way it came. This was another example of inconsiderate owners! We climbed a little and found another group of hikers who were stopped perhaps waiting for the other two women. As we approached, one hiker began to continue up the trail. He stopped as others in the group spoke to him. We continued on the trail as the hardwoods gave way to evergreens and we walked over the exposed roots of the trees before passing through some more hard woods. The next section of evergreens had more exposed roots to negotiate and a series of half logs that formed a bridge over areas that can be wet. The trail was damp in places with a few middy spots. It seems that most hikers avoid the logs as a path was prominent to the side. After climbing for a while the trail leveled at 2.1 miles and stayed on contour for about .25 miles passing a stand of evergreens on the left. After this, the trail headed south a little at 2.5 miles and then turned east and eventually northeast for the final ascent to the top of Windham. Several more hikers and small groups came down the trail from the summit and soon we caught up to a pair of hikers and passed them. One other pair of hikers coming down had a beautiful, young German Shepherd and Sheila and the other dog greeted each other. We encountered a few steep areas along the way but they are short. Another couple began to catch up to us so we sped up a little until we were making the last scent to the summit plateau. At 12:35 PM we had hiked 3.3 miles and were on the relatively flat spine that passes over Windham High Point. We stopped at the first lookout that faces south toward the Blackhead Range. The sun hung over the mountains and they were shrouded in a haze. I took some pictures of this iconic view and thought I should remember to do the hike later in the day when the sun would be at a different angle and the haze might be gone.

We walked back out to the main trail and to the lookout facing north even though the "main" lookout to the north has the best views in that direction. The view was truly expansive without many distinguishing features but I took some pictures anyway. There was actually some color in the leaves in the valley below. As we approached the high point, we heard voices and I put Sheila on her leash. We met two men sitting on a rock with an older German Shepherd which greeted Sheila. We continued on to the summit and then to the viewpoint to the north. The viewpoint did not have any other visitors and was more open than the previous one although the view was much the same. I could just make out the buildings in Albany through the haze. The view from this lookout is extensive and seems to reach out forever. I took some pictures despite the haze since the sun at least was not a factor in this direction. I also took some shots of Sheila sitting on the lookout and a few of Cindy and Sheila sitting on a rock. Soon it was time to head back down. We were surprised that the large group of hikers who were stopped near the lean-to had not appeared at the summit. We passed the two women we had passed earlier on the trail as they were relaxing on a rock at the side of the trail. We set a pretty fast pace going down the trail since there weren't too many steep areas. Once we passed these steeper areas and the trail was less rocky we were able to move even faster. We met several groups coming up the trail and a few lone hikers. We descended through the "forest of roots" and headed down to the lean-to. One of the hikers coming up the trail was a forest ranger. We stopped to talk to him about the volume of hikers, blowdowns on the trail, and the bike trails. We continued down the trail as the ranger headed over to the lean-to. At the junction with the trail from Peck Road, we met a group of mountain bikers but passed by them to stay on the Escarpment Trail. We continued down through the switchbacks and to the level trail that leads out to the road. I stopped at the last bridge to take a few pictures of the high water level in the wetland. We crossed the road and found there were still a number of cars in the lot and parked along Cross Road. We were back at the car at 2:50 PM having covered 7.1 miles in 4 hours and 20 minutes with a total ascent of 1900 feet.

On Tuesday, October 31st I had not decided if I wanted to get in a hike or do some pressing work around the house. Lisa emailed me the night before and asked if I would like to hike at Trout Pond. From Sunday night into Monday morning our area had over 4 inches of rain causing local flooding. I knew this would mean that Russell Brook would be higher than my last visit and that the falls might be nice. Lisa and I decided to meet at my house at 9:00 AM and then go to Trout Pond. While I was getting ready Sheila was on my heels the whole time sensing we would be going out. I knew the forecast was for cool weather and the temperature at the house was 31 degrees when I got up at 7:30 AM. I wore a double layer on top with a long sleeved shirt and then put on my Mammut hoody. I decided not to put on tights even though the Railriders Ecomesh pants are really too light for fall. Lisa arrived right at 9:00 Am and we left the house at 9:05 AM. I headed north and west on State Route 17 toward Roscoe getting off at exit 94. I headed north on Route 206 passing through Roscoe and then Rockland. Just after the Roscoe Nursing Home I turned left on Morton Hill Road and followed it for 3 miles to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the side of the road avoiding the private parking area. It was 9:25 AM when I set my electronics and we began our hike. I like the walk down Russell Brook Road and Sheila seemed to be having fun running ahead and coming back to me. I listened for the sound of the water in the brook and it grew louder the farther we hiked. When we came to the viewpoint over the upper falls, the volume of the falls was as great as in the spring. I decided to walk down to take some pictures rather than wait for the walk back to make sure I got some good shots. I took pictures at several different zooms and with several camera settings. I packed up and walked back up to the road to join Lisa. We walked down to the lower parking area where there were no cars parked. We continued down the road and crossed the bridge over Russell Brook where we could see that the water was very high. We found that the Japanese knotweed was dying as it does during the late fall and winter months. We continued on the road and decided to visit the main falls on the way back. At the trail junction just after the register we continued straight ahead to walk up to Trout Pond. Within a short distance we came to a new blowdown across the trail which would require tools to remove. As we walked, Lisa told me she had only planned to go as far as the lean-tos and I told her I thought we would be doing the whole loop. The trail began to get very wet with some standing water and lots of small rivulets running down the trail. All of the small streams running across the trail were running nicely. When we arrived at the pond, we walked to the left to the "beach" at the outlet end of the pond. It was clear that the water level was much higher than it had been in some time and the water was within a foot of the spillway. Ten days earlier the distance from the spillway to the water was at least ten feet! The sky was very blue with some puffy white clouds and the water was completely still. There were some interesting reflections and some colors which made taking pictures a must. I took a number of pictures concentrating on the reflections and the patches of color in the remaining leaves. Sheila seemed consent with wading a little in the water without immersing her entire body.

We continued on the main trail on the east side of Trout Pond walking toward the inlet end and the lean-tos. The trail continued to be very wet with pools of water we tried to avoid. There were numerous branches on the trail which we removed and some more blowdown from the storm on Sunday night. We stopped just before the lean-tos and walked to the shore where I took some pictures. We stopped at the bridge over the inlet and I took a few shots of the pond. This area was also very wet from the overflow from the inlet stream. This stream had been completely dry on my previous hike 10 days before. Lisa led the way as we turned right to follow the trail up Cherry Ridge. I was glad she chose to hike the loop rather than return the way we had come. As we hiked, I found it satisfying to look at the many places where I had cleared branches and blowdowns from the trail on my last trip. There were some new branches on the trail and several small blowdowns. Some blowdowns we were able to clear by moving the to the side of the trail and others would require an ax and saw. Soon we were at the highest point on Cherry Ridge and starting down the other side. This part of the trail was more like a stream with flowing water and several large pools. This part of the hike can drag sometimes but it seemed to go very fast as we talked most of the way. We paused at the "forest of many small trees" and then continued on to the woods road and snowmobile trail that runs by Mud Pond. Lisa wanted to visit Mud Pond so we turned right and walked about .1 miles before turning left and following a path down to the pond. When we arrived at the shore of the pond, the skies had become completely overcast and the scene was much more bleak than at Trout Pond. I took a few shots and then we turned around and headed back to the main trail. We walked back to the trail junction and then up the short hill before starting the long descent. At the top of the hill we began the long descent back to the rail junction where we had started. The descent lasts for .7 miles and drops 385 feet to a bridge that crosses the outlet stream from Trout Pond. The trail continued to be very wet but was not as muddy as I expected. We stopped at the bridge over the outlet stream from Tour Pound and I took a few pictures showing the high water. At the trail junction we turned right and headed back out toward the lower parking area. At the path to the falls we turned left and walked out toward the falls. We worked our way down the bank to the streambed. I took pictures of the falls using some different setting. I also shot a short video of the falls and the stream. Before packing up my camera I asked Sheila to pose in from of the falls. We walked back out to the main trail and walked to the lower parking lot. Sometimes the walk back up Russell Brook Road seems long and tedious but I was still feeling fresh and having someone to talk to is always nice. We continued to walk up the road and soon arrived back at the car. It was 12:35 PM when we arrived back at the car after hiking 6.0 miles in 3 hours and 10 minutes with a 1190 foot total ascent. The temperature was 49 degrees.

On Saturday, October 28th, I was ready to do a more challenging hike than I can do when I have cross country practice in the afternoon. I had planned to go north and do the Blacks getting a start no later than 8:00 AM. I woke up a little later than I thought I might and asked Cody if she would like to go and She said she would. I knew that Sunday would be a washout due to a forecast of heavy rain and that I would be tied up as school nurse on Monday. The temperature in the morning was 33 degrees so we didn't hurry to get ready. I put on tights an wore my Mammut hoody as I do not like to be cold. I also took a light hat and gloves. Sheila was ecstatic to be going anywhere which is her usual state. We got everything in the car and pulled out of Livingston Manor a little after 9:00 AM. We headed out DeBruce Road and turned left on Route 47 at the end to head toward Big Indian and Route 28. There were a few cars at the Biscuit Brook parking area but the Slide Mountain parking area was beginning to fill up. By the time we passed the parking for Giant Ledge and Panther they were beginning to park along the road. As we passed these pots where we have hiked before Sheila would "moan" as if she was asking me if we could stop and hike. I turned right on Route 28 and then left on Route 42 to head toward Spruceton. On the way from Shandaken to Spruceton on Rt 42 there were even a few cars at the Halcott parking area. Along the way Cindy began hinting that Sheila didn't want to ride all the way to the Blacks! I decided that there might not be any parking when we got there and that Weskit would be a good substitute. I was also concerned that Cindy might not be able to handle Blackhead AND Black Dome in the same hike. Westkill is a special place for me as I spread the ashes of a previous hiking partner, Sheba, at the Buck Ridge lookouts. I turned right on the Spruceton Road and was glad that it had been paved nicely. Along the road we passed the Spruceton Inn which was gained a nice reputation and also the West Kill Brewery where I wanted to stop on the return trip. We were following a car that seemed to be looking for something and it continued ahead of us even when the road turned to dirt. The parking lot for Hunter was filled and when we arrived at the parking area for Westkill it was also packed. I decided to drive up the road to see if the smaller loot was also filled. When we arrived at the smaller lot, it was almost empty so I pulled in and parked. The signs warned that this was a snowplow turnaround but I was sure it would not be needed on this day. Several other cars pulled in right after us so we hurried to get ready. The temperature was 51 degrees and a stiff breeze was blowing so I was glad I had dressed warmly. I set my GPS, put Sheila on her leash and we headed out on the woods road toward Diamond Notch Falls at 10:25 AM. The trail was nearly dry with only a few wet spots but there was a good amount of water in the stream. The stream was making quite a noise and I was tempted to stop several times to take pictures. I decided to put this off until the return trip. There was a couple behind us that were dressed as if the falls was their destination. I could see a couple ahead of us and soon they came back to me to sake if they were on the trail to Westkill. I said "Yes" and gave them some suggestions about the hike.

At the falls, we turned right on the Devil's Path and then right again at the end of the bridge. I was again tempted to take pictures but decided to wait until the trip back. As we continued to follow the trail it began to get steeper and wetter in spots which made it slipperier. The couple that had asked me some questions were just behind Cindy and were obvious faster than us so we let them pass and they soon were out of site. I was beginning to get very warm so I stopped to take off my hoody. At the same time I decided to take off my tights which I had only done one time before. After ditching these two items I felt light but was a little cold as I had built up a real sweat. As we continued the ascent, I began to remember that the ascent was long and steep in some places. We came to a section of trail that requires some side-hilling and is much more difficult when there is snow. As we continued to hike we met a few hikers and pairs of hikers coming back from the summit. It didn't take us long to get to the spot which is a near vertical climb. This is a short ascent but leads to a longer one. In the winter this is often a sheet of ice and can be exciting on the way up and the way down. Sheila scrambled up without much trouble and we followed making use of the roots as handholds and our poles. Once we passed this point there were still some steep areas to conquer. The mile climb from just after the falls to where the trail begins to level averages a 20% grade and can be very tiring. Once we got to the more level part there were still some small climbs and a few descents but the going was easier. From that point to Buck Ridge and the summit is still well over a mile. On our way to the rock overhang or "cave" we passed the 3500 foot sign. I could have sworn the sign used to be just above the overhand but I checked my GPS and the new placement seems more correct. We continued to meet a few hikers coming down the trail. There were a lot of branches on the trail, and no one seemed concerned about removing them so I did. In one spot a tree had fallen across the trail leaving the choice of crawling underneath or pushing through some dense brush on the sides.

We were soon above the "cave" and after this the trail turns almost due west and levels off slightly. A hiker approached and I grabbed Sheila as I always do. We said "Hello" and he looked very familiar. He asked of I was alone and I indicated my wife was not far behind. He continued passed me but stopped to talk to Cindy for a few minutes. When Cindy caught up, she told me it was Mike Dwyer, the Aspirants Chairperson for the Catskill 3500 Club. He had thought I looked familiar and knew my name when Cindy told him. We finally came to the little descent before the final ascent to the Buck Ridge Lookouts. We worked our way down and were soon at the base of the final ascent. We climbed up to Buck Ridge arriving at 12:35 PM. It had taken us 2 hours and 10 minutes to hike 3 miles! So much for keeping a good pace. The couple that had gone ahead of us were relaxing at the lookouts. They were from Albany and had already been to the summit. I leashed Sheila to a tree and gave her a drink. Cindy and I also drank some water and Cindy got out a bar to eat. I decided to take some pictures before continuing on to the summit. I took a few shots from the lookouts toward the south but there was quite a bit of haze. There was some color left on the trees which was mostly yellow from the beeches. I released Sheila and we walked over to the lookout to the north where I had taken my favorite picture of Sheba. Sheila jumped up on the large boulder there but the view is almost completely blocked by trees now. I took a few shots and returned to where Cindy was sitting. I shouldered my pack and headed toward the summit just as a large group of hikers arrived. Hiking to the summit of Westkill is a short trip but serves no purpose other than to allow a hiker to claim they got to the summit. It is only about .1 miles and it took us about 15 minutes to get up and back to the lookouts. There is still a sign at the summit that says "Westkill Mt. Summit and a large stone cairn. When we got back to the lookouts, I rook one more picture of an interesting tree and then we started back down the trail from Buck Ridge at 12:55 PM.

We tried to keep a quick pace on the way down without stopping but the going was not easy in some of the steeper spots. We met several individuals hikers, pairs and groups on the way up. One young lady had left the parking area just behind us but was just getting to the top as we were descending. We continued down the trail which was certainly easier than hiking up! We stopped for a few pictures at the rock overhand where we met two pairs of hikers coming up the trail. On the way down toward the vertical climb, I saw a hiker coming up the trail and one coming down behind us. The hiker who was descending was the young lady that had just passed us going up to the summit. It occurred to me then that she was not slow but had probably done Hunter and the Westkill! At one point I looked up to see a dog approaching without a leash. Sheila and the other dog approached each other and seemed to get along. As the other owners approached I called Sheila and they controlled their dog. The other dog was a beautiful red brown color and I asked about his breed. I was surprised to find out he was a Fox Red Labrador since I would have said he was a hound of some kind. I had never heard of this color variation but it was very striking. I was also surprised when the owner said he was only one year old as he was already much larger than Sheila. We continued down the trail and met no ore hikers coming up. Just before the bridge at the falls, I walked off the trail to the left and took some pictures of the bridge and the falls. I also took a shot of Cindy and Sheila on the bridge. I took a few more shot from the rocks under the bridge and then some more from the bridge. We crossed the bridge at the falls and Sheila and I negotiated the short but steep drop to the base of the falls. Sheila did not seem to be interested in a dip in the cold water. I took pictures of the falls with several different settings on the camera trying to get the soft, wispy effect that some people like. The stream has actually changed its course slightly and now flows more on the left rather than the right side of the bed. We climbed back up the bank to trail and continued back to the car. We did meet some more hikers coming up the trail but all looked as if they were only going to the falls. I stooped a couple of times to take some pictures of the smaller rapids along the way. Back at the car the temperature had risen to 60 degrees which was warmer than when we started. We were back in the parking area at 3:05 PM having covered 6.4 miles in 4 hours and 40 minutes with plenty of time allowed for photography. The total ascent was 2070 feet. I was tired but glad we had made the trip. On the way back, we stopped at the West Kill Brewery and found it was packed. We parked at the bottom of the hill and walked up to the brewery where there was an "event" happening. A lot of people were "hanging out" drinking beer and having a good time. They had some cheese boards and a wood-fired pizza oven. We got in line which is when I found out Cindy did not intend to have any beer. I was disappointed as I wanted to stay around for a little while and enjoy the happening. I did get a chocolate porter which was very good even though porters are not my favorite. I drank it down as we walked back to the car which was not what I had intended. I scrapped my plans to go to Pancho Villas or The Alamo and drove back to Livingston Manor for supper. There were still quite a few cars parked at the various trailheads on the way home taking advantage of the beautiful day.

On Thursday, October 26th I wanted to get in a hike after my early morning men's group at church and afternoon cross country practice. I decided I wanted to stay close to home and would go to Frick and Hodge Ponds for the exercise. My Plan was to hike the loop in a clockwise direction. After doing a few chores around the house, I began to get my gear together which made Sheila watch me very closely. We hadn't been out in a few days and she wasn't letting me out of her sight. When I was ready to leave at 10:00 AM the temperature was only in the high 40's. Despite this I decided to wear only abduct jacket as my Mammut hoody is very warm. I did wear a light hat and threw in a pair of gloves. I also packed a rain jacket as the bright blue skies had suddenly turned cloudy. I got my gear and Sheila in the car and headed out the DeBruce Road. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there was one other car parked in the small lot. Sheila was acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she ran around and headed for the trail. The temperature was 44 degrees and the constant breeze blowing, made me a little cool. I got my gear ready to go and set my GPS. The skies were still a little overcast as we headed out the path to the register on Quick Lake Trail at 10:20 AM. The Quick Lake Trail was wet and muddy from the hard rain the day before. At Gravestone Junction we turned left to head down to Frick Pond. The water level in the pond was a little higher than it had been and the beaver dam looked like it might be in the process of reconstruction. Someone had completely pulled out the beaver dam across the outlet stream sometime in the early fall. The sky had a little blue but the leaves were mostly gone from the trees except for the beeches. I decided to take few shots anyway as I almost always do. These shots showed a somewhat bleak picture with a few spots of color. We continued on the Quick Lake Trail around the pond bearing left at the next trail junction to stay on the red trail. This part of the trail was extremely wet and soggy from the rain. It was hared to find a place to get good footing without stepping in water or mud. We were setting a fast pace despite the water and soon came to the "pine promenade" and the little stream through the woods. The water level in the stream was higher than it had been in some time but was still easy to cross. I did remove a few sticks along the way and several larger blowdown. We arrived at Iron Wheel Junction at 1.6 miles.

We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and started the long uphill climb toward Junkyard Junction. The trail continued to be wet most of the way and showed signs that the hard rain had probably produced small streams that had eroded the trail. We were headed for Junkyard Junction at 3.2 miles. With no one to talk to I was lost in my own thoughts as Sheila followed a few game trails. The sun was starting to come through the clouds and I could see some blue. We turned right onto the blue Flynn Trail which is almost flat. It too was wet with some puddles and muddy areas. There were no major blowdowns but I continued to remove branches that littered the trail. When we got to the gate, we turned right to stay on the trail and head down toward Hodge Pond. At 3.75 miles the Flynn Trail heads right but I decided to turn left on the jeep trail around the head end of the pond. At the apex of the pond Sheila turned right and followed a path down to the shore and I followed. I took some shots of the pond since the this time the skies were beginning to show some blue and the clouds were interesting. I packed up and we went back to the trail to walk up the hill and then down to the field at the inlet end of the pond. When we came to the clearing at the outlet end of the pond, we walked over to the shore. I got out my camera again to take some pictures. The colors and Hodge Pond were just as muted as at Frick. As I was taking my last shots, a bald eagle began circling the pond and diving toward the surface. I took numerous pictures of elusive bird before packing up and walking back to the Flynn Trail to the point where it re-enters the woods. We started the climb up the hill and I was feeling quite fresh and concentrated on using my poles to help set a quick pace up the hill. At the top of the hill we stayed to the right to continue on the Flynn Trail. A left turn follows a woods road out to what remains of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. The Flynn Trail is relatively flat to the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 4.5 miles. Along the way, I saw to hikers coming toad us so I put Sheila on her leash. We said "Hello" as we passed and I let Sheila off her leash soon after. We continued straight through the junction with the Big Rock Trail to follow the Flynn Trail back to the car. The walk was pretty but had no remarkable views or features. We walked quickly and as we approached the gate on the woods road, we turned left to avoid the private property around the cabin and to stay on the trail. We finished our walk and were back at the car by 1:00 PM. We had covered 6.6 miles in 2 hours and with an elevation gain of 930 feet. It still seemed cool as the temperature was only 52 degrees.

On Sunday, October 22nd I wanted to get in a hike after church as the weather was warm and beautiful. When we got home I suggested we go to hike at Kelly Hollow as we had not been there in since January! The hike is only about 4 miles but there are some interesting sites including a stream that runs between the trail out and the trail back. There is also a beaver pond on the trail with a lean-to. We got Sheila and our gear in the car and headed toward Roscoe on Old Route 17 little after 1:00 PM. I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and drove through Lew Beach to Turnwood where I turned left on the Barkaboom Road. I drove to the end of the Barkaboom Road band turned right at the Pepacton Reservoir On BWS 9. After 4.5 miles, I turned right on Millbrook Road and continued 5.25 miles to the parking lot for Kelly Hollow on the right. We parked at 1:40 PM next to the only car in the lot. I took a moment to set my GPS before starting our hike at 1:45 PM by heading out on the trail marked with yellow XC skiing blazes. My plan was to walk the trail in a figure 8 which is something I had not done before. Just after the stream we came to a woods road and turned right heading south and ascending slightly. Along the way the trail was wet in spots which surprised us as everywhere else we had hiked was bone dry. Almost immediately we could see a couple ahead of us with two dogs on leashes. I put Sheila on her leash and we passed by the other hikers who had moved to the side of the trail. Their dogs were bigger than Sheila and very excited about meeting another dog. Shortly after this encounter we met another hiker who looked like he was a hunter scouting the area. At .5 miles we came to the cutoff to the right for the Short Loop hike. We turned right to walk down the cutoff trail to the bridge. I took some pictures before we crossed the ridge and headed up the trail to the main loop trail on the other side.

We turned left on the loop trail heading southwest and then south toward the beaver pond and lean-to. Over the nest .4 miles we gained about 300 feet for an 11% grade. Although this is not a steep climb it was more than I remembered. At 1.2 miles we were at the beaver pond which is quickly becoming a beaver meadow. There are no more beavers in the area and the pond is now a small puddle. There were some nice colors in the leaves remaining on the trees so I took some pictures before we continued around the pond. We stopped again on the other side and I took a few more pictures before continuing on to the lean-to in the woods. The lean-to was in good shape As was the privy but we had no reason to stop and continued on the trail now heading northeast and downhill. The trail made a turn so that we were heading southeast and we crossed a few bridges over small streams. At one point we started to walk through a grove of pines and I stopped to take a few shots including a couple straight up. At 1.75 miles we came to the spot where I had bushwhacked up to Millbrook Ridge to look down on Alder Lake. At 2.1 miles we made and almost 180 degree turn and started heading north. I noted that this would be a good place to try another bushwhack as it was only .7 miles to the trail that runs along Millbrook Ridge. We continued north on the trail still descending. At 2.75 miles we again came to the crossover trail and turned left to cross the middle of the figure 8. As we made the turn two more hikers appeared behind us on the main trail which was strange as we had not noticed them before. We crossed the bridge and walked up the hill on the other side to the main trail. This time we turned right and started to walk 1.1 miles back to the car. The day was very pleasant with a slight breeze blowing. This part of the trail was not well marked but the path was pretty obvious as it followed a woods road. At 3.6 miles we came to the Middletown Cemetery and found a couple with motorcycles enjoying a quiet moment. I decided not to take pictures of the cemetery so we continued out the access road to Millbrook Road. We trend right and walked the final .25 miles back to the car. It was 3:45 PM and we had spent 2 hours hiking 4 miles with an elevation gain of 660 feet. On the way back I decided to go over Cross Mountain Road which is a narrow dirt road that ends up at Alder Lake. I knew that the Town of Hardenburgh had worked on the road in the early summer. I don't know what they did to the road but it was still all dirt and still narrow. There were several stretches where two cars could not pass by each other so I was glad that there were no other cars on this 4 mile adventure!

On Friday, October 20th I asked Cindy if she would like to go to Winter Clove and hike some of the trails there and she agreed. I checked my records and we had not been there in almost seven years! Winter Clove is primarily a resort which offers room and board and various activities to those who stay there. It is located north of Palenville with the address being Round Top. The drawback for us is that this is around a two hour drive but I did want to hike some of the trails which are really interesting. Winter Clove has miles of hiking trails open to those who are paying guests but they allow non-guests to hike which is very generous. The trails included several nice lookouts and waterfalls. There is even a trail to North Point and Stoppel Point although not all the trails are well-marked or well maintained. We got our gear together and prepared to leave the house. I had created a map for the Avenza app on my iPhone from some GPS tracks from previous visits. The temperature was cool but seemed to be rising so I put on a light jacket and took along a light hat and gloves. I decided to follow the route suggested by Google maps so at 9:10 AM we left Livingston Manor with an excited Sheila in the backseat. I drove through Liberty on Route 52 to Woodbourne and on To Ellenville. In Ellenville I picked up Route 209 north to Kingston. From there I took the Thruway north to Saugerties where I got on Route 32 north. I began to doubt my recollection of the route but found Hearts Content Road just after the old Friar Tuck Inn. After a short drive, I made another left onto Winter Clove Road. From that point on there were small signs indicating the various resorts in this area and there are quite a few. We arrived at Winter Cove at about 11:10 AM. I got permission the night before so I didn't bother to visit the office although I should have picked up some maps as many of their signs are keyed to their maps. I checked out some signs, set my GPS and we started our hike at 11:10 AM. The temperature was in the high 40's when we started and it was getting warmer under sunny and cloudless skies. We followed the sign in the field just up from where we parked so we headed in that direction to begin our adventure. Just before we started out another hiker went out on the trails ahead of us. We saw him a few more times before we went our separate ways. He was the only person we would see all day!

The neatly lettered sign mentioned Indian Lookout and Rips Rock which were the destinations that held the most interest for us. We continued through the field down to a creek and across a small bridge. There were many maples in this area and each had at least one pipe connected to them for the collection of sap. The trail went through a series of switchbacks as it climbed a moderate hill with other trails branching off along the way. Some newer rails looked like single track mountain bike trails and we avoided these. There were some signs to indicate where we were going and red and blue paint blazes were also present. Soon the trail headed east and away from the brook through a field and passed by a small warming hut for skiers. We had been climbing some but not steeply and at about .6 miles a trail continued east toward "The Ledges". I decided to save that for the return trip so we continued on the trail we were on, first west and then south. The trail were all very dry and I knew there was a forest fire alert posted. At one point we could see some elaborate stone work which lined the sides of a stream bed. At .9 miles another sign point to a spur trail to "Lost Pond" on the left but we stayed on the main trail. Around 1.2 miles another spur trail headed to "Lost Bridge" and just beyond that point was a short trail to the left to a campsite. Around this point we headed off the main trail to the west to check out the Webster Homestead. The family owned a large amount of farmland in the area and there was an interesting foundation not far off the main trail. After taking a few pictures we turned around and returned to the main trail. At 1.4 miles there was another sign pointing to The left to "Lost Pond" which made me think we might visit this attraction on the way back. At 1.6 miles we had the choice of turning left to the "Lower Rips Trail" or continuing on the trail we were on. We continued and walked parallel to a small brook that had cut a deep gorge between and into the surrounding rock. At 1.8 miles we cut across the streambed which had no water in it. I checked my GPS and the Avenza app and we were on the correct route to Rips Rock.

We had been gaining elevation from the time we left the Webster Homestead aging some 500 feet until the trail began to level a little and at 2.2 miles we arrived at Indian Lookout. This was an opening in the trees that looked out to the east toward the Hudson River. The view was nice and, as always near the Hudson, a little hazy. There was still some color on some of the trees. We stopped for pictures, a drink and a snack. It was clear that we were walking the edge of an escarpment but there was another, higher ridge of rock to our right. To this point the trail was clear and looked used. From this point on the leaves appeared undisturbed but I could the red paint blazes to mark the trail and I had the track on my Avenza app. We continued to follow the paint blazes from the Indian Lookout. The trail was level at first but then began to drop to a small streambed continuing to head south. The trail headed up a hill and we gained some more elevation. At 2.5 miles the a significant gorge began to appear and the trail swung left or southeast and ascended another small hill. I stopped to take a few pictures of the gorge. The trail hugged the edge of the top of the hill and then several views opened up of the opposite side of the hollow. There were interesting rock formations and the sun behind the ridge made for some interesting lighting effects. We stopped to take a few pictures since we had finally found some color in the leaves! We also had some limited views out to the Hudson River.

We slid down some slippery rocks and then ducked under and through some brush to find...a beautiful, expansive lookout toward the east and southeast. A small sign declared "Rips Rock 1,809 feet". The deep chasm immediately to the south is formed by Stony Brook and is sometimes called Rip Van Winkle Hollow. The sun pretty high in the sky and I adjusted my camera to avoid it as I took numerous shots up the clove and out over the wide expanse of the valley below. Even the drop down into the hollow offered some nice photographic opportunities. Since we stopped, I took many pictures of the ridge, the hollow and to the east toward the river. Walking along the trail at the edge of the cliff was...exciting. The slippery leaves and overgrown brush tended to push us dangerously close to the edge but we made it in good shape. The views just kept getting better! We stopped two more times to take additional pictures before following the trail into the woods. The trail led us roughly around the top of the hill and we thought it might simply connect to the trail we used on the way up. It did not. After a trip around the summit the trail made a short steep descent between and over some rocks. The steepness and the slippery leaves made for an interesting descent. When I got down, I asked Cindy to pause for a minute and pose with Sheila. After this point, the trail changed character totally becoming wide and well-used. We continued to descend and hit a few switchbacks. The trail continued to parallel the one we took up but at a lower elevation. It became clear this was the "lower" trail from earlier and at 4.0 miles we were back at the junction. We turned right and began to retrace our steps back toward Winter Clove Inn. At 4.1 miles we came to the sign for "lost Pond" and decided we would take this trail as we knew it connected back to the main trail farther along.

At 4.6 miles I could see a large cleared area to the right of the trail which almost looked like a parking area. From the green cast of the ground I was convinced it was "Lost Pond. I took off my pack and got the camera to walk down and take a few pictures. As I started down to that area, Cindy yelled "Snake"! I cam back up to my pack and found a small snake coiled as if to strike. I took a few pictures and then used my hiking pole to challenge it. The snake did strike a few times and then slowly slithered off. I walked down to the cleared area to take a few pictures and the returned to my pack. We continued along the trail and at 4.9 miles we were back at the trail we had been on earlier. We turned right and followed the trail until 5.2 miles. At this point the main trail turned sharply left to head back to the car. We turned right to head toward the ledges. Within a short distance we came to a dirt road where we turned left. We walked along the road turning right at a fork and found "The Ledges". From this open lookout there is a great view of what some call "The Great Wall of Manitou" which, in part, includes the Blackhead Range. I took some pictures and then we turned around and followed the dirt road back to our turn. From here we simply retraced our path along the trails back to the field and the parking area. We were back at the car at 3:05 PM having hiked 6.7 miles in 3 hours and 55 minutes gaining a total of 1235 feet.

On Thursday, October 19th, I was ready to get out for a hike after my 6:15 AM men's bible study at church. When I returned to Livingston Manor, I ate breakfast at Cafe 43 and returned home to do a few chores before heading out. I deiced I would go to Trout Pond since I had not bee there in some time and since it was close enough to get in a hike before cross country practice. When Sheila got wind of my plans, she started jumping around and could hardly contain herself even though we had hiked several times during the week. We left Livingston Manor at about 9:45 AM under sunny skies but with a temperatures just into the mid 40's. I put on my Mammut hoody and brought along gloves and a light hat. I had my gear in the trunk and an overjoyed Sheila in the back seat as we headed to Roscoe on State Route 17. I got on Route 206 and followed it across the Delaware County line to Morton Hill Road. After a left turn on Morton Hill Road, I drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the side of the road to avoid the parking area which is private. We began our hike down Russell Brook Road at 10:10 AM. The temperature was 44 degrees so I decided to wear the Mammut Hoody but leave the hat and light gloves behind. We continued on down Russell Brook Road and found it very dry. I could hardly hear any water running in the brook beside the road. As we passed the overlook over the upper falls, I could see that there was almost no water in the stream and decided I would not visit either falls unless it was on the way back. We continued down toward the parking area where there were no cars and got on the woods road that goes down to the bridge that crosses the brook. The Japanese knotweed was in the process of dying and some was leaning over into the trail. We continue on the main trail to the register. At the trail junction just after the register we turned to the left to climb the steeper hill toward Mud Pond. The trail was very dry with almost no water or mud. The stream next to the trail had no water flowing. There were some occasional branches on the trail which I picked up and moved off the trail. The sun was out and as soon as we started to climb the hill, I stopped to open up the zippers on my hoody. The ascent went quickly and I was glad to see there were no major blowdowns on this part of the trail. We reached the top of the hill and walked down the wide woods road to the next trail junction at 1.6 miles. We made a right to follow the trail up to the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. This trail was also very dry with none of the water or mud that sometimes makes the hike difficult. There were several large branches and trucks across the trail. Most of these blowdowns seemed to be rotten and had broken up on impact. I was able to move most of them off the trail without a problem.

After passing through an area with many small diameter trees, we started a short descent with the trail remaining dry. The ascent continued for the next 1.2 miles until at 2.7 miles into the hike when we were at the highest point and ready to start the descent to Trout Pond. Along the way we had come across a few blowdowns which I removed or hiked around. As we descended toward Trout Pond there were three major blowdowns that would require an axe and saw to clear. The trail remained dry and a little slippery in places from the leaves. As we approached the bridge at the inlet end of the pond, I decided to stop and take some pictures. We walked out through the weeds to the shore and found the water level still very low. There wasn't much color in the leaves but I took some shots anyway. As we walked across the bridge, I noticed there was no water at all in the inlet stream! We continued on the main trail toward the outlet of the pond. The trail was till dry and the hiking was easy. Along the way Sheila alerted and I saw an older couple approaching us. I put Sheila on her leash and moved to the side of the trail but the male hiker insisted on approaching Sheila which did not make her happy. At the lower end of the pond I again stopped to take pictures of a scene I had photographed many times! The water level in the pond was very low and there were no once white clouds in the sky. The hike from the outlet to the trail junction is all downhill and we were able to make good time. On the way down we met a young couple. The woman was carrying a young child in a backpack carrier. We said "Hello" as we passed. By 12:10 PM we had hiked 4.7 miles and were back at the trail junction and register box. I decided that I did not want to walk over to the falls as I was a little short on time. We walked out to the parking area to continue our hike back to the car. There was only one car in the parking lot so I assumed one couple had parked on Morton Hill Road. As we walked up the road back to the car, I did not stop at the overlook over the upper falls but continued up the road. We continued up the road and back to the car. Another car was parking in the pulloff which is on private property and clearly posted. It is thoughtless people like these that cause problems for other hikers! We arrived back at 12:25 PM having covered 5.4 miles and 1105 vertical feet in 2 hours and 15 minutes. The temperature had risen to about 49 degrees as we left.

On Wednesday, October 18th I had several different tasks to accomplish around the house and I also needed to leave early for an away cross country meet. I decided the solution was to take Sheila across the street to hike on Round Top. I had not been there since the week before and I like to walk the trails frequently to make sure they are in good shape. The temperature was in the low 50's as I left the house so I wore a light jacket. Sheila was happy to go as I put her on her leash to walk across the street at about 11:30 AM. We walked through the field next to the church and then up the steep but short cemetery hill. Sheila gave me a little help as she pulled me up the hill. At the top of the hill I took a look back down to town and over to the surrounding hills hoping to find a blotch of color somewhere. There were no colorful trees and had not been for the entire fall. Some other areas in the Catskills had some color but not Livingston Manor! We turned left at the trailhead and walked into the woods on the trail. I immediately let Sheila off her leash but she stayed very close to me for the entire hike. At the first trail junction, Sheila turned right and I followed her up the more gentle ascent. Where the lower trail turned left Sheila continued straight ahead on the blue-blazed upper trail and I followed her lead. The trails were in good shape and we were soon at the summit. We continued over the summit and down the other side of the hill. At the junction with the lower trail I found a large branch across the trail. I tried to move it in several ways but it would not budge. I decided we would complete our first loop, walk back to the house to get my saw and return to eliminate this obstacle. We turned right and walked the gentle downhill to the lookout. At the viewpoint we turned left and walked down the steep trail to the first trail junction. We walked out to the trailhead and then down the hill toward the church. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked to our driveway and back to the house. I picked up my smaller Silky saw and we headed back across the street and up the hill to the top of the cemetery. This time we continued straight ahead toward the lookout and then followed the rail to the junction with the blue trail where the tree was across the path. It took me only a few minutes to cut up the blowdown and pull it off the trail. We continued on the lower trail to the next trail junction where we turned right and headed down the lower trail to the first junction. I didn't want to keep carrying the saw so I placed it behind a tree. We turned right and started back up to the lookout where we turned right to follow the trail to the junction with the upper blue trail. We continued straight ahead on the blue trail over the summit ion the opposite direction from before. We walked won the other side to the trail junction and continued straight ahead on the yellow trail back to the first trail junction. At this point Sheila started to run out to the trailhead but I called her back as I turned around to start the final lower loop up the shallower grade. We followed the lower trail in a counterclockwise direction passing the lookout and descending back to the first trail junction. This time Sheila made a mad dash toward the trailhead and I followed her. We continued out to the trailhead and turned right. I put Sheila on her leash for the walk down the hill and back across the street to the house. It was 1:00 PM and we had spent an hour and a half hiking over 3 miles and doing a little trail work.

On Monday, October 16th, I wanted to get in a hike after two days off for a cross country meet and obligations at church. I got up a little late and was in no hurry as the temperature was in the low 40's and the sky completely overcast. I asked Cindy if she wanted to hike and she said "Yes" and we agreed to go to the Frick Pond area. This is our "go to" spot since it is close to home and there area number of different rails that can be combined into a variety of hikes. I decided against wearing tights underneath my pants but did wear my Mammut hoody since it has several different zippers to vent heat. Cindy and I both took a hat a light gloves since it was only 48 degrees when we left the house at 10:10 AM. Sheila acted as if she had not hiked or a month as she jumped into the back seat. We arrived just before 10:30 AM to find no one else parked in the lots. I checked the temperature and it was 44 degrees at the trailhead! I set Garmin GPS and we crossed the road to get on the Flynn Trail. There was a slight breeze blowing which made it seem even cooler. We immediately noticed that there were still a few green leaves on some trees but not much color remained. Some of the leaves on the ground had some color but they had turned, stayed on the trees for a day or so and then fallen in the wind and rain. We made the turn up the wide woods road that is the Flynn Trail and started up what was once the Beech Mountain Road. The grass was a little wet and there was some mud in places. It was obvious there had been some wind as we were constantly moving branches off the trail. In a few places I had to drop my poles and take a few minutes to lift larger obstacles off the trail. Sheila was having a great time following animal trails and running up and own the main trail. We set a good pace on the ascent but really did not hurry. By 11:20 AM we had made the 1.7 uphill miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued on the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. The skies were still overcast and the breeze was still blowing. I was comfortable while we hiked but cool when we stopped.

At the next trail junction we turned right off the Flynn Trail to take the wood road toward the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We then turned left at the next trail junction to descend toward the pond. This trail had been scraped by OSI and had been a muddy mess. It was now covered in leaves and some grass was growing back which made the hiking easier. At the next opportunity, we turned right to head around the back of the pond on the old jeep trail. At one point we headed down to the shore of the pond. I took some pictures of the pond which were a little bleak since the trees didn't have many leaves and the skies were gray. Sheila waded in the pond and got a drink but did not want to swim in the cold water. We got back on the jeep trail and headed toward the junction with the Flynn Trail. We made a right on the Flynn Trail, walked up to the gate and headed toward Junkyard Junction. The Flynn Trail was pretty wet with several muddy spots and some standing water. At Junkyard Junction, we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to descend toward Iron Wheel Junction. The trail continued to have wet and muddy spots but we could walk around them without problems. We did continue to pick up branches and clear a few larger blowdowns as we went. This part of the hike went a little more slowly than usual but by At 12:40 PM we had hiked 4.9 miles and had arrived at Iron Wheel Junction. We turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail which was also wet and muddy in spots. We crossed the small stream in the woods and then walked under the "spruce tunnel". We were soon at the bridge over the outlet to Frick Pond. We stopped and I took some pictures of the pond which were about as bleak as the ones at Hodge Pond. The breeze was now a wind and the light mist that had persisted throughout the day seemed to be turning to rain. It seemed that the never dam was partly rebuilt. I am still waiting for a report as to the reasons that someone thought they could destroy the dam! We continued up the hill on the Quick Lake Trail back to the car. We were back in the parking lot at 1:15 PM after hiking 6.3 miles and 1000 vertical feet in 2 hours and 45 minutes. The temperature at the car had risen to 46 degrees but the windchill had to be well into the 30's!

On Friday, October 13th I wanted to get out for a longer hike after a week of XC races and practice and other commitments that had kept me out of the woods and away from hiking. I planned to hike in the northern Catskills perhaps at North South Lake or in the Blacks. I asked Cindy if she wanted to come along and she said she would like to but had to be back by 3:00 PM at the latest. Cindy likes to hike but 8 miles and 4 hours are about her limit and she is not thrilled with big elevation gains. I suggested we go to Bear Spring WMA where we had not been for some time and where I hoped we might get a glimpse of some elusive fall colors. When I got up in the morning the skies were completely overcast and the temperature was in the low 40's. I was in no hurry to start as I wanted the skies to clear so we delayed leaving until a little before 9:30 AM. I debated whether to wear tights underneath my pants but in the end decided they were not necessary. I did put on my Mammut hoody for the first time since the spring. This jacket is great for layering and has large pit zips on either side to dump heat. The hoody also fits nice in my pack if I need to take it off. We left Livingston Manor and headed north on State Route 17 to Roscoe. I got off at exit 94 and headed north on Route 206 through Roscoe and then Rockland. Just after entering Delaware County we ran into a paving project which delayed us for some time. Once we cleared the work zone I continued north on Route 206 to the Pepacton Reservoir where I turned left an drove through Downsville. I continued to follow Route 206 north toward Walton. Soon we were climbing Bear Spring Mountain and I noticed the skies were clearing and the temperature was in the high 40's. Just before the top of the mountain, I pulled off the road into large pulloff and parking area where we would begin our hike. I made sure Sheila was on her leash as the traffic on Route 206 in surprisingly heavy. I set my electronics and we began our hike at 10:20 AM by walking north on Route 206 and then turning into the woods to the left. Bear Spring WMA is a multiuse area but is primarily constructed for use by horses and snowmobiles. Since horse can cross streams more easily than hikers there are few bridges and hikers must take this into account. The area has its own way of marking trails which is not the usual method used on most hiking trails. A map of the trails is available online or by clicking here for those who has not hiked there before. Most of the trails are wide woods roads suitable for riding horses or snowmobiles. We headed south and then southeast on one of the these woods roads labeled on some maps as Wilson Hollow Road. To the left of this trail is a large clear cut area which was begun to grow up over the years. In the past there were some nice views from here across Route 206 to the opposite hillier but these views are now blocked. As we walked along the trail, we could immediately see that we were not going to find much in the way of bright leaf colors. I did stop to take some pictures of the trail and the colors that were present. We entered the woods and I took a few more shots before we continued on. The trail continued to head southeast and rolled a little up and own as it went. At 1.35 miles the trail began to climb some and a trail on the right headed down to the area of Launt Pond. We began to gain some elevation and at 1.95 mile another trail headed off to the right winding its way down to East Trout Brook Road south of Launt Pond. We continued straight ahead until at 2.2 miles the McCoy Hill Cutoff Trail appeared on the right. This was the trail we would use to form our loop as we were hiking a lollipop route. I decided we would continue straight ahead as I had not done the loop in that direction for some time.

The trail had been almost dry to this point but now we began to run into muddy areas some of which extended across the trail. We lost some elevation and then gained some as the trail continued to head southeast. The temperature had increased and the sun had come out so I opened the pit zips on my jacket. At 3.35 miles we began a slight climb and shortly after this the trail turned west to start the loop back. At 3.6 miles we hit a high point just before a long descent. Cindy said she was beginning to get hungry and needed a drink so we stopped to eat a bar and drink some water. We didn't stay still for Avery long but I did take a moment to remove my jacket and stow it in the pack. The trail now began a long descent which we both knew meant a long ascent at some point. At 4.25 miles it turned north but continued to descend. Over less than a mile we lost 470 feet of elevation to about 4.5 miles where we came to a trail junction. To the left the trail descended to Middle Pond on East Trout Brook Road. We turned right to head north on the McCoy Hill Cutoff Trail back to Wilson Hollow Road to complete the loop. This was the lowest point on the trail and I knew the hill was a steady climb. We ascended for some time and then stopped in an open area where we could look over to the western ridge and across the valley. There wasn't much color and the skies were overcast but I took a few shots anyway. We continued up the hill trying to make good time and to avoid thinking about the ascent. At 5.4 mile we topped the hill and walked along the edge of a field to complete the loop. The ascent was only 465 feet over .8 miles for around a 10% grade. We turned left and started back toward the car retracing our route along Wilson Hollow Road. At one point Cindy pointed out a great cacophony to the right of the trail which we at first mistook for the wind in the dead leaves. After listening for a time, we came to the conclusion it was a large flock of birds which we could not see. We stood still for a few minutes and saw birds beginning to appear in the trees. After a few more minutes we continued on our way. I said something to Cindy and suddenly there was complete quite and the birds in the trees were gone! It was Friday the 13th! We continued along the trail talking as we went and were soon at the area of the clear cut. As we neared the road, I put Sheila back on her leash as we walked back to the car. We arrived back at the car at 1:45 Pm after hiking 7.6 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes with a little over 20 minutes of stopped time. Our overall average was 2.2 miles per hour and we gained 1070 feet of elevation along the way.

On Tuesday, October 10th I planned to go to Walnut Mountain to make sure the cross country course was in good shape and to mark it with white arrows for our home meet against TriValley and Livingston Manor later in the day. I had laid out the course last year and made sure it was exactly 5K which translates to 16,404.2 feet. When I arrived at 9:00 AM, I decided to mark the part of the course nearest the parking area so I walked to the far end of the parking lot and began top spray paint white arrows along the fence. I continued through the picnic grove and across the playground area to the East Trail toward the finish line. There were two large puddles on the course but I decided to allow the runners to choose to run through them or around. When I got to the varsity finish line, I painted it and then continued a little farther up the trail. I knew I needed to extend the modified course to get it to about 1.6 miles. Just as I started walking up the hill, I found a good place and marked a line. I walked back down to the car with an almost empty paint can. I picked up a new can of paint and headed up the Mountain Overlook Trail carrying a rake to remove leaves where I needed to put down arrows. I knew I was short of paint and so only marked intersections with and occasional "assurance" arrow along the way. I followed the wide carriageway as it wound up the hill. Where the Mountain Overlook Trail turned left, I painted and arrow to direct the runners straight ahead on a cut over path to the West Trail. Soon the North Trail came in from the right and I marked arrows to direct the runners straight ahead on the West Trail. The carriageway wound around the base of the mountain and I soon was at the spot where the cross country course turned left up a steep trail. I marked a very large arrow here and turned left to follow the course up the trail. Along the way I raked some leaves off the trail but knew I did not have the time or energy to rake 3 miles of leaves! I continued to the top of the hill where the course turns right on the Sunset Trail. I marked an arrow at the turn and shortly after painted a 2 to show the end of the second mile. The Sunset Trail is flat and wide with only a short hill at the end. As the trail clears the trees several other trails cross the course so I painted arrows to show the runners they should continue straight ahead. At the overlook I painted and arrow to show the runners they must turn left and continue back down the hill on the Mountain Overlook Trail. I continued downhill to the point where the Suet Trail comes in from the left and the course turns right down an unnamed trail. I painted an arrow showing a right turn after which the trail descends steeply down to a field where it heads to the left. I painted a few roots and rocks and continued to follow the trail back to the Mountain Overlook Trail where I turned right to retrace the course back down to the picnic area. Since I had already marked the course to the finish, I went back to the car with an empty paint can. I picked up a new can of paint and walked across the parking area to paint a starting line for the modified race. I painted the line and then walked down the hill and placed an X where I would later place a cone. I turned left and walked to the varsity starting line which I repainted. From that starting line I walked on a wide, mowed path to the point where the trail entered the woods. This part was all downhill but I did have to remove some branches that were on the trail. The course continued for some distance without turns so I sprayed a few assurance arrows to the next junction. Just before the parking area, I painted an arrow indicating a left turn and another just beyond it. I walked along the path cut through the high grasses and shrubs and found it in good shape. I broke off and beat back a few weeds and paint a few arrows along the way. I exited the open area and entered the trees where the course began to climb. After a short time and even longer and steeper hill lay straight ahead. I followed our course as it turned left on Vista Way and painted an arrow to show the turn. This trail is very narrow and does not get much use. The course follows the Vista Way as it turns left and crosses a small bridge. I raked the leaves aside and put a large arrow right at the turn. A short distance after the ridge I put down a 1 to indicate the end of the first mile. I continued along the Vista Way marking a few more arrows. Soon I was back at the parking area and my car. It was just after noon and I was done after 3 hours of work and well over three miles of walking.

On Saturday, October 7th I had planned to hike Dry Brook Ridge to the lookouts from Southside Drive in Margaretville. This would take me over Pakatakan Mountain which I remembered was a steep climb in several places. I planned to return by descending the German Hollow Trail and then walking the roads back to the car. From what I pieced together from previous trips, this would be about a 9 mile hike. When I went to bed Friday night, the forecast was somewhat unsettled but the chance of rain was out at less than 10%. When I awoke on Saturday morning the forecast had not really changed but there was some rain in the Southern Tier which I thought could reach Margaretville. I decided to take a chance and do the hike anyway despite the fact that I knew that the views from the lookouts would probably be hazy due to the overcast skies. I was looking for some pictures of fall leaves with some vibrant colors. Many of the leaves around Livingston Manor had already fallen from the trees without changing colors. I delayed leaving the house since it was so foggy but I eventually got my gear together and got dressed. I wore a light windbreaker and packed a rain jacket just in case. I decided to take my collapsible Leki Micro Vario poles which are light and easy to stow for the 3 mile road walk. Sheila was very excited since we had not hiked since Tuesday! We left Livingston Manor a little after 9:00 AM with a heavy fog still hanging near the ground. I drove north on Old Route 1& toward Roscoe and then turned right on the Beaverkill Road. I continued north on the Beaverkill Road through Lew Beach. Just outside Turnwood, I turned left on Barkaboom Road and continued up the hill passing Little Pond State Campgrounds and Big Pond. I continued over the hill and the turned right on BWS 9 heading toward Margaretville. BWS 9 changed to BWS 10 and the became Southside Drive as I approached Margaretville. I continued along Southside Drive until I passed Fair Street and a Dead End sign. Just a little farther down the road on the right was the trailhead with room to park a couple of cars on the other side of the road. I turned around and pulled my car off the road just across from the trailhead. I set my electronics including my Suunto Traverse watch and Garmin GPSmap 64st and decided to leave my light windbreaker behind as the temperature was already in the low 60's and the humidity was high. At 9:55 AM we crossed the road to begin our hike. The trail starts climbing immediately and over the first .65 miles gains 525 feet for an average of a 15% grade. This would be much steeper but for a series of switchbacks as the trail heads east along old woods roads. All along the trail are very impressive and interesting rock ledges and I stopped several times to take a few pictures. The shots really don't do these ledges justice as they loom over the trail and have numerous overhangs and "caves". The skies were still very cloudy but there were times when the sun would peek through. It was very warm and humid and I was glad I had left my jacket in the car as I was working up quite a sweat without it!

At .65 miles the trail turned south to travel along the west side of Pakatakan Mountain. At .75 miles the trail began to stay mostly on contour for a little while and then started to climb again but more gently. At 1.15 miles the trail turned east and began a steeper climb until 1.35 miles where it began to head north still climbing but more moderately. At 1.5 miles the trail leveled a little and then went through some turns which eventually resulted in us traveling southeast for some time starting at 1.8 miles. The wind had started to blow and it felt as if a storm was approaching but I was fully committed to my plan at this point. Despite the wind I was still warm as we continued climbing on the wide trail. The footing was a little difficult at times as the trail was covered in leaves which were wet from an overnight shower. The leaves did seem to have some color and I still hoped I could get some colorful pictures of fall foliage somewhere along the way. Along the way Sheila alerted to something behind us and I looked to see a hiker approaching. A man a few years younger than me was approaching quickly so I took hold of Sheila's collar and stepped to the side of the trail. As the hiker passed he thanked me and we wished each other a good day. We saw him once or twice more as we continued southeast on the trail. Just after 2 miles, we passed by the summit of Pakatakan Mountain at around 2500 feet as the trail continued to rise toward Dry Brook Ridge. I knew that the German Hollow trail would be coming up soon and at 2.7 miles it appeared on the left. I began to wonder if my mileages were correct as the out-and-back mileage I had for this route was 7 miles to the lookouts and we were not even close to our destination. We passed by the trail junction continuing on the main trail toward the junction with the trail that ascends to the ridge from Hill Road. Not long after the German Hollow Trail junction was a sign that said "Lean-to" pointing to a new path. I decided not to make the side trip but as we continued on the trail I could see the lean-to. I did not realize that the German Hollow lean-to had been relocated so far away from its original site. This section of the trail is one of the most frustrating in the Catskills. We reached a high point at 3.2 miles and then began to descend on the trail which hugged the side of the hill. The trail had not been maintained in some time and the leaves covered many loose rocks. We lost 120 feet of elevation in the next .25 miles all the while pushing through briars and with me watching my footing. At the bottom of the descent the trail turned right heading south and in .15 miles we gained over 200 feet at a 26% grade. We were now at the trail junction with the trail that ascends from Hill Road.

At the trail junction we had hiked 3.6 miles and it began to dawn on me that the GPS track I had for this approach only included getting to the trail junction and not the extra mile to the lookouts. The extra miles really didn't bother me as I felt pretty good but it did bother me that I was careless in my planning! The skies were still overcast and the wind was still blowing. We walked straight ahead to continue on the trail to the lookouts. The distance to the lookouts from the trail junction is only a mile with the first .7 miles being relatively flat. After that a series of short but steep climbs leads to the open rock face that makes up the lookouts. These climbs are not really very difficult except when using snowshoes in the winter! I expected that we might see the hiker we had met at the lookouts but no one was present when we arrived. I could only speculate the other hiker had continued on the ridge or taken a different path earlier in the hike. As I looked out from the viewpoint I was disappointed but not supplied that there was a haze hanging over the valley. I could see the Pepacton Reservoir but I knew pictures would be impossible. There were some nice autumn colors on the trees but the haze and the overcast skies made them seem dull. I did take a few shots hoping to get a couple of nice pictures. Sheila and I had a drink and I grabbed a bar to eat on the hike back. The wind was blowing harder and the skies looked at little darker as we started back at 12:10 PM. I negotiated the descents and then walked back on the falter trail to the trail junction. Descending the steep section of trail and sidehilling along the next section proved easier than I thought. Of course, after leaving the lookouts, the skies began to clear and the sun started to shine through. As I walked I began to debate whether I should continue back the way I had come or stick to my original plan of using the German Hollow Trail. S we approached the trail junction at 6.5 miles a few drops of rain began to fall which cemented my decision. We continued straight ahead to follow the main trail back the way we had come. The wide trails made it fairly easy to make good time. It wasn't very long before the rain began to fall in earnest. I was sure that if I got out my rain jacket and pack cover the rain would stop so I did just that. We got moving again and it wasn't long before the rain abated and then stopped. I decided to just keep going and opened the side zippers on my jacket to dump some heat. Descending the final steep parts of the trail back to the car proved interesting as the leaves were now wet but I made it back without actually falling. We were back at the car at 2:15 PM after hiking 9.3 miles in 4 hours and 20 minutes with an elevation gain of 2525 feet. On the way back home I stopped on the Barkaboom Road to rake some pictures and then again at Big Pond. I decided to head for Alder lake where I pulled into the parking area and quickly walked down to the lake. I took a few pictures and then headed back to the car. On the way back down Alder Creek Road, I stopped again to take a few shots near the Beaverkill Fish Hatchery.

On Tuesday, October 3rd I had several different tasks to accomplish around the house and I also needed to leave early for an away cross country meet. I decided the solution was to take Sheila across the street to hike on Round Top. I had not been there since the official opening last Sunday and wanted to see if everything was Ok on the trails. Sheila was happy to go even though we had hiked the day before and I put her on her leash to walk across the street at about 11:30 AM. We walked through the field next to the church and then up the steep but short cemetery hill. Sheila have me a little help as she pulled me up the hill. We turned left at the trailhead and walked into the woods on the trail. I immediately let Sheila off her leash but she stayed very close to me for the entire hike. At the first trail junction, Sheila turned right and I followed her up the more gentle ascent. Where the lower trail turned left Sheila continued straight ahead on the blue-blazed upper trail and I followed her lead. The trails were in good shape and we were soon at the summit. We continued over the summit and down the other side of the hill. At the lower trail we turned right and walked the gentle downhill to the lookout. At the viewpoint we turned left and walked down the steep trail to the first trail junction. Sheila continued on toward the trailhead but I turned around and started back up the trail. Sheila followed and we began our second big loop in reverse. When we completed this one I turned around again to start another in the same direction as the first. Sheila was a little more reluctant to follow but did turns round to come with me. After completing this third loop, I thought about going home wanted to try one more. Sheila gave me a disgusted look but followed me for our fourth and final loop. Once we were back at the trail junction, we continued out to the trailhead. We turned right and I put Sheila on her leash for the walk down the hill and back across the street to the house. We had spent a little over and hour hiking 3 miles.

On Monday, October 2nd I had thought about hiking on Dry Brook Ridge near Margaretville. I wanted to do a loop from Southside Drive to the Penguin Rocks and then back down the German Hollow Trail. I planned to return on the road to the car. Between the drive and the length of the hike I decided to put this off until a day when I did not have practice in the afternoon. I decided that I wanted to go for a hike closer to home and asked Cindy if she would like to go to Frick Pond. The big loop around Frick and Hodge Ponds has become my "go to" hike for a quick walk close to home. It was still in the high 30's and foggy at 8:30 AM so we were in no hurry to rush out the door. Sheila sniffed our clothes and immediately knew we were hiking. She began to run around the house bouncing against the furniture but always keeping a close eye on me. We put our gear in the car and an excited Sheila in the back seat and drove out the DeBruce Road at 9:15 AM. At Mongaup Pond Road I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there were no other cars parked. Sheila was acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she ran around and headed for the trail. The temperature was 41 degrees and I was a little cool as I got my gear ready to go. The skies were still a little overcast as we headed out the path to the register on Quick Lake Trail at 9:40 AM. The Quick Lake Trail was damp but not really wet and there were only a few muddy spots which were easy to avoid. At Gravestone Junction we turned left to head down to Frick Pond. The water level in the pond was low due to the fact that someone had completely pulled out the beaver dam across the outlet stream. It did seem that the beavers were beginning to rebuild the dam and the water level was a little higher. The sky had a little more blue but the leaves on the trees were still dull with almost none of the fall colors we had been expecting. Many of the trees seemed to have already dropped their leaves but I decided to take few shots anyway. I also took a few pictures of Cindy and Sheila on the bridge before we continued our hike. We continued on the Quick Lake Trail around the pond bearing left at the next trail junction to stay on the red trail. This part of the trail was drier than the last time I had walked the trail with almost no mud. We were setting a fast pace and soon came to the "pine promenade" and the little stream through the woods. This water level in the stream was very low compared to almost any other time since the spring. As we continued along the trail I removed some small branches and a few large ones until we arrived at Iron Wheel Junction at 1.6 miles.

We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and started the long uphill climb toward Junkyard Junction. The trail was almost dry all the way to Junkyard Junction at 3.2 miles. We walked and talked to make the uphill part go faster but we also remarked to each other that it is a long way to the junction. The sun was starting to come through the clouds but it was still playing hide and seek. We turned right onto the blue Flynn Trail which is almost flat. It too was only damp with a few spots of mud which were easily avoided. There were no major blowdowns but I continued to remove branches that littered the trail. When we got to the gate, we turned right to stay on the trail and head down toward Hodge Pond. At 3.75 miles the Flynn Trail heads right and we followed it toward the outlet end of Hodge Pond. This part of the Flynn Trail which is a woods road had been graded by OSI leaving bare dirt and quite a mess when it was wet. This time the dirt was covered in leaves and there was almost no water or mud. The field was still wet from the dew and after walking through it the trail again had been "improved" and still a little muddy. The open field is the spot where the mess hall and family camping area for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp once stood. When we came to the clearing at the outlet end of the pond, we walked over to the shore. Cindy sat by the fire pit and ate a bar while I got out my camera to take some pictures. The colors and Hodge Pond were just as muted as at Frick. Sheila jumped into the water for a dip and a swim. I got a stick and threw it for her to retrieve and took some pictures of her in the water. I grabbed bar while stowing my camera and he got ready to complete the hike. We walked back to the Flynn Trail and followed if to the point where it re-enters the woods to climb up the hill. I was feeling quite fresh and concentrated on using my poles to help set a quick pace up the hill. At the top of the hill we stayed to the right to continue on the Flynn Trail. A left turn follows a woods road out to what remains of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. Just after the turn I pointed out to Cindy where I had finally removed a small tree that had been blocking the path. The Flynn Trail is relatively flat to the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 4.5 miles. We continued straight through this junction to follow the Flynn Trail back to the car. The walk was pretty but has no remarkable views or features and everything was still very green. We walked quickly and near the end of the trail Sheila alerted. We looked up to see a young couple coming toward us with a very small dog on a leash. I put Sheila on her leash and the dogs greeted each other. We wished the other hikers a good day and continued down the trail. As we approached the gate on the woods road, we turned left to avoid the private property around the cabin and to stay on the trail. We finished our walk and were back at the car by 12:45 PM. We had covered 6.4 miles in 3 hours with an elevation gain of 906 feet. It still seemed cool as the temperature had barely reached 50 degrees.

On Friday, September 29th I had hiked Giant Ledge including a bushwhack along the base of the ledges in the morning. In the afternoon I was scheduled to lead a hike for the staff of the Liberty schools. When I got back from the morning hike, I changed clothes so as not to offend anyone and headed for the main parking area at Walnut Mountain park. I parked at 3:20 PM and found one staff member already waiting for me. Just as I pulled in another car arrived with a staff member and her two small children. A few minutes afterwards another teacher arrived with her two high schoolers. I had hoped more people would attend but there were several conflicts and I had promised to do the walk again. I had brought along several sets of hiking poles and offered them to the staff members present. It was a little after 3:45 Pm when we walked down to the start of the cross country course on the Walnut Mountain East Trail on the third base side of the baseball field. It was a cool day and I had worn a light windbreaker in the morning but left it home for the afternoon hike. I was a little cool standings around but once we started walking I was OK. We went to the starting line and walked out the trail toward the West Lake Street parking area. The trail is downhill and there were a lot of leaves on the trail. As we approached the parking area we followed the course as it turned let onto the Walnut Mountain North Trail. This trail passes through and open area and had been overgrown with goldenrod and other weeds. I had cut it out and as we walked it was relatively clear. There were Dom nay leaves that it was hard to see the white arrows that marked the cross country course and I knew I would have to remark it for our home meet in two weeks. We started up the trail and then turned left on Vista Way. We continued to follow this narrow trail as it was crossed several times by single track bike trails and other paths. We followed it over a small bridge and onto a wood road that led us back to the parking area. The course is routed through the picnic area at about 1.25 miles into the course. No one chose to drop at this point so we all headed up the Mountain Overlook Trail which is one of the main trails on the mountain.

For a short distance this part of the course is run in both directions by the runners. There is little chance runners going out will meet runners coming back as the distance on the mountain is over a mile. We continued to the point where the Mountain Overlook Trail turned left. At this junction we continued straight ahead on the cross country course as it follows a connector trail to the Walnut Mountain North Trail. This trail follows an old carriageway around the back of the mountain and continues up a big hill to an overlook. Before the big uphill we followed the course as it turns left up a narrow and winding trail to the Sunset Trail. This trail was very overgrown and full of rocks and branches when my wife and I cut it out and cleared it before the XC season last year. The trail is rather steep and rough. At the top of this trail we turned right not the Sunset Trail which is another carriageway and is wide and flat. Near the end of the trail there is a little uphill that leads to a viewpoint over Swan Lake. There area also several other trails that cross the XC course in this area. Even though the course does not go to the lookout we took a side trip and got a nice view. We returned to the XC course and followed the Mountain Overlook Trail back toward the intersection where we had been earlier. Along the way we met several photography students from the high school along with their teacher. They took a few pictures of our group before we continued our walk. Before we got to the trail junctions we turned right and walked down a short steep hill following the cross country course. The course winds through a filed and passes a water tank before jointing the Mountain Overlook Trail. We turned right onto the Mountain Overlook trail and walked back down to the parking area. The cross country trail continues to the right through the playground and out the Walnut Mountain East Trail to the finish line. The group decided we did not need to finish the course. It was 5:00 PM and we had walked a little under 3 miles in 1.5 miles. Everyone thought the course and the walk were enjoyable and I will definitely lead another hike.

On Friday, September 29th I was scheduled to lead a hike for the staff of the Liberty schools at 3:30 PM at Walnut Mountain. I wanted to get hike in before what I knew would be a modest walk in the afternoon. I considered Ashokan High Point but the drive coupled with the hike was cutting it too close for me. I settled on going to Giant Ledge to try to find some fall colors. I thought I might return by bushwhacking along the base of the cliffs which I had not done in some time. I got my gear together and got dressed with Sheila watching my every move she could be sure I did not leave without her. The temperature was only 44 degrees when we were ready to leave the house at 9:15 Am so I put on a light windbreaker on top of my normal double layer top. I headed out the DeBruce Road and drove through DeBruce and Willowemoc to Route 47. I turned left on route 47 and drove passed the Frost Valley YMCA Camp. There were no cars at the Biscuit Brook parking area and only three at Slide. I drove by Winisook Lake and down the hill to the Giant Ledge parking area. There were four or five cars already parked when we arrive. The temperature was 48 degrees so I decided to keep my windbreaker on. I set my electronics and we crossed the road to start the hike at 10:10 AM. I had Sheila on her leash but let her off after we crossed the road. I immediately noticed that the trail was dry with only an few wet spots. The stream under the little bridge had only a small flow of water. I decided to count the ascents along the way to the first trail junction just for fun. As we climbed the third ascent Sheila alerted and I saw a man and woman descending the rocky trail very quickly. It lament looked like thee were trail running or racing! I held Sheila as they passed and then we continued our hike. Within a few minutes another couple went by and they also seemed to be in a hurry. After another short walk, we met another young man descending and he had a moment to converse before we went our opposite ways. We made good time without really hurrying making the trail junction by 10:35 AM after climbing the seventh rocky ascent. We turned left toward the ledges. As we walked the air seemed to be warming up as the sun was out but I decided to keep the jacket on. I though I could hear voices ahead but we did not encounter anyone. The trail was dry with virtually no water or muddy spots. The skies were blue with some clouds but as we hiked it seemed the clouds were closing in which I knew would not be good for photography from the ledges. We reached the first lookout and there were no other hikers so I took some pictures. I was disappointed because the leaves had only just begun to change colors in isolated spots. As I was taking these shots the sun came out and gave a completely different look to the landscape so I took some more pictures. I packed up the camera and we moved on by continuing along the trail. I passed up several ledges but stopped at one more to take a few more pictures. At the end of the plateau, we dropped down to the col between Giant Ledge and Panther. Even though I had hiked the route this summer, I had forgotten that this was a significant drop.

At about 2.1 miles we turned right or ENE and dropped about 150 feet from the trail to around 2875 feet of elevation. The descent wasn't too hard but it wasn't easier either. The trees and brush were definitely much thicker than the last time I hiked the route. Eventually we made it down to the broad flat area that runs along the base of the cliffs. This area was beautiful and much drier than I had ever seen it. We started to walk along the base of the cliffs heading south. There were large expanses of what is usually swamp with green moss. We walked along this area and dropped and gained elevation as we hiked. All the time the cliffs were to our right barely visible through the trees. I stopped to take pictures of some large trees and a few of some trees that had changed color. I also tried to get a view of the cliffs but didn't have much luck. The views from many mountains have disappeared over the years as the vegetation has grown and I think that also happened in this area. The views of the cliffs that had been pretty open were now hidden behind the trees. At times I would see what looked like a possible viewing spot and we would fight our way through the rocks and brush only to find there was no view. I looked at the time and decided I did not have the luxury of exploring but would return when the leaves were off the trees. We continued to hike parallel to the cliffs heading at first south and then southwest. We started to wrap around the cliffs to join the trail again but I got a little turned around. I consulted my compass and made the right decision. Just to make sure I consulted Sheila by saying "Back. Trail." When she headed in the direction I though I should go, I knew we were headed the right way. We intersected the trail much further away from the ledges' viewpoints than I thought we would. We were below the spring about a half mile from the trail junction. This was exactly the place I had come out on several previous hikes. We made a left turn and followed the trail to the junction. At the junction I saw a young man standing and before I could put Sheila on her leash she approached him. He had a dog on a leash and I apologized for my dog's lack of manners. We talked and he advised me his friends were just behind and they also had dogs. His friends were ascending the last rocky climb and all the dogs were pit bulls. The dogs were very well behaved and we talked for a little while. They were from the city and were up for the weekend to attend a wedding. We were talking about hiking to views and one young man said he had been to the Mount Tremper fire tower. We continued our opposite ways. On the way down one of the descents, I met two more young men with their dog. They were also in the area for a wedding and were from NYC. After a brief discussion we continued down the trail and back to the car. We were back at the car by 1:30 PM covering the 4.6 mile hike in 3 hours and 20 minutes. The total elevation gain was 1270 feet.

On Wednesday, September 26th I knew I was going to hike somewhere but had really not worked it out when I got a text from Lisa saying she was available at 10:00 AM. She suggested Trout but I told her I had been there on Monday and countered with the ledges between the Flynn Trail and Mongaup Pond. She readily agreed and we agreed to meet at my house at 10:00 AM. I got some work done in the morning and then got ready to goat 9:30 AM it was already almost 70 degrees but I stuck to my double layer outfit with a long-sleeved top suitable for bushwhacking. I was ping to find some color in the leaves around Mongaup Pond but was not optimistic since I had not found any color in other locations. Around Livingston Manor the leaves were falling but failing to display any bright colors. While I was getting ready Sheila was on my heels the whole time sensing we would be going out. Lisa arrived just after 10:00 AM and we left the house to drive out DeBruce Road for about 6 miles to Mongaup Pond Road. I turned left and drove to where the road split and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. I parked in the small lot tat he trailhead and found no other cars present. I set my electronics and we started our hike by crossing the road at 10:25 AM. The trail was very dry as we hiked through the woods on the Flynn Trail to the woods road. We turned right on the woods road which was once an extension of Beech Mountain Road and started our climb. We kept up a quick pace talking as we walked until we came to the spot where there is a clearing a little off the trail on the right at 1.15 miles. We turned into the woods and walked a path up to the clearing. I took my pack off and got the camera to take some pictures of the clearing. No one seems to know eagerly why the clearing is there but some speculate the dirt was used to build the Beech Mountain Road up to the Boy Scout camp. The clearing has a thin layer of dirt over bedrock and is unusual since it supports a wide variety of plants. There is a thick layer of moss in most place and the moss represents several different species. The area is often quite wet but on this day it was very dry. I picked up my pack and walked easy toward the tree line trying to find a break where we could begin our bushwhack east to Mongaup Pond. I found a spot and we started walking through the mostly open woods heading east and slightly southeast.

In less than a quarter mile from the clearing we me to the first series of ridges and found a path to descend through them. Just before I started down, I looked ahead and saw the water of Mongaup Pond ahead. I look at my GPS and we were only .25 miles away from the pond. I took a few shots of the rocks and then we continued to work our way down. The grade was pretty steep averaging about 18%. We worked our way down through another level and I took a few more pictures. We continued to descend and turn a little more to the southeast. At one point Lisa pointed out there was a nice overgrown woods road heading southeast so we started to follow it. The road paralleled a drainage which normally conducts water down toward the pond but was bone dry. Sooner than I though we were at the loop road around the pond. We wanted to make sure we visited the deck and boat launch which we thought were to our left We turned left and walked a short distance before we both came to the conclusion that we had turned the wrong way. We turned around and walked the road south and came to the deck within .3 miles of where we had exited the woods. I let Sheila off her leash to take a swim and get a drink. I walked out onto the deck and took some pictures of the pond. I was not surprised that all the leaves were still green although there appeared to be more leaves on the trees than in town. We continued our hike by walking along the shore until we were at the beach. I took some pictures of the deserted beach with the boats, canoes and kayaks. We wandered over to the bathrooms and met a couple from Chicago. Lisa gave them some advice on hiking and then we headed out Mongaup Road to complete our loop. The road walk went very quickly and didn't seem boring at all. We both noticed that the creek was quite far below the road level which is hard to notice from a car. After 1.1 miles we turned right on Beech Mountain Road and walked .3 miles back to the car. The temperature at the car had risen from 68 degrees when we started to 82 degrees. It was 12:30 PM and we had hiked 3.8 miles in two hours with a total elevation gain of 675 feet. When I checked the GPS track at home I found our bushwhack almost exactly followed the route I had taken before!

On Monday, September 25th I decided I wanted to get in a hike close to home before cross country practice in the afternoon. A morning ambulance call further shortened my window for wing and convinced me that Trout Pond was a good option. I had not been to that area in some time and was still searching for some fall colors in the leaves. Around Livingston Manor the leaves were falling but failing to display any bright colors. While I was getting ready Sheila was on my heels the whole time sensing we would be going out. I knew the forecast was for warm weather but I wore a double layer anyway with a long sleeved shirt on top. We left the house at 9:50 AM and headed north and west on State Route 17 toward Roscoe. I got off at exit 94 and headed north on Route 206 passing through Roscoe and then Rockland. Just after the Roscoe Nursing Home I turned left on Morton Hill Road and followed it for 3 miles to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the side of the road avoiding the private parking area. It was 10:10 AM when I set my electronics and we began our hike. I like the walk down Russell Brook Road and Sheila seemed to be having fun running ahead and coming back to me. I listened for the sound of the water in the brook but didn't hear very much. When we came to the viewpoint over the upper falls, I could see there wasn't much water going over the falls but decided to walk down to take some pictures anyway. I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I took some pictures of the upper falls and then packed up and walked back up to the road. We walked down to the lower parking area where there was one car parked. We continued down the road and crossed the bridge over Russell Brook. I found that some of the Japanese knotweed we had cut back was now leaning over into the trail. We continued on the road turning right on the path to the falls. We walked over to the path down the bank to the streambed and descended to the brook. There was very little water in the stream and very little water coming over the falls. Sheila immediately ran over to the small pool below the falls and jumped in to take a swim. I got out my camera and took some pictures of her in the water and some as she posed sitting just in front of the falls. After Sheila walked away, I took a few more pictures before putting away the camera and walking back out to the main trail. At the trail junction just after the register we continued straight ahead to walk up to Trout Pond. As we walked, I noticed that the trail was very dry with only a few damp spots along the way. All of the small streams running across the trail had disappeared. When we arrived at the pond, we walked to the left to the "beach" at the outlet end of the pond. It was clear that the water level was very low with the water at least ten feet from the outlet. I was disappointed that the leaves were only a dull and dusky green without any of the brilliant colors I had hoped to see. There were some interesting reflections and some colors so I decided to take a few pictures. After I took some pictures of the pond, I threw a stick into the water for Sheila to retrieve. She initially seemed a little reluctant to retrieve the stick but eventually swam out to get it. When she returned to the sore, she shook herself off and then began to dash around as I got ready to continue the hike.

We continued on the main trail on the east side of Trout Pond walking toward the inlet end and the lean-tos. The trail continued to be dry which was surprising as it is usually very wet. I stopped at the bridge over the inlet and took a few shots before continuing on the trail. This area can also be wet from stream overflow but was bone dry on this day. We turned right to follow the trail up Cherry Ridge. As we hiked I found it satisfying to look at the many places where I had cleared branches and blowdowns from the trail on my last trip. There were some new branches on the trail and several small blowdowns I was able to clear by moving the to the side of the trail. Soon we were at the highest point on Cherry Ridge and starting down the other side. This part of the trail is often more like a stream but on this day there were only a few small pools and puddles at the side of the trail. This part of the hike can drag sometimes but it seemed to go very fast and we were soon at the woods road and snowmobile trail that runs by Mud Pond. We turned left and start the short walk uphill. At the top of the hill we began the long descent back to the trail junction where we had started. The descent lasts for .7 miles and drops 385 feet to a bridge that crosses the outlet stream from Trout Pond. At the junction we turned right and headed back out to the lower parking area. Sometimes the walk back up Russell Brook Road seems long and tedious but I was still felling fresh. The same car was still in the lot but we had not seen anyone on the hike. We started up the road and soon saw a woman walking toward us. I put Sheila on her leash and said "hi" to the other hiker as we passed. She did not look like she was dressed or equipped for a long hike. We continued to walk up the road and soon arrived back at the car. Unfortunately, the woman had decided to park on private property probably without even thinking or caring. The posted signs are quite prominent. It was 12:35 PM when we arrived back at the car after hiking 5.5 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes with a 1120 foot total ascent. Throughout the hike I had noticed that I was feeling a little warm and had been sweating profusely. I assumed that I was warm because of my double layer but then I looked at the temperature display on my car which registered almost 90 degrees!

On Sunday, September 24th I wanted to attend the "official" opening of the Round Top Trails in Livingston Manor. The plan was to meet on Round Top at 1:00 PM to have a brief ceremony and then hike the trails with the people attending the ceremony. After church, Cindy and I returned home and changed our clothes to hike. I explained to Sheila she could not go with us but that I would take her across the street to hike when the other people had left. It was over 80 degrees at the house when Cindy and I walked down the driveway to cross the street . I brought my pack so that I could carry my camera and a saw. I brought my hiking poles to prevent “sausage fingers”. We crossed the street and the field by the church and started up the hill to the top of the cemetery. As we passed through the parking area by the church two cars parked in the lots. I knew that Lisa was meeting a group of people in the municipal parking lot to walk up Pearl St. to the cemetery. I missed Sheila pulling me up the hill and noticed that it was really warm. We stopped at the top of the hill to wait for the others to arrive. There was a green ribbon across the trail and the sign was in place. The sign was very simple but very effective. The Sherwoods arrived shortly after us as did Kitty Vetter. We talked for some time waiting for the rest of the group to arrive. Soon we saw Lisa leading group of about a dozen people up the middle road in the cemetery. When they arrived, there was another period of waiting before Rockland Town Supervisor Rob Eggleton began his short presentation. During this time I spoke to Fred Fries who knows more about the history of the area than any person I have met. Rob called up Lisa Lyons, Helen Budrock and myself as people who had in some way, contributed to the creation of the trails. Rob explained briefly how the Town of Rockland acquired the land when the cemetery association could no longer maintain it and how the idea of a trail system came about. At the end of his presentation Lisa and I played tug-of-war with the ribbon until it toke signifying the official opening of the trails. People began to walk up the trail and I soon followed. Most people in the group seemed to want to climb to the lookout first so I follows them in that direction. At the lookout, Autumn, the reporter from the Sullivan County Democrat took some group pictures and asked some questions about the various people involved.

After a brief stop at the lookout, the hike continued around the yellow lower loop. Since I had brought along my Silky saw, I cut one small "trunk" that stood by the side of the trail before continuing up the trail. At the point where the trail split, some people decided to stay on the yellow trail while others chose to hike over the summit on the blue rail. I invited Autumn to come with me on the blue trail to get the full experience and she readily agreed. We hiked up to the summit of Round Top. Along the way I noticed that the white birch that had formed an arch over the trail now lay on the ground. The tree was quite sturdy which is why I had left it in place so I assumed someone had purposefully knocked it down. Further along another small sapling lay twisted on the side of the trail indicating that some had again vandalized the trail. It is disappointing to realize there are so many ignorant people in your twin who prefer destruction to construction! We continued over the top and down the other side. Autumn was impressed with the trail. I mentioned to her that the high school INTERACT Club had helped me layout the upper trail and had flagged it. We walked down to the yellow trail and continued to the first trail junction. From there we walked out to the trailhead. All of the people gathered seemed happy to have a short but beautiful trail system in their community. We walked down the cemetery hill and Cindy and I walked back to the house arriving at 2:15 PM.

When we arrived home, Sheila barked at us from the upstairs window and then rushed down to meet us at the doer. She seemed to know where we had been. She could probably hear us talking on Round Top! It almost seemed she knew I had promised to take her out and she was ready to collect on that promise. I couldn't deny her since it was her sixth birthday! I got a quick drink and then we started out the driveway. I picked up Sheila's leash and used it as we crossed the street, walks through the field and sacred up the cemetery hill. Part way up the hill I let Sheila off the leash and used my poles to get up the hill. At the trailhead we turned left into the woods. There was a slight breeze which made the hot weather more bearable. At the first trail junction we turned right and started up the yellow trail. Where're yellow trail turned left, we continued straight ahead on the blue trail. The climb seems a little harder than before. As we hiked across the summit of Round Top, I stopped to cut a "stump" that remained in the middle of the trail. After that, we started down off the summit. When we came to the twisted sapling, I got out my saw and cut off flush with the ground and dragged it off the trail. We continued down the trail to the white birch. I removed one piece and then cut the remaining stump straight across, This made it look a little better and eliminated the sharp parts that had been sticking up. I then used the saw to cut the downed trunk into two pieces and maneuvered the piece across the trail to the side. I again thought about the kind of person that would do these things for the sole purpose of destroying something somebody else had created for the community. Sheila and I walked down the blue trail and turned right on the yellow trail. We followed it to the lookout where I took a few pictures and then Dow to the first trail junction. I was hot and tired but would have hiked some more. I gave Sheila the choice and she headed straight out to the trailhead. We turned right on the cemetery road and I put Sheila on her leash for the walk home. We were back at 3:00 PM having hiked about 2 miles and spent 3 hours on Round Top.

On Friday, September 22nd, I decided that I wanted to return to the Catskill High Peaks for the first hike of the fall. I also wanted to hike some of the 35 peaks as I had the time and had not done one for some time. I decided to go to Tannersville to hike Indian Head and Twin from Prediger Road hiking up the east side of Indian Head and continuing over to Twin. I planned to return down the Jimmy Dolan Notch Trail, one of my least favorite trails in the Catskills. The weather forecast was for sunny skies with highs reaching into the 70's with no rain in the forecast. Around Livingston Manor the leaves were beginning to fall without really changing colors. The leaves still on the trees shoed non of the bright colors typical of fall in the Catskills. I dressed in my "summer" outfit but did not take even a light jacket as I knew the temperatures would warm quickly. I made sure I had two water bottles and I also took my Suunto Traverse watch to back up my Garmin handheld unit. Sheila was ready to go as she always is as we started out a little after 9:00 AM by driving out the DeBruce Road to Route 47. I turned left on Route 47 and drove by the Frost Valley YMCA Camp. There were no cars at the Biscuit brook raking area and only a few at Slide. The parking area at Giant Ledge was almost full and I wondered how many people I would encounter on Prediger Road. The drive was longer than I remembered and I kept getting behind drivers who wanted to o no more than 30 mph! When we reached Route 28, I turned right and then turned left on Route 42 north to Lexington in Shandaken. When I reached Route 23A, I turned right and drove through Hunter to Bloomer Road just outside Tannersville. I turned left on Plate Clove road and followed it 4.3 miles to Prediger Road where I turned right and rove to the end where there is a parking area at the trailhead. There were plenty of parking spaces but there were also quite a few cars already parked when I arrived at 10:40 AM. I set my electronics and Sheila and I were on the trail by 10:45 AM under sunny skies with the temperature in the high 60's. The first part of the Devil's Path from Prediger Road to the Old Overlook woods road is usually wet and muddy but on this day the trail was drier. There was some mud but it was drying out and the few really wet spots were easily avoided. Where the trail splits I stayed straight ahead on the red blazed Devil's Path. My plan was to return on the blue blazed Jimmy Dolman Notch Trail which turns to the right at this junction. I stopped at a small stone bridge to take the first pictures of the day before moving on. This first mile is deceptive as the grade is gentle but the climb is around 325 feet. As we approached the woods road, we both saw a trail runner who had come in from Platte Clove along the Old Overlook Road. I put Sheila on her leash but he took a quick drink and then was gone heading toward Overlook. At 1.6 miles we turned right on the old road. To the left a short distance is a nice stone quarry but I decided to skip it this time since I knew we had a long hike ahead of us. In only about 300 feet we turned right as the Devil's Path started its climb up Indian Head Mountain. I noted the sign that indicated another 1300 feet of climbing to the top. Sheila and I were making good time but I was not really trying to push it. I noticed I was a little tired and I was not surprised. I had hiked quite a bit over the summer but not on the High Peaks!

The trail was dry in most places with only a few muddy spots. I had Sheila off the leash most of the time which allowed me to use my poles. The trail ascends and levels several times while climbing toward the summit of Indian Head. The flatter portions were very a little muddy. I was looking forward to the lookouts on the east side of Indian Head and the view from the east peak of Twin but I knew there was a lot of to do to get there. By 12:30 PM AM we had hiked 2.8 miles and had 1370 feet of elevation under our belts. We stopped at the lookout so that I could take some pictures. There was a young couple at the viewpoint so I put Sheila on her leash. The couple volunteered to let us come and out and soon left to continue their hike. They most likely were descending since I did not see them at all again during the hike. From the lookout, the Catskill Community was clearly visible to the north with Kaaterskill High Peak and Round Top in the background. There was some color beginning to show in the leaves but not much. A little more to the east Plattekill Mountain blocked a clear view of the Hudson River. I did catch glimpses of the river and they were clearer than many other times I had been at this viewpoint. Further south, I found the fire tower on Overlook Mountain. I got out my camera and took quite a few shots. Before leaving I got a drink and a bar from my pack and also gave Sheila a drink. We moved on as I knew the hardest climbs were yet to come. A little after the lookout was the hardest climb of the day, an almost vertical section of rock face. I looked around for Sheila and found she had already made it to the top. I took a few shots of her. As I climbed this section grabbing onto roots and protruding rocks, I thought how easy it was for Sheila to climb the rocks. At the top of this climb was another nice lookout with slightly different views than the previous one. I took a few pictures and the continued on toward the summit. As we hit a more level section of the trail a young man came walking toward us listening to his "tunes". We said "Hi" and shortly after that we met another young man coming toward us. I began to wonder of it was a trend but we didn't see any more people for some time. Our next stop after a short distance was the lookout to the south from the east or false peak of Indian Head. After a few pictures, we walked down off the false peak and started the final ascent of Indian Head. The final obstacle was a narrow rock and root scramble with no other way around. I am not sure exactly how this spot has been modified but it is much easier to climb now than a few years ago! We climbed another steep pitch before the trail leveled off some. We continued to move along the trail until we hit the 3575 foot summit at 1:15 PM after hiking 3.8 miles and gaining about 1800 feet of elevation. It was the hardest 3.8 miles I had done in some time but I felt a sense of accomplishment. This sense of well-being began to fade as we started the steep resent into the col between Indian Head and Twin.

There was a small lookout near the summit of Indian Head but the views were not as good as from the other viewpoints. We did meet another woman hiking with her dog. I saw her coming and put Sheila on her leash. She immediately let me know her dog was not on a leash and was "friendly". I was annoyed that she didn't have the courtesy to restrain her dog. We began our descent to Jimmy Dolan Notch and I watched for the viewpoint toward Twin which had always given me good pictures in the past. The further we descended the bore I realized that there was no longer a spot to get this view and that it had probably been obscured by trees and bushes. Most of the trail on the descent was dry and I almost fell several times. The trail was steep and rocky and not very enjoyable in this direction dropping 400 feet in about a third of a mile for an average grade of 23%. There are no other hikers in the col so we immediately started up Twin. We scrambled up some rather steep pitches which I remember from winter hiking. These steeper areas are challenging when dry as everything is loose and rolls under foot. I lifted myself up through one spot and squeezed between a rock and a tree. Several other spots seemed to have developed alternate approaches created by hikers who did not want to attack the difficult scrambles head-on. In the winter and early spring these areas tend to accumulated impressive ice flows which make hiking an adventure! We stopped at the lookout toward Indian Head and I took some pictures of Twin and Overlook. The skies were clear and blue with some nice clouds. At 2:00 PM we broke out onto the rock ledges on the east peak of Twin after hiking 4.5 miles. This point is one of my favorite viewpoints in the Catskills and this day was no exception. The views to the east were not the best but those to the south and west made up for it. The only disappointment is that the trees are growing up to obscure the views which were once very open. I took a lot of shots especially toward the west peak of Twin and Sugarloaf. After my photography session, Sheila and I had a drink and a snack and I debated continuing to the west peak which is the one that actually counts. I decided I would not be happy if I did not "tag" the other peak and decided to "go for it" despite the fact I was tired and the time was getting late. We continued on toward the west and higher peak of Twin. The descent to the col was minimal, just over 100 feet, and the ascent not too rigorous. The views from the west peak were not as broad or as beautiful as from the east peak but there was a nice view of Sugarloaf. I took a quick look and then we turned around to begin the long hike back. I was not looking forward to the descent from Twin to the col or for the long, rocky trip down the Jimmy Dolan Notch Trail.

Other than the reclimb to the east peak I knew the rest of the way was downhill or flat. I also knew that we would have to descend Jimmy Dolan Notch which is one of the worst trails in the Catskills! When we got back to the east peak of Twin we had hiked about 1.2 miles between the peaks which took us just less than an hour. The descent down Twin was slow since negotiating the steep descents is no easier than negotiating the steep ascents. As we neared the col, I could see two hikers with what looked like fairly large packs getting ready to head down the Jimmy Dolan Notch Trail. When we got to the col, we turned left and headed down the trail but only got a glimpse of the other two hikers who were descending faster than I wanted to go. The first part of the trail is steep and rocky. At one point I looked ahead to see a tree down across the trail. I guess I was concentrating a little too much on the tree and not where I put my feet because I fell pretty hard. Fortunately, I landed on a pretty well padded part of my body and when I got up I was only a little sore. I squeeze through the blowdown and contused on the trail. A couple came up the trail toward us with there dog which, typically, was not on a leash. The woman said 'She is friendly and is just learning about the trails!' I thought to myself that the dog had a poor teacher. After the steep descent the trail gives way to roots and then rocks and roots. At times the trail would be hard to locate without the markers or without a skilled trail dog like Sheila. The trail made several twists and turns that I did not remember and seemed like it would never end. It was every bit as annoying as I remembered. As we approached the Prediger Road parking area, we stayed to the left a the trail junction where we had been many hours before on the hike out. The rest of the trail was pretty easy and we arrived in the parking area to find only a few remaining cars. It was 4:35 PM and we had spent 5 hours and 45 minutes hiking 8.4 miles with a total scent of 2590 feet.

Summer 2017

On Thursday, September 21st I decided I wanted to go to the Round Top Trails and remove some small "stumps" and roots that remained in the trail. The trails were due to have their "official" opening on Sunday and I did not ant anybody to trip. Around 11:00 AM I put a round pointed shovel and a pick mattocks in my trunk. I put Sheila in the back seat and rove across the street to the cemetery and up the hill to the trailhead. I let Sheila out and grabbed the two tools from the trunk. We walked into the woods on the trail and turned right at the first trail junction to head up the yellow trail. Where the yellow trail turned left we continued straight ahead on the blue trail toward the summit of Round Top. As we climbed I stopped several times to remove some stumps and a few roots that ran across the trail. Most of the roots were easy to cut with the pick mattocks which did not seem that sharp but did a nice job. In a few cases I used the shovel to cut and then fill in some of the dirt that was removed. We continued up to the summit where I found a few more roots to removed. Some stumps proved stubborn as they were thicker than the rest but I persevered and was able to remove them all. There were a few well-formed stumps that were just two big to remove. I tried to remove what I could from these in an effort to allow rain to seep in and accelerate their breakdown. Soon we were back down at the lower yellow trail where we turned right and walked down to the lookout. From there we walked down to the first trail junction and back out to the car. It had taken just less than and hour to do the work and I still had enough time and energy to do more. Since the work was done, I decided to return home knowing I had accomplished all that I could.

On Tuesday, September 19th, I had decided I would stay home and do some work around the house. On Monday night I got an e-mail from Lisa asking if I would like to go for a hike in the morning. I said I would go and she suggested a hike to Hodge Pond. I had been in this area several times recently but agreed to go with her. We decided to meet at 9:30 AM at my house. In the morning I got a few things done by getting up early and waited for Lisa. She appeared promptly at my house at 9:30 AM. I went out to meet her with an excited Sheila bounding out ahead of me. It was already very warm and a little humid. We loaded up our gear, put Sheila in the backseat and headed out the DeBruce Road. After about 6 miles, I turned left on Mongaup Road and drove to where the road split. I stayed left at the Y and drove up Beech Mountain Road to the parking area. There were no other cars when we parked at 9:50 AM in the smaller lot. I set my electronics and we crossed the road to begin our hike at 9:55 AM. We hiked the Flynn Trail passed the register toward the woods road that would take us to Hodge Pond. We kept a quick pace up the trail as we talked about various subjects we have in common. One specific discussion concerned the ribbon cutting ceremony on Sunday to "officially" open the trails on Round Top. We made the 1.7 mile climb to the junction with the Big Rock Trail in less than 40 minutes. Along the way I pointed out some of the blowdowns I had cleared recently. At the next split in the trail we stayed left to continue to Hodge Pond on the Flynn Trail. When we reached the clearing, we walked over to the shore of the pond. I had been there the day before and not much had changed. Sheila took a brief dip in the pond. It was very sunny and quite warm. Lisa wanted to see what OSI had done to the Flynn Trail on the west side of Hodge Pond so we walked out the Flynn Trail in that direction. I showed her how the trail and been scraped leaving dirt behind which had turned into mud. We walked through the field to the spot where the trail again enters the trees. At this point we could hear machinery and Lisa went to investigate. I had no desire to slog through the mud so Sheila and I waited for her. She came back after talking to the person running the machinery. He explained that he had been told to scrape the trail and then replant grass seed. This seemed odd as the grass that had been there was in great shape! He did tell Lisa that someone else had come in with a vehicle and left tracks and deep ruts which had ruined his work. We walked back on the Flynn Trail to the clearing at the outlet end of Hodge and then started back up the hill. Both of us had mentioned hiking back along the outlet stream from Hodge Pond but we decided to leave it for another day. We hiked up the hill from the pond and back along the Flynn Trail. We continued on to the junction with the Big Rock trail arriving there at 11:20 AM. We started down the Flynn Trail which is all downhill from the junction and did not stop at all along the way. Near the gate we followed the Flynn Trail into the woods to the left to avoid the private property around the cabin. Lisa signed the register and we walked back out to the car arriving at 11:55 AM. We had hiked 5.2 miles in 2 hours with an elevation gain of 808 feet.

On Monday, September 18th I had decided that I wanted to go to the Hodge and Frick Pond area to do a fitness hike and clear a blowdown on the Flynn Trail that I kept forgetting to cut. The weather forecast was calling for high humidity and temperatures approaching 80 degrees. I got my gear together to go do some trail maintenance taking only my Silky Sugowaza saw in my pack. I got dressed and then put Sheila in the back seat and my gear in the trunk. We left the house a little after 9:30 AM and drove out the DeBruce Road for about six miles. I turned left on Mongaup Pond Road and stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road when it split. When we arrived at the trailhead, there were no vehicles in either parking area. The temperature was 64 degrees when I set my GPS and we crossed the road at 10:05 AM to begin our hike. We quickly walked along the Flynn Trail to the woods road that was once the extension of Beech Mountain Road. We turned right on the woods road and started the long climb toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. A one point there was a branch that had partially broken off a tree and was in the trail. I moved it off the trail. We continued up the trail with me picking up big and small branches and throwing them off the trail. At about 1.25 miles we came to the point where I sometimes turn off the trail to visit an interesting clearing. Just after this point there was a tree across the trail which I did not remember from previous hikes. The trunk was only about 8 inches in diameter but there were some branches that ended to be cut before I could remove three rest of the tree. I put down my pack and got out the saw and started to trim beaches and clear away those that were loose. I took some before pictures and a few as I finished various stages. Eventually I had only the main trunk to cut. The work went quickly but I was sorry I had not rough my wedges to prevent the saw from binding. It took a little more than 15 minutes to clear the mess. We continued up the trail to the Big Rock Junction at 11:10 AM after hiking 1.8 miles. As we passed through the junction, I noticed that there were vehicle tracks on the trail. It looked too wide for an ATV but could have been a side-by-side with tractor tires.

We continued along the Flynn Trail and found the blowdown I had wanted to cut just before the trail split. I did take pictures of this one before attacking it with the saw. There wasn't too much to clear so we moved on after I took some "after" pictures. At the next trail junction, we stayed to the left to follow the Flynn Trail down to Hodge Pond. The grass on the trail had been mowed which was a big improvement from the tall grass on the first part of the Flynn Trail. We walked out into the field by Hodge Pound and then over to the fire circle near the shore. The circle neatest the shore had been cleaned up. Sheila immediately went for a swim while I took some pictures of the pond. The sky was blue with nice white clouds which made for some nice shots. I was hoping for some bright colors in the leaves but they were just beginning to turn and were still dull. I had though we might take the jeep trail to avoid the muddy mess that OSI had created on the Flynn Trail but decided I wanted to stay on the hiking trails. After a drink, we walked back to the Flynn Trail and continued on the west side of Hodge Pond. The mud was worse than before with deep ruts caused by some machinery. At the next trail junction we stayed to the left to take the Flynn Trail up the hill rather than the jeep road around the back of the pond. We passed through the gate and found the trail was still wet with muddy patches along the way. The trees and bushes were beginning to close in on the trail and really needed several people with loppers to cut them back. I cut a few of the worst until we came to the Quick Lake Trail at Junkyard Junction. It was 11:55 AM and we had hiked 3.5 miles which is almost exactly halfway through the hike. We turned left to start the loop back. The trail initially rolls some but eventually descends toward Iron Wheel Junction. The trail was wet and muddy in many places and the vehicle racks were even more pronounced. Whatever ha passed over the trail had really chewed it up in spots. I picked up a few branches and chucks of wood along the trail but there were no major blowdowns.

At 12:30 PM we turned right at Iron Wheel Junction after hiking 5.1 miles. The turn allowed us to stay on the Quick Lake Trail heading for Frick Pond. As we walked, I continued to pick up branches and cut a few that were in the trail. We came to and crossed the small stream through the woods. Despite the act that the trails were wet, the stream was very low although Sheila took a quick dip. There was a large hardwood tree down across the trail in the "spruce tunnel" but it was flat on the ground. I decided to leave that one for another day since it would take a lot of work with the axe. There was another older tree a little farther along. We walked out of the spruce tunnel and found some more branches on the trail which was no match for the Silky saw. This part of the trail was as wet and muddy as it had been all summer. We passed by the junction with the Big Rock Trail on the left and were soon at the bridge over the Frick Pond Outlet. I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I have taken hundreds of pictures form the bridge but can't resist stopping to take a few more. The beaver dam was still out but it looked like a few sticks had been replaced. I still have not been able to determine who removed the am. Several other people had noticed this vandalism and are as mad as I am about it! It was getting late so I stowed the camera and shouldered the pack. We walked up the hill from Frick Pond to Gravestone Junction and continued straight ahead on the Quick Lake Trail. The trail was still wet for almost the entire way back to the car. We passed by the register and turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail back out to the car. There was now one other car in the lot. We were back at the car at 1:15 Pm having hiked 6.6 miles in 3 hours and 5 minutes with a vertical gain of 908 feet. This is very slow but included half an hour of stopped time.

On Sunday, September 16 I decided I wanted to get out to hike locally after church and thought a quick hike to Huggins Lake might be nice. I was hoping to find some nice fall colors in the leaves. Huggins Lake is not my favorite but I chose it for its shorter length, under 4 miles, and for the fact that it was not Frick Pond or Trout Pond. When I saw my grandchildren in Sunday School I got the idea that we should ALL go on the hike. I asked Kathleen and she was in favor of the idea as were the kids. I left it up the Kathleen to break the news to Karl. I saw Kathleen after Sunday School and she said Karl had agreed and would bring appropriate clothing for everyone and would meet us in Livingston Manor after church. After church we all headed to our house and waited for Karl. We got the kids some lunch and Karl soon arrived. We got everyone dressed and out the gear in the car. Sheila seemed extra energetic as if she didn't ant to get left behind in the confusion. We loaded everyone into the cars and headed out a little after 1:00 PM with Sheila in the backseat. I have come to the realization that she would like to be out everyday! I drove up the Beaverkill Road and down the Campsite Road to cross the covered bridge. At the end of the road we turned right and followed Berry Brook Road to the trailhead. We arrived at the road to the parking area to find it very rough with some erosion and a high ridge in the middle. I chose to chance it and easily made it to the small lot parking jut before 1:30 PM. I got my equipment ready and set my GPS while Karl got Brynn the backpack. There were no other cars in the lot when we headed out at 1:30 PM on the wide woods road to the lake. The kids love to hike but it is a good idea to keep them occupied to prevent the whining! The temperature was in the high 60's but the humidify was high making it a little uncomfortable to hike. There was some sun and the skies were mostly blue as we started the climb up the hill. The hike isn't long and the trail is well-maintained. The first 1.2 miles is all uphill and gains almost 700 feet. Sheila was running up and down the trail and following game paths into the woods. The kids did pretty well stopping to look at some efts on the trail as well as some beech nuts. As we continued to climb there were a few complaints but they were quashed with pleas to help the adults hike and a few goldfish crackers. After the initial climb, the trail descends levels some and then climbs again until the final descent to Huggins Lake. The trail makes a sharp turn from southeast to north at about 1.6 miles. Everyone enjoyed the downhill trek to the shores of the pond.

When we arrived at the lake, I noticed that the water level was a little lower than normal. There was a wet area and patches of mud on the trail just before it goes out along the shore. We avoided the mud and walked out along the dam. The leaves had not really changed colors and the sun had gone under some clouds. In fact, the clouds had gathered and it seems they were threatening rain although it had not been in the forecast! I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take some pictures of the blue sky with some white clouds in one direction and the blacker clouds in the other. At the outlet I could immediately see that the beavers had dammed the water flow. I took a few more pictures of the lake before returning to my pack and stowing the camera. Sheila decided to dive into the pond water several times until a stern warning stopped her. The kids explored the edge of the pond until raindrops started falling and we started back up the hill. The rain continued briefly and then stopped. The only negative point about Huggins Lake is that there is only one trail and so there are no variations available. The kids were not too thrilled about hiking back UP the trail but they didn't complain too much and the ascent went smoothly for the most part. We climbed the hill back to the highest point on the trail and then started down the other side. I was surprised that I had labored a little climbing the hill at the beginning of the hike but felt very fresh on the way back. The kids really like to hike downhill and they were ahead of the adults most of the time. When we arrived back at the car, we had hiked 3.8 miles in 2 hours with a total elevation gain of 960 feet.

On Friday, September 15th I decided that I wanted to go to the Frick Pond area to clear a major blowdown on the Loggers Loop a short distance from Gravestone Junction. Cindy agreed to go with me to help so we got our gear together including my KatanaBoy Silky saw and Council Tool felling axe. I also put in my felling wedges to make sure the saw would not bind. We put all the gear in the car and put Sheila in the back seat. We left the house a little after 12:20 PM and drove out the DeBruce Road for about six miles. I turned left on Mongaup Pond Road and stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road when it split. When we arrived at the trailhead, there were no vehicles in either parking area. We got our gear out of the trunk and started out on the woods road to the trail register at about 12:40 PM. We continued out to Gravestone Junction on the Quick Lake Trail. We turned right on the Logger's Loop and walked about a quarter mile to the blowdown I wanted to clear. There was one large trunk across the trail, another one beyond this and several trees leaning over the trail. I took some before pictures and then began to work on the trunk. I used the axe to split the trunk in the middle. Cindy and I moved that piece off the trail and then I started to cut another piece off the trunk with the saw. The larger saw did a good job of cutting through the trunk and I used the wedges to keep the kerf open. Once the trunk was cut all the way through, I was able to flip the piece I had cut off the trail. I took some "after" pictures and then turned my attention to the next part of the blowdown. At this point another hiker appeared coming from Gravestone Junction with his dog. Sheila seemed to want to meet this dog so the hiker decided it would be best to Reese his dog from the leash. Fortunately, the dogs did seem to get along well. The hiker asked us if we knew who had removed the beaver dam at Frick Pond. I told him I had contacted a number of people at the DEC and none could answer that question. When Cindy told him our names, we found out he knew our son who is a lawyer and had done some work for him. He thanked us for our work and continued on his way. I cut a few branches and pieces off this blowdown until I felt the trail was clear. I decided that the one tree hanging over the trail had to go as it was nearly dead and might fall at any time. I cleared some brush out of the way and then used the saw to cut down the tree. Unfortunately the saw became bound up in the cut and was hard to clear. I ended up using the axe to make a cut to free the saw. This also brought down the tree which was a little taller than I thought. I began to use the axe to trim branches and piled them off the trail as I went. I then used the saw to cut up the trunk into pieces I could move off the trail. When I was done I took a few pictures. By this time the skies had gotten much darker and a few raindrops began to fall. We decided to walk back to the car. The rain never came down very hard but some began to fall as we headed back to the car. We were back at the car at 2:35 PM after spending about 2 hours working on the trail.

On Wednesday, September 13th I wanted to get in a hike close to home before cross country practice in the afternoon. We had not hiked since Friday due to my family and work commitments so both Sheila and I were ready to get out! I decided to go to the Frick Pond area and hike out the Logger's Loop to Iron Wheel, up the Quick Lie trail to Junkyard Junction, over to Hodge Pond on the Flynn Trail, up the Flynn Trail to the Big Rock junction, down the Big Rock Trail to the Quick Lake Trail and then back out to the car. I thought it would be about 8 miles which was good with me. The weather was beautiful with bright sun and blue skies but with highs in the high 50's. I saw no reason to wait and Sheila agreed so I got ready to leave and pulled out of the driveway at 9:15 AM. Sheila was certainly ready to hike as she jumped in the back seat and perched on the console. I drove out DeBruce Road and turned left on Mongaup Road. When we arrived there were no other cars in the lots. I got my equipment ready and set my GPS. We started out to the trail register on the woods road. The trail was damp and muddy in spots and the one tree hanging over the trail looked even lower than in the past. The Quick Lake Trail from the register to Gravestone Junction was wet with standing water. It was muddy in places and it looked as if a vehicle had passed down the trail recently. Near Gravestone Junction the bushes started to close in and I made a note to bring a pair of lopper and hedge trimmers in the near future to open up the trail. We turned right on the Loggers Loop and began to walk the trail. After a short detainee I had to stop and take some pictures of the blue sky and white clouds. The trees were beginning to start to change colors and the scene was beautiful. We continued along the trail and soon found some new blowdowns across the trail. There was one large tree squarely across the trail which I knew would have to be cut at lest three times to be able to clear it and move the pieces. There were other smaller trunks and branches that could be easily cut and moved. I took a few pictures and then continued on the hike. The entire Loggers Loop was wet and muddy in many places. Ironically, when we reached Times Square the trail was relatively dry and the Loggers Loop after Times Square was in pretty good shape. I continued to pick up some small branches and moves some larger pieces of debris off the trail. The first part of the Loggers Loop is uphill as it heads north and northwest for about .85 miles gaining 195 feet. The trail was wet in places but any muddy spots were easy to avoid. The grass was wet which made my boots wet but I had no complaints as it felt so good to be out. We crested a small hill and then walked the rest of the way downhill slightly to Iron Wheel Junction.

At the trail junction we continued straight ahead toward Junkyard Junction beginning a long and uphill climb. The trail climbs about 500 feet in 1.6 miles as it heads primarily north. At 3.3 miles the trail, turns northeast and continues uphill to Junkyard Junction. At 3.8 miles we reached the junction and turned right on the Flynn Trail heading southeast toward Hodge Pond. After passing through the gate, we walked downhill toward the shore of Hodge Pond. At this point I could hear machinery operating on the other side of the pond. I assumed it was OSI mowing the trails which they often do but for reasons I do not understand. I decided to turn left to follow the jeep trail round the head end of the pond. After a short walk, we turned right and walked down to the edge of the water. It was a beautiful scene with sun shining on the blue pond. The skies had some nice white clouds and a few of the trees had begun to change colors. I took quite a few pictures from different angles before packing up and continuing along the jeep trail. We turned right and continued down the trail and woods road to the outlet end of Hodge Pond. This was also a nice view so I put down my pack and got out my camera. OSI had removed one fire ring to clear the filed but had left another one. I took more pictures of Hodge Pond while Sheila took a quick dip. When she came out of the pond, she decided to run around wildly on shore. I got a drink, packed up and headed toward the Flynn Trail where it heads up the hill from Hodge Pond. This half mile stretch gains only 150 feet but sometimes seems very tiring. On this day it seemed to go quickly and we were soon turning right to stay on the Flynn Trail as it heads toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. This section of the trail is very flat and we were soon at the junction. We turned right at 5.6 miles and started down the Big Rock Trail heading west to 5.8 miles where the trail turned south. In the 1.1 miles from the junction with the Flynn Trail to Times Square the Big Rock Trail drops 600 feet. It was a pleasure to walk downhill and south toward Times Square. The trail was mostly clear and I only had to pick up a few blowdowns along the way. At 5.6 miles we passed straight through Times Square continuing on the Big Rock Trail around the back of Frick Pond. The trail was wet and muddy which made the steeping stones we had installed come in handy. I stopped at the first bridge to take some pictures as the trees in the area were changing colors. We walked along the boardwalks and I stopped again to take some shots of these walkways. We continued out to the end of the big Rock Trail and turned left on the Quick Lake Trail. It was a short hike to the bridge over the outlet stream at Frick Pond. I have hundreds of pictures from this one spot but almost always stop to take another. I put down my pack and got out the camera. Some trees were changing color and the blue sky had a few white clouds. The beavers seem to have given up on the dam if they are even still in the area. This is one of saddest things I have seen and I wish I could find out who is responsible for destroying their dam! I packed up again and we headed up the hill to Gravestone Junction. At the junction we stayed to the right on the Quick Lake Trail and walked back to the car. We arrived back at 12:50 PM after hiking 7.8 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes for an average speed of 2.5 mph. Pour elevation gain was 1102 feet. The temperature at the car was 73 degrees.

On Friday, September 8th I decided to go to Walnut Mountain to make sure the cross country course was in good shape and to mark it with white arrows for our home meet against Eldred on Tuesday, September 12th. I had laid out the course last year and made sure it was exactly 5K which translates to 16,404.2 feet. Bryce was with us so he and Cindy came along to help with the work. We headed toward Liberty with Sheila in the back seats with Bryce and parked at 11:00 AM. The runners had told me there was a tree down on the Sunset Trail and I wanted to clear it and the trail between the Sunset Trail and the West Lake Trail-North first. We grabbed the loppers, rake, Fiskars axe and Silky saw and started up the main Mountain Overlook Trail which is really a carriage path. Where the trail turned left we followed it until the Sunset Trail turned right. We trued right onto the Sunset Trail and followed it as it climbed and then leveled off. We passed the point where the trail comes up from the West Lake-North Trail and continued along. I began to wonder if we would ever find a tree. After a short walk, I looked ahead And saw a large tree blocking about three-quarters of the trail. There was enough room to get by but I thought it would be best to remove as much as I could. I sized up the tree and found it was water-logged and rotten. I used the axe to cut almost all the way through and then finished it off with the saw. Bryce and I rolled the piece of trunk off the trail. We returned to the trail down to the West Lake-North trail and I took the rake from Cindy and started to rake small branches and leaves off the trail. Cindy trimmed some overhanging branches and Bryce went ahead to remove some larger branches. I didn't think the trail would need much clearing but I was wrong. There were a lot of leaves on the trail and many small branches. There were also some nasty roots ready to trip runners. I cut these with the loppers or just pulled them out of the dirt. The skies were getting darker but I really wanted to finish the work. I finally reached the bottom of the trail. We turned right on the West Lake-North Trail and began to walk back to the car. As we walked, we picked up some branches on the trail. T one point Cindy trimmed a few branches and I picked them up off the trail. We came to a few pine trees near the intersection with the Mountain Overlook Trail and I took some time to trim them back out of the way. We walked back down the hill to the parking area. I put away the tools and got two cans of paint to start marking the trails. At this point Cindy and Bryce decided they were too tired to continue to help me!

I walked down to the starting line and headed out the West Lake-East trail toward the West Lake parking area. As the trail entered the woods, I used a spray can to place a white arrow although there was really no other way to go. I decided I would use as little paint as possible by marking areas where other trails crossed the course and places where the course turned. I also decided to put a few marks on long stretches just to reassure runners they were on the right trail. I put a few more marks down and then marked the turn to the left onto the West Lake-North Trail. I continued along the trail placing arrows where they were needed. I had previously cut out the trail and it was in good shape. There were two small muddy areas along the way but that makes a good cross country course. Just before the trail entered the trees there was a stretch where the weeds were leaning onto the course. It was passable but I thought I might bring my string trimmer to widen that area. I started up the hill and placed an arrow marking the turn to the left onto the Vista Way Trail. Several bike trail cross the Vista Way so I put down arrows to indicate to runners that they needed to continue straight ahead. As we neared a small footbridge I put an arrow indicating a turn to the left following the Vista Way over the bridge. I walked a little farther and put a 1 on the trail to mark the first mile. From there I followed the trail as it continued toward the main parking area. The gate was closed into the parking lot so I marked the route just to the right of the fence and made note to trim the grass and weeds in this area. I continued marking into the picnic area and toward the main Mountain Overlook Trail. Just as I started through the gate, the first can of paint ran out. I went back to the car and got another can and Bryce decided to join me for the last part of the course. I was happy because I knew things would go much faster if I had someone to talk to me. We walked up the Mountain Overlook Trail marking double headed arrows since this is the only part of the course that runners traverse in both directions. We continued to follow the trail until the intersection where it turned left. I marked an arrow to go straight ahead on a short section of trail that leads to the West Lake-North Trail. We continued along with me putting marks where they were needed. We came to the trail that goes up the mountain to the Sunset Trail and I placed a big arrow showing a left turn. The trail looked well-maintained after I had spent time raking it. I marked a couple of roots and rocks along the way. At the Sunset Trail I put a big arrow showing the right turn and shortly after that a 2 to mark the second mile. I told Bryce that there was only one small uphill and then it was all downhill. As we neared the end of the Sunset Trail, I had to place several arrows as there are a couple of different trails come together here. At the end of the trail Bryce noticed the overlook and I told him to go take a look while I put down a left turn arrow onto the

On Thursday, September 7th I knew I needed to get out after several days of family commitments but I had to do it before my cross country meet. I decided to simply head across the street to Round Top and do some figure 8's just for the exercise. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street for a hike on Round Top at about 10:40 AM. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. As soon as we entered the trees I released Sheila from her leash. At the first trail junction we continued straight ahead to walk the steeper path to the viewpoint. At the lookout I noted that there was no garbage and everything was in order. We followed the trail to the right and started the gentle climb through the woods. When we reached the next trail junction, we stayed to the right to follow the lower trail around the base of Round Top to the next junction. At this junction we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the steeper blue trail. Along the way I noticed several stumps sticking up and a few rocks and roots that could trip hikers. I decided we would return another day to eliminate these hazards. We walked across the summit of Round Top and down the other side which is also a little steep. When we got to the yellow trail, we turned left to follow it to the second trail junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail back to the very first trail junction. We turned around and retraced our steps taking the more gentle path this time. When the yellow trail turned left, we followed it to the next trail junction were we turned right and headed up the blue trail to the summit. We walked over the top and down the other side to the yellow trail again. We turned right and followed the trail along the base of Round Top. Where the yellow trail turned left, we followed it to the left and down to the lookout. From the lookout we walked down hill to the first trail junction. Since I had done three figure 8's with grandson Bryce the last time he was with me, I thought it might be nice to try for four this time. It takes me about 20 minutes to do one. We repeated the frost two figure 8's with me taking time to think about various topics. Sheila was pretty good staying with me most of the time except on the final round. She decided to go absolutely crazy and dash up and down the trail as she sometimes does. After finishing the last figure 8 8, we walked out to the trailhead. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down the cemetery hill and across the field to our driveway. It was 12:10 PM and we had hiked about 3.3 miles in 1 hour and 30 minutes. It must have been a good workout as I was tired.

On Monday, September 4th I decided I wanted to get out and hike before attending a family reunion in the afternoon. Rather than spend time driving somewhere, I decided to simply go across the street to Round Top and hike some loops for an hour or so. It was 70 degrees at the house and a little humid when I put Sheila on her leash and started down the driveway. I elected to leave my pack behind but to take my hiking poles to prevent “sausage fingers”. We crossed the street and the field by the church and started up the hill to the top of the cemetery. Sheila was willing to pull so I let her help me up the steep but short hill. At the trailhead we turned left into the forest and after a few feet I let Sheila off her leash. It was a little cooler out of the direct sun but not much cooler. At the first trail junction I decided to let Sheila chose the way. She turned right and started up the more gentle slope of the trail and I followed. When the lower trail made a sharp left, we continued straight ahead on the upper trail. The trail was easy to follow with the bright blue blazes. Some places did need some trimming and there were a few stumps and roots that I will have to remove. We followed the trail across the flat summit and down the other side to the lower trail. We turned right to continue on the lower trail. We continued downhill to the lookout where I found no garbage or recent indications of fires. We turned left to follow the lower trail back to the first trail junction. We had completed one long loop.

We immediately turned left and started up the gentler slope in the same direction we had gone on the first lap. This time when the yellow trail turned left we continued to follow it along the base of Round Top. At the next trail junction we turned left again following the yellow trail. At the lookout we turned left and walked down to the first trail junction. We had now completed a long loop and a short loop. I started back up the trail by turning left but Sheila started out to the trailhead. She saw me start back up the trail and followed me. We walked another long loop exactly the same way we had walked the first. When we arrived back at the first trail junction, Sheila ran ahead of me toward the trailhead. I made the left turn intending to do one more short loop. Sheila was pretty far along the trail to the trailhead and did not want to turn around. I made up my mid that I would win this battle and continued up the trail. Before long Sheila ran by me and I could almost hear her sigh. I don’t think she was tired but just bored. We completed the short loop and this time we headed out to the trailhead. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down the cemetery hill and across the field by the church to the driveway and home. We had taken about 1 hour and 5 minutes to hike 3 miles. It was not an interesting hike by it was good exercise.

On Friday, June 24th, I wanted to do a more challenging hike close to home. Cindy and I had taken the previous two Saturdays to visit mansions In Milford, PA and Ringwood. NJ. We liked this so much that I tried to plan another such trip but the tours for most of the mansions were sold out due to the fact that it was Labor day weekend. We knew that other popular hiking spots would be busy so we agreed on hiking Graham and Balsam Lake Mountains. I knew that the 8+ mile hike would be difficult but satisfying. Graham Mountain is on private property. Make sure you call the caretaker to get permission before hiking. It was very cool in the morning so we waited to leave the house until 10:15 AM which made Sheila a little crazy. I put on my usual summer clothing but forgot to bring along a jacket. I drove out Old Route 17 and turned right and headed up the Beaverkill Road. It wasn't long before I got behind a slow moving car and I kept wishing they would pull over. The car turned into a driveway just after the Beaverkill Valley Inn and I made better time. The drive always seems so long and I thought about the fact that the entire area including the near side of Balsam Lake Mountain is in our ambulance district! There were two or three cars in the lot when I parked at 11:00 AM and I got all my gear ready to hike. I had along my Suunto Traverse watch and made sure to set it correctly although I did not set the altitude. I also set my Garmin handheld unit for comparison. We got right on the trail at 11:05 AM. The temperature was barely 60 degrees and I though I might regret not having a jacket. We didn't hurry but we kept a good pace making the first trail junction in about 25 minutes. The trail was a little muddy in places but it was easy to avoid them. We continued straight ahead on the trail toward the Millbrook trailhead. I was surprised to see that the trail had been well-maintained with few branches, briars and nettles encroaching. We kept our pace but I did not remember that the mile of trail between the two trail junctions gains over 400 feet of elevation. It was getting warmer or at least I was getting warmer as we hiked. As we hiked, Sheila occasionally ran ahead and started into the woods to chase birds and chipmunks. The sky was very blue with puffy white clouds and I was happy to be out. By 12:05 PM we were at the second junction with the trail up Balsam Lake Mountain. We had hiked 1.8 miles and gained 760 feet! We continued on the woods road toward the herd path to Graham Mountain. In .25 miles we were approaching the herd path and I though I saw hikers turning onto the path. We turned right onto what has become a very obvious path.

The herd path has become more of a trail over the years and it even seems that someone is clearing some of the blowdowns, nettles and briars along the way. We did no see any hikers ahead of us as we started toward Graham. For the first 1.2 miles the path heads almost due east and is flat or even descends some. It is rocky in places and has some blowdowns which are easily walked around or over. At 3.2 miles into the hike we reached the base of the climb up Graham as the path heads a little more toward the southeast. The distance to the summit from here is only .8 miles but gains 625 feet in elevation. There are a few switchbacks and flatter spots along the way which help make the grade only 15%. As we hiked up, we met one man hiking down toward us. There are many spots along the way that look like the final ascent to the summit. We finally passed a path on the left to what used to be a viewpoint and I knew we were near the top. This viewpoint ion now blocked by trees and bushes and there isn't much to see. On the final climb we were surprised by two young girls running down the trail. They were followed by their parents and another sibling. We said "Hello" and in the course of conversation they informed us that all three children had complete the 3500 foot peaks! By 1:30 PM we had hiked the 4 miles to the summit. I dropped my pack to get a drink and a protein bar while Cindy sat on some cinder blocks. I also took out the camera to take a few pictures. The views are now mostly blocked by the vegetation but I took some pictures of the ruins at the top. Someone decided to dismantle part of the old radio station at the top! There is no reason to do this especially since it is on private property. After a few minutes, I could hear people, on the other side of the building but they did not come around to say "hello" and I didn't want to see what they might be doing. We took a break Effie starting back down the mountain. When we got to the lookout to the north, I decided not to stop as it is now completely blocked by trees. The trip down seemed to go fast and by 2:30 PM we had hiked 6.0 miles and were back at the main trail. We turned left and started to walk back towed the trail up Balsam Lake Mountain. Along the way we met several groups of three to six people headed back to the Millbrook trailhead. At the next junction with the trail that heads up to the fire tower I turned right to start up the mountain. I though Cindy might be too tired but she followed right after me. I was happy to be hiking a longer and more difficult hike but wondered how easy the steep descent on the other side would be. My legs felt surprisingly fresh as we made our way up the trail. As we were going up we met several groups of Korean hikers headed down the mountain.

Since the trail junction is already more than 430 feet above the lower trail junction, there is less climbing to do than if yon start at the trailhead. The slope is also much more gentle averaging about 12%. Sheila and I kept hiking and I was surprised at the pace we were able to maintain and that my legs felt fine. We stopped to wait for Cindy a few times. I definitely had an advantage as I put Sheila on her leash and she pulled me up the trail. Right around the 3500 foot sign I caught the unmistakable smell of balsam fir as we transitioned from hardwood to softwood forest. Soon I could hear some noise from the area of the tower and we broke through to the clearing. Another dog immediately came over to visit and I tied Sheila to a tree. I wish people with dogs would be courteous enough to keep them on a leash. I love all dogs but not all hikers appraise a strange animal approaching them! There were half a dozen hikers at the top sitting or standing around talking. One of those people was Laurie Rankin and we recognized each other immediately. Laurie's father was a fire tower observer in the late 50's and my grandfather, Ralph Phillips, was anew York State forest Ranger. He was responsible for an area in southern Sullivan County including the Conklin Hill Fire tower near the Toronto Reservoir. We said "Hello" and caught up on what we were doing before I ascended the tower. I grabbed my camera from my pack and headed up the tower. As I climbed I noticed the wind and the chill that it brought. Laurie's husband Tom had the cab open and I was the only visitor. I took some pictures from the cab and spent some time talking to Tom who showed me some points of interest. I dropped down to a lower landing to take a few more picture unobscured by the windows of the cab. I continued to descend and once on the ground I spent a few minutes talking to the group of hikers. We said "Goodbye" and started down the steep side on the mountain. The first section wasn't too bad but as we approached the spring the rocks were very wet and slippery making getting a good foot plant and pole placement important. Below the side rail to the lean-to the trail got much steeper. The hike down to the trail junction was only about .5 miles but the loss in elevation was 730 feet for an average grade of over 28%! The trail was dry most of the rest of the way after the spring making less of a problem. As we descended we met several groups of people coming up the mountain. Once back at the main trail we turned right and headed back to the car. This part of the trail was all downhill or flat which was a welcome relief from the steep descent. On the way out we met two young parents with two children no more than 5 years old. They asked us about the lean-to and we told them we had not visited it. We were back at the car at 4:25 PM having hiked 8.5 miles in 5 hours and 20 minutes with a stop at the top of Graham and at the fire tower. The vertical gain was 2213 feet. I was surprised that the detour to Balsam Lake Mountain had only lengthen the trip by about .6 miles. It did increase the ascending by over 500 feet! On the drive back to Livingston Manor it began to rain.

On Friday, September 1st my grandson Bryce was again at our house. Bryce is extremely intelligent and can carry one conversations about many topics. He is also energetic and athletic and likes to hike. We did some work around the house and played some games. Around 11:00 AM we headed across the street for a hike on Round Top. We crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Sheila helped me along by pulling me up the hill. When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. As soon as we entered the trees I released Sheila from her leash. At the first trail junction we continued straight ahead to walk the steeper path to the viewpoint. At the lookout I noted that there was no garbage and everything was in order. We followed the trail to the left and started the gentle climb through the woods. Bryce and I started to tell each other Bible stories and what the meant which pleased both of us. As we reached the next trail junction, we stayed to the right to follow the lower trail around the base of Round Top to the next junction. At this junction we turned left and started up to the summit of Round Top on the steeper blue trail. Along the way we noticed several stump sticking up and a few rocks and roots that could trip hikers. We decided we would return another day to eliminate these hazards. We walked across the summit of Round Top and down the other side which is also a little steep. When we got to the yellow trail, we turned left to follow it to the second trail junction. This time we turned right and followed the yellow trail back to the very first trail junction. We had not decided exactly how many figure 8's we would do but three sounded like a good idea. We turned around and retraced our steps taking the more gentles pat this time. When the yellow trail turned left, we followed it to the next trail junction were we turned right and headed up the blue trail to the summit. We walked over the top and down the other side to the yellow trail again. We turned right and follow the trail along the base of Round Top. Where the yellow trail turned left, we followed it to the left and down to the lookout. From the lookout we walked down hill to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and started back up the steep trail to the lookout to repeat the first figure 8. Once we were back at the first trail junction again, we ended our adventure by turning left and walking out to the trail head. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down the cemetery hill and across the field to our driveway. It was 12:15 PM and we had hiked about 2.75 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes.

On Wednesday, August 30th I decided that I wanted to go for a hike close to home. The big loop around Frock and Hodge ponds has become my "go to" hike for a quick walk close to home so I decided to head there. Sheila sniffed my clothes and immediately knew we were hiking. She began to run around the house bouncing against the furniture but always keeping a close eye on me. I put my gear in the car and an excited Sheila in the back seat and drove out the DeBruce Road at 9:40 AM. At Mongaup Pond Road I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there were no other cars parked. Sheila was acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she ran around and headed for the trail. The temperature was 57 degrees and I was a little cool as I got my gear ready to go. The skies were overcast and there was a breeze blowing . We headed out the path to the register on Quick Lake Trail at 10:00 AM. The Quick Lake Trail was wet with some muddy spots which we tried to avoid. At Gravestone Junction we turned left to head down to Frick Pond. The water level in the pond was low due to the fact that someone had completely pulled out the beaver dam across the outlet stream. I was disappointed to see that the beavers had not begun to rebuild the dam. Either they had moved on or someone had trapped them. The DEC rangers and the wildlife division claim no knowledge of this action so my conclusion is that someone is doing this on their own for reasons I cannot understand! I hope someone catches these vandals in the act. The sky was still overcast so I decided I would pass up taking pictures and go for a fast hike. We continued on the Quick Lake Trail around the pond bearing left at the next trail junction to stay on the red trail. This part of the trail was drier than the last time I had walked the trail but it was still damp in spots with some mud. We were setting a fast pace despite having to avoid the water and the mud. We soon came to the "pine promenade" and the little stream through the woods. This water level in the stream was higher than it had been and Sheila was able to get a drink and take a "dip". She immediately began a mad dash up and won the trail at a very high speed. As we continued along the trail I removed some small branches and a few large ones until we arrived at Iron Wheel Junction at 1.6 miles.

We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and started the long uphill climb toward Junkyard Junction. The trail was almost dry all the way to Junkyard Junction 3.2 miles. The sun was starting to come through the clouds but it was still playing hide and seek. We turned right onto the blue Flynn Trail which is almost flat. It too was only damp with a few spots of mud which were easily avoided. There were no major blowdowns but I continued to remove branches that littered the trail. The entire trail does need to have some branches lopped to make a clear path. When we got to the gate, we turned right to stay on the trail and head down toward Hodge Pond. At 3.75 miles the Flynn Trail heads right and we followed it toward the outlet end of Hodge Pond. This part of the Flynn Trail which is a woods road had less water than other places and was not as muddy as the previous trip. It looked like OSI had decided to smooth out the trail by using a grader to dig it up and level it off. The problem is that this removed all the grass that held the dirt together and left behind an unpacked dirt surface. This surface can absorb a lot of water to form muddy areas. The field was still wet from the dew and after walking through it the trail again had been "improved" and was muddy. The open field is the spot where the mess hall and family camping area for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp once stood. When we came to the clearing at the outlet end of the pond, I again decided to skip the pictures. We turned right to continue on the Flynn Trail climbing up the hill. I was feeling quite fresh and concentrated on using my poles to help set a quick pace up the hill. At the top of the hill we stayed to the right to continue on the Flynn Trail. A left turn follows a woods road out to what remains of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. Just after the turn there was a small tree across the trail. The Flynn Trail is relatively flat to the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 4.5 miles. We continued straight through this junction to follow the Flynn Trail back to the car. The walk is pretty but has no remarkable views or features so we walked quickly. As we approached the gate on the woods road, we turned left to avoid the private property around the cabin and to stay on the trail. On a previous trip I had cleared and reblazed the old trail and I could see that it was easy to follow. We finished our walk and were back at the car by 12:15 PM. We had covered 6.2 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes with an elevation gain of 900 feet. Our average overall speed was 2.7 mph and we had stopped for less than 2 minutes.

On Monday, August 28th I planned to again go to the Hornell area to hike a part of the Finger Lakes Trail on Map 9. The section of trail from Bishopville Rd to Webb Rd had been relocated just as I was hiking it a little more than a week ago. The old route turned left on Bishopville Road and then ducked into the woods before coming out onto Wilson Karr Road. From there it was a road walk over Wilson Karr Road, Bishopville Road and Pennsylvania Hill Road where the trail again entered the woods. The new section of trail turned right on Bishopville Road and then followed dirt Hopkins road to a new trail along the right of way for I86 into Kanakadea Park. The trail again followed the I86 right of way before turning left on dirt Fitzgerald Road. From Fitzgerald Road the trail went through the forest before breaking out into a field and crossing Webb Road. From there the trail rejoined the old portion of the trail and headed east. I wanted to hike this new section before part of it closed on September 1st for hunting. I set my alarm for 5:00 AM but was awakened at 2:30 AM for an ambulance call. I got back home a little after 4:00 PM and decided that I would simply leave for the hike as soon as I could get ready. I was a little tired but thought I could safely do the drive and hike. I got my gear together and got dressed. I had to calla sleepy and confused Sheila from upstairs as she could not believe we were leaving so early! I had on my summer/fall pants and a light baselayer with my Columbia long-sleeved pullover shirt. I decided to try my Keen Glarus boots even though on a previous hike they had bruised my left ankle a little. I made sure I put in two full water bottles and had my water purifier with me. I also wore a light windbreaker as the temperature was in the mid 40's when I left the house at 4:45 Am. The drive is more than 3 hours but I knew a good part of the route from previous trips and did not have to worry much about directions. At 6:00 AM, we headed north and west on Route 17/I86 toward Binghamton. It was very foggy all the way to Binghamton and beyond. I stopped in Windsor at 6:45 AM to get some gas and breakfast and then continued on I86. I headed west toward Hornell but went one more exit west to Almond getting off at exit 33. I turned left off the exit onto Route 2 and then left onto Bishopville Road. After a short distance I turned right onto dirt McIntosh Road and drove to where it ended at the intersection with dirt Hopkins Road. I immediately saw the new section of the Finger Lakes Trail. I had decided to park here since the there was no parking available where the trail met Bishopville Road. My plan was to first hike from the car to the point where the trail met Bishopville road and then turn around and hike back to the car. I would then hike out to Webb Road and back. When I got out of the car, the skies looked okay but there was no sun and the temperature was 48 degrees. I decided to keep my windbreaker on and to leave my pack in the car for the hike out to the point where the trail met Bishopville Road and back to the car. I set my electronics including my Garmin GPS handheld and Suunto Traverse GPS watch. We began our hike at 8:00 AM by hiking .5 miles north on Hopkins Road and then turning right on Bishopville Road and hiking another .4 miles to where the trail met the road. We kept up a very fast pace and immediately turned around a hiked back to the car. We covered the 1.7 miles in 30 minutes for a speed of 3.4 mph.

Back at the car I took off the windbreaker although it was still only 50 degrees. I shouldered my pack and we started out at 8:37 AM on the trail which was a wide swathe mowed in the grass. We walked down a short, steep bank to a wide trail cut next to the I86 right-of-way which opened up into a field. The trail was new but the goldenrod was already beginning to lean over and encroach on the newly cut area. We could hear the traffic on I86 an but it was hard to see it until we were almost ready to enter the woods once again. Just before two miles we began to descend a series of switchbacks to a small stream which turned out to be the lowest point on the hike. We paralleled the stream for a little while and then began to ascend the bank on another series of well-planned switchbacks. The trail began to look more defined and the surface was packed possibly indicating the FLT was not following a trail that had already existed. At 2.2 miles we came to the Kanakadea Lean-to with a fire pit out front and an outhouse in back. The outhouse seemed to be constructed of composite sheets rather than wood. The lean-to was large but the front was very high off the ground requiring a ladder to enter. Also, the front supports of the lean-to looked at little worse for wear giving it a somewhat unstable appearance. We were now walking through Kanakadea County park, a park maintain by Steuben County. The park borders Canacadea State Forest. The trail flattened out a little but only for a short distance when a long descent began lasting for .35 miles and losing 240 feet. Even though the park has existing blazed trails the FLT was clearly marked with white blazes. The turns were marked but in the non-standard way with one blazes directly below another so that no direction is given. Just before 3.o0 miles, we descended to cross another little stream and then ascended the opposite bank. On the left side of the trail was an impressive construction not marked on the map. Someone had collected many branches and placed them between standing trees to create walls on three sides. The shelter was large with some branches supporting a tarp to form a roof. It wasn't clear whether this structure is on park or private property. Soon after this we came to the fence which is the boundary of the I86 right-of-way and began a .8 mile section of almost perfectly straight trail heading northeast toward Fitzgerald Road. This trail definitely followed a pre-existing trail as some of the white blazes clearly were painted over older blue blazes. Unlike the previous section along I86 which was in the open, this section tabled through a predominately pine forest. Unfortunately, the trail builders relied on the previous trail and did not do much to clear this part of the trail. There were numerous spots with trees across the trail and others with untrimmed brush encroaching on the trail.

At 3.3 miles we came down to cross another stream and the bank was very steep on both sides and needed some work. We continued waking the trail with me dodging overhanging brush and branches. At 3.8 miles we came to a small stream with a bridge across it which was further evidence that there had been a trail there before at some time. The bridge was built by a summer BOCES class in 2012. The western end of the bridge was almost suspended in the air as the stream had eroded the dirt supporting it. This allowed the whole bridge to twist. If there is any more erosion, this bridge will be unsafe. Like so many things, a little work ahead of time can save a lot of work later. We turned left on dirt Fitzgerald Road and began another uphill climb watching for the point where the trail would enter the woods again on the right. We walked about .8 miles north and then followed the trail to the right into the woods. The trail started to head northeast climbing through the mixed pine and hardwood forest. This section is the one that closes on September 1st but the bypass is too simply walk up Fitzgerald Road and then east on Webb Road. It was a short walk until we came to an open area that had been mowed and then to an open field. We walked along the west side of the field still climbing without benefit of any blazes. There were round bales in the field to the right and a large Christmas tree farm on the left. It was just beginning to get sunny as we topped the hill in the field at 4.4 miles and started downhill to Webb Road. We crossed Webb Road where there was a cemetery on the right. The trail descended through some hardwoods to a wetland crossed by several streams. The banks of the streams were almost vertical and there were no bridges to cross. I found a place to jump across but it was not the ideal situation. Again, the trail is now blazed but it needs some work to complete it.

We continued through the woods along a woods road and I checked my Avenza app to make sure we would intersect the trail I had already hiked. The app showed that trail was just ahead and when we got to the spot I recognized it. At 10:00 AM we turned around to hike back to the car. We walks down the woods road to the wetland. I thought getting backs cross the stream would be easier but it wasn't. I had decided to take a few pictures n the way back so I stopped at the wetland for a few shots. We hiked back up hill to the cemetery where I spent a few minutes looking an the inscriptions on the headstones and taking some pictures. We crossed Webb Road and walked along the edge of the field. I stopped to take a few pictures but the skies where still overcast without color or clouds. Further along we turned right from the field and entered the forest. The trip downhill certainly went faster than the uphill journey earlier. We turned left onto Fitzgerald Road, walked downhill to the end and came to the bridge. I took a few pictures and then we continued on the trail retracing our route from earlier. The section of trail parallel to I86 went quickly and we were soon back at the shelter in the woods. I stopped to take some pictures of this inventive project and then we got back on the trail. The walk back up the hill to the Kanakadea Lean-to seemed longer and more difficult than it really was. We stopped at the lean-to so that I could take some pictures since this one was a little different than others I had seen. Sheila managed to climb the steep ladder so I had her pose and I too a few shots. Soon we were back on the open trail next to I86. I stopped to take a few pictures of the trail surrounded by goldenrod. We walked back to the car arriving at 11:30 AM after hiking 8 miles in 3.5 hours for a speed of 2.3 mph including stops. The elevation gain was a modest 1560 feet. I was surprised that we were done so early and I would have found some more hiking to do but I had to be back for cross country practice.

On Saturday, August 26th I had planned to visit Ringwood Manor in Ringwood, New Jersey with Cindy. After visiting the house and grounds, I though we might hike the 3 mile loop trail in back of the manor house. The first tour of the house was at 11:00 AM so we did not hurry to leave the house. As we were getting ready, Sheila was excited until I explained she could not go on this adventure. I always feel bad when I leave her behind but we had been on a long hike the day before and I promised to take her out after church on Sunday. We left Livingston Manor at 10:00 AM and headed south and east on State Route 17 to exit 131 at Harriman. From here we took Route 17 south through Tuxedo to the village of Sloatsburg. I turned right on Sterling Mine Road and continued until I saw the sign for Ringwood Manor on the right. We drove in paying only $7 to park in the lot which was almost empty at about 11:40 AM. We walked over to the park office and bought tickets for the noon tour for $3 each. While we were waiting we strolled around the house and I took some pictures of the buildings and the garden. On the front lawn we found some interesting articles. There was a large chain which I knew was supposed to be from the chain use to block the Hudson River during the Revolution but was a fake. There was a Civil War era mortar with an iron base which made it sturdier than those made with a wooden base. There was also a small cannon from the USS Constitution, Old Ironsides. Promptly at noon our guide opened the door to the house and all five of us who were on the tour gathered around. After a few preliminary comments we entered the house. I was disappointed that photography was not allowed inside! The Ringwood area produced much of the iron for the American colonies throughout the Revolution and after it as well. The once belonged to Robert Erskine who was the cartographer for Washington during the Revolution. After his death, the land was sold to the Ryerson family who built a modest 10 room house in 1810 and continued to mine iron. This part of the house still stands. In 1853 the 19,000 acres of land was purchased by Peter Cooper and this included the Ringwood Manor area. Cooper bought the land to exploit the iron mining and to add it to the holdings of the very successful Cooper Hewett Company. At some point Mrs. Hewett decided to expand the existing house starting in 1864 until it had over 50 rooms and more than 20 fireplaces. Her hand in the design can be seen in most of the rooms as Mr. Hewett had a say in only three of the rooms! The Hewetts also improved the grounds of the manor with gardens. The house was lighted by gas lamps been after electricity became popular. At one time the family owned 40 custom made carriages of different types. As we toured the rooms of the first and second floors, Cindy and I were both impressed. The building from the outside is not that impressive but the inside is magnificent. Much of the building and the furnishing are original as are the numerous collections the family accumulated. The guide was very informative about the house, the ground and the people who lived there. It is definitely a place to visit and I would go back to see the whole thing again! The family donated the house and grounds to the State of New Jersey in 1938. The tour lasted almost exactly and hour an 15 minutes but I easily could have listened for another hour. After the tour concluded we decided to hike the blue Ringwood Manor Loop Trail to the north of the Manor.

Cindy went to the car to change into hiking shoes and to lose her sweater. I decided not to take my pack and to just carry my camera. We walked to the back of the manor house to a gate in the fence. The Avenza app on my phone came in handy to tell us we were in the right spot. I turned the GPS tracking on in the app so that I did not have to carry a separate GPS unit. The results from the app are very good but it does use a lot of battery. We started off heading west until the blazes directed us to turn right or north at .1 miles. The trail started uphill gently as a wide and almost flat trail. We passed by some very large trees and at .25 miles the white connector trail headed off to the right as we stayed left on the blue trail. It was nice to walk the trail but there wasn't much to look at. At .5 miles the rail headed west and then at .7 miles it turned southwest. We crossed a couple of small streams and then approached the area where the yellow Hasenclever Iron Trail crosses the blue trail. This trail connects many of the iron mines in northern New Jersey and there was one marked on the Mao that I though I might like to visit. Just before the point where the trail crossed I spotted a pit that was not marked on the map. It looked very much like a small mine except I could see no tailings. I took a picture and then continued along the main trail to 1.15 miles where the yellow trail crossed. Just beyond this point we crossed a larger stream without any problems. The trail ran parallel to the stream for a short distance and then turned more to the southwest and began to climb. At 1.55 miles we hit the highest spot on the trail at which point we began to descend and head due south. The trail was rocky in places which made walking difficult. When we reached 1.9 miles the trail made a loop so that at 2.1 miles we were headed northwest on a woods road. The road continued to descend and I was desperately looking for something interesting to see. At 2.5 miles the trail came out from under the trees and we could see a pond off to the right. We walked over to the pond which had a rather substantial stone dam. On the map it was labeled as Sally's Pond after one of the Hewett children but it served as a mill pond. I took pictures of the dam and the pond. We then walked back up towed the road and spotted the cemetery a little further on. When we got to the cemetery, I took some pictures and then walked over to two graves surrounded my an iron fence. These were the graves of Robert Erskine and one of his workers. We walked won toward the shore of the pond and found the graves of some of the Hewett family. Abram and Sarah Hewett are buried in Green-Wood Cemetery in New York City as he was mayor and a three term congressman. We continued back to the point that we started on the blue trail and from there went to the car. We had spent 1 hour and 20 minutes hiking 3.1 miles and exploring the pond and the cemetery. As we drove away from the manor, we took a moment to stop at the carriage house. The carriage house was well laid out with three different carriages in good condition and several displays related to equestrian events. I took pictures and then we returned to the car for the drive home.

On Friday, August 25th I awoke to my alarm at 5:00 AM to get ready to hike the westernmost section of Map 9 of the Finger Lakes Trail. Map 9 runs from Slader Creek Road southwest of Canaseraga to Hornell and has more north to south hiking than west to east. My plan was to park at Access 1 on Slader Creek Road and have a taxi pick me up there and drop me further south at Access 6 on Bully Hill Road. I would then hike back to my car. I would have preferred to hike in the opposite direction as that is the way the FLT sets up their map descriptions but there is no place to park on Bully Hill Road! The forecast for the Hornell area showed no chance of rain but clouds mixed with sun and highs only in the low 70's. This is almost ideal hiking weather! I was tired from a number of serious ambulance calls during the week an thought about postponing the trip. In the end I decided to go since I knew I would feel better once I was on the road. I got all my gear together while Sheila hovered around me making sure that she was going on the hike. I put on my summer/fall pants and a light baselayer with my Columbia long-sleeved pullover shirt. I decided to try my Keen Glarus boots even though on a previous hike they had bruised my left ankle a little. I made sure I put in two full water bottles and had my water purifier with me. The drive is mare than 3 hours but I knew a good part of the route from previous trips and did not have to worry much about directions. At 6:00 AM, we headed north and west on Route 17/I86 toward Binghamton. The temperature was in the high 50's but I knew it would get warmer. It was very foggy all the way to Binghamton and beyond. I stopped in Bath at 9:00 AM to get some gas and to call Village Taxi to pick me up on Slader Creek Road southwest of the village of Canaseraga. I gave specific directions for the route of travel and then hewed back out onto i86 heading west toward Hornell. I took exit 34B toward Arkport on Route 36 north. In Arkport I turned left or west on West Avenue which is Route 961F on some maps and Route 70 on others. I headed north toward the village of Canaseraga looking for Tildon Hill Road on the left. After 3.8 miles I turned left on Tildon Hill Road and drove west to County Route 13. I turned right or north and drove north only .7 miles to Slader Creek Road (Route 13C) on the left. I followed this road until I came to the Finger Lakes Trail trailhead just before the road meets Gas Spring Road. I parked on the right shoulder to wait for the taxi at about 9:40 AM. While I was waiting I decided to go check out how wide and deep Slade Creek was at this point. The map description warned that it could be deep enough to require wading at times. I walked across the road, opened the pasture gate, closed it behind me and walked down to Slader Creek which ran through the pasture. When I saw the stream, I had a good laugh as I would have trouble getting the bottom of my boots wet since there was so little water. I returned to the car to wait but by 10:00 Am the taxi had not appeared and I had no cell service. I began to plan alternate ways to hike but decided to see if I could find cell service somewhere. I drove up a hill and found service to call the taxi company. For some reason the taxi had driven to the village of Canaseraga ignoring my directions. I gave the driver explicit instructions to get to my location and drove back to park a the trail head. Within 15 the taxi appeared and I transferred my gear and Sheila to the taxi. There were several routes to get to Bully Hill Road but the shortest seemed to be via Gas Spring Road. We drove to the end of Slader Creek and turned south on Gas Springs Road. The pavement lasted only a few hundred feet when the road turned to dirt. After a short distance it became a seasonal use road with ruts and rocks. I mentioned to the driver that we could turn around but he continued. Eventually we made it to paved Route 32 and turned left to head east. After taking a look at another side road, I decided we would take the longer route along paved road. We continued east on Route 32 and then took Bishopville Road South to Route 2 or Karr Valley Road. From here we headed west a few miles to Bull Hill Road. We turned right to head north on the road for .7 miles. We pulled over and the driver took my money and departed after I unloaded Sheila and my gear. It is an interesting feeling to know you are over 10 mile from your car and have no choice but to hike all the way back to it! The skies looked good and the temperature was only in the mid 60'. I set my electronics including my Garmin GPS handheld and Suunto Traverse GPS watch. We began our hike at 10:45 by hiking a short distance north on Bully Hill Road and then turning left into the woods.

The first 1.5 miles of the trail paralleled Bully Hill Road heading northwest and uphill. The trail was muddy in spots but very well marked and the track was very obvious. The trail also was parallel to a deeply cut stream bed which showed a lot of erosion but was absolutely dry. At one point we crossed over the stream bed an then began to walk parallel to another deeply cut gorge but this one had some water in it. As we neared our first turn we walked through one of the many red pine plantations found along the Finger Lakes Trail. I was sweating a little from the uphill hiking but the temperature was still cool and the humidity low. A slight breeze was blowing and it seemed like the sun was obscured by clouds much of the time. When we reached Karr Road which is a dirt road at this point, I found a turn marked but with the typical FLT blaze that lets the hiker guess which way to turn. I looked both ways and saw no blazes! After a more careful search, I could see blazes far up the road on the left. We turned left and walked a few hundred feet on the dirt road before walking straight into the woods on a woods road that began a steeper climb. The trail was easily visible and well marked but was littered with stick and branches which no one had seen fit to clear. It seemed like this portion of the trail went on longer than it did and soon we were at another dirt road. We walled almost straight ahead onto this road and followed the white blazes walking along the almost flat road until turning right into the forest at about 2.0 miles. We walked along another woods road which eventually turned left to head toward Mike Dixon Road. After a little more than an hour, I checked my Garmin GPS and found we had hiked 2.4 miles which was a good pace. For some reason my watch had not recorded so I reset it and it seemed to work OK. We walked over some small bridges over a wet area and crossed the road at 2.4 miles. The trail was directly across from us and paralleled the road before turning and heading northwest. The walk was now through hardwood forests and we began a rather long descent which concerned me as I knew what goes down must go up again at some point! The trail was very rocky reminding me of some spots in the Catskills as we continued to follow some impressive streambeds. At 3.2 miles we passed a spot that used to be a bivouac area but now had a nice new lean-to. I did not visit as lean-tos tend to look much the same and I wanted to continue along the main trail. At 3.7 miles we came out onto Bush Road and turned right to walk down to Route 32. The road is a dirt road but in good shape. There hadn't been many photographic opportunities so far but I stopped to take a few shots of the rolling farmland and the blue skies with puffy white clouds. When I put my pack on the straps caught on my watch and I found out why the watch had not been running at the start of the hike. The buttons on the watch are so poorly designed that the watch will pause if they are accidentally pressed as happens when they catch on a pack strap. I reacted the watch and we walked down the road. A man was working at a house and we waved to each other. He was the only person I saw at any point on the hike. Just before we hit the paved road we crossed a bridge over a substantial stream which the map labeled as the Canisteo River. This was also the lowest point on the hike.

We turned left on paved Route 32 and walked west for about .2 miles. I didn't bother to put Sheila on her leash as she walks so nicely next to me and is very careful when there is traffic. When we got to Gas Springs Road we turned right and started to hike uphill on this forest access road with Klipnocky State Forest on the left and private land on the right. Just after the turn there were some snowmobile trails crossing the road but the white blazes of the FLT continued up the road. We walked up hill for about .3 miles until at 4.6 miles the trail left the road to the right. The trail was sighted along a woods road which was eroded and covered in branches and small tree trunks. This is a choice that FLT trail builders make that I will never understand. It would have been far easier to walk on the access road which has no vehicle traffic than to walk on this unmaintained trail. We crossed a small road and the trail turned into a drainage which made the hiking even more unappealing. At about 5.0 miles the trail veered away from Gas Springs Road to the right along a woods road. At 5.2 miles we entered a stand of nettles where the trail turned right and descended on a few switchbacks to cross a small stream. After heading east briefly the trail turned northeast and then north at about 5.6 miles as we continued to ascend toward another dirt road. When we got to the road we crossed it diagonally to the left and continued hiking north. The trail was very rocky in this area as we made a steep descant for .3 miles to cross a stream and then immediately regained that elevation on the other side. At about 6.9 miles the trail passed what looked like a stone quarry. The quarry was old and it was impossible to get any pictures that would show what it was. A quarry was marked on the map but as we walked I found two or three separate places that looked as if they had been quarried. Perhaps the map marked them as one because they had been part of the same operation. At 7.0 miles we turned right onto roots road and walked east briefly before turning left or north on Bill Morris Forest Road. In a short distance the road came to a nice pond. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take some pictures. I also got another drink and a snack at this point before continuing north on the road. The skies were very blue and there were some clouds but the darker clouds that I thought might bring a shower had disappeared.

We walked along the road for about .4 miles until the trail turned left on an access road at 7.6 miles. We followed the road to a small bivouac area on the shore of a pond. I checked out the pond but jut was not as nice as the previous one so we continued north on the trail transitioning from Klipnocky SF to Gas Springs SF. This part of the trail headed almost due north but rolled a little through hardwood forest. It was very generic and had no really memorable sections. The trail continued to be well blazed and the track was worn in enough to follow even without a map. At 9.1 miles we came to a trail register which had fallen off a tree. At trail lead to the right o a camping area which must be popular by the number of tracks leading to it. From this point on the blazes on the trees faded and were hard to find. The trail had some muddy spots and quite a few branches across the trail. This seemed strange as the area is so near to an access point. We were descending most of the time and soon I could see a cabin in the woods. The trail passed the cabin and continued to meander between one woods road and the next always heading north and descending. At about 9.8 miles we broke out into some fields passing through an open gate. The farmer asks that all gates be left as they were found so I left the gate open. I stopped to take a few pictures and then continued won a farm lane on the edge of the field. The next gate was closed with a chain and tied with a rope. I didn't want to take the time to undo everything just to redo it so I slipped underneath. The farm lane now passed through a more wooded area leading down to a pasture and Slade Creek. As we crossed Slader Creek, I could see the farmer's cows downstream. We passed through the gate by the road and walked over to the car. It was 3:25 PM and we had hiked 10.2 miles in 4 hours and 40 minutes with only 15 minutes of stopped time and an overall pace of 2.2 mph. The total ascent was 1562 feet but I was surprised to find the beginning and ending elevations were identical! The temperature was just 70 degrees and it was still very pleasant. This hike was a nice walk through the woods but it may have been the least memorable hike I have taken in some time. I may return to the area one more time in the bear future as the trail from Bully Hill Toad to Hornell had a recent reroute of about 3 miles that I would like to hike as an out and back.

On Wednesday, August 23rd I wanted to get in a hike close to home and, after trying to come up with a new hike, I decided to head for Frick Pond To hike the Flynn and Quick Lake Trails to Hodge and Frick Ponds. The weather was beautiful with bright sun and blue skies but with highs in the low 60's. I saw no reason to wait and Sheila agreed so I got ready to leave and pulled out of the driveway sometime after 10:15 AM. Sheila was certainly ready to hike as she jumped in the back seat and perched on the console. I drove out DeBruce Road and turned left on Mongaup Road. When we arrived there were two other cars in the bigger lot. We crossed the road to get onto the Flynn Trail at 10:35 AM. The trail seemed a little damp as we walked through the woods from the rain we had over the previous couple of days. We turned right onto the woods road as we came out of the woods and the trail continued to be wet and was now muddy. It wasn't long before I looked up to see another hiker headed down the trail in our direction. I put Sheila on her leash and the hiker stopped to talk. His name was Marv and he was from New Jersey. He was in the area to finish the trails around Frick Pond that he had not covered for the CMC All Trails Challenge. I told him that I was #2 on that list. We talked about other lists and he said he was working on the grid of the Catskill 3500 foot peaks. We talked about the Long Path, the Finger Lakes Trail and the Catskill Highest Hundred before heading in our opposite directions. I was happy Sheila behaved even when we shook hands! I had been feeling a little sluggish but meeting another hiker with similar goals energized me so that I picked up the pace of my hike. Soon we were at the junction with the big Rock Trail where we continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail. We kept up a quick pace as we passed through the gate marking the boundary with the Open Spaces Institute property. At the next junction we stayed to the right to walk the woods road which is not part of the Flynn Trail. OSI had decided to level the Flynn Trail from Frick Pond to where the trail turned into the woods and it was a muddy mess the last time I passed through. I hoped to avoid this. At the next trail junction we turned left to walk down the hill toward the pond and found they had made the same strange decision to remove all the grass on this trail and allow erosion to wash away the soil! At the bottom of the hill we turned right to follow the old jeep road around the northern end of Hodge Pond. I had almost decided not to stop to take any pictures but the view was so nice I turned off the trail and walked to the shore to take a few shots. Sheila jumped in the pond to get a drink and take a dip. She came out and started to dash madly around me running in tight circles for the pure joy of it. We walked back to the main trail and continued to the point where the Flynn Trail turns up into the woods. We walked up the hill and through the gate that marks the end of the OSI property.

We found the trail continued to have some wet and muddy spots but wasn't any worse than the last time we had walked the trail. I had been picking up branches as we hiked and had moved several large ones off the trail. It seemed that Junkyard Junction came up quickly and we turned left on the red Quick Lake Trail to start our loop back. The Quick Lake Trail is mostly downhill and we made good time after getting passed some very wet spots on the flat area right after the junction. We walked downhill to Iron Wheel Junction finding the trail almost dry. At the junction we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and ran into some more wet spots along the way. We were soon at the small stream just before the "Spruce Tunnel" and I crossed it with ease. The stream was low but Sheila was able to get a drink and get another dip. We continued on toward the outlet bridge at Frick Pond. We continued to stop so that I could remove branches and other debris from the trail. The trail was wet but passable to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. At the bridge over the outlet stream to Frick Pond I stopped to take a few pictures which I thought might be interesting. The sky was blue with puffy white clouds and the highest part of Flynn's Point was clearly visible. It was disturbing that the beavers had not begun to rebuild the dam which some vandals had removed. No one at the DEC seemed to know about this so I assume it was a private citizen who for some reason thought it was a good idea. We walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction. The trail back to the parking area was a little wet and muddy in places but we had no problems. As we passed the register box, we turned right to stay on the trail and caught up to an older woman from Phoenicia. We talked at we walked and were soon in the bigger parking area. Two young men sat on some stones and we exchanged greetings. We were back a the car at 1:10 PM hiked 6.4 miles in 2 hours 35 minutes gaining 920 feet along the way. The temperature at the trailhead was now 64 degrees.

On Monday, August 21st, I decided I wanted to hike Slide Mountain as I had not been there is a year and it is close to home. I like to throw in a 3500 foot peak every now and then for the challenge and to prove to myself I can still hike elevation as well as distance. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and was a little surprised when she said yes. The start of the day was very foggy and we decided to wait a little while before heading out. This was also the day of the long awaited solar eclipse but tat was supposed to occur in the mid afternoon. As we started to get ready Sheila was very excited and indicated she didn't care where we went as long as we got out of the house. I headed out the DeBruce Road at about 10:00 AM and drove passed Round Pond and down to Route 47. I turned left and drove toward Frost Valley. After passing the YMCA camp, I watched for the parking area for Slide Mountain. The Biscuit Brook parking area had six cars in it and I wondered if Slide would be crowded. I pulled in just before 10:30 AM and found three cars in the lot. Another car pulled in just as we were getting ready to leave. I set my electronics and we got on the trail right away. Starting out on the main trail we immediately crossed the Neversink River which had some water flowing in it. This was the first time in a long time I had seen water there. The other small streams along the trail were also flowing freely. A crew from the ADK had done some work on the trail and I was looking for the results of their efforts. The e-mail said they had worked on a new rock staircase, drainage strictures and wooden steps but did not specify where. In just less than half a mile we turned right on the woods road and hiked passed the first piped spring which was running well. The trail was wet with some standing and some running water and some muddy areas. At .7 miles we turned left and started up the main trail to Slide Mountain which, according to the sign, was 2 miles away. The trailhead for Slide has a relatively high elevation so, although it is the highest peak in the Catskills, the elevation gain and grade are relatively modest. I was really feeling pretty good as we hiked even though I had been doing flat hikes on smooth trails. Sheila alerted and a pair of hikers passed us coming down from the summit. We said "Hello" as we passed and commented on the beautiful weather. This happened several more times along the trail until we were sure we would have the summit to ourselves. By the time we reached the designated campsite at 1.2 miles the grade was getting steeper and I was still feeling fresh although Cindy had slowed down a little. The trail was every bit as rocky as it ever was which makes ascending difficult and descending worse. We kept a good pace up the trail and I kept looking for the 3500 foot sign. Soon we started to enter the transition zone from Hardwoods to evergreens and I asked Cindy if she had seen the sign. She told me she had and it was sometime back. The spring on the left had some water in it since I could hear Sheila getting a drink. The glimpses I could get of the sky showed bright blue with white clouds and the plenty of sun. At 1.7 miles the trail started to level some and was covered with fine quartz sand. The Catskills including Slide Mountain are a plateau that was once under an ocean and have been pushed up to form what are called mountains.

We continued up the trail and I began to notice that some of the blowdowns had been cleared from the trail. There were still quiet a few trees leaning over the trail which I do not think is a good situation. Some trees were low and had branches cut in such a way that the remaining pieces formed "spears" that pointed downward. I imagine some taller hikers may have had problems with these. There were several lookouts along the way bit most were not interesting and what I could see was very hazy. Soon the trail leveled again as we had done most of the climbing. At 2 miles we passed the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail as it came in from the left from the Denning trailhead. The trail leveled some here and I enjoyed walking along the path strewn with pine needles. The trail continued to be muddy which was unusual this high up on Slide. Soon we were approaching the last climb and I found a viewpoint that clearly showed Cornell and Wittenberg and the col between them. After taking a few shots, I returned to the main trail and at 2.6 miles we were at the viewpoint toward Panther and Giant Ledge. I decided to stop and take a few shots even though the trees in front of the lookout have all but obscured the view. Based on the number of cars in the lot and the people coming down the mountain, I judged that the summit would be empty. We passed by the highest point on Slide where a cement block marks the location where a fire tower once stood and continued to the rock outcropping to find it deserted. It was 12:20 PM and we had covered 2.7 miles. I made sure I hydrated although I wasn't very thirsty. I tried to take a few pictures of the Ashokan Reservoir, Cornell and Wittenberg and found the views were more open than the last time I had been at the top. There was a haze hanging over the far peaks but I still took a few pictures. I decided I wanted to go down to the spring since I had not yet seen any of the work the ADK crew had done and I knew the only wooden steps were on the Cornell side of Slide! Cindy did not want to go so I left my poles with her since there are several rock scrambles and the poles get in the way. Sheila and I headed down the trail to the spring. We made our way through three or four rock scrambles and I bypassed several picture taking opportunities which I decided I would take damage of on the way back. We finally got to the wooden ladders and at first glance they seemed unchanged. On closer inspection, the had hewn logs which had been rotting away were replaced with new 4by4's making it much safer. I had intended just to go to the steps but changed my mind and headed down to the spring. I could hear it running and I could hear Sheila getting a drink. When I arrived, Sheila was frolicking in the outflow and drinking the cool water. I took a few pictures and then we started back.

And the way up I kept looking for viewpoint and I found a few good ones with views toward Cornell and Wittenberg. I also took a few pictures of Sheila posed on the ladders and above me at the rock scrambles. Our last stop on the way up was a small campsite on the right where someone had pushed down a few trees to make a nice viewpoint. After taking a few shots, we continued up the main trail to the summit. As we approached the summit, I could hear Cindy talking to someone and I pout Sheila on her leash. As we cleared the trees, I saw a very large white dog above us and two young men talking to Cindy. We continued up to the rocks at the summit where the two dogs said "hello" in dog fashion. Cindy was ready to go but the hikers had a few questions about the other peaks. I gave them the distances and route to Cornell and Wittenberg and they decided to stay at the summit of Slide and wait for the eclipse. We said "goodbye" and headed back done the mountain at 1:00 PM. We knew the eclipse was supposed to start at about 1:45 PM and reach its peak at 2:45 PM. As we passed the viewpoint on the right there was a couple taking in the view. I had hoped to make quick work of the descent but the rocks make the descent difficult to accomplish safely. As we hiked own we met several groups of people headed up the mountain and some of them also had dogs with them. I always hike with poles even when it seems I don't need the. On this hike I was very glad I had them with me. Sheila decided that she would dash madly up and own the trail for no reason other than sheer joy! We passed the 3500 foot sign and continued down the trail. On the ascent I thought there seemed to be less rolling rocks than I remembered but they were all there on the descent. Near the bottom of the trail Cindy remarked that she hoped the intersection was coming up soon. It did! We turned right on the woods road and hiked along the wet and muddy trail to the left that leads back to the parking area. This last part of the trail seemed very rocky but we made good time back to the river bed. I stopped to take a few pictures of the water in the river before returning to the car. We had noticed that the light seemed odd and that the eclipse was in progress but we could not get a good look through the trees. We arrived at the car at 2:30 PM having covered 6.0 miles in 4 hours with 2072 feet of elevation gain. On the way home Cindy and I both caught a glimpse of the eclipse and I pulled over to take a picture. By the time I got the camera out, the sun had gone behind a cloud!

On Saturday, August 19th Cindy and I had spent some time at Grey Towers in Milford, PA and were on the way home via Route 6 to Shohola. I asked her if she would like to stop by Shohola Falls as it was on the way. She agreed and we turned left onto Route 6 from the Old Owego turnpike and headed west. The turn for Shohola Falls is a left about 9.6 miles from the Owego Turnpike at the sign for then Shohola Falls Inn. We turned left and drove up the road until a left turn led us down to the parking area for Shohola Lake. We parked and I got my camera to take some pictures. I really didn't know what to expect as it seemed dry in the area but I could see water leaving the spillway of the dam. We walked down the steps to the rock shelves that line the edge of the falls. New wooden steps with railings had replaced the old slippery stone steps. There was quite a bit of water flowing over the falls and I took several pictures from the side before walking down over the rocks to get some more shots. The water flows over bedrock at about a 45 degrees angle before dropping 20 feet to the pool below. I found the narrow path that skirts the edge of the gorge and walked along it until I was directly opposite the falls. This was a great vantage point to take pictures of the falls head on. I took some shots and the realized Cindy was not with me. She was still on the rocks where we had first stopped. This didn't surprise me much as she does not like to get hear the edge of any cliffs and the path was a little narrow. I walked back to her and we ascended the stairs to the top. Cindy went back to the car while I walked over to the clearing just below the dam and took a few pictures of the dam. I then walked a path from the lower parking area toward the shore of the lake. As I approached a blue heron flew up from the lake and crossed over to the other shore. The lake is large with marshland all around a several small islands. I took a variety of shots before heading back to the car. It was still hot with some humidity so we decided to head home after two great adventures for the day.

On Saturday, August 19th I was tired from the FLT hike I had done the day before near Hornell. The 9.7 miles hike wasn't too hard but the temperature was in the high 80's with a handily level to match it. Also, the round trip drive is almost 400 miles which is more tiring than the hike. I wanted to do something with Cindy and suggest we go to Grey Towers in Milford, PA. Grey Towers is a National Historical site maintained by the US Forestry Service. The mansion was built in 1886 by James Pinchot as a summer house. James Pinchot made a fortune selling imported wallpapers and curtains to the wealthy in New York. Gifford Pinchot, James' son, inherited Grey Towers in 1914 was the person responsible for developing the idea of the National Forestry Service. He was also the first director of the USFS. Gifford Pinchot later served as the Governor of Pennsylvania. He and his wife Cornelia made several changes to the mansion to accommodate new ideas and to entertain many important guests. Gifford's son Gifford Bryce inherited the mansion and 120 acre grounds in 1960 but did not use it much. In 1963 he donated it to the USFS. On September 24, 1963, President John Kennedy dedicated Grey Towers speaking to a crowd of over 10,000 gather in the amphitheater and on the grounds. President Kennedy was assassinated only two months later. Grey Towers does not open until 11:00 AM so Cindy and I decided to go to Milford and eat at 11:00 AM before continuing on to Grey Towers for a tour of the mansion and a walk around the grounds. We left a sad Sheila at home and headed out of Livingston Manor at 9:50 AM. I drove east on State Route 17 to Monticello where I picked up Route 42 south to Port Jervis. We crossed the river and drove through Matamoras to pick up I84 west to Milford. The drive on I84 was quick and after getting off at the Milford exit, I drove into town on Route 6. We had decided to eat at the Tequila Sunrise Mexican restaurant and found it easily. It was a few minutes before 11:00 Am so we waited and they opened on time. We went inside and found the place to be small but the food excellent. After eating our meal, we headed back north and west on Route 6 to the Old Owego Turnpike. I turned left and stayed to the left at the next sign for Grey Towers. I parked in the lower lot. Cindy took her fanny pack and I grabbed my camera as we started up the stairs toward the mansion. We stopped at the bathrooms at the entrance and then continue up the path to the mansion hoping to get in on the noon mansion tour. When we arrived, we waited in line and found that the noon tour was filled. I paid for the 1:00 PM tour using my senior citizens discount for the first time! Since we had about an hour to kill, we decided not to sit around but to do some walking around the grounds.

We walked around the back of the mansion and I took a few pictures of the impressive towers before walking up a set of steps looking for the Forest Adventure Trail. We walked up a paved roadway and found the sign indicating the trail but could not tell whether we were supposed to turn onto the trail at that point or continue up the pavement. We turned right and started walking on a well-groomed trail through a pine forest. We came to a gate that allowed us to pass through a high wire fence. The sign stated that people were allowed in but not deer. We walked along the trail ascending the hill using several switchbacks. The trail was pleasant but we didn't feel that sense of adventure. As the trail levels off at the top we came to a large canvas tent which is a recreation of how Yale Forestry students lived over 100 years ago. Further along several signs explained the diseases and parasites that are killing many of the trees. Just before we started back on the pavement, there was a wooden water tower partially collapsed at the side of the trail. This was the original water tower that supplied the mansion. We walked back down the hill and sued the steps to get back down to the mansion. Since we still had a few minutes before the tour, we walked won to the walled garden in front of the house. The wall now separates public and private property but through the gate we could see some magnificent urns. I took some pictures through the gate before we headed up to the east terrace to wait for the tour to begin. While waiting, I took pictures of the mansion from this vantage point as well as some pictures of the view. The tour guide appeared promptly at 1:00 PM and gave some interesting background information to our group of 24 people.

After completing her introduction, the guide led us around to the front of the house and through the massive oak door into the Great Hall. The room would have been very dark but had some artificial lighting and was very cool. We were allowed to look around before the guide began to explain the various features of the room and its furniture. I took some pictures and waited until the group started to me into the library to take a few more. The library was created by Cornelia Pinchot in the 1920's and has a more "modern" look than some of the other rooms. There were some very interesting original books and a lobe that is about 100 years old. Various pieces of furniture of different eras were in the room. Gifford Pinchot's study was a small room off to the side. I again took as many pictures as I could knowing that the lighting conditions were far from ideal. We then made our way to the sitting room which had several large couches and a huge fireplace. There was a small dining table but the family preferred to eat outdoors whenever possible. The walls had several murals with nautical themes which had to be completely restored after 1963 due to extensive water damage. Doors in the room led to the kitchen and pantry and to an elevator to the upper floors. We walked out the door and around to the side of the house where there was a patio originally constructed of marble. When the marble deteriorated it was replaced with granite which in turn in showing wear. In the center of the patio is a stone engraved with the outline of a ship. The ship is the Mary Pinchot which took the family on a South Seas adventure. From here we passed to a somewhat circular, raised pool about three feet above ground and 15 feet across. Chairs were set around the pool which was known as the "finger Bowl" and severed as the dining "table". Food was passed by floating it across the pool in wooden bowls! The whole was enclosed by a stone structure with a wooden frame over the top. This was covered in wisteria which was quiet impressive. Our final stop o the tour was outside the Letter Box a building used by Gifford Pinchot' staff when he was Governor of Pennsylvania. This building is now used for a series of film clips about the mansion and grounds. The Bait Box was constructed as a play house for the Pinchot family and is now being restored. Below the Bait box was a small forge to allow Gifford Bryce to practice his iron working skills. Leading from the Letter Box to the Bait Box is a long pool called the Long Garden. Water was leaking from the pool so it was drained and is being repaired. The guide also mentioned the immense European copper beech trees that Gifford Pinchot planted. The tour was very informative and we would like to go again when the upper two floors are open.

After completing the tour we walked down the lawn passed the moat where I took a few shots. We ended up passing through the amphitheater and walking to the upper part of the entrance building. I took some pictures from and of this vantage point before walking out the back. We turned right and followed the signs toward the Laurel Hill Cemetery which was the first cemetery for Milford. Many of the Pinchot family are buried here while some are interred at the newer cemetery. The grounds are fenced to keep the deer out and there is an extensive project in progress to identify both the marked and unmarked graves and to restore headstones whenever possible. We walked around looking at the graves stones and many "Possible site of an unmarked greave" markers. We also noticed some VERY tall oak trees whose first branches were very high off the ground. I continued to take a lot of pictures as we walked. Soon we had circled the grounds and headed back to the gate for the walk back to the car. The whole trip and tour had been worth the time and we would both go again. As we left Grey Towers, I suggested we head home on Route 6 and visit Shohola Falls and, to my surprise, Cindy agreed.

On Friday, August 18th I awoke to my alarm at 5:30 AM to get ready to hike the easternmost section of Map 9 of the Finger Lakes Trail. Map 9 runs from Slader Creek Road southwest of Canaseraga to Hornell and has more north to south hiking than west to east. The forecast from the night before for the Hornell area showed an almost 40% chance of showers until 11:00 AM. The forecast remained the same in the morning but the radar seems to indicate a higher probability. Saturday looked better at least until the mid-afternoon so after much deliberation I decided to put the hike off until Saturday. I went back to bed but could not sleep and thought more an more about my decision. In the end I decided to go and take my chances. I got all my gear together while Sheila hovered around me making sure that she was going on the hike. I knew I would have to dress for the warm weather and put on my summer/fall pants and a light baselayer with my Columbia long-sleeved pullover shirt. I decided to try my Keen Glarus boots even though on a previous hike they had bruised my left ankle a little. I made sure I put in two full water bottles and had my water purifier with me. The drive is almost 3 hours but I knew a good part of the route from previous trips and did not have to worry much about directions. Around 7:30 AM, we headed north and west on Route 17/I86 toward Binghamton. The temperature was in the high 60's but I knew it would get warmer. The bigger concern was that it was raining all the way to Binghamton and beyond. I seriously considered turning around but stuck to my plan and the rain ended somewhere west of Corning. It seemed that it had not rain at all and the skies were sunny and bright blue with puffy white clouds. I stopped in Bath at 10:30 AM to get some gas and to call Village Taxi to pick me up in Hornell. He was already on another call but told me it would only be 15 minutes/ I continued west on 17/I86 and took exit 34 to Hornell. After getting off the exit I turned right on Route 66 and drove to the railroad tracks where I parked in the new parking area. I let Sheila out and walked her on her line for a few minutes and then went back to the car. Just as I was about to call, the taxi pulled up at 11:00 AM. He had another fare with him that we had to drop off in Hornell which did not thrill me. Fortunately the dropoff went smoothly and we were soon on Route 21 south To Almond. We turned west on Route 2 and the north on Bully Hill Road. As we drove north on the road I used my Avenza app to pinpoint the exact location of the trail which was .7 miles from Route 2. The driver took my money and I gave him a map of the next hike. I unloaded Sheila and my gear and got ready to start. The skies still looked good but it was hotter and very humid. I set my electronics including my Garmin GPS handheld and Suunto Traverse GPS watch. The trail began to climb immediately although not too steeply and it paralleled a stream which was almost dry. The trail was much drier than I had expected and even the muddy areas were drying out. I immediately notice that the trails were well maintained and well marked. This was a stark comparison to the poorly maintained and poorly marked trails on Map 10 to the east in Steuben County! At 1.0 mile we crossed Karr Road and continued on an old woods road on the other side. The trail was well-marked and level and it was a pleasure to walk through the woods.

The trail started to descend traveling east and ENE toward Bishopville Road. There were a few places on the descent that could have been marked better and a long stretch where the trail builders chose to sidehill rather than pick a woods road. Along the way I took my first pictures of an interesting orange fungus. The trail descended steeply at times following an old barbed wire fence until we reached Bishopville Road at 2.1 miles. It seemed that we were making good time which made me happy since we had gotten a late start. We had lost 440 feet since the top of the hill and I knew we would have to regain some of that along the hike. We turned left on the road and walked north crossing a creek on a road bridge. Just passed the bridge was the FLT sign and some white blazes but the trail was a mass of weeds. We pushed our way through until the trail entered the woods where it was more clearly defined. The trail headed north but only for .4 miles where it met a dirt road used by the highway department. We turned left on the road and continued to walk downhill to the intersection with Bishopville Road and Wilson Karr Road. We made a hard right onto Wilson Karr Road which had a road sign. The map description stated that it was a dirt road but it was paved for its entire length. We walked due north and uphill before starting down the other side. I stopped to take some pictures of the green countryside and the blue sky with interesting white clouds. We continued down the hill to Bishopville Road which was not marked with a sign and did not have any FLT blazes! We turned right and started to walk north to Pennsylvania Hill Road, The walk was only .8 miles and was downhill but the sun beating down on us made it feel longer. My watch said the temperature was over 80 degrees and I believed it! We turned right on Pennsylvania Hill Road which, true to its name, was an uphill climb. I kept getting hotter but promised myself we would get a drink once we were back on the trail in the woods. It was about .4 miles up the hill until the trail cut into the woods on the left. We walked up a little hill into the trees and it immediately was noticeably cooler with a slight breeze. I stopped and gave Sheila water and drank quite a bit myself. We continued on the trail as it wound through some brush and then began to climb gently in the woods. At 4.8 miles a path led to the left to the edge of a field. We walked out and I took some more pictures of the fields and the sky. Around 5.1 miles we crossed another woods road or farm lane and continued along a woods road in the forest. I noticed that there were no blazes and backtracked a few steps to find the turn I had missed. Eventually the trail started to open up and I could see a field ahead. The trail was choked with weeds but we got to the field where I saw a tree with a blaze to the left. We turned left and walked uphill along the edge of the field following the path to Fitzgerald Road. The trail was direct across from us so we crossed the road an continued on the trail.

After crossing Fitzgerald Road our troubles began. The trail was not well defined or maintained and was poorly marked in many places. We had crossed from Allegany County into Steuben County and I wondered if that made any difference. Within a short distance the white blazes disappeared completely. I noticed some orange ribbons that are sometimes used for trail reroutes and followed them to the blazes. Next we came to a field where the blazes seemed to indicate a left turn to walk along the edge of the field. There were some old and faded blazes along the edge of the field but it was not clear exactly where the trail was located. My Sheila CPS chose to walk to the left into then high grass which was fortunate since that is where the trail was located. We walked in the woods for a while and then came to another field with no indication of where to go. I caught a glimpse of a white blaze at the northern edge of the field so we headed through the tall grass to the blaze which brought us to a woods road heading east. At 6.7 miles we began to cross some small stream or one stream several times. The map mentioned beaver ponds and a electric fence but we saw neither. After the third crossing, we walked up a steep bank to Webb Road at 6.8 miles. We turned left on Webb Road and then right on Doorley Road to cross over I86. At 7.2 miles we turned left on Route 66 which had a lot of traffic. We walked uphill on the shoulder to the top of a small hill and then down the other side to 7.6 miles. We quickly and carefully crossed the road to head south on what the FLT map described as a tractor lane. This lane was covered in weeds which had not been cut making the climb even more difficult. I stooped in the shade to take a last drink for the final push over the hill. At 8.0 miles the trail entered the woods which eliminated the weed problem and turned east. It continued to climb reaching a little over 1700 feet at 8.25 miles. From the high point the trail descended for .7 miles to the railroad tracks. The elevation drop was 540 feet which made the descent rather steep which bothered my already hot and aching feet. I wondered it the light Zamberlain Airbounds would have been a better idea. The trail was reasonably well-marked but could have used a few more blazes in spots. Just before the tracks, the trail opened up some and we again had to fight our way through weeds, brush and briars. We crossed the tracks carefully and I took a few pictures before turning left on the rail trail to walk back to the car. The rail trail follows the railbed of the old Pittsburg Shawmut and Northern RR for .7 miles back to the parking area near Route 66. Walking the flat rail trail was easy but very boring. This is an example of taking the trail off the road but adding little value to the experience. The 2 mile stretch of trail "avoided" a .7 mile walk along Route 66! We were back at the car at 3:40 PM having hiked 9.7 miles in 4 hours and 15 minutes with only 15 minutes of stopped time. Our overall average was 2.3 mph and we had 1600 feet of ascent but 2005 feet of descent on this one-way hike. We encountered no rain but the temperature was 88 degrees as we pulled out of Hornell.

On Wednesday, August 16th, I wanted to do a hike close to home with my grandson Bryce. Cindy said she wanted to go also so I picked the Neversink Unique Area from Katrina Falls Road since it is a relatively short drive and is around 5 miles of hiking. Also, Bryce had not been there before and I thought the two waterfalls might interest him. Bryce arrived and seemed very enthusiastic about the hike. We got our gear together and left home at 10:30 AM. Sheila seemed very happy that all of us were going somewhere as she was very alert in the back seat. I got on Route 17 and started for Rock Hill. I got off the Quickway at exit 109 and turned right on Katrina Falls Road. I drove to the end of the road and parked at 10:50 AM in the small parking area. There was one other car in the parking area and that had a DEC logo on the door. As we were about to leave another car pulled up. Eventually the driver and assenter got out to look at the map on the kiosk. The man asked me about the trails and I gave him the best advice I could based on what they were wearing and the time they had to hike. I set my GPS and we started down the woods road toward the river intending to hike the loop to Denton and Mullet Falls. I thought that the recent rain might have augmented the waterfalls making them more interesting. Sheila was certainly anxious to get going as both she and I prefer several hikes a week! The temperature was in the low 70's and the breeze made it seem a little colder. As we walked down the hill passed the trail register, I got out a small voice recorder I had recently purchased. It is a 4 GB USB drive with a microphone and an On-Off switch. It starts to record when you switch it on and saves a WAV file each time you turn it off. The WAV files can be played on your computer. It is very basic and very easy to use. We turned left at the bottom of the hill to stay on the main trail and came to the small bridge over Wolf Brook. The water was not as high as I had expected so I did not stop to take pictures. The condition of the bridge continues to deteriorate and soon will be impassable. . At the top of the next small hill, we stayed to the right to hike the loop counterclockwise hitting Denton Falls on the Neversink first and then the falls on Mullet Brook. It didn't take long for us to arrive at the lower bridge over Mullet Brook. The bridge has been replaced with a new one that has a pair of steel I-beams as its main support and should last a long time. We stopped and I took a few pictures of the bridge and the stream. I also posed Cindy, Bryce and Sheila for a couple of shots. At 1.4 miles we turned right following the yellow spur trail blazes downhill to Denton Falls.

The trail down to the falls is not well marked and hikers trying to follow it have created new paths which compounds the problem. After hiking 1.65 miles, we were at the rocks near the edge of Denton Falls. The descent to the river was wet and muddy. The river was at medium volume and the falls were making some noise as I dropped my pack and started to take some pictures. Sheila seemed smart enough not to try to jump into the fast-moving water. I was able to walk along the rocks to get just below the falls. I took quite a few pictures of the falls and some both upstream and downstream. Cindy on Bryce sat on a rock and ate a snack. The falls are hardly three feet high but the volume of water made the trip worthwhile. Just before we were getting ready to start back up the trail, a fisherman appeared and Sheila had a fit. I apologized to the startled man and he was very understanding. I informed Sheila that this was not acceptable behavior. We headed back up the spur trail to the main trail with Bryce lagging just a bit. At the top we turned right. At the trail junction I asked Bryce which way he wanted to go. After I informed him that the right fork led to High Falls which adds about 4 miles round trip to the hike, he decided the left fork was the better choice! After a brief walk uphill, we turned left onto the short trail down to Mullet Brook Falls and immediately met a couple chime up from the falls. They said it was their first time and that the falls were nice. The trail has no sign and could be easily missed. In fact, there is no signage anywhere in the area! I saw a total of only three yellow blazes on our way down to the falls and on the way back. When the falls came into sight, I was pleased with the amount of water in the stream. I dropped my pack where the trail ended and grabbed my camera to take some pictures. I carefully walked out onto the rocks below the falls taking Bryce with me. Sheila had already run ahead and was cavorting in the water. I took some shots of the falls and the pool below. There was enough water to make it interesting but far less than I had hoped for. Eventually it was time to leave. I put away my camera and shouldered my pack to head back out the spur trail. We walked back out to the main trail and turned left to complete the loop. As we climbed we noticed the rocky ledges to our right and I thought about exploring them at some time in the future. Soon we crossed over the upper bridge spanning Mullet Brook. I stopped on the bridge to show bridge the beginning of the large swamp on the right. After a brief walk we were at a trail junction. Walking straight ahead on the trail leads to the Wolf Lake Multiple Use Area. We turned left and began to descend off the ridge. As we started to walk downhill Bryce said "that's a relief!" We hiked downhill for some time and eventually came to the trail junction just above the bridge over Wolf Creek. We continued to walk straight ahead to return to the parking area. Once on the other side of the brook we made the right turn on the woods road back to the car. None of us were enthusiastic about the uphill walk back to the car. We arrived at the parking area at 1:55 PM. We hiked 4.7 miles in 2 hours and 55 minutes including the stops at the two falls. The vertical gain was only about 980 feet.

On Monday, August 14th I decided that I wanted to go for another hike and Brad was also up for a walk. The weather for the rest of my week was looking variable with showers or moderators possible on several days. We had been up for ambulance calls the night before so we got up rather late. After eating breakfast, we got our gear ready and got dressed. Sheila sniffed our clothes and immediately knew we were hiking. She began to run around the house bouncing against the furniture but always keeping a close eye on us. We put our gear in the car and an exited Sheila in the back seat and drove out the DeBruce Road a little before 10:30 AM. At Mongaup Pond Road I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there were two other cars parked in the bigger lot. Sheila was acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she ran around and headed for the trail. The temperature was in the low 70's but the humidity seemed a little high. The skies were sunny and blue with some white clouds. We headed out the path to the register on Quick Lake Trail at about 11:45 AM. The Quick Lake Trail was very wet with a lot of muddy spots which we tried to avoid. Just before the register we looked up to see a young couple walking toward us with a very small dog on a leash. The dog started to make a lot of noise when it saw Sheila so they picked it up as we passed. At Gravestone Junction we turned left to head down to Frick Pond. The water level in the pond was low due to the fact that someone had completely pulled out the beaver dam across the outlet stream. The DEC angers and the wildlife division claim no knowledge of this action so my conclusion is that someone is doing this on their own for reasons I cannot understand! I hope the beavers rebuild the dam quickly and someone catches these vandals in the act. I stopped to tale a few pictures including some of the destroyed dam. We continued on the Quick Lake Trail around the pond bearing left at the next trail junction to stay on the red trail. This part of the trail was very wet even in places where it did not look wet. We were setting a fast pace despite having to avid the water and the mud. We soon came to the "pine promenade" and the little stream through the woods. This water level in the stream was higher than it had been and Sheila was able to get a drink and take a "dip". She immediately began a mad dash up and won the trail at a very high speed. As we continued along the trail we removed some small branches and a few large ones until we arrived at Iron Wheel Junction at 1.6 miles. We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and started the long uphill climb toward Junkyard Junction. The trail continued to be wet along the way with evidence that a large volume of water had been flowing down the trail. At 3.2 miles we arrived at Junkyard Junction and turned right onto the blue Flynn Trail. The Flynn Trail is almost flat and on this day it was wet and muddy in many spots. There were no major blowdowns but I continued to remove branches that littered the trail. The entire trail does need to have some branches lopped to make a clear path. When we got to the gate, we turned right to stay on the trail and head down toward Hodge Pond. At 3.75 miles the Flynn Trail heads right and we follows it toward the outlet end of Hodge Pond.

This part of the Flynn Trail which is a woods road had less water than other places but was very muddy. It looked like OSI had decided to smooth out the trail by using a grader to dig it up and level it off. The problem is that this removed all the grass that held the dirt together and left behind an unpacked dirt surface. This surface absorbed a lot of water to form a see of mud! We did our best to stay to the side of the trail until we got to the clearing at the end. The field was also wet and after walking through it the trail again had been "improved" and was very muddy. The open field is the spot where the mess hall and family camping area for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp once stood. After negotiating the mud, we came to the clearing at the outlet end of the pond. We walked over to the shore so that I could take a few pictures. Sheila immediately jumped into the water and after taking a few shots I found a stick. I threw the stick into the water and Sheila immediately retrieved it. On the second throw I got a little more distance and the stick promptly sunk. Sheila swam around and around trying to find it before coming back to shore. We turned around and continued on the Flynn Trail climbing up the hill. I was feeling quite fresh and concentrated on using my poles to help set a quick pace up the hill. Brad is younger and did not seem to be having a problem on the ascent. At the top of the hill we stayed to the right to continue on the Flynn Trail. A left turn follows a woods road out to what remains of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. Just after the turn there was a small tree across the trail. We tried to move it but it wouldn't budge. We broke some branches off and I made a note to return with a saw. The Flynn Trail is relatively flat to the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 4.5 miles. We continued straight through this junction to follow the Flynn Trail back to the car. The walk is pretty but has no remarkable views or features so we walked quickly. As we approached the gate on the woods road, we turned left to avoid the private property around the cabin and to stay on the trail. On a previous trip I had cleared and reblazed the old trail and I could see that it was easy to follow. We finished our walk and were back at the car by 2:25 PM. We had covered 6.2 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes with an elevation gain of 900 feet. Our average overall speed was 2.4 mph and we had stopped for less than 5 minutes. We covered the last 1.7 miles in 36 minutes for a speed just under 3 mph.

On Sunday, August 13th I wanted to get for a hike close to home after church in the morning. Krista and Brad were staying with us for a few days and we went to eat at Madison's after church. This meant we got a late start to go on a hike. I asked Brad if he wanted to go and he said "Yes". It's always fun to hike with Brad because he is a great guy and we have a lot in common despite the age difference. I decided to head for Long Pond as I had not been there in some time. I thought doing the big loop in a counterclockwise direction would be long enough but get us back for dinner on time. The recent weather had included some rain so I knew the trails might be wet. When we left the house at about 2:15 the skies were partly sunny and the temperature was in the low 70's. I got Sheila in the car and we put our gear in the trunk and headed out DeBruce Road for about 8 miles to Flugertown Road where I made a left. I parked in the lot a short distance up the road on the right. Sheila had not hiked in two days and she was ready to go when we got to the parking lot. I set my GarminGPS and we started out on the trail at 2:35 PM. There was a slight breeze and the humidity seemed manageable so there weren't too many insects around to bother us. There was one truck in the parking area with a trailer as we crossed the bridge and headed up the hill. Right from the start the trail was wet and muddy and we walked to the side in several places to avoid the wettest spots. The first .6 miles gains about 350 feet to the highest point on the hike. It isn't very steep but does act as a nice warm-up! At 1.1 miles we were at the spur trail that leads down to the shore of Long Pond. We turned right and went down to the pond so that I could take some pictures. At the shores of the pond I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take some pictures. Sheila tried to follow me through the mud but we discouraged her. The skies were very blue with towering, puffy, white clouds so I snapped a few pictures before going back to my pack. We returned to the main trail and turned right at the first trail junction at 1.3 miles. By 3:25 PM we had walked 1.8 miles and were passing the spur trail to the lean-to.

After passing the trail to the lean-to, we picked up the pace and continued on the main trail to the point where it intersected a woods road at 2.6 miles. This part of the trail was also very wet and there were some pretty large "ponds" on the trail. There were also some muddy areas which we tried to avoid. We turned left on the woods road and followed the road until the intersection with Basily Road at 2.85 miles. The roads were wet and a little muddy in spots. We continued on Basily Road by bearing to the left. As we approached the Peters Hunting Camp, I got ready to put Sheila on her leash. The area near the footbridge across the outlet to the beaver pond had freely flowing water and the bridge seemed to be almost superfluous with weeds growing around it. The bridge is starting to show its age and is not in good shape. I stopped to take some pictures before we continued on the trail. I took a few shots of the beaver pond and marsh. We continued on the main trail to the bridge and found it blocked with 2 by 4's with the remaining gate closed. The deck of the bridge is showing a lot of wear with some rotting boards. We crossed the stream to continue the trip back to the car. The ford downstream of the bridge looked like it had been getting a lot of use by vehicles but the water can be a little deep and wide for foot traffic. It was not clear whether the bridge will be replaced or not! As we started up the little hill from the hunting camp, I took a few shots of the valley which looked peaceful with the nice skies behind it. From this point on the roads are packed dirt and gravel and they were dry which made hiking faster. We kept a fast pace on the roads and eventually the road became paved. I had forgotten Sheila's leash but she stayed near us as we walked quickly down the road back to the parking area without meeting anyone. The pickup with the trailer was gone but there were now three or four other cars in the lot. We were back at the car at 5:00 PM having hiked 6.0 miles in 2 hours and 25 minutes. The elevation gain was only about 525 feet most of which was at the beginning of the hike.

On Thursday, August 10th I wanted to hike the remaining section of Map 10 of the Finger Lakes Trail. Map 10 runs from Hornell to Hughes Road south of Howard, NY. I had already hiked from Upper Glen Ave and Lain Road to Hughes Road and Turnpike Road so the reaming section was from The parking area near the railroad tracks in Hornellsville to Upper Glen Ave. The distance is only 5.1 miles so I planned to hike out and back. I planned to get up at 5:30 AM and get going as soon as possible. The forecast was for temperatures reaching into the low 80's with sun in the morning giving way to clouds. Much of the hike appeared to be on roads which would make it go faster as I planned to hike out and back on the same route. I woke up a little earlier than 5:30 AM and got ready to go. I knew I would have to dress for the weather and put on my summer/fall pants and a light baselayer with my Columbia long-sleeved pullover shirt. On the hike two days before my Keen Glarus boots had bruised my left ankle a little making it painful to wear high boots. My choice was to put off the hike or wear low shoes. I chose to wear a pair of Zamberlain Airound GTX trail shoes which are cut low enough to prevent further irritation of my foot. I made sure I had taken out the footbeds and put in my Superfeet Green insoles to stop my overpronation. Sheila was anxious to get going as she had not been out in three days. I made sure I put in two full water bottles and had my water purifier with me. The drive is almost 3 hours but I knew a good part of the route from previous trips and did not have to worry much about directions. Around 6:00 AM, we headed north and west on Route 17/I86 toward Binghamton. The temperature was still only in the high 50's but I knew it would get warmer. After a long drive, I took exit 34 to Hornell. After getting off the exit I turned right on Route 66 and looked for a parking spot. I had to drive all the way to the railroad tracks where I found a new paring area with plenty of room. When I consulted the map and the Avenza app I found that this was exactly the place I was supposed to be! I turned on my Suunto Traverse watch which found satellites immediately. When I turned on my Garmin GPSmap 64st, it had trouble finding satellites. I waited but it was still having problems so I put it in my backpack assuming it would straighten itself out en route. I compared my printed map which I had photocopied from an old set of FLT maps to the newer map on Avenza and found a major change. Instead of hiking on the roads there was now a trail that avoided some of the road walk. This was good news and bad news as it is more fun to hike on trails but also more difficult which translates into a longer hike. We started off by hiking east on Route 66 to a traffic light on Route 36. We crossed the intersection and continued on Route 66 looking for a turn on Seneca Road North. There were no blazes so I overshot the turn by a little. We walked back to the intersection and turned south to hike along Seneca Road North crossing a branch of the Canisteo River. At .9 miles we turned left into the driveway of the Econolodge to hike the section of trail that eliminated the road walk.

As we walked up the driveway there were some blazes on the trees and poles to follow. We continued to the right of the motel on paved road and then the blazes disappeared. I chose to continue up the hill and found a blaze behind some vines on a pole. We walked up the hill passing the Hornell Water Filtration plant and a large water tank farther up the hill. I was able to let Sheila off her leash which pleased us both. At this point my Garmin GPS had been beeping as it found and lost satellites so I turned it off and decided to rely on the Suunto watch. We continued up the hill which was challenging but not very difficult. There were places where other roads branched off but the trail was clearly marked until we got to the top of the hill. I continued straight ahead while Sheila turned left into the woods. Sheila was correct as we followed the trail through a bower. We headed generally northeast and the east through mixed hardwood and evergreen trees and at 1.7 miles hit the highest point on this section. We had gained 480 feet in .8 miles and now started to descend toward Route 70A. We were on a wide woods road but as I looked ahead I saw no blazes. I noticed a well-worn path to the left but did not see any blazes for a turn. I looked ahead and saw white blazes and then looked at the trees on the woods road to find some faded and hidden blazes for the turn. At 1.8 miles we turned right and began the descent through the woods. This turn is NOT mentioned on the description that comes with the map. When we arrived at Route 70A, I put Sheila on her leash and we turned right to walk down the road. I knew we had to turn left but at the first road I did not see any blazes. At the next road there was an FLT sign and blazes. At 2.4 miles we made a hard left and started up the hill on Beltz Road. After a short distance the trail turned to the left off the road following an old woods road. The road began to parallel a streambed but there was little or no water in the stream. There were wide gullies that seemed to have been cut by a lot of running water but none was present on this day. There was even a pretty good sized bridge on the trail. The trail had few blazes and there were a lot of blowdowns and branches that no one had bothered to remove but the worst was yet to come. As the woods road opened up a little weeds and briars completely blocked the trail. I was lucky to have Sheila along as she led me through this mess. I beat back the vegetation the best I could while ducking under low-hanging trees. It was obvious no one had done any maintenance on this part of the trail this year and perhaps not for several years. We ducked back into the woods and then at 3.5 miles we turned right on a farm lane. The lane headed south until 3.7 miles when it turned east. At 4.0 miles it turned south and met up with Dewey Road. Hiking along the lane and Dewey Road there were some nice views to the north and cornfields on both sides of the road. Dewey Road met Upper Glen Road at 4.7 miles where we turned right and walked uphill passed some houses to the highest point on the hike at 4.8 miles. From here we walked down Upper Glen Avenue to the intersection with Lain Road at 5.1 miles. This complete the out part of the hike.

We stopped for a few minutes at the intersection so that I could get a drink and let Sheila have one. I also ate a bar since it was almost 11:30 AM and I had last eaten at 6:00 AM. I got out my Garmin GPS and turned it on but it was still having problems finding satellites. I tried a few different settings and found one that worked so I reset it and put it in my pack for the trip back. We turned around and headed back up the hill on Upper Glen Avenue retracing our steps to Dewey Road. I stopped on the corner to take a few pictures and then we continued to the farm lanes through the fields with a problem. We turned left into the woods and started back down the hill on the woods road. Going downhill through the weeds that clogged the trail was easier but I stop to take some pictures of the mess. When we cleared the weeds, I stopped to check my watch and the Garmin GPS unit. The Garmin was working fine but the watch had stopped recording the trail at the corner of Dewey Road and Upper Glen Avenue. I hoped that I could piece together tracks from the two units to get one that represented the whole hike. This failure of electronic devices illustrates why all hikers should carry printed maps and a standard compass. All hikers should also know how to use these two invaluable aids. We continued down the woods road stopping to take a few pictures at the bridge. We came out on Beltz Road and hiked down to the intersection with Route 70A at the base of the hill. I decided we would walk the roads back as it was warm but not really hot. The walk back on the roads was only 2.5 miles and was downhill or flat the whole way. I put Sheila on her leash and turned left onto Route 70A at 7.7 miles. It was only .9 miles to Seneca Road North and the walk seemed to go very quickly. We turned right and started to hike back toward Hornellsville. The road had a wide shoulder in most places and we kept a good pace. We passed the Econolodge, crossed the river and at 9.6 miles turned left onto Route 66. We walked back to the car arriving at 1:25 PM. I put Sheila in the car and my gear in the back. I took a few pictures of the rail trail and the railroad tracks. We had hiked 10.5 miles in 4 hours and 10 minted with an elevation gain of 1400 feet. Our overall average was 2.4 mph with a moving average of 2.8 mph. We did the last 2.5 miles in 44 minutes for a speed of 3.3 mph! I will now have to decide how I will hike the rest of the rail as 6 hours of driving is too much driving.

On Tuesday, August 8th I wanted to hike the Finger Lakes Trail again so I looked at Map 10 which is immediately to the west of the section I had just complete. Map 10 runs from Hornell to Hughes Road south of Howard, NY. When I saw that the distance was 15.7 miles I knew it might take three trips. It bothered me that spotting a car would allow me to do it on one trip but I had no one else that would go with me! I decided to call Village Taxi in Bath as they had given me rides for a very reasonable cost last year. When I called, I got the owner, Mike Weaver, who remembered me from last fall. He said he would be happy to pick me up at Hughes Road and drop me off at the intersection of Upper Glen Avenue and Laine Road near Hornell. I told him that I would be in Bath between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM and that I would contact them at that time. I planned to get up at 5:30 AM and get going as soon as possible. The forecast was for temperatures reaching into the mid 70's with fog and cloudy skies in the morning but clearing as the day went on. I woke up a little earlier than 5:30 AM and got ready to go. I knew I would have to dress for the weather on put on my summer/fall pants and a light baselayer with my Columbia long-sleeved pullover shirt. I took along a light rain jacket but did not expect to use it. I wore my newer pair of Keen Glarus which seem to work as well as any shoe but tend to be not as waterproof as I would like. I had just treated them with NikWax which I hoped would do the trick as it had just rained and I expected wet and muddy trails and wet grass . I made sure I had taken out the Keen footbeds and put in my Superfeet Green insoles to stop my overpronation. Sheila was anxious to get going as she had not been out in three days. I made sure I put in two full water bottles and had my water purifier with me. The drive is almost 3 hours but I knew a good part of the route from previous trips and did not have to worry much about directions. Around 6:00 AM, we headed north and west on Route 17/I86 toward Binghamton. The temperature was still only in the high 50's but I knew it would get warmer. After a long drive, I took exit 38 to Bath and stopped to get gas and call the taxi company. When Mr. Weaver answered, I told him I was in Bath and he told me he was already waiting for me at the pickup point. It took me a few minutes to plan my route and set the GPS. I went back out to I86 and took it to exit 35 for Howard. From there I headed south on Route 27 to Turnpike Road. I turned left on Turnpike road and drove less than a mile to Hughes Rd where I found the taxi waiting. I said "hello" and put my gear in the taxi. I led Sheila over and she got right in and after a few words of encouragement laid down for the trip to out drop off point. We headed west on Turnpike Road and as we drove it seemed like a long ride. I almost told the driver to let us off at a closer drop off but knew I could hike the 11 miles. We turned right on Laine Road and drove to the intersection with Upper Glen road. I did not see the sign for the Finger Lakes Trail but knew I could find it. I paid the $18 fee plus a tip which I thought was very reasonable. I got Sheila and my gear out of the taxi and said "good bye". It is an interesting feeling watching the taxi pull away knowing the only choice is to hike back to the car. I set my Garmin GPSMAP64st handheld GPS and my Suunto Traverse GPS watch. I decided not to record the track on my iPhone to save the battery. I would use the Avenza app on the phone to locate my position on the Finger Lakes Trail.

We started our hike at 9:45 AM by hiking east on Lain road a short distance and then turning right or south into the woods. There was a nice pine plantation here and I would have stopped to take pictures but I was to anxious to get into the hike. The skies were very dark and there was a stiff breeze. I hoped the forecast of no rain would hold! We walked into a hardwood forest and downhill crossing Lower Glen Road and .5 miles and then starting an ascent toward Turnpike Road. We broke into a field and continued to walk uphill with some nice views except for the clouds and fog. I decided to take a few shots and stopped in the field at about 1.2 miles. After taking a few pictures we continued through the wet grass and turned into the woods just before Turnpike Road. After a brief walk in the pines, we came out on Turnpike Road where I put Sheila on her leash so that we could walk east to Laine Road. We turned south on Laine Road and began to ascend to a hilltop. A little after the turn I noticed an interesting tree on the other side of the road and took a few pictures. I noticed that the long, straight road was interesting and that the skies were still dark and cloudy in one direction but clearing to the north. I stopped to take a few pictures and get a drink before continuing downhill to the next turn. At 2.4 miles we turned left off Laine Road heading east through the woods descending through a hardwood forest. When we reached Cunningham Creek Road we had traveled .6 miles from Laine Road and lost 400 feet of elevation. The FLT emerged next to Cider Creek Hard Cider in Canisteo but I could see no indication of where the trail went from there. After consulting the map and the description, I turned right on the road and walked less than .1 miles to the point where the FLT turns left on an ATV trail. This is just one of the many examples of the poor markings on the trail since I had to look at papers to find out where the trail went. More of these situations were to come! The ATV track was one of the steeper climbs on the hike at 19% but it only lasted about .2 miles. I missed the turn for the trail and continued up the woods road for a short distance. I didn't see any blazes but the FLT has the attitude that if you are on a woods road then there will be very few blazes. When I couldn't find any blazes, I consulted Avenza and backtracked down the hill where the trail turned left. The trail followed Cunningham Creek for about a mile with the creek far below and to the west. At 4.2 miles we turned right onto a logging road and started uphill before turning left on another woods road which seemed flat but was slightly uphill. We passed a tree that was across the trail and had been cut by a chainsaw. The tree had some ribbons on it and as I passed I found they might be a warning. Where the tree had been cut I could see an extensive honeycomb with bees still using it! I imagined that cutting into this was quite a surprise for the sawyer. The trails had been damp and muddy in places until now but the logging road was very wet with many areas of deep mud. It wasn't very pleasant to hike along this and I was glad that it soon ended when the trail came to a field. I continued to follow the road out into the field even though I did not see any blazes. I wasn't too concerned since it is difficult to put blazes in fields. After few minutes, I consulted Avenza and could see we were off the trail. We walked back to the point where the trail came out of the woods and found some faded blazes indicating a turn to the left. We followed the blazes as they led us through the woods very near the edge of some fields and up toward Windfall Road. This trail was poorly marked and the showed little signs of use. There was almost no track to follow so I let Sheila lead the way. At 5.3 miles we came to Windfall Road as described on the map and found some nice views. I took out my camera and took a few shots and also got a drink and a bar.

We crossed Windfall Road and walked along the edge of a field until we entered the woods and turned left following the trail. We were now headed east and crossed Burt Hill Road at 5.6 miles traveling along the northern boundary of Burt Hill State Forest. We entered another red pine plantation and I stopped to take a few shots of the tall, straight trees. The trail was muddy and there were a lot of roots along the way. The trail began to descend and at 6.2 miles we passed the spur trail to the right to a lean-to. At 6.4 miles we crossed South Woods Road and continued straight ahead on Spencer Hill Road which is a seasonal use road. I was getting tired of climbing so I put Sheila on her leash and let her pull me to the top of the hill. When we reached the top of the hill the wind farm came into view and I stopped to take some pictures. A little farther along ion the right was a small "park" with some signs explaining how the wind farm operated. We were at the highest point on the hike and now continued down the hill passing a farmhouse on the left. The trail continued to follow Spenser Hill Road until just before it met Stephens Gulch Road. The trail went off the road to the left following a shady path next to a creek. As we neared Stephens Gulch Road I heard a snort and looked up to see a horse walking over to the fence to see what we were doing. I looked a little to the left and saw some goat faces looking down at use. Next to a barn was a shaggy burro looking at us with interest. I took pictures of the menagerie and then continued down to the road. I didn't see any blazes so I asked two men working by a barn it the farm lane ahead of me was the trail. They confirmed my choice and told me there was a well with water a little farther along. Since we had descended over 550 feet from the top of Spender Hill, I knew there was some climbing to do to get back to the car. When we came to the well, I wasn't going to stop but decided to fill my one almost empty bottle. The water was cold and very refreshing. We continued up the farm lane until it met Burleson Road where we turned left. There were some nice views here so I took a few more shots before turning right on the trail. The trail followed a path cut through a brushy field until it again entered the woods. From this point on the trail was poorly maintained and poorly marked. There were few blazes and they seemed to be randomly spread through the woods. There was almost no path to follow as the trail had not been cleared of branches and looked much like the rest of the forest. At 8.8 miles the trail came out of the woods to a junction where paths led in three directions. A blaze indicated a turn but I could not find any more blazes. Finally I let Sheila lead me and she found the trail without a problem. The turn was more than 90 degrees and was the least obvious of the choices.

We were now headed east walking uphill on a steep but short ascent through the forest. At 9 miles the trail turned north and began to follow the contour lines so there was less climbing. In about a quarter mile the trail came out to an open area with mowed paths. There were, again, several ways to go but no blazes to guide us. I turned right but found no trail. I tried going left and then right on the paths and finally found a blaze. We walked along the edge of the field until the mowed path started to curve to the right. This didn't seem like the right way so I walked back to a break in the woods. I started to walk down this path even though there were only some ribbons and no blazes. After a short distance, there were white blazes and we again started to follow the trail. At 9.5 miles we descended to a small stream where a blaze indicated a right turn. The trail was completely washed out and no blazes were visible on the other side. I guessed right and found a blaze to follow which led us along the west bank of a stream. The trail turned north briefly and then at 9.6 miles it turned east continuing toward Hughes Road. We wandered through the woods trying to find blazes until we made it out to the road at 10.1 miles. The sun was hot and we still had to walk north on Hughes Road to the car. The last .35 miles were downhill or flat and seemed to go quickly. We were back at the car at 3:10 PM after hiking 10.5 miles on the trails or a total of 11.3 miles including the misdirections. The hike had taken 5 hours and 20 minutes with 48 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 2244 feet which surprised me as there were no large climbs. I hope to complete this map soon and then will have to decide what to do next as the drive time is getting too long!

On Saturday, August 5th, I had planned to attend a hiking pole demonstration at Morgan Outdoors and then go with the group for a short hike on Round Top. This all changed when I read a news release from the DEC that said a hiker was lost. The 60 year old man had left his home on Dry Brook Ridge on Tuesday morning apparently headed into the Big Indian Wilderness which covers 33,500 acres and is bounded by the Slide Mountain Wilderness and Balsam Lake Wild Forest. On Tuesday at about 6:30 PM the hiker used his cell phone to call 911 in Delaware County. The control center could not determine the hiker's location and turned the information over to the DEC. Searchers began to look for the hiker who was reported last seen around the Seager Trailhead at the end of Dry Brook Road. The search continued through Wednesday, Thursday and Friday directed by the Forest Rangers with members of local fire departments and search teams assisting. Search teams from as far away as Gloversville joined the search. I texted one of the rangers in charge on Saturday morning and asked if they could use another searcher. He texted me back almost immediately and I got my gear ready and headed for Margaretville. I arrived at the Margaretville Fire Department at about 10:30 AM. I reported to the ranger who introduced me to my operant who is the Assistant Forest Ranger at Alder Lake. She is 21 years old and a senior at ESF in Syracuse and I immediately wondered if I could keep up with her and how we would work together. I will say right now that this young lady was a pleasure to work with and a great hiking companion. We drove from Margaretville east on Route 28 to Route 47 and turned right. We passed Clove Road and McKenley Hollow Road and turned right on Burnham Hollow Road. I had never been on this road as there are no trails and some of the area is private property. We drove to the end of Burnham Road where the private "trails" begin and continued straight ahead on the Huron Trail to where we thought we belonged. I turned on my GPS unit and found we should have parked right at the end of Burnham Road. We drove back to that parking spot and got out of the car. It wasn't completely clear where we should go but we decided to start on the road marked as the Algonquin Trail. We turned right to follow the road which led us passed two houses on the right and then ended at the edge of the forest.

We began to bushwhack through the woods following no path or trail in particular. We knew we had to parallel the stream but gain elevation to make it to the ridge where Eagle Mountain is located. At times we found some woods roads and followed them as far as we could. At one point we ran out of paths and ran into a sea of nettles at least two feet tall. We decided to gain some elevation and headed up and slightly north. We eventually found a path under the trees which limited the amount of nettles. The going was slow because of the heavy brush, downed trees and numerous drainages we had to work around. We stopped to get a drink at about 12:55 PM and each of us ate a protein bar. I was beginning to feel each step and tried to drink as much as I could. We started in again walking through high weeds and over and under large trees lying on the ground. We tried to head west but the ground kept getting steeper. From 1.5 miles to 2.0 miles the grade averaged 23%. Just after this there was a short and flatter area and then a climb up a 42% grade. At this point we were about half a mile from the Pine Hill-West Branch trail that passes by Eagle Mountain but we had at least 700 feet to climb in this short distance. We decided to backtrack and see if there was an easier way up to the ridge. My partner turned on her radio and we almost immediate heard "the subject has been located. It is unconfirmed." Minutes later we got the confirmation and the call to return but there was no indication of whether the hiker was dead or alive! We started back with partner leading. She was able to stay almost exactly on the track we had taken on the way out but avoided some of the worst nettles on the return trip. We found a few more woods roads we could follow and were able to drop down to the level of the stream since we no longer had to stay on the ridge. Soon we could see houses and we walked back out to the Algonquin Trail. We talked to a resident and them walked back to the car. We had hiked about 5 miles in 4 hours and 10 minutes with an elevation gain of 1620 feet! We drove back to the fire house and parked. We were immediately told that the hiker had walked out of the woods on his own to Hiram Todd Road near which is just off Dry Brook Road near the Segar Trailhead. He was without shoes and a little confused but we were told his vital signs were good. We went upstairs to the command post for a quick debriefing and so that my GPS could be downloaded. I ate a tasty burrito supplied by the Salvation Army and grabbed two Powerades before heading home. We were all very happy at the outcome.

On Thursday, August 3rd, I decided I wanted to get out and hike close to home after attending the men's bible study in the morning. The forecast was for thunderstorms in the afternoon so I decided to get going as son as possible. I got my gear together and left the house at 9:15 AM heading for Frick Pond. As always Sheila was in the back seat pretending we hadn't hiked in a month! There were no cars in the lot when we parked at 9:30 AM. The temperature was 66 degrees when we crossed the road to the Flynn Trail at 9:35 AM. We started up the Flynn Trail and turned right on the woods road when we came out of the woods. The grass was wet and it was obvious that the recent rains had hit this area hard. Sheila was having a great time running around on the trail and taking little side trips off the trail. She was easily getting too far ahead of me and then heading off the hiking trail to follow animal tracks. We began to climb the long hill to the junction of the Flynn Trail and the Big Rock Trail. I kept a steady pace thinking about my sermon for church and the walk seemed really short. We must have kept a good pace because before I knew it we had walked the 1.7 miles and 600 vertical feet to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. It was 10:15 Am when we turned left and started down the Big Rock Trail toward Times Square. There were a few branches on the trail that I picked up and threw to the side. My feet were beginning to get pretty damp since there were several patches of very wet grass along the way. The walk down the Big Rock Trail to Times Square is 1.1 miles and the elevation drop is 570 feet. We were at Times Square at 10:40 AM under bright and sunny skies. The area around Times Square was very wet and muddy with most of the water draining down the hill from the Logger's Loop. We turned right and started up the yellow blazed Logger's Loop which continued to be wet.

The trail begins a rolling ascent over the next .8 miles. At about 3.3 miles there is an area on the right which is sometimes marshy and often looks like a small pond. I walks over to take a few pictures of this area which looked much like a field of ferns. I put my pack down and got out the camera. After taking two pictures, I realized I was covered with mosquitoes and there were more hovering waiting to land. I quickly packed up and left not even taking time to put on some insect repellant. We continued along the trail and I found the insects were following me. The trail continued to be wet and muddy which apparently was what the insects liked! I looked down at my arms and they were even biting me through my long-sleeved shirt! Eventually I got to a slightly drier spot and applied some natural insect repellant. I continued along the trail and was surprised that the repellant actually worked. We came across a small tree with some branches across the trail and I decided that I would removed it. I took some "before" pictures and then started to cut the blowdown. I cut three branches off and moved them off the trail. I cut another piece of the trunk and threw it off the trail. It really only took a few minutes to clear the branches and we continued on our hike after I took some "after" shots. As we walked along, I found two more trees on the trail but I was able to lift and rotate them off the trail. Just before we got to Iron Wheel Junction, I found another larger tree lying across the trail. I took some pictures and then got started. I was able to make a cut on each side of the trail leaving a piece of the trunk that I could carry off the trail. After taking a few more pictures, we continued on the trail to Iron Wheel Junction at 4 miles. We turned left to head back toward Frick Pond. The walk is mostly downhill but it was very wet and muddy most of the way. We were soon at the small stream through the woods which had a good flow of water. Sheila decided to take a dip while I was able to use a stepping stone to get across. We walked through the pine promenade and the trail became very wet on the other side. In places it was impossible to avoid the water so I just walked through it. At the next trail junction we continued straight ahead to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. We walked over the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond and even though there was nothing remarkable about the view, I took some pictures anyway. We continued back to the car along the Quick Lake Trail finding only a few wet spots which was surprising since the rest of the hike had been so wet. We were back at 12:00 PM having covered 5.6 miles in 2 hours and 25 minutes with an elevation gain of 870 feet. The temperature at the car was about 73 degrees but the skies were still sunny.

On Tuesday, August 1st I decided to go back to Trout Pond for a fourth and what I hoped would be the final time. I put my Silky saw, hedge trimmers and loppers in my pack. I decided to forego my poles. As I knew I would be carrying some trimming tool for most of the hike. Sheila was on my heels the whole time sensing we would be going out. We left the house at 8:35 AM and headed north and west on State Route 17 toward Roscoe. I got off at exit 94 and headed north on Route 206 passing through Roscoe and then Rockland. Just after the Roscoe Nursing Home I turned left on Morton Hill Road and followed it for 3 miles to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I drove down to the lower parking area since I had gear to carry and I knew I would not want to hike up Russell Brook Road at the end of the hike. There were two cars in the lower lot and a car parked at the upper camping area. The temperature was about 70 degrees when I got my gear out of the car at 8:55 AM to start my adventure. We got on the woods road that leads down to the bridge and crossed the stream. We passed the knotweed I had cut on a previous hike and the path to the falls. Both looked like work had been done and both were in better shape than we had found them We continued on the main trail and turned left at the trail junction to start up the steep hill toward Mud Pond. Near the bridge over the small stream there were some weeds to trim but I decided I wanted to leave them for later. On the way up the hill there were a few more branches sticking out into the trail than I remembered. I got out the loppers and started to trim them as I went. We continued up the hill to the highest point trimming branches, brush and small trees the whole way. The air was beginning to warm up and I was really beginning to feel the heat. At the top of the hill there is a more open area and there were quite a few briars and weeds growing here. I walked through and then dropped my pack exchanging the loppers for the hedge trimmers. I started cutting down the weeds, briars and occasional bush. The work seemed to go quickly at first and then monotony set in as well as some lower back pain. I stopped for a moment to get an ibuprofen and the started in again. Finally the work in this areas was done and I stow the clippers, got out the loppers, took a drink and shouldered my pack. We walked downhill a little to the junction with the trail to Trout Pond trimming a few branches here and there and moving others. The trail was drier than it had been a few days ago. We turned right and started up the trail and I immediately started picking up loose branches and throwing them off the trail. I trimmed a few branches but this area was pretty clean.

I continued to walk along the trail trimming as I went. Some areas needed more attention than others. On the last trip over this trail we did not have loppers so some of the branches that I had not been able to cut with the hedge trimmers remained for me to deal with this time. The trail continued to climb and we eventually reached the area where I had cut down a lot of briars. There were still a few standing so I cut them and then continued up the trail. As we approached the high point, I decided to do something I seldom do and sit down on a rock for a drink and a break. After a short time, I started out again and realized that there was still a lot of trimming to do. We had gone in the same direction on the last trip and as we grew tired we trimmed less! I continued won the hill trimming branches as I went. I trimmed a lot of branches. Fortunately, as we turned to the right and began to head down to the pond ether were fewer branches to trim and most were not really blocking the trail. I tried not to give up and leave anything behind that needed to be removed. I even reached up as high as I could to bring down some branches. We finally came out to the bridge at the inlet end of the pond. There was some grass and weeds that could be trimmed here but I was too tired. We walked across the bridge and turned right to head down the woods road along the east side of Trout pond. After crossing over another small bridge, we came to a campsite on the left of the trail. Two young men had their tent set up and a fire burning. They seemed to be enjoying themselves. As we approached the "beach" at the outlet end, I decided to walk over and take a short break. I put my pack down as Sheila rushes to take a swim ion the pond. We didn't stay very long before walking back out to the main trail and turning right to head down the hill. The skies were growing a little darker and I was concerned it might rain before we got back. There wasn't much to see along the trail so we kept a good pace down the hill. As we passed the trail junction, I remembered that there were some weeds that needed trimming near the lower bridge. I decided that it was too late and I was too tired. We followed the trail across Russell Brook and back up to the car. It was 2:05 PM when we arrived at the car. We had spent about 5 hours and 15 minutes hiking and working. About 12 and a half hours was stopped time for work and our overall speed was barely 1 mile per hour. The elevation gain was 810 feet. When I looked at the thermometer on the car is was over 80 degrees! I could feel my muscles starting to cramp so I drank the rest of the water in my bottle before leaving the parking area.

On Monday, July 31st Cindy and I head to Trout Pod again to do some trimming on the trails that we had not done on Saturday. I put my Silky saw and hedge trimmers in my pack and made sure Cindy had the loppers this time. I decided to carry the hedge trimmers and forego my poles. Sheila was on my heels the whole time sensing we would be going out. We left the house at 10:00 AM and headed north and west on State Route 17 toward Roscoe. I got off at exit 94 and headed north on Route 206 passing through Roscoe and then Rockland. Just after the Roscoe Nursing Home I turned left on Morton Hill Road and followed it for 3 miles to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I drove down to the lower parking area since we had gear to carry and I knew we would not want to hike up Russell Brook Road but the road at the end of the hike. There was only one car in the lower lot but there was a car parked at the upper camping area. The temperature was in the low 80's when I got my gear out of the car and was ready to start at 10:30 AM. We got on the woods road that leads down to the bridge and crossed the stream. We passed the knotweed we had cut on another trip and the path to the falls. Both looked like work had been done and both were in better shape than we had found them. We continued on the main trail continued straight ahead toward Trout Pond. I had intended to walk up the trail and to start trimming after the bridge at the inlet. I began to notice some brush along the trail up to the pond and some weeds along the sides. Cindy started to use the loppers on the stray branches and I used the hedge trimmers on the brush and weeds. I soon found that bending over to do the trimming as starting to make my back ache. At some point Cindy went ahead of me and I was left alone. I have found that when I do this type of hard work I like to have someone to talk to so the work goes faster. Being alone was a little discouraging. I was cutting briars, nettles and weeds as well as some brush. Doing the cutting made the walk up the trail seem MUCH longer. I finally saw the pond and Cindy who was waiting for me. I was tired and very hot and decided I was done for the day. We turned around and headed back down the trail. I was a little disappointed that some of the trimming looked a little haphazard and incomplete. We were back at the car at 12:30 PM having spent two hours trimming about a mile of trail.

On Sunday, July 30th I met Don and Alyce at 1:00 PM by the Presbyterian Church for some work on the Round Top trails. I drove up with my car and the tools while Don and Elise chose to walk up to the trail head. I parked my car at the trailhead and met them. We got started immediately by trimming some of the branches from the evergreens at the beginning of the trail. We walked along the trail to the first junction and found a pile of "firewood" on the left side of the trail. It was unclear who put the pile of sticks in a neat pile or why they did it. We decided we did not want them on the trail and moved them off to the left side. We started to hike up to the viewpoint and encountered a thick layer of leaf cover. Don volunteered to rake these leaves off the path while Alyce and I continued on around the lower trail trimming branches. I was happy to see no more damage had been done at the trailhead and I pointed out the trees that had been cut by vandals. We made the right turn and headed up the trail. It seemed that the trail has gotten some use as it was more distinct. I had thought about brining the string trimmer to cut out the path but decided most of the plants were ferns and not much of a threat to hikers. When we reached the right turn we continued to follow the lower trail with the yellow blazes. There were some branches to lop here and Alyce and I took turns leapfrogging each other to trim the brush. We tried to trim as high as we could so that the trail would be ready for snowshoeing this winter. When we got to the next right turn, we decided to go back and see how Don was doing with the raking. When we walked back to the lookout, Don was just finishing up his work. We decided to walk on the blue trail over the summit of Round Top. We walked back up the yellow trail away from the viewpoint and at the right turn we continued straight ahead on the upper blue trail. There wasn't much to trim but we did catch a few branches here and there. We walked across the top and then started down the other side clipping a few stray branches as we went. We talked about the possibility of putting a switchback on the upper trail but decided there is not enough room. The total distance up the trail is less than 500 feet although the grade is about 18%. When we reached the lower yellow we turned right and walked back to the lookout. As we started down the trail from the lookout, I noticed that Don had raked the leaves right down to the underlying dirt! We walked out to the trailhead and talked for a few minutes before heading home. It was 2:30 PM and we had spent 2.5 hours working on the trails for a total of 7.5 man-hours!

On Saturday, July 29th I had planned to work with some people on Round Top but had postponed the work until Sunday since the forecast was for rain on Saturday. When I went to bed on Friday night the forecast had changed to partly sunny with no rain on Saturday. In the morning I drove to Goshen to get the hood scoop on my Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart replaced. I was back by 9:45 AM and Cindy was home soon after. I asked her if she wanted to return to Trout Pond to clear the trail loop and she agreed. I put my Silky saw and hedge trimmers in my pack and asked Cindy to bring the loppers. I decided to carry my Fiskars axe and forego my poles. Sheila was on my heels the whole time sensing we would be going out. We left the house at 10:15 AM and headed north and west on State Route 17 toward Roscoe. I got off at exit 94 and headed north on Route 206 passing through Roscoe and then Rockland. Just after the Roscoe Nursing Home I turned left on Morton Hill Road and followed it for 3 miles to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I drove down to the lower parking area since we had gear to carry and I knew we would not want to hike up Russell Brook Road but the road at the end of the hike. There was only one car in the lower lot but there was a tent near the beginning of the road and a car parked at the upper camping area. The temperature was about 66 degrees when I got my gear out of the car and it almost felt chilly. We got on the woods road that leads down to the bridge and crossed the stream. We passed the knotweed we had cut the day before and the path to the falls. Both looked like work had been done and both were in better shape than we had found them We continued on the main trail and turned left at the trail junction to start up the steep hill toward Mud Pond. There were a few barnacle sticking out into the trail so I asked Cindy to us the loppers to cut them off. It was then that I found out that she had not brought the loppers which was a real blow since they were the best tool to do much of the work I had planned! We continued up the hill to the highest point and then walked downhill a little to the junction with the trail to Trout Pond. The trail was almost dry compared to three days before when we had walked the same trail and found it wet with standing and running water. I wondered if the rest of the trail would be the same. We turned right and started up the trail and I immediately started picking up loose branches and throwing them off the trail. When we got to the new growth forest, there were several small saplings across the trail. Most of these we were able to pick up and drag off the trail or throw into the surrounding forest. We continued along the trail clearing a few bigger branches here and there. After a short walk I found a large branch hanging over the trail. I cut the branch which promptly hung up in another tree. I pulled and yanked on it until it came down. I cleaned up the whole mess as Cindy watched. It was then I began to realize she was mostly there for the walk and to watch me work!

The next obstacle consisted of two small trees that were bending over the trail. Trying to cut just the part hanging over the trail would have required a pole saw. Both trees were small enough to allow me to "legally" cut them and I made short work of them with Silky saw. To get them off the trail I had to cut them up a little but this also went quickly. I was glad the temperature seemed to still be in the 60's as this was "hot" work. The next thing I stopped to cut was not actually blocking the trail but I wanted to cut it to improve the look. It was a trunk and some branches on the side of the trail> I removed the loose branches and dragged them away by myself. I started to cut up the cherry branches and the work went pretty quickly. When I was done, I got out the hedge trimmers and cut some branches and briars impinging on the trail which I knew was a precursor to what was coming up. After walking a short distance there was another trunk that had fallen so that the upper branches were across the trail. I took some pictures and the removed what I could. I cut the two major branches and was lucky they fell easily as both cuts were above my head. To get them off the trail I had to make some more cuts to make the removal easier. Each one of these efforts was not too hard by itself but I was beginning to feel the cumulative effect. We walked a little farther and found a large cherry tree that had fallen almost parallel to the trail but with several branches blocking it. I followed the same procedure of taking "before" pictures and clearing anything that was loose. I began to cut the branches and drag them off into the woods well away from the trail. I noticed the strong scent from the cherry and stopped a minute take it in. Soon I had cleared everything and after taking some pictures I moved on. As we began to near the highest point on the trail, we started to run into brush and briars starting to overgrow the trail. I dropped my pack and got out the hedge trimmers. I used the trimmers to cut what was near the trail and throw it back as far as I could. Without any help this was a tough job! I also cut some of the longer canes which had not reached the trail but would soon do so. I continued up the trail cutting both side until I reached a spot in the shade of the trees where there were fewer briars. I went back to et my pack, picked up the hedge trimmers on the way by and continued up the trail to the next stand of briars. I was a little dismayed to find that this area was the bigger and denser than the previous. I put my pack down and got out the trimmers determined not to give up and let the briars beat me! It seemed that Cindy had tried to do some work here but without the right tools it was hard for her to make much headway. Although I was tired and my back was hurting, I trimmed a pretty wide swath on either side of the trail even though some of the briars were over my head. I continued until the end of the patch and then walked back toward my pack cutting as I went. I stowed everything in my pack and the walked back up the trail. I found Cindy resting in a shady spot on a rock.

We continued on the trail until we started to walk through some brush and briars. At first it wasn't too bad so I left it alone. After a while the briars grew thicker so I dropped my pack and got out the trimmers. I trimmed back up the trail clearing most of the worst of the briars. I picked up my pack and we walked further on the trail, starting downhill, until we came to the largest tree of the day which lay directly across the trail. I took pictures and then developed a strategy to clear this blowdown. I cut the three biggest branches well off the trail so that they were out of the way. This left the trunk of the tree still across the trail. I tried to lift and pivot the whole thing off the trail but it was much too heavy. I got my Fiskar's axe and chose a spot on the trunk near the edge of the trail where I could make a cut. This time I made sure the cut was at least as wide as the diameter of the log. The chopping went fairly well and I changed side to even out it out. I was soon all the way through the trunk. The upper, smaller piece I muscled off the trail by lifting one end and flipping it into the woods. When I tried lifting and pivoting the remaining piece, it was heavier than I thought. I finally got the grip that I wanted and was able to get it off the trail. We continued down the hill and cut a large branch and two more saplings off the trail on the way down. I though we were don but we came to a spot where there were some small trees with branches nearly blocking the trail. I knew I would have to come back one more time with loppers to finish the job but I just couldn't leave these branches. I took off my pack and got out the hedge trimmers to cut these branches. There were more than I thought with another small stand beyond the first. It was hard to have to cut and pick up the branches to dispose of them all by myself. As I was working two young men with cameras passed with a "hello" but no other comment. I finished what I was doing and knew I could not start any other real work. We walked down the trail removing a few small branches. Sheila alerted and I put her on her leash as a man and a woman approached. They immediately realized what I was doing and said "thank you for the trail maintenance." We walked down the hill and were soon at the inlet bridge. The skies were sunny and blue with white clouds. I took a few shots from the bridge and then we walked down the east side of the pond. The trail to this point had been almost dry with a few damp spots where pools had been three days before. This flat trail along the pond was no exception as it was also only damp. As we neared the "beach" at the outlet, we could see a family group getting ready to leave the area. They made it to the main trail before we could pass but moved to one side of the trail to let us go by. I did not need to visit the inlet end of the pond so we kept a quick pace down the trail to the first trail junction. We continued straight ahead and were soon climbing the road toward the car. Where we met six more people who seemed to be headed down to the falls. We turned up the path to the parking area and found it almost full. Two cars were unpacking with what looked like enough equipment afford to last a week! It was 3:15 PM and we had spent 4 and a half hours hiking and clearing the trail. At this point I was exhausted and was again glad the temperature was just 70 degrees. The distance we had covered was about 4.5 miles with an elevation gain of 875 feet including some backtracking along the way.

icon"> On Friday, July 28th I decided to go to Trout Pond to cut out the trail to Russell Brook Falls and to beat back the Japanese knotweed that threatened to overrun the trail. I decided that I would use my Stihl string trimmer to cut out the grass, briars and weeds on the path to the falls and then handle the knotweed with a machete and loppers. Cindy agreed to go with me and we took Sheila even though we would have to tie her up for most of the time. I loaded all the supplies for the trimmer and the trimmer into the Outlander and also put in my regular pack with my Silky saw and machete. We left the house at 12:30 PM and headed north and west on State Route 17 toward Roscoe. I got off at exit 94 and headed north on Route 206 passing through Roscoe and then Rockland. Just after the Roscoe Nursing Home I turned left on Morton Hill Road and followed it for 3 miles to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned left and drove down Russell Brook Road to the lower parking area since we would have to have access to the car to change tools and I did not want to carry the trimmer any farther than necessary. We arrived at 10:45 AM to find only one car parked in the lot. I got out the trimmer and the pack with the gas and we headed down the road to the falls. When we arrived in the area of the knotweed, we leashed Sheila to a tree. I gassed up the trimmer and started in on the path to the falls which was barely a foot wide and bordered by briars and weeds. As I began to cut, I realized that most of the weeds had very woody stems and there were a lot of old and thick briar canes. I had to keep bumping the trimmer for more line and trying to cut high and then low. About a third of the way down the path I realized I had not taken any "before" pictures so I asked Cindy to get the camera from the car. Since the trimmer had just run out of line, I rewound lien on the reel as Cindy retrieved the camera. Before I started in again on the trail, I took a few pictures. The trimmer was doing a good job of cutting down the briars and weeds as long as I remembered to bump it as the line got shorter. I even found it would cut through the knotweed with no problem.

I finished cutting the path to the falls and decided not to cut the one that led down to the stream as there was no safe way to get over to the falls from there. One the way back I cut the remaining stalks closer to the ground to make the path smoother and wider. Cindy had already started in on the knotweed with her loppers. She was cutting stalks and throwing them on the other side of the road to let them dry and die in the sun. I walked passed her and used the trimmer to cut some of the knotweed. It did a good job of cutting some of the vegetation to expose the larger stalks underneath. I also trimmed some weeds near the bridge and on the other side of the road. Eventually, I put down the trimmer and started using the machete to cut the knotweed. It was a little harder work but I have to admit the quite was appreciated. The machete is the ideal took to cut the knotweed stalks as I can use one hand to fold the stalks and the other to swing the machete. I keep the machete very sharp and the knotweed offers little resistance. Once I had a handful of stalks, I walked to the other side of the road and three them as far as I could. Cindy and I continued to work this way until we had cut the knotweed back so that it would not annoy hikers walking by. We trimmer a little more by the bridge and the picked up all the remaining stalks that we had cut. I wished that I had brought a rake but our cleanup job was pretty good. It was 12:15 PM when we finished and I was ready to start on the trail loop to cut blowdowns. Cindy said she was tired so we packed up and left. On the way home I though about dropping Cindy off and returning to Trout Pond. When we arrived at home, I realized I did not feel like driving all the way back and working for another 3 to 4 hours. Clearing the loop would have to wait until another day! We spent and hour and a half doing a large amount of work and hiking very little.

On Wednesday, July 26th I wanted to get in a hike since the weather forecast for the rest of the week was questionable. Since it had rained, I asked Cindy if she wanted to go to Trout Pond and see how high the water was at Russell Brook Falls. She agreed even though we knew the trail would be wet. In the morning when I awoke there was actually some sun peeking through the clouds and the forecast was only calling for partly sunny skies. I got some things done around the house and got out my gear while Cindy got ready to go. Sheila was on my heels the whole time sensing we would be going out. We left the house at 12:30 PM and headed north and west on State Route 17 toward Roscoe. I got off at exit 94 and headed north on Route 206 passing through Roscoe and then Rockland. Just after the Roscoe Nursing Home I turned left on Morton Hill Road and followed it for 3 miles to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I considered driving down to the lower parking area but the road can be washed out at times. I also like the hike down the road as it parallels Russell Brook. I turned around and parked on the side of the road near a large pulloff that looks like a parking area. This pulloff is on private property and the owner does not like people parking on his land. I got my gear and electronics ready and we started our hike at 12:50 PM with Sheila leading the way down Russell Brook Road. The temperature was in the high 60's and felt very comfortable compared to the previous week. The road was a little damp but did not appear to be washed out. I could hear what sounded like a large volume of water in the brook as we descended toad the lower parking area. As we walked down the road, I could see that the water level was high. When we got to the viewpoint for the upper falls, I decided to walk down to the lookout to take some pictures. I dropped my pack and took some shots of the large volume of water going over the falls. After finishing my photography, I packed up and headed back to the road. We walked down to the parking area where there were two cars with one pulling in right behind us. There was also a forest ranger's truck in the lot and I wondered which ranger in was and if he had hiked the trails. We got on the woods road that leads down to the bridge. We crossed the bridge over Russell Brook and walked along the woods road. I noticed the knotweed was back and already was green and growing nicely. In some places it was almost across the trail! I decided to walk over to the falls as the light was good. We turned right onto the path to the falls which was almost overgrown by tall grass and briars. We found the path that leads down to the stream bed and found that it is becoming more distinct as more and more people access it. The rocks were slippery as there was a lot of spray from the falls and the wind was blowing downstream. We all worked our way down to the stream where I put my pack down and got out the camera. I took shots of the falls and the stream from different angles and zooms and with different exposures. I also took a few of Sheila posing in front of the falls. When I was done, I changed the battery in the camera and the stowed it in my pack. Two women had walked to the path that leads to a little overlook of the falls so I put Sheila on her leash. It appeared the other hikers were not going to attempt the descant to the streambed. We walked back up the bank and out to the main trail. We turned right on the main trail and then walked straight ahead at the trail junction to go directly up the hill to Trout Pond. This was the direction I had gone on the last hike here but Cindy and I both thought we would have the best chance of meeting the ranger if we hiked in this direction.

The trail to Trout Pond was wet for almost the entire length. In some places the water was directed in channels but in others the entire trail was wet. Soon we were at the pond and we walked over to the shore by the outlet. The water level was not as high as I thought it would be and no water was flowing over the spillway at the dam. There were a few ducks by the spillway and Sheila dove in to make friends! The ducks were not friendly ducks and moved away quickly. I got out my camera and took pictures of the pond and the shores even though the sky was a little cloudy. I threw a stick in the pond for Sheila to retrieve but she only did it once. It was at this time that Sheila decided to dash madly back and forth. I tried to capture a few pictures of her and then packed up to get back on the main trail. The trail from the outlet end of the lake to the lean-tos was covered in water most of the way and it was sometimes impossible to easily avoid the puddles. As we passed by a large unoccupied campsite on the right, we could hear people at the lower lean-to. I put Sheila on her leash as we approached and found Ranger Dylan McCartney just starting toward us. Trout Pond is in Dec Region 4 and Ranger McCartney is stationed in Stamford, NY. We talked about trail maintenance and the problem of the knotweed before heading in opposite directions. We walked over to the bridge over the inlet stream and I decided not to stop for pictures. The trail to the right up the hill had a stream running down the middle. After a short distance, the stream headed off to the left and the trail was drier. We climbed the trail heading toward the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. There were some new blowdowns along the way and several older larger logs. All should be cleared but the larger logs might need a chainsaw crew. I knew once we hit the top of the hill and started down that the trail would be very wet. I picked up quite a few branches and small limbs off the trail and even moved some larger logs that had broken onto section. I was right about the trail down to Mud Pond as it was covered in standing water in places and ran like a stream in others. We had to walk on the sides of the trail and, at times, well off the trail. We came across one large branch that had broken off a tree and had one end lodged in the ground. The other end was hung up high in s small tree. It looked very dangerous and I know it will be hard to safely remedy the situation. Eventually we were walking through the area where there are a lot of small white birches. We descended the hill to the trail that runs past Mud Pond. We turned left here to head back to the car by completing the loop. The trail was wet with surface water which also made it very muddy so we used the sides of the trail in places. We hit the top of the small hill and started the long descent back to the register box. The trail remained wet and muddy with several small streams flowing across it. The stream to the right of the trail had a volume greater than I had ever seen in it. When we arrived at the trail register, we turned right and walked back out the trail to the lower parking area. From here we walked back up Russell Brook Road to the car without seeing another vehicle or person for the entire trip. We were back at the car at 3:45 PM after hiking 5.5 miles in 2 hours and 55 minutes. The elevation gain was 1115 feet.

On Tuesday, July 25th I decided I wanted to check the trails on Round Top and get out after spending the early part of the day chained to a computer. The weather forecast was calling for rain when I got dressed and ready to go at 1:30 PM but the skies I could see looked only a little cloudy. I put Sheila on her leash as we started down the driveway and I looked north toward Roscoe. The skies were grey and almost black and I nearly decided to turn around. In the end we continued by crossing the road and walking through the field by the church. We started up the steep hill along the edge of the cemetery. I elected to leave my pack behind and to go without hiking poles. My heart was beating faster when we got to the top of the hill even though Sheila helped by pulling me up the hill. We turned left into the forest and I let Sheila off her leash. As we walked the woods road to the first trail junction, I picked up a few branches that had fallen in the wind over the past few days. At the trail junction we continued straight ahead up the steep little climb to the viewpoint. I continued to remove a few branches here and there. At the lookout I found no more vandalism so we followed the trail to the right. I noted that the ferns had grown up some and would soon need a good whacking. Where the lower trail turned right we continued straight ahead following the blue paint blazes up toward the summit of Round top. I was glad to see that the blazes had held up well to the rain but had dried a little darker than I expected. As we climbed the hill a cleared a few spots. We continued across the summit and descended the other side. At the bottom of the hill we continued straight ahead on the woods road back to the first trail junction. Since we had missed a section of the lower trail, we turned around and hiked back up the woods road to the sharp left turn. We followed the lower trail this time as it skirted Round Top. Along the way I noticed that the bushes were starting to close in and needed to be trimmed back. We continued to follow the yellow trail as it turned left and headed down to the lookout. At the lookout we turned left and completed the loop back to the first trail junction. I was a little bored doing repeated loops but though about doing at least one figure 8. As I was trying to make my decision a few drops of rain began to fall. I don't mind a little train but I remembered the dark clouds I had seen and thought it would be better to head home. We continued straight ahead back to the beginning of the trail. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked back down the cemetery hill, across the field and down the driveway. We had spent 45 minutes walking and doing some minor trail work.

On Sunday, July 23rd I decided that the weather for the rest of my week was looking pretty lousy with rain and thunderstorms almost every day. It was also my birthday and I thought I hike would be nice. The most important consideration was that I had hiked the previous two days without Sheila and had promised her a hike on Sunday. When we returned from church, we got our gear ready and got dressed. Sheila sniff our clothes and immediately knew we were hiking. She began to run around the house bouncing against the furniture but always keeping a close eye on us. We put our gear in the car and an exited Sheila in the back seat and drove out the DeBruce Road a little after 12:30 PM. It wasn't long before we got behind a caravan of cars traveling at about 30 mph. At Mongaup Pond Road I turned left behind the other cars which also made the turn. They unfortunately were headed to Mongaup Pound but didn't seem to know you drive until you run out of road! I continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there were two other cars in the lot and one car following behind us. I pulled in and parked and the other car started to drive up to the cabin but then backed up. The drive hailed me and I went over to talk to him. He was an attorney from Liberty and he and his friend had attended the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp back in the 1960's. I had to tell him that the road no longer went to the camp and it was about a 3 mile hike. He pulled into a parking spot and we talked for some time until Sheila insisted we had to hike. She was acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she pulled me toward the trail. The temperature was in the high 70's and the humidity was a little lower than the previous days. We headed out the path to the register on Quick Lake Trail at about 1:10 PM. The Quick Lake Trail was quite dry with only a few muddy spots so we made good time. At Gravestone Junction we turned left to head down to Frick Pond. The day was pleasant but the skies were overcast and there was some haze which made me decided to keep hiking without taking pictures. The water level in the pond was high due to the beaver dam across the outlet stream. This time it looked like no one had disturbed the dam and that the beavers had added to it. We continued on the Quick Lake Trail around the pond bearing left at the next trail junction to stay on the red trail. This part of the trail was also relatively dry with only a few muddy patches. We were setting a fast pace and soon came to the "pine promenade" and the little stream through the woods. This water level in the stream was lower than it had been but Sheila was able to get a drink and take a "dip". As we continued along the trail I removed some small branches and a few large ones until we arrived at Iron Wheel Junction at 1.6 miles. We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and started the long uphill climb toward Junkyard Junction. The trail continued to be almost dry which was surprise given the amount of rain that had fallen. At 3.2 miles we arrived at Junkyard Junction and turned right onto the blue Flynn Trail. The Flynn Trail is almost flat and on this day it was dry with a few muddy spots. There were no major blowdowns but I continued to removed branches that littered the trail. The entire trail does need to have some branches lopped to make a clear path. When we got to the gate, we turned right to stay on the trail and head down toward Hodge Pond. At 3.75 miles the Flynn Trail heads right and we follows it toward the outlet end of Hodge Pond.

This part of the Flynn Trail was the wettest and muddiest we had encountered. It also looked like OSI had used a large tractor to mow the trail and this left large ruts behind! After walking through the field were the mess hall and family camping area for the Boy Scout amp once stood we came to the clearing at the outlet end of the pond. I looked over at the pond and saw no spectacular picture opportunities. I decided to continue on the Flynn Trail without stopping. We turned right and began the climb up the hill. I was feeling quite fresh and concentrated on using my poles to help set a quick pace up the hill. At the top of the hill we stayed to the left to continue on the Flynn Trail. A right turn follows a woods road out to what remains of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. Just after the turn there was a small tree across the trail. I tried to move it but it wouldn't budge. I broke some branches off and made a note to return with me saw. The Flynn Trail is relatively flat to the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 4.5 miles. We contused straight through this junction to follow the Flynn Trail back to the car. Cindy is fast on the downhill so I set a very quick pace downhill on the Flynn Trail. The walk is pretty but has no remarkable views or features. As we neared the end I saw two people headed our way. As we got closer I could hear music playing. I put Sheila of her leash and as I was about to pass the other hikers they asked how far it was to the pond. I told them it was about two miles. They seemed a little hesitant and wondered if they had meant to go to Frick Pond which is much closer to the parking area. As we approached the gate on the woods road, we turned left to avoid the private property around the cabin and to stay on the trail. On a previous trip I had cleared and reblazed the old trail and I could see that it was easy to follow. We finished our walk and were back at the car by 3:45 PM. We had covered 6.2 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes with an elevation gain of 890 feet. Our average overall speed was 2.4 mph and we had stopped for only 6 minutes. We covered the last 1.6 miles in 34 minutes for a speed just under 3 mph.

On Saturday, July 22nd Cindy and I planned to hike at Sam's Point with members from the Grooville Free Methodist Church. We had not hiked there in some time and wondered what the area would look like after the massive fire that burned so many acres in April of 2016. Many of the trails were still closed including the High Point Trail and the trail to Verkeerderkill Falls. The Long Path had to be rerouted and now comes up the South Gully Trail from Route 52. When the trail meets the Loop Road, the Long Path turns left and follows the Loop Road to the High Point Carriage Road. It then follows the carriage road to the Berrypickers Path and the Upper Mine Hole Trail which finally leads down to Berme Road. The church group wanted to hike from the visitor's center to Sam's Point and then down to the Ice Caves and back. I planned to extend the hike for Cindy and myself by walking around Lake Maratanza and visiting Indian Rock. When we got up in the morning, there was a lot of fog but it soon started to clear. For the second day in a row I could not take Sheila with us which made both of us sad. I promised here a short hike on Sunday! Cindy and I got dressed and got our gear ready and then drove down to Peck's Supermarket to meet the rest of the group at 9:00 AM. Unfortunately, the "rest of the group" was just one other person, Mary. We decided to drive our respective cars to the pastor's house in Liberty. We arrived in Liberty at about 9:30 AM to find Pastor Paul and his wife Sherri ready to go along with another hiker, Ray. Mary rode with us and Ray got in the pastor's car. I led the way as we drove out of Liberty. I was busy talking and drove toward Grahamsville instead of toward Woodbourne which is the quicker way. The way I chose is a little longer but very scenic. We took Route 55 to Route 209 where we turned right and headed into Ellenville. Here we turned left on canal Street which is also Route 52. We followed Route 52 up the mountain and turned left on Cragsmoor Road. In Cragsmoor we turned right onto Sam's Point Road and soon arrived at the parking at the visitor's center. We pulled into some free spaces although the parking lot was beginning to fill up. I went to the window to pay where the attendant took my $10 and handed me a ten dollar bill to feed into the machine outside! The machine took my money and gave me a parking slip for my windshield. I wondered what purpose the attendant served. By 10:30 AM we were ready to start up the loop road toward Sam's Point. The temperature was already in the mid 70's and the humidity was high.

We walked to the beginning of the loop road and stayed to the right to walk uphill to Sam's Point first. We met two groups of hikers on the way down and could hear others on the other branch of the loop road. Soon we were just below Sam's Point with a nice lookout on the right of the trail. Even though the view is better from on top, I wanted to stop and take some pictures from this lower lookout. I walked out onto the rock, dropped my pack and took out my camera. It was then that I found out that more than one member of the group did not appreciate heights. After taking a few pictures, I packed up and we continued up to the main lookout turning left at the top of the hill. Since Sam's Point is now part of Minnewaska State Park some of the "unnatural" additions have been removed including the low stone wall around the edge of Sam's Point. The wooden bridge over the crack between the two parts viewpoint remains. I understand the point of leaving things as natural as possible but I don't see the difference between a rock wall and a wooden bridge. I took some more pictures from Sam's Point although it was very hazy and difficult to see the Catskills to the north. I mentioned a few points of interest to the members of our group before we turned around and walked back out to the loop road. We turned left and started hiking to our next turn which was the road down to the ice caves. When I was in grade school, we came to the ice caves for class trips. At that time the area was privately owned and cars could drive all the way to a parking area at the beginning of the trail down to the caves. As we walked, I wondered where the fire had burned as we saw now evidence of it. In a little less than half a mile we arrived at the road to the ice caves and found all the trees on the right side of the loop road and the left side of the Ice Caves Road burned. Many of the trees were showing some new growth. It was obvious that the extra sunlight had favored the undergrowth as the blueberries were flourishing. We walked down the hill meeting a few group coming back up and overtaking some going down. The trail to Verkeerderkill Falls was blocked off with signs indicating it was closed. Soon we reached the trail down to the caves. The "caves" are not actually caverns but were formed when tectonic forces pulled pieces of rock away from the bedrock. We started down the steps which led to more stone stairs with wooden hand rails. The rocks were smooth and dripping water and condensation made them very slippery. On the way down we took a few pictures. As we descended the drop in the air temperature was perceptible. At the bottom we walked back out into the sun and along the base of the high stone cliffs. In some areas small streams ran directly out of the rock with clear, cold water. In other areas there were wooden walkways over some muddy areas. We walked through a rather dark tunnel which led to a narrow crack. In some places we had to duck under low hanging rock or scramble over other rocks. There were several wooden ladders to help over the biggest scrambles. We soon arrived at the "caves" and I was disappointed to see that the state had removed the wooden door leading into the caves. We walked in and found the lights and wooden walkways were still present. I did not try to take any pictures as the lighting is too poor. The walk was short and we were soon walking up the last ladder to the rocky outcrops that form a viewpoint at the end of the caves. From the viewpoint both Castle Point and Hamilton Point near Minnewaska and Awosting were visible. I took some more pictures before we walked uphill on the path to what used to be the parking lot. From here we had to walk back on Ice Caves Road which is all uphill. Several in the group were almost at the end of their energy. When we reached the junction with the Loop Road, we arranged for Mary to go back in the other car as Cindy and I wanted to extend our walk. It was 12:30 PM and we had only hiked 2.6 miles!

We left the group and turned right on the Loop Road passing by the burned trees on the right. We caught up to two couples who had their Rhodesian Ridgeback with them. He was extremely calm and well-behaved and I offered a compliment. We continued along the road until Lake Maratanza came along. This lake is one of the "sky lakes" most of which have a pH of around 4 which is very acidic and prevents the growth of most organisms. As we approached a young boy and his father were looking at something at the side of the road. It was a dark brown snake about two feet long. It was obvious it was not a rattlesnake from the shape of its head and the lack of any rattles. We took some pictures before the snake disappeared into a bush. I also took a few shots of the lake before we moved on. At 3.5 miles we turned right onto the High Point Carriageway and started walking north toward the Indian Rock Trail. The trail went uphill slightly and then dipped until at 3.9 miles we came to the trail. The road was lined with underbrush that had been trimmed some time ago and was simply left on the road. We turned left onto the trail and began to walk over some wooden walkways through berry bushes loaded with blueberries. After a little while we began to see that some of the trees were blackened but not completely burned. Several groups were coming toward us and we moved over to let them pass. The trail was very narrow and overgrown with brush. I began to wonder how New York State was using my $10At about 4 miles we came to the point where the trail begins to descend more steeply and there is a rock that offers a view. From this lookout we could see that all the trees below us were completed burned by the fire last April. I took some pictures including a long distance shot of Indian Rock which was clearly visible. We worked our way along the path passing some people resting on the open rock faces and some hiking back toward the main carriageway. We walked across an open rock face and down a crack in the rock and arrived at Indian Rock. I was glad there were no other people there at the time as it was easier to take some pictures. After a few minutes we headed back up the trail retracing our steps to the High Point Carriageway. I knew at this point it was just a matter of making the long and not very interesting walk back to the car. We hiked the carriageway out to the loop road and turned right to complete the loop around the lake. The loop road is mostly flat but descends some to get back to the parking area. In two places it passes the remains of some old shacks that were used by people who picked blueberries. This was a thriving industry at one time and the sites are the subject of an archaeological study. At 6.25 miles we passed by the South Gully Trail on the right which is part of both the Long Path and Shawangunk Ridge Trail. From there it was a short walk to the parking area which was now overflowing with cars. It was 2:20 PM and we had walked 6.6 miles in 3 hours and 50 minutes with a modest 875 foot elevation gain. After the hike we again visited Gaby's Mexican restaurant in Ellenville. Cindy and I both enjoyed the food.

On Friday, July 21st I planned to hike somewhere with my two sons, Karl and Kurt, for my birthday which is on Sunday. Kurt lives in Poughkeepsie so we decided to meet at Minnewaska State Park which is about half way between us. We agreed to meet at the Jenny Lane Parking Area at 9:30 AM to do a hike. My plan was to door the jenny lane trail to get another part of the SRT completed. When I started to plan the hike, I found I had already done this section of trail. I changed the plan to hike the loop around the Peters Kill as I did not think either of the boys had been there before. The weather forecast was for a warm humid day with highs in that area approaching 90 degrees but at least there were no thunderstorms in the forecast. Karl had to be back in Callicoon for a closing at 4:00 Pm so I though the 6 mile distance would be good. Karl picked me up in Livingston Manor at 8:30 AM. As we left the house without Sheila, she seemed very sad to be left behind. We usually stop for a meal after hiking and it would be too hot to leave her in the car. I was also concerned about the possibility of encountering a rattlesnake on the hike which has happened in the past! Karl drove south on State Route 17 getting off at the Liberty exit. He took Route 52 through Woodbourne to Route 209 in Ellenville. He drove north on Route 209 to Route 44/55 and the turned right to head toward New Paltz. Just before the main entrance to Minnewaska State Park, I directed him to turn left into the Jenny Lane parking are. There were three other cars parked but there was plenty of room for us and Kurt. We arrived at 0:15 AM and waited for Kurt who appeared at 9:35 AM. We got ready to hike and left the parking area at 9:45 AM heading east on Jenny Lane. After .15 miles we turned right on the Old Minnewaska Trail heading south and southeast. This trail is more of a road for a short distance. Just before the road turned into a trail, we found a large pile of logs stacked to the right of the trail. The logs had been there for some time and were covered by a black netting. We could not come up for a reason for this! We starred out on the trail stopping at about .35 miles for a telephone call. Just before we started out, Kurt pointed out a 30 inch black snake lying along a branch on the ground. It did not have the head of a rattlesnake nor did its tail appear to have rattles. It seemed annoyed at our presence and shook its tail in the leaves making and unsettling "rattle". It also curled up a little and raised its head. We decided to leave the snake to warm up in the sun and started up the hill in front of us. At .95 miles the Old Minnewaska Trail ended at Route 55 where the High Peters Kill Trail began. We ducked back into the woods and started following the red blazes heading east still gaining some elevation to 1.4 miles. The trail heads northeast and parallels Route 55 to about 1.6 miles where the trail continues northeast and the road turns more to the east. Along the way there were some opportunities to walk to the edge of the escarpment and get some views to the south and east. Neither of the boys enjoys being very near the edge of the rocks which doesn't bother me very much. We could even see the Smiley Tower at the Mohonk Preserve in the distance .

At 1.7 miles we could see where the Peters Kill crosses beneath the roadway. From 1.7 miles to 2.7 miles the trail continued to head northeast and downhill. There weren't too many more views as the trail dropped 480 feet in a mile. At 2.7 miles the trail turned south and down a steep hill to cross the Peters Kill on two bridges at 2.8 miles. This was the lowest point on the hike and we would have to do some climbing to get back to the car. I stopped to take some pictures of the Peters Kill but was disappointed that there was so little water. I didn't expect the levels to match the ones during the spring but I thought the recent rains would have contributed to the flow! After crossing the bridges we turned right or south to follow the yellow blazes along the stream. We began to encounter people sunning themselves and taking a dip in the water. I understand the attraction but their presence spoiled the opportunity to get some pictures in some spots. A group of young people cam down the trail and started to walk up the stream bed. They were loud but were obviously having a good time. I remembered from previous trips that the trail along the stream are not very distinct and do not parallel the Peters Kill all the way to where it crosses the road. At about 3.2 miles into the hike the yellow trail ended and another red trail started. The red trail immediately branched with the left fork heading for the Peters Kill parking area and park office. We stayed to the right to follow the bench of the trail that paralleled the stream. Occasionally we would walk out to the stream to take some pictures but the lack of water limited the opportunities. We even walked up the streambed for some distance as the water was so low. At 3,4 miles the red trail started off to the left and up to the parking area. We continued along the edge of the stream taking some pictures at one of the falls. Soon we came to Sheldon Falls. Sheldon Falls is a series of cascades and today there were several families and other groups sunning themselves on the rocks or wading in the cool water. I took some pictures of we are happy to would have been a falls if there had been sufficient water. We worked our way up the bank to a structure at the base of Sheldon Falls. It is the remains of an old COAL FIRED power plant that provided electricity for some of the now long forgotten boarding houses that dotted this area many years ago. A large pipe descends into the plant. Even though it has stood idle for many years, some of the machinery is still present and I took a few pictures before moving on. We followed one of the informal paths to a point where I could get a few pictures of Peters Kill Falls. Had the water level been higher I would have walked out to the falls but time was growing short. We followed a steep path up to the road and walked back toward the point where the stream crosses under the road.

We crossed the road and got on the Awosting Falls Carriageway. The closer we got to the falls the more people we encountered. At 4.5 miles we were at the falls which was a zoo! There were people lining the edges of the pool and a group from a camp hanging from the trees near the falls. One of the counselors was yelling at some children at the top of the falls to stay back from the edge. I could see two young women in bathing suits walking across the slippery rocks at the top of the falls. During all of this activity, there were no park personnel present to warn people of their stupidly dangerous behavior! I took some pictures of the falls trying to cut out the people as much as possible. There was very little water going over the falls so we quickly moved on. The walk to the top of the falls is steep but short and there were even more people coming down this path. We walked out to the park road and turned right and then left to follow the road to the Awosting parking area. The entrance to the park has been redone to allow cars to get into the park before they pay the fee. This keep scars from blocking route 55. We walked across the parking area and out to the road. We turned left and headed northwest and then north on the shoulder of the road for .9 miles back to the parking area. We arrived back at the cars at 1:30 PM walking 6.3 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes with about 45 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 1050 feet. We decided to eat at Gabby's, a Mexican restaurant, in Ellenville. The food was very good and I would recommend it highly

On Wednesday, July 19th, I planned to return to the Touch-Me-Not Trail from Big pond to Cabot Mountain to finish the trail clearing we had started on Saturday and Sunday. I had taken two days off to rest and recuperate and to tend to some work around the house. I had been using my son Karl's string dimmer but had grown frustrated with it in several ways. The bottom line was that it was not built to be used for the heavy-duty work I was doing clearing two foot tall nettles, briars and brush from the trails. I began to research string trimmers and found two highly recommended brand were Stihl and Husqvarna. Fortunately, there is a dealer in my area and I was convinced it would be worth the extra cost to buy from him to gain the expert advice. This dealer also maintains a top-notch repair shop which was a deciding factor. On Monday I headed over to his place of business and told him my problem. I needed a trimmer to stand up to the work I was doing but one that would not be too heavy to carry at least two miles along a trail. He recommended the Stihl FS 131 which is a professional grade trimmer with a straight shaft and a gearbox that would prevent vegetation from wrapping around the head and binding. The machine also has a 36cc 4-cycle engine which takes a 50:1 gas-oil mixture and handles 10 feet of .095 inch line on an upper and lower reel. The starting procedure is quick and reliable and it was a lot of power. The only drawback is that it is longer and heavier than the trimmers I have previously used. The dealer recommended a double harness which I bought. One of the employees spent time with me to walk me through all the procedures for using the trimmer. I walked away mostly satisfied but wondering if I had bought a little more trimmer than I needed. I was not enthusiastic about carrying the gas powered string trimmer almost two miles up and over Touch-Me-Not Mountain but it was the quickest way to get to the place where I wanted to start to trim. In the morning we got dressed to work and I got my old pack that I use for carrying equipment ready by adding some more gas to the container I carry. I also included a water bottle and a multitool as well as some extra line for the trimmer. As we were getting dressed Sheila wasn't far away making sure we could not get out of the house without her! We took the SUV since the new straight shaft trimmer take sup too much space in my sedan. We left Livingston Manor around 9:30 AM and drove north on Old Route 17 before turning right on the Beaverkill Road. We passed through Lew Beach and turned left on the Barkaboom Road just before Turnwood. I drove up the road less than a mile intending to park in the lot next to Big Pond. When we arrived there was only one car parked and I pulled into an empty space and parked at 9:50 AM. I got the trimmer ready making sure it would start. I put on the double harness for the trimmer and adjusted it to hold the trimmer a little high on my right side. I was able to put on my backpack over the harness with no problem. After hooking in the trimmer, we headed across the road to the beginning of the Touch-Me-Not Trail. My plan was to walk to the trail junction with the Campground Trail from Little Pond and then bear right to continue on the Touch-Me-Not Trail to a spot on Cabot Mountain where we had stopped clearing on Sunday. The walk went better than I expected and the harness allowed me to use one hand to keep the head elevated with most of the weight on the harness. As we walked along it was nice to admire our work from the previous days. We arrived at the trail junction and started down the other side of the mountain to the junction with the Little Pond Trail at about 1.6 miles. At this junction we continued straight ahead on the Touch-Me-Mot Trail toward Cabot Mountain. The trail here passes mostly through woods and there was little to trim.

After a little over an hour we came to the stretch of trail that I had cleared on nettles on Sunday. There were places I saw that I wanted to cut closer to the ground but I decided to save them for later. We push on to where the trail started to climb and were soon at the place where we had stopped clearing. I started the new trimmer without a problem and began cutting nettles, briars and brush. I was surprised at the power and ease-of-use of the new machine! Nothing seemed to slow it down except small saplings. The bump feed worked well and the difference between the ,095 inch line and the .080 line I had been using was obvious. It wasn't long before I reached a stand of small saplings and brush that I knew I could not cut with the trimmer. I called on Cindy and she came to cut out that section of the trail as well as some overhanging branches in different spots. I went to the next area of nettles and started cutting again. I was surprised there was still gas in the tank and line on the reel. I continued to cut as the trail began a steeper climb up the mountain. Eventually I came to a place where the trail began to get very steep and where no more nettles were visible. I knew there might be the need for some trimming farther up the trail but could not carry the trimmer up the very steep slope. I knew that I could start at the other end of the trail since the Beech Hill side is not as steep. I turned around and continued to trim some tings I had missed on the way up. When I got back to the patch of brush Cindy had trimmed I could see the trimmer was low on gas so I stopped it. I refueled the trimmer, got a drink and a bar. I asked Cindy for the clippers and spent 20 minutes cutting back some more brush and branches in spot. I returned to the trimmer and started it up again to trim some things I had missed on Sunday. I was careful to get the nettle stalks trimmed close to the ground and back from the edge of the trail. Just before entering the woods I cleared a few areas of light brush and then stopped the trimmer. We walked out to the junction with the Little Pond Trail and the continued straight ahead on the Touch-Me-Not Trail. Although we were climbing toward the junction with the Campground Trail, carrying the trimmer didn't seem too bad. I was also buoyed by the fact that we had finished the job after three tries! Soon we were at the top of the mountain and ready to start down the other side. Here and there I saw a few plants that could be trimmed but I didn't bother with them. We reached a spot where I had trimmed nettles on Saturday and I decided to break up the return trip by cutting them closer to the ground. I started the trimmer and was immediately ready to work. I cut for some time eliminating a few nettles near the trail and cutting any reaming stems very close to the ground. When I ran out of things to cut, I shut off the trimmer and we picked up the pace back to the car. We arrived back at the car just before 2:00 PM having spent just under4 hours on our trip. The temperature was in the high 70's and the predicted humidity had stayed away. I was tired but happy that I had proved I could carry the new trimmer a good distance and work with it efficiently. Now I suppose Cindy will want me to use it around the house! I am planning to hike from Beech Hill to Cabot soon to assess anything that needs to be cleared on the last section of the trail.

On Sunday, July 16th, I planned to return to the Touch-Me-Not Trail from Big pond to Cabot Mountain to finish the trail clearing we had started the day before. I was not enthusiastic about carrying the gas powered string trimmer over a mile up, Touch-Me-Not Mountain but jut was the quickest way to get to the place where I wanted to start to trim. After church, I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she agreed. There was no rain in the forecast so that was a plus. I did wonder if we would be able to get near Big Pond since there were well over thirty cars parked there the day before. When we arrived home, we ate a quick lunch and then got dressed to work. I got my old pack that I use for carrying as ready by adding some more gas to the container I carry. I also included a water bottle and a multitool as well as some extra line for the trimmer. As we were getting dressed Sheila wasn't far away making sure we could not get out of the house without her! After church we had gone all the way to Monticello to get the oil Ryobi suggested for the trimmer. I made sure I added the oil to the trimmer before putting it in the car. I was glad I did as it was nearly empty. We left Livingston Manor around 1:30 PM and drove north on Old Route 17 before turning right on the Beaverkill Road. We passed through Lew Beach and turned left on the Barkaboom Road just before Turnwood. I drove up the road less than a mile intending to park in the lot next to Big Pond. As we approached, I was anticipating a scene like the day before but we found only a few cars parked in the lot by the pond. I pulled into an empty space and parked at 1:50 PM. I got the trimmer ready making sure it would start and we headed across the road to the beginning of the Touch-Me-Not Trail. My plan was to walk to the trail junction with the Campground Trail from Little Pond where I would begin trimming. The walk went well although not as quickly as I had hoped due to the steep sections of the trail. It was nice to admire our work from the day before. We arrived at the trail junction at about 2:40 PM. I put the trimmer down, fueled it and started it up without a problem. Along the first part of the trail wasn't much to trim but soon we entered sections with briars and brush and then nettles. I took care of the smaller instruction while Cindy used her clippers to remove larger branches. When the trimmer ran out of line, I quickly reaped it and added some gas to the tank. At one point a father approached us from the trail junction with his young daughter. They had started at Little Pond and climbed the Campground Trail. They were now looking for the Little Pond Trail to return to the campsites. We talked to them and made sure they knew the route and that there was a nice lookout on the trail. It is only half a mile between the two trail junctions but it seemed much longer with some sections that needed no trimming and others that took some time to clear. I also noticed that the trail was all downhill losing about 270 feet. I knew that later I would have to climb this section of trail to get back to the car! Soon we were at the trail junction and I continued straight ahead on the Touch-Me-Not Trail.

There wasn't much to trim so I shut off the engine to get a drink and then carry it to the beginning of what I knew would be a big stand of nettles. When I explained the plan to Cindy, she seemed to hesitate and I was not sure what she was going to do. I knew I wanted to try to finish the work so Sheila and I continued on the trail. As the trail passed through the trees there wasn't much to cut and we made good time. When we broke out into the sunlight I looked ahead and saw an incredible sea of nettles! I also saw three hikers coming toward me. The two men a one woman were members of the FLTC and were hiking the trail as part of the Finger Lakes Trail. The woman is the End-to-End coordinator for the FLTC. We spoke briefly and they confirmed the nettles went on for some distance. They asked if they could take a picture and I agreed. They were surprised when Sheila sat down and posed for the shot. I got the trimmer ready and called several times to see if Cindy was coming. I got no answer so I started the trimmer and began to work. The nettles were very plentiful and very high. As I cut they wound around the trimmer head and I had to stop to clear it. I noticed that the head was hot as was the engine. This was not surprising as I had been cutting almost continuously for and hour and a half. Sheila alerted and I saw that Cindy had finally caught up with us. I tried to remove the trimmer head but it would not budge so I decided to continue as best I could. I explained to Cindy that I wanted to finish clearing the nettles. She pointed out that it was almost 5:00 PM. I started the trimmer and continued trimming as the trail began to climb up Cabot Mountain. Every time I would turn a corner there were more nettles to cut along with other weeds and brush. Eventually I stopped the trimmer and walked up the trail to scout how much more there was to cut. There were still a lot of nettles and they extended farther than I could see. There was also a small stand of brush that was encroaching on the trail and I knew it was more than the trimmer could handle. I really did not want to return for a third trip but knew I had no choice if I wanted to get the job done right. I walked back to the trimmer picked it up and started back on the trail at around 4:55 PM. The feeling of accomplishment I felt was mixed with the knowledge that I would have to come back and that there was quite a bit of work left to do. Once we hit the junction with the Little Pond Trail, we began the half mile climb up to the junction with the Campground Trail. Half a mile and a 270 foot gain in elevation would normally be easy but carrying the trimmer made it much more difficult. We came to the trail junction and turned left to stay on the Touch-Me-Not Trail back to Big Pond. Since the trail was downhill all the way, we were able to keep a pretty good pace. I slowed down a couple times for a brief rest and to pick my way through the muddiest and slipperiest places. We were back at the car at 5:55 PM after spending 4 hours walking and working. When we got home, I enlisted the help of my neighbor to see if we could loosen the reel on the trimmer. We eventually had to break off the knob and remove the bolt to get the reel off. The head would not come off but I had enough parts to put together a complete working head. My neighbor said he had the same problem with the Ryobi he had and with other string trimmers. They are designed with plastic parts which easily overheat when used for hard work. I will return one more time this week to, hopefully, finish the job!

On Saturday, July 15th, I planned to hike to do some more trail clearing from Big Pond to the slopes of Cabot Mountain. The last time I had hiked the route there were too many nettles to easily pass through the trail after about .7 miles where the ascent begins to get steep. Cindy decided to go with me which I appreciated as I would be working with the gas powered string trimmer. I got my old pack that I use for carrying as ready by adding some more gas to the container I carry. I also included a water bottle and a multitool as well as some extra line for the trimmer. As we were getting dressed Sheila wasn't far away making sure we could not get out of the house without her! I was concerned that it might rain but did not feel like taking a jacket. I left Livingston Manor just before 10:00 AM and drove north on Old Route 17 before turning right on the Beaverkill Road. I passed through Lew Beach and turned left on the Barkaboom Road just before Turnwood. I drove up the road less than a mile intending to park in the lot next to Big Pond. As we approached, we found cars parked on both sides of the road and I wondered if I would find a parking spot. As luck would have it, someone pulled out of the lot and I pulled in. I go the trimmer ready making sure it would start and we headed across the road to the beginning of the Touch-Me-Not Trail. My pan was to trim all the way to the top of the mountain and then continue on the trail to the junction with the Little Pond Trail. I would decide then if I had enough energy to trim up the side of Cabot Mountain. I intended to return on the Little Pond trail to Little Pond. I would leave the trimmer at Little Pond and walked the road back to the car. I could then return to Little Pond to get the trimmer. I wanted to avoid retuning on the Touch Me not trail as it requires reclimbing the mountain and then descending the slippery, steep trail to Big Pond. As we started out there were some ferns on the trail but I decided to hold off on starting to use the trimmer until the worst sections further up the trail. Cindy let Sheila go and she stayed near us with a few forays off trail to follow her nose. After a little more than half a mile, some nettles began to pop up so I started the trimmer and began to cut. There were some pretty thick places starting closer to the trailhead than I remembered. Soon we came to the first steep little incline which was also very muddy and slippery. At this point the trimmer stopped cutting so I turned it off and found that I had run out of line. I took time to remove the vegetation that had wrapped around the spool and then reloaded the line. Loading the line went quickly. I filled the gas tank and put my pack back on and started the trimmer. There was a small strength of trail that did not need much trimming and then the nettles began in earnest at about .7 miles. Just as I began to cut I saw two people coming toward me. I stepped off the side of the trail and Cindy Grabbed Sheila to allow the hikers to pass. One was wearing shorts and I resisted the temptation to ask him about his choice. I started cutting again along the section of trail that was thick with nettles on both sides. In some places the nettles had completely overgrown the trail and I had to slow down to allow the trimmer to cut the heavy vegetation. Once again I found that being pelted by pieces of nettle was an uncomfortable experience. The trail began to gain elevation and I found cutting and climbing to be challenging. As I was cutting I looked up to find a lone woman hiking toward us. Cindy grabbed Sheila and I moved over to let her pass. This hiker thanked us for our work. I thanked her and advised her to take a look at the nettles she would avoid! As we started to get near the top of the mountain the vegetation changed from nettles to briars. The trimmer handled these well along with some other plants along the trail. The amount of briars was nothing compared to two years ago when I needed the power scythe to cut through the almost impenetrable patch. This is why I like to cut the trail at least four feet wide since it seem to last for a season and discourage growth the next year. The briars didn't last long and we were soon at the highest point on the trail. I stopped the trimmer and replaced the line and added gas to the tank. I continued to cut some ferns and brush while Cindy used loppers to cut some branches. I cut all the way to the junction with the Campground Trail and cut out the intersection. It was 12:30 PM. For the entire time the skies had grown dark and threatened rain and then the sun came out. This was repeated several times and the skies were dark again. I did not want to get wet but I also did not want to lug the trimmer up the mountain again on another day. Cindy wanted to return and I have learned it is easier to do what she wants. We turned around and started back down the trail. I was unhappy as I knew I would have to spend another day carrying around the trimmer to cut the rest of the trail! I did get to look at the work I had done which was good in most places. There were a few places where I stopped and used the trimmer to cut a few patches I had missed. As we got to the lower part of the trail, I used the trimmer to cut back some ferns and other brush which were encroaching on the trail. I continued to do this all the way to the road. We were back at the car around 1:30 PM. There were now even more cars parked at Big Pond. The skies which had been dark were now bright and sunny which made me regret the decision to turn around even more. We had hike about 2.3 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes> The hike up the mountain took 2 hours and 15 minutes but the walk back was only 1 hour. Of course, there was a lot of time taken to cut and trim the trail. I decided to return the next afternoon to complete the job.

On Friday, July 14th my grandson Bryce was again at our house. Bryce is extremely intelligent and can carry one conversations about many topics. He is also energetic and athletic and likes to hike. We did some work around the house and played some games. After lunch I asked Bryce if he would like to go across the street for a hike on Round Top and he readily agreed. Just before 1:00 PM Bryce and I crossed the street with Sheila on her leash and walked to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. As soon as we entered the trees I released Sheila from her leash. At the first trail junction we turned right to walk the more gentle trail following the yellow blazes. At the sharp left turn at the top of the trail we turned left to follow the lower trail as it skirted the base of Round Top. Where the trail turned left again, we turned right on the blue blazed upper trail which leads to the summit of Round Top. The trail is steeper than the lower loop but Bryce had no problem walking up the hill to the summit. We continued over the top and down the other side with Bryce picking up branches and removing them from the trail. At the bottom of the hill we turned right on the yellow trail and retraced our route back to the next sharp left turn. This time we turned left and followed the lower trail downhill toward the viewpoint. After discovering the vandalism here last week, I have been holding my breath as I approach the lookout. Fortunately, there were no more trees cut down and we continued to follow the trail down the hill to the first trail junction. Bryce wanted to go home but I encouraged him to do another figure 8 in the opposite direction. I must have been persuasive as we turned around and headed back up to the viewpoint. We followed the trail to the right and uphill to the beginning of the blue trail. We turned right to stay on the lower trail until we got to the other end of the blue trail. Here we turned left and started up over Round Top in the opposite direction. Bryce sometimes seems surprised at our location and how the trails fit together! We hike up the hill with Bryce leading the way by a large margin. We walked across the summit and down the other side. Bryce can hike uphill with no problem but loves to almost run down the hills. When we got to the lower trail Bryce was in the lead and turned right which was the wrong way. I turned left and quickened my pace to see how long it would take him to realize his mistake. It did not take along until he came running after me in hot pursuit. I started to jog and then for run staying ahead of Bryce but only barely. He caught up where the yellow trail turns down the hill to the woods road. We walked together down the trail to the woods road that leads back to the first trail junction. Along the way Sheila decided to go crazy running down the trail at top speed and then back toward us. Bryce thought this was very funny. At the first trail junction we turned left and walked out to the trailhead. I out Sheila on her leash and we walked down the cemetery hill and across the field by the church to our driveway. I think Bryce will soon be ready for his first 3500 foot peak!

On Wednesday, July 12th, I had planned to hike to do some more trail clearing on the slopes of Cabot Mountain. The last time I had hiked the route there was some brush on the ascent from Little Pond but I did not have my machete to clear it. I got my pack and tools together including my small Silky saw and my machete. As I was getting dressed Sheila wasn't far away making sure I could not get out of the house without her! I was concerned that it might rain but did not feel like taking a jacket. I left Livingston Manor just after 8:30 AM and drove north on Old Route 17 before turning right on the Beaverkill Road. Work crews were still ditching and cutting trees on the Beaverkill Road but is was not delayed. I passed through Lew Beach and turned left on the Barkaboom Road just before Turnwood. I drove up the road less than a mile and parked at Big Pond around 9:00 AM. As soon as I got out of the car I felt the heat and humidity and found my glasses fogging. I thought about putting on some insect repellant but decided to hold off until it was really needed. I set my electronics and we walked across the road to begin our hike just after 9:00 AM. The first part of the trail is a little steep but I stopped to pick up some branches and throw them off the trail. There were some ferns encroaching on the trail but I felt they did no harm and left them alone. I did notice that the trail was very wet and the tree leaves were covered in water. Just passed the trail register was a tree leaning across the trail. I had identified this and several others to be cut with a chainsaw last year but the promised help never materialized. The tree doesn't really block the trail but I worry that some day it has to come down. We continued to walk up the trail with me stopping to pick up some branches lying in the trail. I identified some branches that needed to be trimmed back but thought I would wait until the return trip. I began to encounter some nettles but they were easy to pass. As I began to start the climb up Touch-Me-Not Mountain, I found one newly fallen tree across the trail. The main trunk was on the ground but a large branch arched up to block the trail. I stopped, got out my Silky saw and quickly dispatched the branch and dragged it off the trail. We continued on the trail through several muddy areas which were very slippery. Several times it began to rain but each showers lasted only minutes. The further I walled along the trail, the more nettles I found until they were completely overgrowing the trail. It became clear to me that I would need to come back with the string trimmer to remove the nettles and, most likely, the briars further along on the trail. At this point it did not make sense to push through to cut the small patch of brush on Cabot Mountain so I decided to turn around a little less then a mile along the trail. On the way back I got out my machete and cut back the branches that were on the trail or near the trail. Most branches were easily cut but some required a little extra effort. Every time I cut a branch the water on the leaves fell on me like a rain shower. On the way back I finished cutting the one tree trunk I had left on the trail. I used the saw to make two cuts and dragged the pieces off the trail. There is still a large trunk left on the trail but it is split into two pieces and does not block the trail. I continued down the trail cutting branches as I walked. By the time we were back at the car at 10:45 AM I was very wet and my pack was soaked on the outside. The forecast for Thursday and Friday does not look promising so I may try trimming with the string trimmer on Saturday.

On Tuesday, July 11th Lisa contacted me to hike Round Top to inspect the damage done by some vandals. I told her that Bryce was coming to our house and she agreed to wait for him to hike. Bryce arrived just after 9:00 AM and we agreed to meet at 9:30 AM to hike. Just before 9:30 AM Bryce and I crossed the street with Sheila on her leash to meet Lisa in the church parking lot. I had decided not to bring my pack as I did not want to carry the extra weight and wanted to have the "freedom" from taking pictures. After a few minutes we began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. As soon as we entered the trees I released Sheila from her leash. At the first trail junction we continued straight ahead to the lookout. I was relieved to find there was no more damage to the trees there. I showed Lisa the stumps I had cut off and the material I had removed from the viewpoint. We continued our hike by following the yellow blazes to the right and slightly uphill until we came to the sharp right turn. We continued to follow the yellow trail around the base of Round Top to the next right turn. At this point we turned left to follow the blue blazes on the trail over the summit. Bryce didn't seem to have any trouble getting up the hill! We walked across the summit and started down the other side. The trails were very clean with almost no new branches on them. Bryce seemed to almost run down the hill being unable to restrain himself. At the end of the blue trail we turned left on the yellow trail and walked around to the sharp right turn. This time we turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road that took us back to the first trail junction. At the trail junction I was ready to do another figure 8 but Bryce did not seem interested. I decided not to press him so we turned left and walked back out to the trailhead. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked down the hill to the church. We said goodbye to Lisa and walked across the field to our driveway.

On Monday, July 10th I had planned to hike Table and Peekamoose from the Denning trailhead. A busy evening of ambulance calls left me tired and I slept later than normal. By the time I got up my initial thought was that it was too late to go but I decided to try as there was rain in the forecast for the rest of the week. I got dressed which signaled to Sheila that we were going on a hike! I made sure I included two water bottles as I knew the hike was over 8 miles with plenty of climbing which I had not done in some time. When Sheila and I left Livingston Manor at around 10:20 AM the air temperature was in the high 60's and the forecast was for highs in the mid 70's. It was a little humid but I was happy about the moderate temperatures. I drove out DeBruce Road to Rt 47 and turned right to go toward Claryville. I turned left onto the Claryville Road and continued toward the Denning trailhead. The road became dirt at one point but was in generally good shape. The drive was longer than I remembered and we arrived in the parking area at 10:50 AM. There were several cars already parked as I set my electronics and got ready to hike. A pickup truck pulled up and parked and the driver got out to take pictures of the house at the end of the road which has interesting architecture. We left the trailhead at 10:55 AM and headed out the Phoenicia-East Branch Trail which is also the eastern end of the Finger Lakes Trail. It was hard to tell how many people were ahead of us. The trail was drier in most places than I had anticipated with only a few wet spots. Some of the small streams that are usually running were dried up. As we hiked Sheila alerted and I looked up to see a group of young men approaching. The were divided into several sections so I pulled Sheila to the side of the trail and waited until they all had passed. Most said "Hello" which was nice. As we approached the junction with the Table-Peekamoose Trail, we caught up to a solo make hiker some years older than I. I made a little noise to make sure we don't surprise him as we passed. He continued on the Phoenicia-East Branch Trail and we turned right at 1.2 miles to descend toward the river. The trails are getting more eroded which means the rocks are even more prominent. Soon we were near the river crossing a small stream. The bridge across the Neversink was in good shape and beginning to look a little old. We crossed and put down my pack and got out the camera. I took some pictures of the bridge and of Sheila playing in the river. I grabbed my pack and we walked to the next bridge to cross another small stream. This bridge consist of two logs and a cable as a guide. It is usually very icy in the winter which makes it difficult to cross. Once we were on the other side I took a few shots before continuing on. I could see a tent set up along the river which is not a designated campsite. We passed the beginning of the informal path along the river called the Fisherman's Path. We passed another designated campsite and at 1.7 miles began our climb by negotiating a very rocky area.

Some parts of the trail looked familiar and other parts did not. I will admit that the climb was longer and harder than I remembered. We had headed south from the river until at 2.25 miles we descended some and the trail turned east. I despise walking downhill when I know there is so much uphill ahead. Along the way we met a man and his Portuguese water dog headed toward us. He pulled his dog over and I put Sheila on her leash to pass them. The dogs seemed to want to meet so we allowed them a quick sniff and then headed in opposite directions. A breeze was blowing most of the time but it still seemed hot ands I was sweating to prove it. I remembered that I need to drink and stopped several times to get a drink and give Sheila one also. I knew there was a spring near the lean-to but I did not know how reliable it might be. At 2.8 miles an informal path led to the right to a viewpoint and we walked out to it. The views were good and unobstructed but the day was hazy. I took pictures anyway and got us a drink before returning to the main path. We had been climbing constantly with a few flatter areas where I could catch my breath before the next ascent. At 3.o miles ether was another short descent and then we were climbing again. At 3.45 miles there was a trail on the left with a sign that said "Spring" so we walked over to the water source. There was a pipe driven into the side of the hill with a trickle of water coming out. I had emptied one water bottle so I filled it from the spring. The water seemed very cold but I toted it with my Steripen before putting the bottle back in the pack. While the Steripen was working, I took a few shots of the spring. Back on the main trail we almost immediately passed the sign for the lean-to on the right. We had been averaging a 20% grade on the climbs but the last .4 miles was 23% and it was tiring me out. I had pretty much ruled out Peekamoose at this point. We finally made it to the top of the climb and walked along the trail toward the point that I considered the summit. The Name Table is a good description of the top of the mountain! As we approached that point, I saw that there were three hikers sitting and enjoying a snack. I put Sheila on her leash and passed them with a greeting. I decided to walk a little farther to see If I could find a lookout to the north. As we walked I began to feel better and decided than Peekamoose was less than a mile away with a minimal drop between the peaks. There was a lot of damage from wind at the top of the mountain in several different places. I did find a path off to the left but was now fixed on the trip to Peekamoose.

At 4.15 miles we began the steep descent into the col between the two peaks which lasted for about a quarter mile. We had been traveling southeast of east for some time but at this point the trailed turned south on the way to Peekamoose. There was a short, flat spot at the bottom and then we started to climb again. The climb up Peekamoose was about as steep as the descent from table but it lasted only about a quarter mile until the trail began to level. Soon we were at the large rock that I have always taken to be the summit but I wanted to walk passed that point until the trail began to descend. In a few minutes I was satisfied that we had hit the high point and turned around. I noticed a path that appeared to go to viewpoint on the east side of the trail. We walked out to it and there were some nice views but, again, it was hazy. I took some pictures and then we walked back to the big rock. Sheila immediately climbed to the top of the rock so I took some shots of her. She got down and posed in front of the rock so I took some more pictures. It was 2:00 PM and we had already hiked 4.7 miles when we turned around to start back. The descent of Peekamoose went quickly but the ascent to Table took a little longer. The walk across the almost flat top of Table in only ,3 miles but it seemed to take forever until we reached the descent. Just as we began to descend at 5.55 miles I saw a path to the left and decided to follow it. It led to another nice viewpoint to the west and I decided to take a few pictures despite the haze. When I was finished, we walked back to the main trail and started the steep descent which did not go as quickly as I had hoped. Walking downhill on steep terrain with rocks and loose gravel requires some care and I slipped a few times. I check the time and aimed at keeping 2 mph as my speed. After an hour I checked my watch and found we had only gone 1.8 miles! We continued to descend and at 6.25 miles and 6.95 miles we hit some small ascents. These should not have been a problem but I was pretty tired at this point. As we continued down, Sheila and I both began to hear voices ahead. It took a little time but we soon could see the three people we had met at the summit of Table working their way down the trail. We were moving faster and soon caught up to them and they let us pass through. I slowed a little and asked where they were from and they said Eldred and Callicoon. I expressed my surprise because the answer is most often New Jersey or New York City!

One of the women quickened her pace and stayed with me as we separated from her friends. We began to talk and she told me that she and the other woman were training to hike Kilimanjaro, a 19341 foot peak in Kenya, in October. We talked about her trip and topics related to hiking at higher altitudes. Soon I noticed we had passed through the rocky area of the descent and were nearing the river. She decided to wait for her companions and we parted company. I was very grateful for the company as it made the final part of the descent pass by much faster. Sheila had been good the whole way off her leash apparently accepting the other woman as part of her pack. I continued to walk toward the river passing some campsites and the beginning of the Fisherman's Path. I noticed that my lower back was starting to hurt and I wasn't sure if I had twisted it during a slip or whether this was just a more challenging hike than I had done in some time. We crossed both bridges with Sheila taking time to cool off in the water and get a drink. The short ascent to the Phoenicia-East Branch trail left my back hurting a little more. We turned left at the top of the ascent to begin the final 1.3 mile trek back to the car. While this part of the trail is downhill most of the way there area a few small uphill that I did not appreciate. Sheila decided to jump into one more stream and came out with her legs and belly covered in black mud! I explained to her that this had not been a good idea and stopped at a small stream to try to wash off some of the mud. At about 4:40 PM I could finally see the gate at the end of the trail ahead and new it would only be a few more minutes until we were done. Sitting by the gate and in the parking lot were the boys I had met much earlier n the hike. They told me they were from a wilderness camp and were waiting for their bus. There wasn't much I could do but I wondered if the bus would find them. There is no cell service at the trailhead and it is very isolated. We walked back to the car arriving at 4:55 PM after hiking almost exactly 6 hours and covering 9.4 miles with a 2745 foot elevation gain! I felt every one of those miles and was disappointed that our moving speed was 1.8 mph. This was definitely the most difficult hike I had done in some time but also the most satisfying.

On Sunday, July 9th I wanted to go somewhere to hike after church as the weather was so nice. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and she said "yes". I planned to take her to Andes to hike the Rail trail and the Bullet Hole Spur Trail. Cindy had not been on this hike before and I thought she might enjoy it. After we finished in Andes, I thought we would stop by the Pepacton Reservoir and hike the Shavertown Trail to the pond. When we got home from church, we changed clothes, got a quick bite to eat and put all our gear in the car. Sheila jumped in the back seat and we left Livingston Manor just after 12:30 PM for the drive to Andes. Sheila acted as if we hadn't hiked in a week although we been out only two days ago! I decided to take Route 17 to Roscoe and then Route 206 to the Pepacton Reservoir. At the intersection with Route 30, I turned right to head for the bridge at Dunraven. I crossed the Pepacton Reservoir on the bridge and at the end of the bridge I turned left on Tremperskill Road and followed it into Andes. I turned left and drove less than a quarter mile to the sign that said "Andes Rail Trail" on the left. There wasn't really a parking area and I questioned whether or not I should park in front of the gate. In the end I did park trying to leave enough for someone to get through the gate if they needed to do so. We started our hike at 1:30 PM as I walked Sheila through the gate on her leash. Ahead of us was the Andes Depot which was rather modern looking. It was donated by the Decker family and may be on the site of the original depot but has been completely refurbished. A kiosk near the depot explained a little about the rail trail which follows the railroad bed of the Delaware and Northern Railroad. Someone is doing some work on the depot and seems to be matching the style that is already there. As we walked I noticed it was already hot and humid especially when we were not beneath the trees. Shortly after the depot, we came to a wooden walkway that spanned the only really wet spot on the trail. A couple was walking toward us and he said "hello". They were the only people we would meet. A little after that we broke out into the open to a nice view down the Tremperskill. At this point there was a "high road" and a "low road" with the suggestion that we use the high road when the main trail was muddy. This occurred several other places along the trail. We stopped so that I could take a few pictures before continuing on the main trail. I had been keeping Sheila on her leash but I had seen no other hikers and we were some distance from town so I released her. We hiked under the trees for a short time and then broke out into the open to another nice view and an interpretive sign. The sign explained that the foundation was the remains of the Andes turntable that was used to turn engines around. No pictures exist of the original structure but it was called an "Armstrong turntable" since the engineer and fireman had to use their "strong arms" to pivot the engine! I took a few shot before we continued.

We entered the woods again and crossed a small bridge. I began to notice the regular "bumps" on the trail which signs said were the railroad ties which had not been removed. I wondered about his until I saw a couple of exposed ties! Another interpretive sign explained that there had been two trestles on the rail line in the area. Both had been featured in movies from the early 20th century! After walking a little farther, we came to the end of the flat rail trail and the beginning of the Bullet Hole Spur Trail. We continued on the trail which immediately began to climb and I knew the easy walking was behind us. This part of the trail needed some work in cutting back briars and removing branches. We had been headed south but now a major switchback took us north before heading south again and always climbing. The trail passed through some hardwoods and then entered a hemlock forest as it climbed to the shoulder of Hemlock Knoll. There were some interesting rock formations along the way and I stopped to take a few pictures. Sheila climbed onto the largest glacial erratic and I took a few pictures of her on gaud duty. We began the descent of Hemlock Knoll and entered a area covered in ferns which Cindy thought was particularly beautiful. We continued until we came to a stone wall. A break in the wall signaled a place to get view of the surrounding hills which was very pretty. I took some pictures and then we passed over the stone wall where it had been turned into steps and came to the loop at the end of the Bullet Hole Spur Trail. Since I had continued straight ahead to last time we turned right to do the loop in a counterclockwise direction. We walked downhill on a trail which eventually joined a woods road that paralleled the Tremperskill. I wanted to walk down to the stream but there was private property between the trail and the streambed. The loop was only half a mile long so we were soon back at the point where it started after walking through a red pine plantation. The return trip was now and out and back so we stepped up our pace. This part of the trail was much hillier than I remembered and the climb up Hemlock Knoll was taxing. The return trip seemed to go very quickly and we did not meet any more people on our way to the flat part of the rail trail. We arrived back at the car at 3:15 PM covering 3.7 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes with an elevation gain of 700 feet. After getting a drink and sitting in the air conditioned car, I decided I felt fresh enough to hike the Shavertown Trail. However, Cindy said she was too tired to hike any more. I was disappointed as I do not like to change plans but knew that meant I could plan a longer hike for Monday!

On Friday, July 7th I had not planned to hike at all after several strenuous days clearing the Big Pond to Alder Lake Trail. As the afternoon rolled around, I realized that it was a beautiful day and I was encouraged by Sheila to go for a hike. I decided to head across the street to Round Top since it was close and I had not been there to inspect the trails in over a week. I got dressed, grabbed my poles and put Sheila on her leash to walk down the driveway and cross the street at just after 3:00 PM. I had decided not to bring my pack as I did not want to carry the extra weight and wanted to have the "freedom" from taking pictures. We walked across the field to the back of the church to begin the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. As soon as we entered the trees I released Sheila from her leash. At the first trail junction Sheila chose the trail to the right which is the less strenuous climb. At the sharp left turn at the top of the hill we turned left and followed the yellow blazed lower trail as it skirted Round Top. When the trail turned left again, we turned right and started up the hill to the summit of Round Top on the new blue blazed upper trail. The trails and only a few new sticks on them which I picked up as we walked. Sheila feels comfortable on these trails and ranges a little too far for my comfort. We followed the trail across the summit and down the other side. There were a few places where some lopping was needed and several where the string trimmer might be sued to cut the ferns and grass. When we came down to the yellow trail, we turned right and followed the trails around to the sharp left turn. This time we turned left and walked downhill through the ferns toward the lookout. As we approached the viewpoint something looked amiss to me. On closer inspection there were8 or 9 trees that had been cut down! Whoever cut them used something like a hatchet since it was obvious many strikes were needed to cut the trees. Most were small but there was one cherry tree that was at least 8 inches in diameter. The trees had been left where they fell and there was evidence of a small fire on the viewpoint. I was appalled that someone would vandalize a public forest and trail system in this way. Several possibilities went through my mind. W walked down the hill to the first trail junction and out to the trailhead. I had intended to do several more loops but I knew my first priority was to report this act. At the trailhead we turned right and walked down the hill to the church and across the field to our driveway. I put Sheila in the house and called the town supervisor to make my report. He seemed disgusted that someone would spoil a public attraction for no apparent reason. I promised him I would clean up the mess on Saturday.

The more I though about the situation the more I knew I wanted to clean it up immediately. I got my pack with my small Silky saw and machete. I also grabbed my Council Tools felling axe and my bigger KatanaBoy Silky saw. I put Sheila in the backseat and my tools in the trunk and drove across the road to the top of the cemetery. I parked there, let Sheila out of the back seat and retried my tools from the trunk. We headed up the trail directly to the lookout. I leashed Sheila to a tree and put my tools down. Just before I started, I realized I had not brought a camera and pictures would have been nice. As usual I surveyed the job and formed a plan. I would cut and drag away the trees closest to the edge of the clearing. As I did this I made sure to drag the first trees far back into the woods so that I would have room for all of them. Some were small enough that I could just drag them away whole while others needed one or more cuts. The work was going faster than I expected but I was saving the biggest trees for last. The last tree I cut was a cherry tree with a diameter of about 8 inches at the base. For this one I used the felling axe. I am used to the Fiskars axe and was surprised that the Council Tools Velvicut, although much heavier, did not cut much better than the Fiskars. Once the cut was made I carried away the butt end of the tree which was almost heavier than I could handle. I used a saw to make another cut so that I could remove another piece of the trunk. Now that all the trees were cut up and dragged away, I turned my attention to the jagged stumps left behind. I grabbed the KatanaBoy and sawed all the stumps off at ground level and threw the pieces onto the brush piles. I looked at my watch and found it had taken about an hour to do the work. I will be making more frequent trips to the trails but it doesn't take someone very long to do this kind of damage. I hope the report to the State Police and Sheriff's Department will help find the culprits or at least dissuade then from doing any more damage. I also let several people, around town know what happened and asked them to let me know if they hear anything.

On Thursday, July 6th I headed to Frick Pond after working for an hour and a half at Big Pond Trimming the trail toward Alder Lake. My plan was to hike up the Flynn Trail and clear a tree from the trail about a mile up. I would then walk down the Big Rock Trail and inspect the large blowdown that had been partly cleared by the snowmobile club with a chainsaw. I would pick up sticks and branches along the way and clear any other blowdown that I found. At Times Square I would decided whether to turn right on the Logger's Loop or continue straight ahead on the Big Rock Trail back to the Quick Lake Trail and the parking area. From Livingston Manor I drove out the DeBruce Road and up the Mongaup Pond Road. I stayed left at the Y in the road and drove up the Beech Mountain Road to the small parking area at the Frick Pond. We arrived at the trailhead parking area at 12:05 PM and got ready to hike. As I was getting ready I noticed two deer that had been near the edge of the parking area were walking into the woods. Sheila spotted them but I cautioned her to leave them alone. There were no other cars in the lot as we headed across the road to start up the Flynn Trail. The trail was clean all the way to the woods road where we turned right and started up the hill. My regular pack is a lot heavier than the gasoline pack I had been carrying but it was a pleasure not to be lugging the string trimmer. I did have my Fiskars axe, machete and Silky saw. The grass on the trail was not as high as it had been and looked as if it had been cut. I reached down to pick up and handful and it still seemed rooted so its condition was a mystery. We found a blowdown on the trail just passed the path that leads to a large clearing on the right. The blowdown was not a tree but a large branch that had fallen. I took some "before" pictures and then went over to see what I was going to do. I got my Silky saw and began to cut off a few branches and throw them to the side of the trail. It is always easier to make these cuts and drag some branches out of the way rather than move pieces that are too large. I continue to cut and drag until only the large main part of the branch was left. I decided to try to move it off the trail in one piece rather than to make another cut. Fortunately it was just within my limit to lift and I was able to lift and pivot and roll it off the trail. The whole operation had taken around 15 minutes. I took my "after" shots and then put my pack back together and headed on up the trail toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail.

After hiking 1.7 miles, we reached the junction with the Big Rock Trail and turned left to walk downhill toward Times Square. I picked up a few sticks along the way but the trail was pretty clean. Walking downhill was a pleasure as there was a slight breeze and the temperature was in the mid 70's. At one point I noticed Sheila was sniffing at something in the middle of the trail. I called her off and walked up to see she had found a bird's nest! It looked like it belonged there as it was well positioned with four eggs in the nest. The eggs were large than a robin's and were white with sprinkles of red. I was able to get some good pictures before continuing on down the trail. The Big Rock Trail has several "steps" in it which look very much the same and sometimes fool me into thinking I am after along than I am. As we neared the final descent to Times Square, we came to the very large tree that had blocked the trail. The tree was at least 2 feet in diameter and had been cut four places by the snowmobilers. They had left the chunks of wood near the trail and had not cleared some branches that were near the trail. I took some "before" shots and then got to work. I was able to roll the sections of trunk they had cut off the trail. I decided I wanted to hit something with my axe and the largest branch still protruding from the trunk fit the bill. The branch was at an odd angle so I did my best to cut through it. I cut from the ground on one side but had to stand on the trunk to cut from the other. It took me longer than expected but I got through it. I used the saw to strip of branches and throw them well off the trail. Once I had the main branch stripped I was able to rotate it off the trail as well. Knowing I could not cut through the main trunk I settled for what I had done. I took some more pictures and then walked down to Times Square. I decided to continue straight ahead on the Big Rock Trail. I negotiated the muddy areas around the trail junction but it was drier than I had expected. We continued around the head end of Frick Pond where there were some very deep muddy spots. Hikers had effectively rerouted the trail around these spots. Sheila ran ahead to the first bridge and dove into the water. From that point on she was racing ahead and the running back toward me as she often does after a swim. I understood she wanted to cool off but the water she chose had a certain odor! We walked out the Big Rock Trail crossing the wooden causeways. At the Quick Lake Trail we trend left to head toward the bridge at the outlet end of the pond. I walked across the bridge and got my camera out to take some pictures. I was surprised to see that the center of the beaver dam seemed "thinner" than last time and was filled with knew cuttings. There were two piles of stick on either side and it looked as if someone had tried to remove the dam! I like Frick Pond as a pond and I hope that the DEC has not decided to get rid of the beavers. I put the camera back in the pack and we headed out the Quick Lake Trail toward the parking area. The trail was only wet in a few places and we made good time. We were back at the car at 2"05 PM. I put my gear in the car and looked up to see two deer standing in the trees just off the parking area. I put Sheila in the car and slammed the door but the deer did not move. I got out my camera and took some pictures before getting in the car to drive home. We had spent about 2 hours hiking 4 miles and stopping several times to do trail work.

On Thursday, July 6th I wanted to return to the Big Pond to cut the nettles and weeds about a half mile in on the trail to Alder Lake. Sheila was happy to be going and jumped into the back seat of my car. We left Livingston Manor at about 9:30 AM and drove out Old Rt 17 to the Beaverkill Road where we turned right. At the intersection with the Barkaboom Road we stayed to the left on Barkaboom Road until we came to the right turn into the upper parking area for Big Pond. As we drove up the access road, I could see that there was only one car parked in the lot so I pulled in next to it and got my gear ready. I got the pack with new gasoline container in ready by putting in a water bottle, my multitool and some new trimmer line. We walked over to the trailhead at 10:00 Am and started hiking through the field I had cut toward Alder Lake. We walked through some ferns and grass that I thought I might cut later. As we headed up the hill there were some more ferns to cut but I wanted to make sure I cut all the nettles up ahead. Soon the trail leveled a little and turned almost south. Pretty soon I could see a stretch of nettles up ahead that was longer than I had remembered. I put the trimmer down and started it right up. I began to cut the nettles, ferns and other weeds along the way making sure to cut them back from the trail so that as they grew back the trail would still be clear. At one point the trimmer stopped cutting so I stopped the engine and saw there was no more line. I et the trimmer down and got out a new length of line and crossed my fingers. I tried to insert the line from one side of the spool and it would not go in. When I tried from the other side, it slid in easily and I pulled it half way through. I twisted the reel as instructed and it wasn't long before all the line was on the reel. I started the trimmer up again and it cut perfectly and fed out more line when I bumped it. I continued uphill slightly cutting as I went. In total I cut a little over 500 feet on both sides of the trail until it made a sharp left turn. I knew that I had not seen anything that needed cutting beyond that. I left the trimmer on as I headed back down the trail to pick up a few areas I had missed. As we started down the hill, I turns the trimmer off but started it again as we encountered ferns and a few nettles. I trimmed all the way down the hill and across the flat area and uphill to the field. In the field I cut a few areas that were longer than the rest and then turned the trimmer off. Sheila alerted and I saw a woman with a Golden Retriever on a leash approaching us. Both dogs seemed friendly and sniffed each other as they passed. I walked back to the car and put away my tools. It was 11:30 AM and I had already done and hour and a half worth of work. I decided that there was still time to go to The Flynn Trail at Frick Pond to remove at least one tree a friend had said was on the trail just after the open field on the right. I drove back out the Barkaboom Road and retraced my route back to Livingston Manor.

On Tuesday, July 4th I wanted to go to the Big Pond end of the trail from Big Pond to Alder Lake to finish cutting the briar patch that I had started the day before. I know trail maintenance is not the way most people spend July 4th but I wanted to get the work done! The briar patch is closer to Big Pond so my plan was to park at Big Pond and walk to the patch to finish it up. I thought on the way back I might have time to cut some other places on the trail. The only cutting that would then remain would be from Alder Lake to the stream where there were still a few spots that needed work. I asked Cindy If she wanted to go and she said "Yes". I was not concerned about the weather as the forecast included no rain but the highs were supposed to rise to the mid 70's. Sheila was happy to be going for a second day in a row and jumped into the back seat of my car. We left Livingston Manor at about 9:00 AM and drove out Old Rt 17 to the Beaverkill Road where we turned right. At the intersection with the Barkaboom Road we stayed to the left on Barkaboom Road until we came to the access road for the upper parking area At Big Pond. I turned left and drove up the road and was lucky enough to find somebody leaving. I immediately pulled into the empty spot and about 9:30 AM. I got the pack with new gasoline container in ready by putting in a water bottle and my multitool. We walked over to the trailhead and started out on the trail. We found almost all of the campsites occupied and most people were up and active. As we walked I began to see some spots that could use some trimming but I stuck to my plan of cutting the briar patch first. Soon we were starting uphill through an evergreen forest at about 1 mile. Just after that we broke out into the open where the briar patch starts. I dropped my pack and put the trimmer on the ground to start it. I followed the directions and it immediately started. I began to cut the grass, weeds and briars while Cindy kept Sheila back from the trimming. The woody stems on the briars tend to hurt when they hit! The trimmer was doing a great job of cutting everything. I even tipped it so that the strings were vertical and trimmed back the briars even more. I wanted to make sure that the trimming lasted well into the summer season. The trimming was going great as I neared the top of the hill with quite a bit of the briar patch still to cut. At this point the trimmer made a funny noise and stopped cutting! The curse struck again! I stopped the trimmer and removed the housing from the reel. It seemed as if the bolt had melted part of the reel. I soon found out why when I gingerly touched the bolt and found it very hot! I got out my multitool to trying to loosen the bolt but several tries showed this would not be possible. I couldn't believe I would have to leave this section uncut again. We turned around and head back to the car. The return trip went quickly as I was not trimming as was very annoyed. We were back a the car by 11:00 AM after hiking around 2 miles and working for an hour and half. I drove back to Livingston Manor and decided to Go to Home Depot in Monticello to see what they could do about the bolt on the trimmer.

When I got to Home Depot, I entered the store with the entire lower part of the trimmer and the head I had bought there the day before. At the Service Desk I was directed to Tool Rental where a former student of mine went to work on the trimmer. I wandered around the store and when I came back she told me she could not get the bolt loose. Her supervisor happened to be present and he also tried unsuccessfully to loosen the bolt. He finally told me that they could not do anything. I informed him that I expected an entire new curved shaft trimmer since I had installed the part I bought in their store on a trimmer that had also been purchased in their store. He again repeated that he could not give me the part but then relented and told me to go to the gardening department to get the new one. I think it might have been the look on my face or the tone of my voice that let him know I would not give up. I went to gardening and they eventually found a similar part that look a different diameter line. I explained that I had just purchased from them a pack of line and would now need different line. The manager of the department told me to take as much line as I needed. I selected a reasonable package. The clerk marked everything as "Customer Satisfaction" and I left the store with the new shaft and the old one. I later found out the shaft sells for about $70 and the string was $20 so I was pleased at the resolution to the problem. I drove home and on the way called Cindy to see if she wanted to go back out to do some more cutting. To y surprise she said "Yes" and was ready when I got home. Sheila was very excited when she realized we were going out twice in one day! We left the house at about 2:15 PM and headed for the Alder Lake trailhead. My plan was to cut the nettles, briars, grass and brush along the trail to the stream. E would then turn around and go back to the car and drive to Big Pond. From there we would repeat the walk we took in the morning so that I could finally finish cutting the briar patch. On the way back I would then cut a few stands of nettles on the trail. I drove out Old Rt 17 to the Beaverkill Road where we turned right. At the intersection with the Barkaboom Road we stayed to the right on Beaverkill Road until we came to the left turn for Alder Creek Road. After turning left, I drove to the end of Alder Creek road, turned around and parked near the trailhead. I got the pack with the gasoline container in ready by putting in a water bottle and my multitool. We walked over to the trailhead and started out on the trail around 2:45 PM. The first part of the trail needed no trimming. Eventually we came to an area with briars and nettles so I started the trimmer and began cutting with the new lower shaft and head. Everything went well even though the line was a little thinner than I had been using. I had brought along more line in case I ran out as I wanted this to be the last attempt to clear the briar patch! At about .5 miles we entered the woods and I turned off the trimmer. We passed through the grassy patch I had cut the day before and followed the trail as it turned left onto a woods road. I began to see some nettles and briars so I again started the trimmer and cut those. We walked downhill passing the first beaver meadow and at 1.2 miles we were at the spring. I cut a stand of nettles and then told Cindy we were turning around to go to Big Pond. Cindy had another plan which involved hiking farther, adding another hill and walking through several muddy areas. We followed her plan and continued across the stream and up the hill that I had already cut the day before. Since I had already done all the cutting, there was about .7 miles of walking before we entered the briar patch. During this time we slipped and slid through the mud and I got to concentrate on just how heavy the trimmer was becoming. Eventually we reached the spot were I had run out of string the day before and I knew I had to cut uphill to the place we had stopped in the morning. I didn't think this would be more than 150 feet but I was very wrong as it was almost .2 miles! I took off the pack and started up the trimmer. The trimmer was working well and I was careful to stop occasionally to clear the weeds that got wound around the shaft. While I was working, Cindy sat on a log to rest. I kept thinking I would have to change the string at some point since some of the briars were very old and thick. I ran out of gas first and had to walk all the way back to my pack to get the container. I walked back uphill and filled the trimmer and stowed the gas container beside the trail. I walked uphill to where I had stopped in the morning and started trimming back to where I had just been. I thought I was in trouble as the trimmer was sputtering and not cutting very well. It perked up and I came to the conclusion that I had let some air get into the fuel line. I continued on down the trail toward my pack trimming a few spots I had missed. When I got to the pack, I trimmed a little more and then shut the trimmer off. I walked back up the trail to retrieve the gas container and then returned to the pack. I shouldered the pack and started back toward the car with Cindy and Sheila just ahead. I started the trimmer one more time to clean up some errant nettles, briars and ferns and then turned it off for good. Of course on the way back we had to cross the muddy areas again. In one of these areas Cindy took a fall banging her knee on a rock but once she got up everything seemed to be OK. We continued on the trail down the hill to the stream. As we crossed the stream, I knew that we would have to ascend a hill for the next half mile. This normally would not be any challenge but it was hot and the trimmer now seemed twice as heavy as it had on the way out. I admit that I was not in a good mood as we passed through the grassy patch and had to ascend the short, steep hill. However, once we were at the top of the hill the trail leveled and started to descend. The only obstacle left was an enormous tree across the path which I elected to straddle and climb over. We continued down the trail to the car. We arrived at the car at 6:10 PM having hiked over 4 miles in about 3 hours and 15 minutes. I was glad I had finished cutting the briar patch and that the only trimming to do was between the Big Pond trailhead and the 1 mile out mark.

On Monday, July 3rd I wanted to go to the Alder Lake end of the trail from Alder Lake to Big Pond to work on cutting grass patch about .7 miles from the beginning of the trail. After that I wanted to cut the briars, nettles and weeds from the small stream at about 1.2 miles. For a little over a mile the trail was bounded by nettles and briars that were slowly closing in making hiking a less than pleasant experience. I asked Cindy If she wanted to go but she said she was tired and would stay home. I was not concerned about the weather as the forecast included no rain but the highs were supposed to rise to the mid 80's. Sheila was happy to be going after a Sunday of "rest" and jumped into the back seat of my car. We left Livingston Manor at about 9:00 AM and drove out Old Rt 17 to the Beaverkill Road where we turned right. At the intersection with the Barkaboom Road we stayed to the right on Beaverkill Road until we came to the left turn for Alder Creek Road. After turning left, I drove to the end of Alder Creek road, turned around and parked near the trailhead. I got the pack with the gasoline container in ready by putting in a water bottle and my multitool. We walked over to the trailhead and started out on the trail around 9:30 AM. As we walked I began to see some spots that could use some trimming but I stuck to my plan and soon we were on the slight downhill where the grassy patch was located. I dropped my pack and put the trimmer on the ground to start it. I followed the directions and it immediately started. I began to cut the grass and weeds and was surprised that Sheila stayed close by. As I walked down the hill the grass got thicker where there was plenty of sunlight. I continued to cut widening the trail beyond the one foot required by the Finger Lakes Trail Conference so that I would not have to come back to cut it again until much later in the summer. It didn't take too long until I had reached the forest and this part of the job was done. I walked back up to the pack and put it on and we started walking back down the trail toward the small stream which was my next objective. At about 1.2 miles we came to the stream and crossed it. Just after crossing, I started the string trimmer and for the next half mile or so I did not turn it off. I cut a lot of nettles and a few briars walking uphill the whole time. I also cut some ferns and grass so that the trail can be walked without getting a drenching in the early morning. Along the way we crossed several muddy areas. The first area as the worst but I found some stepping stones a little upstream from where most people had been crossing. After this area, there were several stands of dense nettles that had grown very tall. They were no match for the trimmer but I did find that some pieces would get thrown my way every now and then. These pieces retained their "stinging" capability and my hands began to burn and itch. We entered an area under the trees where there were only ferns and I let them stand as I wanted to make sure I cut the open area that was thick with briars. A little before 2 miles we came to that area and I fired up the trimmer and began to cut the mix of briars, brush, nettles and grass. The trimming was going well until I noticed that the trimmer was no longer cutting. I stopped it and looked at the reel only to find I had run out of string! I felt cursed since there always seemed to be something wrong with the trimmer. I got ready to turn around and noticed that my pack was releasing a strong smell of gas. I found that the nozzle despite being closed was leaking gasoline. I knew that I had to replace it but could do nothing about it on the trail. I filled the trimmer to reduce the volume in the container and we started back. Since I wasn't trimming then trip back went quickly. As we started down the hill toward the stream, Sheila and I both noticed a young couple approaching. I put the trimmer down and took Sheila by the collar. As the hikers passed they complimented Sheila and thanked me for clearing the trail. We continued in our opposite directions and I kept a good pace despite the fact that the trail is uphill from the stream back to the patch of grass I had cut before. Fortunately, the last .7 miles is all downhill as my arms were getting tired from carrying the trimmer. We were back at the car at 2:00 PM after hiking about 4 miles. We had spent 4.5 hours walking and clearing the trail. When I got back to Livingston Manor I asked Karl how to replace the string in the trimmer. The summary of his answer was "I don't know" so I dropped Sheila off at the house and headed for Home Depot in Monticello assuming they would have replacement reels of string. When I got to Home Depot the best I could find was a new quick loading reel and string to load into it. I made the purchase including a small gas container and headed back home. Cindy and I sat ion the front porch trying to replace the old trimmer head with the new one. We eventually got the job done despite the misleading directions on the package. I started the trimmer and cut some grass with no problem. I knew I was ready to finish my cutting the next day.

On Saturday, July 1st I wanted to return to the Big Pond to cut the grass and weeds which clog the beginning of the trail from Big Pond To Alder Lake. Cindy and I had tried this the day before but I could not get the string trimmer I had to start. When I got up in the morning, I went to the garage and tried it again and it started up with no problem. I asked Cindy If she wanted to go and she agreed. We were concerned about the weather as we looked outside and saw some very dark clouds. I checked the forecast and the radar and nothing was supposed to be in our area until later in the afternoon. We agreed we would go on see what the weather was like at Big Pond. Sheila was happy to be going and jumped into the back seat of my car. We left Livingston Manor at about 10:30 AM and drove out Old Rt 17 to the Beaverkill Road where we turned right. At the intersection with the Barkaboom Road we stayed to the left on Barkaboom Road until we came to the right turn into the upper parking area for Big Pond. As we drove up the access road, we could see that all the parking spots were taken. I turned around and parked off the side of the road. We walked over to the trailhead and I put the trimmer on the ground to start it. I followed the directions and it immediately started. I began to cut the grass near the beginning of the trail even though I had used the weed whip to knock down some of it. The string trimmer allowed me to cut it closer and farther back from the trail. I also worked on the briars a little. Soon I was at the tree where I had stopped cutting any grass. The trimmer was working just fine and I was able to cut a wide swath and open up the trail. I had to admit that although it was noisy and the vibration was considerable it was much easier than cutting with the weed whip. I did notice that it would cut the woodier brush but that the pieces that hit me stung a little! I was making good progress with Cindy and Sheila following behind. I noticed that I was running low on gas and that the string was getting short. Cindy volunteered to go back for the gas container. I tried bouncing the trimmer on the ground to get more string but that didn't work to well. When Cindy returned, I stopped the trimmer and filled it with gas. We manually lengthened the string and Cindy cleared some weeds that had built up on the head. From that point on bouncing the head let out more string and I was able to trim all the way to the entrance into the forest. I went a little farther to trim some ferns and nettles and the returned to the open filed I had just cut. I kept the trimmer running on the way back to cut a few places that I had missed. When I got to the beginning of the trail, I shut the trimmer of and walked over to the car. We packed up and headed out. I decided to drive over to Alder Creek Road and see what the weather looked like there. When we arrived at the trailhead, I decided I would come back another day since the clouds were getting darker and rain was starting to fall. We drove back to Livingston Manor after putting in about an hour and a half of work.

On Friday, June 30th I wanted to return to the trail between Alder Lake and Big Pond to cut some of the grass, nettles, briars and weeds on the trail. I asked to borrow Karl's string trimmer and he brought it to me in the morning. I started it right up and cut some weeds around the house. I turned it off and went to the garage to get a small gas container which I filled halfway and put into an old North Face pack that I use ion these occasions. The trimmer has a four cycle engine so there is no need to mix oil with the gas. I put my other pack in the car is case I needed something from it. I was a little concerned that we were getting a late start because the forecast was calling for thunderstorms in the afternoon. Sheila was happy to be going and jumped into the back seat of my car. Our plan was to park Cindy's car at the trailhead near Alder Lake and then drive back to Big Pond in my car. This way we would only have to walk about 3 miles in one direction carrying the trimmer. My experience is that these tools continue to get heavier the farther you carry them! We left Livingston Manor at about 10:30 AM in separate cars and drove out Old Rt 17 to the Beaverkill Road where we turned right. At the intersection with the Barkaboom Road we stayed to the right on the Beaverkill Road until we came to Alder Creek Road on the left. We turned onto Alder Creek Road and drove almost to the end where it meets Cross Mountain Road and the access road to Alder Lake. We turned around and Cindy parked her car near where the trail crosses the road. She got into my car and we drove back to the Barkaboom Road, turned right and drove up the hill to the upper parking area at Big Pond. There was one other car in the lot when we pulled in at 10:45 AM. It seemed they were camping as the car was packed. I got out the pack with the gas and retrieved the string trimmer from the trunk. We walked over to the trailhead and I put the trimmer on the ground to start it. It would not start no matter what I did! After 15 minutes of frustration, I put the trimmer in the trunk of my car and switched packs. We decided we would hike to Cindy's car so that the day would not be a waste. I knew I could cut a few more briars and nettles wit the machete. I set my GPS and we left the parking area at 11:05 AM heading toward Alder Lake. The temperature was nearing 80 degrees and the humidity was very high. This time the insects were out to pester us as we hiked. Cindy had forgotten her poles but she didn't let that stop her. We set a good pace after walking through the wet grass at the beginning of the hike. We walked and I picked up a few branches here and there and cut a few others. I pointed out the areas I had cleaned on Tuesday to Cindy. At a about a mile we entered an evergreen forest and I pointed out where Bryce and I had turned around on Wednesday when we hiked from the other end of the trail near Alder Lake. A little farther on the trail turned northwest and began a slight ascent. We broke out into a clearing where there are briars lining both sides of the trail. I had cut some with Bryce but I got out my machete and cut a few more as we passed through. By the time we again entered the forest there were no more briars but the nettles began. Cutting nettles with the machete is difficult as I also seem to bet "stung" on my hands! We started to encounter muddy patches but crossed these without too many problems. We descended to the stream which connects the two beaver meadows and then began to ascend the final hill. It was very warm and humid and the skies were starting to darken. I pointed out to Cindy a few more spots Bryce and I had cleared. At 2.2 miles the trail turned right heading almost due east. There was an open patch of grass which was thick and wet and needed trimming. We continued to the top of the hill where the trail leveled briefly and then began a long descent to the car. We kept up a good pace as we heard some thunder in the distance. The last .6 miles was almost all downhill until the we crossed the creek and ascended the bank to the car. We arrived at Cindy's car at 12:55 PM after hiking 3 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes. The elevation gain was 745 feet on the one way hike. I noticed that Alder Lake is about 100 feet higher than Big Pond. We got in the car and drove back to my car at Big Pond. I hoped I could get the string trimmer to work but that proved to be a vain hope. I am hoping that a "rest" will be good for it and I can try again soon. There was a van parked in the lot with a leader and eight teenagers. The leader told me they were hiking to Cabot Mountain on Saturday and then would camp at Alder Lake. He thanked me for my trail work which was nice. Cindy and I got in our cars and headed home.

On Wednesday, June 28th I wanted to return to the trail between Alder Lake and Big Pond to clear the trail from Alder Creek Road to the point I had where I had ended the previous day. I knew I needed some help and recruited my 6 year-old grandson, Bryce. Bryce is big for his age and is capable of hiking at least 6 miles although we have generally walked a little less. He also is strong enough and has enough endurance to remove branches and help clear the trails. Bryce arrived sometime after 9:00 AM and we got our gear together. Sheila was ready to go since she would hike everyday if given the chance. I took along my Silky saw, Battle Horse machete, the Fiskars axe and a weed whip. We left Livingston Manor at about 10:00 AM as I drove out Old Rt 17 to the Beaverkill Road where I turned right. There were crews working on the trees along the road which slowed me down a little. At the intersection with the Barkaboom Road I stayed to the right on the Beaverkill Road until I came to Alder Creek Road on the left. I turned onto Alder Creek Road and drove almost to the end where it meets Cross Mountain Road and the access road to Alder Lake. I turned around and parked near where the trail crosses the road so that we did not have to carry the tools all the way from the Alder Lake parking area. I handed the weed whip to Bryce and we walked down the trail to Alder Creek. The stream wasn't very high and we crossed on some stepping stones just wetting the bottoms of our shoes. The trail turned left and paralleled the stream and we soon ran into a small tree that was hanging over the trail. It was hung up on another tree and I thought I might have to cut both. I tried tugging on the tree that was hanging over the trail and to my surprise I was able to pull it down and out of the trail. We followed the trail as it turned right and started up a hill. Somewhere along the way we decided we did not need the weed whip and we left it on the side f the trail. We continued up the hill removing many smaller branches as we walked. Bryce is a pleasure to be around as he is very mature for his age and we have interesting conversations. At about .75 miles the woods opened up and we walked through a grassy area that could use some trimming. Just after this the trail turns southwest and starts to descend. We ran into a tree across the trail with a lot of branches that were intertwined. I took some "before" pictures and then we got busy clearing the mess. We removed the loose branches and then I began to cut with the saw while Bryce cleared what I had cut. It didn't take long before we had cleared the trail. I took some pictures of Bryce and Sheila on the trail we had just cleared before we moved on. We continued to descend and came to a beaver meadow on the right. A stream leaves this area and runs south emptying into another beaver meadow.

We continued on the trail heading southwest and descending until we came to another branch that had fallen across the trail. This one was smaller and it only took a few cuts to remove it. We did find a rather large log just beyond the branches that we cleared. I was able to break it into two pieces and we rolled it off the trail. At 1.3 miles we crossed the stream and began to climb up a hill. It was here that I introduced Bryce to stinging nettles! There were patches of them growing along the trail in the damp and shaded areas. As we walked up the hill we passed some stone walls and a stone foundation. We had a discussion about the purpose of the walls and the use of the land is the past. We soon came to one of the wettest areas on the trail which is the first but worst of several. As we were trying to find a way to cross without sinking into the mud, Sheila started barking at an approaching hiker. I had not noticed the young man approaching as we were concentrating on the mud and I apologized and called Sheila back. I always out her in her leash when other hikers are around. We got our shoes covered in mud on the way across but stopped to talk to the young hiker. He was hiking a section of the Finger Lakes Trail and was planning to stay at the lean-to east of Alder Lake. We parted ways heading in opposite directions. Bryce and I braved the nettles and a few more muddy areas without doing more than picking up a few branches. I was beginning to wonder where the turn around point was but Bryce seemed not to mind. We broke out into an area with fewer trees where stands of briars dominated the trail. We pushed on as I wanted to get to the pint I had been to the day before from the other end of the trail. We hit a high point and started to descend which did not make me happy. Within less than a quarter mile I recognized the trail and knew we could turn around. I noticed a large spruce tree off the trail and had Bryce measure it by "hugging" the tree with outstretched arms. It was 3 and a half Bryces around! We turned around at 12:40 Pm after hiking 2.3 miles . On the way back I took some time to use the machete to cut back some of the briars along the path. After that we set a good pace knowing that the final stretch was downhill. We found a better way across the muddiest spot using stepping stones that I found. We did stop to take a picture of the old foundation and then descended to the stream. From the stream there was a final half mile of climb on a 10% grade. From the top of the hill it was less than a lie back to the car and all downhill. At the bottom of the hill we could see the road. Bryce suddenly reminded me that we had failed to pick up the weed whip we had left behind at the beginning of the hike. We turned around and walked halfway back up the hill until we found the tool. We turned around and walked back to the car. We arrived at the car at 2:15 Pm after hiking 4.7 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes including an hour of stopped time to work. The elevation gain was 1084 feet.

On Tuesday, June 27th I had decided that I wanted to head to Big Pond and inspect the trail conditions on the trail to Alder Lake. Recently accepted the responsibility of maintain this section of trail for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference and wanted to see the condition of the trail. This trail has had some problems in the past and has several sections of briars and nettles as well as some muddy spots. I now have the Finger Lakes Trail from Alder Creek Road to Beech Hill Road. I decided I would start at Big Pond and hike about half way and then turn around and head back. This would allow me to clear the trail in both directions. If I had time, I would go to the Alder Lake end and do the same thing. I was a little concerned about the forecast for showers but after checking the radar, I did not think I would have a problem. I had some work to do around the house and wasn't able to leave until after 11:00 AM. I dressed for warm weather and work. I took along my Silky saw, Battle Horse machete, the Fiskars axe and a weed whip. I drove out Old Rt 17 to the Beaverkill Road where I turned right. There were crews working on the trees along the road which slowed me down a little. By 11:20 AM I was at the intersection with the Barkaboom Road where I turned left. I headed up the hill passed the Little Pond Campsites and turned into the upper parking area for Big Pond. There were two other cars parked in the lot and I suspected they might be camping at the primitive campsites on Big Pond. I got an excited Sheila out of the car and set my electronics. I decided to take all the tools as we headed out the back right corner of the parking area where the trail began. I immediately ran into briars overgrowing the path on the right side but decided that I would get them on the way back. The first part of the trail had a lot of high grass and, again, I decided to leave that until later. As we entered the trees I knew that I would not need the grass whip so I hid it behind a tree. As we continued on we came to a place where some small trees were hanging over the trail forcing hikers to walk around. I got out my saw and cut some branches to restore the original path. We climbed a small hill and found a pretty good sized tree across the trail. I took a few pictures and then used the saw to cut away a few branches. I then cut the trunk into pieces and moved it off the trail. We continued to follow the trail as it followed a woods road and then struck off through the forest. Long the way I picked up small branches and sticks. I also removed some larger logs that other maintainers had left to rot ion the trail. They weren't blocking the trail but their presence bothered me. The trail was better marked than before and was easy to follow.

The further we went, the darker the skies ahead of us became and this was accompanied by an increase in the wind. We came to an area where two larger trees had fallen across the trail. They were low to the ground but I felt I wanted to remove them. I went to the second one and took some pictures and then began to work. I cut away one smaller branch and then went to work on the trunk with my axe. The wood was surprisingly tough in places but I was soon through the log. I knew I would have to cut it again as my attempt to slide, push, pull or swinging the trunk off the trail proved futile. I spotted a crack in the log just off the trail and decided to work on it a little. I was able to widen the crack and break the log with just a few swings of the axe. There was still a large portion left but I was able to manhandle it off the trail. Although the skies were getting darker, I walked back t the first log, took pictures and begin to work on it with the axe. I handled this one much like the other. I cut it on one side of the trail and found a crack on the other which allowed me to easily cut a chunk out and rotate it off the trail. I decided to continue a little further on the trail despite the darkening skies. I picked up my tools and started up the trail. In just a few minutes some drops of rain began to fall. O decided I did not want to get wet or get caught in a thunderstorm. I have been out in storms with lightening hitting too close for comfort and I did not want to repeat the experience. We turned around and started a quick pace back the way we had come. I could see that the skies ahead were blue and soon there was no more rain falling. I didn't know if the rain had stopped or we had just walked out of it! I didn't really care so we continued back toward the car. I retrieved the weed whip on the way and walked back to the car to dump my pack. Since the sky was blue and it was not raining, I decided to attack the briars and the beginning of the trail. I used the machete to hack at the briars and it took some effort as the older canes were very resistant. S I was working I heard a few peals of thunder in the distance. I finished cutting back the briars and then decided to use the weed whip to clear some of the grass which had grown pretty high along the trail. This effort was a little less successful as it was difficult to get a clear swing. I did get some of the trail cleared starting at the trailhead to a particular tree but decided power tools would be necessary. The power scythe is heavy to carry for almost 4 miles along with fuel but a string trimmer would probably work well. My plan is to park two cars, start at one end and work my way to the other.

On Sunday, June 25th I had decided that I wanted to go to the Hodge and Frick Pond area after church to clear some of the trail obstructions my friend and I had found on the previous day. When I returned from church the weather forecast was calling for thunderstorms and the skies were dark. I had some lunch thinking that the best I could do was go across the street to hike on Round Top again between storms. By the time I had finished lunch the skies had cleared and the radar showed that the storms were unlikely to effect our area. I decided to take chance and got my gear together to go do some trail maintenance. I took with me my Fiskars axe and Silky Sugowaza saw. The saw I put in my pack but I decided to carry the axe instead of poles. I got dressed and then out Sheila in the back seat and my gear in the trunk. We left the house a little after 1:00 PM and drove out the DeBruce Road for about six miles. I turned left on Mongaup Pond Road and stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road when it split. When we arrived at the trailhead, there were two vehicles in the small lot and I parked between them. The temperature was in the high 60's when I set my GPS and we crossed the road at 1:35 AM to begin our hike. A short distance after the trail register there was a small tree down across the trail. I knew it would go quickly so I didn't take pictures. I used the axe to cut the trunk twice and pulled everything off the trail. I packed up and we continued up the trail to the woods road that was once the extension of Beech Mountain Road. We turned right on the woods road and started the long climb toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. A one point there was a branch that had partially broken off a tree and was in the trail. I tried to pull it down but that didn't work. I was able to cut the branch and then pull it over to the side of the trail. We continued up the trail until Sheila alerted. There was a doe and a single fawn further up the trail. I immediately put Sheila on her leash which she protested. I explained she could not chase the fawn and I got out my camera. The deer were standing still looking back at us as I sued the 65x zoom to try to get pictures. Using the zoom at very long range requires a steady hand or a support. I had no support so I tried to steady myself and take some shots. Eventually the deer began to trot up the trail and then turn left down over the bank. I left Sheila on her leash as we headed up the trail and she was very active as she got the scent of the deer on the ground. I only let her off the leash once we were well passed the point where the deer had left the trail. We continued up the trail with me picking up big and small branches and throwing them off the trail. We reached the Big Rock Junction at 2:35 PM after hiking 1.7 miles. As we passed through the junction Sheila again alerted and I looked up to see an unleashed dog approaching. I immediately put Sheila on her leash as a courtesy. The two women who were with the other dog did NOT put their dog on the leash saying "Oh, she's friendly!" Unfortunately, Sheila was not feeling that friendly as the other dog approached her. I wish all dog owners would do the right thing but they often do not.

We continue along the Flynn Trail and found another blowdown. I did take pictures of this one before attacking it with the saw. There wasn't too much to clear so we moved on after I took some "after" pictures. At the next trail junction, we stayed to the left to follow the Flynn Trail down to Hodge Pond. I cut back a few bushes on the way and found one large blowdown that had been cleared by the OSI people. The grass on the trail had been mowed which was a big improvement from the tall grass on the first part of the Flynn Trail. We walked out into the filed by Hodge Pound and then over to the fire circle near the shore. Sheila immediately went for a swim while I took some pictures of the pond. The sky was blue with nice white clouds which made for some nice shots. I threw a stick into the water for Sheila and took some pictures of her retrieving it. After a drink, we walked back to the Flynn Trail and continued on the west side of Hodge Pond. At the next trail junction we stayed to the left to take the Flynn Trail up the hill rather than the jeep road around the back of the pond. I cut a few branches on the way up to the gate and a few more after the gate. The trail was still wet with muddy patches along the way. The trees and bushes were beginning to close in on the trail and really need several people with loppers to cut them back. I cut a few of the worst until we came to the Quick Lake Trail at Junkyard Junction. It was 3:40 PM and we had hiked 3.3 miles which is almost exactly halfway through the hike. We turned left to start the loop back and the trail which initially rolls some but eventually descends toward Iron Wheel Junction. At about 3.9 miles we came to perhaps the most challenging cleanup of the day. There was a rather large tree with multiple branches down across the trail. I cleared what I could and then got to work with the saw. It was simply a matter of cutting branches and then removing them until everything was cleared. I found it easier to make multiple cuts so that the branches I had to move were smaller and easier to manage. It took a little less than 20 minutes to clear everything and take some pictures.

I packed up and then picked up my pack and headed down the trail. At 4.6 miles we ran into another set up small trees across the trail. The trunks were small but they were intertwined and putting pressure on each other. I was careful to choose my cuts wisely and still got some kickback. It took less than 15 minutes to clear this mess and we were in motion again. It was getting late and I could not remember any other major blowdowns on the trails. At 4:55 PM we turned right at Iron Wheel Junction after hiking 5.1 miles. The turn allowed us to stay on the Quick Lake Trail heading for Frick Pond. As we walked, I continued to pick up branches and cut a few that were in the trail. We came to and crossed the small stream through the woods. There was a large hardwood tree down across the trail in the "spruce tunnel" but it was flat on the ground. I decided to leave that one for another day. We walked out of the spruce tunnel and found another big branch which was no match for the Silky saw. We passed by the junction with the Big Rock Trail on the left and were soon at the bridge over the Frick Pond Outlet. I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I have taken hundreds of pictures form the bridge but can't resist stopping to take a few more. The pond was high from the beaver dam just upstream of the bridge. I saw movement in the water but couldn't get a picture of the beaver that made it. It was getting late so I stowed the camera and shouldered the pack. We walked up the hill from Frick Pond to Gravestone Junction and continued straight ahead on the Quick Lake Trail. The trail was still wet for almost the entire way back to the car. We passed by the register and walked the woods road back out to the car. The only car in the lot was one I know well as it belongs to JP, the friend that hiked with me the day before! We were back at the car at 5:35 Pm having hiked 6.6 miles in 4 hours with a vertical gain of 908 feet. This is very slow but included over an hour of stopped time.

On Saturday, June 24th I wanted to get in a longer hike and thought about getting away from Livingston Manor to do it. I looked at the weather forecast and the best scenario still called for showers wherever I wanted to go. I was not willing to travel a long distance to hike in poor weather. In addition, we had an early morning ambulance call which pushed back my start time. On the call I mentioned hiking to my partner and friend JP and he expressed a desire to go with me. We decided to meet at Frick Pond at 11:00 AM to hike. My plan was to hike a loop up the Flynn Trail to the Hodge Pond Lookout and then back on the Flynn and Quick Lake Trails. We had a few sprinkles of rain in the morning but by 10:00 AM it was sunny and clear with a blue sky and white clouds. I got some work done and then got my gear ready to go hiking. Sheila was happy to be going as I loaded everything into the car. Given the temperatures I wore light pants and a light long-sleeved shirt over a baselayer. I did put my machete in the pack in case I needed to cut back some brush although this was not my primary purpose. On the way up DeBruce Road I got behind some very slow drivers that were headed for Mongaup Pond. I arrived at the parking area just after 11:00 AM to find JP already waiting for me. Sheila was ready to go and we crossed the road to head up the Flynn Trail at about 11:10 AM. The temperature was just 70 degrees and there was a slight breeze blowing. Since I was not overwhelmed by insects at the trailhead, I decided to forego the insect repellant. We kept a quick pace up the Flynn Trail but stopped occasionally to remove branches from the trail. We ran into one new blowdown that will require a saw to clear. When we reached the point on the trail where there is a clearing on the right, we headed off the trail and climbed the little hill to the edge of the clearing. JP was impressed as was I since everything was very green which contrasted nicely with the blue sky and white clouds. JP was looking for signs of deer in the woods and had found several places where bucks had rubbed their horns. After taking some pictures we returned to the Flynn Trail and headed toward Hodge Pond. We found another blowdown on the Flynn Trail before the Big Rock Junction and one after. We passed through the junction at 12:05 PM having hiked about 1.7 miles. As we headed toward Hodge Pond on the Flynn Trail, I pointed out the gap next to the gate that allows snowmobiles through and told JP my crew would be working on moving some stones to block it. At the next junction we veered to the right following a woods road instead of the Flynn Trail which stays to the left. Soon we were in the area near the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp and continued straight ahead as the woods road ascended the hill. Some new tire tracks were clear and it appeared a pickup truck had driven in from Shin Creek Road in Lew Beach. This part of the road was damp and I was surprised that there wasn't more water on the trails after the recent rain.

As we climbed the hill we passed a spring house and Sheila stopped to get a drink. At 12:30 PM we stopped at a little lookout and I took some pictures to the north and west. As we were getting ready to leave we heard some voices and two mountain bikes came up the hill. I don't know where they came from but the hiking trail are not multiuse trails. Since we were on OSI property, I did not comment to the bikers who seemed to be harmless. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked a little farther up the hill and turned right on a path that leads to the lookout over Hodge Pond. After the bikers went passed us, I let Sheila off her leash. The path was so wide and so clear I wasn't sure it was the right one. Soon I saw a familiar rock and just passed that the lookout. We stopped at the viewpoint and I took some pictures. I got out a bar to and shared with JP. We decided to follow the path around the hill which is Flynn's Point, the highest spot in Sullivan County. The entire loop is just less than a mile. When we arrived back at e woods road, we turned left and walked back down the hill to the area of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. When we arrived back at the area near the remains of the boy scout camp, we turned right on the woods road and walked out to what remains of the camp. Most of the buildings in the area were used for merit badge and craft work. JP looked around while I took some pictures. When we were done we walked back out to the road and turned right and then right again at the next junction. We followed the woods road down to the jeep trail on the right that goes around the back of Hodge Pond. We descended a small hill and then walked off on a path to the left to the shores of the pond. Before I could get my pack off, Sheila was in the water swimming around and cooling off. I took some pictures and then threw a stick for her to retrieve. I took some shots of her in the water and then a few more of the pond. I packed up the camera, got a drink and returned to the jeep trail.

We took the next right to get back on the Flynn Trail heading for Junkyard Junction. I pointed out some of the larger blowdown I had cut with axe and saw to JP. The trails were relatively clear of any new obstructions and we made good time to the gate at the top of the hill. At this point the Flynn Trail flattens out and this is where we finally found where all the rain had accumulated. The Flynn Trail in this area seemed to be one long bog interrupted by small pools. Walking on the side of the trail helped in some places but it did slow us down some. At 2:00 PM we had finally hiked the 5.5 miles to Junkyard Junction where the Flynn Trail ends at the Quick Lake Trail. We turned left to head down the hill and back toward the parking area. The first part of the Quick Lake Trail rolls a little and it also was wet in spots. We continue to clear branches from the trail and a few large logs. As we began to descend the trail became drier for the most part. When we reached Iron Wheel Junction at 7.1 miles, we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail back to Frick Pond. This trail was also wet in spots but these places were easier to avoid for the most part. There were some additional blowdown and we moved what we could be hand. The stream through the woods was running with a reasonable volume. As I started to cross by stepping on a rock, a trout jumped over my boot and swam downstream! We were soon crossing the bridge at the outlet to Frick Pond. We stopped to rest minute and so that I could take some pictures. The beavers had continued to build their dam which had raised the water level so that the body of water could be called a pound again. We walked up the hill to Graveyard Junction and then out the Quick Lake Trail to the register. I was surprised to see that the register on the Flynn Trail and the one on the Quick Lake Trail had been moved slightly and replaced. It struck me that there was other work that need attention like a way to block car driving down the Quick Lake Trail! We turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and continued back to the parking area and the cars. I was surprised to find only one other vehicle parked in the small lot as it was such a beautiful day. We were back at the car at 3:30 PM having covered 8.7 miles in 4 hours and 20 minutes with a total elevation gain of 1465 feet.

On Thursday, June 22nd I wanted to get out for a short hike after attending a funeral in Liberty for a member of our church. I called Karl to see if my grandson Bryce could come along on then hike after his half day of kindergarten. Karl said he would bring him to our house and I was excited about hiking with him. Bryce arrived at about 1:00 PM and I started to get ready. Cindy called and said she was coming home in few minutes and wanted to hike with us. Cindy came home and we all got ready to hike. I put Sheila on her leash and made sure Bryce had his poles as we headed down the driveway and across the street at about 1:45 PM. I had decided not to bring my pack as I did not want to carry the extra weight and wanted to have the "freedom" from taking pictures. We walked across the field to the back of the church to begin the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". Bryce was almost running up the hill and I knew it would be hard to hold back an energetic and athletic 6 year old! When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. I started my Suunto Traverse GPS watch to record the route I intended to take. As soon as we entered the trees I released Sheila from her leash as she was the only one capable of staying with Bryce. At the first trail junction Bryce continued straight ahead toward the lookout and we followed. The trail here has excess leaves and could use a little raking. At the lookout Bryce and Cindy walked out to the viewpoint and then rejoined me on the main trail. I told Bryce we might investigate what was BELOW the viewpoint later in the hike. We turned right to follow the yellow blazes of the trail. The trail has been worn in some and it was pretty easy to follow. At the sharp right turn I pointed out the new blue trail but we continued to follow the lower trail as if skirted Round Top. At the next sharp right turn we turned left to start on the upper trail. The trail was very obvious and the blue blazes very visible. At the top we headed across the flat summit following the trail we had cleared. Bryce had no problem picking out the treadway or the blazes. We descended the other side of the hill following the blue blazes. At the lower trail we turned left and followed the yellow blazes around to the brush pile and the sharp right turn. We followed the lower trail down to the woods road that brings the trail to the first trail junction. When we arrived at the junction, I was ready to turn around and do another figure 8 but Cindy wanted to go home. Bryce and I turned around and started back up the woods road we had just descended as Cindy headed out to trailhead. Sheila came with us but kept looking back to see where Cindy had gone. At the sharp left turn at we continued to follow the yellow trail to the left until it again turned sharply left. At this point we turned right to follow the blue trail up and over Round Top in the opposite direction from our first figure 8. When we came down the other side to the yellow trail we turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of the hill. This time we made the sharp left turn and walked downhill to the viewpoint. I was about to turn left and second to the first trail junction when I remembered my promise to explore below the viewpoint. Bryce seemed to still have a lot of energy so we went out to the lookout and found a steep path down between the rocks. We left Bryce's poles on top as this was a real rock scramble. Without too much effort we were able to descend the path and walk under the viewpoint. The lookout is really not a cliff but a rock ledge that hangs out in the air! We explored some of the rocks in the overhand below the viewpoint before retracing our path back to the main trail. We headed down the hill to the first trail junction and then continued straight ahead out to the trailhead. I put Sheila on her leash and we turned right to walk down the cemetery hill and back to our driveway. We had been out for about and hour and a half and even though the hike on Round Top was only 1.7 miles we had walked farther.

On Wednesday, June 21st I decided I wanted to check the trail marking Cindy and I had done on Saturday to see how the paint held up to the rain. I also wanted to make sure we had completely cleared the new, upper trail. I wanted to make the first hike of the summer a little more memorable but a morning ambulance call limited my time before teaching a CPR class in the afternoon. Around 12:30 PM I got changed into my hiking gear which pleased Sheila. I grabbed my machete and a leash for Sheila and we headed out our driveway and across the street with Sheila pulling on her leash. We crossed the lied by the church and started up the steep hill along the edge of the cemetery. I elected to leave my pack behind and to go without hiking poles. My heart was beating faster when we got to the top of the hill and turned left into the forest. I let Sheila off her leash and cut a few beaches from the pine trees that frame the entrance to the trail. As we followed the woods road to the first trail junction, I picked up a few branches that had fallen in the wind over the past few days. At the trail junction we continued straight ahead up the steep little climb to the viewpoint. I continued to remove a few branches here and there. At the lookout we followed the trail to the right and I noted that the ferns had grown up some and would need a good whacking. Where the lower trail turned right we continued straight ahead following the blue paint blazes up toward the summit of Round top. I was glad to see that the blazes had held up well to the rain but had dried a little darker than I expected. As we climbed the hill a cleared a few spots. We continued across the summit where I cut some brush. As we descended the other side I removed a few of the raining green ribbons that we had missed on the blazing hike. At the bottom of the hill we continued straight ahead on the woods road back to the first trail junction. Since we had missed a section of the lower trail, we turned around and hiked back u the woods road to the sharp left turn. We followed the lower trail this time as it skirted Round Top. Along the way I cut a few branches that had started to encroach on the trail. We continued to follow the yellow trail as it turned left and headed down to the lookout. At the lookout we turned left and completed the loop back to the first trail junction. I was a little bored doing repeated loops so we continued straight ahead back to the beginning of the trail. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked back down the cemetery hill, across the field and down the driveway. We had spent a little over an hour walking and doing some minor trail work.

Spring 2017

On Tuesday, June 20th, I got up and found partly cloudy skies but checked the forecast and found no rain predicted. This would be the first day with no heavy rains since Sunday and I wanted to hike another 3500 foot peak. The temperatures were supposed to be in the low to mid 70's which was much better than the previous week. I slept a little later than usual and didn't get started until about 9:00 AM. I decided Giant Ledge and Panther Mountain would be a good destination. I had two cell phone apps that help spot the peaks you are viewing and this would give me a good chance to try them out. Panther Mountain itself has limited views but to get there from Route 47 the trail passes over Giant ledge which was a great view of Panther Mountain, the entire Burroughs Range and the valleys below. When I left home the temperature was still in the mid 60's but I knew this would rise on the hike. I drove out the DeBruce Road and eventually passed Round Pond. At the end of the road, I turned left on Route 47 and drove passed Frost Valley. There were three cars parked at the Biscuit Brook trailhead and about six at the Slide Mountain trailhead. We arrived at the parking area on Route 47 at 9:40 AM to find only one other car parked there. Sheila and I got started pretty quickly by crossing the road and headed out on the trail. The trail was pretty wet from the rains the previous few days and there were definitely areas of deep mud. I let Sheila off the leash almost immediately after crossing the road and she was behaving by staying on the trail. As we crossed the bridge over the small stream, there was less no water running in the stream than I had expected. Sheila and I kept up a good pace but I forgot how annoying the many rocks that cover the trail to the turnoff can be! In addition, there are several short climbs and each one seems to be the last. Despite the fact that I had been hiking, I noticed that making good time up the climbs was tiring although I enjoyed the elevation gain. We finished the sixth short climb and arrived at the turn to Giant Ledge and Panther at about 10:15 AM. I didn't feel like we were going slow but it took 40 minutes to walk the .75 miles from the road, one of our slower times. I had problems with my new Suunto Traverse GPS watch the day before but it seemed to be recording my track correctly. I also had my Garmin GPSmap 64st and the Avenza app on my iPhone. It surprises me that there is a significant difference in the tracks recorded by each device.

The trail after the turn was also wet and muddy in spots but we made use of the stepping stones along the way. When the climb began we pushed the pace. We climbed up the last rocky ascent and walked to the first lookout arriving at about 10:45 AM after the 1.5 mile climb. I got out my camera to take some pictures as the skies were mostly clear and full of puffy white clouds. I took variety of pictures and then got out my iPhone to test out the Peak Finder and Peakvisor apps. Both apps produce an outline of the peaks visible from your viewpoint by using the GPS coordinates and compass heading of your phone. Peak Finder seemed to be a little office can be due to the inaccuracies of the GPS system and the compass declination. Peakvisor produces a transparent outline which it overlays on the view from your camera. The overlay can be adjusted so that it matches the view more accurately. Both apps need some instructions and a way to filter out peaks of certain heights and distances. They both showed Mount Frisell, the highest point in Connecticut, which is out there somewhere but certainly too far away to see! I liked Peakvisor a little better. I found that the :bump" visible between Slide and Cornell in Friday. As I suspected the most prominent peaks from Panther eastward are those found on the Devil's pat. The database for these apps must be pretty big because many smaller hills were listed. We got a drink and were ready to leave when I could hear another hiker approaching with at least one dog. The dog was barking and being admonished by the owner. I am glad Sheila behaved herself. I put Sheila on her leash and we left the first lookout to get bacon the trail along the ledges. Sheila is fearless about heights and sometimes scares me a little when she walks right to the edge of the cliffs and looks down! As we hiked along the ledges, I resisted the urge to stop at the other views on the way out. Sheila walked to the edge of most of the lookouts. At one she was standing looking around when a hawk dove at her with a screech. The bird came within six feet of Sheila as I stepped out to discourage it! We continued on the main trail and the hawk continued to swoop by making a lot of noise. At one point it perched in a tree still scolding us and I was able to get a picture. We descended into the col between Giant Ledge and Panther, walked flat for a little while and then started the climb up Panther. Parts of the Panther trail get a little steep at times but there always seems to be a switchback or flatter area. The trail was mostly dry with a few muddy spots and some slippery rocks. The wind had stared to blow and through the trees I could see a few dark clouds in the hue sky. I hoped the forecast that included a 7% chance of rain would hold. Sheila and I continued up the trail with Sheila checking out some of the paths that lead to limited viewpoints along the way. We stopped at one and walked out to a rock which had a good view of Giant Ledge and Slide with only a few small trees in the way. I took some pictures before we went back to the main trail. We were soon up the steeper climbs with only a final, short ascent of Panther to go. We met one male hiker coming down from Panther and I assumed he was the owner of the car that had parked before us. We said "hello" and continued in opposite directions. We arrived at the summit of Panther at 12:00 PM after hiking 3.2 miles. The view from the summit is limited but somewhat better than during our last visit. I took a couple of shots of the scenery and a few of Sheila by my pack. We walked back to the viewpoint just below the summit and ascended the rock which acts as the lookout. I took a few shots of the scenery and again experimented with the phone apps. I could hear some more hikers coming up the trail as they were much louder than they needed to be. I was surprised that it was three adults including and older man and a young couple. They decided to jump right up where I was so I knew it was time to leave. Sheila was being pretty good about the company but I didn't want to press my luck. I packed up and Sheila and I got back on the trail. Sheila was very energetic as we turned back as if she knew that we would be going down the mountain.

We met no one on the trail as we descended Panther. I tried to keep a good pace but found the descent almost as difficult as the climb up! When we had finally made the ascent to Giant Ledge we could hear hikers approaching from in front of us. I stopped at one of the lookouts to take a few more pictures before getting back on the main trail. We met a group of four young people hiking and visiting the various lookouts. I didn't know it at the time but these would be the first of MANY small groups and individuals we would meet on the way back to the car. We passed this group and met another near the last lookout. We continued along the trail and I could see that the first lookout had a few people. We finally got to the descent off the Ledge and I could see a young couple ahead of us. They seemed to be about our speed so I decided to let them pull us along. Sheila and I made our way down the rocks and continued down the main trail. We kept meeting small groups of people headed up to the ledges and a few had dogs. Each time I would direct Sheila off the trail and have her sit until others had passed us. This slowed us down a little each time compared to the couple we were following but each time we would catch up. Just after as we made the turn to get back to the car we met a middle-aged couple working their way up through the rocks. As we neared the bridge over the small stream, we met a woman with a dog and Sheila "made friends" before we continued on. As soon as we neared the bridge Sheila ran toward the stream and jumped in to cool herself and get a drink. I let her have a few minutes before calling her back up to the trail. We walked out to near the trail register where I out her on her leash. We walked out to the road and crossed to the parking lot which was now full. We were back at the car at 2:05 PM having covered 6.25 miles in 4 hours and 20 minutes including numerous stops. The elevation gain was 2150 feet. When I got home, I downloaded the track from the Suunto Traverse watch, my Garmin 64st and the Avenza app on the cell phone found they were very close but slightly different.

On Thursday, June 15th I decided I wanted to mark the upper trail on Round Top with paint blazes. I had gone to the local hardware store on Wednesday to get a bright paint color for the blazes. We had used yellow for the lower trail and I wanted blue for the upper trail. The premixed blues wee all too dark so the owner mixed me a quart of Vermont Sky Blue which turned out to be perfect. By the time Cindy and I got home it was already well into the afternoon. Cindy agreed to go with me which was necessary since it is much easier to blaze with two people. We got our gear in the car and drove across the street. We drove up to the top of the cemetery and parked the car to start our walk at about 1:30 PM. Sheila was with us as she tends to stay out of the way and within a reasonable distance. We brought both colors of paint in sealed plastic containers and several sponge "brushes" which are perfect for painting blazes. We also brought the machete and a Silky saw as there was some clearing to do. I elected to leave my pack behind and to go without hiking poles. We walked into the forest and at the first trail junction we turned right and started up the more gentle slope of the trail. When the lower trail made a sharp left, we continued straight ahead on the newly created upper trail. I painted a triangle of three separate blazes on a prominent tree to indicate the start of the new upper trail. As we walked up the trail we removed most of the green ribbons and Cindy told me where to paint the blazes. I made sure to put a mark on both sides of the trees she picked. There were a few branches to remove but not many. At the top the trail turns right so I painted blazes to indicate the turn on both sides of a large tree. Within a few feet the trail turns left and the tree I wanted to paint was obscured by brush from the other direction. I cut away the brush with the machete but found a large limb was still in the way. The limb was dead and had another resting on it. The limb was larger in diameter than my forearm and I did not feel like going back down the hill for the saw. I started to chop the branch with the machete and found very effective! It didn't take long until I had cut through the limb and it came down along with the one leaning on it. I pulled both of them off the trail and then painted the "turn" blazes on both sides of the tree. Cindy had already picked out another tree farther up the trail. The trail tuned left here so I cut some brush away from the tree and then painted the blazes to indicate the turn. After a few more blazes, we were on the far side of the summit where the trail descends the other side of the hill. The trail turns left here again so I painted some more blazes. The rest of the way down the hill I pit blazes where Cindy showed me to and cleared a few branches. When we reached the bottom, we placed blazes straight ahead even though the ribbons showed a turn to the left. I had decided it was simpler to go straight ahead as it matched the other end of the trail. The last bale I painted was a triangle of three blazes indicating the start of the trail. Cindy went to retrieve the equipment we had left at the other end. I got busy clearing the short stretch of trail that was not cleared. I also threw the branches I had cleared before onto the cleared path which was no longer part of the trail. I cut a few dead saplings and added them to the pile to help indicate what was not part of the path. At this point we were pretty much done so we headed toward the lookout on the lower trail. We had yellow paint with us to touch up the blazes on the lower trail but they were all in good shape. At the lookout we turned left and followed the yellow blazes down to the first trail junction and out to the carat the trailhead. We had spent about 2 hours working on the trail. Some work still needs to be done including raking some leave off the trail near the viewpoint, whacking some leaves and clearing some blanches near the trailhead.

On Wednesday, June 14th, I wanted to hike a 3500 foot peak and decided on Balsam Lake Mountain. I had a doctor's appointment in the morning so I could not get started until 10:00 AM. The temperature was supposed to rise into the mid to high 70's so I wore a light baselayer and only a light top. We left Livingston Manor at 10:00 AM and drove toward Roscoe on Old Rt 17 before turning right on the Beaverkill Road. The sky was almost cloudless as we drove through Lew Beach although the temperature was only reading in the mid 60's! We passed the Buddhist monastery and continued on toward the trailhead. There were a few places where the road which had narrowed was now a little wider than the last time I had been to Balsam Lake Mountain. We arrived at the parking area and found only one other cars in the lot. The temperature was 64 degrees and the sun was shining with a slight breeze. We were on the trail at 10:50 AM heading toward the first trail junction where I intended to turn left and hike up the steep side of the mountain. As we walked up the trail I noticed several trees hanging over the trail and although they seemed safe I would prefer that they were gone. The trail was wet and muddy in places and I assumed that the rain we did not get in Livingston Manor had fallen in this area. There were also a few across the trail that had been partially cleared but some more work needs to be done. We made the trail junction at .9 miles by 11:15 AM and turned left up the mountain without stopping. I had decided to take my time since I had not hiked a trail this steep in some time. This first part of the trail is a gentle climb and I was feeling pretty good without stopping to rest. Over the next half mile the trail gains about 750 feet before leveling off which means an average of around a 28% grade! I decided to stop a few times so that I could catch my breath but the pace was pretty fast and the stops were short. Despite the grade, the hike seemed to go pretty quickly and we were soon passing the spur trail to the lean-to. We passed the 3500 foot sign and were soon at the spring. I encouraged Sheila to take a drink but she seemed uninterested. We walked up the stone steps to the summit plateau and continued on toward the fire tower. As we approached the tower, a dog suddenly appeared on the trail. We could hear the owners calling from behind but the dog kept coming toward us. I grabbed Sheila and took her to the side of the trail. The other dog sniffed Sheila and Sheila sniffed back but they both seemed friendly toward each other. A young man and a young woman approached. They said they had camped overnight and were now hiking out. After a brief conversation, we went our separate ways.

We arrived at the tower clearing at 12:05 PM after hiking 1.7 miles and found an older male hiker wandering around the summit looking for a cell signal. I leashed Sheila to a small tree and walked over to the picnic table. I got out a water bottle and Sheila's bowl. I walked back to Sheila and gave her a drink and drank more than half the bottle. I grabbed my camera and started up the tower. I could tell as soon as I was above the tree line as the breeze picked up considerably. I ascended to the highest landing just below the cab. I took pictures in all direction but the landscape was mostly green with out much of a break. After taking a few pictures, I descended the tower and walked back toward the picnic table. I said "Hello" to the other hiker and we had a short conversation. I packed up my camera and walked over to Sheila. I unleashed her and told her "Trail". We walked down the trail on the other side of the mountain passing the cabin. Walking down the mountain seemed MUCH easier than the climb up the other side. Soon we were approaching the junction with the trail that connects Millbrook Road to the Beaverkill Road. There is a gate at the bottom of the trail and just after this gate is the trail junction. We turned right at the trail junction to start back toward the car. The trail is a little rough to begin with but it is a descent. It appeared as if someone had been clearing the trail which made the hiking much easier. We arrived at the first trail junction and continued on toward the car by retracing our steps. We were back in the parking area at 1:15 PM after hiking 4.3 miles and climbing 1200 feet in elevation. I was happy to have hiked a 3500 foot peak but it made me realize I need to hike a few more! The other car was still in the parking Lothian surprised me as I thought it belonged to the young couple who would have been ahead of us!

On Tuesday, June 13th, I wanted to get in a hike in the morning since thunderstorms were predicted for around noon. The forecast for the rest of the week also called for the possibility storms which I knew might limit my hiking. I decided that I needed a hike close to home but wanted to get away from the "usual places" that I frequent! I thought about a list of options and settled on a hike from Alder Lake to the Beaver Meadow lean-to. I got my gear and Sheila in the car and headed up the Beaverkill Road somewhere around 8:45 AM. It was already in the high 60's so I did not bother with a jacket but did wear a long-sleeved shirt as I like it better than sunscreen. When I lifted the pack into the car, it seemed vary light without my tree trimming equipment! I headed toward Turnwood and Alder Creek Road where I made a left and drove to the Alder Lake parking lot. I parked in the Alder Lake parking area at 9:15 AM started our hike almost immediately. There was one other vehicle in the lot by the lake and another one which was occupied in the upper parking lot. The temperature was in the mid 60's with a slight breeze but relatively high humidity. The skies were hazy without any clearly formed clouds indicating the storms that were predicted for later in the day. We headed down to the "lawn" and found that the large pile of brush and logs was gone. The construction on the dam and spillway was also finished. However, the lawn had not been mowed and looked more like a hayfield. I know the DEC has limited workers but Alder Lake used to be a beautiful place to visit and now it looks abandoned! We walked toward the trail around the left side of the lake. As we walked along the trail I kept an eye out for the occupants of the vehicles in the parking area. Pretty soon another male hiker came walking toward us and I stepped off the trail with Sheila to let him pass. We said "Hello" and then went in our separate directions. Brush and branches were beginning to grow into the trail and they needed some pruning. Sheila was happy to be out and kept me company as we hiked on the trail around the lake which was muddy in places. I began to notice pink flowers on some bushes which I thought might be rhododendron. I turn down to the lake on one path and dropped my pack to get the camera. I took some more pictures of the lake and Cradle Rock Ridge directly across from where I stood. I also took some pictures of a beaver lodge near the shore. We crossed the bridges and at about .8 miles turned left to head toward the lean-to on the Millbrook Ridge Trail.

The trail was wet and muddy in many places and there were both old and new blowdowns to contend with. I was almost sorry I did not have my saws but decided this was work for another day. I thought it would be nice to find out who the maintainer is for the trail and offer to help. For the next 1.5 miles the trail climbs and then levels off several times. The elevation gain is several hundred feet but the grade is never more than 12% and averages around 6%. There isn't too much to see along the way but this day was very pleasant. I enjoyed the sounds and sights of Alder Creek as it flows parallel to the trail much of the way. In one spot there was a large beaver dam on the left. Soon we arrived at the lean-to. We walked down to the lean-to and I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I noticed that the privy was now completely torn apart by thoughtless campers looking for some firewood. One person starts the vandalism and the rest join in! It had taken a little over an hour to get to the beaver meadow. I walked out to the edge of the beaver meadow where there is a large flat rock and took pictures of the very green scene. I also got a few shots of Sheila sitting on the rock. I decided to hike a short distance along the trail to the next beaver meadow. When we got there, I took some pictures before going back to the trail and hiking back toward the lean-to. I did not stop on the way back and the walk went quickly. We were soon at the loop trail around Alder Lake where we turned left to complete the loop around the lake. Shortly after the turn there was a designated campsite and a path down to the shore of the lake. I decided to walk down toy take some pictures of the dam and the remains of the Coykendall mansion. I dropped the pack and got out my camera and snapped some pictures. I noticed some movement to my left around a stump and a log in the water. I used the 65x lens on my camera and discovered the movement was from two ducks. I think it was a mated pair. The male was standing guard on the end of the log and the female appeared to be sitting on a nest. I steadied myself and took a few pictures of the ducks. This made the whole trip worthwhile. We walked back up to the main loop trail and turned right to continue back toward the dam. As we approached the outlet end of the lake, we saw no one at any of the campsites which was not surprising due to the lack of cars in the lot. We continued out the trail and stopped near the dam. I took out my camera and took some pictures of the lake and the dam. I also took shots of the lawn and the stonework from the mansion. I picked up my pack and we continued back up the hill and walked back to the car. We were back at 11:20 AM having covered 5.0 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes. The total elevation gain was 735 feet.

On Monday, June 12th I decided I wanted to get out and hike after a long day as middle school nurse. By the time I got home it was already 3:30 PM and I wanted to be sure I would be back by 6:00 PM when my ambulance shift started. I decided to simply go across the street to Round Top and hike some loops for an hour or so. It was 88 degrees at the house and a little humid when I put Sheila on her leash and started down the driveway. I elected to leave my pack behind and to go without hiking poles as I had to sue one hand to control Sheila. We crossed the street and the firs by the church and started up the hill to the top of the cemetery. Sheila was willing to pull so I let her help me up the steep but short hill. At the trailhead we turned left into the forest and after a few feet I let Sheila off her leash. It was a little cooler out of the direct sun but not much cooler. At the first trail junction we turned right and started up the more gentle slope of the trail. When the lower trail made a sharp left, we continued straight ahead on the newly created upper trail. The trail was easy to follow and the new green ribbons I had placed also helped. We followed the trail across the flat summit and down the other side to the lower trail. We turned right to continue on the lower trail. I looked at the trail junction and decided I would change the way the upper trail meets the lower trail to make it clearer to all hikers. We continued downhill to the lookout and turned left to follow the lower trail back to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and walked back up to the lookout and followed the lower trail as it turned right and headed uphill. When we came to the junction with the upper trail we continued straight ahead on the upper trail. We followed it uphill to the summit of Round Top and across the summit. It was easy to follow the trail downhill to the lower trail. We continued straight ahead and follows the lower trail along the woods road that led us back to the first trail junction.

When we reached the first trail junction, I have to admit I was hot and a little tired. Sheila turned and trotted toward the trail but I called her back and we turned around and started back up the woods road. This time when we got to the upper trail we turned left and stayed on the lower trail following it along the base of the hill. At the next left turn we followed lower trail downhill to the lookout. At the lookout we turned left to follow the trail back to the first trail junction. This time Sheila trotted a little farther toward the trailhead until I called her back so we could finish our last small loop. We headed back up the steeper hill to the lookout and followed the lower trail as it turned right. We walked along the base of Round Top to the next left turn. We followed the lower trail to the woods road that took us back to the first trail junction. This time Sheila sprinted toward the trailhead and only turned around when she was almost there. I turned left and walked toward her and the trailhead. This seemed to please her immensely. I caught up to her and put her on the leash. We turned right at the trailhead and walked back down the cemetery hill, across the field by the church and back to our driveway. We hikes about 3 miles in just over an hour. It is nice to have a trail so close to the house even though it is short!

On Saturday, June 10th I wanted to get out for a short hike before having to take the ambulance to standby at the Livingston Manor Trout Parade. Cindy and I decided to go across the street at abbot 11:00 AM to hike on Round Top. I wanted to check the work that we had done the week before when we cut out the new upper trail. I wanted to check to see if any more trimming was needed right away. I also wanted to mark the trail with some new green ribbons prior to applying paint blazes. I had decided not to bring my pack as I did not want to carry the extra weight and wanted to have the "freedom" from taking pictures. I did bring along my machete and the green marking ribbon. We crossed the street and walked to the back of the church to begin the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail". When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. As soon as we entered the trees I cut a few branches that were starting to droop into the trail. There are plans to place a sign at the trailhead and to have a formal opening later this year. At the first trail junction we continued straight ahead toward the lookout. The trail here has excess leaves and could use a little raking. At the lookout we turned right to follow the yellow blazes of the trail. The trail has been worn in some and it was pretty easy to follow. I did not notice any new ATV tracks. At the sharp right turn we continued to follow the lower trail as if skirted Round Top. At the next sharp right turn we turned left to start on the upper trail which we had cut out the previous Saturday. The trail was very obvious and there were only a few spots where I cut some branches and a few ferns. I did occasionally add a few new ribbons to clearly mark the trail. Cindy and I also talked about whet to place the paint blazes which I intend to work on next week. At the top we headed across the flat summit following the trail we had cleared. We agreed that marking here could be a problem as there are few trees on which to put blazes. We descended the other side following the ribbons. The trail was worn in and the ribbons obvious in most places. I cut a few branches and placed a few more ribbons until we met the lower trail. We turned left and followed the lower trail around to the brush pile and the sharp right urn. We followed the lower trail down to the woods road that brings the trail to the first trail junction. When we arrived at the junction, I was ready to turn around and do another figure 8 but Cindy wanted to go home. I turned around to start back up the trail but after checking the time I decided to return with her to the house. It was a little close to the time a I had to leave the house to get the ambulance. We walked back out to the trailhead and down the hill to the church. We walked back to our driveway after spending about an hour hiking just under 2 miles.

On Wednesday, June 7th I had not planned to hike since the weather forecast early in the week was for rain throughout the day. When I went to bed On Tuesday, the forecast had changed and I began to think about going to Trout Pond to see how the rain had effected Russell Brook Falls and the level of Trout Pond. The only drawback was that I knew the trail would be wet. In the morning when I awoke there was actually some sun peeking through the clouds and the forecast was only calling for cloudy skies with rain in the evening. I got some things done around the house and got out my gear. Sheila was on my heels the whole time sensing we would be going out. I decided to wear a heavier shirt and a light windbreaker but did not think I would need a hat or gloves. We left the house a little before 9:30 AM and headed north and west on State Route 17 toward Roscoe. I got off at exit 94 and headed broth on Route 206 passing through Roscoe and then Rockland. Just after the Roscoe Nursing Home I turned left on Morton Hill Road and followed it for 3 miles to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I considered driving down to the lower parking area but the road can be washed out at times. I also like the hike down the road as it parallels Russell Brook. I turned around and parked on the side of the road near a large pulloff that looks like a parking area. This pulloff is on private property and the owner does not like people parking on his land. I got my gear and electronics ready and we started our hike at 9:45 AM with Sheila leading the way down Russell Brook Road. The road was a little damp but did not appear to be washed out. I could hear what sounded like a large volume of water in the brook as we descended toad the lower parking area. As we walked down the road, I could see that the water level was high. When we got to the viewpoint for the upper falls, I decided to walk down to the lookout to take some pictures. I dropped my pack and took some shots of the large volume of water going over the falls. After finishing my photography, I packed up and headed back to the road. We walked down to the parking area and then got on the woods road that leads down to the bridge. We crossed the bridge over Russell Brook and walked along the woods road. I noticed the knotweed was back and already was green and growing nicely. I decided to walk over to the falls as the light was good. We turned right onto the path to the falls and found the path that leads down to the stream bed. This path is becoming more distinct as more and more people access it. The rocks were slippery as there was a lot of spray from the falls and the wind was blowing downstream. I put my pack down and got out the camera. I took shots of the falls and the stream from different angles and zooms and with different exposures. I also took a few of Sheila posing in front of the falls. When I was done, I stowed the camera, walked back up the bank and out to the main trail. We turned right on the main trail and then walked straight ahead at the trail junction to go directly up the hill to trout Pond

The trail to Trout Pond was wet for almost the entire length. In some places the water was directed in channels but in others the entire trail was wet. Soon we were at the pond and we walked over to the shore by the outlet. The water level was high and water was flowing freely over the spillway at the dam. I got out my camera and took pictures of the pond and the shores. The sky was blue with some nice white clouds. I walked over to the dam and took pictures of the water flowing over the spillway and a few more of the pond. It was at this time that Sheila decided to dash madly back and forth. I tried to capture a few pictures of her and then packed up to get back on the main trail. The trail from the outlet end of the lake to the lean-tos was covered in water most of the way and it was sometimes impossible to easily avoid the puddles. We made it to the bridge over the inlet stream and I stopped to take a few more pictures. The trail to the right up the hill had a stream running down the middle. After a short distance, the stream headed off to the left and the trail was drier. We climbed the trail heading toward the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. There were some new blowdowns along the way and several older larger logs. All should be cleared but the larger logs might need a chainsaw crew. I knew once we hit the top of the hill and started down that the trail would be very wet. I was right as the trail was covered in standing water in places and ran like a stream in others. I took a few pictures but they really don't show how much water there was. I had to walk on the sides of the trail and, at times, well off the trail. We came across one large branch that had broken off a tree and had one end lodged in the ground. The other end was hung up high in s small tree. It looked very dangerous and I know it will be hard to safely remedy the situation. Eventually we were walking through the area where there are a lot of small white birches. We descended the hill to the trail that runs past Mud Pond. We trend left here to head back to the car by completing the loop. The trail was wet with surface water which also made it very muddy. We hit the top of the small hill and started the long descent back to the register box. The trail remained wet and muddy with several small streams flowing across it. The stream to the right of the trail had a volume greater than I had ever seen in it. When we arrived at the trail register, we turned right and walked back out the trail to the lower parking area. From here we walked back up Russell Brook Road to the car without seeing another vehicle or person for the entire trip. We were back at the car at 12:25 Pm after hiking 5.5 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes. The elevation gain was 1104 feet. The temperature had risen only a few degrees to 64 degrees.

On Saturday, June 3rd it was National Trails Day and I had planned to go to Round Top with some other volunteers to cut out the new, upper trail. I scheduled the start for 10:00 AM to let the woods dry out a little. Lisa contacted the people who had expressed and interest in working in the trails and all of them had other commitments. I knew that Cindy and I could do the work but had wanted to include others to make it easier and to get other opinions. Just before 10:00 AM it stared to rain and shortly after that there was an ambulance call. When I got back, Cindy and I got dressed and ready to go work on the trail. It was cool with a slight breeze which I knew would make working on the trails easier. Since no one else was going along, we decided to take Sheila. We took my Fiskars axe, Silky saw, one of my machetes, a pair of loppers and a weed whip. We loaded up the car and drove across the street and to the top of the cemetery. I parked at the trailhead and we got started out on the trail with all our tools. At the first trail junction we turned right to head up the easier hill. At the sharp left turn in the lower trail we dropped the tools and assessed the work to be done. My plan was to cut out the trail to near the summit of Round Top on one side and then go to the other side and cut out the trail to the summit. We would them walk around the summit looking for the best route between the two. We started up the trail which was marked with green ribbons. Cindy was using the loppers and I settled on the machete. The trail was pretty distinct as I had been walking it a lot all winter and breaking off branches and picking up branches and logs on the trail. The work went pretty fast near the bottom with only a few spots that needed cleaning. In some cases I simply dragged branches away from the trail. I retrieved the saw to cut few larger ones. Near the top we had to do a little more trimming and we cut branches pretty high up to account for snowshoeing in the winter. When we reached the summit we stopped and walked back down to the main trail where we picked up our tools and followed the lower trail along the base of the hill. On the way we stopped to cut some branches that were obstructing the trail. When we arrived at the sharp left turn, we dropped the tools and looked for the best way to start the trail to the summit. We made our decision and again followed the green ribbons up the hill. The trail on this side is slightly longer and had a few more branches to trim. Right at the beginning of the trail there was a large branch that had fallen off a tree and lodged in the ground. The upper end was pretty firmly entangled in another tree. I got my saw and was able to cut through it at the bottom. I removed the lower part but the upper end was still hung up. I decided to garb and pull and soon the upper end was off the trail. We continued up the hill cutting branches and small trees. For me the machete was most useful as it was able to cut some small trees but could also be used to mow down some ferns to make the trail easier to follow. I was surprised that Sheila stay near us and was only taking short trips away from the trail. When we reached the summit, we stopped cutting. We walked across the top following the ribbons but looking for the path of least resistance. I also wanted to be sure to be very careful to respect the private property lines on the summit. We walked over to the spot where we had come up the other side and agreed on a path we could take. We started to cut out the trail in probably the thickest brush of the whole day. We continued to work our way across the top following a natural game trail. At one point it wasn't clear which way we should go so I walked back to the trail we had just come up. From here I could see where Cindy was standing and the easiest rout became clear. We cut out the rest of the trail so that most of the work was done. I looked at my watch and saw that it was 3:00 PM which surprised me as I did not think we had spent that much time. We walked back down the hill to the main trail where we picked up our tools and walked back out to the car arriving at 3:30 PM after spending 4 hours. The trail still needs to be blazed with paint if the rain ever stops. Some small stumps need to be removed with a mattocks and I am sure there will be a few off branches to trim. All the trail needs now are some people to use it!

On Thursday, June 1st, I was the high school nurse in Liberty for the second day in a row. The day was sunny but cool and I felt a little trapped inside. On the way home I though about taking a short hike since the blue sky was full of puffy white clouds. When I got home, I asked Cindy if she wanted to go to Frick Pond and she agreed. I got my gear together and we headed out the door a little after 4:00 PM. I drove out the DeBruce Road for 6 miles and turned left on Mongaup Road. I stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road at the Y and parked in the smaller lot at. I decided to wear a light windbreaker over a long-sleeved shirt as it was a little cool. As soon as we stepped out of the car it was obvious we would need some insect repellant so we applied some before heading out on the woods road to the register at 4:30 PM. This trail is always dry but was muddy this time from the rain we had during the week. We arrived at the register box to find the woods road out to Frick Pond covered in water and very muddy. In most areas it was easy to find a way around the water but in others it was difficult. The trail crew has tried to redirect the water into channels and off the trail but it is difficult as the trail tends to be lower than the surrounding ground. We stayed left at Gravestone Junction to walk down to the pond. The water level in the pond was even higher than the last time I was there and Cindy remarked that it actually looked like a pond. I put my pack down and got out my camera and took pictures of the beaver dam that was higher and better reinforced than last time. I have taken these pictures of the pond before but never get tired of the puffy white clouds in the blue sky with the green of spring on the trees and bushes. I took pictures of the dam and the pond. We walked across the bridge and around the west edge of the pond. At the next trail junction we turned right to get on the yellow-blazed Big Rock Trail and headed around the back of Frick Pond. After passing over the wooden walkways we came to a bridge where there was a god view of the wetlands at the head of the pond. I took some pictures and pointed out a large branch I had cut the last time I had been on the trail. Just over the second bridge I pointed out a much larger branch that I had removed on my last maintenance trip. We headed toward Time Square trying to avoid the very muddy areas on the trail.

At Times Square we had to make a decision about how long we wanted the hike to be and which trail we would take. We both agreed that just a loop around the pond was too short. I wanted to go up the Big Rock Trail and Cindy wanted to take the Logger's Loop to Iron Wheel Junction. After a few moments, we turned left and headed toward Iron Wheel Junction on the Logger's Loop. Times Square was very wet and muddy from the water running down the hill from the Logger's Loop. The trail was also wet and muddy from springs on the trail itself. These make it hard to predict where the water is actually originating and hard to develop a solution. As we walked along the trail, we came to the area where there is a seasonal pond on the right side of the trail. The water isn't much more than 18 inches deep and during drier weather there may be no water in the "pond". This time the pond seemed unexpectedly smaller than last time. I had thought with all the rain that it would be even deeper. As we continued on toward Iron Wheel Junction, thee trail had several large puddles and several places where it was clear there had bee water. Soon we were at the trail junction where we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head back to Frick Pond. Walking downhill toward the little stream in the woods, the trail was wet and muddy much like the rest of the hike. I was surprised that the stream's water level was rather low and we crossed it easily. As we walked through the "spruce tunnel", I found one large hardwood truck across the trail that I remembered from the last hike. I made note of it and knew I would return with my larger saw and a full-sized felling axe. We continued on the Quick Lake Trail which also had its share of puddles and mud. Soon we were back at the bridge over the outlet to Frick Pond. As we stopped to watch the water for a minute, a head popped up out of the water and the animal began swimming across the pond. I got out my camera and took a quick picture but only got the back of the beaver's head before it ducked under the water. We walked up the hill and followed the Quick Lake Trail back to the register. We walked the woods road back out to the car arriving at 6:10 PM. We had hiked 3.8 miles in 1 hours and 40 minutes with only 5 minutes of stopped time. The overall elevation gain was a modest 380 feet.

On Tuesday, May 30th I wanted to get out for a hike since track meets and rainy weather had kept me away from the forest for a week! Sheila seemed to agree as I got ready to go across the street to hike on Round Top. I had gotten a late start and decided this was the best plan. I also had not hiked Round Top in a week and wanted to make sure the trail was clear and in good shape. I also wanted to see what the proposed upper trail looked like as I was planning to do some work in clearing that trail on Saturday, June 3 which is National Trails Day. This would include cutting this trail out and marking it with paint blazes. We headed across the street at about 11:35 AM with Sheila pulling me all the way down the driveway on her leash. It was a cool day with mist still in the air so I wore my Pertex rain jacket that repels water but has huge pit zips to dump heat. I had decided not to bring my pack as I did not want to carry the extra weight and wanted to have the "freedom" from taking pictures. I also did not want to get the pack wet in the heavy mist. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church which is short but really gets the circulation pumping! When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. As soon as we entered the trees it seemed that it was raining but I thought it was just the rain falling from the leaves. There are plans to place a sign at the trailhead and to have a formal opening later this year. At the first trail junction we turned right to walk up the gentler slope. As we walked I picked up a few sticks on the trail but there were no major blowdown to clear. At the sharp left turn we turned left to stay in the lower trail. I was pleased to see that the brush pile I had made to discourage ATV use was still in place and that there were no new tracks. We continued along the base of Round Top until the lower trail turned left. At this point we turned right and followed the green ribbons toward the summit of Round Top. There was a pretty clearly defined track to follow as well as the ribbons. As we walked, I picked up a few branches and threw them off the track. At the top I headed across the flat summit but had trouble finding the ribbons or a good track. This is an area I will have to work on. We descended the other side following the ribbons and met the lower trail at the brush pile. We turned right and followed the lower trail around to the lookout. From here we continued down the hill to the first trail junction. At the trail junction we turned around and started back up the hill to the lookout to begin our second figure 8. At the lookout we continued to the right to follow the lower trail. Further along where the trail turned right we followed it along the base of Round Top until we came to the brush pile at the right turn. We turned left here and followed the green ribbons marking the proposed trail back up to the summit of Round Top. In this direction I had some problems finding the ribbons and made a mental note to come remark this section. At the top we walked across the flat summit and down the other side to the lower trail. We turned left and followed the trail as it turned sharply right at the brush pile. We continued on down to the first trail junction. When we arrived, I decided to walk a little more so we started back up toward the lookout again to do one more big loop. It was clear now that it was raining but that not much was getting through to use. Where the lower trail made a sharp right we continued straight ahead following the green ribbons to the summit of Round Top. On the way up Sheila went off trail to the right to check out a log. She seemed very interests in something so I called her back and told her to stay. I walked over to the log and didn't see anything at first. When I looked at the end of the log I saw that a small porcupine had his head shoved into the hollow end of the log. The porcupine had just his back and tail exposed. I walked back to Sheila grateful that she knew enough not to "play" with the porcupine. We walked to the summit, across the top and down the other side. When we hit the lower trail we continued on the lower trail back to the first trail junction. W eared left and walked back out to the trailhead. We walked down the hill to the church and back to our driveway. We had spent a little over an hour hiking just over 2 miles.

On Tuesday, May 23rd I wanted to get out for a hike since the forecast for the rest of the week was questionable and Thursday would be taken up by the sectional track meet. I had decided to "sleep in" since I had my sleep interrupted several times by ambulance calls in the middle of the night. As luck would have it I was awakened at 5:00 AM by...an ambulance call. When I returned, I decided to see if I could get a little extra sleep and I did manage to rest until 9:00 AM. I did some work around the house and then decided to go across the street to hike on Round Top. I put Sheila on her leash and we headed across the street at about 11:45 AM. The temperature was about 65 degrees and the sky was much more overcast than I had expected. I actually wore a light windbreaker but decided to leave my pack behind. I also left my poles at home knowing I would be hiking only about 2 miles. We walked across the field next to the church and then walked up the hill from the church to the top of the cemetery. The hill is short but steep and I appreciated Sheila helping to pull me up the hill. At the top of the hill we turned left at the trailhead and walked into the woods. I let Sheila off her leash and began to pick up some small branches off the trail. At the first trail junction we continued straight ahead up the hill to the lookout. At the top of the hill we followed the trail as it turned to the right and headed uphill. When the trail made a sharp right, we followed it as it followed the base of Round Top. Again, as the trail turned right we followed it downhill to the woods road that took us back to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and walked back up the woods road to the sharp left turn. Instead of following the lower trail we continued straight ahead toward the top of Round Top following the green ribbons of the proposed upper trail. We continued to follow the ribbons across the summit of Round Top and down the other side back to the lower trail. Here we turned right and followed the yellow blazes of the lower trail back to the lookout. At the viewpoint we followed the trail to the left and back down to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and started back up to the lookout following the lower trail to the right and uphill until we came to the sharp right turn. We continued straight ahead following the green ribbons back to the summit of Round Top. On the way up I noticed that Sheila was sniffing around a log just off the trail. I decided that she was up to no good and called her back. I told her to "Stay" and walked over to the log. At first I didn't notice anything. On closer inspection, I found that a small porcupine had its head poked into the end of the log leaving only its needle-covered tail and body exposed! I was glad that Sheila had the good sense NOT to bite it! I went back to the main trail and we walked over the top and down the other side to the lower trail. We walked straight ahead down the hill to the woods road and the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and walked back around the lower loop one more time ending up back at the first trail junction. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked out to the trailhead, back down to the church and across the street to our driveway. We had hiked two small loops and two big loops and we were back a the house at 1:00 PM. I estimated from our usual pace that we walked just over 2 miles. Some might think the repeated loops would be boring. I find that the trails are convenient and I know them so well that I can spend a lot of time thinking.

On Sunday, May 21st, Cindy and I left the Damascus Forest trail and headed for Cobey Pond to the south. I was trying to scout out the Damascus Forest trail and the Cobey Pond trail to update the trailkeeper.org website. We headed west on Macubbins Road and then turned left at the end on Barkley Lake Road. We then turned right on Plank Road and left on Atco Road to get to Route 652, the Beach Lake Road. After 2.4 miles we turned left or south on Perkins Pond Road. We stayed on Perkins Pond Road for 4 miles until it ended at Welcome Lake Road. The name of the road changed to Case Road as we entered the Township of Lackawaxen. We turned right on Welcome Lake Road and drove .9 miles to Masthope Road where we turned left. The access road for Cobey Pond was 1 mile down the road on the left. We turned into the road and crossed Masthope Creek on a small bridge. A group of women had just finished their hike and were removing ticks from themselves and their clothing. We asked them about the trail but they really didn't know much about the area. A road headed off to the right and seemed to be on my geospatial PDF so we headed out on the road. As we walked I could see that the GPS track was well off the road on the amp so we turned around and went back to the parking area. There was a gate across a woods road that ran along the creek so we decided to try that. We walked along the creek which was pretty enough for me to stop and take a few pictures. It soon became obvious that this was not the trail we were looking for. We went back to the car again and looked for a third option. Another car had parked while we were hiking and a family was walking on the road we had been on. As we looked for a third option, we heard a noise that sounded like a dog being mauled by a bear! I told Cindy to take Sheila and I walked toward the noise. I asked if everything was OK and was told it was. I walked back to the car and we decided to walk farther up the road to see where it went. As we passed the family posing for a picture, I saw no dog! We walked up the road and the GPS track soon started to match the map. In about half a mile we came to an upper parking area and turnaround just before another locked gate. This, apparently, was the best place to park although it was not obvious so any mentions of mileage are from this parking area. There was a cloyingly sweet odor in the area coming from bushes with white flowers but we noticed there were no bees. As we walked through the gate there was one car parked in the turnaround. The road we were on was paved with large crushed stone which made walking difficult so we tried to stay the sides. At .15 miles the road split with the paved section headed right and a grassy section headed uphill to the left. We turned right to follow the pave road.

The road descended just slightly and then climbed a little to the shores of the pond. I was surprised to see a dock jutting out into the water and a nice wooden bridge over the spillway. There were two fisherman with waders fishing near the outlet. I stopped to take a few pictures and noticed the sky was getting darker and the wind was picking up. The trail went in both directions around the pound and we chose to turn right as it was the route on the map and was the longer hike. After crossing the spillway and reaching the other side of the pond we turned left to follow a grassy road that was completely flat around the pond. As we walked we found some more of the fragrant white flowers and a bush with pink flowers that we did not recognize. At the head end of the pond we stopped again and I took some more pictures. There were several small "islands" at the upper end. I also took pictures of the pink flowers and of a wood duck nesting box with a metal skirt to discourage predators. As we continued to walk the trail split at about 1.5 miles. The trail to the left circled the shores of the pond but the trail we wanted headed to the right. We turned right and followed the grassy road as it gained a little elevation heading southwest and then south. Right around the highest point at 1.75 miles there was a house being built in the woods on the right. I also notice a hen turkey standing in plain view along the left side of the trail. Sheila went to chase her as she gobbled and took to flight only when Sheila was almost on top of her. She flew only a short distance, landed and gobbled some more. I knew she must have chicks close by and soon we could see them on the side of the trail. They were so well camouflaged we could only see them when they moved. I immediately called Sheila back and put her of the leash. We continued along the trail completing the loop at 2 miles. We turned right to walk down the road and through the gate. I stopped my GPS at the upper parking area. We had walked 2.2 miles in just less than an hour with a 245 foot elevation gain. This hike was a little longer and a little more interesting than the Damascus Forest but I would not go out of my wake to hike either trail. We continued on the road and arrived back at the car at 5:10 PM. I checked Sheila for ticks and picked off at lest 8 that were crawling around on her. Cindy asked me to take a few off her clothing. I had two on my clothing and one that was beginning to bite the back of my right hand. When we arrived home I checked Sheila again and picked off more ticks. Cindy had a half dozen or more UNDER her BugOff gaiters and on her pants. I also had a few more on my clothing. In several hikes to do trail maintenance at Frick Pond and on Cabot Mountain we had encountered no ticks. I don't think I will going back to Pennsylvania very soon!

On Sunday, May 21st, the forecast had been for rain but by the time we left church at 12:15 PM the skies were only a little cloudy with some sun shining through. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go to scout out the Damascus Forest Trail and the trail at Cobey Pond. I was trying to scout out the Damascus Forest trail and the Cobey Pond trail to update the trailkeeper.org website. She said "Yes" and I set out to create two geospatial PDFs using Caltopo. I should have done this the night before and it took some time to get it done! As I was getting my pack read, I noticed I had the scabbard to my saw but there was no saw. After a few minutes of searching, I was convinced I had left it on the Touch-Me-Not Trail the day before. Cindy and I got dressed to hike and got all our equipment in the car. I drove up the Beaverkill Road to Beech Hill Road behind a car that was looking for some location and would not pull over! I turned left on Beech Hill Road and drove to the parking area for the Touch-Me-Not Trail. I walked down to the beginning of the trail and found the saw right where I had left it. I felt lucky but stupid! I drove back to Livingston Manor and we headed toward Callicoon over the back roads. When we to Route 97 I turned left or south and headed toward the bridge at Cochecton. We crossed the bridge over the Delaware River into Pennsylvania and almost immediately turned left on River Road. We followed River Road south along the river for a total of 6 miles. At 2.7 miles we had to turn left to stay on River Road. When we saw Macubbins Road on the right, I turned and drove .7 miles to the parking area on the right. When we pulled in there was one other car and a woman with her dog sitting in the grass under a tree. I thought this unwise as the ticks this year are very numerous especially in Pennsylvania. As we were getting ready, the woman talked to my wife and advised us that she always saw bears on this hike. When we said we were from New York, she said "This will be a nice change for you." which led us to believe she had translated New York to New York City. We were finally able to get going at 2:35 PM by walking through the opening in the rail fence next to the information kiosk. There weren't any visible markers but we stayed on the edge of the forest and field until we picked up yellow paint blazes.

The trail headed north through an evergreen forest gaining a little elevation. There was a lot of debris and some blowdowns on the trail so I assumed no one had been around to clear the trail for the hiking season. We quickly reached a power line right-of-way and I stopped to take a few pictures. The trail turned off the right-of-way and headed north through some more evergreen forest. I could see a trail lower down on the hill and surmised it was for the return trip. At about half a mile into the hike we came to a stone wall where the trail turned left and descended to the trail I had seen which runs along a wetland. I dropped my pack and walked to the edge of the wetland which turned out to be the highlight of the hike. The trail now headed southwest through some mixed softwood and hard wood forest until at .75 miles it turned south. We were now on a woods road which was open and ease to follow. Soon I could see that we were just west of the parking area and approaching the road. I had expected a longer hike and checked my GPS to see if we had missed anything. The geospatial PDF on my iPhone showed we had completed the trail! There weren't any blazes to guide us back to the car so we walked out to the road, turned left and then almost immediately turned left again into the parking area. It was 3:10 PM and we had hiked 1.1 miles in 30 minutes with an elevation gain of 130 feet. We both concluded that although the trail was pretty it also was pretty short without much "bang"! Our next stop was to be Cobey Pond so I turned right on Macubbins Road and started to head west. Not very far along we came to a small pond with a beautiful stone dam. The outlet formed a little waterfall. I pulled the car over to take a few shots before continuing on our way.

On Saturday, May 20th, I had planned to hike to do some more trail clearing on the Touch-Me-Not Trail from Beech Hill Road to Cabot Mountain. Since I had done the maintenance from Barkaboom Road to Cabot Mountain on Thursday, this would complete my "spring cleaning" except for a little lopping to do in a few spots. I maintain this section of trail for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference. I had an early morning ambulance call which delayed my departure as well as a few morning showers. By 11:00 Am the rain had stopped and the radar was clear. I got my gear ready and dressed for what was going to be cooler day than Thursday so I wore a light jacket. I packed my Silky saw and plastic felling wedges and grabbed my light Fiskars axe. Sheila was ready to go as we pulled out of Livingston Manor at a little after 11:00 AM. I drove north on Old Route 17 before turning right on the Beaverkill Road. I got behind some slower traffic as was further delayed by some tree trimming. I passed through Lew Beach and turned left on Beech Hill Road Road. I drove up the road about 2.6 miles and parked at the small pullout on the right side of the road at the beginning of the trail. The temperature was still in the high 50's which was at least 20 degrees cooler than on Thursday. As soon as I got out of the car I knew I would need some insect repellant and applied some immediately. I set my electronics and we walked down through the field and into the woods to begin our hike at 11:30 AM. The first part of the trail is flat and usually very wet and this day was no exception. We walked slog a stone wall and almost immediately cam to the first blowdown. I decided to leave this one for the way back and proceeded Wong the trail. I picked up a few branches and through them aside. The trail was wet and muddy and we had to walk at the side of the trail in several spots to avoid the mud. At .2 miles the trail begins to climb and in about half a mile it gains almost 600 feet averaging a 20% grade. This is not as steep as the other side but is plenty challenging. After climbing a little we ran into a large tree across the trail. This one was new and more than a foot in diameter. It was squarely across the trail and would have to be cut in at least two places. The wood looked solid which I knew would make it hard to cut and heavy to handle. I decided to re-evaluate this one on the way back. We continued up the trail which has a few switchbacks and several flatter areas. We found a large tree trunk on the trail. The upper part of the rotted trunk had broken off and rolled away from the trail. The lower section wasn't exactly blocking the trail but I decided to try to roll it off the trail. The problem was that I had to roll it slightly uphill. I got a big rock toy brace it and cleared behind the log. I was able to roll it completely off the trail and brace it with the rock to clear the trail.

At about .7 miles the trail levels off and then rolls over several bumps to the Cabot Mountain Vista at 1.6 miles. Shortly after the trail flattened we came to another tree that I thought I could roll out of the way. I again had to roll the trunk uphill and at some point gravity took over and the tree rolled into the trail! I decided this was unacceptable so I took some "before" pictures and then got my Fiskars axe and cut the trunk into two pieces. The lower and shorter one was easy to roll of the trail. The other piece needed to be flipped. I lifted it to about 70 degrees and realized then that I needed to get to just over 90 degrees! I didn't want to drop it and start over so I gave a big effort and flipped it off the trail. I took my "after" pictures and got a drink. The temperature was beginning to rise so I stowed my jacket. We continued along the trail to another set of trunks on the trail. I took pictures and then got to work removing what was loose. It didn't take long to cut the remaining tree with the axe and remove everything. Before we moved on I sued the saw to cut another small blowdown. I took my pictures, packed up and moved on. Sheila meanwhile was having a great time as the day was cooler. We came to another blowdown but I decided to walk to the vista and then cut this one on the way back. Just passed this blowdown was a large branch or treetop that had fallen so that it was well anchored in the ground with the top hung up in another tree. I tried to bring t down by getting it moving but to no avail. We continued along the flat part of the trail toward the viewpoint. There was only one more tree across the trail and this was an old and rotting white birch. It had a thick trunk that would be hard to cut. We arrived at the lookout at about 1:20 PM. The view was slightly better than two days before. I took some pictures including a few of Sheila sitting on the lookout before getting a drink and a snack and heading back. I knew that the trip back should go quickly but that I would be hampered by the lack of poles. Climbing without poles is difficult but descending can be dangerous! We stopped at the one blowdown still blocking the trail on the flat summit. I got out the saw to see it I could cut through the trunk. The Silky saw worked very well and soon the cut was almost done. As the two pieces of trunk separated, the top piece fell completely off the trail. My work was done so I took some pictures and continued on the trail. The descent did go quickly with some slipping and sliding. We stopped at the large blowdown near the base of the hill but I decided I would need a full-sized felling axe and my Katanaboy folding saw for this one! Our last stop was at the blowdown near the beginning of the trail. I was able to make one cut near the lower end of the trunk even though the wood was hard to cut as it was wet. Once the cut was made I tried to roll the top over the stone wall next to the trail. The trunk decided to use gravity and fell onto the trail. Somehow I was able to lift the top of the piece back onto the wall and block it with a rock. I swung the other end up and our work for the day was done. We walked back to the car arriving at 2:30 PM after spending 3 hours hiking 3.3 miles and doing a lot of trail work. I was surprised that the elevation gain was only 925 feet!

On Thursday, May 18th, I had planned to hike to do some more trail clearing. I had worked on the trails around Frick Pond the day before in very warm conditions. I thought I would attend my 6:15 AM men's bible study and then head out. That plan changed we an ambulance call came in around 5:00 AM. By the time got back the class was almost over and I was not sleepy. I decided to get an early start. I settled on hiking from Big Pond over the Touch-Me-Not Trail toward Cabot Mountain. I maintain this section of trail for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference and had not been out to clear it yet this spring. I got my gear ready and dressed for what was going to be a hot day eschewing even the lightest jacket. I packed my Silky saw and plastic felling wedges and grabbed my light Fiskars axe. Sheila was ready to go as we pulled out of Livingston Manor at a little after 8:00 AM. I drove north on Old Route 17 before turning right on the Beaverkill Road. I got behind some slower traffic as was further delayed by some tree trimming. I passed through Lew Beach and turned left on the Barkaboom Road just before Turnwood. I drove up the road less than a mile and parked at Big Pond around 8:30 AM. As soon as I got out of the car I knew I would need some insect repellant and applied some immediately. I set my electronics and we walked across the road to begin our hike at 8:40 AM. The first part of the trail is a little steep but I stopped to pick up some branches and throw them off the trail. Just passed the trail register was a tree leaning across the trail. I had identified this and several others to be cut with a chainsaw last year but the promised help never materialized. The tree doesn't really block the trail but I worry that some day it has to come down. We continued to walk up the trail with me stopping to break off a few branches or pick up some lying in the trail. There really wasn't much to clear and the walk went quickly. In a few places it was clear that the trail had acted as a streambed as it was still damp and there were a lot of leaves that had washed down the gully. At around half a mile the trail started to get steeper and a little wetter in spots. I did find one small tree across the trail and I took a few pictures before rapidly removing it. After taking a few "after" pictures, we continued along the trail as it climbed Touch-Me-Not Mountain. Along the way there were several large trunks of more than 12 inches in diameter across the trail. The trunks were low and ease to step over. These were the same obstacles I had reported last year. I was getting a little tired climbing since I was carrying an axe and not my poles. At 1.1 miles we came to the junction with the Campground Trail that comes up from the Little Pond beach area. Just before the junction there is a large tree that has split in three directions. One trunk blocks the trail but is relatively easy to get over. Another section fell to the right and off the trail. The third section fell along the trail and is hung up in another tree. These are probably 24 inches in diameter and will require a chainsaw or a reroute of the trail.

We turned right at the trail junction to stay on the Touch-Me-Not trail. It was my plan to follow the trail down to the junction with the Little Pond trail clearing as we went. I thought we would probably turn around at this point and return to the car. The distance is only about half a mile but the trail drops around 300 feet. There wasn't much to clear but I noted some new briars and brush encroaching on the trail. These would best be trimmed by loppers or shears and could wait until my next trip. On this short descent the trail passed through some rocks and ledges which makes the hike interesting. There were a few large trunks that had been there for some time and I had flattened the top surface to make getting over them easier. We arrived at the junction with the Little Pond Trail at 9:50 Am after hiking 1.6 miles. It seemed very hot and I was a little tired. However, we had hiked less than 2 miles and I wanted a little more. We continued straight ahead on the Touch-Me-Not Trail and I had the vague notion we might climb to the lookout on Cabot Mountain. I cleared a few small branches and some larger ones that had fallen on the trail as a result of larger trees falling near the trail. We came across several large trunks across the trail most of which were old and had not been cleared. One new blowdown was nearly 24 inches and was lying across the trail diagonally. We climbed over this one and continued on to the base of the climb up Cabot. I decided to go little farther to see if the majority of the ascent was free of debris. As we started up the climb, we came to an area where some small trees or bushes were almost blocking the trail. These would be easiest to clear with loppers so I let them go and moved on. By this time we were beginning to move up the ascent. It was very hot and dry and it became clear that the one bottle of water I rough along was not enough. I had to make a decision. The wise choice was to turn around and leave the rest of the trail to the lookout for another day. So I decided that we would make the attempt to reach the viewpoint over Little Pond. The climb up Cabot from the beginning to end is only about 4 miles but the average grade is over 24%. Within that climb there is a .2 mile section that is a 35% grade!

As we climbed, I was afraid that my legs would cramp as they felt on the verge of doing so. I was also afraid that I would not have enough water to correct the problem! I had every opportunity to come to me senses and turn back but I did not. There wasn't much to clear off the trail but I did remove some branches. There were also several large blowdown that had been there for a long time. We finally made the last climb and then walked along the flat summit to the lookout. The trees are beginning to get leaves so Little Pond was somewhat blocked. The skies were blue with white clouds but they seemed a little hazy and flat. I got out the camera and took some pictures including one of Sheila in the shade of some rocks. Sheila seemed very hot so I gave her a drink and got one myself. I saw no point in waiting around so we began our trip back at 10:35 AM after spending only about 5 minutes resting. The descent was much easier than the climb except for the fact that I missed my poles going down. I used the axe at times to lean on but it was a poor substitute. Sheila still looked hot and was panting heavily. She took every opportunity to rest in the shade. As we started down the last part of the climb, I remembered that she had found some water off the trail on the way up. Soon we were at the water which was flowing slowly and formed a little pool. I encouraged Sheila to go get a drink and get wet. She ran over to the water and rolled in it until she was completely soaked! This changed her behavior completely as she got up and ran around and bolted up the trail. Soon we sere climbing over the fallen trees Tao reach the trail junction with the Little Pond Trail. We passed by that junction and began the climb up Touch-Me-Not Mountain. This climb is less than half a mile and averages an 11% grade. This is a much easier trip than up Cabot but by this time I was feeling each step. I was very happy when, at 3.4 miles we were back at the junction with the Campground Trail. When we turned left, I knew it was all downhill back to the car. We set a good pace which was aided by not stopping to clear branches. I actually felt refreshed but knew another climb would be a different story. We came to Barkaboom Road and walked straight across the road to the shore of Big Pond. I took a few pictures of the pond and a couple of Sheila standing in the cool water. We walked back up the path to the car. It was 12:05 PM and we had walked 4.5 miles in 3.5 hours with a little over half an hour of stopped time. The climb was about 1650 feet which is not a lot but the ascent up Cabot is challenging.

On Wednesday, May 17th, I decided to head for the Frick Pond area to do some trail work on the Big Rock Trail and Logger's Loop. The forecast was calling for temperatures reaching into the mid 80's and by 9:30 AM it was already in the 70's. I got my gear together including my Silky saw and felling wedges grabbing my Fiskars axe on the way out the door. The Fiskars axe is easy to carry and does a pretty good job despite its small size. I wore a light windbreaker but knew I would probably not need it between the rising temperature and the work I would be doing. We left the house at about 9:30 AM as I drove out the DeBruce Road for 6 miles. I turned left on Mongaup Road and stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road at the Y. When I parked, there where no other cars in either lot. I took off the jacket and set my electronics. I also applied some insect repellant as the flies were already gathering in large numbers. At 9:55 AM we walked over to the larger parking area and out the back of the lot on the red-blazed Quick Lake Trail. I immediately began picking up small branches from the trail and a few large ones as well. I remembered a rather large branch or trunk across the trail but when I got to the location someone had already moved it off the trail. We arrived at the register box to find the woods road out to Frick Pond covered in water and very muddy. In most areas it was easy to find a way around the water but in others it was difficult. The trail crew has tried to redirect the wearer into channels and off the trail but it is difficult as the trail tends to be lower than the surrounding ground. At Gravestone Junction I stopped to use the axe to cut a few briar canes, both old and new, that were encroaching on the trail. I generally don't wear gloves but wished I had brought a pair to deal with the briars. After clearing the obstructions, we stayed left at the junction to walk down to the pond. I was surprised to find the water level in the pond was rather high so that it actually looked like a pond rather than a wetland. I put my pack down and got out my camera and soon discovered the reason for the rising water level. The beavers had returned and were clearly building a dam at the outlet to raise the level of the pond. I took pictures of the dam and the pond. I even took a few of Sheila before stowing the camera and continuing over the bridge to the next trail junction. We turned right to get on the yellow-blazed Big Rock Trail and headed around the back of Frick Pond. After passing over the wooden walkways we came to a bridge where there was a large branch down on the other side. I took pictures of the small stream and a few out toward the wetlands at the north end of the pond. I also took pictures of the branches on the trail so I could document a before and after view. I started to clear the loose branches and found there were quite a few. I made a few cuts with the saw and cleared the rest very quickly. I took my "after" pictures and then packed up to move along. Just over the second bridge there was a small tree trunk across the trail. I again took pictures and then used the axe to start to section the log. As I cut it was clear that the log was hollow. I only had to make one cut before I could lift and rotate the larger section off the trail. I again packed up my gear and we headed toward Times Square where there is a four-way junction.

Before we could get there, we ran into a rather nasty large branch blocking the trail. I knew I had seen this one before but had tried to forget it. After taking pictures, I started to remove what was loose and cut a few other branches so that I could drag them off the trail. I looked at what was left and formed a plan of attack. I used the saw to make a cut where the branched forked. This went well leaving some branches off the trail and a large piece to move. Fortunately, I was able to flip and roll this larger piece off the trail without cutting it again. After taking a few "after" shots, I packed up and we continued on to Times Square. The trail was wet and muddy and Times Square was also a mess. There seem to be springs on the Logger's Loop trail as it comes down the hill to the trail junction. This makes it hard to predict where the water is actually originating and hard to develop a solution. We turned left and head up the hill on the yellow-blazed Logger's Loop trying to avoid the mud. The heat was getting to me and I was glad that a breeze was blowing to keep it a little cooler band to disperse the insects. As we walked along the trail, we came to the area where there is a seasonal pond on the right side of the trail. The water isn't much more than 18 inches deep and during drier weather there may be no water in the "pond". I stepped off the trail to get some pictures and had to discouraged Sheila from diving into the murky mess. We walked back to the trail and continued on toward Iron Wheel Junction. The trail had several large puddles and several places where it was clear there had bee water. I continued to pick up small branches and moved a few larger one to the side. As we approached Iron Wheel Junction, a group of three women came walking toward us. I put Sheila on her leash but she did not bark at them. They asked if I was doing trail maintenance and thanked me when I said "Yes". Soon we were at the trail junction where we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head back to Frick Pond. Walking downhill toward the little stream in the woods, I found only a few branches on the trail. I was surprised that the stream's water level was rather low and I crossed it easily. As we walked through the "spruce tunnel", I found one large hardwood truck across the trail. It was larger than I wanted to deal with on this day. I made note of it and knew I would return with the larger saw and a full-sized felling axe. We continued on the Quick Lake Trail which also had its share of puddles and mud. Soon we were back at the bridge over the outlet to Frick Pond. It was even sunnier than on the way out and considerably hotter. We walked up the hill and followed the Quick Lake Trail back to the register. We walked the woods road back out to the car. We had hiked 4 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes with almost and hour stopped to clear the trails. The overall elevation gain was a modest 380 feet.

On Tuesday, May 16th I wanted to get out for a hike since track meets and family commitments had kept me away from the forest for a week! Sheila seemed to agree as I got ready to go across the street to hike on Round Top. I had gotten a late start and decided this was the best plan. I also had not hiked Round Top in a while and wanted to make sure the trail was clear and in good shape. I also wanted to see what the proposed upper trail looked like after the winter. We are getting ready to cut this trail out and mark it with paint blazes. We headed across the street at about 11:00 AM with Sheila pulling me all the way down the driveway on her leash. It was probably the warmest day of the year so far with temperatures hovering in the high 60's! I had decided not to bring my pack as I did not want to carry the extra weight and wanted to have the "freedom" from taking pictures. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church which is short but really gets the circulation pumping! When we got to the top of the hill, we started out on the trail by turning left at the trailhead. There are plans to place a sign here and to have a formal opening later this year. At the first trail junction we turned right to walk up the gentler slope. As we walked I picked up a few sticks on the trail but there were no major blowdown to clear. At the sharp left turn we turned left to stay in the lower trail. I was pleased to see that the brush pile I had made to discourage ATV use was till in place and that there were no new tracks. We continued along the base of Round Top until the lower trail turned left. At this point we turned right and followed the green ribbons toward the summit of Round Top. There was a pretty clearly defined track to follow as well as the ribbons. As we walked, I picked up a few branches and threw them off the track. At the top I headed across the flat summit but ha trouble finding the ribbons or a good track. This is an area I will have to work on. We descended the other side following the ribbons and met the lower trail at the brush pile. We turned right and followed the lower trail around to the lookout. From here we continued down the hill to the first trail junction. At the trail junction we turned around and started back up the hill to the lookout to begin our second figure 8. At the lookout we continued to the right to follow the lower trail. Further along where the trail turned right we followed it along the base of Round Top until we came to the brush pile at the right turn. We turned left here and followed the green ribbons marking the proposed trail back up to the summit of Round Top. In this direction I had some problems finding the ribbons and made a mental note to come remark this section. At the top we walked across the flat summit and won the other side to the lower trail. We turned left and followed the trail as it turned sharply right at the brush pile. We continued on down to the id trail junction. When we arrived, I thought about doing some more loops but it was getting late and I had a home track meet to set up. We turned left and walked back out to the trailhead. We walked down the hill to the church and back to our driveway. We had spent just about an hour hiking around 2 miles.

On Tuesday, May 9th, the forecast was calling for rain by 11:00 Am so I had not planned to go for a hike. Sheila, however, had other plans and kept staring at me "asking" to go on a hike. I decided that we would go to Frick Pond and cut some blowdowns on the Flynn Trail up to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. It seemed cold out so I put on my Columbia Omniheat pants and the Mammut hoody. I got my pack and added my Silky saw and felling wedges grabbing my Fiskars axe on the way out the door. The Fiskars axe is easy to carry and does a pretty good job despite its small size. By the time I got to the car I knew I had to trade the Mammut hoody for a lighter jacket. We left the house at abut 9:30 AM as I drove out the DeBruce Road for 6 miles. I turned left on Mongaup Road and stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road at the Y. Somewhere along the way I began to get a loud scraping noise coming from the right rear wheel. I decided to continue on and handle it on the way back. When I parked there where no other cars in either lot. At 9:50 AM we crossed the road and started hiking on the Flynn Trail. Within a few hundred feet there were a few small trees across the trail. It took me minutes to clear the trail. Of course, I took pictures before and after to document what I had done. We continued on the trail and turned right at the end onto the wide woods road that is the Flynn Trail. This was once a paved road that led to the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp and some of the pavement can be seen at times. As we walked up the trail, I picked up a few small branches on the trail When I clear a trail, I like to not only remove anything blocking the trail but remove things that are aesthetically unappealing. The next time I stopped I removed a branch that was propped up against another tree. It was rather large but I was able to pull it down and drag it off the trail The next problem was a small double trunk that had fallen part way across the trail. I use the Silky saw to make a couple of cuts and the problem was solved. A little farther up the trail another, slightly larger, trunk was across the trail. This one took a little longer but it was soon gone also. As I continued up the rail it was nearing 11:00 AM when the rain showers were in the forecast but I decided to continue. I knew there was one more larger blowdown to clear. After a short distance the final obstacle was in sight. It was a large trunk with spreading branches blocking the trail. I put my pack down to take some pictures before I started to work. The first thing I did was to remove all the loose branches which turned out to be quite a few. I remember my father telling me when we were logging to always remove the branches that were in the way before starting to use an axe. After clearing the branches I began to use the axe and saw to clear the smaller branches and drag them well off the trail. In a short time only the larger trunk. The trail was really clear but I wanted to remove some more of the trunk. I decided to start with the axe and got almost all the way through before finishing with the saw. I tend to make the cut too narrow and end up striking almost straight down at the end and the saw helps. I realized that once the piece was cut off the trunk that it was rather large. I couldn't lift it but I was able to "roll" it off the side of the trail. I took some "after" pictures before picking up my pack. I thought I might head back but diced to go up to the Big Rock Trail junction even though the skies looked dark. It wasn't far to the junction but on the way I moved two more larger branches off to the side of the trail. We turned around at the junction and started back down the Flynn Trail at a good pace. As we neared the end a couple came walking up the trail toward us. I put Sheila on her leash and we passed by each other with a "Hello". Soon we turned into the woods before the gate to stay on the trail and avoid the private popery around the cabin. We were back at the car at 12:15 PM having spent 2 hours and 25 minutes walking 3.4 miles and clearing the trail.

On Thursday, May 4th, I finished a short hike at the Mongaup River Trail on Route 97 and then headed for the Hickok Brook MUA which was on my way home. I drove north on CR-31 (Upper Mongaup Road) for a little over 5 miles to Glen Spey. I turned right and then made a quick left on CR-32 (Proctor Road). I drove north and west for a little less than 4 miles and turned left on Barker Road. I watched carefully for the sign for Hickok Brook MUA but I didn't need to worry since the typical yellow on brown sign appeared on the right in .6 miles. I pulled into the parking area and had to decided whether to park in the lot outside the gate or drive farther down the road. I opted to park in the lot and hike the road even though the gate looked like it would not be closed. There was a van parked in the lot as I got my gear ready to go. I let Sheila run free but encouraged her to stay on the road as I had already picked several ticks off her coat. We started southwest on the road at 12:40 PM. The sun was out now and I was warm even in the light jacket. This time I brought my poles even though the road was flat and in good shape. I had remembered to bring insect repellant but the slightly cooler temperatures and the breeze were keeping the insects away. My intention was to hike all the trails I could find to make sure the information on the trailkeeper.org website was accurate. I had made a geospatial PDF of the area which I knew would help when the trails became difficult to follow. At .35 miles the road started to head west and one of the trails marked on the map turned off the road to the left. I decided to do the side trail on the way back. As we walked down the road a car came toward us from inside the area. The driver stopped and asked about camping in the area. I told him it was state land and as long as there was a campsite marker camping was permitted. He thanked me but did not turn around so I assume he was just scouting the area. We continued west passing a road that was part of another side trail at .7 miles. At .8 miles we turned off the road to the left to follow a road that becomes a trail. In a few hundred feet we walked to the shores of a small pond. I dropped my pack and took out my camera to take some pictures of what would be the only "feature" of the hike. After packing up the camera, we headed back out on the trail which had yellow DEC foot trail markers. At 1.35 miles we came to a sign that said "Private Property". I had been under the impression that the trail was all on state land. I decided to backtrack to see if I could find another trail. I went back about .2 miles and found nothing. I decided to press on reasoning that if I was on private property it would not be for long. The signs were very unclear and at 1.9 miles I ran into a blue blazed trail heading left or right. I decided to turn left and see if it headed back to the yellow trail I had been hiking. The blue trail seemed almost unused but within .25 miles I was back at the "Private Property" sign! I turned around and found that I would never have seen the turn if I had not known it was there. I turned around and followed the blue trail back to the junction with the woods road. I turned left and followed the woods road until it made a right turn to the northwest. After only .3 miles the trail came out onto a gravel road. Along the way I had packed up some yellow blazes again but only for a short distance.

When we hit the gravel road and turned right or south, I noticed that the sky had clouded over a little more but that it was still warm we walked south on the road for .65 miles when one of the side trail on my map appeared on the right. We turned right on the grassy woods road which was not blazed in any way. After a short walk we came to a clearing with a picnic bench, table and fire ring. We continued through the clearing following the woods road with the help of the map on my cell phone. We were descending for the first time on the hike but I didn't know where we would end. Soon I could see a kind of gate on the trail ahead and some "Posted" signs. A look at the map confirmed this was the end of the trail which turned out to be a walk to nowhere. We turned round and climbed back up the to the picnic area and back to the road. The side trip was .9 miles for very little payoff. We stopped at the edge of the road to get a drink for both of us and a bar for me. We continued along the road headed south watching for the next side trail. I kept consulting my iPhone Avenza app which indicated the trail should be on the right. I could not find any trail although I did see a clearing off in the forest. I decided to continue on the road. In another .4 miles we were back at the point were we had turned onto the trail to the pond earlier in the hike. A little more than .1 miles farther was the gravel road that seemed to be part of a trail to the south. We turned right onto the road and began to walk south. The day was still warm and the walking pleasant although I was beginning to get tired. After walking .6 miles, I could see the turnaround at the end of the road but I had not seen the trail that should have turned off the road to the right! We turned around and walked back down the road looking for the trail on the left. Neither Sheila nor I could find any evidence of a trail or even a well-worn path. We continued to the end of the road and turned right to head back to the car. There was one more side trail which should have appeared in about another .3 miles along the road. When the trail did not show up, we kept walking and found it a little farther along. We turned right into the woods and began to follow another unmarked and unmaintained trail! We soon came to a swamp and I considered turning around but pressed onward. A little after the swamp I picked up, some yellow ribbons which seemed to follow the path of the trail on my map. I soon began pushing through small pine trees with the ribbons carrying me father south and east than I wanted to go. The direction I thought I should go showed no evidence of a trail. I decided to turn around and call it a day. We walked back the same way we had come and back out to the road. We turned right and walked back to the car arriving at 3:35 PM. We had hiked 7.3 miles in 2 hours and 55 minutes with an elevation gain of 855 feet. I find it hard to recommend the Hickok Brook MUA as a hike unless you are going there for the solitude it can provide. I would suggest the loop without the side trails which is what I presented in the trail link above.

On Thursday, May 4th, I had planned to get out early to hike but an ambulance call in the middle of the night made sleeping a little later necessary. When I got up at 9:00 AM, the temperature was in the high 50's and the sky was cloudy with some sun peaking through. The forecast called for increasing temperatures and more sun so I dressed in lighter pants and opted for a light windbreaker. I decided that I would investigate some more trails from the trailkeeper.org website that I was working to correct and improve. My choice was to first head to the Mongaup River Trail south of Glen Spey and stop by Hickok Brook MUA on the way back. Driving to the Mongaup River would take almost an hour and I had to make at least one stop along the way. We left Livingston Manor at 9:30 AM and I drove down State Route 17 to Liberty. I finished my business there and picked up Route 55 south toward Eldred. I drove for 23 miles through Swan Lake, Kauneonga Lake, and White Lake. In Eldred I turned left at the light on CR-32 (Proctor Road) and drove a little over 5 miles to Glen Spey. I turned right and then left on CR-31 (Upper Mongaup Road). I again drove south a little over 5 miles to Route 97. I made a left, crossed the bridge over the Mongaup River and made a quick left into the parking area. There was already a car parked and as I was getting ready another turned into the lot. I set my electronics and was ready to hike at 11:10 AM. The trail left the right side of the parking area as a flat gravel path paralleling the river. I was surprised the Mongaup was flowing high and fast. The trail was easy to walk and I was glad as I had left my poles in the car opting to put Sheila on her leash. For some time I did not see any other people so I let Sheila loose and we walk quietly on the trail. Several times I dropped down to the water's edge to take pictures. The river was very bit as pretty as the Neversink in the Neversink Unique Area. At one point I looked up and saw people ahead and out Sheila on her leash.

The other hikers stopped o take pictures and talk so we passed by them with a "hello". The trail remained easy to follow and relatively flat and well maintained. I stopped one more time for pictures and then continued on to an old cemetery to the right of the trail. The engraving on the stones was weathered and hard to read but one date said "1882"> I took some pictures and by the time I was done the other hikers were in sight. I shouldered my pack and we walked a little further but found that the trail had ended at almost exactly 1 mile. We turned around and stopped to talk to the other hikers. Sheila was surprisingly well-behaved as we talked. The couples were together and they were hiking the six trail in the Upper Delaware Take a Hike series. One couple was from Wisconsin and the other from Northern Virginia. We discussed hiking in the area and where they had been and where they were going. Their next hike was going to be to Jensen Ledges in the afternoon. I talked to them about rating trails and they gave me some good insights. As we turned to walk back, the couple from Virginia hike back with us. We had a very pleasant time talking about hiking and places to live in general. The walk back was even quicker than the walk out. We were back at the car at 12:15 PM having hiked 2.1 miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes. The elevation gain was 130 feet. I pulled out of the parking lot and turned north on Upper Mongaup Road to retrace my earlier route back toward Eldred.

On Wednesday, May 3rd, I had not planned a specific hike but wanted to get out and do something as the weather for the rest of the week seemed questionable. When I checked my cell phone at 8;)) AM, I found Lisa had left a message asking if I wanted to get in a hike. I called her and she said she was still interested and would like to go to Hodge Pond. We agreed that she would come to my house at 9:00 AM. I went outside for a minute and found it was a little chilly with temperatures in the low 50's and a stiff breeze. I decided to wear my Columbia Omniheat pants and Mammut hoody for a little extra warmth. I also rough along a light hat and gloves. Lisa was right on time so I loaded up my gear and Sheila and headed out the DeBruce Road. After about 6 miles, I turned left on Mongaup Road and drove to where the road split. I stayed left at the Y and drove up Beech Mountain Road to the parking area. We were surprised to see two other cars already parked at 9;20 AM. I set my electronics and we crossed the road to begin our hike at 9:25 AM. We hiked the Flynn Trail passed the register toward the woods road that would take us to Hodge Pond. I had wanted to bring a saw to clear some of the blowdowns but didn't think I would have time. We kept a quick pace up the trail as we talked about various subjects we have in common. We made the 1.7 mile climb to the junction with the Big Rock Trail in about 45 minutes. As we continued on the Flynn Trail the moss covering on the trail was exceptionally green and beautiful. I pointed out to Lisa where the snowmobiles have been avoiding the gate and mentioned ,moving a few rocks might help. At the next split in the trail we stayed left to continue to Hodge Pond on the Flynn Trail. As we descended to the pond, a few drops of rain fell. At the shore of the pond, the drops turned to sprinkles. I took a few pictures of the bleak pond and then stowed my camera, By this time there was a full-fledged rain shower going on so I pulled my pack cover over my pack. We started back up the hill as the rain continued. Both of us had mentioned hiking back along the outlet stream from Hodge Pond but we decided to leave it for a drier day. We hiked up the hill from the pond and by the time we reached the top the rain had all but stopped. As we walked back along the Flynn Trail, I stopped and took a few pictures of the bright green moss. We continued on to the junction with the Big Rock trail arriving there at 10:45 AM. We started down the Flynn Trail which is all downhill from the junction stopping only once on the way. Near the gate we followed the Flynn Trail into the woods to the right to avoid the roseate property around the cabin. Lisa sign the register and we walked back out to the car arriving at 11:25 Am. We had hiked 5 miles in just a few minutes more than 2 hours with an elevation gain of 796 feet.

On Monday, May 1st, I had not planned a specific hike but wanted to get out and do something as the weather for the rest of the week seemed questionable. I thought about going to Frick Pond to do some trail maintenance but the morning dragged on and I thought it a little late to start chopping. I decided instead to go to Mongaup Pond and hike a loop around the pond. This loop was posted on a website I am working on and the distance was listed at 21.88 miles! I was pretty sure the loop was shorter than that. When I mentioned this to Cindy, she said she wanted to come along so we got dressed and put our gear in the car. Sheila likes it best when we all go hiking so she was jumping around and making strange vocalizations. We left Livingston Manor around 10:15 AM and headed out the DeBruce Road. After about 6 miles I turned left on the Mongaup Road and at the intersection with Beech Mountain Road I stayed right toward Mongaup Pond. In a mile I pulled over and parked in the small parking area just before the entrance to the campgrounds. The park was not yet open so parking in the lot by the bathrooms would have been free but I wanted a GPS track from outside the entrance. The temperature was only in the mid-50's but it was very humid. I had worn light pants and gaiters. I put on a short sleeved baselayer and a light shirt. I left the house with a light windbreaker but almost immediately ran inside and changed into on OR Pertex rain jacket. I set my electronics and we left the car at 10:40 AM with Sheila on her leash. The area was strangely deserted as we walked through the gate and stayed to the left to walk the paved loop road on the western side of the pond. It seemed that we were walking in a cloud as we approached the observation platform and boat ramp at .35 miles. I decided to walk over and take some pictures. The pond was almost completely obscured but some features were visible through the mist. After taking a few shots we continued north on the road. Walking the road was very easy even though it rolled just slightly. At just less than a mile we walked off the road toward a bench at the edge of the pond. I dropped my pack and took out the camera. I took a few more shots of the pond from this angle. There was one, lone mallard duck near the shore. I shouldered my pack after stowing the camera and we walked back out to the loop road to continue the hike. We followed the road as it curved to the right until we came to a T at 1.25 miles.

We turned left and followed the road until the sign for the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail appeared on the right at 1.4 miles. We turned right to follow the blue-blazed trail along the west side of the much smaller upper pond. The trail was in good shape and only a little damp. At 1.7 miles the trail turned left to head for Hardenburgh. I walked down to the edge of the pond to take a few more pictures. Sheila decided to take a short swim. When she came out of the water she began her mad dash around us. Instead of following the trail, we continued straight ahead on the snowmobile trail around the north end of the pond and south along the eastern shore. The snowmobile trail was not as well maintained with quite a few small branches lying in the trail. It was continually wet with interspersed areas of mud. It was also very rocky in places. At 1.7 miles we began the only assent on the hike which lasted for only .3 miles and gained less than 100 feet. The trail crossed several bridges and at 2.2 miles we came to the junction with the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail. Turning left here would eventually lead to Flugertown Road near Long Pond. We continued straight ahead on the snowmobile trail. The trail began to descend and at 2.8 miles turned due west. Around 2.9 miles a snowmobile trail branched off to the left heading toward Mongaup Falls. We continued straight ahead toward one of the campsite loops. The trail here was flooded from a blocked culvert and we decided to cross the stream where it narrowed. We came to a campsite loop road at just over 3 miles and walked toward the pond passing by campsite 38. We walked toward the pond and came to a road intersection. Immediately to the left was the loop road to another campsite. We passed up this road and continued on to the main loop road where we turned left to head back to the car. In minutes we were at the entrance to the park and our car. It was 12:05 PM and we had hiked 3.4 miles in just under 1.5 hours. The elevation gain was only 310 feet.

On Friday, April 28th, I planned to do a rather long hike to Quick Lake or perhaps a loop on Dry Brook Ridge. As I was making my plans I came across a trail from Cold Spring Road South of Monticello into the Neversink Unique area. The description was cloudy and the GPS track ended in the middle of the woods. I decided I wanted to go and explore this area to see if there was actually a hike people would like. I have recently begun to help update the website www.trailkeeper.org which includes hikes in Sullivan County in may different areas. I am slowly converting the website from presenting trails to describing hikes on these trails. Some comments had indicated the trail was not clearly marked, so I created a geospatial PDF that I could use on my iPhone with the Avenza Maps app. This app not only shows where I am on a topo map but also shows the trail which makes it invaluable on trails that are not well marked. I got my gear in the car and ushered Sheila into the back seat. We left the house at about 10:15 Am and headed south on Route 17 toward Monticello. I got off at exit 105A and headed toward Broadway where I turned right. At the next light I turned left on St. John Street which soon became Cold Spring Road. I drove down Cold Spring Road looking for the parking area which I thought would be on the left. I had my iPhone map to help out so I knew I would find the spot eventually. At 7.45 miles from Broadway the parking area appeared on the left with a typical yellow on brown sign. The sign indicated that this parking area would allow access to the Neversink Unique Area which is exactly what I wanted. We parked at about 10:45 AM. It took me a few minutes to set my electronics and read the signs and maps in the kiosk. I found where the trail appeared to leave the parking area since it was well worn but I did not see any blazes. We began our walk and within a few hundred feet there was a trail register and red blazes began to appear. I was surprised that the blazes were the "official" NYNJTC disks even though the trails are not "official" NYNJTC trails.

The day was warm and I was glad I chose a short sleeved baselayer and a light shirt. I opted to wear a light windbreaker but had already unzipped it almost completely. The sun was bright with a few puffy white clouds in a bright blue sky. We walked slightly uphill for .4 miles to the point where the map showed another trail coming in from the left. When we arrived at this point, I could see that this trail was almost completely overgrown and had not been used for some time. We continued to walk along the wide marked trail and I noticed that whenever I stopped I was surrounded by insects. I knew that I had forgotten to bring any insect repellant so I chose to keep moving! At .55 miles the trail began to descend and this descent would continue for some time. At 1.1 miles we ran into an area where the trail became very wet for about a quarter of a mile. There had been several blowdowns along the way but there was a large one blocking the trail at about 1.25 miles. We continued downhill but at 1.4 miles the trail split with a single marker on a trail at the V. I decided to bear to the left and head downhill and I soon found the next red marker. The trail began to get very rocky but was still easy to follow. At 1.7 miles we came to an open area and the blazes disappeared! I moved through the area using the Avenza app as my guide and finally picked up the red blazes of the trail again at 1.8 miles. I made a note to check the markers on the return trip to see if they were more obvious and easier to follow. The trail continued to head south following a woods road until at 2.1 miles it ended! This matched the GPS recording I had on my iPhone but did not make a very interesting hike. The red trail ended on a jeep road and I was again surprised to see that the road was marked with blue markers. On my map it seemed like the trail to the left would lead down to the river so I turned left. It also showed that this trail crossed the river so I couldn't wait to see how that was accomplished! Just after the turn we ran into another big blowdown blocking the trail and the trail in this area was very wet and muddy. The trail continued downhill until at 2.3 miles we came to Little Eden Brook. The brook was deep in places and running fast but it wasn't very wide. I used a couple of stones to get across but Sheila decided she needed to take a dip. The trail leveled off a little and at 2.6 miles a marker on a stake seemed to indicate a turn to the right toward the river. A wide jeep road continued straight ahead and also turned up the hill to the left. We turned right and walked along the road downhill and toward the river. The trail began to parallel the river and we walked along until I decided that at 2.75 miles I would cut down to the edge of the river.

When we reached the water, we found two anglers in the river using fly rods. I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take pictures upstream and downstream. There was a series of rapids just upstream where I could see another fisherman. I got a drink and a bar and we headed back up to the trail. We walked back the way we had come until, I saw an interesting sign on a tree. The sign said "Unsafe Bridge" and "Scheduled for Demolition". I seemed to remember that one of the floods had damaged the bridge and that it had been removed. Apparently the state did not feel it was necessary to remove the sign! We worked our way down a trail to the river's edge once again. I put down my pack and got out my camera to take a few more pictures. We started to work our way upstream along the shore. I had the idea we might work our way up to High Falls. The land along the edge of the river narrowed quickly and I decided we would walk back to the point where we had descended from the trail. I took a few more shots and then we returned to the path up to the trail. We walked back up to the pointed where we had turned down to the river. I looked at the jeep road to the right but decided to leave that for another day. We turned left and walked back to the red trail crossing Little Eden Brook again. We turned right on the red trail and I knew it would be a long uphill trek back to the parking area. At 3.9 miles we were in the area where the trail markers had disappeared on the way out. I continued to follow the trail and the markers which were much clearer on the way back than the way out. As I looked back I actually wondered how I could have missed the trail the first time. We continued to hike uphill on the trail passing under the major blowdown and through the wet and muddy area. The temperature was definitely warmer and by this time I was waiting for the hike to end. We passed the "other" trail at 5.3 miles and I could hardly see that is was a trail. At 1:45 Pm we were back at the parking area having hiked 5.7 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes. The elevation gain was 822 feet. The temperature at the car was 83 degrees.

On Thursday, April 27th I wanted to get out to hike but had a few things to take care of in the morning. I had expected a more sunny day but by 11:30 AM the temperature had risen to 60 degrees and the sun was peeking through some clouds. I decided to go across the street and do some maintenance on the Round Top trail since I knew there were a few things to clean up. Since we hadn't been out since Sunday, Sheila was more anxious than I to get going. I grabbed my pack and put my Silky saw and machete in it but left the camera and GPS behind. We headed across the street at about 11:00 AM with Sheila on her leash to cross the street. . I dressed with a thin baselayer and a pullover on top and light hiking pants. I wore a light windbreaker on top hoping it was time to put away my Mammut hoody. We walked across the field by the church and around the back and started up the hill. The hill is short but steep but we made good time as Sheila did a great job of pulling me up the hill with little effort. We turned left into the woods at the trailhead and walked along the woods road with me picking up a few sticks here and there and kicking away a few rocks. At the first trail junction, we turned right to walk up the more gentle slope in the lower loop. I continued to remove small branches until we got to a small tree across the trail. The Silky saw made fast work of it and I cleared it to the side of the trail. Se turned left to follow the trail uphill to the sharp left turn. As we walked up the hill, I could tell that someone had been through with and ATV. I knew I wanted to try to discourage this activity! At the turn we stopped so that I could cut a few small trees that were across the trail. I placed them on the trail that comes in from the direction of the quarry which is where most of the ATVS come from. I found some more branches and continued to add to the pile until, it was pretty substantial. I am sure that this will be an ongoing battle. We continued our walk along the trail following the yellow blazes as it turned to the left and headed toward the viewpoint. I removed a few more branches here and there but the trail was generally in very good condition. When we got to the viewpoint, L looked for signs of any garbage but did not find any. We turned to the left and walked down the hill to the first trail junction. I moved some branches that were near the edge of the trail but found nothing in the trail. I decided I wanted to hike a little more so we turned around and headed back up to the viewpoint. We followed the trail passed the lookout to the point where it turns to the right. Here we continued straight ahead following the green ribbons along the proposed trail to the summit of Round Top. I moved a few obstructions along the way but relay wanted to start to clear the upper trail. This will have to wait until I can get a small crew to help expand the trail. The trail is only flagged with green tape but the path is pretty clear. The trail is a rather direct route to the top of the hill and follows an equally direct route down the other side. The final trail when constructed may contain some switchbacks to help mitigate the steepness. We walked up to the summit of Round Top and then started down the other side still following the bright green ribbons. We were soon back at the yellow-blazed lower trail where we turned left and then right to follow the trail down to the woods road that ends up back at the first trail junction. When we arrived at the trail junction, we turned left and walked back out to the trailhead. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked downhill to the back of the church, across the field and to our driveway.

On Sunday, April 23rd, Cindy and I were invited to hike with our friend Debbie and her friend Eric. We decided to hike to the Red Hill Fire Tower since Debbie had never been there. We agreed to meet at 1:00 PM at the Claryville firehouse. Cindy and I returned home after church and got our gear ready for the hike. Sheila had been feeling a little "under the weather" but seemed like she really wanted to hike. We put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and headed to Liberty on Route 17. I took exit 100 and got on Route 55 toward Neversink and Grahamsville. In Curry I turned left on the Claryville Road and drove up Weinman Mountain toward Claryville. We arrived at the firehouse to find our friends already there. We stopped briefly and told them to follow us. I was concerned about the condition of the road to the firetower but knew we could park where the seasonal road began and hike down to the parking area. We drove three miles on Red Hill Road and then turned left on Coons-Dinch Road. This road is gravel and dirt but was in pretty good shape. Just after the top of the hill, the road became rougher but was much drier than I thought it would be. I decided to try to drive to the parking area and headed down the road. It was rutted in several places but still passable. At one point I looked up to see a car driving toward us! I pulled over a little and flagged the car down to ask them about the parking lot. They informed me that the road to the parking area was in good shape as was the parking lot. I drove the rest of the way to the parking lot and found there were no other cars in the lot. We parked at 1:20 Pm and got ready to hike. The temperature was pushing 60 degrees so I was glad I had worn lighter pants and a light windbreaker. We headed off on the trail at a relaxed pace talking as we hiked. We crossed a small stream that was flowing freely and continued along the trail. The trail has a few steep spots at the beginning but then levels out a little before beginning the final climb at about 1 mile. We stopped a few times along the way to catch our breath and to look at the beautiful forest on a bright and sunny day. Since there were no leave son the trees we could see the surrounding mountains and gage how much elevation we had gained. The last .3 miles which averages a little over an 18% grade was challenging. At 2:25 PM we arrived at the tower clearing.

I dropped my pack and tethered Sheila to the first picnic table. Unlike some dogs, Sheila has no problem climbing up and down the open steps and I didn't want her following us to the top. In a few minutes the rest of the group arrived which made Sheila happy. What didn't make her happy was being tied to a tree while we went to the tower. Cindy and I headed up first and this surprised me as Cindy is not fond of heights. We made it to the last level just below the cab which was locked. The view from the tower was as clear as I have ever seen it. I started to take pictures in all directions even though the early spring is not my favorite time for photography. We could see the High Point Tower, the highest point in New Jersey about 50 miles away. Being able to see the Burroughs Range and so may other prominent peaks was fun. We even got a look at the Rondout Reservoir to the south. I also took a few pictures of the cabin and of Sheila on the ground. I took quite a few pictures and then we started down the steps. I took a few more shots from the landings as I like to get different angles and include the tower supports in the picture. Once on the ground I took a few more shots up through the tower. We relaxed on the picnic tables enjoying a drink and a snack. As we enjoyed the sun, a family of four arrived. We said "Hello" as they walked over to climb the tower. In a few more minutes, another group arrived and then a couple. We decided it was time to pick up and leave knowing that the trip back would go quickly. We were ready to start back an 3:05 PM and kept a quick pace down the hill. As we descended, we met several groups of people coming up the trail. We began to wonder if we would be able to get our cars out of the parking area! We continued our hike and I was happy to see that Sheila was thoroughly enjoying herself and seemed none the worse for wear. We recrossed the small stream and were soon back at the parking area at 3:55 PM. We were pleased to find that some cars had parked out on the road leaving enough room for us to easily get out of the parking area. We had hiked 2.6 miles in 2.5 hours with an elevation gain of 800 feet. We had spent 50 minutes at or stops along the way primarily at the summit of the hill. The temperature at the car was 70 degrees. We thought about going somewhere for a meal and decided to go to Madison's in Livingston Manor. I dropped Sheila at the house and then we met at the restaurant. We had a great meal and a pleasant time talking.

On Tuesday, April 18th I decided it was time to get out hiking after taking a few days off for Easter. I had track practice in the afternoon so I decided to stay local and hike at Frick and Hodge Ponds. I got up a little later than usual and finished some things around the house before getting ready to leave. The forecast was for partly sunny skies with highs in the low 60's. It was only 45 degrees as I was getting ready to leave. I got my gear ready, put Sheila in the car and left the house a little before 9:30 AM. Given the temperature, I put on a light baselayer and wore my Mammut pullover. I wore my Keen Glarus boots which seem to be as waterproof as any I have. I donned my Mammut hoody although I thought it might be a little too heavy if the temperature increased as the forecast stated. I packed a light windbreaker in case I needed to change. I grabbed a my Leki carbon poles that I have been using lately. When we arrived at the trailhead there were no vehicles in the main lot. I set my electronics and at 9:45 AM we crossed the road and started out on the Flynn Trail. It was about 46 degrees but seemed warmer as the sun was shining. I left on my Mammut hoody and even wore my light hat and gloves. There was no snow on the trail which was completely bare and fairly dry. When we got to the woods road, we turned right and followed the old Beech Mountain Road which serves as the Flynn Trail. We set a good pace as we headed for the junction with the Big Rock Trail. At one point we came across a large tree across the trail. Several branches had broken off but I knew it would take an axe or a saw to completely clear the mess. We arrived at the junction at 10:30 AM and continued straight ahead through the intersection. We walked along the flat portion of the Flynn Trail and passed through the gate that marks the boundary of the state land and the land owned by Open Spaces. I again made note that my trail crew would have to do some work to move large boulders to block the gap between the gate and the trees to block the movement of snowmobiles and ATVs. At the next trail junction we stayed right to walk the woods road toward the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. At the next trail junction, just before the remains of the camp, we turned left to walk down toward Hodge Pond. We turned right at the base of the hill to walk the jeep trail around the back of the pond. As we reached the upper end of the pond, I walked off the Thailand to the shore of the pond. Before I could put down my pack and get out the camera, Sheila ran out into the water and swam around. I took some pictures of her and of the pond. The sky was completely cleat and lacking the puffy white clouds that provide depth and contrast. I stowed my camera and walked back to the jeep trail to continue on around the pond. When we hit the Flynn Trail, we stayed to the left and cantoned around the pond to the outlet. The trail here was a little wet.

When we came out into the clearing a the outlet of the pond, we walked over to the fire ring near the outlet end. I again dropped my pack and got out my camera to take some pictures of the pond. After only a few minutes, I picked up my pack and we started up the Flynn Trail heading back for the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We walked along the flat part of the Flynn Trail, through the gate and back to the Big Rock Trail. We turned right on the Big Rock Trail and started walking downhill toward Times Square. The temperature had increased so I removed my hat and gloves but decided not to switch jackets. The walk down the Big Rock Trail went quickly. As we approached Times Square, we came to the large tree that had blocked the trail. The tree has a diameter of about two feet and would be hard to remove with hand tools. Fortunately, someone had cut the log in three places to clear a space through it on the trail. I wondered why they had not rolled the pieces out of the way or completely cleared the blowdown. It will take some effort to remove the obstacle completely with an axe and hand saw! We walked won to Times Square arriving there at 11:40 AM after hiking 4.9 miles. The area was wet as water originates in springs uphill on the Loggers Loop and moves downhill to the trail junction. We continued straight ahead on the Big Rock Trail to walk around the back of Frick Pond. The trail here was a little wet and muddy in spots. We continued over the bridges encountering a few blowdowns along the way. I stopped to take a few pictures of the wooden walkways and then walked to the junction with the Quick Lake Trail. We turned left and walked to the bridge over the outlet of the pond. The sky was still bright blue without clouds and the scene was the same as so many other times I had hiked here. I thought about continuing on but stopped to take a few shots. I took a few of Sheila on the bridge, some downstream from the pond and a few more of the pond and Flynn's Point. After finishing my photography. I packed up and hiked the small hill up to Gravestone Junction. We continued straight ahead on the Quick Lake Trail heading back to the car. The trail was wet and I kept crossing back and forth to avoid the water. When we ranched the trail register, I decided to turn right and follow the Quick Lake Trail back out to the parking area. As we arrived at the large parking lot, there was one car parked. If was 12:15 PM as we walked over to our car after hiking 6.0 miles in 2 hours and 25 minutes. The elevation gain was 912 feet and the temperatures had climbed to almost 60 degrees.

On Saturday, April 15th I decided to head north to hike a section of trail between Huntersfield Mountain and a point to the east of Ashland Pinnacle. This section of trail was at one time a part of the Long Path until that trail was rerouted. I have hiked to Huntersfield from the west and I have hiked the Long Path from the east. The last time I tried to hike from Huntersfield to Ashland Pinnacle the trail was blocked by a forest of prickers. This time I decided to hike up to the ridge from Partridge Road and hike the ridge to Huntersfield. After that I would backtrack and hike over Ashland Pinnacle to the Long Path. I wanted to leave Livingston Manor by 7:30 AM but didn't get out of town until 8:00 AM. I was surmised that the temperature was only 31 degrees when I woke up and I rethought my clothing choices. I decide to wear my insulated Columbia pants and my Mammut hoody. I took along a lighter windbreaker and sol brought a pair of light gloves and a light hat. When we left Livingston Manor, the temperature was still only 32 degrees. In Roscoe I picked up Route 206 toward the Pepacton Reservoir. From here I headed toward Margaretville on Route 30 and continued through Roxbury and Grand Gorge. In Grand Gorge I stayed to the right on Route 23 toward Prattsville. In Prattsville I turned left on Washington Street which is Route 10 and continued east for about 6.5 miles to Partridge Road, I turned left and headed north on the paved road. The road turned to rough pavement and then gravel but never deteriorated to the point that I could not make the drive. After 1.6 miles, the road came to a dead end in a rather large parking area. When I got out of the car, the trail was obvious so I started to get ready to hike. The temperature on the car now read 55 degrees but wind was blowing so I decided to keep my hoody on and pack the lighter jacket. I set my electronics and we began to hike up the trail at 9:20 AM. The yellow blazes seemed to follow a woods road up toad the ridge but the markers were few and far between. The trail was marked for no motorized vehicles but there were obvious ATV trails. I finally gave up looking for yellow markers and simply followed the woods road and ATV tracks which kept leading up. We started off heading northeast but at .3 miles the trail leveled off and began heading northwest and then north to the ridge at .65 miles. The yellow trail ended here and we turned left to follow the red blazes west.

The trail continued to climb until about .9 miles when it hit the top of a small hill and then started to descend. I was surprised to find a few small areas of snow along the way. I was also interested to find that in most places the aqua blazes of the Long path were still intact which could definitely confuse some hikers! The trail rolled as it dropped a little and then came to the top of another small hill at 1.3 miles. It followed the ridge line and was sited mostly along wide woods roads which made the walking pretty easy. At 1.75 miles I came across a pretty common trail feature that leaves me shaking my head. The woods road continued straight ahead with no obstacles. The trail veered right into the woods and rejoined the woods road about 100 feet ahead. I am at a loss to understand why this makes any sense but some trail builders consistently do this! We continued to follow the woods road but somewhere after 1.9 miles I could no longer find and blazes. I looked left and right into the woods and simply decided to continue to follow the road as long as it was headed where I was headed! We were definitely climbing which was a good thing as we were nearing the summit of Huntersfield. At 2.35 miles the red blazes of the trail came in from the left and I made note as I intended to follow the trail on the way back. At 2.45 miles we came to the junction with a yellow spur trail to the lean-to. We turned left and headed over to the lean-to. There was no one in residence so I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I took a few shots of Sheila in the lean-to. There is a viewpoint cut out in front of the lean-to looking south to the Catskills. I took some pictures but there was a haze hanging over the mountains and too few clouds to make the sky interesting. I stowed my hoody, hat and glove sin the pack and put on the light windbreaker. I picked up my gear and we headed back along the yellow trail to a viewpoint that looks east toward Ashland Pinnacle. The bench that once stood here had rotted away. I took a few shots but the conditions were much the same as in front of the lean-to. We returned to the trail and turned east on the red trail to return the way we came.

As we started down the trail, we came to a patch of snow and I stopped to take a few pictures. Sheila decided to pose on the snow by lying down and taking a few licks! At 2.7 miles we turned right off the nice wide and flat woods road and began to follow the red markers of the trail. At first they were easy to see as they followed a woods road. Soon there were fewer markers and the trail became harder to walk. I kept looking for a reason that the trail builders found it necessary to leave the woods road. I was hoping for an interesting rock formation or a viewpoint or something but I found...nothing! At 3.1 miles we rejoined the woods road. We were making good time as we were mostly descending but I was keeping an eye on my watch as I had an afternoon commitment. We "rolled" over the hills we had encountered on the trip out and at 4.4 miles we had descended to the junction with the trail back to the car. It was 11:35 Am and I knew we would be continuing on to the Long Path junction. Sheila also apparently knew this as she ignored this trail and continued straight ahead on the red trail. Over the next quarter mile we ascended to the shoulder of Ashland Pinnacle along a woods road. Immediately after this point the trail began to descend and I was concerned that we were going in the correct direction. I was glad I had Sheila with me and that she is equipped with CPS (Canine Positioning System)! The trail dropped off the ridge a little and then regained it as we walked another .8 miles losing about 340 feet of elevation. At 5.5 miles we broke out into a clearing and I saw the aqua blazes of the Long Path. We stopped and I took some pictures of the woods road and huge evergreen trees. I got a drink and a snack and gave Sheila a drink. It was 12:05 PM when we turned around and headed back. The initial climb was a little difficult but after that the walk went quickly. We reached the yellow trail back to the car at 6.6 miles. We turned left and followed our route back to the car. We arrived at the car at 12:50 PM after hiking 7.2 miles in 3.5 hours. The elevation gain was a total of 1876 feet. The temperature was 64 degrees at the car which was 10 degrees higher than when we began the hike and over 30 degrees warmer than when I got up in the morning!

On Thursday, April 13th I had planned to go to hike Huntersfield Mountain from a different trailhead on Partridge Road. When I woke up in the morning, I decided I did not want to go so far away to hike when I had an evening church service. I changed my plans and settled on hiking a loop to the east on Mongaup Pond including a visit to Mongaup Falls. The temperature was in the high 30's so I decided to wear my warmer Columbia insulated pants and my Mammut hoody. I also wore my high gaiters and brought along a light hat and gloves. Sheila was happy as I got my gear together and we headed out to the car. I got on Route 17 and headed for Liberty at 8:45 AM to do a couple of things before hiking. When I finished in Liberty, I got back on Route 17 and headed west getting off at the Parksville exit. I started up Cooley Road and turned left on Lily Pond Road. I drove to the end of the road and turned left on DeBruce Road and then right on Mongaup Pond Road. Sheila had been confused up to this point but perked up as we drove up the Mongaup Pond Road which is very familiar. When we reached the intersection with Beech Mountain Road, I stayed to the right and parked in one of the two spots on the right side of the road. I got my electronics set and then let a frantic Sheila out of the car so that we could begin our hike at 9:45 AM. We walked back toward the intersection and turned left to hike down what used to be Hunter Road. I decided to visit the falls on the return trip so we walked across the small bridge and continued up the hill on what is now a woods road and snowmobile trail.

At .4 miles we passed by a snowmobile trail that I planned to use on the return trip. After a short descent, we again began to climb on the rocky and rather wet woods road toward Terwilliger Road. At 1 mile we turned left as the snowmobile trail turned into the woods. Here the trail was dry and the surface flat which made walking go very quickly. There was no snow and the woods were open and beautiful in their own way. The trail dropped a little as we headed northeast and then at 1.4 miles we began to climb again. At 2.35 miles we were still climbing as the trail headed southeast to reach the highest point on the trail at 2.7 miles. From here the trail began to descend and at 2.9 miles the trail again turned northeast and continued dropping in elevation. At 3.8 miles we reached the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail where we turned left and started heading northwest. We started climbing again over some rocky terrain until we reached the top of a hill at 4.5 miles and started to descend the other side. It was getting much warmer and the effort of walking had me opening all the zippers on my hoody. I also stowed my gloves and hat in my pack. We continued our descent until at 5.2 miles the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail ended at a snowmobile trail. We turned left on the snowmobile trail and headed southwest. This trail was very wet in places as it is lower than the land to the east and water draining from the higher land flooded the trail. As we walked by some ledges, I could see some small waterfalls with water cascading down into small streams which crossed the trail. We continued to walk southwest passing over two small hills. At 7.35 miles we arrived at the junction with the snowmobile trail we had been on when we started the hike. We turned right and started to walk downhill and northwest back toward the car. As we approached the small bridge over the stream we turn off to the left and walked to Mongaup Falls. The falls has two levels and I dropped my pack near the upper one. First, I took some pictures from the side and then I walked down to the edge of the stream. I was able to walk out on some rocks to take pictures from in front of the upper falls. When I was done, I carefully worked my way down the side of the bank to the bottom of the lower falls. I took a few pictures from the side of the falls and then again worked my way down to some stones. These stones allowed me to walk out in the stream bed to take shots from in front of the falls. When I finished my photography, I worked my way back up the bank to my pack. I stowed my camera and then walked back out to the main trail. We crossed the bridge and walked back up the woods road to the car. We arrived at the car at 1:15 PM after having hiked 7.9 miles in 3.5 hours with an elevation gain of 1250 feet. The temperature was in the low 60's.

On Tuesday, April 11th after visiting several waterfalls, Cindy and I decided to go to hike at Pratts Rock just east of Prattsville. From Red Falls I drove west on Route 23 for a little over 2 miles to the parking area on the right. The parking lot is small and there were several cars already parked there. I found a spot and parked at 2:55 PM. The temperature was now in the high 70's and even Sheila seemed to be warm. We walked on the path passing the information kiosk and continuing up the path around the "back" of the cliffs. As we passed the first bench carved into the rock, we could see some of the carvings much higher up on the cliffs. We decided to bypass the trail that goes to the base of the cliffs and continued to walk west and up the trail that goes to the top of the cliffs. The trail is a little steep in spots and is highly eroded since it is a popular destination. We were soon at the top of the cliffs taking in the view of the sparkling Batavia Kill below. There were no other hikers in sight so I took quite a few pictures of the valley below. The sun angle was again not very advantageous but I did get some nice shots. A family of four came down from the upper ledges and we made sure Sheila stayed with us until they passed. We continued to walk up to the next set of lookouts which are more to the east. The angle of the sun was better here so I took some more shots of the stream below, the valley and the hills beyond. To the northeast a high mountain was visible and I was pretty sure it was Huntersfield Mountain which is on the CHH list. I took some more pictures before we headed back down the trail and found a shortcut to the trail that runs just below the cliffs. This trail was a tricky little descent but brought us out just below the carvings. There were no others present so I got out the camera and took some pictures of the rock carvings. The whole area is beginning to show some neglect. The carvings are deteriorating and are not whitewashed frequently. It is most distressing that a few people have found it necessary to deface the carvings with graffiti. The carvings are a real artistic and historic treasure which are being ignored. When I was done with my photography, we descended the trail back to the car. We were at the car by 1:00 PM after covering the short hike of less than a mile. We were ready to head home at this point after a nice day.

On Tuesday, April 11th Cindy and I left Manorkill Falls at 11:45 AM and headed south toward Route 23. When we reached Route 23 , I turned left and drove through Prattsville to the junction of Route 23 and Route 23A. I stayed to the left on Route 23 and drove 1.65 miles east toward Windham. As we approached Red Falls, I pulled over and parked on the side of the road. There are "No Parking" signs here so I never stay very long. This spot is popular with many young people and there is often garbage and broken bottles strewn about the area. We walked to a short but steep path down the bank to the falls. Cindy went back to get her poles while Sheila and I worked our way down the path to the edge of the falls. Much like the other waterfalls we had visited Red Falls was roaring with a high volume and rapidly flowing water. Fortunately, there was enough room on the rocks along the side of the falls to allow us to walk downstream. I took pictures of the falls as a whole from as far downstream as I dared go. I also took pictures of various parts of the falls and filmed two short videos to document the sound and power of the falls. I took a couple of shots of Sheila near the falls and then started to work my way back up the rocks to where Cindy was sitting waiting for us. We walked back up the steep path to the car and head west on Route 23 to the parking area for Pratt Rock.

On Tuesday, April 11th Cindy and I left Mill Creek Falls at 11:10 AM and headed south on Route 30. After about 6 miles, I turned left on Route 990V and drove passed the Schoharie Reservoir near Gilboa. The work on the dam was almost complete after several years of work. I hope that once the work is complete that there will be a place to view the reservoir and the dam. We continued to follow 990V southeast along the reservoir until the Prattsville Road appeared on the right. I turned right and drove across the bridge and parked along the road on the other side. Manor Kill Falls forms on the Manor Kill just before it flows into the reservoir. Pet of it is upstream from the bridge and can be viewed from the bridge. The gorge the stream cut is impressive and one part of the falls is hidden directly beneath the bridge. I got my camera and headed for the bridge. I walked almost to the other side of the bridge and took some pictures of the falls upstream. I walked to the other side of the bridge and took shots of the reservoir and the gorge. I also took a few directly down from the bridge but could not get a good view of the falls. As I walked back to the car, I decided to walked through the fence onto DEP property to see if I could get a picture of the falls. The DEP has relaxed access to their land and doesn't seem to care much if people are just hiking and taking pictures. I worked my way over to the edge of the gorge but could only get a few pictures through the trees. I am convinced the only way to get pictures of the falls under the bridge is from a kayak or canoe on the reservoir. I walked back up to the car and continued to drive south on the Prattsville Road toward Route 23.

On Tuesday, April 11th Cindy and I left Mine Kill Falls at 11:00 AM and headed north on Route 30 to North Blenheim. I turned left on Creamery Road and parked along the street with Mill Brook Falls in full view. I got out of the car and grabbed my camera to take a few pictures of the falls that were flowing nicely with high volume. Mill Creek Falls forms on Mill Creek as it flows southeast and empties into the West Kill. In the summer the falls is only a trickle and the West Kill a lazy stream. It is a popular place for children to go to get cool on a hot summer's day. On this day the West Kill was very high and flowing very fast. The falls were thundering as they spilled into the stream below. I took a few shots and then returned to the car. I drove south again on Route 30 as our next stop was Manorkill Falls.

On Tuesday, April 11th I had initially planned to hike Huntersfield Mountain and Pratt Rock. I also planned to visit some waterfalls in the area since I knew they would be roaring from recent rains and snow melt. I had hiked with Cindy the day before so I did not think she would want to go again. I was glad I was wrong and that she wanted to come along. She did, however, specify that she did NOT want to hike Huntersfield or any other mountain! I modified my plans to visit the waterfalls and Pratt Rock only. We started to get our gear together and Sheba began to let us know that she wanted to go! The forecast was for weather even warmer than Monday with highs nearing 80 degrees! I again dressed in lighter pants and a light windbreaker as I had been warm the day before. We left Livingston Manor just before 9:00 AM and headed toward Roscoe where we picked up Route 206 toward the Pepacton Reservoir. From here we headed toward Margaretville on Route 30. As we passed by one "arm" of the Pepacton Reservoir, I noticed the calm water and the reflections of the trees in the water. I pulled over and got out my camera to take a few pictures of the scene. We continued on our way on Route 30 through Margaretville, Roxbury and Grand Gorge. In Grand Gorge I continued on Route 30 heading toward Middleburgh. After about 6 miles we came to the entrance for the parking lot for Mine Kill Falls ion the right. I pulled into the parking area at 10:20 AM to find several other cars present. We knew the hike was short but I wanted to record a GPS track and take some pictures. I set my electronics and shouldered my pack. Since there were others enjoying the park, I put Sheila on her leash as we waked down the path toward the viewing platform. Just before the platform we turned right and followed the trail down toward the base of the falls. The aqua blazes also designated this as part of the Long Path. The trail was a little wet and muddy in places as it wound down to the pool at the base of the falls. I dropped my pack and took out the camera to get some pictures of the falls. The lighting was better than it had been on previous visits and I was able to get pictures of the water as it flows between the rocks as well as shots of the lower falls as it spills into the pool. There was also some water falling from high off the cliffs and as the sun struck it a rainbow was formed. I took some more shots before we picked up and headed back up the trail. I followed the Long Path as it veered to the left and though that I did not remember hiking this section when I competed it. Later, by looking at my maps, it was obvious I had hiked it but from the other direction. We walked from the bottom of the falls back to the top and turned right to go to the viewing platform. There was no one else at the platform so I got out the camera and started to take pictures of the water flowing through the deep crevice in the rocks. I also took some pictures of another falls farther upstream just beyond the road bridge. After I finished with my photography, we turned around and walked back to the car. At 11:00 AM the temperature was already 70 degrees! I drove out of the parking lot and turned right to visit Mill Brook Falls.

On Monday, April 10th, I asked Cindy if she would like to take a hike somewhere and she said "Yes". After talking about some spots we decided to go to North South Lake as we had not been there in some time. I knew that this was a popular destination but thought that the number of visitors would be decreased as the park was closed, it was a Monday and many people might be away on vacation. The one factor that I knew might pull people in was the forecast for exceptionally nice weather. No rain was in the forecast but the highs were supposed to be in the mid-70's! As I chose clothing for the hike, I decided to wear my Mammut Hoody but take along a light windbreaker. I dug out a pair of light Railrider pants as I knew the insulated ones I had been wearing would be too warm. I packed a pair of light gloves and a hat even though I knew I probably would not need them. I decided to leave the insulated boots home and wear a pair of Keen Glarus with a low pair of gaiters. We delayed leaving home until just before 9:00 AM thinking we would try to stop at Pancho Villas in Tannersville which did not open until 4:00 PM. I drove from Livingston Manor out the DeBruce Road to Route 47, the Frost Valley Road. I turned left here and drove passed the Slide Mountain and Giant Ledge parking areas. There weren't many cars parked at either spot. When we got to Route 28 I turned right and drove to Route 42 in Shandaken where I turned left and headed north to Route 23A. I turned right on Route 23A and headed toward Hunter. We passed through Hunter and Tannersville heading east on Route 23A to Haines Falls. I turned left on North Lake Road and as we approached the park, I turned right on Scutt Road and drove to the parking area. The lot had been expanded to more than double its size but there were only a few cars parked. The temperature on the car read 66 degrees but the direct sunlight made it feel even warmer. I set my electronics and we got our gear together and left the car at 10:30 AM. I put Sheila on her leash as we walked up Schutt Road, crossed the park entrance road to pick up the yellow Rock Shelter Trail. I knew that this trail was always wet but hoped that it wouldn't be too bad. I let Sheila off her leash and my hopes were immediately dashed as the trail was underwater! There didn't seem to be any part of the trail without standing or running water. Some logs and stepping stones helped but it was generally a miserable experience which was not helped by the poor placement of blazes. Where thee was no water there were numerous roots and rocks to negotiate which made walking difficult ALL the time. As we started to walk through some pines, we found there was quite a boot of snow on the trail in those areas. These conditions continued throughout the hike with some areas being worse than others. In some places the snow was still almost a foot deep! At 11:25 Am we finally hit the junction with the red Mary's Glen Trail. We had walked 1.4 miles in just less than an hour!

We turned left up the Mary's Glen Trail and found that it was a stream bed with water pouring down the hill! Like many other hikers, we walked along the side of the trail thereby widening it and allowing noire erosion to take place! As we hike uphill, Sheila alerted as a mother and daughter approached. I took Sheila off trail to allow them to pass. He said "Hello" and continued in our opposite directions. We continued along the trail running into more snow and water as we hiked. After about .75 miles we came to the blue Escarpment Trail where we stooped for a minute for a drink and snack. It was 12:10 Pm and we had hiked 2.1 miles. We turned left on the Escarpment Trail and immediately began a steep and rocky climb toward North Point. There were several rock scrambles along the way which Sheila negotiated easily. It took Cindy and I some time to work our way up these scrambles. We rested at a ledge with a nice view of North South Lake and of the Hudson River. I took some pictures and marveled at the fact that I have NEVER seen the river without a haze hanging over it in this area. We moved on up the trail until we got to the last rocky step up to North Point. I got up with some difficulty and gave Cindy a hand. We walked up to North Point and I dropped my pack to get out the camera. I took some more pictures and then started to walk around the edge of North Point. I don't remember having done this before and as I walked the perimeter different views kept being revealed. From one viewpoint I could easily see Kaaterskill High Point and Round Top. On the other side of the point there were views of the mountains of the Devil's Path. In between the Hudson was laid out below. We had though about going to Stoppel Point but it was another 1.7 miles and Cindy wanted to work our way down through the rock scrambles. I agree as it was taking us much longer to hike than I had expected due to the poor condition of the trails. We started won off North Point and worked our way back to the point where the Escarpment trail meets the Mary's Glen Trail. Here we turned left to follow the Escarpment Trail and the Long Path. My plan was to pick up the Rock Shelter trail and walk to the Mary's Glen trail. We would then walk down the Mary's Glen trail to visit Ashley Falls. This falls can be quite seasonal and have almost no water in the drier months.

The hike on the Escarpment Trail wasn't too bad except for the amount of snow we encountered all along the way. One drift under the pines was still over a foot deep. We continued to follow the blue blazes until at 3.3 miles we found the yellow blazes of the Rock Shelter Trail. As we descended, we came to Badman's Cave which is really just a nice rock shelter formed by an overhanging rock. I too a few shots before we continued on the trail .We turned right and continued to encounter snow, water and a combination which made a cold, wet slush. We worked our way down several scrambles where water was freely flowing down the trail and the rock were very slippery. At 2:00 PM we had hiked 3.75 miles and were back at the junction with the Mary's Glen Trail. To the right was a nice little waterfall and I stopped to get some pictures. The problem was that the "nice little waterfall" gave rise to a nice stream that covered the trail. The sign post for the trail junction was in the middle of the stream! We turned left to follow the Mary's Glen Trail and, fortunately, the stream went one way and the trail the other. We still wound the trail covered in water and snow but it was a little more manageable. As we hiked down the trail, several small waterfalls appeared on the right. I was drawn to each one so I would walk off the trail and work my way to a point near each of the falls. Most were surrounded by water but I found a way to get close and take pictures. I was sure that these falls were only there due to the rain that had fallen and the melting snow. When we got to 4.2 miles around 2:30 PM, we were about to cross a log bridge. I walked downstream and found I was at the top of Ashley Falls. I took some pictures from the top and then walked back to Cindy and Sheila. We crossed the bridge and started to descend the trail. I found a path to the left and walked out to a point below the upper drop of the falls. There was a thick wall of ice next to the falls. I took some pictures and then worked my way around until I was more directly infant of the upper falls. I took some more shots and then returned to the main trail. We walked down to where the trail leveled off. At this pint there was a spur trail to the left that went to the base of the falls. We followed it and I walked across some rock and logs to get to a spot directly below the falls in the middle of the stream. I took quite a few pictures of the falls as a whole and of the parts of the falls. We walked back out the spur trail and the continued on the Mary's Glen Trail to the park road. We turned right and started to walk back to the car on the road. It seemed so easy walking on a firm, smooth surface without any water. The walk back to the car was 1.1 miles and I must admit I was rather tired. We arrived back at the car at 3:15 PM. My GPS said we had hiked 5.9 miles but it seemed like much more to both of us! I was surprised that by the time I downloaded the track to the computer it was only 5.6 miles. The vertical gain was only 1068 feet but, again, it seemed like more. We drove into Tannersville and waited a half hour for Pancho Villas to open. We like the food there and found that the wait was well worth it.

On Saturday, April 8th I wanted to hike a little longer and a little farther away from home. On weekdays when I have Track Practice I usually choose Frick Pond or Trout Pond but this gets very boring after a while. I had hiked on Monday but then had to work pat of the rest of the week. Working coupled with terrible weather had not allowed me to get out again. Cindy wanted to go so I was looking for a relatively flat area which would have some appeal for both of us. I proposed heading to the Neversink Unique Are near Rock Hill since there are several waterfalls which I knew would be roaring due to the recent rains. It had actually snowed a little more than an inch overnight and the temperature was in the low 30's in the morning. In addition, the wind was blowing at almost 20 mph! We decided to wait until around noon to head out. As soon as Sheila found out we were going hiking, she would not leave my side. I got my clothing and gear together to prepare to leave. I decided that despite the forecast for highs in the 50's I would wear tights and a baselayer on top. I wore my Mammut hoody and took a pair of light gloves and a light hat. We left Livingston Manor a little after 11:30 AM and headed down State Route 17 toward Rock Hill. I took the Rock Hill exit and drove down Katrina Falls Road until I saw the Dead End sign. I turned left on Wolf Lake Road and after a short distance found the access road to the parking area. There was a nice parking area near the road but I had planned to drive to the upper parking area. I had to change those plans as the gate was closed! I pulled into the lower parking area and parked a little after noon. We could hear the noise of the water flowing in Wolf Creek. It took me a few minutes to get my electronics working and then we started up the gravel road at 12:15 PM. The temperature was still below 40 degrees and the breeze made it seem cooler. The sun was shining brightly which elevated my mood. We crossed over the bridge over Wolf Creek and we could see the water was flowing freely. The road was in pretty good shape an the 1.1 miles to the upper parking area went quickly despite the 250 foot gain in elevation. We passed under the power highlines where the wind was making the towers howl. When we reached the parking area, we followed the yellow spur trill into the woods.

The temperature had not changed much but the uphill walk had made me warm so I opened the zippers on my Mammut hoody. Now that I have started to do trail maintenance, I notice trail conditions and the first thing I noticed was that the large tree that was down across the beginning of the trail had been cut and cleared. We continued on the yellow trail finding a few more blowdowns that had been removed. It was clear that some trail work had been done but that the trail needed to be pruned to make hiking easier. The hike in on the side trail was only .6 miles and it was mostly downhill. Soon we arrived at the red trail where we turned left knowing that we would have to walk uphill to the car at the end of the hike. We walked along the trail finding a few muddy and wet areas. At 1.85 miles we crossed the upper bridge over Mullet Brook. We stopped so that I could take a few shots of the high volume of water flowing under the bridge. We followed the trail as it made a sharp right turn and headed downhill. We could hear the brook falling over the stony streambed as we hiked the trail. At one point we looked up to find a loan hiker coming toward us. I stepped to the side of the trail with Sheila and the hiker asked us where the trail led. We told him how to get back to the Katrina Falls lot where he was parked and he told us that there were a few more people coming up the trail behind him. We continued along the trail and soon met a couple hiking toward us. I again corralled Sheila and these hikers also asked for information. They looked tired and I carefully explained the turns they should make to get back to their car. We were both surprised that people would come out to hike and not be aware of the trails and the turns! At 2.4 miles we came to the yellow blazed spur trail to Mullet Brook Falls and turned right to visit this attraction. As we walked along the trail we met 3 young women heading out toward the main trail. The spur trail is less than .2 miles and we were soon at the base of the falls. I dropped my pack, got out the camera and walked carefully over the rocks at the base of the falls to get a good position directly in front of them. The brook was roaring and the falls had a high volume of water. Unfortunately, the spray from the falls was impossible to keep off my camera lens. I took some pictures downstream and then did my best to get some pictures of the falls. I carefully back down the slippery rocks, took a few more pictures and then returned to my pack. I got a drink and then we headed back out the spur trail to the main trail. We turned right and walked downhill to the junction where the red trail meets the blue trail at 2.8 miles. The blue trail stretches from the Katrina Falls parking area all the way south to High Falls where it ends. Future plans may included blazing this trail farther south along existing woods roads to reach the southern part of the Neversink Unique Area. We turned right on the blue trail and then almost immediately turned left on the yellow spur trail to Denton Falls.

The trail was in pretty good shape and but a few more markers need to be added in places. The trail is about .3 miles long but over that length it loses 175 feet to the lowest point on the hike at the Neversink River. As we got to the river, I took my pack off and got out my camera. The water was as high as I have ever seen it and I was careful to keep Sheila close in case she had any ideas about taking a swim. The views upstream and downstream were beautiful but it was hard to see the falls as the volume of water was so great. I took some pictures of the river and then worked my way down to the rocks just below the falls and started to take some pictures. The water was so high that I had to push some bushes aside to find a place to stand. Sheila and I walked up to the rock where Cindy was sitting. Sheila sat down next to Cindy so I took a few pictures of them. I put my camera back in the pack and we climbed the bank and headed up the trail. We continued on the yellow trail to the blue trail where we turned left to continue around the loop. We came to the lower bridge across Mullet Brook which has been replaced with twin steel I-beams for support and all new wood. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take a few shots of the bridge and the brook. I carried my pack a little farther down the trail and then worked my way down to the edge of the stream. I walked down the edge of the stream taking pictures as I did. Eventually I walked up the ban, back to the main trail and stowed the camera in my pack. We continued to hike the blue trail and both of us commented that we were still descending! The trail was wet in some places but the water was easy to avoid. We met a group of five people hiking toward us and we passed with a brief "Hello". At 4.1 miles we came to the trail junction where the blue trail bends to the left and the red trail begins. We turned right on the red trail knowing we were now headed back to the car but also knowing the trip would be all uphill! This part of the trail was the wettest we had seen and it was obvious that it had been a streambed during the heaviest rains. The trail took us south and then at about 4.5 miles turned to the east. At 4.9 miles we came to the trail junction with the yellow trail to the Wolf Lake parking area and our car. We had gained over 400 feet in .9 miles and the climb was never steep but it was continuous. We turned left on the yellow trail and continued to climb back toward the upper parking area. We gained another 140 feet over the half mile back to the parking lot. When we arrived at the upper parking area, we knew we had some hiking still to go but that it was mostly downhill. The sun was shining very brightly now and the temperature was in the mid to high 40's. We followed the road and over the next 1.1 miles lost about 250 feet back to the car. We arrived back at the car at 4:00 PM having hiked 6.6 miles in 3 hours and 40 minutes with about 30 minutes stopped for pictures. I honestly thought we had set a quicker pace but in any case we had great fun.

On Monday, April 3rd I wanted to get out to hike but had a few things to take care of in the morning. I had expected a more sunny day but by 11:30 AM the temperature had risen to almost 50 degrees and the sun was just peeking through. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go across the greet to hike on Round Top and she agreed. Sheila was ready to go as soon as I mentioned the word "hike". I dressed without a baselayer but did take a light hat and a light pair of gloves. I wore my Mammut hoody with the pit sips open to allow some airflow. We headed out a little after 11:30 AM with Sheila on her leash to cross the street. The only snow was in the snow banks around the church parking lot. I had decided not to bring my pack as I did not intend to take pictures as the day was overcast and dreary. We walked around the back of the church and started up the hill. The hill is short but steep but we made good time as there was no snow or ice. Sheila did a great job of pulling me up they'll with little effort. We turned left into the woods at the trailhead and walked along the woods road which was completely devoid of snow. At the first trail junction, we turned right to walk up the more gentle slope in the lower loop. There was very little snow on the woods road until we got to the turn up the hill where we encountered remnants of the 30 inches we had gotten in the last storm. When we got to the sharp left turn, we continued straight ahead on the new upper trail that I had laid out. The trail is only flagged with green tape but the path is pretty clear. The trail is a rather direct route to the top of the hill and follows an equally direct route down the other side. The final trail when constructed may contain some switchbacks to help mediate the steepness. We walked up to the summit of Round Top where there was still some snow and then started down the other side still following the bright green ribbons. This side of the hill faces north so there was still some snow. We were soon back at the yellow-blazed lower trail where we turned right to head toward the viewpoint from the ledges facing town. When we arrived at the ledges, we took a quick look from the upper part of the lookout. The sky was overcast so we continued on the main trail down the hill to complete the loop at the first trail junction.

At this point, Cindy decided to return home and I decided to do the loop in the opposite direction. Sheila and I turned around and hiked back up the steep hill to the lookout. We didn't stop and continued on around the loop at a quickened pace. As the main lower trail turned right, we walked straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit following the bright green ribbons again. Hiking up was a bigger challenge than coming down as the trail was a little wet and slippery but we soon reached the top and started back down. When we arrived at the main trail, we turned left and then right to follow the trail back down to the first trail junction. I still felt fresh and Sheila was certainly willing to hike some more so we turned around and hiked back up the woods road on the gentle slope. At the left turn we stayed on the main lower trail which is marked with yellow blazes as my intention was to hike the smaller lower loop. We followed the trail as it hugs the base of Round Top and turned left to head back toward the lookouts. We passed by the viewpoint and headed down the steeper trail back to the first trail junction. When we arrived, we turned around again and hiked back up the steep trail to the lookouts and continued to follow the lower trail as it turned right. The trail is continuously uphill but at a shallow grade. We followed the trail as it ruined right and flattened out as it stayed on a woods road at the base of Round Top. Soon the trail made a sharp right turn and we followed it down to the woods road and back out to the first trail junction. We turned left and continued out to the trailhead at the top of the cemetery hill. Here we turned right and walked down the hill and across the field by the church. We crossed the street and walked down our driveway to return home. It was 1:00 PM and we had hiked about 3 miles in a little under an hour and a half.

On Saturday, April 1st it was the first day of trout season but the weather was far from ideal. The forecast was for rain throughout the morning but when I woke up it was snowing! I wanted to get out and hike but thought I might wait until the weather cleared a little. I planned to hike a loop on the east side of Mongaup Pond from the intersection of Mongaup Pond Road and Beech Mountain Road. This would include a visit to Mongaup Falls and was over 8 miles long. Just before noon the skies cleared and some sun was peeking through the clouds. I got my gear together and decided to dress a little warmer than I had been since the temperature was only 42 degrees on the back porch with a slight breeze. I knew that it would be colder at Frick Pond so I put on a pair of tights and packed heavier gloves. We left the house just after noon with Sheila in the back seat ready to go. We headed out the DeBruce Road and after about 6 miles I turned left on the Mongaup Road. At the intersection with Beech Mountain Road I stayed right and looked down the trail to the falls. It looked very snowy but sloppy with some running water. The small parking area had not been plowed so I immediately decided to go to the Frick Pond parking area and try a different route. When we arrived at the parking area there were no other cars in the lot which really surprised me. The temperature was only 38 degrees and the breeze made it seem cooler. I was surprised that there was still quite a bit of snow in the woods and on the trail. We left the parking area on the woods road to the register at 12:25 PM. I was glad I had worn my insulted Salomon Nytro boots and had put on my gaiters. As we walked out the woods road toward Frick Pond, the trail was covering with several inches of snow. At the register I stopped to take a few shots since there was a real contrast on the trail. Behind where we had just come from the trail was covered in snow. Ahead of us the trail had snow but had significant open areas with both standing and running water. As we continued along the trail, the woods road out the Gravestone Junction was well covered in snow but also had some running water. It was a quick walk to the outlet of Frick Pond. When we passed through Gravestone Junction, the ground was bare as the area is open to the sun. When we arrived at the bridge over the outlet, we stopped so I could take a few pictures. The sky was still overcast and the pond was partly covered with ice. I could see that the trees on Flynn's Point were covered in ice but there was a line whet the ice ended. There was also ice on the trees at elevation to the west of Frick Pond. I took pictures of the pond and Flynn's Point before packing up and heading out around the pond on the Quick Lake Trail. At the next junction we stayed to the left on the Quick Lake Trail to head toward Ironwheel Junction. I had not been this way in several weeks due to the 30+ inches of snow had fallen. I looked at the trail covered in snow and it was obvious no one else had used this trail either! As we started on the trail, I found there was between 4 and 8 inches of snow and I was breaking through with each step. A little farther along the trail gave way to large puddles of water and small running streams. It was pretty easy to avoid the water but it took time to walk around them and I found my boots were getting wet. I stopped at one point to take a few pictures of the trail covered in snow and the trail dotted with puddles. There were quite a few branches in the trail and I was picking them up and throwing them to the side. As we passed through the "spruce tunnel", we arrived at the small stream in the woods and found the water level high and flowing nicely. The water was deep enough that I decided to walk a little upstream and cross where the water was narrow. As we continued our hike, I found several branches down across the trail and removed what I could be hand. When we arrived at Ironwheel Junction, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail to Junkyard Junction where the Flynn Trail begins. The trail was partly packed by snowmobiles but the snow was thinning. Over the next mile the trail rises about 400 feet heading north. At 2.4 miles it turns northeast and levels off some as it approaches Junkyard Junction.

After the junction with the snowmobile trail to Quick Lake, we gained elevation and the snow got deeper. There were many places where there was running water under the snow and other spots where the trail was completely exposed. The skies were growing darker and it looked like there might be some precipitation. Shortly after this it seems that something did start to fall from the sky. What fell was more of a mixture of sleet, snow and ice than rain. It took me a while to realize that what was falling was the ice from the trees as the wind blew. This continued for most of the rest of the hike. The ground was covered in the ice from the trees and some rather large chunks were still falling! At 3.1 miles we arrived at Junkyard Junction and turned right on the Flynn Trail heading east and slightly southeast. The trails continued to be snow covered with some running and some pooled water along the way. My feet were getting wet but I couldn't tell how much was sweat from the inside and how much was the water I was walking through. I followed Sheila as she turned right to stay on the Flynn Trail along the west side of Hodge Pond. As we came to the open field near the pond there were a few muddy spots on the trail. From the field I could see through the trees to the pond. We continued on to the field at the outlet end of Hodge Pond and Sheila and I walked over to the shore. We walked over to the fire ring and I took off my pack and got out the camera. I took some pictures of the grey sky and grey trees. The water level in the pond was right up to the shore and there was still a layer of ice on the pond. We didn't spend too long at the pond and were soon back on the Flynn Trail heading up from the pond. At the edge of the open area there were some drifts where the snow was at least a foot deep and in one spot I sank to my knee. It is .7 miles from the pond to the junction with the Big Rock Trail and we gained about 180 feet over that distance. There was enough snow to make walking a little difficult as I sank into the snow in some places and slipped in others. Unfortunately there were snowmobile tracks on the trail which is clearly marked "No motorized vehicles!" At 3:00 PM we arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail after hiking 4.7 miles. I thought about going down the Big Rock Trail as I knew it would be packed by snowmobiles but decided to continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail. I was able to pick up my snowshoe track from the previous week but that didn't help much. When a track is made the snow is packed down making an indentation. As the snow melts the packed snow does not melt as fast leaving little snowshoe-shaped bumps along the trail. The Flynn Trail had quite a bit of snow inflames and much less in others. As we neared the gate, the snow almost disappeared. We made the left turn into the woods to stay on the Flynn Trail and avoid the private property around the cabin. There was very little snow on the trail also. As we arrived back at the car, the dog from the cabin came barking and growling down the road. With his owner yelling "He's OK!" This has happened several times and shows a lack of courtesy on the owner's part! We were back at the car at 3:40 PM having hiked 6.4 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes with an elevation gain of 900 feet. The temperature at the car was still 38 degrees.

On Thursday, March 30, I was ready to get out for a hike after a week of commitments and bad weather had prevented me from getting out. The high temperatures for the day were supposed to be in the 50's but when I awoke at 6:30 AM the thermometer barely read 30 degrees. Since there had been quite a bit of rain over the previous few days, I decided to go to Trout Pond to see how Russell Brook Falls had fared. When Sheila got wind of my plans, she started jumping around and could hardly contain herself. It is hard for her to be indoors more than a day without going for a walk. We left Livingston Manor at about 9:45 AM under sunny skies and temperatures just into the low 40's. I had my gear in the trunk and an overjoyed Sheila in the back seat as we headed to Roscoe on State Route 17. I got on Route 206 and followed it across the Delaware County line to Morton Hill Road. After a left turn on Morton Hill Road, I drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the side of the road to avoid the parking area which is private. I had decided to bring only my Microspikes as I did not think I would need snowshoes. We began our hike down Russell Brook Road at 10:10 AM. The temperature was 34 degrees so I wore my Mammut Hoody, a hat and light gloves. I had on my Columbia Passo Alto pants with the reflective OmniHeat lining but decided I did not need tights underneath. I wore a long-sleeved crew neck Mammut shirt which is a little heavier than some I have and a long sleeved Patagonia Capilene 1 baselayer. Russell Brook Road had been plowed and sanded which I assumed was due to the first day of trout fishing season on Saturday, April 1. We continued on down Russell Brook Road to the overlook over the upper falls. There was a lot of water in the stream but not much more than the last time I visited. I decided to wait until the hike back to decide whether or not I wanted to stop to take pictures. We continued down toward the parking area and got on the woods road that goes down to the bridge that crosses the brook. I decided not to walk to the falls and continued on the main trail to the register. At the trail junction just after the register we turned to the left to climb the steeper hill toward Mud Pond. The trail had almost no snow as it faces south and east. It was a little muddy and there was running water in several places. The sun was out and as soon as we started to climb the hill, I stopped to open up the zippers on my hoody. The ascent went quickly and I was glad to see there were no new blowdowns on this part of the trail. We reached the top of the hill and found that there was now at least 6 inches of snow which was still very hard. I stopped to take some pictures of the woods road covered in snow. At 1.6 miles we made a right to follow the trail up to the shoulder of Cherry Ridge.

This trail was also covered in snow and the more elevation we gained the deeper the snow became. There was a set of footprints that I followed along the way which made walking easier although the snow was hard. We avoided a few icy areas and crossed a few small streams and some standing water. After passing through an area with many small diameter trees, we started a short descent and ran into a lot more water. In some places the water was polled on the trail and in others it was running like a stream. I had to walk on the sides of the trail where there was still some snow. Constantly breaking through a few inches made the walking more difficult than I expected. The ascent continued for the next 1.2 miles until at 2.7 miles into the hike when we were at the highest point and ready to start the descent to Trout Pond. Along the way we had come across two or three major blowdowns but were able to easily hike around them. One concerned me as it was a large branch precariously arched over the trail with little support at the upper end. We had been hiking the southern exposure and as we started down the other side there continue to be a good amount of snow on the trail. As we descended toward Trout Pond there were three major blowdowns that would require an axe and saw to clear. The trail remained snowy and slippery in places as we approached the bridge at the inlet end of the pond. I decided to stop and take some pictures even though there was nothing remarkable about the scene. We continued on the main trail toward the outlet of the pond. The trail now had much less snow and had some rather large pools of water. At the lower end of the pond I again stopped to take pictures of a scene I had photographed many times! The water level in the pond was high but most of the pond was still covered in ice. The skies were a little overcast to the north but were bright and sunny to the south. Sheila decided to run out on the ice and I took some pictures before telling her to stop thinking it might be dangerous. The hike from the outlet to the trail junction is all downhill with alternating areas of snow and clear trail. but I had to be careful to avoid many icy spots. Sheila did not seem to mind the icy or snow or the mud! By 12:40 PM we had hiked 4.7 miles and were back at the trail junction and register box. I decided that I did not want to walk over to the falls as I was a little short on time. We walked out to the parking area to continue our hike back to the car. As we walked up the road back to the car, I did not stop at the overlook over the upper falls but continued up the road. The sun had melted the ice on the road and it was very muddy which was making Sheila very muddy! We continued up the road and back to the car. We arrived back at 1:00 PM having covered 5.5 miles and 1120 vertical feet in 2 hours and 50 minutes. The temperature had risen to about 45 degrees as we left.

On Thursday, March 23rd I planned to finally get out to hike the first hike of Spring 2017 after three days off. I had made others plans for the week but two days as the high school nurse and a bitterly cold and windy day on Wednesday made changing those plans necessary. Three warm days at the beginning of the week had melted some of the snow but there was still enough left to make hiking interesting. I had some commitments in the morning and decided to go across the street and hike on Round Top at about 9:30 AM. Cindy suggested that I take the snowshoes although I thought the snow would be hard enough to walk with just boots or maybe boots with spikes. She is usually right so I decided to carry my snowshoes across the street as there was not enough snow in the driveway to use them until then. The temperature was still in the mid 20's as I was getting ready but was coming up nicely so I decided to forego tights under my pants and wore a short-sleeved baselayer under a lighter Mammut pullover. I also opted for light gloves and a light hat. I put Sheila on her leash to walk across the street. I had decided not to bring my pack as I did not want to carry the extra weight and wanted to have the "freedom" from taking pictures. We stopped on the other side of the street so that I could put on my snowshoes. The snow in the field was only a few inches deep and it was very solid. We walked behind the church and as I looked up the hill I could see pavement! We began the ascent of the steepest hill which is short but really gets the circulation pumping! When we got to the top of the hill, there was bare ground at the trailhead although I could see there was still a lot of snow in the woods. We started out on the trail and I found it hard as a rick. At the first trail junction I decided to take off the snowshoes and hide them off the trail behind a log. I was pretty sure that no one else had been on the trail since I had been there a week before! We continued straight head up the hill to the lookout. I was right about the snow being hard and I was hardly sinking in at all. The sun was out and made me feel warm despite the breeze that was blowing I bypassed the spur trail to the lower ledges and followed the main trail to the upper ledges where it turned right. The snow here was less consolidated and I sunk in a little. As long as I stayed on the packed trail I was OK. I did step off the trail once and sank almost up to me knee in a drift! We continued to follow the yellow blazes of the lower trail and turned right again as the trail skirted the summit of Round Top. At the next right turn we turned left into the woods to follow the green ribbons I had used to mark the proposed upper trail. This part of the trail faces south and east and the wasn't as much snow and in some places the ground was showing through. We walked uphill to the summit and then across the summit to start down. There was more snow on the downhill as it faces north. I broke through a little in a few places but got a nice glide back down to the main trail. We turned left here and walked back to the next sharp right turn where we followed the lower trail to the right. Soon we were on the wide woods road that leads back to the first trail junction.

When we reached the first trail junction. we had completed one figure 8 and I decided to turn around a do one in the opposite direction. We turned around and walked up the woods road and the stayed to the left up the hill to the first left turn. We followed the lower trail as it turned left and walked to the next sharp left turn. At this point we turned right and followed the green ribbons to the summit of Round Top on the proposed upper trail. Again the was more snow here so I sunk in a few times on the ascent. We walked across the summit plateau and then down the other side of the hill to the lower trail. We turned right and followed the lower trail as it skirted the summit of Round Top and then turned left to head down to the lookout. At the lookout we turned left and walked down the hill to the first trail junction. I noticed that it was a beautiful day with plenty of sun and bright blue skies. The sun was making the snow softer but it was still supporting me well. At the first trail junction I also noticed I was not very tired so I go the idea that we would either hike another figure 8 or simply do the lower or upper loop. We turned around and walked back up the hill to the lookout and continued to follow the lower trail as it turned right at the base of Round Top. It was then that I decided we would hike a figure 8 and we proceeded to do so ending up back at the first trail junction once more. I felt good and Sheila was very happy so we turned around and hiked back up the woods road to start our fourth figure 8! When we once again passed the lookout going downhill, I decided we were done. At the first trail junction I retrieved my snowshoes and decided that wearing them was easier than carrying the, We walked out to the trailhead and turned right to hike down to the church. We hikes across the field and stopped at the edge of the street. I saw no traffic coming and told Sheila "cross"> she charged across the street and waited for me on the other side. I walked across with my snowshoes and then stopped to remove them. I carried them back to the house. We were home at 11:30 Am having spent just under 2 hours hiking just under 4 miles. I find the trail pretty and convenient when I don't want to travel anywhere. It is easy to adjust the length of a hike by simply adding loops or figure 8s.

Winter 2016-2017

On Sunday, March 19th I had planned to go to Frick Pond again and break out some more trails. I knew this would be a sort of futile effort since the temperatures during the week would reduce the amount of snow drastically. I still though it would be fun. Cindy had a meeting after church but said she wanted to go with me. I drove home and Sheila and I waited for her to get home. Cindy returned at about 1:30 PM and we got ready to head out. I decided to dress a little more lightly tan on the previous few trips as the temperature was hovering around 40 degrees. I was concerned that the higher temperatures would melt the snow and make it even more difficult to hike but decided to try it anyway. My plan was to hike up the Flynn Trail and down the Big Rock Trail. At Times Square we would hike the Logger's Loop back to the Quick Lake Trail and the parking area. As of Saturday the Flynn Trail was untouched and I expected it to be that way when we arrived. Sheila was ready to go ay any time and Cindy got herself dressed as we left Livingston Manor just before 2:00 PM. After driving out the DeBruce Road and up the Mongaup Pond Road we arrived at the Frick pond trailhead parking area at 2:10 PM and got ready to hike. There appeared to be only one car in the lot but as we were getting ready another car arrived. We crossed the road an 2:15 PM and started out by hiking up the Flynn Trail toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. My fears concerning the softening snow were conformed as we hiked the rail through the woods where there was less snow. Less snow should have meant an easier hike but the softened snow was heavier and more difficult to walk through. The sun was warm but there was a slight breeze. As we turned right onto the woods road following the blue blazes of the Flynn Trail, we were met by completely pristine snow! I took a few pictures and then we started up the trail. It was tough going as the trail is all uphill with only a few spots that flatten some. I started to count my steps so that when I took a rest I could try to beat my "record". Occasionally I would stop for a longer time to take a few pictures. I kept thinking we were farther along than we were and at one point I pulled out my GPS to find we were still short of a mile. I knew that I could make the next .8 miles but that it would be slow going. We passed the "meadow" on the right of the trail and I knew there was about half a mile to go. Right after this point there was a slight downhill that felt really good but it was followed by more climbing. As we approached the junction with the Big Rock Trail, Cindy decided to pass me and break the trail. I'm sure she was trying to help but it left me feeling defeated and deflated. I had hoped that I could break trail all the way to the junction and missing by .15 miles was disappointing. I reached the junction at 4:30 PM after hiking 1.7 miles and was VERY happy to find the Big Rock Trail was packed by snowmobiles. I knew this would make the trip back much easier! I took a small break and then turned left to follow Cindy down the hill on the Big Rock Trail.

Cindy was keeping up a quick pace downhill as she always does and I just wanted to take it easy and recover. At one point she stepped off to the side of the trail and indicated I should go ahead. I didn't see the point but did not want to argue. I started down the hill stopping at one point to take some pictures of the trail broken by the machines. As we neared the bottom of the hill, we came to a large tree across the trail. Some machines had apparently gone over the tree while oaths had gone around. I went around the right end of the blow down and then heard snowmobiles coming. We stepped off the trail to the right and three machines game by us slowing as they passed. We continued own the hill arriving at Times Square. We had taken about 30 minutes to descend the 1.2 miles on the Big Rick Trail while the 1.7 mile ascent of the Flynn Trail had taken 2 hours and 15 minutes! Cindy decided we would turn left and walk the Logger's Loop back to Gravestone Junction. The skies were more overcast now and there was a little less sun. This part of the Logger's Loop is only .6 miles long but has a little uphill grade for the first part. My legs were very tired especially around the hips but at least the trail was well-packed. We had walked the trail the day before breaking fresh snow and then others had walked it to pack the snow even more. Even though it wasn't as well groomed as the Big Rock Trail it was much easier walking in the set track that it was the day before. It was also much easier than our long haul up the Flynn Trail. At 5:20 PM we were back at Gravestone Junction after hiking only 3.5 miles. We turned left and hiked the Quick Lake Trail back to the register and then continued on the woods road back to the car. When we arrived in the parking area at 5:30 PM all; the other cars were gone. We had hiked 4 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes for an overall rate of 1.2 mph! This was slow but acceptable given the brutal conditions.

On Saturday, March 18th I wanted to get in a slightly longer hike than I had over the passed few days. There was still a lot of snow on the ground from the over two feet that fell on Tuesday and Wednesday. I though that by this time the lots at Frick Pond should be plowed so I decided to go there. Sheila was ready as always and Cindy also wanted to go. The temperature when I got up at 6:00 AM was 10 degrees but it began to rise and was just below 30 degrees when we left the house at 10:15 AM and headed out to Frick Pond. Sheila was happy to be in the backseat as we headed out the DeBruce Road. After about six miles I turned left on Mongaup road and headed toward Frick Pond. At the fork in the road I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. At the trailhead we found both lots were well plowed but no other cars were parked when we pulled in at 10:30 AM. I let Sheila out of the car while we put on my snowshoes. There was a broken trail from the smaller lot out the woods road toward Frick Pond but I did not know how far it went. My plan was to hike around the pond using the Quick Lake, Big Rock and Logger's Loop Trails. I knew this would be quite a challenge if the rail was not broken as neither Cindy nor Sheila can break trail for too long. We both wore our Tubbs Alp Flex VRT snowshoes which go on very quickly as the bindings are easy to use. We began our hike at about 10:35 AM by hiking out the woods road toward Frick Pond. I stopped to take a few pictures of the undisturbed snow on the Logger's Loop Trail near Gravestone Junction. The skies were a bright blue with some sun and puffy white clouds. The trail was well broken out to the pond and when we got to the bridge over the outlet I took off my pack and got out the camera. I took a picture of the bridge which had almost no snow on it except at the far end where the snow always drifts. From the bridge I took a few pictures of the pond and the outlet stream. I picked up my pack and we started around the pond following the trail broken in the snow. The snow alternated between having a hard crust in some places and fluffy drifts in others. At the junction of the Quick Lake Trail and the Big Rock Trail the broken trail stopped and it was obvious whoever had hiked there had turned around and returned the same way they had come. We turned right to get on the Big Rock Trail around the back of the pond with me leading and breaking the trail through the snow. My hips still hurt from the hike on Round Top on Thursday but I really wanted to complete what we had started. Under the tall evergreen trees there was less snow but it still averaged well over a foot. When we got to the wooden causeways, they were covered in well over a foot of snow and I stopped to take a few pictures. Some snow had melted and fallen through the openings between the boards which made a sort of lattice work on the bridge.

We continued on the Big Rock Trail as it wound around the back of Frick Pond heading toward Times Square. The snow was deeper in some spots than others but the going was never easy. We stopped briefly on the last two smaller bridges and I took some shots before continuing on towards Times Square. Once we were out of the protection of the evergreen trees the snow was much deeper and had drifted in spots. I wondered at this point if I could continue to break trail on the Logger's Loop which is slightly uphill and always had large drifts. At 11:50 AM we arrived at Times Square after hiking 1.2 miles at an overall average speed of 1 mph! We stopped to get a snack and to drink some water. After a few minutes and a few pictures, I shouldered my pack and simply headed out to the right on the Logger's Loop back to Gravestone Junction. I was surprised to see that no snowmobiles had passed through on the Big Rock Trail and Logger's Loop since there was plenty of snow and it was Saturday. The further we went the more my legs were tiring from lifting and breaking trail. Sheila seemed to be unaffected by the cold but she was smart enough to stay behind me and in front of Cindy most of the time. Although she looks like a yellow lab she has a longer coat from a dose of Husky blood. She never seems to get cold. The Logger's Loop climbs slightly from Times Square and I noticed this as I continued to break the trail. Soon we were on flatter ground heading back toward Gravestone Junction but the snow drifts in this area were almost 3 feet high. Some of the drifts were so consolidated that they would support our weight for a short distance and then we would sink almost up to our knees. By this time I was tired but in good spirits since the broken trail was only a short distemper away. I thought about taking a few more pictures but there was nothing really interesting to photograph and the sky was now almost completely overcast. At Gravestone Junction we turned left to head back to the car on the Quick Lake Trail. Not too far along we saw a young couple headed toward us with snowshoes and no poles. They wore MSR snowshoes which were probably rented from Morgan Outdoors in Livingston Manor. I pulled Sheila off the trail and we waited until they passed. We let them know the trail was broken around the pond but I got the feeling they might not get that far. We did notice another pair of hikers approaching from behind us. As we passed the register, Sheila alerted and I could see a young couple starting out from the parking lot. We walked a little farther before I walked to the side of the trail with Sheila to let them pass. They also had MSR snowshoes but had no poles. We informed them that the trail around the pond was broken and they thanked us. The found lady bemoaned their lack of gaiters and I thought that poles would have been a good idea also! We were back at the car at 1:00 PM having hiked about 2.2 miles in almost 2.5 hours with an elevation gain of 175 feet. Our average moving speed was only 1.2 mph. I put Sheila in the car and our gear in the trunk. There were now 5 cars parked in the other lot with one leaving and another starting out. I checked the beginning of the Flynn Trail and found it had not been touched. Maybe tomorrow!

On Thursday, March 16th I wanted to get out for the third day in a row to take advantage of the over two feet of snow that had fallen from Tuesday into Wednesday. I thought about going to Frick Pond but was not sure the lot would be plowed or that I could make much headway by myself. I decided to go up on Round Top and hike the upper trail which was not yet broken out. I though this might be reasonable since the other parts of the trail were already set which would make the overall hike easier. I got my gear together and headed out of the house with Sheila at 11:00 AM. After putting on the snowshoes, I put Sheila on her leash and started out the driveway and across the street. No snow was falling but the wind was blowing a little and the air temperatures was about 28 degrees. We crossed the street and fought our way over the bank left by the snowplows. Looking across the small field I could not see any track from the day before as the wind had caused the snow to drift and fill it completely. After walking through the field to the base of the cemetery hill, I was able to pick up my track up the hill and the going was much easier. We began the ascent of the steepest hill which is short but really gets the circulation pumping! When we got to the top of the hill, I dropped my pack to take some pictures. The view was much the same as other times but I decided to take a few shots anyway. The views were much clearer than the previous two days and the sun was out. The sky was blue with some puffy white clouds. I picked up my pack and we entered the woods where my previous track was very clear and the walking was much easier than the previous days. At the first trail junction we turned right to follow the woods road and begin the figure 8 route in a counterclockwise direction. This part of the trail had only been traveled once so I concentrated on packing the snow and widening the track slightly. At the sharp left turn we follow the yellow blazes to the left and continued on relatively flat ground to the point where the trail again turns left. Here we turned right to follow the green ribbons that mark the proposed upper trail. Now the going got much harder as there was no track to follow and the snow was over two feet deep. I raised the heel lifts on the snowshoes which gave me a much better bite into the snow and eased the strain on my calf muscles. Although it was hard work, we were soon at the flat summit plateau. I worked my way across the summit but somehow missed the ribbons marking the start of the trail down the other side of the hill. I corrected my mistake and was soon headed down the hill toward the lower trail. I couldn't get a real glide since I kept gliding under the thick layer of snow but going down was much easier than the ascent.

When we reached the lower trail we turned right and walked along the flat ground back to the point where the trail turns left. We continued to follow the yellow blazes and passed by a large boulder where I took a few shots including a few with Sheila. As we approached the lookout, I could feel that there was a strong wind blowing and the evidence was the snow drifting over the trail. I turned left at the upper lookout and walked down to the spur trail. I turned right and walked out to the lower ledges which gave me a nice view of the town including the school. The amount of snow was clear from this view and I took a few shots before packing up and retreating back to the main trail where there was less wind. We continued down the hill to the first trail junction. I got a pretty good glide going as the trail was already broken from previous days. When we arrived at the trail junction, I was tired but thought I had enough energy left to hike a little more. We turned around and started back up the hill to the lookout. I knew I could just walk the lower loop but I hoped I could do another figure 8 in the opposite direction. I thought this might be possible since every part of the trail now had been broken out at least once. This time we did not stop at the viewpoint but continued to follow the yellow blazes of the lower trail. The trail here is slightly uphill and it is hardly noticeable when the trail isn't covered by two feet of snow! Even with the trail packed down some the work load was noticeably higher. We continued to follow the trail as it turned right and followed a woods road around the base of Round Top. When we got to the next right turn, we turned left instead and headed up the hill toward the summit following the track I had broken out a short time before. I again put up the heel lifters as this side of the hill is every bit as steep as the other. Since the track was partly broken, it was easier to get to the top but I did take some time to pack and widen the track properly. We followed the track across the top and won the other side to the lower trail. Again I got a glide following the trail I had broken. At the lower trail we turned left and followed the trail to the next right turn. After making the turn to the right, we headed downhill to the woods road that heads out to the first trail junction. This is a gentle downhill but I welcomed it as by this time I was getting tired. At the trail junction we turned left to head out to the trailhead at the top of the cemetery. We turned right to descend the hill toward the church with me gliding and most running down the hill. At the base of the hill we continued across the field to our driveway and back to the house. The track we had made earlier was completely drifted in by wind-driven snow! We had been out for about two hours and had hiked a little under 2 miles.

On Wednesday, March 15th I had planned to hike the loop on Round Top using snowshoes to combat the over two feet of snow that had fallen the day before. I had hiked to the lookout during the storm on Tuesday and found that breaking a track through the snow by myself was exhausting. I had contacted two friends who said they wanted to go and I was hopeful that having four people, Cindy said she wanted to go also, and one dog would make the going easier and we could break the trail around the entire lower loop. The plan was to meet at my house at 9:00 AM. An early morning ambulance call in Willowemoc left be exhausted so I wasn't unhappy when one of my friends asked to postpone the hike until 11:00 AM. I got some rest and when I came downstairs there was a text from the other person saying they had other things to do. Soon the person who asked for the postponement called and cancelled their participation. I was disappointed since I knew I would be breaking the trail alone and was not sure I could get all the way around the loop. Cindy and I got our gear ready and dressed warmly as the temperature was 18 degrees and the wind was blowing snow across the yard. Sheila was ecstatic to get in two days in a row as we headed out the driveway to Round Top. We crossed the road and climbed the high snow bank on the other side caused by the snowplows clearing the road. Out track from the day before had been obliterated by the freshly fallen snow and wind driven rifts. We slogged our way across the field and there seemed to be more snow than the day before. There were large drifts behind the church and at the bottom of the cemetery hill. We made the turn up the hill and we could see a pretty good track from the day before. Despite the track, the going was slow as we walked up the hill to the top and the beginning of the trail. At the top of the hill, I dropped my pack to take some pictures. The view of town and the surrounding hills was similar to other snowy days but at least there was something to see as it was not snowing at the time. The headstone in the cemetery were topped by over a foot of snow. I took pictures and then noticed the wind was blowing and decided to enter the woods. The track from the previous day was still there and it made walking easier than breaking a fresh track. I began to notice that Sheila was not out in front but was satisfied to walk just behind me with Cindy bringing up the rear. At the first trail junction I decided to continue straight ahead to the lookout. The climb went a little more quickly than the day before as there was a broken track.

We continued up the hill and Sheila and I followed the spur trail out to the viewpoint on the lower ledges where I took off my pack and got out the camera. Crossing the little gap in the trail proved interesting since by this time I could hardly see anything through my glasses and there were huge drifts. I got out my camera and took some shots of the viewpoint and then some down into town. From this viewpoint the town including the school and post office were visible below unlike the day before when the heavy snow falling had blocked any views. I took a few shots just to show the contrast with other pictures. I also took some shots of the ledges before putting away the camera. I walked back out the spur trail as walking directly up to the upper ledges looked too difficult with all the snow. Back at the main trail I tuned left to walk to the upper ledges to meet Cindy. I decided we would head out on the lower trail in a clockwise direction thinking that we could always turn around and walk downhill on the broken track if the going was too tough. I followed the yellow blazes hoping that once we got further into the woods the snow drifts would lessen and the depth would be more manageable. We found that this was not the case and that the depth of snow was always at least two feet. I was walking few steps and taking a short break and then walking a few more steps. The snow was so deep that I could not lift my snowshoes straight up and put them down. I had to lift my snowshoes and then push ahead into the snow which was very tiring. I stopped to take a few pictures of the snow and the rocks with snow on them. We climbed the last short hill with some difficulty due to the drifting and followed the trail as it made a sharp right turn. We were now on flatter ground and the going should have been easier but I was tired and the snow was deep. Sheila was still right behind me. We finally came to the next sharp right turn where the trail heads downhill. I had looked forward to the downhill as I can usually get a glide. The snow remained deep and the glide was limited as I tended to glide under the deep snow. Going down hill was easier though and soon we made the last right turn onto the wide woods road that led back to the first trail junction to complete the loop. The snow was just as deep here but the views of the ledges were interesting and I knew we would soon be back to broken track, When we hit the trail junction, I took a few pictures of the broken track before we turned left to head back out to the trailhead. We turned right on the cemetery road and got a glide going on the way back to the bottom of the hill. Our tracks across the field had started to fill in but at least we could see them. We crossed the road and walked back home on the driveway. We had hiked a little more than a mile about two hours! I am hoping to get to Frick Pond tomorrow and find the parking lots plowed!

On Tuesday, March 14th the weather forecast was calling for a blizzard with at least two feet of snow in Livingston Manor! When I got up at 6:00 AM we were well on our way to meeting or exceeding that forecast. I went out to begin to clear some of the snow and found my two neighbors already working on getting the driveway clear so that I could respond on an ambulance call when it came. I took some pictures of the snow and joined in the effort to clear the driveway and liberate our cars. By noon after several hours of work, most of the driveway was clear and I could move my car. I had promised Sheila we would go outside but I was too tired to go for a hike. When I went back into the house, there was Sheila waiting to go out. She didn't seem to understand broken promises so I got a pair of snowshoes from the cellar and put my camera in the pack. We went outside and Sheila immediately started bounding through the snow which was up to her back in most places. I got a leash out of my car, put Sheila on the leash, donned my snowshoes and headed out the driveway to Round Top. The rate of snowfall seemed to be more than an inch an hour but the roads were pretty well plowed although the snow continued to accumulate. The air temperature was 20 degrees but there was some wind that cut through my clothing. We crossed the road and climbed the snow bank on the other side. I had to remind myself that when I went to bed we had NO SNOW on the ground. Sheila started out ahead of me bouncing up and down through the deep snow that had drifted in the field. I dropped my pack and took out my camera to take a short video of her antics as I called her back to me. We continued our walk across the field to the base of the cemetery hill. We began the ascent of the steepest hill which is short. As I looked around I could see that all the trees were covered with a layer of snow making a beautiful scene. Sheila continued to break a track going up the hill without stopping. She does like to wander back and forth but I made a relatively straight track since following her would have made me appear intoxicated. At the top of the hill, I dropped my pack to take some pictures. The view of town and the surrounding hills was completely blocked by the falling snow. The headstone in the cemetery were topped by over a foot of snow. I took pictures and then noticed the wind was blowing and decided to enter the woods. I hoped the snow depth would be a little less in the woods but we found just the opposite. In places my poles sank almost two feet. I kept thinking that my snowshoes were sinking pretty deeply but this was the most snow I had seen in two winters! The going was slow for me and as we approached the first trail junction I decided to continue straight ahead to the lookout.

I very seldom stop to take pictures along the trail itself since one part looks much like the next. On this day I stopped after entering the woods and took a few shots. Climbing the hill even with Sheila breaking the track was tiring and I stopped a be times to rest briefly. I had almost decided at this point that the lookout would be our endpoint. We continued up the hill and followed the spur trail out to the viewpoint on the lower ledges where I took off my pack and got out the camera. Crossing the little gap in the trail proved interesting since by this time I could hardly see anything through my glasses. I took a moment to wipe off some of the snow before getting out my camera. From this viewpoint the town including the school and post office are usually visible below. On this day there was simply a wall of white as the snow continued to fall. I took a few shots just to show the contrast with other pictures. I also took a few shots of the ledges before putting away the camera and heading back down the hill. Going down was much easier than coming up and I was able to get a nice glide for most of the way down to the first trail junction. We walked back out to the trailhead and turned right to start down toward the church. Snow was still falling and there were no views. I was able to glide most of the way down the hill. We walked behind the church and back across the field where our tracks were barely visible. We crossed the road and walked back home on the driveway. We had hiked a little less than a mile in around 90 minutes. It was still snowing and the wind was picking up causing the snow to drift. I cannot recall more snow falling in such a short period of time since we have lived in Livingston Manor. All county schools were closed and most are closed already for Wednesday. I guess I will just have to go out tomorrow and see how far I can get.

On Sunday, March 12th I decided I wanted to get out to hike locally after church. I usually take it easy on Sunday afternoon but track practice has started and a major snow storm is forecast to move in for Tuesday and Wednesday. I decided to go to Huggins Lake after looking at a route at Mongaup Pond which was over 8 miles. I decided to leave that one for later. Huggins Lake is not my favorite but I chose it for its shorter length, under 4 miles, and for the fact that it was not Frick Pond or Trout Pond. I headed out a little before 1:30 PM with Sheila in the backseat. I have come to the realization that she would like to be out everyday and we had not hiked since Thursday! I drove up the Beaverkill Road and down the Campsite Road to find the covered bridge STILL closed. I detoured to the steel bridge at Craigie Claire and then drove out Berry Brook Road to the trailhead. Along the way I noticed that Dundas Castle was clearly visible from the road and thought about taking pictures on the way back. We arrived at the road to the parking area to find it snow covered and very rough. I chose to chance it and easily made it to the small lot parking at 1:45 PM. As I got my equipment ready I noticed that there was at least an inch of snow on the ground. I also could here one of the trees which sounded like it was about to crack and found it splintered and high enough to hit my car if it came down! There were no other cars in the lot when we headed out at 1:50 PM on the wide woods road to the lake. The temperature was 15 degrees and the wind was blowing so I was glad I had decided on a baselayer top and bottom. I also wore a heavier Patagonia wool top, my insulated Salomon Nytro boots and a warm pair of gloves. There was very little sun and the skies were mostly overcast as we started the climb up the hill. The hike isn't long and the trail was well-maintained. The first 1.2 miles is all uphill and gains almost 700 feet. Sheila was running up and down the trail and following game paths into the woods as I did my best to keep up a fast pace up the hill. I stopped along the way to take a few shots of the snow on the trail. At one point I had to tell Sheila to stop chasing a little mouse that she had found outside its burrow. After the initial climb, the trail descends to Huggins Lake making a sharp turn from southeast to north at about 1.6 miles. Sheila alerted at the turn but I could not see what she saw and we continued to descend to the lake.

When we arrived at the lake, I noticed that the water level was very high and most of the pond had a coating of ice. It was clear the ice near the dam was thicker and had been blown there by the wind. Across the pond I could see open water. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take some pictures even though the skies were flat and there was little color anywhere. We walked the path to the outlet and I could, immediately see that the beavers had dammed the outlet causing the level of the water to rise. I took a few more pictures of the lake before returning to my pack, stowing the camera and starting back up the hill. I did take some pictures of the snow on the trail and around the lake. The only negative point about Huggins Lake is that there is only one trail and so there are no variations available. I have tried bushwhacking around the pond but the bushes get pretty thick. We climbed the hill back to the highest point on the trail and then started down the other side. I was surprised that I had labored a little climbing the hill at the beginning of the hike but felt very fresh on the way back. As we continued to descend, I was a little sorry I didn't have more time to be out hiking. When we arrived back at the car, we had hiked 3.7 miles in 1 hour and 35 minutes with a total elevation gain of 940 feet. As we left the parking area, I turned left on Berry Brook road and headed back to Livingston Manor the way we had come. On the way back I stopped on the road and took some pictures of Dundas Castle through the trees. I would like to get some pictures from nearer the castle but it is private property and I have not been able to get permission.

On Thursday, March 9th I had planned to stay inside due to the high wind advisory. The wind did seem substantial when I was driving to my men's Bible study at 6:15 AM and seemed unabated on the way home at 7:30 AM. After I arrived home, I went downtown to get some breakfast and by the time I returned the wind had died down some with just a few gusts. I convinced myself that I would feel better if I went out to hike and Sheila seemed to support that decision. I got my gear together having decided to head to the Frick Pond area and left the house at about 9:15 AM. My plan was to hike the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel Junction. From here we would hike the Logger's Loop to Times Square an then ascend the Big Rock Trail to The Flynn Trail to get back to the car. Although the temperature in the morning as in the low 30's I knew it would warm up throughout the day as the sun came out. I decided to wear my Mammut hoody and warmer Columbia Titanium pants. The hoody has lots of zippers to help regulate temperature. I wore a baselayer on top but decided to forego tights under the pants. I had my spikes in my pack but knew I probably would not need them as there was little snow or ice left. Sheila was happy to be going anywhere and crouched in the back seat with her head on the console. I drove out DeBruce Road and turned left on Mongaup Road. Where the road splits I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and parked in the smaller lot at 9:35 AM. It didn't take us long to walk out to the Quick Lake Trail to start our hike. As we started to hike I wondered about my choice of clothing as I felt a little cool since the temperature was only 35 degrees and the wind had picked up some. On the way to the register box it was obvious the wind had brought down a lot of smaller branches and some larger branches and small trees. The woods road out to Frick pond was also littered with blowdowns and still had some water although uh less than the week before. We stayed left at Graveyard Junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. When we arrived at the bridge across the outlet, I decided to stop and take pictures despite the fact that I have hundreds from this location. There was still some snow around in this area. I took some shots and then we continued on around the pond. We stayed left at the trail junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and found that most of the water on the trail had either drained off or dried up due to the wind. There were more branches along the trail. We continued on our hike passing through the "Spruce Tunnel". The small stream through the woods was running freely with slightly less water than the week before. By 10:15 AM we had walked the 1.5 miles to Iron Wheel Junction. At the trail junction we turned right on the Logger's Loop Trail. The Logger's Loop is mostly downhill in this direction and we made good time but encountered more blowdowns along the way. This trail also was much drier which made the walking easier. Just before starting the descent to Times Square, we stopped at a small pond on the left side of the trail so that I could take some pictures. This pond is seasonal but has been growing in size for several years. By 10:40 AM we were at Times Square and about 2.7 miles into the hike.

At Times Square we turned left to start up the Big Rock Trail. From Times Square to The Flynn Trail is about 1.1 miles but the elevation gain is around 600 feet averaging a 10% grade. The route has three different climbs with some flatter areas between them. We set a pretty fast pace on the climb and I found that although my heart rate was elevated I felt good. Not very far up the trail we encounter a very large tree across the trail. I have learned that I can clear almost anything with axe and hand saw but this was a very large diameter! We reached the Flynn Trail at 11:10 PM after hiking 3.8 miles and I stopped to take a few pictures and get a drink. The snow that had persisted here was now completely gone. We turned right to walk down the Flynn Trail back to the parking area. There were a few large branches on or near the trail but there and there was one large blowdown a little further along. Sheila was still excited at this point and was running up the trail and back to me. She was taking a few excursions off the trail to follow animal tracks but was pretty close so I let her explore. She started to grab some rather large branches so I picked up a stick and threw it several times for here to retrieve. The trip down the Flynn Trail went quickly and we were soon near the gate that blocks Beech Mountain Road. We turned left to stay on the Flynn Trail as it continues through the woods to avoid the private property around the cabin. We continued down to the parking area on the trail. We were back at 11:45 AM having covered 5.5 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes with a vertical gain of 905 feet. The average speed of 2.5 mph including stops surprised and pleased me.

On Monday, Mar 6th I wanted to get in a longer hike close to home before the first spring track practice in the afternoon. Since I had been at Trout Pond and Frick Pond recently, I decided to go to Long Pond and repeat a hike I had done only once before. My intention was to hike a figure 8 loop to extend the mileage and take in some spots I had not visited in some time. I wanted to walk as fast as I could and only take a few pictures along the way. I got Sheila in the car with my gear and headed out DeBruce Road for about 8 miles to Flugertown Road where I made a left. I parked in the lot a short distance up the road on the right. It was 10:15 AM and the temperature was only in the mid 30's with a slight breeze. I had decided to dress warmly with a baselayer both top and bottom. I had a light hat and gloves and wore my Mammut hoody. I opted to wear my Keen Glarus boots which are not insulated and I had not brought any gaiters. I had my spikes in my pack but did not expect to use them. When I parked and looked around, I was surprised to see some snow banks and a layer of ice on the trail. The trail is a snowmobile trail and the obvious use by the machines had packed the snow which had turned to ice. We started our hike by walking over the bridge and up the hill. There wasn't much ice on the trail after the bridge and I made good time up the hill. The first .6 miles gains about 350 feet to the highest point on the hike. It isn't very steep but does act as a nice warm-up! I took a few shots on the way up the trail. Near the top of the hill two large evergreen trees had blown down across the trail blocking it almost completely. The trees were large enough that they might require a chainsaw to cut them. There was more ice and snow coverage at the top of the trail as we approached the spur trail to Long Pond. At 1.1 miles we were at the spur trail that leads down to the shore of Long Pond. We turned right and walked down to the shore of the pond where I sternly warned Sheila to "Stay"! I walked down to the shore to take some pictures. The pond is not very picturesque but I took a few shots anyway. The pond appeared to be frozen over with only a few open spots near the shore. I returned to my pack and we headed out to the main trail where we turned right to continue our hike. At the first trail junction at 1.3 miles, we turned left to hike out to the road as part of the figure 8 I had planned.

This part of the trail is relatively flat and there were some large areas of water with ice covering them. I probably should have put on my spikes at this point but continued to walk the trail without them. At 1.6 miles the trail began to descend to cross a long bridge across the stream. The descent was very slippery but I worked my way down to the bridge. I stopped on the bridge and took some pictures of the stream which had some ice. Downstream I could see a small "waterfall" formed by the ice. I walked down to a spot near the waterfall and took a few shots. We crossed the bridge and walked off the trail to the left so that I was directly across from the waterfall. I took a few more shots here and then walked back out to the trail. We walked out to the main road and found it was completely covered in snow and ice. I took some pictures, got a drink and decided it would be easiest to put on my spikes for the walk along the road. At 2.1 miles we turned right and began to hike toward Basily Road. We continued along the road with my spikes giving me a good grip. We gained a little elevation along the road until we broke out of the woods near the Peter's Hunting Camp. The road ahead was clear of snow so I removed my spikes. We stopped for a moment and I took a few pictures of the valley before continuing on the road. When we arrived at the private bridge, I stopped to take a few pictures of the stream. After taking these shots, we continued along the trail along the edge of some tilled ground at the camp toward the beaver pond. We walked over the small footbridge and stopped so that I could take a few pictures of the beaver pond. The break didn't last long as we continued on the road to finish the upper loop. The road continued to gain elevation and there were large stretches of snow and ice which I was able to work around. Sheila had no trouble with her four paw drive!

At 3.6 miles we stayed to the right as Basily Road headed left to Wild Meadow Road. Shortly after this we turned right into the woods on the snowmobile and hiking trail. This part of the trail is pretty flat which means that standing water was pooled in several places. Most of these spots were frozen over. The were also spots on the trail where the mud had frozen but collapsed under foot. In at least two places trees had fallen across the trail but were hung up an suspended over the trail. These types of blowdowns are the most dangerous to clear. The easiest solution is to let them fall to the ground when the wind blows them down. We passed the spur trail on the left to the lean-to at 4.7 miles. We continued on the main trail and at 5.1 miles we were back at the first trail junction where we had started the figure 8 earlier. We turned right and again followed the trail toward Flugertown Road. This time when we arrived at the bridges I decided to put on my spikes. We then continued to walk along the trail to the road where we turned left. The hike was a little longer than I had remembered and I wanted to set up a quick pace to return to the car. The road was covered in ice but there were a few bare spots along the way. The spikes gave me a good grip on the ice and I was able to find enough ice and snow to walk by the bare spots. Soon we were on the well paved road and I removed my spikes to head back to the car. I did not put Sheila on her leash but told her "With!" to keep her near me. We crossed the bridge over a small stream and I could not resist stopping for a few final pictures. We turned left into the parking area and walked back to the car. We were back at the car at 1:35 PM having hiked 7.3 miles in 3 hours and 25 minutes with an elevation gain of 750 feet. This indicates a pretty flat hike! An average speed of over 2 mph surprised me because of the numerous stops we made.

On Thursday, March 2nd I was scheduled to hike with my brother-in-law Jeff and son Kurt. Jeff wanted to hike to the site of the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp near Hodge Pond. He attended the camp in the 1960's as a member of the Boy Scout troop in Monticello. I had been to the site several times and knew there were a few building still standing. When I got up at 5:30 AM, the wind was blowing at least 20 mph and I almost contacted Jeff and Kurt to offer to postpone the hike. I decided against calling them and waited to see if they contacted me. When I returned from my church men's group at 8:00 AM, neither Jeff nor Kurt had called so I knew we would be hiking. Kurt did text me later and say he would be delayed to about 10:00 AM so when Jeff arrived at 9:30 AM we sat down to talk. Kurt showed up just after 10:00 AM and we got all our gear together and loaded my car to start out the DeBruce Road. The temperature was right around 30 degrees but the wind made it feel MUCH colder. I put on a baselayer under a heavy Patagonia wool top and wore tights under my Columbia Omniheat pants. I wore my Salomon Nytro boots which seem to have just the right amount of insulation. I knew there wouldn't be much snow so I didn't bother with snowshoes or spikes. I donned my Mammut hoody which I wear in almost all conditions where a jacket is needed. When we arrived at the trailhead, there were no vehicles in the main lot. Both lots were almost bare although there was a light coating of new snow that had fallen overnight and into the early morning. At 10::35 AM we crossed the road and started out on the Flynn Trail. It was about 30 degrees but seemed much colder due to the wind although the sun was shining from a bright blue sky. I was glad I had brought a warm hat and gloves. There was a layer of snow on the trail through the woods but it was bare in spots. When we got to the woods road, we turned right and I stopped to take some pictures of the trail with a thin layer of snow. I took some shots and looked across the road to see if I could find the Old Flynn Road that Fred Fries had described and could see it without a problem. As we gained elevation, there was a little more snow on the trail. We set a good pace as we headed for the junction with the Big Rock Trail. At 1.1 miles we turned right off the trail and walked to an open area that covers several acres. The area has a thin layer of dirt over bedrock but there is no indication of how it formed. There is a woods road that runs from the Flynn Trail which was once Beech Mountain Road to the south ends of this area. Some people have suggested that dirt and gravel was taken from this area when the road was built. I took some pictures while Jeff and Kurt explored the area. They returned to where I was standing and I packed up my camera and we returned to the Flynn Trail.

We continued on the trail and at one point we came across a large tree across the trail. Several branches had broken off but I knew it would take an axe or a saw to completely clear the mess. There were quite a few branches on the trail and it was obvious the recent high winds had been responsible. We arrived at the junction at 11:36 AM and stopped to take a few pictures. There was snow covering the trails and the entire junction. We started out again on the Flynn Trail heading toward Hodge Pond. At the next trail junction we stayed right to walk on the woods road heading toward the site of the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. In about half a mile we passed the left turn down to Hodge Pond. We stayed on the road and came to a Y where we stayed left to get to the camp site. We walked off the road to inspect some of the remaining buildings. Jeff was pretty sure that the buildings were ones that were used for the activities that led to merit badges. After fifty years it was hard for him to orient himself and to remember exactly where other parts of the camp had been located. One larger building appeared to be the residence of the caretaker of the camp. We went back out to the road and walked a little farther northwest before turning around and heading back passed the camp. We walked to the road down to Hodge Pond and took a right to walk downhill toward the water. When we got to the road around the pond, we turned left to walk down to the open area at the outlet end of the pond. As we walked into the open area, we were hit by a blast of cold wind. Jeff and Hurt went to explore the outlet stream and I walked over to the fire ring. I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take a few pictures of the pond. There was some blue sky and clouds but the scene was much the same as many times when I had been there before. I noticed that my hands were very cold so I put away the camera and we walked into the woods on the Flynn Trail heading south and up the hill. The walk up the hill can seem long but having people to talk to made it seem much shorter. At the trail junction I explained the options and we decided to head down the Big Rock Trail to Times Square, We turned right and started own the trail making good time on the descent. About half way down we came to a large beech tree that had blown down across the trail. I knew the diameter was more than two feet and cutting it with a hand saw and axe would be challenging. The Big Rock Trail is also used by snowmobiles and I made a note to mention this obstacle to some friends in the local snowmobile club. The snowmobile club is allowed to use chainsaws while the hiking trail maintainers are limited to hand tools!

We arrived at Times Square at 1:15 PM after hiking 5.1 miles. I led the others straight ahead on the Big Rock Trail around the north and west side of Frick Pond. I did notice that Times Square was not as wet as in the past and that much of the water was passing through the culvert instead of flowing over the trail. We continued on the trail passing over the two small bridges that carry the trail over the inlet streams. We passed under some evergreen trees and crossed the long wooden walkways that still had some ice and snow on them. As we came out of the woods, Sheila alerted and we saw a single hiker coming toward us. I took Sheila by the collar and walked off the side of the trail to let him pass. He had a camera with a large lens but his dress seemed strangely out of place for hiking on this cold day. We followed the Big Rock Trail to the junction with the Quick Lake Trail where we turned left. Soon we were walking over the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. I dropped my pack and got out the camera as this is a spot that I cannot resist. I took pictures of the pond and the water downstream from the bridge. I also got some shots of Jeff, Kurt and Sheila on the bridge. We walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction and continued straight ahead on the Quick Lake Trail. As we passed the Lobdell gravestone, I related the story of the two children killed in a cabin fire in 1933. The walk back to the car went quickly even though we had to avoid some wet spots on the trail. We passed the trail register and continue on the woods road back to the car. We arrived back in the parking area at 2:00 Pm after hiking6.2 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes with an elevation gain of 980 feet. The temperature was still only 33 degrees and the wind continued to blow but the sun shone brightly making it feel warmer.

On Monday, February 27th I wanted to get out for a slightly longer hike since the forecast for the next few days included some rain. I decided that I would go to Trout Pond as I had not been there in some time. I wore a baselayer up top but decided I didn't need tights since the forecast was for temperatures into the high 40's. I did take a light pair of gloves and a hat. I wore my Keen Glarus boots as I did not think I would Ned the insulation of the Saloon Nytro boots. I wrapped myself in my Mammut hoody and headed out the door right around 11:00 AM. Sheila as always was ready to get going and bounded out of the door behind me leaping into the backseat as soon as I opened the door. I headed north and west on Route 17 toward Roscoe. Sheila could hardly contain herself in the back seat as she really loves hiking. I got of at exit 94 and headed north toward Downsville on Route 206. I turned left onto Morton Hill Road and drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the side of the road to avoid parking in the large open space which is marked as private property. The temperature was 38 degrees when I parked and it was only a few minutes before Sheila and I started down Russell Brook Road at 11:25 AM. The sun was out but a breeze made it feel cool. I knew I would not need snowshoes but was surprised that the road was a sheet of ice! I started down the hill slipping and sliding and decided I would stop to don my Microspikes. It was much easier walking after that and we made good time walking down the road. As we walked down the road, the stream was making a lot of noise so I expected the falls to have a good volume. There were a few spots without ice as we continued down the road but the spikes were still handy. As we passed the lookout over the falls, I found the volume to be higher than it had been since the early spring but I decided to wait for the trip back to take pictures. We headed down to the lower parking area where there were no cars. We walked down to the woods road that is the main trail and crossed the bridge over Russell Brook. I stopped to take a few pictures of the snow-covered bridge and the brook upstream and downstream of the bridge. We walked passed the stand of Japanese knotweed that looked harmless and completely dead. I decided to save the visit the falls for the trip back and walked to the register box to head up to Trout Pond. The trail had some running water in places but there was only a little snow and ice. I took off my spikes and stowed them in my pack. The blue sky still had some puffy white clouds and some sun as we continued up the trail toward the pond. Most of the trail continued to have almost no snow or ice and mud became a bigger problem. At the pond, I took off my pack and got out the camera. The water level was high enough for water to pour over the spillway. I took some pictures from above and then walked down to a point below the small waterfalls to take some pictures. There were some interesting ice formations and I was pleased with the shots. We walked back up to the shore of the pond which was covered in a layer of ice that was showing open spots around the edges. The rest of the ice did not look sturdy enough to support people but Sheila showed it would support a medium sized dog! I took a few pictures of the pond and noticed that the ice and water had a deep blue quality that I hoped would show up in the final product. The sky was also blue but the clouds were wispy without much body. I packed up and we continued up the trail toward the head end of the pond.

The trail remained much the same but now had a few large areas of standing water which was difficult to avoid in some spots. I did stop at one point to take a few more pictures before continuing toward the outlet. We walked across the bridge and I decided to walk off the trail toward the pond to take a few shots. The skies to the south of the pond were much cloudier with almost no blue showing through which was an interesting contrast to the view from the outlet end. We continued our walk on the main trail and started the ascent up the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. The trail became a stream bed and there was a little more snow especially in the woods. I had been following some foot prints which I could still see in the snow. The footprints looked rather fresh and I thought perhaps they were from the previous day. I expected that as we gained elevation there might be more snow but it never materialized. Along the way were several large blowdowns and many smaller one which were new. I picked up a few branches but most could not cleared without an axe and saw. Since I have begun to do trail maintenance, I always think how much easier it would be if everyone who hiked would just pick up a branch here and there. We made a slight turn to the south and began to climb some more. Sheila was roaming the brush near the trail and seemed to always be on a scent trail. We hit the high point on the hike and started down the other side. There was actually a little more snow on the southern exposure and quite a bit of water on the trail both standing and running. We continued to find blowdowns and branches on the trail. After a short ascent to the "forest of numerous small trees", we walked down to the woods road and snowmobile trail and turned left to complete our loop. The slight ascent had some ice but was mostly mud and running water. I was able to walk on the sides of the trail to try to avoid the mud and water. The descent to the trail junction was wet in many spots but was completely devoid of snow and ice. I stopped to take a few pictures of the nearly bare trail. As we walked down the hill the skies continued to be bright and blue with sun shining. We passed the large campsite on the left at the bottom of the hill and walked over the bridge. We turned right at the trail junction to walk back toward the lower parking area. I really wanted to visit the lower falls so we turned left and walked the path toward the falls. I carefully descended the bank which had a glaze of ice. I dropped my pack and got out the camera. The sun was shining brightly off the deluge of water cascading liver the falls so taking pictures was tricky. I took some pictures of the falls and then a video. Along the banks there were areas where ice had fallen off the trees and had accumulated below. I took some pictures of the trees still encased in ice and the ice piled below them. I also took a few shots of Sheila since she posed for me in front of the falls without asking. I packed up and made it back up to the path and walked out to the trail. There seemed to be less ice but I decided putting on my Microspikes couldn't hurt. We started the walk back up the road back toward the car. There was much less ice on this southern exposure and the sun felt warm ion my back. At the viewpoint for the upper falls, I walked off the road to the left and down to the lookout. The volume of wearer here was even more impressive so I put down my pack and got out the camera. I took various shots before putting the camera away and walked back up to the road. Once we topped the hill there didn't seem to be much difference in the amount of ice and I was glad I had the spikes on. We arrived back at the car at 2:15 PM. We had hiked 5.5 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes gaining 1090 feet of elevation. Our moving average was 2 mph which I considered good under the conditions. The temperature was 48 degrees of 10 degrees warmer than when we had set out and the sun made it seem even warmer. A forest ranger's truck was parked at the intersection but no one was in it. I wondered if it was Joe Bink from Region 4 and what he was doing out on a beautiful day. Hiking perhaps?

On Saturday, February 25th I was prepared to go out for a short walk for a third day in a row. The sun was out and the temperatures by late morning were pushing into the 60's. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go across the street and hike on Round Top and she agreed. We were both trying to recover from a cold that had plagued her for several weeks. We decided to head across the street to Round Top with Sheila around 11:00 AM. I decided to forego the pack since most of the snow was gone and what was left behind wasn't very pretty. I did not put on a baselayer and wore a lighter Columbia long-sleeved shirt under a light windbreaker. My Nytro boots were wet from the previous days slog around Hodge and Frick Ponds and I didn't really need the insulation nay way. I put on my Keen Glarus boots and decided not to wear gaiters. Cindy and I both grabbed a set of poles but knew we would not need snowshoes or spikes. I put Sheila on her leash and started out the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked through the field to the base of the cemetery hill. There was very little snow in the field which early in the week had at least 10 inches. There was some snow behind the church but the cemetery hill was showing only pavement. We began the ascent of the steepest hill which is short but really gets the circulation pumping! When we got to the top of the hill, we turned left and entered the woods. I noticed there was NO snow on the trail and very little in the woods. At the first trail junction Sheila headed straight and up the hill to the lookout so I decide to follow. The hill had no snow at all and it looked like a summer day! When we got to the top, I took a quick look at town and then continued to follow the trail as it turned right and continued through the woods. There was no snow on the trail in this location. It was clear that the higher temperatures and direct sunlight had eliminated almost all the snow.

We continued to follow the trail as it made a sharp right turn and headed around Round Top. The north side of the hill had a few small patches of snow and ice but none were of any significance. At the next sharp right turn, we turned left and followed the green ribbons marking the proposed upper trail to the summit. There was almost no snow on this part of the trail. At the summit we continued following the green ribbons as they led downhill and back to the main lower trail. There were a few slippery spots along the way but the decent went smoothly for the most part. At the main trail we turned left and followed the lower trail to the sharp right turn where we headed right. We walked down the trail to the woods road and stopped at the first trail junction. We had walked a figure 8 and this was all Cindy wanted to do. I considered doing at least another figure 8 until a few drops of rain hit my face. The forecast was for rain and violent thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening so I decided I would walk back to the house with Cindy. We turned left and walked the trail out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked down the cemetery hill to the back of the church. From here we crossed the field and walked back to our driveway. We walked back to the house after walking about 1.5 miles in a little less than an hour.

On Friday, February 24th I decided it was time to get out hiking to make it two days in a row. I was still getting over a cold that had bothered me for over a week and noticed that I was short of breath on my three mile hike on Round Top the day before. I wanted to try a slightly longer hike and thought that the hike to Hodge and Frick Ponds would be a good one. Although I have done this hike many times I had not done it since the snow had fallen. I got up a little later than usual and finished some things around the house before getting ready to leave. The forecast was for sunny skies with highs in the low 60's but with a chance of ruin around noon. I consulted the radar and it seems that the main part of the incoming storm would pass well north of us. I got my gear ready, put Sheila in the car and left the house a little after 9:30 AM. Given the forecast, I did not put on a baselayer and wore a lighter Mammut pullover instead of the wool I had been wearing for the colder weather. I wore my Salomon Nytro boots which seem to have just the right amount of insulation. I didn't know how much snow there would be so I wanted the extra grip and height of these boots. I donned my Mammut hoody although I thought it might be a little too heavy as the sun made the day feel even warmer than the temperature. I grabbed a set of poles but decided against snowshoes or even spikes. When we arrived at the trailhead there were no vehicles in the main lot. Both lots were almost bare although there was still snow in the woods. At 10::00 AM we crossed the road and started out on the Flynn Trail. It was about 42 degrees but seems much warmer as the sun was shining. I left on my Mammut hoody but kept my hat and gloves in the pack. There was a layer of snow on the trail through the woods but it was bare in spots. When we got to the woods road, we turned right and I stopped to take some pictures of the completely bare trail. The road faces south and its upward slope is exposed to the direct rays of the sun. I took some shots and looked across the road to see if I could find the Old Flynn Road that Fred Fries had described. Last time I could not find the road under the snow but this time it was quite visible. I almost decided to follow the road but decided to stay with my original plan. As we gained elevation, there was more and more snow on the trail. We set a good pace as we headed for the junction with the Big Rock Trail. At one point we came across a large tree across the trail. Several branches had broken off but I knew it would take an axe or a saw to completely clear the mess. We arrived at the junction at 10:50 AM and stopped to take a few pictures. There was still snow covering the trails and the entire junction. To the south the skies were beginning to cloud over and I worried about the forecast of rain. The skies to the north were still blue and sunny. We started out again on the Flynn Trail heading toward Hodge Pond. There were snowmobile tracks on the Flynn Trail even though it is clearly marked as 'no snowmobiles". At the gate I could see that the gap to the right of the gate was large enough to allow the machines to pass unhindered. I made note that my trail crew would have to do some work to move large boulders to block the gap since the signs do not deter those who want to ignore the signs. At the next trail junction we stayed left to walk down the hill toward the pond. As we broke out of the woods and walked toward the pond, we ran across drifts of at least 10 inches of snow. This made walking a little difficult. We walked over to the pond and I dropped my pack so that I could take some pictures. I took a few pictures of the pond and the blue sky with white clouds. I picked up my pack and headed back to the Flynn Trail continuing across the outlet stream staying on the Flynn Trail. There was several inches of snow on the trail but there were also some wet and muddy areas also. We followed the Flynn Trail when it headed left and up the hill to the gate. After the gate, the trail is relatively flat.

The Flynn Trail had pools and streams of water along the entire length from the gate to Junkyard Junction. It was difficult to walk on the side of the trail sine the water was so prevalent. Eventually we made it to Junkyard Junction and turned left on the Quick Lake Trail. We had hiked 3.4 miles and it was 11:45 AM when we made the turn onto the packed snow of the Quick Lake Trail. The trail alternated between areas that were completely covered in snow and areas with standing and running water. I stopped several times to take pictures of the trail conditions. We kept up a good pace passing the snowmobile trail to Quick Lake and arriving at Iron Wheel Junction at 12:30 PM after hiking 4.9 miles. We turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and began the walk to Frick Pond. The trail was covered in snow in some areas but wet and muddy in other spots. We came to the stream across the trail which had enough water to make crossing it difficult. I walked upstream to narrow spot and easily crossed to the other side. I walked back downstream to the trail and out down my pack to take some pictures. I took pictures of the trail and the stream. I also took some shots of the small "waterfall" a little upstream. I shouldered my pack and we continued on the trail. We continued to run across wet spots on the trail. We also began to hear gunshots but it was difficult to determine their origin. We were soon walking down the trail toward Frick Pond and we passed the Big Rock Trail on the left. As we approached the bridge over the outlet of Frick Pond Sheila alerted and I heard voices. I put Sheila on her leash. As the bridge cam into sight, I could see two men standing on the bridge. I said "hello" and led Sheila over the bridge and tied her to a tree. I put down my pack, got out the camera and walked back to the bridge. The scene was the same as many of the times I had been there before but I still wanted to take some shots. I took several pictures of the pond and Flynn's Point. I also took pictures of the stream below the bridge. I talked to the two men and found out the were from Long Island near Stony Brook. I attended Stony Brook University and lived in the area for seven years while teaching at Harborfields. I walked over to Sheila and took her off her leash. I took a few pictures of Sheila before shouldering my pack and starting up the hill. We walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction and continued on out the Quick Lake Trail to the parking area. This part of the trail was also covered with water with quite a bit running down the trail to drain into the stream. We walked out the trail to the register and turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail to the parking area. We arrived back at the car at 1:30 PM after covering 6.5 miles in 3 and a half hours with an elevation gain of 930 feet. The temperature at the car was 62 degrees or 20 degrees higher than at the beginning of the hike.

On Thursday, February 23rd I awoke to find the temperature already in the low 40's. I had a few things to take care of in the morning and some basketball games to time in the afternoon. I decided to head across the street to Round Top with Sheila around 11:00 AM when the temperature had risen into the mid 40's. The day was overcast and the snow was a mess from the high temperatures so I decided to forego the pack. I did not put on a baselayer and wore a lighter Mammut pullover instead of the wool I had been wearing for the colder weather. I wore my Salomon Nytro boots which seem to have just the right amount of insulation. I didn't know how much snow there would be so I wanted the extra grip and height of these boots. I donned my Mammut hoody although I thought it might be a little too heavy as the sun made the day feel even warmer than the temperature. I grabbed a set of poles but decided against snowshoes or even spikes. I put Sheila on her leash and started out the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked through the field to the base of the cemetery hill. There was very little snow in the field which early in the week had at least 10 inches. There was some snow behind the church but the cemetery hill was showing only pavement. We began the ascent of the steepest hill which is short but really gets the circulation pumping! When we got to the top of the hill, we turned left and entered the woods. I noticed there was hardly any snow on the trail. At the first trail junction Sheila headed straight and up the hill to the lookout so I decide to follow. The hill had no snow at all and it looked like a summer day! When we got t the top, I took a quick look at town and then continued to follow the trail as it turned right and continued through the woods. There was quite a bit of snow on the trail in this location. It was clear that the amount of direct sunlight had the most impact on the amount of snow as this part f the trail faces north.

We continued to follow the trail as it made a sharp right turn and headed around Round Top. At the next sharp right turn, we turned left and followed the green blazes of the proposed upper trail to the summit. There was a little less snow on this part. At the summit we continued following the green ribbons as they led downhill and back to the main lower trail. Again, there was more snow in this are and the descent was slippery in spots. At the main trail we turned left and followed the lower trail to the sharp right turn where we headed right. We walked down the trail to the woods road and stopped at the first trail junction. We had walked a figure 8 and I decided to turn around and walk a figure 8 in the opposite direction. We turned around and started up the wood road back to the sharp left turn. We made the turn and continued to follow the trail until it made a sharp left. At this point we turned right and followed the green ribbons to the summit of Round Top. The ascent was slippery as there was still snow on the north side of the hill. We followed the rakes across the summit and back down to the main lower trail. We turned right on the main trail and followed the yellow blazes back down to the lookout. We turned left at the lookout and walked down the hill to the first trail junction. At this point we had completed two figure 8's but I still wanted to hike a little more. We turned around and hiked back up the hill to the viewpoint and followed the trail in a clockwise direction back around to the first trail junction. The loop is about half a mile. When we arrived at the first trail junction, we turned around and hiked the same lower loop in a counterclockwise direction. Once we were back at the first trail junction, we continued straight out the trail to the trailhead. We turned right and walked down the cemetery hill to the back of the church. From here we crossed the field and walked back to our driveway. We walked back to the house after walking about 3 miles in an hour and a half.

On Monday, February 20th, I was ready to get a hike in even though I was still suffering the effects of a cold. I had not been out since the previous Wednesday due to work and family commitments. The weather had changed from over a foot of snow the week before to temperatures in the 50's which reduced amount of snow and increased the amount if water on the trails. I don't like these conditions very much but the forecast showed they would be around for the rest of the week! My daughter, Krista, and her husband, Brad, were visiting and Brad decided to go with me. We decided to Rae snowshoes along and make a division about using them at the trail head. Sheila would like to go out everyday and was more than ready to go for a hike. When I looked at the temperature just before 11:00 AM, it was already 38 degrees so I opted for one layer top and bottom and wore my Mammut hoody. We got our gear in the car and headed out the DeBruce Road. I turned left on the Mongaup Pond Road to head toward the Frick Pond trailhead. I stayed to the left where the road spilt and headed up Beech Mountain Road to the trailhead. This road had been plowed but was now a mess from thawing which produced muddy ruts. Both parking areas were well plowed with some ice and some completely bare spots. There was one car parked in the smaller lot where we pulled in. I got put to inspect the trail toward Frock Pond and found quite a bit of snow remaining. The snow was hard packed and icy in spots so I suggested we wear snowshoes if only for the grip they would provide. There was a slight breeze at the trailhead and I was a little chilly as we started out. We headed down the woods road toward the register. There was some ice and the hard-packed snow was just as bad. It was clear that quite a few people had taken advantage of the nice weather to snowshoe the loop around Frick Pond. The woods road from the register out to Gravestone Junction had snow but also several areas of standing and running water. We made the best of it by striding over the water or walking in the snow that remained on either side of the road. We stayed to the left at Gravestone Junction and walked down the hill to Frick Pond. By the time we got to the pond, the breeze was still blowing and the view was much the same as it had been on recent hikes. I decided to forego the pictures from the bridge and we continued on the Quick Lake Trail around the west side of the pond.

At the next trail junction we stayed to the left to follow the Quick Lake Trail through the "Spruce Tunnel" to Iron Wheel Junction. I definitely felt that the snowshoes were giving us the grip we needed but spikes might have been just as good as the snow here was packed also. The last time I had been in the area the Quick Lake Trail to Ironwheel Junction was untouched but now showed use by several snowshoers. There was some water on the trail in this area but we easily walked around it. There was still quite a bit of snow in the woods away from the trail averaging from 6 to 8 inches. We stopped in the "Spruce Tunnel" where I took a few shots and then came to the small stream which was running freely with water from the rain and melting snow. I took some pictures and then we hopped across the stream. We continued up to Iron Wheel Junction still having to avoid water along the way. When we arrived at Iron Wheel Junction, I turned right to get on the Logger's Loop and head toward Times Square. I could feel that I was tired from fighting the cold I had contracted and was not in shape to take on a longer route. The Logger's Loop is part of the snowmobile trail and was well packed which made walking very easy. The sign told us that Times Square was about 1.2 miles away but I knew that we would go through a series of ups and downs along the way before hitting the highest point at 1.8 miles. We stopped so that I could take a few pictures of the packed trail and the untouched snow further off in the woods. The sun was out now and was making the snow sparkle as well as warming us. Once we hit the high point it was all downhill to Times Square. At Times Square I took a quick look up the Big Rock Trail but decided to simply continue out the Logger's Loop. Brad offered no objections as he also had been fighting a cold for over a week. This part of the trail has a slight uphill but is probably the easiest way back to the parking area from Times Square. All along our hike we had been noticing the areas where we had cleared blowdowns. We also noted that the new trail markers we had put up on all the trails were clearly visible even through the snow. Some places on the Logger's Loop were a little wet but the 2+ foot drifts we had found on our last pouting had been reduced by the warm weather. When we crested the small hill and started down to Gravestone Junction I was very happy and my legs felt a little better. At Gravestone Junction we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and began the walk back to the car. On the way back Sheila alerted and I saw a young couple headed toward us. We talked to them briefly and I asked if they had rented the snowshoes they were wearing at Morgan Outdoors. They had and I am glad that Lisa offers this service as it keeps the trail in good shape. We were back at the car at 1:05 PM having taken 2 hours to hike 3.6 miles with an elevation gain of only 386 feet.

On Wednesday, February 15th I had decided to stay inside and see if I could recover from the cold that had come on quickly. I had hiked several days in a row and thought I wouldn't miss going out for a day or two. In the mid-afternoon, around 2:45 PM a storm moved in and snow began to fall rapidly. The rate of snowfall slowed and very large flakes began to come down. The wet snow was sticking to the branches of the trees and bushes coating them in a robe of white. The view from my window was pretty but I knew it would be even nicer if I was outside. I knew I should stay inside but decided to go across the street to Round Top to get a few pictures before the sun came out or the wind began to blow which would ruin the scene. The air temperature was 34 degrees and there was no wind so I knew I wouldn't be too cold. I decided not to wear a baselayer but did put on gaiters and snowshoes as the snow depth on Round Top warranted some traction. Sheila immediately understood what I was doing and demanded to go with me. I took my gear outside, donned my snowshoes and shouldered my pack. I put Sheila on her leash and we headed down the driveway and crossed the street at around 3:00 PM. We walked across the field to the base of the cemetery hill. We began the ascent of the steepest hill which is short. As I looked around I could see that all the trees were covered with a layer of snow and ice making a uniquely beautiful scene. At the top of the hill, I dropped my pack to take some pictures. The town was almost completely covered in newly fallen snow but snow was also still falling obscuring the far hills. I took a lot of shots of the trees from different angles and different zooms before picking up my pack and entering the woods. There was now enough snow that wearing snowshoes made the hiking easier but the snow was a little wetter and heavier than on previous days. The snow depth varied in most places from 6 to 10 inches with some much deeper drifts.

I very seldom stop to take pictures along the trail itself since one part looks much like the next. On this day I stopped almost immediately after entering the woods and took a few shots. At the first trail junction I again stopped to snap a few pictures before continuing straight ahead up the hill to the viewpoint. I follows the spur trail out to the viewpoint on the lower ledges where I took off my pack and got out the camera. From this viewpoint town was covered in snow and the falling snow had begun again. I took shots of the upper ledge with the trees encased in snow and then took shots down into town. I put my camera back in the pack and walked up to the upper ledges to continue on the mainliner trail around the loop. Again I was so impressed by the beauty of the snow on the trees I stopped to take a few photographs. We walked uphill and turned right where the trail joins and woods road. The bushes here were completely encased in snow and deserved, I thought, to be the subject of a few pictures. After taking those shots we walked to the next right turn and started downhill. When we reached the next woods road we followed the marked trail as it continued downhill on another woods road. The ledges on our right were interesting but I kept the camera in the pack. At the first trail junction we turned left and walked out to the trailhead. We turned right band walked down the hill to the church and across the filed to our driveway. We had hiked a little over a mile in around 45 minutes. After we arrived home it wasn't long before the wind began to blow knocking most of the snow off the trees!

On Tuesday, February 14th I was scheduled to hike at Frick Pond with Lisa. We wanted to get out in the deep snow before any warming trend could take it away. When I went to bed, I felt the beginnings of a cold but thought I would be Ok for a short hake in the morning. In the morning I felt worse and texted Lisa that I would have to back out of our hike. After I got something to eat and was awake for a while, I felt much better and texted Lisa to see if she was still available and would forgive me. She agreed to come to y house at 10:30 AM and then go to Frick Pond to hike. Lisa arrived and we loaded our gear into my car for the drive to Frock Pond. Of course, Sheila went along! She was happy to see Lisa but tried to control her enthusiasm. The temperature was in the high 20 so I opted for a baselayer top and bottom but wore my Lighter Mammut shirt rather than a heavier wool top. I drove out DeBruce Road under partly sunny skies and stayed left at the fork in the road. After a short drive on Beech Mountain Road, I parked at the trailhead where both lots had been completely plowed. Lisa and I got out of the car and I let Sheila out of backseat of the car. We put on my snowshoes and I opted for warm gloves with a lighter pair in my pack. The sun was really shining through as we headed over to the larger parking area to access the Quick Lake Trail. My Tubbs Alp Flex VRT snowshoes go on very quickly as the bindings are easy to use. The snowshoes also stay in place and have incredible gripping power. As we stared out the Quick Lake Trail at 11:00 AM, we noticed that the snow was untouched as other hikers had used the woods road from the smaller parking area. It was fun being on freshly fallen and unused snow. When we reached the woods road and the trail register, Lisa signed us in and we headed out toward Frick Pond. There was a pretty good track broken along the woods road to Graveyard Junction. We both commented on the amount of water running across and beside the trail. I stopped to take a few pictures on the undisturbed snow on the Quick Lake Trail. We stayed left on the Quick Lake Trail at the junction and walked down to Frick Pond. When we got to the bridge over the outlet I took off my pack and got out the camera. I took a pictures of Frick Pond with Flynn's Point in the background. The day was much sunnier than it had been at the start of the week. I also took some shots of the water on both sides of the bridge. The water level in the pond was much higher and water was freely flowing in the outlet stream. I picked up my pack and we started around the pond. At the junction of the Quick Lake Trail and the Big Rock Trail I suggested we follow the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel Junction and then use the Logger's Loop to get back to Times Square. Lisa wanted to simply hike around the pond. This was a little short for me but I agreed so we turned right on the Big Rock Trail around the back of the pond. Under the tall evergreen trees there was less snow but it still averaged over 6 inches. When we got to the wooden causeways, they were covered in snow and I stopped to take a few pictures.

We continued on the Big Rock Trail as it wound around the back of Frick Pond heading toward Times Square. I stopped again to take a few pictures on the bridges over the inlet streams and noticed how much sun was shining. There were a few wet spots under the snow but the temperature was still in the high 20's or low 30's. As we approached Times Square two snowmobiles came down the Logger's Loop and headed up the Big Rock Trail. I again hinted that we could take the Logger's Loop as it was well-packed but Lisa insisted on continuing around the pond! We turned to the right to get on the Logger's Loop to complete the loop around Frick Pond. By this time the sun was shining brightly and beginning to soften the snow. The softer snow made lifting the snowshoes harder and some of it clumped on the bottoms of the snowshoes. Sheila seemed to be unaffected by the cold or the snow and continued to bound ahead of us and then come racing back helping to break trail and keep us entertained. Although she looks like a yellow lab she has a longer coat from a dose of Husky blood. She never seems to get cold. Sheila was following her nose and frequently wound bury it in the snow digging slightly. I never saw what attracted her attention but it was very humorous to see her bury her head! The Logger's Loop climbs slightly from Times Square and I noticed this as I continued to break the trail. When we got to the top of the hill on flatter ground, we ran into some impressive snowdrifts. The winds blow across Frick Pond and some of the snow gets through the trees to form these drifts. We had been following a track set by previous snowshoers but this track disappeared into the drifts only to reappear on the other side. I took some pictures and then we continued on toward Gravestone Junction. At Gravestone Junction we turned left to head back to the car on the Quick Lake Trail. We noticed that there were tracks made my cross country skiers after we had hiked the trail earlier. I couldn't tell whether it was one or two sets of skies. At the register, Lisa looked in the book to find the names of the skiers. We turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and retrace or route back to the car. The snow in the larger parking lot had melted quite a bit exposing bare pavement. We were back at the car around 12:45 PM having hiked about 2.4 miles in an hour and 45 minutes. The elevation gain was only 230 feet.

On Monday, February 13th I awoke to find several inches of new snow on the ground and a little more falling as predicted. The total snowfall from Sunday morning through Monday was about 10 inches depending on location and elevation. Most of the schools ion Sullivan County were closed due to the poor condition of the roads and the forecast for sustained winds of over 20 mph with 40 mph gusts. I ha decided to stay home and hike the next day at Frick Pond with Lisa especially since the winds were living up to the forecast. I went downtown to get the mail and found it didn't seem too cold to hike. When I got home, Cindy said she would like to go for a short hike across the street. This was encouraging since she had been sick for almost two weeks. We decided the best choice was to simply go across the street and snowshoe on Round Top as we could walk directly from our house and avoid driving on the questionable roads. I wanted to take some pictures and the most convenient way is just to carry my pack. I again decided to use the Tubbs Alp Flex VRT snowshoes which are overkill for the short hike on hilly terrain but are my favorite snowshoes at this time. These snowshoes have the "boa" system which is supposed to allow tightening the front part of the binding with just a twist a knob. Cindy also decided to try out her new snowshoes which I got her for Christmas. Hers are the women's version of the same Tubbs Alp Flex VRT that I have! Sheila was ready to go as soon as we started getting our gear out but tried to be the well-behaved dog. It didn't take long to get ready and I put Sheila on her leash for the walk across the street. The snow was still falling lightly as we crossed the street at noon and walked across the field to the base of the cemetery hill. We began the ascent of the steepest hill which is short but really gets the circulation pumping! When we got to the top of the hill, I dropped my pack to take some pictures. The town was almost completely covered in newly fallen snow. I picked up my pack and we entered the woods. There was now enough snow that wearing snowshoes made the hiking easier. The snow depth varied in most places from 8 to 12 inches with some much deeper drifts. At the trail junction Cindy decided we would turn right to follow the trail up the old woods road. The trail I had set yesterday was still visible and walking on it was somewhat easier than in the freshly fallen snow. When we reached the sharp left turn, I suggested we continue up the proposed new trail to the summit of Round Top but Cindy felt she couldn't make the climb. We turned left and followed the yellow-blazed lower trail. The trail flattened and then turned left to head back out to the lookout. At the viewpoint I walked down from the upper ledges to the lower ledges. The lower ledges offer a better view of the town and school and I dropped my pack to get out the camera. The wind was more noticeable on the open ledge but it wasn't as cold as I thought it might be. I took some pictures and then packed up to start home. Crossing the small gap in the trail was a little tricky since the snow had blocked the view of the trail. I walked out to the main trail to meet Cindy and we walked down the hill to the first trail junction. We continued straight ahead to the trail head and then walked down the hill to the church. We crossed the field to our driveway. We had hiked a little over a mile in a little less than an hour

On Sunday, February 12th I awoke to find that the forecast for overnight snow had been correct and that there was at least 8 inches on the ground with snow still falling heavily. Church was cancelled so I waited until the snow abated and went out to shovel the walks and driveway. I shoveled a little and then used a neighbor's snow-blower to clear part of the driveway. When I went back into the house at around 1:30 PM, Sheila was frantic to get out in the snow. I was already dressed to hike so I decided we would go across the street and hike on Round Top. Since precipitation was still falling I decided to forego the pack. I had on a baselayer and heavier Patagonia wool top and tights underneath my Columbia Titanium Omnishield pants. I wore my Salomon Nytro boots which seems to have just the right amount of insulation and put on gaiters. I donned my Mammut hoody and grabbed a set of poles and my Tubbs Alp Flex VRT snowshoes with the boa bindings. I stepped out on the porch and put on the snowshoes, I put Sheila on her leash and started out the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked through the field to the base of the cemetery hill. We began the ascent of the steepest hill which is short but really gets the circulation pumping! When we got to the top of the hill, we turned left and entered the woods. I noticed there was significantly more snow than I the last time I had been on the trail. There was now enough snow to so that snowshoes made hiking easier. At the first trail junction turned right and headed up the woods road that is part of the lower trail. This part of the trail ascends gently but continuously to a sharp left turn onto another woods road. We turned left and followed the trail around to the point where it makes another sharp left turn. At this point we turned right to follow the green ribbons marking the proposed upper trail to the summit of Round Top. This climb is steep and the snowshoes certainly helped maintain traction on the climb.

At the top of the hill we followed the green ribbons across the plateau and down the other side. On the descent I got a nice glide on the new snow. We joined the lower trail and turned right walking back to the sharp left turn. This time we followed the yellow marking of the lower trail toward the lookout. We turned left at the viewpoint and started down the hill toward the first trail junction. A quick glance from the lookout showed the town almost completely covered by snow. The view was not much different than in previous days. This viewpoint offers a great view of the school and the buildings downtown. When we reached the first trail junction, I decided we would hike some more. We turned around and hiked back up the steeper hill to the viewpoint. From the lookout we followed the lower trail as it turned right and continued to ascend gently. Where the lower trail turned right, we followed it to the right and walked to the sharp right turn where the trail turns back toward the first trail junction. At this point we turned left and followed the green ribbons and our previous tracks up to the summit of Round Top. We continued to follow the green ribbons across the summit and down the other side. The steep descent provided another opportunity to "ski" down the hill. When we reached the lower trail, we turned left and again followed the yellow markers around to the sharp right turn. This time we turned right and followed the trail down to the woods road and back to the first trail junction. At the junction we turned left and walked back out to the trailhead. Some kind of wintry mix was falling combining rain, sleet and snow! I was glad I had decided to head home. We walked back down the hill to the church and then across the field to the driveway. We walked back to our house after hiking for an hour and 20 minutes and a distance of around 2 miles.

On Thursday, February 9th I awoke to find that the forecast for overnight snow had been correct and that there was at least 6 inches of the ground with snow still falling heavily. The wind was blowing so I waited until about 11:00 AM to go out to shovel the walks and driveway. The snow had stopped but the wind was still blowing making the 18 degrees air temperature seem much lower. I finished what I could do and came back inside to find Sheila begging to go out for a hike. I decided that we would go across the street and hike some in the fresh snow on Round Top. I put on a baselayer and heavier Patagonia wool top but skipped the tights as we would not be going too far. I wore my Salomon Nytro boots which seems to have just the right amount of insulation and put on gaiters. I decided to take my pack so that I could carry my camera to take pictures. I donned my Mammut hoody and grabbed a set of poles and my Tubbs Alp Flex VRT snowshoes with the boa bindings. I stepped out on the porch to a vicious gust of wind. After putting on the snowshoes, I put Sheila on her leash and started out the driveway and across the street. No snow was falling but the wind was still blowing as we crossed the street and walked through the field to the base of the cemetery hill. We began the ascent of the steepest hill which is short but really gets the circulation pumping! When we got to the top of the hill, I dropped my pack to take some pictures. The view was much the same as other times but I decided to rake a few shots anyway. I picked up my pack and we entered the woods. I noticed there was significantly more snow than I the last time I had been on the trail. There may not have been enough snow to require snowshoes but there was recently enough snow to use them effectively. At the first trail junction we continued straight ahead up the steeper section to the lookout. When we neared the top, I turned left to walk out to the lower lookout. I didn't want to encourage others to take this route but I did want the pictures. Crossing the little open gulf in the path was easier with my snowshoes than with bare boots. I again got out the camera and took pictures of the town from another angle. This viewpoint offers a great view of the school and the buildings downtown.

From the viewpoint we continued on the trail in a clockwise direction checking to make sure the yellow blazes were visible and spaced the correct distance apart. When we got to the green ribbons marking the proposed upper trail, we followed them up the hill to the summit. As we walked across the summit plateau the wind was blowing hard and I was glad to drop down the other side. When the proposed upper trail met the lower trail, we turned left and then right to walk the lower trail and woods road back down to the first trail junction. The downhill isn't very steep but I got a nice glide on my snowshoes. When we reached the first trail junction, I decided I wanted to hike a little more so we turned around and retraced our route back up the woods road to the point where the lower trail makes a sharp left. We continued straight ahead and followed the green ribbons back up to the summit of Round top. We crossed the summit and continued to follow the ribbons back down to the lower trail. Along the way Sheila decided to begin her rampage! She flew by me going down the hill and then turned and ran at full speed back up and around me. She repeated this several times. At the lower trail we turned right to head toward the lookout turning left at the viewpoint to walk back down to the first trail junction. I again gout a nice glide heading down the hills. We walked out to the trail head and turned right to descend the hill toward the church. At the base of the hill I put Sheila on her leash to safely cross Rock Avenue. At the church we continued across the field to our driveway and back to the house. We had been out for about an hour and had hiked a little under 2 miles.

On Saturday, February 4th, I wasn't sure I wanted to hike again after a cold day at Frick Pond the day before. I looked at the temperature and windchill and decided to wait until later in the day to get started. I got my gear together and got dressed to leave the house at just after 11:00 AM so that I could begin a hike from Hill Road near Margaretville to the Penguin Rocks lookout on Dry Brook Ridge. I dressed warn with tights underneath my Colombia Titanium pants. On top I had a Patagonia Capilene baselayer with a heavier Patagonia wool top. As always I had my Mammut Hoody as my top layer. I wore heavier gloves and rough a pair of mitts in my pack. I was not sure how much snow I would find so I put my Microspikes in my pack and brought along my Tubbs Alp Flex VRT snowshoes. When I left the house it was still only 18 degrees with a breeze blowing. I headed out old Route 17 to the Beaverkill Road where I turned right and drove toward Lew Beach. I continued through Lew Beach and turned left on the Barkaboom Road just before Turnwood. The road was snow covered in pots and icy but I eventually came to the intersection with BWS 10 where I turned left. I followed BWS 10 until it changed to Southside Road just outside Margaretville. I continued on Southside Road to Huckleberry Brook Road where I turned right. Shortly after the turn I turned left on Hill Road and 1.3 miles to the parking pulloff on the right. The temperature was 18 degrees when I parked and there was a breeze blowing. I checked the snow depth and found only about an inch of fresh powder over packed snow and ice on the trail. I decided not to wear of carry my snowshoes so we crossed the road and began our hike at noon. The first part of the hike is a nice wide trail that ascends through a red pine plantation. The ascent continues for about 1.9 miles when the trail levels off after gaining 1130 feet. Although the day was cold, I began to warm up immediately because of the climb. As we walked there were several blowdowns across the trail from near the bottom until the trail leveled. Two were very large and probably require the trail to be rerouted around them while the others could be removed. The sun through the pines was beautiful and it seemed warm despite the temperature. After passing through the pines we entered a predominantly hardwood forest before passing again through some pines. Sheila seemed to delight in racing away from me through the snow and then careening headlong back toward me. There were a lot of animal tracks along the trail and some crossing it and Sheila was busy investigating these tracks. Along the way I open the zippers on my hoody and took down the hood. After 1.9 miles, the trail leveled off and Turned almost 90 degrees from northeast to southeast. We walked across a flat area dipping down a little to the junction with the blue Dry Brook Ridge Trail at 2.3 miles. All the way up I had been debating in my mind whether or not I would walk to the lookouts or not as I was both physically and mentally tired. My legs were tired from hiking the day before and An early morning ambulance call had robbed me of some sleep. We stopped and I got a much needed drink. I also took some pictures of the snow on the trail which had increased to from 4 to 6 inches on the ridge. I was still not sure what I was going to do but decided to turn right and walk south toward the viewpoint. I reasoned that I could turn around after walking for a little while or complete the trip to the lookout.

As we turned right on this trail, I noticed the sign that said the Hill Road parking was 1.7 miles away. I had to laugh! I expect distances to vary some but .5 miles is a pretty big gap. The trail along the ridge follows the edge until about 2.7 miles where it veers away and heads a little to the east and northeast. Initially the trail ascends a small bump and then descends the other side before leveling off for a while. We were soon climbing the last of three short ascents to the area of the lookout. The total elevation gain from the trail junction to the lookouts is 285 feet and the short ascents were all slippery and covered in snow. I was bale to use my poles to get up each of these but wondered how they would be on the way back down! From 2.95 miles to the lookout the trail gains just under 200 feet in elevation and begins to follow the edge of the escarpment turning almost due south. The snow depth continued to increase and we were regularly walking through drifts of 18 inches. When we arrived at the viewpoint at 2:10 PM, the wind was blowing at about 20 mph. The open rocks that bake up the viewpoint were covered in snow and ice so I stayed on the ridge and took pictures from there. The sky was not very interesting with an odd blue color and no puffy clouds. The Pepacton Reservoir was clearly visible and the view showed the low volume of water. I noticed that my hands were getting very cold so I got a drink and out a bar in my breast pocket to warm up. I also closed the zippers on my hoody to begin the descent on the way back. I was satisfied that we had made it to the viewpoint but concerned that I had overdone It. We turned around and headed back the way we had come. The trip back to the trail junction went more quickly than I had expected and I was able to "ski" down the steeper descents without much problem. I did notice that the few small ascents were taking atoll on my legs. We stopped again at the trail junction so that I could get a drink and then we turned left to head back down the trail to the parking area. The trip down always seems to go quickly as it is mostly downhill or level. I stopped just before the road in the red pine plantation and took some pictures of the sky through the pines and some of the trail. We arrived back at the car at 4:00 PM. We had hiked 6.5 miles in 4 hours with an elevation gain of 1625 feet. The trip down was about 25 minutes shorter than the trip up. I was happy with the pace under difficult conditions. I decided to use Route 30 back to Route 206 to get home as the back roads had been so slick and this worked out well.

On Friday, February 3rd, I decided I wanted to get out and hike close to home before heading to Liberty to pick up my grandson at 3:00 PM. The temperature when I woke up at 6:00 AM was 13 degrees but the forecast had it rising throughout the day. I got my gear together and left the house just after 10:00 AM heading for Frick Pond. As always Sheila was in the back seat pretending we hadn't hiked in a month! I had dressed for cold weather by putting on tights and wearing a heavier Patagonia wool top under my Mammut hoody. I took my new favorite Tubbs Alp Flex VRT snowshoes along with me since I did not know how much snow there would be. We parked just before 10:30 AM and I went to check out the amount of snow. I decided that snowshoes would not be necessary bit could be fun and put them on. The bindings have the Boa system and are the easiest bindings I have used, the most secure and easy to adjust. We were on the trail a few minutes later crossing the road to the Flynn Trail at 10:30 AM. We started up the Flynn Trail which initially had only a few inches of new snow on top of a packed base. The day was still cold but the sun was shining and Sheila was having a great time running around. She was easily getting too far ahead of me and then heading off the hiking trail to follow animal tracks. I had met a local historian at the gas stations and he had told me the route to the Frick homestead. As we hit the old Beech Mountain Road, I looked for the road he described as the old Flynn Road but could not find it. We turned right and began to climb the long hill to the junction of the Flynn Trail and the Big Rock Trail. I stopped once on the way up to take a few pictures of the snowy trail. I had followed some footsteps up the woods road but they ended a short distance beyond the gate with a small snow castle. I assumed a family group had been out walking and that this was as far as they had hiked! Beyond that point the snow was all fresh with only a few animal tracks. I had several things to think about and must have kept a good pace because before I knew it we had walked the 1.7 miles and 600 vertical feet to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. There were snowmobile tracks coming down the hill from Mongaup Pond and continuing on the Big Rock Trail. There were also snowmobile tracks heading out the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. The trail is clearly marked as "No Motorized Vehicles" but apparently they snowmobilers couldn't read or, more likely, just didn't care. It is a shame that a few irresponsible people can give an entire group a bad name!

We turned left to walk down the hill to Times Square. I had hoped to be able to "ski" Dow the hill but the packed snow on the snowmobile track prevented this. The walking was still very easy on the packed track. Once again I got lost in my thoughts which made the walk seem exceptionally short. This is one of those trails that is MUCH shorter on the decent than the ascent! After hiking 2.8 miles we arrived at Times Square. Without hesitation, I turned right and headed up the Logger's Loop which was also packed my snowmobiles. The trail begins A rolling ascent over the next .8 miles. At about 3.3 miles there is an area on the right which is sometimes marshy and often looks like a small pond. The water had collected in this area and partly flooded the trail but we easily worked our way around it. A little further along there were some more wet spots on the trail which we bypassed. We continued on the trail arriving at Iron Wheel Junction at 4 miles. I stopped to take a few pictures and then we turned left to head back toward Frick Pond. The snow here was untouched as no one had hiked the trail and it is too narrow for snowmobiles. The walk is mostly downhill and we were soon at the small stream through the woods. It still had a good flow of water and while Sheila easily jumped across, I walked upstream to a narrower spot to cross. We walked through the pine promenade and the trail became wet in spots on the other side. At the next trail junction we continued straight ahead to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. We walked over the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond and even though there was nothing remarkable about the view, I took some pictures anyway. We continued back to the car along the Quick Lake Trail finding only a few wet spots hidden by the snow. We were back at 1:25 PM having covered 5.5 miles in 2 hours and 55 minutes with an elevation gain of 890 feet. The temperature at the car was about 26 degrees with a slight breeze making it feel cooler.

On Tuesday, January 31st I awoke to find snow falling heavily at times and beginning to accumulate on the ground. I was reluctant to head out for a hike as the snow usually brings an ambulance call or two. I also did not want to go too far away as I did not know how much snow would fall or the condition of the roads. I went downtown early and found the streets and roads were in very poor shape. As the day progressed the temperature rose a few degrees but stayed below freezing allowing the snow to accumulate. Sheila seemed bound to convince me to go out for a hike and around 3:00 PM I finally conceded. I decided we would walk across the street and hike the trails on Round Top as they are close and we didn't have too much time. I knew I wouldn't need snowshoes and doubted I would use my spikes. I did decide to take my pack as I though I might want to take some pictures as the snow continued to fall. It didn't take long to get ready and I put Sheila on her leash for the walk across the street. The snow was still falling at a pretty rapid rate as we crossed the street and walked across the field to the base of the cemetery hill. We began the ascent of the steepest hill which is short but really gets the circulation pumping! When we got to the top of the hill, I dropped my pack to take some pictures. The town was almost completely hidden by the falling snow but I took a few shots anyway. I picked up my pack and we entered the woods. I noticed there was significantly more snow than I the last time I had been on the trail but not enough to require snowshoes. At the first trail junction we decided to go straight ahead up the steeper section to the lookout. When we neared the top, I turned left to walk out to the lower lookout. I didn't want to encourage others to take this route but I did want the pictures. Crossing the little open gulf in the path was tricky without anything on my boots! I again got out the camera and took pictures of the town from another angle. Again, much of the view was obscured by the falling snow. This viewpoint offers a great view of the school and the buildings downtown.

From the viewpoint we continued on the trail in a clockwise direction checking to make sure the yellow blazes were visible and spaced the correct distance apart. When we got to the green ribbons marking the proposed upper trail, I continued on the lower trail on around to where the trail makes a sharp right turn. Here we turned left to follow the green ribbons to the summit of Round Top. Once on the top we continued to follow the ribbons as they headed left and back down to the lower trail. The descent is steep in spots and the snow was pretty slippery. Once we were back at the lower trail we turned left to walk back to the sharp right turn. This time we thieved right and followed the yellow blazes back to the first trail junction. We had now formed a rough figure 8 and I decided we would do it again in the opposite direction. I had not turned on my GPS for the first figure 8 but did so this time knowing I could reconstruct the whole route from the single recording. We turned around and started back up the trail we had just descended. At the sharp left turn we continued to follow the yellow blazes of the lower trail around to the left. When the trail again turned left and the ribbons were on the right we turned right. We followed the ribbons up the steep slope to the top of Round Top and then back down to the lower trail. We turned right on the lower trail, and continued to follow the yellow blazes back to the viewpoint. From the viewpoint we continued down to the first trail junction and out to the trail head. At the trailhead we turned right and descended the hill toward the church. I put Sheila on her leash when we saw that a family was sledding on the hill. At the church we contend across the field to our driveway and back to the house. We had been out for about a little over and hour and had hiked around 2 miles.

On Saturday, January 28th I was ready to hike again after a nice hike in the Neversink Unique area the day before. I wanted to get in a longer hike and had planned to tackle a 3500 on the Devil's Path or a loop to Dry Brook Ridge. When I awoke in the morning the skies were completely overcast and it was snowing at a pretty good rate. I decided that I would gain hike locally as I did not want to make the effort to go on a hike with a nice view if I could not take advantage of the view. I got my gear together and got Sheila in the back seat and headed out to Trout Pond at about 10:30 AM. The temperature was still in the high 20's with a brisk wind. The closer I got to Roscoe on Route 17, the more snow was falling. I took exit 94 off the Quickway and headed out the Rockland Flats on Route 206. Just after entering Delaware County I turned left on Morton Hill Road which was covered in at least an inch of snow. When I arrived at the intersection with Russell Brook Road, I found 4 cars parked in the private lot. The lot is clearly marked as private property and the owner does not like people to park there. I parked on the side of the road on the public right-of-way and as far off the pavement as possible. I was glad I had decided to wear a heavier Patagonia wool top under my Mammut hoody. I also had put on a pair of tights. This time I also had on my gaiters and brought along my Microspikes. As soon as I parked, I could see that the parking area was very icy and decided to put on my Microspikes. I had decided to hike from the intersection of Russell Brook Road and Morton Hill Road around Trout Pond and then take the Trout Pond Trail to Campbell Brook Road. I would hike out Campbell Brook Road to Morton Hill Road and then back to the car. I started down Russell Brook Road at 11:05 AM with snow still falling. The small streams were overflowing with water and I stopped for a minute to take a few pictures before continuing down the road. As we approached the upper viewpoint over the falls I could hear the water roaring and looked down to see a large volume of water flowing over the falls. I decided to go down to the viewpoint to take pictures of the upper falls. The descent looked slippery and it seems that someone had been there before me and had slid won the hill. I worked my way down to the lookout and removed my pack. I got out my camera and took some pictures of the falls. After finishing my photography, I worked my way up to the road and continued down to the lower parking area. We walked down the woods road and crossed the bridge on Russell Brook. When we reached the trail on the right to the lower falls, we turned onto the trail and walked over to the falls. I decided to work my way down the bank into the streambed. The Microspikes and my poles certainly helped get me down the slippery slope. Sheila had no trouble at all! I took some pictures of the falls which had a good volume. There wasn't much ice next to the falls as there usually is during the winter. I took a few shots of Sheila and then put my camera away and climbed back up to the trail. When we got back to the main trail, we turned right and at the first trail junction we kept left to walk up the hill toward Mud Pond. The walk up the hill is about .8 miles and gains 400 feet. This isn't really steep but it does get the blood flowing right away.

From the top of the hill we descended slightly and then turned right to go north along the west side of Trout Pond. I had been following some fresh footprints but they turned off the trail toward Mud Pond. As we hiked along the trail there were quite a few spots where there was water and slush underneath the snow. This caused the snow to clump on the bottom on my shoes and Microspikes. After spending some time knocking the clumps off, I removed the Microspikes and put them in my pack. Over the next 1.2 miles we gained another 400 feet to the highest pot on the hike on the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. From that point the trail descends 450 feet over .8 miles to the bridge at the inlet of Trout Pond. I stopped briefly to take a few pictures of the pond but the skies were overcast and the pictures just average. We turned left on the Trout Pond Trail to start the hike toward Campbell Brook Road at 3.6 miles. From the lean-tos the trail rises 435 feet over .8 miles to the col between two hills to an elevation almost as great as the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. The trail then descends the same amount over the same distance. At 5.2 miles we crossed the bridge over a small stream and a quarter mile later we were on Campbell Brook Road. I put Sheila on her leash for the road walk as we turned right on the road. Campbell Brook Road climbs a little to the intersection with Morton Hill Road. After that intersection, Morton Hill Road is downhill or flat the rest of the way. Along Morton Hill Road there was several inches of snow abs more was falling as we walked. I was surprised that no vehicles passed us as we hiked on the road. There wasn't too much to look at as the skies were overcast and the snow kept falling. I decided not to stop and we set a quick pace as we returned to the parking area. The walk on Morton Hill Road was about 2.7 miles and took us an hour! We were back at the car at 3:10 PM having covered 8.6 miles in 4 hours and 5 minutes with 1680 feet of ascent. There was a DEC truck parked in the lot and I assumed the forest ranger was going to check out anyone ice fishing on Mud Pond or Cables Lake.

On Friday, January 27th, I wanted to do a hike close to home as the windchill temperatures were supposed to be in the low teens and show showers were forecast throughout the day. I decided to go to the Neversink Unique Area since I had not been there in some time and I had exhausted the other hikes in the Livingston Manor area. Cindy wanted to come along so we got our gear together and left home a little before 10:30 AM. Due to the forecast I wore a heavier Patagonia wool top under my Mammut hoody. I also put on a pair of tights. I had not planned on there being much snow I did not bring my gaiters or snowshoes but brought along my Microspikes. Sheila seemed very happy that all of us were going somewhere as she was very alert in the back seat. I got on Route 17 and started for Rock Hill. I got off the Quickway at exit 109 and turned right on Katrina Falls Road. I drove to the end of the road and parked at 10:50 AM in the small parking area. There were no other cars present but we were surprised at the amount of snow still present. As we got ready to hike we found that the parking area was very icy and we decided to put on our Microspikes. I regretted that I had not brought gaiters to prevent snow from entering over the tops of my boots. We started down the woods road toward the river intending to hike the loop to Denton and Mullet Falls. I thought that the recent rain might have augmented the waterfalls making them more interesting. Sheila was certainly anxious to get going as both she and I prefer several hikes a week! The temperature was in the high 20's and the breeze made it seem a little colder. As we walked down the hill passed the trail register, I was glad I had my Microspikes as there was still some ice and hard-packed snow. We turned left at the bottom of the hill to stay on the main trail and came to the small bridge over Wolf Brook. The water was as high as it had been in some time and I stopped to take a few pictures before continuing on the main trail. At the top of the next small hill, we stayed to the right to hike the loop counterclockwise hitting Denton Falls on the Neversink first and then the falls on Mullet Brook. It didn't take long for us to arrive at the lower bridge over Mullet Brook. As we approached, I was surprised to see that the old bridge which was is disrepair had been replaced. The new bridge has a pair of steel I-beams as its main support and should last a long time. I was glad the repairs had been made as this bridge is used heavily by those hiking the trails in the Neversink Unique Area. At 1.4 miles we turned right following the yellow spur trail blazes downhill to Denton Falls.

The trail down to the falls is not well marked and hikers trying to follow it have created new paths which compounds the problem. After hiking 1.65 miles, we were at the rocks near the edge of Denton Falls. The descent to the river was icy and the Microspikes helped us to get safely to the river's edge. The river was high and the falls roaring as I dropped my pack and started to take some pictures. Sheila seemed smart enough not to try to jump into the cold and fast-moving water. I was able to walk along the rocks to get just below the falls. I took quite a few pictures of the falls and some both upstream and downstream. Cindy sat on a rock and I was able to get a few "candid" pictures of her and Sheila. The falls are hardly three feet high but the volume of water made the trip worthwhile. We headed back up the spur trail to the main trail and turned right. At the trail junction I asked Cindy if she wanted to hike down to High Falls which adds about 4 miles round trip to the hike. She declined the offer so we kept to the left to start the loop. After a brief walk uphill, we turned left onto the short trail down to Mullet Brook Falls. The trail has no sign and could be easily missed. In fact, there is no signage anywhere in the area! I saw a total of only three yellow blazes on our way down to the falls and on the way back. When the falls came into sight, I was pleased with the amount of water in the stream. I dropped my pack where the trail ended and grabbed my camera to take some pictures. I carefully walked out onto the rocks below the falls. I took some shots of the falls and the pool below. I was disappointed there wasn't very much ice near the falls as there had been in previous years. it was much like the rest of the trip. There was enough water to make it interesting but far less than I had hoped for. I dropped my pack and got out the camera. After a few initial shots, I walked onto the pile of rocks just down from the base of the falls. I had to be careful as the rocks were covered with moss and were wet from the rain and spray from the falls. I took pictures of the falls but the pool that is normally at the bottom was missing! In fact, it was hard to find any flow in the stream below the falls. Eventually it was time to leave. I put away my camera and shoulder my pack to head back out the spur trail. We walked back out to the main trail and turned left to complete the loop. As we climbed we noticed the rocky ledges to our right and I thought about exploring them at some time in the future. Soon we crossed over the upper bridge spanning Mullet Brook. I stopped on the bridge to take a few shots both up and down stream. After a brief walk we were at a trail junction. Walking straight ahead on the trail leads to the Wolf Lake Multiple Use Area. We turned left and began to descend off the ridge. We hiked downhill for some time and eventually came to the trail junction just above the bridge over Wolf Creek. We continued to walk straight ahead to return to the parking area. Once on the other side of the brook we made the right turn on the woods road back to the car and kept a quick pace until we arrived at the parking area at 1:35 PM. We hiked 4.6 miles in just over 2 hours and 45 minutes including the stops at the two falls. The vertical gain was only about 930 feet. The temperature had risen slightly into the low 30's and the wind had subsided.

On Monday, January 23rd I was scheduled to play racquetball with some friends but these plans were cancelled by an ambulance call. When I returned from the call, I found my track meet had been cancelled due to the forecast for a wintry mix in the afternoon. I decided I wanted to get in a hike before the bad weather arrived. I suggested to Cindy that we go across the street to hike the trails on Round Top. Cindy agreed to go with me and Sheila seemed to be happy going anywhere. We headed out at 10:50 AM with Sheila on her leash to cross the street. There was no snow remaining in the field next to the church and only some in the snow banks around the church parking lot. The temperature was in the mid-30's but felt cooler due to a stiff breeze. I had decided not to bring my pack as I did not intend to take pictures as the day was overcast and dreary. We walked around the back of the church and started up the hill. The hill is short but steep but we made good time as there was no snow or ice. We turned left into the woods at the trailhead and walked along the woods road which did not have any snow. At the first trail junction, we continued straight ahead and up the steep hill to the lookout over town. There was no snow on the woods road all the way to the viewpoint. A quick look at the view showed there wasn't much difference from previous trips. We followed the yellow blazes as the trail turned to the right and continued gently uphill. After a short distance, we picked up the string smell of a skunk and I called Sheila to my side. We continued on the trail to the sharp right turn. At this point we continued straight ahead following the bright green ribbons which marked the proposed upper trail. There was still an inch or more of snow on this side of the hill and it was slippery going uphill. When we reached the top, we continued to follow the ribbons across the summit plateau and down the other side. Soon we were back at the lower trail where we turned left and the quickly right to follow the lower trail down to the first trail junction. When we arrived at the trail junction, Cindy decided to head home. Sheila and I turned right and began to hike another loop.

Sheila and I hiked up the hill again to the viewpoint where we turned right and continued to follow the trail to the point where it turns sharply right. This time we continued to follow the lower trail picking up some branches along the way. When we reached the sharp right turn, we turned right and walked down the trail and then the woods road to the trail junction. At the trail junction, we turned around and walked back up the woods road the way we had come. At the sharp left turn in the trail we continued straight ahead following the bright green ribbons of the proposed upper trail to the summit of Round Top. We turned left on the summit following the ribbons down the slippery hill to the lower trail. We turned right on the trail and walked down to the viewpoint. At the lookout we turned left and headed back down to the trail junction. I decided at this point to complete one more small loop so we headed back up the woods road to the left. This time we turned left at the sharp turn and followed the lower trail on around and back to the viewpoint. Sheila and I kept up a good pace and continued down the hill and back out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked down the hill to the church and then across the field to our driveway. We arrived back at home after hiking a total of 2.6 miles and 930 vertical feet in and hour and 20 minutes. Our pace was just 2 mph which seemed slow but I was satisfied with our hike.

On Saturday, January 21st I wanted to get in a hike after Cindy returned from a church meetings round noon. I had gotten in from our track meet the night before at 1:30 AM and had been out on an ambulance call at 6:30 AM so I was not in nay hurry to rush out of the house. When Cindy got home I suggested we go to hike at Kelly Hollow as we had not been there in over two years! The hike is only about 4 miles but there are some interesting sites including a stream that runs between the trail out and the trail back. There is also a beaver pond on the trail with a lean-to. We got Sheila and our gear in the car and headed to Roscoe on Route 17 at about 12:45 PM. Cindy likes to stay off the small back roads as much as possible so I took Route 206 out of Roscoe to Route 30 near the Pepacton Reservoir. As we hit the top of Cat Hollow, there was a lot of fog caused by the warm air temperature and the cold snow still on the ground. Once we turned right on Route 30 and started around the Pepacton, the fog cleared and there was some sun. Every view we had of the reservoir showed that the level was still VERY low despite the days of rain and the snow melt. At the Dunraven Bridge I stayed on the BWS roads passing the intersection with the Barkaboom Road. After a few miles I turned right on Millbrook Road and drove to the parking area for Kelly Hollow which is marked with the yellow on brown signs used in the Forest Preserve. There was no other cars in the lot when we parked and we began our hike at 1:20 PM. The temperature at the parking area seemed cooler than when we had left Livingston Manor but was still right around 40 degrees. There was some snow in the parking area where it had been plowed but the rest of the ground was bare and muddy in spots. We decided to walk the trail in a clockwise direction and entered the woods crossing a small stream.

Just after the stream we came to a woods road and turned right heading south and ascending slightly. Along the way the trail was wet in spots and there were some patches of ice. We avoid the ice easily and at .5 miles came to the cutoff to the right for the Short Loop hike. I decided to walk down the cutoff trail to the bridge to take some pictures. The bridge was a little loose and the wet boards were slippery. I took a few shots and then decided to work my way downstream a little to take some pictures of a few small waterfalls. Cindy did not want to bother with this bushwhack so she walked back up to the main trail to wait for us. Sheila and I walked down the bank and along the stream which was difficult as the bank was wet and slippery. I settled on a spot below a set of small falls and took some pictures from there. I packed up my camera and headed back up the bank with some difficulty. I joined Cindy on the main trail and we immediately encountered some large patches of ice. We were able to walk up the side of the trail but then began to find more snow on the trail. Looking across the stream to the bank on the other side showed more snow on that side. The trail passes through a mix of evergreens and hardwoods with higher land to the left and the stream on the right. At about 1 mile Cindy stopped to put on her Microspikes which was a good idea. At 1.2 miles we crossed a bridge over the stream and started to walk along the bank opposite where we had been. It had been so long since I had hiked at Kelly Hollow, I began to wonder if we had someone missed a turn since it seemed we were headed in the wrong direction. We decided to simply let things play out and continued along the trail now heading north. To avoid climbing over the shoulder of a hill the trail headed north and eventually west. At 1.6 miles we came to the spot where I had at one time turned left and bushwhacked up to the top of Millbrook Ridge. From the top of the ridge it isn't far to Alder Lake!

The trail turned around the hill and at 1.75 miles headed southwest as we approached the lean-to and beaver pond at the apex of the trail system. The lean-to and its privy were in good shape. I took a few pictures of Cindy and Sheila at the lean-to and then walked to the shore of the beaver pond. We were surprised to see how low the water level had fallen. I expected the volume to be low but there was hardly any water. The edges of the pond were very dry and grassy indicating the condition had existed for some time. The beaver house was well above water and the beavers had abandoned the area. I took some pictures to document the conditions. The sky was blue with some white clouds and the trees around the pond were stark without their leaves. We walked a little around the pond and I took a few more shots before stowing the camera for the return trip. The trail around the pond eventually meets up with another woods road which leads back to the parking area. From the apex of the trail back to Millbrook Road is about 1.3 miles with the trail heading mostly north. It wanders a little to avoid some hills and is always parallel to a stream. At 2.7 miles I spotted another waterfall and started to look for a way down the bank to the streambed. I managed to get down to the level of the stream to take some pictures of a waterfall. I worked my way back up to the trail and Cindy and I crossed another bridge on the way back to the car. Shortly after the bridge we arrived at the trail that forms the short loop. At 3.3 miles the woods road leads to a small cemetery which we had visited before. Some of the grave markers, especially the ones on the hill, are very old and it seems it has been a long time since it has been used for a burial. Several of the graves are from men who fought in the Civil War and there is at least one with a Revolutionary War designation. We decided to walk out the access road to Millbrook Road. Once at Millbrook Road, we turned right and walked .25 miles back to the car. It was 3:40 PM and we had completed the 3.8 mile hike in 2 hours and 20 minutes. The elevation gain was only 630 feet. We drove back to Livingston Manor the way we had come and stopped once to take some pictures of the reservoir.

On Friday, January 20th I wanted to get out after several days of rainy weather. An early morning ambulance call and some rain in the morning delayed my plans to go on a longer hike. I changed plans and decided to go across the street to hike on the Round Top trails before I had to leave for an evening track meet. Cindy agreed to go with me and Sheila seemed to be happy going anywhere. We headed out at 11:00 AM with Sheila on her leash to cross the street. There was only a little snow in the field next to the church and some in the snow banks around the church parking lot. The temperature was in the mid-30's but almost felt warm and I wore the lighter version of my winter clothing. I had decided not to bring my pack as I did not intend to take pictures as the day was overcast and dreary. We walked around the back of the church and started up the hill. The hill is short but steep but we made good time as there was no snow or ice. We turned left into the woods at the trailhead and walked along the woods road which did have some snow. At the first trail junction, we turned right to walk up the more gentle slope in the lower loop. There was very little snow on the woods road until we got to the turn up the hill where we encountered significantly more snow. When we got to the sharp left turn, I suggested we continue on the new upper trail that I had laid out. The trail is only flagged with green tape but the path is pretty clear. The trail is a rather direct route to the top of the hill and an equally direct route down the other side. The final trail when constructed may contain some switchbacks to help mediate the steepness. We walked up to the summit of Round Top where there was still some snow and then started down the other side still following the bright green ribbons. This side of the hill faces north so there was till several inches of snow and the steep slope allowed us to glide down in our boots. We were soon back at the yellow-blazed lower trail where we turned right to head toward the viewpoint from the ledges facing town. When we arrived at the ledges, we took a quick look from the upper part of the lookout. The sky was overcast and there was some mist or fog hanging over town. We continued on the main trail down the hill to complete the loop at the first trail junction. At this point, Cindy decided to return home and I decided to do the loop in the opposite direction. Sheila and I turned around and hiked back up the steep hill to the lookout. We didn't stop and continued on around the loop at a quickened pace. As the main lower trail turned right, we walked straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit following the bright green ribbons again. Hiking up through two inches of slippery, wet, icy snow was a challenge but we soon reached the top and started back down. When we arrived at the moan trail, we turned left and then right to follow the trail back down to the first trail junction. We had been out for about an hour and I decided to turn left and walk back out to the trailhead at the top of the cemetery. From the trail head we walked back down the hill to the back of the church and across the field to our driveway.

On Monday, January 16thI wanted to do a 3500 foot peak and decided the night before to do Hunter from Spruceton. I like the trail and it is relatively easy which is what I wanted as I had not done a 3500 is some time. The temperature was forecast to start out cold but rise to the high 30's by early afternoon. When I woke up in the morning at 6:00 AM, it was 10 degrees and I knew decided to delay my departure. I left Livingston Manor at about 8:00 AM under clear and sunny skies. The temperature was still around 10 degrees but I hoped it would rise on the way to my destination. Sheila was eager to go but laid down to rest in the backseat after a few miles of driving on the DeBruce Road. The further I drove the lower the temperature became until it was 5 degrees near Round Pond. I considered turning back but did not. I turned left on Route 47 to head toward Big Indian and Route 28. There was one car at the Biscuit Brook parking area and only one or two at Slide and Panther Mountain. As I came to Route 28 in Big Indian, the Route 28 detour was gone so I turned right and headed for Shandaken. I turned left on Route 42 toward Lexington and continued north on Route 42 to Spruceton where I turned right on the Spruceton Road. We arrived at the parking area on the left at about 9:40 AM and almost immediately got on the trail to hike. There were no other cars in the lot and the temperature was now about 18 degrees. I had decided to wear tights under my Columbia Omniheat pants along with my insulated Salomon Nytro boots. On top I had on a Patagonia underlayer with a Patagonia wool top over it. As always, I wore my Mammut hoody. I had not even brought snowshoes but was surprised to find almost no snow on the ground! I decided to keep my Microspikes in my packs until I really needed them. The Spruceton Trail to Hunter has several areas that usually have ice flows that cover most of the trail. Sheila and I left the parking area and I made up my mind to keep a constant but not necessarily fast pace. There was good amount of water in the brook which made the hike pleasant. There were a few small patches of ice that were easily avoided as we walked up the trail. We crossed the bridge at .5 miles and shortly after made the hairpin turn where the trail begins to get steeper. There was a pretty obvious path heading in the direction of Rusk and I wondered how well defined it remained further toward the summit.

The sun was out and the temperature was beginning to rise as we hiked up the trail and there was still no snow. I was watching for some views of Westkill to the right but they were all blocked by the trees. As we hiked Sheila was following animal tracks in many different directions. The trail was a little longer than I remembered but we made the saddle between Hunter and the Rusk ridge at 10:30 AM after hiking 1.7 miles. Along the way we had come across a few areas of snow on the left side of the trail and I had stopped to open up the zippers on my clothing as I was getting warm. I stopped to get a drink and contemplated the fact that we were half way through the trip as far as mileage went. I knew that the hardest part was yet to come. We made the right turn up the mountain and I immediately noticed that the grade increased. In a short distance we began to encounter ice on the trail but I stubbornly refused to stop on don my Microspikes. I kept a good pace which had me sweating and breathing a little more than I had been. The ice flows began to get larger stretching across the trail and covering large areas. I decided to simply walk on the snow at the side of the trail or bushwhack a little. We continued to climb and came to the area just below the spring. The ice flows here were impressive and the spring was encased in ice. I had decided to refrain from taking pictures until we reached the summit. The spur trail to the lean-to was a little father away than I remembered! I was feeling a little more tired than usual since I had not been hiking mountains for some time. I had been concentrating on the Finger Lakes Trail and Long Path with much longer but flatter hikes. I simply decided to cut my pace a little and relax taking a break when I needed. We passed the trail to the lean-to and I decided to visit it on the return trip. At 11:00 AM we passed the trail to the left that goes to the Colonel's Chair, the top of the Hunter Mountain ski complex. We had hiked 2.5 miles and still had about a mile and 450 feet of elevation to go! Even though I had stopped several times there were no signs of anyone following us on the trail.

The final mile has a few spots where the trail levels off and a few where there are some sustained climbs. We passed by a small lookout on the left since I knew better things were to come. Along the way, Sheila alerted and I turned around to see a young man hiking at a faster pace than we were setting. Sheila and I stepped off to the side of the trail to let him pass. We continued on our way hiking the last ascent where the trail was mostly covered in packed snow. As we approached the tower clearing, I could see there was no one at the cabin or on the tower and wondered why the hiker who had passed us had decided not to visit the fire tower. We walked to the cabin where I dropped my pack and got out my camera. I took a few shots of the tower and cabin and then leashed Sheila to the picnic table so that she would not follow me up the tower. I headed up the tower to take more pictures. As soon as I was above the tree line, I noticed a sustained breeze that made me a little cool. I took pictures from just below the cabin on the tower and then came down to another level and took some more. I could see the Hunter Mountain Ski Area with the zoom on the camera and there did no seem to be much activity although there was some snow on the slopes. I took a few shots from the lower levels as I descended the tower including a few of a pitiful dog looking up at me! The skies were a rather solid blue and but had a few clouds that added a nice touch. I went over to the picnic table and released Sheila and got a drink. I looked around for Sheila and saw her halfway up the open stairs on the tower! When I called her, she fearlessly bounded down the steps to the ground. I checked the thermometer at the cabin and found it was just at 32 degrees. I decided to put on my Microspikes for the trip down as I felt it would not only increase my security but also my speed. I got my gear on and we started back at down the Spruceton Trail. I had considered doing the loop to Southwest Hunter but I decided against it for the sake of time. We kept a faster pace down the mountain but I had to slow down for the larger ice flows. The ice was hard and thick and the Microspikes are not very sharp. In addition, my poles were not getting a very good "bite". I stopped a few times to take pictures on the trail. We came to the spur trail to the lean-to at 12:25 PM and turned left to visit the lean-to and the lookout over true Spruceton Valley. I had expected an ice flow on the path to the lean-to but everything was pretty clear. I dropped my pack at the lean-to and walked out to the lookout. The view was beautiful and I took pictures of the valley. I also snapped some shots of Westkill and Rusk. I had Sheila sit on the rocks and took a few photographs of her. After returning to the lean-to for a few more pictures, I shouldered my pack and we headed back out to the main trail. We turned left an I carefully made my way down the icy trail taking few pictures on the way. When we reached the spring, I stopped and took a few shots before continuing down the trail avoiding more ice. We were soon at the left turn where I stopped to remove my Microspikes. We picked up the pace down the wide woods road making the sharp right turn and crossing the bridge. I took a few pictures of the brook and the Sheila alerted again. A couple was walking up the trail with their dog on a leash. I leashed Sheila and we passed each other with a "hello" and not dogs straining to meet each other. We were back at the parking area at 1:45 PM after hiking 6.8 miles in 4 hours with an elevation gain of 2010 feet.

On Friday, January 13th, I was ready to get a hike in after spending the overnight and early morning hours on ambulance calls. The previous two days had seen temperature in the 40's with rain so I knew the trails would be a mess. By Friday at noon the temperature had evened out at about 30 degrees. Cindy said she would go for a walk and we decided to go to Frick Pond as it is close and I had an afternoon basketball game to time. My plan was to go to Frick Pond and hike the big loop around Frick and Hodge Ponds. We got our gear and Sheila in the car and left Livingston Manor a little after noon. We had decided to take our Microspikes but leave the snowshoes at home as we expected there to be very little snow and what was present would be packed. Since it seemed warmer than when I had last been out on Tuesday, I decided not to wear insulated boots and did not put on a wool top or tights under my pants. I drove out the DeBruce Road which was well cleared and then turned left on the Mongaup Pond Road to head toward the Frick Pond trailhead. I stayed to the left where the road spilt and headed up Beech Mountain Road to the trailhead. This road had been plowed but was now a mess from thawing agreeing which produced ruts and a layer of ice. Both parking areas were a sheet of ice so I parked in the smaller lot and pulled in to reach some bare ground. There was already one car parked as we got ready to hike. We decided not to put on our spikes immediately and left the parking area heading down the woods road toward the register. I thought about going up the Flynn Trail but Cindy had other ideas so I followed her. I was not enthusiastic about hiking the Quick Lake Trail from the register to Frick Pond twice since there are a lot of rock and some water which proved to be the case this time. There was a lot of ice and the packed snow was just as bad. Just after the register Cindy began to slip on the ice and stopped to put her spikes on. While I was standing waiting for her, I noticed that the stiff breeze was making me cold and that my feet were colder than normal. I began to regret not upgrading my gear to handle the cooler temperatures. As we approached the trail junction, Sheila alerted and we saw two women headed toward us with their dog. I took Sheila by the collar and stepped off the side of the trail while they politely leashed there dog and passed by us. We stayed to the left at Gravestone Junction and walked down the hill to Frick Pond. By the time we got to the pond, the wind was blowing and as I got out the camera my hands were chilly. The scene was beautiful s there were puffy white clouds in a blue sky and the water level in the pond was up. I took a few pictures from the bridge and the packed up to get back to the hike.

At the next trail junction we stayed to the left to follow the Quick Lake Trail through the "Spruce Tunnel" to Iron Wheel Junction. I could definitely feel that I was working harder trying to stay on the side of the trail in the snow to avoid the water and ice that covered the center of the trail. It surprised us that there was still quite a bit of snow in the woods averaging from 4 to 8 inches. I stubbornly refused to put on my spikes and Cindy was having an easier time not having to avoid the ice. We stopped in the "Spruce Tunnel" where I took a few shots and then came to the small stream which was running freely with water from the rain and melting snow. I walked upstream a little and crossed easily. Once on the other side we had to cross a small tributary which had been dry for some time but now had quite a bit of water. We continued up to Iron Wheel Junction still having to avoid ice and water along the way. When we arrived at Iron Wheel Junction, we stopped and I asked Cindy which way she wanted to go. Her reply was "The shortest way!" So we turned right to head toward Times Square on the Logger's Loop. The sign told us that Times Square was about 1.2 miles away but I knew that we would go through a series of ups and downs along the way before hitting the highest point at 1.8 miles. The Logger's Loop is a snowmobile trail which was now an icy glaze as the packed snow had thawed and frozen again to form sort of a skating rink. I continued to resist the obvious solution and Cindy had a much easier time with her spikes on. Once we hit the high point it was all downhill to Times Square but the downhill did not feel as good as I expected since I had to continue to watch out for the icy patches on the way down. At Times Square there were three choices and Cindy chose to continue straight ahead on the Logger's Loop. I knew this trail had a slight uphill but I wanted a good GPS track of the whole Logger's Loop. All along our hike we had been noticing the areas where we had cleared blowdowns. We also noted that the new trail markers we had put up on all the trails were clearly visible even through the snow. Some places on the Logger's Loop were a little wet and the small "bridge" we had built helped us easily get across one of those areas. When we crested the small hill and started down to Gravestone Junction I was very happy and my legs felt a little better. At Gravestone Junction we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and began the walk back to the car. It seemed that there were more wet areas on the trail and we suspected that the temperate had increased some since we began the hike. We were back at the car at 2:30 PM having taken 2 hours to hike 3.6 miles with an elevation gain of only 386 feet.

On Tuesday, January 10th I wanted to get for a hike close to home before track practice in the afternoon. Since I had been visited Trout Pond and Frick Pond a number of times recently, I decided to go to Long Pond and do the big loop in a counterclockwise direction. The recent weather had included high temperatures in the teens and I had avoided hiking with Sheila because of the cold. When I awoke in the morning, the temperature was 9 degrees so I decided to wait until it was a little "warmer" to leave for the hike. By 10:00 AM the temperature had risen to 18 degrees so I decided it was time to head out. I decided to dress warmly with a Patagonia wool top and tights underneath my Columbia Omniheat pants. As always, I wore my Mammut hoody which gives me more options for layering. Since there was very little snow, I decided not to bring snowshoes but I did put my Microspikes in my pack. I got Sheila in the car with my gear and headed out DeBruce Road for about 8 miles to Flugertown Road where I made a left. I parked in the lot a short distance up the road on the right. The temperature was 18 degrees when I parked and the skies were overcast. There was more snow in the parking area than in town and there was ice beneath the snow. I set my GPS and decided not to put on my Microspikes until I needed them. I could see the trail up the hill was covered in packed snow from snowmobiles. I felt the snow would give me some traction. A slight breeze made things even cooler as we started our hike at 10:40 AM by walking over the bridge and up the hill. The first .6 miles gains about 350 feet to the highest point on the hike. It isn't very steep but does act as a nice warm-up! The trail was icy going up the hill but I was able to find traction on the packed snow. At 1.1 miles we were at the spur trail that leads down to the shore of Long Pond. I decided to turn right and go down to the pond to take some pictures. At the shores of the pond I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take some pictures. Sheila immediately ran out onto the ice so I took a few pictures of her. The skies were overcast but I still snapped a few pictures before going back to my pack. We returned to the main trail and turned right at the first trail junction. By 11:35 AM we had walked 1.8 miles and were passing the spur trail to the lean-to.

After passing the trail to the lean-to, we picked up the pace and continued on the main trail to the point where it intersected a woods road at 2.6 miles. We turned left and followed the road until the intersection with Basily Road at 2.85 miles. The roads were icy and seemed to have been traveled by snowmobiles and ATVS but I was able to keep walking on the snow and avoid using spikes. We continued on Basily Road by bearing to the left. As we approached the Peters Hunting Camp, I got ready to put Sheila on her leash. The area near the footbridge across the outlet to the beaver pond had freely flowing water and I stopped on the bridge to take some pictures. I took a few shots of the beaver pond and marsh. I also took a few close-ups of the water flowing beneath the ice. We continued on the main trail and crossed the bridge to continue the trip back to the car. Just after the bridge, I stopped to take a few pictures of the bridge and the stands of corn. Further along, I took a few shots of the valley which looked peaceful under a covering of snow. There were no tracks to the Peters Hunting Camp so no one had visited in some time. The roads continued to be icy as Basily Road changed to Flugertown Road. Along the way I stopped to take some pictures of the stream which was partly covered in ice. Eventually the road became paved and there was no ice or snow. We walked quickly down the road back to the parking area without meeting anyone. There was a blue pickup parked along the road but we did not see the owner. At 1:20 PM we were back at the car having hiked 6.0 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes. The elevation gain was only about 550 feet most of which was at the beginning of the hike.

On Friday, January 6th I was planning to hike with Kurt along the Palisades section of the Long Path. I wanted to hike a loop from the State Line Lookout to include the Giant Steps and Peanut Leap falls which I had missed the last time I hiked the Long Path in the area. After watching the weather forecast, I found that it was calling for snow in New Jersey. The forecast was for only about an inch but I did not want to be part of a 20 car pileup on the Palisades Parkway due to the carelessness of other drivers. I weighed the options and decided that hiking Fishkill Ridge might be nice since it is close to Kurt's house in Poughkeepsie. I had never hiked to the ridge from Route 9 although I remembered seeing the trail the few times I had hiked around Fishkill Fudge. I called Kurt the night before and told him to meet me a Nicola's Restaurant about 3 miles south of I-84 and Route 9. I set my alarm for 6:30 AM as I knew the drive would take me about and hour and a half. I awoke at about 6:00 AM to the sound of a snowplow on the street! We had gotten an unexpected inch of snow and I wondered how much had fallen on the east side of the Hudson River. Kurt sent me a text indicating they got only a coating and we agreed there was no reason to postpone our hike. I got my gear together and watched Sheila as she danced around the house. I decided to take my spikes and gaiters but was pretty sure I wouldn't need them. The temperature was only 20 degrees when I left the house so I decided to upgrade my clothing by wearing a Patagonia wool top and tights underneath my Columbia Titanium Omniheat pants. I always wear my Mammut hoody which is made of Gortex Windstopper but has no insulation. This allows me to adjust my temperature by layering and opening or closing the zippers on the hoody. I also packed a heavier hat and mittens. We left Livingston Manor at 7:30 AM and headed south and east on the State Rt 17. The local roads still had a little snow but the main roads were completely clear all the way to Middletown. I took I-84 east across the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge toward Fishkill. I got off at exit 13 for Route 9 south. As I approached the meeting point, I was a little early so I turned right on Old Albany Post Road to see if I could find the trailhead. In about a quarter of a mile I found Reservoir Road on the right and three yellow markers indicating the beginning of the yellow Wilkinson Memorial Trail. There did not appear to be a good place to park. There were several signs placed by residents indicating parking along the side of the road was discouraged. I knew there was a public right-of-way but didn't really want to upset anyone by parking where I was not wanted. I drove out to Route 9 and pulled into the parking lot for Nicola's Restaurant. Kurt arrived a little after 9:00 AM and I suggested we park at the restaurant. I have done this before in various places and no one seems to mind as long as the car is out of the way. We got our gear ready and allowed Sheila time to grant Kurt. I out Sheila on her leash and we carefully crossed Route 9 at 9:10 AM. We walked north on Route 9 and then turned left on Old Albany Post Road. After just less than half a mile, we turned right on Reservoir Road to start hiking on the actual trail. After a short distance, we came to a gate blocking the road. To the right was a DEC facility but it's purpose was not clear. We passed through the gate and started into the forest starting our climb toward the ridge heading west. There was a dusting of snow on the ground but it didn't effect our hiking.

Kurt almost immediately noticed that the trees were huge both in height and in girth. Some were so large that they appeared to be first growth. At .9 miles we came to a small reservoir or lake. Part of the lake was frozen over with ice thick enough to support a medium sized dog! Sheila fearlessly walked out onto the ice perhaps attracted by the ducks in the open water beyond. I took some pictures and then we walked around to the north shore where I took a few more shots. After this, I put away the camera and we continued to hike. The trees actually seemed to be bigger as we passed around the north side of the lake continuing west and up. From the lake to 1.45 miles the trail was almost flat Rolling a little but after that it began to climb. At 1.6 miles we began to walk through some switchbacks which made the climb a little easier. The grade still averaged 19% until we hit Fishkill Ridge at 2 miles. At this point the Wilkinson memorial Trail turned left but we headed right on the white Fishkill Ridge Trail. We began walking on the trail following it northeast as it actually descended some until we crossed a stream at 2.8 miles. Along the way we noticed some fantastic stone walls and I stopped to take a few pictures. I was looking for a spur trail to a viewpoint or for some views along the main trail but could not find them. At 2.8 miles we began to climb a little more than I remember still heading northeast and still without any views suitable for photography. We continued to see stone walls and other evidence the area was settled at some time. At 3.0 miles the trail began a sweeping turn to the north and at 3.3 miles it made a sharp turn so that we were heading southwest but still gaining elevation. There were some areas on the trail which had quite a bit of ice and some ice covered rocks that made the climb tricky. As we climbed, we could see we were approaching what looked like it would be an open vista. Soon we were at the top of Bald Hill, the highest point on the hike at 1490 feet, with an almost 360 degree view. Although this elevation pales in comparison to the Catskills it is over 1200 feet above the valley. The skies were interesting as there was some blue sky in one direction and dark skies in another direction. There were even a few snow flakes in the air. I had considered dropping a layer of clothing along the way but was glad that I had not as we stood exposed to the wind on the top of the hill. The views were fantastic and I got out my camera to take pictures. Perhaps the most surprising sight was a small table and rustic rocking chair on the top of the hill. I took several pictures of them with the dark sky in the background. In the valley to the east of the ridge there is a massive sand and gravel operation with terraces cut into the hill. I took done shots in that direction and them tried to get a few of the Hudson river to the south and west. We walked a little farther and got some different angles of the same views. I took a few pictures of Sheila with Kurt and then we packed up and started back on the trail. From the top of the hill the rest of the hike was mostly downhill with a few small climbs along the way. There were no more significant viewpoints which let us concentrate on our hiking.

At 4.6 miles we came to an open rock that at one point may have had a view. It was not clear to any of us exactly where the trail went from here. We wandered off in different direction and Kurt found Dozer Junction a little over 200 feet to the west. I found the actual trail to the south and followed it as Kurt caught up. The trail looped clockwise around the rock and ended up in a short but tricky descent to Dozer Junction. The junction is named for a bulldozer that sits at the junction. I took a few shots including one of Kurt in the driver's seat! I have been unable, despite several research attempts, to find out why the bulldozer was abandoned there. We turned left onto the blue trail and headed downhill over some very slippery spots following the blue trail to the yellow Wilkinson Memorial Trail. As we hiked we found more stone walls, several foundations, extensive woods roads and some farm equipment including disk and spring-tooth harrows. When we reached the yellow trail, we turned left to follow the trail back to the car. As we approached the junction with the white Fishkill Ridge Trail, we were walking along a relatively narrow portion of the trail with a high rock wall on the left and a dropoff on the right. The trail took us up and over some rocks which were wet with snow that had melted. This part of the trail had a southeasterly exposure and almost all the snow from earlier in the morning was gone. I took a few shots and then we continued along the trail where, at 5.4 miles, we eventually came to the junction we had been at on the way up from the valley. I had though the descent on the trail might be slippery from the accumulated snow but most of it was gone. Wherever a tree was located on the right side, there was a stripe on snow across the trail since the temperature was still below freezing and only the direct sunlight had caused the snow to sublimate. The descent went quickly but Kurt and I kept noticing the huge trees. There were several across the trail that were at least four feet in diameter with seemingly enough rings to indicate an age of over 100 years. We stopped to observe one monster and Kurt went over to stand by it to give some indication of scale. I snapped a few shots and then we started back toward the reservoir. As we passed through the gate and onto Reservoir Lane, we noticed a large "kettle" by the side of the road. It was iron and perhaps four feet in diameter. Its use was a mystery since there were no ruins around to put it in perspective. We walked back out to Route 9 and from there back to our cars. We were back at 2:30 Pm having spent 5 hours and 20 minutes hiking 7.2 miles with an elevation gain of 1850 feet. We spent almost an hour stopped so I was not too disappointed with the seemingly slow pace. We were both hungry and decided that we would stop at the Maya Cafe which is at the junction of Route 9 and I-84!

On Monday, January 2nd I was ready to go out for the first hike of 2017. Even though the weekend had been a little tiring, I wanted to get in a longer hike. I checked the weather forecast and found we were supposed to get freezing rain by noon so I decided to modify my plans and just head to Frick Pond one more time! When I awoke in the morning the temperature was just above 20 degrees so I was not too eager to get a very early start. I did a few things around the house and then decided to get going before the rain arrived. Because the temperature was only a little over 20 degrees, I decided to wear my Mammut hoody and warmer Columbia Titanium pants with a long-sleeved Patagonia Capilene baselayer. The hoody has lots of zippers to help regulate temperature and I knew I could always take it off. Sheila was happy to be going anywhere and crouched in the back seat with her head on the console. Just after 9:30 AM I headed out the DeBruce Road and it wasn't long before rain started to fall on the windshield and freeze! I almost turned back but kept going as the weather citations often change rapidly and are many times different at Frick Pond than in town. I also thought I could still get a short hike in even if it was raining. By the time we had arrived at the parking area, the rain had stopped but the temperature was only 25 degrees. The lot had been plowed once but new snow had accumulated. There were no other cars in the lot but there were a lot of snowshoe tracks! I put on my Tubbs Alp Flex VRT snowshoes which have become my new favorites. These snowshoes have the "Boa" system which is supposed to allow tightening the front part of the binding with just a twist a knob. I found ether was a left and a right and put the snowshoes on. I found there was a "stopper" up front which limited how far forward the boot can go which I like. The strap around the back seemed to tighten very smoothly and the Boa system did allow me to tighten the binding very easily. We headed out to the Quick Lake Trail passing the trail register and heading toward Frick Pond. At Gravestone Junction we turned right to get on the yellow Logger's Loop heading toward Times Square. We made good time on the trail as it headed slightly downhill. I was surprised that there were a few muddy spots on the trail as everything else was covered in snow. A good snowshoe track had been laid down by multiple people traveling the same route. It is important when snowshoeing to keep the same track as others and to improve and widen it as you go. At Times Square we continued straight ahead to stay on the Logger's Loop and began to climb an uphill. The trail was well packed by snowmobiles and almost immediately we could hear some machines coming from the direction of Mongaup Pond. Sheila ran right over to me and we both walked off the trail. As the machines approached and saw us, they slowed down to a crawl. We waved as they passed us and accelerated. Some elope complain about the smell of the exhaust but it has never really bothered me. I realized that to me it smells like the exhaust from chainsaws which brings back a lot of good memories from when I was logging with my father 50 years ago. We continued our hike as the trail continued to rise and then flattened a little. It was a pleasure to walk on the packed trail and we ewer soon at Iron Wheel Junction. I stopped to take a few pictures of the contrast between the packed snowmobile trail and the fresh and untouched snow on the Quick Lake Trail. As I was getting ready to continue, we could hear another snowmobile approaching from the direction of Quick Lake. I assumed it was the machines returning but when it appeared it was a different machine. We waved and then headed back on the Quick Lake Trail.

As we started out on the Quick Lake Trail, I was breaking trail through about 6 inches of new snow. The consistency of the snow and the air temperature combined to give the snow and almost "silky" feel. None of the snow stuck to my snowshoes and it was easy to glide along with ease. The trail is slightly downhill and we made good time heading toward Frick Pond. I stopped at the small stream in the woods and took a few shots of the stream and some small waterfalls upstream. There was quite a bit of water in the stream but Sheila cleared it in one leap and I managed to get across without falling in. We walked through the "spruce tunnel" and out the other side. On the way to the pond we encountered several areas where there was water under the snow of no snow and just open, wet areas. When we came to the junction with the Big Rock Trail around the back of the pond I decided to continue to the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. My plan was to make another loop around the pond using the Loggers Loop and Big Rock Trail. Despite the fact that I have taken hundreds of pictures from the bridge, I stopped to take a few more. I packed up and we continued up the hill and back to Gravestone Junction. We turned left and started another loop by hiking out on the Logger's Loop to Times Square. It was about 11:45 AM but there was no sign of any rain which made me very happy. At Times Square we turned left onto the Big Rock Trail to loop around Frick Pond. This was the route most of the snowshoers had taken as it was well broken in. The walk around the back of the pond was pleasant but I decided not to take any pictures as the scenes were not much different from my previous trip. At the trail junction with the Quick Lake Trail we turned left, passed across the bridge and up the hill to Gravestone Junction. This time we continued out the Quick Lake Trail and back to the car. We arrived at the car at 12:25 PM having hike 4.8 miles in 2 hours and 25 minutes with an elevation gain of 480 feet. Our moving average of 2.2 mph was better than I had expected.

On Saturday, December 31st I had decided to hike at Bread Spring Wildlife Management Area since we had aborted an attempted several days before. I hoped that there would be more snow there than in Sullivan County and that snowshoes would be appropriate. The forecast was for temperatures reaching almost up to freezing but with a stiff breeze. There was also a mention of snow in the afternoon. After straightening some things around the house, I asked Cindy if she would like to go. She declined and I got ready to go by replenishing my pack and getting my other gear ready. I wondered whether or not I should wear something a little warmer than my usual outfit but decided that once I got moving I would be OK. I got my gear in the car, let Sheila jump in the backseat and set out from Livingston Manor at about 11:30 AM. The temperature was in the high 20's as I drove north on Route 17 to Roscoe where I took Route 206 through Downsville toward Walton and almost to the top of Bear Spring Mountain. I turned left on East Trout Brook Road and drove passed Launt Pond to the pulloff near Middle Pond. The parking area had not been plowed but there was only a few inches of light snow. I pulled over and parked without a problem. I got my snowshoes on and set my electronics before releasing a crazed Sheila from the backseat. We set out down the trail to the pond at about 11:55 AM. The first thing I noticed was that there was far LESS snow than in my backyard! We crossed the bridge at the outlet of the pond and came to a trail junction. The trails showed that some snowmobiles had been active as the snow was well-packed. I started up the trail toward McCoy Hill but the wind was blowing hard and making me pretty cold. I knew there was a trail to the left that paralleled the brook and the road and would cut down on the wind. I came to a path to the left and took it even though it was not marked in nay way. It was an immediate relief to get out of the wind. At .4 miles the trail broke out into a field and I could not see where it went. We continued across the field and followed the tree line as I looked for the path. I didn't see a clear trail so I turned around and walked back toward the brook. I found a little path and started to follow it. The path eventually became a game path. I began to bushwhack along the brook. At times the way was pretty open and at others I was pushing through some dense brush. There were several places where we crossed wet areas and small tributaries of the main brook. I decided that as lone as I stayed between the brook and the rising land on my right I had to find the snowmobile trail eventually. Most of the time I could see East Trout Brook Road and an occasional car. At about 1.3 miles I caught a glimpse of the trucks in the parking area and made one final stream crossing to get to the lot. There were three trucks with snowmobile trailers and one machine sitting in the lot. We headed across the parking area to the gate which was open and started up the snowmobile trail. The first part of the trail was very steep averaging a 20% grade but only for about .15 miles. There still wasn't much snow but the snowshoes offered good traction. I flipped the heel supports up and won as needed since this is very easy on these snowshoes. At one point we heard the snowmobile start up and a moment later it came up the trail. We got over to the side and the driver slowed almost to a stop as he passed us.

At 1.5 miles the trail turned southeast but continued to climb for the next .5 miles at about a 10% grade. I started to notice a tightness in my right leg and didn't know whether it was just normal tiredness or the beginning of a cramp. I stopped and got out a bar and drank about a 1/3 of a liter of water. At 2 miles the trail stopped climbing and actually descended slightly before flattening out and following the contour of the hill for .4 miles. This made my legs feel better but I was pretty sure we still would have to climb to the top of the ridge to make the loop back to Middle Pond. At 2.4 miles the trail began to climb again and short after turned sharply to the left heading north. This only lasted for about .3 miles when we came to the "main" trail on the ridge. I was familiar with our location and we turned right to follow the trail toward the McCoy Hill Cutoff. The trail was mostly flat which my legs appreciated very much. At 2.95 miles we were at the turnoff for the McCoy Hill Cutoff. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take a few shots of the trail and of Sheila pulling on a buried stick. The signs indicated that Middle Pond was 1.3 miles away by the Cutoff of 2.4 miles on the main trail. I was feeling pretty good at this point except I was a little cold. This was the first hike of the year when I had experienced feeling cold. I decided that we would take the Cutoff as it was flat and then all downhill. We made the turn into the field and headed toward the woods on the other side. I noticed the unusual sky and decided to take a picture. As I snapped a few shots, several "snow devils" kicked up in the field. I took a few pictures hoping that I could capture the effect. I picked up my pack and we headed down the hill toward Middle Pond. The next 1.25 miles was all downhill at a comfortable 10% grade. When we broke out into an open area, I took a few pictures down the valley. As we walked down the trail there was a large blowdown across the trail but Sheila led me around it. At 3.8 miles the main trail came in from the left and I had a moment of regret that we had not traveled the extra mile or so. As we continued down the hill, I stopped to take a few shots of a small pond. A little further along on the trail we came to another trail on the right. Idealized that this was the trail I had meant to take at the beginning of the hike! I did not regret what I did since the bushwhack adventure was nice. Once we were on the bridge at Middle Pond I took a few pictures of the pond, the beaver dam and the brook below the dam. From the bridge we walked up to the car in the parking area. It was 2:25 PM and we had covered 4.4 miles and 940 feet of ascent in 2.5 hours. Our moving average was 2 mph which was good considering the bushwhack and the climb to the ridge.

On Friday, December 30th Bryce was over for the morning and the early part of the afternoon. Now that he is in school I miss having him at the house and decided we should go snowshoeing on Round Top. The last time we had gone out was more than a year ago sine there was no snow last winter. At that time Bryce was only mildly enthusiastic and I wondered if that had changed now that he is almost 6 years old. When I mentioned snowshoeing, he seemed very interested and we decided to head out a little after 11:00 AM. Sheila was ready to go with us so I got my gear on while Bryce dressed. Cindy helped him put on his snowshoes and got his poles ready. I walked outside and put mine on and we were ready to go. I had decided to, leave the pack at home just to make things simpler. We walked out the driveway with Sheila on her leash and carefully crossed Rock Avenue. The tracks that Cindy and I had laid down the day before were almost completely filled. Bryce seemed to be making good time as we walked around the back of the church and started up the hill. The hill I short but steep and I worried Bryce would complain about the climb. He seemed to have no problem handling the ascent and we made it quickly to the top. We turned left into the woods at the trailhead and walked along the woods road. Suddenly Bryce spoke up saying "Grampy, I lost a snowshoe!" I expected the snowshoe to be just behind him but a quick look along the trail proved fruitless. We walked back out to the cemetery hill and I looked down the hill but could not see the snowshoe. I told Bryce to stay put and I rapidly descended the hill finally finding the snowshoe in the field almost to the street. I grabbed the snowshoe and turned around to start back to Bryce. I could not believe he had not noticed this problem earlier! I walked back up the hill and put the snowshoe on making sure both had snug and secure bindings. We headed back into the woods and continued straight ahead at the first trail junction to head up to the lookout. Again, Bryce did not seem to have a problem negotiating the uphill even though it is rather steep and difficult on snowshoes. At the upper ledges we walked close to the edge so we could get a good look at Livingston Manor from above. Bryce immediately pointed out the school, Peck's Market and the post office. After a few minutes, we turned around and walked back to the trail to continue our clockwise loop. As we walked up the trail, Bryce asked "When will we get to the tower?" I asked him what we meant and found that when I had said "lookout" he had thought of a tower which is sometimes the case. I explained we didn't have a tower...yet. We continued on the trail which continues to gain elevation. Bryce periodically informed me that he still had on both snowshoes and pointed out the yellow paint blazes. We reached the spot where the trail turns right and I asked Bryce if he wanted to hike up the steep trail to the summit. Bryce politely declined the offer and we continued on the main lower trail. We followed the trail as it made a sharp right and started to descend to the first trail junction. Once we started downhill Bryce was pressing me from behind. At the trail junction we turned left and headed back out to the cemetery. As we started to descend the cemetery hill, I let Bryce go first. He moved very quickly down the hill and I found it hard to keep up. He is much more coordinated and has much more endurance than two winters ago. We walked around the back of the church and through the field to cross the street. Out tracks from earlier were almost filled in by the blowing snow. Back at the house I looked at my watch and found we had been out over and hour!

On Thursday, December 29th I awoke to find several inches of snow on the ground and more falling as predicted. I went downtown early and found the streets and roads were in very poor shape. I wanted to go snowshoeing but decided to wait to see what the storm would do. As the day progressed the temperature began to rise. Cindy and I decided to go out before the snow stopped and turned to ice or rain. We decided the best choice was to simply go across the street and snowshoe on Round Top as we could walk directly from our house and avoid driving. I wanted to take some pictures and the most convenient way is just to carry my pack. I again decided to use the Tubbs Alp Flex VRT snowshoes which I had not had the chance to use last year due to the lack of snow. These snowshoes have the "Boa" system which is supposed to allow tightening the front part of the binding with just a twist a knob. I found ether was a left and a right and put the snowshoes on. I found there was a "stopper" up front which limited how far forward the boot can go which I like. The strap around the back seemed to tighten very smoothly and the Boa system did allow me to tighten the binding very easily. I knew these snowshoes were overkill for the easy trail on Round Top but I wanted to try them again. Cindy also decided to try out her new snowshoes which I got her for Christmas. Hers are the women's version of the same Tubbs Alp Flex VRT that is have! Sheila was ready to go as soon as we started betting my gear out but tried to be the well-behaved dog. It didn't take long to get ready and I put Sheila on her leash for the walk across the street. The snow was still falling at a pretty rapid rate as we crossed the street and walked across the field to the base of the cemetery hill. I stopped to take a shot up the hill and then we beacon the ascent of the steepest hill. The hill is short but really gets the circulation pumping! When we got to the top of the hill, I dropped my pack to take some pictures. The town was almost completely hidden by the falling snow but I took a few shots anyway. I picked up my pack and we entered the woods. I noticed there was significantly more snow than I the last time I had been on the trail. There was enough snow to prevent any damage to the snowshoes and the extra grip made walking easier. The new snow depth varied in most places from 3 to 5 inches. At the trail junction we decided to go straight ahead up the steeper section to the lookout. An the way up I tried flipping up the heel elevators on the snowshoes and they went up and down very easily. When we neared the top, I turned left to walk out to the lower lookout. I didn't want to encourage others to take this route but I did want the pictures. Crossing the little open gulf in the path seemed easier with the grip of snowshoes. I again got out the camera and took pictures of the town from another angle. Again, much of the view was obscured by the falling snow. This viewpoint offers a great view of the school and the buildings downtown. I also took a few shots of Cindy and Sheila on the higher ledge. After taking some shots, I put away the camera and walked up to the higher ledge.

From the viewpoint we continued on the trail in a clockwise direction checking to make sure the yellow blazes were visible and spaced the correct distance apart. When we got to the green ribbons marking the proposed upper trail, I wanted to follow them to the summit of Round Top but Cindy declined the offer so we continued on the main lower trail. I stopped a few more times to take some pictures since the trees with the snow on them were so beautiful. We followed the trail as it made a sharp right turn and headed back to the first trail junction to close the loop. Being the first people to walk on the trail through the freshly fallen snow was somehow special. The downhill walk passed the ledges went quickly and we were soon at the trail junction. Cindy turned left to go back out to the trailhead and then home. I took Sheila and turned around to follow the trail back up passed the ledges to start the trail in reverse or counterclockwise. When we reached the sharp left turn that makes a loop of the trail, we continued straight ahead following the green ribbons that I had used to mark the proposed trail to the summit. The ribbons were harder to follow than I thought they would be as many were covered in snow. Some of the branches along the route were heavy with snow and hung down in the path. When we reached the top I followed the ribbons but lost them on the descent. I kept searching for them and found them a little to my left where I picked them up and followed them back to the lower trail. We turned right and followed the trail back out to the lookout where the view wasn't much different than before. I decided I wanted to stay out a little longer and turned left into the woods roughly following the edge of the ledges. I didn't get too near the edge of the cliffs and eventually wound up on the lower trail. We turned left and headed north a short distance before turning right or east and back up the trail to the summit of Round Top. This time I carefully followed the green ribbons and found I had only gone wrong by a few feet on the previous descent. At the top of the hill we continued to follow the ribbons as they led us southwest off the summit and back to the lower trail. We followed the lower trail downhill to the first trail junction. At this point we had been out for about and hour and a half which seemed like enough time. W earned left and followed the trail back out to the trail head. I took a few more pictures of town since the snow had abated. After taking a few shots, I shouldered my pack and headed back down the hill to the back of the church and then home. We had been out for about 1.5 hours and had hiked around 3 miles.

On Tuesday, December 27th I knew that I had to get in a hike after a long weekend of celebration and the ice storm on Monday. Cindy wanted to go too but we had some work to do around the house. Just before noon we decided it was time to get going and headed north and west on Route 17 toward Roscoe. Sheila could hardly contain herself in the back seat as she really loves it when we both go on a hike with her. I got of at exit 94 and headed north toward Downsville on Route 206. Our plan was to hike at Bear Spring WMA between Downsville and Walton as I though there might be enough snow on the mountain to let us use our snowshoes. The further north went, the darker the sky became. Cindy felt it was possible that there might be rain falling and neither of us wanted to drive that far and then turn back. We decided to turn around and go back to Trout Pond where the skies had looked more favorable. As soon as we turned around and started to drive back to Roscoe we could see sun and blue skies which buoyed our spirits. I turned right on Morton Hill Road and drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road, I turned around and parked on the side of the road to avoid parking in the large open space which is marked as private property. Unfortunately, two vehicles were already parked in the pulloff and I doubted they had permission from the property owner! The temperature was in the mid 30's when we parked just before 1:00 PM. I knew we would not need snowshoes but Cindy decided to don her Microspikes while I thought I would wait to see if I needed them. Sheila was ready to go as always and as we started down the road which was covered in snow, ice and slush. It was easier for Cindy but I had no trouble walking in the snow. It was obvious that someone had decided to try driving down the road. They abandoned that idea when they got to the first steep descent! As we walked down the road, the stream was making a lot of noise so I expected the falls to have a good volume as they did the last time I had visited. As we passed the lookout over the falls, we found the volume to be about the same as my last visit and I did not see the need to take pictures. We headed down to the lower parking area and encountered three people walking up the road. We said "Hello" and the continued in opposite directions. From their dress and lack of any equipment, I assumed they had visited the falls and were on the way back. walked down to the woods road that is the main trail. We crossed the bridge over Russell Brook and walked passed the stand of Japanese knotweed that looked harmless. We decided not to visit the falls on the way out and walked to the register box and headed up to Trout Pond.

The trail still had some running water in places but it was mostly covered in snow and ice. The blue sky still had some puffy white clouds and some sun as we continued up the trail toward the pond. At the pond, I took off my pack and got out the camera. The water level was much higher nearly reaching the spillway and the pond was covered in a layer of ice. There were some breaks in the ice near the shore and it did not look sturdy enough to support people. I took a few pictures of the pond and noticed that the ice and water had a deep blue quality that I hoped would show up in the final product. I packed up and we continued up the trail toward the head end of the pond. The trail remained much the same but now had a few areas of standing water. I did stop at one point to take a few more pictures before continuing toward the outlet. Sheila alerted as we approached the lower lean-to as there was a young man walking form the bridge back to the lean-to. He did not seem interested in talking to us. We walked across the bridge and I decided to walk off the trail toward the pond to take a few shots. The skies were now growing a little more overcast and there was less sun. We continued our walk on the main trail and started the ascent up the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. As we started to climb Cherry Ridge the walking became more difficult as the snow was deeper on the northern exposure. The snow was wet and very slippery and each time I planted my foot I would slide back some. Along the way were several large blowdowns which we could not clear without an axe and saw. There were a few branches down which we picked up and moved to the side of the trail. Since I have begun to do trail maintenance, I always think how much easier it would be if everyone who hiked would just pick up a branch here and there. We made a slight turn to the south and began to climb some more. Sheila was roaming the brush near the trail and seemed to always be on a scent trail. We hit the high point on the hike and started down the other side. There was much less snow on the shouter exposure and quite a bit of water on the trail both standing and running. We continued to find blowdowns and branches on the trail. After a short ascent to the "forest of numerous small trees", we walked down to the woods road and snowmobile trail and turned left to complete our loop. The slight ascent was covered in ice and I almost gave in and put on my Microspikes. I was able to walk on the sides of the trail in the snow while Cindy simply confidently walked up the middle of the trail! The descent to the trail junction was wet in many spots with a few bare places and lots of ice. As we walked down the will the skies continued to grow darker and the wind came up. We passed the large campsite on the left at the bottom of the hill and walked over the bridge which had as much snow as any other place on the trail. I looked up to see the young man who had been at the lean-to walking passed the trail register. We turned right at the trail junction to walk back to the lower parking area. We decided not to visit the lower falls due to the hour and the fact that it would not be much different than my last visit. We walked up the road back to our car. We arrived back at the car at 3:45 PM. We had hiked 5.5 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes gaining 1090 feet of elevation. Our moving average was 2 mph which I considered good under the conditions.

On Saturday, December 23rd, I was ready to get out for the second official hike of the winter which started on Wednesday, December 21. Of course, there isn't much difference between fall and winter at this time of year and there had been snow on the ground for some time. I thought about going to Jensen ledges since the walk is relatively short and Cindy wanted to come with me. The view from the Ledges is spectacular but Cindy pointed put is was already late morning and we did not know the condition of the road that leads to the parking area for Jensen ledges. She suggested we hike Cabot Mountain from Beech Hill Road which surprised me since this is a relatively short but steep hike. The suggestion suited me since I like the difficultly of the climb and because I maintain the section of trail from Big Pond to Beech Hill Road for the Finger Lakes Trail and had not been on it since early fall. By the time we were ready to go and got our gear in the car along with Sheila it was 11:45 AM. We decided to forego the snowshoes as the rain had diminished some of the snow but we took along our Microspikes just in case we ran into any ice or packed snow along the way. We started for Lew Beach on the Beaverkill Road and turned left on Beach Hill Road just outside of Lew Beach. I continued 2.6 miles to the trailhead for Cabot Mountain. When we arrived the parking area had not been plowed but there was enough room for me to pull into the soft snow bank on the side of the road. The temperature was about 34 degrees when we got out of the car but it felt a little colder as a slight breeze was blowing. I had on a short sleeved baselayer with a Mammut top and my Mammut Hoody. I wore my Columbia Paso Alto pants with the OmniHeat lining which really does seem to reflect body heat. There was a good coating of snow at the trailhead amounting to several inches. We started out on the woods road at 12:20 PM and immediately found one rather large tree across the trail which made me wonder how many more there would be. The tree was large but I judged it could be removed with axe and saw. As we started through the woods the lower trail was wet in paces with standing water in some areas and running water in others. The water was pretty easy to avoid but we had to be careful of the ice. It was obvious that someone had hiked the trail since the snow had fallen but the tracks were not recent and had been filled ion with snow. At .25 miles the trail began to climb and over the next .5 miles we gained 580 feet with the grade averaging 21%! We found one more tree down across the trail rather early on the slope and one a little higher up. The latter I removed by dragging it of to the side. The patches of ice continued to be a bother and we had to be careful of our footing although Sheila did not seem to be having a problem. At one point I stopped to take some pictures of large sedimentary outcroppings and a few of Sheila on the trail. As I was about to put away my camera, Sheila walked behind one of the outcroppings and climbed to the top to survey the landscape. I took a few shot of her and then we continued to climb. The trail was in pretty good shape and only a few areas would need some lopping

As we reached the top of the main climb, I looked at my watch and found it had taken 45 minutes to go a little more than .7 miles. The trail leveled off a little but there were still a few downs and ups along the way. The snow depth on the ridge was between 2 inches and two feet where the snow had drifted. We followed trail as it turned from northeast to almost east. At times the trail was barely distinguishable as there were only a few markers and the trail bed was covered by snow. The further we went and the higher we climbed, the more snow we found. This continued until about 1.25 miles where the final climb to Cabot Mountain began. At about 1 mile the trail had turned southeast and began to follow the edge of the mountain. Cindy did not care whether or not she got to the lookout over Little Pond so I went ahead with Sheila at a very fast pace. I had forgotten how far the lookout was from the road and resolved to go just until I hit 1.5 miles to make a respectable round trip. At some point I found the trail packed by people coming from the other direction. This made walking much easier and we continued up to the summit at 1.4 miles and then descended slightly to the viewpoint at 1.5 miles. I dropped my pack and took some pictures of Sheila on the lookout. I stepped over to the lookout and took shots of Little Pond and some of the mountains in the other direction. I got a quick drink and the shouldered my pack to head back at 1:45 PM. Sheila and I kept a quicker pace than on the way up in an effort to get to Cindy. The fact that the trail was covered in snow made some of the hiking easier and some harder. I was not sure if Cindy was waiting or had turned around to go back. I kept calling to Sheila to stay with me but let her go she I could see Cindy seated on a stump up ahead. I hurried ahead and found she had caught up with Cindy who had waited for us. Cindy had tried to put on her Microspikes but found one chain saw broken which I did not remember from last year. She decided to wear the one but I thought I would wait to see if I really needed the. The way back was quicker for the most part but there were some tricky descents that were slippery from the snow and ice. I descended rather quickly sometimes going off the trail to take advantage of the traction in the snow and to avid the ice. Cindy was a little slows but we both made it down to the flatter part at the base without incident. As we were walking out I heard Cindy call out and turned to find her on the ground after slipping on some ice! Cindy got up and we hiked the rest of the way back to the car arriving at 2:45 PM. We had spent 2 hours and 25 minutes on the 3 mile hike. The vertical gain was 900 feet. It had taken an hour and 25 minutes to go up but only one hour to come down.

On Thursday, December 22nd, I was ready to get out for the first official hike of the winter which started the day before. Of course, there isn't much difference between fall and winter at this time of year and there had been snow on the ground for some time. I wanted to stay close to home and avoid a long drive but also wanted to get away from Round Top and Frick Pond. I decided to head to Trout pond since I had not been there in some time and was excited to see what the recent snow and rain had done to the water levels in Russell Brook. I was hoping the falls would have some water which would make taking some pictures worthwhile. I had some things to do around the house and was also waiting to see whether the skies would clear after some early morning snow. At about 10:45 AM the skies did clear and became blue with white clouds. There was even some sun although the temperature was still in the high 20's. I put my gear in the trunk and an overjoyed Sheila in the back seat and headed to Roscoe on State Route 17. I got on Route 206 and followed it across the Delaware County line to Morton Hill Road. After a left turn on Morton Hill Road, I drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the side of the road to avoid the parking area which is private. I had decided to bring only my Microspikes as I did not think I would need snowshoes. We began our hike down Russell Brook Road at 11:15 AM. The air still seemed cool to me so I wore my Mammut Hoody, a hat and light gloves. I had on my Columbia Passo Alto pants with the reflective OmniHeat lining but decided I did not need tights underneath. I wore a long-sleeved crew neck Mammut shirt which is a little heavier than some I have and a short sleeved baselayer. Russell Brook Road was not plowed but it looked as if some snowmobiles had been using it. There were areas of packed snow and ice so I was careful to walk in the looser snow which worked just fine. We continued on down Russell Brook Road to the overlook over the upper falls. There was more water in the stream than I had seen since the spring and the upper falls had a volume that made taking pictures a must. I decided to skip the pictures on the way out and take them when I returned. We continued down toward the parking area and got on the woods road that goes down to the bridge that crosses the brook. I decided not to walk to the falls and continued on the main trail to the register. At the trail junction just after the register we turned to the left to climb the steeper hill toward Mud Pond. The trail was covered in snow in most places but also had bare areas and areas with ice! The sun was out and as soon as we started to climb the hill, I stopped to open up the zippers on my hoody. The ascent went quickly and I was glad to see there were no new blowdowns on this part of the trail. We reached the top of the hill at 11:55 AM after hiking 1.4 miles. The woods road was covered in snow over a layer of ice which made negotiating the trail very hazardous. I again used the snow on the side of the road to get some traction and at 1.6 miles we made a right to follow the trail up to the shoulder of Cherry Ridge.

This trail was also covered in snow and the more elevation we gained the deeper the snow became. Except for a few drifts the snow depth was never more than 8 inches and I was glad I had opted not to wear snowshoes. We avoided a few icy areas and crossed a few small streams and some standing water. The ascent continued for the next 1.2 miles until at 2.7 miles into the hike when we were at the highest point and ready to start the descent to Trout Pond. Along the way we had come across two or three new major blowdowns but were able to easily hike around them. One concerned me as it was a large branch precariously arched over the trail with little support at the upper end. We had been hiking the southern exposure and as we started down the other side there was a little more snow on the trail. I also noticed that the skies were now grey and the sun had disappeared. Some precipitation was falling from the sky which appeared to be almost snow and almost rain. As we descended toward Trout Pond there were three major blowdowns that would require an axe and saw to clear. The trail remained snowy and slippery as we approached the bridge at the inlet end of the pond. I decided to stop and take some pictures even though there was nothing remarkable about the scene. We continued on the main trail toward the outlet of the pond and the trail remained snow covered with ice in spots. At the lower end of the pond I again stopped to take pictures of a scene I had photographed many times! The water level in the pond was much higher than it had been all summer and fall and the pond was covered in a layer of ice. The skies were still overcast but the precipitation had stopped. The hike from the outlet to the trail junction is all downhill but I had to be careful to avoid many icy spots. Sheila did not seem to mind the icy or snow! By 1:35 PM we had hiked 4.7 miles and were back at the trail junction and register box. I decided that I wanted to walk over to the falls and we turned left on the path to the falls. We walked up the path toward the lower falls and then down the bank to the streambed. There was a lot of snow and ice on the little descent and I slid on my backside the last few feet. I was happy when I saws that the falls was flowing freely and had a "mirror" of ice on the right side. I took a few quick pictures of falls including a few with Sheila and some of the ice in the stream. We walked back up the bank which was not easy as I had only one clean foothold. I found it is important to be able to lift your body weight and pack with the muscles of one leg! We walked out to the main trail to continue our hike back to the car. As we walked up the road back to the car, I stopped at the overlook and decided to walk down to take a few shots of the upper falls. I played with some settings to try to get different pictures of the water. Getting back up to the road wasn't difficult and we continued up the road and back to the car. We arrived back at 2:05 PM having covered 5.5 miles and 1120 vertical feet in 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Fall 2016

On Saturday, December 17th I headed out to Frick Pond with Sheila after hiking Round Top with Cindy earlier in the day. We had only hiked about a mile and I wanted more! Six to ten inches of new powder had fallen over night and I wanted to try it out before the temperatures rose on Sunday and the predicted rain ruined it. Sheila was happy to be in the backseat as we headed out the DeBruce Road. After about six miles I turned left on Mongaup road and headed toward Frick Pond. As I drove rain started to hit the windscreen but I decided to see what it was doing at the trailhead. At the fork in the road I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. At the trailhead parking the rain had stopped but neither lot had been plowed. I decided to chance getting stuck and turned into the lot crossing a rather high snow bank. I let Sheila out of the car and put on my snowshoes. The Tubbs Alp Flex VRT go on very quickly as the bindings are easy to use. We began our hike at about 1:30 Pm by hiking out the woods road toward Frick Pond. I stopped to take a few pictures on the undisturbed snow on the Quick Lake Trail near the register. There was some water underneath the snow as we hiked out the trail to Gravestone Junction where we stayed left on the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond. When we got to the bridge over the outlet I took off my pack and got out the camera. I took a picture of Sheila and the snow on the bridge. The water level in the pond was much higher and water was freely flowing in the outlet stream. From the bridge I took a few pictures of the pond. Flynn's Point was almost completely covered in a cloud and the skies were overcast. I picked up my pack and we started around the pond. At the junction of the Quick Lake Trail and the Big Rock Trail we turned right to get on the Big Rock Trail around the back of the pond. Under the tall evergreen trees there was less snow but it still averaged over 6 inches. When we got to the wooden causeways, they were covered in well over a foot of snow and I stopped to take a few pictures.

We continued on the Big Rock Trail as it wound around the back of Frick Pond heading toward Times Square. There were a few wet spots under the snow but the temperature was still in the high 20's or low 30's. When we arrived at Times Square, I was surprised to see that no snowmobiles had passed through on the Big Rock Trail and Logger's Loop. We turned to the right to get on the Logger's Loop to complete the loop around Frick Pond. By this time my legs were beginning to get a little tired from lifting and breaking trail by myself. Sheila seemed to be unaffected and continued to bound ahead of me and then come racing back helping to break trail and keep me entertained. Although she looks like a yellow lab she has a longer coat from a dose of Husky blood. She never seems to get cold. Sheila was following her nose and frequently wound bury it in the snow digging slightly. I never saw what attracted her attention but it was very humorous to see her bury her head! The Logger's Loop climbs slightly from Times Square and I noticed this as I continued to break the trail. Soon we were on flatter ground heading back toward Gravestone Junction. I though about taking a few more pictures but there was nothing really interesting to photograph. At Gravestone Junction we turned left to head back to the car on the Quick Lake Trail. As we passed the register, Sheila alerted and I could see a young couple starting out from the parking lot. We walked a little farther before I walked to the side of the trail with Sheila to let them pass. I was disappointed that they did not have snowshoes. I greeted them and suggested it was a good day for snowshoes. They said they didn't realize that there would be so much snow and they would follow my trail! Fortunately the snow was not deep enough for them to ruin the trail I had just worked to create with postholes. We were back at the car around 3:00 PM having hiked about 2.3 miles. I put Sheila in the car and my gear in the trunk. I had no trouble backing out of the lot to head home.

On Saturday, December 13th I was very happy when I woke up to find at least six inches of new powder on the ground and snow still falling. The snow tapered off by late morning and Cindy and I decided to go across the street to snowshoe on the new trail on Round Top. The thermometer read only in the high 20's when we crossed the street just after 11:00 AM but it didn't seem very cold. I wanted to take some pictures and the most convenient way is just to carry my pack. I again decided to use the Tubbs Alp Flex VRT snowshoes which I had not had the chance to use last year due to the lack of snow. These snowshoes have the "Boa" system which is supposed to allow tightening the front part of the binding with just a twist a knob. I found there was a left and a right and put the snowshoes on. I found the "stopper" up front limits how far forward the boot can go which I like. The strap around the back seemed to tighten very smoothly and the Boa system did allow me to tighten the binding very easily. I knew these snowshoes were overkill for the easy trail on Round Top but I wanted to try them again. Sheila was ready to go as soon as I started betting my gear out. After crossing the street we headed across the filed and behind the church. We decided to walk up the steepest hill which is the most direct way to the trailhead. I let Sheila off her leash and we started up. The hill is short but the added snow made it a challenge. When we got to the top of the hill, I dropped my pack to take some pictures. I took one of Cindy ascending the hill. The sky was a little overcast but the town looked very pretty covered with a layer of white. I picked up my pack and we entered the woods. I noticed there was significantly more snow than the last time we had hiked the trail. The snow depth varied in most places from 6 to 10 inches. At the trail junction we decided to go straight ahead up the steeper section to the lookout. When we neared the top, I turned left to walk out to the lower lookout. I didn't want to encourage others to take this route but I did want the pictures. Crossing the little open gulf in the path seemed easier with the grip of snowshoes. I again got out the camera and took pictures of the town from another angle. This viewpoint offers a great view of the school and the buildings downtown. Cindy and Sheila were on the upper ledge so I took a few photos of them. After taking some more shots, I put away the camera and walked up to the higher ledge. From the viewpoint we continued on the trail in a clockwise direction checking to make sure the yellow blazes were visible and spaced the correct distance apart. When we got to the green ribbons marking the proposed upper trail, I wanted to go up and over the hill but Cindy expressed a desire to continue on the lower trail. I had plans to do more hiking that she wanted to do but conceded. We followed the lower trail to the right until the next big turn. When we arrived at the sharp right turn that takes the trail back to the first trail junction, we turned right and headed down the wood road back toward the trailhead. We continued our walk down to the trail junction where we turned left and walked back out to the trailhead. We decided to return by turning right and gliding down the steepest hill to the church parking lot. From there we walked back across the street to our house. Since we had walked only about a mile, I decided that Sheila and I would head for Frick Pond to get in some more snowshoeing. The weather forecast was for rain on Sunday with highs in the mid 40's so I wanted to take advantage of the fresh snow while it was still around! I put my gear in the trunk and Sheila in the back seat and we headed out the DeBruce Road to Frick Pond.

On Tuesday, December 13th I was very tired from snowshoeing at Frick Pond the day before. I decided I wanted to walk the new Round Top Trail and called Lisa to see if she wanted to go. She agreed to meet me in the church parking lot at 9:30 AM. When I got up in the morning it was sunny but the thermometer read only 20 degrees. I did a few things around the house and then started to get my equipment ready. I wanted to take some pictures and the most convenient way is just to carry my pack. I again decided to use the Tubbs Alp Flex VRT snowshoes which I had not had the chance to use last year due to the lack of snow. These snowshoes have the "Boa" system which is supposed to allow tightening the front part of the binding with just a twist a knob. I found ether was a left and a right and put the snowshoes on. I found there was a "stopper" up front which limited how far forward the boot can go which I like. The strap around the back seemed to tighten very smoothly and the Boa system did allow me to tighten the binding very easily. I knew these snowshoes were overkill for the easy trail on Round Top but I wanted to try them again. Sheila was ready to go as soon as I started betting my gear out. It seemed she couldn't believe we were going out two days in a row. It didn't take long to get ready and I put Sheila on her leash for the walk across the street. Just as I was walking out the driveway Lisa arrived and she went to park by the church where I met her. We talked as she put on her Crescent Moon snowshoes. I set my GPS at the base of the cemetery hill and we were off. Lisa wanted to walk the middle road through the cemetery so we took that route. At the end of that section we turned left to head up the steeper hill to the top of the cemetery where the trail begins. When we got to the top of the hill, I dropped my pack to take some pictures. The sun sparkled off the snow and the town looked very pretty covered with a layer of white. I picked up my pack and we entered the woods. I noticed there was significantly less snow than I had encountered the day before at Frick Pond. The snow depth varied in most places from 4 to 6 inches. At the trail junction we decided to go straight ahead up the stepper section to the lookout. An the way up I tried flipping up the heel elevators on the snowshoes and they went up and down very easily. When we neared the top, I turned left to walk out to the lower lookout. I didn't want to encourage others to take this route but I did want the pictures. Crossing the little open gulf in the path seemed easier with the grip of snowshoes. I again got out the camera and took pictures of the town from another angle. This viewpoint offers a great view of the school and the buildings downtown. After taking some shots, I put away the camera and walked up to the higher ledge.

From the viewpoint Lisa and I continued on the trail in a clockwise direction checking to make sure the yellow blazes were visible and spaced the correct distance apart. When we got to the green ribbons marking the proposed upper trail, we decided to follow the lower trail to the right until the next big turn. Soon we arrived at the sharp right turn that takes the trail back to the first trail junction. We turned left and followed the green ribbons up to the summit of Round Top. The ribbons were ease to follow and stood out well against the white snow. Lisa and I talked about the need to make sure the final trail would not be too steep for the majority of users. I suggested having a steep ascent going directly to the top with a "snake" of switchbacks as an option. Climbing the hill in the snow was more challenging than without snow. Once we reached the top we continued to follow the ribbons as they turned left and back toward the lower trail. This part of the trail is also steep and we got a nice glide in some sections. This section may also need some switchbacks but it is the route with the least slope that I could find! When we got back to the lower trail, we turned left to retrace our steps back to where we had turned left on the posed upper trail. This time we turned right and headed down the wood road back toward the trailhead. Lisa told me that the grant for the Riverwalk in Livingston Manor had been approved in the amount of $420,000! This grant will help stabilize the stream bank of the Willowemoc Creek and provide a handicapped accessible trail along the river. Lisa was a major reason the grant was approved and it would not have been successful without her work. Eventually the trail on Round Top, the Riverwalk and the O&W Rail Trail will become a network of trails in Livingston Manor offering something for everyone! We continued our walk down to the trail junction where we turned left and walked back out to the trailhead. We decided to return by turning right and gliding down the steepest hill to the church parking lot. We arrived back at Lisa's car at 10:50 AM after walking 1.2 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes. Our elevation gain was a modest 380 feet.

On Monday, December 12th I woke up to find at least 8 inches of freshly fallen snow in the backyard! I knew it was coming and had been out just after midnight on an ambulance call but it was nice to see it. All the schools in the county were closed and I knew I wanted to go out to snowshoe. Cindy wanted to go too but as we were getting ready Karl showed up with Luke. I decided I would go to Frick Pond and get in a loop and then come back to see how Luke would do on snowshoes in the backyard. The forecast was for some light rain as the temperature started to rise and as I left town just after 10:30 AM I started to see precipitation on my windshield. I was annoyed that I had not started out earlier and almost turned around and went home as I did not want to get wet. I decided to continue on to Frick Pond since the temperature is often lower there and the weather different. The roads were in pretty good shape as I headed out the DeBruce Road to Mongaup Pond Road where I made a left. I continued until the road spilt and then stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. When I arrived at the parking areas, neither was plowed! I took a chance and drove through the snowball left buy the plow and parked in the smaller lot. When I opened my door, I found the snow was right up to the door opening. I let Sheila out and she immediately starting bounding through the snow. I had brought a new pair of Tubbs Alp Flex VRT snowshoes which I had not had the chance to use last year due to the lack of snow. These snowshoes have the "Boa" system which is supposed to allow tightening the front part of the binding with just a twist a knob. I found ether was a left and a right and put the snowshoes on. I found there was a "stopper" up front which limited how far forward the boot can go which I like. The strap around the back seemed to tighten very smoothly and the Boa system did allow me to tighten the binding very easily. It didn't take long to get ready as I set my GPS and walked across the road to the beginning of the Flynn Trail. My plan was to hike up the Flynn Trail, down the Big Rock Trail to the Quick Lake Trail which would let me complete the loop back to the car. The temperature was 33 degrees when I left the parking area but there was no rain falling. The higher temperature had turned the light powder into a slightly heavier snow that easily compacted. I climbed the snow bank at the start of the trail at 10:55 AM and then started through the woods. Everything was beautiful covered in white snow and I shared Sheila's enthusiasm. By the time I made it to the woods road and turned right I remembered how tiring snowshoeing can be especially when there isn't anyone with you to help break trail. I followed Sheila's track as she headed up the trail well ahead of me. It was quiet and I soon noticed I was working up quite a sweat. I stopped and opened the pit zips and front zipper on my Mammut hoody and then continued up the trail. I stopped a few times along the way to take a few pictures of where we had been and where we were going. The snow was sticking to my boots and I stopped frequently to remove the snow from my boots. As we neared the top of the Flynn Trail at the junction with the Big Rock Trail, the skies got a little darker and the wind started blowing. We reached the junction at 12:10 PM and I stopped briefly to get a drink and a snack. We had covered the 1.7 miles and 640 feet of vertical gain in 1 hour and 15 minutes which was very slow. My leg muscles were sore from the workout and I knew we had farther to go than we had come so far. Fortunately, most of the return trip was downhill or flat.

We turned left on the Big Rock trail and started down the hill. Going down was much easier than going up but the snow was still clumping on my boots and I had to stop frequently. Along the way was one trunk or branch across the trail and in another spot a substantial blowdown which blocked the trail. The Big Rock Trail is used by snowmobiles and I knew the club that maintains the trails would remove this obstruction. Although the descent was pretty easy I could never get a good glide on the snow and the trip down seemed long. As we approached Times Square, I stopped to take a few pictures. We continued straight ahead through Times Square to stay on the Big Rock Trails round the back of Frick Pond. The walking here was easier and the snow was not clumping anymore. As soon as we started hiking under the evergreen trees, the snow depth diminished to only a few inches. I again stopped to take pictures as we crossed the two bridges. I found another blowdown blocking the trail and made note that I would have to remove this one myself. We continued over the wooden walkways which were coated in snow and I took a few more pictures. When we got to the Quick Lake Trail, we turned left to head toward the outlet of Frick Pond. By the time we got to the bridge, Flynn's Point was almost hidden by a snow squall! I took pictures of the bridge, the pond and the outlet stream. Sheila and I walked up the hill and out to Gravestone Junction. We turned right to head back to the car and found boot prints heading out on the Logger's Loop. I was annoyed that the person had not worn snowshoes but they really weren't necessary. We walked out the woods road to the car. A pickup was parked in the bigger lot and the tracks led back to it. It was 1:35 PM and it had taken us 2 hours and 35 minutes to hike 3.9 miles with 675 feet of vertical gain. I had no trouble getting the car out of the snow in the lot as I drove back home. When I arrived home I found Cindy outside with Luke building snowmen even though a light rain was falling. Luke seemed to be having a lot of fun and seemed adept at creating the balls of snow needed. I took my gear inside and cam back out with the kid's snowshoes. I called Luke over and soon had him outfitted. I lifted him off the porch and set him down in the snow. I was surprised at how well he maneuvered with the snowshoes and how easily he was able to get up after a spill. He almost ran around the whole backyard before I corralled him to take a few pictures.

On Tuesday, December 6th I had limited time to hike between ambulance calls and track practice so I decided to go across the street to hike the Round Top Trail. This satisfies Sheila and allows me to stretch my legs. I planned to hike it at least twice since the complete trail is only .6 miles. Sheila has a little Siberian Husky in her and she loves to romp in the snow. The temperatures was 21 degrees at 6:30 AM so I did some work around the housed and waited for it to rise a little. The temperature crept up slowly until I finally decided to leave the house at about 10:30 AM. I put Sheila on her leash and crossed the street. I kept Sheila on her leash and allowed her to pull me up the cemetery hill to the trailhead. I did not bring along my pack and regretted a little as the view from the top of the hill was pretty. We entered the trail where I released Sheila so she could get a good run in. Ain the trail junction Sheila continued straight ahead toward the lookout so I followed her up the hill. I was wearing my standard winter outfit of my Mammut hoody over two layers. The Columbia Titanium pants with the Omniheat lining are fast becoming by new favorite. I had opted to wear my Keen Glarus boots even though they are not insulated and they did a surprisingly good job of keeping my feet warm. There was a good coating of snow on the trail but not enough to use snowshoes. Hopefully we will begin to get more snow with colder weather so it will stay around! As we hiked up the trail I was warm and began to remember that 25 degrees isn't that cold if you are properly dressed. We turned left on the short spur trail out to the viewpoint and got a nice view of town. The small gap we had to cross to get to the lower ledges was beginning to be a little more of a problem now that there was ice and snow present. We walked up to the upper ledges and began the loop that would take us back around to the trail junction. When we reached the point where the new trail intersects the old woods road, I decided to follow the route to the top of Round Top which I had flagged with some students from the high school. Instead of following the woods road to the right, we continued straight ahead up the hill. I was a little hard to follow the flags but we were soon at the top where I turned right to head back down to the existing trail.

As I started down the hill, I found it hard to follow the ribbons and wandering a little too far south where things looked a little less familiar. When I did hit a woods road, I had to walk northwest to get back to the existing trail where the proposed upper trail heads up the hill. We headed downhill on the existing loop and tuned right at the bottom of the hill where to pass by the ledges on the right. Just after the turn thee was a large birch tree newly fallen across the trail. This would require and axe or saw and I immediately decided to walk back to the house to get a tool and return to remove the obstruction. We walked back down to the trail junction and turned left to walk out to the trailhead. The walk down the steep hill was made easier as I decided to stay on the snow at the side of the road. At the bottom of the hill I put Sheila on her leash and headed across the field to my driveway. At the house I decided I would use an axe and picked up my Fiskars. The Fiskars is far from the heaviest or largest axe that I own but it carries and cuts well. I also grabbed some ribbon to better mark the upper trail. We headed backs cross the street and up the hill to the trailhead. At the trail junction we headed right this time to get to the blowdown. When we arrived I assessed the situation and found I could move all but the biggest trunk off the trail and out of the way. The largest piece had a break on the top end and I hoped I could make one cut near the butt end and then roll the section off the trail. I started to make the cut and remembered, finally, to make it wider so that I would be able to cut all the way through the trunk as I reached the bottom of the V. Although the diameter was about 10 inches the cutting went smoothly and it wasn't long until I was through. I was able to roll the section downhill and off the trail. I sheathed the axe and leaned it against the trunk. I decided to leave it there and take a quick walk around the loop including the upper trail. We walked up the hill to the point where the trail makes a sharp left and continued straight ahead into the woods toward the summit of Round Top. I pulled off long pieces of ribbon and tied them to the trees as I continued up the hill. As I looked back the markers were much more prominent and easy to follow. I continued to walk the route I had laid out with the high school students from Livingston Manor. At the top of then hill I turned left or west and started down the hill. The route looked much more familiar in this direction and the original markers were easier to follow. I added a few more ribbons and was soon back at the existing trail. We turned right to walk back toward the viewpoint. At the ledges we turned left and headed down the steep hill to the trail junction. At the junction we turned left and headed back up the hill to retrieve my axe. I grabbed the axe and we followed the trail back to the trailhead and returned home. I realized just how warm I was after the walk and the work I had done clearing the blowdown. I am looking forward to clearing the upper trail and placing the signs being created by the Livingston Manor Technology classes.

On Saturday, December 3rd I wanted to get out and hike after a week of rainy weather. I had planned a hike for Friday in Rockland County along Hook Mountain but Cindy was not interested so I stayed home! I decided with the questionable weather forecast and a concert we scheduled to attend in the evening that I would go to Frick and Hodge Ponds since the area is close. There were a few blowdowns to clear and I was surprised that Cindy agreed to go along. We had some things to take care of around the house so we didn't get started until about 11:00 AM. We got our gear and Sheila in the car and headed out the DeBruce Road. After about 6 miles, I turned left on the Mongaup Road and stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road at the split. When we arrived at the parking area there was a truck in the small parking area and two cars parked in the larger lot. We were surprised that there was a layer of snow covering the ground since we had mostly rain in town. I parked and got my electronics ready. At 11:20 AM we headed out on the woods road from the smaller parking area. The temperature was still only in the high 30's and we were dressing in layers for winter. We had both worn our regular hiking boots but opted for gaiters which proved to be a good choice. As we walked out the woods road toward Frick Pond, we saw two hunters at the register box. I put Sheila on her leash as the hunters began to walk toward us. We passed each other with a brief "hello" and continued in opposite directions. The woods road out the Gravestone Junction was well covered in snow but also had some running water. It was a quick walk to the outlet of Frick Pond and when we arrived at the bridge I could see that the water level was much higher than it had been in some time. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take some shots. I walked to the bridge and noticed that the water level in the pond and stream was high. I took a picture of the stream and the outlet before turning my attention to the pond. The sky was flat and grey and there wasn't much color anywhere but this is typical of the season. I packed up my camera and shouldered my pack to continue the hike. At the next junction we stayed to the left on the Quick Lake Trail to head toward Ironwheel Junction. I stopped at one point to take a few pictures of the trail covered in snow. There were quite a few branches in the trail and Cindy and I were both picking them up and throwing them to the side. As we pass through the "spruce tunnel", we encounter one small tree across the trail but it was easily cleared with a quick cut with my Silky saw. When we arrived at the small stream in the woods just after the "spruce tunnel", we found the water level high and flowing nicely. Cindy decided to cross following the trail and placed one boot in the cold water. I walked a little upstream and crossed where the water was narrow. As we continued our hike, I found several branches down across the trail and used the saw to quickly clear them. When we arrived at Ironwheel Junction, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail to Junkyard Junction where the Flynn Trail begins. Over the next mile the trail rises about 400 feet heading north. At 2.4 miles it turns northeast and levels off some as it approaches Junkyard Junction.

As we started up the Quick Lake Trail we found a branch in the trail that I was able to simply drag off into the woods. A little further along there were several more small trees blocking the trail and I cleared them with the saw. As we gained elevation the snow got deeper reaching several inches in places. The skies were getting darker and it looked like it might snow. Because of the snow and the work we were doing, the trip was taking longer than normal and we knew we would have to keep moving to get home in time to get ready for the concert. At 3.1 miles we arrived at Junkyard Junction and turned right on the Flynn Trail heading east and slightly southeast. The trails continued to be snow covered with some running and some pooled water along the way. It wasn't long before we ran into a larger tree across the Flynn Trail. I quickly cut off a few branches and dragged them out of the way. I cut the top out of tree and removed it before pivoting the main part of the trunk out of the way. After removing the tree, we worked our way along the flat expanse and the passed through the gate to descend to the pond. We followed Sheila as she turned right to stay on the Flynn Trail along the west side of Hodge Pond. As we came to the open field near the pond ether were a few muddy spots on the trail. From the field I could see through the trees to the pond. We continued on to the field at the outlet end of Hodge Pond and Sheila and I walked over to the shore while Cindy continued to follow the Flynn Trail to stay in the shelter of the trees. We walked over to the fire ring and I took off my pack and got out the camera. I took some pictures of the grey sky and grey trees. The water level in the pond was right up to the shore and this was the first time I had seen it that way since May! We didn't spend too long at the pond and were soon Back on the Flynn Trail with Cindy climbing the hill up from the pond. It is .7 miles from the pond to the junction with the Big Rock Trail and we gained about 180 feet over that distance but the walk went quickly. From the junction, the Flynn Trail starts a constant descent all the way to the parking area. In 1.7 miles it loses 600 feet in elevation. On the walk down we set a fast pace as there really wasn't much to see. When we reached the gate just before the cabin, we turned left to walk the Flynn Trail back to the car and to avoid the private property around the cabin. We were back at the car at 2:45 PM having hiked 6.4 miles in 3 hours and 25 minutes with an elevation gain of 900 feet.

On Saturday, November 26th I was ready to hike after the Thanksgiving holiday madness and a number of ambulance calls. The weather was questionable especially to the north so I decided to stay local and head to Hodge and Frick Ponds. Brad and Krista were in for the weekend and Brad decided to go with me. I was glad to have the company as he and I have things in common since we are both EMS volunteers. We got ready to leave and pulled out of the driveway sometime after 10:30 AM. The temperature was only 30 degrees so I wore my Mammut hoody and Columbia Titanium pants over a long sleeved shirt and baselayer. We decided that snowshoes would not be appropriate since the recent rain had diminished the snow cover. Sheila was certainly ready to hike as she jumped in the back seat and perched on the console. I drove out DeBruce Road and turned left on Mongaup Road. When we arrived there were two other cars in the bigger lot and a pickup in the small lot. I was pretty sure at least some of them were hunters. We crossed the road to get onto the Flynn Trail at 11:00 AM. I have been wearing a pair of Vasque Taku boots which seem to fit well and are no longer sold by Vasque but do not seem to be very waterproof. I thought about wearing a pair of insulated winter boots but instead chose a newer pair of Keen Glarus. These have been great boots but Keen has discontinued them which seems to be a common theme among shoe manufacturers! The trail still had quiet a bit of snow but it was wet from the rain and higher temperatures of the last few days. The shows deemed to be shedding water pretty well and my feet were warm enough. Brad and I had both chosen to wear gaiters which given the depth of the snow seemed like a good choice. The walk up the Flynn Trail seemed to go a little more slowly than usual due to the slippery snow which made every step more difficult. I was surprised at the number of footprints in the snow as it seemed a small group of people had hiked since the snowfall. As we neared the top of the trail, there was a minimum of six inches of snow still on the ground with more in most places. I measured one drift at over a foot! I decided we should turn off and visit the clearing on the right side of the trail as I had not been there in some time. We walked off the trail and up a small hill to the edge of the clearing. Nothing much had changed but as I got out the camera it began to snow lightly. I took a few shots and then we returned to the Flynn Trail. The clearing is a mystery as it is large and there is a woods road that connects to it. There are no foundations and the soil is a thin layer over rock in most places. Brad and I made no stops passing through the junction with the Big Rock Trail and continuing straight ahead of the Flynn Trail. We kept up a quick pace as we passed through the gate marking the boundary with the Open Spaces Institute property. At the next junction we stayed to the left to keep on the Flynn Trail and head directly down to Hodge Pond. When we broke out into the clearing at the outlet end of Hodge Pond, we walked over to the fire ring at the shore. I put down my pack and got out the camera even though there was still some snow in the air. I took some shots and then put my camera back in the pack to continue our hike.

We continued our hike on the Flynn Trail heading along the west side of Frick Pond. The snow continued to cover the surface of the trail with some standing water and muddy patches. We stayed left at the next junction to continue up the hill on the blue Flynn Trail. We passed through the gate from OSI property to state land and found the trail continued to have some wet and muddy spots and plenty of snow. Brad and I had been picking up branches as we hiked and had moved several large ones off the trail. It seemed that Junkyard Junction came up quickly and we turned left on the red Quick Lake Trail to start our loop back. The Quick Lake Trail is mostly downhill and we made good time with the slippery snow acting as somewhat of an aid. At one point we saw some boot prints headed toward us which turned off into the woods on the left side of the trail. The prints looked fresh and as we looked out into the woods we could see the blaze orange hat of a hunter sitting on a log. We walked downhill to Iron Wheel Junction and turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. We were soon at the small stream just before the "Spruce Tunnel" and we crossed it with ease. The stream was very low but Sheila was able to get a drink since there was more water than there had been for several months. We continued on toward the outlet bridge at Frick Pond. Along the way we noticed some ribbon marking a path to the left of the trail. I assumed some hunters were marking a route and decided to leave the ribbons this time. We continued to stop to remove branches and other debris from the trail and found at least two blowdowns that would need tools. At the bridge I stopped to take a few pictures which I thought might be interesting as there was some mist and snow hanging over the pond. The highest part of Flynn's Point seemed to be covered in mist or fog. We walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction. The trail back to the parking area was a little wet and muddy in places but we had no problems. As we passed the register box, we turned right to stay on the trail. When we got back to the car at 2:05 PM there were two more cars in the small lot and a large SUV in the larger lot. We had walked 6.6 miles in 3 hours 5 minutes gaining 940 feet along the way. The temperature at the trailhead was now 35 degrees.

On Monday, November 21st snow was still falling and the wind was still blowing after a storm dumped at least 8" in Livingston Manor on Sunday. Most schools were closed as the roads were in very poor condition. I asked Cindy if she would like to snowshoe on the Round Top Trail we had helped create across the street from our house. She said she would like to go and Sheila was eager to get out. Sheila has a little Siberian Husky in her and she loves to romp in the snow. We both had some things to do around the house before going out. Around 11:15 AM we started to get ready and I was reminded of how much harder it is to prepare for a hike in the winter! We both dressed warmly as the air temperature was in the high 20's and the wind was gusting to over 30 mph! I got our snowshoes out of the basement choosing to wear my Crescent Moon snowshoes which have the best bindings. I decided to wear a pair of insulated Salomon Nitro boots and my Mammut hoody. Eventually we were ready and walked out the driveway to the street. I put Sheila on her leash so that we could cross the street. We walked through the field next to the Presbyterian Church and found about 8 inches of snow. We turned left behind the church and started to walk up the paved road to the top of the cemetery. The wind had blown much of the snow away and I was concerned that there would not be enough snow in the woods to snowshoe. We stopped at the trailhead and I took a few shots of Sheila and Cindy before we walked into the woods. Once we were under the trees we did find enough snow to make using the snowshoes possible but not necessary. At the trail junction we decided to walk straight ahead up the trail to the lookout. The snow was even deeper here which made using the snowshoes more fun. We turned left on the short spur trail out to the viewpoint and I took a few pictures of the small gap we had to cross to get to the lower ledges. We walked out to the lower viewpoint and I took a few shots down into town and of the school. At this point the wind began to blow more fiercely so we retreated back on the trail and walked up to the upper ledges.

I took a few pictures from this point and then we continued around the loop on the trail heading east. It was a little hard to see the yellow paint blazes which were covered, in some cases, by the blowing snow. We were still headed uphill until we came to the sharp right turn where the trail flattened out. As we walked along the woods road we had cleared, we found several places where the heavy snow had pulled branches into the trail. Soon we came to the sharp right turn where the trail heads back to the original trail junction. We turned right and started downhill which allowed us to "ski" downhill by picking up the tips of the snowshoes. After a short, steep downhill we followed the trail as it turned right. We continued back to the first trail junction to complete the loop. I suggested we reverse the loop since we had hiked less than a mile but Cindy decided she would go home. I put Sheila on her leash so she would not be tempted to follow Cindy and headed around the loop in the opposite direction. The grade in this direction is much more gentle and I allowed Sheila to give me a little pull as we ascended to the sharp left turn. After making the left turn, I let Sheila off her leash but kept her close to me as we hiked the for a long time ground to the turn off the woods road. After making the left turn, the rest of the hike was mostly downhill. At the lookout we started won the steepest part of the trail where I could pick up my tips and slide most of the way back down to the trail junction. It was a short walk back out to the trailhead where I put Sheila back on her leash. There was enough snow to safely get back down the cemetery hill where we completed the hike by walking across the field back to our driveway. I was surprised to see that our tracks from just a little over an hour before were completely filled in and invisible!

On Friday, November 18th I had scheduled a meeting with some Livingston manor students at the Round Top Trail. The students were members of the school's newly formed Interact Club which is sponsored by the local chapter of Rotary International. The purpose of the meeting was to walk the newly completed Round Top Lower Trail and to introduce the students to the trail and to trail maintenance. I wanted the students to react to the trail as it exists and to suggest changes or improvements. I also wanted to show them how to maintain the trail using some "elbow grease" and simple tools. Depending on the time they had available, I thought it would also be a good idea to have them help me plan the next phase of the trail project. This is a trail from the existing lower trail to the high point of Round Top that is on public property. This trail will only be about a quarter mile long but will require more work than the lower trail. The lower trail, follows many existing woods roads while the upper trail has now roads to follow. I parked at the church at about 12:50 PM for the 1:00 PM meeting and was the only car there. I was a little worried but just before 1:00 PM five students arrived. After greeting them and thanking them for their interest, I showed them some of the hand tools we use to maintain trails. I emphasized the safe use of sharp tools and that we are not allowed to use chainsaws or others motorized tools. This means that choosing the path of lest resistance is very important so that we go around obstacles and not through them. After a short discussion, we headed up the road behind the church to the trailhead at the top of the cemetery. At the beginning of the trail I pointed out the triangle of blazes and discussed the standard method of blazing trails. We walked into the forest and began to pick up sticks and branches on the trail. I was surprised after the wind that had blown over the last few weeks that there weren't some larger blowdowns on the trail. At the trail junction I pointed out where some trail sings would be posted and we decided to walk straight ahead to the overlook. When we reached the spur trail to the lower lookout, we turned left. I pointed out the small "gulf" that needed to be crossed and the fact that the lookout will have to be relocated to the upper ledge. Although the crack is easy to cross for the most part, snow and ice would definitely be a problem. Constructing a "bridge" is not possible as that would be an "improvement" that would increase liability for the town. We walked out to the ledge to get a view of the town and the school. The students really enjoyed the view. I mentioned to them the fact that although the lookout appeared to be at the top of a solid mass of rock if is actually a ledge hanging in midair and undercut by the erosion of softer rock. We walked to the side of the ledge and were able to get to the rock shelter underneath the ridge.

We walked back out the short spur trail and turned left to walk to the upper lookout. The view from the upper ledge is good right now without the leaves on the trees. After a brief stop, we continued along the trail heading east on the only part of the trail that was cut out from the forest. We walked slightly uphill and caught up with my wife and grandson at a glacial erratic that acts as a nice spot to rest along the trail. When we arrived, I asked the students to pose and they did a great job as I took a few shots. I also asked them to demonstrate lopping a branch from a tree and took some pictures of that also. We continued our walk along the trail and soon turned southeast and south along an old woods road. Soon we arrived at the point where the trail makes a sharp right turn to head back toward the initial trail junction. At this point I asked the students if they would like to help lay out the upper trail and they agreed. I gave some ribbon to two of the students to tie to the trees as we walked a possible track up the hill. As we walked we looked for existing paths or game trails trying to avoid thick brush and extensive blowdowns. We also tried to find a route that wasn't too steep but I knew we might have to put in at least one switchback when we actually cut the trail. Soon we were approaching the top of the hill and we came out exactly where I have come out several times before. We walks along the flat summit to the other side and then began to descend toward the existing lower trail. We again tried to pick the best route choosing the gentler slopes and a route with the least amount of work needed. I had not brought my GPS but was confident I could find the correct path. As we neared the bottom of the hill, I seemed to lose the track but the students immediately picked out the yellow blazes of the lower trail and we headed directly for them. Once we were back on the main trail we turned left and walked back to the sharp right. This time we turned right and walked down the trail to the wide woods road that leads back to the trail junction. Along the way we took a careful look at some of the impressive ledges along the way on the right. At the trail junction we turned left and walked back out to the trailhead. The students posed again by the beginning of the trail and I took a few pictures before we walked down the hill back to the church parking lot. I thanked the students and told them I would be in contact with them to schedule a day to cut out the upper trail and to maintain both trails. When I returned home, Sheila would not let me relax in peace. Saturday was the first day of rifle hunting season and Sunday's forests was for cold and snow or rain. I decided that I would take Sheila across the street and hike the trail. Since Sheila doesn't care where we go she was ready as I put her on her leash to cross the street. We walked passed the church and up the hill with Sheila helping to pull me to the top. Once we turned into the trail, I let Sheila off her leash to allow her to roam a little. Sheila stayed pretty close as we turned right at the trail junction. We walked up to the point where the upper trail may start and walked up to the top of the hill following the flagging the students had placed earlier. We followed the ribbons back down to the lower trail where we turned right. We walked out toward the lookout and then followed the trail back to the trailhead. I put Sheila back on her leash as we walked won the hill and crossed the street to the driveway.

On Wednesday, November 16th I wanted to get in a local hike and decided to check out the TouchMeNot Trail which I maintain for the Finger Lakes Trail. I wanted to start at Big Pond and see how far I could get. The last time I had worked the trail was during the summer and I wanted to make sure it was free of new blowdowns for the winter season. I left Livingston Manor right around 9:15 AM and headed up the Beaverkill Road with an excited Sheila in the back seat. Even though the temperature was pushing into the high 40's I chose to wear my Mammut hoody since it was lots of zippers to dump heat and extra pockets. We arrived in the parking area by Big Pond just after 9:45 AM and got started immediately. There was a pickup in the parking area but I did not see anyone fishing on Big Pond. I had my Fiskars axe which I carry when hiking longer distances since it is sharp but light with a hollow handle. I also had brought my Silky curved saw and some plastic felling wedges. We crossed the road and got on the red Touch-Me-Not Trail to hike over the hill toward Cabot Mt. The trail starts with a nice little ascent to get the heart pumping and then levels off some. The trails were quite wet from the rain the day before making the leaves slippery. I was at a disadvantage since I did not bring my poles. Just passed the trail register there was a small blowdown. I put down my pack and took a few "before" shots. It didn't take long to clear the blowdown and we were soon on our way again. I thought this was a good beginning but we really didn't encounter any other blowdowns that we could clear for the rest of the way to the top of Touch-MeTouch-Me-Not Mountain. I did find several places where small funks or large branches had fallen across the trail but in all cases I was simply able to pick them up and move them off the trail. There were a few places where trees were hanging preciously over the trail but they were too big for me to tackle and had been there for some time. Over the first mile we gained 770 feet to the shoulder of Touch-Me-Not Mountain. Along the way I did cut one small tree that was hanging into the trail. There were several large blowdowns that were old and laying on the ground. I had asked that the Finger Lakes Trail send someone to remove them with a chainsaw but that had not happened. As we approached the junction with e blue Campground Trail we came to a tree that had split three ways. One large trunk lay across the trail while another hung over the trail. I noticed that hikers had begun to hike around this mess and thought about rerouting the trail slightly the next time I was in the area. We continued to the junction with blue Campground Trail where we kept to the right on the Touch-Me-Not Trail and continued our descent. We ran across several large trees across the trail but they were old and had been there for some time. I decided to leave them as they were easy to step over. For the ones that were slightly elevated I scored the tops of the trunks to make them a little less rounded and slippery. I didn't have time to really work on them to make a step. After about 1.6 miles we arrived at the junction with the yellow Little Pond Trail on the left.

I decided to make the left and hike a loop back to Big Pond as I did not want to descend the slippery slopes that we had climbed on the way out. I walked a little ways toward Cabot Mountain and found nothing to clear so I returned to the Little Pond Trail to start the loop back. Once we got to Little Pond we could follow the campground access road and Barkaboom Road back to the car. This was slightly longer than staying on the Touch-Me-Not Trail but I had done it before and it was easier. There were a couple of trees across the trail and I decided to remove them since they had been there some time and the DEC crew had not touched them. I took some pictures of both blowdowns and then quickly removed them from the trail. We were soon in the field on the Little Pond Trail that acts as a nice lookout over the valley below. I stopped to take a few pictures of the scenery although there was a heavy haze hanging over the valley. After the field, we continued along the woods road and the turned left onto the trail that would take us down to Little Pond. Along the way we came to what is usually a beaver meadow but found it transformed back into a beaver pond. I stopped to take a few shots and then continued on the trail. I did not see any freshly cut sticks and there was no lodge in the small pond that had formed behind the dam. We continued down to the loop trail and turned left to start toward the gatehouse. We crossed a bridge and continued around Little Pond stopping at the "deck" so that I could take some pictures. As we neared the bathhouses, I put Sheila on her leash. I noticed that there was some yellow tape blocking off an area near the bathrooms and it looked as if a new pipe was being installed. We walked to the bridge over the dam and I took a few more pictures before beginning the walk out passed the gatehouse and down the access road to Barkaboom Road. We turned left on Barkaboom Road and began the .6 mile uphill hike back to the car. We were back at about 1:00 PM having spent 3 hours and 15 minutes hiking around 5.0 miles with a lot of time for trail maintenance and photography! The elevation gain was a modest 1023 feet.

On Monday, November 14th I wanted to get out and hike locally as the week coming up would be busy and include some rainy weather. I asked Cindy if she would like to go to Frick Pond to clear the blowdowns that we had found on the Logger's Loop on the previous Saturday and she agreed. When I awoke in the morning the temperature was 20 degrees so we were not too eager to get a very early start. I got my gear in the car including my Fiskars axe, Silky Sugowaza saw and felling wedges. Because the temperature was till in the 20's, I decided to wear my Mammut hoody and warmer Columbia Titanium pants. The hoody has lots of zippers to help regulate temperature and I knew I could always take it off. Sheila was happy to be going anywhere and crouched in the back seat with her head on the console. I drove out DeBruce Road and turned left on Mongaup Road. Where the road splits I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and parked in the smaller lot at 10:10 AM and got started almost immediately. The temperature was 28 degrees when we left the parking area. We headed out to the Quick Lake Trail passing the trail register and heading toward Frick Pond. At Gravestone Junction we turned right to get on the yellow Logger's Loop heading toward Times Square. We made good time on the trail as it headed slightly downhill. I was surprised that there were a few muddy spots on the trail as everything else was so dry. We picked up a few large and small branches as we made our way to the four-way trail junction. At Times Square we continued straight ahead to stay on the Logger's Loop and began to climb an uphill. Almost immediately we ran into the first blowdown across the trail. I put my pack down and took a few shots of the "before". I decided to use the axe to cut the thicker end of the tree trunk and then cut the upper end with the saw. The work went quickly as I made the cuts and then moved the pieces off the trail. After a few "after" shots, we were ready to continue on to the next job. Before we started to hike again, I opened all the zippers on my hoody as the work had made me very warm. The trail continued to rise and then flattened a little. Eventually we came upon the second of the three blowdowns I wanted to clear.

I put down my pack and took a look at the blowdown. There were two trunks that were a little larger than I remembered and I wished that I had brought my larger KatanaBoy saw. I took some shots and the grabbed the saw to begin the work. I planned to use the saw for most of the cuts and immediately started cutting the tops of the trees and the left side of the trail. I was able to make some quick cuts and pull the tops off the trail. I turned my attention to the stump end of the trees and marked where I would make the cuts. The would was green which made the saw bind a little I started down-cutting and then switch to up-cutting as the saw started to bind. Eventually I heard the wood start to crack but the cut would no separate. I gave the trunk a few kicks and whacked it with the axe a few times and it gave way. I turned my attention to the other trunk which was a little large and thins went much the same way. I was hoping I could move the two trunks off the trail without making additional cuts. I grabbed the end of the smaller trunk and was able to man-handle it off the trail. The larger trunk was also longer but I was able to move it also. I took some "after" shots and we moved on to the last blowdown. We arrived at Iron Wheel Junction and made the left turn onto the Quick Lake Trail. The last blowdown was ahead of us and was a tangled mess of relatively small branches. I took my pictures and we removed the loose branches. I started to cut away the remainder which was made more difficult as many of the branches were so small. I had been thinking that my saw was beginning to get dull right up until the point where I cut my thumb! I took a moment to tape the laceration and then went on with the work. The fact that the branches were so entangled made clearing them like a puzzle! Eventually we got everything cut and cleared off the trail. It was getting a little late so I took a few quick shots and then we set a quick pace back toward the car on the Quick Lake Trail. Just before the stream through the woods we came to some branches overhanging into the trail. I knew I couldn't leave them so I grabbed the saw, cut them and cleared them out of the way. We headed back on the trail crossing the almost dry stream. We crossed the bridge over the outlet of Frick Pond and continued back to the car. We were back at 1:05 PM having spent almost 3 hours on the trail covering 3.9 miles. The time was almost evenly divided between walking and working. Our average speed was 1.3 mph but our moving speed was 2.6 mph! Our elevation gain was modest at about 400 feet.

On Saturday, November 11 I had planned to head to Bath to hike another section of the Finger Lakes Trail on map 10. When I awoke at 5:30 AM, the pain in my right ankle was better but I could still feel some discomfort. I am convinced that this was due to my own stupidity in not putting proper insoles in my shoes on Tuesday for a long hike. Wearing good insoles for the rest of the week an resting from hiking seemed to be helping. I decided to be cautious and do a shorter hike around Livingston Manor. I got a little more sleep and when Cindy and I got out of bed I asked if she would like to hike. She said "Yes" and we decided to head for Frick Pond. My plan was to hike the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel Junction. From here we would hike the Logger's Loop to Times Square an then ascend the Big Rock Trail to The Flynn Trail to get back to the car. There were several ways to shorten the hike if I felt my ankle would not take additional mileage. Although the temperature in the morning as in the low 30's we knew it would warm up throughout the day as the sun came out. When we left the house just before 10:00 AM it was still barely 40. I decided to wear my Mammut hoody and warmer Columbia Titanium pants. The hoody has lots of zippers to help regulate temperature and I knew I could always take it off. Sheila was happy to be going anywhere and crouched in the back seat with her head on the console. I drove out DeBruce Road and turned left on Mongaup Road. Where the road splits I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and parked in the smaller lot at 10:15 AM. It didn't take us long to walk out to the Quick Lake Trail to start our hike. As we started to hike I wondered about my choice of clothing as it felt pretty warm. We stayed left at Graveyard Junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. When we arrived at the bridge across the outlet, I decided to stop and take pictures as the colors around the pond and the water itself seemed to be inviting me. The water level was still very low in the pond and the outlet stream was hardly running at all. Every time I see these low water levels I hope that we get a large amount of snow this winter! I took some shots and then we continued on around the pond. We stayed left at the trail junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and very shortly ran into a blowdown across the trail. I immediately started to make plans to return to clear it but then noticed that it was broken into pieces. Cindy and I worked to clear each piece and soon had the entire mess cleaned up. We continued on our hike passing through the "Spruce Tunnel". The small stream through the woods was almost dry with only a few pools of water. By 11:10 AM we had walked the 1.5 miles to Iron Wheel Junction. Just before the junction we encounter another blowdown which would need an axe and saw to clear. At the trail junction we turned right on the Logger's Loop Trail. The Logger's Loop is mostly downhill in this direction and we made good time but encountered two more blowdowns which would require tools to remove. By 11:40 AM we were at Times Square and about 2.7 miles into the hike.

At Times Square we turned left to start up the Big Rock Trail. From Times Square to The Flynn Trail is about 1.1 miles but the elevation gain is around 600 feet averaging a 10% grade. The route has three different climbs with some flatter areas between them. Before we started up the trail I evaluated my ankle and found it felt pretty good. I had inserted a pair of Sole blue insoles which have even more support than the Superfeet Green which I normally use. We set a pretty fast pace on the climb and as we were walking we encounter a lone women hiking down the trail. I had forgotten to take a leash so I brought Sheila over to the side of the trail to let the other hiker pass. We said "Hi" and then headed in our opposite directions. Despite Sheila's excitement at seeing others on the trail, she always heads in the opposite direction to continue our hike when I release her. We reached the Flynn Trail at 12:10 PM after hiking 3.8 miles. We turned right to walk down the Flynn Trail back to the parking area. There were a few large branches on or near the trail but we were able to move them all out of the way. Sheila was still excited at this point and was running up the trail and back to me. She was taking a few excursions off the trail to follow animal tracks but was pretty close so I let her explore. She started to grab some rather large branches so I picked up a stick and threw it several times for here to retrieve. The trip down the Flynn Trail went quickly and we were soon near the gate that blocks Beech Mountain Road. At this point I decided to wander off to the left into the woods to look for some old foundations. I quickly found the remains of old buildings and what looked like a well. There were also some rather nice stone walls that I had never seen before. There are several websites that detail the history of the area and the possible homeowners. I continued through the woods with Sheila until we were back on the Flynn Trail. A family group with several young children was hiking up the Flynn Trail as we continued down to the parking area on the trail. We were back at 1:00 PM having covered 5.5 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes.

On Tuesday, November 8th I wanted to hike the Finger Lakes Trail again so I looked at Map 11 which is immediately to the west of the section I had just complete. Map 11 runs from Hughes Road and Turnpike Road south of Howard, NY east to Sand Pit Road near Bath, NY. When I saw that the distance was 11.9 miles I knew it would take two trips and planned to do the second leg on Thursday. It bothered me that spotting a car would allow me to do it on one trip but I had no one else that would go with me! I thought maybe Bath was a big town to have a taxi service and I did an Internet search. I found Village Taxi and communicated with them on Facebook. They assured me that they could pick me up in Bath and drop me off on Hughes Road and they would be glad to take Sheila along. I spoke to them on the phone to confirm that I would be in Bath between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM and that I would contact them at that time. I planned to get up at 6:00 AM and get going as soon as possible. The forecast was for temperatures reaching into the 60's with plenty of sun with clouds moving in at the end of the day. I woke up a little earlier than 6:00 AM and got ready to go. I knew I would have to dress for the weather on put on my summer/fall pants and a light baselayer with my Mammut pullover shirt. I did wear my Mammut Hoody since the temperature when I left the house was 28 degrees which also made my through in a light hat and gloves. I wore a new pair of Keen Glarus which had caused some foot problems on the last hike. In retrospect, I should have changed from the Keen footbeds to my Superfeet Green insoles to stop my overpronation. The drive is almost 3 hours but I knew a good part of the route from previous trips and did not have to worry much about directions. Around 6:30 AM, we headed north and west on Route 17/I86 toward Binghamton. The temperature was still only in the high 20's or low 30's and it was dark as sunrise wasn't until 6:58 AM. After a long drive, I took exit 38 to Bath and got on Route 415 North. I turned right on Spalding Drive and then right on Harrisburg Hollow Road. After a short distance, I turned right on Sand Pit Road and found that it was being paved. Rather than park on the left where I had parked before, I found a wider spot on the right and pulled off as far as I could hoping I would not be in the way of the pavers. I called Village Taxi and they were there within 15 minutes. Mr. Wheeler the driver and co-owner was very pleasant as we left my car at about 9:30 AM and headed out to Route 415. We turned right and then left onto Route 15, Knight Settlement Road. After 3.4 miles, we turned right on Turnpike Road heading west. The road was definitely a back road but was in pretty good shape. As we approached Hughes Road after driving about 9 miles, a wind farm appeared on the left and I was pleased since I could at least take a few pictures of the windmills. I was less impressed by a steep downhill and steep uphill to the junction of Hughes Road and Turnpike Road. Mr. Wheeler dropped me at the intersection and I got all of my gear and Sheila out of the taxi. The fee was VERY reasonable and I was happy that I would be able to walk 12 miles and all of it would be trail miles!

We started our hike at 9:55 AM by hiking east on Turnpike Road down a long hill and up the other side. As we ascended I stopped to take a few pictures of the windmills and some nice views to the north. After we got to the top of the hill on the road it was time to descended the other side to Craig Road at the bottom of the hill. We turned left and walked along one of the few flat spots on the hike. As we walked some cattle in the field seemed very interested in us and walked towed us in their pasture. At about 2 miles we turned right on McCaddam Road. Despite its name the road soon turned to dirt and we were again hiking up hill between two rows of evergreens. I decided to take some pictures here before topping the hill and turning left on Harris Hill Road. We walked downhill and at 2.9 miles turned right into the woods. I got out my poles and let Sheila off her leash. We had hiked almost 3 miles and all of it had been on the road! The trail was a little overgrown as we passed along the edge of a swamp before hitting a farm lane. I could hear some noise in the field us and suspected it was a combine but I could not see it. We followed the lane for a while and then the trail turned into the woods next to the field. I could see that a combine was at work harvesting the corn. The trail came out onto another farm lane where we turned left and continued on it for some time. I stopped once or twice to take a few pictures. We crossed Route 69 and began another short ascent and then began to walk along the top of a small ridge between two stream beds. Eventually we dropped down to another woods road. As we approached Snell Hill Road we passed an archery range but no one was using it at the time. We walked out to the road and turned left and then right into the woods again. The trail passed through some woods between fields before finally breaking out into some fields. We followed the blazes as the trail descended to Gay Gulf Road. We turned left here and hiked downhill a little to abridge across a stream. The trail turned into the woods and began a slight ascent up a hill. After a short walk in the woods we came to a field and walked the edge near the hedgerow to get up to Robinson Road. We crossed Robinson Road and headed for a lone tree in the middle of a field. The trail continued along a hedgerow which was surprisingly well marked. We had no trouble following the trail through the fields by hugging the edge of the fields. The trail eventually entered the woods again. We began a descent of over a mile dropping 360 feet to Sinclair Road where we turned left and walked out to Campbell Creek Road. We headed left or north on Campbell Creek Road dropping another 100 feet. I had a feeling we would be gaining some of this elevation back at some point. I was having some pain high in my right ankle from the lack of a proper insole which was entirely my own fault.

At 7.8 miles we turned right onto Cochran Road and my hunch about gaining elevation proved correct. After the turn, we were looking at a significant hill. Sheila was still in the mood to pull so I allowed her to assist me up the hill. We did stop along the way as there was a very old and interesting farmhouse. By the time we reached the highest point on the hill we had walked about .9 miles and gained 450 feet. The directions about what to do next on the Finger Lakes Trail map were very unclear. It said "immediately after the turn, turn left into the field." The problem was that there were several turns so I consulted the map app on my cell phone. At 8.8 miles the road made a 90 degree turn right and an FLT sign on the corner indicated we should enter the field which we did. It was not so much of a left turn as going straight ahead. Again, the blazes were well-placed and visible and we could easily follow them as they followed the hedgerow. At one point we passed through the hedgerow to the other side descending all the way. At the end of the fields we followed the blazes slightly uphill and the turned to follow them to the right under the powerlines. We descended to Knight Settlement Road trying to avoid several stands of roses along the way. When we arrived at Knight Settlement Road we had hiked 9.5 miles. The trail crosses the road and parallels the road for a short distance. This section is closed for hunting season and I had heard some gunshots in the area of the trail. I decided to turn left on Knight Settlement Road and bypass the trail. I put Sheila on her leash and we started northeast on the road. Initially there was almost no shoulder and there was quite a bit of traffic. After about half a mile the shoulder widened which was good since the traffic remained heavy. I knew we were near the end of the hike and was looking forward to the end. The road was a gentle downhill for 1.6 miles to Route 415 and passed over the railroad tracks and ran right by Knight Settlement Sand and Gravel. Getting across Route 415 took some doing but we mad it across safely and turned right. In a short distance we reached Spalding drive, turned left and continued straight ahead at the next intersection on Harrisburg Hill Road. We turned right on Sand Pit Road and walked up hill to the car. We were back at the car at 2:35 PM after hiking 12.2 miles in 4 hours and 40 minutes with an elevation gain of 1430 feet and a descent of 2020 feet. This initially caught me off guard until I remembered we were walking one way. We had actually started at 1835 feet and ended at 1245 feet! The question now is whether or not I will try to get in one more section this season!

On Saturday, November 5th I wanted to hike the Finger Lakes Trail east from Winding Stair Road near Hammondsport, NY to Birdseye Hollow Road. This would allow me to complete Map 12 and would mean I had hiked from Bath, NY to the eastern terminus of the trail in Claryville, NY. This section of trail has been rerouted onto some roads due to the loss of landowner permission so that 8 miles of the 12.4 mile out and back hike is now on roads. I knew this would make thee hike go faster than a hike which had more trail. After hiking to Winding Stair Road last time, I was doubtful about parking on that road so I decided to park on Birdseye Hollow Road where I had parked before with no problem. This location is also easier to access from Route 17. I had been the school nurse for most of the week and was anxious to get out again as was Sheila. I planned to get up at 6:00 AM and get going as soon as possible. The forecast was for temperatures reaching almost 50 degrees but with some wind. The skies were supposed to be cloudy but no rain was in the forecast. S luck would have it the ambulance pager went off at 4:15 AM but I was the only one that called in. I tried to get back to sleep but could tell that wasn't going to happen. I decided to get a REALLY early start and left Livingston Manor before 5:30 AM! I had decided to dress warmly hoping I would not regret it. This meant a pair of lined Columbia Titanium pants and my Mammut Hoody. My Vasque Taku boots had leaked like a sieve last time so I replaced them with a new pair of Keen Glarus. The problem was I had only worn these once before and the laces were too short. The drive is almost 3 hours but I knew a good part of the route from previous trips and did not have to worry much about directions. We headed north and west on Route 17/I86 toward Binghamton. The temperature was still only in the mid 30's and it was dark as sunrise wasn't until 7:48 AM. After a long drive, I took exit 40 to Savona and got on Route 226 heading northeast. I turned left or north on Myers Road and then left on Route 16. After only a short distance, I turned right on Birdseye Hollow Road heading north. The road had been freshly paved and, unlike last time, a shoulder had been added. The Finger Lakes Trail crosses the road a short distance after Birdseye Hollow County Park. I turned around and parked on the western shoulder where there was one other vehicle parked. I had noticed cars and trucks parked along local roads and knew that big game crossbow season was open. I got my gear ready, set my electronics and started the hike at 8:25 AM under very cloudy skies. The temperature was still below 40 degrees but there was no wind as we started into the forest heading west on the trail. I kept Sheila near me as I did not know whether the truck represented hikers or hunters. The trail almost immediately crossed a stream on a set of two bridges. We were walking through mostly hardwoods and a lot of the leaves had fallen. It surprised me how many leaves remained on the trees and hoe colorful they were! The trail was a little wet in places but was in generally good condition and adequately marked. Over the first .9 miles of trail we gained 375 feet with an average grade of 8%. This pleased me as I knew the last part of the return trip would be downhill! I was already getting warm so I removed my Mammut Hoody and put on a light windbreaker. I also removed my gloves and hat. At 1.2 miles we came to Urbana Road which we crossed with a slight jog to the south. The land on the other side of the road is private property but the owner allows hikers on the trails. The trail here were wide lanes but there were several crossing each other so I kept my eyes on the blazes and on Sheila. We were still climbing and at 1.8 miles we crossed VanAmburg Road. At 2 miles we came to a directional sign at the site of Irene's Bivouac. Just passed this area was a very new leanto. We continued on the trail passing the leanto and started to near some houses so I put Sheila on her leash. At 2.25 miles we arrived at Longwell Road and I knew we would be walking on the road for some time. I stowed my poles and put Sheila on her leash. The breeze had come up and I was slightly chilled but knew I would warm up as we walked.

We turned right on Longwell Road and walked a short distance downhill to Route 113 where we turned left to head southwest. The road was recently paved and I expected to have to deal with some heavy traffic. It turned out that there was very little traffic on the road both on the out and back. We did encounter a couple of loose dogs but the owner called them back and apologized. The road rolled quiet a bit and was more up hill than down. As we walked along, it seemed that the sun was trying to come out and I could see some bright patches on the far hills. As we came up one hill, I walked to the side of the road and got out my camera to take a few shots. We continued to the intersection with Lockwood Road and walked passed it to continue toward Winding Stair road. As we topped the hill, I looked ahead to find what looked like a very long and steep hill ahead. Fortunately, Winding Stair Road turned right at the base of the hill. After turning right, we started walking down the road. We walked north losing elevation every bit of the way until we had dropped 350 feet to where the Finger Lakes Trail came out of the woods and where we had turned on the previous hike. There did seem to be enough room to park on the right of east side of the road. We walked to where we had stopped on the last hike and I got out the camera to take a few more pictures of the colorful leaves. It was 10:45 AM and we had hiked 6.2 miles. We packed up and started back up the hill with Sheila doing her part to give me a little pull. Although the new shoes were not rubbing by feet, there were areas that felt irritated and soar. I tried to ignore it since I knew there was no choice but to walk back. We turned left at the top of the hill and did some ascend to Lockwood Road. The sun really hadn't broken through the clouds but it did seem warmer. As we passed one house there were several people outside raking leaves and they asked me if we were "walking the trail'> I said "Yes" and told them our route for the day. We walked quickly back to Longwell Road where we turned right and walked back to the spot where the trail entered the woods on the left. After we got on the trail, I let Sheila off her leash but kept her near me. I got my poles out and they helped to alleviate some of the pressure on my feet. I had though about stopping at the leanto to tape my feet but knew that often doesn't work out well. I chose to simply hike carefully using the poles. The trip back through the woods was uneventful as we passed the leanto, crossed the streams and roads we had negotiated on the way out. When we arrived at the last stream just before Birdseye Hollow Road, I stopped to take a few pictures of the stream and bridges. I noticed that the sun had finally broken through as we walked back out to the car. The other vehicle was gone. We were back at the car at 1:10 Pm having hiked 12.4 miles in 4 hours and 45 minutes pausing for only 15 minutes total along the way. We had 1800 feet of elevation gain and had averaged about 1.7 mph. There may still be enough time this fall to hike Map 11!

On Monday, October 31st, I had planned to hike close to home and Long Pond was the only place I had not been recently. As I was getting ready in the morning, I asked Cindy if she would like to go and she agreed. We didn't hurry out of the house as the early morning skies were cloudy and the temperature was only in the mid 30's. Sheila could see we were both getting ready to go and was hard to contain until we finally left the house at about 9:45 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road and through Willowemoc to the Flugertown Road. I turned left and drove to the first parking area on the right. We got our gear out of the car and I set my electronics. I put Sheila on her leash and we started up Flugertown Road at 10:15 AM. The temperature was still below 40 degrees and there was a stiff breeze blowing into our faces. The first part of the hike is virtually flat but then starts to climb very gently for some distance. The first .5 miles follows the paved portion of Flugertown Road. Once we were on the unpaved, dirt road, I kept Sheila on her leash for a little longer until I felt the chance of meeting a vehicle was minimal and then I let her off the leash. Sheila was good about staying on the road which is important to me especially as small game season is in full swing. The road was shaded by the trees making it a little cooler than the road walk. It seemed to be getting warmer as we kept up a very fast pace passing the first trail junction and the informal campsites along the way. We continued on to the point where Flugertown Road turns into Basily Road and heads over a small hill and down to the Peters Hunting Club. The hunting club has a private bridge over the creek and at one point denied access to hikers. The bridge is now open and the snowmobile trail passes over it so I have hiked it many times. The camp has also repaired some boards that were missing on the bridge. I looked at the scene below which was pretty but I decided not to take any pictures as I had photographed it so many times before. There were several stands of corn around the cabin but no one was home. As we crossed the bridge it was 11:10 Am and we had hiked 2.5 miles.

We crossed the outlet to the beaver pond by walking on the road as it was not necessary to use the small footbridge due to the dry conditions. The only water on the road was the overflow from the beaver pond which had a well-constructed dam. From that point the road began to ascend slightly but we increased our efforts to keep up the pace. The skies were blue with some clouds and it was definitely warmer than when we had left the car. We came to the split in the road at 3.2 miles where Basily Road heads to the left and continues out to Wild Meadow Road. We stayed to the right and soon were approaching the point were we would turn right onto the trail back to Long Pond. We made the right turn and started to hike back on the snowmobile trail. I was surprised that the gate on the trail was wide open! Parts of the trail were slightly muddy which I found strange since the rest of the trail was so dry. There were also tire tracks but I could not tell how old they were. We walked along the trail ands Sheila did a good job of staying close. We passed the trail to the lean-to at 11:50 AM about 4.25 miles into the hike. It wasn't long before we were at the spur trail down to the shore of Long Pond. I decided to let Sheila decide which way we would go and she avoided the spur and stayed on the main trail. The final leg of the trail begins with a slight uphill over some very rocky ground which makes picking a good route difficult. We soon topped out topped out at 2250 feet and 5.25 miles into the hike. The last part of the hike went quickly as we descended the hill back to the parking area. Over the last .7 miles we lost 370 feet. We were back at the car by 12:25 PM having covered 5.9 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes with a 530 foot elevation gain.

On Friday, October 25th my plan was to head for the Finger Lakes Trail east of Hammondsport and hike the final section of map 12 east to west from Birdseye Hollow Road to Winding Stair Rd. I decided I would probably hike out and back since a good part of this section is on roads anyway. The round trip mileage is around 12 miles. All week the weather looked good and I was stoked to finish this section. I woke up just before 6:00 AM on Saturday and found that the forecast had changed to include a good chance of rain just after noon. It was a tough decision as I do not like to change plans but in the end I decided I did not want to drive almost 6 hours round trip to have limited views and the possibility of getting wet. I knew that a friend, Wendell, has planning to hike in the Mongaup Pond area to work on the CMC All Trails Challenge so I sent him and e-mail and he responded. We agreed to meet at the Mongaup Pond parking area at 9:20 AM. At 9:00 AM I put my gear in the car and loaded up an eager Sheila to head for Mongaup Pond. I drove out DeBruce Road and turned left on Mongaup Pond Road after 6 miles. I drove up the road and at the Y in the road I stayed right to go to Mongaup Pond. When I arrived the gatehouse was closed but the gate was open. This meant free use without a parking fee! Wendell was already in the lot with another friend Bob. I parked next to them and to my surprise Sheila jumped out and politely greeted them both. We said "Hello", got our gear ready and started out at 9:30 AM by hiking on the loop road on the east side of the pond. We turned right off the loop road into one of the short loops that goes to some campsites. We found we had turned a little too early and simply bushwhacked through the woods to the next set of campsites where we found the snowmobile trail which heads north paralleling the east shore of the pond. I was surprised to see a lot of snowy slush in the woods and wished I had worn a pair of gaiters. I did have on a pair on Columbia Titanium pants with a reflective lining which were probably too warm for the hike. As always I wore my Mammut hoody over a light baselayer and a Mammut long-sleeved shirt. A light hat and gloves rounded out my wardrobe. After only a short distance we came to a junction with another snowmobile trail not shown on the amp. It took us a few minutes and a peek at the PDFmaps app on my iPhone to confirm that we should continue straight ahead and north on the snowmobile trail. At 1.1 miles we came to the junction with the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail and turned right to start to climb away from the pond. The sun had started to peek through the clouds and the air temperature was rising. The walk was pleasant and it was nice to have company for a change. Sheila was behaving exceptionally well staying close to u on the trail with only a few excursions in the woods. Over the next .7 miles we gained about 270 feet to the highest point on the trail and then began descending. When we reached 2.75 miles we had lost 390 feet of elevation and crossed Butternut Creek, the outlet to Sand Pond. We paralleled the creek for a short distance and at 3.5 miles crossed the access road to Sand Pond which is a private inholding. We had been heading southeast and east but at this point the trail turned slightly northeast to meet the Long Pond Beaverkill Ridge Trail at 3.8 miles. Instead of turning left onto this trail to begin the loop back, we continued straight ahead to walk down to Flugertown Road to complete the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail for the All Trails Challenge. We were at the road by 11:45 AM having covered 4.35 miles.

At Flugertown Road we turned around and started back up to the trail junction. I was glad I had opened all the zippers on my hoody as this little climb made me very warm. Flugertown Road was the lowest point on the hike and we ascended 250 feet over half a mile to the trail junction at 4.8 miles. I decided to remove my hoody at this point hoping I would not feel too cold. I need not have worried as I never felt cool or chinked for the rest of the hike. My feet were a different story! My Vasque Taku boot were totally soaked on the outside despite the application of waterproofing. What was worse was that some of the moisture felt like it was getting through to my feet making me wonder if the boots actually had a Gortex liner! We turned right on the Long Pond Beaverkill Ridge Trail and started to head almost due north for 2.5 miles climbing all for most of the trip. The trail had a lot more slush and my feet were now wet and cold. We found that the trail alternated between being clearly marked and not marked at all. We were slowed by the fact that we had to stop and search for the next red marker in several, places. The trail also had not been properly maintained in some time and we removed many smaller branches as we hiked. There were several places where very large trees had fallen across the trail and hikers had worked their way around them essentially rerouting the trail. Most of these blowdowns were quite old and many had been partly cleared with an axe! I admired the person who would be carrying and axe over this distance and had the skill and perseverance to cut through trees which were at least two feet in diameter. I took a few pictures along the way but many of the features such as the impressive rock ledges are much better experienced in person. By 1:55 PM we had hiked 7.3 miles and had ascended to the Beaverkill Ridge at just under 3000 feet of elevation. We turned left on the blue Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail and started to look for a place to take a break for lunch. I knew that we still had to ascents to make and while my feet were uncomfortable they seemed to be mostly wet. After a short distance we took a break for "lunch". I never stop when I am hiking and eat mostly as I walk since I usually feel worse if I take a break. We only stopped for a short time and this break seemed to invigorate me. It certainly energized Sheila s she began a series of mad dashes through the woods.

As we continued west along the ridge we found more spots where the trail markers were absent and we had to guess where the trail was located. In each case we found the trail but the delay was annoying. We ascended Middle Mongaup Mountain at 8 miles and found a few limited viewpoints along the way. I knew what was ahead of us as we made a difficult descent on a steep section of trail littered with loose leaves and covered in wet slush. The sun had gone under some clouds which helped to darken my mood. In .6 miles we dropped 370 feet and were looking at West Mongaup Mountain ahead of us. I got a little ahead of my two friends but felt I had to keep moving to keep my feet warm and climbing was better than descending. The climb was steep and slippery at points and in .5 miles we gained 420 feet. I stopped at the summit so that we could regroup and noticed that the sun had come out. Just after the summit, the trail turned south and slightly west to head toward Mongaup Pond. I was dreading the descent but found that there was no slush which made things much easier. There were several poorly marked sections and areas where little maintenance had been done. We continued to pick up branches to clear the trail for others. My feet began to feel warmer but they were still wet! Over the 1.5 miles from the summit we dropped 820 feet to the northern shore of Mongaup Pond. The last .2 miles passed along a stream and through some pine trees and was most enjoyable. When we reached the pond, we stopped for a few minutes to take some pictures. It was 4:30 PM and the sun was dropping low so the lighting for photography was not the best. We had already hiked over 10 miles which was more than the total distance we planned. I knew the rest of the hike was almost completely flat and much of it was on park roads. As we picked up our packs we noticed a canoe near the far shore. We hiked along a wide trail running along the western shore of the upper section of the pond and ended up on a road that loops through some campsites. From here it was a short walk out to the "main" road where we turned right to continue south toward the parking area. I thought about stopping at the observation deck toy take a few shots but I was tired and the views were poor. I did point out to the others that there was a woods road on the right that leads west through some nice ledges to the Flynn Trail near Frick Pond. The walk along the road was not very exciting but it was easier and my feet were now back to normal temperature. We arrived back at the cars at 5:05 PM after hiking 12.1 miles and gaining 2290 feet in just over 7.5 hours. I found hiking with Bob and Wendell very enjoyable which made the time go very quickly.

On Tuesday, October 25th I wanted to get out and hike after several days of lousy weather and relative inactivity. I decided with the amount of time I had that I would go to Trout Pond since the area is close. I also hoped to find some remnants of fall colors left on the leaves still on the trees. I got my gear and Sheila in the car and headed up the Quickway towards Roscoe just before 10:00 AM. I had waited for the rain showers to abate and for the sun to come out and add some warmth to the raw air. Unfortunately, as I drove towed Roscoe, I could see black clouds and found rain hitting the windshield. Since the weather was changing so rapidly, I decided to continue. I got off at exit 94 and headed north on Route 206 towards Downsville. After crossing the Rockland Flats and passing the Roscoe Nursing Home, I turned left on Morton Hill Road and drove to teethe intersection with Russell Brook Road. I decided to drive down to the lower parking area and was pleased to find the road in pretty good shape. I arrived at 10:10 AM to find one other car in the lot. On the way down the road I stopped to look at Russell Brook and found the water level as low as I had ever seen it in any season! I set my electronics and we started out on the Trout Pond Trail along a wide woods road that leads down to and across Russell Brook. As we crossed the bridge, I could see that the brook was very low. I stopped just after the bridge to take some pictures of the knotweed which was now only a shadow of its former glory. I also took some shots of the old orchard. The scene was interesting since many of the trees were without leaves but a few still had some colorful leaves on the branches which made an interesting contrast. The temperature was only in the mid 30's but the sun was out and the sky was blue. I felt incredibly energized as we continued straight ahead at the trail junction toward Trout Pond. I was surprised that there were no muddy spots on the trail and it seemed only the surface of the leaves was wet. Soon we were at the outlet end of the pond and I walked over to the shore and dropped my pack. Since the spring the water had not come close to touching the dam but now it seemed even lower. I took quite a few pictures looking for the contrast between bare trees and those with a few remaining leaves. Part of the sky was blue but part showed some black clouds moving in. We returned to the main trail and walked the flat woods road toward the inlet end of the pond. I walked off the trail at several point to the shore of the pond to take some pictures. In each case I knew that I was standing on ground that was usually underwater! At the trail junction near the lower leanto we turned to the left on the blue blazed Mud Pond Trail which would take use over Cherry Ridge and form our loop back to the parking area.

Even though we were gaining elevation, we continued our rapid pace. From the bridge at the inlet we began a climb of 430 feet over the next .75 miles. The trail headed west from the inlet until turning sharply south at around 2 miles. The highest point on the trail was at 2.2 miles after which most of the rest of the hike is downhill. As we gained elevation, I began to notice that there was some snow or sleet falling. I was hoping that it would pick up a little so that I could take some pictures but it came and went several times without ever becoming more noticeable. At 3.3 miles we had descended 450 feet from Cherry Ridge to the snowmobile trail near Mud Pond. We turned left here to head east and downhill back toward the parking area. The downhill was a little slippery because of the leaves but we made good time as we dropped another 380 feet over the next .7 miles back to the trail junction. I continued to remove branches from the trail and noted a few blowdowns that would require tools to remove. I passed several areas were my crew had removed blowdowns from the trail earlier in the year. At the trail junction we turned right and I decided we would visit the falls just to see what it was like with so little water. We turned left and walked out to the falls on the informal path descending to the stream bed. There was almost no water going over the falls and the stream below was barely a trickled. Dropped my pack and got out the camera to take pictures of the falls and the stream from different angles. The rocks on the face of the falls that would normally be washed clean by the water were covered in colorful leaves. I had Sheila pose in front of the falls and took several shots. I picked up my pack and we returned to the main trail. We walked up to the parking area where the same car was parked as when we had started. We never saw the occupant. We had hiked 4.4 miles in 1 hour and 50 minutes with an elevation gain of 960 feet.

On Monday, October 24th Cindy and I were about to leave the house for a hike at Trout Pond when the ambulance pager went off. I have never been able to ignore a page so I went on the call in my hiking clothes. It turned out to be a potentially serious heart problem. By the time I got back there wasn't enough time before cross country practice to do too much traveling to hike. Sheila was in such a state of excitement that we decided to go across the street to hike the Round Top Trail that we had recently constructed. We headed across the street just before noon and climbed the steep hill to the top of the cemetery where the trail begins. The temperature had warmed up some but it was till cool with a mixture of sun and clouds. We walked into the woods and at the intersection we stayed to the right to hike the loop in the counterclockwise direction. As we hiked we picked up a few sticks to help keep the trail clear. When we got to the sharp left turn we followed the trail along the woods road we had cut out. We continued to walk along the trail and were soon at the lookout. We walked down to the short spur trail to the lower overlook. We agreed that the view is nice but that the way to get there is not safe for all visitors. There is a small "gulf" to cross and the viewpoint slopes which might make it dangerous in the winter. We went back to the upper ledge and could get a better view than a few weeks before since the leaves were off most of the trees. After enjoying the view, we walked down the main trail to the junction. I decided to turn around and get a little more hiking in by walking the loop in the opposite direction. Cindy decided she would return home. It was hard to get Sheila to stay with me as she was torn between going with me and staying with Cindy. In the end a few stern "With!" Commands got her to follow me as we walked back around the loop. It didn't take long before we completed the loop in the opposite direction and then headed home. I look forward to placing a few signs and creating an upper trail to the top of Round Top.

On Wednesday, October 19th I wanted to get out and hike after several days of being school nurse and a rending weather forecast with rain. I decided with the amount of time I had that I would go to Frick and Hodge Ponds since the area is close. I also hoped to find some remnants of fall colors left on the leaves still on the trees. I got my gear and Sheila in the car and headed out the DeBruce Road just before 10:00 AM. After about 6 miles, I turned left on the Mongaup Road and stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road at the split. When we arrived at the parking area there were no other cars in the lot. I parked and got my electronics ready. At 10:20 Am we headed out on the woods road from the smaller parking area. I left my light windbreaker in the car as the temperature had already hit 60 degrees. As we walked out the woods road toward Frick Pond, I wondered if perhaps I should have brought the light jacket as a slight breeze seemed cooler than I had expected. It was a quick walk to the outlet of Frick Pond and when we arrived at the bridge I could see there were still some colorful leaves on the trees. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take some shots. I walked to the bridge and noticed that the water level in the pond was so low that there did not seem to be any water ion the stream. I took a picture of the stream and the outlet before turning my attention to the fall leaves. Many of the trees had already dropped their leaves but some still were painted in their autumn colors. I took pictures of the pond and the puffy white clouds in the sky. I also took a few shots of Flynn's Point. I packed up my camera and shouldered my pack to continue the hike. At the next junction we stayed to the left on the Quick Lake Trail to head toward Ironwheel Junction. I stopped at one point to take a few pictures of the trail as many of the sheltered trees still had colorful leaves. As we approached the small stream in the woods just after the "spruce tunnel", I could see that there was only a shallow pool. The streambed was almost dry and was covered in leaves making it look like just another section of trail. As we continued our hike, I found several branches down across the trail. I cleared most of the branches but two spots would require a saw. When we arrived at Ironwheel Junction, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail to Junkyard Junction where the Flynn Trail begins. Over the next mile the trail rises about 400 feet heading north. At 2.4 miles it turns northeast and levels off some as it approaches Junkyard Junction.

At 3.1 miles we arrived at Junkyard Junction and turned right on the Flynn Trail heading east and slightly southeast. The trails had been dry so far and even the Flynn Trail had few damp spots as we worked our way along the flat expanse and the passed through the gate to descend to the pond. I followed Sheila as she turned right to stay on the Flynn Trail along the west side of Hodge Pond. As we came to the open field near the pond ether were a few muddy spots on the trail. From the field I could see through the trees to the pond and I stopped to take a few pictures before continuing on to the field at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. We walked over to the fire ring and I took off my pack and got out the camera. I took some pictures of the trees which still had some color. I also took a few shots of Sheila as she played in the water. The sun was out and there was a slight breeze across the pond. We didn't spend too long at the pond and were soon Back on the Flynn Trail climbing the hill up from the pond. It is .7 miles from the pond to the junction with the Big Rock Trail and we gained about 180 feet over that distance. I took a few more pictures along the way but the walk went quickly. From the junction the Flynn Trail starts a constant descent all the way to the parking area. In 1.7 miles it loses 600 feet in elevation. The walk down was pretty with many bright colors. At one point I heard a rather loud disturbance in the woods and called Sheila to me. Several times I have seen bear cross the trail in this area so I began to make some noise. When we reached the gate just before the cabin, we turned left to walk the Flynn Trail back to the car and to avoid the private property around the cabin. We were back at the car at 12:50 PM having hiked 6.3 miles in 2.5 hours with an elevation gain of 900 feet.

On Friday, October 14th I had decided to hike somewhere to see if I could find some more fall leaf colors. I had not been to Bear Spring WMA in some time and decided that was the place to go. Cindy had a morning appointment but said she would like to go if I could wait until a little after noon. I agreed and when she returned home we set out from Livingston Manor at about 12:30 PM. The temperature was in the low 50's as I drove north on Route 17 to Roscoe where I took Route 206 through Downsville toward Walton and almost to the top of Bear Spring Mountain. I parked in the large "bus turnaround" just south of East Trout Brook Road. Cindy and I both decided to keep on our light jackets as a breeze was blowing and the temperature was still in the mid 50's. I set all my electronics and we started out at 1:00 PM. Sheila had on her blaze orange bandana and Cindy was wearing a red/orange jacket so I felt we were pretty safe from bow hunters if we should encounter any. We hiked just a little north on Route 206 and then turned left onto a woods road that is also a snowmobile and hiking trail. The trails in the Bear Spring WMA are truly multi-use and are frequently used by people riding horses. I took a few pictures of an area that I always photograph and we continued to walk along the road just above a clear cut area. I was surprised to find that the smaller trees had grown up quickly along the edge of the road blocking the best views of the valley and the hills on the other side. I could see there was some good leaf colors but it was hard to get a clear view for pictures. I did take a few shots when I could and also took some along the woods road where there were some nice colors. As we were about to enter the woods, I decided to fight through the brush and briars hoping to get to the edge of the clear cut area to get some clear pictures of the trees. It took me a while but I did get to and open area and got some nice shots of some beautiful trees garbed in flaming reds, yellows and oranges. I returned to the main trail and we walked through an area with trees on both sides. Every now and then I stopped to take a few shots along the trail where there were some spectacular trees. The trail started to climb a little and at 1,4 miles and 2.0 miles we passed trails on the right that descended from the ridge to the parking area just south of Launt Pond on East Trout Brook Road. My intent was to hike down the McCoy Hill Trail toward Middle Pond and the turn left to make a loop and return the way we had come.

At 2.3 miles we made the turn down McCoy Hill and started a long descent toward a nice viewpoint. When the trail opened up at the viewpoint, I was a little disappointed that the colors were not as bright as on the other ridge. I did take a few shots and we continued down the hill skirting another clear cut area on the right. At 3.2 miles we had descended to the trail junction and a nice view of the trees on top of the ridge above the clear cut where we had just been a few hours earlier. I took a few shots and decided we would take a different route than I planned. We continued to descend on the trail toward Middle Pond. Along the way there were several nice views to the south and west to the Fork Mountain Ridge. I stopped to take a few pictures but we finally made it down to Middle Pond. There was quite a large amount of water in the pond as the beavers had built a dam in the spillway of the pond. I took a few pictures and then stowed my poles and put Sheila on her leash. We had descended almost 700 feet off the ridge and now would have to climb back up to the car. We turned right on East Trout Brook Road which immediately began to ascend toward Route 206. The road walk was easier than the trail and the pace was fast. At 5.2 miles we came to the southern end of Launt Pond after having already gained 300 feet of elevation back. We walked over to the outlet to the pond. The leaves were not as beautiful as in previous years but the colors were still nice. I took many pictures of the pond and the trees before following Cindy over to the observation deck. I got Sheila to sit next to her and took a couple of shots of them. We walked back out to the road and continued our climb. At 6.2 miles we were at route 206 after gaining over 600 feet. I decided to walk back on Route 206 rather than use the trail. We turned right and started walking back to the car on the main road. I regretted my decision jot to use the trail as there was a lot of traffic moving too fast with drivers that seemed unconcerned about their speed or our safety. We gained a little more elevation and were back at the car at 3:55 PM. We had hiked 6.9 miles in 3 hours with 1013 feet of elevation gain. As we were hiking back on Route 206, we noticed some trail on the other side of the road which I would like to explore in a subsequent hike.

On Wednesday, October 12th I had decided to do some work around the house and rest after a 12 mile hike on the Finger Lakes Trail the day before. I go to bed VERY late and then was awakened by an ambulance call at 5:30 AM. When we returned from that call another one came in. The ambulance calls and the cool and very overcast morning which reinforced, in my mind, my decision to stay home. As the morning developed the skies cleared and the sun came out. The temperature started to rise and I began to think about going somewhere to see if I could get some "fall colors" pictures. I decided to head for Giant Ledge since it is a short hike and I assumed that there would not be many people there since it was Wednesday. I got my gear together and pout Sheila in the back seat as we headed out the DeBruce Road around 10:30 AM. The temperature was in the low 50's as I drove along DeBruce Road. I turned left onto the Frost Valley Road and the colors by the YMCA were beautiful. There were no cars parked at Biscuit Brook but quite a few in the Slide Mountain parking area. When we arrived at the big bend in Route 47, the lot was full. I almost decided to head somewhere else since I did not want to deal with so many people. I decided to stick to the plan and turned around and parked off the side of the road below the parking area. We crossed the road to start the hike at 11:10 AM. The trail was very dry with only a few damp places. The stream under the bridge was nonexistent. As I climbed over the normally rocky areas, I was reminded of how many shall but very rocky climbs are on this trail! I could see a young woman ahead of me with a dog so we slowed down to let her get ahead of us. I let Sheila off her leash and she stayed very close. We caught up to and passed another group. Each time we met people, I put Sheila on her leash. Within about 30 minutes we had hiked the .75 miles to the trail junction. I have made this in 15 minutes under ideal conditions but I wasn't in any real hurry on this day. I noticed a father and son at the turn and put Sheila on her leash. The father thanked me for being considerate and we exchange a few more words before I continued on. The trail straight ahead would take us to Woodland Valley but we made a left turn to go to Giant Ledge

The next .3 miles or so was almost flat and the trail was still dry. We ascended through a few small climbs. Soon we began the climb up to Giant Ledge passing the sign for the spring on the way. We started the final climb up to the Giant Ledge plateau by passing a few more people. I was surprised at how quickly this last part went and before I knew it we were at the top. I had Sheila on her leash and had stowed my poles. Sheila does a good job of pulling on uphill sections which really helps. It often seems to me that up, down and flat are all the same to her. We walked across the trail and down to the first lookout where the woman with the dog was visiting with some other hikers. I tied Sheila to a tree, got out my camera and went out to the ledge. The colors in front of me were as good as we have had for many falls! I took a lot of shots and the decide to visit and unoccupied viewpoint so that I could take some pictures of Sheila. The woman with the dog was ahead of me and she stopped a the next lookout. Sheila and I continued to the next one which was empty. I took some pictures of Sheila on the ledge and then took more pictures of the ally below and the surrounding mountains. To the left was Panther Mountain and to the right the three members of the Burroughs Range: Slide, Cornell and Wittenberg. At this point I decided that I had too many things to do for the rest of the day and I would not enjoy the hike to Panther. It was 12:15 PM when we turned around after hiking about 1.7 miles. I looked at the views from another lookout but decided they were more of the same. We started back down from the ledges with Sheila on her leash and without the use of my poles. I soon decided that my knees would do better with my poles. The rest of the way back I kept meeting groups still hiking up to the ledges. Each time we met a group I out Sheila on her leash. We did meet one more dog which I think was a Boston Terrier puppy. Going down was easier than going up and at 1:20 PM we were back at the parking lot. More cars were parked on the road but there were a few empty spots in the lot. We covered 3.3 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes with an ascent of about 1210 feet.

On Tuesday, October 11 I wanted to continue to hike Map 12 on the Finger Lakes Trail near Bath and Hammondsport, NY after doing the first section from Sand Pit Road to Route 13. I decided I would park on Route 13 near Mitchellsville where I had left Access 5 and then hike north and east to Winding Stair Road just south of Hammondsport at Access 7. The hike out on the trail would be around 6.4 miles but I knew we could hike back on local roads and probably cut the distance some with a less difficult hike making the round trip between 12 and 13 miles. The drive is almost 3 hours but there was no rain in the forecast. Even so, I knew I wanted to get an early start so I set my alarm for 6:00 AM. When my alarm woke me I looked at the thermometer and is was 30 degrees. I delayed my start a little so that I would arrive at my destination around 10:00 AM when the temperature had risen some. I had gotten my gear ready the night before so I was ready to leave by 6:45 AM with Sheila in the backseat. We had not been out for a few days so she was more than ready to go. She almost seemed to sense we were in for a long ride and settled down immediately. I knew a good part of the route from previous trips and did not have to worry much about directions. We headed north and west on Route 17/I86 toward Binghamton. The temperature was still only in the mid 30's and there was dense fog most of the way. I was hoping for some views on this hike and was praying the fog would lift. Between the fog and the early hour it was rather dark for the first part of the trip. After a long drive, I took exit 38 to Bath and got on Route 415 heading east. I turned north on Liberty Street and then stayed to the left on Haverling Street which became Route 13. After just about 5 miles I spotted the area where the Finger Lakes Trail crosses the road. I turned around and parked on the wide shoulder at 10:00 AM. As I got ready to start to hike I found that I had left my Suunto Traverse watch at home and, more important, I had also failed to bring my printed map. I did have my Garmin GPSmap 64st and map 12 in PDFMaps on my iPhone. I knew I would have to rely on the Finger Lakes Trail blazes and these two devices on the hike. The temperature had not yet reached 40 degrees but I exchanged my Mammut Hoody for a very light windbreaker knowing that the temperature would rise and I would get warmer as we hiked. We crossed Route 13 and walked through a mowed area of a field between two fields of soybeans that looked ready to harvest. The grass was wet and as we entered the shadow of the trees there was still frost on the ground. We came to the trail through the woods and started to walk along the Mitchellsville Creek Gorge.

The gorge is mentioned as "very special" on the Finger Lakes Trail map description and several websites tout it as an interesting place. I found it to be extremely frustrating and disappointing! Part of the problem was the lack of water in the creek but in addition most of the waterfalls are hidden by trees and are impossible to see. I could get a few glimpses but no good views! The depth of the gorge and the rock walls are impressive and it was a nice walk but I kept looking for a way to see some waterfalls or get down to the creek bed. At .7 miles I could hear some water in the creek and I took a chance walking down a narrow tongue of land at least 50 feet above the creek. The path was steep and no more than 2 feet wide and covered in slippery clay soil and moss. I got a partial view of a falls with almost no water going over it. I did not want to try to get my pack off and get the camera out so I returned, with some difficulty, to the trail. We continued walking along the gorge losing elevation all the way until the trail opened out into a field. I was frustrated as there was no turn indicator to show us where to go. We wandered around before finding that the trail turned left to follow the edge of a field and then reentered the woods. We did take the opportunity to walk down to the creek where there was a very small waterfall. I took a few shots and then we returned to the main trail. At 1.2 miles I again saw a path onto a narrow spit of land. I followed this one until I could get a good look at the gorge which is impressive. I was able to take a few pictures of a small falls far below. We continued to descend on the Finger Lakes Trail and I continued to look for a place to get down to the creek level. Sheila alerted and I saw a couple hiking toward us. We stopped and talked to each other for some time before continuing in opposite direction. I could see that we could probably hike over to the creek and then try to work our way upstream but I knew I did not have enough time for that. We walked out to an unused railroad track at around 2 miles and turned left to walk along the track and then a trail to a bridge at 2.2 miles. We walked up to an open field an walked out to a vineyard. I took some pictures of the vineyard and the hills around. The Finger Lakes Trail followed the edge of the vineyard out to Route 88 where we turned right and followed it out to the town hall. The trail crossed the lawn and turned right on Route 54 by the Vinehurst Motel. We then turned left and walked along a dirt road before the trail continued straight ahead beginning the ascent of a ridge.

Strangely, the trail followed one of two parallel woods roads, crossed over to the other, entered the woods on a trail for a hundred feet and then returned to the original woods road! We were headed south or southeast now and over the next .75 miles we gained over 700 feet at an 18% grade. The woods now were mostly hardwoods and at one point we came to a field, walked along the edge and then reentered the woods. I knew we were approaching Keuka Lake and at some point hoped to get some views! At 3.9 miles the trail began to turn north, northeast and then east. Once we had done most of the ascending the trail rolled along the ridge never really attaining the highest point. At 5.4 miles we began to descend and a t 5.8 miles the June Big Trail headed to the north to the Glen Curtiss Museum. I had thought about walking back along the ridge rather than on the roads to avoid losing elevation that we would have to regain. The loss of elevation on the trail cancelled this plan. We continued to descend on the trail until we reached Winding Stair Road at 6.4 miles having already lost over 400 feet. I got us a drink and stowed my poles as I knew the rest of the walk would be on the roads. We turned left and started to descend to the valley. I stopped to take a few pictures of fields and clouds but views of the lake eluded me. Around 6.9 miles a space opened up on the right side of the road and a dirt road headed off into a field. From this spot there were excellent views of the lake and I eagerly put down my pack and got out the camera. I took quite a few shots before packing up and heading down the road to Route 54. When we arrived at the main road at 7.5 miles we had dropped 1030 feet from the top of the ridge. We turned left and began a long walk along Route 54. Fortunately the road had wide shoulders a s there was more traffic than I expected. I knew we had to walk all the way back to the Vinehurst Motel before we could make the next turn.

Hiking along the shoulder of a main road is never thrilling but we set a good pace. My feet were getting hotspots but I knew there wasn't much I could do. At 8.2 miles I looked up and saw the entrance to the Glenn Curtiss Museum with a DC-3 parked in a field. I thought this was very interesting and stopped to take some shots. Just after the museum South Valley Road cut off to the right and it seemed a quicker way to Route 88 which headed back toward Mitchellsville and the car. We followed the road and soon were approaching Route 88. Just before the intersection was Pleasant Valley Cemetery on the left. This is the resting place of Glenn Curtiss and a sign detailed his life. We turned right on Route 88 and walked about .3 miles to the intersection with Route 89 where we turned left. I knew that we were in a valley and that the car was parked at about 1400 feet. The road started to climb almost immediately and seemed like it would go on forever. Although it was still cooler than some of the days I had hiked the sun beating down made it seem warm. We started at an elevation of 800 feet and over 1.35 miles we climbed to 1370 feet where the road levels off. As we walked along the level portion heading for Route 13, I could looked down into the Mitchellsville Creek Gorge and across to the trail we had been walking when we first started the hike. At 11.9 miles we reached Route 13 where we turned left and did a little more climbing to get back to the car. The soybean field from earlier in the morning was now bare of soybeans! We were back at 3:25 PM having hiked 12.4 miles in 5 hours and 20 minutes with an total elevation gain of 2100 feet.

On Friday, October 7 I wanted to start Map 12 on the Finger Lakes Trail near Bath, NY since it was right off Rt17/I86. I decided I would park on Sand Pit Road at Access 1 and then hike north and east to Route 13 near Mitchellsville. The hike out on the trail would be around 7.6 miles but I knew we could hike back on local roads and probably cut the distance some with a less difficult hike making the round trip between 13 and 14 miles. The drive is almost 3 hours but there was no rain in the forecast until late in the evening. Even so, I knew I wanted to get an early start so I set my alarm for 6:00 AM. I guess I was excited about the hike because I woke up several times during the night and decided to get up just after 5:30 AM. I had gotten my gear ready the night before so I was ready to leave by 6:15 AM with Sheila in the backseat. We had not been out for a few days so she was more than ready to go. She almost seemed to sense we were in for a long ride and settled down immediately. I knew a good part of the route from previous trips and did not have to worry much about directions. We headed north and west on Route 17/I86 toward Binghamton. The temperature was still only in the high 40's and there was alternating areas of dense and light fog. Between the fog and the early hour it was rather dark for the first part of the trip. After a long drive, I took exit 38 to Bath and got on Route 415 heading northwest. After just less than a mile, I turned right on Spaulding Drive and then right on Harrisburg Hollow Road at the end. After .4 miles, I turned right on Sand Pit Road and parked at a wide spot on the road just below the point where the Finger Lakes Trail crossed the road. I got my gear ready to go and left on my light windbreaker since the temperatures was still less than 50 degrees. At 9:20 AM we walked up the road and turned left into the woods and immediately began to climb. By the time we got to 1.4 miles heading northeast we had ascended almost 500 feet and gotten some nice views. The trail was wide and well kept following woods roads in many places and breaking out into corn fields. The views from the fields were nice but not spectacular and there was still a haze hanging over everything. I took off my windbreaker along the way as the air temperature had risen and so had my temperature from the climb. At 1.7 miles we passed by a small pond with structure on its southern shore. As we passed some birds flew up off the pond but I could not see what species. We walked down the spur trail to Hickory Hill Campground for only a few feet. I stopped to take a few pictures of the pond before walking back to the main trail to continue the hike.

We continued on the trail making a right turn and the arriving at the Hickory Hill leanto at about 1.8 miles. I could see there was a privy, picnic table, fire ring, and a nice view of some far away hills. I decided not to stop and we continued ahead getting a few more limited views here and there. The trail continued north as it ascended Kershener Hill at 1820 feet. From the hill we began a descent to Robbins Road which we reached at 3.1 miles. The direction to turn was not immediately obvious from the blazes but I consulted the map and turned left to walk up Robbins Road for about .3 miles before turning right into the woods. We walked along the woods road and found some of the unusual trail blazing that the FLTC likes to do. In several places we came to a Y in the trail where there was a blaze on a tree indicating turn which was obvious without the blaze. Unfortunately, the FLTC marks turns with one blaze directly above another instead of with the standard offset indicating the direction of the turn. In these cases this method makes the turn blaze completely useless as the hiker is left to search for the next blaze to confirm the direction of the turn. We also ran into turn blazes where the trail took a slight jog and there was no other way to go! Eventually we broke out into a field and started to walk around the edge. I have had some BIG problems trying to follow FLTC blazes near fields in the past but the ones on this hike were very ell placed and visible. I noticed some wooden stakes on a hill in the middle of the field. They were at least six feet tall and I took a picture as I did not know their use. I continued to walk around the field and noticed a little hut just off the trail. My curiosity got the best of me and I went to investigate. The structure had four partitioned stalls with a small bench in each one. It reminded me of an outhouse but there were no holes in the benches or the floor. This was the second mystery. We continued to follow the road along the edge of the field and began to get some nice views to the left. The road ascended a little hill and the views got better. Along the side of the trail were two stone benches and we stopped so that I could take some pictures. This was the highest spot on the hike at 1900 feet. I took a shot of the benches and then a few of the pond below and the hills beyond. We continued our walk and turned right into the woods. There was a sheltered bench called the "Puckerbush Overlook" just inside the woods.

We continued on the trail following a woods road as it passed by some houses and then came to Ferris Road at 5 miles. We turned right and followed the road down hill and due east until it eventually became a woods road. The trail followed the road for some time and then entered the woods only to come back onto the road. At 5.3 miles the Bristol Hills Branch Trail headed north. The road was now very eroded and hard to walk. Soon we had descended to a deep ravine where we encountered a few missing blazes. We found the trail and walked down into the ravine which was cut by Softwater Creek but was completely dry. My map description mentioned a bridge but there was none. The walk up the opposite bank was steep but within .3 miles we came to Newton Road. I had considered bailing out at this point but decided to stick to the original plan. We turned right on Newton road and walked downhill for about .4 miles on packed and the loose dirt and gravel. The trail then turned into the woods to the left and began to climb again. The climb was steep averaging 16% even with the switchbacks but it was only .3 miles to the top of the hill. We had been heading east but at the top of the hill we turned north and immediately began a descent on a woods road. This was gentle at first but at 7.3 miles the trail turned east again and began a steep descent to Route 13 at 7.7 miles. All the way down the hill I could detect the unmistakable smell of liquid chicken or duck manure that had been spread on the fields in the valley. At Route 13 we stopped so that I could stow my poles and put Sheila on her leash. We also got a drink before turning right on Route 13 heading toward Bath. The road had a centerline but no real shoulders we walked downhill for some time passing farms and barns which made me feel at home. One field was being harvested by combine but I could not tell what they were harvesting.

At 9 miles we started a steeper descent with an uphill on the other side after passing Cold Spring Road. At the top of the hill was a nice view over some fields and I stopped to take some shots. This was the first time there were any interesting clouds in the sky! At this point I had to make a decision. We could continue mostly downhill on Route 13 to Bath and then try to find our way through the local streets back Bo the car. The other option was to stick with my original plan and hike Robbins Road to the Harrisburg Hollow Road. The problem with this choice was that I knew it would mean climbing over the ridge we had hiked along earlier in the day. In the end I decided to stick to my plan and get off the main road onto the back roads. We turned right on Robbins Road and began the hike over the ridge. Now that Sheila was on her leash she could help pull me up the hills and this was a good thing as the road was steep at times. At 10.2 miles we were on the section of Robbins Road that we had hiked earlier. This time we hiked up the hill and then continued on the road instead of turning into the woods. We walked downhill for a pleasant 1.25 miles. I was surprised at the traffic on this largely dirt road. As we neared Harrisburg Hollow Road the surface was paved which made walking easier. At the intersection I stopped to check my feet which had several "hot spots". I changed to dry socks which were a little lighter. As I was sitting on the grass, I looked across the road and saw a strange structure. It was very tall and thin with a door and three stained glass windows with a cross on the side. There was no one to ask about the building so I took a few shots. We continued our hike by turning left on Harrisburg Hollow Road. There was some traffic on this paved road but many of the cars moved over as they approached. The sun certainly seems warm as we walked the final 1.8 miles downhill and south on the road. We turned left on Sand Pit Road and walked 300 feet uphill to the car. It was 2:55 PM an we had spent 5.5 hours hiking 13.6 miles with a total stopped time of about 30 minutes. Our overall speed was 2.5 mph and I was surprised that e total ascent was 2155 feet.

On Monday, October 3rd I had planned to head for Bath, NY to begin map 12 of the Finger Lakes Trail. The weather had looked poor all week but I got up at 5:30 AM anyway. I took one look at the forecast and decided to postpone the trip as the forecast was calling for cloudy skies all day with a good chance of showers. The forecast for Friday looks much more promising if it does not change during the week. The weather forecast for Livingston Manor included showers at around 11:00 m so I waited to see what would happen. By 11:30 AM there had been no rain and, even though the sky looked cloudy and dark in places, I decided to head for Trout Pond. My intention was to hike the loop passed Mud pond over to Trout Pond and then take the Campbell Brook Trail to Campbell Brook Road. From here I would take Morton Hill Road back to the car. I got my gear and Sheila in the car and headed out of Livingston Manor at about 11:45 AM. I headed north on Route 17 to Roscoe and out Route 206 to Morton Hill Road. I had to wait for some paving on the Rockland Flats but the dealt wasn't too long. After turning left on Morton Hill Road, I drove toward the intersection with Russell Brook Road. The town of Colchester was doing some ditching which meant another delay. I finally arrived at the intersection with Russell Brook Road and parked on the side of the road to avoid trespassing on private property. We started down Russell Brook Road at 12:05 PM. I always like to park on Morton Hill Road because the walk down Russell Brook Road to the lower parking area is so enjoyable. The road to the lower parking area is in good shape for the most part and parking at the lower parking area is plentiful. The walk down the road went quickly and as we passed the upper falls I could see there was almost no water in the brook despite the rain that had been on and off for several days. I decided at that point that visiting the falls was pointless. There were two cars in the lower lot as we turned right onto the trail that goes down to the bridge across Russell Brook and I hoped that they were not hunters. We walked to the trail junction and I decided at that point to follow my plan by turning left and hiking toward Mud Pond and to the upper end of Trout Pond. We turned left, walked passed the large campsite on the right and headed up the hill. The hill is about .8 miles and gains around 400 feet which is enough to work up a sweat. When we reached the next trail junction, we turned right to head to Trout Pond. The day was cool, but I was warm from the climb. The skies were almost uniformly cloudy with an occasional break when the sun would shine through.

Over the next 1.2 miles the trail gains another 400 feet rising to almost 2500 feet in elevation to the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. The hike is pretty but there are few photographic opportunities. At one point I could see two hikers coming toward me and I put Sheila on her leash as we passed. We said "hello" but quickly continued in opposite direction. As we hiked, we passed several places where my trail dew had worked to clear blowdowns and cut back brush which always gives me a good feeling. From the high point we headed downhill for the next .8 miles losing 460 feet in the process until we were at the bridge across the inlet stream to Trout Pond. I could see that the lower lean-to was not occupied and did not hear any noise at the upper one. I took a look at the pond from the bridge and saw there were some trees changing colors. I decided to take a few shots and we walked down to the edge of the water. The level of the pond was very low as I took a few pictures before packing up and getting back on the trail. The skies were very cloudy now but I decided to follow my plan thinking that at least I had brought along a rain jacket and plastic bags! Over the next .8 miles of trail we gained back 430 feet of elevation and were approaching the junction of the hiking and snowmobile trails. I knew the snowmobile trail intersected Campbell Brook Road and decided to take it for some variety and because I thought it was a little shorter than the hiking trail. The trail began by climbing a little more than the hiking trail but it was well cut out and easy to follow. The trail began to follow the edge of the hill so for the first .3 miles we headed almost due east. This made me a little nervous but I knew we had to hit a road that would take us back to the car. At 4.6 miles we turned north and walked another .3 miles continuing along the edge of the ridge. At 4.9 miles we began to descend heading east and then due north to intersect Campbell Brook Road near the junction with Morton Hill Road. We turned right on Campbell Brook Road and walked about .1 miles to Morton Hill Road. We continued straight ahead to follow the road back to the car. The walk along the road was pleasant and seemed shorter than I remembered. Sheila was well-behaved on her leash and we made good time covering the last 2.85 miles in less than an hour! We were back at the car by 3:20 PM covering 8.2 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes. We stopped for less than 5 minutes and had a vertical gain of 1540 feet. There had been no rain but the snowmobile trail was less than a quarter mile shorter than the hiking trail.

On Saturday, October 1st I was ready to hike after spending some time working on the Livingston Manor Round Top Trail. I decided to stay local and head to Hodge and Frick Ponds since the weather looked a little questionable. Brad and Krista were in for the weekend and Brad decided to go with me. I was glad to have the company as he and I have things in common since we are both EMS volunteers. As we were getting ready to leave an ambulance call came in for an overdose and both Brad and I responded. Fortunately, we were able to administer Narcan and saved a life. When we returned from the call, we got ready to leave and pulled out of the driveway just after 10:30 AM. The temperature was only 57 degrees so I wore a light windbreaker over a long sleeved shirt and baselayer. I drove out DeBruce Road and turned left on Mongaup Road. When we arrived there were two other cars in the lot and I hoped they were not hunters. We crossed the road to get onto the Flynn Trail at 10:55 AM. I have been wearing a pair of Vasque Taku boots which seem to fit well and are no longer sold by Vasque! The trail was wet from the rain and the humidity meant nothing was drying out. I could feel my feet getting a little damp and I always wonder about the value of Gortex in shoes when this happens! The walk up the Flynn Trail seemed to go very quickly and not very far along Sheila alerted. We saw a couple coming toward us with a dog. I put Sheila on her leash and to my surprise the other couple also leashed their dog. We talked a minute as we passed and they said they had seen no hunters. We continued in opposite directions and Brad and I made no stops passing through the junction with the Big Rock Trail and continuing straight ahead of the Flynn Trail. We kept up a quick pace as we passed through the gate marking the boundary with the Open Spaces property. At the next junction we stayed to the left to keep on the Flynn Trail and head directly down to Hodge Pond. When we broke out into the clearing at the outlet end of Hodge Pond, we walked over to the fire ring at the shore. I put down my pack and got out the camera even though there was a lot of mist in the air. I took some shots and then threw a stick into the water for Sheila. She didn't seem too interested but retrieved it a couple of times.

I put the camera away and picked up my pack to continue our hike on the Flynn Trail. This section of the trail was muddy with some standing water in places but it was easily negotiated. We stayed left at the next junction to continue up the hill on the blue Flynn Trail. We passed through the gate from OSI property to state land and found the trail continued to have some wet and muddy spots. It seemed that Junkyard Junction came up quickly and we turned left on the red Quick Lake Trail to start our loop back. The Quick Lake Trail is mostly downhill and we made good time. I stopped several times to remove branches and other debris from the trail. We walked downhill to Iron Wheel Junction and turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. We were soon at the small stream just before the "Spruce Tunnel" and I crossed it with ease. The stream was very low but Sheila was able to get her feet wet and take a drink. We continued on to the outlet bridge at Frick Pond. I stopped to take a few pictures which I thought might be interesting as there was some mist hanging over the pond with a few bright trees. Flynn's Point seemed to be covered in a cloud. We walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction. The trail back to the parking area was a little damp in places but we had no problems. As we passed the register box, we turned right to stay on the trail. When we got back to the car at 1:30 PM there was only one car in the lot. We had walked 6.6 miles in 2.5 hours gaining 928 feet along the way. The temperature at the trail head was now just above 60 degrees and the humidity was still high.

On Wednesday, September 28th I had thought again about going to Long Pond to hike the big loop as I only had cross country practice in the afternoon. Just as I was about to live an ambulance call for a rollover MVA came in. Fortunately, the driver was lucky and had relatively minor injuries. When I returned, it was too late for a long hike but there was a text from Lisa suggesting a hike on the new Round Top Trail. I agree to meet her at the trailhead around 11:30 AM. This would give me a chance to scout out another way to site the upper trail to the summit to add a little more length. I walked across the street with just Sheila, my poles and my two GPS devices. Lisa was in the church parking lot and we immediately started up the road into the cemetery. The sky was completely overcast and there was a heavy mist that was just short of rain. We took the middle road and wound our way up to the trailhead. Lisa liked the paint blazes as we headed into the woods. At the intersection we stayed to the right to hike the loop in the counterclockwise direction. As we hiked we picked up a few sticks to help keep the trail clear. When we got to the sharp left urn abet follows the woods road, we continued straight ahead bushwhacking our way toward the summit of Round Top. We kept a fairly straight route but followed a game path here and there. Any trail would require some clearing a and a switchback or two. At the summit we followed a route that I knew would take us back to the trail at the next turn. We followed a few game trails and were soon back at the trail. We walked down to the overlook and out the short spur trail to the lower overlook. We agreed that the view is nice but that the way to get there is not safe for all visitors. There is a small "gulf" to cross and the viewpoint slopes which might make it dangerous in the winter. We walked down the trail toward the intersection and then turned right off the trail to find a way to get below the lookout. I wanted to chart the area where the Town of Rockland had cut some trees to open up the viewpoint to see if we could cut a few more on public property. The area below the ledges is tricky to walk on since there is a lot of talus from the ledges and the fallen trees to climb over. I walked around the area and it was actually well worth the bother since the view up to the ledges is impressive. The ledges are not quite as solid as they look and jut out into the air with caves and voids underneath. At one point I looked up and Sheila was looking down from above. We walked back in the direction we had come from but stayed a little lower and off the trail to investigate an old foundation. We walked back up to the trail and to the trailhead where I turned off my GPS units. We continued down the road to Lisa's car where we parted. I walked back across the street to my house. I decided to look at the GPS tracks bore going to practice. I was really surprised in a BAD way! The tracks from my Suunto Traverse watch and Garmin GPS 60 differed greatly from each other and from other tracks I had taken in the past. I didn't have much time to resolve the problem and left for practice still wondering what had happened.

When I returned home from cross country practice at 5:30 PM, the GPS issue was still bothering me. I needed to send a track to the NYNJTC so that their cartographer could superimpose the track on the tax maps to make sure that any new trail was on public property. I could only do this with an accurate track. I decided to grab my GPS devices and my dog and head back over to the trail. Sheila and I almost ran up the hill to the trailhead where I turned on the devices as I headed into the woods hoping for the best. At the intersection we headed right around the loop to the viewpoint and continued back down to the trailhead. We turned around and walked the trail in the opposite direction and came back to the trailhead where I turned off the devices and headed back to the house. I loaded both tracks onto my computer and AGAIN found that they did not quite match each other and were slightly off from readings I had taken before. Even more interesting was the fact that the loop in one direction did not completely overlap the loop in the other direction. I was annoyed to say the least! I came to the conclusion that the biggest problem with these tracks is the scale. Most of my hikes are at least 6 miles and an out and back hike shows both tracks virtually on top of each other. This trail is only .6 miles so any variations are magnified. However, this situation had hammered home the fact that no one should depend on a GPS unit alone for navigation especially in critical situations.

On Tuesday, September 27th I decided I wanted to get out before the rains came during the rest of the week. I thought about going to Long Pond and hiking the big loop. In the end I got a late start and decided to head for Huggins Lake for a shorter hike since I had a cross country meet in the afternoon. I headed out a little after 9:30 AM with Sheila in the backseat. I have come to the realization that she would like to be out everyday and we had not hiked since Friday! I drove up the Beaverkill Road and down the Campsite Road to find the covered bridge STILL closed. I detoured to the steel bridge at Craigie Claire and then drove out Berry Brook Road to the trailhead. There were no cars in the lot when we headed out at 10:15 AM on the wide woods road to the lake. The temperature was in the mid 50's and I was tempted to leave on my windbreaker but decided I would warm up on the hike. The day was mostly sunny with some clouds in a blue sky. The hike isn't long and the trail was well-maintained. The first 1.2 miles is all uphill and gains almost 700 feet. Sheila was running up and down the trail and following game paths into the woods as I did my best to keep up a fast pace up the hill. After the initial climb, the trail descends to Huggins Lake making a sharp turn from southeast to north at about 1.6 miles. Sheila alerted at the turn but I could not see what she saw and we continued to descend to the lake.

When we arrived at the lake, I noticed that the water level was very high with the water lapping at the shore near the trail. There had been some rain the night before but I didn't think that alone would explain the level of the water. We walked the path to the outlet and I could, immediately see that the beavers had dammed the outlet causing the level of the water to rise. As I stood at the outlet, I got out my camera to take a few pictures. I could see that there were some bright colors present in the leaves of a few trees but most were still green. Some of the leaves had already fallen and I hoped that we would have a nice array of colors before all of them were down. I dropped my pack and took some pictures. Some of the best colors were in the flowers and shrubs surrounding the pond but the sky was overcast. I did take some pictures of the snow on the trail and around the lake. I snapped some shots of the lake and the leaves. I stowed my camera and picked up my pack and we headed back up the trail. The only negative point about Huggins Lake is that there is only one trail and so there are no variations available. I have tried bushwhacking around the pond but the bushes get pretty thick. We climbed the hill back to the highest point on the trail and then started down the other side. As we continued to descend, I was a little sorry I didn't have more time to be out hiking. When we arrived back at the car, We had hiked 3.8 miles in 1 hour and 30 minutes with a total elevation gain of 950 feet. As we left the parking area, I turned left on Berry Brook road and headed back to Livingston Manor the way we had come. On the way back I stopped at the construction site for the Beaverkill Covered Bridge and took a few pictures. The siding is now on the bridge but there looks like there is quite a bit more to do. I am still stumped by the approach that has been constructed as it looks almost dangerous!

On Friday, September 23rd I wanted to finish Map 13 on the Finger Lakes Trail west of Watkins Glen as the first hike of the fall season. I decided I would park on Birdseye Hollow Road at Access 1 and then hike south to Route 226 where I had stopped on my previous hike. The hike out on the trail would be around 6 miles but I knew we could hike back on local roads and probably cut the distance some with a less difficult hike making the round trip between 11 and 12 miles. The drive is almost 3 hours and a heavy thunderstorm was in the forecast for the afternoon so I knew I wanted to get an early start. I got my gear ready the night before and was up and moving by 5:00 AM. Surprisingly, I had all my gear ready and in the car by 5:30 AM as I left Livingston Manor with Sheila in the backseat. She almost seemed to sense we were in for a long ride and settled down immediately. Cindy told me the night before she did not want to drive that far to hike so Sheila and I were on our own. I knew a good part of the route from previous trips and did not have to worry much about directions. We headed north and west on Route 17/I86 toward Binghamton. The temperature was still in the low 60's but there wasn't the fog that I had experienced on previous trips. It was, however, very dark! After a long drive, I took exit 40 to Savona and got on Route 226 heading northeast. After about 7.5 miles, I turned left on Rabbit Road which connected to Route 16 where I turned left or east. It was only 1.5 miles to Birdseye Hollow Road on the right. I drove north for 2.3 miles passing Birdseye Hollow County Park. At 2.3 miles the Finger Lakes Trail crossed the road and I turned around to park. The road had been recently paved and although the job was a good one it left a drop from the road to the shoulder. I found a spot where I thought I could pull off and although the car was on quite an angle it seemed safe. I got my gear ready to go and left on my light windbreaker although it did feel like the temperature had risen and the humidity felt high. We walked across the road and a little south before entering the woods to start east on the trail. The forest was an interesting mix of red pines and deciduous trees and the walk was pleasant if not particularly scenic. The trail seems to be well marked but there were a few blowdowns blocking the trail in places. At .35 miles the trail turned south but then went west before turning south again and crossing Rhinehart Road at 1 mile. We walked a little farther and came to the bench dedicated to Mary Years. Across from the bench was the foundation of an old farmhouse and a sign explaining a little bit about the history of the area. The trail continued south following an old woods road until 1.75 miles when it branched off the road to the right and began to descend off the ridge. The trail had been running parallel to the road and now descended to the intersection of Munson Hollow Road and Birdseye Hollow Road at 2.1 miles. We crossed the roads and followed the white blazes for the Finger Lakes Trail and the blue blazes for the park trail. At 2.4 miles we came to a T in the trail where the Finger Lakes Trail turned left and the blue park trail turned right. I decided to follow the park trail as it is an "approved" shortcut despite the fact that the map warned that the trail can be very wet.

Since we were coming into a county park, I put Sheila on her leash and followed the trail as it came to an area where there was a parking lot and a pavilion. The blue blazes on the trees clearly showed that the trail crossed the parking lot and followed a paved walkway south of the lake. It was where that we met the only other person we would see on the hike. A man was out walking his dog and it seemed that he did not have complete control of his pet. We passed by quickly and continued on the paved path. To the right was the lake and I could see that it had some interesting trees and some small islands. The upper reaches were more of a wetland than a lake or pond and many dead trees were evident. As we walked I was surprised to find a wooden causeway that spanned what would normally be the out let of the lake. There was no water flowing out of the lake on this day! The middle of the bridge had a covered section. I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take some pictures. I took a few of the bridge and then Sheila and I walked across the bridge to the shore of the lake. It was really very pretty so I took more pictures. There was a weeping willow on one shore and the trees around the lake were reflected in the placid water. The clouds were not puffy but wispy giving an ethereal quality to the scene. I knew we had a considerable amount of hiking to do so we returned to my pack where I stowed my camera and got back on the trail. The blue trail was clearly marked and very nicely maintained. As we approached a swampy area on the right I noticed more dead trees and the word "Wet" painted next to a set of blazes. The trail never did get more than damp and we soon arrived at Route 16. We turned right and followed Rt 16 toward Aulls Road. I did stop to take a few pictures of the wetlands before continuing up a short hill and making the left onto Aulls Road. We walked along the road and crossed Mud Creek on a road bridge. A large flock of ducks took off as we crossed the bridge. Just beyond the bridge we turned into the woods off the road following the trail. The trail headed east paralleling Mud Creek and I could hear but not see various birds and animals in the wetland. At 4.4 miles the creek turned more to the east and the trail headed almost due south and back toward Aulls Road. At 5 miles we crossed the dirt surface of Dumak Road and walked another .3 miles to Aulls Road. I knew I would be on the a road surface for some time so I put Sheila on her leash and stored my poles in the pack. We turned left on the road and walked out toward Route 226. Along the way we passed another interesting wetland. At Route 226 we turned right and walked a short distance to where the trail again entered the woods. This was the point we had ended a previous hike so we turned around and began the hike back to the car. Once we were on Aulls Road, I stopped at the wetland to take a few pictures and then continued to walk the gravel surface of the road north toward Route 16 as I saw no reason to hike the trail, again. The road was exposed to the sun but the temperature was comfortable. At 7.7 miles we were back at Route 16 where we turned right. As we approached the point where we had come out onto Route 16 from the blue shortcut trail, I decided to turn right into the woods to cover the part of the main Finger Lakes Trail which we had missed.

We entered the woods and immediately found the blazes. The trail ran parallel to Route 16 for about .3 miles heading east and just before it turned south we came to an old cemetery. The cemetery was mowed and trimmed but many of the stones were skew and some were toppled from their bases. I took some pictures and found one stone that went back to 1827. We got back on the trail and began to head a little south and began to climb the only really significant hill on the whole hike. We crossed Route 16 at 9 miles but the trail continued to climb up a ridge to a hike high point of 1280 feet. From here we began to descend rather quickly and at 9.7 miles it turned east and brought us down to Birdseye Hollow Road. We turned right or north and started back t the car. I had intended to simply walk the road but we soon came to a left turn that led back to the T in the trail where we had been earlier. My obsession to cover every foot of the trail got the best of me and we followed the trail to the T where we turned right and walked back out to the road. We turned left and headed north on the road toward the car. I had thought about hiking a short piece of the trail from the car west on the Finger Lakes Trail which is the easternmost part of map 12. I was certainly fresh enough to hike more but I was developing a "hot spot" on the left heal and was concerned it would get worse. In addition, the wind was starting to come up and the sky ahead was getting darker. As we approached the car, I decided to call it a day. We were back at 1:00 PM having hiked in 4 hours and 40 minutes with an elevation gain of only 855 feet. Our moving average was 2.9 mph which was good. I found it interesting that the difference between our highest and lowest elevation was only 200 feet!

Summer 2016

On Tuesday, September 20th I wanted to get in hike before leaving the house early to go to a cross country meet in TriValley. I knew I had to stay local and decided to head to Hodge and Frick Ponds and hike then "big loop" which is very familiar. I was in no real hurry until I realized it was getting late and that I did have to levee early for the meet! I got Sheila and my gear in the car and started out from the house at about 10:00 AM. The temperature was only 60 degrees but I knew that the highs for the day were forecast to be in the high 70's. I drove out DeBruce Road and turned left on Mongaup Road. When we arrived there were no other cars in the lot and we crossed the road to get onto the Flynn Trail at 10:25 AM. I had on a long sleeved shirt over a baselayer and light hiking pants. The walk up the Flynn Trail seemed to go very quickly and we made no stops passing through the junction with the Big Rock Trail and continuing straight ahead of the Flynn Trail. We kept up a quick pace as we passed through the gate marking the boundary with the Open Spaces property. At the next junction we stayed to the left to keep on the Flynn Trail and head directly down to Hodge Pond. When we broke out into the clearing at the outlet end of Hodge Pond, I kept Sheila near since I did not want her swimming as I had just applied Advantix. The pond was pretty but little different than the last dozens times I had been there. The sky was a nice blue but devoid of clouds and given my time limitations I decided to pass on the pictures.

We made the left turn to continue our hike on the Flynn Trail. This section of the trail was muddy with some standing water in places but it was easily negotiated. The rains during the night had added to the standing water and it didn't help that OSI was mowing the grass with a large tractor that leaves huge ruts along the trail. We stayed left at the next junction with the jeep trail around the back of Hodge Pond and continued up the hill on the blue Flynn Trail. We passed through the gate from OSI property to state land and found the trail continued to have some wet and muddy spots. It seemed that Junkyard Junction came up quickly and we turned left on the red Quick Lake Trail to start our loop back. The Quick Lake Trail is mostly downhill and we made good time. I stopped several times to remove branches and other debris from the trail. We walked downhill to Iron Wheel Junction and turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. We were soon at the small stream just before the "Spruce Tunnel" and I was surprised that despite the rain it was lower than it had been earlier in the year when it was much drier. In fact, this part of the trail was only slightly damp and sections that are usually wet were completely dry. It almost looked as if it had rained hard on one side of the pond and little or not at all on the other. Even though the stream was very low Sheila was able to get her feet wet and take a drink. We continued on to the outlet bridge at Frick Pond. Again, I decided to skip the pictures and we walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction. The trail back to the parking area was a little damp in places but we had no problems. As we passed the register box, we turned right to stay on the trail. When we got back to the car at 12:40 PM there was one other car in the lot. We had walked 6.4 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes gaining 900 feet along the way. We had stopped for just over 2 minutes! The temperature at the trail head was still only 70 degrees.

On Friday, September 16th I wanted to hike a portion of Map 13 on the Finger Lakes Trail west of Watkins Glen. I decided I would park at Access 4 at the intersection of County Route 17 and Moss Hill Road and then hike northeast to Access 5 on Sexton Hollow Road. I planned to hike back on local roads and then decide if I wanted to hike from the same intersection to Route 226 to add mileage to the hike and subtract mileage from the next hike. Since the drive is at least 2 and a half hours, I planned to get up at 6:00 AM and be out of the house by 7:00 AM. Cindy told me the night before she did not want to ride that far to hike so Sheila and I were on our own. Surprisingly we were out of the house before 7:00 AM and on our way north and west on State Route 17. I knew a good part of the route from previous trips and did not have to worry much about directions except near the very end. The temperature was in the high 40's and there was a layer of fog in most places. The further we went to the north and the later in the day the bluer the skies became and the more the fog dissipated. After a long drive, I took exit 41 and turned right and then left on Clawson Road which shortly became County Route 17. After 6.6 miles, I found Moss Hill Road on the right but the shoulder was marked with NO PARKING signs. I turned around and parked on the opposite side of the road as there were no signs there. I made sure I was off the pavement as far as I could get and got all my gear ready. I kept on my light windbreaker as the temperature was still only 52 degrees! It seemed like the weather would cooperate as the humidity was much lower than on previous hikes. At 9:40 AM we walked across Route 17 to Moss Hill Road and began to hike south on the paved surface. After only a short distance the pavement ended and we continued our hike on a woods road. This road was obviously once part of Moss Hill road but was now abandoned. The trail followed the road and then veered off only to return several times. I do not know why the people who created the trail insisted on doing this! At least the blazes on this section of trail were very clear. There wasn't much to see as we hiked but the walk was pleasant as it was all downhill as we headed south to the Moss Hill Lean-to. After 1.7 miles we arrived in the area of the lean-to after dropping 490 feet. A short spur trail led to the lean-to and the blazes for the Crystal Hills Branch Trail were also visible.

Of course, every descent has its ascent and we began to ascend from the lean-to heading generally north and east. Again, there were no views or specific attractions but I was now warm enough to remove my windbreaker. At 2.8 miles we crossed Dennis Road which had a dirt surface after gaining back 470 feet of elevation. The trail then began to descend again heading for Sexton Hollow Road. At 3.4 miles the trail began to head east rather than north and also began to descend a rather steep grade. There were several switchbacks that helped make the descent easier. There were many side paths and woods roads in the area but the marking remained good throughout and Sheila seemed to know where she was going. At 3.8 miles we crossed what the map designated as a reliable stream but it was almost dry. When we reached 4 miles, I could look up and see Sexton Hollow Road. The trail paralleled the road for a short distance until it crossed the road where we had started our hike on a previous trip. I got a drink and a snack and stowed my collapsed poles in my pack. With Sheila on her leash we started the road walk back toward the car. We walked .85 miles north on Monterey Road gaining elevation as we went. At the end we turned left on Route 17 and walked about a mile back to the intersection with Route 18. I could see the car but we had walked only 6 miles at this point so I decided we would hike out to Route 226 as I had planned earlier. We walked a little more uphill on Route 18 and arrived at what was billed as a viewpoint on the Finger Lakes Trail map. The view was nice but no different than many others in the area. The road started to descend and at 6.6 miles turned sharply left. The trail continued straight ahead on Bozak Road which was labeled as "Seasonal Maintenance" but looked more like "No Maintenance". I let Sheila off her leash and started to use my poles again as my feet were starting to bother me. The gravel road started to descend and at 7.2 miles it turned left while the trail turned right onto a woods road through the forest. We were still descending which meant the return trip would be mostly uphill. At one point Sheila alerted and I put her on her leash as another hiker approached. The hiker wanted to make friends with Sheila but Sheila did not want to be friendly! He was a local gentleman out for some exercise and we went our separate ways. At about 8 miles we came back out onto pavement near Sutryk Road but the trail almost immediately turned left back into the woods. We followed the trail as it continued to descend toward Route 226. This part of the trail was one of the few places where the trail was not following a woods road of some kind. At 8.8 miles we arrived at Route 226 which happened to be the lowest point on the hike. We turned around and retraced our route ascending all the way! When we reached Route 18, I stowed my poles again and put Sheila on her leash for the short walk back to the car. We were back at 2:15 PM having covered 11.8 miles in 4.5 hours with a total elevation gain of 1185 feet. The temperature had risen into the low 70's but the breeze made it feel cooler and very pleasant.

On Thursday, September 15th it had been about a week since the Town of Rockland crew had cut some trees to open the viewpoint over the hamlet of Livingston Manor. This was also the day Cindy and I had used yellow paint to blaze the trail. We had marked a short spur trail out to the viewpoint but it still needed to be cleared. The supervisor of the town mentioned that he might bring some board members to hike the trail before the board meeting on Thursday evening. I decided to head over to check the condition of the trail, take a few pictures and clear the spur trail to the viewpoint. I drove my car to the top of the cemetery as I had a few tools I Ned to take with me. I carried my saw and machete but also brought a garden rake. Sheila was anxious to get out so I brought he along. I decided to clear the spur trail first so we walked up the steep section of trail toward the viewpoint. I put down my pack and started by cutting some branches and a small tree that were blocking the trail. I removed some other branches that were lying around and then got out the machete to cut some ferns and other plants to make the trail clear. I finished by using the rake to remove some leaves. The only part I did not like was the small gully that passes between two rocks and runs across the trail. My future plans include a small walkway or bridge to make this area safer. I put my tools in my pack and walked back to the car. I put the rake in the car and got out my camera with the intention of walking the trail to take pictures. It was really too sunny for this but I thought I would try anyway. I took my pack with me so that I would have my saw and machete in case I needed them. We headed out on the trail with me stopping to take a picture every 30 feet or so. My intention was to create an album of the entire trail. We walked up to the viewpoint and then started to walk the loop in a clockwise direction. There were very few new branches on the trail but I did find a few leftover ribbons to remove. We complete the loop back to the trail junction where it begins. The junction still needs a few signs but otherwise the trail is in good shape.

When I returned home from cross country practice at 5:30 PM there was a phone message saying that the town supervisor and at least one councilman would be at the trailhead at 6:00 PM. I got a bite to eat and headed over to the trailhead. We met at the top of the cemetery at 6:00 PM and started the walk around the loop. Both men were impressed with the job that had been done and we talked about various improvements and some of the next steps to expand the project. I have another "upper trail" GPS track that needs to be placed on the property maps by the NYNJTC cartographer. Once that is done and I can confirm we are on public land I will ask for volunteers to start to construct this trail. The grade is steep and the brush thick so this route will require some careful planning, a few switchbacks and a lot of work. I began to think about how the trail(s) would fit into a walk around Livingston Manor. When I got back to my car after finishing the walk, I drove to the municipal parking lot and measured the mileage by odometer from the traffic light up Pearl St to Rock Avenue. I turned left on Rock Avenue and then right on Orchard Street and drove to the trailhead. The distance was about .6 miles. I then drove back down to Orchard Street and turned right on Rock Avenue to the intersection with Main Street. I turned left on Main Street and returned to the parking lot. The total distance was 1.2 miles. I began to think of a walking tour along these streets with descriptions of important places along the route. The name "Town and Trail" came to mind!

On Monday, September 12th I wanted to hike a close to Livingston Manor but without going either Trout Pond or Frick Pond. Cindy was having lunch with a friend so I decided to take Sheila and head for the Neversink Unique Area. I wasn't sure when I left Livingston Manor at 9:45 AM which route I would hike but I could tell Sheila didn't care as long as we were going somewhere! It was 59 degrees when I left the house so I had on a long-sleeved shirt with a light baselayer and a light windbreaker. I drove south and east on Route 17 and took the Rock Hill exit turning right on Katrina Falls Road. I drove to the end of the road and parked in the lot where there were no other cars parked. I had decided on the way down that I would not hike to High Falls as it was a little too long. My plan was to hike the loop to Mullet Falls and Denton Falls and then head back to the car to complete the loop. There were two other spur trails leading down to the Neversink which I had not hiked lately so I thought I might throw them in as well. The temperature had risen to the low 60's and I knew it would continue to rise and I would generate heat on the hike. I ditched the windbreaker in the trunk and we started out on the trail at 10:20 AM. We walked downhill on the woods road and I noticed that some blowdowns had been cleared on the trail. The trail is highly eroded leaving many large round rocks behind which does not make an easy walk. After .5 miles, we turned left to follow the blue trail. We came to the small bridge over Wolf Brook and found that the water was very low. During the spring the water rushes through this area and under the bridge but in this day there was only a trickle. The bridge is in bad shape and I don't know if anyone has a plan to replace it. We continued up the hill after the bridge and turned left on the red trail. I had decided I would rather make the long climb and visit Mullet Brook Falls first. From the turn onto the red trail to the highest point on the hike at 1.5 miles we hiked .85 miles and gained almost 400 feet. The grade is less than 10% and the hike was generally pleasant. I did keep running into spider webs which is not my favorite pastime and there were a few threes on the trail. As we reached the highest point, the yellow trail from the Wolf Brook Multiple Use Area came in from the left.

We followed the red trail as it turned sharply right and descended to 1.7 miles where a bridge crosses Mullet Brook. I was surprised to see that the brook was absolutely dry and that the wetlands upstream also seemed to have no water! I took a few pictures and then we continued to hike. I knew that we would visit Mullet Brook Falls but I didn't expect much water to be going over the falls. As we hiked down the trail and neared the brook in several places I did hear some water and I assumed that there was another small tributary or some springs that fed into Mullet Brook. At 2.25 miles we had dropped 275 feet as we came to the yellow spur trail to Mullet Brook falls on the right. We turned and walked mostly downhill to the falls. As we approached I could see that there was only a trickle of water going over the falls. I took off my pack and got out the camera. I was able to easily walk out to the rocks at the base of the falls without worrying about the spray that sometimes makes the rocks slippery. I stood in front of the falls and took some shots and the moved to the side to take a few more. I tried to zoom in as much as I could to cut out some of the sunlight coming from behind the falls. After Sheila got a drink, we returned to my pack and started back out to the red trail. At 2.7 miles we turned right on the blue trail and walked a few feet before turning left on the yellow spur trail down to Denton Falls on the Neversink River. We walked down the hill toward the river following the yellow markers and avoiding some muddy spots on the way. We walked out onto the rocky outcrop at the edge of the river and I took off my pack and got out my camera. I took a few pictures upstream and then was able to work my way down some rocks to a position below the falls. From here I took a few shots of the falls, some pictures downstream and a few more upstream. I went back to my pack and we headed back up the spur trail to the blue trail where we turned left.

Within a short distance we came to the lower bridge over Mullet Brook. The bridge has been in poor shape no for over a year and it continues to deteriorate. It is an important bridge as it allows hikers to walk a loop in the area. Unfortunately, no one seems to be willing to make a decision to repair it before it collapses completely and must be replaced. At 3.5 miles we came to the next spur trail down to the river and turned left on the yellow trail. It was a pleasant quarter mile walk down to the water. There are some rapids on the river here but nothing like Denton falls or High Falls. I took a few pictures and the we returned to the blue trail. We walked another .7 miles passing the turnoff for the red trail and the bridge over Wolf Brook. This brought us to the final yellow spur trail on the left. We walked down toward the river and as we got near the water we ran out of markers. There was a road on the right but I chose to continue straight ahead down to the river. This was another nice spot and I took a few pictures. As I picked up my pack, I noticed a path leading upstream and decided to explore some. We walked along the river alternating between a path that followed a stone wall and one that was right at the edge of the water. At times the path seemed to disappear but then we found it again. After walking a quarter mile, I decided to turn around as I had no idea how far the path went or whether I was still in the Neversink Unique Area. We followed a path back and came out on the woods road I had noticed earlier. We turned left and walked back up to the blue trail which we followed back to the car. It was 1:05 PM and we had covered 6 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes with an elevation gain of 1260 feet.

On Friday, September 9th I had planned to head to the area west of Watkins Glen to work on map 13 of the Finger Lakes Trail. I got up at 6:00 AM and took a final look at the weather report for that area. There was no rain in the forecast but the forecast was calling for temperatures in the high 80's and high humidity driving the "Feels Like" temperature well into the 90's. I really wanted to go but decided that the 14 miles I wanted to hike would be better attempted on a cooler day! I got a few things done around the house and then got my gear in the car and tried to contain an ecstatic Sheila. I drove out the DeBruce Road toward Frick Pond. turning left on the Mongaup Pond after about 6 miles. Where the road split, I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and pulled into the parking area just before 10:00 AM. There was only one car parked in the lot. I got my gear ready to go and headed out the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond. The day was cooler than I had thought it would be and the humidity seemed high but manageable. I noticed a few insects flying around and decided to apply insect repellant. I wore a light pair of hiking pants and short-sleeved shirt with a light baselayer. I like the double top setup as I think it causes less friction on my back from the pack. . We hiked out to the trail register and turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail as it follows a woods road. The trail was damp from the rain overnight but there was little water or mud on the trail. We turned left at Gravestone Junction to follow the Quick Lake Trail to the bridge over the outlet of Frick Pond. When we got to the bridge, I took off my pack and got out my camera to take pictures as this is one of my favorite spots. We got started again after I allowed Sheila to take a quick dip in the cool water. At the next junction with the Big Rock Trail, we stayed to the left on the Quick Lake Trail. We kept a quick pace as we hiked the Quick Lake Trail toward Iron Wheel Junction even though we had to work our way around several wet and muddy areas. We crossed the small stream in the forest which had enough water this time for Sheila to take a dip. She ran through the water at top speed several times and the did her rampage up and down the trail many times. There were a few branches in the trail and I removed them as we headed toward Iron Wheel Junction. There was one place where some branches were down in the trail and I made a note to bring my saw the next time I came. At Iron Wheel Junction, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail toward Junkyard Junction. The walk is all uphill but the grade is only slight to moderate. This part of the trail was mostly dry but badly eroded by running water. We passed some of the blowdowns that I had cleared with various other people and it made me feel good to see the work. There was one very large log that I had cleared to make a path but I thought should be eliminated completely. I made a note to ask someone from the snowmobile club to clear it with a chainsaw. Sheila was ranging far and wide to explore the opportunities to chase small, furry creatures. After walking 3.1 miles, we arrived at Junkyard Junction at 11:15 AM.

We turned right at the junction onto the Flynn Trail which is relatively flat at this point. The trail had some wet and muddy spots but most were drying up. They are all lower than the ground surrounding them so it is hard to get them to drain. There isn't much to see along the Flynn Trail so we kept up a quick pace. At the gate we followed the trail to the right and down toward the shore of Hodge Pond. As we neared the pond, we turned right to stay on the Flynn Trail to the outlet of Hodge Pond. The woods road was rutted by a large tractor used by OSI to mow the grass but the muddiest spots were easily avoided. We passed the area where Cindy and I had removed a large blowdown the last time we were there. We were soon at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. We turned left and walked over to the fire ring by the shore of Hodge Pond. I took off my pack and got out my camera to take a few shots. After taking some pictures of the pond, I picked up a stick and threw it into the water so that Sheila could swim to retrieve it but she did not seem that interested. The pond had some blue sky and white clouds over it. When I turned around I saw huge dark clouds in the opposite direction. I thought we should get moving since I thought those clouds might bring rain. I went back to my pack and got a drink and a snack. We headed toward the opening in the woods where the Flynn Trail follows another woods road. We started up the hill staying on the Flynn Trail and the walk up the hill seemed to go very quickly. Soon we were on the flat part of the Flynn Trail headed toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. This section of the trail all the way back to the parking area was once an extension of Beech Mountain Road that was paved and led to the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. In some areas the pavement is still visible under the grass and moss that has covered it. Just before the gate we passed the point where Cindy and I had removed a smaller blowdown. We continued on the Flynn Trail passing through the gate and walking on to the trail junction with the Big Rock Trail and the snowmobile trail that comes over from Mongaup Pond. By this time the skies had cleared and there was some blue and no black clouds! We didn't stop at the trail junction but continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail. From this high point in the hike, the trail descends 1.7 miles to the parking area. We kept up a fast pace on the descent but this final section seemed to drag a little. It is downhill but there isn't much to see and it is very familiar. We continued on the trail and soon were headed down the hill to the gate where we turned left to stay on then Flynn Trail. We walked down the short section of trail I had refurbished and then hiked through the woods back to the parking area. It was 12:30 PM when we returned. We had covered 6.3 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes. The elevation gain was a modest 910 feet.

On Thursday, September 8th I had agreed to meet some workers from the Town of Rockland Highway Department at 8:00 AM on Round Top to cut some trees blocking the viewpoint. I got up early and decided to go to Round Top before the appointed time. I walked over with my camera and climbed the hill to the top of the cemetery. There was still a heavy layer of fog over town so I took out the camera and snapped a few shots. I walked into the woods on the new trail we were creating and came to the junction. At this point visitors can walk directly up the steeper part of the trail to the viewpoint or they can turn to the right and walk a loop to the viewpoint along a gentler incline. I decided I would take pictures of the trail and started at the intersection. I took pictures as I walked up to the viewpoint. At the viewpoint I took some shots that would act as "before" pictures. With leaves on the trees, there wasn't much to see. Since it was still before 8:00 AM, I decided to continue out on the loop to take a few more pictures. I made the turn at the viewpoint and headed out the new section of trail Doug Sentermann and I had created a few weeks before. I took pictures as I went and walked as far as the turn onto the woods road. It was now nearing 8:00 AM so I walked back to the viewpoint to meet the workers who would be cutting the trees. No one was there so I decided to walk back out to the start of the trail where I found the workers waiting with the Town of Rockland Supervisor. They got their equipment ready and we walked to the viewpoint. We looked at the view and talked about the trees that would have to be removed to expand the view. The sawyers walked down below the viewpoint and began to decide which trees to drop. I was very impressed at the skill of Terry as he was able to drop several trees and clear a view very quickly. The view from the top of the lookout was still somewhat blocked but the view from the lower ledge was very good. After another tree or two Rob, the town supervisor, decided that enough trees had been cut for the day. If he had not been present, I probably would have asked for a few more to be cut but I was happy with the work that had been done. The workers started back out to their trucks. I decided that I would walked the rest of the trail and finishing taking my pictures. I walked back out the new trail to the point where I had stopped. I continued to walk and take pictures as I completed the whole loop. When I got back to the intersection, I turned left to walk back out to the cemetery. As I walked out, I turned around and took a few pictures of the trail into the intersection so that I could put together an entire sequence. I walked back across the street to my house.

The next step in preparing the trail was to replace the ribbons with painted blazes. I asked Cindy if she would like to go over and mark the trail since there was plenty of time left in the day. She said "Yes" so I went downtown and bought a quart of bright yellow paint and a few sponge brushes to apply the blazes. I decided to leave the camera home and take pictures another day when the sun was not so bright. We did take Sheila with us since she was so anxious to go! We took a plastic takeout container for the paint and headed across the street. We walked to the top of the cemetery hill where I poured some paint into the container. I had wondered if a quart of paint would be enough as I had marked trail before but had never purchased the paint. I marked the beginning of the trail with three blazes and then started out on the trail. I wanted to place blazes close enough so that visitors could easily follow the trail but not too close to distract from the beauty of the forest. At the intersection I continued straight ahead placing blazes with Cindy encouraging me to put the paint higher on the tree and to mark both sides. At the top of the hill, I marked a turn out to the lower ledge which has the best view. I placed a few more blazes and then walked back to the main trail. We would have to wait for another day to clear the trail although there isn't too much work to do. We walked through the upper ledge placing a few blazes and then started out on the new section of trail. As we moved along, we removed all the ribbons that Doug and I had placed as I put up the paint blazes. We were moving quickly but taking time to turn around to make sure the blazes were easily visible. As we turned right on the woods road, we had to pick places for paint carefully as there were fewer trees and more bushes. When we came to the turn to the right I was careful to mark the turn on both sides of the tree. After making the turn, We continued down the woods road to the intersection marking as we went. At the trail junction, we talked about how to mark turns at this junction. We decided that the best approach was to leave the paint blazes as they were an to mark the intersection with signs. Sine our work was done, we turned left and walked back out to the start of the trail. I had paint left over in the container and enough in the can to mark another 10 trails! There is still some work to do on the lower trail but it will easily be ready for an October 1st opening. Our next phase is to mark an upper trail to the lower summit of Round Top taking into consideration the steepness of the terrain.

On Tuesday, September 6th I decided to go to Walnut Mountain to use a wheel to measure the cross country course I had laid out. I had already measured it twice with two different GPS units but wanted to make sure it was exactly 5K which translates to 16,404.2 feet. The GPS units tend to "wander" even when I am standing still. I have stood in one spot for a few minutes and the GPS unit shows I have traveled .1 miles. I borrowed a wheel from Liberty CSD and headed over to Walnut Mountain. I parked and walked down to the starting line south of the baseball filed near the beginning of the Walnut Loop Trail - East. I began measuring the course from the starting line just north of a tree in the middle of the trail. The wheel has a counter and three pegs spaced 1 foot apart. Each time the peg hits the counter it records another foot of travel. I walked down the Walnut Loop Trail - East and made the left turn onto the Walnut Loop Trail - North. I noted that the half mile mark was just after the turn. I continued on the Walnut Loop Trail - North up the hill until the left turn onto the Vista Way. As I walked I noted that some of the paint marks I had put down were beginning to fade. I continued on the Vista Way across the bridge. The 1 mile mark was a little passed the bridge near the point where a new bike trail was being constructed. Soon I was at the northern end of the main parking area where I cut through the fence and headed toward the picnic grove. As I passed through the grove I noted that it was about 1.25 miles from the start line. I turned right up the access road and started up the hill on the Mountain Overlook Trail. I continued up this trail as it made several turns and arrived at the trail junction where the Mountain Overlook Trail turns left. I continued straight ahead eventually passing the point where the Walnut Loop Trail - North joins. At this point I was on the Walnut Loop Trail - West and was walking around the "back" of the mountain. After a short distance, I turned left up the connector trail that Cindy and I had spent so much time grooming. At the top of the trail I turned right on the Sunset Trail. After a hundred feet or so I came to the 2 mile mark and reset the counter. The walk along the sunset trail was very pleasant and I ascended a little hill to the upper lookout. I turned left and finally started downhill on the Mountain Overlook Trail. This trail is mostly red shale but it is not very steep. At the point where the Sunset Trail joins the Mountain Overlook Trail, I turned right on an unnamed path over a grass field. The trail here was steep but eventually the grade flattened. I was worried that the course would be too long but I knew there were ways I could adjust the distance. When I arrived back at the Mountain Overlook Trail, I turned right and walked back down to the picnic grove on the access road. I crossed the road and headed for the start of the Walnut Loop Trail - South noting I was still under the distance I wanted. As I walked through the woods, I hit three miles just before the trail broke out into the road running through an old quarry. I continued to walk until I got to 16,404.2 feet and marked the finish line. I was satisfied I had the most accurate measurement of the trail possible!

I finished measuring the trail at about 4:30 PM and my team was scheduled to arrive at 6:00 PM for practice along with the team from Eldred CSD. I was eager of the Eldred team and coaches to run on the course to get another opinion of the surface, length and difficulty. Since I had time, I decided to take some cans of paint and remark the areas where the paint as faded as I wanted anyone to be able to follow the course without a map. I went back to the starting line and began walking the course again. Some areas were easy to mark while others were more difficult. In some places the only place to spray the paint was on the dusty ground where the paint simply scattered the dust! I took extra care to mark the major turns and the area by the bridge which had several different trails. In places where bike trails crossed I added extra arrows to avoid a mistake on the part of runners. I stopped at the car to get another can of paint as I walked through the picnic grove. I continued along the course marking the turns and straightaways and placing number at the mile marks. I decided to avoid placing a long white mark for the starting and finishing lines. I finished just as some of my team and the Eldred team was arriving. We waited until everyone arrived and then the coaches sent the runners out on the course. The Eldred coaches and I walked down to the starting line and began to walk the course. This would be my third time walking the course in one day! I pointed out some possible pitfalls to the other coaches but they were very happy with the course. They thought it would be challenging but did not object that it was really "cross country". I was happy and relieved that they liked the course. The runners also found it difficult but fair. My team had a race the next day so I dismissed them as Eldred stayed a little longer to complete a workout.

On Monday, September 5th I wanted to hike a portion of Map 13 on the Finger Lakes Trail west of Watkins Glen. I decided I would park at Access 5 on Sexton Hollow Road and then hike northeast to Access 6 on Switzer Hill Road. The hike on the trail would be a little more than 5 miles but I knew I would have to hike back on the trail since a route on the local roads added too much mileage. The description of the hike included several areas of numerous switchbacks and at lest two major ascents in each direction. Since the drive is at least 2 and a half hours, I planed to get up at 6:00 AM and be out of the house by 7:00 AM. Cindy told me the night before she did not want to ride that far to hike so Sheila and I were on our own. On two previous hikes Cindy succumbed to Sheila's begging but I was pretty sure she would stick to her guns this time! Surprisingly we were out of the house before 7:00 Am and after a stop for gas we left Livingston Manor by 7:05 AM. I knew a good part of the route from previous trips and did not have to worry much about directions except near the very end. We headed north and west on Route 17/I86 toward Binghamton. The temperature was still in the high 50's and there was a layer of fog in most places. The further we went to the north and the later in the day the bluer the skies became and the more the fog dissipated. After a long drive, I took exit 42 and got almost immediately turned right or northeast on Route 16 toward Monterrey. After 7.6 miles, I turned left on Sexton Hollow Road which turned to dirt and gravel and then back to pavement. I watched for FLT signs and found them just after the road became paved again and changed names to Monterrey Road. I pulled over on the shoulder of the road just passed the trail entrance and made sure I was off the pavement I got all my gear ready and kept on my light windbreaker as the temperature was still only 59 degrees. It seemed like the weather would cooperate as the humidity was much lower than on previous hikes. At 9:35 AM we walked down the road to the trail entrance and headed northeast up the hill.

The first part of the trail headed northeast and climbed a hill for .6 miles gaining 275 feet with several switchbacks along the way. I worked up quite a sweat but appreciated the uphill on the way out as I knew it would be nice to walk this part downhill on the way back. I stopped to remove my windbreaker and then continued down the other side of the hill on a woods road which now headed north. All along this woods road there were almost no blazes and I kept wondering if I was on the trail. Just as I was about to give up a blaze appeared. As I started down a steeper part of the woods road, I came to a trail with white blazes that ran perpendicular to the trail I was on! I was surprised but turned left and followed a switchback down the hill. The switchback crossed the woods road several times and it occurred to me it would have been easier to stay on the woods road! At 1.1 miles the trail turned east and then at 1.5 miles it turned south. Along the way we crossed a few small stream that had some water. At one point the trail emptied out onto a gas well access road. We turned left and walked uphill on the road briefly before turning left into the woods again. At around 2 mile we had been paralleling a stream bed for some time and were approaching Corbett Hollow Road. I look down toward the stream through and opening and saw...two gray wolves! My mind immediately began to process the situation to figure out what to do and I was relieved when the owner showed up to manage her dogs. We walked down to Corbett Hollow Road at 2.1 miles and made a sharp left turn. The road wasn't much of a road as it was dirt with a lot of grass which became more and more eroded the further we went. I passed by the dogs and their owner who did not see the need for leashes! Sheila found the turn to the right off the "road" and we entered the woods to continue the hike. The map description indicated a bivouac site north of the turn at the turn around point on the road. I don't know what would be turning around on the road as it looked completely inaccessible. I did not investigate the bivouac area. The map description now describe a section of trail with 12 switchbacks. I am not usually a big fan of switchbacks as they simply lengthen the trail but the slope ahead did look steep. We walked along a stream bed and the started the first switchback at about 2.6 miles. There were a lot of switchbacks although I did not count the number. Over about 1.3 miles from Corbett Hollow Road to the top of the climb we gained 640 feet averaging a 10% grade. At the top of the climb we crossed a gas well access road and walked the flat summit before starting to descend the other side.

We descended the east side of the hill for about .7 miles losing 400 vertical feet to a small stream bed. The stream bed was highly eroded and it was difficult climbing the opposite bank. On the other side was a set a steps and a switchback that led to Goundry Hill Road. We crossed the dirt and gravel road and continued to descend through mixed hardwood and pine forest. At 5 miles we came out onto Switzer Hill Road at an elevation of 1390 feet. We turned left and walked a short distance north to the point where the trail reentered the woods. We stopped to get a drink and a snack before turning around and heading back. The trip back had more ascent than descent since the car was parked at 1550 feet. For the most part the hike back went quickly and even the climbs didn't seem to bad because of the switchbacks. It was interesting that I noticed different aspects of the trail on the return trip. As we neared the point where I was confused about the trail perpendicular to the woods road, I followed the trail across the woods road and found that it was a switchback. This meant that the woods road was not part of the official trail and should not have had any blazes. At the end of the switchback I looked to see if the turn was marked. It was marked and I had missed it because the blazes were old and faded and because the people who mark the Finger Lakes Trail use a non-standard method of indicating turns. A turn should be indicted with a blaze above another blaze. The top blaze should be offset in the direction of the turn. The Finger Lakes Trail Conference simply puts one blaze directly above the other and lets the hiker guess the direction of the turn. Some blazes have been retrofitted with an arrow below the blazes but many have not been changed. I noticed that I was very thirsty and stopped to get a drink and give Sheila one also. He both drank quite a bit and then continued back to the car. There was more uphill than I remembered and less downhill at the end than I thought. We were back at the car at 2:15 PM having covered 10.2 miles in 4 hours and 35 minutes with an elevation gain of 2270 feet! We had stopped for about 20 minutes along the way but our overall average speed was over 2.2 mph which I considered good for the amount of climbing we did.

On Saturday, September 3rd I wanted to hike a portion of Map 13 on the Finger Lakes Trail west of Watkins Glen. I decided I would park at Maple Lane where I had parked on a previous hike and then hike west and south to Access 6 on Switzer Hill Road. The hike on the trail would be a little more than 6 miles but I knew we could hike back on snowmobile trail and local roads and cut the distance to 5 miles with a less difficult hike making the round trip between 11 and 12 miles. Since the drive is almost 3 hours, I planed to get up at 6:00 AM and be out of the house by 6:30 AM. Cindy told me the night before she did not want to drive that far to hike so Sheila and I were on our own. I got up on time and was getting ready when Cindy cam downstairs and asked about going with us. I knew that once again Sheila and "begged" her and she had given in! Surprisingly we were out of the house and away from Livingston Manor by 7:15 AM. I knew a good part of the route from previous trips and did not have to worry much about directions. We headed north and west on Route 17/I86 toward Binghamton. The temperature was still in the high 50's and there was a layer of fog in most places. The further we went to the north and the later in the day the bluer the skies became and the more the fog dissipated. After a long drive, I took exit 52A and got on Route 14 north toward Watkins Glen. I caught Johnson Hollow Road and headed for Route 414 to head west toward our destination. We turned north on Bronson Hill Road and passed by the Watkins Glen International racetrack. At Route 16 we turned left and after a short distance passed Townsend Road where we had turned on a previous hike. We continued on to Route 21 where we turned right to head north to Sugar Hill Road. We continued to follow Route 21 until it turned north where we continued straight ahead on Sugar Hill Road. The road quickly turned to dirt and gravel and was marked "CLOSED" . I knew the sign was in error and continued on until I found Maple Lane on the right. I drove .75 miles north to a small parking area on the right side of the road. I pulled in a turned around so that I was facing out before parking. We got all our gear ready and both of us kept on light windbreakers as the temperature was still only 62 degrees. It seemed like the weather would cooperate as the humidity was much lower than on previous hikes. At 10:10 AM we crossed Maple Lane and headed out on the trail.

The first part of the trail wandered west through some red pines and then hardwoods all the while descending until we crossed a DEC dirt road at .9 miles. Both Cindy and I knew that a downhill at the beginning of a hike feels good but means there will be an uphill at the end! The trail turned a little north and then west again as we continued to descend. We crossed two branches of Meads Creek which did have a little water in them. After crossing the second creek we began to ascend and crossed Route 22 at 1.5 miles. The trail ascended steeply for a short time before meeting a woods road at 1.6 miles. The trail turned to the left but we turned right and walked a short distance to the very old Six Nations Cemetery where there was a spectacular view to the northwest over Lake Lamoka and Lake Waneta. I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take pictures of the lakes and I also snapped a few of the cemetery. The stones in the cemetery are very old, hard to read and in very poor shape. We walked back to the Finer Lakes Trail which now followed a woods road slightly downhill and to the south. There were no marks or blazes anywhere to be seen but I checked PDFMaps and we were headed in the right direction. We walked and talked without seeing a turn even though we knew one should be coming up. I checked PDFMaps on my iPhone again and found we had gone passed the turn. We walked back with me looking at my phone and finally found the turn. It was pretty clearly marked but we, as experienced hikers, had missed it because of the total lack of any blazes before the turn! We had hiked and little over a half mile put of our way which annoyed both of us. We turned west and started up a steep but short climb over a small hill. We hiked down the other side of the hill and eventually broke out into a field. The blazes here were hard to find and required sharp eyes as there were several turns along the edges of different fields. Many of the blazes were old and the brush had over grown them making it difficult to find the way. At one point we came to another nice view over the surrounding valleys and I took a few shots before continuing on. We finished a descent along the edge of a field and followed a woods road out to Sugar Hill Road at 3.6 miles. Just ahead on the other side of the road was a very large oak tree. There had been some large trees on the hike but this was the biggest so I took a few shots. We crossed the road an walked along the edge of someone's lawn which annoyed their dog greatly.

From this point the trail on the map headed due south and was very straight for some time. I guessed it either followed an old road or traveled along a ridge line. I was right on both accounts. The trail ascended to a ridge following a woods road and was wide, well maintained and decently marked. On the initial climb we gained 260 feet in .4 miles along a 13% grade. After this, the trail descended a little and then leveled moving off the road and back onto it. We passed one well marked snowmobile trail and I started to look for the second one which I intended to use on the return trip. At 5 miles the trail started to descend and I was worried there would be no second snowmobile trail. At 5.6 miles the trail appeared on our left. I had intended to hike out to access point 6 on Switzer Hill Road but Cindy was getting tired. Hiking to the access point would be about a mile out and a mile back and I wasn't sure how many miles would be left after that. I decided we would turn left on the snowmobile trail. I could hike the remaining section from Switzer Hill Road later in the day or leave it for another time. We turned left on the snowmobile trail and started a short ascent before the trail began a half mile descent toward Route 22. The descent was steep at 13% and we lost almost 350 feet along the way. At 6.1 miles we were ready to cross a bridge over Meads Creek when we heard voices ahead. I put Sheila on her leash and we were surprised as a group of 8 riders on horseback appeared. Sheila was unfazed by the horses but wanted to ay "Hello" to the dog that accompanied them. We waited for the horses to pass and talked to the riders as they went by. We crossed the bridge and walked out to Route 22. My plan was to take Route 22 north to Sugar Hill Road and then walk east to Maple Lane. We would be on the road and Sheila would have to be on her leash but it seemed to be the quickest and easiest way. Cindy suggested that we cross the road and stay on the snowmobile trail since we would be in the shade and Sheila could run free. We crossed the road at 1:10 PM and stayed on the marked snowmobile trail heading toward Maple Lane. Unfortunately, as we headed northeast the snowmobile trail started to climb to another ridge. The climb was not difficult but went on for .7 miles. As we neared a junction, we could hear voices and we could see another group of horses ahead. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked up to the junction. I asked the riders the best way to Maple Lane and they indicated we should turn left or north since we wanted to head in that direction. We took their advice although none of the trail were marked on my map! I was hoping to head east to Maple Lane but the snowmobile trail headed north and, at times, northwest. This did not make me happy as there were no turns to the east to get us to Maple Lane. For some time we paralleled Maple Lane but then the trail turned away from it. We had no choice but to follow it and I knew that we would eventually come to Maple Lane or Sugar Hill Road. We were still walking uphill when the trail turned northeast and then east at 8.5 miles. Soon I could see Sugar Hill Road and at 8.65 miles we came to the intersection of Sugar Hill Road and Maple Lane. We crossed Sugar Hill Road and began our walk up maple Lane for .8 miles. We were back at the car at 2:30 PM after hiking 9.5 miles in 4 hours and 20 minutes with an elevation gain of 1500 feet. We had made a .5 mil mistake that is included in these figures

After finishing the hike, Cindy was very tired but I was still feeling that I had a few more miles in me. Cindy agreed we could drive to Switzer Hill Road and that I could hike the mile out and back that we had missed. We headed west on Sugar Hill Road to Route 22 and then south on Route 22 to Route 16. I turned right or west on Route 16 and passed through the hamlet on Monterey. Just after this I found Switzer Hill Road on the right so I turned north to follow it to Access 6. Like many of the roads in the area, this one turned to dirt and gravel pretty quickly. The total drive up Switzer Hill was about 1.6 miles and the Finger Lakes Trail sign was very obvious on the right. I parked the car on the side of the road and Sheila and I got ready to hike. We walked into the woods heading east through some red pine. We almost immediately came to the informal bivouac area mentioned on the map next to Pine Creek. The area didn't appear to be very well used as I saw no fire circle or any other signs. The map mentioned that Pine Creek was highly eroded and it was right! The creek was almost dry but the bank on the other side was three to four feet above the creek bed. Sheila had no trouble and I grabbed onto some roots to get up. We followed the white blazes of the Finger Lakes Trail east for about .4 miles as the trail started to ascend to the ridge we had been on earlier in the day. At this point the trail made a 90 degree turn to the left and continued to ascend the ridge. At exactly 1 mile we came to the snowmobile trail where we had turned earlier. We turned around and headed back to the car. When we got back to the car, I found it had taken us less than 45 minutes to hike the two miles and 350 feet of elevation which brought my total for the day to 11.5 miles in 5 hours with an 1850 foot elevation gain.

On Tuesday, August 30th I decided I wanted to go to Hodge Pond on the Flynn Trail and clear the two blowdowns I had found the day before. Cindy said she would come with me so we got ready and, after doing some errands around town, we headed toward the Frick Pond area. I had brought my smaller Silky saw and Fiskars axe to take care of the blowdowns and decided we would not worry about some of the minor trimming that needed to be done in a few places. We arrived at the parking area just before 10:30 AM and started out almost immediately. We crossed the road and picked up the Flynn Trail and almost immediately found a new branch to clear off the trail. When we reached the woods road, we turned right and headed up the hill toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. What is now a woods road was once the extension of the Beech Mountain Road which led to the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. The Flynn Trail climbs for 1.7 mile climb to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The grass was a little wet from the dew and the rocks were slippery to step on. Sheila was roaming around running up and down the rail and Cindy and I were both lost in thought. We hiked the 1.7 miles uphill in about 45 minutes including a few stops to remove branches from the trail and one small blowdown which I quickly cut. At one point we both decided that the insects were too annoying and we applied some repellant which did help some. We continued on the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond and passed through the gate that marks the beginning of the OSI property. Just after the gate there was a small tree across the trail. I dropped my pack and got out my Silky saw to begin clearing the mess. The branches were smaller than I remembered and I easily cut them and then dragged them out of the way. In less than 15 minutes the job was done and we continued on toward Hodge Pond. At the junction with the jeep trail, we turned left to stay on the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond. As we approached the pond we stayed to the left on the Flynn Trail rather than go to the shore of the pond. I promised Sheila we would stop on the way back so she could swim!

We passed through the open field on the Flynn Trail and then reentered the woods. After a short walk, we encountered the large blowdown that I wanted to clear. The trunk was actually a little larger than I thought and I regretted not brining my Silky KatanaBoy saw! The blowdown had been there for at least a month so I was pretty sure that OSI was not going to clear it. After I put down my pack I took a few "before" pictures and then looked at the blowdown to form a plan. As always I cut away the branches first and Cindy dragged them so distance off the trail and out of the way. I had to be careful as the large tree had brought down several smaller saplings that were very springy. I cut the top branches off the tree and was left with a pretty substantial trunk. I felt that I could make one cut dividing the trunk into two pieces. These pieces might be too large to carry off the trail but I thought they could be rolled out of the way. The cut went more quickly than I thought and I was actually able to lift the top section and get it well off the trail. The lower section was much heavier and I initially rolled it to one side of the trail. It decided it would roll back onto the trail so I lifted one end and then the other until I was able to get it off the trail as well. I took a few after pictures and after getting a drink and a snack we continued around the back of the pond on the old jeep trail. We decided to continue all the way around the pond to the "beach" so that Sheila could have a swim. At the fire ring, I put down my pack and got out the camera. I took a few pictures of Hodge Pond concentrating on the large but wispy white clouds against the blue sky. I picked up a stick a threw it into the water for Sheila to retrieve. I did this many times until Sheila and I were both tired of the game. We picked up and started toward the opening in the woods where the Flynn Trail climbs back up to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. At the junction we knew we had 1.7 miles of downhill ahead of us and we set quick pace. Along the way we met a couple hiking toward us. The gentleman asked if he could pet Sheila but I declined the offer as Sheila can be very protective when Cindy is with us. The hike back to the car was uneventful and we arrived at 1:30 PM. We had spent about 3 hours hiking 5.5 miles and clearing several blowdowns from the trail.

On Monday, August 29th Sheila and I were ready to get out of the house after a busy Sunday had kept us out of the woods. As we were about to leave an ambulance call came in and I responded postponing our hike for about 2 hours. When I returned home. I got my gear in the car and tried to contain an ecstatic Sheila as I drove out the DeBruce Road toward Frick Pond. I had thought about going somewhere else but the hike around the two ponds is familiar and seemed like enough exercise before cross country practice in the evening. After about 6 miles, I turned left on the Mongaup Pond and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road at the fork. There were several cars in the parking area as I pulled in just before noon. I got my gear ready to go and headed out the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond at exactly 12:00 PM. The day was cooler than it had been with the temperature at about 70 degrees. I noticed a few insects flying around but decided not to apply insect repellant. I wore a light pair of hiking pants and short-sleeved shirt with a light baselayer. I like the double top setup as I think it causes less friction on my back from the pack. . We hiked out to the trail register and turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail as it follows a woods road. The trail was wet and muddy but these spots were easily avoided. We turned left at Gravestone Junction to follow the Quick Lake Trail to the bridge over the outlet of Frick Pond. When we got to the bridge, I took off my pack and got out my camera to take pictures as this is one of my favorite spots. We got started again after I allowed Sheila to take a quick dip in the cool water. At the next junction with the Big Rock Trail, we stayed to the left on the Quick Lake Trail. We kept a quick pace as we hiked the Quick Lake Trail toward Iron Wheel Junction even though we had to work our way around several wet and muddy areas. We crossed the small stream in the forest which had enough water this time for Sheila to get her feet wet. There were a few branches in the trail and I removed them as we headed toward Iron Wheel Junction. At Iron Wheel Junction, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail toward Junkyard Junction. The walk is all uphill but the grade is only slight to moderate. This part of the trail was mostly dry but badly eroded by running water. We passed some of the blowdowns that I had cleared with various other people and it made me feel good to see the work. There was one very large log that I had cleared to make a path but I thought should be eliminated completely. I made a note to ask someone from the snowmobile club to clear it with a chainsaw. Sheila was ranging far and wide to explore the opportunities to chase small, furry creatures. After walking 3.1 miles, we arrived at Junkyard Junction at 1:15 PM.

We turned right at the junction onto the Flynn Trail which is relatively flat at this point. The trail had some wet and muddy spots but most were drying up. They are all lower than the ground surrounding them so it is hard to get them to drain. There isn't much to see along the Flynn Trail so we kept up a quick pace. At the gate we followed the trail to the right and down toward the shore of Hodge Pond. As we neared the pond we turned right to stay on the Flynn Trail to the outlet of Hodge Pond. The woods road was rutted and had some water but the muddiest spots were easily avoided. There was one large blowdown that had been there since the last time I hiked. I thought someone from OSI might remove it but I made a note to return to remove it as soon as possible. We were soon at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. We turned left and walked over to the fire ring by the shore of Hodge Pond. I took off my pack and got out my camera to take a few shots. After taking some pictures of the pond, I picked up a stick and threw it into the water so that Sheila could swim to retrieve it. I did this quite a few times taking pictures of Sheila. Eventually, I went back to my pack and got a drink and a snack. We headed toward the opening in the woods where the Flynn Trail follows another woods road. We started up the hill staying on the Flynn Trail and the walk up the hill seemed to go very quickly. Soon we were on the flat part of the Flynn Trail headed toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. This section of the trail all the way back to the parking area was once an extension of Beech Mountain Road that was paved and led to the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. In some areas the pavement is still visible under the grass and moss that has covered it. Just before the gate was another smaller blowdown which would need a saw. We continued on the Flynn Trail passing through the gate and walking on to the trail junction with the Big Rock Trail and the snowmobile trail that comes over from Mongaup Pond. We didn't stop at the trail junction but continued straight ahead the Flynn Trail. From this high point in the hike, the trail descends 1.7 miles to the parking area. We kept up a fast pace on the descent but this final section seemed to drag a little. It is downhill but there isn't much to see and it is very familiar. We continued on the trail and soon were headed down the hill to the gate where we turned left to stay on then Flynn Trail. We walked down the short section of trail I had refurbished and then hiked through the woods back to the parking area. It was 2:30 PM when we returned. We had covered 6.3 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes. The elevation gain was a modest 910 feet.

On Saturday, August 27th I planned to get up at 6:00 AM, get ready and leave to hike the final section of Map 14 of the Finger Lakes Trail from Templar Road to the train trestle in Watkins Glen State Park. I estimated the round trip mileage would be between 9 and 10 miles and that I would have to hike out and back on the trail since the road routes would make the hike much longer. I asked Cindy the night before if she wanted to go and she declined. I got up at 6:00 AM and got my gear ready and at 6:30 AM Cindy came down the stairs asking if she could go! I, of course, was delighted so we got ready and left Livingston Manor around 7:15 AM. There was no rain in the forecast but the "Feels Like" temperature in the afternoon was predicted to be over 90 degrees. As we drove north on Route 17, the fog was heavy and this continued almost all the way to our destination. After a long drive, I exited at exit 52A and got on Route 14 north toward Watkins Glen. I caught Johnson Hollow Road and headed for Route 414 to head west toward our destination. We turned north on Bronson Hill Road and passed by the racetrack. At Route 16 we turned left and after a short distance turned right on Townsend Road. When Townsend Road headed right, we continued straight ahead on VanZandt Hollow Road to the intersection with dirt Templar Road. We turned left on Templar Road and drove about .2 miles to where the Finger Lakes Trail crossed the road just east of Ebenezer's Crossing. I parked the car on the side of the road and we got ready to hike. I turned on all my electronics and put Sheila on her leash. We crossed the road at 10:00 Am to begin our hike. We climbed up the steep bank until the trail leveled off and then descended and crossed VanZandt Hollow Road at .4 miles. The trail entered the woods on the other side for only about .1 miles and then came back out to VanZandt Hollow Road where we turned left and walked up the hill a few steps to an Finger Lakes Trail sign. It wasn't clear where to go and we could see no blazes anywhere! Some parts of the Finger Lakes Trail are well-marked but this was not one of them. There was a mowed lane next to a field which looked promising so we began to walk along it but saw no signs or blazes. This didn't bother me too much as private landowners sometimes give permission for the trail to cross their land but don't want a lot of paint on their trees. I kept getting the feeling we should be closer to the stream to our left but every time I looked into the woods for white blazes I came up empty. I finally got out my iPhone and looked at the Finger Lakes Trail map on the PDFMaps app. It showed we were too far south and too far from the stream bed but we decided to continue. Eventually, after walking over half a mile from VanZandt Hollow Road, we decided to bushwhack north to see if we could pick up the trail. We kept walking north and kept looking for the trail and the white blazes without much luck. Finally, after walking .2 miles through the woods, we could see the rim of the glen and then came to the trail right at its edge. I couldn't wait to hike back on the trail at the end of the hike and see where we were supposed to go!

The trail now was wide and well-kept for some time and at 1.6 miles we began a steep descent down into a glen. Sheila decided to run off to chase some birds and we waited until she was ready to come back. At 1.8 miles we came to Julie's Crossing which the map stated could be difficult when there was high water. The crossing was VERY POORLY marked with few blazes but we worked our way along the stream bed to the left until there was a wide open space to cross. We were confused by some orange flagging which served some unknown purpose. As we crossed, we tried to find the white blazes but it wasn't easy! Eventually we found the trail and began a slow ascent out of the glen. The trail climbed a little then levels and then climbed a little more. At 2.1 miles we noticed a body of water on the left of the trail and a path leading down to it. We decided to explore and walked out to what looked like a small pond or lake. Sheila took a swim and got a drink and I had a drink as well. I also took pictures of the water and some geese that were standing on a sandbar. We packed up and walked back to the main trail to continue our hike. A little further on we noticed the body was larger than we thought and then we saw the dam. The dam was a least 40 feet high which we knew meant the lake was a lot deeper than we had thought. The curious thing was that it was not marked on any map and the Finger Lakes Trail descriptions never mentioned it. The trail now was definitely headed downhill and at 2.8 miles we passed by Hidden Valley Camp. Less than a half mile after the camp we were surprised to find some stonework and a stone walkway like the ones found in the main glen. There was a wooden bridge across Hamilton Creek and some more stonework on the other side. We stopped and I took some pictures of the water flowing over the smooth bedrock under the bridge. I walked down into the creek bed and took some shot upstream and downstream under the bridge. We continued on our hike but saw no more of the stone walkways. We both found it interesting that there was this one bridge and stone walkway far away from the main glen. We continued to walk along the rim of the glen until at 3.4 miles we came to Whites Hollow Road where we turned right and walked up the hill about .1 miles before turning left on an old park road. There was a parking area here and the road was flat with a good surface.

Soon the trail turned left off the road and followed the rim of the gorge until we got to a clearing with a large pavilion with a fire place. There were some other hikers there with a dog so I put Sheila on her leash. I took some pictures of Punch Bowl Lake and the pavilion and got ready to hike another half mile or so to the train trestle. I discussed this with Cindy and she elected to stay at the pavilion until we returned. Sheila and I headed off on the Finger Lakes Trail toward the dam for the lake. The trail was again poorly marked but we were soon passing by the dam. I stopped to take a few pictures and then continued on the trail as it rolled onward gaining and losing some elevation as it went. At 4.8 miles I passed under the Norfolk Southern trestle and took a few shots. I continued on for another .1 miles to make sure I overlapped my previous efforts and then turned around and walked quickly back to the pavilion to reunite with Cindy. From the pavilion we headed back along the trail retracing our steps as we went. The uphills were beginning to bother me but I knew each step was getting us closer to the car. When we got to Julie's Crossing we got to the other side and followed the orange ribbon which apparently marks an alternate trail! The climb up to the rim of the glen was the steepest on the hike. We continued on our way interested to see where and why we had gone wrong at the beginning of the hike. At about 8.3 miles I began to notice that things did not look familiar and knew that this was the part of the trail we had missed earlier. There were several signs that said "Private Property - Stay on the trail at all times"! Both Cindy and I remarked that it would be easier to stay on the trail if it was properly marked. There were some short and steep little uphills along the way and at one point the trail came very close to the rim of the gorge. We stopped to take some pictures and get a drink. The trail from this point on was poorly maintained and poorly marked. We had to push our way through brush that had overgrown the trail. Eventually we came out into the open and could see the lane we had mistakenly walked earlier. There was one post with a white blaze but no indication of where we should go from there. I guessed and we headed for an opening in the tree line ahead where I finally found a white blaze. We continued walking and were soon at the point where we had turned off VanZandt Hollow Road and followed the lane. There was NO INDICATION at this point where to turn or what path to follow. We had technically trespassed on someone's property because the Finger Lakes Trail was so poorly marked! Once on the road we followed it down to Templar Road where we took a left and hiked back to our car. It was 2:50 PM and we had hiked 9.4 miles in 4 hours and 50 minutes. The elevation gain was a modest 1920 feet.

On Wednesday, August 24th, I decided I wanted to go back to Walnut Mountain in Liberty to plan some more possible cross country courses. Cindy was willing to help so we left Livingston Manor just before 10:00 AM. We headed for the main entrance to the park off Route 55 between Liberty and Swan Lake. As we drove up the access road to the parking lot, I could see only one other car and hoped for a quiet day. I got Sheila out of the car and put her on her leash. My plan was to clear a tree on the Mountain Overlook Trail and then to rake and lop branches on the connector trail between the Sunset Trail and the Walnut Loop West. We took with use a garden rake, weed whip, loppers a Silky saw and a machete. As we walked up the trail, we trimmed some branches and weeds as we walked. We continued to follow the Mountain Overlook Trail when it turned left but could not find the blowdown as someone had already cleared it. We continued up to the upper viewpoint trimming a lot of small branches as we went. At the top we turned right on the Subset Trail and continued to clear anything that protruded into the trail. Sheila was having a great time ranging far and wide and I had to call her back several times to curb her enthusiasm. Eventually we made it to the connector trail which was easier to find than I thought it would be. I started raking down the trail removing leaves and larger rocks while Cindy went ahead and trimming some branches and brush. Occasionally we cut some roots that I exposed with the rake. We came to an area that was overgrown so I used the weed whip to cut the weeds and brush to make the trail more obvious. We continued down the trail and it seemed much longer than I remembered when I last walked up it. There were several places where I removed rocks and filled in some holes. There were also places with accumulated leaves which I raked to the side of the trail. I finally made it down to the Walnut Loop West where Cindy was waiting. We turned right and headed north trimming and lopping as we went. There were several trees that had been broken and twisted off the trail and we cut them and pulled them off the trail. We passed the large puddle on the trail which I had thought about draining. I knew that I was too tired to work on this job on this day. I decided to leave it for later and began to think the puddle might just stay as it was. We continued to trim until we reached the junction with the Walnut Loop North. We turned left and continued along that trail heading for the Vista Way. We trimmed a little as we descended the steep hill to the Vista Way where we turned right. The Vista way is a much narrower trail than the wider carriageways. We trimmed a few branches and removed some that were laying on the ground. We cut one blowdown that was partially blocking the trail and some larger branches that were hanging down. When we arrived at the bridge, we measured the opening caused buy the collapsed board of the decking. We continued along the trail back to the parking area trimming some branches as we walked. We decided we had done enough work for the day as it was 1:15 PM. We stopped in Liberty to talk to the Town of Liberty Parks and Recreation Director about the bridge. We told me he was headed up to the park and would take a look at the situation.

I returned to Walnut Mountain at about 5:00 PM for cross country practice as I wanted my team to run the new course. Since practice was not until 6:00 PM, I decided to walk the part of the course Cindy and I had not been on earlier in the day. I walked down to the point where the Walnut Loop East starts and walked along the treeline to the point where the trail enters the woods and heads for the West Lake parking area. I trimmed a few branches and removed some from the trail. At .5 miles I turned left onto the Walnut Loop North. There were a few branches and weeds encroaching on the trail and I took the time to trim most of the. When I reached the Vista Way, I turned left to get back to the parking area to meet my team. I trimmed a branch or two on the way. When I reached the bridge, I was surprised to see that the hole caused by the collapsed board had been filled with a gravel mixture which had been packed down forming a very effective patch. I was very happy with the cooperation and support of the Parks and Recreation Department! I continued back up to the parking lot to meet my team.

On Tuesday, August 23rd Doug Sentermann from the NYNJTC was scheduled to come to Livingston Manor at 10:00 AM to work on the new trail on Round Top. Cindy and I went over to Round Top and decided to start cleaning up the garbage at the viewpoint while we waited for Doug. We parked at the top of the hill at the entrance to the trail and took some tools, a plastic sled and a blue tarp up to the viewpoint. The temperature at 10:00 AM was still in the 60's which was perfect for doing some work. We gathered up some of the various bottles and cans and other loose junk and put it in the sled. We loaded the tarp with the old tents and blankets to get it ready for the trip down the hill to Doug's pickup. While we were working Doug appeared with his dog Bailey. We stopped to talk briefly and then started back in on our work. Doug and brought garbage bags so we transferred the loose junk to the bags and packed up some more of the loose blankets. Doug and I pulled the now full tarp down the hill to his pickup where we loaded it into the back ready to take it to the transfer station. We walked back up the hill and loaded some bags onto the sled. Doug grabbed hold of an old mattress, I grabbed a rather heavy bag of garbage and Cindy pulled the sled as we again headed for the truck. We loaded all of it into the truck. Doug and I headed to the transfer station while Cindy went back up to do some more work. Doug and I emptied the truck and the returned to the top of the cemetery hill. We walked back up to the viewpoint and found that Cindy had broken down the two fire circles and scattered the stones. We removed a few logs that were at the viewpoint and then thought about our next task. We decided to walk from the viewpoint toward the woods road that we had already cleared farther up the hill. I used the geospatial PDF I had produced from my previous walk modifying our route only slightly as we picked the easiest path. Doug followed using bright pink ribbon to flag the position of the trail. Soon we were near the point where we had cleared the woods road and after a few tries found best path to connect to it. We walked along the woods road with Doug adding some flagging and the turned down the woods road to travel along the cliffs. The flagging was to act as temporary marking until someone decided how the trail should be marked. Once we were back at the trail junction with the path to the viewpoint, Cindy headed home and Doug and I headed back up to the viewpoint.

We got a drink and a snack since the noon whistle had already blown. We decided to "brush out" the trail. We fell into an effective pattern which helped us efficiently do the work. I walked ahead picking up branches and old logs and throwing them out of the way. I also used my machete to cut some small sapling and brush and my Silky saw to cut bigger obstacles. Doug followed using the grass whip to cut the weeds and ferns along the trail as well as some woody brush. When I looked back, I was surprised to see that what was behind us looked like a trail with bright pink markings! Along the way we found two rocks that looked like perfect places for people walking the trail to rest. The slow pace made me appreciate how beautiful the area really is. At one point we climbed a small incline as we approached the junction with the woods road. I cut one large blowdown across the trail. It wasn't too long before we connected with the area that had already been cleared. We walked along the woods road trimming a few branches as we went and adding a little more flagging. As we walked below the cliffs we talked about exploring the possibility of a spur trail. When we came to the trail junction, we once again turned right and climbed back up to the viewpoint. We had talked earlier about scouting a path to the lower summit of Round Top which is on public property. I had a possible route mapped out but it was steep and needed a few switchbacks. Since it was after 3:00 PM, we decided to leave that trip for another day. Having my track placed on the tax map by the NYNJTC cartographer would also help. We did spend a few minutes looking at the viewpoint and spotting the trees that would need to be cut to open it up. As we gathered our tools and walked back to Doug's truck we talked about how much work we had accomplished. Doug promised to contact the Town of Rockland supervisor to inform him of the work we had done and to arrange for sawyers to come and cut some trees for the viewpoint. He also agreed to ask about the type of mares for the trail. We set October 1st as a goal for the date to open the trail to the public.

On Monday, August 22nd, I decided I wanted to go back to Walnut Mountain in Liberty to plan some more possible cross country courses. Cindy was busy babysitting a grandchild so Sheila and I headed out of Livingston Manor alone just before 11:00 AM. We headed for the main entrance to the park off Route 55 between Liberty and Swan Lake. As we drove up the access road to the parking lot, I could see only one other car and hoped for a quiet day. I got Sheila out of the car and put her on her leash. I also grabbed my poles and put on my pack. We headed down to the area behind the baseball diamond where the Walnut Loop Trail East begins. This is a nice wide area that is a perfect starting place for a cross country race. When we got to the appropriate area, I set my Suunto GPS watch and my Garmin handheld GPS and we started to walk north on the Walnut Loop Trail East. The day was cooler than it had been with temperatures still in the 60's and low humidity. As we headed out on the trail we stayed fairly close to the treeline. We entered the woods at about .1 miles and then started downhill toward the West Lake parking area. The trail surface had some round cobbles but also some areas of grass. At .5 miles we turned left just short of the parking area on the Walnut Loop Trail North. This trail started out as mostly grass with a slight uphill until .75 miles where the trail turned to dirt and started to climb. I wanted to avoid the VERY steep hill ahead so we turned left at .85 miles onto the Vista Way trail which I knew headed back to the parking area. This part of the trail was narrower and rolled a little. We crossed a small bridge with one board missing and I made a note to measure the dimensions I would need to replace it. At about 1.15 miles we were at the north end of the parking area where we enter the lot and then cut through the fence in an opening on the left. We followed the fence to the small building and then cut across under the trees and started up the access road to the Mountain Overlook Trail which is the entrance to the main trail system. We passed through the gate at 1.25 miles and followed the trail as it started to climb. At the first intersection we continued straight ahead on the connector trail that would take use to the Walnut Loop Trail West. We passed by true junction with the Walnut Loop Trail North at 1.6 miles and started around the west side of the mountain on the Walnut Loop Trail West. We came across a small "pond" on the trail and I made a mental note to see if I could drain it. At 1.8 miles we turned left on a connector trail that climbs to the Sunset Trail. I found the connector trail in need of some maintenance including raking, lopping and wee whacking. The trail is a short but challenging up hill that led to the Sunset Trail at 2 miles. We turned right on the Sunset Trail which has a nice soft surface. The trail is flat for a little while and the ascends to the lower lookout at 2.25 miles. We turned left here onto the Mountain Overlook Trail and started the downhill portion of the course. At 2.65 miles we turned right at the trail junction to continue back down to the gate and the beginning of the Mountain Overlook Trail. We continued through the gate to the access road where we turned right through an opening in the fence. We walked under the pine trees to the start of the Walnut Loop Trail South and walked along this trail until it opened into the old quarry. We continued along the trail to the area of the Ultimate Frisbee course to the finish line at 3.1 miles. I was happy with the start and the finish and the course between these two points.

I was almost ready to go home at this point but decided to add some mileage by walking to the summit of Walnut Mountain. I knew I would have to put Sheila on her leash since there were now more cars in the lot and we had already met many families and camp groups hiking the trails. Sheila and I continued on the Walnut Loop Trail South heading up toward the lower viewpoint. When we got to the lower viewpoint, the scene was nice with blue skies and white clouds. I decided to walk to the upper viewpoint and take some pictures from there. We turned right on the short connector trail and then turned left on the Mountain Overlook Trail. When we got to the viewpoint, There was a rather large number of adults and children. I leashed Sheila to a tree and took some pictures from the viewpoint. It always seems that there is a haze in the direction of Swan Lake and the lake was almost out of view behind the trees. I gave Sheila a drink and got one myself before heading out the Sunset Trail. As we approached the junction with the Mountain House Trail, a large group of campers came walking toward us. We turned right up the Mountain House Trail and started to climb. I hoped the campers would not follow us and they did not. At the top of the Mountain House Trail where it leveled off I took the bike trail to the right and then another bike trail to the summit plateau. We headed around the summit counterclockwise and soon came to the "bridge" the bike club had built. It is constructed of wooden slats with a wire screen for traction and is very sturdy. A sign before the bridge warns riders to "Dismount" before crossing but I think a few may not take the suggestion. I took some pictures of the bridge and then we continued around the summit on the trail. A short distance beyond we cut to the right down through the ledges to an informal path. I stopped to take some pictures of the rocks and the we walked around to where we had started. I did stop to take a few shot of the foundation of the old Mountain Hose before walking back out to the Mountain House Trail. We turned left to continue down the mountain. At 4.6 miles we turned right on the Sunset Trail and walked down to the Mountain Overlook Trail where we turned left. We follows that trail to the next junction where we turned right and walked back down the trail to the gate and then to the parking lot. We were back at 1:30 Pm having hiked 5.1 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes with an elevation gain of 900 feet. I drove to the Town of Liberty Parks and Recreation Office to talk to the director about the cross country course. He was very helpful and gave permission for me to prepare the course and mark it appropriately!

On Saturday, August 20th, I had scheduled a work day for the Willowemoc Trail crew at Trout Pond. I had though about having the workday on Thursday or Friday but a nagging muscle pull from Wednesday's racquetball had left me a little lame. I was still feeling the leg when I went to bed Friday night but on Saturday morning I barely felt a twinge. The plan was to meet Steve, Judy and Shaun at 9:00 AM at Trout Pond and hike the loop around Trout Pond in a clockwise direction clearing as much as we could on the way. I thought it might take about 4 hours to get a majority of the work done. The weather forecast included no rain for a change and called for partly sunny skies. Cindy and I left Livingston Manor a little after 8:30 AM. I put my gear in the trunk and an overjoyed Sheila in the back seat. We had decided to take Sheila and tether her to a tree as we worked. I had brought a variety of trimming tools included my two Silky saws, two loppers, hedge trimmers, felling wedges, my LT Wright machete and a my full-sized Council Tools felling axe. I didn't think we would need all the tools but wanted to give everyone a choice. We headed to Roscoe on State Route 17 and then took Route 206 across the Delaware County line to Morton Hill Road. After a left turn on Morton Hill Road, I drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road which I noticed no longer had a road sign. The road did have a "Seasonal Maintenance" sign which should mean there is some maintenance during the summer. As we drove down the road it was hard to see that ANY maintenance had been done with large holes in the road and areas of erosion. When we arrived at the lower lot Steve was waiting for us and the lot was almost completely filled with vehicles. I found a place to park and we got out of the car to say "Hello" to Steve. We chatted while waiting for Judy and found Steve had brought his own tools and was ready to go. A t 9:15 Am we left the parking to begin our hike assuming Judy was not coming since she is always on time. I knew that Shaun was going to try to meet us later as he had a meeting in the morning. The air temperature was cooler than on previous days but was still "heavy" with humidity. I wore a long-sleeved Mountain Hardwear crew neck over an Underarmour baselayer. We got on the woods road that goes down to the bridge that crosses the brook. As we crossed the bridge I could see that the knotweed we had cut back had grown out again to impinge on the path. We decided that we would tackle the heavier work and leave the knotweed for later. We continued on the main trail to the register box. At the trail junction just after the register, we turned to the left to climb the steeper hill toward Mud Pond. The trail was wet and muddy in spots which made the going slippery. The sun was out and as soon as we started to climb the hill, I noticed how warm it seemed. As we climbed, we took it easy and stopped a few times to clear smaller branches and sticks from the path. We also lopped some branches as high as we could hoping to clear the way for snowshoe season! We came across the large blowdown that was blocking the trail where hikers had started to walk around it forming a new trail that encourages erosion. We stopped and started to clean out the blowdown by cutting off a few branches. Steve took control of the Silky Katana Boy saw and quickly cut through the main trunk of the tree. I cut another few branches and Cindy and I cleared away some more branches. As we were finishing up Judy came walking up the trail. I had given her directions to Trout Pond which mentioned Russell Brook Road thinking there was still a road sign on the corner. She eventually found the right turn and I was glad she joined us. Clearing the whole blowdown went much faster than I thought and we were soon packing up to continue up the hill to the next blowdown. We continued to lop a few branches an clear remove loose branches from the trail. The next challenge was to clear what looked like a rather large single truck angled up across the trail. Steve again took the Katana Boy and cut the trunk high on one side of the trail. The cutting went easier than we expected. I made a cut on the other end near the trunk and we rolled the center section off the trail. We continued up the trail toward Mud Pond. As we finally reached the top, we found some briars and other weeds crowding the trail. I used my machete to widen the trail and it once again performed very well. We walked down the trail toward the junction where we turned right to head over Cherry Ridge toward Trout Pond.

We didn't hurry our hiking and very much enjoyed the sunny weather with a slight breeze. We passed through the area where there is a forest of very small trees and continued on the main trail. Soon, we ran across our next blowdown which was blocking the trail and forcing hikers to walk around it. We used the same method to clear this blockage as we had before. We removed a few branches and threw them to the side of the trail and then went to work on the trunk. A few cuts and less than 15 minutes later we were ready to continue. It was becoming very clear how much easier the job is when a small group works together. We came across a single birch trunk and made one cut to clear it from the trail before continuing our uphill trek. A little after 10:30 AM we came what appeared to be an easily removed large cherry branch. As we were making our plan, Shaun caught up to us and pitched in with his bow saw on the thickest part of the branch. Steve and I attacked the upper branches finding that the blowdown was a little more complex than we had originally thought. After clearing the top, we helped Shaun saw through the larger portion of the branch and then cleared everything from the trail. As we were finishing, Cindy, who was up ahead, announced there was another jog waiting. The tree was a large dead trunk with a few smaller trees that it had taken down. We cleared the smaller branches and then took a look at the trunk. Steve decided to use the saw to cut the trunk which looked very solid. We took turns working the saw and the trunk gave way quicker than we expected. We were able to muscle the large trunk off the trail and finish the cleanup. We aborted to hike again and in less than 10 minutes came across another blowdown that seemed complex. We cleared away some branches and found that we only needed to make one cut as the rest of the branches had split an were easily removed. It took less than 10 minutes to clear the whole area. By this time is has after 11:00 AM and we were are beginning to tire. As we started up the final section of the trail to the highest point, we entered an area where blackberry briars were starting t overrun the trail. The others used their loppers but I got out my machete and, after putting on gloves, started to hack away at the briars. The LT Wright machete worked well and we had soon worked our way through the area. We walked up the trail and sat to take a short break and get a snack. There was a large blowdown on the trail but it was easy to walk around. We decided that we were through working and would simply hike out to the parking area. I was happy that we had gotten so much work done. On the way down the trail from the shoulder of Cherry Ridge we came across one blowdown that needed to be cleared but left it for another day. There were also several large logs partly on the trail but they could be walked around. As we descended toward the pond, I could see several people carrying a log, so I put Sheila on her leash. As we walked over the bridge, I had to stop to take a few pictures of the pond. I quickly took my shots and then caught up with the others who were headed down the woods road toward the outlet of the pond. We walked and talked which made the time go very quickly. We met a few family groups on the flat part of the trail. The water in Trout Pond looked high but there was still no water going over the dam. As we continuing downhill toward the falls, we began to meet more and more people coming up the trail and a few headed in the same direction we were. We were soon back at the bridge over Russell Brook and then it was just a short walk up to the cars. It was 1:45 PM and we had hiked 5.5 miles in 4 hours and 15 minutes with a lot of work done along the way!

On Friday, August 19th, I was trying to rest my left leg which I had "tweaked" on Wednesday during racquetball. I decided I wanted to go to Walnut Mountain in Liberty to plan some possible cross country courses. Cindy said she wanted to come and, as always, Sheila was ready to go. We arrived at the main parking area at about 10:35 AM. I needed to find a starting line so we walked over to the area of the Ultimate Frisbee course and we found a wide area on the grass although it was a little uneven. I set my Suunto Traverse watch and Garmin GPS unit and we started to walk a possible course. We walked out the Walnut Loop Trail South to the playground area and then turned and walked under the pines to the beginning of the main trail loops at the gate to the Mountain Overlook Trail. We walked up the trail as it headed uphill winding around to the first trail junction. The trail surface was mostly red shale rock with some grassy areas. We continued straight ahead on the connector trail to the Walnut Loop Trail West. This part of the trail was mostly grass and as we passed by the junction with the Walnut Trail Loop North at .56 miles. We were now on a surface that was sandy with small stones and at about 1 mile we began a steep uphill to a viewpoint. At the top of the hill we turned left on a connector trail that took us up to the Mountain Overlook Trail again. We turned left and were soon at the upper lookout where we turned right on the Sunset Trail. At the next junction we turned right and continued uphill on the Mountain House Trail. At 1.6 miles we hit the highest point on the course and continued to follow the Mountain House Trail downhill until the Mountain House Trail ended at the Sunset Trail. We turned right and followed the Sunset Trail downhill to the Mountain Overlook Trail. We turned left and then left again at the next junction at 2 miles to repeat the loop on the Walnut Loop Trail West. We continued around and back up the hill to the lower lookout. At this point we continued straight ahead through an open, grassy clearing on the Walnut Loop Trail South. The course from this point was all downhill to the finish. We walked down a steep part of the trail which had some loose rock and then the trail began to level out. We continued along the trail to the finish at 3.1 miles just short of the start. We walked back to the car for a break.

I was not thrilled with the uneven start so I looked around for a better area to begin our cross country races. We walked down toward the entrance to the beginning of the Walnut Loop Trail East. There was a nice grassy area which would be a much better starting area for a cross country race. I again reset my GPS devices and we headed out on the trail staying fairly close to the treeline. We entered the woods at about .1 miles and then started downhill toward the West Lake parking area. The trail surface had some round cobbles but also some areas of grass. At .5 miles we turned left just short of the parking area on the Walnut Loop Trail North. This trail started out as mostly grass with a slight uphill until .75 miles where we began to climb .2 miles up a 17% grade! At .87 miles we passed the turnoff for the Vista Way Trail on the left and continued up the hill. At .95 miles we hit the top of the steepest part of the trail and the surface turned back to grass from dirt. We continued on the Walnut Loop Trail North which was still uphill to the junction with the Walnut Loop Trail West. At this point Cindy returned to the car while Sheila and I turned right around the back of Walnut Mountain on the Walnut Loop Trail West. We climbed the hill at 1.6 miles to the lower lookout. We turned left on the connector trail and then left again on the Mountain Overlook Trail to the upper lookout. We were then on the Sunset Trail and we continued to follow it around the back of the mountain. This trail had a nice soft surface and was a pleasure to walk. We continued on the Sunset Trail until it ended at 2.5 miles on the Mountain Overlook Trail. We turned left and then right at the next junction to follow the Mountain Overlook Trail back to the gate near the parking area. To get to the finish we turned right under the pine trees and walked to the Walnut Loop Trail South. We walked out the trail to the old quarry and to a spot exactly 3.1 miles from the start. I now had two possible courses to present to my cross country team.

On Monday, August 15th, I had planned to leave very early to hike the remaining section of map 14 on the Finger Lakes Trail near Watkins Glen. When my alarm went off at 5:00 AM, I thought about the fact that I had my first cross country practice in the evening and would not be able to really enjoy the hike. I decided I wanted get out and do a hike closer to home since the temperature had finally dropped a little although it was still humid. The weather forecast included no rain for a change and called for partly sunny skies. I decided to go to Trout Pond since it is close and offers some nice views and since I had been to Frick Pond so many times in the last few weeks. I had some things to take care of in the morning so I didn't get out of Livingston Manor until after 10:30 AM. I put my gear in the trunk and an overjoyed Sheila in the back seat and headed to Roscoe on State Route 17. I got on Route 206 and followed it across the Delaware County line to Morton Hill Road. After a left turn on Morton Hill Road, I drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the side of the road to avoid the parking area which is private. We began our hike down Russell Brook Road at 11:05 AM. The air temperature was cooler than on previous days but was still "heavy" with humidity. I wore a short-sleeved Mountain Hardwear crew neck over an Underarmour baselayer. We continued on down Russell Brook Road to the overlook of the falls. On the way down the road we could hear very loud Latin music coming from the first campsite on the left. As we passed some people seemed to be setting up a large tent. I cannot understand why anyone would come to the quiet of an area like Trout Pond and then spoil it by blasting any music! At the falls overlook I could hear and see a large volume of water going over the upper falls. I stopped to take a few pictures and varied the camera modes in an attempt to get the soft, wispy pictures of the water that I like. I was careful as everything was slippery from the days of rain. We continued down toward the parking area where there were two cars parked in the lower lot. We got on the woods road that goes down to the bridge that crosses the brook. As we crossed the bridge I could see that the knotweed we had cut back had grown out again to impinge on the path. I made a note to plan another trip just to cut it back. I decided to walk to the falls and turned right on the path which was also beginning to grow over. We walked along the path to the falls and then down to the stream bed. A good volume of water was going over the falls but it was not as great as I have seen it. I took some pictures including a few of Sheila. Sheila was enthusiastically running into the water and then dashing around. We walked back up the bank and out to the main trail where we turned right to pass the register box. At the trail junction just after the register, we turned to the left to climb the steeper hill toward Mud Pond. The trail was wet and muddy in spots which made the going slippery. The sun was out and as soon as we started to climb the hill, I noticed how warm it seemed. As we climbed, we came across one large blowdown that was blocking the trail. Hikers had started to walk around this forming a new trail that encourages erosion. I put this on my list as something I would need to clear. It was not the last blowdown I would find on the path to the trail junction near Mud Pond. It seemed that I was constantly leaning down to pick up a branch and in some cases a rotten tree trunk to move them off the trail. If every hiker took the time to remove a few of these, the trails would be in much better shape! We reached the top of the hill at 11:55 AM after hiking 1.6 miles. The woods road had some ruts from a vehicle that appeared to be a pickup truck but none were new. The trail was very wet with some standing water in places. At 1.8 miles we made a right to follow the trail up to the shoulder of Cherry Ridge.

This trail was also very wet for most of the way to the highest point on the hike. There were areas of both standing and running water and some were deep enough for Sheila to immerse her whole body. This, of course, started a new round of mad dashes up and down the trail. We avoided a few muddy areas and crossed a few small streams. There were quite a few blowdowns on the trail and I removed what I could. Most needed tools to clear them. There were also many areas where branches needed to be lopped to open up the trail and several places where briars and weeds needed removal. The ascent continued for the next 1.2 miles until at 3.0 miles into the hike when we were at the highest point and ready to start the descent to Trout Pond. This part of the trail was drier but there were still more branches to remove and several large blowdowns. The little stream next to the trail actually had enough water to allow Sheila to get a drink and play some. As we approached the bridge at the inlet end of the pond, we could hear people coming down from the upper lean-to. The trail at the bottom of the hill and just before the bridge was very wet. I stopped at the bridge to allow the three young men time to get ahead of us and we never saw them again. I took a few pictures from the bridge and then started the hike back. There were two people at the lower lean-to and we waved to each other as we started down the trail on the eastern shore of Trout Pond. This trail is usually very wet but it was drier than other sections thus time. When we got to the outlet end of the pond, I could see that the sky was a dull gray and I decided to skip the pictures. I did notice that despite the rain the level of the water in the pond was still low and no water was going over the dam. The hike from the outlet to the trail junction is all downhill and really did go quickly. Near the upper end of the trail, we met a single woman and I took Sheila by the collar so the hiker could pass. She seemed oblivious to the gesture and wandered off to pick and eat some berries so we continued down the hill. I was surprised that the stream next to the trail sounded like it had a good volume of water. I could only surmise that the dam leaks of that it was all runoff. As we passed the designated campsite area on the right of the trail, I could see that no one was using i.e. did meet four hikers coming up the trail and I made sure I put Sheila on her leash as they had a golden retriever with them. We passed by with a brief "hello". By 1:45 PM we had hiked 5.1 mikes and were back at the trail junction and register box. We continued our hike on the main trail to Russell Brook Road. There were now four cars in the lot. As we walked up the road back to the car, I noticed that the campers who had been at the campsite playing their music were now gone. They had been breaking down the site not setting it up! We finished the hike up Russell Brook Road back to the car. We arrived back at 2:00 PM having covered 5.8 miles and 1120 vertical feet in 3 hours.

On Friday, August 12th I wanted to get in a hike close to home since the forecast for most of the area included thunderstorms sometime in the afternoon. After some morning showers, I decided to head to the Frick and Hodge Pond area to do some sort of hike. I was still recovering from twisting my foot during racquetball on Wednesday so I knew I wanted a relatively flat hike of no more than 6 miles. I got my gear and Sheila in the car at about 10:30 AM and headed out the DeBruce Road to Mongaup Pond Road. I turned left and headed up toward Mongaup Pond but stayed to the left on Beech Mountain Road where the road forks. I parked in the smaller parking area t the trailhead and crossed the road to start the hike at 10:45 Am. It was already hot and the humidity made the air feel warmer and "heavy". On the initial trail through the woods I found one small blowdown that I would have to return to cut and a few branches on the trail which I removed. We turned right on the woods road which was once the excision of the Beech Mountain Road and started the 1.7 mile climb up the Flynn Trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The grass was wet from the recent showers and the rocks were slippery to step on. Sheila was roaming around running up and down the rail and I was lost in thought. My foot seemed a little stiff but walking actually made it feel better. We hiked the 1.7 miles uphill in less than 45 minutes including a few stops to remove branches from the trail. There was at least one more blowdown which I would have to come back to cut. We continued on the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond and passed through the gate that marks the beginning of the OSI property. At the junction with the jeep trail, we turned right to walk the jeep trail toward the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. At 2.2 miles we turned left to walk down the hill toward Hodge Pond. After descending the short hill, we headed around the back of the Pond on the jeep trail. I had not intended to take pictures but as we rounded the back of the pond I could see the billowing clouds and decided to stop.

We walked down to the shore and Sheila promptly jumped in to swim. I took out the camera and took some shots of the pond and the towering clouds. The clouds were not very dark but the wind was starting to blow and I decided to get going. Back on the main trail we walked toward the Flynn Trail where we turned left to complete the loop around the pond. On the way toward the outlet, we encountered another large blowdown and I took a quick picture. I could remove this one if the people from OSI did not get to it first. At the clearing near the outlet we walked over toward the shore and I again stopped to take pictures. In the few minutes since we had left the upper end of the pond the clouds had grown darker in some places and the wind was turning the leaves over. I decided to walk up the hill next to the pond to walk back up the jeep trail and then out to the Flynn Trail. The trail was a little longer than I remembered but not as steep and we were soon back at the Flynn Trail. We turned left to head for the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We hiked passed the gate and by 12:25 PM we were back at the highest point on the hike. I had originally planned to head down the Big Rock Trail and then walk the Logger's Loop to extend the distance of the hike. I had not heard any thunder yet but I definitely did not want to hike in the rain! I decide to simply hike back down the Flynn Trail which would give me about 5.5 miles of hike which I deemed enough for the day. Then Flynn Trail is all downhill on the way back and I set a pretty fast pace. I did have to keep calling Sheila back as she was setting an even faster pace. Soon we were descending the last part of the hill to the gate. We followed the Flynn Trail through the woods and back to the car. There was one other car parked in the lot. The skies looked blue and sunny but I was glad to finish early. Surprisingly the descent had taken only a few minutes less than the ascent and we had made no stops. We were backs t the car at 1:05 PM having hiked 5.7 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes gaining 820 feet along the way.

On Monday, August 8th I was tired after hiking 10.5 miles to cover a section of the Finger Lakes Trail from Maple Lane to Templar Road. I decided as long as I was in the area I would go to the Sugar Hill Fire Tower since the walk seemed very short. I drove north on Maple Lane traveling slowly as the road was all gravel and dirt. At the end I turned right or east on Tower Hill Road and within .2 miles came to the access road to the fire tower and a parking area. I decided to walk up to the tower from the access road even though you can drive directly to the tower. The road is not open at all times and I wanted to know the distance of the walk. I took my pack out of the car even though it was a short walk since it is the easiest way to carry my camera. I put Sheila on her leash as there were some rather unruly dogs in the lot. We headed over to the access road at 3:00 PM and began the walk to the tower. The temperature was in the mid 80's but a breeze made it seem cooler. There was a track in the grass beside the road and we walked most of the way along that track. As we approached the tower there was a loop around the top and we headed to the right even though we could have gone directly to the tower across the grass. At the top of the hill there is a nice recreation area and ample parking. Once at the top we headed over to the tower and I tied Sheila to the sign at the base. I took a few pictures of the tower and then began to climb. As I climbed up each step my leg muscles let me know they were not happy. This tower is a 67'6" International Derrick model 1937 tower and was erected in 1941 by CCC. It was staffed by volunteers until 1951, and then by the State until 1979. When I got to the top of the tower, I found the cab was closed and from my reading this is true all year. Even though I could not get into the cab, the view from the top was still good. On this day there was a lot of green and I imagined how beautiful the view would be during the fall when the leaves change color. The most notable feature was the blue water of Seneca Lake only 6 miles to the east. I took some pictures and then descended the tower. I was surprised Sheila was not barking but she was waiting quietly at the bottom for me. Before leaving, I let her off her leash for a minute and had her pose on the steps of the tower. Sheila would be perfectly willing to climb the steps all the way to the top as she is not afraid of the open steps. I packed up and we walked across the grass to the access road. On the way I saw a USGS marker which indicated the elevation of the hill was officially 2096 feet. The trip down seemed much easier than the trip up. We were back at the car at after hiking .7 miles in 25 minutes with an elevation gain of only 104 feet.

On Monday, August 8th I wanted to hike and Cindy didn't feel she was up to it. After considering several options, I decided to make the long trip to the Finger Lakes Trail west of Watkins Glen and hike east toward the point where I had left off. After looking at the maps, the distances and the weather forecast for temperatures in the mid to high 80's, I decided to go to the western end of map 14 and hike from Access Point1 on Maple Lane in Orange, NY to Access Point 3 on Templar Road. The hike on the trail would be a little more than 6 miles but I knew we could hike back on local roads and cut the distance to 4 miles with a less difficult hike. Since the drive is almost 3 hours, I planed to get up at 6:00 AM and be out of the house by 6:30 AM. I got up on time but several little problems delayed my departure until just after 7:00 AM. One problem was that Google Maps would not print out a complete set of directions no matter what I did. I switched to MapQuest which would print out the complete directions but had a different route. When I put the destination into the car's GPS, I got a different route. When I left town, I wasn't sure what set of directions I would follow! As I drove north on Route 17, the fog was heavy and this continued all the way to Hancock. As I neared Hancock, signs began to appear that there was an accident ahead and that Route 17 was closed. This was just the first of several annoyances during the day. I got off the exit for Cadosia and took Route 268 north to Route 10. I turned left on Route 10 and followed some very slow traffic along the Cannonsville Reservoir to Deposit where I was able to get back on Route 17. After a long drive, I exited at exit 52A and got on Route 14 north toward Watkins Glen. I caught Johnson Hollow Road and headed for Route 414 to head west and north toward my destination. I began to see more and more traffic including many large trucks. The lettering NASCAR on the side reminded me that there had been a race at the track this weekend and the teams were finally leaving. After a few delays, I got by the racetrack and decided to follow the car's GPS. I made the turns as indicated but soon found I was headed too far west. I stopped to figure out where the GPS was taking me and the route was the most round about way to get to where I wanted to be. I decided that I was committed and continued to follow the directions until I was close to Sugar Hill and then used my own sense of direction. Once I was on Sugar hill Road, I found Maple Lane without much of a problem. I turned north an drove .75 miles to a small parking area on the right side of the road. A motorcycle was parked in the entrance and the rider sat on a stone taking break. He didn't seem to want to move so I edged between him and his bike with only a little room to spare. I turned around and parked and let Sheila out of the car. The rider spoke to me and turned out to be a very nice guy. The Finger Lakes Trail left the back of the parking lot and as we finally got on the trail at 10:45 Am we wished each other a good day.

I had turned on both my Garmin Map 64st GPS unit and my Suunto Traverse GPS watch to compare their tracks. I also had my cellphone with map 14 loaded into PDFMaps. I have found this app valuable when hiking the Finger Lakes Trail since the trail blazes are sometimes few and far between. The app works by using GPS satellite signals rather than cellphone signal from towers and can therefore work well under most conditions. We walked through a red pine plantation as the trail descended a little. The sun was bright but we were shaded under the trees and there was a slight breeze. Several unmarked trail crossed the Finger Lakes Trail but at .4 miles a blue trail with a "Lean-to" sign headed off to the right. That trail descended to the Parks Hollow lean-to. We followed the Finger Lakes Trail as it stayed on contour around a hill. We had been heading north and northeast but at 1.7 miles we descended to cross a dry creek bed and then the trail bent back to head first south and then east. At 1.8 miles we crossed the Mohawk Trail and at around 2 miles there was a sign on the right that indicated another lean-to and a pond. I thought about taking the trail just to see the pond but continued straight ahead on the main trail. After 2 miles the trail turned south but soon swung east descending all the way. At 2.9 miles we crossed Route 21 where there was room to park along the side of the road. There was no traffic so we crossed quickly and continued heading east and descending. A caution on the FLT map indicated the stream crossing near the end of this section could be a problem if the water was high but everything we had seen so far indicated this would not be a problem. As we walked we came to a spot where there was a large pile of fieldstones. It was the first remarkable feature so I took a few pictures. The trail up to this point was well-marked and maintained but after this location there were stretches with few blazes. Much of the trail in this area was overgrown and there were a few blowdowns. There were also a series of wooden walkways meant to bridge muddy areas but all of these areas were very dry. This section of the trail headed almost due east. We crossed the abandoned part of Locust Lane at 4.5 miles but it was hardly recognizable as a road anymore. There was an old foundation in the area.

We continued to head east as the trail continued to descend. I knew that all the descending meant we would have to regain that elevation to get back to the car. At 4.8 miles the trail turned south-southeast along Glen Creek. At about 5 miles there was a viewpoint over the creek and I took some pictures from it of the completely dry creek bed below. It was hard to believe that this creek was the one that cut the gorge I was looking at and Watkins Glen. As the trail started to turn away from Glen Creek, I noticed a solid rock foundation. I had never seen anything like it before and assumed it might have been part of a bridge across the creek. This was also the lowest point on the hike at 1237 feet. The car was parked at 1920 feet! At 5.5 miles we passed the Buck Settlement lean-to on the left side of the trail. We followed the trail along what looked like an old road and then crossed a small stream that had once cut a deep bed. Right after the crossing we turned left on an old road. The road descended to a branch of Glen Creek where there were some picnic tables at a small waterfall. This was "Ebenezer's Crossing" where we met the only other hikers we would see all day. A young couple and their Golden Doodle were hiking west from Watkins Glen toward Maple Lane where I was parked. We talked and I took a few pictures before heading up to Templar Road. The water fall looked like the discharge from a garden hose but I saw the potential for a difficult crossing during high water. When we got to the road, I stowed my poles and put Sheila on her leash for the road walk back to the car. We turned right on Templar Road which was covered with gravel. There was little traffic but we were more exposed to the hot sun. The hike on Templar Road was 1.4 miles and all of it was uphill. We continued straight ahead on Route 21 for .4 miles and it was all uphill but paved. When Route 21 turned right to head north, we continued straight ahead on Sugar Hill Road. I found out why there was a "hill" in the name of the road as we hiked another .9 miles uphill. Before we started to descend, we stopped so that I could give Sheila a drink and get one myself. Sheila seemed very hot and I began to think that I might cut into the woods rather than stay on the roads. We walked another .4 miles downhill until the access road for the Perkins Hollow lean-to came up on the right. We turned right and started to walk down the road. There was a gate and just outside the gate there was a four-wheeler with no rider. I thought we might encounter the owner but we never did. The access road descended to cross a small stream near the new lean-to site. I saw a sign that said "To FLT" so we followed it as it headed first north and then west climbing the whole way. It wasn't a steep climb but my legs were tired. At about 10 miles the Mohawk Trail headed north toward the Sugar Hill Fire Tower and at 10.1 miles we were back at the main Finger Lakes Trail. We turned left and retraced our steps from earlier in the day. We were back at the car at 2:50 PM having hiked 10.5 miles in 4 hours and 5 minutes. The total elevation gain was 1596 feet. After getting drink and enjoying the air conditioning, I headed north on Maple Lane to go to the Sugar Hill Fire Tower.

On Sunday, August 7th Cindy and I decided we would do some more work on Round Top just across the street from our house in Livingston Manor. We had started clearing a trail and wanted to do some more work to get it ready. Our friend Debbie wanted to help also but could not start until 2:00 PM. After church, Cindy and I ate lunch and I decided to head over to Round Top to scout out the correct route for the trail. Cindy and Debbie would join me later. I had a track from a previous trip so I turned it into a geospatial PDF which I could use on the PDFMaps app on my iPhone. I took my saw and wedges and walked across the street with Sheila around 1:00 PM. We walked up the steep road along the side of the cemetery and then turned left into the woods at the top of the hill. I admired the work we had done the day before as we hiked up to the trail junction. We turned right and walked up the woods road below the cliffs to our left. When the woods road turned left we followed it to the spot where Cindy and I had finished clearing. Ribbons marking a possible trail headed off into the woods on the left but I was pretty sure we could follow the woods road to another further up the trail. I got out my iPhone and found that I was right. At the end of the woods road leading up the hill we turned right on another and followed it which kept us right on the track I had on my phone. The farther we went the more the woods road was obscured by branches and weeds. I turned west where the track indicated but tried to stay a little more north since I wanted to lengthen the trail and I was pretty sure I would be on the public land. I continued to walk and soon found I had not turned soon enough and missed the viewpoint. I ended up on the same woods road I had ascended earlier. I walked back up that road to the spot where Cindy and I had stopped and dripped my pack. I got out my saw and started to cut the larger branches and a few blowdowns across the trail. I also picked up sticks and branches that were in the trail. I made the turn at the top and continued along the woods road wishing that I had brought loppers since they were best for some clearing. I continued to work until I reached a larger birch tree that lay embedded on the path. I turned around and walked back to my pack. Sheila alerted as Cindy and Debbie walked up the path. After a short rest, we got busy clearing more of the trail and widening it. Cindy and I used the loppers while Debbie cleared some of what we cut and pulled out other obstructions. It was humid and we were tired but we kept working until we got to the birch log. At this point I decide to leave it where it was and to cut another patch of brush that almost completely obscured the trail. After finishing that job, we decided to walk the loop as I had done before. We started out walking about the same route I had walked and I again missed the correct turn! We hit the woods road below the ledges and turned right to head back to the cemetery.

Along the way we decided to go to Madison's for dinner but it was not quite 4:00 PM. Cindy and Debbie decided to go back to the house to get cleaned up. I decided I wanted one more shot at finding a route from the viewpoint to the trail we had been clearing. This time I walked up to the viewpoint first and then headed east from there. For some reason walking in the direction was easier for me and I ended up on the extension of the woods road we had been clearing. I decided to follow a herd path that I had found to the highest point on Round Top that is on public land. I found the path and started up but it soon became hard to follow. I had been up the hill before and found one path after another and was soon at the top. The problem was that this climb averaged over 20% which would not be appropriate for most hikers. As I started down, I decided to stay a little more to the north and closer to State Route 17 since this was a gentler slope. I watched for "posted" signs to my right and did not see any and was soon on the woods road extension. I turned south and followed the path we had cleared all the way back to the main trail up to the viewpoint and then out to the cemetery. I turned off my GPS devices convinced that I had a good track. When I got home I edited some of my mistakes off the track and then sent it to Doug at the NYNJTC. I knew he could have his cartographer overlay the track on the tax maps to make sure I had stayed on public land. If my track is a good one, we will get a group together to help lay out the trail to connect the end of the woods road with the view point. This trail will have to be cleared and then the whole trail will have to be marked. We will also get a group together to hike to the high point on Round Top and look at possible routes to make a loop.

On Saturday, August 6th Cindy and I took our trail tools and headed across the street with Sheila to the hill called Round Top. On Thursday night the Town of Rockland Board had passed a resolution to create a trail network on the 14 acres of woodland adjacent to the Orchard Street cemetery. The Board seemed very enthusiastic about the project. Doug Sentermann, the NYNJTC Program Coordinator, was present to explain some of the details and to offer the support of the trail conference. Lisa Lyons also spoke about the importance of the trail network. The initial trail on Round Top will primarily follow existing woods roads which will require only minimal clearing to "build" the trail. A longer trail will be added that goes to the summit of Round Top. The trail leads to an viewpoint that overlooks the hamlet of Livingston Manor and the Livingston Manor School. Some trees will be removed at the viewpoint to allow an unobstructed view. It is hoped that the initial trail project on Round Top will lead to other project including a River Walk and a rail trail. All of these will be in easy walking distance of the center of town.

Cindy and I waited until some early morning showers had passed and then headed across the street with various tools including axes, saws and loppers. We walked up the steep hill to the beginning of the trail where some stone steps signal the start. We cut out the branches that obscured the start of the trail and continued to do so as we walked into the woods. There were a few blowdowns across the trail and a few larger branches to cut as we continued straight ahead and up the trail to the lookout. The lookout has long been used by individuals who illegal start campfires and leave garbage at the location. Cindy and I noted the amount of garbage that would have to be removed by a team of workers. The lookout has no view with leaves on the trees and I spotted three or four trees that could be cut to improve the view. Cindy and I walked back down to the area where the trail splits and headed up the other side of the loop. We cut a few branches here and there and removed some loose material from the trail. As we neared the end of the woods road, we turned left and continued on another woods road. There were a few more branches to cut here and some thorn apple to remove. We came to s spot where I was not sure of the track I wanted to take. We decided that I would put my previous track on a GPS device so that, on another day, we could clear the correct path. We hadn't been out too long but the humidity was very high so we decided to return home. We will be back to clear the rest of the trail and to walk a route for another trail to the summit of Round Top. The NYNJTC has cartographers who can easily superimpose my GPS tracks on the tax maps to make sure the trails are all on town property. We will also be getting together a crew to clear garbage from the lookout. Our tentative plan is to have the trails completed and blazed and the lookout cleared by October 1st in time for the fall colors!

On Friday, August 5th I wanted to due a shorter destination hike since I had a slight foot injury from my 11+ mile hike in Chenango County two days before. I decided to visit Kaaterskill Falls as I had not been there in a while and I knew that there had been many changes. In an effort to prevent injuries and deaths the DEC had hired ADK crews to build a viewing platform for the upper falls, install fencing in some of the most dangerous areas and construct a trail from the bottom of the lower falls to the top of the upper falls. Despite these efforts a 17 year old New Jersey youth fell from the top of the falls in late July and died from his injuries. We got our gear ready and put it in the car with Sheila and started out from Livingston Manor a little after 9"00 AM. I chose to drive out DeBruce Road to Route 47 were I turned left to drive passed the Frost Valley YMCA camp. At Route 28 in Big Indian I continued straight ahead on the Route 28 detour to Route 42. I turned north on Route 42 and drove to Route 23A in Lexington. I turned right and drove through Hunter, Tannersville and Haines Falls arriving at the parking area for the falls at about 10:45 AM. We were surprised that it was Friday and the lot was more than full. Cars were trying to find places to park were there were none. We decided to park at the end of Laurel House Road and at least get a look at the upper falls even if the trail to the lower falls was not yet complete. When we arrived at the parking area, I was surprised to see that it had been enlarged and upgraded. The last time I had visited the rail trail had been constructed which included leveling and the application of crushed stone. Now there was also a trail that seemed to head down toward the falls which was also leveled and covered in crushed gravel. We got ready and started our hike at about 11:00 AM. I put Sheila on her leash where she stayed most of the day and I did not take my poles as I would not be able to use them while holding the leash. We started down the older dirt path that leads most directly to the top of the falls and crossed the new gravel path twice. We soon arrived at the path that leads passed the new fencing and down to the viewpoint that looks out from the top f the upper falls and to the pool below. There were signs that warned hikers to be careful but several people were walking around in questionable footwear where a fall would have been fatal. I put down my pack and handed the leash to Cindy as I got out my camera. I took several pictures out over the clove and a few of the falls and Spruce Creek. We were both happy there was enough water in the creek to make viewing the falls worthwhile. I walked back up Spruce Creek on the path along the rocks of the creek. I was looking for blazes on the other side but did not find any so I returned to Cindy. I was disappointed that there was no trail down to the lower falls but I knew we could come back in midweek and park on Route 23A to visit the lower falls.

We finally left the top of the falls and headed back along the path. We decided to follow the new trail as it started down the western side of the falls gorge. There was a sign that said "Viewing platform" and the trail wound down to a viewpoint with a new viewing platform. The platform looked out over the clove and have a great side view of the upper falls. It was a much safer alternative to standing at the top of the falls and the view of the falls was certainly better! I took a picture of the platform and then stepped out to take some more shots. I took some pictures down the clove and several of the upper falls from the side. As we got ready to leave I noticed an Assistant Forest Ranger sitting on the rock wall. I asked him when the trail to the bottom of the falls would be ready and he replied "It is already almost completed." The final plan is to install a 120 foot bridge over Spruce Creek upstream from the falls in the area of the previous bridge which is now in ruins. He suggested that we walk upstream and cross the creek to access the new trail. He explained that there would be signs in this area. Cindy and I took Sheila and headed up the stream walking on the rocks since the creek was low. There is also a trail higher up the bank which leads to the same area. Sooner than I expected, we were at the old bridge and we crossed over the stream pretty easily on some rocks. We found a sign that said "To Top of Falls" but could not find any sign of the new trail the AFR had mentioned. Another couple was standing on the blue Escarpment Trail talking about where they would hike next. They asked me some questions which I answered. I asked them about the trail to the bottom of the falls and they told us to get on the Escarpment Trail heading toward the Layman Memorial and we would find the yellow blazed trail to the bottom! We were both happy that we would get to see the rest of the falls. I was happy to be able to create a track for other hikers and add the trail to my list to say I had really hiked ALL the trails in the Catskills. We started to walk out on the Escarpment Trail and in a little more than .1 miles we found the yellow trail on the right. We turned right and followed the trail as it made its way down the steep slope using switchbacks at places to mitigate the grade. The crew had expertly sited the trail and added some crushed stone for drainage. There were several groups of people hiking in the direction we were going and several groups coming up from below.

After a walk of about .25 miles we came to the top of the stone staircase installed by the ADK crew. The crew placed 200 steps imported from another site to build a set of steps on the steepest part of the slope. A little over .4 miles from where we started by the "bridge" there was a side trail to the upper pool. Again, the ADK crew had done a very professional job of widening a leveling the existing path. As we hiked along the damp path, it was obvious that the rocks and dirt were slippery and that anyone hiking here should have proper hiking footwear and be extremely careful. Despite this we saw numerous people in sneakers and sandals walking the trails. Above the official trail another old path goes to a point above the upper pool. We could see young children with adults on this hazardous and illegal pathway. Walking these informal trails increases erosion and endangers the hiker. I thought about the family of the most recent fatal mistake and the rescuers that had to retrieve his broken body. Despite the fences, signs, new trails and view platform there is no way to prevent stupid and careless people from putting themselves and others in danger! We walked out the path to the upper pool and I got me camera out to take some pictures. The position of the sun above the falls and the spray made getting pictures difficult. I took a few more of the gorge below the pool and then return to Cindy and Sheila. We headed down the remaining steps to the pool below the lower falls. I again got out the camera and took some shots of the lower falls and pool. I also tried to get the best angle to block some of the bright sun and to get a shot of both falls at the same time. After taking my pictures, I packed up and we headed down the trail toward Route 23A and Bastion Falls. Our plan was to turn around and Route 23A and hike back up the trail to the car as the hike along Route 23A back to Laurel House Road would be long and dangerous! As we headed down the trail there were numerous people coming up toward the lower falls. The trail was damp and wet in some places. I was surprised that little work had been done on this part of the trail and it was a stark contrast to the new trail and steps we had just used. At one point we came to a new set of wooden steps and the ADK crew taking their lunch break below. I stopped to ask them about the line they had strung across the creek and the project they were doing. They explained the line was to help set the stones that made up the rock retaining wall they were completing. The existing steps had been the victim of erosion and had been aging at least six inches in the air where the creek had eroded the bank. I thanked them for their work and asked if any other projects were planned. They said the only other approved project was the placement of the bridge across Spruce Creek. I was hoping that the trail from Route 23A to the lower falls would also be improved but they said they were unaware of any such plans.

We continued down the trail toward the Route 23A trailhead followed by at least one band of people. At the bottom we found a photographer was setting up a tripod in the stream directly in front of Bastion Falls. This was another example of someone thinking only of themselves! It was a dangerous move and meant anyone else trying to take pictures would have to shoot around him. To add to the surreal nature of the scene, a rather large man in swim trunks decided to wade into the pool at the base of Bastion Falls. I just marveled at the selfishness of these people and got out my camera to try to shoot around them. I took some shots from near the creek bed and then walked up to the Route 23A bridge and took a few pictures from there. When I walked back down to meet Cindy and Sheila, it was time to pack up and get started back to the car. I did not plan to stop much along the way and we headed back at about 12:40 PM. We walked back to the lower falls as fast as possible until we were at the base of the 200 steps. We started up the steps and met several groups of people coming down. Each time we met a group I would pull Sheila to the side of the trail to allow others to pass. Eventually we made it to the top of the steps and continued to walk the new trail uphill to the Escarpment Trail. We considered hiking a little more but I had to be back for cross country practice so we decided to head back to the car. When we got to the old bridge, we had several choices about how to return. We could walk back down the creek reversing our route from earlier. We could walk up Schutt Road to the access road to North South Lake and then walk down Laurel House Road to the car. We chose to cross the stream by the bridge and walk up a path which I felt would be the access once the new bridge was installed. We walked up the path and found ourselves on the new trail from the parking area at Laurel House Road. I had no idea that we would be that close to the car after crossing the creek. We walked back to the car arriving at 1:30 PM. I decided I wanted to walk the entire new trail so I could get an accurate GPS track of the "right" way to go. I headed down the new gravel covered trail and followed it passed the cutoff to the old bridge and down to the view platform. From here I walked back up the trail to the cutoff to the bridge. I turned right here and walked down the bank to the creek, cross on stepping stones and walked up to the Escarpment Trail. At this point I turned around and recrossed the stream and followed the trail back up to the car. It was 1:45 PM and I had hiked 4.2 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes with and elevation gain of 1165 feet. We thought about stopping at Poncho Vila's in Tannersville but decided we did not want to leave Sheila in the car that long.

On Wednesday, August 3rd I was ready to get out of the house again after almost a weak of rainy weather! For my first hike of August, I decided to head north to Chenango County to hike a section of the Finger Lakes Trail from Jackson Pond on John Smith Road north of North Pharsalia to Fred Stewart Road south of North Pharsalia. I intended to hike south on the trail and then hike back to the car using local roads. I estimated the hike out would be just over 7 miles and the hike back would be only 4 miles for a total of around 11 miles. I chose this hike for several reasons. This section of trail was recently rerouted off roads onto newly constructed trails and included a new bridge. In addition, this was the route of the most recent "named hike" of the FLTC. The hike was the Ed Sidote hike and my route would pass the bench dedicated to "Mr. FLT" who always said "Happy Hiking". I had planned to do this hike on the previous Saturday with the group but was denied permission to bring my dog. There was really no decision for me since I hike everywhere with Sheila. I had headed north to do the hike with her on Saturday but when I got to Norwich the rain was falling and I turned around and drove home. Now I was ready to try in again with a forecast of fog in the morning and partly sunny skies the rest of the day. I got up early but delayed my departure until just after 7:30 AM so I would be at the beginning of the hike by 9:30 AM. I headed to Deposit on Route 17 and took Route 8 north to Sidney. Just north of Sidney I took the route to Norwich where I picked up Route 23 West. I drove through North Pharsalia and followed the map on my cell phone to John Smith Road just a little to the west. The road started as a gravel road, turned to a paved road briefly and then turned back to gravel. I drove a little less than a mile to a small parking area on the left side of the road. I parked at 9:30 AM and when I got out of the car felt a little cool as the temperature was only 63 degrees. I was glad I had worn a long-sleeved top with a baselayer but I knew it would probably warm up during the day. I let Sheila out of the car, set up all my electronic devices and started the hike at 9:35 Am by walking a little north on the road to where the Finger Lakes Trail crossed. We turned right to head east and were off on our hike. The trail was exceptionally well-maintained which may have something to do with the "named" hike on Saturday. The first mile was downhill and was the same as the previous route. We passed by the remains of the old CCC camp but I decided not to take any pictures as what is left is hard to distinguish even in person. I did stop to take a picture of a magnificent fungus at the base of a tree. At 1.0 miles the trail met Elmer Jackson Road and we turned right or south to follow the road to Lower Pond. I remembered this pond and the small dam at the outlet. I dropped my pack to get out the camera and took some pictures of the dam and then worked by way down the bank of the stream so that I was below the dam. I took some pictures from various angles before walking back up to my pack. At this point the old route passed across the dam and headed out to Grover Brown Road. The new route took us further down Elmer Jackson Road.

The walk down the road was about .6 miles until we found where the trail turned left into the woods. The new trail was well done and seemed to follow existing paths. We were only on the trail for .4 miles when it again came out to the road and followed it south for .1 miles until entering the woods on the right side of the road. The trail headed east and then turned south descending now toward Route 23. Some places were a little rocky and rough but most seemed to follow well-defined trails. At the end of the descent we came to a newly-constructed set of bridges across Canasawacta Creek. The first was a simple flat bridge without railings. The second, spanning the main creek, was a beautiful kingpost bridge. I stopped to take a few pictures and the crossed the bridges and headed up to the road. The trail crossed the road and started up the bank on the other side. This part of the trail was a steep climb but it didn't last very long. We were still on the new reroute of the trail and it is a job well done! The trail continued south over the top of a hill and down the other side crossing gravel covered Center Road at 3.8 miles. At 4.1 miles it turned east and then south again at 4.8 miles near a bivouac area. The old trail was marked in blue here and apparently headed out to the bivouac. We continued on the trail which was now the same as the old trail to Nine Mile DEC Truck Trail at 5.7 miles. We turned left and followed the road briefly before following the trail as it turned into the woods on the right. We continued to walk south and slightly downhill to 6.2 miles where the trail turned east. Much of the trail is what I call "roots, rocks, trees" and, while pretty, has no real remarkable features. The trail turned south again at 6.7 miles and I knew the Ed Sidote bench would be coming up soon. When we got to the bench, we stopped and I took some pictures of the bench and Sheila. This is also the point where a spur trail leads west to the Pharsalia Woods Lean-to. After getting drink, we continued on the main trail east to Fred Stewart Road.

I was now ready for the return trip to the car using local roads so I put Sheila on her leash and collapsed my poles to store them in my pack. We turned left on Fred Stewart Road to head north. After a short distance, we turned left on the DEC Road heading northwest toward North Road. We walked by the area where we had crossed the road earlier and at 8.8 miles we were at North Road. We turned right here to head north toward Route 23. The sun was now behind us and it was much hotter than at any other point on the hike. Sheila was doing a good job of pulling me along and at 9.3 miles we crossed Center Road and hit the paved part of North Road. From where we descended for .5 miles to Route 23. We turned left and walked west meeting only a few cars on the usually busy highway. As we walked along Route 23, I noticed the beautiful blue sky filled with puffy white clouds and the farm that we were approaching. It was the kind of idyllic scene that is becoming less common as more and more farms are abandoned. After walking .4 miles of Rote 23, we turned right and started the final hike up John Smith Road to the car. The first part of the road was uphill and my legs were starting to hurt. I also was feeling a hotspot on the bottom of my left foot. Fortunately, there was a slight breeze nabbing and we were soon at the top of the hill and in the shade. As we approached the car, I checked my GPS watch and found it was 11.01 miles. I decided to take the access trail down to Jackson Pond where I had been before. The Finger Lakes Trail cuts below the dam but we walked out on the dam to get a better look at the pond. A blue heron took off from the area of the dam and flew north toward the upper end of the water. I got out my camera and took a few shots of the pond with the reflections of the sky and clouds. There is a small island in the pond which broke up the water and made the shots more interesting. We walked back up the road to the car and started our trip home. We had walked 11.3 miles in 4 hours and 10 minutes with an elevation gain of 1030 feet.

On Thursday, July 28th I wanted to get in a hike close to home after finishing some work around the house in the morning. I got my gear including my Silky saw to remove at least one lowdown I knew about. Sheila was eager to get in the car and we left Livingston Manor around 10:30 AM to head for Frick Pond. The sky was a little overcast without the nice blue hues and puffy white clouds I like for pictures. I had already decided that I would limit my photography to the before and after pictures of the slowdowns I cleared. We were at the parking area and out on the Quick Lake Trail by 10:45 AM. Sheila was more than ready to get going even though we had hiked Monday and Tuesday. The temperature was in the high 70's and it was very humid. I had brought along my MSR Swift 3 poles to give them a try after using the Leki Micro Vario poles almost exclusively for a year. The Swift 3 poles are very light but don't seem quite as sturdy as others I have. They also have a limited number of length adjustments. The woods road passed the register box to Frick Pond was damp but there was no standing or running water. Just before the trail junction I cut one branch. At Gravestone Junction we stayed to the left on the red Quick Lake Trail crossing the stepping stones the Willowemoc Trail Crew had installed last year. I wondered when these stones would actually become necessary again! As we walked down to the pond, I cut another branch that was across the trail. We crossed the bridge over the outlet and the scene was much the same as always. . Looking at the pond I wasn't moved to take any pictures until some birds took off from the pond and one of them was a Great Blue Heron. The heron circled and landed again in the wetlands at the edge of the pond. My Powershot SX65^) HS has a 65x zoom lens and I used it to my advantage to snap several shots. I took a few more pictures of the pond and then packed up to continue our hike. At the next trail junction we headed left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. We were keeping a pretty steady pace as we headed for Iron Wheel Junction. Sheila was running around following game trails and chasing a few chipmunks and squirrels. I removed a few branches from the trail as I walked along. When we arrived at Iron Wheel Junction, we turned left to head toward Hodge Pond.

We kept a quick pace up the hilly part of the trail. Just after the junction with the snowmobile trail, we came to the large blowdown I planned to remove. My memory had not served me well as it was a lot larger than I remembered. I took some before pictures and then got busy sawing off a few smaller branches and dragging them to the side of the trail. I cut the final supporting branch and as it released it flew up just missing my leg! I wasn't satisfied that the trail was clear enough so I cut about three feet off the main trunk leaving the rest for a felling axe at a later date. I packed up and we continued up the hilly part of the trail. We continued on the trail until it leveled off an descended slightly to Junkyard Junction. At this intersection, the Quick Lake Trail bears to the left and continues on to Quick Lake. We turned right and headed across the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. The Flynn Trail was surprisingly damp and slippery with mud in some places. The trip across this part of the Flynn Trail went quickly and we were soon at the trail junction. We reached the shores of the pond and turned left to follow the jeep trail around the back of the pond. The sky was still overcast but there were a few areas of blue and some wispy clouds. We stopped at the upper end of the pond and walked down to the shore. Sheila got in a brief swim and I took a few pictures. On the other side of the pond I turned left up the hill toward the ruins of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. The climb up this trail is steeper than the trail from the outlet of Hodge Pond but it is also shorter! When we got to the top of the hill, we turned right to head back toward the Flynn Trail. Once we were back at the Flynn Trail, we turned left for a straight shot back to the car. We set a fast pace to the junction with the Big Rock Trail and then had about 1.7 miles to go to get back to the car. I must have been deep in thought as the hike to the car seemed to go so quickly. We followed the Flynn Trail to the woods and back to the car arriving at 1:35 PM. We hiked 6.6 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes with 935 feet of elevation gain. This included the stops for pictures and trail maintenance. Our moving average was 2.8 mph!

On Tuesday, July 26th I wanted to go back to Shaupeneak Ridge where Kurt and I had hiked some of the trails on Monday. My plan was to hike the rest of the trails finish before the temperature rose into the 90's! Shaupeneak Ridge which is located on Popletown Road off Old Post Road just off Route 9W in Esopus. From the previous day I knew the drive was shorter than indicate online and that I could make it in just over and hour. I got up early in the morning and got all my gear ready. Sheila was ready to go and we left home a little after 8:00 AM. The temperature was 63 degrees when we left but I knew that it would rise quickly and that it is always warmer and more humid near the Hudson. The forecast called for a heat index of over 90 degrees in Kingston. At least the forecast did not include any thunderstorms for the area and I was glad since we had gotten soaked the day before! I drove to liberty on Route 17 and then took Route 52 to Ellenville where I picked up Route 209 north toward Kingston. After passing through Accord, I looked for the sign for Rosendale and turned right or east on Route 213. I drove through Rosendale and continued on Route 213 looking for Cow Hough Road. I found it and turned right and then stayed left on Dashville Road which became Old Post Road. I drove until the road made a sharp right turn and I turned left on Popletown Road. I drove up the road until I found the sign for the parking area for Shaupeneak Ridge on the left. I turned into the parking area and immediately got me gear ready for the hike. I set all my electronics and we left the parking area on the blue trail at 9:10 AM heading southwest to complete a clockwise loop around the pond. The trail started off as a gravel path which was very even and well groomed. Almost immediately there was an area with two benches and I walked over to take a few shots of Louisa Pond. We continued along the blue trail and found the kayak launch a few hundred feet further along. We walked down to the shore and I took a few more pictures of the pond including the lily pads and a beaver lodge. When we got back on the blue trail we walked over a wooden walkway after which the trail became more like a trail rather than a path. We walked through a rocky area and then entered a pine forest at the outlet end of the lake to the southwest. Everything was wet and slippery from the rain the day before and the humidity so getting good foot placement was important. At about .4 miles we came to the beaver dam that impounds the water for the pond. There was a nice view over the entire pond so I took a few more shots before we continued on around the pond. We walked up a hill and started heading northeast. I found the blazes for the orange trail and made note of where they were but my plan was to finish the blue trail first. We continued along the trail and passed the second junction with the orange trail and the beginning of the green trail. I was being bothered by biting insects but not so badly I wanted to stop and apply repellent. We continued on the more familiar part of the blue trail and by 9:50 AM we were back at the parking area after covering 1.35 miles.

The other trail that leaves from the parking area is the yellow trail which we tackled next. This trail parallels the blue trail around the pond but is a little further away and travels along a series of rock ledges. As we started up the trail, there was a sign that explained the significance of stone walls. I at first thought this was obvious but then realized it might be interesting information for some people. This trail had a series of these signs with some being more informative and understandable than others. The trail was short and we were soon descending to meet the blue trail after hiking the complete length of the .3 mile yellow trail. We turned left and started clockwise around the lake again. At 1.85 miles we turned left onto the orange trail which headed south and then turned west. At 2.15 miles we came to a deep gorge and the trail swung north to loop around the top of this area. We followed the trail continuing to gain elevation as it eventually headed west and then south again along the ravine. Eventually we were at a point directly across from where we had started the loop. We had walked a little over .3 miles to get to a point 170 feet away from where we had been! The trail went west a short distance and then headed north. I was watching for the crossover trail that connected the orange to the green trail. We had missed this trail the day before and I wanted to use it to get to the aqua trail. At 2.75 miles the crossover trail marked in orange and green markers turned off to the left and we followed it. The crossover trail headed north to the green trail and dropped elevation for its entire .2 mile length. When we hit the green trail, we had dropped 100 feet. We turned left and followed the green trail to 3.1 miles where the aqua trail began on the left. We turned left and followed the trail until it split within a few hundred feet. I decided to head left first so we started out on the trail in that direction heading south. It was getting significantly warmer and the humidity was high since none of the sweat was evaporating from my body!

The trail soon came to an open forest where the forest floor was covered in ferns. It was so pretty I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take a few shots. I was immediately swarmed by mosquitoes and decided it was time to apply repellant! I also got a drink and gave Sheila one before we continued south to about 3.6 miles where the trail made an almost 180 degree turn north. At 3.85 miles the trail made a large loop to the west before heading northeast. The aqua trail was another trail that, like the green trail, was created for both mountain biking and hiking. There were some impressive rock ledges along the way which made the walk interesting despite the lack of expansive views. Near the end of the loop I found a large pile of stones but I could not determine its purpose or its age. At 4.4 miles we were back at the point where the aqua trail had split. We walked out to the green trail and turned right to retrace our steps back to the crossover trail. This time when we got to the crossover trail, we had to climb out of the hollow that we were in to the top of the ridge. Once we were back at the junction with the orange trail, we turned left to complete the loop of this trail. This trail also had no views but was an interesting walk along a high set of rock ledges. As we approached the end of the orange trail, we both could hear voices approaching. I put Sheila on her leash and soon four hikers/walkers appeared. They were quite a bit older than I am and did not seem to be outfitted for the rougher trails ahead! We walked passed and soon were at the junction with the blue trail. I had a choice to make and decided to turn left to go around the northern end of the wetland since this was a better part of the blue trail. The last .4 miles of the hike went quickly. We were back at the parking area by 11:50 Am having hiked 5.8 miles in 2.5 hours with an elevation gain of only 825 feet. The temperature was now 83 degrees or about 10 degrees warmer than when we had started the hike.

On Monday, July 25th I had plans to hike with my son Kurt somewhere near his home in Poughkeepsie starting at around 10;00 AM. I always prefer to try a new hike if it is possible and I began to look for one. I settled on Shaupeneak Ridge which is located on Old Post Road just off Route 9W in Esopus. The drive seemed to be almost an hour and a half for me but only held an hour for Kurt. Kurt agreed to meet me there at 10:00 AM. I got up early in the morning and got all my gear ready. Sheila had seen my leave the house on both Friday and Saturday in my hiking clothes without taking here along and she did not let me out of her sight until I opened the door for her! When we left Livingston Manor at about 9:35 AM the temperature was already in the low 70's and the humidity was high. The forecast called for a heat index of over 100 degrees in Kingston by 2:00 PM so I knew we would have to be finishing around that time! There was also a chance of thunderstorms to arrive in the late afternoon. I drove to liberty on Route 17 and then took Route 52 to Ellenville where I picked up Route 209 north toward Kingston. After passing through Accord, I looked for the sign for Rosendale and turned right or east on Route 213. I drove through Rosendale and continued on Route 213 looking for Cow Hough Road. I found it and turned right and then stayed left on Dashville Road which became Old Post Road. I drove almost to Route 9W and found the sign for the parking area for Shaupeneak Ridge on the left just before the train tracks. I turned into the parking area and left the car running to take advantage of the air conditioning. I was surprised it was only a little after 9:30 AM! I stepped out of the car to get a trail map at the kiosk and was hit by a blast of warm, humid air. When I got back in the car, I saw that the temperature was now in the low 80's. Kurt and I conferred by cellphone and I helped to guide him to the parking area. He arrived a little after 10:00 AM and we spent a few minutes getting ready to hike. We left the parking area on the white trail at 10:15 AM. The trail was well packed and traveled first through an open area and then entered the woods. We immediately started to gain elevation although the trail was not steep. At .65 miles a purple trail branched off to the right and we followed it about several hundred feet where it ended. The trail guide description said there would be a waterfall at the end. We could see a rocky stream bed and the rock which the water would fall over. The only problem was there were only a few drips of water coming off the rock! I took a few shots and we returned to the white trail, turned right and continued to climb.

Much of the hike seemed to be of the "roots, rocks, trees" variety although it was very pretty. When we started the biting insect were pretty thick but they seemed to diminish in numbers as we got further into the hike. Over the final mile of the white trail, we climbed 560 feet for an average of about a 10% grade. At the top of the white trail we turned right on the red trail and immediately came to a lookout to the Hudson River. Unfortunately the trees have grown up to block much of the view and the Hudson always seems to have a haze hanging over it. I took a few shots and then asked Kurt to pose with Sheila while I took a few more pictures. It was 11:15 AM left the viewpoint to continue on the red trail hiking west and descending some. At 2.4 miles we came to the blue trail and turned left to try to walk to the shore of the wetlands at the north end of Louisa Pond. We couldn't get very close so we turned around and followed true blue trail as it headed northwest around the north end of the pond. At 2.5 miles we came to the beginning of the green trail and turned right to take this trail which is a loop constructed by mountain bikers. The description included some rock ledges. We began a short descent along what looked like a woods road. On our right was an extensive network of stone walls and, at one point, a road built up of rock near a small pond. We continued along the green trail until it forked and we turned right at 2.6 miles to take the more northern route. The trail began to ascend slightly and it headed southwest. Along the way we passed through an area that had some very tall trees where the ground was covered with a dense layer of ferns. I could help but take a few pictures. As we continued there were some nice rock ledges and some stone paved steps. There were also some logs that had been flattened on top for the more skilled bike riders. At one point I looked at a boulder that had a small "cave" at the bottom and saw...a garden gnome. I took a picture but Kurt and I could not discover why it had been placed there. At 3.4 miles the green trail made an almost 180 degree turn to head back toward its origin and the aqua trail branched to the right. I decided I would have to come back to hike the aqua, orange and blue trails so we followed the green trail. At about this time we noticed that there were some dark clouds in the sky but I knew the forecast said the storms would hold off until at least 4:00 PM when we would be long gone!

As I looked at the map, I saw a crossover trail from the green to the orange trail which looked like the shortest way back to the car. We knew the trail was not far after the turn and we began to look for it. We hiked and talked and continued to look for the crossover. Soon we were hiking up a slight incline when Kurt and I both noticed that the trail looked very familiar. We saw the stone road and the small pond and knew we had hiked the entire green loop! We continued on the green trail back to the blue trail where we turned left to follow the trail down the east shore of Louisa Pond. As we hiked, I stepped off the trail twice to try to get some shots of the wetland and the pond. Soon we were at the parking area for Shaupeneak Ridge on Popletown Road. We turned left and walked out to the entrance of the lot and crossed the road to pick up the more southern branch of the red trail at 4.65 miles. We walked .55 miles over this part of the red trail which rolled a little but gained some elevation. The skies continued to darken and we heard some noise which I tried to pretend was an airplane. At 5.2 miles we reached the white trail and turned right to follow it southeast back to the cars. The trail was a descent all the way except for one small climb. As we hurried along the thunder increased and then it started to sprinkle. I knew from experience that it was best to prepare for harder rain and I immediately out all by electronics in my pack and got out the cover. As soon as I got the pack on my pack, the heavens opened and we were hike through a deluge. Getting really wet really fast was bad enough but the lightening was much more localized than it had been. I knew there was no option but to keep hiking. Soon we were crossing the small bridge near the bottom of the white trail. I hoped the rain would let up but it did not. We broke out into the open and hurried back to the cars. As we arrived at the parking area, the rain abated and then all but stopped! I got Sheila in the backseat and accepted Kurt's offer of a blanket to cover the driver's seat. I was completely soaked! We said our goodbyes and headed out. It was 2:10 PM and we had hiked 6.8 miles in just under 4 hours gaining 1345 feet along the way. I decided to take Route 9W to Kingston to visit Beer World even though it was a little out of my way. The side-trip was definitely worth the bother!

On Friday, July 22nd I decided to respond to a call for help from the Catskill Mountain Club to help do some last minute maintenance on the Bramley Mountain Trails before they officially open on Friday, July 29. Most of the work involved cutting grass, weeds and briars in the more open spots along the trails. The meeting time was 10:00 AM so I left Livingston Manor just after 8:30 AM to make sure I would be on time. I left behind a very disappointed Sheila who always wants to go with me. I felt that since we would be using glowered equipment and sharp blades that she might be in the way. I decided to take the back roads since this was the shortest way. I drove up the Beaverkill Road and took Beech Hill Road to Route 30 where I turned right. Soon I was at the Dunraven Bridge. At the end of the bridge I turned left on Tremperskill Road and followed it into Andes where I turned left on Route 28 North. After 7.5 miles, I turned right on Glen Burnie Road and drove 2.8 miles to the parking area for Bramley Mountain. The parking area is small and it helped that I had been there before. I pulled into the parking area, turned around and parked at 9:40 AM. No other cars were present so I waited for someone else to appear. Just before 10:00 AM Wendell, drove up and I got out to talk to him. I immediately found that the insect problem was still present so I applied a liberal dose of repellent. It was warm and very humid! Wendell and I didn't have to wait too long before Bob and John showed up. We got out the equipment, fuel it and tested it and be that time Brian, the last participant, drove up. The plan was to walk out the Quarry Trail and then take a "shortcut" to the top where most of the work need to be done. We got started at about 10:30 Am by walking out the woods road toward the quarry. Each of us carried a power scythe or a weed whacker plus a few hand tools. After half a mile we arrived at a woods road that headed up the mountain. The road began in an open clearing where the trail was covered in tall grass and a few briars. Wendell decided we would cut this patch and we made short work of the area. We started up the woods road and I immediately noticed that the "shortcut" was still pretty steep especially carrying power equipment!

As we walk up the woods roads we made a couple of turns and at .75 miles joined the Quarry Trail as it ascends the mountain. We walked some and then stopped for a rest and to wait for everyone to get together before starting up again. I made sure to drink more than I normally would as the day was both hot and humid with highs forecast to be in the high 80's. We didn't do much work on the way up except to remove a few branches in the trail. At 1.4 miles we finally hit the top of the climb and just after that the Table and viewpoint to the west. In just over .9 miles we had climbed over 800 feet with an average grade of just over 6%. We stopped at the viewpoint and I took a few pictures of the view and some of the other workers. After getting a snack and a drink, Brian and I pushed on to the top and cut the short path from the edge of the summit to the area of the fire tower. I had to stop cutting a fix the line on my weed whacker as it was wound incorrectly. This would become a problem on and off throughout the hike. After fixing the line, I got out my camera and took some pictures from the summit viewpoint to the south. I decided to hike down the summit trail following Bob who had a power scythe while the others finished at the summit. On the way down I trimmed some tall grass on the road and then cut some at the turn onto the woods road across the ridge. Bob was ahead of me cutting mostly the woody brambles on the side of the trail while I took care of the tall grass and weeds on the trail. Shortly the others came down from the top and we spaced ourselves apart so the we could cut a section of trail and then leapfrog the others to another spot. Wendell let me know that we did not have to cut each blade of grass but just provide a track for hikers to easily follow! Every now and then we would stop to refuel the machines and ourselves. We were making good progress but it was hot and sweaty work. I was able to extend the line on my machine a couple of times by tapping it on the ground but at other times I had to stop to disassemble it.

At one point Wendell went on ahead to see if he could find a place to cut a viewpoint to the south and east along the ridge. The rest of us continued to do we are happy to we had been doing and I could see we were approaching the end of the open trail on the ridge. I cam across Wendell who had cut a very nice viewpoint through a lot of briars. After getting some fuel< I continued to cut along the open trail until I got to the edge of the woods. I could see John up ahead starting to descend the trail but still cutting as he went. I decided to go back and find the rest of the group cutting the sides of the trail as I went. I found them at the viewpoint Wendell had cut an took the opportunity to get a drink and take some pictures. I took shots from the viewpoint of the Pisgahs which at one time were the site of the Bobcat Ski Area. We discussed what other mountains might be in our view. Since John had arrived, I took a shot of the group relaxing which was the only time we had taken an extended break from the work. We pick up our equipment and started down the trail convinced the work was done. We walked through some grass on the trail but decided it did not need to be cut. We began to run into a few open spots with more grass and a lot of weeds on the trail. These areas also had briars encroaching from the sides. We decided to fire up the machines again and trim this part of the trail. We all picked a section to work on and started cutting. I looked at my fuel tank at one point and saw I was almost out of fuel. I tapped the weed whacker on the ground as it was not cutting very well but this did not help. I stopped the machine and found I had almost no line. I took it apart but could not pull then twisted line off the spool. I got out my multitool but the pliers really didn't help. Wendell came along but he couldn't free the line either. We decided to continue on down the trail and we walked and talked until we were well into the woods. We stopped until Bob came along and told us Brian had just a little more to trim. The tree of us continued on down the trail and made the right turn to take us back to the car. We arrived in the parking area around 3:15 PM. I had walked a total of 3.7 miles and gained over 1000 feet in 4 hours and 45 minutes. This, of course, didn't begin to tell the story of how much work we had done.

On Thursday, July 21st I was ready to hike after taking a couple of days off. I decided to stay local and head to Hodge and Frick Ponds since I was nursing some blisters I got from a recent racquetball match. I was in no real hurry to get started and left the house at about 10:00 AM. The temperature was only 67 degrees but I knew that the highs for the day were forecast to be in the high 80's. I drove out DeBruce Road and turned left on Mongaup Road. When we arrived there were no other cars in the lot and we crossed the road to get onto the Flynn Trail at 10:20 AM. I have been wearing a pair of Vasque Taku boots which seem to fit well and are no longer sold by Vasque! The walk up the Flynn Trail seemed to go very quickly and we made no stops passing through the junction with the Big Rock Trail and continuing straight ahead of the Flynn Trail. We kept up a quick pace as we passed through the gate marking the boundary with the Open Spaces property. At the next junction we stayed to the left to keep on the Flynn Trail and head directly down to Hodge Pond. When we broke out into the clearing at the outlet end of Hodge Pond, I kept Sheila near since I did not want here swimming as I had just applied Advantix. I walked over to the fire ring and dropped my pack. A quick check of my blister showed the bandage I had applied was in place. I picked up my camera and took a few shots even though I had thought I might be able to resist.

I put the camera away and picked up my pack to continue our hike on the Flynn Trail. This section of the trail was muddy with some standing water in places but it was easily negotiated. We stayed left at the next junction to continue up the hill on the blue Flynn Trail. We passed through the gate from OSI property to state land and found the trail continued to have some wet and muddy spots. It seemed that Junkyard Junction came up quickly and we turned left on the red Quick Lake Trail to start our loop back. The Quick Lake Trail is mostly downhill and we made good time. I stopped several times to remove branches and other debris from the trail. Just before the snowmobile trail branched to the right toward Quick Lake, a large tree was partly blocking the trail. I made note that this one would require a saw and an axe to remove. We walked downhill to Iron Wheel Junction and turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. We were soon at the small stream just before the "Spruce Tunnel" and I crossed it with ease. The stream was very low but Sheila was able to get her feet wet and take a drink. We continued on to the outlet bridge at Frick Pond. I stopped to take a few pictures and then we walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction. The trail back to the parking area was a little damp in places but we had no problems. As we passed the register box, we turned right to stay on the trail. When we got back to the car at 12:55 PM we were still the only car in the lot. We had walked 6.5 miles in 2.5 hours gaining 928 feet along the way. The temperature at the trail head was now above 80 degrees but the humidity seemed better than on some days.

On Sunday, July 17th, Cindy and I had decided to hike the Shavertown Trail near the Dunraven Bridge across the Pepacton Reservoir after church. I asked Cindy if I should invite Debbie, a friend from church, and she quickly agreed. Even though it was VERY short notice, Debbie agreed and we arranged for her to meet us at our house at around 1:00 PM. We went home a got ready and Debbie arrived promptly at 1:00 PM. After a short introduction to Sheila, we got our gear in Cindy's car and left Livingston Manor. I was glad Debbie was OK with sharing the backseat with Sheila and Sheila for her part behaved well. The Shavertown Trail is one area where trails have been constructed by the Catskill Mountain Club on land opened to public use by the DEP. The trail descriptions has a pond with a view of the reservoir and another trail through the forest along some old access roads. The total distance is about 5 miles. I took Route 17 west to exit 94 at Roscoe and then took Route 206 north toward Downsville. I turned right on Route 30 at the intersection near the Pepacton Reservoir and headed for the bridge across the reservoir. After crossing the bridge, I turned left and found the trailhead about .15 miles up the road. I turned around and parked off the side of the road a little north of the beginning of the trail. We were ready to go almost immediately and crossed the road at 1:50 PM to start our hike. The first .25 miles of trail climbs 200 feet as it heads directly north and up the side of Perch Lake Mountain. Cindy loaned Debbie one of her hiking poles as we climbed the steepest part of the hike. I was surprised at how quickly we arrived at the right turn onto the old access road. We continued to climb through the forest for another .25 miles until we broke out into a field and the trail leveled a little. The skies were blue with puffy white clouds and the temperature was warm with some humidity. We were bothered by some persistent insect that buzzed around us as we walked despite various insect repellents. Along the open part of the trail we found some meteorological instruments with solar panels for power. One had a snow scale next to it while the other had a device to measure rainfall and other data. After some more climbing, the trail turned northeast and descended to the edge of a small pond at .85 miles. The pond was full and had some cattails and white water lilies growing in it. We stopped and I took some pictures as Sheila decided to go for a swim. Debbie threw a stick into the water but Sheila declined the invitation to retrieve it. We walked around the pond on the west side and down to the lower bench where we stopped for a "photo op". I took a few pictures of the reservoir and some of Debbie and Cindy. I walked to the upper each and took a few shots of the pond and some more of the Pepacton. There was little haze and the skies were still nice and blue with contrasting clouds.

We continued around the pond and I took some more pictures of the pond, the lilies and the cattails. Cindy spotted some fish in the pond and I managed to get one picture. We continued on the trail around the back of the pond and walked back to the trail that we had descended to the pond. We walked back along the trail and then turned left at the sign that marked the turn for the extra 1.5 miles through the woods. This trail followed another woods road and gained a little over 200 feet in the next .5 miles. At times it was hard to see the next marker but we knew we where we were going from previous trips. We had a great time talking with Debbie. At around 1.5 miles into the hike the trail dipped to the left off the woods road to travel through an area with large boulders. I took some pictures as the sedimentary layers were so clear on the rocks. Many were also covered by interesting mosses and lichens. Once the trail rejoined the road it remained pretty flat for the next .8 miles. The trail began to turn around the mountain heading a little to the east. It seems as if it would continue east and then head south to loop around the mountain but that route is blocked by private property. We followed the markers until we came to the spot where they split to form a small loop at the end of the trail. We headed to the right to do the .3 mile loop. Soon we were back where the loop started and one our way back ion the main trail. We followed the trail and woods road back to the pond and then took the access road back to the trail. We made the left on the trail and were soon back at the car. The trip back went much faster as it was mostly downhill. We were back at the car at 4:30 PM having covered 5.1 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes with about a 1080 feet of ascent along the way. Debbie said she enjoyed the trip and would like to do an other one soon!

On Saturday, July 16th I wanted to continue my hiking for the day after completing the 3.7 mile Andes Rail Trail and Bullet Hole Spur Trail in Andes. I left 266 Depot Street in Andes and drove eat on Route 28 South. Around two miles from town I started watching for Finkle Road on the left. It was easy to find as there are signs for the Palmer Hill lookout. I parked and got out of the car to take some pictures from the viewpoint. The view from the parking area was great. A signboard showed a picture of the view with all the peaks and hills labeled. All the peaks from Balsam Lake and Graham through Doubletop and Balsam were visible. There was less haze in the air than I had seen on other visits. The temperature was in the high 70's and the humidity seemed high. There were only two other cars in the lot when Sheila and I walked out he upper end of the parking area to begin our hike at 11:30 AM. The first half mile of the trail descends to a small brook. The trail passes through wide corridors which have been mowed through the grass and then enters the woods on an old road. I could see a pair of hikers ahead and they had a dog with them. As we approached the brook FOUR dogs came running toward us since the owners had not bothered to have the courtesy tout them on a leash. The dogs also did not listen to their owners when they called them so I raised my poles and got ready to encourage them to go away. Fortunately, the dogs made some noise but were mostly friendly. I passed by quickly wondering how some people could be so irresponsible! Just after the brook crossing are the foundations from a farm and then the first trail junction.

The trail junction is sort of a "times square" since at this point you can choose to do the upper meadow or lower meadow loops. I decided that any climbing that had to be done should be at the beginning of the hike as I was already a little tired and very warm. We turned left to start the upper meadow loop with me hoping the other hikers would be smart enough to take the lower loop first. The trail shortly entered the woods and began a half mile ascent to the highest point on the hike. Unfortunately, I could here the other hikers and their dog pack following us to the upper meadow loop! The vertical gain was only about 250 feet and the average grade was around 9%. There were a few steeper areas which were between 15% and 20% for short distances. Along the way we saw some nice stone walls as we looped in a clockwise direction. At the high point we broke out into a field with some since views of the surrounding hills and I stopped to take a few pictures. The trail then began to descend for about .4 miles back to the trail junction losing around 200 feet. We turned left at the junction and almost immediately came to another split in the trail. I chose to take the left fork and started to ascend along the paths mowed through the field. This trail was more out in the open and as we approached the first set of trees I could hear the other hikers calling one of their dogs as if it was lost. I continued to hear them calling as we entered the woods and hoped they would find the lost dog. Irresponsible behavior on the part of owners should not have unfortunate consequences for the dog! We hike through the trees for a while and then broke back into the open turning left and climbing again through the open fields. We eventually hit a high point and then turned right to descend along a powerline right-of-way. At 2.8 miles we completed the 1.4 mile lower meadow loop and turned left to start back to the parking area. We stopped at the stream and I allowed Sheila to play in the water and get a drink. We continued on the main trail through the trees and then through the open trail passed the register to the car. At the register a couple with a dog were signing out. The dog was panting pretty heavily and seemed overheated. We were back at the car at 12:55 PM having covered 3.3 miles in a little under 1.5 hours. The vertical gain was only 650 feet. It was even hotter and more humid so I decided to return home and save the Shavertown Trail for the next day!

On Saturday, July 16th I wanted to go to Andes to hike the Rail trail and the Bullet Hole Spur Trail. I had thought about doing this the day before after Cindy and I had hiked Bramley Mountain but she was not up for it and I was pretty tired myself. I got all my gear in the car, put Sheila in the back seat and left Livingston Manor just after 8:30 AM for the drive to Andes. Sheila acted as if we hadn't hiked in a week although we been out only yesterday! I decided to take Route 17 to Roscoe and then Route 206 to the Pepacton Reservoir. At the intersection with Route 30, I turned right to head for the bridge at Dunraven. I crossed the Pepacton Reservoir on the bridge and at the end of the bridge I turned left on Tremperskill Road and followed it into Andes. I turned left and drove less than a quarter mile to the sign that Said "Andes Rail Trail" on the left. There wasn't really a parking area and I questioned whether or not I should park in front of the gate. In the end I did park trying to leave enough for someone to open the gate if they needed to do so. We started our hike at 9:25 AM as I walked Sheila through the gate on her leash. Ahead of us was the Andes Depot which was rather modern looking. It was donated by the Decker family and may be on the site of the original depot but has been completely refurbished. A kiosk near the depot explained a little about the rail trail which follows the railroad bed of the Delaware and Northern Railroad. As we walked I noticed it was already hot and humid especially when we were not beneath the trees. Shortly after the depot, we came to a wooden walkway that spanned the only really wet spot on the trail. A little after that we broke out into the open to a nice view down the Tremperskill. At this point there was a "high road" and a "low road" with the suggestion that we use the high road when the main trail was muddy. This occurred several other places along the trail. We stopped so that I could take a few pictures before continuing on the main trail. I had been keeping Sheila on her leash but I had seen no other hikers and we were some distance from town so I released her. We hiked under the trees for a short time and then broke out into the open to another nice view and an interpretive sign. The sign explained that the foundation was the remains of the Andes turntable that was used to turn engines around. No pictures exist of the original structure but it was called an "Armstrong turntable" since the engineer and fireman had to use their "strong arms" to pivot the engine! I took a few shot before we continued.

We entered the woods again and crossed a small bridge. I began to notice the regular "bumps" on the trail which signs said were the railroad ties which had not been removed. I wondered about his until I saw a couple of exposed ties! Another interpretive sign explained that there had been two trestles on the rail line ion the area. Both had been featured in movies from the early 20th century! After walking a little farther, we came to the end of the flat rail trail and the beginning of the Bullet Hole Spur Trail. We continued on the trail which immediately began to climb and I knew the easy walking was behind us. We had been headed south but now a major switchback took us north before heading south again and always climbing. The trail passed through some hardwoods and then entered a hemlock forest as it climbed to the shoulder of Hemlock Knoll. There were some interesting rock formations along the way and I stopped to take a few pictures. As we began to descend off Hemlock Knoll, Sheila alerted and I saw two hikers coming toward us with a dog. We both out our dogs an their leashes and we passed each other with a brief "Hello". Sheila and I continued until we came to a stone wall. A break in the wall signaled a place to get view of the surrounding hills which was not impressive but pretty. We passed over the stone wall where it had been turned into steps and came to the loop at the end of the Bullet Hole Spur Trail. We continued straight ahead and walked through a planted red pine plantation. The trail eventually joined a woods road that paralleled the Tremperskill. I wanted to walk down to the stream but there was private property between the trail and the streambed. The loop was only half a mile long so we were soon back at the point where it started. The return trip was now and out and back so we stepped up our pace. On the way across Hemlock Knob we met a small family group followed closely by three young women out for some exercise. The return trip seemed to go very quickly and we did not meet any more people on our way to the flat part of the rail trail. On our way back we did meet several groups of hikers. Several groups looked like they might try the spur trail while it was obvious that others were only headed to the end of the flat part of the trail. We arrived back at the depot just before 11:00 AM and I took a few pictures of the depot and kiosk before walking back to the car. It was 11"05 Am and we had covered 3.7 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes with an elevation gain of 735 feet. After getting a drink and sitting in the air conditioned car, I decided I felt fresh enough to continue my day at Palmer Hill.

On Friday, July 15th I wanted to get away from Livingston Manor to hike and decided that the new trails on Bramley Mountain near Delhi would be a good destination. The new trails are scheduled to open in a few weeks and I thought I would like a preview. My wife and I had hiked there a few years ago before there were any trails and had an interesting time fighting through the briars to the summit where a fire tower once stood. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and she agreed but had reservations about the heat and possible thunderstorms. We tried to get out of the house early and did leave Livingston Manor just before 9:00 AM for the hours drive to Bramley Mountain. Sheila acted as if we hadn't hiked in a week although we had only missed one day! I decided to take the back roads since this was the shortest way. I drove up the Beaverkill Road and took Barkaboom Road to BWS 8. I turned left and followed the road to Route 30 and crossed the Pepacton Reservoir on the bridge. At the end of the bridge I turned left on Tremperskill Road and follows it into Andes where I turned left on Route 28 North. After 7.5 miles, I turned right on Glen Burnie Road and drove 2.8 miles to the parking area for Bradley Mountain. The parking area is small and it helped that we had been there before. I pulled into the parking area, turned around and parked at 10:00 AM. When we got out of the car, we both noticed that it was warm and very humid! It didn't take us long to get on the trail. We had two choices to start the hike. The red Summit Trail went to the right directly to the summit over 1.8 miles. We chose to go straight ahead on the blue Quarry Trail which passes through a quarry and then wends its way to the summit over 2.1 miles. The woods road was very open but damp and muddy in some places. The biggest problem was the cloud of insects that surrounded us both! This was the worst the bugs had been all season. We walked along the road through the woods and eventually broke out into an open clearing where the grass was long and wet. My boots got soaked but it did not seem to penetrate through to my feet. At about .8 miles we came to the quarry and I stopped to take a few pictures and apply some insect repellant. When we started out again, we came to a spot where the trail seemed to split with blue markers going both left and right. There was also a sign that said "Summit 1.2 miles" but it was not clear which way it was pointing. We decided to head to the right as we knew the summit was in that direction.

The trail entered the woods and immediately turned almost 180 degrees. As we walked along the trail it would head up the mountain at points and then parallel the ridge leaving me to wonder if we were actually on the trail to the summit. Eventually the trail turned at began a steady climb up to the summit. The trail was obviously new but very well cleared and constructed. It passed by several interesting ledges and rock formations. There were numerous switchbacks which made the walk longer but mitigated some of the steeper climbs. Near the top the trail passed around and went through some rock ledges and the trail crew had expertly created some steps out of natural materials. Both of us noticed the heat and the humidity as we climbed but, as we neared the top, there was a slight breeze and fewer insects. At 1.9 miles and just before the summit was a nice viewpoint with a stone bench. We stopped and I took a few pictures before we hike the last few hundred feet to the top. Over the 1.1 miles from the quarry we gained 770 feet with and overall average grade of 13% despite the many switchbacks. When we reached the summit, I dropped my pack and took out the camera. I took some shots of the old pilings for the fire tower and then walked over to the lookout. There was more haze than I had hoped for but I took some shots anyway. To the south and southeast I could see the Pisgahs near Andes which were once the site of a ski area. I walked down to the lower part of the lookout and took a few more pictures. When I was finished, I returned to the summit where we all had a drink and a snack before starting down. We walked in the direction that the arrow pointed and found the markers for the red Summit Trail that we would take back to the parking area.

We started down the Summit Trail which starts out as wide woods road but at .15 miles from the summit markers clearly indicated a right turn. The trail follows another woods road but one that is covered in long grass. We walked for a while until we recognized the trail from our previous visit. I stopped to take a few pictures of the trail and a nice view off to the left. As I was taking pictures I noticed a "bulge" on the branches of a tree on the right. When I zoomed in with my camera, I found this was a hawk and I took several pictures of this raptor. I packed up the camera and we continued to follow the woods road as it entered the woods. There were less insects at this point and the road was dry although the descent was a little steep. We had returned this way on our last visit so I knew this road led out to the upper parking area. I was waiting for the trail to turn right into the woods to connect to the lower parking area. Soon we were almost to the road and I finally saw where the trail entered the woods and started downhill to the car. This part of the trail was soft and easy walking but only lasted .15 miles. As we approached our car, I saw an NYC truck at the gate and the occupants were getting out. One of the men greeted us and I immediately recognized him as a friend from Livingston Manor. We talked for a while before Cindy and I headed over to our car. It was 12:30 Pm and we had hiked 3.7 miles in 2.5 hours with over 40 minutes of time stopped. The elevation gain was 940 feet. To get to the summit the red Summit Trail is both shorter and easier. The blue Quarry Trail and its extension is harder but also more interesting! On the way home we headed toward Delhi and crossed the stream at Fitches Crossing. There is a covered bridge here which was moved from Delhi to its present location. I stopped and took a few pictures of the bridge both exterior and interior.

On Wednesday, July 13thI left the Giant Ledge parking area to head for Angle falls in Yagerville to see how much water was going over the falls. I debated my route and decided to take the backboard through Claryville, over Red Hill and out Sugarloaf Road to Route 55A. At the end of Sugarloaf Road I turned right and then left to take Route 55A to Yagerville Road. There was construction on the main road and on 55A but it only held me up for a few minutes. I drove 4.25 Niles on Route %%A before turning left on Yagerville Road. I continued 1.2 miles to Sholam Road and turned right to drive to the dead end. I parked at the end by a pile of dirt under the powerlines at 11:25 Am and immediately got out of the car to hike. We walked along what is oft of Sholam Road which deteriorates more every year. I was surprised that I could hear a roar coming from the falls apparently indicating a good volume of water. We walked to where a path turned right at the top of the falls and parallels Trout Creek. I looked down at the falls and saw that it was about as high as usual which surprised me. All of the falls I had visited recently had very limited water volume due to the lack of snow this winter and a limited amount of rainfall. Trout Creek is rather long extending around 5 miles from Balsam Swamp. Over its course it picks up a few tributaries. We walked along the path until a steep and slippery path turned to the left to head down to the creek bed. We worked our way down the bank and to some rocks at the base of the falls. All the rocks were slippery which did not bother Sheila but concerned me. I was able to get out my camera and walk out on some of the rocks to get a good view of the falls. I took shots of the falls and some downstream. To capture the volume and character of the falls, I shot a short video before packing up and heading back up to the main trail. Although the trail isn't really maintained, someone had cut a few of the trees that had been across the trail. We continued down the path heading toward the lower falls.

The trail was overgrown with weeds which surprised me as this is a popular spot for people in the area. I was happy that there was almost no broken glass around the area. I dropped my pack near the top of the lower falls and got out the camera. I took some pictures of the upper drop of the lower falls from several different vantage points. I was able to get put on a rock in front of the falls and then switched to a rock outcropping that was nearer the top of the falls. Next, I worked my way down the bank to look at the old foundations at the bottom of the falls and then walked down to the creek bed. From the edge of the stream I took some more pictures and then walked upstream a bit and took a few more. I was able to squeeze between some tree trunks near the edge of the stream and stand on a rock to get a good view. I leaned on one large trunk and found that it moved significantly! The end of the trunk was floating on the water and it was precariously balanced near the middle on another tree! I carefully made my way back t the stream bank and returned to where I had left my pack. I took a few shots of the foundations and then headed back to the car. We headed back up the bank to the old road arriving at the car at 11:55 AM. The rain had held off and we were returning dry after hiking just .7 miles in 45 minutes with 180 feet of elevation gain.

On Wednesday, July 13th I wanted to go in search of a waterfall! While hiking Giant Ledge and Panther the day before two different hikers asked me about Otter Falls and I had to say I never heard of it. One hiker showed me a website that talked about the falls so I was able to do some research when I got home. Several websites gave the location as about .5 miles from the Giant ledge parking area toward Big Indian along the stream on the left side of the road. This stream on the maps is labeled as Esopus Creek which seems to originate at Winisook Lake. The descriptions include a thirty foot drop into a pool below which is 6' to 8' deep even in dry conditions. One website had a description from someone who had actually been there and the directions included looking for a telephone pole labeled 167 1/2. I got my gear and Sheila in the car and left Livingston Manor a little after 9:00 AM. When I left home the temperature was still in the low 60's but I knew this would rise on the hike. I drove out the DeBruce Road and eventually passed Round Pond. At the end of the road, I turned left on Route 47 and drove passed Frost Valley and the Slide Mountain trailhead. We arrived at the parking area on Route 47 at 9:50 AM to find a no other cars parked there. I got my gear ready including setting up both my Suunto Traverse watch and my Garmin 64st handheld unit. We started to walk downhill on Route 47 toward Big Indian. I checked the label on a pole and it read 176 which indicated we had some distance to go. As we walked I found POSTED signs along the left side of the road. I could also see that the maple trees were connected by plastic tubing indicating a substantial sugaring operation. We continued to walk and I continued to check my GPS watch and the pole numbers. We passed .5 miles and the pole numbers were still too high and the POSTED signs were still on the trees.

At around .75 miles I noticed that the POSTED signs had given way to State Forest Preserve signs. A short distance further I found Pole 167 1/2 and just a little farther along a rather well-defined leading into the woods. The path remained easy to follow as we walked west into the woods and toward the stream for about 600 feet. I could see the waterfall and walked out on a little overhang to try to get some pictures. I wanted a head-on view but couldn't find quite the right angle. The light was also behind the falls which did not help. We walked back up to the trail and to the brink of the falls. I guess the TOTAL drop may be 30 feet but the water does not fall as much as it runs over the rocks to the pool below. Even though it was very dry and only a little water was going over the falls, the pool was deep and filled with water. I did not test it but Sheila did and pronounced it good! I took some more pictures of the stream and the falls before packing up and heading back out to the road. I put Sheila on her leash and hiked back to hotter which was uphill all the way. The temperature was rising and the humidity made it seem even warmer. We were back at the car by 10:40 Am having hiked 2 miles in 45 minutes with an elevation gain of 320 feet. It may be possible to park on the side of the road near the falls but it is a short walk from the parking area which is a safer option. Since the hike was so short, I decided to head for Angel Falls in Yagerville just to see how much water was going over the falls.

On Tuesday, July 12, I wasn't planning to hike very far since I had gotten out the day before and hiked 8 miles with Cindy at Morgan Hill State Forest. I got up early and found partly cloudy skies but checked the forecast and found no rain predicted. One of the foresters from DEC Region 3 had told me that the ADK crew had completed their work on the stone steps at Giant Ledge so I decided to go and check out their work. I slept a little later than usual and didn't get started until about 9:30 AM. On the way I decided it was time to hike another 3500 peak and decided to continue from Giant Ledge on to Panther. Panther Mountain itself has limited views but to get there from Route 47 the trail passes over Giant ledge which was a great view of Panther Mountain, the entire Burroughs Range and the valleys below. When I left home the temperature was still in the mid 60's but I knew this would rise on the hike. I drove out the DeBruce Road and eventually passed Round Pond. At the end of the road, I turned left on Route 47 and drove passed Frost Valley and the Slide Mountain trailhead. We arrived at the parking area on Route 47 at 10:15 AM to find a few cars parked there. Two young women were getting out of one car and we talked briefly. They were from Buffalo and were visiting family in Poughkeepsie. They had hiked Breakneck Ridge the day before and were now ready to try their first Catskill 3500 foot peak. They had one light pack between them but seemed fit and ready to hike. Sheila and I got started pretty quickly by crossing the road and heading out the trail with the two young women right behind. The rain that had fallen during the week made the trail wet in places but most of the trail seemed dry. I let Sheila off the leash almost immediately after crossing the road and she was behaving by staying on the trail. As we crossed the bridge over the small stream, there almost no water running in the stream. I pointed out the flow to the two hikers and mentioned that the bridge had been washed away by the same stream. They were obviously faster than I was and I let them go ahead. They soon disappeared although their pace looked very natural for them. Sheila and I kept up a good pace but I forgot how annoying the many rocks that cover the trail to the turnoff can be! In addition, there are several short climbs and each one seems to be the last. I did notice that everything looked the same as it had and that no work had been done. Either I had misunderstood the forester or he had some incorrect information! Despite the fact that I had been hiking, I noticed that making good time up the climbs was tiring although I enjoyed the elevation gain. On the way up we met two hikers coming down the trail and I said "Hello" as we passed. We finished the sixth short climb and arrived at the turn to Giant Ledge and Panther at about 10:40 AM. I didn't feel like we were going slow but it took 35 minutes to walk the .75 miles from the road, one of our slower times. I had problems with my new Suunto Traverse GPS watch the day before but it seemed to be recording my track correctly.

The trail after the turn was also wet and muddy in spots but we made use of the stepping stones along the way. When the climb began we pushed the pace. We climbed up the last rocky ascent and walked to the first lookout arriving at about 11:10 AM after the 1.5 mile climb. Just before we walked down the path to the first lookout, we met a couple who seemed confused about the way to Panther Mountain. I pointed them in the right direction and walked down to the lookout where I met the two girls from earlier and another, older couple. I put Sheila on her leash and attached it to a tree nearby so that she would not bother the other hikers. Sheila is fearless about heights and sometimes scares me a little when she walks right to the edge of the cliffs and looks down! I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take some pictures of the great views of the valley below and the mountains beyond. I talked to the girls about there hiking experience and pointed out the mountains in view. The other couple left and said they were heading toward Panther. I took a few more pictures, got a drink and gave one to Sheila. The girls headed out just before us and were soon out of sight. As we hiked along the ledges, I stopped briefly to look at the other views but decide not to stop on the way out. We continued on the main trail and caught up with the couple that had just left the viewpoint as they were starting down into the col and we walked together for a while and talked. As we worked our way down to the col we met the "confused" couple heading back up. They had decided that they did not want to descend into the col, climb Panther and then have to climb back up to the ledges. I said "Goodbye" to the other couple and quicken my pace through the Col and started the climb up Panther. Parts of the Panther trail get a little steep at times but there always seems to be a switchback or flatter area. The trail was mostly dry with a few muddy spots and some slippery rocks. Sheila and I continued up the trail with Sheila checking out some of the paths that lead to limited viewpoints along the way. We stopped at one and walked out to a rock which had a good view of the entire Burroughs Range with only a few small trees in the way. I took some pictures before we went back to the main trail. We were soon up the steeper climbs with only a final, short ascent of Panther to go. One the way we met the two girls headed back down to their car. They asked me about Otter Falls which a website indicated was only a half mile from the parking area. I told them I had never heard of the falls and we went our separate ways. We arrived at the summit of Panther at 12:25 PM after hiking 3.2 miles. The view from the summit is limited but somewhat better than during our last visit. I took a couple of shots of the scenery and a few of Sheila by my pack. We walked back to the viewpoint just below the summit and ascended the rock which acts as the lookout. I took a few shots of the scenery and then Sheila and I got back on the trail. Sheila was very energetic as we turned back as if she knew that we would be going down the mountain. I was on the lookout for the other couple that had headed up behind me.

We met no one on the trail as we descended Panther. I tried to keep a good pace but found the descent as difficult as the climb up! When we had finally made the ascent to Giant Ledge we could hear hikers approaching from in front of us. I stopped at one of the lookouts to take a few more pictures before getting back on the main trail. A family group was approaching and they had a dog that was not on a leash. I put Sheila on her leash and they leashed their dog. As we passed each other, they asked about the next viewpoint and I told them that there were several. We continued along the trail and I could see that the first lookout had a few people. We finally got to the descent off the Ledge and met a woman who was checking here cell phone. She also asked me about Otter Falls and showed me the website that mentioned it as a swimming hole. I told her I had not heard about the falls but I knew I would have to check it out when I got home. As we were talking, a group of four young hikers entered the area just below the climb and discussed the falls with us. Sheila and I made our way down the rocks and continued down the main trail. Just after we made the turn to get back to the car we caught up with the couple who was following us up Panther. They had turned around when it was obvious the climb would be too difficult. We again walked together briefly meeting another pair of young men coming up the trail. Sheila and I continued on ahead through the descents without meeting anyone else. After walking back to the bridge, I decided that this trail might be the rockiest in the Catskills! As we crossed the bridge, Sheila got a drink and cooled off in the stream. We continued out to Route 47 and the parking area which was full. We were back at the car at 2:25 PM having covered 6.4 miles in 4 hours and 10 minutes including numerous stops. The elevation gain was 2348 feet. When I got home, I downloaded the track from the Suunto Traverse watch and my Garmin 64st and found they were very close. I also searched for Otter Falls and found that it is located about .5 miles down the Route 47 toward Big Indian on state land. I will be investigating this very soon!

On Monday, July 11th I wanted to get away from Livingston Manor to hike and decided that Morgan Hill State Forest northeast of Cortland would be a good choice. I was hoping that the recent rain would have increased the volume of Tinker Falls to make it more interesting. Beside the falls Morgan Hill has several small ponds and a nice view from Jones Hill. Cindy decided she wanted to go with me since she agreed getting away would be fun. Morgan Hill is a two hour drive which is a little farther than we normally go when we go together but the forecast for a bright and sunny day convinced us it was a good idea. We left Livingston Manor a little before 9:00 AM with our gear and with Sheila ready to go. Sheila, of course, doesn't care where we hike so she protests when we set out on a long drive! We headed west on State Route 17 to Binghamton and then north on I81 toward Cortland. I took exit 11 and turned north on Route 13 heading toward Truxton. As we passed through Truxton I turned north on Route 91. After just under 4 miles, I turned right on Shackham Road and drove north for about 2 miles to park on the side of the road where the Onondaga Trail crosses the road. This trail is part of the Finger Lakes Trail system and is co-aligned with the North Country Trail which runs from the Missouri River in North Dakota to Lake Champlain in New York! I set both my Suunto Traverse GPS watch and my Garmin 64st GPS unit and we were off. We began our hike at 11:00 AM by crossing the road and hiking up the trail toward the top of the first ridge. The beginning of this section is usually very muddy but on this day it was dry and much easier to hike. The first .4 miles was all uphill at we gained a little over 150 feet. The trail in this area is pretty generic passing through mostly hardwoods and then some evergreens. The warm weather had brought out the trout lilies, some nice maroon trillium and other assorted windflowers. We descended the other side of the hill and then walked along as the trail rolled a little. At 1.75 miles we were on the shores of Spruce Pond. There was no one at the pond and Sheila jumped right in for a swim. We stopped so that I could take a few pictures. We walked along the shore of the pond following the Onondaga Trail which is blazed in light blue and an orange trail that loops around the pond. The trails spilt near the head of the pond and we followed the blue trail. The trail started one of the steepest ascents of the day which was moderated by some switchbacks as we gained 220 feet in about .25 miles or about a 19% grade.

As soon as we reached the top of the hill, we started to descend again losing most of the elevation we had gained and crossing a small stream. Much of the hike to this point had been parallel to one small creek or another and none seemed to have much water. I kept hoping that Tinker Falls would have enough water to make it interesting! As we were hiking to Spruce Pond we were headed mostly northwest. The turn and ascent had directed us WSW and we began hiking on private land. The land is owned by a logging company that has granted permission for hikers to cross their property. We made another ascent and I could see as we got to the top that we were on the ridge that overlooks Labrador Pond. We passed over the top of Jones Hill and at 2.9 miles turned south to walk along the ridge. At 3.1 miles we came to the viewpoint which looks out of Labrador Pond and the valley and hills below. There was no one else at the viewpoint as I took my camera out to take some pictures. I took some shots of Cindy and Sheila before we got a drink and a snack and continued our hike. The trail follows the edge of the ridge while a dirt road also descends the hill. I decided to simply walk down the road and pick up the trail where it crosses. We turned left onto the trail and shortly met two young men looking for "Hang Glider Hill" which describes the viewpoint on Jones hill. From 3.0 miles to 4.1 miles the trail descended toward Tinker Falls losing almost 500 feet in the process. As we neared the falls, the descent became steeper. We saw people at the falls so I put Sheila on her leash as we walked down to the top of the falls.

There is a trail to the falls from a parking area on Route 91 which makes access to the base rather easy. In the past there was no way to hike between the top and bottom without following a treacherous and steep path covered in loose dirt and slippery leaves. The Finger Lakes Trail Conference worked on a project to install stone steps on both sides of the falls to allow hikes to travel between the bottom and the top. I left Sheila with Cindy at the top of the falls and walked down the steps until I could get a good look at the falls. I was disappointed that the volume of water was so small. There was a group of young children in the area behind the falls. The amount of erosion evident t the falls shows that at some point there was a great volume of water in the stream but I have not found the season when this is the case. I took a few pictures and returned to the top. We walked over to the stream where I took a few more shots. We walked upstream to the wooden stairs that start the long climb to the top of the next ridge. The .7 mile ascent to the 5.1 mile mark ascends almost 400 feet but has several switchbacks. The switchbacks do moderate the climb but also make the trip longer. Some hikers have begun to take shortcuts to cutoff the switchbacks which increases erosion for very little gain! Once we were at the top Of the ridge, we began the downhill hike to Shackham Road. In about .7 miles we lost 430 feet with some of the sections being steep and slippery. We arrived at the road at about 2:05 PM about 5.8 miles into the hike. We turned left and began to walk the road back to our car at the upper parking area. It was about 1.5 miles back to the car but we made good time walking on the road despite the fact it was mostly uphill! Along the way we found several places where there was active logging with loads coming out of the woods to a landing area. Several trucks were being loaded and heading out on Shackham Road. As we neared the car I asked Cindy if she wanted to walk down to Shackham Pond. She declined so I decided to forgo the trip this time. It was 2:30 PM and we had hiked 7.6 miles in just over 3.5 hours. Our elevation gain was 1370 feet and we had stopped for only about 10 minutes.

On Friday, July 8th, I had planned to go to Trout Pond and hike a loop down Russell Brook and around Mud Pond and Cables Lake. I had not hiked down Russell Brook Road passed the lower parking area for some time and did not know what to expect as the "road" has been in disrepair for years. I did know that the 8+ miles was exactly what I was looking for as far as a distance. Before I went to bed the night before, I got a text from Lisa asking me if I was available to do some trail maintenance cutting the Japanese knotweed at Trout Pond. Even though Lisa wanted to begin at 10:30 AM, late for me, I could not turn down the request for help and agreed. I woke early in the morning and got some things done around the house but by 9:30 AM I could wait no longer. I got Sheila and my tools in the car and headed up Route 17 toward Roscoe. I took with me my Silky saw, Wetterlings axe, Weed whip and new LT Wright machete. I had used the machete only a little but suspected it might be just right for the knotweed. I got off at exit 94 and took Route 206 out the Rockland Flats and turned left on Morton Hill Road just passed the Roscoe Community Nursing Home. I drove up Morton Hill Road to the intersection with Russell Brook Road and turned left to go down Russell Brook Road to the lower parking area. There were no cars in the lot when we parked at about 10:00 AM so I grabbed tools and pack and we headed down to the area of the bridge across Russell Brook. As we crossed the bridge I could see the knotweed had grown out Ito the trail and that the path to the falls was almost overgrown. I dropped my pack and tools and took out the camera to get some "before" pictures. I started by taking the machete to some of the knotweed near the path to the falls. It worked better than I had hoped. The machete easily cut through the knotweed and all the other grasses and weeds around. I cut some and stacked some until I had cut out most of the path and a good part of the main trail. I decided to walk to the beginning of the stand of knotweed and cut from there. I could hear cars on the road and assumed it was Lisa and Beth since was just past the time they were to arrive. Sheila stayed near but was very careful o stay away from the swinging machete. I continued to work and soon Beth and Lisa came walking down the trail. They began working with their loppers and I continued with the machete. After a little bit, I started to move the piles of what I had cut throwing them into the weeds on the other side of the trail. I tried using the grass whip on some of the grass on the path to the falls but found the machete much more efficient. Lisa brought a rake to clear some of the cuttings we had left behind. By 11:40 AM we were finished and started to pick up to walk back to the cars. An older couple walked by and complimented the work we had done. Lisa needed to get back to her shop but I wanted to do a little hiking and Beth agreed to go with me. I stowed my tools and got out my poles. After setting my GPS watch and GPS unit, Beth and I started down Russell Brook Road to do a hike around Mud pond and back to the parking which I estimated was just less than 5 miles.

We planned to walk down Russell Brook Road to see if we could get to the lower trailhead and then pick up the trail to Mud Pond from there. The road has been devastated by several floods and is closed just passed the main parking area where the state has placed some large boulders. Just passed this roadblock there is the first of several deep cuts across the road caused by the erosion of water running off the ridge on the left. We walked through the first and then another larger cut. Sheila was happily running down to the stream to get wet and then coming back up to the trail to shower us. We soon came to a spot where the road had been completely eroded by the stream. We tried walking along the bank but it was too steep and slippery so we started to pick our way across the rooks in the stream as the water was low enough to allow this. We slipped a little in places but were soon back on the "road". Since very few people hike this route it is very overgrown with weeds and brush and has a few major blowdowns. At 1.4 miles we were able to cross the stream on a few stepping stones since the water level was so low. In another .2 miles we crossed under the power lines and turned right on the trail. I was surprised to find what looked like a new sign at this "trailhead". Lisa had asked us to look for giant hogweed as someone had reported it along Russell Brook but we had not found any. The trail begins with a short but somewhat steep ascent but then levels off some as it passes by a beaver pond. The trail needs maintenance as the weeds are high and the trail markers very scarce in areas. There were quite a few nettles along most of the trail and Beth was wearing shorts. The trail was pretty wet and everything was damp from the rain and humidity so the insects were out. I finally gave up and stopped to apply some insect repellant. We passed by the beaver pond which was very low and stagnant. The trail remained level as it followed the base of a ridge until about 2.2 miles where it began to climb. The ascent went on for .6 miles and gained 420 feet. The trail was parallel to the stream that flows out of Mud Pond. As we neared the top of the hill we could see Mud Pond through the trees and I was watching for the path that leads to the outlet end of the pond. Somehow I missed the path and we simply continued on the main trail and soon the hiking trail turned right while a snowmobile trail went off to the left. We continued on the trail which was now following an old woods road passing the left turn to the trail around Trout Pond at 3.6 miles. We walked up the short hill and then started down the other side. By the time we were at the trail register box we had "lost" the elevation we had gained walking up the hill to Mud Pond. I decided not to go to the falls as there was so little water in the stream. It was a short walk out to the parking area. We were back at the car by 2:00 PM having hiked 4.6 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes with an elevation gain of 735 feet.

On Wednesday, July 6th, I had planned to hike with Lisa at Long Pond. Lisa was meeting me at my house so that we could ride together to Long Pond. The ambulance pager went off at 8:55 AM and I called Lisa to notify her before responding on the call. Due tog the nature of the call, I was back at home by 9:45. I called Lisa but got no answer and assumed she was out hiking. I decided to take Sheila and do the hike at Long Pond. Sheila was ready to go as we left the house a little after 10:00 AM. The temperature was in the 70's and the humidity stemmed high as I drove out DeBruce Road to Willowemoc. I tuned left on Flugertown Road and drove a short distance to the parking area on the right. When I pulled into the lot at 10:20 Am, we were the only hikers. We got right to hiking by walking out to Flugertown Road and turning right to hike in the direction opposite to the one I normally take. I put Sheila on her leash since there always seems to be some traffic on this back road. The first part of the hike is virtually flat but then starts to climb very gently for some distance. The final descent back to the parking area is the steepest part the of the hike. The first .5 miles follows the paved portion of Flugertown Road. Once we were on the unpaved, dirt road, I kept Sheila on her leash for a little longer until I felt the chance of meeting a vehicle was minimal and then I let her off the leash. Sheila was good about staying on the road which is important to me . The road was shaded by the trees making it a little cooler than the road walk. It seemed to be getting warmer as we kept up a very fast pace passing the first trail junction and the informal campsites along the way. I did see one illegal campsite right next to the stream but there were no people present nor was there a vehicle in the area. We continued on to the point where Flugertown Road turns into Basily Road and heads over a small hill and down to the Peters Hunting Club. The hunting club has a private bridge over the creek and at one point denied access to hikers. The bridge is now open and the snowmobile trail passes over it so I have hiked it many times. The camp has also repaired some boards that were missing on the bridge. It was 11:05 Am and we had covered 2.5 miles.

We crossed the outlet to the beaver pond by walking on the road as it was not necessary to use the small footbridge due to the dry conditions. The only water on the road was the overflow from the beaver pond which had a well-constructed dam. From that point the road began to ascend slightly but I increased my effort to keep up the pace. The skies were blue with some clouds and it was definitely warmer than when we had left the car. Soon we were approaching the point were we would turn right onto the trail back to Long Pond. We made the right turn and sacred to hike back on the snowmobile trail. Parts of the trail were very muddy which I found strange since the rest of the trail was so dry. There were also tire tracks but I could not tell how old they were. We walked along the trail ands Sheila did a good job of staying close. We passed the trail to the lean-to at 11:40 AM about 4.1 miles into the hike. It wasn't long before we were at the spur trail down to the shore of Long Pond. I decided to let Sheila decide which way we would go and she avoided the spur and stayed on the main trail. As we hiked the final leg of the trail I began to notice hundreds of miniature frogs or toads covering the trail especially in the damper spots. I have seen this before at Long Pond but cannot recall it anywhere else. The last part of the hike went quickly as we descended the hill back to the parking area. We were back at the car by 12:15 PM having covered 5.8 miles in just under 2 hours with a 530 foot elevation gain.

On Tuesday, July 5th I asked Cindy if she would like to go to the Dover Stone Church which our son Kurt had highly recommended. This is a grotto or cave near Dover Plains that was formed as Stone Church Brook wore through the bedrock in the area to form a 30 foot waterfall inside a cavern. New hiking trails had recently been added and I thought it might be nice to visit even though it is about a 2 hour drive from home. Cindy said "Yes" so I planned our route and read a little more about the area. The weather forecast included showers for the night perhaps extending into the morning so we were not in a hurry to leave. The forecast for Dover Plains was for clearing around noon so we left Livingston Manor a little after 9:30 AM with an eager Sheila in the back seat. The route I planned was through Ellenville and then over Route 44/55 to New Paltz. We made pretty good time on these secondary roads with a few slow cars and some road construction. From New Paltz we headed over the Mid Hudson Bridge through Poughkeepsie and then followed Route 44 before taking some even smaller back roads into Dover Plains. We parked at the Dover Plains Elementary School as suggested on several websites as there is no parking at the entrance to the Dover Stone Church area. We arrived at 11:50 Am and found plenty of parking at the school. When we arrived it was already in the high 70's and the humidity seemed to be at least 75%. We walked out to Route 22, turned right and walked north about 250 feet to a yellow on blue historical sign. We turned left here and walked up a private, gravel driveway. At the top we found the sign for the beginning of the Dover Stone Church area. The Shape of the sign reflected the shape of the opening of the Dover Stone Church grotto! What lay before us was a beautiful lane or walkway lined with maple trees. There were stone steps at either end. We walked down the steps and continued to the other end of the lane to climb the other steps. A short path led us to a sign and kiosk that explained the historical significance of the area and showed a map of the trails. We began to follow the trail along The Stone Church Brook and it was obvious that the trail was well used. As we approached a bridge over the brook a group of hikers approached with an unleashed dog. Fortunately they quickly controlled their pet and we passed each other without incident. They were the only people we saw for the rest of the day. Just after the bridge, there was a sign directing us to the red, blue or yellow trails. Strangely, there was no sign for the Stone Church but I knew it had to be straight ahead along the creek. We began to work our way along the rocks beside the creek which were all wet and slippery from the rain, humidity and water from the brook. In a very short distance we could see the opening to the grotto. I stopped to take a few pictures of the creek and of the opening. The sky had cleared and the sun was little bright to get good shots. We continued to walk along the side of the creek on the stones and entered the grotto where it was very dark. I worked my way around inside and finally found a high spot to place my pack and get out the camera. I took quite a few shots but knew this was one of those places you really have to see in person. The volume of the creek was very low which made it easy to get into the grotto but made the waterfall pretty tame. I thought about returning with water shoes when the volume in the creek was greater! I grabbed my pack and exited the grotto stopping outside to take a few last pictures. We walked back along the slippery rocks to the trail signs and turned right to begin walking the new trails. My intent was to cover all the trails and I thought I had a good plan to do so.

All of the trails start out together and begin to climb. The blue trail is the Overlook Point Trail and I knew we would tackle that first. It is marked as 1.75 miles out and back. The elevation at the parking lot was about 400 feet so I knew that any elevation gain could produce a viewpoint. As we climbed the heat and humidity combined to make the ascent seem oppressive. The trail followed a woods road until the very last portion which was a trail cut through the woods and along the edge of an escarpment. The trail headed south before looping southwest and then north with a final turn to the south. After .7 miles on this trail we had gained about 420 feet and were at the lookout. The trail seemed to end at a point where the view was limited. Some unmarked paths led to a rock ledge that was lower but offered a less obstructed view. I took some pictures and thought about how nice this would be in the fall. Cindy said that she was thinking the same things. We got a drink and a snack and headed back at 12:55 PM. We followed the Blue trail back to the upper junction with the yellow Upper Loop Trail and turned right at 1.95 miles to hike this trail. The trail rolled a little as it dropped and then climbed to the top of a little hill. At 2.2 miles there was a partial viewpoint and then the trail began to drop back down to meet they blue trail. The walk was pleasant and descending seemed cooler. At 2.5 miles we were back at the point where all the trails came together. We continued straight ahead to walk the red trail which was marked as the Lower Loop Trail. The first part of this trail passed through some open areas with lots of weeds that needed to be trimmed. It was obvious that the main attraction was the Stone Church with the Overlook Trail a distant second. The Upper and Lower loop trails eked hardly used. We followed the red trail as it headed south ascended a few small hills. At 2.9 miles it made an almost 180 degree turn and headed back to the north. Soon we were back at the trail junction where we headed back down to the brook. We followed the trail back out to the kiosk and then to the lane lined with maples. This area was so pretty I stopped to take a few pictures before packing up and heading back t the car. We were back at the car at 2:30 PM after hiking about 3.7 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes. The elevation gain was about 830 feet. The temperature was now in the high 80's and the humidity was even higher! The Stone Church was well worth a visit but for those driving long distance I would suggest a visit to another attraction like Ferncliff Forest near Rhinebeck since both hikes are short.

On Monday, July 4th I had planned to hike Eagle and Balsam as I have decided to do some of the Catskill 3500's this summer. An early morning ambulance call left me feeling less than fit for that expedition so Cindy and I decided to go for a more local hike. She mentioned she had never hiked east from Big Pond To Alder Lake so I agreed to that hike although I had done it several times recently. We thought this was a good choice since we knew areas like Little Pond and Alder Lake would be packed on the Fourth of July! We got a late start leaving home a little after 10:00 AM with an "as always" excited Sheila in the back seat. I headed out of town on Old Rt 17 and then turned north on the Beaverkill Road and headed toward Lew Beach. I drove through the hamlet of Lew Beach and continued on to Turnwood. As the Beaverkill Road made a turn to the right, I continued straight ahead on Barkaboom Road toward Big Pond. After less than a mile, I turned right into the upper parking area for Big Pond and found cars already parked along the edge of the access road. When I drove up to the parking area, there were a lot of cars but there were also a few empty spaces. It looked like everyone was camped at the primitive camping sites along the pond or back in the woods. The temperature was already in the high 60's and the humidity was high as we started out on the trail toward Alder Lake. We had to pull off the trail several times to let campers who were leaving get by. It seemed they had a LOT of gear for being so close to the parking area! Although the trail has several ups and downs, it is sited so that it travels around the higher ridges in the area and sticks to the lower spots on the shoulders of those ridges. Just after the start of the hike, we began to ascend along a woods road where there were a few blowdowns that would have to be cleared on another day. We continued to walk uphill through a pine forest. The trail had been worked on the previous fall after years of neglect and was in good shape and well-marked. I was surprised that in the month since I last hiked the trail that the nettles and briars were starting to seriously encroach on the trail. It is difficult to keep up with the vegetation especially in the late spring and early summer and I am not sure if there is a volunteer maintainer assigned to this section of trail. It reminded me that I needed to check my section of trail from Big Pond to Beech Hill and be prepared to do some work! There were a few large blowdowns that were easily avoided or easy to climb over. We passed through a more open area where many of the trees were dead from previous years when the tent caterpillars and gypsy moths destroyed many trees. In this area which was exposed to the sun the trail was even more clogged with vegetation. We also walked through some wet spots which surprised me since the rest of the trail was so dry. Some well placed stepping stones helped in these areas. At about a mile we began to descend on another woods road to an area that was once a small pond but is now mostly wetlands. Along the way I pointed out to Cindy the many stonewalls and a few foundations in the area. At 1.75 miles we were at the small stream bed that connects two different wetland areas. In April the stream had enough water to produce small waterfalls but now it was completely dry!

We crossed the stream bed and began to ascend to the shoulder of another ridge from the low wetlands. At 2.2 miles the trail turned right heading east toward Alder Lake. Shortly after that we began to descend for .6 miles to Alder Creek. There was some water in Alder Creek but much less than in April. Sheila got a drink and found one deep pool where she could cool off. We crossed Alder Creek Road and began to walk up the access road to Alder Lake. Along the way a convoy of cars started up the road traveling a little too fast and bottoming out several times. We continued toward the lake on the access road and arrived at the parking area at 12:10 PM. The parking lot was full of cars with some parking along the access road leaving little room for the cars parked in the lot to get out. We decided to hike down toward the lake to take some pictures and to see how the construction was coming along. We hiked down to the "lawn" in front of the remains of the Coykendall Mansion and found the same pile of wood spoiling the view. The picnic tables were out but the grass was not mowed. I spoke personally to the forester for Region 3 who seemed to indicate that the mess would be cleared up once the construction on the dam was finished. The chain link fence surrounding two excavators and a truck working on the dam was still there. The dam had always looked pretty sturdy and secure but the Region 3 forester indicated that it was not up to code and had been undermined in several areas. The water level in the lake was low more due to the dry weather than the dam work. Several groups of people were down by the shore. It was not clear if there was a path over the dam so hiking a loop of the lake could be a problem and easy access the campsites on the southern shore could be in jeopardy. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take a few shots before heading back up to the parking area. We continued through the parking area and back down the access road toward Alder Creek Road. We crossed the road and entered the trail. I had kept Sheila on her leash until we crossed Alder Creek Road and the stream. I let her off the leash and she spent a few moments playing in the water. At 4.6 miles we followed the trail as it turned left and began to descend to the wetlands area. We stopped at the dry stream bed at 5 miles to get a drink and a snack. We began to ascend the woods road keeping a good pace and negotiating the few very muddy areas. The trip back seemed to be going fast but the few uphill areas slowed Cindy down a little. At 5.7 miles we followed the trail as it turned to head west toward Big Pond and started our descent. We walked through the pine forest and followed the woods road down toward the pond. We could hear people at the primitive campsites and at the lake. We arrived at the parking area at 1:55 PM to find far fewer cars than when we had parked. We had covered 6.7 miles in 3.5 hours with a total elevation gain of 1530 feet.

On Friday, July 1st our grandson Bryce was at our house for a few hours. Cindy and I decided to take him to Huggins Lake to hike since it is close and about 4 miles round trip. It is also NOT Frick Pond where we had hiked with him several times! I got my gear in the car along with Sheila who seemed thrilled to be going out. Cindy and Bryce got in the car and I drove out Old Route 17 heading toward Roscoe and turning right on the Beaverkill Road. I took the Campsite Road down toward the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. Since this bridge was closed for repairs, I turned left onto Craige Claire Road and crossed the Beaverkill on the steel bridge. I turned right onto Berry Brook Road to head for the parking area at Huggins Lake. As we drove along Berry Brook Road, we could see the brook was low but had increased in volume some in recent days. We continued on the road toward the parking area for Huggins Lake area where I turned right onto the access road to the parking area. There were no cars in the lot when we parked at 10:05 AM. It took me a while to get my electronics set and Cindy and Bryce began the hike up the woods road that is the "trail" to Huggins Lake. The sky was overcast with some sun shining through and a slight breeze with temperatures in the mid 60's. The trail is not marked on any map but there is a trail register at the start by a gate that blocks the road. I watched this time to see if I could spot any blazes as I hiked quickly to catch up. There were no blazes of any kind to indicate that the road is a hiking or snowmobile trail. The DEC has maintained the trail but I do not know to what end. I do know that I always think of this as an easy hike and am always surprised that the first part is all uphill. Over the first 1.25 miles the elevation gain is about 625 feet. This averages under a 10% grade but it seems like more. It didn't take too long before I caught up with Cindy and Bryce and we started talking about what we were seeing. The key to keeping Bryce happy is to keep him busy and we pointed out some red efts that were sprinkled along the trail. Sheila seemed happy to be out and she stayed near us as we climbed the hill. Along the way we cleared a few branches from the trail. There was one larger blowdown that did not impede our walk but should be cleared for the trail. At the top of the hill we began to walk along some high ground that looks down on Huggins Lake. In the summer, the lake is not clearly visible as the leaves hide it.

After the top of the hill, the trail descends gentle at first until at 1.7 miles it turns sharply left and drops a little more steeply to the shore of the lake. When we arrived at the lake, we could see that the water level was high and I suspected we would find that the beavers had dammed up the outlet. I dropped my pack and took some pictures since there was some blue sky and puffy white clouds. I also snapped some shots of the dam the beavers had thrown up at the outlet which was preventing the water from draining properly. I looked for signs of a lodge but did not see one anywhere. I had tried to keep Sheila out of the water but she managed to take a swim coming out smelling less than fresh. I picked up my pack and headed back to the beginning of the climb where Cindy and Bryce were enjoying a snack. The only negative point about Huggins Lake is that there is only one trail and so there are no variations available. I have tried bushwhacking around the pond but the bushes get pretty thick. We climbed the hill back to the highest point on the trail and then started down the other side. We started playing a game naming animals with Bryce so he would forget about being a little tired and the hike went quickly. Since the downhill part of the hike is rather gentle and the road is well-maintained, we could maintain a pretty fast pace down. We again spotted some efts on the way back and identified some birds from their call. As we approached the register and gate two other hikers were standing around. I thought about asking them if they needed help but they seemed very busy looking at a cell phone! We were back at the car at 12:00 PM after hiking 3.9 miles in 1 hour and 50 minutes with a total elevation gain of 955 feet. As we left the parking area, I turned left on Berry Brook Road and headed back to Livingston Manor through Roscoe.

On Wednesday, June 29th I wanted to get out on a beautiful summer day to hike somewhere! I had again thought about going to Indian head and Twin but got up a little too late to make that trip. I decided to hike nearer to home and chose to go to Alder lake to hike Millbrook Ridge to the Beecher Lake lookout. We left Livingston Manor sometime after 10:30 AM and drove up the Beaverkill Road through Lew Beach and Turnwood. I turned left on Alder Creek Road and drove to the end where turned right onto the access road to Alder Lake. The road was very rough but soon we were at the parking lot where there was only one car present. I parked at got Sheila out of the car. After setting up all my electronic gear, we headed out toward the lake. The construction crew that was "fixing" the dam was wiring and they did seem to be making progress. I did want to ask someone what they were doing but they seemed pretty busy. I had Sheila on her leash as we walked down the left side of the lawn to get on the trail on the north side of the lake. I was AGAIN disappointed to see that no maintenance had been done by the DEC! The "lawn" had not been mowed and it was hard to see the picnic tables through the long grass. The logs that the DEC had cleared from the stream below the spillway were still in a ragged pile on the lawn. What was once a beautiful place to come and enjoy an equally beautiful view was now a shambles. I don't know what the DEC "plan" for the area may be but it appears they have abandoned this very popular spot. As we walked along the trail on the northern side of the lake, we could hear someone at a campsite to our right. There were two men setting up a site and they seemed to behaving a good time. We continued walking along the trail until we came to the bridges across two small streams that run into the lake. I looked at the plants growing there and immediately called Sheila back to me. There were some very tall plants that looked a little like Queen Anne's lace but much taller and with very large leaves. I was pretty sure they were giant hog weed! This plant produces a sap that burns the skin badly when exposed to light! I tool some pictures and then had Sheila follow directly behind me as we worked our way to the other side of the bridges. I was hoping we would not see any more examples of this plant and we didn't. I thought we might return by walking round the lake in the opposite direction butt then realized we might not be able to cross the dam and would have to return the same way. The trail was damp in most places from the rain the night before which I knew might be a problem on the steeper parts of the trail later in the hike. At .8 miles we turned left onto the Millbrook Ridge Trail that ends on Balsam Lake Mountain. The temperature was perfect at about 63 degrees and there was plenty of sun with a slight breeze. The sky was blue with a lot of puffy white clouds. As we hiked up the trail, I noticed a few large blowdowns where someone had cut branches off to easy passage but had left the major part of the tree in the trail. I made a note that I might want to bring one of my axes to work on these next time!

Over the next 1.4 miles we gained about 530 feet as we walked on the trail which parallels the brook. We could hear the brook at times and a visual inspection showed more water in the stream than there had been for some time. The trail was wet and slippery in spots especially on the slanted rocks. Everything was very green given the season and the recent rain. We passed by the first beaver meadow and I didn't want to stop as the hike was rather long. Around 2.2 miles the trail leveled off as we approached the lean-to. We walked passed the spur trail to the lean-to and continued on the main trail toward the next beaver meadow. I decided that we would stop on the way back if I wanted to do so. The trail began to gain some elevation as we climbed toward Millbrook Ridge which is on the Catskill Highest Hundred list. We passed by some huge and interesting boulders and glacial erratics. The layers in the sedimentary rock were very clear. It was interesting that many of these rocks had trees growing on top of them in only and few inches of soil. At one point I though we had reached the final climb but I was mistaken. We had not hiked this trail in some time and the distance and the amount of elevation gain were greater than I remembered. The rocks were still damp and since this part of the trail is less used the moss made them extra slippery. At 11:55 AM we hit the highest point on the trail after hiking 3.5 miles. We continued on the trail as it began to descend off the ridge. Over the next .6 miles the trail dipped about 360 feet before again climbing toward the lookout. Rather than continuing directly east along the edge of the ridge the trail heads north and then loops around to the viewpoint. This reminds me a lot of hiking Dry Brook Ridge. After hiking 4.5 miles we arrived at the viewpoint at 12:30 PM.

I took off my pack and got out the camera. I had to stand on the rock at the lookout to get any view of Beecher Lake. Like ,many viewpoints in the Catskills, this one has been blocked as trees below grow taller. I did take a few shots of the lake and the white clouds in the sky. I also snapped two pictures of Sheila sitting on the rock. I got a drink, gave Sheila one and got out a bar for a snack as I packed up to start back. On the way back I was making good time but had to slow down on several of the descents due to the slippery conditions. The climb back up to the high point on Millbrook Ridge seemed long but I was surprised that I was able to keep a good pace. I took a few pictures along the way of some of the rocks. We also stopped at several of the beaver meadows including the one by the lean-to. Once we were at the lean-to the remaining part of the hike seemed to go very quickly and by 2:45 PM we had hiked 8.3 miles back t the loop trail around the lake. We turned right and followed the trail back through the giant hog weed. I did walk out one of the paths to the edge of the lake to take a few shots of the lake and Cradle Rock Ridge on the south shore of the lake. As I stepped out to the lake shore, I saw a mature, male bald eagle takeoff and begin to circle the lake. By the time I got the camera focused, he was too far away to get a good picture. I did take a few pictures of red-wing blackbird that was hopping around on the mud flats. After the photography session, we walked back to the main trail and continued to the parking area. We had covered 9.1 miles in 5 hours with a 2070 foot elevation gain. I am still experimenting with my Suunto Traverse GPS watch especially when it comes to the accuracy setting which effects battery life. I had set the watch for 1 minute recording intervals on the way out. When we arrived at the viewpoint readings I got disagreed with my Garmin unit and I suspected that the recording interval was not able to able the winding trail. I set the watch for 1 second intervals and the results were dramatically different. When I transferred the track to my computer is was obvious the 1 minute interval was "smoothing" the turns in the trail too much as was shortening the route. I will continue to experiment with this very interesting watch.

On Monday, June 27th Bryce was at our house for the day so Cindy and I decided we should go for a hike rather than sit in front of the TV or computers all day! When our grandson Bryce arrived early we asked him if he would like to go for a hike. His enthusiastic "Yes!" convinced me that we all should go to Frick Pond and hike up the Flynn Trail and down the Big Rock Trail. At Times Square we could hike the Logger's Loop back to the Quick Lake Trail and the parking area. Sheila was ready to go at any time and Cindy got herself dressed and we left Livingston Manor at 10:00 AM. After driving out the DeBruce Road and up the Mongaup Pond Road we arrived at the Frick pond trailhead parking area at 10:15 AM and got ready to hike. A couple of friends approached us from the area of the cabin and I hoped they had permission to hike through the private property. They also had an unruly dog with them so I put my unruly dog on her leash! We crossed the road and started out by hiking up the Flynn Trail toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The day was warm with temperatures in the mid-70's and a little humid with a slight breeze blowing. We allowed Bryce to set the pace and he did a good job. Hiking with a five year old Bryce is almost like hiking with another adult. Bryce notices everything and has lots of questions but also contributes to the discussion. At one point he showed us a tree that he thought was a paper birch and explained his reasoning. He was absolutely correct. We came across some coyote scat which he correctly identified and then made a series howls and yelps that made Sheila turn her head. When Bryce gives Sheila commands, he uses a voice that makes her listen to his command most of the time. As we walked up the long ascent, we did begin to hear some comments like "When will we be there?" We told Bryce it was a little longer and then distracted him until we had hiked the 1.7 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. It was 11:15 AM and we stopped to get a drink, have a snack and take a few pictures.

We turned left on the Big Rock Trail and began the descent to Times Square. We all liked the descent and we found that Bryce stopped frequently to clear branches from the trail. We talked and walked so that I hardly knew where we were or how long it was taking. At 11:45 AM we arrived at Times Square after hiking 2.9 miles. We continue straight ahead on the Big Rock trail to walk around the back of Frick pond on the wooden walkways. We had covered this part of the trail on our Father's Day hike and Bryce really liked it. As we walked toward the boardwalks, the trail was relatively dry. We stopped at the first two bridges to look for fish swimming in the streams and saw a few. Tend to gather under the bridge and swim out when someone hikes over the water. We continued our walk through the evergreen forest and turned left on the Quick Lake Trail when the Big Rock Trail ended. We stopped briefly at the bridge over the outlet to Frick Pond to get a drink and a snack. I decided not to take pictures as there was nothing remarkable about the scene on this day. We walked up the hill and through Gravestone Junction. Bryce was doing pretty well and we told him to watch for the trail register box. He found the box and we turned right to follow the Quick Lake Trail back to the parking lot and the car. We did pass a couple headed out to Frick Pond with a small but aggressive dog! We were back at the car at 12:20 PM after hiking 4 miles and gaining just under 700 feet. I wasn't sure I would like the Suunto Traverse GPS watch but it is quickly becoming a favorite! It is very convenient to have it on my wrist and it provides a LOT of information. I just have to remember to set the time between readings to 5 seconds or 1 minute from the default 1 second. The default Setting makes it very accurate but uses up the battery quickly.

On Friday, June 24th, I wanted to do a challenging hike close to home. I had planned to go north to do Indian Head and Twin but just couldn't bring myself to drive that far to hike alone. I need to get motivated again! I decided than the 8+ miles to Graham and Balsam Lake would have to do. Graham Mountain is on private property. Make sure you call the caretaker to get permission before hiking. I had to go to Liberty before the hike so I put my gear and Sheila in the car and drove to Liberty. After I completed my business, I headed back to Livingston Manor and start out Old Route 17 at just after 9:30 AM. I turned right and headed up the Beaverkill Road. It wasn't long before I got behind a slow moving truck and trailer and I kept wishing they would pull over. The truck soon turned into one of the roads that goes to a hunting camp and I made better time. The drive always seems so long and the tire area including the near side of Balsam Lake Mountain are in our ambulance district! There was only one car in the lot when I parked and I got all my gear ready to hike. I had along my new Suunto Traverse watch and made sure to set it correctly although I did not set the altitude. I put Sheila on her leash and got right on the trail by 10:20 AM. The temperature was already warmer than I expected and was pushing 7 degrees. Sheila and I didn't hurry but we kept a good pace making the first trail junction in about 20 minutes. We continued straight ahead on the trail toward the Millbrook trailhead. I was surprised to see that the trail had not been maintained in some time with branches, briars and nettles encroaching in some places. We kept our pace but I did not remember that the mile of trail between the two trail junctions gains over 400 feet of elevation. It was warm and but not too humid and I regretted not wearing short-sleeved shirt. As we hiked Sheila ran ahead and started into the woods to chase birds and chipmunks. The sky was very blue with puffy white cuds and I was happy to be out. By 11:10 AM we were at the second junction with the trail up Balsam Lake Mountain. We had hiked 1.8 miles and gained 720 feet! We continued on the woods road toward her path to Graham Mountain. We walled another .25 miles and turned right onto what has become a very obvious path.

The herd path has become more of a trail over the years and it even seems that someone is clearing some of the blowdowns, nettles and briars along the way. I meant to ask the caretaker about this but forgot. When we reached the herd path, it was in good shape but there were some nettles and briars encroaching on it as well as some additional blowdowns along the way. I hope no one clears these unless they get permission to do so! For the first 1.15 miles the heard path heads almost due east and is flat or even descends some. It is rocky in places and has some blowdowns which are easily walked around. At 3.2 miles into the hike we reached the base of the final climb up Graham as the herd path heads a little more toward the southeast. The distance to the summit from here is only .8 miles but gains 600 feet in elevation. There are a few switchbacks along the way which help make the grade only 15%. By 12:10 PM we had hiked the 4 miles to the summit. I dropped my pack to get a drink and a protein bar. I also took out the camera to take a few pictures. The views are now mostly blocked by the vegetation but I took some pictures of the ruins at the top. Someone decided to dismantle part of the old radio station at the top! There is no reason to do this especially since it is on private property. After a few minutes, I could hear people, on the other side of the building but they did not come around to say "hello" and I didn't want to see what they might be doing. Their dog did amble around to visit us and fortunately it was friendly as the owners did not seem the least bit concerned! There was still a lot of haze in the air so we didn't stay long but headed back down the mountain. When we got to the lookout to the north, I decided not to stop as it is now completely block by trees. The trip down seemed to go fast and by 1:25 PM we had hiked 6.1 miles and were back at the junction with the trail that heads up to the fire tower. I decided we would extend our hike a little so we turned right and started the ascent to the tower. On the last part of the climb up Graham my legs seemed to be tired so I wondered how they would feel climbing another mountain!

Since the trail junction is already more than 400 feet above the lower trail junction, there is less climbing to do than if yon start at the trailhead. Sheila and I kept hiking and I was surprised at the pace we were able to maintain and that my legs felt fine. Soon I could hear some noise from the area of the tower. There were half a dozen hikers at the top sitting or standing around talking. We said "Hello" and I leashed Sheila to a tree so she would not bother anybody and got her a drink. I also got a drink before climbing the tower. I grabbed my camera from my pack and headed up the tower to the landing just below the cab. I took some pictures from the upper landing and then dropped down to a lower landing to take a few more. Once on the ground I spent a few minutes talking to the group of hikers who were from Sound Beach on the north fork of Long Island. After a nice conversation, I said "Goodbye" and Sheila and I started down the steep side on the mountain. The first section wasn't too bad and at one point Sheila took off to chase some grouse which seem very plentiful this year. At 7.1 miles we started the steeper descent passed the spring and Sheila got a drink at the spring. We continued down . The hike down to the trail junction was only about .5 miles but the loss in elevation is almost 700 feet among for an average grade of over 25%! The trail was damp near the spring but was dry most of the rest of the way making slipping a real problem. Once back on the main trail we turned right and headed back to the car. We were back at the car at 3:00 PM having hiked 8.7 miles in 4 hours and 35 minutes with a stop at the top of Graham and at the fire tower. The vertical gain was 2223 feet. I was surprised that the detour to Balsam Lake Mountain had only lengthen the trip by about .6 miles. It did increase the ascending by over 500 feet.

On Wednesday, June 22nd, I had planned to go to Frick Pond with Lisa to do some light trail maintenance including lopping a few branches and removing one blowdown. We frequently do this kind of work but we were especially interested in making sure everything was well-maintained for the events of June 30. On that day Governor Andrew Cuomo has challenged legislators and staff members to do something in the Catskills. There are several voices including paddling on the reservoirs, trail running and mountain biking. One choice is hiking through the Mongaup Pond Campgrounds and around Frick Pond. Lisa was coming to the house at 9:30 AM and Cindy decided she wanted to go also. When Lisa arrived we got in Cindy car and headed out the DeBruce Road to Frick Pond. We parked at the trail head and I got all my electronics ready! In addition to my GPS unit I use my cell phone with the Avenza app and on this day I was trying out my new Suunto Traverse GPS watch. The watch has a lot of features and I have made myself a promise that I will get to know them unlike my GPS unit and camera. started our hike by walking out the Quick Lake Trail to the woods road that heads out to Frick Pond. Lisa had a pair of loppers and I had my Silky saw. As we walked we trimmed a few branches, removed others from the trail and moved a few rocks. We crossed the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond and noted the extremely low water levels. At the next trail junction with the Big Rock Trail our intent was to follow the Big Rock Trail around the pond but I wanted to clear a blowdown further along on the Quick Lake Trail. We headed to the left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and walked thought the "spruce tunnel". W crossed the small stream in the woods and passed through a small filed where we found the blowdown on the other side of the field. I used my Silky saw to section the tree into pieces that were easy to move off the trail. Of course, I took before and after pictures to document our efforts. We turned around and walked back to the junction with the Big Rock Trail where we turned left to continue around the pond.

As we walked the trail there wasn't very much to trim. The wooden walkways were in good shape. I did stop to take a few shots of the upper end of the Frick Pond wetlands and of a few small trout in the water. As we continued toward Times Square, we found a small tree fallen by the side of the trail. Not much of the tree was blocking the trail but I decided the dead leaves were aesthetically unpleasing. Cindy and Lisa had walked ahead so I worked on the blowdown by myself. I sectioned it and removed the pieces to clear it completely. I repacked my gear after takings few shots and then walked to Times Square where the other two were waiting. We elected to continue around the pond on the Logger's Loop rather than climb the Big Rock Trail. The Logger's Loop was recently mowed by the DEC and there was very little trimming to do. As we approached Gravestone Junction There was a nice view of the blue sky with the puffy cuds I had been looking for so I stopped to take a few pictures. We, continued on to the Quick Lake Trail and turned left to walk back to the parking area. On the way back we did meet a couple who are just hiking out to the pond and I felt good that our work meant they could have a nice hike. The Suunto Traverse worked well except for my blunder when I paused it at one point in the hike. I was easily able to download the information to the Suunto website and to then export it to a GPX file for my computer.

On Tuesday, June 21stI wanted to do a 3500 foot peak and had decided early in the week that I would do Indian Head and Twin. I got a text from Lisa asking if I had time for a hike and I told her my plans. To my surprise she said she would be at my house at 8:00 AM the next morning. I was excited since I knew it would be nice to have someone else along. I awoke early the next day and soon got a text from Lisa indicating she was bowing out. I was very disappointed as I had planned on the hike but decided that I would go anyway. Before I left the house, I decided that I would change my plans to hike Hunter from Spruceton mostly because it was closer and I had an afternoon commitment. I had hiked Slide the week before and all had gone well so I thought I would have no problems with the hike from Spruceton which is a well-maintained hiking and horse trail. I left Livingston Manor a little before 8:00 Am with a fully charged Sheila in the back seat. I had decided to wear light summer clothing despite the fact that the temperature was only in the high 50's when I left the house. I headed out DeBruce Road and turned left on Route 47 to head toward Big Indian and Route 28. There were no cars at the Biscuit Brook parking area and only one or two at Slide and Panther Mountain. I had to keep reminding myself it was only Tuesday! As I came to Route 28 in Big Indian, there was a sign indicated that Route 28 was closed and the detour was straight ahead. This was not a problem as this road connects to Route 42 north from Shandaken which is where I needed to be anyway. After driving to the end of the road, I turned left on Route 42 toward Lexington and immediately ran into bridge construction on this road. After a brief delay, I continued north on Route 42 to Spruceton where I turned right on the Spruceton Road. There were signs for some ditch cleaning and mowing on this road! We arrived at the parking area on the left at about 9:15 AM and immediately got on the trail to hike. There were no other cars in the lot and the temperature was still cool. Sheila and I left the parking area and I made up my mind to keep a constant but not necessarily fast pace. There was some water in the brook which made the hike pleasant. The trail showed some grooming and maintenance by machine including water bars and some crushed stone in places. We crossed the bridge at .5 miles and shortly after made the hairpin turn where the trail begins to get steeper. There was a pretty obvious path heading in the direction of Rusk and I wondered how well defined it remained.

The sun was out and the temperature was beginning to rise as we hiked up the trail. I was watching for some views of Westkill to the right but they were all blocked by the leaves on the trees. As we hiked Sheila was following animal tracks in many different directions. The trail was a little longer than I remembered but we made the saddle between Hunter and the Rusk ridge at 10:00 AM after hiking 1.7 miles. I stopped to get a drink and contemplated the fact that we were half way through the trip as far as mileage went. I knew that the hardest part was yet to come. We made the right turn up the mountain and I immediately noticed that the grade increased. I kept a good pace which had me sweating and breathing a little more than I had been. The trail continued to be in good shape and I began to think whether or not I would stop at the lean-to on the way up or save it for the way back. We continued to climb and the spur trail to the lean-to was a little father away than I remembered! I was feeling a little more tired than usual since I had not been hiking mountains for some time. I had been concentrating on the Finger Lakes Trail and Long Path with much longer but flatter hikes. I simply decided to cut my pace a little and relax taking a break when I needed. We reached the spring at 2.1 miles and Sheila got a drink while I continued up the trail. When we got to the trail to the lean-to, I decided to visit it and turned right to follow the spur trail down through the rocks to the lean-to. There was no one camped in the area and I dropped my pack to take some pictures. The view was as pretty as always although a few big, puffy clouds would have been nice! After taking some shots, I went back and took a few pictures of the trail through the rocks and then returned to my pack. I got us a drink and a snack before picking up the pack and heading back t the main trail. At 10:35 AM we passed the trail to the left that goes to the Colonel's Chair, the top of the Hunter Mountain ski complex. We had hiked 2.5 miles and still had about a mile and 450 feet of elevation to go! Even though I had stopped several times there were no signs of anyone following us on the trail.

The final mile has a few spots where the trail levels off and a few where there are some sustained climbs. We passed by a small lookout on the left since I knew better things were to come. As we approached the tower clearing, I could see there was no one at the cabin or on the tower. Sometimes I meet people who have hiked up from Notch Lake or have sued the Becket Hollow Trail to get to the summit. We walked to the cabin where I dropped my pack and got out my camera. I took a few shots of the tower and cabin and then leashed Sheila to the picnic table so that she would not follow me up the tower. I headed up the tower to take more pictures. As soon as I was above the tree line, I noticed a sustained breeze that made me a little cool. I took pictures from just below the cabin on the tower and then came down to another level and took some more. I could see the deserted Hunter Mountain Ski Area with the zoom on the camera. I took a few shots from the lower levels as I descended the tower including a few of a pitiful dog looking up at me! The skies were a rather solid blue and lacked the clouds that add a nice touch. I went over to the picnic table and released Sheila and got a drink. I looked around for Sheila and saw her halfway up the open stairs on the tower! When I called her, she fearlessly bounded down the steps to the ground. I got my gear on and we started back at down the Spruceton Trail. I had considered doing the loop to Southwest Hunter but I decided against it for the sake of time. We kept a fast pace down the mountain which would have been faster except for the many small stones strewn on the trail. We passed the spur trail to the lean-to at 11:35 AM. Just after this a mother grouse started the "broken wing dance" and Sheila went crazy chasing her and some chicks. I gave her a few minuets and then called her back so we could continue our hike. We were soon at the left turn where we picked up the pace down the wide woods road. As we approached the brook, Sheila decided to dive in, get out, run around like a maniac and then shale herself of as close to me as she could get. She did this several times. We were back at the parking area at 12:30 PM and there were still no other cars. We had hiked 6.7 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes with an elevation gain of 2000 feet.

Spring 2016

On Sunday, June 19th, I had been told that we were taking a father's Day hike after church. We gathered at the house after church and waited for everyone to arrive. By 2:00 PM everyone was ready and I drove out the DeBruce Road with Karl, Kurt, Bryce and, of course, Sheila. I turned left in DeBruce on the Mongaup Pond Road and then stayed left on Beech Mountain Road when the road spilt. I parked in the smaller parking where there was only one other car. We started out on the Quick Lake Trail at 2:30 PM. The temperature was in the 80's and I was glad I had chosen a light top and pants! As soon as we made it to the woods road we turned left by the register to walk toward Frick Pond. I kept Bryce busy since otherwise he starts to ask "Are we almost done?" At Gravestone Junction we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and walk down to the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. The scene was pretty as always and I took a few shots of the pond from the bridge. Both my sons commented the low level of the pond. I had the rest of the group stand by the bridge and I took a few pictures before we headed out on the Quick Lake Trail. At the next trail junction I stayed left on the Quick Lake Trail and Karl was quick to complain that we would miss the wooden walkways around the back of Frick Pond which is his favorite part of the trail. We continued the way I was going but I made a note that we would return that way from Times Square. We walked the relatively flat part of the trail through the "Spruce Tunnel" and crossed the small stream which was much drier than it had been less than a week before.

We walked up hill and at 1.5 miles arrived at Iron Wheel Junction. I told Bryce the name and he immediately spotted the iron wheels that give the junction its name. We turned right on the yellow-blazed Logger's Loop which started to climb a little. Everything was very green but the grass was not very damp. At 1.9 miles the trail started to swing east to start the loop back. At this point the trail is mostly downhill and the walking went more quickly. Along the way we stopped at an area on the ;east side of the trail that usually has quite a bit of water forming a small pond. There didn't seem to be much water but a flash of color caught my eye. I walked off the trail to the damp area and found less than a dozen wild irises growing in the area. They were a beautiful purple and I took a few shots before walking back out to the main trail. We continued downhill to Times Square where we turned right on the yellow-blazed Big Rock Trail. Bryce was saying he was tired but a little distraction proved he still had some "hike" left in him. We crossed two wooden bridges and watched the small trout in the water below. After that we continued on the main trail under some large evergreen trees and over the remaining walkways. They were dry on this day but when they are shaded and damp they are very slippery! As we got back to the Quick Lake Trail we turned left to follow it back to the car. We again crossed the bridge at the outlet to Frick Pond and then continued up the hill. We walked the largely level trail back to Gravestone Junction and then followed the woods road and trail back to the parking area. We had hiked 3.8 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes which was actually a good pace. The elevation gain was about 415 feet.

On Saturday, June 18th, I had planned to hike locally but longer than some of the hikes I had been taking. I decided to hike at Trout Brook but to do a loop that was at least 7 miles long including a walk along Campbell Brook Road and Morton Hill Road. Cindy decided she wanted to go with us so we did some early morning work and then left Livingston Manor just after 10:30 Am to head toward Roscoe on Route 17. Sheila was happy since she was getting used to the increased number of hikes. I got off the Quickies at exit 4 and headed north on Route 206 through Roscoe and across the Rockland Flats. Just after entering Delaware County, I turned left on Morton Hill Road and drove to Russell Brook Road. I turned left here and drive carefully down the dirt road to park at the lower parking area. There were bald a dozen cars already parked when we arrived at 11:00 AM. We were both wearing light, summer hiking gear since the temperature was already in the high 70's and the forecast called for even higher temperatures by the afternoon. We got right on the trail and walked down the woods road to the bridge across Russell Brook below the falls. We both remarked at what a "nice" comeback the Japanese knotted had made considering that a month ago it was dry and lifeless. The plants were very green and very much alive and I took a few shots to confirm this. We could here people at the falls as we hiked up the trail toward Trout Pond passing the register at the trail junction. The trail was dry and in good shape and we kept a fast pace up the trail. S we approached the outlet end of Trout Pond I could see someone in the water and when we arrived I said "Hello" to the young woman. Sheila wanted to make friends but I discouraged her and threw a stick for her to retrieve. I took few pictures of the pond but the sky was missing the puffy white clouds that I like in the background. After a few minutes, we departed and continued toward the lean-tos at the upper end of the pond. The main trail was as dry as it had been lately and we made good time.

When we arrived at the lower lean-to, I was surprised to find it unoccupied. We continued to the right of the lean-to and started to ascend the Campbell Brook Trail toward Campbell Brook Road. This trail was obviously less used than the trails round the pond and had a little more ascent than I remembered. Over the next .75 miles we gained 420 feet to the highest point on the hike at 2470 feet which was an average of a 10.5% grade. Near the top of the climb a snowmobile trail heads off to the right but I wanted to make sure we got in over 6 miles so we continued to the left on the Campbell Brook Trail. We immediately began to descend which was easier than the ascent but there were some eroded spots along the trail and a few blowdowns to make it interesting. In the next .75 miles we lost most of the elation we had gained at about the same grade and at 2.9 miles we crossed and recrossed Campbell Brook on two good bridges. We began a slight ascent until we hit Campbell Brook Road at 3.2 miles. We stopped to get a drink and a snack and so that I could stow my poles and put Sheila on her leash for the road walk. As we were getting ready to leave, two young hiker approached from the west on the road and eked about a water fall. We told them it was a little over 3 miles down the trail and they happily set off. As we started walking east on Campbell Brook Road we speculated on where they had parked and how far they planned to walk since they did not have overnight gear. We walked along the road in the shade unit there were no more trees and as we broke out into the sun the difference was noticeable. At 3.7 miles Campbell Brook Road made a left but we continued straight ahead on Morton Hill Road. The road continued to ascend until at 4.1 miles the road turned sharply south and started a long descent. There wasn't much to see along the road although the walk was pleasant. I had hoped to see some herons in one of the ponds but the water level was low and none were present. We contused south on Morton Hill Road until we again entered the shade of the trees and turned right on Russell Brook Road at 6.4 miles. The walk on Russell Brook Road was all downhill and went quickly. I looked at the upper falls and decided that despite the noise there was not enough water to warrant a visit. At 2:00 Pm we were back in the parking lot where a few more cars had been added. We had hiked 7 miles in 2 hours and 55 minutes with an average speed of 2.4 mph and an elevation gain of 1163 feet.

On Friday, June 17th, I had planned to hike some peaks on the Devil's Path since my hike at Slide Mountain had gone son well. I have been hiking mostly flat hikes and my aerobic capacity is down but my hike on Slide made me want to hike some more 3500 foot peaks! Lisa called me the night before and asked we are happy to I was doing on Friday as she wanted me to check out the trails around Frick Pond. The DEC was supposed to have mowed the Logger's Loop from Gravestone Junction to Times Square and then up the Big Rock Trail and back down the Flynn Trail. This is all in preparation for a visit from some state officials the following weekend. I told her of my plans and she said she would walk it on Sunday. When I got up in the morning, I decided I would go to Frick Pond to check to see if the work had been done and then hike a long loop over and around Mongaup Pond to at least get in some miles! I was up relatively early in the morning and saw no reason to wait around as the temperature was in the high 50's but was supposed to rise throughout the day. I got my gear ready wearing a light long-sleeved top and light, summer hiking pants. Sheila was happy to be going anywhere as we headed out DeBruce Road. I turned left in DeBruce on the Mongaup Pond Road and then stayed left on Beech Mountain Road when the road spilt. I parked in the smaller parking area and noticed the grass was not mowed. I assumed the work had NOT been done as promised and that I was wasting a day! There was a pickup with a camper in the larger lot and I could hear people talking as we started out on the Quick Lake Trail at 8:50 AM. As soon as we made it to the woods road and turned left by the register, I could see the tracks from a tractor in the mud and hoped that meant the mowing on the trails had been done. The trail to Gravestone Junction was wet and a little muddy and there were several spots where I could see that the tractor had sunk into the mud. At Gravestone Junction it was obvious that the DEC had mowed down to the Frick Pond bridge and had also mowed the Logger's Loop toward Times Square. I took a few pictures and then we turned right to walk the Logger's Loop to Times Square. The mowing made walking much easier and I stopped to take a few shots. At Times Square it was wet and muddy and there were tractor tire tracks all over the place. I could see that they had turned up the Big Rock Trail and that the sea of ferns had been cut down. Again, I took a few shots before we turned right to take the Big Rock Trail up to the junction with the Flynn Trail. It was obvious the temperature had increased and that combined with the uphill walk had me sweating. We kept a good pace up the hill which is about 1.1 miles and gains 600 feet. At the Flynn Trail the mower had turned right to mow the Flynn Trail back toward the parking area. I was convinced that the job had been completed and decided to head over the snowmobile trail to Mongaup Pond.

The first part of the snowmobile trail gains some elevation to a high point. This trail had not been mowed so we had to walk through several stand of ferns and grass. I was surprised when I looked down at my boots to find them relatively dry! So far there hadn't been much too see along the trails and this continued all the way to Mongaup Pond. This didn't mean that the hike was boring or that I didn't enjoy myself. Everything was green and the sky was a nice blue with lots of puffy white clouds. The 2.25 mile walk to Mongaup Pond went quickly especially after we crested the hill and hiked almost 2 miles down will. We arrived at the loop road at 10:45 Am after hiking about 4.3 miles. I put Sheila on her leash although there didn't seem to be anyone around and we turned left to walk the road to the blue Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail. After a short distance a sign appeared on the left and we turned left to follow the trail north around the upper part of the pond. As we walked, I could see a number of geese on the pond and hoped I could get some pictures as we drew closer. At the upper end of the pond, we walked down to the shore where I removed my pack and got out the camera. I took some pictures of the blue water and green trees around the lake with a brilliant blue sky overhead with towering white clouds. I was also able to zoom in on the geese and even get some pictures of them with their heads underwater to feed. As we got back on the trail the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail turned slightly left to head north toward Hardenburgh and the Beaverkill Road. We stayed on the path around the pond which was also a snowmobile trail. We walked about half a mile on a slight uphill to the junction with the yellow. Mongaup Willowemoc Trail. This trail started out pretty flat which surprised me as I remembered it as being more hilly. I didn't have to worry since in a very short distance we walked up a hill and then down the other side. This part of the trail was almost completely dry but it was rocky in spots which always make walking more difficult. At 6.5 miles we came to Butternut Junction where the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail continues southeast to Willowemoc. We turned right on the snowmobile trail which is named the Azalea Loop. It heads mostly southwest and back toward the Mongaup Road. I knew this trail meandered back and forth and was fairly long. I had hiked it before but nothing really seemed familiar which may be due to the total lack of distinguishing features!

We kept hiking as the trail turn one way and then the other until we finally got to an area covered in low ferns with some other much larger clumps. I seemed to remember this was near the end of the trail. We stopped and I took a few shots and the we continued on. We had walked up a hill and won the other side. When we got to another fern glen, I knew the end of this part of the trail was near but, I found, not as near as I thought. After hiking 2.9 miles from Butternut Junction we arrived at a woods road that had once been a public road between the Mongaup Road and Terwilliger Road. We turned right and began hiking downhill for the next .8 miles. Downhill should be fun and relaxing but numerous rocks and washouts along the trail made this downhill harder. Along the way a female ruffed grouse began her "injured dance" to draw Sheila way from her chicks. Sheila plunged into the woods and I waited to see what would happen. I called her back and this time she came back "empty". In the past, she has brought back grouse alive and I have had to explain to her how e have a "catch and release" policy! As we Mongaup Creek, I could hear the waterfalls and debated whether or not to visit. When we got to the small bridge across the creek, I looked at the water volume and decided to head back to the car. I put Sheila on her leash as we walked out to the road and up Beech Mountain Road back to the car. We arrived back in the parking area at 1:45 PM after hiking 10.6 miles and gaining 1922 feet of elevation. The temperature was in the mid 70's. We had seen no other hikers for the entire walk!

On Tuesday, June 14th, I planned to do a longer hike on the Devil's Path until a morning ambulance call changed my plans. When I returned home at 10:00 AM, I still had the whole day ahead of me but I wanted to get back early to spend time with Mt grandson, Bryce. I had not hiked in a week as I was preparing an athlete for the state track championships which occurred on Friday and Saturday. Since I had not hiked a 3500 foot peak in some time and had not been to Slide Mountain in 10 months, I decided that would be my destination. As I started to get ready Sheila was very excited and indicated she didn't care where we went as long as we got out of the house. I headed out the DeBruce Road at about 10:15 AM and drove passed Round Pond and down to Route 47. I turned left and drove toward Frost Valley. After passing the YMCA camp, which had a brand new entrance, I watched for the parking area for Slide Mountain. I pulled in just before 10:45 AM and found three cars in the lot. We got on the trail right away. I had worn a light windbreaker but I could feel the temperature was already rising and knew I wouldn't wear it for long especially once we started to climb. Starting out on the main trail we immediately crossed the Neversink River. The "river" in this case was completely dry without a drop of water. This has happened before but always surprises me since in the spring it may be impossible to cross without getting wet! The other small streams had some water but the volume was way down as we headed up to the woods road. In just less than half a mile we turned right on the woods road and hiked passed the first piped spring which was barely running. At .7 miles we turned left and started up the main trail to Slide Mountain which, according to the sign, was 2 miles away. The trailhead for Slide has a relatively high elevation so although it is the highest peak in the Catskills the elevation gain and grade are relatively modest. I was really feeling the gain inclination since I had been doing flat hikes on smooth trails. Sheila alerted and a pair of hikers passed us. We said "Hello" as we passed and commented on the beautiful weather. By the time we reached the designated campsite at 1.2 miles the grade was getting steeper and I was still feeling the effects of the ascent and the rocky trail. We kept a good pace up the trail as we approached the 3500 foot sign at 1.4 miles where the trail is at its steepest. The spring on the right had some water in it since I could hear Sheila getting a drink. Sheila alerted again and I put her on her leash as we approached another pair of hikers stopped on the trail. We stopped and we started a conversation. I found out they were both from New Jersey and had hike some places that I had hiked. They had started at Woodland Valley and stayed overnight between Cornell and Slide. They were on their way to Giant Ledge and then back to Woodland Valley. We wished each other a good hike and continued in opposite directions. The sky was bright blue with only a few clouds and the sun was out. I was glad I had ditched the windbreaker earlier! At 1.7 miles the trail started to level some and was covered with fine quartz sand. The Catskills including Slide Mountain are a plateau that was once under an ocean and have been pushed up to form what are called mountains.

We continued up the trail and I began to notice that some of the blowdowns had been cleared from the trail. There were still quiet a few trees leaning over the trail which I do not think is a good situation. Some trees were low and had branches cut in such a way that the remaining pieces formed "spears" that pointed downward. I imagine some taller hikers may have had problems with these. Soon the trail leveled again as we had done most of the climbing. At 2 miles we passed the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail as it came in from the left from the Denning trailhead. The trail leveled some here and I enjoyed walking along the path strewn with pine needles. Soon we were approaching the last climb and at 2.6 miles we were at the viewpoint toward Panther and Giant Ledge. I decided to hike to the summit and stop at the viewpoint on the way back. Based on the number of cars in the lot and the people coming down the mountain, I judged that the summit would be empty. We passed by the highest point on Slide where a cement block marks the location where a fire tower once stood and continued to the rock outcropping to find it deserted. It was 12:15 PM and we had covered 2.7 miles. I made sure I hydrated although I wasn't very thirsty. I tried to take a few pictures of the Ashokan Reservoir, Cornell and Wittenberg and found the views were more open than the last time I had been at the top. There was a haze hanging over the far peaks but I still took a few pictures. I decided not to go down to the spring as I wanted to get home to play with Bryce. We turned around and headed back on the trail after I took a few shots of Sheila.

We continued down to viewpoint and walked out onto the rock outcrop. This viewpoint was also more open than it had been and I could see Giant Ledge and Panther to the left and Cornell and Wittenberg on the right. I took a few shots and then got a snack and a drink. Sheila walk over to the trail and gave a "Woof" which scared a young man hiking passed the lookout. I said "Hi" and he continued on toward the summit. We turned right on the main trail and headed back down the mountain. I had hoped to make quick work of the descent but some knee pain slowed me down some. I always hike with poles even when it seems I don't need the. On this hike I was very glad I had them with me. Sheila decided that she would dash madly up and own the trail for no reason other than sheer joy! We passed the 3500 foot sign and continued down the trail. On the ascent I thought there seemed to be less rolling rocks than I remembered but they were all there on the descent. Sheila alerted as we neared the bottom of the descent I put her on her leash for a few minutes. A family of three approached and we exchanged quick greetings. We turned right on the woods road and then left on the trail that leads back to the parking area. This last part of the trail seemed very rocky but we made good time back to the river bed. I could again hear people in the parking area so I put Sheila on her leash. We crossed the dry river bed and I pout Sheila in the car. I got out my camera and followed a family of four down to the river bed. I took a few shots of the dry river bed. As I was leaving the father asked me if I thought the two young children could make the summit. I suspected the answer was "No" but I told him to hike as far as they could. I retired to the car at 1:45 PM. We had covered 5.3 miles in 3 hours with 1800 feet of elevation gain. I rather enjoyed the climb and think I will do another peak soon!

On Tuesday, June 7th I decided to get in some hiking close to home as I had track practice in the afternoon. Lisa had contacted me about hiking at Huggins Lake but I countered with a suggestion to hike the Campbell Mountain Trail from Route 206. She agreed to meet me at my house at 9:00 AM to do the hike. My plan was to hike the trail out and return on the roads since this is about the same distance as hiking out and back on the trail. These roads are almost devoid of traffic except for the last half mile on Route 206. I got my gear ready and put it and Sheila in the car and waited for Lisa who appeared on time. I drove north and west on State Route 17 exiting at exit 94. I drive through Roscoe and Rockland on Route 206 and drove toward Downsville until we arrived at the pulloff on Route 206 just before 9:30 AM. The temperature was in the mid-60's but it was overcast with a slight breeze which made it feel cool. I had on a light pair of summer pants but wore a light windbreaker over a double layer on top. We got on the trail immediately and noticed that there was a lot of high grass which was VERY wet. . After a few hundred feet on the trail, I released Sheila from her leash and she seemed to enjoy this immensely. The first part of the trail descends to a small stream passing by some stone foundations on the left side of the trail. This part has pretty wet with some running water from the showers the night before. We crossed the stream on a bridge and almost immediately started the climb up Campbell Mountain. The trail is never very steep but gaining over 700 feet in a little more than a mile gets the heart pumping. This part of the trail was drier with less grass but it is also highly eroded in places with some blowdowns. We removed several branches and small trees as we walked. At about 1.3 miles we passed the spur trail to the lean-to and continued the climb. At 1.6 miles a snowmobile trail branched off to the right. This is also the new route for the Finger Lakes Trail. When I hiked this route the last time, I was sure there had been a sign, trail blazes and a register box when we hiked it but I saw none of those this time. We made good time to the top of the mountain averaging 2.6 mph even up the hill. We decided we would stick with the original plan and we continued over the mountain and descended the other side.

The temperature seemed to be rising at times and cooling at others but I had long ago shed my jacket! I did notice that the nettles were beginning to flourish in the wetter and sunnier places. We hit Campbell Mountain Road at about 10:40 AM after hiking 2.3 miles. We turned left and hiked slightly uphill toward the intersection with Jug Tavern Road. It didn't take long for us to hike the .7 miles to the intersection and the dirt road seemed almost like a trail with only one car passing us. At the intersection we turned left and continued our hike toward Route 206. There are a few hunting cabins and second homes along the road and several permanent dwellings. One new home was being constructed and the builders were actively working to complete it. We did stop at one small pond hoping to see some wildlife like a blue heron but nothing presented itself. We kept up the quick pace which was enhanced since I had put Sheila on her leash and she was trotting along very quickly. We made the 1.5 miles or so in good time and turned left on Route 206 to complete the loop. It was less than a mile back to the car and we arrived at 11:40 AM. We had covered 5.3 miles in 2 hours and 11 minutes. The elevation gain was 10:20 AM and the hike was not long or difficult but fit easily into our busy schedule.

On Saturday, June 4th I was committed to a hike sponsored by Morgan Outdoors to celebrate National Trails Day. The hike was scheduled to be a one way hike from Alder Lake to Big Pond which is about 3.5 miles. I decided that I would arrive, park at Big Pond and then hike to Alder Lake where I would wait for the others to arrive. The hike was not scheduled to start until 2:00 PM so I knew I would have plenty of time if I arrived at Big Pond by noon. I planned to clear some of the nettles and briars from the path on the way to Alder Lake to make the hike back easier for those doing the one way version. I got some chores done in the morning and then got my gear and Sheila into the car a little after 11:30 AM. I headed out of town on Old Rt 17 and then turned north on the Beaverkill Road and headed toward Lew Beach. I drove through the hamlet of Lew Beach and continued on to Turnwood. As the Beaverkill Road made a turn to the right, I continued straight ahead on Barkaboom Road toward Big Pond. After less than a mile, I turned right into the upper parking area for Big Pond and parked my car next to several others that were already there. It was already in the 70's and the humidity was high as Sheila and I started out the trail toward Alder Lake. Although the trail has several ups and downs, it is sited so that it travels around the higher ridges in the area and sticks to the lower spots on the shoulders of those ridges. Just after the start of the hike, we began to ascend along a woods road where there were a few blowdowns that would have to be cleared on another day. We continued to walk uphill through a pine forest. The trail had been worked on the previous fall after years of neglect and was in good shape and well-marked. Some nettles and briars were starting to encroach on the trail and I beat them back with my walking poles which seemed pretty effective. There were a few large blowdowns that were easily avoided or easy to climb over. I did run across one small tree across the trail which as at waist height and I decided to try my new LT Wright Overland Machete. Although a machete is not really meant to chop wood, I thought I would give it a try. The blade is very sharp and I had no problem hacking through the trunk after which I removed it from the trail. At about a mile we began to descend on another woods road to an area that was once a small pond but is now mostly wetlands. Along the way I noted the many stonewalls and a few foundations in the area. At 1.75 miles we were at the small stream bed that connects two different wetland areas. In April the stream had enough water to produce small waterfalls but now it was completely dry! We crossed the stream and began to ascend to the shoulder of another ridge from the low wetlands. I continued to whack some nettles but wanted to make sure I was at Alder Lake on time. At 2.2 miles the trail turned right heading east toward Alder Lake. Shortly after that we began to descend for .6 miles to Alder Creek. On the descent we heard some hikers behind us and I was determined they would not pass us! There was some water in Alder Creek but much less than in April. We crossed Alder Creek Road just as a convoy of cars was turning onto the Alder Lake access road. We continued toward the lake on the access road and arrived at the parking area just after 1:30 AM.

I decided to hike down toward the lake to take some pictures. We hiked down to the "lawn" in front of the remains of the Coykendall Mansion and found the same pile of wood spoiling the view. The picnic tables were out but the grass was not mowed. Repeated pleas to the forester for Region 3 have gone unanswered. A bigger problem was the chain link fence surrounding two excavators working on the dam. The dam had always looked pretty sturdy and secure but something made the state decide to reconstruct or repair it! The water level in the lake was low and a large family was allowing their children to through rocks by the shore. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take a few shots before heading back up to the parking area. I did see that there was still a path that led over the dam to allow hikers to complete the 1.5 mile hike around the lake and to access the campsites on the southern shore of the lake easily. In the parking lot, I sat on a rock and got a drink and gave Sheila one also. Sheila seemed very warm so I decided to walk down to the creek so she could cool off. We walked down the bank passing the spring on the way. Sheila went down to the creek but simply walked along the rocks and seemed reluctant to dive in. After a few moments, I called her back and we walked back to the parking area and continued to wait for the other hikers from the Morgan Outdoors group to show up. Cars began to pull in just before 2:00 PM. I walked over to greet the occupants and said hello to Rick Roberts and Bob Moses who had several other people with them. Rick is the president of the Catskill Mountain Club and the Finger Lakes Trail Conference trail supervisor for the Catskill region. He has been instrumental in moving the FLT off local roads by constructing new trails that are located on DEP land. Bob Moses maintains trails and is an avid hiker leading hikes for several different organizations. We talked for a while and when no other hikers appeared we began our hike to Big Pond. Rick had brought his two beagles, Scout and Teddy, and they were getting acquainted with Sheila. I kept Sheila on her leash until we crossed Alder Creek Road and the stream. I let her off the leash and she spent a few moments playing with the other dogs but seemed largely uninterested. She spent most of the rest of the hike close to me on the trail. At 4.6 miles we followed the trail as it turned left and began to descend to the wetlands area. We stopped at the dry stream bed at 5 miles to get a drink and a snack. After a short rest, we began to ascend the woods road. We stopped to take a closer look at the stone walls in the area and a foundation that I had not seen before. We continued to walk along the trail negotiating a few very muddy areas. Bob and I stopped to cut a branch that was blocking part of the trail using his Silky saw which made short work of the blowdown. We caught up to the others and continued along the trail passing through an area that had been devastated by gypsy moths and tent caterpillars many years ago. At 5.7 miles we followed the trail as it turned to head west toward Big Pond and started our descent. We walked through the pine forest and followed the woods road down toward the pond. We arrived at the parking area at 4:00 PM which was a perfect time for me. I had covered 6.7 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes discounting the time I spent waiting for the other hikers. The total elevation gain was 1530 feet.

On Wednesday, June 1st Sheila and I were ready to get out of the house after a busy Memorial Day weekend had kept us out of the woods. I got my gear in the car and tried to contain an ecstatic Sheila as I drove out the DeBruce Road toward Frick Pond. I had thought about going somewhere else but I wanted to try using the Avenza app on my iPhone to follow a map of the big loop around Frick and Hodge Ponds. I had created this map myself from a track I had from my GPS and it appeared in the app when I opened it up on my phone. I wanted to see if it would perform like other maps I had downloaded and allow me to follow my progress along the track as I hiked. After about 6 miles, I turned left on the Mongaup Pond and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road at the fork. There was one car in the parking area as I pulled in at just before 10:00 AM. I got my gear ready to go and headed out the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond. The day was warm with the temperature at about 64 degrees and the bugs were out so I applied some insect repellant as a precaution. I wore a light pair of hiking pants and just a single layer long-sleeved shirt. We hiked out to the trail register and turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail as it follows a woods road. The trail was wet and muddy but these spots were easily avoided. We turned left at Gravestone Junction to follow the Quick Lake Trail to the bridge over the outlet of Frick Pond. I checked the Avenza app and it was working beautifully! As we made the turn at Gravestone Junction, we heard voices chime from the Logger's Loop to the right. I looked at saw a man and a woman hiking and the man had a small child in a backpack. When we crossed the bridge, I took a quick look at the view and decided it was not worth taking pictures since I have hundreds from this location. (The pictures posted here are from a previous trip in about the same conditions.) At the next junction with the Big Rock Trail, we stayed to the left on the Quick Lake Trail. We kept a quick pace as we hiked the Quick Lake Trail toward Iron Wheel Junction even though we had to work our way around several wet and muddy areas. We crossed the small stream in the forest Which is drier every time we hike the loop and as we continued I removed a few branches from the trail. There was one blowdown in the clearing just after the small stream and I knew I would have to return to remove it. At Iron Wheel Junction, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail toward Junkyard Junction. The walk is all uphill but the grade is only slight to moderate. This part of the trail was mostly dry but badly eroded by running water. We passed some of the blowdowns that I had cleared with various other people and it made me feel good to see the work. Sheila was ranging far and wide to explore the opportunities to chase small, furry creatures. At one point I looked up and saw a streak of dark brown or black move through the trees ahead of us. It was too small to be a bear so I suspected a weasel or fisher. I put Sheila on her leash and we moved passed the area without seeing any animals. After walking 3.1 miles, we arrived at Junkyard Junction at 11:15 AM.

We turned right at the junction onto the Flynn Trail which is relatively flat at this point. The trail had some wet and muddy spots but most were drying up. They are all lower than the ground surrounding them so it is hard to get them to drain. There isn't much to see along the Flynn Trail so we kept up a quick pace. At the gate we followed the trail to the right and down toward the shore of Hodge Pond. As we neared the pond we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail to the outlet of Hodge Pond. The woods road was rutted and had some water but the muddiest spots were easily avoided. We were soon at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. We turned right and headed toward the opening in the woods where the Flynn Trail follows another woods road. We started up the hill staying on the Flynn Trail and the walk up the hill seemed to go very quickly. Soon we were on the flat part of the Flynn Trail headed toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. This section of the trail all the way back to the parking area was once an extension of Beech Mountain Road that was paved and led to the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. In some areas the pavement is still visible under the grass and moss that has covered it. We continued on the Flynn Trail passing through the gate and walking on to the trail junction with the Big Rock Trail and the snowmobile trail that comes over from Mongaup Pond. We didn't stop at the trail junction but I quickly checked the cell phone app as we kept walking on the Flynn Trail. The app was functioning perfectly. Since the map is downloaded to true phone and the position is determined by GPS satellite, there is no need for a phone signal to use the phone to navigate. I did notice that the battery was draining more quickly than I had hoped. From this high point on in the hike, the trail descends 1.7 miles to the parking area. We kept up a fast pace on the descent but this final section seemed to drag a little. It is downhill but there isn't much to see and it is very familiar. We continued on the trail and soon were headed down the hill to the gate where we turned left to stay on then Flynn Trail. We walked down the short section of trail I had refurbished and then hiked through the woods back to the parking area. It was 12:25 PM when we returned. We had covered 6.3 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes. The elevation gain was a modest 910 feet.

On Saturday, May 28th I wanted to hike somewhere with Sheila and son-in-law Brad. I was still tired from 12 hours of track meet the day before and slept a little later than usual. There were thunderstorms predicted by 2:00 PM so I decided to again go to Frick Pond since it was near and would probably less populated on the busy weekend. I thought we might hike the Flynn Trail to the Hodge Pond Lookout and then hike back using the Flynn Trail and Quick Lake Trails since I was looking for a longer hike. Brad and I got our gear in the car and put an excited Sheila in the back seat as I drove out the DeBruce Road toward Frick Pond. After about 6 miles, I turned left on the Mongaup Pond and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road at the fork. There a few cars in the parking area as I pulled in at just after 10:00 AM. As I was getting my gear ready to go, a mountain biker stopped to ask about the trails. I directed him up the Flynn Trail and over the snowmobile trail to Mongaup Pond where he was staying. We crossed the road and headed out on the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. Once we hit the wide woods road that is the Flynn Trail, we noticed that the grass has pretty ugh and very wet with dew. The temperature was already in the 70's and I was glad I had worm a single layer and light, summer hiking pants. Brad and I walked and talked as we hiked up the long hill toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 1.7 miles into the hike. The sun was out and there were white, puffy clouds in the sky and there was no indication of any impending rain. It only took us 40 minutes to reach the first trail junction where we continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail. After walking the relatively for a long time part of the trail through the gate, we arrived at the pout where the Flynn Trail bears left down to Hodge Pond. We turned right on a woods road to hike toward the lookout over the pond. The woods road we were walking on was once Beech Mountain Road leading to the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. After a short walk, a trail turned off to the left to go down to the pond. We continued straight ahead and then passed the left turn toward the area of the camp. We started up the road that leads to the lookout. The grade became steeper as we climbed the hill and at about 2.6 miles the road made a sharp turn to the right. We stopped so that I could take some pictures from a small viewpoint and then continued on the road. As the road made another sharp turn, this time to the left, we turned right into the woods on another woods road. The trail to the lookout is relatively flat and at 2.8 miles we arrived at the flat Rick that allows a view of the pond. I was supplied to see that there actually was a good view down to Hodge Pond since the last time I had visited the view was blocked. I took some shots including one of Brad and Sheila. We got a drink and then started hiking again.

We turned right and continued the hike by following the woods road as it circled Flynn's Point on Beech Mountain. This higher spot to our left is the highest point in Sullivan County at 3118 feet. We continued to circle Beech Mountain until we got back to the road where we turned left and walked back down the hill to the turn down to Hodge Pond. We turned right at 4 miles and walked down toward the pond and as we neared the shore we turned right on the jeep road that goes around the upper end of the pond. When we came to an opening on the left, we walked won to the shore so I could take some pictures. Sheila jumped into the water but did not swim after the two ducks that were already there! I got out my camera and took pictures of the ducks, Sheila and the pond. The trees were very green and the water very blue and all was peaceful. The sky was a beautiful blue with puffy white clouds. After I took a few pictures we returned to the trail and continued hiking around the pond. At the next trail junction, we turned right to again hike up the blue-blazed Flynn Trail. It had gotten much warmer and I was beginning to feel the effects of the heat and humidity. We hiked up the hill and pass through the gate where the Flynn Trail turns to the left. This part of the trail is flat and often muddy. On this day there were a few soft spots but we saw almost no water or deep mud. At 5 miles we arrived at Junkyard Junction where the Flynn Trail ends. We turned left on the red blazed Quick Lake Trail to start back toward the parking area. Our hike back to the car would be mostly downhill which I thought was a good thing. Having someone to talk to on a hike does make the time pass more quickly especially on a trail which is so familiar and does not have exciting lookouts. At 6.6 miles we were at Iron Wheel Junction which is marked by...a set of iron wagon wheels. The Yellow blazed Logger's Loop continues straight ahead so we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. We did find a few muddy spots along this trail as we hiked towed Frick Pond. The small stream just before the "spruce tunnel" had much less water than the last time I had visited. Sheila found a way to swim for a minute before we continued toward the pond. We passed the junction with the yellow blazed Big Rock Trail on the left and arrived at the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond at 7.5 miles. We stopped a moment and I took a few pictures of the pond which looked much like all the others that I have taken from this location. I reshouldered my pack and we walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction where we continued straight ahead toward the parking lot. We met two hikers coming toward us and I put Sheila on her leash. The walk to the parking area seemed quick as we continued to follow the Quick Lake Trail passed the register. When we arrived back at the parking area the smaller lot was full and there were several cars in the larger lot. It was 1:40 Pm and we had hiked 8.1 miles in 3 hours and 25 minutes. Along the way we had gained 1330 feet.

On Wednesday, May 25th I wanted to get in a hike close to home before track practice in the afternoon but I wanted a longer hike than then two previous days. Since I had been at Trout Pond and Frick Pond recently, I decided to go to Long Pond and create a hike I had never done before. My intention was to hike a figure 8 loop to extend the mileage and take in some spots I had not visited in some time. I wanted to walk as fast as I could and only take a few pictures along the way. I got Sheila in the car with my gear and headed out DeBruce Road for about 8 miles to Flugertown Road where I made a left. I parked in the lot a short distance up the road on the right. It was 10:30 AM and the temperature was already in the 70's. I decided not to wear a jacket and was glad I had worn a lighter top and summer weight pants. We started our hike at 10:30 AM by walking over the bridge and up the hill. The first .6 miles gains about 350 feet to the highest point on the hike. It isn't very steep but does act as a nice warm-up! The trail was not very wet but there were a few muddy spots that we walked around. At 1.1 miles we were at the spur trail that leads down to the shore of Long Pond. We turned right and walked down to the shore of the pond where I sternly warned Sheila to "Stay"! I walked down to the shore to take some pictures. The pond is not very picturesque but I too a few shots anyway. What was remarkable was the variety of sounds around the pond. I could easily distinguish the song of the red wing blackbirds and the chirping of the bullfrogs. I took a picture of a blackbird in a tree but could not see the wings. Later inspection of the pictures showed a red and yellow patch on the wind. My eye caught some movement in the pond along the shore. I couldn't see what it was but I zoomed in a took a few shots. When I got home, I was surprise to see a large bullfrog sitting on a rock with his throat fully expanded! I turned to my pack and we headed out to the main trail where we turned right to continue our hike. At the first trail junction at 1.3 miles, we turned left to hike out to the rod as part of the figure 8 I had planned.

This part of the trail is relatively flat and there were some large muddy areas along the way. At 1.6 miles the trail began to descend to cross a long bridge across the stream. I decided to leave the photography for later and paused briefly to allow Sheila to get a drink and swim. We continued on the trail crossing another ridge and arriving at Flugertown Road at 2.0 miles. We turned right and began to hike toward Basily Road. Along the way there were two campsites set up and I out Sheila on her leash as we passed. We continued along the road as it went from pavement to dirt. We gained a little elevation along the road until we broke out of the woods near the Peter's Hunting Camp. We stopped for a moment and I took a few pictures of the valley before continuing on the road. When we arrived at the private bridge, the gate was closed but I had permission to cross so we did and walked along the edge of the tilled ground at the camp toward the beaver pond. The beavers had been at work and the road was more of a stream. Sheila had no problem walking through the water and I managed to stay dry by using the small footbridge. We stopped so that I could take a few pictures of the road and the beaver pond. The break didn't last long as we continued on the road to finish the upper loop. The road continued to gain elevation and at 3.6 miles we stayed to the right as Basily Road headed left to Wild Meadow Road. Shortly after this we turned right into the woods on the snowmobile and hiking trail. This part of the trail is pretty flat which means that standing water causes some muddy areas. All of the mud was easily avoided and at 4.6 miles we passed the spur trail on the left to the lean-to.

We continued on the main trail passing areas where we had to avoid some mud. At 5.0 miles we were back at the first trail junction where we had started the figure 8 earlier. We turned right and again followed the trail toward Flugertown Road. This time when we arrived at the bridges, I took some pictures and allowed Sheila to have a longer swim. I got a drink and then we continued out to the road where we turned left to head back to the car. Along the way several cars from the campsites passed us. A little further along a pickup truck came towed us and stopped. I recognized a custodian from the highs cool who had retired several years before I did. We talked about the time we spent together at the school and what had transpired Since. He is the caretaker for the Peter's Hunting Camp and I asked him about hiking across their land. He assured me as others have that it is permissible to hike as long as hikers stay on the trail. We parted ways but I kept Sheila on her leash as we walked the flat and hard packed road. Soon we were on the well paved road and were heading back to the car. As we turned left into the parking area, we found a group of young people standing in the parking lot talking. There was no sign of their transportation but they had hiking and camping gear. We had hiked 7.2 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes with an elevation gain of 760 feet. This indicates a pretty flat hike!

On Tuesday, May 24th I agree to hike somewhere local with Lisa. She suggested Mary Smith Hill from Berry Brook Road. I wouldn't normally hike this short of a hike but I had been out the previous day and planned to hike the next day so I agreed. I was also happy to have the company as Sheila is so often roaming off the trail following game trails. I picked Lisa up at her house on the Beaverkill Road at around 9:00 AM and drove to the Covered Bridge Road. The Beaverkill Covered Bridge is being renovated so I turned left on Craigie Claire Road and crossed on the iron bridge. I made a right on Berry Brook Road and drove passed the Covered Bridge Road. After about more 3.7 miles I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road. It was 9:25 AM as we got right on the trail. I had worn a light pair of hiking pants and a single layer under a light windbreaker as the temperatures were forecast to reach into the high 70's. The bugs were already out so I applied some spray to keep them at bay. The first .6 miles of the trail are pretty steep gaining a little over 500 feet. The surface has some loose rock and on this day that was covered by a layer of slippery leaves. As we climbed we could look back over our shoulders for a view which was partially obscured by the new leaves on the trees. At around .3 miles we heard a bleating noise and I looked back to see that Sheila had found a fawn lying in the leaves by the trail. I called Sheila and she reluctantly came. I think she wanted to play with the fawn! The fawn lay motionless as I took some pictures from the side and then went around to the front and took a few more. I also used this opportunity to get a drink and shed my windbreaker. We continued to climb the hill where some of the grades are over 20%. After climbing to the top of the first, unnamed hill we descended a little before starting up Mary Smith Hill. At .9 miles the trail makes a sharp right turn swinging from ENE to SE and then ascends Mary Smith Hill. Along the way Lisa noticed some interesting rock formations. We also walked through several areas where we had to pass between or climb over large rocks.

Just before the top of Mary Smith Hill we stopped at a lookout which has a limited view to the south. I climbed down to get a better view but like many lookouts in the Catskills this one is slowly being blocked as trees grow up. I took pictures although there was a bit of haze. At this point I was fresh enough to continue but we decided to start back which was Ok with me as I had a lot of work to accomplish. I had initially though about hiking to Mary Smith Hill Road but the climb had been tiring and the pull of work at home helped make my decision. The trip back seemed to go quickly although we stopped several times to take pictures of interesting rocks and trees. We were also careful on some of the descents as the dry soil and loose rock covered by leaves was challenging. We noticed that the fawn we had seen mealier was gone. We were back at the parking area by 11:20 AM having hiked 2.4 miles in 1 hour and 55 minutes with a 675 foot vertical gain. When we arrived back in the parking area we noticed a front end loader and a pile of railroad ties across the road on state land. There was no indication of their planned use. On the way back we stopped to see the renovations on the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. The siding has been stripped off the bridge and work is being done to reinforce the roadway. The approach on the Beaverkill side has been redesigned to be more gentle. The complete date is mi-fall of 2016.

On Monday, May 23rd Sheila and I were ready to get out of the house after a week of track and family commitments had kept us out of the woods. I got my gear in the car and tried to contain an ecstatic Sheila as I drove out the DeBruce Road toward Frick Pond. After about 6 miles, I turned left on the Mongaup Pond and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road at the fork. There were no cars in the parking area as I pulled in at just before 8:00 AM. I got my gear ready to go and headed out the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond. The day was warm and the bugs were out so I applied some insect repellant as a precaution. I wore a light pair of hiking pants and a light windbreaker over a single layer. We hiked out to the trail register and turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail as it follows a woods road. The trail was wet and muddy but these spots were easily avoided. We turned left at Gravestone Junction to follow the Quick Lake Trail to the bridge over the outlet of Frick Pond. When we crossed the bridge, I took a quick look at the view and decided it was not worth taking pictures since I have hundreds from this location. At the next junction with the Big Rock Trail, we stayed to the left on the Quick Lake Trail. We kept a quick pace as we hiked the Quick Lake Trail toward Iron Wheel Junction even though we had to work our way around several wet and muddy areas. We crossed the small stream in the forest and as we continued I removed a few branches from the trail. There was one blowdown in the clearing just after the small stream and I knew I would have to return to remove it. At Iron Wheel Junction, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail toward Junkyard Junction. The walk is all uphill but the grade is only slight to moderate. This part of the trail was mostly dry but badly eroded by running water. We passed some of the blowdowns that I had cleared with various other people and it made me feel good to see the work. After walking 3.1 miles, we arrived at Junkyard Junction at 9:15 AM.

We turned right at the junction onto the Flynn Trail which is relatively flat at this point. The trail had MANY wet and muddy spots but they are all lower than the ground surrounding them so it is hard to get them to drain. The trail was drier than the last time we had hiked it. There isn't much to see along the Flynn Trail so we kept up a quick pace. At the gate we followed the trail to the right and down toward the shore of Hodge Pond. As we neared the pond we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail to the outlet of Hodge Pond. The woods road was rutted and had some water but the muddiest spots were easily avoided. We were soon at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. We turned right and headed toward the opening in the woods where the Flynn Trail follows another woods road. We started up the hill staying on the Flynn Trail and the walk up the hill seemed to go very quickly. Soon we were on the flat part of the Flynn Trail headed toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. This section of the trail all the way back to the parking area was once an extension of Beech Mountain Road that was paved and led to the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. In some areas the pavement is still visible under the grass and moss that has covered it. We continued on the Flynn Trail passing through the gate and walking on to the trail junction with the Big Rock Trail and the snowmobile trail that comes over from Mongaup Pond. We didn't stop at the trail junction but kept walking on the Flynn Trail. From this high point on the hike, the trail descends 1.7 miles to the parking area. We kept up a fast pace on the descent but this final section seemed to drag a little. It is downhill but there isn't much to see and it is very familiar. We continued on the trail and soon were headed down the hill to the gate where we turned left to stay on then Flynn Trail. A dog from the cabin approached us but soon last interest. I dislike dog owners who will not or cannot control their pets! We walked down the short section of trail I had refurbished and then hiked through the woods back to the parking area. It was 10:30 AM when we returned. We had covered 6.4 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes. The elevation gain was a modest 910 feet.

On Tuesday, May 17th I knew that I had to get in a hike despite having to leave for a track meet in the afternoon. I decided to head to Trout Pond and hike the big loop in a counterclockwise direction. I was more interested in the exercise and just getting out than taking pictures or seeing something new. Sheila was happy as usual as I got dressed and put my gear in the car. The temperature was still cool and hanging right around 50 degrees. I knew it would get warmer so I wore a single layer with my Mammut hood and my MH Winter Wander pants. I headed north on Route 17 and the took Route 206 from Roscoe toward Downsville. Just after entering Delaware County, I turned left on Morton Hill Road and rove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road, I turned around and parked on the side of the road to avoid parking in the large open space which is marked as private property. The temperature had already risen when I parked at 9:25 AM and immediately started the hike. Sheila was ready to go as always and as we started down the road. As we walked down the road, the stream was making a lot of noise so I expected the falls to have a good volume. Sheila disappeared for a moment and I realized there was a pickup truck parked at the upper designated campsite and that Sheila was "investigating" the campsite! I called her back and we continued our hike. As we passed the lookout over the falls, I decided to take a few pictures although I had not planned to stop. I took a few shots and then experimented with the shutter speed to get the soft quality of the water flowing over the rocks. Back on the road, We headed down to the lower parking area and found no cars in the lot. We walked down to the main trail and then across the bridge over Russell Brook. The knotweed that we had trimmed back was completely dead and shriveled. We walked to the register box and headed up to Trout Pond.

The trail still had some running water in places but it was mostly dry under foot. The sky was still overcast but the sun was peaking through adhere were a few blue spots and just a slight breeze. At the pond, I took off my pack and got out the camera. The water level seemed a little higher but there was still no water running over the outlet of the dam. I took a few pictures of the pond but the sky was not the best for photography. I decide to throw a stick into the pond so that Sheila could swim to retrieve it. Sheila seemed to be excited so I threw the stick and she jumped in but after a few moments she jumped right out! I tried it again with a larger stick and she did the same thing. She started running around like crazy as she often does when she is excited or cold! I concluded she had decided it was a little to cold for swimming! I packed up and we continued up the trail toward the head end of the pond. The lean-tos were not occupied and the view from the inlet end of the lake was less than ordinary. We continued our walk on the main trail and started the ascent up the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. As we started to climb Cherry Ridge one of the blowdowns I had found last time had been cut and removed from the trail making me think someone had done some trail maintenance. Along the way were several large blowdowns which we could not clear without an axe and saw. There were a few branches down which I picked up and moved to the side of the trail. Since I have begun to do trail maintenance, I always think how much easier it would be if everyone who hiked would just pick up a branch here and there. We made a slight turn to the south and began to climb some more. Sheila was roaming the brush near the trail and seemed to always be on a scent trail. We hit the high point on the hike and started down the other side. There was quite a bit of water on the trail both standing and running making the conditions muddy. I continued to find blowdowns and branches on the trail. After a short ascent to the "forest of numerous small trees", we walked down to the woods road and snowmobile trail and turned left to complete our loop. The descent to the trail junction was wet in many spots. As we walked down the will the skies continued to grow darker and the wind came up. By the time we were half way down it was raining very lightly and I hoped it would not get any harder. We passed the large campsite on the left at the bottom of the hill and walked back to the trail junction where we turned right to walk back to the lower parking area. I decided not to visit the lower falls due to the hour and the rain. There was one car in the lot and the occupants were looking at the maps at the trail kiosk. I offered my assistance but they assured me they were "OK". We walked up the road back to our car. At the upper campsite an older man was in the pickup and he asked us where we had hiked. I recognized him from a hike last year at about the same time! We arrived at 11:40 AM. We had hiked 5.5 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes gaining 1110 feet.

On Thursday, May 12th Sheila and I were ready to get out of the house after TWO WEEKS of heavy rain and track commitments had kept us out of the woods. I got my gear in the car and tried to contain an ecstatic Sheila as I drove out the DeBruce Road toward Frick Pond. After about 6 miles, I turned left on the Mongaup Pond and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road at the fork. There were no cars in the parking area as I pulled in at just before 9:00 AM. I got my gear ready to go and headed out the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond. The day was warm and the bugs were out so I applied some insect repellant as a precaution. I wore a light pair of hiking pants and a light windbreaker over a single layer. We hiked out to the trail register and turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail as it follows a woods road. The trail was very wet and muddy but these spots were easily avoided. We turned left at Gravestone Junction to follow the Quick Lake Trail to the bridge over the outlet of Frick Pond. When we crossed the bridge, I took a quick look at the view and decided to take a few shots even though I have hundreds from this location. At the next junction with the Big Rock Trail, we stayed to the left on the Quick Lake Trail. We kept a quick pace as we hiked the Quick Lake Trail toward Iron Wheel Junction even though we had to work our way around several wet and muddy areas. We crossed the small stream in the forest and as we continued I removed a few branches from the trail. At Iron Wheel Junction, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail toward Junkyard Junction. The walk is all uphill but the grade is only slight to moderate. This part of the trail was also wet but it drains better than the flat areas lower down. We passed some of the blowdowns that I had cleared with various other people and it made me feel good to see the work. At one point we did find a small tree across the trail and I made note that it would require a return trip with an axe and saw. After walking 3.1 miles, we arrived at Junkyard Junction at 10:05 AM.

We turned right at the junction onto the Flynn Trail which is relatively flat at this point. The trail had MANY wet and muddy spots but they are all lower than the ground surrounding them so it is hard to get them to drain. There isn't much to see along the Flynn Trail so we kept up a quick pace. At the gate we followed the trail to the right and down toward the shore of Hodge Pond. As we neared the pond we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail to the outlet of Hodge Pond. The woods road was rutted and had some water but the muddiest spots were easily avoided. We were soon at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. I decided to go to the shore of the pond and take a few pictures. Sheila immediately went into the water so I decided to throw a stick and let her get in a good swim. I threw the stick, she swam to retrieve it and I took pictures for several minutes. We turned around and headed toward the opening in the woods where the Flynn Trail follows another woods road. We started up the hill staying on the Flynn Trail and the walk up the hill seemed to go very quickly. Soon we were on the flat part of the Flynn Trail headed toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. This section of the trail all the way back to the parking area was once an extension of Beech Mountain Road that was paved and led to the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. In some areas the pavement is still visible under the grass and moss that has covered it. We continued on the Flynn Trail passing through the gate and walking on to the trail junction with the Big Rock Trail and the snowmobile trail that comes over from Mongaup Pond. We didn't stop at the trail junction but kept walking on the Flynn Trail. From this high point on the hike, the trail descends 1.7 miles to the parking area. We kept up a fast pace on the descent but this final section seemed to drag a little. It is downhill but there isn't much to see and it is very familiar. We continued on the trail and soon were headed down the hill to the gate where we turned left to stay on then Flynn Trail. We walked down the short section of trail I had refurbished and then hiked through the woods back to the parking area. It was 11:30 AM when we returned. We had covered 6.4 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes. The elevation gain was a modest 910 feet.

On Friday, April 29th I had not planned to hike since the forecast called for rain on and off all day. By 10:00 AM no rain had fallen and the forecast showed it holding off until 3:00 PM. I decided to get out and do a quick hike and chose Frick and Hodge Ponds as my destination. I had not hiked UP the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond in some time and made that my intended route. Sheila was eager to get going as I put my gear in the trunk and opened the backdoor for her. The temperature was in the low 50's but there was a slight breeze and a bite to the air. I wore my MH Winter Wander pants and my Mammut hoody over a single layer top. By the time I drove out the DeBruce Road and up the Mongaup Road to the trailhead, it was already 11:40 AM. There was one other car in the parking area as we crossed the road and started up the Flynn Trail. The sky was overcast and the air felt damp but despite this I warmed up quickly and was soon opening the zippers on my hoody. I kept a quick pace with Sheila riving out ahead kicking up a few birds as we hiked. By 12:20 PM we had hiked 1.7 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued straight ahead staying on the Flynn Trail heading toward Hodge Pond. We passed through the gate and were soon at the next trail junction where we stayed to the left to stay on the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond. As we approached the pond, I looked at the scene and decided it was the kind of dreary that does not photograph well and continued passed the shores of the pond without stopping. To this point the trail had been relatively dry but as we continued on the west side of Hodge Pond the Flynn Trail began to be muddy. As we walked along the western shore, we turned left to stay on the Flynn Trail and began a slight up hill to the gate where the trail turns to the left.

This part of the Flynn Trail is pretty flat and the trail is often the lowest point which allows water to collect with nowhere to go. The rain earlier in the week had made the trail wet and I had to walk around several wet and muddy areas. I noticed that Sheila simply walked through them! We arrived at Junkyard Junction at 12:50 PM about 3.25 miles into the hike. From here the rest of the hike is primarily downhill with a few small hills along the way. We turned left on the red Quick Lake Trail and found it was also wet and muddy in spots. Some section of the trail are washed out leaving a lot of rocks behind and making the downhill hiking not as much fun as it could be. There wasn't much to see so we hiked quickly passing the junction with the snowmobile trail. We arrived at Iron Wheel Junction at 1:25 PM after hiking 4.8 miles. We turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail since the yellow Logger's Loop continued straight ahead. The trail continued to be muddy but we made good time as we crossed the little stream in the woods and continued toward Frick Pond. We passed the junction with the Big Rock Trail that goes around the north end of Frick Pond and walked to the bridge across the outlet of the pond. I decided not to stop but to keep walking as I had felt a few drops of rain. We continued back on the Quick Lake Trail to the trail register. Along the way I was pleased to see that the ditching that we had done during our trail maintenance work was draining much of the water off the trail. At the trail register we turned right and continued on the Quick Lake Trail back to the car. The lot was empty when we arrived at 2:00 PM. We had hiked 6.3 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes with only 4 minutes of stopped time and an elevation gain of 910 feet.

On Wednesday, April 27th, I had planned to do a hike with a friend somewhere close to home. We both had tight schedules for the day as we decided to go to Alder Lake and hike to the Beaver Meadow Lean-to. I picked her up at her house at about 9:00 AM and we headed toward Turnwood and Alder Creek Road. I parked in the Alder Lake parking area at (:20 AM and we started our hike almost immediately. There was a large van parked in the lot and the register indicated four hikers from New York City had signed in. The temperature was in the mid 40's with a slight breeze but the sun was shining brightly. I had decided to go back to my MH Winter Wander pants and the baselayer and Icebreaker light wool top I had worn lost of the winter. We headed down to the left of the "lawn" toward the trail around the left side of the lake. The pile of logs that had adorned the lawn was still present despite my pleas to the Region 3 forester to have them removed. I am not sure what crew placed them there but they ruin the view and prevent adequate maintenance of the lawn which is a shame for such a beautiful and well-used space. There was also a construction trailer setup by the remains of the Coykendall mansion. It seems a contractor has been hired to work on the dam and spillway. I noticed that there was also a roll of chain link fence near the spillway and I could only guess how this may be employed! I took a few pictures of Alder Lake with the sun sparkling off the water before picking up my pack and heading out on the trail. We kept up a good pace stopping once so that I could take a picture of some interesting algae blooms in the water near the first bridge. Sheila was happy to be out and was running around investigating the various campsites along the way. The trail was pretty dry with only a few muddy spots along the way. We crossed the bridges and at about .8 miles and turned left to head toward the lean-to on the Millbrook Ridge Trail. The trail had several blowdowns along the way but some had been cut rasher recently with a chainsaw while others were untouched. There did not see a pattern as to why some were cleared and others left uncut. As we walked, we could here Alder Creek to the right of us and see the sun sparkling off the water. I stopped at the first beaver meadow to take a few pictures while my friend decided not to wait and walked on ahead. After taking a few shots, I got back on the main trail and caught up as she had stopped at a small beaver pond on the right side of the trail. We walked into the woods to investigate and found a dam that did not seem to have any new sticks added to it. There was also the beginnings of a lodge which had not been completed. I took a few pictures and then we walked back to the main trail. For the next 1.5 miles the trail climbs and then levels off several times. The elevation gain is several hundred feet but the grade is never more than 12% and averages around 6%. At some point my hiking companion decide we were going too slow and went ahead of me and started to pull away. This continued for the rest of the hike to the lean-to and I decided I would hike at my own pace and enjoy the walk. I was sorry she did not want to hike with me as I very frequently hike alone and would have liked to have a conversation! There isn't too much to see along the way but this day was very pleasant. I enjoyed the sounds and sights of Alder Creek as it flows parallel to the trail much of the way. At one point there was a large blowdown across the trail which would have been easy to clear with a chainsaw but nothing had been touched. I ducked under some large branches and squeezed through an opening. The trail in this area was very wet and I had to find ways to avoid the mud. Soon I arrived at the lean-to to and I dropped my pack to walk down the path to the beaver meadow with my camera.

It had taken about an hour an 15 minutes to get to the beaver meadow. I walked out to the edge of the beaver meadow and took pictures of the blue sky which had no clouds to add contrast. I looked for some wildlife but everything was quiet. My friend decided to sit on a rock and eat a snack while I returned to my pack at the lean-to to get mine. I got a drink and ate a bar and waited while she relaxed and took some pictures. Eventually we were ready to leave and walked back to the main trail taking a few minutes to visit the spring which was running nicely. We walked together for a while and then I headed down the bank to Alder Creek to take a few pictures while my friend walked ahead. I eventually caught up with her and we walked together along the trail following the yellow blazes. At one point I noticed that the blazes took us on a detour around the large tree that blocked the trail. The detour was clear on the way back but had been poorly marked on the way out. We continued along the trail to the loop trail around the lake. We turned left to visit he bridge over Alder Creek and I took a few shots of the bridge and the creek before we turned around to retrace our steps back to the parking area. I decided to walk down to the shore of the lake to take a few pictures and when I returned my friend was nowhere to be seen. Sheila and I continued on the trail and I soon spotted some hikers up ahead. I spotted some pink and assumed my friend was hiking with them. When I caught up to the three hikers, I found one was wearing something pink but my friend was not with them. I put Sheila on her leash and they moved to one side of the trail so that we could pass. They had larger packs and camping gear and we said a "Hello" as I passed by. When we got back to the lawn, I dropped my pack and took some pictures of the pile of logs and the chain link fence. We walked over to the dam and I took some more pictures of the lake and of Cradle Rock Ridge on the east side of Alder Lake. I also took some pictures of the spillway and the creek below the dam. The brush and some trees along the creek had been cleared to make it more open but the brush and trees were left piled near the dam in an unsightly pile. As I walked back to my pack I could see my friend approaching and we waited for her. We walked back to the parking area to find the other three hikers ready to leave and two other vehicles parked in the lot. We were back at 12:10 PM having covered 4.8 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes total time. The total elevation gain was just under 700 feet.

On Monday, April 25th I wanted to hike a little longer and a little farther away from home since I did not have track practice in the afternoon. Cindy wanted to go so I was looking for a relatively flat area which would have some appeal for both of us. I proposed heading to the Appalachian Trail in New Jersey just south of Pine Island, NY. I had ended a section at the Walkill National Wildlife Refuge and I thought Cindy might like this area. My plan was to hike from where I had left off to the northwest along the NY-NJ border for about 4 miles and then hike back. We could stop of the wildlife refuge after the hike. We left Livingston Manor just before 9:00 AM and headed down State Route 17 toward Middletown. Sheila was remarkably animated despite the fact we had hike the day before. I headed west on I84 and took exit 3E to get on County Rt 12. We continued to follow the back roads to Oil City Road and at this point I recognized the area. We found a parking area just before the road crossed Walkill River and decided to park there to begin the hike. We got out of the car to get ready and Sheila began to explore along a fence with some tall grass. When I called her back to the car, I found a tick and brushed it off immediately. After a second look, I found at least a dozen more and promptly got rid of them. Cindy and I talked it over and decided we would not be comfortable hiking with so many ticks around. I don't know whether this was just a bad spot or a bad day but we decided to leave. We headed to Warwick to the Craft Beer Cellar where I made a couple of purchases and then headed out to State Route 17 to start home. In the car we discussed hiking options. We felt the Basha Kill area might have the same problem with ticks. There was a massive forest fire at Sam's Point and Minnewaska State Park was closed. I came up with the idea of hiking the loop at the Neversink Unique area from the Wolf Lake parking area to get a different perspective. I had hiked out that way but had never hiked in. We agreed on the plan and crossed our fingers that the tick problem would not be as bad! I took the Rock Hill exit and drove down Katrina Falls Road until I saw the Dead End sign. I turned left on Wolf Lake Road and after a short distance found the access road to the parking area. There was a nice parking area near the road but I decided I wanted to drive through the gate to the parking area further up the hill. The gravel road was washed out in several places and the ride was bumpy but we arrived at the parking area at 11:35 AM. Most of the area was occupied by a huge pile of gravel which I hoped would be used on the road. I parked and we were on the trail by 11:40 AM.

The temperature was now almost 60 degrees so I left my Mammut hoody in the car and went without a jacket. I did have a light windbreaker in my pack if I needed it later. We walked behind the gravel pile and found the yellow blazed trail that leads to the main trail loop. Now that I have started to do trail maintenance, I notice trail conditions and the first thing I noticed was a large tree down across the beginning of the trail. We continued on the yellow trail finding a few more blowdowns and finding that the trail needed to be pruned to make hiking easier. The hike in on the side trail was only .6 miles and it was downhill. I kept wondering if we were going the right way since nothing looked familiar but soon we arrived at the red trail where we decided to turn left. We knew that we would have to walk uphill to the car at the end of the hike so it didn't much matter which way we turned. We walked along the trail finding a few blowdowns here and there and some muddy areas. At .7 miles we crossed the upper bridge over Mullet Brook and then followed the trail as it made a sharp right turn and headed downhill. We could hear the brook falling over the stony streambed as we hiked the trail. At 1.25 miles we came to the yellow blazed spur trail to Mullet Brook Falls and turned right to visit this attraction. The spur trail is less than .2 miles and we were soon at the base of the falls. I dropped my pack, got out the camera and walked carefully over the rocks at the base of the falls to get a good position directly in front of them. I took some pictures although the sky was a flat grey without a hint of blue or white clouds. I got Sheila to pose for a few shots and then headed back to Cindy who was enjoying a rest on a rock. I got a drink and a bar and then we headed back out to the main trail. We turned right and walked downhill to the junction where the red trail meets the blue trail at 1.6 miles. The blue trail stretches from the Katrina Falls parking area all the way south to High Falls where it ends. Future plans may included blazing this trail farther south along existing woods roads to reach the southern part of the Neversink Unique Area. We turned right on the blue trail and then almost immediately turned left on the yellow spur trail to Denton Falls.

The trail was in pretty good shape and it looked as if some new markers had been added. As we reached the beginning of the steepest descent Cindy decided to wait on a rock while Sheila and I continued down to the river . The trail is about .3 miles long but over that length it loses 175 feet to the lowest point on the hike at the Neversink River. As we got to the river, I gave Sheila the command to stay with me as I took my pack off and got out my camera. The water was flowing nicely over the falls and a fisherman was standing in the river just above the falls. I worked my way down to the rocks just below the falls and started to take some pictures. I managed to get a few of the fisherman casting before returning to my pack. Sheila and I walked up the bank and headed up the trail. As we walked along, I allowed Sheila to run ahead to where Cindy was sitting. We headed back up the yellow trail to the blue trail where we turned left to continue around the loop. We came to the lower bridge across Mullet Brook and found it had deteriorated even more than the last time I had been on this hike. It is a shame that the bridge has gotten to this point and I hope the plans for its replacement will go forward. We continued to hike the blue trail and both of us commented that we were still descending! The trail was mostly dry as were the surrounding woods. At 2.9 miles we came to the trail junction where the blue trail bends to the left and the red trail begins. We turned right on the red trail knowing we were now headed back to the car but also knowing the trip would be all uphill! The trail took us south and then at about 3.4 miles turned to the east. At 3.8 miles we came to the trail junction with the yellow trail to the Wolf Lake parking area and our car. We had gained over 400 feet in .9 miles. The climb was never steep but it was continuous. We turned left on the yellow trail and continued to climb back toward the parking area. We gained another 140 feet over the half mile back to the car. We arrived at the parking area at 2:00 PM having hiked 4.3 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes with about 15 minutes stopped for pictures. I honestly thought we had set a quicker pace but in any case we had great fun. When we got home, I found one tick on Sheila and was not sure whether is was from new Jersey or New York!

On Sunday, April 24th I wanted to get in a local hike after church. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go do some trail work on the TouchMeNot Trail From Big Pond to Cabot Mountain and she agreed. I maintain the TouchMeNot Trail from Big Pond to Beech Hill Road for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference. We had worked on the section from Big Pond to the junction with the Campground Trail and on the section from Beech Hill to where the trail levels off on the Cabot Mountain plateau. The only section of the trail remaining was the middle section and I knew there were a few blowdowns to clear. We left Livingston Manor before 1:00 PM and headed up the Beaverkill Road with an excited Sheila in the back seat. Even though the temperature was using into the high 50's I chose to wear my Mammut hoody since it was lots of zippers to dump heat and extra pockets I could use for trail markers. We arrived in the parking area by Big Pond just before 1:15 PM and I was surprised that there were no other cars parked. Big Pond is a popular place but it no one wanted to visit on this day. I had my Fiskars axe which I carry when hiking longer distances since it is harp but light with a hollow handle. I also had brought my Silky curbed saw, a hammer, red trail markers and nails. We crossed the road and got on the red Touch-Me-Not Trail to hike over the hill toward Cabot Mt. The trail starts with a nice little ascent to get the heart pumping and then levels off some. I was surprised to find the trails quite dry and we set a very fast pace. There were no additional blowdowns and we admired the job we had done marking the trail. We are always careful to make the markers visible but not to place them too closely. Over the first mile we gained 770 feet to the shoulder of Touch-Me-Not Mountain where the trail starts a descent. We continued to the junction with blue Campground Trail where we kept to the right on the Touch-Me-Not Trail and continued our descent. Along the way we started to place a few trail markers here and there to replace ones that were on trees that had fallen or were faded or missing. Some areas were well-marked and others had no markers at all. We ran across several large trees across the trail but they were old and had been there for some time. We decided to leave them as they were easy to step over. We did remove one blowdown across the trail early on and removed some brush along the trail to widen it. Soon we came across the lowdown I had seen on the last hike that I knew had to be cleared. This was a rather larger mess that all but blocked the trail. I was able to use the saw to cut it into manageable pieces and we removed it rather quickly. Further on there was a section of trail that had been rerouted to avoid some brush that was blocking the trail. I cut the brush and removed a few old and rotten logs. I placed them across the rerouted trail to block it and marked the original trail correctly. After about 1.6 miles we arrived at the junction with the yellow Little Pond Trail on the left.

We continued straight ahead on the red trail toward Cabot Mountain. Sheila was all over the place looking for chipmunks, squirrels and, most of all, birds! We placed some markers along the trail and removed a few old logs that were on the trail. As the trail swung to the left, we placed a few more markers and I cut some brush. Just as we started up Cabot Mountain, we came to the last blowdown I intended to clear. It was a good sized log that lay across the trail and made negotiating the trail difficult. I decided to use the saw to make a cut on the end toward the top. This went better than I had expected as the wood was soft and the weight of the top helped finish the cut. I then moved closer to the end of the tree near the roots and found a place on the other side of the trail to make a cut. This time it took a little longer and I had to be careful not to hit any stones or dig into the dirt with the saw. The cut eventually went through the log and I was left with a rather large section to move off the trail. Fortunately, I was able to pivot the section and gravity helped me get it off the trail. It was now after 4:00 PM and we knew it was time to head back. We retraced our steps to the junction with the Little Pond Trail and decided to turn left and return on that trail by going to Little Pond and then following the campground access road and Barkaboom Road back to the car. This was slightly longer than staying on the Touch-Me-Not Trail but I had done it before and it was easier. There were a couple of trees across the trail but we did not have time to cut them. We were soon in the pone field on the Little Pond Trail that acts as a nice lookout over the valley below. I stopped to take a few pictures of the scenery and the old foundation before we continued down the trail. We turned off the woods and stayed on the trail that would take us down to Little Pond. Along the way we came to what is usually a beaver meadow but found it transformed back into a beaver pond. I stopped to take a few shots and then moved downstream to take a few pictures of the beaver dam. We did not see and freshly cut stick and there was no lodge in the small pound that had formed behind the dam. We continued down to the loop trail and turned left to start toward the gatehouse. We crossed a bridge and were immediately confronted by a very large blowdown of two trees across the road. I knew that the DEC staff could easily clear them with a chainsaw. We continued around Little Pond and stopped once so that I could take some pictures. As we neared the bathhouses, we saw two men I assumed were DEC workers which I thought was strange since it was Sunday. They were actually two fishermen seeing what they could catch even though the campgrounds were closed! I put Sheila on her leash and we walked out to the gatehouse and down the access road to Barkaboom Road. We turned left on Barkaboom Road and began the .6 mile uphill hike back to the car. We were back at about 5:15 PM having spent 4 hours hiking around 5.5 miles with a lot of time for trail maintenance and photography!

On Wednesday, April 20th, I planned to hike with Lisa somewhere local to get some exercise but also to get back in time for me to set up for a home track meet. I decided to ask her if she wanted to hike from Big Pond to Cabot Mountain and back. I texted her the night before and she agreed that I should pick her up at her house at 9:00 AM. The reason I chose the route was because it was short but had some elevation gain. I also wanted to check the section of trail from the top of Touch-Me-Not Mountain to Cabot Mountain for proper trail marker placement and to see how much maintenance work needed to be done. I maintain the trail from Big Pond to Beech Hill Road for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference and had placed new markers from Big Pond to the junction with the campground trail on one end and from Beech Hill Road to Cabot Mountain on the other end. I picked Lisa up at the appointed time with Sheba eagerly riding in the backseat and drove up the Beaverkill Road. The sun was bright and starred to increase the temperature from the mid 30's in the early morning to the 50's by the time we started the hike. At the junction with Barkaboom Road I turned left on Barkaboom Road and drove a short distance to the parking area by Big Pond. We parked at 9:10 Am and were ready to hike almost immediately. Because of the early cool weather, I decided to wear my MH Winter Wander pants but did not wear a baselayer. I wore my Mammut hoody over a single layer Mammut top but brought along a lighter windbreaker. We crossed the road and started up the trail stopping for Lisa to sign us into the trail register. We continued up the trail at a good pace and I pointed out the trail markers Cindy and I had placed. I also showed Lisa some of the blowdowns we had cleared. The trail starts rising right from the road and continues to gain elevation for just over one mile to the highest point on Touch-Me-Not Mountain gaining almost 800 feet along the way. As we climbed I also showed Lisa where I had cut back prickers and brush last year with the power scythe. Lisa and I talked about various trail projects we are working on as we made the ascent. Just passed the highest point we stopped at the large tree that has split three ways with one trunk crossing the trail and the other hanging over it precariously. I took some pictures and then we continued to the trail junction with the Campground Trail. We stayed to the right on the Touch-Me-Not Trail and I began to evaluate the trail markers and the need for trail maintenance. I had cut out this section of trail with hedge trimmers and loppers last year and it was still in good shape. We did find a few large trees down across the trail but it was easy to walk around or step over most of them. There was one tree with multiple branches across the trail and I decided I would return to get this with axe and saw on another day. We continued out descent to about 1.6 miles where the trail meets the Little Pond Loop Trail. Along the way we had lost about 300 feet as we passed through several different rock formations.

At the junction we continued straight ahead on the Touch-Me-Not Trail preparing for our climb up Cabot Mountain. So far the trail marking had been adequate with only a few new markers needed a few spots. We walked along a fairly flat section of trail toward Cabot Mountain clearing a few branches and small tree trunks along the way. At 1.8 miles the trail turned a little to the left and started the ascent up Cabot Mountain. There were a few blowdowns along the way but the nettles which are the bane of the trail section had still not sprouted. Because of this the trail was much easier to negotiate and we were soon climbing the steep section passed and through several different rock formations. I forgot that there are several parts to the climb and each is tricky in its own way. I took a few pictures on the way up. Over the next .4 miles the trail gains 470 feet of elevation at an average grade of 24%. Lisa and I were both happy when we climbed the last section to the flat plateau and walked to the Beaverkill Vista at 2.2 miles. We stopped here and I took my pack off and got out the camera. I took a few shots of Sheila on the viewpoint and then stepped out there to see what I could see. I always think the view from here will be great but I am usually disappointed! The sky was hazy and there were now puffy white loud for contrast. I took a few shots of Little Pond below and a few of the trees and the ledges. We had a quick drink and a snack before I packed up and we headed back on the trail. Descending Cabot Mountain wasn't as easy as it could be. There is a lot of loose dirt and rock on the steepest parts and this is covered in some slippery leaves. As we descended one section, we watched a pair of yellow-bellied sapsuckers chase each other around in what appeared to be a mating ritual. We hit the trail junction with the Little Pond Trail and continued up through the rocks heading toward Touch-Me-Not Mountain. We stopped where the trail passed between some rocks and I took a few shots with Sheila before we continued to the trail junction with the Campground Trail. We stayed on the main trail passing by the triple trunks before starting the decent to the car. The last mile seems to go very quickly as it is all downhill but at a grade that allowed us to keep a good pace. We arrived back at the car at 12:30 PM. I took a few minutes to walk over and take some pictures of Big Pond before returning to the car for the drive home. We had hiked 4.4 miles in 3 hours and 25 minutes with an elevation gain of 1635 feet.

On Sunday, April 18th, I was committed to a trail maintenance trip to Frick Pond after church. We met at Morgan Outdoors in Livingston Manor for an initial introduction before heading off to the trails. Doug Sentermann, NYNJTC Catskill Program Coordinator, was on hand to speak briefly about the trail conference and volunteer trail maintenance. All of the 378 miles of trails in the Catskills and many hundreds of miles of trail elsewhere in New York state are maintained by volunteers working for the trail conference that is responsible for a particular area. We headed out the DeBruce Road a little after 1:30 PM and arrived just before 2:00 PM to start our work. The ten participants were divided into two groups. Doug and Lisa took one group out on the Quick Lake Trail to work on some drainage problems. I took three people with me to cut one tree that had blown down near the beginning of the Flynn Trail. It was a gorgeous day with temperatures in the high 60's when we started. We walked to the blowdown and decided we could cut it in one spot and then move it off the trail. I grabbed the saw and Glen and I made short work of the medium sized trunk. Lynn and I moved the tree off the trail and out of the way of hikers. Of course, I took pictures before and after our efforts to document our work. We returned to the car where I exchanged my Council Tools Velvicut felling axe for the smaller and lighter Fiskar's axe. We then walked out the Quick Lake Trail at the back of the larger parking area. It wasn't long before we came to a slightly larger paper birch across the trail. I took my before pictures of the tree and the other workers and then we got to work. We decided to cut it in two places to make the removal easier. We cut the top on one side of the trail and then went to work on the thicker part of the trunk on the other side. T prevent the saw binding we used felling wedges but Lynn and Janice were a great help as they sat on the other end of the tree causing it to lift off the ground! I took my after pictures and we continued out to the trail register where we found the rest of the group hard at work. They were working to open up some trenches to allow the water to drain off the trail. The trenches become clogged with leaves and other debris which needs to be cleared at least twice a year. We talked for a few minutes and then moved on down the trail as we intended to walk the big loop to Hodge Pond to inspect the trail in that direction. We walked and we talked and soon came to the bridge over the outlet of Frick Pond. I gave the others a running commentary about the areas they had never visited before. I also took a few pictures of the pond before we continued on the trail. We passed the waterhole or mudpit just after the bridge and I hoped the other crew could get some work done on it before the end of the day. We continued on the Quick Lake Trail clearing a few loose branches as we went. Lynn and Glen had completed the Catskill 35's and were starting to work on the CMC all-Trails patch. They also let me know that they used this website often to plan hikes that they have done. This made me feel good!

We walked uphill toward Iron Wheel Junction noticing that it was really warm and sunny. We stopped to look at one large branch that was hung up and hanging over the trail but could not see a way to safely remove it. At Iron Wheel Junction Glen and Lynn were ready to continue on the big loop up the Quick Lake Trail to Hodge Pond. Janice and I decided to turn right on the Logger's Loop for a shorter hike and to investigate the condition of the trail. I was pretty sure we wouldn't find anything since I had been over the trail within the previous week. Splitting up allowed me to talk to Janice and the walk went quickly until we came to a small tree down across the trail that had not been there before. I made one cut and we moved it off the trail. As we continued we climbed the last small hill and then descended to Times Square. As we approached the trail junction we met a young couple and their two dogs coming down the Big Rock Trail from Hodge pond where they had been fishing. I was impressed that both dogs were on leashes and both were well-behaved. We said "Hello" and I helped direct them as they decided to go around the back of Frick Pond to get back to their car. I decided we should go the same way so that I could show Janice the wooden walkways around the back of the pond. We set off ahead of the other couple and they gave us some room which was very courteous. We continued our walk looking at some of the wet and muddy areas and trying to determine how they might be remediated. We walked over the bridges over two of the inlets and saw some trout swimming in the deeper pools. We walked across the walkways and I pointed some of the places where pilings needed to be replaced and decking needed to be nailed down. As we came to the end of the "spruce tunnel", we found a large tree across the trail. I decided to cut enough off so we could move one piece out of the way and leave the rest for another day. I used the axe to section the tree and had a little trouble since the wood was filled with pitch. I finished the cut and we moved the smaller piece out of the way. Janice then suggested that we might be able to roll and slide the other piece so that it was not in the trail. I was skeptical but we were able to roll it out of the way and block it so that it would not roll back onto the trail. As we finished the work, the couple with the dogs came walking by and I couldn't help but think that they would have been an asset in moving the blowdown. We continued on around the pond and met the other crew. They were doing a great job working on the mudpit by draining the water downhill toward the pond. We talked to them for a few minutes and then I proudly showed Doug the large cherry tree that Cindy and I had sectioned with axe and hand saw and moved off the bridge. Janice and I then walked back across the bridge and took the Quick Lake Trail back to the car. I was very pleased with the drainage work the other crew had done as it was already allowing the water to flow off the trail. It was about 4:30 PM when we got back to the parking area. Glen and Lynn had not come back but I knew they were experienced hikers and did not worry about them . I was upset that I found a crack in my windscreen that started at a stone bruise on the passenger's side! I was surprised that this incident did NOT negate all the good feelings about the great work we had done in only 2.5 hours!

On Tuesday, April 14th, I wanted to go on a hike close to home. I decided to go to Frick Pond to hike a route and scout out some work for the trail maintenance session on Sunday, April 17th. I was ready to leave the house just after 8:30 AM and Sheila was more than happy to hike two days in a row. I drove out the DeBruce Road and the turned left on Mongaup Pond Road to get to the trailhead for Frick Pond. We arrived in the lot at 8:45 AM and got ready to hike and found no other cars in the lot. The temperature was in the high 30's but it was warming up fast and I was hoping the day would be as nice as the day before! I decided to walk out the Quick Lake Trail and headed out the back of the larger parking area. There was one larger tree across the trail before the register but it looked like it could be cleared with axe and saw. We turned left at the register on the woods road that leads to Frick Pond. The trail here was very wet with some standing and some running water. I decided that this could be remedied by clearing some of the existing channels of leaves and debris. Adding some extra channels would help divert the water from the trail. We stayed left at Gravestone Junction and walked down to the bridge over the outlet of Frick Pond. We stopped at the bridge so I could take a few pictures even though I have many from this location. On this day the sun was still not high enough to illuminate he whole pond so part was in darkness while the rest was in sunlight. We continued along the west side of the pond and found the low spot there filled with water. I made a note that the trail crew could open some drainage for this spot and add a few stepping stone to attack the problem two different ways. At the next trail junction with the Big Rock Trail we turned right on the Big Rock Trail to go to Times Square. There was a culvert that had worked its way almost above ground and I contemplated the various solutions to this problem. The wooden walkways were a little slippery and some boards needed to be nailed down. I took few pictures before continuing around the pond. There were some areas that were wet and muddy and could use some added drainage and a few stones. We stopped at Times Square to see what we thought could be done to alleviate the water problem there. The area was very wet band it was clear the water was running downhill from the Logger's Loop Weber there appeared to be several "springs" on the trail. We continued straight ahead on the Big Rock Trail UP the hill since I thought getting a little aerobic climbing in would be a good idea!

From Times Square to the Flynn Trail junction the Big Rock Trail rises 625 feet in 1.1 miles. This doesn't sound like much but it always seems to be a little farther and a little longer than I remember. On this day it seemed I was actually prepared for the trip and kept a pretty good pace as we ascended the hill stopping only to clear a few branches along the way. There were no major blowdowns on the Big Rock trail and by 10:05 AM we had walked 2.3 miles and were at the junction with the Flynn Trail. We turned right to head down the Flynn Trail to the car. This return trip always seems longer than the 1.7 miles that is posted which is the correct distance. The trail is pretty but has no views. I thought about stopping at the clearing but decided that decided not to do so. The clearing is interesting as much of it has a layer a sphagnum moss over bedrock. This moss is usually found in areas with a much deeper and richer subsoil. A small road curves up to the clearing but no one has been able to tell me why the area was cleared. Walking across the clearing and through the woods is interesting since there is a series of ledges that rims Mongaup Pond. There are numerous ways to negotiate these ledges and access the loop road at the state campgrounds. As we walked down the Flynn Trail, we passed many point were I had cleared blowdowns from the trail. There were not additional blowdowns until we made the left turn just before the gate to follow the trail through the woods. There was one tree trunk across the trail which could be removed by saw and axe. We continued on the Flynn Trail back down to the car finding there was now one other car parked in the bigger lot. We arrived in the parking area at 10:45 AM having covered 4.0 miles in 1 hour and 50 minutes with an elevation gain of 680 feet. On the way back home I decided to stop at Mongaup Falls so I turned left at the intersection and parked in the small area on the right side of the road. I took my pack but left the poles behind as we walked back to the road that does down to the outlet stream from Mongaup Pond. We crossed the small bridge and worked our way downstream parallel to the stream bed. I noticed that the small gorge was quite pretty but I also noticed that some visitors apparently considered that broken glass added something to the scene. Once we got to the falls I took off my pack and got out the camera. I took some pictures of the upper falls from the side of the stream and then worked my way down to the base of the falls on the narrow path beside them. There was still some snow in the shade and a very large ice flow that must have been gigantic during the winter! I took some more shots of the falls from slightly downstream and then worked my way down to the stream bed. I stood on a rock in the stream bed to take some still shots and a video of the falls from directly in front. After finishing my photography, I climbed out of the gorge and shouldered my pack for the short walk back to the car. I stooped for a few shots of the gorge from the bridge and then walked directly back to the car.

On Wednesday, April 13th, I wanted to go for a hike on a beautiful day and got in contact with Lisa from Morgan Outdoors in Livingston Manor the night before. After debating some possible routes, we decided to hike from Alder lake to Big Pond and back. This trail had been a problem in the past but a group from the Catskill Mountain Club had worked on it last fall. We wanted to see the work they had done and make sure we could follow the blazes in both directions. I picked Lisa up at her house since it is on the way and we started toward Alder lake just a little after 9:00 AM. Sheila was happy to be hiking and greeted Lisa enthusiastically. I drove up the Beaverkill Road through Lew Beach and Turnwood. I turned left on Alder Creek Road and drove toward the entrance to Alder Lake. As we neared the end of Alder Creek Road, we watched for the blazes on the left side of the road where the trail crosses the road. We found them at the end of the road just before the entrance to the Cross Mountain Hunting Camp. I turned right and parked on the side of the road just outside the gate which was open. The road into Alder Lake looked a little soft and rough and this was the next best place to park. We got our gear out of the car and started our hike at 9:30 AM by walking down the road to where the trail entered the woods. The first obstacle was crossing Alder Creek which was a little high from the rain during the week. We walked upstream a little and found a narrow spot with some stones to step on. We crossed and started to hike along a broad woods road which was marked with red blazes. The sun was out although it was initially cool. The sun on the leaves left over from the fall and the warmth of the rays set a perfect tone. Over the next half mile we gained about 300 feet climbing to the shoulder of a ridge. The trail was easy to follow and we had a great time talking about various projects we had planned. We noticed that there were posted signs on either side of the state land. From the ridge we started to descend on the same woods road to a small stream. The descent was almost a mirror image of the ascent as we dropped about 300 feet in half a mile. As we approached the stream, the trail markers indicated a slight turn to the west off the woods road and across the stream. The woods had been very open but there was a very large open area just below the stream crossing. I took some pictures of the area and of the stream. I even took a short video of the water flowing over some mossy rocks but the image did not do the scene justice. I walked down the woods road to see where it went and quickly found posted signs so I returned to the stream crossing.

We crossed the stream and found that the trail began to follow another well-defined woods road. We also found that we were again climbing to the shoulder of another ridge. In another half a mile we regained 200 feet and at 1.8 miles the trail turned to the west heading directly toward Big Pond. Along the way we began to find some very large trees across the trail which we could navigate but which could be removed. At 2 miles we began a .75 mile descent losing over 400 feet as we headed toward Big Pond. Lisa and I had been debating which body of water was at a lower elevation and this answered our question! As we approached Big Pond, We passed through a nice stand of evergreen trees and the trail made a few turns. This was the area where it had been hard to find the trail but the work by the CMC crew solved the problem. As we approached the upper perking area at Big Pond, we noticed a stone retaining wall on the right side of the trail. The front of the wall was only 18 inches high but one side was about 3 feet and had a pipe coming out of it. We speculated about its origins but in the end it remained a mystery. We hiked out to the parking area and Lisa signed the register before we turned around to start back at 11:20 AM. The hike had taken a little longer than I planned so I wanted to get back as quickly as possible. We set a good pace on the way back stopping only occasionally for a picture or two. On the walk back we began to notice an extensive network of stone walls in the area which we had simply not seen on the way out. The walls were on both sides of the trail and, in some places, the trail crossed the walls. I have always been impressed by the work it took to collect the stones and the skill needed to turn them into stone walls that have stood for so many years! We were soon back at the initial stream crossing and the short walk back to the car. By the time we returned at 1:00 PM I was very warm as the temperature had risen into the low 50's and the sun's rays were more direct. It had been a beautiful day to hike and the out and back allowed us to see different aspects of the trail. We had hiked 5.9 miles in 3.5 hours with plenty of time for pictures and exploring.

On Saturday, April 9th, I attended a presentation entitled "Tick Talk" at Morgan Outdoors in Livingston Manor. The talk centered on Lyme disease and other tick bourne diseases and how to prevent them. The presenter from the Sullivan County health department did a great job. Afterwards I did a few errands and waited for the snow to fall. The snow did not seem to be coming ski I asked Cindy if she wanted to go to Cabot Mountain to place some trail markers and assess the trail conditions. She said "Yes" so we got our gear in the car along with Sheila and started for Lew Beach on the Beaverkill Road. Just outside of Lew Beach I turned left on Beach Hill Road and continued 2.6 miles to the trailhead for Cabot Mountain. I had decided not to wear base layer at all and when we got out of the car I thought I might regret the decision. The temperature was 35 degrees and a wind was blowing. There was some snow at the trailhead and the trail right from the beginning was wet. I made sure I had hammer, nails and red markers as well as my Silky saw. I knew that the trail was poorly marked in places but hoped I had enough markers to get the job done. We started out on the woods road at 1:25 PM. We immediately found one tree across the trail which made me wonder how many more there would be. The tree was large but I judged it could be removed with axe and saw. As we started through the woods the lower trail was very wet with standing water in some areas and running water in others. The water was pretty easy to avoid. We also found that the markers for the trail were either missing or so faded they were impossible to see. I knew from the beginning I would not have enough markers to finish the join and was annoyed. We worked our way up the trail removing useless markers when possible and replacing them. We placed a few new markers but tried to space them at optimal distance to conserve what we had. At .25 miles the trail began to climb and over the next .5 miles we gained 580 feet with the grade averaging 21%. We found one more tree down across the trail rather early on the slope and that was the last one. Some areas would need some lopping but the rest of the trail seemed to be in good shape. We ran out of markers as we approached the top of the steepest section and I knew I would have to return to complete the job. We stopped by a large rock and I took some picture of Cindy and Sheila. I also took a few pictures of the woods which showed several inches of snow!

By the time we got to the top of the climb the trail turned from northeast to almost east. At times the trail was barely distinguishable as there were few markers and the trail bed was covered by snow. The further we went and the higher we climbed, the more snow we found. There were places where the snow was 10 inches deep and the average depth as about 6 inches. At .75 miles the trail flattened and then began to roll with a few ups and downs. This continued until about 1.25 miles where the final climb to Cabot Mountain began. At about 1 mile the trail had turned southeast and began to follow the edge of the mountain. Cindy did not care whether or not she got to the lookout over Little Pond so I went ahead at a very fast pace. It was hard to keep Sheila with me as she constant wanted to double back to Cindy. We continued up to the summit at 1.4 miles and then descended slightly to the viewpoint at a little over 1.5 miles. I dropped my pack and took some pictures of Sheila on the lookout. I stepped over to the lookout and took shots of Little Pond and some of the mountains in the other direction. I got a quick drink and the shouldered my pack to head back at 3:00 PM. Sheila and I kept a quicker pace than on the way up in an effort to get to Cindy. I was not sure if she was waiting or had turned around to go back. I kept calling to Sheila to stagy with me but at one point she did not come back. I hurried ahead and found she had caught up with Cindy who had waited and then started back. The way back was quicker for the most part but there were some tricky descent that were slippery from the snow or mud. We did notice the lack of markers on the way back! We were back by 3:45 PM. We had spent 2 hours and 15 minutes on the 3 mile hike including the time it took us to place markers and for me to take pictures. The vertical gain was just under 894 feet. It had taken an hour and a half to go up but only 45 minutes to come down. Part of this was explained by the fact that we placed trail markers on the way out. On the way back home I stopped to take some pictures of the mountain ridges from Beech Hill Road.

On Wednesday, April 6th, Lisa contacted me to take a short hike on Round Top, a hill just across the street from my house. The responsibility for maintaining the cemetery had been transferred from the cemetery association to the Town of Rockland. Along with the transfer of the actual cemetery came some acreage including forest land on Round Top. Lisa and I wanted to see if we could scout a route for a trail that would take in a little of this land and the viewpoint that overlooks Livingston Manor. We met at the church at 9:00 AM and started up the steep, paved road to the top of the cemetery. There was almost no snow on the ground until we turned left into the woods. As soon as we made the turn by a set of four stones steps, we were walking through several inches of snow. We walked along a woods road, ducked under agree across the trail and then turned right on another woods road. We walked up the road passing some impressive cliffs on the left until another road cut up to the left. We followed this for a short distance and then turned left on yet another road. We walked on this briefly and then turned left through the brush to head out to the viewpoint. We were trying to be careful to avoid the private property that abuts the town land. There were no signs posting the land but there were some ribbons and we tried to stay on the correct side of them. We walked out toward the ledges and then to the viewpoint. As with many viewpoints, the trees have grown up to block much of the view but on this day we could see the buildings in town since there were no leaves on true trees. I took a few photographs and then we turned to start back down to the car on another convene woods road. Lisa noticed a tree growing on top of a large rock and we took some shots. It did not take us long to get back to the tree we ducked under earlier. We walked out to the cemetery and stopped to take a few pictures before walking down the hill to the parking area. We had walked about a mile in a little over and hour but took time to survey possible trail routes. We discussed the possibilities for trails in this area and others. It was a very enjoyable and productive hike.

On Monday, April 4th, an early spring snowstorm had dropped 4 inches of new snow overnight adding to the 4 inches that had fallen the night before. All of the schools in the county were closed which seemed like a good idea given the road conditions. I had been on an ambulance call in the early morning and all the roads including State Route 17 were horrendous. Cindy and I waited until the road crews had a chance to clear most of the snow and hoped the backboards had gotten some attention. My plan was to go to Frick Pond and hike the big loop around Frick and Hodge Ponds. Cindy countered my suggesting we try using our snowshoes. We had not been able to use them even once during the winter in the Catskills due to the lack of snow and now we were contemplating using them in the spring! The only time I got to use snowshoes was when I traveled to Ringwood, NJ after one stir had dumped almost two feet along the coast. We got our gear and Sheila in the car and left Livingston Manor a little after 10:30 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road which was well cleared and then turned left on the Mongaup Pond Road to head toward the Frick Pond trailhead. This road had been plowed but was still covered in a layer of snow. As I drove up the road the snow began to fall. I stayed to the left where the road spilt and headed up Beech Mountain Road to the trailhead. This road had been plowed once and was covered in snow and snow continued to fall as I parked. We got out our snowshoes and put them on. Cindy War a pair of Atlas Electra 12's and I brought my TSL Symbioz. I had decided to go back to wearing winter gear as the temperature was 26 degrees and I still felt a little chilly as we prepared to hike. I had on tights under my MH Winter Wander pants. On top I wore a baselayer under an Icebreaker wool top and over this I had my trusty Mammut hoody. I wore my Salomon B52 boots and also had on a light hat and gloves. We left the parking area and headed down the woods road toward the register rather than fight the rocks on the first section of the Quick Lake Trail. I thought about going up the Flynn Trail but Cindy had other ideas so I followed her. I was not enthusiastic about hiking the Quick Lake Trail from the register to Frick Pond twice since there are a lot of rock and some water but once we got going it wasn't too bad. We stopped ice so that I could take some pictures of the pristine snow on the trail. I was happy no one had gotten there before us as we stayed to the left at Gravestone Junction and walked down the hill to Frick Pond. By the time we got to the pond, it snowfall was heavy and had changed from icy pellets to flakes. I took a few pictures of the bridge which had fresh snowed piled on it. From the bridge I took some pictures of the pond and of Flynn's Point on Beech Mountain which was almost obscured by the falling snow. As we continued on the Quick Lake Trail, we found a small drift at the end of the bridge.

At the next trail junction we stayed to the left to follow the Quick Lake Trail through the "Spruce Tunnel" to Iron Wheel Junction. I could definitely feel that I was working harder on the snowshoes than I would have wearing only boots but it was fun. We stopped in the "Spruce Tunnel" where I took a few shots and then crossed the small stream to continue up to Iron Wheel Junction. Working hard on snowshoes tends to magnify even the slightest uphill and the trail to the junction is all uphill. When we arrived at Iron Wheel Junction, we stopped and I took a few photographs of the area. We were both getting tired so we decided to turn right on the Logger's Loop to head for Times Square. The sign told us that Times Square was about 1.2 miles away but I knew that we would go through a series of ups and downs along the way before hitting the highest point at 1.8 miles. I was struggling a little as we walked along the trail and found that taking exaggerated, high steps seemed to help some. Once we hit the high point it was all downhill to Times Square but the downhill did not feel as good as I expected. At Times Square we continued straight ahead staying on the Logger's Loop. I knew this trail had a slight uphill but I wanted a good GPS track of the whole Logger's Loop. All along our hike we had been noticing the areas where we had cleared blowdowns. We also noted that the new trail markers we had put up on all the trails were clearly visible even through the snow. Some places on the Logger's Loop were a little wet and the small "bridge" we had built helped us easily get across one of those areas. When we crested the small hill and stared down to Gravestone Junction I was very happy and my legs felt a little better. At Gravestone Junction we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and began the walk back to the car. It seemed that there were more wet areas on the trail and we suspected that the temperate had increased some since we began the hike. I had been having some issues with snow clumping on my shoes and now Cindy was experiencing the same problem. The snow was lighter but we found that our tracks were almost completely filled in. We were back at the car at 1:15 PM having taken 2 hours and 20 minutes to hike 3.6 miles with an elevation gain of only 386 feet. As we drove back to town the snow intensified. In town the flakes were huge and I took a few pictures when we arrived home.

On Wednesday, March 30th, I decided I wanted get out and do a hike close to home since the weather was nice and the rest of the following days were looking wet or cold. I decided to go to Trout Pond since it is close and offers some nice views and since I had been to Frick Pond so many times in the last few weeks. I had some things to take care of in the morning so I didn't get out of Livingston Manor until after 10:00 AM. I put my gear in the trunk and an overjoyed Sheila in the back seat and headed to Roscoe on State Route 17. I got on Route 206 and followed it across the Delaware County line to Morton Hill Road. After a left turn on Morton Hill Road, I drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the side of the road to avoid the parking area which is private. We began our hike down Russell Brook Road at 10:30 AM. The air still seemed cool to me so I wore my Mammut Hoody, a hat and light gloves. I still had on my MH Winter Wander pants but decided I did not need tights underneath. I wore a long-sleeved crew neck Mammut shirt which is a little heavier than some I have but I did not want to wear a baselayer. We continued on down Russell Brook Road to the overlook of the falls. There was some water in the stream and the upper falls did not have the volume I thought it might after some rain during the week. I decided not to stop for pictures on the way out and we continued down toward the parking area. There were two cars parked in the lower lot. We got on the woods road that goes down to the bridge that crosses the brook. I decided not to walk to the falls and continued on the main trail to the register. At the trail junction just after the register we turned to the left to climb the steeper hill toward Mud Pond. The trail was drier than I expected with only a few areas of mud. The sun was out and as soon as we started to climb the hill, I stopped to open up the zippers on my hoody. The ascent went quickly and I was glad to see there were no new blowdowns on this part of the trail. We reached the top of the hill at 11:05 AM after hiking 1.4 miles. The woods road had some ruts from a vehicle that appeared to be a pickup truck but none were new. The only access is through the locked gate at the lower parking area which made the tracks somewhat of a mystery. At 1.6 miles we made a right to follow the trail up to the shoulder of Cherry Ridge.

This trail was also drier than I expect and there was none of the running water I usually encounter. We avoided a few muddy areas and crossed a few small streams. At one point Sheila alerted and I looked up to see alone male hiker headed our way. I put Sheila on her leash and stepped off the trail to let the other hiker go by. We said "Hello" but quickly continued in our opposite directions. The ascent continued for the next 1.2 miles until at 2.7 miles into the hike when we were at the highest point and ready to start the descent to Trout Pond. We had hiked the southern exposure and there was absolutely no ice or snow on the trail or in the woods. There were a few small branches across the trail and some large pieces that I was able to remove without tools. As we descended toward Trout Pond there were two major blowdowns that would require an axe and saw to clear. I also found a few flakes of snow and crystals of ice underneath a log and hidden from the sun. The trail remained dry as we approached the bridge at the inlet end of the pond. I decided to stop and take some pictures even though there was nothing remarkable about the scene. We continued on the main trail toward the outlet of the pond and the trail remained dry and firm. At the lower end of the pond I again stopped to take pictures of a scene I had photographed many times! I decided to throw a stick for Sheila and she readily entered the water to swim and retrieve it. After doing this several times and taking some pictures, I decided it was time to continue. Sheila got out of the water, shook herself off and began her mad dash around and around. It seems this is part joy and part an effort to warm herself up! It was obvious that the pond was very low as the water was not even lapping at the outlet dam. The hike from the outlet to the trail junction is all downhill and really did go quickly. As we passed the designated campsite area on the right of the trail, I could see that two hikers had set up camp and had a small fire burning. By 12:30 PM we had hiked 4.7 mikes and were back at the trail junction and register box. I decided that I wanted to walk over to the falls and we turned left on the path to the falls. There was one tree down across the path but it was easy to step over. We walked up the path toward the lower falls and then down the bank to the streambed. I was again surprised at the low volume of the stream despite the recent rain. I took a few quick pictures of thralls including a few with Sheila. We walked back up the bank and out to the main trail to continue our hike back to the car. There were now three cars in the lot but I did not see any of the owners. As we walked up the road back to the car, I stopped at the overlook and decided to walk down to take a few shots of the upper falls. As I started down two of the cars from the lot drove slowly up the road. I wondered where the owners had been since it only took me a few minutes to hike up the road! I took my pictures and then we returned to the road and finished with the hike up Russell Brook Road back to the car. We arrived back at 1:00 PM having covered 5.5 miles and 1120 vertical feet in 2 hours and 30 minutes.

On Saturday, March 26th, I wanted to hike a 3500 foot peak and decided on Balsam Lake Mountain. Brad agreed to go with me but had not brought hiking clothing. Having more than enough hiking gear to outfit a small expedition, I quickly found some gear and we got ready to go. The temperature was supposed to rise into the mid to high 50's so I wore no baselayers and only a light top. I did put on my Winter Wander pants and my Mammut hoody. I was wondering how the Beaverkill Road had fared but decided the only way to find out was to go there. We left Livingston Manor at 10:00 AM and drove toward Roscoe on Old Rt 17 before turning right on the Beaverkill Road. The sky was almost cloudless as we drove through Lew Beach although the temperature was only reading in the high 30s's! We passed the Buddhist monastery which was as far as Brad had been on the road. There were a few places where the road had narrowed even further than the last time I had been to Balsam Lake Mountain and at least one spot where the bank had collapsed onto the road. We arrived at the parking area and found two other cars already in the lot. The temperature had risen into the mid 40's and it seemed even warmer in the sun. We were on the trail at 11:30 AM heading toward the first trail junction where we intended to turn left and hike up the steep side of the mountain. As we walked up the trail I noticed several trees hanging over the trail and although they seemed safe I would prefer that they were gone. There were also a few across the trail that had been partially cleared but some more work needs to be done. We made the trail junction at .9 miles by 12:00 PM and turned left up the mountain without stopping. This first part of the trail is a gentle climb but I was already feeling the affects of not hiking very much and of not hiking any serious mountains! Over the next half mile the trail gains about 750 feet before leveling off which means an average of around a 28% grade! It is a pleasure to hike with Brad as we both are interested in volunteer EMS. I decided to take it easy on the climb and we stopped several times so that I could catch my breath.

Despite the grade, the hike seemed to go pretty quickly and we were soon passing the spur trail to the lean-to and the spring. We passed the 3500 foot sign and ewer soon at the spring. We walked up the stone steps to the summit plateau and continued on toward the fire tower. The trail was frozen in most places and as we passed through a shaded area, Brad spotted some snow on the ground. It isn't unusual to have snow on this mountain in March but the mildness of the winter made this seem surprising. As we approached the tower, we could hear voices. We arrived at the tower clearing at 12:35 PM after hiking 1.7 miles and found about half a dozen people. I tied Sheila to a small sapling and then noticed the hoarfrost and snow on the trees. I spoke to some of the hikers who were seated on the picnic table and then got out my camera. I took some pictures of the snow on the trees and then Brad and I started to climb the tower. Sheila started making a fuss but quieted when I spoke to her. The steps on the tower were wet and there seemed to be water dripping from above. As we climbed we found snow and ice on the treads and snow and ice on the screening on the tower. When we arrived at the landing just below the cab, we looked out to see that the trees had snow and ice on one side and none on the other. It was unusual and I took pictures of the trees and of the snow on the tower. As we started to climb down, we heard a pack of dogs in the woods below. The sound they were making indicated they were on the track of some animal. When we got to the base of the tower, they seemed closer. One of the hikers said they had been on the trail on the Millbrook side when they had ascended the trail. I thought about going back the way we came but decided to complete the loop as planned. Brad and I headed down the trail passed the cabin at about 12:50 PM. Not very far along we found a group of men on the trail simply standing around. We could still hear the dogs and I asked them if they knew who owned them. One man replied that they belonged to the group. I expressed surprise that they were running loose since it was against the law. He assured me that it WAS legal. Of course, he was wrong. I saw no reason to debate a point when I knew I was right so we continued down the trail.

Walking down the mountain seemed MUCH easier than the climb up the other side. Soon we were approaching the junction with the trail that connects Millbrook Road to the Beaverkill Road. There is a gate at the bottom of the trail and just after this gate I saw...a pickup truck parked on the trail! I really had to look twice since this was the first time I had ever seen this. The trail is NOT open to motorized vehicles and no one should be parking here! We looked at the truck which had a "dog" and NRA sticker. Immediately we knew that this truck belonged to the group who were illegally running the pack of dogs. I am always annoyed when I meet people who feel that the rules do not apply to them. People like this give hikers a bad name! I have come to accept that there is no way to change these ignorant people except by reporting them to the authorities. Brad and I turned right at the trail junction to start back toward the car. The trail is a little rough to begin with but it is a descent. It appeared as if someone had been clearing the trail which made the hiking much easier. We arrived at the first trail junction and continued on toward the car by retracing our steps. On the way back we met a few people hiking up the mountain. We were back in the parking area at 2:00 PM after hiking 4.3 miles and climbing 1200 feet in elevation. I was happy to have hiked a 3500 foot peak but it made me realize I need to hike a few more!

On Thursday, March 24th I planned to do some trail maintenance on The part of the TouchMeNot Trail that runs west from Big Pond to TouchMeNot Mountain. I maintain this trail from Big Pond to Beech Hill Road for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference. The Catskill trail supervisor had emailed me that some hikers felt the trail could use a few more blazes. Cindy agreed to go with me which makes trail maintenance and marking much easier. We left Livingston Manor around 10:30 AM with Sheila in the backseat ready to hike anywhere we stopped! I took my Fiskars trimming axe and my smaller Silky saw plus some felling wedges. I also brought a hammer, galvanized roofing nails and the red markers needed to blaze the trail. We arrived at Big Pond just before 11:00 AM and parked in the lot. I got my gear ready to go and we crossed the road to start up the trail. My plan was to place and replace markers on the way up noting any blowdowns that would have to be removed. On our way back we would make sure the blazes were visible in that direction. I also planned to remove a few blowdowns and document the rest for removal at another time. We started up the trail noting that the blazes were easy to spot for some distance since the trail is initially sited on a wide woods road. Just after the register box there was a rather large tree trunk hanging over the trail and supported none too well on the other side. We continued to walk and found a tree bowed over the trail with another supported on top of it. These were in the same position the last time I walked the trail and now I knew it was time to deal with them. We continued up the trail adding and replacing markers as needed. The first half of the trail was pretty well marked but the farther we went the more sparse the markers became. Some were on trees that had fallen, others had faded or fallen off while still others were just missing. At around .6 mules the trail began to get steeper and we had to watch carefully for markers. This is also the area that I had the hardest time clearing of nettles and briars last year. These were pretty much under control as it was early in the spring. We did find a few more blowdowns of various sizes. By about 12:15 Pm we had gotten to the highest point on the trail and walked across a flat area and then down a little to the junction with the Campground Trail. Just before the junction there was a tree that had spilt in three directions. One large truck was across the trail while another was suspend over the top of the trail. We walked to the trail junction where we had a drink and a bar before turning around to start back at 12:20 PM.

We stopped at the "triple threat" tree and I took a few shots. This was one I decided to leave for later as it would take some time to remove it and I felt I needed a bigger felling axe and a bigger saw. We continued down the trail watching for the blazes in the return direction. We found several placed where the markers were not clear and placed a few to make the way clear. We ran into a small blowdown which was in the trail and I decided to remove it for aesthetic reasons. I easily sawed through the branch and then cut it again to remove the pieces to the side of the trail. A little farther along there was another larger and livelier trunk that I decided to leave. After taking a few shots we moved on to another rotten tree that lay across the trail. This one was almost broken through in one spot so I only had to cut it in one place. I sued the axe this time to cut through the trunk so that Cindy and I could pull it off the trail. As we walked down the mountain Sheila began to alert as if there was someone on the trail ahead. We heard voices but they seemed pretty far away. We found two more good sized logs that were easy to step over and I decided to leave them for another day. Just after the second blowdown we were coming down to the flatter area and spotted two men below sitting on some rocks. I put Sheila on her leash as we approached and we stopped to talk. The two hikers were coming from Alder Lake and were headed for Little Pond where they expected to camp overnight. I suggested the open meadow on the Little Pond Trail as a nice place to spend the night. They would be hiking through to Beech Hill Road where their second car was parked. Cindy and I continued along removing one more small blowdown on the way before arriving at the place where one tree was bent over the trail with another lying on top of it. We both surveyed the situation since it was unclear how much pressure was on the bent tree and how it would react when the pressure was released. I decided to cut the larger tree off the one that was bent over. I cut most of the way through with the saw but had to finish with the axe. When the weight was released the other tree hardly moved. We cleared the tree I had cut and I turned my attention to the bent tree. I decided to use the axe to cut the truck near the ground. I was very careful as I made the cuts since I was still unsure what forces might be released. As it happened, the tree was relatively easy to cut and simply fell over as I made the last cut. I used the axe to chop through the upper portion and Cindy and I then removed all the pieces. After taking a few shots, we returned to the car at 2:30 PM.

On Tuesday, March 22nd I planned to hike with my friend Nery who had contacted me the day before. It was his day off from work and college and I was more than pleased to have someone as a hiking companion. I had thought about going to Storm King or Harriman but decided to go to the Neversink Unique Area as it is much closer and Nery had never been there. My plan was to hike to Denton Falls and then walk down to High Falls before doubling back to visit Mullet Brook Falls on the way back. It had been some time since I had been down to High Falls and I was looking forward to the longer route. I got Sheila and my gear in the car and left Livingston Manor at about 8:35 AM to head to Liberty to pick up Nery at his house. I arrived a little before 9:00 AM and Nery soon appeared with his new dog, Laila. She is a cute terrier and pit bull mix that Nery "rescued". She let me pet her but then started to bark at me as Nery put her back in the house. Nery got in the car and I let Sheila get acquainted with him before we headed toward Rock Hill. I drove south and east on Route 17 to Rock Hill and took Katrina Falls Road all the way to the end. I parked in the lot just before 9:30 AM and there were no other cars in the lot. The temperature was 34 degrees but there was no breeze to make it feel colder. We had gotten a slight dusting of snow and as we set off down the woods road, we noticed that there was a little snow still on the trail. We also noticed that the larger blowdowns that had been across the trail had all been cleared. At the first trail junction we turned left to stay on the main trail. As we neared the small bridge that crosses Wolf Brook, we could hear the water rushing in the stream but the large patches of ice that had been there a couple of weeks earlier were gone. We headed up the small hill to the junction where the main trail splits and stayed to the right to head to the lower bridge across Mullet Brook. When we came to the bridge, I warned Nery to be careful as the bridge's condition continues to deteriorate. We crossed the bridge without a problem and walked up the hill to the spur trail to Denton Falls. I might have skipped this if I was alone since I had been there recently but I wanted to give Nery the full tour! As we walked the trail down to the river, we kept up a steady stream of conversation which made the walk go much quicker. The trail was in good shape and there was only a little frozen mud in a few places. Over the quarter mile to the river we dropped about 170 feet in elevation. There was quite a bit of water in the river but there was very little ice on the rocks. We walked along the rocks and I removed my pack to get out the camera. I took some pictures but was disappointed that the sky was a flat blue without very many puffy white clouds. After taking a few more shots, I shouldered my pack and we began the walk back up to the main trail.

When we got back up to the main trail, we turned right and walked a short distance before bearing right again to walk the trail to High Falls. It is almost a two mile walk to High Falls and the trail isn't very interesting so I was glad Nery was along. Initially the trail descends but then starts and ascent until it reaches a high point at 2.6 miles where the elation is almost 1300 feet. From Here the trail begins to descend and in 1.3 miles it loses almost 500 feet to the level of the river. As we made our final approach we could hear the water and see the falls. As we walked out onto the rocks near the falls there was only a little ice and we were able to walk to the rocks below the falls. This allowed my to get shots upriver and almost directly at the face of the falls. I was surprised at how different High Falls was than Denton Falls since in my mind they are very much the same. High Falls is only a little higher but the river is wider at this point and there are two distantly different sections to the falls. I took several pictures of the falls and some shots downstream. I even took a picture of Sheila posed next to Nery! We had been drinking along the way and now I got out a bar that we shared. As we started the walk back I could feel that my "up" muscles were getting tired. By 12:45 PM we had walked 5.85 miles and were back at the trail junction just above Denton falls. We turned right to start the loop back to the car. In about a tenth of a mile we came to the spur trail to Mullet Brook falls on the left. We turned and found another hiker coming toward us with his dog on a leash. I put Sheila on her leash and walked back out to the main trail to allow the other hiker to pass. Sheila and his dog seemed to get along so we let then say 'Hello' before heading our separate ways.

We walked the spur trail down to Mullet Brook Falls. The last time I visited, I had slipped on a rock and ended up face down but without serious injury. This time I dropped my pack, got out the camera and walked over the rocks to the area in front of the falls. The sun was a little high and I was worried about sunspots in the pictures. I took pictures of the falls head on and then took some of the lower part of the falls and the pool at the base. I repositioned myself to the right side of the falls and took a few more shots from a different angle. I walked back to my pack, packed up and we headed back out to the main trail. We turned left to continue our loop back to the car. We were still ascending as we walked and I noticed how tired my legs had become. At 6.8 miles we again were crossing Mullet Brook but this time on the upper bridge which is in better shape than the lower. A little further on we hit the highest point on the hike at 1473 feet and then began our descent. Over the next the next .9 miles we lost 430 feet in elevation. Soon we were at the trail junction where we turned right to complete the loop and retrace our steps back to the care. We crossed the small bridge over Wolf Brook and then began the last uphill part of the hike. The last half mile back to the car is all uphill and although the grade is only 7% I was glad when we were in the parking lot. It was 2:20 PM and we had hiked 8.4 miles in 4 hours and 50 minutes. The elevation gain was 1840 feet.

On Monday, March 21st, I was in the mood to hike after two weeks of a nasty cold! I had thought about going a little farther away but an early morning ambulance call changed my mind. When I got home, I suggested to Cindy that we go to Trout Pond and she agreed. Once Sheila found out we were going she was beside herself. Sheila really doesn't care where we go as long as we get out. We got our gear and Sheila in the car and left Livingston Manor just before 10:00 AM heading north and west on State Route 17 toward Roscoe. I got off at the Roscoe exit and followed Route 206 toward Downsville. Just after the Rockland Flats I turned left on Morton Hill Road and drove up the hill to the junction with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the side of the road near the intersection. I avoided parking in the lot there as it is on private property. We started our hike at 10:15 AM by walking down Russell Brook Road. The temperature was in the mid 30's but a wind was blowing that made it seem colder. I had worn my Mammut hoody and layers on the top but had decided not to wear a baselayer under my MH Winter Wander pants. I was sorry I made this decision. I did start to warm up as we walked down the road. I decided I was tired of the same old loop and that we would try to follow the snowmobile trails up and over the ridge on the eastern side of Trout Pond. I knew the trails were not maintained and poorly marked but I had followed them before. Some of the trails are sited on the old woods roads used to haul trees for the wood alcohol factories that used to be around Butternut Grove just north of Roscoe. We turned right onto the snowmobile trail opposite the first campsite and walked passed the metal gate. The trail was much wider and easier to follow than I remembered and I was optimistic that we would be able to follow the trail. At about .65 miles the snowmobile trail crossed a stream but the water was a little too high so we walked upstream until we could cross. We spotted what looked like a woods road and began to follow it instead of walking back to the point where the trail had crossed the stream. We angle our way toward the top of the ridge even though I knew we probably weren't far enough along to find the snowmobile trail over the top. At just under a mile we picked up snowmobile markers again and turned right to follow the trail as it headed north and up.

The snowmobile trail had not been cut out in some time and we began to lose any markers. We decided to continue to head north but to stay off the very crest of the ridge and walk a little to the west of it so that we were between the pond and the ridge. I knew that there were some pretty steep cliff bands but wanted to be ready to cut down to the trail around the pond since the slope becomes more manageable farther north. At about 1.4 miles we hit the snowmobile trail and I knew turning left would take us down to the pond. For some reasons Cindy wanted to turn right and head farther north and up! We turned right and followed the snowmobile markers and very soon we lost them and the trail. Cindy decide we should climb up and over the ridge and head out to Morton Hill Road! We headed due east and in .2 miles gained about 120 feet to the top of the ridge. I was definitely out of shape and having trouble breathing from the cold since it seemed much longer and steeper than it was although the elevation of the ridge at the highest point was 2540 feet. We continued east and started down from the highest point fighting through some pretty thick brush in spots. At 2.1 miles we began to find some woods roads and were able to follow them south and east. The roads brought us down the ridge to cross Russell Brook at 2.4 miles. Somewhere along the way I had seen the yellow blazes that mark state land and although I had seen no POSTED signs, I was pretty sure we were on private property. After crossing the brook we headed southeast toward the road and crossed another arm of Russell Brook which had cut a pretty deep channel in the hill. Once up the other side, we walked through a field of prickers and out to the road. I put away my poles and put Sheila on her leash. We turned right to head south along Morton Hill Road back to the car. The walk along the road was less than a lie and went very quickly. I had not been looking at my GPS and was surprised to find that the whole hike was less than 4 miles as it seemed much longer! We were back at the car at 12:30 PM having hiked 3.4 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes. The vertical gain was 875 feet but felt like much more!

Winter 2015-2016

On Saturday, March 12th, I had decided to take a little longer and more difficult hike. I had settled on going north to hike a 35 like Hunter or south to hike in northern New Jersey. I had planned several times to go to Wawayanda State Park in northern New Jersey just south of Warwick, NY but had been turned back by weather. In the end I decided to visit the park as it had some iron mines I had not yet visited. There is also a section of the AT that runs through the park and I could not remember hiking it either. I checked my records and found that I had hiked this section with Kurt the year before. We hiked from near Surprise Lake to the Pinwheel Vista which is the most memorable point on that section of the AT. I woke early and despite my efforts to get a little more sleep I could not. I decided to get an early start so I got my gear ready much to the delight of Sheila. I knew it would be warm for the hike but I donned my Winter Wander pants and my Mammut Hoody. Under the hoody I had a baselayer and a light wool top. I don't know what I was thinking! We left Livingston Manor a little before 8:30 AM and I headed south and east on Route 17 to exit 124. From here I took Route 17A and Route 94 through Florida to Warwick. I continued through Warwick on Route 94 and turned left on the Warwick Turnpike not far outside of town. After 15 miles, We arrived at the park where I turned right onto the access road. I parked near the office which was closed and surveyed the area to find the blue Hoeferlin Trail that passes by the iron mines. I found the trail and we were hiking at 9:45 AM. There were only a few cars in the lot and no hikers were leaving when we were so I let Sheila roam a little off her leash. The trail was an almost flat woods road that headed north paralleling the Warwick Turnpike. After only a short distance, we met two hikers coming toward us and I said a quick "Hello" as we passed. I had the printed NYNJTC Northern Jersey 2009 trail map with me but was also using the Avenza app on my iPhone. At .25 miles we crossed the AT and continued north. At .45 miles we were in the vicinity of the first iron mine which was unnamed on the map. We walked off the trail to the right and I began to find depressions in then ground. The depressions had piles of rock next to them which are the "tailing" from these explorations. I found a few bigger pits and was pleased to be seeing a part of history. When the United States was first forming and well into the 19th century the only source of iron or implements made from iron was from other countries. This was expensive and, sometimes, an unreliable source. The hills of northern New Jersey and what is now Harriman State Park in New York, as well as some other locations, proved to be a good source of iron until the mid to late 19th century. After I took some pictures, we walked back out to the trail and continued north.

Within a short distance, the trail intersected a gravel road where we kept to the right to continue our trek north tow the Green and Wawayanda Mines. We met a couple hiking toward us and I put Sheila on her leash as they had two large German Shepherds. They did not bother to leash their dogs but, fortunately, they were friendly. We talked briefly before continuing in opposite direction. Almost immediately, Sheila and I both noticed some mountain bikers headed our way. Sheila was good and the bikers asked me the way to the office. I told them and we continued on. From the maps I knew that the green mine was located at about 1 mile along the trail where the Hoeferlin Trail turns sharply to the left. The mine is on the other side of a creek and swamp so I didn't know how accessible it would be. When we arrived at the turn we crossed the creek on a bridge and had easy access to the ridge to the east of the trail. We walked off into the woods and began a slight ascent to the top of the ridge. I immediately began to see a few small depressions but nothing more dramatic than the previous "mine". We walked south along the ridge and I saw ahead some fencing. The fencing surrounded a deeper pit with a collapsed adit. It was hard to tell how deep the mine had been but the tailing next to it indicated it may have been rather large. Some paths continued along the ridge and I found another area where the bank had been cut away. A little further south there was another fenced area. This one was much more interesting as the fence was metal and surrounded a deep shaft with stone sides. The adit was filled with water but I drop a rock in and it sank quickly into the murky water. The light was actually too bright to get very good pictures and the fence spoiled the view. I was able to put my camera over the fence and use the screen viewfinder to frame several good shots. After investigating a few more pits we headed back north to the point where we turned off the road. Where the Hoeferlin Trail headed west, we continued north on the old Wawayanda Road looking for a gate where we would again head off the road to the east to the Wawayanda Mine. After walking less than a quarter mile I began to see paths to the right and piles of we are happy to looked like tailings. The road had no gate so we doubled back and turned east about 1.2 miles from the office. We found I woods road that ran to an area that had been cleared and to a bank that seemed to have been mined. I took a few pictures and then we continued up and over the bank still heading east. I found three or four more pits above the bank and took pictures but was disappointed that they were not very deep. I picked up my gear and we headed a little to the north where I enticed a water filled pit ahead and to the right. I dropped my gear and took the camera to take a few pictures. As I returned I noticed another area with a deep cleft in the one bank and an adit cut into the other. The adit was obviously collapsed but the amount of tailings and the work done in the area convinced me that it was significant. I took many shots before returning to my pack. We investigate another area a little further north and east across a small stream. There were a few small pits here. I decided I wanted to return to the main trail and head toward Wawayanda Lake and the Wawayanda Furnace.

We walked south to the junction with the Hoeferlin Trail and turned west to follow the trail northwest to the blue Iron Mountain Trail. At 2.4 miles we turned left on the Iron Mountain Trail which was another wide and well-maintained gravel road. The day was getting warmer and I stopped to open all my zippers and get a drink. I had only brought one liter of water which, given my tendency to dehydrate and cramp, was not a good idea. I had been noticing the veritable cacophony of noise coming from all the swampy areas but it was very noticeable along this trail. The spring "peepers" were out in force but here were several different pitches and volumes! We continued along the road crossing the At again at 3.4 miles. At 4.6 miles we came to one of the park roads and crossed it heading for the boat launch on Wawayanda Lake. As we were headed toward the lake we met a father and son both were carrying fly rods. I wondered about the fishing regulations as trout season in New York does not open until April 1. We walked up a small hill and across the parking area at the boat launch to the shores of the lake. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take some photographs. I knew we were only seeing part of a much larger lake but the part we were seeing was beautiful. The water was very blue and I only wished there are a few more puffy white clouds to break up the blue sky. The lake had several island, some small and some much larger. I also too a few captures of the canoes and paddleboats stacked on the beach as well as a few fishing boats. After finishing my photography, we headed around the end of the lake toward the dam on a pathway. At the dam it was not clear which way to go but we followed another archway without crossing the dam. This brought us down a small hill to a junction. There was a large stone structure on the left side of the trail that was protected behind a chain link fence. Although the wooden roof had seen better days, the rest of the structure was well preserved. This was the Wawayanda Furnace which operated from the 1840's to well passed the Civil War. It processed raw iron ore from the surrounding mines turning it into pig iron which could them be formed into implements. I took off my pack, got out the camera and told Sheila to "Stay!" I took some time to walk around the furnace while taking pictures from several different angles. The history of the iron mining in the area has always interested me and this was a high point!

From the furnace, we walked a little to the east to pick up the yellow Double Pond Trail. I had Sheila on her leash as there were quite a few people in the area. I decided to stow my poles as carrying them with the dog on the leash is not easy. We followed the paved Double Pond Trail as it wound passed several campsites and then immediately turned back into a trail after passing a gate. Since I saw no more walkers, I let Sheila off her leash but decided to leave my poles stowed. The trail was rocky and headed uphill a little and I debated getting out my poles. At 6.25 miles we were at the trail junction with the Cedar Swamp Trail. I had been sick and I also had not hiked as much as I had wanted during the winter. As a consequence of this and being overdressed, I was a little tired and thought I might simply skip the cedar swap. My GPS was in my pack and I had poised myself I would leave it there! I decided that seeing the Atlantic white cedar swap would be worth the effort so we turned right or south on the Cedar Swamp Trail. Reports said that the trail had a boardwalk that was not completed and that, at times, hikers would find the area to wet to continue. As we headed south we almost immediately ran into the boardwalk which seemed to be in good shape. It initially passed over a wide and open swamp which had a small stream in the middle. I stopped to take a few pictures before continuing on. I noticed s pile of materials that were obviously being used to construct the boardwalk. The boardwalk actually consisted of three tiers. The bottom tier was constructed of crosspieces made of a composite material. They were lighter than cement but heavier than wood and appeared to be built to resist the decay brought on by being immersed in water. On top of the composite crosspieces were wooden ones and on top of that the wooden decking. We walked along the boardwalk hemmed in by laurel in most places. I stopped at one point to get some pictures of the cedars and the boardwalk. There were still some icy patches hidden in the shade under the trees! The boardwalk was under repair in several areas but we were able to continue our walk avoiding some wet areas. Eventually the boardwalk ended and we continued to follow the trail until it ended at the green Banker Trail. The turn where was not completely obvious but I knew we needed to head east and then north so we turned left to follow the trail.

The Banker Trail headed north along the eastern edge of the cedar swamp. It was a well constructed trail but had no real surprises or attractions. As we neared the Banker Road trailhead, Sheila noticed some movement off to the left and started into the woods after what she thought was an animals. I saw that it was a mountain biker and called her back. I put her on her leash and we continued on the trail until we Mt the biker. We passed by and found a red trail on the left which was not on my printed map. The new trail was on the newer map on my phone. The new Plymouth Lane Trail headed north to connect back to the Double Pond Trail. The trail avoided walking out to Banker Road and using it to get to another trailhead. I got out my GPS and found we were already ay 8.65 miles. The road walk would be quicker but I knew that I would take the trail!> We turned left and followed the new trail as it wound its way to the west and then headed north. This was the first trail that could have sued a few more blazes and being new was not well worn. I had no problem as I just followed Sheila who never has a problem picking up the trails. At 9.6 mile we hit the Double Pond Trail and turned right to walk to the beginning of the Hoeferlin Trail. The turn was not well marked but at this point I knew just where I wanted to go. We walked toward the parking area on Double Pond Road and turned left or north just before getting there. As sign marked the beginning of the blue Hoeferlin Trail and indicated the office was 1.8 miles away. This was a little more than I wanted to here but at least I knew how far we still had to go. As we started out on the trail it was very rocky which was definitely not what my feet had in mind! The trail headed due north and near the end there were a few small hills just to make the hike memorable. The distance was actually more like 1.6 miles. We arrived back at the car at 3:20 PM. We had hiked 11,4 miles in 5.5 hours with an overall average of 2 mph. I was surprised at the quick pace since we had stopped so many times for pictures and had wandered around exploring. The total elevation gain was 1134 feet but I don't remember much in the way of climbs. On the way home we stopped at the Craft Beer Cellar and Keller's Crisp Suds in Warwick. This craft beer store has a great variety and knowledgeable staff.

On Tuesday, March 8th, Lisa and I had decided to go to the Neversink Unique Area to hike at about 9:00 AM. I had been there recently but Lisa wants to go and I was glad to have company. I was ready at 8:45 AM preparing to walk out the door when the ambulance pager sounded. I might have continued on my way but the call was an Echo response, the most serious, for a cardiac arrest from a drug overdose. I quickly texted Lisa and then headed down to the ambulance building. The rig was already pulled out and we were able to leave immediately. The short story is that the patient survived and we were back in town just after 10:30 AM. Lisa was still ready to hike so we changed our plans and decided to go to Frick Pond to hike a loop. Sheila, who had seemed depressed when I left the first time, was more than ready to go as I put my gear in the car. The temperature was already in the low 50's and I knew it would being increasing. I put on only a light top under my Mammut hoody and left the tights at home. I met Lisa in front of her business and we headed out the DeBruce Road. We arrived at the trailhead for Frick Pond just before 11:00 AM and immediately headed out the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond. The plan was to hike around the back of the pond on the Big Rock Trail to Times Square. From there we would continue on UP the Big Rock Trail to the Flynn Trail and then take it back to the car. As we got out of the car, it was obvious that it was too warm for a hat and gloves so I left them in the car. I had brought a light windbreaker but decided to wear my Mammut hoody as I knew I could open the zippers to dump some heat. We started out the Quick Lake Trail from the larger parking lot and immediately encountered a tree across the trail. I knew there were several more and debated whether I could wait to remove them until the next trail crew work day. Lisa wrote our names in the register and then we headed out to Frick Pond along the wide woods road. The trail was wet and muddy in some places with only a few small patches of ice. We surveyed some areas where the small drainage ditches needed cleaning to help the water exit the trail. At Gravestone Junction we stayed left of the Quick Lake Trail to head down the hill to the bridge at the outlet end of Frick Pond. We stopped at the bridge to take a few pictures and then continued along the west side of the pond to the first junction with the Big Rock Trail. We turned right on the Big Rock Trail to go to Times Square. There were a few muddy areas and the wooden walkways were a little slippery. We stopped at Times Square to see what we thought could be done to alleviate the water problem there before contusing straight ahead on the Big Rock Trail UP the hill.

From Times Square to the Flynn Trail junction the Big Rock Trail rises 625 feet in 1.1 miles. This doesn't sound like much but it always seems to be a little farther and a little longer than I remember. Lisa and I both agreed to stop at intervals to catch our breath! We cleared a few branches as we walked and having someone to talk to made the walk go faster. By 12:20 PM we had walked 2.3 miles and were at the junction with the Flynn Trail. I took a few pictures on the way up the Big Rock Trail just to show that they were free of snow. I was able to get one pictures of some shelf fungus on a fallen tree that seemed to be particularly striking. We turned right to head down the Flynn Trail to the car. This return trip always seems longer than the 1.7 miles that is posted which is the correct distance. The trail is pretty but has no views. I thought about stopping at the clearing but decided that it was getting late and our first outdoor track practice was at 3:00 PM. The clearing is interesting as much of it has a layer a sphagnum moss over bedrock. This moss is usually found in areas with a much deeper and richer subsoil. A small road curves up to the clearing but no one has been able to tell me why the area was cleared. Walking across the clearing and through the woods is interesting since there is a series of ledges that rims Mongaup Pond. There are numerous ways to negotiate these ledges and access the loop road at the state campgrounds. We continued on the Flynn Trail back down to the car. We arrived in the parking area at 1:00 PM having covered 4.1 miles in 2 hours.

On Saturday, March 5th, I was in Ithaca, NY for the New York State Indoor Track championships. The previous week had involved preparing for this meet and nursing a cold that just made me feel lousy! Since we did not have to be at the competition until after 1:00 PM, we decided to visit some waterfalls in the area. As I planned the visits the night before I was surprised at the number and quality of falls in the area! Within a 15 minute drive of our motel there were at least 10 waterfalls to visit. We left the motel a little after 10:00 AM headed for Cascadilla Falls at the lower end of the gorge that runs through the Cornell University campus. I was anxious to hike the gorge trail which despite being only half a mile long gains 400 feet in elevation and has several falls along the way. We parked at the corner of East Aurora and Linn street and walked over to the small park where the trail begins. I was crushed to see a sign that stated "Gorge Trail CLOSED for the winter"! We were able to walk to a good viewpoint for Cascadilla Falls but I REALLY wanted to hike the trail. My efforts were thwarted by a large wrought iron gate with a padlock. I wanted to take some pictures so I got out my iPhone 6 and snapped a few shots. I didn't think the camera was much different than on my old iPhone 4s and didn't give it a second thought. We decided next to drive to the Gun Hill area to take a look at Ithaca Falls. As we drove down Gun Hill we turned left at the bottom of the hill and found a small parking area. We walked down a path to the stream and then walked upstream to the falls. We were able to get pretty close to the base and I took some more pictures of the falls, the gorge and the ice on the trees near the stream. There were several signs that warned that the rocks in the area might be contaminated with lead from the now closed Ithaca Gun Factory. Above the falls was a tall brick smokestack which is about all that remains of this factory. We returned to the car and I started to look at a few pictures. As I scrolled through the pictures, I noticed that a few seemed to be videos even though I had not taken any. One of my athletes explained about "live" pictures on the iPhone and I realized I needed to read a little more about the camera.

We still had some time left so I drove to Beebe Lake on the Cornell campus and parked in a lot so we could walk down to the footbridge that gave the best view of the dam and TripHammer Falls. The dam had been constructed to enhance the falls and provided waterpower to run a trip hammer. I walked out onto the bridge and took several pictures of the lake and then falls and a couple of the gorge downstream. We noticed that the bridge had high fences and nets below the walkway. Apparently, several students had tried to commit suicide by jumping into the gorge and some had succeeded! I pondered the pressures that would make young and intelligent students so desperate that they would try to end their lives. We returned to the car and drove along a road that paralleled the gorge. In less than a mile we found Fall Creek Road and turned left following the road to a small parking lot near a suspension bridge over the gorge. We walked out on the bridge to view the lower part of Triphammer Falls and the smaller Foaming Falls and the old powerhouse below. This bridge was pretty high up and was completely enclosed with fencing. Below the bridge and slightly downstream I could see people walking down a path to an area near the stream bed. We walked across the bridge and then followed the path down into the gorge. At the end of the path there was a nice view upstream of the falls and I again took pictures including a few where I sued the zoom. We followed the path back to the top and then turned right to head to the Stewart Avenue bridge to view the last of the three falls, Forest Falls. We walked to the middle of the bridge and I again took pictures and for some used the zoom. We continued to walk across the bridge. Turned right on Fall Creek Drive and were soon back at the car. When I arrived home after the meet, I eventually settled in and looked at the pictures. Most were quite good especially for a cell phone. The ones where I had used the zoom were of very poor quality and highly pixelated. I began to read some information on several sites about the camera. All sites warned against using the zoom at all since it is only a digital zoom and this causes poor quality pictures. After thinking about this for a moment, it made perfect sense. The suggestion was to take the pictures without the zoom and then crop and enlarge them. I also read about some other features of the camera like built in HDR, burst mode, the flash and :live" pictures. I downloaded a the HDR Pro X app which several sites suggested does a better job than the built in HDR. I definitely will try the iPhone camera again but I also know I will be using my Canon most of the time!

On Sunday, Feb 28th, I asked Cindy if she would like to hike after church and she said "Yes". We decided to go to the Hodge Pond Lookout to see what the view looked like without the leaves on the trees. We had a meeting and a luncheon after church so we didn't get started until after 1:30 PM. I almost decided to put it off until Monday but Sheila seemed to be very excited about going and rain was in the forecast for Monday. The temperature at the house was pushing 50 degrees so I opted to forego a baselayer. We got our gear into them car, put Sheila in the backseat and headed off to the trailhead. We arrived just before 2:00 PM and found another group of hikers getting ready to start. They did not seem to be in any hurry and it appeared they had no idea where the trails were located. As they looked at the maps at the tailed, we crossed the road and headed up the Flynn Trail at 1:50 PM. I hoped they would not follow us since I had put Sheila on her leash and wanted to release her. When we turned right on the woods that is the beginning of the Flynn Trail, it was obvious they had gone in a different direction so I released Sheila and let her run. I immediately opened the zippers on my Mammut Hoody and took off my hat. It was now 50 degrees and the sun was shining. There was no snow on the trail but the ground was still frozen. We could hear the wind blowing through the tops of the trees but near the ground it was still. We set a fast pace up the Flynn Trail powered by the beautiful weather. The Flynn Trail is uphill all the way for the first 1.7 miles to the Big Rock Junction but this section seemed to go very quickly. We continued through the junction and just before the gate on the trail Sheila alerted. I could see other people ahead so I put her on the leash. Cindy told me it was a couple with their dog and that the dog was also leashed. We passed each other at the gate and said a quick "Hello". The other dog was a very large Rottweiler! We continued on the trail to the point where the Flynn Trail heads downhill to Hodge Pond. Here we turned to the right on a woods road and walked along the "high road" to the junction of some roads above the pond. At this junction a road turns left to go down to the pond. Just a little further on the road splits with the left fork passing by the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp and ending up on Shin Creek Road in Lew Beach. We continued straight ahead to climb the road up the hill. The road was a little steeper than I remembered and a little longer but we kept our pace. The sun had started to melt some of the frozen ground creating some muddy spots but these were easily avoided.

There were places where there was ice under a thin layer of snow and I thought about getting out my spikes several times. We solved the problem by walking carefully and keeping to the sides of the trail. We stopped briefly as the trail leveled at the old quarry and then continued our hike. We passed by a spring house on the right and at 2.6 miles and shortly after that we came to a lookout on the right. I stopped to take a few pictures before following the road which made a sharp right turn. Just after this the road turned to the left but another trail branched off to the right. We turned onto the trail on the right which was well defined but had a light coating of snow. After a slight incline, we walked to 2.9 miles over flat ground to the Hodge Pond Lookout. I dropped my pack and took some pictures of the pond below and the hills in the distance. The brush had been trimmed back affording a much better view of the pond. I asked Cindy to pose with Sheila on the rock that forms the lookout and I took several pictures. We grabbed a drink then continued on the trail as it circled around Flynn's Point and back to the woods road only slightly further along than where we had turned off. We turned left on the road and headed back down the hill. The trip down was a little more exciting than the trip up. The slippery spots seemed much slipperier on the way down! When we got to the base of the hill at the junction of the roads, we turned right and walked over to what is left of the buildings from the Boy Scout camp. I took some pictures before we headed back to the woods road. We walked out to the Flynn Trail and turned left and were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 4.6 miles. To give us a little variety, we turned right on the Big Rock Trail and began a 1.1 mile descent to Times Square losing 590 feet of elevation along the way! As we walked down the trail, we stopped several times to clear branches that had come down in the high winds the week before. At Times Square we continued straight ahead on the Big Rock trail as it passed around the "back" of Frick Pond. As we walked we noticed that the small streams that feed the pond were exceptionally full. We passed through the "spruce tunnel" and then walked over the wooden walkways heading toward the outlet of Frick Pond. Where the walkways were exposed to the sun they were fairly dry and easy to negotiate. At several points the walkways were slippery where they passed under the cover of the trees. We were soon at the junction with the Quick Lake Trail where we turned left. We crossed the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond at 6.25 miles. Despite the fact that I have hundreds of pictures from the bridge, I stopped to take a few before continuing on the trail. I was surprised to find that the ice that had covered the hill up from the pond and a good part of the rest of the trail back to the parking area was now gone. We had to be careful as there were some wet and muddy areas that we avoided. When we came to the register box, we turned right and walked the trail back to the car. As we approached the parking area, we found a pickup truck with a couple getting ready to start their hike. It was 5:00 PM and they did not seem to be sure of where they were going! We had hiked 6.8 miles in just over 3 hours gaining 1275 feet along the way.

On Monday, February 22nd I wanted to hike locally but did not want to return to the Frick Pond area AGAIN! I asked Cindy if she would like to go to the Neversink Unique Area and she said "Yes". I thought that the recent rain might have swollen both the Neversink River and Mullet Brook making Mullet Brook Falls and Denton Falls on the Neversink interesting. We left Livingston Manor a little after 9:00 AM and drove south and east on Route 17 to Rock Hill. I took Katrina Falls Road and drove all the way to the end, parking in the lot just before 9:30 AM. There were no other cars in the lot. The temperature was 28 degrees and there was a slight breeze which made it feel colder. When I turned on my GPS a warning told me the battery pack was low. I replaced the pack with AA batteries which seemed to work OK. My only complaint about the Garmin GPSmap 64st is that the battery pack is really only good for one hike! As we set off down the woods road, we noticed that there was no snow at all on the trail. We also noticed that the larger blowdowns that had been across the trail had all been cleared. At the first trail junction we turned left to stay on the main trail. As we neared the small bridge that crosses Wolf Brook, we could hear the water rushing in the stream and we could see a large patch of ice. I stopped to take a few pictures while Cindy put on her spikes. I did not bother to put on spikes so I hugged the edge of the trail where there was less ice and more dirt. We were soon across the ice and headed up the small hill to the junction where the main trail splits. I knew that there might be a problem with the lower bridge across Mullet Brook so we turned left to do the loop in a clockwise direction. This would allow us to visit both falls and retrace our route back to the car if we could not cross the lower bridge to form a loop. The trail started out flat but soon began to climb. Over the next .9 miles we gained almost 400 feet. The ascent was never steep but we maintained a good pace which elevated my heart rate and generated some body heat. At 1.6 miles we came to another trail junction. The trail to the left leads out to the Wolf Lake Multiple Use Area so we turned right to continue on the main trail which from this point on is mostly flat or downhill. After mailing the turn, we were headed south and soon crossed Mullet Brook on the upper bridge. The stream had a generous layer of ice over it attesting to the low temperatures the previous weekend. I stopped to take a few shots before continuing on the trail. At 1.8 miles we made another right turn causing us to head almost due west starting a long descent toward the Neversink Gorge.

As we hiked I was watching for the short spur trail to the right which goes down to Mullet Brook Falls. It was a little farther along than I thought it was but at 2.25 miles we made the right turn and walked down to the falls. The falls were partly frozen and partly open creating the prefect opportunity to take pictures. I dropped my pack and poles and took out the camera. As I worked my way toward the falls, Cindy decided to take a break. I thought I was being carefully climbing over the rock and avoiding the ice. In my haste to get to a good vantage point I forgot how slippery the rocks can be when the mist from the falls freezes on them! I carefully placed my left foot on a rock and immediately found myself face down on the rocks. I somehow had the presence of mind to hold the NEW camera up so that it did not come to an untimely end. I carefully got up, found I had a few sore spots, and picked a better route to the rocks below and in front of the falls. I took pictures of the falls, the pool below and the ice on either side. I also took a few shots of the stream below the falls as it headed toward the Neversink. I took a video of the falls before looking for a safe way back to my pack. It was even harder working my way back to my pack but I did so without incident. I put the camera back in the pack and we headed back out to the main trail where we turned right. At 2.6 miles we arrived at the junction with the trail to the left that leads to High Falls. I was ready to add the extra 4 miles round trip to our hike but Cindy was not. We turned right and almost immediately turned left on the spur trail down to Denton falls on the Neversink. The trail was clear all the way to the falls as we hiked about .3 miles losing 180 feet. As we approached the river, we were careful to watch for slippery areas so that there would be no more falls.

The rocks near the shore were clear of ice so I got out the camera and took some shots. I worked my way down toward the falls over some ice and found the path to the best viewpoint covered in solid ice. I thought about getting my spikes but decided to settle for some nice shots of the falls from where I was. I also took some pictures up and down the gorge and a few of Cindy and Sheila siting on a rock. I returned the camera to my pack and we started back up the hill to the main trail. At the top of the hill we turned left and headed for the lower bridge on Mullet Brook. When we got to the bridge, we found that it was still standing but had not been repaired. Despite my reports to the rangers and the forester nothing had been done to replace the cracked horizontal support on the downstream side. The bridge was sagging on that side and leaning downstream. A little emergency repair would have saved the bridge but I don't know what the plan is at this point. We did see some blue flagging downstream . I took a few pictures of the bridge and the stream before we continued our hike. The trail stayed flat for a long time and even descended a little as we passed the trail junction where we had started the loop earlier. At 4 miles we crossed the icy patch and the bridge over Wolf Brook. Just after that we made the right turn to head back UP to the car. We had commented on the way down that the last half mile of the hike was all uphill. On the way back Sheila alerted and we saw a young man and woman approaching. I put Sheila on her leash and we passed each other with a simple greeting. I left Sheila on her leash and we soon overtook a young man and his two children heading back to the parking area. One was in a backpack but the other was reluctantly walking up the hill. We were back at the car at noon having hiked 4.6 miles in 2 and a half hours. We gained about 980 feet along the way. This was certainly not the fastest I have hiked this route but it was very enjoyable.

On Friday, February 19th I was ready to hike after 10 days of track meets and practices, family commitments and Bitterly cold weather! The President's Day weekend saw temperatures tying in the single digits with wind lowering the "feels like" temperature into the double digits below zero. Since I had to time basketball game in the evening, I decided to stay local and head to Hodge and Frick Ponds. Cindy was also in the mood to hike and Sheila was overjoyed to be going as we got ready at about 10:15 AM. The temperature was only 30 degrees so I dressed in layers and we left home heading out DeBruce Road. As we drove up Mongaup Road toward the trailhead, the temperature kept dropping until we reached the trailhead where it was 26 degrees. There wasn't much wind blowing as we started to hike and there was some sun peeking through the clouds. There was barely enough snow to cover the ground in places and much of the trail was bare as we crossed the road to get onto the Flynn Trail at 10:30 AM. I had not worn my insulated boots and hoped that my Vasque Taku boots would be warm enough and keep my feet dry. As we walked up the Flynn Trail the amount of snow began to increase and there was enough to make it look a little like winter! Sheila took full advantage by romping through the woods and sticking her nose under the snow when she could. We kept up a quick pace which quickly warmed us up while Sheila was even quicker. Since we had not been out for almost a week, Sheila was dashing up and down the trail. As we hiked I could see some blue in the skies but there were also a lot of clouds. The forecast was for a sunny morning with clouds moving in by the afternoon but that did not seem to be the case. We were at the junction with the Big Rock trail by 11:20 AM having covered the 1.7 miles in about 50 minutes. I was ready noticing a slight discomfort in my upper legs as the slipping and sliding on the snow and the days off took their toll.

We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail passing through the gate a little further on. At the point where the Flynn Trail heads down to Hodge Pond, I elected to bear to the right on the woods road toward the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout camp. At this point the trail was covered with snow and had been since the Big Rock Junction. Some of the snow was hard packed and some concealed ice making the footing tricky. Just before the remains of the cabins from the camp, we turned left to head down the woods road toward Hodge Pond. At the junction with the jeep trail, we turned right to head around the back of the pond. The pond was frozen completely across but I couldn't judged the thickness of the ice. We continued around the back of the pond. I looked at the sky and the overall scenery and decided I would like to take a few pictures of the pond. I walked down to the edge, removed my pack and got out the camera. I took a few shots as Sheila decided to test the ice! After replacing the camera in the pack, I joined Cindy back on the trail and we continued our hike. We turned right when we came to the Flynn Trail and walked up the Flynn Trail to the gate staying to the left to walk the trail out to Junkyard Junction. Here the trail was covered by a little more than an inch of snow. The trail was frozen and there were some very icy patches along the way. We began to come across some rather large branches and a sew small tree trunks across the trail. Most were frozen fast but a few kicks loosened them so that I could remove them from the trail. We arrived at Junkyard Junction at 12:10 PM about 3.3 miles into the hiked. We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and began the descent to Ironwheel Junction. The trail remained solid and the amount of show varied from none to a couple of inches. We continued to removed branches and small trees from the trail as we hiked. As soon as we started to descend, we noticed that there was a lot of ice under the snow on the trail. The heavy rains had formed small streams down the trail and then the bitterly cold temperatures had frozen them solid! We had to be careful to walk in the side of the trails where there was more snow and less ice. Following Sheila helped as we could see where she slipped and avoid those places. When we came to Iron Wheel Junction, I could definitely feel the discomfort in my upper right leg. We turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and to head toward Frick Pond. hen we came to the small stream in the woods, the water level was so high that we had to walk upstream to cross. Sheila on the other hand simply launched herself effortlessly across the water sera times. We crossed the stream and continued through the evergreen tunnel toward Frick Pond. The skies were almost completely overcast now and the breeze had picked up a little making the air temperature seem cooler. As we approached Frick Pond we crossed the two small bridges before arriving at the bridge across the outlet stream. We stooped so that I could take a few pictures and then continued back to the car. On the way back to the car, we found the trail was a solid sheet of ice where water had run down the trail and frozen. We knew that spikes would have made the walking easier but we both chose to hit the edge of the trail which got us back to the parking area safely. We were back at the car at 1:45 PM. We hiked 6.3 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes with a 900 foot elevation gain.

On Tuesday, February 9th I had planned again planned to head to northern New Jersey to do a loop in Wawayanda State Park just south of Warwick. Once again snow fell making the roads slick and I decided to alter my plans and head for Frick and Hodge Ponds hoping to get there while the snow was untouched. By the time I finished some things I had to get done at home, it was after 11:00 AM before I left the house. I drove out the DeBruce Road to Mongaup Road and then stayed left where the road split to get tot the trailhead parking which had not been plowed. When we arrived at the trailhead there were no cars parked in the lot and the temperature was 24 degrees. The skies were blue and sunny with some white clouds and there was only a slight breeze blowing. I had brought with me my new camera, a Canon PowerShot SX60 HS, and my new GPS unit, a Garmin 64st. These are upgrades of the previous models and I hoped they would perform in much the same way. We headed out on the Quick Lake Trail at 11:25 AM and I immediately noticed that the few inches of snow covered some very slippery patches of ice! I had brought along my spikes but decided to see if I could avoid using them. I did stop to take a few picture of the newly fallen and pristine snow before continuing on the trail toward Frick Pond. We turned left at Gravestone Junction to follow the Quick Lake Trail to the bridge over the outlet of Frick Pond. When we crossed the bridge, I stopped to take a few pictures of the pond because it was such a beautiful sight. I took some pictures of the outlet stream which was running freely a few of the pond and several of Sheila and then packed up my camera. At the next junction with the Big Rock Trail, we stayed to the left on the Quick Lake Trail. We kept a quick pace as we hiked the Quick Lake Trail toward Iron Wheel Junction even though I had to work our way around several icy areas. We easily crossed the small stream in the forest but stopped several times to remove branches from the trail. At Iron Wheel Junction, I stopped to take a few more pictures and then turned left to take the longer loop to Hodge Pond. by way of the Quick Lake Trail toward Junkyard Junction. The walk is all uphill but the grade is only slight to moderate. As I walked, I watched Sheila follow animal tracks that crossed the trail. The further north we went and the more elevation we gained, the more snow was on the ground. We continued walking quickly and arrived at Junkyard Junction at 12:55 PM after hiking 3.1 miles.

We turned right at the junction onto the Flynn Trail which is relatively flat at this point. The trail had several inches of snow which hid some icy spots and frozen mud. At the gate we followed the trail to the right and down toward the shore of Hodge Pond. As we neared the pond we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail to the outlet of Hodge Pond. At this point I noticed some footprints which came from the direction of the outlet and headed around the back of the pond on the old jeep trail. I thought I might meet the other hiker if they had circled the pond. We were soon at the outlet end of Hodge Pond and I decided to go to the shore of the pond and take a few pictures. I removed my pack, got out the camera and took a few shots before picking up and starting back toward the Flynn Trail. We started up the hill staying on the Flynn Trail and the walk up the hill seemed to go very quickly. I was surprised at how fresh I felt walking up the long but gentle hill. Soon we were on the flat part of the Flynn Trail headed toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued on the Flynn Trail passing through the gate to the trail junction. We didn't stop at the trail junction but kept walking on The Flynn Trail. From this high point on the hike, the trail descends 1.7 miles to the parking area. We kept up a fast pace on the descent and found only a few inches of snow on most of the trail. We continued on the trail and soon were headed down the hill to the gate where we turned left to stay on then Flynn Trail. We walked down the short section of trail I had refurbished and then hiked through the woods back to the parking area. It was 2:15 PM when we returned. We had covered 6.4 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes. The elevation gain was a modest 925 feet. The new electronic devices preformed well but I need to learn to use a few more of their features.

On Friday, February 5th I had planned to head south to Wawayanda Park in northern New Jersey just south of Warwick, NY. When I woke up Friday morning schools were closing in the area and 2 to 4 inches of snow was expected. I don't have a problem hiking in snow but I didn't want to chance becoming involved in a motor vehicle accident just to hike in the area. Cindy suggested that we head north away from the snow and we decided to go the Bear Spring Wildlife Management Area where I had hiked on Tuesday. I thought we might start at Middle Pond on East Trout Brook Road and hike up to the ridge. We could then hike south on the ridge to Trail 12 which would take us down to the road again near the Horse Camp. We could then hike the trail or the road back to the car. When we left Livingston Manor just before 10:30 AM, the temperature was 30 degrees and the wind was blowing. The skies were cloudy but there was some blue and the sun was breaking through. We headed north and east on Route 17 to Roscoe and then drove through Roscoe and Downsville on Route 206. As I drove up Bear Spring Mountain I watched for East Trout Brook Road on the left. I turned left and drove 2.2 miles south passing Launt Pond on the right and parking at Middle Pond on the left. When we got out of the car, I noted that the temperature was 28 degrees and the wind was still brisk. We started our hike at 11:00 AM by hiking down to the dam across Middle Pond which also acts as a bridge across the brook. We continued straight ahead and almost immediately started to climb the hill toward the McCoy Hill Cutoff. The skies were overcast and there were no opportunities to take any pictures and this remained true throughout the day. At .7 miles we turned right where the trail split and started to head south while continuing to climb toward the ridge. The trail surface was very level and was still mostly frozen despite the rain the day before. I was glad we were climbing since it was warming me up! At 1.2 miles the trail split again and we turned right to continue east and southeast. It had been a long time since I had been on this trail and I had only hiked it twice. Cindy pointed out that although the trail was pretty and easy to hike one piece looked a lot like the next. At times I thought something was familiar and at other times it looked all new!

At 1.4 mile we followed the trail as it turned south and began to snake along the ridge. At his point there was a "Danger! Keep Out!" sign which I did not remember seeing before. The trail at this point start down off the ridge and I hoped we were not going to be led off course. After descending for a short distance, the trail again headed up the ridge and slightly to the east which did not make me happy. At 2.1 miles we were still headed mostly south when we hit the highest point on the hike at 2300 feet. I knew we had to turn to the west at some point and I kept thinking it should be soon! After the high point, we started to descend and head southwest which made me feel a little better. At 2.5 mile we picked up Finger Lakes Trail blazes which I knew was a good sign as I had hiked the Finger Lakes Trail in this area and I knew it came up from East Trout Brook Road. We hiked up the hill in front of us and at 2.85 miles started a descent but we were still headed south. The trail began to look more familiar and at 3.2 miles we turned sharply right or to the west and began a .75 mile descent to East Trout Brook losing 625 feet in the process. Most of the trail down was old woods road or new logging road so the walk was pretty easy. We started to parallel a small stream which I recognized. Sheila alerted at one point and I called her back to me. I couldn't see or hear anything ahead and Sheila eventually gave up. At 4 miles we were in the field near East Trout Brook. I knew that we could turn right onto the trail and hike back to the car but I also knew that the trail would be very wet. I suspected that crossing East Tout Brook would be difficult as its volume was high because of the rain. I walked ahead toward the small pond near the road and was surprised to see that the bridge near the dam had been replaced. I had no trouble convincing Cindy that we should just walk back to the car on the road. I stowed my poles in my pack and put Sheila on her leash. We set a quick pace walking the 1.7 miles back to the car gaining 300 feet in the process. As we got to the car, the wind again kicked up making us glad that we were back. It was 2:00 PM and we had hiked 5.8 miles in three hours with an elevation gain of 1270 feet.

On Tuesday, February 2nd I wanted to get out for the first hike of February. I was tired of the Frick Pond and Trout Pond areas so I decided to head to Bear Spring Wildlife Management Area between Downsville and Walton. The forecast for the day was for sunny skies and highs in the mid 40's but when I left Livingston Manor at 8:30 AM it was 25 degrees with a completely overcast sky. I drove north and east on Route 17 to Roscoe and then drove through Roscoe and Downsville on Route 206. As I drove up Bear Spring Mountain I watched for the large parking area on the left which would allow access to the trails on the eastern ridge of the WMA. I parked at 9:00 AM and was on the trail soon after. The temperature was still in the low 20's with a slight breeze. I had decided there wouldn't be much snow and had traded in my Salomon B-52 snow boots for a pair of Vasque Taku hiking boots. We headed out the wide woods road marked on the map as Wilson Hollow Road and immediately we were at the first clear-cut area. The sky was dark and overcast so I decided to forego taking any pictures until later. As we walked along the road and approached the eatable to the wooded area of the trail, I decided that the trees against the dark sky were interesting enough for a few shots. After taking some pictures, I put the camera back in my pack and we continued along the trail. As we entered the woods there was still some snow on the ground and the trail was frozen solid. There was some evidence that an ATV or snowmobile had been on the trail and I also saw a few boot prints. The sun began peeking out from behind the clouds at times and I stopped to take a few more shots. At 1.3 miles we passed Trail 11 that goes down to Launt Pond. The hiking seemed to go quickly as I walked and soon we passed the woods road down to the East Trout Brook Road parking. Just after that at 2.3 miles we arrived at the spot where the trail continues straight ahead or turns right. I decided we would turn right and walk the edge of the field and down the McCoy Hill cutoff trail. This walk was easy as it descends almost 500 feet in .8 miles to the lowest point on the hike.

On the way down the trail we stopped once to take some pictures of the valley below and the ridges beyond. The lighting was difficult and I was not sure the pictures would be much good. At the bottom of the descent we turned left to start to loop around and back up to the ridge. Just before we made the turn, I again stopped to take a few pictures. Of course, the payment for a descent is an ascent back to the ridge. In just about a mile we had to regain the elevation we had lost on the way down. The climb wasn't as bad as I remembered and went quickly. The pain I had in my right hip disappeared as we hiked. We regained the elevation and began to circle around back to where we had turned off into the field. Along the way we passed a sign on a snowmobile trail to the right that said "Downsville". We continued to walk the woods road finding it covered with a thin layer of hard snow and some frozen mud in spots. We had been walking east but at 4.2 miles the trail turned northwest to circle the summit of a hill on our left and head back toward the parking area. From the point of the turn back to the trail junction where we had turned right was about 1.15 miles. When we arrived back at the junction, we knew exactly how far we had to go to get back! The hike back along Wilson Hollow road was 2.2 miles but it seemed to pass quickly as most was downhill. We stopped again at the clear-cut area so that I could take a few shots. As we were walking out Sheila alerted and I could see some people in the woods ahead. I pit Sheila on her leash and walked toward them. A father and his young son had a fire going and they were cooking meal. He offered me a hot dog for my dog but I declined. I didn't think it was legal or wise to start a fire. When we arrived at Route 206 I found a car parked blocking the woods road and decided that the person just wasn't very aware of what was proper. We were back at the car by 12:00 PM having covered 7.6 miles in 3 hours with a 1050 foot climb.

On Wednesday, January 27th I wanted to snowshoe somewhere! Since the Catskills had no snow, I decided to head for northern New Jersey where the last storm dumped some snow. I thought Norvin Green State Forest would be a nice place to visit since I had not been there for some time. The use Google maps to find the best route which took me down Route 17 to exit 124 and then through Warwick to West Milford on some back roads. It was not the route I had used before but it looked like the shortest way. I left Livingston Manor just before 9:00 AM and the GPS in the car indicated the same route as Google maps with an arrival time of 10:25 AM. As I passed through Warwick there was no snow but further along as I entered New Jersey I began to see some accumulation. Wawayanda Park had almost enough snow but I stuck to my plan and continued on until I turned onto Snake Den Road. I arrived at the parking area just outside the New Weis Education Center at right around 10:25 AM. The lot was empty and there didn't seem to be much activity at the Center. There was about 6 to 8 inches of snow on the ground and the temperature was 33 degrees. When I got out of the car, I noticed a breeze which chilled me just a little. I decided there was enough snow to use my Tubbs Alp Flex snowshoes even though the were certainly not needed. The snowshoes went on quickly which was good since Sheila was clamoring to get out of the car. I was ready by 10:30 AM so I put Sheila on her leash and we headed out toward the trails. We followed the signs indicating "Hikers with dogs" for the most part as we crossed Blue Mine Brook on a small bridge. We followed the green Otter Hole Trail passed the closed Highlands Pool. This is a natural pool on the brook which is fed by the stream. It has Ben "developed" and is a popular swimming area during the warmer season. I stopped for a moment to take a few pictures of the snow and thought how ironic it was that I had to travel from the Catskills to New Jersey to find snow. After the pool we stayed to the left to continued on the trail through the woods. The trail is rocky and several people had hiked it without snowshoes. This meant that my steps were uneven and I was often off balanced which put extra strain on my legs which were certainly not accustomed to being on snowshoes. At .45 miles we crossed the extension of Snake Den Road and continued straight ahead on the blue HB trail toward the Wyanokie High Point.

The trail to this point had been ascending but very gently. As soon as we got on the blue trail, we began a more serious ascent with a grade approaching 15%. This is not that steep but I began to feel it in my leg muscles as we began to scramble over rocks on the narrower parts of the trail. I had not been on this specific trail before and parts of it were not well marked but there was one set of tracks from a hiker that I could follow. We ascended to a nice viewpoint where I stopped to take some pictures. I was pretty sure we were not at the high point which my GPS and iPhone confirmed. We continued to follow the trail and the tracks of the hiker. The snow depth increased as we gained elevation until there were spots that had at least 18 inches. There were several lookouts along the way but I stayed on the trail knowing the view from the High Point were best. I kept wondering if each new lookout was the High Point until we descended a little and I saw I huge, rocky mass ahead of us. We walked the trail to the base and found a sign labeled "High Point". There wasn't much snow on the trail here and I almost removed my snowshoes but in the end kept them on and ascended over some open rocks to the High Point. The view was beautiful and largely open in all directions. I took off my pack and took pictures of the snow-covered hills. I also took some shots of the Wanaque Reservoir. After spending some minutes enjoying the sun and the views, I noticed I was beginning to get cold as the breeze had picked up. I had to make a decision about where to go next. I felt the route over Yoo-Hoo Point and Carris Hill would be too much for the first time out on snowshoes. Walking downhill or on the flats seemed to be no problem but the uphill portions were beginning to bother my hip flexors. I decided to take the red WCI Trail down off the High Point and then decided at the bottom whether I would visit the mines or head directly back to the car. The tracks I had been following ended at the High Point so I needed to find the trail on my own. The red trail was aligned with the Highlands Trail so I assumed I would have no problem finding it. I was wrong. I headed east toward the reservoir and down the hill. I could find no blazes so I consulted the Avenza app on my iPhone which showed my I was right on the trail. I continued along and soon found some faded blazes leading down the hill. There were two major problems with the blazes. Many of the paint marks had been placed on the rocks which were now under the snow. The blazes on the trees were old and faded and some were poorly placed. This problem continued throughout the descent off the High Point with me spending a lot of time trying to find the trail. Fortunately, Sheila was often able to detect the trail when I could not.

By 1.9 miles we had completed the descent from the High Point and the red trail made a sharp turn to the right. We followed the trail passing by a white trail on the right. Soon a yellow trail appeared on the left which I knew was the quickest way back to the car. I decided to continue straight ahead on the red trail which would lead us to the Blue Mine. At 2.25 miles we crossed a stream on a small bridge and turned right to visit the Blue Mine which is one of the numerous abandoned iron mines found in northern New Jersey. I took a few pictures of the entrance to the mine as the mine itself is mostly underwater. I picked up my pack and we headed north on the yellow and red trails. Where the trail spilt, we stayed to the right on the yellow trail and at 2.6 miles turned left on the orange trail which lead to the Roomy Mine. The walk to the Roomy Mine at 2.8 miles was just slightly uphill and I could feel my legs rebelling. Signs outside the Roomy Mine warned hikers to stay out of the mine to protect the bats which hibernate there. I took a few pictures from the outside and then we continued along on the orange trail. I knew that the trail that lead directly out to the Weis Center had been closed by the landowner so I carefully followed the orange trail as it led out to the yellow Mine Trail. As we approached the yellow trail Sheila and I noticed a hiker ahead of us on the yellow trail. He continued on his way and we never got close enough to say "Hello". We turned right on the yellow trail at 3.1 miles and descended slightly to cross a small brook. From this point the yellow trail began to ascend a small hill. The uphill was only a 13% grade and lasted for about .3 miles but I felt every step. I had tried to drink along the way but felt as though I was not hydrated properly. At the top of the hill we crossed a stream with a small waterfall and then turned right onto the blue trail where we picked up our tracks from earlier in the day. We descended the hill to snow-covered Snake Den Road and continued on the green Otter Hole Trail we had used earlier in the day. We heard voices ahead so I put Sheila on her leash as we walked down the trail along the brook and passed the Highlands Pool. We followed our tracks back to the car arriving in the parking area at 2:00 PM. We had covered 4.4 miles in 3 hours and 25 minutes with an elevation gain of 1053 feet. Our overall speed was an unimpressive 1.2 mph! I was happy to be leaving even though we had good time. On the way home I pulled over to drink some water as I began to have cramps in my legs! This happens every time I fail to hydrate properly but apparently I am a slow learner!

On Wednesday, January 27th I wanted to get in a hike close to home before track practice in the afternoon. Since I had been at Trout Pond and Frick Pond recently, I decided to go to Long Pond and do the big loop in a counterclockwise direction. I wanted to walk as fast as I could and only take a few pictures along the way. I got Sheila in the car with my gear and headed out DeBruce Road for about 8 miles to Flugertown Road where I made a left. I parked in the lot a short distance up the road on the right. The temperature was in the low 30's when I parked at and the skies were overcast. I had not brought snowshoes as I knew they would not be necessary but I had brought my spikes. This turned out to be a good idea as the parking area was icy and I could see the trail up the hill was in much the same shape. A slight breeze made things even cooler as we started our hike at 10:15 AM by walking over the bridge and up the hill. The first .6 miles gains about 350 feet to the highest point on the hike. It isn't very steep but does act as a nice warm-up! Along the way I noticed that the trees that had been across the trail had been cut and removed. The trail was very icy going up the hill but the ice almost disappeared under the trees. I could see ahead that the trail remained icy in spots so I kept my spikes on. At 1.1 miles we were at the spur trail that leads down to the shore of Long Pond. I decided I would rather hike quickly and I knew that Long Pond doesn't have much to offer especially on a day with overcast skies. We stayed on the main trail and turned right at the first trail junction. By 10:55 AM we had walked 1.7 miles and were passing the spur trail to the lean-to.

After passing the trail to the lean-to, we picked up the pace and continued on the main trail to the point where it intersected a woods road at 2.5 miles. We turned left and followed the road until the intersection with Basily Road at 2.85 miles. The roads were icy and seemed to have been traveled by snowmobiles and ATVS. We continued on Basily Road by bearing to the left. As we approached the Peters Hunting Camp, I got ready to put Sheila on her leash. The area near the footbridge across the outlet to the beaver pond was flooded and pretty muddy. We crossed the small bridge and started to walk toward the larger bridge near the hunting camp. I noticed some large birds flying around the skies over the camp and soon recognized them as bald eagles. One male eagle landed in a tree across the stream and just perched on a branch. I got out the camera and was able to get a series of pictures at extreme zoom. I wondered if the focus would be accepted since I was zoomed in so far but the results were very good when I looked at the pictures on my computer. The eagle seems to pose for some time with his back to me and then turned around for some frontal shots. Eventually he flew away down the stream and I packed up so that we could continue hiking. After crossing the bridge and walking up the hill, I stopped again to take some pictures of the valley since some blue skies were now visible. The roads continued to be very icy as Basily Road changed to Flugertown Road. Eventually the road became paved and there was no ice or snow. I took off my spikes and we walked quickly down the road back to the parking area. At 12:30 PM we were back at the car having hiked 5.9 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes. The elevation gain was only about 650 feet most of which was at the beginning of the hike.

On Saturday, January 23rd Cindy and I had planned to snowshoe at Frick and Hodge Ponds with members of the church if the predicted snowfall did not make the roads impassable. By late morning it was obvious we were going to get little if any snow. Only Ed and Robin had expressed an interest in joining us, so I called them to see if they wanted to hike. I knew from a trip two days before that there wasn't enough snow to use snowshoes. Fortunately they were ready to hike and we agreed to meet at our house at 12:30 PM. Ed and Robin arrived on time and we drove out the DeBruce Road to Mongaup Road. When we arrived at the trailhead there were no cars parked in the lot and the temperature was 26 degrees. The skies were almost completely overcast with a slight breeze blowing. I had brought with me my new camera, a Canon PowerShot SX60 HS, and my new GPS unit, a Garmin 64st. These are upgrades of the previous models and I hoped they would perform in much the same way. We headed out on the Quick Lake Trail at 12:55 PM since I though that route would offer the greatest number of options. It was fun to hike with other people especially those who had not been in the area before. We found the conditions much the same as I had on Thursday with icy patches on the trail covered by a light coating of snow. We turned left at Gravestone Junction to follow the Quick Lake Trail to the bridge over the outlet of Frick Pond. When we crossed the bridge, I took a quick look at the view and decided to take a few shots mostly to test out the new camera. I pointed out Beech Mountain across Frick Pond to Ed and Robin. I took some pictures of the outlet stream which was running freely. As I packed up my camera, I noticed that the wind blowing off the pond was making me really cold! At the next junction with the Big Rock Trail, we stayed to the left on the Quick Lake Trail. We kept a quick pace as we hiked the Quick Lake Trail toward Iron Wheel Junction even though we had to work our way around several icy areas. We easily crossed the small stream in the forest but stopped several times to remove branches from the trail. At Iron Wheel Junction, we had a decision to make about the length of the hike. I wanted to take the longer loop to Hodge Pond as I knew Cindy could also make that distance. Ed and Robin seemed amenable so we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail toward Junkyard Junction. The walk is all uphill but the grade is only slight to moderate. As we walked, we talked which made the trip seem much shorter. The further north we went and the more elevation we gained, the more snow was on the ground. We continued walking quickly and arrived at Junkyard Junction at 2:30 PM after hiking 3.1 miles.

We turned right at the junction onto the Flynn Trail which is relatively flat at this point. The trail had several inches of snow which hid some icy spots and frozen mud. At the gate we followed the trail to the right and down toward the shore of Hodge Pond. As we neared the pond we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail to the outlet of Hodge Pond. The woods road was rutted and had some water but the muddiest spots were easily avoided. We were soon at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. I decided to go to the shore of the pond and take a few pictures and found some snow drifts. As I removed my pack and got out the camera the wind picked up as it came across the pond and I only took a few shots before picking up and starting back toward the Flynn Trail. The rest of the group had started up the Flynn Trail in an effort to stay out of the wind. I ran to catch up to them and found at least four inches of snow where the trail again enters the woods. We started up the hill staying on the Flynn Trail and the walk up the hill seemed to go very quickly. Soon we were on the flat part of the Flynn Trail headed toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued on the Flynn Trail passing through the gate to the trail junction. We didn't stop at the trail junction but kept walking on The Flynn Trail. From this high point on the hike, the trail descends 1.7 miles to the parking area. We kept up a fast pace on the descent and found three to four inches of snow on most of the trail. As we started across one for a long time area, Sheila alerted and we looked up to see another hiker coming toward us with his dog. I had forgotten to bring Sheila's leash so I grabbed her to allow the other hiker to pass by. This hiker did not have his dog on a leash and did not apparently see the need to hold onto his dog! After a few growls, I extended my hiking poles and encouraged the other dog to move along. We continued on the trail and soon were headed down the hill to the gate where we turned left to stay on then Flynn Trail. We walked down the short section of trail I had refurbished and then hiked through the woods back to the parking area. It was 4:00 PM when we returned. We had covered 6.4 miles in 3 hours and 5 minutes. The elevation gain was a modest 910 feet. It was a great day to be out with friends and we hope to repeat the experience soon! The new electronic devices preformed well but I need to learn to use a few more of their features.

On Thursday, January 21st, I knew that I had to get out for a hike after a week of various commitments and extremely cold weather! Every time I left the house Sheila would smell my clothes and then go lay down on the couch. She was ready to get out and run! I decided to go to Frick Pond as I had to make a few stops before going to school to time a wrestling match. After completing various chores around the house, I got Sheila in the car and headed for Frick Pond sometime after 10:00 AM. In Livingston Manor the sun was out but the temperature was in the low 20's. I decided to wear a warm outfit including tights under my Winter Wander pants and a long-sleeved baselayer with a light wool top. As I drove out DeBruce Road the temperature seemed to drop and there was snow on the road. By the time I got to the Frick Pond parking area the temperature was 18 degrees and there was more than a dusting of snow with a stiff breeze. The skies were very partly cloudy with the sun peeking through in spots. We started out the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond at 10:20 AM and found that the trail was icy in spots. When we got to the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond the wind had picked up. I looked at the scene and decided it was not worth stopping to take pictures. Although we had been hiking for some minutes which usually warms me up, I was glad to have worn the warmer layers and felt no need to open any zippers. We continued on around the pond and stayed left on the Quick Lake Trail at the next junction. The trail continued to be wet in spots with a thin layer of ice over some muddy spots. I noticed that someone had very recently been over the trail on an ATV. Several spots on the trail had ruts from the ATV wheels. Motorized vehicles are prohibited on these trails and I was annoyed that some inconsiderate person was ruining the work we had done this summer. The tracks were so fresh I thought I might meet the rider at some point! We crossed the small stream in the woods and headed up to Iron Wheel Junction. At the junction the ATV tracks turned left on the Quick Lake Trail. I decided that we would turn right on the Logger's Loop. We started on the Logger's Loop for Times Square and the sun began to peek out from under the clouds. The sunlight reflected and refracted off the large snow and ice crystals on the pristine and unbroken snow on the trail. I knew that there was no way to capture the beauty so I just enjoyed the moment. Soon we were at Tomes Square and I considered the various options. I decided to simply continue on the Logger's Loop back to Gravestone Junction. We walked uphill and crossed the "bridge" I had helped build during the summer of trail maintenance. Older ATV tracks were visible under the snow. As we broke out of the woods and headed to Gravestone Junction, the sun came out and the skies were blue. We continued to the junction and turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head back to the car. We arrived back at the car at 11:45 AM having hiked 3.6 miles in an hour and 25 minutes. At the car the temperature was only 21 degrees with a breeze blowing. I realized that being sheltered by the trees and the trails had made a big difference in the perceived temperature on the hike.

On Friday, January 15th I knew that I had to get in a hike despite having to leave for a track meet in the afternoon. The cold and rainy weather coupled with track practice and other responsibilities had severely hampered my hiking. I suggested to Cindy that we go to Trout Pond and she agreed. As we were getting ready Sheila kept running between us as if to make sure we did not forget her. We got our gear including spikes in the car and left Livingston Manor with an ecstatic Sheila in the back seat at about 10:45 AM. We were looking forward to seeing if Russell Brook Falls had a higher volume of water after the rain during the week. We headed north on Route 17 to Roscoe and took Route 206 toward Downsville but turned left onto Morton Hill Road just after the Roscoe Nursing Home. When we got to the intersection with Russell Brook Road, I turned around and parked on the side of the road to avoid parking in the large open space which is marked as private property. There was a little more than an inch of snow on the ground and no one had been down Russell Brook Road. Sheila was ready to go as always and we started down the road at 11:05 AM. The temperature was just below freezing and the skies overcast when we started so I opted leave the zips on my Mammut Hoody zipped. As we walked down the road, the stream was making a lot of noise. The road was slippery in spots with icy patches under the snow. As we passed the lookout over the falls, I was not impressed by the amount of water so I decided not to take any pictures or visit the falls on this trip. We headed down the road to the lower parking area and found no cars in the lot. We walked down to the main trail and then across the bridge over Russell Brook. The knotweed that we had trimmed back a few weeks was completely dead and shriveled. We walked to the register box and headed up to Trout Pond. After slipping several times, Cindy put on her spikes while I opted to watch carefully for the ice.

The trail still had some running water in places but it was mostly hard frozen The sky was still overcast with little or no sun and there was a slight breeze. At the pond, I took off my pack and got out the camera. The water level was still low with the shore being at least four feet from the outlet of the dam. The pond was completely covered with ice but it was hard to judge how thick it was. Apparently it was thick enough to support a forty pound dog as I soon saw Sheila walking on the ice! I took some shots of the pond against the clouds and made sure I got a few pictures of the shore. I packed up and we continued up the trail toward the head end of the pond. Just before the small bridge, I walked to the shore and took a few more shots. The sky was still mostly covered in clouds and the sky was flat and lifeless. The trees without their leaves and the dark sky made a few shots look almost black and white. We didn't stay too long before getting back on the main trail and starting toward the upper end of the pond. As we approached the lower lean-to, we saw that there were some campers in it and they also had a dog. I looked around and spotted tracks on the Campbell Mountain Trail which I assumed was the route they had used. I decided to skip taking pictures from the bridge and we continued our walk on the main trail. As we started to climb Cherry Ridge one of the blowdowns I had found last time had been cut and removed from the trail making me think someone had done some trail maintenance. Along the way were several large blowdowns which we could not clear without an axe and saw. We made a slight turn to the south and began to climb more but the ascent seemed to go slowly because of the snow and ice on the trail. Sheila was roaming the brush near the trail and seemed to always be on a scent trail. We hit the high point on the hike and started down the other side. There wasn't much water on the trail and most of it was frozen anyway. After a short ascent to the "forest of numerous small trees", we walked down to the woods road and snowmobile trail and turned left to complete our loop. The descent to the trail junction was a little tricky as there was still snow and some patches of ice underneath. We passed the large campsite on the left at the bottom of the hill and walked back to the trail junction where we turned right to walk back to the lower parking area. There were still no cars in the lot. We walked up the road back to our car arriving at 2:00 PM. We had hiked 5.5 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes gaining 1110 feet.

On Friday, January 8th I was ready to hike after almost a week of work, track meets and practices and lousy weather! Since I had to time basketball game in the evening, I decided to stay local and head to Hodge and Frick Ponds. Sheila was overjoyed to be going as I got ready at about 11:30 AM. The temperature was only 35 degrees so I dressed in layers and we left home heading out DeBruce Road. As I drove up Mongaup Road toward the trailhead, the temperature kept dropping and the amount of snow on the ground increased. When I parked at the trailhead, there was a nice layer of snow on the ground and the temperature was right at the freezing mark. There was also a slight wind blowing and some moisture in the air making the air feel colder. We crossed the road and started up the Flynn Trail at 11:50 AM. I had not worn my insulated boots and hoped that my Vasque Taku boots would be warm enough and keep my feet dry. Walking up the Flynn Trail with layer of snow on the ground was beautiful and Sheila took full advantage by romping through the woods. It was nice to be able to let her run a little since all big game seasons were over. I kept up a quick pace and quickly warmed up while Sheila was even quicker. Since we had not been out for almost a week, Sheila was dashing up and down the trail. As we hiked I could see some blue in the skies but there were also a lot of clouds. We were at the junction with the Big Rock trail by 12:30 PM having covered the 1.7 miles in about 40 minutes.

We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail passing through the gate a little further on. At the point where the Flynn Trail heads down to Hodge Pond, I elected to bear to the right on the woods road toward the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout camp. Just before the remains of the cabins from the camp, we turned left to head down the woods road toward Hodge Pond, At the junction with the jeep trail, we turned right to head around the back of the pond. The pond was frozen completely across but I couldn't judged the thickness of the ice. We continued around the back of the pond. I looked at the sky and the overall scenery and decided I would rather keep hiking than stop and take pictures. We turned right when we came to the Flynn Trail and walked up the Flynn Trail to the gate staying to the left to walk the trail out to Junkyard Junction. Here the trail was covered by a little more than an inch of snow. The trail was frozen and there were some very icy patches along the way. We arrived at the junction at 1:05 PM about 3.3 miles into the hiked. We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and began the descent to Ironwheel Junction. The trail remained solid but there was a little less snow on the trail as we descended. When we came to the junction, we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and to head toward Frick Pond. We crossed the small stream in the woods and there was less water flowing than when Cindy and I had been there a little over a week before. On our way down the Quick Lake Trail we ran into several; new blowdowns which I will have to return to clear. As we approached Frick Pond we crossed the two small bridges before arriving at the bridge across the outlet stream. The scene was dreary and I was not in the mod to take pictures so we just kept walking. On the way back to the car, we found the trail was a solid sheet of ice where water had run down the trail and frozen. I knew that spikes would have come in handy but I had failed to follow my own advice and bring them. I walked around the icy sheet while Sheila negotiated it with no problem. We headed back to the car arriving at 2:15 PM. We hiked 6.3 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes with a 905 foot elevation gain.

On Saturday, January 2nd the forecast called for cool temperatures in the Catskills and north with a good chance of snow showers. Kurt was at the house and we decided to go south to Harriman to hike where there was little chance of snow and where it would be warmer. I suggested a hike over Almost Perpendicular to Claudius Smith's Den as I thought these two points would interest Kurt. We got up late after a long family gathering on New Year's Day and did leave Livingston Manor until after 9:00 AM. I decided to take the Quickway to Route 6 and get on Seven Lakes Drive at the traffic circle. From a previous trip I knew we would drive almost the entire length of Seven Lakes Drive before turning right on Johnstown Road just after the Reeves Center. When we got to the Reeves Education Center, the parking lots on both sides of the road were full and cars were parking along the road. I hoped that the circle at the end of Johnstown Road would still have some spots available. Johnstown Road is also posted as Rockland County 97. I drove to the end of the road to the traffic circle at the end and pulled off to the side to park. A few other cars were parked and we were ready to start our hike at 10:40 AM. The temperature was just above freezing as we set out and there was only a hint of some blue in the sky. We walked back toward the road looking for the blue disc trail which turns up the hill to the northwest just before entering the traffic circle. The first part runs along the access road for maintenance of the gas pipeline. The trail then cuts into the woods and parallels the pipeline briefly before heading more northwest. After about .5 miles of hiking a relatively slight grade we came to a steep portion of the trail which was the start of Almost Perpendicular. This section was about .25 miles at a 21% grade. The name may intimidate but it is far from the steepest climb I have done. On the way up I stopped to take a few shots of Sheila at the top of the climb waiting for us and then a few of Kurt and Sheila. As we were getting ready to start again, we heard a group of hikers approaching from ahead of us. They came to the steep descent and started down so we waited for about a dozen of them to pass before we continued on to he top of the climb. At .8 miles we again stopped so that I could take some pictures of the scenery from the top. I decided to put this on the list of places to revisit when the weather was clearer and there was some color to the trees.

We continued our hike down from the viewpoint into a little "valley" surrounded by several high rock formations. The trail then ascended Pound Mountain and then descended again as it approached Elbow Brush. We stopped at Elbow Brush where I took some pictures of a narrow passage between the bedrock and a piece that has pulled away over the years. I took a picture of Sheila and Kurt as they squeezed through this narrow gap. This area can be avoided in one of several ways but it is interesting and not all that narrow. Just passed this point there was a jumble of rocks with some places to walk through. It wasn't exactly a cave but was interesting. We stopped again so that I could take a few more pictures. The sky was still almost completely overcast but the temperature had gone top slightly and I opened the zippers on my Mammut Hoody. As we hiked we met a lone hiker coming toward us but she informed us there was a group behind her. We waited at the side of the trail with Sheila until a group of about 20 people on an AMC hike passed us! We continued to hike to the junction with the Tuxedo Mount Ivy Trail which runs roughly east-west and it took me a minute to find the blue disc trail which proceeded straight ahead and directly up the rock face to another viewpoint. We climbed up to the viewpoint at 2.1 miles and stopped so that I could take some shots. Just across on the next hill I could see Smith's Rock which was used as a "lookout" for the Smith gang. After I took my photographs, we went back to the trail junction and took the red Tuxedo Mt Ivy trail west along the cliffs to the "den". It was less than a few hundred feet until an opening appeared on the right of the trail. We were able to walk into this "cave" and make our way to the other side. It was cool and I stopped to take some pictures from both entrances. Back on the trail we walked to the base of the cliff and found the rest of the den in the form of a rock overhang. There was a large group of hikers here and they were cooking over an pen fire. The food smelled good but the idea of an open fire distressed me. There was a fire pit and chair set up and I imagined Claudius Smith and his men gathered around the fire. Smith was raised in Brookhaven on Long Island but his family moved to Smith' Clove (Monroe) in the early 1740's. His family was well-respected and when war broke out many became Loyalists. Claudius led a band of men who defended the Loyalists in Orange County and attacked the rebels. Eventually he became so notorious that Governor George Clinton offered a $1200 reward for his capture. Claudius Smith was hanged in Goshen, NY in 1779 as were two of his sons.

After inspecting the den and several rocks and rock formations, we walked over to a large rock that appeared to have primitive petroglyphs painted on it. The scene depicted hunters with weapons attacking some animal with a series of trees in the background. My impressions was that closer inspection would reveal a modern nature to the work. It was already 12:15 PM so Kurt and I decided to follow the Tuxedo Mount Ivy Trail west to the Ramapo Dunderberg trail. It was a short hike and we soon turned left to head south on the Ramapo Dunderberg Trail at 2.6 miles. The Ramapo Dunderberg Trail headed southwest and after a short climb began a .6 mile descent losing almost 400 feet in elevation. This did not make me happy as I knew we would have to regain some of that elevation on the way back to the car. As we approached the point where the trail joined some streets in Tuxedo Park, we met two hikers with their dog. This was the third or forth dog of the day but Sheila had been good with all of them. Before the trail got to the streets, we turned left the e white blazed Kakiat Trail. We immediately started an ascent that gained about 180 feet. Along ten way we crossed several small streams and walked through and area with many large blowdowns. After we gained some elevation, we immediately descended the other side. At 4.5 miles we descended a little and followed the trail as it turned east along a well defined woods road. When we got to 4.75 miles, we met the blue disc trail we had used earlier in the morning but we decided to continue on the white trail. The trail stayed relatively flat as we crossed seared streams and wet areas but the blazes became hard to find. Soon we were approaching Seven Lakes drive and the rail turned right on an old road. We followed the trail out to the circle at the end of Johnstown Road. We were back at the car at 2:35 PM having hiked 5.7 miles in 3 hours and 55 minutes. Our elevation gain was 1305 feet.

On Thursday, December 31st Cindy and I decided to go to Frick and Hodge Ponds for our last hike of 2015. This is fitting since we have spent so much time during the last year hiking and doing tail maintenance here. We had some things to take care of in the morning so we did not leave the house until just before noon. By the time we got Sheila and our gear in the car, the sun was shining at the temperature was in the high 30's. We headed out the DeBruce Road to Mongaup Road. When we arrived at the trailhead there were no cars parked in the lot and the temperature had dropped to 31 degrees. There was some sun where we were but some dark clouds could be seen in the northwest. As we got ready to start our hike, I decided to keep on my Mammut Hoody and was glad I had worn a baselayer under my MH Winter Wander pants. We headed out on the Quick Lake Trail at 12:15 PM and turned left at Gravestone Junction to follow the Quick Lake Trail to the bridge over the outlet of Frick Pond. The Quick Lake Trail was as wet as it had been all year all the way to Gravestone Junction. When we crossed the bridge, I took a quick look at the view and decided to take a few shots as it looked like it was snowing at Hodge Pond and on Beech Mountain. I took some pictures of the outlet stream which was running freely. As I packed up my camera, I noticed that the wind blowing off the pond was making me really cold! At the next junction with the Big Rock Trail, we stayed to the left on the Quick Lake Trail. We kept a quick pace as we hiked the Quick Lake Trail toward Iron Wheel Junction even though we had to work our way around large puddles and some running water. I started to warm up as I hiked and opened the zippers on my hoody to let some heat escape. We stopped several times to remove some large branches and one tree trunk that had come down in the recent wind and ice. At Iron Wheel Junction, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail toward Junkyard Junction. The walk is all uphill but the grade is only slight to moderate. As we walked, a fine snow began to fall and it increased in intensity the farther north we went. We continued walking quickly and arrived at Junkyard Junction at 1:45 PM after hiking 3.1 miles.

We turned right at the junction onto the Flynn Trail which is relatively flat at this point. The trail was wet and icy in spots where there is exposed bedrock. The snow continued to fall but remained very fine. At the gate we followed the trail to the right and down toward the shore of Hodge Pond. As we neared the pond we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail to the outlet of Hodge Pond. The woods road was rutted and had some water but the muddiest spots were easily avoided. We were soon at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. I decided to go to the shore of the pond and take a few pictures since the snow continued to fall and the scene was the definition of "bleak". Cindy started up the Flynn Trail in an effort to stay out of the wind. After taking a few pictures, I headed after her. We started up the hill staying on the Flynn Trail and the walk up the hill seemed to go very quickly. Soon we were on the flat part of the Flynn Trail headed toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued on the Flynn Trail passing through the gate to the trail junction. We didn't stop at the trail junction but kept walking on The Flynn Trail. From this high point on the hike, the trail descends 1.7 miles to the parking area. We kept up a fast pace on the descent which seemed to drag just a little. The day had grown colder since we had departed the trailhead, the wind was still blowing and snow was still falling. Soon we were headed down the hill to the gate where we turned left to stay on then Flynn Trail. We walked down the short section of trail I had refurbished and then hiked through the woods back to the parking area. It was 3:15 PM when we returned. We had covered 6.4 miles in 3 hours. The elevation gain was a modest 910 feet.

On Saturday December 26th we left Vromans Nose and headed south on Route 30. In Grand Gorge I turned left on Route 23 and took it through Prattsville. We traveled east on Route 23 to the other side of town and parked in the Pratt Rock parking area on the left side of the road. There were a few other cars parked in the lot. The skies were still gray but there were areas of blue and a few distinguishable clouds. We started our hike at 12:45 PM by walking through the picnic area to the far end where we started up the trail. As we approached the far end of the picnic area we met a few adults and several enthusiastic young boys returning from their hike! When we arrived at the trail junction, I chose to stay to the left rather than head directly to the carvings on the face of the cliff. We ascended the trail that leads to the overlook and I put Sheila on her leash so that she could again help pull me up the steep hill. I had decided to leave my poles in the car and was sorry that I did so. We were soon at the overlook and the situation was much the same as on Vroman's Nose. Brad took hold of Sheila's leash so that I could drop my pack and take some pictures. The sky was still mostly gray but I took a few shots anyway including a couple of Brad and Sheila. I stopped to take some pictures along the Schoharie Creek and of the farms below the viewpoint. We picked up and moved to the next lookout which gave me slightly different views so I stopped to take a few more shots. After putting away the camera, we headed up the hill where I intended to make a loop by walking the path on the other side of the cliffs down to the carvings. When we reached the turn, I pointed out the "caves" to Brad and the path that leads along more of the escarpment. We made a turn to the right and started down the steep and eroded path that leads to the lower cliff face and the rock carvings.

As we started down the path, I found dry dust and loose talus with a few leaves sprinkled in. I immediately wished I had stowed my poles in my pack for this descent. Fortunately, there were enough roots and trees to garb onto to help in the descent. I stopped once or twice to take pictures of the towering cliffs. Brad and I carefully examined the face of the cliffs and found some interesting formations which must be the result of weathering of the rock. In some places there were holes similar to the ones woodpeckers make in trees. In other places there were larger and deeper holes and some columns. This is probably due to the varying hardness and solubility of the rock but I am not sure whether wind or water is the primary agent of erosion. Soon we had finished the descent and were at the area of the stone carvings. I took pictures of the carvings. They had appeared to by whiter and brighter from below but up close it was clear they had not been whitewashed for some time. We made our way down the path which switchbacked back down to the main path. At the main trail we turned left and worked our way back through the picnic area to the car. We were back by 1:00 PM having hiked 1.0 miles in 45 minutes with an elevation gain of 360 feet.

On Saturday, December 26 I knew that I had to get out for a hike after another week of fighting a cold and preparation for the Christmas holiday. There was a 40% chance of rain for Livingston Manor but the forecast called for almost no chance of rain farther north. I decided to go to Vroman's Nose and Pratt Rock. Brad and Krista were at our house for Christmas and Brad wanted to go along. Sheila was very happy to be getting out so we packed our gear and got ready to go. The temperatures were forecast to be in the low 50's so I dressed accordingly but threw in a rain jacket just in case. We left Livingston Manor just at 9:00 AM and headed up the Beaverkill Road to the Barkaboom Road. At the end of the road I turned right on BWS 10 and took it to Route 28 in Margaretville. We turned right and then left to follow Route 30 through Margaretville, Roxbury, Grand Gorge and North Blenheim. Just outside of Middleburgh I turned left on Mill Valley Road. Less than a mile up the road I parked in the Vromans Nose parking lot on the left side of the road. I was surprised to see that the association that maintains the area had increased the parking lot to more than double its size! There were a few other cars in the lot when we left to start our hike at 10:30 AM. Some people left just ahead of us so I left my poles in the car and put Sheila on her leash. As we walked through the open field that leads to the trails, we found the trail to the right was closed without any explanation. We turned to the left and to hike the steeper side first which would allow us to return on the gentle side. As we turned onto the yellow blazed trail I noted that it did not seem familiar and I questioned whether or not I was on the correct path but I soon realized it was just that I was traveling in a direction I had only taken once before. My intention was to continue on the yellow path all the way to the top passing the Long Path as we went. We came to a blue trail at .2 miles that turned to the left and decided to follow it. This trail flattened out at .3 miles and then began to climb at .6 miles where it joined the route of the trail that used to come up from the parking area. A sign at this point indicated that the lower trail had been closed for "natural reforestation". From .6 miles to .8 miles we climbed the trail to the top of "The Nose" with a grade of a little less than 20%. We passed a few people climbing the trail and others headed down after a visit to the top. One couple had a 17 month old yellow lab which was already the size of Sheila.

Soon we arrived at the top. I decided to bypass a few of the lookouts along the way as the view is better from the top. Once on the summit I dropped my pack and got out the camera as Brad took over holding Sheila's leash. I was a little disappointed as the sky was overcast and a prominent haze hung over the Catskills in the distance. I still took some pictures concentrating on the bare farmland below with alternating patches of green and brown. I also took some shots along the edge of the cliffs. Vromans Nose has an elevation of about 1220 feet above sea level which makes it about 500 feet higher than the surrounding plain. It isn't very high but it gives a great view of the plain below and the peaks both near and far. We continued our hike by walking along the edge of the cliff. We stopped at the far end of the cliffs where I again took some more shots concentrating on the hills to the north and the bends in the Schoharie Creek below. I again took some pictures along the cliffs before we picked up and started the descent. The descent starts out a little steep and slippery but soon become a wide path with a gentler slope. On the way down we found an orange path leading to the left. I did not remember this trail and the marker that said "New Trail" told me why. We turned left at 1.2 miles. This trail was almost completely flat and paralleled the lower and upper trails for about .4 miles. At 1.6 miles the trail met the trail we had used to ascend earlier and we turned right to return to the parking area. We were back at the car 11:35 AM having hiked 2.2 miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes with an elevation gain of 560 feet. We got in the car and drove back to Grand Gorge to take Route 23 to Prattsville and Pratt Rock.

Fall 2015

On Saturday, December 19th, I knew that I had to get out for a hike after almost two weeks of various commitments and a nagging cold! Every time I left the house Sheila would smell my clothes and then go lay down on the couch. She was ready to get out and run! I decided to go to Frick Pond as I didn't know how far I could hike with my breathing limited by my congestion. After completing various chores around the house, I got Sheila in the car and headed for Frick Pond sometime after 1:00 PM. In Livingston Manor the sun was out but there was a slight breeze and the temperature was in the high 30's. I decided to wear a warm outfit including tights under my Winter Wander pants and a long-sleeved baselayer with a light wool top. As I drove out DeBruce Road the temperature seemed to drop quickly and there was snow on the road. By the time I got to the Frick Pond parking area the temperature was barely 30 degrees and there was more than a dusting of snow. The skies were very cloudy and some snow was beginning to fall as we started out the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond. The trail was very wet from several days of rain but some of it was frozen due to the low temperatures since then. By the time we got to the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond the snow was beginning to swirl. I looked out at the pond and decided not to stop to take pictures. Although we had been hiking for some minutes which usually warms me up, I was glad to have worn the warmer layers and felt no need to open any zippers. We continued on around the pond and stayed on the Quick Lake Trail at the next junction. The trail continued to be wet and we had to walked around some spots which were flooded. We crossed the small stream in the woods and headed up to Iron Wheel Junction. By the time we got to there the snow was really coming down and there was about an inch on the ground. I stopped to take a few pictures and decided to turn right on the Logger's Loop. We turned right and started on the Logger's Loop for Times Square. The snow intensified until it was almost a whiteout. I stopped one more time on the Logger's Loop to take a few more pictures. Soon we were at Times Square and I considered the various options. I decided to simply continue on the Logger's Loop back to Gravestone Junction. We walked uphill and crossed the "bridge" I had helped build during the summer of trail maintenance. As we broke out of the woods and headed to Gravestone Junction, the sun came out and the skies were blue. I stopped to take a few pictures since I though the rapidly changing conditions were interesting. The sun sparkled off the snow on the ground and on the trees. We continued to the junction and turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head back to the car. We arrived back at the car at 2:05 PM having hiked 3.7 miles in an hour and 20 minutes. As I was putting my equipment in the car, the wind started to blow again and snow began the swirl. Driving down the Mongaup Pond Road I came to one spot where there was a complete whiteout. When I reached Livingston Manor there was no snow in the air or on the ground.

On Monday, December 7th, I decided I wanted get out and do a hike close to home since the weather was nice and the rest of the week was looking very busy. I decided to go to Trout Pond since it is close and offers some nice views and since I had been to Frick Pond so many times in the last few weeks. I had encountered hunters at Trout Pond in past years but they were few. Cindy decided she would go with us so we got dress, put our gear in the trunk and an overjoyed Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor just after 9:30 AM and headed to Roscoe on State Route 17. I got on Route 206 and followed it across the Delaware County line to Morton Hill Road. After a left turn on Morton Hill Road, I drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the side of the road to avoid the parking area which is private. We began our hike down Russell Brook Road at 10:05 AM. The air still seemed cold to me so I wore my Mammut Hoody, a hat and light gloves. I had put on a pair of tights under my MH Winter Wander pants and wore a long-sleeved baselayer with a long-sleeved light wool top. We continued on down Russell Brook Road to the overlook of the falls. There was some water in the stream and the upper falls had a good flow. I decided not to stop for pictures on the way out and we continued down toward the parking area. There was one car parked in the lot just above the upper falls but there were none in the lower lot. We got on the woods road that goes down to the bridge that crosses the brook. As we crossed the bridge I noted that the bridge had a thin layer of frost and was slippery. We decided not to walk to the falls and continued on the main trail to the register. At the trail junction just after the register we turned to the left to climb the steeper hill toward Mud Pond. The trail was rather wet with running water and a few muddy spots. The ascent went quickly and I showed Cindy several spots where we had cleared blowdowns on a previous visit. The sun was out and it was getting warmer but there was a slight breeze blowing. I decided to open up the zippers on my Hoody but to keep it on. We reached the top of the hill at 10:40 AM after hiking 1.4 miles and as we started down the other side we heard gunshots. The gunshots were pretty far away but they reminded us to keep a watch for hunters nearer to us. The woods road had new ruts from a vehicle that appeared to be a pickup truck. The only access is through the locked gate at the lower parking area which made the tracks somewhat of a mystery. At 1.6 miles we made a right to follow the trail up to the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. We kept hiking on the relatively wet trail trying to avoid the numerous muddy areas.

The ascent continued for the next 1.2 miles until at 2.7 miles into the hike when we were at the highest point and ready to start the descent to Trout Pond. We had hiked the southern exposure and there was absolutely no ice or snow on the trail or in the woods. I had taken some pictures of the bare trail hoping to contrast them with the northern exposure which I thought might have some wintry deposits. There were a few small branches across the trail and some large pieces that I was able to remove without tools. As we descended toward Trout Pond the were two major blowdowns that would require an axe and saw to clear. The trail remained relatively wet requiring us to watch our footing in the slippery mud and on the slippery leaves. As we approached the inlet we saw a man standing on the bridge wearing a very bright orange jacket. He had no rifle or any other equipment for that matter. He asked us if we had walked all the way around and we told him we were finishing the loop. I again decided not to stop as there was nothing remarkable to photograph. We continued on the main trail toward the outlet of the pond and when we looked back the man was gone. The trail remained wet and muddy with some deep ruts but we had no problem working around them. As we approached the outlet end of the pond, we could hear a slight jingling noise. We finally decided that the thin layer of ice on the pond was breaking up with the slight breeze and increased temperature from the sun. The small pieces of ice were hitting each other making a sound almost like breaking glass or small bells. I tried to take some pictures of the ice but the magic was in being there to hear and see this unusual event. At the lower end of the pond I looked at the skies which were devoid of any clouds and bypassed this stop. It was obvious that the pond was very low as the water was not even lapping at the outlet dam and on the far shore I could see some old stumps sticking up. The hike from the outlet to the trail junction is all downhill and really did go quickly. We were soon back at the register box where we continued on the main trail toward the parking area. There was now one car in the lot. As we walked up the road back to the car, I stopped at the overlook and decided to walk down to take a few shots of the upper falls. I returned to the road and we finished with the hike up Russell Brook Road back to the car. We arrived back at 12:30 PM having covered 5.5 miles and 1120 vertical feet in 2 hours and 25 minutes.

On Saturday, December 5th I had decided that I wanted to get away from the Frick Pond area and hike in an area where hunting is not permitted. I though of Harriman State Park but knew I would have to choose an out of the way location as the park is mobbed on weekends. The forecast was for sunny skies and temperatures in the high 40's which I knew would make the area even more attractive. I decided I wanted to hike south of Route 106 to the west of Little Long Pond. I was not sure of my route but thought I would take in Tom Jones Mountain and Parker Cabin Mountain. This was my plan when I went to bed. The fire siren and ambulance pager sounded at 12:30 AM for a working structure fire. There were no injuries at the scene but we stayed to "rehab" some fire-fighters and I did not get back to bed until 3:00 AM. I slept until 8:00 AM but could not get back to sleep. When I got up the temperature was in the high 30's and the sun was out. I decided I would go on the hike even though I was tired. I was 15 minutes away from leaving when the pager again sounded and we responded on a call. By the time I got back I questioned whether I should attempt to execute my plan but in the end decided to go. I left sometime before 11:00 AM and headed down Route 17 toward Middletown. After stopping in Goshen for gas, I continued on and took Long Mountain Parkway (Route 6) to the traffic circle. From there I picked up Seven Lakes Drive and continued to the Kanawauke Circle where I picked up Route 106 heading west. I was immediately confronted by a sign announcing "Road Closed Ahead"! I knew that a bridge had been declared unsafe but it had been at least two years and it was still not fixed. I pulled into the parking area and weighed my options. I could park and walk over a mile on the road to where I wanted to start the hike. I could drive back to the Tiorati Circle and head toward Pyngyp Mountain. I could just go home and rest. I finally decided to park at Silvermine Lake and hike to Black Mountain. This seemed like q good choice as I had noticed only a few cars in the parking lot when we passed by. I drove back out Seven Lakes Drive to Silvermine Lake and parked at 12:15 PM. I got ready to hike by putting Sheila on her leash. I left on my Mammut Hoody as there was a breeze and it still seemed a little cool.

We walked out of the parking area toward the lake. I remembered that the yellow Menomine Trail was to the right and followed the western shore heading south. We easily picked up the trail and started out along the reactively flat but very rocky trail. The sky was blue and the sun was shining and all that was missing were some white, puffy clouds in the sky. We stopped on the shore of the lake so that I could take a few pictures and then we continued our hike. At about .9 miles the trail began to gain some elevation. I realized that I had never done the hike from this direction but had always descended this part of the trail. As we climbed. Sheila alerted and I looked up to see a group of about a dozen hikers coming down the trail. I put Sheila on her leash and waited for the group to pass. I said "hello" as they walked by. While I waited, I took off my Mammut Hoody and put on a lighter windbreaker. I hesitated in even donning another jacket but the breeze was still blowing and I was sweaty. After the group passed, we continued our climb and soon were near the top. I could hear more voices ahead and check my map to find we were near the Brien Shelter. I put Sheila back on her leash as we approached the Shelter to find several groups of hikers including a scout troop of a bout a dozens young men and two leaders. I wanted to get passed the group and ahead of them on the trail. As I made a left turn on the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail, several, of the boys surged around us eager to start their climb. This made Sheila nervous until the leaders called them back and we were able to climb the rocky trail to the more level spot at the top. In the .7 miles from the start of the climb passed the shelter we had gained 400 feet. We were now headed ENE and the trail dropped and the climbed again. At 1.9 miles we began a descent of 250 feet over .4 miles to the Silvermine Ski Road. On the way down we caught up to another hiker who met a friend at the woods road. I said "Hello" but didn't wait too long since the climb up Black Mountain was next. I was still ahead of the Boy Scouts and I wanted it to stay that way! The climb starts off steeply and then alternates between flatter sections and steeper ones with a rock scramble right at the top. At about 2.4 miles there is a nice viewpoint that overlooks Silvermine Lake. We stopped so that I could take a few pictures and I noticed a group of hikers with a small dog ahead on the next lookout. I took some pictures of the lake and a few of a pine tree perched on the rocks. I took a few more with Sheila before heading up the trail The other hikers did not have their dog on a leash and as we passed with Sheila on her leash the dog came over to growl at her.

We continued up the trail until we were at the short rock scrambled to the top of Black Mountain. To the right I could see a faint path that leads down to a mine that was cut into the face of the cliffs. I elected not to bushwhack down to that mine. Once on top we walked a little farther until I put down my pack. I got a drink and took out may camera. Sheila and I walked some paths and I soon found a small pit on top of the mountain that was part of a series of pits dug to mine either iron or, less likely, silver. The mines must not have been very productive as there are almost no tailings. I took some pictures and then looked east and south toward the Hudson River. There was a haze hanging over the river but I took few shots anyway. I walked back to my pack, took a few shots of some trees and then packed up. It was 1:50 PM and I had to decide what to do next. My original plan was to hike down the other side of Black Mountain and find some trails or roads to form a loop. It was getting late and I didn't now how long this would take so I decided to head back. We retraced our steps back toward the Silvermine Ski Road. As we came down from the top of he mountain, we met the scouts hiking toward us and then just after them the pair of older hikers I had met earlier. I exchanged greetings with them all and asked them if they knew about the mines. I was surprised that they did not and I gave each group a brief explanation. As we descended the last steep section to the ski road, we met two more hikers at a little stream. They asked about the availability of water on the mountain and I told them there was none. We walked out to the ski road and turned right to follow it back to Seven Lakes Drive. The road is interesting and obviously well-constructed. I assume it dates back to when the entire park belonged to the Harriman family. I couldn't resists taking a few last pictures. We followed the road as it descended toward the lake and parallel it until we neared the outlet of the lake. The road then turned from north to northeast and followed the brook until crossing it on a bridge. We continued to follow the ski road until it intersected Seven Lakes Drive. We turned left and walked the road .6 miles back to the car. We were back in the parking area at 3:00 PM having hiked 5 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes. Our elevation gain was 990 feet. I was glad to get in the hike but wished we had been able to start earlier and do the hike I had originally planned!

On Friday, December 4th I decided it was time to get out hiking again after three days of rainy weather. The forecast was for sunny skies with highs in the mid 40's. I did not have track practice but did have to time a basketball game at 5:30 PM. This gave me a little more time to hike. I decided to go to Frick Pond and clear the one blowdown I had found on the Quick Lake Trail on Monday. I felt this was also the safest choice since it was still file season in the Catskills and the Frick Pond area is not heavily hunted. Cindy wanted to go so we got our gear ready, put Sheila in the car and left the house a little before 10:30 AM. Since there was only one blowdown of medium size, I took only my Silky saw and felling wedges. When we arrived at the trailhead there were six vehicles in the main lot and we both got the impressions they were hunters. So much for the idea that we would not have to contend with those looking for deer. I made sure Sheila's blaze neckerchief was showing and I put on a blaze hat while Cindy had a red vest. As we got ready to start our hike, we both noticed that the air felt raw and there was no sign of the sun. I left on my Mammut hoody and my gloves. We crossed the road and headed up the Flynn Trail at 10:40 AM keeping a watchful eye for hunters and reminding Sheila to stay on the trail. As we gained elevation, we began to see a sprinkling of snow and then more and more of it covering the ground. We set a good pace as we headed for the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We arrived at the junction at 11:30 AM and stopped to get a snack and so that I could take a few pictures. While we were stopped, we both began to cool off so we started out again on the Flynn Trail heading toward Hodge Pond. We walked down the hill toward the pond and Sheila alerted. I looked to our left and saw a hunter leaning against a tree. I said "Hello" and Cindy had a short conversation before we continued to Hodge Pond. I took a few pictures of the bleak scene before we continued across the outlet stream staying on the Flynn Trail. The mud that had been frozen on Monday was now thawed and parts of the trail were wet and muddy. I noticed that my feet were a little cold although any wetness seemed to be from sweat. We followed the Flynn Trail when it headed left and up the hill to the gate. After the gate, the trail is relatively flat and we spent some time trying to avoid the mud.

By 12:10 PM we had made it to Junkyard Junction where we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail. There was still quite a bit of snow but this started to disappear as we headed down the hill. We were 3.8 miles into the hike at 12:20 PM when we came to the blowdown across the trail. It was covered in a fine layer of snow and was a little bigger than I remembered! I put down my pack and got out the camera to take the "before" pictures. After that, I got out my saw and trimmed some of the branches near the top. I dragged a few off the trail and left the rest as they were off the trail. As I cut the last branch, the trunk settled a little and I realized it might have been a better idea to cut the larger part of the trunk first while it was more off the group. Since I was now committed, I cleared some leaves and dirt from under the trunk where I wanted to cut it and swept the snow off the top. I began making the cut an alternated sides until I was about tow-thirds through. The saw began to bind so I got the felling wedges and pounded them into the cut with a custom made branch. I finished the cut and was left with a substantial section as wide as the trail. I thought I might have to make another cut but I was able to pivot the section off the trail. I put my saw and wedges away and took some "after" pictures before we headed down the trail. To generate some heat we kept up a good pace passing the snowmobile trail and arriving at Iron Wheel Junction at 1:05 PM after hiking 4.9 miles. We turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and began the walk to Frick Pond. The trail was wet and muddy in spots. There was water in some of the small creeks that had not had water all summer. We crossed the stream across the trail and were soon at the bridge on the outlet of Frick Pond. Despite the fact that the scene was much the same as dozen's of times before, I took a few pictures before we continued our hike. We walked up the hill to Gravestone Junction and continued on out the Quick Lake Trail to the parking area. As we walked, we spotted three hunters on the trail ahead. As we approached they moved a little to let us pass. We walked out the trail to the parking area arriving at 1:50 PM after covering 6.4 miles in 3 hours with an elevation gain of 930 feet.

On Monday, November 30th I looked at the weather forecast and knew that I would probably not be hiking on Tuesday or Wednesday due to the forecast for rain both days. I decided to get out for a hike after working a little in the morning on some web projects. I finished my work at about 10:15 AM and looked at the thermometer to find that the temperatures was still below freezing! I knew I would have to hike near home because I had track practice in the afternoon. Hunting season also limited the number of places to choose from so I just decided to head for Frick and Hodge Ponds. I got dressed, got my gear together and put an eager Sheila in the car. I headed out the DeBruce Road just after 13:00 AM. When we arrived at the trailhead there were no cars parked in the lot. As we got ready to start our hike, I decided to keep on my Mammut Hoody as it was only 31 degrees. I wore Cindy's blaze orange hat just in case anyone was hunting in the area and wore light gloves as my hands were cold. We headed out on the Quick Lake Trail at 10:50 AM and turned left at Gravestone Junction to follow the Quick Lake Trail to the bridge over the outlet of Frick Pond. The Quick Lake Trail was wet all the way to Gravestone Junction. When we crossed the bridge, I took a quick look at the view and decided the scene was not that different from the many times I had photographed it before. At that point I made up my mind that something very special would have to reveal itself for me to slow down to take pictures. We kept a quick pace as we hiked the Quick Lake Trail toward Iron Wheel Junction. The trail was wet but much of the water and mud was frozen. This was a little uncomfortable because I often took a step which initially seemed sound but then sank into the frozen mud. I started to warm up as I hiked and opened the zippers on my hoody to let some heat escape. At Iron Wheel Junction, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail toward Junkyard Junction. The walk is all uphill but the grade is only slight to moderate. At about 2.6 miles I looked up to see another new blowdown across the trail. I made a note of the location and the fact that it wasn't too big. I knew I could easily get it with my saw and the smaller Fiskar's axe. We continued walking quickly and arrived at Junkyard Junction at 12:05 PM after hiking 3.1 miles.

We turned right at the junction onto the Flynn Trail which is relatively flat at this point. The trail was wet and icy in spots where there is exposed bedrock. At the gate we followed the trail to the right and down toward the shore of Hodge Pond. As we neared the pond we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail to the outlet of Hodge Pond. The woods road was rutted and had some water but the muddiest spots were easily avoided. We were soon at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. I decided not to go to the shore of the pond since the scene here was also very familiar. We turned right and started up the hill staying on the Flynn Trail. The walk up the hill seemed to go very quickly and soon we were on the flat part of the Flynn Trail headed toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. As we were ascending the hill I saw some partridge cross the trail. Sheila saw them also and chased after them. The partridge seemed to hesitate and Sheila came very close to nabbing one! We continued on the Flynn Trail passing through the gate to the trail junction. We didn't stop at the trail junction but kept walking on The Flynn Trail. From this high point on the hike, the trail descends 1.7 miles to the parking area. We kept up a fast pace on the descent which seemed to drag just a little. The day had grown slightly warmer with sun and almost no clouds. Soon we were headed down the hill to the gate where we turned left to stay on then Flynn Trail. We walked down the short section of trail I had refurbished and then hiked through the woods back to the parking area. It was 1:15 when we returned. We had covered 6.4 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes with only 1 minute of stopped time. The elevation gain was a modest 910 feet.

On Friday, November 27th I had not decided where I would go to hike. Every time I thought of a location it was too far away or one that was heavily hunted. The morning temperature was mild compared to the previous days and was well above freezing when I got up. Just before 7:00 AM the ambulance pager sounded for a mutual aid call to Roscoe. The patient wanted to go to the hospital in Walton and by the time I got back home it was after 9:30 AM. I decided to return to the Frick Pond area to remove blowdowns on the Logger's Loop and Big Rock Trail. Cindy said she would go with me so we got dressed and I got my gear together for the work I was going to do. I again took my Council Tools Velvicut felling axe and my Silky saw and threw in some felling wedges just in case. We put our gear and an eager Sheila in the car and headed out the DeBruce Road just before 10:00 AM. When we arrived at the trailhead there were a few cars already parked in the lot. I assumed some were hunters and the others were hikers. We got ready to start our hike. Since the temperature had risen into the high 40's, I put on a light windbreaker and Cindy's blaze orange hat. I stowed my gloves in my pocket as we headed out. We headed out on the Quick Lake Trail at 10:10 AM and turned right at Gravestone Junction to follow the Logger's Loop Trail to Times Square. The Quick Lake Trail was wet and there was some mud on the Logger's Loop. At Times Square we continued straight ahead on the Logger's Loop. After climbing the hill to a level portion of the trail, Sheila alerted and I saw a hunter coming toward us. I put Sheila on her leash and said "Hello" to the hunter. He greeted us and it seemed to me he was more interested in a walk in the woods than a serious hunt. At about 1.3 miles we came to the blowdown. It was a little complicated since one tree had fallen and taken a smaller one with it. I careful inspected the situation looking for stresses on the branches before getting to work. I put my pack down and got out my tools. Before starting to work I took some pictures of the mess. I removed all the loose branches and got them out of the way and then used the saw to clear some smaller branches. My father taught me to always clear away anything that might be in the way as that was the safest way to proceed. I then cut some larger branches with the saw and worked on reducing the size of the smaller tree. Dragging the branches away proved harder than making the cuts. I used the axe to cut a few larger branches and then used the saw to cut down the smaller tree which came down without too much trouble. I sectioned it with the saw and pulled way the pieces. I then turned my attention to the larger tree and cut the top section off. I moved it to the side of the trail and then looked at the trunk that remained. I decided to cut the trunk near the side of the trail at the point where it started to get much larger. I used the axe effectively to cut almost all the way through the trunk and finished with the saw as there were rocks underneath. The section I removed was very heavy but I was able to swing it off to the side of the trail. I took a few "after" pictures and then put my gear away.

I was a little tired but we decided to head back to Times Square and then up the Big Rock Trail to get the other blowdown. When we got to Times Square, we turned left and headed up the Big Rock Trail. Neither of us had poles and I was carrying a felling axe that kept getting heavier. The Big Rock Trail is all uphill but it never gets close to a 20% grade but both of us were a little "winded". About .3 miles from Times Square or 2 miles into the hike, we arrived at the second blowdown. This was a pretty thick trunk of a dead tree that had fallen across the trail. I put down my pack, took pictures and got out my tools. My first strikes with the axe went well since the tree was very rotten. I got about 2/3 of the way through before hitting any resistance. Once I did hit some resistance, the wood was surprisingly hard to cut. The trunk was saturated with water some of which was frozen. In other places the axe just seemed to "thud" into the wood. Cindy and I rolled the trunk and I took a few more swings with the axe and finished the cut with the saw. I was able to roll the upper portion of the trunk off the trail. I got the lower portion rolling downhill and was able to direct it to the side of the trail. I took pictures and then we continued our hike up to the Flynn Trail. We turned right on the Flynn Trail and headed down the trail toward the car. The temperature seemed to be above 50 degrees by now and I was warm even in my light jacket. As we were walking, Sheila alerted and we saw a group of hikers coming up the trail toward us with a dog. I put Sheila on her leash and we passed the large group without a problem. As we were nearing the gate at the bottom of the trail, we met the hunter we had seen on the Logger's Loop along with a friend. We talked for a few minutes and then continued in our separate directions. We followed the Flynn Trail through the wood and back to the parking area which was now almost filled with cars. It was 1:20 PM and we had covered 4.5 miles in a little over 3 hours but this included the two stops to clear the trail. The elevation gain was 808 feet with most of it being on the Big Rock Trail.

On Wednesday, November 25th I decided that I wanted to return to Riddell State Park see if I could find and hike the Blue Trail which we had missed on our previous visit. The park is relatively new but has over a 1000 acres and mile of trails. The part south of I88 has more trails and is near the Hartwick College Pine Lake Environmental Campus. About 380 acres of the park once belong to the college but now is state land. We left home at around 9:30 AM when the temperature was still in the id 30's. I drove north on Route 17 to Roscoe and then followed Route 206 into Downsville. I took the Telford Hollow Road out of Downsville. As we gained elevation, the trees became covered with hoar frost. I stopped at the top of Telford Hollow and took pictures before continuing to Route 10 where I turned right and headed toward Delhi. In Delhi I followed Route 10 to Route 28 and turned left to stay on Route 28 north to Merridale. In Merridale I turned right on the Merridale-Davenport Road. After crossing Route 23 in Davenport Center, I followed Pine Lake Road to Charlotte Creek Road where I turned left. The Hartwick Pine Lake Center was .3 miles down the road on the left. There was no one around to ask about parking but I had parked before without a problem. I parked just before 10:30 AM and got my gear ready to go. As usual Sheila was crazed but I put her on her leash to get across the road to begin the hike. We started up a hill following the trail that was marked Mud Lake. At the top of the hill we turned left and continued to follow the woods road toward where I thought the Mud Lake Trail intersected it. It was a cool day with temperatures barely above freezing so I was wearing a long-sleeved top over a long-sleeved baselayer. I had tights on and topped it all off with my Mammut Hoody. The sun was out and I walked passed the spring in the right side of the road and continued up the hill. The walk seemed to be a little too long and I soon came to a STOP sign and saw posters for private property. I knew I had gone passed the turn for the Mud Lake Trail but did not remember seeing any signs. I turned around and walked back looking for some signs or blazes. There were several paths, trails and woods roads but none were marked. I decided to walk back to the sign for Mud Lake which was the Tornado Trail. After walking about .8 miles out of the way we turned uphill on the Tornado Trail and walked about .5 miles to the intersection with the Mud Lake Trail. This reinforced by belief that this park is NOT ready for casual hikers! The trails are poorly marked and the blazes do not match the colors of the trails on the map! There also does not seem be any trail maintenance either!

There are really no signs for the Blue Trail but Cindy and I had looked around on a previous trip and found where it started across from the Tornado Trail. I walked down through the woods to pick up the white blazes on the Blue Trail. The blazes were far apart and some were missing so I was constantly guessing where I should go. Fortunately my GPS track seemed to match the trail marked on the map and Sheila was a great help finding the trail. The site of an old steam mill was marked on the map but we walked right through the area and I saw nothing. Just passed this area the trail started to follow a woods road and it became more distinct with somewhat better blazing. I hoped that this would continue. It did not! Eventually the blazes all but disappeared although there was some old flagging which helped some. Once again the GPS track and compass helped but the biggest aid was Sheila how seemed to be able to pick out the trail despite its lack of use. The trail generally headed north and uphill. At one point there was a rock shelf overhang and we stopped so that I could get a drink and a snack. I took some pictures of the overhang and then some more with Sheila. From that point on the trail was almost impossible to find. Finally at 2.45 miles we started to swing more northeast. As I was walking and trying to spot blazes we suddenly came to a wide trail. It took me a moment to realize this was the trail that led to Mud Lake. I walked up and down the trail to see if the intersection with the Blue Trail was marked in any way. It was not. For this reason I would suggest that anyone trying to walk the trail walk from south to north as I did! I thought about turning left and walking around Mud Lake to the north. I decided against that route as Cindy and I had done it and it is NOT marked. We turned right and followed the Mud Lake Trail back to the junction with the Tornado Trail. From here we walked straight out to the woods road we had been on earlier in the morning. Once we were on the road, I looked back and could see no blazes or markings! We turned left and continued down the road and back to the car. We arrived back at 1:3) PM having hiked 5.9 miles in 3 hours with an elevation gain of 858 feet.

On Tuesday, November 24th, I decided I wanted to get out and hike close to home before heading to the pep rally and track practice. When I woke up at 6:00 AM the temperature was 19 degrees and the high for the day was only supposed to get to 35 degrees! I did some chores around the house and then got the mail. I received an annoying letter which required me to handle a situation so I didn't leave for the hike until after 10:30 AM. I got my gear in the car, put Sheila in the back seat and then headed out to Frick Pond. I wore a long-sleeved baselayer underneath a light but warm Icebreaker top. I wore a hat and gloves and even put a pair of light tights on underneath my MH Winter Wander pants! Of course, this was all topped off by my Mammut Hoody. We parked just before 11:00 AM and were on the trail a few minutes later. We headed across the road and started up the Flynn Trail. The day was still cold but the sun was bright and Sheila was having a great time running around. I had several things to think about and must have left a good pace because before I knew it we had walked the 1.7 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I checked the GPS and found I had kept a pace of 3 mph up the long hill. We turned left to walk down the hill to Times Square. Once again I got lost in my thoughts which made the walk seem exceptionally short. I did find a new blowdown across the Big Rock Trail. It was a single trunk and it looked like I might be able to lift it out of the way. Looks can be deceiving! I noted where it was and decided to make a later trip to remove it. After hiking 2.8 miles we arrived at Times Square. Without hesitation, I turned right and headed up the Logger's Loop. Not long after climbing the initial hill, I found another new blowdown across the trail. This one had a rather large trunk and a lot of branches. I added it to the list of things to do on a work trip. We continued on the trail arriving at Iron Wheel Junction where we turned left to head back toward Frick Pond. The walk is mostly downhill and we were soon at the small stream through the woods. It still had a good flow of water. Sheila got a drink while I swung across. Just after the pine promenade the trail became wet and muddy but it was easy to work around the worse spots. We walked over the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. There was nothing remarkable about the view so we continued back to the car. We were back at 1:00 PM having covered 5.5 miles in 2 hours with an elevation gain of 907 feet.

On Saturday, November 21st I decided that I wanted to hike somewhere that deer hunting was prohibited. The Catskill Mountain Club had suggested Riddell State Park near Davenport Center. The park is relatively new but has over a 1000 acres and mile of trails. The part south of I88 has more trails and is near the Hartwick College Pine Lake Environmental Campus. About 380 acres of the park once belong to the college but now is state land. Cindy wanted to go with me but we had to stay in Livingston Manor until the first few hours of rifle season had passed. This always seems to be the time that most accidents occur in the woods. We left home at around 9:30 AM when the temperature was still in the id 30's. I drove north on Route 17 to Roscoe and then followed Route 206 into Downsville. I took the Telford Hollow Road out of Downsville to Route 10 where I turned right and headed toward Delhi. In Delhi I followed Route 10 to Route 28 and turned left to stay on Route 28 north to Merridale. In Merridale I turned right on the Merridale-Davenport Road. After crossing Route 23 in Davenport Center, I followed Pine Lake Road to Charlotte Creek Road where I turned left. The Hartwick Pine Lake Center was .3 miles down the road on the left. There was no one around to ask about parking but a passing student said it was Ok to park in the lot. We parked just before 11:00 AM and as we were about to leave a group of three hikers pulled up. They told us they were going to do the same route we had planned so Cindy and I got going right away. We crossed the road and started up a hill following the trail that was marked Mud Lake. At the top of the hill we turned left and continued to follow the Mud Lake signs. I began to notice that the trails were poorly marked and the blazes did not match the colors of the trails on the map! There did not seem be any trail maintenance either and this theme would continue throughout the day. This park is NOT ready for casual hikers!

As we hiked toward Mud Lake the trail followed wide woods roads. When we got to a T at .7 miles, we turned right following the Mud Lake signed carved into a log on the ground! At .9 miles we turned right off the main Mud Lake Trail to follow the Jacy Henderson Memorial Trail which was created in 2004. The "trail" consisted of yellow paint splashed on trees and not much more! There were trees across much of the trail and the paint blazes were hard to see. The trail doesn't get much use so the trail bed is hard to follow. At one point the trail comes very close to private property and we passed by a hunter. As the trail turned from northeast to northwest it ran through some briars and the blazes disappeared. We picked the blazes up as we descended the hill heading north and then tried to follow them as they crosses a stream and marshy area. Finally, at 2.1 miles we were back on the main trail. This trail now had some white paint as blazes and random orange markers. At 2.4 miles, as we approached the pond, a sign post point to Mud lake one way and Route 58 in the opposite direction. We turned right and headed to Mud Lake. When we got to the lake a few of the orange disks seemed to point us on a path toward the shore of the lake. The area was very marshy but some boards and sticks had been thrown down haphazardly. As we approached the shore of the lake I realized that we were walking on a thick layer of sphagnum moss and that the whole area was a bog. As I stepped large areas moved with me! I found the direst spot and took a few pictures. We walked back to the point where we had walked off the main trail.

The park map showed a trail circling the north end of the lake but we could find no blazes. I did find sort of a trail and some old pink and orange flagging. We began to follow this hoping it would bring us to a blazed trail but that did not happen. I decided we would follow the path and the flagging since I had a good idea of where we might be going and we could always turn back. The flagging faltered in several spots but we continued to follow path looking for a connector trail on the left which would take us southeast and back toward the lake to complete the loop. I knew if we did not find the connector trail we might end up at I88! Fortunately, the trail improved some and at 3.4 miles there was a set of signs at a trail junction. We turned left on the connector trail back toward Mud Lake. We began to look for the junction with the Blue Trail since I did not want to simply hike back the way we had come. At 4 miles we were back at the junction with the Mud Lake Trail where we had been earlier in the day! The had been no marked junction with a Blue Trail which by this time did not surprise me. I wanted to go back to look for the trail but Cindy wanted to continue on the Mud Lake Trail. We turned right and started back toward the car. At 4.3 miles we were at the point where the Jacy Henderson Memorial Trail branched off but we stayed on the Mud Lake Trail to cover some ground we had not covered on the way out. The trail here was again wide woods roads although there were some very muddy areas. At 5.2 miles we passed the memorial and the beginning of the trail. As we continued on, we met some hikers with two very unruly dogs. Both dogs were leashed but they made quite a fuss. We passed them and at 5.4 miles arrived at the Tornado Trail which we had taken up from the parking area. We decided to continue on the Mud Lake Trail back to the car. Before we continued, we looked around for the Blue Trail which was supposed to begin in this area. We finally found it marked with white blazes. It was totally unmaintained with numerous blowdowns. I knew this was why we also couldn't find the other end! We walked down the Mud Lake Trail which eventually became a road. As we walked down the woods road, we were surprised to find a pickup truck headed up the road towards us. We continued down the road turning right and walking back down to the car. I put my gear in the car but took my camera out and walked down to Pine Lake. I took a few pictures before returning to the car. It was 2:30 PM and we had hiked 6.1 miles in 3 hours and 25 minutes gaining 1040 feet along the way.

On Friday, November 20th I decided that I wanted to return to Beacon to hike to the flag on Fishkill Ridge. I wanted to hike from the trailhead on Pocket Road since this was a new route for me. The weather report was for sunny skies with some clouds and highs reaching into the mid 50's. When I got up in the morning, the temperatures was in the low 30's and there was ice on the car windows. I got my gear and Sheila in the car at a little after 9:00 AM and drove east and south on Route 17 to Middletown where I picked up I84 east. After crossing over the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, I took exit 11 and headed south on Route 9D. I took a left on Main St and followed it to E Main Street and then to Pocket Road. Pocket Road is a dead end street and near the end is a gate that controls access to part of the City of Beacon's water supply. I was able to park in a turnout just before he gate but the number of parking spaces is very limited. There was one other vehicle parked. When I got ready to hike at 10:25 AM, the temperature had risen so I wore a light windbreaker instead of my heavier Mammut hoody. It was not immediately clear to me where the trail, started but I quickly realized that I should walk through the gate and up an access road. The road passed by a large water storage tank and then a small reservoir. After the reservoir, the trail began to follow Dry Brook which actually had a pretty good flow. The trail grade was averaging about 15% with some steeper spots. We met two hikers who had gotten an early start coming down the trail. Not too long into the climb I stopped to take off the light jacket and as I was doing this a young man passed us hiking rapidly up the trail. There were several spots on the trail that were eroded and others than required walking along slanted rocks. I thought this would not be the best trail for hiking in the winter! We crossed Dry Brook several times and at .75 miles we crossed it for the last time as we continued east. At this point the brook is flowing from the south out of Beacon Reservoir and there is a series of cascades with a waterfall at the top. We stopped so that I could take some pictures. The light was not the best and there was some brush in the way. It was definitely one of those scenes that was better to just enjoy rather than to photograph but that didn't stop me from taking multiple shots!

We continued walking east on the trail, gaining elevation until we crossed the road to the reservoirs at .9 miles. We turned left on the road and then almost immediately right into the forest. Sheila alerted and I could see a man walking with his dog on the road below. We continued on the trail as it began to ascend an unnamed hill. Over the next .3 miles we gained 380 feet which was an average grade of 24% despite the switchbacks! At 1.2 mile we were at the junction with the trail that ascends from the Sunnyside Road trailhead. We continued heading east as the trail rolled over several small hills before climbing to the top of Lambs Hill at 1.7 miles. I stopped to take a few pictures even though there wasn't much difference from the previous week. This time we continued over the top of Lambs Hill and descended the other side to Dozer Junction at 1.9 miles. Dozer Junction gets its name from a bulldozer parked at the junction. The white Fishkill Ridge Trail continues straight ahead but we turned right on a short blue connector trail. I did stop to take a few pictures of the bulldozer! The blue trail was very wet with water running out of sight under a thick layer of leaves! At 2.2 miles we hit a low spot and then arrived at the yellow Wilkinson Memorial Trail. We turned right to follow the trail to the southwest and I knew I would soon have to start looking for the unmarked trail to the hill with the flag. At 2.5 miles the Wilkinson Memorial Trail mad a sharp left heading eastward. I continued straight ahead and found the unmarked but prominent trail on the right. We walked up hill and at a fork stayed to the right until I could see the flag waving in the breeze.

I walked down to the flag with my pack to get a GPS reading for its location. It was much easier to find than I remembered. I walked back up the hill a little and dropped my pack to take pictures. The flag wasn't very large but the thought of the dedication of the family that maintains it had a profound effect one me. I took some still and then a 30 second video. I tried not to shake and to remain quiet so that all that could be heard was the snapping of the flag in the breeze. It was 12:25 PM when I was ready to leave and I was prepared to hike out the Fishkill Ridge to add some mileage. I decided to call my son Kurt who is a layer in Poughkeepsie and he suggested we meet at the Maya Cafe in Fishkill for a meal. I agreed and decided to simply hike back the way I had come. The descent was not that much quicker than the ascent since there were still some hills to be climbed and the slippery leaves slowed my pace. I met several hikers on the way down. When I crossed the road to the reservoir, I noticed a vehicle coming up the road and wondered if it was legal to do so. Just after we turned onto the trail, I met a young lady from Beacon hiking toward me. I asked here about the vehicle and she said it was permitted up to a certain spot. We continued in our separate directions. I met another couple hiking up near the cascades. Near the bottom of the trail we stopped and I took a picture of a conglomerate boulder. Sheila insisted on posing so I took another shot. As we continued down the trail, we met a man hiking up with two small dogs. One dog was a blind Chihuahua that we was carrying! Sheila and I stopped at the small reservoir and I took a few last shots. We were back at the car at 2:10 PM after hiking 5.1 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes. Our elevation gain was 2025 feet. We got in the car and I took I84 to exit 13 and the Maya Cafe. Kurt arrived soon after I did and we had some good food and great conversation.

On Tuesday, November 17th I decided that I would return to the Quick Lake Trail at Frick Pond to remove two new blowdowns on the trail. I slept in and did not get up until 8:00 AM. The temperature was still below freezing and I knew it was expected to rise slowly into the high 40's. I got my gear and an eager Sheila in the car and headed out the DeBruce Road about 10:10 AM. When we arrived at the trailhead there were no cars in the lot and the temperature was right at 40 degrees. I decided to keep on my Mammut Hoody and a light hat. I stowed my gloves in my pack as we headed out. For tools I had brought my smaller Silky saw and my Council Tools Velvicut felling axe. This is the heaviest axe I have and the last time I used it I had mixed feelings about its performance. I brought it this time to try it out again and because some of the trees were a pretty good size. We headed out on the Quick Lake Trail at 10:35 AM and continued to follow it over the bridge at the outlet end of Frick Pond. At the next trail junction we stayed to the left to follow the Quick Lake Trail and after a short stretch we arrived at the blowdown I wanted to clear. It was actually larger and more complex than I thought. A tree with a double trunk had fallen across the trail taking the upper part of another tree with it. I put my pack down and got out my tools. Before starting to work I took some pictures of the mess. I removed all the loose branches and got them out of the way and then used the saw to clear some smaller branches. My father taught me to always clear away anything that might be in the way as that was the safest way to proceed. I then cut some larger branches with the saw and the tops of two of the trees. Dragging these away proved harder than making the cuts. I used the axe to cut a few larger branches and then turned to the larger trunk. As I swung the axe I found that it bit deeply and the chips really began to fly. I began to wonder what I had against this wonderful tool. I do think that I have honed my technique and am a little stronger than the last time I used the axe. I quickly cut through the trunk and was able to remove most of one tree. I cut the other trunk and was soon finished with the first part of the blowdown. I started in on the second part using the same technique and was able to remove most of it with the saw. A final cut of the trunk with the axe left only some final cleanup. I took some "after" pictures and then put my equipment away. We headed back on the Quick Lake Trail to handle the blowdown near the trailhead.

The blowdown near the parking area consisted of two rather rotten trunk that had fallen across the trail taking a few saplings with them. I took some pictures and the got out my tools to start the work. The size of the trunks made using the axe a must. I though the fact that the wood was rotten would make the work go faster and it did for a time. I cut from both sides of the log until I was almost through and the work got harder. There was a rock underneath the log which I did not want to hit with the axe. I was able to roll the log and finish the cut. The rotten would did make the sections a little lighter and I was able to flip the sections out of the way. I turned my attention to the second log which was larger and found a spot that seemed cracked. I started to make my cut but the log was wet and the axe seemed to "bounce". I persisted and was able to cut almost all the way through. I used the saw to finish the cut and then it was time to move the section. As I hefted the first section I was not sure I could manage it by myself but I finally got it off the trail. The second section was even heavier but I was able to move it also. I cleaned up a few sapling and branches and the took the "after" pictures. I packed up and walked up to the car at 12:35 PM. It had taken only two hours for one person to clear to major blowdowns with hand tools!

On Monday, November 16th I decided that the rest of my week was looking pretty busy and between commitments and the weather I should take a hike. I had a limited amount of time before afternoon track practice so I decided to head to Frick Pond. When I got up the temperature was only 33 degrees but I knew that the forecast was for warmer weather as the day progressed. By the time I got my gear ready to go and got Sheila in the car it was already after 10:00 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road to Mongaup Pond Road where I turned left. I continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there were no other cars which did not surprise me. Sheila was acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as I got myself ready to go. The temperature was in the high 40's so I left my Mammut Hoody behind and put on a light windbreaker. I had traded in my Leki Micro Vario poles for a pair of even lighter Black Diamond poles which are best on easy trails. By 10:30 AM we were ready and headed out the back of the large parking area on the Quick Lake Trail. Two large tree trunks were lying across the trail but they were easy enough to get around. I knew I would have to bring an axe to cut them into section so that I could roll them off the trail. When we got to the woods road and turned left, I found it was very wet with both standing and flowing water. At Gravestone Junction we turned left to head down to Frick Pond. The day was beautiful with sun and blue skies. The only drawback was that the sky1 had only a few clouds and appeared very flat. Despite the lack of clouds, I stopped at the bridge to take some pictures. The water level in the pond was high and the stream was flowing freely necessitating a few more shots. We continued on the Quick Lake Trail around the pond bearing left at the next trail junction to stay on the red trail. This part of the trail was also very wet and there were a lot of new branches down on the trail from the wind the previous night.

As we continued along, we came to a large tree that had blown down across the trail and nearly blocked it. I had no tools no I worked my way through it. I knew that I would return soon with tools to clear the obstructions from the trail. We continued through the "pine promenade" and came to the little stream1 through the woods. This stream had been almost dry all summer but now was filled with water. I took a few shots while Sheila got a drink. As we continued along the trail I removed some small branches and a few large ones until we arrived at Iron Wheel Junction at 1.6 miles. We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and started the long uphill climb toward Junkyard Junction. The trail continued to be wet and I found more branches to remove. Somewhere along the way before the junction there was another tree down across the trail. I knew the snowmobile club would remove it but that I could also get it with an axe. At 3.2 miles we arrived at Junkyard Junction and turned right onto the blue Flynn Trail. The Flynn Trail is almost flat and on this day it was wet and muddy in spots. There were no major blowdowns but I continued to removed branches that littered the trail. When we got to the gate, we turned right to stay on the trail and head down to Hodge Pond. At 3.75 miles the Flynn Trail heads right but we turned left to walk on the jeep trail around the head end of Hodge Pond. At one point I walked down to the shore and took a few shots of the pond. We continued on the jeep trail and walked down the hill to the outlet end of Hodge Pond.

I walked over to the shore with Sheila right behind. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take some pictures. Sheila did not seem anxious to enter the cold water and I did not blame her. I got a snack and then picked up my pack to head up the hill away from Hodge Pond once again back on the Flynn Trail. The walk up the hill seemed long but not arduous. At the top of the hill we followed the Flynn Trail as it turned slightly left toward Big Rock Junction. At 5.1 miles we passed Big Rock Junction and started the 1.7 mile descent on the Flynn Trail. At 5.6 miles we came to a place where there is a pile of logs that are dressed. They have been there for some time and nobody knows who cut them or what purpose they were to serve. We turned left and walk up through the woods to an open area. This "field" is interesting as the bedrock is close to the surface and there are areas of sphagnum moss covering a good part of the area. A woods road runs from the Flynn Trail to this open area but, again, no one knows the history of the spot. I took a few photographs and the walked back to the Flynn Trail. As we approached the gate, we turned left to avoid the private property around the cabin and to stay on the trail. On a previous trip I had cleared and reblazed the old trail and I could see that it was easy to follow. We finished our walk and were back at the car by 1:40 PM. We had covered .9 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes with an elevation gain of 1005 feet. The temperature on the car display read 54 degrees.

On Saturday, November 14th I was part of a Trail U training session sponsored by the New York Jersey Trail Conference and instructed by Doug Sentermann. The purpose of the training session was to acquaint people with the proper way to maintain trails and the regulations that govern maintenance. The forecast for the day was not looking good the night before with rain or snow showers likely to appear at about 11:00 AM. The initial meeting took place at Morgan Outdoors in Livingston Manor where a group of eager volunteers met to meet each other and Doug. When I parked in town, I noticed several cars covered with layer of snow indicating that the higher elevations had already seen some snowfall. Some people who had registered did not show up while a few other people were able to attend making eight in total. Some people were local but one volunteer drove from Oneonta while another came from central New Jersey! Doug explained the need for trail maintainers and the paperwork requirements. He then brought out an array of tools and described their uses. Doug was able to field questions from various people before we headed to Trout Pond. Several volunteers wanted to car pool so we got in the cars and headed to Roscoe on Route 17. From Roscoe we took Route 206 to just passed the Roscoe Nursing Home where we turned left on Morton Hill Road. As we drove the three miles to Russell Brook Road, we began to see more and more snow as the elevation increased. When we arrived at the intersection with Russell Brook Road, we turned left and drove down the road to the lower parking area. I was surprised that there were already half a dozen cars parked in the lot. Ranger Joe Bink from Region 4 was also there checking to see if there were any hunters. Doug and I stopped to talk with him while we waited for some others to arrive.

The last car did not arrive so we headed down the trail to the bridge over Russell Brook Road and then stayed to the left at the trail junction to head up the hill toward mud pond. We kicked a few branches out of the way and removed a few logs lying on the trail. Soon we came to the first blowdown and assessed the safest way to remove it. Doug emphasized safety and how to watch for stresses on the trees and branches to be cut. I took a few "before" pictures and the we got to work. We cleared away all the loose material and then used a saw to finish the job. As we were near the end of clearing, the last three volunteers came walking up the trail. We continued on to three other smaller blowdowns. I used my Fiskars axe to cut two of them while others helped clear away the branches. The last blowdown near the top of the hill was so dry that we did not need to cut it. We simply broke the branches and moved them to the side of the trail. We continued on over the top of the hill staying on the Mud Pond Trail. We stopped several times so that Doug could point out some things and answer questions. Along the way several volunteers cleared a culvert and created a dam to direct the water off the trail. We turned around a little after 2:00 PM and headed back to our cars. The day was very productive and will hopefully generate more people to care for our trail.

On Friday, November 13th I planned to hike to the flag on Fishkill Ridge since I had missed hiking there on Veteran's Day due to bad weather. I also thought I might hike a big loop including other parts of Fishkill Ridge or Beacon Mountain. I decided to hike from Sunnyside Road on the Overlook Trail which I had never been on before. Cindy said she would like to go so I immediately began to think of ways to alter the plan. I decided we might go to the flag and then do the Fishkill Ridge Loop or just go to the flag and return. It was windy and starting to rain when we left Livingston Manor just before 9:00 AM. The forecast for Fishkill was for temperatures in the mid 50's but with a strong wind. The forecast put the chance of rain at 0%! I drove down Route 17 to Middletown where I picked up I84 east to exit 12. I turned right on Route 52 and drove .2 miles to Old Glenham Road where I turned left. After .9 miles, I took a left on Maple Street and followed it as it became Washington Avenue. I turned left on Old Town Road and drove .4 miles to Sunnyside Road. I drove to the end of Sunnyside Road and turned left into the well-marked parking area. There was only one other car in the lot when we began our hike at 10:15 AM. The temperature was 54 degrees but there was a sustained wind of 15 mph and it was gusty to at least 25 mph. I decided to leave on my Mammut Hoody and put on a light hat. As usual, Sheila was ready to go and ran around the parking area sniffing all the new smells. We walked out the end of the parking area passed a kiosk which gave some interesting information about the Fishkill Ridge. The first part of the trail was a woods road that began with a gentle grade. There was a plethora of oak leave carpeting the trail and they were wet from the recent rain making for some slippery conditions. We soon turned left and began to parallel a deep ravine to our right as we started to climb. At around .3 miles we stopped at a large conglomerate boulder. Sheila climbed to the top and I took a few pictures. I also took some shots of the boulder since I thought the cementing of very large particles was interesting. Just after the boulder we turned left away from the ravine and continued to climb with grades over 20%. Soon the trail abruptly turned right back toward the ravine. We walked on the level for a short distance and then walked downhill to cross the ravine. Walking downhill after walking uphill and before walking more uphill is not one of my favorite parts of a hike!

After crossing the small creek in the ravine, we made a sharp right and started to climb. The trail was well marked which was fortunate since there were many paths and woods roads that crossed the trail at different spots. We began to see some views of the Hudson River through the trees and I began to wonder if we would ever get any clear views. So many hike descriptions and maps include viewpoints that are no longer viewpoints as trees have long ago grown up to block them! At about 1.1 miles we began to ascend an open rock face and I was concentrating on getting good hand and foot placements. When I looked back to the west, there was an amazing open view of the Hudson River! We walked a little farther to the top of the climb and stopped so that I could take some pictures. I took a few of Cindy coming up the rock face and the turned my attention to the scenery. The Newburgh-Beacon Bridge was below with the Mid-Hudson Bridge visible farther north. It was still cloudy and a little dark but I took quite a few shots. We continued to hike and I noticed Cindy was getting tired of climbing. At 1.4 miles the trail leveled a little and rolled some until at 1.7 miles we came to another nice overlook. The sun had begun to peek through the clouds so I took a few more photographs before we pushed to the top of the hill. Just after the viewpoint, the Overlook Trail ended at the white Fishkill Ridge Trail. We turned left to head toward Lambs Hill and eventually to the hill with the flag just to the southwest.

Over the next .3 miles we descended one small hill and climbed another until at 2.0 miles we were at the base of Lambs Hill. I remembered coming down off Lambs Hill but had never climbed up. The trail headed right for a cliff and the paralleled the cliff before making a sharp right to go over the top. After climbing over the cliff, we climbed up an open rock face to the top of Lamb's Hill. There were some nice views from the top of the hill including the Hudson to the west and the Beacon Reservoir hidden in the trees to the southwest. I was ready to go on to find the flag since I knew it was less than a mile farther. Cindy told me I would have to go on without her! I was disappointed that we would not reach my goal and that the hike would be less than 5 miles but we turned around and started back together. I could tell that my wife was very tired as she was lagging behind despite our slow pace. When we started to descend I heard her exclaim and looked back to see she had slipped and fallen on the wet leaves. She got up but fell two or three more times on the way down. It was then that I realized that the amount of hiking that I do puts me in good shape for hiking! I was feeling fine and could have done the hike again while Cindy was completely out of gas. I decided that I could return another day and park at a different trailhead to hike to the flag. I tried to look at it as another opportunity to explore someplace I had not visited. We had to hike down into the ravine and back up but soon we were on the final leg on the woods road back to the car. We arrived back at the car at 1:40 PM having hiked only 4.3 miles in 3 hours and 25 minutes. The elevation gain was 1635 feet. We decided to stop in the Maya Cafe in Fishkill for lunch and had a nice meal before returning home.

On Wednesday, November 11th I had planned to hike to the flag on Fishkill Ridge since it was Veteran's Day. The weather would simply not cooperate as a persistent storm hung over the Hudson valley until after noon. Since I did not know the exact conditions and since I wanted to take some pictures, I decided to put off the hike until later in the week. The skies around Livingston Manor began to clear and the chance of rain seemed less and less likely so I asked Cindy if she water to rake an afternoon walk. She agreed and suggested we go to Trout Pond and hike. We got our gear in the car and left Livingston Manor with an ecstatic Sheila in the back seat at about 1:25 PM. We were looking forward to seeing if Russell Brook Falls had a higher volume of water after the rain during the week. We headed north on Route 17 to Roscoe and took Route 206 toward Downsville but turned left onto Morton Hill Road just after the Roscoe Nursing Home. When we got to the intersection with Russell Brook Road, I turned around and parked on the side of the road to avoid parking in the large open space which is marked as private property. Sheila was ready to go as always and we started down the road at 1:45 M. The temperature was in the mid 50's when we started so I opted to take off my Mammut Hoody and wear a light windbreaker. I did choose to wear a hat. As we walked down the road, the stream was making a lot of noisy and we could see quite a bit of water even in the under brook. I walked down the bank at the viewpoint over the upper falls and found that there was a lot of water going over the falls. I got out my camera and took a few shots from different angle at different settings. I packed up and we headed down the road to the lower parking area. As we approached the lower parking area, we could see that there were no cars in the lot. We walked down to the main trail and then across the bridge over Russell Brook. The knotweed that we had trimmed back a few weeks was now almost completely dead . We walked the path over to the lower falls and down the bank to the streambed. The water was not especially Hugh but was flowing with enough volume to make some pictures worthwhile. I took some shots of the falls and then had Sheila sit on the rocks in front and took some more. We walked back out to the main trail and passed the register box heading up to Trout Pond.

The trail was pretty wet in places but the walk went quickly. The sky was still filled with dark cloud in places but in other spots there was some blue and the sun was peeking through. At the pond, I took off my pack and got out the camera. We were surprised that the water level was still low with the shore being at least six feet from the outlet of the dam. I took some shots of the pond against the dark clouds. I made sure I got a few pictures of the shore and then we continued up the trail, toward the head end of the pond. Just before the small bridge, I walked to the shore and took a few more shots. The sky was still mostly covered in clouds but I managed to get a few pictures with blue sky. The trees without their leaves and the dark sky made a few shots look almost black and white. We didn't stay too long before getting back on the main trail and starting toward the upper end of the pond. The trail is completely flat and was wet and muddy in spots. I decided to skip taking pictures from the bridge and we continued our walk on the main trail. As we started to climb Cherry Ridge one of the blowdowns I had found last time had been cut and removed from the trail making me think someone had done some trail maintenance. Along the way were several large blowdowns which we could not clear without an axe and saw. We made a slight turn to the south and began to climb more but the ascent seemed to go quickly. Sheila was roaming the brush near the trail and seemed to always be on a scent trail. At one point when she returned I saw that she had found something odoriferous to roll in! I cleaned her up as best I could and knew a bath would be the order of the day when we got home! We hit the high point on the hike and started down the other side. There was a lot of water on the trail and we had to walk on the side to avoid the deeper pools. After a short ascent to the "forest of numerous small trees", we walked down to the woods road and snowmobile trail and turned left to complete our loop. There were several large puddles on the trail and the leaves had been displaced showing the water had flowed down the trail with some force. We began to descend to the trail junction by the register box and found several more trees across the trail. We passed the large campsite on the left at the bottom of the hill and walked back to the trail junction where we turned right to walk back to the lower parking area. There were still no cars in the lot. We walked up the road back to our car arriving at 4:30 PM. We had hiked 5.6 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes gaining 1125 feet.

On Monday, November 9th, I had a lot of "errands" to do early in the morning and they took longer than I expected. When I finally broke free, it was already late morning. I decided to head to Frick Pond to finish some trail work on the Flynn Trail. I got my gear in the car and took along a lawn rake and a weed whip. Of course, Sheila was ready to go and she jumped in the back seat along with the extra equipment. We arrived at the parking area at about 11:00 AM to find one other car parked in the lot. I got the tools I needed for the Flynn Trail before heading out. I didn't take my pack as I expected to come back to the car after the work to get in a short hike. The last time I worked on the Flynn Trail I cleared the old route for the trail near the point where it turns from the trail onto the woods road near the gate. Today I used the rake to clear some leaves to define the path. I also used the weed whip to remove some weeds that had grown in the path. I piled some brush on the route hikers had been using and removed the "TRAIL" sign someone had put on a tree. I used some blue markers to blaze the turn in both directions and added a few more markers to make the trail easier to follow. This required the removal of some old markers. I also took down a small, dead tree that was in the way. Sheila and I returned to the car. I put my tools away and got out my pack to start the pleasure part of our hike at 11:30 AM.

I decided we would hike out the Quick Lake Trail to the Logger's Loop and then follow it all the way around to Iron Wheel Junction. From here we would use the Quick Lake Trail to get back to the car. As we walked out the Quick Lake Trail, I found the woods road after the trail register to be wet with some muddy spots. When we reached Gravestone Junction, we stayed to the right on the yellow Logger's Loop. The walk along the grassy trail went quickly. We passed over the spot where I had installed a wooden and stone "bridge" over a muddy spot. It was wet and muddy but the "bridge" was still not required. After hiking almost exactly 1 miles, we were at Times Square. We continued straight ahead to stay on the Logger's Loop. The trail begins to climb as it heads north until it turns west and the south at 1.9 miles. The elevation change is about 200 feet and there are several areas where the trail level before climbing again. We passed several areas where I had cleared blowdowns that had blocked the trails. The walk was very pleasant and the Logger's Loop was completely clear of any obstructions. When we got to Iron Wheel Junction, we turned left to head back to Frick Pond. At one point Sheila was out ahead of me and she started to bark. I called her back and pout her on her leash when I saw two people off to the side of the trail. It turned out it was a couple of hikers taking a rest before continuing their hike. The stream in the woods was still high but I could cross by getting one boot wet. The trail from the stream to the next trail junction was wet and muddy in places. We crossed the bridge over the outlet of Frick Pond. I usually stop for pictures but the sky had no clouds and the scene did not inspire me. We walked back to car arriving in the lot at 12:55 PM. We had covered 3.7 miles in just under 1.5 hours with an elevation gain of 410 feet.

On Saturday, November 7th, I asked Cindy if she would like to take a hike somewhere and she said "Yes". After talking about some spots we decided to go to North South Lake as we had not been there in some time. I knew that this was a popular destination but thought that the number of visitors would be decreased as the park was closed, the leaves well past their peak and the weather questionable. The forecast was for a cloudy morning with the sun coming out after noon and the temperature rising. As I chose clothing for the hike, I decided to leave my Mammut Hoody home and wear a light windbreaker. I did wear my MH inter Wander pants as they seem to be ideal for any but the warmest or coldest conditions. I packed gloves and a hat and even threw in a rain jacket just in case the forecast was wrong! We delayed leaving home until just before 9:00 AM thinking we would try to get some of the hike in after the sun came out. I drove from Livingston Manor up the Beaverkill Road and over the Barkaboom Road to the Pepacton Reservoir. From there I took BWS 9 to Margaretville to get on Route 28. I followed Route 28 to Phoenicia where I picked up Route 214 north to Route 23A. We were surprised to see the number of cars at Notch Lake and I began to wonder if there would be a number of people at North South Lake. We headed east on Route 23A to Haines Falls and turned left on North Lake Road. As we approached the park, I turned right on Scutt Road and drove to the parking area. The lot was already full so I drove back out to the main road and turned right to drive into the park. There were parking spaces open near the entrance and I pulled into one of these. The temperature on the car read 46 degrees but when we stepped out of the car the wind chill made it feel even colder. I knew that once we got moving and were in the shelter of the trees I would be warmer but I was certainly cold standing by the car. We got our gear together and left the car at 10:40 AM. We walked back out on the main road, turned left on Scutt Road and then left across from the parking area onto the blue blazed Escarpment Trail. As we started out on the Escarpment Trail there were several areas that were damp and the entire trail was covered in slippery oak leaves. I left my poles in the car as I thought I would have to keep Sheila on her leash much of the time. As soon as we got on the trail I did have to use the leash as a group approached us with their unleashed dog! After we passed them, I let Sheila loose for a little while and she stayed close by.

We crossed the two railroad grades and crossed Spruce Creek on the footbridge. Just after the bridge we came to the junction with the Scutt Road Trail and turned right down a woods road to stay on the blue blazed Escarpment Trail. The water in the creek was higher than I expected and as we approached the old dam a group of four walked out to the trail from the dam. The got on the trail before us as we turned left across from the bridge to stay on the Escarpment Trail. We soon passed that group and continued on the trail heading for the Layman Memorial. The trail to the memorial is downhill and the memorial is almost 500 feet below the elevation of the parking lot. The leaves on the descent were slippery and I found myself hanging onto rock and trees without the aid of my poles. We stopped briefly at the monument dedicated to a fire fighter who died in 1900 fighting a forest fire in the area. The view from the memorial was better than I remembered and it looked as if someone had cleared a few small trees. We could see down to the parking area for Kaaterskill Falls which was already full. Work may have been done to improve the trail to the falls and increase the safety for hikers but getting from the parking area to the trailhead may be the most dangerous part of the hike! The trail from the monument ascends back up to the escarpment and there are several short rock scrambles and high steps along the way. At some point my right foot went into a hole and I felt some pain in my heal. It wasn't too severe but I felt it for the rest of the hike. We were able to ascend without much problem to the area where the Escarpment Trail flattens some. It had been several years since I had taken this route and I had forgotten how beautiful and breathtaking the views can be. There are several famous named spots along the way but there are other, smaller lookouts that are just as nice. We passed the yellow shortcut trail at about 1.8 miles into the hike. Shortly after this we arrived at Sunset Rock and then Inspiration Point. Along the way I had warmed up and opened up the zipper on my jacket. I left my hat on but removed my gloves. When we were in exposed areas, the breeze made me feel little cool but otherwise I was comfortable.

The view from the trail is to the south and the sun was just beginning to make taking pictures difficult. Despite this we could look up the Clove and see the Hunter Mountain Ski Area behind the houses of Twilight Park. The houses seem to hang on the side of the mountain and they must have spectacular views. Of course, Kaaterskill High peak and Round Top are visible across the way. I could also see several stream drainages as they snaked there way down the mountain. From Inspiration Point we got our first look at the Hudson River. At 12:25M we had hike 2.8 miles and arrived at the junction with the horse trail that leads down to the Palenville Lookout and the Harding Road Trail. We turned left to continue to follow the Escarpment Trail. From the junction the Escarpment Trail heads more "inland" to the area of the site of the Kaaterskill Hotel. The trail has been rerouted in this area due to erosion but is well marked. At the top of a short climb the trail flattens and the walking becomes the easiest on the entire route. After a brief detour from the escarpment, the trail returns to the edge of the cliffs making a large bend to pass Split Rock and Boulder Rock. We passed the area known as Split Rock where several large slabs of bedrock have split off from the main mass of bedrock. We arrived at Boulder Rock to find a family of four gathered around and on the rock. I wanted to take some pictures and had to wait until they were done climbing up the rock several times! Finally, the mother got the idea that they were monopolizing the site and they left. I took few shots of Boulder Rock and then a few more with Cindy and Sheila. The rock is a large erratic perched on the edge of the escarpment. I also took some pictures of the Hudson and the valley but there was a lot of haze hanging low. We continued along the trail stopping at another lookout with more open views of the Hudson. I took a few pictures from here before we headed down the trail toward the site of the Catskill Mountain House.

The trail was covered in oak leaves and I had to pick my foot plants carefully to avoid falling. We worked our way down the trail to the open field that was once the site of the Catskill Mountain House. I leashed Sheila to a picnic table and got out the camera. I took pictures of the open space with a few well constructed benches. I also photographed the view and tried to imagine the hotel and its clientele at the height of its popularity. I took more pictures of the valley and found some spots that still had some colorful leaves. I went back to get Sheila and put my camera away after which we started down the access road toward North Lake. We stayed on the access road rather than follow the trail and came to a parking area. I had hoped to walk a little farther and return by way of the Mary's Glen Trail and the trail on the north side of the lakes. I asked Cindy and she said she preferred to return to the car. I knew this would mean walking a lot on the roads but we turned left and started back. At 5.7 miles we were at the south end of South Lake. The clouds were still hanging low in the sky and a little rain was beginning to fall. We stopped so that I could take some pictures and then decided to get back to the car just in case the rain picked up. The gate was closed just before the road crossed the dam and there were many cars parked in the area. We walked up the hill and back to the car. We arrived back in the parking area at 2:15 PM having hiked 6.2 miles in 3 hours and 35 minutes with a little over 30 minutes of stopped time. Our elevation gain was just under 1200 feet. As we started the drive back home, we both decided it would be nice to stop at Pancho Villa's in Tannersville for a meal. The town was as busy as I have seen it in the late fall and quite a few table were occupied in the restaurant.

On Wednesday, November 4th, I decided to return to the Flynn Trail to remove the two remaining blowdowns we had not cleared on Tuesday and to clear the trees at the beginning of the woods road. When I got up the temperature was relatively mild hovering in the mid 40's. I got my gear and an always excited Sheila into the car and headed out the DeBruce Road for Frick Pond just before 10:00 AM. I was still looking for a pair of boots to replace my Keen Glarus that had finally worn out. The previous day I had put on a pair of Vasque Taku GTX boots and found that they seemed a little wide but could be snugged up with the laces. I turned left on Mongaup Road and stayed to the left where Beech Mountain Road splits off. I parked in the smaller lot and was not surprised that we were the only hikers. Before we started the hike I made the decision to leave my Mammut Hoody in the car and bring only a light windbreaker in my pack. I also left my hat and gloves in the pack as the temperature was climbing into the high 50's and I knew the walk up the Flynn Trail would keep me warm. We crossed the road to started our hike at 10:10 AM by walking through the woods on the Flynn Trail. I hadn't decided whether to hike to the last blowdown and work my way down the trail or to handle them as I came to them. The day really was beautiful and Sheila and I were enjoying the walk. We passed the first two blowdowns we had cleared the day before and continued up the trail. At 1.2 miles we came to a small tree on the right side of the trail that was hanging over the trail. I decided to continue on and soon after at 1.3 miles came to the next blowdown. This was a small tree stretched across the trail. We continued walking to the junction with the Big Rock Trail and then started back down. When we came to the small tree across the trail, I dropped my pack and prepared to clear the obstacle. I took a few pictures of the blowdown and then got out my axe and saw. This time I had brought along a German pattern Mueller felling axe which has a little more weight in the bit. I cut some of the branches with the saw and dragged them away. I used the axe to section the trunk which went very quickly. Soon the tree was cleared. I took some pictures, packed up the gear and headed to the next area. Cutting the next set of branches meant cutting down the small tree hanging over the trail. I took a few "before" shots and then took the axe and cleared some of the brush around the tree. It only took a few swings to sever the trunk. I put down the axe and simply dragged the trunk far enough back into the woods to clear the trail. Before packing up I took a few more pictures and then headed down the trail again.

The next stop was the large tree I had removed the day before. There was plenty of room to walk through on the trail but I wanted to clean up a little more. I took the axe and saw and cleared the top of the tree pulling the branches from the side of the trail into the woods. I wanted to test the Mueller axe on the large trunk by cutting one more section out of the way. The face of the tree falling had buried it in the ground. I didn't want to take the chance of hitting a rock with the axe or saw so I tried using a large limb to pry the try up. I got nowhere since the remaining trunk was both large in diameter and long. I decided the job would have to wait until I had some help. I took an "after" picture and started the walk back to the gate on the Flynn Trail. We were soon at the point where the trail turns left into the woods. Some time ago two trees fell across the trail and hikers "unofficially" rerouted the trail. Someone even placed a sign to indicate the turn. O dropped my pack and got out the axe to remove the first tree. It wasn't a very large trunk and it was very dry so the work went quickly. I removed the sections from the trail and dragged them away. I turned my attention to a smaller sapling that still was across the trail The saw took this one out but when I tried to pull it off the trail I got a nasty surprise. The sapling was thorn apple and after a couple of pokes I became more respectful! The second tree was larger but just as easy to cut with the German axe. I cut the tree near the base and the tried to remove the bottom section from the trail. I found that the roots were still holding it in the ground. Fortunately I was able to get it free and roll it onto the new section of trail I wanted to block. I was done for the day. I still have to return to remove the "Trail" sign and add a few blazes. I will also use a weed whip to clear some of the brush to make the original trail more visible.

On Tuesday, November 3rd, I wanted to return to the Flynn Trail to remove the four blowdowns I had found on Monday. Bryce was at our house so I decided to take him along and Cindy wanted to go as well. When I got up the temperature was relatively mild hovering in the low 40's. We waited for Bryce to arrive, had breakfast and then got ready to go. I got my gear and an always excited Sheila into the car and headed out the DeBruce Road for Frick Pond at about 10:20 AM. I was still looking for a pair of boots to replace my Keen Glarus that had finally worn out. The previous day I had put on a pair of Vasque Summit boots and found that they were probably more suited for heavy backpacking. This time I tried a pair of Vasque Taku GTX and found they were lighter and more suited to the task. They did feel a little big but I found that I could adjust this with the lacing. I turned left on Mongaup Road and stayed to the left where Beech Mountain Road splits off. I parked in the smaller lot and was not surprised that we were the only hikers. Before we started the hike I made the decision to leave my Mammut Hoody in the car and bring only a light windbreaker in my pack. I also left my hat and gloves in the pack as the temperature was climbing into the 50's and I knew the walk up the Flynn Trail would keep me warm. We crossed the road to started our hike at 10:40 AM by walking through the woods on the Flynn Trail. Bryce couldn't decide whether or not he "needed" a hiking pole. Cindy shortened one of hers and let him use it but he eventually gave it back. Bryce and I were picking up branches and small sticks and throwing them to the side of the trail. After a walking a little farther than I thought we arrived at the first blowdown at about .75 miles. This was a small tree that partially blocked the trail. I dropped my pack and took out my camera to take a few "before" shots. For a few pictures I had Bryce stand in front of the tree to get some perspective on its size. I decided that this tree was small enough to use the saw to cut it. I took my curved Silky saw out of its scabbard and went to work. As I cut the tree near its base, the saw started to bind. I had Bryce bring me the wedges and these helped keep it open as I finished the cut. Before trying to move the tree, I cut some of the branches off and Bryce and I removed them to the side of the trail. Bryce helped me move the larger part of the tree and we were ready to move on to the next obstacle. I took some "after" pictures with Bryce standing in the middle of the now empty trail. After that, I returned the saw to the scabbard and packed up so that we could move on.

We walked a little farther up the hill to .85 miles and came to the biggest of the four blowdowns that needed to be cleared. The tree trunk stretched across the entire trail and was at least 12 inches in diameter. I used my Fiskars axe to remove a few small limbs. We dragged what I had cut to the side of the trail and then I got out the saw, I was able to cut some of the branches from the top and remove some of the bigger ones so that we could pull them away. Now it was time to attack the trunk itself. I decided the quickest way was to use the axe so I picked a spot closer to the top of the tree and started in. The wood was hard and the light Fiskars axe meant I had to provide a lot of the muscle. I did cut a wide enough V this time, barely, and was able to section the log. I tried to move the section I had cut and immediately knew I had a job on my hands there were a few protruding branches which made it hard to roll. I was able to flip it end-for-end once and then called Bryce over to help. Bryce is four years old but was able to help me roll the section of trunk to the side of the trail. I measured off another section and started to make my cut. This time I picked a smaller length but the chopping wasn't getting any easier. I like the fact that the Fiskars is light and easy to carry and it does a great job climbing and cutting smaller trees. As I worked my way through this larger log I found myself wishing I had one of my larger felling axes with some weight in the bit and a wider face. I eventually cut through the section and we were able to roll it off the trail. I wanted to cut another section but knew I needed a different axe and a little more energy. I took some pictures of the area we had cleared and then put everything back in the pack. It was noon and we decided to head back to the car. The walk down the Flynn Trail went quickly. At one point Cindy spotted something run across the trail. I have seen bears in this area more than once and we quickened our pace. As we turned off the road to stay on the Flynn Trail, I thought about removing the trees that blocked the original trail creating a short reroute. I decided this was definitely a job for anther day. We were back in the care by 12:40 PM. By the time we were on the DeBruce Road, Bryce was napping in the backseat!

On Monday, November 2nd, I decided to get out hiking somewhere close to home as it appeared the day would be beautiful. When I got up the temperature was below freezing but by 9:30 AM it had risen to the low 40's. I got my gear and an always excited Sheila into the car and headed out the DeBruce Road for Frick Pond. My Keen Glarus boots had finally worn to the point that I had to replace them. I put on a pair of Vasque Summit boots and found that they were probably more suited for heavy backpacking. I decided to wear them anyway since I did not plan a long hike. I immediately noticed that the top of the boot rubbed on the lower part of my ankle but only on the right side. I turned left on Mongaup Road and stayed to the left where Beech Mountain Road splits off. I parked in the smaller lot and was not surprised that we were the only hikers. Before we started the hike I made the decision to keep on my Mammut Hoody but to open the pitzips to allow some air circulation. I also wore a light hat and gloves. We walk out the back of the large parking area at 10:10 AM to begin our hike on the Quick Lake Trail. When we turned left onto the woods road that leads to Frick Pond, I inspected the trail and found it was wet with some standing and some running water. I am much more conscious of trail conditions now that I have become hooked on trail maintenance. There were places to walk along the sides of the road that were not quite as wet . The wet areas continued along the trail until we got to Gravestone Junction. The muddy area to the left on the Quick Lake Trail was wet but the stepping stones were still not really needed. We turned left and walked down to the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. The scene was not much different the it always is in the fall but I had to take a few shots. There were a few clouds in the blue sky but most of the leaves were off the trees. The water level in the pond was high enough to supply some for the creek. Sheila decided to jump into the water and then run around to dry off. I took a few pictures of her on the bridge before we continued. At the next junction we stayed to the left on the Quick Lake Trail. After a short distance I took off the Hoody and hat but kept in the gloves. This area of the trail was very wet and looked like it had recently been wetter. When we arrived at the small stream after the "pine promenade", I was surprised to see that it was full. I had to walk upstream a little to cross easily. Sheila again took advantage of the high water to get a drink and a little swim.

We continued on the trail and soon arrived at Iron Wheel junction about 1.5 miles into the hike. We turned right on the Logger's Loop and I noted that the large blowdown had been cleared. The Sullivan County Trails Association had a workday and removed some large blowdowns with chainsaws. The walk along the Logger's Loop was uneventful and pleasant. The sun was now shining through the trees. There were a few branches on the trail which I instinctively picked up and threw aside. It was nice to look at the yellow trail markers that Cindy and I had placed on a previous hike. After 2.75 miles of hiking, we arrived at Times Square where I had to make a decision. It was only 11:25 AM so I knew I had plenty of time to hike p the Big Rock Trail and down the Flynn Trail to the car. I had been concerned about the new boots but they seemed to wearing nicely. I certainly found them overkill for the kind of hiking I was doing! I turned left on the Big Rock Trail and began the 1.1 mile climb to the Flynn Trail. This uphill sometimes seems very long but on this day it went quickly. I did find several blowdowns on the trail that the snowmobile club had just cleared. Many were rotten wood and I assumed they came down in the recent rain and wind. We hit the junction with the Flynn Trail at 3.9 miles and turned right to begin the 1.7 mile descent to the car. By now I was feeling the weight of the heavy boots but at least we were headed downhill. The trip went quickly but I did find at least four blowdowns that needed an axe and saw to clear. I made a note to return as soon as possible to clear them. We continued our walk and soon arrived at the gate across the trail where we turned left to stay on the Flynn Trail and avoid the private property around the cabin. By 12:30 PM we were back at the car having covered 5.6 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes. The vertical gain was 905 ft.

On Saturday, October 31st, I decided I wanted to go south to hike some part of Harriman State Park. On Friday I had been there for our league cross country championship and the leaves were still on the trees and very colorful. Cindy agreed to go and we decided on a loop on the Dunderberg Ridge to the Timp. I thought this would be less crowded than other parts of the park. When I looked at my records, I found I had not been there in 4 years! I wanted to leave home early to make sure we got a parking spot but that didn't happen as we left after 9:30 AM. I drove down the Quickway to Harriman and then took Long Mountain Parkway to the traffic circle. From there I headed toward Bear Mountain State Park on Route 6 East and took Exit 19 on to Seven Lake Drive. As we drove through the park the leave were bright and beautiful. The first parking area on the right was already full and cars were parked along both skies of the road. People were wandering in and out of the roadway taking pictures which made the situation even more dangerous. Perkins Drive to the summit of Bear Mountain was still open but below it more cars were pulled over in places where there is no room to get the view of the Hudson River. There were bicyclists on both sides of the road and some were paying attention to traffic while others were not. When we came to the small Bear Mountain traffic circle, I took the first exit onto Route 202/9W heading south towards Tompkins Cove. The parking area for Bald Mountain was also packed with cars parked everywhere. Some people were stopped in the middle of the road apparently trying to determine where to park! I drove about 4 miles to just passed Jones Point and pulled into the first empty parking space I could find. Although there were quite a few cars parked it was a lot less crowded than anything else we had seen and we were both happy to leave the chaos behind. We got ready to hike by losing our heavier jackets and donning light windbreakers. I wore my hat as the air was still cool with a slight breeze. Several groups asked us where the trail started as they did not seem to have maps of any kind. Maps are important in Harriman since ether are so may different marked trails and unmarked roads, paths and trail that criss-cross each other! We gave directions and then started our hike by walking a little south on Route 202 with Sheila on her leash.

After a short walk we turned onto the beginning of the Timp-Torne Trail marked in blue and the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail marked with a red dot on white background. There were two young women ahead of us so I kept Sheila on her leash as we started up the trail through the heavy vegetation. We stopped at the first railroad tunnel and I waited for the women to take their pictures and then took some of my own. This tunnel is constructed out of laid-up stone and is at the base of the ridge. I walked through the tunnel to the other side, something I had never done before, and found that the other side was unfinished. As I returned, another group of hikers was approaching from below so I got my gear together and we hurried up the trail to the junction where the trails split. After passing through a cut in the rocks, we waited for the others to make their turn. They were younger and we thought they probably wanted to move faster than us. This group had asked us where the trail started when we were still in the parking lot. They now wanted to know the way to The Timp. I showed them my map and told them to turn left onto the blue Timp-Torne Trail. After they left, I let Sheila off her leash and we followed behind them. We worked our way up through and over some rocks until we were walking on one rail bed. The trail then took us up to the next level and at about 1.1 miles we came to a railroad tunnel blasted into the solid rock of the ridge. The tunnel was never finished and is partly filled with water. I took some pictures of the tunnel and the railroad bed before we continued along the raised bed. Rock blasted out of the mountain for tunnels and cuts was used to form a solid bed on which tracks would have been placed if the project had not been canceled. At 1.5 miles the trail turned from heading southwest to northeast forming a switchback to make the climb easier. At this point we had already gained almost 800 feet from the start of the hike. As we walked along the switchback, there were some nice views down to the river including a look at the Indian Point nuclear power plant. I got out my camera and took some pictures of the river and some of the brightly colored trees below us on the ridge. There was some haze on the river but the views were still wonderful. At 1.75 miles the trail turned abruptly to the southwest again. The trail continued to climb but the grade was much gentler.

The area we started to walk through was not effected by the construction of the Dunderberg Spiral Railway. It still has impressive rock formations but there are also areas of open woods. We continued to travel southwest along the trail meeting a few people going in both directions. When we crossed the 1777 Trail, I knew we were getting closer to The Timp and starting looking for the point where we would cross the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. At 2.5 miles we began a steep but short descent and then passed through and area which had multiple paths and roads. From 2.7 mils to 3 miles we climbed to a high point that is incorrectly marked as the Timp on some maps. There is no view from this high, rocky area so we continued passed it and dropped elevation to the junction with the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. We continued on the Timp-Torne Trail for another .2 miles until we had climbed to the top of the Timp. There were a few people coming down as we were ascending. When we reached the top, I dropped my pack and took out the camera. Cindy was impressed with the views! To the south we could see the New York City skyline in the distance. The view was hazy but the outlines of the buildings were unmistakable. To the north was West Mountain with its rock shelter where we could see some people. Farther to the north was the Perkins Tower on top of Bear Mountain and a little to the east the Bear Mountain Bridge. Interspersed between all of this were areas of brilliant fall foliage. It took numerous shots in all directions. A few people appeared from both directions on the trail as we were about to leave, Cindy and I discussed our options and decided to continue with the original plan of hiking a loop even though it would be longer than going back the way we had come. It was 1:10 PM when we left the Timp and we had hiked 3.4 miles. We descended to the trail junction and turned left on the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail to head for Bald Mountain.

The trail we were on parallels the Timp-Torne Trail for some distance and we climbed over a few bumps crossing the 1777 Trail in the process. At one point we saw hikers ahead and pulled off the trail as we usually do. We were both surprised when more than a dozen people passed us with many of them making nice comments about Sheila. At 4.25 miles we came to a small stream and stopped as a group of four crossed the stream and stopped to ask us questions. They were walking in the opposite direction of their objective but seemed happy to walk a big loop. We crossed the stream and were soon ascending Bald Mountain. There were two couple at the top of the mountain and the view was as impressive as I remembered. The Perkins Tower and Bear Mountain Bridge just to the north looked close enough to touch. I took several shots before deciding that we needed to get moving. One couple asked me to take their picture which I did. We followed them down the trail until just before the junction with the Cornell Mine Trail. They stopped there and seemed confused about which trail to take. We tried to help them and they eventually decided to go back over the top of Bald Mountain. I decided to bypass a visit to the Cornell Mine since it was getting later in the day. We continued on the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail passed the junction with the Cornell Mine Trail. The trail rolled a little and then at 5.4 miles began a serious descent. I knew that we would have a few more short ascents to go but I was not looking forward to them nor was Cindy.

At 5.9 miles we made our last ascent and then began the final descent at 6.25 miles. We were still heading east at this point but at 6.9 miles we made the turn south to head back to the car. At the turn there is a short spur trail that leads to a nice viewpoint. Although the sun was getting low, I took some shots from here of the river and the marina on the other side. The trail began to follow the railroad bed again and at 7.4 miles we reached the point where the stationary engines were to be placed to pull the railroad cars up the 22% incline. Stationary engines were needed since the maximum grade for railroad tracks in about 4% with cog engines being able to handle only 10% inclines. The cars were to be pulled to the top of the mountain by the stationary engines. For the trip down gravity would take over and the cars would follow a spiral descent through at least two tunnels much like an amusement park ride! Walking down this grade is not an easy task since it is still littered with large, angular stone which was to be the base for the tracks. We finally arrived at the junction with the Timp-Torne Trail and turned left to follow the trails back to the parking area. We were both glad when we arrived back at the car at 4:20 PM having hiked 8 miles in 5 hours and 45 minutes with over an hour of stopped time. The vertical gain was 2235 feet. We stopped at El Bandido in Middletown on the way back for a well-deserved meal.

On Tuesday, October 27th, I decided I wanted get out and do a hike close to home before going to cross country practice. I decided to go to Walnut Mountain in Liberty and try to hike all the trails that are not single track bike trails. I wanted get done as early as possible so I got Sheila and my gear in the car to head for Liberty a little after 9:00 AM. I decided to park at the main lot off Route 55 and arrived to find only one other car in the lot. I parked and we were ready to hike by 9:25 AM. I decided to walk down passed the ballfield to the north to pick up the Walnut Loop East. As I walked through the very wet grass, I realized that I should have walked around the field to cover the entire trail. We walked on the wide trail north toward the West Lake Street parking area. The leaves were mostly off the trees and on the ground. The temperature was still in the 30's and a slight breeze was blowing. It was beautiful! As we approached the parking area, we turned left onto the Walnut Loop North and starting heading back to the south. This trail started climbing almost immediately and I pushed the pace to get some aerobic work. Over the .7 miles to the junction with the Walnut Loop West the trail gained a little over 280 feet. When we got to the trail junction we turned right on the Walnut Loop West which soon turned south on the west side of the mountain. At about 1.6 miles the trail began a steep little uphill for about .2 miles to the lower set of picnic tables. We continued passed the tables to get on the Walnut Loop South. I began to hear a lot of barking and whining below and was convinced there was a pack of coyotes or wild dogs waiting for us. I put Sheila on her loop as we descended to the area of the old quarry and the new disk golf course. We never saw any dogs and were soon back at the parking area. I headed down the access road to the beginning of the Walnut Loop East and followed it to where we had entered the woods at the beginning of the hike. My GPS showed we had covered a total of 2.6 miles. I decided to walk back up through the field to the parking area to get to the rest of the trails.

From the lower end of the parking area we got on the Vista Way heading north. This trail was a little over .3 miles and ended at the Walnut Loop North. I decided to turn left and walk back toward the mountain. This time when we got to the Walnut Loop West we turned left and walked down to the Mountain Overlook Trail where we turned right to head south. After .4 miles we were at the upper picnic tables and the lookout. There was a couple of hikers at the overlook and I knew the view wasn't that good anyway. We made a hard right onto the Sunset Trail and stayed on it as it swung around the west side of the mountain a little higher up than the Walnut Loop West. We continued to follow the Sunset Trail until it started to descend and the Mountain House trail turned off to the right. We followed this trail up over the mountain through a switchback and then down to the Sunset Trail near the overlook. The hikers were still at the overlook so we turned left and headed back down the Mountain Overlook Trail toward the parking area. As we approached the junction with the Sunset Trail, I decided to shoot up to the junction with the Mountain House Trail to say that we had covered all the trails. We came back down to the Mountain House Trail and followed it all the way back to the car. We made it back by 11:30 AM having covered 5.5 miles in 2 hours with an overall elevation gain of 950 feet.

On Monday, October 26th, I decided I wanted get out and do a hike close to home before going to cross country practice. I decided to go to Trout Pond since it is close and offers some nice views. I delayed our departure somewhat as the temperature continued to rise into the 40's. I got Sheila and my gear in the car and left Livingston Manor to head to Roscoe on State Route 17. I got on Route 206 and followed it across the Delaware County line to Morton Hill Road. After a left turn on Morton Hill Road, I drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the side of the road to avoid the parking area which is private. We began our hike down Russell Brook Road at 10:20 AM. The air still seemed cold to me so I wore my Mammut Hoody, a hat and light gloves. We continued on down Russell Brook Road to the overlook of the falls. There was not much water in the stream and the upper falls was just trickle. I decided not to stop for pictures and we continued down toward the parking area. An SUV came down the road and passed us. When we got to the parking area, one car was present but the SUV was nowhere to be seen! We got on the woods road that goes down to the bridge that crosses the brook. As we crossed the bridge I noted that the invasive Japanese knotweed was now dying off after several hard frosts. The path that I had carved to the falls was still wide open. I decided not to walk to the falls and continued on the main trail to the register. At the trail junction just after the register we turned to the left to climb the steeper hill toward Mud Pond. The trail was rather dry with only a few wet spots and the ascent went quickly. The sun was out and it was getting warmer but there was a slight breeze blowing. I decided to stop and switch to a lighter windbreaker and stowed the Hoody in my pack. We reached the top of the hill at 10:50 AM after hiking 1.4 miles and started down the other side. At 1.6 miles we made a right to follow the trail up to the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. We kept hiking on the relatively dry trail and found only a few areas with water.

The ascent continued for the next 1.2 miles until at 2.7 miles into the hike when we were at the highest point and ready to start the descent to Trout Pond. There were a few small branches across the trail and one or two major blowdowns that would require an axe and saw to clear. The trail remained relatively dry and easy to negotiate even in spots than can be muddy or have running water at other times of the year. We descended the rest of the way to Trout Pond and found a few more obstructions on the trail. As we approached the inlet I again decided not to stop as there was nothing remarkable to photograph. We continued on the main trail toward the outlet of the pond. Along the way I the trail remained almost dry which was much more pleasant than trying to negotiate the mud that is often present. Along the way I noticed the sun sparkling off the pond and walked out to the shore to snap a few pictures. As we approached the lower end of the pond I looked at the skies which were devoid of any clouds and almost bypassed this stop. We did stop at the outlet end so that I could take a few more shots. It was obvious that the pond was very low as the water was not even lapping at the outlet dam. On the far shore I could see some old stumps sticking up and took a few pictures of them. The hike from the outlet to the trail junction is all downhill and really did go quickly. We were soon back at the register box where we continued on the main trail to the parking area. We finished with the hike up Russell Brook Road back to the car. We arrived back at 12:30 PM having covered 5.5 miles and 1100 vertical feet in 2 hours and 15 minutes.

On Friday, October 23rd, I wanted to get in a hike not too far from home but with some elevation gain. I decided that hiking Dry Brook Ridge from Hill Road fit the bill. I wait until later in the morning to leave home since the temperature was still in the high 30's but was predicted to rise to almost 50 degrees. Sheila and I left Livingston Manor at 8:45 AM and headed up State Route 17 to Roscoe. I took Route 206 to the Pepacton Reservoir and turned right on Route 30 to head toward Margaretville. At the Dunraven Bridge I turned right onto BWS 9 instead of following Route 30. The reservoir was very low exposing a lot of land near the shore. The leaf colors around the reservoir were very bright in places and I decided I would stop on the way back to take some shots. I continued to follow BWS 9 around the reservoir to the intersection with BWS 10 and the Barkaboom Road. I turned left on BWS 10 and followed it until it changed to Southside Road just outside Margaretville. I continued on Southside to Huckleberry Brook Road where I turned right. Shortly after the turn I turned left on Hill Road and 1.3 miles to the parking pulloff on the right. The day was cool with temperatures still in the low 40's so I kept on my Mammut hoody and even wore a hat and gloves. We crossed the road and began our hike just before 11:20 AM. The first part of the hike is a nice wide trail that ascends through a red pine plantation. The ascent continues for about 1.9 miles when the trail levels off after gaining 1130 feet. The sun through the pines was beautiful and it seemed warm despite the temperature. After passing through the pines we entered a predominantly hardwood forest before passing again through some pines. Wherever there were hardwood trees the ground was covered in leaves. Sheila seemed to delight in racing away from me through the rustling leaves and then careening headlong back toward me. Along the way I removed my Hoody and traded it for a light windbreaker since the climbing had warmed me up more than enough. After that, the trail opened up a little and we ran into some briars growing in the sunnier spots. At one point Sheila alerted but I did not spot anything or hear any voices. I was hoping it was not a bear and soon I could hear hikers approaching. I put Sheila on her leash as two men appeared. One was carrying a bow saw so I assumed they were doing some trail maintenance. We spoke briefly and then headed on in opposite directions. After .9 miles, the trail leveled off and we walked to the junction with the blue Dry Brook Ridge Trail at 2.3 miles. As we turned right on this trail, I noticed the sign that said the Hill Road parking was 1.7 miles away. I had to laugh! I expect distances to vary some but .6 miles is a pretty big gap.

The trail along the ridge follows the edge until about 2.7 miles where it veers away and heads a little to the east and northeast. Initially the trail ascends a small bump and then descends the other side before leveling off for a while. We were soon climbing the last of three short ascents to the area of the lookout. From 2.95 miles to the lookout the trail gains just under 200 feet in elevation and begins to follow the edge of the escarpment. We were at the viewpoint around 1:00 PM. I was glad I had kept my windbreaker on as there was a breeze blowing on the exposed rock face. The views were good but the brilliant colors I had scene from the Dunraven Bridge were not apparent from the lookout. The sky was flat with only a little blue and no defined clouds. I took some pictures of the viewpoint and of Sheila. I took some more shots oft he scenery including some zoomed pictures that showed the low water level in the Pepacton Reservoir. After some minutes at the lookout, we turned around and headed back the way we had come. The trip back to the trail junction went quickly and we were soon headed back down the trail to the parking area. The trip down always seems to go quickly as it is all downhill or level. I stopped just before the road in the red pine plantation and took some pictures of the sky through the pines and some of the trail. Everything looked so warm but the temperature was only in the high 40's. We arrived back at the car at 2:30 PM. We had hiked 6.6 miles in 3 hours and 10 minutes with an elevation gain of 1625 feet. The trip down was about 1o minutes shorter than the trip up.

On Wednesday, October 21st I wanted to get in a hike before cross country practice in the afternoon. I had a few things to get done in the early morning and by the time I could leave I knew that 'closer was better'. I got my gear and Sheila in the car and left Livingston Manor a little before 10:00 AM to head for Frick Pond. The sky was overcast and I had already decided that this would be a fast hike without any stops! We were at the parking area and out on the Quick Lake Trail by 10:15 AM. Sheila was more than ready to get going. The temperature was in the high 40's with a slight breeze so I wore a light windbreaker. The sky seemed to threaten rain but none was in the forecast. The trail was damp but there was no standing or running water. At Gravestone Junction we stayed to the left on the red Quick Lake Trail crossing the stepping stones the Willowemoc Trail Crew had installed later in the year. I wondered when these stones would actually become necessary again! We walked down to the pond and crossed the bridge over the outlet. Looking at the pond I wasn't at all sorry I had decided to skip the photography. At the next trail junction we headed left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. We were keeping a pretty steady pace as we headed for Iron Wheel Junction. Sheila was running around us following game trails and chasing a few chipmunks and squirrels. When we arrived at Iron Wheel Junction, we turned left to head toward Hodge Pond.

We kept a quick pace up the hilly part of the trail. At one point I heard a plane overhead and looked up to see if I could identify the type. It was a four engine airplane but the engines were definitely propeller driven! I could not see it well enough to identify any marking but I got the impression it was a military aircraft. We continued on our way up the trail and arrived at Junkyard Junction. At this intersection, the Quick Lake Trail bears to the left and continues on to Quick Lake. We turned right and headed across the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. The Flynn Trail is usually damp but today it was almost dry. We turned down the Flynn Trail toward the pond when we got to the gate. We reached the shores of the pond and turned left to follow the jeep trail around the back of the pond. The sky was still overcast and some dark clouds were moving in. On the other side of the pond I turned up the hill toward the ruins of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. The climb up this trail is steeper than the trail from the outlet of Hodge Pond but it is also shorter! When we got to the top of the hill, we turned right to head back toward the Flynn Trail. Once we were back at the Flynn Trail, we turned left for a straight shot back to the car. We set a fast pace to the junction with the Big Rock Trail and then had about 1.7 miles to go to get back to the car. I must have been deep in thought as the hike to the car seemed to go so quickly. We followed the Flynn Trail to the woods and back to the car arriving at 12:30 PM. We hiked 6.5 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes with 980 feet of elevation gain. This was one of the few hikes where our average moving and overall speed were the same.

On Sunday, October 18th it had snowed enough in the morning to cover the ground but I wanted to get out for a short, local hike. I called Lisa to see if she was available and she was but not until 4:00 PM. We decided that I would pick her up at her store, Morgan Outdoors, and we would hike to Huggins Lake. I got my gear in the car along with Sheila who seemed thrilled to be out in the 36 degree weather and picked Lisa up a little after 4:00 PM. I drove up the Beaverkill Road and took the Campsite Road down toward the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. Since this bridge was closed for repairs, I turned left onto Craige Claire Road and crossed the Beaverkill on the steel bridge. I turned right onto Berry Brook Road to head for the parking area at Huggins Lake. As we drove along Berry Brook Road, we could see the brook was low but had increased in volume some in recent days. At the intersection with the Covered Bridge Road there was a sign that stated the road was closed 5 miles ahead. I knew that was well beyond the Huggins Lake area so we continued and in a couple of miles turned right onto the access road to the parking area. As we had suspected we were the only car there. We began our hike by walking up the wide woods road at 4:30 PM. The sky was overcast and as we walked snow began to fall. I was cold at first even though I had worm by Mountain Hardware Winter Wander pants and Mammut Hoody. The trail is not marked on any map and I watched this time to see if I could spot any blazes. There were no blazes of any kind to indicate that the road is a hiking or snowmobile trail. The DEC has maintained the trail but I do not know to what end. I do know that I always think of this as an easy hike and am always surprised that the first part is all uphill. Over the first 1.25 miles the elevation gain is about 625 feet. This averages under a 10% grade but it seems like more. It didn't take long before I was opening zippers on the Hoody despite the cool weather. Sheila seemed happy to be out and she stayed near us as we climbed the hill. Along the way we cleared a few branches from the trail. There were two larger blowdowns that did not impede our walk but should be cleared for the trail. At the top of the hill we began to walk along some high ground that looks down on Huggins Lake. In the winter, the lake is clearly visible but the leaves hide it during the other seasons.

After the top of the hill, the trail descends gentle at first until at 1.7 miles it turns sharply left and drops a little more steeply to the shore of the lake. The trail was slippery with a light coating of snow on top of the wet leaves. When we arrived at the lake, we could see that there were some colors present but they were not very bright. Many of the leaves had already fallen. I dropped my pack and took some pictures. Some of the best colors were in the flowers and shrubs surrounding the pond but the sky was overcast. I did take some pictures of the snow on the trail and around the lake. I also snapped some shots of the cattails near the shore. I picked up my pack and we headed back up the trail. The only negative point about Huggins Lake is that there is only one trail and so there are no variations available. I have tried bushwhacking around the pond but the bushes get pretty thick. We climbed the hill back to the highest point on the trail and then started down the other side. As we continued to descend, Lisa and I both remarked about the beauty of the setting sun and that it was great to get out. We had hiked 3.8 miles in 1 hour and 40 minutes with a total elevation gain of 950 feet. As we left the parking area, I turned left on Berry Brook road and headed back to Livingston Manor the way we had come.

On Thursday, October 15th, I wanted to get in a quick hike close to home and decided to hike Hodge and Frick Ponds by starting up the Flynn Trail and returning on the Quick Lake Trail. When we left Livingston Manor just before 9:00 AM, the sun was beginning to peak through and the temperature was in the high 50's. At the parking area the sun was out and the my was blue with some puffy white clouds. I wanted to hike quickly but knew I would have to stop at the ponds for a few pictures. We walked across the road and started up the Flynn Trail at 9:10 AM. Once on the main trail I set a quick pace which, of course, Sheila exceeded at every point. She tends to roam off the trail following her nose but never too far and will come when called. It was nice to hike up the Flynn Trail unimpeded by blowdowns and know that I had helped clear them all! We hit the Big Rock junction at 9:50 PM making the 1.7 miles in about 40 minutes. The trail from that point is flat and then downhill to the pond so our pace increased. We walked through the field by the pond and went to the shore. Sheila did not seem interested in jumping in the cold water. I dropped my pack and took out the camera to take some shots of the pond. The leaves had changed colors a little more but were still subdued. After a few more shots, I picked up my pack and we headed up and around to the right to circle the pond. As we reached the head end of the lake, I walked down to the shore and took a few more pictures before returning to the trail.

On the other side we turned right and negotiated our way uphill passed some areas where I had cleared some major blowdowns that has blocked the trail. We continued to follow the blue Flynn Trail and passed through the gate at the top of the hill. The rest of the Flynn Trail had was damp in places but those areas were easily avoided. At 10:35 AM we were at Junkyard Junction where we turned left to head down the Quick Lake Trail. There was one large log on the trail by the junction but I decided that it was a job for the chainsaws of the snowmobile club! We had gone 3.6 miles in 1 hour and 25 minutes. The Quick Lake Trail was mostly downhill but was wet and a little slippery in places. We turned right at Iron Wheel Junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. The trip back to Frick Pond went quickly but some areas of the trail after the "pine promenade" were still wet. Soon we were at the bridge over the outlet of Frick Pond. I stopped to take a few pictures as this is one of my favorite spots in the Catskills! After taking a few shots, I put the camera away and we continued on to Gravestone Junction. The stepping stones we had placed were still there but the "mud pit" was dry. We stayed on the red Quick Lake Trail back to the trail register. We turned right after the register and walked the Quick Lake Trail back to the car. We were back at the parking area at 11:45 AM having covered 6.7 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes with a vertical gain of 960 feet.

On Monday, October 12th, Cindy and I were happy to be going on a hike with our son Karl, his wife Kathleen and their children. Bryce is 4 years old while Luke and Lilly who are twins are 2 years old. We decided to go to the Red Hill fire tower since Bryce had hiked there before. The hike is a short one with a rounder distance of about 2.6 miles but the elevation gain is over 800 feet. We agreed to meet at 9:30 AM at the trailhead but expected the rest of the family to be a little late since getting three young children ready is always challenging. As it was Cindy and I left Livingston Manor a little late with an excited Sheila in the back seat. I drove out DeBruce Road to Route 47 where I turned right. When I reached the intersection with the Claryville Road I turned left and drove through the hamlet for about 2 miles to Red Hill Road on the right. Red Hill Road ascends Red Hill and has some nice views along the way. After driving 3 miles, I turned left on Coons-Dinch Road which is a dirt and gravel covered washboard. This road extends 1.2 miles to the parking area for the Red Hill fire tower. After passing Rudolf Road on the right, the road becomes "Seasonal Maintenance" and is very rough. I parked at 9:15 AM and we were the only car in the lot. Shortly after, the rest of the family arrived and we were on the trail by 9:30 AM. The kids seemed eager to hike and led the way. The trail is rocky in places and has a lot of roots but we seemed to negotiate them with only a few mishaps. Bryce took the lead and I followed him taking Sheila along with us. Along the way one man passed us and I thought he looked like one of the fire tower volunteers that I know. He had an old-fashioned basket on his back for a pack which was another clue. We continued to hike with the kids excitedly calling out "Marker!" whenever they saw a yellow trail marker. Another couple passed us on one of the flatter spots. The trail has a few steep spots at the beginning but then levels out a little before beginning the final climb at about 1 mile. Bryce was pointing out the different kinds of mosses on the rock as we hiked the last .3 miles which averages a little over an 18% grade. At 10:30 AM we arrived at the tower clearing.

I dropped my pack and tethered Sheila to a tree near the first picnic table. Unlike some dogs, Sheila has no problem climbing up and down the open steps and I didn't want her following us to the top. In a few minutes the rest of the family arrived which made Sheila happy. What didn't make her happy was being tied to a tree while we went to the tower. Bryce and I headed up first although he said he didn't make it to the top the last time he was on Red Hill. this time he led the way and had no problem going all the way up into the cab! The fire tower volunteer was indeed someone who I knew and we talked while looking at the view. The view from the tower was beautiful with a lot of reds and yellows in all directions. Being able to see the Burroughs Range and so may other prominent peaks was fun. We even got a look at the Rondout Reservoir to the south. I took quite a few pictures and then we started down the steps. I took a few more shots from the landings as I like to get different angles and include the tower supports in the picture. Once on the ground I took a few more shots up through the tower. I also took a few pictures of the cabin and of Sheila. We gathered the family on the porch of the cabin and I took some pictures. The cabin was open and we walked in to read some of the history of the tower. The tower was in active operation from 1920 to 1990 and was used to spot fires. There was even an old radio that the spotters used to call in the location of suspicious smoke. By 11:10 AM had eaten a snack and had a drink and were ready to get back on the trail to begin the hike back to the car. Bryce was even faster descending than on the climb. We met two more pairs of hikers coming up the trail but I was surprised that there weren't more people, present. Doug, the tower volunteer, said there had been 50 people at the tower on Sunday ! Bryce and I waited for the others to catch up. Luke and Lilly had made it almost all the way to the top before getting a ride from Mom and Dad. They also needed a little help on the way down. We were back at the car at 12:10 PM. We had hiked 2.6 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes with about 45 minutes of stopped time a the summit. The vertical gain was 840 feet which is a lot for little legs. This was a much shorter hike than we have been doing but it was a nice to be out with our family.

On Sunday, October 11th Cindy and I wanted to hike after church. By the time we got out of church and went to the Roscoe Farmer's Market it was getting too late to go very far. We decided to go to Frick Pond and blaze the Logger's Loop Trail. I had placed and replaced markers on the Quick Lake and Flynn Trails on Thursday but thought it might be nice to do this trail which would leave only the Big Rock Trail to blaze. On our Thursday trip we had found many missing markers and some so old they were hard to spot. I had just hiked the Logger's Loop and had removed all the blowdowns so I knew I would not need an axe or a saw. I drove out the DeBruce Road to the Mongaup Pond Road where I turned left and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead on Beech Mountain Road. When we arrived at 12:25 PM, we were surprised to see that both parking lots were almost full and we were lucky to find a spot that opened up as a car left. I knew that Lisa from Morgan Outdoors had a "Lark in the Park" hike scheduled and wondered if that group would have anywhere to park! I put some yellow markers in one pocket and nails in the other and we headed out the Quick Lake Trail at the back of the larger parking area. Having Sheila in tow on her leash was quite a chore especially sine I was carrying a hammer in the other hand. I wondered what some people might think! When we reached the trail register, we found a young couple who ask for some directions. We told them what they wanted to know and found ourselves giving advice throughout the day. We walked out the woods road to Gravestone Junction encountering a few wet spots on the trail and a few more people. We walked down to the bridge across the outlet to Frick Pond and I took some pictures since I find this view irresistible! The leaf colors were nice but not much different than Thursday. We walked back up the hill to Gravestone Junction and turned left on the Logger's Loop. At this point we heard some people making some very loud noises. We could hear them until we got to Times Square and continued on the Logger's Loop. We never saw them or found out why they had to be so inconsiderate of others. As we walked along the trail, I stopped to nail up some markers where none had been and replaced a few old one. the snowmobile markers were very old and there were a few cross country skiing markers present also. By 1:00 PM we arrived at Times Square and continued straight ahead on the Logger's Loop.

I continued to nail up yellow markers so that anyone hiking could confirm they were on the right trail. The day was really beautiful with temperatures in high 60's. As we walked we picked up a few small branches but there wasn't much else blocking the trail until we were about .5 miles from Times Square. At this point large beech tree had fallen across the trail taking several smaller trees with it. I kick myself for neglecting to bring a saw with me as that would easily have taken care of the mess. Since I didn't have any tools we had to walk around the blowdown having it in place. As we continued on toward Iron Wheel Junction I though about when I would have time to come clear the blowdown so that hikers could pass freely. I placed a few more markers and soon we were approaching the trail junction. Just before the junction we found a large, old tree trunk lying partly in the trail. It was similar to the one on the Quick Lake Trail and would require at least an axe to clear. Both of these are on snowmobile trails and the snowmobile club had no restriction on the use of chain saws! We turned left at Iron Wheel and head back toward Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail. Sheila had been looking for a place to get wet and to get a drink and finally found it in the small stream that crosses the trail before the "pine tunnel". We continued to hike at a good pace and I decided I might have enough time to take Cindy and Sheila home, get my tools and return to clear the blowdown before dusk. Soon we were crossing the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. We walked back on the woods road stopping only to help a few people. We were back at the parking area by 2:20 PM. I drove home and grabbed my curved Silky saw and Fiskars axe and headed back to Frick Pond.

The parking areas were still jammed but I parked on the end of a row and was out on the Quick Lake Trail at 2:55 PM. Now I was carrying an axe instead of a hammer and although I got some funny looks no one asked why I was carrying an axe! I walked as fast as I could to Gravestone Junction where I stayed to the right on the Logger's Loop. I continued the fast pace to Times Square and then up the hill on the Logger's Loop. I wasn't sure exactly how far I had to go but I knew I was making good time. As I reached the top of the hill the trail flattened and I saw a couple approaching who I had given directions earlier. We said "Hello" and I again took several minutes to make suggestions. Once I started up again I came to the blowdown rather quickly. At 3:25 PM I dropped my park and got my tools ready to go. I took a few pictures of the blowdown and then got to work dismantling the mess. I alternated between saw and axe and found the hardest work was dragging away what I cut as I tend to section large pieces. I started to cut one branch with the saw and almost immediately got it pinched. It took a few minutes to work the saw out without damaging it but after that the work went quickly. I took a few pictures of the open trail and them packed up to head back. I was surprised that it had only taken 30 minutes to clear the trail. I decided to hike back to Times Square and then loop around Frick Pond on the wooden walkways. When I arrived at the trail junction, I turned right and walked along the trail observing that it was well-blazed and would not require additional markers. As I approached the first bridge, I looked up to find two hikers and their dog. I recognized the woman with the camera as an art teacher from Liberty HS where I taught. I stopped to talk and she introduced me to her husband and her dog. The shadows were beginning to get long and the lighting made the trees look brighter. I took a few pictures and then we continued in our opposite directions. I came to the Frick Pond bridge and stopped to take a few shots before continuing back to the car. As I approached the trail register I saw the same couple I had spoken to twice before. I said "Hello" and we walked out to the parking area together. They asked some questions about hiking which I answered and referred them to my website. I was back at the car for the second time at 4:40 PM. I had hike a total of 7 miles in 3.5 hours with a total elevation gain of about 720 feet.

On Thursday, October 8th I had scheduled a trip with Ken and Lisa to reblaze the Quick Lake and Flynn Trails that loop around Frick and Hodge Ponds. Lisa wanted to get an early start so that she could get some trail maintenance in before opening her store so we agreed to meet at 8:00 AM at the trailhead. The temperature was in the low 40;s when I awoke at 6:30 AM and I wished I had gotten out some warmer pants! By the time I got my gear in the car and was leaving Livingston Manor at 7:45 AM the air seemed much warmer. I felt very guilty as I had to leave Sheila home! I arrived at the Frick Pond parking area just before 8:00 AM and Lisa and Ken were there soon after. We spent a few minutes filling out paperwork and then started out on the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond. The trail was damp but after we made the left turn onto the woods road the areas of standing and running water I found on the previous hike were gone. As we walked along the trail, we watched for red blazes and added a few when none were present. Lisa and Ken made sure the blazes were visible and trimmed some branches where necessary. We continued our work until we got to Gravestone Junction where we stayed to the left on the Quick Lake Trail and walked down the hill to the bridge across the outlet to Frick Pond. The amount of water in the pond was visibly lower than the last time I hiked and there was less volume in the stream. The leaves around the pond had changed color to a greater extent than I had seen the week before. I stopped to take a few shots before continuing around to the next trail junction. We continued to put up a few trail markers and I showed Ken the large cherry tree we had removed from the bridge. We stayed to the left at the trail junction and found the trail to the "pine promenade" was wet but had no standing or running water. Along the way we removed one larger blowdown handling the axe. We removed a few more branches from the trail and trimmed those hanging overhead. Lisa left us to go to work as we continued toward Ironwheel Junction. We added a few markers and looked at the "widowmaker" hanging over the trail just before the junction. We decided there was nothing we could do until it came down in a windstorm. When we arrived at Ironwheel Junction, we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail to Junkyard Junction.

The trail ascends all the way from Iron Wheel Junction to Junkyard Junction although never steeply. We kept a good pace interrupted only by a few pauses to remove branches and to replace old markers and place new ones. We were trying to strike a balance between markers being too close together and absent for long stretches. Ken and I seemed to click on this point and we had a good time talking about various hiking experiences. At about 2.8 miles we made the turn to the northeast and ran into the large tree trunk across the trail that I had found on my last trip. We decided to let the snowmobile club handle this one as they are equipped with chainsaws. Soon we were at Junkyard Junction where I exchanged the red trail markers in my pocket for blue ones from my pack. We turned right on the Flynn Trail and although it was wet there were none of the pools of water that had been present last week. We continued to reblaze the trail as we headed for Hodge Pond. At the gate we turned right to descend to the pond. When we reached the point where the trail turns right, we added markers to make the direction clear. At this same point a jeep trail turns to the left and goes around the back of Hodge Pond. This area of the trail has been wet in the past but was just a little damp and muddy in most places with only one area where water was still present. We continued to walk along the Flynn Trail to the outlet of Hodge Pond. When we reached Hodge Pond, we walked to the shore and I took some pictures of the pond and was surprised to find that the leaves had not changed as much as the ones at Frick Pond. I picked up my pack and we headed up the hill toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. It was hard to place blazes as the trail is wide and there are few large trees along the edge. There was also no way to adequately mark the turn to the right at the top of the hill but we placed blazes immediately after the turn. When we arrived at the Big Rock Junction, we added a few markers and the continued down the Flynn Trail toward the parking area. We didn't need to add too many blazes as there were already quite a few along this section of the trail. The 1.7 miles downhill sometimes seems to take longer than it should but I didn't notice it as we moved quickly down the trail. At the gate we turned left and stayed on the trail until were back at the trailhead. We were back at 12:15 PM heaving spent 4 hours hiking 6.5 miles with an elevation gain of 925 feet.

On Wednesday, October 7th I wanted to go somewhere locally to hike but did not want to go to my usual haunts around Livingston Manor. I remembered that I had not been to Walnut Mountain in liberty for some time and thought walking the trail loops there would reveal some fall colors. I took care of some business and then got my gear and Sheila in the car to head for Liberty a little after 10:00 AM. We arrived at the main parking lot for the park at 10:30 and immediately started up the trail that winds around the mountain. I noticed a new kiosk with maps and as I started to hike it was obvious the trail marking which had been lacking was now upgraded. In addition, the bike trail are now marked with arrows and a sign for the level of difficulty. The main walking trails are now marked with colored diamonds and an abbreviation for the name of the trail. When we got to the first trail junction we turned left on the Mountain Overlook Trail which was marked in orange. After about .6 miles, we arrived at the upper picnic tables with a nice, open view toward Swan Lake and the old Stevensville Hotel. I was disappointed that the leaves did not seem to have changed color and there were only a few bright areas. I took a few pictures and then we continued counterclockwise around the mountain on the yellow Sunset Trail. I began to think about laying out a 5K running course for training my runners and for a race sometime in the future. As we started to descend the Sunset Trail, the red Mountain House Trail turned to the right and we followed that for .4 miles through some switchbacks over the shoulder of the mountain and back to the Sunset Trail. We turned right and followed the Sunset Trail for .5 miles back to the orange Mountain Overlook Trail. We turned right and at the next trail junction stayed to the left and ended up at the lower picnic tables with a similar view to the one from the upper lookout. We turned left and followed the Walnut Loop Trail back through the quarry to the car. Along the way we passed through the new disk golf course that has been set up. I checked my GPS at the car and found the route was short so I headed to the other end of the parking area. This really wasn't enough distance and would mean runners would have to pass through the parking area at the start of the race. I walked down the park road toward the soccer field. and found this was a better choice for the start of a race.1 back to the car and I found we had only covered a little over 3 miles. I also realized that the course I had set out did not cover the long will on the west side of the park. I really wanted to include this hill in the 5K course so we set off back up the trail. This time at the first trail junction we continued straight ahead and were soon on the red trail which is part of the Walnut Loop Trail. About 1.2 miles from the parking area we were at the base of the hill which we ascended to the lower picnic area. From there we turned left and walked to the Mountain Overlook Trail where we turned right and walked back to the parking area and the car. We had hiked 5 moles in under 2 hours with a total elevation gain of 820 feet. When I got home, I used by computer software to piece together a 5K course using the best trails on the mountain. Later in the afternoon I went to coach my cross country team at Liberty HS. I took the team to Walnut Mountain and they ran my new 5K course. They did a good job following the route for the first time with only a few mistakes.

On Monday, October 5th Cindy and I had planned to hike Dry Brook Ridge from Hill Road. When I got up at 6:00 AM the temperature had dropped to 35 degrees and there was a persistent fog hanging in the valley. I decided to get a little more sleep and then go to Trout Pond and hike. We got our gear in the car and left Livingston Manor with an ecstatic Sheila in the back seat. We were looking forward to seeing some fall colors at Trout pond and we expected Russell Brook Falls to have a high volume of water after the rain the previous week. We headed north on Route 17 to Roscoe and took Route 206 toward Downsville but turned left onto Morton Hill Road just after the Roscoe Nursing Home. When we got to the intersection with Russell Brook Road, I turned around and parked on the side of the road to avoid parking in the large open space which is marked as private property. Sheila was ready to go as always and we started down the road at 9:35 AM. The temperature was still in the 40's when we started but I opted to take off my Mammut Hoody and wear a light windbreaker. I did choose to wear a hat and gloves I wore my old Keen Glarus which are beginning to lose their outer soles and need to be replaced but still have a few miles left. As we walked down the road, it was hard to hear the stream which surprised me since I expected a good volume of water. I walked down the bank at the viewpoint over the upper falls and found very little water in the stream. I decided not to stop to take pictures and knew that visiting he lower falls would also be unnecessary. As we approached the lower parking area, we could see that there were no cars in the lot. We walked down to the main trail and then across the bridge over Russell Brook. The knotweed that we had trimmed back a few weeks earlier was beginning to grow back. As we passed the register box, I decided we would walk up to Trout Pond first as we were looking forward to seeing how much the leaves had changed.

At the pond, I took off my pack and got out the camera. We were very surprised that the water level was so low with the shore being at least six feet from the outlet of the dam. The sky was blue with some very interesting clouds. The leaves showed some nice colors but had not completely changed. Everything was reflected in the glassy, still water. I took some shots and asked Sheila to pose with the pond in the background. We didn't stay too long before getting back on the main trail and starting toward the upper end of the pond. The trail is completely flat and is often wet and muddy but on this day it was dry. At the first lean-to, I checked out the privy and found it unusable! This is a relatively new installation and I was sad to see it had been treated so poorly by those it was put there to serve. At the bridge over the inlet I dropped my pack and took the camera down to the shore. I had to take a few quick pictures since the view was quite different than from the outlet end. We continued our walk on the main trail and started the climb to Cherry Ridge. Along the way were several large blowdowns which we could not clear. We made a slight turn to the south and began to climb more but the ascent seemed to go quickly. Sheila was roaming the brush near the trail and seemed to always be on a scent trail. We hit the high point on the hike and started down the other side. After a short ascent to the "forest of numerous small trees", we walked down to the woods road and snowmobile trail and turned left to complete our loop. We began to descend to the trail junction by the register box and found that the ground was covered by fallen leaves. The leaves were not very colorful but were very dry. As we passed the large campsite on the left at the bottom of the hill a single gunshot rang out. I immediately yelled a "Hallo" but got no response but at least there were no more shots! We quickly walked out to the register box, turned right and walked up the trail to the parking area. There was now one car in the lot but we did not see anyone. We walked up the road back to our car arriving at 12:05 PM. We had hiked 5.5 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes gaining 1105 feet.

On Friday, October 2nd, I wasn't planning to hike very far since I had gotten out the day before. I got up early and found cloudy skies but check the forecast and found no rain predicted. The leaves around Livingston Manor were beginning to change so I thought I would go somewhere that had a view to find some fall colors. I decided it was time to hike a 3500 peak and decided on Panther. Panther Mountain itself has limited views but to get there from Route 47 the trail passes over Giant ledge which was a great view of Panther Mountain, the entire Burroughs Range and the valleys below. I had been to Panther in April but from the Fox Hollow trailhead. The last time I had done the mountain from Route47 was more than year ago! When I looked at the temperature in the early morning is was barely 40 degrees and by the time we left it had only risen a few degrees. I put on my Mammut Hoody and packed a hat and gloves as well as a light windbreaker. I remembered how rocky the trail was and decided to wear my Asolo Powermatic boots even though they are very heavy. We arrived at the parking area on Route 47 at 9:00 AM to find only one other car parked in the lot. It was a cool morning with an air temperature of about 41 degrees so I kept my Mammut hoody on over a long-sleeved shirt. Sheila and I got started pretty quickly by crossing the road and heading out the trail. The rain that had fallen during the weak made the trail wet with some standing and some running water. I let Sheila off the leash almost immediately after crossing the road and she was behaving by staying on the trail. At the kiosk I found a sign that mentioned a marathon trail run from Fox Hollow that also took in the Burroughs Range and the new trail over Romer Mountain although I had heard nothing about the run. As we crossed the bridge over the small stream, there was a good volume of water running. We kept up a good pace but I forgot how annoying the many rocks that cover the trail to the turnoff can be! In addition, there are several short climbs and each one seems to be the last. I stopped at the base of one climb and removed my Hoody to stow it in the pack. I decided not to put on a jacket but to continue wearing the hat and gloves. Despite the fact that we had been hiking double digit miles all summer, I wondered how I would feel climbing again. I had no problem getting up the scrambles to the turnoff and, in fact, enjoyed the elevation gain all day. On the way up we met one young male hiker coming down the trail. We finished the sixth short climb and arrived at the turn to Giant Ledge and Panther at about 9:35 AM. I didn't feel like we were going slow but it took 30 minutes to walk the .75 miles from the road, one of our slower times.

The trail after the turn was also wet and I made use of the stepping stones along the way. Sheila did not! We met another couple hiking toward us and I talked to them briefly before we continued in opposite directions. They told me they were the car in the parking area which made me wonder what route the other hiker was taking. When the climb began we pushed the pace. Just before the last climb to Giant Ledge a large tree had fallen blocking the usual path but other hikers had found a way around it. As we walked we could hear a trail whistle in the distance and continued to hear it throughout the hike. I assumed this was the Ulster and Delaware sight-seeing train. We climbed up the last rocky ascent and walked to the first lookout arriving at about 10:05 AM after the 1.5 mile climb. There was no one at the first viewpoint so we walked down to take in the view. Sheila is fearless about heights and sometimes scares me a little when she walks right to the edge of the cliffs and looks down! I got out my camera to take some pictures of the great views of the valley below and the mountains beyond. The leaves were changing but were not yet at their peak and the color variation was interesting. I took shots of the Burroughs Range and Panther. I also took a few pictures of the area just below the ridge and the mountain outlined in the background. The only drawback was that the sky was a solid gray! We continued on the main trail, descended to the col and began the climb up Panther. Parts of the Panther trail get a little steep at times but there always seems to be a switchback or flatter area. The trail was damp or wet the whole way with muddy spots and some very slippery rocks. Sheila and I continued up the trail with Sheila checking out some of the paths that lead to limited viewpoints along the way. We stopped at one and walked out to a rock which had a good view of the entire Burroughs Range with only a few small trees in the way. I took some pictures before we went back to the main trail. We were soon up the steeper climbs with only a final, short ascent of Panther to go. We arrived at the summit of Panther at 11:15 AM after hiking 3.2 miles. The view from the summit is very limited and the day was still cloudy but I took a few pictures before walking back to the viewpoint just below the summit. We ascended the rock which acts as the lookout and I took a few shots of the scenery and then Sheila and I got back on the trail. Sheila was very energetic as we turned back as if she knew that we would be going down the mountain.

We met no one on the trail as we descended Panther. I tried to keep a good pace but found the descent more difficult that the climb up! When we had finally made the ascent to Giant Ledge we could hear hikers approaching from in front of us. I stepped off the trail but they walked out to the lookout and Sheila and I passed them. Several groups of young hikers approached us for a total of 10 in all. We continued along the trail meeting a few more people until we finally got to the descent off the Ledge. The views from Giant Ledge were largely the same as on the way out so we didn't stop. We made it down most of the descent without meeting anyone else but ran into several groups of hikers on the flats on the way to the trail junction. We continued down the trail and were soon at the turn. I was glad to be at this point but knew we still had several rocky areas to negotiate. After walking back to the bridge, I decided that this trail might be the rockiest in the Catskills! I stopped at the bridge and took some pictures of the stream while Sheila it a drink. We continued out to Route 47 and the parking area which was full. We were back at the car at 1:25 PM having covered 6.3 miles in 4 hours and 20 minutes including numerous stops. The elevation gain was 2100 feet.

On Thursday, October 1st I was ready to hike after a week of rainy weather and other commitments. I had been in contact with the Forester for DEC Region 3 about the signage around Frick and Hodge Ponds and he asked for specific documentation of what needed to be replaced. I decided to combine "work" with pleasure and got my gear and Sheila in the car leaving Livingston Manor at 9:45 AM. We arrived at the Frick Pond parking area at 10:00 AM to find only one car in the large parking area. We were on the trail immediately leaving the large parking area on the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond. The trail was damp and when we made the left turn onto the woods road there were areas of standing and running water. The water was not deep and it was hard to see how it could be droned effectively since it was so ubiquitous. I took a few pictures of the trail since the leaves were beginning to change and some were even falling onto the ground. At Gravestone Junction I took pictures of the sign which is incorrect in several ways. I also inspected the stepping stones we had placed across the mud pit. The ground was wetter than it had been all summer but the stones still really weren't needed. We stayed on the Quick Lake Trail and walked down the hill to the bridge across the out let to Frick Pond. The amount of water in the pond was visibly higher and there was a good volume in the stream. I was surprised to see that the leaves around the pond had change color. Although there were only a few bright colors it was still pretty. I stopped to take a few shots before continuing around to the next trail junction. I dutifully took pictures of the signs and then stayed to the left. The section of the trail from The junction to the "pine promenade" was extremely wet with both standing and running water. I looked at the possibility of draining this but it seemed I would be almost impossible. I did move a few blowdowns which I could easily pick up and cast aside. When we arrived at Ironwheel Junction, I took pictures of the signs and then we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail to Junkyard Junction.

The trail ascends all the way from Iron Wheel Junction to Junkyard Junction although never steeply. We kept a good pace interrupted only by me pausing to move a few branches. At about 2.8 miles we made the turn to the northeast and found large tree trunk across the trail. This was the second major blowdown we had encountered. I decided to return in the near future with a peavey or a cant hook to roll the log out of the way. At 11:25 AM we had hiked 3.2 miles and were at Junkyard Junction where I dutifully took more pictures of signs. We turned right on the Flynn Trail and immediately ran into significant pools of water. This continued for the length of the trail to the gate where we turned right to descend to Hodge Pond. This area of the trail has been wet in the past but I was surprised that the amount of rain that fell accumulated rather than infiltrating the dry ground. We continued to walk along the Flynn Trail to the outlet of Hodge Pond finding more puddles and muddy areas along the way. When we reached Hodge Pond, we walked to the shore and I was surprised to see that Sheila did not go into the water! I took some pictures of the pond and was surprised to find that the leaves had not changed as much as the ones at Frick Pond. There was an interesting accumulation of foam on the shore which was worth a few more shots. I picked up my pack and e headed up the hill toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I sometimes find this hill tedious but on this day it seemed to go very quickly. When we arrived at the Big Rock junction, I took some more pictures of the signs before continuing down the Flynn Trail to the parking area. The 1.7 miles downhill sometimes seems to take longer than it should but I didn't notice it as we moved quickly down the trail. At the gate we turned left and stayed on the trail until we were back at the trailhead. I put Sheila in the car and took my last pictures of signs. We were back at 12:45 PM heaving spent 2 hours and 45 minutes hiking 6.5 miles with an elevation gain of 925 feet.

On Sunday, September 27th I wanted to get out on a beautiful fall day to hike somewhere near to home after church. I also wanted to go somewhere to evaluate the state of the fall colors. I asked Cindy if she would like to go to Alder Lake and she agreed. I planned to hike to the Beaver Meadow Lean-to and the decide how much further to go. The hike to the Beecher lake Vista is over 9 miles so I thought that might be a stretch. We left Livingston Manor sometime after 11:00 AM and stopped in Roscoe at the Farmer's Market. From There we took Route 206 to Berry Brook Road then picked up the Craig Claire Road. This eventually took us back to the Beaverkill Road which we followed through Turnwood. After passing through that small hamlet, I turned left on Alder Creek Road and drove to the access road for Alder Lake. When we arrived, the parking area was almost full but we were able to find a spot. I considered going somewhere else but knew that most people would be around the lake and not on the trail to Millbrook Ridge. I put Sheila on her leash and we headed out the trail toward the lake. I was disappointed to see that no maintenance had been done by the DEC! The "lawn" had not been mowed and it was hard to see the picnic tables through the long grass. The logs that the DEC had cleared from the stream below the spillway were still in a ragged pile on the lawn. What was once a beautiful place to come and enjoy an equally beautiful view was now a shambles. I don't know what the DEC "plan" for the area may be but it appears they have abandoned this very popular spot. I took a few pictures of the lake and the hills around it. The trees showed very noticeable change especially on Cradle Rock Ridge and Millbrook Ridge. I also took a few shots of the mess. We stayed to the left as we walked along the trail on the northern side of the lake. The trail was dry in most places but there were a few damp areas. In fact, at the upper end of the lake between the two footbridges there was an area where water was flowing over the trail. At .8 miles we turned left onto the Millbrook Ridge Trail that ends on Balsam Lake Mountain. The temperature was perfect and there was plenty of sun with a slight breeze. I was glad I had decided to wear short sleeves. As we hiked up the trail, I noticed a few large blowdowns where someone had cut branches off to easy passage but had left the major part of the tree in the trail. I made a note that I might want to bring one of my axes to work on these next time!

Over the next 1.4 miles we gained about 530 feet as we walked on the trail which parallels the brook. We could hear the brook at times but a visual inspection showed very little water. Around 2.2 miles the trail leveled off as we approached the lean-to. I could hear hikers coming toward us so I put Sheila on her leash. Soon the other hikers appeared with three dogs. The first dog was unleashed and aggressively approached Sheila. I do not appreciate inconsiderate dog owners and let the other party know that I was not happy. The second dog was leashed and the owner of the third held it by the collar. We walked to the lean-to where I dropped my pack and walked out toward the beaver meadow to take some pictures. As I walked out the short trail I saw a Trent illegally pitched net to the stream that passes through the meadow. Why anyone would camp illegally when the lean-to was available was beyond my comprehension. After taking some shots, Cindy and I shared a drink and a protein bar and then walked back out to the main trail. A couple approached from the west but cut down to the lean-to. We continued hiking east on the trail to the next beaver meadow. I took some pictures here and then we continued our hike. The trail began to gain some elevation as we climbed toward Millbrook Ridge. Cindy let me know she couldn't do too much more hiking so I knew I might have to hike to the high point quickly and then return to her. We passed by some huge and interesting boulders and glacial erratics. The layers in the sedimentary rock were very clear. It was interesting that many of these rocks had trees growing on top of them in only and few inches of soil. At one point I though we had reached the final climb but I was mistaken. We had not hiked this trail in some time and the distance and the amount of elevation gain were greater than I remembered.

Around 2:00 PM I started to hike faster and gained the high point on Millbrook Ridge at about 2:20 PM. I started back almost immediately thinking Cindy had either stopped or turned back. I was surprised when I saw her hiking toward me only a few hundred feet from the summit! She was tired and we shared a drink before starting back to Alder Lake. I though that the descent would be much quicker than the ascent but the time was only marginally shorter. The first part of the descent to the beaver meadows was steep and covered in leaves and loose stones which slowed our progress. On the way back we bypassed the lean-to and kept a good pace to the trail junction wit the loop trail around Alder Lake. We turned right to retrace our path to the parking area. Just after the second footbridge was a campsite occupied by several campers who we had seen dragging their gear and canoes to the lake when we started our hike. A little farther down the trail I took off my pack and walk toward the lakeshore with camera in had. I took a few shots across the lake to Cradle Rock Ridge and then packed up and headed back to the car. We arrived back in the parking area at 4:15 PM. We had hiked 7.1 miles in just over 4 hours with several stops along the way. The elevation gain was 1480 feet.

On Wednesday, September 23rd I had hiked High Knob near Schunnemunk Mountain with my wife Cindy. She didn't want to hike any further after the steep uphill so we turned around and headed back to the car. The total mileage was about 3.3 miles and I wanted to hike some more miles! We arrived home at about 2:30 PM and I immediately transferred my gear and Sheila to my car to go to Hodge and Frick Ponds for a 6 mile loop. We arrived at the parking area at 2:50 PM to find one other car in the lot. The temperature was about 65 degrees but it was sunny with a slight breeze. The conditions were ideal for a quick hike on the first day of fall. At 2:55 PM we crossed the road and started up the Flynn Trail. I thought I might be a little tired but I felt great and we set a quick pace with Sheila running back and forth and into the woods to chase chipmunks. There weren't any insects and the weather was perfect. I did notice how dry the woods remain after only a few rain showers over the last few weeks. It was rewarding to see how clear the trail was after we had worked hard to remove all the blowdowns. By 3:30 PM we had hiked the 1.7 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail and walked down to the field at the outlet of Hodge Pond. When we were near the shore of the pond, Sheila immediately jumped in an waded and then swam around some. I took a few pictures of the pond since the leaves were beginning to change. The only drawback was that there were no white, puffy clouds in the sky. I threw a stick so that Sheila could swim out to retrieve it. I took some pictures of her in the pond and then we continued across the outlet stream following the Flynn Trail.

At 2.8 miles we turned to the left and continued to follow the Flynn Trail up the hill to the gate. It was a pleasure to be able to walk the trail where I had removed three major blowdowns allowing hikers to simply walk up the trail unimpeded. The half mile walk from the gate to Junkyard Junction went quickly. At 3.3 miles we reached Junkyard Junction and turned left on the Quick Lake Trail. We walked downhill along the trail as the sun was starting to drop a little lower and the shadows were getting longer. There seemed to be plenty of chipmunks for Sheila to chase and she put up several partridge along the way. At 4.9 miles we were at Iron Wheel Junction where we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. The Logger's Loop continues straight ahead at this junction. When we reached the small stream across the trail before the spruce tunnel, we found it almost completely dry with only a few pools of water. We reached the bridge over the outlet to Frick Pond at 5.9 miles. We stopped at the bridge so that I could take some pictures even though I have hundreds of pictures from this area. The angle of the sun light gave a warm glow to the pond and the trees whose leaves were just beginning to change. After a few minutes, we continued up the hill. We walked out the woods road that is the end of the Quick Lake Trail and were at the car at 5:20 PM. We had covered 6.4 miles in 2 hours and 25 minutes with a vertical gain of 920 feet. This brought my mileage for the day to just under 10 miles which made me happy.

On Wednesday, September 23rd I asked Cindy if she wanted to hike and she agreed. I wanted to go to someplace interesting and thought she might like the view from High Knob which is on the Long Path from Route 32 in Highland Mills to the Schunemunk Ridge. We wanted to make sure the fog had burned off and were in no hurry to leave the house too early as the temperature at 6:30 AM was 43 degrees! We got our gear together, put it and Sheila in the car and headed south on Route 17 at a little before 9:30 AM. I drove all the way to the last exit before the Thruway and headed north on Route 32 through Woodbury and Highland Mills. We passed under the Conrail trestle and looked for a place to park. The Long Path crosses just north of the trestle but there is no place to park there. When I hiked this section of the Long Path I parked my car in Monroe and had someone drop me off at the trestle. Just passed the trestle was an antique store with some parking. I asked the owner if we could park to hike and he generously agreed. We started our hike at 10:50 AM by hiking back toward the trestle and the crossing the road to get on the Long Path. I had worm a light jacket but left it in the car leaving me with only a short-sleeved shirt. The temperature was already in the mid-60's and there was plenty of sun. On this day I wore my Keen Glarus hiking boots as I remembered the trail to High Knob was very rocky. We walked up the stone stairs to the road that runs under the trestle. We crossed the road and walked up the incline next to the trestle. I was surprised to find a crew of Conrail workers installing chain link fence along the right-of-way to discourage people from crossing over the tracks. The fence ended after a short distance by flaring up the bank from the tracks. I asked the workers if we could pass around the end of the fence to continue on the Long Path. They indicated that we could not but that there was a trail through the fields on the left. We walked out into the fields and followed the trail which at first paralleled the tracks but then began to head too far to the west. Fortunately at about .4 miles we found a trail that headed north so we turned right and in .1 miles were back on the Long Path. The trail began to climb almost immediately. The surface was well-worn as this is a popular hike. It was also very dry with many loose stones.

The trail was easy to follow and we made good time at least at the beginning. The temperature was warming up but there was a slight breeze and it was an almost perfect day to hike. At 1.25 miles we were hiking by the area called Little Knob and had already gained over 600 feet. It had been uphill all the way with a few flatter spots but it was about to get a lot steeper! We didn't stop at Little Knob since I knew that the best views were on the trail up High Knob and from the top. Over the next .3 miles we gained 420 feet until the trail finally leveled approaching the highest spot on High Knob. This is an average of a 28% grade and some spots were even steeper! As we climbed the view to the south and west came into view. Immediately below was the village of Kiryas Joel with rows of neatly placed houses. Beyond were mountains and hills still shrouded in a haze. I stopped to take some pictures of the landscape and of the stunted pines which were now more prevalent. I also took a few pictures of Sheila perched on the rocks above me and some of Cindy making here way up the path. We continued up until the trail leveled and we were on top. I forgot how nice the views from the top are especially those looking north and east. To the north I could see the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge and North Beacon Mountain with its transmission towers. I took quite a few pictures but wished that there were some nice white clouds to break up the blue sky. We had a drink and shared a snack. Cindy asked where we were going next and I said that I thought we would head to the Schunemunk Ridge and the Megaliths since it was only another 2 miles. After we started off in that direction, she let me know that she didn't want to go any farther. I walked another hundred feet to a lookout along the trail. I took some pictures and then turned around to head back to the car. I was disappointed that we would only get in a hike of less than 4 miles but I understood. I had never hiked down High Knob and expected the going to be rough. I was surprised that it was reactively easy. The rest of the return trip went quickly and we were back at the car at 1:15 PM having hiked only 3.4 miles in 2 hours and 25 minutes. However, the vertical gain was 1240 feet! We headed back home and as I drove I began to think about doing another hike close to home to extend my mileage.

Summer 2015

On Monday, September 21st I wanted to get in a hike close to home and Cindy agreed to accompany me. Whenever I have cross country practice in the afternoon, I can't bring myself to travel too far or to hike too long as I feel my commitment to coach. I knew this probably would be the last hike of the summer and the trees were already beginning to change especially on the hills. Cindy and I decided to go to Long Pond and do the big loop in a counterclockwise direction. I wanted to walk as fast as we could but take a few pictures along the way. I got Sheila in the car with my gear and headed out DeBruce Road for about 8 miles to Flugertown Road where I made a left. I parked in the lot a short distance up the road on the right. The day had started out with a low of 41 degrees at 6:15 AM but it was now warming up and the temperature was well above 60 degrees. There was some sun but the skies were mostly cloudy and a slight breeze was blowing. It felt like autumn as we left the parking area at 10:45 AM to hike up the snowmobile trail. The first .6 miles gains about 350 feet to the highest point on the hike. It isn't very steep but does act as a nice warm-up! As we were ascending we began to hear gunshots in the distance. After a few moments, I concluded that someone was sighting in a rifle and soon we heard no more reports. Along the way we saw that several trees that had been across the trail had been cut and removed while a few others were still partly blocking the trail. There were also some tracks which looked like they were made by a small tractor which might have been the snowmobile club preparing the trail for winter. The trail was dry in most places but there were a few patches of mud. At 1.1 miles we were at the spur trail that leads down to the shore of Long Pond. We turned right and walked down to the pond. I leashed Sheila to a log since I knew the edge of the pond would be muddy and walked to the edge of the water to take some pictures of the pond. The leaves were beginning to change but were generally dull. The overcast sky with no blue patches and no clouds made for mediocre pictures. We walked back up to the main trail and turned right continuing to set a fast pace. At the first trail junction we turned right to take the longer route. By 11:35 AM we had walked 1.8 miles and were passing the spur trail to the lean-to.

After passing the trail to the lean-to, we picked up the pace and continued on the main trail to the point where it intersected a woods road at 2.5 miles. We turned left and followed the road until the intersection with Basily Road at 2.85 miles. We continued on Basily Road by bearing to the left. There were actually a few puddles on the road and a few of the streams were at least running. Sheila jumped into one to get a drink and to get wet. As we approached the Peters Hunting Camp, I got ready to put Sheila on her leash. The area near the footbridge across the outlet to the beaver pond was flooded and pretty muddy. We made it to the small bridge and stopped so that I could take a few pictures. Cindy pointed out that two eagles had taken flight as we approached and were now circling high in the sky. As we headed toward the bridge across the creek and came into site of the camp, there were no cars present. The camp was surrounded by several stands of corn which had not yet been harvested! We continued across the bridge and up the small hill that overlooks the camp. We stopped and I took some pictures on the camp in the valley and the hills surrounding it. The leaves were showing the first sign of color changes but were dull. We both hoped that they would grow brighter as the season progressed. As we started in again, I knew that the rest of the hike was on road that turned from gravel to pavement. There were also not many more places to take pictures so I knew it would be a quick trip back. Along the way Sheila again took a dip which always invigorates her! Once we got to the paved road, I put Sheila on her leash as we headed back to the car. At 1:15 PM we were back at the parking area having hiked 6 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes. The elevation gain was only about 600 feet most of which was at the beginning of the hike.

On Friday, September 18th, I didn't schedule cross country practice and wanted to do a hike a little farther away from home. I decided to head for Black Rock Forest and hike a loop over Black Rock that I had done before. I didn't feel like spending all day but thought a nice 6 mile walk would be fine. I knew that the Black Rock Forest had just been turned over to New York state to become part of Storm King but I didn't expect any real changes. I got my gear together put it in the trunk and an enthusiastic Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at about 8:30 AM and I headed to Middletown on Route 17. From here I went east on I84 to Newburgh where I turned south on Route 9W heading toward Cornwall. As I drove south, I started to think about using a route that, at least partly, I had not hiked before. I remembered that the maps showed a trail starting on Route 9W and following an abandoned road marked "Peck's Road". I began to look for this parking area and found it about a mile south of Angola Road. I pulled over and parked in the lot where there were two other cars. I made sure to keep Sheila on her leash as I got ready. When I left the house it was 52 degrees but now the temperature was in the mid 60's with bright sun. I left my light jacket behind and was sorry I had when long sleeves and not even packed a short sleeved shirt! We started our hike at 10:10 AM by starting out on Peck's Road which had a gravel surface and was in great shape. For the first .6 miles we stayed on the road which had a very gradual uphill grade. When we reached the water filtration plant, the Black Rock Hollow Trail turned right into the woods following and old woods road. The woods road was rocky and eroded in places but the trail was sited to avoid the worst spots. Everything was very dry and some of the leaves were already beginning to change. Over the next .9 miles we gained almost 600 feet and while the grade was only 12% some parts seemed much steeper. At 1.5 miles we were at the junction with the yellow Stillman Trail and we turned right to head toward Black Rock. I considered walking down to the Aleck Meadow Reservoir but decided I could probably visit it if I wanted to on the way back.

As we walked on the Stillman Trail, Sheila alerted and I could see we were catching up to another hiker. I put Sheila on her leash as we overtook a woman in front of us. We said "Hello" and she explained she wanted to get back to the Peck's Road parking area but thought she had taken a wrong turn. I told her she should have turned right back at the trail junction and gave her explicit instructions on what to do. She did not have a map and although she was dressed appropriately did not seem to have a pack or any water! Black Rock Forest has many trails and roads. A map is essential to being able to navigate your way around this interesting but confusing maze. We continued following the Stillman Trail northwest toward Black Rock. By the time we hit the highest point on Black Rock we had gained another 260 feet in the .3 miles from the trail junction. The view from Black Rock is more than 180 degrees to the south, west and north. Looking southwest I could see a fire tower which is just a shell and closed to the public. To the northwest the Schunnemunk Ridge was prominent and I could see the Moodna Viaduct just below it. The viaduct was opened in 1909 and is still the longest and highest railroad trestle east of the Mississippi River! To the north I could see the Hudson River and the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. Of course, I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take some pictures. The haze limited some shots but I still thought I got some good ones. After getting a drink and a snack, we started down the other side of Black Rock. As we made the steep descent, I saw the black deposits that give the rock its name. The descent isn't long but the first part is very steep. I have done this in the winter and spikes are almost a must if there is any ice or snow. I began to think about how far I wanted to hike and what routes we could take. I decided that at the next junction we would take a left on Continental Road and hike until we passed the white oak tree.

At 2.3 miles we made the turn onto Continental Road and hiked along the well groomed surface until we reached the white oak tree at 2.6 miles. This tree is a very large white oak that still seems to be in pretty good condition. We stopped so that I could take a few pictures and then continued on a few hundred feet where we turned left on the White Oak Trail to Arthur's Pond. Before I reached the shore, Sheila was already swimming and really seemed to be enjoying herself. I took my pack off and got the camera out again to take some pictures of the pond. We continued on the trail which crosses just below the spillway of the pond. I wondered how high the water would be since I have seen it high enough to make crossing tricky. On this day the only water in the spillway was from a hose leading down from near the top of the dam. After crossing the spillway, we followed the White Oak Trail as it headed into the woods to the left. The trail came to an end on White Oak Road. We turned right on the road and followed it as it passed along the shore of Aleck Meadow Reservoir. We continued to follow the road as I looked for a place to turn off to visit the reservoir. I missed the turn and soon we were headed toward the Upper Reservoir. We stopped on the shores so that I could take a few pictures and to watch a young lady through a ball into the water for her dog to retrieve. Apparently she believed the "No Swimming" signs only applied to people! I decided to walk down Reservoir Road to the Mailey's Mill Bridge near the researcher center. At 4.5 miles we were at the bridge and we crossed over to the blue Reservoir Trail after I took some pictures of the bridge. The stream that had once powered the mill was almost dry as we crossed over it on Ben's Bridge. We continued on the trail to 5.25 miles where we passed the water filtration plant and turned right on Peck's Road. From there it was only .6 miles downhill to the car where we arrived at 12:55 PM. What I had thought might be too short a hike turned into a nice walk and allowed me to get home to take care of some work. We had hiked 5.8 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes with a vertical gain of 1180 feet.

On Wednesday, September 16th, Lisa wanted to go for a hike and was free until about 1:00 PM. We talked about places to go and decided to hike near Peekamoose from the Peekamoose Road. I suggested hiking to the lower plane crash on Van Wyck and researched the coordinates although I had been there several times. Lisa arrived at my house just after 9:00 AM. We put our gear in the trunk of my car and Sheila in the backseat and started down the Quickway to Liberty. From Liberty I took Route 55 toward Grahamsville where I turned left on Route 55A just after the TriValley school. I followed 55A to Sundown Road and in Sundown took the Peekamoose Road north about 3 miles to the main parking area used to hike to Peekamoose Mountain. I found that I had left the coordinates for the plane crash at my house and that Lisa was more comfortable hiking the trail anyway. At 10:00 AM we started up the trail knowing with Reconnoiter Rock as our objective. I had worn a light jacket on top of a long-sleeved shirt but quickly ditched it in the car as the temperature was rising rapidly. I also left behind the hat and gloves! The trail to Reconnoiter Rock is simply up all the way. In the first .2 miles to the register box we gained 180 feet with an average 18% grade. This is a quick way to get warmed up fast. The trail moderates some after that as it follows a woods road until turning off and continuing through the woods. Lisa and I both noticed how open the woods are in this area which makes it easy to walk off trail. The trail alternates between relatively flat spots and several much steeper sections which wind there way through rocky outcrops. As we climbed, we could get a glimpse of the valley below and the mountains beyond. At one time there were some viewpoints just off then trail but these have grown in so that the best viewpoint is the one above Reconnoiter Rock just before the final climb to the summit of Peekamoose. We knew we should be turning around at about 11:00 AM but by that time we were not quite at our goal. We elected to keep walking and at 11:20 AM we finally arrived at Reconnoiter Rock. The rock is a large glacial erratic balanced on some bedrock. There was once a view but it has been eliminated as the trees have grown up. I dropped my pack and took some pictures of the rock and some more with Sheila posed by it. I also took a few pictures of Lisa holding a ProBar near the rock. At 11:30 AM we started our descent back to the car. Going down was definitely easier but not easy especially in some of the steeper places. We did stop once so that I could take a picture of a tree across the trail. The tree is huge so it has been left in place. A step has been but in the lower trunk and another notch has been cut in the upper trunk to allow for some headroom as hikers pass. We set a quick pace down the mountain arriving back at the car at 12:40 PM. We were both surprised that the return trip was only 10 minutes shorter than the ascent. We had covered 4.5 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes with a vertical gain of 1690 feet. Although we did not summit a mountain we had a good hike in almost ideal weather.

On Monday, September 14th, Karl arrived in Livingston manor ready to hike at about 10:00 AM. We had planned to do Table and Peekamoose from Denning but dinner plans put a damper on that trip. We talked about Dry Brook or Millbrook Ridge but decided to head to Balsam Lake Mountain as it is one of Karl's favorite hikes. When I looked at the temperature on the back porch it was just 55 degrees and I knew it would be cooler at the trailhead. Karl wore shorts and a long-sleeved short! I had on pants, a long-sleeved shirt and a light jacket. I also packed a light hat and gloves. We put our gear and Sheila in the car and left Livingston Manor a little after 10:30 AM and headed up the Beaverkill Road. The forecast was for partly sunny skies with temperatures rising into the mid to high 60's. As we continued on the road I saw no sun and the temperature was dipping lower the farther north we went. The sky was completely covered in clouds and there was a light mist or drizzle falling. After we passed the Buddhist monastery, we came upon a Town of Hardenburgh road crew trimming some trees. They had the road blocked with equipment and brush they had clear since they probably did not expect many cars. They quickly cleared the road and allowed us to pass. We arrived at the parking area and found two other cars already in the lot. The drizzle had let up and we knew that we would be going up the mountain so that we could always turn around and head down if any serious rain started. I left my camera in the car hoping to protect it from the rain and thinking I would not get many chances to take pictures. The temperature was only 50 degrees and I decided to wear my light hat to begin the hike. We were on the trail at 11:15 AM heading toward the first trail junction where we intended to turn left and hike up the steep side of the mountain. As we walked up the trail I noticed several trees hanging over the trail and although they seemed safe I would prefer that they were gone. There were also a few across the trail that had been partially cleared but some more work needs to be done. We made the trail junction at .9 miles by 11:35 AM and turned left up the mountain without stopping. Over the next half mile the trail gains about 750 feet before leveling off which means an average of around a 28% grade! The rocks were wet an it required some attention not to slip on the ascent. It is a pleasure to hike with Karl as he can more than match my pace and can converse on an topic. I began to hear what I thought were voices ahead and soon we could see a couple who had paused to rest on a rock. I put Sheila on her leash and handed it to Karl. As we passed we said "Hello" and made some comments about the weather.

Despite the grade, the hike seemed to go quickly and we were soon passing the spur trail to the lean-to and the spring. As we approached the 3500 foot sign we met another young couple hiking down the mountain with their dog. We leashed Sheila and passed them. We talked for a few minutes and they told us they had climbed Graham and the Balsam Lake and were headed back to the parking area. They told us that there was a steady wind blowing at the top and that they had spoken to someone who had seen a mother bear with cubs. I related my bear experiences from a recent hike in the same area and we went our separate ways. We walked up the stone steps to the summit plateau and continued on toward the fire tower. The trail was wetter near the spring and damp the whole way. We arrived at the tower clearing at 12:10 PM after hiking 1.7 miles. It seemed as if we were in a cloud as the mist kept blowing by us. I knew there would be no views from the tower and a steady wind was blowing making us just a little cool. We turned right and began the walk down the Millbrook side of the mountain. We were glad the slop was more gentle on the Millbrook side as the combination of loose dirt and wet rocks was slippery in places. There was still no rain falling but the wind was bringing down some water that had collected on the leaves. It didn't take us long before we were at the gate and then at the trail junction. We turned right to head back to the parking area. The trail was wet and the rocks slippery so we were careful to pick good foot placements. Along the way were several trees across the trail a few of which looked new. We set a good pace and were soon passing the trail junction where we had turned up the mountain earlier. We were back at the car at 1:30 PM and talked about hiking to Vly Pond. We decided to head back home since the weather was still poor. We had hiked 4.3 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes gaining 1230 feet in the process. The temperature at the car was only 55 degrees and the sky was still completely 1covered with clouds. On the way home the skies began to clear and the sun came out causing the temperature to rise into the low 60's.

On Friday, September 11th, I wanted to do a hike close to home with Cindy. This was the first year that I had not been asked to participate in a September 11th program and it felt good to be able to think about the day without having to relive it. I had been prepared to respond immediately with an ambulance crew but we were not called until the beginning of October to assist in the recovery effort. It was still a shock to see the devastation and it is not something I will ever forget. Cindy and I got a late start but we put or gear and Sheila in the car and started for Rock Hill where we were going to hike in the Neversink Unique Area. When we arrived just after 11:00 AM there was only one car at the trailhead. As we got ready to hike we found that the rocks and leaves were damp from the rain the previous day. We started down the woods road toward the river at 11:01 AM intending to hike the loop to Denton and Mullet Falls and perhaps through in the out and back to High Falls. I thought that the recent rain might have augmented the waterfalls making them more interesting. Sheila was certainly anxious to get going as both she and I prefer several hikes a week! The temperature was in the low 60's and it was more humid than we had expected. I wore a light long-sleeved top and was wearing my Zamberlan lower hikers which have become my "go to" show. As we walked down the hill passed the trail register, there was one large blowdown across the trail. It was pretty high up so that I could walk under it but I did not think it was well-supported. I thought this should be removed before it comes down by itself! We turned left at the bottom of the hill to stay on the main trail and came to the small bridge over Wolf Brook. The water was not as high as I had thought it might be and I decided to continue on without taking any pictures. At the top of the next small hill, we stayed to the right to hike the loop counterclockwise hitting Denton Falls on the Neversink first and then the falls on Mullet Brook. As we walk down the trail, I saw a red salamander sunning itself in an open part of the trail. It looked like a red eft but was larger with a slightly different body shape. It did not seem to want to move so I took a picture and we moved on. Soon we were crossing the lower bridge on Mullet Brook where the water was, again, lower than I expected. I knew that the bridge was in disrepair and wasn't surprised to find nothing had been done to repair it. The DEC insists that it is the entity that must repair and construct bridges but doesn't have enough people to get the job done. This bridge has a broken main support beam which needs to be repaired before it collapses and must be completely replaced. There were the remnants of caution tape draped on the bridge and it looked like they had been strung across the opening at one point. The bridge was in worse shape than the last time I had hiked in the area. As we crossed we had to hand onto the handrails due to the slant of the bridge deck and the slippery boards. At 1.4 miles we turned right following the yellow spur trail blazes downhill to Denton Falls.

The trail down to the falls is poorly marked and hikers trying to follow it have created new paths which compounds the problem. After hiking 1.65 miles, we were at the rocks near the edge of Denton Falls. The river wasn't as high as I thought it might be but I dropped my pack and started to take some pictures. I noticed that Sheila seemed prepared to jump in and swim to the other side so I discouraged her emphatically. I was able to walk along the rocks to get just below the falls. I took quite a few pictures of the falls and some both upstream and downstream. The lighting and the clouds in the sky were better than during my last trip. Cindy sat on a rock and I was able to get a few "candid" pictures of her and Sheila. The falls are hardly three feet high but the volume of water made the trip worthwhile. We headed back up the trail to the main trail and turned right. At the trail junction I asked Cindy if she wanted to hike down to High Falls which adds about 4 miles round trip to the hike. She declined the offer so we kept to the left to start the loop. After a brief walk uphill, we turned left onto the short trail down to Mullet Brook Falls. The trail has no sign and could be easily missed. In fact, there is signage anywhere! I saw a total of only three yellow blazes on our way down to the falls and on the way back. When the falls came into sight, it was much like the rest of the trip. There was enough water to make it interesting but far less than I had hoped for. I dropped my pack and got out the camera. After a few initial shots, I walked onto the pile of rocks just down from the base of the falls. I had to be careful as the rocks were covered with moss and were wet from the rain and spray from the falls. I took pictures of the falls but the pool that is normally at the bottom was missing! In fact, it was hard to find any flow in the stream below the falls. Eventually it was time to leave and we started back. On the way out to the main trail we met a couple hiking toward us. It was there first time in the area and we answered some of their questions before moving on. We walked back out to the main trail and turned left to complete the loop. As we climbed we noticed the rocky ledges to our right. Soon we crossed over the upper bridge spanning Mullet Brook. After a brief walk we were at a trail junction. Walking straight ahead on the trail leads to the Wolf Lake Multiple Use Area. We turned left and began to descend off the ridge. We hiked downhill for some time and eventually came to the trail junction just above the bridge over Wolf Creek. I thought about taking a few pictures of Wolf Brook but decided to keep moving as it was not that interesting. Once on the other side of the brook we made the right turn on the woods road back to the car and kept a quick pace until we arrived at the parking area at 1:50 PM. We hiked 4.6 miles in just over 2 hours and 35 minutes including the stops at the two falls. The vertical gain was only about 950 feet. The car that had been parked was gone and three more were now in the lot.

On Wednesday, September 9th, I decided to return to the Frick and Hodge Pond area to hike and maybe to do a little trail maintenance. The last time I had hiked the Quick Lake Trail I noticed a few blowdowns that needed to be cleared but I left that as I was headed for a major blockage that needed attention. I decided to take one of my Silky saws and my Fiskars axe to clear anything I found on the trail. I put my gear and Sheila in the car and then headed out the DeBruce Road to Frick Pond. I parked at 9:45 AM and found a DEC employee weed whacking the parking area. Sheila and I started out immediately by walking out the back of the larger parking area on the Quick Lake Trail. We turned left on the woods road toward Frick Pond and kept a quick pace crossing the outlet bridge. I did not stop to take pictures as I already have many from this viewpoint and I had limited time. We stayed left at the first trail junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. Just after the trail junction, I found several large branches in the path and several trees leaning over the trail. I cleared the branches and took down the two trees. After clearing everything, we continued on the trail and I continued to remove a branch here and there until just before Iron Wheel Junction. There was a rather large tree encroaching on the trail and I took some time to clear it before continuing to hike. After 1.5 miles, we were at Iron Wheel Junction and I considered my options. I knew there wasn't much more to do on the Quick Lake Trail so I decided to turn right on the Logger's Loop as I had not been on that trail in some time. The day was warm but we were keeping a quick pace. I did notice that carrying the axe and not using my poles made the trek noticeably more difficult. I cleared several smaller branches from the trail and then found a larger one to remove. This branch had broken off and had one end stuck in the ground and the other caught in the tree. Without thinking I grabbed the end stuck in the ground and pulled. The branch came loose and crashed to the ground breaking into several pieces. I realized that if it had not broken it would have bounced up and hit me in the face! I decided to be a bit more careful!

We continued to hike without finding many more branches on the trail until we turned south towards Times Square. When I looked ahead I could see a new blowdown blocking the trail. The tree appeared to be about 10 inches in diameter at the butt end. When we arrived at the spot, I found it was a beech tree and I decided to remove it. I dropped my pack and took few before pictures. I used my axe to clear a few small limbs and then some of the larger ones at the top. Pulling these larger limbs out of the way proved more challenging than making the cuts. My intention was to cut the trunk of the tree in two places and then move it out of the way. I made the first cut near the top of the tree and quickly was through the wood. At this point I noticed that the other end did not seem to be attached. Picked up the end I had cut and was able to pivot it off the trail. After taking a few "after", I picked up my pack and we continued down the Logger's Loop to Times Square. At this four-way junction we continued straight ahead on the Logger's Loop heading toward Gravestone Junction. The trail is slightly uphill but we were pretty fresh and were soon passing by the spot where the Willowemoc Trail Crew had put a "bridge" over a muddy spot. This spot was dry like most of the rest of the trail. We arrived at Gravestone Junction and turned left to head back to the car. We were back in the parking area at 11:45 AM having spent about 2 hours hiking 3.8 miles and doing the trail maintenance work.

On Monday, September 7th, I wanted to do a challenging hike close to home. I had been involved with planning and executing a 5K race on Sunday had taken a few days off from hiking. Both Sheila and I were ready to get out on a day that was forecast to have clear skies with highs in the high 80's. I decided to hike to Graham Mountain and maybe through Balsam Lake Mountain in on the return trip. Graham Mountain is on private property. Make sure you call the caretaker to get permission before hiking. I was getting my gear together when the ambulance pager went off and I knew our trip would be delayed as I responded to the call. When we arrived at the scene, the patient refused our care and we returned to base. When I got home I finished getting my gear together, changed into my hiking clothes and put Sheila in the car. We left Livingston Manor a little before 9:45 AM and headed up the Beaverkill Road. It wasn't long before I got behind a slow moving car and it became obvious the driver did not know where they were going. I kept wishing they would pull over so that I could tell them how to get to their destination. They finally turned left onto the Barkaboom Road as I stayed on the main road and headed for the Balsam Lake Mountain trailhead. As I continued along the road, I ran into two more slow moving cars. I hoped they would turn off but they just kept going! I followed them both to the trailhead parking where they both parked and seemed to be getting ready to hike. One car parked in such a way as to block at least three parking spaces but he didn't seem to get the idea when I parked the correct way. As I got out of the car and got ready to hike, I talked to both groups and they said they were headed to the fire tower. I put Sheila on her leash and got right on the trail by 10:20 AM making sure I was ahead of the others. Sheila and I didn't hurry but we kept a good pace making the first trail junction in about 20 minutes. We continued straight ahead on the trail toward the Millbrook trailhead. I was surprised to see that the trail had not been maintained in some time with branches, briars and nettles encroaching in some places. We kept our pace but I did not remember that the mile of trail between the two trail junctions gains over 400 feet of elevation. It was warm and humid and I was glad I had worn short sleeves. I had again worn my Zamberlan light hikers which are quickly becoming my "go to" shoe. As we hiked Sheila ran ahead and started into the woods. I heard a noise that indicated an animal bigger than a chipmunk and called her back to me. As we passed the area where she had started into the woods, I looked to my left and saw a bear cub only 40 feet from the trail. Beyond the cub another 60 feet was another, larger bear which I assumed to be the mother! I started making noise as the mother stood up and sniffed the air. Sheila barked and the cub began to run toward the mother who waited briefly and then...got down on all fours and headed down the steep dropoff to Black Brook with the cub right behind. Sheila and I headed up the trail as fast as we could go.

By 11:05 AM we had hiked 1.8 miles and were at the second trail junction with the trail that goes up to the fire tower. We passed by and headed for the right turn onto the herd path that goes to Graham Mountain. The herd path has become more of a trail over the years and it even seems that someone is clearing some of the blowdowns, nettles and briars along the way. I meant to ask the caretaker about this but forgot. When we reached the herd path, it was in very good shape and it did appear that someone had beaten back most of the nettles to clear the path. For the first 1.15 miles the heard path heads almost due east and is flat or even descends some. It is rocky in places and has some blowdowns which are easily walked around. At 3.2 miles into the hike we reached the base of the final climb up Graham as the herd path heads a little more toward the southeast. The distance to the summit from here is only .8 miles but gains over 600 feet in elevation. There are a few switchbacks along he way which help make the grade only 15%. As we were walking up the path, Sheila alerted and I saw a couple headed down toward us. As they passed we said "Hello" and talked about the beautiful weather. We continued in our separate directions and by 12:05 PM we had hiked the 3.95 miles to the summit. I dropped my pack to get a drink and a protein bar. I also took out the camera to take a few pictures. The views are now mostly blocked by the vegetation but I took some pictures of the ruins at the top. I also took a few pictures of Balsam Lake Mountain where the tower was barely visible. There was still a lot of haze in the air so we didn't stay long but headed back down the mountain. We did stop at the lookout to the north but this is now completely block by trees. The trip down seemed to go fast and by 1:15 PM we had hiked 6.1 miles and were back at the junction with the trail that heads up to the fire tower. I decided we would extend our hike a little so we turned right and started the ascent to the tower.

Since the trail junction is already more than 400 feet above the lower trail junction, ether is less climbing to do. As we headed up the trail, a couple came hiking down toward us and I recognized them as the couple we had net on Graham. They were parked at the Millbrook trailhead and were headed back in that direction. Sheila and I kept hiking and soon I could hear some noise from the area of the tower. I knew the towers are open on the weekends during the summer and hoped the volunteers had stayed around for one more day. When we came to the clearing, there were tow volunteers that I recognized as Tom and Laurie Rankin. There were also half a dozen hikers sitting at the picnic table or standing around talking. I leashed Sheila to a tree since there was another dog present and grabbed my camera. I said "Hello" to Tom and Laurie and then headed for the cab of the tower. I took some pictures from the cab and then dropped down to a lower landing to take a few more. Once on the ground I spent a few minutes talking to Laurie until some more hikers started to arrive from both directions. I said "Goodbye" and Sheila and I started down the steep side on the mountain. The first section wasn't too bad but at 7.1 miles we started the steeper descent passed the spring. As we started down, another group was coming up so I pulled Sheila to the side to let them pass. They mentioned they had seen a bear on the way up so I began to make some noise as we headed down. Sheila got a drink at the spring and we continued down passing one more couple coming up. The hike down to the trail junction was only about .5 miles but the loss in elevation is almost 700 feet among for an average grade of over 25%! The trail was damp near the spring but was dry most of the rest of the way making slipping a real problem. Once back on the main trail we turned right and headed back to the car. We met one more woman and her dog and I cautioned her about the bear sightings. We were back at the car at 2:45 PM having hiked 8.5 miles in 4 hours and 25 minutes with a stop at the fire tower. The vertical gain was 2240 feet. I was surprised that the detour to Balsam Lake Mountain had only lengthen the trip by about .6 miles. It did increase the ascending by over 500 feet.

On Thursday, September 3rd I had planned to hike to Graham Mountain with a return trip by way of Balsam Lake Mountain. When my grandson Bryce arrived early I decided to ask him if he would like to go for a hike. His enthusiastic "Yes!" convinced me that we all should go to Frick Pond and hike up the Flynn Trail and down the Big Rock Trail. At Times Square we could hike the Logger's Loop back to the Quick Lake Trail and the parking area. Sheila was ready to go ay any time and Cindy got herself dressed as we left Livingston Manor at 10:20 AM. After driving out the DeBruce Road and up the Mongaup Pond Road we arrived at the Frick pond trailhead parking area at 10:35 AM and got ready to hike. We crossed the road and started out by hiking up the Flynn Trail toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The day was warm but not too humid with a slight breeze blowing. We allowed Bryce to set the pace and he did a good job. Hiking with four year old Bryce is almost like hiking with another adult. Bryce notices everything and has lots of questions but also contributes to the discussion. At one point he showed us a tree that he thought was a paper birch and explained his reasoning. He was absolutely correct. We came across some coyote scat which he correctly identified and then made a series howls and yelps that made Sheila turn her head. We also found out that Sheila will listen to his command most of the time. As we walked up the long ascent, we did begin to hear some comments like "When will we be there?" We told Bryce it was a little longer and then distracted him until we had hike the 1.7 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. It was 11:40 AM and we stopped to get a drink, have a snack and take a few pictures.

We turned left on the Big Rock Trail and began the descent to Times Square. We all liked the descent and we found that Bryce stopped frequently to clear branches from the trail. We talked and walked so that I hardly knew where we were or how long it was taking. At 12:15 PM we arrived at Times Square after hiking 2.9 miles. We turned left on the Logger's Loop and headed back toward Gravestone Junction. This is a slight uphill but I kept telling Bryce to look for the mud pit and the "bridge" we had constructed over it. We came to the mud pit which was dry as a bone and walked over the saplings and stones placed so that the mud could be crossed in wetter times. From Here it was a short walk to the Quick Lake Trail. Cindy And Bryce turned left to head back to the car while I turned right to take Sheila down to the pond. When we arrived at the outlet, Sheila went into the water to get a drink and to get herself wet. We stayed only for a few minutes so that I could take some pictures and then started back to join Cindy and Bryce. We set a fast pace and finally caught up with them. We all walked back to the car together arriving at 12:50 PM having hiked 4 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes with a 720 foot elevation gain. Bryce had a good time and said he would like to hike again. He had a nice nap on the way back to the house.

On Tuesday, September 1st, I decided to return to the Frick and Hodge Pond area to eliminate one large blowdown that had been blocking the trail for some time. I used this opportunity to try out my new Hults Bruks axe which I had purchased some time ago but had not had a chance to use. When I picked up the axe I noticed that the handle was not completely smooth. The bit also was not quite as sharp as some of my other axes and had a slight burr but I knew this would wear off after several swings. I put my gear and Sheila in the car and then headed out the DeBruce Road to Frick Pond. As I turned onto the Beech Mountain Road, I found that a road crew had scarped the road and then used a roller to pack it. This made a slightly smoother surface which will erode away in the first heavy rain! I parked at 10:30 AM and we started our immediately by walking out the back of the larger parking area on the Quick Lake Trail. The tree I wanted to clear was on the Flynn Trail near Hodge Pond so we had to walk almost four miles to get there. We turned right on the woods road toward Frick Pond and kept a quick pace crossing the outlet bridge. I did not stop to take pictures as I already 1have many from this viewpoint and the blowdown was my main objective. We stayed left at the first trail junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. After 1.5 miles, we were at Iron Wheel Junction where we turned left to continue on the Quick Lake Trail. The day was warm but we were keeping a quick pace. I did notice that carrying the axe and not using my poles made the trek noticeably more difficult. By 11:45 we had hiked the 3.1 miles to Junkyard Junction where we turned right on the Flynn Trail. Everything had been very dry with only a few damp places along the way. I had noticed quite a few new branches down or across the trail. Those branches that were loose I cleared but I left some of the others for the next trip. We walked east along the Flynn Trail until we got to the gate and then walked a little farther to the blowdown I wanted to clear. At 11:55 AM I leashed Sheila to a tree, put down my pack and took a few pictures of the area.

The blowdown was old and somewhat decayed which actually made cutting it harder since new wood takes the axe much better. I chose to cut the top of the tree first near the edge of the trail. It was tiring work but it went pretty quickly and soon I was able to lift a portion of the top and flip it off the trail. I now turned my attention to the other end of the tree trunk which was on the other side of the trail. Where I really wanted to cut there was a knot which restricted my ability to get the right width on my V. I started to cut and noticed that my V was much too narrow. I widened the V as I went but it was still narrow. This meant that as I got to the bottom of the cut I had to use brute force to cut directly down through the last inches. Eventually I broke through and had a large section of trunk still in the middle of the trail. This section was heavier than I thought and there was no way I could lift it by myself. I was able to pivot and roll it to one side of the trail but I didn't like the fact that it still block a portion. I decided to pivot and roll it to the other side which I did with the help of a tree branch I used as a lever. Finally the work was done and at 12:40 PM we started down the Flynn Trail again after spending about 45 minutes clearing the blowdown. I had almost emptied a liter of water and now I ate a protein bar. Where the jeep trail turned to the left around the back of Hodge Pond, we stayed to the right on the Flynn Trail and soon arrived at the clearing t the outlet end of Hodge Pond. I thought Sheila might need a drink and a swim so we walked over to the pond. Sheila immediately dove in an started to splash around. I picked up a stick and threw it several times until I felt it was time to leave. We turned around and walked up the Flynn Trail toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The hill on the trail up from Hodge did not seem as long as it normally does. By 1:10 PM we had hiked 4.75 miles and had arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued straight ahead and walked downhill toward the parking area. The descent was welcome and the trip seemed to go more quickly than usual. We arrived back at the car at 1:50 PM having hiked 6.5 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes with an elevation gain of 920 feet.

On Monday, August 31st, I wanted to do a challenging hike close to home. I had been doing long but relatively flat hikes on the Finger Lakes Trail for most of the summer and want to try climbing a Catskill 3500 foot peak. I had recently hiked Breakneck Ridge without a problem so I thought I might take on Slide Mountain as it is close to my house and I had not been up the main trail in over 3 years! I waited until a little later in the morning hoping the haze that was still hanging around would burn off. I got Sheila in the car along with my gear and we headed out DeBruce Road to the Frost Valley Road where I turned left. Soon we were passing by Frost Valley and then the Biscuit Brook parking area. At 10:15 we arrived at the Slide Mountain parking area to find two other cars parked there. We began our hike at 10:25 AM by starting out on the main trail which immediately crosses the Neversink River. The "river" in this case was completely dry without a drop of water. This has happened before but always surprises me since in the spring it may be impossible to cross without getting wet! The other small streams were also dry as we headed up to the woods road. We did meet one hiker coming back down the trail and we said each said "hello" as we passed. In just less than half a mile we turned right on the woods road and hiked passed the first piped spring which was barely running. At .7 miles we turned left and started up the main trail to Slide Mountain which, according to the sign, was 2 miles away. The trailhead for Slide has a relatively high elevation so although it is the highest peak in the Catskills the elevation gain and grade are relatively modest. By the time we reached the designated campsite at 1.2 miles the grade was getting steeper and I was anxious to see how my Zamberlan light hikers would hold up on the dry but rocky trail. We kept a good pace up the trail passing the 3500 foot sign at 1.4 miles where the trail is at its steepest. The sky was starting to cloud over a little and I was concerned even though no rain was in the forecast. At 1.7 miles the trail started to level some and was covered with fine quartz sand. The Catskills including Slide Mountain are a plateau that was once under an ocean and have been pushed up to form what are called mountains.

We continued up the trail and I began to notice that there were many more trees blown down than I remembered. There were quiet a few trees leaning over the trail which I do not think is a good situation. Some trees were low and had branches cut in such a way that the remaining pieces formed "spears" that pointed downward. I imagine some taller hikers may have had problems with these. Soon the trail level again as we had done most of the climbing. At 2 miles we passed the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail as it came in from the left from the Denning trailhead. The trail leveled some here and I enjoyed walking along the path strewn with pine needles. Soon we were approaching the last climb and at 2.6 miles we were at the viewpoint toward Panther and Giant Ledge. I should say "former" viewpoint as the trees have grown up in three years to obscure most of the view. Even if the viewpoint had been open, the haze still covered most of the peaks and valleys. Based on the number of cars in the lot and the people coming down the mountain, I judged that the summit would be empty. We passed by the highest point on Slide and continued to the rock outcropping to find it deserted. It was just before noon and we had covered 2.7 miles. I made sure I hydrated although I wasn't very thirsty. I tried to take a few pictures of the Ashokan Reservoir, Cornell and Wittenberg but the trees and the haze effectively prevented any good shots. I decided to go down to the spring as I wanted to get some pictures of Sheila on the ladders which was one of Sheba's best spots. We walked around the rock outcropping and started down toward the spring. There were more trees down in this area. I really wasn't surprised that Sheila handled the descent without any problems. Since I was slower, she kept climbing back up to "encourage" me!

We continued down to the spring eventually getting to the wooden ladders. The ladders have not been repaired or maintained in some time and really could use some work. I decided to take pictures on the way back up and so we descended until we were at the spring. Sheila went ahead of me and I could here her getting a drink and playing in the water. The spring was running pretty well and the rocks around were wet and green with moss. I took a few pictures and then we started back up the ladders. I took a few pictures on Sheila on the ladders and the tried to take pictures from the ladders toward Cornell. This was at one time a good place to take pictures but the view is now all but gone. I did find a spot where I could take a few captures through the trees and we stopped at one of the illegal campsites farther up which had some views. We were soon back at the summit and we simply continued back down the main trail. The Zambian shoes were working well as they are light on my feet and give me enough support on rocky terrain. We passed the 2500 foot sign and continued down the trail until Sheila alerted. I put her on her leash for a few minutes but could not see anybody ahead so I released her. Soon I could see two hikers ahead of us descending the mountain. We were catching up to them so I put Sheila back on her leash. As we approached they courteously stepped aside to let us pass. We continued down to the woods road and turned right and then left to take the main trail back to the car. We stopped in the river bed so that I could get some pictures and then went back to the car by 2:00 PM. We had covered 5.8 miles in 3.5 hours with 2250 feet of elevation gain. I rather enjoyed the climb and think I will do another peak soon!

On Sunday, August 30th, Cindy and I decided to go for a short hike after church since the weather was so beautiful. I was still thinking about the cherry tree and suggested we go to hike around Frick Pond again and stop to take care of the cherry tree on the way. Cindy agreed and we left Livingston Manor after church to arrive at the parking area at 11:15 AM. We were surprised to see several horse trailers taking up most of the spaces in the lot. I have nothing against horses and their owners except for the fact that the owners do not clean up after their animals. A hiking trail littered with horse manure and flies does not give horses on the trails a good name! We walked out toward Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail passing several spots that had clear evidence that horses had passed by on the trail. We crossed the bridge over the outlet and walked to the second footbridge with the remains of the cherry tree. My plan was to cut it in half so that I could move both halves out of the way by myself. This time I had decided to bring along my Council Tools Velvicut axe which is a full-sized American felling axe with a heavier bit and a slimmer handle. I thought this job would be ideal as I could swing the axe freely and get the power it needs to cut efficiently. When I started my cut I noticed a know on the other side of the trunk so I adjusted a little and again got the V too narrow. The Velvicut axe is a beast that requires a full swing to get the best cut. The fact that the axe is the heaviest I own means that it is more tiring to use. I continued to chop making some good chips fly. I rolled the log to make the cutting easier and considered using my saw toward the end. I stayed with the axe and soon had two pieces where there was once one! I put the axe away and then started to flip and roll the pieces out of the way. The wood was very dense and each piece was heavier than I thought it would be. I got both pieces moved next to the remaining trunk of the tree which was off the trail. After a brief cleanup, we continued our hike around the pond. At Ties Square we turned right and walked the Loggers' Loop back to Gravestone Junction where we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to walk back to the car. The trailers were all still in the parking area and we had not seen horses or riders on our hike.

On Saturday, August 29th, Karl brought Luke to the house and we all decided to go hike around Frick Pond. I took an my Wetterlings Forest Axe so that I could do some maintenance after the hike. We took our time getting to Frick Pond arriving a little after 10:30 AM to find no other cars in the lot. We got ready to hike right away and started out the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond. Luke was alternating between walking and running and seemed very happy. We were soon on the woods road that goes out to the pond. We walked down the hill to the pond and stopped a minute for me to take some pictures of everybody gathered on the bridge. As we started around the pond, I pointed out the large cherry tree that was still partly on the last bridge. Karl remarked that it would take some time to cut it with and axe. We continued around the back of the pond admiring the tall green pine trees and the needles under foot. Luke was busy pointing out the "yellow trail markers" identifying each one as we passed them. At Times Square we turned right to start back to the car on the Logger's Loop. We walked across the stepping stones and logs that the DeBruce DEC campers had helped me place over one wet spot. As we continued, I spotted another dead tree standing by itself. I asked Cindy and Karl to continue back to the cars and I would be home shortly. I tied Sheila to a tree so she would not follow and then proceeded to fell the tree. I measured three axe lengths and sectioned the tree. I got two more lengths to span the marshy area and dragged the sections to that spot. I decided to leave them there to be placed on another trip. I returned to where I had felled the tree and cleaned up before continuing around the pond. I was really impressed at how well the Wetterlings axe worked for me. I had honed it to a very sharp edge and the lighter bit allowed me to develop more speed. Also, the more elliptical handle meant it was easier to control. I decided that I would take a few swings at the big cherry tree that Cindy and I had worked on. I knew it would be hard to cut through the large trunk but I thought I could at least get it started. Sheila and I walked over the bridge again and stopped at the last footbridge. I tied Sheila to a log and got to work. I tried to make the cut as wide as the diameter of the tree but came up a little short. I knew once I started that I was going to make it all the way through! Due to the slightly narrow V, the last few chops were difficult and I regretted not bringing a saw since that would have been an easier way to finish. I made the last few swings to sever that bark, took some pictures of my work and got ready to leave. I could have rolled the piece I cut off over the bridge and out of the way but did not want to roll it into the little stream below. I thought I would return with one or two other people to flip the trunk out of the way or roll it across the trail to the other side.

On Thursday, August 27th the weather forecast was for partly cloudy day with temperatures in the mid to high 70's. The humidity was forecast to be lower than it had been and it sounded like a PERFECT day for hiking. I decided to take Sheila and head for the Eastern Hudson Highlands and Breakneck Ridge. This is one of the most popular trails in that area and rapidly fills with people especially on the weekends which was why it is almost mandatory to go there during the week. I tried to get out of the house early but didn't leave until just before 9:00 AM. I knew that there was construction on I84 so I decided to take the Mid-Hudson bridge to Poughkeepsie and then head south on Route 9 and 9D. This added about half an hour to the trip but I thought it might be worth not having to wait in traffic. I headed through Ellenville on Route 52 and the turned right of Route 44/55 to go through New Paltz. When we left Livingston Manor, the sky fog was just lifting and the sky was almost cloudless but hazy. We crossed the Mid-Hudson Bridge and headed south on Route 9 and the picked up Route 9D. After crossing I84 things began to look familiar and we arrived at the Breakneck Ridge parking lot to find only a few cars parked. As I pulled in the parking area, I noticed that farther up the road toward the trailhead there were cars parked along the side of the road. These were people that were about to hike one of he most difficult routes in the area and were too lazy to park in the designated lot and walk an extra quarter mile! It was 11:00 AM when I got my gear out of the car and put Sheila on her leash to start our hike. It was warm but there was a nice breeze blowing and the humidity seemed low despite being right on the Hudson River. We walked south along the shoulder of the road for about a quarter mile to the trailhead and then crossed the road again to get on the trail. There were a few people hanging out by their car right at the trailhead and I wanted to get ahead of them so we set a good pace up the trail to the first lookout. As we started up there were two women coming down toward us which is unusual as most people do not descend the trail but do a loop of some kind. I noticed that the trail was very dry and eroded from the thousands of people that hike the route. There were several signs that warned of the difficulty of the hike and most hikers seemed to be well-prepared for the journey. I was glad I had chosen my new Zamberlan low hikers since they are lighter and I felt they would grip the dry rocks well. We did not stop at the first lookout since there isn't much to see and there is a lot of broken glass on the ground.

I let Sheila off her leash as we started the steepest part of the climb and noticed she had no problem negotiating the rocky terrain. I did see that she was constantly checking out the best route and choosing the easiest path. She had no problem scrambling or jumping up the more difficult routes but always chose the path of least resistance when she could. As we climbed I saw that a group of four hikers was catching up to us so we walked off the main trail to a small viewpoint and let them pass. I decided to wait to take some pictures until we gained some more elevation but the views of the river and across the water were beautiful. Back on the main trail another hiker or two caught and passed us but I was taking it easy since I knew the difficulty of the hike I wanted to do. My plan was to hike the white Breakneck Ridge Trail for about 3.2 miles and then turn around to hike the second 3.2 miles on the yellow Wilkinson Memorial Trail. We continued on the main trail passing one of the hikers who had gone by us. In the first .4 miles from the trailhead we gained 700 feet with and average grade of 33%. I began to stop at some of the lookouts which were designated by small, green, rectangular signs. The Hudson River was laid out below us! Across the river was the imposing prominence of Storm King Mountain. Further north was Bannerman Island with the castle and warehouse ruins. Downriver the Military Academy at West Point was just visible. The far shore was occupied by marinas and oil storage tanks. Nearby hills and far away mountains were spread throughout the view. I took pictures of everything but was more controlled than on previous hikes. I did make sure I got a few pictures of Sheila along the way. She was being very well-behaved and listening to all my commands. Several people commented on how well she hike and listened to me. Along the way I met a father and daughter from Cornwall who were hiking with their new puppy. The girl kept her dog on a leash which I knew must have been difficult. The dog looked like a husky but was light brown with darker brown markings. They told me it was a Siberian husky-Pomeranian mix!

As we continued on the trail, I took a bypass route that avoided a climb over a stretch of exposed rock with few handholds. I knew Sheila could probably make this but did not want to take the chance. The bypass route was pretty well marked but all I had to do was follow Sheila. The father and daughter followed behind me as we worked our way to this route which I had never tried before. We also avoided a nasty climb over a huge boulder with a mean first step! I stopped again to take pictures after negotiating a walk along some open rock which slanted downward. I wondered how Sheila would do until I realized she was waiting up ahead for me. This would be repeated throughout the hike. The very last big climb on the ridge follows a narrow trail that leads to an open rock face which is slanted but with almost no handholds. As we approached the area, I noticed another bypass marked "Easier ascent" to the left. I decided it would be nice to take a route I had not tried. The path was easier but not easy! At one point the other dog came running up the trail and I thought the owners were right behind. Almost immediately I heard them calling and saw that the of had slipped her harness and was running free. I knew they were afraid she would go somewhere she was not supposed to and allowed Sheila to go after her and "make friends". As soon as they made contact I called Sheila back knowing the other dog would follow. As they returned, I held onto the other dog until the grateful owners could retrieve her. Soon we were at the top of the major climbs and at the last designated lookout. After taking a few more pictures, I tried to get Sheila to drink from my hands or from some water poured into a depression on he rock. She would do neither so we continued on our way.

I thought after the major climbs we were done acceding but I apparently forgot that there are several more ascents and descents along the way. None of these are as difficult as the initial climb but they can be over 20% both up and down. The constant ups and downs add to the difficulty of the hike and the satisfaction of the accomplishment. Along the route are three "bailout" trails that allow a shorter route than the one I had planned. After less than a mile, we had passed the Undercliff trail on the right that connects to the Brook Trail leading back to Route 9D. We had continued on the white blazed Breakneck Ridge Trail until at 1.7 miles the red blazes of the Breakneck Trail Bypass appeared on the left. This is the second cutoff and leads to the Wilkinson Memorial Trail and back down to the river. I decided to continue on the Breakneck Ridge Trail. Immediately after this point there is another ascent and a steep descent on the other side. After this, there is a viewpoint on the right side of the trail that looks down on Lake Surprise. I stopped to take some pictures of the lake which looks private and had some very expensive house around the shore. We began to descend and just before 2 miles came to the blue blazed Notch Trail. This trail runs concurrently with the white Breakneck ridge trail to the northeast and eventually ends up on Route 9D over a mile north of the Breakneck Ridge parking area. To the right the trail heads south and then east toward Mount Taurus. We stayed to the left to remain on the Breakneck Ridge Trail which still had a few more ups and downs. The trail remained dry and very rocky as it had been since the beginning. At 3.2 miles the white and blue trails split and we turned left to follow the blue trail for only a few hundred feet until the yellow blazed Wilkinson Memorial Trail appeared on the left. We turned here at 1:40 PM and started our 3.2 mile trek back to the car.

Many of the trails in the area are poorly marked and are crisscrossed by unmarked trails and woods roads. it is EXTREMELY important to know your route or have maps. Both would be a good idea and a GPS can also help! Since cellphone reception is good in the area, the Avenza app with PDF maps would work well also. This app shows the actual trails and your position on them. The Wilkinson Memorial Trail was very poorly blazed with many different paths cutting across it. Many of the major turns were not indicated and the blazes after these turns were also scarce. This is a shame since the trail are so popular. I was glad Sheila was along since she seemed to be able to follow the trail. We initially started a short climb on the trail which had my legs protesting. I knew there was a final climb over Sugarloaf Mountain and I was not looking forward to that ascent. By 4 miles e were on a descent that would last for about .8 miles until the climb up Sugarloaf. At 4.2 miles we came to one of those unmarked turns and I followed Sheila to the left and down to Wades Brook. The brook was almost dry but I was glad Sheila found some water and was able to get a drink and cool herself in the pool. I had to look twice but found that the trail crossed the brook and then paralleled it for some time. Sugarloaf Mountain offers the last spectacular views of the Hudson River and we began the ascent at 4.7 miles. The elevation gain is only 230 feet and the trail lops to the north for a more moderate approach making the average grade about 13%. The views along the trail aren't as good as the ones from the top or from Breakneck Ridge itself. We reached the top of the mountain at 5.2 miles and stopped so that I could take a few more pictures. The views north to the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge and Dennings Point were well worth the stop. I also took pictures of two interesting trees perch on the summit. I checked my watch and found it was almost 3 o'clock which meant we needed to get moving so that I had enough time for a shower before cross country practice!

As we started to leave the summit and walk the trail down the mountain, I remembered that THIS was the steep descent I had been thinking about. From the top of the mountain we would have to lose over 900 feet back to Route 9D! The trail descends SHARPLY from this point with several difficult areas beginning right at the top where I had to slide along a slab of rock. I had noticed along the way that much of the rock has been eroded and polished by the huge number of hikers that use the route. In the first .4 miles the descent averaged over 20%. The trail was dry and there were many lose rocks along the way which made keeping a good pace almost impossible. As we descended we came to a fork in the trail. There was no turn indicated but at least the blazes were clear as we stayed to the left. The lower portion of the trail is a little easier as the switchbacks and the meandering nature of the trail help keep the descent manageable. The loose, dry earth and loose talus capped by acorns and a few dead leaves made keeping my footing a difficult task. Sheila, of course, had no problem and alternated running back and forth with waiting for me. Toward the end we followed the trail into a streambed and then had to ascend out of it. Just one more challenge for my tired legs. At about 5.7 miles the Breakneck Bypass Trail joined on the left. From this point on the trail seemed more like a narrow woods road and the surface was well packed. Soon glimpses of the road and the river could be seen through the trees and the trail suddenly ended at 9D less than a quarter mile from the parking area. We turned left on the road and walked on the shoulder back to the car. The hike was the more challenging than I remember and certainly one of the hardest six+ miles I had ever done. It was 3:35 PM when we got back to the car. 6.5 miles in 4.5 hours with an elevation gain of 2220 feet.

On Wednesday, August 26th, I decided I wanted to go to Trout Pond to do some trail maintenance. Cindy and I had been there on Monday and found that the Japanese knotweed was starting to encroach on the main trail near the falls. The path to the falls was overrun with grass and weeds and there were a few blowdowns on the trail to Mud Pond. I put out a call for trail volunteers but everybody seemed to already have plans for the day except for Lisa. I met Lisa downtown at 12:20 PM and we headed to Roscoe and then on Route 206 to Morton Hill Road. At the junction with Russell Brook Road I turned left and continued down to the lower parking area. I usually park at the top and walk down the road but on this trip we had equipment to carry and wanted to get to work as soon as possible. We walked down to the stream and across the bridge to begin work at a little after 12:30 PM. Lisa said she would work on the knotweed so I took a newly purchased grass whip and headed for the weed-choked path. My initial efforts were not too impressive until I remembered to strike the plants almost at ground level to better cut the stems. After that, I cut an impressive path in a short period of time. I noticed some branches having low over the path and retrieved my Silky saw from my pack and cut the branches so they no longer blocked the path. To vary my work, I checked on Lisa and helped her clear some of the knotweed she had cut. I got my new Wetterlings axe and headed for the small blowdown just passed the trail register. With only a few blows I dispatched the sapling and then moved it to the sides of the trail. I went back to the path where I had cut the weeds and started to remove them by placing them out of sight. I had meant to bring a rake to do this job but had to settle for using the weed whip. I checked back on Lisa after I had removed most of the cut weeds and she had done a great job of trimming back the knotweed and removing the cut branches. There was one more blowdown across the path to the falls which I attacked with my axe. I really loved the way this tool felt in my hands and the ease with which I could limb trees or section large trunks. I cut away all but the largest trunk and called it good around 2:00 PM which was Lisa's deadline for returning. At some point I hit a rock with the new axe which was very painful for me as it put a slight burr on the toe. This gave me an opportunity to try my honing skills at home. I was able to remove the bur with the coarse side of the stone and then hone the whole edge further with the fine side. The result was a perfect edge which was slightly sharper than it had been!

On Monday, August 24th, I decided I wanted get out and do a hike close to home and Cindy wanted to go too. We decided to go to Trout Pond since we had not been there recently and wanted to see if there was any trail maintenance that needed to be done. We were in no real hurry to get started so we arrived at the top of Russell Brook Road at about 10:45 AM and parked on the side of Morton Hill Road. We got started right away be walking down Russell Brook Road. The temperature was in the low 70's with moderate humidity. I wore a long-sleeved shirt as I often do since it takes care of the bugs and the sun. I also had decided to wear a pair of Keen hiking boots instead of low hikers as the trail can be very muddy in spots. We continued on down Russell Brook Road to the overlook of the falls. There was not much water in the stream and the upper falls was just trickle but this exposed the mossy rock underneath. I took some pictures and the we continued to the lower parking area. There were several cars parked in the lot as we got on the woods road that crosses the brook. As we crossed the bridge we found the Japanese knotweed in full bloom with some of it encroaching on the path. We turned right after the knotted to walk to the falls and noticed a tent set up just up the trail in a spot not designated for camping. We walked over to the falls and dropped down into the streambed. I took few pictures of the falls while Sheila place din the water. I took a few more photographs of her in front of the falls and then we worked our way back to the main trail. I out Sheila on her leash until we passed the tent. At the trail junction just after the register we turned to the left to climb the steeper hill toward Mud Pond. There was a small tree across the trail which I could not move without cutting it. The trail was rather dry with only a few wet spots and the ascent went quickly. The sun was out and it was getting warmer but there was a slight breeze blowing. We reached the top of the hill at 11:45 AM after hiking 1.5 miles and started down the other side. At about 1.7 miles we made a right to follow the trail up to the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. We kept hiking but made a short stop so that I could take some pictures of ferns along the trail and of an interesting area where there are many small saplings.

The ascent continued for the next 1.2 miles until at 2.8 miles into the hike when we were at the highest point and ready to start the descent to Trout Pond. The trail remained relatively dry and easy to negotiate even in spots than can be muddy or have running water at other times of the year. We descended the rest of the way to Trout Pond and stopped at the inlet. I was surprised that no one was camped in either lean-to. The skies were bright blue with puffy clouds. Some of the clouds we white but some were beginning to get dark although no rain was predicted. I walked out to a peninsula which usually is under water. I threw a stick for Sheila to retrieve and she immediately swam to get it. I took pictures of her as she repeated this several times. I also took some shots of the pond with the trees and clouds reflected in the still water. before continuing on. We continued on the main trail toward the outlet of the pond. Along the way I the rail remained almost dry which was much more peasant than trying to negotiate the mud that is often present. As we approached the lower end of the pond I looked at the skies and almost bypassed this stop. We did stop at the outlet end so that I could take a few more shots. It was obvious that the pond was very low as the water was not even lapping at the outlet dam. The hike from the outlet to the trail junction is all downhill and really did go quickly. We were soon back at the register box where we continued on the main trail to the parking area. We finished with the hike up Russell Brook Road back to the car. We arrived back at 1:45 PM having covered 5.6 miles and 1132 vertical feet in 2 hours and 50 minutes. On the way back home we stopped on the Rockland flats at Northern Farmhouse Pasta. They produce their own all-organic pastas and raviolis using locally sourced products. They sell the pasta in the store and are now open Friday and Saturday night from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM with a limited menu.

On Saturday, August 22nd I suggested to Cindy that we go to Sam's Point to hike as we had not been there in some time. I had been hiking elsewhere and the area had been closed as the ownership changed hands from Open Spaces Institute to New York State. Sam's Point Preserve is now part of Minnewaska State Park. Cindy agreed but suggested we start early as it is a popular hiking destination particularly on the weekend. My intention was to hike to Sam's Point and then down the road toward the Ice caves. I wanted to avoid the ice caves and head toward Verkeerder Kill Falls. I knew the traffic to the falls would be lighter than that around Lake Maratanza and the Ice Caves. I planned to cross the falls and then hike to High Point. We would return by way of the carriage path and loop road. We left Livingston Manor just before 9:00 AM and headed through Liberty to Ellenville. Sheila was excited to get out as it had been several days since our last hike! We continued on Route 52 toward Pine Bush and turned left at the top of the mountain Cragsmoor Road. In Cragsmoor I stayed to the right adjourned right on Sam's Point Road. Soon we were at the parking area and were surprised to see that nothing had changed. There were already a larger number of cars parked in the lot with more coming in behind us. I paid the $10 parking fee at the Conservation Center and we started our hike at 9:45 PM with Sheila on her leash and my poles in my pack. I had decided to again wear my Zamberlan low hikers as I expected a relatively dry hike without too much mud. The low and light shoes are beginning to be my favorite shoes for this type of hike. I was anxious to see how they would perform on the rocky trails. The temperatures was in the high 60's with relatively low humidity and a slight breeze. We turned right at the first trail junction to take the loop road up to Sam's Point. There was a large group of young people behind us who were enjoying themselves by making a lot of noise. We wanted to stay ahead of them so we set a quick pace. On the way up to Sam's Point I took some pictures of the cliffs and then stopped at the lower viewpoint. There was little haze and at that point I knew this would be a slow hike with a lot of time for pictures. The green of the vegetation and the blue of the sky was complemented by a lot of interesting, puffy, white clouds. I also took some pictures of Sheila and Cindy before continuing up the road. We took the short spur to the Point and found no one there. I was surprised to see that the rock wall had been removed! I never felt the need for the wall and the view is more open without it but I wondered why the took the time to remove it. There was also a new wooden bridge over the large gap between the two parts of the viewpoint. Even though I have taken pictures from here many times, I took them again and tried to get a new perspective. I captured some shots of the viewpoint and then some along the escarpment cliffs as well as some of the distant scenery. I also snapped a few of Cindy Next to the large glacial erratic.

Back on the main trail we headed toward the turn off to the ice caves on the loop road. After turning right, we walked down the side road a short distance passing a few people on the way and turning left onto the trail down to Verkeerderkill Falls. This trail is rocky and often quite wet but on this day it was dry the entire length with only a few wet spots. The trail was newly trimmed and most of the encroaching blueberry bushes and a few scrub pines were cut back to open up the trail. Along the first part there was a sea of low blueberry bushes with an occasional dwarf pine. I took some photographs and included some of the clouds for good measure. I stopped to take a few long range shots of Lake Awosting and a few of Sheila posed on a rock. At one point the trail passes through a stand of hardwood trees and the forest floor was covered in ferns. This required some more pictures! Most of the rest of the trail to the falls is rocky and passes through dwarf pines. We met a few people coming back from the falls and were passed by members of a Boy Scout troop headed toward the falls. The trail is always longer than I remember but we finally got to the falls at 11:15 AM after 3 miles of hiking 1.8 miles of which were on the trail. We stopped on the near side of the falls and I walked out to the viewpoint. There wasn't a lot of water going over the falls but there was more than I had expected and it was certainly worth some pictures. I took some pictures and noticed some people on the other side. Crossing the stream was no problem and we were soon on the other side. The far side of the stream offers more unobstructed views of the falls and the pool below. I took pictures of the falls and actually saw a small rainbow which photographed nicely. We didn't spend too much time at the falls as we had seen it before and more people were arriving. We headed out on the trail to continue our loop and to climb back up to the escarpment. The trail climbs steeply but for only a short distance but I decided that I would let Sheila offer her leash and get out my poles which I had kept in my pack since we started the hike. We stopped at the first viewpoint so that I could take some pictures, a theme that would recur frequently on the way to High Point. As we left the viewpoint, a pair of hikers turned onto the trail ahead of us. We never saw them again for the rest of the hike. At the trail junction with the path to Awosting, we turned left to continue along the escarpment. From the falls to High Point is about 2.3 miles. The trail passes along the edge of the cliffs with many wonderful views of the countryside. Sometimes the path dives into the dwarf pines only to emerge to more great views. I noticed the transmission towers opposite us across the gorge and knew we had some distance to go before we would pass by them on the way back. We stopped along the way for pictures of the scenery. I also took some shots of Sheila and Cindy. I took some pictures of Sheila alone which were very similar to ones I have of Sheba. I know that Sheila is very athletic but I was surprised at the ease with which she climbs the steep rock faces. She pauses at the bottom, scans the routes and then launches herself up and over without much effort at all. I had only brought two liters of water but there were two streams along the way which were flowing nicely and allowed Sheila to get a drink.

By 1:10 PM we had hiked 5.3 miles and were standing on High Point. I got out the camera to take some pictures. The Smiley Tower at Mohonk and the cliffs of Hamilton and Castle Point were clearly visible. To the north were the outlines of the Catskill high peaks. The two young men that had passed us on the way out were returning from the other direction and they stopped to talk. We discussed some hikes that I had done and they were contemplating. They headed off to complete their hike and Cindy and I got a drink and a snack before continuing as we knew we still had more than 3 miles to go. In a few minutes we were at the trail that leads down to the carriageway. We walked passed this turn off to the area where the fire tower once stood. This lookout gives an even better view to the north and more pictures were in order. We walked back to the trail down to the carriageway and soon were headed back to the parking lot. The sign at the top of the trail before descending says 2.4 miles to the center. The sign at the bottom gives 2.8 miles for the same trip and this is the correct information. I have often wondered why someone didn't proofread this more carefully! The walk back always seems long and today was no exception. The first 1.7 miles on the carriageway is slightly uphill and seems to go on forever. Along the way the path was very dry and many f the areas that are often boggy had no water. There was one pond with quite a bit of water and the area around the spur trail to Indian Rock was damp. We decided not to go out to Indian Rock and continued straight ahead to the loop road. At the loop road we turned right to head back to the parking area. I expected to meet a lot of people but we only met one woman walking her dog until we were almost back at the car. From the road we could coach a glimpse of Lake Maratanza but I decided not to go down to the shore to take pictures. As we approached the parking area we could see that it was overflowing and that attendants were stopping cars at the entrance. We were back at the car by 2:45 PM having hiked 8.8 miles in 5 hours. I counted this as a good pace given the amount of time we had stopped so that I could photograph.

On Tuesday, August 18th I wanted to get a quick hike in before track practice in the afternoon. I decided to go to Hodge and Frick Ponds to see if there were any new blowdowns on the Flynn and Quick Lake Trails since I had not walked the big loop in some time. Cindy decided to come with me so I got an axe and saw and the rest of my gear and we all headed out at 11:15 AM. When I walked out of the house, I turned round and went inside to change into a short sleeved shirt! It was both hot and humid out and I knew that thundershowers were a possibility but not until 4:00 PM. We arrived at the Frick Pond trailhead at 11:35 AM and crossed the road to get on the Flynn Trail. The sun was out but walking through the woods under the trees seemed cooler and there was a slight breeze. We walked through the woods and then made a right on the woods road that is the Flynn Trail. This was once the extension of Beech Mountain Road when it went all the way to the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. As we walked up the Flynn Trail, we did not find any blowdowns but there were areas where some grass and weeds had started to overgrow the trail. By 12:20 PM we had hiked the 1.7 miles uphill to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail heading for Hodge Pond. Along the way we admired the work we had done previously to clear the trail. As we walked down the hill to Hodge Pond Sheila ran ahead and jumped into the pond. She loves to get wet and to swim around. When we got to the pond, I picked up a stick and threw it into the pond so she could retrieve it. I did this several times and took pictures of her swimming and jumping out of the water. After a drink and a quick snack, I picked up my gear and we headed out on the Flynn Trail along the western shore of Hodge Pond. I knew there was still one big tree across the trail and wanted to see if I could clear it with my saw and axe. As we approached the large blowdown, I could see that it had been mostly cleared. All that was left in the trail was one large trunk which was easy to step over. It looked like a chainsaw had been used but who did the clearing remains a mystery to me. We walked up to the gate at the top of the trail and I dropped my pack and got out my tools. A tree had fallen across the trail some time ago and we had trimmed the branches and rerouted the trail around the blowdown. This had bothered me for some time and I wanted to see if I could remove what remained. I cleared some of the loose branches and then started to use my Fiskars X27 axe. The axe is lightweight with an integrated composite handle. I prefer one of my heavier felling axes but they are all much heavier and meant for felling large trees. I have also found that the Fiskars does cut well and is adequate for most jobs out on the trail. I spent about half an hour clearing the entire blowdown and cutting it back off the trail.

As we continued to hike out the Flynn Trail to Junkyard Junction, Cindy and I both noticed that the skies were growing a little darker in places but there was still plenty of sunshine. Sheila found some partridge to chase and she very nearly caught one. When we arrived at Junkyard Junction, we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and started down the hill toward Iron Wheel Junction. Along the way I pointed out to Cindy the tree that Brad and I had felled as it was hanging over the trail. A little farther along there was a new trees across the trail. I thought I could move it without cutting but it proved to be too heavy. I got out the axe and made one cut through the 8 inch log. After making the cut I was able to lift and roll the log out of the way. By 2:35 PM we had walked the 5 miles to Iron Wheel Junction where we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. There were no more blockages on the trail. We crossed the small stream on the trail and found it was almost dry. Sheila took a quick dip in the one pool of water and we continued toward the bridge at Frick Pond with clouds gathering overhead. When we arrived at the bridge, the dark clouds were very evident as I took a few quick shots. Just as I put the camera back in the pack the rain began to fall. Cindy got out her rain jacket but I decided to try to Out run the rain as it looked like there were blue skies ahead. She was right and I was wrong! The rain was pouring down so hard that I paused under a tree to get out the pack cover. We hurried along the path as the thunder and lightning seemed very close. When we arrived at the car, the rain fell even harder. We had hiked 6.5 miles in 3.5 hours with several stops along the way to clear the trail and to take pictures. The vertical gain for the whole hike was only 920 feet. As we drove out the Mongaup Road, it seemed that it had rained very little there and the streets in Livingston Manor were not even wet!

On Sunday, August 16th, I wanted to get in another hike on the Finger Lakes Trail to complete map 15. Since the hike would be about 9 miles Cindy agreed to go with me. We would park in Watkins Glen and near the park entrance and hike through the village to Clute Park and then follow the trail to Burdett where we had been on our previous hike. Sheila was ready to go as we left the house a little after 6:30 AM. The fog was so heavy that it almost seemed to be raining but I knew that it would clear as the sun burned it off. I checked the weather forecast and found sunny skies but with temperatures in the high 80's and high humidity. The heat index was listed at 97 in the early afternoon which concerned me and was why I wanted to start as early as possible. As I drove north on State Route 17 the fog hung around until well after Binghamton and then began to lift as the temperature rose into the high 60's. I continued on Route 17 for 133 miles to exit 52B at Horseheads. From there it was 16.5 miles north on Route 14 to the park entrance. We pulled into the parking area for a small motel across from Watkins Glen and asked permission to park. We began our hike at about 8:50 AM by walking one block north on Route 14 to 10th Street. We turned right and walked one block to North Decatur Street. Here we made a left and walked six blocks north to Route 414 where we turned right. We took a moment to stop at Lafayette Park on the corner where there are two large stone blocks engraved with the words "Finger Lakes Trail" and "Catherine Valley Trail". From here we moved on and walked the remaining .6 miles to Clute Park on the southern shore of Seneca Lake. We walked down toward the shore watching for white blazes and soon picked them up. We continued to follow them east as they led us back out to Route 414. We crossed Seneca Lake Inlet on a road bridge and then continued to follow Route 414 as it turned north and started to climb away from the lake. We were looking for the blazes to indicate a turn to the right as the trail passes through Excelsior Glen. At 1.75 miles I noticed a Finger Lakes Trail post on the other side of the road almost hidden in the grass. There was no other indication that the trail turned at that point. We crossed the road and found the trail blazes and a register. The Finger Lakes Trail almost immediately turned right and started to climb. There were also numerous other trails that appeared to enter the glen following the stream. The trail began to climb steeply and we were soon at the base of some short cliffs. The layers of rock were so interesting that I stopped to take a few shots. As we continued to climb we noticed that the trail had not been cleared in some time and seemed far less popular than some of the other trails. I planted my foot on a root and immediately slipped and almost fell. I wondered if my new Zamberlan low hikers were up to the task but I did not slip again the entire day.

As we climbed the trail, both Cindy and I noticed that it was hot and humid. It was nice to be in the shade and even nicer to have a breeze blowing. The map description had mentioned avoiding the area during high water but Cindy and I did not see the reason for this. At about 2.3 miles we started to turn north and got closer to the creek. There were several small cascades which were really nice. Soon the trail descended to the streambed above one of the falls. The descent was a little steep and slippery but we made it across the stream with no problem. After this we understood the warning about times of high water! Sheila immediately ran up and down the stream slashing in the water. I stopped to take a few shots before joining Cindy on the other side. This time my Zamberlan low hikers did a great job and did not slip. The trail continued heading north out of the glen and the lack of maintenance became more evident. Where there were open areas weeds had overgrown the trail making hiking more difficult. There was a particular type of burr that all of us ran into and it was very effective sticking to everything! At 2.8 miles we came to Jolly Road where the blazes indicated a turn. Once again the blazes did not indicate the direction of the turn! Cindy and I were talking and having a good time as we turned right and began walking up the hill. After a very short distance, we noticed there were no blazes and I checked the map to find we were headed in the wrong direction. Of course, this was partly my fault for not checking the amp but mistakes like these could be avoided if the Finger Lakes Trail maintainers would use standard trail blazing protocols! We started heading northwest on Jolly Road and descended 190 feet before crossing Route 79. I hate losing elevation I have already gained and then having to gain it all over again! We crossed the road and picked up a short section of trail that descended to Middle Road. Middle Road is a dirt road that is situated between Route 414 and Route 79. It leads to Factory Street in Burdett and has very little traffic. So far we had not been able to get any good views of Seneca Lake. The walk along Middle Road provided those views in several different places. We eventually came to some shaded spots and even a small stream where Sheila could jump in to cool herself and get a drink!

At 4.6 miles Middle Road turned to the east and started to parallel Hector Falls Creek. We could hear the water in the creek below and caught some glimpses of falls and cascades. Eventually Middle Road became Factory Street as we entered Burdett. At 5.2 miles we turned left onto Mill Street and immediately saw another falls on the creek. There was a steep path down to the falls but We did not know if it was private property. We walked to the end of Mill Street and crossed Route 79 to the firehouse and village hall. This was the turn around point and we needed to decide how we would get back to the car. Hiking down Route 79 was the most direct way but there would be little shade. Returning on Middle Road was an option but it was longer. We decided to return by Route 79 and at 11:25 AM we headed south using the sidewalks in Burdett and then the wide shoulder of the road. The walk started out slightly uphill and then became flat. At 6.2 miles we began a 1.25 mile descent dropping 530 feet to the area near the lake. We followed the trail back into the park and stopped in the shade. I took out the camera to take a few pictures of the lake and then we moved on to reverse our route through the streets back to the car. We were back at the car at 12:35 PM having hiked 9.1 miles in 4 hours with a vertical gain of 1075 feet. The temperature at the car was in the high 80's and the humidity was oppressive. We decided to head back through Montour Falls and then over to the Ithaca Beer Company near Enfield Glen just south of Ithaca. I like their beers and the food was highly recommended. As we approached Montour Falls, I saw a sign for Shequaga Falls which I knew were supposed to be readily accessible from a North Genesee Street in town. As we drove along the street we noticed a small park on the right with the falls at the far end. I parked the car, got my camera and walked over to the park. I took several pictures of the water running over the rock an down into the stream below. I would like to return when there is more water but the falls were still very nice. We found the Ithaca Beer Company and it was packed. We decided to eat outside since it would be easier for me to go to the car and run the air conditioning to make sure Sheila stayed cool. I did this several times and despite the lack of shade the car stayed cool and Sheila had no problems. I tried a class of the seasonal Country Pumpkin and found it pleasant but without the pronounced pumpkin taste I had hoped for. Cindy and I both had burgers which were excellent. We also ordered hand cut French fries with three different sauces. These were also well worth the price as even the ketchup was made in the kitchen. I had a Flower Power with my munch. The service was little slow but we had a good time. We were soon on our way home and both of us thought that the drive seemed longer than usual.

On Friday, August 14th Cindy and I finished hiking Watkins Glen at 11:35 AM and headed over to Taughannock Falls State Park in Trumansburg on the western shore of Lake Cayuga. We followed the route that our car GPS gave us and ended up coming down Taughannock Falls Road, turning right on Route 89 and driving to the parking area on the right. Our entrance fee was waived as we had already been to another state park that day. We parked at 12:25 PM and started off walking out on the Gorge Trail. We decided to walk into the gorge and do that trail first since it was short and led right to the base of the 215 foot main falls. As we walked this trail several smaller falls appeared along the way and we stopped to take pictures. We were both impressed by the canyon that the stream had cut over the years. Equally interesting was the layer that acted as the stream bed. The rock layer showed "waves" in many places and in some areas we were walking on this layer as well. In many areas the different hardness of the rock layers was evident in their erosion patterns. The walk was pleasant and the air temperature was warm but not hot. There was a slight breeze blowing but the humidity was high. The clouds in the sky were growing darker and were high and billowing. There were quite a few people in the park but not as many as at Watkins Glen. The same disregard for the rules of the park were evident as people freely walked in the stream even allowing their dogs to swim in it despite the "Stay on the main trail" signs! The walk out was almost flat and we arrived at the bridge over the stream at the base of the falls by 12:50 PM after hiking about a mile. I took pictures from the bridge and then walked to the viewpoint at the end of the walkway and took a few more. The main falls are certainly high and there was enough water to make it interesting. I would like to return after a heavy rain or in early spring! We turned around to head back to the parking area.

As we got back to the area near the beginning of the Gorge Trail, we decided to hike the South and North Rim Trails which would add about 2.5 miles to the mileage for the day. We turned right onto the South Rim Trail and started UP the stone steps. Getting up to the rim required quite a climb, of course and there were MANY stone steps along the way. I gave Cindy my poles which seemed to help her but climbing is not her favorite part of the hike. Once we were up on the rim, the trail did not climb as steeply but never did really level out. By the time we turned around at the far end of the gorge we had gained 550 feet from the parking area. On the way we passed through shaded groves of the hardwood and some evergreen trees. There were a few lookouts that gave interesting views of the canyon below and, eventually, of the falls itself. Soon we were nearing the upper reaches of the gorge and a new falls came into view. Here the gorge widened considerably and the different layers of rock were even more obvious. We were wondering how we would cross the gorge to get to the north rim but soon a bridge cam into view. It looked old and from the side it was clear that it had seen better days. Once we were on the bridge another falls, as impressive as the main falls in many ways, appeared on the left or southwest of the bridge. This falls also fell a long distance and the volume appeared to be as great as the main falls. A little further upstream we could see another bridge that routed traffic over the stream. As we walked along the main trail an occasional view of the gorge would appear but none were really remarkable.

As we continued our walk, a nice view of the falls appeared through the trees so I took some pictures. The trail wound along the gorge and even joined the road for a brief time. Soon we approached the upper access to the park and the gorge. Here, those who wanted a quick view of the falls could simply park and walk down a flight of stone steps. I wanted to tell them what they were missing! This view of the falls was nice and was from a much greater distance than the Gorge Trail that we had done earlier. I took some photographs before we started back down the North Rim Trail to the car. Along the way I kept looking for a view down the gorge and out to Cayuga Lake. All the viewpoints were overgrown and the views obscured by trees and bushes, Finally a nice lookout offered a clear view of the lake, At another point we were able to look down to the bed of the stream at the bottom of the gorge and see people walking along the stream bed. They appeared very small even with the zoom. We continued down the trail stopping at several more viewpoints before descending the steps to the road a little north of the parking are. We walked the road back to the car crossing the stream on the small road bridge. We were back at the car just before 2:40 PM having taken 2 hours and 15 minutes to do the 5 mile hike. The elevation gain was 1060 feet. I was hungry and wanted to visit the Ithaca Brewery near Enfield Glen. They brew great beer and have good food available. Cindy said she was not hungry and I didn't want to eat alone so we returned home. I will get to visit the brewery on another hike!

On Friday, August 14th, I decided to go to Watkins Glen to hike the glen and take some pictures of the 19 waterfalls and cascades found there. I also thought I might hike part of the Finger Lakes Trail which passes south of the glen following the South Rim Trail in places. Cindy wanted to go also as we had not been there since our honeymoon over 40 years ago! It was also an opportunity to try out our new Mitsubishi Outlander which we had picked up the day before! Sadly, we had to leave Sheila home as dogs are not allowed on the trail through the gorge. Sheila was not happy! I had wanted to get started by 7:00 AM but we weren't out of the house until after 8:00 AM. The weather forecast was suggesting the possibility of thunderstorms by 4:00 PM and I knew we wanted to be done before that time. The route was very easy and shorter than I thought. We drove north and west on State Route 17 for 133 miles to exit 52B. From there it was 16.5 miles north on Route 14 to the park entrance. We pulled in just before 10:00 AM, paid our $8 fee and parked. As soon as the parking attendant told us that the parking fee would cover all other state parks for the day I began to think about where else we could go! There were already a lot of cars in the lot and we wanted to get going before more arrived. We were ready to head up the gorge by 10:05 AM and I began to take pictures right in the parking area. On many of my hikes on the Finger Lakes Trail I do not take pictures as there are no views and this was a refreshing change. I tried to keep a GPS track of then hike but it is impossible to get lost on the trails. The narrow nature of the gorge and several tunnels through the rock also interfere with the satellite signals for the GPS. I am not used to seeing many people on hikes and there were quite a few in the gorge already. Somehow we managed to get between large groups which limited our contact with other hikers. It is impossible to describe all the various cascades and features of the glen. It really is spectacular to see the depth the stream has cut over the years and the formations that have resulted. I took over a hundred pictures of the deep chasms, narrow channels and circular pools cut by the stream. In several places the trail takes the hiker underneath waterfalls and across the stream. The trail is wet in spots and can be slippery. I am always surprised at what people do and the way they act. "Appropriate footwear" to many means "flip-flop" sandals. Other people stand in the middle of the trail taking pictures. Looking down into the stream one can see water bottles littering the beautiful pools. Farther up the glen where the stream widens and the flow slows, parents allow their children to enter the water despite the signs warning not to do so.

Almost as impressive as the forces of nature that formed the glen are the manmade structures that allow access. There are walkways cut into the glen and many are paved with some to make them smoother. There are over 800 stone steps from one end to the other which are challenging but easier than climbing without them. There are several bridges that pass across the stream and some are high in the air connecting the north and south rim. We were soon passing by Mile Point Bridge into the upper glen and by 11:00 AM we had climbed the last long set of steps to end the 1.25 mile hike. I had planned to trunk round at this point and walk back to Mile Point Bridge. From there we would cross the glen and hike part of the Finger Lakes Trail on the other side. I asked Cindy what she wanted to do and we decided to return by the easier Indian Trail along the north rim of the gorge and then head to Taughannock Falls State Park on the western shore of Cayuga Lake. We turned onto the Indian Trail and started the walk downhill back to Point Lookout at 2.2 miles. The Indian Trail ends here as it unsafe past this spot. We descended the steps to the Gorge Trail and return that way to the parking area. The return trip was MUCH faster than the trip out through the gorge since my camera remained in the pack. We were back at 11:35 have hike 2.4 miles in 1.5 hours with a 745 foot elevation gain. We were now ready to head to Cayuga Lake. I had decided to wear my new Zamberlan Airound GTX RR light hiking shoe. They were incredibly light on my feet and resisted the water in several spot on the hike since they have the Gortex Surround material in them. Besides being comfortable, they are a bright blue and very stylish!

On Thursday, August 13th, I was ready to get out and hike after a week of family commitments and rainy days. I wanted to get in another hike on the Finger Lakes Trail. I decided to hike a section of trail on map 15 from the village of Burdett to Texas Hollow Road where I had left off on my last hike in the area. The "out" part of the hike appeared to be a around 9.5 miles one way which would make the round trip about 19 miles. This would be too far to hike but I noticed that to get "back" I could use the local roads to hike about 4 miles! This is because Finger Lakes Trail from Burdett heads north and loops through the Finger Lakes National Forest before coming south to Texas Hollow. When we left Livingston Manor at 6:30 AM the temperature was 55 degrees and there was a lot of fog in the valley. I checked the weather forecast and found sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 70's with no chance of rain. As I drove north on State Route 17 the fog hung around until Windsor and then began to lift as the temperature rose into the 60's. Just passed Binghamton the fog returned but began to clear the further I drove. I continued on Route 17 to exit 64 at Owego and headed north from there on Route 96 through Candor and Spencer. In Spencer I picked up Route 34 west to Van Ettan. Here I turned right onto Route 224 as Route 34 headed south. I followed Route 224 for 19.2 miles as it passed through Cayuta crossing Route 13. I drove through Odessa and just outside of Montour Falls turned north on Schuyler County Route 8. I followed Route 8 for a little more than 3 miles and then turned left onto Route 9 which took me to Route 79 after 1.2 miles. I turned right and was in Burnett after less than a mile. As I drove into the village, I noticed the fire department and village hall on the right. I pulled in and walked into the building to find a few firefighters. I asked them1 if I could park in the back and they said there was no problem. Later, I found that the post office was just around the corner and this is another good place to park. I got out my gear and applied a coating of insect repellant. We began our hike at 9:35 AM by walking north on Route 79 to the blinking light and then continuing north on Willow Street. At .65 miles Willow St continued on through a twin tunnel. One tunnel was for the road and the other for the stream that ran beside it. The tunnels were necessary because a railroad once ran over the road and perpendicular to it. We turned left or west on a farm lane before the tunnels which are impossible to miss. The lane was flat for a bit and then began to climb as it turned north. At the first split in the lane there were no blazes so I guessed left and began to walk up to a group of farm buildings. There were still no blazes to follow but at about a mile another "road" went off to the left and I turned on it hoping it was the railroad bed described on the map. We walked northwest for some time before I finally spotted a faint white blazes. The railroad bed was in poor shape with large ponds in places and very muddy areas which were hard to avoid. At one point I sank in mud which threatened to go over the top of my boots. I am usually happy to hike on railroad beds but this time I was thrilled when the trail turned off the bed at 1.5 miles and headed first northeast and then due north.

We entered the woods and immediately began to gain elevation on a well-marked and obvious trail. Soon we broke out of the woods and hiked through some abandoned vineyards. They must have been abandoned some time ago as there were very few grapes left and no structure. At 1.8 miles we turned left and began heading north to 2.2 miles where we made a right turn to the east. We walked along some fields with views of the Catharine Valley behind us and at 2.5 miles reached Slattery Hill Road. The description on the map mentioned "views to the north and west of Seneca Lake". I could see no lake so we walked north on Slattery Hill Road for .2 miles to the top of a hill but found no views. We returned to the Finger Lakes Trail and walked through some more fields and vineyards before entering the woods. We were now well within Finger Lakes National Forest. From the road we headed generally south with a few jogs to the east as we descended to Tug Hollow Creek. At 3.7 miles we crossed the creek twice and I began to wonder where the bridge described on the map was located. We walked along the creek as it became deeper and wider and at 3.85 miles crossed the narrow bridge. It had been constructed in 2005, washed out and rebuilt in 2006. After crossing the bridge, we continued straight ahead on the very obvious trail. After we had walked a couple hundred feet, I noticed there were no blazes. We walked back to the bridge and I found the blazes that indicated the trail turned right just after the bridge. We walked uphill and crossed Logan Road at 4.3 miles. On the other side of Logan Road was a "gate" and a small kiosk explain the Finger Lakes Trail. The forest from Logan Road to Burnt Hill Road was primarily hardwood and there were some very large trees along the way. The trail ascended from the road and followed s small stream on the right heading ENE to about 5 miles where it crossed the stream and began heading southeast. At 5.3 miles we descended some and crossed an impressive streambed that was almost dry. After a slight ascent we crossed Burnt Hill Road the first time at 5.5 miles. Although the map description and map indicated a turn to the right on the road, the trail entered the woods directly across from where we left the woods. We continued to ascend to 5.6 miles where we began a long descent. At this point the orange blazed Interlocken Trail came in from the north and a little farther on a side trail headed left to the Dunham lean-to. We continued on the trail heading almost due south losing elevation as we went. We began passing through more red pines and at 6.25 miles the trail turned west to head for Burnt Hills Road again. The forest became more open and the trail began to be overgrown. At one point I looked up to see an older woman sitting off to the right of the trail. I said "Hello" but got no response so Sheila and I fought our way out through the briars to the road. At 6.6 miles we turned left on Burnt Hill Road and continued to descend. It was 12:35 PM and we had been hiking for 3 hours and were still headed "out". The temperature was rising and the humidity seemed to follow. The walk down the road to Route 79 was pretty easy and at 7.5 miles we were there after dropping over 600 feet.

I knew that the route back would be much shorter but debated whether or not I wanted to hike another 3 miles "out" over a hill that had no views! We turned left and walked along Route 79 for .15 miles before turning right on South Hill Road. As I looked at the road, it was obvious how it got its name as it was all uphill. As often happens, looks are deceiving, and we only gained 90 feet in our .3 miles on the road. At 8 miles we turned left onto a farm lane. The turn was well marked and there were even some blazes on the trees that were to the left of us as we stayed on the north side of some fields while heading east. There were several roads that branched off to the left and at one point there was a blaze indicating a turn onto one of these roads. We turned and I quickly saw that there were no blazes and we were heading the wring way. I don't know why a turn was marked but it was very confusing. We continued to head east toward Texas Hollow Road going uphill to 8.3 where the trail turned south but continued to rise. The hardwoods forest around us were pleasant and there was a slight breeze. The trail continued to parallel Texas Hollow Road heading southeast but more than 300 feet above it with a steep drop off to the left. At 9.1 miles we were at and elevation of 1550 feet where the trail began to descend. At 9.25 miles the trail turned sharply and headed due north to Texas Hollow Road. There were several small switchbacks but the descent was very steep. As we approached the road I noticed a residence ahead and called Sheila to put her on her leash. As we passed the house the owner struck up a conversation. We talked pleasantly for a few moments before Sheila and I walked down his driveway to the road. We had dropped 300 feet in just over .3 miles for an average grade of over 17%. The trail crossed the road and then turned right to parallel the road for .35 miles to the access road that leads down to a pond. The trail was wet with several blowdowns and the insects were biting. Since there was nothing to Se, I would advise others to simply walk down the road. When we came to the access road, we turned right to walk up to Texas Hollow Road. Before we reached the road, I noticed a car park at the gate and the owner and his dog got out. The do was not on a leash and came down to "visit" us. The owner seemed unconcerned! I puts my poles away, got a drink and a snack, and pus Sheila on her leash so that we could start the "back" part of the hike. It was 2:05 PM and we had hiked 9.9 miles when we started north on Texas Hollow Road. The walk to Route 79 was 1.25 miles with a slight uphill at the beginning and then a slight descent. We turned left on Route 79 and began the 2.4 mile walk back to the car. The route was almost all downhill and we passed by some interesting houses, a cemetery and a horse stable. At the blinking light in town, we turned left and walked back to the firehouse. It was 3:15 PM and we had hiked 13.5 miles in 5 hours and 40 minutes with an elevation gain of 1960 feet.

On Thursday, August 6th, Lisa and I met a group of campers and counselors from the DeBruce DEC camp at the Frick Pond trailhead at 11:00 AM. Our purpose was to introduce the campers to the concept of volunteer trail maintenance and to do some actual trail maintenance tasks on the trail around Frick Pond. Although the weather forecast for earlier in the week hinted at showers the day turned out to be bright and sunny with temperatures in the 70's and low humidity. There was also a remarkable absence of annoying insects! One groups of campers arrived by van at 10:45 AM. While the van left to pick up the second group, Lisa and I introduced ourselves to the campers and counselors. When all the campers were at the trailhead, I spent a few minutes describing the trails in the Catskills and explaining that they are all maintained by volunteers. I talked about the tasks were going to perform and Lisa displayed a map of the area. We began our hike by walking out the Quick Lake Trail to Gravestone Junction. The trail was drier than it had been in some time which made it hard to evaluate the ditching we had done on previous trips. When we arrived at Gravestone Junction, we divided the eight campers into three groups. Counselor Jimmy took one group to haul stones from the outlet stream of Frick Pond to the mud pit at the trail junction. They used a plastic toboggan to transport the stepping stones up the short hill from the stream to the mud pit. Lisa supervised campers who used "weed whackers" to clear grass and weeds from the junction back towards the parking area. Counselor Jordan and I took two campers to another wet spot on the Logger's Loop trail. Our objective was to add several lengths of wood to ones that had been already placed to expand a "bridge" over a muddy area. When we arrived, I went to find a tree that I could section while Jordan and the campers removed stones that were on either side of the existing wooden pieces. I used my new Gransfors felling axe for the job and felt it performed even better than the Council Tools Velvicut axe I had used last time. After I limbed and topped the tree, we carried it to the mud pit to measure it for length and to make the necessary cuts. Using my Silky saw, I cut the small tree into sections and we place the two new sections next to the ones that were already in position. We replaced the stones on either side of the logs to help stabilize them and inspected the work we had done. We had used natural materials to make a functional passage over the wet area. We returned to Gravestone Junction to see how the other groups were doing.

The group of campers using the weed whackers found that they were difficult to use to cut the light grass and weeds on the trail. The blades were not sharp enough and were better suited for cutting brush. This didn't stop the campers from trying and they were able to clear a section of trail despite the problems they had with the tools. The other group had done a good job of hauling stones up from the stream. We took some time to reposition the rocks that had already been placed and then used the new stones to expand the path both in width and length. It was hard to find exactly how to place the stones as the mud pit was almost completely dry. When the mud returns the rocks will have to be shifted slightly but the work has well done. We walked down to the bridge at Frick pond where we enjoyed a light lunch and talked some about the area. It was pleasant to listen to the campers talk about their experiences hiking and camping. I felt that they had a real appreciation for the beauty that was around us and for the need for volunteers to help maintain the trails. After lunch, we hiked around Frick Pond using clippers to remove a few branches here and there. I pointed out the large cherry tree that had bee removed with just hand tools. As we continued through the evergreen trees and onto the walkways, we heard a distinctive "Ki-ki-kee" call of what Jordan identified as merlins. These are small, fierce falcons similar to kestrels that prey on other birds. There seemed to be quite a few in the treetops. We continued our hike around to Times Square where we turned right to complete the loop and head back to Gravestone Junction. As we hiked on the trail, the campers who had worked with me earlier in the day pointed out the work we had done to the group. At Gravestone Junction each camper picked up a tool to carry back to the parking area. When we arrived at my car, we loaded the tools and the campers all said "Thank you". I thanked them for the opportunity to work with them and for the work they had done. Counselors Jordan and Jimmy were outstanding in supervising the campers and pitching in to lead by example. This is a cooperative venture which I am sure we will repeat in the future!

On Tuesday, August 4th, I wanted to get out for another hike on the Finger Lakes Trail. I decided to start map 15 by hiking the easternmost section. My requests for rides from volunteer car spotters went unanswered so I decided to park on Texas Hollow Road and hike to Gulf Road where I had left off last time. The hike appeared to be a little over 7 miles one way but there did not seem to be any convenient way to get back on local roads. I knew this meant over 14 miles on trails which would not be easy. When I got up at 5:30 AM the temperature was 52 degrees and there was a lot of fog in the valley. I checked the weather forecast and found sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 70's with a chance of thunderstorms around 4:00 PM. The forecast of storms did not make me happy but I wasn't going to let that ruin what I had planned. We left Livingston Manor at just after 6:00 AM and as I drove north on State Route 17 the fog hung around until Windsor and then began to lift as the temperature rose into the 60's. I continued on Route 17 to exit 64 at Owego and headed north from there on Route 96 through Candor and Spencer. In Spencer I picked up Route 34 west to Van Ettan. Here I turned right onto Route 224 as Route 34 headed south. I followed Route 224 for 16.4 miles as it passed through Cayuta crossing Route 13. In Odessa I turned right on Mill St and the left onto Brooklyn Terrace. At the top of the hill I continued straight ahead on Texas Hollow Road and was careful to stay to the left when the road split. I drove 5.4 miles to a gated access road that had a "Finger Lakes Trail" on the right. I got my gear ready and applied insect repellant. We began our hike at 8:45 AM by hiking down the gated access road to pick up the white blazes of the Finger Lakes Trail at the base of the road. There was a nice pond here and a wooden walkway that crossed over some very wet ground. As we crossed the walkway Sheila jumped and yelped and I saw several bees come up from under the walkway. I gave Sheila the "Up" command and we hurried across the bridge to the head of the pond without further incident. I stopped to take some pictures of the pond with some fog still hanging over the surface. We continued around the pond heading southeast and then south. As we walked I began to think about options for returning by another route to avoid the bees! I should have known that when you start hiking in a hollow there will be some climbing to get out of the hollow. None of the ascents were long or steep but over the first 1.4 miles we gained over 650 feet.

The trail was easy to follow by the way it was warn in and by the blazing. The blazing was odd in places with the non-standard blaze over blaze to indicate a turn without the direction of the turn being clear. There were some turns indicated where there were none and several other turns went unmarked. We didn't have much trouble finding our way so they couldn't have been that bad! At 2.1 miles we crossed Newton Road which was dirt and gravel. We started heading east and ascended slightly before dropping to Steam Mill Road at 2.9 miles. Both crossings were offset but we had no problem finding where the trail reentered the woods. When we came out of the woods on Steam mill Road, we continued straight ahead on dirt and gravel Carly Road. We continued on the road as it turned right at the top of a small hill. At about 3.6 miles we stopped so that I could take a few pictures of the hills and valleys. The most prominent feature were the billowing, white clouds gathering to the north and west. We descended a little and then passed Hosenfeldt Road on the left. At the top of the next hill we turned right on Seneca Highlands which is a private road. There were signs that indicated that the area was sued for motocross events and other motorsports. The road led to a private picnic area and pond with the Rogers Hill lean-to at 4.4 miles. We stopped so that I could take some pictures of the sky and clouds and of the pond an lean-to. We continued to follow the blazes as they led back out onto a dirt road that headed due south. This section of trail went on for about 1.7 miles turning slightly southeast near the end. The drop in elevation was gentle but when we reached Route 228 at 6.1 miles we had lost almost 500 feet. As we continued straight ahead on South Pine Road the Schuyler County Veterans Park was on the right. It is a small park but nicely designed to honor the county's veterans. I decided not to stop since I had a growing concern about the weather. We continued down the road until at 6.2 miles the trail turned right. For the next .9 miles we headed southeast along the wetlands adjacent to Cayuta Creek. The trail was wet in spots but was easily passable. When we reached Route 6, we turned left and walked to Gulf Road where we turned around at 7.2 miles.

It was 11:35 AM when we turned around and the walk back went quickly. At the Veteran's Park. I decided we would walk back on the roads even though the distance would be longer by several miles. I couldn't face retracing the same route as there would be no surprises. In addition, I did not feel like facing the bees at the end of the hike. We turned right on Route 228 and followed it as it turned right at the next intersection to head toward Route 224 and Odessa. Over the next 2.25 miles we hiked downhill losing about 320 feet along the way. The shoulders were wide and the traffic sparse. Sheila looked hot so when we came to a substantial stream I let her off her leash. She happily ran down the bank to swim in the stream and get a drink. As we approached Route 224 and Entered the Village of Odessa, I heard the sound of gunshots and it was obvious someone was shooting at targets. I questioned the legality of this as it certainly made me nervous! At Route 224 we turned right and hiked .4 miles into Odessa Turing right on Mill St and the left on Brooklyn Terrace. At the top of the hill we continued straight ahead on Texas Hollow Road. I knew the distance to the car was about 5.4 miles. The very first part of the hike was a rather steep up followed by a short descent. After that the road climbed slightly until 15.6 miles with the last mile being a slight descent. I underestimated how boring hiking over 5 miles on the same road can be! As we hiked the skies began to get darker in some places but the sun was still shining in others. At 12.2 miles the Newton Road branched off to the right and Texas Hollow road changed to dirt and gravel. Several cars passed us on the hike and none were courteous enough to slow down to minimize the dust! Near the end of then hike a light rain began to fall but only a few drops penetrated the leaves above. I was glad for the cover since it insulated us from the sun which was warm at times. I was glad when I could see the car. We were back at 2:30 PM having hiked 16.6 miles in 5 hours and 40 minutes with an elevation gain of 1700 feet.

On Sunday, August 2bd, I wanted to get out for another hike on the Finger Lakes Trail. I decided to hike a section of map 16 from Route 6 and Gulf Road Boylan Road where I had left off on a previous hike. This was the first section on map 16 but the last one for me on this map. The distance out seemed to be 6.7 miles out on trails and I planned to use local roads to form a loop with the return portion being the same length or less. When I got up at 6:20 AM the temperature was 52 degrees and there was a lot of fog in the valley. We left Livingston Manor around 7:00 AM and as I drove north on State Route 17 the fog began to lift and the temperature rose into the low 60's. I continued on Route 17 to exit 64 at Owego and headed north from there on Route 96 through Candor and Spencer. In Spencer I picked up Route 34 west to Van Ettan. Here I turned right onto Route 224 as Route 34 headed south. I followed Route 224 for 14.7 miles as it passed through Cayuta crossing Route 13. When I was just short of 15 miles on Route 224, I turned right to head north on Route 10 for 1.6 miles to Route 6. I turned right on Route 6 and drove about a mile to Gulf Road. I parked on the shoulder of Route 6 just before Gulf Road. We started our hike at 9:35 AM by walking down Gulf Road. The storms at the end of June and the beginning of July had caused serious flooding in the area and washed out two bridges on the Finger Lakes Trail over Cayuta Creek. Notices on the website indicated that the creek might be crossed using the stones that had washed down. Since the first bridge was 1.75 miles from Gulf Road, I decided to take the alternate route on the orange blazed Van Lone Hill Trail. After a short distance on Gulf Road, the Finger Lakes Trail turned to the right to enter Cayuta Gulf. We stayed to the left on Gulf Road and began to climb Van Lone Hill on the dirt Road. The road was well-maintained and had several houses. Eventually the road came to a dead end but we continued to follow the orange blazes as they entered the woods. It was clear that the road had once continued over the hill. At .75 miles we reached the highest point on the trail at 1700 feet and immediately began to descend the other side. We began to walk along a deep creek bed that had only a trickle of water. The creek eventually crossed and the recrossed the road. From the amount of stones that were piled up it was obvious that this small creek had been filled to overflowing with a huge volume of water. At 1.6 miles we reached Schoolhouse Road heading due east. Although the road was dirt and gravel it was in good shape and we kept a rapid pace. After .6 miles, we came to Todd Road and turned right to start a slight descent. We crossed a tributary of Cayuta Creek which was almost dry. I began to think we might return to the car by way of the Cayuta Gulf! Todd Road began to ascend and I started to look for the point where the main Finger Lakes Trail crossed the road. This crossing was clearly marked and at 2.6 mile we turned left onto the trail as it passed through the woods on an old road.

After entering the woods, the trail crossed several open areas with high grass and weeds. None of this was cleared at all and I got very wet in a short period of time. We were heading north and east and climbing some the whole way. At 3.25 miles we were on a well-established woods road heading due east. The blazes were few and far between but the road was very easy to follow. At about 3.8 miles there were several blowdowns on the trail and some very wet and muddy areas. After negotiating around this mess, I looked up to find some blazes. I could not find any ahead of us or behind us. I decided to go back to the last blaze. When I did this, I saw a turn marked on the left side of the trail on a small sapling which made it very hard to spot. This trail was much drier than the woods road and still kept us heading east. After crossing a small stream, I looked up to find a man and woman hiking toward us. As we passed we did :hello" and I asked them where they were coming from. They were parked on Black Oak Road and the woman told me they "had hiked the whole trail before" and were just out for a day hike. After we passed, I though about what she said and asked her what she meant by the "whole trail". She replied that they had hiked the entire Finger Lakes Trail AND all of the branch trails. I was VERY impressed! At 4.1 miles we crossed another dirt road and the trail started heading north. I began to understand that ALL the dirt roads in the Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area are called Connecticut Hill Road! We continued north on the trail and crossed Cabin Road at 4.4 miles. The trail rolled some but continued to gain elevation as we headed toward Boylan Road. At 5.9 miles we hit the highest point on the hike at 2014 feet and then started to descend toward the road. We came out into an open area that had recently been cut with a brush hog and there was no indication of where to go. I did find a narrow green strip across the open area so I decided to follow it and was happy to see that Sheila agreed. We came out on Boylan Road just to the west of the parking area so we turned right and walked east to where the trail reentered the woods. We stopped at this point to get a drink and a snack and so that I could plan our return route. I had given up on the idea of heading back through Cayuta Gulf since it would require repeating parts of the trail which I did not find appealing. I decided to head to the west and pick up Route 6 to take it south back to the car. The road I wanted to take ended abruptly on my printed map and then resumed with a little less than a mile gap. On my GPS the road was marked as continuous.

We walked west on Boylan Road and turned left where it intersected the next dirt road. After a few hundred feet we turned right on the road I hoped to take west to Route 6. The road had a gate that was shut and locked but looked in pretty good shape. We walked along the road for about .6 miles where, at 7.25 miles, the dirt road ended! From that point on we followed a woods road west as it passed through woods and then open fields. The track was pretty easy to follow but was badly rutted in many places. I had some fun since it was an adventure to see what we would find along the way. Soon the road became more consolidated and there were signs that some logging had been done in the area. We came to a stream where the had once been abridge. The stream was nearly dry and was no problem to cross. There was one deep pool near a culvert and Sheila coldness going for a swim. At about 8 miles we picked up a "maintained" dirt road again which was marked as Van Loon Road on both map and GPS. There were some houses on the road and we weren't far from Route 6 so I stowed my poles and put Sheila on her leash. At 8.8 miles we turned left on Route 6 and started south toward the car. I looked at the map and found we would be passing by the eastern shore of Cayuta Lake. I was hoping to get a few pictures but the road was farther from the lake than it appeared on the map and there were trees blocking the view. The walk along the road was better than I though it might be since there wasn't much traffic and there was plenty of shade. There was even a slight breeze blowing at times which made it feel cool even though I estimated that the temperature was nearing 80 degrees. The walk south on Route 6 was only 1.7 miles. We were back at the car by 1:45 PM having hiked 10.5 miles in 4 hours and 10 minutes gaining 1420 feet along the way. The thermometer in the car read 80 degrees.

On Friday, July 31st, I wanted to get out for another hike on the Finger Lakes Trail. I decided to hike a section of map 16 from Boylan Road to Stevenson Forest Preserve on Trumble Corners Road where I had left off on a previous hike. The distance out seemed to be only 5.4 miles back and I planned to use local roads to form a loop with the return portion being the same length or less. When I got up at 6:10 AM the temperature was 56 degrees and there was a lot of fog in the valley. We left Livingston Manor at right around 6:30 AM and as I drove north on State Route 17 the fog began to lift and the temperature rose into the low 60's. I continued on Route 17 to exit 64 at Owego and headed north from there on Route 96 through Candor and Spencer. North of Spencer I picked up Newfield depot Road and followed it into Newfield where I picked up Trumbull Corners Road and continued to head west. Trumbull Corners Road changed to Blovsky Hill Road and then to Carter Creek Road. Somewhere along this route the paved road turned to gravel. I turned north on Lloyd Starkes Road and entered the Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area. This road was marked "Seasonal Maintenance" and as I started out I wondered whether or not I had made the right choice. The road proved to be rough but passable and when it ended I made a hard left onto Boylan Road. The road was dirt and gravel but inn pretty good shape until Hulford Road where there was another "Seasonal Maintenance" sign. Fortunately, the Finger Lakes Trail crossed the road just beyond the intersection. When we arrived just before 9:15 AM, I was surprised to find a car parked on the left side of the road taking up both parking places. There was a wide spot on the left shoulder so I pulled over and parked there. I applied some insect repellant and we began our hike at 9:15 AM by crossing the road and walking southwest on the road to enter the woods just passed the other parked car. Sheila was happy to be out again and was "up" the trail before I even noticed. The trail was very well marked and seemed well used also. It was also relatively dry and remained that way for most of the hike. We started by heading northeast and descending to Connecticut Hill Road which we reached at .7 miles. We crossed the road and turned right to walk east bit and then turned north into the woods again. At 1.3 miles we headed due north along a property line and the turned due west at 1.7 miles continuing to walk between private property and state land. At some point Sheila alerted and I looked up to see a group of 8 trail runners coming toward us. They said hello and made comments about the "cute dog". We continued uphill and northwest to cross Tower Road at 2 miles. At 2.2 miles we passed over the summit of Connecticut Hill which at 2100 feet is the highest1 spot on the Finger Lakes Trail for 40 miles around.

I knew that we would end up at about 1300 feet at Stevenson Forest Preserve meaning we would have to drop about 800 feet in elevation. This also meant the return trip would have some climbing to get back to the car at 1935 feet! From the top of the hill we headed northeast and continued to descend crossing Cayutaville Road at 2.75 miles. We turned right on the road and walked southeast briefly before reentering the woods and heading north toward Griffin Road. By the time we hit Griffin Road at 3.45 miles we had only dropped 290 feet. From here to Stevenson Forest Preserve the trail followed local roads so I stowed my poles and put Sheila on her leash. I got us both a drink and we turned right on the road to head east still descending. We followed Griffin Road east and then north to where it intersected Connecticut Hill Road at 4.1 miles. We continued north on Connecticut Hill Road to 4.6 miles where Rumsey Hill Road turned right. We turned right and followed Rumsey Hill road east dropping 300 feet in .6 miles. At the intersection with Trumbull Corners Road we turned left and walked .35 miles to the parking area for Stevenson Forest Preserve. We were now at the lowest elevation on the hike at 1250 feet and the rest of the hike would be mostly uphill. I had planned to use some roads to the west of the trail to return but when I looked at the map I reconsidered. We walked back up Trumble Corners Road heading south and gaining some elevation. At 6.2 miles we followed the road as it made a left turn and followed it again at 6.5 miles when it made a right turn heading south. At 7.5 miles we turned right on Cayutaville Road and followed that only .1 miles uphill before bearing left on another version of Connecticut Hill Road. As we walked along this road a man came out to check his mailbox with his dog. Sheila greeted the dog and they got along well. I chatted for a minute with the gentleman and then headed on down the road. At 8.8 miles we came to the intersection of Lloyd Stakes Road and Boylan Road where we stayed to the left on Boylan Road. We had been walking on gravel and dirt roads for some time but Boylan road was a little rougher. As we walked I was surprised to see a vehicle with Tompkins County plates parked along the side of the road with no one around. After passing this car we began our last 250 feet of climbing. Along the way there was another car parked on the side of the road. This time I could see the driver in the woods and hear a beeping noise. I recognized that he was using metal detector. When I asked what he was looking for, he responded that there was an old foundation and he was looking for whatever he could find. We continued up the hill passing Hulford Road on the left and finally arriving at the car at 1:00 PM. The hike was shorter than I planned covering only 9.9 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes. We had climbed 1480 feet which was less than on most hikes. I had tried to find some places to take pictures but although it was a pleasant walk there were no outstanding opportunities to take any shots. The temperature had risen to 74 degrees which was 14 degrees less than the hike a few days before. I briefly considered adding a few more miles but decided to save them for the next hike.

On Tuesday, July 28th, I wanted to get out for another hike on the Finger Lakes Trail. I decided to hike a section of map 16 from Stevenson Forest Preserve on Trumble Corners Road to Rt 13 near Robert Treman State Park where I had left off on a previous hike. The distance of the hike was hard to judge precisely since a trail closing and a missing bridge forced two changes in the trail. Of course, the problem is that I usually have to hike both ways as I have no ride back from the end point. This means hiking, for example, hiking 12 miles to get a 6 mile section of trail. On many hikes I have used other trails of road walks to avoid a strict out-and-back which can be extremely boring! I was also concerned about the forecast for temperatures into the upper 80's and high humidity. When I got up the temperature was 62 degrees and there was a lot of fog in the valley. We left Livingston Manor at right around 6:30 AM and as I drove north on State Route 17 the fog began to lift and the temperature rose into the high 60's. I continued on Route 17 to exit 64 at Owego and headed north from there on Route 96 through Candor and Spencer. I began to think about the hiking conditions and decided that parking sooner meant I could hike sooner. I decided to park in the parking area off Route 13 where I had turned around on my last hike. Route 96 picks up the designation of Route 34 at some point and then merges with Route 13. As the roads all came together, I recognized the ending point of my last hike and turned left into the parking area on the east side of the road. When I opened the car door, I could feel the humidity which made me feel it was much hotter than the 70 degrees that was registering on my car thermometer. We started our hike at 8:55 AM by walking under the road bridge along Enfield Creek and following the white blazes through a flat and damp area with plenty of insects. I had put Sheila on her leash and left my poles collapsed in my pack until I knew the location of the trail and how many people we might meet. The trail crossed a park road and continued through some damp areas. I decided to let Sheila off her leash, get out my poles and apply a liberal amount of insect repellant! Soon we began to climb to the rim of the gorge cut by Enfield Creek. I don't know why it didn't occur to me that there would be a significant amount of elevation gain since I knew that Enfield Creek was the lowest point on the Finger Lakes Trail! At about a mile we came to the Sierra Shelter and I missed the turn that the trail takes just before the shelter. The turn was not marked but, fortunately, Sheila doesn't need the blazes. The next section of trail was overgrown and did not look like anyone had trimmed it in some time. I found this to be true in several places and was surprised since I though this would be a popular area to hike. At around 2 miles most of our climbing was done and we had gains about 630 feet since we left the car.

I could hear the water in Enfield Creek as it flowed over various cascades and waterfalls and I regretted that I would not have enough time walk down to the trails that run along the gorge. In the woods it stilled seemed cool but the humidity was high. We walked west for some time through stands of red pine and some hardwood. The trail rolled some especially when we came to small tributaries of the main creek. At 2.25 miles we began to head northwest sticking to a route that parallel the creek but we were well above it and it was out of sight. At 2.9 miles started to head southwest joining park road briefly and then entering the forest again. We came to a Y in the trail where the main Finger Lakes Trail continued straight ahead toward the bridge of the Fish Kill. The bridge had been recently washed away so we stayed to the left and walked out to Butternut Creek Road. We turned right on this gravel road and walked first downhill and then uphill to 3.7 miles where the road joined Van Ostrand Road. Soon we turned right on Douglas Road and the stayed to the right on Stonehouse Road. This road took use north and uphill for about .7 miles to Woodard Road at 4.5 miles. We turned right and walked less than half a mile to where the Finger Lakes Trail crossed the road. The sign on the right side of the road announced the bridge was out but indicated it was only 3.5 miles back to where we had parked. We had already walked 5 miles so the detour had added about 1.5 miles to the hike. The roads we had been walking were all gravel and there was some shade. I was already noticing a significant difference between the sunny and shaded areas! We turned left into the woods and headed north and northwest generally following Enfield Creek. Parts of this section of trail had not been trimmed in some time especially those near the stream bed crossings. We were close to the creek but I could also hear the traffic on Route 327. At 5.9 miles the trail turned left and we started heading southwest toward Hines Road. We hit Hines Road at 6.35 miles and I saw it was 11:30 AM. I was happy with our pace but wasn't sure we could make it to Stevenson Forest and make it back during the hottest part of the day. We turned right on Hines Road and walked due north for a quarter mile to Rockwell Road. I decided to continue thinking we might turn around at the Rieman Woods bivouac area. We turned left on Rockwell Road and began to walk due west toward Potter Hill Road. I knew from the trail description that there should be a trail on the left at about .75 miles but I could not find it. This was the area where part of the trail had been closed by a landowner and it was only another .25 miles to Potter Hill Road. We stayed on Rockwell Road and turned left on Potter Hill Road. Just after the turn I could see where the trail entered the woods but I knew there was another crossing at the top of the hill. The road was steep but we only had to walk .15 miles before turning into right into the woods. I am not sure why the main trail goes to the bivouac area but we walked uphill to 7.75 miles where the trail made a sharp right to head back of to the road. The quarter mile hike back out to Potter Hill Road was all downhill.

We turned left on Potter Hill Road and began to walk north to Trumbull Corners Road. I was really beginning to feel the heat and humidity. The walk on Potter Hill Road was all downhill and was only .5 miles. I decided we would turn left and hike the loop through Stevenson Forest Preserve as I had originally planned. I knew this was risky but I planned to walk back on Route 327 which would cut the mileage and allow us to keep a pace of over 3 mph. We turned left on Trumbull Corners Road and walked slightly uphill until I saw the white blazes enter the woods just after we crossed a creek on a road bridge. We turned right into the woods and I immediately lost the blazes. Sheila had no problem finding the trail and we started to climb a steep pitch. The entire loop was less than a mile and was not very interesting save for the large hemlock trees. The map had a blue trail that was supposed to have a view. I found only a red trail and did not want to try any more distance as I estimated we were still about 6 miles from the car. When we came out into the parking area for the preserve we turned left and walked 2. miles back to where we entered the woods. We continued on Trumbull Corners Road passing the turn on Potter Hill Road and walking out to Route 327. We turned right on Route 327. We had started back at 1:15 PM and I knew we probably had about 2 more hours of hiking which meant we would still be out at the hottest part of the day. We were at an elevation of about 1100 feet and the car was at about 425 feet so I hoped the return route would be all downhill. I was wrong as there were several short climbs along the way. Both Sheila and I could feel the heat beating down on us. The humidity made it difficult for sweat to evaporate and cool me off. I allowed Sheila to get herself wet in every little stream we came across and we stopped several times in the shade so that we could get a drink. Finally at 13.4 miles there were no more climbs and our pace increased as we headed downhill to Route 13. We passed the entrance to Robert Treman Park and then walked out to Route 13 where we turned right. Crossing wasn't easy but soon we were heading south back to the car. We arrived at 3:00 PM having hiked 15.5 miles in a little over 6 hours with an elevation gain of 2130 feet. The car thermometer read 88 degrees!

On Saturday, July 25th, I wanted to get out for another hike on the Finger Lakes Trail. The last section of map 17 for me was the first section of the map running 7.3 miles from Route 13 near Ithaca to Comfort Road where I had started my last hike. Of course, the problem is that I usually have to hike both ways as I have no ride back from the end point. This means hiking, for example, hiking 12 miles to get a 6 mile section of trail. On many hikes I have used other trails of road walks to avoid a strict out-and-back which can be extremely boring! The problem with the section I chose was that there was some question about crossing the Cayuga Inlet right at the beginning of the hike. Flooding had deepened and widened the stream which might make it impassable. The railroad bridge over the stream is in use and is a privately owned structure. After thinking about the situation, I decided to park at Comfort Road and hike east to west. This way I could get in a good hike and decide what to do when I got to the stream. When I got up the temperature was 53 degrees and there was a lot of fog in the valley. I checked the weather forecast and found sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 70's with a chance of thunderstorms around 4:00 PM. The forecast of storms did not make me happy but I wasn't going to let that ruin what I had planned. We left Livingston Manor at 7:15 AM and as I drove north on State Route 17 the fog began to lift and the temperature rose into the 60's. I continued on Route 17 to exit 64 at Owego and headed north from there on Route 96 and Route 96B. After passing through Candor I began to look for Bald Hill Road which I found just after the "Welcome to Danby" sign. I turned left and continued for about .7 miles before making a right on Leib Road. At the end of Lieb Road I turned left on dirt and gravel Comfort Road. After only .2 miles I found the point where the Finger Lakes Trail joined the road from the west. I turned around and parked in a wide spot on the east side of the road. I got out my pack, took off my light jacket and put on some insect repellant. The temperature was 64 degrees with some sun and clouds in the sky. We started our hike at 8:55 AM by walking across the road to pick up the trail as it headed west from Comfort Road. The trail was initially wet and we descended to an abandoned road. After this, we followed a contour line without gaining or lacing much elevation until the trail turned north ay 2.4 miles. We dropped a little to Bruce Hill Road at 2.7 miles and turned left to briefly follow the road until turning into the woods again.

Shortly after entering the woods we came to a double tree trunk and a large tree beyond it. I stopped to take a few pictures before we continued on. After this we made a slight swing to the east to avoid a deep gully formed by a tributary to the Cayuga Inlet. We came out of the woods into a filed and I could not see any blazes. Even after walking across the field there were none I could see. I knew We were headed in the right direction so I walked across another field and eventually found some blazes to follow. We again came out into a field and I spotted a blaze on a tree near he middle of the field. After that blaze, there were no others I could spot. I checked by compass and decided to follow the western edge of a field. As we continued, I spotted several old, faded white blazes. As we were about to enter the woods again, There was a nice view to the west. I stopped to take some shots and noticed the gathering clouds and darkening sky. It was still before noon so I felt we had some time yet before the rains came. We came to the edge of a field and crossed a road or driveway and found a woods road. This was the end of Town Line Road which was grass at this point. Our pace picked up as the path here was clear. At 4.25 miles we came to the intersection with Layen Road. Both Town Line Road and Layen Road were gravel covered at this point so I got out my poles and put Sheila on her leash. I though about walking back on the roads at that point and repositioning the car to minimize the chance of getting caught in a downpour. I decided to continue on Town Line Road to the next parking area and then turn back. Our pace picked up significantly as we hiked down Town Line Road since the surface was firm and we were losing elevation. There were nice views to the left but the clouds continued to get darker. The road was absolutely straight and we soon crossed West Jersey Hill Road and continued toward the next parking area. In 1.5 miles on Town Line road we lost 375 feet and arrived at a right turn where there was supposed to be parking. I didn't find any so we continued on the road until it crossed a bridge over Lick Brook and we came to the Sweedler Nature Preserve Owen by the Finger Lakes Land Trust. From the bridge I could see a deep gorge cut by this little brook. I was too interested to turn back at this point and made the commitment to go as far as we could.

There were several cars parked at the Preserve as it is a popular destination and has several different trail. Just after the bridge we turned left at 5.9 miles to follow the Finger Lakes Trail down through the gorge. I stopped once or twice to take a few pictures and we met two men hiking up toward the road. There were several small falls and many interesting rock formations along the gorge. At 6.2 miles we came to the upper falls but I could not get a good angle to take pictures. Just after this the Finger Lakes Trail headed away from the gorge to take a slightly less steep route. The blue Lick Gorge trail stayed to the left along the gorge. We turned right to follow the Finger Lakes Trail and I decided that we would come back on the blue trail if at all possible. At 6.3 miles a short spur trail connected the two trails and there was a large group of adults, children and dogs on that trail. We turned a little to the right here to follow the Finger Lakes Trail across a stream and to continue our descent along a spit of land that took us between Lick Brook on the left and another stream on the right. At 6.7 miles we made almost a 180 degree turn and headed down to Lick Brook again. The trail took us passed the bottom of the lower falls and I stopped to take a few shots but the falls didn't have much water and was largely hidden. We continued along the trail and overtook a young man hiking in front of us. I asked him about the crossing of Cayuga Inlet but he was also new to the area. When we got to the inlet, the water was much lower than I expected although it was wide. The evidence of flooding was obvious. Sheila had no problem making the crossing and I found a way that kept my equipment dry. This is the lowest point on the Finger Lakes Trail at about 425 feet! Since turning off the road and into the gorge area we had lost 650 feet and we were over 1100 feet lower than where the car was parked. On the other side we hiked out to a field and continued to follow the blazes to a large parking area on the east side of Route 13. I noticed that the blazes went under a bridge across Enfield Creek and we walked to the other side at which point I felt we had accomplished our mission. We turned around at 12:30 PM and headed back under dark skies.

We caught up and passed two girls with a dog after crossing the creek and then met the large group of children and adults who were coming down the blue trail. We turned right and started to ascend the blue trail. I let Sheila off her leash and though about getting out my poles. The distance to where the blue trail met the Finger Lakes Trail and the slope leveled some was only .25 miles but in that distance we gained 350 feet for an average 24% slope. On the way up we met the two men from earlier in the hike. As the trail started to level out, I caught a glimpse of the upper falls through the leaves and took a few shots. We hurried up to the road where I put Sheila on her leash and turned right to start the road walk back. When we got to Town Line Road, I could see that it was more uphill than I thought but we kept our pace and were soon back at the intersection with Layen Road. Instead of taking the trail, we turned left and walked uphill on Layen Road. Our next turn was a right onto Jersey Hill Road and just after the turn a wind blew up and the rain started. I wasn't happy with the rain but really didn't want to think about a thunderstorm. I got out my rain jacket and stowed my electronics and wallet in a plastic bag. I also took out my pack cover for the first time to try it out. We were soon hiking again in a steady rain. The roads are very straight which makes the distances seem longer but we were soon passing Hilltop Road and I was looking for the turn onto Gunderman Road. There was some light in the skies and soon the rain slowed and then stopped. I took my hood down but left everything else the way it was. We turned onto Gunderman Road and were hiking toward Comfort Road when a light rain started again. We turned right onto Comfort Road and soon I could look ahead to see the junction with Lieb Road. Our car was only .2 miles away but up a small hill. We were back at the car by 2:45 PM having hiked 13.9 miles in 5 hours and 20 minutes with an elevation gain of 1984 feet. My pants were almost dry and the rain jacket had kept me drier than I thought it might.

On Thursday, July 23rd, I wanted to get out for another hike on my 63rd birthday. I decided I wanted return to the Finger Lakes Trail to the a section of map 17 which is the next map to the west of my completed sections. This section starts at the junction of Routes 96,13 and 34 near Ithaca and continues southeast for 19 miles to the intersection of Heisey Rd and Eastman Hill Rd northwest of Candor. Of course, the problem is that I usually have to hike both ways as I have no ride back from the end point. This means hiking, for example, hiking 12 miles to get a 6 mile section of trail. On many hikes I have used other trails of road walks to avoid a strict out-and-back which can be extremely boring! I checked the weather forecast when I got up found sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 70's with no chance of rain. I needed to return the power scythe to Al's Sport Shop in Downsville as Rick needed it on Friday. Since Al's opens at 6:00 AM, I got ready early and was leaving Livingston Manor at 6:15 AM. I had a little trouble convincing Sheila to leave that early but she was soon in the back seat. I took Route 206 to Downsville where I dropped off the power scythe and then took Route 30 back out the State Route 17. I decided to head for a six mile section of map 17 that is the next section on map 17 that I have not hiked. It seemed I could hike out on the trail starting at Comfort Road and ending at Fisher Settlement Rd where I had parked on my previous hike in the area. I could then use a combination of the trail and local roads to return. This time I continued on Route 17 to exit 64 at Owego and headed north from there on Route 96 and Route 96B. After passing through Candor I began to look for Bald Hill Road which I found just after the "Welcome to Danby" sign. I turned left and continued for about .7 miles before making a right on Leib Road. At the end of Lieb Road I turned left on dirt and gravel Comfort Road. After only .2 miles I found the point where the Finger Lakes Trail joined the road from the west. I turned around and parked in a wide spot on the east side of the road. I got out my pack, took off my light jacket and put Sheila on her leash. The temperature was 62 degrees with sunny skies and a slight breeze. We started our hike at 8:55 AM by walking south on Comfort Road for a mile. We passed one gentleman walking in the opposite direction and we both said "Hello". After a mile, we turned left into the woods at a clearly marked turn. A few feet into the woods I let Sheila off her leash, got out my poles and applied insect repellant. The trail was well-maintained and relatively dry as we headed and started to descend. We crossed Bald Hill Road at 1.4 miles and immediately re-entered the woods on the other side.

The trail passed through both hardwood and pine forests. There were several stands of red pine that had obviously been planted at some time. At 1.9 miles we approached the Chestnut lean-to and we could hear and see a large group camped there. I put Sheila on her leash so that she would not "visit" the group and we exchanged greetings as I walked by. Just after the lean-to the trail turned sharply right and came to a logging road. The road had been recently used by a skidder and I could not see the next white blazes. I started to walk on the road but noticed Sheila was slightly to the right in the woods. I followed her and found the trail! We continued to descend turning left onto a woods road as we approached Michigan Hollow Road. This area was a little wetter than where we had been walking but it was not very muddy. From Michigan Hollow Road, we continued heading south crossing washed-out Smiley Road and a small stream. The trail began to climb from 1290 feet at the road to 1630 feet at 4.1 miles where the trail turned east. On the way there were a few ups and downs. We crossed Hill Road at 4.2 miles and descended to a small stream that was almost dry. After a short ascent we crossed Curtis Road and 4.7 miles and again descended to a stream. This stream was wider and had a bridge. The stream must have been rerouted since the near end of the bridge was in the water. I used the bridge to cross while Sheila took the route through the stream. Her choice may have been better as the bridge did not seem stable. After crossing, I could not pick up any blazes so I turned to Sheila who was trotting off on the trail. Just after the stream, the trail turned northeast and then, at 5.3 miles, headed due east. We passed through some red pines while ascending and then began to descend to Fisher Settlement Road. Until this point the trail had been almost dry with a few muddy areas. As soon as we started to descend, we found the trail was very wet with deep muddy spots. These areas were hard to avoid since the trail was bordered by briars and wild roses. I was glad when we cam to the road at 5.9 miles. We turned right to walk to the beginning of the next section of trail. I decided we would walk the roads back to the car so I stowed my poles and put Sheila on her leash. After getting a drink and a snack, we started our return trip.

It wasn't clear to me the best route to take back to the car as there were several that seemed to be about the same distance. I decided to try to stay on some of the back roads instead of heading out to Route 96B with its fast-moving traffic. We walked out to South Danby Road and headed north to Hill Road which roughly parallels Route 96B. At 6.7 miles we turned left and started to ascend. I should have known what to expect from the name of the road! The walk to the next intersection was 1.2 miles and was pretty evenly divided between uphill and then downhill. At the intersection with Curtis Road I decided to turn right on Curtis Road and walk out to Route 96B. This seemed to be shorter than hiking to Michigan Hollow Road. We turned right on Curtis Road and found it also rolled some with an initial descent and then a short climb. At 8.6 miles I stopped to take a few pictures of some large round hay bales. The trees were green and the sky has blue with puffy white clouds. The road started to drop sharply at this point and there was a nice view of the valley below. I packed up the camera and we started the descent to Route 96B. At the road we turned left and walked a little over a mile to Bald Hill Road. We turned left and started to walk toward Leib Road. Before making the right turn, I stopped again to take a few shots at Jennings Pond which is part of Buttermilk Falls State Park. We continued our walk back to the car. As we turned left onto Comfort Road, I saw someone walking toward us and recognized him as the same man we had met much earlier. We greeted each other and continued in opposite directions. We were back at the car by 1:45 PM after hiking 12.3 miles in 4 hours and 50 minutes. Although the return trip was about a half mile longer it was more than 20 minutes faster even though I made several stops to take pictures.

On Wednesday, July 22nd, I decided I wanted return to the Finger Lakes Trail my first section of map 17 which is the next map to the west of my completed sections. This section starts at the junction of Routes 96,13 and 34 near Ithaca and continues southeast for 19 miles to the intersection of Heisey Rd and Eastman Hill Rd northwest of Candor. Of course, the problem is that I usually have to hike both ways as I have no ride back from the end point. This means hiking, for example, hiking 12 miles to get a 6 mile section of trail. On many hikes I have used other trails of road walks to avoid a strict out-and-back which can be extremely boring! I checked the weather forecast when I got up found sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 70's with no chance of rain. I got ready and was leaving Livingston Manor at 7:30 AM. I decided to head for a six mile section of map 17 that is the last section on map 17 but the first one for me on this map. It seemed I could hike out on the trail starting at Fisher Settlement Road and ending at Heisey Rd where I had parked on my previous hike in the area. I could then use a combination of the trail and local roads to return. This time I took State Route 17 to exit 64 at Owego and headed north from there on Route 96 and Route 96B. After passing through Candor I began to look for South Danby Road on the right. I knew it wasn't too far passed were Heisey Road turns to the left off the main road. As I passed Heisey Road, I noticed two hikers heading southeast on Route 96B. They had large packs and I thought they were probably hiking a big section of the Finger Lakes Trail or perhaps the whole trail end-to-end. I though it was strange that they had bypassed Durfee Hill Road which was where the trail cut up to Heisey Road but I was sure they had their reasons. I found South Danby Road with no problem and turned left driving about 1.3 miles to Fisher Settlement Road. I turned right and drove another .3 miles to where the trail entered the woods on the left. I turned around and parked off the road on the grassy shoulder. I got out my pack, took off my light jacket, put on insect repellant, and got my poles ready. The temperature was 66 degrees with sunny skies and a slight breeze. We started our hike at 9:45 AM by into the woods on the trail heading generally east toward South Danby Road. We descended for .25 miles to South Danby Road and after crossing it began an ascent of about 300 feet over the next mile. At 1.3 miles the trail turned almost 90 degrees left and took us north toward Route 96B.

We descended slightly and then climbed to the highest point on the hike at 1760 feet at the 2 mile mark. Just after this the trail turned slightly to the left and a spur trail went to the Tamarack lean-to. I didn't see any activity there and decided not to visit. Several parts of the trail traveled through impressive stands of red pine that were obviously planted at one time. They were very tall and very regularly spaced and I took a few shots. Over the next mile to Route 96B we lost 560 feet heading north. There were some steep places and a few were slippery with mud. When we arrived at the road, I stopped to get a drink and take a couple of shots. I had Sheila on her leash for safety. A car approached and slowed and the driver asked if we were alright. She offered to give us a ride but I told her our plans and thanked her. Sheila and I crossed the road and picked up the trail as it turned right to parallel the road for .2 miles. The short section of trail ended at Durfee Hill Road and a sign post marked a turn. I follow the map and turned left to start the hike up Durfee Hill Road. Over the next .8 miles we gained about 430 feet in elevation. The road went from dirt and gravel to "Seasonal Maintenance" and I didn't see any white blazes until we got near the turn at the top. The next section of trail looked like it followed an old road from Durfee Hill Road, around a hill called Round Top and down to Heisey Road. The turn was right where it was supposed to be...and there was a sign that announced that the section of trail had been closed by the landowner. I thought I had checked the trail conditions on the Finger Lakes Trail Conference website but obviously had missed this change. I remembered the two hikers from earlier and knew why they had avoided Durfee Hill Road. I was annoyed at myself as we trekked back down the hill but I was also annoyed at the Finger Lakes Trail Conference for AGAIN selling me an inaccurate map. This change was made over a year ago and the map and GPX file had still not been changed! When we got back to Route 96B we turned left and walked along the shoulder for .2 miles to Heisey Road, I had debated whether to do this or not as I was under a time constraint but decided I would not be happy if I did not finish the hike.

Over the next .5 miles we gained about 435 feet to the highest point on Heisey Road. The avenge grade was not even 14% but parts sure seemed steeper to me. I had Sheila on her leash and she did a good job of pulling me up the hill. I had avoided driving on Heisey Road on a previous hike but found the conditions good enough that a four-wheel drive vehicle with good ground clearance would be ok. He hiked won from the high point to the intersection with Eastman Hill Road. There was room to park one or two cars but the last part of Heisey Road was very washed out and would require some careful maneuvering in a vehicle. We turned around at 12:10 PM after hiking 5.8 miles. I knew the return trip would go faster without the error and because I was going to use the roads. When we got to Route 96B we turned right and walked 1.4 miles to South Danby Road. We turned left and walked uphill for 1.25 miles to Fisher Settlement Road. We turned right and walked the final .3 miles back to the car arriving at 1:30 PM. We had covered 9.6 miles in 3 hours and 40 minutes with an elevation gain of 1770 feet. The hike would have been only 8 miles without the mistake on Durfee Hill Road.

On Monday, July 20th, I decided I wanted to hike a newly rerouted section of trail near Marathon. This section of trail used to head north on West River Road to Blodgett Mills and then south along Route 11 to Hoxie Gorge Road. This was necessitated because the Tioughnionga River flows between West River Road and Route 11 and there are a limited number of bridges. The new route travels south along West River Road to Route 392, crosses the river on a road bridge and then for only .7 miles. It then turns east onto Steve Russell Hill Road for 1.2 miles before cutting left into the woods. The rest of the trail flows a completely new route cut through Hoxie Gorge State Forest before joining the old trail near The Cornell property near Hoxie Gorge Road. The problem is that the whole section is over 10 miles making the round trip more than 20 miles which I do not feel comfortable doing in one day. I decided to break it into two section and had already hiked from West River Road to Steve Russell Hill Road a few days before. I tried to get out of Livingston Manor really early to hike in the cool of the morning and did succeed on leaving a little after 7:30 AM. As always Sheila was ready to go. The temperature when we left Livingston Manor was in the high 60's but was predicted to rise into the mid 80's. The skies sunny but a heavy fog hung in all the low-lying valleys for much of the drive. We stopped once on the way as I drove north and west on Route 17 and then north on I81 to Marathon. In Marathon I took Route 11 north for 3.5 miles to Steve Russell Hill Road on the right. I turned right onto this dirt and gravel road and passed under the high bridges for I81. I knew from the previous hike that where the road split I should continue straight ahead passing the "seasonal Maintenance" sign. What I did not know was whether or not I could make the .8 mile drive safely on a road with deep ruts and large rocks. I decided to try and was doing well until I encountered a tree that had just fallen across the road. I was able to get around it on the right but was reminded to bring along an axe next time. I have had trouble in the past finding where the Finger Lakes Trail crosses road or enters the woods. This time the spot was well marked and there was a wide spot on the left shoulder. I turned around and parked. When we got out of the car, I noticed that the temperature as already in the 70's and the humidity seemed higher than predicted. It had rained the night before and I could see that the vegetation was wet and assumed the trail would be also. Since there were a lot of insect already swarming, I applied insect repellant after taking off my light jacket. We entered the woods at 9:20 AM and immediately found a sign that warned about high porcupine activity. The sign suggested keeping dogs on a leash. I knew I could not use my poles and keep Sheila on a leash so I made sure here electronic collar was working. Unfortunately, I must have forgotten to turn it off after the last hike and it was not charged!

The trail initially dropped to a stream heading northwest. It was well-marked in most places but the surface on this day was slick and any descent was an adventure. At 1.2 miles the trail turned north and meander back and forth and up and down. At .8 miles we crossed a small stream on a bridge and came to a nice pond. I stopped to take some pictures and was surprised to find a healthy population of sunfish in the pond. After the pond he trail descended on some steps which were starting to come loose in the eroded soil. At 1.2 miles the trail turned north as we continued to cross small streams and make our way up, and down some hills. The traffic noise from I81 was obvious and at least once I could see the cars on the highway. Somewhere between 2 and 3 miles the blazing seemed to change for the worse. Some turns were not well-marked and the blazes became harder to spot and farther apart. At 3 miles we began an ascent of 350 feet and at 3.9 miles we picked up a woods road that led to a DEC dirt road. We walked along the road and hit the high point of the hike at 1770 feet 4.2 miles into the hike. From here the road descended to the Hoxie Gorge Freetown Road at 4.8 miles. The DEC road on the descent was part road and part river bed but was easier walking than the trail. We crossed the road to continue the hike to where the old trail used to come in from Hoxie Gorge Road. The trail was more of the same thing we had been hiking on with several small stream crossings and a generally muddy and slippery surface. Somewhere around 5.3 miles we came out onto a nice woods road and turned right to parallel a more substantial stream. As we walked along this road, I noticed several small cascades and thought about taking pictures on the way back. When I spotted a Cornell University Environmental sign, I knew we were close to our destination. We came to an area where a stream spread across the trail and the main Finger Lakes Trail turned right while a Cornell trail went left. The trail that went to the left used to be the main Finger Lakes Trail before the newest reroute. At this junction there was also an old stone bridge with a large culvert underneath it. I remembered the bridge and was surprised that it had deteriorated in two years.

We turned around to head back but before we did I took some pictures of the bridge and the waterfall it created. On the way back I looked down into the gorge created by Hoxie Creek and saw a small cascade. I decided I wanted pictures so I went slip-sliding down the bank to the waters edge. The footing seemed extremely loose near the bottom and I noticed I had chosen a route that went through and old dump! I was concerned that some of the broken glass might cut Sheila's feet so I told her to stay away from that area. I dropped my pack at the edge of the creek and took a few pictures. I had not planned on how slippery the bank would be on the way back up but I used some handy trees to help me out. Sheila was standing at the top waiting for me. We stopped one more time at a point where two small creeks came together in miniature cascades. These stream form the headwaters of Hoxie Creek which flow north and then west into the Tioughnionga River. The hike back to Hoxie Gorge Freetown Road seemed to go quickly. At the road I got a drink and a snack as it was now 12:40 PM and we had hiked 6.3 miles. I stowed by poles and put Sheila on her leash as I had decided to hike the local rods back to the car. We turned left and started to hike southeast along the road. I stopped in one spot to take some pictures of the green hills and blue sky with puffy clouds. There was also a field of cultivated blueberries and people were picking as we passed. At 8 miles we turned right on Merihew Road. It looked as if the road would ascend over a ridge but it skirted the ridge to my relief. I stopped again on this road to take a few shots of a wetlands. As we neared our final turn onto Steve Russell Hill Road a pit bull came out of a yard to greet us. I politely suggested he "Go home!" His owner came out to inform me that "He doesn't bite" and "He was just protecting the house". I reminded her that I was "on the road" and we continued our hike by turning right onto Steve Russell Hill Road to complete the loop. We walked uphill for about a quarter mile and as we did I picked up a Gerber folding knife lying by the side of the road. We walked downhill the final .7 miles to the car arriving back at 1:50 PM. We had hiked 9.8 miles in 4.5 hours with a vertical elevation gain of 1565 feet.

On Sunday, July 19th, I decided to head for Big Pond to do some trail maintenance on the Touch-Me-Not Trail from Big Pond to Little Pond. I recently adopted this trail for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference as it had not been maintained in a few years. This winter I hike the trail and lost the blazes several times when the trail was covered by deep snow. My intention is to clear the trail from Barkaboom Road to Beech Hill Road and then realize the sections that need it. I had already worked on the trail several weeks ago and had to remove several blowdowns before I could trim back the nettles and briars. By the time I got to the latter I was a little tired and was only able to trim the ones directly in the trail using my manual hedge trimmers. This time I was returning with a Stihl power Scythe on loan from the Finger Lakes Trail Conference. The Power Scythe is gas powered and has a cutting bar just less than 3 feet long! It cuts grass and weeds just fine but will also cut branches and brush! The drawback is that it weighs somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 pounds and requires a supply of gasoline. I knew this would be perfect for the work I had to do. I packed the essentials in an older pack and included a gallon of gas mixed with chainsaw oil. I disappointed Sheila by leaving her at home but the work I was doing was too dangerous to bring her along. I come to get to work early as the temperature was forecast to rise during the day. I drove up the Beaverkill Road and turned left onto the Barkaboom Road just before Turnwood. I drove to Big Pond and found several cars already there. After parking, I got out the power scythe, shouldered my pack and crossed the road to start my work. I had cleaned out a good part of the first part of the trail so I simply walked until I began to encounter some nettles. Already the power scythe seemed heavy! I dropped my tank, filled the gas tank and prayed it would start. I guess I need not have worried since it started right up and I got to work. I walked up the trail cutting on both sides as I went. The work seemed to go quickly and the power scythe seemed lighter in use. I got to the beginning of an ascent and stopped there. I left the power scythe and hiked back to get my pack. I was surprised how far I had come and as I hiked back up the trail, I decided I would try wearing the pack while working. I filled the gas tank again, stared it up and began cutting.

I was not easy to climb while carrying the power scythe and cut at the same time but I developed a technique. I had noticed when I stopped that I was a little hard of hearing and my hands would not stop tingling! I continued climbing and cutting nettles. They got more plentiful the higher I climbed although the trail was shaded and not particularly wet. I was careful to cut a wide swathe so that they would be less likely to grow back and block the trail again. I also cut back some brush, a few small trees and overhanging branches. At some point the nettles stopped and there wasn't too much to cut until the briars started. I attacked the briars as best I could but my arms were starting to get very tired. I noticed this more when I had to raise the tool to cut branches. The briars were harder to cut as they are thicker than nettles and tend to start farther back and hang out over the trail. In the end, they never had a chance. I though I would never get to the top of the ascent but eventually the ground leveled. I wanted to get to the trail junction as that was my goal and I remembered in needed some trimming. Of course, I ran out of gas at before getting there1 I decided to walk to the trail junction and refill the tank there. When I got to the junction, I filled the tank and took drank a lot of water. After starting the machine again, I cleared the junction and then began trimming on my way back to the car. I actually left the power scythe on for some time trimming a few things that I had missed on the way up. At one point I looked up to see a young man and woman hiking toward me in shorts. They said "hello" and asked about the distance to Cabot Mountain. I replied and suggested that shorts might not be the best choice for the nettles on the way to Cabot. When I got to the steeper descent, I shut down the power scythe and carried it the rest of the way. I was sure it had gotten heavier and that it weighed more turn off than when cutting! I made it back to the car by 1:00 PM. I was glad since I was tired and there seemed to be thousands of small black flies on the trail on the way back!

On Saturday, July 18th, I decided I wanted to hike a newly rerouted section of trail near Marathon. This section of trail used to head north on West River Road to Blodgett Mills and then south along Route 11 to Hoxie Gorge Road. This was necessitated because the Tioughnionga River flows between West River Road and Route 11 and there are a limited number of bridges. The new route travels south along West River Road to Route 392, crosses the river on a road bridge and then for only .7 miles. It then turns east onto Steve Russell Hill Road for 1.2 miles before cutting left into the woods. The rest of the trail flows a completely new route cut through Hoxie Gorge State Forest before joining the old trail near The Cornell property near Hoxie Gorge Road. The problem is that the whole section is over 10 miles making the round trip more than 20 miles which I do not feel comfortable doing in one day. I decided to break it into two section and hike from West River Road to Steve Russell Hill Road first. I tried to get out of Livingston Manor really early to hike in the cool of the morning and did succeed on leaving by 8:30 AM. As always Sheila was ready to go. The temperature when we left Livingston Manor was only in the low 60's but was predicted to rise into the high 70's. The skies were overcast and I only saw the sun once or twice on the drive. We stopped once on the way as I drove north and west on Route 17 and then north on I81 to Marathon. In Marathon I took Route 11 north and then Route 392 west. After a very short distance on 392 I turned north on West River Road. The road was dirt and gravel with some large potholes. I drove slowly along the river and the railroad tracks until I arrived at the place we had left off on a previous hike where the trail meets the road and used to head north. I parked the car on the side of the road and found that I had left my GPS unit home. I knew I wouldn't need it for navigation but wanted to make sure I got a track of the hike. I decided that I could get a track by driving the route when I returned to hike the second section.

We were out and hiking at 9:30 AM heading south on West River Road to Route 392. The walk down West River Road was 3.9 miles paralleling the river and the railroad tracks all the way. There wasn't much to see as there are few houses. As we walked I kept watching the sky for signs of precipitation. At Route 392 we turned left and walked out to Route 11. Route 11 has a wide shoulder which is good since the traffic often appears to be exceeding the 55 MPH speed limit. We crossed the road and turned right to walk the .6 miles south to Steve Russell Hill Road. We turned left onto the road and began heading northeast passing under the high ridges for I81. Shortly after the bridges the road split with the better road headed right. We continued straight ahead toward Hoxie Gorge State Forest on a road marked as "Seasonal Maintenance". True to its name the road ascended about 340 feet over the next mile. I found myself wondering whether or not I could drive my car up the road. There were some serious gullies in the road and places where the center ridge was pretty high. When we got to 5.8 miles, I saw the FLT sign and white blazes going off to the left paralleling a stream. There was also a wide spot with room to park at least one car on the shoulder of the road. We turned around at a little passed 11:30 AM and started back down the road which went much faster than our ascent. We continued to retrace our route back to West River Road as I kept watching the sky. We were back at the car at 1:40 PM and stayed dry all the way. We had hiked 11.6 miles in just over 4 hours and had gained 740 feet in elevation.

On Friday, July 17th, I decided I wanted to hike the new section of the Finger Lakes Trail that starts at the Apex Bridge on the Cannonsville Reservoir and visits the Rock Rift Fire Tower. From the fire tower the trail heads west to join the existing trail near Faulkner Road. I had hike almost 10 miles the day before but was feeling good and wanted to do this hike. Sheila apparently was feeling good also as she ran around the house as I was getting ready! I got my gear and Sheila in the car and headed north and west on State Route 17 a little after 9:00 AM. I took exit 87 and followed Route 268 to the Apex Bridge over the Cannonsville Reservoir and turned left to drive north on Route 10. I was looking for the point where the trail crossed the road. I thought that to add some variety to the hike I would hike up the newest part of the trail to the fire tower since I had never been that way before. When I got to Dryden Brook Road, I knew I had gone too far. I turned around and tried to find where the trail crossed but gave up and went back to the bridge and parked in the large lot on the left. We got ready to start the hike by walking across the road and turning right. As we walked along the shoulder of the road, I kept looking for the trail but could not find it. We turned around to walk back toward the bridge. At 10:10 AM we passed the bridge and walked a very short distance north on Route 10 to the first section of guardrail. I found that this is where the trail starts! The beginning of the trail was rather steep but it soon leveled off and began to descend a little. The trail rolled through some gullies and finally at 1.25 miles turned left onto the woods road that once acted as an access road to the tower. I knew that the climb to the tower was steep in places but that the crew who had constructed the trail built in a few switchbacks to help. On this day the trail was pretty dry with only a few muddy spots here and there. What I did notice was that there were plenty of biting insects! Sheila and I climbed the familiar trail keeping a pretty steady pace despite the steep sections. The trail was pretty clean with only a few branches here and there. Over the next 1.5 miles we headed due north gaining a total of over 1400 feet from where we had parked. The difference in elevation from the pointed where we had turned onto the woods road was over a 1000 feet and several ascents were more than a 25% grade. By 11:45 AM we had hiked 2.8 miles are were at the base of the tower. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take a few pictures. The bottom flights of stairs have been removed from the tower to discourage anyone from ascending and the cab is in disrepair. There is a plan to restore the tower which would be a wonderful project. When I stowed my camera, I got us a drink and a snack and spread insect repellant liberally.

The next part of the trail was completely new to me as we headed passed the tower following the white blazes. The crew that painted the trail has done a great job using black arrows on a white background to indicate major turns. We started to descend and I assumed this would continue. I was wrong. although the trail generally lost elevation there were times when we were climbing some also. At about 3.1 miles we came out onto dirt road and followed the blazes to a bluestone quarry at 3.4 miles. Stone is still being cut here but there was no work being done on this day. I stopped to take a few shots and was impressed that the stone was being cut with saws which made smooth cuts into the rock. We continued on the road through the other side of the quarry. Soon there was a turn to the right which was not marked but pretty obvious. We continued to follow various woods roads for the most part. Occasionally the trail would cut through the woods to get to the next road. At 3.7 miles the trail headed south instead of west and I wondered when we would start a descent since we were still at over 2100 feet. At 4.2 miles the trail again turned west and began a steep descent toward Faulkner Road. Over the next .7 miles we lost 750 feet of elevation for an average grade of 25%. By the time we reached the junction with the previous trail, my toes were hurting. I decided that I had already walked the short distance out to Faulkner Road and did not need to do it again. We turned left on the "old" trail at 4.9 miles and walked downhill another .2 miles to Route 10. As we walked out onto the road, I turned to look at how the trail was marked. The markings were obvious and I couldn't figure out how I had missed them while driving! We turned left on Route 10 and started walking south and east on the wide shoulders. The temperature was considerably warmer in the open but the walk was only 1.6 miles which we covered in 30 minutes. We were back at the parking area at 1:35 PM having covered 6.7 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes. I left Sheila in the car and walked out onto the Apex Bridge to take a few pictures before returning to the car.

On Thursday, July 16th, I decided I wanted return to the Finger Lakes Trail to the first section of map 18 which is the next map to the west of my completed sections. This section starts at Heisey Road near Route 119 southeast of Ithaca and continues for over 23 miles to the intersection of Purvis Road and Route 38 just south of Dryden Lake . Of course, the problem is that I usually have to hike both ways as I have no ride back from the end point. This means hiking, for example, hiking 12 miles to get a 6 mile section of trail. On many hikes I have used other trails of road walks to avoid a strict out-and-back which can be extremely boring! I checked the weather forecast when I got up and sunny skies with lower humidity and temperatures with no chance of rain. By the time I started my hike at around 10:00 AM the temperature would be in the high 60's. I knew the trail might be wet from the rains the previous day but this is a fact of life during most of the summer. I decided to head for a five mile section of map 18 that is the first section on map 18 and the last one for me on this map. It seemed I could hike out on the trail starting at Heisey Road and ending at Braley Hill Rd where I had parked on my previous hike in the area. I could then use a combination of the trail and local roads to return. Sheila was more than ready to hike and I was surprised that she settled down for the long ride very quickly. We left Livingston Manor before 8:00 AM heading northwest on State Route 17 toward Binghamton. This time I continued on Route 17 to exit 64 at Owego and headed north from there on Route 96 and Route 96B. After passing through Candor I began to look for Eastman Hill Road since the parking area was at the intersection of Eastman Hill Road and Heisey Road. The map description indicated this could be a difficult place to park but I thought I would check it out. Just after Wilseyville Road I turned right on Eastman Hill and began to ascend this road which soon turned to dirt. After about half a mile it appeared that the road ended but then I saw the "Seasonal Maintenance" sign. Passed this point the road was almost as wide as my car and had deep gullies in the road. It seemed I would have to drive another half mile on this and I knew that would be a bad idea. I decided to return to Route 96B and try Heisey Road which was only 1.7 miles north. When I got to Heisey Road, I turned right and headed up the hill on a dirt surface. When I was about half a mile up the road I again ran into the "Seasonal Maintenance" sign. This time the road beyond this point was in better condition but I had no idea what would happen over the next half mile, if there would a place to park or whether or not I could turn around. I decided to head for Ridgeway Road which was the next place I could park. From here I could hike up to the beginning of the trail, retrace my route and then hike to Braley Hill Road. It was an alternative plan that I had in mind from the start and looked like the best option remaining. I drove back down Route 96B about 3 miles, took a left on Wilseyville Road and then another left on Coddington Road. After only 4 miles, I turned right on Ridgeway Road and parked on the wide shoulder. I got out my pack, took off my light jacket and put Sheila on her leash. We started our hike by walking back out to Route 96 B and turning right to head north at 10:35 AM.

At about .15 miles, I saw a turn marker and a woods road came up on the left almost immediately. We turned onto the road and as soon as we were in the woods I let Sheila off of her leash. After only a short distance, another woods road went off to the right but there was no marking to indicate which way to go. This had become the theme for map 18 as however is responsible for the trail maintenance does not know how to properly place blaze. I knew we had to go up to Heisey Road so I stayed to the left and picked the blazes up soon after. The trail began a steady climb at about a 15% grade over the next .25 miles. As we walked I looked ahead to spot the white blazes and at .42 miles I could not see any ahead. I peered into the darkness to no avail. To the left another woods road joined the one we were on and as I looked in that direction I saw the blazes. There was no indication of a turn so in less than half a mile there were two mistakes! after a short distance on this road, the trail made an abrupt turn to the right which we, of course, followed. The trail follows various woods roads of which there were many so I watched the blazes carefully. A viewpoint over the Willseyville Valley is marked on the map but there was no viewpoint there anymore. At 1.1 miles we were at the highest point on Eastman Hill having gained over 600 feet since leaving the car. So far the trail had been mostly dry and this continued as we started our descent toward Eastman Hill Road. All good things must come to an end so we began to encounter wet and muddy areas of the trail as we approached the road. The closer we got to the road the worse the conditions became. I began to watch Sheila to see how deep she was sinking into the mud. Along the last quarter mile before the road the mud would have been over the top of my boot in several places if I had failed to find good foot placements. At 1.45 miles we hit Eastman Hill Road which was little more than a path and turned left to walk to the intersection with Heisey Road. The sun was out and the skies blue with white clouds. We walked only about .1 miles before passing a gate and coming to the intersection. There was enough room to turn around and enough space for 1 or 2 cars. The ground looked firm enough and Heisey Road seemed to be in passable condition as far as I could see. Of course, I could not determine the conditions over the half mile back to where I had turned around. At this point we turned around, fought our way back through the mud and walked the 1.5 miles back to the car. We arrived at the car at 12:10 PM where we stopped to have a drink and a snack. I forgot how hard it was to come back to the car and then press on for the rest of the hike! After only a brief pause, we continued by walking northeast on Ridgeway Road for only a few hundred feet before turning right.

The trail entered a clearing which almost looked like a small park but turned left into the woods after only a few hundred feet. We began to follow a woods road but eventually the trail left the road and wound through the woods making a sharp right at about 3.5 miles. We were now descending slightly and heading southeast. At 3.85 miles we came to a flat railroad bed which was once part of the Lebanon Valley Railroad. We turned right and began to walk along the level bed between two wetlands. As I was looking for a place to take a few pictures, I saw Sheila jump up almost vertically ahead. At the same time a saw a rather large black snake slither toward the water. From what I could see the snake was 3 to 4 feet long and perhaps and inch and a half in diameter. Sheila seemed very skittish but none the worse for wear! We continued along the trail and I soon found an opening on the left that gave me access to a viewpoint for picture taking. I dropped my pack and slid down off trail over and old railroad rail to find a place to stand to take pictures. It was immediately apparent that I was standing on a beaver dam that clogged a large culvert between the two wetlands! The material I was standing on was not very solid but I got some great pictures. I was able to pull myself back up to the trail without getting wet. At 4.4 miles the blazes indicated a sharp left turn into the woods so we followed them to the edge of a corn field. I looked around but there were no blazes at all. It seemed to me that we needed to continue east to White Church Road so we walked along the north side of the cornfield toward the road. I don't much like walking through down as it is hard to get a view and the leaves are serrated. As we neared the road, I had to laugh as I found a single, faded blaze. We crossed the road and I put Sheila on her leash as requested by a sign. We again had to walk along the edge of a corn field without the aid of blazes. At 4.8 miles the trail curled around the back edge of the field and I could see the blazes indicating a left turn. We followed the trail as it crossed a stream on a wooden bridge. Sheila got a drink and immersed herself in the water before we continued on to a grassy clearing with white blazes on stakes. It was clear that the climb from here to Braley Hill Road would be about the same as the one we had made to Eastman Hill Road! The trail was sited on a woods road and we began to follow it as it climbed the hill heading almost due east. Several roads cut across the one we were on and the blazing could have been better but we found our way until about 5 miles. At this point I continued straight ahead for some distance since no turn was indicated. When I didn't see any markings, I turned back and found where the trail had turned without warning.

We continued to follow the trail encountering some wet spots near the top of the hill. At 5.75 miles we reached 1680 feet which was a climb of about 700 feet from White Church Road. I wasn't looking forward to the descent and subsequent ascent but we continued ahead. We dropped about 150 feet over the next .4 miles to Braley Hill Road. We had walked 6.2 miles when we turned around at 1:50 PM to head back to the car. We followed our path back to White Church Road where we turned right and headed north toward Ridgeway Road. The road gained a little elevation but the alternate path along open road was welcome. At one point I spotted some horses and ponies on the left and I dropped my pack to get out the camera. I took some shots and the realized one of the ponies had horns! I took a few shots of the lone goat in the field with the horses. I also took a few shots of the ridge line to the west which included Eastman Hill which we had ascended earlier in the day. After walking about 1.2 miles on the road, we turned left on Ridgeway Road at about 8.9 miles. I looked ahead and could see that the road descended to a low spot and then ascended again to the car. We started to walk down the hill and reached the low point which was the old railroad bed. I stopped to take a few shots of the surrounding hills which looked to be like glacial formations. When we started to walk again, we began to ascend to the car but it was actually less difficult than it had looked from the intersection. We were back at the car by 3:20 PM having hiked 9.9 miles in 4 hours and 40 minutes with an elevation gain of 1920 feet. I would suggest that most people do the hike this way as access to the parking the corner of Eastman Hill Road and Heisey Road could be a problem.

On Monday, July 13th, I wanted to finish map 18 on the Finger Lakes Trail but the weather forecast called for showers near Ithaca. The forecast for Livingston Manor and the Catskills also mentioned showers. The forecast for Harriman showed bright and sunny skies so I decided to hike a loop over Pyngyp Mountain. I had found this hike in the new NYNJTC book Circuit Hikes in Harriman by Don Weise. The route starts on Tiorati Brook Road and then uses the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail to ascend Pyngyp Mountain. After descending the other side the route uses the Red Cross and Beech Trails as well as Tiorati Brook Road to get back. I had mentioned this route to Cindy before and she had not seemed enthusiastic. On this day she said she wanted to go so we got our gear ready and loaded it into the a along with a thrilled Sheila and headed down the Quickway to Harriman. The traffic around the construction near Middletown held us up for a hike but we were soon on Route 6 heading over the mountain to the Palisades Parkway. We took the parkway south to Exit 16 and picked up Lake Welch Drive briefly and then got on Tiorati Brook Road. Not too far up the road I pulled over to park in a large roadside area on the left. As we got out of the car we noticed both the heat and the humidity with were both in the 80's! I was a little worried as I had brought only to liters of water but the hike was listed as only 7.1 miles. It was 10:45 AM by the time we started walking east on the road toward the parkway. The road is narrow with no shoulder and the cars move rather swiftly although we did not have any problems. I noticed we were walking downhill but knew we would be returning from the opposite direction. We continued on the road until it merged with Lake Welch Drive and then continued until we picked up the yellow blazes of the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail at about .8 miles. The blazes were old and not very distinct but they led us over the southbound parkway to the northbound lanes. We could see the trail on the other side of the road and waited until there was a big gap in the traffic before crossing.

As soon as we crossed the road, we started to climb through some rocks and the temperature and humidity became more obvious. I let Sheila off her leash and got out my poles. I also took some pictures of Cindy and Sheila as we started up the mountain. The description of the hike in the book said that it may be the steepest hike in the park and I would agree! The description was also spot on when it described some "interesting" areas which require rock scrambling. As we got farther into the ascent the heat and humidity became more oppressive and were taking a toll on Cindy especially. We stopped a few times but tried to keep moving. Several times I stopped to take a few pictures of the trail but none do justice to how challenging it really is. On the climb from the parkway to the first place where the trail leveled was .2 miles and we gained 380 feet for a 35% average grade. I looked at the map and GPS and knew we were not at the top of the mountain. There were two more climbs. We passed by the memorial plaque to Harold Scutt who sited the trail in 1930 and died shortly thereafter in a plane crash. The second climb had an interesting steep slab of rock to negotiate while the third had a crevice to scramble up. The first step up the crevice was huge and required some upper body strength to make it up. After that, there was a winding trail that gained some elevation to the summit of the mountain. I was glad I had taken advantage of the views on the way up to snap some shots since the top was wooded. There was a heavy haze over the Hudson but a few of the shots were nice. Once over the top began to look for a shortcut back to the car. I knew that I had not brought enough water since I had only two liter bottles. I made mental note to get out my three liter Camelbak bladder for future hikes. I also knew that Cindy would not make the 7 mile loop as we were only at 1.7 miles at the summit.

We started to descend the north side of the mountain. It was not as steep as the way we had come but reached over a 25% grade in places. At 2.1 miles the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail reached the base of the mountain and turned right on a woods road marked "Pines" on the map. The road also ran left or west and seemed to head toward the parkway. It also paralleled a stream where Sheila could get a drink and cool off. We turned left here and followed the road which was not blazed but pretty easy to find. We had to detour several times as the road ran through low areas that are now marshes filled with impressive stand of phragmites. I stopped to take a few shots of these reeds. As we neared the parkway, the road became less distinct. I wanted to go a little south but Cindy wanted to head for the higher ground to the north. Once we were on the higher ground we had to push through some dense brush to reach...a deep stream. The stream was the reason I had wanted to head south but we found some stones to use to cross the water and scrambled up the steep bank on the other side to an open field next to the parkway. We walked south along the northbound lanes and then crossed to the wide, wooded median. We walked the median until we got to exit 16 and crossed to Lake Welch Drive. We followed lake Welch Drive and Tiorati Brook Road for .7 miles uphill back to the car. It was 1:30 PM and we had covered 4.1 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes. The total elevation gain was only 920 feet. I can honestly say it was the longest 4 miles I have hiked in a long time. We did stop in Middletown at El Bandido which helped to make the hard work seem almost fun!

On Sunday, July 12th, I had scheduled another work day for the Willowemoc Trail Crew. I had no confirmed attendees but hopped to have a few show up at the trailhead at 1:30 PM. I preached two church services in Livingston Manor and Roscoe and was home at 12:30 Pm. I changed quickly, threw my gear in the car and went to pick up tools at Morgan Outdoors. I drove to the Frick Pond parking area and was there around 1:10 PM. I waited until 1:30 PM and when no one showed up I decided to spend an hour or so doing some trail work. I grabbed a shovel and a plastic toboggan as well as my pack and headed out the trail toward Frick Pond. The woods road to the pond was still wet and when I got to Gravestone Junction the "mud pit" was wetter and muddier than ever! I decided to take the toboggan down to the pond and see if it would be a good way to transport stepping stones from the pond and stream to the mud pit. As I walked down toward the pond, I found a man and woman and their three dogs. The dogs were beautiful and well-behaved but I did not recognize their breed. The man explained that they were Kleine Muensterlanders that are bred as hunting dogs and especially like the water. I can attest to their love of the water as that was all that really interested them. I walked down to the bridge and looked for some rocks that would make good stepping stones. I found four or five and loaded them in the toboggan and started to pull it up the hill. It wasn't easy but it did work well. I hauled the stones to the mud pit where I had dropped my pack and unloaded them. I thought I might dig out the pit some but that proved difficult so I went to get another load of stones. I again loaded up the toboggan and got ready to haul it up the hill. About that time Shawn appeared and helped me pull the load up the hill. We unloaded the stones and began to place them in the worst section of the mud pit.

After placing some stones, Shawn suggested that we try to drain some of the water. I was skeptical but we cleared some of the weeds on the side toward the stream and found a low spot that was perfect. We used the shovel I had brought and Shawn's mattocks to make several ditches that allowed the water to drain. This was a great idea and made the stepping stones more effective! We decided we needed some more stones and went to get another load. Even the less muddy areas were deeper than they looked making larger stones the best choice. We looked in the stream and picked up a few rocks. and then began to look for stones in the remains of the old dam. We found some good candidates, loaded them up and started to pull them up the hill. Shawn took over pulling the toboggan and I carried one of the larger stones. We worked together to place the stones most effectively and tried to minimize their movement by shimming up those that were rocking. We also spent some of our time creating ditches to drain the water. We made one more trip to get stones. We made some final adjustments and decided to call it a day. I wanted to get back to Morgan Outdoors before 4:00 PM so that I could unload the tools. The work we were able to accomplish together surprised me and I was very satisfied with our efforts. Shawn was a pleasure to work with and had great ideas that moved the work along. The project may need some fine tuning and finishing touches but it definitely improved the area.

On Friday, July 10th, I decided I wanted return to the Finger Lakes Trail to a section of map 18 which is the next map to the west of my completed sections. This section starts at Heisey Road near Route 119 southeast of Ithaca and continues for over 23 miles to the intersection of Purvis Road and Route 38 just south of Dryden Lake . Of course, the problem is that I usually have to hike both ways as I have no ride back from the end point. This means hiking, for example, hiking 12 miles to get a 6 mile section of trail. On many hikes I have used other trails of road walks to avoid a strict out-and-back which can be extremely boring! I checked the weather forecast when I got up and found partly sunny skies with no chance of rain. By the time I started my hike at around 10:00 AM the temperature would be in the low 70's. I knew trail might be wet from the rains the previous week but this is a fact of life during most of the summer. I decided to head for a five mile section of map 18 that was the next section west from the one I had already completed. It seemed I could hike out on the trail starting at Braley Hill Rd and ending at Old 76 Road where I had parked on my previous hike in the area. I could then use a combination of the trail and local roads to return. Sheila was more than ready to hike and I was surprised that she settled down for the long ride very quickly. We left Livingston Manor before 8:00 AM heading northwest on State Route 17 to Binghamton. From there I took I81 north to the Whitney Point exit, exit 8. The skies were sunny with a few clouds for most of the drive. I followed Route 79 west from Whitney Point toward Ithaca for a little over 20 miles and then turned left on Boiceville Road. After .6 miles I turned left on Central Chapel Road and then stayed to the right on Braley Hill Road after 2.6 miles. I knew the trail should cross at about 1.2 miles down the road and could locate the crossing from an old jeep trail that was on my map and GPS. I passed by the first big parking area which was marked for Shindagin Hollow State Forest. I had a feeling the trail should cross at the next parking area on the left but I could find no trail markers. I drove a little farther, saw no FLT markers, got out my handheld GPS unit and turned around. The GPS unit indicated the trail had to cross near the second parking area so I pulled over and parked. I walked north on the road but found nothing. I walked south and found where the Finger Lakes Trail crossed the road. It wasn't surprising that I missed it as the trail crossing was barely marked at all. I walked back to the car and got my gear ready and released Sheila from the captivity of the back seat. We left the car just after 10:45 AM heading south on Braley Hill Road for only 250 feet before turning left into the woods on the Finger Lakes Trail.

The trail descended slightly to cross two small streams and then a larger one at .2 miles where there was a bivouac area. There were some very muddy spots on the trail but they could be avoided or carefully negotiated. This continued throughout the hike to one degree or another. At .7 miles we crossed a jeep trail and I had to pause a moment since no blazes were visible on the other side. Sheila knew where she was going so I followed her directly across the road to stay on the trail. As we continued to descend, we came across an old foundation at .8 miles. I decided not to take pictures since they usually come out very green and are not very interesting. The trail made a sharp right after this and we began to parallel Shindagin Hollow Road some 200 feet above it with a steep dropoff to the left. At 1.5 miles we began to descend off the ridge to the road. We came to the road at 1.8 miles and this was the lowest spot on the hike at about 1180 feet. We turned left and walked about 500 feet up the road where we turned right and crossed the stream on a bridge. From here the trail began to ascend again on logging road. I was glad to have Sheila with me because several of the turns simply were not marked at all! At 2.5 miles we entered the area surrounding the Shindagin Hollow lean-to. The area was large including the lean-to, a privy and several fire rings. The trail passed in front of the lean-to and paralleled a stream. Just after the lean-to was a small cascade which was unexpected since it was not mentioned in the trail description. I stopped to take a few pictures before continuing on. The trail had been taking us north but now turned east and continued ascending to South Road. The nearer we got to the road the wetter and muddier the trail became. Along the way there were two interesting arrangements of stones. One was almost a stone wall incorporating a downed tree. The other was a large cairn. I took pictures of both before continuing on to South Road. We crossed the road and found a nice country lane which was wide and well-maintained and dry! At 3.4 miles we hit the highest point on then hike at almost 1800 feet and started a long descent toward Old 76 Road. Sheila alerted and I saw a young man coming toward us. He was local and out for a hike from his house on South Road to Old 76 Road and back. He informed me that the trail was muddy up ahead.

At 3.6 miles the country lane ended and the trail turned to the right and continued almost due east. We continued to descend and there were some muddy areas along the way. At 4.7 mile we crossed Boyer Creek on a bridge. Sheila decided to jump in and found there was a deep pool under the bridge where she could swim around some. We continued to head east and descend to Old 76 Road at 4.9 miles. We walked across the road to connect with the previous hike. I got a drink and a snack and we turned around at 1:20 PM to head back. My plan was to go back to South Road on the trail and then walk some local roads to avoid the mud and add some variety. Just after starting back I saw a sign posted on a tree and I stopped to read it. Imagine my surprise when I found that the section to the east from McGrath Road to Level Green Road was closed! This was the section I had hiked on Monday and thought was so poorly marked and maintained! I felt terrible about trespassing as I always try to respect property owners rights. I also thought it was foolish to post the sign where it was posted as there was no sign at the beginning of McGrath Road. The suggested route on local roads to avoid the closed section was very much the same route I used to return from the hike on Monday. The hike back to South Road on the trail seemed to go quickly. At 6.6 miles we turned right on South Road and hiked north .4 miles where we turned left on Gulf Creek Road. This was a dirt road with only one house near the beginning so as soon as we passed that house I let Sheila off her leash. As we hiked toward Shindagin Hollow Road we did meet one car. The road took use due west and then south for 1.7 miles to Shindagin Hollow Road. It also dropped over 500 feet which I knew we would have to regain to get to the car. I had though we might hike up then road to the jeep trail and use it to get back to the trail to the car. In the end, we turned left on the road and hiked back to where the trail headed back up the ridge retracing our route from earlier. This decision was based on taking a route I knew rather than exploring new one. We made three climbs to get back to Braley Hill Road with the first being the most sustained at 340 feet. I was getting a little tired but more from boredom than the physical effort of hiking. As we approached the car we turned right on a blue trail which brought us out to the road without walking through some muddy areas. We were back at the car at 4:00 PM having hiked 10.5 miles in 5 hours and 10 minutes with a 2100 foot elevation gain. There is only one more section to the east to complete map 18!

On Tuesday, July 7th, I had scheduled a weekday trail maintenance session at Frick Pond. Only Judy replied to me that she could come but Lisa had two other people who said they might be interested. The weather report called for rain showers until 10:00 AM but hinted that the skies might clear after that. I arrived at the trailhead before 10:00 AM to find Judy waiting for me. We left the trailhead a little after the appointed time as no one else appeared to be coming. We had decided that since it wasn't raining we would try to get some work done on the water drainage on the woods road to Frick Pond. I had my pack with saw and axe but we carried a shovel and a pick. Judy and I stopped at several spots along the way and opened up a few clogged ditches and made some new ones. As we were working on one spots we heard voices and found Lisa and Avi approaching. We had not brought tools for them as we did not know they were coming so Lisa decided to go back to her car to grab a pair of loppers. She would work on the trimming the Flynn Trail from the road up as far as she could go. Avi stayed with us and we continued to create drainage ditches. We walked toward Frick Pond and I showed the other two crew members the mud pit at gravestone Junction. I described my plan to haul rocks up from the outlet stream to Frick Pond using piece of canvas. I hope to be able to try this on Sunday , July 12th for our next workday. We walked down to the pond and spotted many good choices for stepping stones. We decided to continue on around the pond to look at the walkways and see if we could shore up one or two to prevent the tipping that made them feel unsafe. On the way we created a ditch to drain another wet area. I also shod Lisa and Avi the large cherry tree Cindy and I had removed with hand tools. As we started around the pond we tried to fill in the gap on both sides of one of the culverts but could not find enough dirt to get the job done. When we got to the walkways we found them as slippery as ice. Ian Dunn, Region 3 Forester, had told me that metal screening applied to these bridges would violate the Dec plan for the wild forest. Avi took a video to illustrate the problem since something needs to be done before someone is seriously injured! We found the walkway that was tipping and brought some stones to prop it up. After digging a little under the walkway we were able to make it safe. Unfortunately, our efforts had lifted one section of walkway into its correct position but another section was no loner aligned. This left a step that I was afraid might trip people attempting to use the walkway. We dug out a space under the second section and place some more rocks with the help of a long lever to lift the walkway. Both sections are now aligned and we decided to head back to the car as the skies darkened again. The walkways will need some more repairs as sections have pulled part and many boards are loose. On the way back Avi remarked that the sections we had ditched looked drier. As we arrived at the parking area the rain began to fall and increased to a downpour. After getting drenched the day before I was glad we had made it back in time.

On Monday, July 6th, I decided I wanted return to the Finger Lakes Trail to a section of map 18 which is the next map to the west of my completed sections. This section starts at Heisey Road near Route 119 southeast of Ithaca and continues for over 23 miles to the intersection of Purvis Road and Route 38 just south of Dryden Lake . Of course, the problem is that I usually have to hike both ways as I have no ride back from the end point. This means hiking, for example, hiking 12 miles to get a 6 mile section of trail. On many hikes I have used other trails of road walks to avoid a strict out-and-back which can be extremely boring! I checked the weather forecast when I got up and it continued to include partly sunny skies with no chance of rain. By the time I started my hike at around 10:00 AM the temperature would be in the low 70's. I knew trail might be wet from the rains the previous week but this is a fact of life during most of the summer. I decided to head for a six mile section of map 18 that was the next section west from the one I had already completed. It seemed I could hike out on the trail starting at Old 76 Road and ending at Route 79 near Robinson Hollow Road. I could then use local roads to return. Sheila was more than ready to hike and I was surprised that she settled down for the long ride very quickly. We left Livingston Manor before 8:00 AM heading northwest on State Route 17 to Binghamton. From there I took I81 north to the Whitney Point exit, exit 8. The skies were sunny with a few clouds for most of the drive. I followed Route 79 west from Whitney Point toward Ithaca for a little over 13 miles and then turned left on West Creek Road. Eventually this road became Old 76 Road in Speedsville. I started heading northwest watching for McGrath Road on the right. This was an abandoned road so I knew finding it might be difficult. After passing Weston Road, I began going very slowly but knew I had missed it when I got to Yaple Road. I turned around but didn't see it on the return trip. I almost gave up and decided to park at the other end but after turning around one more time I found where the trail crossed half way between Weston and Yaple Roads. It wasn't surprising that I missed it as there was no road and the trail crossing was barely marked at all. I pulled over and parked off the shoulder of the road and got ready to start the hike. Sheila was ready to go so we started up what remained of McGrath Road. I didn't know at the time that my difficulty finding the beginning of the trail would define the rest of the hike.

CAUTION: I found after hiking this section of trail that the part from Old 76 Road to Level Green Road has been closed by the request of the landowner. There was no sign at the beginning of the trail but there is a sign on the other side of the road and the closure is posted on the FLTC website. I found out that it is a good idea to check the "Trail Conditions" section of this website for up-to-date closures and reroutes before hiking a section. Some of these are reflected on the maps and some are not! The new route follows Old 76 Road west to Yaple Road. Turn right on Yaple Road and hike north to Level Green Road. Turn right and hike southeast east on Level Green Road to the point where the trail crosses. Turn left onto the trail.

As we started on the trail, the first thing we found was a large blowdown blocking the beginning of the trail. There were also what looked like rose bushes that had overgrown this area. The trail was extremely wet and muddy. To add to the problems the blazes were few and far between and looked as if they had not been repainted in several years. Overall my impression was that this section of trail was virtually unmarked and completely unattained. The further we went the worse the situation became with muddy areas that threatened to swallow my boots completely. The only way I could get through some areas was to bushwhack along the forest at the edge of the trail. Finally, at about .45 miles we turned right onto a drier woods road and followed some blazes until...the blazes disappeared at .7 miles. I continued to walk along the road since the Finger Lakes Trail does not always put blazes up once you are on a woods road. When I didn't find any blazes, we walked back to the area Where I had lost them and I spent some time gazing into the forest. I finally spotted a blaze but found it hard to get to it because of all the briars. I tried to follow the blazes but lost them again and decided to walk on a path that roughly paralleled where I though the trail might be. Eventually the path turned the wrong way and I moved to the left and found some blazes. The trail continued to be wet and muddy which, by now, I had accepted as the rule for the day. At about .9 miles we came to a stream and the blazes again disappeared. There was no indication of a turn or any other trail markings. We fought our way through briars, weeds and brush and eventually found a path which I followed in desperation until I had to turn back to the stream. I said "Trail" to Sheila and she crossed the stream and started up a path on the other side. I followed her and found she was correct although there were no blazes that would have been visible from the other side. I was glad to have CPS (canine positioning system)! The trail now was rather obvious which was good since there were no blazes I could see. We entered an evergreen forest which I assume is part of Potato Hill State Forest. The trail here was drier and there were more blazes but it too showed little maintenance. I hoped that the improved trail would continue but that hope was soon dashed!

As we walked through the forest we were on some old logging roads which offered an obvious path but had some very deep mud pits. At just under 2 miles we crossed Level Green Road which at this point was a dirt road. I looked for the trail on the other side and found it but not without a little work. We continued to walk along wet and muddy trail gaining elevation slightly as we headed north. At 3.15 miles we neared Blackman Hill Road and walked parallel to it until crossing the road at 3.25 miles. The trail on the other side followed a short road or driveway and then entered a field of long grass. We followed the eastern edge of the field as directed and I was surprised to find what looked like a path made by other hikers. At the edge of the field there were no markers for the trail so I again began to look and found the trail a little to the east. The trail began to follow a well-defined logging road which made several twists and turns. It did have blazes but we were back to a trail that resembled one big mud pit. I tried to follow the blazes but it was hard to watch for them and avoid the mud at the same time. At 3.7 miles I continued to follow the woods road although I could see no blazes. We were headed in the right direction and I kept walking for about .4 miles. At that point the road was blocked by blowdowns and the other side didn't look very promising. I decided to turn around and walk out Blackman Hill Road and back to the car. As we approached the point where I had lost the blazes, I gazed to the right side of the trail and saw some white marks going through the woods. I was annoyed but decided I wanted to finish the trail. As we walked along the trail, I noticed it was almost parallel to the road I had been on! At 4.0 miles we began a descent that would end at Route 79. I was a little apprehensive since the directions indicated a "wet area" near Route 79. I wondered how much wetter the trail could get!

We were now descending on a woods road which became extremely wet but was a least well blazed. At 4.7 miles we began to walk along the bank of West Owego Creek but high above it. Our descent continued with a few short climbs along the way. The trail was barely etched into the side of the hill and I got the feeling few hikers use this part of the trail. At 5.5 miles we turned toward Route 79 and found the "wet area" mentioned in the description. There was a nice bridge and a walkway and it was one of the drier areas on the entire hike. This was the only spot I stopped to take a few pictures. We walked out to Route 79 where I stowed my poles and put Sheila on her leash. We turned left at 1:40 PM to walk to Level Green Road for the trip back. The skies were cloudy now and a few raindrops had fallen along the way. I was hoping Level Green Road lived up to its name. It was .85 miles to the turn and it seemed to go quickly. We turned left and I saw a long stretch of rather flat road ahead. I tried to walk with my head down since staring ahead at the long stretch of road was discouraging. By this time the skies were uniformly dark and I hoped we would escape the rain. From Route 79 to Blackman Hill Road was about 1.85 miles and there was, in fact, a slight ascent of about 200 feet. Unfortunately, just before we reached Blackman Hill Road the rain began as a few drops that turned into a steady rain. I decided to keep walking and the rain let up and then came down harder as we continued our hike. I stopped under a tree at one point and put my camera, cell phone and wallet in a plastic bag. At 8.3 miles we turned right on Yaple Road and continued to climb until the road began to descend to Old 76 Road at 9.4 miles. As we turned left onto Old 76 Road the rain stopped and the sun began to come out. I was pretty wet as was my pack! It was another .9 miles to the car but it seemed longer. It was 3:15 PM and we had hiked 11.5 miles in just over 5 hours gaining about 1580 feet along the way. This was about 1.1 miles farther than we should have walked due to the poor trail markings! The trip out on the trail was 6.7 miles with the return on the roads being only 4.8 miles.

On Sunday, July 5th, I had thought I might go to Harriman after church but decided I did not want to get caught in the July 4th weekend traffic. I decided instead to go to Big Pond and do some trail maintenance on the Touch-Me-Not Trail. This trail is part of the Finger Lakes Trail and I recently volunteered to maintain it. This winter I had trouble finding the trail when it was covered in snow so cutting it out and reblazing it seemed like a good idea. Cindy did not want to go which I knew would make the work harder. I decided to take a chance and bring Sheila along. I hoped she would not get too bored if I had to stop to clear the trail. We arrived at the parking area at 12:15 PM to find it almost full. I parked the car and decided to take my Silky Sugowaza, a pair of hedge trimmers and my new Fiskars X27 axe. The axe is lightweight with an integrated composite handle. I prefer my Council Tools Velvicut but it is much heavier and meant for felling larger trees. I left my poles in the car since there is just so much I can carry! I put Sheila on her leash to cross the road but released her as soon as we started to climb up the trail to the register. My main goal was to clear the most heavily used portion of the trail which is part of the loop around Little Pond. To get there we had to walk a little over a mile of trail and gain 780 feet to Touch-Me-Not Mountain! As we approached the trail register, I found a small tree across the trail. It was time to try out the new axe and it performed well. I really like the Silky saws but there is something about an axe that makes me feel like I am really working in the woods. After pulling the pieces of the tree off the trail I returned the axe to my pack and got out the hedge trimmers. These aren't special in any way but they were doing a good job as I trimmed brush from the trail and even cut down a few small branches. It wasn't very long before we ran into a second tree across the trail. This one was more difficult to clear since it was hung up on another tree. It took a while to carefully clear each branch but I soon had everything the way I wanted it. There was one more blowdown where two trees were hung up on each other over the trail. I decided to leave it for another day secretly hoping the next wind would bring them down! We continued along the trail as I sued the trimmers to continue to cut brush and branches. We entered a wet area where I remembered that there were always a good crop of nettles. I was surprised to see that there weren't as many as I had expected and I used the trimmers to cut them back. I also had no problem following the trail although I did find there weren't as many blazes as there should be. As soon as we started to climb the mountain, there was an excellent crop of nettles. I was beginning to get tired using the trimmers over and over and wished for a grass whip or, better yet, a power scythe. I did trim back the nettles as much as I could. Further up the mountain the nettles ran out and the prickers started. It looked like some hikers had tried to clear some of these and I added my efforts top theirs. There continued to be a few minor blowdowns which I cleared by pulling them off the trail. Some were pretty old but I didn't like them underfoot to trip someone. As we crested the hill and started down to the trail junction I found an interesting sight. A tree non the trail with three trunks had split and each trunk had gone in a different direction. One lay across the trail but was easy to get over. One lay off the trail into the woods. The third was hung up over the trail which caused me some concern. I decided that this day was not the day to tackle this task and passed by it. Near the trail junction I did some trimming and tenured right to stay on the red Touch-Me-Not Trail. We had hiked this half mile section on Friday and I knew it needed a lot of trimming. By this time my wrists and arms were tired but I knew I would give it my best. For the next half mile I used the trimmers countless times to cut back briars, vines, brush and branches. As I approached the trail junction I knew that I would need to go back and do dome more clearing nut that I had made a good first step. At the trail junction we turned left to get on the Little Pond Trail since I had decided it was the easier way back. I put all the tools in my pack and started downhill. We passed through the clearing where a farm had once operated and passed by the pond also. At the next turn the trail was vary muddy but it felt good to be head down and back. As we approached the beaver pond, we met two young men headed up the trail. At the loop trail around the pond we turned left and followed the path to the main parking area. We followed the access road downhill to the Barkaboom Road where we turned left to get back to the Big Pond parking area. The last .6 miles was uphill but it didn't seem bad especially since Sheila pulled all the way! We were back at the car at about 5:00 PM meaning that we had hiked 4.7 miles in 4 hours and 45 minutes. Thus was easily my slowest pace ever but I had gotten a lot of work done. Sheila was very well-behaved on the whole hike. She investigate some game trails as I cleared blowdowns and trimmed brush but was near very far away.

On Friday, July 3rd, I was tired from a 15 mile hike on the previous day. My son Karl had mentioned that a family hike on Friday might be nice. I called him early in the morning and he said they were headed tom our house and wanted to go to hike at Little Pond. I was not too enthusiastic about the choice since I knew the grandchildren would only be able to hike the flat trail around the pond. Bryce is 4 years old and I thought he might be able to hike the 3+ miles over Touch-Me-Not Mountain but I knew Luke and Lily, the 2 year old twins couldn't handle it. The family arrived and we ate some breakfast before heading to Little Pond State Campgrounds near Turn wood. We paid the $8 day use fee and parked in the lot where there were only two or three cars. We got ready for our "hike" with Karl and his wife both shouldering child carriers. We started along the near side of the pond on the paved walkway and the kids seemed to be doing fine with Luke running out ahead. At a little less than half a mile, we came to the left turn where the yellow Little Pond Trail splits with the left fork continuing on around the pond. I was a little surprised when we turned right to head up the mountain. There is an immediate, short climb and the trail had some very muddy areas. The trail parallels a creek and there was a new beaver dam near an old beaver meadow. The dam had created a pond and I stopped to take some pictures. We continued on the trail climbing toward the vista which is an open field. The trail passes through some pines and Bryce was leading the way, at times so far ahead we had to ask him to wait. Luke and Lily need to be carried a few times but they walked most of the way. At 1.1 miles we followed the trail as it turned left and began to enter the old field that was once a farming homestead. Bryce and I walked over to the pond on the left another back to the main trail. I pointed out the foundation of the old house on the right. A little farther along, I pulled out my camera to take a few pictures of the valley below. The rest of the "crew" had walked on a little farther to find some shade and a big rock where they could relax. When Bryce and I arrived, I got out the camera again and took some pictures. I thought perhaps Karl and Kathleen would want to turn around but we continued on the main trail to the intersection with the red Touch-Me-Not Trail.

When we got to he red trail, we turned right to begin our loop back. I have adopted this trail from Beech Hill Road to Big Pond and this trip gave me a chance to assess the need for maintenance. I concluded that the trail is in pretty good shape but needs a few blowdowns removed and some brush trimmed. It also needs some new blazes so I will schedule a maintenance trip very soon. Over the next .5 miles the trail gains 275 feet to the junction with the Campground Trail. This is not a steep climb unless you are 2 years old but Luke and Lily like to climb! Bryce was still leading and making good time no matter the terrain. On our way to the trail junction we met a group of twenty or so children headed in our direction. We passed by each other offering greetings in the process. By 12:50 PM we had hiked 2.2 miles are were at the trail junction with the blue Campground Trail. We stayed to the right on the blue trail to complete our loop back to the parking area. There was a slight ascent to our highest point at 2770 feet and then a long downhill. The descent is a little tricky since it is very steep in spots requiring some rock scrambling. The wet leaves and mud made this even more interesting. Bryce had no trouble negotiating the descent showing incredible agility and balance. Even Luke and Lily handled this part very well. The entire descent was .85 miles and dropped 775 feet. The average grade was about 18% but the trail levels a lot near the end. In the steepest spots the grade was over 25% for some distance. We were back at the picnic pavilion at 1:45 PM having covered 3.3 miles in 2.5 hours with a vertical gain of 830 feet.

On Thursday, July 2nd, I decided I wanted return to the Finger Lakes Trail to a section of map 18 which is the next map to the west of my completed sections. This section starts at Heisey Road near Route 119 southeast of Ithaca and continues for over 23 miles to the intersection of Purvis Road and Route 38 just south of Dryden Lake . Of course, the problem is that I usually have to hike both ways as I have no ride back from the end point. This means hiking, for example, hiking 12 miles to get a 6 mile section of trail. On many hikes I have used other trails of road walks to avoid a strict out-and-back which can be extremely boring! I checked the weather forecast when I got up and it continued to include partly sunny skies with no chance of rain. By the time I started my hike at around 10:00 AM the temperature was only supposed to be in the 60's. I knew trail might be wet from the rains earlier in the week but this is a fact of life during most of the summer. I decided to head for an eight mile section at the west end of map 20 from Route 79 to Purvis Road. It seemed I could hike out on the trail and then return on some roads. Sheila was more than ready to hike and I was surprised that she settled down for the long ride very quickly. We left Livingston Manor at 8:00 AM heading northwest on State Route 17 to Binghamton. From there I took I81 north to the Whitney Point exit, exit 8. The weather hand been fogy as I left Livingston Manor but it was now sunny and very pleasant as I followed Route 79 west from Whitney Point toward Ithaca. After about 16 miles, I passed Robinson Hollow Road on the right. After crossing over a creek, I pulled over to the right at a large snowplow turn around and parked my car. There were several others cars parked here and the sign indicated that parking was only prohibited during the snowy months. The drive had gone quickly so we were able to start hiking at 9:45 AM by starting east on Route 79 toward Robinson Hollow Road. I estimated the hike would be between 15 and 16 miles so I was anxious to get started. The walk on Route 79 was only .4 miles and went quickly except for the fact Sheila was pulling on her leash anticipating hours of hiking. We turned left on Robinson Hollow Road and I after a while I began to look for the left turn onto the trail. I wasn't sure where there turn was located but just after crossing a small bridge over a stream it came up on the left. The trail was mowed and well-maintained. As we started our climb up a woods road, I let Sheila off her leash and we started our real hiking. I was surprised that the trail was so dry given the rain that had fallen but that didn't last for long!

The trail immediately began to climb gaining 450 feet in the first .5 miles for a 15% grade. It also became very wet in spots with running water and mud. This became the theme for the rest of the trip on the trail. There were spots where the trail simply acted as a streambed and it was up to the hiker to try to work around it. Unlike some previous sections, the trail was well-marked in most spots and I didn't have to stop and guess where we should go next. After climbing, we dropped down to a stream bed and started crossing it several times. I don't know which was wetter the stream or the trail as it ram beside it. We continued to follow the stream until 2.4 miles climbing slightly as we went until we crossed it again heading mostly north. The trail seemed to be climbing at heading north with a few swings to avoid steep climbs or some other obstacles. At 3.7 miles we reached 1950 feet and began to descend to the Harford-Slaterville Road or Route 117. I had thought I might turn around at this point and walk the roads back to the car but the weather was great and I was still feeling fresh so I decided we would continue to the end of the section. We crossed the road to get back on the trail and continue north crossing another stream at about 4.8 miles. Then trail then takes us on an ascent to 2015 feet which is the highest point of the day. The trail here was not quite as wet and at the high point I could see a microwave facility to the right of the trail. We now began a slight descent to Star Stanton Hill Road which we hit at about 7.1 miles. I was surprised to find a washed out gully which did not resemble a road at all and wasn't even much of trail. I thought about turning around at this point but decided to finish out the hike to Purvis Road. It was about a mile on the trail to Route 38 and it was all downhill. Once we got to the main road, we turned right and then immediately left on Purvis Road. We walked to where I had parked on a previous hike and I considered the options for the return trip. It was about 1:30 PM and I knew the hike back up the hill would not be as easy as the hike down. There really weren't any other choices so Sheila and I turned around to return the way we had come.

The hike up the hill did take longer than the walk down but was not as bad as I thought it might be. When we reached the point where the trail turned left off the "road", I decided we would return on the roads and continued straight ahead to try to find Canaan Road. The trail markings indicated this was a snowmobile trail but I was wondering how developed Canaan Road would be, if I could find it. We arrived at the point where the map showed the road and found signs pointing south with the label "Caroline 6 miles". Canaan Road is an abandoned town road which is now part of the Hammond Hill State Forest. I kept my poles out as we started to walk down the dirt and gravel road. The road was good enough that I could have driven it careful with my car. We were making good time and I was glad that the return trip would be downhill or flat. As we were walking south, we both noticed a sound from behind us. I turned around to find a pickup truck slowly making its way in our direction. It really was the last thing I expected to see! After the truck passed we continued our hike under clear and sunny skies. At 10.6 miles Red Man Run Road came in from the left. I had seen the truck turn here but knew we wanted to continue south on Canaan Road. The road was wet with puddles inflames but we negotiated around them until, in another half miles, we came to paved road. At this point I stowed my poles, got and drink and out Sheila on her leash. My feet were a little wet and I noticed that they were uncomfortable but we pressed on. At 11.7 miles we passed Luddington road on the left and continued downhill to 12.2 miles. Here we turned right on Harford Road or Route 29 and walked west to Flat Iron Road where we turned left at 12.8 miles. As we started down Flat Iron Road, I could see cars passing by on Route 79 in the distance. Route 79 was about a mile away but the road was so straight and flat I could see all the way to our next turn. This road was flanked by farms and on the right side by the Goetchius Wetland Preserve. This is an 80 acre preserve owned by the Finger Lakes Land Trust in Tompkins County. The wetlands drain both to the north and south. I wanted to stop but knew we had to keep moving. Once we hit Route 79, we turned left or east and started to hike the last mile back to the car. The road had wide shoulder which was fortunate since the traffic was traveling somewhat above speed limit! By this time my feet were telling me they would be glad when the hike was done! As we passed by one area, I noticed the farms with the hills as backdrop. The sky was very blue with puffy white clouds. I realized I had not taken any pictures since there were absolutely no views on the trail. I stopped and took some shots and then we continued toward the car. We were back at the parking area a little after 4:00 PM. There was a bust at the parking area with a sign that said "downtown". I assumed it was headed for downtown Ithaca which was why so many cars were parked in the lot. We had hiked 14.8 miles in 6 hours and 20 minutes with a vertical gain of 2370 feet.

On Monday, June 29th, I decided I wanted return to the Finger Lakes Trail to hike the middle section of map 19 which is the next map to the west of my completed sections. This section starts at the intersection of Purvis Road and Route 38 just south of Dryden Lake and continues for a little over 18 miles west to Carson Road to the beginning of map 20. Of course, the problem is that I usually have to hike both ways as I have no ride back from the end point. This means hiking, for example, hiking 12 miles to get a 6 mile section of trail. On many hikes I have used other trails of road walks to avoid a strict out-and-back which can be extremely boring! I checked the weather forecast when I got up and decided that it should be only cloudy and not raining by the time I started my hike at around 10:00 AM. Sheila was more than ready to hike and I was surprised that she settled down for the long ride very quickly. We left Livingston Manor at 8:00 AM heading northwest on State Route 17 to Binghamton. From there I took I81 north to the Marathon exit, exit 9. As I left Livingston Manor there was a light drizzle or heavy mist in the air. For the entire drive the precipitation alternated between drizzle and light rain. I stopped in Marathon to get gas and there was no rain which made me feel better. I decided to head west from Marathon on Route 221 and then take Babcock Hollow Road north to Bleck Road. I drove west on Route 221 for about 11 miles and turned right or north on Babcock Hollow Road. Bleck Road veered off to the right at about 1.8 miles and I drove about 1 mile to where the trail crossed the road. I turned around and parked near the crossing on the widest shoulder I could find! The temperature was still in the low 60's and when I got out of the car there was a light rain. I almost decided to come back another day but donned my OR Revel jacket. This jacket is made of Pertex which is highly water resistant but it is softer than most and has pit zips that go to the hem on both sides. There was a slight breeze which actually gave me a little chill. I could hear the creek running below and assumed the streams would be high from the rain. At least I wouldn't have to worry about insects. We started our hike at 10:05 AM by descending the steep bank on the near side of the road and heading west. Almost immediately we came to the creek which was high but did not have a bridge. I walked upstream to a narrower section to cross. When I reached the other side, I found slick mud and had a difficult time pulling myself up the bank. I worked my way downstream to the trail and continued. The trail was very wet and this continued throughout the day. There were standing pools of water, areas where the trail was more of a streambed and many areas of slick mud. There didn't seem to be many areas were maintainers had tried to provide drainage to allow the water to leave the trail. At about .5 miles we had ascended a hill and there was a view to the south. I took a few shots and then we continued to the Foxfire lean-to which was just beyond this point. I took a few shots of the new lean-to and then we continued on the main trail.

We descended a little just passed the lean-to over a very wet trail and then began an ascent to the top of a small hill. From there we descended 240 feet through some switchbacks to Babcock Hollow Road. This area was very muddy and the mud was slippery. As we approached the road, I put Sheila on her leash and crossed the ditch on a wooden walkway. I suddenly found myself horizontal as the wood was wet and very slippery. It was my only fall of the day. On the other side of the road we continued to descend to even wetter areas and another stream crossing which lacked a bridge. On the other side we began a 1 mile switchback as we headed toward Hilsinger Road. The direct route would only have been .2 miles but the elevation gain was 350 feet! sign just before the switchback warned that there were steep areas ahead that could be slippery when wet! I already knew this but the sign mentioned that there were ropes on the steepest parts. I did find 3 ropes but didn't use them as my poles were enough. Oddly these areas were not as slippery as some others I had encountered. We parallel Hilsinger Road for some time until at 2.5 miles we turned toward it and reached the road at 2.6 miles. It was barely a road at this point but I thought I might use it on the return trip to avoid the wet and muddy trail! From Hilsinger Road to our destination at Owego Hill Road was only .5 miles but we ended up hiking 1.25 miles of switchbacks to get there. This time there didn't seem to be any need for the wandering back and forth as the grade on the direct route was more than manageable! Along the way on the Finger Lakes Trail we had been passing several different side loops which were marked in different colors. At 3.65 miles we hit the highest point of the hike at 2032 feet on top of some unnamed hill. From here it was a descent to Owego Hill Road at 3.9 miles. It was 12:05 PM and we immediately turned around and began to retrace our steps back up the hill and then down through the switchbacks. The skies had cleared and there was some sun but I left on my jacket just in case. The trip seemed to be going quicker on the way back and we were soon crossing the stream to Hilsinger Road. I decided to stay on the trail and descend the steep switchbacks as it was the shortest distance. I used my poles wisely and had no problems getting back to Babcock Hill Road. I knew that some of the wettest trail ahead but I also knew that the trail was much shorter than hiking the roads. I carefully crossed the wooden bridge were I had fallen and we started to climb through the slipperiest mud. Once at the top we started our descent which seemed to go quickly. This time I crossed the stream near Bleck Road where the trail crossed. I used a downed tree as a handrail and had no problem crossing. We were back at the car at 2:05 PM having hike 7.7 miles in 4 hours with an elevation gain of 1585 feet. I was surprised that the trip out and back had taken the same amount of time since the trip back had seemed so much faster.

On Friday, June 26th, I met Ian Dunn, the DEC Region 3 Forester, at the Frick Pond trailhead at the end of Beech Mountain Road at 10:00 AM. When Sheila and I arrived Ian's truck was already parked and Ian was walking toward us. I had communicated some of the things we wanted to do at Frick Pond and Ian had responded to each point. Our goal is still to make the loop around the pond as accessible to novice hikers as possible. Ian had let me know that some of the changes we had proposed were not compatible with the DEC management plan for a wild forest. Ian and I decided to hike the loop to see what steps could be taken that are allowed under the plan. It had rained the day before so this was a perfect time to look at the water problems along the way. We walked out the Quick Lake Trail to the trail register where we turned left to head toward Frick Pond. The woods road was very wet and we both agreed that some ditching would help the problem. We stopped at Gravestone Junction and I showed Ian the sign that makes no sense at all. Ian agreed and took a picture to pass on so that a new sign that would help people understand destinations and differences. I showed Ian the wet area on the way to the pond. I had wanted to build a wooden walkway here but only the DEC is allowed to build so another solution is needed. Ian and I discussed stepping stones and corduroy to allow people to pass through this area without waterproof hiking boots. We continued across the bridge to the trail junction on the other side of the pond. Ian and I stayed to the right to take the Big Rock Trail around the back of the pond. We found one very wet area but hikers had already created a way to walk around this area. We agreed not to reroute the trail but to allow things to develop. We also found a culvert that had worked its way to the surface. Some dirt on either side will help make this easier to cross. I pointed out that some of the wooden causeways were loose and some were "floating" without a firm anchor. Ian said that it was permissible to nail down loose boards and use stones to support the always where water had eroded the ground beneath. As wee continued toward Times Square we found some wet areas that could be avoided by walking around them. These areas may be too low to drain but an attempt will be made to get rid of some of the water. We stopped at Times Square which was wet and muddy. Ian and I looked at the water draining from the Logger's Loop Trail and agreed that some ditching might direct the water to the culvert that runs under Times Square. Trimming some of the grass and weeds here would also help to direct people to the drier route. We turned right to follow the Logger's Loop Trail back to Gravestone Junction. We found several wet areas. These areas may benefit from some ditching or stepping stones or a combination of both. We walked back to the parking area and talked for some time. We parted company at about 11:30 AM. I found Ian to be very knowledgeable and willing to help. The information he gave me about trail maintenance in wild forest areas will be very useful.

On Monday, June 22nd, I decided I wanted return to the Finger Lakes Trail to hike the first section of map 19 which is the next map to the west of my completed sections. This section starts at the intersection of Purvis Road and Route 38 just south of Dryden Lake and continues for a little over 18 miles west to Carson Road to the beginning of map 20. Of course, the problem is that I usually have to hike both ways as I have no ride back from the end point. This means hiking, for example, hiking 12 miles to get a 6 mile section of trail. On many hikes I have used other trails of road walks to avoid a strict out-and-back which can be extremely boring! I decided to head west from Marathon on Route 221 and then go north on Route 38. Purvis Road is only 2.5 miles north of the intersection of Route 221 and Route 38. I planned to hike the trail to Owego Hill Road and then hike back on the local roads which seemed to offer a much shorter return route. My plans were almost derailed by an early morning ambulance call just after 6:00 AM but when I got home I decided to go anyway. Sheila was more than ready to hike and I was surprised that she settled down for the long ride very quickly. We left Livingston Manor around 8:30 AM heading northwest on State Route 17 to Binghamton. From there I took I81 north to the Marathon exit, exit 9. After a brief stop at a gas station, I took Route 221 west to the intersection with Route 38. After only 2.5 miles, I turned right on Purvis Road and park immediately on the widest part of the shoulder. I left my light jacket in the car as it was already 70 degrees and the forecast was for highs in the low 80's. I put Sheila on her leash and we began our hike at 10:35 AM by walking east on Purvis Road for .6 miles where we turned right on Willow Crossing. After crossing a road bridge, I saw a small parking area on the left. This was part of the Jim Schug Trail which is a rail trail. The Finger Lakes Trail uses a small part of the rail trail. We turned left onto the trail and found that it was absolutely flat and smooth and well maintained. I took a few pictures and then we continued our hike. We met a local hiker coming our way and I asked him about the "falls" on Cristina Creek. He replied that there weren't really any falls and eh, like me, had been fooled by the description. We continued in our separate directions. At 1.4 miles we were at Lake Road. The rail trail continued straight ahead but we turned right on Lake Road and hiked to 1.7 miles where the trail entered a field. A track was mowed between two houses and we followed it due east. In the field on the left was a beautiful, black stallion who looked young. He took an interest in us initially but then went to eating grass. I took a few shots and we then continued eastward toward a hill. The trail was wet and muddy in spots but easy to follow. Just before we started into the woods, I released Sheila from her leash. I also stopped to take a few pictures to the west. Dryden Lake was just visible but there were some nice, puffy, white clouds in the sky and the lighting was good. We continued our hike by entering the woods and starting our climb up the hill.

The trail up the hill had many switchbacks which made the path less steep but added to the distance. Not far into the woods was a very large oak tree with an Finger Lakes Trail register on one side. I took a few pictures of the tree and then noticed that biting insects were beginning to gather. We continue to the top of the hill heading generally eastward. I decided to skip the trail to the Field View but at 3.25 miles I looked off to the right and saw a potentially nice lookout. We walked through the woods to an opening and got a nice view of the hills opposite our location. I took a few shots and then we headed back to the main trail. As we continued to hike I noticed several things. There were signs indicating that the land we were traveling on was private and landowners had given permission for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference to use the land. I greatly appreciate the generosity of these landowners and hope other hikers respect their rights. The trail was extremely wet and muddy and I am sure the recent rains did not help. The trail was not as well marked as the eastern portion I had hiked the previous Friday. Blazes were few and far between and turns were not clearly marked. At 4.25 miles we walked out onto a power line right-of-way and there were no blazes to indicate which direction to take. The map seemed to indicate a right turn so I started in that direction. We came to a spot where there was a steep descent and I could see a swampy area at the bottom. I decided not to head down before I retraced my steps to see if I could find some blazes. We walked back on our route and I found the blazes I was looking for. There was no turn indicated and the next blazes on the trail were hidden. It was a case that if you knew where you were going there was no problem. I had a map, a GPS and a trail dog and still couldn't find the turn the first time! We followed the trail through some very wet areas as it descended the hill roughly paralleling the right-of-way. Eventually the trail crossed under the power line in the swampy area I had sought to avoid when looking down from above! We continued to follow the trail through many twists and turns and switchbacks headed east toward Daisy Hollow Road. The trail don't seem to exactly match my map. As we approached the road, the trail descended to a stream. There seemed to be only one way to go but the trail was highly eroded and there were no white blazes. We made it down to the stream, picked up some blazes, crossed the stream and arrived at Daisy Hollow Road. I got a drink and pout on some insect repellant as they were swarming and occasionally biting. I had to decide whether to turn back at this point or complete another two miles of trail. I decided for the longer hike and we turned left on Daisy Hollow Road to head north for about .6 miles.

As we walked up the road with Sheila on her leash, I renamed the road Dog Hollow Road in my mind. Every house had at least one barking dog but Sheila chose to ignore them. Most were tied up, or in the house but a few were loose. At one point I looked around to find "Lassie" following us up the road. The dog's owner seemed a little annoyed that we were walking on the road and attracting her dog. A little further up the hill a pit bull-terrier mix ran out of a driveway and started barking. I yelled for the dog to "Go home!" and was answered by an owner who was irritated because I was yelling at his dog! In both cases I ignored the people since owners who do not take steps to keep their dogs out of the road are not reasonable people. At 5.75 miles we reentered the woods for what I thought would be about a 2 mile hike to Owego Hill Road. The trail continued heading east paralleling and intermittent stream. The insects by now were swarming and the repellant didn't seem to do very much to discourage them. At about 6.3 miles I followed the blazes out to a woods road and found...no more blazes anywhere. I walked up the woods road but found no markings. I surveyed the woods and could not see the hint of a trail or any blazes. The map indicate we should continue to parallel the stream but there we several. Sheila and I followed one stream but could not find anything. We crossed the stream and found paths but no blazes on the other side. I didn't want to end the hike in this way but it looked like there was no other choice! When we got back to the woods road, I decided to follow it a little further before turning back. With a few hundred feet, I saw a white blaze on the right and the trail. We followed the trail back to the last blaze I had seen. The trail came down to the stream and crossed it! The last blaze had not indicated a turn but rather showed hikers they should continue straight ahead! This is a MAJOR mistake which should be corrected since the lack of one blaze coast me 20 minutes and .5 miles of hiking and almost ended my hike.

Once we found the trail, we continued to follow it east to 7.45 miles paralleling the stream and gaining some elevation. We followed the trail as it turned south and finally intersected Owego Hill Road at 7.9 miles. It was 2:30 PM as we turned right on the road to begin our trip back to the car. The road was definitely a "seasonal maintenance only" road and I decided that we would hike the middle section of map 19 from Bleck Road west since that was a nicely paved surface. I wasn't sure exactly how far the return trip would be but I was sure that it would be less than the 8 mile hike out. The fact that the road was almost a trail meant little relief from the insects but soon it opened up and the sun seemed to discourage them. At 9 miles the road turned west and was paved. We also picked up another dog at this point who followed us down the road. I decided to stow my poles and put Sheila on her leash. We walked to the next intersection and turned right on Adams Road. I was hoping that none of these roads had a serious ascent as we had found on previous hikes! Adams Road took us 1 mile west to Daisy Hollow Road where we turned left to head south. We walked down the road heading southwest for about .8 miles. We turned right on Willow Crossing and hiked .6 miles back to the entrance to the rail trail. Sheila seemed hot so I let her off her leash to go down to a stream to cool off and get a drink. We walked a few hundred feet to Purvis Road and turned left. It seemed very hot and the .6 miles back to the car seemed to take forever! We were back by 4:00 PM having hiked 11.7 miles in 5.5 hours. The elevation gain along the way was only about 1700 feet. At least a mile of the hike was unnecessary and was due to poorly marked trails. There is now a five mile section of trail between Owego Hill Road and Bleck Road to finish the map 19 section.

Spring 2015

On Friday, June 19th, I decided I wanted return to the Finger Lakes Trail to hike a section of the map 19 which is the next map to the west of my completed sections. This section starts at the intersection of Purvis Road and Route 38 just south of Dryden Lake and continues for a little over 18 miles west to Carson Road to the beginning of map 20. Of course, the problem is that I usually have to hike both ways as I have no ride back from the end point. This means hiking, for example, hiking 12 miles to get a 6 mile section of trail. On may hikes I have used other trails of road walks to avoid a strict out-and-back which can be extremely boring! I decided to head west from Marathon on Route 221 and then take Babcock Hollow Road north to Bleck Road. I could then hike the trail to Carson Road and decided whether to us another trail or local roads to return to the car. Sheila was more than ready to hike and I was surprised that she settled down for the long ride very quickly. We left Livingston Manor well before 8:00 AM heading northwest on State Route 17 to Binghamton. From there I took I81 north to the Marathon exit, exit 9. After a brief stop at a gas station, I took Route 221 west for about 11 miles and turned right or north on Babcock Hollow Road. Bleck Road veered off to the right at about 1.8 miles and I began to look for the trail crossing and the parking area. After about 1 mile, I thought I saw signs and the trail crossing but there was no parking area. I turned around and parked near the crossing on the widest shoulder I could find! The temperature was still in the high 60's and I decided to take off the right jacket I was wearing. There was a slight breeze with overcast skies. There were few insects so I decided to eschew the repellent until it was needed. The streams seemed to be running high so I knew I would take the high water bypass along Cortwright Road which paralleled the trail. We crossed the road and began our hike at 9:40 AM. We hiked up a small hill through some pines and I immediately could see that the trail was wet and muddy. Within less than a quarter mile the trail split with the blue Kuzia Cutoff going left. We stayed to the right on the main Finger Lakes Trail and were soon at the point where the trail crosses Cortwright Road. I was surprised to see that the road which was marked on the map was little more than a woods road so we turned left to follow he road and avoid the stream crossing on the trail.

The road was very wet with many muddy spots and pools of standing, stagnant water. It was easier to avoid the water than the slippery mud but neither posed a big problem. There were now clouds of insects around me but they didn't seem to be landing or biting as long as I kept moving. The road continued uphill for about 1.2 miles where Baldwin Road came up on the right. At this point Cortwright Road started to be more navigable and we rejoined the main FLT as it came in from the right. We continued on the road for another .2 miles to 1.6 miles where the trail crossed the ditch on the right on a small bridge and then started an ascent of 1.2 miles to the top of the Greek Peak Ski Area. The trail headed generally northeast with a few twists and turns and even some slight descents on the way. It was very muddy in most spots and crossed several small stream. At 10:50 AM we had hiked 2.75 miles and I could see the ski lifts from the trail. I decided to walk over to see if there was a view. We walked through some briars and high grass and arrived at the ski lift. There was a view where the lift right-of-way had been cut but there wasn't much to see. I took a few pictures before we returned to the trail to begin the walk to Virgil Mountain, the highest peak in the area. The trail remained wet in places but the drop between the two peaks was just over 100 feet. We passed the highest point which had no views and descended to a power line. There were views from here but none were spectacular especially since the power line dominated the views. After taking a few shots, we turned right to follow the right-of-way. There were only a few white splashes of paint on some rocks to follow and I kept looking for the place where the Finger Lakes Trail would turn back into the woods. After about .2 miles, a sign appeared which clear indicated that the main Finger Lakes Trail turned to the left. The yellow blazed Virgil Mountain Trail went off to the right and I had considered returning to the car that way. This would require a second hike to take in the rest of the Finger Lakes Trail from Carson Road back to Virgil Mountain. I was feeling pretty good and the skies had cleared so I decided to push on to Carson Road.

We turned left to stay on the Finger Lakes Trail and had to negotiated some very wet and muddy areas to get on the trail. We started the steepest descent of the day losing 800 feet in the 1.3 miles from the turn to Tone Road at the bottom of the mountain. The trail at first headed ESE but at 4.5 miles turned northeast and the descent became steeper. The trail was muddy in many places and the map showed that we were following an intermittent stream. At one point we came to what looked like a steam boiler so I stopped to take a few pictures. Some stories mentioned that it was from a railroad engine but it looked to me as if it had been part of a stationary installment. As we continued our descent, Sheila alerted and I saw a father and daughter hiking up the mountain toward us. They were dressed for a quick, light hike with minimal equipment. As we parted, I mentioned the mud and the father told me that he did the hike several times a week and it was always muddy! When we reached Tone Road, I got a snack and a drink and stowed my poles fort he road walking ahead. I put Sheila on her leash as we walked north along Tone Road which runs parallel to Route 392 but on the other side of Gridley creek. At 6 miles we crossed the creek on a road bridge, turned left and walked up the road a few hundred feet to Carson Road. I remembered Carson Road from the summer of 2013 when I had hiked many sections of the Finger Lakes Trail. What I didn't remember was that the hike was all uphill for about a mile. It only took 20 minutes for us to hike the 1 miles to the wide spot in the road where the trail enters the woods on the left. We immediately turned around and took another 20 minutes to get back top Route 392.

We walked west for 3.2 miles to Vandonsel Road. The route was almost flat and the shoulder of the road was wide although the traffic was always well above the speed limit. Very soon after starting out on Route 392 we passed the Greek Peak Ski Area. There were lodges and a convention center and I could see the chair lifts as they climbed the hill. There was also a small zip line and a few high school age students were using it. Later on we had to cross a one lane bridge which was very narrow but we timed it just right so that no cars were on the bridge at the same time we were there. We also passed a small convenience store but I ha plenty of water and wanted to keep going. At 2:10 PM we arrived at the left turn onto Vandonsel Road for the final push back to the car. We had been hiking at about 1300 feet along Route 392 and I knew the car was at 1580 feet so I had anticipated about a 200 to 300 foot climb. I should have consulted the topo map and GPS more carefully as I looked at the road and found there was a significant climb up and over the ridge we had been on earlier in the hike. The route climbed to Bleck Road which continue to climb before a descent to the car. There was no way to avoid this climb so we got started right away gaining about 420 feet heading southeast for 1.1 miles to the intersection with Bleck Road. This wasn't a steep climb but I was tired and the skies had cleared so that the sun was beating down on us. Sheila did her part by giving me a little extra pull up the hill. t Bleck Road we turned right and began heading south but continuing to climb for the next .25 miles. We finally hit the top and started down with my feet feeling very irrigated on the bottom. I pulled up my socks and ignored the discomfort which soon seemed to go away. At 3:15 PM we were back at the car after hiking for 5 hours and 40 minutes covering 14.3 miles with a 2095 foot elevation gain.

On Wednesday, June 17th, I needed to get out after a week of track meets and rain. I decided that I was tired of the "local" spots and decided to head to the Neversink Unique Area to hike the loop to Denton and Mullet Falls. I thought that the recent rain might have augmented these waterfalls making them more interesting. I got my equipment ready, put Sheila in the back seat and left Livingston Manor just after around 8:00 AM. Sheila was certainly anxious to get out as both she and I prefer several hikes a week! The temperature was already in the high 60's and I anticipated it going even higher. The humidity wasn't as bad as over the previous few days but was still uncomfortable. I wore a light long-sleeved top and was prepared for biting insects with several different repellant. We arrived at the parking area on Katrina Falls Road at about 8:30 AM and got ready to hike immediately. There was only one other car in the lot and, strangely, it had several clothing items stuffed in the door handle. As we walked down the hill passed the trail register, there was one large blowdown across the trail. It was pretty high up so that I could walk under it but I did not think it was well-supported. I thought this should be removed before it comes down by itself! We turned left at the bottom of the hill to stay on the main trail and came to the small bridge over Wolf Brook. The water was not as high as I had thought it might be and I decided to continue on without taking any pictures. At the top of the next small hill, we stayed to the right to hike the loop counterclockwise hitting Denton Falls on the Neversink first an then the falls on Mullet Brook. Soon we were crossing the lower bridge on Mullet Brook where the water was lower than I expected. I knew that the bridge was in disrepair and wasn't surprised to find nothing had been done to repair it. The DEC insists that it is the entity that must repair and construct bridges but doesn't have enough people to get the job done. This bridge needs to be repaired before it collapses and must be completely replaced. At 1.4 miles we turned right following the yellow spur trail blazes downhill to Denton Falls.

The trail down to the falls is poorly marked and hikers trying to follow it have created new paths which compounds the problem. After hiking 1.65 miles, we were at the rocks near the edge of Denton Falls. The river wasn't as high as I thought it might be but I dropped my pack and started to take some pictures. I noticed that Sheila seemed prepared to jump in and swim to the other side so I discouraged her emphatically. I was able to walk along the rocks to get just below the falls. I took quite a few pictures of the falls and some both upstream and downstream. I made sure that the pictures overlapped since I thought they would make a nice panorama. The falls are hardly three feet high but the volume of water made the trip worthwhile. We headed back up the trail to the main trail and turned right. At the trail junction we kept to the left to start the loop. The trail straight ahead goes down to High Falls. It adds a bit of distance but the falls aren't too different from Denton Falls. After a brief walk uphill, we turned left onto the short trail down to Mullet Brook Falls. The trail has no sign and could be easily missed. In fact, there is signage anywhere! I saw a total of only three yellow blazes on our way down to the falls and on the way back. When the falls came into sight, it was much like the rest of the trip. There was enough water to make it interesting but far less than I had hoped for. I dropped my pack and got out the camera. After a few initial shots, I walked onto the pile of rocks just down from the base of the falls. I had to be careful as the rocks were covered with moss and were wet from the rain and spray from the falls. I took pictures of the falls, the pool, and the outlet to the pool. Eventually it was time to leave and we started back. We walked back out to the main trail and turned left to complete the loop. As we climbed we noticed the rocky ledges to our right. Soon we crossed over another bridge spanning Mullet Brook. After a brief walk we were at a trail junction. Straight ahead on the trail leads to the Wolf Lake Multiple Use Area. We turned left and began to descend off the ridge. I stopped to tie one of my shoes and found this was a mistake as I was swarmed by mosquitoes. I thought about putting on some repellent but in the end decided just to continue to walk quickly. We hiked downhill for some time and eventually came to the trail junction just above the bridge over Wolf Creek. There had been several blowdowns along the way that needed to be cleared and the final part of the trail was covered in smaller branches. I thought about taking a few pictures of Wolf Brook but decided to keep moving to avoid the insects. Once on the other side of the brook we made the right turn on the woods road back to the car and kept a quick pace until we arrived at the parking area at 10:45 AM. We hiked 4.6 miles in just over 2 hours. The car that had been parked was gone and three more were now in the lot. Two young fly fishermen were getting ready to start their day. We discussed the conditions and wished each other a "Good day".

On Wednesday, June 10th, the had stopped in the early morning but I had plans which did not include hiking. Lisa sent me an early email asking if I would like to hike and it sounded like a good idea. We decided to go to the Frick Pond area and hike up the Big Rock Trail to get some "up" into our hike. We agreed to meet at the caboose near the ramps to Route 17 and 8:30 AM. We both arrived on time and Lisa got into my car with her gear. Sheila said "Hello" much too enthusiastically as I drove out the DeBruce Road. I turned left on Mongaup Road and stayed to the left where Beech Mountain Road splits off. I parked in the smaller lot and was not surprised that we were the only hikers since it was before 9:00 AM. We started our hike at 8:50 AM by walking out of the back of the larger parking area on the Quick Lake Trail. I had brought my Silky Sugowaza saw just in case I needed to cut any blowdowns! When we turned onto the woods road that leads to Frick Pond, Lisa signed the register and I inspected the trail. It was very wet with lots of standing water and some mud. I am much more conscious of trail conditions now that I have become hooked on trail maintenance. There were places to walk along the sides of the road that were not quite as wet but I made a one to bring a shovel and pick to clean out, widen and deepen some drainage. The wet areas continued along the trail until we got to Gravestone Junction. The muddy area to the left on the Quick Lake Trail was very wet and I thought how much I was looking forward to building a walkway here. We turned right onto the Loggers Loop and started to walk to Times Square. The first part of this trail had a lot of wet grass but only a few areas with standing water. There were very few branches on the ground since it had recently been cleared. As we crested the little hill and started down the other side, we came across several wet and muddy areas that I had not noticed on my previous trips this year. The worst area was even larger and I beacon to think about building another walkway! We continued to Times Square which we reached after hiking just over one mile.

The area around Times Square was wet as always and we debated the best way to start to solve the problem. We also talked about the Big Rock Trail around the back of Frick Pond as it also has some areas which needs some car. Lisa and I turned right and started up the Big Rock Trail which is well-drained and has little or no wet or muddy areas. This trail is also a snowmobile trail and I had cleared it recently so we found only a few small branches to remove. Lisa and I walked and talked keeping up a good pace. The sky was blue with only a few clouds and the sun was out. I was glad I had decided to leave my light jacket in the car! I noticed that as soon as we stopped the insects started to swarm and this got worse as the day progressed. The distance from Times Square to the Flynn Trail is 1.1 miles and gains just under 600 feet in elevation. The average grade is less than 10% but seems steep in comparison to the flatter trails in the area. When we arrived at the Flynn Trail, we turned right to head back to the car on the Flynn Trail. I was amazed at how quickly the grass and weeds had sprung up in only a week. I decided that some cutting might be in order at our next Willowemoc Trail Crew work day. As we started down the trail, I pointed out to Lisa the areas where we had cleared some pretty substantial blowdowns. Several were almost impossible to spot which I decided meant we had done a good job. The walk on the Flynn Trail is downhill all the way but usually seems longer than I remember from the last time. When we arrived at the gate, we turned left to finish the hike on the Flynn Trail and avoid the private property around the cabin. We were back at the car by 10:35 AM having taken 1 hour and 45 minutes to hike 3.9 miles and handle about 720 feet of elevation gain. When we were back at the car, I realized I had not taken my camera out of the pack. We had been keeping a fast pace and there really weren't any opportunities for photography.

On Sunday, June 7th, I was ready for a hike after church and an ambulance call. Cindy was not interested so I decided to head for the Frick Pond area to do a little more trail maintenance. I didn't get started until about 12:15 PM when I left home with Sheila and headed out DeBruce Road. I decided to save some weight and bring only my Silky Sugowaza saw that is a little over a foot long with a curved blade. I also brought two felling wedges. I thought that if I did need the wedges, I could use a rock to hammer them home. When we arrived at the parking area, I was surprised to see no other cars since it was such a nice day with an air temperature of about 70 degrees and a slight breeze. There were only a few clouds in the sky and the sun shown brightly. Even though it had rained there were very few insects which I attributed to the breeze. We started our hike at 12:30 PM by walking to the larger parking area to pick up the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond. When we hit the woods road, we turned left and found that it was very wet and muddy in spots. At Gravestone Junction I checked out the muddy area which spanned the trail and made a note to push my project to construct a walkway over this area. We turned right on the Logger's Loop and walked the trail to Times Square. We had cleared this trail during our first Willowemoc Trail Crew work day and there were only a few branches to pick up. I did make note of a very muddy area which could use a walkway and a few that might be solved with some stepping stones. After hiking a little more than a mile, we arrived at Times Square. This area was very wet with water that drains down the Loggers Loops and collects at the trail junction. I thought about how to solve this problem but an immediate solution did not present itself. We continued straight ahead to stay on the Loggers Loop to Iron Wheel Junction. This is a snowmobile trail and is well-maintained by the club members. There were a few branches and blowdowns to clear but none required cutting. The Loggers Loop is most uphill until the end where the trail descends a little and then comes to Iron Wheel Junction at 2.3 miles.

We continued straight ahead at the junction to continue on the Quick Lake Trail. Cindy and I had cleared this trail earlier in May and there were only a few new branches to remove. Just before Junkyard Junction there was one or two larger branches which I cut back using the saw. By 2:30 PM we had hiked 3.9 miles and had arrived at Junkyard Junction where we turned right on the Flynn Trail. As I looked down the Flynn Trail, I could see there were quite a few branches beginning to encroach on the trail. I got out my saw and began clearing them as we walked along. Many of these branches were small and a lopper would have done a better job than my saw. There were a few larger saplings and branches to be cut so I was glad I had the saw. When we got to the gate on the Flynn Trail, I took a few minutes to clear some branches that were starting to grow into the trail. Soon we were at the point on the trail were a very large tree blocks the route. This tree is too large to cut without a chainsaw so the trail was rerouted to the left. I cut a few sapling out of the way including one larger one that was partly in the trail. I also used the saw to cut some stumps to ground level. As we turned left back onto the main trail, a rather large branch blocked the trail. I took a few pictures of "before" and then got out my saw. I made several cuts so that the pieces were easier to move and pulled them off to the side of the trail. I took some "after" pictures, cleared a few more branches and then stowed the saw.

We walked down the trail and stayed to the right to continue to the outlet of Hodge Pond on the Flynn Trail. There were some deep ruts in the trail and some very wet and muddy areas as we approached the open field. At the outlet end of the pond we walked over to the shore and I took a few pictures while Sheila swam. I threw a stick for her to retrieve and she swam out to get it while I snapped a few more shots. It was 3:15 PM and we had hiked 4.8 miles. My feet were hurting a little so I packed up and we headed up the Flynn Trail toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The first part of the trail was clear of brush but I picked up a few branches as we passed the gate on the Flynn Trail. The trail junction came up sooner than I expected and I knew we were only 1.7 miles from the car. The trip back to the parking area is all downhill and should go fast but it always seems longer me. There are several spots that look like the end and always seem to fool me. Soon we were at the gate where we turned left to finish the hike on the Flynn Trail and avoid the private property around the cabin. We were back at the car by 4:20 PM having taken 3 hours and 45 minutes to hike 7.3 miles and handle a little over 1000 feet of elevation gain. Of course, this time also included the time needed to clear the trail as we walked.

On Friday, June 5th, I was ready to hike after a week of track practice and championship meets. I had also been trying to recover from some foot pain which seemed to improve with rest. I found out, however, that standing for hours on Thursday at a track meet on artificial turf seemed to exacerbate the injury! By Friday morning I was able to get around and decided I wanted to visit the South Beacon fire tower which had been restored since my last visit several years ago. Cindy decided to come along so we got Sheila in the car along with our gear and headed out of Livingston Manor around 9:00 AM. The easiest way to get to the parking area seemed to be to take Route 17 to Middletown and then pick up I84 East to the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. After crossing the bridge, I took Route 9D south for about 2.5 miles to the parking area on the left. We were surprised to find 8 to 10 cars parked in the lot but knew that many people liked to hike up to the casino lookout and then head back. Our plan was to hike to the lookout and then to the fire tower. After that we could return the same way or hike a loop along Scofield Ridge. The temperature was already in the high 60's and the humidity in the air was noticeable. The forecast did not call for rain but some clouds seemed to indicate that a shower was possible. The Scenic Hudson group is responsible for the trails in the area and for buying and maintaining the land. The two Beacon peaks take their names from their use during the Revolutionary War when American patriots set beacon fires on one or both mountains to send signals that could be seen from some distance. The overlook on North Beacon Mountain was once home to the Beaconrest Hotel and a Casino. The patrons were carried to the top by an Otis Inclined Railway built in 1902. The donkey engines at the top of the mountain pulled the cars up to the top. All that remains of the casino and hotel are remnants of the foundations. Some of the rails and machinery from the railway can still be seen. The brick walls of the building that housed the engines in crumbling and the machines are rusting but it is remarkable to me that anything still remains.We started out up the graveled path just before 10:30 AM and were soon at the metal steps that give access to the trails on the mountain. At this point I realized I did not have my GPS unit. I left Cindy and Sheila and jogged back to the car to find the unit just where I had left it in the trunk. I turned the unit on and started the GPS track at just after 10:45 AM. I caught rejoined Cindy and Sheila and we began the walk up the metal stairs. I still had Sheila on her leash as people were coming down from their morning walk to the overlook. Soon we were at the top of the steps with no one else in sight on the trails and I let Sheila off her leash. I gave her the "With" command which is the equivalent of "Heel" and we started up the trail.

The trail is steep in several places and has a lot of loose dirt and stones which slip under foot. On this day everything was dry which made slipping more likely. At about .4 miles a yellow spur trail joins from the left. This trail can be used as part of a loop from the Fishkill Ridge and Lamb's Hill. At this point we followed a sharp switchback to the right although on previous trips I had continued straight ahead. The entire trail system has many unofficial trails, paths and woods roads all of which eventually lead to the overlook as long as you choose "Up" as the primary direction. We continued to follow the trail meeting a few people on their way down. Each time I would put Sheila on her leash so that she would not bother other people or their dogs. The trail continues to be rocky all the way to the top as we followed the official trail markers despite the numerous other options. Soon we could see the powerhouse to the right and followed the trail to the site of the casino. We walked over to the powerhouse which is unfortunately defaced by graffiti. I took some pictures of the building and the machinery before walking to the overlook which is a little over 1 mile from the parking area. The challenge of the hike is that in a mile the elevation gain is almost 1000 feet with an average grade of over 19%. I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take pictures of the Hudson River below to both the north and south. There was very little haze over the river which is unusual. I took pictures of the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge and other landmarks as I walked along the edge of the overlook. I also took a few shots of the steps for the old casino, the foundation of the hotel and of Cindy and Sheila looking out over the river. I put my camera away and we began the next mile of the hike to the tower by following a woods road southeast as it dipped a little before ascending to another ridge. This part of the trail was a little damper with some mud and standing water. We climbed up some exposed bedrock passing the wrecks of two old cars and turning right to follow the trail at the top of the ridge. As we turned right we noticed that someone had created a "cairn garden" which must have taken some time as many were precariously balanced. I took a few pictures before we continued to follow the woods road.

At 1.85 miles we found a path that ascended to the tower. This path is not marked and the official white path is a few hundred feet further along the red Casino Trail. We started up the path both and walked over some exposed rock. We both thought it would be an interesting hike in the winter! As we neared the top, we could see the tower and we stopped so that I could take a few pictures before we continued to the summit. We walked up to the summit and found one other hiker present. I dropped my pack and tethered Sheila to one of the tower supports. It was 12:15 PM and we had hiked just over 2 miles and gained 1430 feet to the base of the tower. I knew Cindy wouldn't want to go up very far so I grabbed my camera ad headed for the cab! The tower was reconstructed with all metal components including open grate steps and landings. The cab has an open grate floor which I found a little disconcerting. The cab has openings for windows which give a great 360 degree view but is otherwise "bare bones. I took pictures up and own the river and then to the west and east. After looking around, I descended taking few shots of the tower structure as I came down. Once I was on the ground, Cindy pointed out the large military cargo aircraft circling Stewart Air Force Base waiting to land. While we were at the tower, at least four of these aircraft landed on the field. After a snack and a drink, we started back down the trail to the main Casino Trail. When we arrived at the bottom, we turned right and followed the red blazes for another quarter mile out to the yellow Wilkinson Memorial Trail.

We turned left on the yellow trail and started a climb to the top of Scofield Ridge which has the highest point in Putnam County. The trail has some nice views but can be hard to follow as it is often overgrown with brush. Soon we ascended to a rock outcrop which overlooks the Beacon Reservoir and looks back at the fire tower. This is one of my favorite views on the east side of the Hudson. I dropped by pack and took out my camera to take some more pictures. I pointed out the trail to Cindy as it descended only to climb the ridge again. My plan was to descend to the road to the reservoir and follow a woods road back to the Casino Trail. Cindy decided she was too tired to walk that route so we turned around and retraced our steps back the way we had come skipping the detour to the fire tower! I dislike retracing my steps but the walk seemed to go faster than I expected. The descent from the casino overlook to the metal steps was miserable as the loose rock made slipping almost inevitable. We met a few people starting their hike as we were coming down and soon we were at the metal steps. We followed the path back to the car arriving in the parking area at 2:50 PM. We had hiked 5.3 miles in 4 hours stopping for 50 minutes along the way with an total vertical gain of 1730 feet.

On Saturday, May 30th, I was ready for the first work day for the Willowemoc Trail crew. I had prepared by sending out emails and asking others to post information on their sites. Lisa at Morgan Outdoors included the work day in her emails. I also made sure to have the correct paperwork for as many as twenty people since I had gotten a variety of responses to my emails. I was at Morgan Outdoors at 9:00 AM to meet those who wanted to follow me to Frick Pond. By 9:15 AM no volunteers had appeared so I headed to Frick Pond. I parked in the big lot next to a pickup truck. There was no one in the truck so I waited until 9:25 AM when a car pulled up next to me. When the occupants got out, I asked them "Walk or work?" and they responded with "Walk". At the same time someone got out of the pickup and I was happy to see that it was Harry Rampe. Harry had the seat reclined and I had not seen him. We filled out the volunteer applications and the roster for the work day. By the time we finished no one else had appeared so we started our hike up the Flynn Trail. I was disappointed that no one else had shown up but happy to have Harry along. I did some of the first Catskill hikes with Harry and he is one of the most knowledgeable people concerning the Catskill peaks and trails. We walked and talked as we hiked up the Flynn Trail. Occasionally we would pick up some small branches and remove them from the trail but Cindy and I had done a pretty good job of clearing almost all the way to the Big Rock junction. Near the top of the trail we stopped at one of the large trees that Cindy and I had partially cleared. We decided to make one cut to remove the rest of the trunk from the trail. I started in with Harry using the wedges to keep the cut open. We switched jobs with Harry completing the cut. We them rolled the rather large and heavy piece of beech to the side of the trail. We continued on to the Big Rock junction clearing a few more branches on the way.

At the junction, we continued straight ahead to clear the trail to the next junction. Cindy and I had not touched this part and there were quite a few blowdowns although none were very large. Harry had brought a pair of loppers and we sued these to cut branches that were blocking or encroaching on the path. We tried hard to cut several feet above our heads keeping in mind that during the winter there can be two or three feet of snow. It took some time to clear two large areas of blowdowns but soon we were at the next trail junction. We turned around and headed back to the Big Rock Trail where we turned right and headed down the trail to Times Square. The skies were looking darker at this point but we decided to keep clearing the trail. The Big Rock Trail is a snowmobile trail which is well maintained by the snowmobile club so there were only a few branches to remove. At Times Square we turned left on the Logger's Loop to walk back to the car. The area around Times Square was muddy and the WTC will look at ways to correct the water problem. Harry and I cleared a few branches from this section of trail but I was surprised there weren't more. We did come across another very wet area which needs some work. At Gravestone Junction we stopped so that I could show Harry the area that is perpetually wet. I explained the kind of walkway I wanted to build and he agreed it was a good idea. The concept is to make the walk from the parking area around Frick Pond accessible for beginning hikers who may not have waterproof hiking shoes. This requires thinking like an inexperience, beginning hiker rather than someone acquainted with Catskill trails! We continued our hike back to the car arriving in the parking area at 12:45 PM. We had spent 3 hours hiking and clearing trails and had gotten a lot of work accomplished. Our next work day is Sunday , June 21 and I am hoping more volunteers will be able to fit this date into their schedule.

On Tuesday, May 26th, I wanted to get in a hike in the morning since thunderstorms were predicted for the afternoon and I had track practice anyway. The forecast for the rest of the week also called for storms which I knew might limit my hiking. I decided that I needed a hike close to home but wanted to get away from Frick Pond! I thought about a list of options and settled on a hike from Alder Lake to the Beaver Meadow lean-to. I got my gear and Sheila in the car and headed up the Beaverkill Road somewhere around 8:45 AM. When I lifted the pack into the car, it seemed vary light without my tree trimming equipment! I headed toward Turnwood and Alder Creek Road where I made a left and drove to the Alder Lake parking lot. I parked in the Alder Lake parking area at 9:15 AM started our hike almost immediately. There were two other cars in the lot. The temperature was in the 70's with a slight breeze but relatively high humidity. The skies were cloudy indicating the storms that were predicted for later in the day. We headed down to the "lawn" and found a large pile of brush and logs. Another large pile almost blocked the trail across the dam. The logs had been cut from the area near the dam. I made a note to contact the DEC to try to determine when the eyesore might be removed as it spoils a beautiful and popular destination! I took out my camera and took some shots of the mess and then some of the lake. The hills and clouds were reflected on the surface of the almost completely still water. We walked toward the trail around the left side of the lake. As we walked along the trail I kept an eye out for the occupants of the vehicles in the parking area. Brush and branches were beginning to grow into the trail and they needed some pruning. Sheila was happy to be out and kept me company as we hiked on the trail around the lake which was muddy in places. I began to notice pink flowers on some bushes which I thought might be rhododendron. I turn down to the lake on one path and dropped my pack to get it the camera. I took some more pictures of the lake and Cradle Rock Ridge directly across from where I stood. I then turned my attention to the flowers and took a few shots. I was lucky enough to get a butterfly hovering and then landing on the flowers! We crossed the bridges and at about .8 miles turned left to head toward the lean-to on the Millbrook Ridge Trail.

The trail was wet and muddy in many places and there were both old and new blowdowns to contend with. I was almost sorry I did not have my saws but decided this was work for another day. I thought it would be nice to find out who the maintainer is for the trail and offer to help. For the next 1.5 miles the trail climbs and then levels off several times. The elevation gain is several hundred feet but the grade is never more than 12% and averages around 6%. There isn't too much to see along the way but this day was very pleasant. I enjoyed the sounds and sights of Alder Creek as it flows parallel to the trail much of the way. As we neared the lean-to we passed by a series of beaver meadows and I stopped to take some pictures at each. Soon we arrived at the lean-to. As we approached I saw what I thought was a blue tent in front of the lean-to so I put Sheila on her leash. It turned out to be a blue tarp covering a fireplace full of dry wood. We walked down to the lean-to and I dropped my pack and got out the camera. It had taken a little over an hour to get to the beaver meadow. I walked out to the edge of the beaver meadow and took pictures of the blue sky with white puffy clouds contrasted against the green beaver meadow. I also got a few shots of Sheila sitting on a rock before turning around and snapping a few pictures of the lean-to. As I walked back to my pack I noticed that the privy was almost completely demolished. I decided to hike a short distance along the trail to the next beaver meadow. When we got there, I took some pictures before going back to the trail and hiking back to the lean-to. I did not stop on the way back and the walk went quickly. We were soon at the loop trail around Alder Lake where we turned left to complete the loop around the lake. I wanted to investigate any blowdowns that might be present. I found several very large ones a two smaller. Along the way I noticed a tree growing on top of a rock with its roots wrapped around it. I stopped to take a picture before continuing on the trail. As we approached the outlet end of the lake, I looked won to see an occupied campsite down by the lake. We continued out the trail and crossed the dam passing by the pile of brush. We continued back to the "lawn" and walked back to the car. We were back at 11:30 AM having covered 4.9 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes. The total elevation gain was 755 feet.

On Sunday, May 24th I wanted to return to the area of Frick and Hodge Ponds to hike. I also wanted to fell a tree that had some branches that were loosely attached at the top and might be a danger to hikers passing by. My son-in-law Brad was happy to go with me so we started out for Frick Pond at about 11:30 AM after attending church. We got ready to go applying bug repellant since the previous days in the area let us know what we would encounter. We got our gear and Sheila in the car and headed out to Frick Pond. When we parked at 11:45 PM there was a car in the large lot but we never encountered the owners. As we got out of the car, there were a few insects but fewer than we had encountered on the previous weekend. The temperature was in the high 60's but the humidity was lower than it had been. We walked to the larger parking area to get on the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond. The plan was to hike the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel Junction and then continue on that Trail to the Flynn Trail. When we arrived at the junction with the Logger's Loop, I showed Brad the muddy area and discussed the kind of walkway or bridge I wanted to build. He though the idea would work. We continued down to the bridge across the outlet to the pond. The views were not as good as the last time and I decided to try to leave my camera in the pack on this hike. As we walked around the pond I showed Brad the large cherry tree Cindy and I had cut to clear from the trail. At the first trail junction, we stayed to the left to continue on the Quick Lake Trail. It was nice to walk along the trail and encounter few, if any, blowdowns since Cindy and I had cleaned up most of them. At Iron Wheel Junction we turned left following the Quick Lake Trail. We passed the junction with the snowmobile trail and I began to look for the tree I wanted to remove. I thought it was close to the junction but it was some distance up the trail. We finally found the tree and I dropped my pack to assess the situation. Brad felt we could safely drop the tree and I agreed. One advantage we had was that we didn't care where it fell as long as it wasn't on us! We cut some of the surrounding brush away and then went to work on the tree. I marked a V on one side and Brad began to make the cuts. I finished up the cuts and Brad was able to remove the loose block. I started the cut on the backside and Brad continued it when I got tired. As he cut, I placed a felling wedge and pushed the tree in the direction we want it to fall. We heard a crack and stepped back to watch the tree fall perfectly. Rather than fall across the trail, the tree fell parallel to it and off to the side. We cut of some of the branches and dragged them away and rolled the trunk further off the trail. It was a job well done! We stowed the tools and I picked up my pack as we continued on the Quick Lake Trail to Junkyard Junction. We moved a few branches along the way but mostly we walked and talked. At junkyard Junction I took a look up the Quick Lake Trail toward the Bobcat Loop and saw there was some blowdown there as another hiker had told me. We turned right onto the Flynn Trail to walk to Hodge Pond. The Flynn Trail was pretty clean as Cindy and I had done some work there and I pointed out several spots to Brad. We turned right at the gate to stay on the Flynn Trail and passed several blowdowns and the way to the trail around Hodge Pond. We turned right at the next junction to stay on the Flynn Trail to the outlet of Hodge Pond. We walked to the shore of the pond and let Sheila cool off with a short swim before turning around and taking the Flynn Trail up the hill. The pack was getting heavy but we were soon on the flat part of the Flynn Trail at the top of the hill. As we walked out to the junction with the Big Rock Trail, I made note of some areas that needed to be cleared. We continued down the Flynn Trail to the car arriving at about 3:30 PM. We had down the 6.4 mile loop in 3.5 hours with a generous amount of time spent working on the trail.

On Friday, May 22nd Cindy and I decided to return to the area of Frick Pond to cut some more blowdowns. I had some chores to do around the house so we didn't get started until after 11:30 AM. We got ready to go applying bug repellant since the previous days in the area let us know what we would encounter. We got our gear and Sheila in our car and headed out to Frick Pond. When we parked at 11:45 PM there was a car in the large lot but we never encountered the owners. As we got out of the car, there were a few insects but fewer than we had encountered on the previous weekend. The temperature was in the high 60's but the humidity was lower than it had been. We walked to the larger parking area to get on the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond. The plan was to hike the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel Junction and then continue on that Trail to the Flynn Trail. I knew there were a few blowdowns on the Quick Lake Trail and more on the Flynn Trail. The Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond was wet and I knew we would have to clear some of the drainage on our next trail crew workday on May 30th. We walked down to the bridge across the outlet to the pond. I dropped my pack to take some pictures even though I had many from the are viewpoint. The sky was very blue with puffy white clouds. The pond was also blue with a lot of green vegetation around it. I took pictures of the pond and a couple of Cindy and Sheila on the bridge. As we walked around the pond we admired our handiwork from previous trips in the form of a large cherry tree that we had cleared from the trail. At the first trail junction, we stayed to the left to continue on the Quick Lake Trail. As we walked along the trail, we picked up a few branches and removed the from the trail but none required the use of the saws. At Iron Wheel Junction we turned left following the Quick Lake Trail. We passed the junction with the snowmobile trail and began to encounter more blowdown including a few that were we had to saw a few branches. One particularly large blowdown all but blocked the trail so we stopped to assess the situation and decided to cut out what we could. The problem was that the top of a tree had broken off and was still attached about 30 feet up the trunk. I cut away all the smaller branches and then attacked the larger ones trying to cut them as far up as I could. Cindy and I dragged the branches as far off the trail as we could. The last few branches were the one supporting the rest of the blowdown and I was careful when I cut these. I did not want the rest of the larger branches to come crashing down on top of me. I looked at the tree and decided the best idea was to simply fell it but Cindy thought otherwise. I was sure I could get it down safely but decided to leave it for another day.

As we continued to walk up the trail, we encounter more branches in the trail. A few of these were substantial and required some work with the saw while others we were able to drag off without cutting them. The insects were beginning to become more numerous and the temperature was now in the 70's. The work had begun to tire us both but I knew there would be more on the Flynn Trail. By the time we made it to Junkyard Junction it was well passed 2:00 PM. We cleared some branches on the trail and I cut a few to make them easier to drag away. There wasn't as much work as I remembered. As we approached the gate on the Flynn Trail we both saw a rather large tree across the trail. This one was not hung up but had fallen to the ground. It was not as large in diameter as some we had encountered but there were a lot of branches to handle. We both decided with would be the last project we would handle before the hike back to the car! We cut many of the branches and dragged them into the woods. I cut the top way from the main trunk and disposed of it leaving a rather large piece of the main trunk. Fortunately, we were able to twist and roll this piece out of the way without having to lift it. I picked up my pack and we headed through the gate and down toward Hodge Pond. We did pick up a few more branches but ignored the larger ones leaving them for the workday. At the next junction, we turned right to stay on the Flynn Trail to the outlet of Hodge Pond. This woods road had some deep ruts and several very muddy places. We walked through a field and down to the shores of the pond near the outlet. Sheila immediately jumped into the water and I dropped my pack to get out the camera. I took pictures of the pond and some of Sheila retrieving a stick. It was getting late so I picked up the pack and we headed up the Flynn Trail. The walk up the hill seemed long to me and I swore my pack was getting heaver. There were some branches on this section of the Flynn Trail up to the junction with the Big Rock Trail but we ignored them and continued to walk. After the Big Rock junction, we were able to again afire our work from previous trips when we had cut several large blowdowns. We continued back to the car arriving at about 4:45 PM. We had spent 5 hours hiking and working and we were both tired.

On Wednesday, May 20th Lisa wanted to go on a short, local hike so we decided on the Split Rock Lookout on the Pelnor Hollow Trail. The lookout has some nice views and is close to home. The temperature was in the mid 40's when I picked Lisa up at her house on the Beaverkill Road. I drove across the Beaverkill Covered Bridge to Holiday Brook Road. After turning right on the road, I drove to the parking area for the Mary Smith Trail on the right of the road and parked at 9:00 AM. We ready to hike almost immediately and cross the road to begin. The first part of the trail out to the power lines was damp but the best part was the complete lack of insects which had been prevalent on the last few hikes. We crossed the power line right-of-way and followed a faint path into the woods passing a small rock cairn. The trail remained damp in spots but everything was very green as we hiked. The prickets which dominate this trail in the summer were absent which made the going much more pleasant. The hike to the top of the ridge is about 1.1 miles but is a little steeper in some spots than I remembered. The overall elevation gain is about 500 feet. Along the way we noticed red trail markers which were round with three raised lines emanating from the center. There was no writing on the blazes and neither of us had any idea about their origin. I took a few pictures to show others who might know about them. By 9:45 AM we were at the intersection with the Pelnor Hollow Trail where we turned right. The last descent to the lookout is steep and was slippery in places. We arrived at the lookout at 9:55 AM and I dropped my pack and got out the camera. The sky was overcast without much sun or clouds. The views are limited and there was a little haze hanging over the landscape. I took some pictures of the views from the lookout and some of the trail. I also took some shots of the large rock that stands at the viewpoint. I walked to the right of the split rock and out onto the rock outcrop in front of it for a better view. Sheila follow and we were both surprised when a large vulture took to flight! I took a few more pictures including some of a house that sits on the hill across from the lookout and then returned to my pack. We turned around and followed the same route back to the car climbing the steep ascent back up to the plateau. The descents on the way back were not as tricky as I thought they might be. We did stop once to take a few pictures of an area of dead trees. We were back at the car by 11:00 AM having covered the 2.6 mile trip in just under 2 hours. The vertical gain was around 700 feet.

On Sunday, May 17th Cindy and I decided to return to the Flynn Trail in the area of Frick Pond to cut some more blowdowns. I preached two services and did not get home until 12:30 PM. We immediately got ready to go applying liberal amounts of bug repellant since the previous day let us know what we would encounter. We got our gear and Sheila in our car and headed out to Frick Pond. When we parked at 1:00 PM there was a car in the small lot and one in the larger lot. As we got out of the car, we were immediately engulfed by a swarm of insects. The temperature was already in the mid 70's and the humidity was high. We walked across the road and headed up the Flynn Trail passing our work from the day before. As we walked we cleared a few small branches and some larger ones which were on the trail. When we were walking, the insects were manageable but each time stopped they flew in a cloud around us. We cleared two larger blowdowns. One was almost flat on the ground while the other was hung up like the one that we cut on Saturday. These went relatively quickly using both saws as appropriate. While cutting one of the trees a couple approached us with a hand drawn map from Morgan Outdoors. We confirmed that they were on the correct trail for the hike they wanted to do. As we approached the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we came to a complex blowdown that required some careful planning. One large trees was across the trail with its top partly hung up in another tree. Adjacent to this tree was another that had broken off near the top. It was supported by one large branch which had jammed into the ground. Where it had broken off it was not clear whether it was held simply by friction or some wood fibers. It was clear that this second tree could come down at any time and that the only safe way to work has to get it out of the way first. I suggested Cindy stand back so that one of us was out of danger. I cut all the small branches until only the supporting branch remained. I tried to pull on this branch to see if I could get the rest of the tree to fall but it was too embedded in the ground with too much weight behind it. I almost decided to leave it until the next wind storm blew it down but then changed my mind. I started to carefully cut the branch near the ground from one side and ten switched over the other. Two things happened simultaneously. I branch cracked and gave way and the tree came crashing down. Fortunately, I had planned well and was out of the way when it fell. It took only a few cuts to get the tree sectioned so that we could pull it out of the way. We turned our attention to the larger tree lying across the trail and cut out the branches near the top. We dragged away all the now loose branches and turned our attention to the main trunk which was still across the trail. The diameter was nearly as large as the cherry tree from the day before but it was not quite as hard. I used the Katanaboy to cut a large section and Cindy kept the cut open with the wedges. After cutting almost all the way through, I removed the saw and cut up from the bottom to complete the cut. We rolled the smaller section from near the top out of the way and looked at what remained. We both decided that we had opened a path that did not require hikers to step over or walk around the large tree. We also had removed a dangerous "widow-maker". It was a little after 3:30 PM and we still had to walk back to the car. We turned around and walked down the Flynn Trail feeling tired but with a real sense of accomplishment.

On Saturday, May 16th I wanted to try out my Silky saws on some of the larger blowdowns around Frick Pond. Cindy decided to come with me which pleased me as I knew doing the work alone was not a good idea and help is always appreciated. We left the house at just after 9:00 AM but stopped in town at the Livingston Manor Garden Day to pick up some plants. By the time we took the plants back to the house it was after 9:30 AM as we started up the DeBruce Road. We arrived in the parking to find one other car parked. It was already in the high 60's and the forecast was for even warmer weather so I left my jacket in the car and wore only a long-sleeved shirt. Both of us noticed that there were a lot of insects flying round even at the car. Cindy put on some repellant and we headed out the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond. It had rained overnight but there was little water on the trail. The area near the junction of the Loggers' Loop and the Quick Lake Trail was already getting muddy which reinforced for me the need for a wooden walkway in this area. Cindy and I both looked at a new sign near the junction and could not figure out the information it was trying to convey. The distances seemed wrong and the one arrow on it seemed to have multiple uses. We walked down to the pond and crossed the bridge continuing on the Quick Lake Trail to the second small bridge. A large cherry tree had fallen onto the bridge sometime last fall and needed to be removed. The tree was not a problem throughout the winter as the snow was deep enough to allow hikers to walk over it without even knowing it was there. It was possible to walk over the tree but I wanted to remove as much as I could. The tree was still attached to the trunk which was well over a foot in diameter. I took some before pictures and then got out the tools to start the removal.

I have a Silky Sugowaza saw that is a little over a foot long and has a curved blade. I also brought a Silky Kanataboy which is a folding saw with a blade almost two feet long and a handle of similar length. Both saws have substantial teeth and cut primarily on the pull stroke. I also brought two felling wedges and a deadfall hammer to help keep the saws from binding. Cindy and I trimmed the smaller branches and got them out of the way while fighting clouds of insects. We continued our work by removing larger branches which the smaller saw did quite nicely. To make a cut in the trunk itself I switched to the large saw. Cherry is hard wood and the sawing was not easy as the angle was difficult. We kept at it using the wedges to keep the cut open and eventually the saw broke through. We removed several large pieces and then stepped back to observe our work. All that was left was the very large trunk of the tree still attached at the stump end. There was a clear path across the bridge. We decided to move on to the Flynn Trail. Before leaving I took some 'after' pictures and a few shots of the saws. They had performed remarkably well. We walked back to the car to find two more cars parked and two couples headed out onto the trails. One couple headed out the Quick Lake Trail as we crossed the road to start up the Flynn Trail. We immediately ran into a small tree across the trail which I cut and removed as the other couple came our way. They asked what we were doing and we explained that the trails are all maintained by volunteers. They also asked about the Flynn Trail and seemed happy the trail had a long but shallow ascent. They continued on as we cleared several more small blowdowns and one large one. At the end of the trail we turned right to walk the woods road that is the Flynn Trail.

About half a mile up the trail we came to a large tree that had fallen across the trail. It had fallen so that one end was caught up against another tree hike the majority lay on the round. The supported end has high enough off the ground that hikers had made a path under it. I though that this was a bad idea since eventually it would come down. We repeated what we had done earlier. I dropped my pack, took some pictures and then got out the saws and went to work. We cut extraneous branches that were in the way and not supporting the tree. We dragged the branches away to give us a clear field to work. Finally it was time to cut the main trunk. I cut a little more than halfway through and then removed the saw a started to cut up from the bottom to prevent binding. This worked well as I completed the cut and jumped back as the supported end fell to the ground. We dragged away the "top" of the tree and then slowly moved the heavier butt end out of the way. When I stepped back and looked up the trail, it appeared that there had never been and blowdown. This was exactly what we were trying to do. I took some pictures and stowed the tools. We decided we had done enough for the day and headed back down the Flynn Trail to the car. We got back to the car just after 11;00 AM and headed back to Livingston Manor to take in more of Garden Day.

On Thursday, May 14th I wanted to get a quick hike in before track practice in the afternoon. I decided to go to Hodge and Frick ponds to see what work would need to be done on the first workday of the Willowemoc Trail Crew on Saturday, May 30. I got my gear and Sheila in the car and pulled out of the driveway a little after 8:30 AM. The temperature was already in the 60's and I knew I would be taking off the light jacket I had donned. We arrived in the parking area at 8:50 AM got to hiking immediately. We crossed the road and started up the Flynn Trail and almost immediately ran into some branches and small trees across the trail. I made note of this and we continued. Once we made the right out of the trees and onto the woods road, the walking was considerably easier. There weren't too many insects and I stopped to remove my jacket realizing I should have left it in the car. As we ascended the Flynn Trail, we found several major blowdowns and many smaller ones that would have to be cleared. Some were old and some were new. Two of three of the newer ones had paths under hanging tree trunks which I knew could be a dangerous situation for hikers. By 9:30 AM we had hiked the 1.7 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail and found more branches littering the trail. We walked down to the field at the outlet of Hodge Pond and walked over to the shore of the pond. Sheila immediately jumped in an waded and then swam around some. I took a few pictures of the pond and then threw a stick so that Sheila could swim out to retrieve it. I took some pictures of her in the pond and then we continued across the outlet stream following the Flynn Trail.

At 2.8 miles we turned to the left and continued to follow the Flynn Trail up the hill to the gate. There was additional blowdown on the trail. The half mile walk from the gate to Junkyard Junction went quickly but we did find a few more trees and branches that I put on my list. At 3.3 miles we reached Junkyard Junction and turned left on the Quick Lake Trail. We walked downhill along the trail and I made note a few more blowdowns to clear. The day was warm and it was a pleasure to hike. It was almost 40 degrees warmer than the last time I hike this route in March! At 4.9 miles we were at Iron Wheel Junction where we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. The Logger's Loop continues straight ahead at this junction. We reached the bridge over the outlet to Frick Pond at 5.9 miles. Along the way we passed the large cherry tree that had fallen onto one of the bridges. I knew it had to go but I wasn't sure a hand saw would work on this monster! We stopped at the bridge so that I could take some pictures and then continued up the hill. At the junction of the Quick Lake Trail and Logger's Loop the ground was already getting muddy. I thought about constructing a wooden walkway to span this area with approval from the DEC. We walked out the woods road that is the end of the Quick Lake Trail and were at the car at 11:30 AM. We had covered 6.4 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes with a vertical gain of 920 feet.

On Friday, May 8th I was ready to hike after a long week of track meets. Cindy decided she wanted to go with me and I thought it would be a nice day to drive a little farther than usual to hike. I thought about World's End State Park in Pennsylvania but decided the more than 3 hour trip would be better undertaken when we could stay overnight. Watkins Glen and Letchworth fit into the same category. I decided that we would drive to Big Pocono State Park in Pennsylvania which is also the site of the Camelback Mountain Ski Resort. The route given by several online sites and my GPS took us through backroads most of the way and predicted a trip of just over 2 hours. I wanted to get started at 7:00 AM but we usually seem to get delayed and did not start until just after 8:00 AM. We got our gear in the car and ushered an anxious Sheila into the back seat. The weather forecast did not include any rain but did mention sunny skies with temperatures in the 80's! We followed the backroads through Eldred and Shohola before getting on I84 west. We then followed Routes 390 and 611 south passing through Mount Pocono and Mount Airy Lodge. Just after exchange 45 on I80 I turned right on Route 715 and drove about half a mile to Railroad Drive on the right. I turned right and drove 1.2 miles to the trailhead. The trailhead was marked with a sign indicating "Riday Gate" and an arrow showing "Big Pocono State Park". I parked on the right side of the road where there was room for two or three cars. There was also a spot on the opposite side of the road for about the same number of vehicles. The first part of the trail is an old railroad grade and is easy to spot. We both decided to stow our light jackets. Cindy wore short sleeves while I decided to wear a light, long-sleeved shirt. We started out on the trail at about 10:25 AM. Almost immediately I stopped to take a few pictures of the railroad bed as it continued straight as an arrow off into the distance. The trees were all green with most having leaves not just buds as in Sullivan County. The railroad bed was well maintained, flat and smooth. In several places the trail passed through small rock cuts. As we neared the spot were the trail turns up the mountain the railroad bed was built up to span a gully. At 1.3 miles the trail turned off the railroad bed and headed up the mountain in a sharp switchback. We continued to walk straight ahead to investigate the railroad cut through the rocks. This cut was more expansive than the others we had seen with rock extending 30 to 50 feet from the bed to the top. I took a few pictures and marveled at what had been accomplished using mostly hand tools! We returned to the trail and began to climb the mountain.

The trails are not very well marked and branch in several places. Sometimes to get to one trail you have to hike part of the way on another. The blazes are not clear and we had not seen any on the railroad bed coming in but they were not really necessary as it was easy to follow. From on guidebook description, I had the idea that we wanted to hike the Indian Trail to the top and then return by the South Trail. We had hiked northeast on the railroad bed but were now heading west and northwest on the trail. At just over 1.6 miles we passed a small pond off the trail on the left and then continued to follow the trail as it turned and continued to climb to a junction at 1.9 miles. I thought we could pick up the Indian Trail here but the signs did not give us that choice. The Indian Trail was supposed to be the steepest climb but the one with the best views. The skies had been hazy all day so I really wasn't that concerned about the views. The temperature was climbing and any exposure to the sun made it even hotter. We decided to head to the right which seemed to be the North Trail. I was hoping for another junction with the Indian Trail. As we hiked, Sheila alerted and a group of three young women came hiking toward us. I asked one if she knew the trail we were on and she replied that is was "the Indian Trail". We continued on but it soon became clear we were on the North Trail which was the wrong trail. I would have turned around but Cindy wanted to continue on ahead. We continued on the trail which was sheltered by the trees but offered no views at all. What the trail did offer was a longer route to the top and a pretty steep climb which made me happier. From the point where the trail stared to ascend to the point where we reached the loop road at the summit, we gained over 600 feet in about .75 miles. Along the way there were several intersections with paths and trails which were quite confusing as there were no signs. We kept bearing right in each case. At one point we came to he edge of one of the ski slopes with a limited view. At 3.1 miles we came to the loop road and crossed it into a parking lot just before noon. The trail seemed to continue straight ahead but we took a detour to the left and walked to the edge of the parking lot to get a view to the south and east. Everything was covered in haze but I took a few shots before we went back to the trail and walked to the summit of the mountain.

We walked about .2 miles and the trail opened up into a parking area at the top of the mountain at about 3.4 miles. We could see a radio tower to the left and the old park office building next to it. To the right was an open space where a lookout tower once stood. It is still marked as present on many maps. We walked over to a bench and a sign which described the views and the ecosystem of the mountain. Another, smaller sign alerted us to the fact that the park had a "healthy population of timber rattlesnakes". I had suspected that this might be the case as Pennsylvania seems to have a more diverse population than new York. I walked down to another bench and took some pictures before joining Cindy and Sheila. We walked over toward the bathrooms and I noticed a round "table". The table was stainless steel with a stone mosaic on the surface. There was a large arrow and the names of various landmarks. When the opposite end of the arrow encircles the name of a landmark, the other end of the arrow pointed to that landmark. It was very interesting to see that it was an Eagle Scout project. I took some more pictures of the hills and valleys and a few of the old park office. We got a drink and a snack and then headed south and down to a parking area to pick up the South Trail for our return trip at about 12:30 PM. When we got to the parking area, it was hard to find the trail until I saw a sign at the right end of the lot. We walked to the sign, across Rim Road and onto the Vista Trail that connects to the South Trail. The trail was very short and when we hit the South Trail I turned right intending to look for a viewpoint before turning back. We hiked out about .35 miles and I did not see anything that looked like a viewpoint. I also noticed Cindy was looking hot and tired which she confirmed.

We turned around and walked back to the Vista Trail and stopped at the vista. There were limited views to the south but the haze was very heavy. We got a snack and a drink before starting the return trip which was almost all downhill. The first half mile was flat or a little uphill and the sun was very hot. It occurred to me that it would have been a good idea to reverse the loop and hike out on the South Trail and back on the North Trail! At 4.9 miles we began the descent back to the car. The trail was very rocky and there were several switchbacks. Switchbacks are a blessing and a curse as they mitigate the steep grades but lengthen the hike. At the end of the third switchback my GPS told me we were .3 miles from the car. That .3 miles was VERY steep but I might have attempted it absent the warning about the rattlesnakes. As it was that .3 miles turned into a 2.4 mile walk! As we descended we came to a junction with the Indian Trail and continued to follow the South Trail back to the point where we had turned right onto the north trail earlier. We had now hiked 6.1 miles and turned right to retrace our route back to the car. We walked down to the railroad cut and turned right to follow the railroad bed back to the car. On our way out we passed a group of four people coming toward us. We said "Hello" as we passed each other. I noticed that two had small commercial bottles of water but non had any other equipment. I was sure the temperature was nearly 90 degrees and thought it was a strange time start a hike. The hike out to the car seemed along but we were back by 2:20 PM having covered 7.9 miles in 4 hours. We had stopped for about 40 minutes and had ascended 1300 feet. The car thermometer read 95 degrees but once we were underway it dropped to 88! We returned by taking I80 to Route 209 north to Port Jervis passing through the Delaware Water Gap. If Cindy had not been with me, I would have been tempted to stop at several places so I was glad that she was along!

On Sunday, May 3rd I was ready to hike after a long week of track meets. Cindy decided she wanted to go with me and I thought it would be a nice day to drive to Morgan Hill State Forest northeast of Cortland. This is a two hour drive which is a little farther than we normally go when we go together but the forecast for a bright and sunny day convinced me. We left Livingston Manor at about 8:25 AM with our gear and with Sheila ready to go. Sheila, of course, doesn't care where we hike so she protests when we set out on a long drive! We headed west on State Route 17 to Binghamton and then north on I81 toward Cortland. I took exit 11 and turned north on Route 13 heading toward Truxton. As we passed through Truxton I turned north on Route 91. After just under 4 miles, I turned right on Shackham Road and drove north for about 2 miles to park on the side of the road where the Onondaga Trail crosses the road. This trail is part of the Finger Lakes Trail system and is co-aligned with the North Country Trail which runs from the Missouri River in North Dakota to Lake Champlain in New York! We began our hike at 10:30 AM by crossing the road and hiking up a very muddy trail toward the top of the first ridge. The first .4 miles was all uphill at we gained a little over 150 feet. The trail in this area is pretty generic passing through mostly hardwoods and then some evergreens. The warm weather had brought out the trout lilies, some nice maroon trillium and other assorted windflowers. We descended the other side of the hill and then walked along as the trail rolled a little. At 1.75 miles we were on the shores of Spruce Pond. There were a few people fishing from the dam and we stopped so that I could take a few pictures. We walked along the shore of the pond following the Onondaga Trail which is blazed in light blue and an orange trail that loops around the pond. The trails spilt near the head of the pond and we followed the blue trail. The trail started one of the steepest ascents of the day which was moderated by some switchbacks as we gained 220 feet in about .25 miles.

As soon as we reached the top of the hill, we started to descend again losing most of the elevation we had gained and crossing a small stream. Much of the hike to this point had been parallel to one small creek or another and none seemed to have much water. I kept hoping that Tinker Falls would have enough water to make it interesting! As we were hiking to Spruce Pond we were headed mostly northwest. The turn and ascent had directed us WSW and we began hiking on private land. The land is owned by a logging company that has granted permission for hikers to cross their property. We made another ascent and I could see as we got to the top that we were on the ridge that overlooks Labrador Pond. We passed over the top of Jones Hill and at 3.1 miles turned south to walk along the ridge. At 3.25 miles we came to the viewpoint which looks out of Labrador Pond and the valley and hills below. There was a couple seated just below the clearing as I took my camera out to take some pictures. I couldn't avoid including them in most of my shots knowing I could use my software to remove them. I couldn't help but think that Cindy and I would have moved if we had seen someone wanted to take a few pictures! I took some shots of Cindy and Sheba before we got a drink and a snack and continued on the trail. The trail follows the edge of the ridge while a dirt road also descends the hill. The trail winds round and crosses the road before joining it for the final descent. I always wonder in these cases why the trail blazers simply didn't follow the road. We did find an interesting tree on the trail that was split at the bottom and I took some pictures before hiking on. From 3.4 miles to 4.3 miles the trail descended toward Tinker Falls. At 3.9 miles the descent became steeper. We saw people at the falls so I put Sheila on her leash as we walked down to the top of the falls.

There is a trail to the falls from a parking area on Route 91 which makes access to the base rather easy. In the past there was no way to hike between the top and bottom without following a treacherous and steep path covered in loose dirt and slippery leaves. The Finger Lakes Trail Conference worked on a project to install stone steps on both sides of the falls to allow hikes to travel between the bottom and the top. I left Sheila with Cindy at the top of the falls and walked down the steps until I could get a good look at the falls. I was disappointed that the volume of water was so small. I took a few pictures and returned to the top. We walked over to the stream where I took a few more shots. We walked upstream to the wooden stairs that start the long climb to the top of the next ridge. We met several groups of people coming down the road from the lower parking area on Shackham Road. The .7 mile ascent to the 5.1 mile mark ascends almost 400 feet but has several switchbacks. The switchbacks do moderate the climb but also make the trip longer. Once we were at the top, we began the downhill hike to Shackham Road. We arrived at the road at about 1:55 PM 6.2 miles into the hike. We turned left and began to walk the road back to our car at the upper parking area. It was about 1.5 miles back to the car but we made good time walking on the road despite the fact it was mostly uphill! Along the way we talked to a local resident and met her 7 year old Griffon. While we talked the dogs said "Hello" and seemed to get along well. As we neared the car I asked Cindy if she wanted to walk down to Shackham Pond. She declined so Sheila and I set off on the short .15 mile hike to the pond. We stopped on the dam and I took pictures of the pond and the pair of geese swimming near the shore. On the way back I noticed some headstones and walked over to investigate them. The stones were all for one family including one for an infant whop lived only 18 days. The dates were from the early 18th century. I am always fascinated by the history these stones have to tell but saddened that these people are forgotten. Sheila and I walked back to the car. It was 2:40 PM and we had hiked 8 miles in just over 4 hours. Our elevation gain was 1535 feet and we had stopped for about 30 minutes. We drove to Cortland to eat and then headed home.

On Sunday, April 26th I decided that I needed to hike after a busy Friday and Saturday filled with track meets. I wanted something challenging so I decided to head for Tannersville to hike the Devil's Path over Indian Head and Twin. I was able to get out of Livingston Manor a little after 7:30 AM. Sheila was ready to go as we had not hiked in a week. I had decided not to bring snowshoes as I did not think there would be enough snow left to warrant carrying them. I did pout my spikes in my pack to use on any icy or snowy areas that might remain. As I passed Biscuit Brook, Slide and Giant Ledge the parking lots were beginning to fill up and I was reminded that it was a beautiful day and that it was a weekend. When I got to Route 28, I turned right and passed Route 42 deciding to head north on Route 219 out of Phoenicia. I had not been that way in some time and I like variety. As I passed Fox Hollow Road, I thought about hiking the Fox Hollow Trail to Panther as it would have fewer people and it was not a trail I had done very often. I passed the road and decided to stick with my original plan. Within a short distance, I changed my mind, turned around and took Fox Hollow Road north to the parking lot. There were no cars parked there as we pulled in just before 9:00 AM. I parked and saw the sign which indicated that the summit of Panther was almost five miles away. I was surprised it was that far but decided to do it anyway. As we headed out on the trail at 9:00 AM it was still in the low 40's but it seemed warmer due to the sun which was shining brightly from a blue sky with plenty of puffy white clouds. The weather forecast was calling for some rain showers at 1:00 PM but I had a rain jacket and decided we would weather the storm if it came. The trail was relatively dry and absolutely devoid of any snow or ice as we walked parallel to the road and passed the register box. The trail was flat for the first .2 miles but began to climb on a woods road just after the register box as the trail turned northwest away from the road. At .5 miles a spur trail branched off to the right to the spring and a lean-to. We continued on the main trail which started to turn southwest as it climbed. The forest was beginning to show a lot of green as we walked on the trail through hardwood forests. At one point I looked up and saw that a large tree had blown down and was across the trail. There was ample room to pass under it and Sheila was walking across the tree at least six feet in the air. I called for her to stay where she was and took some pictures of her before continuing on.

We continued to ascend the trail along the woods road and just before the mile mark started to pass through a large area of blowdowns. Most of this was very old since what was across the trail had been cut some time ago. The area was very large and impressive. I stopped to take some pictures to the east and north as the sun was out and the blowdown made the mountains in those directions visible. I also took off my jacket and hat at this point and got a drink. I promised myself I would hydrate properly to avoid the painful cramps I often get at home! At 1.4 miles the trail began to flatten out some as we hit the ridge. Until this point the grade had averaged 20% and the trail had been very rocky. Around the 1.9 mile mark the trail turned a little more so that we were headed south and just a little to the east. At 2 miles we again began to climb to a false summit at the 3 mile mark there were some limited views here and I took a few pictures to the west. Along the way to the true summit there are at least three of these false summits and after each there is a small descent. These areas are interesting since most contain a small, flat area where there is evidence of campfires and camping. Coming down off these areas usually involves scrambling down some rocks and the traveling next to a rock wall or cliff before hitting open trail again. At about 3100 feet we began to find small patches of snow and ice here and there but I was able to walk over or around these. Sheila, of course, had no problems at all. The trail was rather poorly blazed and I found many of the blazes on trees that ha blown down. There were many trees across the trail, some new and a few old, which also made finding the trail more difficult. I was glad to have Sheila along as she always seems to be able to find the trail. It was taking us longer to hike than I ha planned and I thought about turning around a few times due to the weather forecast. In the end I decided it was more important for me to reach my goal and deal with the rain when and if it came.

By the time we hit 3400 feet there was more snow and at 4.3 miles we began the final ascent to the summit of Panther. I finally got to a spot where there was a short but steep ascent covered in ice. I stopped here and donned my spikes and kept them on until I was below that spot on the way back. From this point on the trail was mostly covered in snow and ice and the spikes made walking much easier. At 4.6 miles the trail leveled and we continued to walk toward our goal. I noticed a nice rock ledge that had better views then the summit but decided to stop on the way back. At 12:35 PM we finally reached the rock outcrop designated as the summit of Panther. I took off my pack and took out my camera to take a few shots. There was some haze on the mountains and the sky was now almost completely covered with clouds. I put the camera away and finished off one water bottle. We heard voices at the lookout slightly farther along the trail and headed in that direction. Two men were occupying the viewpoint but I knew the pictures from there would not be much better than the viewpoint further down the mountain that I had seen. We talked for a minute and they sainted were hiking through to the lean-to and I told them I was the only car parked at Fox Hollow. As Sheila and I turned around to start the return hike, two more hikers came up from the direction of Giant Ledge. I said "hello" as they followed us to the summit. We started back down the mountain. I was hoping down would be easier than up as I was definitely tires. We stopped at the lookout and I got some good pictures of the valleys below and large areas of snow that still covered the north and west sides of the mountains and lay in protected areas. The first part of the descent through the icy areas was tricky and took some time. Once we were below these areas, I took off the spikes and we started to make better time. The rocks on the trail were a challenge even on the decent but we were soon passing through the large, open blowdown area and then the trail to the lean-to and the finally the trail register. We were back in the parking lot just before 4:00 PM having covered 9.5 miles in almost seven hours! The vertical gain was just over 3400 feet and I could definitely "feel" the hike in my legs. I thought I might stop at the Alamo in Phoenicia but once I started driving I just wanted to get home! The rain had held off and I was happy to have accomplished my goal even with the change in plans.

On Sunday, April 19th I was ready to hike after a long track meet on Saturday. I decided I would go to Ashokan High Point as I expected I would not need to carry my snowshoes as I might on one of the 3500 foot peaks! When I got up at 6:30 AM the temperature was in the mid 30's but it warmed up quickly as the sun came out. The skies were blue with plenty of sun but the extensive cloud formations from the previous day were missing. I was getting ready to leave at about 8:00 AM when the ambulance pager went off and I responded. I arrived back home at about 9:30 AM, got Sheila and my equipment in the car and headed to Liberty and out Route 55 to Grahamsville. I turned left on the Sundown Road continuing on this road through Sundown and passed the Peekamoose parking area. I pulled into the Ashokan High Point parking area at about 10:30 AM and found it was nearly full! I found a place to park and pout Sheila on her leash as there was another dog running loose. I got my gear ready and we quickly crossed the road to begin our hike. I was warm despite the fact that I had not put on a baselayer and I already had all the zippers on my Mammut Hoody opened up. We set a good pace on the flatter part of the trail and I soon had to stop to remove the Hoody and stow it in my pack. The trail parallels Kanape Brook and we could hear the water as it cascaded over the rocks. There was water in the stream but I had expected it to be much higher than it was. We crossed several small streams and eventually a larger one that required a small foot bridge. At 1.5 miles the trail flattened a little and the started a somewhat steeper climb. We crossed another small bridge and entered a tunnel of pine trees. The ground was covered with small twigs broken from theatres and these formed a sort of carpet on the ground. From this point on the trail became much rockier as more water flowed on the trail eroding the soil between the stones. This trail is marked on some maps as the Kanape Jeep Trail. Along the way we met a couple who had camped out over night at the trail junction but had not hiked to the High Point. At 2.7 miles we reached the turn to the left where the trail begins the 1 mile climb to the High Point. It was 11:45 AM and I stopped to take a quick break for water.

As we were standing at the turn, a hiker and his dog approached from behind us. I got my gear on and we started up the trail. The other hiker was coming up on us rather quickly and I decided I did not want to push as hard as he did. I pulled Sheila off the trail to let them go by us. We talked for a moment and I noticed his English accent and the fact that his female border collie was not very friendly toward Sheila. They passed us and we waited a few minutes and then continued. A little farther up the trail, a small path went off to the right. We followed the path until it became indistinct. I remembered doing this before and not finding any real views. Back on the main trail we continued toward the top. The overall grade averages about 17% with some flatter and some steeper areas. There are no real views along the way until near the very top. There are five different short climbs several of which have stone steps. At one point there is a rock overhang which forms a small shelter. I had passed this many times but this time I noticed I tree seemingly growing out of the very top of the rock. I stopped to take a few pictures before heading for the summit. As we climbed the last ascent I took a few shots of Mombacus and Little Rocky from a rock outcrop on the trail. The skies were hazy and the view was far from clear. As we approached the last climb to the high point, we met a couple coming down the trail toward us. We stopped to talk and they told me they had been to the top and were returning back the way they had come because it was shorter. I asked them if they had been to Little Ashokan but they said they could not find the way. I described it for them in case they wanted to try it in the future since they live in Hastings-on-Hudson. We finished the climb to the High point and found the hiker and his dog at the top. I leashed Sheila and tied her to a tree and the other dog seemed to be satisfied. The other hiker and I talked and I found out he lives in New York city but has hiked some in the Catskills. He said he was surprised to find such nice mountains so close to the city. I described the loop trail back to the base of the High Point. I had decided to do the loop but skip Little Ashokan.

I took a few pictures from the High Point but the views were too hazy to be really nice. We walked over to the next lookout in the opposite direction but the views were much the same. We started out on the trail to begin the loop back. There are several small depressions that collect water and they were frozen over with layer of ice. When we got to the open fields, we turned right and walked toward the "edge" of the hill. I could see the Ashokan Reservoir through the trees and took a few pictures. From previous trips I knew it was useless to try to find a clear view as there are none! We walked back up to the fire rings in the field where I dropped my pack and took out the camera. The Burroughs Range was clearly visible but the sky was a flat blue without many clouds. I took some shots and allowed the other hiker and his dog to get on the trail before us. We headed to the left and followed the trail as it descended the other side of the High Point. After a short distance the blazes on the trail all but disappeared and there was little in the way of a trail to follow. I was glad Sheila was with me as she seemed to be able to pack out the path. We descended some and found the other hiker headed back toward us as he had lost the trail. I continued on and followed Sheila as she ascended a small hill. I found some red blazes and signaled to the other hiker who was still searching for the trail. Sheila and I set a fast pace to stay ahead as we descended the trail. It continued to be poorly marked and hard for me to follow but Sheila had no problem. At 4.7 miles we made a sharp left turn which changed our heading from west to south as we continued to descend. As we walked the border collie was often right on my heels until her owner whistled and she returned to him. We worked our way through some laurel which was encroaching on the trail and the began a steep rocky descent from about the 5.2 mile to 5.7 mile although it seemed much longer. The descent averaged a 24% grade over loose gravel and larger rocks. We kept a fast pace but it was difficult. The last .5 miles of the loop was slightly uphill and was the wettest part of the hike passing through some laurel and a stand of pine trees. As we approached the end of the loop, we turned right onto the main trail and walked back to the trail junction.

At the trail junction I turned left to walk a few hundred feet out to an area that is used for camping. I took a few pictures and got a drink waiting for the other hiker to make the turn and head down the main trail. We returned to the main trail and kept a good pace back to the car. On the way back we met two men walking up the trail with a black, shaggy dog who seemed very friendly. They asked if I worked for the state since I had on green pants and a "radio" (GPS unit). I said "no" and we continued our separate ways. When the trail started to parallel the brook again, Sheila rushed down to the water, jump in, jumped out and dashed madly up and won the trail. She repeated this at least five times looking very happy and satisfied with herself. In the last half mile of the trail we met another couple headed up the trail. I gathered they were out for a short walk as it was getting late and they had no gear. I stopped at the register box and found that Alan Via and Ralph Ryndak had been on the trail the same day. I was sorry I had not seen them and can only assume they did the loop and were ahead of us. We walked across the bridge and back to the car to find and almost empty lot. It was 3:25 PM and we had spent almost 5 hours hiking the 9.1 mile loop with about 30 minutes of stopped time. The vertical gain was 2470 feet. The temperature at the car was 61 degrees which surprised me as it seemed much warmer.

On Friday, April 17th I left the Neversink Unique Area and drove through Glen Wild, Woodridge, Old Falls and Woodbourne. In Woodbourne I turned left on Route 42 and drove to Grahamsville turning right on Route 55 and then left on Route 55A just before the Rondout Reservoir. I followed Route 55A where it turned and the turned left on the Yagerville Road. After driving up the hill I almost missed the right turn onto Shalom Road. The road was in pretty good shape and I parked at the end at 4:20 PM. The skies were cloudy but there was no rain so we hurried down to Trout Creek. We followed Shalom Road to the top of Angel falls and then turned right on the path that leads along the creek. I found a path down to the streambed which was steep but passable. Soon I was standing on some rocks below the falls while Sheila jumped into the cold water. I was surprised that there wasn't more water in the stream. The falls were flowing with good volume but we were able to stand where I always stand to take pictures. There was still some ice on the cliffs across the stream so I took some pictures and then turned my attention to the falls. I took several shots with different camera settings and then took a few downstream.

We headed back up the bank to the path and continued along the path and down to the top of the lower falls. I dropped my pack near the top of the lower falls and got out the camera. I took some pictures of the upper drop of the lower falls from several different vantage points. I worked my way down the bank to look at the old foundations at the bottom of the fall and the walked down to the creek bed. From the edge of the stream I took some more pictures and then walked upstream a bit and took a few more. After returning to the top of the upper drop, I took a few more shots and then packed up the camera to start back to the car. As we started up the bank to Shalom Road, I nice and interesting tree with multiple trunks. This required that I get out the camera again to take a few more photographs. We headed back up the bank to the old road and back to the car. It was 4:50 PM when we got back to the car and headed home. The rain had held off and we were returning dry.

On Friday, April 17th it had rained all morning and I was not sure I could get out before it rained again in the afternoon. I decided the worst that could happen was I would drive somewhere and not be able to hike and have to drive home. Sometime after 1:00 PM I loaded my gear in the car and got a very eager Sheila in the back seat and headed for the Neversink1 Unique area near Rock Hill. I thought that the falls in the area might be nice and that the rain might hold off the farther south I went. I arrived at the trailhead at the end of Katrina Falls Road around 1:45 PM to find blue skies with white clouds. The trail did not have any snow but I left my spikes in the pack just in case. There was only one car in the lot as we started down the trail at 1:50 PM with Sheila leading the way. At the first trail junction we turned left to parallel the river and soon crossed Wolf Brook on the small bridge. We ascended the small hill and then headed left at the next trail junction. This part of the trail was wet but the we worked around the worst areas. Over the next .9 miles we ascended about 400 feet heading first south and then east. The trail was completely bare and I was getting warm as we climbed. I stop to take off my Mammut Hoody which I stowed in the pack. At the top of the hill we stayed on the main trail as it turned to the right or south. At this trail junction a left turn leads out to the parking area at the Wolf Brook Multiple Use Area. I knew the rest of the hike was downhill except for the ascent back up the spur trail that went down to Mullet Brook Falls. We headed south and at 1.65 miles crossed Mullet Brook on a wooden bridge. I thought about taking pictures but there was nothing outstanding about the scenery. Just after the bridge the trail turns west and heads toward the Neversink River still descending.

As we headed down the trail I looked off to the right and saw the brook as it descended through the woods to Mullet Brook Falls. The areas was open and I had often thought about bushwhacking to the top of the falls. We headed off the trail and own to the brook. There was a path along the brook and I found several small cascades and rapids. As we worked our way down the path along the brook, I stopped several times to take pictures. Near the top of the falls the brush got thicker but I found an opening with a path that descended along the side of the falls. We took the path and we were soon at the base of the falls. I stopped to take a few pictures of the falls from the base. The amount of water going over the falls was much less than I expected but was enough to make it interesting. As I packed up my camera, I noticed that the skies were beginning to get dark especially to the north. I decided that Denton Falls would probably not be that interesting and that I did not want to get wet. I had planned on bringing a rain jacket but had left it behind. We walked up the spur trail to the main trail and turned left to walk down to the junction with the trail to High Falls. We turned right to head back to the parking area and passed the cutoff to Denton Falls. I thought for a moment about making the trip but one look at the sky changed my mind. We crossed Mullet Brook again on another bridge and I noticed a pronounced tilt to the downstream side. After I crossed, I looked back at the bridge and found the downstream timber to be rotten and cracked in half. I made a note to report the problem as it will be easier to replace the timber now than the whole bridge later! We continued on the trail and set a good pace back toward the car. The last uphill was unwelcome but not too difficult. We were back at the car by 3:30 PM having hiked 3.8 miles and 750 feet of elevation gain in 1 hour and 40 minutes. As I left the parking area, a light rain began to fall. I decided to drive to Angel Falls to see if we could take a short hike in that area.

On Monday, April 13th I was still a little tired from hiking Westkill the day before and had not planned on going anywhere. When Karl came in for breakfast, he asked if I was going to hike somewhere since the day was so beautiful already. I decided to get a few miles in at Trout Pond as I expected Russell Brook Falls to have a high volume of water. I got a late start leaving Livingston Manor just before 10:30 AM and heading north on Route 17 to Roscoe. I took Route 206 to Downsville but turned left onto Morton Hill Road just after the Roscoe Nursing Home. When I got to the intersection with Russell Brook Road, I turned around and parked on the side of the road to avoid parking in the large open space which is marked as private property. Russell Brook Road appeared to have been plowed as was free of snow and ice. I decided not to take my snowshoes but left my Microspikes in my pack. Sheila was ready to go as always and we started down the road just after 10:45 AM. The temperature was already in the 50's and I was glad I had decided to eschew my baselayer as I was already warm. I had also decided not to wear insulated boots and had on my Keen Glarus which give me better support than some others. As we approached the upper parking area, I could see that the road was plowed only to this point and that it was covered with layer of ice and snow. I had been hearing the roar of the brook and could now also detect the sound of the falls which may me anxious to keep going. I did stop long enough to put on my Microspikes before continuing down the road. When we got to the lookout over the upper falls, it was very icy and I had to carefully pick my way down to a spot where I could get some pictures. Sheila is fearless but I kept her by my side as the lower part of the viewpoint was a sheet of ice. The falls was running very high and there were no tree trucks or other debris to spoil the view. I took some shots and then carefully worked my way back up to the road. The lower parking areas was covered in a mix of snow and ice although it did appear that some vehicles had used it. We walked down the trail to the bridge across Russell Brook.

Although I knew my time was limited, I decided to walk over to the falls to take some photographs. The path was completely devoid of snow and ice until we were ready to descend to the streambed. The usual route was very icy so I took another approach and we were soon down to the level of the stream. I could feel the mist coming off the falls as I got out the camera to take a few shots. I stayed a little farther away from the falls than I normally do to avoid the spray but got some nice shots. The volume was as great as I had ever seen. Sheila posed for a few pictures before we made our way back up to the trail and walked out to the main trail to Trout Pond. As we passed the register box, I decided we would walk up to Trout Pond first as we could always walk back down without doing the loop. The trail ahead had some ice but was also bare in spots. As we walked up the trail, I found the bare spots were often very muddy and the ice and snow were rotten and often collapsed as I walked on them. In many places small streams crossed the trail and some where rather wide. As we approached the pond the snow got deeper but wasn't really a problem. At the pond, I took off my pack and got out the camera. The sky was blue with a few wispy clouds and the pond was still frozen except in the areas near the outlet. I took some shots and the realized that Sheila was wading through the ice-cold water without seeming to mind it. We walked over to the dam and I took a few pictures from above down the stream. I decided that I would like to take a few shots from downstream toward the dam, an angle that I had never tried before. We worked our way through some rather deep snow to a point just below the dam where I took some pictures. Back at the pond I put the camera away and decided we would try the loop since I really didn't want to return the way we came. I was a little pressed for time but did not think it would be a problem.

Once we were back on the main trail, we started the walk to the upper end of the pond. The trail is completely flat and was covered by snow and ice and large areas of standing water! I had to switch from one side of the trail to the other to try to avoid the water. By noon we had walked 2.2 miles to the bridge at the inlet and despite my time constraints, I had to take a few quick pictures. Continuing our walk up the trail we encounter a small stream that was using the trail. Sheila had no problem crossing and I found a place to get across. As we started the climb to Cherry Ridge there was more snow on the trail but also plenty of running water and a few bare spots. We made a slight turn to the south and began to climb more and found that the trail was now covered in up to a foot of snow. The snow was soft and wet and my shoes began to give in to the constant contact with water. The temperature had risen to 60 degrees so at least my feet didn't seem that cold. I followed some tracks of another hiker up over the shoulder of Cherry Ridge slipping and sliding as the spikes offered little traction in the snow. Once we headed back down from the highest point on the hike, there was less snow and the trail was almost bare in some places. There did seem to be a lot of branches down on the trail especially near the high point.

As we walked on the nearly bare trail, water became a problem again as it covered several spots on the trail and extended well into the woods. In other spots water ran down the trail and I had to walk along the "bank". Sheila, of course, had no problems as she happily splashed through water, waded through mud and bounded through the snow. In several spots I just gave up and waded through the shallowest place I could find. By 1:10 PM we had hiked 4 miles are were at the junction with the trail that runs from the register box to the lower part of Russell Brook Road. We turned left to go back to the area of the falls. The trail ascends slightly and there was still a layer of rotten ice over running water with a generous helping of mud thrown in. When we finished the climb to the top of the small hill, we started to descend and I again found the trail almost bare. There was some running water and mud but both could be avoided. At one point I stopped to take a few shots of the trail which was completely bare and belied the amount of ice and snow we had encountered. We turned right at the register box and walked back across the bridge and up the road toward the car. We did meet a fisherman headed down the road and exchanged greetings on this most pleasant day. The walk back up to the car went quickly and we were back at 1:55 PM and the temperature at the car was in the mid-60's. I actually made track practice with time to spare. We had hiked 5.6 miles in 3 hours and 5 minutes with a 1200 foot elevation gain. It was better to be out than to be inside but I would not choose to do this hike again in the near future due to the conditions of the trail.

On Sunday, April 12th, I was ready to hike after almost a week "off" for the Easter holiday. A return to coaching track and relentless rain also curtailed the hiking opportunities. I decided to do another 3500 foot peak since my experience on Hunter had been so enjoyable. I decided to return to that area and hike Westkill. This peak has a special meaning for me as it is where I spread the ashes of my canine hiking companion Sheba. I also like Diamond Notch Falls which is on the way to the peak. I had read many posts on the ADK High Peaks forum and knew that I should take both snowshoes and spikes. Some hikers even advocated crampons but I have seldom need them. I got a later start than I had wanted leaving Livingston Manor at about 8:00 AM. I got Sheila into the car and loaded up my equipment. I headed out DeBruce Road which almost bare. At the end I turned left on Route 47 to head toward Big Indian and Route 28. There were a few cars at the Biscuit Brook parking area and only one or two at Slide Mountain with a few more at Panther. I turned right on Route 28 and then left on Route 42 to head toward Spruceton. On the way from Shandaken to Spruceton on Rt 42 there were no cars at the Halcott parking area. There were some large pieces of ice on the road just north of the parking area which I did not see until the last minute! They appeared to have fallen off one of the cliffs near the road as they were too big to have fallen from the trees. I turned right on the Spruceton Road and found it was full of potholes and bumps especially after it turned to mostly dirt. We arrived at the parking area on the right at about 9:05 AM and I started to get ready to hike. There was only one other car in the parking area. I attached my Tubbs AlpFlex snowshoes to my pack and put my Hillsound spikes in the back pocket of my pack for the walk up the road to the trail. When we got to the snowplow turnaround there was one car parked right under the "No Parking" sign! The trail appeared clear for some distance so we walked over the frozen pile of snow and started up the trail. There was a lot of running water on the trail and several small brooks crossed it to add to the volume of the West Kill. The stream was making quite a noise and I was tempted to stop several times to take pictures. I decided to put this off until the return trip. I wanted to try to make it to the top and back without having to change to snowshoes. This could only happen if we hiked as fast as we could to the peak and then got back down before the sun softened the trail.

At the falls, we turned right on the Devil's Path and then right again at the end of the bridge. I had still not put on my spikes which was simply stubbornness on my part. The trail still only had a little snow but the sides of the trail showed there was still snow in the woods. As we continued to follow the trail it began to get steeper and icier. Several small streams added to the water on the trail. I finally gave in and stopped to put on my spikes at about 1.3 miles just after a steep, icy section and before the part where the trail begins to travel along the side of a hill. When we reached this section, the comments on the forum about "Whack-a-mole" began to make sense. This section and the rest of the trail to the peak would have been perfect for snowshoes but it was pockmarked with postholes. Some of these holes were almost two feet deep and many where iced over indicating they had been there for some time. This means that they are old and that the hikers who made them were too ignorant or inconsiderate to wear snowshoes. Hermit (Ralph Ryndak) had made a comment about extending the regulation requiring snowshoes to the Catskills. I wondered why Ralph had said this as either of us are that fond of more rules. Once I saw the wreck of a trail I knew why and agree! There was no way I could use snowshoes so I walked along the frozen center of the trail being careful to avoid the deep holes. The situation improved a little for the rest of the hike to the peak but not by much. It didn't take us long to get to the one spot that is usually a sheet of ice. When we got there, it was not as intimidating as it had been in other years. Sheila scrambled up without much trouble and I followed making use of the small amount of snow still present. Once we passed this point there were still some steep areas to conquer. The mile climb from just after the falls to where the trail begins to level averages a 20% grade and can be very tiring in winter. Once we got to the more level part there were still some small climbs and a few descents but the going was easier. From that point to Buck Ridge and the summit is still well over a mile. On our way to the rock overhang or "cave" we passed the 3500 foot sign. I could have sworn the sign used to be just above the overhand but I checked my GPS and the new placement seems more correct.

The rock overhang had a large blowdown next to it which was easy to skirt and we were soon above the "cave". We were then at the area where the trail turns almost due west and levels off slightly. I seemed to be having to duck under a lot of tree branches and I realized that I was two to three feet above the level of the trail. I hope I will remember to remind trail maintainers to trim two the three feet higher in the summer than they think is necessary. We continued on our way as I had to pick my way around some more deep holes and stay on the frozen ridge of snow in the middle of the trail. We were soon at the base of the final ascent. We reached Buck Ridge at 11:15 AM and I decided to take some pictures before continuing on to the summit. Hiking to the summit of Westkill is a short trip but serves no purpose other than to allow a hiker to claim they got to the summit. The real attraction of Westkill is the Buck Ridge Lookouts. I took off my pack and got out the camera. It was a beautiful and sunny day but there was quite a bit of haze and very few clouds in the sky. I took a few pictures to the south including some of Sheila sitting on the rock outcrop. We then walked over to the north side and Sheila perched on the rock that Sheba always liked to sit on. I took some pastures of her and then some of the Spruceton Valley which showed very little snow. The trees have started to block the view but it was easy to stand on the snow and ice-covered boulder with my spikes. I was a little sad at this point but happy we had done the hike to Sheba's final resting place. We walked back to my pack and I put away the camera and we started up to the summit of Westkill. It is only about .1 miles and it took us about 15 minutes to get up and back to the lookouts. It was about 11:40 AM as we started back down the trail from Buck Ridge.

We kept a quick pace on the way down without stopping but the going was even more difficult as I was trying to avoid turning an ankle in the deep holes. The snow was noticeably softer but I was able to stay on top without sinking in as long as I stayed on the center ridge. A few times I stepped off the ridge and promptly sank up to my knees. Descending the icefall proved interesting. I finally decided to throw my poles down ahead of me and use the roots and trees as handholds. I did a "graceful" glissade down to the bottom where I picked up my poles. Before continuing I took a few pictures of the icefall. We continued down the trail and I thought we might meet some other hikers but none appeared. Just before the bridge at the falls, I walked off the trail to the left and took some pictures of the bridge and the falls. We crossed the bridge at the falls and we negotiated the short but steep drop to the base of the falls. Sheila immediately took a dip in the ice-cold water and then began to happily do "laps" around me. The stream has actually changed its course slightly and now flows more on the left rather than the right side of the bed. After taking these photographs, I also took about I one minute video of the falls as the sound was very visceral. We climbed back up the bank to trail and continued back to the car. We did meet two hikers and a dog on the way back. Sheila greeted the dog cordially but had to bark at the owner! I admonished her and we continued back to the car. Along the way I stopped to remove my spikes as the snow and ice had all but disappeared. I also took some pictures of the smaller rapids along the way. Back at the car the temperature had risen to 62 degrees which was significantly warmer than the reading of 36 degrees when we started. We were back in the parking area at 1:50 PM having covered 6.4 miles in 4 hours and 45 minutes with plenty of time allowed for photography. The total ascent was 2104 feet. I was tired but glad we had made the trip. I carried my snowshoes for the whole trip but had no opportunity to use them.

On Monday, April 6th I was ready to get back out on the trails after a long weekend. I led four church services from Good Friday through Easter and had family at the house most of the day on Sunday. All of this was wonderful but tiring. Monday looked liked it would be the best day to hike since the forecast for the rest of the week called for rain. Cindy had not been out in some time but agreed to take a hike at Frick Pond. We got Sheila in the car and loaded our equipment to head out DeBruce Road. We decided that snowshoes would probably be needed as the warm temperatures would make the snow soft on the trails. I decided to bring my Crescent Moon snowshoes this time as they are slightly wider than the other models I have. We left home around 10:15 AM and parked in the larger of the two lots at the end of Beech Mountain Road. There was a layer of snow in the parking lot as we got ready and headed out at 10:45 AM on the Quick Lake Trail. The trail had a new layer of snow which was undisturbed indicating we were the first hikers since Sunday's snowfall. The snow was more consolidated than I thought it might be and we had no trouble staying on top. Off the trail the snow was soft and there was still well over a foot in most places. We turned left onto the woods road following the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond. There were several areas where the snow had melted leaving open water on the trail. We walked along the side of the trail using the snow that remained. At the junction with the Logger's Loop, we stayed to the left and walked down the hill to the bridge. I took off y pack and snapped some shots of the pond which had a small slice of open water. We continued on the Quick Lake Trail and headed left when we got to the junction with the trail round the back of the pond. The higher temperatures and direct sunlight were already starting to soften the snow and I knew that clumping could be a problem. As we continued on the Quick Lake Trail there were several paces where the snow was completely melted and we took to the woods where there was still enough snow. Walking through the unconsolidated snow was much harder but we were soon back on the trail and entering the woods.

We walked through the woods where the snow was rather well packed and came to the small stream. The volume of the stream had increased with the meting snow and it was a little more challenging to cross than it had been during the winter. As we headed uphill toward Iron Wheel Junction, the snow started to clump on our snowshoes. The sun was out and the air temperature was increasing which softened the trail. In addition, there were several places where water was flowing freely requiring us to detour in what was left of the snow. As we approached the junction, Cindy indicated she wanted to turned right on the Logger's Loop and do a shorter hike. Although I gave her a hard time, I also was tiring and didn't really mind the route she chose. We got to the junction at 11:50 AM after hiking 1.5 miles. I took a few shots of the iron wheel peeking through the snow and then we turned right on the Logger's Loop. The snow was well-packed on this trail since it also serves as a snowmobile trail and the going was easier. The trail did seem to gain a little more elevation than I remembered but soon we were headed downhill to Times Square. We continued straight across the four-way junction to stay on the Logger's Loop. This part of the hike proved to be the hardest as the trail was not as broken in or packed as well as the others. By this time the sun had begun to melt the snow and it was hard to follow the track that was there. We began to break through several times as we walked the uphill on the east side of the pond. Eventually we crested the hill, walked across the top of the remaining drifts and hiked the last few hundred feet back to the Quick Lake Trail. We turned left of the trail and hiked back to the register box. At the register we turned right and hiked back to the parking area. When we got to the lot, we found that all the snow had melted and the road was clear. It was 1:00 PM and we had hiked 3.8 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes with about 410 feet of elevation gain.

On Wednesday, April 1stI wanted to do a 3500 foot peak and had decided early in the week it would be Hunter. I looked at the weather forecast and picked the day that seemed to offer cool weather but some bright sun. I wanted the snow to be frozen and hard packed for hiking but also wanted to have some nice views from the fire tower. I had thought I would get started at about 7:00 AM but for various reasons I did not get out of the house until after 8:00 AM. The temperature in the early morning was in the low teens but it was quickly warming into the mid 20's. I got an always eager Sheila into the car and put my gear in the trunk. I was hoping to be able to use only spikes but I brought along my MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes in case conditions warranted. These are not my favorite snowshoes but they fold almost flat which makes them the best pick when they may have to be strapped to a pack. I headed out DeBruce Road which was snow covered and slippery in spots from some snow the day before. I turned left on Rote 47 to head toward Big Indian and Route 28. There were no cars at the Biscuit Brook parking area and only one or two at Slide and Panther Mountain. I had to keep reminding myself it was only Wednesday! I turned right on Route 28 and then left on Route 42 to head toward Spruceton. On the way from Shandaken to Spruceton on Rt 42 there were no cars at the Halcott parking area. I turned right on the Spruceton Road and found it was full of potholes and bumps especially after it turned to mostly dirt. We arrived at the parking area on the left at about 9:20 AM and I started to get ready to hike. The temperature was still in the 20's and the snow on the trail was hard so I made the decision to wear spikes and leave the snowshoes at the car. I knew this might be a bad decision and could prevent me from getting to the summit but I was willing to take the chance. Another car pulled into the lot and parked right next to mine. A woman younger than I opened the door and said "Hi!" and which time her small dog began to bark. She asked me if Sheila was friendly and I said she usually was. At that point she suggested I let her go first since her dog might think he was chasing us if we were ahead. I patiently declined thinking that she should be able to control her dog. I have to admit I was also peeved at the suggestion that she and her dog could hike faster than Sheila and I. Sheila and I left the parking area at 9:30 AM and I made up my mind to do my best to stay ahead of anyone who would be following us. The snow was well-packed but the trail was covered in a few inches of new powder which showed that no one else had been up the trail lately. The powder hid the fact that there were some rather deep postholes along the way that I would want to try to avoid.

As we hiked, the sun began to warm me and I opened all the zippers I could and took down my hood. There wasn't much snow on the wide woods road that makes up the first part of the trail. We crossed the bridge at .5 miles and shortly after made the hairpin turn where the trail begins to get steeper. There were no obvious tracks going up Rusk. The sun was bright which always puts me in a good mood. As we hiked Sheila was following animal tracks in many different directions as I took in the view of the Westkill Ridge on the right. We made the saddle between Hunter and the Rusk ridge at 10:20 AM after hiking 1.7 miles. I stopped to get a drink and contemplated the fact that we were half way through the trip as far as mileage went. I knew that the hardest part was yet to come. We made the right turn up the mountain and I immediately found it harder to follow the pack trail. I looked for the depression of the trail, and used my poles to guide me. After the turn, the trail got steeper and I remembered that it could be very icy along the way especially at the spring below the lean-to. I was feeling a little more tired than usual since I had not been hiking mountains for some time. I had been concentrating on the Finger Lakes Trail and Long Path with much longer but flatter hikes. I simply decided to cut my pace a little and relax taking a break when I needed. We reached the spring at 2.1 miles and there was little or no ice flow on the trail as I had seen in previous years, We walked passed the trail to the lean-to and I made a note to stop on the way back. There were boot tracks that seemed to come down the mountain and head out the trail to the lean-to. I was able to follow them as we continued up the mountain. I had promised myself I would not stop for pictures until we reached the tower but there were a few places where I had to take shots of the green trees and blue skies with white clouds. At 11:00 AM we passed the trail to the left that goes to the Colonel's Chair, the top of the Hunter Mountain ski complex. We had hiked 2.4 miles and still had about a mile and 450 feet of elevation to go! Even though I had stopped several times there were no signs of anyone following us on the trail

The final mile has a few spots where the trail levels off and a few where there are some sustained climbs. We passed by a small lookout on the left since I knew better things were to come. As we approached the tower clearing, I could see some snowshoe tracks ahead but they turned out to be at least a day old. We walked to the cabin where I dropped my pack and got out my camera. I leashed Sheila to the porch in case others arrived before I was ready to leave. I took some pictures of the tower as the skies were blue with some nice clouds. I headed up the tower to take more pictures. I left my spikes on which turned out to be a good idea since many of the steps were still icy. As soon as I was above the tree line, a sustained wind of at least 20 mph was blowing. The wind chill was making the temperature feel 10 degrees colder than on the ground. I took pictures from just below the cabin on the tower and then came down to another level and took some more. I could see skiers at the Hunter Mountain Ski Area with the zoom on the camera. I took a few shots from the lower levels as I descended the tower. Back on the ground it actually felt MUCH warmer. I went over to the porch to release Sheila and get a drink. I got my gear on and we started back at 11:40 PM. I still had not seen the lady with the dog and wondered if she had decided on another route. I immediately noticed that the snow was softer and was beginning to clump on the bottom of my boots. I tried to stay in the shade where the snow was not as soft but the clumping got worse the further we went. At about 4 miles into the trip and a little before the turn to the Colonel's Chair, Sheila alerted and I saw the woman and her dog coming toward us. I put Sheila on her leash and the woman picked up her dog. As we passed, we said "Hello". I noticed that she had on what looked like high designer boots and did not have snowshoes or spikes. I was glad I had not taken her up on her offer. We continued on down the mountain making good progress as I was still able to slide through much of the powder. At 4.5 miles we were back at the turn to the lean-to and we took the trail as I wanted to take some pastures from he viewpoint in front of the lean-to.

I again noticed the tracks but they looked old. The new site of the lean-to is a great one but the trail down to it can be tricky. The short trail is steep and passes between some rocks and can be a challenge when it is full of ice and snow. As I cleared the rocks, I heard voices and Sheila barked once. There were tow people at the lean-to who were getting ready to head out the lower trail. I out Sheila on her leash as I wanted to talk to the campers but they immediately headed out the trail. I walked to the lean-to, leashed Sheila to a tree and got out my camera. From the viewpoint the entire Spruceton Valley opened up below. I took shots of the valley and the Westkill Ridge on the other side. I also took a few pictures of Rusk and East Rusk before going back to my pack. After a drink, Sheila and I headed back up the cute and out the path to the main trail. We hiked won passed the spring but never saw the other two hikers. The snow clumping on my boots was getting worse but I didn't really want to take off the spikes. We reached the turn onto the odds road at 12:35 PM about 5.1 miles into the hike. This time we did not stop. I was able to find some places where there was almost no snow and others where there was just ice which reduced the clumping and made the descent easier. I was anxious to get back which made the last 1.7 miles seem longer. I was happy to be descending as the turn trip was going much faster than the ascent. After making the sharp turn on the trail, I could see some tracks on the usual path to Rusk which had not been there earlier. As we continued back to the parking area I could see that someone had worn MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes as I could tell from the imprint. What was odd was that it seemed that they had not worn the snowshoes on the way to Rusk! When we arrived back in the parking area at 1:15 PM there were only two cars. The other hiker must have summitted Rusk and then moved on! We had hiked 6.8 miles and gained 2015 feet in 3 hours and 45 minutes. This was an overall speed of about 1.8 mph with over 20 minutes of stopped time at the tower and lean-to. I was satisfied with the pace especially under the conditions. This hike also made me remember how rewarding climbing the 3500 foot peaks can be! I checked my records and found that the last time I was on Hunter was over two years ago!

On Monday, March 30th I had made tentative plans to hike with a friend at Frick Pond. When I called him mid-morning, he told me he was running late and would not be able to make it. I decided that I would go anyway but hike a longer loop. I though I might go up the Flynn Trail as I had not been there for the entire winter. It had snowed some overnight leaving a blanket of one to two inches of fresh white over the melting snow. By the time I got Sheila and my gear in the car it was almost 12:30 PM. The temperature was about 37 degrees which worried me a little since the snow would be close to melting. I headed out DeBruce Road and made the familiar left turn onto Mongaup Road. At the split I headed to the left on Beech Mountain Road and parked in the smaller parking area on the left. When I let Sheila out of the car, she ran in circles around it until I was ready to go. The temperature was 33 degrees and the snow did not seem to be melting at all. We crossed the road and climbed the snow bank to get on the blue blazed Flynn Trail. It was obvious that only a few hikers had attempted the trail as there weren't many snowshoe tracks. In fact, the tracks were hard to follow as the trail was not well set. The snow had hardened as it melted and froze again making following the track almost impossible.

Once we made the right out of the trees and onto the woods road, I simply walked beside the tracks. The snow was hard enough to easily support my weight. I did stop to take few shots since the new snow had made everything pretty again. As we continued our hike, I noticed that the sky was completely overcast and that there were more and more flakes in the air. I didn't mind the snow but I hoped that the temperature wouldn't go up enough for rain showers! It took us about 50 minutes to hike the 1.7 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail and I immediately noticed snowmobile tracks despite the "Snowmobiles Prohibited" sign which was prominently displayed. I was aggravated but also saddened that a few people who do not obey the rules can give an entire group a bad name. It was obvious that these new tracks were on top of older ones as the snow was very well packed. This misuse of the trails continued throughout the hike and was the only negative element. At the next trail junction, we headed down the hill on the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond. The snowmobile tracks turned right on the woods road illegally traveling on OSI property. By 2:00 PM we had hiked 2.5 miles and were near the shore of Hodge Pond. The pond was completely frozen and the ice looked thick. I stopped to take a few pictures as the sky was overcast but interesting. After I put the camera away, we walked across the outlet to Hodge Pond on the Flynn Trail following snowmobile tracks that should not have been there! At 2.8 miles we turned left to Stay on the Flynn Trail and walked up to the gate at the top of the hill. We followed the Flynn Trail for another .5 miles until we arrived at Junkyard Junction at 3.3 miles. The Flynn Trail ends, or starts, at this junction with the red-blazed Quick Lake Trail. We turned left and began a long downhill walk on the Quick Lake Trail toward Iron Wheel Junction.

At 4.7 miles we passed the junction with the snowmobile trail that goes to Quick Lake. At this point the sun was peeking through the clouds and it seemed a little warmer. I began to get VERY large clumps of snow under my snowshoes particularly the left one. I kept kicking the snow off or using my poles to clear the clumps but it was annoying and effecting my stride. Just short of Iron Wheel Junction, I took the snowshoes off and carried them to test whether or not the snow would support me. I found that the support was good and that without the snowshoes I was not getting any clumping. We made the turn to the right at Iron Wheel Junction at 4.9 miles around 3:00 PM. We stopped and I did my best to bungee the snowshoes to my pack. The TSL Symbioz snowshoes have great bindings but they do not lie flat. In addition, I had forgotten to bring a second bungee so they mostly hung off the back of the pack. It was not the neatest arrangement but it worked. Unfortunately, the miscreant snowmobiles had turned down the Quick Lake Trail again ignoring the signs. The snow there was not as well packed but I was able to stay on top as we hiked toward Frick Pond. We crossed the small stream and by 3:25 PM we were at the junction with the trail that got around the back of Frick Pond to Times Square. We continued straight ahead toward the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. When we arrived at the bridge, I couldn't resist snapping a few pictures of the pond and of Beech Mountain, the highest point in Sullivan County. I put the camera in the pack and carefully walked up the icy trail to the top of the hill. We passed the junction with the Logger's Loop on the left and continued to the trail register. We turned right and were soon back at the car. It was It as 3:50 PM ad we had taken just less than 3 hours to hike 6.4 miles gaining 920 feet along the way. The temperature had risen to 37 degrees but on the way home the weather forecast was calling for lower temperatures the next day and more snow showers.

On Saturday, March 28th I had planned to go to Hunter Mountain and hike from Spruceton to the summit. I wanted to get some views and another snowshoe hike before the snow was gone. When I awoke at 6:00 AM, I looked at the forecast for Spruceton which called for windchills in the single digits for the whole day and for some snow. I decided that I wanted some sunny views if I was going to hike to a fire tower. I do not mind hiking when it is cold since I have the appropriate clothing but Sheila only has one set of clothes and she seems to get a little cold when temperatures less than the mid-teens. As I was thinking about another hike I realized I had not been to Long Pond in some time. I also knew that the trails in this area would be packed by snowmobile traffic. Since I usually walk back on Flugertown Road, I would have to carry my snowshoes if I wore them. If the trails were packed, I could wear my spikes which are easier to carry on the road. I delayed our departure waiting for the temperature to increase a little. After watching the thermometer stay at 20 degrees for some time, I decided to leave the house. I got Sheila and my gear in the car and left the house a little after 10:00 AM. I took both snowshoes and spikes since I did not know exactly what I would find. I drove out DeBruce Road to Flugertown Road in Willowemoc where I turned left. A short distance up the road I turned right into the lot which was completely plowed although no cars were present. This area is part of the extensive network of snowmobile trails and I suspect that may be the reason the lot was so well maintained. I parked and let Sheila out of the car. I walked over the test then trail surface and found it was hard as a rock. I went back to the car, put on my spikes and we started our hike at about 10:35 AM. After crossing the bridge, the trail immediately begins a .7 mile ascent gaining about 360 feet as it goes. This is not a steep climb but it certainly gets the blood pumping at the beginning of the hike. After that, the trail is mostly downhill to 1.1 miles where there is a side trail on the right that goes down to Long Pond. I had almost decided to skip this part of the trip but changed my mind as we approached the trail.

I was a little surprised to see Long Pond completely frozen over with what looked like solid ice. Sheila proved that the ice was solid enough to support her weight as she walked out onto the ice to explore. I took some pictures and noticed that the northern part of the pond which is covered with brightly colored bushes in other seasons was now covered in ice. We returned to the main trail and turned right to continue our hike. At 1.4 miles we came to the trail junction where we usually bear right to continue the "big" loop. I decided that I had not been to the left in some time and we would head that way. My intention was to walk out to Flugertown Road and turn right to complete the loop in the opposite direction. This would also allow us to return on the trail avoiding the road walk at the end. We turned left and head north toward the road. The trail descends almost 200 feet along the way which means some more uphill on the return trip. As we hiked, we could hear snowmobiles to the west but they never came up the trail we were on. We descended to the bridges across the streams and I took my pack off to get my camera out to take a few pictures. I stepped off the trail and promptly went up to me knee in snow! I took some pictures of the snow covered streams and the bridge with Sheila making a few cameo appearances. As I crossed the second bridge there were two different paths to follow. I looked ahead to see if I could spot Flugertown Road. When I could not see the road, I chose the right path and walked a short distance. I found the road but it was entirely covered in snow and ice giving meaning to the phrase "Seasonal Maintenance"! I took a few shots of the road and then turned right to start the loop. The road was even easier to walk than the snowmobile trails and we made good time even though the walk was slightly uphill. In the next .75 miles we gained a little over 100 feet until we were at the spot on the road overlooking the Peters Hunting Camp.

A few flakes had been falling during most of the hike but now they were falling harder and the wind was blowing. Despite this, I stopped to take a few pictures of the valley and the hills beyond as the snow swept in. We continued down the road and crossed the bridge changing direction from northeast to almost due south. As we crossed the small bridge over the outlet of the beaver pond, I took a few more shots and then continued the hike. At 3.6 miles the road split with Basily Road heading left toward Wild Meadow Road and Round Pond. We headed to the right to continue on Flugertown Road. When we reached the 4 mile point, we turned right following the trail that would complete the loop and take us back to the parking area. The trail was again well packed and showed some signs that a snowmobile had passed recently. We walked along and I felt a little warmer as the forest protected us from the wind. We continued to hike southwest and at 4.6 miles came to the trail to the lean-to on the left. We passed by the side trail and continue to 5.1 miles where we completed the loop by arriving at the trail junction where we had turned to start the loop. All that remained was to hike back to the car by reversing our route from earlier. I had been noticing the tracks from some MSR snowshoes which I thought were new since we started but we never saw anyone. We hiked uphill a little passing the turn to Long Pond and at 5.7 miles were at the top of the descent back to the parking area. We were making good time going downhill but as we approached the lot we could hear and then see two snowmobilers getting ready to start out on the trail. I decided to put Sheila on her leash just before we crossed the bridge but the people on the machines waited to start until we were back at the car. There was another truck with a trailer and one car in the lot. It was 12:55 PM and we had hiked 6.3 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes going about 770 feet along the way.

On Friday, March 27th, I wanted to get in a hike but wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I knew it would have to be short and local as I had track practice in the afternoon. Bryce, my 4 year old grandson, was at the house by 9:15 AM and told me he wanted to use his snowshoes before all the snow was gone. I decided we would go to Frick Pond and walk out to the bridge and back. Having Sheila and Bryce along means that much more to manage but I finally got both of them, my equipment and Bryce's poles and snowshoes into the car. It was a little colder than I would have liked with the temperature only in the mid 20's. The parking lots at Frick Pond were empty so I parked in the bigger lot and helped Bryce put on his snowshoes. The MSR Tykers do not have keepers on the front straps but I tucked them under the strap and they seemed OK. While I got my TSL Symbioz snowshoes on, Bryce decided to cross the parking lot and climb the high snow bank. I was surprised when I saw that he could climb the bank without slipping or falling! I got out my camera and took a few pictures before we started our hike. Bryce had no trouble climbing and the descending the bank at the start of the trail. After the warm weather and rain, I was surprised that there was still at least 18 inches of snow on the trail. The snow was hard packed and granular but the snowshoes still got a good bite for traction. We turned left at the register and headed out the woods road to Frick Pond. Along the way there were several areas of open water but there was snow on the side. Bryce did say he was getting tired so we and songs and counted our steps and I didn't hear any more complaints. I told him there was a bed on the trail and I am not sure he belied me until we neared Frick Pond and I showed him the iron frame of a bunk bed to the left of the trail. The trail down to the pond was very icy so I grabbed Bryce's hand as we walked down to the bridge. There probably was no need to do this as the snowshoes offered good traction on the ice. Bryce posed with Sheila at the beginning of the bridge and I took some pictures. I also took a few shots of the pond and Beech Mountain but the day was very overcast with almost no sun. When Bryce saw the snow drift and the end of the bridge, he asked me if he could climb it. I said "Yes" and he attacked the drift. The drift was very steep and it took several tries before Bryce made it to the top. I took a few pictures before Bryce slid down the bank. He wanted to do it several more times but the wind was blowing and I wanted to start back. The climb up the hill from the pond was tricky but we were soon heading back passed the bed and the junction with the Logger's Loop. Bryce asked me to carry his poles which I did and he seemed to be managing well without them. We walked back to the register and then turned right and walked back to the car. We had covered a little over a mile in a little more than an hour. This was one of the slowest and most enjoyable hike I have ever taken.

On Tuesday, March 24th, I was ready for my first hike of the spring season. Lisa had emailed me the night before and we decided to hike Cabot Mountain from Beech hill, a hike we had not attempted in the winter for over three years. The morning started out colder than I had anticipated so we delayed our departure until 9:30 when I picked Lisa up at her house. I drove up the Beaverkill Road to Beech Hill Road where I turned left. I continued 2.6 miles to the trailhead for Cabot Mountain. Even though it was spring, Lisa and I knew we would need snowshoes or spikes for the hike! At the trailhead parking area there was a bank of snow at least 5 feet tall. The parking area really wasn't plowed but a wide pass had been made to open up enough space to get a car off the pavement. I pulled in and we got out to put on our gear. Sheila was excited as she ran up on the snow bank and down the trail as Lisa and I got ready. Before we got out of the car I noted that the temperature was only 17 degrees. After I got out of the car, I noted that the wind was blowing and that my bare hands were freezing. The trail looked as if it had not been used all winter so Lisa and I both put on snowshoes. Lisa opted for a Crescent Moon model while I continued to try out my TSL Symbioz on varying terrain. We hopped up on the snow bank and headed down the woods road at about 9:45 AM. The sun was out and as soon as we entered the trees I began to feel much warmer. The initial quarter mile is a slight descent or reactively flat but after that there is a considerable ascent to handle. We immediately noticed that the trail markers were few and far between. This was similar to the situation I had experienced trying to hike from Big Pond to Little Pond. When there is no snow on the ground, the trail is much easier to spot even if it is not frequently hiked. On this day the snow was completely pristine with only a few animal tracks and it was difficult to pick out the correct route at times. As soon as we started to ascend, I dropped the televators on my snowshoes which really helped me get a grip on the frozen snow and allowed me to climb more easily without outstretching my calf muscles.

The ascent lasted for about half a mile but seemed longer. The average gradient was 24% but several sections were well over 30%. We were initially heading northeast but as the climb continued we turned more to the right so at the top we were pointed east. From the base of the climb we had gained 650 feet in .5 miles. We began to hike along the ridge losing and finding the trail markers several times. In some areas we had to both scan ahead to find the markers or wander in different directions until we spotted them. The snow continued to be well consolidated allowing us to walk on top breaking through only a few times. Along the ridge there were places were there was fresh powder to a depth of several inches making the hike that much more beautiful. As we walked along the ridge we both commented that the route seemed unfamiliar. I checked my GPS which did not seem to have either Cabot Mountain or Little Pond marked on it. We both KNEW there was no other trail or turns but the feeling persisted. Lisa did remember that the distance was about 1.5 miles so I checked my GPS at intervals to see how far we had hiked. As we hiked along the ridge our direction changed from east to southeast and then almost south. At 1.4 miles we passed over the highest point on Cabot Mountain and the walked to the lookout. The trail had been looking more familiar and the were a few short but steep climbs to negotiate on the way. We stopped short of the viewpoint and took a few pictures of it before I walked out to take some shots of the scenery. It had taken us about 1.5 hours to hike the 1.5 miles but I anticipated a faster return trip. The views from the lookout are becoming limited by the trees as they grow taller. Little Pond was clearly visible as was Touch-Me-Not Mountain and other hills in the distance. The sky was blue with some nice white clouds. There was some sun but the overall views were a little monotonous. I took some pictures, posing Sheila for a few shots, and then we started the return trip. The crusted snow limited the amount of gliding I could get with my snowshoes. This is the trade-off with snowshoes that have an excellent grip! The down hill route seemed to go very quickly although there were a few short climbs before the big downhill. We were back at the car by 12:15 PM having left the viewpoint at 11:30 AM. The return trip took only 45 minutes or about half the time as the climb. Overall we spent Overall we had spent 2.5 hours on the 3 mile hike with several stops and some time wandering around. The vertical gain was just under 1000 feet. After I got Sheila in the car and took off my gear, I took several pictures of Lisa perched high on the snow bank well above the level of the register box.

Winter 2014 - 2015

On Thursday, March 19th I wanted to get out for what would be the last winter hike of the season. Of course, the Catskills have a way of prolonging winter and several inches of snow was in the forecast for Friday. I had decided to head for Big Pond for a hike to Little Pond and back. I had several possibilities to complete this loop including staying on the trails, walking back on the roads and making a side trip to Cabot Mountain. I expected the temperature to be low in the morning but when I awoke the thermometer had a single digit reading and the wind was blowing. I delayed my start leaving Livingston Manor just before 10:00 AM when the temperature had crept into the upper teens. Sheila seemed more than ready to go when we arrived at the Big Pond parking area. I had thought I might only need spikes since I thought that the trail would be well-packed and I did not expect the temperature to rise that much. I got out of the car and walked across the road to check the trail and found that I could find no evidence that any body had used it at all! I let Sheila out of the car and put on my snowshoes as the wind whipped across Big Pond and the temperature hovered around 16 degrees. We crossed the road at 10:15 AM and started up the hill trying to follow the blazes on the trees. I checked the register box and found the last entry was a forest ranger from Stamford on November 10th! The first part of the trail is an old woods road and it is pretty easy to follow. I was glad I had opted for some heavier clothes and my mittens. Sheila was running all over the place on the pristine snow as I trudged up the trail. I was able to stay on top of the snow in most places only sinking in when walking over brush hidden beneath the snow.

The first mile of the trail gains about 775 feet with an average grade of 15%. Some places are almost flat which means there are a few steeper places. I began to notice that the blazing of the trail was extremely poor. Most blazes were placed too far apart. Some were very old and faded with others grown into the trees. A few were placed on the side of the tree meaning they were not visible from either direction on the trail. None of the turns were properly marked. I had to stop and stare several times to find a marker and in other places simply continued in what I thought was the correct direction. Several times I just followed Sheila who seems to be able to find the right direction no matter what. In a few places the trail travels along the side of the hill and this made for some tricky footing. By 11:10 AM we had hiked a mile to the highest point on the trail on the shoulder of Touch-Me-Not Mountain. After a slight descent we turned right on the yellow loop trail around Little Pond. The loop trail is very popular with campers during the season and I hoped it would be better marked than the trail from Big Pond. This trail, in fact, not as well marked as the other and I wandered around several times eventually following Sheila. At 1.6 miles we had finally descended some interesting rock formations and had arrived at the cutoff to Cabot Mountain. I decided not to attempt the steep ascent of Cabot and we continued our hike by bearing left to stay on the loop trail. At 1.8 miles we arrived in the clearing that acts as a viewpoint. It is hard to see Little Pond from this lookout since the trees have grown up. This is a place that holds many memories as we hiked the loop many times when I was younger. We stop and I got out the camera to take pictures of the snowy hills and the blue sky. I also took a few shots of the small foundation of a long-forgotten homestead cabin. We continued to walk out a woods road from the clearing now heading south and in a few hundred feet turned left to head south to the northern shore of Little Pond. The snow was still firm enough to walk on top but the sun was starting to warm the upper layers. The snow began to clump on the bottom of the snowshoes and I began to break through in several places as we approached the road around the pond.

At the pond we turned right to walk around the western shore of Little Pond. There were some old snowshoe tracks indicating at least one person had listed the area over the winter. We stopped at the boat launch area and I took some photos of Touch-Me-Not Mountain. I also took a few shots of a lone bench that looked like it was waiting for warmer weather. As we walked along the road, I began to see picnic tables leaning on the fireplaces at the campsites. I stopped to take a few pictures before we turned left to head for the bridge at the outlet of Little Pond. We crossed the bridge and I dropped my pack to take a few last pictures. Although the sun was out, the wind was howling down the pond and my fingers grew cold as I spent only a few minutes getting some shots. I put my camera away, donned my mittens and shouldered the pack. We walked over to the parking area and found that it and the road had been plowed. We walked out to the gatehouse and I decided to take off the snowshoes and walk the rest of the way on the road. I thought for a moment about completing the loop on the trail but this meant a steep climb on deteriorating snow. I got out a bungee cord and did my best to strap my snowshoes to the pack. The TSL Symbioz bindings are some of the best I found but they do not lie flat. I also had brought only one bungee so in the end the snowshoes just sort of hung off the back of my pack. We walked a little less than a mile down to Barkaboom Road and turned left to hike up the road back to Big Pond. I put Sheila on her leash but in the .6 mile hike back to the car there was no traffic. We were back at the car at the car at 12:55 PM having hiked 4.8 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes. The elevation gain was about 1000 feet. I put Sheila in the car and stowed my gear except for the camera. I walked down to the shore of Big Pond and took a few pictures before heading back to the car.

On Sunday, March 15th we had the kickoff meeting of the Willowemoc Trail Crew at Morgan Outdoors in Livingston Manor. The kickoff was postponed from March 1st due to inclement weather but 20 people showed up for a short meeting and a snowshoe adventure at Frick Pond. The trail crew was formed to help maintain and improve the trails that have been adopted by the NYNJTC in the Willowemoc Wild Forest and the Delaware Wild Forest. This includes the trails around Frick, Hodge, Mongaup and Long Ponds. It also encompasses the area of Trout and Mud Ponds and Huggins Lake. These two areas are in different DEC regions but both have trails that need maintenance. Most of the 349.3 miles of trails in the Catskill [park are maintained by volunteers and volunteer trail crews. The meeting started promptly at 1:00 PM with a short presentation and the introduction of two special guest. Heather Rolland represented the NYNJTC and Ian Dunn, the DEC Region 3 land manager, was also present. Maintaining and improving trails is a cooperative venture between the DEC, NYNJTC and the volunteers in the field. The brief presentation was followed by a question and answer period. Following some refreshments Lisa Lyons outfitted anyone lacked snowshoes and wanted to hike. She generously waived the rental fee and gave instructions on how to work the bindings. At about 1:40 PM we headed out to Frick Pond and parked in the two lots. The weather kept changing from sunny to overcast but the one constant was a howling wind gusting to over 20 mph. Everyone got their snowshoes on and we headed out the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond. I took the lead while Heather stayed with some of the novice snowshoers.

The trail was still well-packed which made walking easier and even though the pace was slow I was still warm. The temperature was above freezing but the wind made it feel much cooler. We stopped at Gravestone Junction and again at the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond to allow the group to stay together. From the bridge we headed around the west side of the pond crossing the two small footbridges. At the trail junction we strayed to the right to hike around back of Frick Pond. Despite the wind the hike was enjoyable and I was pleased to be with a group as I hike only with Sheila much of the time. Sheila for her part was well-behaved although I had to remind her that not everyone wants to share their snowshoes with her. By 3:00 PM we had made our way to Times Square covering 1.2 miles. The group had definitely split into two sections. As the first section consolidated at Times Square, I gave them instructions on how to get back to the parking area and turned around to see how the others were doing. I walked back on the trail around the back of Frick Pond and quickly found the rest of the group minus a few who had turned around early in the hike. I explained that it was shorter to continue around the pond and we hiked to Times Square. After a short break we started in again and I traded places with Heather and Ian sending them ahead with the more experienced snowshoers. We climbed the small hill on the Logger's Loop heading toward Gravestone Junction. We were able to stay on top of the drifts but the wind blowing across the pond was fierce. We made the left onto the Quick Lake Trail and hiked back to the trail register. We made a right and headed back to the parking area arriving at 4:00 PM. We covered 2.2 miles in about 2 hours. This was certainly not my normal pace but I thoroughly enjoyed being with a group. I am anxious to set the work dates for the trail crew and see how many projects we can undertake and how much good work we can accomplish.

On Friday, March 13th, I had planned to hike Balsam Lake Mountain from the Millbrook side since it had been along time since I had hiked a 3500 foot peak. I knew I would be getting a late start as we had an active shooter drill at Livingston Manor schools from 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM. The drill went well and was over by 9:30 AM which was a pleasant surprise since I could now start my hike earlier. As soon as we got back to the building, we got an ambulance call in Roscoe. I was still back home before I had planned so I called Cindy who was shopping and she agreed to hurry home so that we could go. We were just heading out the door at 12:30 PM when the pager again went off for another call in Roscoe. There was no other EMT available so I responded knowing that it would mean changing plans to a much shorter local hike! When I got home at 2:00 PM, I decided we should try Balsam Lake as I had headlamps and the weather was warm. Cindy and I got our gear and put an excited Sheila in the backseat. We headed up the Quickway and took Route 206 towards Downsville. I took a right on Route 30 and then took the BWS roads to Millbrook Road. I drove passed Kelly Hollow and soon after pulled into the parking lot that serves Balsam Lake Mountain and Dry Brook Ridge. By the time we strapped on our snowshoes and started the hike by crossing the road it as 3:15 PM and I wondered whether I had made the right choice. The snow was form underfoot and it looked like the trail had been well-used. Unlike the climb from the Beaverkill Road which starts out almost flat, the ascent from Millbrook starts with an uphill gaining over 200 feet in the first half mile. As we hiked, I stuck my pole into the snow off the trail and found over two feet. Sheila kept following animal tracks off the trail and then having to bound through the heavy snow to get back. We were making good time by keeping a fast pace but it was making me a little tired.

At .8 miles we began a switchback which eventually brought us to a flatter area at about 1.25 miles. I had not hiked from this direction many times but it seemed longer than I remembered. The tradeoff between the two starts is that the Beaverkill start is flat for some time and then has a steep climb. The hike from the Millbrook side climbs from the beginning but is not as steep as from the Beaverkill Road. Along the way there were some interesting rocks including some that had been eroded so that there were only a few "pillars" left separating some layers. At 2.1 miles we came to the turnoff to the left for Graham and I knew the trail to the summit of Balsam Lake was just ahead. The trail to Graham looked well-used. At 2.3 miles we turned right and started up the trail to the fire tower. Just after the start of the trail there is a metal gate. The top of the gate was even with the top of the snow. I had kept my camera in my pack as I wanted to keep moving but I had to have a picture of the gate. I took one of the gate alone and then took one with Sheila before packing up again to move on. As we started up the mountain, I pushed the televators on my TSL Symbioz Elite snowshoes down. They ready do make an ascent easier by taking the strain off the calf muscles. On these snowshoes they are so easy to use that I put them up and down several times. The climb alternates between steeper and more level sections and we were making good time on both. At one point I noticed that by following the tracks of other hikers we had lost the trail blazes. We continued to follow the tracks and were soon back on the trail. by 4:45 PM we had hiked just under 3 miles and were in the clearing with the fire tower. The top of the picnic table was even with the top of the snow and I took a few pictures before heading to the tower.

As I began to ascend the tower, I noticed that the skies had already begun to cloud over as the storm predicted for Saturday was beginning to roll in. The winds that were not noticeable at ground level were certainly noticeable as I climbed to just below the cab. I could hear Cindy calling Sheila who has no problem following me up the steps of the fire towers! I too pictures in all directions. Although the skies were not ideal, it was nice to get some views of the hills and valleys. Balsam Lake is the westernmost 3500 foot peak and most of the other peaks are visible from it. I took few shots through the tower and a few more of the steps on the way down. The steps were clear of ice and snow but the landings were still tricky. Before putting the camera away, I took a few pictures of the tower. We started back down at 5:00 PM and I said to Cindy I thought it would take us about an hour and 15 minutes about 15 minutes less than the ascent. The sun was still pretty high in the sky as we began a fast-paced return trip to the car. We were setting a good pace down the mountain to the left turn onto the trail back to Millbrook Road. There were a few short ascents along the way but otherwise we kept moving quickly. It felt good to move fast over the snow and in a few spots I was almost running, We passed through the switchback which signaled to me that we were almost back to the car. Soon we were crossing the road and walking through the lot back to the car. We were back at 6:15 PM with light to spare. We had hiked 5.9 miles in 3 hours with a 1280 foot elevation gain. Although this is not a difficult hike I was pleased with our pace and glad we had decided to do the hike.

On Wednesday, March 11th Lisa wanted to get out for a hike. We agreed to wait until the morning to make a decision since it was supposed to rain overnight. When I woke up at 6:00 AM, there was still some drizzle in the air but by 8:00 AM it had stopped. This meant it would be possible to attempt a hike but the snow conditions might be questionable due to the rain and increasing temperature. I contacted Lisa and we agreed to meet downtown at 10:15 AM. We left Livingston Manor and headed out the DeBruce Road to Fish Hatchery Road. I turned left and drove toward Mongaup Pond turning left on Beech Mountain Road at the fork. I parked in the smaller lot and immediately could see that it was icy. After some equipment malfunctions, we got started on our hike by walking to the larger lot and out the back on the Quick Lake Trail at 10:40 AM. The snow had softened on the well-packed trail which meant we were sinking in some with each step. Lisa seemed to enjoy this. I did not! Sheila was all over the place even venturing off the trail to follow some animal scent. When we came to Gravestone Junction, Lisa expressed a desire to go around the pond. I suggested we go to the right on the Logger's Loop first as I was not sure how deeply we would sink into the deep drifts. We turned right and started the walk to Times Square. Fortunately the drifts seemed to support our weight as we did not sink any more deeply than in other places. As we were hiking toward Times Square, we could hear snowmobiles in the distance. I wondered at them being there during the week but assumed they had read the forecast and were trying to get a few more rides in before more snow disappeared. At Times Square we turned left and followed the path around the back of the pond and over the wooden causeways. Except for the broken trail and a few animals tracks the snow was still a smooth blanket over the ground. It wasn't long before we were at the junction with the Quick Lake Trail where we turned left to head for the outlet of Frick Pond. As we crossed the bridge, there was plenty of sunlight and the pond was beautiful. I did not get out my camera as I have hundreds of pictures of the same scene. We walked up the hill to the right of the bridge and were soon back at Gravestone Junction. From there we followed our route back to the car. We were back at 12:10 PM having covered 2.2 miles in 1.5 hours. The temperature was in the high 40's and may have hit 50 later in the day.

On Tuesday, March 10th I wanted to get in a hike somewhere before the warmer weather and rain completely ruined the snow. I was tired of Frick Pond and decided to head to Giant Ledge and, possibly, to Panther Mountain as well. Sheila, as always, was ready to go as I loaded up my equipment and headed out of Livingston Manor at about 8:45 AM. The temperature was still in the teens but the forecast was for highs in the low 40's. The farther I drove along DeBruce Road the worse the road conditions became. The road was full of potholes in some places, covered in water in others and gad a layer of ice and snow from Willowemoc to Round Pond. Once I turned left onto the Frost Valley Road, the conditions improved although there were still a fair number of potholes and a lot of dust. There were no cars parked at Biscuit Brook and only one in the Slide Mountain parking area. When we arrived at the bid bend in Route 47, there were no cars in the parking area for Giant Ledge and Panther. The temperature was about 20 degrees at the trailhead. The parking area was very icy so I immediately put on my TSL Symbioz elite snowshoes, shouldered my pack and led Sheila across the road on her leash. As we started out on the trail, I noticed that it was very firmly packed but chopped up in spots from barebooters. By the time we got to the trail register, I decided that I would not need the snowshoes and opted for wearing only spikes if they were needed. We walked back to the car and I put my snowshoes in the trunk and we crossed the road again to restart the hike at 9:15 AM. By the time I got to the bridge, I decided I would don my Microspikes. The trail wasn't that slippery yet but I knew that it would be quicker to walk along with some traction than try to avoid the icy areas. Once I got my spikes on, it was much easier going and I did not sink into the trail surface at all. As I climbed over the normally rocky areas, I was reminded that many of the Catskill trails are easier to hike with a few feet of snow on the ground! Within about 30 minutes we had hiked the .75 miles to the trail junction. I have made this in 15 minutes under ideal conditions but I wasn't in any real hurry on this day. The trail straight ahead would take us to Woodland Valley but we made a left turn to go to Giant ledge and Panther.

The next .3 miles or so was almost flat and the snow on the trail was well consolidated so we made good time. I struck my pole down to the ground just off terrain and was surprised to find much less snow than in the area around Frick Pond. Soon we began the climb up to Giant Ledge passing the sign for the spring on the way. As we gained elevation I was reminded of the difference between the flat hikes I had been doing and even this moderate climb! We started the final climb up to the Giant Ledge plateau finding only one spot that was icy and required a little work. I was surprised at how quickly this last part went and before I knew it we were at the top. Sheila was ranging well ahead of me the whole way and seemed to be enjoying the climb. It often seems to me that up, down and flat are all the same to her as she ranges far headed and then comes roaring back to me only to repeat the process. We walked across the trail and down to the first lookout. I realized that it had been some time since I was on Giant Ledge and I got the camera out to take some pictures. The views were not the best with bright sun and a hazy sky. Still, I found some views were better than none and I always marvel at the beauty God has created when I look out over the mountains and valleys. I picked up my pack and we walked to the second viewpoint but the scenes were much the same. At the third lookout, I took a few more pictures. At this point I decided that I had too many things to do for the rest of the day and I would not enjoy the hike to Panther. It was 10:20 AM when we turned around after hiking about 1.7 miles. We started back down from the Ledge and despite a little slipping and sliding the trip back seemed to go quickly. As the day was getting warmer, the snow began to clump on my spikes making them almost useless unless I cleared them frequently. Anyone observing the hike back might have thought I was a little crazy as I was frequently kicking trees and stomping on rocks in an effort to clear my spikes. We crossed the road and arrived back at the car by 11:10 AM making the return trip about 10 minutes quicker. We covered 3.3 miles in 1 hour and 55 minutes with an ascent of about 1090 feet. The temperature at the car was about 40 degrees which was 20 degrees higher than when we began the hike!

On Sunday, March 8th I wanted to get out and snowshoe after 10 days of a bad cold and a teaching stint at Liberty High School. Sheila was showing the effects of not being out and sniffing my cloths every time I left the house! I preached in the two churches on the other side of the county and did not get home until just before 1:00 PM. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go to Frick Pond as I did not want to go too far my first time out after being sick. She agreed and we got dressed and put our gear in the car. Sheila could hardly contain herself and ran back and forth between us as we got ready trying to make sure we were really going. I drove out DeBruce Road and turned left on Fish Hatchery Road to go to Frick Pond. When we arrived at the parking areas, there were already three cars in the smaller lot so I parked in the larger lot which was empty. There was a large group getting ready to leave and we tried to get on the trail before them. As it turned out, they started out on the trail just before we did. They seemed to be beginners and were trying to snowshoe without poles. They also had a small but noisy dog on a leash. We followed them from the parking area to the trail register as they moved slowly on the packed trail. They stopped at the register and we took the opportunity to walk around them. We headed out to the pond and in a short distance met a young couple coming toward us. Each of them had a baby in a backpack. It seemed that it was good they were heading back as the babies were getting a little cranky. The trail was pretty well packed as the walking was easy as we approached the junction with the Logger's Loop. We decided to turn right on the Logger's Loop to avoid the larger group behind us. We assumed they would be heading left to Frick Pond. The problem was that the Logger's Loop was not broken since the last storm had dropped about six inches of snow and sleet. As I started out on the trail, I could barely see the trail we had broken weeks earlier. Apparently what I could find was good enough as we did not sink very deeply. It helped that the snow drifting off the pond forms very compact and solid drifts. We were soon headed down the trail to Times Square where the Logger's Loop was well-packed by snowmobiles. Walking on the packed trail was a pleasure as we continued to head northwest on the Logger's Loop. The trail is a little uphill at the start and we soon heard snowmobiles approaching from the north. Two machines went by but slowed down as they passed us. We walked a short distance and heard snowmobiles again. This time 6 or 8 went by and I was afraid we would be plagued for the next mile. Fortunately, that was the last group we encountered. The rest of the hike to Iron Wheel Junction went quickly and we arrived at 2:35 PM after hiking 2 miles. We had made the big turn on the Logger's Loop and we were now headed south to complete the loop. We looked at the Quick Lake Trail that leads back to Frick Pond and saw that it was also unbroken. We started out on the trail and I found the heavy, crusted snow made breaking trail much more tiring than in powder. My snowshoes tended to break through and then slip under the crust which made lifting them more difficult. This continued until we were finally at the junction with the trail around Frick Pond. This trail was well broken and we turned right to head toward the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. As we crossed the bridge, the wind picked up and we could not see any tracks from the large group we had met in the parking lot. I looked around to see if there were any pictures I wanted to take but decided nothing was very different than my other trips in February. We turned right and hiked up the hill just after the bridge. We made good time walking back to the car on the broken trail. When we arrived back at the car, the other cars were missing from the lot. It was 3:30 PM and we had spent 2 hours hiking 3.7 miles with about a 450 foot elevation gain.

On Tuesday, February 25th I had planned to go hiking at Trout Pond with Lisa at about 10:00 AM. We decided to delay in the hopes that the temperature would reach into the double digits. Just before I was ready to head out the ambulance pager went off and delayed the hike by about 2 hours. I called Lisa when I got back and she was still willing to get in a short hike so I threw my gear in the car and went downtown to pick her up and her shop. I decided not to take Sheila as the temperature was barely into the teens. She was disappointed and was I but I knew it was the right decision. I wanted to get the hike1 in since I was about to start teaching biology at Liberty High School for about two weeks and knew I would have limited times to hike. We headed up the Quickway to Roscoe and then out Route 206 on the Rockland Flats. Just after the Roscoe Nursing Home, I turned left on Morton Hill Road and drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. There was very little space to park on the side of the road but I found a spot. We put on our snowshoes and started down the road toward the falls. I was cold as we started out but soon warmed up even though the trail was packed by snowmobile traffic and the going easier than breaking trail in fresh snow. As we walked down the road we listened for the sounds of water in the stream but heard almost none. We decided to go to the viewpoint over the upper falls. The snow here was deeper and not broken but we don't have too much trouble sliding down. The falls were completely frozen and I too a few pictures before we climbed back up to the road. A little farther down Lisa wanted to go off trail and bushwhack down to the bridge. We followed the trail she had made on an earlier trip and were soon crossing Russell Brook. We walked a little farther and then turned right to follow a path to the falls. The path was broken until the point where I wanted to go down to the stream bed. We decided to break our own path and again slid down to the streambed. The lower falls was completely frozen as was the water downstream from the falls. The ice at one spot on the falls was so thick that it was a sapphire color. I took quite a few shots at the falls. I took some pictures looking downstream and a few of Lisa by the falls. Climbing up the bank from the falls was a little difficult but we both made it taking slightly different routes. We walked over to the trail register, signed in and then headed back to the car. I had a little more time but Lisa had a meeting she could not miss. We stayed on the trail back to the lower parking area and then walked up the road to the car. We covered only 1.4 miles on our 1 hour hike but it was definitely better than staying home!

On Sunday, February 22nd the temperatures finally rose into the low 30's and the sun came out in full force. After church my wife and I decided to head to Frick Pond to do some snowshoeing. I had planned on doing a longer route somewhere but the ambulance had been busy I didn't get much sleep the night before. In addition, the recent snow made traveling the back roads interesting and we could not be sure what parking areas would be plowed. It may seem that returning again and again to the same area is monotonous but each hike is different. On this hike having Cindy with me would be very nice and the sunny skies were a welcome change. We got dressed and put our gear in the car leaving the house just before 11:30 AM. Sheila seemed particularly stoked as we headed up the DeBruce Road. As we turned onto Fish Hatchery Road, we noticed a "Poker Run" sign and knew that the snowmobilers would be out in force! I parked in the smaller parking area which was plowed and we quickly got our snowshoes on to start the hike at 11:45 AM. The storm the night before had left about 4 inches of new powder on the trail as we abated out the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond. The higher temperatures and direct sunlight were already starting to soften the snow and I knew that clumping could be a problem. I had broken most of the trail on the route I expected we would take which made hiking much easier than slogging through the more than 2 feet of snow. At the junction with the Loggers Loop Trail I noted that there was a faint trail broken trail in that direction. Sheila had decided to stay behind me and in front of Cindy most of the time as we headed left toward the pond. I began to get warm despite the temperature but not as warm as on some trips so I just opened my front zipper to dump some heat. We headed left to go down to the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. When we got to the bridge, the skies were bright and sunny and I decided to stop to take a few pictures of the pond. As I looked up at Flynn's Point, I could see it was covered in snow and appeared to have some frozen snow or ice on the trees. I took a picture of Cindy and Sheila on the bridge and then we continued along the trail. There was a snowdrift at the end of the bridge and another gigantic one in the creek downstream of the bridge. Getting over the snowdrift at the end of the bridge was not easy but we were soon on our way to the next trail junction.

When we arrived at the junction of the Quick Lake Trail and the trail around the pond, we headed to the left following the route I had broken out on a previous hike. The trail was also well-broken around the back of the pond and over the wooden causeways with just the new snow to walk through. I did notice that some of the snowshoers seemed a little inexperienced since they were walking side by side rather than single file. Walking single file conserves energy and allows one person to break the trail while the others walk behind to further break through the snow and pack the trail. Trading off positions make the going easier. We continued on the Quick Lake Trail crossing the small stream and heading toward Iron Wheel Junction. The trail is slightly uphill and the clumping snow made the going a little more difficult than I expected. We arrived at Iron Wheel junction at 12:50 PM after hiking 1.5 miles. The Loggers Loop Trail to the right was pretty well packed by snowmobiles but was not quite as hard as it had been on previous hikes. We turned right and I put Sheila on her leash as we could hear the sound of machines in both directions. As we walked, we stepped off the trail several times to allow snowmobiles to go by. All of the riders were courteous and slowed down as they passed us. At one point a group of machines stopped and a friend of ours took off his helmet. We had a brief conversation before heading in opposite directions. Cindy and I were both1 glad to be descending the small hill on the Loggers Loop to Times Square so that we no longer had to worry about the snowmobiles. We arrived there at 1:30 PM about 2.75 miles into the hike. At this point he had to decide whether to continue on the Loggers Loop or to turn right and walk around the back of Frick Pond. The trail around the pond was broken out and looked inviting while the Loggers Loop and only a faint depression from where I had broken it more than a week before. For this reason Cindy chose...the Loggers Loop.

We started out with me following the faint trail I had made which worked out well since we were only sinking about 8 inches into the snow. As we started up the small hill, I lost the trail since there were so many drifts. I began to sink much deeper into the snow with required to lift my feet even higher to take the next step. The sun was still out and the temperatures were now above freezing so the snow seemed much "heavier" than before. It was a real battle but we were soon on the more level ground at the top of the hill. Here we found enormous drifts of snow that had come in off Frick Pond and they were much deeper than anything we had encountered so far. Fortunately, many of the drifts were consolidated enough that we could walk on top of them without sinking in! Soon the Quick Lake Trail was in sight and I was glad we had almost completed the loop. I started down off one of the drifts and sank almost to be waist in the unconsolidated snow on the lee side of the drift. I fought my way out while advising Cindy to stay on top of the drifts. We entered the open area just before the trail junction and I stopped to take a few final photos. The sky was blue with wispy white clouds in all directions. The sun sparkled off the snow which shoed no signs of a trail or even animal tracks. After taking a few shots, I put the camera in my pack and we walked to the trail junction where we turned left to go back to the parking area. When we were near the paring area, we heard voices and found two women ready to head out for a short snowshoe. They had rented snowshoes from Morgan Outdoors and were ready to get started. We told them what trails were broken and suggested they leave the tails to their MSR shoes in the car. They were without poles which both Cindy and I feel are essential to a snowshoe hike! It was 2:20 PM and we had covered 3.8 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes with 20 minutes of stopped time and only 400 feet of elevation gain. This seemed like a short distance but our muscles told us otherwise!

On Wednesday, February 18th I had planned to go back to Frick Pond and hike around the back of Frick Pond and then around the Loggers Loop to Iron Wheel Junction. From there I wanted to hike down the Quick Lake Trail through the fresh snow breaking the trail to the small stream where I had left off the day before. When the ambulance pager went off at 7:00 AM the temperature was -13 degrees and I knew that I probably wouldn't get to hike! After the call, I eventually went to a friend's house to outfit him with my older Tubbs 30 inch snowshoes. As I started home from his house, I found that the temperature had risen to 15 above and the sun was shining. I decided to try the hike after all and went home to change into my hiking clothes. I got my gear into the car along with Sheila and headed to Frick Pond around 11:15 AM. Sheila was almost frantic with anticipation as I drove up Fish Hatchery Road! When we arrived at the parking area, both the pulloff and the lot were plowed leaving room for at least 10 cars. On this day no one else was around so I put on my TSL Symbioz Elite snowshoes and started out on the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond at 11:30 AM. The temperature was only 17 degrees and I was a little concerned about Sheila being too cold especially on her feet. As we headed out on the trail, there was at least 24 inches of snow but the trail was broken starting at the parking lot from my efforts the day before and several other hikers before me. The broken trail continued as we made the left onto the woods road that leads out to Frick Pond. At the junction with the Loggers Loop Trail I noted that there was no broken trail in that direction. Sheila was ahead of me on the trail trotting along and occasionally bounding through the snow following an animal trail! I began to get warm despite the temperature but not as warm as on some trips so I just opened my front zipper to dump some heat. We headed left to go down to the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. When we got to the bridge, the skies were bright and sunny but I decided to continue the hike and take pictures on the return trip. There was a snowdrift at the end of the bridge and another gigantic one in the creek downstream of the bridge both of which I had seen the day before. Getting over the snowdrift at the end of the bridge was not easy but we were soon on our way to the next trail junction.

When we arrived at the junction of the Quick Lake Trail and the trail around the pond, we headed to the right following the route many of the other hikers had taken. The trail was well-broken around the back of the pond and over the wooden causeways. I did notice that some of the snowshoers seemed a little inexperienced since they were walking side by side rather than single file. Walking single file conserves energy and allows one person to break the trail while the others walk behind to further break through the snow and pack the trail. Trading off positions make the going easier. We continued on around the pond to Times Square where I was glad to find the Loggers Loop completely packed by snowmobiles from Times Square to Iron Wheel Junction. We turned left and started uphill for .85 miles gaining about 185 feet. The slope was very gentle and the packed trail allowed us to move quickly. I stopped at Times Square to take some pictures and again along the way to take a few more shots of the snowy woods and some rocky cliffs. By 12:30 PM we had walked 2.4 miles and were at Iron Wheel Junction. We turned left onto the Quick Lake Trail and immediately were breaking Trail through 24 inches of snow. The route was downhill but the snow was deep and required an effort to break the trail. Sheila dashed out ahead and actually broke the trail for me! I think the effect was partly psychological but it was nice to have her in the lead. As we approached an open area, We stopped and I took a few pictures. As I put my pack on, Sheila and I both heard the voices of approaching hikers. We started to hike and met two women on snowshoes heading toward us. One of the women was Deanna, a volunteer who maintains the trail around Frick Pond. We chatted briefly and I invited her to the season's first meeting of the Willowemoc Trail Crew at Morgan outdoors on March 1st. We headed our separate ways and the going was made easier as Sheila and I used the trail the had broken to get to the small stream where we had turned around the day before. From there the walk was even easier as Sheila and I had broken the trail and the two women had further compacted it. By 1:10 PM we had walked 3.3 miles and were again crossing the bridge at Frick Pond. We stopped briefly so that I could take a few pictures and then continued back to the car. We arrived back at the car at 1:30 PM having hiked 3.9 miles in almost exactly 2 hours. Our pace of right around 2 mph surprised me since the conditions were challenging although the vertical gain was only 400 feet. The forecast for Friday was for VERY cold temperatures and windfalls hitting 0 below zero so I was glad to get in a hike. The temperature had risen to about 23 degrees meaning there had been a 36 degree increase since my ambulance call in the early morning.

On Tuesday, February 17th I wanted to get out and snowshoe in some real snow after a week on staying inside due to the extreme cold and poor road conditions. When I woke up, the temperature was -6 degrees but it started to rise slightly as the morning wore on. I waited until the temperature rose into the high teens and then got my gear into the car along with Sheila and headed to Frick Pond around 11:15 AM. Sheila was almost frantic with anticipation as I drove up Fish Hatchery Road! When we arrived at the parking area, both the pulloff and the lot were plowed leaving room for at least 10 cars. On this day no one else was around so I put on my TSL Symbioz Elite snowshoes and started out on the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond at 11:30 AM. The temperature was only 17 degrees and I was a little concerned about Sheila being too cold especially on her feet. I thought we might hike the Loggers Loop heading up the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel Junction first and then from there over to Times Square and back. I was pretty sure the Loggers Loop would be packed by snowmobile traffic which would make the going easier. As we headed out on the trail, there was at least 24 inches of snow but a trail was broken starting at the parking lot. This was the trail that I broke on an earlier trip but had been used more recently by other hikers. The broken trail continued as we made the left onto the woods road that leads out to Frick Pond. At the junction with the Loggers Loop Trail I noted that there was no broken trail over the Loggers Loop. Sheila was ahead of me on the trail trotting along and occasionally bounding through the snow following an animal trail! I began to get warm despite the temperature but not as warm as on some trips so I just opened my front zipper to dump some heat. We headed left to go down to the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. When we got to the bridge, the skies were cloudy and Frick Pond was completed frozen over. There was also a snowdrift at the end of the bridge and another gigantic one in the creek downstream of the bridge. I dropped my pack and took out the camera to get some shots of the pond and the snowdrifts. The wind was blowing a little so I quickly finished my photography and got moving again.

Getting over the snowdrift at the end of the bridge was not easy but we were soon on our way to the next trail junction. When we arrived at the junction of the Quick Lake Trail and the trail around the pond, it was obvious that the other hikers had stayed to the right around the pond. The Quick Lake Trail was completely unbroken although I could see a faint track buried under the snow. I decided that we would stay to the right and try to break the trail to the Loggers Loop Trail at Iron Wheel Junction. I hoped that the Loggers Loop would be packed by snowmobiles and we could use it to return to Times Square. As we started out, Sheila led the way through about two feet of powdery snow. She would bound ahead and the trail she broke seemed to help. The trail from Frick Pond is slightly uphill but under most conditions this is not noticeable. The deep snow and slight uphill began to take their toll as first Sheila and then I became increasingly more tired. Sheila dropped behind me which made breaking trail by myself much harder. I hoped when I got under the spruce trees that the snow would not be as deep but the drifts there were just as bad as out in the open. As we approached the small stream on the trail, I decided that was as far as we would go on this day. Iron Wheel Junction was only .3 miles ahead but I knew I could not be sure that it was packed. Having to break another 1.5 miles of trail was out of the question. When we got to the stream, I took a few pictures and then turned around. The walk back was easier as the trail was broken out a little. We were back at the car at 1:10 PM having hiked 2.3 miles in 1 hour and 35 minutes with a vertical gain of only 225 feet. I was tired enough that I knew I had made the correct decision to turn back. My plan for the next hike was to hike to Frick Pond and around the back to Times Square. If the Loggers Loop was packed, we could hike it to Times Square and then break the trail to the stream where we had turned around.

On Tuesday, February 10th I knew I wanted to get in a snowshoe hike after another snowstorm had dropped several more inches of snow on Livingston Manor. I had stayed home Monday because the roads were bad and so that I could cover ambulance calls. By Tuesday morning the roads were mostly cleared and I though I would take Sheila to Frick Pond for an outing on the fresh snow. I got my gear and Sheila into the car and headed toward Frick Pond just before 9:00 AM. DeBruce Road was not in good shape with snow and ice still on the road and some more snow drifting in some places. When I made the left onto Fish Hatchery Road the situation was worse but the road was passable. When we arrived at the parking areas for Frick Pond, I was disappointed to find they had not been plowed. I probably could have parked in the smaller pullout but did not want to get stuck or block the snowplows when they came. I turned the car around and headed back home. Sheila was quite distressed and made her feelings known all the way back to town! I decided to park at the church and hike the same route on Round Top that we had hiked on Saturday. I felt that, although I had limited time, the trail had been broken out and would be easier and quicker to hike. I parked at the church and we were hiking by 9:35 AM. The loop avoids the private property of an owner who had made it clear that they do not want others on their land. I again wore my new TSL Symbioz Elite snowshoes since I have been very impressed with then so far. I think I will have to schedule a hike to steeper terrain to see how well they grip on more extreme ascents. We walked behind the church and headed up the steep hill to the top of the cemetery following the track from several days before which was still well broken out. Although the temperature was barely 20 degrees the sun was out and I stopped to take a few pictures from the top of the hill before heading into the woods. We turned left and headed into the woods following a woods road as it ascended the hill. At the first junction, we turned right and continued to follow another road passed some cliffs. It was much easier going since the track was broken but there was a least four inches of new snow which made things feel "fresh". We continued on our usual route up the hill staying a little to the left and hitting another woods road. We turned right and continued to follow the woods road passing the road that goes left to the quarry. After heading down a slight hill we stayed a little to the left to head toward the next hill after Round Top which is actually about 50 feet higher. At this point I thought I might do the loop in reverse but I looked at the time and decided to ascend the hill and then come back down without doing the loop. As we began the ascent, I lowered the televators on my snowshoes to reduce the strain on my calves. Once at the top of the hill, I turned around to retrace my steps but just didn't feel right. I passed for a moment, considered the time I had and decided to complete the loop. I lifted the tips on my snowshoes and was able to "ski" down the slope on the other side with just the right amount of abandon and control. Before the descent, I lifted the televators and was happy they came down very easily, stayed put throughout the ascent and were easy to flip back up out of the way. We followed the woods road as it looped around the hill to the left back to the point where we had started the ascent. We followed our well-broken path back to the cemetery and then glided down the hill to the church parking area. I was back at the car at 11:15 AM having hiked about 2.6 miles in 1 hour and 40 minutes.

On Saturday, February 7th I knew I wanted to get in a snowshoe hike before the next big snowstorm hit Livingston Manor. I had planned to go to Frick Pond but discovered that a few people wanted to hike on Round Top. The appointed time for the hike was 11:00 AM by which time the temperature had climbed from single digits to the upper 20's. Cindy and I put on our gear and headed across the street to the church parking lot. We met a small group of people there and started up the hill behind our church to do a loop. I knew we would have to avoid the private property of an owner who had made it clear that they did not want others on their land. I was anxious to continue to evaluate my new TSL Symbioz Elite snowshoes in the snow. So far they had proven to have good traction and great bindings. There was another dog in then group but she and Sheila seemed to get along well. We walked behind the church and headed up the steep hill to the top of the cemetery. Our track from several days before was still well broken out and we followed some of the younger members of the group. We stopped to take a picture of the group and then headed into the woods following a woods road as it ascended the hill. At the first junction, we turned right and continued to follow another road passed some cliffs. It was much easier going since the track was broken and others were hiking ahead of us. We continued on our usual route up the hill staying a little to the left and hitting another woods road. We turned right and continued to follow the woods road passing the road that goes left to the quarry. After heading down a slight hill we stayed a little to the left to ascend the next hill after Round Top which is actually about 50 feet higher. As we began the ascent, I lowered the elevators on my snowshoes to reduce the strain on my calves. I lifted the tips on my snowshoes and was able to "ski" down the slow with just the right amount of abandon and control. They came down very easily and stayed put throughout the ascent. Near the top of the climb Cindy decided to turn around and follow our route back to the house. I kept Sheila with me and the rest of the group continued across the top of the hill and down the other side. I lowered the snowshoe elevators with no problem. We followed the woods road as it looped around the hill back to the point where we had started the ascent. We followed our well-broken path back to the cemetery and then glided down the hill to the church parking area. I was back at the house just after 1:00 PM having hiked about 3 miles in 2 hours.

On Thursday, February 5th I wanted to get out and snowshoe in some real snow! When I woke up, the temperature below 0 degrees but started to rise slightly as the morning wore on. I didn't want to wait too long so I got my gear into the car along with Sheila and headed to Frick Pond just before 9:00 AM. When we arrived at the parking area, both the pulloff and the lot were plowed leaving room for at least 10 cars. On this day no one else was around so I out on my TSL Symbioz Elite snowshoes and started out on the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond at 9:15 AM. The temperature was only 15 degrees and I was a little concerned about Sheila being too cold especially her feet. I had decided to hike the loop around Frick Pond which is only about 2 miles. I felt this was a good compromise and would allow us to get some exercise without succumbing to the cold! As we headed out on the trail, there was 12 to 18 inches of snow which as completely pristine and unbroken. The going was a little tough but the snowshoes performed well. Sheila was ahead of me bounding through the snow and the track she made was almost as good as another snowshoer breaking trail! Within minutes I was warm despite the temperature and the increasing wind. The wind had been blowing at the trailhead but now was approaching 15 to 20 mph and the trees were creaking ominously. When we got to the trail register, the trail along the woods road had been broken out by someone on snowshoes which made the going easier. I was grateful since I had somehow forgotten to put on my gaiters. The Mountain Hardwear Winter Wander pants have a drawstring at the cuff and pulling that tight kept out all the snow. At the trail junction with the yellow Loggers Loop Trail, I decided to go right and do the loop around the pond anticlockwise. Unfortunately, the trail was not broken as we headed out on the Loggers Loop and the snow had drifted to over 24 inches. Sheila was still bounding along ahead of me but would occasionally take a break by following in my tracks. The skies were so blue that I stopped to take a few pictures of the snow covered landscape against the blue skies with white clouds. The sun was out and made the day seem warmer than it was. I do not often walk this loop anticlockwise and was surprised that it was a little uphill and a little longer than I thought. Soon we were walking downhill toward Times Square although it was still some work hiking through the drifts. At 10:00 AM we arrived at Times Square after hiking almost exactly one mile. I was tired but felt great and thought about doing the complete Loggers Loop or turning up the Big Rock Trail. In the end I decided to stick to the plan despite that fact that Friday and Saturday were forecast to be much colder. We turned left and headed around the back of Frick Pond on a trail partially broken by wildlife. We crossed the two small bridges and entered the evergreen groves where there was quite a bit less snow on the ground. I stopped to take a few pictures under the trees and then stopped again to take some shots as we approached the longer sections of boardwalk. As we continued on toward the outlet of Frick Pond, I noticed the wind had picked up, the sun had disappeared and there was a snow squall in progress. Near the bridge, we again picked up the broken trail as the previous hiker had apparently walked part way around the pond and then reversed his course. We stopped at the bridge where I took a few more shots before heading back to the car. We were back at 10:45 AM having hiked 2.2 miles in 1.5 hours with only about 200 feet of elevation gain. The temperature had risen to 18 degrees and the sun was out again.

On Wednesday, February 4th I had wanted to get out of the house after a storm on Monday had dumped a foot of snow on Livingston Manor with another 3 inches added overnight on Tuesday. The temperature all morning was below 20 degrees which is a little cold for Sheila's feet so I delayed leaving until almost noon. By the time I was ready to go out I only had time for a quick, local hike. I decided to snowshoe up the hill behind our church and do a short loop on Round Top. I knew I would have to avoid the private property of an owner who had made it clear that they did not want others on their land. I was anxious to try out by new TSL Symbioz Elite snowshoes in the snow. I had worn them on Sunday at Mohonk but there was not enough snow to really test them out. Just before noon I put on the snowshoes and headed across the street. Sheila seemed ready to go as she bounded through the snow which was most times halfway up her body. We walked behind the church and headed up the steep hill to the top of the cemetery. Someone else had been out on snowshoes so I followed their track to the top of the hill. I stopped to take some pictures of Livingston Manor and the hills beyond. After putting the camera away, we headed into the woods and followed a woods road as it ascended the hill. We turned right and continued to follow another road passed some cliffs. It was not easy going but the snowshoes performed well. The TSL's flotation matched most of the other modern snowshoes I own. What separates these snowshoes is the binding which lock my feet and particularly my heels in place. I like the fact that my heels always hit at the same spot on the snowshoe. I stopped for a moment with Sheila ahead of me up the hill. I got out my camera and set it for video. I called Sheila and started recording as she came toward me wit the video lasting about 10 seconds. We continued on our usual route up the hill to another woods road. Instead of going for a longer loop, I decided to turn around and take a shorter route back. As we walked along the top of the cliffs, I wandered a little off course and started to see the State Route 17 through the trees. I adjusted my direction and we were soon at the lookout over Livingston Manor. This spot is now overgrown with trees so I decided not to take pictures. We headed down the hill through at least 15 inches of snow and connected to our previous path. We followed the path back to the cemetery and won to the church. We crossed the road and were back at the house by 1:00 PM.

On Sunday, February 1st I had wanted to get out of the house after a weak of brutally cold weather and ice. The blizzard that was supposed to drop a foot of snow had fizzled out leaving only a few inches of snow. I suggested to Cindy that we go to the Mohonk Preserve after church to hike a section of the SRT that would connect two other sections I had already completed. My plan was to start at the Coxing trailhead and hike north to the spot wand I had turned around on our previous hike. I estimated it would be a little over 5 miles. I hoped that more snow had fallen in the Gunks and that I could try out my new TSL Symbioz Elite snowshoes. Although sunny skies were predicted, the sky was predominately overcast as we left church. The temperature was in the low 20's and there was a slight breeze. Cindy announced that she would be staying home so I quickly got my gear together, put Sheila in the car and headed out of Livingston Manor at a little before 11:30 AM. I drove east on Route 17 heading to Liberty. From Liberty I took Route 52 to Ellenville and got on Route 209 north toward Kingston. After a few miles, I made a right on Route 44/55 heading over the mountain toward New Paltz. We passed the main entrance to Minnewaska Park and continued until Trapps Road appeared on the left just after the Minnewaska park office. The road was rough but clear. When I got to Clove Road, I turned left and drove down to the Coxing Trailhead. There were no cars parked and I noticed that there was a soon on the gate that warned about blocking the entrance. I parked as far over to the left as possible leaving room for emergency vehicle access. I got out of the car and walked across the road to the trail to evaluate the amount of snow. I was disappointed to find that there wasn't much more snow than in Livingston Manor and it had been trampled down by other hikers. I decided there was enough snow and ice to wear the snowshoes for traction if not for flotation. I put on the snowshoes which I had previously adjusted and readjusted them. I let a very impatient Sheila out of that car and immediately put her on her leash to cross the road at 12:15 PM. After crossing the road, we walked down the wide Old Minnewaska Trail toward the bridge over the Coxing Kill. There were some children playing near the bridge so I kept Sheila on her leash until we were well passed the stream.

The weather was completely different than in Livingston Manor with bright blue skies and puffy white clouds. There was plenty of sun and the temperature at the car was about 33 degrees. I had dressed in layers more appropriate for the mid 20's and I was soon opening zippers to dump some heat. There was not much snow on the trail but the snowshoes helped give me traction on the ice. I was immediately impressed by the binding on the TSL snowshoes which were comfortable but held my feet firmly in place. They are a little narrower than some that I have and I am anxious to try them in deeper snow. The Old Minnewaska Trail ascends gently from the Coxing Trailhead and in a few areas rolls down and then up. At about .7 miles we came to the site where a bridge once spanned a stream. There isn't much of a stream left and the bridge no longer exists. We descended the bank and then ascended the other side. Soon some views to the north and west appeared to the left of the trail although there were trees in the way. I had been here before and turned around. Soon we were passing what I recognized as the "big tree" where I had ended a previous hike. From this point on the we were covering new territory. A view open views presented themselves but I decided I wanted to reach my destination and would take pictures on the way back. At about 2 miles we came to a sign indicating that the Old Minnewaska Trail continued straight ahead and the Undivided Lot Trail turned to the left. We headed left and I immediately found that the trail was now more trail than woods road. We immediately began to descend over rock outcroppings some of which were barely covered with snow. I winced each time I heard the teeth on the snowshoes scrape the rock! We lost about 150 feet of elevation until we were at the base of a cliff band. I looked at the trail blazes and I could see that they followed a route that ascended along and through the cliffs. As we started to climb, I debated removing the snowshoes as the amount of snow decreased to almost nothing. In the end I kept them on as I was following snowshoes tracks left by another hiker.

The climb began at about 2.4 miles and was only 80 feet of vertical gain. The problem was the lack of snow and the fact that it was a 25% grade. Soon we were at the top and I could see a stone chimney ahead. We walked to the chimney and then passed it so that I could be sure I connected the two sections of trail. We turned around and walked to the chimney were I dropped my pack. I took some pictures of the chimney and got a drink. I noticed that the skies had become overcast and that there was little sun left. The wind has also picked up and I was getting cooled off. I pulled up some zippers and shouldered my pack to begin the return trip at 1:30 PM. I was not looking forward to the descent of the cliffs but it went better than I had thought. Once we were back on more level ground, I found a lookout and took some pictures of much the same view as the previous hike. A little farther along I found another viewpoint that was even less obstructed and took a few more shots. After this, I decided to keep the camera in the bag and get back to the car. At 3.1 miles we were back at the trail junction where we turned right to get on the Old Minnewaska Trail. The trail ascended briefly before beginning the long descent toward the trailhead. The skies grew ever darker and I began to expect that the storm that was predicted was coming early. At 5 miles we were back at the bridge over the Coxing Kill. I walked across the bridge and a little downstream to take a few shots of the bridge and the frozen stream. Back on the main trail I walked over to the kiosk and read some of the information about the Smiley family and the ecology of the Coxing Kill. We walked back to the car where we arrived at 3:00 PM having hiked 5.2 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes with a total ascent of about 900 feet.

On Friday, January 23rd I had wanted to go to the Mohonk Preserve as I had purchased a membership for my wife and I on my last hike. I also wanted to hike another piece of the Shawangunk Ridge Trail from the Spring Farm Trailhead toward the point where I had turned around on them last hike on the Old Minnewaska Trail. Cindy wanted to go with us and we were in no real hurry to get started as the temperature was supposed to rise throughout the day. We left Livingston Manor shortly after 10:00 AM with our spikes in my pack but without snowshoes. I knew from my hike on Monday that there would be ice but very little snow. I drove east on Route 17 heading to Liberty. From Liberty I took Route 52 to Ellenville and got on Route 209 north toward Kingston. After a few miles, I made a right on Route 44/55 heading over the mountain toward New Paltz. We passed the main entrance to Minnewaska Park and continued through the hairpin turn to the junction with Route 299. We turned left here and drove toward New Paltz turning left on Springtown road and then left onto Mountain Rest Road. Mountain Rest Road eventually becomes Mohonk road and we continued on it passing the entrance to the Mohonk Mountain House. After about a mile I turned right on Upper Knolls Road at the sign for the Spring Farm Trailhead and at the point where the main road made a sweeping turn to the left. We pulled up to the small gatehouse and showed our passes. After a short conversation with the attendant, I parked in the parking lot where there was only one car present. We decided to take our spike with us rather than put them on. There was a slight breeze blowing and the temperature had not yet risen into the 30's. We walked back toward the gatehouse and started out Upper Knolls Road to begin our hike at 11:30 AM. Just passed the gatehouse, we turned right onto the Chapel Trail which took us through a field to the woods.

After a very short distance in the woods, it became clear that the trail was too icy to hike without spikes and we stopped to put ours on. Almost immediately after this we descended an icy slope to a stream and then climbed back up the other side. The trail climbed briefly and then started another descent which was also very icy. After walking through some woods, the trail passed close to a field with some horses and I leashed Sheila in as she wanted to go play with them. As we walked along an elevated walkway, another couple came walking toward us with there small dog. The dog was unleashed and the owners were unconcerned that this is very rude! We said "Hello" as we passed. We ascended a small hill, crossed a powerline right-of-way and came to a road. I had looked at the map previously and thought we should turn right at the road. We turned and started to walk on the shoulder but the further we got the more I knew something was wrong was we were walking north instead of south. I looked at the map and found I had not noticed ether were two roads to cross! We turned around and walked south on the road to where we had started and then crossed to the other side and picked up the trail. The blazes on the trail were faded in most spots and turns were not clearly marked. After a short walk downhill we arrived at Clove Road where we turned right and walked west to a small parking area. There were NO BLAZES or signs at the parking area. Some tracks headed up toward a building while some entered the woods west of the parking area but NO BLAZES were present. Cindy walked into the woods and I continued west on the road until I found the triangle of blazes that announced the start of the Undivided Lot Trail. Cindy and Sheila walked around and up the trail to meet me and we all began our walk along this trail. Almost immediately we encountered a "river of ice" that looked as if it was flowing down the path. There were other boot prints that skirted this glacier but Cindy and I both simply walked over the ice confident in our Microspikes. Sheila also did not seem to care about the ice. We continued to ascend and to periodically come across icy patches interspersed with crunchy snow and bare spots. Soon the red blazed Stokes Trail headed off to the left but we stayed to the right. At 2.3 miles the trail came very close to the edge of the ridge and we had a good view to the northwest. We stopped and I took a few pictures before we moved on. As is often the case, there was a better lookout a few hundred feet further along although it required a short walk on a path to the right to get there. This time I took off my pack and took some more pictures. We each ate half a Bear Tracks Papa Bear Bar and then returned to the main trail to continue our walk toward the southwest.

At 3.1 miles we began a descent and I knew by looking at the time and the distance that we would have to turn around soon. I had not marked the spot I where I had stopped on the previous hike and wondered whether we were 2 miles or half a mile away! I decided we would hike until the two hour or four mile mark whichever came first so at 3.5 miles we started the steepest ascent of the day. Actually, the ascent was not that steep but it was icy and seemed to hang on the edge of the ridge with a steep dropoff on the right side. The trail started to level off at the top and Sheila and I went ahead of Cindy to get to the four mile mark. As we approached the turn around point I spotted a chimney to the left of the trail and what looked like a skating rink which I assumed was the flooded foundation. I knew I could remember this spot when I came back one more time to fill in the gap between my last two hikes! Sheila and I turned around an walked back to Cindy who was coming toward us. We turned around and started back. I knew that the return trip on the Undivided Lot Trail was mostly downhill and that we would not be stopping at the lookouts. This would make the "back" go faster than the "out"! We did stop once near the end of the Undivided Lot Trail so that I could take pictures of Cindy standing on the ice flow and one of the ice flow itself. Once at the road we turned right, walked a short distance and then turned left on the Chapel Trail. We walked up a short hill to Mohonk Road and walked across the road to stay on the trail. I asked Cindy how far she thought it was back to the car and she said "About a quarter mile". I knew that the distance was closer to a mile and that there were several icy uphills to negotiate. I did not find the uphill stretches too taxing and knew I had at least another three miles in me. When we got to Upper Knolls Road we removed our spikes and walked back to the car. It was 3:10 PM and the attendant was gone. At least half a dozen cars were parked in the upper part of the lot. I knew there was a lookout there but decided to save it for another day. We had hiked 7.3 total miles which could have been more like 6.2 without the mistakes in navigation. The hike had last 3 hours and 42 minutes with almost half an hour of stopped time. We had ascended 1610 feet. As we drove back to Route 299, we but decided we would stop at the Mountain Brauhaus if it was open. We had a great lunch after a rewarding hike. At home my GPS software showed that we were only .9 miles short of the point where I had turned around on my previous hike!

On Monday, January 19th I had planned to go snowshoeing with a small group of people from the Liberty Schools. Unfortunately, the rain on Sunday had been m are extensive than I had thought it would be and I knew the snow around Frick Pond would not still be conducive to snowshoes. I also wanted to go somewhere that might have less snow which meant either Orange or Ulster counties. There was still a lot of ice around Livingston Manor so I decided to go to Minnewaska to hike a part of the Shawangunk Ridge Trail that I had not done. My plan was to park at the Coxing Trailhead on Clove Road and hike the Old Minnewaska Trail perhaps as far as the Spring Farm Trailhead near Mohonk. I knew this trail was relatively flat and straight. I got Sheila in the car and left Livingston Manor at about 9:00 AM heading to Liberty on Route 17. From Liberty I took Route 52 to Ellenville and got on Route 209 north toward Kingston. After a few miles, I made a right on Route 44/55 heading over the mountain toward New Paltz. After passing the main entrance to Minnewaska Park I continued past the park office on the left and turned left onto Trapps Road. The road appeared icy and I did know whether it would get better or worse. I changed plans and drove back to the park office and parked in the parking area. I immediately saw that the Red Loop Trail out of the parking area was a sheet of ice. I checked in at the office and paid the $8 parking fee. Back at the car I released Sheila but put her on her leash. I donned my Microspikes and the rest of my equipment and we headed out on the trail. There was a breeze blowing but the temperature was in the high 30's making it feel warm compared to the previous week! The trail was flat for the first few hundred feet and then began to drop toward the Peters Kill. It was very icy but the Microspikes were just the thing and there was some snow beside the trail which made walking easier. At about .3 miles Sheila walked off the traitor the left toward he Peters Kill. Called her back but saw she was following a path that others had taken down to the stream. We walked down to the stream and found that there was a good deal of ice along with the flowing water. I dropped my pack and got out the camera and took pictures of the beautiful stream. When I was done, I shouldered my pack and we continued down to the point where Red Loop Trail headed back up to the parking area.

We picked up a yellow connector trail here and walked down to the blue High Peters Kill Trail. The SRT is co-aligned with this trail and I had been on the trail from Jenny Lane to the bridge that we were no approaching. When the yellow trail ended at the High Peters Kill Trail, I decided to turn left and walk down to the bridge. I took a few pictures of the bridge and several more from it before turning around and walking the other way. I was now walking a trail I had never been on before and this is always exciting for me. Sheila for her part seemed completely "healed". She had been licking her paws and seemed to have trouble with the icy snow at Frick Pond on our last hike. Now she was running ahead and then coming back to me and seemed to be having a great time. As we walked, I had to stop to open up the pit zips and front zipper on my Mammut Hoody as the sun had come out. Of course, the sunshine was starting to melt the ice and the trail putting a thin coating of water on top of the ice. As we started out on the High Peters Kill Trail we had hiked about .75 miles but had lost over 350 feet in elevation. At this point we began to climb toward Dickie Barre, one of the premier rock climbing areas. For the next .25 miles we climbed the icy trail gaining about 370 feet and averaging over a 21% grade. The trail was icy all the way with some steep dropouts on the right. I could see a nice view on the right side of the trail but could not get a clear view through the trees until a series of icy ledges at just over 1 miles. We walked to the right off the trail and finally found a place that I could put down the pack and take out the camera. The ledges were very icy and Sheila was making me nervous as she wanted to walk right to the edge. The views were spectacular to the south, east and west. To the west and east were some of the cliffs in the area that draw rock climbers to the area. Behind the cliffs on the right or to the west snowcapped mountains rose into the low hanging clouds. I took quite a few pictures before putting the camera away. We headed back to the main trail, and followed it around to the north side of the hill without actually hitting the top. At 1.3 miles we hit our maximum elevation of 1270 feet as we passed between higher areas to both the left and right. At this point we began to descend an icy trail toward the Coxing Trailhead.

At 1.3 miles we began the descent heading south to about 1.6 miles where the trail turned northeast and east. Everything was covered in ice including the stone steps that formed part of the descent. At one point I looked up to see a medium sized boxer running at us! Sheila wanted to play and the other dog seemed friendly but I immediately called Sheila and put her on her leash. The owner of the other dog eventually showed up but showed no signs of being able to control his dog or that he was even concerned. He was just another irresponsible dog owner that gives us all a bad name. He said he was coming from the Coxing Trailhead and that the roads to it were "Fine"> I knew this was not the case but thought I might check it out when I got there. As we talked two more dogs appeared and started to harass his dog and Sheila. Again, the owners eventually appeared and showed no concern for courtesy or park regulations. I let them pass and waited a few minutes before continuing. We were soon at the trailhead after hiking about 2.4 difficult miles and dropping 590 feet from our highest point to what would be our lowest point. It was only 11:55 AM so I decided to hike a little farther to check out the Old Minnewaska Trail. Signs reminded me that we were entering the Mohonk Preserve and I resolved to purchase a membership when I finished the hike. We crossed the road and picked up the trail which was icy but relatively flat compared to what we had just hiked. Within a couple hundred feet we were at a bridge over the Coxing Kill. There were signs in the area explaining the contributions of the Smiley family and one denoting the foundation of the Enderly house. I stopped at the bridge and took a few pictures of the water as it flowed through a narrow slot in the rocks.

I picked up the pack and we continued east northeast until about 4 miles. The hike was uneventful as the trail was now mostly covered in snow with some bare patches. On the left or to the north I could see some mountains but couldn't get much of a view until just before we turned around. At 12:30 PM we started back and I did stop once to take a few pictures. On the way back we met one hiker coming toward us as we exchanged greetings as we passed. As we neared the bridge I caught sight of a party of eight people that seemed to be a family group with children. One woman asked if they were on the Old Minnewaska Trail and I confirmed that they were. At 1:05 PM we were at the road again after1 hiking 5.5 miles. I collapsed my poles to store them in my pack and put Sheila on her leash as we turned left on Clove Road. I kept my spikes on as the side of the road was still very icy. The roads were not "Fine" as one hiker had said but they were passable to the Coxing Trailhead. As we walked on Clove Road I heard the Coxing Kill on the right side of the road. We crossed over and walked to where I could get my last shots of the day. We continued up Clove Road to the intersection with Trapps Road where we turned right. When we got to Route 44/55, we stopped and I took off my spikes and stored them in my pack. We turned right to walk about .3 miles the main road back to the parking area arriving at 1:45 PM. As I drove out of the parking area, I turned left to drive toward New Paltz. I stopped at the Mohonk preserve Visitor center and paid for a year's membership for myself and my wife. I think the $75 cost will be well worth being able to park and hike at any time and at any place within the preserve. We had hiked 7.2 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes with a vertical gain of 1460 feet. We stopped for over 30 minutes for pictures and to enjoy the spectacular views.

On Friday, January 16th, I wanted to get out one snowshoes again after my first snowshoe hike the day before. The temperature was rising and stood at about 28 degrees when we left Livingston Manor at 10:20 AM. After a brief stop at the post office, I drove up DeBruce Road and turned left on Fish Hatchery Road to go to the Frick Pond parking area. It had been overcast in Livingston Manor but the skies became blue with white clouds the further I drove. I parked at 10:40 AM and we were on the trail shortly after. The temperature as we got out of the car was about 26 degrees which was about 10 degrees warmer than the day before. I heard a noise that really did sound like an approaching train. The wind had picked up and was making me feel pretty cold as I put on my snowshoes. I briefly thought about getting back in the car but decided there were enough options to make hiking possible. My plan was to hike the loop I had done the day before in reverse by hiking out to Frick Pond and then using the Quick Lake Trail to get to Iron Wheel junction. From there we would take the Logger's Loop to Times Square and climb the Big Rock Trail to the Flynn Trail and descend the long downhill to the car. We began by hiking out to Frick Pond on the wide woods road and crossing the outlet to Frick Pond on the bridge. At the nest trail junction we stayed left on the Quick Lake Trail following our tracks from the day before. By now the skies had started to become cloudy again although the wind seemed to have died down. I noticed that Sheila was walking behind me and seemed to be bothered by her feet. I didn't know whether it was the cold or the irritation of the hard crust but I immediately decided to simply do the Logger's Loop and return. We continued up the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel Junction and arrived there at 11:20 AM after hiking 1.5 miles most of which was uphill. As we turned right onto the Logger's Loop snow began to fall and as we walked it snowed harder. At one point the snow began to pile up on my jacket and Sheila was covered in a white robe. After a while the snow stopped and the sun came back out. The 1.2 mil Loggers Loop starts out with a slight uphill but then levels off and descends to Times Square. About halfway along the trail, Sheila alerted and I could hear snowmobiles approaching. Three machines came up the trail slowing as they passed us with each rider waiving "Hello". There seemed to be enough snow so that the machines were not churning up dirt. The smell of gasoline only lasted a few seconds and we had a well-broken path to follow the rest of the way to the trail junction. We arrived at Times Square at 11:50 AM having covered about 2.7 miles. We continued straight ahead on the Loggers Loop which had which had a little more of an uphill than I remembered. Soon we were back at the first trail junction where we turned left to complete the lollipop hike back to the car. We were back at 12:15 PM having covered 3.7 miles in 1 hour and 30 minutes with about 400 feet of elevation gain.

On Thursday, January 15th, I thought there might be enough snow to try snowshoeing at Frick Pond. Although the temperature was barely into the double digits, I decided to at least try. After a few morning chores, I got my equipment and Sheila into the car and headed out the DeBruce Road to Frick Pond. I decided I want to wait to use my new TSL Symbioz snowshoes until there was deeper snow. I chose to bring my Tubbs Flex Alp snowshoes which have quickly become a favorite out of the eight pairs that I own. By the time I parked just before 10:15 AM the temperature had risen to the high teens and I thought it might even break 20 degrees at some point! There was no wind and the sun was peaking through the clouds. We crossed the road at 10:15 AM and Sheila immediately started barking at the DEC employee replacing the trail register! As we started up the trail, I knew it would be a good day. Snowshoes were definitely not necessary but, then again, they provided traction and FUN! As we got to the woods road that ascends the hill, I noticed one of my expensive Leki carbon poles needed to be adjusted. I spent several minutes trying to get the internal lock to grip. Eventually I pulled the lower section to the extreme of its travel and gave it a few twists. This seemed to do the trick and after 5 minutes we continued. I stopped by Morgan Outdoors on the way home and Lisa confirmed this is a known problem. The trip up the is all uphill for 1.7 miles but it seemed to go quickly and I was happy I had the snowshoes. I did stop at one point to take a few pictures of the sun sparkling off the snow. We were at the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 11:15 AM at which point we turned left to descend the rather steep hill. The descent was a welcome relief from the 1.7 mile climb on the Flynn Trail. I could almost slide and glide my way down despite the fact that there was only a few inches of snow on the ground. The Flex Alps have a hard plastic deck and are a little noisy on crusted snow but I could hear the sound of approaching snowmobiles coming down the Big Rock Trail. As the machines came into view, the turned out to be two six-wheelers with DEC workers who were clearing the trails. They stopped there machines and Sheila greeted them by barking ferociously. As we talked Sheila warmed a little. I asked that they cut out some specific blowdowns on hiking trails that were a little big for a hand saw. They started their machines and headed towards Times Square as we followed at a slower pace. Soon the machines were coming back up the hill and I waved as they passed. I checked my watch and saw it was noon at the workers said they had somewhere else to go in the afternoon.

We reached Times Square and turned right to started up the Loggers Loop toward Iron Wheel Junction. We had dropped over 600 feet from the highest point on the Flynn Trail and I knew there would be some climbing on the Loggers Loop. There was no trail broken on the Loggers Loop as the machines had turned around at Times Square. The short initial climb went quickly and the trail soon leveled off and passed by a small "pond" on the right. I again stopped to take a few pictures before continuing. I noticed that Sheila was following me and seemed not to be as animated as usual. I did not know if her feet were too cold or she was bothered by the crust on the snow. We reached Iron Wheel Junction at 12:20 PM after hiking 4 miles. We turned left here on the Quick Lake Trail to head back to Frick Pond. The trail has a gentle downward slope and the going was easier than it had been. Passing under the pines after crossing the small brook is always magical to me especially since I helped clear out some massive blowdowns that blocked the trail in this area. We continued along Frick Pond to the outlet bridge where I stopped for a few more shots despite the fact that I already have hundreds of pictures from this spot. After a short break, we continued back to the car. We were back at the parking area by 1:00 PM having covered 5.5 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes with 970 feet of elevation gain. The temperature had risen to about 23 degrees.

On Sunday, January 11th I wanted to get out hiking somewhere after a week of brutally cold weather. The combination of temperatures in the teens and high winds had combined to make conditions almost too dangerous to hike. I always take Sheila with me and it was just too cold to stay out for very long. After we got home from church, we decided that even though the sun had not appeared as forecasted we would still try to get out on the relatively "warm" twenty degree day. Cindy decided she wanted to hike and that Frick and Hodge Ponds were a good a place as any. By the time we got all our gear and decided what to wear, it was already almost 12:00 PM. Sheila was beside herself with anticipation as we drove up the DeBruce Road. We parked just after noon and were hiking by 12:10 PM. We had decided to leave the snowshoes at home but I had put a set of Microspikes for each of us in my pack. As we headed out toward Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail I was surprised that there were no tracks in the snow. Once we made the turn onto the woods road thatched toward the pond, we did find some tracks. As we hiked along, I spotted another dog coming our way. Sheila is good about coming back to me when she sees people on the trail but can't resist say "Hi!" to other dogs. Fortunately, this dog was friendly and we stopped and talked to the owner who told us his dog was part Anatolian Shepherd. We continued on to the pond and crossed the bridge at the outlet. The overcast skies did not present a favorable opportunity for photography so I decided to concentrate on the hike and keep the camera in the pack. There was barely two inches of snow and the ice we had encountered so far was easily avoided. At the next junction the majority of the tracks headed right and around Frick Pond. We took the turn to the left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. The hike to Iron Wheel Junction was uneventful except for the fact I began to notice that I was slipping a little with each step. We reached Iron Wheel Junction at 1:00 PM after hiking 1.5 miles. There were no snowmobile tracks on the trail nor did I expect any with the amount of snow. We turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail with our next destination being Junkyard Junction near Hodge Pond. The walk to Junkyard Junction seemed to go slowly with Cindy lagging behind on the long uphill climb. I was feeling pretty good except for some soreness in my quads and inner thighs. The trail is never very steep and under other conditions handle seems like an ascent. On this day with the snow and ice it was more difficult. We finally made Junkyard Junction at 2:00 PM about 3.1 miles into the hike. We turned right to pick up the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond.

My muscles were very sore no but walking flat on the Flynn Trail seemed easier. The Flynn Trail often has more snow than other places in the area but on this day there was never more than three inches. There were some very icy places and several spots where we broke through ice that had formed over marshy areas. This, of course, made hiking a little more difficult. As we descended to the trail around Hodge Pond, we had to decided whether to go left or right. The trail to the right is shorter but requires a long although shallow climb from Hodge Pond. We stayed to the left and walked around the back of the pond on the old jeep trail. We turned up the hill at the next junction and started the shorter but steeper climb. My sore muscles were not happy with this decision but modifying my stride and stretching seemed to help. We paused at the top of the hill to get a drink and a snack before turning right to get back to the Flynn Trail. Once on the Flynn Trail we continued toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. Sheila was having a great deal of fun running up and down the trail and then following game trails into the woods. She also was grabbing onto some very large branches and pulling them along until she found the next one. At 2:45 PM we had hiked 4.7 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. Now it was Cindy's turn to pull ahead as she really likes the downhills. My legs were very tired and even going downhill was a strain. We continued straight ahead aiming for the parking area at the bottom of the Flynn Trail. We encountered several blowdowns including one with a well-worn path around it to the right. It seemed this tree must have been there for some time! The walk down the Flynn Trail always seems long to me and on this day it took forever! At the gate we turned left to stay on the Flynn Trail to the parking area. We arrived back in the parking area at 3:35 PM having covered 6.7 miles in 3 hours and 25 minutes with an elevation gain of 950 feet. This was more than an hour longer than a typical hike under better conditions!

On Friday, January 2nd Cindy and I planned to do a hike near Ellenville and then a visit to Aroma Thyme for a meal. Aroma Thyme is in Ellenville on Canal Street. It has a good selection of beers and an interesting menu. It is not an inexpensive place to eat but the atmosphere is interesting and the food quite different than other places. When I awoke on Friday there was some lake effect snow falling and the temperature was in the low 20's with a stiff breeze. I had track practice until 11:00 AM and we agreed to make our final decision when I got home. When I arrived home, I found Cindy was not feeling well and had decided not to go. I was disappointed but knew Sheila was ready to hike. I thought about just hiking close to home at Frick Pond but in the end decided to go to Minnewaska to hike a loop from Jenny Lane. This would allow me to "fill in" some parts of the Shawangunk Ridge Trail that I was missing. Sheila and I had tried this hike in July but turned back when we encountered a rattlesnake. I got Sheila in the car and left Livingston Manor at about 11:30 AM heading to Liberty on Route 17. From Liberty I took Route 52 to Ellenville and got on Route 209 north toward Kingston. After a few miles, I made a right on Route 44/55 heading over the mountain toward New Paltz. In just under 5 miles I turned left into the Jenny Lane parking area. I had been concerned that I might have trouble getting a spot to park as it was so late in the day but there were no other cars in the lot. The temperature was in the mid 30's and there was some sun peaking through the puffy white clouds in a blue sky as we left the lot at 12:30 PM to begin our hike. I had somehow left my light gloves home and was forced to where a pair of heavy mittens I had in my pack. We turned left at the road and walked a few hundred feet south to turn right on the Jenny Lane Trail on the wet side of the road. I had put Sheila on her leash to walk the road but now released her and told her to follow me. I knew that the low temperatures meant that the rattlesnakes would be in their den but I was still cautious. My intention was to hike the Jenny Lane trail to the end and then take the Rainbow Falls Trail to Castle Point. From there we would return on the Huckleberry Run Trail to the Jenny Lane Trail back to the car or take the Mossy Glen Trail to the lower parking area at Minnewaska and then walk the road back to the car. I was concerned about finishing before dark and knew we would have to keep moving. I also knew the moon was almost full and that I had a headlamp if I needed it.

The walk along the Jenny Lane Trail was generally pleasant even though there were no major viewpoints. The walk was made more pleasant as someone had cut back the brush and done other trail maintenance. The only blowdown was almost at the end of the trail and looked very new. I stopped rather early and took a few pictures of the twisted pines in an area that had been burned more than once. We also stopped at a place near the highest point on the trail since I wanted to take some pictures of the trees against the blue skies with white clouds. I also could see down to the Peters Kill below. Near this high point we also started to walk more on exposed rock and there were a few icy spots which I tried to avoid. I had taken off my mitts and unzipped the pit zips on my jackets since I was warm when we were moving. We walked the west of the way to the end of the trail at 2.8 miles and turned right on the Lower Awosting Carriageway. I was happy to see the causeway over the Peters Kill had been repaired. We stopped and I took a few pictures of the area including some of the stream. Just after the bridge the trail, again turned left into the woods and quickly began ascending again. I remembered that I had been turned back on this trail by the ice on the rock faces and one time by the volume of water flowing in the outlet stream from Lake Awosting. As we gained some elevation there did seem to be more ice on the rocks but I could work around it and I did have spikes in my pack. At the stream the problem was not the volume of water but the ice. I worked my way to the stream and across without my spikes but I probably should have used them. We continued to climb walking over open rock and As I looked behind me I was treated to an excellent view of the Catskills. The light was just right so I got out the camera to take a few shots before continuing to the top of the climb. At the highpoint there were even better views so I took a few more shots.

We followed the trail as it wound its way down the other side of the ridge toward Rainbow Falls. Along the way a viewpoint in the other direction caught my attention and there were some more pictures. Soon we were at the descent down to Rainbow Falls. I remembered coming up the trail before and maybe even descending once but it was much steeper than I remembered and the ice on the rocks proved an additional challenge. It took a few minutes but I was soon down and met Sheila who was waiting for me. It was only a short walk to Rainbow Falls. The scene was better than I had hoped even though the volume of water over the falls was low. There were icicles hanging off the cliff and a heap of ice below then falls. I took out my camera and snapped many pictures of the scene. Especially interesting were a few I took of the trail blaze indicating the route of the trail which was covered in ice. We worked our way down to the trail but avoided then ice and were soon walking up to the Upper Awosting Carriageway. It was 2:30 PM when we hit the carriageway and we had walked about 3.9 miles. I decided to continue with my original plan so we walked across then road and stayed on the Rainbow Falls Trail as it headed toward Litchfield Ledge and on tom Castle Point. Shortly after starting up the trail there was another nice viewpoint that was covered in ice. I found a bare spot and got out the camera to take some pictures of the cliffs with the Catskills behind them. I usually do not worry about Sheila's penchant for walking near the edge of the dropoffs but the ice made me very nervous and I had to call her back several times. We continued to gain elevation until at 4.7 mile we were at Litchfield Ledge which had some more nice views requiring me to get out the camera again. A little further along was another nice view. This time the view was on the cliffs that make up the Battlement Terrace and Castle Point. The sun was hitting the cliffs making for some interesting shots. We continued along the trail until it ended at the Castle Point Carriageway where we turned left and headed up the hill toward Castle Point.

The carriageway was easy walking and we were soon at the point where the trail is sited along the edge of the cliffs giving ever better views from the Battlement Terrace to Castle Point. Since I knew the views were best from Castle Point I resisted the temptation to stop at every other lookout. I did notice that we were more exposed on the open rocks and that the breeze had picked up making the temperature seem colder. We were soon at the point were the Huckleberry Run Trail started on the left but I continued to walk the few hundred feet up to Castle Point. The views were not spectacular due to the fact that the clouds were now obscuring the sun. I did take quiet a few pictures of Hamilton Point, Gertrude's Nose and the valley below. As we were about to leave, another hiker came up the carriageway. I said "Hello" to the only person we would see for the whole day! We had hiked 5.6 miles as we started out on the Huckleberry Run Trail and it was already 3:30 PM. I knew that it would be getting dark as we were hiking back to the car. I though the trail was all downhill but I was wrong as we made a few short ascents before heading down to the Upper Awosting Carriageway. The trail was generally well marked but I was mostly watching Sheila as she was able to pick out the trail despite the various twists and turns. The walk down to the carriageway didn't have any viewpoints so we were able to make some time. The trip was a little longer than expected at about 1.6 miles.

We crossed the carriageway and the trail began to really lose some elevation as we began to lose daylight. As we descended, I was hoping that the bridge across the Peters Kill had been repaired as I wanted to use the Lower Awosting Carriageway to return rather than the Mossy Glen Trail. When we got to the turnoff for the Mossy Glen trail, we continued straight ahead over open rock down to the stream. I initially did not see the bridge but it appeared a little downstream of where I expected. The bridge was a single large log which had been squared off and had hand rails added. It seemed very study and we crossed with now problem. I took my last pictures of the day and we headed up to the Lower Awosting Carriageway. We turned right and headed toward the parking area. We had hiked 7.5 miles and it was 4:20 PM. The sun was going down but the full moon was out. We set a fast pace along the carriageway and arrived at the deserted parking area at 4:45 PM after hiking 9 miles. I stowed my poles and put Sheila on her leash. We walked out to the road and turned left to walk the shoulder back to Jenny Lane. It was now dark but the oncoming headlights and the moon supplied enough light to see. The shoulder was wide enough in mist spots that we could stay well out of the way of oncoming cars. The road walk was less than a mile and we were back at the car a few minutes after 5:00 PM. Somewhere along the way my GPS had changed to the "dark" display! We had hiked 10 miles in 4.5 hours with almost 40 minutes of stopped time for pictures! I drove directly home without stopping as I did not feel like visiting Aroma Thyme without Cindy!

On Wednesday, December 31st Cindy and I decided to take our last hike of 2014 at Trout Pond. We thought this appropriate as it is a place we often visit. We were in no big hurry to start especially since the temperature was still in the high teens at 9:00 AM with a slight breeze blowing. We got dressed and headed down to the post office at about 10:00 AM and then drove to Roscoe with Sheila anxiously waiting in the backseat. I drove through Roscoe and headed toward Morton Hill Road just outside of Roscoe. I made the left and drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and parked on the shoulder of Morton Hill Road as the parking area is on private property. I decided to wear mittens Cindy and I also stuffed our Microspikes in the pack. We were hiking down Russell Brook Road by 10:25 AM. The skies were blue with some clouds and sun which seemed ideal for a few pictures although I didn't know if I wanted to take my hands out of the mittens! As we walked down the road to the lower parking area, I could hear the water rushing down the brook. I stopped briefly at the viewpoint to the upper falls but decided to take pictures of the falls on the way back. We walked down to the lower parking area but there were no vehicles in the lot. We continued down the wide snowmobile trail and woods road and crossed Russell Brook on the bridge. The knotweed was all dead but it continues to expand its area. There had been some ice on the road on the way down and Cindy had slipped a little but staying on the gravel and direct made all the difference. We walked to the split in the trail and stayed to the right to hike the loop in an anticlockwise direction. I was a little concerned about Cindy as she had chosen to wear her brand new Asolo Styngers on the hike! There was water on the trail and a few muddy areas but most were at least partially frozen. We set a fast pace up the trail toward Trout Pond and as we approached we could see there was ice covering all of the pond except the part near the spillway. The level of the pond was higher than when I had visited the last time. We stopped so that I could take some pictures of the scenery with the ice on the pond. The clouds against the blue sky with the bright sun made taking pictures a little tricky. Sheila ran near the waters edge and got a drink and venture started out onto the thin ice.

We headed back to the main trail and walked up to the inlet end of the pond. Before crossing the bridge, we walked down to the shore and I took a few more shots of the pond. We crossed the bridge and headed up toward Cherry Ridge about 2 miles into the hike. We set a fast pace of about 2.7 miles per hour and the 2 miles hike from Trout Pond to Mud Pond seemed to go very quickly. At one point Cindy asked me if the high point was about half way and I looked at my GPS unit. It was off and would not turn on. I had checked the batteries at the house and they seemed Ok but I suspected that the cold had made them less effective. The trail continued to be wet especially when compared to how dry the woods had been all summer. We turned left and found more wet spots with frozen mud on the snowmobile trail as we climbed a little before descending. The descent back toward the trail register went quickly and as we were descending Cindy pointed out a good-sized body of water that I had not seen before. We decided to bushwhack down the hill to investigate. The woods were pretty open and we were soon on the shore of a rather large beaver pond. There were many trees felled by the beavers along the shores and a large house on the far shore of the pond. I took some pictures and afterward we headed along the stream to bushwhack back up to the main trail. The walk along the stream was interesting and we had to jump over two smaller tributaries to get back to the trail. I wanted to go to the lower falls even though I had been there many times before. Cindy chose to sit and rest. Sheila and I visited the lower falls and I took a few shots of the snow covered ground and the icicles next to the falls as well as the falls themselves. We reunited with Cindy and all three of us started back up the trail to the parking area and then back up the road to the car. On the way back up Russell Brook Road, we stopped at the viewpoint over the upper falls. The water was clear and looked very cold as I snapped a few shots of the upper falls. From there we walked back out to the road and to the car. We were back at the car at 1:30 PM having covered a little over 6 miles in 3 hours with a gain of about 1100 vertical feet.

On Saturday, December 27th I was ready to get out after a week of poor weather and a joyous Christmas celebration. I had planned to do this hike on Friday but I was exhausted and decided I wanted to enjoy the moment. The hike I planned was the section of the Long Path from Fort Lee, New Jersey to the New York Border which is section 1 of the Long Path. This would complete the Long Path for me and allow me to become one of the less than 150 people who are End to Enders. This section is a little over 12 miles so I knew I would need a ride. The Nyack Car Service transported Sheila and I on our hike of section 2 and said they could do the same for this section. The forecast for the area for Saturday was for partly sunny skies with temperatures in the low 50's. Friday night I got a text from my son Karl saying that he would like to go Saturday morning. I got my equipment and Sheila into the car at about 7:00 AM and headed to Bethel to pick up Karl. The temperature was only 26 degrees so I dressed in my 26 degree outfit. On the way I had to stop to take pictures of the magnificent sunrise. The reds, purples and yellows were some of the best I had ever seen! When I arrived in Bethel, I played with the grandchildren while Karl got ready. We got in the car and immediately Sheila made a scene by lavishing "love" on Karl. We were headed out at about 7:45 AM taking Route 17B to Monticello. I chose the easiest route by driving down Route 17 to Harriman where I picked up the Thruway south. I knew I wanted exit 11 and expected some heavy traffic as this exit is near the Palisades Center Shopping Mall. After getting off the exit I turned left on Route 59 and the right on Route 9W not far down the road. We headed south on Route 9W passing through Palisades and turning left onto Ludlow Lane at the state border. I asked the attendant in the gatehouse of the Lamont-Doherty Observatory where I could park. He indicated I could park on the shoulder of Route 9W just north of the bus stop. I parked the car and called the car service. It took a little longer than I had expected but by 9:35 AM the driver had arrived and we piled into the car. We headed south on Route 9W with the driver asking if I knew how to get where I wanted to go! After a few missed turns, we were finally headed south on Route 505. We arrived at the Fort Lee Historical Park and just after 10:00 AM and were on the trail less than 10 minutes later.

The first part of the trail goes out to Route 505 where it heads north and passes under I95. Right after this it goes up a set of stairs on the right and then crosses another road on a pedestrian bridge. From here the Long Path passes through a wooded strip of land that is for the most part sandwiched between the Palisades Parkway on the west and the escarpment and Hudson River on the east. Almost as soon as we were on the trail, at about .5 miles, I noticed a side trail that went out to a viewpoint. We walked out and I took pictures of the George Washington Bridge and the city skyline. Karl agreed to manage the dog while I held onto my camera. We walked a little farther and came across another lookout where I took some more pictures. At the base of the cliff there was what looked like a park and I took some pictures of it and the impressive Palisades cliffs. This general pattern repeated itself many times and I learned to be a little discriminating and not take the same pictures from different viewpoints. At .8 miles blue and white trail blazes marked the Carpenter's Trail to the right that leads to the Shore Trail. At about 1.6 miles we could see an iron fence ahead of us. The Long Path blazes directed us to the left around Allison Park. We walked passed the entrance to the park which was open. We knew we had a long hike still to go so we decided not to explore the park. I took a few pictures and we continued on our way. We walked along the access road to the park and then on a narrow strip of land near the parkway and in front of St. Peter's College at about 2.1 miles. After passing the college, we walked out to another viewpoint where I took a few pictures before we continued on the main trail. At 2.5 miles we descended some steps to East Palisades Avenue, turned right and then almost immediately left to cross the road. The aqua blazes took us up some steps and then onto the trail along the edge of the cliffs. We again had nice views to the east side of the Hudson. At about 3.1 miles the Long Path turned left but I noticed what looked like a nice viewpoint straight ahead. We walked on an marked trail to the top of High Tom and had some great views. After returning to the Long Path we continued and again had some great views at about 3.5 miles at the Rockefeller Lookout. Many of these viewpoints had very similar views and I tried to avoid taking too may pictures.

At 4.6 miles we again came to another viewpoint, Clinton Point, opposite East Clinton Avenue. After another viewpoint, we encountered a fence at 5.1 miles. We continued to walk along the fence until we crossed a stream and a road at 5.4 miles. As we crossed the road, a car pulled up to a gate, an occupant unlocked the gate and the car passed through. I looked on my map to find that this was the Greenbrook Sanctuary which is a private sanctuary that preserves areas of forest and habitats that were once common in the area. We continued on the Long Path dipping twice to cross streams. At 6.25 miles a red trail, the Huyler's Landing Trail left the Long Path to the right and headed down to the Shore Path. We continued straight ahead on the Long Path which again ran along the cliffs. At about 6.75 miles we reached the Alpine Lookout which has several different viewpoints. We stopped at the largest one near the top of a short hill and I took a few pictures up and down the river. We continued along a stone wall and the entered the woods again. We seemed to be on an old paved surface again and we walked by several stone walls and some foundations. We continued walking along the trail with the parkway on the left and glimpses of the cliffs and river on the right. At 8.35 miles we descended a hill to the Alpine Access Road bordered by a stone wall. The trail turned right and passed through a tunnel under the road. On the other side the trail began to ascend a very rocky trail as it headed toward the headquarters for the New Jersey section of the Palisades Interstate Park. We stopped in front of the buildings to get a drink and share a snack. I took a few pictures and then we continued through the parking area to pick up the trail. As we continued our hike we passed through hardwood and evergreen forests always keeping an eye out for another interesting viewpoint.

At 9.3 miles I saw a path to the right which had a short bridge out to a rock outcrop. I walked across the ridge and out onto the rocks and got some more nice views of the river. I walked back to the main trail and we continued north. Over the next mile or so the trail followed some dirt and gravel roads while other paths crossed the trail. We watched the aqua blazes carefully and had no trouble staying on the Long Path. At 10.7 miles we came to a clearing with a small "castle". This is a monument to the New Jersey Federation of Women's Clubs which played a big part in preserving lands on the Palisades. We had encountered several dogs along the way. One was a 3 month old shepherd-husky mix that was well-trained and very friendly. At the monument we met two VERY large dogs both of which were also very friendly. There owners told us they were giant Schnauzers and they lived up to their names! We stopped at the monument which also had another good lookout. I took some pictures of the monument and of the river. We all climb the stairs to the top of the monument although there were no better views from the top. We walked back down and continued on the Long Path by descending some stone steps. We passed a blue and white trail, the Forest View Trail which descended to the Shore Trail. At 11.2 miles we crossed the access road to the State Line Lookout. There are many ski trails in the area but the aqua blazes were always very prominent. We continued to follow the blazes until at 11.7 miles we were just behind the State Line Lookout snack bar. The trail turned left here but we walked out to this very large viewpoint. The views were good so I got out the camera to take a few shots. We walked back to the trail and followed it as it wound its way back to the old access road. We heard a great commotion as we came out of the woods. We finally saw an osprey in a tree as it took wind down towards the river. We walked along the road until the trail turned to the right into the woods again.

At this point Karl and I were getting a little tired but is seemed the hardest part of the hike was yet to come. At 12.4 miles we came to a chain link fence that marks the state border. The Long Path turned right here and began to descend a set of stone steps which were steep at times and covered in leaves. We turned left and passed through a gate into New York continuing to descend on the steps. At 12.8 miles we finished the descent and crossed a small stream on a bridge. A white trail to the right led down to the Peanut Leap Cascade and the remnants of Lawrence Gardens. It was already 3:25 PM or we would have both voted to make this short side trip. I have already planned to go back to take in some of the sights we missed. We met a young woman at the trail junction who was confused about which way she should go. She explained that she parked her car at the Alpine Lookout and I showed her that she should follow the Long Path. I knew she had about 6 miles to hike and had no hope of reaching her car before dark! It reminded me of how poorly prepared some people are when the y go out to hike. We continued on the trail which was very wet in these lower spots. We met several groups of people still hiking out on the trail even though the hour was late. The trail headed up a hill and we were soon back on Ludlow Lane. Two more cars had parked on the side of the road where we were parked. It was 3:25 PM when I looked at my GPS. We had hiked 13.5 miles in 5 hours and 25 minutes with an elevation gain of 1265 feet. I had finished the Long Path! We decided to celebrate by visiting the Peekskill Brewery. We took the Palisades Parkway to the Bear Mountain Bridge and then followed the "got Path" into Peekskill. The food and beer were good even if the price was a little steep!

Fall 2014

On Saturday, December 20th I was ready to get out after a week of poor weather, coaching commitments and a stint as school nurse. I had planned to hike the section of the Long Path from the New Jersey Border to Nyack which is section 2 of the Long Path. This would leave only section 1 from Fort Lee, NJ to the New Jersey border for me to complete the Long Path. This section is a little over 10 miles so I knew I would need a ride. I called the Nyack Car Service and they said they could transport Sheila and I for about $20. It was about 23 degrees when we left Livingston Manor at around 7:00 AM. The forecast for the Nyack area was for temperatures in the 40's with some sun in the mid-morning and I dressed accordingly. I chose the easiest route by driving down Route 17 to Harriman where I picked up the Thruway south. I knew I wanted exit 11 and expected some heavy traffic as this exit is near the Palisades Center Shopping Mall. After getting off the exit I turned left on Route 59 and parked in a strip mall. I called the car service and they were there within 5 minutes. I explained where I wanted to go and we were off. The drive was only about 15 minutes south on Route 9W and we were there at 9:00 AM. The driver dropped us off and we were hiking by 9:05 AM. As we started out on the trail passed the gatehouse for the Lamont-Doherty Observatory, a group of cyclists sped by heading north on Route 9W. The New York Cycling Club has adopted this section of road and use it regularly for hill repeats! The first .7 miles of the trail headed downhill and parallel Route 9W passing through some hardwood forest and eventually meeting Route 9W. The traffic on 9W was consistent but the road had wide shoulders. We headed north on the road until 1.2 miles where we crossed to the parking area for Tallman State Park on the other side.

There were a few cars parked and we immediately met a woman walking her German Shepherd "puppy" back to the car. The trail began as a wide woods road and bike path with a firm surface which made it easy to walk. We were walking east and then turned north at 1.5 miles on what was more like a hiking trail. A young woman came running toward us from the other direction and I said "Hi!" as she passed. I got no response since, like so may people today, she had earphones on to shut out the rest of the world. For the next .5 miles we hiked along a raised walkway with lower wetlands on both sides. Some areas were just marshy while others had small ponds. At 2 miles we turned east again but soon started heading NNW walking along the edge of the escarpment. Looking to the right the Hudson River was visible and there were some views of the large Sparkill marsh below. Trees limited the photographic opportunities until we walked down a hill to an area with benches at about 2.9 miles. I took off my pack and got a drink before grabbing the camera. I took some pictures of the marsh and the river before sinning the pack to continue our journey. We walked up a paved walkway and then turned onto a trail to get to the plateau that makes up what is called Tallman Mountain. We walked passed the shelter at the top on a paved roadway to a lookout just north of the shelter. I found the name Tallman Mountain interesting since the maximum elevation is only 171 feet. I again dropped my pack to take some pictures from this less obstructed viewpoint. I could still see the marsh below but could now also view the Tappan Zee Bridge and the village of Piermont below. The skies were a uniform gray even though it was now 10:15 AM when the forecast had called for sun. The most interesting feature was a long spit of land that jutted out into the river from Piermont. This is the mile long Piermont pier that was a terminus for the Erie Railroad. It also served as a point for ferry service to Dobbs Ferry on the other side of the river .I thought about walking out on it but decided I wanted to make sure I finished the hike. We walked a little farther and I found another lookout that had views down into Piermont. After a few shots, we got back on the main trail and walked down a steep hill to the road.

We crossed Sparkill Creek on a bridge and started walking north on Piermont Avenue passing some small shops. The trail had been well-marked so far by aqua blazes and I soon noticed that they indicated a left turn onto a side street. We walked up Tate Street and near the top turned left up a set of stairs to Ash Street. At the corner across from us is the old Erie railroad station for Piermont. The building is over 100 years old but has been resided. We followed the blazes on Ash Street west to Piermont Place. We headed south on Piermont Place and then west on Crescent Road. Crescent Road was a dead end but the trail followed an old fire road at the end which we followed south and then west to Route 9W. We had been climbing since we left Piermont but the climb was not over. We turned right on Route 9W and then almost immediately left on Castle Road. We followed Castle Road for a short distance until the blazes indicated a right turn into the woods. As we turned I saw two mountain bikers coming down the hill so we stopped to give them the right-of-way. We continued on the trail passing through some woods but still climbing. The trail eventually took us to the roads that run through the Rockland County Cemetery where we turned right to ascend to the top of the hill through a switch back. As we followed the roads heading north along the escarpment, we passed by many impressive grave markers some of granite and many with bronze plaques. At 5 miles we came to the memorial for John C. Fremont. Fremont was a colorful figure who had a checkered career as an adventurer, politician, and military officer. I took a few pictures of the memorial and then looked for the viewpoint over the Hudson as indicated on the map. Since I could find no lookout, we continued to follow then road until the blazes indicated a turn to the right off the roads. The trail headed west and then north continuing to climb and leaving the Rockland County Cemetery land to cross property marked as "Military Reservation". The Long Path skirted the summit of Mount Nebo and then reached a high point at 585 feet on the shoulder of another unnamed hill. At about 5.75 mile an orange trail branched off to the right. The trail goes to Mount Nebo which was once the site of a Nike missile silo that protected New York City. It is now a recreation area.

The trail started to descend through hardwood forests as it entered Clausland Mountain County Park. At 7 miles we crossed Clausland Mountain Road and entered Tackamack Town Park maintained by the Town of Orangetown. We headed northwest for about .25 miles to a small pond where we turned northeast and at 7.5 miles crossed Marisco Court to enter Blauvelt State Park. This was the first time on the hike that we had entered a forest with evergreen trees as the trail began to swing to the northeast. At about 8 miles we crossed over a low cement wall and turned to the right. I remembered the hike description mentioned an old firing range. We soon came across higher cement walls. These are the remains of a World War I firing range and target walls. The tunnels connecting the two still remain here underground. As we continued on our way we met several more mountain bikers. We began another ascent crossing a few streams along the way some with and some without bridges. At 8.8 miles we crossed North Tweed Boulevard and continued to climb to the highest point on the hike at about 625 feet. A star on the map indicated a viewpoint but there wasn't much to see. I did notice a large amount of broken glass on the rocks where inconsiderate people had found breaking bottles irresistible! We descended from this high point only to climb another and then another as we headed generally north toward Nyack. We left Blauvelt State Park as we crossed Bradley Hill Road at 9.8 miles, made a quick ascent and then started our last descent into town. We were now in Sean Hunter Ryan Memorial Park. Sean Hunter Ryan was a Rockland County resident who died with his climbing partner, Philip Otis, on Mount Rainier in 1995. The two young men were park rangers involved in a rescue mission under extremely dangerous conditions. They remain the only two rangers to die on a rescue mission on Rainier. I had been hearing fire sirens for some time but they we intermittent and did not sound like they were going to a fire. When we came to Waldron Avenue, I stowed my poles and put Sheila on her leash. As we walked down the street, I saw the reason for the sirens. The Nyack Fire Department had several engines visiting neighborhoods with "Santa" on board distributing small gifts to children. Sheila and I walked down to the traffic light and waited to cross a very busy Route 59. We were back at the car at 1:40 PM having covered 10.5 miles in 4 hours and 30 minutes.

On Saturday, December 13th I was ready to get out after a week of snow and ice and coaching commitments. I had planned to hike on Friday but the low temperatures coupled with the stiff breeze dissuaded me. An early morning ambulance call on Saturday made hiking more difficult as I was pretty tired. In addition, the temperature did not seem any warmer and the breeze was blowing harder than the day before! I ha almost decided to wait until after church on Sunday but decided I needed to get out! Sheila agreed wholeheartedly with this decision. I planned to hike a section of the Long Path from Landing Rd to High Tor. This is the second part of section 3 which is one of the last three sections I have to hike. I also wanted to continue up to High Tor since I had not hiked the first part of section 4. I also remembered that the last time I was at High Tor with my wife we could not see much due to the fog. I knew that there was the potential for some great views. The forecast for Nyack was calling for partly sunny skies with temperatures rising into the high 30's but winds averaging about 10 mph. I got ready dressing for twenty degree temperatures as we left Livingston Manor at 8:00 AM. I chose the easiest route by driving down Route 17 to Harriman where I picked up the Thruway south. I knew I wanted exit 12 and expected some heavy traffic as this is the exit for the Palisades Center Shopping Mall. After getting off the exit I headed north on Route 303 to Lake Road. I turned right and followed it to Route 9W. I crossed 9W to pick up Rockland Lake Road and drove around the southern tip of the lake and north along the eastern shore. Soon there was an intersection where I turned right onto Landing Road and parked in small lot which I recognized from a previous hike. It was 9;35 AM and the drive had give more quickly than I had anticipated. As I got out of the car the temperature was already in the mid 30's and there did not seem to be much of a breeze. I knew that I would probably be removing a layer of clothing and immediately took off the gaiters that I had worn. As I got Sheila out of the car, one hiker was beginning the section that we would hike while another couple began the walk down to the bike path with their dog. The skies were clear with few clouds and plenty of sun as we head out at 9:35 AM to begin our hike.

The trail immediately began a climb from the parking area as we passed by the Wells Family Cemetery. The cemetery has been abandoned although there were flags on some of the graves. I did some research but was not able to discover much about the family. As we continued to climb, we passed the hiker who had started before us. Sheila was eagerly pulling me up the hill on her leash and he commented about the "help" I was getting! Within about .25 miles we hit a high point but then immediately started down the other side. This pattern continued for 2.7 miles and really warmed me up. Very early on I stopped to removed my Icebreaker 260 midlayer leaving only a light Terramar baselayer under my Mammut Hoody. I thought I might be a little too cool but I wore this for the rest of the hike with the pitzips open on the Hoody and I was warm most of the time. I even considered removing the Icebreaker 200 tights I had on under my MH Winter Wander pants but in the end decided it was too much trouble. Along the ridge I was expecting to find some viewpoints since the maps I was using had "stars" and the trail description indicated lookouts. Almost all of the point that might have had views now had trees in the way. I tried walking off the trail several times but found only one spot that was acceptable. I did get some pictures of a tug pushing a barge downstream. I was not too bothered by the lack of views since I knew High Tor would have some great ones up and down the Hudson. At some point a trail runner passed us coming from Route 9W. He passed again in the opposite direction just as we were beginning our descent to Route 9W. At 2.7 miles we hit the highest point on the ridge and started down toward Lost Clove and Route 9W. On the way down we passed the white blazed Treason Trail on the right and I thought I might come back the same way to hike down to the bike path along the river. We descended to Route 9W and were at the small parking area at 11:10 AM after hiking 3.25 miles.

At first it was not clear exactly where the Long Path went but I soon spotted blazes on the guardrail on the other side of the road. I put Sheila on her leash and stowed my poles in the pack. We crossed a busy Route 9W and continued our hike on Lost Clove Road. The road was closed at first as it began to pass by an enormous quarry owned by the Tilcon Corporation. The basalt that makes up most of the Palisades has been quarried here since 1920 and the operation is huge. Soon Last Clove Road became open to traffic and we turned right on Scratchup Road to get to Old Route 303 or the Haverstraw Road. I stopped at one of the gates to the quarry and took some pictures before continuing on. We turned left on Old Route 303 and started hiking west. The road had almost no shoulder and there seemed to be a lot of traffic. We only had to walk about a quarter mile until the blazes indicated a right turn into the woods to begin the assault on High Tor. I let Sheila off her leash and got my poles ready for hiking. The trail was very rocky and poorly blazed in a few spots. After an initial climb the trail leveled a little and then started a gentle ascent passing a house on the left as it made its way up toward the ridge. I was a little concerned about rattlesnakes and kept Sheila close by. We were now hiking almost directly north and at 5 miles descended a little to the junction with the spur trail to the left to High Tor Vineyards. We continued a little farther north and then followed the trail as it turned northwest to start the ascent up what is sometimes called South Mountain. The ascent here was a rock scramble and I could not find the aqua blazes of the Long Path anywhere on the rocks. Even when we reached the top the blazes were absent. We descended slightly before starting the final climb to the top of High Tor. I picked up the blazes again as we hiked the trail up the south side of the tor. Soon we were at the top with good views in all directions. From the summit I could see the Hudson just below us with the village of Haverstraw at the base of the tor. To the south was Deforest Lake in the foreground with several other lakes further away including Rockland Lake. I was a little cold at the top as the wind had picked up some. I started taking pictures including some of Sheila posing using the scenery as a background.

When I had finished my photography, we headed back the way we had come. It was 12:25 PM and we had already hiked 5.5 miles. At the foot of High Tor I found the aqua blazes heading off to the south shoulder of South Mountain. We followed the trail and found it to be much easier than the ascent. The entire walk back to the road seemed to go very quickly. Once on the roads we followed the same route to get back to Route 9W. We did meet one walker on Lost Clove Road but I was surprised we had not seen more people on a Saturday. When we arrived back at Route 9W, I decided we would walk an informal trail down to the bike path that runs along the river from Haverstraw to Nyack. We followed the path to the railroad tracks but I somehow missed the easiest way down to the bike path. We had to slip and slide our way down the steep bank from the tracks to the bike path below. Once on the bike path we turned right to walk south to the car. Within a short distance we came to a sign marking the spot where Benedict Arnold and John Andre discussed the betrayal of the fort at West Point. As we continued on the path a freight train roared by on the tracks with almost 100 tank cars. I was hoping to see it pass through the tunnel a little farther ahead but that was obscured by the trees. At 8.3 miles the maps marked some ruins so we walked down a path to the shores of the Hudson. The ruins there did not seem to be very old and weren't very interesting. All along the path were small stone buildings which looked like they may have been bathhouses or restrooms. We walked to the edge of the water where I took some pictures and Sheila played in the waves. After walking back up to the bike path, we headed south again. The path actually rolled some unlike the southern portion which was very flat. A bicyclist passed us and we met several other people along the way. Each time Sheila spotted them first and came to me to be put on her leash. We stopped two more times so that I could take a few shots of the cliffs above us. We finally walked up the hill to the spot were we had gotten on the bike path the last time. Here we turned right and walked up the hill to the parking area. It was 3:10 PM when we finished our 12 mile hike. I was surprised that the overall vertical gain was over 2600 feet. The drive home went smoothly despite the traffic.

On Sunday, December 7th, I wanted to get out and hike since the weather forecast for the rest of the week indicated a mix of rain, ice and snow starting Tuesday and extending through Friday. It had been two years since I lost my best hiking companion, Sheba, to Lyme disease and I knew taking a hike with Sheila would make me feel better. Sheba was a little over 14 years old and had a very bad case of Lyme Disease diagnosed in the spring of 2012. She was still very alert but her hips had deteriorated to the point where she could hardly support herself. Knowing that there was only one way to eliminate her pain didn't make saying goodbye any easier. I will always miss her and always remember what great trail dog she was when she was healthy. Fortunately, Sheila, my new dog has proved to be a great companion at home and on the trails. I decided to go to the Neversink Unique area after church since there had been some rain recently and I wanted to check out the water falls. I thought I would have enough time to visit Denton falls and High Falls on the Neversink as well as the Falls on Mullet Brook. Cindy was still ill with a cold so she declined my offer to hike. Sheila and I didn't leave Livingston Manor until just before 11:30 AM. I drove to the Rock Hill exit on Route 17 and then took Katrina Falls Road south to the parking area at the dead end. I parked the car and we were hiking by noon. I was surprised to find a layer of ice in the parking area and a significant amount of snow on the woods road that is the beginning of the trail. There wasn't enough snow to wear snowshoes but I had brought my Microspikes just in case. I was a little sorry I had left my gaiters home but knew I could do without them. The sun was out and the temperature had risen to almost 40 degrees as we walked down toward the river. The wind that had been blowing in Livingston Manor was absent and I knew it wouldn't be long before I would be removing one of my layers on top. At the first trail junction we turned left to parallel the river on the blue trail. I could hear Wolf Brook long before we were at the foot bridge that crossed it. I stopped at the bridge to take a few pictures of the brook which was very high. I also took pictures of the snow covered trail and the bridge which seemed to have a few more holes than last time. I had already encountered several new blowdowns on the trail and made a note to contact one of the maintainers. We crossed the brook and headed up a small hill to the next trail junction with the red trail. I decided to bear to the right to parallel the river and stay on the blue trail thinking I would use the red trail to form a loop on the way back. The walk on the trail was pleasant enough but the amount of snow seemed to increase. I was already beginning to get warm and opened all the zippers on my Mammut Hoody. I could hear the Neversink roaring below. Soon we were approaching Mullet Brook but when we got to the bridge I decided there was no reason to drop my pack to take pictures as there was nothing spectacular about the scene. We crossed the footbridge and arrived at the junction with the spur trail to Denton falls where we turned right and headed down to the Neversink.

The walk down to the falls is only about .25 miles but it was made more difficult by the slippery conditions. Using my poles helped some but I did slip several times. The problem was that the snow depth was inconsistent and snow was absent some places on the trail making the use of Microspikes impractical. We arrived at Denton Falls at 12:40 PM after hiking about 1.7 miles. As we negotiated the last short drop to the falls, I noticed a trout trying to swim up the falls close to shore! Before I could get my camera ready the fish was gone having made several unsuccessful attempts. I dropped my pack and waited for several minutes but no fish appeared so I started to take some pictures of the falls. The water was high and looked very "clean" and the sun was at a good angle downstream with a bright blue sky. The only thing missing were a few puffy white clouds. We carefully walked down to the rock shelf below the falls and I took some more pictures. Sheila looked like she wanted to jump in but I discouraged her as the water was deep, flowing very fast and was ice cold. I shouldered my pack and we headed back up to the main trail. Somehow on the way up I lost the blazes and thought Sheila was off the trail. I headed downhill a little before realizing she was right and did not need blazes! At the blue trail we turned right to hike up a small hill to the next trail junction where we turned right to head down to High Falls. Within a short distance it became obvious no one had hiked this trail for some time. In places there was several inches of snow which made hiking over the rocks that much harder. Over the next 2.1 miles the trail descends and ascends some small hills as it parallels the river. Within the first .7 miles we ran into six blowdowns of various sizes. One section was close to the trail junction and had several large trees completely blocking the trail for 50 feet or more. This blockage had been there for some time and a rather obvious path was beginning to develop on the left. Parts of the trail where there was no snow were wet with a few small streams but they were easy to avoid or cross. The mountain laurel was heavy with snow and in many places was closing in on the trail. The walk seemed to take longer than I remembered and I knew it was at least the third time that I had hiked the trail when there was more snow than I expected! Eventually we were walking down to High Falls and the roar was very loud. We arrived at 1:50 PM at the edge of the water after hiking about 4.1 miles. We were able to walk carefully along the icy rocks to get to the rock shelves that are even with and below the falls. I dropped my pack and took out the camera. The sky was still a pretty blue but still lacked puffy clouds. I took a lot of pictures before being satisfied that I had photographed the falls and the river from every angle. I also recorded a video of the falls. We headed back up the trail to retrace our steps. The first 1.4 miles is all uphill and gains about 490 feet. There is nothing steep or very difficult about this part but the snow made it a little tougher than usual.

At the trail junction we turned right to start the loop back and to visit Mullet Falls. The spur trail to Mullet Falls came up within a few hundred feet and we turned to the left and walked down to the falls. There was a good volume of water going over the falls but the rocks were very icy. It was impossible for me to get to the area directly in front of the falls so I took a few pictures and then walk to the right. From here I was able to get almost directly in front of the falling water to get some good shots. I noticed that Sheila had no trouble with the icy rocks and was bounding from one to the other without missing a beat. I walked back down to my pack and we were soon hiking back to the red trail where we made a left to walk up the hill. The walk to the footbridge over Mullet Brook seemed to take a long time and was more uphill than I remembered. We crossed the footbridge at 3:30 PM about 7.2 miles into the hike. The sun was beginning to dip low in the sky but I knew we had plenty of time to get out of the woods. The rest of the walk was flat or downhill for about 1 mile when we were back on the trail that heads to the parking area. Once we were back on the main trail it only took about 15 minutes to hike the .5 miles back to the car. As we ascended the last hill, I looked ahead and saw a black shape on the trail. I immediately thought "bear" but concluded it was a little too skinny and was moving a little too fast. I spotted the owner of the black dog and put Sheila on her leash as we passed. The owner and I briefly struck up a conversation before going in opposite directions. We arrived at the parking area at 4:15 PM having hiked 8.8 miles in 4 hours and 15 minutes and had climbed almost 2000 feet! I was surprised that this time matched other times I had hiked this route in much better conditions. As I drove home, it began to get dark very quickly.

On Friday, December 5th I planned to hike a section of the Long Path from Nyack to Landing Rd. This is the first part of section 3 which is one of the last three sections I have to hike. When I awoke at 7:00 AM the temperature was 16 degrees and the weather forecast for Livingston Manor indicated snow and ice were on the way. The forecast for Nyack was calling for mostly cloudy skies with rain in the late afternoon. I decided to take my chances and attempt the hike despite the questionable weather. I got ready dressing for twenty degree temperatures as we left Livingston Manor at 8:00 AM. I chose the easiest route by driving down Route 17 to Harriman where I picked up the Thruway south. I knew I wanted exit 11 but forgot that it was the last exit before the Tappan Zee Bridge! The traffic was heavy but moving and we got to the exit at about 9:20 AM. I took a left at the end of the exit onto Route 59. I immediately pulled into a parking lot and parked just east of Mountainview Avenue. I put Sheila on her leash, stowed my poles in my pack and left the Microspikes in the car as we started our hiked at 9:30 AM. We walked west on Route 59 to Mountainview Avenue and turned right to head north. The bridge over I87 had a very narrow sidewalk but after that we were able to walk on sidewalks until the trail cut right into the wood at .3 miles. We began to walk through a strip of forested land that was bordered on either side by houses and apartment buildings. I have found that I am able to block out the noise of traffic and enjoy the woods despite the proximity of strip malls. The Long Path began to head east and at about .6 miles we were walking along Oak Hill Cemetery. I could see the Hudson River and Tappan Zee Bridge through the trees. The views were good but the trail description promised much better views to come. We followed the trail as it turned left and started up a hill to a water tank. The trail began to head north and then northwest rolling a little. At about 1.4 miles I could see Nyack High School below to the right. At this point the trail started a somewhat steep descent to Christian Herald road at 1.7 miles. We passed through a gate, turned right and found a sidewalk along the road. As we approached Nyack High School, Sheila signaled and I looked up to see a deer cross the road in front of us and head toward the school. We continued on the sidewalk passing the high school and the Ramah Jewish Day Camp on the way to the intersection with Route 9W.

At 9W we had hiked 2.1 miles and we turned left to hike north .4 miles. There was no sidewalk but the shoulder was wide and we had no trouble. At 2.5 miles we crossed the road and passed through an opening in the guardrail. A short distance into the woods a white trail came in from the right. This was the Upper Nyack Trail which I intended to use to hike a loop on the way back. The Long Path continued on a wide woods road which paralleled Route 9W. The road was well constructed with stone laid up to support the road surface. The trail began to gain elevation as it headed northeast and away from 9W. At 2.8 miles we entered Rockland Lake State Park. As we followed the trail, there were a few lookouts but I decided to continue to the top of Hook Mountain. At 3.25 miles we reached the summit and the highest point on the hike. The views were spectacular even though the skies remained completely overcast. Of course the dominant view has the Hudson River to the east as well as the village of Nyack. I could see the Tappan Zee Bridge and the preliminary construction being done to create the new span. The Hudson is at its widest here and these views made that very clear. To the north was Rockland Lake. I took quite a few pictures despite the poor conditions all the while knowing that I would have to come back with Cindy on a better day. I also took a picture of a stuffed owl on a high pole! We walked down off the summit of Hook Mountain and then started up the next rise. Near the top we had some more nice views. I noticed a large spiky plant growing out in the open near the edge of the cliff. It was a succulent and seemed out of place all by itself. I walked to the edge of the cliff and found the drop REALLY breathtaking. I took some pictures before we continued on our way. At about 3.8 miles we started a descent down the west side of the ridge and we stayed on that side for some time.

At 4 miles we began our final ascent and at 4.7 miles we were again on a high point with some views. The views were much the same as from the other lookouts and I was beginning to become concerned about the weather. More than once a few snowflakes had fallen as well as some sleet. It was brief but I knew I did not want to have a 6 mile return trip in the rain! We descended from the final high point to the west side of the ridge and were again on a wide woods road. To the left I could see Rockland Lake. The trail descended steeply at times with a few switchbacks as we headed toward Landing Road. The final part of this descent was over a very rocky area and brought us to two old foundations. I took a few pictures and we walked out to Landing Road. I was pleased to find a parking area there that I could use as a jumping off place for my next hike. There was also a sign that gave the history of the Knickerbocker Ice Company which used the pure waters of Rockland Lake for ice and was one of the largest companies in the area. We turned right on Landing Road at exactly noon and walked down the park road to the Shore Trail which is a bike path along the Hudson. I thought this would be a quicker way to return and would offer an alternative view of the Hudson. On the way we met one woman hiking toward us and we said "Hello" as we passed. I stopped several times to take pictures of the impressive cliffs that make up the Hook Mountain ridge. The bike path began as a paved road which led down to the waters edge. We walked out to a small picnic area and I took some pictures of the river, the bridge and the cliffs. After this the path was stone dust which is much softer on the feet. We met several people hiking toward us and one runner but no bicycles.

At one point when we stopped so that I could take pictures, the woman we had initially met caught up to us. She stopped and asked some questions about hiking poles. I picked up my pack and we walked together as I answered her questions. Having someone to talk to made the hike go even quicker and at 7.4 miles we were at the Nyack Beach State Park parking area. My hiking companion generously offered to give us a ride. I thought about the offer for a moment but then declined as I wanted to pile on some miles. She did give me several alternate routes back to my car which I appreciated. Sheila and I continued our hike walking up the hill from the parking area and turning left on North Broadway to begin the Upper Nyack Trail. Almost immediately we turned right on Larchdale Avenue and walked passed the Marydell Faith and Life Center. Marydell was founded by the Sisters of Our Lady of Christian Doctrine to provide a place for disadvantaged youth during the summer. At the end of Larchdale we turned left on North Midland Avenue and after a few hundred feet followed the white blazes into the woods at 8 miles. The Upper Nyack Trail headed east for .4 miles and gained enough elevation to meet the Long Path near Route 9W. We turned left on 9W and headed back to the intersection with Christian Herald Road. We turned right at the intersection and walked back passed Nyack High School at 1:25 PM about 9 miles into the hike. The trail turned left into the woods just after the high school but I decided to continue on the road and try walking Mountainview Avenue back to the car. I knew that it was a winding road without sidewalks for a good part of the way but thought we would be OK. We made the left turn and started up the road. For the most part I had a good view of oncoming traffic and after a short climb we were able to walk on sidewalks. The return trip went much more quickly than it would have on the trail. At 10.6 miles we were back at the point where the Long Path turns into the woods. From here it was a short walk back to the car. We were back in the parking area just before 2:00 PM having hiked 10.8 miles in just under 4.5 hours. The elevation gain of 2070 feet surprised me a little as it was spread out over a good distance.

On Thursday, December 4th I had almost decided to stay at home as I had planned a long hike for Friday. After hanging around the house and looking at a forecast of rain for Saturday, I decided to get out and do something just for some exercise. Family commitments had eaten up the beginning of the week and both Sheila and I were anxious to hike. The skies were overcast but and the air seemed raw despite the 30 degree temperature but that did not stop us. We arrived at the Frick Pond parking area at 10:30 AM and were immediately on the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond. I tried to resist overdressing and did not put on tights underneath my MH Winter Wander pants. I also wore only a single layer on top underneath my Mammut Hoody. As we started to hike I wondered about my choices as I was feeling a little cool! When we arrived at the bridge across the outlet, I decided not to stop and take any pictures as the skies were so overcast and flat. As we continued around the pond, we stayed left at the trail junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. There was a thin layer of snow and ice on the trail but not enough to warrant snowshoes or even Microspikes. By 11:05 AM we had walked the 1.5 miles to Iron Wheel Junction. At the trail junction we turned right on the Logger's Loop Trail. The Logger's Loop is mostly downhill in this direction and we made good time despite the layer of slippery stuff. By 11:25 AM we were at Times Square and about 2.7 miles into the hike.

At Times Square we turned left to start up the Big Rock Trail. From Times Square to The Flynn Trail is about 1.1 miles but the elevation gain is around 600 feet. The route has three different climbs with some flatter areas between them. I wasn't getting the pulling sensation in my upper left leg that I had on other hikes recently but we were setting a fast pace and the climb was a little tiring. We reached the Flynn Trail at 11:55 PM after hiking 3.85 miles. I thought I might make a loop down to Hodge Pond but I needed to get back home so that I could get to track practice on time. We turned right to walk down the Flynn Trail back to the parking area. There were at least three major blowdowns on the trail and I thought about taking a day to try out my new Silky saws and some of these trees. Sheila was still excited at this point and was running up the trail and back to me. She was taking a few excursions off the trail to follow animal tracks but was pretty close so I let her explore. She started to grab some rather large branches so I picked up a stick and threw it several times for here to retrieve. The trip down the Flynn Trail went quickly as we continued down to the parking area on the trail. We were back at 12:30 PM having covered 5.5 miles in 2 hours.

On Saturday, November 29th I planned to hike a section of the Long Path from Mount Ivy to the Big Hill Shelter in Harriman State Park. I had already hiked the Tors so this hike would connect them to the rest of my Long Path sections and leave only section 1 to 3 for me to complete the entire trail! I mentioned my plans to my son Kurt and he said he would be able to hike with me. This meant we could spot a car on Route 106 where the Suffern-Bear Mountain trail crosses the road. We could then drive to Mount Ivy and hike the Long Path to the Suffern bear Mountain Trail near the Big Hill Shelter. The rest of the hike would be only the Suffern Bear Mountain Trail back to Route 106. This would also allow us to pass by the Jackie Jones Fire Tower and the ORAK Mansion, two points of interest that I though Kurt would like. We agreed to meet at 9:00 AM but Kurt sent a text early in the morning asking to delay our rendezvous until 9:45 AM. The new plan would allow me to get there a little early to see if Route 106 and the parking area were plowed. Sheila and I left Livingston Manor at about 8:15 AM. I had put on extra layers as the temperature was still in the single digits! I drove down Route 17 toward Long Mountain Parkway and as I drove the temperature climbed. At the Long Mountain traffic circle I took the Palisades Parkway south to exit 15. As I passed the exit for Lake Welch Drive, I noticed it was unplowed and closed which made me wonder about Route 106. When I arrived at exit 15, I found Route 106 nicely plowed as I turned left off the exit. The road passed several very nice homes and when I came to the intersection with Route 98 I turned right. The parking area was only a short distance up the road on the left. The parking area was NOT plowed and was already beginning to fill up with cars. As I waited for Kurt two different Korean hiking groups arrived and another women's group was forming. Kurt arrived at around 10:10 AM and we quickly transferred my equipment and Sheila to his car. We drove back out to The Palisades Parkway and headed south to exit 13. We turned left on Route 202 and right at the next light onto Route 45. Just up the hill we pulled into the parking area for South Mountain County Park. The air temperature was still cool but I ditched my Mountain insulated jacket for my Mammut Hoody. We walked out to Route 45 and turned right at 10:25 AM to begin the hike.

We walked down Route 45 to the traffic light and crossed Route 202 to the other side. The blazes took us under the parkway and then up a bank to the right. We walked through a short stretch of wood and then crossed the exit ramp to the parkway before we gain entered the woods. After a short walk along the shoulder of the road, we dropped down into the woods along the parkway. For the next 1.2 miles the trail took us through a narrow strip of woods along the parkway. At 1.65 miles we crossed a stream by walking along the edge of a "culvert" that took the stream under the parkway. At this point the trail began to turn to the northwest ascending the northern shoulder of Cheesecote Mountain. I took a moment to remove my Icebreaker Merino top leaving only a light baselayer under by softshell. Even with the pitzips wide open I was still working up a sweat! At about 2.4 miles we came out onto a road which skirted Cheesecote Pond. The trail soon entered the trees again on a woods road but we stopped on the shores of the pond. I took off my pack and got out the camera to take some shots of the pond with just a hint of blue sky. I also took a couple of pictures of Kurt and Sheila before packing up to continue the hike. As we walked farther north, it seemed like the snow was getting much deeper approaching 6 inches in spots. We descended the other side of the hill and headed down toward Call Hollow Road. At 3.5 miles we came across a cemetery that was marked on the map. There were very few gravestones with most plots being marked only by a small metal marker with a number. As we continued around the cemetery we found some stone benches in front of a monument with a bronze plaque inscribed with a list of names. The plaque had an inscription that read "Those Who Shall Not Be Forgotten". One of the stone benches bore the words "Giving Names to Souls Forgotten No Longer". I took a few pictures but Kurt and I were both stymied as to the meaning of the words. We walked out to Call Hollow Road along the access road to the cemetery and found a sign that read "The Letchworth Village Cemetery 1914-1967" which brought things into focus. Letchworth Village was a residential institution located in Rockland County built for the physically and mentally disabled of all ages from the newborn to the elderly. It was opened in 1911 and at its peak consisted of over 130 buildings spread out over many acres of land. Many of the residents were placed there by their families and forgotten.

We turned left on Call Hollow Road and walked a few hundred up the road before turning right into the woods at 3.7 miles. We crossed a stream on a bridge and tried to follow the aqua blazes as best we could. The problem was that the blazes were few and some were covered by snow on the trees. At this point the footsteps of other hikers stopped and we were on our down breaking trail and finding the blazes. At 4.6 miles we broke out onto a woods road and met some of the Korean hikers. The blazes indicated a left turn so we turned left and followed the road. We did not see any blazes but this did not seem unusual. After a short distance I check the map on my cell phone and found we were not on the Long Path but were following Old Turnpike. At this point my cell phone shut off because of the cold and I started to use compass and paper maps. We walked back to the junction and found that the Long Path veered off into the woods. Soon we crossed a small stream and I found one blaze on the other side but could not see another. With no other indication of where to go we headed in the direction of the blaze and once we passed it we found another. From this point on the trail was poorly marked and the snow got deeper. We continued to ascend and at 5.7 miles came to a junction with the yellow blazed Suffern Bear Mountain Trail. The blazes here were not at all clear and we initially turned left. After a short distance and no blazes I pulled out the map and determined we were following an unblazed woods road south! We turned around, went back to the junction and continued straight ahead up a hill. Another check of the map showed we were headed up to the Big Hill shelter when we wanted to be on the trail heading northeast. We went back to the junction and found the yellow blazes.

We followed the yellow blazes for the next .7 miles to the top of Jackie Jones Mountain. The trail had been well-packed by other hikers. Along the way we crossed a small stream and Pine Meadow Road. When we got to the fire tower, I took off my pack and grabbed the camera to ascend the tower and take some pictures. Kurt declined the invitation to join me on the climb pointing out the "rickety" nature of the tower. Sheila on the other hand wanted to follow me all the way up! As I climbed the steps I could begin to see Kurt's point. Several steps were missing and the landings had some holes in them. I climbed to just below the cab and took some pictures of the bleak but beautiful landscape around the tower. I tried to avoid taking pictures of the large communications complex just to the northeast of the fire tower! To the north of the tower was Lake Welch and farther to the east I could seen the Hudson. The missing steps were more noticeable on the way down and I don't know whether I would climb the tower again. We got back on the trail and negotiated several slippery areas until we came to the ruins of the ORAK Mansion at 7.5 miles. This mansion was built in 1923 by George Briggs Buchanan, a vice president of the Corn Products Refining Company, which manufactured Karo syrup. Orak is Karo spelled backwards. After Buchanan died in 1939, his heirs sold the mansion to the park, and it was demolished in 1973. We walked to the right off the trail and into the area that was once the dining room. Little remains except for a rock wall with a door and small round windows. Buchanan had the floor of the dining room built to sway like the deck of a ship and the round widows acted as portholes. I took some pictures before we returned to the trail. We walked down the hill passing the remains of the mansion, the servants quarters and the gatehouse. The trail soon met the access road for the communications complex and it was less than half a mile to Route 106. We turned right on the road and walked a few hundred feet back to the car. It was 3:30 PM and we had hiked 8.1 miles in 5 hours with a 1700 foot elevation gain. I thought this was a slow pace but we were stopped for over an hour and the snow really slowed us down. We drove back to Mount Ivy to Kurt's car and then decided to find a place to eat. We found a Mexican place, La Rancherita II, about a mile east on Route 202. The food was good and it was nice to relax before heading home.

On Thursday, November 27th the family was headed to Delhi for Thanksgiving. About 8 inches of snow had fallen on Wednesday and it looked very pretty on the trees. I decided to take a short walk on the hills behind our church before we headed out. The temperature was still in the high 20's and the sky showed only little blue. I got dressed and took my pack since it is the easiest way to carry my camera. Sheila was ready to go so we walked across the street and up the steep hill to the top of the cemetery. I stopped and dropped my pack to take some pictures of the town and the surrounding hills all of which were covered in snow. Sheila seemed to know where we were going and we were soon hiking through the woods . I was a little surprised to find we weren't the first to venture out as I saw boot print and dog prints in the snow. We came to a large blowdowns across our regular route and follow the other set of prints as they wound around it. As we walked through the woods, I stopped several times to take a few more shots and then put the camera away to concentrate on the beauty around us. We followed a route we often use but I decided to walk the flat part first and then climb the hills. There were some deep puddles of water which were almost completely frozen but we avoided them just in case. Soon we had made the turn and started back which meant we had a few pretty steep but short climbs. I had not worn any traction devices which would have made the climbs a little easier. I could have worn snowshoes since there was more snow in the woods and on the hills than around the house but they were not necessary. We descended the highest hill and rejoined our path from the outbound part of the hike. Sheila was right on the "trail" the entire time despite the fact that the others had turned around only a short way into the hike. We had started just before 9:00 AM and were back at the house by 10:30 AM after covering a few beautiful miles.

On Tuesday, November 25th it was still overcast with some mist in the air after an overcast and showery day on Monday. I decided to hike locally as I had track practice in the afternoon. I decided that the rain might have increased the flow in local streams and that Russell Brook Falls would be a good place in to check this out. Sheila was happy to be getting out and rushed to the car! We left Livingston Manor at about 9:15 AM and headed toward Morton Hill Road just outside of Roscoe. I made the left and rove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I turned around and marked on the shoulder of Morton Hill Road as the parking area is on private property. We were hiking down Russell Brook Road by 9:35 AM and it already appeared that there would be some water in the streams. I had worn and orange jacket and put Sheila's orange bandana around her neck since I expected there might be some hunters in the area. As we walked down the road to the lower parking area, I could hear the water rushing down the brook. I stopped briefly at the viewpoint to the upper falls but decided to take pictures of the falls on the way back. We walked down to the lower parking area but there were no vehicles in the lot. We continued down the wide snowmobile trail and woods road and crossed Russell Brook on the bridge. The knotweed was all dead but it continues to expand its area.

At the split in the trail we headed right to do the loop in a counterclockwise direction. There was water on the trail and a few muddy areas. We set a fast pace up the trail toward Trout Pond and as we approached we could see there was ice covering all of the pond except the part near the spillway. Despite the rain and the water in the streams, the level of the pond was still low. The day was still overcast but I still took some pictures of the scenery with the ice on the pond. Sheila ran near the waters edge and got a drink but did not venture into the cold water or out onto the thin ice. The sky was overcast but there was enough light to provide some interesting shots. We headed back to the main trail and walked up to the inlet end of the pond. Before crossing the bridge, we walked down to the shore and I took a few more shots of the pond and the bridges. It was 10:20 AM when we crossed the bridge and headed up toward Cherry Ridge about 2 miles into the hike. We set a fast pace of about 2.7 miles per hour and the 2 miles hike from Trout Pond to Mud Pond seemed to go very quickly. We did not see any hunters along the way. The trail continued to be wet especially when compared to how dry the woods had been all summer. We turned left and found more wet and muddy spots on the snowmobile trail as we climbed a little before descending. The descent back to the trail register went quickly and we were soon back to the area of the falls. We turned left and followed the path to the lower falls since I wanted to get some pictures from the streambed. There was a good volume of water coming over the falls and I took a few shots including some of Sheila. We walked back to the bank to the main trail and back to the lower parking area. On the way back up Russell Brook Road, we stopped at the viewpoint over the upper falls. The water was clear and looked very cold as I snapped a few shots of the upper falls. I also took several of the lower falls from above. From there we walked back out to the road and to the car. We were back at the car at 12:00 PM having covered 5.6 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes with again of about 1100 vertical feet.

On Monday, November 24th it was still overcast with some mist in the air after a good rain on Sunday. I had planned to hike from Hartley Road near Goshen to Mountain Road in Greenville to connect my sections of the Long Path in Orange County and Harriman with my sections to the north. This hike is a road walk all the way so I had called Alist Taxi the night before and asked the driver to pick me up at Mountain Road as I wanted to hike from east to west. I had been over the route in a car and measured the distance at about 14.5n miles which was about the same as the distance described on the website. I was surprised at how hilly it was especially in the western part. I knew that I didn't want to break it into two hikes and around trip of 28 miles was out of the question! I almost called the driver and cancelled but I decided that it was so warm, about 55 degrees in Livingston Manor, that even if I got wet it wouldn't be too bad. I also knew that there was worse weather ahead. Sheila and I got ready and left Livingston Manor at about 7:00 AM for our 8:30 AM pickup. We headed down Route 17 and I took exit 113 to get on Route 209 south toward Port Jervis. I drove south to the Guymard Turnpike and turned left to follow the winding road over the ridge to Mountain Road. I turned right on Mountain Road and drove 3 miles south to the trailhead on the right. I actually parked slightly south of the beginning of the trail as there was a pullout that could accommodate three or four cars. We arrived at 8:20 AM and the taxi was there just after 8:30 AM. He had taken I94 to Port Jervis and saved some time. We headed back to Hartley Road using most of the route we were going to hike back. The skies were dark and there were a few showers along the way. When we arrived at Hartley Road it was still overcast but the rain had stopped. Our driver dropped us and we started hiking north on Hartley road at almost exactly 9:00 AM. For the rest of the hike the skies stayed overcast and we experienced a few light showers but no major downpours. On a nicer day I might have taken some pictures as there was some interesting scenery and some historical landmarks. As it was, I kept my head down and hiked as fast as I could. Sheila, of course, was happy to be out and had no problem with the weather!

At the end of Hartley Road we turned left on Echo Lake Road and headed west. After a short distance, we crossed over the Walkill River and the passed Echo Lake at .75 miles. At 1.2 miles I veered off the route because I was not paying attention and headed north on McVeigh Road. I quickly realized my mistake and turned left on CR 50 heading west. We passed by the Wawayanda Inn and at 2 miles crossed Route 6. I checked my watch and it was 9:40 AM which means we were keeping a fast pace. From this point on the road rolled some but overall we were gaining elevation most of the time. After Route 6, we crossed Denton Hill Road and stayed right on Ridgebury Road. The walk on Ridgebury Road was close to 3 miles to the intersection with Ridgebury Hill Road where we turned right at just over 5 miles. Along the way we had a few showers but they were light and short-lived. I actually missed the turn onto Ridgebury Hill Road which I realized when I could not find any aqua blazes. Despite the fact that it is a road walk the blazes were there and pretty easy to spot. We back tracked and headed north on Ridgebury Hill Road until it met Route 6 where we turned right. When I check the trail description, I found I had missed the turn onto Wilcox Road but that section is only about .2 miles anyway! We walked north on Route 6 for about .25 miles before turning left on McBride Road. At the end of McBride Road I check my GPS and found we had hiked 7 miles and it was 11:00 AM. I was satisfied with the pace. We turned left on CR 49 and then almost immediately right on R. Hunter Road. Within a short distance R. Hunter Road became Mount Orange Road. The further west we hiked the more rural the area became and the more elevation we gained.

After about a mile Mount Orange Road turned sharply right and crossed over I84. We continued north and then west on Mount Orange Road until about 9.4 miles where the trail turned left onto Remey Road. Our walk on Remey Road was short as it soon met South Centerville Road that took us south and west to 10.1 miles. Here we continued straight ahead on Mullock Road which began a nice climb which I began to feel especially in my left knee! Houses were getting farther apart and we encountered very few cars. Mullock Road seemed to go on forever as we continued to gain elevation heading west toward Mountain Road. We crossed several roads on our way and even saw what looked like a very old cemetery along the way. At 13.9 miles we turned left onto Mountain Road and I knew we were almost done. The walk on Mullock Road was 3.8 miles and we had gained 520 feet. We covered the final .9 miles along Mountain Road and arrived back at the car at 1:35 PM. We had covered 14.8 miles in a little over 4.5 hours and gained a total of 1400 feet. The difference in elevation from beginning to end was 700 feet. I now have a short section from Lake Welch Road in Harriman to the Tors and then the final three sections from Fort Lee north to the Tors and I will be an "End-to-Ender"!

On Friday, November 21st I was ready to hike after four days of filling in for the school nurse! I had considered going to Orange County to finish the Long Path sections there by hiking a 14 mile section from Hartley Road near Goshen to Mountain Road near Port Jervis. The forecast was for temperatures barely above freezing AND sustained winds of 10 to 20 miles per hour. I knew the road walk would be unprotected and opted to wait for the warmer temperatures predicted for the days before Thanksgiving. I asked Cindy if she would like to go to Frick Pond to hike and she agreed. This is one of our favorite places and I had not been there in some time. When I awoke at 6:00 AM is was 16 degrees and there was a stiff breeze blowing in the1 morning progressed the temperature rose slightly. We ate breakfast with our son Karl and then got dressed to head out for our hike. We arrived at the parking area at about 10:40 AM to find only a pickup parked in the lot. We got ready to hike and headed across the road to start up the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. The air was cold and the breeze made it seem even colder. Being in the woods protected by the trees blunted the effects of the wind some. There was only a dusting of snow on the trail but the ground seemed well frozen. As we hiked up the Flynn Trail, we noticed quite a few trees that had fallen across the path. Some were very new but some had been there for awhile. We kept up a quick pace but Sheila was even quicker. Since we had not been out for almost a week, Sheila was dashing up and down the trail. As we hiked the blue skies all but disappeared and were replace by darker clouds. We were at the junction with the Big Rock trail by 11:25 AM having covered the 1.7 miles in about 40 minutes.

We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail passing through the gate a little further on. At the point where the Flynn Trail heads down to Hodge Pond, I elected to bear to the right on the woods road toward the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout camp. Just before the remains of the cabins from the camp, we turned left to head down the woods road toward Hodge Pond, At the junction with the jeep trail, we turned right to head around the back of the pond. The pond was frozen around the edges and I walked down to the shore to take a few pictures. We continued around the back of the pond and turned right when we came to the Flynn Trail. We walked up the Flynn Trail to the gate and stayed to the left to walk the trail out to Junkyard Junction. Here the trail was covered by a little more than an inch of snowed and some flakes were beginning to fall. The trail was frozen and there were some very icy patches along the way. We arrived at the junction at 12:10 PM about 3.3 miles into the hiked. We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and began the descent to Ironwheel Junction. The trail remained solid but there was a little less snow on the trail as we descended. The snow from the sky, however, began to increase in intensity. When we came to the junction, we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and to head toward Frick Pond. We crossed the small stream across the trail and there was some water flowing. The last time Sheila and I had walked through the stream was dry! As we approached Frick Pond we crossed the two small bridges and found one still had a large tree across it. At the bridge1 across the outlet stream, we stopped so that I could take a few last pictures. Enough snow was now falling that Flynn's Point was almost obscured! We headed back to the car arriving at 1:30 PM. We hiked 6.4 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes with a 930 foot elevation gain. We decided to reward ourselves with a late lunch at the Brandenburg Bakery in Livingston Manor!

On Saturday, November 15th I was ready to hike after three days of filling in for the school nurse! It was the first day of rifle season for deer and bear and it snowed some overnight. I stayed around to cover any morning ambulance calls and fortunately there were new. Cindy and I decided we would hike the new Ridgeview parcel from Mountain Road to the SRT. This would help me finish up some of the Long Path in Orange County. I knew that hunting was prohibited on this land which was also a plus. Cindy and I got ready to go making sure we wore some orange and that Sheila wore her orange vest. We headed down Route 17 at 10:45 AM and I took exit 113 to get on Route 209 south toward Port Jervis. The temperature was still below freezing but I expected it to rise during the day. I drove south to the Guymard Turnpike and turned left to follow the winding road over the ridge to Mountain Road. I turned right on Mountain Road and drove 3 miles south to the trailhead on the right. I actually parked slightly south of the beginning of the trail as there was a pullout that could accommodate three or four cars. We got out of the car, got our gear ready and began our hike at 11:45 AM. We walked through a break in the fence and onto a wide woods road and began a gentle climb for the next .4 miles. We passed a gravel pit on the right. The aqua blazes were sparse but were there when we needed them. After .4 miles we were on the shore of a small pond. A concrete dam impounded the water and a white blazed trail crossed the dam. We stopped and I took some pictures of the pond and the surrounding area. The distribution of snow was interesting. On the areas facing south there was little or no snow while the areas facing north were uniformly white. From the pond we continued on the Long Path heading first northeast and then northwest. The trail began a gentle descent.

At .9 miles I walked down to the shores of another small pond and took a few shots. There was a skim of ice on most of the ponds and the marshy area around them was starting to freeze. Just after this pond we made a 90 degree turn to the left still following the Long Path. At 1.2 miles I again stopped to photograph yet another body of water. This one had a small beaver house on the shore but when we walked by it looked unused. We stopped again at the outlet to this pond and I took a few more shots. We found that this was the other end of the white trail and we decided we might take it on the way back. The Long Path then began to descend still following woods roads. Just passed the pond, we found spots of blood on the white snow. Although hunting is prohibited in the area, we knew that those prohibitions are not always respected. The blood trail continued and seemed to be at least an hour old. It seemed to both of us that an animal was being transported on an ATV along the trails. Over the next .7 miles the trail descended a little over 350 feet until it intersected the Shawangunk Ridge Trail. I "tagged" the SRT and then we turned around to head back to the car. It was 12:45 PM and we had hiked 2 miles. The ascent up the trail was not as strenuous as I had expected and at 2.7 miles we were back at the last pond. We turned right and started to follow the white trail. It also followed a road and from it we could see the Long Path as we were hiking parallel to it. We crossed a gas pipeline right-of-way and were soon back at the first pond we had visited. The white trail turn left here, passed over the dam and rejoined the Long Path. There were several other trails and roads in the area which I might have explored had it not been hunting season. We walked back down the woods road to Mountain Road and turned right to get back to the car. I was surprised to see we had hiked only 3.6 miles but when I looked at the map I could see the white trail was much shorter. We had been out for 1 hour and 45 minutes and the vertical gain for the hike was about 700 feet. Since it was well passed lunchtime, we decided we wanted to eat before returning home. Karl had mentioned Aroma Thyme in Ellenville and we decided to pay them a visit. It was easy to find the eatery on Canal Street. The food was eclectic but excellent. It was NOT cheap but the beer and cider selection was first rate.

On Tuesday, November 11th I wanted to continue to work on some sections of the Long Path in Orange County to connect my Harriman sections with those to the north. I had finished the section from Route 32 to Monroe on Monday. The next section was the Heritage Trail from Monroe to just northwest of Goshen. This is an 11.5 mile stretch of paved trail most of which lies on the old Erie railroad right-of-way. I did not want to break this into two hikes and I knew I could not do over 23 miles as an out and back. I found that Alist Taxi in Monroe would transport both me and my dog so I hatched a plan. I decided to park at the end at the Heritage Trail parking area on Hartley Road west of Goshen and have the taxi drop me off at the beginning of the trail in Monroe. I could then hike one-way from Monroe back to the car. I talked to the driver and we tentatively agreed to meet at 8:15 AM. Sheila and I left Livingston Manor just before 7:00 AM. I drove down Route 17 and encountered no traffic delays due to construction. I took the Fletcher Street exit, number 126, and followed Cheechunk Road about 1.7 miles west to Hartley Road. I turned left and found the Heritage Trail pulloff only a few hundred feet in on the right. The driver showed up at about 8:35 AM and drove me to Monroe. He dropped us off and we were hiking by 8:40 AM. The trail starting in Monroe is a hard paved surface which makes walking it very easy. Throughout our walk we met other people who were walking and running and some had their dogs with them. We also met people on bicycles and one gentleman riding a unicycle! Everyone we met seemed very respectful of the other people using the trail and I suspect that many use it several times a week. Within .75 miles we were passing under Route 17. Shortly after that there was a small cemetery nestled between the trees on the right side of the trail. It acted as a reminder that the area of Orange County has been settled for some time. There wasn't much indication that the trail we were on was once a railroad bed except where the trail crossed over another road. In several, places the tracks and original bridge were still intact and I took a few pictures. At about 1 miles we began to pass through farmlands. Although I could still hear the noise of traffic, the atmosphere was very rural. Around 2.5 miles we passed by Camp Laguardia but most of the building were hidden by the high bank on the left side of the trail. There was also some fencing at various points along the route.

Around 3.8 miles I began to see the flat open fields of a black dirt region on the right or north of the trail. The views were not good enough to take pictures. I did stop to put my light jacket in my pack and to get us a drink. The temperature when we started was 42 degrees but by the time we got to Chester it had risen into the mid-50's and the sun was peeking through the overcast. We stopped at Greycourt on the outskirts of Chester where there were some railroad cars on a siding. I read the history of the area on a placard. I also took some pictures of the railroad cars and a nearby stone arch bridge. When we got into Chester, we stopped at the old railroad station so that I could take a few more pictures. The next section of trail was a little more than 4 mile walk to Goshen. There was a lot of farmland on both sides of the trail. There were also four three different marble benches dedicated to various people. We crossed several roads and in each case traffic stopped when we were in the cross walk. There was even a portable toilet at one intersection. When we reached Goshen it was about 11:10 AM and we had covered 8.5 miles as we turned right on St. James Place. As we approached a left turn onto South Church Street, I noticed that the street was blocked. We made the turn and found a Veteran's Day ceremony in progress. Although I wanted to keep going, I found I had to stop briefly to listen to the speakers. Sheila and I continued on South Church and then turned left on West Main. I wasn't sure exactly where the Heritage Trail resumed but I kept finding aqua blazes on poles and signs. My directions said the turn was about .5 miles from South Church and that it was across from a cemetery. I kept walking and wondering. I found that I need not have been concerned as the cemetery soon appeared on the left. It is very large and hard to miss and the Long Path was clearly marked with aqua blazes indicating a turn. We followed the blazes across the street and down a lane to the beginning of the last section of the Heritage Trail.

From the village of Goshen to its end on Hartley Road, the trail is "paved" with crushed stone or it is simply packed earth. There were far fewer people using this section. We passed under Route 17 at about 9.65 miles which was .2 miles further than on my description. The trail continued to be flat and straight. The predominant view on either side of the trail was as series of ponds and wetlands. Although the sky was still overcast with little sun, I still stopped to take a few pictures. There was one sign indicating that the Audubon Society maintained a bird sanctuary in the area. Sheila had been very good on her leash so I released her to give her some freedom. She stayed close to me and did not stray from the trail. We came across a final bench but this one had no dedication. I think this area would have been much more interesting if there was some sun an clouds in the sky. I sped up our pace a little bit to try to get back to the car by 12:15 PM. This was more out of boredom than necessity and I did hit my goal. We were back at the car at 12:15 PM having hiked 11.6 miles in 3 hours and 35 minutes. We had started at an elevation of 630 feet in Monroe and need on Hartley Road at 400 feet. The GPS showed an elevation gain along the way of 360 feet with a greater descent. I don't remember a single hill along the way!

On Monday, November 10th I wanted to work on some sections of the Long Path in Orange County to connect my Harriman sections with those to the north. I had finished the section from Turkey Lake on Route 6 to Route 32 in the Town of Woodbury on Saturday. The next section was from Route 32 near the Metro North trestle over Schunnemunk Mountain to the Heritage Trail in Monroe. I did not want to break this into two hikes and I knew I could not do over 18 miles as an out and back. I found that Alist Taxi in Monroe would transport both me and my dog so I hatched a plan. I decided to park at the end at the Heritage Trail parking area in Monroe and have the taxi drop me off by the trestle. I could then hike one-way from the trestle back to the car. I talked to the driver and we tentatively agreed to meet at 8:30 AM. The only catch was I did not know if I could get a spot in the lot. Sheila and I left Livingston Manor a little after 7:00 AM. I drove down Route 17 and encountered no traffic delays due to construction. I took the Museum Village Road exit, number 129, and found the Heritage Trail lot on the right just before the two commuter lots. I easily found a space and parked at 8:05 AM. I called the taxi to confirm and he said he would be there around 8:30 AM as agreed. He showed up at the appointed time and I got Sheila and my gear in his car. The driver knew where I wanted to go and he took some back roads that got use there in less than 20 minutes. As we talked he told me that he had recently started to hike. The car was clean and the driver was polite and knowledgeable. I plan to use him on my next hike along the Heritage Trail! He dropped us off at 8:45 AM and we started to hike almost immediately. The trail took us up some stone steps under the railroad trestle to the railroad tracks and right-of-way. I knew we had to walk about .4 miles along the tracks. The walking was not easy as the bed was made up of large angular stones. At some pint I looked on the other side of the tracks and saw there was a smooth surface on the other side. We cautiously crossed the tracks and the hiking was much easier. Unfortunately, our turn off the tracks came up almost immediately! We turned to the left off the tracks and started to walk on a woods road as I watched for a right turn into the woods. I looked up to see a large, black dog headed our way. He seemed pretty friendly and his owner was just behind. People who do not leash or control their dogs usually annoy me but I was sure the owner walked this trail frequently and never saw another hiker. At .8 miles the aqua blazes pointed to the right and we followed.

Just after the turn I stopped to let Sheila off her leash, get my poles ready for hiking and to change jackets. When I left Livingston Manor it was still below freezing, but it was much warmer in orange County. I decided to simply take off my Mammut Hoodie and rely on my Patagonia Capilene 3 to keep me warm. The trail now began an ascent that would end on the Schunnemunk Ridge some time later. We were headed generally northwest with some detours around cliffs and ledges. At 1.4 miles we stopped at a lookout dubbed Little Knob. There were some good views to the south and east. I wished for less haze and a few more clouds but I took some pictures anyway. As I turned around to climb back down to the main trail I saw what we would be climbing next. High Knob has an elevation of over 1300 feet. We had started at and elevation slightly below 500 feet. The trail now began to climb very steeply with some sections requiring me to grab onto a root or pull myself up over rocks. Sheila, of course, had no problem at all negotiating the steep trail. I stopped once or twice as the views were very nice to the west and north. The primary view in the foreground was Kiryas Joel, an ultraorthodox Jewish community. At 1.7 miles we were finally on top of High Knob and the views were breathtaking! I took some pictures but the real beauty was the expansive views in almost all directions. I don't usually feel like sitting down and taking in the views but I almost made an exception. We got back on the main trail and started down off High Knob. Was hoping we would not lose too much elevation. The trail was sited along the edge of High Knob and dropped only about 100 feet before starting to climb again to the ridges. At 10:45 AM we had hiked 2.75 miles and were at the junction with the yellow Jessup Trail on the main Schunnemunk Ridge. On our trip up the ridge several other paths and trails had crossed the long oath including the Woodbury Park Trail still marked with faint red blazes. We also crossed Dark Hollow Brook which was almost dry. The walk so far had been through hardwood forests with a predominance of oak trees. The slippery oak leaves and acorns made the hiking difficult. The trail was also very rocky but the rocks were hard to see due to the leaves. We passed a large conglomerate boulder and I stopped to take a few pictures.

We turned left on the Jessup Trail being careful to avoid the orange blazed Western Ridge Trail. As we started out on the Jessup Trail I kept thinking that none of it really looked familiar and then realized I had never been this far west on Schunnemunk. Over the next 3.6 miles the trail headed southwest. Most of the time we were descending and any ascents were short. The trail was well-maintained and the further we hiked the more it looked like a woods road. We left the state park at about 3.4 miles and then passed an antennae park. From that point on there were very limited views to the east but excellent views to the west and north. The last viewpoint we stopped at had a picnic table and fire ring. The Catskills and Shawangunks were clearly visible and it was hard to take it all in. It was taking a little longer to hike this section than I anticipated so we continued along main trail. The yellow blazes were easy to follow but someone had added fluorescent green paint which was even more visible! At 6.4 miles we came to paved Seven Spring Road and turned right and then quickly left. A short walk brought us to a gate and Gonzaga Park. This park is being developed by Orange County. It was originally the site of the Seven Springs Mountain House in the early 1900's. It was a popular retreat for vacationers and later became the Gonzaga monastery and catholic retreat center. All that remains today the well enclosure, a large octagonal chapel once attached to the monastery and a smaller chapel in the woods. I took some pictures before putting my poles in my pack and Sheila on her leash. We walked down to the entrance to the park and crossed Seven Springs Mountain Road. I kept watching for the blazes to make a right turn into the woods which they eventually did at 7.1 miles. A few more blazes on the road would have been helpful. I thought the hike would be flat after this turn but there were still some small ups and downs as we headed for Route 208. As we neared the crossing the trail was blocked by a local construction company but it was easy to walk around the obstruction. There were many ell-constricted some walls in the area and some foundations from an old homestead very close to Route 208. We crossed the road at 7.8 miles and walked about .2 miles to the shores of Orange Rockland Lake. Along the way we negotiated a few ledges and one steep but short descent. When we got to the lake, we turned right to follow the shore around to Museum Village Road. The trail around the lake could use some maintenance but we were soon at the road where we turned left. We walked the final .4 miles back to the car arriving in the parking lot at 1:30 PM. We had hiked 8.7 miles in 4.5 hours with 40 minutes of stopped time. Our elevation gain was 1850 feet. I was glad to be able to hike one way without having to backtrack!

On Saturday, November 8th I had decided to continue to work on the Long Path. I had recently done some hiking around Kerhonksen to connect the Long Path in the Catskills with the Long Path in the Shawangunks. It was now time to hike through Orange county to connect the Long Path in Harriman to the northern portions I had hiked. My wife and I had hiked from the Turkey Hill lake parking area to the intersection of Route 6 and Route 293. I thought I could park at Lake Massawippa, hike about half a mile to that intersection and then continue north to Route 32 in the Town of Woodbury. I estimated this would be close to 14 miles so I decided to get an early start. The forecast was for temperatures rising into the low 50's with partly sunny skies and a breeze. Sheila and I left Livingston Manor just after 7:00 AM. I took Route 17 south and east to Route 6, Long Mountain Parkway. After passing the intersection with Route 293 to West Point I watched for the Lake Massawippa parking and pulled into the lot just before 8:30 AM. I found a place to pull off and we were hiking by 8:30 AM. I had on my MH Winter Wander pants and my Mammut Hoodie. When we started out, this seemed reasonable as we were in the shade and it was cool. The first half mile of the hike was on the shoulder of Route 6 and even at an early hour there was traffic. Just passed the intersection with Route 293 Sheila and I made it across the road and walked into the woods. We found the trail immediately and began to follow it as it paralleled Route 6. I had the map, of the first three quarters of the hike on the Avenza app on my iPhone so I was sure I could find the trail as it worked its way through the local roads and trails. At .8 miles we came out to the shoulder of Route 6 and at about 1 mile we turned right and began a long downhill section.

The downhill section started on a track or path. We passed through a gate in a fence and started hiking down an abandoned road heading north. It was strange walking along this abandoned road which seemed to be in rather good shape. At one point I could see the Woodbury Commons shopping center and Monroe-Woodbury High School. This road starts as Old Route 6 and then is marked as Estrada Road. At about 1.7 miles we reached a chain across the road and a turnaround. The descriptions I had gave this as a parking area but there were several "official" signs that said "No Parking"! We walked down Estrada Road following the aqua blazes. At one point the Avenza map seemed to indicate a different route than the blazes and I chose to follow the blazes. I did stop since to take a few pictures of several very bright trees against a blue and white sky. At 2.6 miles at the bottom of the hill we turned right on Abrams Road which ran parallel to the Thruway. There were a few cars but they weren't traveling too fast and gave us a wide berth. At 3.3 miles we turned right onto Smith Clove Road to walk about .6 miles northeast. It seemed like a much longer walk! The road had almost no shoulder at the beginning and there were a lot of cars moving very quickly. Very few drivers moved over and seemed to be oblivious to our presence. We passed by some very expensive houses and a large, well-maintained golf club. At 3.9 miles we paused at the corner of Pine Hill Road while I put on a lighter windbreaker and took some pictures of a stone gatehouse. We turned left on Pine Hill Road and walked .7 miles until we crossed over the Thruway. We continued to descend Pine Hill Road passing through an underpass under the Metro North tracks. At 4.9 miles the road turned left but we continued straight ahead onto a woods road.

The woods road was wide and open and acts as a right-of-way for a gas pipeline. The road travels along Woodbury Creek and the trip was pretty. Except for the traffic noise from the Thruway the setting could be mistaken for anyplace in the Catskills. The road swung to the northeast and then back north for about 1.5 miles. It was very flat and did have a few puddles. At 6.45 miles we came to a railroad trestle and walked under it until we were near Woodbury Creek. Just after walking under the trestle, we turned right heading east and walked up a steep bank to a fence. We walked around the end of the fence and then walked along it for about .1 miles. The trail brought us out to the berm that runs along the shoulder of the Thruway. We walked north along the berm for a hundred feet and then turned left into the woods. We followed the aqua blazes over a fence and down a steep bank to Route 32. At the road we turned left, walked across a bridge over the creek and stopped just short of the trestle. I could see a "Long Path" sign and aqua blazes on the other side. This was our turnaround point and I did not want to cross Route 32 because of the traffic. We turned around at 11:00 AM after hiking 6.8 miles. We revered our course and set a fast pace back. At one point on the woods road, I saw Sheila had paused. She seemed to be interested in a "lump" on the trail. I quickly saw it was an opossum! I did not want her to investigate any further and called her to me. I took a few pictures and the opossum got underway in the opposite direction. The trip back seemed to go faster and the shoulders on the roads seemed to be wider on the way back. The walk back up hill from Abrams Road to Route 6 was not was difficult as I thought it might be. This section was 1.5 miles and gained 540 feet of elevation. When we got to Route 6, I decided to walk back on the road and to avoid the trail. Traffic had increased but we made all our crossing without a problem. We were back at the car at 1:15 PM having hiked 13.5 miles in 4 hours and 45 minutes gaining 1430 feet long the way.

On Friday, November 7th my son Karl and I had planned to go to Beer World in Kingston for a tasting of Samuel Adams Utopias. This high alcohol (29%) brew sells for about $240 a bottle but I was glad to be able to get in on this tasting. We were supposed to be in Kingston between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM. Karl purposed that we hike somewhere first and suggested Thacher Park, a place where he had never hiked before. Cindy and I had hiked there during the summer but I was glad to return especially when I found out the Indian Ladder Trail would still be open. I checked the weather on Thursday and the forecast was calling for temperatures in the low 40's and rain showers throughout the day. Karl had hoped to get away early in the morning but could not so he arrived at my house around 9:15 AM and we left a little after 10:00 AM. We decided we would take our chances and stick to our plan and I knew we would have plenty of time to get in a nice hike. We headed up the Beaverkill Road to the Barkaboom Road. At the end of the road I turned right on BWS 10 and took it to Route 28 in Margaretville. We turned right and then left to follow Route 30 through Margaretville, Roxbury, Grand Gorge and North Blenheim. In Middleburgh I turned right to head east on Route 145 to Cotton Hill Road just outside of town. I turned left on Cotton Hill Road and drove 8.3 miles to Route 443, the Helderburg Trail. I turned left on Cotton Hill Road and drove 8.3 miles to Route 443, the Helderburg Trail. I made a right and drove about 6 miles to East Berne and made a left onto Route 157A. At 2.5 miles I continued straight ahead on Route 157 where Beaver Dam Road turns right. I drove until we were at the entrance to the park near the Indian Ladder Trails. When I turned in, we found there were no fees being collected which was a pleasant surprise. I parked and we got ready to hike. We were on the trail leading to the Indian Ladder Trail by 12:10 PM. It was still in the high 30's and there was a breeze! We walked down the trail to the Indian Ladders and then started to walk along the trail at the base of the cliffs. The skies were overcast and there wasn't very much sun or any distinguishable clouds. Just after we got on the trail, three pit bulls came walking toward us. They were not on a leash and although they seemed friendly I was annoyed. Soon the owners of the dogs came walking up assuring us they were friendly. They were as inconsiderate and oblivious as two dog owners could be! We continued our walk and I started to take pictures. I had not planned on taking many pictures but I could not resist. When we got to Mine Lot Falls, there was some water coming over the cliff which was not there when Cindy and I had visited. I took more pictures and we continued to walk. I had not formed a plan about the route we would take. I was just happy to be out hiking with my son.

When we got to the end of the Indian Ladder Trail, we decided to continue on the trail that followed the escarpment. After a short walk, we came to the scenic overlook which had a nice view on this day. This resulted in more pictures. At the end of the parking area we walked along the edge of the woods and the picked up the trail along the escarpment again. We stopped in several places to take in the view and I, of course, continued to snap some pictures. It was interesting since we were walking along the edge and I could take pictures of were we had been or where we were going! Eventually we ran out of fence in an area I had visited before. The trail ended at a sheer dropoff that gave a nice view of some stone blocks separating from the main cliff. We headed back the way we had come after hiking about 1.7 miles. When we got to the end of the Indian Ladder Trail, we walked across the top to where we had started. We took the trail that continued in the opposite direction along the escarpment. This trail had a few viewpoints that looked down at the Indian Ladder Trail and some that looked out over the valley toward Albany. Some of the views were the same as from the other end of the escarpment but at a different angle and with different lighting. We continued to follow the trail along the fence until at about 3.8 miles we started to drop down a little. At this point it began to sleet and snow some but we decided to continue. The precipitation let up almost immediately and I was pretty sure we were near the Hails Cave area. We emerged from the woods near the Hailes Cave picnic area where I took a few more pictures. We walked up to Hailes Cave Road and used it to walk back toward the car. The walk back seemed to go quickly and we were in the parking area at 2:30 PM after hiking 4.6 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes with an elevation gain of 550 feet.

On Wednesday, November 4th I wanted to complete the section of the Long Path between Berme Road and Riggsville. Riggsville is the name of the area on Upper Cherrytown Road where the Long Path enters the woods to head towards Vernooy Kill Falls. This section is 12.3 miles long and every mile is located on local roads. This meant Sheila would have to be on her leash for the entire hike! The previous day I had hiked 12.3 miles round trip from Lundy Quarry on Lundy Road near Cutler Road to the intersection of Cherrytown Road and Upper Cherrytown Road. This left only a 3 mile walk from the intersection to Riggsville to complete the section. I again got an early start leaving Livingston Manor before 7:00 AM! The temperature was in the mid-40's by the time I left and was forecast to rise into the low 50's. I had learned my lesson about overdressing from the day before and wore my lightest windbreaker. I took Route 17 to Liberty and then Route 52 from Liberty to Ellenville. In Ellenville I turned left on Route 209 and drove to Samsonville Road just east of Kerhonksen. I turned left to travel north on Samsonville road. After driving 1.25 miles and I turned left on Cherrytown Road. I continued on Cherrytown Road for 3.5 miles to the intersection with Upper Cherrytown Road. I had thought about parking in the pulloff here where people get water from spring or artesian well. I though better of this and decided to park in the forest access parking to the north in Riggsville. I turned left and followed Upper Cherrytown Road for 3 miles to the parking area on the right side of the road. We parked at 8:00 AM and got right to hiking. The skies were cloudy and it almost seemed like it would rain. When we left the car the temperature was already in the low 50's but a breeze made it seem cooler. I put Sheila on her leash and we set a fast pace heading south on the road. There wasn't much to see as we walked. I did notice that most of the "houses" were not occupied. Some were rundown while others were hunting cabins and still others were summer or second homes. There were a few that were very well constructed with well-maintained grounds. My overall impression was one of abandonment. It became obvious as we walked that we were going downhill even though the road rolled some. A few cars passed us and a logging truck went by but otherwise we were alone. We walked the 3 miles to the intersection in 51 minutes averaging 3.7 mph! We turned around at the intersection and started back to the car. The trip back was definitely uphill so I tried to push a little harder. We were back at the car at 9:47 AM which made the trip back a 53 minute affair. We had covered 6.1 miles in 1 hour and 43 minutes with a vertical gain of 597 feet. This was a 3.6 mph pace!

On Tuesday, November 4th I wanted to continue to work on the section of the Long Path between Berme Road and Riggsville. Riggsville is the name of the area on Upper Cherrytown Road where the Long Path enters the woods to head towards Vernooy Kill Falls. This section is 12.3 miles long and every mile is located on local roads. This meant Sheila would have to be on her leash for the entire hike! The previous day I had hiked from Berme Road to the Lundy Quarry on Lundy Road near Cutler Road. This cut 2.8 miles off the section. The problem is that I usually have to hike out and back which doubles the mileage for most sections. I again got an early start leaving Livingston Manor before 8:00 AM. The temperature was in the mid-40's by the time I left and was forecast to rise into the low 50's. I had learned my lesson about overdressing from the day before and wore my lightest windbreaker. I took Route 17 to Liberty and then Route 52 from Liberty to Ellenville. In Ellenville I turned left on Route 209 and drove to Lundy Road in Wawarsing. After turning left on Lundy Road it was only about 1.4 miles to the quarry. I parked on the right side of the road and we were walking at 8:55 AM. Lundy Road is a mixture of dirt and gravel and it winds through some nice evergreen forests for about .8 miles to the intersection with Rogues Harbor Road. The area feels remote so I was surprised that several trucks and cars passed us along the way. The walk was slightly uphill gaining about 230 feet. We turned right on Rogues Harbor Road which headed ENE. Within .3 miles, a high wooden fence appeared on the right. I check my maps and found that Lyon Lake was on the other side, which was confirmed by the numerous POSTED signs. Apparently this is a rather upscale and private club or community. As we passed one gate that was open, I could see that more land was being cleared. The fence extended for more than .5 miles or the entire length of the lake. After this the trail seemed flat but did roll some. The Town of Wawarsing was working on the road putting down dirt and gravel and then rolling it smooth. I don't know how this surface holds up to vehicle traffic but it makes a nice surface to walk on. I asked two of the workers if they knew the origin of the name Rogues Harbor but they had do idea.

We walked on the shoulder passed the road work and start a slight climb to the intersection with Woodland Ridge Road. Along the way at 2.3 miles I spotted a sign that read "Turner Cemetery" and pointed south into the woods. I thought I might explore on the return trip. The road surface changed to pavement as we descended to Cherrytown Road at 3.7 miles. We turned left on paved Cherrytown Road and immediately started uphill although the ascent was not steep. The temperature had risen and I responded by removing my hat and gloves and opening the zippers on my top and jacket. I was still warm. From the turn onto Cherrytown Road we gained another 200 feet to the intersection with Mount Laurel Road where the road leveled. From Mount Laurel Road it was another 1.2 miles to the intersection with Upper Cherrytown Road. Along the way we saw many small farms many with horses. One farm had a horse, a donkey and a pony that were "hanging out" together. At the intersection we turned left on Upper Cherrytown Road and walked a short distance before turning around and starting the long hike back. It was 10:45 AM and we had hiked almost exactly 6 miles. The tightness behind my left knee seemed to have gone away but both feet were a little sore. The trip back seemed to go quickly as I tried to maintain an overall pace above 3 mph. When we were back on Rogues Harbor Road, we again encountered the road crew and it seemed they were making good progress. When we came to the "Turner Cemetery" sign, I decided to follow a path into the woods. After a short distance the path split and I had no idea which way to go. I abandoned the exploration and returned to the road. At 11.1 miles we turned left on Lundy Road and I knew we would soon be back at the car. We were back at 12:40 PM having covered 12 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes. The vertical gain was 1232 feet. The remaining portion of this section is only 3 miles for a round trip of 6 miles.

On Monday, November 3rd I had just completed a hike on a new section of the Long Path from Berme Road near Ellenville to the Berrypickers Path in the Sam's Point Preserve. When we got back to the car, I still had some energy left and a slight tightness behind my left knee. If was only 12:30 PM so I decided we would hike part of the next Long Path section which extends over 11 miles from Berme Road to the parking area for Vernooy Kill Falls on Upper Cherrytown Road. I thought I would determine how far we would go depending on how my knee feet but knew we would probably end up at the quarry on Lundy Road since I could park there for the next hike. We crossed Berme Road and walked down the bank when I spotted a Long Path marker on the old D and H Canal towpath below. We followed the towpath as it paralleled Berme Road. The trail was filled with garbage and had not been maintained and I knew we would be returning on the road! At about .5 miles the towpath turned into Towpath Road which we followed as it crossed Port Ben Road. Towpath Road led back to Port Ben Road and crossed Rondout Creek on a very old metal bridge. Port Ben Road stretched out ahead of us and passed between two harvested corn fields. I stopped to take a few pictures including some of the fields and the bridge. We walked for .7 miles on Port Ben Road to the point were it ended on Route 209. Route 209 is a busy road but it had a sidewalk on our side so we turned right and walked a short distance to Lundy Road where we turned left. We were headed generally northwest as Lundy Road began a very gentle ascent following the Vernooy Kill. I could hear and see various rapids on the creek. Lundy Road very quickly turned to a gravel surface but there was almost no traffic.

At 2.1 miles I noticed an interesting waterfall and stepped off the side of the road to investigate. The waterfall was caused by what looked like an old dam across the stream. A took few pictures and then we continued on the road. At 2.4 miles into the hike there was another small waterfall but I decided I wanted to continue on to the turnaround point. The road continued to gain some elevation and at 2.8 miles we passed Cutler Road on the left. The long range plans for the Long Path include taking the trail off Lundy Road at this point and continuing along the Vernooy Kill to the falls. I knew we were close to the quarry my the distance we had traveled and in only a few hundred feet it appeared on the right side of the road at 2.9 miles. I stopped to take a few pictures including close-ups of the drill marks. We turned around at this point and started back. At 3.5 miles we were again at the waterfall I had skipped previously. I stepped off the side of the road and took some pictures of the stream and the falls. The walk back seemed to go much more quickly since I knew where we were going. Once we were on Port Ben Road I did stop to take some pictures of the ridge which was now ahead of us. I also stopped on the metal bridge to take a few pictures of the Rondout Creek. Once we were over the bridge, we stayed to the left and followed Port Ben Road to Berme Road and used the road to walk back the car. We were back at 2:30 PM having hiked 5.8 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes with a vertical gain of only 441 feet. The total for the day was 13.2 miles in just under 6 hours!

On Monday, November 3rd I decided to continue to connect sections of the Long Path that I had already hiked. To avoid the ticks in the Harriman area, I planned on going to Berme Road near Ellenville to hike up to the Berrypickers Path at Sam's Point where I had hiked before. This is a new section as of June 2nd of this year and I wanted to see what it was like. Cindy did not want to go but I did take Sheila. I was a little nervous about taking her since there have been rattlesnakes seen in this area. I decided to keep her close to me and watch the trail closely as we hiked. I woke up early since daylight savings time had just ended. Rather than lay about in bed I decided to get an early start. We left Livingston Manor just before 8:00 AM and I took Route 52 from Liberty to Ellenville. Just before the road began its trip up the mountain, I turned left on Berme Road and drove about 4 miles to where the Long Path heads up the ridge. There was barely room to pull off the road and I was glad I was the only car present. As we left the car, the temperature was in the low 40's and there was a breeze blowing. It seemed cool to me so I had worn my MH Winter Wander pants and Mammut Hoody as well as a light hat and gloves. We were on the trail by 8:55 AM following the aqua blazes through hardwood forests consisting mostly of oak trees. The trail was pretty easy to follow as it used woods roads and was pretty well marked. At .7 miles we turned left on another woods road which is also marked as the Lower Mine Hole Trail coming up from Foordmore Road. The trail was rocky and the layer of oak leaves made it slippery underfoot. The trail was now heading south and still climbing toward the ridge. At about 1.4 miles the trail turned west to avoid some ledges and then turned south again. We were now at an elevation of about 1230 feet and suddenly the typical Sam's Point and Shawangunk vegetation appeared. We were now walking over open rock faces with scrub pine. The transition was sudden and stunning. I knew there was supposed to be at least one viewpoint along the way and I kept looking for it. At around 10:00 AM I just happened to look over my shoulder was knew I had found a lookout. I could see the valley below and the mountains of the Catskills beyond to the north. I stopped and dropped my pack to get out the camera. I took a few shots. I knew that the photographs would not be able to accurately represent the beauty of the scene. I was disappointed that there were almost no clouds in the sky but the hike is rather easy so I knew I could return whenever I wanted.

At this point I was keeping Sheila just behind me using the "With" command as I was still concerned about snakes. I picked up my pack and we continued along through the rocks and passed the scrub pines. I was keeping an eye out for the side trail on the right to Jacob's Ladder which I had though about visiting on our return trip. I was also watching for a path on the left to Panther Rock which was supposed to be a good lookout. After hiking some and finding no side trails, I took out my cell phone and took a look at the NYNJTC maps on the Avenza app. The map showed I had passed the Jacob's Ladder path but that the side trail to Panther rock was just ahead. I hike slowly keeping an eye out for the trail. I found this was unnecessary since when I arrived at the trail it was marked with a sign saying "Panther Rock" and was even blazed in white. It was only a few hundred feet out to Panther Rock but it was certainly worth the trip. We climbed up to Panther Rock and found the views were similar to the first viewpoint but they were unobstructed and more expansive. The conditions were not ideal but I took a few pictures before packing up and heading back to the Long Path. We continued heading southwest and climbing. Just after Panther Rock we descended a little and crossed a stream before climbing again. At 3.4 miles we hit the Smiley Carriageway where I decided to turn left and walk to the beginning of the Berrypickers Trail to make sure I overlapped my hikes. It was only about a quarter mile to the Berrypickers Path where we turned around and headed back down along the same path we had used on the way up. The hike up the ridge was 3.8 miles and had taken about 2 hours. The grade was not very steep and I hoped to make some time going down especially as I did not plan to stop. The oak pine needles and Oak leaves made things slippery in places as did the abundance of acorn under the leaves. I gave Sheila some freedom to explore once we hit the hardwood forests. Suddenly I heard a great whirring of wings as Sheila flushed a flock of turkeys out of the brush. Soon I could see Berme Road and we were back at the car at 12:20 PM after covering 7.4 miles in 3.5 hours with an elevation gain of 1895 feet. It was early and I decided to hike a little more despite a tightness behind my left knee. We started from the car and found the Long Path on the D and H Canal towpath. My plan was to hike part of the next section toward Vernooy Kill Falls on Upper Cherrytown Road.

On Thursday, October 30th I had finished short hikes in Phoenicia and Palenville. I had also hiked to Kaaterskill Falls and done a short hike in Platte Clove including a visit to the falls there. These hikes were so that I could connect portions of the Long Path that I had already hiked. From Platte Clove I drove back to Phoenicia and took Route 28 to Boiceville where I took Route 28A to Watson Hollow Road. Watson Hollow Road is the road that passes by Moonhaw Road and eventually becomes the Peekamoose Road. I followed this road to just before the parking area for Peekamoose and stopped at Buttermilk Falls. I grabbed my camera and walked to the road bridge to take a few pictures. I was disappointed to find the falls almost dry! I took a few shots but did not walk the short trail to the falls. I got back in the car and drove to the Peekamoose parking area where I parked. Sheila and I walked from the parking area to where the Long Path entered the woods to head over Bangle Hill to Vernooy Kill Falls. We turned around there and walked back to the car. On the way I took a look at Bear Hole Brook which has a nice cascade and found the volume greatly reduced. I decided not to take pictures and returned to the car at 3:40 PM to complete the last mile of the hikes for the day.

On Thursday, October 30th I had finished a hike to Kaaterskill Falls from the bottom and from the top on Laurel House Road. I had already done hikes in Phoenicia and Palenville to connect portions of the Long Path that I had already hiked. From Laurel House Road I headed toward Tannersville and took Platte Clove road east. After passing Prediger Road, I parked at the Platte Clove Preserve where there was only one other car. It was 1:30 PM as Sheila and I walked east on Platte Clove Road toward the Kaaterskill High Peak parking area. This walk went quickly as we hiked up the access road, turned around and hiked back. Before going back to the car, we headed down the trail to Platte Clove Falls. The trail down is a little steep and on this day it was damp. When we got to the falls, I could see it was running with enough volume to make taking some pictures worthwhile. Sheila ran out into the stream to splash around and hop from rock to rock as I snapped a few shots. I took a few of the falls using different camera orientations and angles. I also took a few of Sheila with the falls in the background. As we started back, I considered bushwhacking to the top of the falls but decided to walk back up the trail instead. When we got to the cabin, we walked down the paths in back to the stream bank and out onto some rocks. The rock outcroppings gave an unobstructed view of the Old Mill falls. I took a few pictures of the falls and the kingpost bridge over the stream just above the falls. A young man walked by us on the path headed toward the top of Platte Clove Falls. As I packed up to leave, he walked back and struck up a conversation. He wanted to know about getting down to the base of the falls and hiking downstream. I told him about the path in front of the cabin but cautioned him about the dangers of hiking further than that by himself. We continued to talk about hiking in the Catskills. I learned he was from Schoharie and we talked about some of my hiking adventures this summer in that area. We parted and Sheila and I walked back to the cart. We had hiked only a mile but it had taken us 45 minutes due to the photography and the conversation. As I drove away I headed for Phoenicia. I decided to get to Peekamoose by driving to Boiceville and using Watson Hollow Road which becomes the Peekamoose Road.

On Thursday, October 30th I had finished hikes near Phoenicia and Palenville to connect sections of the Long Path that I had hiked before. I decided that I would visit Kaaterskill Falls since I had not been there for some time adhere seemed to be enough water to make it interesting. I pulled into the parking area at 11:50 AM to find only two other cars parked. I got Sheila on her leash and we started to descend the .25 miles to the falls trail. There has been much talk about improving the access to the falls but the only way to get there is to walk the very narrow shoulder of Route 23. I could see a group of five people starting up the trail and two others standing by the kiosk. I stopped at Bastion Falls and took a few pictures before heading up the trail. Trying to negotiate the steep and rough trail with an enthusiastic Sheila pulling me along was difficult. We walked off the trail so that I could get a few more shots of the upper part of Bastion Falls before continuing on the main trail. The main trail was as rough as ever and pretty wet in places. I let Sheila off her leash as much as possible. We overtook three people from the five person group and then the other two. We reached the lower falls at about 12:10 PM and saw the other two hikers taking pictures. There were additional signs warning of the dangers of the area and a new wooden fence across the path leading up towards the basin between the falls. I thought for a moment it actually looked like a handrail and seemed to invite inspection. I resisted that temptation and dropped my pack to get out the camera. I took quite a few pictures of both falls individually and together. It was a challenge as the sun was just beginning to brightly light the rim of the upper falls. I decided I would like to visit the upper falls from Laurel House Road.

Sheila and I walked back down the trail without encountering anyone as the five person group was at the falls and the other two hikers were ahead of us. We made our way quickly down the trail and were back at Route 23A at 12:25 PM. It took us less than 5 minutes to get back to the car. I put Sheila in the car and then walked over to a lookout in the parking area. I didn't remember this viewpoint being so good! I took pictures down the clove where there was still some color in the leaves. After finishing with my photography, I got in the car and drove up Route 23A to the road to North South Lake campgrounds. Just before the entrance to the park I turned right on Laurel House Road and parked at the lot at the end to the road. There was one car parked already. A couple had their dog on a leash and their baby in a backpack. I noticed that there was a new sign at the trailhead so I put Sheila on her leash, grabbed my camera and walked over to the sign. The new trail was the rail trail that I had heard about and for a moment I had a desire to hike it! I decided to leave this for another time and we headed down the woods road to the top of the falls. As we approached the top of the falls, I saw another wooden fence which had been erected to try to prevent careless people from falling to their deaths. I found a good vantage point to take pictures and got many good shots of the top of the falls and the gorge below. Some of the best pictures were those looking out from the top of the falls to the west. Sheila and I headed back to the car as I still had two more short hikes to finish. The couple were still at the sign and as I passed they asked for some help. They were from Manhattan and were looking for the Escarpment Trail. I explained that they needed to go to the parking area on Schutt Road. I encouraged them to do that since the views would be nicer there than on the rail trail. We spent some time talking about others trails for other days. At some point in our conversation I noticed that our dogs were getting along well! We parted and I started to drive toward Platte Clove to hike from the Platte Clove Preserve to the Kaaterskill High Peak parking area. I knew that I would also visit Platte Clove Falls and Old Mill Falls as part of this hike

On Thursday, October 30th I had finished a walk from the Mount Tremper parking area on Route 40 to Lane Street and back. I had several other short walks to connect portions of the Long Path that I had already hiked. From Phoenicia I headed north on Route 214 and then east on Route 23A through Hunter and Tannersville to Palenville. As I drove passed Kaaterskill Creek, I could see that there was a good volume of water going over Bastion Falls. I thought I might stop there on the way back even though it was not part of the Long Path. Road crews were paving some section of Route 23A as we approached Palenville but we were soon crossing the bridge at the bottom of the hill near Malden Avenue. I needed to hike from the end of the Harding Road Trail to Malden Avenue and had decided to park at the parking area on Whites Road. I pulled into the parking area at 10:30 AM and got ready to hike. It was still cool but the sun was coming out as we headed out on the yellow connector trail. The first .4 miles of trail were relatively flat but then we began to lose some elevation as we dropped to the junction with the Harding Road Trail. We turned left and dropped some more to the end of the Harding Road Trail at Route 23. There was a small parking area here with a sign board. We turned right on Route 23A and began to hike to Malden Avenue. The shoulders on Route 23A are very narrow and there did seem to be some traffic but most drivers were careful to slow down and move away from us as much as they could. It was only .35 miles to the turn and at around 1 mile we took a left on Malden Avenue. I decided to walk down the abandoned road to make sure I overlapped the hikes I had done before. I also wanted to get some pictures of the falls just downstream from the bridge. We walked down the rather wet trail and I stopped to take some pictures of the falls and the interesting stone walls and foundations. On the way back I also took some shots of the stone walls and stone formations along the trail. We retraced our steps back to the Harding Road Trail and began to ascend to the trail intersection. We turned right and started up the yellow trail. I must have been deep in thought as I missed the point where the yellow trail headed to the right. We continued up another unmarked woods road until I "woke up" and could find no trail markers. We hiked back down and I corrected my mistake as we headed back toward the car. If I had more time, I would have explored the woods roads more completely. As we were approaching the car, I noticed a quarry to the right of the trail. I knew that pictures would not really show the details but I took some anyway. We were back at the car at 11:30 AM having covered 2.5 miles in an hour with 370 feet of elevation gain. I drove down Whites Road and turned right on Route 23. As I headed up the hill, I knew that I had to stop at Kaaterskill Falls!

On Thursday, October 30th I had planned to hike several short sections of the Long Path that connected other sections I had already completed. Most of these were road walks. The first section I decided to do was from the Mount Tremper parking area on Route 40 to Lane Street in Phoenicia. This section follows Route 40 into Phoenicia and then uses streets in the hamlet to get to the Lane Street parking area for the new trail over Romer and Cross Mountains. I estimated the walk would be about 5 miles but was almost completely flat. Sheila and I left Livingston Manor early and I drove out the DeBruce Road to the Frost Valley Road. I took the Frost Valley Road to Route 28 where I turned right and drove to Phoenicia. After a left turn off Route 28, I followed Main Street and Route 40 to the parking area. It was about 8:00 AM when we left the car and starting walking back into town. The temperature was still in the low 40's and a slight breeze was blowing down the Esopus Creek. There seemed to be some color still present in the leaves on the trees near the creek but I decided to wait until we returned to take pictures. Traffic was light and we made good time walking into town. At 1.6 miles we turned left on Bridge Street and walked across the Esopus on a road bridge. Just after the bridge we turned right on High Street. At 2.2 miles we turned left onto Lane Street and walked to the parking area at the end. We immediately turned around and retraced our path to the parking area. On the way back we walked down to the Esopus which seemed to have more water in it than when I had seen it several weeks ago. The leaves on the trees did have some nice colors so I took a few shots before returning to the car. It was 9:45 AM and we had walked 4.9 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes with an elevation gain of only 250 feet. I drove through Phoenicia and turned right to drive north on Route 214.

On Tuesday, October 28th I had finished a hike from the Lake Tiorati Circle to the Hippo Rock and back. I was now ready to complete another Long Path section from Lake SkannatatI to St. John's Road. I pulled out of the parking area and headed southwest on Seven Lakes Drive. I drove 2.5 miles, turned into the parking area at Lake Skannatati and got ready to hike. I saw a path up the bank so I walked up the road at 11:40 AM to begin the hike. I walked a little farther southwest on Seven Lakes Drive and found the aqua blazes of Long Path on the left side of the road. I followed the blazes onto a gravel and cinder road but found they immediately veered to the right. The trail led to a woods road and I walked this for a short distance before the trail left the road and started a gentle climb. I crossed a right-of-way with a telephone cable and three stands of open wire. At .4 miles I hit the top of the hill and then dropped to Route 106 at .5 miles. I turned right on the road and walked a few hundred feet to the Long Path blazes on the left. A car was stopped and some young women were taking pictures of a particularly bright tree. The trail crossed what might be a marshy area on some thin slats nailed to some thin rails. I was headed south toward Lake Welch Drive and St. John's Road as the trail gained about 175 feet from 1 mile to 1.4 miles. Along the way I spotted a small foundation on the right side of the trail. The trail traveled over a flat area and then began the descent from the little ridge to Lake Welch Drive. With the road in sight I hit a woods road which was lined on either side by large boulders. I walked out to Lake Welch Drive and found the Long Path on the right side of St. John's Road. I walked along the trail for a few feet and then turned around.

Further down St. John's Road is the St. John's in the Wilderness Church. It is a beautiful, old church with a rich history. Each year the church holds a special Palm Sunday service for hikers. I have never been inside but hope to attend services there this next year. The architecture from the outside is worth a visit. Once I had turned around and crossed Lake Welch Drive I stopped for a snack and to take a few pictures. After shouldering my pack, I began the return trip stopping to take pictures of the stone lined lane and the small foundation I had found on the way out. I also stopped at the right-of-way and took a picture of the open wire still attached by its insulators to the crossarm at the top of the pole. I followed the trail back down to Lake Askoti and walked to the edge of the lake. The sun had come out and I knew I could get some good pictures. The water was a sheet of glass without even a hint of ripples. I took a few shots and then walked out to the road. As I walked back toward the parking area, I saw that the aqua blazes were on the other side of the guard rail. I hopped over the rail and headed down to the parking area that way so that I could be sure I traversed ever foot of the Long Path. I stopped to take some pictures of Lake Skannatati. A couple had their two German shorthaired pointers at the lake and one was doing a nice job of retrieving a toy thrown into the water. I took a few shots wishing Sheila was with me! Back at the car I found I had hike 3.5 miles in 1 hour and 40 minutes with a vertical gain of only 555 feet.

On Tuesday, October 28th I had planned to hike some sections of the Long Path in Harriman Park that I had missed when I was hiking more in that area. There are so may trails in Harriman that it is easy to hike a parallel trail but miss the Long Path. In fact in many places I had hiked AT sections but missed a piece of the Long Path. My first objective has to hike from the Tiorati Circle to Hippo Rock and back. I decided to leave Sheila home as there are just too many ticks at this time of year in the park. I left Livingston Manor at a little after 8:00 AM and decided to take the most direct route down the Quickway to Route 6. I was taking a chance since there are several areas of construction along the way. I was delayed briefly in two places but otherwise the trip went quickly. I noticed the traffic was stop and go westbound and made a note of that for the return trip. Once I was at the traffic circle, I took Seven Lakes Drive toward the Tiorati Circle and pulled in just after 9:00 AM. The park police had Seven Lakes Drive closed off at the circle and I knew this might interfere with my plans for my second hike. I left the parking area at 9:15 AM and headed west and north on Arden Valley Road. After walking up and down the hill, I found the Long Path at the point where the road makes a sharp left. The aqua blazes were clear on both the rocks and trees. I turned right onto a wide woods road and walked passed a gate heading north and then north northeast. The walking was easy compared to the hike Cindy and I had done the day before. I stopped for a moment to change to a, light windbreaker and take off both the hat and gloves I had worn. The high for the day was forecast to be in the low 70's and it was already climbing. at 1 mile the trail turned to the north again and I walked over the top of a ridge and down the other side. The forest was all hardwoods and very open. As I came down off the first, small ridge I entered the area between tow ridges. It was very rocky as is typical of Harriman. I then began to climb up the Stockbridge Ridge to Stockbridge Mountain. The climb looks steep on the profile but was only about a 10% grade. I looked own at my GPS and found that it had turned off at some point. I turned it on expecting to have further problems but it was good for the rest of the day. At the top of the mountain was a flat, open area with a limited view and I decided to wait to take pictures on the way back. I was really missing Sheila but knew I had made the right decision.

As I descended from Southbridge Mountain still heading north I had to negotiate an area that was wet and covered in moss. I looked up to see another hiker waiting for me to descend before starting up the trail. Once I was down, I stopped a minute to talk to him. He had started at Silvermine Lake and was doing a loop. We wished each other a pleasant day and continued in our opposite directions. As I continued north along the trail it rolled some and I wondered whether I would recognize Hippo Rock which is a large and precariously balanced glacial erratic. As I descended a hill at 2.5 miles the rock was directly ahead of me and was unmistakable. I stopped and took off my pack so that I could take some pictures. It was only 10:25 AM when I started the hike back to the car. I kept a good pace and stopped only once at Stockbridge Mountain to take a few shots. Just before the trail intersected Arden Valley Road, I met a young couple stopped on he trail I said "Hello" and they replied. I walked out to the road, turned left and quickly walked up and over the hill to the car. I put my pack in the truck and took the garbage I had collected on the trail to the nearest can. I saw that the police were no longer blocking the road and decided I would do another hike from Lake Skannatati to St. Johns Road. I had hiked 4.9 miles in 2 hours with a vertical gain of 1030 feet.

On Monday, October 27th I had planned to hike a section of the Long Path in Harriman Park from the Turkey Hill parking area to Route 6 near the intersection with Route 293. The rest of this section extends up through Orange County to the village of Monroe and includes a lot of road walking. Cindy decided she wanted to come and I thought that would work since even though the hike would be about 8 miles the last few miles would be on the Route 6. We could not leave Livingston Manor until we spoke to our contractor so we didn't pull out of the driveway until around 10:00 AM. As I drove down Route 17 toward Harriman, we encountered construction near Bridgeville, Middletown and finally near Goshen. The first two locations simply slowed us down but the last brought traffic to a near standstill for almost 3 miles. One lane was blocked but we could not see why. As we approached Harriman, we saw a few workers creating expansion joints in the pavement! I took the exit for Route 6, drove passed the intersection with Route 293 to West Point and parked a few miles further along in the Turkey Hill parking area on the left side of Route 6. I remembered the area because I had hiked to the Raymond Torrey Memorial and around Turkey Hill Pond on one trip. There were a few other cars already parked as the walk around the pond is popular. We got our gear together and left the car at 11:25 AM and walked up to the point where the Long Path enters the woods. I had Sheila on her leash but released her once we were on the trail. As always she was happy to be out and started to explore but stayed near the trail. Initially the trail was wide and almost flat but soon we turned left and started to ascend to the Long Mountain Ridge. We began to walk over rougher trail and over open rock faces. We both commented that it would be hard to hike in the winter as we had encountered icy conditions in Harriman before. At .66 miles we had ascended to the top of our first ridge where we found the Torrey Memorial etched neatly in the rock. The views were expansive and there was some leaf color still to be seen. To the east in the distance the Perkins Tower at Bear Mountain was visible. Below the open viewpoint were the sparkling waters of Turkey Hill Pond. Slightly to the north of east was a large rock outcropping but I could not determine if it had a name from my maps or GPS. We took a few minutes to take pictures and then continued on the Long Path.

Over the next half mile we dropped 420 feet as the trail descended the steep side of the ridge. Several switchbacks moderated the grade but it still averaged 15%. The damp leaves over the slippery rocks made it impossible to make a quick descent. We could see we were headed down into the area between ridges and knew we would probably have to climb over the next ridge. At about a mile the well-worn track seemed to go straight ahead and I followed it briefly until I could not see any blazes. I looked back to find the blazes pointing in the opposite direction! We went back to the trail and could not find any blazes that indicated a turn. Near the bottom of the descent we crossed a stream by hopping from rock to rock which was easy as the water level was very low. There was a "bridge" present but it had seen better days. The construction consisted of two logs that were cut on site to span the stream. The "decking" was made of branches lashed to the logs with very old rope. I took a picture as it was so interesting. At 1.25 miles the trail turned to the left and started to travel due west on what looked like a right-of-way or woods road. On our right were signs indicating that the land was part of the West Point Military Reservation. We started an ascent of 470 feet over .66 miles. As we walked we discussed the fact that we seemed to be hiking farther than the GPS indicated. We both attributed this to the up and down nature of the hike and the inability to make any time on the descents. As we ascended this part of the trail we came across a rock outcropping where large cubical blocks of rocks were splitting off. I found this interesting and took a few shots before we moved on. At 1.9 miles we were at the top of Howell Mountain where we took a short break even though there were no views. The theme of the hike seemed to be climbing up and over ridges and as we began to descend from Howell Mountain we could see the next ridge. It looked imposing a very steep as we made our way down the equally steep descent.

The descent from Howell Mountain was about 430 feet and had a few switchbacks to help where the slope was the steepest. I knew we would have to cross the outlet stream from Lake Massawippa and trip reports said that could be difficult at times. I knew that we would have no problem crossing as the water levels in all the other streams had been so low. We arrived at the stream and I could see that it might be more of a challenge when there was more water. There was no bridge but large stepping stones had been placed by a trail crew which helped in the crossing. The rock formations in the stream were so impressive that I took a few pictures before we continued on to our next ascent up the Brooks Mountain ridge. Hiking directly up the ridge would have meant gaining over 200 feet in about 400 feet! Fortunately the trail turned north to ascend on a shallower slope and then turned southwest in major switchback at about 2.8 miles. This took us onto a woods road that gently ascended the ridge until we reached the summit at 1080 feet. Although there were only limited views we stopped so that I could take a few shots. As we started to descend from the ridge I noticed a framed picture on a tree. The photograph showed a man and child with a dog. The short inscription seemed to indicate a memorial for the canine companion. This struck me as I still miss Sheba, my previous hiking partner, even though Sheila is a get trail dog. We descended off the ridge heading southwest until at 3.6 miles we met Route 293. Along the way the trail shifted direction turning to the northwest.

We walked up to the road passing a culvert that directs Popolopen Creek under the pavement. We crossed the road and were faced with another ascent up the Blackcap Mountain ridge. Blackcap Mountain has a maximum elevation of 1381 feet but the trail turns southwest at less than 1200 feet. We continued to walk through hardwood forest and began the climb up the ridge. At 4 miles and about 1180 feet the trail turned 90 degrees and headed southwest again along the base of the ridge. For about a mile the trail was straight as an arrow heading southwest toward Route 6. There were some ups and downs in the trail but nothing compared to the ridges we had encountered. The trail did not actually intersect Route 6 but as we neared the road it was easy to walk out to the pavement. I put Sheila on her leash and stowed my poles as we crossed Route 6 and eventually Route 293 as well. The traffic was very heavy but the shoulders were wide. Sheila walks well on the leash and set a rapid pace. At 5.6 miles we came to the point where the road passes between Lake Massawippa and Lake Te-Ata. The vies across Lake Massawippa on our side of the road were beautiful so we stopped so that I could take a few pictures of the lake. Once we started to walk again, we didn't stop until we reached the car. I was surprised that the hike out was 5 miles but the road walk back was only 2.2 miles. Despite the traffic, the road was a much better choice than trying to walk back on the trails! We had covered 7.2 miles in 4 hours and 15 minutes with a total elevation gain of 1887 feet.

On Saturday, October 25th I had planned to hike the section of the Long Path from Greene County Route 10 to South Mountain Road. This would connect the northern sections that I had completed this summer with those in the Catskills. The NYNJTC website put the distance at 7.1 miles which made an out and back right at the limit of what I though Sheila and I could do. My estimate of a loop using local roads was even longer. I asked Cindy if she would like to take two cars to do a car spot but she didn't seem very interested. It was cloudy and overcast when I woke up so I didn't hurry to get ready to go. Sheila and I left Livingston Manor at 8:25 AM and headed up the Beaverkill Road and then the Barkaboom Road to get to Route 28 in Margaretville. In Shandaken we headed north on Route 42 to Route 23A east toward Hunter. Just outside Hunter in turned north on Route 296 to take it north to Route 23 in Windham. I turned north on Route 21 and stayed on that road until it merged with Greene County Route 10. I pulled over to park on the side of the road after about .6 miles on Route 10. The skies were overcast and the temperature was still in the 40's. At 10:10 AM Sheila and I walked north on Route 10 for a short distance and then turned left into the woods. For the first .7 miles the trail wound its way up the eastern shoulder of on Mount Pisgah. A short distance from the road we ran up against a set of low cliffs but the trail turned right and then led us up through a gap in the rocks. Several times when I was looking straight ahead I prepared to assault the steep slope ahead only to find a switchback used an old woods road to ascend the mountain. At about .7 miles we started to walk along the northern shoulder of the mountain and I though maybe we would miss the summit. At .75 miles the trail turned to the left and start the climb to the summit of Mount Pisgah. Just at this point there was a limited viewpoint to the north. Even though the leaves were mostly off the trees it was not easy to get a good view or take photographs. We passed across the summit at about 1 mile but there was little to see as the summit was overgrown with pine trees. It was obvious that the trail is not heavily traveled but it was well-marked and Sheila had no trouble following it.

We now descended from the summit about 200 feet to a col and then began to climb to Richtmeyer Peak which is slightly higher than Mount Pisgah. Most of the forest here was hardwood with some evergreens mixed in. At 2.3 miles we crossed over the summit and just passed the top got a view to the south toward the Blackhead range. Again, the view was limited but at least there was a view. The day was still very hazy near the ground and the sky was overcast. I felt like we were walking through a cloud most of the time. We had been traveling west most of the hike but now shifted to the southwest as we headed off Richtmeyer and towards the northern peak of Richmond. At 2.65 miles we were at the highest point of the day at over 3100 feet and we continued southwest toward the main peak of Richmond. At 2.9 miles the trail turned west and became a little wet as we hugged the northern shoulder of Richmond. Somewhere around this area the blazes began to fade and become further apart. Of course, this happened just as the trail became harder to follow! I relied on Sheila who always seems to be able to find the trail. I had thought the Long Path went over the main peak of Richmond but I was wrong as we passed by the summit and at 3.1 miles the trail took us north on the start of a steep descent. In about a mile we lost 860 feet. This is not the steepest trail I have been on but the wet leaves on top of the trail made the footing interesting. We eventually hit a woods road and then Bluebird Road at 4.1 miles. We turned left on Bluebird Road but were on it for only about .2 miles when the Long Path turned right into the woods again. We initially followed a woods road which soon became a trail heading west. I knew that I would have to be careful at some point to stay on the relocated Long Path and not start out on the trail to Ashland Pinnacle.

At 4.6 miles we began to ascend gently and the trail markers again were hard to follow. At 5 miles the trail turned south and began to ascend much more steeply on a 20% grade. We walked from hardwoods forests into what looked like a pine plantation. In .4 miles we gained 390 feet coming out into an open area at the top. The old route of the Long Path to Ashland Pinnacle and Huntersfield was ahead slightly to the right and marked in red. The Long Path turned right and started down a dirt road toward South Mountain Road. The road was in good enough condition that I think I could have driven it in my car. There were sprightly colored trees along the way so I took a few pictures. The road took us west before turning north and in 1.4 miles we were at South Mountain Road. There were a few views to the north so I snapped some pictures. I decided that I would rather walk the roads to make a loop than hike back the way we had come. My GPS showed the hike out was under 7 miles and I hoped that the road walk would be about the same. We turned right on South Mountain Road to walk the 1.75 miles to Toles Hollow Road. Almost immediately I was presented with a nice view of the route I had just hiked on the right. I stopped to take a few pictures before we continued on our way. Just before our turn there were some views to the north and I again stopped to take some pictures. We turned left and walked downhill briefly before being confronted with a nice uphill to the Durham Road. We were 9 miles into the hike when we turned right onto the Durham Road to head east for about 2.5 miles to Route 10. The views to the north along this route were beautiful and several houses had unobstructed views. Along the way several dogs came out to bother us including one rather large pit bull. The owners apparently did not care much for their dogs or for the people they might bother on the roads! Over the 2.5 mile walk we hiked up over a "bump" but then descended down the other side. At 11.6 mile we turned right onto Route 10 for the final 1.2 mile walk back to the car. We had to gain some elevation and although it wasn't much I began to feel it. As we walked some nice views appeared to the east and I took the last pictures of the day. By 3:50 PM we were back at the car having hiked 12.8 miles in 5 hours and 40 minutes gaining about 2730 feet along the way. The hike back had been about 6.1 miles which was shorter than the hike out! I was pleasantly surprised by this and the road walk was certainly easier than returning on then trails.

On Monday, October 20th I had planned to get in a relatively long hike with my son Kurt. Kurt got a late start and did not get to Livingston Manor until after 10:00 AM. This altered my plans and I decided to go to Delhi to hike some trail on the hill behind the high school. I thought if we had enough time we could also go to Pratt Rock which I thought Kurt might enjoy. We left Livingston Manor a little before 11:00 AM and arrived in Delhi just before noon. We turned onto Route 28 south and drove to Sheldon Drive which is a left turn just before the school on the left. I drove to the end of Sheldon Drive and parked in one of the school lots. As we departed the car at 12:05 PM a group of students was just entering the woods. The beginning of the trail was not clearly marked from the parking area but we found it near the community garden. The entire trail system is marked with black arrows on a yellow background with no change in markers for the three different trails. As we started on the trail, I found that I had forgotten my GPS. Kurt ran back to the car to get it as I walked slowly up the trail. In a few minutes the group of students came walking toward me. They had been out for only about 15 minutes. Each one very politely said "Hello" as we passed. When Kurt returned with the GPS until we began to "attack" the trail in earnest. The trail climbs starting at the parking area but at about .4 miles we encountered a "wall". Over the next .3 miles we gained 455 feet making the average grade 28%! The trails are wide woods roads and there were only a few blowdowns but the steepness of the trails makes them a little beyond what I would suggest for beginners. The trail had begun by heading to the northeast but as it began to climb to the top of the ridge it turned to the south. We were walking through pleasant hardwood forests and at about .75 miles the trail leveled off briefly at the top of the ridge. We were on the Gribley Trail as we started a short but steep descent from one hilltop before a short but steep ascent to the next. Along the way we passed the Frightful Falls Trail on the right as it ascended from below. At 1.6 miles we were back on top of a hill and at the highest point on the hike. We had been looking for viewpoints but found none that were open. I did take some pictures through the trees and lamented the lack of a clear view.

Almost immediately we again began to descend from the high point losing over 500 feet as we headed southwest off the ridge. At 2.3 miles we reached a power line right-of-way with some views down into the valley. Just before this area, we had passed a trail junction where, I believe, the Gribley Trail ends and the Bulldog Run Trail begins. The trails are marked with only one color so it is difficult to make these distinctions. From the right-of-way I took a few shots and then we continued to descend as the trail turned almost 180 degrees to head northeast. The trail paralleled Route 28 for some distance ascending as it progressed. At about 3 miles the Bulldog Run Trail turned off to the left as it headed down to Route 28 and the Immanuel Lutheran Church. We continued straight ahead on the Frightful Fall Trail which would take us back up to the ridge so that we could walk the Gribley Trail back to the car. The trail ascended the ridge heading east or northeast and gaining 285 feet in the process for an average 18% grade. At 3.5 miles we turned left on the Gribley Trail and noticed a bluestone quarry we had missed on the way out. The Gribley trail continued to ascend to the top of the ridge gaining another 170 feet. We walked across the top of the ridge and then started back down to the car. We found the descent of this steep area even more challenging than the ascent but we were soon back on more level ground and then back in the parking area. It was 2:40 PM and we had covered 4.6 miles in 2.5 hours with a vertical gain of 1590 feet. Kurt had to leave Livingston Manor by 5:30 PM and we still had a tree to cut up for firewood. We decided to leave Pratt Rock for another day as we headed home.

On Sunday, October 19th I wanted to get out for a short, local hike after church. Cindy wanted to go and Sheila was definitely up for a hike after spending some time in her cage while we were at a wedding. In Livingston Manor it was raining with some snow mixed in so we decided to head south. We thought about Harriman and Bear Mountain but didn't want to drive that far. We settled on a trip to the Neversink Unique area in Rock Hill. As we drove down Route 17 the rain continued and there was more snow mixed with it. Below Monticello the precipitation let up but it was still windy and cool when we arrived at the end of Katrina Falls Road at 11:45 AM. There were two other cars parked in the small lot and we knew that they might be hunters. We got out our gear and got started right away by walking down the rocky woods road to the first trail junction. We stayed to the left as the trail to the right is a short spur trail that goes down to the river. We crossed the bridge over Wolf Creek and found that it, like many of the local streams, was nearly dry. At the next trail junction we stayed to the right to walk along the trail that parallels the river. The trail here is a wide woods road and is pretty easy to walk even though it is slightly uphill. As we walked along, we were both surprised at how much of the river we could see through the trees. We passed by another spur trails and crossed Mullet Brook on a bridge at 1.35 miles. The stream was also pretty dry and I thought about the times I had been there when the stream was a raging torrent! Just passed the bridge, after a slight uphill, we turned right on a yellow spur trail that goes down to Denton Falls. The trail was a little wet with some slippery areas particular where there were many pine needles. As we hiked I noticed that one of my poles seemed "soft". I inspected the tip of the pole and found it had broken off! I had paid over $100 for these new MSR Swift 3 poles and they had not lasted 2 months! I had never had this kind of failure with any other brand. I collapsed the pole, stowed it in my pack and continued the hike. Fortunately, Backcountry Edge will replace the poles for one year with no questions asked and with no cost to the customer other than the packing materials to send them back. We continued down to the falls and found that the Neversink was low compared to the other times we had been there. I maneuvered myself to get the best shots and too many pictures. The low water exposed the underlying rocks which was interesting. There were still some nice colors on the trees at the edge of the river. Sheila was busy hopping from rock to rock making it almost halfway across the river! After a short visit, we packed up and headed back up to the main trail. I found out that hiking with one pole is NOT what I prefer.

We headed back up the hill to the main trail and turned right. Within a few feet, we were at the next trail junction where we had to make a decision. The right fork would take us further down the river to High Falls which was over 2 miles away and would add over 4 miles to the hike. The left fork would allow us to complete the loop without the added distance. After a brief discussion, we both decided to skip High Falls as it is not much different than Denton Falls. We headed left to start to loop back to the parking area. After a short uphill of less than .1 miles, we turned left onto the yellow spur trail that leads to Mullet Brook Falls. We descended to the falls over the .15 mile trail. The falls did not have a large volume of water but were still interesting. I dropped my pack and walked out onto the rocks at the base of the falls to take some pictures. I took shots of the falls and a few downstream. I played with the angles and the light and the settings on my camera. After finishing my photography, I returned to my pack and we walked back to the main trail where we turned left to continue the loop. We walked uphill for the next .5 miles to where the trail levels some and then makes a sharp left turn. There were several others paths in the area so we were careful to follow the trail markers. At just less than 3 miles, we crossed Mullet Brook again on a bridge further upstream than the falls. At 3.1 miles the main trail turned to the left but we continued straight ahead on a yellow spur trail. After .5 miles, we arrived at a parking area near Wolf Lake. I had chosen this route for variety's sake. The road from the parking lot was absolutely straight as we walked north toward Wolf Lake Road. As I looked ahead on the road there was blue sky with some white clouds and some very nice fall colors in the leaves that remained. I took a few pictures and then we continued on our way. As we walked a powerline appeared from the east and turned north along the road. There were some nice colors on the trees bordering the right-of-way, so I took some pictures. As we approached Wolf Lake Road the access road we were on turned right to go to Wolf Lake. Cindy and I decided to continue on the right-of-way where we would have to cross a brook just before the road. Crossing the stream was no problem and we were soon on the road where we turned left and walked the .5 miles out to Katrina Falls road. We turned left and walked the final .7 miles to the car. We were back at 2:30 PM having covered 5.8 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes with a surprising vertical gain of 1060 feet.

On Monday, October 13th I wanted to get Sheila out for a little exercise on a short, local hike. The previous day Cindy and I had hiked the Willow Trail to Mount Tremper had left Sheila home as there are rattlesnakes present in the area. I didn't think it responsible to allow Sheila to roam where she might be injured and I knew none of us would enjoy a hike with Sheila on her leash for the whole time. When I got up in the morning, the skies were overcast and it looked like it might rain. I checked the forecast and the radar and it seemed the rain might wait until afternoon so I got Sheila in the car and headed for Frick Pond. On the way the heavy mist turned to a light rain which persisted as I parked at the Frick Pond lot. There was only one car in the lot when we pulled in at 11:05 AM but as we got ready to hike a pickup truck pulling an enormous camper came up the road. The driver attempted to back it into the larger lot. I waited until the third try and then ushered Sheila passed him as we started out on the trail to Frick Pond. I decided we could do some loops which would allow us to return to the car should the rain increase in strength. We headed left at the first trail junction to walk down to the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. As we approached the pond, we could both hear voices so I put Sheila on her leash. The voices were from a family with two young girls. I said "Hello" and took Sheila to the opposite side of the bridge. I had not intended to take any pictures but there was an interesting mist hanging over the pond. After taking a few shots, we headed around the pond. There was a huge tree fallen across the second small bridge which is big enough to require a chain saw or sharp ax. At the next junction, we stayed right to walk around the pond on the boardwalks. The walkways were rather dry and not as slippery as I expected. The last section of the walkway seemed to have detached from the other sections. The two streams that run into the pond were almost dry. We continued around the pond to Times Square where we turned left to take the Loggers Loop to Iron Wheel Junction. The loop is about 1.2 miles and gains a little over 200 feet going counterclockwise. As we hiked the rain began to come down a little harder but then let up. This was repeated several times. At the junction I had thought I might take the Quick Lake Trail to Hodge Pond but the rain had increased so we turned left to head back to Frick Pond. When we arrived at the small stream through the woods, we found it completely dried up. A little farther along we met another family of four hiking with their dog. We passed each other in opposite directions. Sheila and I passed over the bridge at Frick Pond in the opposite direction and were soon at the first trail junction. I had considered turning left to lengthen the hike but in the end decided to return to the car. We were back at the car by 12:30 PM having hiked 3.8 miles in just under 1.5 hours.

On Sunday, October 12th I wanted to complete the Catskill Mountain Club's All Trails Challenge. I only needed to hike the Willow Trail to the Warner Creek Trail to complete the list the club has published. I told Cindy the hike would be at least 8 miles but she agreed to go with me. I had decided to leave Sheila home as I was worried about the rattlesnakes which can be present on Mount Tremper. Keeping Sheila on her leash for most of the hike would not satisfy either of us! Although I had hiked the Warner Creek Trail before, I thought it might be nice to hike to the Mount Tremper fire tower if time permitted. Time would be a problem since we could not leave until after church which we could not leave Livingston Manor until about 11:00 AM. We did leave at about that time and headed up the Beaverkill Road to the Barkaboom Road. Once we were at the Pepacton Reservoir, I took the BWS roads to Route 28 in Margaretville. We followed Route 28 to Phoenicia where we picked up Route 40 to Route 212. As we drove passed the main parking area for Mount Tremper, we could see that it was parked almost full. The day was bright and sunny with blue, almost cloudless skies. The temperature had been climbing but was still in the low 50's as we headed up Route 212 to VanWagner Road. We turned left on VanWagner Road to get to the small hamlet of Willow. Along the way we passed the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary which obviously had an event going on. Just passed this was the intersection with Jessup Road which leads to the Willow Trail. On the corner was the Willow Post Office where I would have to park since there is no parking near the actual trailhead. The post office appears to be a construction trailer with a zip code sign! I turned left on Jessup Road and rove a little less than a mile up the road until it became private. I dropped Cindy off and then returned to the post office to park. I got out my gear and by 12:30 PM was hiking up Jessup Road at a quick pace. I didn't find Cindy where I had dropped her off so I continued up the road where I found her just short of the turnoff for the trail. I had hiked a little over a mile in less than 15 minutes! We hiked together to the beginning of the trail and at 1.1 miles turned left onto the woods road that was the first part of the trail.

The trail had been climbing since I left the post office but after the turn it began to ascend more steeply. The grade averaged about 15% until it leveled off at 2 miles. Along the way the route transitioned from the woods road to a trail that, in some cases, hung right on the edge of the hill. It became rocky and the heavy cover of leaves made getting a good footing difficult. At the two mile mark our elevation had increased from about 1100 feet to almost 2100 feet. Along the way we kept getting "teaser" views of the mountains and valleys to the north and east. We did stop once or twice and I took some pictures through the trees. After a quarter mile of relatively flat walking, the trail again began to ascend gaining another 400 feet until we reached the trail junction with the Warner Creek Trail at 2.7 miles. Just before the junction we encountered two women who had passed Cindy while she was waiting for me. We said "Hello" but continued on our way. At the trail junction we turned left to follow the Warner Creek Trail to Mount Tremper where it ends at the fire tower. The turn was more than 90 degrees and changed our direction of travel from north to west by south west. Initially we ascended some but at 3.2 miles we started a descent to avoid sidehilling along an unnamed bump between us and Mount Tremper. I knew we had not quite finished our ascent and at 4 miles we began to climb again as the trail turned south and headed toward the fire tower. Over the next .85 miles we hit a sort of summit plateau, negotiated a short descent before climbing again to reach the tower. The last ascent was about 365 feet and I think it was about as much as either of us wanted to climb for the day.

There were quite a few people at the tower which did not surprise us as we had seen all the cars parked along Route 40. The tower cab was open as this was the last weekend of the "season" for the tower steward volunteers. Cindy did not want to climb the tower but I waited my turn and was soon climbing through the narrow trapdoor into the cab. The views were good and actually better than I expected. There weren't too many spots of bright color left on the mountains or in the valleys. However, overall there was an attractive landscape. Part of the Ashokan was visible along with Cooper Lake. I took many pictures in all directions through both the open and closed windows of the cab. Some other hikers asked if I wanted them to take my picture and I declined. I did agree to their request for me to take their pictures. I spoke to the tower steward and thanked her for her work. She said that she had seen a bear near the tower this summer but had not seen any other "dangerous" species. I walked back down the tower and took a few pictures through the superstructure from the bottom. I also snapped some shots of the tower. Cindy and I had a drink and a snack and then started back the way we came for the walk back. It had taken us 2.5 hours to make the ascent and I hoped we could beat that time on the way down as we started back at about 3:10 PM. We quickly found that we would have trouble making time on the descent as the trail was steeper than it seem coming up and the leaves had dry earth underneath them. We made the trail junction by 4:20 PM having hiked the 21. miles from the tower in 1 hour and 10 minutes. We made the right turn and started down the trail. It was a difficult descent due, again, to the steepness of the trail and the slippery leaves. We were both glad when the trail gave way to the woods road and the walking became easier. At 8.4 miles we turned right onto Jessup Road to start the hike back to the post office where I had parked the car. Cindy decided to walk back with me as it was mostly downhill and the flat, firm surface of the road made walking a breeze. We arrived back at the car at 5:35 PM as the shadows were definitely lengthening. I had hiked 9.5 miles in just over 5 hours with a vertical ascent of 2310 feet. As we had passed through Phoenicia, the twin had seemed very busy but we decided to stop by the Alamo to see if we could get a meal. We were lucky enough to get a table. The empanadas were very good as was Cindy carne asada and my mole burrito.

On Friday, October 10th I wanted to get in a hike before leaving for my last tennis match. Cindy wanted to go along so we decided to go to Kelly Hollow near the Pepacton Reservoir. The hike is less than 4 miles but has a nice beaver pond and some waterfalls on the outlet stream. The morning was a little foggy so we delayed or departure until about 9:45 PM. We got Sheila and our gear in the car and headed to Roscoe on Route 17. Cindy likes to stay off the small back roads as much as possible so I took Route 206 to Route 30. At the Dunraven Bridge I stayed on the BWS roads passing the intersection with the Barkaboom Road. I a few miles I turned right on Millbrook Road and drove to the parking area for Kelly Hollow which is marked with the yellow on brown signs used in the Forest Preserve. There was I other car in the lot when we parked and we began our hike at about 10:20 AM. The morning was cool enough that I wore light gloves and windbreaker when we started out. The trail almost immediately splits and we headed to the left which leads to a wide woods road. The trail began to parallels a stream at about .3 miles heading south. At about .4 miles a trail branches to the right and forms a short loop. This stream usually has some nice waterfalls but there was hardly any water in it on this day. The trail passes through a mix of evergreens and hardwoods with higher land to the left and the stream on the right. At 1.1 miles we crossed a bridge over the stream although it was hardly necessary. To avoid climbing over the shoulder of a hill the trail turned north and eventually west. At 1.6 miles we came to the spot where I had at one time turned left and bushwhacked up to the top of Millbrook Ridge. From the top of the ridge it isn't far to Alder Lake!

The trail turned around the hill and headed southwest as we approached the lean-to and beaver pond at the apex of the trail system. The lean-to and its privy were in good shape. We walked to the shore of the beaver pond and were surprised to see how low the water level had fallen. I expected the volume to be low but there was hardly any water. The edges of the pond were very dry and grassy indicating the condition had existed for some time. The beaver house was well above water and the beavers had abandoned the area. I took some pictures to document the conditions. The sky was blue with some white clouds and the trees around the pond were colorful. We walked a little around the pond and I took a few more shots before stowing the camera for the return trip. The trail around the pond eventually meets up with another woods road which leads back to the parking area. From the apex of the trail back to Millbrook Road is about 1.3 miles with the trail heading mostly north. It wanders a little to avoid some hills and is always parallel to a stream. At 2.7 miles we crossed another ridge and shortly after that the trail that forms the short loop. At 3.2 miles the woods road leads to a small cemetery which we had listed before. Some of the grave markers, especially the ones on the hill, are very old and it seems it has been a long time since it has been used for a burial. We decided to walk out the access road to Millbrook Road. Once at Millbrook Road, we turned right and walked .25 miles back to the car. It was 11:45 AM and we had completed the 3.6 mile hike in 1 hour and 25 minutes. The elevation gain was only 660 feet. I really wanted to do more but my time was limited.

On Thursday, October 9th I had planned to get out early but as often happens an ambulance call in the middle of the night disrupted my plans. I slept a little later than usual waking up at around 8:00 AM. I had tennis practice in the afternoon but still want to get in a short hike. I was on a quest to complete the Catskill Mountain Club All Trails Challenge. The club has published a list of all the marked trails in the Catskills and will award a patch and a T-shirt for anyone who has hiked all the trails. I filled in the dates that corresponded to when I had hiked these trails and found I was only a few trails short of completion. I had hiked several of these trails recently and decided to hike the Giggle Hollow Trail in Pine Hill. Due to the late start I didn't arrive in Pine Hill until almost 10:00 AM. I was headed east on Route 28 and turned right onto Friendship Road at the Belleayre Beach sign. I drove to the covered bridge over Birch Creek only to find the gate closed even though the sign said it opened at 10:00 AM. I couldn't find a place to park so, after consulting my maps, I drove west on Route 28 to Pine Hill and into town. Eventually I got on Lake Street and drove to the end where the NYNJTC maps indicated there was another access road. I found only another closed gate! I drove back to the covered bridge and parked on the side of the road to begin the hike at about 10:15 AM. I put Sheila on her leash and turned on her training collar and then we walked across the covered bridge to try to get to the start of the trail. We walked up the access road but I could find no indication of the beginning of the trail system. I consulted my cell home with the Avenza app. It seemed to indicate that where the road turned right we should continue straight ahead to an area that had a pavilion. There were still no signs but I could see what looked like a trail ahead and then I saw the register box. There were also signs indicating distances to various points. The trail passed directly under railroad tracks that ran across a bridge. I stopped to take a few pictures and then started up the trail. Up was the most important word since for the next .9 miles the trail followed a woods roads to the southwest averaging a 20% grade. I guess this shouldn't have been a surprise since all the other routes to the Belleayre Ridge also have their steep spots.

The trail is marked as unmaintained on the maps and I think that is a good description. The woods road was rocky and the layers of slippery leaves added to the difficulty of the climb. The blue trail markers were few and were often missing when another trail or road branched off. Several times I just followed Sheila as she is able to pick out the trails. There was quite a bit of blowdown on the trail. We navigated around or over the blockages of the trail but they certainly didn't add to the enjoyment of the experience. The day grew sunnier as we hiked and I took off my windbreaker and stowed it in my pack. I also took some pictures of the trail and some of the fall colors around us. At 1.1 miles the trail took a 90 degree turn to the left to head southeast. The trail continued to climb but at a gentler grade to 1.5 miles where it took a turn to the west. The grade now was more shallow and I knew we were getting near the junction with the Pine Hill West Branch Trail. After about .25 miles the trail opened up and we entered an area filled with briars. It was impossible to tell where the trail went and I could see no markers. After a couple of aborted attempts, I headed back down the trail to find a marker and start again. This time I followed Sheila and found a hidden marker. The last 100 feet of the trail were overgrown but we finally found the trail junction. It is a shame that these trails are not cared for the way they should be! I really wanted to hike to the ski slopes on Belleayre and take the Cathedral Glen trail back to Pine Hill but I didn't know if I would have enough time. Reluctantly, we turned right and headed down the Pine Hill West Branch Trail toward Pine Hill.

For the next .9 miles we followed the trail as it headed north and down the mountain. The footing was fairly good and I was familiar with the trail. At just passed 3 miles the trail met a dirt road and we turned left onto the road to follow it west as we continued our descent. At 3.4 miles the road turned to the northeast and at 3.7 miles we were on the paved road known As Woodchuck Hollow Road. I stopped at this point as there was a nice view ahead and some colorful trees to the left. After taking a few shots, we continued down the road which has some interesting attractions. At one point there is a gated road or driveway on the right complete with stone pillars. It has not been used for some time and I couldn't help but wonder what stories it held. We walked under the railroad bridge on Mill Street and I took a few pictures. We turned right on Bonnieview Avenue and then took another right onto Main Street. It was only a short walk down Main Street to Lake Street. At the end of Lake we walked passed the gate and onto the road that led back to Belleayre Beach. After a short walk the lake came into view and the scene was beautiful. The small lake had a white sand beach with a small building and bright leaves on all the trees. I stopped to take some pictures and then we continued around to the beach. As we walked down to the beach some geese were splashing in the water. I watched Sheila watch me and she did not chase the birds although knew she wanted to do so. I took some more pictures from the beach before we started across the parking lot to complete the loop. I was surprised when a car drove across the lot but assumed that meant that whoever was supposed to open the gate at the covered bridge was simply late. As we approached the bridge, I had to take a few more pictures from the hill above it. As we walk won to the bridge, we stopped again so that I could take some shots from the side. The car that had driven across the lot drove back across the bridge and locked the gate! We walked back to the car to finish our hike. It was 12:45 PM and we had covered 5.3 miles in 2.5 hours. The vertical gain was 1575 feet with 1450 feet of this being on the 2 mile climb from Belleayre Beach to the Pine Hill West Branch Trail junction.

On Monday, October 6th I had finished the loop trail around North South Lake and thought I had enough time for at least one more trail. We left North South Lake and I drove to Route 214 west of Tannersville. I turned left on Route 214 and drove to Phoenicia. The directions to get to Parrish Field and the amps were a little inaccurate. I found the best way was to drive down Main Street to Ava Maria Mount which is the street where the post office is located. I turned left here and parked just passed the post office on the side of the street. It seemed strange to me that there was no parking designated for the field. Sheila and I got out of the car and I put her on the leash. We started our hike at 9:50 AM by walking out to the field. There was no indication of any trails or where we should go. We walked around the edge of the field clockwise and found a bridge and a sign explaining the trail system. The start of the trail is directly across from the entrance to the park. We crossed the bridge and found three bright blue blazes on a tree. The problem was that after that no blazes were visible. We continued straight ahead following a very steep path up the hill toward a line of cliffs. The grade on this climb was 40% and I was pretty sure it wasn't the trail. The problem was compound by my choice to again leave my poles in the car. At the top of the climb I found blue blazes running along the base of the cliffs. We turned right but I promised myself I would investigate the real route on the way back! The trail was narrow and rough but it was fun to walk below the impressive cliffs. I took a few pictures but it was hard to get far enough back to get them in the frame. At about .25 miles the trail split since it is a loop. The sign sated that the designers intended hikers to go left so I followed the suggestion.

The trail now was wider but was still a good climb. At about .5 miles the trail leveled off and we arrived at a viewpoint over Phoenicia below us. The leaves here had not changed as much as some other places and the sun was at a bad angle but the views were still beautiful. I took some pictures and we continued the hike. The trail headed northwest and then swung to the north as it looped round the high ground on the right. The trail began to descend briefly and then turned again to start north climbing a 20% grade on a rocky woods road. Along the way there were several path and woods roads so we were careful to follow the blazes. Just passed a mile the trail split and we kept to the left to hike the longer loop which had another lookout. From this point on the trail was not as well maintained and was poorly marked in places. There were several blowdowns which obscured the correct path and the carpeting of leaves help disguise the trail. Several times I followed Sheila as she seemed to have no problem! As we walked along, another couple came hiking toward us. We had seen them at the beginning of the hike but they had gone in the opposite direction. The woman announced we had taken the easy way which was a little annoying. Her announcement also made me think that descending the trail without poles in the direction we were headed might be challenging. At 1.5 miles the trail turned south and we began a long descent. It wasn't too bad at first and at 1.6 miles we arrived at another lookout. We stopped here so that I could take some pictures and then continued on our way. The trail narrowed down again and the descent became steeper exceeding 20%. I grabbed a stout branch which game me some assistance as I slipped and slid my way down the steep path which had a covering of leaves over loose dirt and rock. At 2 miles we completed the loop and I check to see that there were no blazes to indicate the trail to the right. We followed the trail back to the base of the cliffs and continued to follow it passed the steep ascent we had used to get to the cliffs. The trail was very narrow and often slanted down the hill. I stopped to take a few shots of some interesting patterns of erosion and then headed down the trail. Near the end the trail did a little switchback to avoid too steep a grade. Soon we were back at the bridge where we had started. I looked back to check the blazes to see if I had missed them when we started out. There were NO BLAZES visible to indicate the turn at the beginning of the hike. Part of the problem is that the people who blazed the trail indicated turns by placing one blaze directly above another. The better way to mark turns is to pace the top blaze to the left or right to indicate the direction of the turn. Sheila and I walked directly across the field and were at the car at 11:15 AM. We had hiked 2.3 miles in 1 hour and 25 minutes with a vertical ascent of 800 feet. I was ready to hike some more but felt my time limitation would not allow me to enjoy a subsequent hike.

On Monday, October 6th I had a tennis match to coach in the afternoon but I was on a quest to complete the Catskill Mountain Club All Trails Challenge. The club has published a list of all the marked trails in the Catskills and will award a patch and a T-shirt for anyone who has hiked all the trails. I filled in the dates that corresponded to when I had hiked these trails and found I was only a few trails short of completion. On Sunday I had hiked in the Bluestone State Forest near Kingston. There are two sets of trails in the area that area used for both hiking and mountain biking. I decided to head to North South Lake to hike the loop trail around the lake which I had never done despite many hikes in the area. When I was finished with the loop trail, I thought I might have time to stop in Phoenicia to hike the Tanbark Trail. I knew I had to get an early start and was awake well before 6:00 AM. I actually left home at about 6:00 AM and decided to follow the Google Maps suggestion for a driving route. I drove up the Beaverkill Road to the Barkaboom Road. At the Pepacton Reservoir I turned right and followed the roads to Route 28 in Margaretville. I drove east on Route 28 to Phoenicia where I picked up Route 214 north to Route 23A. From the turn it was only a few miles to Haines Falls and the road to North South Lake campgrounds. I turned left onto the access road and the turned right on Schutt Road just before the park entrance. I didn't know of the park was still collecting fees and I was happy to hike a little extra to avoid paying. I parked and we were hiking by 7:35 AM. I decided to leave my poles in the car since I thought there might be people in the park and I might have to have her on a leash. This was a mistake since the poles are easily collapsible and the parts of the trail turned out to be rather rough. We crossed the road and started out on the blue Escarpment Trail. There were a lot of rock and roots to step around but the trail was dry. We crossed the old railroad bed and descended to cross two dry streams on bridges. At the trail junction we turned left on a ski trail and walked out to the loop road. We turned left and walked on the loop road down to the dam at the south end of South Lake. We stopped so that I could take some pictures as the sun was just rising over the lake. There were still some nice fall colors and I found that not as many of the leaves had fallen as at home.

After taking some pictures, we walked to the right of the dam to get on the yellow trail. I had thought this trail would follow the rapids and be relatively flat but I was wrong! The trail is cut through the woods and there are many roots to trip up a hiker. I followed one of the normal paths down to the lake shore to take some pictures. The leaves were still very colorful and the sun striking them was stunning. We continued on the yellow trail until we got to the first beach near the north end of South Lake at 1.7 miles. We stopped again so that I could take some more shots. I knew this was cutting into the time I had to hike but I couldn't help myself! Following the trail through the beach areas and campsites was a little difficult at times but we were always able to find the way. Just .1 miles from the beach was a point of land that jutted out into the water. This was the area that separated the two lakes and we stopped again as I took more pictures. Back on the trail we followed a walkway or road along the shore of North Lake to the beach at North Lake at 2.2 miles. Once again the views were too nice to pass up and out came the camera again. We continued on around the lake and found that quite a few of the campsites were occupied. The sun was out and I stopped to change from my softshell to a light windbreaker. As we rounded North Lake a new set of view came into sight so I had to stop again to take some photographs. From 1.8 miles back to the dam at 3.5 miles the trail followed roads or paths. It was easy walking with very few ups or downs. As we were nearing the dam, a man was coming toward us with his dog on a leash. We stopped to talk and our two dogs seemed to get along well. His was a purebred Leonberger which as about a year and a half old. It was full of energy and he asked if I wanted my dog to play. I declined regretfully since I had a schedule to keep. I am sure Sheila would have enjoyed it! We walked back to the dam to complete the loop. At this point I decided to walk the loop road back to the entrance to the campgrounds and then to Schutt Road. This would be a little longer in distance but would take less time. The hike back from the dam was only about .75 miles and it went quickly even though it was mostly uphill. We were back at the car at 9:15 AM. We had hiked 4.2 miles in 1 hour and 40 minutes. My GPS recorded that we only stopped for 15 minutes but it seemed longer to me. I felt I had enough time left for one more hike so I headed for Phoenicia to hike the Tanbark Trail.

On Sunday, October 5th I was on a quest to complete the Catskill Mountain Club All Trails Challenge. The club has published a list of all the marked trails in the Catskills and will award a patch and a T-shirt for anyone who has hiked all the trails. I filled in the dates that corresponded to when I had hiked these trails and found I was only a few trails short of completion. One area I had not hiked was the Bluestone State Forest near Kingston. There are two sets of trails in the area that area used for both hiking and mountain biking. There are three trail loops near Onteora Lake and another set of trails just east of Onteora Lake on Jockey Hill. After finishing the trails at Onteora Lake, I was ready to head to Jockey Hill at about 12:40 PM. I drove out to Route 28 and turned east toward Kingston. After consulting some maps, it was clear that the best route to Jockey Hill Road was to take Morey Hill Road north to Sawkill Road. Jockey Hill Road is only a short distance east on Sawkill Road. The drive was quick and I soon was on Jockey Hill Road headed south toward a dead end or cul-de-sac. When I arrived I found at least twenty cars with mountain bikes parked along the sides of the road. The road continued as a gravel road marked Woods Road (Private). I decided to park on the side of the road to begin the hike. I was disappointed there were son many mountain bikes as I knew I would have to be careful to avoid bikers on the trails. Sheila and I were ready to go at 1:00 PM so I began to hunt around for the trail blazes. I checked my iPhone Avenza app and found I was too far north to find the trails. I decided to walk down Woods Road to see if that was the correct direction. I had Sheila on her leash as we walked down the road. At about .25 miles I stopped to ask a homeowner about the trails and he told me to keep going about another .25 miles. Soon we were at a parking area which was obviously the one for the trails. We continued out the far end of the parking area where there was a gate and where I found yellow blazes. The Catskill Mountain Club listed both a yellow and blue trail in the area for a total of 4.2 miles but none of the maps had a blue trail and none of the mountain bikers had ever seen one. The trail followed the woods roads to about .7 miles or .15 miles from the lower parking area. Here the trail turned left into the woods.

The trail paralleled the road through mixed evergreen and hardwood forests for the next .65 miles rolling some but mostly descending. At 1.3 miles we turned left 90 degrees changing from southeast to northeast. We were hiking now mostly through hardwood forest and at 1.6 miles came to a spilt in the trail which was the start of the loop. Sheila and I stayed to the left and descended slightly before turning east at 2.0 miles and beginning a climb. The climb looks impressive on a contour profile but it lasted only to about 2.6 miles and gained just 175 feet! At this point the trail did a funny little loop to the north to avoid a rather steep descent over some rocks. Soon we were headed south to about 3.2 miles. At his point another trail or road went off to the left and I explored briefly. I kept looking for a blue trail but never found one! It is important to follow the blazes since there are many of these woods roads and paths that cross the blazed trail. We turned west first hiking northwest and then southwest to walk around a small private inholding. At 3.4 miles we hit our highest elevation at 600 feet. From here we began to descend until we were back at the start of the loop at 4.2 miles. We continued out on the trail until we hit the road at 4.5 miles. I realized that I missed a turn on the trail but decided to walk the road back for a different experience. It was about .75 miles back to the lower parking area and then another .5 miles back to the car. We arrived back at the car at 3:05 PM to find all of the mountain bikers gone! We had hiked 5.7 miles in 2 hours and 5 minutes. Subtracting the "extra" mile I walked from the place where I parked to the lower parking area results in a 4.7 mile hike which is more than the CMC has listed for the yellow and blue trails combined. I am confident I hit all the blazed trails in the area. There was still some daylight left but I was a little tired hiking almost 13 miles for the day on rocky trails. I decided to leave some of the other trails for another day.

On Sunday, October 5th I wanted to work on the Catskill Mountain Club All Trails Challenge. The club has published a list of all the marked trails in the Catskills and will award a patch and a T-shirt for anyone who has hiked all the trails. I filled in the dates that corresponded to when I had hiked these trails and found I was only a few trails short of completion. One area I had not hiked was the Bluestone State Forest near Kingston. There are two sets of trails in the area that area used for both hiking and mountain biking. There are three trail loops near Onteora Lake and another set of trails just east of Onteora Lake on Jockey Hill. I decided to head to that area on see if I could complete those trails. I left Livingston Manor at about 8:15 AM with a very excited Sheila in the back seat. The temperature overnight had gone down to just above freezing and it was still cool. I decided to follow the driving route suggested by Google Maps which directed me to take Route 52 through Woodbourne to Ellenville and then take Route 209 to Kingston. From Kingston the Bluestone state Forest is only a few miles west on Route 28. This is not normally the route I would use but it proved to be faster as it took only about 1.5 hours to get to my destination. The maps were a little unclear about exactly how to get to the parking area but I found the parking area and access road right off Route 28. I pulled in and was going to park in the lot but realized I could rive further on the access road. I drove down to the lower lot which had a few cars parked already. It was still cool as we began our hike at 9:45 AM. I had Sheila's training collar on her but I put her on her leash as there were several other dogs around. We headed out on the yellow trail which starts north on the west side of the lake. The first part of the trail has been made handicapped accessible and has a few picnic tables. The trail then shifts to a woods road which begins to get rocky pretty quickly. The red loop branches from the yellow loop and the blue loop branches from the red loop. My intention was to head left at each trail junction and to complete the loops in that order. At .7 miles the trail turned around the north end of the lake and changed from northeast to almost due south. Soon after that I realized I had missed the point where the yellow trail splits into a loop. I had continued to the left without ever spotting the trail junction. At .9 miles we came to the red trail junction and turned left to begin this loop.

All three loops are "lollipops" with a "handle" that leads in to the loop and then back out again. At 1.3 miles we were at the point where the red loops starts and we headed left. The trail climbs from the point where the red trail starts and reaches the highest point on the hike at 1.6 miles. Along the way the trail has some ups and downs but only gains a little over 200 feet from the point where the yellow loops splits. There are no real views along the way but the trail passes through some boulders and is generally fun to hike. The blazes are spaced a little farther apart than usual but this may be because it is maintained by the mountain bike club and they move a little faster than hikers. About half way through the red loop we met the only mountain biker of the day. He was riding up a grade over some sharp stone and seemed to be putting out quite an effort. Sheila saw or heard him well before I did and came over to me whining. We moved off the trail until the biker could go by. We continued on the red loop which got considerably rockier and more narrow in some areas. There were a few blowdowns across the trail. Some were low enough to jump on a bike but I thought others would require dismounting. At 2 miles the red loop made a turn and we were again headed south climbing another hill. At 2.5 miles the blue trail was on the left and we turned to access that trail. The handle of this trail was the shortest and in about .15 miles the trail split to begin the loop. We stayed to the left immediately dropping about 100 feet as we headed north and east. At 3.1 miles the trail turned southeast to loop back to where the blue trail started and we gained the elevation we had lost. The blue trail was by far the rockiest of the three trails and had areas where even the not experienced mountain biker would have problems. Once we were back at the trail junction with the red trail it was hard to spot the red trail blazes. I turned left onto a well used trail and followed it briefly until I realized there were no markers. We retraced our path and I found the red blazes back at the trail junction. It felt good to have completed a loop and we continued on the red loop.

The red trail went east for about .25 miles to the point where the red trail had split. We turned left and followed the handle .4 miles southwest back to the yellow trail. The yellow trail took us southwest for about .6 miles to the shores of Pickerel Pond. This pond is more interesting than Onteora Lake so we stopped so that I could take some pictures and Sheila could have a swim. When I finished and started to pack up, Sheila decided to do her mad dash up and down the trails. The yellow trail followed the western shore of the pond for a short distance and then turned west at 5.3 miles to cross over to the eastern shore of Onteora Lake. Once on the shore of the lake the trail headed northeast for .7 miles back to the point where the yellow trail splits. The trail is sited on a ridge that runs along the eastern shore and does not offer many views. The trail rolls up and down a little and at one point passes between some rocks and up an incline. At 5.6 miles we turned left to head back to the parking area on the yellow trail retracing our path from earlier. As we made the turn at the head of the lake I stopped to take some pictures of one of the areas that showed obvious signs of bluestone quarrying. There had been many examples of this along the way but most were hard to photograph. As we returned to the car, we met a group of hikers with two dogs headed in the opposite direction. We stopped at one of the picnic areas and I took pictures of the lake before returning to the car. It was 12:35 PM and we had covered 7.1 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes. It was time to move on to Jockey Hill.

On Friday, October 3rd, I was ready to get out again after some inclement weather and coaching commitments had kept me out of the woods for three days. I wanted to renew my efforts to find some fall colors before the rain forecast for Saturday brought even more of the leaves down! I decided to return to Balsam Lake Mountain as the colors had been good there on Monday but the skies had been gray and overcast. I was hoping for better conditions on Friday but the skies looked bleak when I woke up. There was a heavy fog in the valley and the skies did not look like they would be blue. I delayed until about 10:45 AM and then decided that a bad day out was better than a good day in the house. I got Sheila in the car and drove up the Beaverkill Road all the way to the very end. The further I drove the better the skies looked with some sun and expanses of blue with white clouds. At the intersection with the Barkaboom Road, It turned left and drove to Big Pond. I parked in the lot and walked down to the edge of the pond with my camera. I have been taking pictures from the same spots for over a week to see the progression as the leaves have changed color. This was by far the nicest day and I took some shots of the bright colors and beautiful sky. It didn't take long to get back on the road. We arrived in the parking area at about 11:25 AM to find no other cars present. By now the skies were blue with a few white clouds and some sun. We took a minute to walk out the trail toward Vly so that hat I could take some pictures of Balsam Lake Mountain from the clearing. We walked back to the car to begin our hike at about 11:35 AM. The walk to the first trail junction seemed to again go quickly and we stopped briefly so that I could remove my light windbreaker for the climb to the fire tower. The trail was now covered in fallen leaves which made getting a good footing a little more difficult. We kept up a good pace and were soon passing by the spur trail to the lean-to. After a short climb, we passed the 3500 foot sign and the spring and reached the area where the trail levels. by 12:35 PM we had hiked the 1.7 miles to the tower clearing.

We walked over to the picnic table where I dropped my pack and got out the camera for the climb to the top of the tower. This is one of the few times I did not take pictures of the tower itself since they all seem to look the same. The sun was out but there were fewer clouds in the blue sky. As I climbed to the top of the tower, I told Sheila to stay below. I began to notice that there was a stiff breeze blowing which was especially noticeable after I cleared the treeline. After breaking a good sweat on the climb, I was a little cool. I stopped on the landing below the cab and surveyed the landscape. It seemed to me that the colors were not quite as good as on Monday but the blue, sunny skies made up for that. I took many pictures in different direction. I even took a few shots through the tower steps and some with the tower supports visible. I descended the steps, took a few pictures of the dog on the bottom landing and went back to the picnic table to gather my gear. We started down the Millbrook side of the mountain and I felt so good I began to think about hiking to Graham or to Vly and Tunis Ponds. The hike down was tricky as there was still loose dirt and slippery rocks but they were all covered by fresh leaves. Having my poles with me saved me more than once and we were soon at the bottom of the climb at the trail junction. I turned left and made the commitment to climb Graham. I had not been up Graham in some time but was anxious to see what the countryside looked like from some of the lookouts. The herd path is now very easy to spot but has grown in a little since the last time I was there. Once we started on the path, we lost a little over 150 feet in elevation as we descended the trail to Graham. At one point the path look so unfamiliar, that I thought I might have taken a wrong turn. I knew this was impossible since there are no turns to take and as soon as we began to climb things looked more familiar.

From the beginning of the climb it is about .75 miles to the summit of Graham with a gain of 650 feet. There are some steeper portions but the average grade is 15%. Along the way we passed by a large rock on the right side of the trail. I looked carefully and it seemed there might be view from the top of the rock. I followed a path to the rock and found a way to get on top. Sheila had no problem following me. Like many viewpoints this one had some bushes in the way but it was worth the detour. I took some pictures and then returned to the main trail. Our next stop was the viewpoint on the left side of the trail just below the summit. I found this with no problem but was surprised at how much the vegetation had grown up. Many of the views I remember were now blocked including the view of the telephone pole. The tower was at one time supplied with power and communications through lines that ran from pole to pole. I took a few pictures around and through the trees before completing the walk to the top of the mountain. The breeze was blowing across the summit and I headed for the other side of the clearing to walk through the brush to another lookout. I found the rock where I normally stand but the views from it were also blocked by some branches. I took what pictures I could including one that zoomed in on the fire tower. The tower looked very far away. We returned to the summit where I took a few pictures of the ruins and a few more of the landscape before starting the return trip. We left the summit at 2:15 PM after hiking about 5 miles. I estimated we had about 3.5 miles to go to get back to the car. Walking down the path back to the trail junction was not as easy as I had thought it would be and I had to pick my way carefully. The weather was still nice giving no indication of the rain that was supposed to be present the next day. We hot the trail junction at 3:10 PM and turned left to head back to the parking area. We had been over this trail on Monday so the trip back to the car was very familiar and went quickly. I looked for some views along the way but the leaves on the trees blocked any I could have found. As we neared the end of the trail, both Sheila and I could hear voices ahead. Two young men approached us and I grabbed Sheila as they passed. I said "Hello" but they seemed to be in a very animated conversation and barely acknowledged our presence. We were back at the car by 4:00 PM having hike 8.5 miles in 4 hours and 20 minutes which included almost 30 minutes of stopped time. The vertical gain was 2349 feet.

On Monday, September 29th, I wanted to continue my quest to find some fall colors. I read a post on one of the hiking forums that Balsam Lake Mountain was "near peak" over the weekend so I decided to head there. The weather forecast had predicted high clouds with sunny skies but all I saw was an overcast as I left Livingston Manor around 9:00 AM. I hoped that the skies would clear and turn blue and there was some indication of this as I drove up the Beaverkill Road. Some places on the road had been repaired to make them easier to drive but after then Quill Gordon Lodge the road was pretty rough. We arrived in the parking area and started our hike at about 9:35 AM. There were no other cars in the lot and I wasn't surprised that we did not have any company. Although the skies were still overcast, the temperature was warm. I wore a light windbreaker but knew it would come off by the time we started the climb. There were some nice colors visible from the parking area and some blue skies to the east. Sheila and I headed up the trail keeping a quick pace. There were several trees hanging over the trail and although they seemed safe I would prefer that they were gone. We made the trail junction at .9 miles by 10:00 AM and stopped to get a drink and to let me stow my windbreaker. Over the next half mile the trail gains about 750 feet before leveling off which means an average of around a 28% grade! Despite the grade, the seemed to go quickly and we were soon passing the spur trail to the lean-to and the spring. We walked up the stone steps to the summit plateau and continued on toward the fire tower. The trail was dry except for one or two spots where it was a little muddy. There were some nice colors along the trail mixed in with the evergreens. We arrived at the tower clearing at 10:40 AM after hiking 1.7 miles. I took some pictures of the tower and then walked over to the picnic table to drop my pack.

As I got ready to climb the tower, I realized I had left Sheila's leash in the car. Sheila has no fear of the steps on the tower or of heights so she tends to follow me up the towers. I directed her to stay on the ground so she only climbed to the second landing. As I climbed the tower the breeze picked up. Once I was on the landing below the cab I could see that the colors were very bright and that most of the trees had turned. The problem was that the sky was still overcast so the backdrop was not ideal. I did take quite a few pictures before heading back down to the ground. I took a few of Sheila on the tower and then headed back to my pack. At that moment another hiker approached from the Millbrook side and startled Sheila. Sheila started barking and ran toward the hiker who calmly waited for her to stop. I apologized and he was very understanding. We talked for a few minutes before heading in our different directions. Sheila and I started down the more gentle slope on the trail that passes by the cabin. The trail was dry and descending over the loose dirt and gravel was a challenge. It didn't take us long before we were at the gate and then at the trail junction. We turned right to head back to the parking area. As we walked, I could hear a rustling sound which was the leaves falling from the trees in a gentle breeze. The time to look for fall colors in this area is now! The first section of the trail was a little damp and the leaves over the mossy rocks made things interesting. We set a good pace and were soon passing the trail junction where we had turned up the mountain earlier. We continued on and as we entered the lower section of the trail I saw some nice colors off to the right. I took a few shots and then we headed back to the car. As we approached the parking area, I could hear voices and I saw a family of four getting ready to hike. Their license plate was from North Carolina and they asked some questions about the trail. After answering their questions, I put Sheila in the car and walked out the trail to Vly Pond with my camera. There were some very nice views of Balsam Lake Mountain and there was even some blue sky. I went back to the car to get ready to leave. We had hiked 4.3 miles in 2 hours gaining 1200 feet in the process. On the way home I too a detour to Big Pond and took some pictures. The colors there were even nicer than on the mountain. The reflections in the pond were beautiful. The only thing that was lacking was blue skies with puffy clouds!

On Sunday, September 28th I wanted to get out for a short, local hike after church. I was surprised when Cindy agreed to go as we had hiked a 35 the day before. We agreed to go to Huggins Lake as it is only about 4 miles and close to home. After church ended at 10:30 AM, we went home to get ready for the hike. We took our time as we were in no hurry. On the way to the hike we stopped in Roscoe at the farmer's market and the headed out Route 206 to Berry Brook Road. As we drove along Berry Brook Road, we could see the brook was very low in that area. At the intersection with the Covered Bridge Road there was a sign that stated the road was closed 6.5 miles ahead. I knew that was well beyond the Huggins Lake area so we continued and in a couple of miles turned right onto the access road to the parking area. As we had suspected we were the only car there and we were all happy we would not see as many people as we had see on Twin Mountain the day before! We began our hike by walking up the wide woods road at 11:50 AM. The trail is not marked on any map and I watched this time to see if I could spot any blazes. There were no blazes of any kind to indicate that the road is a hiking or snowmobile trail. The DEC has maintained the trail but I do not know to what end. I do know that I always think of this as an easy hike and am always surprised that the first part is all uphill. Over the first 1.25 miles the elevation gain is about 625 feet. This averages under a 10% grade but it seems like more. At the top of the hill we began to walk along some high ground that looks down on Huggins Lake. In the winter, the lake is clearly visible but the leaves hide it during the other seasons.

After the top of the hill, the trail descends gentle at first until at 1.7 miles it turns sharply left and drops a little more steeply to the shore of the lake. When we arrived at the lake, we could see that there were some colors present but they were not very bright. I dropped my pack and took some pictures. Some of the best colors were in the flowers and shrubs surrounding the pond. There were some nice reflections in the water and the sky was blue with a few clouds. Sheila decided to jump in for a swim and I picked up a stick to throw for her. I took some pictures of her in the water. When she was done swimming, she began to run back and forth like a maniac as she normally does. By the time she is done with these antics she is almost dry! I picked up my pack and we headed back up the trail. The only negative point about Huggins Lake is that there is only one trail and so there are no variations available. I have tried bushwhacking around the pond but the bushes get pretty thick. As we started down the hill, we began to hear gunfire which I identified as a shotgun. I am never happy about hearing shots when I am out hiking but they seemed to be located in one spot and gave me the idea that someone was target shooting. As we continued to descend, we met a family of four hiking up the hill. I had to hold on to Sheila as I had not brought her leash since I did not expect to see any other hikers! The gunfire continued as we approached the car and I was happy when we were all inside. We had hiked 3.8 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes. As we left the parking area, I turned right to see why the road was closed. Eventually we came to another sign warning us that the bridge was out ahead. The signs were correct and the bridge was completely gone. We turned around and headed back to Livingston Manor by way of the Beaverkill Covered Bridge and Beaverkill Road.

On Saturday, September 27th, I wanted to look for some fall colors even though they didn't seem to be too prominent around Livingston Manor. I thought going farther north and gaining some elevation might help so I asked Cindy if she would like to go to Twin Mountain. She had never climbed Twin as I had always started with Indian Head and after one mountain Cindy was never in the mood for another! She agreed and I knew we should get started early as I felt others would have the same idea. As it was we got out of the house a little late and arrived at the Prediger Road parking area at 10:15 AM. The parking area was filling quickly and we were lucky to get one of the last legitimate parking spaces. We got started right away as there was a rather large number of people getting ready to start out. I suspected they might be a group so we hurried up the trail. The Jimmy Dolan Notch Trail is one of my least favorite trails in the Catskills due to the constant poor footing. There are roots and rocks and loose dirt the entire way to the col between Indian Head and Twin. As we were walking on the first part of the trail, we met a young woman carrying her baby in a sling across her chest. We said "Hello" and pushed on. I commented that it looked like she was out for a short walk and had not climbed a mountain. At .3 miles we crossed a stream that was almost dry. I had crossed this stream on other hikes and found it difficult not to get wet. This was also the point where we headed right on the Jimmy Dolan Notch Trail while the Devil's Path went left to the east side of Indian Head. At .5 miles an enormous tree completely blocked the trail. It must have been there for a while as hikers had made a path around it on the left. By this time we were well into the rocks and roots but had not yet begun to climb. A little after this we met two young boys, their father and an older man. They were parked in the middle of the trail and I had to leave the trail to walk around them so that Sheila would not bother the kids. Sheila can be very friendly and I usually keep her on a leash around other people. t 1.5 miles we began to climb over the rocks and over the next .6 miles we gained 580 feet to the notch. It was 11:30 AM and we had made 2.1 miles and 1120 feet of elevation gain. Of course, once you are in the col, there is still the climb to the peak. We turned right on the Devil's Path and started up the mountain. We had met relatively few people on the way up and I thought that many might have gone over to Indian Head first.

There are several very steep places on the climb to Twin and more than one requires some hand or hand to get up. Sheila does not have hands but she made all the climbs with no problem! After a few climbs we were approaching the viewpoint toward Indian Head and Cindy was ready for a rest. We stopped at the small break in the trees and I got my camera out. The falls colors weren't very prominent and a haze hung over the landscape. We got a drink and a snack and started out to finish the climb to the eastern peak of Twin. We broke out onto the open rocks that form one of the best viewpoints on the Catskills just after noon. Again, the colors were muted and there was some haze but the view was still nice. The best colors seemed to be on Sugarloaf and I took a few shots. We rested for about 10 minutes and three other hikers came up from the col. One continued on but the other two stopped to enjoy the view. After our rest, we headed for the west, and higher, peak of Twin. My plan was to hike down to Pecoy Notch and then walk the roads back to the car. This would be longer than an out and back but would avoid hiking the Jimmy Dolan Notch Trail twice! I also knew that there would be many more people going up and down that trail. The walk over to the west peak requires a drop of about 100 feet and then an ascent of around 150 feet. The distance, however, is only .7 miles. When we reached the west peak there were three people eating lunch. I walked out to the rock overhand and took some more pictures. We got a drink and I asked Cindy how she wanted to return to the car. I was disappointed that she chose to return way we came but I understood her reasoning. We started back at 12:40 PM and immediately ran into several groups of hikers headed our way. As always, the choice of dress and footwear is always interesting! The trail was very dry which made it impossible to gain any speed on the descent. Careful foot and pole placement was required in many places to prevent a spill. We worked our way down having to wait as several groups came by us an their ascent. By 1:35 PM we were back at the col and turned left to head back down to the car. More people were coming up the trail and a few were descending. The climb down can be interesting but we soon hit the end of the steeper sections. The remaining part of the hike through the loose rocks, dirt and roots seemed to take forever. I was very glad when I could see the parking area ahead. There were many more cars in the lot and I counted over 40 total with a few empty spots. We were back at the car by 2:45 PM having covered 6.1 miles and 1850 feet of elevation gain in 4 hours and 20 minutes. As a reward we headed to Pancho Villa's in Tannersville for some good Mexican food!

On Thursday, September 25th I left Vromans Nose and headed south on Route 30. On the way to Grand Gorge I turned left on Route 990V and took it through Gilboa to West Conesville. Here I turned right on County Route 7 which follows the Schoharie Reservoir to Prattsville. I turned left and traveled east on Route 23 to the other side of town and parked in Pratt Rock parking area on the left side of the road. There were no other cars parked in the lot. The skies were still gray and fall colors hard to find. We started our hike at 12:35 PM by walking through the picnic area to the far end where we started up the trail. When we arrived at the trail junction, I chose to stay to the left rather than head directly to the carvings on the face of the cliff. We ascended the trail that leads to the overlook and I put Sheila on her leash so that she could again help pull me up the steep hill. I had decided to leave my poles in the car and was sorry that I did so. We were soon at the overlook and the situation was much the same as On Vromans Nose. The sky was gray and the patches of color were sporadic. I stopped to take some pictures along the Batavia Kill and of the farms below the viewpoint. I picked up and moved to the next lookout which gave me slightly different views so I stopped to take a few more shots. After putting away the camera, we headed up the hill where I intended to make a loop by walking the path on the other side of the cliffs down to the carvings. As we neared the turn, I saw a path leading further up the hill. I was interested to see where it lead as I had never been in this direction. We headed further east below some low cliffs and then found a path to the top of them. A path continued to the east along an extended line of cliffs. There were several viewpoints and we stopped at one and I took a few more pictures. From this point on the trail grew fainter so I decided to bushwhack up to the highest point on the nearest ridge. We continued to the east and up the side of the ridge again picking our way through some low cliffs. Near the top of the ridge the brush began to get thick so we turned north and started down. I had seen a woods road extending to the east and north on the way out and decided to head for where I thought it would be.

When we hit the road, we turned right heading north toward a power line indicated on my GPS. We descended slightly to the right-of-way and soon broke out into the open. In both directions along the right-of-way there were some nice patches of color. I took a few shots and then decided to turn right or east to ascend to the top of the ridge where I hoped I could get a good view. It was about a quarter mile to the top of the ridge and we gained about 300 feet. As we broke over the top, I saw that the right-of-way descended into a valley and then ascended another ridge. There was no stunning view but there were some of the brightest colors I had seen on the day. The power line towers blocked part of the few so we descended to the next tower and I took pictures of the trees on the next ridge as well as some of the mountains. We turned around and followed our route back down to where we had come out of the woods. We followed the woods road back to the path along the cliffs and to the point where the path led down to the carvings. As we started down the path, I found dry dust and loose talus with a few leaves sprinkled in. I immediately wished I had stowed my poles in my pack for this descent. Fortunately, there were enough roots and trees to garb onto to help in the descent. I stopped once or twice to take pictures of the towering cliffs. Soon we had finished the descent and were at the area of the stone carvings. I took pictures of the carvings and then we made our way down the path. At the main trail we turned left and worked our way back through the picnic area to the car. We were back by 2:15 PM having hiked 3.1 miles in 1 hour and 40 minutes with an elevation gain of 1100 feet.

On Thursday, October 13th I had planned a rather long hike on the Burroughs Range but the weather forecast changed to rain and clouds. I was looking for some fall colors as well as a hike so I decided to head north where the skies were forecast to be clearer. I considered Morgan Hill SF but I got a late start and headed for Vromans Nose in Middleburgh. We left Livingston Manor just after 9:50 AM and headed up the Beaverkill Road to the Barkaboom Road. At the end of the road I turned right on BWS 10 and took it to Route 28 in Margaretville. We turned right and then left to follow Route 30 through Margaretville, Roxbury, Grand Gorge and North Blenheim. Just outside of Middleburgh I turned left on Mill Valley Road. Less than a mile up the road I parked in the Vromans Nose parking lot on the left side of the road. There were two other cars in the lot when Sheila and I left to start our hike at 11:20 AM. Unfortunately I had not seen very many brilliant colors on the drive through the Schoharie Valley and the skies were uniformly overcast without the contrast of blue sky! I had left my poles in the car as the hike is very short and I knew I might have to put Sheila on her leash. As we walked through the open field that leads to the trails, I decided we would walk to the left and hike the steeper side first. I had never done this but it seemed a better idea to go up the steep side and down the more gentle one. As we turned onto the yellow blazed trail I noted that it did not seem familiar and I questioned whether or not I was on the correct path. We soon came to the junction with the Long Path and I realized it was just that I was traveling in a direction I had never taken before.

We started up the steep part of the trail and I put Sheila on her leash as her pulling helps me up these inclines. Along the way we met a couple with their dog and another young woman hiking alone. These encounters were brief as we continued up the trail. Over .4 miles the trail gains about 420 feet which is around a 21% grade. The dirt was very dry and had a smattering of leaves that interfered with traction. Soon we were at a lookout over the valley and the trail leveled quite a bit. We stopped so that I could take some pictures. I was disappointed at the uniformly gray sky and lack of fall colors in most places. There were some splotches of color here and there and I took a few shots. Vromans Nose has an elevation of about 1220 feet above sea level which makes it about 500 feet higher than the surrounding plain. It isn't very high but it gives a great view of the plain below and the peaks both near and far. We continued our hike by walking along the edge of the cliff. We stopped two more times and I took some pictures of the colors on a nearby ridge. It seemed the higher elevations had the best colors. We met one more couple seated on one of the rock outcrops just before we started our descent. The descent starts out a little steep and slippery but soon become a wide path with a gentler slope. as we approached the parking area a family group was getting ready to hike. The five year old girl seemed to be the one with the most energy. We were back at the car by noon having hiked 1.5 miles in 41 minutes with an elevation gain of 520 feet. As we drove away I hoped that Pratt Rock had a little more to offer.

On Tuesday, September 23rd I wanted to get in a rather long hike by starting early in the morning. As often happens, my plans were derailed by an early morning ambulance call/ By the time I got back, I had to settle for a shorter hike closer to home. It was the first day of autumn and the trees were already beginning to change especially on the hills. I decided to go to Long Pond and do he big loop in a counterclockwise direction. I wanted to walk as fast as we could but take a few pictures along the way. I got Sheila in the car with my gear and headed out DeBruce Road for about 8 miles to Flugertown Road where I made a left. I parked in the lot a short distance up the road on the right. The day was warm with some sun but a slight breeze blowing. It felt like autumn as we left the parking area at 11:45 AM to hike up the snowmobile trail. The first .6 miles gains about 350 feet to the highest point on the hike. It isn't very steep but does act as a nice warm-up! Along the way I saw that several trees that had been across the trail had been cut and removed. There were also some tracks which looked like they were made by a small tractor. I assumed this was the work of the snowmobile club preparing the trail for winter. At 1.1 miles we were at the spur trail that leads down to the shore of Long Pond. We turned right and walked down to the pond. I walked to the edge of the water and took some pictures of the pond and the falls colors around it. The leaves were beginning to change and the reds were particularly prominent. We walked back up to the main trail and continued to set a fast pace. At the first trail junction I debated cutting the hike short but decided to bear right and take the longer route. By 12:20 PM we had walked 1.8 miles and were passing the spur trail to the lean-to.

After passing the trail to the lean-to, we picked up the pace and continued on the main trail to the point where it intersected a woods road at 2.5 miles. We turned left and followed the road until the intersection with Basily Road at 2.85 miles. We continued on Basily Road by bearing to the left. I began to hear gunshots but could not determine whether they were ahead or behind us. At one point I was sure I heard them from both directions! As we approached the Peters Hunting Camp, I put Sheila on her leash. The area near the footbridge across the outlet to the beaver pond was flooded and pretty muddy. We made it to the small bridge and stopped so that I could take a few pictures. The shooting had stopped but I expected to see some cars at the camp. As we headed toward the bridge across the creek and came into site of the camp, there were no cars present. We continued across the bridge and up the small hill that overlooks the camp. At this point a car approached, heading toward the camp. I waved and they continued on their way. We stopped and I took some pictures on the camp in the valley and the hills surrounding it. The leaves were showing the first sign of color changes and were quite pretty. As we started in again, I knew that the rest of the hike was on road that turned from gravel to pavement. There were also not many more places to take pictures so I knew it would be a quick trip back. At 1:40 PM we were back at the parking area having hiked 6 miles in 1 hour and 50 minutes. The elevation gain was only about 600 feet most of which was at the beginning of the hike.

Summer 2014

On Saturday, September 20th, I was interested in red-lining a few of the trails I had not hiked in the Catskills. In the morning I hiked the Mink Hollow Trail from Mink Hollow Road to the Devil's Path. The trail was one of the worst I had hiked in the Catskills with an abidance of slippery rocks under foot most of the time. I was a little tired after hiking only 5 miles and the day was still completely overcast with the feeling of rain in the air. I decided to head over to Diamond Notch Road in Lanesville to check the condition of the access road to the parking area. The last time I was there I had decided not to attempt driving passed the end of the road onto the dirt and grass road that leads the .4 miles to the parking area. I finished the Mink Hollow Trail at 12:30 PM and drove back down Mink Hollow Road to Route 212. I followed Route 212 back to Route 28 and traveled west to Phoenicia. In Phoenicia I drove north on Route 214 to Lainsville where I turned left on Diamond Notch Road. The first part of the road was paved and even the gravel section after that was in good shape. Once I reached the end of the road, I made the decision to continue up the grass and dirt track to the parking area. As soon as I got on the road I almost regretted the decision as the road was very uneven with large rocks sticking up. My Lancer has all-wheel drive but not as much clearance beneath as I would like. I drove slowly and we made it to the parking area without too much difficulty. I was glad I had not met anyone along the way as there is no room to pass and there are very few spots to pull over. There was no question in my mid that we would have to hike the trail as I did not intend to drive up it again in the near future. We were on the trail by 1:05 PM under overcast skies. The first part of the trail seemed well-used and was rather well-maintained as it passed along Hollow Tree Brook. There wasn't much water in the brook but several spots showed promise as waterfalls when the water level increases. It wasn't long before we were walking on extremely rough trail with many rocks. At one point Sheila started off to the right and I called her back only to find the trail turned right, crossed a streambed and ascended a set of rock steps. I need to follow her lead more often.

The trail gained 1000 feet in elevation over 1.4 miles to Diamond Notch. At this point there was an open spot that gave limited views down the notch to the south. As we walked a little farther on the trail, it leveled out some and passed between the Westkill Ridge on the left and another on the right. There was a deep gorge on the left of the trail and the area reminded me of Dutcher's Notch in the Blackhead Range. We began to descend over very rocky trail heading toward Diamond Notch Falls. We passed the Diamond Notch lean-to on the right side of the trail. Within only .5 miles I could see the bridge and hear some people at the falls. We walked across the bridge and I could see others working their way down to the base of the falls. There was almost no water in the creek but I knew I would have to take a few shots from the base of the falls. I tied Sheila to a tree, took out my camera and started down the bank. Once in the streambed I took a few pictures of the trickle of water going over the falls. I spoke briefly to the other people before returning to my pack and Sheila. I noticed a young man and woman walking over the bridge toward Westkill. They stopped and were looking over some maps. I put Sheila on her leash and walked over to them to ask if they needed some help. They were confused about which trail led to Geiger Point on the way to the Devil's Acre lean-to. I gave them directions and also suggested that the Buck Ridge lookout on Westkill was the best one around. I also told them to take the time to visit the Hunter fire tower. Sheila and I headed back up the trail toward Diamond Notch. Going up the rocky trail seemed easier than coming down and I was not looking forward to the final 1.4 miles of rocky descent. Once over the top we set a good pace on the descent and the rocks didn't seem to be as bad as I thought. As we walked down the trail we did meet a solo hiker headed toward Plateau and a group of three that though the might try Sugarloaf. I did not ask them why they chose this approach since the trails from the other side seem easier. We were back at the car by 3:05 PM having covered 4 miles in two hours with several stops along the way. The vertical gain was 1340 feet. The drive out seemed easier than the drive in and we were soon on our way home.

On Saturday, September 20th, I was interested in red-lining a few of the trails I had not hiked in the Catskills. I had planned to get a very early start but an ambulance call in the middle of the night meant I slept a little later in the morning. The forecast was for most cloudy skies but there was a complete overcast when I woke up. We left Livingston Manor at about 8:45 AM and headed out the DeBruce Road to catch Route 47 to Route 28 in Big Indian. I took Route 28 to Route 212 in Mount Tremper and followed it all the way to Lake Hill. In Lake hill I turned left on Mink Hollow Road and drove to the parking area at the end. I was wondering if the road would be passable all the way until I realized I had been here before when I climbed Oldebark. The road is paved to the parking area. There was one car parked as we started out on the trail at about 10:10 AM. The skies were still completely overcast with a heavy haze and the feel of rain in the air. We walked up the road until the trail veered to the right and we followed the blazes. The trail was pretty rocky and we had to cross over several streambeds. The streambeds were largely dry with only one requiring stepping from stone to stone. At about .5 miles the trail seemed to become wider and was clear of rocks giving me hope that this would continue. My hope was soon dashed as we were again walking along the bank of the stream where the trail had been eroded to only a narrow track. After this, we were again on very rocky ground following the dark blue blazes on an overcast day. The blazes were few and far between in some spots and at one point the trail seemed to split and there was a blaze on tree that sat right in the middle without indicating a turn. A quick look showed the way but searching for blazes on marked trail is...unexpected.

We continued along the trail which began to climb more steeply but was still very rocky. The rocks had quite a bit of moss and were slightly damp which made getting a good footing important. I had not looked at the topographic maps or profile before the hike and did not realize that the hike would be 2.3 miles of ascent. Over the 2.3 miles we gained 1120 feet until the trail began to level off near the Mink Hollow lean-to. Two young men were at the lean-to where they had spent the night after hiking from Prediger Road on the Devil's Path. They were headed out to climb Plateau and Westkill but didn't know whether they would do the rest of the hike in one day or two. I advised not to miss the Hunter fire tower and that hiking down Westkill and over St. Anne's in the dark could be a problem. They told me they had only one car parked at Prediger Road and did not know how they would get back there from Spruceton Road. They offered me some fruit and cereal but I declined and wished them luck. Sheila and I hiked out to the Devil's Path at 2.5 miles. We turned around at 11:20 AM and started back down the trail. The descent was as tricky as the climb since the rocks were still slippery. We met one man with a British accent who was looking for Plateau. He had a short-sleeved shirt and short with sneakers and carried one small water bottle! I gave him directions and we continued on our way. Very shortly we met another group who asked about the distance to the Devil's Path. I told them it was about .5 miles and they thank me. They intended to hike to Sugarloaf and back. I wondered why these hikers had chosen the southern route when the one from the north was so much easier. Sheila and I passed under the only major blowdowns on the trail and continued down to the parking area. We arrived at the car at 12:30 PM having hiked 5 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes. The vertical gain was 1185 feet. I decided we would head over to Lainsville to check out the access road to the Diamond Notch parking area. The last time I was there I decided not to attempt the final part of the "road" which is only a grassy track with some rocks and deep ruts.

On Friday, September 19th I wanted hike somewhere near home as I had a tennis match in the afternoon. I didn't really want to go to Trout Pond but thought it the best choice because of the number of variations for hikes. I decided that I would hike to the end of Trout Pond and then hike to Campbell Brook Road using Morton Hill Road to return. There was a heavy fog in the morning so I got some things done around the house and then left at about 9:30 AM. I got Sheila and my gear in the car and headed to Roscoe and out Route 206 to Morton Hill Road. After turning left on Morton Hill Road, I drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road and parked on the side of the road to avoid trespassing on private property. We started down Russell Brook Road at 9:50 AM. I always like to park on Morton Hill Road because the walk down Russell Brook Road to the lower parking area is so enjoyable. The road to the lower parking area is in good shape for the most part and parking at the lower parking area is plentiful. The walk down the road went quickly and as we passed the upper falls I could see there was even less water in the stream than the week before. I decided at that point that visiting the falls was pointless. There was a single car in the lower lot as we turned right onto the trail that goes down to the bridge across Russell Brook. We walked to the trail junction and I decided at that point to take the slightly longer route by hiking toward Mud Pond and the around to the upper end of Trout Pond. We turned left, walked passed the large campsite on the right and headed up the hill. The hill is about .8 miles and gains around 400 feet which is enough to work up a sweat. When we reached the next trail junction, we turned right to head to Trout Pond. The day was warm and the sun was breaking through. I was a little pressed for time and decided the photographic opportunities would have to be exceptional for me to stop to take pictures.

Over the next 1.2 miles the trail gains another 400 feet rising to almost 2500 feet in elevation to the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. From that point he headed downhill for the next .8 miles losing 460 feet in the process until we were at the bridge across the inlet stream to Trout Pond. I could see that the lower lean-to was occupied but the campers were not home. I took a look at the pond from the bridge and saw nothing spectacle to make me want to stop to take pictures. I put Sheila on her leash as we passed the lean-to and turned left to get on the Campbell Brook Trail. The trails so far had been well-maintained with little encroachment by briars or bushes. Over the next .8 miles of trail we gained back 430 feet of elevation and were approaching the junction of the hiking and snowmobile trails. I knew the snowmobile trail intersected Campbell Brook Road and thought about taking it. I did not know how well the snowmobile trail would be cleared but in the end opted to try it for a different experience. The trail began by climbing a little more than the hiking trail but it was well cut out and easy to follow. The trail began to follow the edge of the hill so for the first .3 miles we headed almost due east. This made me a little nervous but I knew we had to hit a road that would take us back to the car. At 4.6 miles we turned north and walked another .3 miles continuing along the edge of the ridge. At 4.9 miles we began to descend heading east and then due north to intersect Campbell Brook Road near the junction with Morton Hill Road. We turned right on Campbell Brook Road and walked about .1 miles to Morton Hill Road. We continued straight ahead to follow the road back to the car. The walk along the road was pleasant and seemed shorter than I remembered. Sheila was well-behaved on her leash and we made good time covering the last 2.3 miles in 40 minutes. We were back at the car by 12:40 PM covering 8.3 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes. We stopped for less than 5 minutes and had a vertical gain of 1585 feet.

On Thursday, September 18th, I wanted to get in a hike not too far from home but with some elevation gain. I decided that hiking Dry Brook ridge from Hill Road fit the bill so Sheila and I left Livingston Manor at 8:45 AM and headed up the Beaverkill Road. I drove until we reached the Barkaboom Road where I turned left and drove to the intersection with BWS 9. I turned right on BWS 9 and continued to follow it and then BWS 10 to Southside Road just outside Margaretville. I continued on Southside to Huckleberry Brook Road where I turned right. Shortly after the turn I turned left on Hill Road and 1.3 miles to the parking pulloff on the right. The day was cool so I kept on my light windbreaker and even wore a hat. We crossed the road and began our hike just before 9:45 AM. The first part of the hike is a nice wide trail that ascends through a red pine plantation. The ascent continues for about 1.9 miles when the trail levels off after gaining 1130 feet. After passing through the pines we entered a predominantly hardwood forest before passing again through some pines. After that the trail opened up a little and we ran into some briars growing in the sunnier spots. There had been several blowdowns along the way which were not there the last time I hiked then trail. In addition, the brush was beginning to close in on the trail and it looked like there had been very little maintenance done recently. This is a shame because the trail is a popular one. There was nothing that would prevent hiking the trail but having to walk under, over or around the blowdown was annoying. After .9 miles, the trail leveled off and we walked to the junction with the blue Dry Brook Ridge Trail at 2.3 miles. As we turned right on this trail, I noticed the sign that said the Hill Road parking was 1.7 miles away. I had to laugh! I expect distances to vary some but .6 miles is a pretty big gap.

The trail along the ridge follows the edge until about 2.7 miles where it veers away and heads a little to the east and northeast. Along the way there were a few more blowdowns across the trail. I also saw several areas of bear scat along the trail. It occurred to me that it was probably only one bear that had eaten a few too many berries! We were soon climbing the last of three short ascents to the area of the lookout. We were at the viewpoint around 11:10 AM. By this time I had removed my hat and had thought about taking off my windbreaker. I was glad I kept it on as there was a breeze blowing on the exposed rock face. Despite the had earlier in the morning, the views were excellent as most of the low clouds had cleared out. I took some pictures of the viewpoint and of Sheila. I took some more shots oft he scenery including some zoomed pictures that showed the low water level in the Pepacton Reservoir. After some minutes at the lookout, we turned around and headed back the way we had come. The trip back to the trail junction went quickly and we were soon headed back down the trail to the parking area. The trip down always seems to go quickly as it is all downhill or level. We arrived back at the car at 12:35 PM. We had hiked 6.6 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes with an elevation gain of 1590 feet. The fact that the trip down was about the same time as the trip up proved that we had set a rapid pace on the ascent.

On Monday, September 15th I wanted to get out hiking somewhere after a week filled with tennis practice and matches! I decided to head for Frick and Hodge Ponds as the area is close and lightly hunted. The early bear season had started September 6th and, from what I had heard, there had been a lot of activity. I got Sheila and my gear in the car and drove out the DeBruce Road to Fish Hatchery Road. I made a left and we were at the Frick Pond parking area and ready to hike by 9:05 AM. We walked out the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond as I intended to hike the big loop in a clockwise direction. As we crossed the bridge across the outlet to Frick Pond I looked at the scene. The leaves on the trees were not a bright green but had not changed to fall colors. The water was very low in the pond and hardly any was overflowing into the outlet stream. I decided I had many more interesting pictures in my "library" and that this hike would probably be done for the exercise! When we reached the next trail junction, we kept to the left and followed the Quick Lake Trail toward Iron Wheel Junction. The grass was not as wet as I had expected and there were only a few muddy spots on the otherwise dry trail. I began to notice horseshoe marks along the trail and other "evidence" that horses had been on the trail. I had never seen this before and was a little surprised. We reached Iron Wheel Junction at 9:35 after hiking 1.5 miles. Here we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail with our next destination being Junkyard Junction near Hodge Pond. Just after the snowmobile trail turned to the left, we encountered a large tree across the trail and after that another smaller one. The second could probably be cleared with a small saw or axe but the first seemed like it called for a chainsaw. The walk to Junkyard Junction seemed to go quickly and we were that at 10:10 AM about 3.1 miles into the hike. We turned right to pick up the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond.

The Flynn Trail had some muddy spots but they were easily avoided. There were also several more trees across the trail which made me wonder if there had been a significant wind storm in the area. I remembered that I had not been in the area for the whole summer and a few things had changed. When we arrived at the next trail junction near the shore of Hodge Pond I decided to turn left and walk the jeep trail around the pond and down to the outlet. Other plans had been forming in my mind but I decided that this route which is just under 7 miles was a good compromise. We walked down to the outlet end of the pond arriving at 10:35 AM with 4.2 miles behind us. We spent only a few minutes at the pond and then headed up the Flynn Trail toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. At the junction we continued straight ahead aiming for the parking area at the bottom of the Flynn Trail. We encountered several more blowdowns including one with a well-worn path around it to the right. It seemed this tree must have been there all summer! As we neared the end of the trail Sheila shot ahead of me and I could see a black streak shoot across the trail heading toward Frick Pond. I called Sheila back as I did not want her playing with bears! She came back reluctantly after a couple of calls. I put her on her leash and we walked quickly down the trail as I turned several times to see if the one bear had a friend. We arrived back in the parking area by 11:20 AM having covered 6.7 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes with an elevation gain Of 950 feet.

On Friday, September 12th, I was ready to hike after a week of tennis and other commitments. I decided it was time to hike a 3500 peak which I had not done in some time. I thought about Slide and Cornell from Route 47 or Slide from Denning but I had limited time and settled on Giant Ledge and Panther where I had not been for some time. The forecast seemed to indicated that we would have some good views and I knew there wouldn't be too many hikers on the trails. We arrived at the parking area on Route 47 at about 9:40 AM and, to my surprise, found several cars already parked. It was a cool morning with an air temperature of about 52 degrees so I kept my light windbreaker on over a long-sleeved shirt. Sheila and I got started pretty quickly by crossing the road and heading out the trail. A few places were damp from the recent rain but the brook was almost dry. I let Sheila off the leash almost immediately after crossing the road and she was behaving by staying on the trail. The New York DEC had decided on an early bear season to control population and I could hear some shots from the hunting club further on down the road from Panther. We kept up a good pace but I forgot how annoying the many rocks that cover the trail to the turnoff can be! Despite The fact that we had been hiking double digit miles, I wondered how I would feel climbing again. I had no problem getting up the scrambles to the turnoff and, in fact, enjoyed the elevation gain all day. We finished the sixth short climb and arrived at the turn to Giant Ledge and Panther at about 10:05 AM. I didn't feel like we were hurrying but it took only 25 minutes to walk the .75 miles from the road.

The trail after the turn was about as dry as the trail up to the turn with only a few damp and muddy spots. When the climb began we continued to push the pace. Just before the last climb to Giant Ledge a large tree had fallen blocking the usual path but other hikers had found a way around it. We climbed up the last rocky ascent and walked to the first lookout arriving at about 10:30 AM after the 1.5 mile climb. There were two people at the viewpoint so I decided to walk to the next as the views are the same from most of the lookouts along the way. We stopped at the next spot and had some great views of the valley below and the mountains beyond. I had thought we would hike right passed these lookouts without taking pictures but I couldn't resist stopping to take some shots. We continued on the main trail, descended to the col and began the climb up Panther. Parts of the Panther trail get a little steep at times but there always seems to be a switchback or flatter area. There were a couple of muddy places but most of the trail was dry. On our way up Sheila began to whine and I could hear the voices of the young hikers who had been at the lookout behind us. Sheila seemed to encouraging me to stay ahead of them and I took the challenge. On our way up one of the steeper climbs Sheila again began to whine and I looked up to see a woman with three dogs on leashes. The dog started to bay and pull at their leashes but seemed friendly enough. We passed quickly with just a brief "Hello". Sheila and I continue up the trail with Sheila checking out some of the paths that lead to limited viewpoints along the way. We were soon up the steeper climbs with only a final, short ascent of Panther to go. We arrived at the summit of Panther at 11:30 AM after hiking 3.2 miles. There was a string a prayer flags at the summit which did not add anything to my enjoyment. I took a few pictures before walking back to the viewpoint just below the summit. As we ascended the rock which acts as the lookout, the hikers behind us arrived and I directed them to the summit. I took a few shots of the scenery and then Sheila and I got back on the trail.

Sheila was being very good and obeying all my commands even around other people. We headed down the trail stopping several times to explore some of the side paths. Several of these lead to fire rings and open areas without views. One or two paths lead to lookouts which have limited views during the late fall and winter when there are no leaves of the trees. As we started down the last descent to the col, we met the same woman with the three dogs. She was parked at Fox Hollow and had hiked from there over Panther and down to Giant Ledge. She works at a shelter that helps to rescue dogs and was taking some out for a walk. Before we parted I mentioned that Sheila's mother was rescued just before Sheila was born. We continued in opposite directions as Sheila and I descended to the col and then climbed back up to Giant Ledge. I hadn't planned to stop at the first lookout but decide to do so. The views were largely the same as on the way out except for some interesting clouds in the direction of Panther. I took a few shots and then we started the descent from Giant Ledge. On the first descent another hiker was coming up and I told him he had the right-of-way. He responded that he needed to stop to catch his breath so Sheila and I passed him on the way down. We talked for a moment and he complimented Sheila on her good behavior. He was obviously having trouble getting up to Giant ledge and I wondered how he faired getting up and back down. We continued down the trail and were soon at the turn. We headed right to get back to the car on Route 47. I had hoped to pick up the pace on the way back but the trail was so dry that the loose dirt and gravel made this impossible. We were back at the car at 1:30 PM having covered 6.3 miles in 3 hours and 50 minutes including numerous stops. The elevation gain was 2100 feet.

On Sunday, September 7th, I asked Cindy if she wanted to go hiking after church. She agreed and we decided to go to the Trout Pond area as we had not been there in some time. We got Sheila and our gear in the car and left the house just after 1:15 PM and headed to Roscoe. I took Route 206 out the Rockland Flats and turned left on Morton Hill Road just passed the Roscoe Community Nursing Home. I drove up Morton Hill Road to the intersection with Russell Brook Road and parked on the shoulder of the road on the left side. We were walking down Russell Brook Road by 1:40 PM. As we walked down the road we noted that there was very little evidence of the rain from the night before as the road seemed very dry. One car was parked at the camping area on the left but no tents were set up and the occupants were absent as we walked passed the lookout to the upper falls we could see there was very little water in the stream. We had decided to walk down Russell Brook Road to see if we could get to the lower trailhead and then pick up the trail to Mud Pond from there. The road has been devastated by several floods and is closed just passed the main parking area where the state has placed some large boulders. Just passed this roadblock there is the first of several deep cuts across the road caused by the erosion of water running off the ridge on the left. We walked through the first and then another larger cut. Sheila was happily running down to the stream to get wet and then coming back up to the trail to shower us. At about 1.5 miles we came to a spot where the road had been completely eroded by the stream. We tried walking along the bank but it was too steep and slippery. We backtracked a little and climbed the bank, walked around the eroded area and then slid back down to the road. We continued our hike along the road which is very overgrown with weeds and brush and has a few major blowdowns. At 2.0 miles we were able to cross the stream on a few stepping stones since the water level was so low. In another .2 miles we crossed under the power lines and turned right on the trail.

The trail begins with a short but somewhat steep ascent but then levels off some as it passes by a beaver pond. The trail needs maintenance as the weeds are high and the trail markers very scarce in areas. We stopped at the beaver pond where I took some pictures and noticed the low water level. The trail remained level as it followed the base of a ridge until about 2.9 miles where it began to climb. The ascent went on for .5 miles and gained 375 feet. The trail was parallel to the stream that flows out of Mud Pond. As we neared the top of the hill we could see Mud Pond through the trees and we headed through the woods to the clearing near the outlet. This proved to be a nice place to stop for a drink and a snack. Cindy sat on a rock while I threw a stick into the water for Sheila to retrieve. I took some pictures and then it was time to get back on the trail. At 4.0 miles the hiking trail turned right while a snowmobile trail went off to the left. I was ready to hike around Trout Pond and back but Cindy wanted to hike directly back to the car. We continued on the trail which was now following and old woods road passing the left turn to the trail around Trout Pond at 4.4 miles. We walked up the short hill and then started down the other side. By the time we were at the trail register box we had "lost" the 375 feet of elevation we had gained walking up the hill to Mud Pond. Just passed the register box we stopped and I took some pictures of the Japanese knotweed which gets larger every year. We decided not to go to the falls as there was so little water in the stream. It was a short walk out to the parking area and we were soon hiking back up Russell Brook Road to the car. I did decide to take some pictures of the upper falls from the lookout. The path down is very steep and I took quite a fall on the loose dirt and pine needles. I picked myself up, took some pictures and returned to the road. We were back at the car by 4:35 PM having hiked 6 miles in just under 3 hours with several stops along the way. The elevation gain was 1130 feet.

On Tuesday, September 2nd, I got an early morning email from Lisa Lyons, the owner of Morgan Outdoors in Livingston Manor. Lisa wanted to take a short hike somewhere close to home. I called her and we decided to go to the Red Hill fire tower since it is close and has "destination" at the end. Lisa agreed to meet me at my house at 10:00 AM. When she arrived, we loaded our gear into my car, out Sheila in the back seat and headed out. I drove out the DeBruce Road to the Frost Valley Road. I turned right and drove to the Claryville Road where I turned left. In 2 miles I turned right on Red Hill Road and drove 3.8 miles to Dinch-Coons Road. I turned left on Dinch-Coons Road and drove up the hill on this rough dirt road and then down the other side. As the road enters the forest again just passed Rudolph Road, it gets very rough. I drove a total of 1.2 miles to the trailhead on the left. I parked in the lot an we got ready to hike by applying some insect repellant and adjusting our poles. We were on the trail by 11:00 AM. The trail seemed dry and the first stream crossing had almost no water. For the next .7 miles the trail winds its way up the hill on about a 10% grade. We kept up a pretty fast pace. We both commented that the trail surface requires some attention as there are many roots and rocks waiting to trip the unwary hiker. The final half mile of became much steeper with an average grade of 17% but some areas over 20%. It was a hot and humid day and we were both glad when we reached the summit at 11:40 AM.

I dropped my pack and tethered Sheila to a picnic table. Unlike some dogs, Sheila has no problem climbing up and down the open steps and I didn't want her following me to the top. Lisa and I started up the tower with Sheila voicing her disapproval. Since there was no volunteer to man the tower, the cab was closed but the views from the last landing were good. There was a slight breeze which we both appreciated after the hot, humid climb. There were gray clouds in the sky and some haze over the landscape but I took pictures anyway. The conditions were different than I had seen before from the tower and I though the pictures might be interesting. We worked our way back Dow to the ground where I released Sheila and took a few shots of the cabin and the tower. We started back down at 11:55 AM keeping a fast but careful pace down the steepest part of the hill. The dirt was very dry and I had a few slips as I descended. Lisa and I had switched poles for the hike down. I took the MSR Swift 3 poles while Lisa used the Leki Khumbu poles with external locks. We both though that the Leki poles felt sturdier and more stable while the MSR poles were lighter. The locking mechanism on the MSR Swift poles allows some play in the pole sections so they "rattle" which does not engender confidence! We were back at the car by 12:35 PM making the ascent and descent time about the same. We had hiked 2.6 miles in 1 hour and 38 minutes with over 20 minutes of stopped time. The vertical gain was only 840 feet. This was a much shorter hike than I have been doing but it was a nice change since I have been hiking on almost flat trails.

On Monday, September 1st I had just finished hiking from Ryan Road to Old Stage Road in the northern section of Thacher Park near Albany. I wanted to hike the last section of the East Berne to the northern end of Thacher Park. The section I had left was from the intersection of Stage Road and Route 443 to Beaver Dam Road on the southern edge of Thacher Park. I left the Ryan Road parking area just after 11:15 AM and drove back out Ryan Road to Route 157. I turned right and drove back out to Route 443 where I turned left. I drove 1.9 miles to Stage Road where I turned left and parked on the right hand shoulder well off the pavement. I decided to leave my poles in the car as I would be walking on roads most of the time and would have Sheila on her leash. We left the car at 11:30 AM and walked down Stage Road to Route 443. As we approached the road, I heard voices and assumed someone was walking on the road but soon saw a half dozen cyclist cruise by on a beautiful sunny day. We turned right and walked slightly downhill for .2 miles where we turned right to walk up a driveway toward the trail. The trail here was a grassy lane which was mowed and led us between two fields, passed a house on the left and up to Stage Road at .3 miles. We continued up the road passed a tree with a blaze. I was looking for more blazes that would direct a turn to the left. I wasn't sure where the next blazes might be but soon saw a rather tall runner coming down the hill. I immediately recognized him as the runner I had seen the last time I had hiked in the East Berne area. He recognized me and asked me if I was hiking the Long Path. I said I was and he assured me the blazes were just up the hill. The blazes indicating a turn were at about .6 miles but I could not tell whether they indicated an immediate turn or a one a little farther up the hill. I walked a few hundred feet up the hill and found nothing so I headed back and dropped down the bank on the left side of the road. I began following the hedgerow on the edge of the field and almost immediately picked up an aqua blaze. This was reassuring. I looked to my left and saw a nice view into the Schoharie Valley so I stopped and took few pictures. The day was becoming hotter and more humid and there was still a low haze hanging over much of the landscape.

We continued to hike along the edge of the field and came to a break in the hedgerow. It seemed the Long Path continued straight ahead but that meant walking through a field of corn. I decided to walk on the other side of the hedgerow which was a mowed field. I walked to another hedgerow across the field and through an opening to another field. I thought probably the Long Path went to the end of the field and then turned into the trees. I could see some trail markers at the far end of the field so I crossed the field heading toward the markers. I stepped into the woods and found an aqua blaze on a tree. I followed the blazes through a wet and weedy area to a trail that led out to Sawmill Road at 1.3 miles. I put Sheila on her leash as I knew the rest of the hike was on the roads. We turned left on Sawmill Road and walked a short distance to Long Road where we turned right at 1.6 miles. The walk along Long Road was a little over a mile to the intersection with Elm Drive at 2.65 miles. We stopped at the intersection so that I could take a few more pictures of the blue sky with puffy white clouds. We turned left on Elm Drive and hiked the .75 miles to Bush Drive. These roads had a few hills along the way but they were so gentle it was if they weren't there. Just before the intersection with Beaver Dam Road, we stopped next to a field with some sheep. I took a few pictures before we continued out to Beaver Dam Road where we turned right. It was only .3 miles to the parking area on the left side of the road. We reached the parking area at 12:50 PM about 3.8 miles into the hike. We turned around and headed back the way we came. The day was even hotter now and every time we came to an area where trees blocked the sun it was more noticeable. I gave Sheila a drink and found a spot where she could get down to a small stream. A quick romp through the water seemed to have a very positive effect on her as she game bounding back up the bank! By 1:35 PM we had walked 6.4 miles are were back at the point where the trail turned off Sawmill Road into the woods. I decided to continue on the road and we walked a half mile out to Stage Road. We turned right and stayed on Stage Road all the way back to the car. We arrived back at the car at 1:55 PM after hiking 7.3 miles in 2 hours and 25 minutes with an elevation gain of 640 feet. This made a total of 12.8 miles in 4.5 hours for the day.

On Monday, September 1st I wanted to go back to Albany County to hike part of the Long Path section from East Berne to the northern end of Thacher Park. My plan was to park on Ryan Road near the northern boundary of the park and hike to the northern boundary and the end of the Long Path "end to end" at Old Stage Road. This would give me only a section from Stage Road to Beaver Dam Road to complete this "last" section. Of course, I still have many miles to go from Fort Lee to the Catskills! I had taken two days off from hiking over the weekend for a family gathering on Saturday and because I was preaching at two churches on Sunday . This also gave my blood blister on my right heel some time to heal. The weather forecast had been switching back and forth between possible showers and clearing. By Monday morning the showers had been pushed back to late afternoon although there was a 20% chance or rain all morning. I decided to get an early start but delayed a little since there was also a call for heavy fog. We left Livingston Manor just after 8:30 AM and headed up the Beaverkill Road to the Barkaboom Road. At the end of the road I turned right on BWS 10 and took it to Route 28 in Margaretville. We turned right and then left to follow Route 30 through Margaretville, Roxbury, Grand Gorge and North Blenheim. In Middleburgh I turned right to head east on Route 145 to Cotton Hill Road just outside of town. I turned left on Cotton Hill Road and drove 8.3 miles to Route 443, the Helderburg Trail. I turned left on Cotton Hill Road and drove 8.3 miles to Route 443, the Helderburg Trail. I made a right and drove about 6 miles to East Berne and made a left onto Route 157A. At 2.5 miles I continued straight ahead on Route 157 where Beaver Dam Road turns right. I drove about 1.25 miles to Ketcham Road on the left. After turning left on Ketcham I made a quick right on Ryan Road and followed the paved and then gravel road .8 miles to a small parking area at the end. We were ready to hike at 9:05 AM under remarkably sunny skies.

There were two yellow trails out of the parking lot but I knew that we needed to head east toward the junction with the Long Path. The trail began by passing through a hardwood forest but then opened up until it was a grassy lane bordered by bushes. It seemed that there had been some rain from the storms the day before and also a heavy dew. I was concerned that my Keen boots wood eventually succumb to the drenching but my feet stayed dry. We headed east and descended a little for the first .25 miles and then made a 90 degree left turn before ascending slightly to the Long Path at .35 miles. The trail continued north along the escarpment for the next .6 miles ascending slightly. At about 1 mile we made a short but steep descent to a road used by hang gliding enthusiasts. Eventually we turned right off the road and crossed one of the many stone walls that crisscross the area. The roads were muddy and very slick in spots. When we had hiked to Ryan Road the last time, we had seen fissures in the woods and across the trail. There were even more of these on the trail and in the woods on this hike and they were both wider and deeper. We continued along the escarpment ascending slightly until the trail made a sharp left at 2.2 miles. A trail to the right led to the High Point lookout. We walked over to the viewpoint and it was truly spectacular despite the fog and haze. I dropped my pack and started to walk along the edge taking pictures as I went. Sheila and I had to be careful as the path was right on the edge of the rock which was slippery. There were also cracks in the rock that made negotiating this area tricky. I could see Albany through the haze and various mountain peaks to the north and east which I assumed were Mount Greylock and Vermont's Green Mountains. I picked up my pack and we walked back to the main trail to continue our hike.

After the viewpoint, we walked through mostly hardwoods on a mix of trail and woods road. Along the way we met a mountain biker coming toward us and Sheila was well-behaved for which I was thankful. Shortly after that we encountered two young women and their dog and again Sheila was well-mannered. We continued to walk west all the while descending slightly. The trail started to follow the edge of some fields and at one point we had to cross one. The crossing was easy as the trail was well used. Eventually we turned left on a woods road and walked west toward Old Stage Road. Near the parking area we met another dog and his owner. At 3.4 miles we were at the end of the official Long Path and ready to head back. I had looked at the possibility of returning on the roads but that didn't seem possible. As we turned around I saw a sign indicating that the yellow perimeter trail would take us back to the Ryan Road parking area in just over 2 miles. I knew that I wanted to get in another 7 mile hike and that rain could be on the way so I decided to try this trail. We turned right and followed the trail along the edge of a field and then into the woods. The trail began an ascent to the highest point of the day and then, at 4.1 miles, we crossed Carrick Road at a parking area. The trail now began to follow a gravel woods road. Eventually the gravel ended and we were walking on bedrock. The bedrock was almost perfectly level and smooth. I had done this before in Minnewaska and other place but this bedrock went on for about half a mile! According to the GPS this was still considered Carrick Road. At some point we came to the hang glider road on the left. At this intersection we met a young woman who was waiting for her boyfriend who was "wheeling" some of the trails for races later in the month. She began to walk with us and we talked as we walked. She lives in Altmont but is very familiar with the Catskills and other hiking locations to the south. She is an active member of her local running club and helps organize races. We were walking along a grassy woods road and at 5.2 miles came to a pond. She turned around at this point and I took some pictures of the pond before moving on. The trail became more of a woods road and at 11:15 AM we were back at the car. We had hiked 5.5 miles in 2 hours and 5 minutes with an elevation gain of 480 feet. I was feeing great although the temperature was climbing and the humidity was high. I knew we could finish the next section so we headed for the intersection of Stage Road and Route 443.

On Friday, August 29th I wanted to go back to Albany County to hike part of the Long Path section from East Berne to the northern end of Thacher Park. Cindy wanted to go with me so I decided to hike the section in the middle which traversed some of the more interesting sections of John Boyd Thacher State Park including the Indian Ladder Trail. My plan was to park on Beaver Dam Road at the southern boundary of the park and hike to the northern end of the Indian Ladder Trail and then return to the car. This would give me two easily accessible places to park to complete the last two sections of the "official" Long Path. By hiking this section it would cut out enough mileage that I felt I could complete the final two sections in one day. I had taken three days off from hiking as I had developed a rather large blood blister on my right heel but this seemed to be getting better and I was looking forward to the hike. We left Livingston Manor just after 8:30 AM and headed up Route 17 to Roscoe where we picked up Route 206 to Route 30 at the Pepacton Reservoir. I turned right and followed Route 30 to the Dunraven Bridge where I continued straight ahead on BWS 10. I continued on BWS 10 to where it met Route 30 again just outside Margaretville. I turned right and then left to follow Route 30 through Margaretville, Roxbury, Grand Gorge and North Blenheim. In Middleburgh I turned right to head east on Route 145 to Cotton Hill Road just outside of town. I turned left on Cotton Hill Road and drove 8.3 miles to Route 443, the Helderburg Trail. I turned left on Cotton Hill Road and drove 8.3 miles to Route 443, the Helderburg Trail. I made a right and drove about 6 miles to East Berne and made a left onto Route 157A. At 2.5 miles I turned right on Beaver Dam Road and drove about 1.25 miles to where the Long Path enters Thacher Park I parked on the left where there was room for several cars just passed a gated woods road. We took off our jackets as the day was sunny and getting warmer and got the rest of our gear ready. I decided not to bring poles as I intended to keep Sheila on her leash most of the day in the park. We were ready to hike by 10:45 AM and headed into the woods to the trail. Thacher Park has its own trail system and the Long Path is co-aligned with these trails. I had a park trail map and a trail description form the NYNJTC site so I was confident we would find our way. I also knew that the blazes in the park were in good shape and that they were probably all we would need. A blue trail parallels Beaver Dam Road and the aqua blazes indicate a left turn so we followed. I remembered walking on this open trail through the pines the last time I was at the park. Within a few hundred feet the trail turned right onto a woods road and continued to follow a series of woods roads downhill until about .9 miles where we made a sharp right turn.

As we walked along the trail it became obvious to me that I had reversed the entire orientation of the park in my mind. I remember thinking the last time I was in the park that the spot we had parked was the farthest NORTHERN point. I don't know how I did this but the feeling stuck with me. After the right turn, we were headed east and walking over a small hill. There were several streams along the way but they were almost dry. At 1.5 miles we made an almost 180 degree turn and started to walk north. We passed behind the maintenance sheds and near the Knowles Flats picnic area before crossing Thacher Park Road (Route 157) at 1.7 miles. After crossing the road we were at the overlook with incredible views to the north and east. What was even more incredible is that there were only two cars at the far end of the parking area. The day was mostly clear with blue skies and a few white clouds. There was some haze in the distance but Albany was clearly visible. Several vultures floated on the air current but Sheila was more interested in the pigeons walking on the grass on the other side of the fence! We stopped to take many pictures from different angles and different places as we walked along the lookout from one end to the other. It was clear to both of us that the pictures would be nice but that being there was priceless. We moved on and started to follow the well-packed trail along the edge of the escarpment. Sheila was doing well as I asked her to move aside as the few people we met walked passed. There were limited views through the bushes but we had already seen the best. We soon broke out into an open field near the Minelot parking area and continued along the escarpment to the southern end of the Indian Ladder Trail at about 2.3 miles. The walking had been so easy and the distance so short that we both decided we would continue to walk north to the next parking area near Ryan Road. We decided to leave the Indian Ladder Trail for the return trip.

As we continued to walk along the edge of the escarpment, we continued to see the aqua blazes even though the park map indicated the Long Path follow the Indian Ladder Trail below. The Indian Ladder Trail closes in the early fall so it is the optional route. On our way north we crossed two streams. One had barely a trickle of water and the other was dry. This was disappointing as we knew this meant there would be no waterfalls on the trail below. We passed the northern end of the Indian Ladder Trail at 2.75 miles and continued to follow the blazes to a parking area and across the main entrance road and booth. When we got to the other side there was an open area and it was hard to spot where the blazes led. Cindy went right and I headed left and I soon found the blazes as the trail entered the trees. We were no on more of a trail than woods road but it was still easy to follow with only a few muddy spots. Along the way we could glimpse several more parking lots and picnic areas on the right and were impressed with how much space the park had to offer. At 3.1 miles we came out of the trees, walked along Hailes Cave Road and then re-entered the woods. At 3.4 miles we crossed an access road by a large pavilion and decided to walk out and across Hailes Cave Road. There was a nice picnic area here and some goods views but nothing we hadn't seen before. I took a few shots and then we retraced our steps to the Long path to continue our hike. I had been allowing Sheila off her leash on the trail since no one else was hiking. We passed through a field and as we entered the woods the signs warned of fissures in the woods and on the trail ahead. I decided to put Sheila on her leash to be safe. The area around the park lies primarily on a limestone bedrock which is easily eroded by acid in the water. We did see several fissures along and across the trail but only one was very large.

At 4 miles we made a right onto a woods road and passed from the state park into land owned by the Open Spaces Institute. To the left was a large open area with a woods road but we turned right. and began our steepest ascent of the day as the trail switchbacked up to the ridge. At 4.2 miles we made a sharp left following the blazes and at 4.35 miles came to the yellow blazed trail that led out to Ryan Road. I felt great! My foot wasn't bothering me and I was willing to continue but Cindy wanted to turn around and that was OK with me. We had cut over 4 miles off of the remaining 11 miles which meant I could finish the remainder in two hikes in one day. We turned around at 12:45 PM and retraced our route back to the northern end of the Indian Ladder Trail where we turned left at 5.7 miles to take the lower trail. Sheila had no problem walking down the stairs and the trail was every bit as impressive as I remembered. We stopped to take pictures many times. The limestone is rich in Devonian fossils but I resisted the urge to disturb the limestone to find some. There were now more people on the trail but most were polite and we passed each other without problems. We stopped to inspect some of the "caves" and underground streams. When we got to Minelot Falls there was only a few drops of water coming over the escarpment. A little farther along there was an overhang where we had stopped with Sheba and I had taken a picture of Sheba and Cindy. We stopped there to take pictures of Sheila and Cindy and Cindy took some of me with Sheila. The moment was bittersweet for me as I still miss Sheba and am sure I always will. The rest of the hike went quickly as we did not stop much even as we passed through the overlook. We were back at the car by 2:45 PM having hiked 8.7 miles in just under 4 hours. We had 1610 vertical feet but there were no significant climbs. We had stopped for about 25 minutes for pictures although it seemed like more time than that.

On Monday, August 25th I wanted to go back to Albany County to finish the Long Path section from Switz Kill to East Berne. I planned to park where I had ended the last hike on Willsie Road. The weather forecast was good with no rain in sight and temperatures in the high 60's to low 70's. We left Livingston Manor just after 8:30 AM and headed up the Beaverkill Road to the Barkaboom Road. At the end of the road I turned right on BWS 10 and took it to Route 28 in Margaretville. We turned right and then left to follow Route 30 through Margaretville, Roxbury, Grand Gorge and North Blenheim. In Middleburgh I turned right to head east on Route 145 to Cotton Hill Road just outside of town. I turned left on Cotton Hill Road and drove 8.3 miles to Route 443, the Helderburg Trail. I made a right and drove 1.3 miles to Switz Kill Road (CR-1) where I turned right and followed it 4.6 miles to Willise Road where I turned left. I knew that I had to drive about 2.5 miles to where the trail crossed the road and that I had been there only the day before. Once I was in the vicinity I looked for the trail on both sides and could not find it! I drove back and forth at least three times before I got out my GPS and pinpointed the location. There was room to park two or three cars on the grassy shoulder and I thought that a prominent blaze or sign might be helpful! We were ready to hike at 9:30 AM. We started hiking northeast through some hardwoods and then entered a pine forest that seemed to have been planted. To our left I could see a beaver meadow but there were no paths down to it so we kept moving. The trail description mentioned stepping stones and pontoon bridges but there were none and none were needed.

At .6 miles the trail turned left and crossed a bridge between the wetlands on our left and a beaver pond on the right. We stopped and I took some pictures before continuing on the trail. At .9 miles we reached Cole Hill Road where there was room to park several cars by a signboard. The day was already hotter than I had expected so I changed into a short-sleeved shirt before turning right on Cole Hill Road. For the next .3 miles we walked uphill and southeast until the road leveled off. Ahead and to the right I could see a spectacular view of Mt. Pisgah, Richmond, Ashland Pinnacle and Huntersfield. We stopped and I took some shots including some I though I could put together into a panorama. Once I had finished my photography we walked the rest of the way to Woodstock Road and turned left at 1.8 miles. The initial part of the road was uphill but then there was a short downhill and some level ground. On the right was a large private campgrounds with some "campers" that looked more like permanent residences. A little further down the road was Woodstock Lake which had a prominent "Private" sign at the entrance. I stopped to take a few pictures and the we continued to walk to where Woodstock Road turned right. We continued straight ahead on a paved road that led to the Albany Region Doppler RADAR tower for the National Weather Service. I took a few pictures and then we started to descend from Stafford Hill. The road was eroded in most places with exposed bedrock. near the bottom was a high rock ledge on the left. We began to enter a wet area which could have been a problem if there had been more rain. We turned due north at 3.8 miles and continued to descend. At 4.3 miles we turned right onto a gravel road which led us out into a field. It was easy to follow the road across the field to Joslyn Schoolhouse Road.

We turned left on the road and then turned off it to the right. It seemed that the trail might follow an ATV track along the edge of a field but the blazes led us into the woods and through a pine plantation. This began the most annoying part of the hike as we had to side hill on some very dry and slippery ground. Near the bottom of the hill the ground became wet and muddy but we were easily able to pass. We began to follow a stone wall and crossed over it several times heading to the north. At 4.9 miles we crossed Fox Creek on a somehow shabby bridge. At this point we were at the edge of a field and it wasn't clear where the trail was situated. We walked on the left side of the field and up the hill towards Route 443 but I could find no blazes. I found a neatly kept trail but it led to someone's backyard so we went back to the field and walked parallel to the road until I could find a place to break through. Standing on the edge of the road I could see blazes to my right indicating that we should have walked along the edge of the field to an open spot. I looked across the road and saw blazes heading up into the field to begin the last section to the northern reaches of Thacher. After getting a drink and a snack, we turned left to walk the roads back to the car. The walk along Route 443 was about 2.5 miles and was slightly downhill. I knew this wasn't good as we would have to go uphill to the car. We passed several farms and walked through part of East Berne. There were some pleasant views and the traffic was surprisingly light. A runner came up behind us and startled us both. We said "Hello" and "goodbye" in one breath. Being out on the open road exposed us to the sun but so allowed us to experience a nice breeze. At 7.6 miles we turned left on Cole Hill Road and I could see a long stretch of flat and straight road. In the distance I could see that the road climbed steeply. The walk to the base of the hill was only .7 miles but it seemed longer. We stopped and I gave Sheila a long drink before starting up the hill. Actually the distance was only .5 miles and the vertical gain was a little over 300 feet. At the top of the hill we turned right onto Willsie Road to walk the .7 miles back to the car. On the way we passed one house with columns out front, a beautiful stone facade and grounds which were extensive and well-kept. We were back at the car at 1:10 PM having hiked 9.6 miles in 3 hours and 35 minutes with an elevation gain of 1180 feet.

On Sunday, August 24th we had just finished a 9.2 mile hike from Fawn Lake to Gifford Hollow. It was only 1:30 PM when we finished and I decided to drive to the spot where we turned around at Gifford Hollow Road and Switz Kill Road to hike the first part of the next section of the Long Path. The drive was actually shorter than I thought and we were parked and ready to hike at 1:50 PM. We started by walking south on Switz Kill Road for about .7 miles. I was glad that the walk was uphill as I preferred the downhill at the end. We had started to walk so quickly that I had not let my GPS unit "find" us. The results was that the unit showed us wandering all over the place rather than following the road. I stopped and allowed it to get our position knowing that I would have to correct the track at home. We turned left onto Willsie Road which was flat momentarily and then began to climb gently up a hill. As we climbed up the hill, a farmer was cutting and conditioning his field before baling the hay. I liked watching the neat rows of cut grass fall into place as I grew up on a farm and have fond memories of haying. As we reached the top of the hill at 1.8 miles there was a nice view across Partridge Run to the Catskills. I stopped to take a few pictures and then we continued to walk along the road. At 2.1 miles the blazes on a telephone pole indicated we should turn left. There seemed to be a woods road on the left but I could see no aqua blazes on it. Just passed this the trail turned into the woods. The trail description mentioned a small parking area on the other side of the road but I saw none. We walked uphill and the down through some stands of pine and spruce with hardwoods between. There were several stone walls to cross. I wondered why we were walking almost due north when our objective was more to the east or northeast. As we walked, we began to hear gunfire and it seemed we were making turns that took us closer! Eventually we turned in the opposite direction and the sharp reports ended.

At 3.1 miles we crossed Irish Hill Road where there was a shale pit and room to park a few cars. The trail ascended briefly and I noticed that the aqua blazes shared the trees with state cross country ski trail markers. As we walked along the trail there were numerous woods roads, trails and ski trails that crosses the path. In general, the qua blazes were good enough to guide our course. We began to walk along an escarpment at about 3.3 miles. The trail description mentioned views but as is often the case the description had not been updated since there were no views! We crossed several more stones wall as we reached the highest point on the hike at 3.75 miles. Here it looked as if the trail continued straight ahead but the blazes led us to the right so we followed. We started to descend through some pines until we intersected Woolsie Road at 4.2 miles. Just before getting to the road we met a couple hiking with their dog. I put Sheila on her leash but the couple saw no reason to extend us the same courtesy! In fact, they ask that we stand still so that their dog would not follow us. Once we were on the road, I decided to head back to the car as we had cut over 4 miles off the next section. The hike on Woolsie road back to where we had entered the forest was .4 miles! We had walked 2.1 miles in the wrong direction through some interesting but not outstanding forest to avoid .4 miles of road! I have mixed feelings about this kind of detour. The walk back was mostly downhill and seemed to go quickly even though we were repeating what we had just done. We were back at the car at 4:15 PM having hiked 6.8 miles in 2 hours and20 minutes with an elevation gain of only 830 feet. I was a little tired and Sheila quickly made herself at home in the back seat. We had hiked 16 miles for the day in two different hikes!

On Sunday, August 24th I wanted to go back to Albany County to finish the Long Path section from the Albany County Line to the Switz Kill. I planned to park where I had ended the last hike at Fawn Lake which is rather remote. The weather forecast was good with no rain in sight and temperatures only in the 70's. I left Livingston Manor just before 8:00 AM. I got Sheila in the car and we headed up the Beaverkill Road to the Barkaboom Road. At the end of the road I turned right on BWS 10 and took it to Route 28 in Margaretville. We turned right and then left to follow Route 30 through Margaretville, Roxbury, Grand Gorge and North Blenheim. In Middleburgh I turned right to head east on Route 145 to Huntersland Road just out side of town. I turned left on Huntersland Road and drove 5.5 miles and made a left on High Point Road. When High Point Road met Sickle Hill Road after 3.8 miles, I turned right and followed Sickle Hill Road for 1.6 miles to Fawn Lake Road. I turned right on Fawn Lake Road on drove to the parking lot at the end of the road near Fawn Lake. There was already one car in the lot when we left parking area to begin our hike at 9:45 AM. We followed the trail as it left the upper end of the parking area on a snowmobile trail. After a slight ascent the trail began to descend to a trail intersection at about .5 miles. Here a trail to the left branched off to White Birch Pond. We stayed right on the Long Path and crossed a stream on a bridge. At .8 miles the trail came out to gravel Partridge Run Road where we turned right to walk down to Ravine Road at almost exactly one mile. The trail turned left and followed Ravine Road for a couple hundred feet before turning right again on Partridge Run Road. As we turned, I saw that a tent was set up in the field and there was a sign "BCRC". I decided not to stop and ask at this point as I wanted to keep up the pace of the hike. We continued on Partridge Run Road which was in pretty good shape but would require a high clearance vehicle to access. At 1.3 miles we walked off the main trail to the right to inspect a waterfall on Partridge Run. Sheila dashed about the top of the falls as I tried to get a few pictures. I could see that getting to the bottom of the falls would be difficult but not impossible. I decided to leave that exploration for another day and we continued the hike back on the main trail.

At 1.6 miles Partridge Run Road turned to the right and descended to cross a bridge over the stream. The Long Path head slightly left and came to an open area. We continued passed a gate on the road and passed a small pond on the right. A snowmobile trail came in from the left but we continued ahead to a fork in the trail. At this point there were no aqua blazes that I could find so I made a guess and turned right. As we walked I looked back and saw a blaze and soon picked them up ahead on the trail. The trail began to ascend to an escarpment above Partridge Run. The trail description from the NYNJTC website kept mentioning viewpoints but there NO VIEWS along the trail. There may have been some lookouts in the past but they are all overgrown and the trail description has, sadly, not been updated. At 2.4 miles we intersected another woods road and began to follow it until the trail turned off the road. The blazes were very clear in this area. At one point a switchback took us along a wall of rock and then to a higher level on the escarpment. At 3.9 miles we began a switchbacked descent to the Switz Kill Valley. We had been wandering around the escarpment in different directions but at 4.4 miles started to follow a woods road that paralleled the edge of a field. I began to hear noises that sounded like someone building a house. As we broke out into the last field on our descent, I could see the Gifford Hollow lean-to straight ahead with a group of people working on it. This is a new lean-to finished in 2012 as an Eagle Scout project and the troop appeared to be repairing and adding to the structure. I considered visiting them but decided to keep hiking. At 5.1 miles we made a sharp right and walked along the edge of a field to Gifford Hollow Road at 5.3 miles. We made the left turn onto the road and hiked out to Switz Kill Road at 5.5 miles.

When I had looked at the maps while planning the hike, I saw that there was an option to follow some roads at least back to Partridge Run. I find returning along the same route to be boring so I decided to exercise the option. We turned around and walked back on Gifford Hollow Road but continued passed the point where the trail intersected the road. After .75 miles, I could see a sign for the Partridge Run Wildlife Management Area. As we approached my GPS indicated that this was where Partridge Run Road should be but I saw only an "indentation" on the side of the road. After a closer look, I realized that this was Partridge Run Road but that it had been closed for some time. The road markings on the GPS do not do a good job of distinguishing between paved road and abandoned road! I was also a little worried since the GPS showed the road ending just before it crossed the stream. I was committed at this point and the water level was low enough that I thought we could cross even without a bridge. The walk along Partridge Run Road reminded me a lot of the walk along Russell Brook Road near Roscoe. At some point the stream had been high enough to wash out a large part of the road. Sheila was having a good time visiting the stream every time she could find a deep pool. At one point I followed her down to the streambed and took some pictures of the channel. At about 7 miles we came across a sign that said "Bridge Closed Ahead". At 7.2 miles we came to the bridge which was intact if a little worse for wear. We crossed and continued on the road until we crossed another, new bridge at 7.7 miles. We walked up a little hill and were back at the point where we had been in the morning just below the waterfall.

We continued to walk west on Partridge Run Road until at about 8 miles I could hear and see another waterfall on the stream below. I decided to descend to the stream and take a look. There was a drop of about 8 feet over a solid rock wall. Water was shooting out from only two places that had worm more deeply than the rest of the rock. I took some pictures from the side but decided to descend the steep bank to the area below the falls. I took a few pictures from the edge of the stream and then worked my way out onto some solid ground in front of the falls to take some more shots. On the way back I made a wrong step and had some of the stream come in over the top of my boot! We climb the bank to the road and continued out to Ravine Road. This time I stopped to ask three ladies who were at the tent what event was in progress. They told me that they were conducting trials for retrieves using ducks! Sheila seemed very interested! From this point on we simply followed our route from earlier back to the parking area at Fawn Lake. As we made the final left turn onto the snowmobile trail, we both heard people off to our right. I could see two people riding horses on the road. When we reached the road, I pulled Sheila off to the side so that the horses could pass without being spooked. I had noticed horseshoe tracks all along the trails and other evidence that horses had used the trails. I wanted to ask the riders how often they were in the area but they had ridden on ahead. We arrived back at the parking area at 1:30 PM having covered 9.2 miles in 3 hours and 40 minuets with an elevation again of 1460 feet. I did not have any place to be later in the day so I began considering doing another hike to cut some distance off the next section. I decided to drive to where we had just turned around and see how e felt at that point.

On Tuesday, August 19th I wanted to go back to Schoharie County and Albany County line to start the Long Path section from the Albany County Line to the Switz Kill. I planned to park where I had ended the last hike on Lawton Hollow Road near the shale pit on the county line. The weather forecast was good with no rain in sight and temperatures only in the low 70's. I left Livingston Manor just before 7:30 AM. I got Sheila in the car and we headed up the Beaverkill Road to the Barkaboom Road. At the end of the road I turned right on BWS 10 and took it to Route 28 in Margaretville. We turned right and then left to follow Route 30 through Margaretville, Roxbury, Grand Gorge and North Blenheim. In Middleburgh I turned right to head east on Route 145 to Huntersland Road just out side of town. I turned left on Huntersland Road and drove 2.7 miles and made a left on Lawton Hollow Road. After driving 3.9 miles on Lawton Hollow Road, I pulled over to the left side of the road where there was a shale pit and room for several cars. Just passed this spot on the right was a "Welcome to Albany County" sign. We got ready to hike and started east on Lawton Hollow Road at 9:10 AM. The first .5 miles of the hike was slightly downhill on Lawton Hollow Road to the intersection with Bradt Hollow Road. The trail description said to turn right on a gravel road but the road was paved and had been for a number of years. The description certainly didn't mislead me but further reinforced the notion that these descriptions are old and have not been updated in some time. We walked south on Bradt Hollow Road for about .7 miles gaining about 260 feet in the process. I didn't see many aqua blazes and began to wonder if I had missed the turn off the road. Just over the top of a rise there was a brown and yellow sign for the Partridge Run Wildlife Management Area on the left side of the road. It had blazes that indicated a right turn onto a snowmobile trail. The trail had been mowed but was beginning to grow up again. There was a heavy dew and I wondered how my boots would hold up. From this point on most of the trail followed snowmobile and Nordic ski trails and woods roads. The aqua blazes were very clear and I only had to stop once or twice to make sure I was headed in the right direction.

At 2.1 miles we crossed High Point Road and began walking through stands of Norway spruce and red pine. At about 2.7 miles we came into sight of a beaver pond and I stopped to take a few shots before continuing on the trail which turned right shortly after that. The trail stayed near the pond briefly and then turned away from it to the left. Just before the 3 mile mark we entered a lane through some spruce trees. I happened to look to my right and saw a spherical, black object. On closer inspection it turned out to be a bowling ball! As we continued to walk through a wet area ahead, I couldn't help but think about the person that would deposit a bowling ball in the woods. We began an uphill walk which brought us to Bradt Hollow Road at 3.6 miles. We walked out onto the road and turned right and almost immediately left onto a gravel road. We took the next right into a snowmobile trail. The blazes here were hidden and the grass on the trail was not mowed. The snowmobile trail paralleled the road for at least a quarter mile and I regretted not simply walking on the road. The trail began to swing east away from the road and began to follow an extremely straight woods road which seemed to be the boundary between private and state land. We walked mostly downhill for about a mile where we met Beaver Road. Many of the back roads aren't very different than the trails so I did not put Sheila on her leash. We turned left on Beaver Road and walked downhill for about .2 miles where the trail turned right off the road at 5.1 miles. The trail description stated that this turn was at 5.25 miles so when I didn't immediately see blazes, I began to wonder.

I picked up the blazes after a short walk into the woods and we continued downhill on a snowmobile trail that led us to Tubbs Pond which, strangely, was not marked on my GPS. We stopped by the dam and I took a few pictures of this secluded gem. We continued across the bridge just downstream from the dam. The bridge wasn't really necessary as there was little water in the stream. When we got to the parking area, we continued to walk on the access road to 5.8 miles where we turned right on Fawn Lake Road. The day was warm and a little humid but otherwise pleasant. It was only about .4 miles to the end of the road at the Fawn Lake parking area. The road paralleled the lake shore and as we walked I could hear people out on the lake in a boat. We walked to the upper part of the parking area to find where the Long Path continued on a snowmobile trail. We walked down to the lake and found a DEC truck. Sheila went for a swim while I took a few pictures. This was our turnaround spot for the day so we started back to the car at 11:30 AM. I decided I did not want to repeat the exact route we had taken out since there was nothing spectacular to see. We retraced our route back to Tubbs Pond and back up to Beaver Road. As we walked up Beaver Road we continued passed the trail and walked .3 miles out to Bradt Hollow Road. We stopped to get a drink and a snack. I stowed my poles and put Sheila on her leash. As we were about to leave, I noticed that there were several beautiful horses in a paddock next to the road. We turned right on Bradt Hollow Road and walked .9 miles to the intersection with Cook Hill Road. There was a small parking area here and a sign describing the wildlife management area. We followed Bradt Hollow Road to the right and I knew it was a simple matter of walking to Lawton Hollow Road on taking a left. The road was exceptionally straight and headed almost due north. At 9.9 miles we crossed High Point Road and at 10.3 miles we were back at the point where we had turned off the road onto the trail earlier in the day. It was just .7 miles back to Lawton Hollow Road where we turned left and walked the .5 miles back to the car. We were back at 1:15 PM having hiked 11.5 miles in 4 hours with a vertical gain of 1550 feet.

On Sunday, August 18th Cindy and I had planned to meet Kurt and Ariana to hike at Minnewaska State Park at 10:00 AM and then eat later at the Mountain Brauhaus. We left Livingston Manor at 9:00 AM and left behind a sad dog who always likes to hike. On the way we called Karl and Kathleen to see our grandson Luke was after his recent run-in with some furniture and subsequent stitches. We happened to mention that we were going to hike and Karl said that he would meet us with grandson Bryce, 3 years old, and granddaughter Lily, 16 months old. We met Kurt and Ariana and waited for Karl to arrive. Just after 11:00 AM we were parked at the lower parking area at Minnewaska and ready to hike. Karl had Lily in a backpack and the rest of us were walking. We walked out the access road and passed the gatehouse. Our destination was the bottom of Awosting Falls on the Peters Kill. The trip out was all downhill and everybody was full of energy. Lily kept standing up in the backpack to see what was going on. When we got to the falls, the site of a recent Bear Grylls episode, we were a little disappointed. There was barely any water running over the falls and the pool below was showing the effects. We walked down to the streambed and I took some shots while the kids played by the water. We left to walk back up the path to the top of the falls as some others arrived. On the way back up we met more people coming down and two dogs. The dogs were friendly and the kids liked petting them. I decided we would try to hike up to the lake and see how the kids did on the long uphill. The trail curves back and forth but everyone seemed to be in good spirits as we ascended over 400 feet.

When we got to the lake, Bryce and Ariana were excited and I stopped to take some pictures. We walked to the left around the lake. I dropped down to several viewpoints to get some shots without trees or bushes in the way. As we started around the lake we came upon a Science Center. It was staffed and had interesting activities for the children. Kurt and I continued around the lake as I wanted to get as far as the gazebo. We stopped at several places to take pictures and actually walked a little farther than the gazebo. We did notice that the skies were getting dark so we headed back to the Science Center which was just closing for lunch. We began the trek back down the hill. Bryce was going strong and even Lily walked part of the way. Downhill was easier but our distance was creeping up around 3 miles. The parking areas near the lake were filling up as more and more people arrived on a beautiful day. Once we were back at the parking are, we got everyone in the right vehicle and headed to the Brauhaus for lunch. We had to wait almost and hour for lunch but the staff provided some "toys" for the kids and served their meals first. Everyone had an enjoyable day and I must admit it was the best 3 miles I have hiked in a long time!

On Saturday, August 16th I wanted to go back to Schoharie County and finish the Long Path section from Middleburgh to the Albany County Line. I planned to park where I had ended the last hike on Treadlemire Road. I had planned to do this on Friday but spent most of the early morning searching for an rescuing an injured logger. The weather forecast was good with no rain in sight and temperatures only in the low 70's. When I awoke in the morning it was 47 degrees in Livingston Manor with a heavy fog. I decided to go anyway although I wanted to have some decent conditions for photography since the trail description promised at least three "spectacular" viewpoints. I wanted to leave Livingston Manor early and did manage to get out before 8:00 AM. I got Sheila in the car and we headed up the Beaverkill Road to the Barkaboom Road. At the end of the road I turned right on BWS 10 and took it to Route 28 in Margaretville. We turned right and then left to follow Route 30 through Margaretville, Roxbury, Grand Gorge, North Blenheim and Middleburgh. Just over the Route 30 bridge in Middleburgh, I turned right on Route 145 and followed it to the other side of town where I turned left on Cotton Hill Road. After about 3 miles, I made a left on Treadlemire Road and drove just less than a mile to the parking area on the right. By 9:40 AM we were ready to hike and walked out the back of the parking area on a woods road. After a very short distance, we turned left and walked up a trail between two rocks with very interesting sedimentary layers. Within .3 miles we walked up a steep but short hill and arrived at the Cotton Hill lean-to. I looked for the "views to northern Schoharie County" as stated in the trail description but the trees blocked all the views and probably had for some time. I kicked myself for believing the trail descriptions which have proven to be wrong so many times!

After the lean-to, we started a descent and I realized that since we had started at the parking area at over 2000 feet the descent would be a long one. Of course, we would have to walk back up the hill at the end of the hike. We were following a nice combination of trail and woods roads and I was glad that the blazes were for the out part well placed and visible as there were numerous other paths and roads that crossed the trail. At 1.2 miles we hit what appeared to be a DEC access road which we followed out to Cotton Hill Road. The trail crossed the road and continued to descend briefly to a bridge across a stream. We had now descended over 700 feet from our starting point and had covered about 2 miles. We were now heading south but climbing on a woods road. Near the top of the hill at about 2.4 miles the trail turned off the road to the right and began an even steeper climb. It soon leveled off and then began to descend. At 2.7 miles we were on a woods road and made a sharp left before breaking out into an open area. Perhaps the highlight of the day was the PortaJon that was sitting out in the middle of nowhere! I was going to check inside but the sign indicated it was occupied. Even through this area the blazes were clear and we continued south. We continued to walk on the woods road along the western side of Canady Hill until about 3.5 miles where the trail turned sharply left and began a steep ascent. For some time I had noticed signs of active logging in the area and it was very noticeable on the ascent. The trail description said that we would "climb over the hill" which I took to mean over the summit but the trail took us well to the southwest of the top.

As we started to crest the hill I began to hear a series of dull thuds. Once we were over the top we began to descend on a woods road eventually coming to an open field. The "thuds" were now obviously gunfire most probably from a semiautomatic shotgun. The trail description talked about a "spectacular view" but there was no view. The gunfire continued and changed to the price of a high-powered rifle. I knew that his most likely came from a firing range but it was still making me nervous. I knew we were on private land and the situation reminded me that private landowners can do what they want with their own land! The trail leveled out and we were soon in an area that the trail description advised was "very wet". They got this one right. Sheila and I found some high ground and the aqua blazes and we soon made it to Canady Hill Road. The gunfire continued and I consulted my GPS and cell phone to choose an alternate return route. We had just hiked 4 miles and had about 1.5 miles to go to our destination where we could turn around. I estimated that walking the roads to avoid the gunfire would be at least 9 miles and perhaps more. I put off the decision until later. I stowed my poles and put Sheila on her leash as we turned right on Canady Hill Road and then made a quick left on Lawton Hollow Road.

The road immediately descended and then started to ascend again. The trail description mentioned "views" to both the north and south but there were no views. I don't know who writes these descriptions but they are not accurate. At 5.4 miles there was a gravel pit on the left with a few spaces for parking and just passed this a sign for the Albany County Line. We stopped briefly to get a drink and a snack and the turned around at 12:05 PM to begin our return trip. We walked back on Lawton Hollow Road to Canady Hill Road where we turned right. When we got to the point where we would have to turn onto the private land I listened and could hear no gunfire. I got out my poles, released Sheila and we crossed the half mile to the brow of Canady Hill in record time. Once we were over the top of the hill I breathed more easily. As we started down the steep descent back to the woods road, I heard the roar of approaching machinery which I assumed was a log skidder or truck. We continued our descent and never saw the source of the noise. We turned right on the woods road and started back toward Cotton Hill Road. This part of the hike was mostly downhill and we were at the road at 1:30 PM having covered 9 miles. I had thought about walking the roads from there back to the car but decided the shortest, most direct route was the best. We crossed the road and started our 1.5 mile ascent to the top of Cotton Hill. We passed the lean-to and started down the final bit of trail to the car when I began to hear gunfire again. We hurried down the woods road taking it all the way back to the parking area. I was glad to get back to the car at 2:25 PM having covered 11 miles in 4 hours and 45 minutes with a vertical gain along the way of 2360 feet. I* was disappointed that the trail description was 0 for 3 on views and that I had not had the opportunity to take any pictures.

On Friday, August 15th I wanted to go back to Schoharie County and finish the Long Path section from Middleburgh to the Albany County Line. I planned to park where I had ended the last hike on Treadlemire Road. At 2:00 AM the fire siren sounded and soon after that the ambulance pager went off. We were off to search and rescue a lost logger. When we arrived on the road closest to the logging area, I found out that the logger had been located by family and friends but no emergency personnel had made it to their location. I jumped into the first ATV/UTV with my medical equipment and we stared up the heavily rutted and very muddy logging road. Within less than a half mile the vehicle was stuck but at the same time we met the son of the logger who would lead me to his position. I grabbed my equipment and we started up the road. I was glad I had put on a hiking jacket and hiking boots and had brought along two different headlamps. As I followed the son up the road I stepped off into the woods several times since it was easier than walking on the logging road. The trail was all uphill but the son told me it was only a little more than a mile. We continued to hike and I knew we were well passed a mile. After taking a few turns we could hear the log skidder still running and we located the logger. He was lying on the ground and although his vital signs seemed good for his predicament he was in bad shape. A friend was with him and had started a fire/ I was able to use his cell phone to communicate with the control center. It seemed like hours before the a six-wheeled Polaris Ranger made it to the scene. The fire-fighters, another EMT and I backboarded the patient and put him in a Stokes basket for the trip down to the road. The driver of the ATV told me it was at least 3 miles and I believed him. The trip out seemed to take forever but the driver did a fantastic job under terrible road conditions. Several other ATVS had become stuck

and all but one had been cleared from the road. We transported the patient to our local hospital with the help of a paramedic unit. He was later transferred to a trauma center to better treat his serious injuries. We returned to base from the hospital and cleaned up the ambulance. I returned home at 6:45 AM and decided that I had hiked enough for one day!

On Thursday, August 14th I wanted to go back to Schoharie County and start the Long Path section from Middleburgh to the Albany County Line. I planned to park where I had ended the last hike in the Rotary Park in Middleburgh. Cindy and I had actually hiked a portion of this section when we walked along the Middleburgh Cliffs almost 5 years ago. The weather forecast was good with no rain in sight and temperatures only in the low 70's. I wanted to leave Livingston Manor early and did manage to get out before 8:00 AM. I got Sheila in the car and we headed up the Beaverkill Road to the Barkaboom Road. At the end of the road I turned right on BWS 10 and took it to Route 28 in Margaretville. We turned right and then left to follow Route 30 through Margaretville, Roxbury, Grand Gorge and North Blenheim, By 9:30 AM I was pulling into the Rotary Park near the Route 30 bridge over Schoharie Creek. I got my equipment ready by stowing my poles and putting Sheila on her leash for the walk through the streets of Middleburgh to "The Cliffs". We crossed the Route 30 bridge and turned right on Main Street (Route 145 east) and walked about .6 miles until Straub Lane appeared on the left. We turned left on Strain lane and continued to follow it until it became MT Path. We continued to follow the aqua blazes walking toward the ridge in front of us. The blazes led us behind the last house and up a faint road toward a shale pit and a steep bank. The trail continue up the steep bank and started to climb to the top of the cliffs. The blazes were very clear and the trail was cleared. Soon we were on a dirt trail that was still ascending to a rock outcrop. At this point there was a narrow passage between the rocks which required a big first step and then some upper body strength to get through the upper part of the passage. I was a little worried about Sheila but she found another way around, came down through the crack and then went back up! There was a nice viewpoint at the top so I stopped to take a few pictures of Middleburgh and Vromans Nose

. We continued to walk along the cliffs on a nice wide woods road which continued to ascend. We stopped several times so that I could take some pictures. The conditions were good and the plain laid out below impressive.

At about 2.2 miles we turned west and then north again as the blazes continued to follow ell-established wood roads. Other roads and paths crossed at different points but the blazes were always clear. After reaching a high point at 3.2 miles we turned from north to ESE onto a trail and off the woods road to descend to "The Gorge". At some point I looked at my GPS unit and it was "frozen". No button I pushed would work even the OFF switch so I removed the batteries. After replacing the batteries, the unit seemed to work fine but I had missed about .2 miles of the trail! We continued to descend eventually picking up another woods road and at 3.9 miles crossed "The Gorge". There was a pretty good sized ravine but the stream was almost dry. At 4 miles we made a right turn on woods road and started toward the northeast. The description I had mentioned a "stump fence" and some farm machinery but I didn't see them. We crossed Durfee Road at 4.8 miles and began a slight ascent. At 4.9 miles we made another right turn and started to walk southeast. Just after the 5 mile point we turned left on another woods road and found an old well on the right side of the trail. This was constructed in the 1930's so that fire fighters could fill there "Indian tanks" from this water source. Around 5.5 miles we turned onto a trail which paralleled a streambed. We walked the trail through some hemlocks and passed a house on the right before coming to Treadlemire Road at 5.9 miles.

I had already decided to walk the roads back to Middleburgh but thought it would be a good idea to turn left on Treadlemire Road and walk to the parking area where I wanted to begin the last section of the hike. I gave Sheila a drink and got one myself along with a snack. We turned left and walked up the hill for about .5 miles until we got to the parking area. At this point it was 12:30 PM and we turned around and walked back down Treadlemire Road for .9 miles to Cotton Hill Road. Along the way we passed a pond and I decided to take a few shots as there were telephone poles in the middle of the pond. As I put my camera away, several ducks flew from the cover around the pond onto the water. Sheila was very good but I could see she wanted to jump in after them. When I took the leash to start back on the road, she strained a little bit to see if she could get to the edge of the water. We turned right on Cotton Hill Road and started our long downhill walk back to Route 145 into Middleburgh. The road was paved and we set a quick pace. There were several short climbs along the way but mostly the trip to Route 145 was 3 miles of descent totaling almost 1200 feet! At Route 145 we turned right and walked 1.1 miles back through Middleburgh to where my car was parked at the Rotary Park. We had covered 11.5 miles in 4 hours and 15 minutes with a total climb of 2370 feet. I decided to head into Schoharie which is only 5 miles away to visit the bookstore at the Old Stone Fort. The drive seemed to go very quickly and I was soon driving through the town but did not see the building I was seeking. I continued through the village and just as the road curved to the left I saw a sign for "The Stone Fort" straight ahead. I drove up the street, found the building and turned around to park in front. It was constructed as a Dutch Reformed Church and became one of three forts that helped protect colonists during the Revolutionary War. I found some books that I wanted but vowed to return with Cindy to tour the museum and the other six buildings.

On Monday, August 11th I wanted to go back to Schoharie County and finish the Long Path section from West Fulton to Middleburgh. I planned to park where I had ended the last hike in a small parking area on an access road at the northern end of Patri State Forest. Since I had walked out over the roads I knew they were passable and I knew right where the parking area was located. The weather forecast was good with no rain in sight but I was concerned since the temperatures were forecast to be in the 80's and this section had some road walking. I wanted to leave Livingston Manor early but somehow didn't get started until about 8:30 AM. I got Sheila in the car and we headed up the Beaverkill Road to the Barkaboom Road. At the end of the road I turned right on BWS 10 and took it to Route 28 in Margaretville. We turned right and then left to follow Route 30 through Margaretville, Roxbury and Grand Gorge. After passing through North Blenheim, I kept a watch for West Fulton Road on the left. I turned left on West Fulton Road and drove about 3 miles to the four corners in West Fulton. I turned right on Patria Road and drove the length of the road to the intersection with Greenbush Hill Road. I turned right and drive about .7 miles and turned right on Snow Ridge Drive. I knew that the "Private Property" signs on this road referred to the land and not the road since there is a state right-of-way. Where the road split, I stayed right on the unnamed access road. The road was a little more "rustic" than I remembered and it was barely wide enough for one car! Within a short distance we were at the small, grassy parking area on the left. I pulled in and immediately spotted the red blaze at the back of the lot where we had exited the last time. I let Sheila out of the car and got my gear ready to go. We started our hike at 10:10 AM by heading out the back of the parking area on the red trail. Within a few hundred feet we came to the Long Path and turned left to head out on the portion we had not hiked. We walked along a stone wall and immediately started to descend. As we continued to hike downhill it occurred to me that we had started at an elevation of over 2000 feet and that Route 30 through the valley had an elevation of under 700 feet. This would mean that we would lose over1400 feet on the way out and have to regain the same elevation at the end of the hike. The distance was over 2 miles and I began to wonder how I would handle that after hiking more than 10 miles!

At about .5 miles the trail description I was following said that we should be turning right onto Hardscrabble Road. At about that distance the trail did turn right but the "road" was not as well-defined as some woods roads I had been on. When we had started out the trail was well marked but now the blazes were older, fewer and farther between. Several times I wasn't sure where to go but eventually found my way. More than once we came to a spot where other trails or woods roads branched off and there were no blazes to make the route clear. The trail description was very detailed about each turn but it is based on GPS mileage and small variations can make a big difference. At about 1.8 miles we exited the woods and started to walk down through a field. The path had been mowed by the land owner and Vroman's Nose came into view on the left. Where several paths crossed, we followed the snowmobile markers out to Hardscrabble Road since there were no Long Path blazes. I stowed my poles and put Sheila on her leash and turned left to walk down to Route 30. As we walked down the road I noticed some aqua blazes on the left and knew I could return that way at the end of the hike. We turned left on Route 30 to hike east toward Middleburgh. The traffic on Route 30 was heavy but there is a nice wide shoulder. We picked up our pace but I immediately noticed that the sun was out and it was getting hot. As we walked the 1.5 miles along Route 30 to the base of Vroman's Nose, I enjoyed looking at the farms along the road. At 3.75 miles we arrived at the base of Vroman's Nose and turned left on the red trail. I stopped to get out my poles and to release Sheila from her leash. We had a drink and a quick snack before tackling the ascent at about 11:30 AM.

The red trail is by far the steepest access to Vroman's Nose gaining over 400 feet in just the first .2 miles and averaging over a 30% grade. In places there really isn't much of a trail and the footing is unstable. It would be foolish to attempt this ascent without hiking boots and poles! The trip from the road to where the trail levels out is about .5 miles and the vertical gain is over 500 feet. As we began to walk along the edge, various lookouts came into view. I learned after several trips that the best views are from the top so I waited until we were on the most level part before pulling out the camera. As we reached the open areas on top the first thing that struck me was the fact that we were alone. I had never visited without having a few people around and on weekends the hike is packed with people. It felt wonderful to be alone since it was quiet and I could get any shot that I wanted. I decided at this point to change from my long-sleeved shirt to a lighter, short-sleeved one. Besides being dry the new shirt allowed better air circulation and made me feel cooler immediately. The sky was not ideal for photography and the sun's position could have been better but thus didn't stop me from taking pictures. I kept the camera out as I took pictures while we walked along the edge. I took some of the farmland below in the valley and some of the hills beyond with views stretching south to the Catskills. As we reached the end of the flat portion and began our descent I took a few shots across Middleburgh to the Middleburgh Cliffs. We began our descent at 12:30 PM and followed the aqua blazes down the very eroded trail. Vroman's Nose is a victim of its own success. A great many people visit this remarkable attraction but little has been done to improve or maintain the trails. On this day the ground was powder dry and this, combined with loose rocks and leaves, made for a tricky descent. As we neared the bottom we continued to follow the aqua blazes to the right rather than the other trails that lead back to the parking area. At around 5 miles we came out onto Church Street where I put away my poles and put Sheila on her leash. We turned right to walk out to Route 30 where we turned left and almost immediately right onto Mulberry Lane. We walked down this short and straight street for about .2 miles where it abruptly ended at a sign that said "Bridge Closed".

The description mentioned a "new snowmobile bridge". There was no bridge over the creek and it looked as if it had been washed out for some time. There was a short span on the other side and it was easy to cross Line Creek since the water was low. We walked over the span on the other side but I could find no blazes at all. The trail description said to turn right and "follow the hedgerow at the edge of the field". I am not sure what a "hedgerow" really is but I had a choice of beating my way through a tangle of bushes and brush or walking through the corn on the edge of the field. There were no "views west across the field" as the corn was over 7 feet tall! As we neared Schoharie Creek, there were still no blazes and the situation was the same. We tried to get near the creek and followed several paths that ended in an impenetrable tangle. I knew that we still had almost .5 miles of walking through a mess but decided it was better to continue than to turn back. Around 6 miles into the hike we finally broke out into an open area along the field and walked through some weeds to the Rotary Park. I caught a glimpse of an aqua blaze on a tree and almost laughed. We continued through the park to the road bridge across Schoharie Creek on Route 30. I stowed by poles and put Sheila on her leash. We turned right and walked over the bridge to the intersection with Route 145 and then turned around to start back. If you are attempting to hike this section, do NOT follow the various trail descriptions! Turn left on Route 30 at the end of Church Street and stay on Route 30 into Middleburgh. The problems I encountered have been encountered by other hikers. They are another example of the miscommunication between those marking the trails and those who write the descriptions. Even when hikers try to alert those responsible it seems there is no one to listen.

It was 1:10 PM when we turned around and we had hiked about 6.3 miles. I planned to walk all the way back to Hardscrabble Road on Route 30 avoiding the mess in the cornfield and the climb back over Vroman's Nose. I knew this would reduce some mileage and some climbing but that we would be exposed to the sun most of the way. Just as we turned the sun went under a cloud and the sky grew dark. I decided a little gentle rain would be OK as long as there was no downpour or lightning. Walking along the road was hot and boring even though we could keep up a good pace. At one point I let Sheila go down the bank to submerge herself in the water and this seemed to cool her down. By 1:45 PM we had walked 1.7 miles and passed by the trail up Vroman's Nose. We had saved about a mile and a lot of extra aggravation and exertion. At 2:10 PM we were 9.5 miles into the hike and ready to turn right onto Hardscrabble Road. As we began to climb a little my legs let me know it was going to be slow going. We turned right where the aqua blazes indicated and walked the freshly mowed path to the edge of the woods. The first climb was a challenge but the trail leveled just as I wanted to give up. We continued our walk with a few brief stops along the way. The final short climb to the level part of the trail that led back to the car went quickly. We were back at the parking area at 3:25 PM having covered 11.7 miles and 2360 feet of elevation gain in 5 hours and 15 minutes. The final climb from Route 30 was 1440 feet over 2.1 miles

On Friday, August 8th I wanted to go back to Schoharie County and start the Long Path section from West Fulton to Middleburgh. I planned to park in the hamlet of West Fulton on Patria Road and hike to the small parking area on the state land off Snow Ridge Road. The weather forecast was good with no rain in sight. I wanted to leave Livingston Manor early but somehow didn't get started until about 8:30 AM. I got Sheila in the car and we headed up the Beaverkill Road to the Barkaboom Road. At the end of the road I turned right on BWS 10 and took it to Route 28 in Margaretville. We turned right and then left to follow Route 30 through Margaretville, Roxbury and Grand Gorge. After passing through North Blenheim, I kept a watch for West Fulton Road on the left. I turned left on West Fulton Road and drove about 3 miles to the four corners in West Fulton. I turned right on Patria Road and crossed a small bridge. After turning around, I parked on the side of the road where the Long Path turns left to go through a field. I let Sheila out of the car and got my gear ready to go. We started our hike just before 10:00 AM by entering a field and hiking to a white pine tree with a white blaze. As we walked through the field, there was an abundant ground cover of purple flowers which the bees seemed to love. Several more blazes on pine trees led us to a pine forest and we immediately began to climb to a ridge. Within a little less than a mile the trail gained over 600 feet which really got me "warmed up" for the rest of the hike. The trail in this area was well-marked and easy to find as it followed old woods roads. My GPS mileage seemed to match the trail description that I had from the NYNJTC website. At about .8 miles we came out onto a woods road that was obviously being used for some purpose as it had recently been cleared. We walked uphill and then re-entered the forest. The trail took a dip at .9 miles and I began to see signs that said "State Forest" and I knew we had entered Patria State Forest. We ascended again to about 1.7 miles and then descended a little to cross Patria Road at 2.15 miles. There were quite a few woods roads in the area which crossed the trail and other places where the trail continued to follow a woods road. I knew it was important to watch the blazes as the land up to the state forest was private.

Once we crossed Patria Road we headed downhill and the trail began to look a little less traveled and the blazes a little older. We were walking east or northeast near a small seasonal stream through hemlocks. We crossed the stream and began to climb to the ridge again where the trail leveled off briefly and crossed Mallon Road at 2.95 miles. Along the way, as we passed an open area created by a blowdown, I heard some snuffling off to our left. I looked in that directed to see at least two bears walking through the brush in the opposite direction. I made some noise to let them know we were around and resolved to keep taking to Sheila or banging my poles occasionally for the rest of the hike. When we crossed Mallon Road, there was a small parking area on the other side with a signboard which had seen better days. We entered another reforestation area on a woods road and started to head almost due north until 3.8 miles. As we walked along a small stream with a deep gully, I heard some noise on the other side and looked up to see two more bears headed away from us. I made some noise and they moved a little faster after one looked over his shoulder. A little further along the trail crossed the stream and headed in the general direction the bears had gone. I continued to make some noise as we hurried through this area. The trail started to descend to Pleasant Valley at 3.4 miles and at 3.8 miles turned east and continued to descend to 3.9 miles where we turned right or south and walked along a steep drop. We passed several roads going down the slope and the trail finally turned onto one of these just short of 4 miles. The road descended to a stream as explained on the description I had. What the description did NOT explain was that the bridge had been washed away! Crossing the small stream was no problem but after the crossing I could find no blazes except for a few that had been painted over. I spent the next half hour walking almost a mile around the area looking for blazes and found none. I eventually had to give up and decided to retrace my steps to the car. I thought I might park off Snow Ridge Drive and hike back to the area to see where the trail disappeared. We turned around and started back up the hill. Just as the trail turned to the left, I noticed rather new blazes going straight ahead in addition to the blazes leading us back up the hill. I decided to follow these new blazes to see where they went.

We followed the new blazes as they headed upstream to the northwest and in about .25 miles followed them down to a new bridge across the stream. Just after we crossed the bridge the trail turned southeast to head back downstream along what could have been the old Pleasant Valley Road. This is another example of how the Long Path north of the Catskills is a very "hit or miss" affair. In this case the trail maintainers had not painted over the old blazes down to the stream and had not made the turn upstream clear in any way. The trail description from the website relies on exact GPS mileages which means you must have a GPS unit and that any small variations will make the description questionable. If you make any makes, the written description became useless. In this case the description was clearly wrong as it did not mention the new route or the new bridge. I found out when I got home that if I had crossed the stream at the bottom of the hill and turned left, I would have hot the Long Path in about 400 feet. Why the trail had to be rerouted a half mile or more I do not know! We continued to the southeast until about 4.5 miles where the trail turned to the northeast off the "road" to continue on another woods road to another new bridge across a large stream at 4.75 miles. Both of these bridges are well-constructed and I wondered how the materials were transported in to this remote area. After crossing the bridge, we started an ascent along a nice woods road through pine forests heading northeast. At 5.2 miles the trail turned southeast but continued to ascend to 5.6 miles. At one point after making a turn, I looked ahead and could find no blazes. We walked a little farther and there were still no blazes. We walked back to the turn but the trail seemed to follow the road! We again turned around and headed up the road and finally found some blazes.

At the top of the hill, the woods road and snowmobile trail continued straight ahead but the trail went off to the right. We started on the trail and immediately I had trouble following it since it seemed to be unused. The trail description mentioned a trail to the left out to a parking area at 5.8 miles. As We got to this mileage, I did not see a trail but there did seem to be an open space up a bank on the left. We walked up the bank to the open space and then to a gravel road. I turned left abut found the road headed in the wrong direction. We turned around and walked the opposite way heading east and slightly north. We passed through an area with some blueberry bushes and a bear stood up to our right to look around. From the noises on the left I knew there was at least one more. We again increased our pace and the bears ignored us. A short distance away we came to the parking area and I could see the red trail at the back of the lot. At this point I had already decided, although I know there are always bears around, that we would walk some of the back roads as part of our return trip. We continued out the access road to the state land until it joined Snow Ridge Drive. We continued on this gravel road until it met Greenbush Hill Road at 6.8 miles. Although these road were gravel, they were in good shape and I knew I could drive on them to park in the small parking area in complete this section. We walked downhill along the road for about .7 miles where we turned left onto Patria Road. At this point I was not sure whether we would walk all the way back on the road or use the trail for the last 2 miles.

This road was paved for a short distance but then turned back to gravel when it entered the state forest. Our elevation was over 2000 feet and I knew we had started at around 1100 feet. This lead me to believe that Patria Road would be a nice downhill route all the way. I was wrong! As we walked along I could see a hill ahead and the road continued to ascend and descend hills along its length. I was surprised that several cars passed us as we walked along this seemingly1 deserted road. For a mile from the intersection the road was completely straight and headed south west. At 8.6 miles it turned to the south but continued to roll until it headed downhill to meet Mallon Road at 10 miles. The road was paved at this point and we continued downhill to 10.7 miles where we had crossed the road in the morning. I decided that we would walk the trail back to the car as it seemed much shorter. When I returned home I checked both routes. The road route which seemed much longer was only about .4 miles more. The trail had several switchbacks which made it longer than a more direct route. As soon as we turned from Patria Road onto the trail, we started a slight ascent which apparently had slipped my mind. It was 3:00 PM at this point and I was getting tired. The trail leveled some and then at 11.2 miles began a long descent back to the car. As we turned onto the well-developed woods road, there was a nice view ahead. I had not taken any pictures all day but stopped to snap a few shots. From here we followed our route from earlier in the day. The descent from the hemlock forest to the field seemed steeper than the ascent earlier in the day. As we walked won through the field I took some shot of the valley. I also took a few pictures of the purple flowers in then field. We were back at the car just after 4:00 PM having hiked 13.9 miles in 6 hours and 10 minutes. The corrected distance was 12.9 miles and all the distances given here reflect the corrections.

On Tuesday, August 5th, Lisa, Cindy and I had planned to hike to the Rock Rift Fire Tower. I wrote down the exact latitude and longitude of the tower just in case we needed it. I also studied some maps and found the woods road and trail that was used for access to the tower. When the tower was planned the Conservation Department purchased a strip of land from Route 10 to near the top of Tower Mountain where they planned to erect the tower. On the maps the road seemed to be about .25 miles west of Fish Brook. Since our last trip to the tower, Rick Roberts and a finger Lakes Trail crew had constructed a trail to the tower using the old road and existing woods road. My recollection was that there was a trail from the Apex Bridge parking area to the tower and a spur trail from the boat launch area near Fish Brook Road. We met Lisa downtown at 9:00 AM and left for the drive up the Quickway to Exit 87A where we headed north on Route 268. At Route 10 we turned right and headed east for Fish Brook Road parking area. We parked at the boat launch parking right across from Fish Brook Road. We all got ready to go and headed west on Route 10 just before 10:00 AM. I knew we had to hike about a quarter mile and then cross the road o find the woods road that was being used as the trail. Somehow we hiked passed this spot and did not see the woods road or the start of the trail! By the time we were over .5 miles away I knew we had to turn around and hike back to the .25 mile mark. This time the woods road was pretty obvious and there was a new, blue paint blaze on the first tree on the woods road. I was surprised that there was no indication of the trail visible from Route 10! We climbed through a field on the well-defined woods road which had been groomed nicely. As we entered the woods, there was a trail to the left and the blazes changed from blue to white. The last time we had hiked here it was hard to follow the woods road and much of it was blocked by blowdown. The trail crew did a fantastic job cutting out and blazing the new trail!

The trail is like a superhighway to the tower although there are some steep spots along the way. This would not be a good hike for a casual hiker and hiking poles, while not mandatory, are a good idea. From Route 10 to .9 miles into the hike we gained about 450 feet over .7 miles. The trail then levels for about .1 miles. After this there is a continuous climb for the next .6 miles that gains about 670 feet. This is an average of a 22% grade with some areas hitting 30%! The trail crew threw in a few switchbacks to give hikers a break and to avoid some blowdown. At around 1.7 miles the trail begins to flatten for the final .25 miles to the tower. At one point an ATV trail came in from the left and continued to the tower. There was some new blowdowns here but it was easy to get around. Last time we had walked directly to the tower as soon as we could see it but this time we stayed on the trail which led right to the base of the tower. Like most towers it was situated in a clearing and like most had no view from the bottom. The two flights of stairs were missing and the floor of the cab was in pretty poor shape. The steps and landings are all wooden and some have seen better days. The main steel structure looked sound enough that I would have climbed it given an opportunity. I took pictures of the tower from several different angles. I also took some pictures of the trees against a beautiful blue sky. The total distance was just under two miles but it had taken us an hour and a half to get to the top! I was pretty sure that the trip back would be quicker.

We thought about hiking to the communications tower and then to the roads to get back. I wasn't sure if this would take use across private property so we decided to retrace the route we had used to get up the mountain. We started back at 11:30 AM and walked down the mountain without stopping. Some of the steeper spots slowed us down a little but we were soon at the point where the white trail headed right or west. I would have hiked the trail just to see where it went but Cindy and Lisa wanted to return the car. We were back at the car by 12:30 PM making the trip down about an hour. I did notice more insects on the way down especially in the more open areas where there were ferns. There had been some wet areas along the way but I though the trail was great. I am hoping that the effort to restore the tower is successful as it will make the hike even more exciting. We hiked 3.8 miles in 2.5 hours with a vertical gain of 1236 feet. On the way back we decided to head toward Walton and then use Beers Brook Road as a shortcut over Bear Spring Mountain to Downsville. We drove about 4 miles to Russ Gray Pond and then up the hill on the dirt road to West Trout Brook Road! From there I drove out to Route 206 and drove through Downsville and back to Route 17 in Roscoe.

On Monday, August 4th I wanted to go back to Schoharie County and complete the Long Path section from Conesville to Manorkill Falls to connect two sections that I had already completed. The weather forecast was good but the skies did not reflect it when I was ready to leave home. We got started at about 8:30 AM. I got Sheila in the car and we headed up the Beaverkill Road to the Barkaboom Road. At the end of the road I turned right on BWS 10 and took it to Route 28 in Margaretville. We turned right and then left to follow Route 30 through Margaretville, Roxbury and Grand Gorge. When I got to Route 990V I turned right and drove through Gilboa and West Conesville. Three miles after the intersection with the Prattsville road we were in Conesville. The most prominent building in town is the firehouse which has recreational fields next door. The parking lot at the firehouse is large so I parked in the most remote corner. I let Sheila out of the car and put her on her leash, got my gear ready to go and started our hike at 9:40 AM. We walked east on the main road to Champlin Road and turned right. The road had a hardpacked dirt surface and there were only a few houses near the beginning. After a short distance, there seemed to be only hunting cabins. I was watching for the point where the Long Path turns right off the road. I wasn't watching to carefully for blazes most of the way up the road but it seemed like about half a mile before one showed up. I thought we had hiked a little too far when the turn did appear but a check of my GPS showed we the mileage was exactly as posted. Just off the road was a sign explaining the trail was now on private property. There was also a small mailbox and a request for hikers to "sign in". I left a message which ended with a "Thank you" to the landowner for allowing me to use his land.

The next 2.7 miles of hiking is through private land as the Long Path heads almost due west and just to the north of Sickler's Mountain. The route is downhill most of the way. In this area, as in so many others along the Long Path north of the Catskill Park, there really isn't a trail. There may be paint blazes on the trees but there is little evidence that a trail was constructed or that anybody walks the route very much. There is little or no maintenance in most places. It can be very hard to watch the blazes and watch your footing at the same time. In my opinion, poles are a must in these sections! The fact that this part passes over private land may be thee explanation in this case. At 2.2 miles we passed north of the summit of Sickler's Mountain and I could see some very interesting cliffs. I did not want to violate the property owner's request that hikers stay on the "trail". We followed the paint blazes which often were placed along old woods roads. There were many more open areas which were heavily populated by briars and nettles! To complete the joy everything was very wet and there were clouds on insects to accompany us. At one point we turned onto a woods road and were confronted by what looked like a sea of nettles. I started to beat them down as I advanced and then had a closer look. They looked just like nettles including the "flower" but they had no filaments to deliver the "sting". I started to push my way through them but kept waiting for a "surprise" which never happened! As we got closer to Pangman Road there were a few places to get some views by walking off the trail. I stopped to take a few pictures and then continued on. As the "trail" entered some more open areas it was obvious that someone had cut back the weeds and brush and this continued all the way to the road. I was very grateful since this made walking much easier!

Pangman Road was about 3.5 miles into the hike and the straight line distance to Manorkill Falls was almost exactly a mile. I knew that the trail seldom takes a straight line! We walked all downhill from Pangman Road for .85 miles until we were almost at the Prattsville Road. Just before we got to the road the trail came very close to the edge of the gorge cut by the Manorkill. We stopped in several differed places so that I could take some pictures. The Manorkill was flowing slowly and lazily below and, in its present state, did not look like it could have cut such an impressive ravine. As we approached the road, the blazes turned north to almost parallel the road. I almost went out to the road but decided to follow the blazes. The first part was simply a zigzag through numerous blowdowns. After that, the blazes took us within sight of the Manorkill again near the area of the upper falls. The land below the trail was marked with orange paint so we continued to a spot where there was a lookout down into the gorge. Several different viewpoints provided good opportunities to take pictures of the falls and rapids. We continued out to the road where I put Sheila and her leash and stowed my poles. As we walked over the road bridge, we stopped so that I could take a few more pictures downstream on the Manorkill. The main falls is just below the bridge and I considered walking along the creek to see if I could get some pictures. I looked up at the sky and it was pretty dark. We still had 3 miles to walk back to Conesville on Route 990V and I decided we should get started. This road always seems busier than I think it should be. In most places it has a wide enough shoulder and Sheila and I had no problem walking. As we approached many of the houses along the road, I could see that they were rundown and many were uninhabited. It was clear many of them had been gear places to live at one time. One house in West Conesville was an impressive brick structure but it too was showing signs of disrepair. Sheila and I kept a good pace along the road and did not stop at any time. The skies cleared and there were only a few drops of rain. It was almost exactly 3 miles back to the car and slightly uphill and we Mae it in 55 minutes! We were back at the car by 1:10 PM having covered 8 miles in 3.5 hours with a vertical gain of 1290 feet. I now have to connect Greene County Route 10 to South Mountain Road. This is a tough route that travels over Mount Pisgah, Ritchmeyer Peak and Richmond Mountain. It is made even more interesting by the wide variety of briars and nettles along the route!

On Friday, August 1st I decided to check out South Mountain Road after hiking from Creamery Road to Doney Hollow earlier in the day. The Long Path passes over Richmond Mountain and then drops to South Mountain Road near Cook Road. I thought if I felt like it we might even hike part of the route towards Conesville. We left the fishing access road hear Blenheim and headed south on Route 30 toward Grand Gorge. When we got to Route 990V, I turned left and drove passed the Schoharie Reservoir heading east towards Conesville. After passing the turnoff for the Prattsville Road near Manor Kill Falls, I drove another 3.8 miles through Conesville and turned right on South Mountain Road. I expected the road to be gravel or dirt but it was nicely paved. I drove three miles and noticed that much of the trip was uphill. At the three mile point I found Cook Road on the right and a CCC or woods road directly across from it. I was feeling like I could hike a few more miles so I parked on the woods road. Sheila and I were ready to go at 12:05 PM and we started back down South Mountain Road. I thought we might hike to the end of South Mountain Road or even as far and Champlin Road in Conesville. It was warm but there was a slight breeze blowing and there were fewer insects. I knew this would be an out and back road walk and was hoping it would go quickly. There were a few interesting "attractions" along then road. Within the first half mile there was a cemetery on the right which seemed to show more care than some of the others I had seen. Some houses along the road were obviously occupied while others seemed to be second homes or deserted. Some of the houses were new and well kept while others were older and run down.

One house had a wrought iron fence around it and what were once tennis courts on the other side of the road. Everything was slowly decaying which seemed sad. There was even one farm along the road. We were making good time as we approached Haner Road at 2.5 miles having taken only 45 minutes. From this point the road descended more steeply and I thought about the hike back up. It was almost exactly 3 miles to the intersection of South Mountain Road with Potter Mountain Road, the extension of Route 990V in this area. I decided to walk the extra .7 miles to Champlin Road in Conesville since this would be a good place to start our next hike. We had met only 3 carts on South Mountain Road and Potter Mountain Road wasn't too much busier. We arrived at Champlin Road at 1:15 PM. We stopped briefly so that I could give Sheila a drink. We then turned around and began the hike back. As we turned onto South Mountain Road, I looked at the hill ahead and groaned inwardly. he hike up the hill actually went pretty fast. I did notice that at one point there was a nice view down the valley but it was hazy and I just didn't feel like stopping to get out the camera. We continued our walk without stopping again. It did seem a little longer on the way back but we were still keeping up a good pace. We arrived back at the car at 2:30 PM having covered 7.4 miles in only 2 hours and 20 minutes. The vertical gain was only 750 feet most of which was the climb up South Mountain Road from Potter Mountain Road. On the drive home I thought about finishing the section from Conesville to the Prattsville Road. I also started to plan the hike over Mount Pisgah and Richmond Mountain to make a final connection between the Catskills and the area to the north.

On Friday, August 1st I wanted to go back to Schoharie County and connect the Long Path sections I had hiked by walking from Creamery Road to from Doney Hollow. I wanted to leave Livingston Manor early and did get started at 8:00 AM. I got Sheila in the car and we headed up the Beaverkill Road to the Barkaboom Road. At the end of the road I turned right on BWS 10 and took it to Route 28 in Margaretville. We turned right and then left to follow Route 30 through Margaretville, Roxbury and Grand Gorge. After passing by Minekill State Park and Lansing Manor, I kept a watch for the fishing area access road on the right. Just before the Blenhiem sign I turned right on the road and pulled over to park on the shoulder. Sheila and I were ready to go by 9:30 AM as we walked out to Route 30 and turned right. We walked downhill to Creamery Road and turned left onto this dead end street. There were some paint blazes on a few trees and poles. Just after the turn there was a rather large and old cemetery up on the right bank. I had plans to get in at least 12 miles of total distance so I did not want to explore too much. At about .3 miles I spotted some blazes on the left although they were hard to see. We headed up a very steep bank and passed by the cemetery. I let Sheila off her leash as we climbed to some level ground. We turned right and walked along the top of the ridge and the blazes disappeared. This section of trail is so poorly marked and so unused it is almost impossible to follow. After walking for a while without seeing blazes, we back tracked and I found we should have turned left at about .35 miles. From that point the blazes were hit and miss and there was no trail to follow. I found myself stopping and staring through the woods to find the next blazes. Blazes were hidden behind foliage that had not been trimmed. I found blazes on downed trees that had not been replaced. Without Sheila, it would have been much more difficult! It seems that no one really cares about this section of trail and that theme continued all the way to Doney Hollow!

At about .5 miles we came out into a field and there were clear blazes along the edge. We walked to the corner of the field and turned left uphill. At the top there was a single blazes hidden under the leaves of a tree but there was no indication of which way to turn. I headed right and spotted a blaze on a tree. We had to wade through tall grass as there had been no trail maintenance. We walked down a steep and very slippery bank to come out to West Kill Road. We turned left on West Kill Road and thankfully began a road walk. The day was warmer than I thought and there were more insect out than there had been for some time. At .9 miles we passed by the turnoff onto Burnt Hill Road. At 1.15 miles the trail turned into the woods and ascended another steep bank through grass and briars to a small ridge. As we walked along the ridge, we were walking parallel to the road and within sight of it most of the time. We were on the trail for a little more than .1 miles when we were right back out on the road. I didn't see any blazes so we turned left and headed down the road. I began to see aqua blazes painted over and knew something was up. We walked back to where we had come out onto the road and I spotted some blazes on the other side of the road cleverly hidden under some brush. The "detour" had added on another .2 miles. We ascended another bank and started on a section of "trail" that may have been the worst I have been on in some time. There was no trail most of the time and hiking was more like a bushwhack. Blazes were few and far between and it was particularly annoying when there were no markers where there were possible turns. I had to hack my way through briars and brush and watch for the occasional blaze.

We finally got to a point where the blazes passed above a pond. There seemed to have been no effort made to dig a trail on the sidehill which left us to slip and slide our way along as best we could. The insect were especially thick in this area. At one point we came to a single paint blaze on a tree and a choice of two equally distinct trails. I went straight ahead to the edge of a marsh and then doubled back to find the blazes to the left. This turn was at about 2.2 miles and we came to West Kill Road with a hundred feet. The trail crossed the road and got a little better briefly as it descended to the bank of the West Kill. After this descent, the blazes again became hard to find and the trail seemed to meander around. The West Kill at this point is not spectacular but I might have stopped if not for the cloud of insects. This section only lasted for .4 miles although it seemed much longer. We climbed another steep bank and at 2.6 miles we were back on West Kill Road. We turned left and walked to the small parking area near a bridge where we had started a previous hike. We had walked a little over 3 frustrating miles and I had no intention of reversing the route. We turned around and walked back on West Kill Road to Route 30 a 2.1 mile walk that took only 40 minutes. We turned right on Route 30 and walked back up the hill to the car. It was 11:40 AM and we had covered 5.5 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes. The vertical gain was about 900 feet. I decided it was early enough to head to South Mountain Road to find the spot where the Long Path comes down from the mountains to the road.

On Wednesday, July 30th I wanted to go back to Schoharie County and complete the Long Path section from Doney Hollow to West Fulton. I had left off at Old Cemetery Road but starting there would mean driving on the state forest roads. The roads in the area seemed a little "primitive" so I planned to park in the hamlet of West Fulton and hike to where I had stopped and back. The weather forecast was so good but I had to be back for twilight track. I wanted to leave Livingston Manor early but somehow didn't get started until about 8:30 AM. I got Sheila in the car and we headed up the Beaverkill Road to the Barkaboom Road. At the end of the road I turned right on BWS 10 and took it to Route 28 in Margaretville. We turned right and then left to follow Route 30 through Margaretville, Roxbury and Grand Gorge. After passing through North Blenheim, I kept a watch for West Fulton Road on the left. I turned left on West Fulton Road and drove about 3 miles to the four corners in West Fulton. I did not see the picnic area mentioned in the description so I turned right on Patria Road. After crossing the bridge, I turned around and parked on the side of the road where the Long Path turns left to go through a field. I let Sheila out of the car and put her on her leash, got my gear ready to go and started our hike at 10:05 AM. We walked back to the four corners and continued straight ahead on Sawyer Hollow Road. We walked along the road gaining some elevation as we went. At about 1.3 miles we passed a fishing access for Panther Creek and at 1.4 miles the Long Path turned left to descend through a field to Panther Creek. The grass had been mowed to form a wide path down to the creek. Once we got near the creek the trail turned to the right and I let Sheila off her leash and got out my poles. We walked along a rather muddy trail for about .1 miles and then crossed the creek on a bridge. The bridge was old but sturdy and built high enough above the creek that it must have withstood many storms.

We were walking through hardwood forest and soon began to climb and then climb steeply. The trail ran close to a small creek with a good volume of water. Over the next .72 miles we would gain 710 feet with the trail grade average over 17%. I could immediately hear that the water in the creek was flowing over some rocks by the sound it was making. I walked over to where I could see the stream, which is not even marked on some maps, and found that when I looked upstream I could see several cascades and waterfalls. We continued walking up the trail to the first water fall where I stopped to take some pictures. I had intended to hike this section of trail as fast as we could but I have a weakness for waterfalls. I soon lost count of the number of waterfalls and, although I did not stop at every one, the number of pictures that I took. It seemed that each one was nicer than the previous and if it wasn't nicer it was different. Although the description I read mentioned these cascades they were much better in person than in words. As we neared the top of the climb and the last water fall, I stopped to take a few shots and found a stone structure in the streambed. I could see that a waterwheel had been mounted here. It was probably on overshot wheel that powered a gristmill. As we continued on the trail, we crossed Rossman Hill Road at 2.4 miles. On the other side of the road the trail became wet in places but soon I could see a pond up ahead. The trail continued to be wet and was a little indistinct but we made it to the shore of Looking Glass Pond without too much problem. There were two people fishing on the shore of the pond since it is accessible from Rossman Hill Road. We were 2.5 miles into the hike when we stopped so that I could take some pictures of the pond. The water level seemed low and the pond was surrounded by dead trees. We made a hard left and entered an evergreen forest.

A Sign at Rossman Hill Road had indicated that the lean-to was about a mile from the road. We were headed that way over relatively level ground. There were still some muddy patches and some roots to step over but this piece of trail made for pretty easy travel. Shortly after the pond we came to a road marked as Morey Road on some maps and Old Cemetery Road on others. The trail continued almost straight ahead but we turned left to investigate the Rossman Hill Cemetery. The cemetery was overgrown with high grass but there was some evidence that someone had visited recently as the grass was matted down and several graves had flowers in vases. Many of the stones were too worn to read but the ones that were legible showed that no one had been buried in the cemetery since the late 1800's. We walked a little further down the road since I wanted to see if I could locate the site of the Methodist Church which had been disbanded in 1930. The description was correct when it stated that no trace remained. we walked back to the Long Path to continue our hike. As we rounded a turn in the trail the lean-to was right before us. It seemed to be in good shape but I did not see a privy and the spring was further down the trail. I took a few shots and then we continued on toward our destination which was only .8 miles away in a straight line. Knowing trails seldom take the shortest route I wondered how much we would wander to get there.

After the lean-to the trail began to head south which annoyed me since I knew we needed to go southeast. It seemed to be following some of the woods roads in the state forest but then suddenly veered off to traverse some very wet and muddy ground. We passed through or walked along a number of stone walls some of which were quite high. Sheila decided to jump up on one to get a good look around so I took her picture. I checked my GPS to find that we seemed to be going too far south but then at 3.8 miles we turned east. The trail started to descend a little more steeply to a stream where there was no bridge. The water level was low and we easily crossed and climbed the far bank. Through the trees I could see a road. As we continued to descend and approached the road there was another cemetery. This one was smaller and probably older than the one on Rossman Hill. I could not clearly read any of the grave markers. To me these cemeteries are part of the history of the region but I find it sad that they are all but abandoned with no one to care or care for them. We walked down to the road and turned left to walk to where the trail entered the woods since I wanted to be sure we had made the connection with the hike from the previous day. At 12:10 PM about 4.3 miles into the hike, we turned around to retrace our route back to the car. I knew it should take less time as I did not intend to stop to investigate or take pictures and the trip back was more downhill. We set a good pace on the way back. As we passed the pond, the two people were still enjoying their day. Soon we were on the steep descent to Panther Creek. The noise of the water in the stream was so alluring I almost walk over to take a look. I resisted the temptation and by 1:10 PM we had hiked 6.6 miles are were back at the bridge over Panther Creek. We walked along the edge of the creek and up through the field. I put my poles away and put Sheila on her leash. The road walk back seemed short and we were back at the car by 1:45 PM having hiked 8.2 miles in a little over 3.5 hours. The vertical gain was 1390 feet with 300 feet of this being the first road walk and 700 more feet coming on the ascent up Rossman Hill. I had thought I would also be able to hike from Creamery Road to Doney Hollow to connect two section of trail but it was a little too lake to accomplish this goal

On Tuesday, July 29th I wanted to go back to Schoharie County and start a new section of trail from Doney Hollow to West Fulton. I planned to break then hike into two sections with the middle point being the place where the trail meets Old Cemetery Road. The weather forecast was good but there was a chance of an afternoon shower. I wanted to leave Livingston Manor early but had to meet with a contractor at our church at 8:30 AM. The contractor arrived early and the meeting was short so I was able to leave just after 8:30 AM. I got Sheila in the car and we headed up the Beaverkill Road to the Barkaboom Road. At the end of the road I turned right on BWS 10 and took it to Route 28 in Margaretville. We turned right and then left to follow Route 30 through Margaretville, Roxbury and Grand Gorge. Just after coming to North Blenheim, I turned left on West Kill Road and drove a little over two miles where there was a small pulloff on the left side of the road. We got ourselves ready and started our hike at 10:05 AM by walking along the road and over a bridge to the point where the trail cut right into the woods. The trail followed a woods road but after a short distance left the road to climb a bank. After another short distance, the trail rejoined the road. I wondered why the trail didn't simply stay on the road! For the next 1.6 miles the trail stayed mostly on woods roads paralleling a small creek. There were no majestic views over the countryside but there was a lot of evidence of past habitation. At about 1.25 miles there was a large pile of stones across the stream. It took me a minute to realize that this was once a dam and the site of one of two water-powered sawmills. On the other side of the trail was a set of stone steps that led to a foundation. After taking a few pictures, we continued our hike. We were passing by the summit of Burnt Hill. The area got its name from the frequent fires that were purposefully set in the early 1900's to improve the blueberry crops.

Within a short distance, at about 1.9 miles, the trail crossed Burnt Hill Road. The road was little more than a single lane dirt and gravel woods road at this point. We crossed the road and at 2.25 miles came to a short side trail on the left that led to a small but pretty pond. I could see a road or trail on the other side. We stopped and I took a few shots before continuing on the main trail. A little passed the pond we began a rather steep descent to Cole Hollow Brook. The ground was wet and the rocks covered with slippery moss. In .6 miles we dropped over 400 feet and I was not looking forward to the return trip up the slippery slope. We walked another quarter mile northwest along the brook before the trail came to Cole Hollow Road. Along the way there were several "pool diggers" in the brook. These artificial "waterfalls" oxygenate the water and help to erode small pools. Both of these actions help trout and other game fish to survive when the water level is low and the temperature rises. We turned left on Cole Hollow Road and walked to about 4 miles where the road turned left. We continued straight ahead on what is marked as Thomson Road on many maps. The old name for the road is Huckleberry Kingdom Road reflecting the importance of that "crop" in the area. We walked along this road for only about .5 miles where the road turned left into the woods. Just before this turn there was a homestead on the right side of the road. This was the site of the home of Henry Conklin. Conklin authored the book Through "Poverty's Vale", which details the difficulty of living in area in the 1840s.

The trail traveled along a stream and there was a healthy crop of nettles to wade through. The trail is little traveled and the nettles were so annoying I thought about giving up and turning around. Fortunately, the trail entered a pine forest and seemed to follow a woods road which made the hike more pleasant in several ways. At about 5 miles we crossed a small stream on a bridge and the trail intersected with a gravel road. The road was marked as Old Cemetery Road on my GPS and I knew this was as far as I wanted to go on this section of the hike. I wanted to avoid the climb back up from Cole Hollow and wanted a different view of the area. I decided to hike south on Old Cemetery Road and then take one of the CCC roads south to Burnt Hill Road near the pond we had passed by earlier. It was 12:30 PM when we turned left onto the road and we were about 5.2 miles into the hike. Walking the roads was much easier than the trails particularly because of the level surface. At 6.3 miles we stayed to the right at a fork in the road to get on one of the many CCC roads in the area. This road had a very good gravel surface and was easy to walk although it headed uphill toward the pond and Burnt Hill. At 7.5 miles I was actually surprised that we passed so close to the pond we had been at earlier. It was obvious that the road I had seen earlier on the other side of the pond was the one we were walking on. I decided to continue out to Burnt Hill Road where we turned left and headed back toward the trail which we would take back to the car. As we were hiking along, I was thinking hard about something and missed the turn onto the trail. We turned around and after a very short distance Sheila turned left into the woods. I was about to call her back when I realized she had turned onto the trail! The rest of then hike was a repeat of what we had done earlier only in reverse. When we got to the point where the trail left the woods road, I could see why this was necessary. The woods road was severely eroded and all but disappeared into the small creek. We were back at the car at 2:15 PM having hiked 9.7 miles in just over 4 hours. The vertical gain was 1770 feet.

On Friday, July 25th I was still a little tired from the hike day before. The weather forecast was so perfect I decided to go back to the Mine Kill Falls area and hike from Conesville To Mine Kill Falls. I knew this route had a lot of road walking and that this would make my estimated 12 mile route easier than hiking it all on trails. to leave Livingston Manor just before8:00 AM. We headed to Roscoe on Route 17. From Roscoe we went north on Route 206 to the Pepacton reservoir and turned right when we got to the T at Route 30. We followed Route 30 to the Dunraven Bridge and then took BWS 10 to Route 28 near Margaretville. We turned right and then left to follow Route 30 through Margaretville, Roxbury and Grand Gorge. In about 5 miles we were at the junction with Route 990V and turned right. I drove about 3 miles to Conesville and turned right on the Prattsville Road. Just after crossing the bridge, I parked on the side of the road. It was 9:20 AM and both Sheila and I were ready to start our hike right away! We walked back across the bridge to Route 990V and turned left to hike the shoulder oft he road back toward Gilboa. I had a trail description with distance but no real map to follow. The road had a lot of traffic but Sheila knows how to walk on a leash. The shoulder was wide enough in most places but did get narrow in some others. The road rolled a little until we passed the Gilboa-Conesville School on the right at about 1 mile. Just after this the road narrows for the ongoing construction on the dam. We crossed to the other side of the road briefly and started a descent to the post office. Just after the post office there is a small display of fossils found when excavating the reservoir. More fossils are in a small museum on Stryker Road. The museum in only open on summer weekends from 12:00 PM to 4:30 PM! The descent continued to 1.9 miles when we crossed Schoharie Creek on the road bridge. From here we walked up hill to the right turn onto Stryker Road. Stryker Road is now a dead end from both directions and is closed to through traffic. I did not know what caused this closure and was interested to find out.

Walking on Stryker Road was a pleasure since the traffic was light. As we walked we passed a farm on the left that seemed to have exotic animals but none were present in the fields. At about 2.6 miles we passed the barrier that blocked traffic but I did not immediately see the reason. As we walked around the barrier, I could see that the creek had undercut the road on the right side making it dangerous for any traffic. I stopped to take a few pictures and noticed what seemed to be more erosion downstream. We continued to walk down the road with Sheila now freed from her leash as there was no possibility of traffic. At 3.1 miles ether were a series of rock ledges at the side of the road. The first did not look as promising as the second so I continued passed it. As I approached the second ledge, the road all but disappeared. I stopped to take a few pictures up and down the creek and of the damage it had caused to the road. A little farther along the road was down to a single track for walking! From the road I could see a huge area of erosion ahead where an entire hillside seemed to be in danger of collapsing into the creek! The road became a road again and started to climb. We came to the last barrier at around 3.3 miles and I put Sheila back on her leash. As we continued toward the Nickerson Park Campgrounds, I noticed ribbons and flagging along the road. At 3.5 miles we turned into the campground and followed the aqua blazes behind the store and down the main camp road. The flagging and ribbons continued through the campgrounds. At one point we cut to the right off the road onto a trail but then came right back to the road after a short distance. I was trying to follow the description that I had printed out but soon realized that the blazes were all that I needed. When we were passing by the pool, I asked someone about the flagging and they told me that the campgrounds would host a warrior run on Saturday! We continued through the campgrounds staying mostly on the roads and following the blazes.

Eventually we ran out of campground roads and entered the woods on a trail at about 4.4 miles. The trail was muddy in spots and at about 4.75 miles began a short but steep climb. At the top the trail leveled and made a sharp right turn to head directly for Schoharie Creek. At 4.9 miles there was a nice viewpoint upstream and down to the water at least 50 feet below. Some clouds were beginning to appear in the sky allowing for better pictures. After taking a few shots we continued along the rim of the gorge. This continued for about a quarter of a mile and we stopped several more times so that I could get some more shots. During one stop, I heard someone behind us clear his voice. I was surprised to see a mountain biker right behind us! We said "Hello" and he asked some questions about the trail. I told him what I knew and Sheila and I continued on our way. Soon the trail descended steeply and then made a sharp left turn to run along the banks of a small stream parallel to the main creek. We walked upstream and took a break by walking down the steep bank to a rock shelf on the edge of the water. Sheila immediately dove in to swim as I took some pictures. When she exited the stream, she proceeded to shake off the excess water all over me! I though this was the Mine Kill but a look at the GPS showed we were just crossing a smaller stream. We continued to walk upstream until a set of stepping stones let us cross. On the other side we walked along the bank back downstream until the trail cut up the bank. At the top of the climb we were at a powerline right-of-way where the trail markers led us right and then left up the bank to the woods.

At 5.8 miles we were within sight of the Mine Kill and we made a hard left to begin walking parallel to the stream. The distance I was getting on my GPS were farther than the distances in the description. The trail kept climbing and at 6.7 miles we passed the cutoff to the lower part of Mine Kill Falls. It was a quick walk to the parking area where I collapsed by poles and stowed them in my pack and put Sheila on her leash. We were now at 7.1 miles and I had decided to walk the roads back to the Nickerson Park Campgrounds. Surprisingly it was only about .4 miles on Route 30 and another mile to the campgrounds on Stryker Road. Along the way we passed by the staging area and start line for the Warrior Run. Once we were at the campground road, we simply reversed the walk from earlier in the morning. It went quicker than I thought it might. This time as we passed the farm we could here a peacock. Sheila seemed very interested in the sound but I encouraged her to keep walking. We turned left into Route 990V at 9.8 miles and walked down to the bridge. After crossing the bridge, we began the uphill climb passed the dam and school. When we had walked down the hill in the morning, I thought that walking back up would be tiring. We actually made very good time up the hill with Sheila giving me a little assistance. The final mile back to the car went quickly and the GPS had just registered 12 miles when we returned to the car at 1:50 PM. We had hiked 11.9 miles in just under 4.5 hours with a vertical gain of 1750 feet. I considered walking down the bank to get some pictures of Manor Kill Falls but decided the water volume was not sufficient to make the pictures interesting.

On Thursday, July 24th I had planned to hike a section of the Long Path starting at Mine Kill Falls and heading north. After hiking the day before, I did not know if Cindy would feel like coming but she said she was interested so we decided to go. We wanted to get an early start but it always seems something interferes. After taking care of some issues, we were able to leave Livingston Manor just before 9:00 AM. headed to Roscoe on Route 17. From Roscoe we went north on Route 206 to the Pepacton reservoir and turned right when we got to the T at Route 30. We followed Route 30 to the Dunraven Bridge and then took BWS 10 to Route 28 near Margaretville. We turned right and then left to follow Route 30 through Margaretville, Roxbury and Grand Gorge. In about 6 miles we were at the entrance to Mine Kill Falls and turned right to park in the parking area. This was the first time we had been at these falls in the morning and I expected the light to be much better than in the afternoon. There were no other cars in the lot as we walked down the wooden stairs to the overlook platform. The light was coming from behind us as we took pictures of the falls under the bridge and the falls directly below us. The interesting patterns cut by the water overtime are probably better seen in person. We walked back up to the top of the stairs and then turned left to walk to the base of the falls. This part of the trail is also part of the Long Path. We walked to the plunge pool at the bottom of the falls and again had good lighting for pictures. As we started to photograph the sun came out from behind the clouds and was a little too bright. The amount of water going over the falls seemed small since I thought it would be augmented by the recent rain. After taking our pictures we walked back uphill to the car to begin the main part of the hike. We had already hiked .85 miles and spent about half an hour around the falls. The distances in the following description are minus the .85 miles we spent walking around the falls.

The Long Path has been rerouted to cross the Mine Kill on the Route 30 bridge as the crossing downstream proved to be unreliable. We walked out the entrance road for the park to Route 30 and turned right to cross the bridge. Just after the bridge the Long Path descended a steep bank on the right side of the road and I was sorry I had decided to leave my poles in the car. I let Sheila off her leash so that she could explore. The trail began to descend through some evergreens and paralleled the Mine Kill for about .5 miles. We hit a low point and the trail then started to turn ENE and away from the creek. We began to ascend gaining about 250 feet over the next .4 miles. We broke out of the woods at the main access road into the Mine Kill State Park. The Long Path continued along a path mowed in the grass and paralleled Route 30. The markings were pretty easy to follow. The park seems to be well-used and is installing a disk golf course to complement the pool, ball fields and courts. At 1.2 miles the Long Path turned right and headed downhill a little toward the soccer fields and picnic grove. We headed to the left toward a break in the trees which turned out to be a woods road where we turned left at 1.4 miles. The path was clearly labeled and blazed. Walking this path was easy on the feet and we soon came out of the trees to an open field with a series of cedar trees. The trees had been planted and protected by fencing to allow the deer to forage but not destroy the trees. The sun was out but a slight breeze was blowing. We walked slightly up hill through the field to the Visitor's Center for the Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project. We were about 2.1 miles into the hike when we passed the solar array and windmill. We waked over to the flagpole and found a beautiful view down the Schoharie Valley and into the lower reservoir. Water is pumped from the lower to the upper reservoir during off peak hours. During high demand hours the water is released and turns turbines to generate power. From the flagpole we walked in back of the Visitor's Center and then headed a little left to walk in front of Lansing Manor. I took some pictures before continuing on the Long Path heading north.

As we left Lansing Manor, the blazes became harder to spot but we soon saw that the idea was to walk around the edge of the "lawns" to a break in the woods. There were paint blazes but we had to really strain to see them. At 2.6 miles we entered the woods and the trail changed dramatically. The Long Path began to drop dramatically and it was obvious the trail was not much used or maintained. At 2.8 miles we began to fight our way through weeds and briars to a microwave tower. Just passed this point there was a nice lookout to the dam on the reservoir. I stopped to take a few more pictures before continuing the descent through the woods. I guess the blazes were clear enough as we found our way without too much problem. At 3.45 miles we came to the New York Power Authority North Access Road where there was a small parking area. I had thought we might turn around here or walk the road out to route 30. I consulted my GPS and found it was only a short distance on the trail to Route 30 and I suggested we hike the trail to the road and then use the road to return at least part way. We crossed the road and headed to the left. Soon we could see the blazes that indicated we should cross the road and head down another steep bank as the trail neared Schoharie Creek again. There was a jumble of weeds and vines but these had been cut back and we were soon very near the creek. We walked about .4 miles with the trail sandwiched between the road and the creek. At 3.9 miles the Long Path climbed to the road on a set of stairs. We turned right at the top and walked the outside of the guardrail until we got to Route 30 where we turned left to walk the shoulder.

What was not completely clear from the GPS was that Route 30 ascends from the North Access Road almost all the way to Lansing Manor. We were now also completely exposed to the sun. Sheila actually walks very nicely on her leash and gives me a slight pull up the hills. As we approached Lansing Manor, I suggested we walk down to the trail and follow it over to Mine Kill State Park so that we could avoid the traffic on Route 30. As we turned into Lansing Manor, we had been hiking uphill for about 1.6 miles. We turned left to walk down the entrance road to the trail about 5.7 miles into the hike. Cindy took a brief rest on a bench under the trees while we got and drink and while I took some pictures of the geese on a small pond. After the break we headed back to the trail that we had used earlier in the morning to get back to Mine Kill. At the park we walked out passed the pool to the main entrance road to Route 30. We turned left on Route 30 and hiked the last .7 miles back to the car. We arrived back in the parking area at a few minutes after 2:00 PM. We had hiked a total of ,8.8 miles in 4 hours with a verbal gain of 1460 feet.

On Wednesday, July 23rd I wanted to celebrate my birthday by hiking with Cindy and Karl. Karl had a real estate closing in the morning but said he would be ready by about noon. Karl made it to our hose at the appointed time and we were ready to leave by 12:15 PM. I had decided since time was limited we could do a short hike but we all wanted something new and a little different. I chose the new trails on Palmer Hill that had been constructed by the Catskill Mountain Club and opened this summer. When I looked on their website the description said that the trailhead parking was on Finkle Road about 2 miles east of Andes on Route 28. We all got into our car with our gear and, of course, Sheila and headed to Roscoe on Route 17. From Roscoe we went north on Route 206 to the Pepacton reservoir and turned right when we got to the T at Route 30. We followed Route 30 all the way to Route 28 and turned left. As we began to head up Palmer Hill we found Finkle Road on the right and pulled into the parking area. The view from the parking area was great. A signboard showed a picture of the view with all the peaks and hills labeled. All the peaks from Balsam Lake and Graham through Doubletop and Balsam were visible. There was some haze in the air. The temperature was in the high 80's and the humidity made it feel well over 90. Thunderstorms were predicted for around 4:00 PM so we started in on our hike almost immediately. The first half mile of the trail descends to a small brook. The trail passes through wide corridors which have been mowed through the grass and then enters the woods on an old road. Just after the brook crossing are the foundations from a farm and then the first trail junction.

The trail junction is sort of a "times square" since at this point you can choose to do the upper meadow or lower meadow. Cindy suggested that any climbing that had to be done should be at the beginning of the hike and so we turned left to start to the upper meadow. The trail shortly entered the woods and began a half mile ascent to the highest point on the hike. The vertical gain was only about 250 feet and the average grade was around 9%. There were a few steeper areas which were between 15% and 20% for short distances. Along the way we saw some nice stone walls as we looped in a clockwise direction. At the high point we broke out into a field with some since views of the surrounding hills. The trail the began to descend for about .4 miles back to the trail junction losing around 200 feet. We turned left at the junction and almost immediately came to another split in the trail. The left fork has not labeled so we strayed to the right and continued to descend through paths mowed through the field. At 1.85 miles we hit the lowest spot on the hike and walk beneath some powerlines for a short distance. The skies that had been blue with white clouds were beginning to get grayer with much darker clouds. We left and then rejoined the powerlines and at 2.1 miles completed the turn and started back toward the trail junction. Our route roughly parallel our path on the way out but wound through the trees and had a few ups and downs. By 2.75 miles we were back at the trail junction and continued back up the woods road and back to the car. We were back in the parking area by 2:50 PM having covered 3.3 miles in a little under 1.5 hours. The vertical gain was only 650 feet. To get back home we drove into Andes and took the Tremperskill Road back to Route 30.

On Tuesday, July 22nd I to continue to work on the Shawangunk Ridge Trail. I decided to go to Minnewaska to hike the Jenny Lane Trail to the Rainbow falls Trail and over Litchfield Ledge. I knew that I could reverse the route to get back or decide to try a loop. Sheila and I left Livingston Manor and drove through Grahamsville on Route 55. We took a shortcut to Route 209 and then took Route 44/55 over the mountain to the Jenny Lane Parking area just before the Minnewaska State Park entrance. We started our hike along the road at about 9:00 AM and I missed the faint paint blaze and blue disk on the other side of the road the first time. We crossed the road and were soon on the trail which is less used than many in the park. Soon we came across a tree hanging in the middle of the trail and I knew we were on the Shawangunk Ridge Trail. We gained a little elevation and passed over some open rocks before coming to an area where the trail is deeply eroded and lined by laurel. I was watching my foot placement as many of the rocks were slippery. Just before a mile I looked ahead to see that some brush blocked the trail and that Sheila was simply sitting on the trail waiting for me. I thought this strange as she normally would just go around the obstruction but she does sometimes wait for me. When I got to her, I decided to walk around the brush to the left as it seemed others had gone that way. I took half a step into the brush and hear the unmistakable "zingggg" of an Eastern timber rattlesnake. I looked down and saw a four foot snake coiled and rattling as loudly as it could. Sheila never moved! I thought about going around. I thought about taking a picture! I finally did the right thing and turned around to hike back to the car! I had not expected to see a rattlesnake on the east side of Route 44/55 although I have seen them by the Peters Kill on the west side. I decided that if there was one there might be more and I did not want to take a chance with the Sheila. If I had been alone, which I seldom am, I might have walked around and continued the hike. I was disappointed that I had to cut the hike short but I feel it was the right choice. I decided that the rest of the SRT near Port Jervis and Minnewaska and wait until after the first snow as I now have seen rattlesnakes recently in both areas. Seeing the snake raised questions in my mind about rattlesnake bites and emergency medical care and I will be investigating the answers.

On Sunday, July 20th I had planned to go with my wife, Cindy, to Mine Kill State Forest near Middleburgh and to hike part of the Long Path in that area. The weather forecast changed from sunny to overcast with a chance of rain. When We decided to change plans Cindy decided she did not want to hike. I wanted to continue to work on the Shawangunk Ridge Trail. I decided to go to Ellenville and park near the beginning of the South Gully Trail on Route 52 and hike south to at least the yellow connector trail. I had in mind about a 6 mile round trip and could always decide to go a little farther. This would connect the northern and southern sections of the trail I had already hiked. Sheila was ready to go even after a day off on Saturday and we left Livingston Manor after church around 11:00 AM. I took the Quickway to Liberty where I picked up Route 52 which I took through Woodbourne and Ellenville. As I drove up the mountain outside Ellenville heading toward Pine Bush, I pulled over just after the South Gully bridge. I turned around and parked on the wide shoulder. Sheila and I were ready to go 11:45 as we tagged the beginning of the South Gully Trail and then crossed the road to pick up the Long Path and SRT heading south. The trail descended from the road and the trail marking immediately disappeared at a T! We turned left on what is marked on the maps as Old Route 52 and soon found the aqua blazes of the Long Path which seemed to alternate with the dark blue blazes of the SRT. The road was wide and grassy at this point as we headed mostly uphill. We continued on the road which became MUCH rockier in places but continued to head uphill on a very slight grade. We crossed several small streams heading generally southwest. At 2.4 miles the trail suddenly turned 180 degrees and headed northeast to avoid descending into a deep ravine. At 2.6 miles we reached a trail junction with the yellow connector trail continuing straight ahead to a parking area on Route 52. This was as far as I "had" to go but not as far as I wanted to go. We turned right to stay on the Long Path and SRT.

The trail immediately began to climb up a ridge and was at times steep. There were open rock faces to climb over and some were a little slippery from the accumulation of pine needles. Within a short distance there was an open rock face with some nice views to the west and north. I stopped to take some pictures despite a slight haze in the distance. I could see some of the Catskill peaks to the north. The ascent continued for another .6 miles gaining 675 feet with an average grade of right around 20% but with some areas nearly 30%. It was a nice climb and several times I thought I was at the top only to find higher ground ahead. I had thought about stopping at 3 miles but decided we would continue to the highest point on the ridge and turn around when the trail started to descend. In two or three more spots there were open views from rock faces and we stopped as I took some more shots. The trail began to level off at 3.25 miles and became completely overgrown by laurel and scrub oak. This neglect for the trail had been my experience on previous hikes and it is a shame. Not many people hike the trail so the vegetation does not get pushed back and since it is not much used it is not well maintained so people don't hike it! At about 3.4 miles we came across a young man sitting on a rock by the side of the trail. We talked for a few minutes. He said the trail ahead was even more overgrown. I showed him the Avenza app on my cell phone that displays many trail maps in pdf form and also shows your position and will record a GPS track. We walked a little farther to 3.5 miles and the turned around to come back at around 1:30 PM. The young man was gone and we set a quick pace as we had already seen what was to be seen. We passed the hiker after bit as he was sitting in the shade. The return trip went much faster as it was mostly downhill. I had to be careful descending to the woods road as the trail was steep and slippery in spots. We hit the woods road at 2:00 PM about 4.3 miles into the hike. The hike back form that point was uneventful but the rocky portions were annoying. We did meet a pickup truck headed toward us at one point. We were back at the car just before 3:00 PM having covered 6.9 miles in 3 hours and 12 minutes. The total vertical gain was 1594 feet.

On Friday, July 18th I wanted to continue to work on the Shawangunk Ridge Trail near Wurtsboro. I decided to go to Wurtsboro and park near Haven Road to hike to the VFW in Wurtsboro to connect the northern and southern sections of the trail I had already hiked. Sheila was ready to go even after a long hike the day before and we left Livingston Manor just before 8:30 AM. I turned off the Quickway at the exit for Route 209 and headed south toward Port Jervis. I drove about 2 miles south and turned left on Haven Road. I followed the road as it crossed over the Basha Kill. At the first intersection I turned left and parked in the large lot. We got out of the car and were ready to hike by 9:05 AM. We headed northeast on the old railroad bed which makes up a good part of the SRT in this area. It was warm but not really hot and the humidity was manageable. As we hiked there were no blazes for either the SRT or Long Path but I have gotten use to this. Within a short distance was a nice viewpoint over the Basha Kill to the ridges beyond. It was still a little hazy and I decided to wait until the return trip to take pictures. As we hiked along there were some areas where recent storms had brought down large trees across the trail. None of the trail had been maintained in any way which is shame since it gets so much use. We continued along and encountered a few wet areas on the trail and some mud. There were also several places where old wooden bridges were needed to cross the water. These bridges are slowly deteriorating and the whole atmosphere was one of neglect. It is a shame as this is a beautiful area and used by many different types of people. I was wondering how we would get across Route 17 and at 1.8 miles I found out. There is a bridge over the old railroad bed that allows hikers and wildlife to pass under the highway without a problem! At 2.3 miles we ran out of trail and began the road walk to our turn around point.

As we started the road walk, I check my map and could see that the railroad bed continued on and would cut some distance off the hike. I do not know why the trail turned left on South Road but we followed the assigned route. South Road eventually turned into Pennsylvania Avenue. It was rather pleasant walking on the flat and level road. As we neared town, we came across the D and H Canal Linear Park. A sign explained that Wurtsboro was named after Maurice Wurts who was the president and founder of the D and H Canal. There was also a stone snubbing post that was used to control the coal barges. When we arrived at Sullivan Avenue, the main street of Wurtsboro, we turned right and headed southeast, crossing the old railroad bed again at 3.8 miles. To this point the hike had been nearly flat and we had gained only 100 feet. This changed as we left the Village of Wurtsboro and headed up the hill to VFW Road. In truth the "climb" was only about 200 feet in .7 miles making an average grade of only 6%. The traffic seemed heavy but the shoulders of the main road were wide. When we arrived at the VFW post there were a few members present and we walked through the parking lot to the beginning of the trail just to make sure everything was connected. We turned around at 10:40 PM to return to the car after hiking 4.5 miles.

On the way back we stopped several times for some photography. As we descended into Wurtsboro I took a few shots of the clouds which where billowing and puffy. I noticed that there was an almost constant stream of takeoffs from the airport and in most cases it was a tow plane with a glider behind. We walked back through Wurtsboro and stopped at the Liner Park so that I could take a few pictures of the signs.

On Thursday, July 17th I wanted to hike closer to home but still be able to work on a long distance trail. I decided to go to Wurtsboro and work on connecting the portions of the Shawangunk Ridge Trail that I had completed. I decided to hike the section of the SRT from Guymard Turnpike to Hawthorne Lake. My plan was to park on the Guymard Turnpike and to hike the trail to Hawthorne Lake and then return by reversing the route. I was a little apprehensive as the lower end of the hike is near the Leap ridge Trail where I have seen rattlesnakes in years past. Sheila was ready to go after several days on inactivity and we left Livingston Manor just before 8:00 AM. I turned off the Quickway at the exit for Route 209 and headed south toward Port Jervis. I drove about 11 miles south passing Route 211 and turned left on Guymard Turnpike. I followed the road through its twists and turns for about 2 miles to just before it crossed over the railroad tracks making an almost 180 degree turn. I found the small pulloff on the left side of the road and turned around and parked. I was careful to pick the parking spot without the "NO PARKING PROPERTY OF CONRAIL" sign! It was 8:40 AM when Sheila and I left the car and crossed the tracks to start our hike. The temperature was still in the high 60's so I chose to wear a long-sleeved shirt which seems to keep the bugs off me. Once we crossed the tracks I could not find any blazes but it seemed we should proceed along the tracks as that is what my maps seemed to indicate. The lack of blazes bothered me only a little as I have come to realize that the marking of the SRT and Long Path in this area is poor. We walked along the tracks for about .3 miles when I spied some aqua blazes on the trees in the woods to the left. We scrambled up the steep bank and found the trail. The blazes extend back behind us and I was anxious to see where the trail actually went on the way back. From this point on the trail rose and fell a little as we walked through both hardwood and softwood forest. Areas of the trail were muddy and we crossed several small streams and passed by a few small ponds. There were some very slippery places along the way and I was careful to keep my footing. At 1.6 miles we came to a woods road and turned right. Posted signs on both sides of the trail reminded me we should both stay on the trail. At one point the Long Path cut off to the left and we blazes changed from the aqua Long Path blazes to the dark blue of the SRT.

At 2.3 miles we came to an old wooden bridge over the tracks and the trail blazes indicated a right turn. I wondered how advisable this was since the bridge decking looked none too sturdy and a sign stated it was condemned! On the other side I could pick up no blazes even after walking down the road. We returned to the bridge and walked down the steep bank to the tracks and crossed over since I knew we were supposed to be down near the tracks. As we turned right to head south, I noticed the blue blazes going under the bridge behind us. This was another area I would explore on the return trip. I knew that we had to walk the tracks and then cut up to the left at some time. I did not know how far we had to walk and as we continued it seemed we were going too far. If I had any confidence in the trail blazes, I would not have been so anxious! Just when I though I might give up and turn around I could hear rushing water ahead. I knew that the trail cut into the woods near a stream and right after the stream I saw the blazes at about 3.1 miles. We turned left and immediately started the biggest ascent of the day. Over the next .8 miles we climbed about 600 feet through several switchbacks and areas of very challenging trail. At times it seemed we were walking in a rocky stream bed. At 3.6 miles there was an open rock face which served as a nice lookout. I stopped to take a few shots although it was still hazy. I thought about stopping on the way back if the haze had cleared. We were now in Huckleberry Ridge State Forest. From this point on I kept Sheila close to me as I was concerned about snakes! After finishing the climb we immediately started a slight descent and then another ascent. The trail was well packed in most places. There was an area of puncheons that were so slippery I decided to take my chances with the wet ground! Along the way I noticed a few medium-sized bear tracks in the mud. At 5.25 miles we broke out of the woods into the parking area near Hawthorne Lake. This was already turning out to be a little farther than it had measured but I wanted to see the lake and take some pictures. We walked along the road but there were no good views so we turned around to start back to the car.

As we re-entered the woods, I saw a trail that seemed to head toward the lake. My feet were getting a little sore and I felt 10.5 miles would be enough for the day. We continued on the main trail and I chose a spot to stop and tape two toes that had hot spots. This helped I was able to continue with no problem. We stopped at the lookout again and I took a few more pictures as the haze had cleared and some puffy white clouds had rolled in. We descended the ridge to the tracks and started north. This part of the hike was very flat but walking on the stones of the railbed was uncomfortable. The puffy white clouds began to grow dark and I heard some rumbling so I assumed we would get at least some rain. When we came to the condemned bridge, We followed the blazes underneath the bridge and up the steep bank. The bank was slippery but I think it was a better route than across the bridge we continued on our way following the blazes back to the woods road where they were again aqua. The return trip was going quickly as I did not have to search and wonder which way to go. With under a mile to go, we were crossing a small stream when I stepped on a slippery rock and fell hard. I skinned my left knee and bruised my right hip but was otherwise was OK. I was again reminded that even a simple, almost flat hike can have some pitfalls. As we neared the end of the hike, I was careful to follow the blazes and not our original route. The blazes led up to and across the Guymard Turnpike on the other side of the bridge. We crossed the road and jumped the guardrail to follow the blazes down through the woods,1 across a small ditch and up to the tracks. At this point we walked beside the tracks to the area just across from our car. We crossed the tracks and were back at the car by 1:30 PM. we had covered 10.4 miles in 4 hours and 45 minutes with a vertical gain of 1794 feet all of which was in Huckleberry Ridge State Forest.

On Saturday, July 12th I wanted to hike closer to home than New Jersey, the northern Catskills or Cortland. All these locations would help me work on some long distance trail but where too far from home. I decided to go to Wurtsboro and work on connecting the portions of the Shawangunk Ridge Trail that I had completed. I decided to connect the Basha Kill with the Graham Fire Tower hike we had done. My plan was to park on Route 61 (Otisville Road) near the Basha Kill and to hike the trail to the cutoff to the Graham Fire Tower. Sheila was ready to go despite the long hike from the day before and we left Livingston Manor just before 8:30 AM. I turned off the Quickway at the exit for Route 209 and headed south toward Port Jervis. I could immediately see some of the damage from the recent storms as several large tree lay by the side of the road or in yards. I drove about 6 miles south and turned left on Route 61. Just before the bridge over the Basha Kill I parked in a small lot on the right side of the road. I got out of the car to try to determine where the trail was located. I knew that it was located along Indian Orchard Road as we had hiked on that section when we hiked around the Basha Kill wetlands. I was unsure where the trail went from that point. I walked up the road with Sheila causing a scene since I had left her in the car. The Long Path marking seemed to indicate the trail went southeast on Route 61. I went back to the car an consulted the map on my cell phone as I had not brought along a printed map! It seemed that the trail did follow the road briefly before heading left into the woods. I put Sheila on her leash and got my gear ready and left the car at about 9:00 AM. We walked along the road for about .25 miles and found the point where the trail crossed the road. The bank was very steep and the trail went through several switchbacks as it climbed toward the top of the ridge. Over the next .75 miles we gained over 400 feet. The thing that surprised me the most was that the trail showed almost no signs of use. Also, it looked as if the trail markers had been put on the trees and little effort had been made to clear a trail or maintain what had been marked. This certainly would be easier if someone actually used the trail. The trail meandered back and forth and at about 1.75 miles we hit the highest point at 1035 feet. The trail never actually hits the highest point on the ridge which seems to be about 1200 feet.

As we walked along the ridge, there were no opportunities for views and very little of interest. The most exciting moment was when we cam across a very large orange fungus on the forest floor! I stopped to take some pictures just to break up the monotony. Around 1 mile we made a turn onto a wide and well-maintained woods road and I thought it would be nice to follow it for awhile. This lasted until about 1.25 miles when we again turned into the woods as the trail left the road. At 1.8 miles we started on a slight descent and the trail seemed to split with the marked trail going to the right. We took the left fork which led to a nice viewpoint over the valley below. The day was somewhat hazy and there wasn't much to see but having some view was welcome. We stopped so that I could take a few shots. The Otisville Road was visible below and seemed very close. After taking some pictures, we went back to the main trail and began a descent to the road. The trail was more used here and was lined with a fluorescent green moss. In .2 miles we dropped a little over 200 feet and at the end we were almost at the road. As had been the case all along the markers really didn't indicate where we should go but we ended up on the side of the road. I looked around for some indication of which way we should turn. There were absolutely no markers or paint blazes to show where we should go. I again consulted my cell phone and decided to turn left and walk up the hill. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked a short distance without seeing any blazes. At this point some other hikers were walking down the road on the other side. We conversed and they said they were following the Long Path also and were surprised at the lack of markings. We talked for a moment and then headed in our opposite directions. I would respectfully request that those responsible for the trail improve the marking and do some maintenance to make it more obvious. We walked up Route 61 to Route 211 where a parking area on the left had some blazes. We crossed the road and I immediately recognized that we would be walking on the old railroad bed for the rest of hike out.

The railroad bed runs southwest and parallel to the existing Conrail tracks. It is very level and very straight for most of its length. The surface varies from hard-packed cinders to areas that have angular stones which makes walking more difficult. There are a few areas where water has accumulated but these are easily avoided. Sometimes it runs under the cover of trees but in other places it is completely open. The temperature was in the 80's on this day and it seemed very humid to me. I found that walking under the trees was cooler but there were more insects. When we broke out into the sunlight, it was warmer but there was a slight breeze and fewer insects to bother us. Shortly after the beginning of the railroad bed a huge powerline came in from the west and then followed the course of the railroad bed for some distance. At one point the two parted for a short distance but then joined again. At about 4.4 miles the powerline joined another and left the tracks. I knew that at about 5 miles we should run into the trails that went up the ridge to the Graham Fire Tower. Both the white Tower Trail and the red Ravine Trail originate in the same place but take different approaches to the top. We continued to walk but I did not see the markers for the trails. I thought parts of the hike began to look familiar but I had only been to the tower once and one part of the railroad bed looks a lot like the next. I kept checking my GPS against the map on my cell phone and became convinced that we had passed the trails. Soon we came to a side road off the railroad bed. I remembered this road from my previous visit and knew we had hiked almost to the Guymard Turnpike parking area.

At 6.4 miles I finally decided to turn around and head back at about 11:35 AM. On the way back I kept looking carefully to my right for the trails. At about 7.8 miles I saw the red markers to the right and a quick look showed this was the trail to the tower. Just a little further down the main trail there was a grassy area on the right. Two trees had blazes1 marked with three red and the other marked with three white indicating the beginning and end of the Ravine Trail and the Graham Fire Tower Trail. There were no signs on the main trail itself so be watchful when you hike this route. The trails are about 1.7 miles from the parking area on the Guymard Turnpike and 2.4 miles from the parking area at the intersection of Route 61 and Route 211. Once we found the trails I increased my pace. Sheila was already pretty far ahead and I called her back several times. She seemed to have a lot of energy for a hot day and a long hike! By 1:00 PM we had hiked 10.3 miles and were back at Route 61. I decided we would walk the Otisville Road back to the car as nothing on the SRT section had thrilled me. It was 1.7 miles back to the car and we arrived at 1:30 giving us a moving speed of 3.4 mph! We had covered 12 miles in 4.5 hours gaining 1376 feet in the process. I was glad to have connected two section of the SRT. I now need to connected High Point to Guymard and walk the short section from the Basha Kill to Wurtsboro to complete the trail.

On Friday, July 11th I was really ready to hike again after several days of heavy thunderstorms that made getting outside impossible! I wanted to continue my quest to complete some section of the long distance trails like the Long Path, FLT and AT. I decided to drive to northern New Jersey and park on Glenwood Road to hike "south" on the At toward Unionville. The AT actually heads west from Glenwood Road and passes through the Wallkill National Wildlife Refuge before getting to Unionville. Cindy and I had parked on Glenwood Road and hiked north so I knew exactly where I was parking. I got my gear ready to go and got Sheila in the car so that we could leave Livingston Manor right around 8:00 AM. I took Route 17 south and east to the exit for Florida. In only a little while the turn for Pulaski highway came up on the right so I turned and followed the signs to Pine Island. From Pine Island I headed south on Route 517 and then made a right on Route 565. When we passed the Vernon Township High School I knew we were close and I parked on the side of the road where the AT crossed. Sheila and I were ready to go at 9:15 AM. The temperature was in the high 70's and it seemed very humid to me. The first .1 miles was a slight downhill and we crossed some puncheons over marshy ground before beginning an ascent of about 1 mile. At about .6 miles we crossed a dirt road labeled Louemma Lane and I could hear what sounded like a camp at the lake to the north. We continued to hike to the top of a small hill gaining almost 500 feet in the first mile. After that we dropped slightly, before again gaining about the same elevation and coming to a lookout. The viewpoint was limited but I could see what looked like a marsh below. I took some shots before we continued to hike on the main trail. The hike had been mostly through hardwood forest and was a mixture of packed dirt in some spots and rocky traverses in others. We had met several groups of hikes along the way and with the exception of a few they were all hiking the AT from Georgia.

From the viewpoint the trail started a gentle descent. At one point I looked up to see a young woman hiking toward us. I was surprised to see she had only and Ipod and a bottle of water. As we talked she said she was a thruhiker and that someone ha picked her pack and gear up in Unionville and was taking it to Warwick! As we parted I wondered how she would fair with so little equipment and at lest 12 more miles of hiking ahead of her. A little further on I met two other women. One was section hiking "only about 300 miles". The other woman had hiked half the AT in 2013 and was back to complete the trail this year. They reinforced the idea that a large "bubble" of AT hikers were coming through the northern New Jersey area at this time. We said "Goodbye" and Sheila and I embarked on a very rocky descent where we lost over 500 feet of elevation in just .6 miles. We crossed over Lake Wallkill Road and then walked about .5 miles through a rather damp area. We were on puncheons for a good part of this distance. At the end we came to a wide "road" on the edge of a marsh where we turned left. We met one thruhiker seated on a bench and two more as we walked southwest on the "road". I finally realized that we were on an old railroad grade and that this was the wildlife refuge. The railroad grade seemed to stretch on forever so I stopped to take some pictures of the marsh and the hills beyond. They sky even had some puffy clouds against a little blue! After only .25 miles the AT signs indicated we should turn right. I decided we would go a little bit farther before turning around. As we walked on a well-maintained path between two areas of the marsh I began to notice thousands of little grasshoppers. There were quite a few red-wing blackbirds and I noticed a blue heron standing in the marsh. I stopped to get out my camera sure that he would fly away before I could get a shot. The bird remained fixed and I got several good pictures. As the heron took to flight I tried to get some shots and succeeded in getting one.

I decided we would continue around the marsh and after about .5 miles we made another right turn. At this point I decided to try to hike all the way around the marsh knowing that if a loop was not possible it would be a long way back. We were now hiking northeast toward Oil City Road. We passed a young man and woman with packs hiking in the opposite direction and said "Hello" as we passed. I stopped to take a few more pictures and to say "hello" to a wildlife biologist working in the marsh. At 11:45 AM we were 5 miles into the hike and made another right turn onto a path that paralleled Oil City Road. As we approach two women taking pictures, I asked if the trail went around the marsh and was received when they said "Yes". It was hotter and more humid now and I quickened my pace as I was anxious to get back under the trees. The path along the road was about .5 miles and at the end we made a right turn back onto the railroad grade. In another .5 miles we were back at the spot where the AT came out of the wood. We turned left and headed back toward the car. I was surprised that some of the climbs seemed so easy as I had not been looking forward to going up. There wasn't too much remarkable along the trail but I did stop at the viewpoint again to take a few shots. The haze had cleared and the white clouds in a blue sky were a nice backdrop. As we crossed one of the woods roads a little more than a mile from the car, we caught up to the young man and woman we had met while hiking around the marsh. We began to talk. They were thruhikers who were both from Wisconsin and on their first long distance hike. They seemed upbeat with both the physical capabilities and mental toughness needed to finish their journey. The young lady was looking forward to some ice cream and I suggested the Bellvale Creamery as they had planned to camp near Warwick. Soon we were at the car and we parted as they crossed the road to continue their hike. I estimated they had around 20 hard miles to get into Warwick! It was 2:00 PM and we had hiked 9.7 miles in 4 hours and 40 minutes with a total elevation gain of 1960 feet.

On Sunday, July 6th I wanted to finish the AT in New York by returning to the Dover Oak and hiking east to Hoyt Road in Connecticut. This is about a ten mile section so I wanted to either do a car spot with another person or have someone help me spot me car at Hoyt Road. Fortunately, my son Kurt was available but not until 1:00 PM. I still thought we would have enough time to do the hike. This also allowed me to attend church before leaving for his house in Wappinger's Falls. I had though about doing this hike last week but after hiking three days in a row some thunderstorms moved in on Wednesday and hung around through Friday. I had a family commitment on Saturday so Sunday as the first day that was open. I left Livingston Manor at about 11:15 AM and headed down route 17 to I84. I took the Newburgh-Beacon bridge and ended up at Kurt's house just before 1:00 PM. He was almost ready to go and we headed toward Connecticut by picking up Route 21 east and then Route 55 east. Just .2 miles before the Connecticut border, we turned right on Hoyt Road. The parking area for the At is only about .25 miles up Hoyt Road on the right. We missed it the first time but found it on the way back. We parked Kurt's car and headed back west on Route 55. Fortunately, I had spotted Route 20 (Hoag's Corners Road) on the way over and it wasn't too far before we turned left on this road. We drove south and I knew there was no chance I could miss the Dover Oak on the left side of the road. There were a lot of cars parked but we found a space and parked at 2:15 PM and were hiking by 2:20 PM. I suspected many of the cars represented people hiking to the Cat Rocks on the other side of the road. We hiked up through a field on a well-worn track and stayed in the fields or on the edge for some time. In fact, a good part of the first mile was in the open. At about .6 miles I looked west and saw that the Cat Rocks were prominent on the opposing ridge. I stopped to take a few pictures before we continued on. After the first mile we began to descend and came to the wetlands around the Swamp River at about 1.4 miles. There was a boardwalk that crossed a small stream and then continued across the marsh at about 2.1 miles we crossed the Swamp River on a bridge. At 2.35 miles we crossed the Conrail tracks and found a special station just for AT hikers. Just beyond at 2.4 miles was route 22 where we turned left and hiked up the road a few hundred feet.

We crossed the road and again began to walk through some fields. At 2.7 miles we crossed Hurds Corners Road where there was some "trail magic" water. We met a section hiker here headed south from Cornwall, Connecticut. Just across the road was an electrified fence with a stile over it. It was one of three we would encounter as we made our way through the next set of fields. Sheila ran up one side and jumped down from the top! On the hill on the other side there was an interesting wooden water tower. I took a few shots of the tower and the stile before we continued our walk up the ridge by way of the fields. We entered the woods again at about 3 miles and then began a sustained ascent at about 3.4 miles. This lasted until we gained the highest point on the hike at 4 miles. This was on Hammersley Ridge just above Quaker Lake and the time was 4:10 PM. Unfortunately, there were no views to be had as we walked along. We had slowed a little on the climb as we were both a little tired from the exertion, the heat and the humidity. From the high point on the ridge we walked generally downhill for the next 3 miles heading northeast. Most of the walk was on packed dirt trail but there were a few rocky spots. I was glad Kurt was along since there was nothing remarkable about the trail in this area. At 5:30 PM a little more than 7 miles into the hike the trail turned almost due east and we started to ascend over two bumps that were part of Leather Hill. At 7.7 miles we crossed Leather Hill Road and continued east toward Duell Hollow Road. We started a steep descent at 8 miles which continued until we crossed Duell Hollow Road. On this descent we passed the Wiley Shelter which was completely occupied by a group of girls. They were in the shelter and setting up tents around it. We said "Hello" as we passed.

As we continued down toward the road we passed the water supply for the shelter which was a well with a hand pump. I knew that after crossing the road we would not be too far from our destination. Of course the trail had one more "curve" to throw our way! We ascended from the road and then began to head south instead of east. This maneuver was to avoid descending into the gully cut by Duell Hollow Brook. In doing so the trail turned a .2 mile hiked into something over a .5 mile detour! We did cross the brook on an interesting foot bridge. We stopped so that I could take some pictures including one of Kurt and Sheila. There was one more short ascent on the other side and then another walk through some open fields. Just after this we began to descend through some trees and broke out onto Hoyt Road just north of the parking area. It was 6:40 PM and we had hiked 9.4 miles in 4 hours and 20 minutes. The vertical gain was 1730 feet almost all of which was on the ascent of Hammersley Ridge. Of course, we still had to drive back to my car which was parked next to the Dover Oak. This drive seemed very short but I was not looking forward to the drive home on the Sunday night of a holiday weekend! Because of the drive back, I decided not to stop by Kurt's house. Traffic, however, was much lighter than I expected and I was never stopped or even slowed much on the way home. I was pleased to have finished the At in New York especially since I could hike with my son. However, after meeting quite a few hikers who had started in Georgia I am humbled and also inspired by their efforts. I guess completing New Jersey will be next!

On Tuesday, July 1st I wanted to continue my quest to finish the AT in New York by returning to the area east of Fishkill. After hiking part of the AT from Route 55 to Nuclear Lake the day before I wanted to finish the section between Nuclear Lake and the Dover Oak on Route 20. This would leave only 10 miles to the Connecticut border! After hiking over 9 miles the day before, I wasn't sure how much I would want to extend the hike. In addition this was supposed to be the hottest and most humid day of the week with the heat in sex well into the mid 90's. I decided to try to get the hike in before noon and then leave the last 10 miles for a car spot or drop off later. I awoke early and decided to get started as soon as possible Sheila and I left Livingston Manor around 7:00 AM and headed down route 17 to I84. I took the Newburgh-Beacon bridge and then exit 16N to get on the Taconic. At the next exit I took Route 52 toward Carmel. At the Stormville Post Office I turned left on Route 216 which I followed to Route 55. I turned right on Route 55 and within 1.8 miles found Old Route 55 which I followed to Dodge Road and finally to Route 20. I turned left on Route 20 which is locally called West Dover Road and within one mile found the point where the AT crosses the road. On the right side of the road was perhaps the biggest tree I have ever seen in person. The Dover Oak is said to be the largest oak tree on the AT and its circumference is truly impressive. I got out of the car to take a few pictures and immediately noticed the heat and humidity. After taking a few shots, I changed into a short sleeve shirt for the first time this summer and applied a liberal amount of insect repellant. Sheila was frantic by now so I let her out of the car and we crossed the road at 8:45 AM to begin the hike. The trail descended to a wet area which we crossed on some puncheons. After this the trail began a rather steep ascent to a shoulder of West Mountain and a viewpoint called the Cat Rocks. The ascent was .7 miles and we gained over 600 feet. There were several switchbacks that moderated the climb. We met one local man and his dog on the steepest part of the ascent over an open rock face. He said the views from the Cat Rocks were good which surprised me since I thought the haze would make them mediocre at best! On the middle part of the ascent we met a pair of brothers who had started on the AT in early March at Spring Mountain. They appeared to be in their early 20's and sported full beards. We passed the Telephone Pioneers Shelter and another hiker relaxing near the trail that went to the shelter. At the top of the climb the trail leveled out at the highest point which was around 1250 feet.

At .9 miles we came to a side trail on the right which led to an extensive open rock face. This was the Cat Rocks and there was about a 180 degree view to the east. The problem was that the sky was very "flat" with very little blue and not much in the way of puffy white clouds. In addition, the humid weather resulted in a haze hanging over everything of Pawling could be seen below but everything else was a blur. I took some pictures and resolved to come back to this spot on a better day and to bring Cindy with me. We walked back up to the AT and continued west toward Nuclear Lake. I knew we had about 2 miles to go and would have to drop some elevation to get to the loop trail around the lake where I had left off the day before. From the viewpoint the trail dropped some elevation to about 1.8 miles where we crossed some puncheons across a marshy area at an elevation of almost 1100 feet. Having a marshy area like this at a higher elevation is unusual. We gained some more and then at about 2 miles started to drop toward the lake. Over the next mile we lost about 350 feet on a gentle grade with a few steeper parts and switchbacks mixed in. We met a few more hikers headed in the opposite direction. One of these was a young man hiking solo who had started in Georgia at the end of February making him the hiker with the earliest starting data that we had met. At almost exactly 3 miles we came to the loop trail where we turned around for the return trip. The return trip seemed to go very quickly but I noticed I was not enjoying these "repeats" very much any more. Much of the AT is not very scenic and repeating it is not at all appealing. As we approached the Cat Rocks a hiker caught up to us from behind. As he passed I asked if he was hiking the entire AT and responded that he was. This hiker was from Austria and had started on April 15 making him the hiker with the latest start than we had met. A little math led me to the conclusion that he was averaging 20 miles each and every day. We talked briefly and then started hiking again. He effortlessly pulled away even though we were setting a reasonably fast pace. On the way down the trail from the Cat rocks we met a few more hikers and a rather large group of local boys. The boys were making quite a bit of noise and I didn't want Sheila to feel threatened so we hurried along. The descent down the steep, open Rick face at the end was interesting but we were soon back at the car. It was hot and I decided to leave the last 10 miles to Connecticut for another day. I want to hike that stretch only once from the Dover Oak to the border! We were at the car by 11:35 AM after hiking 6 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes. The elevation gain was a modest 1420 feet. The temperature was 90 degrees with a humidity of 60% pushing the heat index to 96!

On Monday, June 30th I wanted to continue my quest to finish the AT in New York by returning to the area east of Fishkill. After hiking part of the AT from Route 52 to near Depot Hill Road the day before I wanted to finish this section. After hiking over 9 miles the day before, I wasn't sure how much I would want to extend the hike. When we returned to Route 55 from Depot Hill I would decided if I wanted to hike to the east toward Nuclear Lake. I awoke early and decided to get started as soon as possible Sheila and I left Livingston Manor before 8:00 AM and headed down route 17 to I84. I took the Newburgh-Beacon bridge and then exit 16N to get on the Taconic. At the next exit I took Route 52 toward Carmel. At the Stormville Post Office I turned left on Route 216 which I followed to Route 55. I turned right on Route 55 and within 1.5 miles found the AT parking area on the left. I parked and we were ready to hike almost immediately. It was 9:15 AM and the temperature was warm but cooler than the day before. We headed south on Route 55 and quickly crossed the road and headed west into the woods. The first part of the trail was a well-packed dirt track which was a little too close to "civilization" judging by the broken bottles. In less than half a mile we crossed Old Route 55 and met group of three hikers headed toward us. They recognized us from the day before as we said "Hello". After a very short walk in the woods, we came to the railroad tracks and cross them without a problem. There was a rather large beaver ponds on the other side and I put Sheila on her leash to prevent her from playing in the mud. Just after the tracks we met another couple who were hiking and who also remembered us from the day before. I think both of these groups had a better memory of Sheila than of me!

From the tracks we began an ascent of about a mile toward the top of Depot Hill. The elevation gain was only about 540 feet but there were some steep areas. The trail was much rockier than before and I found I was a little tired. At about 1.9 miles we passed by the summit of Depot Hill without actually hiking over it. It seemed like we were descending but the trail was doing its normal undulation. We did pass by some wetlands and I noticed that the insect population increased dramatically. This area of the trail just before Depot Hill Road was also very rocky. At 2.3 miles we crossed Depot Hill Road which was barely a single lane gravel track at that point. We continued to walk for about another .2 miles but things immediately began to look familiar I knew we had overlapped the hike from the previous day. We turned around just before 10:30 AM and started back. The return trip went more quickly than I had anticipated and we were soon crossing the tracks and Old Route 55. I had decided to hike toward Nuclear Lake and perhaps take the loop trail around it. As we approached Route 55, we caught up to the couple who had recognized us from the day before. They were hiking very slowly but seemed to be enjoying themselves. They were from Maryland and had finished the AT in New Jersey in May and were working on New York. They hoped to hike all the way to Vermont. They did question me about a motel and I volunteered to drive them somewhere but they politely refused.

We got to Route 55 about 4.75 miles at 11:35 AM and I decided to try the loop around Nuclear Lake. I crossed as did the couple. We said "Goodbye" and I wished them "Good luck!" as I did not expect to see them again. The distance from Route 55 to Nuclear Lake appeared to be about .6 miles but the trail kept winding this way and that extending the distance to 1.2 miles. We met a few people coming toward us and at least one hiker went passed us. We finally came to the first junction with the loop trail even though the lake was not in view. The AT so far had been level in places and rocky in others but there was very little up or down. I decided to stay on the AT along the west side of the lake and then follow the loop trail around from the upper end. At 6.5 miles into the hike, about 1.5 miles from Route 55, we got a look at the lake and walked down to the shore. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take some pictures. I asked Sheila to stay out of the lake even though it had long ago been found to be clear of any radioactive materials. In the early 1970's there was an explosion at a small research facility on the shores of the lake. This scattered a small amount of radioactive material in the surrounding forest. The material was cleaned up and subsequent testing showed no more radiation than normal background. Shortly after the facility was closed and the building razed. I took a few pictures of the lake and what looked like a small, rocky island before packing up and heading out on the AT again.

The trail became very rocky and descended to very near the shore of the lake. At one point I could hear Sheila in the water! We continued around the lake and at least twice my GPS unit showed us walking on or in the lake. I have learned to never depend on a GPS for complete accuracy! We continued around the lake and at 6.8 miles the AT turned left and we started hiking on the loop trail around the lake. I was disappointed that the trail stayed pretty far away from the water as I thought there might be some nice views from the cliffs that lined the eastern shore. This trail started out fairly flat but soon became rocky with a few short but steep ascents and descents. At one point Sheila walked off the trail to the right and I started to call her back as I wanted her to stay with me on the main trail. It was then that I noticed that she had found a path that went out to a very nice lookout. From the viewpoint I could see the small island and take a few pictures of it and the rest of the lake. We continued on the main trail meeting a few more hikers out for the day. Sheila was on her best behavior and we soon crossed the access road to the lake, re-entered the trees and completed the loop by rejoining the AT at 7.9 miles into the hike. It was now a little after 1:00 PM and the loop around the lake was almost exactly 2 miles. We only had the 1.2 mile walk back to the car. We turned left onto the AT and, after walking a few hundred feet, met the couple that we had seen at Route 55. I was a little concerned that they had hiked 1.2 miles while we had gone 3.2 miles but they seemed to be okay. As Sheila and I neared Route 55 I decided to take the blue shortcut trail back to the parking area. I wasn't too concerned about distance but wanted to avoid hiking along the main road. We were back at the car by 1:35 PM having hiked a total of 9 miles in 4 hours and 20 minutes. The vertical gain was about 1650 almost all of which was on the west side of Route 55 climbing Depot Hill.

On Sunday, June 29th I wanted to continue my quest to finish the AT in New York by returning to the area east of Fishkill. The hike from Route 52 to Route 55 was listed as 7.5 miles making a round trip of 15 miles which seemed a little long to me. I decided to start at Route 52 and hike as far as I could, probably to Depot Hill Road passed the Morgan Stewart Shelter. I left Livingston Manor before 9:00 AM and took Route 17 to I84 across the Newburgh-Beacon bridge. I took exit 16N to get on the Taconic but got off at the next exit on Route 52. I was not sure I would recognize the place where I ended my last hike in the area but I had no problem finding the spot at around 10:00 AM. I turned around and parked on the wide shoulder and Sheila and I were ready to go at about 10:05 AM. As we left the car and started up Route 52, I realized that I had parked by the access road to an AT parking area. I debated whether or not to move my car but decided in the end to keep hiking. We entered the woods and climbed a little before the trail leveled and we were walking along the edge of an open area. There were some very limited views but what impressed me the most was that the trail had been manicured and all the tall grass cut. Within 15 minutes we re-entered the woods and found very large maple tree. I stopped to take a few pictures from different angles. The sun was very bright which made taking shots tricky. I estimated the circumference of the tree to be at least 20 feet! We continued and in less than a mile came out onto a side street where the trail followed the road to the right. We continued to follow the blazes and turned left onto Mountain Top Road which took us over I84. The road came to a T on the other side and we continued straight ahead on the AT as it entered the woods. We walked down what looked like a new set of stone steps and across a brook. This was at about 1.4 miles into the hike and at 10:40 AM. The temperature was already in the 80's and the humidity seemed high. The trail however were dry.

From the time we entered the trail the surface became rockier and where there were fewer rocks there were more roots. The hike was generally a gentle ascent heading for Mount Egbert. At around 3.4 miles I came across a viewpoint mentioned in some of the trail descriptions. The views were limited and the day was very hazy which made taking really interesting pictures almost impossible. I did take some shots and then called my son Kurt to see what he was doing. I thought he might be able to pick me up at Route 55 but he was already in Catskill, new York with a buddy looking for American Indian artifacts. I decided to continue with my original plan. Sheila and I resumed the hike which became steeper as we scaled Mount Egbert. We hit the summit at about 3.6 miles. What I found surprising was the number of people hiking this section of the trail. We met some groups and solo hikers coming toward us but mostly we passed groups of people headed in the same direction we were headed. Since there were so few cars at Route 52 where I had parked, I assumed that they were hiking longer sections than just a day hike. The size of their packs seemed to indicate this also. I said "Hello" to each group and Sheila was on her best behavior but I didn't interview anyone as it was hot and I was on a mission. Just after the summit of Egbert, I could hear some voices off to the right of the trail. I didn't know what they were doing over there and didn't pay much attention. As we started to descend, we came across the short side trail to the Morgan Stewart Shelter. We continued along the trail with what seemed like a long descent. What really happened was we went through a series of ups and downs. I was looking for another view to the north to match a description I had read.

By the time we hit 4.6 miles we were well passed where the viewpoint should have been. We were also entering a low area with some marshy ground and the insects were increasing. It was hot and I was not inspired by the trail. I decided we would turn around and head back. I was annoyed we had not gotten to Depot Hill Road but knew it really didn't matter since we would have to hike the section from Route 55 back to the west anyway. As we climbed back up Mount Egbert and passed the Morgan Stewart Shelter we met two or three groups of hikers heading toward us. Again, I said a "hello" but pressed on. The hike back was generally downhill but there were enough short ascents to make things interesting. I slowed at the only lookout I had found but the haze was still there so we continued on. When we hit the overpass over I84 the temperature on the road was oppressive and we walked quickly to get back into the woods. There was a slight ascent from the road up a hill and then we were again passing the large maple. Just passed the tree we met a final group of hikers just starting out. They seemed equipped for a hike and I wondered why they had gotten such a late start. I stopped to take some pictures of the clouds in the blue sky since the haze had finally disappeared. We were back at the car at 2:30 PM and the temperature read 92 degrees. We had covered 9.2 miles in 4 hours and 20 minutes with about 22 minutes of stopped time. The total elevation gain was only 1690 feet but it seemed like more.

On Tuesday, June 24th I wanted to finish a small section of the AT from the NY-NJ border to Bellvale Mountain. This would leave only 20 miles from Route 52 to the Connecticut border. The section I wanted to hike was only 1.6 miles one way but it was on the ridge and the hike to that point was over a mile and very steep. The day was forecast to be partly sunny with only a 10% chance of rain but when we left Livingston Manor at 8:45 AM it was almost completely overcast. I took Route 17 south and east to the exit for Florida. I followed Route 17A through Florida and Warwick and then toward Greenwood Lake. As I drove along the west shore of Greenwood Lake on Route 210 toward New Jersey, I wondered if I would spot the Martina parking lot that I wanted first time through. I spotted a sign for New Milford Township and turned right just before the sign to drive through the marina parking to the trailhead lot. I was surprised there were at least six cars already there. I parked in front of some boats and asked an employee if that would be Ok. He said "Yes" and thanked me for asking. I out Sheila on her leash and we headed out on the blue State Line Trail just before 10:00 AM. As soon as we were on the trail, I let Sheila off her leash and we continued up the trail. This trail must be quite popular as the ground is well-packed. In addition, people have walked off the trail wherever they wanted which makes the main trail hard to follow. The trail blazes can also be confusing so I was watching the paint very carefully. After wandering along the base of the ridge to the west for about a quarter of a mile the trail turns right or northwest and starts up the ridge. Although there are some switchbacks along the way, there are also some steep sections. The sidetracks continued to be a problem as did the faded blazes. Some parts of the trail are packed dirt but there are several sections with a lot of rocks which made walking harder. As we ascended I could feel that I was tired from the day before and was glad this would be a short hike.

Over the next .8 miles we gain 650 feet to the top of the ridge. We passed one group of hikers sitting on the rocks away from the side of the trail. At the top of the ridge I found the SL sign from the day before and paused for a moment as a young man approached hiking from the south. Sheila did not bark which surprised me. The hiker and I struck up a conversation and Sheila actually allowed him to pet her which showed great progress. I mentioned the AT hikers we had encountered the day before at which time the young man informed me that he had started at Georgia on March 15th. He was from Iowa and had started alone but had met three other hikers on the trail that we had been traveling with for some time. We continued to talk for a while as we hiked to the state line. I took a picture of him there. I was surprised that his pack was not much larger than mine. At 1.5 miles, as we ascended to Prospect Rock, he went on ahead as we said "Goodbye". I stopped to take some pictures of the flag on top of the rock. Prospect Rock is the highest point on the AT in New York state. We continued on our way with me watching the sky as it was still very overcast. I was hoping it would not rain. From the top of Prospect Rock the trail descended for the next .9 miles. Sometimes we were walking along the knife edge of rock outcrops while other times we were walking through pine trees and over soft, marshy ground. At 2.4 miles we began to ascend Bellvale Mountain. The ascent was .4 miles and gained about 200 feet. Along the way, true to the description we encountered several rock scrambles. In some places I wondered if Sheila would look for a way around the rocks but in all cases she made it up seemingly without effort. One ascent was nearly vertical and had an aluminum ladder tethered to the rock face. I thought Sheila could climb the ladder so I took a picture of the ladder and then with Sheila at the base of the ladder. I turned away and then back to encourage Sheila to climb the ladder so that I could get a picture. Sheila was already at the top of the climb. Within an instant she came back down and then went back up as I started to climb the ladder. She did not use the ladder but simply went up the rock face! At the top of the climb we were on Bellvale Mountain where I had been before. There was a limited view and I took a few pictures.

Once we were on the top of Bellvale Mountain we had reached the goal I had set. I started to think that this would make a very short hike and, inspired by the AT hikers, I decided to hike to the Village Vista Trail and down to Greenwood Lake. We could then use Route 210 to get back to the car. Unfortunately, although I have all the maps from the NYNJTC I decided to leave the pertinent map of the area at home. Still, I didn't think the Village Vista Trail was that far so we continued along the ridge. The trail repeated the descend and ascend pattern with the open rock faces and dark stretches through the evergreens. Some ascents were steep although brief. There were several large rock cairns along the way. After a mile of hiking I began to wonder how far I would have to hike to the Village Vista trail and thought about turning around. I finally decided that this was a challenge and that we had hiked at much as 18 miles in one hike last summer so we would continue no matter what. Finally, after more than 2 miles the terrain started to look familiar and we arrived at the Village Vista trail at 12:40 PM about 4.9 miles into the hike. As we turned right onto the Village Vista trail we met two AT hikers coming up from Greenwood Lake. Their look and hiking style was familiar with a no-nonsense, ground covering stride. The trail started out almost level but that change immediately as it began to descend to the lake. There were several switchbacks but the grade was still challenging and would be more so on the ascent. We did run across the "vista" but it was disappointing as most of the view was blocked by trees. I doubt too many people from the village brave this trail for such a limited view. We continued down the trail from the vista as it become steeper and rockier. Where the trail was not rocky it was dusty which made getting a good grip difficult. We finally broke out into a sand and gravel yard almost at the bottom of the ridge. The trail turned to the left on a road and then right back into the woods briefly before it came out onto some local streets. It was 1:05 PM and we were 5.65 miles into the hike. I estimated we had a little more than 3 miles to hike. We followed the streets out to Route 210. A pit bull ran out to accost us but a guttural growl from Sheila sent him running home. I was surprised that Route 210 had a pretty good shoulder for walking and we set up a quick pace. Route 210 was flat and level compared to the ridge we had just walked but my feet were beginning to get tired. There were a few hills but these were easily negotiated. I noticed the house numbers were decreasing and assumed that they started at the state border. After walking another 3.6 miles, the sign for the marina came into view and we turned right to walk up to the car. I gave Sheila drink and checked the GPS. It was 2:10 PM and we had walked 9.3 miles in 4 hours and 15 minutes. The vertical gain was only about 1660 feet which was less than I would have predicted. Most of that was accrued in the initial hike to the top of the ridge on the State Line Trail.

On Monday, June 23rd I wanted to continue hiking the AT in New Jersey from the Warwick Turnpike to the New York-New Jersey border near Greenwood Lake. The forecast was for warm temperatures and clear skies so Cindy decided to come along. We got a later start than I had anticipated but this let some early morning haze burn off. We left Livingston Manor at about 9:30 AM and took Route 17 south and east to the exit for Florida. We followed Route 17A through Florida and Warwick until it turned into Route 94. We turned left on Warwick Turnpike and started to look for the pulloff on the left where Kurt and I had ended our hike on Saturday. I wasn't sure I would remember what the spot looked like and it was further along than I thought but we arrived quickly enough. I parked the car and we were ready to hike almost immediately. The first part of the rail passed over some puncheons and then through some hardwoods passing a field on the left. The trail surface here was packed dirt and we moved quickly. After ascending a small hill we began to descended to a wetter area and noticed an increase in insects almost immediately. We stopped to put on repellant and then worked our way through some wet spots where small streams crossed and over some puncheons that spanned muddy ground. We again ascended a little and then crossed another trail or path. At this point I noticed I did not have my GPS. I suspected that in our hurry to get going I had left it at the car. I knew I would not enjoy the hike without knowing where it was and recording our route. I told Cindy and she agreed to wait until I retraced the .7 miles back to the car. I don't know whether she did it on purpose but she said "I guess you'll be back be about 11!" This statement acted as a challenge so I dropped my pack and started to jog back to the car. I found my Solo Powermatic boots are not the best trail runners. On the way back I passed two young women coming toward me in two different spots. Both said "Hello" and both looked like they were hiking some distance as they carried larger packs. I made it to the car, picked up the GPS and started the journey back. I was back by 10:50 AM which made me happy but had put a strain on my feet and legs. We started the rest of our hike almost immediately.

At 11:15 AM we came to Longhouse Drive about 1.5 miles into the hike. The trail turned left here and followed the road several hundred feet before turning right back into the woods. Three young women were gathered at the point where the trail entered the woods and we stopped to talk to them. They were hiking the entire AT and had started at Springer Mountain, Georgia on March 8th. Their home states were New Jersey, Washington and Virginia. I offered a little advice but they seemed confident in their maps and guidebook so we continued on. We were headed almost due east and for the next 1.1 miles the trail rolled some and we followed it as it avoided two swamps. The sky seemed more overcast than forecast and both of us thought that it might rain. At 2.6 miles the trail turned southeast and began to parallel the New York-New Jersey border as we began to ascend to the ridge. Over the next .5 miles we gained 285 feet and the terrain began to look more like the Bearfort-Bellvale Ridge that we had hiked from the north. The trail began to roll some now and at 3.3 miles we ascended to the top of a rock outcrop. There was a view of some water which was the first view of anything we had had on the hike. At this point the trail turned left to head north directly for the border. As we walked we came across some blue blazes and an SL marked on the rock. I knew that this was the State Line Trail and that the state line was close. We hit the border at 3.6 miles around 12:20 PM. We walked across the border and then stopped to take a few shots of the border and the USGS marker.

We turned around and began the trek back to the car. We stopped at the rock outcrop where the trail turns and had a drink and a snack. The young women hiking the AT began to appear one at a time. Two hiked passed us but then ether was a long wait so we decided to continue on our way. After hiking for about half a mile we met a young couple hiking toward us with overnight packs. We said "Hello" but didn't ask where they started or their destination. Soon the final hiker of the three AT hikers cam toward us. She was definitely walking slower than the others and appeared a little more tired. We tried to keep up a good pace as the insects were becoming much more bothersome and we simply wanted to get back to the car. As were on the last leg we heard a rustling in the trees to our left and a voice ahead of us called out that there were bears in the area. I grabbed Sheila and put her on her leash and we moved ahead quickly making noise. We met the other hiker who said he had seen a sow and three cubs. The cubs were up in the trees and the mother had run off a short distance. I really wanted to get a picture of the cubs but thought it prudent to get out of the area. He continued back toward the car while the other hiker walked passed the bears. he called out that he could see the up in the trees. We made short work of the final section of the trail arriving back at the car by 2:20 PM having covered 7.2 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes. Strangely, my GPS track indicated that we had not crossed the state border when we definitely had. So much for relying on the accuracy of technology. We were both a little tired as the temperature was in the low 80's and the humidity had risen. We decided to stop to eat and agreed that El Bandido was the place. We had a good meal and returned home satisfied with our days adventure.

On Saturday, June 21st my son Kurt was coming to Sullivan County and had time to do a hike with me. I was excited as we do not get to hike together often and I started to consider where we might go to hike. I wanted to continue the Long Path north of Windham but was also interested in hiking part of the AT in northern New Jersey. When Kurt arrived at about 9:15 AM I presented both choices and we discussed them. We decided to head for New Jersey to hike the AT and left almost immediately. My plan was to park on Barrett Road off Route 94 south of Warwick. This was in the middle of a section of the AT that I had not hiked. This would give us the opportunity to hike from the car to the Pinwheel Vista on Wawayanda Mountain an then hike back to the car. We could then decided if we still wanted to hike from the car to the Warwick Turnpike and back. The temperature was supposed to be in the low 70's which would be good for hiking. When we left the house it was only 52 degrees but we knew it would warm up rapidly as the sun was out and there were few clouds in the sky. We left Livingston Manor at about 9:20 AM and took Route 17 south and east to the exit for Florida. We followed Route 17A through Florida and Warwick until it turned into Route 94. Just before the New Jersey border we turned left on Barrett Road. Barrett Road climbing to the top of a ridge. At about 1.4 miles there was a pulloff on the right but there were no sings for the AT> I stopped and we asked a young couple just getting into their truck if the AT was near. He answered that we were in the right so we pulled in as they pulled out. I still didn't see any signs but the trail was well-worn. I walked away from the car and saw no blazes and then followed the car back to the road. The trail crossed just a little farther up the road and was marked with the white blazes I had wanted to see. I walked back to the car and we got our gear ready and were off at 10:30 AM. It was already in the high 60's but I kept on the long-sleeved shirt. We decided not to put on any insect repellant as there were none of them around.

We began be ascending a small hill through some hardwoods and then descending the other side. He could hear voices to our left and a check of the GPS showed a development of residential housing in that direction. At .8 miles we descended to a small creek and met a father and daughter who were headed toward Wawayanda also. They had spent the night in a shelter and were headed south and west. I told them that the Pinwheel Vista was great and the Pochuck boardwalk was as interesting as all the descriptions made it sound. We passed them and crossed the small wooden bridge to get to the other side of the stream. The bridge was simply lying on the rocks and was tethered by a cable to a steel rod. I assumed this was to restrain it during high water! We continued our hike beginning a fairly steady but easy ascent toward the Pinwheel Vista. As we hiked we met several groups of hikes and a few solo travelers as well. Most were headed toward us and we said "Hello" to each as we passed. At 1.4 miles we encountered a slight dip and by 1.7 we hit a high point. At this spot there was a "mailbox" that acted as a sign-in for the AT. There was an sign that pointed left indicating and old lookout about .8 miles away. I had been to that lookout and found there was no view so we continued on a descent to the area just before the "Stairway to Heaven", the staircase that leads down to Route 94. A large stone cairn and blue blazes indicated the side trail to the right to the Pinwheel Vista. We headed out to the vista and arrived in minutes. We found a group of young people spread out on the highest point so we took the lower lookout to admire the view. The day was clear and I momentarily wished that there were more clouds in the sky. I dropped my pack and took out the camera to photograph the wide expanse below. We could see mountain on the horizon but the features closer to us were just as interesting. The puncheons through the field on the other side of Route 94 were easy to see. Below us was a small sand and gravel quarry. We could see that the parking on Route 94 was full and I was glad we had parked in a less used location. After taking pictures, we got a snack and a drink and headed back at about 11:35 AM. I checked the GPS and the distance we had hiked was only 1.8 miles. It was definitely time to leave as more and more people were arriving.

The hike back seemed to go very quickly and we encountered almost no hikers. I thought it strange that we never saw the father and daughter team. Since they were headed toward us I thought sure we would encounter them but we did not. The trails remained very dry except for a few isolated spots and the insect population was very low. As we hiked we talked about continuing past the car. We agreed that less than four miles was not a long enough hike! At 12: 40 PM we approached the car after hiking 3.6 miles and continued to Barrett Road. We crossed the road and continued on the AT as it began an ascent on an old road. We met a hiker coming down the road toward us and I could see another heading away from us farther up the hill. At the top of the hill we turned off the road to stay on the AT and started to descend a little. We passed the other hiker and continued on our way. The trail began to roll a little and we finally descended to cross Iron Mountain Road and then a small stream. Along the way we encountered a beaver lake or pond and I thought about taking pictures on the return trip. We ascended a small hill and found a Boy Scout troop spread out on the hillside for lunch. At some point we had passed into Wawayanda Park and the trail was blazed with blue markers as well as the white AT blazes. We descended the hill passed the troop and then crossed a park road. The trail started to ascend and then rolled some more and I knew we were less than a mile away from our destination at the Warwick Turnpike. At 5.8 miles we passed another beaver pond and then crossed another bridge. We could hear the traffic now and at 1:40 PM we were at the road having hiked 6 miles. I walk across the road and then returned to the other side and we headed back. Again, the return trip seemed to go quickly even though we stopped at both ponds to take pictures. There was no sign of the Boy Scout troop on the return trip and we met few other hikers. At 2:55 PM we were back at the car having covered 8.5 miles in 4 hours and 25 minutes. The vertical gain was 1940 feet.

Spring 2014

On Friday, June 20th I was ready to hike again and was trying to decide between going north or south. To the north I wanted to complete the section of the Long Path from Route 10 to Barlow's Notch. In New Jersey there were sections of the AT from Wawayanda Mountain to just beyond the New York border. In the end I decided to head north and complete the Long Path section and perhaps hike a small part of the next section. I left Livingston Manor at about 9:15 AM and headed to Windham by driving up the Beaverkill Road to the Barkaboom Road and the taking Route 30 to Route 28. In Margaretville I headed north again on Route 30 to Roxbury and Grand Gorge. In Grand Gorge I took Route 23 through Prattsville to Windham. Along the way I noticed a rather large falls that I had never seen before and thought I might stop on the way back. As I got into Windham, I found Route 21 and took it north to Route 10. The road began to climb and not very far north of the intersection, near the top of the hill, there was a pulloff on the right. The trail was not well marked but the section heading toward Barlow's Notch was just south of the pulloff. I got my gear ready, put on some insect repellant and Sheila and I were on the trail by 9:45 AM. The first .7 miles of trail descended through some hardwoods and then was flat until we got to the junction of Cunningham and Sutton Roads. All the way along I was thinking that this meant the end of the hike would be uphill back to the car! We walked across the road intersection and picked up the trail on the other side. It started out on an old road but quick turned right into the forest and Over the next 1.2 miles we gained over 850 feet as we walked east of the summit of Mount Nebo in a generally south or southeast direction. We started to ascend Mount Hayden by sidehilling around the west shoulder and passing the summit. I was beginning to think the trail would not pass over the summit but then it turned sharply east and we climbed the final 125 feet to the top. There were no viewpoints along the way. There were some places where views might be available when the leaves are off the trees.

The summit of Mount Hayden was 2.1 miles into the hike and we arrived at about 10:55 AM. Along the way the trail blazes were few and far between in some critical places. Near the summit of Hayden the blazes seemed to just stop. I look every way I could but could not see another blaze. Sheila kept heading to the right and I had to call her back several times. I finally followed her and found that she knew where the trail was headed! There was a right turn down the mountain despite any blazes indicating it! Over the next mile we headed first east and then southeast on a one mile descent to Barlow Notch. We lost 675 feet and walked through some steep sections and some switchbacks. Near the bottom of the descent we came out onto a woods road which was actually marked on the map and GPS. We continued on the trail as I was trying to find the Sutton plaque on the left side of the trail. As we walked I got the feeling that we must have passed the plaque as the forest was beginning to look familiar. We turned around and I found the plaque right where it was a few days before about 3.1 miles from the car. We continued on the trail back toward the car. I was surprised that the initial climb up Mount Hayden seemed pretty easy. By the time we were back at Cunningham Road and climbing the last .7 miles to Route 10 the ascent seemed a little more challenging. We were back at the car at 1:05 PM after hiking 6.2 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes. The vertical gain was 2030 feet. I debated hiking on the other side of Route 10 toward the summit of Mount Pisgah and actually headed in that direction. I decided against it since I knew once I was up there I would want to continue the hike. I knew I could not do another 8 to 10 miles and decided to save it for another day. On the way back I stopped at Red Falls and parked the car along the side of the road. I walked down the guardrail until I could get a good look at the falls and took a few shots. On the way back to the car I noticed a trail into the woods and I followed it down to the falls. I was able to walk along the rock ledges than make up the falls. I took some pictures from this vantage point before returning to the car.

On Tuesday, June 17th I was ready to hike again after an 8 mile effort in northern New Jersey the day before. I thought I might visit the noteworthy Catskills as I expected slightly lower temperatures and not too many insects. I decided to fill in some sections of the Long Path north of Windham. Sheila and I would be making the trip by ourselves as Cindy was tired from the day before. I wanted to hike from Windham to Greene County Route 10 but the one-way distance is 7.5 miles over three different mountains. I did not think I would be able to handle 15 miles so I decided to hike about halfway and turn around at Barlow Notch. This part of the Long Path climbs the shoulder of Ginseng Mountain to Jennie Notch. The trail then loops around the summit and drops significantly to Barlow Notch. These notches have historical significance as they were the routes used by early engineers to build roads in the mountains. Roads through the notches weren't easy to construct but it was much easier that trying to go up and over the summit of even the lower peaks. I wanted to get an early start but slept a little later than I had planned due to two ambulance calls during the night. Sheila and I left Livingston Manor around 8:15 AM and headed out DeBruce Rd to the Frost Valley Road. The Frost Valley Road has been stripped of blacktop and is in the process of being repaved. I knew this but what I didn't know was that a new culvert was being installed near the YMCA camp. The workers were kind enough to let me through after only about a two minute wait. From Route 28 in Shandaken I took Route 42 North to Lexington. The road had reopened some time ago after being closed by a landslide. The new slide was just north of the massive slide than clocked the road the last time. I made good time to Windham and turned right on Route 23 to get to the Elm Ridge parking area. I parked at 9:40 AM and we got ready to hike right away. There were no other cars in the lot which was okay with me. One look at the car thermometer and I could see it was going to be a hot day. The temperature was already in the mid-70's by the time we left the parking area. We walked over to Cross Road, walked across the road and picked up the Long Path which had blue plastic discs as well as the aqua blazes of the Long Path. It was immediately clear that I had not only been wrong about the temperature but also about the insects. A cloud of small flies immediately surrounded by head despite the Herbal Armor I had applied. I was wearing a long-sleeved shirt as I often do but had thought I might change because of the heat. I decided to keep it on to help deal with the insects!

The first .33 miles was pretty flat and actually paralleled Route 23. The problem was that the trail was not well-maintained and was overgrown. In addition, it was very damp and wet in some places which seemed to attract even more insects. From that point the trail turned north and began to rise but only slightly. Walking through the evergreens reminded me a little of some of the places over on Windham High Peak. At .75 miles we came out of the woods and crossed Old Road to Jennie Notch Road. The trail followed Jennie Notch Road to where it dead ended. There was a small pond or lake on the right with a mountain behind it and I thought I might take some shots on the way back. I had hoped that the insects would abate once we were out on the road but they actually seemed to increase in number. I was serious considering turning around somewhere between 2 and 3 miles! The paved road soon turned to dirt and then ended at about 1.3 miles where there was an open gate. The road actually continued as a grassy lane which was easy to follow even though the blazes were few and far between. Initially the grade of the road was gradual. It was obvious that the road had been important and built up with a shale base at some point. We passed a small pond on the left with some very limited views through the trees. Walking in the woods was cool compared to the times we broke out into the open. Starting at 1.8 mikes the grade increased until we reached Jennie Notch at about 2.4 miles. Along the way I could see some cliffs on the left which defined part of Ginseng Mountain. There had been several switchbacks along the way but at the Notch the trail turned to the left more than 90 degrees. We began to head up the mountain and soon the grade was 30% or more! This didn't last very long and between 2.6 and 2.8 miles we sidehilled along the north shoulder of Ginseng Mountain. The trail leveled a little at the top and then started to descend. I questioned whether or not I really wanted to descend to Barlow's Notch but the insects had decreased so I stuck with my original plan. It was 11:00 AM as we began our descent. The Long Path in this area was overgrown with low briars and nettles and there were several blowdowns. I felt very isolated and far from civilization.

Over the first half mile we lost about 260 feet from the highest point on the hike. We were walking along a ridge with no real views. I could see sky on either side of the trail as the ridge was not very wide. After the descent, we gained some elevation and then started the drop to Barlow's Notch. On the descent I looked to my right which was generally to the east and got the best view of the day. I took a few shots before continuing down to Notch through several steep places. We hit the Notch at about 3.9 miles but continued to walk a little farther to a small memorial plaque to local resident Donald Sutton. It was 11:40 AM and we had dropped 530 feet from the top of Ginseng Mountain and were now ready to get it back. We got a drink and then started back up. I was surprised that I felt as fresh as I did and the climb seemed to go faster than the descent. We reached the high point at 12:20 PM and I knew that the return trip was now all downhill or flat. We negotiated the steep descent top Jennie Notch without much problem and from that point on it was a quick 1.2 mile walk back to Jennie Notch Road. On the way back down the road the insects reappeared and I decided to walk the roads back rather than take the trail through the woods. We stopped along Jennie Notch Road just before the intersection with Old Road and I took some shots of the pond and the mountains behind it. At the intersection we turned right on Old Road, walked down to Cross Road and followed it back to the parking area. The distance on the roads was a little longer but the time was quicker. We were back in the parking area at 1:40 PM having covered 8.2 miles and climbing 1864 feet in just under 4 hours. I considered trying to find the point where the Long Path crosses Greene County 10 but decided to drive home and wait for another day.

On Monday, June 16th I was ready to hike again after almost a week off. Last week had several rainy days. On Friday we made a trip to Pennsylvania since our daughter gave birth to her first child on Saturday. We were back by Sunday but I was preaching and it was Father's Day! I knew that I would have to pick a hike that had some special interest to entice Cindy to go along. This was especially true since the forecast called for temperatures in the 80's! I asked her if she would like to hike a section of the AT in Vernon Township in northern New Jersey. This section included the popular Pochuck Boardwalk and suspension bridge. The idea must have piqued her interest as she agreed to go. The drive is surprisingly short at a little over an hour. We left Livingston Manor at about 8:45 AM and took Route 17 south and east to the exit for Florida. In only a little while the turn for Pulaski highway came up on the right so we turned and then followed the signs to Pine Island. From Pine Island we headed south on Route 517 and then made a right on Route 565. When we passed the Vernon Township High School I knew we were close. We drove passed the point where the AT crossed the road. I turned around and found the spot with a pulloff just big enough for two or three cars. No one else was parked so we got ready and headed out on the trail just before 10:00 AM. It was already in the high 60's but I kept on the long-sleeved shirt. We had both put on a liberal covering of Herbal Armor but the insects did not seem to be swarming as I had expected. I thought to myself that this would not be the case by the time we got to the boardwalk across the swamp!

The first .9 miles of trail headed southeast through some hardwood forest. We gained a little elevation and then lost it as we passed by Vernon Township High School. Along the way we could hear students on the athletic fields and we crossed several paths or ATV tracks. We met a couple who were coming from Highland Lakes and were clearly equipped for camping. This would be the first of many people we would meet during the day. The young lady mentioned that the boardwalk was impressive but that it hurt her feet. We were never able to discern the season for this comment! After gaining the top of a small hill, we went on a continuous descent for the next .7 miles losing 385 feet to where the trail crossed Route 517. As we reached the road it was clear that the comment about the boardwalk being popular were correct. There were at least half a dozen cars parked along the road with people starting out on the boardwalk or returning from a stroll. We crossed the road and Cindy got my camera so that I could take some pictures as we started the boardwalk. The boardwalk is an impressive feat as it is a sturdy structure that crosses Pochuck Marsh and Pochuck Creek. It stretches about a mile and has a suspension bridge that spans the creek. The boardwalk is two to three feet above the level of the marsh and is supported by steel pipes driven into the underlying strata. Occasional steel cables tether the structure in place. The vegetation along the edges of the walk has been trimmed back in all places where it is possible. As we started out I took some shots and then continued to take more along the way. We met many people coming and going. What was very surprising was the lack on insects along almost the entire length of the boardwalk and the hike in general! The day was getting warmer and we stopped for some drinks along the way. The boardwalk stopped when it entered the woods and then began on the other side. As we walked passed some trees near the edge of the swamp a red-winged blackbird flew into a tree. I got one good shot of this bird as it sang its song. At about 2 miles it took a sharp bend and crossed some water on a footbridge. We looked down to see a turtle sunning itself on a log. I took some pictures before we continued on.

At 2.3 miles we approached Pochuck Creek and could see the suspension bridge. This is a truly remarkable structure which stands at least 15 feet above the level of the creek. It is well-anchored on both ends and has sturdy cables which hold the deck in place. I took pictures as we approached and then some from the boardwalk just before we walked up the steps to cross. From the top of the steps I took some shots of the span across to the other side and after crossing I snapped a few more. We continued along the boardwalk until it entered the woods on the other side of the swamp. The trail remained flat and crossed a small stream on a bridge and then crossed Wawayanda Creek on a larger bridge. We came to a path which looked like a rail trail and crossed it to pick up the AT on the other side. I was watching for Canal Road as I knew we had to cross it at some point. I looked at the GPS and found that the trail we had crossed was Canal Road and I knew it would not be long before we were at the turnaround point on Route 94. There were some more wet areas which we crossed on the puncheons provided. At 3.7 miles we crossed the Conrail tracks. Stiles were provided to cross the fencing that was on either side of the tracks but the parade of hikers has pushed the fence aside making them unnecessary. On the other side of the tracks was an open field with Route 94 just beyond. The field was pretty wet and puncheons stretched across it almost to the road. On the other side of the road was Wawayanda Mountain and I took a few pictures as we continued on to the highway. When we reached the road, we crossed and walked to the parking area where we had hiked Wawayanda more than four years ago! We walked to the sign board and had a snack and a drink before starting back. It was noon and it was very warm and humid and both Cindy and Sheila seemed to be feeling the heat more than I was. The walk back seemed to go quickly as we knew where we were going and stopped fewer times. At one point I looked down to see a large snake on the path. I got a good look at its tail and saw no rattles. The snake didn't seem to be too concerned but I encouraged it to move along as I did not want Sheila to injure it. In several spots I allowed Sheila to jump into the muddy water of the marsh to cool herself. The walk across the boardwalk was especially hot and we passed at Route 517 in the shade before continuing on. It was 1:15 PM as we entered the woods again about 6.25 miles into the hike. The woods were cooler and we were soon on the last stretch of trail back to the car. We were back by 2:15 PM having covered 7.7 miles in just over 4 hours. I was surprised to find that the total1 vertical gain had been more than 1000 feet since the route seemed almost flat to me.

On Tuesday, June 10th I asked Cindy if she would like to take a walk and she agreed. We both had late afternoon commitments so we knew we would have to stay close to home. In addition, the weather forecast was unsettled and indicated possible showers or thunderstorms after noon. We got started shortly after Karl left the house and arrived at the Frick Pond parking area by 10:30 AM. Sheila was more than ready to get going. It was just under 70 degrees but the humidity was high. I decided to wear a long-sleeved shirt while Cindy chose a short-sleeved one. The ground seemed much damper than in Livingston Manor and we thought there might be some insects around so we covered exposed areas of skin with Herbal Armor. Soon we were on the trail toward Frick Pond. The trail was very wet and I pointed out the tire tracks left by an inconsiderate pickup truck owner. The last time I was in the area someone had driven a truck to Frick Pond and parked it on the side of the trail. This, of course, is against state law and good judgment but the owner didn't seem to care. We walked down to the pond and crossed the bridge over the outlet. Fog or low-lying clouds hung over the trees on the other side of the pond. There were quite a few mosquitoes around but the repellent seemed to be keeping them away. I decided that this was not a good day for photography and we quickly started to hike again. At the next trail junction we headed left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. We were keeping a pretty steady pace as we headed for Iron Wheel Junction. Sheba was running around us following game trails and chasing a few chipmunks and squirrels. At one point she started to run through a stand of ferns that had already grown rather tall. Her body disappeared and all that was visible was her head as it broke through the top of the ferns. I considered taking a video but did not. This was a decision that I regret. When we arrived at Iron Wheel Junction, Cindy turned right on the Logger's Loop but I suggested we head up to Hodge Pond. She agreed and we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail at 11:15 AM after hiking about 1.5 miles.

At this point the trail becomes more uphill and Cindy was slowing down a little. I slowed my pace and noticed an increase in the number of mosquitoes which were really annoying. We continued on our way up the trail and arrived at Junkyard Junction. At this intersection, the Quick Lake Trail bears to the left and continues on to Quick Lake. We turned right and headed across the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. The Flynn Trail is usually damp but today it was wet! There were pools of water on the trail since it is an old logging road and the lowest point around. Where there were no pools of water, the grass and brush was very wet. My pants were now soaked almost to the knees and I could feel the moisture creeping into my shoes. We turned down the Flynn Trail toward the pond when we got to the gate. We reached the shores of the pond at 12:10 PM about 3.7 miles into the hike. I turned left to follow the jeep trail around the back of the pond. The sky was still overcast and some dark clouds were moving in. On the other side of the pond I turned up the hill toward the ruins of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. Cindy questioned my decision and I told her this way always seemed shorter to me. The climb up this trail is steeper than the trail from the outlet of Hodge Pond but it is also shorter! When we got to the top of the hill, we turned right to head back toward the Flynn Trail. Once we were back at the Flynn Trail, we turned left and we both knew it was a straight shot back to the car. We both noticed that the mosquitoes were now almost unbearable. There were a lot of them and they were hungry! We set a fast pace to the junction with the Big Rock Trail where we arrived at 12:30 PM after covering 4.4 miles. We had about 1.7 miles to go to get back to the car. The grass on the Flynn Trail was thick, high and saturated with water. Soon my shoes were completely soaked and felt as if they were filled with water. It is possible that water had been wicked into my shoes through my socks but I blame the shoes. It doesn't seem to matter what "waterproof" material manufacturers use since none of them really work! I wasn't really noticing me wet feet since I was wildly swinging my arms trying to KILL mosquitoes. We were back at the car by 1:10 PM having spent about 2.5 hours hiking 6.4 miles.

On Saturday, June 7th I wanted to get in a hike on National Trails Day. I knew that the NYNJTC was opening the new Long Path relocation over Romer Mountain and had an "event" planned at 11:00 AM. I had no interest in being part of the "event" but wanted to hike the entire trail from end to end. The trail itself is advertised as 9.5 miles and to get to the trailhead on the Woodland Valley end takes a 2.7 mile hike. I knew that I could not hike over 12 miles in one direction and then turn around and hike back to the car! I contacted Smiley's Taxi which serves the area but they could not guarantee that they would have a car on Saturday morning and they said they would not transport a dog anyway! I crossed them off my list of "hiker friendly" businesses and thought about alternate plans. My son Karl agreed to help me out and we set a meeting at 7:30 AM at the store on the corner of Route 47 and Route 28 in Big Indian. I got up early and put my gear and my dog in the car and headed for the rendezvous. When Karl arrived with Bryce, my grandson, in the backseat, he followed me to Lane Street in Phoenicia where I wanted to leave my car. When we pulled in to the parking area, there were cones with signs asking no one to park there because there was going to be an "event". I thought it ironic that the parking lot was closed on the day the trail was to open! I understood and decided to park a little bit down from the parking lot at a wide spot on Lane Street. I put Sheila in the truck and my gear in the bed another hopped in for the ride to Woodland Valley. When we got to the parking area there were quite a few cars already there but only a few hikers in the lot. I put on my gear and put Sheila and her leash to head out on the trail at 8:30 AM. We worked our way through the occupied campsites and crossed the team on the bridge. I often wonder whether the first mile of the trail to Wittenberg discourages some would-be hikers. The first mile of trail from the bridge gains 920 feet at an almost 18% grade. The trail continues to ascend for another .75 miles before leveling off some. Along the way I met a few people coming down off the mountain and passed a few people headed up. Once the trail levels off it is pretty boring until the junction with the trail to Terrace Mountain at 2.5 miles.

We turned right at this junction and started toward Wittenberg. I kept looking for the sign for the new trail but it was a little farther than I remembered. At 2.7 miles the trail appeared on the left. It was very obvious but had no sign or markers indicating that is was there. In fact, it had some branches across the trail which usually indicate that a path is the wrong way! I was surprised but turned left onto the new trail. Blue markers indicated that it was an extension of the Pine Hill - West Branch trail and there was also an official Long Path marker as well. As we walked I noted that the surface was much smoother and the trail was more groomed than when I had hiked supplies in to the trail crew last fall. Somewhere along the way Sheila alerted and I put her on her leash. Four members of the crew that had worked so long to create this masterpiece were walking toward us. They were hiking supplies and equipment out while the "event" was going on at the other end of the trail. This was the second and bigger irony of the day! We stopped to talk and they proudly told me that the first lookout was just passed their camp and that I should also take note of the staircase they had built! I thanked them and we continued on our separate ways. At 3.5 miles we passed by the path that led to the trail crew camp. At 3.5 miles we descended the first staircase which was very nicely constructed. I reminded myself that these trail crew members were working only with hand tools and the stones and rocks available around them! We walked along the edge of a dropoff and at 3.7 miles came upon an open rock face with beautiful views to the north and east. Turning to my left I saw the imposing bulk of Wittenberg looking down at me. To the north I could see the mountain of the Devil's Path. The views were spectacular and the day was adequate for taking pictures. I took all the shots I wanted and then we continued on our way. For the next quarter mile the trail descended and I wondered how much of what we lost we would have to gain again. We were actually still on a ridge and lost only about 250 feet. At one point I stepped off the trail to the right and found a nice lookout from which I took a few more pictures.

At 11:15 AM we had hiked 4.75 miles are were starting ascend Cross Mountain. There was a limited lookout on the right with some views of the Ashokan Reservoir. I took some shots and we moved on. A few hundred feet further along there was another, better viewpoint and we stopped so I could take a few pictures. We climbed a little more and there was a third lookout with the best views of all. We stopped and I took photographs of the reservoir and surrounding hills. We got back on the main trail and continued over the top of Cross Mountain and then down the other side. The day was warm and the sun was bright. I was glad I had brought along my Camelbak bladder with three liters of water rather than the Sigg bottles I had been using. Around 12:10 PM we were skirting the summit of Mount Pleasant at about 6.5 miles into the hike. There was another great lookout on the left of the trail with an almost 180 degree field of view. Only the view to the north was partially blocked. I took what was to be my last set of pictures and Sheila and I shared a drink and a snack. As we prepared to depart to young men came hiking up the trail from Phoenicia. They had parked at Woodland Valley and were hiking back to their car. They had left before the "event" began. We talked for a moment and the went our separate ways. They would be the first of many groups of people I would meet on the rest of the hike. I was careful to keep Sheila "with" and to restrain her as others approached. If the group was large, I put her on her leash and she was good for the most part. From the lookout there was a drop of about 600 feet to the 8 mile point where there was a slight climb over an unnamed bump. Things began to look familiar as we approached Romer Mountain as I had hiked this section of trail in the fall. The trail at that point was only cleared to the top of Romer Mountain with the rest only marked with flags. At one point a solo hiker approached pushing a measuring wheel ahead of him. I knew this was David White but he said "Hello" to me before I could greet him. We talked briefly and then continued our hikes. At another point I met a couple who have a house on Campbell Brook Road near Roscoe and we talked for a moment. Once we got to the top of Romer Mountain I knew it was less than 3 miles to the car. I met a few more people coming up the trail and passed several groups on the way down. I was moving pretty fast at this point to stay ahead of others and because I simply wanted to be done. Near the bottom, a series of switchbacks turned a quarter mile hike into almost of mile of trail! We were back at the car by 2:30 PM having hiked 11.2 miles in almost exactly 6 hours. We had climbed 2805 feet but descended 3370 feet on our one way journey. I was happy with the time since we had stopped to take pictures and talk so many times!

On Sunday, June 1st I wanted to get in a hike on the first day of June. After church I hung around the house for awhile and then decided to go to Trout Pond as the day was so nice. As I drove up Morton Hill Road toward Trout Pond two cars slowed and pulled over to the side of the road. They appeared to be looking for something so I stopped to ask if I could help. They asked about Trout Pond and I told them it was just ahead. I continued on my way and parked on the side of the road at the intersection with Russell Brook Road. I got my pack and poles and leashed Sheila to start down Russell Brook Road. The weather was warm and I decided only to wear a short-sleeved shirt. I soon let Sheila off her leash and she stayed close by as we walked down to the overlook above the upper falls. I had not decided not to stop but the light was hitting the water in a way that attracted me so we walked down the bank. I took a few shots before returning to the road. As we approached the lower parking area I could see several cars but no people. I told Sheila to stay close as we walked down the road to the bridge that crosses Russell Brook. I decided to hike counterclockwise this time just to add some variety. As we walked up the road toward the pond, I thought about perhaps walking the big loop around both ponds. There were two problem with this plan. Crossing Russell Brook at the lower end can be a problem as there is no bridge and the water is cold. I thought I could solve this problem. The second problem is that the road back to the parking area is so washed out there is nowhere to walk in many places. A good deal of sidehilling and rock jumping is required and I didn't think I wanted to handle that. There had been campers at the spot along Russell Brook Road and at the campsite on the trail to Mud Pond but I expected to see more people hiking the trails. We did not meet anyone on the way up the road to Trout Pond although the campsite to the left of the trail just before the pond was occupied. We stopped at the outlet end and I took some pictures. I threw sticks a couple times so that Sheila could get a swim and then we were back on the trail.

The campsite on the right just before the lean-tos was being used but both lean-tos appeared empty. The trails were pretty dry given the recent rain. I decided not to stop to take pictures at the inlet bridge and we continued on the trail up Cherry Ridge. The trails continued to be dry even in post that are always wet. The day remained warm but not too hot and the sunny weather made hiking very pleasant. After about an hour we hit the high point on the trail at about 2.8 miles and then started down the other side. I began to think it would be nice to hike out to the outlet end of Mud Pond to take some pictures as I had only been there a few times. This would prolong the hike which is what I wanted. We were at the trail junction by 1:45 PM and we turned right to go around Mud Pond. The walk around Mud Pond was drier than I ever remember with only a few muddy spots. The walk was longer than I remembered and I missed the side trail down to the pond. After a slight course correction, we walked down to the dam at the outlet end and I dropped my pack to get out my camera. I took some pictures and then had the idea that we could bushwhack around the pond to get back to the main trail. We started around the pond and ran into some pretty thick brush. There did seem to be some paths left by others and eventually we worked our way back to the main trail just south of the intersection. We turned right on the trail and walked back down the hill to the register box. The rest of the hike went quickly with Sheila pulling me up the hill from the lower parking area! We hiked 6.9 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes gaining about 1240 feet in elevation over the entire hike.

On Saturday, May 31st I wanted to get away from Livingston Manor and hike in a different area. I had been thinking about completing the parts of the AT in New York that I had not hiked. I decided to hike on the east side of the Hudson to continue my completion of the AT. I checked my previous hikes and saw that I could hike from the top of Shenandoah Mountain along Hosner and Stormville Mountains to Route 52. The distance seemed to be about 9 miles and I knew I would not want to double that on the hike back to the car. I called my son, Kurt, who lives in the area and he agreed to pick me up at the end of the hike and give me a ride back to the car. I got my gear ready and headed south on Route 17 at about 9:00 AM. I had planned a much earlier departure but a late night ambulance call required I get some sleep in the morning! From Route 17 I took I84 east to the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. I then took the Taconic State Parkway south to the Miller Hill exit. I turned right off the exit and then left on Hortontown Road. I was looking for Long Hill Road and hoping that it continued to the spot where the AT crossed. This was not obvious on most maps. I turned right on Long Hill Road which as appropriately named and drove up hill until the road made a ship right and turned to a dirt road. I was wondering if I was going the right way but soon passed under some powerlines and found the parking area on the right side of the trail at the apex of the road. There were several cars already parked in the small lot but I squeezed into a space, got me gear, put Sheila on her leash and headed out on the trail at 10:30 AM. It was mid 60's so I decided to wear a short-sleeved shirt and a light jacket. I had packed my rain jacket even though there were no thunderstorms predicted until 7:00 PM. I knew that we would be hiking quickly and only stopping if there were really good views. Our first job was to hike to the top of Shenandoah Mountain where we had been on a previous hike but from the opposite direction. The mountain's summit is 1280 feet but we were starting at 1030 feet so I knew the climb would be an easy one. The beginning of the hike was along a dusty, well-traveled path. The trail was ascending but it has hardly noticeable. Soon the grade get even easier and we entered an area where it ran through high brush. It was like being in a maze. There were trail blazes in places but there were also side trails and the markings could have been more numerous. We rounded a corner and came out onto an open rock face which I recognized from the previous hike as the summit of Shenandoah Mountain. It was just 10:50 AM and we had only hiked .4 miles! If I had known Long Hill Road was so close I would have hiked through to it the last time we were at the summit. I took a few pictures and noticed the setting was much the same as before. We turned around and hiked back to the car where I picked up my cell phone. I check for service and had five bars!

We now headed north on the AT to complete the section which ends at the Taconic State Parkway. Once we got to the end of that section we could begin the walk along Hosner Mountain to Route 52 where I hoped we would be picked up for a ride back to the car. Just as I started on the trail a couple and their dog were going toward Shenandoah Mountain. I asked them about the trail and they said it was easy to follow. From Long Hill Road the trail descended with only a few small ascents along the way. There were no real views but the weather was warm and the walk pleasant. At 1.4 miles we broke out of the woods onto a power line right-of-way. The trail quickly re-entered the woods still heading downhill but turning more to the northeast. Along the way we met two young men headed south to Bear Mountain from North Adams, Massachusetts. One was from the area near Bear Mountain but his friend was from Utah. I asked them about Hosner Mountain and they said "It wasn't too bad." At 2.7 miles the trail started a steep descent to the lowest point on the hike at 370 feet. We crossed a stream and then another on bridges before ascending toward Hortontown Road at 3.25 miles. This area of the trail had several stretches of puncheons used to cross wet ground. The ground was very dry which made the small foot bridges seem out of place. Just before the road a nice hiker's cabin was just off the trail to the right. This was no lean-to or shelter but a full-fledged "cabin" enclosed on three sides to match the regulations for AT shelters. The privy was on the left side of the trail and I imagined this would be a welcome stop for those hiking long distances on the AT. We crossed the road and the climbed for about .25 miles before crossing under the Taconic Parkway on Miller Hill Road. Just after the parkway, we turned left on Rock Ledge Road. The trail almost immediately turned right into the woods and we stopped for a drink. I replaced my GPS batteries and put the unit back on my pack. We headed up rather steep grade and walked for about .15 miles until I noticed my GPS unit was not on my pack! We headed back down the trail to the point where we had stopped but I did not find the unit. I hefted my pack and noticed that my "lost" GPS unit was imply a little too high on my shoulder strap! We turned around and continued the hike.

For the next mile or so the trail gained about 500 feet in elevation as it followed along the western shoulder of the Hosner Mountain ridge. A blue trail headed down the mountain at one point but I had no indication of where it went. Eventually the trail leveled off a little with only a few ups and downs. Just before passing by the summit of Hosner Mountain at 5.4 miles, there was a very nice lookout to the left of the trail looking west and north. There were mountains in the background and plowed farmland below. Several small villages dotted the landscape. We stopped so that I could take pictures and then continued on our way. At 6.3 miles the trail began to descend and as we started this descent there was another small lookout on the right of the trail to the east and south. I called Kurt to see if he was prepared to pick me up and had surprisingly good service. For the next .7 miles the trail lost about 460 feet of elevation and traveled over some slick rocks. Somewhere along the way the rain began to fall but it was fairly light and the sky looked as if it would clear. We crossed Hosner Mountain Road 7 miles into the hike. Just after the road we crossed another stream on a bridge and then began to climb! The rain began to come down much harder so I stowed my electronics in a plastic bag and put on my rain jacket. This is usually enough to stop the rain but not this time. Over the next .65 miles we gain about 450 feet as the trail skirted the summit of Stormville Mountain. There were MANY short switchbacks which cut the steepness of the ascent but became annoying after a while. This was not a really steep or long ascent but I was a little tired and the rain was still coming down. The expensive Mountain Hardwear Plasmic Jacket was disappointing. It is supposed to breathe well and does not have any venting. It is no better than any other jacket that I have. It does not breathe and I was soaked in sweat! After a brief descent there was another ascent before the descent to Route 52 where we arrived at 2:55 PM. We waited until my son Karl came to pick us up and take us back to the car. We covered 8.5 miles in 4 hours and 20 minutes with about 2330 feet of ascent and over 2500 feet of descent!

On Tuesday, May 27th I decided to get in some hiking close to home as I had track practice in the afternoon. I was tired of the same loops around Frick and Hodge Ponds and Trout Pond so I decided to park on Route 206 north of Roscoe and hike the Campbell Mountain Trail. My plan was to hike the trail out and return on the roads. These roads are almost devoid of traffic except for the last half mile on Route 206. I got my gear and put an anxious Sheila in the back seat before heading out. We arrived at the pulloff on Route 206 at 10:50 AM and got on the trail immediately. After a few hundred feet on the trail, I released Sheila from her leash and she seemed to enjoy this immensely. When hiking the AT or the more populated trails, I usually keep her on her leash a good part of the time. She behaves well on her leash but prefers the freedom of following her nose even though she usually doesn't range very far. The first part of the trail descends to a small stream and this part has pretty wet. We crossed the stream on a bridge and almost immediately started the climb up Campbell Mountain. The trail is never very steep but gaining over 700 feet in a little more than a mile gets the heart pumping. At about 1.3 miles we passed the spur trail to the lean-to and continued the climb. At 1.6 miles a snowmobile trail branched off to the right. This is also the new route for the Finger Lakes Trail which my wife and I had hiked last summer. I was sure there had been a sign, trail blazes and a register box when we hiked it but I saw none of those this time. We made good time to the top of the mountain averaging 2.7 mph even up the hill. I decided I would stick with the original plan and we continued over the mountain and descended the other side.

The temperature seemed to be in the high 70's and it was humid but I did not notice too many insects. I did notice that the nettles were beginning to flourish in the wetter and sunnier places. We hit Campbell Mountain Road at about 11:40 AM after hiking 2.4 miles. I thought about continuing on the trail to Campbell Brook Road but did not feel comfortable with my limited time. We turned left and hiked slightly uphill toward the intersection with Jug Tavern Road. It didn't take long for us to hike the .7 miles to the intersection where we turned left and continued our hike toward Route 206. There are a few hunting cabins and second homes along the road and several permanent dwellings. We kept up the quick pace. At one point a lone turkey crossed the road which real got Sheila's attention! We made the 1.5 miles or so in good time and turned left on Route 206 to complete the loop. It was less than a mile back to the car and we arrived at 12:40 PM. We had covered 5.5 miles in under 2 hours. The hike was not long or difficult but fit easily into my schedule.

On Sunday, May 25th I wanted to get away from Livingston Manor and hike in a different area. I had been thinking about completing the parts of the AT in New York that I had not hiked. I decided to hike on the east side of the Hudson to continue my completion of the AT. I checked my previous hikes and saw that I could hike from Canopus Lake on Route 301 to the top of Shenandoah Mountain which, at 1280 feet, was supposed to have a nice view. The roundtrip distance looked seemed to be about 8 miles. Cindy decided she was not feeling well enough to go so I packed up quickly after returning from church but didn't get on the road until about 11:15 AM. I headed south on Route 17 to I84 east and took I84 to the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. I then took exit 13 off I84 following Route 9 south for 6.5 miles to Route 301. I turned left on Route 301, drove 4.6 miles to Canopus Lake. The lake is very popular and there were already a lot of cars parked on the shoulder of Route 301. Fortunately, the road is wide here and I was able to find a spot to park. It was ready in the low 70's so I decided to wear a short-sleeved shirt and no jacket. I did pack a light windbreaker and my rain jacket since there were some thunderstorms predicted for around 5:00 PM. After getting soaked the day before, I had no desire to repeat the experience nor did I want top get caught in the woods in a thunderstorm! I knew that we would be hiking quickly and only stopping if there were really good views. I got my gear ready and put Sheila on her leash as we headed across the road at 12:45b PM. I soon let Sheila off her leash as there were fewer hikers on the trail than I expected. We did meet quite a few groups but each time I either put Sheila on her leash or got a firm hold on her collar. The trail was very rocky at the beginning and ascended and then descended quite a bit. In the first .5 miles we gained over 200 feet and then lost most of it again before gaining it back. I kept looking for views of Canopus Lake but there were only brief views through the trees. I began to wonder if there would be any views at all. At about 2.0 miles we turned right sharply and began to climb on a switchback. At the top was a rock outcropping with a nice view of the lake and the beach. There was also a group of six people so I leashed Sheila to a tree in the shade. I dropped my pack and got took some pictures. Someone in the group asked me to take some pictures of the group with the backdrop of the lake. I used a camera and cell phone to take some shots. After a drink and a snack, Sheila and I headed out on the trail as the group turned around to head back. At this point I noticed I had only brought one water bottle. I questioned my poor planning and whether this was enough water to get me through.

Just a little farther along the trail there was a lookout to the north and west. I stopped to take a few shots. In the distance I could see some mountains through the haze and it seemed that they could have been the Catskills. At about 2.85 miles we had dropped some elevation and I could hear traffic on a road even more distinctly than on the rest of the hike. The traffic was on the Taconic State Parkway. At this point the trail started to follow a woods road and the surface became smoother and easier to walk. We increased our pace as the trail began to climb gently toward what I believed was Shenandoah Mountain. Along the way I could see hiker ahead and I put Sheila on the leash. It was a family group that had stopped to rest in the middle of the trail. As I approached they said "Hello" but showed no signs of moving out of the way. I left the trail to get around them and they seemed not to notice what they were doing! A little farther along I met two women coming toward me who were setting a rapid pace. We exchanged brief greetings and continued in opposite directions. We continued to follow the trail NNE until it finally broke out onto an open rock face at almost exactly 4 miles. I walked a little farther on the trail but it began to descend toward Long Hill Road. I found a USGS marker at the top and decided this was where we would turn around. I dropped my pack to take some pictures including one of the marker and a US flag painted on the rocks. I took a long drink and hoped I would have enough water to make it back without cramping. We turned around at 2:50 PM and I hoped the skies would stay clear and blue!

The trip back seemed to go faster but my GPS said we were keeping about the same pace as on the way out. The difference would be that I did not intend to stop. At one point I looked up to see a hiker coming and Sheila ran up to him barking. I apologized and discussed the matter with Sheila. We decided that she would need to wear her training collar until she learns not to scare other hikers when I cannot get her on her leash! We continued then hike back and the constant up and down coupled with the rough, rocky trail began to wear me down a little. I had thought on the drive to Canopus Lake about calling my son Kurt so that he could pick me up at the end of the trail and give me a ride back to the car. This way I could hike 8 miles and get 8 miles of trail rather than hike 8 miles and get 4 miles of trail! Unfortunately, the next time I thought about it we were already 2 miles out. We continued to meet people on the way back and Sheila was good for the most part. We did run into the first mosquitoes of the season which reminded me to always put on some repellant. At 4:45 we crossed Route 301 and walked a little further on the shoulder to make sure we connected with our previous hike. We walked back to the car and got ready to depart. A young man and woman were looking for a ride to Cold Spring and I agreed to take them at least part of the way. I introduced the young man to Sheila and she had no objections to him riding in the back seat. The pair and taken Metro North to Cold Spring from the city and were returning tired after two days. She was from British Columbia and he was from France. We had a nice conversation as I took them at the way to Cold Spring and dropped them near the station. I took Route 9D south to the bear Mountain Bridge and returned home from there. We had hiked 8 miles in just over 4 hours with several stops for photography. The total vertical gain was only about 1600 feet and there were no difficult climbs.

On Saturday, May 24th Jeff Sentermann was at Morgan Outdoors to talk about the new Willowemoc Trail Crew. Jeff is the supervisor for all Catskill trails for the NYNJTC. About six people showed up on this busy weekend and Jeff explained the use of the different crews and how the trail crew will operate. The trail crew will be able to do trail maintenance and repair in all areas of the Willowemoc Wild Forest which includes, among other areas, Frick and Hodge Ponds and Mud and Trout Ponds. After the presentation, we were scheduled to meet at Frick Pond to do a loop and assess some of the work that needed to be done. I was the first one to the parking area and found there were already four cars parked there which was a record. The rest of the group arrived a little after noon and we started out to Frick Pond where the plan was, apparently, to stop and eat lunch. I had decided that I would walk a loop of the pond and then rejoin the group for the rest of the hike. The hike to Frick Pond was very...leisurely as Jeff pointed out some work we had done and answered some questions. We noticed that there seemed to be fresh ruts on the woods road to the pond. We finally arrived at the first trail junction where we would head left to the pond. I immediately spotted a pickup truck a short distance up the Loggers Loop Trail. I walked over to the truck but no one was round. I got the license plate number make and model. We all marveled that someone would be so inconsiderate! I suggested to Jeff that the first thing that had to be done was to put a log across the woods road or install a gate. Any work a trail crew does could be undone in an instant by one pickup track! I walked down to the pond and threw a stick in for Sheila and waited for the rest of the group to arrive. When they did appear they were discussing whether or not they could make it around the pond or whether they would just turn around AFTER eating lunch! At this point I excused myself and Sheila and I headed out on the Quick Lake Trail to begin a loop. The clouds were starting to roll in and I wondered if the rain would hold off until we were done.

We got to at Iron Wheel Junction quickly and turned left to take the Quick Lake Trail to Junkyard Junction. The skies were looking more ominous now as we ascended the Quick Lake Trail which was already wet in many spots. Soon I could hear drops of rain and looked up to see we were headed in the direction of some very black clouds. I put on my rain jacket and decided to continue hoping that the rain would be brief and that we could walk out of it. My hopes did not come true! The rain began in earnest and I was glad I had put the camera and GPS in a plastic bag in my pack. The rain gear actually kept me pretty dry and it was a cool rain so sweat was not as much of a problem as it had been in the past. The rain continued until my pants, shoes and pack were drenched. We turned right on the Flynn Trail at Junkyard Junction and found the trails were pools of water. The rain did let up some and I thought "At least there was no lightning!" at this point there was a loud clap of thunder but there was only one. We were soon at the gate where we followed the trail down to Hodge Pond. The rain had let up some and I decided to take the quickest way back which was to stay on the Flynn Trail. As we entered the clearing at the outlet end of Hodge Pond, three hikers approached from the other direction. We exchanged greetings and lament about the weather. I considered warning them about lightning but decided they could decide for themselves. A light rain continued as we ascended the Flynn Trail and walked to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. There wasn't much rain as we walked the last 1.7 miles down the Flynn Trail and back to the car. I was completely soaked but still had a good time. We covered 6.6 miles in about 3 hours which I thought was a good pace considering the slow start and the heavy downpour!

On Tuesday, May 20th, I had planned to do a hike with a friend somewhere close to home. We both had tight schedules for the day as we decided to Alder lake and hike to the Beaver Meadow Lena-to. I picked her up at her house at about 8:30 AM and we headed toward Turnwood and Alder Creek Road. I parked in the Alder Lake parking area at 8:40 AM and we started our hike almost immediately. There were no other cars in the lot. The temperature was in the 60's with a slight breeze. We headed down to the left of the "lawn" toward the trail around the left side of the lake. My friend almost immediately announced that she wanted to "speed hike". I told her I did not want to go too fast but she took off ahead of me anyway. This continued on and off for the rest of the hike. I was sorry she did not want to hike with me as I very frequently hike alone and would have liked to have a conversation! Sheila was happy to be out and kept me company as we hiked on the very muddy trail around the lake. We crossed the bridges and at about .8 miles turned left to head toward the lean-to on the Millbrook Ridge Trail. The trail was wet and muddy in many places and there were both old and new blowdowns to contend with. For the next 1.5 miles the trail climbs and then levels off several times. The elevation gain is several hundred feet but the grade is never more than 12% and averages around 6%. There isn't too much to see along the way but this day was very pleasant. I enjoyed the sounds and sights of Alder Creek as it flows parallel to the trail much of the way. As we neared the lean-to we passed by a series of beaver meadows until we arrived at the lean-to.

We walked down to the lean-to and I dropped my pack and got out the camera. It had taken less than an hour to get to the beaver meadow. I walked out to the edge of the beaver meadow and took pictures of the blue sky with white puffy clouds contrasted against the green beaver meadow. I decided to hike a short distance along the trail to the next beaver meadow. When we got there I took some pictures before going back to the trail and hiking back to the lean-to. As we approached the lean-to, I noticed some whitetail deer had come down to the meadow. Sheila noticed them to but did not chase them. I put Sheila on her leash and again dropped my pack at the lean-to to take a few more pictures. I picked up my pack and we headed back down the trail. I stopped in several places and walked down to the creek to take some pictures of the water as it sparkled in the sun. We were soon at the loop trail around Alder lake where we turned right to retrace our path back to the car. At one point there was an opening in the trees and I couldn't resist taking some shot across the lake of Cradle Rock Ridge. We continued back to the "lawn" near the dam at the outlet end of the lake. I stopped to take a few final shots and then we headed back to the car. We were back at 10:45 AM having covered 4.8 miles in just over 2 hours. The total elevation gain was just under 700 feet.

On Sunday, May 18th I wanted to get away from Livingston Manor and hike in a different area. I had been thinking about completing the parts of the AT in New York that I had not hiked. I decided to hike on the east side of the Hudson to continue my completion of the AT. I checked my previous hikes and saw that I could hike from Dennytown Rd in Fahnestock State Park north to the Canopus Lake on Route 301. The roundtrip distance looked seemed to be between 6 and 8 miles. Cindy decided she wanted to go with me so we packed up quickly after returning from church and headed south on Route 17 to I84 east. I took I84 to the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge and then took exit 13 off I84 following Route 9 south for 6.5 miles to Route 301. I turned left on Route 301, drove 2.6 miles and turned right on Dennytown Rd. We passed the first parking area on the left near Sunk Mine Rd. and parked at the second where the AT crossed the road. I had no trouble finding the lot this time. There were several other vehicles parked and some hikers were entering the woods while others were coming out. I had not anticipated much activity and wondered if Sheila would have to be on her leash much of the time. We parked at 12:45 PM and I put Sheila on her leash so that we could get started immediately. We entered the woods on the AT to start the hike. After a short distance, it was obvious there were no other hikers on the trail so I let Sheila go. She ranged up and won the trail some but didn't go too far and came back when called. We walked to the top of a low ridge and then down the other side. Along the way we did meet a young couple eating lunch perched on a large boulder. At 1.4 miles we crossed Sunk Mine Road and picked up the trail just on the other side. At 1.6 mile we had to cross a small stream that drained a beaver pond. The stream was a little high and we took our time finding the best place to cross. A group of hikers was crossing in the most obvious place so we walked off the trail and downstream where I found a small waterfall. I took a few pictures giving the others time to cross. As I was about to put the camera back in the pack, I noticed a round stone with a hole in the middle. I took pictures of the millstone before stowing the camera and crossing the stream. We inspected the beaver pond but there didn't seem to be any recent activity. Downstream from the pond was a huge marsh covered in reeds. There were many of these along the way.

At 2.7 miles we had just finished a slight ascent on the AT and come to a junction with the Three Lakes Trail. A young woman approached us from the left Andre stopped to speak to her for a moment before continuing on our separate ways. Cindy and I agreed that it might be more interesting to take the Three Lakes Trail back since the AT in this area was not very special. As we continued on the AT we found that we were walking on a sort of raised causeway supported by stonework. This continued for almost a mile. The trail did not seem wide enough to ever have been a road and we wondered at the origin of such an elaborate effort. At 3.6 miles we arrived at Route 301 and Canopus Lake. There were quite a few cars at various pullouts along the roadway. I crossed the road to take a few pictures and then rejoined Cindy and Sheila on the other side. We walked northeast on what appeared to be the old road for less than a quarter mile where we found the Three Lakes Trail. We turned right and started south on the trail and almost immediately met the woman we had talked to previously. This time I asked her if she had seen amine since the map indicated the Phillips Mine was right along the trail. She said she had not seen anything and I was disappointed as I like to discover and explore this aspect of history. We again parted heading in different directions. Within a few hundred feet we found a long teach on the right side of the trail which was obviously the Phillips Mine. Many of these mines are simple pits or trenches and they can be hard to spot unless you know what you are looking for. We explored some and I took a few pictures. We got back on the main trail and walked a short distance and ran into another larger trench and a tailings pile. It was obvious that the trail had been constructed after the trench was abandoned. I took a few more pictures before we continued on.

At 4.6 miles we turned west just after passing a large marsh. This trail was lower than the AT and passed through more bottomland rather than staying1 on a ridge. At 4.9 miles we descended to a small stream and met another hiker coming our way. Crossing the stream was easy but Sheila stopped to take a swim. We started to ascend a ridge on a switchback and met some more hikers. Sheila was being good about not barking or straining at her leash! At 5.3 miles we were at the cairn that marked the trail junction and we continued straight ahead on the Three Lakes Trail. At 5.5 miles we passed by another lake and I stopped briefly to take a few pictures. The trail continued without much elevation change and with a much flatter surface than the AT. At 6.7 miles the trail came to the shores of the third lake where I, again, stopped to take a few shots. Just below the lake the trail crossed the outlet stream. There was no bridge and the water was a little high. We looked for another place to cross and, finding none, returned to the trail crossing. Sheila bounded across surprising a couple of hikers on the other side. Cindy and I worked our way across on some logs and stones. At 7 mile we were back at Sunk Mine Road where we turned right and walked uphill for about a tenth of mile before turning south into the woods for the last stretch of trail back to the car. Our insect repellant had worn off and some small flies buzzed around. The final part of the trail was slightly uphill and along a small stream and another large marsh. Eventually we crossed the stream and passed by and old stone structure which I remembered from the previous hike. It was a short walk through a meadow and back to the parking area. We were back at 4:50 PM having covered 7.9 miles in just over 4 hours. The total vertical gain was about 1440 feet. After the hike, we met Aimee, Kurt and Ariana at the Maya Cafe in Fishkill for a delicious dinner.

On Monday, May 12th, I decided I wanted get out and do a hike close to home and Cindy wanted to go too. We decided to go to Trout Pond since we had not been there recently wand wanted to see how the recent rainfall had impacted the falls. We were in no real hurry to get started so we arrived at the top of Russell Brook Road at about 10:15 AM and parked on the side of Morton Hill Road. I noticed a U-Haul truck at the illegal camping area just down the road and put Sheila on her leash before starting out. We had driven through a massive hatch on the way but the bugs didn't seem too bad so we got started right away. I wore a light windbreaker and it was immediately clear I would have to remove it since the temperature was already in the 70's. As we passed the truck, an older man struck up a conversation giving us advice about the area. I didn't want to be impolite and tell him we hiked this route at least once every two weeks! We continued on down Russell Brook Road to the overlook of the falls. We were both surprised that there was not as much water as we had thought there would be in the stream. We continued to the lower parking area and then got on the woods road that crosses the brook. At the trail junction just after the register we turned to the left to climb the steeper hill toward Mud Pond. The trail was rather dry with only a few wet spots and the ascent went quickly. The sun was out and I stopped to remove my jacket as it was very warm. We reached the top of the hill and started down the other side. Sheila alerted and I looked up to see a hiker coming our way. The hiker was another older man who was apparently enjoying the warm weather as he was not wearing a shirt! We said "hello" and continued to the next trail junction where we turned right to start over the shoulder of Cherry Ridge to Trout Pond.

The ascent continued for the next 1.2 miles until at 2.8 miles into the hike we were at the highest point and ready to start the descent to Trout Pond. The trail remained relatively dry and easy to negotiate. We descended the rest of the way to Trout Pond and stopped at the inlet. The skies were not the best for photography but I took some pictures of the pond before continuing on. We continued on the main trail toward the outlet of the pond. Along the way I noticed a large rock on the shoreline that I had not seen before. I walked out to the rock and took some pictures of the pond from a perspective I had not used before. I also threw a stick into the water to let Sheila get some time swimming which she loves! As we approached the lower end of the pond I looked at the time and decided to bypass a stop and continue on to finish the hike. We were soon back at the register box. Just passed the box I noticed two hikers approaching with a small King Charles spaniel. I put Sheila on her leash but the other hikers made no effort to leash there dog or even to control it. I am always surprised when others are so inconsiderate! We continued on to the parking area and then finished with the hike up Russell Brook Road back to the car, We arrived back at 12:45 PM having covered 5.5 miles and 1100 vertical feet in 2.5 hours.

On Saturday, May 10th I wanted to get in a longer hike and thought about getting away from Livingston Manor to do it. I looked at the weather forecast and the best scenario still called for showers wherever I wanted to go. I was not willing to travel a long distance to hike in poor weather. In addition, our grandson Bryce had slept over and he is a very active child. His parents stopped by to pick him up in the morning and we had coffee and breakfast together. Sometime after 9:00 AM I decided I still wanted to hike and decided to head to Frick Pond to do it. On the way up DeBruce Road I ran into a hatch and knew the insects at the ponds might be a problem. I had not decided on an exact route as I got out of the car and applied a liberal coating of Herbal Armor. This bug repellant is one of the better alternatives to DEET which is highly toxic and can react adversely with synthetic materials. Sheila was ready to go and we crossed the road to head up the Flynn Trail at about 11:15 AM. The skies were cloudy and a haze hung over much of the scenery. We kept a quick pace up the Flynn Trail and arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 11:50 AM having hiked the 1.7 miles in only 35 minutes! We stopped for a minute so that I could remove the light jacket I had worn. I was glad my wife had convinced me to wear a short-sleeved shirt since it was over 70 degrees at the time. As we headed toward Hodge Pond on the Flynn Trail, I decided we would lengthen our trip by visiting the Lookout over the pond near the Sullivan County highpoint. At the next junction we veered to the right following a woods road to the area near the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We continued straight ahead as the woods road ascended the hill. Some new tire tracks were clear and it appeared a pickup truck had driven in from Shin Creek Road in Lew Beach. This part of the road was damp and I was surprised that there wasn't more water on the trails after the recent rain. After hiking about 2.6 miles, we made a sharp right off the road and followed the very clear but unmarked trail to the lookout. Our destination was only about .25 miles ahead and we covered that distance quickly. The trail was wet in places but we easily walked around the dampest places. One quick look from the viewpoint confirmed that it was not a day to take pictures. I didn't even get out my camera before we turned around and headed back down the mountain.

When we arrived back at the area near the remains of the boy scout camp, we turned right and followed the woods road down to the jeep trail that goes around the back of Hodge Pond. We took the next right to get back on the Flynn Trail heading for Junkyard Junction. The trails were relatively clear of any new obstructions and we made good time to the gate at the top of the hill. At this point the Flynn Trail flattens out and this is where we finally found where all the rain had accumulated. The Flynn Trail in this area seemed to be one long bog interrupted by small pools. Walking on the side of the trail helped in some places but it did slow us down some. At 12:50 PM we had finally hiked the 4.7 miles to Junkyard Junction where the Flynn Trail ends at the Quick Lake Trail. We turned left to head down the hill and back toward the parking area. The first part of the Quick Lake Trail rolls a little and it also was wet in spots. As we began to descend the trail became drier for the moist part. I began to hear gunfire to the west and tried to judge the type of gun. At times the firing was so fast I thought there may have been more than one weapon firing! It seemed to be a small caliber rifle or a handgun. We continued our hike but I was uneasy as I did not know the source of the shooting or the direction. When we reached Iron Wheel Junction at 6.3 miles, we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail back to Frick Pond. This trail was also wet in spots but these places were easier to avoid. We were soon crossing the bridge at the outlet to Frick Pond. I had considered other possible ways to extend the hike but had some things to do at home. We continued back to the parking area and the car. I was surprised to find five vehicles parked in the main lot as I had seen no other hikers along the entire route. We were back at the car at 2:00 PM having covered 7.7 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes with a total elevation gain of just under 1300 feet. As I drove home a heavy burst of rain hit making me glad I had decided to end the hike when I did.

On Tuesday, May 6th I had arranged to hike with Lisa from Morgan Outdoors, the local hiking store in Livingston Manor. Lisa arrived at my house just after 9:00 AM and we headed for the new section of rail trail that had opened last year in Parksville. Lisa is sponsoring a trail running shoe trying event long the trail in the bear future and wanted to assess the trail. We parked in the large, paved parking area near the Methodist Church and walked toward Main Street. At the four-way intersection we walked across the street and to the right where we picked up the start of the rail trail. There are no special signs or any kiosk marking the trail but it is easy to spot. I had Sheila on her leash until we were a little farther along the trail. The section of trail we walked was very flat with a relatively hard packed surface. It was damp in places but it was still a pleasant walk. The first part of the trail follows Little Coddington Brook until it empties into and becomes part of the Little Beaverkill. At one point about .5 miles in we passed by an area of waterfalls and rapids and I was sorry I had left my pack and camera behind. Our hike ended at a small bridge constructed over an area that was too narrow for safe passage. As I looked over the side of the bridge, I spotted a rather large chunk of ice that remained from the winter! We walked back to the car and headed up the Cooley Road to our second destination, Long Pond, where we had decided to hike the long loop.

We arrived at the Long Pond parking area on Flugertown Road at about 10:30 AM and got on the trail almost immediately. The first .6 miles of the trail has a 320 foot elevation gain which really got us warmed up for the rest of the hike. The trail was wet in many places but the worst spots were easy to avoid. We kept up a quick pace and were soon at the spur trail that goes down to the western side of the pond. We walked down the trail and stopped to take a few pictures. The conditions were not ideal but I took a few shots anyway. Soon we were back on the main trail where we turned right at the first trail junction to begin the big loop. By 11:40 AM we had hiked 2.5 miles and were passing by the spur trail to the Long Pond lean-to. The trail continued to be wet in places and some spots were very muddy. At one point Lisa alerted me to a porcupine ahead in the woods to the right of the trail. I immediately put Sheila on her leash and looked ahead into the woods. I informed Lisa that the porcupine was a bear cub running back and forth. A closer look showed TWO bear cubs playing with each other! The cubs climbed quickly up a tree before I could get a picture. We decided to make some noise and quickly pass by the area. This proved successful as we never saw the mother of the cubs. The trail soon led to a woods road where we turned left and followed it to the junction with Basily Road. We continued to bear left and to follow the dirt road toward the Peters Hunting Camp. We crossed the small stream on the footbridge and I stopped to take a few pictures. We passed by the hunting camp and used their bridge to cross the larger stream and continue on Basily Road. I stopped to take a few pictures after which we set a quick pace back to the car. The road went from dirt to packed gravel and eventually became paved. Along the way the name changes to Flugertown Road. We made good time on the paved road arriving back at the car at 1:00 PM. We had hiked the 6.0 mile loop in 2 hours and 25 minutes. The fact that the total elevation gain is only 600 feet helped!

On Saturday, May 3rd I wanted to go somewhere locally to hike We talked about various options and then settled on Walnut Mountain in Liberty. We had not been there in some time and the trails allow many different possibilities for creating your own adventure. We weren't in a great hurry but parked at lot on West Lake Street at about 10:20 AM. There were two other cars in the lot but I knew there would probably be more activity at the main parking area which was closer to the playground and ball fields. We headed southwest on the A2 trail which turned out to be very wet in places. It also showed some use by a pickup truck or other wheeled vehicle which helped the water to collect! The local bike club has done extensive work creating trails in the park and their work was evident as well-constructed and well-marked bike trails crossed our path. When the A2 trail met the main A1 trail we followed the A1 to the right or south as it began a climb along the shoulder of the mountain. We eventually ended up at a picnic table with a nice view. We were able to pick out the old Stevensville Hotel

on the shores of Swan Lake as well as the airport and a duck or chicken farm. As I tried to decide where to go next, I turned around and spotted a rather steep little bike trail that ascended to a higher level. We were at another lookout with essentially the same view from a different angle. We continued on the A4 trail until we were near the top of the hill. From there we followed the bike trails over the top and around the summit. The bike club has built several cantilever bridges to span the gaps between rocks. We circled the summit which has no view, and then caught the A5 trail north until it interested the A4 trail again. We turned left and took the A4 clockwise around the mountain to the lower lookout. As we approached I saw one of my distance runners on the trails. We stopped for a minute to say "Hello" before going our separate ways. We now decided to take the A1 south and down the mountain. We continued to follow this trail as it turned north and headed to the main parking area. Along the way we passed several groups working on signage or clearing trails. We passed through the playground area and noticed a Little League baseball game in progress. As we continued north, we picked up the A3 trail and followed it back to the A2 trail and the West Lake parking area. We were back at the car by 12:20 PM having covered 4.2 miles in just under 2 hours. It was not a long hike but very enjoyable. We decided to get some lunch at the Yiasou Cafe in Liberty. The food there is tasty and they offer a great value. The menu has predominantly Greek food but sports other items as well. It can get a little crowded but on this day there were only a few tables filled. We brought enough food home for dinner!

On Friday, May 2nd I wanted to get away from Livingston Manor and hike in a different area. I had been thinking about completing the parts of the AT in New York that I had not hiked. I decided to hike on the east side of the Hudson to continue my completion of the AT. I checked my previous hikes and saw that I could hike from Dennytown Rd in Fahnestock State Park south to the Old Albany Post Road where I had stopped on a previous hike. The forecast for the day was for partly sunny skies with temperatures in the high 60's. There was some wind in the forecast but no rain was predicted. I wanted to be done as early as possible to get home to see my and I headed out rather early as this was a longer drive than usual. We left Livingston Manor before 8:00 AM and headed down the Quickway. I took I84 to the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge and then took exit 13 off I84 following Route 9 south for 6.5 miles to Route 301. I turned left on Route 301, drove 2.6 miles and turned right on Dennytown Rd. From here I had a slight problem finding the correct parking lot. This was all my fault as I was following the GPS in the car rather than looking at the road. I found the first parking area on the left near Sunk Mine Rd. I then passed the correct parking area on the left where the AT crosses. I turned around an easily saw it on the way back. The parking area is large with a trailhead sign and several stone buildings. I parked at 9:20 AM and we were on the trail shortly thereafter. We crossed the road under partly cloudy skies and began our walk by descending slightly and then climbing to a ridge. This rolling terrain is typical in this area. The trail was very wet in several places with some areas resembling a stream bed. There were also spots that had pooled water and required a detour. At 1.5 miles the trail turned sharply to the north which bothered me a little. Soon it approached a small stream and began to follow the stream south again. At one point we stopped so that I could take some pictures of a small waterfall.

Eventually the trail headed due south and we continued to descend albeit with a few moderate ascent along the way. At 2.7 miles we crossed South Highland Road. Along the way we passed three hikers traveling north. We exchanged pleasantries and I was happy that Sheila did not bark or strain too much at her leash. The hikers had southern accents and after we passed each other I began to wonder if they were hiking the entire AT from south to north. Although I knew it was early in the AT hiking season, This question bothered me for some time. We continued to head south and continued to descend and I thought about hiking back to the car and an almost all uphill stretch! At 11:00 AM we crossed Canopus Hill Road at 3.7 miles and descended to Canopus Creek. Just before the creek, we found another hiker sitting on a rock. We stopped a minute to rest and chat. Sheila was again civil. The hiker was headed from the Bear Mountain Bridge north on the AT and planned to spend several days hiking and camping. He had met the hikers with the southern accents and found they were from Kentucky but were section hiking. He did tell me that there was at least one hiker who had started the AT in February in Georgia and was now north of our position! I vowed to find his journal online as the conditions at times must have been...challenging. Crossing Canopus Creek was not easy as the water was high and there was no bridge. I hopped from rocks to rock to log while Sheila simply waded and swam across.

In front of us now was Canopus Hill and while the hike to the top was only about .7 miles the elevation gain was over 400 feet with a 15% grade. None of this really bothered me except for the fact that the skies were beginning to cloud over and the wind was picking up. I had believed the forecast and left my rain gear at home. I did not relish getting wet but decided not to give up on completing this section of the AT. We forged up the hill without any problems although some of the blazes were clearly wrong! One directed us to the left as the trail turned right! When we got to the top of the hill, there was an open spot but no real viewpoint. The star on the NYNJTC maps was a little further along on the descent and we continued to walk. As so often happens, no lookout appeared and probably had been obscured by trees over the years. The descent on the other side was steep and rocky but the elevation loss was not as great as the gain on the other side. At 4.7 miles we had descended the road and were very near the Old Albany Post Road. Unfortunately, the trail paralleled the road for another .6 miles before crossing one more swampy area. We crossed Chapman Road and the Old Albany Post Road and arrived at the spot where I had stopped on the previous hike. At this point the skies had cleared and the sun was peeking through. This significantly improved my spirits. We took a short break for a snack and water and turned around to begin the return hike at 11:50 AM. The hike back was uneventful and seemed to go quickly. When we got to the top of Canopus Hill, Sheila began to run back and forth on the trail like a maniac but this is normal for her! We crossed the creek without incident and stopped so that I could take some pictures of the sparkling water and very green vegetation. We crossed the road and began the last three miles of hiking gaining about 1000 feet in the process. It was much easier than I thought. I stopped twice to take pictures of the stone walls in the area. I had noticed these on the way out since they were extensive and much wider than usual. I thought about the purpose of the walls and how they indicate what was now forest had since been open farms. We were back at the car by 2:30 PM having covered 10.5 miles in 5 hours and 10 minutes which was further than I had planned. In the process we gained a little over 2500 feet. Once we were at the car I put Sheila in the back seat and got out my camera. I took a few pictures of the small "shed" by the parking area and then walked to the shell of another stone building. The Three Lakes Trail passed right by this structure. The stonework was beautiful and I tried to guess its function and what it looked like just after it was constructed.

On Friday, April 25th I wanted to get away from Livingston Manor and hike in a different area. I had been thinking about completing the parts of the AT in New York that I had not hiked. I decided to hike on the east side of the Hudson to continue my completion of the AT. I checked my previous hikes and saw that I could hike from The White Rocks near Canada Hill east and north toward Defiance Hill and the Old Albany Post Road. The problem was that the White Rocks are not near a trailhead. After consulting the maps, I decided that I could park at an area called Graymoor that had a parking area right on the AT. I wanted to be done as early as possible to get home to see my and I headed out rather early as this was a longer drive than usual. We left Livingston Manor before 8:00 AM and headed down the Quickway. I took I84 to the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge and then used Route 9D to go south to Garrison where I followed Route 403 southeast to Route 9. At Route 9 I tuned left and shortly after turned right onto Old West Point Road. A short distance up the road I found Graymoor Road and turned right. Graymoor, it turns out, is a Franciscan monastery and retreat. I found the AT almost immediately but did not find anything that looked like parking. I talked to two women walking the grounds and they told me that everyone parks near the AT on the grassy shoulder. I went back to the AT, parked and we were on the trail by 9:20 AM heading southwest to follow the AT to the White Rocks area. We descended for about .3 miles and then walked another .2 miles where we crossed Route 9 and Route 403. After crossing the roads, there was a sign board or kiosk and then a long elevated walkway across a marshy area. We then began to climb for the next .5 miles to a trail junction that looked familiar. Along the way we walked on a fairly wide and well-maintained woods road along a small stream.

At the trail junction I decided to turn left and stay on the AT to the top of the ridge. I did this for two reasons: I wasn't sure that I had hiked this before and the map indicated a viewpoint at the top. The climb wasn't long or steep but it was long and steep enough! At 1.4 miles we were at the top of the ridge where we turned left to stay on the AT. Over the next .1 or so miles we walked out to the edge of the ridge to try to find viewpoints. There were places that may have been viewpoints when the maps were published but were now blocked by trees. We turned back and followed our path back to the car. I stopped at the road crossing to take some pictures of the walkway and then continued back to the car. We were back at the car by 10:50 AM after hiking 2.75 miles. We crossed the road and picked up the AT again on the other side. The trail crossed the Old West Point Road and descended to a swampy area before starting to climb again. I began to notice there were quite a few insects swarming around my head but these seemed to clear as we climbed away from the lower, wet areas. The trail headed northeast and at 3.9 miles there was a trail to the right that ascended Little Fort Hill. I could see a stone wall near the top and thought there might be part of a Revolutionary War fort left. We climbed the short trail and found a stone wall which surrounded a small "park". At one end was a small shrine labeled "Virgen Misionera Madre de los Immigrantes"! I took a few pictures before turning around to descend the spur trail.

We turned right on the AT and continued our hike out to the northeast. At 4.9 miles another spur trail turned off to the left to ascend Denning Hill. We turned and followed the trail looking for a viewpoint marked on the map. There was a rock ledge near the end of the trail but, like so many others, the view was obscured by the trees. On the way back down I decided to walk a little farther up another hill but still could find no lookout. We returned to the main trail and turned left to continue to the northeast. I decided at this point that the Old Albany Post Road would be our turn around point. We passed by Fort Defiance Hill on our left. At 5.5 miles we were on top of a ridge and the trail turned sharply to the right and started down. It was finally sinking in that we would have to drop almost 450 feet to reach the road. I decided that wasn't an overwhelming distance and we started down. Almost immediately we came across the best viewpoint of the day. There was an open rock face with an unobstructed view to the south and east. Of course, there wasn't much to see except trees and the sky was a hazy monotone. We continued to follow the trail down until it leveled off. The trail surface was mostly jagged rocks and then it began to climb again! I checked the map to find that the trail had several spots where it climbed along the shoulder of the ridge before the final descent to the road. We continued following the trail and finally reached the road at 12:40 PM after hiking 6.3 miles. We didn't spend much time but turned around and began the trek back to the car. It was very warm and I wasn't looking forward to the hike back up to the ridge. Fortunately, the ascent seemed to go quickly and we were soon turning left to head southwest toward the car. As we got closer to Graymoor I noticed the sounding of a carillon that chimed the hour and then played familiar hymns. I was glad when we walked to the final hill to the car. It was 2:15 PM and we had covered 9.1 miles in 4 hours and 50 minutes. The total vertical gain was about 2400 feet. I decided my next hike would start to fill in the AT from the Old Albany Post Road to the New York border.

On Monday, April 21st I wanted to get away from Livingston Manor and hike in a different area. I had been thinking about completing the parts of the AT in New York that I had not hiked. I decided to hike in Harriman again starting at the Tiorati Circle parking area and making a loop out on the AT to the Lemon Squeezer and then back on the Long Path. It seemed that the route would be a little over 5 miles round trip. Cindy agreed to go with me since the weather forecast was for a sunny day with highs in the upper 60's. I had track practice until 10:00 AM so we got a late start leaving just before 11:00 AM. We took the Quickway to Harriman and then the Long Mountain Parkway to the Long Mountain traffic circle. From there we took Seven Lakes Drive to the Tiorati Circle and parked at the parking just off Arden Valley Road. This is the same road that Cindy and I used to park at the Elk Pen the previous Saturday. It was around 12:05 PM when we left the parking area walking west on the blue blazed Lake Tiorati Trail just off the road. We followed that for about .3 miles to the junction with the AT where we turned left. We immediately passed by a new steel water storage tank on the right and the old cement and wooden cistern on the left. The trail began to climb to the top of the Fingerboard Mountain Ridge. The trail generally ascended and we hit 1375 feet at the highest point which was a little more than 400 feet higher than the parking area. There was a lot of sun and the temperature began to rise as we hiked. We could see Lake Tiorati below and the view was quite good through the trees which were still devoid of leaves. Unfortunately, there was never a good enough vantage point to take pictures. The trail surface was typical for Harriman with areas of open rock faces alternating with jumbles of rocks and a few clear areas between! At one point we stopped and I took some pictures of the numerous glacial erratics that litter the park. There were three small but interesting "pink" boulders in one area which my wife pronounced to be "pinks schist".

At 1.3 miles we were at the highest point of the ridge at which point we dropped almost all the elevation we had gained as we hiked downhill to Surebridge Brook. We crossed the brook and then realized we had lost he AT blazes. We recrossed the brook and followed the AT southwest along the brook. We almost immediately began to pick up the tailings piles from the Greenwood Mine. The Harriman area is full of iron mines that date back as far as the period of the American Revolution. Some are just small pits while others like the Greenwood Mine are much bigger. Most of the Greenwood Mine is now underwater but we stopped and I took some pictures of the main adit and the tailings. I remembered that there is another large adit up on the hillside but we chose to simply continue our hike. We continued on the AT until it crossed the brook at 2.2 miles. We ascended a small hill and then walked back down the other side to the junction with the Long Path at 3 miles. We continued on the AT and began the steepest climb of the day to the top of Island Pond Mountain. As we descended the other side we stopped for a drink and a snack. Some hikers were camping on the edge of the mountain looking southeast. This view was mostly of trees and more trees. We walked passed them and the off the trail to the northeast. We found a nice lookout that had a beautiful view of Island Pond. I knew we would probably not get to Island Pond so I took some pictures from above which was a view I had not had before. We walked back to the trail and down the other side of the mountain to the area of the Lemon Squeezer.

The Lemon Squeezer on the AT in Harriman is one of at least four that I know of and each is different and interesting in its own right. We arrived at the point on the AT where there is a sheer drop of at least 10 feet with few handholds. Sheila kept looking for a way down and we were afraid she would try jumping so we all headed down a different route marked by a sign saying "Easy Way"! From there Sheila and I headed into the Squeezer which is a narrow slot that you have to walk through. Cindy decided to go around while I stopped to take a few pictures. We came out on the other side and met Cindy. I made sure to walk a few feet further on the AT to be sure I made the connection with previous routes. We then decided to walk a little to the east and then pick up the Long Path north back to the trail junction. This was one of the few pieces of the Long Path that I had not hiked in the area. Once we turned north the Long Path followed the "low road" next to a wetland on the right. At 3:00 PM and 4.5 miles we were at the trail junction and continued straight ahead on the Long Path. For the next 2.1 miles we struggled over some of the rockiest terrain we had hiked in some time. Along the way we hiked up and down at least three hills. Nothing was very steep or very high but the constant hike over the rocks began to become uncomfortable. Finally at 6.6 miles we hit the Arden Valley Road. Walking on the flat, hard surface was a pleasure even though we had to walk uphill! When we reached the point where the AT crosses, I decided to simply stay on the road and walk back to the car. This was the more direct and easier route. We were back at the car by 4:15 PM having hiked 7.1 miles in 4 hours and five minutes with an elevation gain of about 1700 feet. We agreed it was enough for one day. On the way home we stopped in Middletown at Outback and had a nice dinner!

On Saturday, April 19th there was a baby shower for my daughter Krista. This left the men free to "bond" after completing a few morning preparations for the shower. By the time we got the group together it was about 1:00 PM when we headed out to Alder Lake. Our group included myself, sons Karl and Kurt, son-in-law Brad, grandsons Bryce and Luke and Sheila, the only female allowed. Bryce just celebrated his third birthday and was eager to hike. Luke is only 1 year old and was going to ride in a carrier on Karl's back. We drove up the Beaverkill Road and turned left onto the Alder Lake Road. The road was in surprisingly good condition after the winter and the access road to Alder Lake was also well maintained. As we pulled into the parking area, we found several other cars present and I found I had forgotten Sheila's leash as we were riding in Karl's car! Brad came through with a length of paracord and a carabiner which acted as an effective leash. As we walked out to the "lawn", we passed several people with suitcases! We guessed they had been camping but we really weren't sure! We stopped briefly at the remains of the Coykendall mansion. This once beautiful structure had fallen into disrepair and the state burned it several years ago. All that remains is the stonework. Bryce was full of energy and Luke seemed to be enjoying the ride so we headed to the right, walked over the concrete dam and started around Alder Lake counterclockwise. I intended to avoid the campers on the other side until the trip back. The trail around the lake has a few ups and won but has few obstructions and is easy walking. There are a few bridges which Bryce found interesting. The day was warm and sunny and it was pleasant to be out with the family. As we approached Alder Creek at the upper end of the lake, I could see the old bridge had been replaced by the now familiar double steel I-beam bridge. The old bridge had been washed away in a storm and was useless and an eyesore. We stopped at the bridge to take a few pictures. A little further along the trail, the Millbrook Ridge Trail heads toward Balsam Lake Mountain. We stopped at the trail sing and I took several group pictures. We continued our walk along the lake and passed by a father and son fishing. I walked down to the lake with Bryce and we threw sticks into the lake for Sheila to retrieve while I took some pictures. Back on the main trail Bryce asked to be carried. I distracted him and we began to race and to look at interesting things along the way. Bryce was still racing when we got back to the parking area! The hike was about 1.7 miles and took around an hour. This is a very short hike for me but it was the best hike I have taken in some time!

On Friday, April 18th my son-in-law, Brad, and I wanted to get away from Livingston Manor and hike in a different area. I had been thinking about completing the parts of the AT in New York that I had not hiked. I suggested we hike a loop from the Anthony Wayne Recreation Area which would cover a small piece of the AT that I had never hiked. It seemed that the route would be about 6 miles round trip and Brad agreed. The weather forecast was for a partly sunny day with high in the low 50's. There was quite a bit of haze in Livingston Manor but we left just after 8:30 AM anticipating better conditions at Harriman. We took the Quickway to Harriman and then the Long Mountain Parkway to the Long Mountain traffic circle. From there we took the Palisades Parkway one exit south to the Anthony Wayne Recreation Area. On the way to the parking area we looked for the trail marking but could not find any. We arrived in the parking area at about 9:40 AM to find the huge lot almost empty with only a few cars parked. It was in the low 40's with a strong breeze blowing and I was glad I had worm my Mammut Hoody instead of just a light windbreaker. From the car we walked back to the bridge over the parkway where we began to see white marking for the Anthony Wayne Trail. The trail soon cut right or north into the woods and we followed it as it gained some elevation to about .6 miles. I knew we were looking for the blue blazed 1779 trail which would take us south to the section of AT I wanted to hike. After we hit the highest point we descended the other side of the hill and were getting very close to Route 6. I knew that we did not want to cross this road but we had not seen another trail! We reversed our route and within about 500 feet found the correct trail. The blazes were faded and were almost impossible to see coming from the other direction. Over the next mile or so the trail kept gaining some elevation but really seemed quite flat. Brad and I talked while Sheila roamed the trail. At 2.1 miles the trail began to descend and at about 2.4 miles we were at the junction with the AT where we turned left. Just after turning I noticed a hiker coming up the trail behind us and another approaching from in front. I pout Sheila on her leash and continued on the AT. We said "Hello" as we passed the other hiker but got no response!

The trail now descended until it crossed the Palisades Parkway. We crossed the southbound lanes being careful to watch for the heavy traffic. After a short walk across the wooded median, we crossed the northbound lanes and were back in the woods. We continued to lose elevation until about 3 miles when the trail began to ascend the West Mountain ridge. The ascent would be about 600 feet in the next .7 miles. Some parts of the trail were steeper than others but there were several switchbacks to help make the trip easier if not shorter. As we started to climb one section we met a couple coming off the ridge with their English Springer puppy, our first dog of the day. Brad and I continued up the climb until we were near the top of the ridge. The forecast for partly sunny was proving NOT to be correct as a heavy haze hung over the countryside. The sky was a gray monotone with very little blue and no clouds which made for poor conditions for pictures. I was disappointed! As we neared the top of the ridge we lost the AT markings briefly but soon found them as the trail followed the edge of the ridge. We turned north and followed the AT which is also marked with blue blazes in this area for the Timp-Torne Trail. If it had been a nicer day, I would have suggested we walk south to the West Mountain Shelter which offers a great view toward the south on the Hudson River. On a good day the New York City skyline is clearly visible. As we hiked north along the ridge, there were many views to the west and several opportunities to get a view east as well. The views to the west were mostly of forest but the views to the east and north included a few peeks at the river and Bear Mountain. As we hiked north the Perkins Tower on Bear Mountain became more and more prominent. I took a few pictures but knew that most were not worth the time. At one lookout we met a woman hiking with her two Golden Retrievers. We stopped to talk for a time and the older dog laid down in the shade. The younger dog had a GPS tracker on and I decided I would look at one for Sheila.

We continued north and the trail was familiar as I had been on the Timp-Torne trail before. We were losing elevation and at about 4.5 miles the AT headed to the right and we stayed to the left on the blue trail. We met another couple with two dogs. They were hounds of some kinds and one was older and one younger. Both were outfitted with packs. We talked to the couple for a minute and then continued to hike. As we continued farther and farther north, I began to look for the trail that would head west and down off the ridge to the parking. at one point we found a well-worn path and decided to follow it down. The path began to become less distinct another virtually disappeared. We decided to go back to the ridge and stay on the blue trail north. At one point the trail became very narrow requiring us to slip between some rocks. In another spot we had to descend over an open rock face. We heard some voices below and I could see another trail intersecting the Time-Torne Trail. When we got to the junction, the trail was marked with a red F which indicated the Fawn Trail back to the Anthony Wayne Recreation Area. We followed this trail as it continued down off the ridge. Along the way we met four people with a small but energetic black puppy. Eventually the trail crossed some of the woods roads associated with the park and within a few minutes we were back at the road that leaves the park. We crossed the road and walked over to the car. It was 1:05 PM and we had covered 5.9 miles in three hours and 24 minutes. The total vertical climb was about 1530 feet and most of this was on the climb up to the West Mountain Ridge. As our reward, we decided to stop in Middletown at El Bandido for lunch.

On Thursday, April 17th I wanted to get away from Livingston Manor and hike in a different area. I had been thinking about completing the parts of the AT in New York that I had not hiked. I decided to hike in Harriman again starting at the Tiorati Circle parking area and making a loop out on the AT to the Brine shelter and then back on the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. It seemed that the route would be a little over 6 miles round trip. The weather forecast was for a sunny day with high in the low 60's. I left Livingston Manor just after 8:30 AM and took the Quickway to Harriman and then the Long Mountain Parkway to the Long Mountain traffic circle. From there I took Seven Lakes Drive to the Tiorati Circle and parked at the parking just off Arden Valley Road. This is the same road that Cindy and I used to park at the Elk Pen the previous Saturday. It was around 9:45 AM when Sheila and I left the parking area walking west on Arden Valley Road. Within a few hundred feet I found the blue blazed Lake Tiorati Trail just off the road and we followed that for about .3 miles to the junction with the AT where we turned right. The trail crossed Arden Valley Road and then headed into the woods. The trail undulated a bit but then descended and at about 1 mile the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail headed off to the right. We stayed on the AT and headed northeast along the shoulder of the Stockbridge Ridge. At 1.75 miles we began a drop of about 300 feet until we crossed Seven Lakes Drive at 2.5 miles.

From the road the trail continued on a woods road but the AT markings were very faded compared to the bright white on the western side. After a short distance on the woods road, the trail cut into the woods heading south then southeast. At 3.5 miles we had regained the 300 feet we had dropped on the other side of the road. At 3.7 miles the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail turned right as we continued on the AT to the left. The trail gained a little elevation and then began to drop. I thought we were near the William Brien Shelter and it soon appeared just ahead at 4.4 miles. It was 11:40 AM so we stopped so that I could get some pictures. I had a quick drink and a snack and then started back to the trail junction. I had my head down as I climbed the small hill when Sheila started to bark. I looked up to see a startled hiker menaced by Sheila. Sheila was only scared but that was no excuse to interrupt this young man's pleasant hike. Fortunately, he was not bothered too much by Sheila's lack of manners. We talked for a while and I found out he was from Brooklyn and does not own a car. He took the train to the Tuxedo railroad station and was hiking east to the Bear Mountain Bridge. His intention was to hike to a train station on the east side of the river to get back to the city. He needed AAA batteries for his headlamp and I was sorry that I had none as I would have offered them freely as an atonement for Sheila's "attack". We parted heading in opposite directions.

At 5.2 miles we were back at the trail junction with the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail and we headed left to use a different trail to return. At this point I had thoughts of returning to near Tiorati and then hiking another 5 mile section to the south. The trail meandered up and down and generally headed WSW. At 6.1 miles it headed north and then east before crossing Seven Lakes Drive at 6.8 miles. The hike was becoming longer than I thought it would be but we were soon back on the AT heading west toward Arden Valley Road. The .75 miles back to the road was all uphill and although it was not steep it convinced me to head back to the cart. We cross the road turned left shortly after to take the Tiorati Trail back to the car. We were back at the car by 1:30 PM having covered 8.2 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes. The elevation gain was a modest 1650 feet but I felt each one of them. I took some pictures of Lake Tiorati from the roadside before heading home.

On Saturday, April 12th Cindy and I wanted to get away from Livingston Manor and hike in a different area. I had been thinking about completing the parts of the AT in New York that I had not hiked. I suggested we hike from the Elk Pen parking area in Harriman State Park To Little Dam Lake. It seemed that the route would be about 6 miles round trip and Cindy agreed. The weather forecast was for a clear sunny day with high in the low 70's. There was quite a bit of fog in Livingston Manor and it took us some time to get going. Eventually we made it out of the house and started the long drive down the Quickway to Harriman. From the Harriman exit we took Route 17 south toward Suffern. We kept an eye out for Arden Valley Road on the left but missed it the first time. I turned around and found the road easily on the way back. The parking area was almost full but I found a spot and we were on the trail by 10:55 AM. It was already warm and I regretted brining only one water bottle! We headed northwest on Arden Valley Road and crossed the Thruway and railroad on the road bridge. We soon crossed Route 17 and picked up the white blazes of the AT on the other side. We walked a short distance through open woods and then started up a set of steps on a hillside. A sign gave the distances to some points along the AT. The distance to Little Dam Lake was given as 2.8 miles which confirmed by estimate of about 6 miles for the hike. Within a short distance we were confronted with impressive stone cliffs which we would have to work our way up. The AT had several switchbacks but the climb averaged 27%! This part of the trail is labeled on the NYNJTC maps as Agony Grind and the name seemed fitting! As we completed one steep section we came upon a rock shelf with a nice view. A lone hiker was relaxing on the rock and we stopped to talk. He told us he had been with a "meetup" group but was unable to make the climb ahead. I took a few pictures and then we continued in our way. By the top of the "Grind" we had ascended over 530 feet in less than .4 miles. The ground leveled a little at the top and we started to make better time. I forgot how challenging hiking in Harriman can be even without any big mountains. We were constantly walking over jagged rocks or along bare rock faces. The oak leaves in some places made getting a footing difficult.

We descended slightly and then climbed up to the top of another hill which was higher than the first. We passed through some dwarf pines and stopped a minute to get a drink and a snack just as the noon whistle blew. It was obvious that we did not have enough water but I wanted to push on a little farther before calling it quits. At this point we had covered only 1.25 miles which was slow going even considering the ascents we had tackled. We continued our journey by descending from the top of the hill and then climbing another. Along the way we met about half of the "meetup" group coming back. They had turned around less than half a mile ahead. They told us pert of their group had continued on to see if they could find some water. Cindy and I continued our hike and met the rest of the group on the next hill. They had a friendly dog with them and Sheila exchanged greetings before we went our separate ways. At 1.8 miles we were at the top of a hill and ready to descend to cross the Orange Turnpike. We descended to the road and turned left to pick up the AT about 200 feet south. We entered the woods and were confronted by another hill. Just before the ascent we found a cooler with three gallon jugs of water by the side of the trail. A "trail angel" named John had left apples and bananas and other snacks as well as the water. We were very grateful and filled up on water and an apple. We climbed to the top of the last hill before the lake and found a shelter constructed by John. Cindy was not sure she wanted to descend to the lake but I could tell it wasn't too far. We both hiked down the hill and found that the AT continued along the northern shore of Little Dam Lake and then southwest along the western shore to the point I had visited before. Cindy decided to wait while Sheila and I hiked as fast as possible to the turn around point.

While Cindy found a nice rock on which to relax, Sheila and I continued on the trail at an increased pace. I wanted to stop several times to take pictures but we stayed moving. I thought I might stop on the way back if I thought I had the time. As we were traveling along the shore Sheila alerted and I looked up to spot a trail runner coming toward us. We exchanged brief greetings as we passed. We walked a little farther and Sheila again perked up. I looked ahead to find a large chocolate lab coming our way. I grabbed Sheila but the other dog was not on a leash. Fortunately, the dogs seemed to get along OK and the owners of Sampson appeared quickly. I asked them about the bridge which was by destination. They told me that it had been removed and replaced with large stepping stones as it was damaged in one of the storms. It was only a short distance my destination. The others crossed the brook on the stones while Sheila and Sampson enjoyed a quick swim. I took some pictures before turning around to head back to Cindy. On the way back I did take the time to stop for a few pictures. As we rounded the north end of the lake Sheila raced ahead. When I called for her she did not come back immediately and then I heard Cindy's voice. We were all soon together and headed back to the car. I was about 2:00 PM and we knew it would not be an easy hike back. Cindy did seem refreshed by her rest and we were up the first hill very quickly. As we descended toward Orange Turnpike, we stopped again to refill with water. From that point on we set a steady pace and the hike seemed to go quickly for the most part. Consulting the GPS revealed that the Elk Pen and Little Dam Lake were at the same elevation so the amount of ascent was the same for both parts of the hike. The hardest part were the steep descents especially Agony Grind. We crossed Route 17 and hiked back to the parking area. Cindy and Sheila headed to the car while I hiked through a field on the AT to a point I had visited before to make the "connection". I hiked back to the car and arrived at 4:05 PM. We had hiked 6.8 miles in 5 hour and 15 minutes with over an hour of stopped time for rest and pictures. Even though I thought I had taken in enough water I was still dehydrated. The 70 degree day was definitely a change from previous hikes!

On , April 11th, Lisa had asked me to be available to hike with a journalist and photographer from the Swedish magazine Vagabond. They were doing an article on the Catskills and wanted Friday to take a short hike that had some interesting views. Fredrik, the journalist, and Pontus, the photographer, were a little late but they both seemed like nice fellows. I met them at Morgan Outdoors and found Lisa could not accompany us. Pontus was feeling a little ill and some rain was in the forecast. We decided a quick trip to Frick Pond and Mongaup Falls would offer the best views for the shortest distance. I drove my car to Frick Pond with the other two in their rental car behind me. Sheila had been invited along and for the most part behaved well. As we hiked out to the pond, Fredrik asked all kinds of questions related to hiking in the Catskills and my own personal background. Pontus took hundreds of pictures of Sheila and I hiking along the trails. When we got to the pond, we found that almost all the ice was gone. It was a warm day with temperatures in the sixties but the water was still ice cold. This did not seem to bother Sheila as she dove in and swam around. I threw some stick and both Pontus and I took some pictures. We decided to head back to the car and then stop at Mongaup Falls for some pictures.

We drove down to Mongaup Pond Road and parked near the intersection to walk down to the falls. I decided to leave my pack behind and just take the camera. As we walked down the woods road to the little "bridge" over the stream we found it was covered in a thick layer of ice. We got across but it was an adventure. The walk to the falls was pretty easy but we again found a thick layer of ice surrounding the top of the falls. I took some pictures of the upper falls and then tried to find a place to take pictures of the lower drop. I had wanted to get down into the stream bed and regretted leaving my pack with my spikes behind in the car! I could not find a good vantage point for pictures and finally gave up. We returned to the cars where I said "goodbye" to Fredrik and Pontus. As they drove away I shouldered my pack and walked back down the path to the falls. Just before the bridge I donned my spikes which made walking across a snap. When I got to the falls, I took off my pack and got out the camera. I was easily able to walk all around on the ice sheet with perfect traction. I took many shots of the lower falls and the decided to try to get down into the stream bed. Descending to the level of the stream was not easy but soon I was at the bottom of the falls which me an unobstructed view of the falling water. The volume of the falls was greater than I had ever seen it. I had been to the area several times during the summer when the water flow was not much more than that of a garden hose! After taking some pictures, I climbed back up, put on my pack, collected Sheila and returned to the car. I drove to Morgan Outdoors to have a few words with Lisa. I decided to call Cindy to see if she wanted to bring Bryce to the Brandenburg Bakery which was new in town. We met there for a late lunch at around 2 o'clock. There were still a few people eating and the selection had been reduced by a busy lunch hour. We had to wait awhile to get some food but it was well worth the time. The coffee was very good and the food delicious. I will be going back earlier next time to try some of the other selections.

On Wednesday, April 9th, I called Lisa about hiking and we agreed to do something close to home and quick. We settled on Huggins Lake. I had not been there since the early fall since the parking area is not plowed and I don't like to park along the narrow road. Lisa arrived at my house on Schedule at 10:00 AM and we headed up the Beaverkill Road and then across the covered bridge to Berry Brook Road. From There it was only a short drive to the Huggins Lake parking lot. There was a berm of ice and snow across thee entrance but I decided to take the chance and it was no problem. The parking area was devoid of snow and one look up the trail showed no snow there either. I kept my spikes in the pack but was are they wouldn't be needed. We started up the trail at 10:30 AM. The temperature was cool but warming rapidly making me think that I should have warn a lighter pair of pants and jacket. The sky was bright blue with some clouds. As we started to climb more and the trail a little to the east, we encountered quite a bit of snow on the part of the trail facing west. We walked around some of it and through the snow in other parts. I had not worn insulated boots but they did not seem to be necessary. After we hit the highest point we continued down toward the pond with snowy areas and bare trail alternating. After the final left turn down to the pond the trail was covered in several inches of snow.

When we got to the pond the open areas around it showed little snow cover. The ice near the dam was melting back but the rest of the pond was still covered. I dropped my pack to take some pictures. Lisa to some close-up shots of the cattails. I focused on taking pictures of the blue sky and clouds contrasted with the trees and the frozen pond. I also was able to get some pictures of the scenery reflected in the open water near the dam. After taking our photographs, we started back up the snowy trail back to the car. The walk back seemed to go quickly since we did not stop to take any pictures on the way out. We were back at the car by 12:25 PM having covered 3.8 miles in 1 hour and 50 minutes. The total ascent was around 920 feet making it almost flat for a Catskills hike!

On Monday, April 7th, I planned to take a rather long hike somewhere and was ready to start early to finish before track practice. As often happens, an ambulance call derailed these plans. By the time I got back I didn't have time to travel very far and to hike so I decided to make a loop over Round Top. Sheila and I headed across the street at about 11:30 AM. I had decided not to take any traction devices as I could see no snow or ice at all on the hillsides. The day was warmer than any had been in some time and just walking up the cemetery hill worked up quite a sweat. I had decided not to wear my pack and the freedom was welcomed. At the top of the hill we turned left into the woods and shortly after that right onto another woods road. There was no snow anywhere and I began to think this would be the first hike where I could report "No Snow". We followed our usual route up the hill and passed the quarry. We descended the hill without actually getting to the summit of Round Top and at the fork in the trail I decided to head to the left to reverse our usual route. At this point we ran into quite a bit of snow! Some was easy to avoid and the rest we just walked through. Some areas had some pooled water and I took some care to avoid breaking through into puddles that were deeper than the height of my boots. We rounded the hill after Round Top and then started the steep climb to the top of that hill. The steepest part faced south and east so there was no snow to impede our progress. At the summit we again ran into snow and it remained with us until we completed the loop and turned left to start back toward the cemetery. We spent a little over an hour hiking a little more than two miles which was much better than staying in the house all day!

On Tuesday, April 1st Cindy and I wanted to get out and hike close to home before I had to go to track practice. I had been to the Frick Pond and Trout Pond areas recently so I asked Cindy if she would like to go to Long Pond. The skies were blue with white clouds and the day was sunny. By the time we left the house it was in the mid 50's with no wind. We finally got Sheila in the car and were on the road just before 10:30 AM. When we arrived at the parking area, we found it plowed with almost now snow. We looked at the trail and saw that there was snow and ice covering it and made the decision to wear our spikes. We left the parking area at 10:45 AM and crossed the bridge on the snowmobile and hiking trail. In most places the trail was covering with several inches of snow and there was ice on top of that. Some areas had flowing water under the snow which made hiking difficult as it caused us to break through the crust. In some places the trail was bare. Over the first .7 miles the trail gains about 370 feet in elevation. This is certainly not the kind of climb that is found on many 3500 foot peaks but it is enough to start to warmup. By the time we got to the top of the climb, I was ready to open up the pitzips on my Mammut Hoody and the front zippers on my shirts. Sheila was happy to be out and was running up and down the trail and following some animal trails into the woods. The walk to the spur trail to the pond went quickly and by 11:15 AM we were on the shore of Long Pond. The path to the edge of the pond was very muddy and I was afraid Sheila would be unable to resist. I left Sheila with Cindy while I took some pictures of the pond and then Cindy and I reversed roles so she could get some shots. After taking some pictures, we returned to the main trail.

When we got to the first trail junction, we turned right and headed out toward the trail to the lean-to. I was going to put Sheila back on her leash as there are several areas that are usually very wet but these areas were frozen so that there was no problem. We passed the lean-to spur trail and continued to keep a fast pace. As we were approaching the woods road where we would turn left to start the loop back, Cindy asked me when we were going to get to the lean-to. She was pleasantly surprised when I pointed out we had passed it some time ago. The hike at this point was relatively flat and the walk went quickly. By noon we had walked 2.5 miles and were at the woods road that forms the next part of the loop. The walk on the woods road was a little tricky at times as there was a lot of ice. By 12:20 PM we had walked 3.4 miles when we arrived at the small stream that crosses the road from a beaver pond. We crossed the stream on a small bridge and walked by the Peters Hunting Camp to cross the bridge over another stream. I stopped to take a few pictures and heard the noise of an approaching helicopter. Cindy spotted it the helicopter coming over the treetops before I did. The first was followed by two more. I could see that they were military and that they were double rotor "heavy lifters". I took some pictures as they passed by almost directly overhead. We continued on to Basily Road which was still covered in ice. Eventually the road became Flugertown Road but it was still icy until we hit the point where the town maintenance begins. Along the way we enjoyed the sunny skies and the light as it was reflected off the water in Willowemoc Creek. From this point on Flugertown Road is paved and our walk went very quickly. We were back at the car by 1:20 M having covered 6.0 miles and 600 vertical feet in 2 hours and 20 minutes.

On Monday, March 31st, I decided I wanted get out and do a hike on the last day of March. I had not hiked for almost a week and Sheila and I were to hit the trails. Sunday night and Monday morning had brought some sleet and freezing rain so I waited some time before heading for Roscoe and Morton Hill Road. I wanted to hike around Trout Pond and visit Russell Brook Falls since there had been significant rainfall and melting over the weekend. I thought the falls might be flowing rather well and at this time offer the water is usually clear instead of muddy. It was almost 11:00 AM when I parked at the side of Morton Hill Road near the intersection with Russell Brook Road. Russell Brook Road seemed to be plowed but I could see that it was a sheet of ice. I decided to wear my spikes and put them on at the car before heading out on the hike. This decision proved to be a good one as the road was every bit as icy as it looked. We walked down the road and as we approached the falls I could tell from the volume that the water was high. I started to walk down the bank to the lookout over the upper falls and almost immediately questioned my decision. The path was covered in thick ice and even with the spikes it looked dangerous. I made it down to the viewpoint it had trouble finding a spot to put my equipment as it was so slippery. I did get my camera out and was able to get some good pictures before attempting to get back up the bank. Once we were back on the road we headed down to the lower lot which was plowed. From here we walked down to the bridge and crossed Russell too. I decided to walk over to the falls and again had an interesting time getting down the bank to the stream bed. The usual path was just too icy so I found an alternate approach. I knew that I had hundreds of pictures of the falls but couldn't help taking a few more. Getting back up to the path above wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be and we were soon at the first trail, junction. We headed to the left as I wanted to climb the steeper trail toward Mud Pond first.

The ascent wasn't too bad but it was very icy. Small streams of water undercut the ice and I paid careful attention to where I was stepping to avoid constantly breaking through the crust. I passed at the top of the hill to take a few pictures of then trail wand woods which were totally covered in snow. The scene was so different than at the lower elevations which were almost completely devoid of snow. We walked down to the next trail junction and turned right to take the trail over the shoulder of Cherry Ridge to Trout Pond. The trail was well packed by snowmobiles in most places. There was running water under the hard crust along much of the trail up to teeniest point. This made walking difficult as I kept breaking through the snow. Sheila had no problems and was running all over following game trails. I had to go off trail in several spots to avoid the running water. At about 2.8 miles near the highest point on the trail the trees were covered in ice. I took some pictures but the beauty was hard to capture with the camera. We descended the rest of the way to Trout Pond and stopped at the inlet. The skies were now overcast and getting darker. I took some pictures of the pond and noticed that the edges of the ice were starting to melt. We continued on the main trail toward the outlet of the pond. As we approached the lower end of the pond I looked at the time and decided to bypass a stop and continue on to finish the hike. We were soon back at the register box. We continued on to the parking area and then finished with the hike up Russell Brook Road back to the car, We arrived back at 1:15 PM having covered 5.6 miles and 1160 vertical feet in 2.5 hours.

On Tuesday, March 25th Lisa wanted to go hiking somewhere. We discussed the area around Campbell Brook but I suggested the Neversink Unique Area. I had been there recently and hiked to Denton and High Falls but missed Mullet Brook Falls. I wanted to see these falls in the winter as I suspected they would be interesting. I agreed to meet Lisa downtown at her store at 9:00 AM. I got my gear and Sheila in the car and headed downtown to pick up Lisa at 9:00 AM. I put both spikes an snowshoes in the car but was pretty sure I would wear the snowshoes as the spikes had not proved adequate on my last trip. We arrived at the trailhead at the end of Katrina Falls Road just after 9:30 AM. We inspected the trail and although it seemed firm and the temperature was in the twenties, I decided to wear the snowshoes and Lisa agreed. We were on the trail by 9:40 AM with Sheila leading the way. There was less snow than the week before and the trail seemed a little smoother. At the first trail junction we turned left to parallel the river and soon crossed Wolf Brook on the small bridge. We ascended a small hill and then headed left at the next trail junction. This part of the trail was not broken at all but the snow was firm enough that we could stay on top. Over the next .9 miles we ascended about 400 feet heading first south and then east. Parts of the trail were completely bare and we had to walk on the snow beside the rail. At the top of the hill we stayed on the main trail as it turned to the right or south. At this trail junction a left turn leads out to the parking area at the Wolf Brook Multiple Use Area. I knew the rest of the hike was downhill except for the ascent back up the spur trail that went down to Mullet Brook Falls. We headed south and at 1.65 miles crossed Mullet Brook on a wooden bridge. The area was completely covered in snow and the brook was frozen inflames. we stopped to take some pictures. I took some shots of the brook and of the snow that lingered in the woods. Just after the bridge the trail turned west and headed toward the Neversink River still descending.

As we headed down the trail I somehow got a little ahead of Lisa. At 2.3 miles I turned right on the yellow spur trail to Mullet Brook Falls. I walked a short distance and then waited for Lisa. When she did not appear, I walked back to the main trail and shouted. After several shouts I heard a faint reply that seemed to be ahead on the main trail. I guessed that Lisa had missed the turn and was pretty far ahead now. I decided to take a quick trip down to the falls but did not relish being separated from a hiking partner. The trip to the falls was less than .2 miles and Sheila and I did it quickly. The falls were beautiful! I was afraid the sun would be directly behind the falls and it was but the cloud cover dimmed the brightness. The falls was partially frozen with the trees and rocks covered in frozen spray. I drop my pack and got out the camera. I took a few shots from the bank and then walked out onto the ice covered rocks in the middle of the stream. From the rocks I got a head-on view of the falls and took several pictures of the falls and some downstream. I moved to the side of the falls and took some more shots before going back to my pack, stowing the camera and hiking back to the main trail. I was happy I had visited the falls but now was anxious to catch up to Lisa. We made good time down to the junction with the trail to High Falls. We passed the cutoff to Denton falls and I hoped she had not gone in that direction. The snow was so hard I was having trouble picking up tracks. We crossed Mullet Brook again and continued on the trail. Soon Lisa came into view and I was relieved we were back together. We set a good pace back toward the car. Being able to carry on a conversation made the walk go much more quickly. We stopped at the register box and Lisa signed in. The last uphill was unwelcome but not too difficult. We were back at the car by noon having hiked 4.1 miles and 1000 feet of elevation gain in 2 hours and 18 minutes.

On Friday, March 21st, I was ready to get in the first hike of the spring even though there was still over a foot of snow on the ground in many places! I decided to return to Frick Pond to hike up the Flynn Trail and down the Quick Lake Trail back to Frick Pond. I put my gear including the snowshoes in the trunk and got a very eager Sheila into the back seat. On my last hike in the area I had only worm spikes. As the day warmed, the snow became soft and the spikes were useless as I sunk into the snow. I had already decided I would wear the snowshoes! We arrived at 11:05 AM to find two other car in the lot. I put on my snowshoes and we crossed the road to get on the Flynn Trail. There was still quite a bit of snow. We made the turn up the wide woods road that is the Flynn Trail and immediately ran into the chopped up mess caused by inexperienced snowshoes walking side by side. In fresh snow this is not a problem but the willy-nilly tracks in the hard snow made walking difficult. We set a good pace on the ascent and I could just pick out a set of cross country ski tracks. I could not tell how old they were but they seemed pretty fresh. Within a short time Sheila alerted and I could see the skier ahead on the trail. I had not brought Sheila's leash because we so seldom see anybody on the trails. I used the loop on one of my poles to control her as we approached the skier. I said hello and we conversed for a short time before I moved passed him. I figured I could ascend much faster but that he might have me on the downhills! By 11:50 AM we had made the 1.7 uphill miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. At this point I found dropped my pack and took out the camera. I found a large branch and threw it for Sheila. As she retrieved it, I took pictures hoping to get one that looked like she was clearing the trail.

After a few of these, I noticed the skier approaching so I packed up and we headed toward Hodge Pond. After a few minutes, I looked back to find the skier followed the same route. I didn't want Sheila to bother him so at the next trail junction we headed right since I thought he might go down to Hodge Pond directly. We headed toward the cabins that were part of the old Beach Mountain Boy Scout camp and then turned left to descend toward the pond. At the next opportunity, we turned right to head around the back of the pond on the old jeep trail. At one point I headed down to the shore of the pond. I took some pictures of the pond which was still completely covered in ice. The sky was blue with plenty of white, puffy clouds. As we got back on the main trail, I noticed I was beginning to sink into the snow as it softened in the warm sunlight. The air temperature had not risen much but I was glad I had the snowshoes. We made a right on the Flynn Trail, walked up to the gate and headed toward Junkyard Junction. The snow on this part of the Flynn Trail was also soft and at least 18 inches keep along the entire way. At junkyard Junction, we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to descend toward Iron Wheel Junction. This part of the hike went quickly and would have been even faster except for the soft snow. At 1:15 PM we had hiked 4.9 miles and had arrived at Iron Wheel Junction where we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. The snow was still soft after the turn. I had broken a path on the trail earlier in the month but there was no evidence of this. Soon I found a harder ridge of snow and I could stay on top as long as I followed that ridge. We were soon at the bridge over the outlet to Frick Pond. We stopped and I took some pictures of the bridge and Sheila as well as shots of the pond. We continued on the Quick Lake Trail back to the car. We were back in the parking lot at 2:00 PM after hiking 6.4 miles and 1000 vertical feet in 2 hours and 52 minutes.

Winter 2013-2014

On Wednesday, March 19th I wanted to get in a final hike for the winter season. I wanted to go close to home and thought some company would be nice so I called Lisa and she readily agreed to go. We decided to visit Trout Pond which is a favorite although I had not been there since January. I didn't know what to expect as far as trail conditions and the volume of water at the falls Lisa arrived at 9:00 AM and I already had Sheila and my gear in the car. After several hikes without snowshoes when snowshoes were needed I had put both spikes and snowshoes in the car. By the time we left the house the temperature was in the high 20's. As we drove up Morton Hill Road just outside of Roscoe the amount of snow on the ground started to increase. There was a lot of snow and ice where I parked along the side of Morton Hill Road near Russell Brook Road at about 9:30 AM. It appeared that Russell Brook Road was covered in ice and solidly frozen snow. Someone had tried to take a vehicle down the road and had chopped up the snow near the junction with Morton Hill Road. Before we started our hike, Lisa and I both decided to put on our spikes. As we started down Russell Brook Road, it seemed the spike were a good choice as the road was slippery with ice and frozen snow. We did see one set of footprints that seemed fresh. Before we reached the viewpoint over the upper falls, we could hear the sound of the water. One look showed that the volume was not as great as in January but that the falls were still pretty. We walked down to the lower parking area which was empty but completely snow covered. From there we headed down to the bridge over Russell Brook. We crossed the bridge and I decided to go over to the lower falls. The trail had melted out some but became slipperier as we walked up the path to the falls viewpoint. Lisa decided to go to the upper viewpoint while Sheila and I carefully made our way down to the streambed. I took pictures of the falls and the frozen water beside it. The ice on the left side of the falls was a deep blue color. I took a few shots with Sheila in front of the falls and then we climbed back up the bank and walked out to the main trail.

At the split in the trail we headed right to do the loop in a counterclockwise direction. There was snow and ice covering the entire trail but it wasn't very deep. We set a fast pace up the trail toward Trout Pond and as we approached we could see there was ice covering all of the pond except the part near the spillway. Lisa and I both took some pictures of the scenery with the ice on the pond. The sky was overcast but there was enough light to provide some interesting shots. I threw a stick out onto the ice for Sheila to retrieve and took pictures as she returned with it. We headed back to the main trail and walked up to the inlet end of the pond. We walked to the upper end of the pond and found no one at the lean-tos which was not really surprising. Lisa wanted to take some shots from the upper end of the pond but the wind was blowing hard enough to make me want to continue into the woods. We found that snowmobiles had been on the trail up Cherry Ridge and that this had packed the snow making our hike easier. As we began to ascend, the trail stayed firm with packed snow and ice. The snow and ice continued to the top of the rise and right and down the other side to the junction with e woods road passed Mud Pond. We were setting a fast pace of about 2.7 miles per hour and the 2 mile hike from Trout Pond to Mud Pond seemed to go very quickly. We turned left and found more packed snow and ice on the snowmobile trail as we climbed a little before descending. The descent back to the trail register usually has less snow and ice since it is more exposed to the sun. On this day the packed snow continued and the descent was swift. We were soon back at the trail junction where I signed in at the register box. We walked back to the lower falls since Lisa wanted to get some pictures from the streambed. Sheila and I went to the upper lookout and then we all met back at the main trail. From there we walked back out to the lower parking area and then up the road to the car. We were back at the car at 12:05 PM having covered 5.7 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes.

On Saturday, March 15th I had planned to head for Slide Mountain to hike from Route 47 up the Curtis Ormsbee Trail and then down the main route back to the car. Cindy consulted the weather map and warned me that I might run into a cold rain if I went north. She also reminded me that we had encountered a full parking area the Saturday before and suggested I head a little south. It wasn't what I really wanted to do but I decided to head for the Neversink Unique area and to hike along the river. I thought I could get a good workout if I went far enough. I also hoped to get some good pictures of Denton Falls and High Falls with ice still on the river. I got Sheila in the car and we headed down Route 17 toward Rock Hill. I had packed both spikes and snowshoes and would make a decision at the trailhead. As we passed Monticello it began to sprinkle but I decided to continue. I turned off the exit onto Katrina Falls Road and we arrived at the trailhead parking at about 10:30 AM. The rain had stopped and I got out to inspect the trail. There was still quite a bit of snow but it was all well-packed and frozen. It was also obvious that no one had worn snowshoes since the path was chopped up across its entire width. I though wearing snowshoes would be difficult and that carrying them was unnecessary. I put on my spikes and we headed out at about 10:40 PM under partly sunny skies. It was no easy walking on the trail as it was so uneven! We soon crossed the small bridge over Wolf Brook and arrived at the first trail junction. It was obvious no one had done the loop in some time as there was no path broken on the trail to the left. We stayed to the right on the main trail that parallels the Neversink River. The trail entered the trees and, while still rough and uneven, the hiking was pretty easy as I could stay on top of the snow. We crossed Mullet Brook on the bridge and I stopped to see if I could take some pictures. Even in the woods the snow was "dirty" and there were no interesting shots. We climbed the little hill and then went off the main trail to the right to go down to Denton Falls. I was surprised to find no path on the trail indicating that no one had been down to the falls in some time. The sun had been in and out behind the clouds but the temperature was beginning to rise into the 40's. The combination of no previous visitors and rising temperature began to cause problems. I was beginning to sink in some as I descended the hill to the river and I wondered how bad it would get. There didn't seem to be more that a foot of snow in most places and we made good progress. The trail is not very well marked but Sheila was able to pick it out with no problem. We arrived at the river at about 11:25 AM after hiking about 1.6 miles. I was careful where I stepped since I was not sure what was ice over rocks and what was ice over water. I took off my pack and began to take some pictures. The sky upriver was very blue with just enough cloud cover. There was still a lot of ice on the river but the falls were flowing nicely. I took some pictures, repositioned and took some more. After a little less than 10 minutes, we headed back to the bank and the long climb back to the main trail. Even though I was sinking into the snow some the climb seemed easy and we were soon back on the main trail.

Just up a short hill was the next trail junction. The trail to the left was the trail that started the loop back to the car. Along the way a trail leads down to the falls on Mullet Brook. The trail to the right continues to parallel the river and ends at High Falls. Beyond that a series of woods roads leads to the southern part of the Neversink Unique area near Westerbrookville. The trail to the left showed some travel while the one to the right was not broken. I really wanted to get to high falls so we turned right. Almost immediately I knew that this part of the hike was going to be difficult. The snow was deeper and softer than anywhere else we had hiked so far. I began to sink in every few steps. Sometimes I only sank a few inches but other times it was deeper. The footing was very unpredictable and I wasn't sure exactly how far High Falls was along the trail. I debated turning back but thought I could make it without any problems. The trail rolls a little but eventually drops down to the river and a lower elevation than Denton Falls! The total distance was 2.1 miles but it seemed farther. Finally we made the turn down toward the river. We came across a large patch of deer hair with a foot square piece of hide. This was all that was left after the coyotes had finished off the whitetail. I encouraged Sheila to move along! When we got to the river bank, I was careful to stay in areas where I knew there were rock ledges underneath. Sheila was not so careful and I kept calling her back to me. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take pictures. High falls is only slightly higher than Denton Falls but it has two different sections and is much wider. The skies were blue and I took shots both up and won the river. The wind started to blow a little and I began to get cold so I shouldered my pack and we headed back up the trail

The walk back was extremely difficult as the snow was even softer. I was sinking in more often and deeper. It was still unpredictable and the whole process was taking a toll on my arms and especially on my calves. My calf muscles felt as if they were going to cramp at any moment. This was more from the exertion than dehydration. In one spot I had to go off the trail to avoid a major blowdown. I climbed up some piles of snow which had supported my weight on the way out. I knew there was brush underneath these piles which I conformed the hard way. Several times I sank above my knees negotiating this detour. The two miles back to the packed main trail was some of the hardest work I have done in some time. Once we got to the main trail, I decided to forgo a visit to Mullet Falls. The side trail wasn't too far up the hill but I knew I would have to walked down the side trail to the brook and then back up. In addition, I would have to walk the unbroken trail around them loop or return to where I currently was standing. I was not really prepared for either of these options. We turned left and headed back to the car the way we had come. I knew I had made the right decision when I began sinking into the snow that had been packed and frozen on the way out. I struggled along taking a few breaks here and there. At one point a family of three passed us and we said hello but kept moving. We crossed Wolf Brook again and then turned right to head up the hill and back to the car. The last half mile ascended only 200 feet which is about and 8% grade but I really had to push myself to keep going. We were back at the car at 3:15 PM having covered 7.6 difficult miles in 4 hours and 40 minutes.

On Saturday, March 8th I wanted to do a hike that Cindy could manage but with some distance or difficulty or both. The weather report called for clear skies with temperatures rising above freezing later in the day. I proposed we hike Hunter from Spruceton but she thought that might be too difficult. We decided to head for Slide from Route 47 as it was closer and is only a six mile round trip. We had some work to do around the house before leaving and didn't get going until after 10:00 AM. Sheila was certainly ready to go and made a dash for the car. We had learned our lesson from a previous hike and put the snowshoes and the spikes in the car. When we got to the Slide Mountain parking area we found it almost full. I could have carved out a place to park but did not relish having to put Sheila on a leash for a good part of the hike. We continued on to the Giant Ledge and Panther parking area but found a similar situation. I decided that we would go to Lost Cove and hike to Belleayre from there. I thought there would be fewer people at this location and I had not hiked it in over 4 years! When we arrived in the parking area just before 11:30 AM, we found no others cars parked there. We got out of the car, made the decision to wear snowshoes and were soon on our way. There was a faint path on the trail which had some well packed snow. We could not decide what had made the path as it looked too smooth for a snowmobile and finally decided it may have been a sled. It was evident someone had own snowshoes at one point but that others had worn just boots. Just as I remembered, the trail started to climb right out of the parking area and averaged just under a 20% grade. I was making good progress but when I looked back Cindy was pretty far behind. I waited until she caught up and then started in again. There was some sun and the temperature was warm compared to many days during the winter. To the left we could see Balsam Mountain looking very high and impressive. When the trail got steeper, we tried the "televators" on the snowshoes which did seem to easy the strain on our calves. We both wore Atlas snowshoes and had problems getting the heel lifts to go down easily. It seems that snow had melted and then frozen on the lifts and it took some effort to get our feet flat again. I was having a good workout but Cindy continued to struggle on the steep hill. At around 1:00 PM after hiking only 1.3 miles in 1.5 hours, Sheila and I hit the Pine Hill - West Branch Trail. Cindy was out of sight so I decided to hike as fast as I could to the lean-to at about 1.5 miles and then turn around, find Cindy and return to the car. It only too us 1o minutes to hike the .3 miles to the lean-to. We turned around and found Cindy not far behind. We turned around and headed back in the softened snow. It had taken us about and hour and 45 minutes to hike to the lean-to. On the way back we were able to slide on our snowshoes or take some long steps down the steep trail. We saw no one else all day. We were back at the car at 1:45 PM. The descent had taken only 40 minutes!

On Thursday, March 6th, I wanted to get out of the house but I didn't have much time. I decided to go across the street and hike a short route on Round Top. It was still a little cold to take Bryce out but Sheila seemed more than willing to go. We headed across the street at about 11:30 AM. I had decided not to repeat my mistake from Tuesday at Frick Pond. On that hike I had thought spikes would be enough as the snow was frozen. This was true for most of the hike but not for the return trip on the Flynn Trail. On this day I put the snowshoes on a the end of the driveway and wore them for the entire hike. Even as we started up the hill behind the church, it was obvious that snowshoes had been the correct decision! I stayed on the unbroken snow as several people had postholed in boots. I had decided not to wear my pack and the freedom was welcomed. At the top of the hill we turned left into the woods and shortly after that right onto another woods road. We followed our usual route up the hill and passed the quarry. We descended the hill without actually getting to the summit of Round Top and then started up the next hill. Some of the trails were packed by snowmobiles but most were unbroken and the snowshoes REALLY helped. I got a nice slide down the other side of the hill and we were soon making the turn to head back. This part of the hike usually seems long but on this day it seemed to fly by. We made the circle to complete the loop to the base of the second hill. From There it was a short climb to the quarry and then a long downhill stretch back to the cemetery. We spent a little over an hour hiking a little more than two miles which was much better than staying in the house all day!

On Tuesday, March 4th, I wanted to go out to snowshoe again on the hard, crusted snow. I wasn't really thinking about doing a mountain so I decided to go to the Frick Pond area again. Going to Frick Pond has both advantages and disadvantages. I know the area very well and can pick different trail combinations but it still is boring to do the same hikes again and again. This time Lisa wanted to go so I would have someone to talk to as we hiked. We decided to hike at around 10:00 AM but Lisa had some things to do so we didn't get to the trailhead until almost 11:00 AM. We had decided that the crust was hard enough to just wear spikes. There was a crew from the DEC returning to the parking lot after erecting new signs. Lisa talked to them for a few minutes before we headed out the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond. Lisa had not been on the trail for some time while it was at least my fifth time in the last few weeks. We crossed the outlet to the pond on the new bridge and I was able to resist taking the same pictures I have taken so many times before. The sky was overcast and the cold weather had completely frozen the surface of the pond and the outlet stream. When we got to the next trail junction, we stayed to the right to continue around Frick Pond rather than taking the Quick Lake Trail. The snow was very hard and we had no trouble staying on top with spikes. Some of the snow weighing down the ranches on this route had fallen making the path easier to negotiate. At Times Square we continued straight ahead up the Big Rock Trail toward the junction with the Flynn Trail. The Big Rock Trail is a continuous ascent but being able to talk to someone made the trip seem faster. Since the Big Rock Trail is a snowmobile trail, the snow was packed even harder making waking very easy. At about 1.9 miles an unmarked snowmobile trail headed off to the right and we decided to follow it to where it rejoined the Big Rock Trail. It was only about a .2 mile "detour" but it was fun to try a new route. We were soon at the junction with the Flynn Trail where we turned right to start back to the car. The temperature was still below freezing but the sun was out. The rising temperature and the direct sun had softened the snow enough that we began to sink in! This trail also seemed to be less traveled. It was pretty miserable as we were sinking in every fifth step, in some cases, up to our knees. Staying on the "broken" path helped some but not much. As we continue on the trail it seemed that more snowshoes had come up from the parking area and then turned around. This should have made travel easier but these hikers seemed inexperienced with snowshoes. Instead of walking behind each other to form a nice trail, they had walked parallel. This had the effect of not packing a good trail and chewing up the snow across the entire width of the wide woods road! This part of the hike was NOT much fun but we were back at the car by 1:10 PM. We had hiked 4 miles in about 2 hours and 15 minutes with several stops for Lisa to snap some pictures.

On Saturday, March 1st I was ready to get out and hike a mountain or at least leave the Livingston Manor area. Cindy suggested we head south so that it would be little warmer. I agreed as temperatures near single digits are a little low for Sheila on a prolonged hike. I looked at several different possibilities in the Harriman area but wasn't completely decided when we left the house. I had packed spikes and put snowshoes in the car as I was not sure what to expect. As we drove down the Quickway, I though that Cindy might enjoy hiking to Fitzgerald falls on the AT. We could continue after that to the junction with the Highlands Trail and maybe even make it to Little Dam Lake. From Route 17 in Goshen I headed for Warwick and then took Route 17A toward Greenwood Lake. At the bottom of the hill I turned left on Lakes Drive and headed north. Somehow I missed the place where the AT crossed the road but found it as we doubled back. There was no room to park along the side of the road but I found a small pullout that was plowed. It didn't seem that I was blocking anything and there was no sign prohibiting parking. We were parked at 11:30 AM and were ready to hike soon after. We decided that the snow was form enough to just use spikes. The trail to the falls showed evidence of a lot of bareboot traffic and postholing from before the snow had hardened. This made walking difficult which was solved by simply walking on the untouched snow. It is about .25 miles to the falls where we stopped and took some pictures before tackling the climb to the top of the falls. The trail has some nice stone steps but these were completely covered by hard snow and ice. We were glad we had spikes and poles as we hiked up the rather steep section. From the top of the falls the AT heads east for 1.3 miles gaining some 700 feet to the top of a ridge. The trail is marked only with the white AT blazes which are pretty far apart and faded in many places.

At 1.7 miles the Highlands Trail headed right and the AT turned left. We turned right and walked to a nice viewpoint to the south where we could almost see part of Greenwood Lake. We returned to the trail junction to continue on the AT but I could tell that Cindy was nearly at her limit. I decide we could make it to the Mombasha High Point which also had a nice view. The trail across the ridge was mostly flat and easy to walk. At 2.3 mile we were on the Mombasha High Point overlooking Lake Mombasha or the Monroe Reservoir. It was 1:15 PM when we stopped to take some pictures of the scenery. I also took some of Sheila. Sheila and I walked a few hundred feet further to another lookout to get a better view of the lake. To the east and north I could see a concentration of housing which I thought might be Kiryas Joel. We walked back to the High Point where we picked up Cindy and headed back. The temperature had risen into the 30's and the sun was out. This was encouraging except for the fact that the snow had softened just a little. We began to break through in spots that were solid on the way out. I realized that we had judged the trail conditions and temperature poorly and should have worn snowshoes for the whole hike. The walk back was mostly downhill but we were slowed by the conditions. By the time we got back to the falls the sun was out and we stopped again to take some shots. On our way back to the car we met a couple who seemed well-equipped for the hike to the falls! We were back a the car by 2:45 PM having covered 4.7 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes. I was disappointed at the short distance but happy to have the company. On the way home we stopped at La Azteca in Florida. The food was OK but not especially authentic and could have used a little additional spice.

On Thursday, February 27th, I wanted to go out to snowshoe again on the hard, crusted snow. I wasn't really thinking about doing a mountain so I decided to go to the Frick Pond area again. Going to Frick Pond has both advantages and disadvantages. I know the area very well and can pick different trail combinations but it still is boring to do the same hikes again and again. I decided my objective this time would be to hike as quickly as I could and get as much elevation gain as I could. My plan was to hike out the Quick Lake Trail and then take the Logger's Loop to the Big Rock Trail. The Big Rock trail has the most elevation gain in the shortest distance. This I a snowmobile trail so I expected it to be well packed. My plan after that was to take the Flynn Trail passed Hodge Pond to Junkyard Junction and then continue back to Frick Pond for between 6 and 8 miles. The mooning was COLD and I had some things to take care of around the house. By the time I got my gear rounded up and Sheila in the car it was 11:30 AM. We arrived at the trailhead parking at 11:45 AM. The snow was as hard as a rock but the parking area was completely bare! We got right on the trail with Sheila particularly eager to get going. I followed my plan and hiked out the wide woods road that is the start of the Quick Lake Trail. At the junction with the Logger's Loop headed right towards Times Square where we arrived at 12:10 PM after hiking a mile. As we made the right onto the Big Rock Trail it was clear there had been some significant snowmobile traffic and maybe even some grooming. I considered taking off the snowshoes but decided wearing them was less work than carrying them. The Big Rock Trail usually seems longer and steep than I remember and this day was no exception. Somewhere near the top Sheila ran back to me and as I stopped walking I could also hear the snowmobiles coming. Two riders passed us at a very slow speed and waved as they went by. By 12:45 PM we were at the junction with the Flynn Trail at the highest point on the hike. We had hiked 2.1 miles and I knew the rest of the hike was mostly downhill or flat. We turned left on the Flynn1 Trail and headed toward Hodge Pond. Sheila was criss-crossing the main trail following her nose. At some point I looked down and noticed some blood. I called her over and found she had a slight laceration or abrasion on her right dew claw. It seemed to be bothering me more than her but after she cut her paw last year I am a little more careful. By 1:00 PM we were at Hodge Pond and the wind was blowing off the pond under grey skies. I continued on the Flynn Trail across the outlet and around the pond. We climbed a little on the trail and then passed the gate. It wasn't long before we were at Junkyard Junction. It was 1:30 PM and we had hiked 3.7 miles. We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head downhill to Iron Wheel Junction. As we hiked I debated whether to take the Loggers Loop or stay on the Quick Lake Trail. I decided to take the slightly shorter route and turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail at Iron Wheel Junction. The rest of the trip back seemed to go quickly as we crossed the outlet to Frick Pond and headed back to the car. I stopped for a moment at the headstone for the Lobdell children. I was surprised to find that someone had pushed it over or take it completely! After a little closer inspection, I realized that I was looking at the TOP of the headstone. There is still snow in the Catskills! We arrived back at the parking area at 2:45 PM. We covered 6.8 miles in a little over 3 hours which I considered a good pace.

On Monday, February 24th, I was ready to try to snowshoe a longer loop and Frick and Hodge Ponds. The previous two hikes had ended with a very short loop around Frick Pond due to the deep snow (30+ inches) that made movement difficult. On these trips I had sunk at least 10 inches into the snow and then had to lift my foot out of that hole with snow on top of the snowshoe. In both cases I was the only one breaking the trail and quickly became tired. I expected different conditions this time as several warm days with a little rain had been followed by cold weather. I hoped that there would be a crust that would allow me to stay on top of the snow this time! My plan was to take the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel Junction and then return on the Loggers Loop. The temperature when I awoke was about 18 degrees with a slight breeze. After completely some work, I got dressed, collected my gear, put Sheila in the backseat and headed out. We arrived at the Frick Pond parking area around 10:00 AM and got right on the trail. The temperature was only 21 degrees and the breeze had picked up so that it was blowing consistently. The parking area was almost bare and the larger lot had been plowed. We headed out on the Quick Lake Trail and it was immediately obvious that there would be little problem staying on top of the crusted snow. I followed the broken track in most places but tested the unbroken snow in others and was able to stay on top with no problem. As we walked down to Frick Pond the wind off the pond picked up. I stopped to take a few pictures but did so quickly as having my mitts off made for really cold hands. We continued on around the pond to the trail junction and veered to the left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. I could see the track I had broken a week before but it was very shallow. When I had broken the track, it was at least 10 inches deep but now it was barely 2 inches. This was a testament to how the warm weather and light rain had consolidated the snow. As we approached the end of the broken path, I wondered whether I would be able to stay on top of the snow as easily. I needn't have worried as there didn't seem to be a difference from where the trail had been formed. Sheila meanwhile was having a great time running around as usual. She was breaking through in a few spots which didn't seem to bother her. I assumed this was due to her smaller footprint and to her bounding and jumping. I was glad that I had the snowshoes as I did think that bare boots would have probably penetrated he crust. By 10:45 AM we were at Iron Wheel Junction and I checked my GPS to find that our moving speed was 2.4 mph which I considered good for the conditions.

The trail at thus point was packed by snowmobiles making an even firmer surface for walking. I decided to turn left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail instead of using the Loggers Loop to return! This would increase the distance to over 6 miles and I knew that the Flynn Trail would not be broken. I still thought that this was a reasonable decision since I had been able to stay on top of the snow and make good progress. The Quick Lake Trail from Iron Wheel to Junkyard Junctions is consistently uphill gaining 500 feet over 1.6 miles. Although we kept a good pace, this section seemed long. After the junction with the snowmobile trail to Quick Lake, it was obvious that there had been less traffic on the trail. In some places there was only one deep snowmobile track which was very narrow. This made walking with snowshoes a little more challenging. By 11:30 AM we had arrived at Junkyard Junction and made the right onto the Flynn Trail. The Flynn Trail was a stretch of unbroken trail but I had no trouble walking on top of the snow. It seemed that the gate at the end of this section appeared very quickly and we were soon at the trail around Hodge Pond. I decided to stay on the Flynn Trail and turned right to go to the outlet end of Hodge Pond. As we approached the pond, I began to break through the crust in several places. The sun had come out and although the temperature was still in the 20's, I was afraid that the sun had softened the snow and that I would be breaking through the rest of the way back to the car! Fortunately, after a few steps, I was again on top of the snow. We walked over to the edge of Hodge Pond and I took some pictures. When we had arrived, there was almost no wind. As I took a few shots the wind started to blow fiercely and my mitts started to travel across the open space. I decided it was time to leave but got a drink first and transferred a bar from my pack to my pants pocket. We left Hodge Pond at just about noon and headed up the Flynn Trail. The hike up to the flatter part of the trail always seems long and arduous but not on this day. Once on the flatter part of the trail, we picked up our pace again to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We hit the junction at 12:20 PM. I had thought I might take the Big Rock Trail back to the Loggers Loop if the snow had soften but now there was no reason and we continued straight ahead. It is 1.7 miles from the junction back to the parking area but downhill most of the way. By this time I was a little tired and more bored than anything else. Along the way we picked up a set of snowshoe tracks. Apparently the snowshoers had come up the Flynn Trail to almost the highest point and then turned around to go back. The indentations of their shoes indicated that they had made this attempt between the deep, loose snow and the crusty conditions I was experiencing. I had done a hike on Round Top when the snow was heavy and wet and sympathized with the difficulty they had faced. It was difficult to follow their trail at the snowshoe tracks were deep and frozen. I guess it is possible to posthole with snowshoes. As we approached the gate that separates the Flynn Trail from private property, I noticed the snowshoe tracks went straight ahead instead of staying on the trail. I hope the hikers knew the owners! We turned left into the woods to follow the Flynn Trail back to the car. We were back at 1:00 PM having covered a little over 6 miles in a little under 3 hours.

On Thursday, February 20th, the temperature had gotten up to above freezing with a bright sun. Despite the increase in temperature there was still plenty of snow for snowshoeing. Cindy and I decided to take our grandson Bryce across the street for another outing on snowshoes. We got dressed and equipped and headed across the street. The snow in the field was deep and heavy from the rain and warm temperatures. Bryce made it across the field but by that time was a little tired. Cindy decided to take him back home while Sheila and I continued up the hill. When we got to the top, we stopped so that I could take some pictures. It was obvious that there was still a good covering of snow on the hills around Livingston Manor. We turned left into the woods and started up the hill. The snow was pretty deep and just as heavy in the woods. Taking a step meant sinking at least 10 inches into the snow, having snow fall into the footprint covering the snowshoes and then lifting the snowshoe full of snow up for the next step. It was slow going but I was only out for the exercise. We headed up the hill and cut across bypassing the old quarry. We stopped so that I could take some pictures several times along the way. After descending the other side of the hill we caught a snowmobile track to the left which me the going easier. At some point I decided I did not have the energy to climb the next hill so we turned left into the woods to bushwhack back up the hill. The snow was even deeper off the woods road and soon we were at the base of a cliff. I had descended this area before but had never climbed it especially when it was covered in snow. I picked a route and changed it as we climbed up the steep incline. The "cliff" is really a series of rocks and there were voids between the rocks which made climbing even harder. Soon we were at the top and walked across a flat area before ascending another hill passing by the quarry. At the top of the hill we walked across the summit and then headed down the other side. I decided to stay to the left and try to return to my track from earlier rather than to continue to break track by myself. We were soon at the top of another cliff and I could see my track below. I found a path down through the rocks and we were soon on the track I had made earlier. We walked back down the hill and out to the cemetery. We descended the cemetery hill and walked across the field to the road. When we got home, I saw a track around the backyard. Cindy had Bryce walk around the backyard a couple of times for the exercise!

On Sunday, February 16th, I wanted to go snowshoeing again to take advantage of the 30 inches of snow on the ground. I had been out the previous day with Cindy and had found he going VERY difficult especially when breaking new trail. I had mentioned that I was going out to my friend JP and he said he would like to try it. JP did not have snowshoes but that was not a problem as I have eight pairs of my own. We both had commitments at church in the morning and decided to meet at 1:00 PM to hike. When I got home, I got dressed and put two pairs of snowshoes and poles in my car. JP arrived on time and we got Sheila in the car and headed for Frick Pond. My goal this time was to hike out the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond and then to take that trail to Junkyard Junction. The Loggers Loop intersects at this junction as is a snowmobile trail. My plan was to take that trail back to Times Square and then follow it back to Frick Pond. Cindy and I had broken out the trail from Times Square back to the pond so I felt it would be relatively easy hiking. When we got to the parking area, we got on our gear and headed out to Frick Pond. The walking was easier than the day before but some additional snow and some drifting had covered some of the broken trail. We crossed the bridge at Frick Pond and were soon at the junction where we stayed left on the Quick Lake Trail. The trail was not broken and the snow was 30 inches or more deep. I was sinking in almost a foot with each step and when I pulled my snowshoe back up it was covered in snow. The going was very slow and I knew almost immediately that making it to Junkyard Junction would require more energy than I had in me. We continued to walk until the trail entered the "forest tunnel" where we turned around. Even the trip back to the junction was difficult as the snow was so deep. When we got to the trail junction we turned left to follow the trail around the back of the pond. Since Cindy and I had broken this trail the day before, the trip to Times Square went quickly. At Times Square we turned right and followed the Loggers Loop back to Frick Pond. From Frick Pond we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and followed it back to the car. We were both pretty tired when we got back although Sheila seemed as fresh as ever. We had covered about 2.5 miles in just under two hours.

On Saturday, February 15th, we had gotten well over 24 inches of NEW snow from two or three separate snowfalls. The roads had been plowed and sanded but still had a significant amount of snow and slush on them. Cindy and I decided we needed to get out of the house to try to snowshoe. We thought that the road to Frick Pond might be plowed and that there was a good chance that a parking area might be cleared. We got all our gear and put Sheila in the back seat for the trip. The roads were passable and we arrived at the parking area on beech Mountain Road a little after 11:00 AM. The smaller parking area was cleared and we got our gear on to start our hike. We crossed the road and mounted the high snow bank to start up the Flynn Trail. There was a least 30 inches of unbroken snow! I was sinking in at least 10 inches each time I took a step. Sheila tried to take the lead but could make almost no headway and was content to walk between us. After only a short distance I knew that we would have to turn back. The Flynn Trail in uphill for about 1.7 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The Big Rock Trail is open to snowmobiles and is downhill all the way to Times Square. My thought was to get to that junction and then go downhill and around the back of Frick Pond. I knew that breaking almost 2 miles of trail by myself through over 2 feet of snow would not work. We turned around and walked back to the road where we crossed and headed out the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond. There was a set of snowshoe prints or maybe two and I was optimistic that the broken trail would make life easier. Unfortunately, the tracks ended only a short dilate along the trail as the hikers had given up and turned back. We were now on our own. I decided to make our objective a simple loop around Frick Pond to Times Square and back on the Logger's Loop. The snow was just as deep as on the Flynn Trail and some drifts made it even deeper. At least this part of the trail is almost flat so the going was a little easier. As we approached the pond, the drifts of snow on the trail became deeper but were considered so that we could walk on top of them. We stopped at the pond and took some pictures before continuing. By this time it had started to snow and the snow was beginning to accumulate. We walked around the pond to the junction with e the trail around the back of the pond. We stayed right to continue around the pond. As we walked this trail, we passed under some trees and found the snow was not quite as deep. In places the snow on the trees weighed the branches down so much that we had to "detour" around them and off the trail. The snow in these areas seemed even deeper. Eventually we made it to Times Square. I looked up the Big Rock Trail and briefly thought about following it to the Flynn Trail. I quickly dismissed the idea since I knew the Flynn Trail was unbroken back to the parking area. We turned right on the Loggers Loop and started back toward the junction with the Quick Lake Trail near Frick Pond. The going was rough here again as the snow was deep and the trail has a slight uphill grade. At times I was able to pick out and old track. Sheila would forge ahead at times and she always seemed to pick the best track! As we continued to hike we could hear and then see several hikers ahead. We met two found men headed in the opposite direction. We stopped to talk briefly and we each continued on our separate ways. The trail junction wasn't too far ahead and we were soon back on the Quick Lake Trail which we had broken out earlier. The walk back to the car was MUCH easier than the walk out. We were both tired when we got back having taken almost two hours to walk just over two miles.

On Thursday, February 6th, we had gotten several inches of new snow and our grandson Bryce was at our house. Cindy and I decided to take him across the street and up some hills for his first real snowshoe trek. There is a pretty steep hill behind the church and we decided that we would go to the top and then come back down. The day was a little cool with temperatures in the low 20's and there was a slight breeze. This didn't seem to bother almost 3 year old Bryce and Sheila was certainly ready to go. Somehow the three of us got our snowshoes on and walked out the driveway. Safely crossing the street was a challenge but soon we were in the small field next to the church. I let Sheila off her leash as we headed to the back of the church and up the hill. I had put on my Crescent Moon snowshoes since they are a little bigger than mist of my 25 inch shoes. They seem to break track better and I soon developed a slight shuffle to set the best track possible. For his age Bryce seemed to have little trouble getting the snowshoes pointed in the correct and following my path. We only stopped once on the way up the hill and this was more to get a view of the town below us and the hills beyond. Soon we were at the top of the hill and Cindy and I were ready to turn around. Bryce had other ideas and indicated he wanted to continue down the other side of the hill to make a longer loop. He was very interested in walking under the "coniferous" trees which he observed had "cones". We walked down the other side of the hill and then made an almost 180 degree turn to start back to the church. Bryce had mentioned taking a break but he must have forgotten as he hiked right along. Soon we were headed back down to the church and across he field to the road. We crossed the street and walked back down the driveway to the house. Bryce made the comment that he always makes "We made it!"

On Saturday, February 1st I wanted to hike a 3500 foot peak and decided on Balsam Lake Mountain. Cindy wanted to go along so we got our gear and put Sheila in the backseat for the trip up the Beaverkill Road. We were not sure we would be able to get all the way to the trailhead parking area and decided that Alder Lake would be our alternative. The road to the trailhead is not always plowed and even if it is the last mile can be very icy. There hadn't been much snow so we decided to only bring the spikes and forego the snowshoes. The road was a little tricky ins some spots especially after the Quill Gordon Lodge. It was slow going but we made it by just before 11:00 AM. The parking lot was plowed but there were no cars parked in the lot. The snow depth was only about 4 inches but we knew that could change as we gained elevation. The temperature was in the mid 20's and it was a little more overcast than the forecast. Sheila was thrilled to be out judging by the way she ran up and down the trail kicking up plumes of snow. We donned our spikes right at the car and started up the trail. We were in now hurry and were interested in the beauty of the woods with trees covered in snow. We made the first trail junction at 11:30 AM. I suggested we head up the trail to the Millbrook side of the mountain and climb the gentler side firs for variety. Cindy wanted to climb the steeper side so we turned left and headed up the mountain. The trail is so familiar I seldom think about the steepness. Over the next .5 miles we gained 750 feet on a grade that averaged 28%! I was thinking about a variety of things as we climbed and often looked back to see Cindy a little further behind. Despite the spikes he trail was slippery as the sun started to come out and melt the snow. At times blow would stick to the bottoms of our boots making the spikes lose traction. I had worn a heavy Icebreaker top under my Mammut Hoody and had unzipped the pitzips and front zipper before the climb. Even with the extra airflow, I was still very warm as we climbed.

As we approached the trail to the lean-to there were a few drift over 12 inches deep. The trail up to the spring was hard to find but we made it passed the spring and climbed to the summit plateau where we made a left to head toward the tower. Again there were some drifts that were deep but for only a short distance. The sun had shown threw the clouds elevating our spirits but making the snow soft and hard to walk through. I stopped to take a few pictures of the snow and the trees and then stopped again in the evergreen tunnel. When we broke out into the tower clearing at 12:30 PM, it was sunny and I took a few shots of the tower before taking off my pack and the picnic table and preparing for a trip up the tower. Cindy elected to stay on the ground with the dog which was a good idea since the steps were very icy. As I climbed the tower, the wind really seated to pick up making me glad that the air temperature was relatively warm. I took pictures of the hills from the landing just below the cab. The skies were blue but there weren't very many clouds for contrast. I came down the tower, took a few pictures of Sheila near the base and got a drink before heading out. We walked passed the cabin and down the trail on the back side of the mountain. The snow here was more of a powder and allowed us to make great time. We did meet two young women coming up from the Millbrook trailhead but Sheila was being uncooperative so we just said "Hello" and continued on our way. By 1:05 PM we had descended back to the main trail where we turned right to head back to the car. From this point the trail is mostly downhill and we made good time. Along the way we met two young men from Mt. Hope in Orange County. They had overnight packs and were headed to the lean-to. We stopped to talk about conditions and they mentioned the Devil's Path. They had been there recently and encountered very icy conditions. They seemed surprised that I told them exactly were they had found the most ice. I mentioned my website and later got an email from one of them. Cindy and I continued on down the trail passing the other trail junction. We arrived back at the car by 2:00 PM having covered 4.3 miles and 1240 feet of elevation gain in 3 hours. This was not our fastest trip but was still very enjoyable. On the way up the Beaverkill Road I had noticed that the Beaverkill Falls was almost completely frozen over. On the way back I parked the car along the side of the road and walked down to the falls to take some pictures. Cindy and Sheila stayed in he car. The falls were beautiful and I took several shots from different angles and different positions.

On Monday, January 27th, Cindy and I decided to get out for a hike after many days of brutally low temperatures. I had been at a track meet both Friday and Saturday and was ready to get outside. As often happens, our plans were altered by a morning ambulance call. When I got home, we got dressed and headed to Frick Pond. We arrived in the parking area at about 11:30 AM and decided to hike out to Frick Pond and then see where we might go from there. My time was limited as I had to get to track practice. We both donned our Microspikes as our previous experience told us there would be ice. As I put mine on I noticed one of the links was snapped. I was annoyed as I had not used them that much and am very careful when I do. Apparently this is a common problem! This is unfortunate since the retail price of $50 should mean they last longer. As we were hiking it was snowing and blowing and the sky was overcast. I had brought the camera but doubted it would come out of the pack. When we got to the bridge, we simply continued our hike without taking break. At the next trail junction Cindy wanted to stay right around the pond but I wanted a longer experience. We stayed to the left on the Quick Lake Trail and headed for Iron Wheel Junction. We were both keeping up a quick pace but not as quick a Sheila who was darting up and down the trail as well as following some game trails! As we hiked, I began to think about what I still had to do in the afternoon. When we got to the trail junction, I decided to turn right on the Logger's Loop and forego the longer loop around Hodge Pond as this better fit my schedule. The walk along the Logger's Loop seemed long but we were soon at Times Square. I decided we would walk around the back of Frick Pond and over the wooden bridges. It didn't take us log before we were back at the Quick Lake Trail where we turned left and retraced our route back to the car. It we arrived back at the parking area a little after 1:00 PM. It had taken about a hour and 40 minutes to hike the 3.8 mile route.

On Monday, January 20th I decided to head south and east to Storm King Mountain. I had not listed this area for about a year and wanted to get back to some of the spectacular views from the area. I had avoided this area during the summer since the tick population is so high. Also, my summer was consumed by section hiking the Finger lakes Trail. On Saturday I had been at West Point for a track meet and the ice on the Hudson River was so interesting it motivated me to even more to take this hike. I was surprised that the Storm King Highway was still open but I decided this was the route I wanted to take. My plan was to park at the Stillman Spring parking area and hike a clockwise double loop over North Point and then Storm King. Unfortunately, the sunny day forecast for Monday turned out to be more of an overcast for the entire day! I tried to get started early but time seemed to slip away. The drive seemed to go quickly and we arrived at the parking area at 9:40 AM to find no other cars parked in the lot. I was a little cold when I got out of the car but fortunately did not decided to change to a heavier shirt. We crossed the road and got on the blue Howell Trail which is the backbone of the trail system in this area. The ground was frozen solid but there was little snow or ice. I was prepared with spikes in my pack since previous experience told me that ice can be a problem. In a little less than a half mile we gained a few hundred feet to the area known as Pitching Point. This is the first good lookout over the Hudson although I knew better ones were to come. We stopped so that I could take some pictures. The ice covered part of the river and was piled up along the shores. I saw the first of several trains I would see during the day on the tracks on the eastern shore. The real climb to the ridge started after Pitching Point and we did encounter a few patches of ice and some snow on the rocks. Both of these proved to be slippery but did not warrant spikes. In the next .4 miles we gained almost 550 feet over a 26% grade to near the top of the ridge. We stopped several times along the way so that I could take more pictures. Across the river I could see Little Stony Point and Mount Taurus. Slightly upriver I caught glimpses of Pollopel Island, Breakneck Ridge and the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge.

After the climb, the trail leveled some and actually descended until the final climb up to North Point. We stopped at the boulder just before the highest point. The view from this spot is to the north. I took many pictures including some of the Storm King Highway below. It always amazes me how this road hangs on the edge of the mountain as it winds its way along the eastern shore! I started to get a little cold as the wind was blowing and I was sweaty so we left North Point and continued on the Howell Trail. As we descended from North Point to the west, the trail met a woods road where we turned right to stay on the blue trail. It felt good to be hiking down and we picked up the pace considerably. The trail quickly descended into an area known as The Clove which is filled with large rocks and has a small stream to cross. As we crossed the stream, Sheila dove in and got pretty wet. I was worried she would get too cold but it did not seem to bother her. Of course, the problem with a long ascent is there is usually an ascent on the other side. Over the next .5 miles we ascended 550 feet on a 22% grade. Along the way we met two young men who we the first people we had seen all day. Near the top of the ascent the Howell Trail meets a woods road marked with white blazes. A left turn allows access to the parking area on Route 9W. We turned right and ascended a little more to a trail junction. The Howell Trail turned left here but we stayed right on the white Bypass Trail heading slightly northeast. For the next .4 miles the trail continued to ascend as we came closer to the summit of Storm King Mountain. There were several lookouts along the way but I knew that the best was just passed the junction with the Stillman Trail. When we got to the junction, we walked passed it a short distance to an open rock face which formed the lookout. We stopped and I dropped my pack so I could get out my camera and take some pictures. The day was overcast with the sky being a uniform gray. After taking some pictures to the south and east, I took a few of Sheila perched on the open rock and looking intently at the river. After completing by photographic attempts, I donned my pack and we headed back to the junction with the yellow Stillman Trail.

At the trail junction we turned right to take the yellow Stillman Trail over the summit of Storm King Mountain. The trail across the summit is almost flat and after the first short climb we stopped so that I could take pictures. I tried to limit the number I took since, although the view was nice, it want too different than several others along the way. As we continued to walk across the summit plateau, we met group of four people with a black and brown dog. The dog was NOT on a leash but seemed friendly enough. We exchanged greetings and then went our separate ways. As we walked I began to wonder where the Howell Trail was since I had not been this way in a long time. On a short descent we met tow young women who would be our last human encounters of the day. Soon we were at the junction with the Howell Trail and turned right to head back down toward The Clove. In just .4 miles we were back at the junction with the white Bypass trail. We continued on the Howell Trail making the sharp right to avoid walking out to Route 9W. As we descended into The Clove again, I wondered for a moment if I could easily pick up the Crossover Trail or the Stillman Spring Trail as I had missed both on the way out. As we descended about .5 miles, I easily picked up the Crossover Trail. The blazes are now painted over in gray but the trail is still obvious. I decided to continue on and in .2 miles found the white blazes of the Stillman Spring Trail on the left. We turned and continued to descend the last .6 miles and 500 feet to the car. When we arrived back at the parking area, another car was parked next to mine but no one was around. It was 1:50 PM and we had hiked 6.3 miles in 4 hours and 10 minutes with a 2300 foot elevation gain overall. The pace was very SLOW for us but I knew that the numerous stops to take pictures was the primary culprit. I will admit that the route was hillier than I remembered and it was a good workout!

On Friday, January 17th our almost three year old grandson, Bryce, was at the house. He wanted to go for a hike with his snowshoes. There wasn't enough snow for the snowshoes but we decided to head out to Frick Pond to see how far we could go. The temperature was right around freezing so he bundle him up and headed out with Sheila in the backseat to keep him company. When we arrive at just before 11;00 AM there were no other cars in the lot. We started out on the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond almost immediately. Sheila was happy to be out and was running back and forth on the trail. I had packed our spikes but we decided to delay putting them on until we could assess the trail conditions. Bryce had insisted on having a pole so I shortened one and gave it to him. When we got to the register box and the woods road to Frick Pond, it was obvious that there was a lot of ice under a thin covering of snow. I took Bryce's hand to help steady him and encouraged him to walk with me on the side of the trail. We made the walk to the first trail junction in good time and turned left to head down to Frick Pond. The hill was a sheet of ice so we headed into the woods and took a short bushwhack down to the bridge. Cindy and I both put on our spikes. I took pictures of the other hikers on the bridge and some shots of the pond. We crossed the bridge and walked the trail to where the Quick Lake Trail turns left. At this point we decided to bear right and walk the trail around Frick Pond. As we hiked Bryce informed us that the trees were "coniferous" and he was right. There is a nice "tunnel" on the trail complete with several wooden walkways. There was no ice on the walkways but a thin layer of snow made them tricky. Bryce was doing well with his pole except that it kept getting caught in the spaces between the boards. Soon we were coming around the back of the pond and the trail had several places where there was open water. By the time we got to Times Square, Bryce was complaining of being a little tired. I encouraged him to keep walking and we began to talk more and sing "hiking songs". This seemed to help as we completed the loop back to the first trail junction. From that point back to the car, we both held one of Bryce's hands and let him swing over some of the wet and icy spots. We were back at the parking area by 12:30 PM. As we climbed the little bank at the end of the trail Bryce said "We made it!" Our 2.2 mile hike was most enjoyable and we hope to get out again soon.

On Monday, January 13th I wanted to get in a hike close to home and decided to visit Trout Pond. The area around Trout and Mud Ponds is a favorite of mine but I had not been there in some time. I didn't know what to expect as far as trail conditions and the volume of water at the falls since it rained for most of the weekend and the warm temperatures had melted all the snow in town. Cindy wanted to go and Sheila immediately knew we were going hiking. She tends to stick close to make sure I know she wants to go. By the time we left the house at around 10:40 AM the temperature was in the high 20's. As we drove up Morton Hill Road just outside of Roscoe the amount of snow on the ground started to increase. There was a lot of snow and ice where I parked along the side of Morton Hill Road near Russell Brook Road at about 11;00 AM. It appeared that Russell Brook Road was covered in ice. Before we started our hike. Cindy decided to put on her spikes while I decided to wait until I saw what the road looked like. As we started down Russell Brook Road the wisdom of Cindy's decision became obvious and I stopped almost immediately to don my spikes. The road was a sheet of ice and it was obvious no one had traveled on it in some time. Before we reached the viewpoint over the upper falls, we could hear the crashing of the water. One look showed that the rain and melting snow over the weekend has raised the level of the brook. I had to stop to take a few shots despite the fact that I have many pictures from the same spot. There was a large volume of water going over the falls and the snow on the ground created an interesting effect. We walked down to the lower parking area which was empty but completely ice covered. From there we headed down to the bridge over Russell Brook. We crossed the bridge and I decided to take some pictures of the lower falls. The trail was completely covered in ice but Sheila and I careful made our way1 down to the streambed. I took pictures of the falls and the frozen water beside it. The frozen water was almost a perfect mirror of the flowing water. After taking a few shots, we climbed back up the bank and walked out to the main trail.

At the split in the trail we headed right to do the loop in a counterclockwise direction. There was snow and ice on the trail in some places but other spots were soft and muddy. We set a fast pace up the trail toward Trout Pond and as we approached I was surprised to see that there was ice covering most of the pond. The only open area I could see was near the spillway and the near shore. I took some pictures of the scenery with the ice on the pond but the sky was totally overcast which was not ideal. I through a stick out onto the ice for Sheila to retrieve and took pictures as she returned with it. We headed back to the main trail and walked up to the inlet end of the pond. The trail had some very wet spots along the way with pools of water in places. We walked to the upper end of the pond and found no one at the lean-tos. I took a few pictures of the pond and we then continued over the bridge and up the trail toward Cherry Ridge. As we began to ascend, the trail began to be covered in snow and ice with more in the surrounding woods. This area also had a more northerly and westerly exposure. The snow and ice continued to the top of the rise and then dissipated some on the other side. We continued to run into some areas with snow but also walked around some water and mud. Soon we were at the junction with the snowmobile trail that runs past Mud Pond. We turned left and found more ice on the snowmobile trail as we climbed a little before descending. The descent was almost completely free of snow and looked like late fall or early spring. Several places were muddy and others had flowing water. We were soon back at the trail junction near the register box. From there we walked back out to the lower parking area and then up the road to the car. The walk up the icy road actually seemed easier than the walk down. We were back at the car at 1:50 PM having covered 5.6 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes.

On Thursday, January 8th, I decided I needed to get out and take a short walk since the temperature was finally in the double digits. The minus 20 degree wind-chill that had been present for the last two days were gone and the sun was even out! When Lisa called and asked if I wanted to do a short hike, I readily agreed. She had to meet with a sales rep in the morning. She called me from across the street at about 12:30 PM and I quickly got dressed and Sheila and I walked across the street to meet her. We decided that we might need spikes but that snowshoes, unfortunately, were not necessary. We started up the hill by the cemetery and then turn left into the wood at the top of the hill. I had decided not to bring along my packs, camera or GPS. I just wanted to concentrate on having a good time without the "responsibilities" of mapping or taking pictures. There was little or no snow in the woods but it was icy in places. Lisa elected to don her spikes while I kept mine in my pocket. We walked and talked as Sheila explored all the animal trails along the way. After ascending the second hill, I checked my watch and decided we should make the turn to complete the loop and head back. I had indoor track practice at 3:00 PM for the first time in over two weeks. We were back at just before 2:00 PM after king around 3 miles. At times my face felt a little cold but otherwise we had a great time.

On Saturday, January 4th, I decided to finally get out on my first hike of 2014! The weather had been challenging to say the least with snow covered roads and windchills well below Saturday Saturday morning the temperature was still around zero so I decided to wait until a little later in the day to start a hike. I was concerned that Sheila might not be able to handle the extremely cold weather. We left Livingston Manor and headed out the DeBruce Road a little before 1:00 PM. I was surprised that the roads were cleared all the way to the end of Beech Mountain Road and that the parking areas were plowed. I was equally surprised to find another car in the lot! From the tracks, it seemed like a group of three or four people had started up the Flynn Trail on snowshoes. I decided to follow them so Sheila and I crossed the road at 1:05 PM and started up the Flynn Trail. The temperature had risen all the way up to 18 degrees which seemed almost warm. I had chosen to use my Crescent Moon Gold snowshoes which are good on flat and rolling terrain. They have some of the best bindings and a teardrop shape. I had put on a Patagonia Capilene 1 under my Icebreaker 320 top but soon realized that I was overdressed! The first part of the Flynn Trail through the woods is narrow and I was having a little trouble not overlapping the wider snowshoes. Once we made the right turn into the woods road the going was easier. I was surprised to find that the group ahead of us was walking abreast rather than single file. I assumed that they must be novices since anyone experienced at snowshoeing would know that single file is the best way to break trail! Before we had gone half a mile I had stopped to open some zippers and dump some heat. The walk with snowshoes is definitely more of a workout than without. We continued up the Flynn Trail until we were at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. It had taken just about an hour to walk the 1.7 miles from the parking area.

At the trail junction we stopped so that I could take some pictures of the snowy trails. The group had gone straight ahead to Hodge Pond so I decided to turn left and go down the Big Rock trail to Times Square. I like descending on snowshoes since, at times, you can almost ski down. The trail had been recently broken by a snowmobile which I could hear in the distance. The trip down the Big Rock Trail went quickly and we were soon approaching Times Square. Sheila was having a great time and did not seem to be bothered in any way by the snow or temperature. She kept going off the snowmobile trail to follow animals tracks. As we neared Times Square, we could hear a snowmobile approaching. I was surprised that the machine was coming from the left on he Logger's Loop trail from Frick Pond. This trail SHOULD be off-limits to snowmobiles. A young rider made the turn up the Big Rock Trail and waved to us as he passed. I wondered if he knew he was violating the rules of the trail or whether he just didn't bother to find out what they were! We continued straight ahead at Times square to go around the back of Frick Pond. This was the first unbroken snow of the day and it was more challenging to walk through the fresh snow. As we approached the bridges and wooden walkways, the views of the pond were pretty. I stopped and tome some pictures including some of the water running under the ice. I also stopped to take some pictures on the wooden walkways where the snow was deeper than anywhere else. We continued to walk until we her at the junction with the Quick Lake Trail. Here we turned left and headed for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. We stopped briefly at the bridge and I took a few pictures before heading back to the parking area. As we were finishing our hike, the group that had started ahead of us showed up. They had hiked out to Hodge Pond and back on the Flynn Trail. We were back by 3:10 PM having covered 4 miles in 2 hours and 5 minutes.

On Tuesday, December 31st, I decided I wanted get out and do a hike on the last day of 2013. The temperature in the morning in Livingston Manor was just 12 degrees so I was in no hurry to get started. I thought I might try to get to Balsam Lake Mountain to see if the recent rain had fallen as snow there. By the time I was ready to head out some snow was falling and I knew the Beaverkill Road would be nearly impassable with the recent icing conditions. I decided to head to Trout Pond as it is close and I had not been there too recently. Brad and Krista were going to head back to Pennsylvania and I wanted to be home to see them off. I drove through Roscoe and turned left onto Morton Hill Road. A soon as I made the turn it was clear that the road had not been plowed or sanded. As I gained elevation the snowfall was harder and the road worse! I crested the hill and started down the other side toward the junction with Russell Brook Road. I tried braking to see what the conditions were like under the snow. My car began to brake intermittently and the traction control system kicked in to eventually slow me down. I turned around at Russell Brook Road and parked on the side of Morton Hill Road at about 11:$% AM. I got out my gear and joined Sheila who was more than ready to start. I had not brought snowshoes but did have my spikes in my pack. The road was icy but the ice was rough in most places and there was a ridge of snow down the middle. A few sets of vehicle tracks were present and I could see one set of footprints. We ere soon at the viewpoint over the upper falls. There was a large volume of crystal clear water flowing over the falls but as my main goal was a quick "fitness" hike, we continue on down to the lower parking area. From the parking area we followed the road down to the bridge over Russell Brook. I decided not to go to the lower falls so we continued on the road and turned left just passed the register box. I wanted to climb the steeper hill on the way out and descend he more gentle slope from Trout pond on the way back. The ascent went well for the most part and I was able to avoid the slipperier areas. Putting on the spikes would have been the smarter thing to do but for some reason I avoided this. By 12:25 PM we were near Mud Pond and turned right to take the trail over Cherry Ridge to Trout Pond. We continued to climb but the trail had less ice and more crunchy snow. At 12:50 PM we had walked2.7 miles and climbed 830 feet to the highest point on the hike at 2544 feet. From here the hike was all downhill or flat until the final ascent back to the car from the lower parking area. At 3.5 miles we crossed the new bridge over the inlet to the pond. I had thought that we might stop so that I could take pictures of the pond but the snow was falling so hard it obscured any good views. We walked down the east side of the pond. Along the way there were two large blowdowns that blocked the road. The trees seemed to be the victim off higher water levels in the pond and some high winds. We passed by the outlet to the pond and started down the gentler slope to the register box to complete the loop. This part of the road was covered in much smoother and slipperier ice. I had to walk carefully and use the s the of the trail to avoid falling. At 1:35 PM we were back at Russell Brook and I decided to skip the falls as I wanted to get back home before Krista and Brad left. The final hike up to the car was uneventful. As we walked to the car it was obvious on one including snowplows had been on the road. We were back at the car by 1:55 PM having covered 5.4 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes with an elevation gain of about 1150 feet.

On Saturday, Dec28th, I asked Cindy if she would like to hike and she said "Yes". We decided to take her to the Hodge Pond Lookout to see what the view looked like without the leaves on the trees. I had some errands I had to do in the morning so we didn't get started until after 10:30 AM which was OK since the temperature by that time had risen into the 20's. There had been some light snow and we weren't sure whether or not we would need snowshoes. We got our gear including snowshoes into them car, put Sheila in the backseat and headed off to the trailhead. We arrived at 11:00 AM and it was obvious we would not need the snowshoes. We walked across the road and started up the Flynn Trail with an air temperature of 28 degrees and a light wind blowing. The skies were blue with a only a few white clouds and some sun. The Flynn Trail is uphill all the way for the first 1.7 miles to the Big Rock Junction but we set a fast pace. Along the way I though about visiting the meadow on the right of the trail and whether or not we would return by the same route. We continued through the junction to the point where the Flynn Trail heads downhill to Hodge Pond. Here we turned to the right on a woods road and walked along the "high road" to the junction of some roads above the pond. At this junction a road turns left to go down to the pond. Just a little further on the road splits with the left fork passing by the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp and ending up on Shin Creek Road in Lew Beach. I thought about visiting the building that we could easily see through the trees but decided to continue on to our destination first. We continued straight ahead to climb the road up the hill. The road was a little steeper than I remembered but we kept our pace. There was an increasing amount of snow as we climbed but nowhere did we need the snowshoes.

There were places where there was ice under the snow and I thought about getting out my spikes several times. We solved the problem by walking carefully and keeping to the sides of the trail. We stopped briefly as the trail leveled at the old quarry and then continued our hike. We passed by a spring house on the right and at 2.6 miles turned right onto a another woods road. This turn occurred where the main road turned sharply to the left. The trail we turned onto was more well defined than I remembered and the tracks of an ATV were faintly visible. After a slight incline, we walked to 2.9 miles over flat ground to the Hodge Pond Lookout. I dropped my pack and took some pictures of the pond below and the hills in the distance. The brush had grown up in front of the lookout so the view was limited. I asked Cindy to pose with Sheila on the rock that forms the lookout and I took several pictures. We grabbed a drink and a bar for lunch and then headed back down the hill. The trip down was a little more exciting than the trip up. The slippery spots seemed much slipperier on the way down! When we got to the base of the hill at the junction of the roads, we walked over what is left of the buildings from the Boy Scout camp. I took some pictures before we headed back to the woods road. We walked out to the Flynn Trail and turned left and were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I had though about returning this way but we decided to continue on down the Flynn Trail. When we got to the path to the right to the meadow, we decided to make a visit and walked the short path up to the clearing. Snow covered the meadow but there was really nothing spectacular about the photographic opportunities as there were no clouds in the sky. I took a few pictures and we walked back out to the Flynn Trail. The rest of the hike went quickly and I noticed how warm I was even going downhill. The sun had come out and the temperature was almost 10 degrees warmer than when we had started. I checked the GPS when we arrived back at the car and found we had hiked 6 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes with about 1200 feet of elevation gain.

On Thursday, December 26th, I decided I wanted to hike along Black Bear Road near Round Pond despite the unexpected snow that was falling persistently! December had been a bad month for hiking with personal commitments and some poor weather. Brad and Krista were home for Christmas and Brad decided to take Pierce, their year old lab mix, with us on the hike which I thought was a good idea. Sheila and Pierce get along well and I thought they would both like to get out of the house. I chose Black Bear Road since it was the only piece he the Finer Lakes Trail that I had not hiked between Marathon and Table Mountain. In June 2012 I had joined a group hike from Black Bear Road to the trail's terminus on the Table Mountain Trail. I had also hiked from the end of Black Bear Road to Tunis Pond. Brad and I got our gear and the dogs in the car a little after 10:00 AM and started for the trailhead parking area. The roads were barely touched with only a little plowing done and very little sanding. As we headed out the DeBruce Road, it was obvious only a few vehicles had been on the road. At the turnoff for Mongaup Pond any plowing that had been done ended and we were on our own. The Lancer with all-wheel drive and the Blizzak tires is very good in the snow. We made it to Black Bear Road and turned left and drove up the hill to the parking area. There appeared to be one set of tire tracks on the road but they were completely covered in snow. I parked in the lot and we were ready to go by 10:45 AM. The snow was still coming down and there was a little wind. I questioned by choice of wearing only a light Icebreaker shirt under my Mammut Hoody! Bard kept Pierce on his leash since he is not accustomed to hiking in strange areas. As we started out on the road, it was obvious we would have to watch our footing as there was ice under the snow in pots. I had brought spikes but didn't think it necessary to put them on. I had never walked the road and hadn't paid much attention as I drove its length. The entire hike out was uphill for 2.8 miles. The elevation gain was only 640 feet so it was never steep. I thought it would make a nice snowshoe after a greater snowfall especially if they plows stayed away.

The snow continued to fall for the first mile or so and then let up. When I looked down at Sheila, she was again missing her blaze orange bandana! I did not notice when it had come off and decided to look for it on the way back. When we reached Black Bear Hunting camp, the first of many on the road, I stopped to take a few pictures. I knew I would get mixed results because of the snow that was falling around us again and the heavier snow on the surrounding hills. We walked and talked as we passed some hunting camps that looked nicer than some homes around Livingston Manor! Soon we were starting up the last hill before the end of the road. We walked to the end of the road and then turned around. A "Seasonal Maintenance" Sign caught my eye. As far as I know, there is NO MAINTENANCE on the part of the road passed the sign! I took some pictures of the High Falls Ridge which was obscured by the snow and then we started back. Since the out was all uphill, the back was all downhill. We were back in he parking area by 12:50 PM having covered 5.7 miles in just over 2 hours.

Fall 2013

On Friday, December 20th I went to the local hiking store, Morgan Outdoors, to buy our grandson Bryce a pair of snowshoes. He had watched a television show about snowshoeing and decided he wanted a pair. I bought him a pair of MSR Tykes which are real snowshoes much like the adult Denali snowshoes. I brought them home just as it started to rain but Bryce REALLY wanted to go outside to try out HIS snowshoes.

They were a little bit big for his feet but we went out. I was surprised it didn't take him long to get used to walking in them! He walked all around the back yard and managed to walk up and down the piles of snow without too many problems. It was hard to get him back inside. Next time we have snow we will be going for a hike beyond the bounds of the backyard.

On Thursday, December 19th, I decided to head across the street and snowshoe on Round Top at about 10:30 AM. I wanted to get this in before the warmer weather and rain this weekend destroyed the snow! It was in the high twenties when Sheila and I walked across the street. We headed up the hill by the cemetery and I was surprised that there were no sled or toboggan tracks on the hill! I guess it is a sign of the times. At the top of the hill we turned right into the woods and found more snow than at the bottom of the hill. We followed then tracks that we had made a few days earlier as we climbed the hill and then took a right onto a woods road. We followed one road and then another until we, passed by the quarry and descended the hill right after it. We continued to follow our earlier route and climbed the next hill which is even a little higher than Round Top. On the other side we descended steeply which was fun. The snow was much more compact than the light powder we had walked through the last time. In fact, the snow was beginning to collect on the bottom of my boots and snowshoes. Soon we were making the turn to head back to town. After a walk along a flat area, we were back in the area where a left turn would take us back to the route we had followed out. We turned right to follow to get back to our original path and to avoid some private property where I did not have permission to hike. We followed our path back to the trail out to the cemetery. It was a short walk down the hill to the church and across the street to the house. We were done at about 11:50 AM having hiked 3.1 miles in a hour and 50 minutes.

On Sunday, December 15th, church was canceled after a late fall snowstorm dropped about 10 inches of snow on Livingston Manor. I spent the morning shoveling our walks and driveway. I headed over to the church to find nothing plowed! I shoveled all the walks and then returned home to call some people to see if I could find someone to plow. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go out to snowshoe immediately but she was busy so we decided to put it off until the afternoon. Around 1:00 PM we began to get ready and then headed across the street to hike a route on Round Top. The wind had come up which made my doubt my choice of light layers but I warmed up as soon as we started to snowshoe. Sheila could not have been happier even if she was belly deep in the snow! Her preferred means of movements was to take long 3 to 4 foot leaps through the snow! Her coat had grown out for the winter probably due to the Husky in her. After hiking across the field by the church, we headed up the steep hill by the cemetery. Sheila was ahead of us and turned left on the trail into the woods even though we had not been there since May. The snow was unbroken and had a slight frozen crust on top. The sky was overcast and it looked like some more snow might be on the way. Shortly after entering the woods we turned right to continue our ascent. We eventually passed by the short access road to the quarry and the summit of Round Top. After a short descent, we continued on some woods roads and ascended the next hill which seems to be slightly higher than Round Top. Cindy was having some trouble breathing so we slowed our pace some except for Sheila. From the top of the hill the trail descends steeply down the other side. I enjoy the steep descents since it can be almost like skiing. I picked the tips of my snowshoes up and glided down the hill. Cindy was a little less confident and took the slow but sure approach down the hill. After a short, flat area there was another descent and then the trail began to turn to the left to circle back towards town. This part of the hike was almost flat and we made better time. We arrived at a T where a left would take us back the way we came. A right turn would also return us to our starting point but would be longer and require a significant climb. I asked Cindy which way she wanted to go and she chose to turn left. After a short walk, we were back on our path and we reversed our route to get back to the church. The final descent down the hill to the church was fun. By now the sun was out but it was till in the mid 20's. We spent about 2 hours walking around 3 miles. I did not take my pack or camera and didn't see any shots that made me regret the decision.

On Friday, December 13th I wanted to get out hiking somewhere after almost a week of other commitments and brutally cold weather. I decided to head for Frick and Hodge Ponds as the area is close and usually has some snow. I waited until Karl and Bryce arrived so that I could eat with them and give the temperature a chance to get into the double digits. As we left Livingston Manor a little after 11:00 AM the temperature was still in the low teens and the roads were passable but icy in spots. We arrived at the parking area to find no cars. There was a pretty good breeze blowing which made me want to get on the trail right away. I had not completely solidified our route in my head but knew I wanted to walk down to the new bridge at the outlet to Frick Pond and get a view of Flynn's Point and the other higher elevations. There were some footprints on the trail as we headed out the trail to Frick Pond. Most of the trail was frozen with a covering of snow but there were some spots of open water. I dropped my pack at the bridge and took a few pictures. It was obvious that at the higher elevations the trees were covered with ice and frozen snow and I made sure I took some shots. I thought we might head back and take the Logger's Loop to the Quick Lake Trail and then head to Hodge and to the lookout over Hodge near Flynn's Point. As I put my pack back on, Sheila ran across the bridge and out the Quick Lake Trail and I decided to follow her lead even though this is the route we most often take. The hike to Iron Wheel Junction went quickly and we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. There were some tracks on the Quick Lake Trail which appeared to be from ATVs rather than snowmobiles. There was 2 to 3 inches of snow on the trail but I could not tell when the tracks were made. The sun was peeking through the clouds which made me feel better but did little to warm the air. As we walked the Quick Lake Trail, Sheila looked intently up the trail, alerted and came back to me. I could not see what she was looking at but in minute I heard the sound of engines coming toward us. The first ATV passed us with the rider waving "Hello". The second machine slowed and then stopped. The rider explained that they were replacing signs and that they were having trouble with the first machine. He said, "That's a really pretty dog!", which made me feel good. We parted going our separate ways.

Sheila and I continued on the Quick Lake Trail and soon ran into the area where all the trees were covered in ice and frozen snow. I stopped to take a few pictures before we continued on to Junkyard junction. We arrived at 12:45 PM after hiking a little over 3 miles. We turned right and walked the Flynn Trail to near the shore of Hodge Pond where I chose to turn left and walk the jeep trail around the back of the pond. I walked down to the shore to take some pictures of the pond and the ice covered trees and bushes. As we continued to walk around the pond on the jeep trail, we came to the point where we could continue down to the outlet of the pond or turn left up a hill. I decided to turn left and walk up the hill to the woods road near the old Boy Scout camp. When we hit the road, I decided that we would not visit the Hodge Pond lookout as it was already late and I was concerned that Sheila might be getting cold. We turn right and walked out to the Flynn Trail and stayed on it to the junction with the Big Rock Trail where we arrived at 1:20 PM after 4.7 miles of hiking. The rest of the hike was all downhill on the Flynn Trail to the parking area. We did hear the ATVs one more time and it sounded like they were headed over the snowmobile trail to Mongaup Pond. We continued down the Flynn Trail without incident and were back at the car by 2:00 PM having hiked 6.4 miles in just over 2.5 hours. At times on the hike I regretted not bringing snowshoes or spikes to get a little more traction on the trail. Hopefully, a predicted snowstorm will dump 6 inches to a foot of new snow on the trails!

On Saturday, December 7th, I wanted to return to Westkill where I spread the ashes of my hiking companion Sheba. Sheba, a German Shepherd-Collie mix kept me company on virtually every hike for six years. She was a good friend and a great trail dog who saved my hide more than once. In the spring of 2012 she was diagnosed with Lyme Disease which made her lame in both her hips. This made it more and more difficult for her to even get around the house. I will always miss her and I think of her on every hike I take. On one hike she jumped up on a rock at the Buck Ridge Lookouts on Westkill. I had a framed canvas made of the picture to hand on the wall of my study. Cindy agreed to go with me and Sheila, of course, was happy to get out. Sheila is only two years old and is a very different dog compared to Sheba. She is becoming a great trail dog and hiking companion. It had snowed overnight and some of the roads were in poor shape so we waited until later in the morning to leave. By the time we left Livingston Manor it was about 9:40 AM and the temperature had risen to the high 20's. I had pulled out the Salomon B52 insulated and put the Microspikes in my pack. We also brought along two pairs of snowshoes and decided we would make that decision at the trailhead. I decided to drive through Roscoe and pick up Route 30 around the Pepacton Reservoir since I thought these roads would be the best. I was right and the driving was pretty easy to Route 28. We headed east on 28 and took Route 42 north in Shandaken. Even the Spruceton Road was in good shape and we arrived at the trailhead a little after 11:00 AM. It was about 26 degrees with a stiff wind blowing. There were two cars in the Hunter lot but no others as we got ready to head out. We decided not to wear or take the snowshoes and that we would wait to put on the spikes. We set off up the woods road for the .85 mile hike to Diamond Notch Falls. I had heard that the footbridge had been replaced which makes crossing the stream much easier. Jumping from icy rock to icy rock is an exciting way to start a hike! I took a few quick pictures but decided to save pictures of the falls for the return trip. I knew we had started lad and that the hike is more difficult than some. We turned right to get on the Devil's Path which ascends the mountain. The climb began almost immediately and I was reminded that I always forget that the hike is not an easy one. The hike up to the ridge is mostly on the north side of the mountain and there was a few inches of snow on the ground. The snow didn't increase too much in depth as we ascended but the ice on the rocks became a problem. Sheila was doing her usual run back and forth on the trail with occasional side excursions.

At about 1.5 miles the trail begins to travel along the side of a hill. The indentation is slight and the rocks were all very icy. We decided to stop for a few minutes to put on Microspikes. This was a good decision and allowed us to make better time and to do it safely. We kept them on to the summit and all the way back to the car! We walked and talked and the hike went more quickly than if I had been alone. There is one spot that is usually a sheet of ice and when we go there we found it was not as intimidating as it can be later in the season. The mile climb from just after the falls to where the trail begins to level averages a 20% grade and can be very tiring in winter. Once we got to the more level part there were still some small climbs and a few descents but the going was easier. From that point to Buck Ridge and the summit is still well over a mile. We passed the rock overhand just below the 3500 foot sign. We were then at the area where the trail turns almost due west and levels off slightly. Around 1:00 PM I began to think about how much farther we had to go and how much time we had remaining. Cindy voiced the same concern and we picked up the pace. We continued on our way and were soon at the base of the final ascent. When we reached Buck Ridge, I continued on to the summit practically running to get there and back. Hiking to the summit of Westkill is a short trip but serves no purpose other than to allow a hiker to claim they got to the summit. The real attraction of Westkill is the Buck Ridge Lookouts. Back at the lookouts I took off my pack and got out the camera. It was an absolutely perfect day! I took pictures from the lookout on the south side including some of Sheila. We walked over to the north side and I took some pictures from there. The trees have started to block the view and I did not want to stand on the snow and ice-covered boulder. Even Sheila resisted jumping up on the boulder. I was a little sad at this point but happy we had done the hike to Sheba's final resting place.

Cindy and I got a drink and gave Sheila one. We both had snacks and shared some with Sheila. It was 1:30 PM and time for us to be starting back down the mountain. I did not want to hike out by headlamp and I did want to stop in the area of the falls. We kept a quick pace on the way down without stopping. We continued down the trail and I thought we might meet some other hikers but none appeared. We crossed the bridge at the falls and I negotiated the short but steep drop to the base of the falls. The stream has actually changed its course slightly and now flows more on the northeast rather than southwest side of the bed. After taking these photographs, I climbed back up the bank to trail and caught up with Cindy and Sheila. The walk back to the car went quickly. There were several other spots worthy of some pictures but it was l the and the light was limited. It was not much warmer than when we had started and as the sun started to set it felt even colder. We were back in the parking area at 3:35 PM having covered 6.4 miles in 4 hours and 15 minutes with plenty of time allowed for photography. The total ascent was 2104 feet. I was tired but glad we had made the trip.

On Tuesday, December 3rd, I wanted to get out again even if the hike was short and near home. Rifle season for whitetails was still open and I had to be at track practice so the choices were limited. Since I had recently visited both the area around Trout Pond and Frick and Hodge Ponds, I decided to go to Long Pond and hike the big loop. Sheila was ready to go as we left the house a little after 9:00 AM. The weather seemed warm at about 31 degrees but I still dressed for winter. I wore my new favorite boot, the Asolo Powermatic 200 GV, which is overkill for a short dayhike but fits me perfectly. We parked just before 9:30 AM and got right to hiking. I chose to walk up Flugertown Road to hike in the direction opposite to the one I normally take. The first part of the hike is virtually flat but then starts to climb very gently for some distance. The final descent back to the parking area is the steepest part the of the hike. I put Sheila on her leash for the first .5 miles on the paved portion of Flugertown Road. Once we were on the unpaved, dirt road, I let her off the leash. Sheila was good about staying on the road which is important to me especially during hunting season. The road was shaded by the trees and had been traveled by vehicles headed to some hunting camps. This combination created a thick layer of ice which made walking along the road difficult in places. I contemplated1 putting on by spikes but decided to walk carefully along the edges of the road and on the snow covered parts. This worked out well enough and we were soon passing by the Willowemoc-Hardenburgh Trail on the left and the trail on the right that creates a short loop to Long Pond. At this point there was a car and a tent at one of the small campsites but we did not see any people. We continued on to the point where Flugertown Road turns into Basily Road and heads over a small hill and down to the Peters Hunting Club. The hunting club has a private bridge over the creek and at one point denied access to hikers. The bridge is now open and the snowmobile trail passes over it so I have hiked it many times. I was glad to find that there were cars at the camp because I wanted explicit permission to hike across their land. I leashed Sheila to a tree and knocked on the door of the camp. A gentleman motioned me in and I introduced myself. When I asked for permission to hike, he freely gave it and even pointed out where the road was. I went back to Sheila and we headed on around the loop. It was 10:25 AM and we had covered 2.65 miles.

We crossed the outlet to the beaver pond on the small footbridge. The dam to the pond had been opened up and the water was flowing freely. From that point the road began to ascend slightly and was again covered in ice. I did my best to hug the sides of the road or the center where I could get some traction. The skies were completely overcast and there were few opportunities for taking any pictures. This didn't bother me too much as I was more interested in just hiking. Soon we were approaching the point were we would turn right onto the trail back to Long Pond. Sheila came back to me and began to whine a little. This is her way of announcing that there are people ahead he the trail. I looked up to see several hunters in blaze orange headed away from us toward another hunting camp. I kept Sheila on her leash1 until we made the turn onto the trail and the hunters were gone. Surprisingly, the trail was almost devoid of snow but fairly form to walk on. There was evidence that there had been some ATV activity in the area and there were small "ponds" in several places. We walked along the trail ands Sheila did a good job of staying close. We passed the trail to the lean-to at 11:00 AM about 4.3 miles into the hike. It wasn't long before we were at the spur trail down to the shore of Long Pond. I decided to bypass this visit and continue to hike back to the car. The last part of the hike went quickly as we descended the hill back to the parking area. We were back at the car by 11:40 AM having covered 6 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes.

On Monday, December 2nd I wanted to get in a hike close to home and decided to visit Trout Pond. The area around Trout and Mud Ponds is a favorite of mine but I had not been there in some time. I didn't know what to expect as far as trail conditions and the volume of water at the falls since it had been rather wet lately. I got myself dressed and had to deal with Sheila who immediately knew we were going hiking. She tends to stick close to make sure I know she wants to go. By the time we left the house at 9:20 AM the temperature was in the mid 30's and there were snow flurries in the air. We arrived at the parking area at about 9:35 AM and I parked on the side of the road as the perking lot is private property. We immediately started our hike down Russell Brook Road which was covered in ice. I actually considered putting on my spikes it was so slippery. In addition, the flurries were much heavier than at home. I managed to walk on the side of the road where there was some slow that allowed a little traction. When we reached the viewpoint over the upper falls, I had to stop to take a few shots despite the fact that I have many pictures from the same spot. There was a large volume of water going over the falls and the snow on the ground and in the air created an interesting effect. We walked down to the lower parking area which was empty but ice covered. From there we headed down to the bridge over Russell Brook. We crossed the bridge and I decided to leave the lower falls for later. At the split in the trail we headed right to do the loop in a counterclockwise direction as I had gone in the opposite direction last time. There was snow and ice on the trail in some places but other spots were soft and muddy. We set a fast pace up the trail toward Trout Pond and as we approached I was surprised to see that there was ice covering most of the pond. The only open area I could see was near the spillway and the near shore. Sheila immediately ran out onto the ice and broke through in one spot! I didn't have to yell at her as even she must have realized the water was cold! I took some pictures of the scenery with the ice on the pond but the sky was totally overcast which was not ideal. We headed back to the main trail and walked up to the inlet end of the pond. The trail had some very wet spots along the way. We walked to the upper end of the pond and found no one at the lean-tos. I decided that it was not worth taking pictures and continued over the bridge and up the trail toward Cherry Ridge. As we began to ascend, the trail began to be covered in snow and ice with more in the surrounding woods. This area also had a more northerly and westerly exposure. The snow and ice continued to the top of the rise and then dissipated some on the other side. We continued to run into some areas with snow but also walked around some water and mud. Soon we were at the junction with the snowmobile trail that runs passed Mud Pond. We turned left and climbed a little before descending back to the register box. I decided to walk over to the falls and from there we walked down into the stream bed. The water was pretty high leaving a smaller area at the base of the falls. I took some pictures and played with my camera adjustments some. We walked back up the bank and out to the main trail From there we walked back out to the lower parking area and then up the road to the car. The walk up the icy road actually seemed easier than the walk down. There was a half inch or new snow fallen on the road. We were back at the car at 12:05 PM having covered 5.6 miles in 2.5 hours.

On Friday, November 29th I had thought about hiking to Big Indian and Eagle from the Segar trailhead. Brad and Krista were at the house for Thanksgiving and we didn't get out of the house until after 10:30 AM. I decided it was too late to mount an attack on two 35s and changed the plan. I headed for Bear Spring WMA with the thought of hiking the loop on the east ridge from Route 206. We drove through Roscoe and Downsville and then up Bear Spring Mountain to the parking area on Route 206 just before the top. I parked at about 11:20 AM with only one other car in the lot. Bear Spring is hunted heavily so I had made sure Sheila had on a blaze orange vest and her electronic collar. We headed out the wide woods road marked on the map as Wilson Hollow Road and immediately we were at the first clear-cut area. The sky was dark and overcast with a few flakes of snow in the air. The sun peeked out from behind the clouds at times. As we hiked along the road next to the clear-cut area, I stopped several times to take some pictures. At 1.3 miles we passed Trail 11 that goes down to Launt Pond. The hiking seemed to go quickly as Brad and I walked and talked and soon we passed the woods road down to the East Trout Brook Road parking. Just after that at 2.3 miles we arrived at the spot where the trail continues straight ahead or turns right. I decided we would turn right and walk the edge of the field and down the McCoy Hill cutoff trail. This walk was easy as it descends almost 500 feet in .8 miles to the lowest point on the hike.

On the way down the trail we stopped once to take some pictures of the valley below. The lighting was difficult and I was not sure the pictures would be much good. At the bottom of the descent we turned left to start to loop around and back up to the ridge. Of course, the payment for a descent is an ascent back to the ridge. In just about a mile we had to regain the elevation we had lost on the way down. We found some ATV tracks which followed the trail and then turned around and headed back. From the turn around point boot tracks continued on up the trail. We also passed a sign on a snowmobile trail to the right that said "Downsville". We continued to walk the woods road We had been walking east but at 4.2 miles the trail turned northwest to circle the summit of a hill on our left and head back toward the parking area. From the point of the turn back to the trail junction where we had turned right was about 1.15 miles. When we arrived back at the junction, we knew exactly how far we had to go to get back! The hike back along Wilson Hollow road was 2.2 miles but it seemed to pass quickly as most was downhill. We stopped again at the clear-cut area so that I could take a few shots. We were back at the car by 3:25 PM having covered 7.6 miles in under 2.5 hours with a little over 1000 feet of climb.

On Saturday, November 23rd I wanted to get out hiking somewhere! A series of commitments and a bad cold had kept me out of the woods for almost two weeks except for a short hike in Vermont! Cindy and I decided to head for Frick and Hodge Ponds as the area is close and lightly hunted. We also wanted to see if the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond had been finished. We didn't hurry to start early as we knew any hunters would be out of the woods by 10:00 AM or so. When we arrived at 10:00 AM at the parking area, I thought we might have misjudged as there was a pickup with a camper and two other trucks. One of the trucks seemed to have a cook stove on the tailgate with a backwoods chef creating a culinary treat. We parked and were hiking out the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond almost immediately. Sheila was so excited she could hardly contain herself. The previous hikes we had taken were on the Finger Lakes Trail and were mostly on roads. Sheila had been on her leash on these hikes and had not been able to run free for some time. I was surprised at how well behaved she was when I asked her to stay close and on the trail. The day was cool with the temperature in the low 20's. The forecast for Sundays was for even lower temperatures. As we hiked out toward the pond it was obvious there had been more rain than I had thought. The trails were pretty wet with some standing water and mud. When we got to the Frick Pond we found the new bridge completed and the old one gone. The new bridge is well-constructed with three steel I-beams as the base. We stopped to take some pictures. I took some shots of the new bridge and some of the pond. The lighting was interesting and I thought I took some nice pictures. We continued on around the pond and stayed on the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel Junction.

We arrived at the trail junction at about 10:35 AM and 1.5 miles into the hike. We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and headed toward Junkyard Junction and the Flynn Trail. I expected to see some hunters in this area but there were none visible. The trail was wet but we could walk around most spots. The sun kept coming out from behind the clouds only to disappear again. We walk and talked and watched the of enjoy herself. At 11:05 AM we had hiked 2.7 miles are made the right turn onto the Flynn Trail at Junkyard Junction. There was no snow along the trail but there were some wet spots. I was feeling good for not having hiked in so long and Cindy seemed to be having fun. I proposed we hike to the lookout over Hodge Pond but we agreed to defer the decision until we were at the turn. When we were near Hodge Pond, we turned left to take the jeep trail around the back of the pond. I walked down to the shore to take some shots. The sun was behind the clouds but provided a lot of light. I took pictures of the pod and some of the reflections which. I hoped the unusual lighting would make interesting pictures. We continued around the pond and reached the junction to the lookout. Cindy did not want to hike any more than we had in store to get back to the car and I assented. We hiked down to Hodge Pond where I took a few more pictures before getting back on the Flynn Trail. The hike up the Flynn Trail from Hodge Pond seemed easier and shorter than usual and we were soon on the level part that leads to the junction with the Big Rock trail. We came to the junction at 12:05 PM after hiking 5 miles. From the junction to the car was all downhill on the Flynn Trail. We arrived back he the car at 12:45 PM to find no other vehicles in the parking lot. We had covered 6.7 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes.

Beer Hunt Google Map On Wednesday, November 13th and Thursday, November 14th, my son Karl and I headed for Vermont. When he first proposed the trip, I was happy that Karl wanted to get away and do a few hikes in the Green Mountains. Karl explained to me that the trip wasn't so much about hiking but about searching for the elusive Heady Topper and other Vermont craft beers. We left Livingston Manor at around 4:30 PM on Wednesday to drive the 264 miles to Warren, VT so that we would be ready for beer hunting on Thursday. Our Route included Rt 209 to Kingston and then the Thruway and Northway to Rt 149 around Queensbury. From there is was Rt 4 northeast to Rutland and Rt 100 north to Warren. We made good time and arrived at about 9:45 PM. We were both tired and turned in early to get some sleep for the "Big Day". We awoke before 6:00 AM and decided to go to a lookout where Karl had been before. We drove north on Rt 100 and then west and up a mountain on Rt 17. As we climbed on the road we passed Mad River Ski Area. We began to notice that there was more and more snow at the higher elevations. The parking area at Appalachian Gap was covered in several inches of snow. The predicted temperature with the wind chill was about 10 degrees and although it was cold it did not seem to be that cold. We walked to where the trail met the road and immediately saw a problem. The trail was only moderately steep but was covered in snow and ice. I knew that I would forget something in the rush to leave on Wednesday and what I forgot were the hiking spikes. The plan had been to hike to the Molly Stark Balcony which was only 1.3 miles and offered a good view of Camel's Hump and other points of interest. We decided to try at least part of the hike even without the traction devices. The first part of the trail was a little discouraging but we worked through the worst areas and were soon at the viewpoint which was only about .15 miles from the road! The sun had just risen but was behind some clouds. The yellow and orange glow was beautiful and the view of the valleys and mountains was great. I took some pictures before we headed back to the main trail. The view had inspired us and we decided to go a little further before heading back to the room. We walked to near the summit of Baby Stark where the trail started to descend into a col. There were a few more icy spots and a lot more snow. We decided at this point to turn around. On the way back we stopped at the same lookout and got slightly different views. We worked our way back down to the road without too many problems. I took some shots from the parking area. As we were ready to leave another cat pulled up and we talked to the two young men. They were preparing to hike with skis and skins in the opposite direction on the Long Trail. Once they were at the top of the mountain they would ski down to another vehicle at the base of the mountain. We wished them well and parted.

When we were at the junction with Rt 100 we turned left to visit a couple of stores in Waitsfield. One store was out of Heady Topper and the other seemed to have some but was closed until later in the day. We went back to the room to shower and have breakfast and then headed to East Warren. We headed to the East Warren Community Market where we scored a 4 pack of Heady Topper. From there we went into Warren to stop at The Warren Store for the delivery of Lawson's Finest Liquids. Here we each got two bottles of Imperial Maple Stout and Hopzilla Double IPA. Karl also picked up several other bottles. We met one couple from Allentown, PA who had driven all night to get to Warren. It made me feel a little better. Outside there was a small creek that ran beside the store. I took some pictures and then we were ready to continue the journey at about 10:30 AM. Our next destination was Hill Farmstead Brewery near Greensboro, VT.

We drove northeast on Rt 100 and Rt 100B and then east on Rt 2 to Montpelier. We spent a few minutes in the state capitol so that I could photograph the capitol building. We also stopped at another store to investigate the beer offerings. Karl bought something and then we headed toward Rt 14 northeast to Greensboro Bend. We found the dirt road to the brewery without too much trouble and the 65 miles from Warren seemed to go pretty quickly. This brewery sells almost all of their beers in 750 ml or 2L growlers which means the beer has a more limited lifetime. While we waited on line, we tasted 4 different 2 oz. samplers. The beer is very popular and soon the Allentown couple showed up. The decor in the room was non-existent but the brewery is expanding its facility. We both purchased a 2L growler of Everett, a robust porter, a 2L growler of Abler, a double IPA, and a 75ml growler of Double Citra bought bottles of Arthur, a saison. Karl also purchased several other bottles. It was 1:20 PM when we left Hill Farmstead to head to Brimfield, MA and the Treehouse Brewery which was about 235 miles away.

We headed out the back roads to I91 south. Along the way, in some small town, we were surprised to see a cow walk to the middle of the road and stop. After a few minutes, she wandered on. We stopped at a Thai food restaurant in St. Johnsbury and had an excellent meal that revived us some he the push on to Treehouse. The sunset was absolutely spectacular so I pulled over to take a few pictures. We soon hit I90 and I drove east toward our destination and away from home. Again, we had little trouble finding the brewery with the help of the GPS. It must have been around 6:00 PM when we turned in our order. I got a 750 ml growler of That's What She Said, a milk stout, and a 750ml growler of SAP, an IPA. As we left we decided two things. First, we would take I84 back to Middletown and then the Quickway home. Second, we would get some miles of the 210 mile trip under our belt before eating. We stopped at a mall somewhere between Hartford and Danbury and ate at a Chipotle Grill. I really liked their Burritos. Karl spied a Trader Joe's so we stopped to...check out the beer offerings. After getting back on I84 we drove and did not stop until I dropped Karl off at his house and then drove the rest of the way home. It was over 700 miles of driving in two days but I had a much better time than I thought I would. Unfortunately, I may now be hooked. Sometimes the taste of the beer, which is very good, is almost secondary to the quest!

On Tuesday, November 11th, I decided I wanted to hike the last section of the Finger Lakes Trail from map 20. This part of the Finger Lakes Trail starts on Carson Road northwest of Marathon and passes through Blodgett Mills and then Hoxie Gorge as it heads east. There is a lot of road walking and some of the private land is closed in the fall for hunting which adds to the road walks. The final section I had to do was from Baker Schoolhouse Road to Telephone Road and, of course, back. I calculated the total distance to be about 13 miles with a downhill at the beginning and an uphill near the end. The hike along Telephone Road was also an uphill followed by a downhill on the return. The rest of the route appeared to be almost flat. I decided that I would hike back using a slightly different route just for some variety. When I woke up in the morning the temperature was in the high 20's although it was forecast to rise into the low to mid 40's. There was supposed to be a 15 mph wind so I decided to dress warmly wearing my Mammut Hoody and Mountain Hardwear Winter Wander pants for the first time. I also put on an Icebreaker 200 top. I had been having some problem with my feet walking in hiking boots on the road so I thought perhaps wearing my Salomon trail runners would help. I left Livingston Manor at about 7:40 AM and drove north and west on Route 17 to Binghamton and then north on I81 to Whitney Point. From there I took Routes 26 and 41 to Baker Schoolhouse Rd. I parked where the trail enters the forest at 9:45 AM and got started right away. The trail through the forest is closed after one mile so we headed east on Baker Schoolhouse Road toward Route 41. The road is a back road but there was quite a bit of traffic. The first .8 miles was slightly uphill while the final 1.5 miles was downhill. We turned left on Route 41 and headed north on the wide shoulders. The next 3 miles were almost flat and the road was very straight. I found looking ahead to be discouraging since all I could see was road! The skies were completely overcast and from the beginning of the hike it looked as if it was going to rain or that it was near sundown or both. By 11:15 AM we had walked 5.2 miles to the junction of Route 41 and Telephone Road near Solon. Five plus miles in 1.5 hours seemed pretty fast to me!

When we turned right onto Telephone Road we walked uphill for about .7 miles where the road leveled and then started to go downhill a little for the next .8 miles to the point where the trail entered the woods. We walked into the woods a little to ensure that we had covered the entire route and then turned around to start back. Along the way I noticed an annoying sting on one of the toes on my right foot. I chose a spot to stop and removed my shoe to find one toe had been attacked by the nail on another. A piece of tape solved the problem and we moved on. At the intersection we continued straight ahead through Solon on Route 41 to start a loop rather than a simple out and back. In Solon we passed by the Hathaway House which was built in 1844 by Major-General Samuel Gilbert Hathaway, the manor house was the hub of his eight thousand acre estate as well as his political career. The mansion looks as it did for more than 150 years. The General built well with walls of stone 2 feet thick. Today it is a catering house. From the intersection it was another 1.8 miles along straight and flat Route 41 to Stillwell Road. We made the left and immediately started another climb which lasted for about .6 miles until the road leveled and then started to descend to the intersection with the McGraw Marathon Road. We made a left and hiked only about a quarter mile before turning left again on Baker Schoolhouse Road. This was familiar territory and we quickly hiked a little more than a mile uphill back to the car. We were back at 1:45 PM having hiked 12.8 miles in just under 4 hours with 13 minutes of stopped time. I was surprised to find that the overall elevation gain was 1250 feet.

On Saturday, November 9th, I decided I wanted to hike one of the final two sections of the Finger Lakes Trail from map 20. This part of the Finger Lakes Trail starts on Carson Road northwest of Marathon and passes through Blodgett Mills and then Hoxie Gorge as it heads east. There is a lot of road walking and some of the private land is closed in the fall for hunting which adds to the road walks. I decided to hike from West River Road to Hoxie Gorge Road to fill in that missing piece. The temperature when we left Livingston Manor at around 7:30 AM was only in the low 30's but was predicted to rise to almost 50 degrees. The skies were overcast and I only saw the sun once or twice on the drive. We stopped once on the way as I drove north and west on Route 17 and then north on I81 to Marathon. In Marathon I took Route 11 north and then Route 392 west. After a very short distance on 392 I turned north on West River Road. The road was dirt and gravel with some large potholes. I drove slowly along the river and the railroad tracks until I arrived at the place we had left off on a previous hike. I parked the car on the side of the road and we were out and hiking at 9:30 AM. The first part of the hike up to Stafford Road was uphill but not very steep and short. A few hundred feet later I looked to my right and saw the Hoxie Gorge Bridge on I81. It was so close it looked like I could touch it since it was only about .3 miles away. The problem was that the terrain between us and the bridge was private land and would require crossing a railroad track and a very wide, deep and fast flowing river! We continued to hike north along West River Road toward Blodgett Mills. Starting at about one mile into the hike the next 1.6 miles were all downhill to the right turn in Blodgett Mills. The road was a back road with very little traffic. It was lined with a combination of nice, comfortable homes that alternated with trailers and shanties. One thing everyone seemed to have in common was that they owned one or more dogs. I was surprised to find that all of the dogs were tied up or inside! In Blodgett Mills we turned right and walked down the street and across the railroad tracks to the bridge over the Tioughnioga River. I thought about taking pictures but decided to wait until the return trip.

We turned right and walked south on Route 11 which luckily had a wide shoulder. It was a little over 2 miles to Hoxie Gorge Road and we made it by 11:10 AM. We turned left and walked as far as the bridge supports before turning around to start the trip back. This was strictly an out and back walk which meant I knew exactly what we were in for. We walked the 2 miles back to the river bridge where we stopped so that I could take some pictures. There was just a hint of sun breaking through the clouds as I took some shots of the rain swollen river. We continued up the street, crossing the tracks and making the left onto West River Road. After a short walk along the road, I heard a sound which could only be a train. I could barely she the tracks but the engine and the first few cars were bright yellow. We continued to walk and the train continued to pass by for what seemed a long time. After the train passed, the walk continued without much happening until we were near Stafford Road. I stopped to take some pictures of the Hoxie Gorge Bridge which wasn't easy as the landowner had an assortment of junk strewn across his land. After taking some shots, we continued down the road and back to the car. We were back at the car by 12:50 PM having covered 10 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes. The overall elevation gain was only 780 feet!

On Tuesday, November 5th, I decided I wanted to hike a section of the Finger Lakes Trail from map 20. This part of the Finger Lakes Trail starts on Carson Road northwest of Marathon and passes through Blodgett Mills and then Hoxie Gorge as it heads east. There is a lot of road walking and some of the private land is closed in the fall for hunting which adds to the road walks. I wanted to get in some trail hiking along with the almost mandatory road walking. I decided to head for Hoxie Gorge and park at the intersection of Route 11. We could then hike through Hoxie Gorge State Forest on the trails before taking to the roads to hike to Baker Schoolhouse State Forest on the roads. We left Livingston Manor just after 7:30 AM under overcast skies. The temperature was warmer than the day before hovering in the high 30's. After one stop in Marathon, we arrived at the intersection of Route 11 and Hoxie Gorge Road at 9:30 AM. A possible parking area was marked as a turnaround with no parking so I parked on the side of Hoxie Gorge Road almost directly under the I-81 Hoxie Gorge Bridge. The bridge is high and quite impressive. The skies were beginning to clear, the sun was peeking out and there were some puffy clouds in the sky as we started our hike at 9:35 AM. After a short walk, the road split and we stayed to the left on Hoxie Gorge Road which is a dead end. A little farther along the road entered part of the gorge as the walls of the gorge rise on either side of the road. The road had been repaved recently but it was obvious that this small stream must swell when it rains as there was considerable damage to the road. We stopped so that I could take some pictures before continuing on the hike. The road began to gain some elevation but at various places the stream was visible and there were several indications of its power when filled. At about .9 miles the Finger Lakes Trail left the road to the right and began to parallel the stream. SUNY Cortland has a "campus" on this road where they do environmental studies and their trail are marked with yellow markers. They also have number on the markers which must correspond to the types of trees and bushes. The Finger Lakes Trail continued to follow the stream as we hiked. It would drop down to the stream and then veer away from it. Several times I stopped to take pictures of the stream and surrounding gorge. The trail met the Cortland trail in several places.

At around 1.4 miles the trail came to a spot where a bridge crossed one stream and water poured out of a culvert beneath it in a sort of waterfall. I stopped to take some pictures as the gorge in this area was pretty. From this point on the trail followed the Cortland trail for a while and crossed several small tributaries. There was a good amount of walking up and down especially when crossing these small streams. The forest began to transition from evergreens to hardwoods as the trail headed generally east and northeast. I knew that the trail was closed at a certain spot for hunting and hoped there would be a sign marking that point. At 2.6 miles we were walking through some brush and weeds on the edge of a field. When we came out on a woods road, I had the feeling that the closed part of the trail would be near. We walked north a little then northeast and then turned almost due east when we came to the edge of a corn field. The corn was still standing and covered many acres. As we walked along the south edge of the field we came to a spot where the trail made a 90 degree turn to the left at about 3.3 miles. A sign explained that the trail was closed at this point for hunting and that we should take the roads to bypass this section. I stopped for a minute to get a drink and a snack and to put my poles in my pack. Walking the roads with Sheila on a leash means that keeping the poles in my pack is easier than trying to carry them. As we walked toward the road we came across a nice viewpoint over the corn fields and surrounding countryside. The sky was now blue with some interesting clouds scattered across it. I took several shots before walking down to Stone Road and turning left. We headed northeast on Stone Road for about .4 miles where the name changed to Atkins Road and Underwood Hill Road went off to the left. We continued to walk another .75 miles mostly downhill to the McGraw Marathon Road. We turned left to head north passing several small farms on the way. One farm had a pair of beautiful Palomino horses in the field. It was .5 miles to our right turn onto Baker Schoolhouse Road.

Once on this road I wasn't sure how far we had to go or what would mark the end of our hike. We were at the six mile mark and there were no roads to use as shortcut on the way back. After .9 miles, the Finger Lakes Trail cut off the road to the left which was a surprise to me. The newest map I had indicated the trail no longer went this way but continued on the roads. I decided to turn around at this point as there was a spot to park along the side of the road where I could start the next section of the Finger Lakes Trail and I felt a round trip of 12.5 was enough. As we turned around I noticed that the bottom of my right foot was beginning to hurt but we continued on. The road walk seemed to go quickly and we were soon ready to turn up into the fields. The wind had started to blow and the skies were now becoming overcast. It was dark enough that I checked the time only to find out it was about 1:00 PM. We walked up into the fields and back along the edge into the woods. I found a log and stopped to examine my right foot. I found a rather larger blister in the same area as a previous hike and taped it. Surprisingly the tape brought relief and we continued on our way. The return hike was uneventful and I did not stop to take any pictures. When we got to the yellow marked Cortland trails, I decided to simply follow them out to the road. This was a nice alternative and the trails were a little better maintained than the Finger Lakes Trail. We broke out onto Hoxie Gorge Road just above where we had entered the woods. It was 2:15 PM and we were 11.2 miles into our hike. We walked downhill and through the gorge on the road. When we got back to the car, I took a picture of the bridge before starting the drive back home. We were back at the car at 2:35 PM having hiked 12.2 miles in 5 hours with an 1830 foot elevation gain.

On Monday, November 4th I decided I wanted to hike somewhere in Orange County or to the south since Cindy and I had noticed some color could still be found in that direction. We talked about hiking around the Basha Kill but decided that Schunemunk Mountain near Washington might be a better choice. I thought it might be nice to hike from the HilMar Lodge area as we had never come in from that trailhead. I knew that the Long Path had been rerouted in 2012 but that the trail had been reblazed as the Western Ridge Trail. Cindy needed to prepare breakfast for our son Karl and she didn't want to get started too early hoping to avoid the coldest part of the day. The temperature at 6:00 AM was 17 degrees at our house! We arrived in the area at about 11:20 AM and pulled into the HilMar Lodge so that I could reads the map and find the trailhead. As I was looking at the map a woman came out to the car. She explained that the trailhead used to be on their property but that some hikers shied away from hiking passed a private residence. She pointed to a small parking area a few hundred feet down the road. I thank her and drove over and parked in the small lot with a sign "Hiker Parking". From the car I could see the three blazes that indicated the beginning of the trail and we were out and hiking by 11:30 AM. The temperature had come up some but it was still a bit chilly as we started out with a covering of frost still on the grass. The first part of the trail started out with a very gentle slope and meandered through the hardwood forest at the base of the ridge. It started heading southeast and then turned to the east. The trail became steeper as we climbed to the ridge but several switchbacks helped. At about a mile the trail turned almost due south and ascended to the ridge where the Barton Swamp Trail ascends from the area between the two ridges. By 12:10 PM we had walked 1.25 miles are were on the northern end of the western ridge. The total ascent to this point was 970 feet.

The walk along the western ridge is about 1.3 miles. Much of the time we hiked on slabs of conglomerate smoothed by glacial action. In other places the trail had us balancing on a ridge of the same rock. The trees are mostly dwarf pines shaped by their exposure to the winds on the ridge. Most of the time it was clear that we were on a ridge since we could see both sides of it. To the east we could see the eastern ridge and to the west we could see the flatlands of orange county. At 1.6 miles into the hike there was a viewpoint that gave a spectacular view to the west. The near view was of the flat land of Orange County which was once farms but is slowly changing to housing. In the distance to the west and north were the peaks of the Catskills. At the base of the ridge on the west is a large sand and gravel pit. We stopped to take some pictures and were happy to see some color still left on the trees. We continued to walk along the ridge to another viewpoint at 2.2 miles. I took some more pictures from this lookout but the view was much the same as from the other. We began to encounter familiar terrain in the form of a large enhance of open rock with only a few trees. The trail seemed to descend along this rock face and soon I saw the blue blazes of the trail I knew would take us down to the area between the ridges and then up to the eastern ridge. The descent was short but tricky and soon we were on the red Barton Swamp Trail that runs the length of the area between the two ridges. We turned right and walked a short distance until the two trails split and followed the blue trail up to the eastern ridge. This ascent was considerably longer than the descent since the eastern ridge is higher. There were many places where we had to scramble up the rocks and some where we even had to throw our poles up ahead of us. In .3 miles we gained 275 feet to where the trail moderated some on the ridge.

At the top of the ridge we met the Jessup Trail which was marked with its own yellow blazes. It also had the aqua blazes of the Long Path and signs designating it as part of the Highlands Trail. We turned left and within a few hundred feet we were standing on the highest point on either ridge at 1664 feet. This is also the highest point in Orange County. We continued on the main trail for about 500 feet more and came across the spur trail to the left that leads to the Megaliths. These are huge masses of rock that have split from the main rock of the ridge. The walk out to the megaliths was short. I took some pictures of the various rocks themselves while Cindy rested and Sheila bounded from one to the other. I climbed onto the highest rock and took some more pictures of the landscape. It was now 2:00 PM and we knew we had to keep moving. We walked back up to the main trail to head north on the eastern ridge. The rest of the hike would be downhill except for the climb from the area between the ridges back up to the western ridge. At 3.8 miles we passed the junction with the Dark Hollow Trail and at 4.6 miles we were at the junction with the Sweet Clover Trail. We stayed on the Jessup Trail as it worked its way north and started to descend the north end of the ridge. From several viewpoints we could see the Hudson River and the Newburgh Beacon Bridge. At 5.3 miles we had descended to the area between the ridges where the Jessup Trail continued off to the right. We followed the red Barton Swamp Trail as it climbed 200 feet in .25 miles to the eastern ridge. Within a few hundred feet we were back at the junction with the Western Ridge Trail that would take us back to the car. The descent back to the car was slower than we would have liked as a thick carpet of fallen leaves over loose rocks made a quick descent too dangerous. We were back at the car at 4:05 PM having covered 6.8 miles in 4 hours and 40 minutes with a total elevation gain of 1853 feet. I was surprised at how the walk along the smooth rock had tired me out. We decided to stop at El Bandido in Middletown on the way home as neither of us felt like cooking.

On Wednesday, October 30th, I decided I wanted to take advantage of the last nice day of the week and hike somewhere I had not been before. As the number of trails I have not hiked in the Catskills decreases, I have the urge to make sure that I have hiked every mile of every trail! I decided I had enough time to drive to Pine Hill and hike the Cathedral Glen Trail to Belleayre and then return by the Pine Hill West Branch Trail. I left Livingston Manor before 8:30 AM with a light rain falling. I followed the route Google Maps had suggested by taking the Beaverkill and Barkaboom Roads to Route 30 around the Pepacton Reservoir. Route 30 took me to Route 28 where I turned east and head toward Pine Hill. Either the rain had abated or I had driven out of it. I turned off Route 28 onto Elm St and then made a right on Main St. The next street was Bonnie View Avenue where I turned left, passed Mill Street and made a left on Station Road. At the top of the hill was the area suggested on the NYNJTC map for parking. There was a small pulloff on the north side of the street so I turned around and parked there. This was the area of the old railroad station and the tracks still crossed a small bridge to the east. We arrived at 9:30 AM under slightly overcast skies but at least it wasn't raining. It seemed warmer than in Livingston Manor but I decided to keep my bottom baselayer and softshell jacket on. We walked west on Station Road and headed left into some weeds where the road went down the hill to the right. After a few feet, we were on the railroad tracks which was quite interesting. The tracks were complete with ties underneath and stretch for some distance ahead. The rails were bolted together by three massive bolts and nuts and nailed to the tracks with large spikes. I stopped to take pictures of the tracks in the distance and up close. As we continued to walk along the tracks, the sun broke out and seemed like it would stick around. Walking along the tracks wasn't easy as the exposed ties were slippery and made the walk "uneven". I wasn't quite sure where to turn but the map description said about half a mile. After half a mile the blue markers along the tracks stopped and a sign clearly showed that the trail turned sharply into the woods on the left. We followed the blue markers into the woods.

For the next 1.1 miles the trail climbed 770 feet heading mostly NNE and up toward the ridge. Most of the trail in this area was marked and was obvious. The first part of the trail passed through large evergreen trees and paralleled Cathedral Brook. The sun seemed to have slipped behind some clouds but the walk was still nice. If I had had more time, I would have walked down the bank to the brook to explore. At one point Sheila loosed a round stone that began to roll down the banks toward the brook below. When she noticed the movement, she chased after the stone as if it were alive! The stone eventually came to rest and, after a few sniffs, Sheila returned to the trail. At around 1.7 miles the trail met the Cathedral Brook ski trail from Belleayre. We walked across a flat clearing and then started up the ski slope. The brush and weeds on the slope had been cut and I could make out the faint hiking trail that meandered up the slope. There were some blazes on the trees on the left side of the slope but I wasn't sure when they would head off the slope. The climb was very steep in places and just steep in others. At about 2.1 miles the trail cut to the left into the woods and the turn was well marked. I had wondered why the trail simply didn't follow the ski slope to the top but one look ahead as I made the turn answered that question! The ski slope from the turn to the top of the ridge was even steeper and looked almost like a vertical wall. The trail to the ridge was only about a quarter mile but was not a pleasant experience. This trail section was poorly marked and appeared little used. The trail had many rolling rocks that threatened to cause havoc at any moment. Several obvious old blowdowns had not been cleared and hikers had simply rerouted the trail around them. At 10:50 AM we reached the Belleayre Ridge Trail after hiking about 2.4 miles. It was obvious that the sun would not be revisiting any time soon and that a heavy mist, fog or haze had settled on the mountain and the surrounding valleys. Despite this I decided to walk the .75 miles out to the Sunset Lodge.

We turned right on the ridge trail and hiked out toward the lodge and the first chair lift. On the way we passed one of the two lean-tos on the ridge. In the area of the first chair lift, I took a few pictures to the north but the overcast and fog made getting any good shots impossible. I photographed the lift, the first aid hut and the lodge before walking over to the lodge. There was no one around anywhere on the ridge. I took a few shots from the porch to the south and west. It was dark and the wind was starting to blow and I realized that I did not want to get caught in a cold rain. We walked back to the ridge trail and started back toward the trail junction. At the junction with the Cathedral Glen Trail we continued on the Ridge Trail until it met the blue Pine Hill West Branch Trail on the eastern summit of Belleayre which is marked with a USGS marker. We continued our hike by heading west on the Pine Hill West Branch Trail and dropping over 500 feet in the next .65 miles. The trail was well-maintained and about halfway down we passed the other lean-to. At about 4.65 miles we were at the junction with the Lost Clove Trail where we stayed to the left on the Pine Hill West Branch Trail. This part of the trail was new to me and I immediately ran into another trail junction that was not on the map. A trail to the right had a sign that said Belleayre Beach and seemed more used than the trail straight ahead. I could see no blue markers but guessed I should continue straight ahead. I picked up blue markers in a short distance and began to descend the trail. As we descended the trail hung onto the side of the mountain rather than heading straight down. The sun began to come out which annoyed me a little until I remembered that the alternative was a drenching rain! The trail began to get wider and soon looked a lot like a road passable by a four wheel drive vehicle which made me wonder about the origin of the road.

At 5.6 miles into the hike the trail ended at Woodchuck Hollow Road. A sign clearly showed a turn to the left to descend the road but to our right was a gate to a private residence. The road continued our descent and at one point made a hairpin turn before coming to another gate. The land to the left of the road had many stonewalls and a stream paralleling the road. A stonewall that seemed to be a retaining wall ran along the stream. We came to an old wrought iron gate on the right side of the road with a driveway that headed up the hill. All of this added to my curiosity about the history of the area. The road eventually ended at Station Road where I could see our car. I took a few minutes to check out the trestle and train tracks and to take some pictures. We walked back to the car and I checked that map. I was surprised to see that the Pine Hill West Branch Trail actually started at Route 28. I decided I wanted to be able to say I had done the whole trail! I kept Sheila on her leash and we headed back out to route 28 using the streets we had driven to get to the beginning of the hike. The distance out to Route 28 was only about .7 miles but I was anxious to complete it since I felt time was growing short. We turned around at Route 28 and headed back to Station Road. Along the way I noticed an interesting stone building on Elm Street. I stopped to take some pictures and found out that it was the library and was on the National Historic Registry. The ends of the rectangular building were round the and the stone work was beautiful. We headed back up to Station Road arriving at 1:00 PM. We had covered 8 miles in 3.5 hours with a vertical gain of 2110 feet.

On Tuesday, October 29th I agree to hike somewhere local with Lisa. She suggested Mary Smith Hill from Berry Brook Road. I wouldn't normally hike this short of a hike but I had been out the previous couple of days so I agreed. I was also happy to have the company as Sheila is so often roaming off the trail following game trails. I picked Lisa up at her house on the Beaverkill Road and drove to the Covered Bridge Road. We crossed the Beaverkill Covered Bridge and then made a right on Berry Brook Road. About 3.7 miles after the turn I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road. It was 9:15 AM and we got right on the trail. I had worn a baselayer under my pants and a light softshell jacket. The temperature was probably already too warm for this setup but I decided to leave them on. The first .6 miles of the trail are pretty steep gaining a little over 500 feet. The surface has some loose rock and on this day that was covered by a layer of slippery leaves. As we climbed we could look back over our shoulders for a nice view which was available since there were almost no leaves on the trees. After climbing to the top of the first, unnamed hill we descended a little before starting up Mary Smith Hill. At .9 miles the trail makes a sharp right turn swinging from ENE to SE and then ascending Mary Smith Hill. Along the way Lisa noticed some interesting rock formations. We also walked through several areas where we had to pass between or climb over large rocks. Just before the top of Mary Smith Hill we stopped at a lookout which has a limited view to the south. I took pictures although there was a bit of haze.

Lisa wanted to continue a little farther along the trail to the top of the next unnamed hill. Neither of us was enthusiastic about dropping to Mary Smith Hill Road and then turning round to immediately reclimb it. We dropped from the top of Mary Smith hill into a small col and then began to climb some. The trail wandered up and down over the next 1.4 miles and gained about 340 feet to the top of a hill that is over 100 feet taller than Mary Smith Hill. We decided to go a little farther looking for another lookout. As we started to descend off the hill we decided to turn around. The trip back seemed to go quickly although we stopped several times to take pictures of interesting rocks and trees. We were back at the parking area by 12:20 PM having hiked 4.6 miles in 3 hours with a 1256 foot vertical gain.

On Monday, October 28th I wanted to hike another Catskill 3500 foot peak after hiking Windham on Saturday. That hike reminded me of the challenge and satisfaction of hiking these peaks! When I woke up in the morning, I decided to go to Balsam Lake Mt as it is close. I thought about hiking to Graham but it was a little early to call the caretaker and I don't ever hike without permission. I decided that after hiking the mountain I might head out to Vly Pond and Tunis Pond on the Hardenburgh-Neversink Trail. When I checked the temperature in Livingston Manor it was just about feeling so I decided to wear a baselayer under my pants since I assumed it would be cooler at the trailhead and on the mountain. The drive to Little Pond on the Beaverkill Road seemed short but the drive on up to the trailhead seemed to take longer than ever. We arrived at 9:30 AM and got right on the trail. I though there might be some snow in the parking area or on the trail but none was to be found. As we started the hike I decided to let my body dictate the pace rather than my mind. My body was definitely calling for a slightly slower pace! By 9:50 AM we had hiked the .85 miles to the first trail junction and turned left to go up the mountain. Although I knew that we were climbing, the walk up the steep side of the mountain didn't seem too hard are to take very long. I looked back over my shoulder several times and there was an interesting view since the leaves were almost completely gone. The trail flattened a little and we passed the spur trail to the lean-to. After this we started the final climb to the summit plateau. I noticed at this point that there were few if any leaves on the trail. I had no explanation but it was nice not to have to deal with a slippery layer of leaves under foot. We passed the spring and hiked the last steep section. As we began to walk through the "balsam tunnel" on the way to the tower I noticed a dusting of snow on the ground in the shade. I took a few pictures at several spots before continuing to the tower clearing.

At the clearing I dropped my pack at the edge to take some pictures of the tower against the blue sky. I also took a shot of the s the on the old foundation to the right of the trail. We walked over to the picnic table and I dropped my pack so that I could climb the tower. The wind was noticeable and I knew it would be blowing harder once I cleared the treeline. As I started up the tower steps, Sheila was right behind me. Sheila is much more willing to climb the steps than Sheba ever was. I told here to stay and continued up the steps. Soon I was on the landing just below he cab and was surprised the wind didn't seem too bad. I took quite a few pictures even though there was a haze and the lighting was not very good. I climbed down the tower, grabbed my pack and we started down the Millbrook side of the mountain. On the way down the trail there was even more snow than on the other side. I took a few pictures and continued on down. At one point I thought about the woman with a broken ankle I had found on the trail several years ago and I promptly...fell! I landed on my back with my pack as a cushion and only stretched a few muscle. I did non-lethal my right pole had a bend in the bottom section. I tried straightening it and did a pretty good job as most of the bend disappeared and I could easily collapse the pole. At the trail junction we turned right to head back to the parking area and I winced a little to have to skip Graham. The trip back went quickly and we were back at the car by 11:40 AM having covered 4.3 miles. I still had some time so Sheila and I headed out the trail to Vly Pond.

As soon as we were on the trail, I stopped in the field to take some pictures of Balsam Lake Mountain. The light was nice and there was at times some color on the mountain. After taking a few shots I noticed that the camera was set for "fisheye" and it took me a few moments to discover that I had simply turned the selector dial one setting too far! We continued on the trail as it descended to a bridge across Black Brook at 4.75 miles. The trail was in poor shape with a lot of blowdown. In places there were only a few markers and the two combined made finding the trail tricky although I had hiked it many times. We ascended from Black Brook and climbed a little hill before crossing a road and descending to the bridge across Gulf of Mexico Brook at 5.6 miles. A little climb and .2 miles brought us to the outlet brook from Vly Pond and we turned upstream to the left and hiked along the stream to the pond. The water was low and there was a lot of black pond so I "cautioned" Sheila to sit by my pack. I took pictures of the pond with Graham and Doubletop in the background. The pond had some interesting colors and the sun was behind me. After several sots, I packed up the camera and we headed back on the same trail to the car. Up until this return trip I had been taking it easy but I now wanted to get back. We were back at the car by 1:10 PM having covered 7.5 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes with a vertical gain of 1820 feet.

On Saturday, October 26th I had planned to go to Marathon to hike the Finger Lakes Trail from Hoxie Gorge State Forest east for an 11 mile round trip. I checked the weather report which called for rain by 3:00 PM. I looked at the radar which seemed to indicate a much earlier band of showers. Even if the showers held off the day was supposed to be cloudy. I decided I was not willing to again hike along roads in the rain just to complete a section of the Finger Lakes Trail. I remembered that I had wanted to hike to Windham High Peak from Route 23 using the Elm Ridge Trail for some time. This was the only approach to Windham I had not tried. It was the only bit of the Escarpment Trail that I had hot hike and one of the few section of the trails in the Catskills that I had not visited. When I checked the weather there was a suggestion of sun in the morning with showers arriving much later. The radar seemed to confirm this which cemented my decision. I was awake early since I had anticipated an early start for the long hike near Marathon. I so no reason to deal so I was out of the house before 7:30 AM. The temperature was below freezing so I had donned a baselayer of Icebreaker 200 under my pants. I also decided to wear a heavier shirt and put on a light softshell jacket. I drove out the DeBruce Road to the Frost Valley Road. I turned left on the Frost Valley Road and drove passed the YMCA camp and the parking for Big Indian, Slide Mountain and Giant Ledge. Each parking area had a few cars and hikers preparing to get on their way. I stopped in Big Indian at the convenience store and had one of the best egg sandwiches I have ever had. From there it was Route 28 to Route 42 north to Lexington. I took Route 23A east toward Hunter and turned north on Route 296 and followed it all the way north to Route 23 in Windham. I turned east on Route 23 and started to look for the trailhead parking. Since I had not been on this part of the trail before, I was unsure where the parking area was located. I pulled into one trailhead to find it was a set of trails created by the village of Windham and was relatively short. I got back on Route 23 and eventually found the trailhead parking on the north side of the road near Cross Road. The distance from the Route 296 junction was about 2.5 miles. It was 9:00 AM and a few cars were already parked in the lot. The temperature was below freezing and a breeze was blowing but the sun was out. We walked across the road and got on the trail to begin the hike.

The first part of the trail to the trail junction was interesting as it first passed through a low area with several bridges and walkways. Near the trail register was a DEC signboard. Just passed this the trail split with the blue Escarpment Trail continuing straight ahead. To the left were some red trails which are part of the Elm Ridge Multiuse Area. These trails are used by hikers who do not want to climb the mountain but are also used extensively by mountain bikers. The walk started to gain some elevation and went through a series of switchbacks starting at .85 miles as it climbed the shoulder of Elm Ridge. At around 1.4 miles we were at the trail junction with the trail from Peck Road. From this point e the trail was familiar but pleasant as I had not been on it in some time. The hardwoods gave way to evergreens and we walked over the exposed roots of the trees before passing through some more hard woods. The next section of evergreens had more exposed roots to negotiate and a series of half logs that formed a bridge over areas that can be wet. The trail was very dry and the half logs are old and tip easily. It seems that most hikers avoid the logs as a path was prominent to the side. After climbing for a while the trail heads south a little at 2.5 miles and then turns east and eventually northeast for the final ascent to the top of Windham. There are some steep areas along the way but they are short. At 10:35 AM we had hiked 3.3 miles and were on the relatively flat spine that passes over Windham High Point.

We stopped at the first lookout that faces south toward the Blackhead Range. The sun hung over the mountains and they were shrouded in a haze. I took some pictures of this iconic view and thought I should remember to do the hike later in the day when the sun would be at a different angle and the haze might be gone. I passed by the next lookout to the north knowing that the final viewpoint had the best views in that direction. As we approached the high point, we heard voices and I put Sheila on her leash. We met two women who had hiked up from Route 23. They were members of the Adirondack Mountain Club from near Albany and had hiked in from Burnt Knob with their club on another occasion. They were taking a rest and Sheila was interested in their food so we passed by to the viewpoint. There was a haze hanging over the valley and I could not see Albany this time. The view from this lookout is extensive and seems to reach on forever. I took some pictures despite the haze since the sun at least was not a factor in this direction. Soon it was time to head back down. We passed the two women again and I decided to stop at the other north-facing lookout. I took a picture of the heavy layer of frost still on the ground and a few more pictures of the countryside before heading back down the main trail. Since there aren't too many steep areas the descent went quickly. We met one couple hiking up from Route 23 on the descent before the trail junction. We met another couple after we turned at the trail junction. They had also come in from Route 23 which seems to be a popular way to hike the mountain. As we approached the multiuse trails we met more and more people beginning to hike. We crossed Route 23 and were back at the car at 12:30 PM having covered 7.3 miles in under 3.5 hours with a total ascent of 1860 feet.

On Thursday, October 24th I wanted to get in a local hike and decided to return to Frick Pond to see what progress had been made on the bridge by the DEC crew. The overnight temperatures had dipped into the high 20's and I considered wearing a baselayer under my pants. In the end I knew I would warm up quickly as I hiked and did not wear a baselayer. I did wear a light softshell jacket for the first time since the spring! I got my equipment and put an eager Sheila in the car to drive to Frock Pond. We arrived at 10:50 AM and were out on the trail immediately. The DEC pickup and trailer were in the lot so I knew work would be going on at the bridge. I had been going over various routes in my head but decided to wait until we got to the bridge to decide. The temperature was just at freezing as we left the parking area but a vigorous pace helped warm me up right away. I put Sheila on her leash as we approached the bridge and began to hear voices. I was not surprised that it was the same two workers but I was surprised that more work had not been done. The long stringers had been place on top of the steel I-beams but in a week only a few boards had been placed across them. The workers must have read my mind because they informed me that one of them had been in Florida for several days and that the other had been called away to work on another project. I stopped and talked to them for a few minutes, took some pictures and continued the hike. At the next trail junction I decided on the simplest course which was to continue on around on the Quick Lake Trail with a return down the Flynn Trail. I thought about visiting the Hodge Pond lookout but decided to wait until I got there to decide. The skies were overcast and very dark in some places but blue in others. This kept changing as we hiked. I have done this hike several times lately and this time it seemed to go quickly. We reached Ironwheel Junction 1.5 miles into the hike at 11:25 AM and made Junkyard Junction 3.1 miles into the hike at 11:55 AM.

When we made the turn onto the Flynn Trail I noticed that there was snow on some of the weeds and shrubs along the trail. I had been hoping for an inch or two on the ground but this was the next best thing. I took some pictures before continuing on the Flynn Trail to the jeep trail around the back of the pond. At the head end of the pond I stopped to take a few pictures and noticed that the sky seemed to be getting darker and that the wind has picking up. I wouldn't have minded hiking in a snow shower but a cold rain would have been difficult. I decided to walk around the pond to the outlet and then take the Flynn Trail back to the car. We stopped briefly at the other end of the pond and I took some pictures of the ominous key and dark clouds. I didn't want to wait too long so we quickly headed up the Flynn Trail. As we walked the sky conditions kept changing. At one point the blue skies became prominent and I almost changed my course and headed to the lookout. As soon as I started to toy with that idea, the skies grew dark again and I decided heading back to the car was the smartest idea. By 12:35 PM we had hiked 5 miles and were at the top of the Flynn Trail at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The rest of the trip was all downhill to the car. This section always seems to take longer than I remember but on this day it seemed to pass quickly. We were back a take car at 1:05 PM having hiked 6.7 miles and a little less than 1000 vertical feet in 2 hours and 15 minutes.

On Monday, October 21st I was anxious to hike again after an enjoyable time on Sunday. Cindy wanted to go along so we picked Dry Brook Ridge from Hill Road to the Penguin Rocks viewpoint. The day was cold as we left Livingston Manor and started up the Beaverkill Road toward the Pepacton Reservoir. We took the Barkaboom Road and BWS roads to Margaretville and then got on Southside and Huckleberry to get to Hill Road. We arrived at the trailhead at 9:45 AM and it wasn't long before we were on the trail, hiking through the red pine plantation. The first 1.9 miles of the hike is on a woods road that gains about 1150 feet passing through only a few switchbacks along the way. The trail passes through areas of evergreens and hardwoods and can be a very pleasant walk. In this case all the briars had been beaten back and some had been killed by the frosts. The pines are mostly red pines planted as "plantations" by the CCC. The trail levels off and then travels another .4 miles to the junction with the trail along the ridge. We were at the junction at 10:50 AM after hiking the 2.3 miles from the trailhead. We turned right and began to walk along the ridge. The walk is mostly flat with a few more short but steeps ascent as it approaches the lookouts. With the leaves off the trees it was very obvious that we were on a ridge and that the land fell away on both sides.

The trail along the ridge along the ridge wanders from one side to the other over about a mile and gains around 300 feet. Most places were dry with a few soft spots. We both remembered how hard this hike can be in the winter especially when the snow is not broken and is often over two feet deep! Some of the short, steep places are "exciting" to go up and to go down. As we walked along the ridge I zipped up my top and jacket as the wind cut through the trees and lowered the temperature. By 11:2) AM we had hiked the 3.3 miles to the viewpoint. I dropped my pack and walked out on the open rock face to take some pictures. There wasn't much color left as most trees had dropped their leaves and a persistent haze hung over the mountains and invaded the valleys. It was pretty easy to see the Pepacton Reservoir and it was very low. I took a few shots of the bushes with red berries that surround the rocks. I also snapped some pictures of the landscape which was interesting even devoid of color. The wind was even more fierce in the open so we quickly retreated and began the hike back to the car. We took our time on the steep little descent on the ridge and then made up some time on the rest of the hike back. We were back at the car by 1:00 PM having covered 6.6 miles in 3 hours and 10 minutes with an ascent of 1160 feet. The trip up had taken and hour and 40 minutes but we cut 10 minutes off of that time on the descent.

On Sunday, October 20th I wanted to get in a local hike after church. I was ready to go by 1:00 PM and decided to go to Big Pond and hike to Cabot Mt. The trailhead is relatively close and the hike has some easy spots but some challenging ones also. I drove up the Beaverkill Road with Sheila in the back seat more than ready to hike anywhere. We arrived at Big Pond at 1:15 PM to find a few cars parked in the lot. We crossed the road and got on the red Touch-Me-Not Trail to hike over the hill toward Cabot Mt. The trail starts with a nice little ascent to get the heart pumping and then levels off some. I was surprised to find the trails quite dry but happy that all the nettles had been hit hard by the recent frosts at night! Over the first mile we gained 770 feet to the shoulder of Touch-Me-Not Mountain where the trail starts a descent. Just before the high point we met two other hikers taking a rest. We continued to the junction with blue Campground Trail where we kept to the right on the Touch-Me-Not trail and continued our descent. We could hear the other hikers behind us as we reached a trail junction at 1.6 miles. The sign said "Beaverkill Vista .5 miles". We continued straight ahead on the red trail to climb up Cabot Mountain. Sheila was all over the place looking for chipmunks, squirrels and, most of all, birds! We walked about a quarter mile to the base of Cabot Mountain. The nettles here were completely brown having been killed by the frost and this me the approach much easier. The climb up Cabot is less just less than 500 feet but the horizontal distance is only .4 miles. The average grade is 22% with some areas over 30%. At around .5 miles, which was on one of the ascents, I began looking for the "Beaverkill Vista". Any place that looked likely was block by trees and the views were poor despite the almost total lack of leaves. Either the vista had existed and had grown up over the years or the distance was incorrect and the sign referred to the vista over Little Pond from near the summit. We reached the top of the climb and hiked a short distance to the lookout. I dropped my pack and took some pictures. There wasn't much color left on the trees as there weren't many leaves left on the trees. There was also a haze still hanging around. The best pictures from this viewpoint were probably those of the white, puffy clouds in the sky. After taking some shots, I picked up my pack and we reversed our course back down the mountain.

On the way down the first descent, I stopped to take some pictures of a few isolated trees which had retained their colorful leaves. We continued to the steeper part of the descent where I passed again to take some pictures of the massive rocks on the side of the trail. I was shooting back toward the sun and did not expect the pictures would be too impressive. When we got to the trail junction, we turned right on the yellow Little Pond Trail and walked a short distance to an open field. The field was once part of a farm and the foundation of the house is still present. We stopped again so that I could take some pictures of the surrounding hills and valleys which still had some color. We continued on down the trail an encountered a few small "streams" but the trail was otherwise dry. By 3:25 PM we had hiked 4 miles and had arrived at the loop trail around Little Pond. I took advantage of a privy that was still open taking Sheila in with me. As I emerged I startled three walkers going by the outhouse. Sheila and I walked around he far side of the pond stopping once so that I could take pictures of Touch-Me-Not Mountain on the other side of the pond. We continued around the pond and passed the other walkers again before stopping at the bridge over the outlet stream. I took a few pictures of the pond and Cabot Mountain before deciding to walk down the access road and back to the car on Barkaboom Road. I considered taking the trail back up Touch-Me-Not but in the end chose the road route. As we walked out passed the gatehouse on the road, I heard two thuds ahead as if someone had thrown rocks onto the road. Within a short distance, Sheila and I both spots two chipmunks in the road. One chipmunk was lying on its back while the other was upright but appeared dazed. I let Sheila approach and the chipmunk did not move. I believe the two chipmunks were fighting over some acorns and fell off the branches above! Sheila was unhappy that I would not let her get to the chipmunks but she got over it as we headed down the road. The walk to Barkaboom Road is about .9 miles and when we reached the road we turned left and walked another .6 miles back to the car. I put Sheila in the car and walked to the shore of Big Pond to take a few pictures. We had walked 6.1 miles in just under 3 hours with an elevation gain of 1535 feet.

On Wednesday, October 16th I wanted to get in a hike before cross country practice. Cindy was willing to go if we stayed close to home so we agreed to go to Frick and Hodge Ponds to hike and inspect the progress on the new bridge. The last time I was at Frick Pond the old bridge had been moved downstream slightly and three new steel I-beams had been installed where the old bridge had been. We arrived in the parking area at 10:35 AM and immediately started toward Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail. The skies were overcast and it looked like it might rain but I began to feel warm in just a light windbreaker. When we arrived at the bridge two workers from the DEC region in New Paltz were working on the bridge. They were starting to attach the decking. We stopped so that I could take some pictures and so that we could talk to the workers. They explain that the I-beams were placed and the old bridge moved with only a backhoe! They were very knowledgeable about what they were doing and had helped install several other new bridges in the region. After I took a few shots, we were off around the pond. We stopped several times so that I could take some more pictures. By 11:20 AM we had hiked the 1.6 miles to Iron Wheel Junction where we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. From Iron Wheel junction to Junkyard Junction is about 1.6 miles with an elevation gain of about 600 feet. The climb is noticeable but not steep. The skies stayed cloudy but the temperature was warm as we turned right on the Flynn Trail to head toward Hodge Pond. When we reached the next junction, we decided to walk around the back of Hodge Pond on the jeep trail.

At the upper end of the pond Sheila and I walked down to the water. I took some pictures of the pond and surrounding trees. The most colorful leaves were already off the trees and the skies gave the scene a gloomy appearance. I threw a stick into the pond several times for Sheila to retrieve. We got back on the jeep trail and caught up to Cindy. We decided to take a left at the next junction and hike to the woods road that meets the Flynn Trail at the top of the hill above Hodge Pond. This route avoids dropping to the outlet of the pond only to have to climb back up. Once we were on the woods road we knew the walk was either flat or down the entire way back to the car. We turned left on the Flynn Trail and hiked to the junction with the Big Rock Trail where we arrived at 12:45 PM after hiking 4.75 miles. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail as it began the 1.7 mile descent to the parking area. The descent is over 600 feet which makes a nice end to the hike. We were back at the car by 1:20 PM having covered 6.5 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes with a total ascent of around 1000 feet.

On Monday, October 14th, I decided I wanted to hike the beginning of the next section of the Finger Lakes Trail which was map 20. This part of the Finger Lakes Trail starts on Carson Road northwest of Marathon and passes through Blodgett Mills and then Hoxie Gorge as it heads east. There is a lot of road walking and some of the private land is closed in the fall for hunting which adds to the road walks. I had not initially planned to hike on Columbus Day as the weather report was for rain. The report changed to cloudy skies so I decided to drive the hour and 45 minutes to hike. I thought we might get as far as Blodgett Mills which was about 16 miles round trip but I knew I could settle for reaching West River Road for a 10 mile hike. We left Livingston Manor under cloudy skies and as I drove north and west on Route 17 we saw some patches of clearing skies. However, the farther north we went the worse the weather appeared. As I drove north on I-81 it began to sprinkle some. By the time I got off at the Marathon exit it was raining steadily. From Marathon I headed north on Route 11 and then west on Route 392. After about 4 miles on Rote 392 I turned right on Carson Road and found the sign for the Finger Lakes Trail where it crossed Carson Road. I pulled off the road as far as I could and parked at about 9:15 AM. At this point it was pouring and I knew that even if it stopped the chances were it could start up again at some point on the hike. I looked at the radar and it seemed that the line of showers was passing. By 9:30 AM the rain had abated enough that I decided I had driven almost two hours and had to hike! I put on my DryQ Elite jacket from Mountain Hardware, released Sheila from the car and head out on the Finger Lakes Trail through Tuller Hill State Forest. I left my camera behind as I did not want to get it wet and thought there would be little chance tom take pictures. I hoped we would not run into anything that I really wanted to photograph! The trail headed north through some hardwoods and climbed a little hill before descending down the other side. Around .85 miles the trail turned east and continued to descend. At 1.45 miles we hit the edge of a stream called Neal Brook and passed the Woodchuck Hollow lean-to where the trail turned again to head north. For the next mile the trail followed the brook north climbing a little until, at 2.5 miles, it turned east and shortly thereafter crossed the Cortland Nine Road.

It had continued to rain lightly for most of the hike this far. The soil in the area has a large percentage of clay and was covered by a layer of wet leaves. This made for a very slippery surface and more than once I found myself struggling to keep my balance! Some of the little stream crossings had descents that were very steep and equally challenging climbs out of the stream bed on the other side. After crossing the road, the trail continued to ascend but was now headed east. At 3.1 miles we turned north toward Snyder Hill which was not much of a climb. At 3.8 miles we came to a cleared spot at the upper end of Pipeline Road. I had to look closely to spot the blazes to the right. In general, the trail had been well-blazed and this continued for most of the hike. Many of the blazes had been recently repainted and the trail was also well-maintained. We continued to descend a little heading northeast until we crossed Snyder Hill Road at 4.25 miles. The trail turned northwest and paralleled the road before heading northeast and crossing a brook. From this point on it was easy to hear the traffic on I-81. The map description mentioned views of the Hoxie Gorge Bridge but the mist was so heavy this was not possible. We approached a field, walked along the edge and then returned to the woods to walk parallel to another stream. The blazes here were a little confusing but I was able to spot their general direction. The trail continued to descend as we approached West River Road and even passed through the backyard of a private residence. We reached West River Road at 11:45 AM after covering 5.4 miles. The weather was still miserable and I was soaked from the "breathable" rain gear.

I decided that I did not want to walk north on West River Road for over 2.5 miles to Blodgett Mills just to turn around and walk back again. I looked at the map and decided to return to the car by way of the roads. The trail had not offered anything interesting enough to draw me back! We hiked northwest on West River Road for about .3 miles gaining elevation as we went. We turned left on Stafford Road and hiked another .4 miles to Snyder Hill Road. We stopped along Stafford Road so that I could stow my poles and get a snack. Sheila is becoming very good at pulling uphill and then easing off on the downhill sections. I had hoped that the 2.3 mile trip south on Snyder Hill road would be mostly downhill but I was wrong. We hit two small hills along the way but they seemed easy and we were keeping a good pace. At 8.5 miles Snyder Hill Road veered to the left but we continued straight ahead on Carson Road. There were several nice farms along the way, some interesting private residences and evidence of some logging operations. Carson Road eventually made a 90 degree turn to the right and we were soon back at the car. When I took off my jacket, I decided to change my shirt which was completely soaked proving that "breathable" rainwear at any price is a joke! We had hiked 9.7 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes with a total ascent of 1850 feet. It was only 1:15 PM which meant we were able to get home at a reasonable hour. As I drove south from Binghamton, the skies were clear and blue with sun and white puffy clouds. The roads were dry indicating that the day had been vary pleasant in some part of the Southern Tier and to the south!

--> On Sunday, October 13th after hiking Vromans Nose, Cindy headed south to Pratts Rock in Prattsville east of Grand Gorge. We arrived at the parking area just east of Prattsville on Route 23 just before 3:00 PM to find only one other car in the lot. We started up the trails at 2:55 PM and were soon walking passed the first bench carved into the rock. Just behind the bench we could see some of the carvings much higher up on the cliffs. We decided to bypass the trail that goes to the base of the cliffs and continued to walk west and up the trail that goes to the top of the cliffs. The trail is a little steep in spots and is highly eroded since it is a popular destination. We were soon at the the of the cliffs taking in the view of the sparkling Batavia Kill below. There were no other hikers in sight so I took quite a few pictures of the valley below. The sun angle was again not very advantageous but I did get some nice shots. We continued to walk up to the next set of lookouts which are more to the east. The angle of the sun was better here so I took some more shots of the stream below, the valley and the hills beyond. To the northeast a high mountain was visible and I was pretty sure it was Huntersfield Mountain which is on the CHH list. I took some more pictures including a few of Cindy and Sheila. We headed back down the trail and found a shortcut to the trail that runs just below the cliffs. This was a tricky little descent but brought us out just below the carvings. Some more people appeared and I waited until they were out of the way to take some pictures of the rock carvings. When I was done with my photography, we descended the trail back to the car. We were at the car by 3:45 PM after covering the short hike of about a mile. We were ready to head home at this point after a nice day.

On Sunday, October 13th I asked Cindy if she would like to hike after church and she agreed. We decided to head north to Vromans Nose and Pratts Rock as we had not visited either in some time. We got ready right after church and headed to Roscoe to take Route 30 to Margaretville. We stayed on Route 30 all the way to Middleburgh where we turned left on West Middleburgh Road. It was a nice day and when we arrived at the parking area, it was almost full. As a car pulled out, I pulled in and parked. We were a little hesitant to take Sheila out with so many people but we put her on her leash and headed up the trail at 1:15 PM. The trail rises from the Schoharie Plain to a high rock outcrop about 440 feet high. This doesn't seem like a significant elevation but everything else around it is very flat. As we neared the top, we stopped and I took pictures. We walked along a little farther and I took some more pictures. Most of these shots were to the south and the sun angle made shooting difficult. Taking shots to the west produced some better pictures. As we neared the east end, I took some shots to the, east and to the southeast. Across tower the Middleburgh Cliffs rise almost as high as Vromans Nose. The land below is all farmland and there were fields that were plowed and some still green with grass. I also photographed the cliffs and some of the talus below. There were dozens of people at the top and Sheila was having a tough time containing herself. We headed down the east side of the outcrop and made it down the steep but short descent without a mishap. The fallen leaves made the trail "slippery" in spots but we were back at the car by 2:15 PM having spent about an hour walking the 1.6 mile route. We debated where to head next and in the end decided to stick to the original plan and got to Pratts Rock in Prattsville east of Grand Gorge.

On Thursday, October 10th I needed to get out on a hike close to home. I decided to take Sheila and go to the Frick Pond area to hike up the Flynn Trail and then take the snowmobile trails to Mongaup Pond. The road walk back from Mongaup would add miles but be quick which is what I needed. We arrived at the Frick Pond parking area at 9:30 AM. When I told Sheila to "Go!" , she started out the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick and I decided to follow. I reasoned that taking the Big Rock Trail up the hill would be a good workout and be slightly longer than my original plan. As we headed out on the wide woods road that is the first part of the Quick Lake Trail, I noticed some wide, deep tire track. I realized I had not seen the steel I-beams in the parking area and that work might have begun on the bridge at the outlet end of Frick Pond. When we got to the trail junction, we stayed to the left on the Quick Lake Trail rather than right on the Loggers Loop. When we got to the pond, my suspicions were confirmed as three I-beams were now in the same place as the old bridge used to be. Even more interesting was the fact that the old bridge had been located just slightly downstream in the area of the old dam. I assume that a crane was used to place the new beams and that the same crane was employed to lift and relocated the old bridge. I thought this was a nice touch and very considerate of hikers! I stopped to take a few pictures before crossing the old bridge and starting around the pond. The new plan was to walk the trail around the back of the pond and then use the Big Rock Trail to climb the hill to the Flynn Trail. I debated doing a bigger loop on the Quick Lake Trail to Hodge Pond but didn't think I had enough time. The walk around the pond was uneventful and we were at Times Square before 10:00 AM having covered 1.2 miles. We continued straight ahead up the Big Rock Trail.

The Big Rock Trail can seem pretty steep at times but on this day it felt shorter and easier than usual. We stopped at the junction with the Flynn Trail so that I could remove my jacket and gaiters. I also took the opportunity to tape the back of my left ankle. The stop was brief and we continued straight ahead on the snowmobile trail to the top of the hill. From Times Square to the top of the hill is 1.3 miles and gains 730 feet to an elevation of 2880 feet. From the top of the hill it is less than a mile directly to the pond but the trail takes some twists and turns be first heading south, then east and north before finally turning southeast and south to the edge of Mongaup Pond. The descent is rocky and the leaves fallen on top of the rocks made things a little tricky. The back of my left ankle still was bothering me and I was not sure if I was getting a blister from the socks, the new Asolo Powermatic boots or a combination. I stopped and changed from the Darn Tough socks to a pair of Teko socks and had no more problems. We continued down to the loop road around the pond. As we were approaching the road, Sheila came back to me acting "nervous". I looked up to see a couple and their dog hiking toward us. Sheila used to run ahead to meet people and other dogs but now has trained herself to come to me. We stopped so that I could talk to the couple and the dogs could get acquainted. They were from Hyde Park and had been in the area before. I made some suggestions about hiking and then we parted. As we continued walking, I realized they were probably camping at Mongaup which was still open. Once we reached the road, we turned right to head toward the entrance to the park. I checked my GPS and found it was "frozen" and would not respond to any of the buttons. I solved the problem by removing a battery and then putting it back in. I hope this is a one-time problem. After a short distance, I turned to the left to walk to the shore of the pond to take some pictures. As I got my camera out, I told Sheila to sit by my pack. I took a few pictures of what remained of the fall leaf colors. Sheila apparently was bored so she came down to wade in the pond...with her leash still attached! The pond was completely still allowing perfect reflections of the trees and hills surrounding it. We got back on the road and walked to the observation deck where we stopped so that I could take a few more shots. Once back on the road, I decided we need to speed up our hike and Sheila certainly agreed. We walked passed he entrance to the park and out the road to the intersection with Beech Mountain Road. We turned right and in .3 miles we were back at the car. A pickup with a trailer was in the lot with a "State" license plate. I assumed that this was the crew working he the bridge and I intend to check back to see their progress. We were back by 12:15 PM having covered 7 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes with 1070 feet of ascent.

On Tuesday, October 8th I was ready to hike again after a weekend of bad weather and various commitments. I knew I had to be back early for an away cross country meet so I decided to state close to home and hike at Trout Pond. I decided to do a variation I had not tried before by hiking from the Russell Brook parking area around Trout Pond and then taking the Campbell Brook Trail to Campbell Brook Road. I would hike out Campbell Brook Road to Morton Hill Road and then back to the car. As I was driving up the Quickway from Livingston Manor to Roscoe I could see that the recent rain and wind had brought down most of the leaves that had changed color. The hillsides shows only a few spots of color among the evergreens. The drive down Russell Brook Road was interesting as the rain had eroded some of the dirt and gravel and I had to move several large branches. I parked at 9:00 AM and we got right out on the trail. I was surprised that the stream wasn't higher since it had rained the day before. I decided to keep hiking and make as few stops on the way out as possible since I wasn't sure exactly how far the hike would be and how long it would take me. At the first trail junction we kept left to walk up the hill toward Mud Pond. The walk up the hill is about .8 miles and gains 400 feet. This isn't really steep but it does get the blood flowing right away. Along the way I stopped to take a few pictures of the rail as there was an interesting combination of leaves fallen on the trail and green leaves still on the trees. From the top of the hill we descended slightly and then turned right to go north along the west side of Trout Pond. I stopped at one spot to take some shots where there were no leaves on the trees at all and then continued. Over the next 1.2 miles we gained another 400 feet to the highest pot on the hike on the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. From that point the trail descends 450 feet over .8 miles to the bridge at the inlet of Trout Pond. I stopped briefly to take a few pictures of the pond with the water twinkling in the sun. There was virtually no color left in the trees around the pond. As we turned left on the Trout Brook trail I was trying to decide if that was a good decision given my afternoon commitment and the fact that I didn't know exactly how far I had to go!

From the lean-tos the trail rises 435 feet over .8 miles to the col between two hills and then descends the same amount over the same distance. At 10:55 we had walked about 4.75 miles and were on Campbell Brook Road. At this point I was confident we would get back in plenty of time and I could relax a little and enjoy the walk more. I removed my jacket as I was already overheated and put Sheila on her leash for the road walk. Campbell Brook Road climbs a little to the intersection with Morton Hill Road. After that intersection, Morton Hill Road is downhill or flat the rest of the way. Along Morton Hill Road I was surprised that several vehicles passed us. There wasn't too much to look at as the leaves were mostly down off the trees but the walk was very pleasant. I did stop again to take a few pictures of the road since there was still some color on the trees in a few places. The walk on Morton Hill Road was about 2.3 miles but took us only 42 minutes! We turned left on Russell Brook Road and walked down the road and back to the car. I took a look at the falls and decided that although they were nice they were not spectacular enough to warrant a visit this time. We were back at the car at noon having covered 8.5 miles in 3 hours with 1700 feet of ascent.

On Friday, October 4th I had planned to head to Marathon to hike a section of map 20 of the Finger Lakes Trail. I thought that my obsession had been quenched but as I looked at the next map it was rekindled. I particularly wanted to hike the section from Route 11 through Hoxie Gorge State Forest. When I looked at the weather report Friday morning, the forecast was for showers and thunderstorms to pass through Marathon on and off all day. The radar revealed that some of these storms could be strong. I decided to amend my plans and head back to Bear Spring for a 8 to 10 mile route. As I drove away from Livingston Manor and headed north on Route 206 I decided to park at the main parking area at the beginning of West Trout Brook Road. From the parking area we would hike south on the road to the trail than runs south on the central ridge at Bear Spring. From there we would take trail 4 down to Middle Pond. At Middle Pond we would take the McCoy Hill Cutoff Trail to Wilson Hollow Road and walk back to the car. I wanted to get an early start since the forecast included showers for Walton but not until 2:00 PM and I knew that we would be done before then. I parked in the lot just before 8:30 AM and we immediately got started. I put Sheila on her leash as the first part of the hike was on West Trout Creek Road. The air was warm and humid but I kept on a light windbreaker. I had chosen to wear a new pair of Asolo Powermatic boots since I felt they would most likely be waterproof. The damp road surface showed there had been rain overnight and that combined with a heavy dew meant some wet trails! As we walked down the road, I kept looking for the place where the trail cuts off to the left. I thought I had missed it but at 1 mile the trailhead appeared on the left. We turned onto the trail and walked along the wide and wet trail toward Fork Mountain. We walked over several small bumps in the trail and at 2.5 miles we passed to the east of the summit of Fork Mountain. I had been feeling a little twinge on the back of my right heel. I stopped and removed my boot and sock but didn't see or feel anything. I applied several strips of tape and put my boot sock and boot back on. This seemed to 'cure' the problem.

From the area near Fork Mountain the trail started to descend a little until 3.4 miles when we came to the junction with Trail 4. We turned right and started the almost one mile descent to East Trout Brook Road. The descent was tricky because it is steep and there were some slippery leaves on the path. To my surprise we encountered two new clear cut areas on the right of the trail. The first actually spanned the trail and made following the blazes difficult. Whoever did the logging was not very careful to clean up and some trees blocked parts of the trail. I chose to stay to the left and follow the blue blazes down but any of the paths would have eventually brought us to the same place. Eventually the trail returned to the smooth but steep surface I remembered. A little farther along another clear cut area appeared on the right of the trail. This opened a nice viewpoint down the valley and across to the central ridge. I have not been able to find anyone who can explain the need for this logging or how it fits into a management plan. By 10:15 AM we had hiked 4.4 miles and were crossing the dam at the outlet end of Middle Pond. There was one vehicle in the roadside parking area with a logo for Hawk Mountain Outfitters which is a registered guide service in Trout Creek. We stopped at the pond for a moment and I took a few shots before heading up the trail toward the ridge. It had been a while since I had hiked at Bear Spring and some things just didn't seem familiar. It wasn't long before we were at a fork in the trail and we stayed left to take the McCoy Hill Cutoff to McCoy Field. There was a limited view from just above the junction but I chose to walk to the top of the hill before stopping for more pictures. On the way up the hill Sheila came back to me with a "worried" look. I looked up to see a hunter and his Weimaraner. I put Sheila on her leash but the two dogs seemed to hit it off immediately. I talked to the hunter and we agreed that it was a nice day but that Thursday was far better. We went our separate ways and I stopped to take some pictures from the top of the hill just before entering the woods.

As we began to walk up the hill on the trail to the top of the ridge, it began to sprinkle. A little farther on the rain began and I decided to put on my DryQ rain jacket. Normally putting on my rain jacket stops the rain but it did not work this time. The rain came down harder until we reached Wilson Hollow Road along the top of the eastern ridge. Once we made the turn onto the woods road, the rain abated and within a few minutes it all but stopped. I was wet but happy when the sun started to peek out from behind the clouds. In about 1 mile or at 6.7 miles into the hike, trail 11 came in from the left signaling we were close to the clear cut near Route 206. In about .5 miles we were at the clear the and the sun was shining through the clouds to reveal some of the color we had seen the day before. I decided to keep walking as the color on Thursday was better and I did not want to get caught in the rain gain. A we neared Route 206, we turned left on the trail and stayed right at the fork at the top of the hill. At 8.5 miles we crossed East Trout Brook Road and ascended the trail to a field. After crossing the field, it was a short walk back to the parking area. We were back at the car at 12:)5 PM having hiked 9 mile in 3 hours and 40 minutes. The total elevation gain was 1445 feet. Upon arriving home, I removed my boots and socks and found a rather large blister on the back of my right heel. I was glad I had stopped to tape the heel which certainly prevented a more serious situation.

On Thursday, October 3rd, I decided to cut short a visit to Bear Spring and hike to the pond on the Shavertown Parcel. I wanted to see what fall colors were present at the pond and from the viewpoint over the Pepacton Reservoir. The trip to Bear Spring had been very worthwhile with beautiful and brilliant fall colors in several places. On the way out of Downsville, I stopped at the dam to take some pictures of the reservoir and the village of Downsville in the valley below. I followed Route 30 over the bridge and turned left on the BWS road. I parked the car near the trailhead at 12:20 PM under bright blue skies and we crossed the road to get on the trail. The trail was slightly harder to walk this time as there was a layer of slippery leaves on top. We set a quick pace and made the turn onto the woods road is only 8 minutes. We continued to keep up the pace adhere was nothing I wanted to see on the way. We arrived at the pond at 12:45 PM. I stopped on the road as we approached the pond since the col the of the trees around the pond were so beautiful and I wanted to get some pictures. After taking some shots, I kept my camera out and walked down to the pond to take a few more pictures. We walked to the lookout over then reservoir. The colors around the water were a little less spectacular than those around the pond but I took pictures anyway. While I was photographing, Sheila was jumping into the pond, running around and then repeating the process. We walked around the pond as I took a few more shots back toward the road we had walked in on. Sheila again jumped in the water and I took a few pictures of her trying to retrieve a log! We continued to walk around the pond and were soon back at the road and on the way back to the car. We were back at the car by 1:15 PM having completed the 1.9 mile hikes in around 45 minutes with plenty of time for photography. I decided to return by way of the Barkaboom Road. On the drive I stopped at a spot that always has nice color and an interesting barn. I also stopped at Big Pond where I have always found good colors in the fall. Big Pond was not as nice as it has been in some years but was well worth the stop.

On Thursday, October 3rd, I decided I wanted to hike somewhere where there would be a good chance of finding some "fall color". Around Livingston Manor the leaves were changing but the brilliant colors were spotty. In addition, it appeared that the leaves might fall off the trees before any brilliant colors were present. The forecast of rain over the weekend convinced me that I should look for fall color before it was gone! I remembered that I had usually found nice colors at Bear Spring Mountain Wildlife Management Area and decided to head to Walton to see what colors I could find. My plan was to wait until late morning until the fog had cleared to make the trip so it was just before 10:30 AM when I arrived at the big parking area on Route 206. The pulloff is just before the turn for East Trout Creek Road on the left side of Route 206. I parked and we were ready to hike by 10:25 AM. We started by walking up the shoulder of Route 206 and then turning left on Wilson Hollow Road. This is a woods road that runs the length of the eastern ridge at Bear Spring. It is wide and well-maintained for use but horses and snowmobiles. This, of course, means it makes a good hiking trail as well. As soon as we started hiking on the road we were at the clear cut area on the left that runs about .5 miles along the road. I was happy that I was right about the colors! The trees a long the road were beautiful against a bright blue sky streak with white clouds. Looking east toward Route 206 and Starkweather Hill, I could see an abundance of brilliant colors. I took out my camera and began to take pictures. I took a few pictures, walked a short distance and took a few more pictures. This continued for the length of the clear cut area as the views got better the further I walked. Walton was still covered in a layer of fog so I took a few pictures. It took almost 25 minutes to walk the .7 miles to the end of the clear cut. We continued along Wilson Hollow Road. It was my plan to take Trail 11 down to Launt Pond and then to hike back to the trails. I planned to walk to Middle Pond and then up the trails to the eastern ridge and back to the car.

As we walked along the woods road, I was sure I had somehow missed the trail on the right as I had done before. At about 1.3 miles the trail appeared on the right just before an uphill. We turned onto Trail 11 and headed down to East Trout Creek Road about .7 miles away. hen we arrived at the road, we turned right and headed up to Launt Pond. The walk was only .3 miles but was a little longer than I remembered. On the way I began to think that I would like to visit the pond on the Shavertown parcel to see what color changes had occurred there. We turned left at Launt Pond and walked to the dam. I was surprised to find the gate and the bathrooms still open. I dropped my pack and took out the camera. The leaves here were not as nice as they had been in previous years but I still snapped a few shots. At this point I decided to cut this hike short so that I could include the pond at Shavertown. We walked back out to the road and walked north for about a mile. Just before the intersection with Route 206 we turned right on the trail and hiked the .6 miles over the hill to Wilson Hollow Road. From there we turned left, hiked out to Route 206 and back to the car. It was noon and the 4 mile hike had taken and hour and 35 minutes with only 630 feet of ascent. I drove out of the parking area and headed towards Downsville.

On Monday, September 30th, I decided I wanted to hike the last section of the Finger Lakes Trail map 26 from Case Road to Bainbridge. WARNING: This part of the Finger Lakes Trail is so poorly marked that I suggest anyone wanting to hike it use the highwater bypass until the trail conference corrects the problem. Upon reaching Case Road simply turn right and walk down to Route 206. Turn left on Route 206 and hike into Bainbridge. The maps shown in the above links and on the Trails page are for the corrected route! The round trip seemed to be about 5 to 6 miles depending on the approach so Cindy said she would like to go along also. As we were about to leave at 7:30 AM and ambulance call came in and I responded. The call delayed our departure until just after 9:00 AM. We headed up the Quickway to Roscoe and then took Route 206 through Downsville and Walton right to Bainbridge. I parked at the municipal parking lot and we were ready to hike at 10:30 AM. My plan was to hike west on Route 206 to Case Road, a distance of about 1.6 miles. We would then hike north on Case Road for about .3 miles to the beginning of the section of trail. The trail section was about 1.5 miles and would put us back on Route 206 less than a mile from the car. We walked through Bainbridge on the sidewalks and then used the shoulder of Route 206 to continue the hike. The shoulders in this area were really narrow and the traffic was rather heavy. We decided to change our plans and walk out on the trail and then back on the trail to try to avoid the roads as much as possible. At about .7 mile we turned off the road and onto the trail at the "Welcome to Bainbridge" sign. The trail led us down a short, steep trail to Newton Brook. I knew from a previous exploration that the brook would not be a problem to cross. We stopped for a few minutes to explore the streambed and take some pictures. The stream had cut a rather deep chasm through the sedimentary rock although the trickle of water on this day made it hard to believe. After exploring and taking some pictures, we crossed the stream and followed the Finger Lakes Trail as it ascended the far bank of then stream. As the trail ascended the far bank, it went through a series of short switchbacks to make the climb a little easier. At about 1 mile into the hike the trail turned hit an old woods road where we turned right. The road eventually became highly eroded until about 1.25 miles when it flattened some and the surface became more even.

At a little over 1.5 miles we left the trees and entered a meadow which is where our problems began. There were no blazes at all to mark the trail. Just after entering the meadow there was a spilt in the trail. We followed the right fork which was more prominent and began heading north following this path. At around 1.8 miles we passed through some trees into another meadow still looking for blazes. We entered the trees again at 2 miles but could find no blazes. In the woods there were several different woods roads. We finally gave up and walked back to the point where we had first entered the meadow and tried the left fork in the path. We walked down this fork until we got to some trees and turned around since there were still no blazes! We decided to walk back to the car, drive to Case Road and try hiking in from that end. It was 11:45 AM and we had hiked 2.7 miles. We were frustrated and could not believe that the Finger Lakes Trail would be so poorly marked that it was impossible to find! We retraced our steps on the trail back to Newton Brook and back to Route 206. We turned left on Route 206 and walked back to Bainbridge. We were back at the car at 12:25 PM after hiking 4.2 miles. I drove to Case Road and tried to find a place to park. Eventually I stopped at a machine shop and asked if we could park on their property. I parked and we walked won the road to the start of the trail which was well marked. We were confident we would be able to walk in from this end and connect to the part of the trail we had already hiked. Shortly after walking into the trail joined a woods road and we were able to follow that for some distance. There were few blazes along the road which had many areas of deep mud churned up by ATVs. The blazes disappeared AGAIN at about .75 miles and we chose to continue to follow the woods road.

When I looked at my GPS, it seemed that the woods road was headed directly north toward the point where we had turned around on the previous attempt at hiking in from the other end earlier in the day. I had noticed a woods road headed south from that point and assumed that was what we were following. We walked another .3 miles north and at 1.1 miles my suspicions were confirmed as we ended up in the same spot we had been earlier. We knew we were not on the Finger Lakes Trail and our frustration continued to grow. It seemed incredible that the Finger Lakes Trail Conference would be so irresponsible as to allow a section of trail to become so poorly marked that it was impossible to find from either end! We turned around and followed our path back toward Case Road looking for white blazes all the time. At about 1.4 miles into our journey or .75 miles from Case Road we found a blaze on the woods road. Sheila turned into the woods to the east and we followed her as we picked up more blazes. This was the trail we were supposed to follow! There was no indication in the blazing that there was a turn and the blaze that marked where we were to go was hidden! This is not the way to mark a trail for other to follow. We walked along then trail which quickly dropped down to Newton Brook and the ascended the other side on a wood road. I could see a meadow ahead and it was obviously the one that we had wandered around in earlier in the day. The blazes turned to the right just before the meadow as the trail stated in the woods and skirted the meadow. Just as we were about to connect to our path from earlier in the day the blazes...disappeared! The trail was blocked by several trees across the path and no blazes were visible. I walked through the blowdown and then followed a track through the weeds to the last blaze we had seen the we had hiked in from the other end earlier. I was glad that we had finally completed this section of trail but very disappointed at the effort it took. We hike to enjoy the scenery and to relax not to be annoyed and frustrated! We turned around and hiked back out to Case Road. Cindy turned right to go get the car while Sheila and I turned left and walked down Case Road to where we had left off the last time we had hiked in the area. This last short walk completed map 26. It was 1:55 PM and we had hiked a total of 7.2 miles in about 3 hours and 20 minutes. Much of this was unnecessary and caused by poor trail marking and lack of trail maintenance.

On Friday, September 27th, I decided to hike a section of the Finger Lakes Trail from Bainbridge toward Masonville. I planned to turn around at Butts Road where the map indicated there was parking available. This section of the trail is closed from October 1st to December 31st by the private landowner for hunting season and I wanted to complete the section so that I would not have to wait until January! I left Livingston Manor at about 7:30 AM and drove through heavy for most of the trip. I followed Route 206 through Downsville and Walton right into Bainbridge. I parked in the municipal park the and the old train station and was ready to hike by 8:45 AM. One of the reasons I had left this section until fall was that it has a relatively long road walk and I wanted some cooler weather. I got my wish as the temperature was still in the low to mid 40's when we left the parking area. The first part of the hike consisted of walking through the streets of Bainbridge and over the Susquehanna River to the traffic circle. We walked out he other side of the circle and continued on Route 206 back toward Walton. We walked under I88 and followed the directions on the map which stated that the trail would cut off to the left just after a yellow house on the right. After almost a mile from the start, I saw a sign for the Finger Lakes Trail on the left. The trail took us through a field and then began to ascend a hill. The grass was very wet from a heavy dew and there was still a dense fog. Initially my boots withstood the constant drenching but soon my feet were wet either from the boots leaking or, more likely, from moisture wicking down my socks from my pants! We passed a trail register as we climbed the hill. At about 1.25 miles we came to a power line right-of-way where the trail all but disappeared. We pushed our way through head-high goldenrod and wrestled with some nasty thorns. I was about to give up and look for another way when we came to an access road to the power lines and the vegetation diminished. There were few marking along the way and I followed the map description hoping I was going the right way! It was a miserable experience! At about 1.6 miles we came to the top of the climb near a hill labeled "Camel's Hump". The trail followed an access road which cut under some of the power lines and then paralleled another. The map description indicated there was a nice view of the river valley and the Sidney Airport but all I could see was the heavy fog. I could hear the traffic on I88 as we followed the access road under the power lines. The trail again entered a grassy area and my drenching continued. We started to descend a little and then, at 2.3 miles just as the map had described, the trail turned south and began to ascend.

The map description mentioned that this part of the trail was "highly eroded" which turned out to be an understatement. After a gentle beginning the trail deteriorated into a streambed with steep banks. I tried walking on a narrow path along the high banks but both side were undercut and the path kept collapsing. I finally gave up and simply walked he the streambed. After .85 miles and a gain of 450 feet the trail leveled off and became a woods road. The road headed due east toward Neff hill Road with a few small ascent and descents. At about 4 miles into the hike we were on Neff Hill Road where we turned right. The rest of the hike would be all on roads! We walked up a small hill and the started a descent to Highland Acres Road at 4.7 miles. A brief uphill walk brought us to a right turn on Houck Road Extension. The next turn was a left on Houck Road. Over the next 1.2 miles we dropped about 400 feet to Butts Road. Along the way there were some nice views of the countryside and I stopped to take some pictures. There was still a faint haze on the hills and the ;eaves in this area were not as brilliant as some. One at Butts Road I had a decision to make. I knew that I was not going to return by the trail. Turning right would take us out to Route 206 which we could hike back to Bainbridge for an 11 to 12 mile hike. This would still leave a short section from Case Road to Bainbridge and the section from Butts Road to Masonville and back. Turning left would take us to Masonville where we could pick up Route 206 and hike back to Bainbridge from there. My feet were "not happy" and I was not sure of how much mileage then trip to Masonville would add but estimated it would be from 15 to 16 miles total. The wise choice was to turn right for the shorter trip but I chose to turn left and head into Masonville. As we hiked out Butts Road to Route 8 I though about how good Sheila was being on her leash and how that made the trip easier.

At route 8 we turned right to head toward Masonville which was 1.2 miles away. The traffic on this main road was heavy and everyone seemed to be in a hurry. As we approached Masonville, we turned right on Church Street and walked to the footbridge over Masonville Creek. It was noon so we stopped for a minute to get a drink and a snack. My feet were aching so I removed my wet socks and put on a pair of dry ones. My feet were soaked and looked sore! The new socks seemed to help a little but I should have stopped earlier! I knew we still had some walking to do so we walked to the end of Church Street and turned right on Route 206 and headed back to Bainbridge. The walk along Route 206 was in some ways better than I had anticipated. The traffic was lighter than I thought it might be and the shoulders were wide in most places. I tried to concentrate on anything that would take my mid off my feet! At 11.6 miles we were at the intersection of Butts Road and Route 206 and it was clear that taking the longer route had added almost 5 miles to the hike. The rest of the hike back to Bainbridge was mostly downhill. There were some nice views along the way but I was most interested in continuing forward. At 15.1 miles we were at the point where the trail had cut into the field much earlier in the day. I knew then it was about a mile back to the car. We arrived in the parking area at 2:30 PM which was very close to the time I had estimated. We had covered 16.1 miles in 5 hours and 45 minutes keeping a moving speed of 3 mph overall. I was happy to be off my feet but knew I would have to walk one more time before returning home. No trip to Bainbridge can be complete without a stop at the Pine Ridge Grocery just north of town on Route 206. This Mennonite run store has very high prices but stock some unique items. I was able to walk across the parking area and shop but it was a little painful. I inspected my feet when we got home but didn't see anything amiss. It wasn't until later in the evening that I could see a large blister on the ball of each foot! I think I learned an important lesson about keeping my feet dry and making sure my shoes are laced tight enough to discourage slippage!

On Thursday, September 26th, Cindy and I decided to hike with Bryce. We chose Frick Pond as the hike around the pond seemed like an appropriate distance. After feeding Karl and Bryce breakfast we got Bryce and Sheila in the car along with my pack and headed out the DeBruce Road. Bryce insisted on having a hiking pole so I shortened one to a length that seemed to suit him. We arrived at 10:35 AM in the parking area on Beech Mountain Road and headed out on the Quick Lake Trail toward the pond. We had to explain to Bryce to lift his feet and to slow down a little as he was more than ready to run down the trail. The trail to the pond can be wet but was only damp in a few places. We were soon at the bridge at the outlet end of Frick Pond. The leaves round the pond had started to change and we stopped so that Cindy and I could both take pictures. After taking a few shots of the pond surrounded by the fall colors, I took some pictures of Cindy, Bryce and Sheila at the bridge. We headed on around the pond and stayed right at the trail junction so that we could walk around the pond. Bryce was very interested in the boardwalks or "long bridges" on the back side of the pond. He kept up a good pace and we were at Times Square by 11:20 AM. Bryce was willing to attack the Big Rock hill but we decided to turn right and head back to the car. The return trip on the Logger's Loop Trail alternated between bright green leaves with blue skies and some trees that were well into their fall colors. When we got back to the junction with the Quick Lake Trail, we turned left and headed back to the car. By this time Bryce was a little tired but he walked all the way back to the car. We hiked 2.2 miles around the pond in about 1.5 hours. Bryce took a short nap on the way home but awoke ready to play when we arrived back home.

On Monday, September 23, I decided I wanted to take some pictures from Mount Utsayantha near Stamford after hiking Bald Mountain in the same area. We got in the car and I drove into town from Archibald Field. I drove up Tower Mountain Road and turned left at the top onto Tower Road. This is the dirt and gravel access road to the top of Mount Utsayantha. I had decided to drive to the top to take pictures from the fire tower and then simply go home. The road was in decent shape as there is a small park at the top, an education center and several communications towers. I parked at the top at about 10:30 AM and left Sheila in the car as I climbed the tower. As I climbed above the treetops the stiff wind that was blowing became more noticeable. My hands were cold on the metal rails of the tower. I was surprised to find the cab of the tower open. I took some pictures from the landing just below the cab. I climbed up to the top and took some more pictures. It is a challenge to take pictures that include all the wonderful views and avoid the communications towers and wires! Since it was still early, I changed my plans as I descended the tower. I decided to release the hound so that we could hike from the top of the mountain to the bottom and back up. I thought this might be interesting since I had always hiked in the opposite direction. Sheila was happy to be out of the car as I stepped to the bench in front of the Churchill Education Center to take some more pictures. From this viewpoint the village of Stamford is visible with valleys in the foreground and mountains behind. After I took a few shots, we started down the access road. Our next stop was a lookout to the north and east just below the summit. There is a small wooden platform that at some point was used as a launching point for hang gliding. The fall colors were just as nice from this mountain as from Bald Mountain and I took a few more shots. A little farther down the road is a lookout to the east and south toward Churchill Mountain. I again stopped to photograph before returning to the road and heading down the mountain to the southwest. It didn't take long before we were at the end of the access road. We turned around and headed back to the top. I was surprised that the trip back up seemed much easier than I had remembered. We covered 2.1 miles in 45 minutes with a 680 foot ascent on the way back.

On Monday, September 23, I decided I wanted to try to find the beginnings of the fall color change before it was too late. The leaves around Sullivan County had started to change but the colors were not bright and the areas were limited. For the last few years the leaves have been dull and have been blown off the trees by wind and rain before completing the color change. It has been hard to find any areas of brilliant colors. I decided I had time to head for Bald Mountain near Stamford in Delaware County to see if the leaves there were any brighter than those around Livingston Manor. I had not hiked this mountain before and had gotten the idea from a Lark in the Park description. The mountain was supposed to have many marked trails but no maps. In addition, the viewer the top was described as "270 degrees". The day of the Lark in the Park trip was not good for me and the description stated it would be around 8 miles in 6 hours! I usually aim for 3 miles per hour or so and did not think I could enjoy this leisurely pace. I debated what route to take but as I left Livingston Manor just before 7:30 AM I decided to follow the car GPS. The route given was up the Beaverkill Road and passed Little Pond to Route 30 on the Pepacton Reservoir. From here the directions took us through Andes, Bovina, Hobart and South Kortright on small but well-maintained back roads. I noticed that as soon as we entered Delaware County that more leaves had changed colors and that the colors were brighter! If I had not been under some pressure to finish the hike and get back to coach, I would have stopped several times to take pictures. The route we took was shorter than any other I could have planned and we were soon on Route 10 passing through Stamford. It was easy to find Archibald Field and I pulled in to park just after 8:30 AM. The mountain itself was not visible from the parking area but I knew the route would be to the east and up!

As we started our hike the temperature was still in the 40's and I kept on my light windbreaker to start the hike. Sheila and I started to the east on a dirt road that ran along the south side of the field. The road became a woods road and cross a footbridge over a stream as it entered the forest. We continued east for about .85 miles passing several other trails. As promised the trails were marked in various ways but the markings meant little without a map to follow. I am sure there are many different ways to get to the top of the mountain and the route I chose was purposely not the shortest. At the .85 mile marked the road we were on met another road and I decided to turn northeast until about the 1.2 mile mark. At that junction we turned south to 1.4 miles and then headed southeast. We continued to walk around the summit on the south but then took a trail that switchbacked toward the summit. At 2 miles we finally turned east again and made the final ascent to the top. Just before the summit we stopped at a viewpoint so that I could take some pictures. As we approached the top I could see some buildings and then the remains of some chair lifts. The description of the mountain had not included the fact that it was a former ski area. The views from the top were excellent to the north and spanned at least 180 degrees. By walking round I could choose to include the ski lifts in the pictures or avoid them completely. The fall colors were more prominent in some areas than others but they were very bright in some areas. I took quite a few pictures before deciding to head back to the car. I had decided that since the views from this mountain were good the ones from Mount Utsayantha on the other side of town should be just as good! On the way back I knew I needed to go west and down but chose several different paths to get us there. Eventually we hit the woods road we had come in on and walked it back to the car. The temperature was rising into the low 60's. We had covered 4.5 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes with about 950 feet of ascent. I hope that someone creates maps of the area as they would greatly enhance the experience.

On Sunday, September 22nd, I decided to take a quick, local hike after church. The forecast called for rain by 2:00 PM and it was already afternoon when as I got started. I got me gear and an excited Sheila into the car and headed up the Beaverkill Road. I turned left on the Covered Bridge Road and continued over the Beaverkill Covered Bridge to Berry Brook Road where I turned right. It wasn't long before the sign for Huggins Lake appeared on the right. I turned right and drove up the access road to the parking area. We got out of the car and were on hit the trail at 12:40 PM. The temperature was cool enough that I left on the light windbreaker I wore over a long-sleeved hiking shirt. The sky was bright blue and sunny in places but looking in a different direction showed darker clouds. The sky kept changing as we started up the woods road. As soon as we started to hike, I noticed that the road surface seemed a little smoother and had no weeds and hardly any grass. The last time I had hiked in May of this year the trail was somewhat overgrown and there were some very large blowdowns across the trail. It was obvious that the DEC had been working on the trail with a brush hog and perhaps a front end loader. The first 1.25 miles of the trail is all uphill and gains over 600 feet as it winds its way northeast and then southeast toward the lake. All the blowdowns had been cleared which showed what the DEC can do. After we got to the top of the hill, we started the descent to the lake. This part of the trail is about .6 miles long and was completely cleared of the weeds and brush that had covered it in May.

At 1.65 miles the trail turned sharply north and mad the final descent to the lake at 1.9 miles. It was 1:20 PM when we reached the lake and I dropped my pack to take some pictures. I noticed that the leaves had begun to change color and there were some bright spots around the water. Unfortunately, the sky was overcast at this point without any blue or defined clouds. I took some pictures and then turned my attention to throwing a stick for Sheila. After a few throws, I decided to head back to avoid getting wet should the predicted showers materialize. We head up the trail from the lake. By the time we had walked a little over half a mile to the top of the hill the skies were blue again! I thought about returning to the lake but decided to wait for another day when the fall colors would be more pronounced. Within a few minutes the sky had again become overcast and I was glad I had made my decision to return to the car. The trip back down the hill went quickly and we were back at the car by 2:00 PM having covered 3.8 miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes. I was surprised to find we had spent less than 5 minutes stopped at the lake! We headed home and found that the showers never did materialize. I think the fall color change will be early this year. I hope that the colors will be more widespread and vivid than last year.

Summer 2013

On Friday, September 20th, I had planned to do my usual long hike by going to Bainbridge and hiking a section of the Finger Lakes Trail near Bainbridge. Parts of this trail are closed by the private property owner on October 1st so I wanted to hike this section before that time. Unfortunately, Cindy was not feeling 100% and did not feel she could handle the 2 and a half year old grandson, Bryce, without my help. I wasn't happy as I only get one day a week to do the long hikes but I decided I would take Bryce out for a hike locally. He walks around the "farm" with my son and daughter-in-law and has been across the street on Round Top several times. When he arrived, he was enthusiastic so we got ready, put Sheila in the car and headed for Morton Hill Road to hike to Russell Brook Falls. My intention was to park half-way down the road at the campsites and then hike down the road from there. I turned down Russell Brook Road which was a little rough and eroded. As we passed the campsites, there were people occupying them so I continued down the road and parked in the lower lot. There was a DEC truck and trailer at the end of the lot and another pickup truck parked there also. I was not happy that I had forgotten Sheila's leash but she is usually under control. I got Bryce out of his car seat and shouldered my pack. Both Bryce and Sheila seemed eager to get going so we headed down the road to the bridge over Russell Brook just below the area of the falls. As we crossed the bridge I could hear some machinery approaching and we stopped at the side of the trail to allow a backhoe to pass us. We crossed the road and walked the path toward the falls which we could hear easily. I told Bryce to be careful since the rocks were still damp and very slippery. He was anxious to see the waterfalls but took my hand as we approached the falls. I was prepared to walk right down to the stream bed but Bryce wanted to walk the path to the overlook. When we were able to see the falls, he was very excited. After a quick look, we headed back down the path and then down the bank to the stream bed. The bank was slippery and the rocks below even more slippery. Once we were next to the stream, I dropped my pack and took some pictures as the lighting was good. I took the time to position Bryce and Sheila and got one good shot of them with the falls in the background. We walked back up the bank and continued up to the overlook for the upper falls. Bryce walked up the path by himself and seemed determined to do it alone. When we got near the upper falls he waited until I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I took a few shots and then we walked together to a spot where we both could see the falls. After that, we decided to try to get down to the stream bed. This descent was trickier than below as it was much steeper and just as damp. We made it down without mishap and I took some more pictures. Sheila, of course, was happy to be able to run through the water and back up the bank several times. Bryce and I climbed back to the top and then headed back down to the main trail. I decided to walk back toward the parking lot and then see if Bryce wanted to hike some more. When we arrived at the lot, Bryce said he wanted to hike some more so we headed down Russell Brook Road. The road was pretty open until just near the stone barriers where some trees and fallen across the path. Along the way we passed under some pine trees and were bombarded by several pines cones released by marauding squirrels. We walked passed the stone barriers and I showed Bryce where the water had washed away the road in two places. At this point we turned around and headed back to the car. I got Sheila in the backseat and put Bryce in his car seat. He remembered he had a snack in his pack and insisted on consuming it on the way home. By the time we were on the highway back to Livingston Manor, Bryce was asleep. I look forward to MANY more days like this one.

On Thursday, September 19th, I wanted to do a longer local hike and decided to try the Mongaup Falls Loop that I had rejected on Tuesday. The total distance is about 8.2 miles but has relatively little elevation change. By the time I got some things straightened up around home it was about 9:00 AM. I loaded up Sheila and my gear and headed out the DeBruce Road toward the Fish Hatchery Road. I parked near the intersection with Beech Mountain Road and we were out and hiking by 9:35 AM. The temperature was still cool and I had on a long-sleeved top and light windbreaker. We walked down the woods road to the stream and then started up the hill to the first trail junction. A large road sign just on the other s the of the bridge announced "Road Closed"! I thought it strange since the "road" on the other side was hardly passable! The trail was damp in spots but not really wet and I hoped this would continue as some places on the route are usually very wet. At the first junction we turned right to head towards the Mongaup Pond campgrounds. The snowmobile trail rolls a bit but generally gains elevation on its way to Mongaup. Even though it is relatively flat, there were very few wet areas along the way. At about 1.6 miles I began to notice ledges to the right and a swampy area on the left. This was the area that Cindy and I had bushwhacked in March to save some distance. At 10:15 AM, about 1.9 miles into the hike, we came to a junction and turned left which took us out to the campgrounds. I had forgotten exactly what we had done on the previous hike so I spent some time looking for the snowmobile trail that continues along Mongaup Pond toward the outlet end. What I should have done was make a right at the trail junction at the 1.9 mile mark! We walked the campground roads until the pond was in sight. I knew that following the roads would not get us to where we were going so I headed off into the woods heading east to bushwhack up to the trail. It was only about .2 miles through open woods until we were again on the snowmobile trail headed north along the edge of the pond.

I knew that the next trail I was looking for was the yellow Mongaup Willowemoc Trail which would be a right and would start our return trip. The temperature was getting warmer but I stubbornly kept my jacket on as we hiked along. At 3.1 miles we found the right turn onto the trail which is marked more with snowmobile disks that the yellow hiking blazes. I remembered that this trail climbed some but forgot that it is a rather long climb! Our next objective was a right turn onto a snowmobile trail just before Butternut Junction. We crossed two bridges along the way and I began to wonder about the exact location of the turn. I need not have worried since the trail junction came up right after the second bridge. The first 1.2 miles of this trail were all ascent punctuated by a few flatter areas. By 5.6 miles we were at the highest point on the trail at almost 2600 feet. The trail now started to descend and at 5.9 miles turned southwest and continued to descend. Several times I thought we were nearing the woods road that would take us back to the car but was misled by the similarities in terrain. At 6.9 miles we began another short ascent, crossed one more bridge and then met the woods road at 7.3 miles. We turned right on the woods road and began to walk northwest back to the first trail junction from earlier in the day. It was only .4 miles to the junction and mostly a descent. We continued to descend to the area of the stream and at 8.1 miles came to the path to Mongaup Falls. I had not planned on visiting the falls since there wasn't much water in the stream but I couldn't resist! We walked down the hill and over to the falls. The flow was not great enough to warrant taking pictures but I let Sheila play in the water some before heading back to the car. We were back at 12:45 PM having covered 8.3 miles in 3 hours and 10 minutes.

On Tuesday, September 17th, I decided I wanted to get out for a local hike before going to school for cross country practice. Cindy said she would like to go and my initial thought was to do the Mongaup Falls Loop. I looked at my report from a previous trip and at the time and decided it was a little too far so we agreed on the Frick and Hodge Pond Loop. After I completed some chores around the house, we headed out DeBruce Road and made a left on Fish Hatchery Road. When we got to the parking area, there was a pickup truck parked in the lot. We were on the trail by 9:35 AM heading out the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond. The two large steel I-beams were still in the lot. I hope these will be used to replace the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond before the winter snows fly! Despite the rain several days before, the trail was only damp with a little water running in a few spots. We were surprised to find very little dew on the grass despite the cool temperatures the night before. When we got to the trail junction with the Logger's Loop we stayed left on the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond. This area was mowed but the muddiest areas were barely damp. We didn't really stop at the bridge for pictures since the sky was a flat blue with almost no clouds and the pond had no wildlife. We continued across the bridge and we kept up a good pace as we passed by the pond and continued to the left up the Quick Lake Trail. It seemed that someone had been through doing a little trimming as the trail was clear. By 10:15M AM we had hiked the 1.5 miles to Iron Wheel Junction where we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. Parts of this trail were eroded but for the most part it was dry.

The hike up the Quick Lake Trail seemed to go by quickly as we walked and talked. By 10:55 AM we were at Junkyard Junction having covered about 3.1 miles. We turned right on the Flynn Trail and kept up our pace until we arrived at the gate and turned right to go down to Hodge Pond. At the shore of the pond, we turned left and walked the jeep trail around the back of the pond still talking to each other. Cindy noticed a canoe on the pond with a one fisherman. As we rounded the pond, the fisherman yelled "Is that you Ralph Bressler?" I answered in the affirmative recognizing the voice. We exchanged a greeting and told him we were headed for the "beach" at the outlet end of the pond. We continued down to the outlet end of the pond and Sheila immediately headed for the water. It was at this time I noticed she had lost her blaze orange neckerchief. I dropped my pack and headed back up the trail to see if I could find it. I searched all the way back to the trail junction but could not find it. By the time I got back to the "beach" my friend in his canoe was approaching. Both Cindy and I were impressed that he had carried the canoe the 5 miles round trip to the pond! We talked a little as I threw a stick out into the water for Sheila to retrieve. I repeated this several times, increasing the distance each time. Sheila swam out to the stick, grabbed it and swam back. She loves the water and never misses a chance to jump in! We said goodbye and headed for the Flynn Trail toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. As we ascended from the pond, we met a group of hikers our age or older with several younger people. We found out that they were a group from the Frost Valley YMCA Camp. We hit the junction with the Big Rock Trail at 11:50 AM five miles into the hike with about 1.7 miles to go. The advantage of hiking the route in this direction is that the last part of the hike is all downhill. We walked down the Flynn Trail toward the parking area and the car. We were back at the car by 12:30 PM having covered the 6.7 mile distance in 2 hours and 50 minutes.

On Friday, September 13th, I decided I wanted to close the gap I had created in my hiking of the Finger Lakes Trail by tackling map 26, the section from Cooper Schoolhouse Road to Masonville. I have learned to accept the fact that few other people have the time or willingness to hike with me. I was pleasantly surprised when Karl said he might be able to clear his calendar and hike with me. I told him to get to Livingston Manor as early as possible but having a two year old and 6 month old twins makes this almost impossible. I was hoping to leave by 8:00 AM which is late for me but Karl didn't arrived until after 9:00 AM. We left the house at around 9:35 AM but the ride to the starting point was only about an hour. We headed through Downsville, Walton and Bainbridge on Rt 206 and turned right on Town Line Road to get to Cooper Schoolhouse Road. The weather was supposed to clear but when we parked at 10:35 AM the skies were still overcast and there was a light drizzle. The rain would continue for most of the day turning from drizzle to light rain and then stopping only to repeat the pattern. I was a little worried about finding and staying on the trail as the map description mentioned wet areas, sparse blazes and numerous bramble patches! We walked southeast on Town Line Road for about .1 miles before cutting right into the woods on the trail. The next .6 miles of trail did have some puddles and other wet spots but we were able to get around or through them without too much trouble. The next .7 miles to Case Road was about the same as we climbed a small hill and then hit the road. We turned right on Case Road and followed the blazes on the road for about .15 miles until the trail again cuts into the woods on the left. It was fun to have Karl along as he took the lead and watched for the blazes most of the time. He also managed Sheila when she had to be on her leash. Over the next .9 miles we dropped some elevation to cross Searles Hill Road and then gained it back to again cross Case Road all the while heading generally south. There had been a few places along the way where the blazes were spaced apart and a few others where the weeds were high. I was pleasantly surprised that most areas were maintained and well marked contrary to the notes on the map! After crossing Case Road this time the trail skirted a field and then ran along the edge of the field and some lawns. It re-entered the woods and at about 3.4 miles started to parallel Newton Brook. When we arrived at the crossing of the brook at 3.6 miles, we had no problem stepping across. We continued to walk along the brook and at 4 miles crossed it again on a bridge. The trail led to a field and then back onto some woods roads until it again met Case Road at 4.3 miles.

It was 12:30 PM and at this point we had to make a decision. The map warned that the next crossing of Newton Brook, 1.7 miles ahead, might be difficult. I did not want to hike that far to find we could not cross easily. In addition, the skies were growing darker and I had no desire to get drenched. This left two choices. We could walk down Case Road to Route 206 and in to Bainbridge that way or we could walk Case Road back to the car and then park in Bainbridge and then walk the rest of the hike. We chose to turn left on Case Road and use it to get back to the car. We were at the lowest point on the hike so the first part of the walk up Case Road was uphill and we gain almost 400 feet in 1.4 miles to the point where we had last crossed. Along the way we spotted the point where the trail entered the woods and headed for Bainbridge. Within .5 miles, we crossed Searles Hill Road and Case Road turned to gravel and dirt. The next 1.5 miles was generally downhill but rolled a little. By 1:30 we were back at the car having covered 7.6 miles in a little under 3 hours. The rain had held off but we both agreed we were a little tired. Sheila was not! I drove out Case Road and turned left on Route 206 to head toward Bainbridge. We stopped near the sign for the town where the trail came up from the brook to meet the road. Karl and I walked down to the brook and found the crossing to be no problem. We discussed our options and decided that lunch and an early return sounded like the best idea. My plan is to return and in one or two days complete map 26 to close the gap. We found nowhere to eat in Bainbridge but we did visit the Pine Grove Grocery on Route 206. The store is operated by Mennonites and has many interesting products including nut butters, cheeses and bake goods. After buying some things, we head to Afton to eat in the Main Street Grill and Bakery. The meal was well worth the trip as they have many different wraps and burger selections. Karl and I both had the buffalo chicken wrap which was delicious. The bakery goods looked fresh and there was a nice variety. I purchased some cheesecake for Cindy before we headed home through Deposit.

On Wednesday, September 11th I decided to hike locally before going to school for cross country practice. We had not been to Long Pond for some time so I decided we would go there despite the fact that the trails are always wet and muddy and the overnight rain promised more of the same! An early morning ambulance call delayed our departure and we arrived at the parking area just before 11:35 AM and started hiking right away. I prefer to walk out the trail and come back on Flugertown Road so we headed up the hill on the trail out of the parking lot. In the first .7 miles we gained 350 feet but this was pretty much the only ascent of the day. There was some water on this part of the trail but nothing we couldn't avoid. At 1 mile there is a side trail down to Long Pond but I decided to keep moving on the main trail. I also made up my mind that pictures were not necessary. On this day the sky was generally overcast and almost cloudless which did not make for ideal conditions for photography. The temperature was rising fast and was already in the low 80's! After passing the trail to the pond, the main trail started to get much wetter with some small puddles and muddy areas. At 1.3 miles we arrived at the trail junction. The trail to the left leads back out to Flugertown Road for a very short loop. We turned right to continue on the longer loop. At 1.7 miles there was a trail to the right that goes to the lean-to but we continued on the main trail. We had passed several "ponds" on the trail which were also very muddy and I was happy that Sheila avoided the mess. At 2.4 miles the trail ended on a woods road where we turned left and walked down to the junction with Basily Road at 2.75 miles. Turning right here would have taken us to Wild Meadow Road so we stayed to the left to head back to Flugertown Road. At 3.25 miles we crossed a small stream and walked through the Peters hunting camp crossing another stream in the process. Just after crossing the second stream the road made a sharp turn to the left and we followed. For the next 2 miles the road was a solid dirt surface and we made good time. The walk was pleasant as the road parallels Willowemoc Creek. Somewhere along the way I heard a tremendous crash and looked to the right to see a tree truck about 15 feet long and 18 inches in diameter crash to the forest floor. For a moment I thought about what could have happened had we been closer! Toward the end of this section I head some music ahead which sounded like a group of campers. What I found was a middle-aged man with loose dog that wanted to pester Sheila and myself. The owner had not though to leash his animal and had no control over it. I had leashed Sheila and encouraged her to move along away from the annoying encounter! At 5.4 miles we passed the dirt road to Sand Pond on the right and at that point Flugertown Road became a paved and maintained town road. It was only .5 miles back to the car. We arrived in the parking area at 1:30 PM having covered 5.9 miles in 1 hour and 55 minutes with only 38 seconds of stopped time.

On Friday, September 6th, I decided I wanted to finish map 21 of the Finger Lakes Trail by hiking from where I had left off at Solon Pond Road near Taylor, NY to Stoney Brook Road near Cuyler, NY. I had a family commitment in the early evening so my plan was to hike the trail out and use the roads to hike back. I have done this before and have some good experiences. Much of the Finger Lakes Trail has few views or exceptional attractions. The trail is a pleasant hike for the most part through state forests and across private lands where permission has been obtained. Walking back on the roads affords a different view which is sometimes better than on the trail. When Sheila and I left Livingston Manor, the temperature was about 40 degrees and there was a heavy fog. The fog persisted for much of the trip up Route 17 and I 81. I took exit 8 off I 81 at Whitney Point and followed Routes 41 and 26 north and east to Cheningo Solon Pond Rd. I drove north on the road for about 6.5 miles to Freeman Road. The map description said parking was available north of the road but I couldn't find any. I returned and parked on the side of Freeman Road at 9:00 AM. The temperature was 42 degrees but somewhere along the way the fog had lifted and the sun was out. Despite the sun I was feeling cool and left on the light windbreaker I had worn. I almost regretted not having brought the light hat and gloves but knew I would warm up quickly. Sheila, as always, was ready to go as we walked down Freeman Road following the white blazes. The road curved slightly at the bottom and we walked up to an old farmhouse that is now a hunting camp. It was at this point that I noticed there were no more blazes and none visible ahead. Looking back I could see a white blaze so we backtracked to find the trail. As it turned out the trail had turned left just before the hunting camp although it was difficult to see the turn. The trail went down into a deep ditch and then passed through a sea of waist high weeds! It had rained the day before and there had been a heavy dew. The map warned that this area could be wet but I was not prepared to be soaked from my boots to my hips! The ground underneath was marshy also making the start of this hike less than encouraging. The weeds and marshy ground didn't last long and we were soon climbing on damp and muddy ground. Over the next mile the trail climbed almost 600 feet to the top of a hill and then descended to Potter Hill Road at 1.8 miles. We had entered Cuyler Hill State Forest and the trail seemed to be well maintained if not well traveled.

I had decided on this hike to consult my map and GPS less and just enjoy the hiking. The trail was clearly marked for the most part after the first problem on Freeman Road. From Potter Hill Road we climbed a little more and then dropped to the edge of a small stream and followed it uphill until we again crossed Potter Hill Road at 2.6 miles. From Potter Hill Road to Randall Hill Road the trail rolled up and down while heading north and a little west to skirt the summit of a hill. As we approached Randall Hill Road we descended to an unnamed brook and a bivouac area called Wiltsey Glen. There was a fire ring and a good water source. Here the trail turned west to follow the brook briefly an headed up to Randall Hill Road at 4.25 miles. As we hiked away from Randall Hill Road I watched for the orange trail on the left to the Rose Hollow Bivouac Area but missed it. The trail was in pretty good shape here but we did pass through some areas of briars and a few nettles. At 6.2 miles we hit the highest point on the hike as we summitted 2084 foot Randall Hill. From here it was only about .5 miles to Stoney Brook Road but a series of switchbacks lengthened that to about a mile. We arrived at Stoney Brook Road at noon just as the whistles were sounding. We had hiked 7.2 miles and were now ready to return to the car. I had looked at several different routes but decided to follow Cuyler Hill Road all the way back to the car. We got a snack and I put my poles in my pack and put Sheila on her leash. We turned left on Stoney Brook Road and hiked the short distance out tom Cuyler Hill Road where we turned left. The sky was now blue and the countryside was worthy of a picture. I didn't stop to take pictures, however, as the scene was much the same as last time. At 8.4 miles we passed Enzes Road on the left which I had considered taking back to Randall Hill Road. One look assured me I had made the right choice as the road immediately ascended a hill. As we walked down Cuyler Hill Road it seemed we were between two ridges. It was a pretty walk and along the way we found a nice, piped spring. We also passed by several goats in a pen. Sheila seemed very interested as they bleated a greeting. At 10.3 miles Randall Hill Road came in from the left and we continued on our chosen path. We turned left on Cheningo Solon Pond Road at 11.4 miles and started the last part of the hike back to the car. We were back at the car at 1:40 PM and I noted that the temperature was only 62 degrees. We had hiked 12.1 miles in 4 minutes and 40 seconds. The 7.2 miles hike out had taken us 3 hours while the 4.9 mile road walk was only 1 our and 40 minutes!

On Wednesday, September 4th, I decided I wanted to return to the new trails created near the Pepacton Reservoir. The Shavertown Parcel is one area where new trails have been constructed by the Catskill Mountain Club on land opened to public use by the DEP. I asked Lisa if she would like to go and she agreed. We both decided on getting out as early as possible. I picked her up at her house a little before 8:00 AM and we headed up the Beaverkill Road and out Beech Hill Road to Route 30 on the Pepacton Reservoir. We arrived at the trailhead just before 8:30 AM and I parked along the road where there was room for two cars. We were ready to go just after 8:30 AM. I leashed Sheila to cross the road as she was ready to go but released her as soon as we started up the trail. The trailhead is now marked by a sign which was erected at the dedication on August 30th. The first .25 miles of trail climbs 200 feet as it heads directly north and up the side of Perch Lake Mountain. Soon the trail turned right on an old access road and continued to climb through the forest for another .25 miles. We broke out into a field and the trail leveled a little. The trail now turned northeast after passing some meteorological instruments and we descended to the edge of a small pond at .85 miles. The pink and white water lilies were gone but the pond was still pretty. This time the sky was bluer than it had been on previous visits but the puffy white clouds were still missing I took some pictures anyway. The day was sunny but the air was crisp with a hint of fall. Sheila could not resist the water and decided to go for a swim. I threw a stick into the water and she retrieved it several times without getting tangled in any water plants.

We continued around the pond and I took some more pictures of the pond. We walked back along the trail and then turned left at the sign that marked the turn for the extra 1.5 miles. This trail followed another woods road and gained a little over 200 feet in the next .5 miles. At times we couldn't see the next marker but I knew from previous visits we were on the right path. At around 1.5 miles into the hike the trail dipped to the left off the woods road to travel through an area with large boulders. Many were also covered by interesting mosses and lichens. Lisa really liked the area near the pond with the lookout over the reservoir and was enchanted by this rocky excursion. Once the trail rejoined the road it remained pretty flat for the next .8 miles. The trail began to turn around the mountain heading a little to the east and I knew that it would make a small loop and then bring us back to the trail we had come in on. The DEP parcel is surrounded by private property which made a loop hike impossible. We followed the woods road back to the pond and then took the access road back to the trail. We made the left on the trail and were soon back at the car. The trip back went much faster as it was mostly downhill. We were back at the car at 11:05 AM having covered 4.7 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes with about a 1000 feet of ascent along the way.

On Friday, August 30th, I decided I wanted to begin hiking map 21 on the Finger Lakes Trail. The total distance for this whole map is only 14.7 miles so I knew it would take only two trips to complete. A look at the map didn't show too many roads to act as shortcut on the return trip but there were some possibilities. Many sections of the Finger Lakes Trail are simply pleasant sections of trail without any views or points of interest and I have no problem using the roads to walk back to the car. Many of these roads are dirt or gravel and have more interesting views than the trails! I woke up to the ambulance pager at 4:45 AM which complicated my plans! After getting back, I debated whether I should attempt to hike on 4 hours sleep but in the end decided to go. Sheila is always ready so I got dressed and got my gear in the car as we left the house at about 6:45 AM. I decided to ignore the car GPS and stay on the highways rather than take the back roads. I took State Route 17 north and west to Binghamton through fog so dense I thought it might stay around all day. Near Hancock I stopped at a two car accident. I was amazed that these two cars "found" each other since there were so few of us on the road! Both drivers were uninjured but one car showed extensive damage. and then I-81 to exit 10 where I picked up route 41 going east for about 6 miles. As Route 41 curved to the south, I continued straight ahead on Telephone Road and drove 1.3 miles where I found a large parking area on the right. I drove a little farther and found where the Finger Lakes Trail crossed the road. I returned to the parking area, parked the car, got out my gear and was ready to go at 9:00 AM. I put Sheila and her leash and we crossed the road. A few hundred feet up the road we turned left or north and into the woods to start the hike. Sheila was glad to be feed as she bounded ahead of me. The trail was wet and muddy in spots with some very slippery rocks. The stream on the left side of the trail was almost dry. The trail started to ascend right from the beginning and by the time we crossed Cortland Two Road we had gained over 200 feet. The Cortland Two is a dirt and gravel road that connects Telephone Road to Taylor Valley Road and runs almost 5 miles between them. We crossed the road and began to ascend Mount Roderick. At 1.4 miles we passed by the summit after gaining another 200 feet. The trail seemed to be used and was well maintained. We were passing through Taylor Valley State Forest.

After the summit of Mount Roderick we dropped a little and the skirted another hill. At 3 miles the trail met the Cortland Two Road and we began a long descent. The map description warned that high water might make Cheningo Creek difficult to cross so I decided to continue on the Cortland Two to Taylor Valley Road. My plan was to take a look at the creek crossing on the other side. If it looked passable, we could use the trail on the return trip. The walk down Cortland Two was 1.7 miles and I thought about the climb on the return trip. I did not see where the trail headed right off the road to cross the creek but I did noticed at some point there were no more white blazes. Near the end of the descent the road turned from north to east and crossed Cheningo Creek and a very marshy area associated with it. The water looked high but was not flowing swiftly so I suspected some beaver activity near by. At the Taylor Valley Road we turned right and hiked .8 miles on the shoulder to the Cheningo Day Use Area. Across from the entrance was a North Country Trail kiosk and the place where the Finger Lakes Trail came across the creek from the Cortland Two. I dropped my pack behind the kiosk and took a quick trip down to the creek. The water was high and just covering a few of the stepping stones. Several of the stones had a nice layer of slippery moss. Beyond the creek the trail look very wet and I decided I might use the road on the return also! I picked up my pack and headed across the road to enter the day use area. White blazes point to the right but then sort of ended. I investigated some and found the blazes continued on a woods road at the right end of the area. This was the only place during the entire day that I had a problem with the blazes! We only followed the road for a short distance before the trail turned right and headed up Allen Hill. Over the next .6 miles we climbed through several switchbacks that turned a 20+ % grade into 12%. I actually like to climb most of the time and would not have minded a more direct root. The trail began to level at the top of a hill. Over the next .7 miles we continued to gain elevation to the west shoulder of Allen Hill whose highest point is on private land. We began to descend and soon came to a woods road where we turned right and began a long descent to Solon Pond Road. Over the next .9 miles we lost over 500 feet! I knew that when we reached the road we would simply turn around and be faced with climbing the hill we had just come down. We arrived at the road in the vicinity of Freeman Road just after noon. I was surprised to see that the since was closer to 8.2 miles than to the 7.8 or less I expected. We got a drink a snack before turning around to head back to the car.

After crossing the road, we sorted up the hill we had just come down. The climb seemed pretty easy and we were soon at the junction of the woods road and the trail. Instead of turning left to continue on the trail, I went straight ahead to meet Seacord Road which seemed to be a good alternative to the trail. I turned left, determined this was the wrong direction, reversed course and started down the dirt and gravel road. There was about as much to see on the road as on the trail but at least we were seeing something different. Somewhere along the way I noticed that my head was surrounded by a cloud of bugs. Until this point I had only dealt with a few horse flies. The cloud was mostly annoying but I hoped it would dissipate once we reached Taylor Valley Road. The walk was pleasant and all downhill. Over 2.2 miles on the road we lost over 700 feet of elevation. When we hit the Taylor Valley Road, I debated whether to take the trail or the road. The insects were still with use making us both miserable so I decided on the road and we turned right. I was deep in thought as we walked along the shoulder and would have passed by the Cortland Two but Sheila was paying attention so we turned left onto the road to start our final leg back to the car. The temperature was now in the high 80's and it was humid. The bugs persisted but I found the after I hiked the less I was bothered. Somewhere along the way a breeze started which was something I had been praying for! At 13.25 miles we were in the area where the trail meets the Cortland Two. I decided to continue on the road since it was a straighter shot back to the car. Over the next 1.3 miles the road ascended, dropped and ascended again. After this last ascent, it was all downhill for the next 1.4 miles to Telephone Road. At the road we turned right and walked the .1 miles back to the car. We were both a little tired. I had somehow tightened my pack so that both of my shoulder hurt. we had walked 16 miles in just under 6 hours arriving back at the car just before 3:00 PM. I again had taken no pictures since the hike was a series of roots, rocks and trees with no views worthy of snapping some shots. On the way back I stopped in Whitney Point for a snack and found a six pack of Ithaca Flower Power (beer) at the Sunoco!

On Tuesday, August 27th, I decided I wanted to hike closer to home and avoid the two hour trips I had been taking. I had not hiked the Long Pond to Mongaup Pond loop is some time and had never hiked it in a clockwise direction. I checked my own website and found that the total distance was 9.8 miles and remembered that it had two significant climbs over Middle Mongaup and East Mongaup Mountains. I got my gear and Sheila and I started out just before 9:30 AM. We arrived at the trailhead on Flugertown Road and I parked just passed the trailhead on the side of the road. We were ready to hike at 9:50 AM when we crossed the road and started up the trail. The first .5 miles gains about 250 feet to the trail junction. The red Long Pond Trail continues to the right but we turned left on the yellow Mongaup Willowemoc Trail which goes to the shores of Mongaup Pond. As we hiked I noticed that although the ground and vegetation was wet from the rain the night before there were few bugs hovering around me. The temperature seemed almost cool with a nice breeze that made hiking very pleasant. The hiking trail in this area is also a snowmobile trail so it was wide and well-maintained with no blowdowns to block the path. It wasn't long before we crossed the private road to Sand Pond and then hit a low point as we crossed Butternut Creek, the outlet to Sand Pond. We walked along the creek for a short distance and then crossed one of the sturdy bridges at around 1.5 miles. After the creek, the trail began an ascent of over 400 feet before descending to the shores of Mongaup Pond. There were some rocky sections along the way and I learned to take care as many of the rocks were slippery from the rain and accumulated moss. We hiked 3.2 miles to the trail around Mongaup Pond where we turned right to head toward the upper end of the pond and the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail. The trail around the pond is always wet and it was more so this day with large expanses of walking only half a mile we were at the trail junction. We stopped at the edge of the pond and I took a few pictures. Sheila took the opportunity to swim and I threw a stick for her several times before we turned around and started the next pert of the hike.

I remembered that the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail ascended the Mongaup Mountains and that the climb was interesting in spots. I also remembered that parts of the trail were not well marked or maintained with blowdowns and prickers. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the trail from the pond was very clear with well-placed markers and few, if any, blowdowns. For the next 1.5 miles the trail headed almost directly north gaining over 800 feet to the top of Middle Mongaup Mountain. It looked like others had hiked the trail and it remained easy to find. There were some steep but short climbs along the way but at 5.1 miles we were at the summit which is just under 3000 feet. It was noon and I felt we were making good time. We started down the other side of the mountain and I noticed that the trail was less distinct, less well marked and that there were quite a few blowdowns on the trail. We descended over 400 feet and then regained almost all of that to reach the top of East Mongaup Mountain at 6.2 miles. My recollection of the rail was not complete so I was a little surprised when we descended again and then had to ascend to get to the trail junction with the Long Pond Trail back to the car. At 6.9 miles I was looking for the turn and almost missed it as there was no sign and the faded red markers were hard to see. We had been hiking through some prickers and over blowdowns on the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail but that did not prepare me for the Long Pond Trail.

Once we turned onto the Long Pond Trail it became immediately obvious that there had been no maintenance on the trail in some time. I stopped counting major blockages when I ran out of fingers. There were few markers and all but the last ones on the trail were faded to pink or white. Any area exposed to sun had untamed prickers in a tangled mass across the trail. In several places the blowdowns and the poor marking combined to through me well off the trail Sheila was a big help in finding where we were supposed to be. A good part of the trail became more like a bushwhack and I began to wonder if the trail had been abandoned. The problem, of course, is that there are too few volunteers to maintain all of the miles of trails. It seems that he trails to the 3500 foot peaks are maintained while some of the "lesser" trails are ignored. From trail junction to trail junction we dropped 850 feet in 2.5 miles. When we hit the junction with the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail, we turned left to descend the last .5 miles back to Flugertown Road. We arrived at the car at 2:25 PM which was later than I expected due to the poor condition of the Long Pond Trail. The hike was definitely a workout which is what I wanted but there were few photographic opportunities. We hiked 9.8 miles in 4.5 hours with 2225 feet of elevation gain along the way.

On Sunday, August 25th, Cindy and I decided to return to the new trails created near the Pepacton Reservoir on the Shavertown Parcel. This trail was constructed by the Catskill Mountain Club on land opened to public use by the DEP. We had hiked the trail less than a week earlier but the sky conditions were not the best for photography. When I looked at the sky after church on Sunday there seemed to be some white clouds in a blue sky. The trail has a pond with a view of the reservoir and another trail through the forest along some old access roads. The loop around the pond is about 2 miles with the additional trail adding another 3 miles or a total of about 5 miles. We got a late start had still had plenty of time to do the hike. We loaded up Sheila and headed for the Route 30 bridge across the reservoir. After crossing the bridge, I turned left and parked across from the trailhead about .15 miles up the road. There had been a scheduled Catskill Mountain Club hike at 11:00 AM but there were no other cars parked by the side of the road. We were ready to go almost immediately and crossed the road just before 2:00 PM to start our hike. The first .25 miles of trail climbs 200 feet as it heads directly north and up the side of Perch Lake Mountain. Soon the trail turned right on an old access road and continued to climb through the forest for another .25 miles. We met several people hiking back down the trail and the first group told us there were more hikers up at the pond. We broke out into a field and the trail leveled a little and we met a few more hikers. Along this part of the trail we found some meteorological instruments with solar panels for power. One had a snow scale next to it while the other had a device to measure rainfall. The trail now turned northeast and descended to the edge of the pond at .85 miles. The pond had both pink and white water lilies growing in it as well as cattails around the edge. We stopped and I took some pictures as Sheila decided to go for a swim. I decided NOT to throw any sticks this time as Sheila had gotten tangled in some pond weeds the last time. We walked over to the lookout at the western end of the pond and found that there were some more hikers sitting just below the viewpoint. It was disappointing to see that the sky conditions were not that much better than the last time we had done the hike. There was only a little haze but there were few of the white, puffy clouds I wanted to see. I took a few pictures of the pond and a few of the reservoir from the viewpoint. We headed back down the trail but decided to skip the "extra" trail since there was not much to see. We walked quickly down the trail but not as quickly as Sheila. Once she has been in the water, she usually dashes back and forth on the trail at breakneck speed! This day was no exception. At one point she was running around and came to a deep ditch which surprised her. Sheila simply took to the air in an amazingly long leap which made her appear to be in flight. We arrived back at the car after hiking only 1.9 miles in less than an hour. We debated going to Kelly Hollow but in the end decided to return home. I will have to return again to find the sky conditions I want.

On Friday, August 23rd, I decided I wanted to finish hiking map 22 on the Finger Lakes Trail. The total distance for the whole map is about 23.5 miles and I had hiked up to mile 14.9 on Ridge Road which meant I had 8.6 miles more to go. I wasn't sure that I wanted to hike almost 18 miles so I consulted the maps for an alternative. It seemed by hiking out on the trail and then back on the roads I could save a few miles. Many sections of the Finger Lakes Trail are simply pleasant sections of trail without any views or points of interest and I have no problem using the roads to walk back to the car. Many of these roads are dirt or gravel and have more interesting views than the trails! We left the house at about 7:00 AM and I decided to head to Whitney Point and take Route 26 to South Otselic. This seemed like the route that stayed on major roads for the longest distance and I knew I could make good time this way. The car GPS kept insisting on directing me to smaller back roads but finally saw it my way when we passed Deposit on Route 17! I stopped in Whitney Point for gas and then followed Route 26 all the way to South Otselic where I turned left and then right onto Ridge Rd. After 4.25 miles on Ridge Road, we passed Buck Brook Road and found the Finger Lakes Trail crossing just after that. It was the first trip in a while where I made no wrong turns and found the parking spot immediately. It was 9:15 AM and we were ready to hike so we entered the woods to begin the trip. The trail from the road was well-maintained with some cut ferns in the trail that were not yet brown. The trail almost immediately crossed a small brook that was almost dry. From there we ascended a small hill and then dropped to another stream at 1.2 miles into the hike. There were few, if any, insects and the temperature was in the high 60's with a slight breeze making perfect conditions for hiking. The trail skirted McDermott Hill and began to follow a well-defined logging road. At about 2 miles we were hiking along the logging road when I realized that there were no longer any white blazes to be seen. We walked a little farther and then backtracked to pick up the trail which had veered right at about 1.9 miles. I looked for the turn blaze and found it...completely hidden by vegetation. The trail climbed a bit and then rejoined the logging road and continued to descend. Once again I was hiking on a logging road and looked up to find no blazes anywhere ahead. I backtracked again and found where the trail had again headed right at about 2.8 miles and started to ascend through the woods. The ascent seemed steep but in fact was not very challenging and was short. Over the next .4 miles we descended about 250 feet to Bucks Brook Road. Once at the road we turned left and walked .3 miles out to Route 26.

We turned right on Route 26 at 10:35 AM and hiked down the wide shoulder for .35 miles crossing the Otselic River to a fishing access on the right side. The map directions said to follow the blazes but there were none in the lot. We walked through the lot to a dirt road and turned left toward the river but I could find no blazes. We walked back to the lot and out a path toward the river. The path needed at the river bank. We walked back out to the dirt road. Just as the road made a sharp turn there was a red cone and what looked like a trail going up a hill and along the river. I decided to try this path even though there were no blazes. We hiked up the path and I found some white blaze indicating I had chosen correctly. The trail followed the river but stayed high on the bank for a short distance. At about 4.6 miles the trail began a series of switchbacks to climb Truman Hill. From the river we climbed about 550 feet to the top of Truman Hill crossing a road just before the summit. After the summit we descended the other side of the hill to another road where the trail paralleled but did not meet the road. This part of the trail was as confusing as any part I had been on. There were so many twists and turns I felt like I was going in circles! At 5.6 miles we turned south onto a logging road which was poorly marked. We stayed on the road for about .3 miles and then turned left and looped back north almost parallel to the road we just left. Over the next 1.25 miles we headed north, then east, then south, then west and then south again gaining about 350 feet along the way. At this point we were headed for Warner Road which was our ultimate destination and I though we would be there soon. This was not to be as the trail now headed east for the next .9 miles gaining and then losing elevation in the process. We were now hiking in primarily evergreen forest and I was hoping to find the Winston Braxton Memorial Bench which was supposed to be only .8 miles from the end of the trail section. At about 8 miles we began another 200 foot ascent for about half a mile passing the bench along the way. We were now headed south and downhill. After passing through an old quarry we walked through some more pines and at 9.2 miles we were on Warner Road. It was 1:00 PM.

I hadn't calculated the exact distance back on the roads but through I could save at least 2 miles. I was happy to have an alternative as this was not my favorite section of trail. After getting a drink and a snack, I pack my poles and we headed east on Warner Road for 1.35 miles to Route 26. Along the way the road became paved and we dropped 560 feet which I thought we would have to regain at some point to get back to the car. We did pass a nice sugarbush on Warner Road although I did not see the saphouse. I had already put Sheila on her leash so when we got to Route 26 we turned north and headed back toward the intersection with Bucks Brook Road. Route 26 has pretty good shoulders in most places but most vehicles were traveling quite a bit above the speed limit! We were only on the main road for 1.8 miles. At 12 miles we passed the fishing access area and at 12.3 miles we turned left on Valley View Road. It was a short walk to Buck Brook Road where we turned right and headed northwest along the brook. I let Sheila off her leash to go down to the stream to play and get a drink. The walk up Bucks Brook Road was perhaps the most scenic of the day. There was enough water in the brook for it to make some sound. There were several small cascades that I would not call waterfalls but they were varied and interesting, The walk up Bucks Brook Road was about 2 miles to Ridge Road and we gained about 425 feet which was less than I thought. We passed several nice places on the road one of which was for sale. At 14.3 miles we turned right on Ridge Road and walked the final .3 miles back to the car where we arrived at 2:45 PM. We had covered 14.6 miles and 2360 feet of ascent in 5.5 hours with only 15 minutes of stopped time. Map 21 is to the west and most trailheads are actually closer to home!

On Thursday, August 22nd, I decided I wanted get out and hike after several days of nursing a summer cold. My decision came rather late in the morning so I thought I would stay close to home and chose Trout Pond as my destination. Sheila was all ready to go as she always is and we arrived at the junction of Morton Hill Road and Russell Brook Road at about 10:30 AM. I parked along the side of the road to avoid parking in the lot which is private property. As wee walked down Russell Brook Road, I was plagued by a swarm of insects including some mosquitoes with an appetite. I attributed this in part to some rain the night before which made everything a little damp and hoped they would soon go away. There was more water in the brook than I thought there would be and both the upper and lower falls were running nicely. There was one car parked in the lower lot as we passed through. I decided to skip the visit to the falls until the return trip and walked across the bridge to the trail register. I decided to head up the hill toward Mud Pond first for some variety as we had not hike in that direction for some time. The hike up the hill went quickly and didn't seem as strenuous as I remembered. When we got to the trail junction, we turned right to start over Cherry Ridge toward Trout Pond. Everything was nice and green and bright. The skies were sunny but the a little flat with very few clouds. We kept up a good pace as I was more interested in the exercise than the scenery. We walked up the hill and down the other side arriving at the inlet bridge at about 11:40 AM. We had covered 3.5 miles in just over an hour! Sheila likes to play in the water so we walked to the edge of the pond where she promptly dove in. The water was shallow but I decided to throw a stick for her anyway. My first throw went pretty far out, I thought, but Sheila barely had to swim to get it. I put a little extra effort into the next few and she was able to swim a little to retrieve the stick. Back on the trail we walked over the bridge and along the east side of the pond toward the outlet. As we approached the other end, I could see a woman on the "beach" at the outlet and decided to skip the visit as I was not really interested in pictures. Sheila and I continued our fast pace down the hill and were soon at the trail register. I decided that I did not need to visit the falls so we walked back up Russell Brook Road to the car. We were back at 12:20 PM having covered 5.4 miles in under 2 hours!

On Monday, August 19th, I decided I wanted to hike the new trails created near the Pepacton Reservoir. The Shavertown Parcel is one area where new trails have been constructed by the Catskill Mountain Club on land opened to public use by the DEP. The trail descriptions mentioned a pond with a view of the reservoir and another trail through the forest along some old access roads. The loop around the pond was supposed to be about 2 miles with the additional trail adding another 3 miles or a total of about 5 miles. The description mentioned that the first part of the trail to the pond was a little steep but that the rest was relatively flat. Cindy decided she would like to go so we loaded up Sheila and headed for the Route 30 bridge across the reservoir. After crossing the bridge, I turned left and found the trailhead about .15 miles up the road. I turned around and parked off the side of the road across from the beginning of the trail. We were ready to go almost immediately and crossed the road at 11:05 AM to start our hike. The first .25 miles of trail climbs 200 feet as it heads directly north and up the side of Perch Lake Mountain. Soon the trail turned right on an old access road and continued to climb through the forest for another .25 miles. We broke out into a field and the trail leveled a little. Along this part of the trail we found some meteorological instruments with solar panels for power. One had a snow scale next to it while the other had a device to measure rainfall. The trail now turned northeast and descended to the edge of a small pond at .85 miles. The pond had both pink and white water lilies growing in it as well as cattails around the edge. We stopped and I took some pictures as Sheila decided to go for a swim. I threw a stick into the water and she retrieved it several times. On the last retrieval she decided to swim through a patch of pond weeds. She promptly got tangled in the mass but was able to power through the mass dragging most of it to shore. It was a moment that caused us some apprehension and I was all ready to jump in if she needed help! We walked around the pond on the west side and found an outstanding lookout over the Pepacton. The only disappointment was that the sky was "flat" and white without clouds or any real color. There was also a haze over the reservoir and surrounding hills but I took pictures anyway. I intend to return on the first day with blue skies and puffy clouds.

We continued around the pond and I took some more pictures of the pond and the lilies. Cindy spotted some fish in the pond and I managed to get one picture before Sheila jumped in. The trail around the back of the pond was flagged but not completely cleared out but we continued around anyway as we walked back to the trail that we had descended to the pond. We walked back along the trail and then turned left at the sign that marked the turn for the extra 1.5 miles. This trail followed another woods road and gained a little over 200 feet in the next .5 miles. At times we couldn't see the next marker and were left wondering if we were on the correct path but it all worked out. At around 1.5 miles into the hike the trail dipped to the left off the woods road to travel through an area with large boulders. I took some pictures as the sedimentary layers were so clear on the rocks. Many were also covered by interesting mosses and lichens. Once the trail rejoined the road it remained pretty flat for the next .8 miles. The trail began to turn around the mountain heading a little to the east. We assumed it would continue east and then head south to loop around the mountain. We followed the flagging and markers as they looped around and ended up...back on the same trail we had come in on. We did not know where we had gone wrong but it was a little too late to go and explore to correct our mistake. We followed the woods road back to the pond and then took the access road back to the trail. We made the left on the trail and were soon back at the car. The trip back went much faster as it was mostly downhill. We were back at the car at 1:30 PM having covered 4.7 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes with about a 1000 feet of ascent along the way.

On Saturday, August 17th, I decided I wanted to continue hiking map 22 on the Finger Lakes Trail. The total distance for the whole map is about 23.5 miles and would probably have to be divided into four days of hiking. I had already hiked from Stoney Brook Road in Cortland County near Lincklaen to Paradise Hill Road in Madison County earlier in the week. My plan was to park on Paradise Hill Rd and hike to Ratville Road or Ridge Road before turning around. I did not have to get up very early on Saturday but awoke early anyway. I got my gear together and Sheila and I were ready to leave Livingston Manor around 6:45 AM. I had one set of directions from Google maps which took me through Cortland and then put me on Route 13 from there. The car GPS has a different route using exit 8 off I81 and I decided to follow it. The route included many smaller roads but got us to Lincklaen Center in good time. Now the problem was that I could not find Paradise Hill Road as there was no sign with that name. After a quick correction of a wrong turn I found the road and started up the hill. I knew that the Finger Lakes Trail crossed near the junction with Woods Road but this road also did not have a sign. I continued on Paradise Hill Road until it was clear that I had passed the Finger Lakes Trail crossing. I pulled over and used my hiking GPS which showed me I was almost a mile passed where I wanted to be. I turned around and found the Finger Lakes Trail crossing rather quickly. There was just enough room to get off the pavement and park on the grassy shoulder although the ditch seemed a little deep. I got me pack ready and we headed across the road on the trail at about 9:15 AM. There didn't seem to be too many insects so I decided not to apply the repellant. Within a few minutes we crossed Woods Road and began ascending a Stage Coach Hill. I didn't mind climbing as I knew it would be a descent on the way back. Just as soon as we hit the high point we began to descend dropping almost 600 feet to Dublin Road where we turned right. I thought about his ascent on the way back after hiking over 10 miles!

There was excellent parking on Dublin Road and although the surface was dirt and gravel it seemed driving it would be no problem. We walked down Dublin Road for .3 miles and then took the trail into the woods on the left. Most areas of the trail were only damp but there were some wet and muddy areas especially where woods roads crossed the trail. It was only .5 miles to Mariposa Road but several switchbacks stretched this to 1 mile. We also gained back over 400 feet of elevation as we crossed the road. Immediately after the crossing the trail looked as it someone had used a lawnmower to cut the vegetation. This continued for some distance as we passed through Mariposa State Forest. The fact that somebody acted enough to cut out the trail buoyed my spirits. It was less than a mile from Mariposa Road to Bamberry Road and the trail undulated a little along the way. At 3.5 miles we crossed a stream on a nicely built bridge. It was the only bridge across any of the streams on the hike but most of the stream were almost dry. Sheila took a minute to get a drink and run through the water before we headed uphill on the trail. As we crossed Bamberry Road we entered private property. The trail on the other side of the road was hard to spot as it had not been cut out at all. We walked through some high weeds and into an evergreen forest where I found white blazes on the trees. In only .4 miles from the road was a junction with the Link Trail which connects with the North Country Trail. The North Country Trail when completed will stretch from Crown Point, NY to North Dakota passing through seven states over 4600 miles! In New York the trail will follow much of the Finger Lakes Trail starting at the trail junction with the Link Trail. We continued passed the Link Trail and I found a sign that said "FLT to Adirondacks, Long Path, Catskills". From this point the map was relatively silent about the next two miles which was a shame since this was by far the trickiest part of the hike!

Somewhere around 4.9 miles we came out of the trees into a field. The grass was high and there was only the hint of a trail. I was lucky to spot a post in the high grass with a white blaze. Just beyond this post was another and then...nothing. I headed for the edge the of the field near the trees and, again, was lucky to spot some faded white blazes on some trees. We followed those blazes through high grass and brambles until we came to a barbed wire fence with a stile that had a white blazes. The stile was 4 or 5 feet high and was basically a ladder in the shape of a triangle. It looked like there was plenty of room under the fence for Sheila and I expected her to take that route. As I climbed the ladder I felt something on the back of my leg! Sheila climbed up the ladder and then climbed down the other side. I wanted to take a picture but a swarm of bees the on the other side discouraged me! The big problem was that I could not find where the Finger Lakes Trail headed. I consulted my compass and map and it was clear we should head east along a country lane. As we walked I did pick up a few blazes but not many. We walked along the lane for about .2 miles as it skirted the edge of the field after which we turned south and entered a pine forest. The next section of trail was constructed to head south while staying out of the farm fields and to do this it took several interesting turns. Along the way I spotted a pond but did not want to walk across private property to get there. A little further along the trail passed right by the shore the of the pond and we stopped so that I could take some pictures. The pond was small and very isolated. There were some reeds growing on the shores and the water was very still. The most interesting part was the way the sky and clouds were reflected he the pond. There was also a stand of trees that seemed to be changing color. I took some pictures and we got a snack before heading on down the trail. Not too much further along we stopped again so that I could take a few more pictures of the countryside.

We continued along the trail descending to Ratville Road which we reached at 7.3 miles. It was about 12:30 PM and I was tired. I knew that I wanted to take the bypass route on the way back which is used when the private property is closed for hunting. I looked at the map and began to think I would use the roads to hike back to the car. I estimated that it would be between 4 and 5 miles on the roads as opposed to more than 8 miles on the trail. I like hiking on the country roads as I often see sights as interesting as those on the trails. In this case hiking the roads would allow me to hike another mile on the trail to Ridge Road and have some variety on the return trip. There was a place to pull a car off the road but I hoped there would be better parking on Ridge Road. We crossed Ratville Road and immediately ran into some blowdown. The rest of the trail was well marked and easy to follow as we hiked a little over a mile to Ridge Road. The trail did ascend and then descend a small hill along the way. The last part of the trail followed a nice stone wall for some distance before finally crossing Ridge Road where there was plenty of room to park several cars. We turned around here and headed back over the hill to Ratville Road where we turned left on the dirt and gravel road. The road went downhill and then uphill a little until it met Mariposa Road. We stopped and I put Sheila on her leash and put my poles in the pack before we turned right on Mariposa Road. In only .3 miles we turned left on Lincklaen Center Road where we were confronted by a hill. As we walked along we saw a lot of farming going on. There were barns with silos and large herds of dairy cattle. Some farmers were haying and we passed one farmer who was taking break after emptying a hay wagon. We stayed on Lincklaen Center Road for about 2.3 miles as it lost about 400 feet to the intersection with Paradise Hill Road in Lincklaen Center. I knew that we would have to again that loss back and more to get to the car. Near the intersection was a farm where there were several white-faced Herefords and their calves. I would have stopped to take pictures but I just wanted to get back to the car. We turned right onto Paradise Hill Road and walked through Lincklaen Center and then started to climb Paradise Hill Road. The distance was 1.6 miles and we only gained 460 feet but I was glad Sheila was pulling me and I was happy when we got to the car at 3:00 PM. We had walked 9.3 miles on the trails and 5.1 miles on the roads for a total of 14.2 miles and 2270 feet of ascent in 5 hours and 40 minutes. I noticed my right calf was hurting again and that the Keen boots, like many hiking boots, have very little arch support. I will try to remember to add a pair of insoles next time to see if they help.

On Thursday, August 15th, I decided I wanted to begin map 22 on the Finger Lakes Trail. The total distance for the whole map was only about 23.5 miles and would probably have to be divided into four days of hiking. After looking at the map, my plan was to park on Stoney Brook Road in Cortland County near Lincklaen and hike to Paradise Hill Road in Madison County. The trail also passed through Chenango County at some point which meant we would be hiking in three counties over 6.6 miles. I thought about going on to, Dublin Road which was another 2 miles but decided to see how I felt when I got to Paradise Hill. When I awoke at 5:30 AM, I had a sore throat and felt lousy! I considered skipping the hike and turning over for some more sleep, but knew I would probably feel better if I went. I knew that Sheila would like to get put after being home for two days and this acted as some extra motivation. I got everything ready to go and left Livingston Manor a little after 6:30 AM for the 2 hour and 15 minute trip. I took State Route 17 northwest to Binghamton and then I81 north to exit 11 near Cortland. From there I took Route 13 northeast. Along the way I passed through Truxton and decided to stop to get gas. I noticed a memorial across from the gas station with a man in a baseball cap. After gassing up, I went to look at the memorial which was dedicated to John J. McGraw. McGraw was born in Truxton and went on to play baseball and manage the New York Giants. His record for victories is exceeded only by Connie Mack. From Truxton I continued on Route 13 until making a right on LinckLaen Road. After another right on Cuyler Hill Road, I found Stoney Brook Road and tuned left. The road had the now familiar "Seasonal Maintenance" sign and lived up to its name as it was vary "stony". I drove up a small hill and parked where the Finger Lakes Trail came in from the left. After consulting the Finger Lakes Trail map, I decided to continue just a little further down the road to park where the map said the trail section actually began. I took off my light jacket even though it was cool knowing it would get warmer throughout the day and that I always warm up as I hike. There didn't seem to be too many insects around so I skipped the repellant. After consulting the map again, I realized that after a short piece of trail in the woods, the hike would be about 4 miles of road walking followed by another 2.2 miles in the woods. I wasn't happy about the road walking but it couldn't be avoided so we started out at 8:50 by crossing the road to get on the trail.

We walked to the first trail junction where an orange spur trail headed to Chippewa Falls. At this point we turned left to follow the Finger Lakes Trail and the Onondaga Trail back out to Stoney Brook Road at .3 miles. We turned right and walked out toward Cuyler Hill Road. I stopped to put my poles away, leash Sheila and take some pictures of the farm country against the blue but cloudless sky. At Cuyler Hill Road we turned right and walked downhill for over 1.5 miles to Lincklaen Road where we turned right. I was feeling better as we hiked although it was still cool with a breeze blowing. As we walked down the hill, I thought about the return hike up that same hill! Lincklaen Road had a pretty good shoulder and good sight lines so walking it wasn't too bad. Sheila gets better on the leash every time we go out unless there are birds involved. The walk wasn't unpleasant it was just that it was a road walk. Along the way there were many dogs most of which were chained. At 3.5 miles we passed from Cortland County into Chenango County. At 3.6 miles we made a left onto County Rt 12 and at 4.2 miles entered Madison County. After walking uphill slightly, I spied the Finger Lakes Trail sign on the right side the of the road at 4,4 miles. We crossed the road and stopped so that I could get out my poles and take Sheila off her leash. Sheila responded by dashing up and down the trail as we climbed a small hill on a woods road. The road was pretty wet so I was glad when the trail turned left off the road and continued to ascend the hill through mostly hardwoods. The trail was well marked and maintained and walking was pleasant. Ahead at 5.0 miles was a stream described as "reliable" on the map. I thought this might make it hard to cross since the map also mentioned a bypass trail. When we got to the stream, I took one giant step and was across and I never saw the bypass trail. We were now hiking through evergreen trees and their needles made nice, soft carpet for walking. At 5.2 miles we came to the Paradise Garden Lean-to complete with fireplace and picnic table. I kept with my policy of not taking lean-to pictures and we headed uphill away from the lean-to.

Just before hitting a logging road at 6.1 miles, I noticed the orange bypass trail on the left. We continued across the logging road and walked through some pines along the edge of a large field. At one point Sheila alerted but I could not see why until I looked in the field to find a farmer with a tractor and sprayer. We continued to walk making one stop so that I could take some more pictures of the bucolic landscape which now included puffy, white clouds against the blue sky. Soon we were descending through some hardwoods to Paradise Hill Road. I was still feeling fresh but I didn't know how I would feel hiking back on the roads and up Cuyler Hill. I decided to turn around as was my plan. On the way back we took the bypass trail which was even less used than the main Finger Lakes Trail. It was wet in places but was an interesting change from the main trail. We soon made a short but steep descent to the "reliable" stream. Apparently the bypass trail is simply a shortcut that bypasses the lean-to and not the stream! We crossed the stream and retraced our steps back to the road. I put away the sticks and put Sheila on her leash for the return trip. The trip back seemed faster than the trip out probably due to my familiarity with the route. Even the walk up Cuyler Hill wasn't too bad as Sheila has learned to pull when asked. As I was walking the last mile or so, I regretted not extending the hike a few more miles. I thought about moving the car and then doing as second hike then a better plan came to mind. I decided to hike back to the car and then hike the spur trail to Chippewa Falls. I knew there probably wouldn't be too much water at the falls from the warnings on the map and the waterfalls guidebook. I wanted to go anyway to get in a few more miles and to get an idea if returning to the falls in a wetter season would be a good idea. We were back at the car by 1:35 PM having hiked 12.7 miles with 2300 feet of ascent.

We paused only briefly at the car before crossing Stoney Brook Road to begin the hike to the falls. Only .1 miles in we came to the trail junction and continued straight ahead on the orange spur trail. The Finger Lakes Trail used to take this route until the landowner and the base of Chippewa Falls rescinded his permission to allow hiking on his land. The white blazes were removed and replaced with the orange ones. Almost as soon as we got on the trail it was clear that there had been no maintenance for some time. There was barely a path through the ferns and high prickers. In several places there were significant blowdowns that blocked the trail. I thought that a warning on the Finger Lakes Trail Conference map might have been a nice idea. I almost turned around but thought better of it since I have handled much worse conditions. The trail climbed a little initially but then dropped over 350 feet in the last .8 miles to the falls. The trail paralleled a stream for the last part of the hike and the stream was all but dry. I thought this probably did not bode well for the falls! When we arrived at the falls, the drop from top to bottom was truly impressive. I had seen figures from 50 to 200 feet. From what I could see the height was somewhere in between although it was hard to judge as the bottom of the falls was hidden by vegetation. I took some pictures of the main drop which answered my question about returning when more water was present. These falls with a moderate to heavy flow of water would be very interesting. After a brief stop, Sheila and I turned around and retraced our path to the car. The rounder to the falls was only 2.9 miles out and back with an ascent/descent of around 600 feet. Our total for the day was 15.6 miles in 6 hours with around 2350 feet of ascent and descent.

On Monday, August 12th, I decided I wanted to finish map 23 on the Finger Lakes Trail. The total distance for the whole map was only about 13.7 miles and I had already covered the first 6.9 miles from Otselic State Forest to Grover Brown Road in North Pharsalia. My plan was to park on Grover Brown Road where the Finger Lakes Trail crosses and hike to the end of the map section at North Tower Road near the Berry Hill Fire Tower. I probably shouldn't have tried to hike at all on this day as I had "stubbed" a toe the night before and it had turned several different colors. In the morning it still hurt but I decided to hike anyway. I didn't have any commitments in the afternoon so I left the house at about 7:30 AM expecting to arrive at around 9:30 AM on Grover Brown Road. I am getting to know Chenango county pretty well so I headed to Deposit on Route 17 and took Route 8 north to Sidney. Just north of Sidney I took the route to Norwich where I picked up Route 23 west. I thought I had located Grover Brown Road in North Pharsalia on my last trip but as I approached the road the car GPS informed me that I had already passed my destination. The street that I thought I wanted had a hand labeled sign announcing that it was One Eye Street. I turned around and looked carefully for Grover Brown Road as I drove east. I was lucky to spot the road as the sign had been knocked down and only partially put up again. The road started as a paved road that seemed to split somebody's farmyard. It quickly deteriorated to a "limited maintenance" road at which point it no longer registered on the GPS. I drove over the rough gravel surface and up the hill for a total of .6 miles from Route 23. As I was driving I questioned whether I should be driving on this track but continued anyway. I drove passed the point where the Finger Lakes Trail crosses the road and turned around in a wider spot at the top of the hill. Just passed this spot there was a gate that closed the road. I pulled over where the Finger Lakes Trail crossed and parked the car just off the road. I wondered for a moment if I was far enough off the road but then realized that no one would be coming up this remote road to this deserted area! We were ready to hike at about 9:40 PM after I had applied some insect repellant to stave off the horseflies a small cloud of tiny insects! The first .6 miles of the hike consisted of walking down Grover Brown Road to Route 23. We turned right and walked .7 miles along the shoulder to Fred Stewart Road. This road heads south to Route 10 which was our destination. The Finger Lakes Trail, however, left the road several times to enter the forest. We walked south on Fred Stewart Road for .6 miles, turned right on Center road and then made a quick left back onto Fred Stewart Road. The road at this point had a gravel surface and a "seasonal maintenance" sign but was in good shape. After walking another .1 miles, we turned right into the forest where the bugs again appeared to escort us.

The trail surface was pretty flat with only a few rocks and I noticed that I wasn't having too much pain in my injured toe. From the description on the map I knew that we would meet an old CCC road in about .8 miles. After a short walk I could see a clearing ahead and we walked out into a clear cut area. This was not mentioned on the map! The trail was overgrown with prickers which flourish in the sunlight. The trail was barely visible in most places and there were few blazes to guide the way. I followed Sheila who was able to pick out the trail in most places. We made only one wrong choice which I quickly corrected when I noticed a blaze to our left. The trip through the clear cut was actually short and after that we entered an evergreen forest. We came to the CCC road, turned left and hiked along the road for .3 miles to the point where the Finger Lakes Trail left the road on the right. The trail now was wider and cushioned by pine needles. We came to a stone wall where the trail turned right and just after this, at 3.6 miles, was a stone bench dedicated to Ed Sidote. Mr. Sidote chose this place. He is #3 on the FLT End-to-End list and has served the Finger Lakes Trail Conference as president and in many other capacities. We stopped for a minute to take pictures and get a drink and then continued on our way. Just after the bench we came upon a stone foundation on the right. I knew this signaled that we were close to Fred Stewart Road again and did not stop to take pictures. Shortly, we crossed the road and continued downhill to the CCC road where we turned right. After .3 miles on the road, the trail again entered the woods on the right.

Over the next 1.3 miles the trail ascended and descended a small hill staying parallel to the road until meeting it again at the intersection with Hoag-Childs Road. At this point the rest of the hike was a road walk to North Tower Road. My toe was hurting a little but I had also developed a pain in my right calf. I debated turning around and completing the rest of the hike at another time but quickly decided that I would "tough it out"! Fred Stewart Road was now paved so I put Sheila on her leash and we walked downhill for .5 miles to Route 10. We passed Dave Markham's machine shop where water was available. At Route 10 we turned left and start to walk east to North Tower Road. Route 10 is busy and has no paved shoulders for walking. It does have good sight lines so that we could get over when cars or trucks were coming. The walk was mostly up hill and the sun was bright. On the last uphill I spotted a turkey in the road which ducked back into the woods. When we approached, a covey of partridges flew up and we could hear the clucking of some turkeys. Sheila was very interested but I encouraged her to walk on by. At the top of the hill we passed a beautiful home with a stone wall out front and a columned porch. In about .8 miles we were at the corner of Tower Road where we got a drink and a snack and turned around. The hike back on Route 10 was quick and we made good time back to the road intersection. I decided that we would walk back all the way on the road since it was easier to walk and had a dirt and gravel surface. It seemed that this route would also save some distance as it was absolutely straight. As we hiked the insects returned but were manageable. I kept Sheila on her leash as we had met several trucks along the way. In 1.2 miles we were at the point where the trail crossed the road and we continued north crossing the CCC Road. In another 1.3 miles we were at the point where we had first entered the woods. Along the way we passed another area where the trees were "disturbed". I stopped to take some pictures but could not decided whether this was a clear cut area or was caused by some other "disaster". We walked back out to Center Road and turned right and then left to follow Fred Stewart Road back to Route 23. From here we simply retraced our steps to Grover Brown road and then to the car. The final uphill on Grover Brown Road was easier than I thought it might be. We were back at the car at 2:10 PM having covered 12.4 miles in 4.5 hours. The vertical gain was over 1500 feet but most of this was on the roads. The trip out on the trail was 6.8 miles while the return journey was 5.5 miles saving 1.3 miles and a little over 20 minutes as I had hoped.

On Sunday, August 11th, Krista and Brad were at the house with their dog Pierce. After church we decided to all go to Frick Pond to do a short hike. Pierce is not yet used to hiking so he would have to be on a leash but we thought it would be a good start. We used two cars to drive to the parking area since four people and two active dogs in one car seemed impossible. Luckily the ride is short and we arrived at the Frick Pond parking area at 11:50 AM ready to hike. It was immediately obvious that the recent rain had brought out the insects so we slathered on the insect repellant and were off. We decided to hike out the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond and take it to Iron Wheel Junction. The steel I-beans were still in the parking lot and the trail to the Frick Pond outlet had been cut out even wider than before. I assume that the bridge will be replaced soon but have not been able to confirm my assumption. We stopped at the bridge briefly to allow the dogs to play in the water. Pierce was a handful on his lead but Krista and Brad did not feel comfortable letting him run free. The longer we stood around the more insect appeared so we quickly crossed the bridge and headed around the left side of the pond. At the trail junction we stayed left to take the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel Junction. The trails were wet from the rain and it was obvious in places that the water had been flowing freely on the trail. By the time we got to Iron Wheel Junction the rest of the group wanted to turn right on the Loggers Loop and Sheila and I reluctantly agreed. I didn't want to cut the hike so short and particularly did not want to walk the Loggers Loop as it is always wet! We made the turn and quickly found out I was right about the trail as it was very wet with soggy areas and some large puddles. The conditions were also ripe for swarms of insects which had no respect for the insect repellant I was wearing. At that point the only good things about the trail was that it is relatively short. We walked the 1.3 miles in under 30 minutes arriving at Times Square at 1:05 PM. From there we stayed on the Loggers Loop back to the trail junction with the Quick Lake Trail. We turned left and walked back to the parking area. We arrived back at the car at 1:30 PM having hiked 3.8 miles in one hour and 40 minutes. I was actually happy to be back at the car as the insect situation made hiking miserable. I hoped that it would be better on Monday in Chenango County.

On Tuesday, August 6th, I decided I wanted to start map 23 on the Finger Lakes Trail. The total distance for the whole map was only about 13.7 miles and I decided to start the hike and turn around at a point where I could park and finish the map section on another day. The forecast for South Otselic included a possible shower in the afternoon so I wanted to get an early start so that I could finish before the showers which were forecast for around 4:00 PM. I also wanted to get home since I had to attend an EMT class in the evening. I didn't set an alarm but awoke at 5:30 AM anyway. I hurried around to get all my equipment ready and was able to leave Livingston Manor at about 6:30 AM. Despite the insistence of the GPS to take only back roads I drove up Route 17 to Binghamton and headed north on I81. I took the Whitney Point exit and then got on Route 26 north to South Otselic. I drove through the town and turned right on Stage Road. I drove to the end and took a left on Will Warner Road. The road was dirt and gravel and passed a few houses and a farm at which point I saw the "Seasonal Maintenance" sign. The road got a little rougher as I drove on looking for the point where the Finger Lakes Trail crossed. Just after this point I knew I could park on Partridge Hill Road. I didn't see any Finger Lakes Trail signs and the first right was not marked with a road sign. The road did have a brown and yellow sign which might have once said "Otselic State Forest" but was now impossible to read. I stopped the car and got out to look for the Finger Lakes Trail but couldn't find it. I decided to drive on a little further. As I did I realized that I was now on the section that was labeled "rough" on the Finger Lakes Trail map. Fortunately the section was short but unfortunately the next road sign indicated that I should have stayed where I initially stopped the car. I drove back over the rough road and parked the car. To make sure I was in the right spot, I walked east on Will Warner Road to find the Finger Lakes Trail sign which was about .1 miles up a small hill. I returned to the car to get my pack and poles. I took a few pictures from Will Warner road to the west when there was a nice view. Sheila and I left the car to start the hike at 8:30 AM. The fog was all but gone and the sun was coming out but the temperature was only 51 degrees. I wisely decided against wearing he light jacket I had on. We turned right onto the trail and almost immediately ran into some wet spots on the trail. I was pleased to see that the trail, maintained by the Bullthistle Hiking Club of Norwich, was recently cut out and reblazed! Over the next .7 miles the trail dropped over 300 feet to Thompson Brook before ascending slightly to meet Stage Road. As we were losing elevation I thought about the return trip knowing that I would be tired. I stopped at Thompson Brook to take a few pictures before walking up to Stage Road.

Once on Stage Road we turned left and walked a few hundred feet up the road to where the trail crossed the ditch and headed into a field. The map description did not mentioned a field and the blazes all but disappeared. I kept looking for blazes as we hugged the edge of the field and I finally found one or two. When we got to the top of the hill, I stopped to take a few pictures of the idyllic countryside. The grass had a heavy covering of dew which usually soaks through my shoes but although the leather looked wet my feet seemed to stay dry! Over the next 1.1 miles the trail continued to ascend but dipped several times to cross streams. Most of the streams did not have bridges but on this day none were needed as the stream were very low despite the recent rain. The last ascent from a stream to Church Road was a little steep. There were a few places where there may be waterfalls when the stream has more water. I did stop at one spot to take a few pictures. We crossed Church Road at about 2 miles at which point the trail leveled some and the surface was more even. We passed a trail register and then at around 2.5 miles we passed a blue blazed trail on the right to the Perkins Pond Lean-to. The trail to the lean-to was listed as .4 miles so I decided no visit was necessary. At 3.3 miles we crossed Johnson Street which I found to be an interesting and since it is a dirt road far from any town. The trail had gained a little elevation and we were hiking at about 2040 feet before descending to the dam at the south end of Jackson Pond. As we walked out onto the dam, we saw two men inspecting the spillway in the middle of the dam. I dropped my pack to take some pictures of the pretty little pond. The water was still and there was a small island near the south end. The sky at this point was clear and light blue with only a few clouds. The dam inspectors left so I picked up my pack and headed across the dam to the access road on the other side. I could find no white blazes but decided to follow the access road out to John Smith Road. After a short distance, I found white bales going into the woods on the right so I followed them. Soon it was clear the blazes were leading back to the dam! When I got to the dam, I did find turn blazes on a narrow pole near the spillway. This was NOT explained on the map description. If you hike this section walk to the spillway, turn right and descend through a small field or clearing to pick up the blazes of the Finger Lakes Trail. We turned around and followed the blazes back to the access road and turned right to walk out to John Smith Road. I saw no blazes on the access road or at the intersection with John Smith Road. We walked east on the road and quickly picked up the trail and turned right into the woods. Apparently the Finger Lakes Trail had crossed the access road and continued through the woods to John Smith Road. I know that the Finger Lakes Trail Conference tries to keep the trail off roads but this is another example of a section of trail that is not intuitive and not well marked!

We had been hiking mostly south but the trail now turned east and leveled off before starting to descend again. Along the way at about 5.5 miles we passed through and old CCC camp. (Your mileage may vary since I made some errors along the way. The mileages on the Finger Lakes Trail maps seem pretty accurate.) We stopped and I took a few pictures of the old foundations and walkways which are very hard to recognize. In just 80 years the forest has reclaimed most of the buildings. At 5.7 miles we hit Elmer Jackson Road and turned right. We walked down the road following the blazes until we approached a small pond. There was a DEC truck with three people parked near the dam. We exchanged greetings and I noticed a kiosk for the Pharsalia Wildlife Management Area near the truck. We turned left to walk over the dam to the pond. There was a small bridge with an interesting spillway underneath. We walked over the bridge and I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I took some pictures from the bridge and then descended the bank to the stream to get pictures of the bridge and spillway. The light was really too bright but I got a few good shots before walking back up to the trail. I checked my watch and GPS and found it was just after 11:00 AM and we had covered just under 6 miles. I had hoped to be a little farther along at this point but this section of trail had some interesting features! I decided I wanted to get to Grover Brown Road which the map put at 6.9 miles. There was supposed to be parking on where the trail meets the road and I knew it would make a good starting place when I returned the second half of this section. We walked across the dam and took a right to follow Canasawacta Creek the for the next mile as described on the map. What the map failed to mention was that the trail dropped to the creek and then ascended several times until pulling away from the creek and starting a steep ascent at 6.7 miles. At about 6.4 miles we passed a blue trail that heads out to Bear Wallow Road where there is parking and shortly after another blue blazed trail that leads to a beaver meadow. We continued on the main trail which skirts the DEC boundary line with private property and follows a woods road. After just under 7.5 miles, we were at the point where the trail met Grover Brown Road where there was enough room to park one or two cars. The road was dirt and gravel but looked no worse than some of her other roads I had been on. It was less than a mile to Route 23 in North Pharsalia. The time was 11:40 AM and I was happy to be turning around to head back. I intended to hike back without stops and to make the best time possible.

We turned around and started back on the trail keeping a good pace. As we walked along the creek, I saw some small but interesting waterfalls. I stopped briefly to take some pictures before continuing along the trail. We continued walking quickly back toward Elmer Jackson Road and shortly after walking to the road we passed through the CCC camp again. We crossed John Smith Road on the trail and walked the short section we missed earlier before arriving at the dam on Jackson Pond. The sky was much bluer now and had some nice clouds. I decided to take a few pictures and Sheila decided to go for a swim! I took my pictures and watched Sheila swim around just for the fun of it. I took some pictures of her "dog paddle" and then had to call her back as she was heading across the pond! As always, the dip in the water energized her and she ran wildly in circles around me. I promised myself we would make no more stops as we crossed he dam and ascend the trail on the other side. We continued on crossing John Street and Church Road. We were making good time but the constant ups and downs were beginning to make me tired. Somewhere after Church Road Sheila "alerted" and I looked up to see two hikers coming toward us. We stopped to talk for a minute. They were from Rochester and had hiked sections of the Finger Lakes Trail before. They had just started from Stage Road and were hiking to Perkin s Pond to stay overnight. Once we parted Sheila and I got going quickly descending along a stream and then crossing it before hiking along ascent to the filed near Stage Road. At the top of the field, I stopped to take my last pictures of the day. We descended to Stage Road and then to Thompson Creek. After crossing the creek, we had only about .6 miles to go to get back to Warner Road but there was a 300 foot climb along the way which seemed hard after almost 14 miles of hiking. Once we were on Warner Road we turned left and hiked the .1 miles back to the car. It was 2:35 PM and we had covered 14.5 miles in 6 hours with over 2200 feet of climbing.

On Saturday, August 3rd, I decided I wanted to get out for a hike in the afternoon. I had to pick my car up from the dealer's early in the morning after some repairs to the all-wheel drive system but that plan was interrupted by an early morning ambulance call. By the time I was ready to think about hiking, it was already noon so a long distance hike away from home was out of the question. I decided to visit Frick and Hodge Ponds as they are close to home and allow a variety of routes. I put my gear he the car along with an excited Sheila and headed for the parking area on Beech Mountain Road. I had a little trouble getting up Mongaup Road as two out-of-town drivers seemed to be unsure of where they were going or that they were on a two way road! When I arrived at the parking area just before 1:00 PM, there were a few other cars parked which is rare even on a weekend. I also notice two large steel I-beams in the lot. I assume 1 these will be used to replace the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. This would be a good idea since this is a popular hike and the bridge is in poor condition. Sheila and I got right on the trail and headed out the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond. Despite the rain, the trail was only damp with a little water running in a few spots. When we got to the trail junction with the Logger's Loop we stayed left on the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond. This area was mowed but the muddiest areas were barely damp. We stopped at the bridge so that I could take some pictures of the bridge itself and also some of the pond. I have taken hundreds of pictures here but I am always compelled to take a few more. The clouds on this day were puffy and well-defined against the blue sky. Sheila took a swim in Frick Pond which charged her up as usual. We continued across the bridge and met a lone male hiker coming toward us. I put Sheila on her leash but the hiker seemed to want to pet her. Sheila started to bark but the hiker let her smell his hand and all was good. We talked for a minute and he said he had seen another group hiking the trails. We kept up a good pace as we passed by the pond and continued to the left up the Quick Lake Trail. The ferns were starting to grow overt he trail but the rest of the trail maintenance we had done earlier in the summer made much easier. By 1:25 PM we had hiked the 1.5 miles to Iron Wheel Junction where we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. Parts of this trail were eroded but for the most part it was dry.

By 2:00 PM we were at Junkyard Junction having covered about 3.1 miles. We turned right on the Flynn Trail and kept up our pace until we arrived at the gate and turned right to go down to Hodge Pond. At the shore of the pond, I decided to turn left and walk the jeep trail around the back of the pond. This time we continued down to the outlet end of the pond. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take some more pictures of puffy, white clouds against a blue sky. I picked up a stick and threw it into the pond and Sheila immediately retrieved it. I repeated this several times, increasing the distance each time. Sheila swam out to the stick, grabbed it and swam back. She loves the water and never misses a chance to jump in! I got a drink, put my camera away and headed he the Flynn Trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We hit the junction at 2:50 PM 5 miles into the hike with about 1.7 miles to go. The advantage of hiking the route in this direction is that the last part of the hike is all downhill. We walked down the Flynn Trail and as we neared the end we began to hear voices. We could see a family group ahead of us so I put Sheila on her leash as we came down the last part of the woods road and entered the trail on the left. We could have easily caught up to and passed the group but I decided to take it easy as it was only a short distance back to the car. When we were back in the parking lot, I spoke to the others hikers. They also had a dog who was a very well-behaved boxer. We were back at the car by 3:30 PM having covered the 6.7 mile distance in 2 hours and 25 minutes.

On Wednesday, July 31st, I decided I wanted to finish map 24 on the Finger Lakes Trail. The total distance for the whole map was only about 11.8 miles and I had already hiked the first 6.0 mils. I did not want to park on the "main" road in East McDonough so I decided to take Route 220 west from Oxford to Chestnut Road. I then planned on taking Shortcut Road to the point where the Finger Lakes Trail crossed the road. From there I would have to hike north to the trail register outside of McDonough and then back to the car to cover that section of the trail. I got an early start from Livingston Manor and took the route through Deposit and Sidney which is becoming a familiar drive. The weather forecast was for sunny skies but I drove through several areas of heavy fog. The further north and west I drove the clearer it became. By the time I was driving west on 220 the sun was out although the temperatures were still cool. I found Chestnut Road which had a gravel surface and found I had to turn right on Corbin Road and then make a quick left on Shortcut Road. As soon as I got on Shortcut Road I questioned the decision. The road was mostly packed dirt with large cobbles. It was one car wide with deep ditches on both sides. I thought I might only have to drive about a half a mile but backing up for half a mile did not interest me! I continued along Shortcut Road and found a few pulloffs along the way. At about .7 miles there was a woods road that crossed the road and signs for the Finger Lakes Trail. There was enough room to pull my car off the road and maybe room for one more car. As soon as I got out of the car the horse flies found me so I applied a liberal layer of repellant to all exposed areas. We were ready to hike at 9:00 AM and started north on the woods road toward the trail register where I had ended my previous hike. The road was muddy mess with deep puddles and ruts. I couldn't tell whether this was from logging or recreational use. Fortunately this lasted for only about .15 miles where the trail and road bent to the right. From that point on the road was straight and hard packed. It was wet from the rain the day before but this was manageable. Strangely, the road we were on was labeled Finger Lakes Trail on my GPS! It was only about .9 miles to the trail register where we turned around and headed back to the car. We were back at the car at 9:35 having already covered 1.8 miles.

We crossed the road and stayed on the woods road which was also a snowmobile trail. After walking for a little, I looked up and could find no white blazes for the Finger Lakes Trail. I was in a quandary since I had been on sections of the Finger Lakes Trail that were not marked on snowmobile trails but had also made the mistake of following some of these trails which were not part of the Finger Lakes Trail. I walked back a little but could find no blazes. In the end I decided to continue since the GPS still labeled this as the Finger Lakes Trail and the worst I could do is end of on Chestnut Road a little too far to the west. We walked for .8 miles until we hit Chestnut Road. Since I saw no signs for the Finger Lakes Trail I knew we were too far to the west so we turned left and headed east on Chestnut Road. It was another .7 miles before we found the point where the Finger Lakes Trail crossed Chestnut Road. We turned south into the Finger Lakes Trail and walked 2.2 miles to Ludlow Road. The trail seemed little used and many blazes were faded but it was obvious in most places. In several spots there were large blowdowns across the trail. Some had been there a long time and the trail was blazed around them. In other places we had to work our way around the blockages and then try to find the trail on the other side. When we got to Ludlow road we turned left and followed it to Tucker Road where we turned right and crossed the creek. Just after the bridge, the trail turned left into the woods and followed a woods road. It was only a short distance to the blue blazed side trail on the left to the Ludlow Creek lean-to. I bypassed the lean-to and continued on to the next landmark. The map description mentioned a pile of rocks near the trail of unknown origin. There was even a suggestion of a Native American burial! I was excited until I saw the pile of rocks which was small and unimpressive. The trail entered private land and the road became grassy and very marshy in places. The maps labeled it Spruce Swamp which I thought was a good name. We began to encounter more insects including mosquitoes but we hurried through the area.

The last part of the trail seemed like it might be difficult to follow as described on the trail map. It included an open field which can make things difficult. When we got to the open field we simply walked along the edge of the field outside a barbed wire fence. Within minutes the familiar buildings near Stone Quarry Hill Road came into view and we were soon at that road. We walked down to County Route 3 to the end of the trail section. We immediately turned around and walked back to where the trail entered the field. I got a drink and a snack and gave Sheila the same. It was 11:45 AM and we had covered 7.6 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes. We started back on the trail retracing our route as there were no convenient roads to walk. When we got to where the Finger Lakes Trail crossed Chestnut Road we continued straight ahead. I was anxious to see what this section of trail we had missed earlier looked like. I was also interested to see how I missed the trail earlier in the day. The trail was actually very nice as it passed through some conifers and then hardwoods. It was much more direct than the route we had taken earlier and was only .6 miles compared to the 1.5 miles earlier. As we emerged at the car I looked for the trail blazes and they were very clear. This was another time that I wanted to blame the blazing but it was my fault for not paying attention carefully. We were back at the car at 1:35 PM having covered 12,6 miles in 4.5 hours 1200 feet of ascent. By the time I got back I realized that I had not pulled my camera out of the pack once! I almost always take pictures of something but this section of trail was mostly trees, rocks and roots!

On Monday, July 29th, I decided I wanted to start map 24 on the Finger Lakes Trail. The total distance for the whole map was only about 11.8 miles and I briefly toyed with the idea of hiking the whole thing out and back for a total of 23.6 miles. I thought better of this and decided to hike from Berry Hill to McDonough one day and from McDonough to Stone Quarry Hill road on another day. The forecast for Oxford included a possible shower in the morning but I decided to go anyway. For most of the trip the skies were overcast with fog and haze. I got a pretty early start from Livingston Manor pulling out at around 7:00 AM. Depending on the instructions I followed it seemed to be between 1 hour and 45 minutes and 2 hours. In the end I took Route 17 to Deposit and then Route 8 north to Sidney. From here I followed the car GPS which always picks the shortest route but not necessarily the best roads. The instructions had me taking some "shortcuts" on some back roads but the directions were accurate and we arrived on Tower Road just before 9:00 AM. I turned left off County Route 10 and drove about .3 miles to the access road to the Berry Hill Fire Tower. I had decided to park there to visit the tower and then do the hike. By the time I parked at the tower the fog was beginning to lift and the sun was coming out. I was hoping for a cool but sunny day with a blue sky filled with white clouds! I took some pictures of the to the and the cabin ay its base. I also found a USGS benchmark and a cornerstone marked NY. I took pictures of these and then turned my attention to climbing the tower. I remembered reading something about a gate to restrict access but was pleased that there was none. I began to climb the stairs which is when I found the gate on the second or third set of stairs. The gate was closed and locked but it looked like I could climb over or around it. I decided I would stop at the gate and I took some pictures from that level. Although the pictures were not as good as could have been obtained from higher up on the tower, they were interesting as they showed the mist lifting from the fields. Back on the ground I walked over to the cabin and found that an effort is underway to have petition the DEC to allow the tower to be restored. Currently, the top of the tower has several radio antennae and the cab is filled with equipment. The tower is an International Derrick erected in 1934 and is 59' 3" tall. By 9:00 AM we were ready to begin our hike so we headed down the access road to Tower Road.

Once we got to Tower Road we turned left to hike out to County Route 10 where the section of the Finger Lakes Trail actually began. Once we were at Route 10, we turned around and hiked back to the access road, passed it and continued south on Tower Road which had a nice gravel and dirt surface. We passed a barn with no farmhouse nearby and several other trailers or cabins before coming to the point where the trail entered the forest at about .75 miles. The trail was very wet from the rain the day before and I thought this was going to be a problem throughout the day! Once we were a hundred feet into the woods the trail tried up considerably and was only damp as we hiked through a stand of tall pines. At 1.2 miles we crossed Tower Road and headed west briefly before turning south and crossing Preston Road at around 2.1 miles. The trail rolled a little but was mostly downhill at we walked south. Over the next 1.4 miles the trail made several twists and turns but generally headed south and downhill. The trail seemed to follow an old road and only left that road when it was blocked by blowdowns. There were some interesting rock formations along the way and a set of small bridges over some wet areas. There was also a larger bridge over a stream. All of these were slippery from the rain and required careful foot placement. At 3.5 miles we were at one of the parking areas at Bowman Lake State Park. The trail headed down to the beach area and when we got there I dropped my pack and took some pictures. The park had a small but beautiful lake with a nice beach and a roped swimming area. I took some pictures and then we headed behind some buildings on the trail. The blazes seemed to lead up to the park road but then I could not find them again. We turned right on the road and continued to the next intersection where I picked up the blazes on a road to the left which passed by the Nature Center. I think the trail actually followed the shoreline behind the concession stand and then came up to the road. This route seemed abandoned as if most people simply followed the road as I had. We continued to follow the blazes on the road and eventually passed the park entrance and came to Sherman Road at 4.2 miles where we turned right. The map description said turn right and then left but I did not see a place to turn left. The turn was actually about .1 miles down the road and it would have been nice if the trail description on the Finger Lakes Trail Conference map mentioned that!

As soon as we turned into the woods the trail became very wet with large pools of water but there were only a few and then the trail was only damp again. The trail took us southwest for about .7 miles and along the way we crossed Bowman Creek on a bridge. The description sated it was a steel I beam bridge but did not make it clear that it was just a steel I beam. The I beam was laid on its side and spanned the creek with a handrail on one side. I stopped to take some pictures as this was a unique bridge. Sheila enjoyed a romp in the water before we walked out to Bowman Road which again took us south. The road was deserted so I let Sheila stay off her leash. After .8 miles, Bowman Road ended at Route 220 in East McDonough. I was going to turn around but thought I would check out the beginning of the next section. The trail description seemed a little hard to follow but was completely correct. We crossed the road and walked through an opening in a chain link fence to cross a playground. On the other side we found a woods road that began a climb to a trail register at 6.0 miles. I could easily have walked some more but it was about 11:30 AM and I decided I would turn around and leave the rest for the next time. On the way back I decided to follow Bowman Road back to the park. After we passed the point where the trail entered the woods, I found the Gale Cemetery on the left side of the road. The cemetery was very old and the grass was high. A few flags were present at some graves. I took a few pictures and read some of the headstones. The last burial I could find was 1912! We continued on passed the cemetery and crossed Sherman Road to enter the woods at the end of Bowman Road. A short trail brought us to the south shore of Bowman Lake where I again dropped my pack to take some shots and Sheila enjoyed the lake.

After picking up my pack, we continued along the shore of the lake and picked up the blue blazes of the Kopac Trail which ran around the lake. As we walked by a marshy area on the shore a blue heron flew up and crossed the lake to land on her other shore. I took out my camera and used the zoom lens to spot the bird. The heron started to fly along the far shore and I was lucky enough to snap few pictures. We continued to follow the blue blazes until they met the white blazes of the Finger Lakes Trail behind the concession stand and then followed them back passed the beach and to the parking area where the trail entered the woods. We hiked the trail to Preston Road where I decided to turn right and follow Preston Road to Tower Road. Most sections of the Finger Lakes Trail are interesting and some are scenic but few have inspired me to walk them in both directions! We had not been bothered much by insects but both Sheila and I were plagued by horse flies as we walked north on Tower Road. We walked the last 1.3 miles on Tower Road rather quickly although I did stop to take some pictures just before turning onto the road to the tower. The sun was shining and the white clouds billowed into a blue sky. I took some pictures of large, round hay bales in the fields against the blue sky and clouds. I also stopped on the access road to take some more pictures including several more of the tower. We were back at the car by 1:30 PM having covered 12.0 miles in 4.5 hours. On the way back I ignored the shortcuts provided by the GPS and went through Norwich which seemed like a very nice town. Another day will finish this section of trail and then I will have to plan again.

On Saturday, July 27th, Cindy and I decided to visit the newly opened Rosendale Trestle after hiking Overlook Mountain. We set Rosendale as our destination in the Garmin Nuvi car GPS and followed the instructions it came up with, for the most part. On the way to Kingston we passed through Woodstock which was packed with people having a good time. Their good time made getting through traffic a little difficult but we were soon head for Kingston on Route 28. We turned south on Route 209 which upset the GPS as it wanted us to go into Kingston. My intention was to simply go south on Route 209 until we got to Route 213 east to High Falls and Rosendale. I made the mistake of following the GPS directions again and we traveled some winding back roads until we hit Route 213 just outside of Rosendale. As we headed toward Rosendale the trestle came into view and we turned onto Binnewater Road. The trestle was quite impressive and I was even more excited to go visit it. After .3 miles on Binnewater Road, the parking lot appeared on the left and I pulled in and parked at about 2:00 PM. At the back of the parking lot were the kilns used to bake the dolostone mined from Joppenberg Mountain just across the road. The result was a natural cement that was highly sought after. The "mines" have largely collapsed as they were not shored up and some collapses are still taking place. After photographing the kilns, we crossed the road and got on the rail trail. The Walkill Valley Rail Trail now runs continuously from New Paltz almost to the rail trail in Kingston. The plan is to connect these two sections as soon as possible. We walked along the well groomed rail trail meeting walkers going in both directions and quite a few people riding mountain bikes. At one point I could see a depression in the side of the mountain and a path that led to it. As we approached the depression the cool air poured out. This was one of the collapsed mines. I took some pictures and then walked along the base of the mountain to find several other mine openings. I walked back up to the rail trail to meet Cindy and we headed for the trestle.

Just before we stepped out onto the trestle, I noticed a few paths leading up the ,oaten on the left. They all looked well worn, were steep and were covered with loose rock and dirt. I made a note to explore them on the way back. We walked out onto the trestle which was really impressive. It is over 900 feet long and 150 feet above the Rondout Creek. The restoration included reinforcing the steel of the trestle, putting down a composite walkway and erecting fencing. There were great views to both the east and west on Rondout Creek. To the north and east Joppenberg Mountain loomed over the trestle. We walked to the opposite side and then walked back. From then trestle I took many pictures in all directions before walking back to the west end. Cindy did not want to try climbing up the mountain but I thought I would give it a try. I climbed up the steep bank holding on to roots and small trees slipping as I went. Ahead I saw where the path split and became even steeper. I didn't want Cindy to wait too long for me and I wasn't sure of the best path so I decided to turn back. I put my hand on a rock to ease myself down. When I looked down at the rock, I could not believe my eyes. The rock's seemed to have been split open and there were trilobite, crinoid and worm fossils of several different types. I took some pictures and then looked for other, similar rocks. I made only a cursory search but could find no more. I descended the hill and reported my find to Cindy. I definitely want to go back to see if I can climb to the top of Joppenberg and find some more fossils. The entire walk was just about a mile but was well worth the visit.

On Saturday, July 27th, I decided to hike to Overlook Mt. from Meades Mountain Road since Alan Via was going to be there as a tower steward. It would be nice to talk to Alan at the tower and I wanted to deliver some glucosamine chews for his dog, Bookah. Cindy agreed to accompany me as this approach is less than 5 miles on an access road. Along the way are then ruins of the Overlook Mountain House which she had also never seen in person. We decided not to bring Sheila along as there are rattlesnakes on the mountain. They are reclusive and stay out of the way of people but Sheila likes to explore off trail and we felt the risk was too great. Cindy had been to a concert the night before and there was no real hurry to leave in the morning anyway. We left Livingston Manor around 9:00 AM and headed out the Frost Valley Road to Route 28 east toward Kingston. In Mount Tremper we took Route 212 and then Church Road and McDaniels road to the parking area. When we arrived at about 10:30 AM the lot was already overflowing and I parked off the pavement. Unfortunately, people visiting the Zen conference center across the road insist on filling the parking area despite ample parking for them on the grounds and despite the signs asking them not to park at the trailhead! We started up the access road at just passed 10:30 AM and hit a quick pace right away. The road was in pretty good shape with some spots slightly eroded. We passed a few people on the way up and met a few headed down. Some people were walking and some were trail running. The road is never really steep but it is not a gentle climb either. The first 1.75 miles averaged a 14% grade as we gained almost 1300 feet to the site of the Overlook Mountain House. We stopped to explore and take some pictures. The ruins look quite different in the summer with leaves on the trees than in the early spring or fall. Cindy suggested that it would be a nice winter snowshoes and I agreed. After taking some shots, we got back on the main trail to the summit and the fire tower. In a few hundred feet we passed the turnoff to the trail to Echo Lake and Platte Clove. It was less than half a mile to the summit.

We decided to pass by the tower and cabin and to visit the overlook first. We walked out to the open ledge of rock that forms the overlook and found no one there. This made taking pictures easier so we immediately took some shots. It was hazy down by the Hudson River and Ashokan Reservoir but the sky was interesting and the lighting was OK. The village of Woodstock was easy to see below us. After taking our pictures, we walked back to the cabin and then out to the tower. Alan was there as he promised along with another volunteer. I was surprised to find Hermit, Ralph Ryndak, there also! We talked for a while and I delivered the dog treats to Alan. It made me feel better that he left Bookah behind for the same reason that Sheila was at home. Cindy and I headed for the tower. I had never been in the cab as I had always hiked it in the "off season" so I was eager to see what the view was like. The windows in the cab were all closed which meant the view was, in some ways, better from the landing below the cab. I did take some pictures through the windows which adds an interesting effect. After taking a few shots from the cab, I dropped down to the landing below and took some more. I included a few shots through the stairs with some pieces of the tower in view. I was able to get a picture of the ruins peaking through the trees. We descended the tower and then walked back out to the overlook where Alan and Ralph and several others had gathered. By this time the rock ledges were well populated and I was glad I had taken pictures before. Ralph had brought a good pair of binoculars and we took pictures using them to spot various landmarks. Cindy and I had planned to stop by the Rosendale Trestle on the way home so we said goodbye and started down. Alan alerted me as to the location some American chestnut on the way down. The new shoots were growing from a stump and a dead tree right where Alan said would be and I stopped to take a few pictures. We were back a the car by 1:15 PM having taken 2 hours and 45 minutes to cover 5 miles and 1640 feet of ascent. Of that time 45 minutes was spent taking pictures and conversing. When we left the parking area, we headed for Kingston and then toward Rosendale on the back roads to visit the newly opened Rosendale Trestle which is part of the Walkill Valley Rail Trail.

On Wednesday, July 24th, I decided I wanted to try to complete map 25 on the Finger Lakes Trail. The distance appeared to be 6.7 miles one way or 13.4 mile round trip. I was not sure whether or not I would break this into two shorter hikes or just hike through. When I woke up at 6:30 AM it was barely 60 degrees in Livingston Manor and the forecast for Oxford called for temperatures to rise only into the high 60's. This was good news after hiking in temperatures which were almost 30 degrees higher the previous week. We arrived on Basswood Rd just before 9:00 AM and I carefully pulled my car over on the side of the road just off the pavement. We were out and hiking by 8:55 AM and the temperature did seem so much cooler! The first part of the hike proceeded east for about .75 miles on Basswood Rd and Brookbanks Rd to the corner of Puckerville Road. At this point I looked at the stream and decided to take the high water bypass route on Puckerville Rd. It must have rained over some since Monday as the stream was much higher. I also had forgotten my waders (kitchen garage bags with rubber bands)! We turned right on Puckerville Rd and hiked about .6 miles to where the trail cut into the woods to join the main Finger Lakes Trail. The trail along the road was not blazed so watching carefully the for the point where it reentered the woods was important! As we entered the woods I stopped to release Sheila from her leash, get out my poles and apply insect repellant. Having done that we soon joined the main trail to continue the hike. For the next 2.9 miles the trail passed through mostly hardwood forest and gained about 500 feet. The trail did not seem well used and the blazes were faded to be almost invisible in some places. There were several wet areas where old half log bridges and some corduroy were positioned to try to help. Both of these were very slippery. In one area the trail passed near a large field where the trees were few and far between. This allowed the prickers and the ferns to take over to make the trail virtually disappear. This combined with the lack of blazes made following the trail very difficult. Eventually the trees returned and it became easier to follow the trail. We passed through some fences that had openings with boards over the top to restrict the height of what could easily pass through. In one area Sheila found a bird's nest with three robin's eggs on the ground. She began to paw at it which I discouraged on principle. As we passed I thought that the nest had probably been on the ground for weeks at that breaking one of the eggs probably would have released a most vile odor! By 10:30 AM we had walked 4.25 miles and were at Shapley Road where I had intended to turn around. I was feeling remarkably fresh and decided to hike all the way to the end before turning around.

When we crossed Shapley Road, we entered Wiley Brook State Forest. The trail looked more used here and it passed through a large stand of conifers which reduced the undergrowth. We hiked up a hill before the trail leveled off and eventually joined a well-defined woods road. Within .5 miles from Shapley Road, we came to a blue-blazed spur trail on the right which led to a bivouac area near Mud Pond. We continued on the woods road until at about 5.5 miles I noticed that there were no blazes on the road. I backtracked and found a blazes so turned around and walked to the edge of a field where there was no indication of which way to turn. I went left and walked he edge of the field but found no markers. I walked back and turned he the other direction but still no blazes. I was very annoyed because I could almost see where we needed to be in the distance but I did not want to trespass to get there. I decided at this point to return to the car, move to the other end of the trail and hike in from there. The walk back to Shapley Road went quickly and on the way back I composed a letter of complaint to the Finger Lakes Trail Conference about the lack of proper marking especially at the field. When we got to Shapley Road, I decided to walk the .1 miles to Puckerville Road and return to the car on the roads. I would usually choose to walk on trails but the remaining section had little to recommend it and I had just been over it. In addition, the cooler temperature meant walking on the roads was easier than the previous week. We were on Puckerville Road at 11:50 AM and hiked the 2.25 miles all the way to Brookbanks Road by 12:30 PM. On the way we passed the point where we had cut into the woods from the high water bypass. We stopped at the corner of Brookbanks and Puckerville roads so that I could examine a small waterfall under the bridge. It looked as if there was chute which would indicate an old mill. I wanted to take some pictures but the angle from the bridge was not good and the area was heavily posted. The walk from the corner back to the car was only .7 miles and we were back at 12:45 PM. Just before we got to the car two partridge and a turkey flew up from the side of the road. Sheila showed remarkable restraint on her leash as she is a natural bird dog! We had covered 10 miles in 3 hours and 50 minutes with an ascent of 1150 feet. Now it was time to drive to Cooper Schoolhouse Road to find where the last part of the trail was located!

The drive to Cooper Schoolhouse Road was easy and involved driving down Puckerville Road and taking a left. After the left, it wasn't even a quarter mile to the corner of Cooper Schoolhouse Road where there was just enough room to park the car on the shoulder of the road. On the way down Puckerville Road I noted the entrance to Wiley Pond and also the field where I had ended the first portion of the hike! We started our hike at 1:00 PM by hiking down Cooper Schoolhouse Road for about .2 miles and then cutting into the woods on a trail which was pretty well marked. The trail passed through an area of tree routes and marshy spots, crossed a stream and then parallel the stream for some time. After about .2 miles we turned left onto a grassy road and walked another .2 miles before turning left off the road back onto a trail. Over the next .6 miles the trail went up and over a small hill. It passed through some hardwoods and hit at least one other woods road. It was pretty well marked which was good since several other paths, trails and roads crossed it. I kept looking at my GPS to see where we would hit our path from earlier in the day. I was surprised to see that we were heading away from the field where we had turned around! At 1.2 miles we hit the main Finger Lakes Trail about 350 feet short of the trail. I was very annoyed that there had been no blazes for the turn until I looked at a tree that was marked with turn blazes. I look again from further back and it was clearly visible if a little faded. I do not know how I had missed this both on the way out and the way back. I think the natural tendency would be to stay on the woods road and that a note could be made on the Finger Lakes Trail Conference maps that the turn is there. So, some of the areas of his trail need some maintenance and some marking but missing the turn was all my fault! Sheila and I turned around and headed back to the car. We arrived back at the car just before 2:00 PM having covered 2.3 miles in just under an hour with only a 360 foot ascent. The total for the day was 11.9 miles with 1450 feet of ascent in just under 5 hours. Before driving home, I decided to stop at Wiley Pond to take some pictures. I also drove to Shapley Road to take a few more shots of the countryside. When I had passed this way on the hike, the skies were blue with white, puffy clouds. By the time I took some pictures, the skies were more overcast with some dark clouds. A few drops of rain fell as I started the drive home.

On Monday, July 22nd, I decided I wanted to try doing a second hike after completing 10.6 miles form Stone Quarry Hill Road to South Oxford Bridge. I left Stone Quarry Hill Road at about 1:30 PM to drive to the parking spot and the east side of South Oxford Bridge. I parked at about 1:35 PM and we started out almost immediately. The white blazes took us up to Route 32 and then south for .7 miles where we turned left on Basswood Road. The sky began to grow darker but there were still some bright areas, so I decided to continue rather than turn back. After a slight .4 mile uphill walk on Basswood Road, we turned right onto a private woods road. There was a car parked on the road and I assumed the occupants were hiking part of the trail. We walked to a gate on the road and saw two people walking toward us. I said "Hi" as we passed. The trail description was a little unclear from this point on but the blazes were very clear and I just followed them and Sheila. The trail wound its way down to Bear Creek and then began to parallel the stream. I began looking for the waterfalls that the description promised. We walked along the stream for the next two miles but I found NO WATERFALLS. There were a few areas where some water dropped one or at the most two feet over some rocks but none of them counted as waterfalls in my book. The waterfalls on the first hike of the day on Bowman Creek were more interesting. We did stop once or twice so that I could document this fact and take some pictures of these rapids. Sheila found a deep pool where she could swim so all was not lost.

At about 3.4 miles the trail began to pull away from the creek and start uphill towards Basswood Road. It was just before 3:00 PM when the thunder started and the rain began to come down. When we were in the woods, we were protected but the trail began to wind through some more open clearings where we were getting a little wet in the light rain. This final part of the trail was completely overgrown with brush and weeds. In many places I had to hack through milkweed and goldenrod just to make a path. In other areas, I could not stand up straight as there was only a low "tunnel" through the bushes. We broke out into some conifers near the trail register just before entering the field that would take us up to Basswood road. I decided to put my camera and GPS in a plastic bag and to put on my rain jacket. I also decided that hiking back on the road was the quickest way to the car. As we started to walk up through the field, the rain subsided. As we turned left on Basswood Road, the rain all but stopped. I didn't dare take off my rain jacket as I knew that would chase the rain to start again! This Mountain Hardware rain jacket is made of Dry-Q which really does seem to breathe better than any other material I have used. I was already sweaty but I didn't seem to get any wetter. I am anxious to try it on a day when I can put it on over relatively dry clothing. For 1.7 miles we walked mostly downhill on the road until we were at the private woods road where we had entered the trail. From this point is was about .4 miles back to Route 32 and 1.1 miles back to the car. I began to feel the effects of carrying a pack for over 17 miles. I really needed to stop and stretch but I just wanted to get back to the car! We arrived at the parking area at 4:10 PM having hiked 6.8 miles in 2.5 hours. The totals for the day were 17.4 miles in 7 hours. I now have just 7 miles or 14 miles rounder to complete map 25.

On Monday, July 22nd, I decided I wanted to continue section hiking the Finger Lakes Trail. After looking at the trail on map 26, I decided there was too much road walking to do in 90 degree temperatures. There were also sections that the map describes as "poorly marked" and "brambles ahead". I looked at map 25 which starts west of Oxford and heads south and east to just north of Bainbridge. There seemed to be some road walking but most of the hiking seemed to be on trails with some running parallel to streams with waterfalls. The total trail length was just 15.5 miles but I did not have a car spot and would have to walk any hike both ways. I wanted to get up early and hit the trail before 8:00 AM but I didn't get up until 6:30 AM. The drive was just less than two hours and I didn't have much trouble finding the road or parking area to start the hike. At 8:50 AM I parked he car next to the sign that said "FLT Parking" on Stone Quarry Hill Road off Route 3. We were ready to hike shortly after this. I had on a long-sleeved shirt to discourage the insects but did not think to put on repellant to begin the hike. We walked down the road to Route 3 where we turned right and then immediately left on Fred Wilcox Road. The road rolled a little as it passed some houses and a farm and at 1.3 miles we continued on the road which turned to French Road and quickly to dirt. A walk of around .2 miles more placed us at the beginning of the trail through the forest which was clearly marked. I decided to stop on put on some insect repellant before entering the woods. Upon entering the woods the trail climbed a little over a small hill and then started to descend. The woods were mostly hardwoods and even though some areas were wet there were very few insects. There were some trees down across the trail but it did seem well marked in most places. There were a lot of horseshoe prints on the trail and other evidence that the trail had been used by horses. Over the next 1.9 miles we dropped about 500 feet in elevation eventually hitting a woods road and then skirting the edge of a field to end up at Buckley Corners.

At the corners the trail was clearly visible on the other side of the road so we crossed and quickly came to one of several stiles on the trail. These stiles were triangular frames with crosspieces that straddled the fences. They allow you to climb up and over the fence. In most cases the fences were in disrepair and the stiles were superfluous but it was an interesting touch. The trail now paralleled Bowman Creek and we could hear the water below. In several spots we could see down to the creek and spot several of the waterfalls along the way. I looked for ways to get down to the stream bed but none were obvious and I was on a mission anyway. For the next 1.7 miles the trail ran along the creek and in general descended as we headed toward Route 12. In several spots we gained a little elevation and then dropped it again as the trail avoided deep drops into some small ravines. Near the end of the trail we passed a sign that described a sawmill that existed on the creek in 1875. I spotted the foundations down near the stream bed but decided to forego the visit. We crossed another stile and then walked along the edge of a field to a short trail that led down to Route 12. We turned left and walked a few hundred feet to South Oxford Bridge Road. It was a short walk to the bridge over the Chenango River. Just before the river were faint remnants of the Chemung Canal in a cornfield. On the other side of the bridge were some abandoned Conrail tracks and a small parking area. My plan was to turn around and return to the car and then park the car here for the second part of the hike. We stopped on the bridge so that I could take some pictures before turning around. It was 11:00 AM and we had hiked 5.25 miles.

The return trip was a little "boring" but seemed to go quickly. As we walked along Bowman Creek I was even more aware of the waterfalls below and just before making a turn on the trail, I saw a path that seemed to lead down to the stream. This was about 3.6 miles from the beginning of the trail or 6.7 miles on the return trip. The bank was steep but we made our way down to the stream bed. I dropped my pack to take pictures and Sheila immediately jumped in the water. It was shallow in most places but there was one deep pool which she enjoyed. Soon it was time to scramble back up the bank and return to the main trail. As we neared Buckley Hollow Road I could see some more falls right near the bridge over Bowman Creek. We crossed a small tributary and walked up to Buckley Hollow Road. It looked like the land next to the falls was on private property and it occurred to me that the others falls may have been also! As luck would have it, someone was near the falls and they owned the property. I asked permission to photograph the falls and they were nice enough to agree! We walked to the bridge and down to the stream bed on the other side. I took a few pictures before we returned to the road, walked up to Buckley Corners and turned right on the trail. We walked back along the edge of the field and then started a long but gradual 1.5 mile climb regaining the 500 feet we had lost earlier in the hike. At 8.9 miles we hit the high point on the trail and then descended to French Road where we turned left to begin the road walk back to the car. Walking the road was not interesting and the little hill seemed bigger on the way back but the walk went quickly. We were back at the car by 1:20 PM having covered 10.6 miles in 4.5 hours. This was probably enough for one day but I was attracted to the description the of the next section of the trail which touted the waterfalls along Bear Creek. The skies were blue with puffy white clouds so I decided to drive to South Oxford Bridge to begin the next section of the hike.

On Friday, July 19th, I decided I wanted to go back the area north of Deposit to hike the Finger Lakes Trail from Shears Road to Masonville. This would complete map 27 of the Finger Lakes Trail. The hike is 5.6 miles one way so the rounder would be 12.8 miles since I had no one to do a carspot with me. My plan was to park on Shears Road and hike north for about 4 miles and then return to the car. I would then drive to Masonville and hike the other 2.4 miles from there. This has worked for me in the past and seems to make the hike shorter. It also allows Sheila and I to cool off in the air-condition car between hikes. I knew that the heat index was supposed to be over 100 in the afternoon and that an early morning start would be a good idea. I was also concerned about the insects as I had encountered an almost unbearable cloud of mosquitoes in this area on my last hike! I got up early and we were leaving Livingston Manor before 7:00 AM. I drove to exit 84 on State Route 17 and then headed north on Route 8 for about 10 miles. I turned left on Shears Road across from the Hardwood Hills Golf Course and parked on the left side of the road just passed the Arctic China State Forest sign. It has just before 8:00 AM and it was already hot and humid. There was a slight breeze blowing as I slathered on the insect repellant. We walked down the road passing the sign and turned left into the woods to begin the hike. The trail began on a woods road and the first things I noticed was that the trail seemed used and that there were numerous blazes. Some sections of the Finger Lakes Trail seem to be unused and the blazes are faded and very far apart. This trail was well blazed for the entire length and seemed to be used by hikers, bikers and horses. This was one of the few sections I could have walked without the maps! Unfortunately, the trail was wet and this meant there were insects. The bugs weren't too bad but they certainly detracted from the experience. The trail stayed on the woods road and headed west for just less than a mile climbing slightly all the way. At this point it turned north and continued to climb to just over a mile before descending to Beales Road. When we crossed the road, there was a trailhead kiosk and limited parking.

As soon as we crossed the road, the insects all but disappeared! The trail entered an evergreen forest and wound its way through the trees until again hitting a woods road. The road climbed very gently passing a field on the left. At 3.0 miles there was a viewpoint over the field and across the valley to the west over some hills. A small bench provided a resting spot and was placed there by the TriTown Hikers. After hitting a high point, the trail began to descend over the next mile. At 4.2 miles we arrived at the blue spur trail to the right. The trail went to the Getter Hill lean-to just 250 feet off the trail. The lean-to was built in 2011 and looked new. It had the typical open front with a fireplace but also sported a picnic table, an outhouse and a nearby stream. It was at this point that I had intended to turn around but it was only 9:20 AM. We had covered 4.2 miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes. Since there was only 2.2 miles to go and we were moving so fast, I decided to go on to Masonville. We hit a low point as we crossed the bridge over a stream and then the trail began to climb again. I continued to find horseshoe prints and other evidence that horses had been on the trail. Sheila was having fun following all sorts of game trails and harassing the local birds. The trail climbed for about .8 miles and then started to descending, meeting another woods road. From here it was all downhill to Masonville. Over the next 1.15 miles we would lose 500 feet of elevation.

\ At 5.7 miles we hit Getter Hill Road and turned left to descend the dirt road which soon turned to pavement. Once we were on the pavement and in the sun the heat of the day became more evident. The walk down the road was short and as we neared Route 206 we took a right on a grassy lane which ran parallel to the road. Even this section of the trail was well marked with blazes! Once on Route 206 we turned right and walked along the road for .2 miles before turning left on Church Street. Just .1 miles more and we were at the Church Street Bridge which was our destination. The bridge was a road bridge at one time but had been closed to cars. The Finger Lakes Trail Conference donated decking which was installed by the people of Masonville to make a nice foot bridge over Masonville Creek. I dropped my pack to take some pictures. I got a drink and a snack before picking up my pack to start the 6.4 mile trek back. The bright sun was no fun as it beat down on as on the paved roads. Walking back up Getter Hill Road seemed to take forever. Once we turned back into the woods it didn't seem as hot and a breeze blew up to further cool us off. I will admit that the ascents on the way back seemed harder than the ascents on the way out. Still, the return trip went almost as quickly as the trip out. When we crossed Beales Road there were a few more insects but it seemed the one from the morning were taking a break. We didn't stop at all on the return trip except for me to catch my breath once or twice. We were back at the car at 12:30 PM having taken 2 hours out and 2.5 hours back. We covered 12.7 miles in 4 hours and 40 minutes with about 2380 feet of ascent. The temperature on my car thermometer stabilized at 94 degrees as I drove out Shears Road.

On Tuesday, July 16th, I decided I wanted to go back the area north of Deposit to hike the Finger Lakes Trail through Arctic China State Forest. My plan was to park on Shears Road and hike south to the Steam Mill State Forest parking area on Route 8. The hike seemed to be about 5.1 miles so reversing it for a total of 10.2 miles seemed to be within our abilities. I knew that it was going to be even hotter than the day before and expected no break in the humidity. I was concerned that the nearly twelve miles the day before in the heat and humidity had made me a little tired especially when climbing. When Sheila and I left Livingston Manor it wasn't yet 70 degrees so I hoped we could get most of the hike in before he temperature hit 90 degrees. I took State Route 17 to exit 84 for Deposit and then headed north on Route 8. After passing the Steam Mill SF parking area, I started to watch for Shears Road on the left. I passed the ice cream stand marked on the Finger Lakes Trail Conference map and knew I had gone too far. When I turned around, I found that Shears Road is right next to the ice cream stand but has a hand lettered sign. I drove up the road looking for FLT signs, white blazes and parking spots. I found where the Finger Lakes Trail intersected the road from the north just before the Arctic State Forest sign. There were a few blazes on some trees and a telephone pole but I could not find where the trail went back into the woods to head south. I also could not find much in the way of parking. I decided to park in the Steam Mill Forest lot and hike north to Shears Road and then back. I parked at just before 9:30 AM and went across the road to find the Finger Lakes Trail. There was a path into the woods but it was not labeled or blazed near the road. I walked into the path and found a white blaze. I remember hoping that this was not a harbinger of things to come. As it turned out, it was! I went back to the car and Sheila who was not patently waiting. There didn't seem to be too many insects around but I spread on a liberal coating of repellant anyway. We hit the trail across the road at 9:35 AM. The trail almost immediately hit an old road and then crossed a stream on a nice bridge which was another Eagle Scout Project from the 1990's. The bridge seemed very sturdy with two supporting pylons and was well above the stream bed. The approaches were steep but had iron cleats to improve traction. After this, the trail wound through some evergreens and started to gain some elevation. It was damp in places and muddy in others. I remember that the map description mentioned a lean-to but when I consulted the map I had already passed it. I have no idea how I walked by the lean-to but did not intend to go back and look for it.

For the next .7 miles the trail continued to gain elevation and head south. At just over 1 mile into the hike it swung west and continued to climb to 1.5 miles. From here the trail descended gradually to an area near Dunbar Road where there is a camping area. As we walked on the trail I could see the gate on the woods road that crossed the trail. Soon we came to a gate in the middle of the forest. There didn't seem to be any reason for the gate. What bothered me more was that there was a Y in the trail and no obvious blazes in either direction. Sheila had been ranging a little too far and wide looking for birds but now she came back and chose the right branch. After a few hundred feet there was finally a blaze. The blazes on this section of trail are very old. Some blazes are covered by brush and in many areas there are quite far apart. The trail started to gain elevation to 2.35 miles at which point it started to drop. I wasn't having too much trouble with the climbs but they weren't very steep. At 3 miles we passed a sign explaining that the area had been planted with hardwoods in the 1903's to create a mixed forest. The hardwoods have now taken over and the softwoods are being logged to create a hardwood forest. This explained why there was an open area on our left. The trail dropped from about 2100 feet to 1650 feet over the next mile as it descended into China Ravine. The ravine itself was wide and impressive but had only a small stream running through it. There was a single plank "bridge" across the stream which was hardly necessary. I stopped so that Sheila could get a drink and get wet and so that I could take some pictures. We crossed the stream and headed up the trail parallel to the ravine. By now we were headed north and soon we left the ravine behind. The trail gained almost 500 feet over the next 1.2 miles. We were walking through a pine forest with many smaller trees springing up on the forest floor. The smaller trees were crowding the trail and they were a little prickly.

The trail got a little damper which means the number of insects, particularly mosquitoes, increased! There were few if any blazes along this part of the trail. At about 4.5 miles we entered some hardwoods and a grassy area. Again there were no blazes and the mosquitoes were now hovering in a cloud. The trail came to another Y with no blazes so I headed right and down toward Shears Road. I found one blaze along the way. I decided to stop to reapply repellant which turned out to be the wrong decision as the mosquitoes swarmed. Sheila and I sped up our pace and entered a stand of pines as we neared the road. There were no blazes but the road was just ahead. When we broke out onto the road the swarm of mosquitoes all but disappeared. I looked back at the trail from the road and understood why I could not find it when I drove down Shears Road earlier. There was no sign to indicate that there was a trail and the "mouth" of the trail was overgrown. Just across from the trail was room for one car on the side of the road. At this point, I did not want to go back on the trail. The hiking was not very hard but the insects were unbearable. I decided we would walk out Shears Road to Route 8 and then walk south to the car. The distance was only 2.25 miles but it was in the open with the sun beating down. As we walked down Shears Road I found where the Finger Lakes Trail came in from the north just below the Arctic State Forest sign. There was a small pullout overgrown with grass a little up from the sign on the opposite side of the road. Sheila and I walked out to the main road and then back to the car by 12:40 PM. We both drank some water and were glad to have the air-conditioning. The temperature was 91 degrees. We had covered 7.1 miles in 3 hours with about 1360 feet of ascent. This left only one more section from Masonville to Shears Road to complete map 27!

On Monday, July 15th, I decided I wanted to begin map 27 of the Finger Lakes Trail which includes the an area from Deposit north to Masonville. I knew that the temperature was supposed to be in the high 80's with matching humidity but I still wanted to do the hike. The other complication was that I had no car spot and would have to hike both out and back. The section of the Finger Lakes Trail from Steam Mill State Forest on Route 8 to Route 27 near the Cannonsville seemed to be about 5.2 miles for a total hike of 10.4 miles. What was not clear from the map was exactly how much climbing would be involved! I gathered my gear, pout Sheila in the car and we headed for Deposit and Route 8 north toward Masonville. About 9 miles north of Deposit I saw the sign for Steam Mill State Forest and found the small parking area on the right side of the road. I parked at 9:00 AM, put on a liberal amount of bug repellant and headed out on the trail. The trail followed an old logging road and began to gain some elevation as we at first walked along a stone wall. The trail description talked about a viewpoint at the height of land but I didn't find any. There was a view of a logged area but nothing else. We descended the other side of the hill and dropped down to Steam Mill Road. We crossed the road and then walked across the brook. I was already soaked with sweat just .9 miles into the hike. Over the next .5 miles we hiked across some wetlands and then through some evergreens. Eventually we started to hike through some hardwoods until we came out on Barbour Brook Road. We turned left on the road and continued to walk uphill until the trail turned off the road onto a snowmobile trail. We walked a short distance on the trail but I could find no blazes. I walked back to see a turn blaze near the beginning of the trail so I thought we were headed in the right direction. We walked back out on the snowmobile trail for about .4 miles until I saw private property signs. I consulted map, compass and GPS and it was clear we were headed too far north and were on the wrong side of a hill! Since I had seen no blazes, I was at a loss and walked the snowmobile trail back toward the road thinking we would have to return to the car and start at the other end of the trail! As we approached the road I caught sight of another turn blaze and then more blazes on the trail as it passed by the hill to the south. The problem was that the blazes were not well done and I was not paying close enough attention.

Once we found the trail we continued our hike reaching a high point of land and then descended a little before climbing again to a ridge. From here the trail descended steeply for the next .6 miles losing 500 feet. Each time we did one of these descent I was thinking about the ascent on the return trip. It hot and humid and getting worse. I was a little tired and began to wonder how hard it would be on the return. At the bottom of the descent we came to Dry Brook Road. We crossed the road and came to a stream with a nice kingpost bridge constructed as an Eagle Scout project in 1994. I stopped so that Sheila could get a drink and so that I could take some pictures. From here we began to ascend again as we headed for the Dry Brook lean-to. The wettest parts of the trail were spanned by planks held together with screening. Within .2 miles we passed a blue blazed trail on the left which led to a cistern for water. We continued to climb and in another .4 miles we were at the Dry Brook lean-to. It was clean with a fire pit and picnic tables in front. Our climb continued for another .2 miles to Rocky Point. There are several large boulders here which must be of glacial origin since they are on the highest point around. The trail continued over Rocky Point and then descended steeply to Route 27 near the Cannonsville Reservoir. The drop to the road was almost 800 feet and I knew I would have to turn right around and climb that 800 feet on the return trip. It was 11:40 AM and we had already hiked over 5 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes. I decided to turn around at Rocky Point and return to the car. I knew that once we were back at the car we could get cooled off and I could decide whether to attempt the ascent to Rocky Point from Route 27 or save it for another day. We turned around an headed back the way we cam minus the mistake. I could feel that my muscles were tired particularly as we climbed but my overwhelming feeling was boredom. We had just hiked this section of trail and hiking it in reverse didn't add much to the experience! We arrived back at the car at 1:50 PM having hiked 9.4 miles in just under 5 hours. I was amazed when I looked at the GPS and found that our total ascent was 2600 feet!

As I drove away from the parking area I began to feel refreshed by the air conditioner and decided to try hiking the 2 mile round trip from Route 27 to Rocky Point and back. As we headed back toward Deposit I turned north on Route 10 just outside of town and headed toward the Cannonsville. The drive was actually very pretty as the road passes the dam and over several bridges. I turned left on Route 27 and parked near the boat launch just south of Mormon Hollow Road. When I opened the door, I was hit by a blast of hot and humid air. I decided to go through with the plan knowing that if I turned around at any time it would be all downhill on the way back. We walked north on the road for about .1 miles and then turn left on a logging road which was marked with an arrow and another arrow on the road. The road began to gain elevation slowly and then became steeper. There weren't too many blazes but just enough to keep me from making a mistake. At about .6 miles from the Route 27 the trail turn right off the logging road and started to ascend to Rocky Point. The ascent grew steeper and was complicated by numerous blowdowns across the trail. The ascent went on for only .3 miles but was nearly a 20% grade overall. Once at the top we hiked passed the point we had come to from the other direction and then turned around to return. The trip down the trail to the logging road was slow going because of the steepness and the blowdowns. Once we were on the logging road we set a fast pace back to the main road and then to the car. We were back by 3:25 PM having covered 2.1 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes with an elevation gain of 780 feet. The totals for the day were 11.5 miles in a little over 6 hours with a total ascent of 3380 feet!

On Sunday, July 14th, I decided to join an outing planned by Lisa Lyons, the owner of Morgan Outdoors in Livingston Manor. Lisa had arranged for a special tour of the Time and the Valleys Museum in Grahamsville followed by hike to the Red Hill Fire Tower. When church was over at 10:30 AM I hurried home to change into my hiking gear. I couldn't take Sheila and she let me know that she was not happy about being left behind. I got to the museum at 11:10 AM to find Lisa still in the parking lot. Most of the people who had committed to coming had called hours before to cancel. I felt badly for Lisa who takes the time to plan these great events! Carol Smythe met us in the parking lot and led us into the museum. I had beaver been in the museum before and it is a MUST VISIT place for everyone who is interested in the history of the area. As we walked in there was a three dimensional map of the area with lights to represent various types of locations. Pushing button lights up all the locations of tanneries. Pushing another button shows the locations of all the schools. All of this was constructed by talented local volunteers. We went upstairs to meet George and Helen Elias who were instrumental in getting the Red Hill Fire Tower restored. They live on Red Hill. We talked to each other about the fire tower but also about a wide range of information about days gone by. I had to look twice at the room we were in since it was set up much like my grandmother's kitchen. Another wall held many different hand implements including and ice saw, hog hobbles and a scythe. I was able to identify most of these! As we were leaving I took ,a quick [peak into another room. This room had a high ceiling, a big fireplace and a baby grand piano! I will be going back soon to explore all the exhibits.

Lisa and I left the museum at about 12:10 PM to go to the Red Hill trailhead. We weren't sure if other people would be there for the hike. I had assumed that such a popular location would be packed on a Sunday afternoon. When we arrived at 12:30 PM there were no other cars in the lot. I was disappointed since I had hoped that the tower would be manned and the cab open. Lisa and I set out to hike as quickly as we could. The trail was damp in places but all of the blowdown had been cleared and we made good time. We arrived at the fire tower at 1:15 PM taking only 40 minutes to hike the 1.3 miles with 800 feet of elevation gain. When we arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the tower was manned by George who lives on Red Hill. I took a few shots of the tower and then climb to the top. I could tell when I was above the treeline since there was a nice breeze blowing. The day was mostly clear with only a little haze. There was an alidade in the cab and labels on the side of the cab to help identify various mountains. I located Doubletop, Graham and Balsam Lake Mountain in one direction and Slide in another. A faint glimpse of the Rondout Reservoir could be seen. I took many pictures before heading back down he the base. After talking to George for a few minutes, Lisa and I headed back down. We did meet one other hiker on his way up. We were back in the parking area at 2:15 PM having covered 2.6 miles in 1 hour and 40 minutes with around 800 feet of ascent.

On Friday, July 12th, I decided I wanted to go back to the Cannonsville Reservoir area to continue to hike sections of the Finger Lakes Trail. I did not have a partner to spot a car so that I knew that a 6 mile section would be a 12 mile hike. My plan was to hike the first section on Map 28 on the Finger Lakes Trail starting near Mormon Hollow Road on Route 27 and ending at Fletcher Road where I had been the day before. This part of the trail was accurately represented on the existing Map 28 so I printed out a copy of the map and directions to take with me. I got my gear ready and put Sheila in the car for the 50 mile drive to the start of the hike. I took State Route 17 west toward Hancock and got off at the Cadosia exit. I got on Route 268 to Route 10 where I headed south toward Deposit. Route 10 crosses over several arms of the Cannonsville reservoir in several different places so the ride was very enjoyable. I passed Dryden Road and Chamberlain Brook Road and then turned right on Route 27. When I got to Mormon Hallow Road, I knew I had gone too far so I turned around drove back about .3 miles to park on the side of the road near a boat launch. I got Sheila out of the car and we started to north on Route 27 at about 9:40 AM. The skies were completely overcast and the temperature seemed lower than the last few days. After .2 miles I noticed the Finger Lakes Trail sign on the left side of the road and a blazes on the guardrail on the other side. We jumped over the guardrail and walk a short distance on a trail that eventually intersected an old road. Walking on the old road was interesting and soon we were at the corner of Route 27 and Route 47 where we turned right on the road and crossed the river on a road bridge. I stopped to take a few pictures down the valley before continuing. After only .2 miles, the Finger Lakes Trail cut into the woods on the right and we followed it through a stand of pines. There wasn't much of a trail to follow but at least the blazes here were clear. This would be the case for the rest of the day except in some places neither the trail nor the blazes were clear! After .3 miles, we came to the edge of Loomis Brook. The water wasn't very high but it was deep enough to prevent walking across with boots. Even the able strung across the stream didn't help. I tried throwing some rocks in the stream but in the end took off my boots and waded across. I was surprised that my feet dried quickly and warmed up after my dip in the cold water.

Just after crossing the stream I noticed some old iron lying around which could have been a bridge at one time. The trail now started to ascend on a woods road and then crossed an open clearing without any blazes. Over the next 1.3 miles the trail stayed mostly on woods roads and gained about 850 feet of elevation. The open road made walking easier than on some trails but the openness made it easy for nettles to grow. There was an excellent crop of nettles along most of the length of this part of the trail! The damp areas that the nettles seem to prefer also gave rise to clouds of insects! I was dragging little when we finally got to the top and entered a grove of pine trees. The temperature her was cooler and the bugs were not as numerous. For the next .55 miles we walked along the ridge descending slightly as we walked. We passed through a field and then met Old Chamberlain Brook Road which descended through the forest and then crossed a field to meet Chamberlain Brook Road. The section through the forest seemed to be maintained but had several large blowdowns. At Chamberlain Brook Road there was no indication of which way to turn but I chose left. We walked down the road and in a little over .1 miles I noticed an FLT disk on a pole on the left side of the road. A mowed trail through a small field indicated the Finger Lakes Trail turned here but there were no markers to indicate the turn. We crossed a small brook on a footbridge and then started an ascent through a very wet area. The trail here was not well marked but soon we were near the top of a ridge and I could hear machinery. The lack of good blazes continued as I had to consult my maps, compass, GPS and dog to find the trail as it descended slightly off the ridge and onto a woods road. Not too much farther along I again ran out of blazes until Sheila showed my that the trail actually ascended the ridge to our left and bent back on itself a little. This part of the trail was through some pine trees and was quite pleasant except for the climbing. Soon we were at the highest point and I consulted my map. The map told me we had almost a mile to go and that we would descend over 400 feet.

We started down through some prickers and nettles and were soon walking along the edge of a marsh where the trail was very wet. We continued to follow the trail. I was anxious to get to the end as we had already walked 5.7 miles and were still getting farther away from the car. Finally we walked out of the woods into a clearing that I recognized since it was at the top of Fletcher Road where I had been the day before. It was 12:50 PM and we had hiked a little over 6 miles. I gave Sheila a drink and a treat hike I got a snack and pout on more insect repellant. We did wait too long before turning around and retracing our steps. Even though I had just been over the trail, I still made a few mistakes on the way back. As we walked up Old Chamberlain Road, I noticed the blue blazes for the high water bypass trail just before we were to turn off the road. I decided I did not want to take off my boots again and that we would take the bypass trail. The trail followed a woods road down to Lewis Road. The road went through several switchback but was only about 1.1 miles long although it dropped 700 feet. At the end of Lewis Road we turned left on Route 47 and walked the road toward Route 27 and the car. At one point the Finger Lakes Trail actually cut back into the woods on the left but we had already covered that part of the trail so I decided to stay on the road. As we crossed over the river again, the skies were getting dark and I took a few more pictures. I had intended to walk the road back to the car but decided to drop down to the trail. This allowed Sheila to run free which was good for but of us! When we got back to Route 27, I put Sheila on her leash and we walked back to the car. We arrived at the car at 3:20 PM having covered 11.6 miles in 5.5 hours!

On Thursday, July 11th, I decided I wanted to go back to the Cannonsville Reservoir area to continue to hike sections of the Finger Lakes Trail. I did not have a partner to spot a car so that I knew that a 6 mile section would be a 12 mile hike. My plan was to park at the Apex Bridge and hike west for about 6 miles or until I hit a suitable stopping point. Since the maps had not yet been published, I contacted Rick Roberts to confirm the location of the trail. I got my gear ready and put Sheila in the car for the 40 mile drive to the start of the hike. I took State Route 17 west toward Hancock and got off at the Cadosia exit. I got on Route 268 to Route 10 where I parked in the lot by the bridge. I got my gear and put Sheila on her leash and we started to walk back across the bridge to the beginning of then hike. I stopped near the center the of the bridge to take some pictures and then we continued across where we started our hike at 9:35 AM. We walked back across the ridge and turned right to walk through the parking area and then along the guardrail on Route 10. I found that too many inconsiderate people had thrown bottles to the side of the road and I didn't want Sheila to cut her feet! I decide we would walk on the road for about .75 miles where the Finger Lakes Trail cut down the bank on the left to Old Route 10. At the bottom we turned right and walked along what was left of the paved road. At first it was covered with vegetation but eventually more of the road could be seen. We walked passed a gate and then down toward the reservoir. Just before the water the trail cut up the back to the right but I decided to walk down to the reservoir. There was a lot of driftwood on the shore but it was easy to see the road as it entered the water. I took some pictures of the reservoir while Sheila swam around in the water. I began to throw some sticks into the deeper water and took pictures as Sheila swam out to get them and paddled back. Soon it was time to go back to the trail and climb the bank to Route 10.

We crossed Route 10 at 10:30 about 2.3 miles into the hike. The trail immediately began to climb and gained 250 feet in .3 miles before leveling off and then descending. At 3.1 miles we crossed Faulkner Road and walked through a wet area and then on a trail parallel to Dryden Road before dropping down to Dryden Road and turning right. At this point I wasn't too sure about the route the Finger Lakes Trail was supposed to take as it had been rerouted in this area but used some of the roads from the original route. Dryden Road had more houses along it than I had expected and there was a nice brook on the right side of the road. After walking along the road for about .75 miles, we were at the intersection of Dryden road and Finch Hollow Road. I could see blazes to the right on Dryden Road but headed left anyway since I though this was the way we should go. In less than .25 miles Fletcher Hollow Road split to the left and there were Finger Lakes Trail signs indicating we should turn up Fletcher Hollow Road. The road was a dirt road and was pretty steep at the beginning. I could see one house above us as we hiked. When the road curved passed the house, a man on the porch waved to us which made me happy. We continued to walk up the road which I could have driven most of the way with my car. The road did deteriorate slightly the further we went. There was a stream on the left which always seems to generate insects. Acerbating about .5 miles on the road we came out into a field where the direction of the Finger Lakes Trail was unclear. I walked straight ahead and whacked some weeds covering the Finger Lakes Trail sign and saw the blazes as they went into the wood. We were now about 5.4 miles into the hike and this seemed like a good place to turn around. I gave Sheila a drink and a bone and I got a snack before heading back at 11:50 AM. The walk back went quickly as it was mostly downhill. When we were back at the point where the trail went into the woods, I looked at my GPS and decided to walk down Dryden Road to Route 10 and walk it back to the car. The walk down Dryden Road went quickly and at 12:40 PM we were turning left on Route 10. In a little more than .3 miles we were back at the place where the trail crosses Route 10. I decided that we would hit the train again since it wasn't much longer than walking the road and Sheila could be off her leash. By 1:25 PM we had hiked 9.5 miles and were back on Route 10. It was only .75 miles back to the car and we were there by 1:35 PM having covered 10.3 miles in 4 hours.

On Tuesday, July 9th, I decided that after hiking the section of the Finger Lakes Trail from the Apex Bridge to Chase Brook I would hike the section from Beers Brook to Chase Brook without a car spot. This was important to me since it would complete the section of the Finger Lakes Trail from its terminus near Table Mountain to the Apex Bridge. I was a little tired from hiking from Apex Bridge to Chase Brook earlier and the insects, the 90 degree temperature and the 70% humidity didn't make things any easier. I drove from the Apex Bridge back to Beerston and parked just opposite Beers Brook Road on Route 10 to begin the hike. We started at about 1:25 PM by walking across Route 10 and about .1 miles up Beers Brook Road before turning right on the new section of the Finger Lakes Trail. For the next .75 miles we walked along what was once a road of some kind. It was flat and very straight passing between the DEP barracks and the shooting range. I had heard no shots from the range so I used this new section of trail. If hikers here shots they should use the bypass by hiking south on Route 10 to just past the barracks where a blue trail cuts right into the woods and empties out on the new section of trail after the firing range. At just less than a mile the trail goes to the left and off the road entering a stretch of pine trees. It was cool in this area and the pine needles were soft under foot. At 1.2 miles the trail enters an open area and then crosses Route 10. Where we were to go at this point was not completely clear but I found the Finger Lakes Trail marker slightly north on the opposite side of the road. The trail wanders down to a path along the West Branch of the Delaware and the Cannonsville Reservoir.

This part was pretty but also pretty buggy. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take a few shots from the bank. Sheila managed to scare up a few ducks who quickly swam and flew across the river. If the bank had not had so much brush, I think Sheila would have been in the water! At 1.5 miles the trail left the path and turned left crossing a field of tall grass and ending up at the base of the bank that forms Route 10. The grass was starting to overgrow the trail and will need some trimming or more hikers to beat it down. We walked along the base of the bank as it slowly began to climb sidehilling as we went. At 1.7 miles we were again at Route 10 with no clear idea of where we should go. I chose south and within a few hundred feet the Finger Lakes Trail sign appeared on the left. The trail here cut up into the woods and the trail began to get wetter and muddier and the mosquitoes became more numerous and more aggressive. The trail for the next .8 miles rolled up and down over some little hills but continued to be wet. On this section of trail some of the wettest spots were hidden under vegetation and several times I sank into the muck. At around 2.5 miles I was at Chase Brook Road. It was 2:20 PM and I had to decide how I would return to the car. I had clocked the way back on Route 10 and found it was only 2 miles but that was 2 miles on the hot road under a blazing sun. I decided to go back on Route 10 as it was the shortest way and I did not want to challenge the mud and bugs be returning all the way on the trail. Walking the road was flat and straight and boring and hot! We made great time covering 1.1 miles in under 20 minutes. Sheila did not seem to mind the heat on her feet but I was simply hot and bored. At 3.65 miles we were back at the spot where we had first crossed Route 10 and I decided to go back into the woods and through the pine grove. This was a good choice as the insects here were fewer and it was cool. We quickly hit the old road and from there it was a straight shot to Beers Brook Road. As we approached the bypass trail, I listened but heard no shooting. I considered taking the bypass just to see what it was like but in the end returned to the car by way of Beers Brook. We were back at 3:05 PM having covered 4.8 miles in an hour and 40 minutes. Of course, the one way distance was about 2.5 miles. Combining the two sections and hiking one way between Beers Brook and the Apex Bridge would be only 7.5 miles!

On Tuesday, July 9th, I wanted to explore sections of the Finger Lakes Trail near the Cannonsville Reservoir. What I really wanted to do was hike the section between the Apex Bridge and Chase Brook that we had blazed the day before and the section from Chase Brook back to Beers Brook. This would give me every section from the end of the trail near Table Mountain to the Apex Bridge. The problem was that these two section combined were about 8 miles so that hiking the entire stretch would be a 16 mile round trip without a car spot. I knew that Lisa, the owner of the local hiking store, might want to hike this so I contacted her. She said she was interested but could not leave Livingston Manor until about 9:30 AM and that she could not take the time to do the whole hike. Because of these two reasons, I had almost decided to go it alone. I thought better of this and proposed we take two cars to do the Apex Bridge to Chase Brook section together. Once we had done that section I could decide whether or not I wanted to do the other by myself. Lisa agreed and I met her at her shop at 9:30 AM and we headed for the Cannonsville. Sheila had not been out in two days so she was ready to hike. We drove through Roscoe and Downsville toward Walton. I decided to take the back roads and turned left on West Trout Brook Road at the top of Bear Spring Mountain and then right on Beers Brook Road. The road quickly turns into a dirt road with seasonal maintenance for several miles. At the end of Beers Brook Road we turned south on Route 10 and drove several miles to Chase Brook Road. I parked my car in the parking area near the beginning of the road and put my gear, my dog and myself in Lisa's car for the drive to the beginning of the hike just over the Apex Bridge. We parked at about 10:35 AM and Alamo immediately crossed the road to begin the hike. The trail blazes looked good but the trail was wet from some rain the night before. I was glad we had put on some insect replant as the bugs were pretty thick especially in the wetter places. In particular the mosquitoes seemed to be out in force! At about .7 miles we walked off the trail to the right to a small rock ledge. This represented one of the only viewpoints on the hike. There was still a haze hanging over the hills and the view was limited but I took a few pictures before we continued along the trail.

At .75 miles the trail turned left and entered a rock cut from the O&W railroad. For the next several miles the hike would be on the old rail bed. We stopped and took pictures of the rock cut and the walls of the cut. The lighting and the high humidity made taking good pictures difficult. This is one of these places that is probably better experienced in person rather than in pictures! The rocks were covered in moss and the trail was a little wet and muddy. I could not find any drill holes so I assume the cut followed natural fissures in the rock and the that the workers were experienced quarrymen. In one area there was a wall of laid stone placed to hold back the bank from collapsing into the cut. We continued our hike along the rail bed but at about 1.2 miles Lisa realized she had lost her Kleen Kanteen that was hanging from a carabiner. We turned around and found it about .2 miles back so our distance increased by .4 miles from this little "detour". We continued the walk along the rail bed to about 3.2 miles where the trail turned right and away from the rail bed. In this area a trestle crossed a creek and the trestle had been removed. The trail crew bypassed this area and installed the first of three bridges over the creek. The bridge is a short span but will be very welcome in seasons where the water in high. The blazes along the rail bed were easy to see and the trail was well cleared from our work the day before. Along the way I pointed out some "artwork" on a large stone which said "FLT 2013" with a hiker next to it. I also pointed out the foundation of a springhouse just off the left of the trail which has a good, clean flow of water. As we turned of the rail bed, I missed a trail marker despite having been there the day before to help blaze the trail! We walked down to the creek and then back up to the trail where I corrected my mistake. After the short detour we regained the rail bed and continued to hike passing over another small bridge along the way. The trail bed in this area showed several areas of erosion and the trail crew did a good job of constructing the trail to get around these areas.

We were soon nearing the area where the trail cuts off the rail bed to the left. Just before it does is another, large stream. The stream is spanned by a nice kingpost bridge constructed by the trail crew. The crew was able to get a pickup truck to the bridge to deliver the construction materials. At 3.85 miles we walked passed the arrows that pointed to the trail on the left. As we neared the gate on Chase Brook Road, I knew I had missed the signs so we backtracked through an area of deep mud and turned to follow the trail as it dipped down to an old road. The road was concrete and at the road we turned right to follow it back to Chase Brook Road. The blazes along the road were few and far between and many were on the road surface. These blazes were obscured by some dense vegetation and would be useless in the winter! The Japanese knotweed had all but obscured the trail in places. I believe we crossed over a small bridge over a stream but it was hard to tell. At one point the blazes disappeared and we were faced with the choice of walking uphill to a gate or continuing on the road. We chose to continue on the road but soon ran out of road and walked up to Chase Brook Road. My plan had been to walk down the road to the car but just across the paved road we saw the trail markers. We walked across the road and picked up the trail as it followed a woods road through some evergreen trees. The road was really pretty and we were soon back at my car. It was 1:00 PM and we had walked a total of 5.7 miles in 2.5 hours. The actual distance was 5.1 miles after accounting for a few errors on our part. We got into my car and drove to Lisa's car at the Apex Bridge. Lisa went back to Livingston Manor and I decided I had to hike the other section of trail despite the insects, the 90 degree temperature and the 70% humidity!

On Monday, July 8th, I wanted to go to the Cannonsville Reservoir area to help Rick Roberts from the Finger Lakes Trail Conference blaze a new section of trail that has moved the Finger Lakes Trail from over 10 miles of road walking onto newly opened DEP land. I was very tired from an ambulance call that consumed over 3 hours of my sleep but decided to go anyway. I pulled in to the DEP substation at Beerston just before 8:30 AM and waited but no one appeared. I decided to check out s the of the parking areas along Route 30 thinking I had made a mistake about the meeting place. No one was at the parking areas and I was annoyed at myself for not confirming the time and place. I checked the substation one more time and met Rick there. We had to wait for two other people and spent some time talking until they arrived at 9:00 AM. I left my car at the substation and rode with Rick to Chase Brook Road where we left his truck and got into Scott's car to ride with Scott and Cathy to the Apex Bridge. We parked there and entered the woods on the new trail. The other member of the party was Rick's beagle Scout who was very well-behaved and seemed to have a great day. The trail bugs were out but were kept at bay by some repellant. The trail was in great shape and some blazes had already been placed by other maintainers. When asked what I wanted to do, I told the truth and said I would rather clear brush than paint blazes. For the rest of the time on the trail Rick and I cleared while Cathy and Scott did a great job of painting. We "improved" some of the blazes and made sure that any brush obscuring them was removed. Sometimes the trail was new trail but often it followed woods roads. Eventually it joined the old rail bed for the O&W railroad which made it wide and straight for a good part of the way. Where the trail first joined the rail bed there was a nice rock cut. In one place it was obvious that the some had been laid up to prevent the bank from collapsing onto the tracks. The cinders from the bed were very evident and coal was present in many places. We also found quite a few ties and one telegraph pole. At one point the trail left the railroad bed and skirted an area where there had once been a trestle. The trail crew had constructed three bridges on the last part the of the trail nearest to Chase Brook. The last was a small but very impressive kingpost bridge. This bridge was less than half a mile from Chase Brook Road and Rick's truck but it was one of the wettest sections. We were back at the truck by 12:30 PM having taken about 3 hours to blazes a three or four mile section of trail. At this point we went back to my car as I had to leave. We ate lunch together and talked before I headed home. Rick, Cathy and Scott were going to try to blaze another short section before the rain started. I am looking forward to returning to this area to hike from Beerston he the Apex Bridge in the near future.

On Friday, July 5th I wanted to get in another hike before the weekend brought various ambulance corps and family commitments. I decided to go to Giant Ledge since the skies were blue with billowing white clouds which always seems to create some great photographs at Giant Ledge. After completing some tasks around the house, I grabbed Sheila and we headed out DeBruce Road toward the Frost valley Road to Giant Ledge. I thought I could make the trip quickly but it seemed every other car wanted to look at the sights and travel about 30 mph. I followed two cars on the Frost Valley road and the further we went the more convinced I was that they were going to Giant Ledge also! There was a group starting hike at the Biscuit Brook area and the Slide Mountain parking lot had a half dozen cars. As we approached the Giant ledge parking area, I could see that it was almost full and that the two cars were going to park there. I was able to park at the very end of the lot nearest the trailhead at about 10:40 AM. I got Sheila ready and we crossed just behind a rather large family group from the two cars. We passed that group and kept a good pace to put some distance between us and them. They kept up until we hit the ascents and then they dropped back. On one of the ascents I met a woman and her dog coming back from the ledges. We continued up to the trail junction passing a few more hikers on the way before making the left turn toward Giant Ledge. My muscles were tired from hiking during the week and I could really notice it on the ascents. The trail began to get very wet and muddy and I was waiting for the swarms of insects to show up like they did the day before. They never did and the hike was almost insect free which was a blessing!

We continued to pass hikers until we got to the last ascent to the ledges. I was not looking forward to "fighting" people on the ledges to get a view and take pictures. When we arrived at the first lookout at 11:25 AM there was no one there! I was surprised but grateful. Sheila likes to walk right up to the edge of the ledges which makes me nervous. I dropped my pack and took out the camera to take some shots. Another hiker showed up and asked me some questions about the ledges. We walked back to the main trail and continued on to the last major lookout where we stopped so that I could take some more pictures. I considered continuing on to Panther but I was not prepared to deal with the number of other hikers he the trail. We turned around and walked back to another lookout where we found the large family group that we had passed at the beginning of the hike. I took a few pictures and then got Sheila and I a little something to eat and a good drink. We started back down the trail and met numerous groups of hikers coming up the trail. Sheila behaved herself well as I had to put her on her leash several times. We were back at the parking area at 12:40 PM. I counted the cars and there 26 perked in the lot and along the sides of the road! We had hiked 3.2 miles in 2 hours with plenty of time for pictures and some to talk to other hikers.

On Thursday, July 4th, I wanted to continue to explore sections of the Finger Lakes Trail near Downsville. Most of these sections are not too interesting by themselves as they don't have many views. The attraction for me is that they are part of a larger picture. I asked Cindy if she would like to do a car spot and she agreed. Our plan was to park one car at the covered bridge park in Downsville and then go to the intersection of East Trout brook and West Trout Brook Roads where we start the hike. The weather forecast had only a very slight chance of rain for the afternoon so we were not too worried about getting wet. We had hiked part of these trails before when we explored Bear Spring Wildlife Management Area and knew that many of the trails were horse trails. This presents a problem since there are few bridges across the creeks since the higher water does not, apparently, bother horses or riders. The good news is that the trails are also used by snowmobiles so there are some bridges. By the time we spotted a car in Downsville and drove to the starting point it was 10:15 AM. The temperature was already in the high 70's and the humidity seemed very high. We parked in the large parking area and walked across the road and down the Trail 8 to East Trout Brook. As soon as we got there we could see the creek was a little too high to cross without getting wet. We walked out to the road and headed north to a snowmobile bridge that was only about .2 miles away. We crossed the bridge and walked out to a trail junction. I turned right when I saw an FLT marker and started to walk south. Cindy asked if we should go her other way but I thought I knew where I was going. When we arrived at the stream without seeing the trail we were supposed to take up to the ridge, I knew I was wrong. Fortunately, it was a quick walk back to the trail junction where we only had to walk about a hundred feet to a field to catch Trail 12 to head up to the ridge. As we entered the woods I could tell that this trail was a little steeper than I remembered and also a little longer! We followed the trail up for the next .8 miles heading mostly east. Along the way the trail changed from a grassy horse trail to a muddy and rutted logging trail. At least this kept the nettles in check. What was not in check were the insects. We stopped briefly to put some "natural" repellant which gave the bugs a good chance to home in on us. At the trail tuned north an continued to ascend but more gently. At 1.7 miles the trail leveled off and our total ascent was 860 feet. At this point we walked off the trail to the left to the of the only viewpoints on the hike!

For the next .3 miles the trail was level or descended slightly and was mostly grassy horse trail. At 2.0 miles the FLT turned to the right and onto the private property of a logging company. The first few hundred feet were rough trail but then we hit a woods road. The road rolled a little with some ups and downs heading first northeast and the east. It was very wet and the insect increased so that they formed a swarm around my head. I had to be careful to keep my mouth shut and was constantly batting them away. I finally stopped and tried my extra strength DEET which really didn't seem to be much more effective. At 3 miles the trail turned SSE and started to drop continuously. The insects stayed with me and walking paralleled to a small stream did not help. The trail crossed a power line right-of-way and beyond that point it was even muddier and wetter. It was clear that something larger than ATVs had been using the road. As we neared the bottom there seemed to be a camp off to the left of the road. I was happy when we could see Route 30 since I knew the insect plague would be alleviated. The total distance since we had stared to descend on the woods road was 1.8 miles and we had dropped 1020 feet. We turned left on Route 30 and began hiking into Downsville. The terrain was flat but walking in the direct sun wasn't easy. We walked into town, took a right on Main Street and walked back to our car which was a distance of 1.7 miles on the roads. Our total distance without the mistakes was 6.5 miles in almost exactly 3 hours since we arrived at the car at 1:15 PM. Our moving average was 2.5 mph which would have been a little faster since we actually covered a little more distance. We drove back to my car at the horse camp. Cindy headed home in her car while Sheila and I hiked from the horse camp up toward Fork Mountain. There was a short stretch of trail I had never hiked which is part of the Finger Lakes Trail and I wanted to make sure I bagged it! I was glad it was only about .3 miles. As soon as we walked that small section, we headed back to the car. On the way home I noticed the beautiful white, puffy clouds and decided to stop at the Pepacton Dam to take a few pictures.

On Tuesday, July 2nd, I was tired of staying inside because of rain or threat of rain. I decided to go somewhere local where I could get in a short hike in between showers. I chose Trout Pond since I thought the recent rains would enhance Russell Brook Falls. I got Sheila in the car and drove to Roscoe under dark skies. The temperature was 78 degrees and the humidity was oppressive. I parked at the intersection of Morton Hill road and Russell Brook Road being sure to stay on the shoulder on the road since the small parking area is on private property. Sheila was happy to be out and ran around and around as we hiked own the road. The erosion on the road showed that the area had received some rain but I did not hear the brook roaring as it should be. We stopped at the overlook for the upper falls and I was surprised to see a rather "normal" volume of water passing through the falls. The tree that had been in the middle of the falls was gone so I took some pictures before getting back on the road. There were two cars in the lower parking lot as we walked down the road to the bridge and across it toward the falls. The huge patch of Japanese knotweed was fully restored and larger than ever as we cut by it to get own to the streambed. I dropped my pack to take some pictures. The flow over the falls was not as spectacular as I had hoped but was adequate for a few shots. The skies were still gray as we headed up the woods road toward Trout Pond. The walk went quickly but as we approached the pond it began to rain. The rain was light but I did not want to get soaked if the storms grew worse. I took a few pictures and debated my options. I had thought about walking passed the lean-to to Campbell Brook Road and then making a loop by walking back on Morton Hill Road. In the end I decided to return as the rain grew a little harder. As soon as we started back, the rain let up and the skies became bluer. I almost turned around but continued back toward the falls at which point the skies grew gray. At the lower parking area some DEC workers were trimming the grass as Sheila and I headed down Russell Brook Road to extend our distance a little under blue skies once again. When we reached the first rather large gap in the road, I decided to turn around and head back. As we walked back I started thinking about visiting Tompkins, Falls, Beaverkill Falls, Angel falls and Buttermilk Falls. By the time we got back to the car I decided that I was not really in the mood for a road trip with little or no hiking. We had gotten in about 4 miles in under 2 hours which at least made Sheila happy!

On Saturday, June 29th, I wanted to continue to explore sections of the Finger Lakes Trail near Downsville. I knew that a new section of trail had been created to move the trail off Campbell Brook Road and Route 30 to trails through the woods. I asked Cindy if she would like to do a car spot and she agreed. Our plan was to park one car at the covered bridge park in Downsville and then go back to Route 206 on the way to Downsville where we start the hike. We were aware that we might have to fit the hike between rain in the morning and rain in the afternoon but this had been the case for several weeks now. By the time we spotted a car in Downsville and drove back to the starting point it was 10:00 AM. We hiked down the trail from the road. The trail was wet in most places with some running water and some mud. Many of these trails are snowmobile trails so that they are well maintained. We walked on the trail as it paralleled the brook and then crossed on the foot bridge. After descending for about .7 miles, we began to climb and over the next .9 miles we gained about 600 feet of elevation. We passed the side trail to the Campbell Mountain lean-to and continued to ascend. I was not sure where the new section of trail began but not far passed the lean-to was a FLT sign pointing to the right. The new section of trail started on a snowmobile trail and I signed in at the trail register. The trail was wide but not well marked. There were no FLT signs or blazes and the snowmobile markers were few and far between. For the most part this was not a problem on the first part of the trail which was either level or descending. We passed through some nice clearings with laurel in full bloom. At one point a partridge made a feeble attempt to get off the ground and Sheila started to salivate. I advised her to leave the bird alone. It was clear this was a mother partridge trying to draw attention away from her chicks that were under a bush along the trail. Soon we ascended slightly to the top of Campbell Mountain. The markings on the trail were now non-existent. We came upon some nice yellow signs warning about turns and then as we started down a hill...nothing! We backtracked to see if we had missed something but no markers or blazes showed up. We decided to continue on the wide trail even though there were no markers! After descending the hill we picked up another snowmobile sign and shortly after the first FLT marker since the beginning of the trail! We continued on the trail and found no more markers.

At 3.3 miles we broke out into a field with no indication of where we should go. We tried following the trail but nothing seemed to be cleared. Eventually we reached a point where there simply was no more trail. We turned back and tried one more possible direction. We decided to retrace our steps back to the car and try again some other time. On the way back I looked up and saw a sign that was now my left and the sign said "Downsville". We had missed this sign on the way through the first time but it was NOT easy to see! We decided we would go in this direction hoping it would get us to our destination. Again there were few markers or blazes. This trail took us around the other side of the mountain and at one point we were only a few hundred feet from our earlier aborted attempt. The further we continued on the snowmobile trail the more we were convinced it was the right trail. Eventually we saw the white blazes used for the FLT pointing off the snowmobile trail to the right. We tried to follow the blazes until we found that they were pointing down another old woods road which we followed for some time. The road was well eroded and filled with a nice crop of nettles. At one point the trail left the road to avoid some blowdown and then regained the road. Further down another set of blazes indicated that we should leave the road and descend to another woods road. This road paralleled a small brook that was making quite a bit of noise. At the base of the hill we crossed the brook and walked through a backyard to a driveway and then down to Mink Brook Road. There were FLT blazes along the way and the owners of the property have generously allowed hiking across their property. From a previous scouting trip I knew that the bridge on Mink Brook Road was being replaced but I felt we could cross the brook. We crossed the brook and walked down to Back River Road. After walking along Back River Road, we turned right on Bridge Street to cross over the Delaware River on the covered bridge. We stopped at the old Downsville Cemetery to read the historical description. We also stopped at the bridge so that I could take a few pictures. We crossed the bridge and walked over to our car. A couple at the park had been walking their two two-year-old Great Danes and I could not resist taking a picture of these two magnificent animals! We were back at the car by 2:00 PM and missed all but a few drops of rain. We had hiked 8.2 miles in 4 hours with around 1200 feet of ascent but over 2200 feet of descent. Without the extra hiking caused by the poor trail marking, the hike would have been almost exactly 7 miles!

On Wednesday, June 26th, I was a little tired from hiking the two previous days. I wanted to hike some part of the Long Path or Finger lakes Trail that I had not hiked previously. Most of the Long Path sections were further to the north or south than I really wanted to go. I looked at some section of the Finger Lakes Trail near the Cannonsville Reservoir, Walton and Downsville. One new section from Campbell Mountain to Downsville I wanted to hike with my wife. Other sections were long an might be best to do with a car spot. I decided to hike from Route 10 near Walton to Houck Mountain. I knew that most of this hike was on roads and would go quickly. Not having a second car meant I would have to do the hike and then return to the car. Sheila and I left Livingston Manor about 8:00 AM and headed for Walton on Route 206 through Downsville. At the top of Bear Spring Mountain, just before heading down into Walton, I turned left of West Trout Brook Road which was hard packed dirt. I made a right at the next intersection on Beers Brook Road which was also a dirt road at this point. After a short drive, we passed Russ Gray Pond at which point the road was paved. After a little more than 3 miles, a road on the left headed up and I assumed that it was Houck Mountain Road although I saw no sign. In another .6 miles or so, I turned right on Route 10 and parked in the DEC parking area a few hundred feet down the road at about 8:45 AM. The skies were overcast and the humidity was high. The temperature was about 66 degrees and I chose to keep on my long-sleeved shirt although I knew I would need to change it at some point. I put Sheila on her leash and we started back to Beers Brook Road on Route 10. We turned up the road and made good time as we approached what I hoped was Houck Mountain Road. At 8:55 AM we made the turn and I immediately noticed a small sign with the name of the road nearly covered by vegetation. There was also a white blaze for the Finger Lakes Trail. The road began to climb immediately and although it was not as steep as some trails it was relentless. After heading southwest briefly the road turned southeast but continued to climb. Sheila likes to pull on her leash and it actually helped the climb as I had not brought my poles. I also had left my maps behind thinking that everything would be clearly marked and forgetting that my GPS does a very poor job with roads. In fact, there were few blazes along the road and I wondered several times if I would be able to find where I needed to go.

The walk up the hill was monotonous most of the time with no views and little to do but walk. To our left the terrain fell away rapidly and to the right it rose almost as steeply. Any possible views were blocked by the abundant vegetation. I noticed a lot of Japanese knotweed even at higher elevations. There were really no houses along he way although there were several dirt roads or driveways that might have been for hunting camps. We climbed for 1.9 miles from the intersection where we turned onto Houck Mountain Road and gained over 1100 feet in the process. At this point the road leveled slightly and then started to descend which did not make me happy. I was not looking forward to having to reclimb the hill on the return trip! I was also wondering whether or not I could find Tower Road. Within about .25 miles a dirt road appeared on the left and there was a very clear sign marking it as the "DOT Tower Road". I noted there were some nice views at this intersection but I was more concerned with getting to my objective and back before the rains came. Sheila and I were both thirsty so I took the opportunity to get us both a drink and to change into a short-sleeved shirt. As we walked on Tower Road, we climbed a little and then began to descend. I was surprised to find several "places" along the way. Some seemed to be hunting camps but one may have been a residence. Soon the road got a little rougher and we began to climb toward the area at the summit where the communications towers are located. Just short of the top, a trail turned off to the left and a sign marked it as the Finger Lakes Trail. We turned here and walked through some long grass before coming out onto a well-mowed path. Apparently the maintenance crew at Bear Spring had been mowing the horse trails! The white blazes and FLT signs clearly marked the Finger Lakes Trail and we continued to follow them. In one of my hikes I had passed by a turn on one of the horse trails that was marked "Tower Detour". I hoped this was where we were headed since it would connect me to a part of the Finger Lakes Trail that I had completed. Soon we were walking down a little hill and were at the intersection that I remembered. It was 10:25 AM when we turned round and headed back at which point I found my "up" muscles were sore!

When we got back to Tower road, I decided that the skies looked like the rain might hold off so we turned left to go up to the towers. Within a few hundred feet we were at a fork in the road and we headed left. There was a small building at the end of the road with a sign that mentioned the building was used in air traffic control. We went back to the intersection and took the other fork which led to three communications towers. They were not very "scenic" nut I took some pictures anyway. After this we headed back down Tower Road at a good pace. At the point where the road flattened a little there was a cabin on the right and I noticed a small pond across from it. I stopped to take few pictures and tighten my shoe laces for the trip down the hill. A little further along there was another pond on the left side of the road that I had missed on the way up. This one was almost covered in water lilies so I took some pictures there as well. At the intersection of Houck Mountain Road and Tower Road I stopped to take a few pictures and to put Sheila on her leash. Sheila is always ready to go but she seemed a little tired as we were almost 7 miles into the hike! The walk down the paved road back to Beers Brook Road seemed to go quickly and tightening my laces stopped some of the "toe bang". We were at Beers Brook Road just after noon after covering 8.8 miles. The trip back to the car flew. We completed 9.5 miles in 3.5 hours with an average moving speed of 3.0 mph.

On Tuesday, June 25th, I had planned to hike somewhere with Lisa and Cindy. When I stopped in on Monday, Lisa informed me she was going to a buying show in southern New Jersey for two days. Fortunately, Cindy still wanted to hike. We decided to stay close to home and go to Hodge and Frick Ponds so that I could show her our trail clearing efforts. We ate breakfast with our son Karl and then head out to hike arriving at the parking area round 10:00 AM. Thunderstorms were predicted for the afternoon and I had gotten wet on the last couple of hikes in the area. Before leaving we both put on some insect repellant as they were already beginning to swarm. We headed across the road and started up the Flynn Trail. Sheila was running up and down the trail following her nose despite the fact that we had hiked on Monday. When we got near the area where there is a clearing off the right side of the main trail we both agreed it would be worth the short walk. We headed through the woods to the clearing and found it was a bright green and that the sky was blue with some white clouds. I took a few pictures but we decided not to walk around for too long due to the weather forecast. Back on the main trail we were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. As we continued on Flynn Trail, pointed put some of the areas where we had cleared a path. We decided to head down to the outlet end of Hodge Pond to allow Sheila to swim in the water there. At the shore of the pond I removed my pack and got out the camera to take some pictures of the pond. Sheila jumped right in to get a drink and to cool off in the water. I threw a stick in the water and took pictures as Sheila swam out to get it and swam back with it in her mouth. I did this several times with bigger sticks and longer throws. Soon the bugs were getting thick so we had a quick drink and a snack and then continued around the back of the pond. We made the turn back onto the Flynn Trail at the far side of the pond.

As we walked up this part of the trail, I pointed out a little more of the trimming we had accomplished less than a week ago. The Flynn Trail was only damp despite the showers on Monday night and we made good time to Junkyard Junction. At the junction we turned left onto the Quick Lake Trail and walked downhill toward Iron Wheel Junction. There were places in the trail where walking over the rounded rocks was tricky. There was also one very damp spot in a clearing. The bugs began to get out of control making the hike less enjoyable! At Iron Wheel Junction we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and continued downhill toward Frick Pond. When we crossed the small stream, Sheila again found the deepest spot to cool off. The skies were darkening at this point and we thought we heard some thunder in the distance. We hurried down the trail along the shore of Frick Pond to the bridge at the outlet end. I had to stop to take a few shots the as the lighting was interesting. Some rain began to fall but lasted for only a few minutes. We continued on the Quick Lake Trail back to the trail to the rater and the parking area. The last section of trail from the pond to the register was wet as always but we worked our way around the wettest spots. We were back at the car before 1:00 PM having covered about 6.8 miles with several stops. On the way home it began to rain.

On Monday, June 24th, I was ready to get out and get some exercise after a weekend filled with graduation and graduation parties. I decided I wanted to check out the work that NYNJTC the trail crew had been doing to reroute the Long Path off the roads near Phoenicia. I knew that they had done several miles of construction from near Route 28 over Romer Mountain. I also thought I knew where the trailhead was located! My plan was to drop some paperwork at Liberty HS and then head out through Neversink and take the West Shokan Road to Route 28. From the junction with Route 28 I would drive west to Phoenicia, park at the trailhead and start the hike. As I drove out the West Shokan road, I was tempted to stop at Ashokan High Point but stuck to my plan. When I got near Phoenicia, I realized that I didn't know exactly where the trailhead was located as Lane Steep was not directly off Route 28 as I thought. After driving around for a while, I decided to turn onto Woodland Valley Road and take a right at the end of the bridge rather than a left as I normally would to go to Woodland Valley Campsites. this was supposed to be High Street but it was not marked. After the turn, I watched for Lane Street on the right and soon found it. I drove to the end only to find to private residences. A more careful inspection revealed at short access road at the and of the street and a nice parking area big enough for at least 6 cars. I parked at about 10:05 AM and we were soon on the trail. The insects were swarming so I put on some "natural" insect repellant which worked me some extent. I am convinced that only a high percentage of DEET really deters the swarm! The trail has not yet been marked with disks but is very easy to follow in most places by the work that has been done and the presence of orange, pink and read and white checkerboard ribbons! The trail was damp in many spots which seemed to encourage the formation of insect clouds. I was also concerned about my late start as thunderstorms were predicted for the afternoon. Right from the beginning the trail starts to ascend. At about .4 miles I took a little detour off the main trail to a spring and then back to the main trail. I was very impressed with every asp the of the trail construction! This was not just a clearing of the easiest path. There were switchbacks, water barriers, stone steps and many other features that showed the construction was done with planning and forethought by expert trail builders!

We walked through pine forest and then stands of hardwoods. The trail would ascend and then level off a little. Interesting cliffs rose on the right while the terrain dropped off to the right as we continued to climb. Somewhere around 2 miles the trail flattened a little and followed the contours on the side of the mountain ridge to the right. There were hints of views through the trees but I could find no views along the way. I didn't look too hard for views as I was concerned about storms and there was a heavy haze hanging over everything I could see. The most interesting part of the trail was where it passed between two large rocks with some steps leading up to the path between. At about 3.0 miles we reached another large rock at the top of a hill. From this point I found it heard to find the trail although I could spot the ribbons. I realized that this was where the work had been suspended so that the crews could start from the other end! I decided to follow he ribbons for a little farther to Se what I could see. The track was pretty clear and it looked like others may have been hiking the path. It wasn't exactly bushwhacking but it wasn't clear trail either. At 3.7 miles I had just finished climbing a little hill. I really wanted to just keep hiking on through but I knew I had no sure way of getting back to the car and did not have a plan for heavy rain. We turned around and headed back to the car at about 12:10 PM. Going down was definitely easier than the trip out especially when we got to the trail. We arrived back at the car at 2:00 PM having taken a little less than four hours to cover 7.4 miles. At home, when I put the track on my GPS software, I realized how much work was yet to accomplish since there was at least 3 miles more between where I stopped and the site of the work camp on the other side. I can't wait to hike this part end to end when it is finished or...maybe, before it is finished.

Spring 2013

On Thursday, June 20th, I was tired from six hours of trail maintenance at Frick and Hodge Ponds the day before. However, since I had not taken Sheila the day before I felt I "owed" her a day out. I decided that I had not been the Neversink Unique Area in some time and that I would like to visit High Falls. I left Livingston Manor rather early hoping to visit Mullet Falls before the sun was too high in the sky. To take pictures of this falls the sun has to be low in the sky in the morning or it has to be well after noon. We arrived at the parking area at the end of Katrina Falls Road at 8:30 AM to find four fishing buddies getting ready to try trout fishing in the Neversink. They also had a dog with them so I wanted to get well ahead of them. The temperature was still in the mid 50's but Is towed my light jacket in my pack and headed out with Sheila on her leash. As we started down the road toward the Neversink, I released Sheila and she ran ahead to explore. At the first trail junction we turned left to parallel the river. I could hear Wolf Brook long before we were at the foot bridge that crossed it. I stopped at the bridge to take a few pictures but the sunlight was already very bright. I had been hoping that the forecast for cloudy skies would be correct! We crossed the brook and headed up a small hill to the next trail junction. I decided to bear to the right to parallel the river. This would allow me to decide whether or not I should visit Mullet Falls first. In the back of my mind was the fact that I wanted to get to Denton Falls before the fisherman did. The walk on the trail was pleasant and was mostly dry which was a welcome change from the two previous days. I could hear the Neversink roaring below. Soon we were approaching Mullet Brook and when we got there I dropped my pack to take a few pictures. The light was not cooperating so I was only able to take a few good shots. We crossed the footbridge and I looked upstream to see that the sun was much too high to make an immediate visit to Mullet Falls worthwhile. When we got to the junction with the spur trail to Denton falls, we turned right and headed down to the Neversink.

The walk down to the falls is only about .25 miles and we arrived at 9:10 AM after hiking about 1.7 miles. I dropped my pack and started to take some pictures. The water was high and looked very "clean" but the sun was at a bad angle upstream and the sky was "washed out". We walked down to the rock shelf below the falls and I took some more pictures. Sheila looked like she wanted to jump in but I discouraged her as the water is deep and was flowing very fast. I shouldered my pack and we headed back up to the main trail. There was still no sign of the fisherman as we turned right onto the main trail and then turned to the right at the next trail junction to head down to High Falls. Over the next 2.1 miles the trail descends and ascends some small hills as it parallels the river. Within the first .7 miles we ran into six blowdowns of various sizes. One new section was close to the trail junction. Several large evergreen trees had fallen along the trail completely blocking it for 50 feet or more. I made a note to report this to the NYNJTC. Parts of this trail were wet with a few small streams but they were easy to avoid or cross. The mountain laurel was just coming into full bloom and was beautiful as it lined most of the trail. The walk seemed to go quickly although parts of the trail were grown in with laurel and other shrubs. Along the way we came across a rather large garter snake on the trail. I was able to get one picture before my shadow caused it to slither off into the brush. Soon we were walking down to High Falls and the roar was very loud. We arrived at 10:30 AM at the edge of the water where we were able to walk along some rocks to get to the rock shelves that are even and below the falls. I dropped my pack and took out the camera. By this time the sky was a pretty blue but still lacked some puffy clouds. I took a lot of pictures before being satisfied that I had photographed the falls and the river from every angle. The weather was warm but not too warm and there were not too many bugs. We headed back up the trail to retrace our steps.

As we hiked back along the trail we repeated the ups and downs that we had experienced on the way out. I used my GPS to mark most of the blowdowns. I was surprised to find another snake sunning itself in the trail. This one stuck around for me to take more pictures and only moved when Sheila stepped on it. When we were almost to the trail junction to Mullet Falls, I looked up to see two trail runners coming toward us! I leashed Sheila and we stepped to the side of the trail as they passed. At the trail junction we turned right to start the loop back and to visit Mullet Falls. The spur trail to Mullet Falls came up within a few hundred feet and we turned to the left and walked down to the falls. When we arrived a father and his young son were already there so I leashed Sheila to a tree before heading down to take pictures. As I approached the stream I found a pair of sunglasses which I returned to the father. I tried to take some picture from the rocks in front of the falls but it was obvious that the sun was at the wrong angle. I walked back down to the stream and up the side of the bank to another vantage point. In this position the bank blocked the sun and I was able to get what I thought would be some good shots. We didn't stay too long and were soon back on the main trail walking up the hill. At 12:05 PM we crossed the footbridge across Mullet Brook having covered 7.2 miles. The rest of the walk was flat or downhill for about 1 mile when we were back on the trail that heads to the parking area. At one point I was lost in some thought and was surprised to see another trail junction. Then I remembered that the trail to the right headed out to Wolf Lake so we stayed to the left. Once we were back on the main trail it only took about 15 minutes to hike the .6 miles back to the car. We arrived at the parking area at 12:45 PM to find that the fisherman had all left. We had hiked 8.8 miles in 4 hours and 15 minutes and had climbed almost 2000 feet!

On Wednesday, June 19th, Lisa had told me that a crew of people were meeting at the Frick Pond trailhead to do trail maintenance especially on the Flynn Trail between Hodge Pond and Junkyard Junction. I wasn't sure I wanted to go but in the end decided that I would give it a try. I arrived at the parking area at 9:00 AM and met Rick who has built miles and miles of trail for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference. His latest efforts include a reroute of the FLT from Campbell Brook to Downsville to get the trail off the roads and into the woods. he is also working on trails in the Cannonsville area on recently opened DEP land. Shortly after I arrived Wendell and John arrived and we all got acquainted. I had brought a pair of loppers to cut the many branches that were encroaching on the trail. The others had better equipment including some very sharp folding saws! Rick had a Stihl Power Scythe which is gas powered and has a cutting bar just less than 3 feet long! It cuts grass and weeds just fine but will also cut branches and small trees! For most of the day Rick and I worked together. While he made wide swings with the power scythe I picked up what was left behind and cut things too big for it. When we found some blowdown that needed moving or sawing, Rick stopped and we worked together. The four of us headed up the Flynn Trail and soon arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We passed through this area and through the gate that blocks the trail. The next trail junction was where the Flynn Trail starts down to Hodge Pond and a woods road continues on to the right. I suggested that the woods road would be quicker. It was decided that Rick and I would go ahead and Wendell and John would follow soon after. Rick and I walked on the woods road until the first junction and then turned left to walk down to the pond. We turned right at the pond adapted around the back of the pond on the old jeep trail. Once we got to the Flynn Trail on the other side the fun really began.

The short stretch of trail up to the gate was grown over with branches and had several major blowdowns. Rick employed the power scythe and made short work of the overgrowth. We cleared the reroute around the two largest blowdowns with the power scythe, loppers and saw. The local forest ranger is supposed to visit the area with a chain saw in the near future and I hope to help him clear some of the remaining trees from the trails. Once we passed the gate it was more of the same. The Flynn Trail was surprisingly dry with only a few damp and muddy areas. Around noon we hit a small clearing and stopped for lunch. It was at this time that Wendell and John caught up ,to us and joined us for lunch. After a short break, we started in again and just as we did, Lisa and Heather joined us. We were soon at Junkyard Junction where we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail. Since this is a snowmobile trail it is well-maintained so Rick was able to shut off the power scythe which allowed us to walk and talk. At Iron Wheel junction we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and Rick started up the power scythe again to trim around the iron wheel. We continued down the Quick Lake Trail trimming branch and brush as we went. Some areas of this trail were a little wet. We crossed the small stream on the approach to Frick Pond and walked through the area that I had helped to clear of many large trees in May. Soon we were at the junction with the trail that goes around Frick Pond. We stayed on the Quick Lake Trail and headed toward the bridge over the outlet of Frick Pond. There was quite a bit of brush to trim back on this short section of trail especially near the two bridges over small streams that enter the pond. When we got to the outlet to Frick Pond, we paused for a few minutes. The water in the pond keeps getting lower as the beavers are no longer constructing a dam. The areas around the shore are starting to fill in. Just below the bridge we found what remains of the earth and stone dam that used to impound Frick Pond. We continued along the Quick Lake Trail and headed back to the parking area. This part of the trail was pretty wet. We were back at the cars around 3:00 PM having spent 6 hours hiking 6.4 miles. This is my slowest trip on this route but was actually pretty good time considering the amount of work we accomplished!

On Tuesday, June 18th, I wasn't sure where I wanted to hike or even if I wanted to hike. When I checked my e-mail in the morning there was one from Lisa that asked if I was up for a hike. This was all I needed to get me started. I called Lisa and asked where she would like to go. She suggested a hike from the end of Wild Meadow Road and I agreed it would be interesting to hike in to where the trail "ends" at the Beaverkill. I did have some reservations since this trail is usually wet and it had rained quite a bit lately. We agreed we could do it and that Lisa would be at my house by 8:30 AM. When I told Cindy what we were going to do, she said she would like to come along. I was thrilled so we got ready and waited for Lisa. Lisa arrived and I asked her if she wanted to take two cars since she would have to sit in the back with Sheila. She said she didn't mind so we all got into Cindy's car and headed for Wild Meadow Road. We parked at 9:15 PM and were on the trail about 5 minutes later. When we got out of the car, the bugs started to circle so I "borrowed" some repellant from Lisa before we started out. The "trail" started out as a woods road that acts as the access to a hunting camp. The road had several areas of standing water and at least one place where water was running down the road. The grass was also wet and this always seems to help soak my boots. I had applied fresh waterproofing to my Solo FSN 95's and it seemed to be working at this point. Soon we were at the hunting camp and we continued on the woods road. The road actually remains passable by four wheel drive vehicle for some time. We immediately ran into puddles and small ponds of water on the road as we headed toward the Fall Brook lean-to. Shortly after passing the hunting camp we crossed a small stream which is usually a trickle. On this day the stream was flowing with enough volume to make considerable noise. In addition, we could hear Fall Brook rumbling a little for most of the hike. We continued to encounter water obstacles that required walking on the side of the trail or following or creating walkarounds. The ladies were walking together which gave Sheila and I an opportunity to forge out ahead. By 10:10 AM we had walked about 1.8 miles and were at the fall Brook lean-to. I waited there for Lisa and Cindy. We spent a few moments investigating the lean-to before continuing.

The water on the trail got worse with one area being a small stream for hundreds of feet. Fortunately, the water was not very deep, there were rocks to walk on and my boots were still keeping the water out. Unfortunately, the trail next passed very close to a swampy area which meant more water on the trail. At about 2.5 miles I came to an area where there is a beaver meadow to the right of the trail. Several interesting things happen at this location. There is a nice view of Doubletop and I have actually used this as a jumping off point to hike to that mountain. Also, the water from this beaver meadow flows south to form Fall Brook and west to form the Beaverkill. The actual headwaters of the Beaverkill are a, little further north in the Col between Doubletop and Graham. The trail disappeared into some deep mud near this area so I headed up into the woods which were much drier. At one point I had no choice but to come back down to the trail and walk through a very wet and very muddy area. After this section, the trail dried up some and we started to head down to the Beaverkill. I could see the water was no flowing west instead of south. By 10:40 PM we were at the river after hiking 2.8 miles of difficult terrain. It would be very difficult to cross the river here since there is no bridge. The trail used to continue along the near side of the stream to a somewhat more shallow ford but this has been eroded away by the stream. It is possible to continue up the bank and eventually get to the ford but the water there is no rather deep. There is a bridge not too far down the stream but it is on private property. I took my pack off to get out the camera and took a few shots. I tried to get some of Sheila swimming in the stream but forgot that she is so fast I need to use the "sports" setting. I assumed the ladies would not be coming through the mucky part of the trail so I shouldered my pack and we headed back along the trail. I called out several times and found that Sheila and Cindy had made it to just before the beaver meadow. I told them to walk through the woods to my location so that they could see Doubletop. We took some pictures of the mountain and the beaver meadow before heading back along the trail. The trail was, of course, just as wet on the way back but at least we knew what we were in for! This time we stopped at the small stream near the hunting camp to take some pictures before completing our walk to the car. We finished at 12:!5 PM having covered 5.8 miles in just under 3 hours.

On Saturday, June 15th I wanted to hike a 3500 foot peak with a new hiking buddy, Beth. Beth has a second home in Livingston Manor and has just started hiking but is in good shape. We had tried to hike Balsam Lake Mountain on Friday but got rained out. I thought it would be nice to finish what we started and Beth agreed. By 7:00 AM Sheila was ready to go but I told her we had to wait. We picked Beth up at about 8:30 AM and headed for Balsam Lake by way of the Beaverkill Road. The road is in poor shape especially the part after the Quill Gordon Lodge. One area is a single lane affair where dirt has been used to fill in the parts of the road that have washed into the river! The Beaverkill Falls were roaring when we passed them and the rest of the river was high. When we arrived at the parking area at 9:10 AM there were two vehicles in the lot although it did not appear they were the two from the day before. As we started out on the trail, it was clear that we would have to contend with some wet spots along the way. The very start of the trail was muddy and as we moved toward the trail junction we had to walk through some running water. We were at the trail junction by 9:35 AM and we turned left to begin the climb up the steeper side of the mountain. Over the next .5 miles the trail gained 760 feet averaging a 29% grade. This is far from the steepest or longest climb in the Catskills but it was a good workout. It wasn't long before the trail leveled a little just before the spur to the lean-to and then started climbing again to the spring. On the way I pointed out the 3500 foot sign to Beth and explained the significance. We passed the spring and climbed the steps to the relatively flat summit plateau. When we passed the trail to Alder Lake, I told Beth I had considered doing a car shuttle and hiking from Balsam Lake Mountain to Alder Lake. She said it sounded like a good idea so we may do that some time.

As we approached the tower clearing, we could hear voices. At 10:15 AM we arrived at the tower to find a group of men enjoying a laugh at the picnic table. We greeted each other as I leashed Sheila to the tower ad dropped my pack. They informed me that the tower was open and that brothers Kevin and Mike were there for the weekend. The day had been getting warmer and the hike up the hill generated some sweat even though we had removed our jackets. As we climbed the tower, I noticed that I was cool as the breeze above the tree line hit me. Mike was in the tower so we went up to the cab. The view was good in all directions with some haze. I was a little disappointed that the sky was washed out without and puffy clouds. I took some pictures and we talked to Mike about the repairs they were planning to the tower and about towers in general. When it was time to leave, we all started down and I stopped to take some pictures from just below the cab. Once on the ground I untangled Sheila and we headed over to the cabin. Beth was interested me some to the history of the fire towers and the logistics of manning the towers and spotting fires. When we left the cabin, we headed down the trail on the Millbrook side. This part of the trail was even wetter than the other side with muddy pools in several different places. With leaves he the trees the views of Graham were limited. We were at the trail junction by 11:00 AM and we turned right to head back to the car. "wet" continued to be the theme of the day as there was a small stream running down the upper part of the trail. In several places I pointed out the stonework that helped to support the trail which was once a road from the Beaverkill Valley to the Millbrook-Arena area. Although it was wet the walk seemed to go quickly and we were soon passing the turn up the mountain. We continued at a good pace back to the parking area arriving at the car at 11:45 AM. We had covered 4.4 miles in 2.5 hours and Beth had her first 3500 peak completed.

On Thursday, June 14th, I had planned to do a hike with a new hiking buddy, Beth. We met on a hike to Trout Pond sponsored by Morgan Outdoors and I had offered to show Beth some trails. She emailed me during the early part of the week and we had planned to hike on Thursday. The weather forecast had changed and showers did move through our area washing out our hike. I was disappointed as I could not hike on Friday since I was committed to being the middle school nurse on that day. When I arrived in school on Friday, I was informed that it was a half-day and that I could leave at about 12:15 PM. I called Beth and we made plans for me to pick her up at her second home in Livingston Manor as soon after 1;00 PM as I could. I got out of school a little late but made it to Beth's house around 1:15 PM. I wanted to hike Balsam Lake Mountain so we headed up the Beaverkill Road. I gave Beth a running commentary as we headed toward Lew Beach. The further I drove up the Beaverkill Road, the darker the clouds became. Since ether were some areas of sun mixed in with the clouds and no rain was falling I continued to drive to the trailhead. We arrived in the parking area just in time for the heavens to open up on us and pour down rain. We sat in the car hoping it would pass but the amount of cloud cover seemed to indicate a prolonged period of rain. We decided to head back toward town and stop at some other trailhead if the weather cooperated. By the time we got to Alder Creek Road the sun was shining so I turned right and headed toward Alder Lake. There were a couple of cars in the hen when we parked and we met the occupants near the remains of the Coykendall mansion as they were leaving. The grass on the "lawn" was not mowed which is a same since there are new picnic tables and the area is very popular. As I looked north and east I could see that the skies were starting to get cloudier but hoped the rain would hold off until we got to the lean-to.

We headed around the lake to the left passing the campsite both designated and impromptu. At the head of the lake we turned left on the trail that heads east, climbs Millbrook Ridge and meets the trail to Balsam Lake Mountain on the summit plateau. The trail was wet in places with some mud and running water but we worked our way around these places. It was still sunny and we could hear the brook beside the trail. The water was as high as I have seen it and there were many small cascades but none that were easy to photograph. Although the trail makes a pretty walk there isn't much to see so we kept up a good pace. From the turn onto the trail to the lean-to is about 1.5 miles. The trail never gets above a 12% grade and averages only 6% over the whole distance. In two spots the trail becomes almost level before climbing again. By 3.2 we had covered the 2.3 miles to the lean-to. I dropped my pack and took out the camera at which point I heard some rumblings of thunder. I knew we couldn't stay too long and would probably get wet on the way back. I took pictures of the beaver meadow and the ominous black sky overhead. I walked out to the "shore" of the meadow to take a few more pictures and then suggested to Beth that we head back to the car as quickly as possible. There were a few more rumbles of thunder but no rain drops until we got back to the "lawn". Beth went over to the dam and I took a few pictures of Alder Lake from the lawn. I also took a few from the dam as I founded interesting. As we headed back to the car we met two men with camping equipment headed out around the lake. In the parking lot there were a couple of cars. We were back at 4:30 PM having covered 4.6 miles in just over 2 hours with a few stops along the way. On our way out we noticed a large number of people and vehicles in the upper parking lot including at least one RV.

On Wednesday, June 5th, I decided to head north to hike in Morgan Hill State Forest. So many people had given this area good reviews that I wanted to see it for myself. Fortunately the weather forecast was for partly sunny skies ahead of a major weather system that was heading for New York bringing rain for Thursday through Saturday! I had directions to Morgan Hill from the excellent Central New York Hikers website which also gave a detailed description of a "big loop" hike complete with mileage markers and highlights. It seemed like the trip from Livingston Manor would be about 130 miles and was projected to be about 2 hours and 15 minutes. I wanted to get an early start as I was unsure of the weather and knew that finding a trailhead for the first time can be aggravating! Sheila and I got up early and left Livingston Manor just after 7:00 AM. The trip was straightforward. I drove west and north on Route 17 to Binghamton and then north on I81 to exit 11. Route 13 north took us about 10 miles to Route 91 in Truxton where I turned left. After about 3.6 miles, I turned right on Shackham Road in Morgan Hill State Forest. This is where the trip got interesting. After about .5 miles, there was a pulloff at the side of the road where North Country Trail crossed. I knew this was not far enough up the road so I continued to drive until I saw a large parking area on the right and a state forest sign on the left. I parked the car and got out to find...nothing! No trails, no signs, no kiosk, nothing! I decided to drive a little farther up the road and within .5 miles found another pulloff on the right and signs for the North Country Trail. The North Country National Scenic Trail stretches approximately 4,600 miles from Crown Point on Lake Champlain in eastern New York to Lake Sakakawea State Park in central North Dakota in the United States. I parked the car at 9:15 AM and we were on the trail by 9:20 AM. We headed east on the NCT and it was only a short distance to the shores of Shackham Pond. The pond was pretty and was surrounded by very green trees. The water was completely still and the trees wand sky were reflected on the surface of the water. The only problem was that the skies was more overcast than cloudy and was not very interesting! I took some pictures before we headed back to the main trail. Within a few hundred feet we passed across the top of the dam that creates the pond. I again dropped my pack and took some more pictures from a different angle.

We resumed our hike heading north through mostly hardwood forest. At about .7 miles we crossed a well-maintained dirt road and entered an evergreen forest. I stopped at the trail register and signed in before continuing on the trail. The trail paralleled a small stream for some time and the trail continued to be wet and muddy in places. In this area the trail was almost flat with only a few bumps. We passed by several woods roads and at 1.9 miles the trail again crossed a road before entering the woods again. At this point we turned right on the dirt road which became Morgan Hill Road. I was not thrilled with walking on the road but the first part of it seemed pretty secluded and was almost like walking a woods road. After a slight uphill walk of about .3 miles at 2.2 miles into the hike there was a gate across the road which was locked to permit only "seasonal access". We continued straight ahead and I noticed that the road surface didn't change very much and I still had that "isolated" feeling. The day was warm and I was glad I had removed my light windbreaker. From the hike description I knew that the hike on the road would be pretty long so I settled in and started to think about the beauty around me. At 4.2 miles Eaton Hill Road came in from the left and I knew it would be only a half mile or so until the trail would appear on the right. I was not really paying attention when I checked the GPS and found we were already at 4.8 miles. I didn't see the trail and wasn't sure whether to walk back along the road or continue on. I decided to continue and the NCT crossed within a few hundred feet. We turned right into the forest and headed almost due east along a tributary of Shackham brook. We navigated a VERY muddy section of trail on our way to a beautiful ravine. At 5.2 miles we walked down the trail into the ravine. The trail crossed the brook here but I could see a small waterfall just upstream. We headed in that direction. I dropped my pack and got out the camera to take some pictures of the waterfall and the ravine. The sun shining through the trees made photography difficult and I was left wishing for less sun and more water in the stream. We walked back to where the trail crossed the stream and negotiated the steep bank.

The trail almost immediately met a woods road and followed it for some distance until some recent and large blowdown made us detour briefly into the woods. Watch for the point where the trail turns to the right off the woods road and heads down. We started to walk parallel to the brook and I noticed several small waterfalls. At one point I saw a larger cascade and walked to the edge of the high bank. I took some pictures through the trees and then decided to try to make my way down to the streambed. After several attempts to find a route down the almost vertical bank I decided to give up. We continued to walk on parallel to the brook until 6.1 miles where there was another nice waterfall right off the trail. Although it wasn't that high the falls had three different steps and the light was better at this location. I stopped and took a few pictures before continuing on the trail toward Shackham Road. A nice footbridge crossed the stream and as I looked down I saw that the streambed was solid rock. Shackham Brook in this area flows for at least several hundred feet over solid bedrock. I took a few pictures and then tried to find a way around the very muddy patch on the other side of the trail. It was about 12:10 PM when we crossed Shackham Road about 6.6 miles into the hike the car was only about 1.5 miles up the road but I thought that the best part of the hike would be on the western side of the loop. After crossing the road the trail began to climb through hardwood forest almost immediately. Over the next .6 miles the trail climbed about 450 feet which was one of the steepest parts of the trail up to that point. At the top of the climb the trail leveled a bit as it ran along the shoulder of a hill on our right. After a short walk on relatively flat ground, we lost all of the elevation we gained on a descent to Tinker Falls. There was one major switchback on the descent and the trail at the bottom was not well marked. I stopped before crossing the stream above the falls to take some pictures of the unusual rock formation that had been cut by the stream. We crossed the stream and walked along the edge of the gorge. I could see the falls below but getting a good enough view for some pictures proved difficult. I could see people below but could not find a safe path down to the base of the falls! I also could not seem to find the blue blazes for the NCT so we walked along the the of the gorge before I decided that we were on the wrong path. As we turned around to hike back to the falls, I saw the people from below working their way up to the path we were on. When I spoke to them, they told me that the easiest way to get to the base of the falls was to park on Route 91 and walk the short "nature trail" to the falls. I thought I might try that after completing the loop.

After some searching I found the NCT blazes. The trail comes down some steps on the east side, crosses the stream, goes a little more that 100 feet and then hooks back almost 180 degrees to climb the hill on the other side. We headed up the trail with our next stop being the hand gliding spot on the west side of Jones Hill. Over the next mile from the top of the falls we ascended about 430 feet. The trail was never steep but the ascent was continuous. We crossed at dirt road at some point and the trail turned onto it at another. Eventually the trail dipped to the right into the woods, crossed the road one more time and eventually led us to the viewpoint on Jones Hill. It was about 1:40 PM and we were 9.6 miles into the hike. As the hike progressed my mileage and that on my hike description began to disagree with my GPS constantly reading longer. The view from Jones Hill was spectacular. There was a verdant valley below with a few hills and mountain in the distance. We were in the Labrador Unique Area and Labrador Pond was visible below. I took a lot of pictures of this pretty scene. I regretted that the sky was a little "flat" and some haze was hanging around. I estimated we still had about 3 miles to hike so we picked up and continued our walk. After a short distance, the trail turned right and we walked across the top of Jones Hill and entered private property. The next 1.2 miles saw the trail roll a little with no major ascents or descent until we walked down to Spruce Pond at around 11 miles. The skies continued to be overcast but the pond was beautiful. I knew that there must be a road of some kind to the pond as there were people fishing on the other side. I took some pictures and then continued to the NCT kiosk at the outlet end of the pond. I took a few pictures from the kiosk and then went back to the trail.

The last 1.7 miles was mostly downhill with one little bump near the end. The first part of the trail parallel a stream and was a little wet and muddy. Leading up the bump there were several places where it looked as if water had poured across and down the trail during the last rain but most of these were just damp. The very last few feet of the trail were a muddy quagmire which Sheila and I avoid by cutting directly from the trail across the ditch and down to the road. We had covered 12.8 miles in just under six hours with a total elevation gain of 2580 feet. I turned around on Shackham Road and drove back down to Route 91. Instead of heading back home, I turned right and drove 1.2 miles north to the parking area for Tinker Falls. I parked on the left side of the road in the large parking area. I put Sheila on her leash and grabbed my camera to walk across the road. The trail to the falls was wide and "paved" with crushed stone. There were several benches along the stream. When we got to the end of the trail, we walked up the stone of the streambed to the base of the falls. I took a few pictures and then scrambled over some rocks to get even closer. The falls was pretty but I thought about returning after a good rainfall had swelled the creek. I decided not to go behind the falls as there seemed to be no point when the water was so low. We headed back to the car to complete the .6 mile round trip. I was glad to be driving home!

On Tuesday, June 4th, I responded to a call for help from Jeff Sentermann of the NYNJTC. Jeff needed volunteers to hike food and supplies into the trail crew working on the new stretch of the Long Path from Phoenicia to the trail from Woodland Valley to Wittenberg. Jeff wanted to meet at the Woodland Valley parking area at 9:00 AM so Sheila and I left the house at 7:00 AM just to make sure we weren't late. At 6:00 AM the thermometer read 42 degrees so I put on a long-sleeved shirt and a light windbreaker. As I headed passed Slide Mountain to Big Indian I realized that the trip was not going to be as long as I thought it would be! We arrived at the parking area at 8:15 AM! There were six or seven cars in the lot when I arrived. These belonged to the work crew. At about 8:45 a car rolled in and then another. The two occupants struck up a conversation so I decided to see if they were meeting Jeff. As it turned out, one person was just there for a day hike but the other, Cal, was waiting for Jeff. Cal is from Saugerties and has been a volunteer for the NYNJTC for many years. He has been a trail maintainer and builder and now supervises 40 miles of trail near North South Lake. As I found out later, Cal's other passion is skiing and ski instructing. Jeff arrived at about 9:00 AM and we divided the food between us. I emptied my pack almost completely and then stuffed it with food. I am not accustomed to carrying loads, in fact, I always try to minimized what I carry. As we hiked, I found out that I could easily have loaded 10 more pounds into the pack. We started up the trail to Wittenberg, taking as we went, and soon arrived at the trail register. Jeff signed in and told Cal and I to go on ahead which we did. Then two of us kept up a pretty fast pace as we walked and talked. This part of the trail to Wittenberg has never thrilled me and is always longer than I remember so having company made it go much faster. The trail climbs some at first but then changes to short ascent and descent making it roll some as it makes its way toward Wittenberg. The trail was wet and muddy in places but we could easily work our way around these. Sheila was enjoying the trip immensely especially the wet spots!

When we got to the trail junction to the Terrace Mountain lean-to, Cal consulted the directions Jeff had provided. We were to turn right and hike until we found a large log across the trail. At this point we would turn left into the woods and look for the flagging that marked the route the new trail would take. I immediately realized why I could not find this trail in the fall when Cindy and I hiked to the Terrace Mountain lean-to. The original plan had been to end near the lean-to but the newest plan did not have the trail going anywhere near the lean-to. After a short walk up the trail. we found the log and looked into the woods to find the flagging. It was pretty easy to spot and after a slight miscue we found a continuous line of orange streamers marking the way. The remaining part of our journey was a bushwhack but the markers made an easy to follow path. In addition, the path had been traveled many times and was pretty easy to follow. The route followed the shoulder of a hill on our right with a steeper dropoff on the left. Although there were some ups and downs we gained under 300 feet. At one point the ribbons changed from orange to pink but one look at the directions showed that the point designated wetlands. At about 3.5 miles the streamers split with orange to the left and pink to the right. The directions said go to the right to camp and I inspected the ribbons to find "camp" written on several. Within less than .1 miles we were at the base camp for the trail crew. No one was home at this point so Cal and I took off our packs to plan our next move. Several bags were hung between trees and we assumed these contained our food. Our plan was to leave Cal at the camp with all the food while I hiked back to find out where Jeff was. Cal had planned to stay and help build the trail while I was headed back to the parking area. As soon as I had unloaded my pack, Jeff appeared and soon after that the camp chef. We lowered the heavy bags from the trees and put our supplies in the bags. Lifting the bags back up to an acceptable level moved to be a three man job! Jeff and I didn't stick around too long before hiking back to the cars. The trip was more downhill on the way back. Jeff and I kept a steady pace and the trip went quickly. Just before the register the day hiker from earlier caught up to us. He said the views from Wittenberg had been great and I was just a little envious! I hiked 7.1 miles in just under 5 hours with 2150 feet of ascent. It felt good to help with a Trail Conference project if only in a small way!

On Tuesday, May 28th I wanted to hike 3500 foot peak but needed to do one close to home. I knew Graham was open for May on my grid and I decided that it was a good choice. I seldom hike Graham alone since including Balsam Lake is so easy but on this day I needed to be quick for two reasons. I had track practice at 3:00 PM and rain was forecast for around 1:00 PM. I wondered if there would be any snow left at the summit from the storms over the weekend! The morning was hazy and the temperature was increasing rapidly as I pulled out of the driveway with Sheila. I made good progress until I got behind two slow moving vehicles just after Turnwood. Coincidentally, this is where the road begins to deteriorate. Both vehicles turned off before the Quill Gordon Lodge and right after that point the road had one lane sections and was very eroded. I came upon one spot where the road was narrowed and the Ulster County DPW was working to fill in some holes. The room left for me to pass was just wide enough. We arrived at the parking area at just after 9:00 AM and got hiking almost immediately. The skies were partly sunny but he clouds were getting darker and the wind was picking up even as we were leaving the car. The first part of the trail to the cutoff up Balsam Lake Mountain went quickly. There was some blowdown which someone had attacked with an axe but the trail was drier than I thought it might be. We hit the cutoff at 9:29 AM taking only 20 minutes to cover the .9 mile distance. We continued straight ahead. The trail had few obstructions but the rocky section seemed to be particularly nasty. Some of these sections were wet which made the rocks slippery. It didn't take us long to get to the other cutoff up balsam Lake and again we continued straight on the main trail. Before we got to the path to Graham there were a few more trees across the path that had to be negotiated. We were at the path to Graham by 9:55 AM or about 45 minutes for the two mile hike. He turned right onto the path to Graham. The path had little or now brush obstructing it and seemed "cleaner" than it had been on past hikes.

From the beginning of the path there is an initial drop of about 150 feet over .4 miles and then the route flattens out for the next .75 miles. The trail was wet in some spots but these places could be avoided. Sheila did not choose to avoid many of these spots! At about 3.2 mile the climb up Graham began. As we were hiking up the mountain the skies continued to darken and the wind was blowing harder. Over the last .8 miles we gained 600 feet and there were some very wet and muddy areas. On the way up we bypassed the lookout on the north side of the trail. At 10:45 AM we were at the summit having covered almost 4 miles in an hour and 35 minutes. I took some pictures of the ruins at the top and the limited views from the summit. We then headed over to the lookout toward the south and I took some shots there. Being there reminded me of how much I want to bushwhack over to Doubletop! We walked back to where I had dropped my pack and got ready for the return trip. On the way down we stopped at the lookout and I took a few pictures before going back to the main trail. I had hoped to keep an even faster pace on the way back but the loose rocks slowed us some on the descent. Once we hit the main trail we turned left to get back to the car. We kept a fast pace but once again some slippery rocks slowed my progress. Rain started somewhere on this part of the trail and continued until we arrived back at the car at 12:43 PM. We had covered 7.9 miles in 3 hours and 34 minutes. If the rain had not started, I would probably have regretted not hiking Balsam Lake Mountain also!

On Saturday, May 26th, Morgan Outdoor was sponsoring a hike to Trout Pond at 1:30 PM even though it had rained the day before and most of Saturday morning. The temperature was in the 40's and there had been snow on some of the higher peaks! In fact, the weather had been poor for the entire week with showers, rain and thunderstorms plus cold temperatures. Jeff Sentermann from the NYNJTC was in town and I did want to go on the hike. In the morning I worked at the church's chicken barbecue and took Sheila on a hike over Round Top. Around 1:00 PM I headed down to Morgan Outdoor and found there were only two people plus Jeff and Lisa to hike. At about 1:30 PM we got in the cars and headed to Trout Pond. I suggested that we park on Morton Hill Road which we did. Lisa informed me that the small parking area was on private property which I had not known. Rather than pull into the lot we parked alongside the road. As soon as we started to hike down the road we ran into people camped illegally by the small stream. Some of the tents seemed to be almost straddling the stream in a place which is not a designated campsite. We could see that the campers were really "roughing it" as they had only a small generator running! Further down the road, no one was camped at the legal campsite on the left. The upper falls were running nicely and I explained some of the local history to Beth. Beth is a second homeowner in the area and really would like to hike more in the area. At the lower parking area we turned right and walked down the trail and across the bridge. I pointed out the huge patch of invasive Japanese knotweed as we headed over to the falls. We did not walk down into the stream bed as the bank was very slippery. We did walk up the small path which overlooks the falls. I had forgotten what a nice view this is even if it is hard to photograph. Back on the main trail we stayed right at the fork and headed up to Trout Pond. The campsite on the trail to Mud Pond was full and the people seemed to be having a very good time. We met several hikers coming back from Trout Pond as we started up the trail.

Since we were walking and talking the hike went quickly and we were soon at the outlet to the pond. We stopped but the day was pretty overcast and the clouds were getting darker. The walk to the lean-tos went quickly and I was not surprised that they were empty. Since you can't drive to them, some people would rather camp illegally! At this point Lisa, Jeff and the other hiker decided to return by turning around and retracing their steps. Beth expressed a desire to continue around the loop and I was more than happy to oblige. We said "goodbye" to the others and then crossed the bridge to head up the trail. This area was a little wet but the trail soon dried as we gained some elevation. We set a pretty quick pace over the rolling terrain. When we arrived at the "Grove of Many Small Trees", I knew we would soon be at the snowmobile trail that runs by Mud Pond. At this trail we turned left and walked won the hill toward the trail register to complete the loop. Just before the register we passed the campsite which seemed like a tent city. It wasn't long before we were climbing back up Russell Brook Road to the car. I enjoyed hiking with Beth very much and I hope to be able to introduce her to some more hikes in the future.

On Saturday, May 26th, Morgan Outdoor was sponsoring a hike to Trout Pond at 1:30 PM even though it had rained the day before and most of Saturday morning. The temperature was in the 40's and there had been snow on some of the higher peaks! In fact, the weather had been poor for the entire week with showers, rain and thunderstorms plus cold temperatures. Jeff Sentermann from the NYNJTC was in town and I did want to go on the hike. I got up at 6:00 AM to help start our church's chicken barbecue. By 10:00 AM the chicken was cooking and there were enough hands to man the pits. After stopping the church to see if any help was needed, I decided to get Sheila out as she had been cooped up all week. We walked across the street to the hill behind the church and up the road to the trail into the woods. As soon as I let Sheila off the leash she was dashing back and forth through the woods! I decided to do the loop around Round Top in a counterclockwise direction. We headed up the paths and past the quarry. We descended the other side and then climbed the next hill which is actually higher than Round Top. As we walked down the other side I regretted not bringing my poles as the dirt was loose with a covering of wet leaves. At the bottom of that hill we began to circle around to the left. There was some mud and the grass was wet so my shoes slowly began to soak through! At one point I was deep in my own thoughts and looked up to see Sheila staring at a deer about 20 feet away. She made no attempt to move closer nor did she bark. Only as the deer bounded off did she make a move to follow it which I quickly discouraged. We continued the familiar route around the hills passing another quarry and walking down to the path that parallels the Quickway. Soon we were headed back up the hill to complete the loop. We walked by the lookout over town and then back down the hill toward the cemetery. Up on the hill another I saw another deer which saw us and snorted loudly. Sheila looked an then increased her pace along our path. It was a short hike but I was glad to be out and I was looking forward to the afternoon hike.

On Saturday, May 18th, Cindy and I were in Dover, New Hampshire to attend a wedding. When we arrived on Friday, we visited the Garrison Hill Tower and got some nice views of Dover. Since we couldn't get to the White Mountains, hike and get back in time for the wedding, I searched for places to visit. Dover is a little inland but just to the south is Portsmouth, New Hampshire which has had a naval yard since very early in colonial times. This naval yard and the access the river provided needed to be protected so seven forts were built at various times to provide that protection. These forts were fortified over the years especially in times of conflict with the last such fortification being as the Second World War. None of the forts are currently active. All have some ruins to visit with some being maintained better than others. One has been made into a nice state park. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and she said "Yes". We got up pretty early, ate some breakfast and headed south for the 25 minute drive to Portsmouth. My plan was to visit Fort Constitution, Fort Stark, Pulpit Rock Tower, Fort Dearborn and Fort McClary. Fort Dearborn is now Odiorne Point State Park and Fort McClary is in Kittery, Maine which is only a short drive to the northeast.

We got an early start and arrived at Fort Constitution at about 8:30 AM. We parked in the small lot and were immediately confronted with Battery Farnsworth which was an addition from World War II and was off limits. We walked through the gate of the Coast Guard station and made sure to walk on the blue line through the parking lot to the gate of the fort. The fort is mostly red brick near the entrance from the construction in the early 1800's. I immediately began to take pictures. A large portcullis was retracted but would have blocked entry form the land side. Inside the gate was a sentry post. Once inside we made roughly clockwise tour of the fort. We walked up to the gun positions on the walls where all that remained was the emplacements without guns. On the side facing the sea there were thick concrete walls from later additions to the fort. These walls had firing slits with bars. We walked down to the water and over some of the rocks exposed by the low tide. Out in the bay we could see the Isles of Shoals with one building and a lighthouse. I could also see a building across the bay on the Maine side. I didn't know it at the time but this was Fort McClary! I took picture of the Isles of Shoals and of the lighthouse next to the fort. We continued to walk around the walls of the fort. We inspected the north and south sally ports another walked up on the walls to a cement blockhouse. My last stop was at only building left standing in the interior of the fort. It was of vaulted brick construction and served as a powder magazine. We left Fort Constitution and drove around the peninsula we were on to Fort Stark.

We arrived at Fort Stark at just after 9:00 AM to find a group of people working in the area. One of the ladies present told us that this was a work party from the Friends of Fort Stark, a group of people who have a passionate interest in preserving and restoring Fort Stark. They have cleaned up the area cutting away the brush that had overgrown the area. They have also converted an existing machine shop into a museum which houses memorabilia from Fort Stark and the other forts in the area. The building houses a signal gun and some of the machines that were used in the shop, communications equipment and various documents. One member handed us a map of the fort that also had a self-guided walking tour. Most of what remains of Fort Stark dates to World War II and is constructed of concrete. The most noticeable structure above ground is the Harbor Entrance Command Post which looks like the superstructure of a ship. We walked up through Battery Hayes and then in front of the NECP and own to the water. It was interesting to again see the Isles of Shoals and the harbor from a different angle. Fort Constitution was also clearly visible. After coming back up from the water we walked to Battery Hunter, the biggest battery at the fort, which housed two 12 inch rifles that could hurl shells 20 miles! We walked around the battery and down to the water again. There was a breakwater built in the late 1800's jutting out into the water. On the shore was an oil storage ho the and the remains of the pier. Across a narrow body of water we could see Odiorne Point which was the site of Fort Dearborn. We walked up onto Battery Lytle which resembled Battery Hayes on the other side of the fort. To get back to the parking area we walked along the base of Battery Hunter. I was impressed by the two foot thick cement walls that protected the battery. When the fort was fully operational there were many other buildings that have since been torn down. We got in the car and headed for Odiorne Point State Park which was the site of Fort Dearborn.

It took about 20 minutes to drive to Odiorne Point State Park and we arrived in the parking area just before 10:00 AM. The drive along the highway was interesting as it follows the seacoast and there are many nice views and beautiful homes. When we parked there were only a few cars in the lot and we walked northeast out to Odiorne Point. Fort Dearborn is the name given to all the fortifications and gun emplacements of Odiorne Point. On the point itself were the remains of four gun mounts that in 1942 sported 155 mm guns. Only the mount and the tracks remain with a sign to mark there location. Across the water but not too far away we could see the Pulpit Rock Tower which served to control and coordinate the fire from the fort. These towers once dotted the coast but most have been removed. We walked along the seashore in a counterclockwise direction enjoying the beautiful weather and the views out over the ocean. Soon we arrived at the battery commanders station that marks the position of Battery 204 which was constructed during World War II. The battery housed new 6 inch shielded guns but the battery commanders station was built directly on top of the magazine which was later deemed "unsafe"! From the battery we walked to the Seacoast Science Center. We weren't too interested in the museum but a friendly employee gave me some information about the hiking trails and a map. We left the center and walked around the back to find the hiking trail that led southwest toward Battery Seamen. The walk along the shore was enjoyable. We stopped at the Founder's Memorial dedicated to the first settlers who landed in 1623. The trail had several branches so we headed for the southwest end of Battery Seamen. The size of the battery was truly impressive as it house a sixteen inch gun capable of throwing shells 26 miles out to sea. It was disappointing to see all the graffiti defacing these historical landmarks! We walked up to the top of Battery Seamen to the battery commanders station and then down the path which led to Frost Point. As we descended we could see Wentworh-by-the-Sea which is the only large resort hotel left on the New Hampshire Coast. From Frost Point we could see Fort Stark just across the water. We walked southwest and to the south side of Battery Seamen to see the other gun emplacement and then headed back along the trail to the parking area. From Fort Dearborn we drove the short distance to the Pulpit Rock Tower and parked. The walk to the tower was only a few hundred feet and we took a few pictures before heading out to Kittery Point, Maine to visit Fort McClary.

The drive to Maine was a little harder than I expected since I did not have an exact address for the GPS. It turned out that one route was about as good as another. Once we headed for the seashore it wasn't too hard to find the coastal highway and the Fort McClary site was clearly marked. We parked by an impressive stone bastion just before noon. The site required a $3 entry fee which we gladly paid. Like the other sites a fortification has been at the Fort McClary site for over 275 years. Fort McClary was never updated after the Civil War and so does not have any concrete structures. It has an "older" feel than the other places we visited. The blockhouse which dominates the site was built in the 1840's and is in remarkable condition and open to the public. The foundation is fieldstone while the first story is cut granite and the top story is constructed of logs. I descended to the bottom level and found the granite with carefully cut firing loops. Above this level was a level with a cannon mounted toward the sea. The top story gave some impressive views of the water and was used as officers quarters. From the blockhouse I walked down into the bastion which was constructed of cut stone and also had firing slots and a small magazine. Construction was begun during the Civil Ware but never completed. Between the bastion and the blockhouse there were several buildings still standing. A riflemen's house and magazine for powder storage were constructed in 1808 from red brick. The outlines of another house and barracks lie west of the blockhouse. In front of the blockhouse is a granite wall and some earthen works with an 8 inch Dahlgren cannon on display. I took some pictures and then we walked down to the final wall before the sea. The wall was part of the 1860's construction which was never completed. The views from the wall included the Isles of Shoals and Fort Constitution. A caponier extends out from the walls and we walked down into it although the floor was very damp. The caponier has rifle slits to allow raking fire on the exposed walls. We walked back passed the blockhouse and to our car. Cindy's price for visiting all the forts was some kind of lobster lunch. We stopped at Bob's Clam Hut in Kittery where Cindy had a lobster salad and I ordered butterfly shrimp. The unassuming place was packed and the prices were those of a four star restaurant but the food was delicious.

On Friday, May 17th, Cindy and I drove to Dover, New Hampshire to attend a wedding on Saturday. When I heard "New Hampshire", I thought "White Mountains". Unfortunately, Dover is on the coast and it is at least a two and a half hour drive to the Whites. When we got into town, we decided to go to dinner and hit an interesting spot in Dover called Dos Amigos Burritos. After eating on the drive back to the motel, we stopped at a city park where there was an observation tower that was constructed in 1993 to replace a tower removed in 1990. There was really no hike involved since we parked only a few hundred feet from the tower. The Garrison Hill Tower is 76 feet tall and constructed of iron and steel with wooden steps. There is an observation platform at the top which has views of Dover. On a clear day the White Mountains can be seen to the northwest with the Isles of Shoals visible to the southeast.

On Thursday, May 16th, I decided to take our two-year-old grandson Bryce on another hike on Round Top behind our church in Livingston Manor. The last time we hiked we did not follow some of the paths. In an effort to shorten the walk, I inadvertently made it more difficult. My wife went with us so I also took Sheila our year old yellow lab mix. We walked down the driveway and looked both ways as we crossed the street. The hill behind the church is pretty steep and I know this since Bryce remarked about the incline. At the top of the hill we turned left into the woods on a path or woods road that led us to a lookout over downtown Livingston Manor. Bryce remembered just where we were supposed to turn and let us know. Along the way he picked up an interesting rock and I showed him how to make "rock music". This might have been a mistake since he then wanted to pick up EVERY rock he found and bang it on another rock. Where the trail split we headed to the right his time and took a gradual path up the hill before taking a left for a steeper ascent. At the top we had to bushwhack a little and I introduced Bryce to the term. We ended up at the lookout over town. He seemed interested in looking at the post office and school, which he visits regularly, from a different angle. We then headed back down the trail to the point where we had turned right earlier in the hike. From there we walked back down the steep hill to the church. We walked back across the street to complete our 40 minute adventure with Bryce walking the whole way. I am sure there will be many more and I look forward to them all! Later that night I got a text from my daughter-in-law. When asked what we did during the day Bryce responded "I hiked with Grampy. It was steep! Really, really steep!"

On Tuesday, May 14th, I asked Cindy if she would like to hike and she said "Yes". I decided to take her to the Hodge Pond Lookout where Lisa and I had been in February. The morning was a little hazy and I had some chores to do so we didn't arrive at the Frick Pond parking area until 10:30 AM. I had decided on the most direct approach so we headed across the road and up the Flynn Trail. The skies were blue with a few white clouds and some sun although the temperature seemed coo. The Flynn Trail is uphill all the way for the first 1.7 miles to the Big Rock Junction but we set a fast pace. We continued through the junction to the point where the Flynn Trail heads downhill to Hodge Pond. At this point we turn to the right on a woods road and walked along the "high road" to the junction of some roads above the pond. At this junction a road turns left to go down to the pond. Just a little further on the road splits with the left fork passing by the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp and ending up on Shin Creek Road in Lew Beach. We continued straight ahead to climb the road up the hill. The road was a little steeper than I remembered but we kept our pace. It was a lot easier hiking than in February on snowshoes! We passed by a spring house on the right and at 2.6 miles turned right onto a another woods road. This turn occurred where the main road turned sharply to the left. The trail we turned onto was more well defined than I remembered and the tracks of an ATV were faintly visible. After a slight incline, we walked to 2.9 miles over flat ground to the Hodge Pond Lookout. I dropped my pack and took some pictures of the pond below and the hills in the distance. Only a few leaves were beginning to come out on the trees but I could see how they would soon block the view.

After taking pictures, I asked Cindy if she wanted to climb to the top of the hill behind us. She suggested we follow the woods road we had been on as it might head up to the top. We walked along the road and came to some steeper cliffs at the south end. At this point the road began to turn to the west and then north. I suspected that it would circle the hill and take us back to the "main" road we had used to hike up the hill from above the pond. We continued to walk and were treated to some nice cliff bands on our left. Very shortly we did intersect the road and turned left to walk back. I suggested we walk to the top of the hill as I suspected it might be interesting. I also thought that this might be the Sullivan County High Point which I had visited only twice. Just as we decided to walk to the top we found a woods road heading up to the top and took it. The road took us to the relatively flat summit plateau and then became overgrown and hard to follow. I decided to walk to the highest point I could find on the plateau while Cindy walked over to the western edge of the plateau to find a way down. Sheila and I found what I determined to be the highest point and then walked to the edge of the plateau to find Cindy. We walked down the steep bank to the trail and back out to the road. When the road turned sharply left, we stopped at a limited viewpoint to take a few pictures. A brilliant splotch of blue in the trees caught my eye. I was sure this was an indigo bunting or some other colorful bird. I zoomed in with my camera to get a closer view of...a piece of blue plastic. We continued down the road and as we passed the spring house Sheila took a keen interest in something by the side of the road. She got closer and started to dig and then shied away. It took me a moment to realize she was reacting to...the water pulsing in the pipe from the spring. After all this excitement, we were ready to head back to the car. We simply retraced our route down the Flynn Trail after considering some other options. We were back at the car by 1:20 PM having covered 6.6 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes with an elevation gain of over 1300 feet.

On Friday, May 10th, I had several different plans for the day. The first plan was to drive north to Cortland County to hike Morgan Hill State Forest. I decided against this as the weather forecast was for thunderstorms and I wanted plenty of time to hike the 12 mile loop at this new location. I thought about Bearpen and Vly but rejected them as the timing of the thunderstorms was tricky. I finally decided to go to Big Pond and hike the TRAIL loop that I had missed on Tuesday when I hiked the ROAD loop with Lisa. I thought I would throw in Cabot Mountain if I felt like it when I got to that trail junction. When I woke up early, I found a heavy fog sitting over Livingston Manor so I was in no hurry to get going immediately. Sheila and I left the house before 9:00 AM and arrived at the parking area a little after 9:00 AM. There was one other car parked and I talked to the owner but it was not clear what he was going to do. The black flies were heavy again so I took a few moments to put on some repellant before crossing the road and heading up the trail. There was no reason to stroll leisurely as we had done that on Tuesday so Sheila and I set a fast pace to the top of TouchMeNot Mountain. The trails were a little damper than last time but not really wet. As I stepped on one wet rock and went to one knee I was reminded to pay attention so that my hike did not end early! by 9:42 AM we has hiked a little over a mile to the trail junction with the Little Pond Loop Trail. I again noticed that the mileage on the signs is VERY inaccurate as the sign stated it was .8 miles back to Big Pond! I decided to turn left and walk down to Little Pond the way we had on Tuesday. We did not stop to investigate any viewpoints as I already knew there were none. The descent on the other side of the mountain was even trickier than Tuesday as the leaves were now damp and more slippery than before. As we neared the campsites, both Sheila and I could hear a racket that reminded me of chainsaws. When we passed behind the bathhouses I could see some workers cutting a tree near the entrance. It was 10:20 AM when we stopped at the bridge over the outlet of the pond after hiking 2.25 miles. I took a few pictures as the sky had a different look. We continued around the pond on the far side and stopped at the boat launch. Sheila immediately took to the water and I got out the camera to take some shots of TouchMeNot Mountain. We stayed for a few minutes and then got back on the loop trail until we hit the junction with the TouchMeNot Trail where we turned left.

The trail to the clearing that overlooks the valley is usually very wet. The worst spot is near the beaver meadow not far from Little Pond. I looked out at the beaver meadow when we got there but it didn't have much to offer. The trail just after the meadow was almost dry as was most of the rest of the trail. We were soon on the old woods road that rises to the clearing where there is a pond and the foundation of an old house. I had hoped to find some tiger lilies blooming but it looked like I was too early as the plants had no flower stalks emerging. I stopped to take a few pictures from the lookout and the continued on to the trail junction to Cabot Mountain. The trail to Cabot is short but very steep and is always covered with nettles later in the year. We turned left and started up the trail and, as I had hoped, there were no nettles at all. The trail was rather dry and seemed steeper and longer than I remembered! From Little Pond to the top of the climb is a change of over 900 feet! The last .4 miles of the climb is the steepest averaging over 22% and gaining over 450 feet. When the trail leveled at the top, we walked on the flat trail to the rock ledge that makes a nice viewpoint down to Little Pond. Both Sheila and I got a drink. I took some pictures of Little Pond and the surrounding mountains before turning around to head back down the way we had come up. The trip back down was a little slower than I wanted but I was making sure I did not slip. Once we were back at the trail junction we continued on around for about .5 miles to the trail junction at the top of TouchMeNot Mountain. Along the way I noted several more trees across the trail. From the trail junction it was all downhill for about a mile to the parking area. I put Sheila in the car and went to the shore a Big Pond to take some pictures. We had walked 6.7 miles in 3 hours and 40 minutes with a total ascent of over 2200 feet!

On Tuesday, May 7th, I had wanted to hike since the rest of the week was forecast to be wet. The forecast for Tuesday was for sunny skies with clouds and a high temperature in the 70's. I had thought about Bramley Mountain but decided that might be pushing things with an away track meet in the afternoon. I called Lisa and we decided to do the "loop" from Big Pond over TouchMeNot Mountain to Little Pond. I though we might even throw in Cabot Mountain. I was really looking forward to the view above Little Pond where an old foundation often has tiger lilies growing. I picked up Lisa at her home which is on the way to Big Pond. We parked at Big Pond and were ready to hike by 8:45 AM. It was already warm and the blackflies were out in force. We put on some insect repellant and walked across the road to start the hike. As we climbed from the road and continued through the woods the trails were very dry which is not typical of this area. There were few prickers and not nettles which also populate this area later in the season. There were several areas where trees blocked the trail. Some of these trees could be removed with an axe or bow saw while others will require some chainsaw work. The first mile of the trail seems steep at times but only gains about 800 feet. By 9:30 AM we were at the junction with the Little Pond Loop Trail and Lisa suggested we turn left and I agreed as I normally turn right. Lisa was looking for an overlook where we could take pictures of Little Pond but anything we found had no open views. The .4 miles across the ridge went quickly and then we were ready to descend the steeper side of the mountain to the campgrounds. Over the next .5 miles we dropped almost 600 feet averaging a 22% grade. Soon we were at the area behind the bathrooms at the state campgrounds and we walked over the outlet end of the pond.

At the outlet end of the pond we stopped to take pictures of Cabot Mountain at the upper end of the pond and of the pond itself. This was a place I came with my wife's family many times for picnics. Sheila enjoyed running into the water but seemed reluctant to swim in the deep water. After taking some pictures, we headed around the pond on the near side. Workmen were getting the campgrounds ready to open by cleaning up and putting the swimming float in the water. The walk to the upper end of the pond went quickly as the trail is well-maintained. Lisa stopped to inspect her favorite campsite and then we continued around to the trail that leads up to the viewpoint and over TouchMeNot Mountain and back to the car. I turned on the trail and waited for Lisa but she continued around the pond. It was then that I found out that her "loop" and my "loop" where very different. I assumed we would stay on the trails while she had decided we would walk back on the roads. I HATE walking on roads when there is perfectly good trail! I walked back down to the trail around the pond. I stopped once to take some pictures of TouchMeNot Mountain. At this point I collapsed my poles and put them in my pack. I also put Sheila on her leash to make sure there were no problems on the road. One we completed the loop we started down the access road for the campgrounds to get to Barkaboom Road. It was torture for me since I do not like to walk on roads and neither does Sheila. Once we were at the Barkaboom Road we turned left and walked back uphill to the parking area at Big Pond. I took a few pictures of Big Pond before getting in the car. We had walked 4.9 miles in 2 hours and 42 minutes and over half of this was on "paved" trail or roads. The elevation gain was about 1120 feet. I do not suggest the road walk but would encourage everyone to complete the loop and the beautiful trails in this area!

On Monday, May 6th I was determined to hike Black Dome even though the drive is long and I had track practice in the afternoon. On Saturday I had wanted to hike both Thomas Cole and Black Dome from Barnum Road but my wife could only manage Cole. I decided to hike Black Dome from the Batavia Kill trailhead and get an early start which often eludes me! I left Livingston Manor at around 7:00 AM and made it to the Batavia Kill trailhead before 8:30 AM. When I left the house, I was surprised that my car had a thick layer of frost on the windshield. The temperature at the trailhead was only about 35 degrees but I knew it was going to get warmer throughout the day. I thought I was appropriately dressed with summer pants and a light windbreaker. As we started the hike I was surprised to find that the trail register was missing! The supports had been neatly sawn off at almost ground level. I thought I might find that it had been relocated farther up the trail but that was not the case. As we walked along it was clear that the trails were extremely dry even in places that often had standing or running water. We were able to keep up a brisk pace over the first mile of the hike and were averaging almost 2.5 mph. After about a mile the trail begins to get steeper and there are a large number of rocks to negotiate on the ascent. At about 1.5 miles the ascent gets very steep but is moderated by FIVE switchbacks as the trail approaches Lockwood Gap. One of the most impressive sights in the Catskills is the turn on the first switchback as Blackhead comes into view. Black Dome is higher but sort of hidden. The view of Blackhead is "in your face" and I always think for just a moment "No one could climb that!" even after numerous trips to the top! Just before 9:30 AM we were at Lockwood Gap and we turned right top start the even steeper ascent to the summit of Black Dome.

The ascent from the Gap to the summit is relatively short but very steep in places. There are a few places that require some scrambling up and over large rocks and I wondered how Sheila would handle these. After I watched her simply jump up over the first few, I had my answer. On the way up there were several nice views and a viewpoint just above one of the climbs. I decided to push to the summit and stop on the way back down. The final .6 miles seemed to go quickly as we walked over the summit to the lookout facing south. The rock ledge that makes up the lookout was covered in "engravings" that have accumulated over the years. The views of the Devil's Path were better than I had expected but the skies were actually too clear with almost no clouds. I took some pictures and then we started the trip back. This time we stopped at the viewpoint that has a clear view of Blackhead, Colgate Lake and a hint of the Hudson River. This was the first time I noticed that the trail up Blackhead was so clearly visible. After taking some pictures, we returned to the trail to descend to the Gap. I was tempted to hike up Blackhead but decided I had accomplished my goal and had other commitments that need my attention. We made the left turn and started down through the switchbacks to the parking area. On the way down we met two solo hikers enjoying the beautiful day. The trip back seemed to go quickly but took about the same time as the trip up due to my photographic efforts. We arrived back at the car at 11:25 AM to find the temperature had risen to 64 degrees. This was almost a 30 degree changed from the beginning of the hike! We hiked 4.9 miles in just under 3 hours with almost a half hour of stopped time for photography. The total elevation gain was about 1830 feet.

On Saturday, May 4th we did not had a track meet as we had attended an invitational on Friday evening. I had planned to fill in some of my grid for May and one look told me that Thomas Cole and Black Dome were a viable choice. I asked Cindy the night before if she would like to go and she was not sure. I woke up pretty early in the morning and gathered all my equipment. Cindy decided she would like to go. I knew that she might not be able to do both mountains but I like her company on hikes! We got ready, put Sheila in the car and headed out DeBruce Road toward Route 47 passed Slide Mountain just before 9:00 AM. The Frost Valley Road STILL has a "Closed" sign and the road is STILL only one lane just passed the intersection with Pole Road. Much of the road until after the hairpin turn is in very poor shape. When we got to Route 28, I turned right and then took Route 42 in Shandaken and headed toward Lexington and Route 23A. At Route 23A I turned right and headed toward Hunter. From there it was north on Route 296, east on Route 23C. north on Route 40 until, I turned right on Barnum Road. The small parking area on the right at the end of the road was full so I parked on the other side. When we got out of the car at 10:15 AM, we were surprised that it was so warm! We started hiking at about 10:20 AM by starting up the rocky path that forms the first part the of the hike. The first .5 miles of the hike has private land on both sides so I kept Sheila on her leash until we made the left turn and started to climb. The path was dry in most spots but had a few very muddy places. After the trail register, the trail began to climb almost immediately. It is pretty steep in some places but has a few switchbacks to moderate the ascent. In addition, there area some areas where the trail flattens before the next climb. By 11:00 AM we were at a short rock scramble which had a viewpoint at the end. I remembered this lookout and I dropped my pack to get the camera while Cindy took a breather. The viewpoint faced south and east so that I could see Onteora Mountain and the Jewett Range with the Devil's Path behind them. I took some pictures and then moved to a second lookout that had a view less obstructed by trees. The sky was almost cloudless and the sun was bright which is not a good combination for taking pictures but I took some anyway. We got back on the trail to continue our hike to Thomas Cole.

Over the next .3 miles we continued to climb the Caudal to about 3300 feet. The descent on the other side took us down almost 100 feet before we climbed to the top of the Camel's Hump at over 3500 feet. There has been some discussion about naming the Camel's Hump as another 3500 foot peak but the distance between it and Thomas Cole is only about .8 miles and the drop from the Hump is just over 100 feet. The views from the Camel's Hump were pretty good as we stopped to rest for a few minutes on the rock at the top. Someone has cleared out some of the brush so that there are good views to the north of Windham. After a snack and a drink, we headed down the other side of the Hump just as the noon whistles were blowing and across the relatively flat saddle between The Camel's Hump and Thomas Cole. The last .4 mile climb up Thomas Cole had us gaining about 460 feet. Just after we started the climb we stopped at another lookout to the south and I took a few more pictures. By the time we got to the top of Thomas Cole at 12:$% PM, Cindy was too tired to go on. As always I was disappointed at failing to reach my goal but the company was well worth it! Cindy offered to hang out until I walked over to Black Dome and back but I knew I wouldn't be comfortable with that arrangement. We turned around and started back making good time except when we got to the few short climbs. We were back at the car by 2:30 PM having covered 5.7 miles in 4 hours and 15 minutes. The total vertical gain was 2280 feet. We both agreed we would like to eat at Pancho Villa's in Tannersville. As always the meal was good!

On Friday, May 3rd, I decided to take our two-year-old grandson Bryce on a hike on Round Top behind our church in Livingston Manor. He had been out walking with our son and daughter-in-law before but this was his first "off road: adventure with use. We walked down the driveway and looked both ways as we crossed the street. The hill behind the church I pretty steep and I know this since Bryce remarked about the incline. At the top of the hill we turned left into the woods on a path or woods road that led us to a lookout over downtown Livingston Manor. Bryce seemed interested in looking at the post office and school, which he visits regularly, from a different angle. We then headed up through the woods with Bryce holding my hand as we hopped over roots and branches and rocks. I decided to cut my planned route a little short and this is what got us into some trouble! We investigated some cliffs and rock overhangs and then headed back in the general direction of the church. Somehow on our way I missed the trail and dropped too low on the hill. We took a little spill but recovered with no harm done. Eventually we worked our way down to the back of the building next to the church. There were two well drilling trucks in the back and this made Bryce VERY happy! We walked back across the street to complete our 40 minute adventure. I am sure there will be many more and I look forward to them all!

On Wednesday, May 1st, I had planned to hike with Lisa starting at about 9:00 AM but and ambulance call in the early morning delayed those plans. When I got home at 10:00 AM I called Lisa and she was still interested and we agreed to hike at Huggins Lake. This hike is short but pretty and fit my time frame as I had a home track meet to set up. I picked Lisa up on the way and we headed for the Beaverkill campgrounds to cross the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. We found that the bridge was undergoing repairs so we too a short detour and ended up on Berry Brook Road headed toward our destination. When we arrived, we found the access road rutted but passable. I parked at about 10:40 AM and we got right to hiking. The weather was warm and sunny and I was glad I had dressed more appropriately than usual. We set a pretty fast pace and I was reminded that the woods road leading to the lake gains elevation more quickly than I remember. In the first .7 miles the trail gains about 500 feet before leveling off and then ascending again to the highest point at 2515 feet. After 1.24 miles and a gain of a little over 600 feet, we began the descent to the lake. We could see the he e below through the trees and it was a beautiful sight. By 1125 we had hiked the 1.9 miles and descended to the shore of the lake.

At the lake there were some large birds that took to flight as we approached but we could not see what they were. The geese on the lake stayed put and did not seem threatened by our presence. The lake was a nice blue and there was some color beginning to show in the buds and leaves on the trees. We stopped to take some pictures even though the bright sun and cloudless sky made that difficult. I concentrated on taking a few shots of some reeds with their spent seed pods. I also photographed the lake which sits in a kind of bowl surrounded by hills. Sheila and I walked to the outlet and to the small clearing beyond. I noticed that a woods road continues away from the pond in a generally north or northeast direction and I made to note to investigate it at some point. Lisa also took some pictures of the flowers that were beginning to show up. As we got ready to start back, Sheila hit the water splashing and swimming in the lake. Once she gets wet she it hard to stop as she loves the water! We started back up the woods road with Sheila racing passed us in both direction. We were back at the car by 12:25 PM having covered 3.7 miles in an hour and 45 minutes. It was not a long hike but a pleasant one that fit into the time we had available.

On Sunday, April 28th I asked Cindy if she wanted to hike after church. She agreed and I suggested that we go to Bramley Mountain near Delhi. Bramley is on DEP land and was the site of a fire tower which was sold and dismantled. Lately the Catskill Mountain Club has been preparing to blaze some trails in the area and there has even been talk of erecting the fire tower. Cindy and I got our gear, put Sheila in the car and headed to Delhi. We continued through town going east on Route 10. In East Delhi we crossed the river at the Fitches Covered Bridge and then turned left on County Route 18. After about 2 miles we turned right on Glen Burnie Road and started to look for DEP signs. After a little over .5 miles there was a woods road on the left with a gate and some room to pull over on the side of the road. I drove a little further and found another road with another pulloff. I got out my hiking GPS and decided that the lower road looked more promising so we drove back down and parked there to begin our hike. The blackflies were out in force and the temperature was in the high 60's. I had traded in my Mammut Hoody for a light windbreaker and my Patagonia Capilene for a lighter long-sleeved shirt. I was glad I did but I was still warm. We started hiking on the wide woods road heading east. Eventually the roads seemed to be running on contour and I wanted to gain some elevation. We turned south and started to bushwhack up a 30% grade. At he top we found another path and eventually a woods road which we followed for a while. At some point I found another road that seemed to go up to the ridge but that ended in a sea of old pricker canes. We followed a faint path along the edge of the sea until another road led us to the top of the ridge. The road we were on ended on a nice wide woods road that seemed to run east-west. I followed it east but it started to skirt the summit of the mountain. Once again we struck out on a bushwhack through some prickers toward the summit. Within a short distance we ran into a small cliff band but Sheila found an easy way through.

I was a little ahead of Cindy as we climbed through the cliffs. I looked down to see a sort of den and wondered what might live there. Once I got up through the cliffs I waited for Cindy. She called up to me that there was an animal moving in the tree above me. I looked around and finally spotted a porcupine in the tree. I took some pictures as she climbed up and then we both walked east and up a little to the clearing that marked the summit of the mountain. The piers for the fir tower were still there and I found a USGS benchmark in one of the rocks. There was a little path to the south side of the summit and I walked over to find some nice views. The skies were beginning to cloud over and the sun was too bright to get too many good shots. We walked back the way we had come and were soon on the wide woods road. We decided to stay on the road as long as it headed generally west. I was a little worried about private property but my recollection of the maps was that the DEP land was a rather large parcel. We continued to walk on the woods road and each time I thought we should be heading more north the road turned that way. I began to get the feeling that the road would come very close to the upper parking spot, the one that I had rejected at the beginning of the hike. Soon I could see the road and just after that the little pulloff. Once on the road we walked downhill to the car. We had covered 2.9 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes with a vertical gain of a little over 900 feet. The trip to the summit had taken us about 1 hour and 20 minutes while the return trip on the woods road was about 40 minutes. I know which one I'll pick next time. We drove over to the other side of mountain and turned onto Bramley Mountain Road. The Venture Out map showed a parking area but we did not see it. We continued over to Route 10 with the intention of going through Andes and back by way of the Pepacton Reservoir. As we turned onto Route 10 we came across a beautiful stone church, St James Episcopal Church. I stopped to take a few pictures and wondered about the story behind this large church in such a rural setting.

On Friday, April 26th we had finished hiking Ticetonyk Mountain by noon and had headed for Mount Tobias. I drove back out to Route 28 and headed west through Boiceville. I turned right on Winnie Road and right onto the Mt Tremper-Wittenberg Road at end. After about 1.2 miles, I turned left on Abbey Road which started to climb almost immediately. maps I had seemed to indicate Abbey Road might be a narrow dirt road but I found it paved most of the way with many nice homes right to the dead end. I knew I was looking for a parking area on the right but could not find one! I drove back down the road to a sharp turn where The Middle Way branched off to the east. I turned around and tried to find The High Road but could not find that sign. An unsigned road went off to the left and right above that was a short, eroded access road. I had seen this before and noticed some sign at the end near what looked like a clearing. I assumed they were "Private Property" signs but decided to park my car and take a look. The signs indicated state land! I went back to the car and negotiated the deep ruts and parked in the small lot at about 12;40 PM. The summit of Mount Tobias was ENE of where we parked but private property was again an issue. We started out on a woods road that left the parking area and headed almost due north. The road was easy to follow but after about .25 miles I decided to turn east in the direction of Mount Tobias. The road seemed to fork but the branch to the east was difficult to follow so we picked our own path. At about .45 miles we ran up against some cliffs with areas that looked like they could be climbed but I decided to walk along them to look for a better approach. It wasn't long before I found and area and we started up heading northeast. The next .35 miles saw us gain about 380 feet on a 20% grade. At .9 miles we hit a relatively flat summit plateau and headed almost due east toward the highest point. I was not aware of a USGS marker on the top but found a cairn near what I thought was the highest point.

We stopped at the cairn and Sheila posed for a few pictures. After our photo shoot, we headed east and down a little to find a viewpoint. I tried several different places but could only get views through the trees. I took a few pictures and then we started back. On the way back I tried to get Sheila to follow the route we had taken up. Sheila is a hunting dog where Sheba was a working dog. Sheila just has to follow her nose and sniff out various animal tracks. If I remind her, she comes back to our track but her approach is serpentine to say the least. On the way back I stayed a little to the north of our previous path and we ran into the cliffs we had seen from below. It was a s simple matter to walk along the cliffs until a suitable spot to descend became available. Once we were down off the higher ground we hit our track back to the woods road. As we walked along the road, Sheila turned to the left and I called her to continue straight ahead. Something told me to check compass and GPS both of which proved Sheila correct. We turned left on the branch of the woods road that took us right back to the car by 2:15 PM. This hike was only 2.3 miles and had taken about 1.5 hours. There was an overall 700 foot vertical gain. Despite the lack of any real views from the top, I liked the cliffs and would return to climb them or perhaps try a different approach from Route 212 to the north.

On Friday, April 26th I had my eyes set on some new Catskill peaks that I had seen mentioned in online forums as interesting. Some of these are on a list called the "Catskill's Finest" which lists peaks based on prominence. Prominence can be a difficult concept to explain especially since the definition varies from person to person and place to place. Basically it describes how much a mountain "sticks out" from the terrain and other mountains around it. Some of the peaks I had in mind were Ticetonyk, Mount Tobias, and Carl Mountain in the Ashokan Reservoir area. Bramley Mountain and another hill near the Pepacton Reservoir also sounded interesting. I decided to head toward Ticetonck first and drove from Livingston Manor to Grahamsville and then out passed Peekamoose to West Shokan. In West Shokan I took Route 28A north to Route 28 heading east towards Kingston. I turned north onto some back roads and made my way to Peck Road. I found a DEP parking area on the left side of the road which did not appear to be correct. I continued until I had driven about 1.2 miles on Peck road. There was a small pulloff on the left side of the road with a small sign announcing Ticetonyk Mountain. I parked to one side of pulloff to allow at least one other car access although I doubted anyone else would be at this obscure spot on a Friday! When we got out of the car at 9:40 AM, the first thing that I noticed was the swarm of black flies! I remembered that I had forgotten to bring any repellant! I also noticed the day was already warm and I wondered how long I could keep on my Mammut softshell. As we started the hike, I was cognizant of the fact that the access to the larger parcel of land is a very narrow corridor with private land on either side. I noticed the state forest signs and tried to keep between the signs and the yellow blazes that marked the corridor. Although our destination, the summit of Ticetonyk Mountain was also due north of our location, we headed northwest to stay on the state land. I was able to follow several indistinct paths and wood road until, I found one that headed northwest and up the western shoulder of the ridge. At about .45 miles this road began to rise steeply to about .75 miles were it leveled off. As we climbed, I noticed some great views of the Ashokan Reservoir to the left. Once the road leveled off, I stopped and took a few pictures even though there were some trees blocking the views.

At this point the road continued to the northwest and started to descend. Since I did not want to descend or to infringe on private property, we turned northeast and headed up a short but steep (30%) ascent. The trail became a little less demanding after only .1 miles. We continued to climb up the shoulder of the mountain until the faint path we were following flattened out and we reached the summit at about 1.4 miles. I knew there was a USGS marker at the top which I found on one of the larger rocks. I knew from previous trip reports that there was a lookout to the east so we headed a little to the south east and won a level toward what looked like the edge of some cliffs. Once we were near that edge we began to walk east and then north looking for the viewpoint. Soon I found a great lookout with a large rock inscribed with many initials and symbols. There were open views to the east over the reservoir with Tonshi Mountain just below. I took many pictures despite a slight haze and bright sunlight. After photographing as much as I could, I decided we would stay on this lower level and try to walk around to the west to see if there were any open views. We walked for a little along the eastern edge but began to get into THICK laurel as we headed north. I decided to cut back up to the summit plateau and had to fight through the laurel to get there! Once we cleared the laurel, we headed to the western edge where I found some nice views but limited photographic opportunities. We continued around until we hit the path we had taken to the summit and turned southwest to retrace our route. After only a short distance, Sheila, who was just ahead of me, began to bark as if someone was approaching. This was because someone was approaching. I had not expected to find anyone else in this rather remote location but I was wrong. The hiker lived locally and we talked about the views and the beautiful weather. After our brief conversation, we parted and Sheila and I continued back down to the woods road. This time we stayed on the woods road a little longer which made the return trip slightly longer but a little easier. I again tried to stay on the state land. We were back at the car by noon having hiked 3.4 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes. The vertical gain was 1350 feet. I was happy that the slight breeze had kept the black flies at bay! Even though I was a little tired, I decided to head to Mount Tobias.

On Tuesday, April 23rd I wanted to hike somewhere relatively close but could not face another trip to Frick Pond! I decided to hike Slide Mountain and made plans to hike up the Steps Trail. Note: The Steps Trail is partly on Winisook Club Property so be sure to call the club for permission. I have never been denied but you must ask. I drove out Pole Rd. to Route 47 and made the left turn toward Frost Valley. There is still a "Road Closed" sign but the road is being used. The condition of the road just after the sign has deteriorated even further over the winter. The rest of the trip to the parking area was uneventful and we arrived at about 9:00 AM to find a group of four hikers getting ready to start. I delayed a little to let them get a head start and left the parking area at about 9:10 AM. The river was easy to cross and there was no snow or ice in sight. Sheila splashed through the water and ran up the trail. The hikers ahead of us looked like they would be staying overnight somewhere as they had larger packs and were moving slowly. We caught up to them and I found they intended to hike to the top of Slide and then take the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail To Denning. From there they were planning on staying at the Table lean-to overnight. We passed them and turned left when we got to the woods road. After a short walk, we turned into the woods just short of where the Winisook Club has their cable across the road. It was pretty easy to find the Steps Trail although it was a little overgrown in places as it is much less used than the other trails. We climbed a little and at about .7 miles stopped at the first lookout. There was a fog or mist hanging over the surrounding peaks and it even obscured the valleys between. I took a few shots and then we continued along a relatively flat section before climbing again. There were a few blowdowns to avoid but the trail was pretty easy to follow. Somewhere along the way I took a few pictures of Sheila on some of the steps. We continued to follow the trail as it took a generally gentle approach. At about 1.7 miles we came to some rocks that form another lookout. Before climbing to the lookout, I took some pictures of the rocks. To get up required me to grab onto some roots but Sheila just ran up the rocks.

The view from the lookout was nonexistent as the warm air hitting the cold snow formed an impenetrable ground fog. I did take a few pictures of trees surrounded by fog which looked interesting. As we started up the trail, we immediately ran into several inches of snow on the ground. It was pretty hard but was also icy in places. The Steps Trail becomes less distinct near the junction with the main trail so I kept asking Sheila which way to go. I followed her until we were...right on the main trail to the summit. The main trail was covered in a foot or so of hard packed snow and ice and there was still some snow in the woods. We turned left to go to the summit and walked for a while without too many slips or slides. Once we passed the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail junction, we ran into some icier patches and I decided to put on my spikes. This turned out to be a GREAT decision and I wore them to the summit and back down. We stopped at the lookout before the summit and again had no views. We walked passed the summit to the open rock face and found no snow in this area. The rocks and the clearing next to them are more open and all the snow had melted. It was 11:00 AM. I took a few minutes to take some pictures of the fog moving across the clearing before starting back down the trail. The spikes made descending pretty easy! Somewhere around the trail junction I met the group of four hikers coming up. None of them had any spikes and I told them that they could probably make it to the summit but they would have to walk on the side of the trail in the icier spots. We went our separate ways. The ice and snow suddenly disappeared completely just after where we had joined the main trail from the Steps trail at about 3700 or 3800 feet. We continued down the main trail crossing a few small streams and climbing over or walking around some areas of blowdown. We met two young men coming up the trail and I mentioned the snow and ice ahead. I have never liked this part of the trail as it seems long and there are so many rocks. On this day the hike down seemed to go quickly and we were soon at the junction with the Phoenicia-West Branch trail. We turned right and walked to the trail junction and then down the trail to the parking area. We were back by 12:30 PM having covered 5.5 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes with over 30 minutes of stopped time. Our vertical gain was about 1840 feet.

On Wednesday, April 17th I decided to hike locally before going to school to get our track ready for the first home meet. We had not been to Long Pond for some time so I decided we would go there despite the fact that the trails are always wet and muddy! We arrived at the parking area just before 9:30 AM and started hiking right away. In the first .7 miles we gained 350 feet but this was pretty much the only ascent of the day. There was some water on this part of the trail but nothing we couldn't avoid. At 1 mile there was a side trail down to Long Pond. I decided for the second hike in a row that pictures were not necessary. On this day the sky was bright and almost cloudless which did not make for ideal conditions for photography. After passing the trail to the pond, the main trail started to get much wetter with some small puddles and muddy areas. At 1.3 miles we arrived at the trail junction. The trail to the left leads back out to Flugertown Road for a very short loop. We turned right to continue on the longer loop. At 1.7 miles there was a trail to the right that goes to the lean-to but we continued on the main trail. We had passed several "ponds" on the trail which were also very muddy and I was happy that Sheila avoided the mess. At 2.4 miles the trail ended on a woods road where we turned left and walked down to the junction with Basily Road at 2.75 miles. Turning right here would have taken us to Wild Meadow Road so we stayed to the left to head back to Flugertown Road. At 3.25 miles we crossed a small stream and walked through the Peters hunting camp crossing another stream in the process. Just after crossing the second stream the road made a sharp turn to the left and we followed. For the next 2 miles the road was a solid dirt surface and we made good time. The walk was pleasant as the road parallels Willowemoc Creek. Toward the end of this section I was surprised to look up and see a pickup truck coming toward us. I grabbed Sheila and decided it was time to put her on her leash. I was glad I did since two more vehicles eventually passed us. This is considered "rush hour" for this back road! At 5.4 miles we passed the dirt road to Sand Pond on the right and at that point Flugertown Road became a paved and maintained town road. It was only .5 miles back to the car. We arrived in the parking area at 11:30 AM having covered 5.9 miles in 2 hours with only 13 seconds of stopped time.

On Monday, April 15th I decided to hike locally after a 12 mile adventure in Minnewaska on Saturday. The Hodge and Frick Pond area seemed as good as any so I got Sheila in the car and we headed out arriving at the parking area at 9:35 AM. We were ready to go almost immediately although I was surprised that the temperature was just above freezing since the forecast called for highs in the mid-50s. I thought I might choose a slightly different route so we headed out the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond but turned right onto the Loggers Loop at the first trail junction. The trails were VERY wet and soft but the worst areas could be avoided by walking around them. At Times Square we turned right and headed up the Big Rock Trail toward the junction with the Flynn Trail. This is one of the most challenging climbs in this area. The skies remained overcast but the ascent warmed me up. Sheila was having great fun investigating the numerous animal trails. By 10:20 AM we were at the junction with the Flynn Trail after hiking a little over 2 miles. Our pace was so good that I decided to simply hike for speed and avoid any stops. We turned left on the Flynn Trail and headed toward Hodge Pond. At the next trail junction we headed right on the woods road toward the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. As we approached the old building, we turned right to head down to the jeep trail around the pond where we took a right. We walked around the back of the pond and joined the Flynn Trail on the other side. We turned right to get on the Flynn Trail and head toward Junkyard Junction where it meets the Quick Lake Trail. There is still a large amount of blowdown blocking the short section of trail from the pond to the gate. Even after the gate there were several trees across the trail. The Flynn Trail in this area is nearly flat and there was a lot of water and mud in this area. By the time we reached Junkyard Junction we had hiked about 3.65 miles and it was just before 11:00 AM. We turned left to head down the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel Junction. This part of the trail was all downhill and we were able to pick up our pace. The trail was wet in places and showed signs that there had been some running water not long ago. At Iron Wheel we continued straight ahead on the yellow blazed Loggers Loop. This had been my plan all along but I almost had decided to take the Quick Lake Trail back. Sheila me the decision by running straight ahead! The Loggers Loop was also wet in spots but we were able to walk around them. We walked the 1.25 mile trail to Times Square where we arrived at about 11:45 AM. I had thought we might walk around the back of Frick Pond on the wooden bridges but instead stayed straight to return on the Loggers Loop and Quick Lake Trails. As we walked the woods road back to the parking area we met to women hiking out to Frick Pond. I was surprised as I seldom see other hikers especially during the week. We were back at the car at 12:05 PM having covered 7.5 miles in 2.5 hours. The GPS showed we had stopped for less than 2 minutes.

On Saturday, April 13th I was ready to get out again after the rainy weather at the end of the week and some commitments that had kept me inside. I wanted to hike at least 8 miles and chose to go to Minnewaska State Park as I had not been there in some time. I thought it might be nice to see some waterfalls after the rains and the park has several choices. We arrived at about 10:00 AM and paid the $8 fee at the gatehouse. The forecast called for clearing skies later in the morning so I didn't mind arriving a little late. I decided to park in the upper lot and hike to Gertrude's Nose and then loop back to pass Awosting Falls before returning to the car. We were parked and ready to go at about 10:15 AM. The park is very popular but I thought it was a little early in the season for it to be too busy. I was wrong! The lot already had a dozen or more cars parked. Sheila and I walked down the hill to the "beach" and I took some pictures of the lake and the cliffs. The sky was very overcast but that made the lighting interesting. There were people along most of the paths and carriageways and I really wanted to find a less populated area. My idea was to walk to the other end of lake and then take the Millbrook Mountain Trail to get to Gertrude's Nose. My hope was to get away from some of the people! At the trail junction with the Hamilton Point Carriageway I met a young woman and her Jack Russell terrier, Oliver. She was also debating which way to go. Sheila and I headed down to the lake passing one group on the way with another right behind us. We stopped so that I could take some pictures as the other groups approached. I decided to hike back up to the trail junction and try taking the Millbrook Mountain Carriageway. Once on the carriageway we found no other hikers and, not seeing the young woman and her dog, I assumed they were ahead of us. Within a short distance the trail split with the Hamilton Point Carriageway bearing right. We went left to follow the Millbrook Mountain Carriageway. I kept Sheila on the leash as she didn't seem to mind much and didn't want to get in the way of any bikers. After about 2 miles of hiking we arrived at Patterson's Pellet at about 10:55 AM. I took some pictures and then we continued on our way making great time on the flat carriageway. At 2.5 miles we turned right onto the Gertrude's Nose Trail and I let Sheila off her leash. She was very happy to be free but came quickly when I called.

The trail climbed a small hill and then descended on the other side into a small ravine with a stream at the bottom. We crossed the stream easily as the trail began to climb toward Gertrude's Nose. The trail wound its way along the edge of the cliffs. I kept a close eye on Sheila as she likes to get right to the edge and look around. I was also concerned that she might get so interested in a bird or other wildlife that she might not notice the deep crevasses in the rocks. After watching her for a while, it was clear she was being very careful. I stopped to take some pictures of the rocks, the ravine and Hamilton Point. I looked back to see the woman I had talked to earlier taking her own pictures. We walked together to Gertrude's Nose stopping along the way to take some pictures. At Gertrude's Nose, I took some shots of the countryside below. The sun was peeking through the clouds at times but there was a haze hanging around. It was 11:55 AM and we had hiked 3.75 miles slowing down some once we hit the trails. We continued around Gertrude's Nose and stayed on the trail as it followed the escarpment. The views along the way were nice but not much different than from Gertrude's Nose. I was a little ahead with Sheila still off her leash when I noticed that she was very interested in something just off the right side of the trail. I took a look and found her headed toward a porcupine that was just sitting on a branch. I immediately called her and she reluctantly came to me. As the other dog and owner approached, I warned her only to look back and find the porcupine coming directly toward us! Sheila really wanted to get to the porcupine now that it was in motion so I was glad that it climbed a tree. As we continued along, the trail descended and crossed a powerline right-of-way. Just after this we stopped at a deep hole and I explained that during the summer the air here was MUCH cooler than anywhere else. At this point Oliver needed a little first aid for a cut on his back leg so we parted company.

I climbed out of small ravine and put Sheila on her leash as a couple and their large back lab descended the rocky path I was climbing. I was glad they had there dog on a leash as it did not seem very friendly. At the top of the climb we met two different hiking groups who seemed to like dogs. We chatted briefly before Sheila and I continued along. We met several other hikers along the way and stopped once or twice so that I could take some pictures. As we approached Millbrook Mountain, Oliver and his owner caught up with us again. At this point it was 1:00 PM and we had hiked about 5.5 miles. The other hiker decided to head back to Minnewaska on the Millbrook Mountain Trail while decided to stick to my plan to complete a loop passed Awosting Falls. I thought about cutting down to the Coxing Kill Trail to shorten the hike a little but knew that trail was usually very wet. As we walked along the Millbrook Mountain Trail there were several nice views and I stopped at one to take some pictures including some of the talus below the cliffs. A father and daughter approached from the other direction. The daughter volunteered to take a picture of me with Sheila and I accepted. We talked for a moment before parting. Only a little further along I stopped again to take some pictures of the Catskills from the ridge we were on. We passed another connector trail but I decided to continue to Bayard's Path which was my original plan. The trail was rocky in many parts with a high wall of rock on the right. When the trail descended and moved away from the escarpment it became a tangle of roots. At 2:15 PM we had hike 7.6 miles and turned left onto Bayard's Path which made a short but steep descent to the Trapps Road where we turned left to head back toward Minnewaska.

By this time I was feeling a little tired but Sheila was still ready to go! She dashed up and down the wide road running through the water in the ditch and generally having a great time. My feet were a little sore from the ribbed wool socks I was wearing but the flat carriageway was easier on them than the rocky trails. Trapps Road parallels Route 44/55 and I could hear and see the traffic. At one point the road makes a hairpin turn and passes by a high wall of rock on the left where we stopped to get a drink and for me to take some pictures. Just after this at about 9.6 miles we crossed Lyons Road. Shortly after this the name of the trail changed to the Awosting Falls Carriageway and a small sign announced it was "closed to all traffic". At this point, we didn't have much choice and I decided to continue wince turning back was not an option. There did seem to be tire tracks on the trail surface and quite a few foot prints. Soon we were at the access point from Route 44/55 where the Peters Kill crosses underneath the road. A gate and a sign indicated that the trail was closed but others seemed to be using it freely. I decided it was safer to take the trail rather than to walk on the road with the traffic. We stayed on the trail, and found it to be largely reconstructed with new crusher run used to build the road surface. We stopped along the way so that I could take some pictures of the Peters Kill. The bed of the stream is solid rock and it is very shallow. An increase in volume inevitably sends the stream out of its banks to erode trail. At 3:25 PM we arrived at Awosting Falls after hiking 11 miles. We stopped and I took some pictures of the falls before we headed up the path to the top of the falls. There were several groups of hikers coming down to the falls even though it was late in the day. I though about stopping at the top of the falls but really just wanted to get back to the car. We turned right on the Sunset Carriageway and climbed back up toward the lake and the parking area. I was glad that Sheila still had some energy to help pull me up the hill! We were back at the car at 3:50 PM after hiking 12 miles in 5 hours and 40 minutes. We had stopped for over an hour along the way and ascended almost 2000 feet.

On Tuesday, April 9th I wanted to get in another hike before the weather turned rainy for the remainder of the week. I decided to hike to Giant Ledge and maybe to Panther if time allowed. Another option I considered was bushwhacking below the Ledges to make somewhat of a loop. I got my gear and Sheila into the car and we started out at just after 9:00 AM. I had elected to wear by Keen Glarus boots rather than more insulated winter boots. I also did not don a baselayer as the temperature was already in the 50's when we headed out. I did not intend to use snowshoes since I knew I would have to carry them at the beginning of the hike. I decided that I would turn around if snowshoes became necessary! As I made the turn from Pole Rd. onto Route 47, the "Road Closed" sign was still present. The road just after the turn is still one lane and has not been paved. The rest of the road to Frost Valley and beyond was not in good shape with many holes and a lot of sand and gravel on the road surface. We passed a work crew doing some ditching. We arrived at the parking area at the hairpin turn on Route 47 and 9:45 AM and were ready to hike right away. There were no other cars in the lot as we crossed the road and headed out on the trail. The first part of the trail had quite a bit of ice but this gave way to almost bare trail just after the bridge. The bare spots were pretty muddy. A little further on the ice returned and the snow increased on the sides of the trail. I almost put on my spikes but the icy areas kept alternating with bare areas of dirt and rock. Walking on the sides of the trail in the icy areas seemed to be the best plan. Near the top of the climb to the trail junction the ice was spread across the trail so we bushwhacked off the trail to the junction. The area around the trail junction was icy and there was quite a bit of snow as we turned toward Giant Ledge. The rest of the way to the last steep climb continued to alternate between snow, ice, mud and water. The last climb was almost devoid of ice or snow as it is well exposed to the sun. At the top of the climb the snow returned as we walked to the path that goes down to the first lookout. We arrived at the first viewpoint at 10:55 AM having taken around an hour for the 1.6 mile hike.

Sheila likes to walk right up to the edge of the ledges which makes me nervous. I dropped my pack and took out the camera to take some shots. There was a haze in the distance but it actually made the pictures more interesting. There was clearly a lot of snow on Slide and some on Panther. There was also a lot of snow below the ledges. This convinced me that I did not want to bushwhack below the ledges. Since I didn't have enough time to make the summit of Panther, I decided we would just head back the way we had come. I took pictures and then got packed up to visit one of the other viewpoints to get a better look at slide. The center lookout didn't offer much of a view so we headed to the next one where we stopped so that I could take a few more shots. After practicing my photographic skills, we headed back along the ledges to retrace our route back to the car. Somewhere between the spring and the trail junction we met a young man and his fog headed up to the Ledges. We talked for a minute and then continued on our separate ways. The sun and warm temperature had melted even more of the snow. This meant more bare spots and more water but also a better grip on the ice. We made the turn at the trail junction and headed down toward the parking area. We met a young couple and their dog on their way up to the Ledges. We talked for a minute and they asked about the trail marking for the Ledges. They intended to stay on the yellow trail so I informed them that this was a bad idea. I told them to turn left onto the blue trail at the trail junction as that was the way to Giant Ledge. I think the signs would have been sufficient to direct them but I was glad I had a chance to help. Sheila and I worked our way quickly down the descents with me staying near the sides of the trail in the icy areas. Sheila, of course, has no such limitations! We were back at the car at 12:20 PM having covered 3.3 miles in 2.5 hours.

On Monday, April 8th I wanted to get in a hike close to home and decided to visit Trout Pond. The area around Trout and Mud Ponds is a favorite of mine but I had not been there in some time. I didn't know what to expect as far as trail conditions and the volume of water at the falls. I got myself dressed and had to deal with Sheila who immediately knew we were going hiking. She tends to stick close to make sure I know she wants to go. By the time we left the house at 8:45 AM the temperature was in the low 40's but headed up. We arrived at the parking area at about 9:15 AM and immediately started our hike. Russell Brook Road was mostly clear with a few icy spots in the shade of the evergreen trees. When we reached the viewpoint over the upper falls, I had to stop to take a few shots despite the fact that I have many pictures from the same spot. We walked down to the lower parking area and then headed down to the bridge over Russell Brook. There was now snow or ice but the trail was soft and muddy in places. We walked over to the falls and down the bank to the streambed. I took pictures of the falls and a couple of Sheila in front of the falls before heading back to the main trail. We walked passed the register box and up the wide woods road toward the outlet of Trout Pond. There was still very little snow but there was water and mud. As we approached Trout Pond, I was surprised to see that there was still ice covering most of the pond. The only open area I could see was near the spillway. Sheila immediately ran out onto the ice! I took some pictures of the scenery with the ice on the pond. I began to throw a stick out onto the ice for Sheila to retrieve. As she brought the stick back, I took pictures. We headed back to the main trail and walked up to the inlet end of the pond. As we approached the inlet stream I could hear some ducks take to flight. I knew Sheila would go after them. It seemed that she ran across the open water near shore and onto the ice! We walked to the upper end of the pond and I took some more pictures. I threw a stick into the water and Sheila retrieved it several times. After this we walked to the trail that starts up Cherry Ridge and continued our hike. As we began to ascend, the trail began to be covered in snow and ice with more in the surrounding woods. This area also had a more northerly and westerly exposure. The snow and ice continued to the top of the rise and then dissipated some on the other side. We continued to run into some areas with snow but also walked around some water and mud. Soon we were at the junction with the snowmobile trail that runs passed Mud Pond. We turned left and climbed a little before descending back to the register box. From there we walked back out to the lower parking area and then up the road to the car. The temperature had risen into the 50's. We were back at the car at 11:40 AM having covered 5.6 miles in 2.5 hours.

On Thursday, April 4th I wanted to see some snow before it was all gone as the weather slowly warms. I decided that since I had limited time I would go to Balsam Lake Mountain at the end of the Beaverkill Road. When I left the house at 8:45 AM the temperature was only 27 degrees despite the forecast for highs in the 50's with sunny skies. The drive up the Beaverkill Road was uneventful until just passed the Quill Gordon Lodge. At this point the road became very rough with numerous ruts and bumps. In addition the erosion both side is so extensive that it seems there may soon be no road left. Despite the poor conditions I was able to drive all the way to the end of the road where I found the trailhead parking area open and plowed. I parked and got out to inspect the beginning of the trail. There was wrack a bit of snow on the ground but the trail was packed and would not require snowshoes, at least not at the lower elevations. I decided to carry my snowshoes on my pack and we got on the trail at about 9:35 AM. Almost immediately we ran into a large tree across the trail before the register box. This did not bode well for the rest of the hike. A sign on the register box dated October 26, 2012 warned about "weather" conditions making the trail unsafe. Why was it posted and why hasn't it been taken down almost 6 months after it was put up? The snow and ice continued as we walked the trail with a few bare patches along the way. There was no need for the snowshoes but I considered spikes a couple of time. Several times on the trail we had to climb over or skirt more blowdowns. When we got to the point where the trail turns up the mountain, I could see that the snow on the trail was still well packed and chose not to put on my snowshoes. I considered leaving them behind at this point as the weight on my back was not welcome. In the end I thought that I might need them on the ascent or on the descent of the Millbrook side which always seems to have some deeper snow. As we climbed to the summit, the sun came out and I warmed up considerably. The snow on the trail began to melt a little although, overall, the surface remained firm. The trail had been rerouted in several places to avoid more trees across the path. The postholes along the way were annoying but did make "steps" in several spots. Soon the trail leveled off a little and we were at the junction with the trail to the lean-to. We continued on the main trail and made the steep but short ascent to the spring and then climbed the steps just after it. We were now on the relatively flat summit plateau with only about .4 miles to go to the tower. The half miles section from the lower trail junction to just above the spring gains almost 800 feet and averages a 28% grade.

The snow on the top was deeper but the trail was still packed. There was some new powder on top of the older snow and it was just enough to fill in and masked some of the postholes! We arrived at the tower at 10:50 AM after hiking 1.7 miles and gaining 1230 feet. The skies were bright and sunny but almost cloudless. The day before the wind had been gusting to 30 mph but on this day there was hardly a breeze! I took a few shots of the tower after dumping my pack and heading over to the tower. Sheila was happily running around and around the summit taking few minutes now and then to follow an animal track. I climbed to just below the cab and took pictures in all direction. It was so clear I could see for miles but the lack of clouds made the sky look "flat". After taking pictures, I returned to the ground and decided to return by descending the Millbrook side to complete a loop. I also decided to wear the snowshoes Mon my feet instead of on my back. As we started down the trail, it was immediately obvious that there was more snow on this side of the mountain. I also noticed some older cross country ski tracks. As we continued on and the trail got steeper, the snow also got deeper. In places the drifts were almost two feet deep and the snow was powdery. It was fun to "ski" down the trail and we made good time. As we neared the bottom of the trail and the gate, we both heard voices ahead. I had forgotten Sheila's leash so I kept her close to me. We got to the gate, we found Tom and Laurie and two other hikers. They were transporting boards to the fire tower by carrying them and dragging them on a "sled". We talked for a few minutes about fire towers before it was time to go our separate ways. We continued down to the trail junction and turned right to head back to the car. This part of the trail had a little less snow as it is exposed more to the sun. Sheila was busy following game trails up the bank and down toward the stream below. At the trail junction I decided to leave the snowshoes on my feet even though I knew I did not need them. Getting over and around the blowdowns was more difficult with snowshoes but soon we were back at the parking area. We had hiked 4.3 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes including 1240 feet of elevation gain. When I looked at the thermometer in the car, the temperature was 51 degrees!

On Monday, April 1st I was ready to get out after taking a break for the end of Holy Week. I had been thinking about returning to Fitzgerald Falls near Greenwood Lake and hiking at least 8 miles. I had already hiked from Lakes Road to Little Dam Lake and was looking for a somewhat different hike. I decided to park at the top of Mt. Peter on Route 17A and hike the AT to Fitzgerald Falls. This would allow me to walk a section of the AT that I had not been on before and take a different approach to the falls. I knew this would mean a decent on the way out with an ascent on the return trip but that was OK with me. The forecast was for afternoon showers so I wanted to get done before I got wet. As is often the case, my resolve to start early got sidetracked and we didn't arrive at the trailhead until 10:20 AM. As I parked I was surprised to see that the run down buildings by the side of the road had been completely removed! We got ready to hike and I put Sheila on her leash to cross the busy highway. Once on the other side I released her and we started to hike along northeast the ridge. Just after crossing the road a blue trail turned to the left hike the AT turned right. A glance at the map did not reveal the name or route of the blue trail although I suspected it went to Mt. Peter. The walk along the ridge was along a wide and almost flat trail. At about 1.3 miles the Highland Trail turned off to the left while the AT continued up and over some rocks to a nice viewpoint. The lookout was not as expansive as the one to the south on Bellvale Ridge but I got out my camera to take a few pictures. After taking two pictures, the camera shut down because I had not recharged the battery! This is the second time I have done this recently but the last time it occurred at the end of the hike! The people who blazed the AT must have had an interesting outlook since they placed the blazes on a knife edge of rock that descended back to the trail. I could only think how dangerous this would be if it was icy or wet. We did see a little bit of ice under a rock but that was all we would see for the rest of the hike. The temperature was 50 degrees and I was glad I had eschewed a baselayer. Along the trail there were several ponds which were full of various frogs and toads making a cacophony of sound. Sheila did not know what to make of the racket and cautiously moved by these areas.

At 1.7 miles the Highlands Trail headed right and the AT again went up and over a high rock outcrop. This was another spot that I knew would be almost impassable when the rock was wet or icy. There wasn't much of a view from the rocks and I had a tough time getting Sheila to negotiate over one particular spot. Once we were down off the rocks the trail was again mostly flat and easy to walk. As we walked, I noticed a shelter on the left side of the trail with a spur trail running to it. At 2.9 miles the AT turned right and started to descend the ridge while the Highlands Trail continued straight ahead. The descent wasn't too steep and was made easier by several switchbacks. As we neared Lakes Road, the AT blazes disappeared and the trail was hard to follow. The problem in this case was several large trees that were blown down and blocking the trail. There had been quite a few of these along the way with some having paths around them and some not. I wondered who has the responsibility of clearing the AT! We crossed Lakes Road where there was only one car parked and continued on the AT on the other side. We had dropped almost 600 feet from the highest point on the ridge. We crossed Trout Creek on the wooden bridge and walked another .4 miles to Fitzgerald Falls. It was 12:10 PM and we had hiked about 3.9 miles. I was able to squeeze one more picture out of my camera. The falls were nice but could have used a little more water volume. It was still sunny and I was feeling pretty good so I decided to continue on for a little while. I thought we might turn around at the top of the ridge where the AT and the Highlands Trail split. As we walked along, we met a young man hiking towards us. He asked how far it was to the Wildcat Shelter and I told him it was less than 3 miles. After walking some distance, mostly uphill, I lost the AT blazes at about 5 miles. The skies were darkening and for the first time on the hike I remembered the forecast for showers. We bushwhacked up the ridge looking for the AT blazes and headed a little more east and south. I caught a glimpse of two hikers coming up the hill and asked them if they had AT blazes. They said that they did and I we walked over to the trail and up to the trail junction on the ridge. I talked to the other hikers briefly while Sheila eyed their dog. It was 1:00 PM and since the skies were growing much darker, Sheila and I turned around and headed back having about 5.25 miles to cover!

We made our way toward the falls at a quickened pace. By the time we got to the falls the raindrops were falling. We continued on and crossed the road where there were now at least five cars parked. Next, we had to climb back up to the ridge which I thought would be hard but was fairly easy. The rain began to fall a little harder but then let up. This pattern repeated itself until we got to the car. Once we were on the ridge the hike went quickly except for the rain. Just before the second big rock outcropping we her some "joyous" voice ahead that sounded like teenage boys enjoying the rain. I chose to avoid walking up the slippery rock outcrop and used the Highlands Trail to bypass the rocks. At the first rock outcrop the boys chose to go up and over and I chose to bushwhack around the slippery rocks eventually finding the Highlands Trail which shortly joined the AT. I picked up the pace to stay ahead of the boys and Sheila and I made good time. Within a mile of the end of the hike the rain abated and I saw another hiker coming toward us. I slowed to let him catch up and we struck up a conversation. He was an EMT at Mt. Peter and since his job was ending for the season, he had plans to hike the AT starting from Georgia on May 1st. We talked about his job and his hiking plans until we got to the trail junction. He continued on to Mt. Peter and we went back to the car. I didn't think I was that wet until I took off my pack at the car and found it soaked. Sheila also was pretty wet but she didn't seem to mind. We had covered 10.1 miles in 4 hours and 45 minutes. I thought about returning on a clearer day when my camera battery was fully charged.

On Wednesday, March 27th Lisa Lyons and I decided we wanted to get out on a hike and she suggested Jensen Ledges in Lordville near French Woods. I had track practice until noon so we agreed to meet at her store just before 1:00 PM. I had voiced my concern that the road to the trailhead might be very wet and muddy but we decided to try it anyway. We discussed hiking in from Long Eddy but we were not sure of the route and decided to go from Lordville. As I drove up the Quickway to Hancock, the weather changed from sunny with puffy white clouds in a blue sky to overcast and ominous. To the west we could see a snow squall covering the landscape. I was discourages since I had hoped for the bright blue skies but decided the hike was well worth it no matter the sky or weather conditions. In Hancock I followed the signs for Route 97 south toward French Woods. Just before French Woods, I turned right on Lordville Road and drove down to the Delaware River and turned left on Bouchouxville Road. The road's condition had not improved any since I was on it last but it was drier than I expected. A slow and careful drive allowed us to arrive at the trailhead unscathed and we were ready to hike by 1:50 PM. The temperature was in the 40's and the sun was out but it seemed a little colder as a breeze was blowing. We had not brought snowshoes and would not need them as there was little or no snow in sight. We headed up the wide woods road under sunny skies with Sheila happily dashing back and forth. The trail is rocky and a little eroded in places and we found several blowdowns on or near the trail. I had forgotten that although the hike is short it does gain some elevation. In the short .75 miles to the ledges the trail goes from 900 feet to over 1400 feet in elevation gaining over 525 feet in the process. As we neared the end of the climb, the wind picked up and we could see a snow squall moving our way from across the river. Lisa stopped to don a jacket to replace her vest and in that short time the squall hit. Snow was falling and the wind blowing but the sun could be seen peeking through the clouds. I was hoping the squall would pass so that we could take pictures from the ledges. We finished the climb to the ledges, crossed the brook and were soon on the first of the two lookouts. It was around 2:25 PM.

As we approached the stream, the bare trail gave way to several inches of snow on the ground. It was a dramatic change and we both commented on it. The snow was still falling and visibility was limited at the ledges. I took some pictures of the landscape through the squall and also snapped some shots of the cairn and stone furniture on the ledges. The squall seemed to be letting up so I walked over to the other lookout to take in the view from there. There was another blowdown on the way to the second lookout but it was easily bypassed. I dropped my pack and got out my camera as the skies started to clear. The second lookout is better than the first and I took a lot of pictures both up and down the river. By the time I was through shooting the squall was completely ended and the sun was out again. Sheila is a little scary around the ledges as she will walk up right to the edge to get the best view! We walked back to the first lookout to get Lisa and started back to the parking area. We had talked about hiking through to the Long Eddy end of the trail but neither of us seemed to feel this was the day. When we crossed the stream we both decided it would be nice to check out the waterfall on the small stream we had just crossed. the stream flows into the Delaware by cascading from over 1400 feet to the river at under 900 feet below. We stopped to take some pictures and we were both mesmerized by the sun striking the water as it began its journey. I wanted to descend to a lower vantage point but decided the icy on the rocks made this a poor choice! I leashed Sheila to a branch so that she would not get too close to the icy edge of the rocks. When we were done, we headed back to the main trail and started down the trail. Sheila was still full of energy and was picking up sticks which were really large tree branches. We were back at the car by 3:30 PM having covered 2.1 miles and climbing over 600 feet in 1 and 45 minutes. Forty-five minutes of our time was used for photography! We decided to come back through Tennanah Lake and Roscoe which proved to be about the same distance as the other routes we had used.

On Tuesday, March 26th I left Beebe Hill State Forest near Austerlitz and headed west and south toward Philmont. After crossing the Taconic State Parkway I picked up Route 217 which went through the middle of Philmont. The car GPS could not find the address of the High Falls park on Roxbury Road but as I drove through the town the road was on the right after descending a small hill. The parking area was on the left side of Roxbury Road just a few hundred feet uphill from the turn. I parked that car and, once again, we were the only car in the lot. We had not seen another person all day! I had looked at the map of the area on the internet and there was a map at the information kiosk just at the start of the trails. We started down the trail at 2:45 PM and wherever there was a split we stayed on the green trail. These trails were muddy but almost flat. After less than half a mile we were at the lookout for the falls. The lookout was cut out and there was a clear view of the falls directly across from the viewpoint. The falls are supposed to be 150 feet high but I thought that was a slight exaggeration. I took many different pictures of the falls before deciding that we needed to start for home. I had noticed another falls to the right of the main falls on our way out. I tried looking for a viewpoint from the green trail and a little off the trail but could not find one. I looked down tat he creek bed and noticed a trail and a bench. Knowing there had to be an "official" way to get there and get back, I decided to simply walk down the steep bank to the trail. After a little slipping and sliding we were on the lower trail. We walked along the trail until we were directly across from the smaller falls and I took some nice shots before walking back along the creek until I found the trail that led back up to the green trail. We took the green trail back to the car after hiking 1.2 miles in 40 minutes. Now it was time to head home. The total mileage for the day was about 300 miles, only 6 of which were hiking!

On Tuesday, March 26th I left Grafton Lake State Park at noon and headed east to Petersburg in quest of the second objective of the day, the Beebe Hill Fire Tower in Beebe Hill State Forest. From Petersburg it was a straight shot down Route 22 to Austerlitz, the site of Beebe Hill State Forest. I passed through many small towns with interesting stores and historical sites. As I approached my destination, I was a little unclear about exactly where to go. I turned north of Osmer Road from Route 22 knowing I was looking for Barrett Pond and a small parking area. I passed a pond but did not see any place to park. After another pond did not appear, I doubled back and found a road just north of the pond off Osmer Road. The access road was deeply rutted with a lot of snow on the surface but I made it into the small parking area. As we got out of the car at 1:25 PM, I was greeted by a sign that said "Fire Tower 1 mile". I had the choice of taking the road to the tower or using the trail. By looking at the map I determined the trail was more direct so Sheila and I started out on the trail. The trail immediately crossed a brook on a small bridge and started up a ridge. The climb looked pretty steep but the trail switched back and forth several times which made the ascent easy. The footing was getting a little slippery as the snow melted. It was obvious that the trail had seen some recent traffic also. Within about .5 miles we had done most of the climbing and the trail flattened out. We passed a lean-to with a privy and then continued to walk toward the tower. Soon the tower appeared with a direct path to it and the trail which headed toward some other buildings. I continued on the trail and found an observers cabin and another storage building at the top not far from the tower. It was 1:45 PM and the hike up had only been .85 miles. The skies now had some sun and were blue with a few wispy clouds. The cab on this tower was in about the state as the one on Dickinson Hill. The cab was open for viewing but there was no glass to protect the viewer. The wind was blowing but it did not seem very cold. I again took many pictures with the best view being to the east. It was getting late and Sheila seemed anxious that I was up in the tower so I descended and we made our way back to the car. It was 2:15 PM and we had hiked 1.7 miles in 50 minutes with a 10 minute stop. I was ready to start toward home but had one more stop to make in Philmont at High Falls.

On Tuesday, March 26th I had planned to visit two fire towers and a waterfalls near in the Albany/Troy area. I was going to go there on Monday but the forecast was for snow and overcast skies. I wanted to get some good pictures of the towers and some shots from the top of the towers. The forecast for Tuesday was for some sun and partly cloudy skies so I decided to postpone the trip until then. I wanted to leave at 7:00 AM but did not get out of the house until around 7:30 AM. I had directions from Google Maps and the Garmin car GPS to guide me. This time I also wrote down the latitude and longitude of the locations. I drove to Liberty and then headed to Kingston through Ellenville. At some point I realized I had forgotten Sheila's leash again so I stopped in Kingston to pick up another. From Kingston I took the Thruway north and headed for Troy. The prediction of partly sunny skies seemed to have been in error as there was a complete overcast with intermittent snow and rain. I was discouraged but knew I had some distance to go. I got off the Quickway on Route 787 and drove to Troy where I picked up Route 7 to Route 2. Soon I was in the area of Grafton Lake State Park where I found the "Winter Entrance" open. I drove into the park and passed the park office to find North Long Pond Road only partially plowed. I went back to the office to get directions. A very helpful woman at the office told me where to park and discussed trail conditions with me. I drove to along North Long Pond Road which was plowed on one side with a generous lane for snowmobiles on the other. Until I turned into the park there seemed to be almost no snow but now there was plenty. I drove passed the sign for the fire tower on the right and parked in the next lot. It was 10:45 AM and the trip was a little longer than I thought!

Since there seemed to be quite a bit of snow in the parking lot, I decided to change into my winter boots and wear my snowshoes. After getting my gear on Sheila and I walked back up the road to the fire tower sign and turned left on the trail. This trail had been hard packed by snowmobiles which made snowshoes unnecessary. I noticed some boot prints as I walked along and saw that they had hard made an impression on the trail. I knew I could continue to use the snowshoes, take them back to the car or ditch them under a bush. In the end I decided on the latter and took off the shows and hid them under the snow behind a tree. We continued to walk on the trail which, although not clearly marked, was unmistakable. There were several spur trails but we continued on the main trail toward the tower. The trail went up and down a little but no grade was steeper than 10%. At about 1.3 miles from the car the trail ended at Fire Tower Road which approaches the tower from the other side. There is no parking on this road which was made clear by a number of signs so the best access is from the state park. There is a private residence at the very end of Fire Tower Road but we walked by it on the road without a problem. After about 500 feet on the Fire Tower Road the gate to the fire tower appeared on the right. We turned at walked to the top of Dickinson Hill where the fire tower is located. By now the skies were a little bluer and there was some sun. I took a few pictures of the tower and then climb to the top. I was surprised that the cab was open but had no windows! The tower is "billed" as restored but could use a little more work. The views to the east were unobstructed but not very interesting. To the southwest there were great views of the Catskills but a communications tower on the same hill as the fire tower marred the spectacular scene. I took many pictures in all directions and tried to avoid including the tower in any of them. When I was done, I descended the tower and we retraced our route back to the car. I was happy that my snowshoes were right where I left them! It was noon when we finished and we had covered 3 miles in 1.25 hours with about 15 minutes to take pictures. I drove out to Route 2 and then turned east towards Petersburg.

On Saturday, March 23rd I decided to get out for the first hike of the spring season. My wife was suffering from the flu and I was starting to feel like I might be the next victim. A number of commitments during the week had kept me out of the woods. Sheila in particular was anxious to get out and had been begging for a day out over the last few days. After a few morning chores, I got my gear ready to go and put Sheila in the back seat. Although the temperature was in the low 30's the persistent breeze made it feel cooler and I had donned a baselayer and my Salomon B-52 winter boots. I wasn't sure whether or not I would need snowshoes but I put them in the trunk just in case. When I turned onto Beech Mountain Road, I was surprised that there was a good layer of snow on the road. I parked at the Frick Pond lot and let the dog out of the car. Sheila could not contain herself as she exploded out of the car and ran around sniffing everything. The stiff breeze made me glad I had put on baselayer. The 6 inches of snow at the parking area made me glad I had brought the snowshoes. I knew that snow in the parking area meant more snow on the Flynn Trail near Hodge Pond. We were on the trail and hiking by 11:40 AM and I was surprised to find that we were the first people to hike since the last snowfall! I stopped at the register to take a few pictures of the trail with the unbroken snow and blue skies. We walked down to outlet of Frick Pond and stopped again. I took some pictures even though I taken MANY pictures here before. The pond was still covered in ice except in the area near the bridge. The skies were blue but starting to cloud over as I took some pictures of Flynn's Point. We walked across the bridge and stayed left at the trail junction to head toward Iron Wheel Junction on the Quick Lake Trail. There was still quite a bit of snow on the ground even under the trees as we crossed the small brook. At 12:30 PM we were at Iron Wheel Junction and we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and head toward the Flynn Trail at Junkyard Junction.

When we turned at Iron Wheel Junction, I was a little surprised to find that snowmobiles had recently been over the trail. This meant that walking was much easier on the packed snow. A little further up the trail the fresh snowmobile tracks turned left toward Quick Lake. There were older snowmobile tracks on the Quick Lake Trail which continued all the way to Junkyard Junction. The temperature was on the rise as we hit Junkyard Junction and turned onto the Flynn Trail with its unbroken snow. The snow was deeper on this trail and it had changed from the lighter powder to a heavier consistency. I had not been out on snowshoes in some time and was beginning to tire some from the exertion. As we hiked along the Flynn Trail in the heavier snow, The muscles on the insides of both thighs were becoming sore. Fortunately The Flynn Trail is almost flat which the going a little easier. At the gate we followed the Flynn Trail down to Hodge Pond. Several large blowdowns in this area still have not been cleared and make hiking this short section difficult. When we got to the pond, I decided to turn right and head around the front of the pond since my legs were not feeling any fresher. We stopped at the outlet to Hodge Pond at 1:45 PM and I took a few pictures. By this time the clouds had really rolled in and the sky was completely overcast with a blustery wind. This was a stark contrast to the blue skies we had seen earlier at Frick Pond. After I took a few shots, we turned and continued on the Flynn Trail up the hill to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. Ascending the hill convinced me I was done for the day as my thighs screamed "Enough!" I expected the trip down the Flynn Trail to the parking area to be easier but I was wrong. The snow was now very heavy and was sticking to the bottom of the snowshoes and collecting on top of the deck. Each time I raised a foot I was lifting at least twice the weight of the snowshoe! Sheila wasn't helping and as she roamed following any game trail she could find! The 1.7 miles to the parking area seemed longer than usual. When the gate finally came in sight, I decided to carry the snowshoes which seemed like a good idea. After I removed the snowshoes, walking did seem to be easier but I was sinking further into the snow than I had anticipated. I concluded that although the snowshoes might not have been mandatory they probably did help overall. We were back at the car by 3:00 PM having covered 6.4 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes.

Winter 2012-2013

On Saturday, March 16th, Cindy and I had already hiked at Ferncliff Forest near Rhinecliff and had visited the tower on Stissing Mountain near Pine Plains. The last visit I had planned was to the Ninham Fire Tower in northern Putnam County. This was the tower that I had the least information about. I had planned to take the Taconic Parkway south to pick up Route 301 but the GPS had a slightly different route. When we got to Route 301 near Fahnestock Park, we turned right. By this time the skies were completed cloudy over and there was snow in the air. The further we drove the more snow fell. When we passed Fahnestock Park, I had an ideas that we were going in the wrong direction! After consulting the map, we turned around and headed in the opposite direction on 301. Soon we were passing West Branch Reservoir on the right with more snow falling. Just before 301 crossed the reservoir and entered Carmel, we turned right on Gypsy Trail Road (Route 41). We drove about 2 miles and found a sign for the Ninham Multiple Use Area on the right. We pulled in and parked and got ready to hike. There was almost no information at the kiosk but a gate road headed east out of the parking area. We walked down through some stone walls toward a pond but there was no indication of a tower. We turned around and saw a mountain biker headed toward us. We asked him about the tower and he told us it was a little farther down the road. We thanked him and walked back to the car. We continued for a short distance along Gypsy Trail Road. Just after a sharp bend, we found Mount Ninham Court on the left about 2.3 miles from Route 301. I turned left and drove to the end of the road where there was a small parking area. It was now 3:55 PM and the snow was light but steady.

Again there was a kiosk without much information. We had to decide whether to take the road that went straight ahead or the one to the left. The road that went straight ahead had some power lines and phone cables along it which I decided probably went to the transmission towers that shared the summit with the fire tower. Before we left the parking area, I stopped to take pictures of the stone chamber. There are several of these chambers on the mountain and some claim they are very old and of Celtic origin. They don't look THAT old to me! We walked up the road which soon made a seeping right turn to head almost north toward the top of the mountain. The road was gravel but it was not flat. By 4:15 PM we had walked the .75 miles to the summit gaining just under 400 feet. This was another tower surrounded by trees and it was hard to get a clear picture. I decided to climb to the top even though I knew that the clouds and snow would be obscuring any view. As I mounted the first flight of stairs they seemed not very secure but I continued anyway. The steps were steel with serrated treads but the landings were wooden. The snow accumulating on those wooden landings was slippery! I again stopped below the cab to take some pictures. There really was no view so I climbed up into the cab. There is no roof on the cab and it reminded me of how poorly we treat our history. I climbed back down and we began our trip back down the road. I stopped to take some pictures of another chamber and of some stone walls. The stones in these walls were much larger than any I had ever seen before and there were a lot of walls throughout the area. On the way down we called Kurt to tell him to meet us for dinner. We arrived in the parking area at 4:45 PM after hiking 1.4 miles in 45 minutes. Cindy and I were both looking forward to dinner as we drove away following the voice of the GPS.

On Saturday, March 16th, Cindy and I had already hiked at Ferncliff Forest near Rhinecliff and visited the tower there. We entered an approximate address for the Stissing Mountain Thompson Pond area and followed the directions. We followed Route 199 east until just before the village of Pine Plains. On our way we could see the tower high on a mountain just to the south of the road. There are several different trails to the top of the mountain but I had read conflicting stories about them. Many of these stories asserted that two of the approaches crossed private land and that any easements had been revoked. I decided we would use the trail from the Thompson Pond area on Lake Road and so we made the turn south off Route 199. We drove along the road for about 1.7 miles and found a gate on the right side of the road. The only information indicated that the Thompson Pond area is often flooded. There was no indication that there was a tower on a mountain. Looking back down the road in the direction we had come I noticed what looked like a cleft between the two mountains. The tower is on Stissing Mountain but Little Stissing Mountain lies just to the northeast. We drove back down the road and parked at a small lot on the east side of the road. Directly across from this was a woods road with a gate. This parking area is about 1.5 miles from Route 199. We crossed the road at about 12:15 PM, walked through the gate and began to immediately climb. The road was very eroded so we walked along the side when we could. There was only a little snow and ice at this elevation. After a little more than .25 miles we came to a fork in the trail marked by a stone cairn. I decided we would climb the steeper trail to the left and descend the more gentle one to the right. For the next .5 miles the trail averaged a 23% grade with some spots flatter and others steeper. There wasn't much snow but there were patches of ice. We were able to work around the icy areas and by 1:00 PM we were at the tower after only .75 miles.

Once at the tower I dropped my pack and leashed Sheila to a tree. It was hard to get pictures of the tower as it is surrounded by trees. The temperature seemed to be dropping some as I got ready to climb the tower. Cindy decided to stay on the ground this time. I climbed to the landing below the tower and took pictures. This time the views to the east were better than those to the west. Directly below were Stissing Pond and Thompson Pond. These ponds have a bog environment which was evident in their formation even from far above. Further to the east I could see the Taconics. I took many photographs before climbing into the cab of the tower to look around. I descended the tower and shared a drink and a snack with Cindy before heading back down. We walked passed the tower on the trail to an area where one trail continued straight ahead and the other headed down. I was aware that heading in the wrong direction would put us far from the car. In addition, the trail we were on that headed down was very icy. At the bottom of a short descent the trail turned right to parallel our route up the mountain. At this point the ice was so prevalent that we decided to put on the spikes. We walked easily over the ice for the next .25 miles before it was obvious the spikes were no longer needed. We crossed a small brook and continued to head down the mountain. I caught am glimpse of Little Stissing and it was clear we were headed between the two mountains. At 1.6 miles we were back at the stone cairn and we retraced our steps to the car. We had covered 1.9 miles in about 1.5 hours with a long stop at the tower. Now it was on to the Ninham Mountain Fire Tower in northern Putnam County.

On Saturday, March 16th, I asked Cindy if she would like to go somewhere to hike. She said "Yes" but I knew she would not want to hike any huge mountains or for very many hours. I suggested we go to some towers on the east side of the Hudson River and end the day by inviting Kurt, Aimee and Ariana to dinner at the Mayan Cafe in Wappingers Falls. She agreed and I called Kurt to arrange the dinner part. We knew that dogs were allowed where we were going as long as they were on a leash. I forgot the leash so we stopped to get one on the way. We headed toward Kingston and crossed the Kingston Rhinecliff Bridge on Route 199 with our first objective the tower at Ferncliff Forest between Rhinecliff and Rhinebeck. My directions were from Rhinebeck heading north so we turned south on river Road in Rhinecliff to head toward Rhinebeck. In only a few miles the road split and we turned left on Mount Rutsen Road which was the road we were going to take north from Rhinebeck! In about half a mile a parking area appeared on the right. The sign said "Ferncliff Forest" so we pulled in to park at about 10:15 AM. I had not brought our snowshoes but had packed the spikes just in case. One look around the parking area confirmed this decision as we saw only a few patches of snow or ice. There was a brochure at the kiosk but it had no map and there was no map at the kiosk. We headed up the wide road that led out of the parking area and almost immediately were on the shores of a small pond. There were some geese on the pond and there was a pavilion and a lean-to. We had no idea which way to go but a sign marked "Tower" appeared to point to the right, so we turned right along a trail. A chained off area on the left of the trail protected a brick arch at ground level. The arch seemed to lead to an old foundation. Further along the trail was another chamber which was more exposed. Surprisingly a five foot deep brick cistern on the right side of the trail was completely unprotected! The trail we were on head back down toward the road so we turned left on an unmarked path which ran into the East Tower Trail. We followed this trail to the tower. The total walk was .8 miles.

The tower is an International Derrick which was moved from South Carolina and erected at Ferncliff a few years ago. We took pictures from the ground of the tower and the leashed Sheila to a picnic table before climbing the tower. Sheila will try to follow us and does a pretty good job of climbing up. She is less enthuse about climbing down! We climbed to the top of the tower and found the cab open. The views to the east were OK but those to the west were outstanding. The Hudson River was below us with the bridge clearly visible. Below on the eastern shore were some fields separated by lines of trees. I took a lot of pictures in this direction at various zooms. On the eastern shore below was an interesting collection of buildings. The main building had what looked like a steeple but the rest of the building looked more like a barn. On the western shore were some industrial buildings. It was a little colder above the tree line so we headed back down. We decided to take the West Tower Trail back to form a loop since we knew we would not be hiking too much. The trail wound around a little but soon a sign advised us to take the Circle Trail back. This trail passed through some wet areas but we were soon on the opposite side of the pond we had seen earlier. We walked around the pond and then retraced our steps to the car. The total hike was two miles. I know that this area is a favorite when the weather gets warmer and I was glad to see it when nobody else was around! We were ready to head south to Stissing Mountain.

On Thursday, March 14th, I was up early with plans to return to the Neversink Unique Area where I had been the day before. When I returned home on Wednesday and looked at the pictures of Mullet Falls, I was very disappointed. Apparently wiping a lens with the sleeve of a hiking softshell does not clean it sufficiently to take pictures! Most of the pictures from Mullet Falls were obscured by the smudges and smears on the lens! Sheila and I arrived at the Parking area at 9:35 AM and started our hike right away. There had been a snow squall in the evening which left a layer of snow on top of the ice. In addition, the temperature had dropped by about 15 degrees and the thermometer on my car read just over 20 degrees. We walked down to the first trail junction and turned left. My experiences from the day before led me to don my spikes at this point. We approached the first bridge and water crossing. Little had changed from the day before and we had no problem crossing. When we reached the top of the rise and were at the second trail junction, I decided to go left this time and do the loop in the reverse of the day before. I kept my spikes on a we hiked up the hill to the top of the ridge. After making the right at the top to stay on the main trail we walked the flat section for a little while. As we started to descend after the upper bridge, the trail was covered with packed snow and ice. On the descent on the other side, I watched for the spur trail to Mullet Falls on the right. After making the turn, we walked to the falls arriving at 10:40 AM after hiking 2.25 miles. I dropped my pack and leashed Sheila to a tree. I did not want her rolling in some evil smelling mess as she did the day before! The falls were just as impressive as the day before in the volume of water and volume of sound. Since the air temperature was below freezing, the mist from the falls was freezing on the branches of the trees. The falls was still producing spray but the wind was blowing a little upstream this time. I took pictures from the trail and then ventured out onto the ice-coated rocks to get more pictures. I too some good shots from directly in front of the falls and moved up to take some of the plunge pool. When I finished, I return to pick up my pack and my dog and head back to the main trail. We turned right and were soon at the trail junction with the trail to High Falls. We turned right to complete the loop and bypassed the spur trail to Denton Falls. The rest of the hike went quickly and we were back at the car by 11:30 AM having hike 4.1 miles in under 2 hours! The pictures were much better this time and I combined the two days into one album.

On Wednesday, March 13th, Lisa called early in the morning to discuss a possible hike. We had tentatively planned to hike Bramley Mountain near Delhi on Tuesday but heavy rain forced a postponement. We decided that it might be too wet to head to Bramley but that the Neversink Unique Area in Rock Hill might be a good choice. I got my equipment ready, put Sheila in the back seat and picked Lisa up at her store around 9:00 AM. I had put on a baselayer since the temperature was still in the high 20's. I decided to leave the snowshoes home but packed the spikes as I though there might be some ice. We arrived at the parking area on Katrina Falls Road at about 9:40 AM and got ready to hike immediately. There was almost no snow when we started out but by the time we made the turn at the bottom of the hill we ran into patches of ice. Lisa immediately put on her spikes but I tried to walk around the icy areas. It wasn't long before I admitted that putting the spikes on would be much easier! We arrived at the first water crossing at the little wooden bridge across Wolf Brook. The water was high and making a suitable roaring sound. A little further on another arm of the stream had worked its way across the trail but was narrow enough to let us pass. We stopped to take some pictures and I took a short video for the visual and auditory effect. We crossed the brook and walked up the hill to the trail junction. I had planned to walk the loop and decided to bear right. The trail alternated between patches of ice and snow and completely bare spots. Soon we were in the area of Mullet Brook and the bridge that crosses below the falls. Here again the water was raging so we stopped for pictures. I worked my way down the bank and walked downstream a little to get the best shots. Sheila looked like she wanted to swim but I discouraged her. Despite my efforts she jumped in at least once near the bank in the calmer areas. After taking some pictures and a video, we walked back to the main trail and over the bridge.

After crossing the bridge and walking uphill, we turned right on the trail that goes down to Denton Falls. There was little ice or snow on this trail and we were soon descending the final piece of the trail down to the Neversink arriving at 10:50 after hiking 1.85 miles. I decided to put Sheila on her leash just in case she wanted to go for a swim. The river was high and flowing as fast as I have ever seen it. I didn't want to have to pick up Sheila in Port Jervis! I was able to walk along the rocks to get just below the falls. I took quite a few pictures and shot another video. I made sure that the pictures overlapped since I thought they would make a nice panorama. The falls are hardly three feet high but the volume of water made the trip worthwhile. We headed back up the trail to the main trail and turned right. At the trail junction we kept to the left to start the loop. The trail straight ahead goes down to High Falls. It adds a bit of distance but the falls aren't too different from Denton Falls. After a brief walk uphill, we turned left onto the short trail down to Mullet Brook Falls. Even as we were making the turn we could hear the falls roaring ahead of us! The path now was covered with packed snow and ice. When the falls came into sight, it was all we could have hoped for. The volume of water was incredible as it shot off the rock ledge and crashed into the plunge pool below. There was one section that was still frozen and some spray had frozen on the trees nearby. I dropped my pack and got out the camera. After a few initial shots, I walked onto the pile of rocks just down from the base of the falls. I tried to take some pictures but the spray from the falls kept wetting the camera lens. I wiped the lens the best that I could. I took pictures of the falls, the pool, the outlet to the pool and the stream below the falls. Eventually it was time to leave and we started back. Sheila came running toward me with a smell the preceded her! She had rolled in something vile that was now covering her front left side! I walked her down to the stream and used her bandana to wash her as much as I could. We walked back out to the main trail and turned left to complete the loop. The trail in this area had a lot of snow and ice. As we climbed we noticed the rocky ledges to our right. Soon we crossed over another bridge spanning Mullet Brook. After a brief walk we were at a trail junction. Straight ahead on the trail leads to the Wolf Lake Multiple Use Area. We turned right and began to descend off the ridge. The snow and ice all but disappeared so I took off my spikes which made walking easier. The air was warmer than when we started but there was also a breeze. We hiked downhill for some time and eventually came to the trail junction just above the bridge over Wolf Creek. I thought about leaving my spikes off but did not want to spoil the day with a fall or a step into the brook or both! Once on the other side of the brook we made the right turn on the woods road back to the car and kept a quick pace until we arrived at the parking area at 12:50 PM. We hiked 4.9 miles in 3 hours and 10 minutes.

On Saturday, March 9th,I decided to implement a plan I had been researching all week. The history of using towers to observe forest fires has always interested me. My grandfather was a new York State Forest Ranger associated with the Chapin Hill Tower near the Toronto Reservoir in southern Sullivan County. He was the ranger in that area from 1925 to 1959 and I remember him bringing his Studebaker fire truck home every evening from work. I have visited the five restored fire towers in the Catskills and several that are abandoned. I have also visited other towers in Harriman Park and in Delaware County. New York has only one active tower located in Sterling Forest on the new York-New Jersey border but New Jersey has 21 active towers divided into three districts covering the northern, central and southern areas of the state. I had visited four of the towers in District A, the northern district but did not get good pictures of two of those towers. My plan was to drive to the Delaware Water Gap to hike to the Culvers and Catfish Towers. These were the two I had been to before but did not photograph. I then wanted to visit the three I had not been to in the northern district. These three towers were in Budd Lake (Budd Lake Tower), Denville (Greystone Tower) and the Ringwood-Wanaque area (Ramapo Tower). None of the sites I could find on the internet were very helpful about the each location of these towers. Some towers that were marked on maps were communications towers. On many maps whether or not a fire tower is marked is "hit or miss". A call to the Andover, New Jersey headquarters of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service helped some. They were a little suspicious of my motives but gave me some information. I used Google Earth and satellite images to actually spot the towers. The Ramapo Tower was the hardest but eventually I spotted it. I was able to form a plan that I thought would get me to all five towers in one day barring any problems and allowing for New Jersey traffic.>

I left Livingston Manor at about 7:45 AM with Sheila in the back seat but without Cindy. She had decided that a lot of riding on back roads would not be enjoyable for her. I put the snowshoes in the car but was planning on weather in the high 40's or low 50's. I wore my Keen Glarus hiking boots but brought along my Salomon B-52's which are my preferred winter boot. I drove down to Port Jervis and through Matamoras to Milford. From there I crossed the Delaware River on Route 206 and headed for the area of Culvers Lake to visit the Culver Tower. There didn't seem to be too much snow along the roads in Sussex County. As I passed Culvers Lake I knew I had gone too far so I doubled back and found North Shore Drive and then the Sunrise Highway. Sunrise was not plowed but there was a parking area just a little past where the two roads met. A Stokes State pickup was plowing the snow and ice out of the lot. While I waited, I looked around and decided to put on my gaiters and winter boots. The temperature was still below freezing and there seemed to be more snow in the woods than along the roads. Sheila was anxious to get going so I parked in the lot when the plowing was done and we got out to start out hike at about 9:25 AM. I had never approached the tower from this direction before. It seemed to be the shortest route and would allow me to hike a short part of the AT that I had never hiked before. We walked down the closed Sunrise Highway at about 9:30 AM and after a short distance I spotted the sign for the AT and some white blazes. The trail turned right and immediately began to ascend the ridge. The snow was about 4 to 6 inches deep and I almost turned back for the snowshoes. I reasoned that there would be more snow on the ridge but decided to keep going. As we started up the ridge, I noticed one or two sets of boot prints which looked new. The trail had several switchbacks which I normally would appreciate but on this day I was more focused on a goal.

When we got near the top of the ridge and the trail moderated some there was a nice viewpoint. I wasn't going to stop but decided a few pictures wouldn't take too long. When we started up again, I looked down at the snow and found a little bit of blood. Sheila's main pad was healing nicely but she has two raw spots on either side of her left front paw. One spot was bleeding just a little but it didn't seem to bother her so we continued. I saw no more blood but kept checking for the rest of the day. The walk to the tower was slightly uphill with a few dips along the way. At some point, not too far past the lookout, the boot prints stopped. We, of course, continued on to the tower. At about 1.5 miles I looked up to see a tower ahead but found it was a communications tower. We continued on the AT for just a few hundred more feet and arrived at the fire tower at 10:20 AM. I took some pictures of the tower from different angles and took some more of the structure. I climbed the tower to just below the cab and found that there was a stiff breeze blowing. The sky was not the best for pictures and it was hazy, not very blue and there were almost no clouds. Once I was back on the ground, I picked up my pack and we headed back. As we approached the area where the other hikers had turned back, I looked ahead to see another hiker walking away from us with his dog. We soon caught up to him and he assured me that his lab, Stella, was friendly. The dogs seemed to get along well so we hiked back down the ridge together. At the parking area we went our separate ways. He returned home and Sheila and I got in the car to head toward the Catfish Tower further south in Warren County. It was 11:20 AM and we had hiked about 3.3 miles in just under 2 hours which I though was a good start for the day.

After visiting the Culvers Tower, I headed west on Route 206 back in the direction we had come from earlier. I was going top take Route 560 to Dingman's Ferry but noticed that Struble Road seem to be a shortcut. This road also passes by Tillman's Ravine and I thought I could get a look at this area. I turned onto Struble Road and was immediately met by a "Road Closed - Local traffic Only" sign. I went back to the original plan and drove down Route 206 to Route 560. Eventually we ended up on NPS 615 through the Water Gap to Millbrook Village. I had not expected much activity at the historic site but things seemed to be in full swing with at least twenty cars in the lot. Maple sugaring seemed to be the main attraction but several buildings were open also. I turned onto Route 602 to head up the ridge. Just as I was beginning to think I had gone too far, the roadside parking area appeared next to the gate that blocked the fire road to the tower. There were two other cars parked already but I was able to park safely off the road. It was noon and we got started right away. I immediately noticed that the temperature was warmer and there was less snow. The snow that was present was melting nicely and the trail was muddy in places. The AT follows a woods road for a bit and then turns left off the road into the forest. After a brief hike, the trail again meets the road, follows it for a while and then leaves it again. Near the top of the ridge, the trail, again meets the road and follows it to the tower. As we approached the tower, I could hear voices. We arrived at 12:30 PM to find a small troop of Boy Scouts and a group of Korean hikers. I tied Sheila to a nearby tree and took pictures of the tower from two sides. I climbed the tower expecting a breeze but found the wind had died down. I took some pictures from just below the cab but the sky conditions had not improved much. From up high it was obvious that these towers offer an excellent view and a trained observer could easily spot fires for some distance around.

I got a quick drink and a snack, gave Sheila a bone and headed back down at around 1:00 PM. The melting snow was beginning to get slippery and the trail was very rocky. I managed to keep my footing but had to think about what I was doing. On the way down the ridge we met two couples on the way up. One couple had a golden retriever but she was a little too big for Sheila's taste. Once we were on the woods road back to the car, we met two or three family groups headed up to the tower. Sheila also decided it was warm enough to jump in the swamp! We were back at the car by 1:05 PM where I put the car GPS to work and typed in Budd Lake as my destination. The directions I got were almost identical to the printed directions I had from Google Maps so I decided to follow the GPS voice prompts. The hike to the Catfish Tower was only 2.1 miles and took an hour including the time for pictures. I was pretty sure we had time to get to the other three towers since they seemed to be very short walks. The biggest obstacle would be the increasing traffic and actually finding the towers.

After visiting the Culvers and Catfish Towers in the Delaware Water Gap, we headed to Interstate 80 to get to Budd Lake. I thought the GPS was playing tricks on me when it said get off at Exit 27 east and then get right back on the highway and take Exit 26 heading west. After a moment's hesitation, I remembered there was no Exit 26 eastbound and I followed the GPS direction to the shores of Budd Lake. It wasn't long before we were on Fire Tower Road and at a dead end. It as 1:55 PM. A gate with a fire service sign convinced me we were in the right spot so I parked and we headed out on a woods road. I saw no sign of the fire tower but that did not surprise me as that is the rule rather than the exception. The day was getting warmer and the temperature was over 50 degrees! This was pleasant but it also meant the roads and trails were getting muddier. After only about .5 miles, we hiked up a rise and around a turn to arrive at the fire tower at 2:05 PM. I observed the same routine that I had at the two previous towers. I took pictures of the tower, climbed the tower to take some pictures of the view and then climbed back down. The view included Budd Lake which is the largest fresh water lake in New Jersey. We walked back down to the car after covering only .7 miles. At 2:20 PM I entered Denville as our destination on the GPS and we were off.

As we headed for the Greystone Tower, I noticed that the directions that the car GPS was giving were slightly different from the Google Maps directions. The only information I had about the tower was from the Andover Headquarters that stated it was "off Casterline Road". As I approached the area, I again did not see a tower or, in this case, a road that looked like it might go to a tower. By the time we passed the Greystone Psychiatric Hospital I knew something was wrong so I turned around to retrace my route. As I drove I saw the tower on a hill ahead. Driving up the road I saw what might be a woods road. I parked the car by the side of the road and put Sheila on a leash to go investigate. We walked into the woods and arrived at a powerline right-of-way behind a housing development. This was NOT where we wanted to be but I did see the tower on the next hill! On our way back to the car I encountered two local residents that confirmed there was a road to the fire tower just a little farther along Casterline Road. We got back in the car and I drove up Casterline Road to find a paved road that went right to the tower. I parked at 3:20 PM at the end of the road near the tower. The Greystone Tower was moved from another location and when it was erected Aeromotor provided more steel to extend the height to 92 feet making it the tallest tower in new Jersey. This tower was surrounded by fencing so I only got pictures from the ground. This is one I will return to in fire season when an observer will be in the tower! So, this tower required no hiking. It was 3:30 PM and we had four towers down and one to go. I tried entering Ramapo, NJ into the GPS but that didn't work, I settled for Ringwood and Skyline Drive.

After visiting four out of five fire towers there was only one left. The Ramapo Tower was supposed to be on the Ramapo Mountain ridge in Passaic County. The problem is that this ridge extends for some distance. I had located the tower with Google Earth and written down the latitude and longitude so I knew I would find it. After a half hour drive, we were on Skyline Drive headed south. The road climbed quickly and I had no idea exactly where the road to the tower was on my map. I stopped to think a little and saw that the access road was about a mile south of Conklintown Road. Armed with this information it was simple to drive one mile passed that road and find the access road to the tower at 4:15 PM. The road was marked as a private drive but I had been told it was permissible to walk to the tower. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked through the gate and up the road to the tower. The distance was only about .3 miles and took 5 minutes. I tied Sheila to a tree and took pictures of the tower. I climbed the tower to take some pictures of the view. I could see the Wanaque Reservoir to the west but when I turned east I was surprised. The New York City skyline was clearly visible! It was then I remembered that I had read a 1995 newspaper article that had an interview with the 23 year old observe. The reporter commented on the view which, of course, change a little after 9/11. A website covering these towers shows that the observer still works for the Forest Fire Service 17 years later! Sheila and I retraced our steps back to the car where we finished the days hiking at 4:35 PM. It was only a .6 mile "hike" but well worth the visit. Our total hiking distance for the day was about 7 miles and was overshadowed by the almost 300 miles of driving! I was tired but satisfied I had accomplished what I had set out to do. Now I have only 14 more towers in New Jersey to visit!

On Tuesday, March 5th, Lisa, Cindy and I had planned to hike to the Rock Rift Fire Tower. Since my last outing to the Cannonsville, I had done some research. I had spotted the tower on Google Earth and recorded its exact location. I also studied some maps and found the woods road and trail that was used for access to the tower. When the tower was planned the Conservation Department purchased a strip of land from Route 10 to near the top of Tower Mountain where they planned to erect the tower. On the maps the road seemed to be about .25 miles west of Fish Brook. Lisa and I had early morning commitment so we planned to meet at her store at 10:30 AM. Cindy and I put our gear in the car along with an excited Sheila and went to pick up Lisa. We drove up the Quickway to Exit 87A and headed north on Route 268. At Route 10 we turned right and headed east watching for Fish Brook Road and a likely spot for the access road just before the brook. As we approached the brook a woods road headed north. I turned around at Fish Brook Road and clocked the mileage and it was just right! I turned around again and parked at the boat launch parking right across from Fish Brook road. We all got ready to go packing our spikes but eschewing snow shoes. It was just before 11:30 AM as we walked the quarter mile west on Route 10 crossing over Fish Brook. As we started out on the road, I check the GPS coordinates I had written down and they matched exactly! There were only a few spots of snow down low as we climbed gently through a field and the well-defined woods road. The Catskill Mountain Club has plans to construct and blaze a trail along the old road to the tower. As we walked along the road I thought how easy it would be since the road, although not "an open trail" was easy to follow.

Somewhere around .65 miles the road became much harder to follow and I would lose it and then find it again. There were also several different branches and paths. As we began to climb we also found that much of the trail was blocked by MANY large trees that had blown down over the years and had never been cleared. The tower was closed 25 years ago! We worked our way around the blowdown always trying to get back to the road. At .9 miles the road leveled and began to follow the contour until 1.25 miles where the fun really began. The snow had gone from patches to a sustained 6 to 8 inches. At this point the road began to ascend the last part of the mountain. There were a series of steep climbs followed by more level areas. One stretch was about a 30% grade. It was little difficult to climb but I knew it would really be "interesting" coming back down. At 1.75 miles the road leveled some although it continued to gain elevation. It also turned from due north to northeast. After missing this tower completely last time, I was very anxious to get a look at it but the only thing I could clearly see ahead were more trees blocking the path. We continued to walk around the trees in the road and at about 1.9 miles I finally caught a glimpse of the tower ahead and made a beeline for it. Like most towers it was situated in a clearing and like most had no view from the bottom. The first flight of stairs was missing and the floor of the cab was in pretty poor shape. The steps and landings are all wooden and some had seen better days. The main steel structure looked sound enough that I would have climbed it given an opportunity. I took pictures of the tower from several different angles. I also took some pictures of the trees against a beautiful blue sky. The total distance was just under two miles but it had taken us two hours to get to the top! I knew that the trip back would be quicker.

We thought about hiking to the communications tower and then to the roads to get back. I wasn't sure if this would take use across private property so we decided to retrace the route we had used to get up the mountain. I though we might try to straighten it out some but it was easier in most cases to simply follow our tracks. When we got to some of the steeper sections, we found getting down to be an adventure. The warmer temperatures had softened the slow and there was a nice layer of wet leaves underneath. We made it down without any spills and made even better time on the flatter sections below. At one point I did find the road where I could not find it on the way up. As we approached the open field at the end of the hike, I stopped and took a few pictures of the bare ground to contrast with the snow on the top. As we hiked back to the car, I stopped several times to take pictures of the mountains and the reservoir. We were back at the car by 2:50 PM. The hike up had taken around 2 hours while the return trip was about 1 hour and 10 minutes! We hike 3.9 miles in 3.5 hours with a little over an hour stopped. On the way back we decided to headed toward Walton and then use Beers Brook Road as a shortcut over Bear Spring Mountain to Downsville. We drove about 4 miles to Russ Gray Pond and found that the last mile of the road was unplowed! I started out on the unplowed surface since there was only a mile left to West Trout Brook Road. I decided this was a bad idea and returned to Route 10 to drive into Walton and then to Downsville. As we drove passed West Trout Brook Road on Bear Spring Mountain, we found it was also unplowed!

On Saturday, March 2nd, I wanted to get out for another adventure to someplace I had not been before. The weather forecast called for snow showers but I decided to head north anyway. I wanted to hike to the fire tower in Leonard Hill State Forest in Schoharie County. I had read stories about the fire tower and I knew it was about a 2 mile hike to the tower along a road that could be driven with a four wheel drive vehicle. This sounded easy enough so we headed out. Unfortunately, I made my decision a little late so we didn't get started until about 9:30 AM! I took my wife's auto GPS and threw in my snowshoes. I knew I probably wouldn't need the snowshoes and had no intention of carrying them but it was easy to put them in the trunk. I headed toward Margaretville and then north on Route 20 through Roxbury and Grand Gorge. This ride is beautiful and usually enjoyable but I was in a hurry to get where I was going. A little outside of Grand Gorge I turned east on Route 990V and started to look for Flat Creek Road. I found the road but it had a ROAD CLOSED sign prominently displayed. Sometimes these signs mean "Proceed at your own risk" so I decided to check it out. After only a couple of miles, I came to...the end of the road. I turned around and drove east on 990V until another road heading north came up. I let the GPS guide me from there and we were soon headed to Broome Center. As we approached Broome Center, I saw the fire tower on the ridge! Leonard Mountain Road was a right turn in Broome Center and it had a "Seasonal Maintenance" sign posted. I believed the sign as the road was covered with a few inches of snow. The road climbed a hill and then leveled off a little. On the level portion the road was rutted from someone driving through the slush that then froze. My car handled it pretty well and after 1.2 miles I SW a sign for Leonard Hill State Forest. I parked where the snowplow had stopped and got out of the car. It was 24 degrees with a stiff breeze. I was glad I had worn a baselayer. There was 6 to 8 inches of snow. I was glad I had brought snowshoes. Sheila was just glad to be out again! I donned my snowshoes and started out along the road at about 11:15 AM.

I realized that I was not sure of the exact location of the tower or what trail might lead to it. Since I didn't see much in the way of trails I decided to stay on the road. The road that started up the hill was at least two vehicles wide. I remembered the description that said the road led to the fire tower and the road we were walking was on my GPS. I also remembered the story that the fire tower was moved from Gilbert Lake State Park. It was relocated to Hubbard Hill but the Conservation Department named it after a nearby hill, Leonard Hill. At least this was how the story went! We continued to walk up the hill on the road and the snow continued to get deeper. We walked about .65 miles southwest until the land began to level off on the ridge. At this point we made a 90 degree right turn and headed along the ridge to the northwest. The road skirted the base of Hubbard Hill on our right and I kept looking for the tower through the trees. Several times I wanted to just bushwhack through the woods to the top of the hill but I knew the road should go right to the tower. We walked a little further and the trail continued to skirt the hill. At one point the road turned away from the hill but a trail continued straight ahead. At this point the snow was consistently 12 inches deep with some areas as deep as 18 inches. I though the trail might lead to another road to the top but it also led away from the hill. I decided to retrace my steps and bushwhack over the top of the hill. Sheila and I did this and took off through the woods. We walk to the top of Hubbard Hill and then walked around some. There was no tower! We walked back down to the road and I decided to follow it to the top of Leonard Hill which was about half a mile away. The road was pretty as it passed through a tunnel of pine trees. We walked on.

We were now walking northwest again and right toward Leonard Hill. After only about .35 miles I looked to my left and saw...a fire tower. I was happy but also a little annoyed at a story which seems to have been incorrect! The Leonard Hill Fire Tower is on Leonard Hill! We continued to walk on the road which led us around the mountain and right to the base of the tower. I took off my pack and got out my camera to take some pictures. After I took a few shots while walking around the tower, my low battery light came on. I went back to my pack to change the batteries. I got out four AA batteries and opened the camera. Imagine my surprise when I remembered that the Canon has its own proprietary battery! Fortunately I had already taken pictures of the tower. The first two flights of stairs were missing and I normally take this as an invitation. On this day I was by Nyssa and decided to stay on the ground. I could see that the floor of the cab was missing but that the rest of the tower appeared to be in good shape. We walked to a lookout and I took some pictures there. The entire day was white and back and gray punctuated by only a little color. I was happy my battery lasted until I could get a few pictures. It was just before 1:00 PM when we started back after hiking 2.2 miles to the tower. I knew the return trip would be much quicker as we would be going downhill and could skip the excursion over Hubbard Hill. We made good time on the way back stopping for pictures only once. We were back at the car by 1:35 PM having hiked a total of 3.8 miles in two hours and 15 minutes. I thought about going someplace else for a short hike but decided against it. Other hikes in the area might include Vroman's Nose, the Middleburgh Cliffs, or Pratts Rock.

On Tuesday, February 26th, I decided that I wanted a new adventure as well as some exercise. The New York City Bureau of Water Supply recently opened much of the land around the Cannonsville Reservoir to hiking. This not only opened some new land but gave access to an abandoned fire tower called the Rock Rift Tower. I decided to drive up Route 17 and take Route 268 north to the reservoir. This would also be the first time Sheila had been out after several weeks as it seemed that her paw was healed enough to allow hiking. Just to be sure I put boots and socks on her front feet before we headed out. I was surprised that she seemed to object to them far less than Sheba did. I drove north and got off at the Fish's Eddy exit and then tried to find Route 268. I was on Old Route 17 for several miles and was convinced I was going in the wrong direction. I promised myself I would turn around if an interchange did not appear quickly. As I was about to reverse course an intersection appeared ahead and there was...Route 268. I started north and also started to gain elevation. The road began to develop a covering of snow but it was well sanded. Soon We arrived at Route 190, where I turned east. I knew that the tower was in the vicinity of Fish Brook Road which soon appeared on the left. I drove up the road which had a dirt surface covered by a thick layer of snow and some ice. For some reason I had not researched or recorded the exact location of the tower. From the road no tower was evident and most of the property was private and posted. I drove back down to Route 10 and drove east to the BWS Cannonsville Precinct building. The secretary at the precinct could not help much so I drove back west and parked in the roadside pulloff. I had seen some woods roads and decided to hike to the top of the hill using these roads to see what I could see. By now it was about 10:00 AM and the sunny skies were getting darker and darker. There was very little snow so I took my spikes but left the snowshoes behind. Sheila was running in circles and was very happy to be out! We walked east on Route 10 before cutting into the woods to look for a road. Sheila was behind me and when I called her she came quickly...carrying one boot in her mouth. I removed both boots and stowed them in my pack. I knew we wouldn't be out too long an hoped her paw would be OK.

We started bushwhacking and then hit a woods road which soon disappeared. This pattern would repeat itself over and over as we climbed the rather steep hill over the next half hour or so. When we hit about 1800 feet the snow began to become more consistent and got deeper as we went up. I had also forgotten my gaiters. Sheila did not seem to mind the snow at all. I kept picking routes that took as toward the top of the hill. As we neared the top, the land became flatter but there was still a climb ahead that represented the highest spot on the hill. I decided to walk around the base of the hill for a bit and headed northwest around the hill. At some point I saw I was not getting anywhere and headed up to the highest point. This the where the snow began to get much deeper. I was at least 10 inches deep with some spots over a foot. It was also wet and heavy. We wandered around the summit plateau without finding the tower. I decided I wanted to head back down and we took a slightly different path for the first part of the way back. Eventually we dropped down off the highest point and explored a little around the base of some ledges. We then headed back to our route up and followed that back down to the car. We walked about 4 miles in two hours and got a good workout between the steep pitches and the deeper snow. I had an afternoon commitment but took the time before leaving the house again to put the track on my computer GPS software. It was clear that we were not even on the right hill! The tower was west of Fish Brook Road and we were in the hill to the east! To confirm this I located the new communications tower on then hill using Google Earth satellite view. I could see the fire tower just south of the communications tower in the woods. I will be returning as soon as I can to hike to the tower since I now have an exact GPS location. By looking at the maps there seems to be an old access road just to the west of Fish Brook Road but I don't know how open it is. The land on either side of the road is private but is wide enough to allow for some variation as we hike.

On Tuesday, February 19th, Lisa was ready for a hike before her trip to Montana and I was ready to accompany her. We decided to attempt to hike to a lookout over Hodge Pond that Lisa had visited before. This was where we were headed some weeks ago when an injury to Sheila's paw stopped us. The weather report included snow and freezing rain starting at about noon so we knew we wanted to get done before the storm rolled in at full force. I met Lisa at her store downtown at about 9:30 AM and we headed out the DeBruce Road toward Frick. The temperature when we arrived at 9:45 AM was in the high 20's but a breeze was blowing that made it seem colder. Shortly after arriving we walked across the road and started up the Flynn Trail. There was only about 2 inches of snow and I was glad we had opted to leave the snowshoes at home. Lisa set a quick pace as we ascended the Flynn Trail which is uphill for about 1.7 miles. I marked a waypoint at around 1.5 miles where an interesting meadow lies off to the right. We arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail at around 10:45 AM hiking 1.7 miles in the snow in under an hour! In just a few more minutes we were at the next junction where then Flynn Trail continues down to Hodge Pond and a woods road branches off to the right. We turned right on the woods road to head toward our destination. Lisa asked how much farther I though it was and I guessed about 1.5 miles. At 2.2 miles we were at another junction where a road turns left to Hodge Pond and, just a little further on, another turns left to head out toward Shin Creek Road. Along this road on the left are the remains of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. A few cabins in extreme disrepair are all that remain. Lisa and I continued straight ahead up the hill.

The snow had been gradually getting deeper as we continued hiking and now we were hiking in 6 to 8 inches with drifts over a foot high. I had an idea of where the road to the lookout veered off but wasn't completely sure. Lisa and I both agreed that things look a lot different in the winter when covered by snow! We continued to follow the road and passed the spring house on the right. The road I was thinking about was around the next bend and when we got there Lisa said that it looked familiar. We had hiked about 2.65 miles when we took the sharp right turn and hiked up a small hill. The trail leveled off and as we hiked we both noticed high ledges on the left. Looking at those ledges I was pretty sure there would be no viewpoint on them since there were tall trees blocking the view. We continued on and Lisa described the lookout as having a large and pointed rock. We were a little discouraged but then we saw...a large and pointed rock. It was 11:30 AM and we had hiked 2.9 miles. The lookout had a nice view from the road but the view was even better when I walked out onto the ledge. I was careful as there were signs that said "Danger"! The skies were growing grayer by the minute. I took pictures of Hodge Pond below and some of the hills beyond. I also snapped a few shots of the ledges before we turned around to head back. We knew that we could get back faster than the trip up but also knew we were racing the storm. On the way back we stopped at another viewpoint on the woods road. After this, we started back knowing that the storm was getting closer. At times we were almost running down the hills as the footing was surprisingly good. We were back at the Big Rock junction at 12:10 PM about 4 miles into the hike. As we descended the Flynn Trail, the snow began and it continued all the way to the car. We were back at the car at 12:50 PM after hiking 5.8 miles in just under 3 hours with a vertical ascent of 1100 feet.

On Saturday, February 16th, Cindy and I wanted to go for a hike together. We didn't want to be away from home for too, long but wanted a new experience. We decided to hike the Tusten Mountain Trail between Barryville and Narrowsburg. Several people had suggested this trail even though it is less than four miles. Most said that the lookout over the Delaware River from the top was very nice. The temperature was quite a bit colder than earlier in the week an Cindy and I both put on an extra baselayer. I also decided to wear my insulated Salomon B52's. We knew there would not be much snow so I packed the spikes but left the snowshoes home. We both brought poles as we feel they add some security on slippery trails and also give us an upper body workout. We left Livingston Manor and headed south eventually ending up in Barryville where we turned north on Route 97. After about 10 miles, we turned left onto Crawford Road and headed down toward the river. Just before the boat access we spotted the small sign board and the trailhead parking on the right. We parked and were hiking by about 11:15 AM. The air felt cold and damp and the breeze made it feel even cooler. We walked along Tusten Road which is a seasonal maintenance road that parallels the river for less than a quarter mile. At this point a stone arch bridge crosses a small creek that flows into the river. We stopped at the bridge to take some pictures of the bridge and the stream before continuing on. The road was icy in some places and snowy in others. There were even some bare spots. As we walked I noticed a small pond on the right and realized that the water filled what was left of a stone quarry. I enjoy visiting quarries and mines as they tell a story of the past. I took a few pictures and we continued on the road wondering where we would find the turn for the trail. At the .6 mile mark a sign point to the trail on the right. Tusten Road continued straight ahead and I thought we might walk along it when we came back from the trail loop. We turned right and then made an immediate left to start the trail in a clockwise direction.

Over the next .4 miles the trail gained about 350 feet which made a good workout. There was some snow but the trail was bare in many places with some mud. As we neared the top of the climbed I looked to the left and saw the telltale evidence of a quarry. A track ran up the hill and there was a lot of waste stone pile around. Cindy and I left the trail to investigate this area. The quarry was small but I couldn't help but imagine the activity that took place here and the difficulty of carting the rock off the hillside. We investigated some ledges before making our way back to the trail. The walk along the trail was nearly level from this point on with a few more short ascents. At 1.2 miles on the trail we came to a sign that indicated the lookout was ahead. A wide woods road branched to the right at this spot and I made a note that we might want to explore its destination. After a short climb we were nearing the lookout. As I approached I spotted bald eagle sitting in a tree at the lookout. I wanted to get a picture but the eagle had other plans. We stopped at the lookout and I took some pictures of the river in the distance. The light was not favorable and I knew I would return on a better day. As I looked out I couldn't help but think that the view from Jensen Ledges was much better. Cindy and I decided to investigate the woods road at the intersection so we headed back in that direction. We walked the road for a while as it skirted the highest hill around. Once we got to a more gentle slope we cut up through the woods to get to the top of the hill. At the summit we found a stone cairn probably placed by some of the scout from the Ten Mile River Camp. We headed back down to the trail and back to the lookout.

We decided to continue on the loop and started down the other side of the hill. This side had a more motherly exposure and was shaded by trees. There were several icy spots which we negotiated. Several more quarries appeared along the way. A rather large one on the left of the trail at 1.4 miles drew my attention. We walked to the base of the scrap stone pile which I climbed to get to the mine above. I took pictures but found it strange I could find no drill holes. Once back on the trail we descended to find a sign that gave us a choice of "gentle" or "steep". Just to the right of the sign was another quarry. This one was perhaps the prettiest so far with a small, frozen pond. I took pictures before we descended the gentle trail. The trail headed north but at about 1.6 miles made an almost 180 degree turn to head south and back toward the parking area. In this area signs lined the trail on the right warning that this was a "restricted area". I was disappointed as I could see an enormous pile of waste rock from the biggest quarry yet! I was in luck because at about 2 miles, the other trail came in from the right. I followed the trail as it led directly to the large quarry above. I took several pictures but it was hard to capture the size of the quarry and the amount of stone that had been removed. I walked back down to the main trail to rejoin Cindy. From this point it was only .7 miles back to the start of the loop. We still had to walk back along Tusten Road to the car leaving an excursion north on the road for another time. As we walked along the road we met the only people we would see for the day. At the bridge I walked down to the stream bed to take a few pictures of the rapids. I returned to the road and we walked back to the car. We were back at the car by 2:10 PM having competed a total of 4.4 miles and 940 feet of ascent in just under 3 hours. Hikers who stick to the trails and use the gradual ascent/descent will hike about 3.1 miles and climb about 640 feet. Our hike included several side excursions that were not part of the trail. After hiking, we drove north on Route 97 to Callicoon. Cafe Devine is a great place to eat and has a health food store next door.

On Thursday, February 14th, I decided to head out on another hike after a nice walk the day before. I again wanted to stay close to home and, after weighing the options, chose to hike on some private property on Shandelee. I had permission from the caretaker and the property has a nice viewpoint and a waterfall. I parked to hike at about 11:00 AM and immediately noticed that there was again more snow that I had anticipated. I debated going home for a pair of snowshoes but thought better of it. I started up a woods road toward the top of the ridge with a brisk breeze blowing and an air temperature in the twenties. I continued to follow woods roads but took a different route than I had before. At some point I noticed that I the road I was on was skirting the ridge. I struck out through the forest and ascended a small hill to find myself at the lookout to the northwest. I took some pictures and then headed out on the woods road that leads to the power lines. Along the way I investigated several other roads by taking a few turns but eventually returned to my route to the right-of-way. I took the "low road" and ended up on the right-of-way with a rather deep ravine cut by a small creek. I retraced my steps and followed a road that paralleled the creek until it didn't anymore. A well-worm animal path led me to a place to cross the stream and back up to the power lines. I walked down the right-of-way until I hit the creek again and then found another woods road that eventually led to the base of the falls on the far side.

It was difficult to get pictures from the far side of the falls where I was but I did take a few. It was obvious that the main part of the falls was frozen and I really wanted some pictures from close up. I had crossed the creek here in warmer weather when I could see were I was stepping. The rocks now were covered in ice and snow and the water level was higher. The prospect of a dip in the cold water was not inviting so I took route that returned me to the car. I drove down to where the high line crosses the road and parked off the shoulder. I took my pack and poles and walked down the road to an opening in the guardrail. The descent down the steep bank was easier than I expected and I was soon positioned to take some shots. Unfortunately, the sun was now directly behind the falls making photography difficult. The falls were almost completely frozen near the top with only a small opening of flowing water. The water near the base of the falls was open and the sun sparkled off it as it flowed down the stream. I took a few pictures and decided to return some other day in the early morning or late afternoon when the skies were bluer and the sun at a more favorable angle.

On Wednesday, February 13th, I decided that I needed to get out after almost a week without a hike. I had been helping to nurse Sheila's paw along and did not look forward to a hike alone! I decided to stay close to home but was tired of the same old places. Huggins Lake came to mid since it is different even if the hike is short. The temperature was just below freezing when I left Livingston Manor and was supposed to climb slightly throughout the day. I drove up the Beaverkill Road and turned on the road to the campsites. My first surprise was the "Bridge Closed" sign at the intersection. I turned left to take the longer way around through Craig-E-Clare and across the new iron bridge. After driving up Berry Brook Road, I arrived at the access road to the parking area. The road was not plowed so I turned around and parked on the widest spot of shoulder I could find. I had my spikes with me but had left the snowshoes at home. I decided I didn't need insulated boots and wore my Asolo TPS 520 boots. When I crossed the road at about 10:45 AM and started up to the parking area, I was surprised to find several inches of soft snow. There was not enough snow to require snowshoes but if I had brought them I would have worn them. It was also clear that trudging through the snow was going to leave my feet damp as the old boots just don't seem to be waterproof anymore! I kept up a good pace on the trail but was missing the company of my dog! The first 1.3 miles are all uphill. Although the 700 foot gain is not too great, I always picture the hike as much easier than it is. Along the way there were some tracks which were snowed over. They were big enough to be boots but they wandered onto and off of the trail occasionally.

Once at the top of the hill I could see Huggins lake below and I began the downhill hike to the shore of the lake. At about 1.75 miles the trail turns sharply right and descends to the lake. The total elevation loss is only about 260 feet. The lake was completely frozen over and there were very few tracks along the shore. I took some pictures of the lake and surrounding hills. It is a quiet place without any really spectacular views. I found an old canoe on the shore seemingly waiting for the ice to melt. After a few more pictures, I turned around and headed back up the hill and down the other side to get back to the parking area. The temperature had risen to above freezing and I slipped several times on the descent. It was obvious that the layer of snow covered a layer of ice. I arrived at the car at 12:45 PM. On my drive back I began to think about the Dundas Castle. I stopped along the road and was able to get a few pictures. I had wanted to get permission to walk up to the castle for some time. I know many people simply go without asking permission but I decided to stop by the caretaker's house. The caretaker was in but denied me permission so I left. I was disappointed but have a few other avenues to explore to get permission. The hike to Huggins Lake and back was 3.9 miles in just under 2 hours with a vertical gain of almost a 1000 feet.

On Sunday, February 3rd my friend Kevin wanted to go for a hike close to home but had to be back by about 4:00 PM. We decided to leave from Livingston Manor at noon and I suggested Giant Ledge as our destination. Kevin agreed and we were off on time. Sheila was still recovering from the laceration to her paw so it was just Kevin and I. The roads were a little better than the day before but there were still some icy patches. We arrived at the parking area just before 10:00 PM to find it almost full. We parked and got right on the trail. I knew we wouldn't need snowshoes but brought along spikes just in case. Just after crossing the road there were several icy patches which we negotiated without putting on the spikes. The temperature was in the mid 20's and there was no wind which made it feel much warmer than the day before. I had donned layers that were not quite as warm as Saturday and I was glad that I did. Kevin and I walked and talked as we ascended to the trail junction to Giant Ledge. We worked our way around several ice flows by simply walking on either side of the trail. We knew that on the way back traction devices would make the descent safer. By 1:10 PM we reached the trail junction, where there was another ice flow, and turned right to head to Giant Ledge. The air still seemed warm and the hiking was going quickly as we walked and talked. We walked across the relatively flat space before the small series of ascents and continued to find icy patches. Walking around them was still working for us so we did not put on spikes.

Soon we were at the final ascent to Giant Ledge where we met a couple descending. They had hiked all the way to Panther and were now coming back. They said that the views were good but that there was a lot of ice on the way up Panther. We continued to the top of the climb and walked toward the ledges. We met another group of perhaps 10 people all of whom were wearing some form of traction. Kevin and I walked down to the first lookout which apparently had not had many visitors. By the time we arrived the skies had changed a great deal. We had left the parking area under blue skies in all directions but I had noticed on the way up that the skies to the north and northeast beginning to darken. We arrived at the ledges just before 2:00 PM and my observations were confirmed. Toward the north the skies were dark with an approaching snow squall. Looking east and south toward the Burroughs Range, the skies were cloudy but still blue with some sun. In between, to the east, there was a mix of conditions. This situation made for interesting pictures since in one spot I could get three different sets of conditions. I took pictures and then we walked along the ledges to visit two more viewpoints. The dark skies in the north began heading toward us and we could see that snow accompanied them. We headed back down across the ledges and down the steep descent. We did not want to don spikes to climb over the rocks and even at the base of the descent we continued without them. We met two more hikers on their way up to the ledges despite the fact that it was late in the day. We arrived at the trail junction at about 2:50 PM and decided it was time to put on spikes. This made the final part if the hikes much easier as we were able to walk over most of the ice flows rather than try to get around them. At one point we met a lone hiker and her dog headed up. We wondered if she intended to try to get to the Ledges and back or whether she was just out for a short walk. She didn't seem to have much equipment with her. We removed our spikes when we got to the road and were back at the car by 3:30 PM having covered 3.3 icy miles in 2.5 hours.

On Saturday, February 2ndI wanted to do a 3500 foot peak but did not have a companion since Sheila was still recovering from a foot laceration. I asked Cindy if she wanted to hike and she said "Yes"> we agreed to hike Hunter from Spruceton. We dressed warmly as the temperature was not supposed to be above 20 and a stiff breeze was forecast. We got a late start and the roads were icy in places. On the way from Shandaken to Spruceton on Rt 42 we saw several cars at the Halcott parking area and several more parked at the side of the road near the new slide. These people appeared to have ropes and equipment for ice climbing and there was significant ice on some of the ledges at the top of the slide. We continued on to Hunter arriving just after 11:00 AM to find the lot almost filled! At the far end of the lot near was a large pile of gravel which took up quite a bit of space. We parked and immediately got on the trail. We decided against snowshoes but brought a pair of spikes each. It was icy all the way from the parking area to where the trail turns to the right after the bridge. We walked on the gravel or at the side of the trail. We had decided that using spikes would require us to put them on and then take them off several times as the ice was intermittent. The trail showed signs that a tracked vehicle had been used at some time when the earth was soft. As we continued up the trail toward the trail junction the sun came out. We stopped and I opened some zippers as I was getting warm. There was a new bridge on the trail across one of the larger streams. By 11:55 AM we had hiked the 1.75 miles to the trail junction and were ready turn right up the mountain. There was another large pile of gravel on the right and the tracks continued up the trail to the right.

After the turn the trail got steeper and there continued to be ice flows across the trail in many places. We walked around these areas but they kept getting larger especially as we approached the spring near the lean-to. It was clear that the hikers ahead of us had donned spikes at some point. I could see everything from YakTrax to full crampons. When we reached the spring, we turned right as I intended to take the back way up to the lean-to. The ground was a little marshy but soon we reached the climb. I started to climb but quickly ran into a covering of ice with a frosting of snow. We decided to then back and walk up to the main trail to the lean-to. As we walked up the main trail the ice became even more prevalent and we decided to put on spikes. We walked over to the lean-to and stopped for a snack and a drink. I walked out to the viewpoint and took some pictures of the valley below. I was a little disappointed at the angle of the sun and the lack of fluffy white clouds in a bright blue sky! We walked back to the main trail and continued up the mountain. We were both glad that we had decided to wear the spikes as the ice continued to be a problem. The final climb up to the summit plateau seemed long and tiring to me and Cindy echoed that sentiment. Near the top we met two other hikers. One was headed down and one to the cabin. I said "Hello" to both but got barely a nod from either!

We stopped at the cabin where I dropped my pack and got out my camera. I took some pictures of the tower as the skies were blue with some nice clouds. I headed up the tower to take more pictures. As soon as I was above the tree line a sustained wind of at least 20 mph was blowing. The wind chill was making the temperature feel 10 degrees colder than on the ground. I took pictures from just below the cabin on the tower and then came down to another level and took some more. I could see skiers at the Hunter Mountain Ski Area with the zoom on the camera. Back on the ground it actually felt MUCH warmer. We gathered ourselves and started back down the mountain. It had taken about 2.5 hours to get to the tower and we were hoping it would take less time to get down. We don't really rush but made good time coming down the hill. We were able to simply walk over most of the ice flows. on the way down we met one of the hikers from the top who, again, didn't bother to acknowledge us. By 2:30 PM we had returned to the trail junction after hiking 5.5 miles. We decided it was time to remove our spikes. We continued on down the woods road. We had seen only two other hikers which did not account for all the cars so I assumed they had probably decided to do the loop. When we got back to the parking area at 3:15 PM the other hikers were still not back. We had hiked 7.2 miles in 4 hours. We got ready to go and as we pulled out the group was walking toward. Cindy and I decided we would go to Tannersville to Pancho Villas as we enjoy the food there. The food was good but the ride home seemed VERY long.

On Tuesday, January 29th Lisa And I wanted to get out before the "big melt over the next two days. After a week of temperatures that never went above the 20's, we were scheduled to have two days of exceptionally warm temperatures perhaps reaching into the 50's! Lisa wanted to go to Frick Pond and hike to Beech Mountain to find a lookout on a ledge of rock. I wasn't sure of the exact location but it sounded a little like Flynn's Point which is currently designated as the highest point in Sullivan County. I put my gear and Sheila into the car and met Lisa at her store at around 9:30 AM. We drove to Frick Pond on roads that reflected the coming thaw. We started out on the Flynn Trail just before 10:00 AM. We started the hike on the trail through the woods. Before we were even on the wide woods road that makes up most of the Flynn Trail, Lisa noticed a small spot of blood on the trail. A little further along there was another and I called Sheila over to check her out. My first look did not reveal anything but we continued to see patches of blood. My second inspection revealed that Sheila had cut the pad on her front left foot. It was bleeding but not too badly and Sheila did not seem to notice it. I decided we would hike a little further since the snow was keeping it cool. We continued up the Flynn Trail but I kept seeing blood spots and I was getting more and more concerned. Near the top of the hill I told Lisa that we had to go back. On the way back Sheila did not seem to be favoring the paw and was not trying lick it. When we got back to the car, I got out some bandages and looked at her foot again. The cut was deep and bloody. I dropped Lisa and her shop and headed home to call the vet. I didn't think stitches would be appropriate but wanted a second opinion. The vet was able to take Sheila immediately and we drove to the office. After a quick inspection, he said that a bandage with some antibiotic cream and some oral antibiotics would be sufficient. He said it should heal in 10 days to 2 weeks. I was relieved but I know that Sheila will not be happy with "bed rest".

On Saturday, January 26th Kurt was in Livingston Manor and we decided to get out for a snowshoe since the temperature had warmed up to the high 20's! For most of the week the temperatures had not reached the 20's during the day and below 0 at night! The wind had also been blowing making the wind chill dangerous for skin exposed for any length of time. I decided to take Kurt to Walnut Mountain and do some of the trail there so we got our gear in the car and headed out. I was a little worried that it might be too cold for Sheila but I knew we could make the hike as long or as short as we wanted. We arrived at about 1:30 PM at the main parking area to find the gate closed. I parked at the smaller area which was not a problem since we were the only car there. As soon as we got out of the car we noticed that the wind was whipping across the fields and that it was COLD! We got our snowshoes on quickly an headed for the trails. I had planned to start out with some of the more open trails but we immediately headed for the A1 trail that heads up the mountain. This trail is sheltered and we immediately noticed that we could no longer feel the wind. We hiked up the A1 trail to the junction with the A4 trail where we tuned left or south on the A4 trail. We continued on this until the junction with the A1 and followed the A1 by bearing left. The snowshoes we were wearing were not really need but gave us a good grip. The trails were well packed and we could see a mix of boot and snowshoe prints. When the A1 trail branched we followed it to the right as it headed west and north. I wanted to do some loops around the mountain. Eventually the A1 turned east and we were back at the junction with the A4. We had completed the lower loop around the mountain for about 1.7 miles.

We decided to continue around the mountain again on the A4 trail. This time when we arrived at the junction with the A1 trail we stayed right to follow the A4 south until it made and almost 180 degree turn to head around the mountain. We continued to follow the A4 north and then east as it started to swing around the summit. On the north side we followed a bike trail that took us up to the level just below the summit. We followed the path around the base of the summit going counterclockwise until we got to the bike trail that starts up to the summit on the east side. We had spotted a wooden structure that I had not seen before and wanted to investigate. On the summit plateau we started to the right to make a counterclockwise loop. We found that the wooden structure was a well-constructed "bridge" over a jumble of rocks. The path continued around the edge of the summit until we were back on the east side where we had come up. We walked back down to the A5 trail where we turned right and descended to the A4 trail. A left turn on the A4 and a right on the A1 brought us back to the open field where the A1 splits. We admired the view from the picnic table and then headed left on the A1 and back down toward the car. As we came back down to the parking area, I pointed out to Kurt the nice views to the north. We decided to walk around the field below the baseball diamond to get us up to 4 miles. Back at the car my GPS read 4.1 miles in just under 2 hours. By the way, Sheila seemed impervious to the cold as she dashed up and down the trails and followed some animal tracks into the woods.

On Monday, January 21st I had hoped to get in a longer hike since I had no track practice. A long weekend including a two day track meet and preaching on Sunday had left me a little tired. I asked Cindy if she would like to get out for her first snowshoe and she said "Okay". She wanted a short and flat route so we chose to go to Frick Pond and hike around the pond and then use the Logger's Loop and Quick Lake Trails to get back to the car. When we left the house the skies were completely overcast and the temperature was just below 20 degrees. The weather forecast said partly sunny but also indicated this might be the WARMEST day of the week. We arrived at the parking area just before 11:00 AM and got right on the trail. The condition of first part of the trail to the register made we wonder whether or not we should wear the snowshoes. The snow was thin and the trail well packed allowing rocks and roots to poke up through the snow. We continued on and found the snowshoes weren't really necessary but did give us good traction and a better workout over the short hike. As we walked over the bridge at Frick Pond, I decided not to stop and we continued around the back of the pond on the wooden walkways. At Times Square we turned left to head up the Logger's Loop. This part of the hike was the only uphill so we walked quickly. At 2.3 miles we were at Iron Wheel Junction where we turned left onto the Quick Lake Trail. I could easily have put on a few more miles but Cindy was tired as it was her first snowshoe outing. As we walked down the Quick Lake Trail and back to the pond, I pointed out the trail clearing work I had done in the fall. At the pond we retraced our path back to the parking area. When we arrived at the car, a black dog from the cabin came to greet us and he and Sheila hit it off. We were back at 12:45 PM having covered 3.8 miles in an hour an 50 minutes.

On Thursday, January 17th I decided to go back to Denman Mountain to try to find a loop around the mountain on public land. Lisa and I had tried a route on Tuesday which had not taken us all the way around the mountain but had taken us to some interesting stone foundations. Between Tuesday and Thursday several inches of snow had fallen closing most schools on Wednesday. I knew conditions would be quite different so I brought along my Tubbs Alp Flex snowshoes and Hillsound spikes. The roads were mostly clear when I left the house but I did not know how well maintained Moore Hill Road would be near the parking area or if that parking area would be plowed. I needn't have worried since Moore Hill Road was cleared and well sanded and the parking area we arrived at 10:00 AM. The forecast was for rising temperatures and clearing skies but it was in the high 20's with a stiff breeze as we started out. The skies were overcast and I was anxious to get started to generate some body heat. We walked across the road to start our hike on the snowmobile trails that encircle the mountain. The snow was very crunchy and unbroken except for a few animal tracks that Sheila just had to follow. The first part of the hike was a little uphill but soon leveled off and then descended to a trail junction at about .5 miles. The left turn at this junction leads back out to Moore Hill Road and the road that cuts over to Denman Mountain Road. We turned right to stay on the trail around the mountain. At .85 miles we came to the path or woods road that Lisa and I had followed up from below on Tuesday. I knew that we had about 6 miles to do altogether and that we had a good start. I stopped to take a few pictures of the snow trail and trees but otherwise kept moving.

The snowmobile trail continued to send for the next mile but was always lower than the mountain on the right. Since the trail was lower, the water draining from the higher terrain made the trail very wet in places. Some of the water was frozen but in other places streams crossed the trail or formed small pools. At about 1.95 miles we came upon the ruins of a house or cabin on the right side of the trail. I took some pictures and then we continued on. We were heading mostly north and I knew that would have to change for us to get back to the unmaintained road that would take us back to the car. At 2.15 miles we were again at trail junction and I was sorry I had not brought a map. I decided to turn right since that trail seemed to be headed more in the direction I wanted. For the next 1.2 miles the trail wandered back and firth and up and down but always wound around the mountain. The crusty snow made walking difficult for me but did not seem to slow Sheila down at all. Finally, at about 3.3 miles the trail turned in an easterly direction and headed directly for the road. For the next 1.5 miles the trail undulated up and down but always headed east. At 4.8 miles, around 12:25 PM we hit the road and turned right to head south and back to the parking area. I had never been on the upper part of the road and there were some interesting cliffs and one large boulder right next to the road. After about .8 miles we were on the section that Lisa and I had covered on Tuesday. At this point we picked up some boot prints and dog paw prints on the road. After a few ups and downs we were back at the car 1:10 PM. We had covered 6.4 miles in just over 3 hours of total time. Near the end of the hike the sun had peeked through the clouds and I took a few pictures before it ducked in behind them again.

On Tuesday, January 15th Lisa and I wanted to explore the hiking possibilities at Denman Mountain. The summit of this mountain, once thought to be the highest point in Sullivan County, is private but much of the rest of the land in the area is state forest. Our plan was to find a hiking route around the mountain and to record a GPS track and description. We met at Moran Outdoors, Lisa hiking store in Livingston Manor, at about 9:00 AM and headed for Grahamsville. Sheila was in the backseat making it clear that she was ready to go! Just passed the TriValley school we turned left on Moore Hill Road. We drove about 3 miles north to the parking area at the corner of Moore Hill Road, Glade Hill Road and Furman Road. The parking area was well plowed. The road north of the parking area is designated as "seasonal" and was not plowed. We parked and were hiking by 9:45 AM. Both of us decided not to take snowshoes as the recent warm weather had melted most of the snow in the area. When we departed Livingston Manor, the sky was clearing and for most of the drive there was blue sky and sun. As we began to walk the skies were overcast and the air seemed a little raw. Instead of heading out on the snowmobile trail just across from the parking area, we decided to walk down Moore Hill Road to find the trail marked on the Venture Out map. We walked for about half mile on the road before turning right on another seasonal road. As we walked down the road, there were several trails to the right but we chose to stay on the road. The road descended and passed some seasonal homes or hunting camps. Posted signs on both side began to make us feel we might be in the wrong place but we continued on until we saw sign indicating state forest. After1.2 miles the road turned sharply to the left. A glance at my GPS convinced me that this was the extension of Denman Mountain Road and that it would take us in the wrong direction. We turned right onto a woods road to continue the hike.

Although the woods road we were on was somewhat overgrown it was obvious that it had been important in its day. The road was bordered by a stone wall on either side as it climbed toward Denman Mountain. After about .3 miles on this woods road we found some stone foundations and stopped to take pictures on the ones on the right near the trail. Slightly further along there was another interesting wall against a bank on the left. I crossed some marshy ground that was partly frozen to take pictures. I found another foundation and some more walls. After taking a few shots, we continued to climb up the mountain staying on the woods road. I suspected that we would eventually intersect the snowmobile trail around the mountain. In another .4 miles we did meet the trail and had to decide whether to turn left or right. We decided that we wanted to see where this trail "started" so we turned right and followed the trail. The walking was easy and at about 2.3 miles into the hike we arrived at a trail junction. A small sign marked "Trailhead" clearly pointed to the left so we made the turn and walked up and over the southern shoulder of Denman Mountain. We could see a road on the right and soon we were back at the start of the snowmobile trail directly across from the parking area. At this point we had hiked under 3 miles and it was just passed 11:00 AM so I suggested to Lisa that we walk up the unplowed road for some distance. The walk on the road was mostly uphill on the way out and it was slippery! At some point we decided to turn around and head back to the car. On the way back Sheila picked up a rather large stick and asked me to throw it for her. We played that game until we were almost back at the car. We arrived back in the parking area at 11:50 AM having hiked 4.5 miles in 2 hours. I will be returning to the area as soon as possible to map the hike around the mountain which should be about 6 miles on snowmobile trail and dirt road.

On Saturday, January 12th, I decided I wanted to hike a 3500 foot peak and Balsam Lake was as good as any. I thought that, depending on the weather and my conditioning, that I might do Graham also. The weather forecast the night before was for dense fog in the morning caused by the snow that was still on the ground and an air temperature rising to near 50 degrees. When I woke up in the morning, the fog WAS very dense so I decided to leave the house at about 10:00 AM with Sheila on board. We headed up the Beaverkill Road which was well plowed and sanded. In Lew Beach I got behind a Town of Hardenburgh sanding truck which I followed until it turned up Alder Creek Road. I was glad to have it gone since it was slowing me down. I soon changed my mind as I passed Quill Gordon Lodge. At this point the road became more and more icy until I decided a hike up the mountain was not worth having an accident going there or on the way back! I backed up until I got to a driveway and then turned around. My first thought was to go someplace like Huggins Lake but I finally decided to try to get to the trailhead on the Millbrook Road to hike the mountain from that side. As I headed up the Barkaboom Road this began to sound like a very good idea since I had not hiked from that direction in a very long time. The drive seemed long since I was eager to get started but by 11:00 AM I parked the car in the lot and got ready to hike. I had looked at the trail as we passed it and decided I would wear my snowshoes. I had a bungee cord to strap them on my pack if I had to and I had also brought spikes. There were two or three other cars in the lot. The trail toward Dry Brook Ridge was also broken out so I wasn't sure where which direction the hikers had headed. It was warm so I was glad I had only one layer with my trusty Mammut Hoody on top. Sheila could hardly contain herself so I got her across the road quickly and onto the trail.

The snow on the lower part of the trail wasn't very deep and was beginning to be the consistency of mashed potatoes. I also didn't help that it was obvious that several people felt that snowshoes were optional. Snowshoes were not needed for the hike but the holes made by those without snowshoes made walking more difficult. When the temperature drops over the next week, these holes will freeze and become real "ankle-breakers". The trail register is a little over a quarter mile up the trail and between the trailhead and the register were several major blowdowns. There were one or two blowdowns after the register also. I could navigate over or under several of these but others required a detour. Some of the branches had been cut with a chainsaw. Since this is within less than half a mile of the trailhead, it would be nice if a DEC crew could remove them from this popular trail. I must admit that I didn't remember much of the hike in from this direction. The terrain was not as flat as I had remembered with about a 450 foot gain in the first mile. At this point the trail passes through a switchback and then continues to climb. Along the way I noticed what appeared to be a woods road head off to the left. It wasn't very distinct but I wondered if it could be the continuation of the upper road that forms part of the path to Graham. At some point I also noticed that the right side of the road was supported by laid up stone similar to that on the other side. This road used to connect the Beaverkill Valley to Millbrook and was well maintained. The trail continued to climb for another .3 miles before more or less leveling off until the trail junction and the final climb up the mountain at 2.25 miles. Along this part of the path I met a young couple in jeans and cotton shirts . They were not wearing snowshoes but seemed to be oblivious and having a good time. Just before the trail junction I met another couple who were on snowshoes. I decided to make the turn up the mountain at this point rather than continuing on to ascend the steeper side.

As I started up the mountain, I realized that I was a little tired but that I was not having the pulling sensation in my right upper thigh. My hips were a little sore. I stopped to get a Clif bar and realized that I had not taken a drink so far on the hike. After a short stop and a drink, I felt better although that may have been psychological. The snow on the back side of the mountain had not been exposed to as much direct sunlight and the temperature was a few degrees colder. This left more snow on the ground and there were several areas of drifting where the snow was at least a foot deep. The last .7 miles is all uphill and gains about 425 feet to the clearing with the fire tower. As we approached the tower, both Sheila and I could hear voices and when I looked up I saw two young ladies waving from near the top. It was 12:40 PM when we arrived. I dumped my pack at the picnic table and got out my camera as they headed down. They also were not using snowshoes. Both hikers were from Kingston and had tried to get up the Beaverkill Road. Since it was too slippery, they parked on the side of the road and hiked to the trailhead. I wondered why they had chosen the Beaverkill approach since the Millbrook trailhead would have been a shorter trip! I leashed Sheila to one of the tower support and then headed up. A soon as I was above the level of the trees, the wind hit me and I began to feel a chill. Most of the fog had cleared leaving just enough in some areas for interesting pictures. I took many shots including some through the tower and then quick descended to get out of the wind. The other hikers had disappeared and Sheila and I were soon on our way back down. I decided that it was late enough that I would not make the loop or try for Graham.

The trip down the mountain to the trail junction went quickly as I was able to "ski" much of the descent on my snowshoes. The trip up had taken about 30 minutes but the return was only a little over 15 minutes. We turned left to return to the car. Once we passed the cutoff to Graham I knew that the trail was downhill all the way. We were making good time! At some point Sheila seemed to be more interested in what was behind us and I turned to find another hiker and his yellow lab companion coming up behind us. Initially I put Sheila on her leash but the two dogs seemed to get along fine so I let them play. The other hiker and I talked as we walked and he soon realized that I had the CatskillHiker website and that he mad emailed me several times. Marc is originally from Switzerland and now splits his time as a web designer between New York city and Shandaken. I thought it was interesting that his dog is at least bilingual responding to both English and French commands. Having someone to talk to and walking downhill made the return trip go very quickly. We were back at the trail head by 2:15 PM having covered 6 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes including the time at the tower. The time out was about 1 hour and 45 minutes but the return trip was 1 hour and 15 minutes!

On Wednesday, January 9th I had almost decided to stay at home and look forward to the end of the week. When I looked at the forecast for higher temperatures and then freezing rain and rain by Friday, I decided I had to get out for a few miles. I knew that the area around Frick Pond always seems to have more snow than any place locally. I got my gear on and loaded a "hyped" Sheila into the car and headed for Frock Pond. We were on the trail by 10:40 AM with completely overcast skies and temperatures in the high 20's. I again had by Tubbs Alp Flex snowshoes as they seem to handle all kinds of terrain. The cooler temperatures made me overdress with tights underneath my pants and a double layer on top underneath my Mammut Hoody. I had not brought a bungee cord to carry my snowshoes and so was committed to wearing them from start to finish. I was a little apprehensive when I saw the completely bare parking area! I need not have worried as the snow in the woods was still good enough for snowshoes although they were not necessary in most places. We headed out on the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond. When we arrived at the bridge across the outlet, I decided to stop and take a few pictures. At this point I was already very warm so I removed my baselayer and stowed it in my pack. As we continued around the pond, we stayed left at the trail junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. There was enough snow to cover the roots and rocks on this part of the trail an by 11:25 AM we had walked the 1.5 miles to Iron Wheel Junction. At the trail junction we turned right on the Logger's Loop Trail. This trail is open to snowmobiles and was well packed. The Logger's Loop is mostly downhill in this direction and the packed snow made traveling easy. By 11:55 AM we were at Times Square and abut 2.75 miles into the hike.

At Times Square we turned left to start up the Big Rock Trail. This trail was also packed by snowmobiles but the walk was harder due to the gain in elevation. From Times Square to The Flynn Trail is about 1.1 miles but the elevation gain is around 600 feet. The route has three different climbs with some flatter areas between them. I wasn't getting the pulling sensation in my upper left leg that I had on other snowshoe hikes but I was getting tired as we climbed. I realized that I have to go longer and deal with more climbing to get back in the condition I need to be in! We reached the Flynn Trail at 12:25 PM after hiking 3.85 miles. I thought I might make a loop down to Hodge Pond but I was tired and needed to get back home so that I could get to track practice on time. We turned right to walk down the Flynn Trail back to the parking area. There was at least one set of snowmobile tracks and this was annoying since the Flynn Trail is supposed to be off limits to snowmobiles. Sheila was still excited at this point and was running up the trail and back to me. She was taking a few excursions off the trail to follow animal tracks but was pretty close so I let her explore. As we neared the gate by the cabin I realized I had not brought Sheila's leash. I usually put her on a leash near the cabin as we have encountered some dogs there. The snowmobile tracks turned around at the gate and went back up the Flynn Trail. We continued to the parking area on the Flynn Trail. We were back at 1:10 PM having covered 5.6 miles in 2.5 hours.

On Monday, January 7th I had planned to hike Balsam Lake Mountain with my son Kurt but he was not available. By the time I got started I only had enough time for a short walk. I decided to head up over Round Top just behind my church and right across the street from my house. I wanted to get out since the forecast for the rest of the week was for warm temperatures which could easily do away with the snow in town. I got Sheila ready and we left the house to walk across the street a little before 10:30 AM. As we walked up the steep hill to near the top of the cemetery I could already tell that the snow cover had started to melt. Any place where the snow was exposed to direct sunlight was almost bare. We turned left into the woods and started up one of the many woods roads. I was happy to see that under the cover of the forest the snow was still there and some new snow had actually fallen throughout the week. I was carrying my GPS this time as I wanted to know exactly how much distance we covered on our "usual" loop. Sheila was, as always, happy to be out and was having trouble staying with me. Initially, it seemed cold despite the 32 degree temperature since a slight wind was blowing. We skirted the summit of Round Top and the old stone quarry. The woods road led us to another road that ascended the next unnamed and higher hill. The descent down the other side of this hill was steep and the diminishing snow cover made gliding difficult. Once we were down the other side, we made the turn to start back. Various woods roads allowed a fairly easy route until we cut through an area with some briars near another stone quarry. The return path that we took paralleled the Quickway and both Sheila and I could hear cars and trucks on the highway. At the stone quarry we started to head down toward the road to pick up another path that follows the road. Once we hit that path we walked down until another woods road branched to the left. This road was wide and broad with only one blowdown. After a short walk, the road led to a field that allow a view of the exit 96 interchange. We continued on the road as it started to bend north and then started a short bushwhack uphill and to the west to complete the loop. We had a quick look at town from another overlook before descending the hill to the area where we had entered the woods. All that was left was to descend the cemetery hill back to the church. The loop from the church was about 2.8 miles and took us around and hour and 15 minutes. From my house the hike is a little over 3 miles.

On Saturday, January 5th I decided I had babied myself through a cold for long enough and was ready to get out. This decision was helped along by the fact that it was the first day in the week where the temperature was forecast to be above freezing! I will say that by resting a few days my cold seemed to be on the way out faster than if I had hiked! By the time I finished some morning "chores" it was getting late and my son, Kurt, and family were do in at about 2:00 PM. I was tired of hiking the usual places around Livingston Manor so I decided to go to Liberty to snowshoe at Walnut Mountain. We had used the park this summer for cross country runs and I know the trails well. On New Year's Day Morgan Outdoors sponsored a snowshoe hike there but I was unable to go due to family commitments. I knew that others had probably been over the trails and that it was also popular with snowmobilers. I got my gear and put Sheila in the car with the temperature hovering in the low 30's. I decided to take my Tubbs Alps Flex snowshoes this time just for some variety. I resisted the urge to overdress and wore no tights under my Mountain Hardwear Winter Wander pants. I did put on my Mammut Hoody but wore only a single layer of Capilene under it. We arrived at the West Lake Street parking area at 10:35 PM to find only one other car parked. We were on the trail in a few minutes. We headed out the lower A2 trail until we got to the main parking area and then cut across to the picnic area. I was surprised to find the lot cleared of snow. We turned right and walked up the road to the area near the water tank and then continued on the A1 trail by bearing right. The trail was packed by snowmobiles which made the going easier. The first part of this trail is a gentle but long climb. Along the way we met a man walking with his 4-year-old chocolate lab. We talked for a minute and then continued on our separate ways. We walked passed the A4 trail on the left and the trail began to level. At about 1 mile we passed the A2 trail on the right and continued around the base of the mountain.

As we walked south we passed the trail that leads up to the next level. It was my intention to do several loops starting with the lowest and working up. At 1.65 miles we came to a trail junction with a field directly ahead. With the leaves off the trees there were some views so I stopped at a picnic table to take a few pictures. At this point the skies were still overcast and I took a few shots. From here we made a sharp left turn to follow the A4 trail around the mountain until we were back at the A1 trail having completed the loop. We started around again but this time took a trail on the left that winds its way up the mountain just after the A2 junction. This trail was NOT packed by snowmobiles and it was refreshing to be walking through fresh powder. The trail made a switchback and soon joined the A4 trail that makes a second and higher loop around the mountain. We turned right and headed south again. Along the way we met a woman with two large labs. They were not on a leash and were a little intimidating. I wish people were more considerate when walking and hiking in public places! Soon we were just above the field. At this point a trail which may be the A5 makes a sharp left and heads up to the highest loop around the summit of Walnut Mountain. We climb a little and then began the last loop on an unmarked path. Near the top the snow had drifted away from some places and toward others. The effect was 18 inch drifts in some spot and almost bare ground in others. We passed over some rough spots and walked close to some boulders with a nice ice flow. I took some pictures before completing the loop and walking down another trail and back to the A4. We turned left and walked back to the trail we had used to ascend from the A1 trail. Next, it was back down around to the lookout in the field on the A1. I was getting little bored with loops so I went straight ahead to follow the A1 trail back to the main parking area. We continued on the A1 to start another loop but this time took a right on the upper A2 trail. I was beginning to get tired and had some small muscle strains in my upper legs due to the gait of the snowshoes. We followed the A2 down to where it descends to a small stream and then continued to follow it back to the car. We were back at the parking area by 1:20 PM having covered 5.9 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes.

On Monday, December 31st I was ready to get out after a weekend of family and church commitments. At some point on Sunday I realized I was coming down with the cold or flu as my throat was really sore. I decided to get out Monday despite the cold temperatures since the rest of the week was forecast to be colder and I knew I would probably be sicker! I decided to take Sheila across the street to the Livingston Manor Round Top for our first snowshoe hike of the year. I though we might do the 3 mile route which would be enough for me and would allow me to see how Sheila dealt with the snow. I had Sheila out last year when she was a few months old and she seemed to like the snow a lot. I wanted to make sure she would not get too cold or have problems with snow frozen in her paws. We walked across the street at just before 3:00 PM into a field with drifts more than a foot high. After taking Sheila across the street on her leash, I let her run free and she promptly headed up the cemetery hill just where I wanted to go. She seemed to have no problem running up the hill while I lagged a little behind. I was wearing my Crescent Moon Gold Snowshoes which I often use on flat or hilly terrain. These snowshoes have the best bindings of anything I have seen. However, they lack sufficient grip for climbing mountains. I also noticed that where the decking wraps around the frame the decking has started to tear. I made a note to e-mail the company to see what can be done as I almost always wear these shoes in snowy areas without rocks! At the top of the hill we turned from the road onto a woods road through the forest. The snow was unbroken except by a few animal tracks. Just a little farther up this trail we turned right again to head up and across the ridge that is part of Round Top. Sheila was so glad to be out she was running up and down the trail. We climbed up a little, flattened out and then dropped some. I considered skipping the next hill but decided we weren't that tired and would have enough daylight to finish. We ascended the next hill which is actually higher than Round Top and then dropped down the other side to circle around and complete the loop. We passed the second of two stone quarries and then dropped down to the path that parallels the Quickway heading west and north. We continued to bear left as we took another woods road and then bushwhacked up the hill. At some point along the final climb I was mentally congratulating myself on remaining upright for the while trip. At this point I stepped onto a short but sharp stump and fell forward. I was not injured but could have done without the snowy covering so late in the hike. We were soon at the viewpoint that overlooks Livingston Manor. From here we headed down the woods road and back out to the cemetery and then home. We compete the 3 mile loop in about 1.5 hours.

On Wednesday, December 26th Brad and I decided to get out to hike off some of the Christmas feast. An impending storm for Thursday and Friday also made us anxious to get out before the roads became difficult. We decided to once again go to Frick and Hodge Ponds even though that would probably be our destination for snowshoeing once the storm passed. We got our gear and ushered a highly excited Sheila into the car. As we started out the temperature was in the low 20's so I decided to wear my Mountain Hardwear Winter Wander pants with Mountain Hardwear tights underneath. On top I had my Mammut Hoody over a Patagonia Capilene top with a Mammut baselayer. I decided that for extra warm nth I would wear my Salomon B52 boots and Mountain Hardwear Nutshell gaiters. As we got out of the car at the parking area at 9:50 AM , I noticed that the temperature was barely 20 degrees and a breeze was blowing. I knew that I would warm up on the trail but was glad I had brought a hat and gloves. We started out on the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond. As soon as we made the turn onto the woods road by the register, it was obvious that despite the cold temperatures this was going to be a wet hike. In fact, after a few footsteps, I sank almost to my boot top in a muddy spot. The rain had flooded the trails before it turned to snow and there was standing water in some places with running water in others. We did not stop at the pond as we crossed the bridge. The day was overcast but not very interesting photographically. This time Sheila avoided the water which I thought was a good idea given the temperature. I decided not to take pictures but to just enjoy the walk at as fast a pace as seemed comfortable. After only a short distance, we ran into the first of what would be over a dozen blowdowns that we had cleared several weeks before and I commented to Brad about my handiwork. As we continued on the trail, it was a pleasure to hike unimpeded by the trees that once blocked the way! When we got to Iron Wheel Junction, we decided to do the big loop up to Hodge Pond. We made the left turn to continue on the Quick Lake Trail and found that some of the blowdown across the trail had been cleared. We also found that the snow graduated from a dusting to several inches as we gained elevation. The trail continued to be wet and muddy in places but we were soon at Junkyard Junction where we turned right to get on the Flynn Trail at 11:15 AM after hiking about 3 miles.

The Flynn Trail was wet and muddy in places which slowed us down considerably. In addition, the slippery snow was beginning to take a toll on my legs. At the gate we turned to go down to Hodge Pond. In this short section of trail there were two large trees blocking our path. Both of these will need to be removed. When we got to Hodge Pond, we decided to walk around the back of the pond on the jeep trail. We were soon at the outlet end of the pond where we turned to climb the Flynn Trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. Sheila is always very intent on investigating various smells and tracks in the woods and this day was no different. She was wandering pretty far away from the trail following her nose but came quickly when I called her. The climb from the pond to the junction isn't steep at all but my legs were tired from slipping on the snow. We made the trail junction by noon with 5 miles behind us. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail. This last 1.7 miles always seems long to me as there is not really much to see but having Brad along made it go faster. There are still quite a few trees across this part of the trail which should be cleared. Some are old and have been down for some time while others are newer. As we approached the gate, I made sure to keep Sheila close to me as we walked around another tree that blocks the trail in this area. Further down the trail we neared the register box and found that someone had cleared the trees that had blocked the trail. We were back at the car by 12:35 PM having covered 6.7 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes. The progress in clearing these trails is good but more needs to be done to make the area completely accessible.

Fall 2012

On Thursday, December 20th I wanted to get out and hike close to home before track practice. I had been to the Frick Pond and Trout Pond areas recently so I decided to head to Long Pond on this cold but clear day. We finally got out of the house before 9:00 AM and were actually at the trailhead and ready to hike by 8:45 AM. We left the parking area and crossed the bridge on the snowmobile and hiking trail. There was a dusting of snow on the ground which increased a little with elevation but was never more than an inch. The temperature was in the high 20's but I had decided to forgo tights under my Mountain Hardwear Winter wander pants. Over the first .7 miles the trail gains about 370 feet in elevation. This is certainly not the kind of climb that is found on many 3500 foot peaks but it is enough to start to warmup. By the time we got to the top of the climb, I was ready to open up the pitzips on my Mammut Hoody and the front zippers on my shirts. Sheila was happy to be out and was running up and down the trail and following some animal trails into the woods. The walk to the spur trail to the pond went quickly and by 9:15 AM we were on the shore of Long Pond. The path to the edge of the pond was very muddy and I was afraid Sheila would be unable to resist. I put Sheila on her leash and tied her to a log while I walked out carefully to take some pictures. Unfortunately the sun was directly across the pond and at an angle where it could not be avoided. I did take a few shots to the left and right but the day was somewhat bleak with only an overcast sky. After a few shots, I returned to Sheila and we walked back up to the main trail.

As we approached the first trail junction, I decided to do the long loop so we turned right and headed out toward the trail to the lean-to. I was going to put Sheila back on her leash as there are several areas that have small ponds but she stayed right next to me and out of the muddy water. The hike at this point was relatively flat and the walk went quickly. By 9:50 AM we had walked 2.5 miles and were at the woods road that forms the next part of the loop. I decided to turn right here and walk out to a field that has a view of some ridges. In the field I stopped to take some pictures and Sheila ran around following her nose. As I packed up my camera, I became curious about the destination of the road through the field. I saw no POSTED signs so we headed down through the field and followed the road through some twists and turns and down a hill. Soon a hunting camp appeared and the road end. I did not want to continue hiking on private land so we turned around and headed back to the field. I noticed that another road headed down the hill in the field and we followed that until it was clear that it only led to the other side of the hunting camp! At that point I decided to head back to the main trail to complete the loop. The walk on the woods road was a little tricky at times as there was some ice. By 10:45 AM we had walked 4.7 miles when we arrived at the small stream that crosses the road from a beaver pond. It seemed as if someone had removed part of the dam and the water was easily crossed. We walked by the Peters Hunting Camp to continue on to Basily Road. I stopped to take a few pictures of the idyllic setting before continuing on our way. The rest of the hike was on form dirt road that eventually becomes Flugertown Road and is paved. We were back at the car by 11:45 AM having covered 7.3 miles in just under 3 hours.

On Saturday, December 15th, I decided to hike Westkill where I wanted to leave the ashes of my hiking companion Sheba. Sheba, a German Shepherd-Collie mix kept me company on virtually every hike for the last six years. She was a good friend and a great trail dog who saved my hide more than once. This passed spring she was diagnosed with Lyme Disease which made her lame in both her hips. This made it more and more difficult for her to even get around the house. I will always miss her and I think of her on very hike we take. On one hike she jumped up on a rock at the Buck Ridge Lookouts on Westkill. I had a framed canvas made of the picture to hang on the wall of my study. My son Kurt agreed to go with me so I had to wait for him to arrive with his daughter. By the time we left Livingston Manor it was about 10:30 AM and the temperature had risen to the mid-30's. I knew that I would be removing at least one layer before the hike but we got Sheila and our gear in the car and headed out. The drive to the trailhead on Spruceton Road went quickly and we were parked at just before 11:30 AM. There were several cars in the parking area at the end of the road so we parked in the next one down which was almost empty. I took off my baselayer since the temperature was no colder at the trailhead than at home. We set off up the woods road to Diamond Notch Falls. I was wondering how we might cross since the creek looked high and the footbridge had still not been replaced. When we arrived at the falls, I saw that the place I had crossed below the falls was underwater. We investigated the area where the bridge had been and found a likely spot. We crossed there as I made note that I would take pictures of the rock formation and the falls on the way back. We turned right to get on the Devil's Path which ascends the mountain. The climb began almost immediately and I was reminded that I always forget that the hike is not an easy one. The hike up to the ridge is mostly on the north side of the mountain and there was a sprinkling of snow on the ground. The mud was frozen and that certainly was a plus. Sheila was doing her usual run back and forth on the trail with occasional side excursions.

We walked and talked and the hike seemed to go quickly. Around 12:50 PM we were at the rock overhang just below the 3500 foot sign. We were at the area where the trail turns almost due west and levels off slightly. A little further along we met a couple coming back from the summit. They told us there was another group of three women who were about ready to come down and that a hiking club was walking through to the other end of the trail. We continued on our way and were soon at the base of the final ascent. I could hear voices as we climbed and I put Sheila on her leash as a courtesy. As we emerged on the top, we met the group of three women which included my friend Connie. We said "Hello" and talked briefly. A Jack Russell terrier in the group seemed to have a problem with Sheila so Kurt and I headed out for the summit. Hiking to the summit of Westkill is a short trip but serves no purpose other than to allow a hiker to claim they got to the summit. The real attraction of Westkill was back at the Buck Ridge Lookouts. Kurt and I turned around and walked back to the lookouts. The other group was just leaving. I took off my pack and got out the camera. I took pictures from the lookout on the south side including some of Kurt and Sheila. We walked over to the north side and I took some pictures from there. The trees have started to block the view and I did not want to stand on the snow-covered boulder. Sheila had no problem jumping up on the boulder for a few shots. I went back to my pack and brought out the package with Sheba's ashes. I walked back to the boulder on the north side. I spread her ashes below the boulder and said "Goodbye" to my best hiking companion.

Kurt and I got a drink and gave Sheila one. We both had snacks and shared some with Sheila. It was 1:50 PM and time for us to be starting back down the mountain. I did not want to hike out by headlamp and I did want to stop in the area of the falls. We kept a quick pace on the way down stopping only once at the rock overhang to take some pictures. There was one very icy area which is nearly vertical. I though this might give us some trouble but we found a way to negotiate it without a problem. We continued down the trail and passed Connie's group just before the falls. At the falls I sent Kurt across with Sheila while I stayed behind to take some pictures. I took some shots of the rock formations worm smooth after so many years of water erosion. The stream has actually changed its course slightly and now flows more on the northeast rather than southwest side of the bed. After taking these photographs, I crossed the stream and walked down the bank to the stream bed below then falls. From the base of the falls I took some more pictures before climbing back up the bank. The walk back to the car went quickly. We were back in the parking area at 4:00 PM having covered 6.4 miles in 4.5 hours with plenty of time allowed for photography. I was so tired I let Kurt drive most of the way home!

On Thursday, December 13th I decided to again stay close to home but find another place to hike other than Frick and Hodge Ponds or Trout Pond. I had thought about Plateau and/or Sugarloaf but decided on the "closer to home option". I thought it would be interesting to visit Split Rock Lookout and then "redline" the Pelnor Hollow Trail. I had tried to get through the Pelnor Hollow Trail from Pelnor Hollow Road this summer but the briars were just too thick. At the time I vowed to return after a few frosts to see if I could walk the while trail. I got Sheila and my gear in the car and headed up the Beaverkill Road to cross over to Berry Brook Road. I parked at the Mary Smith trailhead at the apex of Berry Brook Road and about 10:30 AM and we got right on the trail. The temperature when I left the house had not hit 30 degrees and the overnight low was about 16 degrees. I dressed in my MH Winter wander pants with a pair of tights underneath. On top I had on a Mammut baselayer with a Patagonia Capilene top and my trusty Mammut hoody on top. The Mammut is my "go to" jacket as it is so versatile. It has almost no insulation but is made of Gore Windstopper. The pitzips start below the elbow and go all the way to the hem! When we started to hike, the temperature was still in the high 20's but the sun was coming out and I just knew I would be stopping to open up vents within a short period of time. We crossed the road and headed toward the power lines on the Mary Smith Trail. After entering the woods, we found that someone had run an ATV up the trail for some distance. The ATV tracks stopped where the climbs began. I stopped at this point to open up some sippers. The climb was a little steeper than I remembered and the higher we went the more snow was on the ground. Eventually the snow reached a little less than an inch near the top of the climb.

By 11:05 AM we had hiked the 1.1 miles to the junction with the Pelnor Hollow Trail where we turned right to walk down to the Split Rock Lookout. The distance is short but the descent is steep and it was very slippery from the covering of snow. I took out my camera at the lookout and took some pictures. I decided to try to get out to the rock that has split away from the bedrock and walked to the side of the boulder. I was being careful because it was slippery and put most of my weight on a branch to stabilize myself. The branch was dead and snapped off. I am still not sure how I kept my balance and did not fall into the chasm between the rocks! I gave up on the idea of getting to the open rock face and headed back to my pack. Sheila and I walked back up to the trail junction and continued straight ahead on the Pelnor Hollow Trail to hike to the area where we had turned back during the summer. After just a short distance it was obvious someone had driven an ATV over the trail and had knocked down most of the briars. I hoped this would continue for the rest of the trail. From the trail junction we lost about 300 feet over the next .8 miles. The trail remained relatively open and easy to hike. I noticed that there were many glacial erratics along the way. We hit a low point an were about to start up the next hill when I heard a commotion and saw Sheila coming toward me with a partridge in her mouth! It was alive and she seemed vary proud as she brought it directly to me. Sheila has been wanting to catch a bird for a long time and seemed a little distressed when I demanded she drop it. The bird flew some distance away and I had to restrain Sheila from following it. We headed up the next hill and at some point near the top things started to look familiar. We had reached the point where we had stopped in the summer. I decided that since we still had time and the trail was still open we would hike to the lean-to and turn around. The hike down the other side to the lean-to had a few more prickers and did not seem to be cleared as well as the other sections. There was also some blowdown along the way. We reached the lean-to at 12:35 PM after hiking 3.7 miles and dropping 465 feet from the top of the last hill. There wasn't much to see at the lean-to so we turned around and started back. On the way back I noticed that climbing up into the pickers was a little more difficult than climbing down! The trip back was uneventful except for the fact that the temperature increased and made me even warmer. We hit the trail junction at 1:45 PM about 6 miles into the hike. We turned right and headed back to the car arriving at 2:20 PM having covered 7.2 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes. I was surprised that the vertical gain was 1844 feet!

On Tuesday, December 11th I wanted to get some exercise without going too far from home so I decided to once again go to Frick and Hodge Ponds. I got my gear and ushered a highly excited Sheila into the car. As we started out the temperature was in the mid-30's and I decided to wear my regular hiking pants and a softshell over a long sleeved shirt. As we got out of the car at the parking area at 10:00 AM , I noticed that the temperature was barely 30 degrees and a stiff breeze was blowing. I knew that I would warm up on the trail but was glad I had brought a hat and gloves. We started out on the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond. As soon as we made the turn onto the woods road by the register, it was obvious that this was going to be a very wet hike. Two days of rain had flooded the trails and there was standing water in some places with running water in others. We did not stop at the pond as we crossed the bridge. The day was overcast but not very interesting photographically. Also, the did was blowing and I was getting colder. Sheila took a dip in the pond and I thought she might be cold but it did not seem to bother her. I decided not to take pictures but to just enjoy the walk at as fast a pace as seemed comfortable. After only a short distance, we ran into the first of what would be over a dozen blowdowns that we had cleared several weeks before. As we continued on the trail, it was a pleasure to hike unimpeded by the trees that once blocked the way! When we got to Iron Wheel Junction, we decided to do the big loop up to Hodge. We made the left turn to continue on the Quick Lake Trail and almost immediately found a tree across the trail. As we continued toward Junkyard Junction, we found at least six more areas that need to be cleared. There were even some new trees across the trail since the last time we hiked the loop. The snowmobilers usually do a good job on this section of trail but it would be ideal to get these areas cleared sooner than later. The higher we went in elevation the more snow we found on the trail. The snow started as just a dusting but the highest elevations had almost and inch! The trail continued to be wet and muddy in places but we were soon at Junkyard Junction where we turned right to get on the Flynn Trail.

The Flynn Trail was very wet and very muddy which slowed us down considerably. Many of the small branches that had blocked the trail in the summer were gone. There was still some snow in this area. As we walked along, we did find several areas that need to be cleared with a chainsaw. At the gate we turned to go down to Hodge Pond. In this short section of trail there were two large trees blocking our path. Both of these will need to be removed. When we got to Hodge Pond, we decided to walk around the back of the pond on the jeep trail. We were soon at the outlet end of the pond where we turned to climb the Flynn Trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. Sheila is always very intent on investigating various smells and tracks in the woods and this day was no different. She was never very far away and came quickly when I called her. We were soon at the trail junction with the Big Rock Trail where we continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail. This last 1.7 miles always seems long to me as there is not really much to see. There are still quite a few trees across this part of the trail which should be cleared. Some are old and have been down for some time while others are newer. Most of the trees on this section are hardwoods which would be suitable to burn for firewood. As we approached the gate, I made sure to keep Sheila close to me as we walked around another tree that blocks the trail in this area. Further down the trail we neared the register box and found it and the outlet of the trail blocked by another huge tree. We were back at the car by 12:15 PM having covered 6.7 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes. The progress in clearing these trails is good but more needs to be done to make the area completely accessible.

On Sunday, December 9th, Cindy and I wanted to get out and hike somewhere close to home. The forecast was for rain in the afternoon and we wanted to avoid getting wet. after church we got dressed to hike with Sheila running between us showing her eagerness to go. We were feeling a little down since I had taken Sheba for her LAST veterinary's appointment on Friday. Sheba was a little over 14 years old and had a very bad case of Lyme Disease in the spring. She was still very alert but her hips had deteriorated to the point where she could hardly support herself. Knowing that there was only one way to eliminate her pain didn't make saying goodbye any easier. We will always miss her and always remember what great trail dog she was when she was healthy. We arrived at the parking area for Trout Pond on Morton Hill Road at about 11:50 AM and got right to hiking. The sun was actually peeking through the clouds but the temperature was only in the high 30's. The air held some moisture and there was a slight wind making it seem colder. I wore my regular hiking pants but had put on a softshell over a long-sleeved top. I had fully expected to remove the jacket but now was glad I had it one and had also remembered to bring light gloves and a hat! We started down Russell Brook Road with Sheila more than happy to lead the way. My intention was to get in a hike before the rain which meant keeping a quick pace. I also did not intend to take pictures unless an exceptional opportunity presented itself. We walked down the road to the lower parking area where there was only one car parked. From there we headed down to the area of the falls and to the register box. At the register we turn left to do the loop in a clockwise direction. This choice was based on the fact that I had been going in the opposite direction for the last few hikes and the clockwise loop gets the steepest climb out of the way at the beginning of the hike.

The hike up the hill to Mud Pond seemed short but we were keeping a fast pace so both of us were breathing hard as we hit the top of the hill. As we walked down the other side I caught a glimpse of blaze orange and immediately put Sheila on her leash. A hunter was standing just off the trail looking toward Mud Pond. He stopped to talk briefly and then continued on our hike so that we did not disturb him further. At 12:25 PM we had hiked the 1.6 miles to the trail junction where we turned right to climb the trail over Cherry Ridge. This trail was a little steeper than I remembered and all along the way we kept an eye out for hunters. As we neared the highest point on the trail I remembered that I wanted to bushwhack to the left and actually fin the highest point on the ridge. This was not the day to go walking in the woods so this excursion would have to wait until after hunting season! The section of trail from the high point to Trout Pond went quickly and at 1:15 PM we were at the bridge over the inlet of Trout Pond after hiking 3.5 miles. Up to this point the trail had been wet but the flat part around the pond was muddy with ruts from some kind of vehicle. We walked to the outlet and then down the trail and back to the register to complete the loop. We decided to skip the falls and head directly back to the car. We arrived back at the parking area at 2:00 PM having covered 5.4 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes.

On Monday, December 3rd, I wanted to get in a quick hike close to home and decided to hike Hodge and Frick Ponds by starting up the Flynn Trail and returning on the Quick Lake Trail. When we left Livingston Manor, the sun was beginning to peak through and the temperature was in the high 40's. At the parking area the sun had gone under a cloud and it seemed much cooler. I decided that this would be a hike that we would take just as fast as we could without running. We walked across the road and started up the Flynn Trail at 9:27 AM. Some of the blowdown near the road had been cleared but the trees blocking the path at the register were still there. Once on the main trail I set a quick pace which, of course, Sheila exceeded at every point. She tends to roam off the trail following her nose but never too far and will come when called. We hit the Big Rock junction at 10:02 PM making the 1.7 miles in just over half and hour. The trail from that point is flat and then downhill to the pond so our pace increased. We walked through the field by the pond and went up and around to the right to circle the pond. On the other side we turned right and negotiated our way uphill and through some extensive blowdown up to the gate on the Flynn Trail. The rest of the Flynn Trail had some blowdown but what really slowed us down were the ponds and marshes on the trail itself. At 10:37 AM we were at Junkyard Junction where we turned left to head down the Quick Lake Trail. We had gone 3.6 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes. The Quick Lake Trail was mostly downhill but was wet and slippery in places. We turned right at Iron Wheel Junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. It was 11:07 AM and we had covered 5.1 miles. As we headed toward Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail, I again inspected the work we had done several weeks early clearing all the blowdown between Iron Wheel Junction and Frick Pond. We walked across the bridge at Frick Pond just as it was starting to get clear. We were back at the parking area at 11:37 AM having covered 6.6 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes.

On Friday, November 30th, I was finally ready to get out and hike again after a bad cold and some commitments had kept me off the trails. I had planned all week to hike Table from Denning. I wanted to finish what my son Kurt and I had started the week before. Also, Table was still blank November for November on my grid. My son-in-law Brad wanted to go also so we headed out just before 9:30 AM and arrived at the trailhead just before 10:00 AM. Sheila was more than ready to go. The temperature when we left the house was in the high twenties so I decided on wearing my Mountain Hardwear Winter Wander pants and Mammut Hoody. I decided against long underwear and insulated boots as I knew the temperature would warm up. As we started out, I was concerned about crossing the bridges since I knew the second in particular could be very slippery. Brad and I are both EMTs so we have something in common to talk about and the first 1.3 miles to the turn toward Table went quickly. At the turn I pointed out the sign that designates the terminus of the Finger Lakes Trail. We walked down to the river and found that the first bridge had been repaired after being severely damaged during Irene and Lee last fall. The second bridge did have a covering of snow but Sheila hopped right up and crossed over. We stopped just over the bridge and both removed a layer since we were sweating at this point. As we continued, we passed by a cairn that marked the turn off to the Fisherman's Path and I mentioned the significance to Brad. We continue along the trail passing some legal campsites before getting to the start of what would be a climb of over 1700 feet during the next 2.1 miles.

As we started our ascent it was clear that the inch or so of snow would slow us down some. There was just enough snow to make the trail slippery but not enough to warrant the use of traction devices. Along the way there were some significant blowdowns that had been cleared. One tree was particularly large and would have required significant work to cut and clear. We walked and talked and both comment that the sky seemed overcast and almost looked like snow was on the way. There are two "bumps" before the final climb to the summit and several sets of rocks to work through. Somewhere after the first bump the snow began to come down. There were only a few flakes at first but eventually it was really snowing a more snow accumulated on the trail. I thought about the descent over the slippery rocks and roots! After the second bump and just before the final ascent, we walked along a path that lead to a lookout to the south. I took some pictures through the falling snowflakes and toward the advancing heavier snow. As we departed, I inspected the rock formation of the lookout which was quite impressive. The final ascent up the mountain is not one of my favorites. In several places the trail hugs the side of the hill and is pretty rocky. We passed the spring and the lean-to and then started up the steepest part to the flat summit. I knew this would be an interesting descent. Once on the top we walked passed the path to another lookout and continued to the spot on the trail that is the summit. It was 12:30 PM and it had taken us 2.5 hours to cover the 3.8 miles.

On the way back down we walked off the trail to the left to go to the lookout. This viewpoint has provided me with some really nice photographic opportunities in the past. On this day the lookout rock was covered in snow and the views were mostly of the snow in the air! After a few pictures, Brad and I got a drink and ate a sandwich before attacking the descent. As soon as we were back on the main trail, Sheila began dashing up and down the trail and through the woods. Brad and I both marveled at the amount of energy she still had left! As I had expected the slippery layer of snow slowed our descent some. I had to admit that going down WAS easier than going up. The two "bumps" on the way back were not appreciated by either of us but both look a lot more imposing than they really are. Soon we were down to the bridges which we crossed without incident. The snow had stopped somewhere on our descent and there was a lot less of it on the ground at the lower elevations. By this time we both had a sense of urgency to get home as we knew we would probably be going to get A Christmas tree. The hike back on the woods road was fast. We arrived back at the car just before 3:00 PM having covered 7.6 miles and 2351 vertical feet in 4 hours and 50 minutes.

On Friday, November 23rd, I wanted to hike a Catskill 3500 peak close to home. I had settled on Peekamoose and Table since they are close. I was worried about hunting in the area but had only seen a few hunters there in the past. When my son Kurt decided to stay over after Thanksgiving and said he wanted to hike the next day I was very pleased. We got Sheila in the car and left Livingston Manor a little after 9:00 AM and headed for Grahamsville. The skies were still a little cloudy but were clearing and I was hoping for some good pictures from the lookouts along the way. The temperature was in the high 30's but was supposed to warm into the low 50's during the day. We arrived in the parking area and immediately got on the trail by 9:45 AM. I must admit that Sheila seemed ready to go but that I was tired. The first part of the trail to the register box is not very steep but I had to stop several times to get my breath. I had not hiked a 35 in some time and 6 or 8 miles of flat or rolling hiking cannot compare. The trail to Peekamoose is a constant uphill punctuated by a few flatter spots in between. I began to get adjusted to the constant incline and was happy to be out with Kurt and Sheila. Sheila was running up and down the trail investigating some scents in the woods but never very far from us. The first 2.3 miles to Reconnoiter Rock has four or five steeper rock scrambles followed by flatter terrain. We arrived at the rock at about 11:20 AM and stopped to get a drink and some pictures. After a brief stay, we continued on our way.

Over the next .7 miles we ascended almost 600 feet to a large flat rock that acts as a nice lookout to the south. Both Kurt and I had removed our jackets but were still sweating on the hike. When we arrived at the lookouts, the temperature was noticeably cooler perhaps since the wind had picked up. The views were variable with a haze hanging to the east but clearer views to the west. Even someone the hazy view seemed interesting. I took some pictures in all directions and at different zooms before getting out of the wind and back on the trail. The trail just after the lookouts is flat for a short distance before the final assault on the summit of Peekamoose. Both Kurt and I were tired by this time and we were pretty sure we would be skipping Table. We had gotten a later start than we had planned and were due back in Livingston Manor no later than 3:00 PM. The final climb up Peekamoose was not too difficult and soon the rock that marks the summit was in sight. He had hiked 3.7 miles in a little over 2.5 hours. We stopped at the summit and I took some pictures of Kurt and Sheila by the rock. We walked out to the illegally cut viewpoint and I took some more pictures there. I know it is not a good idea to allow people to cut lookouts wherever they want but this one does have some nice views! We turned around and started back to the car at about 12:30 PM.

As we started back down the mountain, I was surprised that we had not encountered any other hikers especially since there were there vehicles at the parking area. As soon as we turned around, Sheila began dashing up and down the trail. Kurt and I both marveled at the amount of energy she still had left! Soon we began to hear voices and we put Sheila on her leash. We continued on down the mountain and soon realized the voices were behind us. I guess I got a little competitive and wanted to stay ahead of the approaching hikers as I increased my pace substantially. The voices fell back just as we encountered another pair of hikers coming up the trail. They mentioned they had seen two hunters dragging a bear out to the trailhead. I must admit that I enjoy eating venison but am always sad to see a bear killed. Very few people eat the meat and simply take the animal for a trophy. We talked to the hikers only briefly and continued on the trail meeting two more couples on the way up. We wondered if they knew how long it would take to get to the top and how early darkness comes to the woods! Eventually the hikers behind us caught up and we talked to them briefly. They were from Vermont but he had grown up in Red Hook and knew the mountains well. From that point on it was just a matter of hiking downhill to the car,. After turning onto the woods road that makes up the last mile or so of then trail, we were both bothered by the rolling rocks under a slippery covering of leaves. The leaves made the rocks impossible to see and the whole experience was decidedly miserable. We were back at the car at 2:20 PM having covered 7.3 miles in 4.5 hours. The pace was quicker than I thought and I regretted, if only for a moment, not tackling Table.

On Monday, November 19th I was exhausted from a weekend of ambulance calls so I decided to leave hiking for Tuesday. When my son Karl appeared at the house and announced he was available to hike my plans changed. I wanted to show him my handiwork on the Quick Lake trail so we headed for Frick Pond. We arrived in the parking area around 10:45 AM and got right out on the trail. There were no cars parked which meant we would probably not encounter any hunters. It was just above 40 degrees but the breeze made it seem cooler. I had a light softshell with a hat and gloves to begin the hike. The trail from the parking area to Frick Pond was as wet as it had been a few days before and this continued for much of the hike. I don't mind hiking with other people but can so rarely find anyone to hike. Karl and I have a lot of similar interests so hiking with him is a real pleasure. I was a little surprised to find some of the snow that was prominent on Thursday still lingering in some areas. We stopped briefly at the pond and I decided not to take pictures but to just enjoy the walk. After only a short distance, we ran into the first of what would be over a dozen blowdowns that we cleared. It was a small one an Karl did not seem impressed. As we continued on the trail, it was a pleasure to hike unimpeded by the trees that once blocked the way! Karl duly noted the size and the volume of what we cleared When we got to Iron Wheel Junction, we decided to do the big loop up to Hodge. We made the left turn to continue on the Quick Lake Trail and almost immediately found a tree across the trail. As we continued toward Junkyard Junction, we found at least six more areas that need to be cleared. The snowmobilers usually do a good job on this section of trail but it would be ideal to get these areas cleared sooner than later. The trail continued to be wet and muddy in places but we were soon at the trail junction where we turned right to get on the Flynn Trail.

The Flynn Trail was very wet but most of the small branches that had blocked the trail in the summer were gone. There was still some snow in this area. As we walked along, we did find several areas that need to be cleared with a chainsaw. At the gate we turned to go down to Hodge Pond. In this short section of trail there were two large trees blocking our passage. Both of these will need to be removed. When we got to Hodge Pond, we decided to walk around the back of the pond on the jeep trail. We were soon at the outlet end of the pond where we turned to climb the Flynn Trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I had outfitted Sheila with the training collar but did not need to use it as she behaved very well. Sheila was very intent on investigating various smells and tracks in the woods but was never very far away and came quickly when called. We were soon at the trail junction where we continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail. This last 1.7 miles always seems long to me as there is not really much to see but having Karl along made it go much faster. There are still quite a few trees across this part of the trail which should be cleared. Some are old and have been down for some time while others are newer. Most of the trees on this section are hardwoods which would be suitable to burn for firewood. As we approached the gate, I put Sheila on her leash and we walked around another tree that blocks the trail in this area. Further down the trail we neared the register box and found it and the outlet of the trail blocked by another huge tree. We were back at the car by 1:15 PM having covered a little over 6 miles in 2.5 hours. The progress in clearing these trails is good but more needs to be done to make the area completely accessible.

On Thursday, November 15th I wanted to hike the Quick Lake Trail from the parking area to Iron Wheel Junction to experience the newly cleared areas for myself. On Monday I had cleared all the blowdowns after Don from Accord had cut them up with his chainsaw. Sheila and I got to the parking area around 10:45 AM and got right out on the trail. It was barely 40 degrees but I warmed quickly while hiking. The trail from the parking area to Frick Pond was wet which, I found, was a harbinger of things to come. I was a little surprised to find a dusting of snow all along the trail as we hiked. We stopped at the pond and I took a few pictures before continuing over then bridge and up the Quick Lake Trail. After only a short distance, we ran into the first of what would be over a dozen blowdowns that we cleared. It was a pleasure to hike unimpeded along the trail! I stopped to take a few pictures of the open trail, and the piles of wood and brush I had made along the way. When we got to Iron Wheel Junction, I decided to do the big loop up to Hodge despite a nagging pain behind my left knee. At track practice on Wednesday I decided to "sprint" a 200 without warming up. After about 100 meters, I felt a twinge in my lower hamstring. I was lucky it wasn't worse! We made the left turn to continue on the Quick Lake Trail and almost immediately found a tree across the trail. As we continued toward Junkyard Junction, we found at least six more areas that need to be cleared. The snowmobilers usually do a good job on this section of trail but it would be ideal to get these areas cleared sooner than later. The trail continued to be wet and muddy in places but we were soon at the trail junction where we turned right to get on the Flynn Trail.

The Flynn Trail was very wet but most of the small branches that had blocked the trail in the summer were gone. There was a lot more snow in this area. As we walked along, we did find several areas that need to be cleared with a chainsaw. At the gate we turned to go down to Hodge Pond. In this short section of trail there were two large trees blocking our passage. Both of these will need to be removed. When we got to Hodge Pond, I decided to stay on the Flynn Trail and go around the front of the pond. This section had no blowdown and we were soon in the field at the outlet end of the pond. We stopped and I took a few pictures before we turned to walk out the Flynn Trail to the car. As we walked up toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail there were hundreds of turkey footprint on the ground. Sheila was very intent on investigating these and was only distracted by a partridge that took off up the trail. We were soon at the trail junction where we continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail. This last 1.7 miles always seems long to be as there is not really much to see. There are still quite a few trees across this part of the trail which should be cleared. Some are old and have been down for some time while others are newer. Most of the trees on this section are hardwoods which would be suitable to burn for firewood. As we approached the gate, I put Sheila on her leash and we walked around another tree that blocks the trail in this area. Further down the trail we neared the register box and found it and the outlet of the trail blocked by another huge tree. We were back at the car by 1:45 PM having covered a little over 6 miles in 2.5 hours. The progress in clearing these trails is good but more needs to be done to make the area completely accessible.

On Monday, November 12th I was still a little tired from the 7.5 mile quick march around Bear Spring the day before. Around 10:30 AM Lisa from Morgan Outdoors, the local hiking store, called me to ask what I was doing. She explained that a DEC employee had received permission to use a chainsaw to remove the large trees that were blocking the Quick Lake Trail from Frick Pond to Iron Wheel Junction. She asked if I would go to help remove the trees after Don from Accord had used the chainsaw to cut them up. I agreed as I had some free time and had been very vocal about getting this trail cleared. I did not plan on taking Sheila but could not resist "the look". Sheila and I arrived at about 11:15 and started to hike out to Frick Pond. I did not hear a chainsaw and did not see anything cut and began to wonder if I had understood Lisa correctly! After crossing the outlet bridge at the pond, we headed up the Quick Lake Trail. I saw two trees cut up on the trail and then heard the chainsaw. After clearing the small trees, we continued on the trail but found several large blowdowns still intact. A little farther on we ran into Don who explained he had started by walking out to Iron Wheel Junction and then working his way back. We talked for a while and I found he also was a hiker. We were both wanted to finish our jobs on this day so I took Sheila and headed the other way toward Iron Wheel to keep her out of Don's way.

I immediately ran into a large hemlock Don had cut up. I didn't blame him that he hadn't taken the time to limb it but that made my job more challenging. After clearing that tree, we headed up the trail removing anything that blocked it. We were soon at the brook across the trail where I cleared another tree and then continued across toward the junction. There were several more large trees, some branches and limbs and brush to clear along the way. I tried to pile the wood as some was cherry and maple. I also attempted to pile the brush off the trail as aesthetically as possible. I was getting tired as we approached Iron Wheel Junction but there was only some brush and a few branches on the last part. We turned around and started back toward Frick Pond. I knew that some of the largest trees and biggest snags awaited me. Sheila was very well-behaved. She ran back and forth on the trail occasionally removing branch and at other times depositing them. At one point she appeared bored and took a short nap by my pack. The first tree we encountered back near the pond was the largest hemlock. I actually walked around it and cleared another tree before tackling this most difficult one. It took some time but soon I had the entire tree dragged off the trail. The remaining trees had large diameters and Don had cut them into longer lengths. A few were large enough that I found them hard to flip or roll! By 3:00 PM I had cleared the last tree with the largest piece and we hiked back to the car. We were back at 3:30 PM having spent 4 hours doing some of the hardest work I have done in a long time. The "reward" was looking up the trail to see no blockages. I look forward to hiking this in the near future just to enjoy my handiwork. The next spot that needs work is the Flynn Trail from Junkyard Junction to Hodge Pond.

On Sunday, November 11th Cindy and I wanted to take a hike after church. I wasn't finished preaching in Roscoe until 12:15 PM so we knew it would be a late start. We decided to go to Bear Spring since the trails are wide and open. Also, Bear Spring doesn't have too many hills which made Cindy happy. We got our gear and put Sheila in the car and were ready to go. Sheila had not been out for a week so she was more than happy to be going on a hike. We drove through Roscoe and Downsville heading toward Walton. Near the top of the hill I parked in the wide area on the west side of the road at about 1:45 PM. We were ready to go almost immediately and walked up through the woods to the wide trail known as Wilson Hollow Road. As we started our walk along the road, we immediately were confronted by one of the many clear cut areas at Bear Spring. I usually take pictures here but the day was overcast with a haze hanging over the countryside and the sun stating to get low in the sky. Since the conditions were not conducive to photography and it was getting late, I decide to forgo the pictures for the day. Sheila was delighted to be out as was running ahead of us and then turning around to run back passed us again and again. At one point she stopped and stared intently ahead. She sometimes does this when she sees a leaf or stick move but this time I saw some people ahead on the trail. I put a leash on Sheila as we approached. I expected to find hunters scouting the area for the beginning of deer season but instead found a father pushing one son along in a stroller with the other one walking beside. We said "hello" and commented on the beautiful weather before going our separate ways. The trail rolls some but has no major climbs. At 1.25 miles we passed the trail that leads down to Launt Pond on East Trout Brook Road. Around 1.9 miles we came to another road that also heads down the hill to the road. Finally, at 2.2 miles we were at a point where we could make a decision on which way we wanted to go to make the loop of our lollipop hike. I decided to go straight ahead rather than to turn right into the field. It was 2:30 PM so it had taken us about 45 minutes to hike over 2 miles.

For the next 1.3 miles the trail has a few ups and downs as it continues southeast before making a sharp turn to head almost due west. At this point it also begins to drop and loses 450 feet in the next mile. The downhill felt good and we made good time but we knew what was waiting at the up ahead. At the next trail junction we continued around the hill to complete the loop. It was 3:30 PM when we arrived at the lowest point on the hike and turned right toward the north to finish the loop. It was 3:30 PM and the sun was beginning to drop below the farthest ridge. Once we made the turn one of the few long hills at Bear Spring confronted us! Over the next .8 miles we regained the 450 feet we had lost. The gradient was not steep but we were trying to hurry and it came at the end of the hike! By 3:50 PM we were back at Wilson Hollow Road where we made a left to head northwest and back to the parking area. We covered the next 1.9 miles in about 45 minutes which was the same as the trip out! By 4:35 PM we were back at the car having covered 7.5 miles in just over 2 hours and 45 minutes.

On Sunday, November 4th Cindy and I walked up the hill behind the Catholic Church in Livingston Manor to get some views from the cleared area at the top. After this we headed to a private tract of land on Shandelee where my son Karl and I had hiked the day before. When I called the caretaker to thank him, he mentioned a waterfalls on Cattail Creek. He made it sound so nice that I had to try to find it. We parked started to walk up the ridge. This time we took the "low road", turning right before reaching the top of the ridge. There were a few viewpoints along the way and a LOT of blowdown across the woods road. After a short walk we came to another rock quarry cut into the side of the hill. I looked for drill holes but did not find any. A road led uphill from the quarry and there seemed to be a cleared area at the top. We walked up the hill and found ourselves at the same viewpoint Karl and I had found the day before. We walked to the fire circle. We both took some pictures before heading down to the quarry to continue our hike. The surroundings began to become familiar especially when we passed the same house from the day before. This time we stayed low heading south and southeast until we could see Cattail Creek below. We turned northeast to follow the reek and cross the power lines.

Just passed the power lines a small sign announced "Falls Trail". It was unclear where the trail led but I headed along a ridge perpendicular to the stream. I descend a short but steep bank to the edge of the stream. The falls were very nice with a good volume. I took some pictures from different angles. I soon realized that Cindy had not followed me and Sheila was no where to be found. I headed back up the bank to the main trail where they were waiting. We walked parallel to the creek until the falls came into view. The problem was that the falls were shielded by some pine trees that made getting a clear shot almost impossible. After taking a few pictures, we walked won to the stream an got some better views. It was clear that we would have to cross the stream to get the best view. Fortunately, there were some rather dry rocks placed close together which made crossing possible. The view from the other side was spectacular. We both took many pictures from different angles and distances. The most striking thing was that we were both unaware that the falls were there even though we had passed by them hundreds of times. Near the top I could see the remains of an old dam. At that point, I knew that these were the falls that had been dammed to provide electricity for Livingston Manor. Enough power was generated to supply a few houses with power for about four hours each day. We walked up the steep bank to Shandelee Road and then back to the car. We covered 2.4 miles in 1.5 hours but had a lot of fun "discovering" these falls.

On Sunday, November 4th my wife Cindy and I decided to take a hike after church. Our first objective was to visit an area of land cleared on a hill behind the Catholic Church in Livingston Manor. I had permission from the caretaker so we parked at the start of the access road and hiked up that road to the top. The temperature was barely 40 degrees and snowflakes were in the air. I know that many people hike and ride mountain bikes here and some do so without permission. The land at the top was cleared and the access road built so that a casino could be placed on top of the hill. The project was never completed. On our way up the hill we passed several areas where red shale had been taken from the side of the hill. On the way up I stopped to take some pictures facing back toward Upper Main Street. Once at the cleared area on the top we walked to a viewpoint toward Round Top and the Livingston Manor "Flats". The day was completely overcast and I couldn't help but think how much more beautiful the views would be on a with some sun and clouds. I walked over to the other side of the field to take some more pictures toward town. As I shot the pictures, I could see a snow squall headed into town and then up the hill toward us. We retreated into the woods at the top to walk around a little. Cindy headed down the way we had come up and I went in the other direction. We met at the bottom of the steepest part of the hill. The place where we met was obviously an old rock quarry. We walked back down to the car to drive to our next adventure. We had spent about 50 minutes on our 1.6 mile jaunt.

On Saturday, November 3rd my son Karl agreed to go on a local hike. I was lucky enough to obtain permission to hike on a private tract of over 600 acres on nearby Shandelee. The caretaker described several areas with nice views and I was anxious to hike the area before it is sold. We took our two dogs, Sheila and Maggie, with us and headed up the mountain parking at about 10:40 AM. The area is crisscrossed by numerous woods roads and the trick is to pick the right ones. Our objective was to hike back toward Livingston Manor to a viewpoint overlooking the town. The first mile had the most serious ascent gaining 450 feet with some places much steeper than others. We had a general idea that we wanted to head northeast but we were also looking for viewpoints. Around 11:20 AM we walked out into a open field that had excellent views to the east and southeast. The land had been cleared and many large boulders moved top form a large fire circle. To the east the skies were overcast with a uniform gray cast. The skies to the southeast were blue with large puffy clouds. I took a number of shots before we decided to take the high road heading northeast. We worked our way northeast always choosing the road that headed in that direction at any intersection. Just before noon we crossed the Marcy South right-of-way with its massive towers and high voltage transmission lines. As we continued, we passed by a house and then an area with at least two "pads" with what looked like electricity and water. We continued along the roads until about 12:10 PM. At this point we had hiked 2.9 miles and were in a field overlooking Livingston Manor. I took some pictures but a good part of the town was blocked by trees.

From the field we continued northeast to see if we could find a route that formed a loop. We passed through another large field which had been mowed. At the base of the field we caught another road and headed back to the power lines a little north of our previous crossing. We walked up the right-of-way and then found a road leading west. After a short distance on this road, we caught sight of a house and turned around not wanting to trespass on private land. We walked back up the right-of-way to the spot where we had crossed before and headed back. At some point we turned a little northwest and then southwest to vary the route. We didn't find anything to remarkable but the variation was nice. Eventually we worked our way back to the path we had taken up to the ridge earlier. We followed our original route back to the car arriving at 1:35 PM having covered 6 miles in just under 3 hours.

On Friday, November 2nd I decided to return to Beaverkill Falls to take some more pictures. When I returned home on Thursday and began processing pictures, I realized that I had several errant settings on my camera. I drove up the road to Quill Gordon and parked just passed the lodge. I walked to the path down the bank and through the gate to the stream bed. The day was very overcast with a gray sky. The lack of blue sky and clouds was offset by better lighting. The rocks were not as slippery as the day before but I was careful to keep a solid footing. I took many pictures of the falls just upstream from my position and more pictures downstream. I tried some different angles and the rocks were dry enough to let me walk up the near bank for some closer shots. I even filmed a high definition video which was a first with the new camera. I walked back to the car and drove to South Beaverkill Falls Road where I parked for my second approach to the falls. A woods road led to the base of the falls on the other side. I shot some more pictures from this side using different angles and levels. It was possible to walk out on the rocks so that I could face the falls almost head on. I also took some more photographs downstream. When I got home I looked at the pictures and most were a great improvement over the day before. The video showed the power of the stream visually and aurally.

On Thursday, November 1st my son Kurt and I visited Beaverkill Falls and then headed for Tompkins falls on Barkaboom Road. After hiking back to the car, I drove back to Turnwood and turned right on Barkaboom Road. I drove toward the Pepacton Reservoir and stopped at Tompkins Falls near the end of the road. The falls were flowing nicely and we walked downstream on the road so that I could take some pictures. I have walked down to the stream bed in the past but this requires a descent of a steep bank and a walk along a narrow concrete shelf. On this day I was happy to take pictures from the bank using the zoom. Back at the car I walked down to the top of the falls and took more pictures. Some of the views here were very nice and the water volume was high. Some foundations and rock work were visible on the other side. Tompkins Falls was once dammed and was used to provide electrical power to Shavertown, Pepacton and Arena. These towns were flooded when the Pepacton Reservoir was created. After I finished taking, we returned to the car for the ride home.

On Thursday, November 1st I decided to go to some local waterfalls to take some pictures. I thought that the recent rain would have swelled the creeks some and made the falls interesting. My son Kurt and I got in the car with my dog Sheila and headed for the Beaverkill Valley. I had wanted to stop and photograph the Beaverkill Falls near Quill Gordon Lodge but the falls are on private property. To get permission I stopped at the office in Lew Beach and asked for permission. I was told that they could not give me permission but that we should be careful! We drove up the road to Quill Gordon and parked just passed the lodge. We walked to the path down the bank and through the gate to the stream bed. The day was very overcast with a gray sky. The lack of blue sky and clouds was offset by better lighting. The rocks were very slippery so I was careful to keep a solid footing. I took many pictures of the falls just upstream from our position and more pictures downstream. We walked back to the car and drove to South Beaverkill Falls Road where we parked for our second approach to the falls. A woods road led to the base of the falls on the other side. I shot some more pictures from this side using different angles and levels. It was possible to walk out on the rocks so that I could face the falls almost head on. I also took some more photographs downstream. Back at the car we headed back to Barkaboom Road to go to Tompkins Falls.

On Thursday, October 25th I was ready to get out and hike again after the weather had been very uncooperative. I decided that the recent rainfall over several days might have increased the flow in the local streams and made some waterfalls more interesting. I put Sheila in the car and we headed for Trout Pond to take a look at Russell Brook Falls. I parked in the upper parking area on Morton Hill Road at about 9:15 AM and we were walking down Russell Brook Road 5 minutes later. As we approached the first camping area, I could here the stream below roaring. We walked down to the viewpoint above the upper falls and I dropped my pack to take some pictures. The falls was flowing nicely but the day was cloudy and overcast with a lot of low-lying fog. The low light and lack of fog at the falls were ideal for photographing the falls. I took some pictures, played with the camera settings and took some more. When I we done, we headed back up to the road and walked to the lower parking area where we found no cars. I followed Sheila down the trail toward the falls. After we crossed the bridge, we turned right on the path to the falls. I was careful to watch my foot placement as the rocks were slippery and the ground saturated with water. We walked down to the stream bed and were rewarded with a nice view of the lower falls. The water was high but the flow was clear. I again experimented with different setting trying to get the soft, flowing effect by increasing the exposure time while holding the camera still. I know I need a tripod for some of these shots but have resisted carrying extra photography equipment. When I was finished, we retraced our steps out to the main trail and headed straight up to Trout Pond at the trail junction.

The skies continued to be overcast and when we arrived at the pond I found a dense fog obscuring all but the area closest to us. I decided to take some pictures anyway and used the bracketed exposure setting to take some shots for HDR. After the photo shoot, we continued on around the pond toward the inlet. The trail was very wet with several large puddles and a couple of small ponds. Sheila was having a great time running through the water and mud. She also had to investigate every beaver slide along the way. The beavers appeared to have been active as there were many slides along the way and each showed gnawed trees at one end and branches in the water at the other. We walked across the bridge at the inlet and I decided not to try to get to the shore for more pictures. It was 11:10 AM and we had covered the 2.2 mile distance in about 40 minutes. The trip up the shoulder of Cherry Ridge and back down the other side was uneventful. The trail was very wet and I took care not to slip on the rocks or walk through deep mud. In several places there was standing water and in many spots the trail had turned into a small stream. When we hit the junction with the snowmobile trail near Mud Pond, we turned left to head back. This part of the trail was also very wet and muddy. especially on the descent. By 12:!0 PM we had hiked 5 miles and were back at the area of the falls. We walked up the road and were back at the car by 12:25 PM having covered the 5.6 mile hike in 2 hours and 20 minutes.

On Thursday, October 18th I wanted to get in a hike close to home before cross country practice. I went to Ricketts Glen on Sunday but did not take Sheila so she was more than ready to go. I chose to go to Hodge and Frick Ponds since the area is close and I wanted to see if there were any colorful fall leaves left. As I drove up Fish Hatchery Road toward the parking area, I did see some nice colors and there were quite a few leaves on the trees. I knew that these trees were more protected and out of the wind than the ones along the trails. Sheila and I arrived at the parking area and were hiking by 10:35 AM. Sheila is doing very well without here training collar and came back every time I called her. For a little change, I decided to hike up the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond first. The weather forecast was for partly sunny skies and highs in the low 60's but it was overcast when we arrived. As we headed up the Flynn Trail there was water in the ditches and the grass was damp. When we arrived at the path to the open field off the Flynn Trail, I decided to keep going as the sky was even darker and there was a light mist in the air. Despite the long uphill walk, we arrived at the trail junction with the Big Rock Trail at 11:10 AM after hiking 1.7 miles. We continued straight ahead to walk down the hill to Hodge Pond. We arrived at the pond at 11:25 AM and I took my pack off to take some pictures. The skies were gray and getting darker. The leaf color was muted but definitely there in places. I took some shots including a few so that I could experiment with HDR. Sheila waded a little but didn't seem to feel like swimming. We headed around the back of the pond and continued on the Flynn Trail toward Junkyard Junction.

Once we passed the gate the Flynn Trail became flat and we ran into a lot of mud and standing water. I have been wearing the Keen Glarus shoes lately and are very pleased with them. They seem to be completely waterproof and are very comfortable. These shoes are wide in the toe box and allow the hiker to wear a variety of socks. This end of the Flynn Trail is starting to get grown over and has not been cleared. By 11:50 AM we had hike 3.6 miles and were at Junkyard Junction where we turned left to get on the Quick Lake Trail. The first part of the trail down to Iron Wheel Junction is also a snowmobile trail so it is well-maintained and cut back. There were a few wet areas and some places had some running water and showed erosion. At Iron Wheel Junction we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. The snowmobile trail continues straight ahead on the Logger's Loop so this part of the Quick Lake Trail is overgrown and has not had any attention in some time. In places the trail was very muddy while in others there was some erosion and running water. I stopped in a few places to take some pictures of trees which had some nice color. As we worked our way toward Frick Pond the sun began to come out and the day brightened considerably. Just after the junction with the trail around the pond, we met a family group out for a hike. We talked for a while and it seemed a few people would continue around on the Logger's Loop while the rest would just walk around the pond and back to the car. Sheila and I headed for the outlet end of Frick Pond passing through a few more muddy areas.

Once we got to the bridge, I took off my pack to get some pictures. Some trees still sported fall colors and the lighting was interesting. While I experimented with my camera, Sheila decided it was time to get immersed. She dove into the water and ran around. I threw a stick into deeper water and she had no trouble swimming to retrieve it. I took some pictures of Sheila but it was not easy as she was dashing around very quickly. I found that my camera will bracket photos at several different exposures. This allows me to use high dynamic range (HDR) software to combine these shots into one composite picture. After we finished at the pond, we started back to the car. Along the trail, we stopped one more time so that I could take some more pictures. We were back at the car at 1:00 PM having hiked 6.7 miles in under 2.5 hours. This was an average speed of over 3 miles per hour! I had considered stopping at Mongaup Falls but decided it was getting late and I could wait for another day.

On Sunday, October 14th I decided to again look for some fall colors somewhere. The leaves in the Catskills were best before Columbus Day weekend and many had fallen in the wind and the rain before and after. I knew that I would have to go south to New Jersey or Pennsylvania and decided on Pennsylvania. Ricketts Glen is one of my favorite hiking spots in the northeast outside of New York so I decided to go there. The park, or rather the Glens Natural Area, is a National Natural Landmark with 22 named falls along a 7.3 mile loop trail. The falls vary in height from 11 feet to 94 feet and each has a different character. The weather report was for partly cloudy or partly sunny skies with temperatures in the low 60's. I wanted to arrived after the morning haze had cleared but before the sun was too high in the sky. Photographing the waterfalls in the glens can be tricky as too much sun makes the water too bright and not enough leaves the images too dark. The other drawback is that the area is so popular that there are usually a lot of people and many have elaborate photographic equipment. The latter seem to have no problem setting up right in front of a waterfall and often take a very long time to get their shot! I decided not to take Sheila because of the number of people. I left Livingston Manor just before 8:00 AM and headed over the back roads toward Honesdale. The entire trip takes between 2.5 and 3 hours. The drive went pretty quickly and began to look more familiar as I got nearer. I avoided any wrong turns and arrived in the parking lot at 10:15 AM. There were already quiet a few cars in the lot and there are three or four main parking areas to choose from! I was on the trail by 10:30 AM. The first 1.4 miles of the trail to Murray Reynolds Falls rolls a little but is almost flat. In general the trails were in good shape but there always seem to be some muddy spots and places where water flows over the trail. The traffic is so high that the rocks are worn smooth and can be very slippery even when dry. When the rocks are wet, muddy and have fallen leaves on them, they become a recipe for disaster unless hikers are careful. Signs worn about proper footwear and respect for the difficulty of the trail. As I hiked I began to meet more and more people. Many hikers had on cheap sneakers with little or no tread. Many hikers had small children with them. The children seemed to be well-supervised but I couldn't help but think that just a moment of inattention could be tragic. As I suspected, many people had tripods and very expensive cameras.

I stopped at Murray Reynolds and took some pictures by walking down to the stream bed. The water had enough volume to make the falls interesting but not enough from preventing positioning for good shots. The sun was still low in the sky making the lighting good. The basic story of my hike was hike to the next falls, walk to the stream to find a good angle, wait for people to clear out, take pictures and repeat. A brochure at the trailhead has a great map and descriptions of the various falls. Each one is just a little different and many change with water volume. I stopped at the next to falls and then arrived at Watersmeet where Ganoga Glen and Glen Leigh meet. I decided to head up Ganoga Glen and the return by way of Glen Leigh. From this point on the trail gets steeper and there are numerous wooden walkways and bridges. I will not take the time here to describe all the falls or my approach but a description of the falls and maps of the park are available on the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website.

I hiked along saying "Hello" to various groups and talking to some of the photographers. I made a slightly longer stop at 94 foot Ganoga Falls, the highest in the park. I watched some people take chances on the slippery rocks in the stream that even I would not consider! By 12:35 PM I had hiked 3.6 miles and was at the top of Ganoga Glen. I stopped briefly for a drink and to get out a sandwich for lunch. I turned right on the Highlands Trail to get to the trail through Glen Leigh. This trail is almost exactly a mile long and I began to meet more people as many had started up Glen Leigh or had parked at the upper Lake Rose parking area. I turned down Glen Leigh and repeated the sequence of hiking and taking pictures. Hiking down the slippery trails and stone steps was a little more unnerving than hiking up. By this time the sun was beginning to shine down into the glen but seemed to go under a cloud each time I stopped for pictures. This was a good thing since the light was better for photography. I made a mental note to reverse my hiking direction next time!

It wasn't very long before the trail began to flatten and the last few waterfalls came into view. By 1:50 PM, I was back at Waters Meet after hiking 5.8 miles. I began the 1.7 mile walk back to the parking area. It was pleasant to just be able to hike without "worrying" about taking pictures. As I was headed toward the parking area there were still many people coming up then trail. It was hard to tell which groups were just beginning and which were turning to complete the loop. When I got back to the parking area, I headed across the road to Adams Falls, the last one in the park. This falls has made a deep cut in the rocks. There is a deep plunge pool at the end and it is evident that the stream has cut through the rock over the years. I thought about hiking the Evergreen Trail below this falls but decided against it as I was a little tired and knew I had more than a two hour drive home. Earlier in the day I had considered heading a little west to Heberly Run and Sullivan Branch. These two streams have some nice waterfalls and are in a game management area. Since they are undeveloped and have no trails they feel wilder and there are fewer people. The last time I was there the water level was low so that I could walk up the stream bed. The downside was that the falls were less than spectacular. I wasn't sure how to get back to the area and I had no directions or map so I decided to leave them for another time. I walked back to the car and arrived at 2:35 PM having walked 7.8 miles in 4 hours with an ascent of over 1200 feet. I was surprised at my 2 mph pace because of all the stop I made totaling an hour! On the ride back I realized that I had not seen as much color as I wanted but the trip was definitely worth the effort.

On Monday, October 8th, I wanted to get one more chance to find same fall colors before they were all gone! I also wanted to hike some of the 35 peaks as I had the time and had not done one for some time. I decided to go to Tannersville to hike Indian Head and Twin from Platte Clove. The weather forecast was for partly sunny skies but with highs reaching only into the 50's. Sheila and I got started early but the drive was longer than I had remembered. We arrived at the Platte Clove Preserve a little after 9:00 AM to find quite a few cars parked by the side of the road. I knew there was a Lark in the Park hike but it looked like more cars than for that event. Sheila and I were on the trail by 9:15 AM under cloudy skies with the temperature in the low 40's. The first part of the trail from Platte Clove to the woods road and the beginning of the Devil's Path is usually wet and muddy and this day was no exception. This first mile is deceptive as the trade is gentle but the climb is around 400 feet. Along the way we met two hikers coming toward us with two dogs. I immediately leashed Sheila but the other two hikers made no effort to control their dogs. There we no problems but I think this attitude is what gives dog owners a bad name! A little further on we met a large group which I suspected were the Lark in the Park people. They also had two dogs which they did not bother to leash! We said "Hello" and Sheila and I continued up the trail. We made the right turn on the Devil's Path and I noted the sign that indicated another 1300 feet of climbing to the top. Sheila and I were making good time but I was not really trying to push it. I noticed I was a little tired and I was not surprised. I hike quite a bit over the summer but not as much as I usually do and not on the high peaks!

The trail continued to be wet and slippery due to the rainfall and the newly fallen leaves. I had Sheila off the leash most of the time which allowed me to use my poles. The trail ascends and levels several times while climbing toward the summit of Indian Head. The flatter portions were very muddy. By 10:20 AM we had hiked 2.2 miles and had over 1400 feet of elevation under our belts. We stopped at the lookout so that I could take some pictures. To the north the Catskill Community was clearly visible with Kaaterskill High Peak and Round Top in the background. There was some leaf color but many of the leaves were already down and the rest were not as vibrant as I had hoped. The scene was interesting as clouds and fog hung over the mountaintops and lingered in the valleys. We moved on as I knew the hardest climbs were yet to come. Our next stop after a short distance was the lookout to the south from the east or false peak of Indian Head. The sun had come out a little more and the leaves were brighter. After a few pictures, we walked down off the false peak and started the final ascent of Indian Head. We climbed a nearly vertical pitch and Sheila I not seem to have a problem. We stopped again so that I could take some pictures and then moved on The final obstacle was a narrow rock and root scramble with no other way around. As we approached Sheila barked and I saw another hiker going up through this section. When we arrived, I boosted Sheila up and told her to wait. Once I was up we continued along and met the other hiker. He was a young man from Ohio that had come to New York specifically to hike the Catskills. He was hiking the Devil's Path and intended to stay over at one of the lean-tos for at least one night. We hiked together for some time and exchanged information and stories. The approach to the summit was muddy and as we were finally nearing the top we met two more hikers. They were looking for a view and we advised them there wasn't much to see on Indian Head without descending to the lookouts. We continued in our separate directions. We arrived at the summit of Indian Head at around 11:20 AM after hiking 3.1 miles and gaining 1900 feet.

The top of Indian Head was in a cloud and there aren't any good views from the top anyway. The three of us began our descent to Jimmy Dolan Notch. The viewpoint toward Twin was obscured by trees and clouds so we did not stop. Once in the col we started up Twin. The hiker from Ohio was carrying a heavier load and decided to take a break. Sheila and I continued and ran into another spot where she needed a boost. We scrambled up some rather steep pitches which I remember from winter hiking. There steeper areas are challenging when dry. In the winter and early spring these areas tend to accumulated impressive ice flows which make hiking an adventure! We stopped at the lookout toward Indian head and I took some pictures. In some directions the skies were clear but in others there was still fog and clouds. At 12:05 PM we broke out onto the rock ledges on the east peak of Twin after hiking 3.9 miles. This point is one of my favorite viewpoints in the Catskills and this day was no exception. The views to the east were not the best but those to the south and west made up for it. Since there was another couple on the peak, I leashed Sheila to a tree before taking pictures. I took a lot of shot especially toward the west peak of Twin and Sugarloaf. After my photography session, Sheila and I had a drink and a snack and continued on toward the west and higher peak of Twin. The descent to the col was minimal and the ascent not too rigorous. We met another couple coming back from the west peak and greeted them as we passed. As we approached the west peak, I noticed that there were hikers there so I leashed Sheila to a tree before going to take pictures. The views from the west peak were not as broad or as beautiful as from the east peak but there was a nice view of Sugarloaf. Before we left I spoke to the other hikers and found that the young lady was from Monticello. I remembered her the she was a member of the track and cross country teams! As we starred back, the hiker from Ohio appeared.

Other than the reclimb to the east peak I knew the rest of the way was downhill or flat. I also knew that we would have to descend Jimmy Dolan Notch which is one of the worst trails in the Catskills! On our way down twin we met a small family group coming up. Near the col we ran into the Lark in the Park group or what was left of it. I spoke to the leader for a minute before continuing down to the col. We turned left onto the Jimmy Dolan Notch Trail at 1:30 PM about 5.5 miles into the hike. The first part of the trail is steep and rocky. This gives way to roots and then rocks and roots. At times the trail would be hard to locate without the markers. On this day everything was wet and covered in slippery leaves. As we descended I congratulated myself on not falling after which...I fell. I picked myself up and continued along until...I fell again a little harder. From that point on I was VERY careful with my foot placement and was careful to use my poles. We met another couple and a hiker with his dog on the way down. This part of the hike did not ever seem like it would end and was every bit as annoying as I remembered. As we approached the Prediger Road parking area, a trail headed back over to the woods road that leads back to Platte Clove. I decided I was done with routes and rocks and would walk the roads back to the car. From the parking area we walked out Prediger Road to Platte Clove Road and turned right to the car. We passed the Catskill Community where members were working in the garden and we soon back at the car. We had covered 8.7 miles in a little over 5.5 hours and had ascend a total of 2700 feet. I had thought about visiting the falls in Platte Clove decided that would wait until another day!

On Friday, October 5th I decided to look for some fall colors somewhere. I wanted someplace close to home but with a nice view that had proven good for fall colors in the past. Red Hill fit the criteria so I got ready, put Sheila in the car and headed out DeBruce Road. At the end of Pole Road a sign still indicated that the road to Frost Valley was closed. I went the other way towards Claryville and over Red Hill Road to Coons Dinch Road. The dirt road down to the parking area was in decent shape. Several new homes are being built on the road. When we arrived at the parking area at 10:45 AM there were several cars parked and a bus from Frost Valley blocking most of the rest of the lot! I thought this was very inconsiderate but I was able to squeeze in next to the bus. We got on the trail immediately and headed up toward the fire tower. The trail had a lot of fallen leaves which made it slippery in places and there was some mud. Overall the trail was in good shape and we kept a fast pace. As the trail leveled in one spot Sheila and I both spotted two people ahead. It looked like a father and son and I thought, for a moment, it might be a member of my ambulance corps. As we got closer my suspicions were confirmed. I had suggested that he bring his son to Red Hill as it was short but had the tower at the end. We walked together and talked for a while until the trail got steeper and Sheila and I pulled ahead. As we neared the top we met the group from Frost Valley coming down from the peak. They all seemed nice so I didn't mention the bus problem. By 12:20 PM we had hiked the 1.25 miles to the top. I hooked Sheila to a picnic table so that I could climb the tower to get some pictures. The colors were nice but not spectacular. After taking a few shots, I came down and Sheila and I had a snack. I talked to the volunteer that was at the cabin. He was from Grahamsville and I had met him before. The trip down went even faster and as we approached the parking area I could see the group just boarding there bus. We were back at 12:15 PM having covered 2.5 miles in 1.5 hours including our stops. We were now off to Angel Falls.

I drove down Sugarloaf Road and took a right at the end and then a left on Route 55A around the Rondout Reservoir. Just before the dam I turned left on Yagerville Road and then right on Shalom Road and parked at the dead end. The land is owned by the DEP but has been opened to hikers for some time. We walked down the old road to the upper falls and then took the path along the gorge. The path down to the falls is more prominent each time we visit. The volume of water was adequate but less than I had expected. I took some shots from different angles and then we headed back up the bank. The path continued along the high bank heading downstream to the lower falls. I leashed Sheila to a tree as she really loves the water. I took some shots of the lower falls from close up and then headed downstream to take a few more. Sheila voiced her distress by barking until I returned. We headed back up to the car after a short but enjoyable outing.

On Thursday, September 27th I decided to look for some fall colors somewhere. I wanted someplace close to home but with a nice view that had proven good for fall colors in the past. Giant Ledge fit the criteria so I got ready, put Sheila in the car and headed out DeBruce Road. When I made the turn onto Route 47, the Frost Valley Road, I was surprised to find a Road Closed sign. Since the sign allowed for local traffic I made the turn. Just passed the sign the road was down to barely one lane as the Neversink River had washed away the road surface. After the storms last fall, the road crews had done a lot of work including placing large boulders to protect the banks from erosion. Some of these boulders had been swept aside and others proved ineffective. Further up the road toward Frost Valley there were areas where over a foot of silt had been removed from the road. Other places had cones indicating the should was undermined. Some of the road crews said that the damage done this time in the Claryville area was worse than last fall! I continued to drive passed Frost Valley and both the Biscuit Brook and side Mountain trailheads. The road there was in better shape but deteriorated again from Winnisook Lake Down to the parking area for Giant Ledge. We arrived at 10:15 AM to find several cars in the lot. We crossed the road and started hiking almost immediately. The trail was wet and muddy in post but was in pretty good shape. As we hiked up one of the five or six rocky areas, we met a couple resting. I talked to the two hikers for some time and found out this was their first time at Giant Ledge. We said goodbye and Sheila and I continued on up the trail. By 10:45 AM we had hiked the .73 miles to the trail junction and turned left to go to Giant Ledge

We walked quickly along the flat area of the trail trying to stay out of the mud. Along the way we met three young men who had camped overnight at Giant Ledge. In the course of conversation, they mentioned that there were some nice colors in the views form them ledges. I was surprised that Sheila all but ignored them even though tow were wearing hats! Soon we were climbing passed the trail to the spring and were headed toward the last climb to the ledges. The weather had warmed from the low 50's to the 60's and I had removed my light softshell some time before. The last climb went quickly and we were at the first lookout by 11:05 AM having hiked 1.4 miles. The colors were certainly not as bright as I would expect at "peak" but they were very nice. I took a variety of shots including an eight shot set to turn into a panorama. I also found out that my new Canon SX40 will bracket photos for HDR. I set if to take a -2 exposure and a +2 exposure in addition to the "normal" shot. The camera takes three pictures in a surprisingly short time. HDR software can then be used to combine the shots into one picture. We had a drink and a snack and then walked to two more lookouts. The views don't change too much along the ledges but from some places Panther Mountain is easier to see and from other you can get a good view of the Burroughs Range. After I took some more pictures, we headed back down. Just after descending the first rock scramble, we met a solo hiker on his way up. We were both moving pretty fast so we said hello and then continued along. After only a few moments, we met the couple that we had spoken to earlier in the hike. Before we parted again, they asked what there was to do in the Big Indian area on a rainy day. My first thought was "Nothing!" and after some more thought my answer did not change. We continued in apposite directions. Just after the spring we met another hiker and his dog. Sheila seemed to get along okay with his Basenji mix! We talked for a few moments and he indicated that the fall colors around his home in Andes were very nice. Soon Sheila and I made the turn to the right at the trail junction and were headed down the rock scrambles to the car. We met pone more couple headed up. We arrived back at the car at 12:25 PM having covered 3.3 miles in just over 2 hours with plenty of time for stops!

On Tuesday, September 25th I wanted to get in a hike close to home before cross country practice. I chose to go to Frick and Hodge Ponds since the area is close and I wanted to check out the progress of the fall color change. Sheila and I arrived at the parking area and were hiking by 10:10 AM. I decided to see how Sheila would do without her training collar and hoped she would obey all my commands. The woods road out to Frick Pond was wet and a little muddy in places. I tested Sheila several times and she always came to me or got back on the trail when commanded. When we got to the pond, I immediately noticed that many of the leaves were turning colors. The colors were not particularly bright but it was nice to see the contrast. The sky was blue but there we few clouds so it was not an ideal day for photography but I took a few pictures anyway. Sheila spent some time in the shallow water at the inlet before we crossed the bridge to pick continue the hike. We stayed on the Quick Lake trail at the first junction and I noticed that many of the trees is that area had already lost their leaves. The storm a week ago had some high winds that may have been responsible. We continued on the Quick lake trail and avoided the numerous blowdowns which have become a part of the hike. Sheila played in the small stream across the trail before we got to Iron Wheel Junction. The leaves on this part of the trail had not turned and most were still on the trees. We arrived at the junction at 10:45 having covered 1.4 miles.

We turned left at the junction and headed up the Quick Lake trail toward Junkyard Junction. The trail was wet in spots along the way and it was obvious from the new erosion that there had been significant rain in this area. These trees also showed little color change. By 11:20 AM we had hiked the 3 miles to Junkyard Junction where we turned right on the Flynn Trail to head toward Hodge Pond. The Flynn Trail is relatively flat and it was wet for most of the length. At one point a small tree made quite a noise as it fell to the forest floor just off the trail to our left. We stayed on the trail by bearing right at the gate and headed down to the pond. At the junction with the jeep road we turned left to go around the back of the pond. We walked down to the shore of the pond so that I could take some pictures and Sheila could frolic in the water. The leaves at Hodge Pond were not as colorful as at Frick Pond but the view was still nice. the sun sparkled off the water but there were few clouds in the sky. Sheila was running through the water and onto land repeatedly. I decided to throw a stick to see if she would go into deeper water to retrieve it. After I threw the stick, she jumped in and waded as far as she could go and then swam out to get it. She seemed to like this as we repeated it several times so that I could get some pictures. The only drawback was that she would shake the water off herself right next to my pack each time! We continued on around the pond and stopped at the outlet. I took more pictures and Sheila chased the stick I threw until it was time to head back to the car. It was 11:50 Am and we had hiked 4.3 miles.

Sheila and I continued up the Flynn Trail toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. This is about .7 miles as is a gentle uphill most of the way. At the junction we walked straight ahead to take the Flynn Trail back to the parking area. Sheila was behaving very well and was responding to voice commands. At one point several birds took off on our right but she came right back when I called. I decided to visit the clearing on the left of the trail at about 5.6 miles into the hike. We walked off the trail and up to the open meadow. The meadow seemed as if it had been dry. There wasn't much leaf color but I took a series of pictures. I am still experimenting with the new camera and some different pieces of software. I wanted to create a panorama so I took three pictures across the skyline and three pictures of the meadow below that. On their own they were nice but I wanted to stitch them together into one picture. We walked back to the trail and continued toward the parking area. This part of the trail is downhill and our pace increased. We were back at the car by 12:45 PM having covered 6.8 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes with a modest elevation gained of just over 1000 feet. I look forward to going back to see what the fall color change will bring.

Summer 2012

On Thursday, September 20th I was ready to get out and hike again after some health problems had sidelined me for some time. I decided to go to Trout Pond to see how much water was going over Russell Brook falls. A torrential rain on Tuesday had flooded Livingston Manor. I hoped that two days later the water would be clear rather than muddy at the falls. We arrived at about 10:30 AM and parked, as I always do, in the parking area on Morton Hill Road. We walked down Russell Brook Road toward the lower trailhead. As we approached the viewpoint over the upper falls I could hear what sounded like a lot of water flowing through the narrow gorge. We walked off trail and own to the viewpoint to find crystal clear water using downstream. The volume was high but not as high as I have seen it proving that the storm on Tuesday was quite localized. I took pictures of the upper falls and the water as it races between the rocks to the lower falls. We walked back up to the road and down to the lower parking area. From the parking area, we followed the woods road down to the bridge. Just after the bridge we turned right on the path to the lower falls. Even though the water was high, we were able to walk to the pool at the base of the falls. I took some pictures and tried to get some different angles than in the past. Sheila romped through the stream and the splash pool. I got her to sit still for a few photos before she bounded off again. Water seems to energizer her more than anything else. We walked back to the woods road and started the walk up to Trout Pond. The temperature was in the low 60's and the sun was beginning to warm things up. We arrived at the pond at 11:20 Am after hiking 1.7 miles. I took some shots of the pond. The light was favorable and the sky had some nice puffy clouds to add contrast. After only a brief stay, we were back on the road to the upper end of the pond.

At the upper end of the pond there is a new wooden bridge sturdy enough for snowmobiles. We walked to the edge of the pond and Sheila immediately began to run through the water. I took out the camera to get some pictures. I tried to get some shots of Sheila but I kept getting the wrong end in the frame. From the bridge the trail starts the ascent of a shoulder of Cherry Ridge. Not too far from the bridge Sheila, Sheila began to act oddly. When I approached her, it sounded like she was standing on an underground beehive. I discovered that the noise was her training collar that had shorted out and was on continuous vibration! I immediately removed the collar at which point it turned off. We continued a little father and met an older couple resting by the side of the trail. We talked for a while and I found out they were from near Barryville. After a short conversation, Sheila and I continued on up the trail. The hike over the rolling trail seemed to go quickly. There were many wet areas but they were easily avoided. We were soon headed down to the trail junction near Mud Pond. We hit the junction at 12:30 PM after hiking 4.1 miles. We turned left and headed back down to the area of the falls to complete our loop and from there it was a short walk back up to the car. We arrived back at the parking area on Morton Hill Road at 1:05 PM after hiking 5.7 miles with a 1200 foot elevation gain.

On Friday, September 7th I wanted to do something close to home since I needed to be at school by 2:00 PM for cross country practice. Once the season starts Saturdays are consumed by meets. We generally leave at 7:00 AM or earlier and may not get back until mid-afternoon. I decided to head for Frick and Hodge Ponds and hike the loop as fast as Sheila and I could make it without jogging! I knew that I had plenty of pictures of the area and, although, the weather was beautiful it was little different than the dozens of times we had been there before. We arrived at about 10:30 AM and I decided to hike up the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond, across the front of the pond to the Quick Lake Trail and then back to the car passed Frick Pond. As we started the hike I had Sheila off her leash but quickly thought better of that when one of the dogs from the cabin came barking through the woods. I shooed him away as his owner had no control over him. Once we got a little further up the Flynn Trail I released Sheila and she was fine for the rest of the hike. The trail started to look a lot wetter than it had been for most of the summer with water in the ditches beside the trail. As we got to the path to the "boggy meadow", I decided not to visit and continued to the junction with the Big Rock trail. We made the 1.7 miles in just over half and hour. I stuck with my plan and we headed for Hodge pond. When we arrived, Sheila went for the pond but I called her back and we stayed on the Flynn Trail as it headed west of the pond and up to the gate on the other side. As we walked along the flat part of the Flynn Trail to Junkyard Junction, I noticed how wet the trail really was. So did Sheila! We reached Junkyard Junction at 11:38 AM and I was pleased the 3.25 mile trek had taken only a little more than one hour.

At Junkyard Junction we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and started the long, downhill march to Frick Pond. Areas of this trail were also damp. The first part of the trail is also used by snowmobilers so it was pretty clear and we made good time. We arrived at Iron Wheel Junction id 1.5 hours covering 4.85 miles. From this trail junction the snowmobile trail continues straight ahead on the Logger's Loop. We turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and immediately had to slow our pace. There are more and more blowdowns every time we take this route as this part of the trail has been long neglected. New paths spring up each time and old ones become more solidified as hikers seek to avoid the worst areas. By 12:30 PM we were crossing the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond and heading up the hill for the last half mile to the car. I stuck to my plans and did not take any pictures at Frick Pond. The last part of the trail was wet! We arrived back at the car by 12:35 PM having covered 6.3 miles in 2 hours!

On Saturday, September 1st Cindy, Sheila and I had hiked to Terrace Mountain from Woodland Valley. We drove home through Margaretville and around the Pepacton Reservoir. When I got home, I really wanted a shower and was just finishing when the ambulance pager went off. The call was for a knee injury at the Little Pond State Campsites. The trip is about 15 miles and as I drove to our ambulance station I wondered how bad the injury could be. On the way the control center told us that the Beaverkill Valley Fire Department would be waiting for us in the parking lot since the injured part was a hiker about half way up Touch-Me-Not Mountain! When we arrived in the parking lot, I grabbed a trauma bag, splints, blankets and a pillow and several triangular bandages. The fire fighters brought a Stokes basket, backboard, several flashlights and other equipment. As we started up the trail, the daylight was beginning to fade and I knew we would be coming back in the dark. I was thinking about what the extent of the injury might and what I would have to do to stabilize it. When I looked back, I found I was alone which was not surprising as the others were carrying more equipment. I reached the steep section and heard voices ahead. I saw people on the trail and the patient in a sitting position with his leg supported by a pack. One look was all that was needed to see that his right kneecap was out of place and nearly vertical on the lateral side of his knee! When all the equipment arrived, I splinted his knee with a board underneath and then it was time to move him into the basket. The lift went well but he could not lower is leg to the bottom of the basket. We improvised by placing another splint across the stretcher to support his leg. With everything lashed securely in position we started down the mountain in the dark led by the flashlights. The fire company did an excellent job of transporting the injured hiker with jarring him or dropping the Stokes. It took over 1.5 hours from the time we arrived to get him to the ambulance but the rescue went well. About a week earlier I had been on the same trails and had fallen on my knee. I thought about what I would have done alone with a serious knee injury!

On Saturday, September 1st I had planned to head for Woodland Valley early to hike Wittenberg and perhaps Cornell. The previous evening I had been out three times on ambulance calls so "early" was out of the question. I asked Cindy if she would like to hike and she said "Yes" so we got dressed, put our equipment and Sheila in the car and headed out. The drive seemed a little long as we headed out Route 47 passed Frost Valley on the way to Route 28. There were no cars at Biscuit Brook but quite a few at Slide and Panther. We arrived at Woodland Valley around noon and I paid the $6 day-use fee. We were on the trail by 12:15 PM. The first part of the trail is pretty steep to start out but we soon made the trail register at .3 miles. We continued to move along the steep trail until in began to level and entered the pine grove at the top. Once through the pines we walked between some large rock formations to the point where the trail makes a 90 degree turn to the left and ascends again. This ascent is extremely rocky and I was missing the support of my hiking poles. I found it hard to manage Sheila on her leash and my poles but now that she is off the leash a good part of the time I will have to remember to carry the poles again! At the top of this climb we walked through another pine grove and stopped to get a drink and a snack before pushing on. We climbed a rock scramble and then the trail leveled out and actually descended some. I hate going down because you just have to regain the elevation! The trail after this point rolled quite a bit. It descended into several completely dry creek beds and then began the ascent to the trail junction to Wittenberg. When Cindy saw the sign that said 1.3 miles to the summit she determined that she was not prepared to make the climb this time. I encouraged her by informing her that there was only another 1100 feet of climb to go but she was adamant. I suggested we turn left and go to the Terrace Mountain lean-to. I had never walked this trail and I wanted to see what progress had been made on the reroute of the Long Path. We turned left at 2.6 miles just before 2:00 PM and started down the trail.

The trail to Terrace Mountain started out as a pleasant walk through some hardwoods on an open trail. At about 2.7 miles I noticed a path to the right of the trail. We walked out the path and discovered a large open rock face. I had not expected any views on this part of then hike but there were some nice ones to the northwest and I think we spotted Panther. The shelf of rock was quite large and we walked to the east to find a large stone fireplace and "chairs". I took a few pictures and then noticed that there might be some views from the edge of the rock so we walked a little further east and along the edge. There were several places that offered limited views which I am sure would be better in the late fall or winter. I caught a glimpse of Cross Mountain from one viewpoint. After taking some shots and walking a little further the rock shelf ended so we headed back to the fireplace and then to the trail. After the path, the trail crossed some open rock and was poorly marked except for some cairns. The forest changed to evergreen trees as we descended. At some point Cindy decided to sit and wait while Sheila and I went on to the lean-to. The walk to the lean-to was about .6 miles but dropped over 200 feet. The forest changed back to hardwood until the trail entered a cleared area with the lean-to on the right. The lean-to was minimal but in good shape and I took a picture before searching for trail markers or other evidence that work was being done on the Long Path. I walked around the cleared area and did find a path but...no markers at all! From reading the articles and emails, I thought the project was well underway but I may have been mistaken or looking in the wrong place. I turned around and found Cindy relaxing on the trail. We started back up to the trail junction which we reached at just after 3:00 PM about 4.4 miles into the hike.

As we approached the trail junction, we heard some voices discussing some hiking options. On the way up the trail from the campsites we had met a few other hikes. A few hikers had been coming down the trail and several were going up. One young man at the junction had on a hat and this apparently gives Sheila fits! We apologized and continued along with me trying to reason with the dog. This scene was repeated several times as we met several groups of hikers heading up the trail. Some were going to Wittenberg but at least two groups were going to the Terrace lean-to. We continued our trek back at the campgrounds where our car was parked. I was tired and really beginning to feel the bike ride from the day before. What was bothering me the most were my knees on the descent over the rocky areas without poles. The trip down did go faster and we were soon at the trail register. I put Sheila on her leash which made the last part of the descent difficult as it was almost impossible for her not to pull me on the way down. We were back at the car by 4:40 PM having covered 7 miles in just under 4.5 hours.

On Friday, August 31st Karl was able to get out of work early so we decided to get in a bike ride. I KNOW this is the Catskill HIKER site but I sometimes like to get my exercise in other ways! We decided to do a loop this time through Willowemoc and Parksville. We left my house at about 2:30 PM and rode out the DeBruce Road toward Willowemoc. Neither of us has managed to replace the batteries in our bike computers which may be just as well since it allows us to enjoy the ride. DeBruce Road is a series of ups and downs with more ups on the way out. After the Fish Hatchery Road at 6 miles, the road climbs some before descending into Willowemoc. We stooped at the spring to get some water and then started up Cooley Road to go to Parksville. Karl had warning me about the climb but I remembered it as rather gentle but long. After a few miles, it was clear that he was thinking of the loop when he did it in the opposite direction where the climb IS steeper. We dropped down to County Route 176 which is the new designation for the section of State Route 17 that has been replaced. The surface had just been paved and was very smooth with only a little traffic. It was strange riding a route that I would never have attempted before. Soon the new surface gave out as we approached the Morsston exit and the steepest climb on the route. The hill is short and I was glad. From there it was under the Quickway and down to Old Route 17. We turned right and descended the hill to the Livingston Manor flats. I could tell that my speed was close to 50 mph on the descent and I tried to carry the speed for as long as possible. We were back at the house by 4:00 PM covering what I estimated was 15 to 18 miles. This is a route I will definitely try again.

On Wednesday, August 29th I wasn't sure whether or not I wanted to hike. By the time I decided to go out, my choices were limited to something close to home. Not wanting to repeat a hike I had done recently, I chose to go to Pelnor Hollow and try to hike to the junction with the Mary Smith trail. This was a route I had not tried before as there is no parking at the end of Pelnor Hollow road. Sheila and I left the house at noon and headed for the Beaverkill Campsite Road. We crossed the river and turned right on Pelnor Hollow road. The road was paved near the beginning but quickly turned to gravel and dirt. After a little more than a mile, we arrived at the last house on the road at which point the "road" deteriorates to rocks and roots. I had spoken to the owner the year before and he gave me permission to park by his barn. On this day there was no one home and I didn't feel comfortable parking without renewing the permission. Some signs indicated parking further up the road and I thought perhaps the situation had changed. I decided to drive up the narrow road with my low-slung, four-wheel drive sports car! After a few hundred feet the road was better and I thought this might last. I was wrong! Soon there were large rocks sticking up, deep ruts and large roots and branches. I was about to try to back down the road when a woman appeared. She was trail running back toward the main road. We talked and she said she thought I could make it up the road although the expression on her face said otherwise. She did indicate that she felt I could park anywhere on the road since few people got as far as I had gotten! I crept ahead trying to avoid bottoming out. There were two wooden bridges along the way which I tried to pass over as quickly as possible. Within about .4 miles I arrived at a small cabin where the road became impassable. I saw no parking to speak of but the road beyond would be accessible to a vehicle with higher clearance or ATVs. I decided to turn around at the cabin and back up the road a little before parking. I though that this would allow anyone else the chance to turn around and I did not plan to be gone long.

We started our hike at about 12:20 PM and I observed a sign that indicated the lean-to was 1.4 miles up the trail. We walked slightly uphill on a wide woods road which traveled through mostly hardwood forest with a couple of open spots. After about .3 miles, another sign showed .5 miles to the lean-to. We continued the hike until the lean-to appeared on the left of the trail. I looked at my GPS which showed a little over .9 miles. The sign on the tree indicated .9 miles back to the "trailhead". So much for the accuracy of signs! We continued on as the trail headed to the left slightly and began to look more like trail than road. The grade also increased but the biggest change was that the prickers began to become MUCH more prevalent. Soon I was surrounded by eye-high briars; some new, some old. I tried my best to keep from getting scratched but my arms began to look as if I had stuck them in a cage of bobcats. Sheila on the other hand was diving through the prickers with great abandon and no apparent injuries! It was hot and the hiking was miserable but, for some reason, I decided to continue. In places the briars were a little more under control while in other spots the trail was almost impassable. by 1:20 PM we had reached the top of a hill after hiking 2 miles. I was surprised we were able to keep such a fast pace despite the uphill slog through the briars. I knew that whenever I decided to turn around we would have to walk back through the prickers. I decided this was a good place to turn around. Walking back wasn't much more fun that the walk out but at least it was downhill. I also found that walking down into the briars was easier than pushing up through them! Once we neared the lean-to the going got easier and we were soon back at the car. We had hiked 4 miles in one hour and 50 minutes with an elevation gain of 830 feet. The drive out was just as interesting as the drive in but I made it. As I turned right onto Beaverkill Valley Road from Pelnor Hollow Road, I did notice a slight squeal from the front left wheel well. On the drive home the car seemed to pull to the left. When We arrived home, I took a look at the front left wheel and found a small branch lodged in the brakes. I reached in to remove it and was reminded on the meaning of friction!

On Tuesday, August 28th I had decided to head to Frick Pond again to hike. To vary the route some I wanted to hike from the parking area to Frick Pond and then go to Mongaup Pond to set up some kind of loop. Sheila and I arrived at the parking area just after 11:00 AM and got right on the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond. Sheila has been behaving well off her leash and I seldom use it anymore unless other hikers are around. We stopped at the bridge so that I could take some pictures even though I have many from this location. Sheila decided to jump in the pond and frolic in the water. After a few minutes, we headed around the pond and turned left the trail junction to head out on the Quick lake Trail. This trail is in bad shape with a lot of large trees across the trail. Hikers have been creating their own paths around the blow down which soon will become the permanent trail. At the small stream across the trail Sheila again hit the water before we continued to the junction with the Logger's Loop Trail. At Iron Wheel junction we turned right to take the Logger's Loop Trail to Times Square. This trail ascends gently and then descends to the four-way trail junction. We arrived at Times Square at about 12:06 PM after hiking one hour for the 2.7 mile distance. We turned left and head up the Big Rock Trail.

The Big Rock Trail always deceives me as it is a little longer and gains a little more elevation than I remember. The 1.1 mile journey saw us gain 600 feet and we arrived at the Flynn Trail in about 25 minutes. Our climbing was not done as we continued straight ahead on the snowmobile trail that would take us to Mongaup Pond. I thought about a side trip to Hodge but decided I did not need the extra mile. We climbed for another .25 miles and gained another 125 feet to the highest point on the hike. From this spot it is about one mile "as the crow flies" to the shores of Mongaup Pond. Since we were not flying, we continued on the trail as it wound its way toward the pond. From the high point to the loop road was a little over 2 miles and dropped 700 feet. As we approached the road, I put Sheila on her leash as the campgrounds were surprisingly busy. Shortly after getting on the road, we walked to the shores of the pond so that I could take some pictures. We headed back to the road and continued our walk to the entrance to the campsites. From There we walked out the access road to the junction with Beech Mountain Road. We turned right on Beech Mountain Road and walked the .25 miles back to the car. We arrived back at 2:10 PM having covered 8.5 miles in 3 hours including stops.

On Thursday, August 23rd I had some things to do in the morning so I chose to hike at Big Pond. I decided to hike from Big Pond over TouchMeNot Mountain toward Little Pond. From there I intended to hike to the Beaverkill Vista on Cabot Mountain and then back through the Little Pond State Campsite using the roads. When we arrived at Big Pond there were no other cars in the parking area. I parked and we started our hike at 10:25 AM by crossing the road and starting on the TouchMeNot Trail which is also part of the Finger Lakes Trail System. The first mile of the trail is a constant ascent which gains about 770 feet to the trail junction with Campground Trail. As I have found in the past, the first part of the trail was littered with broken bottles! I have never understood the attraction of breaking bottles and making the trail dangerous for others! Once the glass gave out the nettles took over. I was happy to see that someone had been maintaining the trail and had beaten back the nettles and the prickers. The trail has several rocky sections and some with protruding roots so a good look at the trail surface helps. By 11:00 Am we were at the trail junction and could hear others approaching from the Campground Trail. A father, his son and their dog were hiking up from the campsites to go to Big Pond to fish. We talked for a few moments and I suggested they return by completing the loop trail since there is a nice viewpoint in the other direction. Sheila and I turned right on the TouchMeNot Trail as they headed down the trail to Big Pond. The trail began to descend through some rocks and the day was getting warmer although the humidity seemed low. As I finished the descent, I wasn't watching my foot placement, got my feet tangled up and fell hard on my right knee. It took a moment to assess the damage but I found I could easily bend my knee and it only had a deep abrasion and a contusion. I knew the smart thing to do was to turn around and get back to the car just in case it was worse than it looked. I decided to press on and complete the hike.

At 1.6 miles the TouchMeNot Trail meets the Little Pond Trail to complete the loop around Little Pond. We continued straight ahead on the TouchMeNot Trail to climb Cabot Mountain. I was glad the trail maintenance continued through this area as the nettles are quite prolific here. The sign at the trail junction noted that the Beaverkill Vista was only .5 miles away. I knew that it was slightly further and that parts of the climb were very steep. Sheila and I covered the flat part of the trail quickly and then started to wade through the nettles at the beginning of the climb. Soon we reached the steepest part of the trail which but the climb was easier without a layer of ice and snow! The trail leveled at the top of the climb but then started up again. It seems this part of the hike is one that I always leave out of my memory. The trail leveled for a few hundred feet and at 2.2 miles we reached the vista at 11:40 AM. The actual climb up Cabot is about .35 miles but gains 460 feet for a 25% grade. The steepest sections are over 35%! The view at the Beaverkill Vista was nice but it is definitely better in the winter when there are no leaves on the trees. I took some pictures of Little Pond experimenting with the long range zoom at exposure setting on my new Canon SX40. After getting a drink and a quick snack we headed back down Cabot Mountain. The descent was easier in some ways than the climb but it did bother my knee a little more and the steeper spots and a lot of loose rock. We were back at the trail junction by 12:15 PM and about 2.85 miles into the hike. I decided at this point to continue the loop around Little Pond so we turned right. After a little over a quarter mile we emerged into an open field that had a nice viewpoint toward Little Pond. The area has the foundation of an old house and a small pond. I took some pictures of the scenery and the foundation before walking to the edge of the pond. The pond was very muddy but the shots were interesting.

We headed back out to the main trail and down toward Little Pond. All of the small streams along the way were dry with only a little dampness showing. Along the way we walked out to a beaver meadow which has a nice backdrop of hills and I took some pictures. As we went back to the main trail, I could here hikers approaching and put Sheila on her leash. A family of four passed us as they headed up to the viewpoint. We continued down to the Loop Trail around the pond and turned right to walk around the far side of the pond. I was surprised to see that many of the campsites were occupied even though it was only Thursday. At the outlet end of the pond, we walked across the bridge and stopped so that I could take a few pictures. I had intended to walk down the access road to Barkaboom Road and then back to the car on the road. When we got to the Little Pond parking area, I changed my plan and turned left to get to the trail behind the bathrooms. The Campground Trail ascends TouchMeNot Mountain where it meets the TouchMeNot Trail at the same place we had been earlier in the day. As we started up the trail, I began to wonder at the wisdom of climbing some more especially with a sore knee! I was a little tired and found the climb challenging. From the campgrounds the climb is only .8 miles to the highest point and gains 750 feet but some section are over a 25% grade. After the highest point, we hiked about .25 miles to the trail junction where we turned right to head the 1.1 miles back to the car. The downhill was beginning to bother my knee but we made it back by 2:20 PM having covered 6.8 miles and 2200 vertical feet in just under 4 hours. The parking lot at Big Pond was full with some people swimming and others getting ready to canoe.

On Tuesday, August 21st I wanted to do a hike close to home since varsity cross country practice has started on Monday. I decided that we could go to Trout Pond as long as we did a different route. I decided to walk down Russell Brook to the lower trail junction, cross the brook, hike to Mud Pond and then around Trout Pond and back to the car. Crossing the brook where the old culvert used to be has always been tricky for me since the culvert was washed out several floods ago but I thought that the relatively dry weather would make crossing easier. Sheila and I arrived at the parking area on Morton Hill Road at about 10:00 AM and got right to hiking. I like to park at the upper parking area to add a little mileage to the hike and because I like the hike down the road. Russell Brook Road parallels Russell Brook and as we walked down the road there was a lot of noise coming from that brook. I was afraid I had underestimated the amount of rainfall in the recent storms which might make crossing the brook downstream difficult. I was beginning to regret the decision not to carry my "water shoes"! When we got to the first viewpoint over the falls I decided to stop to take a look at the water volume. I also wanted to take some pictures as the sun was not as bright as it had been during our last few hikes. Sheila was off her leash and behaving quite well as I took off my pack and got out the camera. The water volume was low and the amount of noise was due to the water flowing over the exposed rocks. I took a few pictures and then walked back up to the road. There were no cars in the lower parking area as we passed by and continued on down Russell Brook Road. The road was "open" and showed signs that vehicles had been driven on it recently. At .9 miles we passed the sign that announced the end of road maintenance. Shortly after the sign, at about 1 mile, was a barrier that divides the navigable road from what lies beyond. Several floods have all but wiped out the road in several places making vehicle traffic impossible from the barrier all the way to Russell Brook Campsites on the other end near Cooks Falls.

Just after the barrier was the first of many areas where the stream had eroded away the road. In this case, water running off the bank had washed a gully in the road. Further down the road were some more gullies and the finally an area where there was no road only brook. At this point we climbed the left bank carefully worked our way along until I could see some road below. The bank was wet and slippery but we made it back down without falling too far. The sun came out and warmed the air a bit but it was still very comfortable with low humidity. The increasing sun made taking pictures more difficult though. At 10:55 Am we were about 1.8 miles from the parking area when I noticed a small falls. I took a few pictures from the road and then we walked down to the stream bed and I took off my pack and took out my camera. As I was preparing to take some shots, Sheila was jumping into the water and running through the stream all the way up to the waterfall! She loves the water and it always seems to "energize" her! I took some pictures of this small drop and then convinced Sheila to get out of the water and back on the road. I had been surprised to find that there was a faint path through the vegetation on the road that seemed to be the result of human activity. Not far below the falls at 2.0 miles if the area where I wanted to cross. The water there was actually deeper and running more swiftly than I remembered. I did find a spot just above this to cross and soon we were both on the other side. We walked down to the culvert and I stood on some rocks to take a few pictures. Sheila decided to walk out on a tree trunk but then could not get turned around! She ended up on the very rounded culvert where she did managed to reverse her direction. She was very hesitant to get back on the of but made it Ok. I took a few more shots and looked up to see her back on the culvert! This time she would not jump over to the log and I had to "rescue" her.

We walked along the road to the junction with the Mud Pond Trail and turned right to start the long climb to the pond. The first part of the trail up to the register was very wet. Beyond the register and all the way to the pond the trail appeared to have been cleared and it almost appeared that a vehicle had been driven on the trail's surface. As the trail leveled it passed under some evergreen trees and the carpet of needles made a soft covering on the ground. We stopped at the beaver pond to take a few pictures and scared up a deer that had been drinking. The trail beyond this point is usually wet with a few stream crossing but on this day it was pretty dry. The trail skirted a ridge and some interesting piles but was cleared all the way to Mud Pond. From the brook the trail climbs almost 600 feet in 1.2 miles before it levels out at the pond. As we started around the pond, I noticed a path down to the shore to an area I had never visited. We walk down to the pond and found a designated campsite and a nice viewpoint from which to take some pictures. As I was taking some shots a bird flew across the pond. When I later looked at the pictures it appeared to be a bald eagle. Back on the main trail we walked through some wet areas as we continued around the pond to the trail unction at 4.4 miles. I considered walking directly back to the parking area but turned left to start over the hill to Trout Pond. This trail also seemed to have been cleared recently. Over the next mile the trail rose 400 feet to the highest point of the hike on the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. From that point the trail drops 450 feet over the next .75 miles to the shore of Trout Pond.

As we descended to the bridge, I heard voices and put Sheila on her leash. A family of four was at the lower lean-to. I took some pictures of Trout Pond and then said hello as we passed by the visitors. As we walked down the eastern shore of the pond we met another family of four. They have a house on Morton Hill Road and we talked about other hikes in the area that they might enjoy. At the outlet end of the pond we met another group of three. I took a few pictures of the pond before heading down the trail toward Russell Brook Falls. I had not planned to stop at the falls but I usually end up stopping anyway. There wasn't too much water going over the falls but I liked the view and took some shots. We didn't spend too much time before returning to the main trail to hike up to the car. A car coming down the road stopped to ask us if they were headed for the trail to Trout Pond. I told them to park in the lot below and then Sheila and I walked back to the car. We arrived at 2:00 PM having covered 8.4 miles and over 1500 vertical feet in under 4 hours.

On Saturday, August 18th, I had planned to hike to Balsam and Belleayre Mountains and the Belleayre Ski area but was undecided whether to approach from Lost Clove or Rider Hollow. I remembered that the route from Lost Clove was very steep starting right at the beginning which made me lean toward Rider Hollow. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and was a little surprised when she said "Yes". Cindy likes to hike but usually prefers rolling terrain. After consulting my previous trip reports and the maps, I decided that we would hike from Rider Hollow and skip Balsam as there is only one limited view point on that mountain. I thought it might be fun to eat at the picnic tables on Belleayre and was hoping for some nice views to the northeast and southwest. The morning was cloudy and hazy so we were not in any hurry to leave. The weather forecast was for drier air with a temperature in the low 70's with a partly cloudy sky. Partly cloudy skies are much better for photography than bright sunlight. We put Sheila in the backseat and headed for Roscoe to take Route 206 to Route 30 around the Pepacton Reservoir. We turned right on Route 30 and then picked up the New York City roads at the bridge. At Millbrook Road we turned right and drove to the very end where we turned left on Dry Brook Road. After a short trip we turned right on Todd Mountain Road and then right on Rider Hollow Road. The roads were in good shape including the short stretch of Rider Hollow Road that leads to the trailhead. When we arrived at 10:40 AM, there were no other cars in the lot. We got out and let Sheila run while we got ready. She is much better now that she has been out a few times and comes when called. She still likes to go "off trail" to follow her nose but comes back quickly when called. For the first .35 miles we were on the red Oliverea-Mapledale Trail that runs along a brook. The brook was almost dry but rose high enough during the floods last fall to wash out the footbridge and reroute the stream bed. The bridge has been replaced and the trail rerouted up a hill and away from the stream. As we climb the hill, we heard the noise of a tree beginning to fall which made an exciting start to our hike

At about .35 miles, we took the yellow Mine Hollow Trail to the left toward the col between Balsam and Belleayre. The red Oliverea-Mapledale Trail continues up to the col between Balsam and Eagle. The Mine Hollow Trail ascends about 750 feet from the trail junction and stretches .86 miles. The gradient averages only about 17% but this includes some flatter spots with a few short but interesting steeper areas. Along the way there are a few large rocks to walk around but the hike is otherwise a nice walk through the woods. The day was cooler than previous ones and the humidity was relatively low which made walking even more pleasant. By 11:35 Am we were at the junction with the blue Pine Hill-West Branch Trail where we turned left toward Belleayre. We had hiked 1.4 miles and gained almost 1000 feet in 50 minutes. For a short distance this trail is flat but then it begins to ascend to gain the 500 feet more needed to get to the high point ion Belleayre. We hit the junction with the Belleayre Ridge Trail just after noon after hiking .9 miles from the trail junction. We checked out the USGS benchmark before following the trail out to the ski area where I wanted to stop to eat lunch. The walk along the woods road to the ski lodge was about a mile and a little longer and hillier than I remembered. When we reached the lodge, I was surprised to find we had the entire area to ourselves. Cindy sat at a table while I walked out onto the deck to take some pictures toward the southwest.

After eating we headed out to the nearest ski slope to take some pictures to the northeast. The haze had cleared and the view was good. I have to admit that green is not my favorite color and I made a note to return hear in the fall. Sheila was having a great time running around the open area. We walked a little further out to the next ski slope and took some more photographs. I convinced Cindy to walk out the road a little farther to the next slope as I though I remembered it had some different views. As we walked along the road, I saw to hikers ahead. I put Sheila on her leash but she was well behaved as they approached. We talked briefly before walking in separate directions. The next ski slope was a double black diamond and fell away quickly but the view was not much different than from the others. We turned around and headed back toward the lodge where we saw a young man and woman walking. These four people were the only others we saw for the whole day. The walk back to the Belleayre high point seemed to go very quickly and we then Mae the turn onto the Pine Hill-West Branch Trail. The hike was literally all downhill from this point except for a few nearly flat parts. As we descended, I did miss my poles which I had been leaving home while training Sheila on a leash. At the next junction we turned right on the Mine Hollow Trail and continued our trip back down to the car. We arrived back at the car at 2:45 PM having covered 6.9 miles and climbing 1800 feet in 4 hours. This included over half an hour when we were stopped and our leisurely photoshoot across the ridge.

On Thursday, August 16th, I wanted to get in a hike close to home but was tired of Frick Pond and Cables Lake. Having been to Long Pond earlier in the week I decided to go to Alder lake to hike to the high point on Millbrook Ridge which, at 3480 feet, is very close to another 3500 foot peak! I had a few morning chores to complete but this also allowed the early morning haze to burn off. When Sheila and I arrived at Alder Lake at 10:30 AM there was only one car in the parking lot and the day was sunny but with some nice clouds for contrast. I kept Sheila on her leash by the lake as I did not want her to get too enthusiastic and jump right in. I took some pictures from the "lawn" and then walked down to the dam and took a few more. I experimented with the exposure on my new camera as the sun was a little too bright at times. When I was done with the pictures, we headed around the north side of the lake and I let Sheila off the leash. About halfway around to the trail junction, I saw a woman walking toward us. We stopped and talked and Sheila was pretty well-behaved. Carol from Cornwall had camped overnight after hiking the day before and was headed back to the parking area. After we parted, it occurred to me I should have asked if she had been at a campsite or at the Beaver Meadow lean-to. We continued to walk around the loop trail until we got to the junction with the Millbrook Ridge Trail where we turned left to start up to the ridge. I was happy to see that the trail showed signs of some maintenance. Someone had trimmed back the encroaching nettles and cut the blowdown across the trail in several places. The trail begins to gain some elevation almost immediately and crosses a few small streams.

At around 1.7 miles we stopped to walk out to a beaver meadow so that I could take some pictures. The stream through the meadow had some water with a few deeper pools and Sheila had a great time running up and down the stream. The water seems to energize her but she returned to me each time I called. After some shots, we went back out to the main trail with the lean-to being my next objective. The walk to the lean-to is about .6 miles and the elevation gain is 250 feet. We arrived at about 11:40 AM and we walked out so that I could take some more pictures. We didn't stay long and were soon back on the main trail. Just around the corner from the lean-to the trail turns a little more to the north. On that turn is another beaver meadow that is perhaps my favorite. A few pictures more and we were on our way to some more serious elevation gain to the ridge. Over the next 1.15 miles we gained 735 feet to the highest point on the ridge. In several places the trail levels and then hits a steep section. At the top of the climb the trail levels some and I noticed a small rock cairn on a boulder to the left of the trail. Someone obviously thought this was the highest point while I always use a point in the woods a little to the right of the trail. We continued until the trail started to go down again and I began to get the idea that we should continue to the Beecher Lake lookout. I decide that the round trip from the high point would be good enough and we started back at about 12:30 PM. The walk back seemed much faster than the walk out. Part of this was that the way back is mostly downhill but it was also due to the fact that we did not stop for pictures. As we approached the lawn of the Coykendall mansion, I saw two different groups of people enjoying the fine weather by the shore of the lake. Sheila and I were back at the car by 2:00 PM having covered 7.4 miles in 3.5 hours with about half and hour for picture taking.

On Monday, August 13th I wanted to get out and hike but was still battling a summer cold and allergies. I decided to stay local and go for the exercise so I got Sheila and headed for Long Pond. This would also allow me to again test my new Canon SX40 to compare some of my favorite shots of the area with some from the new camera. I parked the car and we were on the snowmobile trail to Long Pond by 12:15 PM. Sheila had been getting better off her lead and I thought this would be a good time for more training. Right out of the parking area the trail starts up a small hill and keeping amoeba pace can really warm you up! The day was warm and it was humid. After the climb the trail levels some and we were soon at the turn to the right that is the spur trail to the shore of Long Pond. This area tends to be very muddy so I put Sheila on her leash and tied her to a tree well away from the deep mud at the edge of the pond. I tried to take some photos of the pond but the sun was very bright and there weren't very many clouds in the sky. When we got back to the main trail, I unleashed the hound and we were soon at a trail junction. I had thought I might turn left and take the short loop back to the car but I was feeling pretty good so we turned right to head around the longer 6 mile loop. After a few encounters with deep puddles and muddy areas we were at the spur trail to the lean-to. It was 1:00 PM and we had hiked 1.83 miles. I had been to the lean-to several times and it doesn't offer much so we continued on the main trail.

At 2.5 miles the trail ends at an intersection with a woods road. We turned right to walk to a small field that has some nice views of a ridge. The field had some piles of logs and logging equipment. After a few shots, we headed back to the road to continue our loop. At 3 miles, we met Basily Road and continued to bear left since a right turn heads toward Wild Meadow Road and Round Pond. Basily Road is mostly flat and then heads down a little to a beaver pond near the Peters Hunting camp at around 3.6 miles. The camp owners have a private bridge across a deep stream and the trail used to cross below the bridge. Crossing in all but the direst times meant getting wet! The owners have opened the bridge to snowmobiles and hikers and the trail is marked across the bridge. On the other side Basily Road takes a more than 90 degree turn to head southwest. At some point the road becomes Flugertown Road. There are numerous legal and illegal camping Ares along the road as it runs parallel to a branch of Willowemoc Creek. At 5.7 miles the road changes from dirt and gravel to pavement and it was here I decided to leash Sheila again. The hike back to the car was only .5 miles but along the way I took a few pictures. We were back at the car by 2:45 PM having covered 6.2 miles in 2.5 hours.

On Monday, August 6th I wanted to get out and hike but was still battling a summer cold and allergies. I decided to stay local and go for the exercise so I got Sheila and headed for Frick Pond. This would also allow me to again test my new Canon SX40 to compare some of my favorite shots of the area with some from the new camera. I parked the car and we were on the Quick Lake Trail by 10:45 AM. I knew I would probably keep Sheila on her leash for most of the hike as she likes to follow animal trails around the ponds. The trails were wet after some recent rainfall and there were signs that some trail maintenance had taken place. We stopped at the bridge at the outlet end of Frick Pond and I took pictures of the pond, Flynn's Point and Sheila. It was shaping up to be a nice day with some sunlight and large billowing, white clouds in a blue sky. We headed on around the pond with Sheila straining to smell every track left my any critter. At the trail junction we headed left to continue on the Quick Lake Trail. At this point the trail maintenance ended and we were walking through thick ferns with only a faint track. As we entered the woods, all the blowdown that had accumulated was still there with some more recent additions. I had hoped someone would have gotten there with a chainsaw but I now realize that will probably never happen. This popular trail just isn't a high priority! It has been a long time since I have done any real work with an axe but that may be the only way this will get cleared. We continued on up the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel junction arriving there at about 11:25 Am after hiking 1.5 miles. I was actually a little tired but we turned right to continue on the Quick Lake Trail to Junkyard Junction and the Flynn Trail. This part of the hike can seem long or short and on this day it went pretty quickly. In 1.6 miles the trail gains about 600 feet of elevation and we arrived at the junction at noon.

We turned right on the Flynn Trail and headed toward Hodge Pond. The trail was damp in some places and wet in others. There were parts that were almost obscured by shrubs and tree branches which need to be beaten back. This part of the hike is only about .5 miles long and descends most of the way. After we turned at the gate, we found the blowdown as bad as ever with a few additions. At the trail around the pond, we turned left to go around the back of the pond on the wide jeep trail which was nicely mowed. We walked down to the edge of the pond so that I could take some pictures before continuing on around to the outlet end of the pond. We arrived in the clearing at the outlet at 12:30 PM about 4.3 miles into the hike. I again took pictures and then got Sheila and I a drink. We continued up the hill on the Flynn Trail and I made a note of our starting miles. This part of the trail is a little uphill but flattens at the top just before the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We arrived at that junction at 12:50 PM and I was surprised to find that the distance from the pond was about .75 miles. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail to get back to the car. This part of the hike is very familiar and can be a little boring as there isn't much to see. The hike is all downhill for about 1.7 miles and loses 600 feet of elevation. As we were nearing the end, I was looking off into the woods when Sheila began to pull on the leash. I saw a dark shape run across the trail ahead of us and disappear into the woods. It was too low to the ground to be a deer and to big for a dog or fox. I hurried us passed this spot since I didn't know what Sheila would do if she saw a bear. A little further on a deer was standing almost by the gate across the trail. We headed left to stay on the Flynn Trail and encountered another dog and the owners. We stopped for a moment while Sheila and the other dog met. I discussed some possible hiking routes with the couple before heading back to the car. We were back by 1:30 PM having completed 6.7 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes.

On Thursday, August 2nd, I decided to take a hike despite the call for overcast and foggy conditions. I waited until about 11:00 Am until, some fog had burned off and then headed for Dry Brook Ridge to hike to the lookouts from Hill Road. We arrived at the small parking area just before noon and got started on the trail right away. The temperature was 75 degrees but had been rising steadily. This area as new to Sheila and she had her nose to the ground as soon as I let her off the leash. As we headed up through the pine plantation I noticed that I was more tired than usual. I have had a summer cold and allergies for several weeks and just can't seem to have a day when I feel even close to 100%! We continued on up the woods road with Sheila roaming a little too far for my comfort. I eventually put her back on the leash where she seemed very comfortable. Having Sheila on the leash also means I get a little extra help up the climbs. As we started to get to the upper part of the trail the prickers and other vegetation began to close in. As with many of the trails that do not lead to 3500 foot peaks, this one is not very well maintained even though it is popular. By 12:45 PM we had walked 1.85 miles and had finished most of the climbing. At this point the trail made a 90 degree turn from northeast to southeast. We hiked another flat .4 miles to the junction with the Dry Brook Ridge Trail where we stopped for a quick drink before turning right to head toward the viewpoints.

From the trail junction to the viewpoints the trail is mostly flat with a few small climbs. It can be wet along the flatter parts but on this day is was only damp. The trail winds away from the edge of the ridge to hit the middle before it comes back to the edge. There aren't many views until the viewpoints as they are blocked by the trees. By 1:30 PM we had hiked the extra mile to the viewpoints and were 3.3 miles into the hike. We stopped at the first lookout and I was surprised to find almost not haze and some nice billowing white clouds. I was anxious to see how my new Canon SX40 would do under these conditions and I took pictures near and far with some different settings. I use the zoom to get some shots of the Pepacton which clearly showed the water level was low. We got a snack and a drink before turning for 'home'. Sheila had jumped down from the trail to the lookout with no problem but I wondered if she could easily jump back up. I need not have worried as she can jump well over her height from a standing start. The trip back is always a little boring as the hike is an out-and-back. We kept a good pace and arrived back at the trail junction by 2:00 PM. From the junction the hike is all downhill and the lower part of the trail is a woods road. We arrived back at the car at 3:00 PM having covered 6.5 miles and 1600 feet of elevation gain in 3 hours.

On Tuesday, July 31st, I was ready to take on a peak and felt Sheila was ready also. I wanted a peak with a well-defined trail not too far from home so I chose Panther Mountain. I have done Panther so many times that I had not hiked it in some time. I thought this would be a good one for Sheila since it is relatively short with only a few small scrambles along the way. I knew that on a Tuesday we would not see many people but thought that as OK. I was a little apprehensive about how she would react at Giant Ledge but thought I would probably keep her on the leash at that point. We arrived at the parking area on Route 47 at about 9:20 Am and, to my surprise, found several cars already parked. One car had some people around it but I could not tell whether they were starting or finishing. Sheila and I got started pretty quickly by crossing the road and heading out the trail. A few places were damp from the recent rain but the brook was almost dry. I promised myself that I would count the number of small climbs along the way as each one always seems to be the last. I had let Sheila off the leash almost immediately after crossing the road and she was behaving rather nicely. As we started one of the short climbs I looked up to see a large German shepherd coming toward us with his owners calling him to no avail. I was prepared for the worst but when the dogs met they seemed to get along well. This was important since Sheila needs more "socialization"! I talked for several minutes to the owners about other hikes in the Catskills and then we went our separate ways. We finished the sixth short climb and arrived at the turn to Giant Ledge and Panther. I didn't feel like we were hurrying but it took only 20 minutes to walk the .75 miles from the road including the time we stopped to talk.

The trail after the turn was about as dry as the trail up to the turn with only a few damp spots. We did meet two young men coming down the trail in the opposite direction. We passed each other quickly and I did not ask them if they had been all the way to Panther. When we arrived at the lookout toward Slide the leaves on the trees blacked most of the view but I noticed that there was a lot of fog. The last obstacle before the Ledges was the short climb and rock scramble. Sheila and I both made it without a problem. Sheila has some well-muscled legs that allow her to jump some impressive heights from a standing start! At the top of the climb, I put Sheila back on the leash so that I would have control of her at the Ledges. We arrived at the first lookout at about 10:15 AM to find a thick blanket of fog covering everything. I could also see that Panther was enveloped in a cloud or fog. The forecast implied the fog would clear in the morning so I hoped we would get some views from Panther. As we started on the trail down to the col the number of cobwebs I encountered told me we were the first visitors of the day. Sheila was back off her leash and negotiating the way down without a problem. We hit the bottom of the col and began the climb up Panther. Parts of the Panther trail get a little steep at times but there always seems to be a switchback or flatter area. There were a couple of muddy places but most of the trail was dry. We arrived at the summit of Panther at 11:20 AM and found there was still a covering of heavy fog and now views. I took a couple of pictures of Sheila and then visited the lookout just before the summit. There were no views here either so I let Sheila off the leash and started back to the car.

When I let Sheila off the leash I could tell she was highly energized. She decided to run up and own the trail ignoring my commands to come. This "game" she plays is annoying and could present a danger is some situations. In this case, I ignored her for a few minutes after which she came to me and I put her back on the leash. As we worked our way down Panther I hoped that the fog would clear by the time we were back at Giant Ledge. We did meet one woman hiking up Panther dressed as if she might be trail running. I often think that my dress for hiking and large day pack are overkill but I have needed much of what I carry to provide first aid to other hikers. The trip back to the Ledges went quickly and I was pleased to find that the fog was clearing. I stopped in two different spots to get some pictures. The scene was interesting as the fog was still hanging on the peaks but much of the view was clear. From the ledges we headed down toward the turn to Route 47. On the way we met a young couple with camping gear headed for Giant Ledge. We made the turn and headed down toward the car making good time on the return trip. Our final encounter was with a group of four people. Sheila was being friendly and one man in the group correctly pegged her as a yellow lab-husky mix. We were back at the car at 1:40 PM having covered 6.3 miles in 4 hours and 15 minutes including numerous stops. The pictures I took this time with my new Canon SX40 were considerably better. I think the use of the landscape setting made a big difference as well as better lighting conditions. The camera has some other nice features so I think I will end up keeping it.

On Friday, June 27th, I decided to get Sheila out again since the weather forecast was spectacular. We had not been to Trout Pond in some time and I thought this would be a good choice. I also knew that the recent rains might have increased the flow at Russell Brook Falls. I had a number of jobs to take care of in the morning so that Sheila and I did not get parked on Morton Hill Road until 12:30 PM. We started down the road under very sunny skies. I took some time to walk off the road to my favorite viewpoint across from the upper falls and found very little water in the brook. I took some pictures before we walked down to the lower parking area where there were three or four cars parked. A group of three or four guys were wrestling a large cooler into the back of a pickup. We said "Hi" and Sheila and I continued then down the road to the falls. I almost decided to bypass the falls because of the low water level but changed my mind. Sheila and I jumped over a new downed tree and slid down the path to the stream bed. I took off my pack and hitched Sheila to a tree. After a few pictures, I retrieved Sheila and allowed her to frolic in the cold, running water. We continued our hike by returning to the main woods road and walking up to the outlet end of Trout Pond. We arrived at 1:10 PM after hiking 1.6 miles. I took a few pictures of the pond with my new Canon SX40 camera. My Kodak 980 has served me well but I was looking for an upgrade. I had to choose between the Canon SX40 and the Nikon P510. The day was very bright which makes taking pictures on AUTO a little difficult at times. I never really learned all the settings on my Kodak but I think I may be motivated to learn them on the Canon. After taking some pictures, I let Sheila off the leash and we continued to the inlet end and the lean-tos. I stopped here to take a few more pictures and noticed the lake was very low.

From the inlet end of the lake, we headed up the trail toward Cherry Ridge. The temperature had risen into the mid 80's and it was very humid. We worked our way up to the highest point on the trail and started down toward Mud Pond. Sheila was still behaving well off the leash with only a few deviations off the trail to follow interesting game trails. She does have the unnerving quality of stopping a staring intently up the trail. My mind always runs to other people or a bear but she is usually staring at a sign and or moving fern. We made the turn on the woods road back to the falls and climbed a small hill before starting the long descent. Along the way we did encounter a couple coming toward us. Sheila "woofed" only once and actually let them pet her before we separated. At the large fire ring and campsite near the bottom of the hill there were tents and tarps set up but no one seemed to be "home". We continued out the road to the lower parking area where we met the same group of young men still wrestling with the cooler. This time the cooler was full of beer and they we headed back to their campsite. Sheila and I walked back up the road to the car arriving at 2:45 PM. We had covered 5.6 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes. When I looked at the pictures I had taken, I was disappointed in the quality which was not as good as from my Kodak. I hoped that the bright day was at least partly to blame.

On Saturday, July 21st, I was ready to take on a peak and felt Sheila was ready also. Cindy decided to stay home. I wanted a peak with a well-defined trail not too far from home so I chose Slide Mountain. I have done Slide so many times that I had not hiked it in some time. I thought this would be a good one for Sheila particularly since she needs to get used to other hikers and Slide always has other hikers. The temperature was not expected to rise above the mid 70's and I knew it would be even cooler on the mountain which was a good thing since I knew I was a little out of shape. We arrived at 10:30 AM to find a few cars in the loot and a group of four young hikers getting ready to head out. I got ready and we were off just ahead of the other group. This may have been a bad idea sine it led me to "race" the race the others by trying to stay ahead of a group of younger people. The Neversink was completely dry when we crossed as was the next small stream. Most of the rocks down low on the first part of the trail were damp from some rain and condensation which made them slippery. Sheila was pulling well which actually helps in most cases as long as she takes it easy over the slippery rocks. She is responding well to verbal commands and a slight tug on the leash. The first .4 miles up to the woods road turn went by in about 12 minutes since Sheila was setting a rapid pace. I thought about heading up the Steps Trail but I had not called ahead for permission for that day so I turned right to head up the main trail. I could here the other group behind so we continued our "race". The rocks on the Slide trail are always a bother except in winter but they did not seem as bad this time. I was beginning to feel the combination of Sheila's pace and the steepness of the trail as we continued toward the 3500 foot sign. This combined with my lack of hiking in July had me breathing hard. We cam upon a hiker sitting on a rock and I said "Hello" as we passed. I did not see him again.

As we continued up, two hikers passed us coming down and I began to see another group ahead of us. With one group "pushing" and another "pulling" we made good time. As we approached the group ahead I took a firm grip on the leash as they had a dog with them. The dog was not on a leash but seemed unperturbed by Sheila. Sheila behaved herself quite nicely as she and the other dog became acquainted. These hikers were from Huntington on Long Island and we chatted briefly before Sheila and I continued up the trail. Now with two groups behind we had even more reason to keep the pace. Several more hikers passed us on the way down as we continued through the 3500 foot level and arrived at "The Beach" at 1.7 miles into the hike at 11:30 AM. At this point the trail levels slightly and makes a turn to the left. The trail is covered with white quartz pebbles and sand left over from a time when the Catskills were submerged in an ocean. I saw two more hikers up ahead that were traveling at about the same pace as us since our distance neither grew nor diminished. At 2.0 miles we were at the junction with the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail where the other two hikers were consulting their map. I got the feeling that they had not hiked Slide before but was impressed that they had a map. We passed them and continued on our way. The trail here is almost flat and has a nice surface of white pebbles and pine needles. I could hear some hikers coming down the trail making some noise. Two men and a boy showed up and Sheila object some to the noise the young man was making.

I decided to pass by the lookout toward Giant Ledge and Slide and push on to the top. By the number of cars in the lot and the people we had passed and the hikers coming down the mountain, I judged that the summit would be almost empty. We passed by the highest point on Slide and continued to the rock outcropping to find only two hikers. It was 11:55 AM and we had covered 2.7 miles. I gave Sheila a drink and made sure I hydrated also although I wasn't very thirsty. I tried to take a few pictures of the Ashokan Reservoir, Cornell and Wittenberg but the leaves on the trees and the haze effectively prevented any good shots. I decided not to go down to the spring as the descent through the rocks was going to be difficult with Sheila on a leash! I did get some nice cloud pictures before packing up and heading back down. On the way we stopped at the lookout over Giant Ledge and got a better few of Cornell and Wittenberg. There was still some haze but I got some good shots. A hiker from Ithaca stopped while we were that and we chatted for a while. Sheila and I started down and the other hiker continued on to the peak. On the way down we met the two hikers who had stopped at The Curtis-Ormsbee Trail and the the group of four younger hikers from earlier in the parking lot. We stopped to talk to the latter and Sheila seemed to hit it off with the two girls in the group. Farther down we met the group with the dog and were passed by the two young men who had been relaxing at the summit. We met several more small groups on our way down the mountain. By 1:10 PM we had made it back to the Phoenicia-East Branch Trail where we turned right. When we got to the Neversink at the parking area, we stopped and I took pictures of the completely dry riverbed. We were back at the car by 1:40 PM having covered 5.4 miles in 3 hours.

On Tuesday, July 17th, I was ready to finally get back on the trails. It had been almost two weeks without any significant hiking. In that span of time I had helped construct a horse fence and battled a summer cold. The horse fence required digging 142 post holes, planting the posts and then running two strands of wire. Cindy also wanted to get out so we decided to head to Frick Pond with Sheila. I miss hiking with Sheba but her left hip is just too weak to let her get out for much more than a hike from the house. Sheila is still a handful but is getting better with her "trail manners". We arrived at the Frick Pond parking area around noon and headed across the road and up the Flynn Trail. I immediately discovered that the mosquitoes and other biting insects were out. I asked Cindy if she wanted some repellent but she declined and we walked on. The trip up the Flynn Trail was pretty but uneventful. We let Sheila off the leash and periodically called her back and she responded well. She really didn't stray too far from us but was constantly following small animal trails. We hit the junction with the Big Rock Trail at about 12:35 PM after hiking 1.7 miles. Here, we decided to go down the Big Rock Trail and then hike the Logger's Loop. Going down the Big Rock Trail is much easier than combing up it as it is steeper than the Flynn Trail. We were at Times Square by 1:00 PM and a total hike of 2.9 miles. The Logger's Loop is a right turn and we were soon gaining some elevation again on this trail. We walked a little over a mile to Iron Wheel Junction and made it by 1:30 PM. At this point, we decided to head back on the Quick Lake Trail so we turned left. Up to this point all of the small streams along the way had been bone dry and even the trails were dry. The small stream that is usually flowing on the Quick Lake Trail had only a little water in it and Sheila was able to get a drink and cool down. As we continued toward Frick Pond, it was obvious that the dip in the cool water had revitalized Sheila. We crossed the bridge at the outlet to Frick Pond and I resisted taking the same picture for the hundredth time. By 2:10 PM we were back at the car having covered 5.5 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes.

On Friday, July 6th, Cindy and I decided again to take a walk when the temperature reached the 90's. I was tired of our usual hikes at Frick Pond or Cables Lake so we decided to head to Berry Brook Road to hike to Huggins Lake. We arrived at about 1:00 PM, parked and got right on the trail. Sheila was excited since she had been here only once before and that was during the winter. We headed off at a quick pace and were soon climbing the hill on a wide woods road. Although the hill is not steep, it does gain a respectable 650 feet over about 1,2 miles. Somewhere on the ascent we decided to let Sheila off the leash. We were happy that Sheila responded to her fee Dom by staying on the trail and relatively close to us. She came back when I called and I was sure to praise her and provide a reward. After reaching the top of the hill we began the gentle descent towards the lake. From the high trail, we could see the lake below peeking through the trees. We made the left turn and headed down the last steep descent to the lake. I decided to put Sheila back on the leash since I did not want her playing in the mud near the lake. Once we got down to the water, there was little mud to worry about and we headed over to the dam. There wasn't much haze and the views of the lake were pretty. I led Sheila down to the deeper water near the dam and she immediately plunged in and started to swim! I want to take her to a lake where I can get in with her and let her swim a little more! Sheila came out of the water and I took a few pictures before heading back. At this point Sheila went "crazy" running around and around! I guess the cooling effect of the water suited her! I kept her on her leash to the top of the steep hill but let her off when we made the sharp right turn. She ran up the trail and back many times between Cindy and myself but stayed close and came when called with a little persuasion. Once we hit the top of the hill the walk back was pretty easy. On the way down Sheila went off trail after a chipmunk so I hooked her up again. I was glad that I had her on the leash when a group of partridge decided to take to flight. Sheila seemed very "interested" in these birds as the golden lab in her took over. We continued our walk back to the car finishing a little less than 4 miles in a little less than 1.5 hours

On Thursday, July 5th, I decided to take a hike when the temperature reached 92 degrees at around 2:00 PM. I was surprised when Cindy agreed to head to Walnut Mountain to continue my investigation of the trails there. We got Sheila in the car and headed to the park arriving at about 2:30 PM to find that a girls' camp was using the park. The girls were from Camp Hedvah where I had taught computer usage at least 10 years before. When I approached the chaperones, they recognized me and we had a short chat. It was clear that the girls were only using the park facilities and were not hiking so Cindy and I got on the trails right away. We took the A1 loop trail up the hill and started around the mountain in an anticlockwise direction. When we got to the blue bike trail up the mountain on the west side, we took it and walked up to the next loop trail. We took a left and soon ended up in a familiar spot at a trail that accesses the highest loop around the summit. We turned right and circled the summit to the east side and then turned right on the A4 trail. There are several foundations in this area and one that is quite large. The A4 took us back down the mountain where we turned right to complete a loop. At the A1 we turned right and headed back down to the parking area where we turned left and walked out the north end of the lot. From here we found the A3 trail and started to hike along it. This trail has several "features" used during the Civil War re-enactment that is held at the park each July. After a few confusing moments we were able to follow the A3 trail to the A2 where we turned left and walked to the top of a short but steep hill. We turned left and walked back to the A1 where we made a right and started the loop once again. This time we continued to follow the A1 around the mountain, down through a field, across a rock quarry and to the road near the soccer fields. By this time we had covered 4 miles in just over 1.5 hours and decided to head home. The temperature had risen a few degrees but it was good to get out.

On Monday, July 2nd I decided to get in a longer hike but one without to many climbs as I still have Sheila on a leash. In addition, almost two weeks without a serious hike had left me a little out of shape. I decided to head for Bear Spring Wildlife Management Area between Downsville and Walton since it has many option for shorter or longer hikes and can be challenging without major climbs. I have hiked almost all the trails in this area multiple times but I had an idea for a new loop and wanted to try it out. The weather report was for bright, sunny skies and there was no mention of rain. As we left Livingston Manor, the sun was already baking the landscape. My plan was to park at he main parking area at the top of Bear Spring Mountain and hike to Russ Gray Pond as I thought I had not been there before! We parked at about 11:15 AM and I began to survey the map at the kiosk. I realized I had been to the pond and that another plan was needed. I decided that we would hike down West Trout Brook road and then take the trail that goes over Fork Mountain and is part of the Finger lakes Trail. From here I intended to descend to Middle Pond on East Trout Brook Road. From there we could walk up the road to Launt Pond and back to the car or walk back up to the east ridge and then back to the car. We could also hike from Middle Pond up to the East ridge and then back to the car. These variations provided some thought as we hiked along. The first mile of the hike along West Trout Brook Road went quickly and we turned left into the woods onto the trail along the middle ridge. I noticed the sign for the FLT and thought about connecting some of the sections I had hiked. The first thing I noticed was that the grass along the trail was not mowed and very high. The trails are designed for horses and I guess they don't mind the tall grass.

The walk along the ridge has no views but the day was so beautiful that enjoyed walking along with Sheila who usually pushes the pace. The trail meanders up and down for about 2.4 miles and much of this is in the sun. At 2.3 miles we stopped and I walked out to a flat rock outcropping to take pictures of one of the clear cuts that dot the landscape. The green vegetation contrasted with blue skies and puffy white clouds was stunning. We continued on along the trail until about 3.4 miles where a trail turns to the left and descends to Middle Pond. Descends to the right word here as we dropped 650 feet in a little less than a mile. This is not a great change when compared to the trails in the Catskills but is one of the steepest trails at bear Spring. We crossed the road at 1:00 PM after hiking 4.4 miles. We were standing on the small bridge that crosses the dam on Middle Pond. The beavers had effectively blocked the outlet so that very little water was going over the spillway. I took several pictures of the pond with the blue sky in the background. I let Sheila get in the water which was deeper than I thought! Sheila decided that she wanted to swim and did the dog paddle like she was made for it. Sheila got out and dried herself off. I decided to continue up the trail to the east ridge using the McCoy Hill Cutoff. At about 4.9 miles after climbing to a trail junction, we stopped and I took some more pictures of another clear cut. We took the left trail which is the cutoff and began to climb. A little further up we stopped again as there was a nice view down the valley between the two ridges. We continued on the trail which proved why it is called McCoy Hill. The 1.35 miles from Middle Pond to the east ridge gains 720 feet. The trail ends in a field at the junction with the trail along the east ridge around 5.7 miles into the hike.

Walking along the east ridge trail feels a lot like the trail on the central ridge. The trail is a wide road which was very grass but at least the grass was shorter. At about 6.0 miles a trail cuts back down to a small parking area on East Trout Brook Road just south of Launt Pond. As we continued to walk Sheila kept her nose to the ground proving she is a scent not sight "hound". In doing so she missed a deer and some turkeys as they made way for us. At 6.6 miles another shorter and steeper trail headed back down to the road. We continued to walk and I was getting a little bored. We stopped several times around 7.3 miles so that I could take some more pictures down the valley along Route 206. I was dismayed to find another clear cut area on the ridge on the other side of Route 206 in an area where the fall colors were so brilliant last year! After the photography session, we walked out toward Route 206 to about 7.8 miles and then turned left to head back to the car. The trail climbs a short hill and then descends to East Trout Brook Road. From the road the trail ascends back to the parking area passing through woods and then a field. We were back at the car at 2:50 PM having covered 8.9 miles in 3.5 hours.

On Friday, June 29th, I decided to head back to Walnut Mountain park near Liberty to try out some more trails. I wanted to park at the West Lake Street parking area to investigate this access to the park. Sheila and I arrived at the parking area at noon and got going immediately. There were no markers for any trails and no signs to indicate where they began. After a short false start I found that the road that left the back end of the park was actually the start of the orange A2 trail that ended up at the main parking area. The trail was actually marked on my GPS as the Liberty Park Road. It was shaded under the trees and a very pleasant walk for about .5 miles. The trail emptied out on an open field just below the baseball diamond. We walked around the bottom of the field and then up to the main parking area. From the parking area we turned left on the road that runs by the soccer field. About halfway down the road the A1 trail started up the hill, passed through what looked like a quarry and then climbed a hill through a field. We came to a trail junction where we had been the day before. I decided to continue straight ahead on the A1 trail and reverse the loop from the previous day. The walk was pleasant and we were soon wrapping around the mountain. We made the big right hand turn that took us from traveling north to east. At 1.9 miles we were at the spot where the A2 trail starts as a mowed path through a field. We continued on the A1 trail to complete the loop around the lower part of the mountain. As we descended toward the main parking area on the A1 trail, we turned right on the A4 trail to continue on the loop.

At 1:00 PM and 2.4 miles into the hike, we were at the junction of the A4 and A1. We continued straight ahead on the A4. At the junction of A4 and A5 we headed to the right on the A5 as we had done the previous day. On this day I decided to skip the side trip to the summit. We continued around the summit as we had the day before and I chose to take the "high road" this time as it skirted the small cliffs near the summit. When we were back at the paths to the summit, we continued on around but took the right branch this time which took us back down to the A4. Once on the A4, we walked back to the A1, turned left on the A1 and walked to the junction with the A2 trail. We turned right on the A2 trail and headed north along a wide path mowed in the field. There were no markings here and even though I was equipped with a map the trails were confusing. At about 3.65 miles I missed a turn and walked about on some bike trails for a few minutes. I found the A2 trail as it turned east but the only blazes were well after the turn. After walking a short distance down a hill, the blazes disappeared and I we walked on a well defined path only to find that it ended in someone's back yard! We retraced our steps and continued on the A2 as it descended passing by some dry stream beds and a swampy area. The bugs in this area were a little more vicious than elsewhere. After the swamp, the trail entered some field as we headed back toward the parking area. This part of the trail was wet in places and was completely unmaintained! The grass was very long and there were no trail markers. We followed a path through the grass that led back to the picnic area at the parking area. As we came out on to the grass, we encountered a young woodchuck away from its hole. At first the chuck flattened itself on the grass but the sight of Sheila sent it scurrying...up the closest tree. It got up about three feet and fell to the ground. It immediately climbed the next tree and got up about five feet where it stopped. We surveyed each other for a few moments and then the dog and I headed back to the car. I had NEVER seen a woodchuck climb a tree before. It was 1:45 PM and we had hiked about 4.4 miles in 1 hour and 40 minutes. Several possible practice routes for cross country came to mind.

On Thursday, June 28th, I was ready to get out on a hike! June is always a "bad" month for hiking as it is the end of track season with numerous championship meets. This year I accompanied three boys from the Liberty track team to the state meet at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. We had a great time and saw some excellent performances. This June was even crazier as our daughter was married on June 23rd. The wedding and reception were wonderful and everyone had a good time. To preserve these memories we used the best wedding photographer I know, Kevin Ferguson. Kevin took some amazing shots and was able to load some of the best onto a tablet so that we could view them at the reception. I can't say enough about his professionalism and his attention to detail. Since the school where I coach cross country and track has declared we can no longer run on the roads, I decided to go to Walnut Mountain to investigate the trail system. Walnut Mountain is a Town of Liberty park that has baseball and soccer furls, picnic areas and a maze of hiking and mountain biking trails. The mountain biking trail are being actively developed by the local club and range from wide and open to extremely technical. There is a 2100 foot mountain in the center of the park and the elevation gain from the parking areas to the summit is 400 to 500 feet. I had not been to the area in some time and was not expecting much from the trails. I did not pick up a trail map at the park office as I wanted to explore for myself. Sheila and I were at the parking area off Route 55 by 10:00 AM and were on the trail soon after. The trails are marked A1 to A5 and are color coded. We started out on the red A1 trail which begins a long but gentle ascent of the mountain. As we walked this trail, I found the markers few and far between but the trail was very clear. This trail was more of a woods road and after walking for a short time it was clear that it would encircle the lower part of the mountain.

At .4 miles a wide trail to the right had been mowed through a field and headed north. I decided I would leave that trail for later and continued on the red trail. We ere walking west to WNW until at about .5 miles the trail made a 90 degree turn to head almost due south. The trail had been nearly flat after the initial climb. At a little over .6 miles a blue trail cut off to the right and seemed to climb the mountain. Again, I decided to make the loop first and then decide on my next move. At about .8 miles the trail began a somewhat steeper ascent until 1 mile where the A1 trail split. The right fork headed down into a field while the left continued around the mountain. We turned left and continued on a slight ascent to 1.1 miles where the A1 trail met the green A4 trail. I choose to continue straight ahead rather than turning left so that we could complete the loop. The trail started a long downhill at this point and at about1.35 miles the A4 trail split with a branch to the left hat started up the mountain. We continued straight ahead until at 1.5 miles we completed the loop and were back on the A1 trail. I decided to take a left and start the loop again. I intended to check out the blue trail that turn right of the A1 on the west side of the mountain. At 10:45 Am and 1.85 miles into the hike we turned left on the blue trail which did not seem to have an "official" designation. The trail started up the mountain and was a little steeper than the previous ones. After a short climb heading north, the trail met the A4 trail and we turned right and headed almost due south. I got the feeling that this trail would make another loop around the summit but at a higher elevation than the A1.

At 2.25 miles the A4 continued straight ahead but the A5 trail turned left and headed toward the summit. We turned left and made the short climb to find that the A5 bypassed the true summit. Some paths branched to the left off the trail and we followed one of these to the summit only to find a large patch of prickers and no view whatsoever. Rather than follow the narrow path through the jungle, I decided to backtrack to the trail. Once back on the trail we turned left to continue on the loop around the top. The trail markings became even more indistinct but we stayed left at a junction where the right fork seemed to head back down to the A4 trail. There were no markings on the left branch but the trail was very clear. At one point the trail split with the "low road" being a little less rocky than the high road that passed close to some cliffs. Soon we were back at the point where we had turned up the path to the summit. We walked back to the A5 trail and continued around the top for the second time. This time we took the right branch which followed a switchback down to the A4 trail where we turned left and were soon back at the A1 trail. This time we turned right and headed back down to the parking area. We arrived back at 11:30 AM having covered 3.7 miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes. The hike gave me some idea of the possibilities for cross country practice at the park.

Spring 2012

On Thursday, June 14th, I decided to get Sheila out again since the weather forecast was spectacular. We had not been to Trout Pond in some time and I thought this would be a good choice. I also knew that the recent rains might have increased the flow at Russell Brook Falls. I had a number of jobs to take care of in the morning so that Sheila and I did not get parked on Morton Hill Road until 12:40 PM. We started down the road under very sunny skies. I immediately noticed that there was a swarm of small insects around my head but we continued anyway. Along the road there were two cars parked which is a rarity during the middle of the week. I took some time to walk off the road to my favorite viewpoint across from the upper falls. I took some pictures before we walked down to the lower parking area and then down the road to the falls. I almost decided to bypass the falls but changed my mind. Sheila and I jumped over a new downed tree and slid down the path to the stream bed. I took off my pack and hitched Sheila to a tree. After a few pictures. I retrieved Sheila and allowed her to frolic in the cold, running water. We continued our hike by returning to the main woods road and walking up to the outlet end of Trout Pond. We arrived at 1:15b PM after hiking 1.6 miles. As we turned down to the pond, I caught a glimpse of two animals headed up the hill away from the pond. They were "red" with bushy tails and I assumed they were red foxes. I tried to catch another glimpse but they were quickly gone. I took a few pictures of the pond before continuing to the inlet end and the lean-tos.

As we approached the bridge there was a camper washing some dishes in the stream and another fellow at the upper lean-to. I took some pictures and then Sheila and I started up our Cherry Ridge. The day had grown warmer and more humid and the bugs surrounded me whenever we stopped. The walked up to the highest point on the hike on the shoulder of Cherry Ridge went quickly and the trail was in pretty good shape. The trail was a little overgrown in places and paying attention to good foot placement seemed to allow me to avoid any spills. Once at the highest point, we started the decent to the snowmobile trail near Mud Pond. We arrived at this junction at 2:25 PM having covered 4.1 miles in about 1 hour and 45 minutes! We turned left and walked up a little hill and then began the long descent back to the falls. From the area of the falls we walked out to the parking area and then back up Russell Brook Road to the car. We were back at the car at 3:00 PM having covered 5.7 miles in a total of 2 hours and 20 minutes.

On Wednesday, June 14th, I was sitting at home at about 8:30 AM contemplating where to hike. The weather forecast was favorable and I wanted to get out again. Lisa called at about this time to ask a question about the Burroughs monument in Rochester Hollow. An article she was reading told the story of the monument erected in 1921 by the Riordan School and an effort to restore the marker. I didn't know much about the monument and had never seen it as it was covered by snow the times I had been there. I suggested that we go there to find the monument and investigate the stone walls and foundations in the area. Lisa had to be back by mid-afternoon so I agreed to pick her up at her house at 9:30 AM. I did not want to bring Sheila as she still has to be on a leash. Sheba is still recovering from Lyme Disease and didn't seem too interested in hiking so I left home alone. I arrived at the appointed time and Lisa and I headed up the Beaverkill Road to Barkaboom Road. From there we took Route 30 and the NYC roads to Route 28. We turned right to head east through Margaretville, Arkville and High Mount. The turn onto Matayas Road is a left just after Rose Mountain Road and just before Big Indian. We parked at 10:20 AM and started our hike. The first 1.75 miles was slightly uphill and parallels a small stream. Our conversation had as a backdrop the sound of the water as it cascaded over the rocks in the stream. Part of the way up the wide woods road we stopped at two stone pillars. The area was obvious part of a large estate at one time and the stone columns formed part of the gate. After taking a few pictures, we continued our walk and by 11:05 AM we were at the sharp left turn where the monument was supposed to be located.

Where the road turned, Lisa and I split up to see if we could find the monument. I suspected it was a little further along on the road but I wanted to explore the woods. I found a rather well-defined path heading north and followed it until it all but disapprobation. At about this time Lisa called out saying she had found the monument on the road. I followed the path all the way back to the road and then headed west on the road a hundred feet or so to where Lisa was standing. The monument is just off the road to the north. It is need of restoration as the elements and son visitors have not been kind to it over the years. I took some pictures and then asked Lisa if we could hike into the woods and up the hill along one of the numerous stone walls. We headed along the stone wall to find that just a little further up the hill another wall paralleled it with what looked like a road between them. We turned a little east from that stone wall and crossed over another that was perpendicular to it. There was an extensive network of walls in this area and several small stone foundations. A long lane ran east-west and parallel to some of the walls. One of the foundations was just a built up platform whose function I could not guess. Farther up in the woods I came across the foundation I had spotted once during the winter. The woods and all of these features looked so different when not covered by several feet of snow! I walked back down from this area to the lane and found another, smaller foundation. I took more pictures. Lisa posed beside one of the stone walls to show it was higher than her head.

We eventually decided to start back at about 11:50 AM by completing the loop. We walked along the lane and then turned left to head back down to the woods road. The road was overgrown in places and very wet in others. At one point the road opened up an there was a Len-to up the hill to our right complete with an outhouse. It appeared to be the same construction as a standard issue Catskill lean-to but was not marked on my map. We decided not to investigate and continued on to Rose Mountain Road. At about 3.9 miles we hit the road and began to walk down toward Route 28. We both remarked that the road down was steep and that we did not realize we had climbed so much on the woods road from the parking area. We continued on down the road commenting on the variety of the architecture found on some of the homes. By the time we reached Route 28, we had walked 1.4 miles on the road and dropped almost 900 feet. We took a left on Route 28 and walked a little more than half a mile back to Matayas Road. It was 1:00 PM when we got back to the car and we had covered 6.2 miles in just over 2.5 hours.

On Monday, June 11th, I was ready to get out on a hike after more than a week of rain and track team commitments. I had spent the weekend at a high school near Syracuse with three members of the boys team who were competing in the state track championships. Sheila had not been out hiking in some time and that meant she was "eager" to go somewhere. Sheila is a very high energy dog and requires frequent exercise. I decided to go to Frick and Hodge Ponds since they are close to home and we were getting a late start. I knew that the trails might be wet as there had been a lot of rain. The skies were slightly overcast but there was no rain predicted. I did need to be at school by 3:00 PM to finish putting away track equipment, the last part of the track season. I got Sheila in the car and drove to the Frick Pond parking area. We got out of the car and were on the trail by 10:45 AM. My plan was to hike the loop around the two ponds by taking the Quick Lake Trail to the Flynn Trail back to the car. The Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond was not as wet as I had expected and the recent trail maintenance had helped to divert some of the water off the trail. We got to the bridge across the Frick Pond outlet and I took a look at the view. The day was slightly overcast and I decided I had many better pictures of the area. As we walked around the pond, we stayed to the left on the Quick lake Trail. The blowdown along this part of the trail has simply become a fact of life. It seems no one is interested in clearing it so hikers have begun to take matters into their own hands and make their own trails around the mess. At one point we came to a log that was thigh high with ample space underneath for Sheila. Sheila decided to jump up on the log from a standing start. She had no trouble jumping up, balancing for a moment and then jumping down on the other side. By 11:25 Am we had hiked the 1.6 Niles to Iron Wheel junction and turned right to head toward Junkyard Junction on the Flynn Trail. This part of the hike was only a little wet but there was evidence of a lot of running water in the not too distant past. The walk seemed a little long but was pleasant as it was not too warm. At noon I saw the sign for the Flynn Trail to the right as we had hiked just over 3 miles. Even the Flynn Trail was only damp in most places with a few mud holes. We were soon at the gate and hiking down to the edge of Hodge Pond. I decided to take a right and go around the front of the pond. At 12:30 PM we stopped for a moment at the pond and Sheila immediately headed for the water. It seemed that only the leash prevented her from swimming across the pond. After a short break we headed up the Flynn Trail toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. From this junction we headed down the Flynn Trail and back to the car. Along the way we encountered a mother partridge and some chicks. She made a lot of noise and wobbled away from her young brood. Sheila showed a definite interest in the birds. We were back at the car at 1:30 PM having hiked 6.5 miles in just over 2.5 hours. The GPS showed we had stopped completely for less than 5 minutes!

On Saturday, June 2nd, I had planned to do a hike starting at the end of the Finger Lakes Trail on the trail to Table. From here I was going to walk along the FLT as far as I could in 12 hours or so. This day was National Trails Day and the 50th Anniversary of the Finger Lakes Trail. The FLT Conference had planned section hikes along all 567.5 miles of the trail to celebrate the occasion. My plan fell through when the rest of my family came up with plans that took them away for the weekend and I could find no other ride back from wherever I ended the hike. When I went to bed on Friday night, I still wasn't sure what I would do in the morning especially because the forecast was for showers for most of the day. At 6:00 AM it was raining in Livingston Manor and I turned over to get some more sleep. By 8:00 AM the rain had stopped and the skies were clearing so I decided to meet a group to do one section of the hike. The meeting was to be at the Denning trailhead at 10:00 AM. I arrived at the trailhead to find Mary and soon Donna and Bruce arrived. Donna and Bruce were the hike leaders but they informed us it that we were it for this section of the hike. Shortly after 10:00AM we all piled into one car and drove to the parking area on Wild Meadow Road (Black Bear Road). We parked there, took a few pictures and started our hike toward the end of the Finer Lakes Trail at about 10:30AM. We knew the 13 mile hike would be mostly a road walk except for the last 3 miles on the trail from the Denning trailhead to the terminus of the trail. The end of the trail is about 1.5 miles from the Denning trailhead right where the trail branches off to cross the Neversink and ascend Table Mountain.

The walk down Black Bear Road to Round Pond went quickly and we were soon walking down Pole Road to Route 47, the Frost Valley Road. As the Neversink came into view, I took a few pictures from the hill. The river was high and muddy at this point. Road crews are still working to stabilize the bank that supports the road from erosion by the water. We turned right and headed for the Claryville Road. I stopped on the two bridges over the river to take a few pictures before turning right on the Claryville Road. Just upstream from the bridges I stopped again to take some shots of the cobble deposits left when the stream changed its course slightly during the fall hurricanes. It was about 11:30AM at this point and we had hiked 2.8 miles in an hour. I had elected to wear my Salomon trail running shoes instead of my hiking boots. This seemed to be a good choice as they are much more cushioned and have more support. We continued our walk as we passed through Claryville and headed toward the trailhead. The road crossed several tributaries and we stopped several times and I took some pictures. Around noon there was an especially nice stream so I stopped to take a few pictures and grab my sandwich to eat. We had noticed a plethora of yellow butterflies along pour route but their number seemed to increase the further we hiked. Around 12:30PM we hiked passed Red Hill Road that leads to the Red Hill fire tower. Just after 1:00PM we passed a small house that had windows that identified it as a former schoolhouse. Near this house were two dead trees that had very interesting shapes. I stopped to take a few pictures of the trees and the flowers near them.

By 1:15PM we had hiked 7.8 miles and were at the East valley Ranch which belongs to Frost Valley. There was a lone alpaca in the field and I stopped to take a few pictures. The alpaca seemed mildly interested in me but would not turn around for a full frontal shot! After taking pictures, we continued on and finally passed Strauss House where the road turns to dirt. The dirt road was a little easier on the legs while hiking but the road starts uphill from this point. We noticed along the way that the river had change its course several times. In some places it was flowing almost perpendicular to the bank before making a 90 turn to again flow parallel to the road. In other place water was flowing through the trees and winding back and forth in odd pattern. At places along the way were 5 foot blue plastic tubes placed vertically. A peek inside one tube showed small trees being protected from the deer by the plastic. Mary and I got out ahead of Donna and Bruce so we continued on the road and were soon passing the Tisson House before arriving at the trailhead. It was 2:15PM and we had hiked 10.4 miles. We waited at the trailhead and Bruce appeared with Donna not far behind. Donna did not want to hike out to the end of the trail so Mary, Bruce and I headed out. I had changed to my boots since this part of the trail is always wet. We walked out the trail and all of us agreed that the soft earth was much nicer to walk on the hard macadam. The trail was wet but we made great time arriving at the end of the trail at 3:00 PM. We stopped to take some pictures before heading back. A young couple had started hiking out the trail at about 2:20PM with the intention of going to Table. While we were at the end of the FLT they were looking at the signs and trying to determine which way to go! We hiked back to the trailhead and arrived at the carts at 3:30PM. We had hiked 12.9 miles in 5 hours. Donna and Bruce got in my car for the ride to their car on Black Bear Road. We said goodbye to Mary and headed out. I really enjoyed hiking with these people and hope to do it again sometime. Donna and Bruce have both hiked all sections of the FLT and are going to start on the spur trails next.

On Wednesday, May 30th, I took Sheba out for a short hike over Round Top. Sheba has been a little lame lately and her Lyme test was very positive. All other tests were encouraging so I have been giving her rimedyl for her joint pain along with the doxycycline for the Lyme disease. I had been really missing her on hikes and thought that getting her out for some exercise would be a good thing. Once Sheba understood we were going for a walk she had a new energy in her step and trotted ahead of me. We crossed the road and headed up the hill by the cemetery before Turing into the woods to get on the road through the forest. We followed our usual route for a while before cutting up the hill just before the quarry. We walked around on ground we had not covered before until I eventually turned to Sheba and said "Home!" Sheba headed off like she knew where she was going but I soon realized that although we appeared to be heading in the right direction nothing looked familiar. Sheba tuned down a woods road that I had never seen before and trotted along like everything was OK. I was about to call her back and find the right route when I realized we were on the same road we had taken up just a little earlier. Sheba had somehow headed in the right direction and taken us to exactly where we needed to be. That's part of the reason why I miss her being with me on hikes!

On Saturday, May 26th, I finally go to hike with Julie from New Hampshire. We had tried to get together on Thursday and Friday but the end of May is the championship part of the high school track season and I was busy. Julie had hiked Graham, Big Indian and Fir so she need just Friday, Balsam Cap, Doubletop and Blackhead to finish her 35's.'On Saturday we agreed to meet at 9:00 Am at the end of Moonhaw Road. When I left home, the forecast was for late afternoon thunderstorms so I was glad that we had decided on a relatively early start. As I drove out the DeBruce Road, I realized that I did not want to be on the DeBruce Road! I was far enough out that I decided to continue. I drove through Claryville and took Red Hill Road over to Sugarloaf Road and out to Route 52A near the Rondout Reservoir. From there, I drove to Sundown and out the Peekamoose Road to Moon haw Road. The parking areas along the Peekamoose Road appeared to be completely filled with campers. The parking areas at the Peekamoose and Ashokan High Point trailheads also looked busy. I did not bring either Sheba or Sheila on the hike. Sheila still needs to be trained so that I can let her hike without a leash. Sheba had been having some problems with lameness and I found out that her Lyme disease test was VERY positive! I arrived just after 8:45 Am to find Julie already waiting. We got ready and started our hike just before 9:00 AM. It was already hot and humid and the temperature was in the high 60's or low 70's. We bushwhacked up the hill through open forest and eventually found a wood road which we used briefly. There seemed to be many more paths through the woods than I remembered and some were quite clear. Our plan was to hit the Col between the two peaks and climb Friday first and then Balsam Cap. We followed some of the herd paths but they seemed to come and go. Eventually we decided we were headed too far to the north and started to head south. At this point we hit a path that looked very familiar and followed it to the col.

Friday is known for its cliffs and ledges and with good cause. All along the herd path there were boulders and cliffs. The path actually leads straight to Balsam Cap so we took a right after about 2 miles to get up to the Col. From here the paths seemed to fade. At one point I knew it was possible to head left and climb up through the cliffs but I decided to head further into the Col and look for a way that was not quite as steep. We hit some ore ledges and cliffs but work through them until we were on the flatter top of the mountain. We knew that the canister had been relocated so we started to look for it. We followed several different paths with no luck. At one point we heard a dog "scream". We called and the dog came to us and was very friendly. She did not seem injured and had a collar with a Grahamsville address. We called for the owner but got no response. The dog continued to hike with us but twice yelped and ran away only to return. The last time we called for the owner again and heard him. We met up with the owner and his other dog and he explained that he had shock collars on both his dogs which explained the yelping. We split up and continued to search for the canister which Julie found at about 12:20 PM after nearly an hour of searching. We took a few minutes to sign in, get a snack and drink. Since we knew we had another mountain to go we headed back to the Col by a slightly different route. Once off the summit I started to head down but wandered to far west which Julie pointed out. We spent some time walking east to get back to the area where we had ascended to the Col. Once we were in this area, we found a herd path and started toward Balsam Cap.

The herd path was pretty clear but I began to wonder if it was the one I had taken before since it seemed it was more to the west and higher. I also remembered that I had seen several "cliffy" areas which we were not seeing from the path we were on. I eventually figured out we were walking on top of the cliffs. The path we were on intersected the lower path. I recognized a path I had taken on the return from Balsam Cap last time. We walked out to the viewpoint over the Ashokan but it was completely covered in clouds and haze. As we walked the path bead steeper on the final ascent of Balsam Cap. On our way up we met a hiker who was coming over from an overnight at the Table lean-to. We chatted long enough to find out we was from New Jersey and was working on his 10th round of the Catskills! We continued our hike and were soon near the summit of Balsam Cap. We followed a few paths and hit the canister just before 2:00 PM. After signing in, we turned around and followed a slightly different route back until we passed the viewpoint. Just after the viewpoint, we decided to follow the path down and by 2:30 we were at the point where we had turned left up Friday. I tried to follow the exact path we had used to come up from Moon haw but kept wandering this way and that. Of course, the nature of bushwhacking is that there is no set path but I am usually better at stay on track. It took me some time to realize that the reason I am always on track on the way back is because I am following Sheba. At that point, I REALLY missed having her along! We arrived back at the cars at 4:15 PM having spent almost 7.5 hours covering 7.3 miles with a total elevation gain of 3100 feet. It was great hiking with Julie and I hope to finish with her on Doubletop.

On Monday, May 21st, I took Sheila headed across the street to do a short hike on Round Top. It had been over a week since I had hiked and I was ready to get out. This part of May is filled with track meets as we go into the championship part of the season. The track meets coupled with making plans for an upcoming wedding and some rainy weather had kept me off of the trails. As we crossed the street at 11:00 AM, I felt a few drops of rain but decided to try and get the hike in anyway. The forecast was for rain starting at noon and continuing on and off for at least three days! Sheila was more than ready to hike as she strained at the leash up the big hill behind the church. We cut into the woods and started out on the route we usually use. The trail and woods roads were a little damp but there was no mud or wet spots. The woods looked very different from the last time we had hiked this route about a month before. The trees have an almost full complement of leaves and the grasses and bushes were sprouting also. The vegetation gave the woods an entirely new look and some of the paths that had been obvious this winter were almost obscured. We walked passed the approach to the quarry and down the other side of the hill. I took the road that loops around the base of Round Top and headed around to the side near the Quickway. I started down our regular path but Sheila wanted to head in another direction so we walked closer to the ledges and over the top of one before descending the other side. The woods road took us down to the trail that parallels the highway and we stayed on that path until turning left on the woods road that leads to the clearing that overlooks Exit 96. We turned left at the clearing and walked up through the woods to the viewpoint and then competed the loop. There had been a few raindrops all along the way but there was an even heavier mist on the way back down the hill to the church. When we got to the church parking lot, the rain started to come down in earnest and we ran back to the house. We were both a little wet but happy to have been able to get in even a short walk.

On Saturday, May 12th, I decided to head up to the Blackhead Range as I had not been there for some time and I needed Black Dome and Thomas Cole for May. Attending a rare Thursday night track invitational had freed up Saturday and I was going to take advantage of that fact. I did have to be home for a dinner engagement so I thought the quickest route was to head up to Lockwood gap from the Batavia Kill parking area. From there we could do Black Dome and Thomas Cole and hike back to the col. Once in the col I could decided to summit Blackhead or just return to the car. As I drove out the Frost valley Road at around 8:15 AM there seemed to be a lot fewer cars in the parking areas than I would have expected on such a nice day. The temperature was in the high 50's and the forecast was for 70 degrees at some point. When I turned right on Route 23, I found signs indicating a bicycle race would pass through the area later in the day. We arrived at the Batavia Kill parking area at about 9:20 AM to find four cars already parked. Two cars drove in ahead of us but one parked and the other left. I assumed they were doing a car spot and were going to start their hike on Barnum Road. We were on the trail at about 9:20 AM. The trail and the Batavia Kill both showed signs of the recent rains. The creek was running high and the trail was wet on the lower parts. After crossing the two bridges, we came to the trail junction and headed right to continue on to Lockwood Gap. It seemed as if someone had done some trail maintenance since the trail was easier to follow than in the fall. The trail remains very rocky in places and can be steep. several switchbacks moderate the climb. I always enjoy the views of Blackhead and Black Dome that you get as you ascend the trail. Without many leaves on the trees the mountains seem to rise so high and precipitously as you walk the trail. By 10:20 AM we had hiked the 2 miles to the col and turned right to hike up Black Dome.

At 3980 feet, Black Dome is the third highest peak in the Catskills. The trail to the summit starts rather gently and then turns into some rock scrambles as it nears the highest point. We climbed up through these areas with me giving Sheba a boost every now and then. Soon we were at the lookout which faces east toward Blackhead. I passed the first viewpoint and opted for the second which has a better view. Someone has cleared this lookout with tools as some small trees had been sawed off. This certainly makes for a nice lookout but I think people should leave the tools home unless they are doing trail maintenance and then they should stick to the trails! I took pictures of Blackhead and the countryside surrounding it including the lakes, Capra and Colgate to the south. We left the viewpoint and headed toward the summit. Along the way we met a solo hiker headed down to the col and we said "Hello" before continuing on. Once we climbed to the rather flat part of the trail, we walked to the lookout to the south which is very near the summit. We arrived at about 10:50 AM after hiking about 2.5 miles. We stopped briefly at the viewpoint and I took a few pictures before we continued on toward Thomas Cole. The trip down the mountain went quickly and we were soon in the flat area between the two mountains. With only a few leaves on the trees there were some limited views to the south from the trail. Soon we began the climb to the summit of Thomas Cole which, at 3940 feet, is only slightly lower than Black Dome. We hit the highest point on the trail at about 11:15 AM and 3.2 miles into the hike. I decided to take a little side trip off the trail to see if I could find the actual summit since it is not on the trail. Sheba and I walked off into the woods to the north and wandered around some until I judges we had hit the high ground. We returned to the trail and started back to Black Dome.

As we passed the viewpoint on Black Dome, I was surprised that no other hikers were there. I was sure that more people would be on the mountain by mid-morning. We continued on down Black Dome to the col and near the bottom we began to hear voices. We met a group of about seven people heading up Black Dome. After a brief conversation we continued in our separate directions. In the col we met a family of three also headed up Black Dome. Sheba and I were both a little tired but Blackhead was so close I decided to head up to the summit. The trail is very eroded from hiking and water so many hikers have started to walk on the side of the gully that has been created. When we reached the lookout to Black Dome, we stopped for a snack and a drink. I took some pictures of Blackhead and some more of the lakes below. I also took some shots of the Devil's Path although they were hazy. After a short break, we continued to the top and walked the relatively flat path to the rock at the summit. I could hear some voices a little further along the trail but they seemed to be headed away from us. Since there is no view from the top, I decided to turn around and head back down to the col. I thought about descending the east side of Blackhead but I was not sure that Sheba and I were up to the steep descent. We were back at the Col by 1:00 PM about 5.8 miles into the hike. We met a black lab in the col who immediately ran back down the trail. Sheba seemed very interested in meeting this dog which is unusual. Soon the dog's owners showed up with overnight packs and we passed by each other with a brief greeting. The rest of the hike went quickly although the very last part over a series of small boulders in the trail was tedious. We were back at the parking area by 2:00 PM having covered 7.7 miles and 2900 feet of elevation gain in 4.5 hours.

On Friday, May 7th, I wanted to get out for a hike but the forecast was for thunderstorms. I decided to head for Frick and Hodge Ponds where I could choose from a variety of routes depending on the weather. I parked at the lot for Frick Pond at 11:15 AM and we got right to the hike. The trail out to the woods road looked nice after some of us had spent time on Sunday doing some trail maintenance. The woods road was very wet after the rain despite some efforts to redirect the water. Sheba seemed to be able to avoid the muddiest areas but Sheila needed my help as she wanted to "visit" every one of them. When we arrived at the first trail junction just before Frick Pond, I had planned to go right and head directly to Times Square and up Big Rock but Sheba turned left and we followed. I had not planned to take any pictures as I was more interested in hiking as far as we could before we had to head back. As we approached the pond, I saw some 3 pairs of geese on the pond and what appeared to be goslings with one pair! I tied Sheila to a tree and told Sheba to stay as I went down toward the pond. I took pictures of the pond, Flynn's Point and the geese. There were five goslings with the one pair and I got what turned out to be good pictures. At one point a goose from one of the other pairs approached the goslings. One of the parents made it very clear that they did not want any visitors. By this time Sheila was voicing her loneliness so I went and untied her and we crossed the bridge at the outlet. At the next trail junction Sheba led us around the back of Frick Pond to Times Square and we continued straight ahead up the Big Rock Trail. Sheila was setting a rapid pace as we headed up the trail which is not steep but ascends almost 600 feet over 1.1 miles to the Flynn Trail. At the Flynn Trail we turned left to head down to Hodge Pond. It was just after noon so we had made 2.3 miles in around 45 minutes.

The hike down to Hodge Pond went quickly. The skies seemed a little darker at Hodge and I took some pictures. Sheila dove into the pond to splash around and I am sure she would have gone further out if she had not been on the leash. I decided to stay on the Flynn Trail rather than going around the back of the pond simply for some variety. We continued on the Flynn Trail around the pond and bore to the left as the trail ascends to the gate and then heads toward Junkyard junction. After the gate, the trail was very wet but not too muddy and we were at the junction by 12:40 PM having covered almost 4 miles in 1.5 hours. We turned left to head down the Quick Lake Trail and back to Frick Pond. There were some wet spots especially in the first part of this trail and then some running water as we approached Iron Wheel Junction. At the junction, we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. The blowdown on this trail continues to get worse since there has been no trail maintenance in years. Hikers continue to reroute the trail so that in some areas the walk never actually hits what was once the trail. The longer this continues the more work will have to be done to clear the many large trees that obscure the once clear woods road! When we crossed the small stream on the trail, Sheila took another opportunity to jump into the water. We were soon at Frick Pond where we found no geese. The hike back to the car went quickly. We arrived back at the car at 1:45 PM having covered 7 miles in 2.5 hours.

On Monday, May 4th, I decided to head up the Beaverkill Road to hike Balsam Lake Mountain with the two dogs despite the gloomy skies. Sheila had proved she could hike hilly trail and now I wanted to get her out on some mountains. I waited until around noon for the showers to appear but despite the overcast skies there was no rain. As we left Livingston Manor and headed up the Beaverkill Road, the skies continued to become more threatening. The air was full of moisture and the air seemed "heavy" at the trailhead when I parked at 1:00 PM. There were no other cars present and I had seen none since Turnwood. We started to hike almost immediately and found there were some wet and muddy spot along the way. There was also some running water on the trail and some new blowdowns to avoid. Sheila was certainly ready to go as she set a fast pace along the woods road to the junction with the trail over the mountain. From the parking area to the junction is about .9 miles which we made in 15 minutes. We turned left up the steeper trail but Sheila showed no signs of slowing. There were a few insects around but I had to ditch my light windbreaker in favor of short sleeves as the temperature climbed into the high 60's. Soon we were passing the 3500 foot sign and heading for the spring. I was surprised that the dogs paused only briefly at the spring before continuing up the trail. Once on the summit plateau the pace quickened until the clearing and the fire tower were in sight. It was 1:45 when we got to the tower which meant we had covered 1.7 miles in 45 minutes.

By the time we got to the tower the skies had cleared and I decided to go up to take some pictures. I tried Sheila to one of the tower legs and told Sheba to stay. I climbed to the landing below the cab and took pictures in all directions. Despite the cloudy skies, the visibility was good and the pictures interesting. After about 10 minutes, I headed back down, gave the dogs a drink and we started down the other side of the mountain. Descending is difficult for me without poles and with a dogs pulling me down the trail. We hit the main trail and turned right to go back to the parking area. The skies had brightened some and the sun was peeking through the clouds. The temperature was almost 70 degrees but the air was still very humid. We continued our quick pace on the hike back to the car. By 2:45 PM we were back at the car having covered 4.3 miles and a 1200 foot elevation gain in 1 hour and 50 minutes! I guess Sheila does mountains!

On Thursday, May 3rd, I wanted to take get the dogs out after a couple of days of track commitment and rain. I decided to go to Trout Pond and walk the usual loop in a clockwise direction. The sky was overcast when we left Livingston Manor and that didn't change as I parked at the lot near the top of Russell Brook Road. We were on the road down to the falls at about 11:00 AM. Sheila was ready to go as I had to remind her not to drag me down the road! We quickly made the lower parking area and headed down to the bridge across the stream. We usually stop at the falls but it didn't look very different from the dozens of other times we had been there. I decided to skip the falls and we turned left after the register box to start up to Mud Pond. The road was damp near the bottom but was wet with running water by the time we reached the top and started down to the trail junction. We turned right on the trail over Cherry Ridge. This trail ascends for a while before dropping down to the shores of Trout Pond. It was good to be out and I soon removed the light windbreaker I had on as the temperature climbed into the 60's. The rain over the last few days had everything starting to sprout and was changing the brown to green. There did seem to be even more blowdown than usual along the trail but much of it had missed the trail. Soon we were walking down the hill to the pond. The walk along the eastern shore was muddy in some places but not as bad as it has been in the past. We continued on down the road passing the outlet on the way. It wasn't long before we had competed the loop and were walking along the road back to the lower parking area. We were back a the car before 1:00 PM having covered the 5.5 mile hike in just under 2 hours.

On Sunday, April 29th, the weather was beautiful so Cindy and I decided to take a hike after church. After considering the long ride to Bear Mountain or northern New Jersey, we decided to stay a little closer to home and hike the Shawangunk Ridge Trail from Wurtsboro. We didn't want to take two cars so we planned to park at the VFW in Wurtsboro and hike out and back a few miles. I knew I was in for a workout since we were taking both dogs and Sheila is still on her leash most of the time. Having a dog on a leash makes using hiking poles impossible and I really miss them especially on the downhill parts. We parked at the VFW after noon and we were hiking by 12:15 PM. The trail markings can be confusing as they start out white ,turn to blue disks on state land and then have the aqua blazes of the Long Path once that trail joins. Actually, the first white blazed section is only a short spur trail that allows access to the SRT and ends at the junction with it. The trail rises with some steepness to the grade over the first half mile before making a switchback to avoid some rock outcrops. Within this first section, the white trail from the parking area joins the SRT and at this junction we turned left to head north. After only 1.1 miles, the trail passes over an open rock face with some nice views. We could see the Bashakill wetlands to the south and the Catskills in the northwest. Directly across to the west we could see Route 17 and a sand and gravel pit on the hill. In the valley below, the view we dominated by the Kohl's Distribution Center with the Wurtsboro Airport just to the north. Once we broke pout of the cover of the forest, we realized that the wind was quite strong as it whipped across the open ridge. At different times during the hike planes took off from the airport. In all but one instance the planes were towing gliders aloft. I took pictures from the ridge before we decided to continue on and get out of the wind.

We had climbed about 600 feet from the parking area but the next part of the trail descended almost 400 feet before ascending the next ridge. The trail had several small switchbacks and crossed a woods road near the bottom. Once across the road we ran into several small streams that allowed the dog to get a drink. The next part of the trail passes over some very rocky ground with poor footing. The trail also passes through and area of the ridge that was burned several years ago. We could see that many of the trees were charred and some were dead. As we got higher on the ridge and started to walk out of the tree cover, we again noticed the wind. As we were climbing the ridge, we met two women coming back from their hike. They had hoped to make it to Cragsmoor but had turned back somewhere on the ridge we were climbing. The hike from Wurtsboro to Route 52 near Cragsmoor is about 9 miles and is best done with a car spot. As we climbed the ridge views began to appear again. The views were similar to those we had from the previous ridge. I got some nice shots of the ridge we had first ascended with the skeletons of the burned trees in the foreground. At about 2.25 miles a rather prominent trail or road crossed the SRT although nothing showed up on the GPS. I turned right and climbed the road to the top and found it continued over the ridge. I believe this road eventually meets Shawanga Lodge Road. We continued along our path as the trail rolled some through some brush. The trail eventually came to an area where there were some more views. This time we could see ahead to the next ridge and the Roosa Gap tower. The tower was once a fire tower and now is used for communications antennae. At this point we had hiked not quite 3 miles and Cindy wanted to turn around. I was a little more tired than usual having an active puppy on a leash and no hiking poles. We turned around just after 2:00 PM and headed back the way we came. The descents over the rocky trail sections were tiring as was the climb back up the first ridge. We did not stop on the way back as the views had not changed very much. We were back at the car at 3:40 PM having covered 5.7 miles in just under 3.5 hours.

On Friday, April 27th, I wanted to take a longer hike since I would be busy all day on Saturday with a track invitational. Connie was busy so I decided to head for Sam's Point near Ellenville to hike the big loop including Verkeerderkill Falls, the Escarpment and High Point. When I got up in the morning, the wind was blowing hard and the forecast was for sustained winds of 20 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. The temperatures were only supposed to be in the mid-40's so I changed plans and decided to hike the South Gully Trail which is more protected. When we got to the Loop Road and Sam's Point, I could decide to simply return or add some distance at Sam's Point. I parked on the shoulder of Route 52 by the South Gully trailhead just before 11:00 AM and Sheba and I got started right away. The first part of the trail dropped a little from the road to the stream that forms South Gully. At the bottom of the descent, I walked over to the stream and took a few pictures before getting back on the trail. This was the first time I had been on the trail since the hurricanes last fall and the changes are obvious. The stream is much wider as it has eroded the banks. Many places along the trail have blowdowns which were not there before. It seems that any tree that was dead or dying is now down and some area cross the trail. There are a few wet places on the trail but most are only in the area of small streams or spring with the rest of the surface being very dry. In places the trail almost disappears and hikers must sidehill. The slippery leaves and pine needles makes this section of trail interesting. Several times along the way we walked down to the stream and I took pictures of some of the small waterfalls and rapids. By noon we had hiked a little over 2 miles and crossed South Gully Road to continue the hike.

From South Gully Road the trail becomes a little steeper before leveling off near the top of the plateau. Over the first 2 miles we had gained just over 300 feet. In the next mile to the junction with the loop road, we gained almost 700 feet. We arrived at the Loop Road at 12:30 PM and I immediately noticed the wind. Along the trail I could hear the wind but we were protected by the trees. As soon as we broke out onto the loop road, the force of the find became obvious. The sustained wind speed was 20 mph with some gusts as high as 40 mph! I decided to hike in a clockwise direction around the loop so we turned left. Hiking on the road was easy compared to the trail. The road surface is flat and it is almost level with only a slight elevation gain. I heard a noise of machinery approaching as we walked passed the berrypicker's shacks and was surprised to see a LARGE dump truck coming toward us. I wondered what project was in progress on the plateau! (A sign near the visitor's center mentioned Loop Road Reconstruction.) As we hiked a series of cliffs appeared on our right. I had always been curious about these cliffs and when a path appeared on the right, we took the path and were soon on top of the cliffs. There were very nice views from the top of these cliffs and I took some pictures before realizing my hands were freezing and the wind was howling. We walked down to Lake Maratanza and through the brush to the shore. We stopped and I took a few pictures before we walked the path out to the loop road. We continued around the lake to the far side.

When we got to the far side of the lake, the wind picked up and formed whitecaps on the lake. When the waves hit the cement barriers on the near shore, the water splashed onto the road and sometimes made it over the road. I stopped to try to capture the whitecaps and breaking waves. I also was able to get views of the cliffs at Minnewaska and some of the other mountains. We avoided the waves and headed passed the road to the ice caves. I had thought about going down to the ice caves but was starting to get tired with over 4 miles of hiking to get back to the car. By 1:30 PM we had hiked 5.4 miles and were at the overlook at Sam's Point. The wind was blowing very hard as I snapped a few shots before leaving that exposed area. On the way down the road toward the visitor's center I noticed a large chuck of rock had fallen from the underside of one of the cliffs that makes up Sam's Point. We stopped so that I could take some pictures before continuing to the visitor's center where we made a right to get back to the South Gully Trail. Once we turned onto the trail, we kept up the fastest pace possible to get back to where I had parked. We stopped only for a drink as I just wanted to get back. We arrived at the car at 3:15 PM having covered 9.2 miles in 4 hours and 15 minutes. At some point in the hike I had though about stopping to take pictures of the waterfall on Route 52 but the only stop we made was at Stewart's in Ellenville for a drink!

On Thursday, April 26th, I wanted to take Sheila out for another hike to get her some exercise. I decided to take only Sheila and give Sheba the day off. The weather forecast was for rain in the afternoon and I had track practice at 3:00 PM so I decided to stick close to home. I thought going to the Frick Pond area would be a good idea and planned to hike the Logger's Loop which I had not done in some time. When we arrived at Iron Wheel Junction, I would make a decision to hike back to Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail or to take the Quick Lake Trail to the Flynn Trail and Hodge Pond. I parked at about 11:00 AM and we got on the trail right away. The weather was warm but a breeze was blowing as we headed out the Quick Lake Trail to pick up the Logger's Loop Trail just before Frick Pond. At the trail junction we headed right and were soon as Times Square. Along the way the trail was marred by tracks that were too wide for an ATV. Some persons from "out West" had driven out the trail in a jeep despite the signs to the contrary. Their excuse was that they drive everywhere "out West". I hope they were fined for their careless and destructive behavior! Once at Times Square we headed up the hill on the Logger's Loop under ever darkening skies. The trail was wet in places but not as wet as it normally is. At 11:45 AM we had hiked 2,2 miles and were standing at Iron Wheel Junction. A light rain was beginning to fall but I decided to put on my Revo jacket and continue on the Quick Lake trail and to Hodge Pond. I had not taken any pictures to this point and did not plan to take any in the rain.

The next 1.2 miles up to Junkyard Junction seemed to go slowly but when we arrived at Junkyard Junction the rain had all but stopped. We turned right to pick up the Flynn Trail and head to Hodge Pond. The Flynn Trail was wet in places and the rain return but was never very hard. When we got to Hodge Pond we walked around the back of the pond and up the hill to the woods road that leads back to the Flynn Trail. I did this just for some variety. We made a left on the Flynn Trail and headed toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. At 12:50 PM we had hiked 5.4 miles and I knew the rest of the hike was all downhill. We have hiked this part of the Flynn Trail so often that I almost fell asleep on the way down to the car. We were back at the car before 1:30 PM having covered 7.1 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes for an average speed of 3 mph. My GPS showed our stopped time was about 3 minutes!

On Wednesday, April 25th, I was ready to hike after a track meet and a few rainy days had kept us inside. I decided to head for Alder Lake to bushwhack from the parking area along some of the woods roads that parallel Cross Mountain Road and then up over Millbrook Ridge. After a walk along the ridge, I planned to head south toward the lake or the Millbrook Ridge Trail to get back to the car. I got a late start and did not get to Alder Lake until around 11:00 AM. The temperature was in the 40's and the skies were overcast and seemed to threaten precipitation which was not in the forecast. The sun was out but it still seemed cool as we walked back out the access road before cutting into the first parking area. We followed the road to the parking area and then out the back left corner. I had forgotten my GPS which was just as well since I needed some practice with only map and compass and there was no need for a track of a complete bushwhack of my own design. The road was mostly flat and paralleled Cross Mountain Road for some distance. Eventually the woods road converged with Cross Mountain Road and just before they met we turn right and headed up a steep hill. As we walked we continued to find woods roads that headed in different directions. As we would leave one road we would find another a little higher up. As we hiked there were a few deposits of snow down low and a few flakes in the air. We came across a track that went straight up the hill and took it. We eventually hiked up around and through some ledges which I thought were the top of the ridge. There were limited views of Barkaboom Mountain and the other ridges and valleys behind us. We paused at the top of a big rock and I took a few pictures. The snow in the air was increasing with some coming down as hard pellets. The higher we went the more snow was on the ground forming a white blanket over the green vegetation.

It turned out that we were not at the top of the ridge but we were on a flat area. I decided to walk along the cliffs and ledges to look for viewpoints. The area reminded me a lot of walking along Barkaboom looking for viewpoints. We walked until the flat area we were on started to disappear and no real viewpoints presented. I decided to head up to the top and find the highest point on the west end of Millbrook Ridge before heading back down to the lake. The brush was a little thicker near the to and we again had to work through some ledges but the land started to flatten. We walked to what looked to me like the highest point and found a cairn with yellow paint which I believe was a property line marker although I saw no others and this part of the ridge seemed to be well within the Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest. From the cairn we started to head directly toward the sun since it was now noon and I wanted to head generally south. The land sloped gently and we made good time finding some paths along the way At some point we began to run into some serious prickers which would plague us for some time. Some of the prickers were the regular blackberry/raspberry variety but others seemed to be roses of some type. The terrain became steeper as we dropped down some ledges and then hit a few open clearings. The prickers stayed with us even after I found a woods road to follow with a faint animal track. the problem with these woods roads is that they are open and get sunlight which allows the prickers to grow very nicely! At one point I looked up and got a view of Alder Lake and Cradle Rock Ridge. I took some shots but wanted a better view. We walked around trying to find a lookout but just found more prickers. We hit the woods road again and the track and continued to follow it back to the parking area at Alder Lake. I did find an interesting structure I had not seen before which was obviously part of the Coykendall estate. From the side it looked like a door into the side of the hill but the "door" was closed off. I think it must have been part of a stone wall of a building as there is a stone foundation nearby. We walked back to the car after spending about 2 hours and 4 miles exploring. My next adventure in this area will be to follow a similar route but walk farther out Millbrook Ridge to meet the trail that come up from Alder lake. I think I will do this BEFORE the prickers really come into their own.

On Friday, April 20th, I wanted to take a longer hike since I would be busy all day on Saturday with our first track invitational. Connie was busy so I decided to head for Dry Brook near Margaretville to hike the entire Huckleberry Ridge and Dry Brook Ridge Loop from Hill Road. I had done this hike only once before with my wife on a warm July day. Several miles of the lower loop were a sea of pricker canes with only a few red markers showing up here and there. We had to literally whack our way through these and try to find the trail at the same time. Cindy was so tired she waited a the Ploutz Road trailhead while I finished the loop over Dry Brook Ridge to the car. I was hit by massive cramps in both legs going up the last climb to Dry Brook Ridge. These were alleviated by finishing what water remained in my Camelbak. I was able to get to the car and pick up Cindy and Sheba. More recent trip reports seemed to indicate that the trail had been better maintained since our trip and I wanted to check it out. My previous GPS track indicated 11.2 miles but I remembered that we made a mistake so I was sure the loop would be under 11 miles! As I drove around the Pepacton Reservoir, the temperature continued to rise into the low 60's. I parked at the Hill Road parking area at 9:20 AM and we left the car just before 9:30 AM. The Huckleberry Loop trail is blazed red and heads south from Hill Road to meet Huckleberry Brook Road. The DEC sign indicated Ploutz Road was 5.4 miles ahead. The trail follows the road for about .7 miles to the trailhead parking area and then crosses the brook on a footbridge. The stream had some water in it and over the years has cut a channel into the rock which is completely smooth. After crossing the bridge, the trail heads steeply up the ridge using some switchbacks to keep the grade manageable. Because of the switchbacks the trail actually heads west before turning almost 180 degrees and heading southeast at 2 miles. Along the way the way were a few wet spots and a short walk along a woods road.

Once the trail turned to head southeast, we were walking on a road or path that became very narrow as it headed up through some pine trees. Near the top of this climb was a large glacial erratic and I stopped to take pictures and get a drink. From this point on the trail "rolls" over some small hills and passes through some clearings. One clearing was once a field and had a large stone cairn to mark the way. I stopped to take a few pictures before continuing on. The trail became very indistinct with very few blazes to mark the way. Some blazes were gone and others were on trees that were down. Blowdown along the trail also obscured the correct path. We began to run into areas where the trail was starting to get run over by prickers. The situation was not as bad as the last time I had hiked the loop but the growing season is still ahead of us! We ran across another large outcropping with very obvious layering. I took pictures before continuing. We reached the top of a small hill with what looked like a downhill section ahead of us. It was almost noon which meant we had been walking for about 2.5 hours. I thought we were keeping up a good pace and should have come to Ploutz Road by this time. I did not check my GPS as I use this mostly to record my track. We headed down the hill going almost due south before turning east and crossing a stream. This portion of the trail was very rocky and unstable under foot. As we crossed the stream I could see the road ahead. After crossing the road, we walked uphill to the trailhead parking area. The road looked in pretty good shape in this area but I knew there were some very rough spots between the end of the paved portion on the parking area! When we got to the parking area, we stopped for a drink and a snack. I checked the GPS and found we had walked at least 6.4 miles or a mile more than the DEC sign stated. I was not surprised since so many of the signs are wrong.

From the parking area we headed uphill to conquer Dry Brook Ridge. Just passed the parking area we crossed a country lane lined on both sides by stone walls. On one end is a large clearing surrounded by stone walls. I did not investigate the other end but I suspect the cattle barn was at the other end! My memories of the trail up to the ridge were that the trail was steep but it really wasn't too bad with only one steep spot near the top. From the parking area the elevation gain was over 1000 feet over 1.2 miles. We left the parking area at 12:30 and it took us only 45 minutes to get to the highest spot. By 1:20 PM we had hiked 7.7 miles and had arrived at the junction with the Dry Brook Ridge Trail. I knew that from this point on the trail was primarily downhill or flat with a few bumps. The walk from the junction to the viewpoints always seems longer than it should be but it went quickly. I stopped several times to take pictures but there was a haze over the hills and the reservoir so we moved on quickly. At 2:30 PM we arrived at the junction with the trail from German Hollow and Southside Road. We had already walked 10.2 miles as we made the left to head down the hill to the car. The temperature was comfortable and there was a slight breeze. The walk down to the car went swiftly as always. Walking through the tall red pine plantation over the thick carpet of needles is a most pleasant experience. The walk back to the car from the trail junction was a little over 2 miles. We were back at the car just before 3:30 PM. When I checked my GPS, I found we had covered over 12.4 miles in less than 6 hours with an elevation gain of 3200 feet. It may not be a 3500 foot peak but this hike is challenging. I wondered why my GPS distance was more than a mile longer than the last time. When I overplayed the two tracks, I found several areas where the previous track "smoothed out" a loop. The previous track had less than 300 points while the new GPS had recorded almost 2000! The increased number of points means greater accuracy and, in this case, a longer hike.

On Thursday, April 19th, I took Sheila and Sheba and headed for Round Top behind our church with the intention of doing a short hike in the beautiful weather. From the road up the cemetery hill, we turned right onto the path that starts the ascent of Round Top. At the first woods road we turned right and followed it up to the path that we use that connects that road with the next one up. We turned right on the next road and passed by the old bluestone quarry. We continued following the road until we got to the junction with the road that goes up the next hill. My intention was to cut the hike short here and just wrap around Round Top and head home. Sheba turned up the hill and Sheila and I followed. We climbed the next hill and continued to follow the road down the other side and around the far side of the hill. The weather was warm but not too hot and the walk was pleasant. Everything was very dry which made walking easier but I got the feeling that the smallest spark wood set the woods ablaze. Soon the road had wrapped back around the hill almost to the point where we had started up. At this point we turned right and continued to follow roads and paths around the base of Round Top. We passed another small quarry and followed a road down to the path that parallels the Quickway. After a short descent, we turned left on another road and walked to the clearing that overlooks exit 96. We started to bushwhack up the hill to the left to get back head toward the overlook of Livingston Manor. In the process, we scared up some deer who ran away slowly with tails held high. Sheila stared intently but did not pull on the leash. I did get the idea she was very interested! I let Sheba take the lead and she took us to the viewpoint. We walked down the woods road and back to the cemetery and then home. We walked about three miles and just under two hours in the warm weather and had a great time.

On Tuesday, April 17th, I suggested to Cindy that we take a short hike up Denman Mountain with the dogs. She agreed and we headed off to Grahamsville. I turned onto Moore Hill Road just after the TriValley School and headed UP the road. Moore Hill Road is aptly named as it very quickly becomes steep and twisting as it gains elevation. The views from the road and the houses along the road are beautiful! I parked the car at the larger parking area at the corner of Moore Hill and Glade Hill Roads just before 10:00 AM and we started hiking immediately. The last few times I have hiked Denman I crossed the road and started out on the snowmobile trails. After a short walk on these trails, I had cut north through the woods as the trails go around the mountain and do not come near the summit. This time I decided to hike up the road and cut into the woods after the small parking area. The road is dirt and gravel after the larger parking area and was completely deserted with no traffic. As we hiked the road gained elevation gently and the weather was warm but not hot. I was able to let Sheila off her leash and she seemed more interested in exploring than bothering Sheba. It wasn't long before we passed the small pulloff and I began to look for a place to turn left into the woods. At about 1 mile into the hike we were still SSE of the summit but the road began to turn east. We turned into the woods and followed the contour of the land heading first northwest and the due west. We walked up a spine of land toward the summit and I began to pick up a path that was quite distinct. Around 1.3 miles the path began to look like a maintained trail and we followed it as it climbed the mountain. The path headed due west which was more toward the southern end of the summit plateau but we followed it was easy walking. Once at the top the path turned north and we continued on it as it headed directly toward the summit. The last time I had hiked Denman there had been a sea of ferns covering the top but on this day there was a sea of brown. The woods were extremely dry with few if any wet areas. We passed by an interesting rock formation and I stopped to take some pictures. Just a little further north I declared victory as I could find no higher ground. I noticed up ahead that there was a clearing and we walked to that area. The clearing had several woods roads that went in different directions and we stopped to get a drink. I took some pictures before we started to look for a viewpoint. It was 11:05 AM and we had covered 1.8 miles.

The last time I had been up Denman I had found a nice viewpoint on the west side of the mountain a little south of the summit. We headed west an began to look for this viewpoint or another. On many of the CHH peaks it seems as if a viewpoint is just ahead. The area that might have a view is almost always blocked by trees. We worked our way through the brush following some paths at times. Just above us a rather clear path led south but I thought it was a little high up for a view. We continued along without finding much except a clear view down to the snowmobile trail. Hiking when the leaves are not on the trees gives a totally different picture of the land. Eventually I spotted what looked like the area I had visited before and we head to it through some thicker brush. What I found was an area with some old downed trees and a lot of dead ferns. The last time through this area I was tripping over the logs which were hidden by the sea of green ferns. I found some views but I am not sure I got the same view as the last time. We continued to wander around the edge of the higher ground until Cindy had enough of pushing through the brush. On the southern end of the height of land a path headed ESE and down. We started out on this path which disappeared and reappeared. The dogs seemed to know where they were going so we followed them down the mountain. Soon I spotted the road and we walked to it just above the smaller parking area. We had hiked 2.7 miles and the trip down was only .5 miles. We walked back on the road arriving at the car at 12:15 PM. We had covered 3.5 mile sin 2 hours and 20 minutes which included a generous 40 minutes of stopped time. The weather was beautiful with a temperature in the mid 60's. To get back home we headed down Glade Hill Road which is steeper than Moore Hill Road and may have nicer views. We passed two different maple sugaring operations with extensive piping.

On Monday, April 16th, I wanted to take the dogs out for a hike. The weather forecast was for sunny skies with a temperature of almost 80 degrees! I wanted to go to a different place or use a different route so we headed for the Frick Pond parking area to hike to Mongaup Pond. My intention was to hike up the Flynn Trail and then use the snowmobile trail to get to Mongaup. I wanted to return by bushwhacking up and over the ledges back to the Flynn Trail. I parked in the Frick Pond lot at 9:15 AM and we started our hike immediately. The temperature was already 60 degrees and was forecast to be 80 by the afternoon. We entered the woods and walked the short trail to the wide woods road that is the Flynn Trail. The skies were blue and the warm weather felt good at first. I let Sheila off her leash and tried to get her to curb her enthusiastic kamikaze runs which annoy Sheba! At 1.1 miles we were at the point where a right turn off the trail leads to an open clearing. This was the place I wanted to return to after hiking up the ledges. We continued on the Flynn Trail until we reached the four-way trail junction at 1.7 miles. It was 9:50 AM when we turned right to get on the snowmobile trail that leads to Mongaup Pond. The snowmobile trail continues to climb to the highest point on the hike at 2880 feet which is a 720 foot gain from the parking area. From this point the trail drops to Mongaup Pond but not without some Meade ring. The trail heads south then east then north before going east again and then south to the pond.

We arrived at the loop road at 10:45 AM after hiking 4.1 miles. I stopped to take some pictures of Mongaup Pond before continuing southwest on the loop road. I was looking for a place to start the bushwhack to the ledges and after about .3 miles on the road I found a woods road and took it. The road initially headed toward the ledges but then began to veer more north than west and away from the steeper ground. We turned due west to confront the steep ledges. As always a route presented itself and we headed up a path between some huge rock outcroppings. I stopped to take some pictures before continuing on up. Sheila seemed to be reluctant to go up the steeper slope and I realized it was her first time on this kind of terrain. We made it up through the first set of ledges to a flatter area before taking on the second set. Again, a route presented itself and we were soon at the top of the ledges. I wondered how close this was to the route we used descending the last time as nothing looked very familiar. At the top Sheba found a woods road which we followed briefly before turning west again to head for the clearing. When we broke out into the clearing, I was a little dismayed to find that the beautiful green carpet of moss was dry and brown. This area lies on top of a solid sheet of bedrock and is very sensitive to changes in moisture. I took some pictures before walking across the clearing to the Flynn Trail. The walk down the Flynn Trail is always a little "boring" but it seemed to go quickly. I had seen a few trout lilies blossoming along the way but there was an area on the trail near the trail register that had a carpet of flowers. I stopped to take a few pictures before finishing the hike. We arrived back at the car by noon having covered 6.4 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes!

On Saturday, April 14th, Cindy felt well enough to go for a hike on relatively flat ground. I suggested we take the dogs and head for the end of Wild Meadow Road (Black Bear Road) to hike the trail to the headwaters of the Beaverkill River. We had some early morning chores to get done so we didn't get started until afternoon. As we drove out to the trailhead on Wild Meadow (Black Bear) Road, we noticed that several of the hunting camps had members present. There had been some damage to the telephone and electrical lines along the road and the camp members were busy trimming trees and clearing the lines which are private after the first camp on the road. We parked at the end of the road near the turnaround since I did not think a snowplow would be called for on a day with temp in the 60's. We were hiking by 12:40 PM and walking along the road which leads to the last hunting camp. The walk along the road went quickly and we picked up the trail just passed the last camp where a truck was parked. As we hiked the road and then started out on the trail, we noticed that the forest was very dry. We did cross several streams which gave the dogs a chance to get something to drink. Sheila proceeded to try swimming in the small pools! At about 1.7 miles we passed the lean-to and noticed a small cooler by a stump at the side of the road. I debated putting in the lean-to but thought I would leave it and pick it up on the way back.

At about 2.3 miles we passed by a swampy area that is the origin of Fall Brook and contributes to the Beaver kill. We had been following Fall Brook for some time. The Beaverkill originates on the shoulder of Doubletop. This swampy area is always very wet but on this day was dry, at least near the trail. A little further on we met two fisherman coming from further up the trail. They happened to be a father and son I knew from Liberty. We talked briefly and continued in our separate directions. We did run into a few wet places on the trail until we finally ran out of trail. The Beaverkill has eroded away the trail so that hikers must walk up high on the bank or cross the river and bushwhack to the area where the trail picks up on the other side. Staying on the near shore and bushwhacking leads to a nice bridge but it is private property. We stopped at this point as was our intention. Sheila jumped into the river and played for some tine and I took pictures. When she is running around, it is hard to capture her antics. At about 2:00 PM we decided to head back for our 2.86 mile return trip. Along the way I stopped for some pictures of Doubletop across the swamp and though about the time I hike THROUGH the swamp to get to the summit of that mountain. The trip back went quickly and when we neared the lean-to we found the cooler was gone. We were back at the car at 3:15 PM having covered 5.7 miles in 2.5 hours. On our way back out to Pole Road we had to wait as the tree trimming operation had briefly blocked the road.

On Friday, April 13th, I suggested to Connie that we hike from the Peekamoose parking area to Van Wyck and then follow the Catskill Divide to Table. From Table the trail would take us over Peekamoose and back to the car. I had though about doing this for some time since the route from Van Wyck to Table was new for me. I suggested this earlier in the week before my cold got worse! I almost called to postpone on Friday since I knew the hike was about 10 miles with 3000 feet of elevation gain but decided I was well enough to go. I got up early and did a few jobs before deciding that I just wanted to leave. I got my gear and Sheba and I left for the trailhead. The temperature warmed some as we drove toward West Shokan on the Peekamoose Road. I parked at about 8:35 Am and waited for Connie to arrive. There was one other car in the lot and Connie and another car arrived just before 9:00 AM. The other car was a father and his daughter who had started to do the 35s and had chosen Peekamoose for this day. As we all got ready to hike, I answered some questions and made a few suggestions. They seemed informed and pretty well equipped until I noticed both were wearing SANDALS! Of course, I NEVER wear sandals but I know others who do. I thought that despite the warm weather sandals were a questionable choice for the day. Connie and I started our hike by walking down the road to Bear Hole Brook and then heading off into the woods. Our intention was to head north along the ridge that leads directly to Van Wyck. Along the way we wanted to visit the two plane crashes. The lower crash site is a Korean War era fighter jet. The upper crash is a single engine plane crash that killed four people. We started off by following a woods road that headed slightly northeast but was easier than walking up the steep bank. At some point we headed off the road to the left and climbed the bank. Soon we were just to the west of an area I recognized from previous hikes. We found a woods road and followed it as it wound its way up the ridge north towards Van Wyck. We kept following woods road until we were in the area of the lower plane crash.

At around 10:00 AM we had hiked about 1.5 miles and I knew we were in the area of the lower crash. Connie headed a little further north and I turned to the west. Within a few hundred feet I caught a glimpse of metal in front of me and called to Connie as I walked over to the crash site. We took some pictures as we walked around the wreckage. It is still recognizable after almost 60 years. The stars and bars on the tail are still visible but faded. The cockpit and forward fuselage are non-existent but the tail section and engine are easily identified. The glide path is not completely clear. The wings are some distance from the plane. What has always bothered me is that some people find it necessary to scratch their names in the aluminum or to shoot holes in the wreckage. It is not clear to me why people would want to deface "monuments" like this or any other property for that matter. We left the crash site with Connie in the lead heading north. Her sense of direction is flawless and the bright sun made navigation easier. We had already removed some layers as it was nearing 70 degrees. After hiking about 2.75 miles we reached the upper crash site just before 11:00 AM. The debris from this crash is spread over a large area. As with the other crash, the forward part of the plane cannot be identified but the tail is almost intact. The glide path debris field indicates a glide path from the west or southwest but the tail section is pointed in that direction. The plane may have spun round and come to rest in its present position. As we left the plane crash site, we gain headed north directly toward the steepest part of Van Wyck. We decided that rather than look for a gentler grade we would attack the mountain head on. The slope was a 40% grade but less than .2 miles. The slippery leaves and loose soil made for an interesting ascent but soon we were near the top where the grade became more reasonable. We walked along the edge of the cliffs until we found the viewpoint.

I had never been to this viewpoint before and it was wide open and very nice. The forest was still mostly brown with some green but I could only imagine what it will be like in the fall. I took lots of picture and we rested for about 10 minutes before pushing on. Our next stop was Table but it seemed we would have to drop down hundreds of feet and then climb that mountain again. We walked to the summit and then headed a little northeast to find the Catskill Divide. This is a ridge of land that separates the Delaware and Hudson watersheds. We found it and started to walk down a little from the summit. The Divide is about 50 feet wide and drops off on both sides. It is really and amazing "highway" between peaks and saved us dropping and regaining a lot of elevation. The area was pretty open and there was a slight path that was noticeable. We did descend about 350 feet to the col between Van Wyck and the next bump. There was no way to avoid this bump so we began another steep but short climb of about .3 miles. On the way up I stopped to take some pictures through the trees back to Van Wyck. Once at the top of the bump we dropped a little but then began a gain of over 600 feet to the top of Table. Near the top we skirted some thick forest by heading east but then struck out north through the last thick stand. We were surprised to see a good covering of snow near the summit and a packed and frozen trail we reached it at about 1:30 PM and 5/3 miles into the hike. We turned left to walk down the trail and then left again on the short spur trail to the lookout. It was a little hazy so the views were not spectacular and we turned around and started the descent toward Peekamoose.

The distance between the summits is less than a mile but we took it easy as we had to descend and then ascend an icy trail. We hit the rock at the summit of Peekamoose at about 2:00 PM. We stopped to take a few pictures and then walked out to the viewpoint. I took a few shots and then it was time to start the long walk back down to the car. The hike to the top of Peekamoose and the hike back are always longer than I can recall. We did stop at the one lookout on the way down and also paused a moment at Reconnoiter Rock. Otherwise the trip down was a series of long descent with a few steeper areas and far too many rocks! We did meet several hikers coming up the trail who looked like they might have underestimated the hike. As we neared the bottom, I saw another hiker with three dogs ahead and attached Sheba to one of my hiking poles. I thought that it might be Heather Rolland who I had never met but I knew had several canines. I was wary as I had heard her dogs can be a little aggressive. When we met, I found out it was indeed Heather but that her dogs were really quite well-behaved and visited nicely with Sheba. We talked a little and then went in opposite directions. Eventually Connie and I hit the woods road that signaled the hike was nearing completion. It was still a longer hike to the car than I remembered. I was glad when I could see the road and very happy when we reached the cars. He had hiked 9.9 miles in just under 7 hours with about 3400 feet of elevation gain.

On Wednesday, April 11th Lisa and Cindy were just getting over colds and I was beginning one. We decided to go to Barkaboom to explore for some viewpoints but not necessarily to go to the summit which has no view. We drove up the Beaverkill Road and made the left onto Alder Creek Road. Just before the entrance to Alder Lake, I turned left onto Cross Mountain Road. This road is always interesting as it is very narrow and rough with ruts! At the highest point on the road, just before it descends, I parked at a small pulloff on the left. We began our hike at about 1:15 PM by heading out on the woods road. As the road continues south, I turned east and up the mountain. After a short climb, we headed along the lower ledges where I had not been before. There wasn't much of a path and there were a lot of old pricker canes which foreshadowed what the area would be like later in the season. After about .5 miles of walking, we came across a viewpoint that was even more open than the ones on the ledges above. The views over to Millbrook Ridge were clear. There were also some nice, open views down to the Cross Mountain Camp below. The camp is on the site of what was the Edwards farm and has a pond a open fields. After taking some pictures, I walked along the ledges a little further but found no more viewpoints. We decided to go to the upper ledges and walked toward the base of the cliffs. The area between the two sets of ledges was a real "prickerfest"! At one point I decided to head up the steeper part of the ledges while Cindy and Lisa headed for a more gentle ascent. The route I chose was steep and seemed to be an old drainage but soon I was at the top of the ledges. I found the viewpoint Jim and I had discovered on the last hike. I took some pictures and then walked along the ledges looking for another viewpoint while waiting for Lisa and Cindy. I didn't find any other places that were open and soon I heard the ladies. I showed them the viewpoint and then we decided to head back. We took a slightly different line on the way back and hit the woods road a little to the southwest of our jumping off point. We walked the road back passing some nice rock outcroppings. We were back at the car by 2:50 PM having covered 1.7 miles in 1 hour and 40 minutes. The hike was short but the exploration was fun. After looking at the cliffs on the other side of the road a second time, I really want to climb up to Millbrook Ridge from Cross Mountain Road!

On Monday, April 9th, it was time to get out for some exercise with the dogs. I had spent Sunday celebrating Easter and gathering with my family and I was ready to hike. The route over Round Top just across the street is convenient but it gets boring after awhile so I decided to head for Long Pond to do a loop there. I thought about hiking the big loop that we usually do but in reverse starting with the road walk. I was concerned about the high winds but decided to go anyway. The temperature when we parked at 12:35 PM was 51 degrees but the wind made it feel colder. The first part of the hike is on Flugertown Road passed open fields and the wind was noticeable. Sheila was really moving along which kept Sheba and I moving also. After the first .5 miles or so the road becomes a "seasonal maintenance" road with a gravel/dirt surface. The "traffic" along this part is non-existent and we continued to make good time. The wind had abated some and we were sheltered by the trees. We did stop once on a bridge over the creek. Although the sunlight on the water was pretty it did not warrant pictures so we moved on. Soon we were passing by the turn onto the Mongaup-Willowemoc Trail and climbing a slight hill as the road continued to deteriorate. As we approached the point where the road turns to the peters Hunting Camp. I stopped to take some pictures of the camp with the hill in the background and then walked down to the camp and across the bridge. It was 1:20 PM and we had covered 2.6 miles. The bridge belongs to the hunting camp but they have recently given permission to reroute the hiking and snowmobile trails over the bridge. This avoids a stream crossing which is almost always swift and deep. We carefully followed the trail through their property and passed the beaver pond.

The road/trail started to climb and I released Sheila from her leash. The first thing she did was run full force into Sheba. Sheila has a lot of energy. I let her run free for some time since she now will always come when I call. As we approached a few muddy areas, I put her back on the leash as she loves to leap into these areas and dig! At 1:40 PM we made the turn onto the trail that leads back passed Long Pond to the parking area. We had completed 3.5 miles in just a little over an hour! The uneven surface of the trail and frequent muddy areas did slow us down some but we still made good time as we passed the spur trail to the lean-to and continued on toward the pond. At a little after 2:00 PM and 4.8 miles of hiking, we turned left on the spur trail down to the pond. Long Pond was higher than I expected and the sky by now was very overcast. I took a few shots and then we walked back up to the main trail. We kept up our fast pace as we walked up the last small hill. Hiking down the big hill to the car was harder than hiking up as there are a lot of loose rocks. We arrived back at the car just after 2:30 PM having hiked 6 miles in UNDER 2 hours!

On Saturday, April 7th, I decided to return to Moonhaw and hike to Samuel's Point. I wanted to actually get to the destination this time so I emailed a friend who suggested a general route and gave me some other tips. I parked at about 10:00 AM and Sheba and I started right in by crossing Wittenberg Brook. Sheba apparently did not like the looks of the fast flowing water so I had to encourage her to cross. Once across the brook we headed north on a woods road. When this road started to dip down, we bore right on what Hermit calls an ox road. I soon found out why it is an ox road as it became too steep for horses. We continued to head north sometimes on a road and sometimes striking out on our own. After about .9 miles, I decided that the road was headed too far to the west and we turned right to head northeast and UP the mountain. The climb was steep for about half a mile or so averaging over a 30% grade. I noticed we were headed up a ridge and turned away from it and toward Samuel's Point to the east. There was a short descent into a col between the bump we were on and Samuel's Point. After the col, we began the hike up to the Point. Hermit had advised me to skirt the laurel and walk around it and then up to the Point. I decided I wanted to make a straight line attempt and headed into the laurel...for about 50 feet. The laurel was so thick that I headed south to break out of its clutches and then walked the edge of the patch until there was clear sailing. As we started to walk up toward the highest point, I found many paths leading down. Since I had not been at Samuel's Point before, I thought there might be a better viewpoint down below and headed in that direction. After a short excursion, I found nothing and we clawed our way back up to path to the Point. After about 2.4 miles and 2 hours of hiking we arrived at Samuel's Point at just after noon.

I us admit that I was a little disappointed with the views from Samuel's Point. I could get no clear views of the Ashokan and had to jockey for position to get the few shots not completely blocked by trees. I did walked along the edge of the point to get a few pictures of various hills. I also took pictures of some dry moss with some snow near it. We walked toward the center of the point since I wanted to see if there was a view of Wittenberg. There was a very limited view. I would like to hike to Wittenberg from this route sometime in the near future. We spent about 20 minutes on top before starting our return trip at about 12:30 PM. To return I sent Sheba up ahead and simply followed her all the way back. We avoided the trip through the laurel and, in places, Sheba found slightly easier paths than the ones we had taken on the way up. We didn't stop much on the way back except for a drink as it was hot and I was a little tired. We were back at the car by 2:00 PM having covered 4.7 miles in 4 hours with a total elevation gain of over 2100 feet. I am sure we will make better time on our next adventure to this area.

On Friday, April 6th, Brad and Krista were home for Easter. Brad was willing to go for a hike to exercise the dogs so we headed across the street to do the hike from cemetery to cemetery. The weather was warm and the sun was out which made hiking that much more fun. We repeated the route that has become the most common one for me by hiking passed the quarry. We stayed on the woods road and continued down the hill after the turn to the quarry. From that point we followed the woods road as it passed by some high ledges and steep hills on the right. There were only a few damp spots along the way. Eventually the road turned to the right and uphill. At this point we turned to the left to bushwhack as we headed downhill slightly still staying on the little ridge that goes toward the Quickway. This route heads southeast and passes through a nice grove of evergreens and over a few small streams. Eventually it becomes parallel to the highway. We dropped off the path a little to avoid a patch of barberries and roses before heading uphill and then dropping down to cross another stream or two. After about 2 miles we began the final climb up a hill to the woods road that goes near the Jewish cemetery. To get back we turned around and retraced our path following Sheba most of the way. Sheila was a little boisterous on the leash but is getting better. When we reached the woods road where we turned southeast we went to the left and then right up the hill on the road. The climb is rather steep and leads to the top of the unnamed hill that is south of Round Top. We continued over the hill and down the other side to the unction with the road we had taken around the hill earlier. We followed the road passed the quarry and then down the hill toward the Orchard Street Cemetery. From the top of the cemetery we headed back down to the church and across the street to the house. We hiked 4.4 miles in about 2 hours.

On Thursday, April 5th, I was meeting Connie to hike to Samuel's Point from Moonhaw. When you stand on the summit of Wittenberg and look out over the Ashokan Reservoir, the hill that you see below that overlooks the reservoir is Samuel's Point. Connie had been there before so I decided I would just follow her lead. I brought my map and compass and GPS but didn't really plan ahead of time. I met Connie at the end of Moonhaw Road and we began our hike at about 9:15 AM. The weather was warm but a slight breeze kept it from feeling too warm. Although the stream sounded high, we crossed it without a problem and then walked slightly downstream to an area where the bank was not vertical. From this point on we started what would be a continuously steep climb. At first the climb was through open woods with only a few patches of brush. As we climbed we could clearly see Balsam Cap and Friday directly behind us. The cabin on the slopes of Friday was clearly visible as we climbed. At some point, we encountered some rocky areas but Connie easily found a way through them. At one point there was a difficult spot and Connie chose one way and I chose another. We regrouped on a rock that had a nice view of the cabin and we both took some pictures. We pushed through some laurel and then started to encounter some very steep ledges and cliffs. It was fun to pick our way through these and soon they began to level out as we neared the highest point. We took some more pictures along the way. By the time we were at the top of the ledges on more level ground we had covered less than a mile but had climbed over 1200 feet. The average grade was 32% with some pitches over 45%.It was around 10:40 AM so the entire climb had taken almost 1.5 hours!

As the ground leveled we began to run into some very thick laurel as we wandered around looking for the highest spot and for a view. As we got near the eastern side of the summit we found limited views of the reservoir below. I could also see a rather prominent height of land to the northeast. After accounting for all the mountains, it was clear to me that we were looking at Samuel's Point. We still had some hiking to get to our destination. It was also clear that a direct route would mean dropping a lot of elevation which we would have to gain as we climb up the VERY steep side of Samuel's Point. We dropped off the height of land we were on and began to sidehill to see if we could find a ridge of land to get over to Samuel's Point. We walked along the side of the hill for about .3 miles and then had to make a decision. We could see a ridge ahead of us that would get us to our destination but it would involve more climbing and I had a commitment in the afternoon. I didn't want to bail out but in the end we decided to head up the slope again and return to the parking area. The way back to the top was steep but short and we were soon pushing our way through the laurel again. We hit the edge of the steeper ground where the laurel thinned and decided to start down. The ground was steep but there were no cliffs or ledges in the immediate vicinity. We continued down on a course roughly parallel to the route we had use in the morning but a little more to the north. We never did come across any ledges but eventually came across a woods road which we followed most of the way back to the parking area. By the time we were back I felt like I had done a very strenuous 6 miler. We were back at 12:30 PM and a check of my GPS showed we had covered 2.3 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes for an average speed of under 1 mph! I knew that I would be returning soon to find another way to get to Samuel's Point. On the way home I drove back on the Peekamoose Road and stopped at several of the waterfalls. The volume of the falls was low but they were still pretty. By this time the sun had shifted to illuminate the falls and it was almost too bright. I reminded myself to come in the morning to take some shots perhaps after a rain storm.

On Tuesday, April 3rd, it was time to get out for some exercise with the dogs. I had spent the weekend celebrating Palm Sunday and participating in our choir performance and was ready to hike. The route over Round Top just across the street is convenient but it gets boring after awhile so I decided to head for Frick and Hodge Ponds to do a loop there. I thought about hiking around Frick and then up the Big Rock Trail to the Flynn Trail. We could then hike the Flynn Trail back to the car. We arrived at the parking area at 9:40 Am. Both dogs were more than ready to go. The temperature was in the high 40's but a stiff breeze made it feel cooler. We walked out the Quick Lake trail to Frick Pond trying to avoid some of the muddier areas. When we arrived at the pond, we found several pairs of ducks and geese on the pond. The sky was clear and blue so I stopped to take some pictures before heading over the bridge and around the pond. At the trail junction, we stayed to the right to take the yellow spur trail around the pond. The trail passes through some pines trees and has several wooden walkways over some wet areas. I was surprised to see a coating of snow on some of the walkways and a heavier layer in the woods. I took some shots so that others would believe me and then continued on to Times Square. At Times Square I did as planned and started up the Big Rock Trail. At this point I let Sheila off the leash and she enjoyed herself by running back up and down the trail. Sheila tends to run at Sheba and pass by very close which unnerves Sheba. I let this go on for a few minutes and then put Sheila back on the leash. She doesn't really seem to mind and it certainly gives me an upper body workout! There was some more snow as we ascended Big Rock and Sheila just had to play in it.

By 10:40 AM we had hiked the 2.25 miles to the junction of the Big Rock and Flynn Trails. I still felt fresh despite the ascent up Big Rock and the dogs seemed ready to go so we turned left on the Flynn Trail to head toward Hodge Pond. The walk down to Hodge went quickly and we were soon on the shores of the ponds. This was the first open water that Sheila had seen and she jumped in right away. If she had not been on a leash, I think she would have been swimming across the pond. I took some pictures of the pond and the beautiful blue skies and allowed Sheila to play in the water before we headed around the back of Hodge Pond and up the Flynn Trail. It was 11:20 AM and we had hiked about 3.6 miles. The Flynn Trail was damp in places but had now pools of standing water and few muddy spots. There was some snow along the way to Junkyard Junction. At the junction with the Quick Lake trail we turned left to head back toward Frick Pond. The temperature had risen to the 50's but there was still a breeze. By 12:10 PM we had hiked 5.7 miles and were at Iron Wheel Junction. Instead of continuing straight on the Logger's Loop, we turned right and stayed on the Quick Lake Trail. The hike down the Quick Lake Trail was not as easy as it could be as there was a lot of blowdown that has accumulated over several years. The DEC has not bothered to clear any of these trails and the snowmobilers concentrate on their own trails. A volunteer crew from the NYNJTC will be working in the area in the near future to help clear these trails. We were back at the car by 12:50 PM having hiked 7.3 miles in just over 3 hours.

On Friday, March 30th Jim Kennard and I had agreed to hike Barkaboom and Cradle Rock Ridge. After finishing Barkaboom, we headed for Alder Lake and arrived in the parking area at 1:00 PM to find no other cars. It didn't take us long to start our second hike of the day as we walked down to the lake and over the dam. We followed the trail around the south side of the lake until it began to head east. At some point, we headed a little to the southeast and up. The woods were very open and there was only a faint sprinkling of snow. I knew we would hit the western end of a ridge and have to walk along the ridge to the highest point. I like to get up to the higher ground as soon as possible and then have an easier hike across flatter ground and Jim agreed. The only problem with using this method was that we encountered some steep areas and some ledges we had to work through. The .6 mile hike from our turn off the trail to the flatter area near the top averaged about a 25% grade with some places being over 30%. In that short distance we gained over 700 feet in elevation. We took a few breaks along the way. Since there were no leaves on the trees, we could look down to see Alder Lake and Millbrook Ridge. Also, we could see back to Barkaboom and into the little valley where the Cross Mountain Camp is located. After about 1 hour and a little over a mile of hiking, we were on the summit ridge.

Once we were on the ridge, we continued to head southeast and up making sure we stayed on the highest ground around. It was a pleasant walk as the sun was out and the sky was bright blue with no clouds. After another .6 miles and 160 feet of elevation gain, we judged that we were at the highest point around. I took pictures of Jim and Sheba perched on a large boulder and we got a drink before heading down. I had noticed what looked like a marshy area to the north and we went over to check it out. The area would have been a marsh but there was little water available. We planned to head almost due north to get to the stream that runs into Alder Lake. Crossing the stream would put us on the Millbrook Ridge Trail which is the easiest way to get back to the parking area. The descent was more difficult than the climb as we kept running into areas of loose and mossy rocks. I felt like I was sidehilling the whole way down which was 700 feet over .6 miles. We eventually hit a drainage that was almost dry and followed it down to the stream. When I first looked at the stream bank, it seemed too steep to negotiate. I really didn't want to bushwhack west along the south side of the stream. I looked again at the bank and found a way down to the stream. The water crossing was easy but I wasn't sure how far we would have to climb on the steep bank on the north side of the stream. As it turned out the trail was very near and we were soon headed back to the lake on the trail. Once we got to Alder Lake we headed around the north shore. I took some pictures of Cradle Rock Ridge and stopped at the "lawn" to take some more. I also took some shot of Alder Lake and the stonework that remains from the Coykendall Mansion. The hike was 3.8 miles and took us about 3 hours. Nothing really looked familiar from previous trips and I was anxious to compare our route to the last route I had used. When I put the track on the computer, it was almost EXACTLY the same as the last time I had done the hike!

On Friday, March 30th Jim Kennard and I had agreed to hike Barkaboom and Cradle Rock Ridge. Jim arrived at my house at about 9:45 AM and by 10:00 AM we were headed for Turnwood. We turned onto Alder Creek Road and then Cross Mountain Road just before the turn to Alder Lake. I had asked Jim if he would drive as I was not sure that my car would have enough clearance on Cross Mountain. As it turned out the road was rough but passable. I was glad that we did not meet any other cars as it was as narrow as ever. We parked at the very apex of the road just as it begins to descend on the other side. There is a small pulloff for two or three carts on the left side. A woods road start at the parking area and leads partway up the mountain. At 10:40 Am we headed out on the woods road and followed it a short distance before turning off the road to continue west and up. We walked through an swampy area with a small stream before climbing a little. After only .4 miles we had gained about 350 feet and were on a much gentler slope where we turned southwest to follow the ridge line to the highest point. Along the way looking to the left and right there seemed to be areas where there might be some views. I had walked to some of the areas on previous hikes and had found few if any viewpoints. We walked for about .5 miles and gained only 180 feet to get to the highest point on the mountain which was less than a mile from the car. The boulder near the summit looked familiar. We stopped for a drink and to shed some clothes as the skies had cleared and the sun was out.

Jim and I decided to drop down from the summit to the top of the ledges and try to find a parallel route back to where we had hit the ridge. We ran into some pretty clear paths along these ledges and at one point I found a rock that had limited views to the south and east. We stopped to take some pictures before moving on. We continued to drop down through the ledges until the ledges turned into cliffs. We were able to walk along the top of the cliffs heading right back to our path up the hill. As we walked along the cliffs, I was looking for a viewpoint but was not really expecting one since I had not been successful in the past. At one point I looked ahead and saw a break in the trees and a large open rock face. We walked out to the rock and found that there were good views of Millbrook Ridge across the small valley with Cross Mountain Road clearly visible. Below us we could see the Cross Mountain Camp with open fields and a small pond. Even some of the hunting "shacks" along the road were easily seen. I took pictures of the valley and ridge and some of the mountains beyond before packing up. It was only a short distance along the cliffs and we spotted another viewpoint. This one had better views to the east and north and required a stop for a few more shots. Soon we were back on the path we had used earlier and we followed it back to the woods road and the car. The 2 mile hike had taken a little over 2 hours but the time we took to explore and find the viewpoints was time well spent!

On Wednesday, March 28th, Lisa wanted to go on a hike close to home which was perfect since the weather report included rain in the early afternoon. I took Sheila and Sheba across the street and met Lisa at the church around 10:00 AM. She wanted to hike from cemetery to cemetery and I was glad to show her the way. We repeated the route that has become the most common one for me by hiking passed the quarry. We stayed on the woods road and continued down the hill after the turn to the quarry. From that point we followed the woods road as it passed by some high ledges and steep hills on the right. There were only a few damp spots along the way. Eventually the road turned to the right and uphill. At this point we turned to the left as headed downhill slightly still staying on the little ridge that goes toward the Quickway. This route heads southeast and passes through a nice grove of evergreens and over a few small streams. Eventually it becomes parallel to the highway. We dropped off the path a little to avoid a patch of barberries and roses before heading uphill and then dropping down to cross another stream or two. After about 2 miles we began the final climb up a hill to the woods road that goes near the Jewish cemetery. To get back we turned around under ever darkening skies and retraced our path following Sheba most of the way. Sheila was a little boisterous on the leash but is getting better. When we reached the woods road where we turned southeast we went to the left and then right up the hill. The climb is rather steep and leads to the top of the unnamed hill that is south of Round Top. We continued over the hill and down the other side as the rain began to fall. Lisa had a rain jacket but I had only a water resistant softshell. As we headed back passed the quarry the rain intensified but was never very heavy. By the time I got home around noon I was pretty wet. We hiked 4.4 miles in about 2 hours.

On Tuesday, March 27th, I took Sheila and Sheba and headed for Round Top behind our church with the intention of hiking along the ridge from the Orchard Street Cemetery to the Agudas Achim Cemetery near Exit 97 on the Quickway. We hiked up the road on the edge of the cemetery and turned left on the trail through the woods. At the junction of the two woods road, I found that the deer head from a previous hike was gone but both dogs did seem interested in that spot. We stayed on the woods road and continued down the hill after the turn to the quarry. From that point we followed the woods road as it passed by some high ledges and steep hills on the right. There were only a few damp spots along the way. Eventually the road turned to the right and uphill. At this point we turned to the left as headed downhill slightly still staying on the little ridge that goes toward the Quickway. This route heads southeast and passes through a nice grove of evergreens and over a few small streams. Eventually it becomes parallel to the highway. We dropped off the path a little to avoid a patch of barberries and roses before heading uphill and then dropping down to cross another stream or two. After about 2 miles we began the final climb up a hill to the woods road that goes near the Jewish cemetery. To get back we turned around and retraced our path following Sheba most of the way. Sheila was a little boisterous on the leash but is getting better. When we reached the woods road where we turned southeast we went to the left and then right up the hill. The climb is rather steep and leads to the top of the unnamed hill that is south of Round Top. We continued over the hill and down the other side. We headed back passed the quarry and turned down through the woods to hit the road back to the trail to the cemetery. We continued back to the church and across the street to the house. We hiked 4.4 miles in under 2 hours.

On Friday, March 23rd, I was planning to bushwhack North Dome and Sherrill as I had not done these peaks in some time. The approach to North Dome goes through and over some interesting ledges which require some scrambling. I had injured my right pinky the day before when Sheila bolted on the leash and it was still sore and swollen a day later. I decided that I wanted to do a "tamer" hike and headed for the Spruceton parking area to hike Hunter. I knew I wanted to Hike the loop to the fire tower but was undecided about other "side trips". When I left Livingston Manor the skies were sunny and the temperature was 55 degrees. As I drove toward Frost Valley the temperature rose to 65 degrees and the day was bright and beautiful. To my surprise the bridge on Route 47 passed the Panther hairpin turn was completed! It was nice to drive over it without having to slowly creep across the temporary structure holding my breath. Somewhere around Big Indian the skies became very cloudy and dark and the temperature bean to drop. It actually looked to me like it might rain as I drove up Route 214 passed Halcott. There were a few cars at all the trailheads and some hikers were just getting started. I turned right onto the Spruceton Road which is still in rough shape in places. Just outside of the hamlet the road bridge is being replaced and was down to one lane with a light. Further down the road there is a very rough patch where flooding eroded some of the road surface. The last part of the road is very rough but passable and work is being done to repair the road. I pulled into the parking area before 10:00 AM with the skies still overcast and the temperature at 55 degrees. Sheba and I started hiking just before 10:00 AM and the trail seemed in good shape with only a few wet spots. There was some evidence of increased erosion from the storms in the fall. I realized that I had been on Westkill since Irene and Lee but had not hiked Hunter since May of 2011, almost a year before!

We made the hairpin turn quickly and started the long but gentle climb to the turn up Hunter. The temperature increased as the sun came out and I began to get hot despite the fact that I was wearing a short sleeved shirt with my lightest windbreaker. The trail to the turn was a little rough but there was no snow or ice anywhere and this was continue for almost the entire hike. Soon we were at the trail junction having hiked the 1.7 mile distance in about 35 minutes! I was feeling good and Sheba was moving right along and I began to think about hiking out to the Colonel's Chair to see if there was any snow still on the slopes. I had not been out to the Hunter ski area in some time and though some pictures might be nice. As we made the turn, I decided to see how I felt when I got there since another option was to skip the Colonel's Chair and hike SW Hunter which I had not done in March. Our pace slowed a little as the grade on the trail to Hunter increased. When we reached the spring, I decided to flow the path that leads from the main trail away from the spring. I had never done this and found the path to be very wet. It led to another spring where a pipe had been driven into the hillside. The path continued passed the pipe and was actually blazed with yellow disks. I suspected that it led to the John Robb lean-to and so we continued to follow it. The trail led up through some rocks and then to the lean-to. I took the opportunity to drop my pack and remove the windbreaker which was soaked. I took some pictures of the valley and some of Rusk and Westkill. The sun was shining brilliance by now but there was a slight breeze. After a drink and a snack, we headed up through the rock scramble back to the main trail just below the 3500 foot elevation.

By 11:05 AM we had hiked 2.5 miles and were at the turn for the Colonel's Chair. I knew that the hike was a little over 2 miles out and back but that the vertical drop was almost 450 feet! I decide that the views from the Colonel's Chair would certainly be better than those from SW Hunter so we turned and started down. The trail was wet in a few spots and very eroded. It wasn't long until we saw signs for the ski area. After a short, steep descent the trail followed a woods road out to the lift area. Just before the lifts we stopped at a lookout that has a statue of Rip Van Winkle. I took some pictures to the north and east and down into Hunter. Kaaterskill High Peak was very prominent as was the Blackhead Range. The sun was almost too bright for good photography! There was still snow on the slopes and there were more than a dozen people skiing down the very wet and granular slopes. We wanderer around and I took pictures of the slopes and the ski area. On the way back, we stopped at a new lift on a new double black diamond slope. There was a nice view to the north and west and Rusk was visible. After a short walk on the woods road, we met a couple hiking toward us. We said "Hello" to the only people we would see for the whole day. The hike back up to the main trail was easier than I had expected and went quickly. We turned left to hike the remaining mile or so to the top where we arrived at 12:35 PM. The trail up to the tower looked dry on the ascents but had a layer of water under the gravel which made it very muddy. Near the top where the trail leveled were the usual puddles and pools of muddy water but we were able to get around most of these.

At the summit cabin, I dropped by pack and check the thermometer to find a temperature of 60 degrees in the shade. I got the camera and headed up the tower. The slight breeze at ground level became more vigorous as I ascended to just below the cab to take pictures. The day was bright and beautiful and I took a lot of shots in every direction. The Hunter ski area was easily visible which was interesting since we had been there a short time before. I descended the tower and walked back to my pack where I got a drink and ate my snaffle which I shared with Sheba. We headed back to the main trail and turned left to head down the mountain to complete the loop. This part of the trail is usually wet but was not bad on this day. We continued passed the turnoff for the Becker Hollow Trail and found some wet and muddy areas before starting the descent to the Devil's Path. The descent had some running water in places and was muddy in others. The erosion is unchecked by water bars and gets worse each time I hike it. By 1:35 PM we had hiked about 7.3 miles and were at the Devil's Acre lean-to. At this point I had already been considering hiking SW Hunter as I needed it for March. We continued passed the lean-to and up the hill toward the herd path the SW Hunter. When we arrived at the turn , we headed for SW Hunter. I knew the overall distance was less than two miles round trip and that the ascent to the canister was a little steep but short. Along the way there was some ice where hikers had packed down the snow but it was easy to walk around it. There were also some points which allowed a glimpse out at the scenery but none were clear enough to take pictures. We were at the canister by 2:05 PM after hiking 8.2 miles. I signed in and we immediately turned around and headed back. The return trip went quickly and we were soon back on the Devil's Path.

The next part of the trail leads down along the side of the mountain and it was dry and easy to negotiate. We stopped at the last viewpoint that looks across to the other peaks and down the valley. I took pictures including some of SW Hunter. Back on the trail we ran into the usual muddy and wet areas but they were much less of problem than at any other time. After a slight gain in elevation, we began the long descent to the Diamond Notch Falls. This part of the trail is in incredibly poor shape. The water runs down the trail unrestrained by any water bars causing deep gullies and exposing rocks. The result is a very difficult and rough descent. Hikers, in an effort to avoid the rough trail, are starting to hike on the side of the trail which causes more erosion. We finally made it down to the falls at 3:40 PM about 10.9 miles into the hike. The bridge over the Westkill has still not been replaced. This surprised me as it is such a popular trail. I took pictures of the falls from above and then we made our way down to the stream bed. I took some more pictures before heading back up to the top. The stream has definitely changed its flow pattern with more water coming over the left side now. The walk back to the car revealed some serious erosion along the trail. In some Ares water washed over the trail taking much of the trail surface with it and leaving only large rocks. In other places The swollen stream has cut into the back and the trail has started slide into the stream. The walk to Spruceton Road went quickly and we walked the road back to the car to find one other vehicle parked there. It was 4:10 PM and we had covered 12 miles in just over 6 hours. Along the way we had visited most of the attractions that Hunter Mountain has to offer!

On Thursday, March 22nd, I took Sheila and Sheba and headed for Round Top behind our church with the intention of doing a short hike in the beautiful weather. As we started up the cemetery hill, another dog barked and Sheila pulled on the leash. Somehow my right pinky got caught in the leash. After I grabbed the leash, I inspected my finger to find it swollen and hurting. I decided to continue the hike since it didn't hurt that much and a walk always makes me feel better. We turned right onto the path that starts the ascent of Round Top and found, in the area of the first woods road, a deer head! Sheila seemed moderately interested so I quickly passed by that spot and walked up the hill to the viewpoint of the town. From here we turned right and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top. This was the route we had used for several years when snowshoeing but we had not used it for a least a year. It seemed strange going in that direction without snow on the ground. Once at the summit of Round Top we turned left and down toward the Quickway. At some point we crossed over a woods road and I though I might explore where it went but a quick look told me it simply wrapped around the hill and headed back to the summit. As we descended, we took a right and headed toward the ledges passing by the deer stand on the way. When we were at the junction that led up the next hill or back toward town, I decided to head back home. We followed the roads passed the path to the quarry and back down to the junction with the deer head. We walked back down to the church, crossed the road and were soon home. We spent a little more than an hour walking almost 3 miles in the beautiful sunshine with a temperature of almost 70 degrees.

Winter 2011-2012

On Tuesday, March 20th, my friend Kevin wanted to go for a local hike. Since Kevin had never been to Trout Pond and it was his first hike of the year, I decided that would be a good introductory hike since it has relatively gentle grades but many things to see. Kevin arrived at the house a little later than we had anticipated and without his camera. We got into my car and I drove to Morton Hill Road parking at the junction with Russell Brook Road. The day was sunny and warm with a blue sky and some puffy white clouds. We started down the road at about 1:10 PM. When we reached the area of the upper falls Kevin was surprised at how pretty they were. I dropped down the bank to take a few shots and the we walked down to the lower parking area. When we got near the bridge, Kevin suggested that we walk along the near side of the stream to a viewpoint for the falls. We did this and examined the old dam while we were there. The dam helped control the flow of water for a power generation waterwheel downstream near what is now the Russell Brook Campgrounds. I took pictures of the falls which had more volume than I expected. Back on the main trail we decided to head up to the lake first before we decided whether to hike out and back or do a loop. By 1:50 PM we had hiked the 1.6 miles to the outlet end of Trout Pond. We stopped and I took pictures of the lake and sky. Kevin spotted some salamanders and I took some photographs surprised at how clearly I could see the amphibians through the water. We decided to do the loop hike and walked along the lake to the lean-tos at the upper end. After a brief stop, we continued on the trail up Cherry Ridge.

The hike around the pond has few viewpoints of any notes but on this day the sun through the trees was particularly pretty and Kevin seemed to enjoy the walk. Having someone to talk to made the hike go even quicker than it normally does. By 3:00 PM we had hiked 4 miles and were at the woods road that runs passed Mud Pond. We turned left to head back to the falls and then to the car. The trail remained mostly dry with only a few muddy patches. Walking down the hill to the trail junction seemed easy. When we got to the last bridge just before the trail junction, we found a tent pitched at the campsite. There was no sign of the occupants and we passed by. The walk uphill to the car can be a little tiring but this too went quickly. We arrived at the parking area at 3:35 PM having taken under 2.5 hours to hike 5.6 miles.

On Monday, March 19th, Cindy and I wanted to take the dogs somewhere after I returned from track practice at noon. We talked about a route and decided to return to Mongaup Pond and do the falls loop in reverse. We also decided to do the bigger version of the loop by cutting out the bushwhack shortcut and staying on the snowmobile and hiking trails. By the time I got home at noon, the temperature was already in the high 60's so I hunted down a pair of lighter summer hiking pants. Cindy and I both put on short sleeved shirts and light jackets knowing we would probably remove the jackets if the temperatures at the trailhead was as warm as in town. I parked at the corner of Fish Hatchery Road and Beech Mountain Road and we were on the trail just before 1:00 PM without our jackets as it was very warm. Besides the exercise in the beautiful weather our objective was to let Sheila off the leash on this hike to see if she would stay with us and come when called. We walked down to the stream and then started up the hill to the first junction. The trail was wet but there was no snow or ice and it looked much different than a few weeks before. At the first junction we turned right to head towards the Mongaup Pond campgrounds. The snowmobile trail rolls a bit but generally gains elevation on its way to Mongaup. Since it is relatively flat, there were pools of water and small muddy spots along the way. At about 1.6 miles we began to notice ledges our right and a swampy area on the left. The trail became much better in this area with numerous small rivulets coming down from the ledges. This was the area we had bushwhacked on our last hike to save some distance over the bigger loop we were attempting this time. We walked around the wettest parts as best we could and entered "uncharted territory". At 1:45 PM, about 2 miles into the hike, we came to a junction and turned left to walk out to the campgrounds. This allowed us to get a snack and a drink and take a breather. The weather was MUCH warmer than it had been and the warmer weather places different demands on the body. After a short break, we went back to the trail junction and continued straight ahead on the snowmobile trail.

I had never been on this section of the snowmobile trail as I usually come from the other direction. We were looking for the yellow Mongaup Willowemoc Trail which was a right and would start our return trip. The snowmobile trail continued to be wet and muddy in places but most could be avoided. At 2.9 miles we found the right turn onto the trail. I remembered that this trail climbed a hike but forgot that it is a rather long climb! The good part was that the wet areas diminished with only a few areas of running water. We decided to allow Sheila to go "off leash". At first, she acted as if there was something wrong staying close to me as if she wanted to be back on the leash. Eventually she got used to the freedom but for the most part stayed on the trail and came when she was called. This pleased me since my arms were weary from her straining at the leash. The drawback was that her enthusiasm included periodic "attacks" on Sheba who only wants to hike in peace! We also found out along the way that Sheila likes water but LOVES to jump into muddy pits and dig! Our next objective was a right turn onto a snowmobile trail just before Butternut Junction. This would lead us toward the woods road that would take us back to the car. The first .7 miles of the trail were all ascent and by 3.6 miles we were at the highest point on the trail. Now we would have to descend to get to the trail junction. Over the next .6 miles we descended to the junction reaching a lower elevation than where the trail began. We made the right turn and started another climb which would lead to the highest point on the hike.

We headed southwest on the snowmobile trail and at 4.9 miles crossed a bridge over a small stream where I had bushwhacked to a bog with Mike Kudish. Sheila stood on the bridge looking at the water. We continued on and up making a right turn at about 5.2 miles and reaching the highest point at around 5.4 miles. Cindy and I were both glad that the rest of the hike was either flat or downhill as the warm weather was tiring. At 5.8 miles there were ledges on the right and we both recognized this as the area where we had bushwhacked down to the lower trail on our previous trek. The trail had been dry for some time with only a few muddy spots. I remembered that from this point back to the woods road there were some flat areas that might have some puddles or muddy spots. We managed to avoid most of these spots. We came across an open clearing which we both though was near the road but we were wrong. I took some pictures especially of the cloud formations and we continued to hike through the clearing that was near the road. We hit the road at 4:15 PM about 7.2 miles into the hike. The walk down the road was painful for me as it is very rocky and eroded and I did not have poles. Fortunately, the distance was shorten than I remembered and 7.7 miles we hit the junction where we had started the hike earlier in the day. We walked a short distance down the hill where Sheba and I turned left to go down to the falls and Sheila and Cindy returned to the car. The water volume over the falls was a little higher than in the past. I took some pictures of the upper falls and then decided to work my way down to the base of the lower falls. I was surprised to see a lot of ice along the narrow path! I had to walk over some slippery rocks covered with water from the falls before approaching the ice. I had left my pack at the to of the falls so spikes were not an option! I slipped a little on the way down and thought briefly about how I would get back up. At the bottom of the falls I took pictures and then walked to a better vantage point and took some more. Returning to the top of the falls was challenging but easier than I thought it might be. I did have to place my left boot on a ledge where the running water almost came over the top but I avoided that. Sheba and I walked back to the car and arrived at 4:45 PM. We had covered 8.2 miles in under 4 hours in very warm weather. On the way home the two dogs rode together in the back seat with Sheila stretched out across it and Sheba occupying a corner.

On Saturday, March 17th, I was looking forward to hiking Lone and Rocky with a group of hikers Connie had put together. I had the shortest trip and was the first to arrive parking in the Denning lot at about 8:15 AM. There was only one car in the lot and it was not occupied. I was surprised that the skies were so clear at the trailhead as Livingston Manor had been buried underachieve think layer of fog. Shortly, Steve and Fran arrived and parked. A few minutes Later Connie arrived with Edna, Al, Mike, Margaret, and Julie making nine hikers in all. Some other cars pulled up but they were going on a hike to Table and Peekamoose on a 3500 club hike which turned out to have only four people! Once we were all gathered, we started our hike at 8:45 AM by walking the wide woods road to the trail to Table Mountain. We had decided a as group that snowshoes would not be needed but all of us carried some form of spikes in case they became necessary. We kept up a good pace led by Mike and made the turn at 9:15 AM after hiking 1.2 miles. It was fun being with a group of people and talking to them about their background and hiking experiences. The woods road had some ice but it was easy to walk round it and spikes were not needed. After turning onto the Table Peekamoose Trail we walked to the Neversink River and crossed on the bridges. The first bridge still showed heavy damage from the hurricanes in the fall. The crib on the near side was all but destroyed with all the rock washed away. The ramp up to the bridge had been reconstructed indicating that the state feels that the bridge is safe. As we walked across the bridge did feel solid. The second, two log bridge, was not damaged by the flooding ion the fall and was free from ice so the crossing was easy. We stopped at the end of the bridge to adjust our layering. I had already opened all my pitzips and was only wearing a light short sleeved shirt underneath. I took off the Mammut hoody and long sleeved shirt exchanging them for a short sleeved OR Sequence and a light OR Avido wind shell.

Shortly after crossing the second bridge we turned left to parallel the river. There was a cairn marking the beginning of the Fisherman's Path but it really was not necessary as the path is pretty obvious. The path wanders but stays pretty close to the river. Parts of the trail were very muddy and there was some ice along the way. We finally decided to don our spikes as a slip into the mud would definitely have diminished our enjoyment of the day. We crossed the river twice as the path on the south side of the river runs into steep cliffs along that side. The water was swiftly flowing but was surprisingly low for this time of year. I thought the recent rain would have made the water level higher but the lack of significant snow probably accounted for the lower levels. At about 2.4 miles, we crossed over Donovan Brook and continued on the path. I had always paralleled the brook's drainage when ascending to Lone but Mike chose to go a little further to about 2.6 miles before cutting uphill. After a short and steep ascent up a little creek bed we continued toward the summit of Lone. Even on the uphills we were making good time and made several short stops for breathers and to take pictures. One stop was a rock outcropping with a nice overhang and some limited views back to Slide Mountain. The route followed a spine and we just kept going up and east-southeast through relatively open woods. The route soon leveled off and a pretty well defined path lead to the canister. We arrived at about 11:20 AM after hiking about 4 miles. I walked out to the viewpoint and was treated to an unusual sight. The low-lying clouds obscured most of the valley below but several mountain peaks pushed up through the clouds. I took several pictures and then walked a path along the cliffs. I was hoping to find another view but none developed so I went back to get my pack and walked to the canister. We all signed in and then got a drink and a bite to eat.

As we left Lone and headed to Rocky, some of us knew what we were in for and others were about to find out! The land between Lone and Rocky is covered in thick balsam fir and other trees. We started out by heading down through some ledges and a little to the south to make sure we stayed on the bridge of land between the two peaks. Once we were sure we were on the bridge, we headed east northeast. The climb is not steep especially since Rocky is the lowest of the 3500 foot peaks but the going was tough. I eventually found a "corridor" and stayed on it most of the way to the summit. The corridor would appear and disappear but it did make the going a little easier. Margaret was finishing her first round on Rocky so with about .25 miles to go she took over navigation and led us to the canister. As we approached we began to hear voices. At the canister we found two hikers from Newburgh who were hiking Lone, Rocky Balsam Cap and Friday. Their car was the one that was parked at Denning when I arrived. They had done the Burroughs Range on Friday and had camped out overnight. I again walked around looking for a viewpoint even though I had never found one before. This time I walked south from the canister along a path and then to the edge of a ledge. There were good views to the south which were similar to the ones from Lone but also included clearer views of some peaks. I took pictures and then walked back to the canister where other were signing in and taking pictures while congratulating Margaret. We had arrived at 12:45 PM after hiking about 5.25 miles. We left Rocky at 1:00 PM knowing that the rest of the way was mostly downhill but required about a 5 mile walk to get back to the car.

We followed a path from the canister briefly and then started down the mountain headed north and then north northwest. We soon hit the drainage of a tributary of the Never sink and followed that down to the main river at about 6.1 miles. From here it was simply a matter of following the Fisherman's Path back to the point we had turned up Lone and then back to the parking area. We had to cross the river twice more on the way and the path was wet in some spots. We continued to keep our spikes on as there was ice in some areas. The river crossing were manageable but my Asolo TPS 520 seem to always allow my feet to get wet. I have tried everything including hot Sno-Seal and nothing seems to work. The river crossings required stepping in the water while trying to avoid allowing that water over the top of the boot. Fortunately, the day was warm with the temperature hovering in the high 50's or low 60's and my wet were damp but not soaked. The walk down the Neversink to the point we had departed the path for Lone was about 1.75 miles. On our walk there were several places that I stopped to take pictures. The river is beautiful in this area with many flat rocks and rapids where the water flows through narrow channels cut over thousands of years. After walking 8 miles, we were back at our turnoff spot at around 3:00 PM. From that point we still had another mile and two river crossings before we reached the trail back to the parking area. Everything was now familiar so we talked freely as we walked. Once on the trail there was still another 1.5 miles back to the cars. On the way back I mentioned the sign that marked the eastern terminus of the Finger Lakes Trail. On June 2nd, National Trails Day, the Finger Lakes Trails Conference has scheduled section hikes along all 576 miles of the trail. We arrived back at the parking area at 4:00 PM having covered 10.5 miles in 7 hours and 15 minutes. This included 7 miles of bushwhacking and 2165 feet of elevation gain!

On Wednesday, March 14th, Lisa and I wanted to go somewhere close to Livingston Manor so I suggested a hike from the Balsam Lake Mountain parking area on the Beaverkill Road to Vly and Tunis Ponds. Sheba and I met Lisa at her store downtown and I drove to the end of the Beaverkill Road to park in the lot there. We got going at about 9:25 AM with warm weather and clear skies. The very first part of the trail has a nice view of Balsam Lake Mountain so I took a few shots before we even were up to speed. After the pictures, shouldered my pack and we got going. The was a little snow in the woods and some snow and ice on the trail. We walked and talked and were soon crossing Black Brook on the bridge around .5 miles into the hike. We climbed the hill moving away from the brook and continued along the trail toward the next brook. At 1.4 miles we again descended to cross a bridge. This time it was the bridge over Gulf of Mexico Brook. A few hundred feet on the other side of this crossing we turned left into the woods and bushwhacked along another stream to Vly Pond. We came out by the beaver dam in a rather deep snow bank. The water level was a little low and there were no signs of beaver activity. We stopped a the pond for a snack. I took pictures of the pond and some of the surrounding mountains. The sky was a deep blue which contrasted with the drab surroundings.

We left Vly Pond at about 10:30 Am and headed back to the main trail. We turned left on the trail to head for Tunis Pond. At 2.4 miles we hit the road that parallels the Beaverkill and turned left toward the pond. The river was very cloudy with what looked like a lot of silt. The road showed signs of vehicle tracks. In places the road was still covered by layers of ice and snow. Not too far upstream we found a large slide that had come down into the stream. The stream was busy eroding away the slide and this was what was making the water cloudy. Upstream from the slide the water was very clear. The sun was out and the light danced off the water. We walked about .4 miles from the turn off the trail and at about 2.75 miles into the hike we turned left to head northeast and up toward the pond. We hiked about .2 miles and arrived at the shore of Tunis Pond at around 11:20 AM. We had to work around some blowdowns but otherwise it was a short bushwhack. In contrast to Vly Pond, Tunis Pond was covered in ice. I took pictures of the pond and the surrounding hills. Again, we saw no signs of beaver activity around the pond. We turned around and followed our route back to the car leaving out the bushwhack to Vly Pond this time. When we got to the Beaverkill, we stopped briefly to take some pictures of the sun on the clear water as it rippled over the rocks. We were back a the car by 1:00 PM having covered 5.7 miles in 3.5 hours.

On Tuesday, March 13th, I took Sheila and Sheba and headed for Round Top behind our church with the intention of hiking along the ridge from the Orchard Street Cemetery to the Agudas Achim Cemetery near Exit 97 on the Quickway. We hiked up the road on the edge of the cemetery and turned left on the trail through the woods. At the junction of the two woods road, I found that the deer head from a previous hike was gone but both dogs did seem interested in that spot. We stayed on the woods road and continued down the hill after the turn to the quarry. From that point we followed the woods road as it passed by some high ledges and steep hills on the right. There were only a few damp spots along the way. Eventually the road turned to the right and uphill. At this point we turned to the left as headed downhill slightly still staying on the little ridge that goes toward the Quickway. This route heads southeast and passes through a nice grove of evergreens and over a few small streams. Eventually it becomes parallel to the highway. We dropped off the path a little to avoid a patch of barberries and roses before heading uphill and then dropping down to cross another stream or two. After about 2 miles we began the final climb up a hill to the woods road that goes near the Jewish cemetery. To get back we turned around and retraced our path following Sheba most of the way. Sheila was a little boisterous on the leash but is getting better. When we reached the woods road where we turned southeast we went to the left and then right up the hill. The climb is rather steep and leads to the top of the unnamed hill that is south of Round Top. We continued over the hill and down the other side. We headed back passed the quarry and turned down through the woods to hit the road back to the trail to the cemetery. We continued back to the church and across the street to the house. We hiked 4.4 miles in about 2 hours.

On Saturday, March 10th, Jim Kennard wanted to get in one more CHH peak before returning to Rochester. We agreed to meet at the Batavia Kill parking area and hike Burnt Knob AND Acra Point so that he could add TWO more to his CHH completed list. We agreed to meet at 10:00 AM which is a little late for me but it turned out to be a good time as I had two ambulance calls during the night! As I left Livingston Manor at about 8:15 AM, a snow squall was in progress but it disappeared as I drove out the DeBruce Road. On Route 47 there were four cars parked at Biscuit Brook. four cars at Slide Mountain and none at Panther! I wondered where everyone was on this beautiful day. The temperature was holding at about 22 degrees on the car thermometer but the sky was blue with some fleecy white clouds. I decided to drive up Route 42 from Shandaken as the bridge over the Westkill that washed out in the hurricanes was supposed to be repaired. A small group of hikers was at the Halcott parking area getting ready to start a hike. The slide on Route 42 seemed even more impressive in the winter. The bridge had been replaced with a new modern road bridge instead of the old one with the steel superstructure. I finally made it to Maplecrest and turned right on Big Hollow Road. The road was in good shape until the bus turn around. From that point to the Parking area was very icy as was the parking area itself. I was surprised to find room in the lot at 9:45 AM with only about five cars. I knew that a meetup group was supposed to be hiking the Blackhead Range and I though they were starting at 9:00 AM. I watched one car slip around the lot and hoped I would get out OK at the end of the hike. I recognized Jim's car as he parked and went over to say hello to him and Connie and Edna, two experienced hikers from Saugerties. We decided to put on spikes right away and as I headed back to my car a parade of cars began to pull up. A few took the remaining spots but the rest turned around and parked on the side of the road. We left the parking area at 10:10 AM and headed down the road a little to start on the red blazed Black Dome Trail.

The new bridge made crossing the Batavia Kill easy and the small tributary was no problem. The trail was very icy and I was glad we had decided to wear the spikes. I had been a little cold at the trail head with a slight breeze blowing but the slightest exertion warmed me up. I unzipped the front sippers on all layers and the pitzips on the Mammut hoody which was enough for the moment. We walked and talked and gained about 600 feet over the first mile to the blue Escarpment Trail. There was still only a little snow and some ice on the trail. I suggested we turn left and do Burnt Knob first. Burnt Knob has more bushwhacking and doing Acra Point second would allow us to decide to do an out and back or a loop. As we started up to Burnt Knob the trail had only a light coating of snow and a few icy patches. The trail did get steeper as we ascended and it switched from an eastern exposure to a northern one as it wraps around the back of the hill. As soon as the exposure changed, there was several inches of snow on the trail/ We made the turn at the switchback and admired the view to the north. Soon we were facing east toward Acra Point and the view in that direction was also good. I took a few pictures and removed my midlayer before making the last climb and walking to the viewpoint facing the Blackhead Range. The view to the south was very clear and the only drawback was that the sun was very bright. We dropped our packs and stayed at the lookout for a few minutes to take pictures. We then turned our attentions to the bushwhack up to the highest point on Burnt Knob, We decided to ascend directly across from the lookout and then walk along the ridge to the west to find the high point. There was about a foot of snow at the top and it was less consolidated than on the trail. We found a small viewpoint to the north a I took some more pictures before walking west. About 1.75 miles into the hike around 11:25 AM, we hit what seemed to all of us like the highest point. We stayed for a minute and then decided to take the shortest and steepest path back to the trail. Heading southwest and walking about 520 feet and dropping 125 feet brought us to the trail. Now it was on to Acra Point.

Descending to the Col went quickly and soon we were walking up the trail to Acra Point. The trail was steep but had a couple of switchbacks and the trip isn't long. From the Col to the viewpoint was less than .3 miles and represented a vertical gain of about 220 feet. We walked out to the viewpoint at 12:10 PM to find another spectacular set of views. We decided to stay for lunch. I took pictures of the Blackhead Range, Burnt Knob and Arizona, a swell as , some shot down the valley. While we were relaxing, three dogs showed up and were soon followed by their people. One of the people was Robert Moses who leads hikes for, among other groups, the Andes Hikers. We talked for a while and then they moved on. Soon it was our time to get back on the trail and search out the high point further up the trail. From the viewpoint it was an easy walk of about .5 miles and 160 feet up to the highest point just off the trail. I suggested we do the loop rather than head back the way we had come and the others readily agreed. There was quite a bit of snow on the trail from the highest point to the junction with the Batavia Kill Trail. The other group had gone to the high point and turned around so the only footprints were those of a smaller group that had come over from Windham earlier in the day. It had been some time since I had hiked this trail and it was longer than I remembered. At times there were limited views to our right and up ahead we could see Blackhead getting closer and closer. After 1.7 miles from the high point, we were at the trail junction and turned right to go back to the parking area. The next section of trail was very narrow and had some very icy patches which required some attention to foot placement. The walk to the lean-to seemed short. At the lean-to we found packs and other equipment sitting in front of and in the lean-to with no one around. From the lean-to we headed down the Batavia Kill Trail. Several spots had large ice flows and the amount of debris still strewn around from the fall flooding was remarkable. As we neared the parking area, the icy patches all but disappeared and I decided to remove my spikes. We ran into several more icy stretches after that and I almost put the spikes back on! We were back at the cars by 2:30 PM having hiked 6.5 miles in 4 hours and 15 minutes. After negotiating the ice in the parking lot, I drove to Tannersville for a quick meal at Pancho Villa's before returning home.

On Friday, March 9th, Jim Kennard and I had agreed to meet in Margaretville to hike to the high point on Dry Brook Ridge so that he could check off another summit on his CHH list. As I left Livingston Manor with Sheba the temperature was in the high 20's but the wind made it feel much colder. The drive around the Pepacton Reservoir was uneventful and I arrived in Margaretville early so I headed to the trail head to check out the conditions and then to the Hess station for gas. Hill Road was well plowed as was the trailhead and a glanced the trail showed little or no snow. I pulled into the parking lot across from the Foodtown at about 9:55 AM and Jim was waiting for me. We decided to drive both cars to the trailhead parking since it was Friday and few others would be hiking. After arriving at the trail head, we got our gear ready and walked across the road to begin our hike at 10:20 AM. We discussed bringing snowshoes and decided against it. Snowshoes would not be necessary at the beginning of the hike and we did not want to carry them on the chance we might come across some snow. The trail is an old woods road and it is wide and well-maintained as it passes through a red pine plantation planted by the CCC. The first .5 miles is a sustained climb of about 450 feet which is never very steep but really gets the blood circulating and allows you to get warmed up. As the trail leveled I unzipped some zippers to allow some cooling ventilation. The higher we went the more snow we found and much of it was freshly fallen. It covered the trees and laid a light blanket on the trail. We took some pictures as we ascended and somewhere along the way I took off my mid layer even though the temperature was right around freezing. On the trail we were protected from the wind on the hiking was really heating me up.

At 1.9 miles the trail leveled off and the snow depth began to increase to 6 to 8 inches with a few deeper spots. The snow was hard and we were not sinking in most places and the decision against the snow shoes seemed to be correct but I knew that the ridge often had more snow. At 11:40 AM we hit the trail junction about 2.25 miles into the hike. We paused for a drink and a snack. As we turned right to head toward the lookouts and the high point it became clear that the ridge had LESS snow than we had just come through, in fact, there was only a dusting of new snow over hard packed older snow and ice. The walk along the ridge to the lookouts is about a mile and gains only 270 feet. There were a few icy patches that were especially noticeable on some of the short but steep ascents. We could hear the wind blowing but we were protected for most of the hike. The trail on the ridge is more of a trail than a road and it winds back and forth as it approaches the viewpoint. At 12:15 PM we arrived at the viewpoint and I dropped my pack and got out the camera. One look out at the Pepacton Reservoir and the surrounding hills told me that this was one of the best views I had ever experienced from this lookout. The reservoir was clearly visible and the sun, while bright, was not interfering with taking some good shots. I walked out onto the rocks being careful not to slip as there was some ice. I took some shots and used Jim's camera to take some of him and Sheba. The wind was still blowing and I was getting cold so we took some final looks and some final pictures and got back on the trail to the high point. We walked another .5 miles on the trail and gained another 100 feet of elevation before we decided to walk to the left of the trail and up into the woods.

After we made the turn into the woods the snow got much deeper approaching a foot in most places. The walk was a gentle incline and we were soon on an almost flat area typical of many CHH peaks. We found a high spot but then I noticed a higher point a little further on. After walking only .1 miles and gaining another 35 feet we claimed the summit at 12:45 PM. We stopped for a bite to eat but I began to get cold and we didn't wait very long. We decided to walk straight out to the trail rather than retrace our wanderings and we were soon on the trail back to the cars. It was at this point that we noticed that the skies were no longer sunny but overcast and beginning to get dark. At one open viewpoint I took a few shots and noticed that snow appeared to be approaching. In only a few minutes there were flakes around us as we moved quickly along the trail. Jim had put his spikes on at the high point but I stubbornly slipped and slid along without mine through to harrowing little descents. On the final descent I gave in and was glad that I did. We hit the trail junction and turned left onto the Huckleberry Loop trail. The short walk along the flatter part of the trail quickly gave way to the sustained descent and down went a lot faster than up. Along the way the snow stopped and there was some sun but this quickly changed back to snow showers. This happened several times as we made our way through the hardwoods up top into the pines farther down the slope. Much of the light covering of snow had melted away in the direct sunlight while we were up on the ridge. We stopped once or twice to take pictures but otherwise kept up a good pace. We arrived back at the car at 2:50 PM covering 7.7 miles in 4.5 hours including all the stops for pictures both short and long. I had planned on stopping to take pictures of the reservoir or some waterfalls on the way back but the skies remained cloudy so I headed home by way of the Barkaboom Road.

On Thursday, March 8th, I took Sheila for some exercise on the Round Top behind our church in Livingston Manor! Sheba seemed a little sore after 18 mile sin two days so I gave her the day off. As we started across the street it looked like all the snow had disappeared from the hillside behind the church. I let Sheila have her way and sniff every leaf in site which made the hike last a little longer. After climbing up to the top of the cemetery hill we turned left onto the trail and there was no snow in sight. We turned right on the "low road" and headed up the hill with Sheila straining to go faster than I could possibly go. As we turned left to go up the hill we ran into several inches of wet snow. This continued to the top of the hill where I decided to turn left to complete the short loop. I was beginning to feel the effects of the two days of hiking just like Sheba! We walked through the snow on the woods road for a little while and then turned left into the woods to complete the loop. At the lookout we again turned left and walked down the hill to complete the loop and walk back to the house. It was only about two miles in an hour but it felt good to get out in the warm weather.

On Wednesday, March 7th Jim Kennard and I had agreed to hike Hodge Pond and Mongaup Mountains as a part of Jim's pursuit of the CHH. He was driving down from Rochester and would stop in Livingston Manor where we would depart for the hike. Jim made good time on his drive and actually arrived before the 10:00 AM appointed time. I was ready to go so we put all our gear and Sheba in my car and headed for the parking area at Frick Pond. Our gear included snowshoes so that we could make a decision at the trailhead about wearing them, carrying them or leaving them in the car. We got to the parking area just before 10:00 AM to find several inches of snow on the ground. Some snow had melted and the rest was pretty hard and I was leaning toward leaving the snowshoes in the car as I did not want to carry them especially on a bushwhack. In the end I decided we would wear them with the though that we could stash them along the way if they were not needed and adjust our route so that we could pick them up on the way back. We shoved off at 10:10 AM and walked out to the register box on the woods road that is the start of the Quick Lake Trail. The woods road was covered in snow which was an indication that taking the snowshoes was a good idea since this area is wet and often devoid of snow. We stopped briefly at the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond so that We could take pictures and then continued on the Quick Lake Trail. Both Jim and I were getting warm so we opened the zippers and took off a layer. We negotiated the blowdown on the way to Iron Wheel Junction and arrived there after hiking 1.5 miles in an hour. We turned left to stay on the Quick Lake trail and followed some snowmobile tracks which made walking over the snow easier.

The Quick Lake trail heads north from the trail junction and after a while heads northeast to meet the Flynn Trail at Junkyard Junction. Hodge Pond Mountain lies to the northwest so we simply had to pick a point to jump of the trail and head up. At 2.7 miles into the hike the trail turned northeast so we headed off into the woods towards the northwest. The slope was gentle at first and then became steeper with a few small ledges to work around. The route this time was a little different from the one I used last time and seemed more open. After about .3 miles we had gained 250 feet and were still headed up. Our compass bearing and maps indicated we should turn a little more north and even northeast so we did and continued up for another .1 miles gaining another 50 feet. At this point we wandered around a little and found what we though was the highest spot. We stopped briefly for a drink and snack and the headed northeast at about 12:15 PM to get back to the trail. At the top of the mountain there was at least 10 inches of snow in most places so the snowshoes made the going easier. Over the next .4 miles we dropped about 250 feet watching for the Quick Lake trail all the time. I knew it was doubtful that anybody had hiked the trail lately and I did not know about snowmobile traffic. I wanted to make sure we did not overshoot the poorly marked trail. I need not have worried as the trail appeared right were I knew it would be and was easy to spot as there had been several sleds on it recently. We turned right on the trail to head for Junkyard Junction which was only .3 miles away.

On the Flynn Trail we continued straight ahead as we continued to find a significant amount of snow. The plan was to walk down the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond, around the back of the pond and up the woods road to the top of the hill near Beech Mountain. We walked across the flat Flynn Trail and then descended to the pond stopping at about 4.5 miles to take some pictures before continuing on around. The walk from the back of the pond up the woods road seemed long and although not steep it was a little taxing. We stopped several times before cresting the hill and heading down the other side. At 5.5 miles the woods road turned to the east and we turned to the right into the woods heading almost due north. This part of the hike is somewhat unique as there is a narrow ridge of land that runs along a sharp drop off. By hiking along this ridge we got nice views of the valleys and hills beyond. There were a few spots that allowed limited views and we did spot some ski slopes to the south and east. I could not figure out whether these slopes were maintained or not and was at a loss to say where they might be located. Along the way we came across a fairly fresh snowmobile track and used it at times since it seemed to be headed in our direction. The walk was pleasant given the views and there were only a few places where we had to work through some brush. As we approached the final ascent, we followed snowmobile track until it was clear that it bypassed the top of the mountain. At about 6.2 miles we turned up the hill and made a steep but short ascent after which the land leveled off but continued to rise. We followed the rise until we could find no more higher ground and stopped at our summit for something to eat and drink. It was 2:45 and we still had to hike back to the car. We started out by following our tracks back down to the snowmobile track.

We decided to follow the snowmobile track back to the woods road and this proved to be a good choice. The return trip to the woods road went quickly and once on the road we kept up the pace. Going down the hill was definitely easier than the trip up! On the way down we stopped at a nice viewpoint and took a few shots. At the road down to Hodge Pond we continued straight ahead to the Flynn Trail and turned left. By 4:00 PM we were 8.4 miles into the hike and had arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The Flynn Trail had snowmobile tracks in both directions even though signs clearly state it is off limits. The tracks did make walking a little easier as we began the walk down the Flynn Trail. By this time we were all a little tired and kept up a good pace to get back to the car as soon as possible. The Flynn Trail is mostly a descent with a few flatter spots. The trail was still covered in snow and we had come across no bare spots at all in our hike. When we got to the gate, we turned into the woods to finish the hike on the Flynn Trail. We were back at the car at 4:40 PM having covered 10.1 miles and gaining 2000 vertical feet in 6.5 hours. This time was about the same as the last time I had done the hike in the spring without snow and snowshoes! I knew that I needed to take a day off and Jim was not sure what he would do the next day.

On Tuesday, March 6th Karl met Cindy and I at our house and we headed to Black Rock Forest where we were to meet Kurt to go on a hike. Karl rough his dog, Maggie, but we elected to give both our dogs a rest. When I gave Kurt directions from Lagrangeville, he said that the area sounded familiar especially the part about the narrow tunnel under Route 9W! He said that he had hunted in Black Rock Forest in the fall and knew how to get to the area. Cindy wasn't so sure about going through the tunnel and didn't remember the experience although we had been there before! When we arrived at 10:00 AM. Kurt was already waiting and we started hiking soon after. Black Rock Forest has a myriad of trails and woods roads so it is easy to tailor a rote as long as you have a map. We started out on the red Duggan Trail from the parking area and turned left on the blue Reservoir Trail crossing the brook on Ben's Bridge. The trail parallels the small stream which has cut a fairly deep path down from the Upper Reservoir. I stopped several times and carefully worked my way down the steep bank to take pictures. Maggie accompanied me on these excursions but the rest of the party stayed on the trail. When we got to the top of the hill near the education center the trail leveled off and we briefly picked up the yellow Stillman Trail. This trail heads up over Mount Misery so we turned right on White Oak Road and took a short cut back to the trail after it passed over the hill. We turned right on the Stillman Trail and walked to the Aleck Meadow Reservoir. We stopped to take some pictures here. The water had only a skim of ice near shore and there was no snow to be seen anywhere. By this time the temperature was in the 40's. '

We followed the Stillman Trail as it dropped below the dam and the started up to Black Rock. The .5 mile walk from the dam to the top of Black Rock gained about 390 feet but was well worth the walk. When we reached the top, the views were spectacular. There was none of the haze that normally blacks part of the view and the sky was blue with a few clouds. To the right was the Hudson River. Straight ahead we could see the Moodna Viaduct. As we took some pictures, we heard voices coming from below and soon a group of students and their teachers were climbing up to the viewpoint. I talked to one of the chaperones and found out the students were from a Montessori school in Manhattan and were starting a beaver dam project. Black Rock was about 2.25 miles into our hike and we left to continue our walk at about 11:40 AM. The descent from Black Rock is steep but short and the trail was pretty flat after that to the area know as Two Gates. We continued on the Stillman Trail through Two Gates and headed toward Split Rock. It was about a mile to Split Rock and we gained about 240 feet. The view from Split Rock was pretty clear except for very far away. The sun did interfere a little with the photography. We could see the New York skyline but it was hard to get any good pictures. We spent a few minutes at the viewpoint before heading down the Split Rock trail to the area between Sutherland and Sphagnum Ponds. Just to the right of the trail is a big, open pit which could have been a mine or a quarry. I took some pictures and then we got on the Chatfield Road to circle Tamarack Pond and visit the Chatfield Stone House.

As we hiked around the pond, I walked out to an opening to take a few pictures. The fire tower was clearly visible and helped us keep our bearings as we circled around to the house. We arrived at the house at 1:00 PM after a 1.3 mile walk from the lookout which was about 5 miles into the hike. We found a different group of students at the house. The house was open and the students were carrying wood to make a fire. After I took some pictures of the house we walked up the road and turned right to walked to Arthur's Pond on the White Oak Trail. We stopped at the pond and took some shots before walking across the outlet stream just below the dam. We followed the White Oak Trail from the pond to where it ended on the road south of Aleck Meadow Reservoir. We walked on White Oak Road to the Upper Reservoir where we stopped briefly to take some pictures. From there we walked down Reservoir Road, passed the education center and back to the car at the parking lot. Along the way we stopped twice, once at the Mailey's Mill Bridge and another time at a viewpoint looking north from the road. We were back at the car by 2:00 PM having covered 7.5 miles in 4 hours total time. This was about the length in miles and time I had planned. We had enough time to stop at El Bandido in Middletown for a meal and for me to get home for my spring coaches meeting.

On Sunday, March 4th, I had thought Cindy might like to go somewhere to snowshoe. I though that Kelly Hollow might be a good spot to take the dogs even though the ride is somewhat long for the length of the hike. When we got home from church, Cindy declined the offer so I headed to Roscoe to go to Kelly Hollow. As I got to Roscoe I thought about the long drive and the many places we could go to hike. I decided to go to Trout Pond again as it was close and is familiar ground. The parking area at the junction of Morton Hill and Russell Brook Roads was not plowed so I parked along the road. I had worm my new Columbia Bugaboot Plus boots and had with me my new Atlas Aspect snowshoes. The boots were actually TOO warm for the conditions but I was trying to evaluate them. They are my regular size 9 but seem a little large which I hope is a concession to wearing heavier socks. They boots are the highest I have coming up over the ankle even further than my Salomon Nytros. The reflective threads than Columbia uses and the Thinsulate insulation combine to make a warm boot. I was anxious to try the snowshoes but was disappointed to see that they look a lot like the MSR Lightning Ascents right down to the bindings. Atlas has good bindings on their snowshoes but decided to copy the WORST feature of the MSR snowshoes by using the same type of binding. They did keep their "spring loaded" feature which keeps the back of the snow shoe from dropping too much when lifted. This is handy especially when bush whacking but they tend to through snow up the back of the leg. I had not worn gaiters since I knew we would be on trails with a hard crust. We parked just before noon and left on the hike as soon as I got my snowshoes on.

Shelia was ready to go and I tried to curb her enthusiasm as she likes to pull me along. We walked down the road which was not plowed and showed no tracks except for snowmobiles. As we got to the upper camping area. I decided that I did not want to repeat the usual loops. When I first came to Trout Pond in 2005, I was hiking with my daughter and had no idea where I was going. We took the first trail we came to which was a snowmobile trail that gained some elevation before dropping down to the lake. I remembered that it was overgrown and poorly marked but was also a fun hike. I decided I wanted to see if I could repeat that route. The dogs and I turned in on the snowmobile trail and had a very pleasant walk along Russell Brook. The trail was clear and there were a few snowmobile blazes. At about .6 miles into the hike the trail all but disappeared and there were no blazes. I decided to continue along the east side of Russell Brook and then turn west when an opportunity presented itself. The woods were pretty open as we walked along the high bank of the brook. At about a mile I figured we were headed too far to the east and decided to cross the brook and head west. I found a more gentle slope down to the stream and up the other side. The crossing went well but there was a lot of blowdown to negotiate on the other side. Once through the blowdown, I took a compass bearing and decided we needed to head more to the northwest. The maps showed a higher hill in that direction and it was more toward the pond. Soon I could confirm the "higher hill" and it was not only high but VERY steep with significant ledges. We headed right for the hill and climbed the first steep step through some blowdown and old pricker canes. Sheila actually led the way quite nicely and we were soon at the base of the ledges. Heading due west was not a possibility as that was the direction of the steepest ledges. Heading north or south would skirt the ledges and lead to a gentler ascent. I decided to head north and off we went. After a brief walk on flatter ground, I saw an opportunity to pick our way up the hill and took it. This required some sidehilling and some steeper ascents through some blowdown and more pricker canes. After about 1.6 miles and an hour of hiking we were at the top of the hill.

I had hoped for a view of the pond from the top of this high (2600 ft) hill but there wasn't one. There were some nice views of the surrounding hills and ridges and it seemed we were as high as any of them. From up there was only one way to go and that was down. I headed almost due west and dropped over 300 feet in the next .25 miles. Most of this was a steep descent through ledges but there always seemed to be a path down through them. After the .25 mile descent we abruptly ran across a snowmobile trail. I had thought this might happen as the Trout Pond side of the hill has several snowmobile trails that follow the old bark roads from the Treyz company. The Treyz company operated a large acid factory at the foot of Russell Brook and they logged the area for the raw materials they needed. The snowmobile trail that I hoped to hit runs down to the lake about halfway between the two ends. The one that we did find headed back toward the outlet but I was glad to have some easier hiking for awhile. At 2.2 miles we hit the main trail around Trout Pond. By this time my shoulders were aching from Sheila pulling on the leash and the bushwhack had been a good workout. My feet were a little sore in the new boots and I decided I did not have to walk around the loop one more time. We turned left and headed back to the car via the lower parking area. The uphill walk on Russell Brook Road was a good workout. We were back at the car by 2:10 PM having covered 3.6 miles in just over 2 hours. When I got home, I loaded the track from my GPS into the computer to compare it to the track from 2005. I found that we should have crossed the brook at the point where the trail "disappeared" which would have allowed a more gentle approach to the hill and a descent to the lake.

On Friday, March 2nd, I wanted to hike a 3500 foot mountain and make every effort to find one that had enough snow to make snowshoes a necessity. Past experience had shown me that Balsam Lake Mountain gets and keeps a lot of snow since it is the westernmost Catskill 3500 peak. We had been having an odd mix of snow and sleet and rain during the week but this day seemed to have little precipitation forecast. I took my snowshoes with me although the conditions in the valley seemed to indicate I might not need them. As I drove out of Livingston Manor some rain and freezing rain was hitting the windshield but the roads were clear. The further I drove up the Beaverkill Road, the more snow and ice there was on the trees. I wondered about the condition of the road and parking areas since the deterioration of the road has made getting a snowplow passed the Quill Gordon Lodge difficult. I was surprised to find the road in good shape with only a little ice and the Cradle Rock and Mongaup Hardenburgh parking lots were both plowed. The amount of snow along the road and in the forest continued to increase as I approached the trail head as did the ice and frozen snow on the trees. When we arrived at the Balsam Lake parking area, it two was plowed and I had no trouble parking. We got started right away and I decided that snowshoes would be the best idea. There was a heavy haze hanging around which obscured most views. On the way passed the trail register, I walked out into the field and took a few pictures of the field and the trees covered in ice. As usual, I had overdressed and was warm almost immediately. We had to walk over three large trees across the trail before arriving at the turn up the mountain. We stopped at this point so that I could take some pictures and remove my midlayer. Sheba seemed to be in good shape and was willing to lead but I held her back so that she could walk in my tracks.

As we started up the mountain, I engaged the heel lifters on my Tubbs Alp Flex snowshoes. They make the strain on the calves less pronounced and are not high enough to cause an imbalance. The higher we climbed the more snow and ice was present and I was glad I had the snowshoes. The fog continued to hang around so the views which are limited to begin with were nonexistent. I stopped a few times to take pictures. We passed the 3500 foot sign after 1.25 miles and an hour of hiking. Soon after this we came to the spring and then climbed the last short section to the summit plateau. I took some more pictures of the trail and close-ups of the trees. The walk to the tower was interesting as always since the snow got deeper and there was a lot hanging on the evergreens. I took some pictures of the spruce tunnel and then we were at the tower. The drifts in the clearing were almost two feet high and the wind was whipping around. The tower was encased in ice and frozen snow which should have made it clear to me to stay off or to switch from snowshoes to spikes. I took off my snowshoes and grabbed my camera to ascend the tower. Even before I got above the treeline the wind velocity increased. I stopped at one of the landings and took some pictures before deciding to head back down. I immediately remembered that down is always more harrowing than up but I got to the base with only one slip. There was no reasons to hang around at the cold and windy summit so we headed back down the other side of the mountain

Descending in the still light powder was a blast. I picked up the tips of the snowshoes and was able to ski down the steeper parts with Sheba right behind. I was having so much fun that I did not notice the couple headed up the trail until we were almost on top of them. They had come down from Binghamton for the day and were parked the Millbrook lot. We chatted for a minute as they admired Sheba and then we headed in opposite directions. having a broken trail was nice but that ended at the trail junction. Sheba and I turned right to complete the loop and head back to the car. We were back into fresh snow but the going was much easier than when all the rock are exposed. The fog continued to be with us but the sun shown through several times. I was not cold at all despite having just and underlayer and softshell on top. We hiked back to the trail junction quickly and then kept the pace back to the car. We were back by 12:50 having covered 4.3 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes including a lot of time stopped for pictures.

On Wednesday, February 29th, Sheba seemed a little lame from the recent hikes and cold weather. I decided to take Sheila out alone over Round Top to see if she could follow our regular path. I intended to do the shortest route possible just to get out as the weather was raw and felt much colder than the 36 degrees on the thermometer. We headed up the hill behind the church and entered the woods with Sheila eager to smell all the smells with her nose buried in the snow. When we got to the first junction, she immediately turned in the correct direction and headed up the woods road. Net turn, same result. Sheila seemed to want to do the longer route as she turned away from home at the next junction. We walked passed the quarry and won to the next set of roads. My intention was to cut off the upper part of the loop but the dog had different ideas. Sheila flawlessly followed our route UP the hill and down the other side where she turned to make the top part of the loop. Soon we were headed back toward town along the woods road that we always use. The temperature seemed a little warmer which may have been due to the fact that we were protected from the wind. I was wearing a new pair of Columbia Bugaboot Plus boots. Initially, I had decided that they were not very warm as my feet seemed a little cold. They were also larger than most size 9s. As we hiked I noticed that my feet began to warm up and were getting mighty toasty. I don't know whether this was the Thinsulate or reflective threads that Columbia uses. The size issue may be due to the fact that there is a little extra room for heavier socks. I followed Sheila as she navigated the route along the ledges and down to the woods road above the Quickway. She led me to the next woods road and turned to head toward the clearing overlooking the Exit 96 exchange. We turned left on the woods road, walked a few hundred feet and then cut up through the woods. This was the hardest part and the biggest test for the dog since there is no trail to follow. Sheila cut up through the woods and over the hill ending up right at the lookout and the trail back down to complete our loop. I am not sure how much I influenced her but Sheila seemed to know where she was going. Now I have to work on getting her off the leash!

On Monday, February 27th, it was time to get Sheila out for a workout so I decided to head over to Frick Pond. Cindy said she would go so we agreed on the Logger's Loop as a good section. What I didn't tell Cindy was I held out the option of heading up the Big Rock Trail and down the Flynn Trail when we got to Times Square! We arrived at the parking area at about 1:15 PM, put on our snowshoes and got on the trail. There was one other vehicle present which was surprising as no one else seems to frequent this area especially during the week. We headed out to Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail and stayed on the trail across the outlet bridge. I decided not to take any pictures unless there were exceptional views. I cannot use poles with Sheila on the leash and she was in rare form after not being out for the weekend! The footprints we were following split right after the bridge with some following the trail and others appearing to head down along the outlet stream. We continued up the Quick Lake Trail in about 4 inches of snow and temperatures in the low 40's. It seemed really warm and the snow was a little slushy but was not clumping on the snowshoes. The trail is becoming almost impassable due to the amount of blowdown and I am surprised the DEC has not cleared it since the trail is so popular. We arrived at Iron Wheel Junction at about 2:10 PM and made the right turn onto the Logger's Loop Trail. The trail was packed by snowmobiles and was easier walking than the Quick Lake Trail. The Logger's Loop is mostly downhill and the hike went quickly. Sheila did NOT seem to be tiring as she dragged me along on the leash. At times she would stop to pick up a stick or log or to bury her nose in the snow to smell some scent. By 2:45 PM we were at Times Square and I asked Cindy if she wanted to go up Big Rock Trail. She was tired and politely declined my offer as we continued straight ahead on the Logger's Loop back to the area of Frick Pond. Once we made the left on the Quick Lake Trail it was a short walk back to the car. We covered the 3.7 miles hike in 1 hour and 45 minutes under cloudy skies but warm temperatures.

On Sunday, February 26th, I had agreed to meet Lisa after church to go for a hike. She emailed me Sunday morning to suggest Cabot Mountain from Beech Hill and to tell me two other people, Andrea and Jeff, would be coming along. After church, we stopped at Lisa's store to use a gift certificate. While we were there the fire siren sounded and I was called to a two car MVA which I though would surely derail the hiking plans. We found only one injury and other corps members covered the call so that I could go hiking. I actually arrived back at Lisa's at noon when we had arranged to meet. We stowed her gear in my car and started for the Beech Hill parking area. Our plan was to take snowshoes ad spikes and make a decision at the trail head. We arrived at about 12:20 PM and had to wait only a few minutes for the other two hikers. There was enough snow at the trail head to warrant snowshoes but I wondered what we would find on the southern exposure of the trail. We were hiking by about 12:35 PM and the lower part of the trail did seem to have more snow than rocks. The trail to the ridge is pretty steep and the snowshoes gave us a good grip as we ascended and the snow got deeper. After the first .25 miles the trail ascends 570 feet in the next .5 miles at an average 24% grade. We took our time with a few stops along the way.

By 1:35 PM we had hiked 1.4 miles and had just made the last ascent. I went ahead just to make sure that the lookout was just around the corner where I thought it was. I found the viewpoint and headed back to get the other three hikers. Jeff and Andrea decided to turn around at that point but Lisa walked to the lookout with me. The view was the best I have seen. It was clear with just the right amount of snow cover. Little Pond was clearly visible below and the hills beyond looked so close that it seemed you could reach out and touch them! I took some pictures of the scenery and some other shots of the ice on the trees. This area always seems to have frozen snow or ice on the trees and, in this case, the sun was shining through to give an added dimension. After taking our pictures Lisa and I headed back making the downhill trip very quickly. When we got to the last downhill, we found more snow had melted and I trouble avoiding the rocks. I took the snowshoes off as soon as I could which made the last part of the hike much easier. We covered 3.2 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes. The time out was about 1 hour and 15 minutes but we made it back in 45 minutes!

On Friday, February 24th, I awoke to find at least 5 inches of freshly fallen snow on my lawn. The temperature was right at 32 degrees so I knew that the snow might not be around for very long and it was beginning to mist. I wanted to get Sheila out for a workout so I decided to head over to Round Top and hike a shorter version of our now customary route. I found the shoulder strap to my camera case so that I could take some pictures without dragging the pack along. I got dressed and pulled out my Crescent Moon Gold snowshoes. The last time I was one snow shoes was In October of last year for the Halloween weekend storm! Since I still hike with Sheila on a leash, I could not take poles and I knew I would get a good leg workout without being able to use much upper body. As we started out I could tell by the consistency of the snow it was getting heavier and more compact than when I had shoveled the walk earlier in the morning. We headed across the street and up the hill to where the trail over Round Top starts. Going up the steep hill was more difficult without poles but Sheila provided some pulling power. I am trying to discourage her straining at the leash but in this case it helped. We stopped at the top of the hill just before going into the woods so that I could get some pictures of the snow-covered town below and the surrounding hills. Sheila sat quietly on her leash. We turned into the woods and I had to avoid the low hanging branches that threatened to dump snow down my back. I decided to turn up the woods road and do the gentle ascent up the hill. When we left the house, I had planned to do the very short loop but now I decided to go a little farther and up through the quarry. Along the way we stopped a few times so that I could take pictures of the snow and the trees. At the quarry I took some more shots before heading out the other side on the woods road that goes up the hill. We stopped in the clearing near the top of the hill and I took some more pictures before following Sheba back toward the area where we began the hike. The descent is short but steep in places and I missed using my poles for balance. As we were coming down the hill the fire siren sounded and I hoped I had not missed an ambulance call. We continued to follow Sheba down to the lookout over town. The viewpoint has become obstructed by young, fast growing trees so the view is not as clear as it once was. From the lookout we headed down the path to complete the circular route. We must have hiked a little less than 3 miles in a little more than an hour.

On Wednesday, February 22nd, Jim and I decided we would return to the Beaverkill area to hike the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail to Willowemoc and Sand Pond Mountains. I had already hiked these when I completed the CHH list but Jim was now ready to take them on. I had a basketball game later in the day so I though the 6+ mile out and back a better choice than the other pairs of CHH peaks in my area. I decided that the out and back route would be the best for our limited time since a loop was too long and a through hike would quire spotting two cars at points that are very far apart. When Jim arrived at my house, we put all our gear in my car with Sheba in the back seat and headed for the Beaverkill area. We arrived in the parking area just after 10:00 AM and were on the trail by 10:15 AM. The air temperature was in the high 30's and was forecast to rise during the day. We walked own to the suspension bridge over the Beaverkill and stopped to take some pictures of this interesting structure. The bridge consists of two towers at either end constructed of steel beams. The wooden decking is placed longitudinally on the bridge rather than crossways. The decking is suspended from several steel cables strung between the towers. The bridge sways considerably as you walk across it but I stopped to get a few spots from mid span. I am never too happy about walking across the bridge but Sheba was really reluctant. In water weather she simply wades across the stream but I was afraid the water was too cold to let her wade on this day especially at the very beginning of the hike. We crossed the bridge and started up the ascent to the ridge. There was a pretty good layer of snow with ice underneath in many places. We immediately recognized several sets of boot prints and what looked like dog prints on the trail. In most places these were easy to discern but some drifting snow obscured them in other spots. Jim mentioned that Heather might have been on this trail a day or two earlier and we vowed to check the register on the way back. From the bridge the trail gains 750 feet over .7 miles at about a 20% grade. This is much steeper than Woodpecker Ridge on the other side of the road and it is noticeable as you quickly rise to the level of that ridge. Slipping on the snow and ice made the ascent a little tiring but we made pretty good time.

Over the next mile the trail gains about 250 feet as it flattens some and then climbs once again. The higher we went the more solid the snow became and the deeper it was. At 11:50 AM we were 2 miles into the hike and near the top of Willowemoc Mountain. To our right the ground rose slightly and the tracks we had been following veered off in that direction. We walked off the trail through the open woods to an elevation just over 3200 feet and claimed victory! There wasn't much to see at the "summit" so we walked out to the trail and headed toward Sand Pond Mountain. Two things happened at this point. First, I realized that my first basketball game was at 4:00 PM not 5:30 PM. I considered the timeline for the rest of the hike and simply decided we would do it as fast as possible. I knew that the next peak was just over a mile away and did not want to "miss" it. Second, as we walked the trail descended more than I remembered AND the snow depth went from 2 to 4 inches to 10 to 12 inches. As we dropped elevation, I thought about having to regain it on the way back. The full meaning of "out and back" came to me! Over the next .8 miles we dropped over 400 feet. the walk was peaceful except for our "heavy breathing". There were several areas where ice was hidden under the snow making walking a little tricky. At some points the trail was poorly marked. The footprints we had been following had stopped on Willowemoc Mountain. By 12:15 PM we were 2.9 miles into the hike and the trail was mostly level. Off to the right of the trail we could see a set of ledges and higher ground which I knew was Sand Pond Mountain. We headed in that direction as I wondered how we would make it up through the steep ledges. The ledges weren't actually a problem as I picked a line that offered a good route to the top of the ridge. I could see a higher spot a little more to the southwest so we walked in that direction. There was a small cairn and we judged the highest spot to be just passed it. It was 12:30 PM and it had taken us about 2 hours and 15 minutes to hike the 3.33 miles out. I hoped the back part would be even faster!

We took a little time at the summit to get a snack and a drink and then started back down at 12:40 PM following the path we had made on the way out. The walk down Sand Pond was easy as was the walk over to the base of the climb up Willowemoc. The ascent to the top of Willowemoc had four separate spots that seemed to be the top of the climb. The temperatures had increased and the snow was even slipperier than on the way out. I took a few shots of the snow on the trail near the top of the climb. By 1:25 PM we were 4.6 miles into the hike and at the top of Willowemoc Mountain. The hike to the top of the last descent went quickly as we pushed the pace. We did have to be careful in a few places to avoid the ice under the snow. On the final descent I slipped and slid on the first part until a particularly steep and icy section made me decide to put on my spikes. I had to give up on the poorly designed Yak Xtremes so I donned the Microspikes I was carrying. They went on quickly and picked up enormous clumps of snow just as quickly. The snow was just the right temperature to form clumps on the spikes. I tried knocking off the clumps as I approached the iciest spots. The clumps of snow actually seemed to add some traction on the parts that had snow alone. We finally made it to the bridge and scooted across to the car. It was 2:30 PM which meant we had covered the 6.6 mile hike and 1850 feet of climbing in 4 hours and 15 minutes. I had just enough time to get home , take a shower, and head off to my basketball games.

On Tuesday, February 21st, Jim and I decided we would go to the Beaverkill area to hike Woodpecker and Millbrook Ridges. My plan also included Cradle Rock Ridge if we had enough time. I had already hiked these when I completed the CHH list but Jim was now ready to take them on. Jim was driving to Livingston Manor directly from Rochester so he did not arrive until about 10:00 AM. I loaded Sheba and my equipment into my car and led the way up the Beaverkill Road. We parked my car at Alder Lake and getting into the parking area was tricky. The temperature was around 30 degrees and the snow and ice on the road were slippery. Once I transferred Sheba and my equipment to Jim's car, we headed for the parking area near Balsam Lake Mountain. At around 11:00 AM we pulled into the parking area which is the trail head for the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail. By 11:10 AM we had crossed the road and entered the woods to begin the bushwhack to Woodpecker Ridge. We headed almost due north and up. I knew from previous experience this would get us to the area of the highest point and that we could adjust after this. The woods were mostly open which made the going pretty easy with the overall grade being about 12% although some areas came close to 20%. After 2.2 miles of hiking we found the highest spot around at over 3400 feet. It looked a lot like the place I had been several times before so we claimed victory. As we walked around we found another clearing and a lookout that gave us a view of the Balsam Lake Mountain fire tower. I remembered that the last time I was on the ridge I was with Karl and we went to the fire tower and then down to the Balsam Lake Mountain trailhead. From there we walked the road back to the car. We had dropped off the ridge too much by heading to the east and won. To get back to the Millbrook Ridge Trail we had to gain elevation. Since Jim and I were going to head in the opposite direction toward Alder Lake, I headed down and to the west to find the trail. As we started out the wind came up a little and some snow fell. We also found that the snow depth increased to over a foot in some places. I again got off the ridge too quickly and found we were headed directly art Beecher Lake. I corrected by heading toward the north again and had to gain some elevation. Once we were back up, I looked around for the trail as we hiked across flat ground and eventually found it.

Once on the trail we picked up the pace but I caught a glimpse of the fire tower and it was in the WRONG PLACE! I knew immediately that I had turned right or east instead of left or west on the trail! I was so happy to find the trail that I had not paid attention to what I was doing! The mistake was only about .25 miles but in that distance we had dropped over 100 feet! I was a little embarrassed as I apologized to Jim and we turned around and headed back in the right direction. Within about .15 miles of where we hit the trail, we came to the lookout over Beecher Lake and the Zen Monastery. We stopped to take some pictures and noticed how black the sky had become. It was just after 2:00 PM as we started on the trail to Alder Lake. Although we had only hiked 3.25 miles it seemed much longer! Because of the time and the exertion I doubted we would make Cradle Rock Ridge. The walk along Millbrook Ridge to Alder Lake always seems longer than I remember. This is true even though I have done the hike many times. About .5 miles from the lookout, we hit a low point and started up to the highest point on Millbrook Ridge. The climb was covered in snow and there was some ice which made everything more difficult. Sheba led the way but I had to clean the ice out of here paws several times. Over the .6 mile climb we gained about 350 feet to the highest point on Millbrook Ridge which is just under 3500 feet. We knew as we started down that the rest of the 1 hike was downhill or flat and in celebration I slipped and fell on an icy patch. We made it down to flatter ground and hiked along until we came to the beaver meadows and the Beaver Meadow lean-to. We stopped at the lean-to at 3:40 PM and got a drink and took some pictures. The lean-to was in good shape with some pots and pans ready to go. We were about 5.6 miles into the hike with a distance still to go to the car and we decided at this point to save Cradle Rock for another day. Back on the main trail, the snow was only a few inches and we made good time to Alder lake. At the lake we turned right to go around the lake to the parking area. We stopped on the lawn of the Coykendall House. I took pictures of the lake and the surrounding hills and then walked up to take pictures of the stonework that remains from the mansion. We were back at the car by 4:50 PM but still had to go back to Jim's car. We had covered 8 miles and over 2000 feet of ascent in 5 hours and 40 minutes. I wondered how ready I would be for another hike the next day!

On Sunday, February 19th, I decided I wanted to hike somewhere after church where I could take Sheila for a workout. I called Karl to see if he would like to hike the Rocky Run Road and the area around Lake Superior. The Rocky Run Road is part of the old Newburgh-Cochecton Turnpike and was an important means of transport in its day. The road was established in 1801 and connected the Hudson and Delaware Rivers. He agreed and I headed out to his house in Bethel after church. Just before noon we walked down along the property line toward the Indian Field Road. I had forgotten the GPS but did have my camera. We had three dogs with us which made for an interesting walk. We passed by the log cabin built by my Uncle Jim. It was sad to see the roof caving in and the doors wide open. I spent many happy days there when I was growing up playing nickel and dime poker and listening to the men tell hunting stories. Once on the road we turned left and headed toward Indian Field. It was a short walk to the Rocky Run Road which forms the boundary between the state land of Lake Superior Park and the private land of the Indian Filed Club. My plan was to walk to near the end of the trail and then back and maybe take some time to walk toward Lake Superior. My father and I spent a lot of time ice fishing on Lake Superior and would go almost every weekend during the winter. We walked out to near the end of the road talking as we went and then turned around. On the way back we decided to hike up to the ridge on our left to see what we could see. There was a large cleared area at the top but we could not see the lake so we walked back toward the trail and continued a little farther. We tried walking off the trail a little farther on and were able to hike right down to the shore of the lake across from the swimming area. I took some pictures of the lake and then we continued down the shore of the stream that connects the lake to a pond. I took a few more pictures before we headed across the field to retrace our path home. We were out for a little over two hours and covered a little over 4 miles. I again thought it would be a great idea to create blazed trails a round the lake since many informal paths already exist.

On Saturday, February 18th, I wanted to hike Panther Mountain from Route 47 at the trail head for Giant Ledge. I had been up to Giant Ledge recently but had not hiked to Panther in over a year. A hiker had sent me an e-mail that questioned the distance I had posted for this hike (5.2 miles) and, after looking at the maps, I tended to agree. I did not have a recent track from my Garmin GPSMap 60CSx which is more accurate than my old Magellan models. I packed up my gear but did not take snowshoes as I did not think they would be needed. Sheba jumped in the car and we were off under brightening skies. We arrived at the trail head at around 9:30 AM to find a few cars already there. As we crossed the road, we found several inches of new snow on the trail and I wondered if I had made a mistake by not bringing the snowshoes. I was surprised to find that a fine new bridge was in place over the creek to replace the one washed away in the floods. 1The trail from the road to the turn up to Giant Ledge had a lot of icy patches but the ice was hidden by the snow. I probably should have put on my spikes but I was able to judged by the route the other hikers had taken and my their slips. Along the way we met one couple coming down from hiking Giant Ledge. The hike from the turn to Giant Ledge went quickly and the amount of snow did not increase. In fact, some of the southern exposures had almost no snow. We arrived at Giant Ledge at about 10:20 AM covering the 1,5 mile ascent in about 50 minutes. We stopped at one lookout so that I could take some pictures and then continued on toward Panther. The skies that had been bright and sunny were now cloudy with several ominous, darker patches. I wondered if the storm that was supposed to arrive in the afternoon was coming early!

The ascent of Panther is not too difficult and is one of the few sections of trails that always takes LESS time than I remember. As we descended Giant Ledge to the col, the ice began to be more and more of a problem. I decided it was time to put on the spikes and I donned my Yak Xtremes. I had been having mixed results with these but was willing to give them another chance. There were a few steep spots on the ascent but the spikes helped make them easier. As we neared the top of the climb the skies grew even cloudier. We stopped a the lookout over Giant Ledge and the Burroughs range. I could see the snow squall coming toward us and quickly got out the camera. The snow moved over the mountains and the covered Giant Ledge. Soon it was snow in on us! After taking the pictures we continued on toward the summit and met a couple descending from the peak. We said "Hello" and they both commented on the beautiful hiking dog I had with me. As we approached the summit, Sheba came back to me and I heard voices. The two hikers were a father and his 13 year old son who were working on the 3500 list. The father had hike many as a boy and now was starting in again with his son. We talked for awhile and then headed in opposite directions. We hit the peak around 11:30 AM and got a snack and drink. I took a few pictures but it was difficult as the snow had followed us. We stopped a the high rock viewpoint where the story was the same. I decided just to head back as quickly as possible. On the descent we met the first of a lot of hikers we would meet on the way down. Three women were coming up the steeper ascent and we talked for a few minutes. Somewhere just before Giant Ledge we met the father and son and hiked with them for a while before continuing on through the Col. Giant Ledge has quite a few people so we just continued hiking down the trail. At various intervals we met a total of perhaps 30 people and three dogs. The snow had passed and the sun was out making conditions pleasant but almost too warm. We were back at the now full parking area by 1:15 PM having covered the 6.3 mile hike in 3 hours 45 minutes. When I got home, I sent and e-mail to thank the person who had pointed out the mistake on this site and proponent corrected the error.

On Wednesday, February 15th, I wanted to get Sheila out for a workout so I decided to head over to Round Top and hike our now customary route in the opposite direction. I had two reasons for trying the reverse route. I wanted some variety and I wanted to see if Sheba could follow the route in the reverse direction. We hiked up to the lookout over Livingston Manor and then down to the woods road with Sheba leading the way with no problem. From there we followed the road out to near the Quickway and then along some ledges to another woods road. Sheila seemed better behaved on the leash but was still full of energy! Sheba led us along this road but walked right by the area where we normally come down the hill. I was willing to follow her as I wanted to see where the road went. I "forgave" her "mistake" as there is really nothing to mark the area of this turn. We seemed to be walking pretty far and I began to look for a way to get up to the ridge As if she was reading my mind, Sheba suddenly made a right and led us up another woods road to the ridge. She continued walking with a purpose and I followed her as we were headed in the right direction to get back to the house. As we were walking I began to notice that things looked familiar. We were on the woods road that we always use to come down the hill after Round Top. We walked to the top of the hill and followed Sheba as she completed the reverse loop passed the quarry and back to the house! We spent about two hours on the 4+ mile route and I learned that Sheba is a special dog!

The woods road or snowmobile trail was covered by snow in most places and there was some ice but it wasn't very steep so there were no problems. At about 2.5 miles the trail seemed to turn more to the northeast when I wanted to headed down toward Mongaup Pond. I had my GPS but that only showed where we had been and the direction we were going. A map would have been most helpful but, as I said, I left that home! Our choices were to turn around or see if we could bushwhack down to the pond and find a trail, snowmobile trail or road. Mongaup Pond is surrounded by steep ledges and the GPS seemed to indicate that we would encounter some of these no matter how we chose to go toward the pond. Still, we both decided on taking the adventuresome route so we turned off the trail and headed northwest and up over the ledges. The up part only lasted a short while before we were dropping down toward the pond. There were some steeper descents interspersed with falter areas. Sheba was doing a great job of picking a route. Sheila was staring at her leash trying to sniff every inch of ground we passed over. Taking a walk with Sheila on a leash adds a whole new dimension to the workout! Over the next .4 miles we dropped 425 Feet with some pretty steep and icy spots. At the bottom of our descent we hit a snowmobile trail which seemed to head northeast and southwest. We decided to turn left to see if it headed back to the area near the falls. This trail did head directly southwest and over a few low hills for about 1.2 miles until at about 4.2 miles we hit the trail from earlier in the area of the falls. We walked down the trail and then took a left to head along the creek out to the falls. I stopped to take a few pictures of the upper falls. The ice around the lower falls made trying to get down to the stream bed too dangerous. After a few more pictures, we went back to the car. The 4.7 miles hike took us about 2.5 hours. When I looked at my maps at home I found that the snowmobile trail that we had been on that headed northeast did intersect the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail. Taking that route would have added 2.4 miles to the hike.

On Friday, February 10th, I decided that I needed to get Sheila out for some exercise. We had already been to many of my favorite spots that are close to home so I decided to head to Huggins Lake. The Huggins Lake trail head is on the Berry Brook Road a few miles after the turn to the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. It is pretty close to home and offers a 4 miles round trip hike with some elevation gain and a nice small lake or pond at the end. We arrived in the icy parking area at about 1:40 PM. The trail is a wide woods road all the way to the lake and I didn't know what to expect as far as trail conditions were concerned. It was in the high 30's when we arrived with a stiff breeze blowing. Once out of the parking area the snow and ice were gone and we hiked up the hill. The trail rises 650 feet over the first 1.3 miles to a maximum elevation of 2530 feet. As we hiked the trail the conditions changed from bare trail to patches of snow and ice to all packed snow and back again. Once we started down from the highest point, the trail has a northern exposure and we ran into several inches of hard packed snow as we descended to the lake. The lake is about 400 feet above the trail head. We covered the 1.9 miles in about 50 minutes. We stopped on the shores of the lake so that I could take some pictures. The day was a little "bleak" without much sun and there was no blue sky. I tried to find a path around the lake but none was obvious so we started back to the car by retracing our path. I did take a few pictures on the way out to show the varying trail conditions. We were back at the car by 3:25 PM having covered the 4 mile hike in 1 hour and 43 minutes.

On Thursday, February 9th, I finally got to take the hike to North South Lake that I had planned and scrapped several times. I had no commitments for the day and so was free to hike as much as I wanted and I intended to take advantage of that fact. My plan was to park on Scutt Road and hike the Escarpment Trail from there all the way to North Point. I did plan to hike down to the Palenville Lookout and then return to the Escarpment Trail. From North Point I planned to return by the Mary's Glen Trail to the Rock Shelter Trail to get back to the car. I estimated the distance was about 15 miles which seemed long but I knew there were several "bailout" options along the way. The drive to the trail head went smoothly except for the temporary "bridge" on Route 47. This is sill a makeshift affair and is very rutted from the traffic. It looks as if the construction workers have continued to work on the bridge and may be ready to begin placing steel on the new, permanent structure. We left Livingston Manor a little after 8"00 AM and arrived a the Scott Road parking area at 9:3 Am. This was a quicker trip than I had anticipated and we were on the trail almost immediately. There were no other cars in the lot and I anticipated a day with few encounters with other hikers. The temperature was still cool especially in the shade despite the forecast for sun and a high in the low 40's. As we started out on the Escarpment Trail there were several areas that were covered in ice but they were relatively easy to bypass. We crossed the two railroad grades and crossed Spruce Creek on the footbridge. Just after the bridge we came to the junction with the Scott Road Trail and turned right down a woods road to stay on the blue blazed Escarpment Trail. The icy conditions were even worse here and I began to wonder how bad it would get. Walking along the edge of a cliff on an icy trail is not my idea of "fun".

As we walked down the trail the icy patches came and went as we worked our way around them. Just after the second bridge, we stopped at the remains of a dam on the creek. I carefully worked my way over the icy trail down to the creek bed to take some pictures of the stone dam and the creek. Back up on the trail the ice let up as we headed for the Layman Memorial. The trail to the memorial is downhill which could have been difficult had there been much ice. The trail was almost completely free of ice and we stopped briefly at the monument dedicated to a fire fighter who died in 1900 fighting a forest fire in the area. The trail from the monument ascend back up to the escarpment and we ran into a serious ice flow on the way. The constant freezing and thawing has produced some monumental ice flows on the trail. In this case it was impossible to just walk along the side of the trail so Sheba and I climbed a steep bank to outflank the ice. I took some pictures not realizing that this was only the beginning! After this first icy stretch, we were able to ascend without much problem to the area where the Escarpment Trail flattens some. It had been several years since I had taken this route and I had forgotten how beautiful and breathtaking the views can be. There are several famous named spots along the way but there are other, smaller lookouts that are just as nice. We passed the yellow shortcut trail at 10:40 AM about 1.75 miles into the hike. Shortly after this we arrived at Sunset Rock and then Inspiration Point. Along the way I had warmed up and removed my jacket and switched to a lighter pair of gloves and a lighter hat. The view from the trail is to the south and the sun was just beginning to make taking pictures difficult. Despite this I could look up the Clove and see the Hunter Mountain Ski Area behind the houses of Twilight {ark. The houses seem to hand on the side of the mountain and they must have spectacular views. Of course, Kaaterskill High peak and Round Top are visible across the way. I could also see several stream drainages as they snaked there way down the mountain. From Inspiration Point I got my first look at the Hudson River.

At 11:15 AM we arrived at the junction with the horse trail that leads down to the Palenville Lookout and the Harding Road Trail. We continued straight ahead on the horse trail to go down to the lookout. Fortunately, there was only one really icy spot and we successfully worked our way around it. The descent to the lookout is steep in places and is a drop of about 440 feet. The hiking distance is 1.7 miles from the junction one way and so it represents a considerable part of the hike. As we approached the area of the lookout I wondered if anyone had ever tried to hike directly from the lookout back up to the upper trail. The distance would be about 500 feet rather than about a mile on the trail. I actually considered hiking up to the area of the cliffs just to see what it looked like but decided to save that for another day. I suspected that the route would be near vertical in places and then any possible route for me would not be good for Sheba. By 12:15 PM we were at the first lookout about 4.7 miles into the hike. I took pictures from this viewpoint and then we walked to the second lookout which has a better view of Palenville and the Hudson. This lookout also has the remains of a foundation and "furniture" constructed from bluestone. I took pictures and we had a drink a some lunch. I also removed my gaiters and long underwear at this point. We turned around and retraced our route up the steep trail to the junction with the Escarpment Trail to continue our adventure. From the junction the Escarpment Trail heads more "inland" to the area of the site of the Kaaterskill Hotel. The trail has been rerouted in this area due to erosion but is well marked. At the top of a short climb the trail flattens and the walking becomes the easiest on the entire route.

After a brief detour from the escarpment, the trail returns to the edge of the cliffs making a large bend to pass Split Rock and Boulder Rock. Just before Split rock, I noticed a large boulder on top of an even large outcrop of rock. The boulder seemed to be just balanced on top and I was surprised I had never noticed it before. We passed the area known as Split Rock where several large slabs of bedrock have split off from the main mass of bedrock. We arrived at Boulder Rock and stopped for a few pictures of the large erratic perched on the edge of the escarpment. I also took some pictures of the Hudson and the valley but there was a lot of haze hanging low. Our net stop was the site of the Catskill Mountain House but the short descent was not easy! The trail was covered in ice most of the way with only a few bare patches. Sheba kept going off trail to avoid the ice and I managed to work around it for awhile. Eventually, I realized how foolish this was and I donned by Xtremes. From that point on I just looked for the thickest ice and the rest of the way down to the open field we easy. We stopped at the open field that was once the site of the Catskill Mountain House. I took pictures of the open space with a few well constructed benches. I also photographed the view and tried to imagine the hotel and its clientele at the height of its popularity. We started own the trail and access road and the ice all but disappeared. I removed my spikes and walked a few hundred feet before wishing that I had left them on. As we approached the North Lake parking area, the road turned to solid ice and even the sides were icy. By 12:20 PM we were at the North Lake parking area with 8.6 miles behind us. I knew that making North Point would be a challenge but I thought we might try.

The trail from the lake toward Artist Rock had a few icy spots and is steep in places but we made good time. We stopped briefly at Artist Rock to take in the views. We had met no other hikers and I have to admit I prefer being able to take in the sights without tripping over others! From Artist Rock we continued on the trail toward the spur trail that leads up to Lookout Rock and Sunset Rock North. The trail passes by the rock outcroppings that "support" the lookouts. In the past, I have often climbed up through the rocks to take the "shortcut" to these viewpoints but I deiced to stay on the trail. The rock in this area is a conglomerate constructed of large sediments with a weak cement. The rocks break part to leave "sand" on the trail. As we approached the area of the spur trail, the main trail became very icy as it passed into the shade of some evergreens. The ice continued as we turned onto the spur trail and I considered using spikes again. We walked out to Sunset Rock which overlooks the lakes. Unfortunately, the angle of the sun made getting decent photographs almost impossible. In addition, the clouds had started to roll in. After a brief pause, we worked our way along the escarpment and I took a few pictures before returning to the trail. I donned my spikes to handle the ice on the spur trail and the ice I knew lay ahead on the main trail. Just after our turn onto the Escarpment Trail there was a short, steep ascent which looked bare from the bottom so I removed the spikes. As we climbed up, I wished that I had left the spikes on. At the top of the climb there was a narrow section of trail with a rock wall on the left and a drop-off on the right. I put my spikes back on and started out across the ice holding Sheba by the collar. The ice only grew worse as we approached Newman's Ledge. The trail was covered in ice and passed the ledge there was a long ascent to the area of Badman Cave.

Sections of the trail to Badman Cave were covered in ice flows more than 10 inches thick! The flatter portions were bad enough but the ascents were downright scary. Sheba managed to work her way through the brush but I relied on my spikes to get over the ice. At 3:40 PM we arrived at Badman cave and the junction with the Rock Shelter Trail. We had hiked 10.6 miles and I knew that the extra 2 miles to North Point might be difficult. One look at the Escarpment Trail passed Barman Cave convinced me that we would not make the trip on this day. The trail gets steeper after the cave and for as far as I could see it was covered in thick ice. After taking a few shots at the cave, we turned onto the red blazed Rock Shelter Trail. This was the quickest way back to the car but I knew that the trail was usually wet and might be icy. There were a few muddy spots and some icy ones but the walk was realtor easy and almost all downhill. Along the way I found a small waterfall that I had not seen before. The water had frozen to form some beautiful structures with following water behind them. In another section of the trail water flowed over some ledges to form small "falls" that had frozen. I took a few pictures and then we headed back to the car as fast as possible. We were back at the car by 4:45 PM having covered 12.5 miles in 7 hours and 10 minutes! There was one other car in the lot when I pulled out.

On Wednesday, February 8th, Lisa called around 8:30 AM to see if we could hike somewhere close since she had to be back at her store for an 11:30 AM meeting. We agreed to head up over Round Top where she had not been before. We headed up the hill behind the cemetery and took the woods road up to the quarry. The quarry was almost free from snow and we could see more than I had been able to see before. After walking around the quarry, we walked back down to the woods road and followed the route that has become our customary walk lately. We hiked up the higher hill after Round Top and then down the woods road on the other side. We continued to circle around the hill until we descended to the woods road that headed back toward town and that parallels the Quickway. Once we were at the clearing overlooking the exit 96 interchange we headed up the hill on a diagonal route to avoid the steeper cliffs farther down the road. Sheba led us up and over the hill to the lookout over town. From the viewpoint we walked back down the path to the place where we had turned earlier. We walked a little over 3 miles in a little under two hours which fit our schedules and gave both dogs a workout.

On Monday, February 6th, Cindy and I decided to take the dogs on a hike to Trout Pond for some exercise. Sheila still has to be on a leash which makes hiking a challenge for me without poles and with an "enthusiastic" canine. We arrived at the parking area at the junction of Morton Hill Road and Russell Brook Road at about 11:00 AM. We always park in the lot and walk down the road rather than driving down to the lower parking area. We like the walk and the road can be rough and washed out or icy depending on the season. The parking area was a sheet of ice so we suspected the road would not be much better. As we started down the road, we saw that we were right as the road surface was very icy. I found that Cindy had not brought any traction devices so we had to be carefully we walked down to the falls. In some places the water had run under the pine needles and leaves to form a very icy layer. When we were opposite the upper falls, I decided to walk down the steep bank to get a better look. Without poles this was a challenge but I was able to find a route that had little or no ice. I actually dropped own behind the upper falls and the remains of the dam where I had not been before. I took some pictures and then walked around to the front of the dam. I took a few more shots and then decided it would be safest to go back up to the road. I rejoined Cindy and Sheila and we decided to walk down to the bridge through the woods rather can follow the icy road and path. Soon we were at the bridge where we found a narrow path without ice. We walked over to the falls and I worked my way down into the stream bed. I have taken so many pictures of these falls that it is hard to find a new shot. On this day the falls were running on the left side but water had, at some point, overflowed on the right side and formed a mirror image of the falls in ice. I took pictures and then we started up the trail. We decided that it might be easier to walk up the steep side if it was icy so we started to the left toward Mud Pond.

We found the woods road to Mud Pond completely devoid of any snow or ice. It was a little muddy in spots but looked like a day in late fall. As we crested the hill we began to run into a few inches of hard snow and some ice. We walked through the woods down to Mud Pond where I took a few pictures. Sheba then led us on an easier route back up to the trail over Cherry ridge to Trout Pond. It as 12:30 PM and we had covered 2.25 miles. The trail over Cherry Ridge was covered in snow most of the way. In most places the snow "gave" enough to be able to get a good footing and we walked along without much problem. We were at the new bridge over the inlet to Trout Pond at 1:15 PM about 4.15 miles into the hike. From the bridge we walked the wide woods road along the shore of the pond stopping at the outlet end. Some enterprising beavers were keeping the water level up by maintaining a dam across the spillway of the pond. We continued on down the road to the area of the falls and then walked up the hill through the woods the way we had come down. Walking up the road to the car was tricky as the ice had started to melt and was covered with a thin coating of water that made it even slipperier. We were back at the car at 2:00 PM having covered 6 miles in 3 hours.

On Saturday, February 4th, I had planned to go to North South Lake and hike the LONG distance loop around the entire area including the entire escarpment and North Point. I had planned to do this earlier in the week but the plan had not worked out. Once again a late night ambulance call left me a little tired and I was not sure I wanted to make the long trip to North South Lake. I settled on hiking the Ashokan High Point loop with a possible side trip to Little Ashokan. It had been my intention to go there during the week since I had not been there in over a year. I knew that the flooding from Hurricanes Irene and Lee had damaged the roads in the area but I did not know whether or not the trails had been effected. As I was driving from Sundown toward Peekamoose I noticed a pickup truck ahead of me. I knew that the road leads to West Shokan but I also knew that not that many people drive all the way through. As we approached the parking area, the driver signaled to pull into the lot where no other cars were parked. It was just before 10:00 AM when we parked and as we got out of our vehicles we introduced ourselves. It turned out Pat is a long time area resident like myself and I asked if he wanted to hike together. Pat said that he had just started hiking the trails in the Catskills and would like some company. We crossed the road to the pickup the trail. I noticed that the bridge over the creek was new indicating that it had been washed away in the flooding. The trail on the other side had also been slightly relocated to the register box but after that point it seemed in good shape. We signed in and started up the trail. We kept a pretty good pace as we walked and talked and soon we were both too warm. When we stopped, I took off my midlayer leaving me with a light OR Sequence and my Mammut Hoody. Throughout the day I alternated between using my gloves and hat and taking them off. The temperature was in the mid 30's but there was no wind and it seemed warmer. The hike to the turn up to the High Point is along an old woods road and is always longer than I remember. This day the hike went quicker as it always does when you have someone to talk to. For most of the 2.8 miles there was little or no ice but that change as we approached the turn. We were able to walk on the side of the trail and avoid putting on spikes. Along the way we crossed the stream which had changed its path since the flooding.

After making the turn, the ice continued on the trail where people had been walking and I knew it would be a miserable hike to the top with the slippery conditions. The trail to the left also seemed to be pretty icy so we continued straight ahead. Almost immediately the ice disappeared and the trail was clear most of the way to the top with only a few patches. The trail to the High point has at least three "false summits". This means that you can be fooled into thinking you are at the top but it also means that the trail goes up and then levels to give you a break. At about 3.1 miles into the hike a path leads off to the right and we followed it. There didn't seem to be a viewpoint and the path started to descend pretty rapidly so we turned around. We continued to push up the short climbs and were soon just below the top. We stopped briefly to take in the view back toward Little Rocky and Mombaccus before continuing on to the top. The vies of the ridge were pretty clear but we could see that the valleys were hazy. It was just before noon when we hit the High Point about 3.8 miles into the hike. We stopped to take in the limited views and took some pictures. There is a USGS benchmark on the rock and there were three anchor bolts one rock over. The bolts aren't too big and are spaced to suggest and small structure. I asked Pat if he wanted to go to Little Ashokan and he was game so we started in that direction. There was some snow and ice on the path toward Little Ashokan and the ground was frozen and slippery. I started in the lead but at some point Pat took over and found appropriate paths down through the ledges and up through the brush to the top of Little Ashokan. When we looked back at the High Point, we both confessed that it had not seemed that high as we came down. The distance is less than half a mile but the drop to the lowest point is almost 400 feet before the climb to Little Ashokan. The trip out took us about 20 minutes.

I was surprised at the view from Little Ashokan as it was even better than I had remembered! The views back to the High Point and over to the Mombaccus-Little Rocky ridge were clear. Even the views into the valley had gotten better and seemed to go forever. Even the tower at Mohonk was visible in the distance. I have looked several times for a completely clear view of the Ashokan Reservoir but have not been able to find one. Since there were no leaves on the trees, the views of the reservoir were pretty good and I took several shots. We walked down to the edge of Little Ashokan and walked around for some time. Eventually, after getting some lunch and a drink we started back to the High Point. I followed Pat most of the way as he picked a slightly different and better route back. When we arrived, there were two hikers at the High Point. We said "Hello" but they didn't seem to be too interested in talking. Pat and I walked along the trail to the viewpoint toward the west and north. We continued to the open fields a little further on. The vies of the Burroughs Range were gorgeous! The colors of the shrubs, mountains and sky combined with the lighting for an opportunity for some really nice pictures. Pat also found a small "window" that offered a view of the reservoir. I asked him if he wanted to do the loop rather than just go back the way we had come and he agreed. As we started out the trail was again icy but soon cleared. We descended through mostly open hardwood which contrasted with the dense shrubbery on the way up. Pat spotted a plastic container someone had left in the hollow of a tree and went to investigate. What he found was a geocache from Catskills Live! We signed the book and I left two fresh AA batteries but took nothing.

For about .8 miles the trail heads northwest and mostly descends. Along the way there were one or two minor ascents. The problem was that each ascent was very icy! As we had before, we simply dug in with our boots or walked off trail a little. At about 5.7 miles the trail turned southwest and then mostly south back to the trail junction. Along the way there were several stone cairns. Some seemed to simply mark the trail while several were at the beginning of paths that lead down the slope. I had followed at least one of these on previous trips and it didn't seem to go anywhere. We continued for another 1.5 miles to the trail junction. The last part of this section is a little steep and descends over rocks. We avoided some of this by walking on either side of the trail. We arrived at the trail junction at 2:45 PM about 7.2 miles into the hike. We quickly passed through the icy section and then walked back toward the trail head. By this time I was little tired and the trip back would have tedious without the company of another hiker. We hiked the last 2.7 miles back to the parking area and along the way ran into one other hiker with his dog. We arrived in the parking area a few minutes before 4:00 PM having covered just under 10 miles in 5 hours and 45 minutes. The skies were getting more overcast as we bid each other goodbye. I had thought about stopping at some of the waterfalls but decided I just wanted to get home.

On Thursday, February 2nd, I didn't have much time to hike but knew I had to get out to exercise Sheila. We had already been to Frick Pond so I decided to go to Long Pond and do the short loop to the trail junction and back on Flugertown Road. The temperature was in the high 30's with almost no wind but it was very overcast and dreary. I did not plan to take many pictures because of the conditions and because it would only slow us down. We arrived at the parking area on Flugertown Road at about 10:45 AM to find almost a solid sheet of ice. I was able to negotiate the slippery conditions which did not seem to bother the dogs and we headed across the bridge and up the hill. The hill up from the parking area was also very icy and I had to walk off the trail in several spots. In one or two places even the sides of the trail were icy! Once we hit the to of the hill there wasn't much ice and only a little snow cover. We passed by the side trail to Long Pond as the skies were still overcast. At 11:25 AM we had hiked 1.3 miles and were at the junction for the trail out to Flugertown Road and back to the car. I wasn't tired and the dogs both looked fresh so I decided to go to the lean-to and then turn around just to get some more distance. The side trail to the lean-to was only another .4 miles and at that point I decided to skip the lean-to and complete the "big loop". We pushed on with Sheba staying out in front and an enthusiastic Sheila straining at the leash. Around 11:50 AM we had hiked about 2.4 miles and were at the junction with the woods road that headed back to the parking area. This is where our adventure really began. The road was a sheet of hard, wet, slick ice! After slipping and sliding a short distance, I stopped and put on my spikes. After that, things were MUCH better!

We hiked along the icy road with the dogs having problems getting footing on the ice. Sheba walked on the side of the road in the snow but I had trouble convincing Sheila to do the same. She actually seemed to be enjoying the trip down the ice. We arrived at the small bridge over the beaver pond and on the other side I noticed a sign. Last time I had crossed the land near the hunting camp I noticed that the snowmobile trail markers went across the private bridge and the gates were open and one was gone. This time a sign ask for "respect for property owner rights" and several posts with trail blazes marked a path to the bridge. I am glad the property owners have given permission for others to use their land. I hope all users respect the owners property so that the permission continues. The road continued to be icy as we hiked back on Basily and then Flugertown Road. These roads are seasonally maintained and may be plowed but only by property owners or camp members. By 12:50 PM we had hiked about 5.4 miles and we came to the section of Flugertown Road that is maintained. I took off my spikes and we walked the rest of the way back to the car. Just before the parking area three deer crossed the road. As usually, Sheba ignored them but Sheila gave an indication that she found them interesting. We were back at the car by 1:00 PM having covered 6 miles in just over 2 hours!

On Tuesday, January 31st, I had planned to go to North South Lake and hike a LONG distance loop around the entire area including the entire escarpment and North Point. I had some chores to get done in the morning but thought I might still get out in time to do the hike. Cindy was not enthusiastic about such a long ride so we decided on Ashokan High Point instead. As we were getting dressed our new puppy, Sheila, began to get excited about going on a hike. It took her only twice to associate our hiking clothing with a wonderful time outdoors. She is a mixture of yellow, Labrador retriever, Husky and boxer. This combination means she is VERY energetic and LOVES the outdoors especially snow! We had not planned to take her to Ashokan as it is long and hilly enough that I would like to use poles. Sheila still needs be on a leash so we changed plans AGAIN and decided to do the long loop at Frick and Hodge Ponds with both dogs. The weather forecast was for a beautiful day and I wanted more views than this hike would provide but was willing to sacrifice them for the companionship. We arrived at the parking area just after 10:00 AM with beautiful blue skies with some clouds and plenty of sun. The temperature was in the high 30's or low 40's but a breeze made it seems a little cooler. We got started as soon as we could by crossing the road and heading up the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. There was only a thin layer of wet and melting snow near the beginning of the trail but as we climbed the Flynn Trail the snow became deeper and was more "crunchy". Throughout the hike the snow was never deep enough to require snowshoes but they would have made hiking parts of the route easier. At about .9 miles into the hike I was admiring the ledges to the right of the rail. As I looked up into the woods, I saw some laid up stone. The stone that I saw looked more like the support for a road than a some wall so we decided to walk up the hill to see what it was. We found a very nice woods road that I had 1 never seen before and turned left to head toward the clearing near the top of the Flynn Trail. The road stretched behind us for some distance and I will investigate where it goes in that direction on another day. The road very quickly hit a high point and then went right back to the Flynn Trail. This was disappointing but we decided to follow the trail rather than bushwhack to the clearing. Sheila was doing fine except for the fact that she continued to pull on the leash as she followed Sheba. She is bigger now and I am trying to teach her to walk without pulling and to come when called so that I can let her off the leash.

At about 1.2 miles we came to the road that leads to the clearing and instead of following it we just walked up the bank into the woods and directly to the clearing. The white snow, green trees and blue skies made a pretty pictures. The wind was blowing some and I cooled down as I took some pictures. I had opened up most of the zippers on my Mammut hoody and my shirts as I was very warm while moving, We got back on the Flynn Trail and were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We continued straight ahead top go down to Hodge Pond. Sheila wanted to run and I obliged her for as long as I could. As we entered the clearing at Hodge Pond the wind picked up but almost seemed warm as the sun was out and the air temperature had risen. This also meant that the snow was beginning to melt making is wetter and not as firm to walk on. There were a few deeper drifts near the pond as we approached the shore. I took some pictures and we got a drink before heading around the back of the pond on the old jeep trail. I did not stop to take pictures from the head end of the lake as the sun was at the wrong angle. We hit the Flynn Trail on the other side at 11:45 AM about 3.2 miles into the hike or not quite half way. There is some blowdown on this part of the Flynn Trail but we were able to avoid it without much problem and were soon on the flatter portion of the trail headed toward Junkyard Junction. There was some snow on the trail but much of it was open with some very wet areas which were only partially frozen. This was the wettest and hardest part of the trail to walk. At Junkyard Junction we turned left and started down the Quick Lake Trail toward Iron Wheel Junction.

The upper part of the Quick Lake Trail was packed by snowmobiles but as the snow volume has decreased the trail has turned to ice. The lower we got on the trail the more open it was with little or no snow. By 12:40 PM we were at Iron Wheel junction about 5.3 miles into the hike. Sheila was beginning to whine but I think it was more out of the "boredom" of being on the leash as she was still pulling me along most of the time. The trail from Iron Wheel down had not had any snowmobile traffic but still alternated between snow and open ground. After crossing a little stream, we ran into the blowdown that has been there for some time. We simply walked around it as we have been doing but it certainly would be nice if the powers that be would get it cleared! The final piece of trail down to Frick Pond was open and very wet in places. We arrived at the bridge across the outlet at 1:05 PM 6.3 miles into the hike. We stopped on the bridge and I took some pictures. Frick Pond was most open unlike Hodge Pond that was completely frozen. After taking pictures, we headed back to the car. The last part of the trail along the woods road was very open and wet. We arrived back at the parking area at 1:20 PM having covered 6.9 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes.

On Monday, January 30th, I didn't have much time to hike but knew I had to get out after a busy Sunday. Sheila also needed the exercise so we headed across the street to Round Top. This time we headed up the woods road passed the quarry and continued on. We took the woods roads to the second peak on the ridge with me following Sheba all the time. Sheila loved being out and I had a hard time holding her back. There was a thin layer of fresh snow on the trail which covered some very icy patches underneath. At the top of the second hill, he turned around and retraced our steps down. At the end of the descent I told Sheba to take us home and I followed her to the quarry. We turned up into the quarry and then followed road and path to the top of Round Top. At this point I wanted to head back rather than do any more loops. I gave Sheba the command to take us back home and she took off. I was interested to see where she would go as we had not used this route for a year. Sheba led us down the hill on almost the same route we have always used. Once we hit the woods road at the bottom, she turned in the correct direction and then turned back into the woods right where we always turn. She followed another woods road and I thought she was off course until she made another turn and we were right where we always end up to head home. If anyone has an explanation of this behavior, which Sheba regularly repeats, please e-mail me. We walked about 4 miles in 1.5 hours which was a relaxing but challenging workout.

On Saturday, January 28th, Karl was available to hike but we had not decided where we were going when he arrived in Livingston Manor at 8:30 AM. We knew that it was the Catskill 3500 Club's Winter Weekend and that at least one other group had a hike planned. It might have been interesting to hook up with one of these groups but we chose to go somewhere that others probably would not go. Karl asked about the trails at Little Pond that he remembered from picnicking there when he was younger, much younger. I proposed a hike that I had been wanting to do for some time. We would park one car at the Mary Smith Hill parking area on Berry Brook Road and then drive to the Little Pond State Campgrounds to hike back to the other car. I added up the mileage from the NYNJTC maps and it look to be right around 9 miles. This was definitely a route that required a car shuttle. By the time I got ready and did a few chores, we got a later start than I would have liked. (This seems to be a theme!) We drove with our dogs to the Mary Smith Hill parking area where I parked my car. The parking area was a sheet of ice. Sheba and I got in Karl's car and we headed out to Route 30 where we turned right and headed around the Pepacton Reservoir. We took the Barkaboom Road to get to the Little Pond Campgrounds. When we arrived at the access road, the gate was closed which we knew would be the case. We parked in a spot away from the gate with two pickup trucks. We suspected that the owners were probably ice fishing on Little Pond. By now it was 10:20 AM and it was time we got hiking. The sun was out and the temperature was right around 30 degrees. It seemed warmer than the temperature indicated as long as the wind was not blowing. Both Maggie and Sheba were ready to go and bounded ahead of us up the bare road. At the pond we stopped so that I could take some pictures from the bridge over the outlet. It was odd to see the brown and green around the campgrounds with ice on the pond and snow on the hills. We walked around the right side of the pond to the upper end. We found some people ice fishing and talked to them briefly before continuing on to the yellow Little Pond Trail. We took a right on the trail and started the first climb of the day.

The trail was very wet standing and running water. The first part of the trail parallels a small stream and the water in the brook made a pleasant sound. We began to run into more snow as we gained elevation. Throughout the day we would see bare ground, packed snow, ice and looser snow. Much of this depended on whether or not anyone had walked the trail lately, the elevation and the exposure of the terrain. We walked through the tall pines which are Karl's favorite and were soon at the viewpoint near the top of the Little Pond Trail. I took pictures of the pond there and some more shots of the surrounding hills before we moved on. There is the foundation of an old house in this area and we both agreed that this would be a beautiful spot to have a house although the access would be difficult! At the junction with the red Touch-Me-Not Trail we turned left to climb Cabot Mountain. There was more snow and the trail was not well marked as it is not that popular. Soon we were at the bottom of the climb up Cabot Mountain. In the spring, summer and fall this climb is punctuated by nettles and prickers. In the winter, there is usually a lot of snow or, as in this case, a layer of thick ice. We started up by walking on the side of the trail where there was less ice. At some point I suggested putting on spikes but Karl did not want to and I stubbornly would not put them on unless he did! We struggled to the top of the first climb, walked a short distance on flatter ground and then started up the next climb. Eventually we ran out of "up" and were on the flat part of the trail that winds across the top of Cabot. By 12:20 PM we had hiked 3.6 miles and were standing at the viewpoint over Little Pond. The lighting was not good for photography and there was a he that would persist for the rest of the day. We had already gained 1150 feet from the car with the 480 feet over the last .5 miles on the climb up Cabot. The average grade in this climb is 25%! Both Karl and I were cold standing in the wind on the viewpoint. We had long ago dropped a layer since we were warm when on the move. After a few pictures, we moved away from the exposed area, got a drink and some lunch and continued on our way. It began to occur to both of us that we needed to keep moving and that this hike was by no means easy.

We walked across the flat area on Cabot and then began the first descent. The trail was icy in most places and we finally decided to put on the spike. Karl used Microspikes and I put on the Yak Xtremes. This made the descent so much easier that I regretted not using them earlier. After the first short descent, we walked across another flat area and then began the long, steep descent to Beech Hill Road. Some of this descent was bare but much had ice and hard packed snow. Toward the bottom the trail was bare and we removed our traction devices. From the highest point on Cabot Mountain we had hiked 1.25 miles and dropped 700 feet! It was 1:15 PM and we had hiked 4.7 miles. We turned right and walked .2 miles on Beech Hill Road before turn left on a private road. The private road turned into a sheet of ice and the left turn up the trail was steep and seemed impossible without traction. I found a woods road which was not as steep and we walked up that and then bushwhacked a short distance over to the trail. The trail was bare and wet in many places but there was enough ice to make it treacherous. After walking off trail to avoid the ice, we finally decided to put on the spikes which made everything much easier! We were now on the Middle Mountain Trail and climbing up Beech Hill. Throughout the hike we would climb to the "top" of a hill only to find that it was a false summit and there was more climbing to do. The walk up Beech Hill was like this with a little rise just before the actual summit. We walked about .6 miles from the private road to the summit of Beech Hill and gained about 460 feet along the way. Now it was time to descend Beech Hill so that we could ascend Middle Mountain! It was about .7 miles between the two summits but we dropped 150 feet and then climbed 280 feet to get to the top of Middle Mountain. It was now 2:20 PM and we had hiked 6.25 miles in 4 hours!

The next part of the hike was the descent down Middle Mountain to parking area on Mary Smith Hill Road. I remembered this as being a nasty section of trail which was poorly marked. There is at least one very wet area which passed through a drainage. The descent was every bit as "interesting" as I remembered with icy patches and areas we tried to avoid even with spikes. The drainage was one of those areas but there was an easier way down which it seemed others had used. The descent down Middle Mountain was about 1 mile and we dropped 730 feet to the parking area. The road was covered in snow since it is one of the roads with "Seasonal Maintenance". Both Karl and I were a little tired at this point. We had removed our spikes toward the end of the descent since the trail was almost bare at the lower elevations. I had noticed a problem with the Yak Xtremes which is potentially serious design flaw. The back spike plate came off my heel and rode up the back of my boot more than once on the descents. There is no chain to hold the front and back spike plates together so this can easily happens. I like Yak's version of the spikes in many ways but this is a problem I will be referring to them. I will let you know how it turns out. At 3:00 PM we were ready to start the last section of the trail having already hiked 7.25 miles. From the signs on Mary Smith Hill Road this last section would be LONGER than the Middle Mountain section. It was also clear that the hike would be well over 10 miles instead of the 9 miles I had calculated!

I have hiked the sections of this route several times and I have to admit I did not remember them as being difficult. Perhaps this is my poor memory or it is the fact that hiking a single section is much easier than putting them all together! We had removed our spikes and the first few hundred feet of the Mary Smith Hill Trail did not make them necessary. After this, we put them back on as the trail went back to packed snow and ice. Over the first .4 miles the trail averaged a 24% grade gaining 480 feet in .4 miles. We contort to climb to near the top of this unnamed hill that is higher than Mary Smith Hill. The trail actually never hits the top of this hill but travels along the north shoulder but still gets above 2900 feet. The summit of the hill is well over 2900 feet making it almost as high as Cabot and middle Mountains! From the high point we descended a little over 250 feet over the next mile to the base of Mary Smith Hill which was our last major climb. We were a little tired at this point but knew we were near the end. We began our climb and at about 9.3 miles stopped at the Middle Mountain Lookout. The views here are nice but it was getting late in the day and there wasn't much light. The lack of light, the haze and the general bleak landscape made photography difficult. I did get one picture of Karl looking a little tired! We hit the highest point of 2700 feet on Mary Smith Hill at 4:20 PM about 9.4 miles into the hike and already more than my estimated distance. I knew that it was all downhill from the top but that the descent had some tricky places. The trail down had several blowdowns and the last descent is narrow. This narrow part was steep and had patches of ice. I breathed a sigh of relief when we hit the bottom because I knew that we were less than .25 miles from the parking area. We were back at my car by 5:00 PM having covered 10.4 miles in 6.5 hours. We had to drive over to Little Pond to Karl's car and then back to Livingston Manor. I arrived back at my house at 6:00 PM. I now realize that this is an interesting trail system that connects points as far away as Round Pond to the area around Trout Pond.

On Thursday, January 26th, the weather report was for a mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain. I decided to cancel a trip to Syracuse and stay home to see what developed. Sheila had not been out on a walk/hike in several days so we headed out over Round Top at about 11:00 AM. We started the way we always do by walking to the top of the cemetery hill and turning left on the path into the woods. This time we continued straight ahead up the hill to the lookout over the town. From here we skirted the ledges and then walked toward the high point of Round Top. Instead walking to the top I decided to walk below the ledges. We did this for a while and as we did I noticed I had started to snow. Sheba took the lead and found a woods road we had used the last time we were on Round Top. She led us to the road that ascends the next hill and turned to go up the hill. My intention was to hike to the top and turn around but Sheba had other ideas. She continued over the top of the hill and found a woods road down that I had not seen before. We followed the steep road to a flat area where the road again descended toward Old Route 17 and the flats. We turned left and started around the ledges and soon found another woods road we had used before. We passed the area where we had cut toward the Quickway the last time and were soon at the place where we had cut up the hill earlier. I watched to see what Sheba would do. Sheba did not start back up the hill but followed our route from the last hike in reverse. We ascended a small hill and passed the quarry on a path. Sheba cut down to another road precisely where we had come up the last time. Soon we were back on the path to the cemetery and then back to the house. Since it was close to 1:00 PM, we had been out for about 2 hours. We had hiked almost continually so my estimate was right around 4 miles covered.

On Tuesday, January 24th, I wanted to go for a relatively long hike but did not want to deal with the trail conditions in the Catskills. A heavy rainfall on top of snow and ice on a warm day did not seem to me to be ideal hiking conditions! I decided to head farther south where there had not been as much snow and ice. I thought that Storm King Mountain would be a good destination since I would only have to deal with the wet trails. Also, I had not been there for some time and I expected the temperature there to be in the mid to high 40's. I looked at my maps and decided to park on Route 9W at the trail head for the Bobcat Trail since I had never used this approach before. As often happens. an ambulance call came in just as I was getting ready but the patient decided to go by car after we responded. I got started a little later than I wanted and, even so, the skies were still overcast in Livingston Manor. I was hoping for some sun and blue skies to be able to take some pictures on the hike! When we left at just passed 8:30 AM I calculated that we should be at the trail head and ready to go at around 10:00 AM or even a little earlier. As we traveled south and east on Route 17, the skies cleared and the sun came out. The thermometer on my car slowly crept over 40 degrees. I took the turn toward West Point and got on Route 9W north toward Newburgh. The road is narrow and there are few places to pull off or turn around. As I drove passed the trailhead, I knew I would have some distance to go before I could turn around and then would have to turn around AGAIN to get back to the trailhead! It is a mistake I will never make again but we were soon parked and out of the car. We actually were on the trail just a few minutes after 10:00 AM which made me happy. The temperature was about 45 degrees but the wind made it seem colder. I kept my softshell on as well as light gloves and a hat. The Bobcat Trail descends from the Route 9W parking area to a junction with the blue blazed Howell Trail that ascends to North Point. I was surprised to find some snow and quite a bit of ice on the trail. This situation was to repeat itself for the rest of the day. Any trail or surface with a northern exposure was covered in ice and this made some of the hiking very tricky!

The Bobcat Trail is a little over a quarter mile long and ends at a junction with the Howell Trail. We turned right just passed the junction to climb up and over North Point. On the way up and at the top I stopped to take pictures. The contrast in colors was remarkable and there was little or none of the haze that usually hangs over the river. There was only a small amount of snow remaining on top. I took pictures of Storm King and the upper Route 9W parking area. I got some particularly good vies and pictures of the Storm King Highway and other places toward the north. The pictures show how the Storm King Highway really DOES hang on the edge of the mountain! The trail makes a right turn after North Point and heads southeast until it again rises to a point higher than North Point. After this the trail again turns northeast and descends a ridge line toward the river. From this ridge there are views down to the river and across the river to the Hudson Highlands especially to Mount Taurus and Little Stony Point. We walked along this ridge for .65 miles until we were on a lookout on a cliff right above the river. We were about 1.7 miles into the hike and ready to start the decent down to the Storm King Highway. I took some pictures to the south and across the river before starting the descent. As soon as we started the descent, I realized that the trail was facing north and all the rocks were covered in ice. From the lookout down to Pitching Point the trail drops over 500 feet in .4 miles with an average grade of over 20%. The ice was not thick enough in most places to make a traction aid worthwhile but the descent was certainly "interesting"! At several point along the way I took some pictures but many views are only partial and blocked by trees or shrubs. At the bottom of the steep descent the trail turns sharply to the left. We turned to the right and walked a short distance out to Pitching Point. The views here are actually not as good as from the top but it is interesting to look at the highway less than 300 feet away and almost straight down! We went back to the main trail and walked about .4 miles downhill to the Storm King Highway. The trail ends/begins at a parking area near Stillman Springs. The Storm King land was donated to the Palisades Interstate Park Commission by the Stillman family in 1922 and there is an inscription near a spring that commerce this AC. I took a few pictures before we started out again by walking along the highway to the north and then immediately picking up the white blazed Stillman Spring Trail. It was 11:55 AM and we were 2.5 miles into the hike and 850 feet lower than our starting point.

The Stillman Trail starts at the highway and heads west and southwest back toward the Howell Trail. Along its .7 mile length it gains over 400 feet. I was watching for the short Crossover Trail but was surprised when we arrived at the Howell Trail without spotting the other trail. The blazes on the Crossover Trail have been painted over but I usually use it as it is a more direct route. When we reached the Howell Trail we turned right to head toward "The Clove", the low point between North Point and Storm King. The Clove has two different streams running through it and they were as high as I have seen them but still easy to cross. At 3.45 miles we were at the bottom and ready to start the climb up toward Storm King. The trail rises 550 feet in .5 miles to a junction wit the white Bypass Trail. I decided to turn right on the Bypass Trail as it has some nice views to the south which you cannot get from the summit of the mountain. My plan was to take the Bypass Trail To the yellow Stillman Trail and follow that around the north side of the Mountain just to add some miles. From there we would return to the summit of the mountain and then back the way we came through "The Clove". The walk along the Bypass Trail presents some very nice views and there are several opportunities to take alternate routes which visit different viewpoints. I avoided most of these since the best lookout is at the junction of the Bypass Trail and the Stillman Trail. When we reached that lookout, we walked up to a large open rock and I took off the pack and got out the camera. A couple on the next rock over were the only people we had seen all day. From spot I took pictures to the south and east and some of the mountain behind us. I thought about what route we would take from this point and decided to stay with the original plan. We started out on the Stillman Trail around the north side of the mountain.

As we started out on the trail we ran in to a little ice and snow but nothing too severe. A little further along there were several patches of ice that could be avoided by walking along side the trail. In another spot hikers had formed a little path on the outside of the trail which went around a larger patch of ice. From this point on the trail really hangs on the side of the mountain with a steep drop to the north and little room on the other side to avoid the ice. The constant thawing and freeing had produced beautiful ice flows...beautiful that is if you didn't have to walk over them. I continued to bare boot it for a while but I was slipping and sliding on the ice and the patches were getting larger so that they occupied the width of the trail and were pretty long. I decided to put on my Yak Xtremes and this was a good decision. Of course, the ice flows alternated with bare ground but having the traction made all the difference. We came to the bridge and it was surprisingly clear and in good shape. I took some pictures of the bridge and we continued our hike. After the bridge, there was little ice so I took the Yaks off but kept them handy. From the lookout to the junction with the Bluebird Trail is only .9 miles but it took us almost 50 minutes! We turned left on the Bluebird Trail which regains in .5 miles the 480 feet lost on the way down the Stillman Trail. There are numerous switchbacks on the trail but it is still a good climb. All the way down the Stillman Trail the skies seemed to grow more cloudy and the wind whipped up some. Once we came around from the north side of the mountain the conditions improved but it was still more overcast than earlier in the day. At the trail junction we turned left of the Stillman Trail to head over the summit of Storm King. This .7 mile section is relatively flat but does gain almost 100 feet to the summit before dropping back down to the junction with the Bypass Trail. I stopped several times to take pictures to the north. When we came to the last viewpoint, I remembered that it was the only one really worth the stop since it is much more open than the others. By 2:40 PM we had traveled 6.5 miles and were ready to head back to the car. Our moving pace was about 2.0 mph but our overall speed was only 1.5 mph due to the numerous stops!

The return to the car was uneventful as there are few viewpoints and I kept the camera in the pack. We dropped down the Bypass Trail to the junction with the Howell Trail and then continued down through "The Clove". Once we were at the junction with the Stillman Springs Trail we simply continued on the Howell Trail back to the junction with the Bobcat Trail just before the Howell Trail climbs North Point. Some of the ice had melted on the Bobcat Trail so getting back to the car was a little easier than I expected. It was only .8 miles from the Stillman Springs junction to the car and it seemed to go quickly. Along the way we met two hikers walking toward us on the Howell Trail. This part of the hike was as muddy as any part had been except maybe the trip through "The Clove". We were back at the car by 3:40 PM having covered 8.4 "interesting" miles in about 5.5 hours. There are two more ways to access Storm King Mountain and both are from Mountain Road near the Storm King School. I think I will try these sometime in the near future.

On Sunday, January 22nd, I wanted to go on a hike after church to take advantage of the fresh snow. I especially wanted to do this as the forecast was calling for freezing rain and rain on Monday with temperatures in the 40's. My preference for winter is snow and more snow. Snow should not melt until late March! I didn't want to go over Round Top one more time so I decided to take both dogs and go to Frick Pond. Cindy was not interested in hiking on this day so I had to put the new puppy, Sheila. in the front seat by herself. Sheila was reluctant to even get in the car and once in the front seat sat until we left the driveway and then laid down for the rest of the trip. When I walked out of the house, I walked back in and put on a thin baselayer as it seemed very cold out. The temperature was about 25 degrees but the wind was blowing. When we arrived in the parking area just after noon, the car thermometer read 22 degrees and the wind was blustery. I got out first and put on my pack and snowshoes before letting the dogs out. I was again hiking without poles and I knew that some of the uphills would be more tiring than usual. I had not yet decided on the exact route and thought I would see how we were doing at various points. I did not want to get too far out and find that Sheila was finally at her limit. When we reached Frick Pond, I took a close look at the scene and =decided I had numerous pictures already. We didn't stop but continued over the bridge at the outlet. As Sheila walked across the bridge for the first time her long legs went through the spaces between the boards several times. Her reaction was comical but she made it across in good shape. When we got to the junction with the trail around the back of Frick, Sheba turned right to go around the pond and I followed her. We would go to Times Square and then up the Big Rock Trail to the junction with the Flynn Trail. At that point we could simply go back to the car or go to Hodge Pond first before walking back to the parking area. As we walked around the back of the pond, we were in the shade and the wind seemed to penetrate the woods. I was a little cold but kept going. As we approached Times Square I could hear and then see snowmobiles. Several machines were coming down the Big Rock Trail and turning up the Logger's Loop. We hit Times Square at about 12:40 PM at about 1.2 miles into the hike. We continued straight ahead up the Big Rock Trail.

The Big Rock Trail was packed by snowmobiles and was a little easier to walk than the snow we had just come through. I did notice that Sheila was not pulling on the leash as much and wanted to walk in the snow by the side of the trail. I was a little disappointed that she had chosen this moment to start to behave on the leash as I was scouting on her to give a little pull up the hills on the Big Rock Trail. From Times Square to the Flynn Trail junction the Big Rock Trail rises 625 feet. This doesn't sound like much but it certainly wore on me after awhile. Not being able to use poles really gave my legs a I kept listening for the snowmobiles but they never returned while we were on the trail. By 1:15 PM we had walked 2.25 miles and were at the junction with the Flynn Trail. The first thing I noticed was that there were snowmobile tracks on the Flynn Trail in the direction of Hodge Pond. The tracks went right by the sign that said "Snowmobiles Prohibited". I took some pictures of the blue skies and pristine snow on the Flynn Trail. I decided that hiking to Hodge Pond did not interest me so we turned right to head down the Flynn Trail to the car. This return trip always seems longer than the 1.7 miles that is posted which is the correct distance. The trail is pretty but has no views. I decide to stop at the clearing we had found earlier in the year. The clearing is usually wet with bog-like conditions and the type of plants you find in that environment. We climbed the steep bank and walked the short distance to the clearing. I took pictures since the scene was quite serene. Blue skies with a few clouds hung over the snow covered ground with green trees poking up here and there. After taking in the scene, we headed back to the Flynn Trail and continued back down to the car. We arrived in the parking area at 2:10 PM having covered 4.1 miles in just over 2 hours. I was surprised that we were able to keep this pace given the snowy conditions and the hills. Sheila seemed ready for more so next time we may try a 6 mile round trip.

On Saturday, January 21st, we woke up to a fresh snowfall of about 4 inches in town. The snow was light as I found out when I shoveled all the walks and part of the driveway! After finding out that a church event was canceled, I suggested to Cindy that we take both dogs and repeat the loop that I had done on Thursday. She agreed and we started our hike right from our house. This time we wore snowshoes as they would give us better traction and are just fun to use. I could not use poles since I had Sheila on her leash and I wondered how that would effect my snowshoeing as I had never gone without poles. I took the GPS with me this time to record the route but decided it was too difficult to take the camera since that would require a pack. We started just after 11:00 AM by walking across the road and up the hill behind our church to the Orchard Street Cemetery. Near the top of the hill, we turned left on a trail into the woods. A little ways up the trail we turned right on an old woods road that climbs passed some very nice ledges on the left. We continued on this road bearing slightly left and up hill until we encountered another road. The route leveled some at that point and we soon were in the area of the quarry. We continued passed the quarry and down always trying to stay on the roads. This time I took a slightly different route that would allow us to make a shorter route if anyone was tired. When we had to make a decision, we all seemed willing to do the longer route so we headed up the second small hill that tops out at just under 1900 feet. We continued over the top of that hill and I chose a slightly different line than the last time. The route from Thursday was just too steep so I ,picked a better lien and we were soon on level ground with another descent ahead of us. Sheba and I found the road that led down to another road that we could follow back. The descent was tricky with some rocks and brush still poking out from under the covering of snow. At the bottom we turned left and headed west paralleling the Quickway on our right. We could not see the road but could easily hear traffic. The road we were on passed below some interesting ledges and then headed up a little hill to another road. Here, as on Thursday, we turned right and walked down to a little clearing before walking along the base of some cliffs. From that point we followed our tracks down to a road that runs just above the highway and followed that to the clearing that overlooks the Livingston Manor interchange. On Thursday, the dogs and I followed a woods road toward town and then climbed a rather steep route to the lookout. I knew that this would not be possible on snowshoes so we headed up the hill almost immediately. Sheba took the lead and seemed to know where she was going so we followed her. We had not been on this part of the route since last year but Sheba led us directly to the lookout! From here we walked down the woods road to where we had turned earlier and continued back to the house. We were back by 1:00 PM having covered 3 miles in just under 2 hours. Sheila did not seem tired or cold and looked like she could do a few more miles.

On Thursday, January 19th, I wanted to get in a short hike before going to school to do some work and time the basketball games. I decided to hike up Round Top behind our church again. My plan was to use the same route as before and pass by the quarry. I thought to extend the hike by ascending the hill beyond Round Top and going down the other side before turning back. Eventually I would like to hike this whole ridge out to Morsston. I was going to take the GPS but somehow I left it at home. The dogs and I started just after 11:00 AM by walking across the road and up the hill behind our church to the Orchard Street Cemetery. The hill was all ice and I chose to walk in on the side as I had no traction on my boots. Near the top of the hill, we turned left on a trail into the woods. A little ways up the trail we turned right on an old woods road that climbs passed some very nice ledges on the left. We continued on this road bearing slightly left and up hill until we encountered another road. The route leveled some at that point and we soon were in the area of the quarry. We continued passed the quarry and down always trying to stay on the roads. Eventually we came to a junction and turned left. After a short walk I recognized the road that climbs the hill beyond so we turned right and headed up hill that tops out at just under 1900 feet. We continued over the top of that hill and I looked for a route down through the rocks and brush to the flatter area below. I found a challenging route and Sheila pulling on the leash made it even more exciting. Once on the flatter area below, we walked to the edge to find another descent. We walked along the edge until we found a road down the hill which we followed almost to the end before heading off the road to the north and west. At the bottom we turned left and headed west paralleling the Quickway on our right. We could not see the road but could easily hear traffic. The road we were on passed below some interesting ledges and then headed up a little hill to another road. Here we turned right and walked down to a little clearing before walking along the base of some cliffs. From that point we walked down the hill to a road that runs just above the highway and followed that to the clearing that overlooks the Livingston Manor interchange. We followed that road as we had before until we got to an area where we could climb the hill on the left. This time we went up the hill but stayed more to the right. Before us was a steep set of ledges but I could see a line through them. This would have been an easy climb but the ice and snow on the ground and rocks made it tricky especially without my poles. When we got almost to the top, we passed around a large outcrop only to find another steep and challenging climb to the top. Sheba took the lead and seemed to know where she was going so we followed her. She led us right to the lookout and back down the hill to the cemetery. From there it was a short walk home. We were back by 12:30 PM and I vowed next time to take the GPS. Sheila did not seem tired or cold and looked like she could do more next time.

On Wednesday, January 18th, I was planning on hiking somewhere with Lisa the owner of the local hiking store, Morgan Outdoors. When I got up, the temperature was barely double digits and the wind, as forecast, was howling. I almost hoped that Lisa wouldn't call but she did at about 9:00 AM. We agreed to meet at her store around 10:00 AM and go to hike at Long Pond off Willowemoc Road. This hike is fairly flat compared to the 35s and doesn't have too many views or other points of interest. What is does have is nice open trails that follow woods roads and most are protected from the wind. When we arrived at the parking area off Flugertown Road, the temperature had risen to the twenties but the wind was still blowing. We were hiking by 10:30 AM and moved into the woods and out of the wind. Most of the elevation gain is in the first .7 miles with a climb of 360 feet. This is just enough to warm up and was welcome on this cold day. Lisa and I walked at talked and at about 1 mile turned right to go down the short spur trail to Long Pond. I took off my pack and got pout the camera to take some pictures of the iced over pond. The sun was shining brightly but there were clouds in the sky. We walked back up to the main trail and continued on to about 1.4 miles where there is a trail junction. The trail to the left goes back out to Flugertown Road and the back to the parking area and is a very short hike. Lisa agreed we wanted something a little longer so returned right to continue out and around the big loop which I knew was about 6 miles. After the junction the trail has several almost permanent "puddles" but these were frozen over. At 1.8 miles we came to the trail to the lean-to but decided to stay on the main trail as the site of the lean-to is secluded but not very scenic. We continued to follow the trail along the woods road. As we did the wind again started to blow and it began to snow lightly.

At 2.5 mules the trail ends at a road where I always turn left. I have wondered several times what is to the right on the road and we decided to head briefly in that direction. Within several hundred feet the road opened into a field with some views of the hills beyond. I took some pictures even though it was snowing. It appeared that the road continued but we did not want to adventure fiscal on this day. On most maps the road is shown as ending after a short distance but the maps do not show what is at the end! We retraced our steps back to the point where we had turned and continued on the road toward the junction with Basily Roads, about 3 miles into the hike. We were at the junction with Basily Road at about noon and from there the hike was downhill until, at about 3.6 miles, we were at the beaver pond. The small footbridge that was installed makes the crossing easy and we stopped to take a few pictures. Immediately after the crossing are "No Trespassing" signs but the land owners allow hikers to cross their property. In the past, the private bridge was closed and hikers had to ford a stream that is rather wide and deep at most times. The gates on the bridge were now gone and the markers indicated that the snowmobile trail passed over the bridge. We followed the markers and were soon on the road which turns from Basily to Flugertown somewhere along the way. The wind had died down a little and the snow had almost stopped. As we walked the road paralleled a stream and we could see and hear it as it flowed along. The road was very icy and required that we walk on the snow along the sides. At 4.6 miles we were in the vicinity of the trail to Mongaup Pond. The road at this point is still "seasonal maintenance" and so was not plowed and not sanded. We did some vehicle tracks which did not look too old. Eventually we came to the last house on the road where the maintenance ends and from this point on the walk was easy as we left the ice and snow behind. We were back at the car by 1:10 PM having covered 6.2 miles in just over 2.5 hours.

On Monday, January 16th, I knew I had to get out of the house even if I only took a short walk. I hadn't hiked since last Wednesday due to job and family commitment and some poor weather. When I got up in the morning, the temperature on the back porch read 0 degrees! I knew I would have to wait a while since my plan was to take both dogs on a walk around the hill behind our church in Livingston Manor. Most people call this hill Round Top and a few can remember when it had few trees and did look very round. Just after noon we headed out the door. Sheila, the new puppy, is not quite 4 months old and we are still training her. I kept her on a leash the whole time since she sometimes would rather play than come when called. We headed up the road to the top of the cemetery and then struck off into the woods. The temperature was now around 20 degrees and there was some sun. I had layered so that I was a little cold since I knew Sheila had a lot of energy and running with her would warm me up. After several hundred feet and a short climb we turned right on a woods road which we followed further than we had on previous walks. The road flattened out some and when it came up I took a turn to the left. My intent was to walk a big loop and incorporate some of the snowshoe paths I had used before. At the top of a small rise was a flatter open area that I recognized as a quarry. I knew the had been a quarry on the hill and both my sons had visited it when they were kids. I had missed it on all my previous walks since I had misunderstood its location. We passed through the quarry and followed the road as it continued on around the top of the hill. We eventually cut through the woods to the top of the hill where I recognized some landmarks from my snowshoeing adventures. I had been concerned that Sheila might be cold as she has a short coat compared to Sheba but she seemed to be going strong. We headed down the hill toward the Quickway way slipping and sliding as an enthusiastic Sheila pulled me along. Just before the lower woods road we usually use, we turned left and headed along the side of the hill to pick up the road further along. The road leads to a clearing that overlooks Exit 96. I took a peek and then decided to continue to follow the road which descends gently for some distance. As we walked it became clear that we would drop down into town behind a private residence. I decided to make a sharp left to head up the hill to the lookout over the two and then back to my house. The problem was that this area has many ledges and cliffs and the rest is very steep. We worked our way up to the top and Sheila and I followed Sheba who led us to the exact place I was headed. From there it was a short walk back down to the cemetery and back to the house. The dogs and I had a great time. I hope I can train Sheila to come when called so that I can take her on longer hikes without a leash.

On Wednesday, January 11th, I was planning on staying home to get some work done after a 9 mile adventure the day before. At about 9:00 AM Lisa, the owner of the local hiking store, called me to ask if I was going anywhere. I decided a short walk might no be so bad and suggested Kelly Hollow. This is a longer ride than Frick Pond of Trout Pond but is a little "newer". Lisa agreed and we met at her store at 10:00 AM. I drove to ward Downsville on Route 26 and then turned left top take Route 30 and the New York City roads to Millbrook Road. We had to wait for a city road crew to finish some work before we could make the turn. We parked at Kelly Hollow at around 10:45 PM. As we got ready to get on the trail I noticed a privy near the parking area that I had not seen before. This one was handicap accessible and was indeed new. As we headed into the woods, I decided to head out on the east branch of the loop and make the complete "circle" around the beaver pond and back on the west branch. We walked and talked keeping a good pace as we went. Lisa noticed some of the "features" that I had seen before and I pointed out others. I also spotted some things I had no seen before like interesting stone walls. There was a lot of accumulated ice in the stream but we initially resisted the impulse to work our way down to the stream bed. The trail follows a woods road and rises continuously toward the pond. For a good part of the way it parallels the stream and, on the east branch, passes through sections of very tall pine trees. At one point we noticed some waterfalls and rapids below. These were above the bridge and were not ones that I had photographed last time. The bank was very steep so we walked a little further to a [point of land just above the last waterfall. Here a path led down to the falls and then continued precariously along the brook. I followed the path and stopped several times to take pictures. When I was done, Sheba and I climbed the VERY steep bank to get back to Lisa and continue on the main trail.

The trail takes some interesting twists and turns as it heads south and then west. As it heads west to the beaver pond it skirts a hill and heads northwest and then southwest to get around it. We arrived at the beaver pond and paused a moment by the lean-to before walking to the shore of the pond. The pond was almost completely covered in ice with only a little open water near the beaver lodge. At the sore of the pond, I stopped to take some pictures of the pond and the lodge before continuing on around. We headed back toward the parking area on the west branch of the trail. The trail descends the whole way through mostly hardwood groves. It comes near the stream in several paces but the bank is steep and hard to negotiate. In one spot there was a huge ice flow covering the while trail but it was easy to avoid. As we neared the road, the cemetery came into view and we walked over to examine some of the markers. The last date on any stone was 2006. Many of the markers are very old dating back to the Civil War or before and many are simple slabs of stone. The simple markers that are engraved are getting harder to read as they have weathered over the years. After spend a few minutes at the cemetery, Lisa and I walked out to the road and back to the parking are. The 4 mile hike had taken 2 hours with plenty of time for side excursions and pictures.

On Tuesday, January 10th, I wanted to hike another 35 but I wanted the closest one I could find. I decided to check out Big Indian from Route 47 as had not been there since May 2007! The route is not one of my favorites as it is a long slog without any really good views. I thought I might include Fir in the hike but that depended on the weather and my hiking speed. The forecast was for cloudy skies in the morning with temperatures rising to almost 40 degrees and sunnier skies. I wasn't sure about the water crossing of Biscuit Brook but I knew the road was passable from previous trips. The problem with this water crossing is that you must hike about 2 miles to find out whether or not you can cross. I have turned back in the past when I felt the crossing might result in me getting wet. It is one of the few places where I wish the DEC would install a bridge! Sheba and I arrived at the trailhead at about 9:30 AM to find no other cars in the lot. We were ready to hike and started across the road almost immediately. The first part of the trail starts to the northeast but then quickly shift northwest and starts to climb 400 feet in .65 miles to the top of a ridge. From here the trail follows an old woods road along the Frost valley property line. The road parallels Biscuit Creek and I could hear the noise of the water in the creek making doubt whether or not we would be able to cross the stream. Over the next 1.5 miles we dropped about 130 feet to the water crossing at 2.1 miles. The water was not very high and some well placed rocks formed stepping stones across the stream. On our way to the water crossing we had found a few muddy places but the mud was mostly frozen. We had also crossed several small stream which had eroded there courses more deeply since the hurricanes last fall. The streams were partly frozen and the footing a little tricky. Just before the water crossing we passed the lean-to but did not visit. The trail after the lean-to was not marked and it took me a minute to recognize the correct path. I have noticed that many of the trails need a few new markers and have not been blazed in some time. After the water crossing, we walked between to parts of the creek until gaining the far bank.

For the next 1.5 miles the trail is always climbing with some areas being steeper than others. The trail initially continues to parallel the stream with some spectacular views down into the gorge cut by the water. Eventually it northwest away from the stream but continues to run into other, smaller streams. At one point the sun came out briefly and then went behind some increasingly thick clouds. The wind started to come up and I began to get hit in the face with icy pellets. This would let up and then start in again. We were finally at the last climb before the trail levels off. The trail here is narrow and sort of sidehills for a distance with a major switchback. The snow and ice increased and I( put on my Yak Xtremes since a slip would be nasty. We worked our way through the switchback to the plateau. I remembered that this was the area where I had turned west and headed off to Doubletop more than once. That hike is about 1.7 miles of difficult bushwhack! Once on the plateau I was going to take off my traction but decided that there was still enough snow to leave them on. We passed the 3500 foot sign and a cairn marking a path to the west that looked like it might go to Doubletop. Now all we had to do was find a path to the summit of Big Indian. I remembered that the best path was just after a rise in the trail and just before it started to drop. As we walked I saw several sets of footprints turning right off the trail toward the summit. I resisted the urge to follow and in less than .5 miles found a more pronounced path marked by a cairn. The .15 mile bushwhack to the top went quickly and the path led directly to the canister. It was just before noon and the skies were completely overcast. The wind was blowing and ice and snow were falling. At this point I had to decide whether to return on the trail or strike out for Fir. The footprints I had been following headed off in the direction of Fir and seemed to be calling. The hike to Fir is along the Catskill Divide which separates the Delaware and Hudson watersheds. The hike can be relatively easy IF you stay on the divide and it adds only about 1.5 miles to the hike. The problem is that it is all bushwhack with a tricky descent on the other side. I reluctantly decided to come back another time when I was not pressed by an evening commitment. We turned around and followed our route back to the main trail. Once on the main trail we headed back the way we had come. On the icy descent I looked down to see that one chain on the Yaks was "broken". When I took the Yaks off after the descent, I found that the split link chain had...split. Later, at home, I made the repair but wondered if this design would result in further failures. The water cross on the way back were no problem and we kept up a good pace. We arrived back at the car at 2:1 PM having taken 4 hours and 40 minutes for the 9 mile hike.

On Saturday, January 7th, I wanted to do a LONG hike but one that was mostly walking on trails without having to worry about ice flows and the like. I decided to head to the east of the Hudson and hike from the park in Beacon to the summits of both Mount Beacons and then along Scofield and Fishkill Ridges. This was a hike I had done before but I knew I could reverse it or throw in another wrinkle. I like hiking with by wife and asked her if she wanted top come along. I explained that there were some great views but cautioned that there were some steep climbs. Cindy agree and I immediately started to plan how to shorten the hike to 6 or 7 miles. I decided that the easiest way was to eliminate Fishkill Ridge which was not a big sacrifice since the views are much the same as from other places on the route. When we arrived at the parking area for the small park on Route 9D in Beacon we found it almost filled with cars. There weren't too many people around the lot so we assumed they must all be hiking somewhere. I knew that many people hike up to the site of the casino ruins on North Beacon and then return without going too much further. We set out soon after parking and I decided to leash Sheba at least until we could determine how many people and how many dogs were hiking. As we neared the steps, I pointed out to Cindy the tracks that still ran up the mountain to the area of the casino site. These racks are the remains of the Otis Elevated Railway that used donkey engines to haul passenger cars from the base of the mountain up to the casino. Next to the tracks are a set of metal steps that allow visitors to walk up to the first set of trails. This area is very steep and the dirt is unstable. The steps went quickly and we took a brief rest at the top before continuing. The steps end at about ,3 miles after gaining less than 200 feet. The roads and trails from that point continue the ascent of almost 1000 feet to the casino site. There are some switchbacks to cut into the steep ascent but it is still a 20% grade or more in most places.

On our way up to the top, we met several people coming down. A few seemed to be out for a walk but others were trail runners! All said "Hi" as they passed. We did encounter a few patches of ice with one more significant one near the top but we worked around all of them. We met one dog on the way down. I didn't stop at some of the informal paths that lead to viewpoints as I knew the view from the top was best. Soon we were at the last steep, short climb but I walked off the trail to the right and toward a red brick ruin. This is the remains of the building that housed the engines that pulled the passenger cars to the top. I walked up to the building and looked down to the bottom of the mountain. The tracks and cables are still visible. Also, inside the shell of the building there is still some equipment. We took pictures from several angles although the bright sunlight did not make this easy. After we were done with the building, we walked over to the flat area where the casino was once located. There is very little to indicate anything was ever built here. I took pictures of a few of the foundations before turning my attention to the view from the completely open viewpoint. The river was a little hazy but the view seems to go on forever. We could look north and south on the river, as well as, some distance to the west. I took many pictures from several different spots but didn't think they would come out very well. There were three other hikers at the top but I couldn't tell whether they had hiked a loop, were going to hike a loop or were satisfied with the trip up from the parking area. After taking our pictures, we headed on the trail toward South Beacon Mountain and the fire tower. This is a wide woods road that is rocky but easy to follow. There was some ice and some muddy spots as we hiked. At one point we heard the roar of engines and looked up to see three ATVs headed our way. I was surprised since I thought the trails were for hiking only! They slowed down to pass us as they went out to the lookout. We continued the hike and were almost at the right turn toward the tower on the ridge when they ATVs were back headed in the same direction we were going! We never saw them again but we HEARD them almost the entire day. I won't say that they spoiled the hike but they added nothing to the experience!

After making the turn, I watched for the trail up to the tower as I remember getting a little turned around last time. Within about .25 miles there was a wide road on the right which headed to the top but no markings. I thought this was pro ably the road marked on the map and it was as good a way as any to go up. Two hikers coming down the road confirmed my suspicions. The road had some large expanses of bare rock and I thought this might be interesting when the snow and ice really hits! The distance to the top is only .2 miles and just before the summit we stopped at a nice lookout. I took some pictures of the tower up ahead and a few over to Scofield Ridge. The views in this direction were a little less hazy than toward the river. We arrived at the tower at the summit just before noon after hiking a little over 2 miles. We took pictures from the open rock and then I decided to climb the tower. As I started up the steps I ran into a chain locked across the access. I could easily have stepped over the chain but remembered that the view from the top was not much better than from the bottom. In addition, although I think the tower is safe, climbing it in a stiff breeze is...exciting. We didn't stay too long at the top as the meaning of wind chill was really evident. We retraced our path back to the main trail and turned right. We ran into a little trouble here as the trails are not well marked but we soon found our way to the yellow/white trail up to and across the ridge. Another blue trail also cut up to the ridge but it did not look "official" and seemed to cut off a few of the lookouts. I remembered the trail as relatively flat but I was WRONG! There are actually four separate ascents and descents. None of these are very long or hard but together can be a little tiring. There are a few viewpoints along the way and we stopped a few times to take pictures. I did remember that the hike along the ridge seemed to take longer than I thought it should.

By 1:20 PM we had hiked 4 miles are were at the descent off the ridge that would lead to Dozer Junction and the trail over Lambs Hill. We dropped about 300 feet in elevation over the next .4 miles, found the next trail and then gained about 300 feet back to the top of Lambs Hill. On the way up we passed through Dozer Junction and made a left right after the bulldozer to climb Lams Hill. At the very top of Lambs Hill there is a limited view. As we started down the other side of the hill a clear spot opened up without any trees to Bo the view. We could see Beacon laid out below and the bridge from Beacon to Newburgh on the other side. The views over the Hudson had cleared some since the morning. We could also see the Beacon Reservoir perched in the hills beyond us to the south. There was a short, steep descent down Lambs Hill to an area with nice stone walls and then another short ascent. From that point the trail drops almost 800 feet over .8 miles. It crosses the access road for the reservoir and then parallels a stream as it the stream works its way down the mountain. We caught up to another couple that allowed us to pass. The trail had no snow or ice but was narrow and very muddy in spots. At one point I spied the waterfall on the stream that is the outlet to the reservoir. I stopped at the base of the falls before crossing the stream and once on the other side to take pictures. Then falls was frozen in places with water running in other spots. As we descended the trail a young man carrying a mountain bike came up the trail. I thought this was strange as the trails are "hiking only". We continued to walk down to the point where we would have to cut up over a hill back to the parking area. Suddenly Cindy yelled "Watch out!" I turned around to find the mountain biker coming full speed down the path toward Sheba and myself. I do not know how he missed us! He was not supposed to be on this trail! He did not have a bell or any sounding device! He was not smart enough or considerate enough to even yell to announce his presence! I was glad we did not see him again as I felt a rather nasty discussion might have ensued.

When we hit the yellow trail, we turned left and started to climb again around the side of a hill. Next was short ascent followed by another descent. The trail was more clearly marked this time and I knew we were headed back to the top of the steps which led back to the parking area. The trail follows along the side of the mountain and cannot descend due to the private property below. We made one final short climb to the trail that leads down to the steps and then walked down the steps and back to the car. We had covered 7.3 miles in just under 5 hours. The surprising fact was that we had climbed a total of 2580 feet! I was more tired than I thought I would be and Cindy and Sheba were also glad to be done. We headed north on Route 9D to Wappinger's Falls to meet Kurt and Aimee at the Cafe Maya for a Mexican supper!

On Thursday, January 5th, I wanted to hike another 35 but I wanted the closest one I could find. I also wanted a rather straightforward hike without any bushwhacking or "detours" as I had a commitment in the afternoon. I decide to check out Slide from Route 47 as had not been that way in some time. I wasn't sure about the water crossing but I knew the road was passable from previous trips. Sheba and I arrived at the trailhead at about 10:30 AM to find two other cars in the lot. I checked the water crossing and found the water level was low and that the water was mostly frozen. There was some ice is the parking area but no snow. We got started right away with the temperature hovering in the mid to high 20's. The forecast indicated this would rise but I knew that the temperatures at higher elevations are always lower. I had decided not to rush the ascent but keep a nice steady pace. We hit the woods road at the top of the first climb and had to avoid only a few icy spots to get there. Along the road to the right tune up Slide were a few more posts but they were no problem. Even after making the turn there were only small patches of ice but the snow slowly began to increase from a dusting to a consistent cover. I could see two sets of foot prints with one looking a little older than the other. As we started the steeper climb toward the 3500 foot level, the patches of ice and packed snow began to increase. I stopped to get a drink and noticed a hiker a little bit ahead of us. The hiker was also stopped and we continued up the slope until we met him. I said "hello" as we passed and noticed he was younger and that he was well equipped. Being somewhat competitive, I sped up a little so that we could stay ahead of him. The ice increased and I thought about putting on some traction. After 3500 feet the trees had a slight icy or frosty covering and there was a "breeze". Although hiking always keeps me warm. I was a little cool on this hike.

Somewhere along the way, the other hiker caught up and we started to hike together. He was from Connecticut and had never hiked Slide before. We walked at talked and he said he wanted to summit and then return by the Curtiss-Ormsbee Trail. We were soon at the junction and I pointed it out to him. We continued together to the lookout on the right side of the trail. Despite the cloudy conditions, Giant Ledge and Panther were clearly visible. We both took off our packs to get a drink and to take some pictures. At first I declined the offer of hot tea but then accepted. The warm tea was much appreciated as my water was VERY cold. We shouldered our packs and walked to the summit where I pointed out the remaining anchors for the old tower. We walked to the viewpoint and stopped for more pictures at about noon. The Ashokan Reservoir, Cornell and Wittenberg were visible through the trees. The lighting was interesting so I took some more pictures. I then suggested we go down toward the spring to see what viewpoints were open. We started down but ran into slippery conditions with packed snow and ice right near the top. I didn't want to put on traction only to have to take it off and knew the conditions down would be more challenging. We returned to the top and walked back on the trail together to the junction. It was getting a little colder as we parted company and Sheba and I headed down the main trail. We had not met any other hikers and I assumed the others had camped overnight somewhere. As I headed back down I met two different pairs of hikers at different points headed up. I made it down the iciest spots without any spikes and after that the trip was an easy one. We were back at the car just after 1:30 PM having Aiken just over hours for the 5.5 miles hike.

On Monday, January 2nd, Cindy and I decided to get in the first hike of the New Year before the bitter cold weather arrived on Tuesday. Dry Brook Ridge sounded like a good idea since it was about the right length and difficulty. In addition, the hike from Hill Road has a nice view at the end. We arrived at the Hill, Road trail head just before 10:30 AM and started hiking a few minutes later. When we left the car, the temperature was in the low 30's with a stiff breeze and very little sun. The trail up through the pines is a wide woods road and there was very little snow. The trees are red pine that were planted as a CCC project. They are very sty aright and very tall. As we hiked through the switchbacks, the wind began to pick up and was howling through the crown of the forest. Many of the trees were bending back and forth and creaking as they did. This was a little eerie and a little scary but we decided we would continue. The higher we went the more snow we encountered on the trail. The snow made the hike even more beautiful and never got deep enough to hinder our progress. By 11:30 AM we had climbed to the ridge and the trail flattened to the trail junction with the trails from Margaretville and German Hollow. At the trail junction we had hiked 2.3 miles and gained 1140 feet in elevation in 1 hour and 15 minutes. The sign pointing back to the Hill Road parking area gave the distance as 1.7 miles which is clearly wrong! We didn't stop at the junction but turned right to continue toward the lookouts. It was 11:45 AM.

As we made the turn, I noticed the sign that stated that Ploutz Road was 3.5 miles from the junction. This seemed too far to me until I realized the distance was being measured down to the parking area and not to the trail junction! Ploutz Road was the trail head I had tried on Saturday and found that it was not easily accessible, at least with my car. The actual distance to the lookouts is about a mile and gains anther 235 feet in elevation in several short climbs. The trail was now covered in snow and was icy in spots while other places were soft and muddy. The wind continued to pick up in intensity until it was constant with no gusts. We arrived at the lookouts at 12:25 PM. Cindy estimated the temperature to be in the LOW 20's and the wind was at least 30 mph. The result was that my hands when exposed to take pictures were very cold as was my face. We only spent a few minutes on the expose lookout. This was long enough for me to take a short video to record the noise of the wind and a few still shots. We retreated to what cover we could find in the brush to get a drink and some lunch before starting back. On the return trip to the trail junction. some of the short descents were pretty slick. We were at the junction by 1:05 PM where we got another drink before turning left and heading back to the car. On the way down I debated taking some pictures but was more interested in getting back to the car. The trip down went quickly and we were treated to the sound of the wind in the trees. We were back at the car just after 2:00 PM having covered 6.6 miles in 3 hours and 35 minutes.

On Saturday, December 31st, I was ready to get in the last hike of 2011. I decided to hike Dry Brook Ridge from Hill Road. I thought I might even do the whole Huckleberry Loop but thought better of it when I looked at my notes and found it to be at least 12 miles! I headed for Hill Road and was about to pass by Millbrook Road when I decide to check out the Ploutz Road trail head. This is a shorter hike and I thought I might get Kelly Hollow in as well. I was concerned about the condition of Ploutz Road but it looked pretty good as I made the left turn and headed up the road. The dirt road was wet and muddy but smooth without obstructions until the last farm on the road. After the "seasonal maintenance" sign the roads was rutted and eroded with rocks and branches. I went as far as the first culvert and then back all the way out. I felt it was too late to go to Hill Road so I drove to Kelly Hollow. When I arrived, there were already four cars parked in the small lot and I had to squeeze in so I didn't block anybody. After the teens and twenties on Thursday the 45 degree weather seemed particularly warm. It was just after 12:30 PM as Sheba and I headed to the left up the more eastern trail toward the beaver pond. I intended to hike up the trail to the "short loop" crossover. We would take the crossover to the other side but head up to the pond and then come back down the other side and take the crossover again to do sort of a figure 8 just to get some mileage. The trail crossed a small stream and then passed through a gate as it followed an old woods road. The road was wide without obstructions but it was very rocky and very wet. Within a short distance, Sheba saw two hikers coming toward us with their dogs. One dog was pulling at the leash and was generally...energetic. The other dog was the second biggest dog I had ever seen out hiking. I asked the owner the breed and he said it was a "Leonberger". I later found that these are European mountain dogs bred to look like lions. They did a good job! After only .3 miles a road head down toward the stream. It was not the marked trail I was looking for but my new plan was to go down to the stream and bushwhack up toward the pond. I had seen some waterfalls and, as always, was intrigued.

When we got down to the stream bed, we found paths on both sides of the stream. I would have crossed to the other side but the water was a little wider and faster than I would like. I decided to walk up the near side. We walked along the stream and I took some pictures as we went. In some places the path was almost blocked by trees and debris but we found a way around in each case. At about .8 miles, I could see a falls ahead and one on a small tributary to the left. We walked across the stream which was smaller now and then over to the tributary. I took some shots before walking a little further upstream to make sure there were no more falls. We walked back to the main stream where there was a lower, smaller drop and an upper, higher drop. I took some pictures from below and then climbed the bank to take more shots from above. Shortly after this we found the new bridge across the stream that is part of the short loop. We took the trail up to the western branch of the main trail and started southwest and then south toward the beaver pond. The trail gains some elevation as it goes and along the way we met four or five more hikers and two dogs. Soon we were at the beaver pond and I took a few pictures. The pond had a covering of ice at the outlet but the inlet was open. One beaver lodge was on the opposite shore. There were many signs of beaver activity including many fresh-cut trees and new material added to the dam. As we rounded the pond, we heard some voices and met another group of people at the lean-to. We greeted each other and Sheba and I passed by. I had been told that the privy by the lean-to had been vandalized but it seemed in good shape! We headed down the trail toward the parking area looking for the crossover trail to make the figure 8. As we walked I noticed that despite the "hollow" in the name, there was quiet a nice view to the west of the hills beyond. On the right a hill or ridge rose from the trail. I decided to do some climbing for the extra exercise and the possibility of a view. We were only about 2 miles into the hike at this point.

Down low on the trail there was no snow but I could see some in the woods ahead as we climbed. I could see a grove of trees ahead and the sun angle seemed to indicate that we were almost at the top. Boy was I wrong! Every time we seemed to be at the top of the climb, the ground would flatten briefly and then there was another hill or set of ledges in front of us. Some of the woods were open but we did push through some thick brush at times. I must say the Mammut wool top I wore handled the bushwhacking nicely without snags or pulls. We kept running into more snow but I really wanted to get to the top. As time wore on I decided to find out where we were headed and how far we still had to go. I got out the map, my compass and GPS. I found we were headed to Millbrook Ridge to a point with an elevation of about 3150 feet. The total distance was a little over a mile but the elevation gain was 1050 feet! We pushed on and soon were at the top of the ridge. I found what I thought I would find...nothing. There was nothing but a big boulder at what I though was the highest point around. The highest point on the ridge is about 1.2 miles to the west where it tops out at about 3460 feet. I had no desire to go there as I had hiked that area several times and the sun was now obscured by dark clouds. After a few pictures, a snack and a drink, Sheba and I headed back. At first I though Sheba was not following our path back since I did not see my footprints in the snow. After I admonished her, I found that she had simply chosen an easier and more direct route that headed in the right direction. She did this several more times as we made our way down the mountain. We ended up at EXACTLY the same location where we had started up. The trip down seemed much faster than the trip up but was only shorter by about 8 minutes. Back on the main trail we turned right and headed back to the car. The trail crossed the stream again and then passed through several groves of large evergreen trees. Along the way we met four more hikers and their dog. I decided to head directly back to the car as the prediction of rain showers seemed to be coming true. We were back at the car 3:40 PM having covered 5.6 miles in 3 hours. As we left the parking area a light rain began to fall.

On Thursday, December 29th, I had planned to hike with Jim Kennard as he finished his Winter 35s on Kaaterskill High Peak. The plan was to meet at 9:00 AM at the Gillespie Road parking area and bushwhack over Roundtop and then to Kaaterskill to finish his winter list. When I woke up in the early morning, the thermometer was registering in the single digits and I started to find ways to convince myself not to go. In the end I decided to make the trip but leave Sheba at home. Sheba goes ALMOST everywhere with me on hikes but I felt that the weather might be a little too cold in this case. It was supposed to warm up during the day but I had a felling that it would not get out of the 20s on the mountain. Meeting someone at a specific time got me out of the house early and as I drove toward Frost Valley the temperature on my car thermometer began to slowly climb. As I drove up Route 214 from Phoenicia toward Hunter. it began to drop again! I was concerned about being able to get to the parking area as Gillespie Road is a dirt Road and not maintained during the winter. As I drove out Platte Clove Road and turned onto Clum Hill Road it was clear that there was less snow in this area than at home. I made the right onto Gillespie and found it almost clear of snow with only a few ice patches. The road WAS rough but I made it to the parking are to find two other cars neither of which were Jim's. Jim arrived shortly with Connie from Saugerties and Andy from New York City. After getting acquainted, we got hiking to stay warm since the temperature was back to single digits. We headed northeast on a woods road and then continued to bushwhack in that direction for a total of .6 miles and a gain of 450 feet to the snowmobile trail. Here we turned right and stayed on the trail for a short distance before again heading into the woods to the northeast and up for about .2 miles. Jim had a track recorded in his GPS that he wanted to follow so at this point we turned southeast to head toward Round Top and to stay on a ridge line. We stayed on the ridge to about .54 miles and then turned directly south toward Round Top. At this point our route got much steeper. I fell that I am able to pick a good line on bushwhacks but Connie was also able to choose a good line so we took turns. We had to work our way around and through some cliffs until, at 1.8 miles overall, we were at the highest point we could find on Round Top. It was 10:50 AM and we had gained about 1150 feet to an elevation of just under 3500 feet.

After taking some group pictures on Round Top Connie and I wanted to head directly southeast toward Kaaterskill as we had both done before. Jim wanted to follow the GPS track and some suggestions he had found on a website and it was his hike. We followed our rout back down heading north. Once we got to a flat spot, we decided not to drop any more elevation and headed around Round Top in a clockwise direction. As we came to a point just southeast of where we had been on the summit, we spotted the land bridge to Kaaterskill AND a set of footprints headed in that direction. We followed the bridge and the footprints down through some small ledges and into the col between the two peaks. After about .4 miles, we began to climb up Kaaterskill. At points this was a steep hike through ledges but it was pleasant as we knew we were nearing our goal. We hiked another .7 miles and gained about 450 feet until we hit the path to Hurricane Ledge where we turned left to the summit. We arrived at 12:40 in the clearing that marks the summit. We took pictures and then I decided to go to Hurricane Ledge which the others decided to forgo. I headed off to the Ledges and had to skirt some substantial ice flows on the way. The views from the Ledges were nice and I took some pictures before heading back to the summit. The others had decided to head to east to find the lookout in that direction. I had tried this before and always found only limited views. I headed in their direction along a path and continued on as they were standing at one viewpoint. I followed the path to a point where it started to descend steeply and then walked toward what looked like an opening. I found a small viewpoint with excellent views to the east. There was only room for one person but the views were great. I took pictures and called for the others to come to the sound of my voice. We all had a look and then headed back to the summit. At this point we had to decided whether to bushwhack back the way we had come or descend the herd path to the north and head back on the snowmobile trail.

We decided on the descent to the north on the heard path but knew it had the potential to be very icy. We all put on our traction devices before heading down. The ice I remembered from a few weeks before was even more pronounced with many sections of the path looking like a river of ice. I had no problems getting traction with the Yak Xtremes on the ice but found some even better going in the snow alongside the path. After a few slips and slides we were on the snowmobile trail where we turned left to head back to the parking area. the ,5 miles descent drops almost 700 feet and averages over a 25% grade! The snowmobile trail is virtually flat but has many areas that are rutted and muddy from illegal ATV use! It was tricky to walk then next 1.8 miles avoiding these areas. This walk also seems long and has little in the way of vies. We were able to see a ridge to our left which was where we had been on the way out. Eventually the snowmobile trail turns to the left where another trail heads out to Cortina Valley. We made this turn and headed into the woods shortly after to bushwhack back to the car. We headed to the southwest for the next .6 miles finding our path from earlier in the day and dropping another 400 feet. We arrived back in the parking area at 4:10 PM having covered 6.7 miles in 7 hours and 15 minutes. The other cars were gone and we never saw any other hikers the whole day. Jim had a bottle of sparkling wine and we took some time to celebrate his accomplishment. Jim has now finished the 35s and the 35s in winter so the CHH list will be next. I look forward to hiking some of these with him and hooking up with Connie on some more adventures!

On Tuesday, December 27th, I was a little tired from the nearly 14 mile hike. I also had some chores to do around the house in the morning. I did not plan on hiking since I had planned to hike with Jim at least one of the next two days as he completed his winter 35's. When I got home at around 11:00 AM, my sister-in-law and niece were at the house and wanted to go for a short hike. I normally am not enthusiastic about anything under 6 miles but this day was an exception. We decided to go to Frick Pond and hike around the back of the pond and visit the Mange falls afterward. We took both dogs. This was Sheila's first hike other than walls around the block and the hill near our house. 'We arrived at the parking area just before noon and started out toward Frick Pond on the Quick lake Trail. The trail was wet but Sheila was good about avoiding the deepest water. The only problem was that she wanted to sniff EVERYTHING. The Lab in her gives her a great nose and I had to keep "encouraging" her to come along. When she did decide to get going, it was all I could do to keep up with her as she ran using her long legs. We stopped briefly at the pond under graying and overcast skies. The boardwalks around the back of the pond were not as slippery as I thought they might be but I did not have poles as I was "managing" the puppy on a leash. At Times Square I voted to continue up the Big Rock Trail to the Flynn Trail. I outvoted 3 to 1 and we continued around the pond and back to the car. As we left the parking area to drive down to the pulloff for the falls, a little precipitation began to hit the windshield. We parked and walked down to the falls which had a good flow of water. I took some pictures as the rain increased. Working my way down to the stream bed was tricky as there was a lot of ice and frozen spray on the rocks. We headed back to the car as more rain began to fall. A nice excursion for the day after a long adventure.

On Monday, December 26th, I decided to hike somewhere near home. Later in the week I was going to hike some 3500 foot peaks with my friend Jim Kennard who was finishing his Catskill 3500 winter peaks so a "flatter" hike with some distance would be fine. I needed to get some exercise after the calories I loaded on during the holiday weekend. I decided to go to the area of the Frick Pond and hike to Quick Lake. This was a hike that I had wanted to do for some time but every time I started it something seemed to get in the way. I waited around the house while for the weather to clear as the forecast was for partly sunny skies. At about 10:30 AM I decided that I would not wait any longer and I drove to Frick Pond. On the drive, the thermometer in my car showed that the temperature was dropping. By the time we parked it was about 10:15 AM the temperature was 30 degrees with a stiff breeze blowing. Some of the wind gusts were up to 20 miles per hour. As I left the car I was a little bit cold but I knew that I would warm up as I hiked. I almost turned back because the wind was making the trees creak but I decided to continue anyway. We hiked out The Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond. The wind off the pond was even stronger at the outlet bridge and since I had taken pictures there so many times before, I decided to simply continue without stopping. The Quick Lake Trail has a lot of blow-down on it which totally blocks many areas. Hikers are beginning to alter the path of the trail to avoid these areas which should be cleared. We made good time to Iron Wheel Junction covering the first 1.5 miles in just over 30 minutes. We turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and started up toward Junkyard Junction. Shortly after the turn onto the Quick Lake Trail we made another left on the snowmobile trail toward Quick Lake. I had decided to use a combination of the Quick Lake Trail and the snowmobile trail to get the most direct route to Quick Lake. I estimated that the total round trip distance would be between 13 and 15 miles and due to our late start I needed to minimize the distance.

The snowmobile trail gains almost 400 feet in a little more than a half mile before making a right turn and losing as much elevation in the next .7 miles. There are several switchbacks in the trail but eventually we made it to Coyote Junction after passing over the highest spot on the hike at 2745 feet. At Coyote Junction the snowmobile trail meets the Quick Lake Trail. It was 12:00 PM and we had hiked about 4.4 miles. We took a left on the Quick Lake Trail and headed toward Bobcat Junction. My intention was to us both of the trails to take the quickest path to Quick Lake. The trail rises and falls some along the way until it arrives at Bobcat Junction. Since the Quick Lake Trail and the snowmobile trail diverge at these three junctions there is an opportunity to "loop" at each junction. At Bobcat Junction we continued straight ahead on the Quick Lake Trail as the snowmobile trail headed a little to the north. We headed toward Quick Lake and arrived at Flatrock Junction where the snowmobile trail turns left and makes a more direct route to the lake than the Quick Lake Trail which heads north first. in the mile from Bobcat to Flatrock we had dropped 235 feet in elevation. The map on the back of the NYNJTC maps that show the Frick Pond area are not topo maps and I had not realized the drop in elevation would be quite so dramatic and I was about to get another surprise. At Flatrock Junction we took a left and headed down toward Quick Lake on the snowmobile trail. As we descended the snow on the trail all but disappeared and soon Quick Lake came into view. The lake is pretty small and not very remarkable. It is very secluded and has a nice lean-to on the shore. It was 12:50 PM and we had hiked 6.9 miles. From Flatrock Junction we had dropped another 400 feet.

We stopped for a few moments to get lunch and a drink and for me to take some pictures. As we got ready to leave, I was a little concerned about the time and the distance we had to hike to return to the car. If we had gotten an earlier start, I might have followed some of the loops in the trail but now I just wanted to make sure we were back before I had to test my headlamp! I have decided to take exactly the same route back since I knew exactly where I was going and so did Sheba. It was simply a matter of following Sheba and my footprints in any areas where I might miss a turn. We tackled the 600 foot elevation gain without a problem and were soon on the ridge. On the way up I noticed Sheba looking off into the woods several times. I tried to see what she saw but it wasn't until the third time that I caught sight of two coyotes in the woods on some rock ledges. I knew that many wild animals see you and that you never see them but the sight certainly buried me along! By 2:00 PM we had passed through Coyote Junction and were back at the highest point of the hike about 9.6 miles into the hike. From here it is downhill for the next mile with a drop of over 300 feet. Unfortunately, there was one more hill to climb and over the next .7 miles we regained most of that 2300 feet! From that point it WAS all downhill to Junkyard Junction, Frick Pond and the parking area. Just before Junkyard Junction we met a solo hiker headed out as we were headed in. We said "Hello" but I did not ask where he was going. We arrived at the car at 3:40 PM covering 13.7 miles in 5 hours and 20 minutes for an average speed of around 3 mph! What surprised me was the up and down nature of the hike led to a total elevation gain of 2400 feet. As we left the parking area the skies were getting ever darker and some precipitation was hitting the windshield.

On Thursday, December 22nd, I wanted to hike another 35 but I wanted the closest one I could find. I was surprised when I looked at my grid to find Graham available. I had several projects that kept me busy in the morning so we didn't get to the trailhead until 11:55 AM. One other car from New Jersey was in the lot as we started the hike. I had dressed for the 46 degree weather in town but it seemed much cooler in the parking lot. I knew that as we hiked I would get warmer. The forecast had called for partly sunny and the sun had peaked through the complete overcast once on the drive up the Beaverkill Road. As we hiked it was overcast with some pretty dark clouds. I wondered if the forecast for a 20% chance of showers would come true. It took us less than 20 minutes to hike to the first trail junction. Instead of turning left up to Balsam Lake Mountain, we continued straight ahead on the woods road to climb Graham. I had not gone this way in some time and the elevation gain was slightly more than I remembered. By 12:40 we were at the turn onto the herd path for Graham which meant we had covered over 2 miles in 40 minutes! The herd path looked at first as if someone had cleared it but that was not the case. For the first 1.1 miles on this path the trail is level or drops until the climb up Graham starts. I knew the trail would be wet since we had rain the night before. The trail was VERY wet with running water in many places and pools of water and mud in others. There is always blowdown on the path as it is not a maintained trail. By 1:00 PM we had covered slightly over 3 miles to the base of Graham Mountain. From here the trail starts to climb. There are no rock scrambles and the climb is steeper in places than others but overall the hike is long but fairly easy. There were more and more icy patches the higher we got and an increasing number of areas of snow especially off the trail.

As we started up the final section of the trail two hikers approached from Graham. They had hiked Balsam Lake Mountain and then Graham. We talked briefly and they said they had gotten some views from the fire tower earlier when there was some sun. We continued in opposite directions and the rest of the climb to the top went quickly. We passed by the lookout on the left and ran into some more ice and patches of packed snow. As we approached the top the brush closed in on the trail but soon we were on the summit. It was not quite 1:30 PM and we had covered 3.95 miles. I took a few pictures but the view is mostly blocked by brush and the sky was overcast. The tower was clearly visible. We got a drink and a snack and I noticed I was getting cold. I decided not to visit the lookout at the summit since it would be wet and not offer much in the way of views. We headed down the mountain stopping at the lookout on the way down to take a few shots. About .35 miles from the summit the path turns to the right. At this point I noticed that a path also leads to the left. I had never noticed this before so we walked down that path into a large clearing. It seemed that the path continued on the other side and there was a lot of open woods. We didn't have the time to explore on this day but I will go back to wander around this area in the future. By 2:25 PM we had hiked 5.9 miles and were back at the main trail. We turned left and hiked toward the parking area. At the junction with the trail up Balsam Lake I stopped to consider climbing that mountain also. I decided that it was late and the views would not be good. In addition, the sky was getting much darker and I did not want to get wet with cold rain. We kept a quick as we hiked back to the parking area although descending over the numerous rolling stones on the upper part of the trail was tricky. We were back at the car by 3:10 PM having covered 7.9 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes.

Fall 2011

On Tuesday, December 20th, I decided to keep my string of December 3500 hikes going. I looked at my grid and thought about the Blacks. I decided that I had been there in late November and the drive was a little more than I wanted to do. Westkill was available and I had not been there for some time due to the various road closures. I got out of town around 8:10 AM which was my original plan. I had heard that Route 47 was now open through to Big Indian on Route 28 and I decided to find out. The DeBruce Road was covered with a light coating of snow and was slippery in spots. When I turned right on to Route 47, the sign stating that the road was closed was gone. As I drove along the damage was obvious from the rough places to the new pavement in spots. The river appeared to have changed its course in several places and a lot of debris remained in place. We passed the parking areas for Slide and Panther Mountains without much problem. As I rounded a turn just after the Panther parking area I started to see construction equipment and the I saw what they were repairing. The road had simply disappeared leaving at least a 40 foot gap in the road. There was a single-lane bridge constructed on I beams and some decking spanning the stream below. To get across the bridge requires driving down a steep little hill to it and then up the other side. I did not stop to take pictures but thought I might on the return trip. At this point I was still considering a longer hike to include Hunter or a side trip to Prattsville. One I reached Big Indian I went straight across the intersection and took the "back way" to Route 42 toward Spruceton. Just before the Notch there was still a sign indicating that the road was closed 9 miles ahead. I knew from other trip reports that I could at least get to the Spruceton Road so I drove around the sign. I stopped briefly at the falls at the Halcott parking area and then drove on. Just after the parking area I noticed that the guardrail was missing and that one of the small "ponds" on the right of the road was filled with dirt and rocks. When I looked to my left, I saw that the entire hillside had slid and blocked the road. I did not stop nut though about taking pictures on the way back. As I got closer to Spruceton, there were several crews till doing road repair. Several of the bridges on the Spruceton Road showed signs of damage and one ha been replaced with a temporary structure. There were several areas of very rough road. Many of the bridges over the Westkill had been destroyed and a few replaced. We arrived at the trailhead at about 9:45 AM and started to hike almost immediately.

We hiked the mile to Diamond Notch Falls rather quickly. I took a look at the falls and decided to walk down to the stream bed to get some pictures. Once in the stream bed, I dropped my pack and got out the camera. The sun was just coming out and I was careful to try to avoid the direct light into the lens. The falls were frozen in places and it seemed that the flow had changed some since the last time I was there. The largest volume of water was now coming from the left side of the falls rather than the right. After a few shots, I realized there was another difference. I could not see the bridge across the top of the falls! Sheba and I hiked up to the main trail and walked to the "bridge". All I found was the approach on both side and NOTHING else. The bridge was completely gone as if it had never been there! I guessed that I should have paid more attention to trip reports and the NYNJTC website. I considered altering my plans to do Hunter instead but I really wanted to go to Westkill. We walked back down into the stream bed and I spent the next 15 minutes throwing large rocks into the deep water. Sheba was looking at me from the opposite shore! I was able to cross without a problem except for the icy rocks. We climbed up the bank to the Devil's Path and headed up the trail toward Westkill. For me this peak always hikes "long" no matter the season. The trail was covered with a thin layer of snow which increased in depth with altitude. Some of this snow hid patches of ice. I thought I was going to be overdressed but the temperature was 28 degrees at the trailhead and dropped steadily with altitude despite the sun. Even so the exercise began to generate some heat so I took the time to open the pitzips and front zippers.

After the falls, the trail begins a continuous ascent for some time. At one point the trail clings to a sidehill which as pretty easy to hike this day but can be much harder when covered with some snow. The trail levels some and actually descends a little before a second ascent to the Buck Ridge Lookouts. Along the way there are several steep climbs. One in particular is almost vertical and is always covered in ice. I have bushwhack around this part of the trail many times but decided to go straight up this time. Sheba was ahead of me and almost all the way to the top when she decided to turn around and fly past me on the way down. Once I was up I got her to the top and we continued the hike. It crossed my mind that putting on the Xtremes I had in my pack would be a good idea. As we approached the rock shelter there were several areas of blowdown. Some I remembered from a previous hike and some were new. The blowdown is large enough to require a chainsaw and the DEC has not gotten around to it yet. Hikers are beginning to reroute the trail around these areas. We walked passed the rock shelter and the 3500 foot sign just above it. After this, we covered the flat area and slight descent just before the last climb to the lookouts. Soon we were at the lookouts and I knew I could take some good photographs. I decided to hike to the summit and back before taking pictures. We accomplished this quickly and were soon back at Buck Ridge. It was 11:50 AM and we had hiked 3.2 miles.

The sun was peaking in and out from behind the clouds and I took pictures from one side of the lookout and then from the other. We got lunch and a drink before starting back. I decided at this point to don my Xtremes and a warmer pair of gloves. I also was getting cold so I zipped up before starting the descent. The Xtremes were a good idea and I was able to almost run over the ice. I could hear the points digging into the ice. I consciously avoided the bare rocks and roots looking for ice and packed snow. I waited until there was almost no snow or ice to remove the spikes and put them in my pack. Soon we were at the crossing for the Westkill. I walked up to the site of the bridge and took some pictures before hiking back to the car. It was 1:45 PM and we had covered 6.3 miles in just under 4 hours. I decided to drive back the way I had come. On the way back I stopped to take pictures of the bridges on the Westkill and of the slide on Route 42. On Route 47 I stopped to take pictures of the missing part of the road before heading home.

On Saturday, December 17th, Karl was free to go on a hike. I asked him where he wanted to go and he listed a number of peaks. I decided that it would be a good idea to hike Bearpen and Vly since I needed them for the month on December. Karl was at the house early in the morning but I had a few chores to do before we left. By 9:15 Am I was ready to go and we left Livingston Manor to head toward Fleischmanns. Although both the Peekamoose Road and Route 47 passed Frost Valley were open, I decided it would be easiest to go through Roscoe and take Route 30 around the Pepacton Reservoir. When we got to Route 28, I turned right and drove through Margaretville and Arkville to get to Fleischmanns. Once in town, I turned left to head toward Halcott Center. I sometimes have trouble remembering the various turns but not this day. At the final Y I stayed to the right on Route 3 and drove to the end of the paved road. We arrived at trailhead around 10:30 AM and parked in the snowplow turnaround where there was one other car. The car had a New Jersey license plate and an ADK sticker so we were pretty sure it was another hiker. I had been a little reluctant to hike these two mountains as they are heavily hunted and black powder season did not end for a few days. We started to hike up the road which is the beginning of the trail at about 10:35 AM. Our two dogs, Maggie and Sheba, seemed very glad to be out of the house. As we walked up the road, I realized that it was a little steeper than I thought. After about .85 miles and 20 minutes, we were at the hunter's shack in the col between the two mountains. We decided that Vly was a bit harder and turned right onto the herd path.

We could see the footprints of a solo hiker in the light snow as we followed the yellow and blue markers up the mountain. The paint markers used to mark the property boundaries before the state purchased both Bearpen and Vly. It was snowing lightly and this would continue for most of the day. There was some ice along the way which made several of the sections of the trail a little tricky. I had a pair of Yak Extremes with me and considered putting them in but decided to leave them for the trip down. We made our way through a few rock scrambles and reached the flatter section before the final climb. We continued to follow the footprints although I had done this before and found that not everyone knows where they are going! This section of the path becomes a little less distinct with several paths crossing the main one. As we hiked, we saw another hiker coming toward us. When we met, he introduced himself as Rockysummit from the ADK Forum and asked if I was Ralph. I am sure that he must have recognized Sheba! We talked for a few minutes and he said that the trail up ahead was not particularly icy. I did notice that he had his Microspikes on. Karl and I continued along and started up the final climb to Vly. We had talked for almost the entire hike as we walked along and I was surprised at how quickly we reached the flat part of the summit. We reached top and walked a short distance to the canister. It was 11:37 AM and we had covered about 1.65 miles.

I reached up and got the book out of the canister and signed our names. We had been working hard on the way up and I was sweating. I had opened my pitzips to vent some heat but now I was getting chilly. There was a slight wind blowing that made it a little bit cooler at the top. We decided not to stay very long. We walked out of the small boulder that serves as a lookout but the view was blocked by the trees and the fog on the peaks. In addition, the rock was covered in ice. I decided not to jump up on it to take pictures and we headed back to the canister. We decided not to stay any longer but did get a drink and a snack before heading down the mountain. I considered putting my spikes on to make the trip down but decided I would try the descent without them. The trip down actually went very quickly although there were a few slips and slides. We made it down the mountain by 12:25 PM after covering about 2.45 miles. When we reached the hunting shack, we went straight across and started on the woods road that leads to the summit of Bearpen. Actually it is a series of roads and snowmobile that can be confusing. We were still following Rockysummit's steps most of the way. The first part of the trail is flat but then we made a left turn where the road quickly gets steeper. The trail continues to follows mostly woods roads and the hike is much easier than it was in the past. There are also some snowmobile trails that cut through some of the worst parts of the brush and briars. Again we talked as we hiked and time passed quickly. There was some snow on the trail but nothing very deep as we approached the final climb to the summit. Along the way we again met Rockysummit. After a brief conversation, we went our separate ways.

We continued to follow the footprints and at one point I noticed that we had turned on a slightly different path than I had taken before. I decided that we would continue to follow his footsteps and soon we were on the woods road that leads directly to the summit. As we walked along, we could see down into the valley and it seemed that the fog had cleared. When we finally did reach the first lookout it was 1:15 PM and we had hiked about 4 miles. The fog had closed in again obscuring all of the landmarks to the north. I did take some pictures but it was hard to see anything distinctly. The Schoharie Reservoir was visible as were the outlines of Huntersfield and Richmond. I wanted to walk over to the next lookout to show Karl the old rope tow for the ski area. Here again most of the views were blocked. I did take some pictures of some of the interesting trees at the summit. We got lunch and then decided that we would turn around and start back and following the same path. The hike back went very quickly and we managed to avoid all the icy spots. We arrived back oat the shack in the Col at 2:00 PM about 5.5 miles into the hike. We turned right down the road and hiked the .85 miles back to the car. The hike back to the car seemed to go very quickly and we arrived in the parking area at 2:20 PM. We completed the 6.4 mile hike in about three hours and 45 min. Although the forecast was for temperatures high 30s, I don't think that they ever were above freezing for the entire day.

On Wednesday, December 14th I wanted to again hike some of the Catskill 3500 foot peaks. The weather forecast for Thursday was poor so I decided to head for Peekamoose and Table and hike them from the Sundown-West Shokan Road. When I got to Sundown just before 9:00 AM, there was no sign warning that the road was closed. I knew that it was supposed to be repaired and took this as a good sign. As I drove toward the trailhead, there were only a few rough spots in the road. We arrived at the parking area just before 9:00 AM and got hiking almost immediately. The temperature still seemed cold and it did not occur to me that this was because the trailhead is shaded and by the river. At the start of the hike the trail gains elevation almost immediately and between the exertion and the sun starting to hit the trail I got warm quickly. After a short distance I stopped briefly to open the pitzips and neck zippers on my jacket and tops. The first part of the trail looked like late fall with only a light coating of snow or frost on the leaves. We walked up the woods about .8 miles until the trail turned right away from the road. A little further along there were several large trees blown down across the trail. Someone had cut a notch in the low tree and left the chuck cut out as a step. The trail continues to gain elevation and at several different places there are steeper rock outcrops to negotiate. After 1.5 miles, we stopped so that I could remove a layer of clothing before I was completely soaked in sweat. I decided that since the wind was not blowing, I would take off my Mammut hoody and hike in my long sleeved Icebreaker GT200 Chase. This was good choice and I never put the jacket on again! At 2.2 miles we arrived at Reconnoiter Rock and stopped to take some pictures. This rock is a glacial erratic precariously balanced on other rocks. I took some pictures with and without Sheba before moving on.

We had been making good time but there always seems to be a change in conditions after Reconnoiter Rock and this day was no exception. We began to run into around 6 inches of snow and quite a bit of ice on the trail. The snow was packed down by previous hikers and the ice in most spots could be avoided. At about 3.0 miles we reached the flat plateau before the final climb up Peekamoose. Just at the to of this climb is a nice lookout to the east. Despite some haze the views were good and I stopped to take pictures. The sun was now out from behind the clouds and it seemed warm even though there was quite a bit of snow and ice on the trail. We continued toward the summit without stopping at some of the other viewpoints which are not as open as the first. From the viewpoints to the summit is about .8 miles with a gain of 350 feet. The first part is flatter with a steeper ascent as you approach the summit. On the steeper part we met two young men coming down. They had spent the night at the lean-to and were headed back down. They aid there was snow and ice between the peaks but nothing too bad. I still had not put on any traction device out of pure stubbornness. We said goodbye to the two descending hikers and headed toward the summit. Soon we were at the large rock that marks the summit. It was 11:15 AM and we had covered 3.75 miles. We stopped to take some pictures and then headed for table.

The distance between the summits of the two mountains is less than a mile and the drop into the col is just over 200 feet. I was feeling good and never gave a second thought to heading for Table. There was a lot of snow going down Peekamoose and several steep and slippery parts. I don't like putting on the spikes since they WILL stop you short as you descend and I like to slide down. When we started to ascend Table, I found most of the snow had melted as it was exposed to the sun. There were some icy patches on the steeper ascent to the flat summit of Table. Once on the top we continued to walk through the highest point and down the other side. Sheba gave me an "Are you are look?" but I wanted to go to the lookout on the left side of the trail just as it starts down toward the lean-to. This lookout is to the south and west and has completely different views than the one before the Peekamoose summit. When we got to the rock that makes up the viewpoint, I found it covered in ice and snow. I took pictures but was sure to watch my footing as I did so. It was still sunny but not so much so that in ruined the shots. After taking pictures we got a drink and ate lunch before starting back. It was just before noon and we had hiked 4.6 miles. The trip back went quickly as we descended Table and climbed through the col to Peekamoose. Somewhere along the way I checked my GPS and found it turned off. I turned it back on an waited for it to go off again suspecting a malfunction. The unit continued to function properly which led me to believe the malfunction was mine. As we passed the rock at the summit I noticed footprints and a trail to the left. I had not seen this on the way up. We walked out to another viewpoint that someone had obviously cut out. It offered a very nice view to the east and north. None of the cuts looked new so I was surprised I could not remember being here before. I have mixed feelings about these "new" viewpoints that are springing up. They certainly allow better views from the peaks but they are NOT natural. After visiting the viewpoint and taking pictures, we headed back to the main trail and down Peekamoose. As we started to descend I finally decided to put on my Yak Xtremes to handles the ice and packed snow. They really did make a difference and allowed me to hike much more quickly than without them. I did have to remember to step ON the snow and ice and not on the rocks and dirt! I finally took them off just after Reconnoiter Rock. We continued to set a fast pace back down the mountain. This is a longer hike than I remember but we were back at the car by 2:15 PM covering 9.1 miles in just over 5 hours.

On Monday, December 12th I got up early as I planned to hike Peekamoose and Table. The temperature was 14 degrees and I knew I would have to wait a bit since numbers that low are hard on Sheba's feet! Around 7:15 AM, as we were getting ready to leave, the ambulance pager sent me to the school. I got back home just after 9:00 AM which was, I felt, a little late to start on two 3500 foot peaks. I decided instead to go somewhere that had a view since the sun was out and the skies clear despite the 20 degree temperatures. After I twisted here arm Cindy agreed that Sam's Point near Ellenville was a nice place to visit. By the time we finished some errands, it was after 11:00 AM and the temperature had crept to near 30 degrees. We arrived at the Conservation Center at about 12:00 PM. I have to say that the numerous signs posted around the Center seemed unfriendly and almost hostile. I know that many people probably violate the rules but we don't. One sign told us that we would be locked in if we did not leave by 5:00 PM. Another told us that the Ice Caves and Greater Ice Caves were closed. Despite the closings, the parking fee was still $10. There was no one at the Center to ask about a yearly pass and the fee payment was on the "honor system". A sign by the book warned about the consequences of not paying! By 12:15 PM we were headed up the loop road to Sam's Point. The road was very icy and Cindy decided to don her Stabilicers which she wore for the rest of the hike. This was a good decision. We stopped at the lookout below Sam's Point and I took some pictures. There was some haze hanging over the valley but several of the pictures had an interesting quality. I was warm despite the cool temperatures and decided to take off my outer layer and stow it in the pack. We walked up the main trail and decided to go out to Sam's Point even though the view from there isn't too different than the one from below. I too some more shots before we headed back to the loop road. After a short walk, we turned right on the road down to the ice caves and then left on the trail to the falls. This trail had obviously been traveled but was sill icy in places. We passed through the scrub pine and low shrubs. At different points we could see nice views to the east of Lake Awosting, Castle Point and Hamilton Point.

In a little less than an hour we had hiked 1,8 miles. At this point we passed through an area where there still was some snow. The snow on the high grasses and the twisted dwarf pines was beautiful. I took some pictures before we crossed the outlet stream from Lake Maratanza and headed on toward the falls. This walk is always a little longer than I remember but was made more exciting this time by the numerous patches of ice and several areas where water had accumulated on the trail! At one point we looked up to see a man and a woman headed toward us. I asked them how the falls was and they replied that they hadn't made it that far. I told them it was less than a mile and was worth the walk but they decided to leave it for another time. Cindy and I continued on working our way down the last rocky section of trail to the falls. As we approached I was surprised that I did not hear a louder roar from the falls which I expected to have the kind of volume I had found two days before at Minnewaska. I took the little side trail out to the viewpoint on the near side and dropped my pack to take pictures. It was almost 2:00 PM and we had walked 3 miles. One glance at the falls left me a little disappointed. The water flow was adequate but no where near the volume of Awosting Falls. As I was stetting up to take a few photographs, the couple that had turned around showed up. They had changed their minds and hiked to the falls. I hoped that they would not be disappointed. I finished taking my pictures and went to find Cindy.

Cindy was waiting by the stream as she had decided not to come down to the viewpoint. Since the other hikers had crossed with only one fall, we decided to go over to the other side. Crossing above the falls was no problem and soon we were at the viewpoint on the other side. I got out something to drink and our lunch. As we were eating, I took some shots of the falls and the surrounding cliffs. There was a rather nice rainbow near the bottom of the falls but it was much more impressive in person than on the photographs. Cindy and I discussed our next move and agreed that we could make it around the entire escarpment loop but did not want to have to race back as we have done before. We decided to head back the way we came with a possible loop around Maratanza or a side trip to Indian Rock. We stayed at the falls for about 15 minutes and then headed back the way we had come. On the trip back we talked and walked and time passed quickly. By 3:10 PM we had hiked 4.8 miles and were back at the road. We decided we would walk back to the car as it was growing late and our hike had been very enjoyable. As we walked back, the sun disappeared behind some clouds and the temperature dropped noticeably. We were back at the car by 3:40 PM having covered 6 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes.

On Saturday, December 10th I knew that I wanted to do a LONG hike. I had been thinking of hiking over Acra Point and then the Blacks but had recently been there. Table and Peekamoose seemed like a good idea but Karl wants to hike there soon. I also was not thrilled with the hassle of carrying snowshoes and another traction device as I was not sure what conditions would be like at the summits. I decided that I would go to Minnewaska and do some long loop around Awosting and Minnewaska and maybe even out to Gertrude's Nose. I roughly calculated about 15 miles which would suit me just fine. As we left the house the sun was coming out and there was a slight wind. The weather forecast was for the temperature to rise into the low 40's at Minnewaska and I was prepared with lighter gloves and hat in the pack. We arrived at the gatehouse and I paid the $8 fee and another $5 for a new map. I didn't need the map but I collect maps and the money support the park. The attendant informed me that the Lower Awosting Carriageway was still closed as the causeway that was washed out during Irene and Lee was still a gaping hole. She said I could get on the Mossy Glen Trail so I didn't see a problem in changing my route a little. Sheba and I started out on the carriageway just after a pack of trail runners. They went down the carriageway and we turned left almost immediately onto the Mossy Glen Trail. At the beginning of the trail was a sign that stated that the bridge over the Peter's Kill was out. This was something the attendant had failed to mention! I decided that we would hike the trail which parallels the carriageway and take a look at crossing without the bridge. There was only a sprinkling of snow on the trail and in the woods but it was still cold. We hiked for abut .6 miles until we were at the site of the former bridge. NOTHING was left of the bridge which had been swept cleanly away. In addition, the Peter's Kill was too high to cross. One of the reason's I had come to Minnewaska was to see what the falls looked like after the rain of the previous week and now that rain was working against us. We walked back up to the top of the hill and out to the carriageway. After a little more than a mile of uphill walking, we came to the spot where the Huckleberry Run Trail leaves the carriageway. The beginning of this trail also had a sign indicating the bridge was out. We walked down to find almost exactly the same situation son the Mossy Glen Trail. It was as if the bridge had never existed. At this point there were only two choices. We could turn around and walk back to the car and start gain on the Upper Carriageway or we could continue and see if we could ford the stream at the site of the destroyed causeway. I decided on the later and in another mile we were at the causeway. This was truly an impressive site as there is a gaping hole about 40 feet wide where the earthen causeway used to be. The source of the destruction, the Peter's Kill, lies placidly below. We walked to the right of the causeway and down to the stream. It was fairly easy to cross on some rocks and get to the other side. Climbing the snow-covered bank was a little harder but soon we were at the top. I stopped to take some pictures before moving on. It was clear that the amount of snow was directly dependent on the exposure with the south of things being clear and the north side covered with snow.

Just on the other side of the causeway is a turn to the left for the Long Path. My plan was to cut across to the Upper Carriageway and pass by Rainbow Falls. This falls is impressive but only after a good rainfall so this was a good time to go there. Since the bridges were out on the other two trails, this was the next best choice. We turned and walked down to the stream so that I could take some pictures of the breach in the causeway from that side. We went back to the Long Path and started to walk through the brush and then up an exposed rock face gaining a little elevation as we went. The rock appeared wet and I was trying to be careful when my feet went out from under me and I took hard fall. The "wet" was actually some VERY slick ice on the rock. I picked myself up and, not having the good sense to turn around, continued up the Long Path. Once again I carefully approached an area that looked wet, and once again I fell. I knew it couldn't happen three times in a row and I could here the stream just ahead. Fortunately I did not fall again but unfortunately the Peters Kill flowing out of Lake Awosting was a raging torrent. The water was deep, moving swiftly and spears out over an large area. We turned around and managed NOT to fall on the way back to the carriageway. We did meet tow trail runners and we spoke briefly as I warned that about what was ahead. They decided to see for themselves. Back on the carriageway Sheba and I climbed the short hill to the shores of the lake. At this point I had to decide what route to take. My original plan was to take the trail on the other side of the lake so that we could visit Murray Hill, Margaret Cliffs, the Wolf's Jaw and the Tunnel. After slipping and falling, I decided staying on the carriageways and off the open rock faces was the best idea. We turned right and started to head around the lake when the two trail runners appeared. They, too, had decided to play it safe and we parted ways as they ran ahead. As we started around the lake the sun was high in the sky and the lake was blue and beautiful. Near the far end of the lake we stopped so that I could get some pictures. Two women ran by conforming that this was definitely the day for trail running! I was around 11:00 AM and we were 4.7 miles into our hike.

As we continued around the lake, the loop trail was shadowed from the sun and the surface became icy and covered in snow. Recently, I had walked around the lake and had been surprised by how far it was so I was prepared for the long walk. We stopped several times on peninsulas that stick out into the lake. From these vantage points I was able to take pictures up and down the lake and of the cliffs at The Battlements and Castle Point. Soon we were at the beach on the other side of the lake. I was dreading this moment as the beach is a rocky slab that is often covered with layers of ice. On this day there was almost no ice and we made it across without mishap. We continued to walk around the lake and I got a few shots from high up. When the loop trail intersected the yellow Hamilton Point Carriageway, I decide to forgo the lookouts to the left and turned right to head toward Castle Point. Soon the impressive cliffs loomed before us. We walked out to a lookout where I took some photographs of Lake Awosting. The best pictures from this viewpoint however were of the cliffs. At the junction with the Castle Point Carriageway we turned left and headed up to the Battlements. I usually turn right and then take the steep section of the Long Path up to Castle Point but this was not a good day to that route! We passed under massive, overhanging structures that I had not seen for some time as I had taken the other route. Soon we rounded the switchback and were on top of the cliffs with some nice views toward the lake, the cliffs below and the Catskills to the north. The rocks there were covered in ice and the trail was much the same. I took pictures but knew the best views were from castle Point just beyond. In a few minutes we were at Castle Point and I dropped my pack to get a snack and a drink. I took many pictures before putting the camera away and starting down the carriageway toward Lake Minnewaska. It was about 12:30 PM and we had hiked 7.8 miles already. My feet were beginning to get irritated at the heel and on the ball of the foot. Winter always seemed to do this and I have to remember to tape my feet and use liner socks!

We walked along the carriageway and I looked for other spots to take photos. There were some but the views were not too different than from Castle Point and I just didn't see the need to stop at every gap in the trees. As we approached Kempton Ledge I decided to stop and take some pictures of the Palmaghatt Ravine and the cliffs on the other side. I also took some shots of Patterson's Pellet,, a large glacial erratic on the other side of the ravine. I had already decided that a trip to Gertrude's Nose would be too far. The possibility of an icy path also helped make this decision easier. The new plan was to hike to Minnewaska and then down the Sunset Carriageway to Awosting Falls and then to the car. I decided to take the time to tape my feet as the sun was shining on the ledge. This was a little aggravating but proved to be the decision as it improved my mood greatly. We continued our walk toward the lake and made only one stop. An open field was covered in snow and gave a great views of the mountains to the north. When we got to the loop trail around the lake, we turned left and then walked down to the beach. From the beach I took pictures down the lake. I also took some shots of the cliffs and the cliff house on the other side. The sun was at an angle that flooded one side with light while the other was in shadow. We walked up the loop trail and started down the Sunset Carriageway at about 2:00 PM 11.4 miles into the hike. The walk down to the Peters Kill went quickly and we turned right to head to the bottom of the falls. I was tempted to stop and take pictures of the stream and the upper part of the falls but knew that better things awaited below. When we arrived at the base of the falls, there was more water going over the falls than I had ever seen before. There was also a fence across the rest of the trail since much of that trail no longer existed! I took many pictures of the falls from different angles before I was able top drag myself away. Sheba and I walked back up the trail to the gatehouse and then out the road to the far parking field where the car was waiting. It was 2:35 PM and we had covered 13 miles in 5 hours and 20 minutes. My GPS calculated a moving average of 3 mph and an overall of 2.5 mph. My feet were happy to be back in the car!

On Thursday, December 8th we woke up to find that the prediction of 6 to 10 inches of snow resulted in about 4 inches of rather wet snow at our house. Since the roads had been warm, they were mostly clear. I decided not to press my luck since the forecast for the northern Catskills was for more snow and I didn't know how much had fallen there. I knew the recent rains would have made the creeks high and the waterfalls beautiful so the Trout Pond loop with Russell Brook Falls was a natural choice. Cindy decided to go with us and we headed out just after 9:20 AM. The roads were good until Morton Hill Road which did not look like it had been plowed more than once. We parked in a few inches of snow at the top of Russell Brook Road to start our hike at about 9:45 AM. The snow on the trees was SO BEAUTIFUL we been took some pictures from the parking lot! As we walked down Russell Brook Road, I knew I was going to have trouble keeping the camera in my pack for any length of time! All the way down the road we could hear Russell Brook and, as we approached the upper falls it got even louder. I wasn't going to go down the bank to the area above the falls since it looked slippery but I carefully worked my way down the vantage point opposite the cascading water, I took many pictures before working my way back up the bank. We walked down to the parking lot and found one pickup truck there. We took more pictures and then headed down the trail to the bridge and the lower falls. I worked my way down the short but steep path to the stream bed. I again took many shots of the falls and surroundings covered in snow. I have seen the falls with a greater volume but this water was clear. Back on the main trail, we met a hunter walking back from the pond. He asked "Do you have a gun?" I wasn't sure how to respond but said I did not. He told us he had seen a bear and that we should be careful. I thanked him and continued up the trail. I didn't want to tell him how many bears I had seen on the trails and how many bears had probably seen me!

The scenery up to the pond continued to be beautiful although the woods road itself was rather wet in places. As we approached the pond, the wind began to pickup and I zipped up some of the layers that I had unzipped to dump heat. At the outlet end of the pond we stopped to take some pictures. The sky was bright in some places and covered with dark clouds in others. This made for some interesting effects as the light kept changing. The trail from the outlet to the lean-tos had several large puddles that we had to negotiate around. Ruts from the state pickups that had been used to install the new bridge didn't help. Several places along the trail we noticed paths in the snow perpendicular to the trail. It seems the beavers are still active as I found a tree with some signs of teeth marks at the end of one of the Se paths. We stopped at the inlet where I took some pictures and Cindy had a bite to eat at the lean-to. We crossed the new bridge to find a stream on the other side! This seemed to be a "branch" of the stream that flows under the bridge. There was also water flowing down the trail. We started up the trail to Cherry Ridge and encountered low hanging branches all along the route. I led the way and tapped most of the branches to remove the snow at which point they snapped up to clear the trail. More than once I was a little close and was hit my the snow. Working our way up and over the ridge proved tiring. On the other side of the highest point the trail was again obstructed by standing and flowing water. It was odd to see so much water surrounded by the snow. In this area the direction of the snowfall was evident as the north sides of the trees were covered and the south sides had almost no snow. We finally made it down to the woods road that heads back to the area of the falls. There was water on this road in many places and I was surprised to find that there were still many low hanging branches. Going downhill was a little easier than going up and we were soon back at the trail junction. From there we walked back to the lower parking and up the road to the car. The sun was still peeking in and out from behind the clouds and the temperature was in the mid to high 30's. It was 12:45 PM and we had taken about 3 hours to cover the 5.1 mile route.

On Monday, December 5th I wanted to hike off some of the calories I had taken in over the weekend. Hiking burns the calories and it also removes me from sources of food. I wanted to go to the Blackheads again to hike over Acra Point and then up to Blackhead. I then could decide how much further I wanted to go. My list for December is wide open so hitting three peaks was attractive even though I had been in the area last month. I got up early and was on schedule to leave at 6:00 AM when the ambulance pager went off and I was headed out the door on a call. My the time I got back I had decided that I did not have enough time to be able to drive two hours to the Blackhead Range. This didn't bother me too much as the skies were completely overcast and I was interested in taking pictures on the hike. I thought about peaks WITHOUT great views. Immediately Eagle and Balsam came to mind! These are two of my least favorite peaks especially Eagle with a long walk to a flat summit with no view. I decided to head to Rider Hollow since the Segar trail head is fine for Eagle but makes Balsam a long walk. In addition, I remembered that the Segar trail crosses and recrosses Shandaken Brook and I did not want to deal it. I REALLY hate water crossings even small ones and will do almost anything to get out of them, I headed to Route 30 around the Pepacton Reservoir and made a right on the Millbrook Road. I drove all the way to the end and turned left on Dry Brook Road, right on Todd Mountain Road and then right again on Rider Hollow Road. These roads still showed the damage from Hurricanes Irene and Lee especially the Rider Hollow Road. We arrived in the parking area at 9:30 AM to find no other cars. The temperature had risen on the drive and it was already in the low 40's. I removed my midlayer and We immediately hit the trail.

We walked along the trail as it paralleled the brook and within a short distance there was...a water crossing. It all came back to me that this trail was as bad as the Segar Trail in this aspect. The streams were high from recent rains but we found a spot where someone had placed several logs across. As I stepped on the logs they became submerged in the stream but I made it across, Sheba took a little dip and was soon on the other side. We walked along the trail until...the trail disappeared. It took me a minute to understand that the stream had simply cut a new channel and obliterated the trail! The best option, although not a great one, was to sidehill along the left bank to get around the most eroded area. The loose dirt and slippery leaves made this an adventure! We picked up the trail on the other side and I noticed a "no camping" sign on a tree that was now in the middle of the widened stream channel. When we came to the trail junction between the Rider Hollow and Mine Hollow Trails, we stayed to the right on the red Rider Hollow Trail. I thought we might come back by way of the other trail. At least the water crossing here had a bridge. This odd bridge has a steel frame and the wooden decking had recently been replaced. We walked up the trail to the lento. The trail is more eroded and rockier than ever. Just passed the lean-to, I lost the trail again on the right bank of the stream. A path seemed to follow the right bank but I saw no blazes. I finally picked up the blazes...on the other side of the wide stream. I was able to find a fallen tree to get me across and Sheba had no problem making it to the other side. The trail on the other side follows a woods road and begins to gain elevation as it moves away from the main stream. On the way to the col between Eagle and Balsam, we made four more stream crossings but these were easy. At about 1.23 miles into the hike, the trail becomes steeper and remains that way to the col gaining 750 feet in .7 miles. We were at the col by 10:30 AM.

When we reached the blue Pine Hill-West Branch Trail we turned right and headed for Eagle. There is another ascent over the next .7 miles which gains around 400 feet to the top of Haynes Mountain. Haynes tops out at just less than 3500 feet and once at the top the tail descends before climbing Eagle. The weather was now sunny at times and then the sun would hide behind some clouds. There was a slight breeze and overall the hiking was enjoyable. Some volunteers had worked on the trail in this area over the summer and fall and it showed as the trail was wide and easy to walk. As we started to descend Haynes, I looked ahead to see Eagle, It looked high. Once in the col we started up Eagle. The climb is more of a walk with no rock scrambles and a rather gentle ascent. Over .7 miles the elevation gain is about 340 feet. The highest point on Eagle is not on the trail and usually I don't really care. There is a well-defined path with a cairn on the flat part of the trail near the summit and we turned to the right on this path. After a short walk, we found a larger cairn which someone had erected presumably to mark the summit. I thought I could see higher ground slightly north and west so we headed off in that direction. When I could see no higher ground, I resalable course back to the cairn. I took some pictures and I broke out lunch even though it was still before noon. We walked back out to the main trail and started back to the col. We arrived at the trail junction at 12:30 PM with 6.3 miles already hiked.

From the Col the summit of Balsam is only .7 miles with a gain of 560 feet in elevation. Here, again, there are no rock scrambles but there area few interesting ascent through some ledges. This part went quickly and the only problem was that I forgot that the viewpoint is on the other side of the summit as you begin your descent. We stopped at the viewpoint and I took some pictures before going back to the main trail. The trail now descends over 700 feet in the next .7 miles to the junction with the yellow Mine Hollow Trail. Several switchbacks along the way make the slope seem less steep. We turned left on the yellow Mine Hollow Trail and continued going down dropping another 750 feet over .9 miles. The trail follows a wide woods road down to and then along the brook. Near the bridge, the trail again disappeared into the stream. We bushwhack over some blowdown and sidehilled briefly before I decided to cross the creek. This was fairly easy at this point as we picked up the red Rider Hollow Trail on the other side and crossed the bride. Of course, we still had to deal with the "missing" part of the trail and the final water crossing. By 2:30 PM we were back at the car having covered 9.7 miles in under 5 hours. On the way back I decided to take the Dry Brook Road into Arkville and pick up Route 28. This was a BAD decision as the bridge is still out. I backtracked to Todd Mountain Road and used that to get to Route 28.

On Thursday, December 1st I was in the mood to bag another 3500 foot peak...or two. When I looked at my grid, December was nearly bare so I decided to go to Tannersville and hike Indian Head and Twin. I had thoughts of including Sugarloaf in the hike but I knew that probably wouldn't happen. I had just done Sugarloaf in November and I had some things to take care of at home. I did get started a little earlier this time and decided to take the route I had taken previously through Grand Gorge. It turns out that this is a nice alternative but it is further and takes longer than other routes. We arrived at the Prediger Road trail head just before 9:30 AM to find only one car. The temperature was in the mid 30's and a slight wind was blowing. It wasn't long before we were on the trail and I started to warm up. I have never liked the trail to Jimmy Dolan Notch but this time it didn't seem to bad. It IS rough and eroded with many roots to step around and over on the lower part. There was a lot of standing water but the stream crossing was easy. The mud in many places was frozen and there were opportunities to walk around the worst sections. It seemed that we were soon on the steeper section which has many more rocks and requires some care. The problem was the ice on the rocks! This ice was not the friable kind that crunches under foot. This was hard ice that varied from a spot here and there to large sheets. I was careful not to repeat my performance from Sugarloaf several weeks earlier. This ice was to be avoided. Any type of traction device would be useless as the ice patches were so spotty. The trail did not have a lot of blowdown and soon we were on the flat portion of the trail just before the notch. We arrived at the notch at 10:30 AM. This meant we had hiked 2 miles in about and hour with a gain of 1100 feet! I was felling great but had to make some choices. I decided to head up Indian Head first and then Twin. This is the way I almost always go but it left open the possibility of doing Sugarloaf after Twin.

We turned left and started up the Devil's Path to Indian Head. The climb up Indian Head mixes some flatter spots with a few steeper areas. There was some water on the lower areas and then ice. In one spot a scramble up and over some rocks was covered in ice and looked a little too hard to negotiate. I decided to look for a way around. We bushwhacked to the right of the rock and found a way up and around the ice. After this point we walked to the rock that most consider the summit and then passed it until we started to go down. At this point, we turned around and started back just before 11:00 AM. The return to the Col went faster than I expected and we were soon headed up Twin. The wind was still blowing but the sun was out. I had expected to find little or no ice on the approach to Twin but the trail swings to the north. The exposure meant there was some ice. I always seem to remember the glorious view from Twin but not the ascent. Climbing up to the first lookout is a workout with some nasty little climbs. Many of these have workarounds but several were icy. One little ledge proved to be particularly challenging but I made it without a problem. We stopped at the lookout to Indian Head and I took some pictures. Back on the trail we climbed the last section and walked to the open rock face that forms the lookout from the east peak of Twin. This is one of the nicest spots in the Catskills. The sun was in the south where I wanted to photograph but it was almost noon and it was high in the sky. The wind was still blowing and I was getting a little cool. I took some shots and then we headed for the western peak which is the higher of the two.

To get to the higher peak there is a descent to a col and then a longer ascent up the other side. At one point I caught glimpse of the western peak and thought it looked pretty high. Actually the distance between the two peaks is only .6 miles with a drop of 100 feet and a gain of 155 ft. We arrived at the western peak at 12:05 PM about 3.9 miles into the hike. I took some pictures and we had some water as I looked over at Sugarloaf and decided it would wait for another day! We had a snack before heading back. Again, going down was easier than I thought it might be and we were approaching Jimmy Dolan Notch when I heard voices. Two young men from Connecticut were relaxing at the Notch. They had parked at Spruceton and taken a cab to Prediger Road. They wanted to hike the Devil's path from end to end with an overnight stay. Unfortunately, they had come up to Jimmy Dolan Notch on the BLUE trail. This meant they had missed the start of the Devil's Path and the summit of Indian Head. I left them mulling over what they should do next. Even though I dislike the hike to this notch, the trip back was downhill and we were able to avoid most of the ice. The ground was still frozen which kept the mud under control. We kept a good pace back to the parking area and I thought about taking a trip to Kaaterskill Falls to take pictures. Along the way we met only one other hiker. We were back at the car by 1:55 PM having covered the 6.8 mile trek in 4 hours and 20 minutes. I was ready to return home and I am sure Kaaterskill Falls will be there the next time I visit.

On Monday, November 28th the skies were overcast and there was a hint of mist in the air. The good news was that the temperature was almost 60 degrees. As I was about to leave for Frick Pond an ambulance call came in and by the time I returned it was about 10:15 AM. I decided to head up to Frick Pond since it is close and I knew I could finish before I had to be at school to time basketball games. Sheba and I arrived at the parking area just before 11:00 Am to find two pickup trucks already parked. I thought that it was likely that the belonged to hunters so I knew we would have to be careful. By 11:00 AM we were crossing the road and heading up the Flynn Trail. The last time I was hiking at Frick Pond it was October and I was on snowshoes! This day I was wearing a short sleeved shirt and was still sweating as we climbed the 1.7 miles on the Flynn Trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I checked my GPS ant this point and found we were averaging over 3 mph. It was then that I decided to see how fast we could finish without stopping but without jogging! I decided to head out the woods road that goes to the old boy scout camp and then cut down the hill and around the back of Hodge Pond. On the other side of the pond we picked up the Flynn Trail again and headed toward Junkyard Junction. The Flynn Trail in this area is almost flat but that means it is usually wet and on this day there was plenty of water and black mud. At Junkyard I thought about extending the hike out toward Quick Lake but decided to stick to my plan. We turned right and headed down the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond. At some point I looked up to see a hunter sitting by the side of the trail. We said a brief "Hello" and I continued on. After a short distance, there was another hunter on the left side of the trail. As we approached Wagon Wheel Junction, the was another hunter sitting on the right side of the trail. This hunter told me that some others were "driving" toward us. I excused myself and Sheba and I hurried to the trail junction where we turned right. This section of the Quick Lake trail is in poor shape. There are many trees blocking the trail and forcing hikers to make new trails around them. In addition, there are few markers along the way. Soon Sheba and I were approaching Frick Pond and then we were headed back to the car. We arrived back in the parking lot at 12:59 PM. We had covered 6.45 miles in 1 hour and 58 minutes with a total stopped time of 1 minute!

On Saturday, November 26th Karl wanted to hike and he was able to bring Bryce along with him. Having the 8 month old grandson along is fun but it means a shorter hike since he and his carrier now weigh right around 30 pounds! By the time Karl arrived and we decide to go it was 10:00 AM. The weather was beautiful and I wanted to go somewhere with a view and where we would not be interfering with too many hunters. Giant Ledge certainly fit the bill but Route 47 that goes to Frost Valley still had a ROAD CLOSED sign. We decided to try it anyway since the breech in the road seemed to be passed the parking area on the hairpin turn. We took two cars since 3 adults, 2 dogs, Bryce and his "equipment" were too much for one vehicle! When we made the left turn from Pole Road onto Route 47, it was the first time I had been on the road since Hurricanes Irene and Lee. As we drove along the road it was obvious that the Neversink had destroyed the road in several places. It was also obvious that the road crews had done a great job of reconstructing it so quickly. In some places it was not the river but small tributaries that did the damage. We drove passed Frost Valley without a problem. There were no cars at the Biscuit Brook parking area but there were about eight at Slide Mountain. The road down from Winnisook showed the damage from the storm but was entirely passable. We arrived at the parking are at 11;30 AM to find a couple cars. Getting ready to go with Bryce takes a few minutes extra but we were hiking across the road by 11:40 AM.

The bridge across the stream right after the register box is still missing. Several large steel I-beams were lying on the ground ready to form the support for a new bridge. The stream was easy to cross and we made our way up the trail. Bryce was having a great time as was everybody else. Maggie, Karl's dog, doesn't get out as much as she would like and Sheba seemed pleased to be away from the new puppy. Within half a mile I stopped to take off my jacket and hat. For the rest of the hike I wore just a light long sleeved Mammut shirt. Although Giant Ledge is not a 3500 foot peek it is on the CHH list and the hike is short but not easy. There are several short ascents with flatter areas in between. We were keeping up a good pace and made the trail junction by 12:10 PM. As we made the left turn to head up to Giant Ledge we met two people coming back from the ledges. The rest of the hike to the ledges went quickly with a few muddy areas to avoid and a few climbs along the way. By the time we got to the last climb, Karl was beginning to feel the weight on his back. We hit the top of the climb and relaxed a little as we approached the first viewpoint. There were three hikers there enjoying the view. They had come up from Brooklyn to hike Slide but decided on Giant Ledge instead. I took some pictures from the viewpoint of the Burroughs Range, Panther Mountain, the hills beyond and the valley below. The shots were pretty good but despite the sunny day and blue sky there is a certain bleakness to the landscape.

I decide to walk a little further to some of the other lookouts while Karl and Cindy relaxed and fed Bryce. Sheba and I hit several more of the viewpoints and I took some more shots. Each lookout has as lightly different angle on the scenery but after a while the view isn't all that different. I returned to the rest of the family and paused to get a drink. Two hikers coming back from Panther walked passed us but seemed very confused about where the trail went. It almost seemed to me that they didn't know about the blazes that mark the trail! Soon we were headed back down. Even before we got to the first descent we met several groups of hikers headed up on this beautiful day. We passed the group of three on the way down the first steep descent and as we continued down Bryce began to cry. He stopped at the bottom which made us speculate that he was a little scared of the steep descent. From that point on it we just continued at a comfortable pace back to the trail junction and then to the parking area. We met several groups along the way. Even when we got to the car there were two people walking up the road from the direction of Oliverea. It was about 2:00 PM and we all thought it a little late to start up to Giant Ledge. We finished the 3.3 mile hike in just under 2.5 hours and had great fun doing it.

On Friday, November 25th I was in the mood to bag another 3500 foot peak after the Thanksgiving holiday and a large Thanksgiving meal. I wanted to do Kaaterskill from Palenville but was not sure whether or not Route 23 was closed. Rather than driving there to find I would have to drive back, I decided to climb the peak from Platte Clove. I thought I got up early enough but didn't leave town until after 8:15 AM. I CANNOT convince myself that the road closures and longer route require an earlier start. I am beginning to think that this is simply me not wanting to get up earlier and I guess I am OK with that. I made pretty good time driving and we were at the parking area just before 9:35 AM. There were no other cars in the lot but the gate was open. There are a couple of private inholdings in this area and I was concerned about hunters. I don't like to disturb others in the pursuit of hat they like to do but I felt that if we stayed on the trails we would be OK. We started hiking right away be walking up the dirt road. I was surprised to find some dry spots on the road! This road and trail are always wet even when it is dry elsewhere! The stream to the right of the trail was swollen with water from the recent rains and I could hear the water flowing over the rocks. I walked up the bank that lines the road and looked down at the stream. I could see some small falls and rapids and made a note to investigate at some time. The walk on the road was not unpleasant and I was already getting warm by the time we reached the yellow trail to Huckleberry Point. We had hiked a mile and gained 500 feet. I took off my midlayer but again kept on the orange jacket. The road continues passed this point but eventually turns into more of a trail. As we gained elevation the trail became drier but there were still areas of running water where the trail looked more like a stream bed. There were also some muddy places and spots where there was standing water. All of these were easily avoided and we where moving along very nicely.

At about 2 miles into the hike the water began to show up in earnest. At 2.25 miles we passed the cairn that marks the bushwhack up to the snowmobile trail that runs around the base of the peak. For a moment I though about taking the path and using the snowmobile trail to pick up the path to the summit from the south. I had never used that approach and really wanted to try it. I decided not to bushwhack since it was hunting season and I had found it difficult to follow the path last time I used it. From this point the trail actually flattens some and descends. This allows water to accumulate and we went through almost half a mile of ponds and streams on the trail! Some of these areas were deep with no way to get through them so we found ways around them which looked as if they had been used by others. This section of the trail is over a mile long and seemed longer and very tedious. At about 3.3 miles the hiking trail continued straight ahead toward the waterfalls and Poet's Ledge. We turned left and walked up the snowmobile trail to the loop trail around the peak. After a short climb to the loop trail, we turned right on the loop, walked a short distance and turned left on the herd path that leads up to the peak. Technically, Kaaterskill is a trailless peak since there is no maintained or blazed trail to the summit. The herd path is very clear in most places although more than once I had to rely on Sheba to stay on it. As we made the turn, we were on the north side of the peak and the mountain blocked the sun. It did seem colder here and there was some snow and ice on the rocks. I climbed carefully as I had made up my mind to take it easy and stay in one piece.

The path to the top is less than half a mile but it took us over 40 minutes to climb it. It IS steep in places but what really slowed us down was the snow and ice. Sheba, of course, had no problems but there were places where I almost turned back. One section required a steep little scramble over some rocks and then a walk along a narrow, snow-covered ledge! Just after this the trail leveled out some and the snow cover abated. There were a few more little climbs but soon we were at the summit. It was 11:55 AM and we had taken an hour and 10 minutes to hike the 4 miles. Since the summit has no view, we continued on to Hurricane Ledge which has a great view! It is only about .25 miles to the ledges but always seems longer to me. I dropped my pack and got out the camera. Unfortunately, due to my late start, it was hard to get good pictures of the Devil's Path to the south. The sun was high in the sky but was a little too bright. We walked around the various different ledges and I took a few shots from each as they have different views. It was warm in the sun and the wasn't a hint of any snow. We stayed around for some time as I took photographs and we got a drink and snack. I was not looking forward to the trip back but by 12:15 PM we were on the way back to the summit and down the other side. I tried to find a viewpoint to the north but there were none worth stopping to take pictures. I descended across the little ledge slipping and sliding along! At that point I decided to don my Yak XTRs to get down the next section. They worked well and I chose a line that was more snow on dirt than rock. At the bottom of that short section I took them off and carried them briefly before towing them in the pack. There was more ice and snow ahead but I made it down without mishap. At the bottom of the path we made the right onto the loop and then a left down the snowmobile trail to the Long Path.

The hike back seemed to go quickly despite the need to again walk around the water. In a few places I simply used stepping stones and walked through. I still felt fresh and knew the hike would be about 8 miles. I wanted more! By 2:00 PM we were back at the trail to Huckleberry Point after completing about 7.3 miles. I decided to hike out to Huckleberry Point to get the view and to add some miles. I remembered that the hike seemed long for 1.4 miles but that it was mostly flat with a "roll" or two. I was right on the first count and dead wrong on the second. This trail started out relatively flat and then began to roll up and down. The trail was also wet in places and muddy in others. As we neared the end of the trail I heard voices and a few hikers showed up and then a few more. I assumed they were with a club or group hike and we talked briefly. We continued in our separate directions and Sheba and I were soon at the viewpoint. Again, the sun was in the wrong spot for pictures but I managed to get a few good shots. As we got ready to start back, I remembered the group and decided that I would challenge myself to catch them. Sheba and I started off at a breathtaking pace and with half a mile we caught up to them. I struck up a conversation with two of the hikers and found that they were 11 members of a family. They were gathered in Delmar for the holidays and decided to come down to the Catskills to hike! I walked along with the group for a while and talked to them about other places to hike and some of the interesting attractions. When we reached the main trail again, they waited for the group and Sheba and I struck off on our own. I wanted to get back to Livingston Manor to go to Morgan Outdoors so Sheba and I hurried down the trail to the car. We arrived back at 3:35 PM having taken just under 6 hours to hike 11 miles!

On Monday, November 22nd I was in the mood to bag another 3500 foot peak after a long weekend off. I decided to go to the Big Hollow Valley and hike Windham since I had not done that approach very many times. I thought that I might hike over Acra Point and Burnt Knob on the way to Windham but was willing to wait until I arrived to make that decision. As has been the case lately, I got a late start and did not leave town until about 8:45 Am. Somehow I always forget that it was always a long ride to the northern Catskills and is now even longer due to the remaining road closures. When I got to Margaretville, I decided to take Route 30 north to Grand Gorge rather than once again go through Phoenicia. My plan was to take Route 23 to Route 23C and head over toward Maplecrest. In Grand Gorge I picked up Route 23 and headed toward Prattsville. As I approached the town, I saw that the road had been recently patched and that the bed of the Schoharie Creek was much wider and had numerous areas filled with debris. As I drive into Prattsville, the destruction that I had heard about became obvious. Words and even pictures can not adequately describe the destruction in the town. One building looked intact until I realized it was sitting on the ground NEXT to its foundation. Other homes and businesses were obviously destroyed. There were no lawns to speak of only patches of dirt. The buildings that survived like the post office are constructed of stone. Many buildings have red X's to mark them for demolition. I drove through slowly out of awe and respect. On the other side of town Route 23 makes a left hand turn while Route 23A to Hunter continues straight ahead. Route 23 was closed at this point due to a missing bridge so I continued into Hunter on Route 23A and then turned north on Route 296. At the four corners I turned right on Route 23C and then made a left on Maplecrest Road. I drove out the Big Hollow Valley on a road that still showed signs of the flooding. By the time I parked at the Batavia Kill parking area it was nearing 11:00 Am. There were several other cars in the lot and I wondered how many were hiking and how many were hunting. I could hear the creek and it sounded loud. I remembered that the water crossing can be difficult. I decided that I would hike up the Black Dome Trail to the Escarpment Trail and turn left. This would take us over Burnt Knob and then to Windham. The round trip to the car would still be over 7 miles. I though that I might still do Acra Point on the way back if I had time. As we started out the temperature was about 37 degrees but the skies were partly sunny with a light breeze. The forecast was for sunnier skies as the day went on and I felt strong and ready to hike.

We walked own the road to the beginning of the Black Dome Trail and crossed the Batavia Kill on a new bridge. The crossing of the next stream does not have a bridge but the water level was low and we had no problem. The first part of the trail is somewhat flat and it was wet and very muddy. As we gained elevation the trail dried out and the biggest problem was a think carpet of slippery oak leaves! The trail was clear of any blowdown and we made good time. On our way up the trail, we met one hiker headed back toward the parking area. We hit the Escarpment Trail after about a mile of hiking at 11:20 AM. I stopped to take off my midlayer leaving only my baselayer and light softshell on. I considered taking off the jacket but it was the only orange thing I had on! We made the turn and began the climb up Burnt Knob. The climb is only about .35 miles but it does gain 260 feet. There are a few rocks to climb through and in places the trail is barely cut into the side of the hill. Part way up the trail makes an almost 170 degree turn and then continues on up to the flatter part near the viewpoint. Cindy and I tried to negotiate this part of snowshoes one winter and found out the difference "mountain" snowshoes can make. I had my new pair of MSR Lightning Ascents while Cindy had a pair of Tubs meant to stay on flat or rolling terrain. We turned back that day and I ordered her a pair of more aggressive shoes. Sheba and I stopped at the viewpoint and I took a few shots. Since I had gotten such a late start the sun was almost directly above the Blacks just to the south. The position of the sun made taking pictures very difficult. We got back on the trail and headed across Burnt Knob and down the other side. The walk across Burnt Knob is almost .5 miles and then there is a descent to a nice lookout at about 2 miles into the hike. We stopped and I took a few pictures. There was a lot of hazed and low clouds in the distance to the north and I knew that a clear view of Albany was out of the question on this day. The conditions in the northwest were a little better and I took a few more pictures before we got back on the trail. From this point the trail rolls up and down enough to make me think that the summit is near. This happens two or three times. From the viewpoint the trail skirts a hill and descends more than 100 feet on the other side only to climb again. I don't like to DESCEND when I am trying to CLIMB a mountain!

At about 3.1 miles the final climb up Windham starts. There are no really steep places but there are a few rocks to climb over and around. About two-thirds of the way up I looked ahead to see a hiker and his dog coming our way, I recognized the dog and THEN the hiker. Shiloh was out for a hike and brought Bill along. We talked briefly before continuing in our opposite directions which made both of our dogs happy. By 12:50 PM we had made the 400 foot climb over about .5 miles to the viewpoint. We continued on passing through the summit to the viewpoint that looks south to the Blacks. The light conditioned were still not optimal but the sun ha disappeared behind the clouds so I took some shots. I did notice that contrary to the forecast the skies were growing more cloudy NOT more sunny! Back on the main trail we stopped at another viewpoint facing north before continuing back to the open rock face that makes up the best viewpoint on Windham We stopped so that I could take some photographs and to get a drink and a snack. It was 1:00 PM and we were 3.85 miles into the hike. I began to think that hiking over Acra Point would have to wait but decided to wait until we were back at the trail junction to finalize that decision. On the way back we simply hiked at a steady, fast pace and did not stop. We arrived back at the trail junction by 2:20 PM after hiking 6.3 miles. I wasn't sure exactly of the distance of the loop over Acra Point. I though about hiking the .7 miles up to the viewpoint and then returning. In the end, I decided to turn right and head back to the car. It was cloudy and the sun was in the west. Both of these factors would make taking good pictures from the viewpoint impossible. I also was not too keen on hiking with a headlamp should the distance prove longer than I thought. On the way back down we met one more hiker just before the stream crossings. We were back at the car at 2:50 PM having covered 7.4 miles in just under 4 hours.

On Thursday, November 17th I was itching to get out after three days of rain and work and a weekend of work coming up. I wanted to go back to Plateau and "bag" the mountain I had missed TWICE on the weekend. I decided to do it from the Notch Lake approach which is one of the steepest climbs around. I had to do some chores in the morning so I got a later start but the skies were supposed to clear by late morning so I thought I would be OK. I again had to take the route through Margaretville and Phoenicia due to the ongoing road closures and repairs. As I drove, I though about bagging Indian Head after Plateau but knew that I would have a hard time motivating myself to do it. We arrived at he parking area to find no other cars and were on the trail by 10:40 AM. After the first 2. miles the entire hike to the Plateau lookout and the plateau is all up. There are a few switchbacks but they don't do much to help. There isn't much of a view on the way up except in two or three areas where there are slides and I was committed to making the fastest possible time up to the lookout. Sheba and I set a fast pace and I only stopped once to open up the zippers on my tops to vent some heat. There wasn't much of a breeze and the skies did not seem to be clearing. We made the lookout by 11:30 AM which meant we spent 50 minutes hiking 1.2 miles with a 1700 foot elevation gain! I had hoped for a little faster time but the climb is not easy. We stopped for a minute to get a drink and I took some pictures from the lookout. We got back on the trail and headed along the plateau which is very flat. IN around 5 minutes we were at the next lookout where I took some more shots. Kaaterskill High Peak and Round Top are visible from this spot but the skies were still cloudy and everything had a haze over it. The trail was a little muddy as we walked toward the summit. My intent was to walk passed the Warner Creek Trail and over the summit to the viewpoint toward Sugarloaf. From here we would turn around and retrace our route.

After walking about 1.5 miles from the lookout, we came to the Warner Creek Trail on the right. One sign said "Mount Tremper Fire Tower 10.4 miles". I decided this might an interesting car shuttle at some point since the trail head for Mount Tremper is just outside Phoenicia! We passed the turn off and continued about .5 miles to the highest point on the trail and another .1 miles to the lookout. The last part is a short descent and it was very wet with some large pools of standing water. We arrived at the lookout about 12:30 PM and 3.3 miles into the hike. The viewpoint was a little disappointing since the skies had not changed. We got a drink and a snack. I took a few pictures and we left. On the way back I noticed the temperature seemed colder and that a few snowflakes were falling. On the way back we simply hiked as fast as we could. Sheba was full of energy often charging ahead so that I had to call her back. When we got to the lookout, we did not bushwhack around the rock scrambled but jumped down. From there we hurried down the steep descent just because there isn't much to see. I was in no real hurry but a quick descent seemed to be the best amusement. A few times my right knee let me know that I should be careful about my foot placement but otherwise the descent seemed to go quickly. We crossed the road and were back at the car by 2:30 PM having covered 6.6 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes. It was too late to start for Indian Head and I was glad as I didn't think I had it in me.'

On Sunday, November 13th I wanted to go back to Plateau and "bag" the mountain I had not done the day before. I decided to do it from the Notch Lake approach which is one of the steepest climbs around. I asked Cindy if she would like to go almost without thinking and she responded "Yes" in the same way. Cindy really doesn't like climbs so I don't know what either of us was thinking! We got going as soon after church as possible but due to the road closures we did not arrive until 12:40 PM. The hike started innocently enough as we crossed the road and started up. The problem is that after the first 2. miles the entire hike to the Plateau lookout and the plateau is all up. There are a few switchbacks but they don't do much to help. There isn't much of a view on the way up except in two or three areas where there are slides. We met one other hiker on the way up as he was coming down. Our going was very slow and I knew we were probably not going to get to do the loop using the Warner Creek trail. I had wanted to do the loop as my right knee was still painful from the beating it took the day before. About two-thirds of the way up I asked Cindy if she would like to go back but she insisted on at least getting to the top. The wind was picking up as we ascended and it was looking like a storm might be blowing in early. We finally reached the area just below the lookout just before 2:00 PM. We took some pictures in the protected area there and then bushwhacked around the lookout to get to the top. The wind was howling with gust up to 40 mph and it was cold. I took some pictures from the viewpoint and many had a dark, ominous feeling to them. We decided to go back down which, at this point, was the only choice! A young couple was headed up as we started down. They didn't seem to know much about the route and we helped them out. The loose rock and slippery leaves made descending on the steep return "exciting". We were being "chased" by the other couple and I think neither of us wanted them to pass. We were back at the car at 3:00 PM having taken 2 hours and 15 minutes to cover the 2.4 miles. This meant we took about a hour and 15 minutes up and 45 minutes down. We climbed over 100 feet in the 1.2 mile ascent with an average grade of 30% and grades approaching 40% in spots. Back at the lake I took some pictures of the lake and the dam. There was evidence of recent beaver activity but no sign of the beavers or their lodge. I vowed to return and defeat Plateau!

On Saturday, November 12th I was ready to hike some more 35's and after looking at my grid chose Sugarloaf and Plateau. My plan was to park at Roaring Kill and hike up the eastern side of Sugarloaf. After hiking over the summit and down the western slope to Mink Hollow, I could decide whether or not I wanted to try Plateau. The weather report was for temperatures in the 50's with partly cloudy skies. I, as usual, delayed my start since it was so foggy at home. I started out at about 8:30 Am and remembered that I would have to again take the long way around. So it was Roscoe to Downsville to Margaretville and the Route 28 all the way to Phoenicia. The main Route 30 bridge in Margaretville had been repaired but work was still being down all along Route 28. Heading north through Chichester on Route 214 there was a lot of road work including several places where the road was down to one lane. By 9:50 AM I was at the trailhead with a few other cars. Sheba and I were on the trail by (;55 AM and set out at a good pace. The first part of the trail to Pecoy Notch was muddy but mostly frozen. At about 10:10 AM we had hiked the 1 mile to the viewpoint to Kaaterskill High Peak. We stopped so that I could take some shots of KHP and Roundtop. I also took pictures of the Catskill Community and the rest of the valley. Sheba sat on one of the stone chairs and I took some photographs of her and the stonework before continuing. I knew that the beaver pond was not too far along and we arrived there at 10:45 Am about 1.5 miles into the hike. There was evidence the beavers had been at work recently. I stopped to get some pictures. It was difficult to get pictures of the whole pond and impossible to shoot Twin because of the position of the sun. I did get some nice photographs of Sugarloaf before attempting to cross the area below the dam. Since the dam had been reinforced, the stream below it had little water and crossing was easy. We continued on our way and arrived at the notch at 11:05 Am. Getting there was a little difficult as the upper part of the trail had some major blowdowns to negotiate. The trees across the trail all but obliterated it in spots and it was difficult to find trail markers. The trail will probably have to be rerouted and remarked since these are very large trees. At the notch we met a lone hiker who is the volunteer trail maintainer for part of the trail on Sugarloaf. He is from Ravena and had come down to continue is work clearing the trail. I thanked him and we made a right turn on the Devil's Path to continue up to the summit.

After making the turn, we began to encounter a thin layer of snow and ice on the rocks. This is due partly to elevation but also to the fact that the trail at this point has a northern exposure. As I was hiking along, I was thinking of other things and was not paying attention to the trail. I slipped, bumped my right knew and as I tried to right myself slipped again and managed to hit my forehead on a rock. The "blow" was just a tap but could have been much worse. This was not to be my last mishap on the day. Sugarloaf is one of the mountains that I always underestimate despite my checkered history on its slopes. I always think of it as a relatively easy hike and it is until the turn on the Devil's Path. After that turn, the next .5 miles average a 26% grade with some places being nearly vertical. Sheba was scampering ahead of me and doing a good jib in most places of showing me a good line. As we climbed I though back to the previous winter when we had done this route out and back on snowshoes. We were breaking trail in 3 feet of snow which seems almost impossible! At around 11:20 AM we made it to a lookout toward Twin and I took pictures through the trees of the mountain and the talus slope on the western side. At this point some hikers from Hudson Valley Hikers appeared and we spoke briefly. They had parked at Devil's Tombstone (Notch Lake) at 8:30 Am and were headed over Indian Head. They told me that a larger group was behind but that some might chose an "early out". Sheba and I continued through some more steep places and then the trail leveled slightly as we approached the summit. We met two more groups of two from HVH before passing the summit at 12:05 PM at about 3 miles. There was about an inch of snow in places and some ice but it was all manageable on the fairly level areas near the top.

We started to head down the other side and I noticed that going down was VERY slippery. Just a few hundred feet passed the summit is a spur trail to the right which gives views to the south. I was disappointed when we arrived as the views were mostly blocked by trees. Anything that was visible was obscured by a haze. I took only a few shots before we continued on. Standing on the open stone ledge was very cold as the air temperature had dropped and the wind was howling. Back on the Devil's Path we turned left and continued our descent...into the abyss. Around 12:20 PM we arrived at the lookout to Plateau about 3.3 miles into the hike. There was a lot of ice around the rocks that make up the viewpoint continuing on around the corner. I took some pictures and then decided to don my Yak XTRs for the trip down. I got them out and pout the first one on. I was unimpressed by the fit and wondered if O had gotten the right size. The second one fit much better and after I turned the first around it also fit nicely! In the middle of all of this the last four people from HVH arrived with a large dog. This French Mastiff was well-behaved and after greeting Sheba returned to his hike. I spoke to the other hikers and they assured me the conditions got better below the viewpoint. We parted and Sheba and I started down. The XTRs are like Microspikes but the spike are a little longer with antisnow plates. Below the viewpoint the ice became intermittent but there was plenty of snow and wet rocks. The spikes are a liability unless they have something to bite into so I took them off. I had to walk very carefully down the trail watching each step and using the sides of the trail where I could. I wondered why the other hikers had felt the conditions were better but then I remembered up and down are very different directions! There are several nearly vertical spots on the descent which require rock scrambling and holding on to the available trees. Sheba was doing fine but I was taking a mental and, sometimes, physical beating. We finally got to a spot that requires you to step across a gap in the rock and then negotiate a 10 or 15 foot drop. Sheba jumped own to the first level and I began to think about how I would get her down the rest of the way. I didn't have to worry as she launched herself off the icy rock shelf, ran down the rocks and stood below looking up at me. I made it down and we continued our hike passing cliffs with loads of icicles. In one pot there is a walk along a narrow cliff and then there is a short "tunnel" to get through. At around 3000 feet I noticed that the snow was gone and hiking was fun again!

At 1:30 PM we arrived at the junction with the blue Mink Hollow trail about 4 miles into the hike. I contemplated hiking up Plateau and back down. The summit of Plateau was only 1.2 miles ahead but there was over 1200 feet of climbing. This was one time my body said "We can do this!" and my mind said "You have got to be kidding!" The slipping and sliding down Sugarloaf made we want to go back to the car and try Plateau another day! We turned right on the Mink Hollow trail and started back. I remembered that I didn't like this trail back to the parking area very much but on this day it seemed great. Along the way I met three hikers heading out and we talked briefly. The trail was muddy in places but not as bad as I have seen it. We stopped so Sheba could drink out of a small stream. I remember thinking that the water over the rocks and the algae looked very slippery. I guess I thought it would be a good idea to teat my theory so I stepped onto the rocks and...promptly fell on my back. I got right up but was pretty wet with some mud thrown in. All I could do was laugh since the temperature was in the high 40's and I knew I was nearing the car. The Mink Hollow Trail is 2.6 miles long from the Devil's Path back to the Roaring Kill Trail. It mostly follows the contours along the shoulder of Sugarloaf. In places it descends to avoid cliff bands but then ascend back to the same elevation. In one place the ascent is over 200 feet. By 2:45 PM we were back at the Roaring Kill Trail where we turned left and walked the last .25 miles out to the parking area. The parking area was overflowing with cars! We were at the car by 2:50 PM having covered 6.8 miles in just under 5 hours. As I have said before, climbing the 35's can be a humbling experience.

On Friday, November 11th we wanted to do a "family" hike so that Karl and Kathleen could bring Bryce along. We decided that Red Hill was close enough and about the right length. At about 9:00 AM Karl and I decided we would meet at the trailhead around 10:15 AM. In retrospect, this was a bad idea since Karl and Kathleen had never driven to the trail head and we did not add "baby time". Cindy and I got ready almost immediately and were out of the house by 9:20 AM. I decided to drive out De Brice Road and through Claryville to get to Red Hill Road that way. For us this is shorter than going through Grahamsville. Once on Red Hill Road there is a long uphill drive since Coons/Dinch Road is almost at the other end of the road where it meets Sugarloaf Road. We turned up the road and drove to the DEAD END/SEASONAL ROAD sign. From that point to the trailhead is about a mile and the road is a little rougher. We parked at the trailhead around 9:45 AM to wait for the rest of the family. Of course, this area had no cell phone coverage, so when they had not arrived by 10:30 AM we drove back out to Red Hill Road and waited at the intersection. Within a few minutes they arrived and we headed back to the trail head. By the time we had Bryce in his carrier and were ready to head out it was about 11:00 AM. The trail was only a little damp with a few muddy spots but otherwise it was in good shape. We walked along at a good pace as the trail ascends but not steeply over the first mile.

The trail starts by heading almost northwest out of the parking area but gradually turns west and then southwest. At about 1.0 mile it turns south and then southeast and begins to get steeper. There are no rock scrambles or anything extreme along the way and the grade is seldom over 20%. The length and the grade make it a good choice for a beginner or family hike. The reward for the hike is the well-maintained fire tower at the top of the hill. A group of volunteers has done a lot of work to restore the tower and the cabin and to keep it open during the summer months. We arrived at the top at 11:40 PM. There was some snow sprinkled around and the temperature was definitely lower than at the trailhead. With the temperature in the mid-40's and a 20 mph wind it seemed pretty cold. I started up the tower and the wind velocity increased. As soon as I was above the treetops the wind really kicked in. I took a few shots on the way up but wanted to wait until the top to take most of my pictures. As I started to take photographs from the landing just under the cab my camera batteries died! I always try to wring the last little bit out of the batteries but the cold has a very negative effect. I had not brought the case with extra batteries so it was back down the tower to change them and then back up for more pictures! The bleak landscape is interesting especially with some of the trees that grow at the top. I took pictures from 360 degrees before descending back to the bottom of the tower. I took a few family photos and then we decided to get going again. On the way down the noon whistle blew and Bryce decided it was time to eat. We stopped as he was very insistent and continued after he had "lunch. We were back at the car by 12:40 PM having covered 2,6 miles in 1 hour and 44 minutes. We decided that the adults needed lunch also and headed for Yiasou Cafe in Liberty. I have tried to eat there several times and each time it was closed. Cindy eats there regularly and highly recommended it. She was right! The Greek food is very good and the owner frequents the dining room to check up on how things are going.

On Wednesday, November 9th I wasn't sure I was ready to hike a third day in a row but the weather report was for a gorgeous day so I wanted to try. I knew that bad weather was rolling in for the end of the week and decided I needed a challenge if I might have to take a day off. I looked at my grid and found Wittenberg and Cornell available for November. I hung around the house a little too long since there was heavy fog even though the temperatures were warm. I finally got moving and realized when Pulled out of the driveway that I would have to go the long way around since Route 47 was still close. I headed off toward Roscoe to take Route 206 to the Pepacton Reservoir and then Route 30 and the city roads to Route 28. The trip seemed to be taking longer than I thought it would. As I passed Margaretville, I noticed the main bridge was open. Soon I was passing through Arkville and Big Indian on my way to the Woodland Valley Road. I turned onto the road and began to see some of the remaining signs of destruction from the flood. The road surveillance was in pretty good shape but the creek showed just how bad the flood had been. I parked the car at 9;25 AM and we were ready to cross the road at about 9:30 AM. A large piece of construction equipment was being maneuvered into place and for a moment I though the footbridge was out! The bridge was in great shape but the approach was littered with trees and rocks. Sheba and I worked our way over and around these and were soon climbing up toward the trail register. I have made this hike enough times to remember most parts including the brutal climb right at the start! What I tend to forget is that the approach to Wittenberg is LONG. After the initial climb the trail levels out some and alternates between some steep, rocky areas and wide trails that follow woods roads. Along the way I found a few lookouts I had not seen before but only one offered any opportunity for pictures. I was getting so warm that I took off my softshell and was going to hike in short sleeves. I though better of that and put on a light windbreaker but stowed the hat and gloves for the rest of the hike.

At about 1 mile into the hike, the trail turns sharply left and begins to climb a rocky path. These rocks are the WORST part of the hike and they persist in one form or the other over a good part of the trail. From here the trail rolls a bit but generally gains elevation until 2.5 miles where the trail to Terrace Mountain cuts off to the left. I had thoughts of hiking this trail on the way back. After the turn the trail passes along a woods road which was very muddy in several spots. The trail goes through a few switchbacks but then hits a series of ledges where the fun really begins! For the next .8 miles to the summit there are rock scrambles and boulders to climb over. Some of these a short but almost vertical and I helped Sheba in a few places. The last part after the 3500 foot sign was wet as always. We passed by the spot where you can bushwhack to the cave or rock shelter and I though about doing this on the way back. At 11:45 AM about 3.75 miles into the hike we broke out onto the rock outcrop at the top of Wittenberg. The view is always breathtaking but I was a little disappointed today as there was still some haze and the sun's angle was not the best. We had a snack and a drink and I took some pictures. Even though I had an evening commitment, I was confident we could make Cornell so we headed that way. The .8 miles between the two mountains is one of the most interesting in the Catskills. First, there is a 320 foot descent into the col between the two mountains and then a 350 ascent up Cornell. Of course, this is repeated on the way back! On the ascent of Cornell there are at least three "interesting" areas which are nearly vertical ending with the "Cornell Crack". When we got to the Crack, it was wet and slippery and I decided to see if I could find the workaround. This was partly due to the fact that my only companion was Sheba and partly because I wanted to see if I could find it. We walked around to the left of the cliffs and found a narrow path leading up along the edge. At the top of this path there was actually a viewpoint over the Ashokan and I took a few shots. From there it was only a short distance out to the trail. We turned right and walked to the ledge above the Crack. I took some photographs of Wittenberg and the reservoir before we turned around and headed toward the summit of Cornell.

At 12:30 PM we were 4.6 miles into the hike and standing in the clearing near the summit. The view was almost completely blocked by trees and I didn't even stop to take pictures. Back on the main trail we turned left to walk toward Slide. I wanted to get a few pictures and we soon were at a viewpoint toward Slide. The pictures I took here were some of the best of the day since the haze had cleared and the sun was behind me. Now it was time to head back to the car as fast as possible. We worked our way back down around the crack and headed toward Wittenberg. I was feeling a little tired but I only noticed it on the ups and most of what was ahead was down! We stopped briefly again on Wittenberg and then headed down at 1:05 PM. It is hard to make good time down near the top since there are so many scrambles with we rocks. Further down there are many areas with rocks strewn across the trail which also make keeping a fast pace difficult. I walked right by the bushwhack to the cave and had already decided Terrace Mountain would have to wait. We met another hiker coming up part of the way down from the top of Wittenberg. Once we got on the woods road we sped up some and made the turn at the Terrace Junction at 1:50 PM. I kept up as fast a pace as possible over the rocky portions. We met a couple and some kind of "toy" dog sitting on a rock. It didn't look like to dog or the people were going to make it up the mountain. On the footbridge, we stopped a minute so I could take some shots and then headed back to the car. We arrived at the car at 3:10 PM having covered 9.2 mountainous miles in 5 hours and 45 minutes. The total elevation gain was 3650 feet!

On Tuesday, November 8th it was such a beautiful day that Cindy and I wanted to get out for a short hike. We had some chores to do around the house but headed out right around noon. I thought about investigate the woods road near Alder Lake but the maps showed it was barely .5 miles long. I thought about the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail so we headed in that direction. When we got to Lew Beach, I suggested going to Little Pond to see if it was open so that we could park and hike over Touch-Me-Not Mountain to the vista on Cabot Mountain. The gates were open but when we arrived at the gatehouse we were told we would have to park down by the main road and walk in. This didn't appeal to either of use so we headed for the parking area on Beech Hill Road. I knew that the hike to the viewpoint and back would only be about 3 miles but that the first part was very steep. We arrived at about 12:45 PM and found only a pickup truck parked in the lot. The bowhunter was just leaving as we parked. We immediately got on the trail to start the hike. I was wearing short sleeves and had brought along a light windbreaker, hat and gloves which I was sure I would not need. The temperature was in the mid 50's and still climbing. The first part of the trail is flat and actually descends a little and it was very wet as it had been last time I was here. At about .25 miles into the hike the trail starts the ascent and gains 575 feet over the next .5 miles. The grade is around 25% in most places! At this point the trail flattens out and rolls a little along the way to the viewpoint. At .85 miles I noticed what looked like a road off the trail on the left. I walked up to that area and it did look very much like a road. Back on the main trail we continued without much change in elevation to 1.25 miles where the trail ascended again and then dropped a little to the vista at 1.6 miles. We stopped at 1:55 PM and took a few pictures before turning around to retrace our steps. The challenge on the way back was to descend safely on the steeper slopes through clouds of slippery leaves. We were back at the car by 2:40 PM having covered 3.2 miles in just under 2 hours. The trip up took 1 hour and 10 minutes. The return journey was completed in 45 minutes.

On Monday, November 7th I wanted to hike somewhere nearer to home. Cindy was not interested so I chose the hike from Alder Lake to the viewpoint over Beecher Lake on Millbrook Ridge. I seemed to recall this being a little over 6 miles so it was a good length. I had heard that the bridge on the trail around the left side of Alder Lake was out from the flooding so I planned to go around the right side by crossing the dam. Alder Creek Road was in pretty good shape as was the road in to Alder Lake. The access road has been difficult in the past but was now smoothed out with the holes filled in. I drove into the first parking area to investigate a possible trail that parallels Cross Mountain Road. I had seen this from the road but never investigated it before. A rather wide and open woods road leaves the parking area and I thought I might investigate this after my planned hike. I drove out to the main parking area where there were two other vehicles parked. We wasted no time getting ready to hike. I took my camera out since I knew I wanted to take some pictures of the Coykendall Mansion ruins. The temperature was still in the 40's but the sun was coming out and the day seemed like it would be bright and beautiful. I took some shots of the stonework that is the remains of the mansion. We walked around front and I took some more shots before turning my attention to the lake. The water was a deep blue with some green grass in the foreground. Although the hills were mostly gray since the leaves were off the trees, the scene was still very beautiful. After taking some pictures, we started down to the dam and crossed to the other side. I took a few more photographs of the lake from this different angle and a few more of the frost and snow on the ground. I put the camera away as we started to walk around the lake. I chose to walk the lower unmarked oath as it is closer to the water than the higher, marked hiking trail. We stopped several times for me to get the camera out to take some more pictures. Eventually the path became less distinct and we walked on an angle up the hill to the hiking trail. Once on the trail it was only a short walk to the bridge over the inlet stream where I got my first surprise. THIS bridge was destroyed and was pushed onto the opposite bank of the creek. It took a little work but I crosses some debris to get to the other side where Sheba was ready waiting. By 9:25 AM we had managed to get to the turn for the rail to Millbrook Ridge and headed right on the trail. I though that we might return around the other side of the lake to see how the bridges on that side had fared during the floods.

The trail begins to climb almost immediately as it parallels the stream but the grade is minimal. There are at least three beaver meadows along the way and I stopped at them all! The first beaver meadow is just off the trail at 1.85 miles and we stopped there briefly at 9:45 AM. I took only a few shots and then moved on. After gaining about 200 feet over the next .4 miles the trail levels and there are two more beaver meadows. The first in this pair was a lean-to at one end but the sun was at the wrong angle for pictures from that location. I walked out to the other end of the meadow and took a few shots before going back to the trail and walking passed the lean-to. The final beaver meadow may be my favorite. It is practically on the trail and was pointed away from the sun at this time of day. I took pictures of the meadow and the hill behind it. Some areas were still covered with snow. Just after the meadow the trail begins a more serious ascent. The highest point on the ridge is around 3480 feet meaning that only 20 more feet of elevation would make it a contender for the Catskill 3500 list. This part of the trail was a little longer than I remembered with several different climbs making me think we were at the top. After 1.2 miles and over 700 feet of ascent we were at the highest point on the ridge! It was 10:45 Am at we had hiked a total of 3.65 miles. We began the descent down the other side of the hill and ran into 6 to 8 inches of snow on the northern exposure. It was surprising but lasted only a few hundred feet. The descent was much greater than I remembered and the walk a little longer. We lost 350 feet over the next .5 miles until the trail began to climb again. I already knew that my second mistake was the length of the hike. I wasn't tired but was again disgusted that I had not checked my own website! The trail began to ascend at this point and along the way there were several interesting rock formations. Again both the ascent and the distance were a little more than I remembered. The trail meandered back and forth until I was almost convinced I had somehow missed the viewpoint. After regaining 250 feet over .5 miles we were at the lookout. It was 11:15 AM and we had covered 4.8 miles!

Somewhere along the way the sunny skies had given away to overcast and then clouds. The wind had come up a little and the whole change gave a sinister look to the landscape. Beecher Lake and the monastery were visible below since most of the leaves were off the trees. I took pictures down to the lake and across at the hills both near and far. After a drink and a snack, Sheba and I began a rapid return to the car. The only ascent on the way back is the one up to the highest point on Millbrook Ridge and we made short work of that. We did not stop along the way at any time and by 12:50 PM we had made the 3.8 miles back to the red Alder Lake Loop Trail. We turned right to go around the lake. As we approached the first bridge, three bow hunters emerged from the woods and headed away from us. Both bridges were in good shape and Sheba and I kept up our pace. I tried to slow down a little so that we would not overtake the hunters but they gave up and stepped aside as we walked passed them. Back at the "lawn" of the mansion I had Sheba wade in the water to wash her muddy feet and then it was back to the car. It was 1:05 PM and we had covered 9.3 miles and climbed 2100 feet in just over 4 hours. I decided to save the exploration of the road for another day.

On Saturday, November 5th Kurt wanted to hike somewhere near the Hudson since the trip from Lagrangeville would be shorter. There were several choices of places that Cindy and I had been that Kurt would enjoy but I wanted to go somewhere that I had not been before. I looked at the maps and thought that The Canada Hill area of the Hudson Highlands park looked interesting. I planned to park on South Mountain Pass Road and hike the AT out over Canada Hill to White Rock. To make a loop we would use other trails to return with a side trip to Sugarloaf Hill. I had no idea of the exact length of the hike but calculated that it would be around 8 miles. There seemed to be several short and steep climbs but lots of latter hiking along the ridges with some rolling terrain in between. We agreed to meet Kurt at the parking area on South Mountain Pass Road at about 9:30 AM. Although I had never parked there,. I had walked out to the parking area when I was hiking all the approaches to Anthony's Nose. The Phelps Mine is very close to this parking areas well. Cindy and I got a late start and had to stop for fuel. I called Kurt as we were ready to get on Route 6 and he was already in the area. I told him we would be there soon. It didn't take us long to cross the Bear Mountain Bridge and turn north on Route 9D. Manitou Road or South Mountain Pass Road are both right turns of the main road. The roads meet and continue up the hill as South Mountain Pass Road. The road is narrow and has a rough dirt surface but the trip is short. We parked at 9:40 AM and found Kurt waiting. After a short greeting, we walked up the road and turned left into the woods to begin hiking on the AT. The first .2 miles of the trail was a little steep gaining about 160 feet. There was also several areas of blowdowns to work around. The AT turned right and continued to climb steeply for another .2 miles gaining around 300 feet from the start of the hike. In several places the trail blazes all but disappeared so that staying on the trail was difficult. Once we were up on the ridge the trail became a wide woods road for some distance. Although the temp was in the mid 40's and headed up a slight breeze kept things cool. There weren't too many views from the ridge but the open forest especially near the top of Canada Hill was very pretty. There were still a lot of leaves on the trees although the colors were muted. We passed by Canada Hill at about .8 miles and continued toward the northeast.

Around .9 miles, the Osborn Loop Trail appeared on the right but we struck with the plan to stay on the AT. At 1.3 miles, a yellow trail came in from the left but we continued on the AT. Along the way there seemed to be the possibility of some viewpoints but all were blocked by the trees. At 2.4 miles, the blue trail appeared straight ahead and the AT turned right. We turned and started down off the ridge looking for the yellow Carriage Connector Trail. After a short walk, I checked the GPS and saw we were approaching a road. Assuming we had missed the yellow trail we headed back up the junction with the blue trail. At the junction I walked out the blue trail a short distance and then came back. We voted and decided to continue down the AT since we thought we had simply not gone far enough! We made the turn and started down and down an down and did not fond the yellow trail. We stopped to reassess our decision and met a couple and their dog hiking up toward us. They assured us that the yellow trail did exist and was just down the hill. On this stretch of the AT we found a metal AT marker which looked a little like a USGS elevation marker. I had never seen one before and then we found another not much further along! We continued on down and picked up the yellow trail on the "road" that was marked on the GPS. This was a wide woods road and I was disgusted that I had AGAIN let the GPS display fool me. The map showed a path or unmarked trail from the yellow trail up to a looked out labeled White Rock. The problem was that we would have to hike more than a half mile north to pick up the path and then back a half mile on the path to the viewpoint. Since the viewpoint seemed to be just above us, we decided to take the more direct route and bushwhack up. We turned right off the trail and began a rather steep ascent through some brush that was thick at times. After hitting the top of the first climb, a band of cliffs showed a less promising ascent. Fortunately the path on the map lay between us and the cliffs. We turned right on the path and were soon at the top. The viewpoint looked south across Camp Smith and Anthony's Nose. The Hudson was visible. The only problem was that the sun was sitting to the south making photography difficult. I took some pictures and we grabbed a snack and a drink before heading around the top of the hill on the path. When the path gave out, we bushwhacked down the hill and picked up the path again. We followed the path which followed a road back to the yellow trail

As we walked along the yellow trail, we noticed that the road was supported by a stone wall on the right side. The construction was old but had stood the test of time. Further along the stone wall support changed to the left side of the trail where a stream would have cut into the road. The wall was higher and much more impressive here. The yellow trail ended and at about 4.3 miles around 12:35 PM we continued straight ahead on the blue trail. Almost immediately we could see stone pillars with pipe railing on the left side of the road near a 90 degree turn. The pillars had depressions on top that acted as planters and flowers had been planted earlier in the season. On a small hill to the right of the trail was a wooden gazebo with a stone foundation. It seems that the east side of the Hudson always "had money". As we continued the hike we came to a junction with the red trail to Sugarloaf Hill. I wanted to see what the viewpoint at the end of this long hill/ridge looked like. The problem was that the trail is a dead end and the climb looked steep! Kurt and Cindy reluctantly agreed and we started the 200 foot climb over .2 miles. After the climb, the trail flattened and it was another .25 miles to the end of the hill and the viewpoint. The lookout pointed south and the sun was again a factor. There were a few annoying trees in the way but I thought the effort worthwhile. The Bear Mountain Bridge was visible but it seemed pretty far away! After a few pictures we headed back down the hill. At the trail junction, we looked around for the blue trail back toward the car. The trail was not easy to find as there were few blazes and a lot of blowdown obscured the trail. We did find the right turn and headed out on the trail at around 1:20 PM and 5.5 miles into the hike. The blue trail ran between the hills and along a brook but at about 6 miles it started to climb the ridge again. At 7.0 miles we continued on the yellow trail toward Curry Pond.

Curry Pond was small but pretty with some ducks swimming around. My bad luck with the angle of the sun continued and pictures were difficult to get. I didn't mind too much as the pond was nice but nothing too special. All three of us were now anxious to get back to the car so we walked around the pond and followed the yellow trail as it started the final ascent back to the AT on the ridge. The trail passed through some dense laurel and blowdowns continued to be a problem. We crossed small stream and then the trail made a short but steep ascent through a cleft in the rock ledge. It flattened at the top and at 7.8 miles around 2:40 PM we were back on the AT. There was about 1.3 miles of hiking left. Since we knew where we were going and had no reason to stop we quickened our pace and climbed over Canada Hill. From here it was all downhill to the car. The AT was better marked in this direction and we had an idea where it went from the trip out. We were back at the car by 3:20 PM having taken 5.5 hours to cover 9.3 miles and a surprising 2130 feet of vertical gain. Some of the other attractions in the area would have to wait until next time!

On Thursday, November 3rd I decided I wanted a real challenge which almost always means a 3500 foot peak! Since the Slide Mountain trail head on Route 47 is officially closed, I decided to take the opportunity to hike in from the Denning trailhead and up the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail. I had all day so the 10+ mile distance didn't bother me. I waited a little while in the morning until the temperature rose and then got Sheba and headed out DeBruce Road. The sign on Route 47 was still there and still confuses me. "Road closed!" "Open for guests of Frost Valley." "Local traffic only. No through traffic." How can a road be open for some and not others? I turned right and headed to the Claryville Road where I turned left toward the Denning trailhead. The road past the Frost Valley farm still shows the effects of the flooding. Actually, the road is in pretty good shape but both side have major damage. We arrived to find no other cars in the lot. The temperature was in the high 40's with a slight breeze and overcast skies. I looked around and saw only a faint covering of snow and decided to leave the snowshoes in the car but keep the Yaks in the pack. We were on the trail and hiking by 9:40 AM. The first part of the trail is an old woods road and it is wide with very few rocks. Some of the blowdown that was present last time had been cleared and the walk to the Table Mountain Trail went quickly. There was no snow in the woods and hardly any under the trees. We made the 1.2 mile trip in about 20 minutes. It was 10:00 AM. We continued to make good time after passing the turnoff. The road began to get steeper and much rockier in places. There was still almost no snow but the wet leaves provided plenty of excitement. Along the way the road begins to hug the side of a hill with ledges to the left and a dropoff to the river on the right. The trees had very few leaves left and it was easy to see down into the river valley and across at the other hills. At one point there was a nice view of our destination!

As we approached the turn for the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail, I began to second guess my snowshoe decision. There was some snow on the trail and a lot more in the woods. It seemed that the exposure to the sun made the most difference. We made the turn at 10:50 AM about 3 miles and only 1 hour and 10 minutes into the hike. The trail changed dramatically from the wide and gently sloping woods road free of snow to a steeper, narrower trail with snow cover. Almost immediately we ran into the first set of ledges which I remembered from previous hikes. The trail leads up through the ledges and we stopped so that I could take some pictures. On up we went with the trail presenting a series of climbs through ledges interspersed with flatter sections. The snow made it important to pay attention to your footing but never got never got too deep. At about 11:15 AM we walked up through a set of ledges and to a nice lookout to the west. I stopped for some pictures before continuing on to the next lookout just .15 miles further on. This viewpoint was to the south and was a little more blocked by trees than the previous one. We were right at the 3500 foot elevation and the trees began to change to evergreens. The ground flattened some here and we had to walk around several large puddles of water. Eventually the trail began to climb again along the edge of the mountain and through some beautiful evergreens. At 4.5 miles into the hike around 11:50 AM we turned right on the main Slide Mountain Trail. As we walked the .7 miles to the summit, I took a few pictures of the quartz sand that makes up the base of much of the trail. Just before the summit rock, we stopped at the viewpoint over Giant Ledge and Panther so that I could take some photographs. It was still overcast but the pictures were good. We arrived at the top of Slide at 12:10 PM. I took a few pictures and we had some lunch. I realized how very still and peaceful it was at the top.

We started down the other side of the mountain toward the spring since I wanted to get a shot toward Cornell. I had considered hiking over at least that far but thought better of it. The rock scrambles down to the spring were all wet, icy or snow covered. Sheba showed me a few easier routes and soon we were at the top of the first ladder. I got my picture of Cornell and one of the snow covered ladder. We turned around and headed back to the top. From the top it was just a matter of retracing our steps without the breaks for photography. As always, going down the steeper portions was harder than climbing up. Even places that seemed dry were covered with a thin film of water and my boots also wet. We were at the woods road by 1:50 PM at about 7.7 miles into the hike. I figured we had about 3 more miles to go and we quickened our pace. I wanted a 2.0 mph overall speed and we were close to it. The rocky part of the road went unappreciated but soon we hit the cutoff to Table. From this point on the trail has fewer rocks and is a breeze despite the fact that it is always longer than I anticipate. We were back at the car by 2:55 PM. There were two other vehicles in the parking lot although we had seen no one on the trails. We had covered 10.6 miles in 5 hours and 15 minutes.

On Tuesday, November 1st I was looking for something close to home to get in a hike before practice. I have been doing this so much lately that I have begun to run out of places to go! I decided to head toward Downsville on Route 206 and park where the Campbell Mountain Trail crosses the road. From there I planned to hike to Campbell Mountain Road, pick up the Trout Pond Trail and hike to Campbell Brook Road. From there I could hike back on the trail or walk the roads to the car. I did not know whether snowshoes would be necessary since the snow had begun to melt but I took them with me anyway. I parked at the pulloff and we were on the trail by 9:45 AM. I had decided to leave the snowshoes in the car but take my Yak Extremes in case I needed some traction. There was some snow on the ground as we walked down to the brook and there was quiet a bit of water. We walked passed the foundations and, as I looked over in the woods to my right, I saw another foundation I had never seen before. There were tracks from some other people who had walked on the trail after the snowfall. We crossed the bridge and began the walk up Campbell Mountain. The snow began to get deeper with the increased elevation but the amount of snow seemed to be controlled more by the exposure. Snow on the south and east sides of the hills was all but gone. The areas on the north and west still had 6 or 8 inches of snow. We arrived at the lean-to at around 0:15 AM about 1.25 miles into the hike. That meant our pace was 2.5 mph uphill. Not bad! We went through the next ,6 miles in less than 30 minutes and arrived at the highest point on the trail at 10:45 AM with 1.85 miles behind us.

From this highest point we walked down to Campbell Mountain Road and crossed over to get on the Trout Pond Trail to Campbell Brook Road. At this point it was 11:00 Am and I debated whether to cut the hike short since I had a 2:00 PM meeting. I decided to stick to the original plan and walk back on the roads. We had been moving quickly but as we started out on the Trout Pond Trail I increased our pace even more! We immediately ran into deeper snow but not so deep that snowshoes were needed. The tracks we had been following stopped at the deeper snow. We crossed Campbell Brook on the bridge and began a 1 mile climb to the highest point on the Trout Pond Trail at 2510 feet. We made it over the hill at 11:30 AM and stared down the other side through more snow. The conditions were almost like spring except for the leaves still on the trees. we hit Campbell Brook Road at 11;45 AM and 4.3 miles into the hike. I knew at that point that we would easily make it back to the car in time. I am not fond of walking on roads instead of trails but these roads are pretty deserted. Most of the building along this route are hunting camps or summer homes with only a few permanent residences. Only one car passed us on the 2.5 mile walk out to Route 206. The walk on 206 was all downhill for .7 miles. We were back at the car by 12:40 PM covering 7.5 miles in under 3 hours.

On Sunday, October 30th 8 inches of snow covered our lawn in Livingston Manor. Cindy and I decided to go to hike at Frick and Hodge Ponds since the roads were good and hiking in a heavy October snow seemed like something we did not want to miss. I knew there would be more snow at the higher elevation so I threw our snowshoes in the car just in case. Cindy dressed warmly while I was still in my fall attire. We did both wear our Salomon boots which are warmer and fit the snowshoes well. DeBruce Road was still covered in snow and ice but at least Mongaup Road was plowed as was the Beech Mountain Road to the trailhead. We parked just before 9:30 Am and took a few minutes to assess the situation. We decided that snowshoes would definitely be OK by the looks of the conditions in the parking lot. They might even be necessary at the higher elevations on the Flynn Trail! By the time I had my snowshoes on I was feeling a little cold and considered putting something else on. I decided against it as I always get warmer as we hike. We headed out on the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond in about 8 inches of snow. Along the trail there was open water in places and our snowshoes quickly became caked with wet snow. It took about 20 minutes to get to the pond since we kept stopping to take pictures. There were no other cars, no other tracks and no other people! The view at Frick Pond was interesting since there was so much snow and NO ICE on the pond! I took shots of the pond and some of the trees with snow and leaves. I took some pictures of Beech Mountain from the bridge and then some photographs of Cindy and Sheba on the bridge. I noticed that the wind off the pond was really cold so we packed up and started back up the Quick Lake Trail. The snowshoeing was fun but NOT EASY. Even when the shoes weren't wet the snow was wet and heavy and clung to the bottom and laid on top of the shoes.

It wasn't long before we were marching through the stretch of pines on the trail trying not to get too snowy as we were bombarded by snow from the tree. We worked through or around several blowdowns on the trail, crossed the stream and headed into a small clearing. A tree here still had some colorful leaves and we took pictures before continuing to Iron Wheel Junction. We were at Iron Wheel by 10:30 AM which was much slower than our normal hiking pace. At the junction we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail to Junkyard Junction and the Flynn Trail. Just before the junction where the snowmobile trail heads to Quick Lake, I noticed small large footprints in the snow. They might have been from a bear but the snow on the tress and brush did not seem very disturbed. We continued up the trail. The snow was beautiful but there were some areas of open water to try to avoid. We stopped several times to use the camera. The last time I hiked this which was only a few weeks before I remember thinking that the section of trail from Iron Wheel to Junkyard is much longer than I thought. This day, with the heavy snow, emphasized this fact. We arrived at Junkyard Junction at 11:45 AM which meant the 1.6 mile section from Iron Wheel had taken almost an hour and 15 minutes. Along the way my legs really began to hurt especially my quads and inner thighs. I found that taking exaggerated steps and not shuffling I could make the going easier and get some of the snow off the shoes. We turned right on the Flynn Trail to head toward Hodge Pond. The slight downhills felt great and did not bother my sore legs. Soon we were at the gate and then near the shores of the pond. Neither of us wanted to extend the hike by going around the back of the pond, so we turned right and walked toward the outlet. More water wet the snowshoes again and Sheba had HUGE snowballs clinging to her fur from the deeper snow on the Flynn Trail. I stopped at the shore of the pond at 12:20 PM to take a few pictures before starting back to the car. I was struck by the deep blue color of the open water.

As we started up the Flynn Trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail, the snow got deeper and my legs more tired. I tried "high stepping" again which worked to some extent. I knew that once we hit the top of the Flynn Trail there would be no more climbing and I put that in my mind and pressed on. Soon the trail leveled and we were at the junction. I had though about going down the Big Rock Trail and around the back of Frick Pond. I love the big downhill and the walk around Frick is pretty. This route would add almost mile to the hike so we continued straight ahead and down the Flynn Trail to the car. I thought about stopping at the open area near the top of the Flynn Trail but opted to just get back as soon a s possible! At least the 1.7 mile march down the Flynn Trail had no uphills but it did seem long and I was very happy to see the gate and even more pleased when I was at the car removing the snowshoes. The 6.5 mile trek had taken 4.5 hours. Two weeks before the same hike was just over 2 hours and 15 minutes!

On Sunday, October 30th I got up early to shovel around the house and then head across the street to shovel out the church. The walks around the house had very little snow as they had been warm when it first started to fall. My car had about 6 inches on it and the lawn maybe inches. I shoveled the walks at the church but the parking lot was another matter. It has a thick layer of ice over water and was unusable. After making some calls, we decided to cancel services and I headed home. Once home I grabbed my camera and headed back over to the hill behind the church to take some picture of snow-covered Livingston Manor. The sun was just rising and I walk around the cemetery on the hill taking pictures. I walked back to the church and took a few shots before returning home. I decided the day was too nice to waste and that the roads were in decent condition. I asked Cindy if she would like to snowshoe in October and she said "Yes". We decided on Frick and Hodge Ponds.

On Tuesday, October 25th I decided to head for Bear Spring Wildlife Management Area between Downsville and Walton. I have hiked almost all the trails in this area multiple times but I had an idea for a new loop and wanted to try it out. The weather report was for cloudy skies but there was no mention of rain. As we left Livingston Manor, the sun was actually beginning to peek through and I hoped for a good day. My plan was to park on East Trout Brook Road at Middle Pond and hike up to the Ridge on Trail 4. From here I wanted to head north to the main parking area just off route 206. I planned to hike over to Wilson Hollow Road and then use Trail 11 to go down to Launt Pond. Another trail would take us from the pond, along the creek and back to the car. All of the trails at Bear Spring are constructed with horses and snowmobiles in mind. This means there are NO BRIDGES so some water crossing can be tricky. It also means that the trail are wide and well maintained but without the traditional hiking blazes. There is an overview map at the main parking area at the top of Bear Spring Mountain and there may be maps in holders along the way at trail junctions. We arrived at the small parking area at about 8:35 AM and were on the trail by 8:40 AM. We crossed the road and started up Trail 4. The trail rises 750 feet from the road to the ridge over 1.2 miles. At the top of the ridge we turned right or northwest to hike along the Fork Mountain ridge. At about 9:30 AM and a little more than 2 miles into the hike we were at the first of three clear cut areas on the hike. No one has been able to tell me the reason for theses clear cuts but they are all done with state approval. There were still some leaves on the trees and the skies was overcast with patches of blue. I took some pictures before we started to hike again and headed back to the shelter of the tress.

The trail continued northwest over a few bumps but the pace was quick. By 9:50 AM we were 3.3 miles into the hike and crossed West Trout Brook Road to continue on the trail. Up to this point there had been some muddy and wet areas but the next section of the trail was especially boggy. We continued almost directly north now toward Route 206 working our way around the puddles and mud pits. At 10:15 AM we crossed the road again and walked to the main parking area. From here we followed the very familiar trail that parallels Route 206, crosses East Trout Brook Road an then ascends slightly before dropping to Wilson Hollow Road. This woods road is a grassy track and has never been paved but shows up on many maps with the same prominence as Route 206! At this point we were at the second and largest clear cut area. The skies were still a strange mix of dark clouds, puffy white clouds and patches of blue. I decided to get a different view by walking down to the edge of the cut rather than staying on the road. I ended up on a road through the cut. We walked and I took pictures for some distance. We finally ran across a road that took us almost all the way back up to Wilson Hollow Road. The last few feet were rough as the road ended and some very nasty briars began. Back on the road we continued the hike and I took a few more shots before the road entered the woods. I was looking for Trail 11 which I had missed several times before. At some point I decided that I had missed it again when it appeared on the right at about 6.8 miles into the hike. It was 11:10 AM and I decided that we would continue along the ridge and use another trail to get back down to the car.

The next trail down was within .6 miles of Trail 11 but I had been on this trail several times recently so we continued to the McCoy Hill Shortcut at 7.7 miles. This trail turns right and runs along the edge of a field before descending through the forest to the last clear cut. The walk down was a little better than I expected and the view from the top of the cut a little worse. We walked out into a small field and I took some photographs before returning to the trail. At 11:45 AM we hit another trail junction and we stopped so that I could take a few more shots. From here it was only .6 miles back to the car. We stopped at the bridge at the outlet of Middle Pond before returning to the car at noon. We covered 9.3 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes. Before returning home I decided to drive up East Trout Brook Road and stop at Launt Pond. I parked by the exit near the dam and grabbed the camera to take some photographs. The colors were muted and most of the leaves were gone but there was a nice quality to the pictures. I drove up to Route 206 and turned left to go to West Trout Brook Road. After turning and passing the main parking area I turned right on Beers Brook Road and drove down to Russ Gray Pond. The road is unpaved but well maintained. I parked at the pulloff by the pond and got out to take some pictures. I walked over to the small dam and took some pictures of the water as it cascaded over the dam. Back in the car I drove down Beers Brook Road to Route 10. After determining that left was the WRONG direction to turn I headed the other way into Walton and then back home.

On Friday, October 21st I had canceled XC practice after school to give the runners a little time to "heal". Since I had all day to hike, I decided I wanted to do some Catskill 35 peaks and preferably several at one time. I looked at my grid and was surprised to see it very open. I knew that it might be hard to get to some peaks so I chose the Blackheads from the Batavia Kill parking area. All that I had read indicated the Road from Maplecrest to the parking area was open. Sheba and I left Livingston Manor at about 8:20 AM anticipating a 10:00 AM start. I knew that Route 47 passed Frost Valley was closed as was the Peekamoose-West Shokan Road so I headed for Route 30 around the Pepacton Reservoir. Things went well but, as I passed through Margaretville, Arkville and Fleischmanns, I was reminded that people in this area are still impacted by the floods from Irene and Lee. There are detours on many roads and I saw many road crews at work. The main bridge into Margaretville is closed and the train tracks in Arkville are undermined and twisted. Driving along Route 28, we finally got to Route 42 which I always take north from Shandaken to Lexington. I made the turn knowing that the Spruceton Road was closed but not suspecting what I would find ahead. Just before the Halcott parking area was a sign announcing the road ahead was closed to through traffic. I always obey these signs but questioned why another sign at the run off Route 28 was not in place! I drove back to Route 28 and headed for Phoenicia to take Route 214 north through the Notch to Hunter. It was obvious that Phoenicia still had problems from the flooding as I turned on Route 214. This road was a mass of dips and potholes. In several places there were barriers on the stream side while in others crews had the road down to one lane as they worked to repair the damage. The road improved as I approached Notch Lake and I had no trouble from there to Maplecrest. Crews were working on the road to the Batavia Kill parking area. The stream here is normally pretty tame but the damage it did during the floods was evident. In particular, the lake at the small park on the left was gone. We finally arrived at the parking area at around 10:30 AM. We were the only car and we got started right away. My plan was to hike Black Dome and Thomas Cole first and then hike over Blackhead and down the steep eastern side. I thought if I had enough time I might also go on over Acra Point. I was concerned about the status of the bridges along the way. On the way in I saw that the bridge to Acra Point and Burnt Knob had been replaced.

As we began our hike along the Batavia Kill, it was clear that the recent rain had again swollen the creek. The water was roaring down the mountain. At the first bridge crossing, we found a brand new bridge to replace the other that was washed out. I took a few shots and then we continued. I stopped a few places along the way just to take some photographs of the creek at the same "waterfalls" that had developed. The second bridge was not completely new but had been extensively repaired. We reached the trail junction at about 10:50 AM only .65 miles into the hike. I decided to head right toward Lockwood Gap and Black Dome which was my original plan. I looked at the water crossing we would have to make on the way back and knew that it was possible and that by that time we would be close to the car. The walk up the trail was pleasant and I removed my softshell in favor of a light windbreaker. The climb begins to get steeper at about 1.15 miles and continues to the col at 2.0 miles. There are several switchbacks and both Black Dome and Blackhead are visible. Each time I hike this route I am impressed by these mountains. Despite the fact that I have done them many times, it always seems impossible until I am on the top or back in the car! With the leaves off the trees, the site was even more impressive. We hit the col at 11:40 AM and just made the right turn and continued to climb. I was feeling very fit at this point! We stopped after the one rock scramble at the rock shelf that looks over at Blackhead. The skies were cloudy but there was some sun and the conditions seemed just right for some good shots. After getting the pack back on we headed up the trail to the summit and stopped at the open rock that acts as a lookout to the south at about 12:10 PM. We had a drink and a bite to eat. The sun's angle made taking pictures difficult but I took some anyway.

We left for Thomas Cole at about 12:15 PM and arrived there at 12:40 PM. There isn't too much to see along the way but there are a few rock scrambles. An occasional view of Cole through the trees reminded me that it IS a 3Catskill 3500 foot peak! The distance is about .8 miles and the drop is just over 200 feet. We turned around once the trail started to descend on the other side of Cole and headed back for the Lockwood Gap without stopping. We were there by 1:30 PM at about 4.6 miles into the hike. Up Blackhead we went stopping twice for pictures back to Black Dome and out across the valleys. The distance to the summit is only about .6 miles but the elevation gain is over 500 feet. The trail flattens some after the climb and then leads to the large flat rock that marks the summit. Here we intersected the blue Escarpment Trail and started down the steep, eastern side of Blackhead. There are no views from the summit but there are limited views on the way down. Two different stops allow views north and west toward Acra Point and Burnt Knob and east and south toward Arizona. The descent is open rock in some cases and in other places there is loose rock. Everything was wet and covered with a layer of wet leaves. We were careful and did stop for pictures but made it down by 2:45 PM. This was .8 miles and over 1650 feet of vertical drop. On the way down I was still feeling remarkably good but knew that the extra trip over Acra Point would be about 3 miles more. I decided to save this for another day and head back to the car. At the trail junction we met the only people we would see all day. These two artists from New York City were enjoying there first trip to the Catskills and had just come over Acra Point! We talked some before parting and I hope they have many more hikes. From the trail junction we descended another 500 feet over the next mile to the trail junction. Along the way we passed the Batavia Kill lento. At the trail junction we had to walk upstream a little before I could find a place to cross. It wasn't all that bad but slipping on the wet rocks would have been a very wet and cold experience. From here it was just another .7 miles back to the car. We arrived at 3:35 PM having taken just 5 hours for the 7.8 mile trip.

On Wednesday, October 19th I wanted to get in a "fitness hike" before going to school and cross country practice. It was raining on and off and the forecast did not promise any improvement. I decided to head toward Trout Pond and see what the weather looked like there. As I parked the car at about 10:30 AM it was still raining but only lightly. I donned my Outdoor Research Revel jacket and Sheba and I started down Russell Brook Road at about 10:35 AM. There was only a slight mist in the air and I soon was becoming wet from the sweat inside the jacket. I had decided NOT to stop by the falls but couldn't help myself. I walked across the bridge and then took the path to the falls. I walked down into the stream bed to take some pictures and then returned to the trail. We walked straight ahead up to Trout Pond as I had taken the loop the other way the last time we hiked. As we hiked I alternated between looking at the beauty around me and my own inner thoughts. We stopped at the outlet end if the pond so that I could get some pictures. I have taken these pictures so many times but they always seem a little different. Back on the main trail I started to notice some deep, muddy ruts on the trail. On the way up to the pond I had seen tracks but the trail was much firmer in that location. I inwardly cursed the people who can't read the signs and stay off the trail with their ATVs. As we approached the inlet end of the pond, I began to here some noise and looked ahead to see two pickup trucks. It took a moment for the scene to register. The pickups belonged to a DEC crew from Walton who were replacing the bridge across the inlet. I apologized for my "evil" thoughts and we talked for a few moments. They were putting in a rather substantial snowmobile bridge which would be more than enough to serve hikers. I walked to the edge of the pond to take more pictures.

After taking some shots, Sheba and I walked upstream a little and crossed over to the other side. It was about 11:35 AM and blacker clouds were starting to gather over the pond. We set a good pace on the way up to Cherry Ridge. Somewhere along the way the moisture changed from mist to sprinkle. I tried to ignore this until the sprinkle changed to rain and I decided to get out the rain jacket again and put the camera in a plastic bag. As we continued to walk the rain never got worse but continued to come down. We made the turn to the left at Mud Pond and headed down the wide woods road that is also a snowmobile trail. The trail was soft and muddy but worst spots could be avoided. Soon we were back down at the trail junction near the falls. To complete the hike we walked back up Russell Brook Road to the car on Morton Hill Road. The 5.6 mile hike took at 2.5 hours and we were back just after 1:00 PM.

On Sunday, October 16th I wanted to get out to hike but I also wanted to be with my family. I solved the problem by calling Karl and Kathleen and asking them if they would like to hike at the Neversink Unique area in Rock Hill. Of course, they were to bring Bryce (grandson) and Maggie (dog). They agreed to meet us and I called after church to confirm that we would meet at the parking area at the end of Katrina Falls Road. The hike almost had to be canceled since Bryce's Merrells went missing but since he is only 7 months old we decided to take a chance. Cindy, Sheba and I arrived first but the rest of the party was right behind. There was only one car parked in the lot but we had seen some hunters on the way down Katrina Falls Road. Bryce need a snack before we started and then we were off at right around noon! Bryce has his own pack to ride on Karl's back and seemed very happy since he gave his father directions several times. The temperature was cool and a slight breezy was blowing. The skies were variable on the way down with some areas of blue with clouds and other, more ominous areas. My plan was to walk directly to Denton Falls on the Neversink and then to Mullet Falls on Mullet Brook. From here we would complete the loop back to the main trail and the car. Wolf Brook was high as we stopped to take some pictures. We bypassed the two side trails down to the river in favor of the direct route to the falls. The walk seemed a little longer and a little steeper than I remembered.

We turned right at the top of a small climb to head down to the falls at about 12:45 PM and 1.35 miles into the hike. The trail is still new and not "worn in" in all spots. It was a little wet and does get narrow in places. It only rook about 10 minutes to negotiate the .3 mile distanced own to the river. There was a lot of water going over the falls making for a pleasant visual and auditory experience. These "falls" are not very high, perhaps three or four feet, and are more of a rapids but they are still pretty. There was some color to the leaves and I took pictures of the falls and the river in both directions. I decided to bushwhack a little upstream while the rest of the family walked the trail back to the main trail. Sheba and I found a path that ran along the shore of the river and we were soon at the point where Mullet Brook enters the river. The high water made the crossing look difficult but I knew I could find a place to cross if I really wanted. I decided to stay on the near bank of the creek and follow it upstream. There were some nice points along the stream and I even took a few shots. I found a steep bank to climb back to the trail and met the rest of the family just as they were coming up the trail. We all walked out the trail to the main trail and turned right to start our loop toward Mullet Falls. I remembered that this climb was the hardest of all even though it did not compare to any that ascend the mountains in the Catskills. I was wondering how Karl was doing with baby and pack but he said he was Ok.

Soon we were at the left turn that goes down to Mullet Falls. We turned and walked along the path until the falls came into view at 1:30 PM or about 2.4 miles into the hike. These falls can be reduced to only a trickle when there hasn't been much rain but this day they were magnificent. The water drops 20 feet into a small pool below. From the pool and other small falls carries the water over some large walks to the stream bed below. I dropped my pack and walked out onto the slippery rocks. I took many pictures from this spot and then moved in closer to capture the plunge pool. I also recorded a video for the sound. After this, I crossed over to the side of the falls to take some photographs at another angle. Now it was time to go back to the main trail and complete the loop to get back to the car. On our way out we met a man carrying a short step ladder. He was placing official NYNJTC markers on the trail. We turned left at the main trail and continued to ascend. The gain in elevation from the river to the highest point on the trail is 500 feet! Near the top the trail leveled off and we crossed Mullet Brook again on a bridge. Just upstream from the bridge was an interesting area of pooled water. The water drains a swamp and is dark brown due to the tannins from the evergreens. The trail after this is mostly flat and then start downhill. Just before the downhill portion is the right turn to the Wolf lake parking area. We stayed to the right and down to the trail we had come in on earlier. It was about 2:30 and it had taken a little less than an hour to walk the 1.7 miles from the falls trail. As we approached that trail we met two dogs with their owners trailing farther behind. The dogs seemed friendly and we do let our own dogs run but we always call them when approaching other hikers and other dogs. These owners did not seemed concerned so we made the best of thins. We were back at the car at 2:50 PM having covered about 4.8 enjoyable miles in about 2 hours and 45 minutes. Bryce did not see the last part of the hike as he was asleep.

On Friday, October 14th I wanted to get in some more hiking after the short walk around Bear Hole Brook. The day had been sort of a disappointment and a successful trip to Vernooy Kill Falls was just what I needed. The problem was that I was not sure if I could remember how to get there and I had not brought a map since this trip was not in my plans. I headed away from Ellenville on Route 209 and drove through Kerhonksen. Just outside of town I drove up a hill and turned left on Samsonville Road. After 1.3 miles, I turned left on Cherrytown Road. I drove 3.5 miles and took the left onto Upper Cherrytown Road. In about 3.0 miles I saw the parking area on the right and pulled in at 12:45 PM. The trail is just across the road. The trail is a wide woods road almost all the way to the falls. It is marked as a snowmobile trail, a hiking trail and the Long Path. The problem is that the markings are very few and far between. In fact, the ONLY blaze I saw for the Long Path was the one at the beginning of the trail just off the road. This has been a recurring theme for many of the trails I have been hiking recently especially those that do not access the 3500 foot peaks. I had not been to Vernooy Kill Falls in some time and the trail gains much more elevation than I remember. In about a mile it gains over 500 feet which is by no means excessive and at no time is the trail steep. A good part of the trail is covered in loose rock which always makes the hiking more difficult. After about a mile the trail is almost level and the highest point is at about 1.3 miles. From that point the trail drops slightly to the falls at 1.7 miles. The stream crossing near the falls was easy due to some stepping stones.

We arrived at the falls around 1:30 PM. I was a little worried about rattlesnakes at the falls but thought that the colder temperatures at night may have caused them to "den up". By the time we reached the falls the temperature had risen but the skies were still cloudy. It seemed very humid but there was no rain. before we ever got to the falls< I could hear the thunderous roar of the water. I dropped my pack and poles by the register box and grabbed my camera. I stood on the bridge to take shots of the falls upstream. After taking some shots, I headed downstream from the bridge to stand on some rocks to take pictures of the bridge and the falls beneath it. The rocks were wet and slippery and covered with leaves. After returning to the bridge, I walked upstream along a well-defined path. There were several side paths down to the stream and I stopped at each to take pictures of the individual falls and rapids along the way. There was a lot of interesting foam on the water. A few trees had some colorful leaves but in general most of the leaves were on then ground. At about 1:50 PM we started back toward the car. There was a little sun out by now and it was even warmer. The return trip is mostly downhill and we were back in the parking area before 2:30 PM. The hike is about 3.5 miles and it took us a little over 1.5 hours including the time at the falls for pictures.

On Friday, October 14th I decided to go out on a hike despite the weather forecast of rain and thunderstorms. I though I might hike to Giant Ledge and on the way inspect the damage to Route 47. I knew the bridge to Giant Ledge had been reported as missing but thought I could get across that stream without a problem. At the end of Pole Road, I started to turn onto Route 47 and saw a ROAD CLOSED sign. Since it also indicated that Frost Valley "guests" could proceed I decided I would also. Within a hundred feet I saw that there was heavy equipment working on trying to reconstruct the road. I thought to myself that even "Frost Valley guests" would have a hard time getting through the mess. It was raining lightly but I decided to head to Claryville and over Red Hill Road to check out a hike to the fire tower. I turned right on Red Hill Road and began the climb to Coons Road. It was like driving into a cloud! By the time I got to the turn to the fire tower I was in a cloud and it was time to change plans again. I headed down Sugarloaf Road toward the road to Sundown. When I got to Sundown, I intended to drive up the Peekamoose Road to photograph some waterfalls. This road also had a ROAD CLOSED sign but I decided to go as far as I could. As I drove along the road the damage from the storms was still very evident. In every spot where there was a small stream it was clear that the road had been washed away. All the campsites near Peekamoose were marked NO CAMPING. At about 11:30 AM I stopped at Bear Hole Brook and Sheba and I walked to the falls. I took some pictures and then walked back to the car. I donned my pack and we hiked up the far side of the stream until the next small falls came into view. I took some more pictures and then returned to the car. The high water made going further upstream unsafe if not impossible. I rove passed the Peekamoose trailhead and just around the bend again ran into road construction. I deiced to drive back to Sundown and out the reservoir through Yagerville. When I got to Yagerville, I decided it was too early to end the day and got the idea I would head to Vernooy Kill Falls by way of Upper Cherrytown Road.

On Wednesday, October 12th I needed to get out for a quick hike for some exercise. The weather forecast was for showers early and then showers late with a break in between. The early showers did not develop but I decided to stay close to home by heading to Frick and Hodge Ponds. Although this is probably he hike I have done the most, I had not been there in some time. I was hoping for some fall leaf color and thought I might try to find the waterfalls on the outlet stream from Mongaup Pond. We arrived at 9:00 AM and headed out the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond. The trail was wet and muddy all the way to the pond. I was disappointed as We got to the bridge at the outlet. There weren't many leaves left on the trees and those that remained were dull. The skies were overcast but the temperature was about 60 degrees. I was warm in my light windbreaker even though I had short sleeves on underneath. I only took a few pictures before continuing on the Quick Lake Trail. The blowdowns on this trail are multiplying each time I hike it. Most will require a good sized chainsaw and a "crew" of more than one to clear! The trail was damp in places but not too bad as we made Wagon Wheel Junction by 9:40 after covering 1.5 miles. We turned left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail which is also a snowmobile trail at this point. The trail gains some elevation and was not as wet as the lower part. It was longer than I remember but the sun came out a little along the way which always raises my spirits.

By 10:00 Am we were at Junkyard Junction having covered around 2.7 miles. Our quick pace was enjoyable and I took it as a challenge to keep it up. We tuned right on the Flynn Trail and immediately ran back into a wet and muddy trail. In addition, there was more blowdown on this trail than I have seen before. As we dropped down from the gate on the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond, I decided to go right and go around the front of the pond for a change. After 4 miles of hiking, we arrived at Hodge Pond at 10:30 AM. The leaves around the pond were no better than at Frick but I took pictures anyway. We turned around and headed up the Flynn Trail to Big Rock Junction and then down the Flynn Trail to the parking area. Even this part of the Flynn Trail has several trees down which make hiking less enjoyable than before. Back at the car I decided that I had enough time to search for the water falls. It was 11:20 AM and we had finished the 6.7 mile hike in 2 hours and 20 minutes!

I drive down the Beech Mountain Road to the intersection with the Mongaup Pond Road. I parked on the side of the road and found the Old Hunter Road that runs down to the stream. We walked down to the bridge over the stream and I could hear the rushing water. I was disappointed to find water rushing under the bridge but no real falls. I could see a path along the far side of the stream and decided to follow it downstream. After only a short distance I found the falls! The falls have two nice drops and there was enough water to make them interesting. I took shots of the upper falls from the bank and then from a flat rock in the stream bed. I worked my way downstream and down a bank to an area below the lower falls. This allowed me to get more pictures from almost directly in front of the falls. This is a very nice place to visit and popular during warmer weather.

On Sunday, October 9th Cindy and I wanted to hike somewhere since is was such a gorgeous day. I was planning to hike Rusk with Doug Garrity and a few others on Monday and wanted an easy route. We decided that this was the day to go to the Basha Kill. Cindy and I had lived most of our lives in Sullivan County and had never visited this 2400 acre wildlife preserve in the southern part of the county. I knew that a rail trail ran along the eastern shore. It is all that remains of the Port Jervis to Kingston branch of the O&W. On the western shore are the remains of the D&H Canal and its towpath. The two can be combined for a loop using Haven Road to cross the marsh on the northern end and Otisville Road to swing around the southern end. We drove down Route 17 after church and got off at exit 113 heading south on Route 209. After about 1.7 miles Haven Road appears on the left. I was not sure where the towpath was so we drove down Haven road and passed the parking area. Once we got to the bridge it was clear we had gone too far so we headed back to the parking area on the north side of Haven Road and parked there. The only trails I could find were NOT the towpath so we drove back out toward Route 209. Towpath Road was on the left almost all the way back out to the main road. We returned to the parking area and parked the car to begin our hike. We were both wearing light jackets but left them in the car as the temperature was in the high 60's or low 70's. At around 12:20 PM we started our hike by walking east on Haven Road through the marsh toward the rail trail on the eastern shore. We stopped on Haven Road to take some pictures of the marsh to the north and south. There was some color on the trees but not too much. There was evidence that the road had been flooded during the last storms. After saying "Hello" to someone fishing from the bridge, we continued to the rail trail and turned left or north. Within a few hundred feet we met some women from the Sullivan County Audubon Society. They knew my father and we talked. They were observing birds and migration patterns by sitting in the same spot for 24 hours. We thought it strange that they had seen over 40 species of birds but no eagles! One of the women told us that there was an observation "tower" to the north on the trail and we headed in that direction. The trail was relatively dry and the leaves were pretty in this area. After about a mile, we were at the trail to the tower and we turned left. Within .1 miles we were at the tower which was more of an observation platform. There we nice views over the marsh to the north and west. After taking some pictures, we walked a short loop back to the rail trail and headed back to Haven Road.

At Haven Road we crossed to the other side and tried to follow the rail trail south. The trail was completely covered with water for more than a quarter mile and we had to cross from one side to the other and use the banks to make it through this area. The banks were covered in barberry and some other thorny brush making the progress slow and painful. At some point I asked Cindy if she wanted to try to make the loop around the Basha Kill or return the way we came. We decided to go on around and walk the canal towpath back to the car. The rail trail dried out some with only a few muddy spots along the way. There were views of the marsh all along the way with some color. The trail is extremely straight which is not surprising given that it is the old railroad bed. At 3.7 miles we were at one of the larger parking areas just off South Road and near the Basha Kill Winery. There were quite a few people here and we stopped to take some pictures. The water is more open in this area and three or four kayaks were completing a trip and returning to shore. We left the parking area and continued on the trail which soon became wetter and muddier. In about .4 miles the Long Path markings appeared to head to the right off the rail trail so we followed them through a very muddy stretch. Another hiker, coming from the opposite direction, told us that the trail was a dead end the way we were going. We turned around and headed south on the rail trail again finding a sign that said "Long Path" at one point. At about 4.3 miles the trail again became impossibly wet and muddy so we backtracked and walked out to South Road to continue the hike.

At 4.5 miles we were about to cross a small stream on the road when I looked to the left and saw a waterfall. We walked to the base of the falls and it was even better than it appeared from the road. The water was flowing down over a wall of rock and was very pretty. I took some pictures before we walked back out to the road to continue. Walking on the road went quickly and in about another mile at 5.5 miles into the hike there was a small parking area on the right. We stopped and walked down to an observation deck. The deck gave a nice view of a stream flowing out of the Basha Kill. I noticed a road bridge just downstream and we headed in that direction after a few photographs. We turned right onto Otisville Road which, according to the map I had, runs out to Route 209. We began to look for some sign of the D&H towpath that the map showed turning off the road just before Route 209. We got to the main road after walking after walking almost .5 miles without seeing the towpath. We decided to walk down to the Stonefield Parking Area where we knew we could get on the towpath. After only .2 miles on the road, I saw a sign for the Basha Kill and we turned right and headed down this dirt road. As we approached a flat area a path turn left and I could see a car a short distance into the field. When we got to the car, I asked the couple who were there about the towpath. They were very familiar with the area and said we were headed in the right direction. In just a few hundred feet we entered the woods and climbed onto an wide, elevated "road".

The canal and the towpath have an interesting history and I am sorry to say I don't know enough about it. The canal ran to the left or west of the towpath and in many places the canal was very obvious. There are still stone walls on either side of the canal and even the trees that now grow in it cannot hide it. We headed north and then east to get around a hill before heading north for most of the rest of the trip. The canal is now dry in most places but in some areas there is water which hints at the original purpose. In a few places we found bridges of rock built across the canal. After the canal was no longer in use, these bridges were built across it to reach the towpath and the Basha Kill. At 7.5 miles we reached the road that runs down to the Stonefield parking area and this continued for about .35 miles. We continued on the towpath and at 8.25 miles came across a bridge that was built over the canal. The span of the bridge no longer exists but the stonework that made up the abutments is still there. Also present are the stone walls that lined the lane that leads up to the bridge. A little further on the trail crosses a chasm on a wood bridge. Just to the left is another stone bridge that crossed the canal. By this time we both realized that the trip was a lot longer than we had expected. Despite the fact that the terrain was pretty flat we were a little tired. Finally at 10.1 miles we came to a gate which led out onto Towpath Road. This short road soon intersected Haven Road and we walked the .3 miles back to the car. What had started as a short stroll turned into a 10.4 mile hike lasting 4 hours! This was a fast pace especially since we were hindered by the wet, muddy and poorly marked trails. Despite the pace we got to see some scenic and historical points of interest along the way.

On Thursday, October 6th I wanted to get in another hike before at least two days of commitments that would not leave time for my favorite hobby! I was a little sore after the forced march from the day before and wanted to stay close to home. I decided to go to Long Pond and park at the trailhead on Flugertown Road to hike the loop using Basily Road. Sheba and I arrived at the parking area at 9:45 AM and started out right away. The temperature was in the mid 50's and the sun was out. I had on my light softshell, gloves and hat but knew I would be taking them off shortly after beginning the hike. The first part of the hike is THE uphill and after that it is relatively flat. On the way up the first hill there was a very large evergreen tree across the path. This one is going to take a crew to remove and a trail is already developing around it. After .7 miles of hiking we had gained 360 feet to an elevation of about 2210 feet which is the highest point on the hike. By 1.1 miles we were at he turn down to Long Pond. I wanted to take some pictures from the shores of the pond but it was hard to get close because of the high water from the rain. After taking some shots, I removed jacket, hat and gloves and we walked back out to the main trail. At 1.4 miles we passed by the trail junction which allows a "shortcut" out to Flugertown Road. We turned right and headed out for the longer loop. The next section of trail was wet in places with a few new ponds developing. At 1.8 mile we passed the spur trail to the lean-to.

We continued to walk on almost flat trail through some muddy areas and passed a few woods roads that crossed the trail. At 2.9 miles the trail met Basily Road and we turned left to head back to Flugertown Road and the car. A right here leads to Black Bear Road and Round Pond. After a short walk we were at the beaver pond, which was high. Crossing would have been difficult but the addition of a footbridge has made the crossing easier. I took some pictures and was again surprised at the almost total lack of leaf color! We crossed the brook and headed back to the car on Flugertown Road. I stopped a few times to take pictures of the stream and soon we were on a paved surface. We were back at the car just before noon having covered the 6.1 mile hike in a little more than 2 hours for an overall pace of 3 mph.

On Wednesday, October 5th Karl and I decided to get in a hike before my cross country practice. I was thinking about Slide from the Denning trailhead using the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail but the 10 mile distance was a little longer than we could comfortably hike in the time we had. We settled on hiking to the Penguin Rocks on the Dry Brook Ridge Trail from the Millbrook trailhead. I though this would be challenging but short enough so that we could easily finish before my practice started at 3:00 PM. Although I thought we got an early start, the drive was longer than I remembered particularly the distance along Millbrook Road. At one point we were stopped by road repair near the Grants Mills covered Bridge. I was glad to see the bridge seemed undamaged but the low-lying areas of the road took a hit. The temperature was in the low 50's which was an improvement over the high 30's in Livingston manor early in the morning! The skies were blue with a few clouds. We did see some leaf color on the drive but nothing spectacular. We arrived at the parking area just before 9:30 AM and started our hike immediately. The climbing gets started right away with the first .8 miles gaining 450 feet to an elevation over 3000 feet. There are some impressive ledges along the way but the trail skillfully passes through them. Most of the rocks had a nice green, mossy covering and the walk was very pleasant. Karl and I were both glad to be out and the dogs were obviously having a good time. Sheba ignores all wildlife but Maggie has to investigate every chipmunk. After the initial climb there is a drop over the next .5 miles to the lean-to where the trail turns slightly right and heads north. Over the next mile there is a 700 foot gain to about 3430 feet making Dry Brook Ridge #37 on the Catskill Highest Hundred list.

Once we were on the ridge the trail flattened some with a few ups and downs here and there. The woods were pretty open and the trail had a few prickers but nothing very extraordinary. There wasn't much blowdown and the walking was easy enough that we kept up a good pace. As we approached 3.2 miles I began to have some questions. From my previous trip report we should be getting near the viewpoints but from the surroundings I knew we weren't even close! At about 3.3 miles we were at the trail junction with the Huckleberry Loop Trail coming up from Ploutz Road and I knew something was wrong. To make matters worse I had left both map and compass on my desk. It was 11:15 AM which meant we had already spent an hour and 45 minutes hiking. This was a good pace and I knew that going back would be quicker but I was worried about getting to practice on time. I reasoned that the viewpoints couldn't be that far ahead and I didn't want to hike over 6 miles without reaching my goal. We stepped up our pace even more as we headed for the Penguin Rocks! The trail now had a lot more brush and areas of prickers. At times it would wander very close to the edge of the ridge and I would think we were approaching our destination. I had only been to the viewpoints two or three times from this direction and that didn't help any. After teasing us a little, the trail would head back toward the jungle at the middle of the ridge. As it got later and later I began to second guess my decision and I know Karl was questioning my sanity!

Finally, things began to look familiar and we arrived at a viewpoint...but not the one I wanted. I thought the main lookout couldn't be too much further so I upped the pace to a trail jog. Another viewpoint appeared and I kept going. I passed by another viewpoint which I KNEW was the last one before the main lookout that I wanted. This time I was right and we were at the lookout. It was 1.4 miles from the trail junction to the lookouts and it was 11:45 AM. We had average almost 3 miles per hour over difficult terrain. The trip up had taken two hours and 15 minutes and I knew we would have to be quick on the way back for me to make my commitment in the afternoon. Unfortunately, the leaf colors from the viewpoint were almost absent. A few yellows here and there with some reds but not what I had hoped for. The best colors were the bushes right near the viewpoints! I took some shots of the scenery including the Pepacton Reservoir since there was very little haze. I also shot some photographs of Karl and the dogs. After a brief stay, we packed up and got ready to hurry back to the car. There were a few places I would have stopped along the way but the time constraint made that impossible. We started back at 11:55 AM and were back at the car at 1:55 PM making the return trek 15 minutes shorter. It seemed like we were going even faster but some of the steeper descents slowed us down. We covered 9.4 miles in 4.5 hours. I saved some time by driving back on the Barkaboom Road and made practice on time, barely. I still wondered why the hike was almost 3 miles longer than my previous trip report. After I cam back from school, I reread my report more carefully. It clearly stated that the description was for a hike that stopped at the trail junction and that the lookouts were about 1.4 miles beyond. I just hadn't read what I had written carefully the first time!

On Monday, October 3rd Cindy and I were ready to get out of the house after a week of rain and family commitments that kept us out of the woods. We decided to hike to look for some fall colors which are nonexistent in Livingston Manor. We discussed and debated until it was getting late and we decided to stay as close to home as possible by hiking from Mary Smith Road over Mary Smith hill to Holiday Brook Road and back. A previous trip report showed about a 5.4 mile hike and I didn't remember it being more than a little hilly. The weather forecast was for cloudy skies with showers on and off throughout the day. We arrived at the trail head just before 10:00 AM and got started quickly. The temperature in town in the morning was a about 40 degrees. It had warmed slightly but I wore a light softshell, hat and gloves! My trip report said :be ready for some climbing in the first half mile!" I was right! the trail starts up an unnamed hill which is part of the Middle Mountain "range". In the first .45 miles the trail gains just less than 500 feet. As I had suspected the trail had recently been cleared which is what we found on the other end when we came in from Route 206. We did find some large trees down across the trail in places and some smaller ones that seemed new. After a little more than 15 minutes of hiking our blood was pumping and I was sweating. The trail leveled briefly and we stopped at the Middle Mountain lookout. This is a fairly open viewpoint and offers nice views to the east and south. On this day there wasn't much to see as the skies were overcast and the leaves had no color!

From the lookout the trail continued to rise to 2910 feet at .9 miles. This is the highest point on the hike and has more elevation than Mary Smith Hill! From this high point the trail descends about 240 feet over the next 1.0 miles. At this point there is another lookout through the trees to the south and west. Again, there wasn't much to see since the leaves had no color. After the viewpoint, the trail drops slightly into an area with a LOT of prickers. We were particularly thankful that someone had taken the time to beat back the brush. From here we started up Mary Smith hill but the climb was not as steep as the one from the car up the first climb. The top of the hill was only .25 miles and 120 vertical feet from the Col. We then dropped down the other side and headed toward the turn around point on Holiday Brook Road. At about 2.7 miles into the hike there was a large tree blocking the trail. I had to take off my pack and shimmy under the blowdown since working around it would have meant a trek through some mean looking briars! Cindy decided she did not want to make the attempt and would wait until Sheba and I returned. It was also clear that my previous GPS track was wrong since we were not at the road as the track indicated. Sheba and I started down the hill to the road which I estimated was a little less than .5 miles. The descent was steep and covered with wet and slippery leaves making speed...dangerous. The trail passed through and around several mossy green ledges but I just wanted to get down and back as soon as possible. There were several more areas of blowdowns that required detours until the trail leveled near the bottom, passed the edge of a field and ended up at the parking area and road. We had made the descent of in about 18 minutes. We turned around and had to face the return ascent. I did stop once to take some pictures of the ledges. We were back with Cindy at around 12:25 PM which meant we had gone UP faster than we had gone DOWN especially considering the stop for photos. Cindy was rested and I was tired but we started out at a fast pace back to the car. I did not want to be late for practice! I took off my jacket as I was VERY warm. We did not stop on the way back and arrived at the car at 1:40 PM. We had taken 2 hours to get to the point where Cindy stopped and an hour and 15 minutes to get back! We covered the 6.3 mile hike in 3.5 hours.

On Monday, September 26th Cindy and I decided to hike to look for some fall colors. After some of the colors I found the day before at Balsam Lake Mountain and Vly Pond, I was anxious to find some ore. We decided to go to Bear Spring where we saw some of the best falls colors last year. I thought that we would be early but that it would be interesting to get some pictures before peak colors and make a comparison. Bear Spring is pretty close to Livingston Manor and doesn't have to much elevation change which pleases Cindy. My plan was to park at the main lot and hike east to a wide woods road that overlooks a clearcut area. We would then follow this road south to a trail that would take us north to Launt Pond. From there East Trout Brook Road would get us back to the trail to the car. On the way to Bear Spring there was a lot of fog and low hanging clouds and I began to wonder if we would get the chance to see anything on the hike. As we climbed Bear Spring Mountain from Downsville, the fog began to disappear and my mood improved. I parked in the lot and we were on the trail by 9:30 AM. The grass was very wet with dew and there was standing water on the trail. The trails at Bear Spring are designed for horses and there was ample evidence that they had been ridden recently! This also means the trails aren't marked for hiking and few maps exist.

We hiked east and crossed a field before heading down to a trail that crossed East Trout Brook Road. After crossing the road, we stayed to the left and hiked up a hill on the trail that parallels Route 206/7. At the next T junction we turned left and headed down to the wide woods road. I could see that up ahead there was some color and some interesting low hanging clouds in the valleys. Once we got to the road, we both began taking pictures as we walked. It was walk a short distance, take a picture and repeat for almost half a mile. As we walked our angle kept changing as did the angle of the sun. The fall colors were not quite ready in this area but we both felt they would be there in a week or 10 days. After about .5 miles, we entered the woods and the views disappeared. We hiked up a small hill and at about 2.85 miles we turned right on another woods road that we had hiked the last time we were at Bear Spring. This trail drops almost 550 feet over the next 1.4 miles. At 3 miles into the hike the trail turns nearly 180 degrees changing direction from southeast to northwest. Along the way there is a break in the trees that reveals another clearcut area. The trail ends at a parking area on East Trout Brook Road just south of Launt Pond. We made a right and walked .3 miles up to the pond. Last year the trees around the pond were on fire with color. On this day the colors were starting to change but were not quite there. After a few pictures we headed back out to the road. I had used East Trout Brook Road to hike a loop before but I had walked down it! This time we had to walk back up the road. The walk was about a mile but gained around 300 feet. When we reached the trail, we turned left and followed our path from earlier back to the car. We were back by 12:00 PM having covered 6 miles in 2.5 hours.

On Sunday, September 25th I was very depressed when I awoke to find a beautiful fall day reminiscent of "Indian summer" and not the rain that was predicted. One look at weather only made things worse since no rain was approaching and only a few clouds seemed to be on the way. My anxiety stemmed from the fact that I was scheduled to instruct a CPR class ALL AFTERNOON after church. When I got home from church, I gathered my materials and met the other instructor at the firehouse. I was supposed to be a small class and by the appointed time only two people had appeared. We decided to try another day and I was very happy! After considering some options I remembered that two friends, Cindy and Brian. were supposed to be at the Balsam Lake fire tower and I decided to head that way. I knew they might have to leave early so I drove quickly up the Beaverkill Road to the trailhead. The leaves were already beginning to change and so far they were not the bright colors we hope for. By the time we arrived at the parking area the temperature was in the 70's and it was more humid than I had expected. The road was passable but still showed some damaged from the flooding. There was only one other car in the lot when we headed out on the trail at 1:20 PM. The first part of the trail was wet and muddy and I hoped this would not continue for the entire hike. There was no register in the trail box. This situation is now common place and I still wonder whose responsibility it is to collect the old registers and place new ones. I know they have never been used for missing persons but they are important in determining trail usage! There continued to be some water on the trail and a few blowdowns but otherwise it was in good shape. Sheba and I kept up a good pace and we made the first turn at 1:42 PM taking about 20 minutes for the .9 mile walk.

The trail up the mountain was not wet except for the part by the spring. We kept a good pace up the trail as I wanted to try to get their while the tower was still open. We were soon on the summit plateau. The leaves near the top were already starting to change colors and the smell of the balsam fir was very strong. As we approached the tower we heard voices. We entered the clearing at 2:10 PM covering the 1.75 miles in 50 minutes. I talked to the two couples who had hiked in from Millbrook but the tower was closed! The other hikers had a husky with them that they put on a leash. I regretted not bringing a leash for Sheba but she was not interested in the other dog. I took her to the first landing on the tower and then headed up. The skies were still partly sunny but the clouds were starting to roll in. The leaves were already changing in most places I could see. I took some pictures, checked to see that Sheba was where I told her to stay and took some more pictures. After that, I headed down the tower and we were on the trail down the other side of the mountain by 2:20 PM. This trail was wet and muddy in several spots especially were it leveled off. I walked around the muddiest places carefully and by 2:35 PM we made the right turn on the trail back to the car. The trail was still clear of most brush but all the rocks were wet and slippery. I tried to get some views down into the Gulf of Mexico or across to the next set of hills but there were no good ones and the sky was now almost completely overcast. We arrived at the lower trail junction at 3:00 PM and were at the car by 3:20 PM. We had covered about 4.3 miles in 2 hours. At this point I was still fresh and it was still early. Although the skies we cloudy, I did not think it would rain so I decided to hike to Vly Pond.

Vly Pond is just a few hundred feet of bushwhacking off the trail and the backdrop is Graham Mountain. As we started out on the trail, I stopped in the field to take some pictures. The colors here were more vibrant than anywhere else and Balsam Lake Mountain was in the background. After taking several pictures from different angles, we continued on our way. The trail descends along a woods road and there was a LOT of new and some old blowdown that should be cleared. The descent is about .5 miles to where the trail crosses Black Brook on a bridge. The bridge was in good shape with no signs of damage from the flooding. Over the next ,4 miles the trail ascends and then moves up and down while heading generally east northeast. As we hiked I began to recall that the majority of the hike to the two ponds, Vly and Tunis, was the distance from the trail head to Vly! at 5.7 miles we were at the bridge across the Gulf of Mexico Brook which also was in good shape. It was missing one side rail which has been gone for over a year! Just after a short uphill we were at the outlet brook for Vly Pond. I decided to stay on the near side and Sheba and I bushwhacked up to the shore of the pond near the beaver dam. We arrived at about 4:05 PM and I was surprised that with all the rain the beaver pond was not overflowing. The dam was intact but the water looked a little stagnant. The colors around the pond were excellent and reflected nicely in the water. The mountains formed a perfect backdrop. The only problem was the now nearly complete overcast. I would have preferred some blue sky and clouds but took a number of pictures anyway. We didn't stay long and were soon on our way back. The trip back went quickly. At one point I thought I might try walking out to the Beaverkill Road on a woods road that crosses the trail. I looked at my map and noticed the enormous bow in the road that would add miles to the trip which was not what I was looking for! We followed the trail back to the car and were in the parking area just before 5:00 PM having covered 7.6 miles in 3.5 hours including a number of photographic stops.

Summer 2011

On Monday, September 19th I decided to hike from Route 206 to Berry Brook Road over the Campbell Mountain, Pelnor Hollow and Mary Smith Trails. These are all part of the Finger Lakes Trail system and I had just bought the maps for the entire trail. Cindy and I have hike from Route 206 in the opposite direction many times but I had hiked over Brock Mountain only once. I decided that the it was most appropriate to hike through as I wanted to do the entire route and the return trip would add nothing to the experience. In addition, I calculated the one way distance to be about 6 miles and I did not have the time for a 12 mile hike! We drove both cars up Berry Brook Road from Roscoe. Along the way the condition of the road reminded us of the destruction from the recent flooding. A town of Rockland DPW crew was working to repair one culvert and the road around it. The rest of the road surface had potholes where there was pavement and reverted to gravel in many places. We parked one car where the Mary Smith Trail crosses and then drove out the other end of Berry Brook Road to Route 30. The drive along the Pepacton Reservoir to Route 206 seemed to be both shorter and have better road then the drive up Berry Brook Road! We parked at the pulloff on Route 206 where the Campbell Mountain Trail crosses and crossed the road to begin our hike by 10:00 AM. The trail is a wide woods road at the beginning at stays this way for most of its length. We immediately began an ascent through hardwood forest that seemed exceptionally green. The trail was wet in places but these spots were easily avoided and this was the case for most of the hike. What also became evident as we hiked was that someone had recently been through to clean up the trail. All but the largest blowdowns were cut with a chainsaw and all the prickers and nettles were cut back a good distance. Hiking this trail can be a real pain but the work of the trail maintainers made it a real pleasure! For the first .5 miles the trail gains 450 feet with a few short but steep climbs. After that, the trail goes through the first of several switchbacks to give hikers a rest before gaining another 230 feet over the next .4 miles.

At about 1 mile we reached the false summit of Brock Mountain which, on many maps and GPS units, is marked as Brock Mountain. I began to notice piles of rock that did not look natural and I knew there was a quarry in this area. I walked up one pile of rock and began to look around. Nothing looked too extraordinary at first but my persistence paid off! Soon I saw a large and deep pit and was able to walk down into it. After taking a few pictures, I came up out of the pit and worked my way back to the trail. There were several other smaller but still impressive pits along the way. Back on the trail it was time to tackle the rest of the ascent up the "real" Brock Mountain. After a slight descent from the false summit the trail ascends about 300 feet to the top of Brock Mountain at about 1.9 miles into the hike. We arrived at just after 11:00 AM and I knew I had to watch the time to get to XC practice without being late. The trail does not actually pass over the highest point on the mountain where there is purported to be a USGS benchmark but we did top out at about 2440 feet. I did not worry about this as we descended the other side of Brock Mountain. As we started down what turned out to be a steep descent, there was an area where many of the trees were dead. I assumed this was from a forest fire. This did allow for some interesting views of the valley with another ridge beyond. After that, we continued the hike over the well-maintained but poorly marked trail. I guess whoever was doing the cleaning and clearing had not been given trail markers as they were very few and far between!

At about 2.4 miles the trail headed north and then southeast after a short distance. This prominent switchback is not shown on the NYNJTC maps and was a little confusing. We had to be careful to keep watching for blazes since they are few and far between in places and there area lot of old roads and snowmobile trails. At 3 miles the trail turns almost 90 degrees to the right and heads northeast. Shortly, at 3.3 miles, we again turned 9 degrees1 to the right and headed southeast. In both cases there were snowmobile trails or woods roads in the area of the turns. There are really no views along the way but the woods are pretty. In some places there are stone walls and the hint of a foundation. At 3.85 we made another 90 degree turn onto an old road which was eroded but very recognizable with stone walls on both sides. The was a slight uphill but the trail was mostly level for the next .3 miles. At this point the Campbell Mountain Trail ends. To the right is the Little Spring Brook Trail that leads out to Route 206. We turned right onto the Pelnor Hollow Trail.

In the next 1 mile the trail climbs over 400 feet through mixed hardwood and evergreen forest. There was some running water at the beginning but after that the trail dried out. There was a lot of blowdown in places but all had been cleared. There were some steeper places and by new our legs were tired. Near the top of this climb the trail levels and our reward was the Split Rock Lookout. At the lookout there is a large boulder and an area where the part of the bedrock has separated. The light was a little bright but the views to the west were good. There isn't much to see other than trees and mountains except for one house on the far ridge. They must have a great view and an interesting drive in the winter! The lookout was 5.2 miles into the hike and we arrived at about 12L40 PM. From the lookout the trail ascends for about .1 miles at a 26% grade. This isn't very far but it looks like a WALL from the bottom. At 5.3 miles, we turned left on the Mary Smith Trail as the Pelnor Hollow Trail continues straight ahead. The Mary Smith Trail is an almost continuous downhill to Berry Brook Road. There were some spots where a lot of brush and blowdowns had been cleared. There were also a few tricky descent through rocks and around trees. On the way down we met a couple coming up from the parking area. They were hiking through on the Pelnor Hollow Trail and were the only people we saw on the hike. After 1.1 miles and a drop of over 500 feet we ere back at the car. We had hiked 6.4 miles in 3.5 hours. All that was left was to drive back out to Route 206 to pick up the other car.

On Saturday, September 17th I wanted to do a hike in the Harriman/Bear Mountain area. I knew I didn't want to pay the parking fee at Bear Mountain and I knew there was a cross country meet in the morning. I thought I might park at the lot off Perkins Drive and do the West Mountain and Torne loop from there. As I exited the Quickway and got on Route 6 I decided to change plans and park at the lot where the Long Path crosses Route 6. I had parked here before and hiked to the Torrey Memorial but this time I was going to hike the other way and make a loop of some kind. Sheba and I arrived at 10:15 AM and started hiking immediately. We walked out to Route 6 and crossed being careful of the cars that were NOT paying any attention to the HIKERS signs! The Long Path crosses almost directly across from the exit to the parking area. The trail follows wide woods roads in many places and I had to be careful since there are many fire roads and other paths that crisscross the trails and it is easy to get lost even with a map. The Long path heads almost directly southwest and climbs around 400 feet in the first 1.8 miles. Just before another climb we stopped at a series of rock overhangs which are labeled "cave shelter" on the NYNJTC maps. After taking a few picture, we climbed to the top of the rise and walked along a flat part of the trail to a rock shelter at 2.0 miles. The shelter faces west and the map marks it as a viewpoint. Like so many of the places that were once viewpoints the trees have grown to block most of the view. I took a few pictures before a quick little descent to the junction with the yellow Menomine Trail. At the trail junction we went straight ahead looking for Hippo Rock.

We found Hippo Rock at 2.3 miles into the hike and it really DID look like a hippo from the front. I took some pictures before heading back to the trail junction and turning right on the yellow Menomine Trail heading generally southeast. The trail is a long descent along a woods road and soon we were passing by Lake nays. At 3.6 miles we crossed Seven Lakes Drive and headed toward Silvermine Lake at about noon. Several groups were picnicking in the picnic area as we walked by. We headed toward Silvermine Lake and walked the trail along the west shore of the lake. Several groups of scouts passed us on our way along the lake. I stopped to take a few pictures and then continued on the trail heading for the Brien Memorial Shelter. Over the next .6 miles the trail gains 320 feet to the site of the shelter. On the way we passed a couple hiking up the trail and I talked to them about the mines on Black Mountain. As Sheba and I continued up the trail we met yet another group of scouts heading down passed us. We arrived at the shelter and trail junction at 12:45 PM at about 5.3 miles into the hike. I took some pictures and we took time for lunch and a drink before turning left onto the Appalachian Trail and starting up a short, steep rock climb. This trail is marked in white for the AT but also has red blazes as it is part of the Ramapo Dunderberg Trail. After reaching the top of the rock scramble, the trail flattens some with a few ups and downs. The skies were cloudy but the temperatures were still warm enough. We had hiked about .5 miles from the shelter when I decided to consult the map again. I reached into my pocket and...NO MAP! I checked my other pocket and still couldn't find it. I decided to go back and look for it despite the fact that I knew where I was going. The map and I had been together for some time. I started at an accelerated pace back toward the shelter. On the way back I met the couple I had first encountered on the way up to the shelter. They had not seen the map so Sheba and I continued back to the shelter. I scoured the ground carefully all the way back to the shelter but did not find the map until...I checked my pack! I was happy to have the map and really didn't mind the added distance. So now we turned around and headed toward Black Mountain at an even faster pace!

For about .9 miles from the shelter the trail rolls up and down slightly until at 7.2 miles it turns to the right. Now we were hiking southeast rather than northeast. At this turn we met the couple again. They were trying to decide whether to turn left to go back to the car or right to at least get to the lookout above. I talked to them briefly and then Sheba and I started up Black Mountain. After a short but steep climb we were at the viewpoint over Silvermine Lake. This lookout is really worth the climb and we stopped to take some pictures before heading for the summit. We were on the summit just before 2:00 PM at 7.7 miles into the hike. The views were very hazy and the skies were still overcast. Deposits the conditions the New York City skyline was easy to spot. From the summit we started down a very steep descent of almost 400 feet in .35 miles. A little further on we turned left and headed almost due north on the blue 1779 Trail. The trail parallels the Palisades Parkway which is just over a ridge to the right. There were no views and the trail was a little wet in places. still, the 1.6 miles to Seven Lakes drive near the Long Mountain traffic circle were pleasant enough. We crossed the road and walked to the traffic circle. We walked up Route 6 a little before crossing to the other side where we would pick up the 1179 Trail again...if I could only find it. There were no markers where we crossed and after a diversion to the west we headed back east to the area just north of the traffic circle. There was one blaze on a tree and then nothing. After an uninteresting walk up a path, I looked from the tree with the blaze across a gravel storage area and found another blaze on a pole and a little farther on another on a tree. We entered the woods to continue the hike.

The trail headed north toward the Popolopen Gorge Trail and Turkey Hill Lake just skirting a climb up Summer Hill. After about .6 miles, I decided to walk straight ahead on Summer Hill road rather than take the circuitous route on the trail. When I crossed a small stream, I knew something was wrong but I continued to head north and east. I turned around and walked back over the stream to see the turn toward Turkey Hill Lake that would have been obvious if I had stayed on the trail! Soon we were at the dam for the lake and I took a few pictures. We continued around the west shore of the lake which had several groups of people at various spots on the shore. After a few more stops for pictures, I decided it was time to get back to the car. From the dam it was all uphill for the next .9 miles until we hit the Long Path again at 12.2 miles. We turned left on the Long Path and hiked the .3 miles back to the car. It was 4:15 PM and we had covered 12.5 miles in 6 hours.

On Wednesday, September 14th I decided to try another hike in Delaware County this time staying as "local" as could. I decided to park on Mary Smith Hill Road at the trail head and hike to Cabot Mountain and back. This would require hiking over Middle Mountain and Beech Hill twice! I had a limited amount of time so, of course, I got a late start arriving at the trail head and starting the hike at around 9:30 AM. The road was in good shape even when it turned to dirt part way up. When you drive to the trail head, don't give up and think you are in the wrong place or you have missed the parking area. The lot is well-marked on the right side of the road. The road beyond this point looked so good I thought I might drive out to Beech Hill Road and take that route home. There was another car parked in the lot which is unusual but they had not signed into the register and there are two ways to hike from this trail head. Sheba and I got on the trail right away and started hiking east toward Middle Mountain. The trail was damp even wet and muddy in pleas which was not surprising as we have had a lot of rain. Someone had been through to knock down many of the prickers, nettles and other brush. This entire trail turned out to be a true Catskills trail with rocks, roots, prickers, nettles, damp places, wet spots and blowdown! The skies were very overcast and it looked like it might rain several times. The temperatures were in the 60's and warmer to the high 70's during the day. The hike was longer and harder than I expected. I decided to take pictures on the way back and get to my destination first. As it turned out, there were no clear viewpoints along the way and even the Middle Mountain Vista had grown in with brush and trees. Even if there had been viewpoints, they would have been obscured by the haze.

The climb up Middle Mountain got steep in a few places and there were several large trees across the trail and many smaller branches. Between .5 miles and .6 miles the trail winds its way up over a rocky patch. At the top of the climb the trail levels and makes a big switchback before heading back toward the summit which we reached at about 1 mile and just before 10:00 AM. From the summit of Middle Mountain the trail loses almost 300 feet to the Col with Beech Hill. The climb to Beech Hill wasn't long but I was a little tired at this point. From the top of Beech Hill the trail was not cleared as well and there was some blowdown that forced us off trail and into the nettles and prickers. This descent was also VERY wet and muddy in places. As I was coming down I remembers that we had one more hill to climb before coming back to climb back up this mess. In .6 miles we had dropped over 500 feet and were on a small private road. We turned right and walked out to Beech Hill Road where we turned right and Walk to the trail head for the Touch Me Not Trail to Cabot Mountain. We had walked 2.5 miles over hilly, rough trails and it was 10:45 AM. The hike up Cabot started along a very wet woods road. The land was posted on both sides as we started to climb. The first .25 miles weren't bad but then the trail got serious. There were several blowdowns on parts of the trail where it was hard to get around them. The trail got steep in spots. I had wanted to get to the Beaverkill Vista but that was another .4 miles beyond the summit and I was already feeling the pressure of getting back in time for practice. In .5 miles the trail ascended about 600 feet and then leveled off for a pleasant walk of .35 miles to the last climb. We ascended another 125 feet over the next .3 miles and walked a little passed the summit before turning around to walk back. The hike back worried me as I was already tired. I knew the hike down would not be as hard as the hike up but these trails are still tricky and it is hard to get up any momentum. Also, after hiking down Cabot we would have to hike back over Beech Hill and Middle Mountain. We turned around at 11:40 AM and were at the foot of Beech Mountain by 12:30 PM having covered 6.6 miles. Although the climb up Beech Mountain is steep it didn't seem that hard and by 1:00 PM we were headed down Beech Hill to the col with Middle Mountain. This part seemed to go quickly also and soon we were going down Middle Mountain, through the switchback, over the rocks and toward the parking area. We arrived at 2:00 PM covering the 7.8 mile hike in just over 4.5 hours.

On Monday, September 12th I decided to again respect the ban on hiking in Greene and Ulster counties so I headed to Dry Brook Ridge near Margaretville in Delaware County. As I drove up Route 206 toward Downsville, there was no evidence of flooding from the excessive rain. Although the Pepacton Reservoir looked very muddy, Route 30 around the reservoir showed no damage. From the bridge the New York City roads were good until just before the junction with Route 30. There was debris along the road and several; cones marked places where the road had been undermined. I turned right onto Huckleberry Road and then left onto Hill Road. I parked the car at the small parking area and we crossed the road to get on the red Huckleberry Loop Trail by 9:30 AM. I decided that this was a day to hike as fast as we could to the lookouts and back without stopping for pictures except at the viewpoints. The temperature was in the high 60's when we started but it did seem warm. The very first part of the trail was wet but was drier the further we climbed. This route passes through a red pine plantation planted by the CCC and the tall straight tees are very interesting. The path is covered by pine needles and is almost an ideal surface for hiking. As we hiked up the trail, the trees changed from the pines to hardwoods. In several places around 1 mile, there was some large blowdown that had already been cleared using chainsaws. I hadn't hiked from this direction since early last winter and it was hard for me to tell when the work had been done. Someone had cut back most of the brush and prickers and we made good time up to the ridge at 1.85 miles. The elevation gain over this distance is a respectable 1150 feet. We had been hiking generally northeast and now the trail turned almost 90 degrees to head southeast. The trail continued another .4 miles to the junction with the blue Dry Brook Ridge Trail.

The Dry Brook Ridge trail was wet and muddy in several places over the next .7 miles since it is almost flat. The forest was very green and there was only one or two areas of blowdown in the path and these were easily negotiated. In one of the muddy areas I saw a very LARGE bear paw print. At 2.95 miles we hit a little ascent for .3 miles that led to the lookouts west and south. It was 10:50 AM which meant we had hit the lookouts in 1 hour and 20 minutes! This was the first time we stopped and I took off my pack to get out the camera. We both had a drink and I gave Sheba a snack before I walked out onto the rocks to take some pictures. A heavy haze hung over everything but the sun was starting to break through. I took a number of pictures and discarded many of them but the ones that remained were interesting. I gathered my equipment and we headed back the way we had come. The return route is mostly flat and down with two of there short ascents. After the turn down off the ridge, we met the only other person we would see on the hike. We exchanged greetings and continued in opposite directions. As we passed through the pines again, I just had to stop and take a few shots of these majestic trees. We were back at the car by 12:10 PM having covered the 6.5 mile hike in 2 hours and 45 minutes.

On Saturday, September 10th I decided to get back into the woods after a week of rain and commitments had interfered with my hiking. I wanted to respect closing by the DEC of the Catskill trails in Ulster and Greene counties so I chose to try attempt to hike at Schunemunk Mountain in Orange County. I knew that this area had been hit by flooding and was fully prepared to implement a backup plan if this one did not work. I noticed from by trip reports that it had been over two years since I had been on this hike! I was glad that as I drove down the Quickway from Livingston Manor the skies began to clear. This hike has many nice viewpoints and I wanted to be able to take some pictures. The forecast was for partly sunny skies and that forecast looked to be accurate. As I drove through Washingtonville on Route 94, I noticed that every house had a pile of carpet, furniture and black garbage bags out front. Several lawns and low-lying areas were still flooded! I turned right on Orrs Mills Road just passed the sign that said Salisbury Mills. After that it was a right on Clove Road and then a left on Otterkill Road to the trailhead parking area. There was only one car parked as we pulled in just before 9:00 AM. The parking area has a clear view of the Moodna Viaduct which is used by Metro North to span the valley. It is the largest free-standing steel structure east of the Mississippi. To begin the hike we walked up the road toward the viaduct where the trail actually begins. We passed another hiker coming toward us. I thought he either got a very early start or did not hike a very long distance. We turned into the woods on the white Trestle Trail just before the viaduct and I let Sheba off her leash. I had intended to go up the Trestle Trail to the ridge and then hike out one ridge and back on the other. As we approached turn for the red Otterkill Trail I developed a new plan. I decided to hike all the way to the other end of the Otterkill Trail and then up the Dark Hollow Trail to the eastern ridge. After a visit to the Megaliths, I would have to decide whether I wanted to hike back on the eastern ridge or attempt to cross Barton Swamp to get to the western ridge. I knew that the amount of rain that had fallen over the week might make this route interesting.

The Otterkill Trail parallels the railroad tracks for 2.1 miles. Although the total ascent amounts to 300 feet the change in elevation from one end to the other is 10 feet! It is flat but rolls a little. This does not mean that it is boring. As we got on the trail and went up a little rise there was a lookout to the east. This viewpoint was not very high but offered a nice view of the hills which were still covered in haze with a few low-hanging clouds. As we continued to walk, I looked at to see Sheba standing with six feet of a pair of deer. They looked at each other and then the deer walked away. The trail was wet for almost the entire length and the parts that were not wet showed that there had recently been water running across the trail. Along the trail I began to notice and extensive network of stone walls. Some of these wall were low but many were built up. These remnants of a past way of life always interest me. The solid construction of these walls made them permanent and a real indication that someone worked hard and sweated hard to farm the land. At 1.2 miles the trail turns sharply to the left on one of the many woods roads in the park. We walked straight ahead down to Baby Brook so that I could check out the water volume. From the sound the brook was running high and I was not disappointed. The problem was getting a clear shot of the small cascades was not easy! I decided to abandon the effort and we walked up to the main trail and to the bridge over Baby Brook. The bridge showed no damaged and we walked downstream a bit. There is a tunnel here to carry the railroad over the brook. There was also a small falls below the bridge and I was able to get some pictures this time. We continued along the trail until at 2.4 miles there was another nice falls and a crossing of Dark Hollow Brook that had no bridge. This crossing is probably easy in most cases but after a we of storms the water was high and rushing fast. I might have jumped but the landing on the other side was small and consisted of slippery rocks. I was going to check out the railroad bridge but found a spot downstream to cross. Almost immediately after the crossing the Otterkill Trail ended and the dark Hollow Trail started up the mountain to the right.

The Dark Hollow Trail followed an old woods road generally southeast and up the ridge. The road was eroded and very rocky in places with a few stream running down the trail in spots. The road makes several switchbacks in places as the grade would have been too steep for horse drawn wagons otherwise. I did begin to wonder why there was a road to the top of the ridge! At about 2.9 miles there was a nice lookout after a short climb. The views to the east and north were very nice with some haze still hanging around. We continue to hike after I took some pictures. In some spots the trail leaves the road and makes a short climb up to the next level to rejoin the same road. This cuts a little distance and avoids the long switchbacks. These "shortcuts" also make the hike more interesting. As the trail climbed two things happened. First, there were at least four places where I thought we were on the top of the ridge. Second, the map showed two crossings of Dark Hollow Brook and we made at least four. Neither of these proved an impediment to the trip. At 3.6 miles there was another viewpoint on top of a massive rock outcrop. This one had less spectacular views. We climbed again and the trail flattened at about 3.8 miles in an open area with incredible views in all directions except to the west. This might be the best viewpoint in the whole park. It was especially nice since I had never been there before! I took a lot of pictures before we headed on up the trail. I was SURE we were at the top of the ridge but I was fooled again. At about 4 miles we were at the end of The Dark Hollow Trail at Dark Hollow Junction. It was 11:15 AM when we turned left onto Jessup Trail which is also the Highlands trail. We were headed toward the Megaliths.

The Jessup Trail winds its way along the western ridge over many open rock faces with scrub pines. This is an entirely different ecology than at the lower elevations. At times the trail climbs over rock outcrops and at others dives into the pines. At 4.3 miles we were at the spur trail to the Megaliths and we turned right and walked the short distance. I approached quietly since the local vultures often hang out on the rocks surveying the countryside below. This time we had the rocks to ourselves and I took pictures of the scenery in the distance and some of the rocks themselves. We had a drink and a snack. Now it was time to decide on the route for the next part of the hike. I decided to try crossing Barton Swamp since it was such a short distance that turning back would be no longer than getting across. At 4.6 miles we turned right onto the blue Western Ridge Trail and started down to the swamp. The trail is routed over some open rocks faces before it start to descends the ridge. Just at the point it starts the descent is another nice viewpoint. On the descent the trail becomes very narrow and all the rocks were damp from runoff! I made sure I used my poles or hung onto some brush on this traverse. As we hiked Sheba and I could here some voices below. From the comments they were headed our way and they were having trouble crossing the swamp. I decided not to turn back and continued down to Se for myself. Just before the swamp crossing I met the group looking none the worse for their hike. The leader of the group was the first hiker I had met that day back by the viaduct! We talked for a short time and then went in opposite directions. Crossing the swamp was challenging as there was a lot of water and some of the corduroy was floating.

Once on the other side we of the swamp we turned right on the red Barton Swamp Trail and then turned left almost immediately to head up to the western ridge. We hit the Long Path around 12:10 PM at about 5 miles. The trail here runs right along an open rock face pitched at about 40 degrees. It soon turns up to the safety of the ridge but that first part is interesting. Once on the ridge we picked up our pace even though there are places where the trail is sited directly on top of a knife edge of rock. There are a few ups and down to keep things interesting. There are also several informal paths which can mislead hikers who do not pay attention. The further we walked along the ridge the better the views became. There was a nice lookout at 5.6 miles and then the Sweet Clover Trail came over from the Eastern Ridge at 6 miles. Just passed this junction another lookout gives a nice view of the valley. Prominent in the view are a sand and gravel pit to the southwest and a lake with homes to the north. Along the way we met three hikers who asked about the route we had taken and the swamp crossing. I gave them information and we were on our way. Just before the next junction with the Jessup Trail at 6.6 miles we met a solo hiker with a hand drawn map. I supplied here with some information and ten Sheba and I head to the trail junction where we turned to the right to follow the Jessup Trail briefly. When the Jessup Trail met the Trestle Trail we continued straight ahead on the Trestle Trail. This trail is always rocky with small pebbles which like to roll making the footing tricky. At 7.45 miles we walked out to a memorial bench which has a great view. After I took some pictures, we headed back down the trail to the road and our car. By the time we got to the parking area the lot was full with several cars parked on the road. We covered 8.2 miles in just under 5 hours with plenty of stops to take pictures.

On Saturday, September 3rd I decided to go on another meetup group hike. This time it was from The Dunderberg Trail head on Route 202 to the Timp. Once at the Timp a decision would be made about the rest of the hike. A comment was made about going to West Mountain with its stone shelter. There was some confusion about the parking area where we would meet so I wanted to get there a little early. As I was driving over Long Mountain Parkway (Route 6), there was very little damage showing from Tropical Storm Irene. At the traffic circle, Seven Lakes Drive was close and there was some evidence of flooding. The drive through Bear Mountain Park was also uneventful with only a few areas that had some fallen trees. At the traffic circle I took the exit down to Route 202 and headed toward the Dunderberg parking area. There were a few cars parked at the Cornell Mine trail head. The directions said that the parking area was 4 miles from the Bear Mountain traffic circle but they did not say which traffic circle! After about 3.3 miles I arrived at the parking area that I have always used at the Timp-Torne trail head. The problem was that the parking for the 1777 trail that can also be used to get to the Timp is another .5 miles down the road putting it closer to the 4 mile distance. I pulled into the parking area to wait for others from the group. It was about 9:35 AM and we didn't have long to wait as others began to arrive. Through a series of cell phone calls everybody ended up where we were parked. There were also a number of people that were not with our group. This hike is a popular one and it may have been that people were trying to stay away from the Catskills after the storm. As we gathered it was clear that many of the people knew each other and had hiked together before. I introduced my self and Sheba. As is the custom with this group, several people were a little late but we pushed off at about 10:15 AM. I wasn't sure who was leading was or what the final hiking plan was. We walked south on Route 202 a bit to pick up the blue Timp-Torne Trail. As we walked through the dense vines and brush that cover the trail near the beginning, I though that the people up front were setting a fast pace that was leaving a few of the hikers behind. I quickened my pace as we started up the steep and narrow path to the ridge. No one seemed interested in the stone tunnel on the left side of the path as we climbed. I though that perhaps everyone knew the history of the area. The tunnel is from the aborted Dunderberg Spiral Railway which is an interesting story. Many of the trails in this area were used by both the British and Americans during the Revolutionary War. Troops were marched back and forth in an effort to control several "choke points" on the Hudson River particularly the one near West Point.

The path had a few blowdowns to negotiate which made hiking the steep trail more difficult especially with a group. This trail is short but steep and has a lot of angular rocks under foot. Several hikers did not have poles and some were carrying water bottles in their hands. It was not surprising that these people were having a tough time with the climb. At the top of the first climb the trail does not level off but continues to climb toward the top of the ridge. The steepness is mitigated by numerous switchbacks many of which follow the graded bed of the railway. The trail begins by heading southwest but then goes through a switchback to the northwest before returning to its original direction. At just less than a mile there were several large trees across the trail and a few hikers from the group were waiting for those further behind. Sheba and I walked through to the next tunnel and stopped so that I could take pictures. This tunnel was blasted part of the way through the mountain when money ran out and the project was halted. The skies were brighter than I had expected since the forecast was for partly sunny. When I could get a glimpse through the trees down to the river there did appear to be a lot of haze especially in the distance. As I took pictures a group of hikers caught up and I explained the history of the railway which none of them knew. We walked on along an obvious railroad bed and then came to another climb at 1.45 miles that starts a switchback that heads northeast, gains elevation and then makes a 180 degree turn to head southwest. I stopped just before the turn with one of the women from the group and we took pictures of the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant below. Others from the group caught up and I headed out at a faster pace in an effort to catch the leaders up front. Along the way the trail continues to climb and in one section passes over a long spine of rock with some interesting cairns. I took some pictures, the group caught up and I started in again.

I had decided I would stay on the Timp-Torne Trail all the way to the Timp. One of the problems with hiking in Harriman is the number and variety of marked and unmarked trails. We passed through a little valley where the 1777 trail crosses and continued up the next hill toward our goal. Over the next .4 miles the trail follows roads and then veers off them and you have to be alert. It passes between and around some impressive rock formations before ascending what many maps show as the Timp.There is no view from this bump and the NYNJTC maps correctly identify the next bump as The Timp. To get there we walked down a short descent and across the red Ramapo Dunderberg Trail and then up to a nice viewpoint and up again to a better one. On the way up I met two young men who ha walked over from Bear Mountain and we spoke briefly. The view from The Timp is good but the haze made it less spectacular. The West Mountain Shelter was clearly visible. The Shelter does not look too far away but the descent and ascent is significant. In addition, once you arrive there you must turn around and retrace your path or be faced with a LONG loop especially since the trails in Doodletown were closed because of downed power lines! I had already decided to head over the Dunderberg Mountains on the Ramapo Dunderberg Trail since I wanted to pass over Bald Mountain and check out the Cornell Mine. This was a trip I had done several times and I knew about how long it would take. As I was getting ready to leave many of the other hikers arrived. O made a comment about the leaders not waiting for us. One of the members of the group told me that they we BEHIND us in the slower group and that I was the first to arrive. I found this hard to believe and was chagrined to know that I had pressed ahead to catch people who were not there! We came to the conclusion that I had passed them early on when they had pulled off the trail briefly. No one else wanted to head out with me so Sheba and I got going. As we refaced our path back to the Ramapo Dunderberg Trail, we met the rest of the group. I explained my plans and we wished each other a safe hike. Sheba and I hit the red trail and turned left toward Bald Mountain.

The trail descends some and then rolls across several hills on the way to the climb up Bald Mountain. On one short ascent I met a couple headed in the opposite direction. She was wearing bear bell and we spoke briefly discussing the hike and the bear situation in the park. We continue to walk and at one point I looked up to see a large back form round a corner. The black lab-shepherd mix didn't look much like a bear on the second glance but he did give me a start. The young couple that accompanied the dog and were very pleasant and knowledgeable about the trails and their history. We continued in our separate directions. After crossing a little stream and starting a climb, we met another solo hiker heading toward us. Later, just at the base of Bald Mountain, I began to hear classical music! A group of six hikers passed and the first had a "boom box" in his pack blaring out the music. For from being an annoyance it was novel and inspiring. As we climbed the mountain, a group of at least 20 younger hikers passed us going down. Everybody had to say "Hi" to Sheba. Soon we were near the top of Bald Mountain and then on the summit. We were 4.6 miles into the hike and it was 1:00 PM. The lookout has some nice views but the haze made the conditions less than ideal. There was a group of four hikers at the lookout and we said "Hello". I took pictures of the Bear Mountain Bridge, the Perkins Tower and Iona Island. When we were ready to leave, we simply walk off the north face of the mountain leaving the other hikers with surprised looks. I was a little pressed for time at this point but I wanted to find the Cornell Mine again. Since I had not brought the coordinates it was a definite hunt and seek mission. We walked down a surprisingly easy route to about 970 feet elevation. I looked left and right but did not see any tailings. I decided to turn right since that would lead us back to the trail. In just a short distance I saw a tailings pile and hoped it was the Cornell Mine. I had never come from this direction and thought it more likely that this was the tailings from the upper pits on the mountain. We climbed up the tailings and were rewarded by a view of the entrance to the Cornell Mine. I took pictures and then headed east to pick up the trails.

Once we hit the Ramapo Dunderberg Trail we turned right to go up and look at the mine pits near the top of the mountain. I noticed that even this minor gain in elevation was tiring especially in my legs. I considered the options and decided that the only viable one was to continue across the Dunderbergs. After looking at the pits, we turned around, headed back down the red trail to the junction with the blue Cornell Mine Trail. We headed right to stay on the red trail and began a short climb to regain some lost elevation. This was when I decided that having something to drink was a good idea! The first .25 miles from the junction ascends gently to the highest point on the Dunderberg Ridge. From this point on the trail generally descends but there are a few short ascents that left my muscles tired. Each time I though we had reached the last climb there was another small one. I kept drinking which seemed to help. There a few lookouts along the way but I was more interested in getting back to the car. In addition, the haze continued to hang around making pictures of scenery difficult to get. At about 5.3 miles we were on a long .4 mile descent which was followed immediately by the last significant climb. From 6.15 miles on the trail is down all the way. It was 2:15 PM when we started down. This descent is one of the worst sustained descents you I have ever experienced. The first part of the trail is narrow and well-used. This makes the erosion greater leaving a narrow channel to conduct water and promote erosion. On this trip there were a couple of blowdowns that did not help much. I did stop once to take a few pictures of the river before hurrying on. The trail flattens a little at 6.8 miles as it makes a turn to the southwest. Here we were walking along the large, angular stones that were sued to form the railroad bed on the side of the mountain. These stones make for difficult hiking. At 7.25 miles there is an abutment for the donkey engine that was going to be used to pull railroad cars to the hotel on top of the ridge. From this point down for the next .2 miles the trail is on the railroad bed with more ankle-breaking rocks. At 7.45 miles we were back at he trail junction where we had turned left earlier in the day. We continued down another short but difficult descent to the parking area. Along the way I did stopped to take pictures of the railroad tunnel. We ere back in the lot at 3:15 PM having covered our 7.8 mile hike in 5 hours which included several longer stops and a few shorter ones. On the way home Route 6 was stop and go traffic from the traffic circle over the mountain to the mall. On the way over Route 6 I began to get cramps in my legs and then sever cramps. I stopped at the parking area knowing I had only myself to blame. After some massage and the rest of the water, the cramps had subsided but the traffic had not. At the mall exit the police we blocking traffic and I could see an accident by the mall. This meant the mall traffic and those of us headed west on Route 17 were all in it together. After one or two exits there was a sign for mall parking and the traffic abated.

On Thursday, September 1st Cindy and I wanted to get in a hike close to home so that we did not interfere with recovery and repair operations after Irene. We decided to head to Trout Pond north of Roscoe to see what the trails looked like...if we could get there. We headed north on the Quickway and got off at the Roscoe exit. As we drove across the Rockland flats, we did not see any evidence of flooding and little overall damage. Route 206 was open toward Downsville and there was no problem turning onto Morton Hill Road. This road has been washed out in every previous storm but showed no damage at all this time. We parked at the upper lot where Morton Hill and Russell Brook Roads meet at about 11:30AM and started our hike almost immediately. On our walk down Russell Brook Road we saw a few trees and large branches had come down but they all had been cleared off the road. As we passed the falls on the road I could not resist walking down to the viewpoint above the lower falls to take some pictures of the upper falls head on. Some of the trees that blocked the upper falls had been washed away and the upper falls looked very clean. The water volume was just right and the water was clear and not muddy. I took pictures before we walked down to the lower parking area. From this parking area we headed to the stream bed below the lower falls. I was surprised the water level wasn't any higher than it was and we were easily able to go down to the stream bed to walk to the base of the falls. I took more pictures at this point. We then decided to skip a trip up the left side of the falls and start our hike right away. At the trail register, where the trails split, we decided to bear left and hike the steeper part of the trail toward Mud Pond first. The next .7 miles of the hike is all uphill on a woods road and tops out just above Mud Pond.

Near Mud Pond we turned right off the woods road and snowmobile trail and headed up to Cherry Ridge. For the next 1.1 miles the trail gains elevation to the shoulder of Cherry Ridge. The trail was in good shape with only a little erosion and some minor blowdowns. The effects of Tropical Storm Irene were less than some other recent heavy thunderstorms! The next .75 miles are a descent of 450 feet to the outlet end of Trout Pond. When we arrived, we found the outlet stream easily forded and the skies beginning to clear. I took some pictures and we stopped briefly for a snack before walking the flat trail along the shore to the outlet end. Here I took some more pictures with the now blue sky adding another dimension. A group of hikers arrived and we exchanged some greeting and discussed our hikes. When it was time to go, Cindy, Sheba and I headed down the woods road back to the trail register. After descending this .85 mile section, we stared the .6 mile ascent back up Russell Brook Road to our car. We were back by 2:30 PM taking almost exactly 3 hours for the 5.7 mile hike.

On Tuesday, August 30th Karl and I left The Denning trail head and headed back out the Claryville Road. We turned left on Red Hill Road and went UP and over the hill. There was no blowdown or erosion and the road was in good shape. We turned right on Sugarloaf Road and it was much the same. At the Sundown Road we turned left and passed the baseball and softball fields. It was obvious that the fields had been under water and one looked playable with only a little clean up required. The other fields are littered with large trees and other debris. As we continued toward Sundown there were areas where it was obvious that water had washed across the road. In Sundown the road to Peekamoose and West Shokan was blocked and closed. We turned right to go to Yagerville. Along this part of the road there were many places where small creeks had obviously become raging torrents as parts of the road were washed away. All in all the damaged seemed no more than for the average flooding situation. The view to the Shawangunks was very nice as we started down the other side. I turned left onto Shalom Road and found a small tree hanging low. The rest of the road was chewed up but not much more than usual. We parked at 2:15 PM and hurried down to Trout Creek since Karl needed to get home.

We walked along Shalom Road toward the top of the upper falls. The path that parallels the creek was in good shape and the one down to the creek bed was OK. I was surprised that there wasn't more water in the stream. The falls were flowing with good volume but we were able to stand where I always stand to take pictures. I shot a video more for the sound than the visual image. I took some pictures and then we headed back up the bank. We continued along the path and down to the top of the lower falls. Again, I shot a video and took some pictures. We looked at the old foundations at the bottom of the falls. I walked down to the creek bed and took some more pictures. Since we were under a time constrain, we headed back up the bank to the old road and back to the car. It was 2:45 PM when we got back to the car and headed home.

On Tuesday, August 30th Karl and I wanted to get out an hike and inspect the post-Irene situation. I was concerned about staying out of the way of the roads crews working to repair the roads and wanted to stay away from the most seriously effected areas. We decided to stay local and head for the Denning trail head since I wanted to check out the bridges across The east Branch of the Neversink and Deer Shanty Brook. If we had time, I planned to go to Angel Falls in Yagerville to check out the volume of flow. We headed out the DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor at about 11;30 AM and had no trouble until we got to Route 47, the Frost Valley Road. The road was blocked going in the direction of Frost Valley and with good reason. The West Branch of the Neversink had undermined the road and only the left lane looked passable but not necessarily safe! We were turning right anyway to head toward Claryville. A large bus was parked almost in the middle of the road with the passengers unloading and loading luggage. No one seemed concerned that others wanted to pass so I eventually asked the fire police if we could get by. We seemed a little surprised but said "Sure". The bridges near Claryville seemed in good shape and we turned left on the Claryville road with seeing much damage. I checked with a DPW worker in town and he told us the road to the trail head was "open but rough". The further we drove the worse it got. Pavement was undermined and missing and there were some sinkholes. Where the road turns to dirt sections were washed out and had been filled in by the road crews. The sections around the Straus House and New Hill Road were very bad. There were no crews working in the area so I did not feel bad about driving to the trail head. We arrived at the Denning parking area just before noon and started to hike shortly after. There we people at the Tisson house and the house and trail head seemed in good shape.

As we walked out the trail there were some wet spots abut not too much erosion. There was some blowdown but it was not excessive until we got to the new bridge across a small creek. There were several large limbs blocking the trail just before the bridge although the bridge was untouched. By 12:30 PM we had hiked the 1.25 mile stretch of trail to the turn off for the trail to Table. We turned right and headed for the river. Again, the trail was in good shape and by 12:35 PM we were at the first bridge. The bridge is in poor shape and may be passable but is not safe. The near caisson had been damaged during previous high water. It now is "hanging" with almost all of the rocks gone. The steps are non-existent and the wings are twisted or missing. The steel I beams appear intact. I walked downstream and took some pictures of the bridge. To get on the bridge I walked along the upstream wing and the logs piled against the caisson. Walling across the bridge was "interesting" and I stopped to take a few pictures in both directions. The bridge structure on the far side seemed undamaged with rocks filling the caisson. I took a few pictures here and then walked over to the log bridge. This two log structure is higher above the water and was completely untouched. There was a large tree hanging low over the near end but otherwise there were no signs of nay problems. I walked back to Karl and the dogs and crossed back over the bridge. We headed back and were at the car by 1:30 PM. On the way out we stopped several times so that I could take pictures of the road. The pictures don't really do justice to the damage. As we approached Red Hill Road, we decided to see if we could get over the hill to Sugarloaf Road which is the fastest way to Yagerville.

On Friday, August 26th Cindy and I wanted to do another "local" hike and decided to head to Bear Spring State park north of Walton. The park has many snowmobile and horse trails that are wide and grassy. The trail have a good surface and there Rae no major mountains but the climbs to the ridges can be challenging. I planned a route from a parking area on East Trout Brook Road up to the ridge and then looping to near Launt Pond and then back to the car. I drove to Roscoe and then took County Route 206 through Downsville to the top of Bear Spring Mountain near Walton, NY. I turned right on East trout Brook Road and drove south passed Launt Pond for another 1.3 miles further. I parked on the left side of the road in the parking area at about 11:45 AM and we got right on the trail. We walked down the wide path/road and across the dam that creates the small pond. At the trail junction we found three horseback riders. Although the park is one of the few constructed with horses in mind, this was the first time I had seen riders. We talked for a moment and then we continued straight ahead up the hill on the wide grassy snowmobile/horse trail. There are a few trail on the left and the one we were on did not look familiar. I began to wonder if I had picked the correct trail! It proved to be the right trail and just looked unfamiliar since I had only been on it once and that was traveling in the other direction. Soon the horses caught up with us and passed by. At least one of the horses gave Sheba, who was sitting quietly by my side, a wide-eyed look. The trail climbed steadily toward the ridge. At .35 miles a trail marked "New Trail" came in on the left and it must have been new since I did not recall it being there on earlier trips. We continued straight ahead to a trail junction at .68 miles. We could see the horses climbing the trail just ahead but we stopped to take some pictures at the base of a clear cut. There are several of these areas in the park and I have not spoken to anyone who knows exactly why they are being done! I took some pictures of the green vegetation against the blue sky with white clouds.

When I was done photographing, we turned right and continued climbing until the trail junction at 1.23 miles. Here we turned left up the hill to the ridge. At 1.61 miles into the hike we were at the top of the ridge. It was 12:30 PM and we stopped briefly for a drink and a snack. The trail began "roll" along the ridge with only a few ups and downs. It was in this area that we began to encounter some REALLY wet spots. The rain the night before had created some marshy and muddy places. The trail started to turn from east to northwest at about 1.85 miles and we passed by the trail to Downsville on the right. Soon the horses were headed in our direction again and we passed each other without indent. At 3.0 miles we passed by the turn to the left through a field. This trail leads back to the trail junction at the base of the clear cut and is a good "early out". We continued straight ahead to 3.33 miles and turned left down another wide trail. I thought this was the trail I had used to come up to the ridge from Launt Pond one time but it was actually another woods road or horse trail. The trail initially headed south but them went through a switchback that turned northwest. As we descended, there were some limited views on the left side of the trail. The trail surface was good but I could tell from the GPS and my own recollection that this was a different route than I had taken before. By 1:45 PM we arrived at a parking area on East Trout Brook Road 4.6 miles into the hike. Just to the right was the trail head for the trail up to the ridge from the pond! I had planned to walk the road about .8 miles back to the car but noticed the sign that said "new Trail". Having remembered the sign from earlier we decided to avoid the road walk by taking the trail. We made a sharp left turn onto the trail which started a short but brief climb, The trail took us passed ANOTHER clear cut area. The temperature by this time was in the high seventies and it was humid. The trail parallel the brook and road for a while and then veered left and began to climb. I started to wonder if this was the right trail! At 5.65 miles the trail hit its apex and started down passing the clear cut area from earlier in the day. After walking 1.3 miles on the trail, we reached the trail junction at 5.9 miles and turned right to walk back to the dam and across the top to the car. We covered the 6.3 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes.

On Wednesday, August 24th Cindy and I had planned to hike Schunemunk but got a call to baby-sit the grandson in the evening. We decided that we would go to Giant Ledge since it is close and has a view. The temperature was in the low 70's with not too much humidity so the conditions seemed ideal. On the way to the trail head we got stuck behind a crew painting the lines on Route 47 so we did not arrive until just before noon. There were a couple of cars at Dry Brook, a few more at Slide and two or three at the parking for Giant Ledge and Panther. We walked across the road and I signed the register so that we could get going. On the way up to the trail junction we met a couple coming down from Giant Ledge and a young man who had been up to Panther and back. The trail was wet in places but some had been through to clean out all the water bars and did some other maintenance. The trail gets a lot of traffic and is eroded in spots. It has always been very rocky! By 12:20 PM we had walked the .75 miles to the trail junction and turned left to go up to the Ledges. I could feel the 10 mile hike from the day before in every step up. At 12:50 PM we had climbed the last steep section and were at the first of the lookouts. As we were making our way up the steep ascent, we met another couple coming down. They had been to the Ledges to eat lunch and were now returning. We talked for a moment and then went in opposite directions.

At the first lookout, we stopped for some time while Cindy and I both took pictures and got a drink. I wandered over to the big Rock that sometimes acts as a campsite and found a path along the cliffs with several small viewpoints. After walking a short distance, I decided to go back to Cindy. After a few more pictures, we walked to the next major lookout and I took some more pictures. There was some haze hanging in the valley and over the Burroughs Range and the other mountains. Despite the haze there were many interesting clouds and I felt I got some good pictures. I had suggested going down into the col and bushwhacking through the bog but Cindy was not enthusiastic. After thinking about the bushwhack, I began to see the wisdom in staying away from a bog just after heavy rain! We started back at 1:15 PM walking the trail to the first lookout and decided to follow the path I had found earlier. We didn't have to go very far as it quickly returned to the main trail. The trip down went quickly although some of the rocky areas slowed us down. On one of the last rocky areas we met a group of young hikers coming toward us. They looked like they were having a great time. Further down I looked up and saw the couple we had met near the top. We caught and passed by them on our way back to the trail register. I signed out and we were back at the car by 2:10 PM having covered the 3.5 mile distance in 2 bouts and 0 minutes including our stops.

On Tuesday, August 23rd I wanted to do a hike after cross country practice but did not want to drive too far. I considered Slide or Panther but decided to head for Long Pond. I wanted to hike from Flugertown Road to Mongaup Pond and back in a loop of almost 10 miles. This is a pretty walk through the woods without too many viewpoints. I does have some elevation gain, to about 3100 feet, and interesting rock ledges. Sheba and I arrived at the trail head just after 11:15 AM. The road is paved for some distance and then has a gravel and rock surface. This gets pretty rough in places but is passable. I parked just after the trail head and before the bridge. We were on the trail by 11;25 AM. At this point the red Long Pond-Beaverkill trail, yellow Mongaup-Willowemoc Trail and a snowmobile trail are co-aligned. In the first .45 miles the trail gains over 200 feet of elevation and continues to head up for a good distance. At this point we turned right to stay on the red Long Pond-Beaverkill Trail. This trail is not used very much and was overgrown with prickers and nettles in places. At about .7 miles the trail levels some but only for about .25 miles before it climbs again. For the next .6 miles the trail gains 450 feet and then again levels for a short period. Everything was very green with moss on most of the rocks and trees. I was surprised by the amount of blowdowns along the trails. Some of these were old and some new. A few showed some ax work by trail maintainers but others will need a chainsaw to clear them. At just over 2.9 miles the red trail meets the blue Mongaup-Hardenburgh Trail. Just before the trail junction I was surprised to see three young men hiking toward us. We exchanged greetings and passed by each other. I don't ever remember meeting anybody on this trail!

At the trail junction we turned left to head to Mongaup Pond. It was about 12:43 PM. Over the next .7 miles the trail dips and then rises causing the elevation profile to look like a roller coaster! At 3.6 miles the trail descends sharply for 370 feet only to ascend 420 feet again to another peak of labeled Mongaup Mountain! Over the next 1.6 miles the trail descents almost 800 feet to the shores of Mongaup Pond. The trail continues to the right to the park roads. We stopped briefly so that I could take pictures of the pond and some ducks near the shore. The time was around 2:19 PM. We then turned left of the snowmobile trail to walk clockwise around the pond to pick up the yellow Mongaup-Willowemoc Trail. After less than .5 miles, we turned left on the yellow trail to head back to Flugertown Road. Over the next .65 miles the trail gained about 250 feet but this was the last ascent. There are several bridges along the way and at least one turn off the trail to a snowmobile loop. At 8.3 miles we crossed Butternut Creek, the outlet to Sand Pond. From here the trail becomes mostly a woods road for the next .9 miles where it meets the Long Pond-Beaverkill Trail again. This part of the trail first passes through a stand of large evergreens. From there the trail becomes wetter with some standing and running water. At the trail junction we turned right and headed back down to the car. We arrived at 3:55 PM covering the 9.8 mile sin 4.4 hours. After turning onto Willowemoc Road and passing the campgrounds, I noticed three hikers up ahead. As I pulled along side them, I realized it was the three young men I had met on the trail. They were trying to get back to their car at the start of the Mongaup-Hardenburgh Trail on the Beaverkill Road! There are certainly routes that accomplish this but it was late in the day so I offered to give them a ride. They piled into the car and I was glad they didn't mind Sheba and that Sheba seemed content with them in the car. They were very interesting and polite young men. I found out they are all volunteer fire fighters on Long island and proud of it! We exchanged stories as I drove them to the hunting camp where they were staying on Alder Creek Road. I hope to see them again some time.

On Saturday, August 20th Jeff Sentermann, the new Catskill Regional Program Coordinator for the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, was visiting Morgan Outdoors in Livingston Manor. After a met and greet from 1:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Jeff led a hike at Frick Pond. We all met at the parking area at the end of Beech Mountain Road and then started up the Flynn Trail. Before the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we took a brief off-trail excursion to the Mystery Clearing. Back on the Flynn Trail, we walked to the junction and then headed Dow the Big Rock Trail to Times Square. We continued straight ahead around the back of Frick Pond to the outlet. From the bridge at the outlet we took the Quick Lake Trail back to the parking area. The hike of a little more than 4 miles took us a little over 2 hours.

On Thursday, August 18th Karl and I had finished hiking Falls Creek at around 1:00 PM and decided to head north to Mount Pisgah State and County Park about 11 miles north. The first challenge was to figure out the best route. The map we were using had few of the back roads and we weren't sure whether some of the were dead ends or had surfaces incompatible with modern vehicles. We decided to go back out to Powell and find a road north from there. The best that can be said is that we did get to the park but that the route was not exactly direct. Along the way we saw several areas with two or three green tanks in a field. At first I thought they might provide water for the cows but then we took a closer look. The signs read something like "Energy Resources Company". We realized that these were well sunk into the underlying Marcellus shale to extract natural gas. Our first impression was "That's not so bad." followed quickly by the realization of what had to be done to release the gas. We parked in the lot next to Stephen Foster Lake at the state park at around 2:00 PM. The lake is formed by a dam on Mill Creek and we started our hike by crossing the road and getting on the Mill Creek Trail. The first .4 miles of the trail was a little uphill and both Karl and I realized our legs were tired. We stayed left on a snowmobile trail at a junction and soon arrived at the Ridge trail. We were happy that the trails were all marked with wooden signs. We were surprised that the trails were being mowed. After a short distance on the Ridge Trail it began to climb through a forest with one or two marked trails crossing the main trail. At one point we walked in a field beside some filed corn and then back into the woods. Every so often a bench appeared along the trail.

We continued to walk through open places and then back into forest. The trail would flatten some in places and then climb toward the summit. At one point we looked out and saw how far we had to go and it was discouraging. The trail finally dipped a little and at 2.9 miles we turned right onto the road to the county park. This paved road took us all the way to the summit passed several viewpoints on the way. As it flattened near the top there were some facilities and primitive campsites but everything looked unmaintained and seemed to be in disrepair. We continued to the summit which has a pavilion and two communications towers. It was 3:15 PM and we had covered 3.3 miles. In the area facing west there was a nice viewpoint with some benches. The skies were cloudy at this point with some haze but this reminded us how lucky we had been that it had not rained. I took some pictures and then we started back. A sign on the pavilion described a lodge and observation tower that once stood on the summit. On the way back we stopped at some of the other lookouts so that I could take some pictures and then hurried our walk down the trail. At the last trail junction we headed right on the Ridge Trail down to the road and crossed to the other side. We picked up the Oh! Susanna Trail around Stephen Foster Lake and we were back at the car by 4:30 PM covering 6.6 miles in just over 2.5 hours. Karl and I wanted to check the road that accesses the county park to see if it was closed or open. Somewhere along the way we missed the turn but the county website only has regulations for last year! On the way back to Route 220 we saw many more gas wells. The site made us a little angry and very sad.

On Thursday, August 18th Karl agreed to meet me in Livingston Manor to go hiking. I had been planning to return to Pennsylvania and hike one of the creeks with waterfalls. I find waterfalls very interesting and had been reading a number of trail guides that describe various trails and hikes in the northeastern and north central parts of the state. I decided to try hiking Falls Creek which has three major falls plus other interesting features. There is no trail and choosing the right water level can be tricky. Too much water makes hiking up the creek bed dangerous and tricky but too little water means the falls are not interesting. The weather report had changed from bright and sunny to a 50% chance of thunderstorms. When I got out of bed at 6:00 AM it was raining and totally overcast. I decided that we would go anyway since the trip was around 3 hours and the weather where we were going could be acceptable. Karl arrived a little after 7;00 AM and we started the drive. Finding the correct place to park was the first challenge. We took State Route 17 north and west through Binghamton to Waverley. At Waverley we headed south on State Route 220 through Towanda to Monroeton. Here we turned west on Route 414 to a small town called Powell. We were looking for a right onto Main Street but could not find it. We turned around and headed back. From the description in the guide book, we knew where to turn. The turn was labeled Brocktown Road with no Main Street designation. After turning we crossed two bridges and turned right onto Weston Road determined to stay along Schrader Creek which was on our right. When the road forked we stayed to the right. The description said there was a small parking area on the right just before a narrow cement bridge. The road quickly turned to chipped stone and dirt and we saw signs for Game Lands 36. When we got to the stone bridge we had only traveled a little over 4 miles while the book said it was around six miles. I elected to continue on and at around six miles we found the SECOND stone bridge with the parking area. I parked and we were on the trail by 10:20 AM.

The water in Falls Creek drains from a plateau with an elevation of just under 2000 feet. Our starting elevation was about 1200 feet. In 1812 coal was discovered on top of the plateau. By 1856 the coal was being commercially mined and the town of Barclay was well-established on the plateau. After the coal ran out, the area became a center for logging and tanning. Most of the large hemlock forests were removed to feed this industry centered at the town of Laquin on Schrader Creek. Due to all this industry the waters of Falls Creek like many in the area are highly acidic. To counteract the acidity the state had built a water treatment facility on the creek just before the water flows into Schrader Creek. A dam diverts water through a cistern filled with limestone. The water turns a device that grinds the limestone which then dissolves in the water to neutralize the acid. The rocks in the upper part of the creek have a distinctive orange tint from the acid but those in the lower part show almost no discoloration. The guidebook said that the hike was only about 2 miles but that it could take over 3 hours to complete. The water level was low but there was still some volume and I hoped we had hit it just right! We were able to hike up the creek bed pretty easily as long as we were willing to cross back and forth. We let the water level and the steepness of the banks dictate our path. Initially there were only a few small rapids and then some falls with drops of six to twelve feet. They were pretty and I took pictures but I was getting a little nervous. It occurred to me we might be on the wrong creek or that the books exaggerated the heights of the falls. We kept hiking and soon passed three rather substantial falls as the book had stated. Up ahead Karl informed me that there was a larger falls in view. At only .65 miles but almost and hour into the hike we arrived at Bradford Falls.

Bradford Falls is ENORMOUS compared to the ones below it! The books give the height as 100 feet and I would say it IS at least 70 feet tall. The water drops over the edge into a pool and the falls is bordered by the high stone walls of an impressive gorge. We worked our way up the creek bed and were able to stand at the base of the falls. I took many pictures and then we faced our next challenge? How were we to get out of the gorge to continue the hike upstream? Karl decided on the most direct route which was a STEEP climb up the slippery bank less than a 100 feet from the base of the falls. The three of us took turns route finding. Karl and I used some trees to pull ourselves up while Sheba relied on four paw drive! When we reached the top of the climb, we looked back down. It seemed as if the route dropped straight down! We walked along the high ground briefly before descending back to the creek. I took some pictures from the top of Bradford Falls before walking upstream to the next falls. Just above Bradford Falls is Barclay Falls. This waterfall is not as high as the one below but has a higher volume of water or at least a tighter chute. I took pictures here and then we repeated the climb back up to the higher ground. Another descent brought us to an area above a series of cascades and chutes on the creek below. I REALLY wanted to get down to photograph this area. I tried to inch down the steep bank but there was no safe way to get down to the creek bed. I decided to be safe and we once again climbed up the bank. After another short walk, I again started to work my way down a steep bank toward another cascade. Karl decided to stay up top with Sheba. Sheba doesn't like to be separated from me and puts up quite a fuss.

I made it down the steep bank to a more level area. In front of me was a ten foot cascade and I took some shots. I walked along a little path as I headed upstream. Above I could see Sheba wanting to get down to me. I also saw several routes out of the gorge. Ahead on the creek I caught a glimpse of another falls. As I approached, I was sure the falls matched the description of Laquin Falls mentioned in the guidebook. I got closer so that there was no vegetation in front of me. The water passes over a receding ledge and splits to form at least two streams of water. The flow is not great as it is high on the creek but the falls is interesting. I took some shots and then worked my way out of the gorge to meet Karl and Sheba at the top. The stream was almost flat at this point with a greatly reduced volume of water. We were at 1850 feet and near the top of the plateau. We had hiked 1.1 miles in two hours! We decided to return to the car on the west bank and crossed the stream. For a short time we bushwhacked downstream looking for a road. Karl found the road and we turned left to walk downstream. The road became more defined as we went and soon we were back at the car. The return trip had taken just a little over 30 minutes. We completed our 2.3 mile adventure in just 2.5 hours! We were tired but thought we might get in another hike so we headed for Mount Pisgah State and County Parks almost directly north of Falls Creek by about 11 miles "as the crow flies".

On Wednesday, August 17th Cindy and I were looking for a little exercise close to home so we decided to head to the area around Frick and Hodge Ponds. The plan was to hike up the Flynn Trail and then take the snowmobile trail to Mongaup Pond. We would return by way of the park and town roads to the car. We parked at the lot at the end of Beech Mountain Road just after 11:00 AM and crossed the road to pick up the blue Flynn Trail. We both remarked that this trail always seems long no matter the direction we hike or the season. On the way up we came across the same pile of logs at about 1.15 miles that we always pass. Each time we pass these logs which have had the bark removed, I ask myself why they are there. It is also possible to see some light up and behind the logs and I have always wanted to check out whether there is a viewpoint. Today was the day. I struck out up the steep but short bank and walked a short distance to find...a field. The field was very green and damp in most places. The flora looked like the kind you would find in a bog with many mosses. The soil was only a few inches deep since much of the field had an underlying rock layer close to the surface. I called Cindy to come up to take a look at this beautiful location. I took pictures and we both walked around the field exploring. Cindy found a road on the south side and we decided to follow it. I first complete my loop around the field to find it was about .2 miles in circumference. We followed the road hoping it would lead over the hill to Mongaup Pond but it only curved back toward the Flynn Trail ending up at the log pile. I suggested that we bushwhack over to Mongaup Pond knowing that my wife HATES bushwhacking. To my surprise she said "Yes!" and we were off.

Cindy can navigate by using the sun alone but I have to rely on my compass. We walked back up to the field and then headed across into the woods on an easterly course. The first part was flat and the woods mostly open. There we a few paths that looked like roads and one or two stone walls. Within .1 miles we started down through some AWESOME ledges! We dropped almost 500 feet in .5 miles. After one steep descent, we would be on a flat spot with another drop right in front of us. We allowed Sheba to pick most of the lines down through the ledges. The steep descent, sheer rock faces and verdant green moss made this a wonderful experience. (Cindy had other words to describe it!) Near the bottom of the ledges, as we approached the park roads around the pond, we ran into some woods roads. We arrived at the edge of the pond at 12:55 PM. Once on the park roads we had planned to turn right toward the entrance and walk the roads back to the car. I expressed my distaste for the walking on the roads. I suggested we walk to the next loop and take the snowmobile trail back over the mountain to the Flynn Trail and then back to the car. I was again surprised when Cindy agreed and we were off. We did have a drink and a snack by the pond as I took a few pictures.

At the next campground loop we turn to the left and easily found the snowmobile trail. Cindy pointed out that we would have to gain the elevation we had lost from the Flynn Trail and then some. Of course, she was right. The snowmobile trail started to climb almost immediately. It was quite wide in most places but we immediately hit a low swampy area with water on the trail. It was easy to pick our way around this and we continued the hike. As the trail continued to climb many areas looked more like a stream bed as water flowed freely down the trail. In the more level spots the water pooled top form small ponds. We climbed for 1.85 miles gaining almost 700 feet to the highest point on the hike at over 2800 feet. From here we started a descent to the Flynn Trail which we hit at about 2:15 PM. From here it was the long familiar descent down the Flynn Trail to the parking area. The distance from the Big Rock Trail junction is about 1.7 miles and drops around 600 feet. We were back at the car by 2:55 PM having covered 7 miles in 3 hours and 50 minutes.

On Friday, August 12th we were in Montgomery, Pennsylvania to help Krista and Brad begin remodeling their new home. Of course, I couldn't resist getting in at least one day of hiking so Brad and I headed to the beginning of the Loyalsock Trail to hike the first 5 miles or so. The Loyalsock trail starts on Route 87 northeast of Montoursville and stretches 60 miles to World's End State Park. It is maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers from the Alpine Club of Williamsport. The trail is well maintained and blazed with an LT over its entire length. The markers used to be can lids painted red with a yellow LT but are now custom plastic yellow markers with a red LT. Each mile from the beginning of the trail is also denoted at the closest markers. The first part of the trail takes in Sock Rock and was touted in the guidebooks to have some great views. This is because this section of trail ascends from the valley to the Allegheny Front and then follows this high ridge for several miles. We drove north from Montgomery on I180 and then got on Route 87 north in Montoursville. The trail head parking is on the side of the road about 8.8 miles from the I180 interchange. We parked at around 10:15 AM and got ready to hike. What most of the guidebooks do not emphasize is that the hike is STEEP right from the start. This is not a hike that has any warm up but one that will get your blood pumping immediately. After .4 miles the trail turns right as it meets an old woods road and there is a brief respite. Almost immediately the trail turns left off the road and up the ridge. A little further up the trail is a limited lookout on the right side of the trail where we stopped so that I could take a few pictures before continuing. The overall .6 mile section to Sock Rock is an average of a 29% grade! We arrived at this famous point around 10:45 AM. There are some impressive ledges along the way but Sock Rock itself didn't look much like a sock and there was no view! The trail turns right after Sock Rock but continues to climb steeply for another .25 miles.

After the climb, the level part of the trail was welcome! At 1.55 miles the Red X-1 trail crossed our path. The Red X trails connect different parts of the Loyalsock Trail in different areas acting as shortcuts. There Rae eleven of them in all and can be interesting adventures in their own right. All, true to their name, are marked with red X's. We continued on and at 2 miles the Loyalsock Trail turned left. A woods road was to the right and straight ahead was a bridle path to allow horses access to the plateau. After this point the trail began to climb some but it was hardly noticeable when compared to the initial climb. We were now walking west to east along the Allegheny Front and I was looking for viewpoints. There were places that might be lookouts when there are fewer leaves on the trees but not on this day. Finally, at about 2.9 miles around 11:50 AM a limited viewpoint opened up and I took some shots. The trail was interesting in this area as it was ascending and we were walking very close to the edge of the Front. As we continue on another viewpoint, the best yet, opened up on a rock ledge with nice views to the south. I took a couple of pictures and then realized that an even nicer rock shelf with better views lay below. I took my camera and started down the short path. I immediately head a "Zing!" and saw two large, black rattlesnakes head into the brush from where they were sunning themselves on the rock! Once in the brush they continued to warm but didn't mover very far away. I kept a safe )?) distance and tried to get some pictures through the vegetation. I did get some shots good enough to show their girth, rattles and head. I took some more pictures from the viewpoint and then let Brad have a look at the rattlesnakes before we moved on.

From "rattlesnake Rock" the trail began to descend gently for about .5 miles until it took a sharp left and headed down a rocky drainage. The hike down this part of the trail was tricky as the rocks were mossy and damp in places. I slipped several times on the way down but always caught myself. There were some very tall and very straight trees along this route. These trees may not have been first growth but they were old. Loggers in this area harvested white pine for ship masts and when the white pines were done they turned to hemlocks. The hemlock bark was used for tanning and, many times, the rest of the tree lay unused. Over the next 1.2 miles we dropped over 950 feet and the total drop from the highest point was over 1100 feet. The trail crosses Little Bear Road where we turned left and started to walk back out to Route 87. I though about hiking the Smith Knob loop but it was late in the day and we still had prep work to do back at the house. We walked .8 miles out to Route 87, turned left and walked .5 miles to the car to complete the loop. We were back at 1:35 PM having covered the 6.2 mile loop in 3 hours and 22 minutes.

On Friday, August 5th I finished the Breakneck Ridge hike by 1:00 PM and, despite the fact that I was tired, I was looking for another short hike. I drive Route 6, Long Mountain Parkway, frequently and have noticed a place where there are "hiker" signs. I consulted my maps and found that the Long Path crosses here and that a memorial to Raymond Torrey is located on Long Mountain close to the summit. Raymond Torrey was a founding member of the new York New Jersey Trail Conference and instrumental in the creation of the Long Path. Sheba and I pulled off at the Turkey Hill Parking area and started out on the Long Path at about 1:25 PM. There were at least a dozen cars parked and I knew that meant the trail would be crowded. We kept up[ a good pace as the first part of the trail descends and crosses the Popolopen Torne Trail. We stayed on the Long Path and start a short ascent up a hill. The trail flattened out at the top and, to my surprise, there were no other hikers present. The memorial is a message carved into the exposed bedrock at the top of the ridge. The views were good despite the haze. I could see the Perkins Tower on Bear Mountain. Turkey Hill Lake lay below. I took some pictures and then we started back. We met two hikers on the way down from the ridge and another hiker just after the trail junction. We were back at the car at 2:10 PM and had covered 1.2 miles in 45 minutes. I do not know where all the other people had gone but this hike definitely has a lot to offer for very little effort.

On Friday, August 5th I returned to Breakneck Ridge to climb it with a number of people from a MeetUp group. We were supposed to start at 9:30 AM but didn't get started until about 9:50 PM as we waited for a few people. When we shoved off from the big parking area on Route 9D just north of the tunnel, there were 6 other hikers. Thee plan was to climb Breakneck Ridge and then return by the Bypass Trail. I had never cut the hike this short and contemplated adding some mileage but decided to stay with the group. This trail is VERY steep in spots with whole sections at more than a 50% grade. The group started off at a rather quick pace which slowed some after several of the climbs. Sheba and I took some of the easier routes around the steepest climbs. I stopped to take pictures frequently even though I have many pictures from this hike. We stopped for a break near the top and then pushed on. We hit the highest point at 1.4 miles around 11:50 AM.

We walked over the highest point on the ridge and then turned left on the Bypass Trail. As we walked into a small clearing, the trail seemed to disappear. An informal trail led steeply down but was not marked. Eventually someone found the blazes of the Bypass Trail a little further up the ridge. The Bypass trail turns left off the Breakneck Ridge Trail and then makes another sharp left so that it parallels the Breakneck Ridge Trail for a short distance before heading more to the north. The trail descends 770 feet over the next .7 miles to a junction with the Wilkinson Trail. The descent is eroded with rocks and roots to further complicate getting a good foothold. We turned left on the Wilkinson Trail and headed toward Route 9D. In less than ,5 miles we were at the road. A short road walk brought us back to the parking area by 12:50 PM. We covered 3.2 miles in 3 hours. I was surprised at how tired I was!

On Tuesday, August 2nd I finished my ill-fated trip to Terrace Pond by 11:00 AM and was ready to continue my explorations. I had been stopped on my way to Terrace Pond by an expansion of a gas pipeline that cut the Terrace Pond North trail at about the halfway point. Not wanting to trespass pass on the right-of-way or endanger myself or Sheba, we turned around and headed back to the car. I had intended to visit Surprise Lake, Bearfort North and West Pond and didn't see any reason to change my plans. I headed east on the Warwick Turnpike and then turned north on Route 210. Just before the road crossed into New York I turn left onto the trail head access road which also serves a marina. Last time we had visited we hiked the route in a clockwise direction. For some variety I decided to hike this time in an anticlockwise direction. This would mean almost all the ascending would be at the beginning of the hike but that the return trip would be all downhill. We got on the blue State Line Trail to start the hike at about 11:15 AM. The beginning of this trail wanders around at low elevation before beginning the serious climb to the ridge. I was struck by how dry it was in the area. The dirt was dust and all of the small stream were dry! The trail is marked with blue on white squares which are difficult to follow at times. This is a very popular area and people have made their own sets of paths which can be misleading. The trail is mostly a wide woods road although at times it seems more like a creek bed! At around .7 miles we passed by the yellow Ernest Walter Trail but I elected to use this for the return trip. We continued to ascend to the top of the ridge where the State Line Trail ends at the Appalachian Trail. Near the top we went up and down over several small ridges before finally hitting the AT.

When we finally ascended the last little ridge to the AT it was 11:55 AM and we had hike about a mile. It seemed like some of the trail went straight up but the steepest sections were only about a 17% grade. We turned left onto the AT and began to walk along the ridges of rock typical of the Bearfort and Bellvale ridges. We were only on the AT for about .3 miles but we were lucky enough to meet a solo through hiker. He had started in Georgia and hoped to be at Katahdin by late September or early October. After a brief conversation, we parted ways. My spirits were lifted by this young man on a difficult quest. When the yellow Ernest Walter trail appeared on the left in a little swale we turn left and followed it. Walking this trail don't seem much different than the section of the AT we had left as it continued along the rock ridge. The ridge can be hard to walk and narrows in some places and there really isn't much of a view. After about .6 miles the trail started to go down and I thought this was a good place to begin the bushwhack to Bearfort North. I was wrong. We continued straight ahead but then I began drifting too far north. I couldn't visualize the high point as everything was thick laurel and other brush. I kept heading west until I found I was actually west of the high point and turned due east. Eventually I hit the highest point around and my GPS confirmed the location. I recognized the spot from the last time I was there but my path wasn't even close. It didn't help that there were many paths around and non seemed to go where I wanted. There was no view from the summit so I walked around a little. Some views may be possible but only during seasons with less vegetation. As I got ready to leave Sheba found a wide, unmarked trail that was easy to follow and headed the way I wanted to go. Eventually the trail started to go too far north so I headed east and ended up in the same place I had left the Walter Trail. After looking at my GPS track on the computer, I saw that I should have stayed on the main trail for about 300 more feet until it turned 90 degrees. At that point another 300 feet due west would have put me right on the unmarked path that Sheba found. Somehow it seemed easier to realize this when I hike it from the opposite direction.

On the main trail things went much more smoothly. In a short distance we made a sharp but short descent into the outlet of West Pond and then a similar sharp but short ascent on the other side. Within .25 miles we were walking out the short spur trail to the viewpoint over West Pond. This viewpoint is beautiful and always deserted. It was a little after 1:30 PM so we had a drink and Sheba and I split a peanut butter on pita. I took quite a few pictures and then we headed out to Surprise Lake. We climbed a short distance to the top of the ridge and met a group of six young people enjoying the sun. After that, it was a descent to the trail that leads across the outlet to Surprise Lake. The drop is about 100 feet but it is not steep. Soon we were on the trail that parallels the lake. This trail is interesting as most of it passes through a laurel tunnel. There is an interesting split rock along the way and a short rocky ascent to the "beach" on the lake. This area has no sand but people do seem to like to swim there. Some of the teenagers decided to take a dip while I moved to two other viewpoints to take unobstructed pictures. This lake is also secluded but gets quite a few visitors. After taking my shots, we started the short walk back on the main trail. The trail breaks out onto the ridge and ascends slightly to give some great views of Greenwood lake and the mountains beyond. The mountains were still hazy but the views of the lake were good, I took pictures and then we started down to the State Line Trail. The trail junction is less than half a mile from the lake and we were soon descending the State Lien Trail. The descent should have been easy but the dry dirt and round rocks coupled with the steepness of the trail in spots warranted caution. We were back at the car at 3:00 PM having covered the 5.1 mile hike in 3 hours and 40 minutes. This is lower than our usual pace but included plenty of time for pictures and an off trail adventure.

On Tuesday, August 2nd I decided to return to New Jersey. I had meant to go to hike some of the trails this winter but somehow time slipped by. Last summer I did a lot of hiking "below the border" as I was finishing the NJ1K list. This summer I had not yet been in New Jersey so I headed for Greenwood Lake. My intention was to hike to Terrace Pond. The last time we were there we had some fantastic views but Cindy did not want to hike around the pond. I wanted to do that loop and hit the Bearfort Mountain high point again. I arrived at the parking pull off just west of White Road at 9:40 AM. Sheba and I braved the traffic to cross the road and start the hike. As soon as we climbed the bank, I saw a "Trail Closed" sign. I was disappointed but there was indication of why the trail was closed and I have always taken these signs as more of "Hike at your own risk". I decided to continue and we followed the blue trail across the private property and onto state land. The trail blazes were new and much easier to follow than last time. From the road the trail rises to a ridge for the next .7 miles. Along the way I kept hearing the noise of machinery and assumed it was over the ridge. Even the more remote parts of New Jersey aren't far from a road or inhabited area. Once on the ridge there are some limited views over Greenwood Lake but what I was really looking forward to were the views from the right-of-way. Last time Cindy and had visited we had some of the most magnificent views over the lake and across the countryside. The right-of-way was steep since we had to make a right turn and head up to the very top of the ridge before picking up the trail to the pond. Still, the ascent was short and well worth the effort.

Less than a mile into the hike we descended off the ridge and the trail blazes disappeared in a swampy area. We continued to follow what looked like the trail and soon I could see the right-of-way ahead. I was NOT prepared for what I saw next. There was a low fence and signs announcing a construction area. I hopped the fence and found the entire right-of-way was dug up and a new pipeline was being installed. The grassy area had been widened and now was just bare dirt and rock. As I looked up the slope I could see construction machinery at work further destroying the beautiful landscape. I was shocked and dismayed. I did not see how I could safely traverse this area and a look at my maps showed no other trail from my location. I took some pictures of the devastation and decided to return to the car. When I returned home in the afternoon, I went to the New York New Jersey Trail Conference site and found an explanation for the construction. This is an "upgrade" to the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company existing pipeline. It cuts the Terrace Pond Trail in half. What is even more disturbing is that the company has applied for permits to build more pipeline including some UNDER the Monkville Reservoir. The construction would bisect trails in 20 different places including interruptions of the Highlands Trail and Appalachian Trail. Public hearings are being held and I hope the company will be prevented from destroying this beautiful area. We were back at the car by 11:00 AM. The 2.2 mile round trip too us less than 1.5 hours but made a lasting negative impression of this company's plans!

On Monday, August 1st Cindy and I wanted to take a short hike somewhere after a taxing Sunday with the grandchildren. I had always wanted to go to Kelly Hollow but had bypassed it for "better" hikes. At first, I thought I might have to go alone and thought about bushwhacking up to the Millbrook Ridge. Fortunately Cindy decided to come along and I will save the bushwhack for another day. As we drove along the Pepacton Reservoir it looked like the day was going to be perfect with some sun and moderate temperature and humidity. Along the Millbrook Arena Road we noticed several signs on the property of the Tuscarora Club. Each small, white sign read something like "Demis End" or "Club House End". These signs had obviously been there for some time but it was the first time we had seen them and we had no idea what they meant. We arrived at the parking area at about 10:30 AM and started hiking almost immediately. The Kelly Hollow trail is a loop and is marked for cross country skiing. The trail makes a nice but short hiking loop and would be good for snowshoeing as well. As soon as we entered the woods, we had to make a decision. It appeared that the trail split but only the left branch was marked so we headed that way. For 1.25 miles the trail slowly rises toward the foot of Millbrook Ridge. It is a wide woods road in most places and parallels a branch of an unnamed stream. The stream had very little water but the bed it had carved was deep indicating that the volume increases seasonally. Over the next .75 miles the trail generally heads west with a northerly "bow" to skirt the base of the ridge. The trail travels over some humps and bumps but the elevation does not change too much.

We arrived at the end of the traverse at about 11:30 AM. There is a beaver pond at this point. The beavers have sealed the outlet of the pond but there seems to be an old stone dam there as well. There is a lean-to complete with a privy in this area. The lean-to is in good shape and the privy is new since it was built as an Eagle Scout project. We stopped and dropped our packs to inspect the lean-to and the beaver pond. After a drink and a little lunch, we continued to follow the trail as it looped around the back of the beaver pond. The trail here was narrow and not well cleared. I thought there was no beaver activity in the pond but around the other side we found some newly fallen trees. The trail turns generally north here to head back to the road and again parallels a branch of the stream. About .7 miles from the lean-to I noticed what looked like a waterfall in the stream bed. We were high above the stream but I walked and slid my way down into the creek just downstream of the falls. There was little water going over the falls on this day but its appearance made me believe that it might be quite interesting after some heavy rains. I worked my way back up to the trail passing a lone cement block on the hill. Back on the trail we hiked about .7 miles until we were near the road.

At this point a cemetery appeared on the left side of the trail. Some DEC workers told us this was the Dry Brook Cemetery. Cindy and I were both surprised at how well kept it was. We walked around respectfully examining the inscriptions on the stones. The latest burial was 2001 but many stones were from the early part of the 20th century with many more being even earlier. Some of the headstones were placed in "raised beds" which I had never seen before. The oldest graves were on a hill under a very old tree. Quite a few were burials from the Civil War and some were marked by only a piece of local stone without an inscription. After walking around for about 15 minutes we walked out to the road and turned left to hike the final .25 miles back to the car. Without the cemetery side trip, the hike was 3.7 miles which we covered in under 2 hours. On the way we saw the same white signs as we had seen on the way in. This time the signs said something like "Demis Start" or "Club House Start". The Tuscarora Club apparently has trails from the Road down to Mill Brook for its members. When we got home, I looked up some of the names from the graves and found a lot of historical information. One site listed all the marked graves and the inscriptions. Another site indicated that the Civil War graves were the resting place of members of Company G of the 144th New York Infantry. The 144th was from Delaware County and Company G was from The Town of Middletown. The company was attached to several different armies and spent time in South Carolina and Florida. They were at the liberation of Fort Wagner and Fort Sumter.

On Saturday, July 30th I made arrangements with Jane to come to my house at about 8:00 AM so that we could drive to the Beaverkill trail head to hike Balsam Lake and Graham. We had talked about including Graham to Doubletop but I had an afternoon family commitment. I DO want to try this bushwhack some time but probably do it as a through hike with a car spot. Jane arrived and we were soon on our way to the end of the Beaverkill Road. I enjoy taking people on hikes when I can talk about the history of the area and show others points of interest. We arrived at the trail head just before 9:00 AM to find only one other car. The temperature was in the low 70's with a slight breeze. We started up the trail and I signed in at the register. The other hikers were listed as going to Balsam Lake and then taking the trail to Alder Lake and Big Pond. We hit the first trail junction at around 9:20 AM and turned left to start up the mountain. The ascent seemed a little more difficult than in the past but the trail was in good shape and there was a slight breeze. We walked passed the side trail to the lean-to and were soon at the spring. Sheba got a drink before we made the last push to the top of the climb arriving at around 10:00 AM. The steepest part of this ascent is only .6 miles and gains 765 feet but this is about a 25% grade which is a good workout. From the top off the climb to the fire tower almost seems flat and it took us a little more than 10 minutes. We dropped our packs and were ready to climb the tower by 10:15 AM. I went to the landing just below the cab and started to take some pictures. There was a strong breeze blowing. After a few shots, my camera stopped working so I went back Down the tower to try new batteries. Meanwhile, Jane was going up to enjoy the view. I thought I had checked and replaced the batteries in the camera recently but changing them did the trick and I headed back up the tower. The views were a little hazy but the light was good so I took some pictures. I must have taken these same pictures dozens of times before but I still like the view. The ruins on Graham were clearly visible and it reminded us of our next objective.

We shouldered our packs and headed down the other side of the mountain. There were few insects and the air temperature was still very pleasant with a breeze. There were very few insects to bother us and we made good time. Along the way we met one hiker coming up from the Millbrook trailhead. Soon we were at the second trail junction where we turned left and started to look for the Graham herd path. Each time I hike this route the herd path becomes more and more obvious although it seems this is from use since no one appears to be "maintaining" it. We had started down at about 10:30 AM and made the turn to Graham around 11:00 AM. The herd path had a few prickers and nettles in places but these hardly required a whack on the way by. There were one or two new blowdowns across the path. This path always fools me as it seems longer than I remember every time. I am always disturbed by the fact that it descends some before the climb. After walking for 1.3 miles down or flat, the next .8 miles up Graham seemed steep. In fact, the climb is under 15% with a few very short steeper sections. When we finally passed the lookout on the left, I knew we were close to the top and we made a final push to the ruins arriving just after noon. We dropped our packs and decided we would walk out to a viewpoint. There wasn't too much top see because of the leaves on the trees but we started to walk around the summit anticlockwise. This was easier in some places than others with a few pretty dense spots. We did find one or two viewpoints before heading back to the tower. After a drink and some lunch, we started back down at around 12:45 PM. The descent went quickly and we were soon at the turn back onto the main trail. From here we headed straight back to the second and then the first trail junctions. Although Jane and I usually talk up a storm while we hike, we were both quiet on the way back, lost in our on thoughts and the beauty of the hike. As we passed the register, two hikers that I knew from Livingston Manor were signing in. We talked for a minute and then walked back to the car. We were in the parking area by 2:45 PM. The 8.5 mile hike took just under 6 hours but we had taken quite a bit of time for pictures and our off trail excursion on Graham.

On Tuesday, July 26th Cindy and I wanted to take advantage of the cooler temperatures to finally get in a hike! High temperatures and high humidity had kept me sidelined from hiking for too long! I substituted some bike rides but it just wasn't the same. We decided, after some discussion, to hike to the Penguin Rocks lookout on Dry Brook Ridge from the German Hollow trailhead in Arkville. The forecast suggested that there might be showers after noon so our relatively late start did not thrill me. We parked at the end of Chris Long Road off the Dry Brook Road at about 9:45 AM and started hiking immediately. This passed winter I had hiked this route and it was very difficult. During that hike I had made the mistake of leaving my snowshoes in the car since there was only a dusting of snow down low. The higher I got the more snow there was and the going was miserable. I thought that for this hike we would probably be OK up to the lean-to and a little father. I suspected at some point we would run into some nettles in the more open and wetter areas and then lose them again near the top of the trail. About 10:05 AM we arrived at the lean-to after hiking .7 miles. We took a look from the trail and continued up toward the ridge. The German Hollow Trail is not steep but is a constant climb to the ridge. We did run into some heavy patches of nettles which I "whacked". Once the trail started to level near the top it nearly disappeared in several places. It is obvious that the trail gets little use and is not well-maintained. By 10:55 AM we had arrived at the trail junction after hiking 1.7 miles and gaining 1260 feet.

We turned left on the Dry Brook Ridge Trail which is in better shape than the one up from German Hollow. This trail up to the ridge from Margaretville gets some more use but not as much as the route up from Hill Road. The trail continues to climb for the next half mile but along the way almost disappears again in a sea of ferns. After this the trail descends over 100 feet before a nasty little steep ascent to the junction with the Huckleberry Loop Trail from Hill Road. The ascent is not over at this point so we stopped for a drink and a snack. At this point swarms of flies found us so we decided to cut the break short and continue on. The temperature was cooler on the ridge and there was a breeze blowing despite the fact that we were surrounded by the forest. The trail up to the lookouts winds its way along the ridge and changes direction several times. The hiking is fairly easy since this part of the trail is well used. There are a few short climbs to gain the additional 200 feet to the elevation of the lookouts. We arrived at the Penguin Rocks just before 12:30 PM having hiked about 3.6 miles. The sun was out and a breeze was blowing. There were no flies to speak of so we dropped our packs and took a break. Whenever I have visited this lookout there has been a haze in the valley below. On this day the views were as clear as I have ever seen with a beautiful blue sky hanging over the green landscape. The puffy white clouds added another dimension to the scene as I took some shots before dropping to the lower ledge. This ledge slopes away and I was careful as I edges out to take some ore pictures including several of the drop-off!

We stayed at the lookouts for about 10 minutes and started back. It had taken us about 2 hours and 45 minutes to hike up and I asked Cindy how quickly she though we could make it back. She told me here knees were hurting so the trip back might be slow. We set out at a quick pace along the ridge and were back at the Huckleberry Loop Trail junction by 1:05 PM. The going was a little slower as we made the descent down the steeper trail section and then climbed back up. After that we were back on pace and arrived at our turn onto German Hollow at 1:35 PM. The trip down the German Hollow Trail went MUCH quicker than trip up. This was partly due to the fact that it is down but also had to do with the fact that I had already whacked most of the nettles and prickers out of the way. In addition, as we were descending the skies appeared to grow darker and we could hear thunder rumbling in the distance! I had intended to stop at the lean-to but we passed it by and headed for the car. We were back by 2:25 PM which meant we had returned in 1 hour and 50 minutes cutting almost an hour off our ascent! We covered the 7.1 mile hike in 4 hours and 42 minutes. As we drove out to Route 28 the skies all around were dark. As we made the turn toward Roscoe on Route 206 the rain came in earnest and continued until we were back in Livingston Manor.

On Saturday, July 16th I wanted to take a short hike in Bethel. Brad also wanted to go so we parked at the farm and walked the roads to a woods road called the Rocky Run Road near Indian Field. The Rocky Run Road is part of the old Newburgh-Cochecton Turnpike and we hiked it extensively when I was growing up on Dr. Duggan Road. The woods road was very prominent and showed traces of tracks. I remembered many of the twists and turns and the ridges that line the road in places. It was a hot day with temperatures in the high 80's and high humidity. The road, however, was almost dry. After about 1.5 miles, we noticed that we were both being attacked by a HUGE swarm of mosquitoes. I broke out the DEET but we both had many bites before we got the repellent sprayed on our exposed areas. We continued to walk but the mosquitoes didn't seemed phased by the DEET so we made the decision to turn back. I was feeling a little delicate but I didn't feel it was worth getting eaten alive for a simple walk. As we returned on Indian Field Road another woods road went off to the left on state land. I started to follow this road waiting to see if the mosquitoes would return. Happily there were few insects and the road led to the path above Ernie's Pond that leads up to Lake Superior. We followed the path passing by some laurel in full bloom. We were soon at a spot directly across from the bathing area on the other side. I walked down to the shore to take some pictures of the lake and the bathing area.

We turned around to head back down to the pond. The paths are pretty well-defined at this point and easy to follow. This all brought back a lot of memories since my friends and I crossed and recrossed this area so many years ago. Along the path we ran across the large ant hills that I remembered. There were over two dozen of them with the largest being 5 feet in diameter and more than a foot high! As we approached the pond, we chose to take the "low road" and hike near the shore to the outlet of the pond. There is also a path higher up that walks along the ridge above the pond. We stopped to take pictures of the pond and the dam at the outlet end. We walked out to the road and then back on the road to the house where we had parked the car. Our 4 mile hike took a little under 2 hours.

On Thursday, July 14th I decided to return to Sam's Point and hike the escarpment loop which I had not done in some time. Sheba and I arrived at the Conservation Center at 10:00 AM and started the hike almost immediately. There were a few other cars in the lot and I suspected some were berry picking. My intention was to hike just the "main" loop without visiting the ice caves or Indian Rock. I was surprised that the temperature was so comfortable hovering in the mid 60's. On the way up to Sam's Point I took some pictures of the cliffs and then stopped at the lower viewpoint. There was little haze and at that point I knew this would be a slow hike with a lot of time for pictures. The green of the vegetation and the blue of the sky was complemented by a lot of interesting, puffy, white clouds. We took the short spur to the Point and found no one there. Even though I have taken these pictures many times, I took them again and tried to get a new perspective. I captured some shots of the viewpoint and then some along the escarpment cliffs as well as some of the distant scenery. Back on the main trail we headed toward the turn off to the ice caves on the loop road. After turning right, we walked down the side road a short distance before turning left onto the trail down to Verkeerderkill Falls. This trail is rocky and often quite wet but on this day it was dry the entire length. In many places the trail was narrowed by the encroaching blueberry bushes and little had been done to maintain the trail. Along the first part there was a sea of low blueberry bushes with an occasional dwarf pine. I took some photographs and included some of the clouds for good measure. At one point the trail passes through a stand of hardwood trees and the first floor was covered in ferns. This required some more pictures! Most of the rest of the trail to the falls is rocky and passes through dwarf pines. The trail is always longer than I remember but we finally got to the falls at 11:45 AM after 3 miles of hiking 1.8 miles of which were on the trail.

We stopped on the near side of the falls and walked out to the viewpoint. There was almost NO WATER going over the falls. I have seen it this dry only once before and was a little surprised since there had been so much rain. I took some pictures and noticed three people on the other side. Crossing the stream was no problem and we were soon on the other side. The far side of the stream offers more unobstructed views of the falls and the pool below. I took pictures of the falls and actual saw a small rainbow which photographed nicely. After some of the scenery and some conversation with the people from Middletown, Sheba and I headed out on the trail to climb back up to the escarpment. The trail climbs steeply but for only a short distance. We stopped at the first viewpoint so that I could take some pictures, a theme that would recur frequently on the way to High Point. As we left the viewpoint, a solo hiker passed by. At the trail junction with the path to Awosting, we turned left to continue along the escarpment. From the falls to High Point is about 2.56 miles. The trail passes along the edge of the cliffs with many wonderful views of the countryside. Sometimes the path dives into the dwarf pines only to emerge to more great views. I noticed the transmission towers opposite us across the gorge and knew we had some distance to go before we would pass by them on the way back. The route we were following heads northwest before making a 90 degree turn just passed High Point and heading southwest back-to-back the Conservation Center. Sheba and I walked up and over and down the various rock formations. I was surprised that she seemed able to handle most of the short, steep climbs with ease. In several places we stopped and Sheba went up on the higher rocks ahead of us to pose. Where the trail moves from the rocks into the scrub it is almost totally obscured by the blueberry bushes. No maintenance has been done untold about .3 miles from High Point. I hope the Center intends to finish cutting out the trails as the $10 use fee should include trails that are open and ease to find!

By 1:25 PM we had hiked 5.5 miles and were standing on High Point. Sheba scrambled up behind me and we took in the view. The Smiley Tower at Mohonk and the cliffs of Hamilton and Castle Point were clearly visible. To the north were the outlines of the Catskill high peaks. After some time for pictures and a snack we started in again as I knew we still had more than 3 miles to go. In a few minutes we were at the trail that leads down to the carriageway. We walked passed this turn off to the area where the fire tower once stood. This lookout gives an even better view to the north and more pictures were in order. We walked back to the trail down to the carriageway and soon were headed back to the parking lot. There were a few muddy spots along the way but nothing compared to the continuous bogs that are often present. The sign at the top of the trail before descending says 2.4 miles to the center. The sign at the bottom gives 2.8 miles for the same distance. I have often wondered why someone didn't proofread this more carefully! The walk back always seems long but went quickly this time. The constant pounding on my legs and feet was beginning to take its toll as we approached the Center. We were back at the car by 2:40 PM having hiked 8.8 miles in 4 hours and 40 minutes. I counted this as a good pace given the amount of time we had stopped so that I could photograph.

On Monday, July 11th I had an opportunity to hike to the Greater Ice caves at Sam's Point with my friend Phil, a running coach at Ellenville High School. Although these "caves" are part of the Sam's Point Preserve they are "primitive with no marked trail. Phil has been there many times and I appreciated his offer to be my guide. We met at the Berme Road Park behind the fire station in Ellenville about 10:30 AM and started our hike almost immediately. It was already 80 degrees with high humidity. Just out of the parking lot the path lead up through some rock formations with a short rock scramble. I took some pictures and we continued. The path lead to some roads and then we turned left up a steep bank and were on a path the rest of the way. In places the path was barely discernible and there was some blowdown along the way. We walked and talked as we hacked our way along the path. A few times we stopped for a short break, usually, at my request. I had Sheba and Phil had his chocolate Lab, Nibbles. Both dogs were eager to drink each time we stopped. After 1.7 miles and 1300 feet of climbing, we arrived at the first "cave" around 11:45 AM. The cool air coming from the cave was refreshing. We walked down into this crevasse in the Earth and the cool air became cold. We spent a few minutes there as I took pictures of the bottom of the cave and some interesting shot up at the sky above. There was no ice at the bottom but it was still a lot of fun. We headed for the next cave. Along the way Phil kept mentioning the "big" cave we would eventually visit.

The next cave was a little harder to get down into and we could not safely get close to the bottom. We walk down into the crack and there was ICE AT THE BOTTOM. This was not a small sliver of ice but a substantial slab in July! I took pictures and then we walked out the other end of the crack. Our next stop was the BIG crevasse and Phil was telling the truth! It was by far the largest in all dimensions. As we walked along, I took pictures in several spots to try to capture the length, breadth and depth of this crack. About halfway along were several rock outcroppings that jutted out from the rocks and over the crack. I took some unobstructed pictures from these. I took Phil up on his offer top tale a CPR of Sheba and I on one of these viewpoints. Phil headed some distance away and took several shots. When he showed me the pictures, I saw that Sheba and I were standing on a shelf of rock about two feet thick hanging some 100 feet above the bottom below. I thanked Phil for the experience and the pictures! We walked a little further but did not find anything more of interest so we started back at about 12:45 PM after 2.4 miles of walking and exploration.

On the way back, we took a slightly different route. When we hit a woods road near a bungalow colony at about 4 miles we turned right and headed out to Route 52. We arrived at an interesting falls along a small creek. The falls can be seen from Route 52 just as it leaves Ellenville and starts up toward Cragsmoor. We worked our way down the bank to the creek. The two dogs and Phil decided to get wet. I decided to take pictures of the falls. Some people were present at then falls as I worked my way upstream. The falls are actually "recessed" behind a retaining wall as they have eroded into the mountain. I did not want to get wet so stop short of crossing the stream and took my pictures. I was done about the same time as the water-lovers so we leashed the dogs and headed out to Route 52 and walked back to the car. There was one last stop to make. We got in our cars and drove down Berme Road to J&M Originals, a child's clothing outlet. The business is housed in the SunRay Soda Bottling plant. The soda bottling went out of business some time ago but the building still stands. What is also present on the property is a tunnel that starts at the bottom of the ridge and runs hundreds of feet up into the rock. The water was sued in the soda bottling business and is filtered through the rock. The exact history of the tunnel is the object of some speculation.

On Saturday, July 9th I made arrangements with Jane and Jon to hike the Blackhead Range. The weather report was for warm temperatures with partly cloudy skies. I looked at the various routes including Colgate Lake to Barnum Road and Barnum Road to Peck Road including Windham in the hike. I really want to do both of these routes and the fact that we would have three cars made both inviting prospects. Both of these routes are 13 miles and more and I finally decided this was a little beyond what I wanted to do for the day. An ambulance call that took away 3 hours of sleep during the night cemented my decision. I decided we would all park at the Batavia Kill area and hike the Batavia Kill trail to the Escarpment trail and go up the steeper north approach to Blackhead. This approach has several rock scrambles and would allow us to walk across to Black Dome and Thomas Cole and return by way of the Black Dome trail to the parking area. We met in Hunter and drove to Maplecrest and out Big Hollow Road to the parking area. There were a few cars in the parking area with one inconsiderate driver taking up what could have been several spaces. We were on the trail by 9:15 AM. Jon is new to hiking but is very fit and a string hiker. Today's hike would be at my pace however. The Black Dome Trail from the parking area is very rocky and ALL the rocks were damp and slippery. We made our way along the trail carefully until we hit the trail junction with the yellow blazed Batavia Kill Trail at .75 miles. We turned left on the Batavia Kill Trail and started a moderate climb of .9 miles to the Escarpment Trail. On the way we passed by the unoccupied Batavia Kill lean-to.

When the Batavia Kill Trail ended at the Escarpment Trail, we turned right and started up toward the summit of Blackhead Mountain. It was 10:00 AM as we started the ascent which begins gently but then becomes steeper with several switchbacks and one very nice lookout. The lookout is a good place to get a view of the Hudson River valley to the east and is important since the summit of Blackhead has no view. There are several rock scrambles along this approach including some that are nearly vertical. The ascent is about .8 miles and is over 1000 vertical feet. We stopped for pictures at the viewpoint at 10:20 AM and then headed up to the summit. We arrived at the summit at around 11:00 AM about 2.5 miles into the hike. After taking a break we started off again toward Black Dome. After only .4 miles, we stopped at 11:25 AM on the west face of Blackhead with a fantastic view of Black Dome immediate ahead and the entire Devils Path to our left toward the south. We spent a couple minutes taking pictures. Jane asked about on obvious rocky area on Black Dome and I said that was where we would be very soon. Looking across at Black Dome I always have the feeling that no one could climb such a big mountain. The feeling always passes but I hope it reflects the respect I have for the mountains. The trip down to the col was made difficult by the fact that the trail was a little overgrown, wet in spots and strewn with loose rocks and dirt. Along the way we met a group coming up Blackhead with the intention of heading down the other side. We exchanged information and the continued in our opposite directions. We hit the col at 11:40 AM and immediately started up Black Dome. The climb is much easier than Blackhead since the start is so much higher. There are some tricky rock scrambles and a nice viewpoint back to Blackhead - the same viewpoint that was visible from Blackhead.

After leaving the viewpoint, we headed directly up to the summit of Black Dome to the rock shelf lookout toward the south. We arrived at 12:15 PM about 3.7 miles into the hike and decided to take a break for lunch. I took some pictures and shared a sandwich with Jane. After giving Sheba a drink, treats and part of my sandwich we pushed on to Thomas Cole. This part of the hike is the easiest but there are still a few rock scrambles in the way along the .75 miles stretch. There is no view from Thomas Cole so we turned around and headed back. We hurried through the descent back into the col with Black Dome and then pushed the ascent up to the summit. From the top of Black Dome we headed back down into the col. A group of three hikers from Albany was taking a break before starting back to the parking area. We talked briefly and then they started down ahead of us. We followed them soon after at about 2:10 PM and 5.7 miles into the hike. . The Black Dome Trail had been cleared of nettles and prickers for most of the length by a volunteer we had met before on Blackhead. The first part of the trail descends through several switchbacks before joining a woods road. Once on the road the trail becomes very rocky and difficult to walk. By 2:55 PM we had hiked 7 miles are were back at the junction with the Batavia Kill Trail. From here we headed back to the car over rocks that were no longer damp or slippery as they had been earlier. We arrived at the cars at 3:15 PM covering the 7.6 miles in 6 hours with over 2800 feet of elevation gain. We drove to Tannersville and had a very nice meal at Pancho Villa's before parting company.

On Thursday, July 7th Cindy and I headed to Trout Pond to hike. It took us a while to decide where we were going so we did not arrive at the upper parking area until 10:30 AM. The temperature at this time was in the high 70's and predicted to climb into the upper 80's. We started down Russell Brook Road and immediately ran into a road crew from the Town of Colchester trying to smooth the gravel that makes up the road bed. They were also working to clear the ditches so that the water can drain. Hopefully this will prevent the road from washing out during the frequent and violent rain storms that have been occurring on a regular basis. As we walked down the road I could hear the brook and it sounded like the volume was pretty high. I had thought I would avoid taking pictures since I have so many of this area but I could not resist. I walked down the bank to a spot overlooking the upper falls and took some shots. Back on the road we walked down to the lower parking area and then down the wide snowmobile trail/road to the area of the lower falls. We passed by the falls as we had been there recently and started up to Trout Pond. We talked as we walked and soon we were at the outlet of the pond. After a brief stop for some pictures and a drink we headed for the upper end of the lake. The trail was VERY wet from the overnight rain. As we approached the lean-to, a young boy popped out of the bushes by the lake and started to walk toward the lean-to. I struck up a conversation and found the family camps there every 4th of July. Where the trail branches we headed to the right up the Trout Pond Trail toward Campbell Brook. It was about 11:20 AM and we had covered 2 miles.

We had not hiked the trail that leads to Campbell Brook Road for some time. The first .8 miles of the trail is all uphill and rises about 450 feet to the top of a hill. The trail is not used much and would be completely grow in except for the fact that it also acts as a snowmobile trail. At one point, near the top, another snowmobile trail marked "21" headed off to the right. We stayed to right on the blue blazed hiking trail. From here the trail descends to an area where it crosses two brooks on newly constructed bridges. After that it ascends slightly to meet Campbell Brook Road. The trail is easy to follow but is overgrown in any open areas with prickers and nettles. At Campbell Brook Road I had intended to hike another mile up to Campbell Mountain Road and then use Morton Hill Road to get back to the car. Cindy decided that we would turn right on Campbell Brook Road until it meets Morton Hill. This cut a few miles from the hike but it was hot and I really didn't object. For about .9 miles Campbell Brook Road and Morton Hill Road ascend a hill. After that the next 2.4 miles is all downhill back to the car. My feet were starting to hurt and it was hot. I am not a big fan of road walking in the sun even though it is fast. We were back at the car just passed 1:30 PM covering 7.1 miles in just over 3 hours!

On Tuesday, July 5th I had the idea that I wanted to return to Notch Lake and hike Plateau and maybe Sugarloaf from there. I don't like paying the $6 fee just to park but I hadn't hiked Plateau from the lake in some time and the steepness of the trail somehow appealed to me. The forecast was for sunny weather with temperatures in the 80's. I had some errands to do in the morning so we did not arrive until 10:30 AM. There were no cars at Slide and only two at Panther. The Notch Lake parking area had a few cars. Sheba and I got right on the trail by crossing the road where I signed the register. We start UP the trail toward the top of Plateau. This trail is steep despite the switchbacks and since I was trying to keep a good pace. I was soon a little winded. A couple of places opened up in the foliage so that I could take some pictures. As we climbed over some rocks I began to think about the discussion I had with Hermit on Saturday about rattlesnakes on Plateau. I decided Sheba should follow me and I was very careful as we walked along. The bottom line was that we saw a lot of toads of different sizes but no snakes of any kind. We did walk across the slide on Plateau on the way to the top. As the trail flattened a little near the top, there were some wet spots but otherwise this part of the trail was dry. There we also fewer insects than I expected. At the very top of the climb is a vertical scramble up and over some rocks To Orchard Point. I boosted Sheba up and then got myself on top. We had climbed 1650 feet in 1.2 miles taking a little over an hour including our stops.

At the top of the climb there is a flat space that acts as a lookout. The views were very good this day if a little green. The view directly north showed Hunter mountain where I could see the ski equipment at the top of the slopes and the fire tower at the summit. A little to the west was Westkill. I took many pictures and several showed the layers of mountains one behind the other. I tried some panoramic shots and two came out very nicely. After spending some time at this lookout, we headed toward the highest spot on Plateau which is more than 2 miles away along the top of the mountain. As the name suggests the hike is almost flat although the elevation gain from the top of the climb to the summit is 225 feet. Not far passed the top of the climb and the northward facing lookout is another open spot that faces east called Danny's Lookout. Perhaps the most prominent feature from the viewpoint is Kaaterskill High peak and Round Top. I took more pictures from here before continuing on to the summit. The long walk to the highest point on Plateau starts out with a hike through some hardwood trees, small clearing and fir trees. The further along you get the more the trees close in and become almost exclusively fir. Several places along the trail there are glimpses of light on the right and some possible viewpoints but most are obscured by vegetation and offer no real views. At 2.75 miles from the beginning of the hike we hit the "new" extension to the Warner Creek trail. By this time I had decided that I would not do Sugarloaf. It was getting late and I just didn't feel like descending Plateau and the ascending Sugarloaf just to have to repeat the processes to get back to the car. We continued to walk to the highest point on the trail and then down the other side to the large boulders that lookout over Sugarloaf. We had already hiked 3.4 miles and it was a little before 1:00 PM. We stopped here to get a snack and So that I could take some pictures. Afterward we headed back down the Devil's Path for about .65 miles and turned left onto the Warner Creek Trail.

I had been on the Warner Creek Trail several times but had usually ascended it. At the beginning the trail descends gently through some fir trees but at some point the descent is pretty steep. About .5 miles down this trail from the Devil's Path is the best viewpoint on the whole trail. The lookout is an open, flat rock and I took pictures of Silver Hollow and some back up toward Plateau. The pictures of Plateau clearly show the reason for the name. We continued own the trail and the going was slower than I thought especially on the steeper sections of Daley Ridge which were mostly damp dirt. We passed the spring but did not go to it. The trail turned out to be longer than I remembered! About 2 miles from the Devil's Path are several marked vistas with side trails. None of these was worth the list as the views were all blocked by the tree. In another .3 miles there are a series of switchbacks down the steepest sections through and along some rock ledges. Three miles from the Devil's Path and around 7 miles into the hike we hit the trail that follows Silver Notch Road, a woods road, down to Notch Inn Road. This part of the trail was the wettest with a lot of flowing water. At the end of Notch Inn Road, I put Sheba on her leash and we walked about 1.2 miles back to the car on Route 214. Along the way we stopped so that I could take pictures of the slide that was clearly visible on Plateau. I also took pictures of the beaver pond with its dam and lodge. Back at the car we met the only other hiker of the day, a woman from Woodstock who had just come back from the Hunter fire tower. We had hiked 9.2 miles in 5.5 hours. I was glad I had not included Sugarloaf in the hike!

On Saturday, July 2nd Jane Doe and I had a plan to meet at the end of Moonhaw Road at 9:00 AM and bushwhack Friday and Balsam Cap with a stop of the B-25 crash. Jane has to drive from Westchester County and I thought the later start might also allow the woods to dry out a little from the rain on Friday night. We made the plant on Wednesday and on Thursday I saw that Hermit had made mention of hiking the VanBenschoten Trail on Saturday. I sent a personal message to Ralph asking if Jane and I could tag along and he said that is was okay. Jon, the person that was accompanying Ralph, had only hiked Mt. Tremper before and I wondered if he realized what he was getting into. I called Jane to break the news and ask if there was any way she could get to Moon haw by 7:15 AM. I was ready for her to say "NO!" because of the long drive but she immediately consented.

I got up at 5:00 AM and was driving out to Liberty by 5:35 AM with Sheba in the back seat. By the time I got to Grahamsville, I remembered that the drive was only about an hour for me. I hoped Jane could find the trailhead and would be on time. When I arrived at the parking area Jane was already there having found the parking area with little trouble! Hermit and Jon arrived just after 7:00 AM and we crossed the bridge over Wittenberg Creek and started up the old woods road. Hermit gave us same historical information as we recrossed the creek. The land was once owned by the Moonhaw Club. Mr. VanBenschoten was the caretaker and his wife cooked. Eventually passed into the hands of Nelson Shultis. After Mr. Shultis logged the land, it passed to New York State. The "mansion" at the end of Moonhaw Road stands where one of the club buildings was once located. The hike was going pretty well down low with some wet spots and patches of nettles. Jon was in shorts and Jane lent him her gaiters to alleviate the nettle experience. The lower part of the "trail" follows old logging roads. We were following faint orange blazes last placed the a Boy Scout Troop. At some point we hit the steeper part of the trail followed by the steepest part! Some of this required hanging onto roots and branches and pulling ourselves up the slope. Jane and I were getting tired nut Hermit is amazing and Jon, on his second hike, was right with him. We finally were in sight of the trail after pushing through a little thick stuff near the top. It took us almost 3 hours to do the 2.5 miles to the ridge. Once on the trail he turned right and headed toward Wittenberg.

Hiking the ,4 miles over to Wittenberg seemed easy! We stopped at the top of Wittenberg to get a snack and take pictures. The view was only a little hazy but I got some good shots. There were three other people at the top along with a Blue Dane. The Blue Dane was BIG with red rimmed eyes and I thought "Two heads short of Cerberus." Someone pointed out a snake in the rock crevice. It was hard to see the markings to identify the species. After our "rest" at the summit, Hermit took us down to a cave/shelter below the summit. Not too many people know about this place. (I guess a lot more know now!). I cannot reveal the exact location as we were sworn to secrecy. There was a small tin box where we signed our names. After a short break to enjoy a different view and to take pictures we were off again for Cornell. We walked back to the top of Wittenberg and over the Bruin's Causeway to Cornell. I was already feeling a little tired and I knew Jane felt the same way. Hermit and Jon seemed unaffected! We all got up the V notch on Cornell without many problems. Even Sheba only need an initial boost and then scrambled up the crack. We stopped at the overlook just to the left of the crack to take some pictures. This viewpoint is better than the other one near the top of Cornell. The views of Wittenberg and the Ashokan were very nice. We walked on to the other viewpoint on Cornell where I hatched a brilliant plan. I was pretty sure Jane and I would not be able to tackle Slide AND return the way we had come which was Hermit's plan. Jane cell phone had service so I called my wife to give Jane and I a ride back from the main Slide parking area. Cindy agreed so the plan was made.

As We started down Cornell toward Slide, my mood was much improved and my legs began to feel better. Could I really make it back with Hermit and Jon? I thought I probably could but decided to stay with the new plan. We stopped at the viewpoints that look out toward Slide and the surrounding valleys and I took some shots. Descending into the Col between the two mountains seemed easy! As we started up Slide, I was sure that my new plan was the proper one as my legs were dead. There was a group of people in the Col and we said "Hi" as we passed through. After a stop for lunch, we hit the two or three scrambles before the ladders on slide. These scrambles can be fun but they also have workarounds which I though Sheba and I would use. As it turned out we all made it up the scrambles OK. The last part of the climb up to the ladders on Slide was a grind for me but we were soon at the spring. Sheba got a drink and we stopped for a short rest. We stop at the ladders for some pictures and to look back at Cornell. Climbing the ladders and the subsequent rock scrambles actually went quickly and my legs were feeling better. At the top of Slide we paused for pictures. There were quite a few people at the top and Jane asked someone to take a picture of the five of us. We said goodbye to Jon and Hermit and parted ways. Jane and I continued down Slide toward Route 47 and Hermit and Jon headed back the way we had come.

The walk down Slide was pretty easy. We stopped at the viewpoint toward Giant Ledge and Panther and I took a few pictures. As we continued down, we met a lot of people heading up. Most made positive comments about Sheba which I appreciated. We began to meet people I knew and had mentioned previously on the hike. The first was a former student who asked how far it was to the top. I had mentioned Robert Moses from Andes Hikers to my partners on the hike. We met a group coming up led by ... Robert Moses. We talked for a moment and he offered us Klondike bars but hiking back to the top was NOT something I would do for a Klondike bar! I also talked about Hoosier and Jay H from the ADKHighPeaks forum both of whom I had hiked with before. A little further down the trail we met up with ... Jay H and Hoosier. We continued down the trail passing many people coming up and a few going down. The main trail on Slide is NOT one of my favorites especially on the way down. The trail has too many rocks that slip and roll under foot. Soon we came to the woods road and turned right. It was only a short walk until we turned left to continue down to the main parking area. My wife was waiting in the parking area. We drove from the Slide parking area through Grahamsville and out the Peekamoose Road. Jane and I were kidding each other about beating Hermit and John back to the cars! When we got to the end of Moonhaw Road, Hermit and Jon had just arrived! They made the trip back from Slide, over Cornell and down the VanBenschoten Trail in 2.5 hours! Jane and I had hiked 8.7 miles in 8 hours and 20 minutes with a total elevation gain of 4300 feet. Hermit invited us back to his house but I was too tired to accept. I definitely need to hike more on the 35s and up my speed although I doubt I will ever be as fit as Ralph.

On Wednesday, June 29th I decided I wanted to do a longer hike and get in some elevation also. The only peaks I "needed" for the grid for June were bushwhacks. Torrential downpours the day before convinced me that battling prickers and nettles is bad but even worse when they are wet and the footing is questionable. I decided to hike the Blackhead Range from Barnum Road since I had not done it in some time. The weather forecast was for temperatures in the mid-seventies and mostly sunny skies. When I awoke in the morning, there was a heavy haze hanging over Livingston Manor. This is not unusual and often the haze disappears as I drive out of the valley in the morning. I was aiming to get started by 8:00 AM so pulling out of Livingston Manor at 8:15 AM was a real accomplishment! As I drove out DeBruce Road I noticed two things - the skies remained overcast and I was very tired. As I turned onto the Frost Valley Road and drove toward Big Indian, neither of these things changed. I began to feel like turning around and going home to take a nap! The Slide and Panther Mountain lots had one or two cars parked. As I approached Route 28, I pulled off the road at the little convenience store and closed my eyes. I rested for no more than 10 minutes but after that felt considerably better. Since I had the Blackhead Range for June, I decided I would go hike as many of the three peaks as I wanted and THEN return home for my nap! We arrived at the end of Barnum Road just before 10:00 AM and started to hike almost immediately. The first .5 miles is uphill along an old road and trail. It was wet with running water and washed out. The trail is sometimes in the "stream bed" and sometimes on the bank. At the end the trail turns sharply left and there is a sign in box.

The trail begins a long uphill section at this point but none of this is very steep except for a few short rock scrambles. I was watching for a lookout part way up but missed it. After At .8 miles the trail goes through a series of switchbacks and then straightens out again. The skies continued to be overcast and were almost threatening rain. Occasionally the sun seemed to break through and then go back under a bank of clouds. There were few views along the way due to the lush vegetation spurred on by the recent rains. The vegetation along the trail is beginning to close in many places bringing the nettles all that much closer. I was wet after less than a mile despite the fact I wore gaiters. Many sections of the trail had running water but the worst part were the flatter sections with frequent muddy spots. None of the spots were enormous but they were bad enough for me to want to avoid them and they interrupted the hike. At more than one point I thought I might just hike to the summit of Cole and then bail! At 1.4 miles I approached a steeper climb to around 3300 feet. I knew this wasn't Thomas Cole. What I remembered after getting to the top was that before ascending Cole you must ascend and then descend the Caudal and the Camel's Hump! After about 2 miles I was at the top of the Camel's Hump and starting down the other side. There was a sort of view of Thomas Cole through the bushes but I couldn't take any pictures. The trail got even narrower and the mud in the col was pretty bad. One bright note was the absence of insects! Soon we were on the flat, open area between The Hump and Cole. I tried to see if could get a picture but the trees and the cloud hanging on the mountain conspired against me.

We were ready to make the final push up Thomas Cole. On the way up we stopped at the small viewpoint which is a short walk off the trail. There was a nice view but much of it was hidden by the clouds hanging low. I took a few shots and hoped it would clear by the time we started back. We hit the top of Thomas Cole at about 3 miles and around noon. The climb up Cole had been less muddy and I was in the mood to at least hike over to Black Dome. The hike to Black Dome is only about .7 miles and I always think of it as flat. The elevation change is just enough to consider Cole a separate peak but there several steeper spots and one nice rock scramble. As I descended these areas I was reminded of how slippery everything was due to the recent rain and high humidity. The is section wet well despite a couple of slips and by 12:25 PM we were at the lookout to the south about 3.7 miles into the hike. There were two other hikers there and I talked to them for a short time. The skies were still overcast and the views very limited. I decided that, although I wanted a few more miles, I would not try the descent down Black Dome to Lockwood Gap. We turned around and headed back to the car. The first part of the descent went quickly. The views from the lookout had no improved so we bypassed it rather quickly. It did seem that the section from the Hump down the Caudal went very slowly. On the way down I did find the lookout I missed on the way up. As I stepped out onto the a group of 4 or more snakes slithered into the bushes. A little farther over another group of 4 did the same! I took a few pictures and as I packed up to go the one group of snakes returned. I got the camera back out to take some pictures. After that it was down the last rock scramble and back toward the car. This section seemed to take a long time. We were back at the car by 2:45 PM taking almost 5 hours to cover the 7.2 mile hike. We did stop several times but when I hike the 35s I am always reminded that they are different than any other hikes I do.

On Monday, June 27th I had planned to get out on one of my long and fast peakbagging trips. However, Dr. Kudish was still around and planning to bushwhack to some wetlands east of Mongaup Pond. Since this was a totally different aspect of his work, I could not pass up the opportunity to hike with this legend. The plan was to meet at Morgan Outdoors around 8:30 AM and drive to Mongaup Pond to start the hike around 9:00 AM. We met and got a late start. I thought the plan was to park on Flugertown Road and hike in from that direction. This would be a shorter hike and avoid the $8 parking fee. Somehow the decision was made to park at Mongaup Pond, pay $8 for the privilege and then hike the longer distance to get to our destination! We arrived at campsite 38 at 9:30 AM and were soon on the trail. We started on the snowmobile trail that leaves the campsite and headed first east and then north. After about .8 miles we were at the junction with the Long Pond-Mongaup Trail and turned right to head generally southeast toward our destination. Along the way Dr. Kudish noted some of the larger trees and a nice stand of black cherry. We also saw several woods roads that headed off from the trail in different directions. We walked on the trail for about 1.33 miles to a small bridge. Our elevation was, at that point, about the same as the pond but we had hiked up and over a hill to get there. The stream that the bridge crossed appeared to be the outlet stream for the wetlands so we turned right off the trail and followed the stream southwest toward our destination.

The wetland was a little more than half a mile up the stream and the walk was a pleasant one through mostly open hemlock forest. When we arrived, we surveyed the area and then decided to walk around the edge anticlockwise. I took some pictures from the southeast corner where we were and then started the hike around. The margin between the wetland and dry ground was pretty clear. As we walked around the small area, I walked to the edge to take pictures several times. There appeared to be a defined channel through the middle. There were some large yellow birch in the middle of the wetlands as they will grow in this environment. Opposite our point of first contact was an inlet stream which was easily crossed. No one else seemed interested in where the stream originated so I decided to come back later to take a look. We continued on around to our beginning point and took a break for lunch. Afterward Dr. Kudish donned his wading boots and entered the wetlands. Using his long bamboo walking stick he probed the area taking some time to do a thorough job. There was only one spot that proved to be sufficiently deep to be of interest. The rest of the places and most of the wetlands lies directly on top of glacial till. This lack of depth means there will not be enough peat formation to contain interesting fossil material. When Dr. Kudish returned to shore, we decided to head to a beaver meadow south of Sand Pond to check out the situation there. Dr. Kudish did not expect to find much but wanted to do a quick survey. We headed back to the bridge on the main trail, turned left and almost immediately turned right off the trail and into the woods heading northeast.

As we walked through the woods we crossed an overgrown but well-defined woods road which we though we might investigate on the way back. A we continued on, we found a stream flowing to the northeast and east. At first we followed it and then crossed over to the other side. When I spotted some "open ground", we headed more north and were soon at the edge of the beaver meadow. In fact, there was some meadow and some open water. I took some pictures of what turned out to be mountain laurel while Dr. Kudish surveyed the plant life. He found a small seedling which appeared top be red spruce but could find no other trees of this species. We crossed over to the other side of a small stream and found more red spruce seedlings and, finally, a single adult tree. The beaver meadow is at the southern end of Sand Pond and the outlet stream, Butternut Brook, flows through the middle of it. Dr. Kudish and Kurt Knuth stopped to survey some leather leaf and other species while I scouted ahead. Butternut Brook became more defined and made a definite turn to the southeast. At this turn was a small beaver pond with a lodge and plenty of evidence of beaver activity. After completing their plant survey, Kurt, Dr. Kudish and I started to walk back to the main trail along the brook. There were many large trees of different species along the way and we measured many of them. Some where close to 40 inches in diameter. The age of the tree depends greatly on the species and the conditions under which it grows. Many of these trees are between 150 years and 250 years old. When we hit the main trail, we took a break, measured some more trees and then headed back to the car. As always the walk back seemed long but we kept a pretty good pace. At times, it would have been shorter to bushwhack over a hill right to the car but we all agreed to stay on the trail. When we got back to the car, I was surprised to see that we had hiked 8.2 miles and had been out for 5.5 hours. It seemed like a much shorter time and I would like to hike with Dr. Kudish again. If you ever have the chance to hike with this knowledgeable man, I suggest you drop everything else to do so. Dr. Kudish will be lecturing at Morgan Outdoors sometime this summer or fall.

On Sunday, June 26th the sun finally reappeared and the weather forecast showed no hint of rain. I was ready to hike a "long one" but Morgan Outdoors was sponsoring a hike at Russell Brook with Dr. Mike Kudish. Dr. Kudish is a Professor Emeritus who taught at Paul Smith's College for many years. He is THE expert of the forests in the Catskills. His research is diverse but concentrates on the development of the forest, first growth forests, bogs and the effect of humans on the forest. A complete explanations the depth and breadth of his work would be impossible. His latest book "Where Did The Tracks Go - In the Catskills" continues the story of the importance of railroads in the Adirondacks and Catskills. When I hike, I usually have a destination in mind and want to hike log and fast to get to my destinations. I have wanted to hike with Dr. Kudish for some time and was grateful for this opportunity. This hike would be specifically directed toward the effect of the acid factories and the dye works along the Beaverkill at Butternut Grove and along Russell Brook. This area was just one of the many areas that experienced extensive logging during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. To move the logs cut to the factories a narrow gauge railroad was constructed on Russell Brook by George Treyz. The group finally assembled at the lower Russell Brook parking area at about 1:40 PM. We walked down Russell Brook Road for a short distance to a woods road that was on the left. Only a little distance into the woods were the remains of the Russell Brook school. This small school was one of the many that served small communities and may have educated the children of loggers and factory workers who lived in the area. We followed the woods road back across Russell Brook Road and down to the stream. Clearly visible on the other side was a stone abutment. This shows that the road crossed the stream on a bridge. On the other side we could barely make out a clearing where logs were stockpiled until they could be shipped to the factories by train.

The group walked back up to the road that leads to the falls and the trail around Trout and Mud Ponds. As we crossed the bridge, Dr. Kudish stopped to talk about invasive species spurred on by a tall stand of Japanese knotweed. He mentioned that many species of weeds and grasses that we consider native plants are really foreign "invaders". Many of these plants were brought over from Europe in the hay that was used to feed livestock. We walked over to the falls to take some pictures and observe the lower and upper dams. These dams were used to control the water flow on the brook primarily for power generation downstream near Butternut Grove. After this, we headed up to Trout Pond. Along the way I took the path down to the campsites and discovered that a road leaves the other end of the campsite. One branch heads down to the stream while the other winds around to meet the main trail. After stopping at the shores of Trout Pond near the outlet we continued toward the inlet. Along the way Dr. Kudish pointed out a couple of woods roads that branch off on the right of the trail. These roads have a gentle slope and have rocks pushed to the side. It is likely that these are logging roads that may date back to the acid wood era. The acid factories took hardwood timber and turned it into charcoal. They distilled the wood into methanol, acetone and many other products. One dye factory on the Beaverkill produced most of the khaki dye used for World War I uniforms.

At the head end of the lake we stopped for a snack. Dr. Kudish discussed the importance of the forest around Russell Brook in the rethinking of his theories about human effects on the forests. The area around Arkville where he lives is another area that had acid factories. However, the forests in the two areas differ greatly. Around Arkville, the forest have an abundance of oak, hickory and chestnut trees. The Russell Brook area has more beech, maple and black cherry. Based on his observations around Arkville, Dr. Kudish expected to find similar forests around Russell Brook. He now feels the difference is the influence of the Native Americans that preceded the acid factories. There was much greater Native American activity in the valleys around Arkville and Margaretville than in the Russell Brook area. These Native Americans mostly likely planted the oaks, hickories and chestnuts to harvest the nut crop for themselves and their livestock. Dr. Kudish is still investigating this hypothesis but will likely rewrite his Catskill Forest book to reflect this and other newer information. We arrived back at the car around 5:00 PM after a thoroughly enjoyable time.

Spring 2011

Peters Kill Stony Kill On Wednesday, June 15th I decided to get in a hike a little further away from home. I thought that Minnewaska would be less crowded in midweek and headed over that way. My plan was to visit some of the falls in the park especially Stony Kill Falls and the falls along the Peters Kill. Sheba and I arrived at Shaft Road just after 9:00 Am and I was surprised to find another vehicle parked by the side of the road. We got going almost immediately by walking through the gate and toward the Stony Kill. This area has an access to the underground aqua duct that conducts water from the Catskill reservoirs to New York City. The access point is fenced and secured. There is also a helipad next to the fenced in area. When we got to the Stony Kill, I was surprised to see that there was relatively little water in the stream bed. It was easy to walk across the small dam and over to the other side. Ulster County must have gotten less rain than in Livingston Manor! There is no formal trail but the path on the other side is pretty clear and we followed the creek up to the falls. The rocks at the base of the falls are LARGE and titled in interesting formations. These rocks were also slippery despite the fact that they looked dry. I carefully climbed to a perch where I could take some pictures of the falls. I had hoped for more water but at leas there was enough to make the falls interesting. We followed the same general path back to the car without incident. I had thought about bushwhacking to the top of the falls but didn't think it would be that interesting with the low volume of water. We were back at the car by (;45 Am having covered the 1.3 mile hike in only 40 minutes. Most of this time was spent on photography. I hoped the rest of the falls would be more impressive.

After hiking to Stony Kill Falls and returning to the car, I drove toward Minnewaska State Park. I deiced to avoid the parking fee and use the Jenny Lane lot. I had never hiked in from this area and though it might be nice. I parked at around 10:00 Am and Sheba and I got right on the trail. The "trail" is actually a road and then woods road for most of the way to the High Peters Kill Trail. This path parallels Routes 44/55 and is rocky but pretty open. In one or two places I had to carefully look for the trail and there was some blow down to walk around. We headed east and then south and finally southeast for about a mile and in less than 20 minutes we were at the start of the High Peters Kill Trail. I had always hiked this trail by visiting Awosting Falls first and then hiking down the Peters Kill. This hike would reverse that and we would hike down the High peters Kill trail and then up the Peters Kill. As we started the hike the rhododendron was in full bloom and I stopped to take some pictures. The temperature was rising and the humidity was high. As soon as I stopped I noticed the small cloud of insects around me! I did not need any additional bites so I spread some "natural" insect repellent on me and continued. There are some nice views from rock ledges along this trail and I stopped several times to take pictures. Haze hung over the hills but I got some good shots including a few of the Smiley Tower. The local insects apparently like the smell of citronella so I broke out the 100% DEET which seemed to discourage most of them. By 11:30 AM we were at the lowest point of the hike where a footbridge crosses the Peters Kill. This was about 2.8 miles from the car and about 1.9 Miles since we had started on the High Peters Kill Trail. Along the way we had met several people. One woman had a particularly "energetic" young dog which Sheba ignored. After crossing the footbridge, we started our trek up the Peters Kill. At times we used the trails and paths but most of the time we just bushwhacked or walked along the stream bed.

The Peters Kill had considerably more water than the Stony Kill and the small waterfalls and rapids along the way were interesting. I took a lot of pictures of even the smaller ones since each seemed different in its own way. At the beginning of the hike up the stream there was a couple enjoying a break by the stream. Further on a group of young people were coming down the trail to find a place to swim. They were making a lot of noise and were obviously enjoying themselves. We passed the turn for the trail up to the parking area. A little further along, next to a nice waterfall, a large group of hikers had stopped for a break. I was not sure where they had started but were headed up to the Peters Kill parking area. They really liked Sheba! We continued to work our way up the stream bed. Near the upper end of the stream, nearer to the road, the bed becomes steeper and the falls more impressive. One falls was the site of a power generation plant that supplied a hotel near Lake Minnewaska. The powerhouse with the generation equipment and switch panel is till there. The powerhouse is an impressive stonework building with more stonework to stabilize the banks. It looks as if a wooden "pipe" directed the water from the stream onto the turbine. I took many pictures before we continued on up the Peters Kill. We stopped at a few more falls along the way and I took more photographs. I was happy there were no other people along the way as this is a popular area for sunbathing and swimming. By 1:00 PM we had finished the 1.5 mile trip up the stream and were ready to cross the road and go on to Awosting Falls. We were about 4.3 miles and 3 hours into the hike.

The walk along the Peters Kill to Awosting Falls is flat and it went quickly. There was no one at the falls and I got some good pictures. The flow was average. We walked the switchback trail to the top of the falls. At this point I had to decided whether to continue on up to the lake and over to Rainbow Falls or to return to the car. I decided that it was late enough and that Rainbow Falls would probably not be very impressive. Rather than walk the trails back to the car, I decided to walk down the road. We cut through the lower parking area and then walked out to the road. The walk back to the car was under a mile and we arrived at about 1:45 PM. Several other cars were now parked in the lot and two more arrived as we left. We had covered 6.3 miles a little over 3.5 hours. Considering the time spent taking pictures this was a good pace.

On Monday, June 13th track season was finally over with the state championship meet finishing on Saturday. Cindy and I decided to take a short hike despite the ongoing forecast of afternoon thunderstorms. We headed for Hodge and Frick Ponds which are close to our home and are one of our favorite hikes. We were looking to get out of the house and get some exercise at the same time. (Sounds familiar, doesn't it!) It had rained the day and night before and I was anticipating the trails would be wet in places. We decided to head up the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond first as this is usually the drier part of the hike and we could save the wetter sections for the end! We arrived at the parking area at 9:00 AM and immediately crossed the road to start up on the Flynn Trail. The grass was wet but the trail surface was pretty dry. What was evident was the clouds of insects that surrounded us. I knew the bugs were there but they didn't seem to be biting or so I thought! By 9:50 AM we had hiked the 1.7 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail and continued straight ahead toward Hodge Pond. Where the trail next splits we usually go to the left and down to the pond. This time we decided to bear right on the other fork. After a very short walk, we turned left and headed down to the pond. As we approached the trail around the back of the pond, we turned right and headed around the back. All this was for some variety since we hike here so often. At the head end of the pond I walked down to the water to take some pictures. The skies were overcast but I took a few interesting shots. A loud buzzing called my attention to the fact that I was standing in a patch of flowers that some bees felt belonged to them. I quickly yielded by spot and got back on the trail. In a few minutes we were at the trail junction with the Flynn Trail and turned right. It was 10:15 Am and we were 2.75 miles into the hike.

We continued on the Flynn Trail until Junkyard Junction where the Flynn Trail terminates at the Quick Lake Trail. The Flynn Trail was wet in several spots but most could be avoided. At the Junction we turned left to head toward Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail. The first 1.6 miles of this part of the hike are along a snowmobile trail and are downhill. This allows for good drainage and the trail was damp but not to soggy. At Iron Wheel Junction the Quick Lake Trail meets the Logger's Loop. We turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. This trail flattens out some and has a lot of blowdown which has not been cleared in several years! The trail became MUCH wetter and was a swamp in some places. We arrived at the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond and stopped to take a few shots. It was 11:55 AM And we were 5.9 miles into the hike. After a brief stop, we continued on the Quick Lake Trail back to the car. The part of the trail from the pond to the parking area is always wet and this day was no exception. We completed the 6.4 mile hike just before noon taking only 2 hours and 45 minutes.

On Tuesday, June 7th Cindy and I decided to take a short hike despite the ongoing forecast of afternoon thunderstorms. We headed for Trout Pond which is close to our home and offers a nice waterfall. We were looking to get out of the house and get some exercise at the same time. The skies were overcast and it was warm and humid when we arrived at the parking area on Morton Hill Road. We usually park at this upper lot even though the lower parking are on Russell Brook Road is accessible. The hike down the road and passed the falls in gorge below is pleasant and adds a few miles to, what for us. is a short hike. We pretty much did our standard loop by walking down to the lower parking area and then turning onto the wide woods road that heads up to Trout Pond or Cable's Lake, The insects were out in swarms but this part of the trail was relatively dry. We made good time to the lake covering about 1,4 miles in around half an hour. Even though the skies were overcast we stopped to take some pictures before continuing on to the head of the lake. Along the way we found numerous trees that had been broken or toppled in the last wind storm that had turned us back. At the upper end of the lake we turned right to continue on around the pond passing the two lean-tos. Crossing the small inlet stream was easier than I had suspected it might be. After a few shots, we continued on the trail up toward Cherry Ridge.

The trail was damp along the entire length making the footing on some of the rocks tricky. In some places there was standing water but nothing so bad that it could not be avoided. At 11:10 Am we were at Mud Pond and turned left on the woods road that leads back to the falls and completes the loop. We had covered 3.9 miles in about 1.5 fours and were moving right along. From Mud Pond there is a slight uphill and then a long, downhill portion back to the area of the falls. Back at the falls we walked over to the stream bed and down into it. This allows some good angles to photograph the waterfalls. The volume was good and the water clear which made for some nice pictures. We returned to the road and started the trek back up to the car. We were back at noon having covered the 5.6 mile distance in around 2.5 hours.

On Saturday, June 4th I decided to bushwhack Vly and Bearpen. Another hiker, Jane, had contacted me through the website and asked said that she was ready to start some off trail hikes and asked if I would start her off. I said I would be glad to and decided that Bearpen and Vly would make a good introduction. Vly has a pretty well-defined herd path from the col between the two mountains and Bearpen now has roads and snowmobile trails that lead to the summit. This gibes a taste of bushwhacking before hitting Lone and rocky or Friday and Balsam Cap and allows a "two-for-one". After emailing back and forth, we agreed to meet in Margaretville since the trailhead can be hard to find the first time and parking is limited. We both arrived at the parking lot just before 8:00 AM. After transferring Jane's gear to my car and introducing Sheba, we were off for County Route 3 north of Fleischmanns. We arrived at the snowplow turnaround at about 8:10 AM to find no other cars but a field parked full of pickup trucks across from the white house at the end of the road. We didn't see many people and we quickly got our gear and were off up the road by 8:20 AM. Without relating our running conversation, I will say that hiking with Jane was a really pleasure and I look forward to our next walk together! By 8:45 AM we had hiked the mile to the col and turned right onto the herd path that follows the blue and yellow blazes that head toward the summit of Vly.

We followed the herd path with Sheba in the lead most of the time. In a few places there is some steep climbing but there are some level areas where we caught our breath. Once up the first climb we followed the rather diffuse and indistinct path across the flat area before the last steep ascent to the summit. This last part always fools me as there are several spots where I think that the summit is closer than it really is. By 9:30 AM we had covered the 1.7 miles from the trailhead and arrived at the canister. We dropped our packs and head out to the large rock that acts as a lookout. When I climbed up on the rock, I was surprised to find that there actually was a view, limited but clear. I took a few pictures as did Jane before we returned to the canister. We spent about 15 minutes on the top before turning around and heading back down to the col between the mountains. On the way down we took a slightly different route across the flatter area but then headed on over to the path and own the way we had come up. At 10:20 AM we had competed 2.4 miles and arrived at the tar paper hunting shack and walked across the road to hike up Bearpen. We followed the woods road up the mountain until we came to the new snowmobile trail. The roads do make things easier but they are steep in places. A sign said "Closed" but we weren't riding snowmobiles so we decided to chance it.

We turned right onto the snowmobile trail and then made a sharp left after a few hundred feet and began the steep but short climb up to the next flat area. We hit the flatter area and walked along a woods road and snowmobile trail for a while. The trail and road abruptly end but we continued on up the mountain on a faint path. I suspect the snowmobile trail will be cut through at some time as there seem to be ribbons marking the way. After a short walk through the woods, we again hit the woods road and turned right. We followed the road up to the first lookout. I was surprised to see that there were some nice views with only some haze on the next mountain range. We stopped to take some pictures which included a backdrop of the Schoharie Reservoir, Huntersfield, Ashland Pinnacle and Richmond. We decided to walk to the field that makes up the next viewpoint before grabbing some lunch. As we walked over to the field I pointed out the machinery just off the trail which may have been involved in the ski area operations that were on this mountain at one time. We stopped to take some more pictures and heard some voices which seemed to be coming from just a little further on. We walked over to the next clearing and found a group from the 3500 Club enjoying lunch. We had hiked about 4 miles and it was just after 11:30 AM. This group had started after we did and had chosen to climb Bearpen first. Someone in the group recognized Sheba and asked if I was catskillhiker.com. I was pleased that several people in the group had used this website to get information for their hikes! We spent some time talking to the group and eating lunch. I usually don't like to stop but the weather was pleasant as was the company. We started back at about 11:40 AM and the hike backed seemed to go very fast as we talked and walked. We were back at the car just before 1:00 PM having covered 6.6 miles and 2100 feet of elevation gain in 4.5 hours.

On Monday, May 30th I decided that I needed to bag one or two more 35's in May. After consulting my grid, I headed for Hunter and SW Hunter to hike them from Notch Lake. The previous few days had seen some rain and the morning was overcast so I was in no hurry to get to my destination. I was hoping that things would dry out some before I arrived. As I drove up Route 214 from Phoenicia the sun came out and the skies cleared some. I paid my $6 parking fee at the office and drove up the road to park at Notch Lake. There were a few cars in the lot and I noticed that the lake was very high. Sheba and I got out and were ready to hike just before 10:00 AM. As we started up the trail it became obvious that the rain and high humidity had not allowed anything to dry out. Before even starting any serious elevation gain, I had lost my footing on slippery rocks more than once. As we started up the first incline, we met a couple coming down. They did not have king poles and were trying to steady themselves with branches. I was glad I had my hiking poles! As we approached the rock wall and cliffs, I was surprised to see a large pile of rock in the path. This had broken off one of the walls and fallen into the trail. I am used to trees blowing down and blocking a path but this was a new experience for me! I stopped to take some pictures and then climb over the rocks on the new path that had begun to develop. The trail continues up through and around rocks with a couple of switchbacks for about 1.7 miles before leveling off. This is one of those sections that is always longer than I remember. For the next half mile to the Devil's Acre lean-to the trail is almost flat and we made good time.

Less than a quarter mile passed the Len-to is the turn off onto the herd path to SW Hunter. This path is to the north of the mountain and is the easiest way to access the peak. It is not much of a bushwhack anymore as it is well-traveled and very clear. We walked along the herd path for about .6 miles before turning up the mountain. To this point the path is almost flat. The section of the path to the top makes up for the initial flat section! The last part of the path to the top is only .15 miles with an elevation gain of 150 feet but it seems steeper. We were at the canister just before noon. We had met no other hikers since the initial stretch of the hike. Our break was short as a cloud of insect was zeroing in on us. We turned around and started back to the Devil's Path. This only took about 20 minutes and we turned right to go back passed the lean-to and up to Hunter. We began to see more and more hikers along the way. We passed two or three men headed toward the lean-to from Spruceton and met a larger group of young people at the lean-to itself. Just after the lean-to we turned up the trail to Hunter. This trail is often wet with running water in some spots and swampy areas in others. I was surprised that there was a lot less water than I had expected and it was easily avoided. The distance to the fire tower is about 1.6 miles from the Devil's Path. It initially heads east but then makes a sweeping turn to head north. The elevation gain is less than 500 feet. We were at the tower just before 1:15 PM. I took off the pack and snapped some shots of the tower and cabin before climbing to the landing just below the cab. It was a little windy and there was some haze. The lifts at the Hunter ski area were clearly visible but this is the first time I remember seeing them. Only one other hiker arrived while we were at the top.

We stayed at the summit for about 10 minutes before turning around and heading back down. On the way back to the Devil's Path we met several groups headed to the top. The skies were becoming more overcast and threatened rain. The air was very humid. We hit the Devil's Path just after 2:00 PM and turned left to continue down to the car. On the way back we met a few people coming up and passed a few going down. The lower part of the trail was still damp and the rocks were still slippery. As always in these conditions, going down was more challenging than going up. I signed out at the register and we walked over to Notch Lake. Closer examination showed that the lake was even higher than I had thought! Several of the picnic grills were underwater and the rock that I have walked out onto to take pictures was totally inaccessible. I took a few pictures and then headed back to the car. The 9.5 mile hike took us 5.5 hours. The rains came hard just as we got into the car.

On Tuesday, May 24th I wanted to get in a hike before track practice since the next two days would be consumed by sectional track meets. I headed for Cragsmoor and the Sam's Point Preserve. My plan was to park on Route 52 and hike up the South Gully Trail to the Sam's Point loop road and back. The forecast was for pertly cloudy skies but I knew we would be under the tree canopy most of the time anyway. There had been enough rain to swell the brook some so I was hoping for some good pictures of the falls. Rain also meant wet trails but I hoped I could get around most of these spots. We arrived outside of Ellenville on Route 52 at 9:00 AM and started right out on the hike. The first .25 miles of the hike is mostly flat and actually descends a little before starting to climb at that point. At places the trail hugs the side of the hill and when wet it is a little hard to get a good footing. We walked down to the stream several times so that I could take pictures of the many falls and rapids. The wet spots on the trail weren't too numerous and were easily avoided. In several places the trail crosses the stream or a tributary without benefit of a bridge and in some places the trail could be better marked. By 10:15 AM we had traveled 2.22 miles and were crossing South Gully Road.

Just after the road crossing is a big switchback. From the road the trail climbs another 650 feet in about a mile until the trail meets the Loop Road at the Sam's Point Preserve. This section also has some nice falls so I took more pictures. Near the top the trail flattens and proceeds through some hardwood forest. The path also passes by the remains of some blueberry pickers' shacks which become more dilapidated every year. Sam's Point is still covered in blueberries during the season. At one time this was a commercial venture and pickers would stay in small shacks to pick as many berries as they could. When we hit the loop road, I noticed that the skies were dark and that it was starting to sprinkle. We turned around and headed back down the trail as a light rain started. It was warm enough that a light rain actually felt good. However, I did not want to get drenched. Whether the storm passed or we walked out of it I don't know but soon there was no more rain. Since I had taken pictures on the way up, we hurried back to the car. we were back by 12:20 PM having covered the 6.1 mile hike in 3.5 hours.

On Sunday, May 22nd I decided that I needed to hike after a busy Friday and Saturday filled with track meets. I wanted something fairly close but challenging. The weather forecast was variable but I thought perhaps the skies would clear in the mid-morning. I decided I wanted to add a 35 to my grid and Panther was showing an empty slot. I had not climbed Panther from the north using the Fox Hollow Trail in some time so I thought that might be a nice idea. Sheba and I headed out the DeBruce Road on then hit Route 47 passed Frost Valley. In Big Indian we turned right on Route 28. Just after Route 42 turns north in Shandaken, I began to look for Fox Hollow Road on the right. After turning on Fox Hollow, the trailhead parking is about 1.6 miles up the road on the right. I parked at 945 AM and we got right on the trail. The trail was wet in places from the rain but all these spots could be avoided. Everything was very green as we walked on the trail through hardwood forests. The trail actually starts out heading north and then northwest before heading west and finally south. At around 1.8 miles thee trail turns south and runs on contour until around .2 miles where it attains the ridge. From this point on the trail stays on the ridge.

As we ascended we were walking through fog and clouds continuously. Any possible lookouts showed only a glimpse of scenery through a mass of white. I decided to head for the summit and try taking pictures on the way back. Along the way on the ridge there are two or three false summits which fooled me even though I knew they were their. One of these is quite flat and open with a shelf of rock. We passed over these with me silently cursing thee fact that I had forgotten what a long slog this was especially when there is no view. The final push up Panther is through some interesting rock formations covered in moss. Everything was damp which made foot placement really important. We arrived at the summit at 12:30 PM after hiking about 47 miles. I snapped a few shots of fog and then we started back. On the way back down the fog cleared a little as a breeze blew it out of the valleys and off the peaks. It did seem that as soon as one breeze blew some away another would deliver clouds from some other location. We stopped on the open false summit and I got some pictures of Panther and the valleys below. From here we kept up a quick pace back to the car. We were back by 3:20 PM covering 9.4 miles in 5.5 hours. I think I will try to do this hike again when I can get better views.

On Thursday, May 19th, after leaving Angel Falls, I drove out the Peekamoose Road toward Ashokan High Point to view and photograph some more waterfalls. There are an incredible number of waterfalls on the left side of the road as you head toward West Shokan. I stopped at Bear Hole falls and Buttermilk Falls to take pictures. There are two more significant falls after that and several other smaller ones. A few are on private property so I stayed near the road. There is one nice falls farther back in the woods but I believe it is on private property and the same volume of water that makes it interesting makes it hard to get to.

What was really impressive on this day was the number of falls on the OTHER side of the road. These falls are not normally present but their small flow was augmented by the recent rains. Several were quite large and would lead one to believe they were permanent. I tried getting some pictures through the trees but none were worth keeping.

On Thursday, May 19th I decided to hike to some waterfalls to take pictures. I felt the recent rains would have the falls roaring and would make for some good photography. I headed first to Angel Falls in Yagerville above the Rondout Reservoir. I parked at the end of the dead end road to walk down to the stream. The signage here is confusing as some DEP signs say NO TRESPASSING while others say that hiking is permitted. Angel Falls has two distinctly different sections. We walked down the old road and headed to the left to go to the upper falls first. The upper falls have a higher drop but are harder to photograph. We worked our way to the area above the falls and I took some shots. Next we walked on the path that parallels the falls and then slipped and slid our way down to the stream. Places that we normally walk were under water but I was able to get some good angles. The volume was amazing and I took a lot of still shots. I also took a movie clip more for the sound that the picture. We walked back up the bank to the path and headed down stream to the lower falls.

The lower drop at Angel Falls does not have the height of the upper but it has two parts and the volume seems greater. I shot the upper section first and found the rocks to be VERY slippery. We walked down to the stream bed and the level of water made getting the shots I wanted difficult. Some day I want to get to the other side of the stream to see what it is like and to shoot some pictures from that side. I also took a video clip of the lower falls. We headed back up to the car and I decided to head for the Peekamoose Road.

On Friday, May 13th I got up early intending to execute a hike I had been planning all week! I wanted to hike from Colgate Lake to Blackhead Mountain. Since I usually hike solo, I planned to make this and out and back of a little over 14 miles. The forecast throughout the week was for partly sunny skies and no rain until the night before. When I woke up on Friday it was completely overcast and raining in Livingston Manor. My initial reaction was to call off my plans and do something closer to home. After consulting the radar and forecasts I decided I might be lucky enough to miss the rain as far north as Blackhead. In addition, I remembered that I had several different "solutions" for rainy weather. So, I got a little later start than I expected but the rain did stop somewhere around Slide Mountain although the skies remained gloomy. We arrived at Colgate Lake at about 9:45 AM and I was reminded that it was turkey season by the hunters getting out of their cars near the lake. I parked at he larger lot on the left and we got out. I decided that I did not need my light softshell and left it in the car. I had on a light long sleeved shirt and I packed a windbreaker and rain jacket. I took some pictures of the Escarpment Trail, Arizona and the Blackhead Range before we headed out of the parking lot at 9:50 AM. We walked across the field and into the woods as a few sprinkles began to fall. The initial part of the trail is largely an old woods road. It was only a little damp to the first bridge at 1.25 miles and we made good time. The trail follows this road but is somewhat circuitous to avoid the private inholding of Lake Capra. The road connected the fertile Jewett Valley with the markets on the east side of the Escarpment by passing through a gap called Dutcher's Notch. At 2.0 miles we came across the second bridge and the trail was still in good shape with only a few wet spots to avoid.

Just after the 2 mile mark we turned a corner and the trail became a swamp. There was standing water that I suspect was the result of beaver activity somewhere. There was a lot of deep, black mud that was hard to completely avoid. We did make our way through without mishap but a slip in several places would have been very messy. Fortunately, this did not last for very long and was the only really wet spot on the trail. At about 2.3 miles we entered into an evergreen forest and I walked off a path to the left to a large beaver meadow. Even though the skies were overcast there were nice views of the Escarpment, Arizona and the Blackhead Range. I took some pictures and then walked back out to the main trail. The trail in this area had a lot of blowdown; some new and some old. We continued our walk under cloudy skies and occasional sprinkles. The black flies weren't too bad as long as we kept moving! At 2.5 miles we crossed the third bridge over the East kill or its smaller tributaries. The bridge showed that the beavers had been actively constructing a dam in the culvert under the bridge. This had been cleared and the beaver pond on the left of the trail on the other side of the bridge was almost empty. Shortly after this we crossed the two logs that make up the fourth bridge after which the trail took a sharp right onto the old road. We stopped at this turn as the field there offers some more great views of the Blackhead Range. After some pictures, we got back on the main trail. I did not stop at the small falls on the right of the trail although I could hear the water. The trail/road here was a lot of rocks and the rain began to fall a little harder. I decided I might need to alter the plan to go all the way to Blackhead but I was going to make it to Arizona!

For the next 1.5 miles we hiked up toward Dutcher Notch as the trail began to climb a little more seriously. In many places high stone cliffs rise on either side. In other places there is a deep gorge on the left side of the trail. After 4.25 miles we reached the Escarpment Trail. It was 11:45 AM so over 4 miles in two hours with time for pictures wasn't bad. We turned left and started to gain some real elevation as the rain turned from sprinkles to showers! The climb up Arizona was very interesting. It was beautiful in spots despite the rain and steep and difficult in others. There were several switchbacks and a few scrambles up and over rocks. There was even a "tunnel" in one spot. When we reached the plateau near the top, the rain stopped and we walked to a nice lookout at the 5 mile mark. I WILL go back to this pot as the views were hazy at best but must be wonderful on clearer days! I could see down to Lake Capra and over toward the Hudson. I took a few pictures and then decided to press on since Blackhead seemed so near. Without looking at the map, I reasoned that we had already done quite a bit of climbing and the rest of the trek to the top would be relatively easy! For the next .8 miles there was about a 300 foot elevation gain but it seemed very easy. The trail follows the narrow spine of the escarpment and the Blackhead Range. After this we actually dropped over a 100 feet and began a gentle climb up toward Blackhead for .75 miles.

At this point the climb began to get steep all the way to the summit of the mountain. For the next half mile we gained 500 feet. There are two areas before the summit that look remarkably like the top. The second has the legend "Camp Steel 1936" painted in white on the rocks. We were at the top by 1:15 PM having covered almost exactly 7 miles in 3.5 hours. There isn't much to see at the summit so I took a few pictures and we stared back. On the way down we met the only other hiker we would see. He had dropped his bike on Barnum Road and then parked at Colgate Lake. I resolved to teach Sheba how to drive or at least how to ride a bike! We stopped only a few times on the way back so that I could snap some pictures. My main priority was to get back without getting soaked. Of course, the closer we got to the car the brighter the skies became. I will admit that the long, flat walk back was a little boring but I was not very tired when we got back to the car. Sheba also seemed in good shape. My GPS told me that we had covered 13.8 miles in 6.5 hours with a moving average speed of 2.5 mph. I was surprised that the vertical was only 2650 feet but, after, "shorter", 6 to 8 mile hikes, it was nice to know I still "have it"! When we left the parking area, I couldn't help but head into Tannersville for a meal at Pancho Villa's before heading home.

On Wednesday, May 11th my son, Kurt, and I decided to do a short hike near home before my afternoon track meet. We decided that Frick and Hodge Pond by way of the Quick Lake and Flynn Trails would be nice. The forecast was for partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the 60's. Since this area is close to home, we were able to get to the parking area and start our hike by 8:30 Am without getting up too early. The temperatures were in the high 50's when we started which was very comfortable. The skies weren't very cloudy and the conditions for taking pictures at both ponds seemed to be ideal. We hit Frick pond by 8:50 Am and there were some geese on the pond. I took pictures of the geese and some more of the pond. We walk clockwise around the pond and bore left at the trail junction to head up the Quick Lake Trail. The trail was damp in places and there is a lot of blowdown. This part of the trail is not open to snowmobiles and is not well maintained. At Iron Wheel junction we turned left to stay on the Quick Lake trail instead of returning on the Logger's Loop. The walk up the hill to Junkyard Junction and the Flynn Trail seemed to go quickly. The Flynn Trail was wet and overgrown in places. When we got to the junction with the trail around Hodge Pond we turned left to go around the back of the pond.

At the head end of Hodge Pond I walked down to the water to take some pictures. It was 10:10 AM we were 4 miles into the hike. There were a lot of salamanders in the water and I was able to shoot through the water. I also took some pictures of the pond as the lighting was advantageous and the colors were beautiful. We continued to walk around the pond to the outlet where we rejoined the Flynn Trail, Sheba enjoyed a drink and getting soaked in the pond. I took some more pictures before we headed back to the parking area. We were at the car just before noon having spent around 3 hours on the 6.8 mile hike with plenty of time spent taking photographs.

On Monday, May 9th my son, Kurt, and I decided to do a short hike with a view. We got a late start and I had a track meet in the afternoon so I chose to go to Jensen Ledges in Lordville north of Long Eddy. In particular, I wanted to investigate what seemed to be a pile of laid up stone that makes up the first set of ledges. We loaded up our gear and Sheba and were in Long Eddy by about 10:20 AM. I wanted to see if I could find the end of the Bouchouxville Trail in Long Eddy. I wanted a slightly longer hike than the one from the other end and also was interested in seeing something different. We turned down a side road in Long Eddy but soon began to see too many posted signs. There didn't seem to be anyone to ask so we got back on Route 97 north and headed for Lordville Road. In Lordville we headed out toward the trail head on the dirt road which was in pretty good condition. We arrived at the dead end trail head at 10:45 AM and started to hike immediately. Without the snow, the hike on the bare woods road went quickly. There were a few wet spots but they were easily bypassed. The sky was blue with only a few clouds and within a short distance I removed and stowed by light jacket. Within less than half an hour we were at the small creek just before the ledges. The creek was running with some volume due to the recent rains. I took some pictures from the top and then decided to work my way down the side of the falls. I avoided the slipperiest rocks and got pretty far down before deciding it was too "exciting" to go further. I took quite a few pictures before climbing backup. As always, up was easier than down!

We walked out to the ledges and the large cairn that has been erected. Without the snow, it was very clear that this was an area where bluestone had been quarried. There is a deep pit and many scraps of stone lying around. Kurt found machine marks on several of the stones. I walked around and took pictures of the stone. The views were wonderful on this clear day and I took a lot of shots. We continued our hike by walking over to the large open rock ledge that make up the "second" set of ledges. The views from here were even better and I took more pictures. We turned around and followed our route back to the carat this point, we decided to walk down to the river. This is a short walk and just before getting to the river we stopped to take pictures on the railroad tracks. After this, we climbed over the flat cars and walked down to the river. We could walk out quite a ways. I took pictures up and down the river and of the ledges we had just visited. We walked back to the car and headed home. We did stop in Long Eddy at The Basket Creek Historical Society but it didn't look like anyone had been there for some time. Our hike was a little over 3 miles and lasted less than 2 hours but it was fun just the same!

On Friday, May 6th my son, Kurt, and I decided to meet somewhere to go hiking. I wanted to go to Breakneck Ridge as it is one of my favorites and I had not been there for some time. Kurt lives near Poughkeepsie which made it a shorter drive for him. We decided to meet at the parking area at 9:00 AM since I had to be home for my retirement dinner that evening. Sheba and I left Livingston Manor around 7:30 AM and headed to our destination by way of Bear Mountain. Once on Route 9D headed north I remembered how long the drive was and called Kurt. He was just outside of Beacon and we agreed to meet at the parking area for Little Stony Point. When we arrived, Kurt was already there and we transferred to his car for the ride back to Breakneck Ridge. We were able to park in one of the few spaces right next to the tunnel and the trailhead. There was only one other car parked when we started out on the trail at 9:15 AM. The temperature when I left the house was 31 degrees but when we left the trailhead it was already 55 degrees. Kurt ware a vest over short sleeves but I opted for a single long sleeved layer. The sky had a few clouds but blue was the predominant color. The Hudson River was a little muddy but most of the trees were green with buds or new leaves. I had forgotten how much fun it is to climb Breakneck Ridge! It is mostly rock with some nearly vertical areas and other places that require traversing steep rock slabs. Most of these areas have alternate trails to allow you to pick your own root. As we ascended I remembered that there are a series of "false summits", places where you think you are on top of the ridge but aren't. We made a lot of stops along the way so that I could take pictures of the route and shots across the river.

By 10:50 AM we had traveled about .85 miles and had much of the vertical ascent behind us. At this point the yellow Undercliff Trail heads off to the right and is the shortest way back to The Cornish Estate. We continued on the main trail and made a few more ascents. At 1.6 miles the red Breakneck Bypass Trail branches off to the left. A little further on at 1.9 miles the blue Notch Trail turned right. We took this trail and started to descend down the mountain toward Breakneck Brook and the Cornish Mansion ruins. By noon we were at the pond near the dairy barn where we took some pictures before going on to the ruins. We walked around the barn taking pictures and looking at the ruins in detail. After inspecting the barn, we continued on the Brook Trail toward the Cornish Mansion. We continued passed the point where the blue Notch Trail turns off to the left and crossed the yellow Undercliff Trail. The footbridge on the Brook Trail was wished away but we could find 1 none of the prices. Fortunately, someone had placed a log across the stream with a sturdy branch for a "handrail". The bridge over Breakneck Brook on the Undercliff Trail was untouched and in good shaped. We continued own the Brook Trail until the junction with the Cornish Trail. We went to the left to follow the blue Cornish Trail.

By about 12:30 PM we were at the first indication of the Cornish ruins; the large cistern beside the road that is the Cornish Trail. Just a few hundred feet down from the cistern is the greenhouse. The greenhouse appears, from the trail, to be primarily a wrought iron framework. We walked down the circular driveway to the front of the greenhouse, something I had never done before. The greenhouse from in front is even more impressive with solid stonework and interesting details. I took many pictures before walking through the woods to the main mansion. I had not been here in two years and never in a season when the vines had not yet grown in. The stonework was much easier to see without the vines covering it. There is a covered area where carriages and cars could pull up to let passengers disembark. The interior chimney with fireplaces for each floor is easily seen. In the front there are inlaid tiles on the "floor" and the window sills are thick pieces of slate. I walked around more than I had before and found several outbuildings and structures. Kurt and I visited some of these and took pictures before returning to the main trail to continue on toward the Little Stony Point parking area. The "trail" at this point is the driveway from the mansion and is at least .75 miles long. The concrete used for the driveway is in good shape as is the reinforcing cement used to prevent rock slides from the ridge.

We arrived at the parking area for Little Stony Point and crossed the Route 9D at 1:15 PM. Little Stony Point projects out into the Hudson and was quarried for stone. We walked a roughly anticlockwise route around the point. Our first stop was a north facing beach with white sand and a lot of driftwood. Unfortunately, the beach also had its share of garbage! We continued to walk around the edge of the point and had a nice view of West point. As we continued back to where we started, we turned left on a path that leads up to the highest rocky crag on this point. The rocky overlook is not very high but it overlooks the very flat river. We had views north to Breakneck Ridge, Storm King Mountain and Pollepel Island. To the south were good views of the United States Military Academy at West Point. We took pictures and then returned to the car by 1:50 PM. We had hiked 6.0 miles in about 4.5 hours. I will be returning to this area to hike some different trails on the east side and on the west side at Storm King Mound and Black Rock Forest.

On Thursday, May 5th Cindy and I headed to Trout Pond to do a short hike. I wanted to see how Russell Brook Falls was flowing after the most recent rain storms. We arrived around 11:00 AM and started our hike down Russell Brook Road to the lower parking area. The road was in good shape but I always like to walk rather than drive down the road. As we approached the falls the crescendo of noise announced that the stream was indeed flowing well. I wanted to get a closer look and so found a place to walk down the steep bank to an area that overlooks the upper rapids and the lower falls. I took pictures of the upper falls and then dropped down almost to the brink of the lower falls to get some more shots. I wanted to drop down to the base of the lower falls but it was slippery so I decided to go back up to the road. After a hundred feet or so, I was able to find another path down the steep bank and eventually made my way to the base of the main falls. This was a different angle than I normally get and I took quite a few pictures before walking along the bank to the large boulder in the middle of the stream. I had not taken pictures from here before and the view was very good. The slight elevation and head on view may be even better than taking pictures from the stream bed on the other side. After completing my shots, I walked along the bank to the ruins of the dam and took a few more photographs. Cindy also walked along part of this route to take her own shots. We both headed back to the bridge on the main trail and started up toward Trout Pond. The trail was wet in paces and there was a slight breeze blowing. The day was warm with blue skies and some white clouds.

As we walked up the wide wood road to the pond, we noticed a lot of recent blowdown. At the outlet end of the pond the breeze was now a wind and there were white caps on the pond. I took some pictures as I began to get cold. Back on the main trail we started to head toward the upper end of the pond. The wind increased and many of the trees, some already damaged, began to crack around us. We decided to return the way we had come. As we dropped down from the pond, calm returned as we were protected from the full force of the wind. It was at this point that I discovered that I had lost my gloves. Back at the falls, I decided I would retrace my steps to see if I could find my lost gloves. I did not remembered putting them down to use the camera and I always put them in a pocket when I do. I found them on my path near the stream where they had silently escaped my pocket. Cindy was on the other side of the stream and I heard her exclamation. She had discovered a snake which initially hid under a rock. Now the snake was coming toward her from underneath the rock in an aggressive bob and weave motion. I walked around to where she had "escaped" from the snake and walked up to the dam where she had found it. The snake Was sunning itself and went under a rock as I approached. Seconds later it came out from under the rock and approached. It wasn't more than two feet long but it DID have an attitude! I took some pictures and got it to follow my hand movements. After several more shots, I left the snake in peace and we headed back to the car. The 3.5 mile hike wasn't long but 2 hours was enough for some exercise in the sunny weather.

On Sunday, May 1st my friend Kevin wanted to go hiking. The forecast was for partly sunny skies with temperatures in the 60's. I decided we wanted a view and that the closest one was from the Balsam Lake Fire Tower. Kevin arrived at my house before noon and headed up the Beaverkill Road. As we passed the Beaverkill Valley Inn, Kevin asked about it and I realized he had not been in this area before. I pointed out some of the major "landmarks" as we continued up the road to the trailhead. We were at the trailhead at the end of the Beaverkill Road just before 12:30PM. One hiker and his dog were returning from Graham Mountain. He was from New Paltz and had just started his quest for the 35's. I told him I had been on Graham less than a week ago and had to deal with some snow. He told us the only remaining snow was off the trail and that only a few patches of ice remained. We headed out at about 12:35 PM for our hike. We walked and talk and the 20 minutes and .9 miles to the first trail junction went by quickly. As we climbed the steeper side of the mountain I could tell it was the third day in a row hiking. I was not keeping up my usual pace. Sheba seemed a little tired also. I originally had put on a long sleeved top and a light windbreaker. I packed a light softshell jacket! When we got to the trail head, I had left the shell in the car and now on the ascent I put the windbreaker in my pack. The temperatures were easily in the 60's with only and occasional breeze.

At about 1.45 miles we were at the sign for the lean-to and I mentioned to Kevin that I had never been there. He suggested we walk out to it and we did. The lean-to and privy are in good shape. The trail to the lean-to is only about 600 feet! We stopped for a moment and took some pictures before returning to the main trail to finish the climb. Just after the trail to the lean-to we passed the 3500 foot sign and the spring in quickly succession and were soon on the summit plateau. By 1:45 PM we had traveled the 2 miles to the summit and broke out into the clearing. There was a group of about 8 hikers finishing a meal. They had come in from the Millbrook side. I didn't want Sheba checking out their lunch so I had her climb the tower stairs to the first landing and stay there while I went up to take some pictures. She never moved. Kevin followed my up. The skies were more overcast than I would have liked without the clouds that make for pretty pictures. The trees are still bare of leaves and the only greens were the balsam fir. The visibility was good and I did take pictures of the far mountains which seemed to stretch on forever! After finishing our photography, we descended the tower, took some pictures of a dog basking in the sun and started won the other side of the mountain. As we walked, we got some good looks at Graham peeking through the trees. This part of the trail has some flat spots which were very wet but were also easily avoided. Again, the hike back to the first trail junction went quickly as we walked and talked. Just before the trail register we met four young people from SUNY Delhi beginning their hike. We were back at the car by 2:55 PM having covered the 4.5 mile hike with 1250 feet of vertical gain in about 2 hours and 20 minutes.

On the way back to Livingston Manor, I pointed out the suspension bridge at the start of the Hardenburgh trail. Levin suggested we stop and so we did. There was a car and a motorcycle in the small parking area. Kevin signed in and we walked down to the bridge. The Beaverkill was running high due to the recent rains and the bridge was definitely necessary. Several others times I have visited it would have been just as easy to hop across the river on some stones! The bridge is very interesting and unlike any other in the area. It is a true suspension bridge with steel towers at either end. Suspension cables hold up a wooden plank deck. The bridge sways quite a bit more than I would like and some of the boards are a little loose and old. I took pictures from the near end and then walked to the middle to take some of the stream. After this, I walked down stream a little to get a side view. After this, we walked back up to the car and headed home.

On Saturday, April 30th I finished at Pratt Rock and Hardenburgh Falls and was headed home around the Pepacton Reservoir. As I approached Barkaboom Road it occurred to me that I could visit Tompkins Falls on the way back. I took a left on Barkaboom Road and was soon at the falls. It was, like all the other falls, flowing swiftly with a high volume and making a lot of noise. After parking, we walked down the road and down the bank to the creating wall to take some pictures of the falls head on. I wanted a better angle so I worked my way down to the creek bed and started to inch along the "shore" At one point I was grabbing on to one slippery rock with my hand and was about to step onto another slippery rock to duck under a cascade coming from a drain pipe. I re-evaluated my decision and turned around. Back at the car, we walked down to the top of the falls and I took many shot from different angles. The water had been flowing long enough to clear out most of the mud and the scene was very "wild" despite the proximity of the road.

On Saturday, April 30th I finished bushwhacking to the falls around Halcott by 2:00 PM and headed toward Parvenus just miles away. Pratt Rock just outside Prattsville is a short walk through a small local park to some high rock ledges that overlook Schoharie Creek. This would be the "view" I was looking for on this day. We arrived at about 2:30 PM AND GOT RIGHT OUT TO HIKE. This time I knew right where I was going and the path was clear. The history of Pratt Rock and Zaddock Pratt, the man who commissioned it is very interesting. Sheba and I hiked through the lower part of the park with its paths and picnic tables with one stop so that I could take a picture of Pratt Rock and all of its carvings from below. We then hiked around the back of the rock to ascend on the short but steep path. Once on top the little valley along the creek was laid out below. It was very green and the creek was swollen from all the rain. The small rapids in town were easily seen. I took pictures of the valley, the creek and the hills including a panorama. I left my pack at the first lookout and we hiked up to the next set of ledges to get a different perspective. After taking some more pictures, I picked up my pack and headed back down the trail that runs across the base of the cliffs with the carvings. The rock is slowly deteriorating and the carvings need a fresh coat of white wash. Vegetation that has been allowed to grow in the cracks on the rocks is slowly helping along the destruction. I took several pictures before we started back down to the car. We passed a young boy and his father on the up. Back at the car I decided to head for Grand Gorge and Route 30 to make a sort of loop and to avoid using the same route to get back home.

As I was looking at the map, I noticed a falls marked at the south end of the reservoir. It was marked Hardenburgh Falls on Intake Road and I knew I had never been to that location. As I pulled away from Pratt Rock I knew where I was headed. The road and the falls were easy to find but I wasn't expecting too much. I parked just after the bridge over the creek on Intake Road and walked out on the bridge to inspect the falls. It was a substantial falls with a nice drop and a high volume of water. I decided New York City wouldn't mind too much if Sheba and I headed down the path to the base of the falls to take a few quick shots. I took some pictures from the bridge and then headed down to a rock ledge that gives a view over the brink of the falls and back up the stream under the bridge. After a few pictures, we walked own the path into the creek bed. I took some additional shots from this angle and continued to be impressed by the volume and sound of the falls. We walked back to the car and headed toward Grand Gorge. I intended to drive back to Route 8 on Route 30 and then around the Pepacton Reservoir and home.

On Saturday, April 30th I was busy in the morning helping with a 5K running event at the high school where I coach. I thought I would have a comity in the afternoon and had not planned to hike. When the commitment evaporated, I drove from Liberty back to Livingston Manor in beautiful weather. The forecast was for NO RAIN and partly sunny skies with temperatures in the high 60's. I decided that I wanted to go somewhere with a view AND inspect some waterfalls that I thought would be flowing freely from all the rain! I deiced to satisfy a long held curiosity and investigate the falls near Halcott Mountain. I had been to the falls by the parking area and another one further away. I wanted to investigate the three falls I could see from Route 42 by bushwhacking to each and then maybe walking upstream a little. Sheba and I arrived at the parking area around noon and set off on this adventure. We stopped by the first falls and I took some shots. The volume of water was as high as I have ever seen and the light was good. The only way to cross over was to hike up to the top of the falls and jump from stone to stone across the swollen creek. We then headed through the woods roughly paralleling Route 42 until we got to the next stream. When we arrived at the water, it too was flowing nicely. When I looked upstream I could see more cascades so we bushwhack up the side of the creek. This happened several more times until we were at least a half mile upstream and the land was rising sharply. At this point the volume of water was less and I stopped to take pictures. We worked our way downstream and stopped at each small waterfall to take some pictures. To me each seemed subtly different and I found the experienced very relaxing and enjoyable. Once we were down as far as we could go, the stream was too high and wide to cross so we headed to a point I had seen upstream where we were could cross.

On our way over to the next waterfall, we encountered some cliffs on the left and had to head a little further up than I had intended. On the way we found several large "piles" of stone that had been laid up like a wall but did not connected to anything else. Jim Kennard and I had seen numerous such structures on Halcott when we hiked it during the winter. They were a mystery then and are still a mystery top me. I took pictures and then we hit the next stream. We headed upstream as we had on the last creek. At the last cascade I could see, we stopped and I took my pictures. We continued to work downstream until we were at the brook that parallels Route 42. At this point, the choice was to head back up and follow our original route or walk along the stream. I elected to stay low and walk along the stream watching for an opportunity to cross and walk the road back to the car. The stream was flowing fast and was deep in places. One tree that had bridged the creek was too high and skinny while the next was a little low. Finally, just after the middle stream and opportunity presented itself and I hopped across some rocks. I was worried about Sheba crossing but this was, as always, a misplaced concern. Sheba simply jumped over the creek and we walked the few hundred feet back to the car. It was around 2:00 PM and now I wanted someplace with a view. We spent longer on the waterfalls than I had intended but I knew that Prattsville and Pratt Rock were less than 10 miles away!

On Friday, April 29th my friend Jim Kennard and I wanted to do a hike that included a view as we were inspired by the forecast for generally clear skies with only a slight chance of rain. Jim had never hiked up the east side of Indian Head so we decided to park at Prediger Road and hike the Devil's Path. We would hike up the east side of Indian Head and down to Jimmy Dolan Notch. From hear we planned to ascend both peaks of Twin and then return to the Notch to get back to the cars. We met at the parking area around 9:45 AM and started to hike almost immediately. The trail was very wet as we walked from the parking area over to the trail that comes in from Platte Clove. Along the way we stopped at a "new" waterfall created by the melting snow and recent rains. By 10:45 AM we had walked the 1.8 miles to where the Devil's Path turns right and up Indian Head. I always remember the first time Cindy saw the sign that stated there was a 1300 foot elevation gain in a little under 2 miles! On the way up to the summit we stopped at all the viewpoints are were treated with good views all the way to the Hudson. As we neared the flat part of the trail before the final ascent to the summit, we ran into quite a bit of snow on the trail and under the surrounding trees. After another brief stop, we continued on to the top. We arrived at the summit of Indian Head at 12:45 PM and continued on the Devil's Path toward Twin.

On the way down Indian Head to the col we stopped to get some pictures of our destination and then continued down. In the col we decided to explore the path that leads to the left or southwest. I thought I had done this before and found nothing but I was wrong. I took the low road between the cliffs that border the path. Jim took the high road on the right. Jim found some campsites and a nice view. I found a beautiful view down the notch and took pictures of the scenery and the surrounding rock walls. Back on the trail we ascended to the east peak of Twin stopping at the viewpoint along the way. We were at the first summit by 1:50 PM and were about 4.8 miles into the hike. The east summit of Twin is one of my favorite views and we stopped for a snack and pictures. There were some dark clouds hanging around which made for interesting shots but made us want to hurry to complete the hike.

We headed off to the higher, western peak of Twin and arrived there at about 2:25 PM. Despite the clouds, we took some time to take in the view and shoot some photographs before heading back to the car. The views a Sugarloaf from this peak are nice as the mountain in really "in your face". We wasted no time in heading back to the east peak and down to Jimmy Dolan Notch. We started down at 3:25 PM having covered 6.4 miles.

I have never liked the trail to Prediger Road through Jimmy Dolan Notch except in the winter. In the winter the snow covers the rocks and you can slide over them on your snowshoes. On this day the rocks were wet and slippery and I did some unintended sliding. When I caught myself during one skip, I put a rather pronounced bend in my Black Diamond poles but was able to straighten it a little. After dealing with the rocks, the next part of the trail has lots of roots to trip over and various mud holes. We continued down to the trail junction and then back out to the car. We were back at the car by 4:40 PM having covered 8.4 miles in about 6.5 hours. This is not my usual speed but it did allow for a lot of photography and some exploration

On Tuesday, April 26th I was anxious to try the Giant Ledge bushwhack again. I read some of the trail reports again and was even more convinced that we had been too high up the slope below the Ledges on Friday. This was my fault since I had decided to take a "shortcut" and did not drop all the way into the col between the Ledges and Panther on Friday. This tome it was my son Kurt who accompanied Sheba and myself on the hike. We arrived at the parking area on Route 47 at 9:15 AM to find no other cars in the lot. By 9:20 AM we were crossing the road and on our way. We had dressed lightly since the temperatures were forecast to be in the high 60's with a possibility of the 70's. I left my jacket in the car it was so warm a the trail head and within a half mile I wished I had worn long sleeves. We made good time without really hurrying making the trail junction by 9:52 AM and turning left toward the ledges. As we walked and talked the weather got even warmer and the hike went by quickly. The trail was not as wet as I thought it might be but there were some very muddy spots. The skies kept changing from partly sunny to a solid haze. We reached the first lookout at about 10:25 Am. The views were similar to Friday; not bad but not great either. I elected not to take the same pictures again but Kurt took a few shots before we moved on. As we walked on the trail we passed up stopping at the other viewpoints as they are too different from the first. At the end of the plateau, we dropped down to where Brad and I had started the bushwhack on Friday, We continued to drop down into the col. I had forgotten that this was a significant drop which explains the poor results we had on the previous bushwhack attempt.

At about 2.1 miles we turned right or ENE and dropped about 125 feet from the trail to around 2900 feet of elevation. At this point there was a broad flat area that was easy to negotiate. This area was BEAUTIFUL and VERY WET. There were large expanses of swamp with green moss and lots of frogs. In some areas there were still small heaps of snow. We walked along this area and dropped to 2850 feet in spots to avoid the water. All the time the cliffs were to our right barely visible through the trees but forming a nice back drop. We stopped to take pictures of the swamp. I also tried to get some shot of the cliffs. About 2.7 miles into the hike I saw a possible path up toward the base of the cliffs and I really wanted some pictures. I turned toward the cliffs and ended gaining about 90 feet of elevation over a .15 mile side trip. Much of this was hard fought climbing through blowdown and over large chucks that had separated from the Ledges over the years. At one point I was thigh deep in snow. Finally I had some open shots of the cliffs and they were impressive from this angle. The skies were clear and blue with a few white clouds and I took quite a few pictures before climbing back down. Kurt and I continued to hike parallel to the cliffs for another .45 miles heading at first south and then southwest. We intersected the trail much further away from the ledges' viewpoints than I thought we would. We were below the spring about a half mile from the trail junction. The temperatures felt like they were well into the 70's. We made the turn at the junction and continued back toward the car. We met five or six people headed up as we were on the way down. We were back at the car by 12:50 PM covering the 4.5 mile hike in 3.5 hours. Next time I plan to start on the other end and spend more time on the talus slopes below the cliffs.

On Friday, April 22nd I was anxious to try the Giant Ledge bushwhack I had read about in several trail reports this winter. The reports said that it was possible to hike below the Ledges by bushwhacking from the col between the Ledges and Panther. There is a flat area at about 2900 feet that follows the cliffs back to the trail up to the Ledges. Brad and Sheba and I headed out Friday morning under overcast skies. The forecast was for some sun and temperatures in the high 50's. We arrived at the parking area at about 11:30 AM to find a few cars parked there. We were on the trail across Route 47 at about 11:35 AM. Although this trail usually fools me with several similar ascents to the trail junction, this time it seemed to go quickly. We arrived at the trail junction by 12:00 PM and made the turn left toward the Ledges. We walked and talked and soon were at the last steep climb up to the plateau. We arrived at the first lookout at around 12:25 PM. We stopped to take some pictures and get a drink and snack. There was some haze but we snapped some shots before getting back on the trail. As we walked along the trail, we stopped briefly at a few other spots before starting to descend toward the col. We kept looking for a way down to a lower elevation. After one aborted attempt, we found a promising route and started down to the base of the cliffs.

The route we found was definitely NOT flat and easy to follow as advertised. We were sidehilling a lot and slipping and sliding on the wet ground and leaves. We had to work our way over some blowdown and over and around large boulders. We kept looking down to see if there was a better route but I was not sure we wanted to go down if it meant we would just have to climb =backup! At one point Brad called my attention to an animal down the slope from us hopping from rock to rock. It was a dark brown fisher with a few areas of black fur. It paralleled our route for a while oblivious to us and then cut up across our path. It disappeared at the base of the cliffs. I was glad Sheba gave it a look but never left my side. We continued on for a little longer and then decided to turn around. I knew we probably too high up the slope but decided that turning back was the best bet. We were back on the trail at about 1:45 PM. Our half mile "detour" had taken about 50 minutes. It was then a simple walk back down the trail to the car. We were back at the parking area by 2:55 PM. Our 4.3 mile effort had taken about 3 hours and 15 minutes. I was eager to read some trip reports and come back better prepared!

On Friday, April 21st I wanted to get in a "local" hike before getting ready for Maundy Thursday services in the evening. I get tired of hiking in the Frick and Trout Pond areas all the time and decided to try Graham Mountain which I did not have in April. As I left Livingston Manor it was raining just a little but that was supposed to stop after a brief period. The temperature was in the mid 30's with a slight breeze but, as always, I was overdressed for the weather. As I drove up the Beaverkill Road the temperature began to drop and the rain turned to light snow! When we arrived at the trail head, there was a dusting of snow on the ground. There was one car in the parking lot and I struck up a conversation with a hiker preparing to hike Balsam Lake and/or Graham for the first time. He was a teacher from Long Island and lived in the same place I had lived 30 years ago. His daughter attended the high school where I taught. It is a small world. After answering a few of his questions, Sheba and I started up the trail at about 9:00 AM. There was still no register in the trail box which is a shame since this is such a popular mountain. We made the first trail junction at about 9:20 AM and continued up toward the second trail junction and the herd path toward Graham. As we hiked the trail changed from almost bare to being covered with a light coating of snow. Looking in one direction the skies were cloudy but blue. In the other direction there was no blue to be seen and the trey overcast was ominous. The wind was beginning to pick up but the trail is fairly sheltered. I had strapped my snowshoes to my pack but it was obvious from the trail conditions that I would not need them on this day. We arrived at the second trail junction at around 9:40 AM and then were quickly at the herd path. I almost "dropped" the snowshoes at this point but I looked at the snow on the herd path and decided to carry them with me.

Almost immediately it was clear that there was more snow on the herd path to Graham than there had been on the trail. There was a "spine" of hard-packed snow and ice down the center where other hikers had walked and this was supportive. Off this spine the snow was soft. Several times I thought I might stop and don the snowshoes but then I would turn a corner and find a lot of open trail. I tried to stay on the spine or off the trail so I did not "posthole" and make conditions worse for other hikers. The snow got deeper the high I went but there were still large open areas. Some areas were quite wet with snow melt and were a little difficult to work around especially just below the last climb to the summit. On the way up the last climb I noticed that the wind had picked up dramatically. We got to the top at about 11:35 AM after hiking around 4 miles. It was so windy I walked over to the ruins and dropped my pack there. We got a snack and drink and then walked out to the lookout. After snapping two or three pictures, the camera died again showing that battery life is greatly effected by temperature! Back at the building, my hands were cold and the wind was still whipping. I replaced the batteries in the camera but decided NOT to go back to the lookout. There was a lot of haze and some snow in the air which limited visibility. We stared down the mountain stopping briefly at the viewpoint on the right to take some OPEC. While we were there, I noticed another hiker ascending the main trail. When we got back to the trail and started down, we almost immediately met the hiker who had been in the parking lot earlier that morning. He had decided to hike Graham first in the hopes that the weather would clear and that he would get some good views from the fire tower. We talked for a minute and then headed our separate ways. I noted that both of the other hikers had chosen to carry but not wear their snowshoes! By 12:45 PM we were back at the main trail after completing 6 miles of hiking. Several people and their dog were back from Balsam Lake Mountain and they told me that the views were poor. I decided to skip the fire tower and go back to the car. We were back at the trail head just after1:30 PM having completed the 8 mile hike with 1900 feet of elevation gain in just under 4 hours!

On Monday, April 18th The weather forecast was for a gorgeous day sandwiched in between the poor weather on the weekend and two days of rain ahead. The forecast did call for some showers in the after noon but Cindy and I thought we could get in a nice hike and be back in the car before they hit. Cindy wanted to avoid another "mountain" hike so we decided to go to Minnewaska and hike to Millbrook Mountain and, perhaps, Gertrude's Nose along the Millbrook Ridge Trail. We arrived at the Trapps parking area just below the iron bridge on Routes 44/55 at about 10:00 AM. There were no other cars parked. I will warn you now. CAUTION: Do not park at the Trapps parking area near the old metal bridge for longer than 30 minutes. The Town of Gardiner is now enforcing this law and you will get a $25 tickets! We walked up the road to the bridge and onto the Trapps Road Carriageway. We immediately turned right into the blue blazed Millbrook Ridge Trail and began the rather steep but enjoyable rock scramble up to the ridge. On the way up we stopped to take a few pictures of the purple Catskills in the distance. I also snapped some pictures of the surrounding rock face with their stunted pitch pines. Soon we were at the top of the climb where the trail levels off and we stopped again to take MORE pictures! From this lookout there are views north toward the Catskills and south over the broad, open valley. Looking east you can see the Undercliff/Overcliff Trail and eventually the Smiley Tower at Lake Mohonk. This viewpoint is only about .5 miles from the start of the hike. From this point the trail stretches another 2.0 miles across the ridge with only some minor ups and downs. It stays near the cliff edge in most places but ducks back into the woods in others. Many times the trail follows along the top of rocky spines.

At the 2.5 mile point the trail begins to climb up Millbrook Mountain. In several places it is near enough to the edge of the cliff that you can get good pictures along the cliff. You can also get shots of the talus piles below the cliffs. There are several places that give good views back to the Smiley Tower. This part of the trail was relatively dry except where a few small streams crossed. There was no snow to be seen anywhere on the hike. We continued to walk along the trail, stopping to take pictures at intervals. A few times it seemed we were at the highest spot but another appeared ahead of us. Sometimes the trail would take us up high on the cliff edge but at others we were walking with a wall of rock rising on the left. Eventually we were climbing up the last rocky spine to the summit of Millbrook Mountain. At this point several trails and a carriageway meet. We stayed straight ahead but the trail marking became red indicating we were no on the Millbrook Mountain Trail. This trail heads toward Gertrude's Nose which is a little over a mile away. We dropped down some on the trail and approached the area where you must descend Millbrook Mountain and ascend to Gertrude's Nose. We were two and a half hours and about 4 miles into the hike and Cindy decided she was too tired to continue on to Gertrude's Nose. I was not happy about turning back when we were so close to our destination but I understood. We turned around and headed back to Millbrook Mountain where we picked up the carriageway. This only lasted a short distance and we turned left on the red Millbrook Mountain Trail. After a short, and wet descent, we turned right on the blue Coxing Trail. Near the beginning of the trail we met a father and his two daughters out on a hike.

The Coxing Trail is usually wet and this day was no exception. It was muddy most of the length. Some places had running water and the rest small ponds. We did some rock hopping and walked along the edge of the trail where possible. Some areas have planks over the water but more are needed. This rocky and wet trail certainly dampened my spirits as did the gather clouds and the wind that sprang up. After 1.75 miles on the Coxing Trail we came to the junction with the Trapps Road carriageway. We turned right to head back to the car. Usually these broad and flat roads are my least favorite "trails" but it was a quick and easy way to get back to the car. We quickly walked along the open road for about a mile back to the iron bridge and then walked down the highway to the car. After removing the parking ticket, we got in the car and headed out just as a light rain started. We covered 8 miles in a little over 4 hours with many stops for pictures!

On Friday, April 15th Cindy and I wanted to take advantage of some beautiful weather and a favorable forecast. I was interested in bagging some high peak that I did not have for April and suggested Windham from Peck Road. Cindy isn't too excited about climbing mountains but I thought this one was relatively easy and hoped for some nice views as a reward. We were not in a big hurry and arrived at the trail head at 10:00 AM ready to hike. There was only one other car in the parking area. The temperatures was already in the mid 40's and I was glad I had decided to dress in lighter layers. We had brought snowshoes but saw not snow near the trail head d very little on the peaks. I was a little concerned about leaving the snowshoes in the car but finally agreed. I would not be happy about turning around before the summit but left that as an option if we encountered deep snow. The lower part of the trail is flat and then it rises gently. This meant that much of this part of the trail had standing or running water from recent storms. This was easily avoided but it did make the rocks very slippery. We made the trail junction and turned right just after 10:30 AM and began the long climb up to the High Peak. The trail along the way varies greatly but is never very steep. As we passed under some pine trees the ground was still frozen in places. Some of the wettest spots have split logs to act as bridges. Few of these places were wet enough to warrant them. One or two spots had some snow remaining on the ground but we walked over or around these areas. The weather was nearly perfect with some sun and a few clouds. We stopped once by a small stream to get a snack. There was no snow, the water was crystal clear and the most prominent sound were the woodpeckers working on some trees.

By noon we had walked the 2 miles from the trail junction and arrived at the lookout toward the Blackhead Range. The views were good if a little hazy. From this viewpoint the mountains across the valley look so close and imposing. I often look at some of these peaks and think that they are too hard for anyone to hike! We spent a few minutes taking pictures before getting on the main trail to cross over the highest point and walk to the lookout toward the north. The first time I hiked this trail I was disappointed that there was no viewpoint as so many people and trip reports had described. I had come in from Peck Road and did not know that the best views are just passed the highest point! We arrived at the lookout to find that the views to the north were very hazy and that Albany was not visible. The views of the nearer peaks and the valley below were nice and we took more pictures. By around 12:15 PM we were ready to head back to the car. Cindy's "call" to leave the snowshoes in the trunk had proved top be a good one! The trip back seemed to go quickly and we were back before 2:00 PM having covered the 6.2 miles in about 3 hours and 45 minutes. We drove toward Tannersville and stopped at the stone chapel on Route 23C. This is where our older son was married and it holds a special meaning for us. We took some pictures of the chapel and of the Devil's Path before heading down the mountain into town to eat at Pancho Villa's. Pancho was not open! This was a great disappointment before we remembered The Alamo..in Phoenicia. We have always had good meals there and the portions are large. We arrived to find it open and we had another enjoyable lunch with enough to bring home.

On Saturday, April 9th I was ready to tackle Cowan as the last peak on my CHH list. I had been in contact with the landowner but was not sure he would be at home to show me where to park when I got there. The drive is about 75 miles and this would make the fifth time I was at his house! As I drove I formulated a plan to hike some other peaks if he was not around. This would be a great disappointment but would be better than going home empty-handed. When we arrived at 10:00 AM, the landowner was NOT home but someone at the house showed us where to park and assured me that it would be okay. I got my bearings from the topo map and compass and headed up through some fields toward the tree line. The views from the tree line toward Relay State Forest were very nice. In fact, these views would be the best I would get all day! The forecast was for temperatures in the 50's and it was already in the low 40's. I had on a single layer with a light jacket and was already getting warm. As soon as we entered the trees the steepness of the slope increased dramatically. Despite the eastern and southern exposures there was still some snow in the woods. I had learned my lesson and had by snowshoes attached to my pack. We ran into some very nice stone walls as we hiked. There were also some larger stone constructions which could have been foundations. There were several of these constructions of laid up stone and they were unlike anything else I had seen. We continued on a line straight for the summit as the ground grew steeper. Within half a mile we ran across a rather well defined road. On the other side of the road the land rose even more steeply so I consulted the topo map. It looked as if walking in either direction on the road would lead to some gentler terrain and I chose to turn left even though this appeared to turn away from the higher ground.

With in a relatively short distance, a road turned up toward higher ground but was still heading away from the summit. Another turn and then another and we were on a woods road aimed, it seemed, in exactly the direction we wanted to go. On the way up this road there were some limited views and I stopped to take some shots before pressing on. There was little or no snow and the skies were a little hazy but the sun was shining. I knew that these woods roads often end, head in the wrong direction or become choked with prickers before reaching the summit. The road split once or twice but we continued up toward the summit. The road stayed open and went right by the high ground. At this point there was one to two feet of snow but there was a had crust and I decided to forgo the snowshoes. We wandered off the trail to the highest spot I could find. It was almost exactly a mile along this route to the summit and it had taken about an hour with all the stops. After a drink and a snack and a few pictures, we started back down. I thought I might head down a different way but was not sure about the private property boundaries. I decided to go back the way we had come. As we approached the turn down the hill and into the woods, Sheba seemed to want to go straight ahead on the road and I thought this might be West Highland Road which was marked on the map. The surface was covered with hard packed snow and so I decided to see what would happen. I was pretty sure that the road would come out on Narrow Notch Road and we could walk the road back to the car. We walked along the road which was lined with a few houses and spaces cleared for building. Many of the homes had "For Sale" signs and all were posted. It occurred to me as we were almost to the "main" road that this was probably a private road but by then it was shorter to walk out the way we were going. When we got to the main road, it was only .7 miles and 15 minutes back to the car. The whole hike was 3.6 miles and we were done in just under 2 hours. I had a mixture of emotions as I put my equipment in the car. I was happy that I was able to finish. The last few peaks were not too difficult to hike and meeting property owners had been fun. On the other hand I was relieved in some ways that it was over. There are only a few of these peaks that I will revisit in the near future since most lack a view, have no other significant features and are packed with prickers and nettles!

On Friday, April 8th I headed for Delaware County again to hike the Moresvilles from the west side. I parked at around 8:30 AM and once I had my snowshoes strapped to my pack we were ready to go. There was a woods road that headed up toward the ridge and we took it. The temperature was just above freezing with blue skies and some sun. The road was muddy and had a lot of running water. As we hiked the road split several times but we continued in the direction that I though would hit a low spot between the NW and SW Moresville. Eventually the road turned up the mountain and became choked with a lot of large prickers. At some point I had the choice of continuing to follow the road or heading up the steepest part of the hill. I decided there was little advantage to staying on the pricker infested road. For a while I doubted my choice as we fought our way up the steep hill through some pricker patches. Eventually we came across another road with fewer prickers and followed it to a height of land. I got out map and compass and determined, to my surprise that we were just south of the southwest peak. We turned off the road and headed up over a gentler slope that was still covered in old prickers. As we neared the top, we ran into some snow but I was able to stay on top of the crust. I stopped at the highest point I could find and as I took off my pack sank up to my knees in snow. At this point I decided to put on the snowshoes! It was 9:30 AM and it had taken about an hour to hike the mile to this peak. I kept them on until we returned to the same spot. As we head north and a little east toward the northwest peak I hoped that the prickers wouldn't be too bad.

The trick to getting to the next peak was to stay on the ridge of high ground between the two mountains. This does mean that you have to cross another unnamed peak between them but it beats the alternative of losing a lot of elevation. As I looked across to the next peak it looked pretty high and I was a little discouraged. After descending some, we ran into a nice woods road that head down into the Col and right up toward the summit of the next peak. Before the summit was a power line right-of-way which offered some nice views despite the power lines. We continued to walk on the road which did not have too much snow in some places but had its share of prickers. Soon we were on the other side and headed down keeping to the high ground again and headed slightly northwest. We continued to follow the road and arrived on the summit plateau at about 10:30 AM and 2.6 miles into the hike. We hiked almost the whole length of the summit looking for the highest spot and then turned around. A snack, a drink and some pictures and we were on our way back to the car. We returned along almost exactly the same route with me following Sheba the whole way. The prickers seemed less of a problem on the way down. I kept thinking "Only one more! Only one more!" We were back at the car by noon cutting almost 30 minutes off the time it took us to get up. The hike was 5.2 miles this way but there were plenty of challenges along the way.

On Wednesday, April 6th I headed to Delaware County to look for hiking permissions from landowners for the three remaining peaks on my CHH list. One landowner was in Portugal but due to return soon and the caretaker did not feel he could give permission. One problem I have been having is separating "sure you can park here and hike" permission from "I own the land and it is OK with me" permission. After failing to make much progress in the area I started to drive home. Around Margaretville my mood improved and I decided to hike SOMETHING. I decided that I had been on all the trails to Dry Brook Ridge except German Hollow. I turned left on Route 28 in Margaretville and headed east toward Arkville. In Arkville I turned right on Dry Brook Road and shortly after made another right on Chris Long Road. The VO map indicated there was a trail head but no parking area and it was correct. I knocked on the door of the house at the dead end but no one was home. I turned the car around and pulled off the road and left a note on my windshield. Sheba and I were on the trail at 10:00 AM. There was NO SNOW down low so I decided to take some traction but leave the snowshoes in the car. Being a slow learner can make life SO interesting! The temperature was in the mid 30's but it seemed warmer and the sun was bright with blue skies. By the time I arrived at the site of the former German Hollow lean-to I was ready to take off hat, gloves AND my midlayer.

Until you have actually seen the German Hollow lean-to with your own eyes, it is hard to understand what happened. Several very large trees fell perpendicularly onto the lean-to. They split the lean-to in half and the situation remains the same today. There are several of these large trees down in the area and I don't remember if I read about the cause. I took pictures from all angles and we had a snack before heading up to the ridge. We were about .7 miles into the hike and the trail had no more than two inches of snow in a few spots. This all changed as we made the turn and started up to the ridge. As soon as the exposure changed the snow depth began to increase! Around a mile it was mid-calf. I was able to stay on top of most of it but breaking through every now and then kept things interesting. A few places were bare from running water but the rest was enrobed in snow. The going was slow. The trail levels at about 1.3 miles and then there is a slight climb to where it meets the Dry Brook Ridge Trail. We arrived at 11:00 AM taking only about an hour to traverse the 1.7 mile distance including at least 10 minutes to take pictures at the lean-to. At this point I decided to head back. We were back at the car just before noon having taken about 15 minutes less on the descent. We covered 3.5 miles in just under 2 hours for some exercise on a new trail. I did stop a few times to take pictures on the way down. By the time we were back to the car the wind had picked up and the skies were completely overcast. I had though I might stop at the Pepacton bridge to take some shots but by the time I arrived there was no point.

On Saturday, April 2nd my plan was to drive to Delaware County and knock on doors to obtain permission for the Moresvilles, Cowan and SE Warren. I did not necessarily intend to hike there but though I might catch a short hike on some trail on the way home. I had to pick up my car after almost three weeks at the body shop. I guess it takes a long time to fix the dents and scratches when a tree falls on your car in your own driveway! I didn't leave home until about 9:15 AM but the skies were looking bright and sunny with a few puffy clouds. The temperature was in the low 30's with a little breeze. We had gotten almost no snow from the "nor'easter" that was predicted to drop as much as 9 inches! I first headed to the vicinity of the Moresvilles on the east side. After locating the road I wanted I asked some walkers about access and they pointed me to the landowner. Unfortunately, although there were two cars at the residence, no one was home and the cars had not been moved since the snowfall. Strike one! I headed for the southeast side of Cowan near the Relay State Forest and found the road and the house I wanted. Pretty much the same story. There were cars in the driveway and no one home. Strike two! I headed over to Roses Brook Road to try to get permission for SE Warren and stopped to ask a couple loading hay onto their pickup from a barn. They pointed me to a gentleman who had sold the land but had lifetime use. He quickly gave me permission and the hike was on! I parked by the barn and got my equipment ready. There was hardly any snow in the valley and the temperatures were climbing into the mid 30's despite a brisk wind. It was then that I made the BIGGEST MISTAKE of the day. I decided to leave my snowshoes in the car. Sheba and I started our hike at about 11:00 AM by walking down a dirt road toward Roses Brook.

I was concerned about the amount of water but a little footbridge made the crossing easy. From here we followed the ATV and logging roads up the mountain. There was still very little snow but quite a bit of mud as we started up the road. Soon there was a light covering of snow on the ground and I decided the road was going too far east so I found another one that crossed a little brook and headed more to the west and up. The snow depth began to increase but there was still no problem as it was barely at boot top level. We continued to follow woods roads on and off until we were at the power lines. I decided to walk up the right-of-way since there was less snow. There were also some nice views despite the interference of the power line towers. The right-of-way grew very steep so we headed back into the woods. From this point to the summit the snow got deeper with 6 to 8 inches of new powder over several feet of existing base. Without snowshoes I would sink in every now and then but found the base underneath fairly supportive. I found the trick was to keep away from bushes and blowdown to minimize sinking up to my thighs. The going was tough but soon we were on the summit plateau. I walked to the nearest high point I could see which we obviously in the middle of a pricker patch. I sunk in but hit the high spot. I looked around and saw another spot further to the west but judged that I was already higher than it. It was 12:35 PM and we had hiked only 1.3 miles with an elevation gain of 1200 feet.

Now it was a matter of how to get down. I decided just to reverse direction and follow the way we had come up. I reasoned that this way I at least knew where I had broken through and could try to avoid these spots. Sheba still had a lot of energy and ran down the hill ahead of me. I was able to make good time but was careful not to go to fast and break through. The temperature increased as we descended and the snow began to turn to slush. This made the final part of the descent very slippery but it was short and I did not use any traction device. I stopped to take a few pictures and we were still back by 1:30 PM. We had covered 2.6 miles in just OVER 2 hours. I also learned my lesson about snowshoes in early spring. I decided to check out the residence near Cowan one more time but had no better luck. I then got the idea that I would go north on Narrow Notch Road and head to the west side of the Moresvilles to see if I could get permission there. A homeowner at the end of a back road was home and we struck up a conversation about windmills and living on Long Island. He gave me permission to hike AND to park on his land. He also gave me some clues about woods roads in the area. I just need to take some time in the near future to do this hike and to get permission for Cowan and I will be done!

On Tuesday, March 29th I was pleased with my hike to Plattekill and ready for another bushwhack. Since I had obtained permission to hike East Jewett on Monday, I wanted to return to the Hunter area and try this hike. Once I was finished with East Jewett, I would have only four Delaware peaks to complete for my Catskill Highest Hundred list. We got another early start and parked at about 8:45 AM in a pull off on one of the side roads in the town of Hunter. Interestingly, the GPS and other maps show the road we were on as continuing on around in a loop. The paved part of the road was a dead end and we were soon walking on a woods road which showed no signs of having ever been paved. The road was pretty eroded and it did not head in exactly the right direction. I have learned to give these woods roads a chance since they usually switchback up the mountain and, although the distance may be longer, they usually lead close to where you want to go. Eventually the road turned away from the direction we needed to go and headed down so I was ready to turn off and start to bushwhack. At the point where I was about to turn another roads appeared and, again, headed up to the ridge. We began to follow this road and it too was not headed in exactly the right direction. Several times I was ready to turn off the road and simply head up the mountain. I decided to stay on the road and see where it went. The road led around to the other side of the mountain and began to descend so we turned into the woods and started up to the ridge. There was almost no snow in the woods and what had been on the woods road was VERY packed. I chose not to wear or take my snowshoes with me but I was packing my YakTrax XTRs and for a while it looked like a good choice. As we climbed the ridge, we did hit some steep spots but we also encountered additional woods roads, I got a few pictures of the Hunter Ski Area across the valley but they were through the trees with no clear views. I was fooled several times by spots near the "edge" of the mountain which looked open but were blocked once I walked over to them.

So far there had been few steep areas, no cliff bands and little snow. The woods were open and the hike had been easy. Within about .25 miles of the top this all changed. We ran into a cliff band which, while mot high, did pose an obstacle. After taking some pictures, Sheba and I found a way up through the cliffs. The snow increased in depth and the forest changed to evergreens. The firs trees were thick and hard to push through and I began to break through the crust where snow had covered some blowdown. I didn't think too much about this and pushed on toward what I could see was higher ground. I could see I was walking on a crust over blowdown and small fir trees but I was being careful. Near what seemed to be the highest spot I could see. It was just passed 10:00 AM. I was suddenly up to my waist in snow. Both feet had broken through and I learned the meaning of "spruce trap". Of course, this was nothing like those in the Adirondacks but there was a moment of panic. I immediately calmed down, broke some crust, used my poles and several nearby trees to pull myself out. I had a few bruises but otherwise was fine. I had wanted to bushwhack down the steeper side of the mountain to the path I had used on the way up but this would require pushing through some more dense trees and walking over more uncharted territory. I decided to head back the way I had come since I knew what lay in that direction. I told Sheba "Back" and simply followed here lead to the woods road. Going down was a pleasure and once we were on the roads things went even faster. We were back by 11:00 AM having covered an unknown 3.8 mile bushwhack with 1300 feet of elevation gain in 2 hours and 10 minutes. I took some more pictures of Hunter from the end of the woods road before getting in the car and heading home.

On Monday, March 28th I decided to head toward the Hunter-Tannersville area to hike the Plattekill Mountain in that area. I wanted to get this done before the weather turned warm enough to bring out the rattlesnakes. I am uncomfortable when hiking in snake country with Sheba and I want to avoid the snakes myself when I can! I was a little pressed for time and have enough experience to know that bushwhacks don't always go as planned. I looked at the maps and reports others had made and felt I had enough time for us to do the hike. After this, there would only be 5 left and I hoped to get East Jewett done during the week leaving only four Delaware County peaks to go! Sheba and I got an early start and arrived at the Platte Clove Preserve just before 9:00 AM. There wasn't much space to park but I pulled over as far as possible and we were on the trail before 9:00 AM. There was a thin covering of snow up to the bridge and then more and more snow as we went along. There are more trails now in the Preserve so I got turned around at least twice and had to consult my map. Unfortunately, I had left my VO Map in the car and my compass at home! In about half and hour we passed the turn for the Devil's Path up Indian Head and shortly after we arrived at the lean-to. At this point I was not sure when to turn up the mountain but I knew that there was a woods road somewhere. I decided to stay on the main trail until Codfish Point. If I didn't find the road by that time I would simply turn and go up. The trail rises continuously from Platte Clove but seems to get a little steeper after the trail junction. There were some areas of the trail that were pretty bare or had ice on them. I wore my snowshoes and was generally glad that I did. Soon the side trail to the left for Codfish Point appeared and still no woods road or tracks off toward Plattekill. We started down the trail to the left but the bright sun made me think that the views might no be that good. We turned around and headed across the main trail in a southwest direction toward Plattekill.

After walking only a few hundred feet into the forest, we picked up a set of snowshoe tracks and a woods road! We followed this road through some switchbacks for the next .5 miles. The set of tracks we were following stayed on the road also but were sometimes obscured by drifting snow. The temperature at the trail head was 17 degrees when we started and now a wind was blowing. The sun was out during most of the hike and this made things seem warmer. After about .5 miles on the road, the snow shoe tracks turned left and up the mountain and we followed. There were some rocky ledges to work around but nothing to serious. The evergreen trees at the top did start to get thicker the farther we went but nothing was impassible. I kept looking for viewpoints but the best were at the point where we turned up the mountain off the woods road so I planned to return there on the way back. We walked up through relatively open woods and found another slight rise. After about .3 miles from the turn, I was ready to claim victory since we had walked around on the top in several different directions. The track we had been following continued and I thought this hiker may have continued on to Overlook or Indian Head, a thought that I had. I did find a spot with two boulders and one had a wood pile on top. After taking some pictures of Sheba I followed her lead back down to the place where we had turned off the woods road. I stopped in this area to take some pictures of Indian Head and Kaaterskill through the trees. There were no really clear viewpoints for either mountain. I also took some pictures of the woods and realized that the "ledges" we had been walking around were really a stone quarry and that the woods road was really a quarry road to this area near the top of the mountain. We hiked back on the woods road following our trail from earlier until we where back on the marked trail between Plattekill and Overlook.

By the time we were back on the trail the sun's position had shifted and there were some clouds so I decided I had just enough time to walk out to Codfish Point. I had never been out to this viewpoint before and it was quite impressive., Since it has an exposure to the east much of the snow was gone. There were some "chairs" people had constructed from the quarry stone. The quarrying operation is pretty extensive extending along the top of this bluff for some distance. The views to the Hudson are open but they were hazy. I took some pictures of the landscapes and quarrying before deciding to head out. We hurried back down the main trail to the car. We were back at noon having covered 6 miles and 1400 feet of elevation gain in 3 hours. I drove into Hunter and up some of the various side roads near East Jewett and finally got permission to hike. Several people said that no one would care if I just hiked but I wanted to respect the rights of the private property owners. I though I might come back one day in the week to hike this peak.

On Sunday, March 27th Cindy and I planned to snowshoe with a group at Frick Pond. We agreed to meet at the parking area at 1:00 PM for the hike. Cindy and I arrived a little early and parked. We waited until 1:10 PM and then decided to start out since the "group" was either late or had decided not to come. I was annoyed since I was looking forward to hiking with a group for once since I so seldom get that chance. We hiked down the Quick Lake trail to Frick Pond and stopped at the outlet bridge to take some pictures. The skies were cloudless and a deep blue. The ice at the outlet end of the pond was gone and there was good light for photography. The temperature was in the high 20's and there was a slight breeze but the bright sun made it seem warm. We crossed the bridge and started around the side of the pond. At the trail junction we headed left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail toward Iron Wheel Junction. This part of the trail still has major areas of blowdown blocking the trail in several places. It didn't take long until we were at Iron Wheel. I guess snowmobile season must be over since there were no tracks on the Logger's Loop or the Quick Lake Trail. We turned right on the Logger's Loop.

Up to this point there had been some open spots on the way to Frick Pond but the rest of the trail had been covered in unbroken snow from the storm at the beginning of last week. The Logger's Loop trail had several uncovered areas but we negotiated around these. Just before the descent to Times Square there is some standing water to the left of the trail. The water covered a larger area than I remembered but looked to be only a few feet deep. the area did make for some nice pictures and I took a few before we got back on the trail. At Times Square Cindy decided we should go straight ahead and back to the car. I wanted to climb Big Rock and go down the Flynn Trail but this adds mileage and a significant climb. As we stared back toward Frick, we picked up some fresh snowshoe tracks. I suspected it was the group we were supposed to meet and we soon caught up to them. I didn't ask why they were late but just said hello and continued back to the car arriving at about 3:00 PM. We covered 3.9 miles in under 2 hours for a short but beautiful hike.

On Friday, March 25th I had a limited amount of time but wanted to do a 3500 foot peak so I decided on Balsam Lake. We wanted to get an early start as we did for Hunter earlier in the week but a ambulance call intervened. By the time I got back it was an hour later but I decided to go anyway. When we left Livingston Manor, the temperature was just short of freezing and the sun was beginning to come out bringing blue skies. As we headed up the Beaverkill Road it began to snow and the temperature started to drop. After we passed Quill Gordon Lodge the road began to deteriorate badly and I though that it might need a "seasonal maintenance" sign! In the last half mile of road, it was clear that the water flowing in the ditch alongside the road had eroded away much of the dirt road. A road that was never wide enough for two cars to pass was now barely wide enough for one! When we arrived at the parking area, it was not plowed so I parked as far out of the way as possible at the end of the road. The temperature was 17 degrees with a slight breeze. The parking area had 4 inches of fresh powder on top of a packed base. I got my snowshoes on and we headed out at about 9:15 AM. My plan was to hike up the Millbrook side of the mountain and then :ski" down the steeper side. There was no book in the trail register. This is a trend that I find irresponsible on the part of the DEC that is supposed to maintain these registers. On the way to the first turn up the mountain there were only a few bare areas where water was running but there was a lot of new blowdown. Most of this is too big to clear without a chainsaw and I hope the DEC sends in a crew sooner that later to clear this popular trail. The snow got a little deeper as we reached the turn up the mountain and continued up toward the second turn. We seldom hike in this direction and it surprised me that the elevation gain is significant but spread over a longer distance.

Looking straight ahead on the trail we could see blue skies and a little sun peeking through. As glance back toward the Beaverkill Valley revealed dark skies and obvious snow showers. I stopped to take few pictures before continuing on. By 10:25 AM we were at the turn up the mountain. We had hiked 1.85 miles and gained nearly 800 feet of elevation. After the turn, as we started to climb, the snow got deeper and deeper, 4 inches of powder became 8 inches and there were drifts that were even deeper. I had forgotten to put on gaiters but the snowshoes helped to compact the snow and my Mountain Hardwear Winter Wander pants have an elastic drawstring at the hems. Breaking trail through the fresh powder slowed down the ascent some but the sun has out and the views of Graham over my shoulder were nice. As the trail flattened some near the top, the snow on the fir trees weighed down their branches to form a low "tunnel" and almost blocked the trail in several spots. I took a few pictures and tried to avoid getting too much snow in the pack or down my back. Finally, I looked up and saw the tower through the trees and we passed the cabin. Once in the tower clearing I took some pictures before approaching the table to drop my pack for the climb up the tower. It was 10:55 AM and we had covered 2.8 miles and gained 200 feet.

In the tower clearing the sun was out and there were largely blue skies. The top of the picnic table was even with the top of the snow indicating a depth of several feet. The surrounding fur trees were covered with frozen snow and ice and they sparkled in the sun. I took off my pack and snowshoes, got out the camera and headed up the tower, The steps of the tower were covered in snow and ice and frozen snow covered the mesh fencing. As I ascended the wind grew stronger and was blowing at least 20 mph when I cleared the trees. This made the railings very cold and I decided to get my pictures and get down. The skies to the north and west were blue and the views beautiful. To the south and east the skies were gray and dark with indications that some snow was still falling in that direction. I took various shots of the mountains and valleys and of the snow on the tower before heading down. Getting down was more "interesting" than coming up as the steps were very slippery. Once at the bottom, I shouldered the pack and we walked out of the clearing on the trail toward the spring at 11:05 AM. As we walked the flat part of the summit, I took more pictures of the twisted hardwood trees encased in ice. Descending the steps on the trail down to the spring proved to be a challenge and it was easiest for me to walk off the trail where I could. Below the spring the trail was covered in powdery snow although I was never able to get the glide I wanted. I followed Sheba down even though I could not see many trail markers. Sheba followed the trail unerringly. I am not sure how she does this since, during the winter and with fresh snow the trail looks much like other areas of the forest. We arrived a the trail back to the car and 11:27 AM which meant the .85 mile descent had taken only 20 minutes. We were back at the car and ready to start home at 11:48 AM having covered 4.5 miles in 2.5 hours.

On Tuesday, March 22nd I wanted to get in a Catskill 3500 peak for the first hike of the spring and Hunter seemed like a good choice since it was close and we had not reached the summit on Sunday. I don't like to be too rushed and needed to get to track practice in the afternoon so I was up by 6:15 AM and out of Livingston Manor by 7:00 AM. The temperature was about 34 degrees and the skies were cloudy. The forecast for Hunter was for partly sunny skies with temperatures climbing into the low to mid 40's. The roads were in poor shape but I made good time arriving in the parking area by 8:15 AM. The temperature was 28 regress with a 20 mph wind blowing. I thought I was a little under dressed considering that I knew the summit would be colder and windier. For a moment I considered going home but I came to my senses and was on the trail by 8:20 AM. There was considerably more snow on the trail than there had been on Sunday with only a few bare spots. Sheba and I set our usual quick pace and after about half a mile I was considering removing my midlayer. The areas that had been bare on Sunday near the upper part of the trail before the turn were all covered in several inches of snow. It was snowing on and off and there were clouds and fog hanging around. There was no sign of the sun and I doubted the views from the tower would be any good. We were at the turn up the mountain around 9:10 AM which meant we had covered 1.7 miles in 40 minutes.

We made the turn up the mountain and the depth of snow increased. In several places the snow had blown off the hard packed snow and ice and formed drifts 3 or 4 feet high! The higher we ascended the thicker the fog became. There was also more snow and ice frozen onto the trees making for some very interesting and spooky scenes. From the viewpoint before the trail to the lean-to the hill before Rusk and Rusk were completely hidden in the clouds and fog. We pressed on passing the 3500 foot sign and soon arrived at the side trail to the Colonel's Chair. At this point there were several sets of snowshoe tracks that looked like they were after Monday's snow. I guessed some adventuresome hikers had headed for the tower Monday afternoon after the morning snow had stopped. We continued to make good time and arrived at the tower clearing at 10:00 AM. We had covered the 3.4 mile ascent in 1 hour and 40 minutes! There was a lot of ice around the cabin. I dropped my pack on the porch and got out the camera to take pictures. The trees were covered in a shroud of ice and snow and a fog drifted across the clearing. The whole scene was punctuated by a light snowfall. I took pictures of the tower, trees and cabin from the ground. I didn't see much point in going aloft but decided to drop the snowshoes and go up the tower. There were some interesting snow crystals on the fencing and rails so I took some shot and then started to climb. Without even looking I knew when I was above the trees as the wind velocity increased to between 30 and 40 mph. I hurriedly took a few pictures and then return to the relative calm of the ground.

There was no reason to stick around at the summit any longer so I donned the snowshoes again and started down. I was able to "ski" down many of the descents without a problem. We stopped at the small viewpoint but could see nothing. I stopped two more times to take some pictures before arriving at the trail to the lean-to. At the spring I took a few pictures and tried to show the height of some of the drifts. After making the turn onto the Old Hunter Road, I took a few more pictures of the snow-covered trail. After this, I put the camera away and we hurried down the rest of the way to the car. We were back at 11:35 AM having covered the 6.8 mile trek in 3 hours and 10 minutes. I was a little surprised at the time since it was quick but I had not felt rushed at any time. On the way out of the Spruceton Valley, I stopped several times to take pictures of the peaks along the Westkill Ridge. The trees were covered in a white coating and many were hidden behind clouds and fog.

Winter 2010-2011

On Sunday, March 20th I wanted to get in a Catskill 3500 or CHH peak for the last hike of the winter. Since Cindy and Lisa wanted to come along, I suggested the Plattekill Mountain off Platte Clove Road. It is a bushwhack but the first part is trail and then a woods road leads to near the top. It is also relatively short to go up and back. Cindy vetoed this because of the word "bushwhack" and we settled on doing Hunter from the Spruceton parking area. We left immediately after church to go home and change and then picked Lisa up by 11:00 AM. The roads were in such poor shape that we were not at the trail head until 12:15 PM. We decided to wear our snowshoes since there was snow on the trail and we were off by 12:25 PM. The trail was covered for the most part to the hairpin turn up Hunter with a few bare spots where there had been water on the trail. The snow was mostly hard packed with ice in many places. Sheba and I were ahead of Lisa and Cindy and we were moving quickly up the trail. I waited several times for the others to catch up and then started off again. This part of the trail has a southern exposure and soon there were more bare patches than snow. I reluctantly rennet my snowshoes and carried them on my poles to the turn up the mountain. I also removed my midlayer as the temperatures were climbing into the 40's with the sun making it feel warmer. I could see that there was snow on the trail toward the summit as I waited for Lisa and Cindy to catch up. By 1:20 PM they had arrived but almost an hour for the 1.7 mile hike seemed long.

We made the turn up the mountain and headed for the spring and lean-to. The new location of the lean-to is just short of the 3500 foot sign and allows a beautiful view of the valley which I wanted Cindy and Lisa to see. Sheba and I waited for the others to catch up but Cindy, in particular, was having a tough time. We turned on the spur trail to the lean-to and walked to where the trail turns down through some rocks. This area was nothing but a sheet of ice and the fact that it is narrow made getting down with snowshoes difficult. I made it down OK and dropped my pack to get out the camera and take pictures. It was 2:10 PM and the 2.3 mile trip to the lean-to had taken 1 hour and 45 minutes. I knew we were not going any further this day! I walked over to the lookout and was treated to a nice view down the valley. I took shots of the valley, the Westkill Ridge to the left and the Rusk ridge on the right. When I got back to the lean-to I found that Cindy had decided to change to Microspikes to get down the icy patch and that Lisa had decided not to attempt the descent. I suggested that Cindy go to the viewpoint and I was determined to find a route that Lisa could negotiate on snowshoes. I walked just to the left of the privy, found some tracks and a snow covered track down. I walked over to Lisa and guided here down this new path. We spent some time at the viewpoint before heading back at about 2:35 PM. The trip down went more quickly but I removed my snowshoes just after the turn onto the Old Hunter Road and attached them to my pack for the rest of the trip down. We arrived back at the car at 3:40 PM with the descent taking just over an hour. We covered 4.6 miles on the hike but it took a total of 3 hours and 15 minutes. I understood the need to turn around but was annoyed we had not made the tower on such a beautiful day.

On Thursday, March 17th I wanted to get in a Catskill 3500 peak before turning to track practice in the afternoon. I looked at my grid and was pleasantly surprised that Westkill was still available. I like the view from the Buck Ridge lookouts and the hike is relatively short. What I always forget is that short does not always mean easy and Westkill "fools" me each time I hike it. I knew that time was short so Sheba and I left home around 7:45 Am. Despite the poor condition of the roads I made good time and we arrived at the parking areas on Spruceton Road just before 9:00 AM. There was one car parked in the lot and the hiker asked "Are you here for Paul's finish?' My response of "Who is Paul?" made it clear that I was ready to hike solo. It appeared that the road to the upper lot had been repaired and since I wanted to put the snowshoes on immediately I drove to the upper lot and parked. The other car followed me and soon an entire group, many of them from the Rip Van Winkle Club, began to appear. I needed to move fast and did not want to hike with a group I did not know so I put on my equipment and started out at 9:00 Am keeping a fast pace to the falls. The Westkill was running high but not as high as I have seen it. The trail was covered in over a foot of snow except in areas of running water and we made the falls in around 15 minutes. I decided not to stop for pictures until we reached the top so we made the turn, walked along the creek and turned up the mountain. I did not see the group approaching on the other side. The temperature was about 31 degrees when we started and the skies were overcast belying the forecast for sun and temperatures in the 50's. The trail was hard packed snow in almost all places and this made walking easier in most places

We made our way up through the series of switchbacks that alternate between steep areas and flatter spots. Around 1.5 miles we walked along the part of the trail which sidehills for several hundred feet with little evidence of a defined trail. Walking this in the winter on snowshoes is always challenging. As we ascended the snow pack became deeper and deeper until the trail markers were about the level of Sheba's ears. This made hiking interesting since there were many pointy branches that would normally be overhead but were now pointing at my face. In several spots there were a few branches in the trail and in others significant blowdown to walk around. This must have been present for some time as there were tracks that cut around most of the debris. Several of the steeper sections were icy and a little difficult to get up on snowshoes. I though about switching to my Yak Xtremes but by the time I had made the decision I was already up that section. I did wonder about the trip back down though! We were still on a fast pace and I found myself pausing occasionally to get my breath. These pauses are always cut short by Sheba's insistent stare! We made the rock shelter at 3500 feet by a little after 10:00 AM. I always take this as a signal that I am almost at the top forgetting that there is over a mile of hiking and another 300 feet of vertical gain to go! From the "cave" to the last ascent is a series of ups and downs and soon we were at the last climb to Buck Ridge. We arrived at the lookouts at around 10:45 AM and I dropped my pack to get a drink and a snack and take some pictures. There was some haze still hanging on the mountains but the views were still nice. I took shots from both sides of the lookout before putting the camera away. I had though I would not go to the summit but it is only .12 miles from the lookouts so I shouldered the pack and headed to the top. Once we hit the sign, we reversed course and headed back down.

By this time the snow was starting to breakup a little and there was a granular layer on top of the packed snow underneath. The group of hikers had still not shown up. Sometime before the rock overhang I met a man and woman hiking toward the top. We chatted briefly and continued. A little behind them was the group of hikers strung out along the trail. One asked me to be on the lookout for a lost pole near the first steep ascent. The descent went quickly since I could "ski" down on the loose granulated area in most places. The steep, icy section proved to be more of a problem going down than coming up. The frozen snow made getting a grip with the snowshoes a problem. I chose to perform a glissade down the second half rather than change to other traction devices. The sidehill portion was even more interesting since the loose upper layer meant that it was difficult to get any grip with the snowshoes without sliding down the slope. This section slowed us down but it is short. Soon we were back at the creek walking toward the falls. As we approached the falls the accumulated snow made getting down to the creek bed somewhat easy and I took advantage of this. I was able to get some nice pictures of the falls without obstructions. Back on the main trail I took some pictures from the bridge and others from the opposite side of the falls before packing everything up and hurrying back to the car. We were back at the car by 12:35 PM, earlier than I had expected, having covered the 6.1 mile hike in 3.5 hours including the stops for pictures. I was tired but happy to be ahead of schedule for the drive home.

On Tuesday, March 15th Lisa Lyons wanted to go hiking somewhere and Cindy and I put our heads together to come up with a local hike that was short but challenging. Cindy suggested the Campbell Mountain Trail from Route 206 between Roscoe and Downsville. I knew this wasn't very long but that there was some elevation gain. We decided to take snowshoes since there was still some snow in the backyard and we wanted to be prepared. We picked up Lisa at her shop around 9:00 AM and started toward the trailhead. We arrived at around 9:30 AM and had to park on the shoulder of the road as the roadside pulloff was not plowed. The temperatures was in the high 20's but a slight breeze made it feel colder. There was obviously enough snow remaining to make snowshoes a good idea. As we started down the trail it was obvious the crust would support our weight, at least until it started to melt as the temperature rose. I was a little cold since I had put on "lighter" clothing on the basis on the forecast but this only lasted a short time until I warmed up from the snowshoeing. The trail down started out with a nice snow covering but soon was devoid of snow with bare ground. These conditions would prevail tying the hike especially at the lower elevations. The areas most affected were those where there was running water. There is only one real stream crossing and that has a bridge but there were plenty of smaller rivulets and many had to be crossed while some ran down the trail for a distance. After half a mile we crossed the bridge and then dropped to the lowest point on the trail which is almost 200 feet down from the road. From here the trail starts a climb through a number of switchbacks to the top of Campbell Mountain. At 1.2 miles we made a left turn onto an old woods road and by 1.3 miles we were passing the lean-to. The trail switches back several times after that following the woods road and crossing a couple of wet areas. I got a little ahead of the women and reached the top at around 10:50 AM. I was 2 miles into the hike at an elevation of 2410 feet. I decided that Cindy and Lisa would not want to descend to Campbell Mountain Road so I picked up the pace as Sheba and I went down the other side.

The trail down the other side does not take a direct route and descends 230 feet in about .45 miles. I had wondered why there was no evidence of snowmobile use and I found the answer when I got to the other end of the trail and saw the "TRAIL CLOSED" and "DETOUR" signs. Sheba and I turned around and headed back up the mountain at just passed 11:00 AM. We kept up a rapid pace until I saw Lisa and Cindy near the top of the trail, They waited until I met up with them and expressed no desire to go down to the road. On the way back Lisa and I bushwhacked over the highest point on the mountain while Cindy continued on the trail. The bushwhacking was easy due to the hard crust and we were soon back on the trail. There was no sign of Cindy. This did not surprise me since "down" is her best direction. Lisa and I hurried but we did not pick her up for some time. I knew Cindy was up ahead when Sheba took off up the trail like a rocket. After coming back together we descended together to the lean-to where we stopped for a few pictures before continuing. After negotiating a small water crossing, we continued ahead to cross the bridge where I also stopped for some pictures. On the way back I photographed the old foundations and walls near the trail that leads up to Route 206. The last time I knew one of them has a geocache but I did not have the coordinates. We were back at the car by 12:30 PM having taken 3 hours for the 5 mile hike. The temperature was in the low 40's just about matching the forecast.

On Saturday, March 12th Karl and I wanted to hike in the mountains of Virginia. The closest mountains to Williamsburg are in Shenandoah national Park almost three hours away. We decided to go since the weather report was for partly sunny skies with temperatures in the 60's. I was concerned that my feet, which were sore from the previous day, would hamper me on the hike. I decided to try putting some simple, generic athletic tape across the forefoot and see how that worked. We left Williamsburg and about 7:00 AM and headed west on I64 through Richmond and Charlottesville. Near Waynesboro we turned north on Skyline Drive and entered the park. As we drove along Skyline Drive the views were beautiful but there was a haze hanging in the valleys and over the mountains. After about 30 miles of driving passed MANY overlooks and numerous trailheads we arrived at the trail head for Rocky Mount. Karl felt this was a good choice as the recent rains would have the creeks on the trails on the Rocky Mountain - Brown Mountain loop too swollen to be passable. We arrived just before 10:00 AM and parked. The temperature was in the high 30's with a stiff breeze. I wondered if it really would get any warmer during the day. From the car we walked downhill on Skyline Drive to the trail head and started down the trail to a point where the trail would split. I thought about climbing back up this hill at the end of the hike! Our intent was to hike around to the back of Rocky Mount and over the summit. By 10:55 AM we had hiked 1.3 miles and dropped 850 feet to the point where the trail split. We turned right and started to hike through a pleasant area right next to Gap Run.

The trail continued to descend as we hiked along Gap Run. The Run is normally pretty low and easy to cross and it was this day in several places. In other spots the recent rains had swollen the Run so that is was wider and deeper than normal. This made it difficult to cross in several spots. In three or four spots Karl walked one way and I walked the other looking for places to cross. Karl chose to throw some stones in the water but I, in all cases, found trees that had fallen across the run creating natural "bridges". The final crossing was the lowest point on the hike and was the widest and deepest. We walked upstream and found a tree trunk and used it to cross. Meanwhile, the dogs were having fun running across the streams and seemed to be saying "Let's go!" It was 12:20 PM and we had hiked 4.75 miles dropping some 1535 feet in elevation. We now started the climb up the back of Rocky Mount. The trail switched back and forth several times and there were one or two more water crossing that were easily managed. We climbed for the next 2 miles and gained almost 1500 feet to the summit of Rocky Mount. On the way up there were some nice views over to other mountains. Many have extensive talus slopes visible on their sides. We walked over two talus slopes on our own trail. As we started up the last climb, we met a hiker coming down from the summit. We talked briefly and warned him about the water crossings. He seemed pretty experienced and we went our separate ways. There were no views from the summit so we began to descend the other side at 1:55 PM and 6.75 miles into the hike.

The summit of Rocky Mount proved to live up to it name. The trail down from the summit did have some view but there was still a haze hanging over most of the peaks. (When I got back and processed the pictures, many were better than I had expected!) After a brief pause for water and a snack, we started down the trail to the junction where we had turned earlier that morning. The 1.2 mile trip took us about 45 minutes and we arrived at the junction around 2:40 PM having dropped 815 feet. As we approached the intersection, the hiker we had talked to appeared! Since we had met him on the back side of the mountain well passed the halfway point, we concluded he must have really been moving especially considering the water crossings. We said "Hello" and then he was off. I was able to keep up for some time but eventually slowed down to enjoy the walk. The last 2.3 miles DID seem long as I suspected it would earlier in the day. The 850 foot elevation gain and 25 degree change in temperature contributed to the feeling. We were back at the car at 3:45 PM having covered 10.2 miles and 2900 feet of elevation gain in just under 6 hours. On the way back down Skyline Drive I stopped at six of the overlooks to take pictures on both sides of the road. Now I am "hooked" and want to return for other hikes. The athletic tape on my feet eliminated all irritation and cost a few cents as compared to the Dr. Scholl's pads at a dollar each.

On Friday, March 11th I decided to return to York State Park with Cindy and Karl and the two dogs. I had liked my first visit so much I wanted to explore some more and share the experience with others. I particularly wanted to go to the "tower" on the river at the end of the Pumunkey Trail. My feet were still bothering me from the hike two days before. This time I remembered to use a liner sock under a pair of heavier, cushioned socks. We arrived in the parking area around 11:00 AM. It was much easier this time knowing where we were going. The grounds were much wetter from the recent rain. We immediately headed to the right of the visitor's center and got on the Woodstock Pond Trail. When we departed from Williamsburg, the skies were sunny and I expected them to stay that way. At the park the skies began to cloud over so that the atmosphere was much like two days before. The temperature was in the mid 50's which made just wearing a shirt appropriate but the breeze suggested a light windbreaker was in order. We walked from the trail down to the Bach and I took a few pictures of Karl and the dogs before we went back to the main trail. After passing the pond, we turned right on the Mattaponi Point Trail and were soon at the lookout platform above the bluff. From here we walked down to Fossil Beach. I again took a few shots and we walked around some before going back to the main trail and following it out to the Backbone Trail. We continued south on the Backbone Trail as I had on Wednesday and used the multi-use trail to get to the Pumunkey Trail. At the trail junction we turned left.

The Pumunkey Trail heads down to the beach and an observation "tower". The distance to the shore is about .85 miles with a drop of about 120 feet which is a lot for this flat hike. By this time my feet were again bothering me a lot and I was annoyed that I might not be ready for the BIG hike in Shenandoah on Saturday. We got down to the shore and found the "tower" which is a six foot high observation platform! The "tower" is not worth the hike but the views were OK. We hiked back up to the Backbone Trail and used it to get back to the parking lot and the car. We were back by 2:00 PM having covered 5 miles in about 3 hours. I had wanted to take Cindy and Karl on the "closed" Taskinas Trail loop but we wanted to get back home to the baby and my feet were not feeling any better!

On Wednesday, March 9th I was in Virginia with Cindy and Sheba to see the first grandson for first time! We arrived on Tuesday and the forecast was for heavy rain on Thursday so I decided to hike on Wednesday. I wanted someplace close and Karl told me about York State Park only 30 minutes north of Williamsburg. Of, course there wouldn't be much elevation but the park has 25 miles of trails and some interesting views of the York River, Taskinas Creek and some salt marshes. The first challenge was to find the entrance to the park! I took exit 231 off I64 and headed east toward Croaker. When I saw the sign for York State Park I turned right on Riverview Drive which were also the directions Karl had given me. After driving down the road for some time, I began to doubt that I had taken the correct turn as the road got progressively smaller. I turned around and headed back to where I had made the turn and went right. Soon I was on an access road to the...boat landing. I made a U-turn and headed back to Riverview. This time I stayed on the road and about a quarter mile passed where I had turned around signs pointed to the left for the access road to the park. When we arrived at the park, there were only two other cars in the lot. I was disappointed to find that there was no one on duty at the park to talk to about the trails. After leaving three dollars using the "honor parking system", I parked the car and Sheba and I started looking for trails at about 10:20 AM. I wore a long sleeved shirt with a light softshell on top which seemed about right when we started out. Although the temperatures were just short of 50 degrees the breeze made it feel cooler. I decided to keep Sheba on a leash until I coils see how many people were at the park.

We walked toward the York River and down a path and a set of stairs toward the creek. This proved to be the place where canoes and kayaks can be rented during the season but no trails started here. We walked back up to the parking area and started to skirt the woods and finally found the beginning of Taskinas Creek Trail. As we approached the woods, a sign indicated the trail was closed due to storm damage. I chose to assume that closed meant "hike at your own risk" and went ahead on the trail. Although it was muddy in places, I really didn't see why the trail was closed. We crossed a muddy swill and worked our way around the wettest areas. Along the way were wooden structures that acted as viewpoints out onto the creek that ran through a salt marsh. At one several point some brush across the trail seemed to by placed to discourage further exploration but we pressed on. In these areas a new trail was flagged with orange markers. At one point a wooden bridge lay in ruins but we again picked our way across the wet areas. In other spots significant blowdown required a little agility to avoid. By the looks of some of these areas the "storm damage" was not recent and I wondered whether it would ever be fixed. As we continued around the edges of the creek, a particularly long boardwalk was in a bad state. I was warped in two different directions and some of the boards looked shaky. We worked our way across testing each section as we went. After this the trail climbed a little, a very little and turned away from the creek. A short walk brought us to a trail junction with the left branch indicating a way back to the parking area and the right heading toward a bridle trail. We turned left and headed back toward the visitor's center. At the next trail junction there was another split and nothing was marked. I decided to turn left.

The left turn put us back on the trail next to the creek but on the newly flagged trail so I decided to see what it looked like. Basically the new trail was "not ready for prime time" but was passable and was sited to avoid some of the muddiest spots in an effort to avoid reconstructing the bridges. Eventually we were back on the main trail again for a while. When the brush blocked the main trail, we followed the new flagging. This time the trail was hard to follow and looked like it had just been laid down. There was a lot of sidehilling and bushwhacking. At one point the flagging simply stopped. I chose to bushwhack down a hill, across a swale and up the next hill to the main trail. This was relatively easy except for the slippery leaves and the fact that I had left my poles in the car. Back on the main trail we approached the same junction to the parking area or bridle trail as before. I had the idea that we would follow the bridle trail to the Marl Ravine Trail. This trail was marked for mountain bikes and was rated difficult. I had read that ALL the trails were open to hikers so I didn't think that would be a problem. I was wrong! When we got to the park road, we crossed and walked to the bridle trail. The hiker in a red circle with a line through it made it clear this was "Horses Only". We walked back out to the road and toward the parking area. Just short of the parking area we turned right on the Backbone Trail which is a hike/bike trail. My new plan was to walk out to Woodstock Pond and the York River and then use the Backbone Trail to access some of the trails further to the south. The temperatures had risen to the mid-50's so I took off the jacket and stowed it and did not don the windbreaker I had brought along.

Just after turning onto the Backbone Trail we made a left onto the Beaver Trail to take us over to Woodstock Pond Trail. We turned left at the end of this short trail and then made another left onto the Woodstock Pond Trail heading north. At the pond we stopped so that I could take a few pictures of the pond and the York River. A pair of geese were on the pond and made it into several pictures. At the end of the trail, which is close to the Visitor's Center, we turned around and headed back the way we came. A short side trail leads down to the shore of the river. A small sand beach greeted us at the end of the trail. I took pictures of the beach and the drift wood that had waked up on the shore. The river is very wide here, perhaps more than a mile, and pictures of the opposite shore were indistinct especially on this overcast day. Back on the trail we pads the pond again and the made a left on the Mattaponi Trail that leads to Mattaponi Point. The Point has a wooden viewing platform with benches. The high, sandy bank is eroding away and I stood near the edge to take some pictures of the bank and the river's edge, strewn with driftwood, below. From the platform we walked down the trail to Fossil Beach. A set of steps lead down to the beach which did have a variety of shells with barnacle accretions. The real fossils are much harder to find. We walked up and down the beach and I took several pictures before heading back up to the main trail. The trail lead back out to the Backbone Trail. At the junction of these two trails was the remains of the foundation of a summer house of a prominent Williamsburg doctor. It was a little after noon and I did not want to go back just yet so we turned left on the Backbone Trail and headed south.

The trail heads south and is crossed in several places by mountain bike and equestrian trails. Eventually, after about 1.2 miles, the trail turns into a multi-use trail at a gate. We continued on and took a left onto the Pumunkey Trail. It was about this time that I noticed that my feet were beginning to hurt. The inner aspect of my forefoot has begun to become irritated on long hikes and I had foolishly forgot to put on liner socks. This is really not a blister but it is uncomfortable just the same. It is a relatively new occurrence and one I could do without! I decided to wait until I got to a bench to change socks and perhaps put some padding on the affected area. A short distance down the Pumunkey Trail was a junction. Continuing straight ahead leads down to an observation tower by the river. This sounded interesting but I wanted to do the nearby loop. Had my feet been 100% I would have done both! We turned right on the Spurr Trail and then left on the Majestic Oak Trail. This trail ends near the river and just before the end is a VERY large oak tree, the Majestic Oak. The tree was very impressive and worthy of a few shots. Just beyond the tree were some benches where I sat and changed socks and put a pad on each foot. When we got back on the trail, my feet still hurt but they hurt less. We were now on the North Fork of the Powhatan Forks Trail. After crossing a boardwalk across a salt marsh, we followed the trail All the way out to the Backbone Trail.

Just before we reached the Backbone Trail junction we encountered a clearing with some evidence of foundations and a well. The sign said that this was part of the main complex of the Taskinas Plantation. In the 17th and 18th centuries this was the site of large warehouses where tobacco and other products were stored before they were shipped to England. Shallow depressions rimmed with red brick are all that now remain. Once we got to the Backbone trail we hiked straight back toward the parking area which was about 1.8 miles away. My feet hurt but knowing we were headed back seemed to help. At the junction with the Mattaponi Trail we stayed on the Backbone Trail as it headed left. I a few manures we were back at the car. It was about 3:00 PM and the GPS read 11.1 miles. The hike had taken less than 5 hours with PLENTY of time for pictures. The GPS showed a moving average of 2.9 mph!

On Thursday, March 3rd I was scheduled to pick up my sister at Stewart Airport at a little after 2:00 PM. I didn't want to be late so I chose the closest trails to my home which are the ones at Frick Pond. The rain and ice had hampered hiking along with family commitments and I was anxious to get out even for a short hike. When we arrived at the parking area, the temperature was in the high 20's with a slight breeze blowing. The skies were clear and blue and there appeared to be good snow cover unhampered by the recent rain. We were on the trail by 8:30 AM headed toward Frick Pond. The trail to Frick was generally good with a few open spaces due to the rain. Most of the water was frozen with only a few areas of open water to avoid. Once at the pond we stopped and I took some pictures of the white snow and the beautiful blue skies. There was still a LARGE snow drift on the other end of the bridge but this was easily avoided. At the trail junction around the side of the pond, we headed around the pond rather than up the Quick Lake Trail. At one point I stepped off the trail and walked out into an open area to take pictures of the pond. Again, beautiful blue skies and white snow.

Once we were around the back of the pond we quickly hiked to Times Square. From here it was straight ahead and up the Big Rock Trail. The trail was packed by snowmobile traffic which made the surface a pleasure to hike on with snowshoes. The Big Rock Trail, while not a 3500 foot peak, gains some elevation and can be challenging if you hike fast without stopping. It seemed like we were at the top in no time where we turned right to go down the Flynn Trail and back to the parking area. The Flynn Trail appeared to be untraveled as we hiked down. In some places I did see evidence of snowshoe tracks and some cross country ski tracks. The high winds we had been experiencing were evident in the amount of blowdown on the trail both big and small! We were at the car before 10:30 AM having covered the 4 mile hike in UNDER two hours.

On Saturday, February 26th I wanted to try AGAIN to hike Table and Peekamoose from the Denning trailhead. I had planned this hike several times over the previous two weeks and each time something got in the way. When Sheba and I left Livingston Manor at around 9:20 AM the air temperature was about 16 degrees but the forecast was for highs in the low 30's. Some new fallen snow covered the roads as I drove to the Denning trail head but in general they were in good shape. We arrived at the parking area just before 10:00 AM to find two other cars parked there. The lot had been plowed but it was in poor shape as Friday's warmer temps and rain had left a slushy mess that then refroze. I put on my snowshoes and shouldered the path and we left a few minutes after10:00 AM. It was hard to tell how many people were ahead of us. At least one person had decided to walk in bare boots. I always wondered how much fun it must be to sink in, pull the foot out and then repeat the process. I did noticed that the postholes disappeared a short distance into the woods and a new type of snowshoe track appeared. Lesson learned? We followed the same path that we had used on Wednesday with Lisa but at an accelerated pace. I could tell as I was out of breath by the time we reached the trail junction and turned right to go down to the river. I was also pretty warm by this time after only a little over a mile hiking. I had already opened all the zippers I could find and decided I would probably lose the midlayer after crossing the bridges. I was a little worried about the condition of the bridges given the warm temperatures, rain, snow and refreezing. I need not have worried as the bridges seemed much the same as a few days before. Sheba and I made it over the first bridge with no problem. The second bridge, the one with two logs, lay ahead! This time, for better or worse, Sheba decided to scoot across and made it with just one bobble. We stopped at the end of the bridge for a drink and a snack and for me to remove a layer. I was cool once I took off that layer but knew that I would warm up on the climb ahead!

Just after the bridges and before the campsites as set of snowshoe tracks turned off to the left. I assumed that they were headed for Lone and Rocky along the Fisherman's Path. We stayed on the main trail and were making good time as we ascended the first hill on the way to Table. The sun came out and it seemed warmer and I again had to open up some zippers. We climbed up the second hill and reached the area where Lisa and I had stopped on Wednesday. We made this point at 2.8 miles into the hike in about 1.5 hours. The same distance had taken over 2 hours a few days early. Sheba and I were moving. We finished our ascent and again dropped down slightly before starting up Table. The trail up Table winds around some to avoid some steep climbing. The problem is that this causes some sidehilling which can be a problem but I didn't notice it much. We passed the spring and the lean-to and were soon at the 3500 foot marker. Around 3.65 miles into the hike at 3760 feet, I noticed a viewpoint on the left. We walked through the brush and had a relatively clear view to the north and west toward Rocky and Lone. The very tops of the peaks did have some ice and frozen snow and I took some pictures before we continued. At about 3.7 miles at an elevation of 3840 feet the tracks we were following went off the main trail to the right. I though that there was a viewpoint in this area but the tracks went into the woods a short distance and then turned back to the main trail. I couldn't see the lookout and was more interested in hitting the summit. In a few minutes we gained the rather flat top of Table at 3.8 miles taking 2 hours and 20 minutes for the trip. We started to walk across toward Peekamoose. On the way up I thought I was tiring and might skip Peekamoose. Once I was at the summit of Table my mood changed and I knew that I could easily make the other summit which is only .8 miles away!

As we walked across the flat summit of Table, my path was partly obstructed at times by low hanging branches. The combination of ice and frozen snow had pulled many of them down into the trail. In addition, the trail markers which are usually at eye height were around my knees or almost even with Sheba's head. There apparently was a good, packed base underneath! At one point I looked up to see a dog, maybe a husky or husky-shepherd mix, not too far ahead. He came to "visit" us as his master called him back. The dog seemed friendly but Sheba was a little agitated. The hiker had on MSR Lightning Ascents which were the tracks I had been following since the trailhead. We talked for a minute and he said he was from New Jersey and asked about a viewpoint. I told him what I knew and we went in opposite directions. I didn't get his name but the dog's name was AJ. As we started down Table on the way to Peekamoose, we met another hiker which was sort of a surprise. He was followed by another and then four more, all headed toward Table. These guys had decided that Microspikes were appropriate for the day on a trail with several feet of snow in warming conditions! They did not look "green" from the equipment they were carrying so I wondered why they had made that decision. I said hello in passing and continued on. The trail from this point on was full of holes with some being barely noticeable and others at least knee deep! I know the arguments between destroying the trail and personal choice but in this case I think I fall on the side of inappropriate gear for the conditions.

The .8 mile trip to Peekamoose seemed to go very quickly and by 12:45 PM we were at the boulder that marks the summit. We stopped and I took some pictures of Sheba at the summit and then started the long return trip to the parking area at about 12:50 PM. Again the trip between the peaks seemed to go by quickly. We heard voices ahead as we reached the col. It was the Microspikes aficionados headed back toward Peekamoose. They had parked on the Peekamoose Road and had bagged both peaks. They mentioned something about how well the snow on the other side was consolidated. I remembered this as I hiked back to Table trying to fill in some of their deepest holes as I went. As we descended the other side I forgot to stay on the main trail and took the little detour to the lookout which had not worked on the way up. I was pretty sure the lookout WAS there so I walked a little further off the trail and spotted it through the snow laden trees. I walked out onto the rock that forms the viewpoint being very careful on the icy, snow covered ledge. The view was fantastic as the sun had come out and the sky was blue with a few clouds. I took pictures but was not anxious to stay as the sky was getting darker and the wind had come up. Sheba and I quickly descended the mountain and made short work of the two short uphills along the way. Once we hit the Phoenicia-East Branch Trail we quickened our pace until we were at the trail head. I checked the trail register and there were five hikers from Bethlehem, PA on the Lone-Rocky trip. We were at the car by 3:10 PM having covered the 9.1 mile trip in just over 5 hours. The total ascent was 2850 feet and the GPS said the moving average was over 2 mph. I felt great and was happy to have gotten this hike in before the "nice" weather starts early next week.

On Wednesday, February 23rd I wanted to try AGAIN to hike Table and Peekamoose from the Denning trailhead. I had planned this hike several times over the previous two weeks and each time something got in the way. I was about ready to leave the house at 8:45 AM when Lisa from Morgan Outdoors called and asked what I was doing. I told here and, to my surprise, she asked if she could come along. I have found that hiking with someone else actually is fun so I said "Yes" and we agreed to meet downtown at 9:30 AM. We drove out the DeBruce Road to the Frost Valley Road and from there through Claryville to the Denning trail head. The roads were in pretty good shape all the way to the parking area which was plowed, somewhat. There was one other car in the lot as we shoved off at 10:30 AM with the temperature barely in the double digits. The Tison house near the parking area is a favorite of mine and I found out of Lisa also. The owners of the house have extensive property holdings in the area. In fact, the Phoenicia-East Branch Trail passes through or alongside their property. The land is held in a trust with Frost Valley. The trail was well packed as we hiked along and we did not sink in at all. We had gotten around 4 inches of fresh snow in Livingston Manor but there seemed to be less in Denning. The track of the person or persons ahead of us meandered some to avoid the stream that cross the trail in some areas. By 11:10 AM we had traversed the 1.25 miles to the turn on the Table Peekamoose Trail. A new sign here indicated the end of the East End of the Finger Lakes Trail! We made the right turn and walked down to the West Branch of the Neversink and Deer Shanty Brook arriving at the first bridge at 11:30 AM. The first bridge, upon initial inspection, looked to be in good shape with a thick layer of frozen snow packed evenly across the surface. However, a closer look showed what many others have reported. The near caisson is completely emptied of stone. The river has undercut the caisson and the stone are gone. I do not think this structure will withstand the spring floods. The project is not one easily accomplished without lifting equipment and even with equipment it would be difficult at this time of year. We stopped briefly to take some pictures. The combination of stopping and a slight breeze convinced me that I would leave my midlayer on at least until we started to climb. The second bridge is always more interesting than the first. It is high and constructed of just two somewhat parallel logs with a cable to help maintain balance. This bridge was also covered with a layer of frozen snow. I had no problem crossing and neither did Lisa. Sheba started out on the bridge but seemed to have second thoughts. I was about to lead her down to the stream to cross the ice when she shot across the bridge at full speed. For an instant I had visions of my brave dog tumbling into the cold water below!

Just after the bridge we passed the campsites and then started to climb. The Tubbs Mountaineer snowshoes worked well with a combination of grip and a good binding. To me there is something reassuring about a metal frame underfoot. I seldom use the heel lifts but Lisa suggested that I try them. They were much easier to get up and down than the ones on any other snowshoe I use but they stayed in place and gave good support. The climbs on Table are short so they benefited me more from helping me to get a good plant for the forefoot crampon than relieving pressure on my leg muscles. The trail switches back and forth in several spots to mitigate the steepness of the slope and avoid some obstacles. At about 2.3 miles we were at the top of a little hill and had to descend the other side before climbing again. This is only a small climb and descent but I always find it discouraging. At the top of this rise the trail conference maps mark a viewpoint with a star. This may have had a view at one time but the trees and bushes have grown up to block it. We turned slightly east from our southerly heading and up the other side we went making good time. Somewhere around 2.7 miles Lisa confessed that she was getting tired. I knew at the beginning this might happen and that the summit of Table would again allude me. I was willing to take her along as I have become more interested in talking and sharing common interests than returning to peaks I have already conquered. I suggested we climb a little more as I though there was a nice lookout at about 3200 feet. When we hit the lookout, I was a little disappointed since the view was only mediocre with some bushes blocking a clear view of the scenery. The weather was BEAUTIFUL and I decided to go up the trail a little further to find a better view. I walked up the trail but did not see any tracks over to the edge so I made some myself. I found one decent view and then bushwhacked along the edge to a point only a few hundred feet above the initial viewpoint. I had to fight with a push that tried to push me over the edge but in the end got a wide-open view. I called to Lisa and she headed up to where I was through the brush and trees. I dumped my pack and got out the camera to take some nice pictures of Table, Peekamoose, Van Wyck and Woodhull. I was also able to see all the way down to the parking area and the Tison house! Lisa also took several pictures. I removed my midlayer as I was getting warm with no breeze and bright sunlight.

Eventually we decided to headed back starting the return trip at about 1:15 PM. We slipped and slid, mostly under control, down the steeper sections only the small hill to climb over. At the bridges I led Sheba down to the ice where she crossed much more easily than the first time across the two logs. We climbed up to the Phoenicia-East Branch Trail and turned left to head back to the parking area. The snow was getting soft and had been the whole way back which made walking a little more difficult. On the way back we met a young couple who looked fit but were not wearing snowshoes. They were walking right along the snowshoe trail seemingly unaware that they were ruining a nice set track with there deep post holes. I know this is a point of controversy and I really don't care if people want to hike in snow the hard way. I just wish people without snowshoes would stay out of the snowshoe track. If they want to sink in up to their knees, it would be much easier where no one has walked! We were back at the car by 3:00 PM. The car that had been there when we arrived was still parked. We covered 5.8 miles in 4.5 hours with my GPS showing a MOVING average of 2 mph. Maybe next time I will get to the top!

On Tuesday, February 22nd Lisa from Morgan Outdoors wanted to preview a hike she was sponsoring to Jensen Ledges early in March. I agreed to go with her even though Cindy and I had been there on Friday since I wanted pictures on a sunnier day and had enjoyed the previous outing. This time I knew exactly how to get to the trailhead but Lisa and I wanted to try different routes to see which was the quickest, the shortest and had the easiest directions to follow. We headed west on State Route 17 and took the Hancock exit. We got on Route 97 south and took the turn for Lordville Road which is only about 5 miles from Hancock. After turning right on Lordville Road, I drove the 3 miles down to Lordville and then went straight ahead on the road that leads to the trail head. We parked and were hiking by 10:15 AM. The conditions were similar to my previous trip with slightly lower temperatures and some wind. The best part was that there was some sun with a blue sky and some clouds. The trail showed the effects of the warmer temperatures and melting that occurred over the weekend but there was also a layer of fresh powder on top. We walked and talked as we hiked up the trail. It didn't seem like we were rushing but we made good time. Lisa stopped at the stream to take some pictures of this very pretty spot. We arrived at the first Ledge at 11:00 AM taking only 45 minutes for the mile hike uphill. We stopped at the first viewpoint to see the sights and take pictures. At the second lookout we stopped for more pictures. The wind came up and made things a little cold but stepping back in the shelter of the trees solved the problem. After a drink and a snack, we headed back down. The trip down took about 40 minuets and we arrived back at the parking area around noon. The hike down would have been faster but we decided to bushwhack up the steep bank about halfway down to investigate some ice formations.

Since it was only noon, we decided to walk out to the river on the other trail that branches off from the trail head. This trail is also on private land. It did not seem that anyone had been on the trail for some time but we were able to follow a set of footprints. The path out to the river is pretty obvious and parallels a small creek. Near the river we walked up a bank to the railroad tracks. The views in both directions on the river were fantastic. The Ledges were easy to spot high and off to the left. The rather large cairn helped confirm the correct location. The tracks did not seem to be used but the line of flatcars on the siding blocked access to the river. Since I climb mountains, I didn't think climbing over the flatcars would be too hard and mostly I was right. After climbing over the cars, I walked down to the river. The views were even better with the railroad cars out of the way! After taking pictures I walked back up to the tracks and Lisa and I headed back to the car. We went back through Callicoon to stop at the cheese shop and eat at Cafe Devine. Back in Livingston Manor we compared the mileage for the different routes. The routes through Hancock, Tennanah Lake and Callicoon are all within 1 mile of each other. The Hancock route is probably the easiest to follow with the others providing more varied scenery.

On Friday, February 18th I wanted to go hike Jensen Ledges near Lordville, NY. This location was recommended by Ike the postal carrier in Callicoon and Patty from Cafe Devine. The Ledges overlook the oxbow in the Delaware River and were promoted as a short hike with a big payoff. Cindy thought this sounded like a good idea and agreed to accompany us. We left Livingston Manor and used the back roads through North Branch and Callicoon Center to get to Callicoon on the Delaware River. From here we headed north on State Route 97 through Long Eddy. We didn't have clear directions to where we were going but knew we wanted to turn left on Lordville Road and head down to the river. After driving for over 7 miles, we decided we had gone too far and turned around in the vicinity of French Woods. We drove back to Long Eddy and stopped in the post office to ask directions. The Ledges area popular destination so I though I would have no problem getting some information from the postmaster. I was wrong! She was decidedly unhelpful bordering on rude. Fortunately, a local resident getting his male overheard my question and gave us GREAT directions to the Ledges. He said that you could hike in from right in Long Eddy but that parking might be a problem. He suggested we drive north on Route 97 for a little over 9 miles passed French Woods. A lake on the right would indicate we should turn left on the Lordville Road. We did this and the road was exactly where he told me it would be. We turned and headed down and toward the river. The road was a little narrow in places and was covered with snow and ice in places. I drove about 3 miles to get to Lordville. We could see the bridge and made a left turn at the bottom of the hill. Instead of turning right to go over the bridge we went straight ahead on a paved road that turns to gravel. This road does have several permanent houses sprinkled along it as well as summer homes and camps. There are several twists and turns and we began to wonder if we were on the right road. After about 3 miles, the road dead ends at the parking area for the Bouchouxville Trail. There are two trail registers and a small building with bathrooms and a picnic area. We arrived just before 1:00 Am and started hiking after putting on our snowshoes.

The trail to the Ledges is a wide woods road that starts out on private property. The owner has graciously allowed hikers to walk over his land to get to this beautiful lookout. The snow on this day was well packed and the temperatures started in the low 20's. By the time we had walked a half mile I removed my jacket and continued the hike in a long-sleeved Mammut shirt. The sun was out and the temperature was rising. For the first .65 miles the trail climbs the road gaining about 500 feet in elevation. There is a steep bank rising on the left and another steep drop falling to the river on the right. Somewhere along the way the land changes from private property to state forest. We stopped at a small stream and walked down to where the stream falls over the cliff to the river below. The water was frozen and made for some nice pictures. There is a view of the river from here but it is somewhat limited. We had never been hiking here before but I had the feeling the REAL Ledges were a little further on. We crossed the small stream without much problem. After a hundred feet or so a path led off to the right and I could see that there seemed to be a clearing at the end. We walked in that direction and within minutes had a spectacular view of the oxbow in the river and for miles beyond! It is impossible to describe how beautiful the view was. We had a partly sunny day with some overcast that gave a "mysterious" feel to many of the pictures I took. The hike to the Ledges was only about a mile and had taken 45 minutes. There was a lot to see. I walked along the "ledge" and found that much of it is man-made. Someone has laid up stone to form an artificial structure. On top is a large and quite artistic cairn and a "chair" made from stones. I have asked several people about this but no one seems to know the history. As we were on the ledges a hawk circled over us. Below the river was frozen in some places and open in others. Along the near bank were railroad tracks. Closer inspection showed a main track and a side spur with MANY flatbed rail cars on it.

We spent some time here and then I decided to walk a little farther along the trail that paralleled the edge of the cliff. A few hundred feet down the trail another ledge opened up with, perhaps, and even better view of the same countryside. The position of this ledge did reveal some hills that were hidden from the other viewpoint. We took more pictures and got a drink and a snack. Since the hike had been so short, I decided to go back on the main trail and walk a little further. We walked another .33 miles to the next stream. Much of this was downhill and Cindy was not thrilled with the prospect of walking up to go back to the car. This stream was interesting but nothing spectacular so we turned around and started back to the car. I believe that walking in this direction along the trail would lead back to Long Eddy. Hiking in from Long Eddy or doing a through hike is on my "to-do" list! By the time we started back the snow was beginning to melt in the warm temperatures. We slipped and slid our way back to the parking area. The entire hike even with our extension was only 2.8 miles and took just under 2 hours to complete. Our moving average was 2 mph but we took a LOT of time to explore and enjoy the views.

On Thursday, February 17th I had not been hiking for several days due to other commitments but did not have a lot of time to spend. I had been trying to get to Denning to hike Table and Peekamoose but it didn't seem to be working out. I decided to head up to Trout and Mud Ponds just north of Roscoe to check out what was going on there. This is an area I hike frequently but I had not been there since the major snows. It is also a popular snowmobile destination so I expected some of the trails to be packed. I decided to go early and packed Sheba and my equipment into the car and headed out. We arrived at the end of Russell Brook Road off Morton Hill Road at about 8:30 AM. The parking area was not plowed and Russell Brook Road is not maintained during the winter so I parked as far off the road as possible. We got started right away with Sheba leading the way at full speed. It was obvious that a number of snowmobiles had been down the road as the snow was well packed and made the walking very easy. The temperatures were in the mid 20's but the sun was coming through at times. Once we passed the falls, I decided to head up to Trout Pond first and do the loop anticlockwise. About half way up the trail I stopped to take a few pictures and then we continued on to the lake. We stopped at the out let end and I took some pictures. The sky was somewhat overcast but this makes for some interesting photographs. As I started to put the camera away, the sun peeked through and I took a few more shots. After a quick drink and snack, we headed up the eastern shore of the pond to the inlet area where the lean-tos are located. The walking was easy and we stopped again for photographs at the upper end of the pond. By this time the sun was starting to come out and things were warming up. When we turned to head up the trail, I was surprised to see that the snowmobile tracks continued right on around the pond and up the trail toward Cherry Ridge. This is a snowmobile trail but the last time I had hiked it there was quite a bit of brush and a few trees across the trail.

The packed trails allowed us to make good time as we hiked nearly as fast as we would without snow on the ground. We hit the highest point on Cherry Ridge at 2565 feet at about 10:00 AM or 1.5 hours for 2.75 miles. From here we headed down hill toward the trail junction near Mud Pond. I kept listening for snowmobiles but did not hear any. There was evidence that the brush and larger trees had been cleared on the trail. As we neared the trail junction I heard the sound of machines and could see them coming up the trail from below. I was careful to keep Sheba near as I anticipated they would turn up the trail toward us. Instead the first machine stopped and waited for the second at the junction and then they both took a break. When we arrived at the trail junction, I found two friends from Livingston Manor out for a ride. We discussed the trails since they had not been in the area before and then parted ways. Sheba and I turned left and headed around to close the loop we were hiking. As we descended the hill, the snowmobiles came back and passed us waving as they went. We arrived back at Russell Brook Falls just before 11:00 AM and I decided to walk over to the falls. The little slope down to the falls may have been the hardest part of the whole hike but it was worth it. The falls were almost entirely frozen with only a small area of running water visible. I took some pictures and then we headed to the upper falls. There wasn't much to photograph there so we went back down and headed up the trail to Russell Brook Road. We were back at the car by around 11:30 AM having covered the 6 mile trip in 2 hours and 45 minutes.

On Monday, February 14th I went to hike Halcott with Jim Kennard. I was excited to be hiking with someone else and particularly with Jim since I am interested in is "other" hobby. Jim is a diver and has been involved in discovering over 200 shipwrecks in Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Champlain, the St. Lawrence River and the Hudson River. I expected to get some first hand information about his explorations. We agree to meet at 9:00 AM at the trailhead on Route 42. The weather forecast was for some rain or snow showers in the morning with temperatures rising into the mid 40's later in the day. Winds of from 10 to 20 mph were also in the forecast with gusts of up to 40 mph! When I awoke at 6:30 AM, it was 23 degrees in Livingston Manor and a stiff breeze was blowing. I decided to put away the lighter outfit I had planned to wear and go with what I have been wearing on 20+ degree days. We left Livingston Manor at around 7:45 AM. The DeBruce Road was not in good shape and neither was the road to Frost Valley. I got behind a Town of Denning truck but it was salting the road which was a good thing. The road continued to be in poor condition until I got to Route 28 which was completely clear. Along the way the temperature had slowly risen until it was up to about 40 degrees! I arrived at the trailhead parking a little before 9:00 AM to find Jim already there. We introduced ourselves at got ready to go. One reason that Jim had chosen this hike was that several forum posts indicated that people had hiked it over the weekend and the route was well broken. As we started up the slope next to the falls and walked across the top this seemed to be true as the bushwhack route looked more like a highway! It was our intent to follow this route directly to the can and come back the same way although we had no real idea how direct or how steep it was. After only a short distance, we stopped and I removed my midlayer as I was already very warm. The sun was beginning to shine through, there was no wind and even the slight uphills at this point were beginning to warm me up. Sheba had not been out in a couple of days and was very enthusiastic as she ran ahead and then doubled back.

It was obvious that whoever broke the original route had a good idea of how to chose a path that eliminated a lot of steep climbing. The switchbacks that were built in did add some length to the hike but they were very well done. There were plenty of challenging little climbs along the way. Jim and I conversed about our former jobs, both of us are retired, and our families. Eventually I began to ask him questions about his diving and his shipwreck discoveries. Jim is very passionate about this subject and knows so much about the history and the circumstances of each wreck. Being an electrical engineer he has also helped to design and build some of the equipment that is used to discover and explore these views into the past. I was fascinated and the climb to the summit plateau went quickly. We stopped several times to enjoy the nice weather and to get a drink and a snack. Neither of us were in much of a hurry and there were even some nice views albeit ones that were hard to capture with a camera. Once on the summit plateau, we continued to follow the well broken track toward the canister. A blustery wind did start to come up but I was warm as long as we were moving. As we neared the canister, the track was filled with drifting snow but Sheba seemed to know the way and the area looked familiar to me also. Soon we were at the can. The wind was blowing constantly now and I was cold almost immediately. I considered putting my midlayer back on but in the end opted to close the pit zips and front zipper on my jacket which kept out the wind. I took a few pictures at the top of the canister and some of the surrounding hills. Belleayre Ski Area was clearly visible to the naked eye but difficult to capture with the camera. We grabbed a quick snack and the a drink before starting back. It had taken just about two hours to get up so I predicted about a one hour return trip.

On Thursday, February 10th I decided to return to Hubbell Hill and actually attack the summit this time! The air temperature was cooler than Monday hovering in the single digits to low teens AND there was a slight "breeze". This time I knew exactly where to park and we were on our way by 9:35 AM. Since Monday several inches of powdery snow had fallen and that had drifted in many places. We used the same ice bridge to cross the stream and then headed up through the first field. Our tracks through this field were all but obliterated by drifting snow but I could follow them if I watched carefully. It was harder breaking track here but still MUCH easier than Monday. The packed snow in our old tracks was able to support our weight. We just walked in our old tracks to the place where we had stopped on Monday. This time the 1.25 mile distance took only 45 minutes! I assessed the slop ahead and decided to head up directly to the small cliff band I could see above. I did not want to try to find a better spot since I didn't believe there really was one! The line I chose was slightly to the southeast as it seemed a little less steep in this direction. As soon as we stepped off the broken trail, we had to fight for every foot of ground. the snow was up to three feet deep with drifts even higher. At times I could walk on top but was always aware that the next step might find me hip deep. As we ascended I kept slipping back but pushed on anyway. I tried one line about two-thirds of the way up but it proved too steep and I tried another. We gained a flatter area only to be presented by another steep section. It took almost 40 minutes to struggle up 400 feet of vertical gain in .3 miles. At this point we were on the relatively flat summit plateau but still some distance from the highest point.

We walked to the highest point we could find and came across a path or woods road. The prickers were not completely gone. Some of the dead canes pulled at us as we passed by. At some point we would sink deep into the snow and I would realize there was a sea of briars underneath. We walked generally northeast for the next .3 miles and I finally declared victory at around 11:20 AM. The trip up had taken less than two hours this time. I knew it was possible drop down off the summit and take a "shortcut" back to our path up but in the end decided to follow our broken track back to the car. The views from on top were quite nice but hard to capture with a camera. Descending even the steepest sections was easier than I thought it might be. I sat back on the snowshoes and slid a good part of the way down. We again stopped in the fields so that I could take some photos. The day was much brighter than Monday with a nice blue sky. We were back at the car by 12:25 PM having covered the 3.6 mile adventure in under 3 hours! On the way back I stopped at several places on the Pepacton to take pictures of the reservoir.

On Wednesday, February 9th I wanted to get a hike in somewhere but with commitments in the afternoon I decided close to home was the best. Sheba and I headed for Frick Pond where I intended to take a quick hike around the Logger's Loop. I drove out DeBruce Road and up the Mongaup Road with questionable road conditions. We made it to the parking area by 11:00 AM and I donned my snowshoes while Sheba urged me to be quick. The temperature was only in the low 20's and the wind made it feel even colder. Once we entered the trees on the Quick Lake trail we were a little sheltered from the wind but it still felt cold. There was a lot of snow on the trail and when we got to the bridge over the outlet of Frick Pond this was even more evident. Snow drifts covered the bridge and there was a HUGE drift at the other end. In addition, snow covered the pond to the right and the stream on the left. The wind was whipping so we did not stop but walked around the side of the pond to the trail junction. We turned left to stay on the Quick Lake trail and walked along the wide road toward Ironwheel Junction. The trail has a lot of blowdown that has not been cleared from previous storms. The "trail" now passes around these areas and may soon become permanent. At about 1.5 miles we reached the trail junction and turned right on the Logger's Loop trail. I had stopped in several places to take pictures of the undisturbed snow. The Logger's Loop had some snowmobile tracks and was well-packed making traveling easier. We walked the 1.25 mile Logger's Loop and were soon at Times Square. From here we continued straight ahead back to the junction with the Quick Lake Trail near Frick Pond. The wind had died down and the sun was out so we took a quick detour to the pond so that I could take some pictures. We then headed back to the car covering 4 miles in about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

On Monday, February 7th I decided to try one of the remaining CHH peak that has public access and headed toward Hubbell Hill in Delaware County. I drove up through Roscoe and passed the Pepacton Reservoir. After crossing the bridge, I stayed on Route 30 to Route 28 where I took a left. Shortly after I made the right onto the New Kingston Road, Delaware County Route 6, and headed 5 miles north to New Kingston. Just outside of New Kingston I turned right on Thompson Hollow Road. Just up the hill was the cemetery where most people park to begin their hike or so I thought. I could find no DEP access signs which should have been there even though the access is pretty narrow. I drove into someone's driveway thinking it might be an access point. No one was home so I drove back out and, since there was no place else to park, parked on Winter Hollow Road across from the cemetery. After consulting the VO map, it seemed to me that I had not traveled down Thompson Hollow Road far enough. I got back on that road and drove a little farther and...there was another cemetery. Somehow this never got mentioned in nay trip reports or I missed it! I found DEP access signs just passed the cemetery but there was no place to park. the farm was plowed out but there was no sign anyone had been there in some time. I considered parking there out of the way and leaving a note but ended up parking on the shoulder of the road right next to the DEP sign. I got my gear on and Sheba and I stepped over the snow bank at 9:55 AM. This was a little late as I had an afternoon commitment but the round trip distance is ONLY around 3.5 miles so I though it would be no problem. I was SO wrong.

As soon as we hit the snow the problems began. There was a thick crust on top of 18 to 24 inches of snow and more in some places. The crust would not quite support my weight so I would take a step, there would be a pause and then I would break through. I would then have to pull the snowshoe back out of the hole I just made and up through the crust. This was incredibly difficult and discouraging! The stream was running fast, deep and cold but we found an ice bridge that held our weight and allowed us to cross. A woods road led up into a large field, through some trees and to another field. At this point I decided to turn a little more to the east and southeast to start to climb. We walked through some woods and to the high bank of a stream. I did not feel like descending down the bank only to climb the steep opposite bank. Hoping that the terrain leveled some further upstream, we slogged through the snow parallel to the stream. Soon it began to look like there was a woods road top the left and we headed in that direction. After climbing a stonewall, we found the woods road that led up from the fields below. It was then I knew that the easier route was just to stay on that road across the fields. We followed the road up through another clearing. At that point it seemed to me that the road was heading too far to the northeast so we turned a little more east and to our right. Soon we caught another woods road up through the trees. Eventually this road started to head too much to the southeast so we turned east to head more toward Hubbell Hill. The terrain became steeper and the snow deeper. I was having to stop frequently and our pace was really slow. By 11:45 Am we were at the base of a much steeper slope. I could see snow drifts and small cliffs up the slope. It had taken nearly two hours to move 1.25 miles! I decided that given my schedule the summit of Hubbell Hill would have to wait for another day. At first I felt bad that I was turning around only ,5 miles from the destination but that feeling quickly passed. Lately I have realized that the mountains will be there when I return!

After turning around, we followed our tracks back the way we had come. Going downhill combined with the broken track greatly increased our pace. We stopped a couple of times so that I could take pictures of the opposite hills and the wide expanse of snow. When we reached the area where we had paralleled the stream, we stayed in the field and on the woods road. Breaking new track again was difficult but no more so than pushing through the trees and brush. We were back at the car by 12:45 PM. The return trip had taken half the time of the trip out AND we stopped for pictures. I kicked myself a little for not taking the time to go to the summit but knew I would be back soon. The entire 2.8 mile trip took 3 hours!

On Thursday, February 3rd I was tired from the snowshoeing and shoveling the day before. I thought I might try a snowmobile trail someone had suggested between Amber Lake and Rockland. I drove up the Amber Lake Road and took a right at the top. I found what I thought was the beginning of the trail but it was posted as private property and there was no place to park to investigate. I decided to head for the Mary Smith Trail head on Berry Brook Road to hike the Mary Smith Trail east toward Mary Smith Hill. When I arrived at the trail head parking area, it was not plowed and there was nowhere to park. It was beginning to look like this was just an ill-fated day! I drove over to Shin Creek Road to investigate whether or not it had been plowed since someone had asked. The road was plowed and I drove passed the hairpin turn without a problem. Shortly after the turn there is an "estate" with a stone gate and this is as far as the road maintenance extended. At some point I will go back and ask for permission to hike the woods road from Shin Creek Road to the Hodge Pond area. The problem is to find out who owns the property rights. I turned around and drove back out to the Lew Beach Road. I though I might go home but instead turned right to check out Little Pond. The access road to Little Pond was not plowed as the park is closed for the winter but the space just outside the gate was cleared and I decided to hike up and around the pond. We started the long but gentle ascent to Little Pond at about 11:00 AM.

The snow on the access road was crusted and there was no obvious evidence that anyone had been there recently. After walking a bit, it became clear that there was a faint track in the snow and that walking in that track was easier than not. The snow was from 18 to 24 inches deep. The going was difficult as it consisted of stepping on top of the crust, breaking through, sinking in and then lifting the snowshoe back up against the crust. I began to feel it in my hips and I am sure than the trip and snow shoveling the day before had a lot to do with it. It took us a little more than 30 minutes to get to the shores of the pond. Coming across the parking lot I lost the previous trail and the really difficult nature of the snowshoeing became evident. I had though about doing the bigger loop over the vista or the one way trip from the head of the pond to the vista and back but was pretty sure that around the pond would be an adequate workout for a "fitness hike". We walked down to the beach which gave a nice, unobstructed view of the pond and Cabot Mountain. After taking some pictures, we headed back to the oath around the pond. The previous snowshoe track and some animal tracks made the going a little easier. We stopped at the head end so that I could take some pictures and then continued on around. I took some pictures of the "fireplace" on the side and the continued on to the bridge over the dam back at the outlet end of the pond. I took some pictures of the bridge and the pond from the bridge and then rejoined the trail back to the car. We were back at 12:50 PM having covered around 3 miles in just under 2 hours.

On Wednesday, February 2nd we had several inches of granular snow or sleet on top of about 6 inches of snow from the day before. I was debating whether or nor I wanted to go out when Lisa the owner of Morgan Outdoors, the hiking store in town, called to ask if I was going to snowshoe. We decided to start at my house and walk across the street and up the hill behind the church that we call Round Top. Cindy decided to come along and we decided on noon as a good starting time. At noon we were all equipped and ready to go including Sheba, of course, who is ALWAYS ready to go. We walked across the street and up the short, steep hill behind the cemetery. Once we cut into the woods the going got pretty tough as I was breaking trail uphill through 18 to 24 inches of snow and ice with a crust underneath. The crust would not support our weight so it was step, break through, sink down, lift snowshoe against crust and repeat for each step! There are no real trails although some woods roads appear every now and then. The first third to half of the hike is all uphill and the snow seemed to get deeper the higher we went. As we reached the top I decided we would not try for the next hill but we did walk down to the rock scramble descent before heading back to the top of the hill. At the top of the hill we began a long descent to the path that parallels and overlooks the Quickway. I like descending since I can sometimes get a glide going but the deep, crusty snow made this difficult. We soon were on the path and walking north parallel to the main road. A woods road that I did not remember appeared on the left. It was wide and appeared cleared and led directly to the clearing that overlooks the Exit 96 (Livingston Manor) interchange). We stopped for a moment and then walked through the clearing to the left parallel to the trees until we turned left into the forest. From here we started to ascend back to the place where we had started our first ascent earlier. It had been snowing or sleeting lightly most of the time but this had now turned to rain. Once we completed the loop it was back down to the church, across the street and home. We were out for about and hour and a little less than 4 miles.

On Monday, January 31st I decided to hike the "trail" at Rochester Hollow since I had heard that it was a popular destination for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. I thought I might also try a side-trip bushwhack to a nearby mountain in an effort to complete my Catskill Highest Hundred list. We left Livingston Manor around 9:00 AM and headed out the DeBruce Road to Route 47 passed Frost Valley to Route 28. The roads were in surprisingly poor condition until I got to Route 28 although all the trailheads along the way were plowed out. I turned left on Route 28 toward Belleayre and then, after just about a mile, made a right onto Matayas Road. I was surprised to find the road snow covered but clear. The trail head parking about a quarter mile in was also well plowed and it was obvious this area is very popular by the number of cross country ski and snowshoe tracks I found. Just after the trail head parking a gate blocks the road that is the trail up Rochester Hollow. The temperatures were in the high teens as we departed. I have been wearing my Tubbs Alps Flex snowshoes a lot as they have a combination of a good, solid binding and Goff traction. They do have a hard plastic decking which makes them noisy especially on hard snow. The walk up the road was beautiful and easy because of the well packed trail. There is a nice brook along the road and a mix of evergreens and hardwoods. It is obvious that the trail runs through a "hollow" as the land rises sharply on both sides. The hike is a continuous but gentle ascent from around 1400 feet to 2150 feet over around 1.7 miles. Somewhere along the way there were stone pillars that formed a gate across the road. The road had been heading first north and then northeast and at the point where we stopped it turned almost due west. It was here I decided to head north to investigate the surrounding landscape.

Just off the trail I found extensive and high stone walls. There were also what looked like foundations for buildings at several points. All this was covered in 18 to 24 inches of snow. I will definitely be returning in the spring to check out this area without the snow covering. I headed toward a nearby col between two peaks and then climbed some steep areas to a summit plateau. Some of the climbing was difficult because of the deep snow but none of it was very long. I did find some woods roads along the way near the top that made the going easier. A lookout along the way offered a great view of some other mountains in the area. The sky was very clear and quite blue which made for a nice photographic opportunity. On the summit plateau the trees were covered in ice and frozen snow. As I climbed the last steep section and this sight came into view it was a real surprise. It was like a whole different world. The snow on the trees did make the final push to the high point interesting as snow fell each time I touched a branch. I did find a few more roads at the top which took me to the highest place I could find by 12:20 PM. It had taken me 45 minutes for the first 1.7 miles and about 90 minutes for the next 1.3 miles! I could find no views from the summit but the trees were very pretty. We returned on the same route we had used to get to the top. This time the "bushwhack" back to the road took only 45 minutes and then rest of the trip to the car was about 35 minutes. We arrived back at the parking area around 1:40 PM with the round trip of about 6 miles taking about 3.5 hours.

On Saturday, January 30th Cindy and I wanted to snowshoe together. The day was bright and sunny but cold and we wanted a hike with a view. We decided to go to the Red Hill fire tower which is a relatively short distance but would be more challenging due to the snow. I was not sure whether or not the road would be plowed to the trail head but thought we could park wherever the plowed road ended and hike in from there. We drove passed the TriValley school and turned left on Route 55A. Our next turn was the left onto Sugarloaf Road which begins a long 4 mile climb until a left on Red Hill Road and a quick right on Coons Road. The trail head to the fire tower is about .5 miles after Rudolph Road splits off Coons Road. As I suspected Coons Road was plowed only a short distance after Rudolph Road. We parked near the "Seasonal Maintenance" sign leaving room for a snow plow to turn although I didn't think that was likely. I had managed to convince myself to wear some lighter layers as the temperature was in the high 20's. We started hiking just after 11:30 AM and there were snowshoe tracks down to the trail head. These tracks continued from the trail head to the tower. They were not brand new as some snow had accumulated over them but they formed a nice base for some distance. As we started the final climb to the top the tracks had drifted in and I broke out the trail to the tower. Cindy was having some trouble with the climb and we stopped frequently. We were at the tower by 1:30 PM taking a little under two hours to make the trip.

The tower steps and railing were covered in snow and ice and as I removed my snowshoes I debated donning my Microspikes for the trip up the tower. In the end I decided against them and climbed to the landing just under the cab. I was able to get some nice photographs in all directions. The skies were clear and blue and the surrounding countryside was covered in snow. As I turned to go down the tower, I lamented my decision to reject the Microspikes! I made it down OK and we started back down at about 1:50 PM. I really love descending in snowshoes as long as the terrain is snowy and free of rocks and roots. I leaned back on the shoes and "skied" down many of the inclines. We were at the trail head in about 30 minutes from the time we left the tower! Even Cindy couldn't believe how fast it went. The problem now was the uphill walk back to the car! I made it in about 15 minutes with Cindy right behind. So it was just under 4 miles in about 3 hours with plenty of time for pictures along the way.

On Friday, January 28th I decided to return to Big Pond to see if I could find the trail to Alder Lake that I had "lost" on Tuesday. This time I had looked at my tracks on the computer and came armed with a map and a GPS track on my hand-held unit. We arrived at the parking area by Big Pond at around 9:00 AM and were hiking down Barkaboom Road to the trail head by 9:15 AM. The day was gray and overcast with snow flurries in the air. The temperatures was in the low 20's with a slight breeze but once we started to hike up to the snowed in parking area I immediately got warm as always. It was easy to follow our trail from Tuesday as it was well set in the 18 to 24 inches of snow. By 9:50 AM we had covered just over a mile and were in the area where I lost the trail on Tuesday. I found one additional trail marker I had missed and as it turned out we would only have had to walk about .1 miles in our original direction to stay on the trail. The trail climbed a small hill and I picked up a few markers only to lose them again. It was here that I learned that GPS tracks can and should only be used as general guides. In trying to find the trail I followed the GPS track OFF the trail through some pricker patches until my intuition and common sense took over and I regained the correct route. From this point on there were markers in most places but they were too few and the distance between them too far. The next mile was easy since it was all downhill but was made more difficult since I had to break the trail through the snow. I also began thinking about the climb on the return trip! We passed by an open area marked as a nameless body of water on most maps and on the GPS. It looked more like a marsh or swamp to me. To the right of the trail as we descended, was some evidence of the foundations of some buildings but they were covered by the snow and it was hard to see what and how big they were. By 10:30 AM we had covered a little over 2 miles are had descended to a small creek that was an inlet to the body of water. After crossing the creek the trail started to ascend the hill on the other side. There was a "Trail" sign but the markers were yellow. There is only one trail in the area so I was surprised at the change in the color of the markers. This lasted for only a few markers and the markers...DISAPPEARED again! I was able to pick up a woods road and then found some RED markers that I followed up the hill for the next .5 miles to 2.6 miles into the hike. From here the trail descended again for about .6 miles to Alder Creek Road where we crossed the stream to get to the road. It was 11:15 AM and I was tired from breaking trail. None of the descents were very steep but I knew I would have to climb them on the return trip. Once at the road I decided that the weather was looking worse and that I did not want to hike the extra .5 miles to Alder Lake which I had seen many times before. We turned around and started back up the hill. Perhaps it was the knowledge of where we were going or the fact that the trail was already broken but the return trip seemed to go quickly. We were back at the car by 12:45 PM having covered the 6.4 miles in 3.5 hours. If you are going to hike this trail, my advice is to bring maps and a compass and keep a sharp eye out for the trail markers. A GPS can be some help also.

On Wednesday, January 26th Lisa and I wanted to snowshoe together and I picked Bear Spring State Park between Downsville and Walton as our destination. Because there had been some recent snowfall, I decided to drive up the "main" road out of Downsville and turn left onto East Trout Brook Road. The road conditions were better than I though and soon we were driving past Launt Pond. We parked at a small roadside area on the east side of the road about 1.25 miles after the pond. The temperatures were mild for January, probably in the high 20's, and there was some sunlight. The sky looked blue to the south but more ominous toward the north. This was not surprising given the forecast for a storm blowing in from that direction! We arrived just before 9:45 AM and started hiking almost immediately. We walked down the trail to the dam that acts as a bridge across East Trout Brook and then turned right to walk along the creek. My intention was to do a loop which included walking along the stream, up to the ridge, back along the ridge and then back to the parking area. I didn't know how far we would get. We followed some tracks along the stream. Whoever made the tracks was not wearing snowshoes but the snow was soft enough that we could compact a trail pretty easily. The snow was deep in places from the recent fall and from drifting across the open fields on this route. This route wanders up and down but mostly down. It also stays near the stream for awhile and then heads away before coming back. It crosses some open fields and then runs through some brush. In one place it enters an "Avenue of Pines" with tall trees on either side.

As we hiked we talked about the beauty all around us even though we weren't hiking mountains with spectacular vistas. The stream was quite pretty with ice formations in places and open water in others. The sound it made as the water splashed over the rocks was very relaxing. Around 1.8 miles Lisa let me know she was tiring some. We walked a little farther until the trail started to ascend and then decided to turn around. On the way back we stopped to walk down to the stream and take some pictures in several places. The walk back is all uphill but the slope is so gentle it hardly seemed like it. The walking was also easier since we had broken the track earlier. When we got back to the dam. I walked own to the stream and took several pictures of the frozen waterfall that had formed there. We hiked the 3.7 miles in a little over 2.5 hours with plenty of time for pictures.

On Tuesday, January 25th I wanted to park at Alder Lake and hike the Millbrook Ridge Trail to the lookout over Beecher Lake. There had been quite a bit of snow but the roads, even the back roads, were in pretty good shape. Alder Creek Road was plowed all the way passed the Hardenburgh transfer station and even Cross Mountain Road seeming have been cleared. However, the access road into Alder Lake was not plowed and the gate was closed. I could have walked in from there but I could find no place to park that was off the road and out of the way. I decided to park at Big Pond and hike over the trail to Alder Lake and back. I parked at Big Pond and we were walking down the road to the trail head by 10:35 AM. When we jumped the snow bank and started up to the trail head it was obvious that no one had been there in some time. From the register box there was a faint trail but that was pretty well filled in by new or drifted snow. We crossed an open field and descended a small hill before ascending another, larger hill. By this time I was heating up since I, as usual, was overdressed for the occasion. Despite temperatures barely into the twenties I was sweating already. This is why I like zippers in general and the setup on the Mammut Ultimate Hoody in particular! We continued on the woods road that is the trail and after climbing the hill and made a left as indicated by the "trail" sign. This is where the fun began for the day! The trail markers disappeared and I was left wondering where to go!> After wandering around for a while we backtracked and I finally caught sight of one marker. I followed the path that this marker seemed to indicate and then backtracked again since I saw no others. When I became convinced we were on the right track, we continued in a generally easterly direction until the trail markers again became nonexistent. We wandered around for at least 20 minutes without finding any markers or any evidence of a trail. At this point I was too frustrated to think about a bushwhack and just decided to follow our trail back to the car. I would come back another day armed with maps and my GPS track to conquer this challenge! On the way back I did spot some markers and found a part of the trail I had missed. As we neared Big Pond I decided to hike around the pond. We took a left toward the pond and then hugged the shore around the pond. I knew that at some point we would have to hit the road to avoid walking across the front yards of some hunting cabins and second homes on the other side. At one point we walked through a wet area which caused a large amount of snow to freeze on the snowshoes. We headed across a small creek at the head of the lake and then struck out for what was marked as Post Road on the GPS. Again the GPS had a road marked that was barely a woods road. I did spot an old bridge across the creek that seemed to be part of this road. A little further on we again crossed a creek and then ran into some woods roads headed in the wrong direction. We bushwhacked a little to the west and caught a plowed road out to the Barkaboom Road. As we walked down the road I decided to re-enter the woods just after a large culvert and walk down to the shore. At this point we went out onto the ice since I saw evidence of snowmobiles and ice fishing. We walked down the pond until I found a hole and used my pole to measure about 18 inches of ice! We arrived back at the car by 1:00 PM having taken about 2 hours and 20 minutes to cover the 4 mile hike. Much of the "excess" time was spent scratching my head!

On Saturday, January 22nd Cindy and I wanted to snowshoe in a location that had a "view" since the skies were clear and a deep blue. I was thinking about a 3500 foot peak but she suggested Minnewaska State Park. I was not happy about the choice as I did not want to drive that far and did not expect much of a view. We arrived at around noon to find that the parking fee was $10 instead of the $6 we were accustomed to paying. Undeterred we paid and turned right after the gatehouse to park in the lot nearest the Lower Awosting Carriageway. There were only a few cars in the lot and everyone seemed to be getting ready to snowshoe! We didn't want too much company so we got started right away with temperatures hovering in the high teems. As we started on the carriageway there was some broken trail to follow with some people choosing to take the Mossy Glen Trail just out of the parking lot. We stayed on the carriageway. It immediately became clear that Cindy had made the right choice. The trees were covered in ice and weighed Down with frozen snow. The sunlight sparkled off the trees and the powdery snow. We stopped to take a LOT of pictures in MANY places along the way. At about 1.4 miles most all of the tracks turned left and headed up the Blueberry Run Trail. Just before this point we met two hikers coming toward us on snowshoes but after the turn the snow was unbroken and even more beautiful. We continued on the carriageway toward Awosting. The trail is a long uphill which gets steeper as you approach the lake. The snow also got deeper in several places. We arrived at the lake shore at about 1:30 PM after covering about 2.75 miles. At this point we decided NOT to turn right and circle the lake since Awosting, as I found out during the fall, is the largest of the three "sky" lakes. Instead we turned left and headed toward the lookouts over Lake Awosting.

The trail we were on had been groomed for cross country skiing but I looked at our snowshoe tracks and they seemed to be doing less damage than the skaters. We stayed to the side of the trail and walked up to the viewpoints over the lake. Along the way we met and spoke to several groups who were skiing. The views of the Lake were spectacular and I took a lot of pictures before turning around and heading back down to the Upper Awosting Carriageway. I was especially interested in seeing the ice hanging down from Litchfield Ledge before turning off on the Blueberry Run Trail. As we passed the trail to Rainbow Falls, we noticed a sign that indicated the trail to the falls was for snowshoeing and the carriageway was for skiing only. I felt bad that we had violated the rules but this was the first sign we had seen. We decided to continue since it was less distance to the Blueberry Run Trail than going back the way we had come. We did stop to take pictures along the way particularly of the ice on the ledges. Although we were practically off the groomed trail one woman felt it necessary to inform us that we were in the wrong place. She may have been annoyed since we were snowshoeing faster than she could ski! By 2:45 PM we had traversed about 5 miles and turned left onto the Blueberry Run Trail.

The Blueberry Run Trail descended a little steeply to the Mossy Glen Trail. Continuing straight ahead would have put us back on the carriageway but we decided to turn right and hike through Mossy Glen. This trail parallels the Peters Kill and then crosses it before intersecting the Lower Awosting Carriageway near the parking area. The trail was pretty and we took pictures of the stream and the fresh snow. The problem was that the ice and snow and so weighed down the branches that much of the trail was obscured. We had to push our way through thick laurel branches bent down under their load. At some point I wondered how we would cross the stream as most of the snow and ice bridges were incomplete and looked like they might collapse. I need not have worried as the trail led to a very sturdy wooden bridge across the Peters Kill. We got back on the carriageway, took some more pictures and returned to the parking area by 3:45 PM. We covered 6.8 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes. On the way home on Route 44/55, we stopped at one of the lookouts to take some more pictures.

On Wednesday, January 19th there was no school for the second day in a row due to snow and ice. I had no idea what conditions the roads were in but the temperature was around 34 degrees in town and I knew I could not stay home for two days in a row. The radar maps looked like Delaware County was colder and that it might be snowing. I decided to head for Bear Spring State Park near Walton to snowshoe. I had this in mind since I "discovered" Bear Spring last fall. My backup plan was to stop on Route 206 at the Campbell Mountain trail head if the roads looked questionable up ahead. We left home a little before 11;00 AM and the roads were only wet with no snow or ice. On the way up Cat Hollow on Route 206 the weather conditions changed and it started to snow. It was also obvious by the time that I reached the top of the mountain that the temperatures here had been colder and more snow had fallen. The trees with frozen snow were beautiful and I almost stopped at the pull off for Campbell Mountain but decided to head for Bear Spring instead. The trip through Downsville was uneventful but I again encountered more snow and evince of colder weather as I ascended Bear Spring Mountain. There was also a heavy blanket of fog on the mountains and some on the road. The cold layer of snow and the moist, warm air had combined to create the foggy conditions. I pulled into the main parking area for Bear Spring at the top of the hill. The road to the parking area was completely plowed and sanded and the parking area was also plowed. There was one truck parked when we arrived. I put on my Tubbs Alps Flex snowshoes and shouldered my pack to get on the trail. I was cold even though the temperature was around 28 degrees. I resisted the temptation to put on a warmer top and we headed off down the trail at around 11:40 AM.

I was not sure exactly which route I was going to take. I wanted to do somewhat of a loop. The short loop was too short but I seemed to remember than the longer loop was over 6 miles. We headed down the wide trail which parallels Route 206 and heads east. The trail showed signs of snowmobile use but not recently. We were the first people on the trail and for a while we didn't even see any animal tracks. The trees were coated in frozen snow but everything had a surreal look because of the heavy fog. The Alps have a rigid plastic deck and the snow had a hard crust. Let's just say that the noise I was making was enough for an entire party of snowshoers. We wouldn't be surprising any wildlife on this day. The trail crosses a field and the descends and crosses East Tout Brook Road. On the other side it climbs some to a high point and a trail junction. Right is short and left is long. We turned left and walked down the hill to a wide trail or woods road that comes in from Route 206. We turned right at the bottom of the hill a little over 1 mile into the hike. The trail immediately passes a large clear cut area on the left which has nice views down the valley. The views this day were entirely blocked by the fog. I did take pictures of the snow frozen on the trees and the fog. From here it was simply a walk to where I would have to decide to turn around or start the loop. At 2.2 miles the trail that comes up from East Trout Brook Road and Launt Pond came up on the right. In about another mile the trail split and I decided that I would do the loop and go in the opposite direction I had gone last time. We turned right and walked along the edge of a field before entering the woods again.

From the turn the trail heads due south with a few twists and drops 450 vertical feet over .85 miles. In the back of my mind I knew this meant I would have to climb back up to the ridge on the other side. The trail breaks out of the woods in another clear cut area. There is another nice view down the valley here. This one was also obscured by the fog but not quite as much as the other. I stopped to take some pictures, dropped to the lowest point on the hike, took some more pictures and then turned left to begin the return climb. The breeze came up at this point and some snow blew in as well as some more fog. I was hoping this was not going to be a major event and soon the wind died down and the snow stopped. For a little less than a mile we climbed about 480 vertical feet to the top of the ridge. None of this was very hard but I was beginning to get tired. I had my GPS in my pack but was not obsessively staring at it as I sometimes do. If I had I would have know that in 2 hours we had hiked about 5 miles including stops! Over the next 1.35 miles the trail is mostly flat with a few bumps along the way. The only side trail is one to the right just after the highest point. This trail leads into Downsville where snowmobilers can get food and gas. By 2:15 PM we had completed the loop and were 6.3 miles into the hike. From this point it was simple enough to just follow our tracks back. Several times I remember thinking that Sheba still had a lot of energy while I was tiring. By 3:00 PM we had walked another 1.8 miles back to the clear cut area where we turned up the hill to follow our tracks back to the car. At this point I noticed some bare boot prints in the snow. On East Trout Brook Road we passed a DEC truck and the occupant waved as we crossed the road and headed up the hill back to the car. We were back in the parking area by 3:00 PM for a total hiking time of just under 4 hours. I was surprised when I check the GPS and found the distance was 9.5 miles!

On Monday, January 17th there was no school due to Martin Luther King Day and I decided that despite the cold I wanted do a snowshoe hike to a 3500 foot peak. I had been doing a lot of short and long snowshoe hikes but most were on flatter terrain and I had not done a 3500 foot peak since early in December. I decided on Table and Peekamoose since the trailhead is relatively close and I had not done both mountains in some time. I decided to delay my start a little but even when we arrived at the trail head around 9:00 AM the temperature was still in the single digits! I was layered for the weather but I always worry a little about Sheba. She is almost 13 years old but still seems to be able to handle most conditions. I still have not found a satisfactory solution to ice balls between her toes. There were two other cars in the lot and I put on my snowshoes and we got started right away. There was little or no wind blowing and on the way to the register box I knew I was again overdressed. The door on the register box was missing or rather it was lying at the foot of the support. After signing in, I opened the pitzips, traded my mitts for light gloves, opened my front zippers and continued up the trail. On the lower part of the trail there was less than a foot of snow and I kept contacting rocks and branches as I walked. Somewhere along this part of the trail, we met a lone hiker coming down from above. He was well equipped and has spent the night camped out on Peekamoose! He said that is 0 degree bag was barely warm enough. I bemoaned the lack of snow and he said there was more further up the trail. We continued along working our way up through the two or three rocky areas below Reconnoiter Rock. As we walked I was reminded that 6 or 8 miles of snow shoeing over rolling or hilly terrain is NOT the same as climbing a 3500 foot peak on snowshoes. We reached Reconnoiter Rock at about 10:30 AM and hiked right by as I intended to make a quick stop on the way back. At this point, the snow began to get deeper especially where it had drifted! I also began to remembered that this hike is not the walk in the park that I always think it is and doing it on snowshoes despite the well broken trail is tiring.

The hike up to the lookout involves more up than I remember with several scrambles through rocky areas, The snow also continued to get deeper even in areas where there was no drifting. Around 11:00 AM we were at the lookout and I stopped to take some pictures. The views were nice with blue sky and bright sun but there wasn't much to break up the vast expanse of tree and mountains. We got a drink and a snack and continued our hike across the relatively flat area before the last push up Peekamoose. As we reached the middle of the steep final ascent, we met the other person that was out on the trail. This young man seemed experienced and had just walked out to the lookout nearer the summit of Peekamoose. He appeared to be headed up to the top and I secretly enjoyed the fact that we had caught and passed this younger hiker. Sheba and I negotiated the last steep portions up to the summit and arrived at the large rock that makers the top at around 11:35 AM. We stopped to take some pictures including one of my poles, set at 125 Cm., with only the grips showing! I was tired and Sheba had a nice collection of ice balls on all four paws but I knew Table was less than a mile away. I knew that in under better conditions I could make it there and back in 35 to 45 minutes so I figured and hour on the broken but challenging trail. The trip down to the Col went quickly and the snow was solid and packed by the hiker who had camped out. Climbing up to Table proved to have few obstacles except for my tired leg muscles. We tagged the top of the mountain and then started back to Peekamoose. The trip back was almost a mirror of the one out with the descent being "fun" and the ascent back up to the summit of Peekamoose being work. It was around 12:35 when we got back to Peekamoose and I found myself reviewing the trip back in my mind. I could think of no areas of UP which was good since my UP muscles were shot!

As we headed down the steeper part of the trail near the summit, I decided to go off to the left to a viewpoint I had been to once before. The views from the big boulder here were nice but very similar to the viewpoint right along the trail. I did spot what I thought might be a higher lookout and slogged through some snow to get there but it was largely blocked by trees. As we continued to descend I realized that we had not yet encountered the young hiker we had seen on the way up. I thought he might have turned around at the summit of Peekamoose but it is more likely he was resting at the spot we met him on his way back DOWN from the summits. We continued down to the flat area below the summit and I wandered off to another viewpoint that had similar views to the others. From here it was back down through some rocky areas to Reconnoiter Rock. We stopped to take a few pictures and then hurried down through the rock scrambles toward the parking area. Going down proved to be a little more difficult than going up as it often is. As we were almost down, we met a couple and their small dog going up. It seemed like they might be going to camp since it was later in the day but they didn't have enough equipment for a winter overnight. We were back at the car by 3:00 PM having covered just under 9 miles in a total of under 6 hours. I would have liked our pace to be quicker but the fact that I was a little out of shape and the snow was deep on top probably accounted for the slow hiking.

On Saturday, January 15th Cindy and I had some matters to attend to in the morning which did not bother us as the temperature was below 0! We got started around 1:00 PM and took two cars out the DeBruce Road. We parked one car at the parking area for Long Pond on Flugertown Road. We got in the other car and drove out to Wild Meadow Road (Black Bear Road) near Round Pond. The idea was to hike between the two cars without having to hike back on the trails or walk on the road. The one way distance is about 5 miles and I would not have minded returning to one car but Cindy liked the car spot idea! We parked and started down Basily Road Around 1:20 PM. The road is a "seasonal use" road and had not been plowed. The snow was packed by snowmobiles and larger vehicles using the road. I remembered the route as pretty flat but that was coming from the other direction. The first .85 miles of Basily Road are uphill and although the gain is only 300 feet it was a little tiring. I expected the snow to become deeper when we started on the woods road where the "civilized" part of Basily Road ends. This was not the case as the snowmobiles had been over the road many times. While we were hiking the route, we were passed by the same group of four sleds several times and a few other riders. All of these snowmobiles slowed down and were very careful as they passed us. Once we were on the woods road the hike was flat or downhill most of the way. At 2.1 miles we turned left off Basily Road and onto another woods road and the trail that leads passed the Long pond lean-to and back to Flugertown Road. At 2:40 PM and around 3.15 miles we passed by the side trail to the lean-to. The trail was a little uphill after the next left turn but soon we were descending to the car and the parking area. We arrived at 3:20 PM having completed the 5 mile snowshoe in 2 hours.

On Wednesday, January 12th I wanted do a snowshoe hike to get some exercise and Frick Pond seemed close and inviting. Sheba and I arrived just before noon and got on the trail at the Frick Pond parking area. I wasn't interested in taking the same pictures again of this area so we kept a quick pace on the Quick Lake Trail out to Frick Pond. Where the trail splits before the pond I decided to change things up and headed right to Times Square. We arrived at around 12:20 PM taking a half hour for the 1 mile walk. At this point I decided to go straight ahead on the Logger's Loop to Iron Wheel junction. This is a long but gentle uphill pull of 1.2 miles which we made in a little over 30 minutes. From there we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to go back to Frick Pond. We stopped briefly at the outlet to the pond and then continued back to the parking lot where we arrived at about 2:00 PM. We had snowshoed 3.7 miles in a little over 2 hours.

On Sunday, January 9th I wanted do a snowshoe hike after church. I got a later start than usual and scrapped plans to head for Balsam Lake Mountain and instead went to Frick Pond AGAIN. We arrived in the parking area at 1:30 PM and started out toward Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail. I chose to go out the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel Junction and then take the Logger's Loop back to Times Square. When we arrived at the pond, we just kept hiking since the conditions were much the same as the day before and I was out for the exercise. It didn't take very long to get to Times Square. In fact, the 2.75 miles took only 1 hour and 10 minutes. I decided to climb up the Big Rock Trail and take the Flynn Trail back to the parking area rather than the shorter route around the pond. The Big Rock Trail was packed by snowmobile traffic which made the walking easier. Even though the trail can be challenging at a quick pace we were at the junction with the Flynn Trail, 3.85 miles into the hike, by 3:15 PM. The Flynn Trail showed only our tracks from the day before as Sheba and I headed back to the car. We arrived back just before 4:00 PM covering 5.6 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes.

On Saturday, January 8th Cindy and I wanted do a short snowshoe hike before my afternoon basketball games. Enough snow had fallen on Friday that most area schools were closed. The roads had been well cleared and when we arrived at the Frick Pond parking area, it too had been plowed out. The temperature was in the mid 20's with some sun and no wind to speak of. We arrived at the trail head around 10:15 AM and immediately put on our snowshoes and started up the Flynn Trail. The snow was absolutely fresh and unbroken. This made breaking trail a little difficult but I knew we would not be out for too long. Our plan was to hike up the Flynn Trail to the four-way junction at the top. From here we would head down the Big Rock Trail to Times Square around the back of Frick Pond and then back to the parking area. The conditions were nearly perfect as we headed up the Flynn Trail. Snow clung to must of the tree branches and the blue sky made a perfect backdrop. We enjoyed the scenery and didn't really push the pace arriving at the top of the Flynn Trail at 11:40 AM. The 1.75 mile uphill had taken us about and hour and twenty minutes. We paused a minute for a drink and a snack and so that I could take some pictures and then turned left and headed DOWN the Big Rock Trail.

Hiking down a hill on snowshoes can be tricky if the terrain is rough but a real pleasure when it is smooth and even. Since the latter described the conditions on our way down Big Rock, we had great fun. By leaning back a little and pulling up the tips of the snowshoes we were able to almost "ski" down the trail. The 1.1 miles from top to bottom took only 20 minutes without really hurrying. We continued straight ahead at Times Square to go around the back of Frick Pond. By this time the blue sky had given way to overcast conditions and there was a little snow in the air. These conditions stayed with us and the snow increased until we were back at the car. The trail around the back of Frick Pond passed through a spruce tunnel. Several bridges cross small streams and a wooden causeway keeps hikers from having to negotiate what can be a very swampy area. By the time we got to the bridge over the outlet of Frick Pond the snow was rather heavy and I only took a few pictures before heading back to the parking area. We were back at by 12:45 PM having covered the 4 miles hike in about 2 hours and 20 minutes.

On Sunday, January 2nd Cindy and I wanted to get out for the first hike of the New Year. We wanted to go on a short, local hike after church and I decided on the Split Rock Lookout on the Pelnor Hollow Trail. The lookout has some nice views and is close to home so we headed in that direction arriving in the parking area around 11:45 AM. When I signed in at the register, I noticed another retired Liberty teacher had signed in just before us but was headed in the opposite direction up the Mary Smith Trail to Mary Smith Hill. Cindy and I decided not to wear snowshoes and, since I didn't expect to encounter much snow we also decided to forgo the gaiters. The former was a good idea the latter not. The first part of the trail out to the power lines was wet but with little snow. Just after crossing the right-of-way we began to encounter patches of snow. For the rest of the hike to the ridge we found bare patches interspersed with as much as 8 inches of snow where it had drifted. It was good that the temperature was in the 40's or the wet snow down the back of our boots would have been even more annoying! The hike to the top of the ridge is about 1.1 miles but is a little steeper in spots than I remembered. The overall elevation gain is about 500 feet. The trail is poorly maintained with a lot of blowdown in the path. We cleared as many small trees and branches as we could. I was glad we were hiking after the briar season since there were still many canes in and along side the trail. The last descent to the lookout is steep and was slippery in places. We arrived at the lookout at 12:40 PM. The views are limited but they were relatively clear. The sun kept going in and out of the clouds. I took some pictures of the views from the lookout and some of the trail. I also took some shots of the large rock that stands at the viewpoint. We turned around and followed the same route back to the car. The descents were not as tricky as I had imagined despite the snow. We were back at the car by 1:40 PM having covered the 2.6 mile trip in just under 2 hours.

On Friday, December 31st I had to take care of some business in the morning but I really wanted to hike somewhere in the afternoon. The weather forecast was for temperatures in the 40's with partly sunny skies. I thought it might be nice to got somewhere with a view and chose Giant Ledge. Sheba and I arrived at the trap at about 12:10 PM and found only two other cars in the lot. The parking areas for Biscuit Brook and Slide also had very few cars. We started to hike immediately and I carried my snowshoes across the road intending to put them on once we hit the trail. On the other side of the road it was obvious that the trail was well-packed and that no one else had worn snowshoes. I knew that there were places on the trail where I might need them but that there we many other spots where they would be a hindrance especially with the small amount of snow. I decided that I did not want to carry them on my pack and I went back to the car and put them in the trunk. I took my Microspikes and decided that if the snow got really deep and I started to posthole I would just turn around. Just passed the bridge, as we started up the hill we met a black lab carrying a stick and soon the owners. They carried snowshoes but assured me that I would not need them. This made me feel better and Sheba and I continued on our way. The trail was slippery in places but manageable except in the case of one or two ice flows which I walked around. This part of the trail usually fools me since as I climb the various ascents along the way I always think I am at the trail junction and then there is one more climb. This time I counted them! There are five different short climbs with the last being the one that ends with the trail junction. When we arrived at the junction with the trail to Giant Ledge and Panther, I checked my watch and found it had only taken 25 minutes. I thought this good under the conditions. We turned left and started the climb to Giant Ledge. The trail was still packed and the hiking went quickly. Even the last and steepest ascent was no problem and soon we were on top. Just as we started to walk to the first ledge we met a couple coming back. We stopped and talked briefly and then continued in our opposite directions.

Sheba and I walked down to the first viewpoint and I took off my pack to get out the camera. It was 1"05 PM so the trip up had taken only 50 minutes with a couple of pauses to talk to people. We got a snack and a drink and then I started to take some pictures. The view was nice but there was nothing spectacular. I took some pictures of Sheba and then some of the Burroughs Range, Panther and the mountain beyond. In all we spent only about 10 minutes on the viewpoint before starting back. As we started to descend from the top, I could see a group of hikers below. Once we were down I saw that it was a group of four young people in their twenties. We stopped and talked about the beautiful weather and the rain predicted for the weekend. As I said goodbye I hoped they would be careful with the flying saucer one was carrying. Sheba and I picked up the pace and soon caught up to the couple we had met on top. They moved aside to let us pass but I suggested we descend together as I would be glad for the company. They agreed and we talked all the way back to the trailhead. They were from the city but have a home in Kerhonksen. They told me where they had hiked so far and I made some suggestions for other hikes. We made pretty good time going down being careful to slow down wherever ice was a problem. We met several groups coming up from the parking area. Perhaps four or five groups with from two to eight people. Many had dogs but all were well-behaved or on a leash. We were back at the parking area by 2:10 PM having covered the 3.5 snowy miles in under two hours. The descent would have been quicker had we made it alone but I was more interested in hiking with somebody for a change!

On Thursday, December 30th I had planned a hike on the other side of the river near Beacon. I was going to meet my son Kurt and Hike to the South Beacon fire tower and then down to the Cornish Mansion near Bull Hill and finally out to Little Stony Point. Plans changed when Kurt said he wanted to come over to the Catskills to hike. We had a limited amount of time so I thought about and discard loner hikes like Peekamoose and Table and Vernooy Kill Falls from Peekamoose. I did consider hiking over Samson Mountain to Spencer Ledge but settled on hiking to the plane crashes on Van Wyck. I knew Kurt would enjoy the history behind these crashes and I had never been to the lower crash site. The lower crash site is a Korean War era jet located at N41.927483 W74.439583 (C Hayden). This is a Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star which is a single-engine, two seat aircraft and probably was used for training pilots. The upper crash is a single engine private plane located at 41.946383 W74.436833 ((C Hayden). Kurt met me at the TriValley school in Grahamsville and I drove out to Sundown and stayed left to head toward West Shokan on the Peekamoose Road. When we arrived at Bear Hole Brook, our jumping off spot for the bushwhack, it was clear there was no room to park. I continued on the road to the Peekamoose trailhead where I parked. We decided to carry our snowshoes down to Bear Hole Brook and then wear them for the hike. There appeared to be enough snow to make this a good idea even if they were only used for traction. We parked at the trailhead at 9:45 AM and were at the brook with snowshoes on by 10:00 Am. At this point it took me a moment to remember that we had to climb the steep bank up to the woods road for the beginning of the hike. Once we were on the woods road, things began to look familiar. We decided to stay on the road as long as we did not go north of the crash or head too far east away from it. After about .75 miles on the road, we decided that it was continuing away from where we wanted to go and we turned northwest and up a steep hill. Actually we headed for a cliff band and found one route that went up through it. Going up was difficult but I wondered about coming back down!

After ascending the short, steep climb we continued to head northwest and continued to climb but much less steeply. We did run into some rather thick brush and some blowdown but we just walk through or around it. Soon we were in the vicinity of the crash and started to look around. I looked downhill a little and saw an "unnatural" shape. The "shape" was the tail of the aircraft which became more obvious as we headed in that direction. The site was only about .7 miles from where we had turned off the road. The time was about 11:30 AM. The snow covered much of the debris field but the crash was unmistakable. The single Allison engine is remarkably intact as is most of the tail assembly. The "stars and bars" markings are still present as was a warning sign near the tail about the blast from the jet exhaust. The wings did not seem to be present with the rest of the debris. After a quick glance around, I spotted the right wings at least 50 feet from the site. The wings most likely sheared off as the plane hit the trees. We inspected the wreckage and took some pictures. I was distressed to see that some people have shown so little respect for the crash site. The tail has been used for target practice and others have scratched their names in the aluminum. This is a sad comment on the attitudes and education of people today! After getting a snack and drink, we considered hiking to the upper crash site. We both had family obligations and decided to head back in much the same direction as our original route. We paralleled our route up for a while and then walked perpendicularly to it until we intersected that our tracks. From there we followed our tracks back to Bear Hole Brook and arrived at about 12:55 PM. We stopped at the brook so that I could take some pictures. As I Was taking some shots, I noticed someone walking down the brook toward us. We greeted each other. He was a local resident who was home from college and had walked up the brook to the next set of waterfalls. We walked back to the parking area together. We arrived at the car at 1:05 PM having covered 3.5 miles in 3.5 hours. A short hike but an interesting one with my son. Since we had a little time left over, I drove up the road and parked at Buttermilk Falls to take some pictures. The falls were frozen and quite picturesque.

On Wednesday, December 29th I wanted to get out for some exercise but did not want to go too far from home. I decided to take Sheba and my snowshoes across the road and hike on the hill we call Round Top behind our church. We crossed the street and I put on the snowshoes although there wasn't too much snow in the field. We started to walk up the hill near the cemetery to Round Top and there was even less snow. When we turned left into the woods, I could see there wasn't much snow in the woods and that somebody had been walking the path in boots without any problem. I decided to keep the snowshoes on and see if there was more snow at a slightly higher elevation. As we climbed up to the lookout over Livingston Manor, the depth of snow did increase making the snowshoes usable but not a requirement. At the lookout we turned right up through the woods and I noticed some flagging along a woods road. On we went to the base of the first hill which we climbed with no problem. The snowshoes did help with the grip in some steeper spots. The higher we went the more snow there was and I was surprised at the difference from the base of the hill since the elevation gain in total is only a few hundred feet. We ascended the second hill and walked through almost a foot of snow to the place where we often descend to make a short loop. There didn't look like there was enough snow to slide down the hill so I decided to continue further. We walked down the other side of the hill and across a flatter area, through some trees and to the woods road that climbs the next hill. We followed the road to the top and experienced varying snow depths along the way. Once at the top we turned around to head back following the same path we had used on the way out. Back at the top of the first hill where we normally turn to descend to the Quickway viewpoint, I decided that it was late enough and the snow cover variable enough for us to simply follow our path back to the church. We did this and finished in about and hour and a half. This seemed much better than laying around the house but I am hoping for bigger snow falls soon!

Fall 2010

On Thursday, December 16th I had to be at school early for an away basketball game so I decided to hike closer to home. I headed for Big Pond with the intent of hiking to Little Pond and then to Cabot Mountain. After visiting the Beaverkill vista on Cabot, I planned to loop back by way of Little Pond. The forecast was for clouds early and then some sun later in the morning. We arrived at the parking area at Big Pond around 9:00 AM and immediately began to hike. There was a few inches of snow on the ground at the beginning of the trail but not enough to require traction. The further we hiked the more snow we encountered with snow beginning to stick to the bushes and trees. The first 1.2 miles to the trail junction at the top of Touch-Me-Not Mountain is a constant uphill and really got me warmed up. About two-thirds of the way, I stopped and took off my midlayer despite the fact that the temperature was not yet up to 20 degrees! I also donned my new Microspikes for the first time. There was enough snow in places to warrant using them and, in places, the trail requires some sidehilling. After walking only a short distance with the Microspikes, I was a believer! Other hikers had always recommended them to me and now I see why. When we hit the trail junction, we turned right and walked the half mile to the turn up the Cabot Mountain Trail. We had not been out in several days so Sheba was crazed. She ran ahead and then doubled back at full speed and repeated this over and over. The first part of the trail toward Cabot is flat but poorly marked. I just followed my dog as soon we were at the base of the mountain. In the summer this climb is difficult due to the nettles and loose rock. In winter going up and down is hampered by steep slippery areas and some blowdown in awkward places. I found the Microspikes allowed me to have much more maneuverability than snowshoes and I was very pleased with their grip. The climb is only about .3 miles but gains around 450 feet with some steep areas. Once at the top we walked to the Beaverkill Vista where I dropped my pack to take some pictures. It was 10:35 Am and we had hiked 2.25 miles.

When we arrived at the vista, the sun was still behind the clouds but the view was very nice. Little Pond and the Beaverkill Valley lay below and to the right. Straight ahead were some hills. All the trees near and far were covered with snow. I took some shots and then the sun broke through. The sunlight sparkling off the snow on the trees offered a new photographic opportunity! I took some more pictures including some of Sheba. The air temperature was still cold and I started to cool down since I was dressed for hiking and not standing still. We got a drink and a snack and then I put away the camera. We started to hike back down the mountain which proved more challenging than the trip up. Back at the trail junction we turned right to hike down to Little Pond. By 11:15 AM we arrived at the open field that overlooks Little Pond and I stopped to take a few pictures before heading down the trail to the pond. Parts of the trail had some open water and I noticed that once my boots with the Microspikes were wet they tended to rapidly collect clumps of snow. I tried to solve this by kicking a few trees which did help some. We arrived at the loop trail around Little Pond at 11:15 AM about 4 miles into the hike. We turned left and walked a short distance before stopping and walking to the edge of the ice. I took a few shots before heading toward the outlet end if the pond. Along the way I took a few more pictures. Once we were near the Little Pond picnic area, we turned left and up the hill to climb back up the mountain and complete the loop. This part of the trail always seems longer and steeper than I remember. By 12:35 PM we had completed the loop by climbing up and over Touch-Me-Not Mountain and were at the trail junction at 5.6 miles into the hike. The last part of the hike back to the car seemed to go quickly and we were back at Big Pond by 1:10 PM. We had hiked 6.7 miles in just over 4 hours. I took a few pictures at Big Pond before heading for home.

On Saturday, December 11th I was again, yes AGAIN, planning on going to Westkill as the forecast was for slightly higher temperatures and partly sunny skies. It had snow some overnight but I did not expect the roads to be to bad. I was wrong! As I left my driveway at 9:00 AM it was immediately obvious that the roads were very slippery and that only a little sand had been employed here and there. I don't give up easily so I drove out the DeBruce Road to head to Westkill. By the time I reached DeBruce it was clear it going to take a very long time to get to Spruceton if I made it at all. I was discouraged but decided to stop at the Long Pond trailhead on Flugertown Road and do a short hike. I knew I would feel better if I got some exercise. I parked at 9:20 AM and we started hiking immediately. As usual, I was overdressed but it was cool starting out. The first part of the trail is a nice steady ascent to get you warmed up. At 1.1 miles we were at the trail that leads down to the shore of Long Pond and we turned right to walk down to the pond. On the shore the pond seemed high as the ice extended further inland than I remembered. The sky was completely covered by clouds and the sun was directly across from where I was standing. Nome of this made taking pictures appealing so we walked back up to the main trail. At this point we picked up some footprints that seemed to indicate someone had walked to the turn off and then turned around. As we continued on the main trail, the tracks turned off to the left and I saw a hunter in Blaze standing in the woods about 100 feet off the trail We waved and I became aware that it was the last day of rifle season and I had turned my orange jacket in for a green one. I was well camouflaged. Sheba's blaze bandanna was our only really bright coloration. We continued on the main trail and turned right at the trail junction to head for the Long Pond lean-to. We arrived at the side trail to the lean-to at 10:10 AM after walking about 1.85 miles. I decided at this point that, rather than going to the lean-to, we would continue passed that point and go to Basily Road. At Basily Road we would turn right instead of left as we usually do. This would take us toward Black Bear Road. The sign at the beginning of Basily Road on Black Bear Road says "Bridge Out". I intended to walk to where the bridge was out and then reverse our route back to the car.

We walked about 1.0 mile to Basily Road, turned right and walked along a wide woods road designated as a snowmobile trail. The road was slightly uphill but the woods were pleasant and the temperatures had increased some. At some point along the way, I dumped my midlayer and traded in my heavy gloves for a light pair of stretch gloves. We kept walking and there was no sign of a bridge. About 3.9 miles into the hike we were nearing a private road and a hunting camp. On the left I noticed an enormous accretion of ice some 8 feet tall. This was to say the least, surprising. On closer inspection a black plastic hose ran up a tree near the ice. I took a few pictures of this since I had no idea what the pipe was doing there. The road was now dirt but well packed with a snowy coating. At 5 miles we were on Black Bear Road. I realized that the "Bridge Closed" sign meant the bridge all the way back at the Peters' hunting camp! I was ready to turn around and retrace our path when I heard several shots close by. I decided at that point to walk down Black Bear Road to Round Pond at walk Pole Road back to Flugertown Road and the car. We turned onto Pole Road at 11:35 AM and started the walk back to Flugertown. We made good time walking a little over 4 miles in a little under 1 hour and 15 minutes. We turned right on Flugertown Road and finished the last .85 miles to the car. The whole loop was 10.4 miles which we finished in 3 hours and 40 minutes arriving back at the car by 1:00 PM.

On Thursday, December 9th I was again planning on going to Westkill as the forecast was for slightly higher temperatures and partly sunny skies. By the time I was ready to leave the air temperature was only 15 degrees and there was still a stiff breeze. I decided I might try Giant Ledge as it is closer and shorter. I worry a little about Sheba in the winter especially with the ice and snow accumulation on her paws. As I pulled out of the drive way, it became more and more cloudy and began to snow. I decided I would save the places with great views for a great viewing day and turned west on Route 17 to go to Roscoe and hike Trout Pond. Trout and Mud Ponds offer a variety of routes and I could back out early if the weather was too nasty. As I approached the Roscoe exit, I remembered that several people had asked me about hiking into this area from the other end of Russell Brook Road near Cooks Falls. I decided this would be a worthwhile endeavor and different as I had never hiked from that trailhead. I turned off at the Cooks Falls exit and turned onto Russell Brook Road. Just passed the campsites the road was not plowed and it had a few inches of snow on it. I went to the end, turned around and parked. We started our walk up the road at about 10:45. Just passed the STOP sign and pile of dirt that signal the end of the road, the road dropped away and we were confronted by Russell Brook. The brook had eroded the road and was too wide to cross. At first, I though that we would simply go to the parking area on Morton Hill road. As I looked ahead, I could see where the road was still intact and from that point on it seemed to be in good shape. I decided to bushwhack up the hill on the right side of the parking area and then walk the bank to an area that I could descend from to the road. Going up the bank and walking along the top was pretty easy. I found a place to descend and this wasn't so easy. The snow on top of leaves on top of rocks made the way down an adventure. Once I crossed two ditches filled with water I looked back and wondered how easy it would be to get back up that bank. The skies were still cloudy and the air temperature was 17 degrees.

The road remained in go condition for some time with parts of the stream on either side and us walking down the middle. At one point we crossed a bridge which seemed to be a culvert with metal guard rails. We also came across some old foundations and a privy. The area with the privy looked like it may once have been part of a state designed primitive campsite. As we continued our hike we had to negotiate several stream crossings and, a times, had to walk over large stones left from the stream erosion. Numerous blow downs also forced us to change directions several times. Eventually we made it to the place where a trail cuts up to the left and head to Mud Pond and then Trout Pond or the upper trailhead on Russell Brook road. It had only been about 1.4 miles and less than 45 minutes, so I decided to take the trail at least as far as Mud Pond. The sun had broken through the clouds but didn't seem to be adding much warmth. Despite the air temperature I was warm and opened the pit zips on my jacket and the front zippers on my shirts. I also switched from my Gordini mittens to much lighter Mountain Hardware stretch gloves. The trail to Mud Pond is about two miles long. the first mile climbs rather steadily but then the trail levels some. As we were walking Sheba stopped which usually means people or some other animal on the trail. I looked up to see a Great Blue Heron take off and wing its way through the trees. We continued our walk as the trail ascended and walked around some blow down on the way. When we arrived at the trail to Trout Pond, we had walked about 3.4 miles and the time as about 12:15 PM. Turning around at this point was probably the best idea since the total hike would be about hours and would cover 7 miles. I had somewhere I needed to be at 5:00 PM and this also figured into Mt decision. So I decided to make the left and hike all the way around Trout Pond, back to the spot where we were standing and then back to the car.

The trail to Trout Pond ascends to near the top of Cherry Ridge over the next 1.2 miles. Although the trail was well covered by snow the going wasn't too bad although there were some wet spots along the way. The sun came out once again and I thought I might get some pictures at Trout Pond. After the climb to Cherry Ridge, the next .7 miles of trail descends to the inlet end of Trout Pond. This part was a lot harder since the snow covered rocks were slippery and there were a lot of them! By 1:10 PM we were at the pond but the weather had changed to cloudy and snow filled the air. I was a little worried about the time so I decided I would not stop again even for pictures. After a drink and a quick snack we headed down the trail to the outlet end of Trout Pond. I knew that the rest of the hike would have some miles but at least most of the trail was flat or downhill!

On Tuesday, December 7th I was planning on going to Westkill but the temperatures were so low (below 20 degrees) and the winds so high (20+ mph) that I was worried that it would bother Sheba. I knew going north and up in elevation would also lower the temperatures. Rather than stay at home, I decided we would go to Frick Pond for a short hike. My plan was to park, hike, evaluate the conditions and decide how long we would stay out. We parked and started to hike at about 9:45 AM. Surprisingly, the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond had a lot of standing and running water! I would have thought that the very low temperatures would have frozen it. When we got to Frick Pond, the wind was whipping across the water toward the outlet. Again, I was surprised to find that there was no ice on the pond. I had decided that I would not take pictures today unless something very special presented itself. When we arrived at the trail junction on the other side of the pond, we went to the left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. My intent was to hike to the next junction and take the Logger's Loop back to Times Square. Once we were in the protection of the trees and away from the wind the cold didn't seem so bad. When we arrived at the next trail junction, I decided to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and hike up to the Flynn Trail to do our normal 6 mile loop. The higher we got in elevation the deeper the snow got. The 3 or 4 inches at the trailhead turned into 4 to 6 inches on the upper part of the Quick Lake trail. At the junction we turned right onto the Flynn Trail and encountered between 6 and 8 inches on the way to Hodge Pond. At Hodge Pond, we turned left to circle around the back of the pond. Hodge Pond had a skim of ice with only a little open water near the middle. As we walked down to the pond, we came across drifts of up to two feet. In other areas there was little snow at all as the wind had blown it away and into the drifts. We continued on the Flynn Trail up to the four way junction with the Big Rock Trail. Here we continued straight ahead and walked down the Flynn Trail and back to the car. It was 12:30 PM when we finished and I felt that 6.7 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes was good considering the conditions.

On Friday, December 3rd the forecast was for temperatures in the high 30's with partly sunny skies. I decided to go to Spruceton and hike the Hunter Leavitt loop. I had an idea that the Westkill/Diamond Notch Falls might be nice due to the amount of rain we had experienced in the middle part of the week. Sheba and I arrived at the end of Spruceton Road around 9:15 AM and I started the drive to the parking area. It immediately obvious that there had been major flooding along the road. After the previous flood, the road had been closed and I am sure the latest rainfall had a similar effect. A "Road Flooded" sign was posted not too far in by I decided to drive and see what happened. The West Kill was still very high with a lot of angry looking, muddy water. Several road crews were working to shore up the road with large boulders or fill in the gaps in the road. It seems that every little stream that runs under the road boiled up and washed out some part of the road. The road was not flooded and we arrived at the parking area just before 9:30 AM. It was in the low 20's and I decided to put on a pair of light tights that I had packed. After changing, we got started right away and I signed into the trailhead register at exactly 9:30 AM. The trail up to the hairpin turn looked like a small stream! The running water was accompanied by patches of ice. After the turn, the trail was drier but the amount of ice increased. There was some running water up to the col and quite a bit of new blowdown on the trail. The views of Westkill on the right gave a hint of what might be seen from any viewpoint this day. The entire mountain was covered in low clouds which all but obscured any view! We made the turn up the mountain at around 10:00 Am and immediately encountered large amounts of ice on all the exposed rock faces. We worked our way around the ice without traction devices since I would have had to put them on and take them off many times. By 10:30 PM we arrived at the Lean-to. We walked down through the slot and out to the viewpoint. The Spruceton Valley was covered with a blanket of clouds with only limited views.

Back on the main trail we encountered more ice and soon passed by the turn to the Colonel's Chair. On the more level areas near the top there were large ponds covered by ice. Some of these were almost dry while others were filled with water. The hike seemed to go quickly even with the maneuvers we had to perform and we arrived at the tower around 11:15 AM. There was little or no snow on top but many of the trees and the tower were covered in frozen, blown snow. I took some pictures from the ground and then approached the tower. I knew that there wouldn't be much of a view from on the tower and it looked VERY slippery. Despite this I decided to ascend the tower. It was very slippery and there wasn't much of a view but I did take a few shots including close ups of the ice and snow on the tower. The wind on the tower and the fact that the air temperature was barely 20 degrees made the experience a cold one. When I returned to the ground, we headed out on the trail down the other side of the mountain to the Devil's Path. The area on the top that is normally wet had only a few frozen puddles. When we started down the trail, we again ran into running water and ice for almost the entire trip to the Devil's Path. Along the way the sun began to break through the clouds but this seemed like a futile effort and was short lived. Around noon we turned right onto the Devil's Path and headed toward the Devil's Acre lean-to.

I know that I always misjudge the distance to the herd path to Leavitt. It is approximately .3 miles and I always feel that I have missed it. We climbed a little and I was about to reassess where we were when Sheba made the left turn. Each time I visit this path is more distinct. We made good time as I simply followed Sheba to the turn up to the canister. We were at the can at 12:35 PM with about 6 miles completed. We didn't stay long and then it was back to the Devil's Path. The first descent to the lookout was covered in ice. We stopped briefly so that I could take some pictures of Westkill and Leavitt. The sun was again trying to break through. After the lookout is a very wet area and today was no exception. There were several large marshy areas to work around. After this, things didn't get much better as the rest of the trail is a jumble of rocks on a good day. On this day the jumble of rocks was covered in ice and there was a stream running down the trail for almost the whole length. We walked on the edge of the trail most of the way, This trail is one of my least favorites and always seems too long. As we approached the end of the trail, I could here the falls. We arrived at the falls at 2:30 PM. There was more water going over the falls than I can ever remember. I stopped to take pictures from on top of the falls and the bridge. I then decided to work my way down into the stream bed at the base of the falls. As I did so, I realized that everything was covered in the frozen mist from the falls. This was beautiful but treacherous. I slid down to the falls and took some great shots of both halves and the entire scene as one. The trip back up was easier than I though and we were soon on our way back to the car. The trail back to the parking area had a lot of running water. The Westkill was raging and it was obvious the flood waters had eroded much of the bank on the other side. There was a lot of sediment deposited high up on the banks. In at least one place the trail was eroded severely. As we hit the road at the end of the trail the road near the culvert before the parking area was washed away. A barrier and sign a little further down announced that part of the road was closed. We were back at the car by 3:00 PM having covered 9.9 hard miles in 5.5 hours.

On Monday, November 29th I studied the weather forecast for the week and saw that Tuesday and Wednesday looked as if they would bring significant rain. I decided to hike for the third day in a row. Since it was just Sheba and I, I decided to do a long hike and settled on Sam's Point near Ellenville. I knew that hunting was allowed in the preserve but that it was less popular than some of the Catskill Park areas I was considering. The Preserve opens at 9:00 AM and we arrived at about 9:30 AM at the Visitor's Center parking area. We got right on the carriage road that leads up to Sam's Point. My plan was to hike to Verkeerder Kill Falls and then up to the Escarpment, passed Mud Pond and on to Lake Awosting. After hiking around the shore of the lake, I planned to come back the same way. I has not totaled the mileage but figured it would be about 12 miles. The plan called for some fast hiking with limited interruptions for pictures. As we hiked up the carriage road toward the Sam's point spur trail, it was obvious that there was a lot of haze hanging in the valleys and on the hills. This would make photography difficult but this did not really concern me. We passed by the first lookout below Sam's Point stopping only to get a quick view. It was on passed the spur trail and to the road down to the ice caves. We took the right down the road and then a left onto the trail to the falls. It was 10:00 AM. The trail down to the falls has some beautiful views out over the flat valley. Ahead on the trail are the cliffs of Castle Point and Hamilton Point at Minnewaska. The blue waters of Lake Awosting can also be seen at times and it looks so far away. The trail drops 500 feet in about 1.75 miles to the lowest point on the hike at the falls. I was anxious to make sure we could cross the stream and decided not to take pictures on the near side. I need not have worried since the water was actually little low and the stream was easily crossed.

On the other side of the stream we stopped so that I could take some pictures. There was enough water going over the falls to make pictures interesting but I was surprised there wasn't more given the rain we had recently. I decided at this point that I was too warm, as usual, and removed my Patagonia Wool 1 top and my silkweight tights. From the falls we headed up the trail to the escarpment and turned right toward Lake Awosting. The trail at first passes over mostly open rock and hikers have constructed many small cairns along the way. After about 1.1 miles Mud Pond came into view. There was a light skim of ice on the surface and we stopped at an overlook so that I could take some shots. As we walked down the trail, I noticed a path to the right that went down to the shore of the pond. We followed it and I got another vantage point for the camera. It was 11:20 AM. We were making good time. Back on the trail we crossed the wooden walkway over some muddy areas and Fly Brook. After another mile and about 25 minutes we were at the viewpoint at the southwestern end of the lake. From here we took the short side path to the left and down to the carriageway around the lake and started to walk anticlockwise. I knew there were several nice viewpoints along the shore that would offer points to take pictures. There are several areas of land that jut out into the lake and we stopped several times. The water was an incredible deep blue. Along the way I saw one tree freshly fallen by what looked like beaver activity. Along this side of the lake we also met a lone mountain biker, the only other person we saw for the whole day! The "beach" was closed as evidenced by the signs posted there. The open rock shelf was covered in ice from the water that flows over it into the lake. This made walking tricky. On the other side of the beach the carriageway ascends to viewpoints above the lake and we stopped briefly at these. As we descended to the northeast end of the lake it was nearing 12:30 PM and I was beginning to be concerned about time and the route I had chosen.

The path along the opposite shore of the lake is more direct and soon we were passing the ranger's cabin and then the final viewpoint near the end of the lake. We were back at the point we started by 1:00 PM. I was surprised to find that the walk around the lake was 3.6 miles! I had though Awosting was smaller than the other two "sky lakes" but it would seem it is the largest. We stopped briefly so that we could get a drink and a snack. We were 8.6 miles into the hike. As we continued on our way I noticed that the balls of my feet were "hot" especially when descending. A good pair of socks is essential and "good" can be different for different people. The Wigwam heavy socks I had chosen have a terry pile on the inside which does not agree with my feet after about 8 miles. A liner sock always help as long as it is smooth and I had forgotten all this. We stopped and I applied a bandaid and changed into a pair of Teko socks I had. Teko seems to be the best brand of sock for me no matter the style. We started in again and my feet were much better. At 2:15 PM we were back at the falls have covered 2.2 miles between Awosting and the falls without stopping. We were at 10.8 miles overall. We crossed the stream and started the long walk back to the loop road. The trail gains elevation and passes over a lot of uneven and large rocks. Somewhere along the way I heard a buck snort or a person imitating a buck. I decided to hurry passed this area and keep Sheba close by. As we continued along the view back to Minnewaska proved inviting for the camera. I stopped and took pictures of the cliffs. I then noticed that the clouds were interesting and took some more pictures. I also saw a sundog in the sky and was lucky enough to be bale to get a shot. By 3:15 PM we had traversed the 1.8 miles and 500 foot elevation gain back to the loop road. We turned left and walked quickly of the carriageway back to the car at the visitor's center. We arrived back at 3:30 PM after covering 13.6 miles in just under 6 hours!

On Sunday, November 28th Cindy and I wanted to do a relatively easy hike after church. We also wanted to do something we had not tried before. I suggested hiking the SRT from the Guymard Turnpike to the Graham fire tower. I knew that the hike was flat until the climb to the tower but that finding the "trailhead" would be the hardest part. We left Livingston Manor after taking care of a few things after church and drove down the Quickway to exit 113 and turned south toward Port Jervis on Route 209. When we passed the turn for Route 211 to Otisville, I knew we were getting close. In the hamlet of Godeffroy, I turned onto the Guymard Turnpike. Soon Guymard Lake appeared on the right and then the bridge over the Metro North tracks. Exactly where to park was a problem. I turned around at the tracks and parked at the side of the road. We disembarked and crossed the tracks to the SRT on the other side. The Shawangunk Ridge Trail runs concurrently with the Long Path at this point so we followed the aqua blazes northeast along what appeared to be the old track right-of-way. The road was wide and completely flat. We found several railroad spikes along the way. Juts to the east of where we were walking are some new homes and we assumed another road allowed access to them. We saw a couple of hunters in blaze orange and several vehicles going one way or the other on the road. One truck stopped and the driver asked where we were going. When I told him, he didn't seem to know about the tower. He did tell us that there were hunters in the area and that we shouldn't "mess it up for them". I felt like saying I hoped they would not "mess it up for us" but I thought better.

After 1.7 miles of absolutely flat walking, we found red blazes going up the hill to the right and we turned onto another woods road. There was no sign of a tower anywhere! The road wandered up the mountain heading south, then east, then southeast. This was steeper than what we had been walking but the constant meandering cut the grade. At one point we crossed the white trail that I intended to use on the way back. We saw no hunters and no tower until we were practically on top of it. The distance from the SRT was less than a mile and we made it by 1:40 PM. The fire tower shared the top of the hill with cell towers and a nice little cabin. There is an access road for the cell towers which would probably be the quickest and easiest route to the top. Strangely, the cabin door was not locked but inside was wood for a fire and signs that someone had been there recently. Everything was in order. The tower was a different story! The entire first flight of treads was missing from the steps! Someone needs to replace these as soon as possible since the missing steps would make the climb difficult. After taking some pictures, we started back on the white trail. At one point this trail came very close to the edge of the cliff and I hoped to get a view but then it turned away from the view. The white trail twisted and turned but headed generally north. This route was much more of a trail than the red blazed woods road that we took up. It also looked as if no one had used it for awhile. The last .3 miles was a rather steep descent along a small stream. There was hardly any real trail in this area and lots of rocks to negotiate. I began to think of it as a "bushwhack with blazes". After slightly over a mile, we were back on the SRT just slightly north of the turn for the red trail. From here we hit our fast pace again and walked back to the car. Along the way we found a pile of fresh guts. There were also several more cars and trucks on the road. We were back at the car by 3:10 PM having covered 5.3 miles in under 2.5 hours.

On Saturday, November 27th Karl was up from Virginia and wanted to hike somewhere close by. I suggested we all go to the Neversink Unique Area at the end of Katrina Falls Road near Rock Hill. Cindy had not been to this part of the area either. Cindy, Karl and I piled into the car along with Sheba and Karl's dog Maggie. We arrived at the end of Katrina Falls Road in the parking area at 10:00 Am. There didn't some to be any other hikers but there were some hunters in the parking lot and we met some others as we began the hike. We took the blue trail that parallels the river and did not take any of the yellow spur trails until we got to the one that descends to Denton Falls. Along this 1.4 mile stretch we met two hunters walking back toward the parking area. The yellow spur trail down to Denton falls is about .3 miles with a few very short but steep sections. We were at the falls by 10:45 AM and the water was higher than I had seen it before. Walking out on the rocks to take pictures was a little harder this time but I was still able to get some shots including a video. We left the falls, ascended the trail back to the main blue trail and turned right. Within a few hundred feet we came to the trail junction with the red trail which forms a loop. We continued straight ahead on the blue trail to High Falls.

The walk to High Falls seemed longer than I remembered and I ended up scouting ahead to assess the distance my intention was to see if it was farther than Cindy wanted to go. I* was surprised that Maggie went with me while Sheba stayed back. I arrived at the yellow trail to the falls just before noon and after 2 miles of hiking from the trail junction, about 4 miles into the hike. At this point Sheba caught up to us. I decided to go down the short trail to the falls, take pictures and then go back to Cindy and Karl. Again, the water was high but I was able to get out onto the rocks to take pictures and a video. Snow was falling intermittently which made taking photographs harder. After grabbing these shots, I started back up the trail and...met Cindy and Karl coming toward me. We all went back down to the falls and stopped for some time. I took more pictures and we all had a drink and a snack. Some other people appeared on the other side of the river with young children. The kids skipped over the slippery rocks making me very nervous! Finally we left the falls and headed back. I had intended to take the red trail to form a loop but in the end we took the same route back. We arrived at the parking area at 1:45 PM after hiking 7.8 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes.

On Wednesday, November 24th I had already completed two short hikes by 12:15 PM but wanted a little more. From Winter Clove Inn I drove back to Palenville and then took Woodstock Avenue south toward West Saugerties. This eventually turned into the Manorville Road which paralleled a high ridge on my right. At one point I passed by Platte Clove Road and was sable to see the reason it is called a clove for the first time. Platte Clove splits the high mountain ridge and offered a way through the mountains without going over them. Once we reached the Glasco Turnpike, I turned right and started looking for Meades Mountain Road. Somewhere along the way I missed the turn. By the time I found my error, I decided it would be easier to take McDaniel Road to Meades Mountain and the parking area. The parking area is near the top of the road and is impossible to miss. I parked at around 1:05 PM and we started to hike immediately. The route follows the access road for the WTZA tower which is near the summit. The road is in good condition and is never too steep. We made good time and met several individuals and small groups coming down. There were a few hunters on the way down. By 1:45 PM we had climbed steadily for 1.75 miles and were at the ruins of the Overlook Mountain House. I decided to keep hiking to the tower and stop at the ruins on the way back. Just up the road there is a junction for the trail out to Platte Clove Road and the trail to the summit and the fire tower. We turned right and walked the .5 mile trail to the tower arriving just before 2:00 PM. I dropped my pack and went up the tower. It was VERY windy and the views were hazy. I was careful to hold onto the tower as I took my pictures since the wind was gusting first in one direction and then in the other. I was getting cold and the conditions for photography were poor so I headed back down.

On the way to the tower we had passed by the cabin and noticed a sign for "Scenic overlook". I had never been to the overlook on Overlook and decided to see what it looked like. After a very short walk, we arrived at an open view of the valley below over to the Ashokan Reservoir. In some ways the view was nicer than from on the tower. One woman was at the lookout. We talked and found out she was related to the owner of a garage where I get my work done in Livingston Manor! We said goodbye and started back down the trail to the ruins. I took a picture of the cistern that supplied drinking water and then a few of the some "The Lodge". The Lodge was separate from the main building and was used after the last version of the hotel was never finished. The Overlook mountain House was originally constructed in the late 19th century. It was destroyed by fire on more than one occasion and rebuilt. The ruins that are still present are mostly convalesce with some stonework and apparently were never finished as the builder ran out of money. I took pictures of the exterior and then the interior before walking around to the front. I took some more shots from this angle of the rather impressive facade. Ruins like this remind me of an age now long gone and a history that is fading fast. After taking my photographs, Sheba and I set a quick pace back to the car interspersing a quick walk with jogging. A few people we still headed up the trail. We were back at the car by 3:00 PM covering 4.7 miles in under 2 hours with a lot of down time for picture taking!

On Wednesday, November 24th I arrived at the Winter Clove Inn at about 10:15 Am. I parked and went to the office to ask for permission. After permission was granted, Sheba and I walked across the lawn and down to the bridge across the creek. Artist Falls had quiet a bit of water flowing over it and I made a note to see if we could get down to the stream bed so that I could get a better angle for pictures. We walked out the trail that can lead to the Venus Bath or Stoppel Point. Where the trail splits passed the turn to the Venus Bath, we took the right Branch which was labeled 'Yankee Smith'. This trail leads to and area of stone walls that were built around the time of the American Revolution. The trail is blazed with red paint and is relatively easy to follow. It makes some twists and turns along the way. The first mile is a steady ascent and then it drops a little. At 1.25 miles the trail began to drop and some stone walls appeared. I thought I was at my destination since I lots the red blazes and I was unimpressed. I picked up the blazes and continued to follow them until about 1.5 miles where an smiley face on a tree announced the end of the trail. In the area was an impressive network of stone walls. The walls were on either side of a lane formed by more stone walls. I wandered around and took some pictures but could not find any evidence of a house or barn or homestead of any kind. I decided to follow the lane which went on for several hundred feet before joining a woods road. To the right the road was posted. Straight ahead through the forest and own a hill I could see a stream with another nice waterfall. Sheba and I bushwhacked down the hill to the creek. I took some shots and then walked down the creek and took some more. We climbed back up the hill to the road and lane. We hiked back down the lane and picked up the same trail back, now blazed in blue for the return trip.

At 3.0 miles into the hike we were back at the trail junction with the Stoppel Point trail but continued straight back toward Winter Clove Inn. At 3.1 miles we turned left on the Lovers Loop trail and headed north toward the pond. We arrived at the small pond at 3.6 miles and then continued around the loop ending up back near Artist Falls. At this point I decided to try to find a way down to the stream bed below the falls. The only way I could find was a path that appeared to have been used by others. It passed over an almost vertical slab of rock which would be easy to slide down but not so easy to climb up over. The stream below the falls has sheer walls that are vertical and it appeared the water was high enough to making crossing nearly impossible. I decided to "go for it" and carefully descended the rock face and lowered myself to the stream bed. Sheba scrambled own behind me and we had arrived. I took some pictures from the stream bed. The angle was much better but the sunlight behind the falls interfered with the shots. We walked back over to the rock and somehow got back up. We were back at the car by 12:15 PM having covered 4.1 miles in just under 2 hours. It was still "early" so I decided to go to the trailhead on Meades Mountain Road. This trailhead is the shortest way to get to Overlook Mountain which sports the ruins to the Overlook Mountain House as well as, a fire tower.

On Wednesday, November 24th I wanted to complete the GPS mapping of the trails at Winter Clove Inn but I knew this would be a short hike. I decided to visit some of the falls along Kaaterskill Creek and try to find the suspension bridge in Palenville. It was cloudy and overcast as we left Livingston Manor but the sun came out as we got on to Route 23A headed for Palenville. Around 9:00 AM I pulled off at the small parking area on the left side of the road to go to the falls known as the Naiad's Bath. We hopped over the guardrail and descended the short, steep path to the creek bed. The breeze was still blowing and down in the creek bed with no sun the temperature seemed chilly. We walked upstream and I took some pictures of the pretty little falls and its setting. The light coming from behind the falls made photography difficult.

We walked back to the car and I drove down 23A to the Palenville Market. I parked across the street at the Gloria Dei Church and took some picture of the stone building. The path in the back left corner of the church property dropped down to Kaaterskill Creek. We turned left and soon the suspended footbridge appeared. The bridge has as sign that says 'Erected by the People of Palenville'. It uses a system of heavy wires or cables to support a deck of closely spaced longitudinal boards as a deck. The original year of its construction is unknown. I took pictures of the bridge from both ends and then dropped down into the stream bed to take some from the side. I noticed a small falls below the bridge and walked down the stream bed to stand on some rock ledges and take a few shots. We walked back across the bridge and then upstream along a path. Soon we were approaching Fernwood Falls which stretches across the width of the creek. The drop is not very high but it is pretty. Some POSTED signs forced us to drop into the creek which I assume are public property. I stopped nearer to the falls to take some pictures. From this viewpoint I could barely see Niobe Falls farther up the creek. We walked a little more up the stream bed and I was able to get a few pictures. I would like to get to the other side to take some pictures but it is all private land. Sheba and I retraced our route back to the church and I drive away headed for Winter Clove Inn.

On Saturday, November 20th I considered going to Mount Greylock to hike with a group but decided I just didn't want to drive that far and Cindy agreed. Instead we decided to again join a group from the Catskill Mountain Club and hike to Tremper Mountain from the Phoenicia trailhead. The meeting time was 10:00 AM at the trailhead so we left Livingston Manor slightly after 8:00 AM and were the first to arrive at about 9:35 AM! The air temperature was in the low 40's but a persistent wind with some forceful gusts made standing around a little cool. While waiting, we took some pictures of the footbridges and small streams near the start of the hike and then Sheba and I did a little circuit up the hill be the parking area just to keep warm. Other cars began to arrive just as we were finishing and we went through a round of introductions. The head count for people was 11 or 12 but today there was only one dog! As we started, Bob Moses and I were talking and went up the hill together at a good pace. After reaching the top, we found only Sheba was with us and we slowed a little bit. Cindy and another woman caught up to use and we made the right turn onto the woods road that runs to the top of the mountain. the trail was pretty wet in spots with a lot of running water. Shortly after making the turn we stopped so that I could remove my middle layer. This inspired others and soon a few other hikers caught up. Terry, another hiker from Livingston Manor, was one who joined us. Cindy, Terry, another woman and myself formed a group of four and started out again at a good pace. The trail levels in some spots but mostly climbs at a steady incline toward the fire tower at the summit. In places it gets a little steeper but some switchbacks smooth out these portions. Tremper is known to be the site of at least one rattlesnake den but I was pretty sure it was too cold for them but I kept Sheba on the trail just in case.

By 11:20 AM we were about 2.2 miles into the hike and had gained 1375 feet of elevation out of the over 1900 feet we would have to make to the top. At this point we were just below the first lean-to and I could see and smell smoke. I wondered whether the occupants were hikers or hunters but the lean-to is pretty far off the trail so I did not bother to find out. We pushed passed this area through steep section of trail. A switchback here mitigates the incline and soon we were headed directly for the top. Some interesting rock formations and cliffs start to appear on the right and the trail passes through some evergreens although the summit is mostly hardwoods. It was less than a mile to the top and the final part flattens and finally passes the second lean-to. This one was empty and I could see the tower ahead. Sheba and I ha d separated from the other three and I dropped my pack and poles near a tree and got out my camera. After a few shots, of the tower from the ground it was time to climb to the top. I knew the hike leader had keys to the cab but the glass makes taking photographs difficult so I thought I would settle for the landing just below. About this time the others arrived. There are some tall trees near the tower and they protected me from the wind until I rose above their level. At that point the wind began to buffet me as I climbed to the level below the cab and started to take shots. I made sure to hold on as some of the gusts were strong. The landscape was a little bleak but this means the views were unblocked by leaves. Silver Hollow, Carl Mountain and Olderbark were clearly visible in the foreground with the Devil's Path behind them. After taking pictures, I came down as the rest of the group arrived. Bob Moses had again brought a carrot cake and even Cindy was impressed. The group had been joined by a young couple who, it turned out, were the occupants of the lean-to. They had come out to the trail just as the main body of the group passed and joined them on their hike to the top.

Since the wind was till blowing strong, I was beginning to get cool. I donned hat and gloves and asked Cindy if she was about ready to go. She was and Terry joined us on our way down. We had made the trip to the top in about 2 hours arriving just before noon. We stayed for about 30 minutes and started down at 12:25 PM. I thought we would probably make it down in about 1.5 hours. In some places it was hard to keep a sustained pace on the descent due to the slippery leaves on the slippery, wet rocks! On the way down we did meet several groups and individuals hiking up. One young man passed us on the way up and on the way down. He was new to the Catskills and had hiked to the Hunter tower earlier and intended to get Overlook before the end of the day! By 1:40 PM we were at the point where the trail turns left off the road to return to the car. We had covered 2.35 miles since the top and had descended 1767 feet. I considered staying on the woods road out to Old Route 28 and then walking the road back to the car. In the end I turned onto the path and waited for Cindy and Terry who did not know there was a turn. Soon we were all headed back to the parking area where we arrived at 2:00 PM. We covered the 6.1 mile hike in about 4 hours but this included the 30 minute stop at the summit and several other rest stops. Cindy and I stopped at the Sportsmen's Grill/Brio's in Phoenicia to eat. The Grande Nachos were VERY good and plenty for a small meal for two people. We both ordered a main meal but ended up taking a lot of food home. We will stop again!

On Friday, November 19th Sheba and I were ready to hike after three days occupied with other commitments and hampered by rain. An email from the Catskill Mountain Club touted a hike from the Sleepy Hollow horse trail near North South Lake to the Palenville Overlook and out the Harding Road Trail. This would be a one-way hike of about 8 miles with a cars spot. I don't often get to hike with a group or do a car spot so this sounded good. When I called one leader to announce that Sheba and I would be coming, she mentioned that there would be other dogs and two of them had "issues" especially when meeting new dogs at the start of a hike. I gave this a thought but knew I could control Sheba on a leash so I decided to go. The hike was meeting on White's Road just outside of Palenville at 8:30 AM so I got up at about 6:15 AM and was out of the house before 7:00 AM. I don't like to be late! As I drove out the DeBruce Road it was sunrise. Just before the DeBruce Country Inn I stopped to take pictures and then continued the drive. As I made the turn and started toward Frost Valley, a few flakes were in the air. The further I went the more flakes there were until at the Slide trailhead there was one or two inches of snow. The descent down the Panther hill was tricky as the snow kept falling. Route 28 was covered and there was even more snow in the air and on the ground on Route 42 passed Halcott. This continued after the turn onto Route 23 through Hunter and into Tannersville. There was less snow in Haines Falls and none when I made the turn onto White's Road. I drove all the way to the end of the road without finding the parking area. There is a very nice old mansion at the end where I turned around! On the way back I drove a little slower and found the turn into the parking area. It was about 8:20 AM and there were no other cars around. By 8:40 AM no one else had shown up and I wondered if the hike had been cancelled. About that time other cars showed up including Bob the hike leader. There was only one other dog but Bob explained that he had dropped the other two dog owners and their FOUR dogs at the other trailhead so they could get acquainted. Four people and two dogs hopped into my car and we were off for the beginning location at the Sleepy Hollow horse trail. We parked on the side of the road after about a 10 minute drive and started our walk up the road and through the gate onto the horse trail at about 9:00 AM. Just after we got on the horse trail we met the rest of the "pack". Three black labs or lab mixes and another black dog with a muzzle. The initial meeting was noisy but after we got a little further into the hike the dogs seemed to get along very nicely.

As we hiked up the horse trail we talked and I noticed that we were walking parallel to Stony Brook. The labs kept running off the trail to look for water. The brook had several nice waterfalls an rapids and I made a note that I would have to come back to take some pictures. I knew I could get some shots from the high bank but that the best shots would require getting Dow closer to the water and maybe even standing in the stream bed. At 9:30 AM the trail made a turn and we crossed over Stony Brook on a little bridge. I stopped to take a few pictures since by this time there was a coating of snow on the ground. A small sign by the bridge read "Rip Van Winkle House". By 9:50 AM we were 1.5 miles into the hike and the trail had risen a little over 900 feet. Picnic area with some views appeared on the left of the trail complete with hitching rails for horses. We stopped to get a drink and I took some photographs. Most of these showed clouds covering the valley toward the Hudson and more clouds hanging on the mountains. More snow was in the air. At 1.7 miles the trail turned sharply to the right or north in a switchback. This happened again at 2.0 miles when the trail turned left again and headed south. Just a little beyond this the trail flattened and we hit some VERY wet spots. There were pools and ponds of water that we had to negotiate. We crossed the power line right of way that leads directly up to the lakes. Along the right of way there are the remains of the stonework that supported the Otis Elevated railway that ran from Palenville in the valley up to the Escarpment where the Kaaterskill and Catskill Mountain Houses were located.

We continued along the swampy horse trail until about 3.8 miles where the trail to the Palenville Overlook turns left. It was 11:00 AM and we were about .5 miles away from the lookout. The trail is pretty flat until the little descent to the viewpoint where we arrive at 11:15 AM. The others stopped to eat while Sheba and I explored along the cliffs. I took picture from the lookout of Palenville below and of Kaaterskill High Peak and Round Top to the right. Some pictures shows white spots since it was snowing on and off. this did not match any of the weather reports most of us had read. We walked to the left down the escarpment passed the foundation and I took some more pictures. After this, we walked back up to the fire ring before the descent to the lookout and took a path out to toward the edge of the cliff. This was the first time I had done this and I was surprised to see an "official" sign that said Palenville Overlook. Sheba and I walked out to this viewpoint which allowed a little better view up the clove and different view of Palenville. After taking a few more pictures, we went back to the group just in time to get a piece of Bob's legendary carrot cake! After a brief snack for Sheba and myself, we were ready to press on. I knew that the final ascent to our highest point on the trail was steep. I also figured that the rain, wet leaves and snow would make the short ascent even more interesting.

We left the overlook at just after 11:45 AM and made a left at the trail junction to start the short, steep ascent. We all made it up OK and walked along some more level trail, crossed a small stream and walked up a small hill to the trail junction with the Harding Road Trail. The initial section of this part of the trail parallels the trail to the overlook but at a greater elevation. It then stays relatively level but turns northwest at about 5.5 miles and meets the Harding Road Trail at 5.9 miles. I had never been on the Harding Road trail and found it beautiful as it began a constant descent toward Route 23A and Palenville. The walking was pretty easy and by 12:40 PM when we started down the trail the sun had come out. The sunlight "warmed" the landscape and cast shadow on the ground. I stopped several times along the way to take a few photographs. At 6.6 miles the trail turned left and headed southeast instead of southwest. At one point it flared a little to cross a stream and then continued on in the same direction. At 8.3 miles we hit the yellow connector trail that leads up to the parking area on Whites Road. After a brief climb, we arrived in the parking area at 2:00 PM taking about 5 hours to cover just under 9 miles.

When the rest of the hikers and dogs got to the cars, we decided on the transport arrangements and headed back to the start of the horse trail. When we arrived, Sheba and I said our goodbyes. It was around 2:30 PM, so I decided we had enough time to visit the waterfalls on Stony Brook so back up the horse trail we went. I took some pictures of the first falls from the bank and then worked my way farther down to take some better shot. At the next falls, I went down to the stream bed and took some shots abut then worked my way across the creek for some even better angles. The next falls were in a deep ravine and I didn't have the time to figure out a way of getting to them safely. I did get some shots from the high bank by hanging onto a tree. I skipped the next set since they were small and set my sites on another. The only way to get pictures was to work down a STEEP bank and stand in the stream bed. This wasn't easy but proved to be worth it. We started to work our way back up the bank with Sheba in the lead. At one point I hit some rock underneath the wet leaves and began a slide down the steep bank toward the creek. I caught myself and immediately decided that I would call it a day. We were back at the car just after 3:00 PM and headed home.

On Monday, November 15th I was anxious to get out and hike since the forecast for the next few days was for rain. I decided to return to Winter Clove to try and find the trail from the Inn to Stoppel Point. When I was there the last time, I hiked up the trail to the Escarpment just east of North Mountain but could not find the trail down from Stoppel Point to the Inn. Sheba and I left Livingston Manor just before 8:00 AM and arrived at the Inn around 9:40 AM. We were on the trail by 9:50 AM under completely overcast skies. The air temperature was warm and I knew, as always, I would be shedding at least one layer a short distance into the hike. We headed out over the covered foot bridge but did not turn left to the Venus Bath or right on Lover's Loop. The trail straight ahead was marked in red paint and signs indicated the Yankee Smith Trail and Stoppel Point. The trail was well marked and looked "used" even after the Yankee Smith Trail turned to the right and we continued straight ahead at the sign that said Stoppel Point and Little Stoppel. At about this point I removed my light jacket a hiked the rest of the way in two layers of long-sleeved light wool. This was way too warm except when I was stopped but I was too lazy to change into short sleeves. The trail continued to ascend heading slightly south of west until we gained about 1500 feet of elevation to 2430 feet. Here the trail leveled some and a viewpoint appeared. This was at about 10:50 AM or 1.7 miles and an hour into the hike. The views on any other day would have been good but this day most of the valley below and the hills around were hidden in clouds and mist. We stopped and I took a few pictures before continuing on.

After a short distance the trail marking became VERY hard to follow and, in places, were non-existent. In other spots I could see faint blazes ahead but there was really no trail since there was so much blowdown and so much brush had overgrown the trail. Around 2.0 miles into the hike the "trail" turned right and started a steep climb up to Stoppel Point. There were no more red blazes on the trees. At times I could turn around and find blue blazes indicating the way back but sometimes even these were absent. A good part of the time the last .6 miles were a bushwhack with Sheba or I picking the best route through the cliffs. Near the top the terrain leveled a little and soon, to our right, I saw the plane crash on the Escarpment Trail. I turned left and bushwhacked a little and found a path that led to the Stoppel Point overlook. It was noon had about .7 miles into the hike. We stooped to get a snack and a drink. I took a few pictures since the mist rising off the hills looked a little interesting and I though these pictures would be a stark contrast to the ones I had taken several days before. Until the steep bushwhack, I had fully intended to simply retrace the route back to Winter Clove. Now I was sure I did not want the experience of a return trip and had to choose between the Dutcher Notch route that I had used the last time or descending the trail from just east of North Mountain. I decided on the latter since I did not want to repeat the exact route from last time. This was despite the fact that I knew that the descent would be tricky. I had a little trouble finding just where the trail turned off the Escarpment Trail but soon we were headed back.

We stopped at the viewpoint I had found last time and I took a few photos of the Blackhead Range covered in clouds. The first part of the descent was slow but a little better than I though as the ground was not frozen this time and this allowed me to get good pole plants. The biggest problem the whole way down were the oak leaves and acorns. The leaves were VERY slick and I slipped more than once even on flatter terrain. As we were descending a little drizzle began and I thought I heard one roll of thunder. This never really developed into anything. The going was slow but we finally left the oaks behind and entered some pines as we continued to descend toward the junction with the trail to Winter Clove Falls. We were at the junction at 1:50 PM or about 4 hours and 5.2 miles into the hike. The trail from here levels some and is well-marked with the "return" blue blazes. Soon we were on the golf course and walking back to the car. It was 2:20 PM when we got back to the car after 4.5 hours of hiking and 6.6 miles. I had intended to hike the Yankee Smith Trail and maybe Lovers Loop but was pretty tired from the steep bushwhack ascent and the equally steep descent. I decided to try the Ledges trail.

From the car we headed out the trail that Cindy and I had taken the week before. This trail crosses a stream, passes through a field and then heads toward the Indian Lookout and Rips Rock. At the trail junction Sheba and I turned left to head in the direction of the sign which said Ledges. From the trail junction we followed the trail and then a woods road for about .25 miles to a clearing on top of a small hill. The total distance was barely a mile. It was obvious that the views from here would be well worth the trip particularly for anyone who did not want to hike very far. In one direction I could look out over the valley and could even spot the INN down to the left. To the west the Wall of Manitou rises impressively behind the Inn. The clouds swirling around the wall with just a small amount of sunlight made for some interesting pictures. We stayed long enough for me to take some shots and then returned to the car by 3:00 PM. The trip was about 1,7 miles and took only 40 minutes including the stop. I decided to save the other two trails for the best trip. On the way back down Winter Clove Road I stopped at the Glen Fall Inn. I walked out to the observation deck and took some pictures of one of the two falls. Not satisfied with the view I worked my way down to the creek bead to get some better shots of both falls. These falls are just off the road and are well worth the stop. It is hard to find someone to ask permission.

On Saturday, November 13th Cindy was ready to hike and we thought we would go out to Quick Lake from Frick Pond. We slept in and got started a little late. In addition, when I looked at the distance it appeared to be about 15 miles which is more than we had time for and about twice the distance Cindy is usually prepared to do. We decided to hike to the Dry Brook Ridge lookouts from Ploutz Road, a route that I had done before but one that was new to Cindy and Sheba. Although the forecast was for temperatures in the 50's when we started it was barely 32 degrees in Livingston Manor. I drove to Roscoe and then up Rt 206 to Route 30 and turned right at the Pepacton Reservoir. Eventually I turned right on Millbrook Road and drove to Ploutz Road which is just passed Kelly Hollow. We had talked about hiking here after Dry Brook Ridge but we agreed to wait and see how much time and energy were left. I turned left on Ploutz Road which was in pretty good shape. A "limited maintenance" sign made both of us wonder if the town really plows the road until December 1st! The road condition deteriorated a little as we passed the last house but was still good enough to allow us to drive to the parking area for the trailhead. The parking area is small with room for at most four cars and there was no one else there. I didn't expect to see other hikers today unless they whereat the lookouts on the ridge. We left the car and entered the pine forest at 11:00 AM. Although not as impressive as the pine plantation on Hill Road the pine forest here is also nice. The initial part of the trail winds through and interesting and extensive set of stone walls. Right out of the parking area the trail crosses a lane with stone walls on either side. The lane leads to a large area surrounded by stone walls. This looks like an old field. It would be interesting to follow this lane in the other direction to see if there is a barn, a foundation or the remains of a farm. After this area, the trail begins a long climb to Dry Brook Ridge.

The climb to Dry Brook Ridge on this part of the Huckleberry Loop Trail is about 1.2 miles with a 1000 foot elevation gain. on the Ridge the Huckleberry Loop Trail ends at the Dry Brook Ridge Trail. The Dry brook Ridge Trail starts in Margaretville, crosses the Ridge and ends at the parking area for Balsam Lake Mountain on the Beaverkill Road! The first part of the trail has a relatively gentle ascent but this changes the closer you get to the ridge. In some areas the steep ascent is alleviated by switchbacks. In other areas the climb is simply steeper. As we neared the ridge, patches of snow appeared and then, in some areas, the ground was covered with and inch or more. It would be interesting to know how much snow fell here on Monday if this much was still on the ground five days later. The remaining snow was most pronounces on the north side of the slopes and in areas protected from the sun. Soon we were near the top walking through areas which were pretty despite the brown of the dead leaves. The browns and holds contrasted nicely with the remaining green ferns and moss, the blue sky and white snow. At noon we were at the trail junction and we turned left to head for the lookouts. There are several sets of lookouts along the ridge and I had always approached them from the Hill Road side. The last time I came from Ploutz Road I was in a hurry and did not pay any attention to the lookouts. The ridge is relatively flat with only a few ups and downs. As we walked and passed several viewpoints I began to doubt whether or not we had passed the best and most prominent lookout. This is the one that occurs first from the Hill Road side. I went ahead of Cindy a little to "scout" and found another viewpoint and then the one I was looking for. It was 12:40 PM.

As I waited for Cindy at the lookout, I took many pictures of the far hills and the valleys below. I also took pictures of the Pepacton Reservoir which looked low even from up high and far away! After Cindy arrived, I took some shots of Sheba and then of Cindy and Sheba. At about 1:05 PM we started back. As we walked I took pictures from each lookout, five in all, and of the trail. I was especially careful to get some pictures of the snow! Soon we were back at the trail junction and we turned right to go back down to the car. Descending the steeper parts of the trail took some time. On the way back we noticed a rock overhang that I had not seen on the way up. We stopped to take pictures and then continued down into the pine forest. I took some pictures of the tall evergreens which looked interesting with the blue sky and sun peeking through. Back at the country lane, I took some shots of the stone walls and walked to the one end of the lane. The area surrounded by the stone walls was huge. When we arrived at the parking area, there was another car there which surprised us since we had not seen them anywhere on the trail. It was 2:40 PM and the sun was dipping low. We covered the 5.5 miles in 3.5 hours but stopped for periods of timekeeper several places. We drove passed Kelly Hollow on the way home deciding to leave that hike for another day. We did stop at the Millbrook Covered Bridge also known as the Grant Mills Covered Bridge. The bridge no longer carries traffic but has been restored and I took a few photographs. Rather than return the way we had come I turned onto Cross Mountain Road. The road has a dirt surface but was in good shape to the top of the climb. After the top the road is rutted in places and VERY narrow. As luck would have it we met a car coming up from Alder Lake. The other driver pulled over as far as he could to his right. I was able to inch by but Cindy said that was all that separated us from the edge of the road and the ravine below!

On Thursday, November 11th I was interested in getting back to Winter Clove since the last trip had been so interesting. I knew about Winter Clove Falls but I was also interested in the trails to the Escarpment Trail both North mountain and Stoppel Point. I thought I might visit the falls and then take the trail up to the Escarpment to near North Mountain. I would then use the trail from Stoppel Point to return to Winter Clove. The weather forecast was for a beautiful sunny day with temperatures in the mid-50's. I was not surprised that the thermometer on my back porch read 25 degrees at 6:00 AM! After doing my "chores", Sheba and I headed out at about 8:00 AM. The trip is a long one for us so we arrived just before 10:00 AM. I went to check in at the main desk and this time one of the owners greeted me and happily granted permission to park and hike. I asked her if she would like some GPS maps to go along with the hike descriptions and she seemed very interested. I thought it was the least I could do for the hospitality the resort offers to hikers even those that are not paid guests! We talked for several minutes about the trails and especially the "return" trail from Stoppel Point. I went back to the car and Sheba and I started our hike at 10:00 AM. I was in trouble immediately trying to find the start of the hiking trail to the Falls. I walked up through the gold course and did not see any hiking signs. I walked around several greens and tees and then read the directions and found the sixth tee. I walked down the fairway and just before the green found the trail that started up just as the directions said. We walked up a small hill and then into a field or clearing. It was hard to pick up the hiking trail signs here but we walked along the left side of the field and found an old sign that said Webster's Pass on the left. We turned left here and walked along an old road. Soon a sign appeared on the right for North Point and Winter Clove Falls. We turned right here at about .6 miles into the hike.

From here the trail climbed at little and then started downhill, At about .8 miles the trail turned to the left at a sign again designating North Point and Winter Clove Falls. From here the trail climbed steadily using old woods roads until at 1.35 miles it split. The sign to the left indicated North Point. We headed to the right toward Winter Clove Falls. For some time we had been hearing the roar of the water a creek to the right and, at times, could view the water forming small drops and rapids along the way. At 1.65 ,miles the trail descended a little and crossed an old creek bed with several downed trees. From this point on the trail markers were scarce and a little faded. The trail followed the creek bed which was full of leaves making the footing difficult. We kept getting closer to the creek and could see glimpses of the falls ahead. The trail climbed steeply at this point to the top of the falls. We arrived at about 11:00 AM and 2 miles into the hike. I dropped my pack and grabbed the camera. There was a view along the clove out into the valley toward the Hudson but the light made pictures difficult. It was also hard to get any perspective of the falls. The falls has two major drops and although there was water the flow was only moderate. I decided to work my way down the north bank to the area between the two drops. This was not easy but did allow me to get some shots of the upper drops with two streams of water. After a few pictures we went back to the top of the falls. Before returning on our route, I decided to bushwhack further up the stream where I thought I saw some more falls. I picked up my pack and we walked up the stream using the bed and north bank alternately. There were two different falls further up and we stopped so that I could take a few shots. I considered bushwhacking even further up the clove but wanted to stay on the trails so that I could make a map for the Inn. I will put this on my "to do" list for later. Further up the clove at 2800' and just below the escarpment is the crash of a Piper airplane that is hard to access.

We headed back down the stream and down the trail we had come up. I wanted to take some photographs of the entire falls from down in the stream bed. I found several spots where paths started down to the stream but all were very steep and the combination of wet leaves and frozen ground made them impossible. I finally settled on one spot and started down after telling Sheba to "Stay!" The fact that she showed no reluctance to stay behind should have been a hint to me. After getting a little more than half way down the bank I could see that getting down would be nearly impossible and getting back would require a long walk down the stream. I stopped on the bank at this point with a pretty good view of the falls and took pictures from there. Again, the light was not as good as I could have hoped but some of the pictures were good. I walked back up the bank, collected Sheba and headed back down the trail to where it split. I hit the split at 2.75 miles and just before noon. We started up the trail toward North Point. The trail was steep in most places and steeper in others. It was clear this was "the road less traveled" as there was little evidence of use and many of the paint blazes were very faded. At about 3.0 miles the trail turned left and started an ascent that would be about a mile long and gain over 1300'. It was clear that parts of the trail followed old roads up the mountain and at other times left the roads to take even steeper ascents. Near the top the angle was at least 45 degrees and the frozen ground offered poor footing. All the way up the trail I could see the Blackhead Range to my left but taking pictures through the trees was difficult. At around 3.9 miles we skirted some cliffs and I took pictures of the icicles. On top there was one rock that offered and unobstructed view of the mountains. We stopped briefly so that Could take pictures and then continued on. The trail was ill-defined toward the top but at 4.0 miles into the hike just after 1:00 PM we hit the Escarpment Trail at 3100 feet and slightly northeast of North Mountain. There is a nice viewpoint over North South Lake at this point and I took a few pictures. I realized that the days were growing shorter and that it was no longer daylight savings time. My conclusions was that we had to move quickly to get back before I had to pull out the headlamp!

Now that we were on a trail which is relatively flat we picked up our pace heading toward Stoppel Point. There was an elevation gain of over 300 feet but this seemed easy compared to the 2200 foot gain from Winter Clove Inn! We arrived at Stoppel Point at about 1:40 PM and 5.4 miles into the hike. We stopped briefly for a few pictures and continued on toward the west. There was a brief stop on the left side on the trail to take some shots south toward KHP and Round Top before continuing on to the plane crash. We stopped and I took a few pictures before walking back along the trail. I had seen a pink ribbon in the woods and headed toward it thinking it might mark the trail from Stoppel Point back to Winter Clove Inn. After pushing through some brush trying to follow pink ribbons we were...back at Stoppel Point. I walked along the edge of the escarpment trying to find the trail down. I finally decided I didn't have enough time, did not know where the trail was and would be better off returning on the Dutcher Notch Trail. This didn't really bother me since I had never been down or up this trail but I was concerned about the distance we still needed to cover to get back to the car. We kept up a good pace as we descended from Stoppel Point and approached Milt's Lookout. We hit the lookout at about 6.6 miles around 2:20 PM. We stopped and I took some pictures including couple of Sheba who jumped up onto a big boulder to "pose". From the lookout we began a 600 foot drop over the next 1.1 miles to the Dutcher Notch Trail. This was a little farther than I thought and the last part of the descent was steep. The height of land called Arizona was straight ahead of us and seemed quiet high. At 3:00 PM, as the sun began to dip low in the sky, we hit the Dutcher Notch Trail, turned right and began to descend.

The Dutcher Notch Trail follows a road that was the main connection between the farms in the Jewett Valley and the markets near the Hudson in Catskill and Cairo. The road was sited at the lowest point in the Wall of Manitou. Since the wagons could not ascend or descend directly due to the elevation gain over a short distance, the road on the east side had to have a sweeping switchback. The trail starts out to the east but then turns southeast nearly paralleling the escarpment. It was interesting to walk down this trail below the escarpment where we had been earlier in the day. The trail appears to be suffering from a lack of use with several areas of blowdown. The road is so eroded in places that the trail travels along the high bank often on stone walls. After about a mile and 770 feet of descent, the trail swings toward the northeast and continues to descend. It begins to follow a stream bed and on this day was wet in spots. It also enters private property with an easement. We continued on the trail as it passed across the lawn of a private residence and through a locked gate onto paved road at about 9.7 miles. After about .5 miles on Storks Nest Road we hit Floyd Hawver Road and turned right. It was about 4:00 PM with the shadows getting longer each minute. Our walk along Storks Nest Road had been interesting with several encounters with farm animals. Once on the roads our pace quickened even more. We hiked a little more than 1.1 miles on Hawver Road before turning right on Winter Clove Road. After walking another .5 miles on Winter Clove Road, we were back at the Inn and our car. We had covered a total of almost 13 miles in 6.5 hours. Several adventures still await including a hike further up Kiskatom Brook past Winter Clove Falls. I am also anxious to return and hike up the trail to Stoppel Point to see if I can follow it and find out where it emerges on top!

On Tuesday, November 9th I wanted to see if the higher elevations had gotten more snow in Monday's storm than the 2 or 3 inches we got in Livingston Manor. I decided to head for Balsam Lake Mountain as it normally gets much more snow than anywhere else around. As I drove up the Beaverkill Road it was obvious that the amount of snow was increasing. The road had been cleared and just after the turn to Little Pond the road crews were working to prevent the rest of the road from falling into the river. After we passed Turnwood, there was still a car ahead of us. That car stayed with us all the way to the parking area. The lot was not plowed but there was a minimum of 4 inches and I had no trouble getting into the lot and parking. I talked briefly to the two people in the other car who were just there to take some pictures. Sheba and I started to hike just before 11:30 AM. The first part of the trail was slippery from the snow as we were the first to walk on the new fallen white stuff. By the time we were at the turn up the mountain I was ready to take a few pictures and shed a layer of clothing. It had only taken about 20 minutes to get to the junction. As we stared to climb the snow got a little deeper and I Egan to slip a little more. I had Stabilicers in my pack but knew they wouldn't really help so we just continued up the mountain. Along the way the sun peeked through the clouds some. At one point I thought it was raining but it was just the snow and ice melting off the trees. Soon we were being pelted by falling snow and ice which, at times, didn't feel so great. By 12:15 PM we were at the spring and we stopped so I could take some more pictures

Once we were up on the summit plateau, I kept the camera out and took a lot of pictures. The scene was very different from several weeks before when the sun was shining. Many of the trees had a covering of ice and snow and some branches were bent under the weight. We walked slowly and I took pictures until we arrived at the tower at about 12:35 PM. I took pictures from the ground and then dropped my pack to go up the tower. The tower was encased in ice and snow and the steps were very slippery. I took pictures of the screening and the steps. As I climbed the wind picked up. Looking out it was clear that there were no views. I was either above or in the clouds. I cautiously made my way back down to a waiting dog and we started down the other side of the mountain. The snow here had drifted and the deepest spots measured 10 to 12 inches! Going down was easier than I though. We made the bottom of the mountain and turned right at the junction to go back to the car. The temperature was warmer now with a little sun. We were back at the car by about 1:45 PM having covered 4.25 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes. On the way back stopped to take pictures at Beaverkill Falls. It was hard to take pictures through the trees so I will try to get permission to go down to the stream some time in the future.

On Saturday, November 6th I asked Cindy if she would like to go to Winter Clove and hike some of the trails there and she agreed. I had never been to this Catskill resort but the few reports I had read sounded interesting. Winter Clove is primarily a resort which offers room and board and various activities to those who stay there. It is located north of Palenville with the address being Round Top. The drawback for us is that this is around a two hour drive but I did want to see what they had to offer. Winter Clove has miles of hiking trails open to those who are paying guests but it has been reported that they will allow others to hike as long as they as they permission. From what I had read the trails included several nice lookouts and waterfalls. There was even supposed to be a trail to Stoppel Point! On our drive there we discussed the options and simply decided to get on a trail and hike to see where it went. I had no maps of the area so this seemed like a reasonable approach. After a few stops to look at the maps and a wrong turn or two we headed north out of Palenville on Route 32. The next turn was a left just after the Friar Tuck Inn onto Hearts Content Road and then another left onto Winter Clove Road. From that point on there are small signs indicating the various resorts in this area and there are quite a few. We arrived at Winter Cove at about 11:20 AM and I stopped to as for permission to park and hike. The woman at the desk could not have been nicer. She told me where to park and even allowed me to take copies of the written directions for the hikes on the various trails. These directions were in minutes and only one had a map but it was a nice gesture. We parked and started our hike just before 11:30 AM. The temperature was in the low 30's when we started and it didn't get much warmer all day. It was cloudy but there wasn't much of a breeze. I had noticed a sign in the field just up from where we parked so we headed in that direction to begin our adventure.

The neatly lettered sign mentioned Indian Lookout and Rips Rock as destinations and these sounded interesting so we continued through the field down to a creek and across a small bridge. There were many maples in this area and each had at least one pipe connected to them for the collection of sap. The trail went through a series of switchbacks as it climbed a moderate hill with other trails branching off along the way. There were some sins to indicate where we were going and red and blue paint blazes were also present. Soon the trail headed east and away from the brook through a field and passed by a lean-to. At about .6 miles a trail continued east toward "The Ledges" but we continued on the trail we were on, first west and then south. We crossed several small streams of running water some of which were on the trail. At .9 miles another sign point to a spur trail to "Lost Pond". Around 1.2 miles another spur trail headed to "Lost Bridge" and just beyond that point was a short trail to the left to a campsite. Just passed the campsite we met two hikers who were staying at Winter Clove. They were in the lead of another group who we met shortly after. At 1.5 miles we had the choice of turning left to the "Lower Rips Trail" or continuing on the trail we were on. We continued and walked parallel to a small brook that had cut a deep gorge between and into the surrounding rock. At 1.7 miles we cut across this brook. I checked my GPS and compared it to the maps and what was clear is that we were not on the way to Stoppel Point or North Mountain.

The trail began to level a little and at 2.1 miles we arrived at an opening in the trees that looked out to the east toward the Hudson River. The view was nice and, as always near the Hudson, a little hazy. There was still some color on some of the trees. We stopped for pictures, a drink and a snack. It was clear that we were walking the edge of an escarpment but there was another, higher ridge of rock to our right. To this point the trail was clear and looked used. From this point on the leaves appeared undisturbed and I could see only pink ribbons to mark the trail and no paint blazes. We did not know if this meant the Winter Clove trails had ended and someone else had marked this trail. We so had no idea where the trail went or where it ended. We were also wondering where Rips Rock was! We decided to continue to follow the ribbons for awhile. From the Indian Lookout the trail was level but then began to drop to a small stream not shown on the map. It continued to head south and followed the stream up a hill. The trail was not well-used but the ribbons appeared consistently. At 2.4 miles the a significant gorge began to appear and the trail swung left or southeast and ascended another small hill. It hugged the edge of the top of the hill and then several views opened up of the opposite side of the hollow. There were interesting rock formations and the sun behind the ridge made for some interesting lighting effects. We stopped to take a few pictures before deciding whether to turn around or continue. We still hadn't found Rips Rock. The trail was marked passed this point so we decided to go on.

We slid down a slippery rock and then ducked under and through some brush to find...a beautiful, expansive lookout toward the east and southeast. A small sign declared "Rips Rock 1,809 feet". The Dee chasm immediately to the south is formed by Stony Brook and is sometimes called Rip Van Winkle Hollow. The sun was hidden behind the clouds and the apposing ridge but was peeking out just enough to give some unusual lighting effects. Even the drop down into the hollow offered some nice photographic opportunities. We stopped and I took many pictures of the ridge, the hollow and to the east toward the river. Walking along the trail at the edge of the cliff was...exciting. The wet rocks and overgrown brush tended to push us dangerously close to the edge but we made it in good shape. The views just kept getting better! We stopped two more times to take additional pictures before following the trail into the woods. The trail led us roughly around the top of the hill and we though it might simply connect to the trail we used on the way up. It did not. After a trip around the summit the trail made a short steep descent between and over some rocks. The steepness and the wet, slippery leaves made for an interesting descent. After that point, the trail changed character totally becoming wide and well-used. We continued to descend and hit a few switchbacks. The trail continued to parallel the one we took up but at a lower elevation. It became clear this was the "lower" trail from earlier and at 3.9 miles we were back at the junction. From here we simply followed our early route in reverse back to the car and arrived at about 2:25 PM. We covered the 5.3 mile hike in 3 hours and 15 minutes. The suggested time was 4.5 hours.

With a little time left, we decided that a trip to Winter Clove Falls was too ambitious but a walk to the covered bridge and the Venus Bath might be appropriate. From the car we headed to the gazebo in back of the main building and then crossed the dirt road and walked down to the bridge. The falls forms directly under the bridge so we took the path to the pool at the base of the falls. I snapped several pictures of the bridge, falls and pool before going back up to the bridge. We stopped again to get some pictures of the bridge and the water flowing underneath. After the brief stop, we continued our walk up Kiskatom Brook. There were several interesting rapids along the way for me to photograph. At .45 miles we passed the a footbridge to the other side and continued on the trail along the creek. At about .8 miles and 40 minutes of picture taking and hiking we arrived at the Venus Bath. Here a small set of rapids and waterfalls have carved a natural "bath" in the rock. I took a few pictures and then we started back to the car using the footbridge to cross to the other side. This time the walk was only .6 miles and took about 18 minutes! A short walk that was definitely worth the time for the "features" along the way. I think we may return to stay at the Winter Clove which is reasonably priced and has quite a history. I will return soon to try the hike to Winter Clove Falls and Stoppel Point.

On Monday, November 1st I wanted a quick but challenging hike not too far away from home. I like to hike Dry Brook Ridge near Margaretville but have never hiked it from the north over Pakatakan Mountain or the German Hollow Trail. This would be the day. When we left home the temperature was just above freezing and there was a slight breeze. As I drove up Rt 206 toward the Pepacton Reservoir it appeared that some of the higher elevations might have some snow. By the time I was on the roads around the reservoir the air temperature had dropped even more. At the turn back onto Rt 30 I continued straight ahead on Southside Rd. Just after Fair St on the left I found the trailhead kiosk for the Dry Brook Trail with room for a car or two across the road. I parked and we started hiking just before 9:00 AM with the temperature at about 35 degrees. The hike from the trailhead starts out steep right from the start. After a short climb it intersects a road and then starts to pass through a beautiful stand of evergreens. The trees are complemented by magnificent rock formations with green moss. In one spot the rocks overhand to form a natural shelter. In the first .6 miles there are several switchbacks and signs that make it clear that the trail passes through private land and then hugs the edge of private property and state land. At the .6 mile mark, the trail heads southwest in a major switchback rather than head directly up Pakatakan Mountain. The walk is a nice one but the direct route would be only .3 miles instead of 1 mile and the elevation gain is only 600 feet. As we climbed there was, at first, a dusting of snow on the ground that eventually gave way to a complete coating. The snow wasn't deep but I was glad to see it as I have many pairs of snowshoes!

At about 1.7 miles, we were at the point marked on the map as the summit of Pakatakan Mountain. As we had walked around the summit, I thought I might have to bushwhack to the top just to say I had found the highest point. There was no need as the trail eventually got there. I could see high ground ahead for some distance which was Dry Brook Ridge. As we walked over the top of Pakatakan and along the edge of a cliff, I could see the Pepacton Reservoir through the trees. I could not get any clear pictures but it was there. There was some higher ground to the right but we were still ascending. Now in many places we were looking down some cliffs rather than up at them. We continued our long but gentle ascent until about 2.6 miles where the German Hollow Trail came in from the right. Along the way there were a few steeper climbs but they were all short. After the trail junction, the ascent continued to about 3.0 miles where the trail leveled momentarily. After this is began to DESCEND and head southeast rather than climb toward the south or southwest. I was not very enthusiastic about losing elevation we would have to gain again. I also knew that this meant the return trip would be a steeper and longer descent. (What I did not know tat he time was that the trail from the other side was less than 300 feet horizontal and 80 feet vertical up on the ridge!) At 3.3 miles the trail finally headed due south a UP to the ridge. At 3.6 miles we were at the trail junction with the trail that comes up from Hill Rd. We stopped for a few minutes for a snack and a few pictures of the trail, trail signs and snow cover. Now it was back down the steep, snow covered descent. After this we simply followed our route back to the car. On the way back the sun came out and the snow disappeared. I was glad I had taken pictures on the way up! We were back at the car by noon covering a little over 7 miles in a little over 3 hours. Next time I plan to hike to the Penguin Rocks and/or create a longer loop in some way.

On Sunday, October 31st I went to the Frick Pond trailhead to hike with a group from Morgan Outdoor, a hiking store in Livingston Manor. Some people were meeting at the store at 12:30 PM but I decided to go directly to the trailhead with Sheba. We arrived just after 12:30 PM and waited for others to appear. By about 12:45 I decided that no one else would show up and that Sheba and I were on our own. I based this assumption not only on the time but also on the weather. The temperature was in the mid-30's with a stiff breeze and a heavy mist alternating with some sputters of snow. Sheba and I started to walk out the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick Pond just as a car pulled into the parking lot. I knew the woman driving would be with the group from the store. We stopped to talk and she said that Lisa, the owner, was right behind her with three more hikers. We waited for the others. After they arrived and we introduced ourselves, we headed up the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond just before 1:00 PM. Their original plan was to hike to Hodge and back. My plan was to hike to Hodge Pond with them and then extend the hike in some way. The trip up the Flynn Trail seemed to go very quickly as we walked and talked. I enjoyed talking to some of the hikers I had not met before. We were at the Big Rock junction by 1:50 PM and down to the pond in another 15 minutes. We stopped for a snack and some pictures at the edge of the pond. I suggested we take the Big Rock Trail back for some variety and the others agreed.

We headed back up the Flynn Trail and were back at the junction by 2:30 PM. Coming up Big Rock can be challenging but going down is a fast trip. Either way I always seem to forget that it is a little longer than I remember. We arrived at Times Square at 2:55 PM and decided to go around the back of Frick Pond. The trail passes through a pine forest and over some wooden walkways. The walkways can be very slick when wet but were passable this time. They do need some work and maintaining is always better than rebuilding. At the out let to Frick Pond we stopped to take a few pictures and then continued on the Quick Lake Trail back to the parking area. We were back by 3:30 having coverlets the .6 miles in 2.5 hours.

On Saturday, October 30th I decided to see if Cindy wanted to go to Bear Mountain to hike. We ran in our league championship meet there on Friday and I was surprised to see that most of the trees still had there leaves and that the leaves had some nice colors. Cindy agree and I planned the hike. We had some "chores" to complete in the morning and got a late start. We arrived in the parking area just before 11:00 AM. The fee to park is now up to $8 and I had considered parking in some of the free lots along Seven Lake Drive. Ultimately I parked in the main lot since my primary objective was to climb the new trail that volunteers had constructed. The front lot was completely full and the back one was filling! There were a LOT of people at the park and I knew they weren't all there to hike. The new trail starts at the turn in the access road to the old ski jump and ends at the road to the viewpoint about half way up the mountain. Articles I had read talked about the 300+ stone steps that had been placed in creating the trail. The new trail has caused much controversy with some being opposed and others in favor. I wanted to see for myself. We were hiking by 10:55 AM and headed up the trail behind the skating rink and then turned up the new trail. Immediately we came across the first of the steps. We were both impressed at the workmanship on the stone and the placement of the stones to form the stairs. I took the first of 200+ pictures for the day. Only a few people were hiking up the stairs. The further we went the more impressed we both became. None of the description I had read really did this project justice! The hours of work that went into this engineering marvel were obvious and the result, in our opinion is fantastic! The stonework seems to fit into the natural environment and each set of stairs is placed just where the trail would be too steep for some hikers. The supporting stone work blends nicely and is aesthetically pleasing. The stone steps are interspersed with stretches of trail before the next set of steps. A small wooden bridge is also nicely constructed. I took TOO many pictures of the project along the way as we ascended. At one point there was a nice viewpoint where we stopped to take some pictures of the hills and valley before continuing up. At about 1.1 miles into the hike, the trail ends on the road to the small traffic circle and viewpoint. Here more stones are piled and some signs suggest the trail will be extended.

We turned right onto the road and walked uphill a little toward the area where the trail turns back up the mountain. Along the way there were some views down to the Hudson and Iona Island. We also noted the original stone retaining walls and even some stonework that supports a large rock. This old stonework looks a lot like the new or perhaps it is the other way around. We stopped to take some pictures and then continued up the road before turning left onto the trail at about 1.45 miles. From here the trail ascends through mostly open ground and over some rock outcrops. The trail crosses Perkins Drive once at about 1.6 miles and again at 1.75 miles. After the last crossing it enters an open forest on its way toward the tower at the summit. The trail passes by some interesting old metal pipes and some concrete ones with concrete junctions. The final part is a short climb over open rocks to the summit where we arrived right around noon after a 2 mile hike. On this day Perkins Drive was still open so the summit was crawling with people. There was also a very brisk wind at the top. We walked around on the open rock face that makes up the viewpoint and tried to take some pictures without hordes of people in the foreground. It was a little hazy and we quickly headed for the west side of the mountain to catch the AT down to Seven Lakes drive.

The plan was to walk a roughly clockwise loop out to Queensborough Lake and then north toward Popolopen Creek to Fort Montgomery and then across the creek on the footbridge and back to the car. I thought a visit to the Popolopen Torne might also be possible. As we started our descent down the AT, we did meet a few people coming up and passed few going down. After descending about ,2 miles from the summit at about 2.3 miles into the hike the trail went left where I thought it used to go right. It led to a high, rocky overlook with some nice views with only 5 people rather than 500! We stopped and took some pictures and then tried to follow the AT down to Perkins Drive. Apparently, according to the signs, the trail was closed for some trail work and sort of came to a dead end! We decided to bushwhack down to Perkins and were able to follow some paths for a short distance. We again walked up onto the cliff at this point. We could see Perkins Drive below but the descent was almost vertical. At this point I spotted some old blazes now painted over in gray on the rocks. We followed these along the ridge and then down the ridge toward the northwest. Soon the white blazes of the AT came into view slightly to the north and we headed that way following the trail down to Perkins Drive. From here we walked down Perkins for about .5 miles until the trail cut right into the woods. The trail then wandered up and down in a generally southerly direction until it hit Seven Lakes Drive at 3.75 miles into the hike. It was 1:15 PM. We crossed the road and found the 1777W Trail toward Queensborough Lake.

The 1777W Trail parallels Seven Lakes Drive for about 1.1 miles until it crosses the Palisades Parkway and Route 6. Along the way we passed through one of the free parking areas which was packed with cars. In places this trail is poorly marked but Cindy has a good eye for trail blazes and Sheba has a good nose! After crossing the highway we headed down the access road to the lake and toward the shooting range. After the range, we picked up the 1779 trail and followed it toward the northeast. We crossed Popolopen Creek on the strange cement bridge at about 6 miles. This "bridge" is only a little more than a foot wide and has some loose cabling covered with garden hose. There are some cement walls and foundations as well as some unsightly and more modern faded green pipe. We took pictures and then continued the hike, meeting a group of about six people heading toward us. The 1779 Trail continues northeast running along the high bank of Popolopen Creek and parallel to the parkway for about .6 miles until it dips back down to a footbridge across the creek. As we started across the bridge, I noticed an animal swimming downstream of the bridge. It was an otter surfacing and then diving looking for a meal. When it was underwater, it was invisible except for a trail of bubbles. As it neared the bridge, it surfaced with a silver fish in its mouth! I was so mesmerized I almost forgot to try a few shots. I did get one picture before the otter vanished. After a few more pictures of the creek and bridge, we crossed and continued toward Fort Montgomery.

The 1779 Trail continues on the other side of the creek following an old road complete with supporting stonework. It is pretty flat until near the end where it ascends to the road. The trail follows the road and then heads into the woods to pass by Brooks Lake. At this point we were 7.85 miles into the hike and Cindy asked if we could stay on the flat surface of the road. I agreed and we walked about .25 miles until the trail headed right and back into the woods. The trail descends for about .3 miles where, at 8.4 miles, it passes under the Route 9W road bridge. It is interesting to look at the steel structure of the bridge. Just after this the trail hits a driveway that leads to Fort Montgomery. Cindy had never been at the fort so we took some time to walk around and see the excavations. The stone foundations of some barracks, a powder magazine, a guardhouse and the "necessary" have been found. The most impressive part is the main battery where replica 32-pounder cannon overlook the narrow stretch of river between Anthony's Nose and Bear Mountain. It is not hard to see how this was an important strategic position during the Revolution. As we were standing on the main battery, a barge pushed by a tugboat came by heading south. Sighting down the barrel of one of the guns brought the barge directly into view. From the fort we walked back to the visual center and then down to the pedestrian bridge across Popolopen Creek. This is one on the best viewpoints in the ark top get a low-to-high view of the Bear Mountain Bridge and Anthony's Nose. You can also look back up the creek toward Hell Hole. We stopped on the bridge to take numerous shots before crossing over. Since it was 4;00PM and the zoo was closed, we walked under the Bear Mountain Bridge to take some pictures and then followed the bypass trail up to the bridge. Traffic was heavy but we crossed over to Hessian Lake and walked back to the car. There was a flea market going on in the park which added nothing to the beauty of the scenery. We were back at the car by 4:20 PM having covered 10.3 miles in about 5.5 hours. On the way back to Livingston Manor, we could not resist a dinner break at El Bandido!

On Thursday, October 28th I was interested in hiking to Tunis Pond but this time from the Black Bear Road end of the trail. My high school's boys soccer team was scheduled for a playoff game in the afternoon so I knew my time was limited. Even though I had never done the hike before, I thought I would have enough time to complete it. Sheba and I were up early and actually arrived at the end of Black Bear Road just after 8:00 AM, the time I had planned to start. The temperature was only 38 degrees but I decided I would only take my a jacket, hat and gloves with me and not wear them to start the hike. It was very obvious that there had been a lot of rain Wednesday night since the road was alternating between standing pools of water and small streams. We made it to the hunting camp in just over 10 minutes and passed by it to continue on the road/trail. The trail continued to be very wet in most places as we crossed over a brook and headed up a little gaining some elevation. The New Balance 1500's I wore are not my favorite shoes but they proved to be waterproof which is more than I can say for some other shoes I have! It took just a little more than 30 minutes to get to the Fall Brook lean-to which is about 1.7 miles into the hike. It didn't feel like we were rushing but this was a fast pace. After passing the lean-to, we ran into some more wet spots on the trail. Soon a swampy area appeared on the right of the trail which led into a series of beaver ponds and beaver meadows. Doubletop was in the background and I can remember hiking THROUGH the beaver ponds with Harry Rampe on my first bushwhack. The trail passed this area was completely new to me but I knew we were getting close to Tunis Pond. The trail paralleled the Beaverkill for a short distance and then ended at the edge of the stream. I checked the map and it showed that the trail crossed the stream a little further down. I was able to pick up the yellow trail markers ahead. The stream had simply eroded away the trail so Sheba and I bushwhacked up the bank and then back Down to the trail. When we reached the area where the trail crossed the stream, the water was to high and swift to safely cross. I was going to go back upstream but a tree across the water downstream caught my eye. We walked along the stream. bushwhacked up and down the bank and reached the log bridge. It was just right for me but Sheba decided to wade across.

We picked up the trail on the other side. It was very narrow in several places as it clung to the bank of the stream and in at least one place all but disappeared. Only a short distance from the log bridge the trail opened into a little clearing and a very nice bridge crossed the stream! We continued down the woods road until I began to recognize some landmarks and knew it was time to head to the right of the trail and climb a little hill to get to Tunis Pond. The climb was steep but short and the approach was easier than I remembered. We arrived on the shore of the pond and I dropped my pack to get out my camera. After taking a few pictures, we walked along the shore so I could take some more shots. The water was very blue and the secluded pond is quiet. We walked back to the tree where I left the pack and after a drink and a snack for Sheba we headed back out to the trail. I decided to head almost directly south and down the hill which was more direct line to the main trail. On the way back I stopped to take pictures at the bridge and at several points along the stream. The water was high enough to form some interesting rapids in places and one area even had a small falls. I crossed my log bridge again and continued back along the same route we had used on the way in. When we got to the area of the beaver ponds, I stopped to take some pictures of Doubletop and the beaver meadows. After this point, I just wanted to get home so we hiked quickly back on the trail. We stopped at the lean-to briefly so that I could get a few shots and then continued back to the hunting camp. From the hunting camp to the car, the trail had considerably less water than on the way in. Someone had been busy with a front end loader helping the water to drain off the road. We were back at the car just after 11:00 AM. The hike was 7.3 which we managed in under 3 hours including the picture taking and the bushwhacking!

On Monday, October 25th I decided after hiking Balsam Lake Mountain that Sheba and I needed a little extra time and mileage. I still had to be back for cross country practice but knew I had plenty of time to get to Vly and back. As we walked through the field just out of the parking area, I stopped and took some pictures of Balsam Lake and Graham Mountains. The trail drops as it leaves the field and heads east toward Black Brook. We crossed Black Brook at the bridge about .5 miles from the parking area. We then started to climb over a small hill as we made our way east toward Gulf of Mexico Brook. We descended to this next stream and crossed on the bridge about 1.4 miles from the car. We walked only a little farther with me looking to the left to see if I could spot Vly Pond. We climbed a little and then walked down to the next stream. I recognized this and the view upstream as the one to Vly so we turned left and bushwhacked along the near side of the stream to the pond. This seemed easier than last time with less brush.

The water level in the pond looked high but some muddy areas around the shore indicated that it had been higher. The beaver dam is very solid with grass growing on the top but I did not see much signs of recent activity and the lodge looked abandoned. I took off my pack and took a lot of pictures while walking around. The sun was out and there was a nice coinsurance of colors and textures to choose from. Sheba and I walked all the way across the dam with little problem. I took pictures of the pond and its surroundings but also snapped some shots with Balsam Lake and Graham in the background. I was hoping to see some wildlife but the best we could scare up were some ducks on the pond. After putting the camera away, we headed back down to the main trail and turned right to go back to the car. There is at least one prominent road that runs perpendicular to the trail but on the way back I noticed several other older and less used roads. The positioning of the trails and paths in this area is interesting and I began to think about a loop from Balsam Lake to Black Bear Road to Long Pond to Mongaup Pond and back. As we walked back to the car, we stopped a few times for me to take pictures of the trail and the two bridges. we were back at the car by 12:30 PM with the 7.7 mile hike taking about 3.5 hours.

On Monday, October 25th I was desperate to get back into the woods after a week of business and family commitments! Cross country season is still in progress so I chose something close to home and headed for Balsam Lake Mountain. This had been my destination on Friday when a flat tire sent me home! I have climbed this mountain more than any other so it seems like home. I though I would get some pictures of the trail at the top, some shots of the fire tower and some views from the tower before the snow flies. Once it does snow this mountain gets as much snow as any other place in the Catskills. The drive up the Beaverkill Road seemed long but we were at the parking are at the end just before 9:00 AM and started out immediately. The weather was warm with temperatures in the mid 50's so I was wearing a long sleeved Patagonia Wool 1 without a jacket. I was expecting the day to be a little drab but as we hiked I noticed a nice combination of orange, brown and green around us which got better as the skies cleared and the sun came out. We made the turn up the mountain in less than 20 minutes without hurrying. As the sun came out and we continued to climb I became very warm and switched to a short sleeved shirt. By 9:40 AM we were at the junction with the trail to Alder Lake. We stopped so that I could take some pictures of the trees and the trail. My thought was to compare before and after snow. The sky was still a little overcast and gray and some of the gnarled trees gave these shots a spooky appearance.

By 9:45 AM I was climbing the fire tower. Above the trees there was a pretty good breeze but I was still warm. The views were somewhat stark but still interesting. From the height and the distance the hardwood trees appeared bare. Only the evergreens offered any color, The far mountains were hazy, as usual, and had an interesting purple cast. I took pictures including some through the struts and stairs on the tower. Back at the base, Sheba and I Headed down the other side to complete the loop back to the parking area. As we walked own the trail, I continued to take pictures. The first set was in the evergreens near the top and showed little in color except for green. As we dropped own in elevation, the sun came out almost full force. Now the colors were softer oranges and browns highlighted by bright green. I took a lot of pictures of the trail all the way back to the parking area. Along the way, I tried going off the trail to the left to get a better view of the valley on that side. I actually found several spots with partial views but none proved good enough for pictures. As we approached the parking area, I noticed it was only 10:50 AM. We had covered the 4.5 miles in 2 hours including all the stops! I decided we needed a little more and headed out the other side of the parking area on the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail.

On Monday, October 18th I wanted to return to Bear Spring State Park to finish hiking the few trails I had missed on my other three trips. Sheba and I headed toward Roscoe and I chose to take Route 206 through Downsville and toward Walton so that I could park at the pull off at the top of the Bear Spring hill. We parked at about 8:30 and started out on the road right away. I quickly realized we were not walking ABOVE the clear cut area but THROUGH it and we headed back to the car to move to the next higher parking area. Back in the car I headed toward Walton and immediately Wilson Hollow Road appeared on the left. It was back to the parking area we had just left with Sheba giving me some strange looks! I parked and we head north on Route 206, this time to Wilson Hollow Road to start the hike at about 8:40 AM. As we passed the clear cut area, I was impressed by how big it really was. The area stretches over .5 miles along the road and well down into the valley. Wilson Hollow Road is also Trail 2 and we made good time as we walked along the wide open horse trail. I was watching for the place where Trail 11 comes over from just south of Launt Pond on East Trout Brook Road but soon the terrain looked unfamiliar and I knew I had missed it. Trail 2 was a continuously climb but not at all steep. At 2.2 miles a trail came in from the left an I was pretty sure this is where we would be after completing the loop and Trails 2 and 3. It was only 9:15 AM so we had made the 2.2 mile trip in about 35 minutes. The GPS showed 3.5 mph! The trails were wet in places and just muddy in others after the recent rains but these spots could be avoided by walking around them. As we walked the trail began heading southeast instead of south as we started to make the loop. At one point another snowmobile trail headed off to the left. The sign said "Downsville: Gas and Food". We continued on the horse trail until after 3.4 miles we were at the junction with Trail 12 where we had been the day before. We turned right and walked out to the clear cut area at the junction of Trail 2 with Trail 3. Here we turned right to follow Trail 3 up the hill and back to Trail 2 to complete the loop. Trail 3 broke into a field just above the clear cut with nice views down the valley. We stopped for me to get some pictures and for us to both get a drink. By 10:20 AM we were back at Trail 2 where the trail had come in from the right earlier. We had already covered 5.3 miles. Now it was back to the car using Wilson Hollow Road, On the way I stopped to take some more pictures in the clear cut area. The leaves were most gone off the trees in the recent rain and high wind but some color remained. We were back at the car by 11:00 AM having covered the 7.6 miles in under 2 hours and 25 minutes including stops.

After completing the loop there was only one trail left to hike to complete all the numbered trails at Bear Spring. Trail 4 starts across the road from Middle Pond where we had parked on Sunday and climbs to Trail 5 on the ridge. Since it was early, I decided to drive to the parking area and hike the trail. The trail maps in the park pegged this as about .6 miles so I knew it would not take us long. I drove down East Trout Brook Road and parked. We were hiking by 11:15 AM. The trail immediately revealed its character as it became steep very quickly. The trail was damp in most places and there was some blowdown across the trail. The surface was loose and I did not look forward to the trip back down. This trail was wide and pretty well marked and we climbed quickly despite the steepness. After .6 miles we were nowhere near the top which did not surprise me as the mileage on the signs is often wrong. As we neared the top of the ridge a VERY steep section presented itself but we were up it quickly to where the trail flattened before making a quick right turn as it headed up again. Within minutes "junction" signs appeared and we were at Trail 5 on the top of the ridge. I checked the trail signs and found that the .6 miles marked was "as the crow flies"! Now it was back down to the car. As we descended the short, steep section I noticed the horse trail went to the left so we followed it. This section was simply a short switchback to avoid the steepest section and I had missed it on the way up. We made our way back down the trail quickly but carefully arriving at the car by 12:00 PM. We covered the 2 mile section in about 45 minutes and had now completed the trails in this area.

On Sunday, October 17th Cindy and I wanted to take a nice walk somewhere not too far away from home. Cindy was not thrilled with bushwhacking or climbing mountains so I suggested Bear Spring where I wanted to hike some trails in the southeast part of the park. After church, we headed up the Quickway to East Branch and then took Route 30 to Shinhopple. We turned north on Trout Creek Road and were soon at the lower campgrounds and parking area where Trout Creek Road splits into West and East. We parked in the large lot and walked across the road to pick up the trail. My plan was to hike Trail 12 to Trail 2 and then return on Trail 8. We walked down into a field and followed the blue markers over some very wet ground to East Trout Creek. When we got to the creek it was obvious that horses would have no trouble crossing but we were going to get wet if we tried to cross. We walked up and down the creek looking for a place to cross but could find none. It is for situations just like this that I usually have a Plan B. Back in the car we drove north on East Trout Creek Road to the parking lot by Middle Pond. We parked at around 12:35 PM and started to hike immediately by walking down to the dam and bridge across the outlet of the pond. Just after the dam, we turned right on Trail 8 which follows the creek more or less as it heads south to the area where we had been earlier. In some places the trail opens into fields and becomes hard to follow. In these cases we could usually pick up the trail on the other side of the field. In some places a stake with a marker could be found in the middle of the field. The walk was pleasant for the most part with the sun lighting the brook and the water playing a tune as it flowed over the rocks. The only drawback was that the trails were wet from the recent rains and VERY muddy in spots. Some horse traffic in previous days had not helped. We walked by the sides of the trails in these places and didn't have too much trouble. As we walked I wondered if the junction with Trail 12 was on our side or the other side of the creek. After walking slightly downhill for 2.2 miles, we came to one of those fields but this time there were markers going in two different directions. We noticed a sign on a tree and it indicated Trail 8 continued straight ahead but that Trail 12 turned up the hill to the ridge. We gladly turned left and started up .

The horse trails in the park are marked on the map with colors to indicate difficulty. Yellow is easy. Blue is moderate, Red is difficult. There aren't many red trails but Trail 12 is one! We soon found out why as the trail started to climb to the ridge. A few switchbacks made things a little easier but we walked up about 900 feet in the next mile. The trail initially headed southeast but at about 2.9 miles into the hike it turned north and continued up the ridge. At 2:15 PM and 3.25 miles into the hike a short spur trail led off to the left to a very nice lookout. This viewpoint, like so many, had some trees in the way but for the most part was open. We got some pictures of the ridge to the west including some unusual cloud patterns and a view of a quarry. After this brief pause, we continued the hike as the trail wandered down and then up again and back and forth across the ridge. The wind came up strong with some stiff gusts. As clouds rolled in we wondered whether the forecast had missed the part about showers but none developed. Around 3:00 PM and 4.8 miles of hiking Trail 12 turned sharply left away from private land . The trail now began to look more and more like a road. Within a short distance, there was a STOP sign at the junction with Trail 2. I had thought about turning right but Cindy did not want to go up anymore so we turned left and started back toward the car. At 5.5 miles there was another junction, this time with Trail 3 and we again turned left rather than climb up a hill. At this trail junction was another clear cut area making at least four I had seen in the last week in the Bear Spring area. The trees have been cut down but many have not been removed. There also does not seem to be any effort to replace the forest. On the way back, I stopped at Middle Pond to take some pictures of the pond and the water falling over the dam. We were back at the car by 3:45 PM having covered 6.2 miles in 3 hours. On the way back we drove north on East Trout Brook Road and stopped at Launt Pond. I wanted Cindy to see this pretty little pond. Some color was still left in the leaves on the trees around the pond.

On Thursday, October 14th I wanted to explore more of the trails at Bear Spring State Park. I had initially planned to do this on Friday and circumnavigate the whole park but the weather forecast looked questionable. I wanted to be there by 8:00 AM but we arrived at the main parking are at close to 9:00 AM. This time we started our hike by crossing the road and heading out on Trail 7. Some signs at the trail head announced mileages but I have learned to largely ignore these as they are often incorrect. I had pretty much memorized the trails I wanted to take from the map in the parking area. Unfortunately, this map has no distances posted on it nor does it have terrain marked. The VO map has proved to be accurate but does not have the trail numbers on it. This trail was pretty wet with muddy areas and some places where there was standing or running water. At about .5 miles we crossed Beers Brook Road heading almost due south. The trail followed the a ridge and rolled up and down at times. Around 1.3 miles I began to look for a side trail to the transmission towers as advertised on a sign at the trail head. There was no sign of the towers so I continued to walk to a trail junction at about 2.2 miles. Here a sign announced the trail to the towers. So much for believing the signage at the park. We turned left and walked down to another trail junction where it seemed that the horse trail turned right. We followed this trail as it started to climb more to a higher point on the ridge and meandered back and forth and up and down for almost 2 miles. I knew that we needed to head southeast and lose some significant elevation to get to West Trout Brook Road and the trail that would return us to the car. I was under a time constraint and wondered after being out for almost 2 hours whether to turn back or continue. We continued on the trail as it continued on the ridge but heading southeast. Eventually it did start down but I knew we had to find a switchback to take us north to a woods road that would lead to West Trout Brook Road. After another two miles and almost 6 miles into the hike the trail turned north and we ran across logger's clear cutting another hillside! The road was now clearly a logging road with some "improvements" and we walked quickly over the next .85 miles to another hairpin turn to the southeast. In .5 miles we crossed a bridge over West Trout Creek and came to the road at the lowest point on the hike so far. We had walked 7.3 miles, dropped 990 feet from the ridge and were still headed out, away from the car! Where the trail goes after hitting the road is NOT MARKED but because of our earlier trip up West Trout Creek Road, I knew to turn right and then head up the trail.

According to the trail map in the parking area Trail 7 had changed to Trail 6 somewhere along the ridge on the west side of the road. Signs said that we were headed to Spruce Grove which was supposed to be 7 miles from the parking area. I took a minute to stop and get a drink and a snack for Sheba and myself. I also took the time to remove a light pair on long underwear bottoms I had worn. I had long ago ditched the light softshell, hat and gloves! Whenever it first starts to get cool, I always overdress to hike and am always reminded of how much heat I generate. I also had to remove the Fox River liner socks I wore since the weave is too coarse. I like liners but my feet did feel better after this. I probably should have changed the long-sleeved Patagonia 1 Wool for short sleeves. At 7.6 miles we ran into a trail junction that was clearly marked with Trail 5! This was the trail I knew we needed to take back to the car and I immediately turned left and started to climb. The trail was wide and open but was almost constantly going up with a few flatter areas interspersed. In 1.3 miles we gained back the 900+ feet of elevation we had lost coming down off the west ridge. The trail leveled some and, then, at 9.5 miles we passed across Fork Mountain. From here it was mostly downhill. There were some side trails but Trail 5 was more clearly marked than any other trail I had seen and we stayed on it. Somewhere after Fork Mountain, about 10.3 miles into the hike I had a "deja vous" moment as we came to another clear cut area just like the one from the day before. It was on a side hill and the trail skirted the top. The leaves on the far ridge were colorful despite the overcast skies. It took me a moment to convince myself we were in a different area than the day before. I made my only photographic stop here to record what I saw. I began to wonder why the clear cutting was being done in at least three areas at Bear Spring! We continued on Trail 5 until it ended at West Trout Brook Road at 11 miles into the hike. Time was growing short but I thought we would be back to the car just when I had predicted which was amazing considering my earlier misgivings! A horse trailer was pulled off the road by the trail head and I assumed they had ridden out on Trail 7 since we had not seen horses or any "evidence" of horses on Trail 5. We crossed the road at this point and were back on Trail 7 that e had used earlier in the day with several hundred feet. I debated whether or not to walk up the road but decided to stay completely on the trails this day. As we completed the last mile back to the car I found hoof prints and other "evidence" that a horse had been over the trail although we never met them. We were back at the car before the rain just before 1:00 PM. We covered 12.2 miles in just minutes over 4 hours. At one point on the way out our moving average was 3.7 mph but the return trip UP Trail 5 cut into this some. There are still some more trails in the southeast to explore and map so I will be going back at some time in the near future.

On Wednesday, October 13th I was looking to do a short hike in a new area near home before XC practice. This is not easy since I have done most of these hikes in areas like Trout Pond, Frick Pond and Long Pond multiple times and had done the first two recently. I finally decided to go to Bear Spring State Park near Walton and check out the trail system there. The drive is about 40 minutes but Sheba and I got a late start due to my indecision. We arrived at 10:00 AM with only about 3 hours to hike so we got on the trail immediately. Bear Spring was slated to be closed by the state in the budget crunch but was kept open due to the lobbying of some dedicated supporters in the area. The area is unique since all of the trails are horse trails in the spring, summer and fall. In the winter most trails are open for snowmobiles. Of course, the trails cane hiked at any time and I thought they would be great for snowshoeing! Most of the trails are eight feet or more wide and are well groomed with no brush. The problem is that the trails are poorly marked and I could find no adequate trail maps. The VO map has some trails in the area but they occupy a 2 inch by 2 inch square on the map and have only a few of the trails. The trails are numbered and the main map on West Trout Brook Road just off Route 206 has a complete color coded map. It would be a help to be able to have a copy of this map. We started by getting on the trail to the left of the map and heading southeast. This is Trail 2 and within .2 miles we came to a field with no indication of where to go. We skirted the field and started to bushwhack parallel to Route 206. Within a short distance we were back on the trail. We walked down hill and crossed East Trout Brook Road at .5 miles. Immediately after the road the trail split three ways and we took the one furthest to the left heading uphill. There are really no views along the way but the walk is pretty. Within a mile we came to a trail junction where we could go left or right. I chose right and we headed uphill again until the trail topped out on plateau. here the trail ran through a very open forest. I knew we wanted to be going southwest and we were by the suns direction. At 1.4 miles the trail abruptly headed northwest and down which gave me an indication we were not on the right trail. Soon we were back at East Trout Brook Road which meant that LEFT was the proper choice back at the last trail junction! I decided to walk down East Trout Brook Road to Launt Pond and then pick up another trail there to try to complete a loop.

The walk down the road was only about .8 miles but this road is paved and had quite a bit of traffic, much more than I would have expected given its location. Launt Pond is simply BEAUTIFUL! We stopped for a minute at the boat launch and then walked to the dam and bridge at the outlet end. I took off my pack and got out the camera to take pictures. The fall leaves were still on the trees and the color was good. After taking many pictures, I decided to try and find a trail across the road. I was not sure where to find the trail but it seemed it would be at a parking area further south on the road. We walked down the road and came across a parking area after only .3 miles and there was a trail head just before the lot. There are trail maps insider plexiglass holders at most of these junctures but they are old and have not been replaced and most are impossible to read. We turned into the woods on the trail and headed slightly northeast. The trail began to climb slightly but leveled off and headed southeast. I began to wonder where the trail was headed and if we should turn around. At 3.7 miles the trail ended at a junction with a very wide open woods road. On my GPS this was marked as Wilson Hollow Road which is also Trail 2 and I knew we had to turn left and north. The road was even wider than the other trails and the walking was easy. At about 4.25 miles I could see an open area beginning to appear on the right and some brilliant colors on the far ridge. The "open" area was a clear cut logging area right next to the road where we were walking and it extended for some distance along the trail and down into the hollow. We stopped at several points along the way so that I could take pictures of the cleared area and the beautiful leaf colors. The fall colors this year have been variable with some areas having almost none and others having bright patches. We continued to walk almost out to Route 206 before turning left and up the hill to the trail junction where I had made the "mistake" earlier. From here we reversed our route from earlier and crossed East Trout Brook Road, This time I eschewed the bushwhack and stayed on the trail. Soon the trail opened into the field that we had encountered at the very beginning of the hike and it became clear the "trail" simply traverses the open field without markings whatsoever. We were back at the car by 12:30 PM having completed 6 miles in just under 2.5 hours. This was not as long as I had wanted but probably better than I could have expected given the confusion at several points. I decided to come back another day to explore more of the trails.

On Monday, October 11th Cindy, Sheba and I hiked Ashokan High Point and were back in the car by 3:30 PM. One our drive back along the Peekamoose Road, we stopped at four small waterfalls to take some pictures. The first waterfall was near a section of road that had been washed away. From the road you can see a drainage with large rocks extending all the way up into the woods. It is not clear what happened to all the water that washed out the road and moved these large rocks! I walked up the drainage and found a delicate waterfall with a small stream of water cascading down a sheer cliff. I took some pictures and returned to the car. As I have done before, I made a note to return in wetter times. We stopped in two more places where there are culverts under the road since these indicate tributaries of the main stream. Each of these little falls has some beauty in its own right. Several are clogged with trees and other debris and I found myself wanting to clear them out to better expose the falls. The second one we stopped at had a nice drop but also a "nice" log down the face of the falls. The third falls had several parts to it and I had to hike along the steep banks to get even a glimpse of the upper cascade. Again, an area to revisit. The last stop we made was at Bear Hole Brook. There really isn't a falls here but more of a rapids over some rocks. There is evidence of a dam for a mill and the area is very pretty. Bear Hole also has a woods road that runs directly to the best area!

On Monday, October 11th I was scheduled to lead a hike from Long Pond to Mongaup Pond and back but no one was signed up for the hike. Cindy had the day off and we decided to go look for some fall color. After hiking Little Ashokan with Hermit in March, I wanted to try it during a month that didn't have three feet of snow on the ground. We decided to give this hike a try and headed for the Kanape Brook parking area arriving just before 10:00 AM. This is a popular area so I was surprised to find that we were the only car in the lot! We crossed the road and got on the trail immediately. The brook had some water in it but was not particularly high. A week has made a lot of difference in the water in the streams. From the trail it was hard to tell how much color we would find from up above. There were definitely still leaves on the tress, many of the leaves had changed color but most were yellow and not too vibrant. The trail had only a few wet spots but all of the small tributaries were flowing well. This is definitely a nice walk except for the many stones on the trail in quite a few places which make walking the trail in snowshoes a pleasure. We walked uphill some and I pointed out the steepness of the bank on opposite side of the stream. This is one way to get up and down Little Rocky. The trail leveled and we walked through a dark pine forest where the stream is right next to the trail. It is obvious that the water had been over the trail in spot. We gained some more elevation and passed by places where the main brook and some side tributaries have cut deep beds. I remarked to Cindy how I always forget how far the hike is to the turn. This time I remembered it is about 2.75 miles but that didn't make it seem any shorter. We made the turn at 11:15 AM and passed by the left that is the trail that completes the loop. Now we started our 1 mile climb to the summit.

The climb to High Point is about 1 mile and 1000 feet of vertical gain. It starts slowly and then becomes a series of five short climbs interspersed with flatter areas. Several of the climbs have stone steps. The last two climbs are a little steeper and are just short of rock scrambles. Along the way we could look over our shoulders and see some views of the Mombaccus-Little Rocky ridge but nothing we could photograph. Just before the High Point there is a viewpoint on and we stopped to take some pictures of the ridge. The colors were there but not too bright and we continued up to the High Point. Like many of the viewpoints in the Catskills this one has become "grown in" and doesn't have too much of a view. We didn't stop for long as I wanted to get to Little Ashokan. We followed a path through the brush to the right of the High Point and down to a flatter area. From here it was down through some steeper areas and around some cliffs. When Cindy recognized we were going down and would have to come back up, she elected to stay and relax while Sheba and I pressed on. I am never happy about doing this but I really wanted to see the view from Little Ashokan! This part of the hike was definitely easier with snow on the ground. We descended about 350 feet and then started to climb up Little Ashokan. Along the way we climbed over another bump and followed the rather well-defined path around some cliffs and steeper slopes. On top of Little Ashokan there is a lot of scrub to walk through. A lot of this brush was a brilliant red. Once at the rocks near the top the views were great. The view back to the High point may have been the best with the red brush in the foreground and the bright yellows of the High Point in back. I took pictures from there and then walked to a lower rock to take more pictures of the valley and the Mombaccus-Little Rocky ridge. I walked to another lower viewpoint over and took more pictures but still could barely see the reservoir. After walking on paths around to the other side facing the Ashokan, I could still not get a clear shot of the reservoir. I returned to the top on started back to Cindy. We made the return trip so fast that I was out of breathe by the time we got back to the spot where we had last seen Cindy. I called her name and she responded from on top and we walked directly to the High Point and through a break in the rocks. A group of five people was at the High Point and we talked briefly before Cindy, Sheba and I headed out on the trail toward the field at the top. The field had some nice views of the Burroughs Range and we stopped at the fireplace and stone benches to take pictures. We walked over to where we could see the reservoir through the trees and took a picture or two but none of our exploring revealed a good view of the Ashokan. At this point we decided to hike the loop rather than go back the way we came. I even thought we might even bushwhack some down to the main trail when the loop trail turns left.

We descended for about .5 miles through some nice hardwood forest always with glimpses of the reservoir to the right. The trail then ascends a significant bump before continuing to descend. At about a mile from the top, a well-defined path leads off to the right. We walked down the path looking for where it went. We didn't see a lookout and the path eventually sort of stopped so we returned to the main trail. Just after this the trail turns southeast and then south to meet the trail we took to the top earlier. It was here that I wanted to bushwhack southwest to the main trail but Cindy wanted to stay on the trail. The next 1.5 miles of the trail to complete the loop is mostly loose stone with a slippery leaf covering. It doesn't matter if the leaves are wet or dry, they always seem slippery. As we descended the wind came up and blew in some clouds. We both began to wonder if rain was on the way early. By 2:30 PM we had made the turn and it was just a matter of hiking the nearly 3 mile trail back to the parking area. As we hiked up the trail the rocks did not seem that bad but after 4 hours of hiking each rolling rock annoyed me! The sun was back out and no rain had fallen. Along the way we caught up to and passed several hikers taking pictures. We also ran into several groups just starting to hike. Their lack of packs or any other equipment led me to believe they were just out for a walk and were not going to the High Point. Near the end of the trail we caught up to the group we had met on the High Point and talked to them on the way back to the car. We were back in the parking area by 3:30 PM having covered 9.8 miles in 5.5 hours. On the drive out Peekamoose Road I had seen several small waterfalls and thought we might stop on the way back.

On Friday, October 8th I was scheduled to lead a hike in the Neversink Unique Area starting at the end of Katrina falls road. One other hiker was signed up for the hike but the weather was the best it had been all week and Sheba and I were ready to get out. We arrived at the parking area at about 8:45 AM and the other hiker, Michael, was already there. It wasn't long before we were on the trail. The plan was to hike down to Denton and then High Falls and then back up to the trail junction to go to Mullet Falls before completing the loop back to the parking area. Michael is a strong hiker and we moved quickly along the trail which damp in most areas with a few spots with running water. By 9:40 AM we had traveled the 1.6 miles to Denton Falls. We took some time to admire the beauty of the river and for me to take some pictures. There was more water in the river than the last time I was there and the falls, although small, roared. After a brief stay, we were back on the trail bearing rile at the trail junction to head to High Falls. The trail is interesting as it parallels the river, sometimes closer and sometimes farther away. In one are it passes over a rocky stretch and then makes a sharp bend . Eventually the trail follows what looks like an old woods road. Shortly after this it drops toward High Falls. We made the 4 mile trip by 10:50 AM. High Falls isn't much higher than Denton Falls but it is wider and more impressive. We were still able to walk out on the rock shelves that give an almost head-on view of the falls. The rocks were slippery and we had to be careful as the river is deeper and swifter this point. I took quiet a few pictures and we lingered admiring the power of the water. The leaves in the area still had some color and they made a nice contrast with the river.

We left the falls and headed back on the same trail to the trail junction near the top of Denton Falls. Here we turned right to start the loop back to the car. Along the way we took the side trail down to Mullet Falls. We arrived at about noon and were 6.3 miles into the hike. This falls was the most dramatically different than last time. The water volume was much greater and the effect made the falls much more dramatic. The temperature was much cooler at the falls and the rocks were wet from the spray. I took some pictures and then carefully made my way over the rocks so that I could get a better angle. The pool at the bottom of the falls really adds to the pictures and has some interesting colors that contrast with the bright green moss in back of the falls. After taking some more shots, we packed up and headed back up to the main trail and turned left to continue the loop. The trail starts to climb and in about .5 miles another path leads off to the right. We thought we might see where the paths leads so we turned right. Within a very short distance, we saw posted signs to indicate private property, so we returned to the main trail. We crossed the wooden footbridge over Mullet Brook and within .2 miles a yellow trail branched off to the right, I had not been on this trail and thought it probably headed to Wolf Lake. We turned and enjoyed a pleasant walk that lead to a parking area within .5 miles. We decided to follow the road out of the parking area. the road heads almost due north and passes under some power lines before making an almost 90 degree right turn. We continued straight ahead on the power line right of way and crossed over Wolf Brook to Wolf Lake Road about a mile from the parking area. We turned left on the road and head toward Katrina Falls Road where we turned left to get back to the car. We were back at the parking area by 1:40 PM having taken 4 hours and 40 minutes to cover the 10.2 mile hike.

On Thursday, October 7th I was scheduled to lead a hike to Vly and Tunis Ponds. When I woke up it was raining and overcast. The hike is along a trail but requires bushwhacking to both ponds. I called the only hiker signed up. He lives in Sullivan County and we decided to try this hike on another day. As I write this at 9:40 AM, the weather is bright an sunny with temperatures headed toward 60 but with a strong, gusting wind.

On Wednesday, October 6th I was scheduled to lead a hike at Frick and Hodge Ponds for Lark in the Park. Only two people were signed up and one was another hike leader whose Westkill hike had been canceled due to uncertain road conditions! Sheba and I arrived at the parking area on Morton Hill Road at about 8:40 AM and another car pulled up shortly after. Craig has a house in Roxbury and is from New Jersey. We talked and waited for the other hiker but at 9:05 AM we decided to get on the trail. It was not raining but the sky was pretty dark with a few patches of bright blue. We hiked own Russell Brook Road and remarked at the amount of water in the brook. A truck was parked at the lower Parking area and it turned out to be Bob, the other hike leader. Bob lives in Delancey and is a retired postal carrier and also a farrier. We all walked down to the falls and into the stream bed. I got out my camera and took some pictures. Bob decided to go back to his truck for his camera and while he was gone, Craig and I headed to the upper falls. I again took pictures and then noticed Bob had returned and was at the lower falls. We hurried down but did not find him there but as we walked out to the main trail he was waiting. I signed the register and we headed up to Trout Pond. Craig does work with the NYNJ Trail Conference and was noting the accuracy of the new digital maps compared to what we were finding on the trail. He uses the GPS on his Droid since it allows him to mark GPS coordinates and make notes as he hikes. Soon we were at Trout Pond with a dark and somewhat ominous sky handing over the water. We stopped for a few pictures and then continued on.

The trail along the pond was wet with some standing water but was not flooded and we made good time to the inlet. The small brook was full of water so we walked upstream a bit to cross. Craig was a fountain of knowledge on several subjects. He leads quite a few hikes in different areas of New York City and is very well informed about that area. We climbed the trail in back of Trout to Cherry Ridge and headed toward Mud Pond eventually descending to the snowmobile trail/woods road. We decided to skip Mud Pond and turned left to complete the loop. Back at the lower parking area, I noticed that the dirt piles blocking the road were gone so we decided to walk down the road to see what had happened. We walked until we got to a series of boulders placed across the road to announce its official end. There is a small parking are for here for two or three cars. The walk down Russell Brook Road is pleasant as it parallels Russell Brook which has proved to be its demise. In places the road seems unaffected while in other much of it is in the brook and in others it is eroded from small "streams" coming off the hill above it. We continued passed the "barrier" and negotiated some tricky areas where the road all but disappears until we got to an area where there is no road. Rather than sidehill passed this spot, we turned around and headed back to the parking area. Craig and I bid Bob farewell and hiked up the road to our cars. It was a little after 12:30 PM. We had hiked a little over 6 miles in 3.5 hours.

On Tuesday, October 5th I was scheduled to lead a hike at Frick and Hodge Ponds for Lark in the Park. Only one person was signed up and it was sprinkling a little when I got up but Sheba and I arrived at the trail head at about 8:40 AM. We waited until 9:05 AM but no one showed up. I decided that it was raining only a little so that we would hike. I ALWAYS carry a pack with supplies and my camera but this day I decided to put on my rain jacket, an OR Revel made of Pertex, and stuff some essentials in my pockets a leave the pack behind. As I walked away from the car it felt strange not carrying the pack. Once I got accustomed to the lack of pack it was really nice to hike unencumbered. We headed out the Quick Lake Trail to Frick where we scared up some ducks and a heron. I chose to go around the back of Frick. The wooden walkways were slicker than ice with e the recent rain and a covering of algae. At Times Square, we headed up the Big Rock Trail and I began to get really warm in the rain jacket. I stopped and removed my light Patagonia wool leaving just my Underarmour HeatGear under my jacket. The Revel was pitzips and I opened them even more so that they extended from elbow to just and inch above my waist. This helped some. The Big Rock Trail is always longer than I remember and can be challenging if you hike it quickly. When we arrived at the junction with the Flynn Trail, I had almost decided to turn right and go back to the car. It was early and we were both still ready to hike so we turned left and walked down to Hodge Pond. At the pond, we found the beaver dam that had blocked the outlet at the culvert was completely cleared. I guess it might have been the nigh water that washed it away but I though I saw the tracks of some machinery. The water was again flowing from the outlet of the pond in a stream. The wooden structure that had controlled the level of the pond is on pretty poor shape and there is still a small beaver dam right at the outlet of the pond. After only a short stay we walked up the hill to the right of the pond and continued up to the woods road that goes to Shin Creek Road. Here we turned right and were soon back at the Flynn Trail. From there it was just a matter of walking back to the car. We were back just after 11:00 AM covering about 6 miles in 2 hours.

On Monday, October 4th I was scheduled to lead a hike up the Dutcher Step Trail on Slide Mountain. Eight people were signed up for the hike but the weather report was grim so by the time Sunday night rolled around all but three had sent emails saying they would not attend. I decided to go anyway to see what would happen. Sheba and I arrived at the trailhead at 8:15 AM to find one other car that was not part of our group. We walked over to the West Branch to see if we could cross. I found a spot that made crossing easy and, in fact, crossing almost anywhere would have been okay depending on your balance and jumping skills. We went back to the car to wait. About 8:45 AM a forest ranger's truck pulled up and I met Kenneth Gierloff who covers Region 3 - Zone A - District 3-1. He explained that the other ranger Marie Ellenbogen was getting some sleep after being involved in late night search and rescues. He also told me that the rain and cold were not his idea of enjoyable recreational hiking and I tended to agree. When we had first arrived, there was only a heavy mist but by 9:00 AM it was pouring. We chatted some and I learned a lot about the job and the frustrations from this none year veteran. By 9:15 AM no one else had shown up and we parted. I thought about taking a short walk but the rain continued to come down and the temperature was only 39 degrees. Sheba and I left the trailhead and headed home.

On Sunday, October 3rd I wanted to visit as many waterfalls as possible by driving and/or hiking. Cindy seemed interested so we decided to go. We waited around for some time in the morning because there was so much fog photography would be a problem. We did not get stared until after 8:00 AM. As we drove out to the Beaverkill Road and turned to start toward Lew Beach we noticed there was little or no fog and probably hadn't been any for some time. Livingston Manor sits in a valley and no matter how long I live there I forget that it can be overcast or foggy at home and bright and sunny elsewhere. As we passed by Lake Waneta, the fog was scooting across the lake very quickly. I stopped to take a picture but in the few minutes it took to get to the lake shore the effect was almost gone. I took a few shots which were OK. We drove on through Lew Beach and passed Little Pond Campgrounds. We headed out on the Barkaboom Road toward the Pepacton Reservoir. The roads generally were in good shape but it was clear many had been covered in water on Thursday and Friday. Just before the reservoir we stopped at Tompkins Falls, a falls I had just recently discovered and photographed. The last time I photographed the falls there was only enough water in the stream to see that there were falls. On this day, the water was flowing swiftly with a much greater volume. We worked our way down the bank from where we parked the car and tool some shots. We walked downstream along the near bank to get another angle and tale more pictures. The water was just high and fast enough to discourage trying to cross so we walked up the bank and on the road back to the car. From there we hit Route 28 and headed east to Shandaken.

In Shandaken, we turned north on Route 42 which I had heard was closed. Shortly a sign did tell us the road was closed ahead but we continued on to Halcott Falls. This is a very small falls near the parking area for the bushwhack up Sleeping Lion and Halcott. We had passed several other similar falls on Route 42 but it was safest to park here. We parked at about 10:00 AM and took some pictures from the base of the falls. I climbed the path to the top and took a few more photos before going back to the car. We continued north on Route 42 but soon came across a sign indicating the road was closed 2 miles ahead. At this point I turned around and headed back. At Westkill I though about using Beech Ridge Road to bypass the closed bridge but decided to go to Phoenicia on try Route 214 north through the notch and passed Hunter. The weather reports said that Phoenicia had gotten over 8 inches of rain and by the looks of the streets it seemed to be true. There was a lot of mud and just outside of town Route 214 was reduced to one lane as the other lane was in the stream. Once passed this point the road was in good shape. Near the Devil's Tombstone Campgrounds a group of volunteers was cleaning up the roadside of litter. The parking lot at Notch Lake was nearly full. At Route 23 we turned east and headed through Tannersville and Haines Falls on our way to Bastion and Kaaterskill Falls.

We arrived at the parking area for Kaaterskill Falls just before 11:00 AM and it was already full. Fortunately for us someone was leaving as we were arriving and we were able to get a legitimate parking space. We carefully walked down the busy road to the trail leading to both falls. Even before we got to where we could see Bastion Falls we could hear the roaring of the water! When we arrived, the volume of water going over the falls was epic. I took some pictures before continuing up the trail to Kaaterskill Falls. There were quite a few people on the trail but we passed many and were soon at the falls. Again the volume of water and the roar it made were impressive! the amount of spray from the falls and the angle of the sun made taking pictures difficult but we took as many as we could from different angles. We noticed one person trying to climb the edge of the lower falls but he gave up quickly and made it back down safely. After taking pictures, I started up the path to the top just to inspect it. It was more eroded than even and although it looked possible, I was not going to try it on this day. Cindy and I turned around and headed back to the car. Getting out was almost as easy as getting in which was surprising as there seemed to be more cars in the lot! This area gets more dangerous all the time with more and more cars parked illegally along the road and a greater number of people walking on the road to the falls. I suggested we visit the falls from the top but Cindy did not want to so we headed over Clum Hill Road to Platte Clove.

We arrived at the Platte Clove Preserve at noon and walked the trail down to the falls in about 15 minutes. Although there were other cars parked at the Preserve, there was no one at the falls so we had the place to ourselves. We took pictures of the small but pretty falls. I walked out a little on some rocks to get a different angle but the water was deep and looked cold! When we were finished, we bushwhacked up to the cabin and along the back to the stream above the falls. I walked down to the stream and stood on some rocks that jutted out into the stream to take pictures of the upper falls. The drop for these falls is less than 10 feet but they are still pretty. Up and behind the falls is the king post bridge that allows the Long Path to cross the stream. This bridge makes an interesting addition to pictures of the stream.

Back at the car we drove down Platte Clove Road and passed the parking area for Kaaterskill High Peak and arrived at the bridge over Kitchen Creek in the area known as the Devil's Kitchen. This is the area of several recent tragedies but we had no intention of doing more than visiting the area right around the bridge. After finishing, we walked back to the car and headed for Pancho Villa's in Tannersville for some lunch. After lunch, it was back to Phoenicia to pick up Route 28 to Route 28A to the Sundown Road. We wanted to visit Buttermilk Falls near Peekamoose and Angel Falls near Yagerville to complete our "Falls Saga" for the day. Driving toward Peekamoose it was obvious that certain areas had been flooded and the right edge of the road near the stream seemed to be just hanging on in some places.

We arrived at Buttermilk Falls at about 2:30 to find only one other car but no sign of the occupants. We both took pictures of the falls and then hiked closer to the plunge pool and took some more. We started the climb to the top but decided it was too steep for an effort at the end of the day with one more falls to take on. We did walk to the other side of the bridge and approached the falls from a different angle. This produced a more unobstructed view of the falls and some nice shots. We got back in the car an drove down to Sundown turning left toward Yagerville. Just after the turn was another place where a part of a road had become part of a stream. We worked our way or the narrow one lane road and then started up and over the highest part of the road. We stopped at the top since Cindy wanted to take some pictures and then continued down the other side to Shalom Road and Angle Falls.

We parked at the end of the road at about 3:15 PM and started to walk down to the upper falls. There isn't much to see from above the falls so we started down the path that parallels the stream. Sheba and I descended the steep bank to slip and slide our way down to the stream. Cindy chose a slightly longer but much easier path. At the base of the falls I was able to walk out on some slippery rocks that poked pout into the stream. From here I took pictures of the falls and a few downstream before heading back to the bank. Once there we climbed back up to the path and headed along the stream to the lower falls. The lower falls has a double drop while the upper falls is as single drop into a plunge pool. Both are nice in their own way. The lower falls has the stone foundation of several buildings in the vicinity. I took pictures of both parts of the lower falls before deciding to call it a day and return to the car!

On Wednesday, September 26th I wanted to hike somewhere to assess the fall leaf colors. I decided to try out Giant Ledge and Panther so Sheba and I headed off for the trailhead on Route 47, the Frost Valley Road. We parked at around 9:00 AM and were the only car in the lot. We got on the trail right away and I signed the trail register. I noticed that the trail was wetter than it had been all summer with some standing water in places. I also found that even though the temperature was in the 50's the long sleeved wool I was wearing was WAY too warm even though it was very light. In about 18 minutes we were at the turn up toward Giant Ledge and Panther and I changed into a short sleeved shirt. As we headed up the trail things were still pretty wet. I did not stop at the lookout toward Slide as the leaves block the view. There were quite a few yellow leaves littering the trail but most of the leaves were green and still on the trees. We arrived at the first viewpoint on the Ledges and found some very nice color in the valley and on the surrounding mountains. For once there was little or no haze and a bright blue sky with many different cloud formations. I took pictures from this viewpoint and the next. Some were back toward the Burroughs Range and others were toward Panther. I also turned the camera on the far peaks and on the valley below. When I had taken too many shots, Sheba and I headed for Panther. Along the way there were viewpoint I though I might hit on the way back and others I thought I might check out.

Around 10:45 AM we arrived on the summit of Panther where there was little or no view. I was also disappointed that the little "Panther" sign was gone. We walked back to the set of boulders that has become the lookout and we both mounted the rocks. The views from here were equally good as from the Ledges but in a different direction. The colors were nice but perhaps not peak yet. Many photos later, I packed up and we headed down the trail and back to Giant Ledge. There were some very wet spots and Panther and I sunk into the mud more than once coming down. We stopped at two different lookouts and I took a few more pictures since the sun had brightened and illuminated the area even more. As we left the area, Sheba alerted and came back to me but I did not see why. IN a minute a group of at least 12 hikers from southern California arrived. We talked for a while and then parted. The trip down went very quickly. We met only one other hiker on the trail until the little bridge near the trail head. A young photographer with some serious photographic equipment was setting up to take pictures of the little rivulet that goes under the bridge. We spoke for a minute and I suggested several other falls in the area he might visit. We arrived back at the parking lot at 12:$% PM covering the 6.5 mile trip in under 3 hours of actual walking time. I spoke to a hiker who was returning to the area after a 20+ years absence and then drove home.

On Sunday, September 26th Cindy and I wanted to hike together after church. We wanted a short hike but one with some possibilities of seeing leaf color. Giant Ledge was a possibility but we decided it was too far for the day. I suggested we go to Lake Superior State Park to hike in an area where I had walked a lot when I was a kid. We parked on Dr. Duggan Road by a small pond around 11:50 AM and hiked up over a hill and through a field to Indian Field Road. Taking a right on the road we headed toward Indian Field. Just borer their POSTED signs began on the right we turned onto a woods road which is the boundary between the club's private and the Lake Superior State Park. The Rocky Run Road is part of the old Newburgh-Cochecton Turnpike and we hiked it extensively when I was growing up on Dr. Duggan Road. The woods road was very prominent and showed traces of tracks. I remembered many of the twists and turns and the ridges that line the road in places. After about two miles, we came to the end of the woods road where it meets Pucky Huddle Road. We turned right and walked a few hundred feet down the road to Mallory Brook and turned right into the woods to follow Mallory Brook to the upper cove on Lake Superior. The walk was about .6 miles and varied between a woods road, a path and a pure bushwhack. We stopped on the shore of the lake to take some pictures before starting a bushwhack south and east along the shore.

The problem with hiking along the shore of the lake is that there are thick stands of laurel which are hard to push through. We would hike along the shore and then head away from the shore when confronted with the laurel. Several times we walked down to the shore to take pictures. The leaf colors were not spectacular but some were good. The sky was very overcast but began to clear a little as we hiked down the lake offering some blue to add contrast to the pictures. Several spots along the shore looked like small campsites and I suspect people access these areas by boat. The closer we got to the outlet end of the lake the more prominent the path became. At the outlet we continued to follow the small "stream" that connects the lake to the small pond where we had parked. This all brought back a lot of memories since my friends and I crossed and recrossed this area so many years ago. We ran across the large ant hills that I remembered. There were over two dozen of them with the largest being 5 feet in diameter and more than a foot high! As we approached the pond, we chose to take the "low road" and hike near the shore. There is also a path higher up that walks along the ridge above the pond. We stopped to take pictures of the pond and the dam at the outlet end. We were back at the care at 2:10 PM covering the 4.2 mile hike in 2 hours and 20 minutes. After hiking we drove to Bethel and ate lunch a the Dancing Cat Saloon.

On Friday, September 24th I intended to come back from Bearpen, Vly and South Bearpen by driving back around the Pepacton Reservoir. The reservoir was low and there was some evidence of nice leaf colors around the water. When I got to the Barkaboom Road, I changed my plans and turned left. This is shorter way back and I remembered the falls I had seen last time. I stopped at the top of the falls where there is room for a car or two. I grabbed the camera and slid down the bank to the stream. There wasn't much water but there was just enough to call it a falls. I roamed around taking pictures and eventually worked my way down to the area below the falls. There is some extensive old stonework indicating a sluice and a foundation. After taking pictures, I went downstream and climbed the back to walk the road back to the car. The VO map labels the falls as Tompkins Falls. One person in Livingston Manor thinks the falls may have generated electricity for Shavertown which is now under the Pepacton Reservoir.

Our last stop was at Big Pond just before the turn onto the Beaverkill Road. The colors here were as nice as any and it was very quiet. One other car was parked and the occupant was sitting by the pond. I took some shots and then headed home.

On Friday, September 24th I wanted to scout a route up South Bearpen from the DEP land shown on the VO map. When I got to the road I wanted to use it was marked as private. I almost gave up but pulled into a house near the road and knocked on the door. I explained what I wanted to do including parking on the DEP side of the road and hiking the last bit to South Bearpen on private property. I was granted permission and drove up the road. It got very rough for the vehicle I was driving and I believe I parked just short of the DEP land. Sheba and I headed northeast over some pretty steep ground. Woods with ferns alternated with areas of prickers. I was hoping to find some woods roads but nothing appeared. We hit the col between the south and middle bumps and continued northeast to the summit. As always we walked around a little until I found what I claim is the highest spot. I could have taken some pictures of ferns and prickers but I could find no views. We headed back much the same way we had come. The whole distance was less than 3 miles.

On Friday, September 24th the weather showed all the signs of "Indian summer" with temperatures expected to be in the 80's. I decided to get Bearpen and Vly, two peaks I needed for September. I also though the views of the changing fall colors might be good from Bearpen. I expected to have enough time to either hike to South Bearpen from Bearpen or investigate another route to hike at a later time. Sheba and I arrived at the snowplow turnaround at the end of County Route 3 at about 10:00 AM and started to walk up the road to the hunter's shack that marks the col. I was surprised how hot it was already although the humidity seemed low and there was a slight breeze. The colors of the leaves were mostly muted yellows and not very spectacular. The road showed evidence that a vehicle had recent been driven on it and I expected there might even be someone at the cabin. When we arrived, no one was home and we turned right to head up Vly. It was at this point I remembered that I had wanted to approach from the north as several people had suggested. I hope I remember to vary by route next time! The herd path up Vly becomes more well defined each time I hike it and some of the blue paint blazes looked almost new. Perhaps this is because I have been up this route several times now. Sheba and I worked our way up through the first set of rocks and across the first flat area where I normally get lost. It was then on to some more ledges and rocks and a little climbing. I was thinking about a lot of things and was actually surprised when we hit the summit plateau and the canister soon afterwards. Before signing in, we headed for the lookout. Most of the views were still blocked by the leaves but I could see that a dense haze was still hanging around despite the high temperatures and stiff breeze. This didn't really surprise me as I had noticed the haze as I looked over my shoulder while climbing up Vly. Back a the canister we signed in and then headed back down. We were back at the col by 11:30 AM and ready to try Bearpen. Because I knew the haze would make for poor photography, I considered skipping Bearpen But in the end decided it might be my last chance in September.

As Sheba and I walked out the road to start the ascent, a foul odor permeated the air in one spot. I moved quickly passed that point but Sheba took a couple of good whiffs. We moved quickly up the first and then the second ascent on the woods roads. At the top of the second, just before I normally turn into the woods, we ran across the new Snowmobile trail several people have mentioned. I could not remember whether the posts said it headed for the summit or not so I elected to bypass the trail and start a bushwhack in my regular spot. We turned into the woods and I whack my way through some stands of prickers. As we began to climb up the hill, we ran into the snowmobile trail. These people are serious about clearing a trail. The trail is 6 to 8 feet wide and all vegetation has been cut down and cleared. Sheba and I followed this for a while until the clearing effort stopped. After this we followed the orange ribbons until they started to curve the wrong way and then we followed a path headed in the right direction. It turned out this was the route we normally use and soon we were on the road to the summit. This road has developed several deep depression that have turned into small ponds complete with their own population of amphibians! Near the viewpoints I headed into the woods to make sure I found the highest point which is not something I always do. We walked out to the open clearing that marks the top of the old ski slope. There was indeed a lot of haze over the valley. I could still make out the reservoir and the Huntersfield-Ashland Pinnacle-Richmond formation but it wasn't easy. There was some evidence of color in the leaves but most of it was in the low brush and scrub around me. I too pictures and then we moved to the other lookout. The story hear was the same so, after some shots, we headed back. I checked the distance to South Bearpen on` my GPS and decided I didn't want to whack almost 1.5 miles. In addition, much of this would be on private land where I did not have permission to hike. As we neared the col, three large vultures flew up from just over the edge of the road. Upon inspection I saw that the source of the odor was a buck. It had at least 6 point and what appeared to be a gunshot wound on its right side. I decided no closer inspection was needed and we continued on to the col and back to the car. We were back by 1:30 PM covering the 6.6 mile hike in 3.5 hours. The car thermometer read 84 degrees. I decided to drive to scout South Bearpen from some roads near Redkill Ridge. Along the way I stopped several times to take a few leaf pictures.

On Wednesday, September 22nd I had not planned to hike but the weather looked so nice I gave into the temptation and decided to go to Graham Mountain since I needed it for September and had not been there in some time. After my adventure on Monday, I was careful to take on a peak I knew even if it is technically a trailless peak. We arrived at the trail head for Balsam Lake Mountain just before 9:5 AM and were ready to start the hike. In less than 20 minutes we were at the turnoff to hike up to Balsam Lake Mountain but continued straight ahead for Graham. This part of the trail is usually grown over but we had a pleasant surprise. The vegetation was cut back on the sides of the trail and even what grew in the trail had been trimmed. In several places rock cairns had been erected more for artistic enhancement than navigation. We made the turnoff for Graham in 45 minutes and started on the herd path. The path showed that it had been used a lot lately. I didn't see that anything had actually been cut back but the path was much more prominent than ever before. This made the trip much more enjoyable and faster. In a few places where I sometimes lose the path, I had no troubles this day. We were on the top of Graham and at the ruins by 10:50 AM! Graham mountain and the herd path are on private property. Make sure you call to get permission before hiking.

On the way up I had several views of the valleys and hills and I noticed that there was quite a bit of haze hanging around. One reason for the hike was to access the leaves to see how much the color had changed. Once on top I dropped my pack to take some pictures. I headed a little southwest and bushwhacked to what looked like a viewpoint. There was a lookout I had never seen before and another a little further along. These viewpoints offered very nice views with the second displaying almost unobstructed scenes. After taking some shots, we returned to the summit and I grabbed my pack for the trip back. On the way down we stopped at the lookout on the left side of the trail with views to the northeast. The leaves blocked the views here but I noticed a path leading down so I followed it. I found several viewpoints I had not been to before and took some more pictures. After this, it was only a matter of heading down the path to the trail and back to the car. We were back in the parking area by 12:40 PM. The clock said we took 3.5 hours to cover 7.9 miles but my GPS let me know that we used less than 3 hours of "moving time". It did not seem like we were rushing but this is the best time we have ever had for this hike.

Summer 2010

On Monday, September 20th I thought I might try getting in another CHH peaks despite my experience on Packsaddle and Pine Island last week! I decided that since I had limited time I would try South Vly since the distance seemed manageable for the time I had. I knew I should get an early start but it was so cool and overcast in Livingston Manor I delayed a little getting started at about 8:00 AM for the Spruceton Valley. I wanted to park on the Beech Ridge Road and walk through the DEP access toward South Vly. The VO map showed a parking spot that looked ideal. Once on the Beech Ridge Road I drove the entire length and concluded that the parking must be roadside since I saw nothing that resembled a lot. I was not comfortable with the parking or the narrow DEP access so I headed for parking on another side road. This time I found a parking lot and a woods road at the end of the pavement. I wasn't sure the woods road was on public land so I elected to bushwhack from the lot and head for South Vly. Sheba and I left the lot at about 9:30 AM and headed out through largely open woods. In the woods were some of the nicest and highest stone walls I have ever seen. I headed generally northwest and we started to climb up a hill. Since it was a little early in the hike to be act South Vly, I took a look at the map and my compass and concluded we were ascending another bump. I decided that there was no reason to climb more than we had to and that we would circle around this bump toward the north! I don't know what the hike over that bump would have been like but it could not have been harder than hiking around it! After a little sidehilling, we ran into prickers and nettles as bad as I have ever seen! When one would give out the other would take over and some areas had both. I couldn't find any roads although a few areas looked like someone or something and tried to work there way through the mess.

The best I could try to do to alleviate the misery and the bloodletting was to head for the cover of the woods as often as possible. I got a little far north and at one point was headed northeast just to work around the prickers and nettles. I adjusted my direction but continued to make avoiding pain the first priority over direction. Eventually we started at steep ascent toward South Vly and did run into a road at tone point going up the mountain. This too was pricker infested so I got off it as quickly as possible. We crossed another road but it seemed to be headed more north and was pretty dense with vegetation. We crossed the road and ascended some more into woods and then broke out of the woods into...a completely open clearing! From the map I was about .25 miles from the summit. We stopped so that I could take pictures. I gave Sheba a drink before packing up to continue to the summit. We headed into the woods trying to avoid open areas and headed for some minor rock ledges. Once up and over the ledges, we continued on relatively flat ground at the top. We walked around for some time looking for the highest point but the dense underbrush made this difficult. I had already decided that time was growing short if I was going to make it back for XC practice. Also, I had no intention of following our route back to the car. Sheba led us back to the clearing and I took a southwest bearing toward the woods road on the map. It appeared to be on DEC land so off we went.

Immediately, as soon as we started to descend, we ran into vertical rock ledges and cliffs. Sheba and I did our best to pick routes down through the ledges. I knew we should not descend anything we could not ascend again if we had to. Things went pretty well but some areas were damp and slippery while others had loose rock. I tried to stay under the cover of trees to stay away from the nettles and prickers but this was not always possible. The closer we got to where I though the road might be the more open it became and the more of the aforementioned we encountered. We walked down one of the few drainages that had some running water and then hit one that was dry. I kept expecting to find the road but there was none and I did not relish the idea of bushwhacking ALL the way back to the car! When all hope seemed gone, we ran into the road. It started as little more than a trail and then turned into a track. It immediately started a substantial climb out of the hollow we were in. After the height of land it started to descend and follow a major switchback. I decided to stay on the road and at one point got a view of some of the other hills in the Spruceton Valley. The trees around me and those on the hills were already starting to change colors. After the switchback the road continued its descent and became much more rocky making walking difficult. Soon the stone walls reappeared and shortly after POSTED signs appeared on the right and State Forest signs popped up on the left. From what I could tell the road is on state land and would definitely offer easier access than the route I took. Next to the woods road was a deep gully with only a little water but indications that it might harbor quite the stream in a wetter season. Soon we were back at the parking area and ready to return home. It was 1:15 PM and I would have to hurry to get to practice on time. The 4.5 mile bushwhack had taken 3 hours and 45 minutes. On the drive home I stopped to take pictures of the Spruceton Valley and Frost Valley. These pictures show how the leaves are changing in this are of the Catskills.

On Saturday, September 18th I planned to hike around Split rock Reservoir in New Jersey. I had read about this hike on NJHiking.com which has some GREAT material about New Jersey hikes and includes a description, maps and photo gallery. They classified the hike as challenging due to its distance, constant change in elevation and poorly marked trails. I thought I might be up for the challenge. Sheba and I got a late start but I would have begun earlier if I had known that this would be a day of misdirection! I decided to drive down the Quickway to Harriman and then take the Thruway south to I-287. The directions then said take exit 43 and follow Fanny Road to Valley Road, to Rockaway Valley Road and finally Splitrock Road. The first exit on I-287 was 66 so I knew I had some distance to cover. I kept watch the exit numbers go down and they finally reached the 40's. After exit 44, I was ready to get off at the next exit which turned out to be exit 42! There is no exit 43 going south. Exit 42 has no easy off-easy on access so it took me a while to get turned around and headed north. Once I got off at exit 43 I followed Fanny Road until it disappeared and the next road was nowhere to be found. Fortunately, a local person walking by got me straightened out and the rest of the trip went well. Splitrock Road goes from pavement to gravel as it nears the parking area but the lot is large and impossible to miss. We arrived at 11:00 AM and the lot was filling up. Many of the cars had racks for boats of various types with kayaks seeming most popular. We were out on the road just after 11:00 AM heading for the other side of the reservoir outlet to pick up the Four Birds Trail.

We approached the old bridge over the outlet dam and walked to the other side. The bridge has a high fence which made taking pictures difficult but it ended on the other side and the views from here were good. We stopped so that I could take pictures. the sky was overcast but this added some interest to the shots. The reservoir from this end looked large. We walked up the road looking for the beginning of the trail. As we started to climb a hill, I decided we had gone far enough and might have missed the start. We bushwhack through open woods down to the reservoir but did not find a marked trail. I decided it must be up on the ridge and we executed a short but steep ascent up to the ridge where we did find the trail. In general the trail climb up and down over some low hills with the constant change in elevation providing a challenge. The other challenge was the very poor trail marking especially where there were turns. I began to relabel the trail in my mind as the For the Birds Trail! The trail followed the reservoir shore for some time and then headed into the woods only to come back toward the shore. At about 1.75 miles the trail began a more serious ascent of a small hill which did not offer any unobstructed views. At about 3 miles the trail ran parallel to the shore and I walked down to near the waters edge. The views were spectacular and the sky had cleared with some sunlight illuminating the water. I took some pictures and then noticed another spot right on the waters edge. We walked out on some exposed rock to get an unobstructed view of the water and the other shoreline. I took some photographs before returning to my pack and getting back on the trail. Just after this spot there was an opening in the trees and I noticed a fairly new house high on the opposite shore. I took a few pictures and though about the view they must have! A little further on was another beautiful spot on the shore and we again walked own to the water's edge so that I could take more pictures. In this area there were several islands. Looking at one of the pictures later, I could see blue heron with its winds spread full on one island!

At 4.5 miles the trail curved around an arm of the reservoir that almost looked like a beaver pond. This required another stop. A little further along the trail, we walked over the outlet from Dunham Pond. In rainier seasons this would have been tricky but the ground was nearly dry. I was going to bushwhack up to the pond but decided time was an issue. A little further along was another unmarked trail led to the left and I saw a wooden sign that said Winnebago. I just had to investigate! In a few minutes we were on the shores of Dunham Pond looking at an impressive stonework bridge and spillway at the outlet of the pond. I took pictures of the structure and of the small but pretty pond before returning to the main trail. As we walked I could see a set of cliffs on the opposite side of the reservoir through the trees. I suspected these were Indian Cliffs which were billed as the best lookout on the reservoir and I took a few shots. Somewhere around 6 miles we made the turn onto the blue Splitrock Trail and headed across the northern end of the reservoir. The trail passed by Misty Pond which was not marked at all on my GPS map. The pond was large and had nice color contrasts so I...took photographs. By 2:20 PM and 6.7 miles, we had arrived at the climb up to the cliffs. We were shortly standing on Indian Cliffs with a view over most of the reservoir, Misty Pond and the rest of the surrounding countryside. I took lots of photographs including one of a man apparently walking on water! After this, we started down from the cliffs and dropped quite a bit of elevation as we headed toward the Charlottesburg Road. We hit the road at about 7.3 miles and I was surprised to see it was not paved or even gravel covered but just a typical woods road that had a name! We tried to follow the blue Splitrock Trail markings using the map I had from the website, but, as the written description said, it was not easy.

After several mistakes along the way, I decided to stay on the "road" as it passed close to the reservoir and I expected to get a few more good views worthy of some pictures. We stopped several times so that I could take some shots of islands and other features. Soon some houses came into view. At one point the trail marking became clearer and headed over some rocks and up toward a ridge. I decided to stay on the road. We had met no others hikers for the entire day but soon two mountain bikers stopped and we talked for a few minutes. A little further on walked to the water to take some pictures and saw a blue heron on a rock in the middle of the reservoir. As I took some pictures, a few kayaks paddle up and we talked briefly. We made one more stop on a sandy beach and I found a split rock to photograph. The road came to a parking area and changed to a passable gravel road. I was hoping to catch a trail that followed the shoreline back to the car but did not find one. We stuck to the road and had some nice views on the way out to Splitrock Road. One side road did look promising but I did not want to take the chance of crossing private land. Along the road we met two people on horses. At the end of the road we made a right on Splitrock Road and walked a little less than a mile back to the parking lot. The lot was now full as we completed the 11.5 mile hike in 5 hours and 15 minutes of total time arriving back at the car at 4:15 PM. This was a hike well worth the effort. After looking at a number of ways to drive home, I decided to return the way I had come. As it turned out, this was the final mistake of the day. Once on the Thruway the traffic was inching along since everyone was being diverted off at the Harriman exit. A horrific accident that killed six people had closed the Thruway north of Harriman. I arrived home after 9:00 PM and a 5 hour drive!

On Wednesday, September 15th I wanted to take a short hike before XC practice and chose to take Sheba up to Frick Pond and do the Logger's Loop. My intention was to head up the Big Rock Trail after hitting Times Square and then take the Flynn Trail back to the car. I was trying to break in a new pair of Sole insoles without heating them in an oven. They feel GREAT but really cut down the room inside a shoe since they offer so much more thickness and support than any insole that comes with a shoe. We started our hike at 11:00 AM from the Frick Pond lot by hiking out to the pond and turning left to take the Quick Lake Trail up to Iron Wheel Junction. Here we turned right onto the Loggers Loop. By this time my left foot had a slight pain at the heel and I knew a blister was in the works. I chose to continue and were soon at Times Square and headed up the Big Rock Trail. Within a short distance my foot was really hurting and I knew I did not want to ruin my plans for hiking on the weekend. I stopped and removed the Sole insert and tied the shoe loosely. We headed back down the Big Rock Trail and took a left a Times Square to head back to Frick Pond and the trail back to the car. My heel was irritated by the time we got back to the car but I avoided a major blister. I'll have to figure out how to use the insoles or send them back since I don't want to purchase all new shoes a half size bigger. The hike covered 3.7 miles in 1.5 hours. This was not as long as I had planned but allowed me to still consider hiking on the weekend.

On Saturday, September 11th I thought I might try getting back to hiking some of the CHH peaks. I had Packsaddle and Pine Island as my primary objectives but thought about South Vly and Hubbell Hill. A wise hiker once said "I don't consider the CHH hiking season to start until there is at least 6 inches of snow on the ground" (Mudhook). Since I am not wise, Sheba and I headed for Packsaddle and Pine Island during prime pricker and nettle season. I decided that I would hike up along Schoolhouse Brook and hit Packsaddle first and then head over to Pine Island. From the beginning I was thinking about walking down Pine Island to Arbor Road and walking the roads back to the car. I wasn't worried about getting started too early so Sheba and I left the house at about 9:00 AM. As we turned onto the Frost Valley Road from Pole Road a small (200 pound) bear ran across the road in front of us. We arrived at Schoolhouse Brook at about 10:15 AM and I confirmed the location where I wanted to start. I decided that I would ask permission of a local landowner even though the land along the brook appeared to be a state right-of-way. I got permission and parked the car and we were off hiking by 10:30 AM. Sheba and I followed some nice roads part of the way but then struck out on a bushwhack only to regain the road shortly. This happened several times along the way. There were some posted signs on either side of the road so I tried to stay between them until we hit the yellow paint blazes marking the state land boundary. The road seemed to continue toward the col but I always get impatient trying to follow roads so we struck out through the woods to the northwest. We began to climb up the steepest part of Packsaddle on the south side. Sheba is better at choosing route than I am since I always seem to find the drainages which look like nice paths but are full of nettles> There were also a few prickers to spice things up. The ground leveled out some as we gained the summit plateau and wandered around to find the highest ground. As with many CHH peaks, there seemed to be some viewpoints near the edge of the mountain but I was not fooled. Returning in the winter may reveal these to be good places to take photographs of the surrounding hills and valleys.

From Packsaddle I took a bearing east and a little north to aim for the col between the two peaks. As we descended, we hit a very nice woods road that looked as if it had seen recent ATV use. The road wound back and forth down the mountain. Several times I was about to leave the road since it was headed in the wrong direction and each time it switchback to head in the direction I wanted to go. This side of the mountain is rather steep in places and a road has to do this for any vehicle to make the grade. Soon the road hit the col on the north side and turned south and then east and up Pine Island. I was pleased since this was better than walking through the plentiful pickers that lined both sides of the road. I wondered how long this would last! It lasted until we were on the fairly level area near the top of the first "bump" on Pine Island where I noticed some movement up ahead. A cute little bear cub shot up a tree. At the bottom of the tree was the mother who was a lot bigger and not as cute. She made some snuffling noises and raised up on her back legs. At this point I altered our plans of staying on the road as long as possible as we turned away from them and headed off into the prickers. After spending some time moving away from the bears, I tried to head north again and up to the flat part of the mountain to regain the road. We were never able to find the road again and the last part up Pine Island was a miserable "prickerfest"! The prickers were high and dense and there were very few breaks or animal trails through them. We finally entered a more wooded area and hit the highest point on Pine Island. I decided to head down to the col and then to Arbor Road to walk the roads back to the car. I though this would be easier than retracing our route and meeting the bears again! There were some more prickers on the way down but we soon hit more wooded areas with fewer of them.

As we headed down the contour map showed some steep areas and I was not sure if these were simply steep or if they were cliffs. We did hit some steep, rocky areas on the east side of Pine Island but none were too bad. Somewhere on this descent I checked my GPS and then later went to check it again. It was gone from the clip on my pack! I have been having trouble with this clip and was mad at myself for not checking how secure it was. I decided to take a few minutes to backtrack. I told Sheba "back" and she headed back up the hill. I was sure she was not following our exact track and was about to speak to her when I noticed she had stopped and was sniffing the ground. When I got to her, I saw that she had found the GPS! I resolved to make sure she got some extra treats and we headed back down. We came to a woods road junction where one road went left and right and another headed steeply down. We turned right and walked for a few minutes but appeared to be headed back up the hill. We turned around and tried the road down. This road also seemed to be headed a little too much to the south instead of southeast but I decided to stay on it. Soon I could see a house ahead so I took a turn to the east on another woods road and shortly ended up on paved road near the Tumbleweed Ranch. Sheba and I started to walk down the road and I noticed that the scenery was beautiful as was the weather. I got the camera out and started to take pictures of the mountains, the road and some of the houses. Westkill was in front of us and Packsaddle and Pine Island were behind us. Some of the houses on this road were VERY nice and had great views. By 2:30 PM we were on the Spruceton Road with about 1.5 miles back to the car. It was a pleasure to walk along the road. We were back at the car by 3:00 PM having covered the 7.6 miles in 4.5 hours. When I got home I assessed the damage. Fortunately I always where long pants and a long-sleeved shirt on this kind of bushwhack. My legs had a few significant scratches from above the knee to the ankle with many small puncture marks. I hope to remember to take some heavy gloves with me next time to make handling the pricker canes and nettles easier.

On Thursday, September 9th I had planned to try to connect the hikes I had done in the northern and southern parts of the Neversink Unique Area but the weather in the morning looked really lousy. I decided to wait until after cross country practice to make a decision. The weather cleared a little during practice but the skies were still variable with some sun and blue skies in one direction and dark clouds in another. I decided to try the hike anyway since the cool weather would make hiking easier and I have plenty of rain gear. I got my gear and Sheba and headed down the Quickway to Rock hill. by 12:40 PM I parked at the end of Katrina Falls Road and we were on the trail almost immediately. I usually clear my GPS but I left Monday's hike stored so that I could see how close we were to the southern route from that day. We hiked quickly at what felt like about a 3 mph pace since the trail was now familiar and it is wide and easy to follow. By 1:10 PM we had hiked the 1,5 miles to the trail junction where the blue trail continues south and the red trail turns east. As we headed down the blue trail, we met two hikers coming toward us. We talked for a few minutes and they mentioned they had been to High falls. I had forgotten about these falls and, although they were not in my plan, I decided to take the short side trip to visit the, before continuing south. The blue trail had obviously been cleared and blazes placed by the NYNJ Trail Conference. There were some interesting twists and turns as well as some ups and downs as the trail roughly paralleled the river. By 1:54 PM we were at the turnoff to the falls which was marked in yellow and was about 3.4 miles into the hike. We walked the .15 miles down to the falls and out onto the rock shelf. I was able to take pictures from the side and then, by walking around on the rock shelf, from the front or downstream side of the falls. Although the sky was cloudy the pictures looked good. We spent only a brief time down by the river before returning to the trail.

When we were back up on the main trail it became obvious that the blazes stopped at this point and that the Trail Conference had stopped their trail work at this point. A woods road continued from the trail so we followed it as it was rather prominent. After a little more than .25 miles the road split and became a lot less distinct. At first we took the right branch but this immediately disappeared and I decided that I did not want to bushwhack as I was trying to map out a route others could easily follow. We walked back up and took the left branch which became much easier to follow as we walked along. The road wandered through the woods in a relatively flat area at the base of a ridge. In places there were tire tracks from an ATV but in other the road all but disappeared only to become easier to follow just ahead. There were numerous roads and paths that crossed or branched from the road we were on but I knew I wanted to head generally south and a little east. At one point it looked like we would have to climb the ridge but the road simply skirted a small ravine. I consulted my GPS and was pleased to find we were headed directly for the route Cindy and I had walked in the southern part of this area on Monday. I had a feeling we would come out by the ruins of an old hunting camp where we had made our turn. Sure enough, the road led directly to the camp and connected to the southern route. At this point we had already hiked 5.5 miles and it was 2:50 PM. I decided it was time to turn around and head back. I had wanted to find a loop route but that would have to wait until next time. When we turned around, I told Sheba to go back to the car and she took off at a good pace. By 4:05 PM we had covered the 3.5 miles back to the northern route near Denton Falls. The last 1.5 miles took until 4:30 PM when we were back at the car. We covered the total of 10.4 miles in 3 hours and 50 minutes for a moving average of over 3 mph!

On Monday, September 6th Cindy and I decided to explore the southern part of the Neversink Unique Area by starting a hike from Skinner Road near Westerbrookville. We weren't in a hurry to get started and planned to be at the trail head by about 10:30 AM. We left Livingston Manor and took the Quickway to Wurtsboro and turned on the exit for Route 209 South. After 5.3 miles I turned right on Pine Kill Road and went another 1.2 miles before turning left onto David C. Rhodes Road. After going across the bridge and up the hill, I turned Left on Skinner Road. This is where the fun began! The first part of Skinner is well-paved and ascends up the ridge. Eventually, just after passing through a farm, the road turns to dirt. We went straight ahead although we were not sure at that point we were headed in the right direction. After a few hundred feet we met a hunter who told us the road was rough but passable. He was very knowledgeable about the area and was also very interested in mines, as am I. We talk for a while and then I started the drive to the trailhead. The road became rockier with some major ruts and erosion but I kept driving until a yellow gate with a STOP sign signaled the end of the trip. There was a small parking area with a big rock in the middle and I was glad we were the only car around. I would not attempt this trip without a vehicle with a high clearance! We parked and started to hike at about 10:45 PM. We walked straight ahead through the gate and then straight to the register box. I signed in and we continued up the trail which is actually a woods road. We would find that although there was a trail box there were absolutely no trails. I did have a map hand drawn by Brian Cavanaugh as part the Trail Builders project but it was old and did not have many "features". Cindy and I knew we were on our own and free to explore.

We stayed on the woods roads which did seem that they had been traveled at some point. After .5 miles a trail seemed to head north and east but did not look well used so we stayed on the road. Around .72 miles the woods road opened into a clearing and we had a choice of straight ahead to the northwest or a left which head more west. We continued straight ahead and passed through what would have been a swampy area in wetter weather. The road seemed to climb a little but not very noticeably. At about 1.5 miles the trail made a major split and I decided by using my GPS and the map that we should bear right. The path became more of a trail but was still very clear. We did pass several paths and woods road that crossed our trail but we continued stark ahead along the top of the ride to the northwest. I was hoping to hook up with a trail that would lead to the "Lost Trail" and head toward Denton Falls to connected with the northern loop I had done last week. At 2.75 miles the trail ahead became less distinct with the trail to the left seeming more prominent. I think we were at the area on the map where Brian indicated that the trail needed to be "checked". Since we didn't know exactly where the trail ahead lay we decided to turn left and follow that section of the trail.

The trail to the left headed southwest and started to drop off the ridge. As we walked the ruins of an old building came into view with a rather well-defined road running passed it. The GPS marked this as Griffin Road and made it seem more developed than it really was. Cindy and I turned left or south-southeast to head back in the general direction of the car. We were now walking parallel to our route out but at the base of the ridge rather than on to of it. The forest was very nice and the walking for the most part easy. I knew we would have to head northeast at some point to get back to our earlier route to return to the car. This would mean hiking up to the top of the ridge. We passed one possible connector road which headed too much toward the north. As we walked we came across a road up the ridge at about 4.3 miles. It was marked with a sign that read "Peterson's Turnpike", or something like that. I would like to have waited for the next turn but did not know if there was one or if there would be one! We turned and started up the ridge. The road followed switchbacks several times and was eroded, steep and rocky in places. After a gain of 450 feet over .6 miles we were on the ridge and walking parallel to our path from earlier. At 5.2 miles we intersected our original route and followed it back to the car. The 6.6 mile hike took 2 hours and 55 minutes and we were back at the car by 1:40 PM. My next hike in the area will be an attempt to link the upper and lower loops and further map out the area.

On Saturday, September 4th Karl was up from Virginia and wanted to hike at North South Lake since he had never been there. We got a later start than I expected when no one else elected to come with us. We arrived at Schutt Road at about 10:15 AM and were on the trail shortly afterward. We decided to take the Blue Escarpment Trail and stayed to the right when the trails split at the junction around .54 miles into the trip. We continued our descent to the lowest point at the Layman Memorial at about 1.23 miles into the trip. From here we followed the Escarpment Trail along the edge of the escarpment and stopped to take some pictures along the way. We stopped at Sunset Rock and Inspiration Point but also at several other viewpoints along the way that are as good or better than these. I was able to get some nice spots of Kaaterskill High Peak and Roundtop across the way as well as shots up the clove toward west. Twilight Park was easy to spot with houses seemingly hanging on the side of the mountain. At the first lookouts the Hudson River to the east is hidden but the river comes into view the farther along the trail you hike. At about 2.7 miles we had a choice to stay on the Escarpment Trail or head down the path to the Palenville Lookout. We decided to walk straight ahead and go for the Lookout on this cloudy but clear day. This route always is longer than I think and I often doubt I am headed the right way due to the length and the switchbacks. The trail drops until about 3.35 miles where it levels some and you continue to walk to about 3.8 miles where there is a switchback and a steep descent. It is here that I forget that this is longer piece of the trail than I remember. Once at the switchback we scrambled down the steep descent and then proceeded a little over .5 miles to the little descent to the Palenville Lookout.

The view from the lookout was good although the vegetation hides much of Palenville at this time of year. The views of the Hudson were about as clear as they get and the view up the clove was nice. I took pictures of the old foundations and several of Karl and the two dogs in the three "thrones" that people have erected at this spot. I then took many pictures down into Palenville, into the clove and up to the interesting cloud formations. At this point we were pressed for time and quickly headed back to toward the car. The rest of the trail would have to wait for next time. The climb up the steep section was easier than the descent and we were soon back at the trail junction with the Escarpment Trail. Here we decided to take the Escarpment and Schutt Road Trails back to the car and turned right up the Escarpment Trail at 6.2 miles. This is also the Long Path at this point. After a little climb on the newly rerouted trail we were at the trail junction and turned left toward the Schutt Road parking area. We passed by South Mountain and the site of the Kaaterskill Mountain House until we were back at the trail junction after 7.6 miles of hiking. We continued on for .6 miles retracing our route from the beginning of the hike. We were back at the car by 2:05 PM. We covered the 8.2 miles in 3 hours and 45 minutes with plenty of time stopped for pictures.

On Friday, September 3rd I decided to visit the Neversink Gorge and the Neversink Unique Area. This area has been around for a LONG time and has even had trails marked in some fashion by the DEC and local residents. The Sullivan Striders use it for trail running and I got one of the few available maps from their website. The New York New Jersey Trail Conference is working in this area now to upgrade the trails and blaze them all using the familiar red, blue and yellow discs. I knew that the trails offer several combinations to make loops with side trail to visit the Neversink River and the various tributary brooks. I decided to access the area by parking in the lot at the end of Katrina Falls Road in Rock Hill. After 9:00 AM cross country practice, I went home to pick up Sheba and my equipment. We left Livingston Manor on the Quickway and headed for Rock Hill. I got off at the Rock Hill exit and then clocked the mileage to make sure I could find the parking area. This was unnecessary since the parking area is at the end of Katrina Falls Road and a convenient yellow gate with a STOP sign lets you know you can go no farther. I parked the car just before noon, got my bearings and headed passed the gate on an old woods road with blue discs at a few minutes passed noon. The temperature was in the high 70's or low 80's but the high humidity made me start to sweat immediately. The skies were very overcast although there was no rain in the forecast. As we left, another hiker was coming up the road and asked me about the trails. I told him it was my first trip and we wished each other a good day. In the first .5 miles the trail loses 200 feet of elevation as it descends toward the river and a junction with a yellow trail. All the yellow trails lead to the Neversink or one of the tributary brooks. I decided to continue on the main blue trail since I was planning on returning to this junction on my way back to the car. At ,6 miles we crossed a "road" bridge over Wolf Brook. We stopped so that I could take some pictures since there was quite a lot of water flowing over the rocks and under the bridge. Just passed the bridge I began looking for the start of the red trail at Big Maple Junction. I intended to hike the loop in a clockwise direction. Just after the bridge the blue trail turned to the right and I saw no blazes to mark the red trail. I did find a big maple and a path which made me suspect that the junction was at that point but I decided to continue on the blue trail and hike the loop counterclockwise.

The blue trail is a wide open woods road which is relatively easy to walk and rolls only a little as it parallels the river. Views of the Neversink can be seen through the trees and there are many inviting areas to walk down the bank to the river. I decided to stay on the trails and in another .6 miles, about 1.2 miles into the hike a yellow trail appeared on the right and we turned to go down to the river to Denton Falls. The trail here was another woods road and was easy to follow despite the lack of any blazes. Down at the river the "falls' were little more than a small rapids in the river. It was a little disappointing but I took some pictures before we walked the .3 miles back up to the main blue trail. Sheba and I turned right and were soon walking up hill toward Mullet Brook. The trail took a sharp right and then crossed Mullet Brook on a bridge at about 1.9 miles. Just after this there was another yellow trail leading down toward the river and this one seemed to be marked with yellow discs and some old yellow on white blazes. I consulted my map and found THIS was the marked trail to Denton Falls. The previous trail was not marked on the map and led to a "swimmin' hole"! We turned on the blazed trail and started the .25 mile descent to the falls. This trail has been worked on recently and has the yellow discs from the trail conference along most of its length. In some places the discs are missing but the old blazes are present and the trail is easy to follow. It does get a little steep at times especially as it approaches the river. Denton Falls is a pleasant rapids on the river not that much more spectacular than the rapids at the swimming hole. There was quite a bit of water in the river but I could see evidence that there was much more at times. I got the camera out and started to take pictures as I worked my way downstream on the exposed rocks. I was able to get a view of the "front" of the falls from some rocks in the stream. After this, Sheba and I returned to the main blue trail to continue our loop hike. The trail continued uphill and became more narrow. Around 2.5 miles the blue trail continued south but we turned left or east on the red trail. Actually, I don't remember seeing any red blazes but the turn was obvious.

The red trail continued the climb and even got a little steeper as I began to look for the next yellow trail that would lead to the falls on Mullet Brook. We didn't have to wait long since this yellow trail to the left appeared only .1 miles passed the turn and about 2.6 miles into the hike. We turned and walked the .15 miles down to the falls. There was a limited amount of water passing over the falls but they were still pretty. I took a few pictures. It was obvious that there was a splash pool at the bottom when the water was higher. The fact that a larger volume of water is present at times was also indicated by the scattering of large rocks in the stream bed. We walked back up the hill to the main trail and continued the hike. The map indicated a 90 degree left turn ahead followed by another not far beyond that. The trail gained about 200 feet of elevation over the next .5 miles when the trail turned almost due north. There was no junction but just a pronounced change in direction. Just after this we crossed Mullet Brook on a bridge and then came to a junction with a yellow trail. We headed left to stay on the red trail east and then north as the trail descended over the next .9 miles. At this point the red trail met the blue trail at the big maple tree from earlier. We again crossed Wolf Brook but, instead of going directly back to the car, we turned left on the yellow trail to walk the .3 miles down to the river. The Neversink Gorge here almost lives up to its name with some high rocks on the other side. I stopped to take pictures but it wasn't until I was packing to leave that I saw another person on the far bank relaxing near the river. Sheba and I hiked back up to the main trail and to the car. We covered a total of a 5.8 miles in 2.5 hours returning to the car by 2:30 PM. I hope the trail conference finishes blazing the trail and publishes some maps since there are definitely more areas to hike. At some point I will try parking in another area and hiking up the Lost Trail from Eden Brook or coming in from the "road to Nowhere" on the yellow trail.

On Thursday, September 2nd I decided to revisit Frick and Hodge Ponds after early cross country practice. I had thoughts about hiking to Quick Lake but, like always, I put those away for another day. We parked at the Frick lot at 12:00 PM and started our hike out toward Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail. I brought the camera but decided not to take too many pictures since I have many shots of this hike. The day was warm and the sky was clear with just enough puffy clouds to form a nice contrast. The trails were dry despite some rain and we were soon at the bridge across the Frick Pond Outlet. I just couldn't resist stopping to take some pictures before continuing the hike. We headed left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and walked around the numerous blowdowns which apparently have become part of the trail! We moved along at a good pace hitting Junkyard Junction at 3.1 miles in less than 1.5 hours. Here we headed right on the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. At Hodge Pond we turned left to go around the "back" of the pond. I walked down a faint path to the pond and took some pictures before continuing on around the pond. The trail here is more of a jeep road and is kept in very good condition. The surface is almost level and it is actually mowed periodically! For just a simple trail this is a beautiful trail to hike. Down at the outlet end of Hodge we stopped in the field so that I could take some more pictures. Sheba decided to wade into the deepest black mud she could find and then wash it off in the clear water. Back on the Flynn Trail the walk seemed to go quickly up to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. From Here we continued all the way down the Flynn Trail and back to the car. We covered 6.7 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes with at least 20 minutes set aside for photography.

On Tuesday, August 31st the forecast called for hot, humid weather with temperatures in the high 80's. I had planned several hikes and, after finding Cindy had other things to do, I decided to go to southern Harriman to hike Almost Perpendicular, visit Claudius Smith's Den and perhaps find some new mines. I decided to take the Quickway to Route 6 and get on Seven Lakes Drive at the traffic circle. I was looking for a parking area near the end of Seven Lakes to access the trails I wanted. When I got to the Reeves Education center, I knew I had gone too far and turned around to look for the parking area on the west side of the road. I did "find" the parking area but it was on another side road. I could have parked at Reeves and walked up the road and over to the trailhead on the gas pipeline right-of-way but decided to drive to the parking area and park at the trailhead. Further down Seven Lakes Drive Johnsontown Road is a right hand turn and then another right hand turn. It is also posted as Rockland County 97. The "No Outlet" sign gave me an idea I was on the right track. I drove around the traffic circle at the end and pulled off to the side to park at about 10:00 AM. Two other cars were already parked as I got my equipment ready and Sheba and I started out. We walked back toward the road looking for the blue disc trail which was a theme that would be repeated throughout the day. I consulted the map and found that the blue disc trail actually turned up the hill to the northwest just before entering the traffic circle. the first part runs along the access road for maintenance of the gas pipeline. The trail then cuts into the woods and parallels the pipeline briefly before heading more northwest. We found that any area of the trails in this area that are readily accessible are covered in broken glass. Why people have to enjoy themselves by causing hazards for others is beyond me! What is missing in their lives that the sound of breaking glass is so satisfying? After about .85 miles and 20 minutes of hiking a high rock formation appeared on the left. It looked like it might be a good viewpoint and since I was not familiar with the area We went off the trail and up to the lookout. There were limited views but the lookout itself was interesting. The pictures I did take were hazy since the weather was warm and humid. I was not sure if this was the Almost Perpendicular viewpoint but I hoped there was more to come.

Back on the main trail Sheba and I continued to hike and almost immediately the trail hit a very steep little climb. It was steep but hardly perpendicular! The top was about 960 feet in elevation and only a mile from the start of the hike. It offered excellent views particularly to the south and east. I took some pictures but the views in the distance were still hazy. I decided to put this on the list of places to revisit when the weather was clearer and there was some color to the trees. We continued our hike down from the viewpoint into a little "valley" surrounded by several high rock formations. The trail then ascended Pound Mountain and then descended again as it approached Elbow Brush. We heard some voices up ahead at about 1.9 miles and we stopped at Elbow Brush where I took some pictures of a narrow passage between the bedrock and a piece that has pulled away over the years. This area can be avoided in one of several ways but it is interesting and not all that narrow. Just passed this point we met up with four other hikes, a group of men in their 70's, and stopped to chat with them. I am always glad to see that hiking is a form of exercise that can be enjoyed for many years! In this area was a jumble of rocks with some places to walk through. It wasn't exactly a cave but was interesting. I was pretty sure this was not the Claudius Smith Den and the others confirmed this. We said goodbye to the group and continued to hike to the junction with the Tuxedo Mount Ivy Trail. This trail runs roughly east-west and it took me a minute to find the blue disc trail which proceeds straight ahead and directly up the rock face to another viewpoint. We climbed up to the viewpoint at 2.3 miles and stopped so that I could take some shots. Just across on the next hill I could see Smith's Rock but it was hard to determine where the "den" was located. I continued on the blue disc trail but did not see the "cave". At this point I heard the other group approaching and decided to ask the "experts". They told me to go back to the trail junction and take the red Tuxedo Mt Ivy trail west to the base of the cliff where I would find the "den". I thanked them and Sheba and I headed off on the red trail.

It was less than a few hundred feet until an opening appeared on the right of the trail. We were able to walk into this "cave" and make our way to the other side. It was cool and I stopped to take some pictures from both entrances. Back on the trail we walked to the base of the cliff and found the rest of the den in the form of a rock overhang. There was a fire pit and chair set up and I imagined Claudius Smith and his men gathered around the fire. Smith was raised in Brookhaven on Long Island but his family moved to Smith' Clove (Monroe) in the early 1740's. His family was well-respected and when war broke out many became Loyalists. Claudius led a band of men who defended the Loyalists in Orange County and attacked the rebels. Eventually he became so notorious that Governor George Clinton offered a $1200 reward for his capture. Claudius Smith was hanged in Goshen, NY in 1179 as were two of his sons. After inspecting the den and several rocks and rock formations Sheba and I got ready to go back up to the blue disc trail. We passed a large rock that appeared to have primitive petroglyphs painted on it. The scene depicted hunters with weapons attacking some animal with a series of trees in the background. My impressions was that closer inspection would reveal a modern nature to the work. We regained the height of land on the blue disc, passed the other group where they had stopped for lunch and then tried to find the blue disc trail. We walked down a rock face without finding ant blazes and then wandered around bushwhacking near a small swampy area for some time until I decided to go back to the rock face and start over. Near the top I found where the blue disc trail headed off slightly to the right marked by a few faded blazes on the rock. The trail started to descend after crossing over another viewpoint and at about 3.4 miles I started to look for the junction with the Ramapo Dunderberg Trail that I wanted to use as part of the return route. I lost the blue discs again but continued in the general direction and found a trail marked with blue V's. This was the Victory trail and we turned left or west and soon found the trail junction.

The Ramapo Dunderberg Trail headed southwest and stayed relatively flat between hills on the east and a drop off to the west. I was looking for some evidence of the Black Ash mines but did not remember exactly what they were supposed to look like or where they were located. I looked up the mountain and saw some areas that looked interesting but I did not see the telltale tailings piles. At this point both Sheba and I were very hot and I was not sure how long the water supply would last. I decided to stay on the trail and leave exploring for another day. At about 4.0 miles I noticed a tailings pile to the left of the trail and decided to walk up to it. Just behind the pile was one of the openings for the Black Ash mine and we stopped so that I could take pictures of flooded adit and tailings pile. We walked down to the trail and continued south and I found the second adit to the Black Ash mine and took some more photographs. The trail continued to be open and easy to follow but began to descend as it approached the Tuxedo Park and the Thruway. Just after descending to a small parking area, Sheba and I turned left or south-southeast on the white Kakiat Trail that would help us complete our loop back to the blue disc trail and the car. We were both dragging a little from the heat as I considered whether or not to look for the Dater Mine near the trail junction with the blue disc trail. I decided to make this decision when we got closer. The Kakiat Trail followed a woods road and immediately began to ascend to an old telephone line right-of-way. The ascent was only about .3 miles and about 200 feet but I it was hot and very humid. As we neared the junction with the blue disc I could see various paths and roads leading up the mountain toward the direction of what I though might be the Dater Mine. I started to turn up the mountain but decided to leave this for another day when I was more informed and more rested. From here it was only .2 miles to the blue disc trail and .7 miles back to the car. We completed the 7.5 mile hike by 2:30 taking about 4.5 hours for this exploration!

On Saturday, August 28th I wanted to try a new trail that trail conference volunteers had created in Sterling Forest. The Bare Rock Trail which was shown as "proposed" on some maps was now completed and open for business. I was interested in the view to the west over Greenwood Lake and equally interested in the view from the fire tower. The other times I have been at the tower it was closed and I wanted to see the countryside from above. I decided to park on Route 17A just outside of Greenwood Lake and hike in from the north for a change of route. On a previous hike we had gotten to this parking area and then turned around to go back to the car at the other end of the park. We started out after 9:00 AM and I elected to take Route 17A through Florida and Warwick. Passed Warwick it was a left toward Greenwood Lake, up and over Mt. Peter and then up the hill out of Greenwood Lake. I wanted to park at the trailhead for the West Valley Trail since I had never been on it and it would make a nice loop. When we got to the trailhead, there was some construction equipment present so I decided to go a little further and park at the lot for the Sterling Ridge and Sterling Valley Trails. We parked and were on the trail by 10:35 AM. Only one other car was in the lot at the time. We took the yellow Sterling Valley Loop Trail out of the parking area just passed a gate but turned right and up the ridge on the blue Sterling Ridge Trail within a very short distance. This trail climbs for about .25 miles and then travels along the ridge with a few ups and downs. Along the way we met a pair of hikers and their dog. We said "hello" and passed them to continue our hike. At about 2 miles there is a nice viewpoint overlooking Sterling Lake. At about 2.3 miles the orange blazed Bare Rock Trail branches off to the right.

The Bare Rock Trail stays rather level for a short distance and then begins to descend somewhat. Along the way I met a lone hiker coming toward us and the trail. We passed with greetings and continued in our own separate directions. After descending the trail rises toward a ridge that parallels Greenwood Lake. The trail stayed off the ridge and I wondered if it ever would get to the lookout. I need not have worried since the trail designers knew that the Bare Rock Lookout was of great interest to hikers and was the reason the trail was created. At 3.7 miles a side trail clearly marked drops to the viewpoint on the east side of Greenwood Lake. The viewpoint was VERY nice allowing views of the lake and the Bellvale-Bearfort Ridge that I had never seen before. We stopped for some time to get a drink and a snack and for me to take many pictures. It was a good day fort photography with some sun and clouds in the sky for contrast. After staying for some time we walked back up to the main trail to continue the hike. For the next 1.6 miles the trail climbed over a hill and then began a descent to the junction with the green blazed West Valley Trail and the red blazed Fire Tower Trail. This is where I ran into some problems. From the newest map I had I knew the red trail should branch off just after truancies north on the green trail. We walked a little but could not find the red trail. Thinking the map might be a little off we started south, passed the trail junction and continued on the red trail. I decided we were going too far south and turned east, crossed a Jennings Creek and found a white blazed trail which was not on the map. I had intended to bushwhack to the top of the ridge to find the Sterling Ridge Trail but decided to follow the trail since that's where it was headed. Once on the Sterling Ridge and Highlands Trail we ascended an interesting part of the trail to a lookout and then descended before tackling the steep trail up to the tower.

The part of the trail up to the tower is only .4 miles but gains almost 300 feet. We arrived at the tower to find another pair of hikers just coming down. The tower gate was open but the ranger had left some minutes before so the cab was closed. I attached Sheba's leash to a tree and ascended the tower to just under the cab. The views were good on this day with both Green wood Lake and Sterling Lake clearly visible. There was some haze on the distance and I wondered what the countryside would look like in the fall once the leaves had turned. I took pictures in all directions and then started down the tower just as the pair of hikers from earlier in the day arrived with their dog. They headed down the Fire Tower Trail toward the lake as I reached the ground. I gave Sheba a drink and took some pictures of the tower before heading down the same trail. I had thought about investigating the mines, furnace and foundry around the lake but decided to leave that for another day. We descended the Fire Tower Trail until we hit the Fire Tower Connector trail at 7.75 miles where we turned north. In a short distance we were on the blue lake loop trail headed north along the lake shore. We walked 1.2 miles along the shore to the junction with the Sterling Valley Loop Trail. Before going to the left and back up to the car we bore to the right and went down to a nice viewpoint on the lake where we once again met the couple from the morning. We went to a small point of land that sticks out into the lake and I took some pictures. After this it was back to the trail junction. The last 1.6 miles started pretty flat along a wide road and then began to ascend at the end to regain the elevation of the parking lot. We were back at he car at 3:40 PM having covered the 10.8 mile hike in 5 hours. The overall speed was quick since the 5 hour time included many stops along the way.

On Friday, August 27th I wanted to try a long hike with some mountains. I have finished all the 35's for August but that doesn't mean I can't hike them again! I decided to head to Prediger Road to hike the Devil's Path over Indian Head and Twin. I thought I might throw in Sugarloaf and maybe even Plateau. I knew this was an ambitious plan so I would take one mountain at a time. We got a later start than I wanted and arrived at Prediger at 8:30 AM; an hour earlier would have been better. We hiked the first 1.5 miles on the Devil's Path in 45 minutes getting to the trail junction by 9:15 AM. A right turn and a short hike brought us to the turn where the Devil's Path starts up Indian Head. In another hour we had hiked 1.2 miles and gained 1050 feet to the first viewpoint. From here there were good views of the hills below Indian Head. Also visible were Kaaterskill High Peak and Round Top with the Catskill Community at their base. We stopped so that I could take some pictures and then continued on up the mountain. The next .2 miles may well be the steepest on the mountain with several rock scrambles. We again stopped at the next viewpoint so that I could snap some shots before continuing to climb up to the relatively flat summit plateau. The next .75 miles to the summit has a few more climbs and a nice lookout top the east where we made our last stop before the summit of Indian Head. Since the summit has no view, we pushed passed it and down to the Col between Indian Head and Twin. There are some partial views going down Indian Head but none good enough to stop for pictures. We hit the Col at just passed 11:30 AM and a little over 4 miles into the hike.

The climb up Twin is somewhat easy at the start and never gets very steep except for a few isolated areas. By 11:55 AM we were at the east lookout and I took some pictures of Indian Head before climbing up to one of my favorite views in the Catskills. We reached the east peak of Twin by noon and about 4.5 miles into the hike. I always stop at this point for as much time as I ever stop and take pictures even though I have taken them all before. From this open rock shelf there are views over to Indian Head, Overlook Mountain and the Hudson River to the east. Echo Lake is visible below and to the west are the west peak of Twin and Sugarloaf as well as the rest of the Devil's Path. After taking pictures, eating lunch and getting a drink we started out for the west or higher peak of Twin. The hike is about .6 miles with a very minor dip between the two peaks. I took some pictures from the west peak before continuing on the trail. Below the west peak are some interesting rock formations. There are two areas of rock overhangs which people use for shelter. The second area is by far the bigger and the trail passes through a narrow cleft in the rocks where the "cave" is at the base. I took some shots here before starting one of the more difficult descents in the Catskills. In the .6 miles from the west peak of twin to the Col with Sugarloaf the trail drop over 800 feet. There are several Ares where the trail passes over jumbles of larger boulders and one nearly vertical wall of rock. By 1:25 PM we were in the Col and I had to make a decision. Physically I felt fine and knew I could make at least Sugarloaf. Mentally, I just wasn't interested! I decided to hike out to the Roaring Kill trailhead by way of the Pecoy Notch Trail.

As we started to hike down from Pecoy Notch, I regretted a little not going any farther but that feeling passed quickly. On the way down we stopped at the beaver pond which was full and overflowing. Picking a path through the outlet of the pond was tricky but I stayed pretty dry. After a few pictures, we continued the hike to the stone furniture. We stopped here so that I could take some pictures of this area and some shots of Kaaterskill and Round Top. We completed the 1.9 mile walk to the trailhead by 2:30 PM and then started the road walk back to the car at the Prediger road lot. We walked out the Elka Park Road to Dale Lane and then out to Platte Clove Road to Prediger. This part of the walk went fast as we covered 2.8 miles in about an hour. We arrived back a the car by 3:30 PM having covered 10.6 miles in just under 7 hours. As we walked along Dale Lane and Platte Clove Road, I was struck by the views that many of the homes enjoyed. On the north side of Platte Clove Road the houses have a view of the Devil's Path with Kaaterskill High Peak and Round Top in their "backyard". As we were getting ready to leave, two women appeared in the parking lot from the Devil's Path. One was holding her left wrist and I offered to take a look at it. She had fallen on some wet rocks on a relatively flat stretch of the trail. After taking a look, I suggested that she stop by the Kingston General emergency room before returning to New Jersey as her wrist was displaced indicating a fracture or dislocation.

On Thursday, August 26th I wanted to get a hike in between cross country practice in the morning and a meeting at night. It had been raining on and off for several days so I decided to go to Trout Pond to check out Russell Brook Falls. I had done this route in some time partly because we had hiked it so much in past years and because it is short. We arrived at the upper parking area on Morton Hill Road at about noon and started to walk down Russell Brook Road to the lower parking area. We always walk since I like the easy walk down the road which parallels Russell Brook. There was a slight breeze and the temperature was in the 70's with little humidity. The sound of the wind the trees and the occasional bird song was interrupted only by sound of Russell Brook. I could tell there was some water flow in the brook and as we hiked further I could look down to see that it was moderately full. At the parking area we found only one truck and we hiked down and across the bridge and headed over to the falls. I took some pictures of the falls from different angles and played with different camera settings. When we were done at the falls, we headed up the trail/road to Trout Pond. When we arrived I was surprised to find the water level quite low despite the recent rain. I took pictures toward the inlet of the lake. Some very dark clouds hung in the sky making for interesting photography. The clouds looked for all the world like they held rain but none developed. We walked to the other end of the lake and found the inlet stream almost dry and the lake very low. I took some more pictures. The lower lean-to seemed all set up as if someone was in residence but we did not see any people around. Sheba and I continued around the lake and on the trail over Cherry Ridge. The hike was a little longer than I though which was a good thing in this case. The back part of the loop went quickly and was rather dry except for a few low spots. Soon we were at the turn near Mud Pond and we headed left and back toward Russell Brook to complete the loop. Once we closed the loop it was back out to Russell Brook Road and up the hill to the car. The truck was gone and there were no vehicles in the upper lot so the lean-to remains a mystery! We covered about 5.5 miles in around 2 hours arriving back at the car just after 2:00 PM.

On Saturday, August 21st Kurt and I wanted to do a longer, more challenging hike. My feet seemed to be OK after the ordeal of the previous day so I put on my Asolo TPS520 boots and we headed for New Jersey. I had read about a ruined mansion in the Ramapo State Forest that seemed interesting. Along this route was also Matapan Rock, Camp Glen Gray, the Millstones and a paleoIndian rock shelter. Kurt and I wanted to get an early start so we were on the road just after 7:00 AM and headed for the trailhead. I decided to try the main highways this time and took the Quickway to the Thruway and then I287 to exit 57. The trailhead is on Skyline Drive just off the exit on I287. It was a quick trip and we were hiking by 8:35 AM. The parking lot was very rough and only a few other cars were parked. Many trip reports warned that the parking lot fills quickly on weekends so I was glad we had started early. We started out on the blue MacEvoy Trail which gained some elevation as it paralleled what should have been a stream. The bed was dry but from the amount of debris in the bed and the width it was obvious the flow here would be impressive in the right season. The first .6 miles of the trail was rocky with roots and a 200 foot elevation gain. We passed by trail junction with the white Todd Trail and the yellow Hoeferlin Memorial Trail. The trail then came to the shore of Ramapo Lake and joined a paved road and became completely flat. We stopped at the dam on the lake and at another place to take pictures since it was a perfect day. We noticed a sailboat on the lake which seemed unusual for a lake in the middle of a state forest. I checked my NYNJ Trail Conference map and found that there is a private inholding with lake rights in the middle of the state forest. As we walked by we saw the name "Bear Run" and the house and grounds were impressive! At the north end of the lake we came to the junction with the white blazed Castle Point Trail and the white on red C of the Cannonball trail. We turned north and stayed on the Castle point Trail when the two split almost immediately.

Over the next .3 miles the Castle Point Trail rose about 250 feet and several viewpoints off the trail gave excellent views of Ramapo Lake to the south and the Wanaque Reservoir to the west. We stopped so that I could take some pictures and then continued on the trail. There was a rock outcrop near the top of the trail and a stone wall with mortar. As we hopped up over this wall I knew we had found the VanSlyke Mansion! Several sites have the history of this mansion which is roughly contemporary with the Cornish estate near Beacon and the ORAK Mansion in Harriman Park. They are all evidence that there were always those who had more money than others and weren't afraid to spend it. A father and some young boys were at the site and I was impressed with his patience with them and their interesting questions. Kurt and I stooped for quite some time to walk in and around the stone wall. I took a lot of pictures of the various rooms from inside and outside. It is easy to imagine the original view unhindered by the current trees. A long road and driveway leads up to the mansion and is still in good shape. It is obvious that fire played a part in the demise of the estate as the remain woodwork shows signs as does some of the rock. There is a large brick Chimney, a few ceramic tiles and a covered buggy/car port. After walking around for some time, we got back on the main trail and started to look for the water tower which was supposed to be farther along the path. As we walked along the path I found what I though was another foundation. Kurt quickly pointed out the smooth side, pipes and stairs leading down into what was once the swimming pool! There was another viewpoint along the way but we didn't see any tower. Back on the trail we noticed pipes just below the surface with valves at intervals. After a short walk and a slight climb the tower came into view!

The tower seemed to be much more intact than the rest of the buildings and was impressive as we approached and as we drew near. At first I though there was no door but we found the entrance on the east side. Inside there is still some wooden supports and a wooden "ceiling". We speculated about what kind of tank might have been used and how the water got to the house. The tower is higher than the mansion so a partial gravity feed would have been possible. I noticed that there were several long iron "cables" lying on the ground and one that came down from the top of the tower. I believe these are "hoops" that may indicate that the tank was a wooden "barrel" filled by rain water. We took many pictures and then stared down off the ridge to join the coaligned Hoeferlin Memorial and Cannonball Trails as they crossed over Skyline Drive at 2,4 miles and headed north toward Matapan Rock. Like many of the trails in New Jersey, these trail are never very far from a road or at least the noise from a highway. In this case I didn't mind too much since I had Kurt to talk to. At one point the trails descended into an area where there were fences from a utility company. The blazes sort of disappeared but we found them again near the road and we continued the hike. In about a mile from crossing Skyline Drive we were walking through the woods and came across the red blazed Matapan Rock Trail. We turned right or west and walked out to this open rock face. The view was extensive but took in mostly large houses on the opposing hills and in the valleys below. We took some pictures and then headed back on the Matapan Rock Trail. At this point we decided that we would cut out the upper loop of what I had planned since it did not have any special attraction and was just there to add some miles. We continued on the Matapan Rock Trail toward Camp Glen Gray and Lake Vreeland. This is where things became confusing!

When the red trail ended we should have run into an orange trail but instead found a woods road we turned right in the direction of the camp and soon found where the red trail ended. We had missed a small turn near the end. Soon out buildings of the Boy Scout camp began to show up and then we neared the shores of the lake. There were entirely too many people present as the lake is used by the boy scouts but is also open to the public. It is more a pond than a lake and Kurt and I quickly left following the orange trail that would take us east toward the Millstones or so we thought. As we climbed the trail, I checked the GPS and found we were going south and had turned the wrong way. We decided not to retreat but to push on south for a short distance and then turn east on the white Millstone Trail over Millstone Hill. The climb was interesting and passed several glacial erratics on the way to the summit just .7 miles from the lake. As we descended the next .3 miles we came to a trail junction and a sign that said "Millstones". I must admit I was a little disappointed. There were definitely stones that were worked and looked as if they might have been destined to be small millstones. What was not clear was why they were in this area, if any had been completed or where they were to be used. At this point Kurt and I made a ninety degree turn to the south on the Yellow blazed Yellow Trail. This trail moved up and down over some hills and had several switchbacks before taking us near Todd lake, another small pond with lily pads and frogs. When we arrived at the white Todd Trail we turned right or west to follow the Todd Trail to Skyline Drive and the junction with the yellow Hoeferlin Memorial Trail. This would be our way back to the MacEvoy Trail and the parking area but first we wanted to visit the Indian Rock shelter.

From the Millstones it was about a mile to Todd Lake and then another mile to Skyline Drive. There were some rolling hills as we approached Skyline Drive. I made the mistake of crossing the road and wandering around to look for the rock shelters. After consulting the map, I realized that the rock shelters were on the other side of the road, so we recrossed and started out on the trail. I had no idea how far to go and as I was about to suggest to Kurt that we give up a sign painted on the rocks pointed the way. Again, I was a little disappointed at what we found. I believe that some artifacts were found at this location and there is a rock overhand. This must have been a very temporary shelter as it is very exposed. We walked up the hill along the rock outcrop looking for other shelters but did not find any so we followed the yellow trail back to the road. We crossed Skyline Drive and continued to follow the trail until it ended at the blue MacEvoy Trail where we turned left or east and headed for the car. We met many groups of people. Some groups appeared to be hiking while most seemed to be headed to Ramapo Lake. For some the slight elevation change from parking lot to lake level seemed all they could handle! From the shelters it was about a mile south on the Shore Trail and then only a short distance to the car. The total distance was 9.7 miles and we arrived back at the car by 2:00 PM making it a 5 hour and 25 minute hike.

On Friday, August 20th summer school was over and our son, Kurt, was visiting from Florida. We decided to enjoy a hike together at Sam's Point. Kurt was not sure he had ever been there and if he had it was a long time ago. We decided to go to the Ice Caves and then perhaps to Indian Rock and High Point. We knew the falls would be dry and the 8+ mile loop was more than Cindy wanted to tackle. We didn't get an early start but arrived at about 10:30 AM to find only a few cars and a bus in the lot. I went inside to pay the $$0 for a parking pass good for one year which is well worth the price. At around 10:45 AM we started to walk up the left branch of the loop road toward Sam's Point. We met a few members of the group from the bus and some other people already coming down and we said "Good morning!" By 11:00 AM we had covered the short distance to Sam's Point and were enjoying the almost clear view. There were no other people on the Point at this time. After a few pictures, we headed back to the main loop road and walked to the right turn down to the Ice Caves. The turn is about .5 miles and the road down to the start of the Caves is another .4 miles for a total trip from Sam's Point of less than a mile. We did me a few groups coming up from the Caves and several had dogs with them. As we started down the rock steps toward the various clefts in the rock that make up the Ice Caves the cool air rolled over us. At several points along the way, we stopped to take a closer look at the rock formations and to take some pictures. After walking through the first big "canyon", we walked along the trail at the base of the rock cliffs, over some bridges and across some "streams". There actually was some water along the way which is a rare sight for this dry summer. Soon we were at the first wooden ladder which Sheba really hates. Kurt found her a way around and over some rocks and we headed for the old wooden door that marks the beginning of the Ice Caves,

As we passed through the door, the temperature dropped another few degrees and it was pitch dark. The Walkway is lit by lights controlled by motions detectors and if you move very slowly they don't light for some time. We worked our way through the caves but did not see any ice! At the end is another ladder but Sheba found her own way around this one! The open rock face at the end of the caves offers a nice view of the valley below. From it you can see much of the rest of the Shawangunks and Lake Awosting if you look carefully. If Verkeerderkill Falls has any volume of water going over it you can sometimes hear or see the falls. We didn't hear or see anything and decided we would not go down the trail to the falls. I took some pictures before we headed up the trail to the old parking area and then back up to the loop road. We turned right to continue on around Lake Maratanza thinking we might head to Indian Rock and High Point. It was about this time that I noticed the new Salomon Quest boots I was wearing were getting very uncomfortable! The other Salomon boots I have, Wings GTX and B52, both have roomy toe boxes. At first the more compact toe box in these boots felt secure but now it was just irritating my foot! I decided to "rough" it and continue to hike but it was darned annoying. We stopped at the shores of the lake to take pictures and then continued around and turned right to head for Indian Rock. From the Ice Caves road to the lake is about .45 miles and the distance to the turn is another .35 miles. After about .4 miles, we turned left onto the wood plank puncheons that form the path through the bog to Indian Rock. This day the bog was completely dry but the path was well cut out. The walk from the main road out to Indian Rock on the trail is only about .5 miles and downhill most of the way but my feet felt every step. It was clear to me that I would not make it to High Point but would be just glad to get back to the car. Indian Rock is very interesting and I took pictures of the rock and from the open rock face on which it sits. I then got the idea that I would climb up onto the top of the rock which I had never done before. The view from the top was rather "awesome" and worth the climb up and down. We started back to the main trail and turned right to get back to the loop road. I stopped and put a bandage on each of my little toes which, surprisingly, did not help much at all. Back at the loop road we turned right to continue on around and back to the car. It was only 1.15 miles back to the car but I was very glad to get there. It was a nice 6.5 miles and 3 hours and 20 minutes with my wife, son and dog but I had trouble enjoying the last half. I hoped at that point that I could still hike on Saturday since I had something special planned for Kurt and myself in New Jersey!

On Tuesday, August 17th I wanted to hike a challenging route in the Catskills after doing the Burroughs Loop on Friday. Since I have done all the 3500 foot peaks in August, everything was up for grabs. I decided to hike the Blackhead Range as I had not been there for a while. I didn't really hurry to get up and son Sheba and I did not arrive at the trailhead at Batavia Kill until 10:05 AM. As it turned out, I could have arrived earlier and included Acra Point, Burnt Knob or Windham in my plans. When we did arrive there were a few cars already parked and a group of six younger people about to head out. I got my gear ready and Sheba and I got on the trail a little after the first group had left. My plan was to hike up the east (steep) side of Blackhead and then do Black Dome and Thomas Cole before returning to Lockwood Gap and following the Black Dome Trail back to the car. We caught the group at the register but they left a little before we did. We caught them again shortly before they had gone too far and passed several of them before I struck up a conversation. When I asked where they were headed, they said "Windham!" I explained that they could go the way hey were headed but that it was not the shortest way. I showed them on the map and they thanked me and turned back. I was a little disappointed since I thought I might have company for the second time in two hikes. Sheba and I walk up the trail and crossed the two bridges. They were hardly needed as the water was so low but at least there was some water. The recent all night rain had put some water into the small creeks but also made the rocks and roots slippery! Only 15 minutes into the hike we were at the trail junction and we stayed to the left to take the Batavia Kill Trail up to the Escarpment Trail to Blackhead. The walk along the Batavia Kill Trail was peaceful and the recent rain seemed to make everything greener - including the nettles! Parts of the trail were a little overgrown in places but nothing too serious. We stopped at the Batavia Kill lean-to for a moment to take some pictures before resuming the hike. The lean-to is sound but looks like it could use some "sprucing up". By 10:50 AM, just 45 minutes on the trail, we arrived at the end of the Batavia Kill Trail where it intersects the Escarpment Trail. We turned right and I knew the fun was just beginning.

The first part of the Escarpment Trail has some short but steep ascents to really warm up the legs. There is one viewpoint along the way which is more open when the leaves are off the trees. Eventually the trail starts to get much steeper and has some enticing views over your shoulder as you climb but better views are to come. Shortly we arrived at the best lookout and stopped a moment to get a drink and a snack. I took some pictures of the valley below and some of the hills. There was very little haze and the sky was very blue with a number of interesting clouds. After snapping some shots of Sheba, we continued the hike. As the trail approaches the summit it gets very steep with a few rock scrambles and areas where logs have been added to deter erosion and make climbing easier. This part of the trail becomes very "exciting" in the winter when it is covered with snow and ice! We arrived at the trail junction at the summit of Blackhead by 11:38 AM. I decided to investigate the viewpoint marked on the map which was a little further along the Escarpment Trail. We turned left and walked to an open clearing but I did not find much of a view. We continued but the trail started to drop off considerably so we headed back to the summit. At some point I want to hike up the Escarpment Trail from Colgate Lake or even over from North South Lake with a car spot! Back at the summit we stopped to take a few pictures and then walked along the relatively flat summit trail to the lookout on the west side of Blackhead. This viewpoint is a true gem as it gives an impressive view of Black Dome straight ahead. When I get views like this I always think the same thing 'That mountain is too high and too steep for anyone to climb!' I took my pack off as I gave Sheba a drink and ate lunch. I took a lot of pictures including two panoramas with my camera. The camera will take three pictures and stitch them together with only minimal effort and matching on my part. After the break, we headed down the steep and slippery path to Lockwood Gap. There were a lot of loose rocks so I took my time and started to wonder whether or not I really wanted to hike to Thomas Cole. I decided to get up Black Dome first and then make that decision. No one was in the Gap so we hit the junction and continued straight ahead up Black Dome

Again, the first part of the trail is rather gentle but then gets steeper as you get higher. Whoever maintains the trail had done an excellent job in cutting the weeds and brush that can obscure the path. This continued all the way to the summit. Parts of the trail were dry with loose gravel which made getting a good footing important. After edging along a fairly narrow part of the trail and hopping up a rock block, we were at the lookout toward Blackhead. The viewpoint right on the trail is not as good as the one as the one you can walk down to only a few feet up the trail. I walked own to the open rock outcrop and had an unobstructed view of Blackhead and the valley below. Colgate Lake and Lake Capra were both visible as were hints of the Hudson River in the distance. I took many pictures since the contrast of the deep blue sky and clouds with the green below pleased me. I knew there was still some steep sections to go so we got back on the trail and pushed to the top. The trail flattened near the summit and we arrived at the lookout to the north at 12:52 PM. Here there are many carvings on the rocks with one dated 1889. We stopped so that I could take some pictures but the sky did not appear as blue as before from here. Thomas Cole is only .8 miles from Black Dome which is a shorter hike than from Blackhead to Black Dome so I decided to head over to that summit. There is little to photograph on the way over or back. It was quiet and pretty with a few interesting spots to climb. There are limited views and all the way through the Col it is obvious that you are on a narrow ridge between the mountains. Close to the summit of Cole is an unmarked trail that leads north and own the mountain. I remember walking down it at one point but do not remember whether it ended or I just gave up! We headed back to Black Dome and passed the lookout only 50 minutes from when we had been there before. Then it was on to Lockwood Gap. We turned left on the Black Dome Trail and started down the mountain. The first part of the trail down was overgrown and is getting very narrow in spots as it hugs the side of the mountain and is eroding. Below this the trail turns into a long descent of ankle turning rocks. Finally the trail widens and levels out some and becomes a nice woods walk. Soon we were back tat he trail junction and headed toward the car. We were back by 3:05 PM having covered the 8 miles in almost exactly 5 hours total time and 4 hours moving time.

On Friday, August 13th I wanted to hike a challenging route nearer to home than I had over the last few weeks. I wanted to compare the difficulty of the Stone town Circular in New Jersey or the Mount Greylock loop in Massachusetts to a hike over some Catskill peaks. I decided to try the Burroughs loop from the Slide Mountain parking lot on Route 47 to Woodland Valley and over the three peals back to Route 47. This was slightly different than I had done before when I had always parked at the Panther Mountain lot. I decided to use the shortcut just passed Winnisook Lake as I could not see any reason to bypass it to hike down the road to the Panther lot. I figured it would cut a little distance and some vertical gain but I was OK with that. The forecast for the day was for overcast weather with temperatures in the 70's. Sheba and I arrived at the Slide Mountain parking area at (;30 AM and were walking out onto the road at 9:37 AM. I had checked the west branch of the Neversink River and it was still absolutely dry at the crossing. The ground was wet from some brief showers the night before so I expected some slippery rocks and roots along the way. I was determined to take pictures at frequent intervals to try out the PhotoMapper program I had been playing with. This program matches the time on pictures with the time on your GPS route and geotags the pictures. It will then export a KMZ file which can be used in Google Earth. As we walked along the road I noticed a marker that I had not seen before that had Winnisook Club chiseled into it. I wanted to inspect the marker at closer range and stepped onto the side of the road. The paved ditch was damp and covered with small pebbles and I quickly found myself sitting in the ditch with bloodied knuckles. Sheba was very attentive in licking my face and then my hand and I congratulated myself for such an auspicious beginning to the hike. In less than a mile we were at Winnisook Lake and I took some pictures before walking to the end of the lake and starting to hike out on the shortcut trail which is an easement on club land.

The walk on the easement trail was almost flat but I surprised at the great shape the trail was in. The first hundred feet or so had some long grass but after that it was clear and open with only a few muddy places. Toward the end some bushes closed in a little but otherwise it was well maintained. I suspect the residents of the club have been using it and keeping it trimmed back. The walk to the trail junction with the Giant ledge - Panther Mountain Trail was about 1.5 miles. At the trail junction we stopped so that I could document the hike by taking some pictures. After only a brief pause, we were off again on the trail toward Woodland valley. As the miles began to add up, I realized that the hike was longer than I remembered and that I could have referred to my own summaries had thought about it! As we hiked I noted that this trail too was in better shape than I remembered. We crossed a damp place that usually has running water. The moss here was pretty but the dampness only allowed for some nettles to grow and there was no running water. We continued to descend as I was reminded that it is called Woodland Valley. The trail had been rerouted in at least one placed making it slightly longer but it was much better marked and easier to follow. At 4.3 miles we hit the lowest elevation up to that point and crossed another dry stream bed. On the other side was the long staircase of stone steps that ascends a hill just before the drop to Woodland Valley. We climbed the stairs and started the long but gentle descent to the campgrounds. Along the way I took some pictures of a bright orange fungus on a rotting log. Nearer the campgrounds we met a group of three headed in the opposite direction. They said that they were headed for Giant Ledges and perhaps Panther and I wished them good luck. After about .9 miles and a descent of over 500 feet we were at the Woodland valley campgrounds and ready to start the ascent up Wittenberg. At 5.45 miles we stopped at the new bridge across the creek and I took a few pictures.

As we were about to leave the bridge and start the hike up the mountain, another hiker, Matt from Brooklyn, appeared and we started to walk up toward the register box together. I immediately like Matt and was hoping we could stay together for at least part of the hike. His plan was to go to Slide and then retrace his route back to the campgrounds were he was staying with his family. Although this would be less miles than I was hiking it would be equally challenging since it would include walking back over Cornell and Hunter. We signed in at the register box at about 12:15 PM and started the long climb up Wittenberg. In our conversation I found out that Matt had done the Appalachian and Colorado Trails and really liked long distance hiking. He also had climbed Kilimanjaro, one of my personal goals. He was obviously more accomplished than I but had never climbed these Catskill peaks. We seemed pretty evenly matched in ability and I was anxious to go at least as far as Slide together. Hiking with someone who has not seen the views from these peaks is exciting as it always rekindles in me an appreciation for their beauty. This route up Wittenberg is about 3.55 miles and has a vertical gain of over 2300 feet! I didn't take as many pictures along the way as I had planned but I was enjoying the conversation with my hiking partner immensely. For some reason, the hike up Wittenberg is one that I always think is shorter and I tend to forget the many and varied rock scrambles along the way that make it interesting. It didn't seem too long before we were passing the 3500 foot sign and then walking the final rocky approach to the summit. We had met only one group of young men descending as we were hiking up. We arrived at the summit and broke out onto the open rock outcrop at 2:25 PM. Matt was impressed by the view. There were three young men on the summit who were doing a car shuttle over the three peaks. They were very affable and we talked for some time. One was in the Catskills to hike Slide and Hunter, the two 4000 foot peaks, to add to his NE 115 list. We stayed on the summit for about 15 minutes for pictures and a snack before heading for Cornell at about 2:40 PM.

The trip to Cornell is short but very interesting as there several interesting scrambles. After climbing several scrambles, it was time to attempt the "Cornell crack". It had been over a year since I had done this and I was wondering how it would go for Sheba and I now that we were a little older. I need not have worried. Sheba made it up three-quarters of the way by herself and could have gone the distance but I gave her a little boost. I put my poles on the ledge above me and Matt handed me my pack which followed the poles. I jammed my foot in the crack and easily lifted myself to the top. Matt followed me without much trouble. The view from the outcrop back to Wittenberg was better than I remembered and required me to pull out the camera once again. Back on the trail we headed over the top of Cornell with the obligatory stop at the clearing most consider the summit. Again, the view was worth a picture or two before we headed down the other side of Cornell toward Slide. The distance between Wittenberg and Cornell is only about .75 miles but the trip is interesting. We stopped on the way down Cornell to take some pictures of Slide. On this day the view was clear and quite stunning and the pictures were perfect. We continued on the main trail by descending several rock hops on the west side of Cornell and then continuing on a fairly damp trail past large rock outcrops and to the Col between Cornell and Slide. After another 1.3 miles from Cornell and 11.1 miles into my hike we were at the Col and ready to start the climb up Slide. This part of the hike starts out gently an increases in difficulty as you reach the slope of Slide. There is one steep ascent that require pulling yourself up using tree branches and rock handholds. Another is a nearly vertical wall of rock which leads you up to a narrow ledge to walk along and then scramble to the top. It amazes me that when I look for Sheba she is usually above me looking down - all this without opposable thumbs!

At the top of these scrambles we continued passed a large outcrops with a deep cleft and then walked the steep slope up to the spring. This is the first time I can remember the spring being completely dry! There was only a small amount of dampness but no running water. Next we climbed the ladders and stopped near the top to take pictures back to Cornell. The sky had actually cleared some and the sun was out as we worked our way up through the rock scrambles toward the summit of Slide. We were on the top at about 5:05 PM and paused briefly to take in the experience and snap a few pictures. Sheba posed politely as both Matt and I took pictures. At some point along the way I had suggested to Matt that he continue on down Slide with me and I would give him a ride back to the campsites. He had agreed and we started down Slide toward my car. We stopped at the lookout below the summit of Slide which gave us a nice view of Giant ledges and Panther. This was a brief stop as I really needed to get home. I had underestimated the time for the hike and Cindy would be expecting me far earlier than I would arrive. The trip down Slide is always "brutal" since there are few views and just a lot of "rolly rocks" to hike over. Having someone to talk to helped and we soon made the right onto the Phoenicia-West Branch Trail with about .7 miles to got to the car. As we walked I noted that the spring on this trail was dry and there were only a few areas of standing surface water. We walked out to the parking area cross the bone dry West Branch and hit the car at 6:46 PM! I had hiked 14.6 miles and 4860 feet on elevation gain in just over 9 hours. This is slower than normal but my GPS actually said I had only 7 hours and 20 minutes of moving time with almost 2 hours of stopping which gave me my usual average of about 2.0 mph. I drove Matt back to Woodland Valley and arrived home at about 8:30 PM. Thanks Matt!

On Sunday, August 8th I wanted to hike somewhere with Cindy and had thought about something in the DWG including places like Walpack Ridge and Tillman's Ravine. We got out of church a little later than anticipated so we decided to only go as far as Port Jervis and hike the Lenape Ridge Trail and maybe the SRT to the Graham Fire Tower. We were in Port Jervis before 1:00 PM and started up Route 6 looking for the parking area and the trailhead. Once we reached the power lines on Route 6, we knew we had gone too far and we turned around and looked for the trail on the way back down the mountain. We didn't see anything and decided to look for the other trailhead on Minisink Avenue. No luck there either. I began to wonder who in the trail conference had marked this trail and why they wanted to keep it a secret. Back up the mountain we went! I parked at a pulloff that would barely hold to cars near the Town of Deerpark sign. When I walked across the road, I finally spotted the three red squares marking the beginning of the trail. No one could ever see this from the road and I would suggest to the Trail Conference that they should find a better way to mark this trailhead or remove it from their maps! We were out of the car and on the trail by 1:15 PM. Just after getting on the trail and through some open woods we entered a small, sunny clearing. I immediately noticed a snake across the trail. It was all black and about 2 to 3 feet long. As I approached it began to "rattle" and then quickly moved off into the taller grass and was gone! I thought it might be another snake mincing rattlesnake behavior but now am convinced it was a immature black form of the eastern timber rattlesnake. We continued our hike on the wide open woods road that descended and crossed some dry streambeds. The trail turned several different ways but the red markers were easy to follow. At .4 mile we made a hard left onto another woods road and continued to follow the trail markers until .7 miles at a trail junction. Here a set of white markers continued straight ahead but were not on the map. Red and white markers turned left into the forest and we followed them. At 1.15 miles we crossed a power line right of way and I remarked about the interesting rock formation farther up the power line.

At about 1.55 miles, we had ascended a short hill and were on a nice lookout across the valley. The views were beautiful and below us was a rock cut for the Conrail tracks. After taking some pictures here and at another, higher lookout we got back on the trail and started to walk up along a rocky spine. At 1.65 miles we were at the "interesting rock formation" we had seen from further down the right of way. By 1.7 miles there was trail junction with the red trail going down and to the right and the white trail continuing ahead. We decided to make a loop by heading out on the red and back on the white trails. As we ascended a hill between 1.8 and 2.2 miles, we entered an area that had been burned over by fire. It appeared that it had been intense as all the underbrush was gone and there were thick ashes everywhere. The tracks of the machinery used to create a firebreak were clear to see so I assumed that the fire was relatively recent as the tracks would have washed away if it had occurred last year. There were views along this escarpment to the north and west and the sky was clear. I took quite a few pictures before we moved on down the trail. Just before starting down on the trail a newly flagged route appeared on the right. It looked as if it was a new trail being constructed but the top part ran down across and almost vertical slab! The next part of the trail had crosses marked on the red trail markers and it was obvious somebody was working on the trail as the surface had been dug up. We descended on a smooth carpet of pine needles passed a large bedrock outcrop on the left. The day was beginning to get hot and the breeze we had enjoyed seemed to die out. The trail continued to roll up and own and sidehilled some areas until at 3.55 miles we hit the end of the red trail at the junction with the white trail. We turned left here to begin our trip back.

From the trail junction the first thing the trail did was to climb back up to the ridge. There didn't seem to be many views but there did seem to be evidence of much ATV activity. At 4.2 miles we were at the highest point on the ridge and viewpoints to the south and east came into view. Most of these were featureless but Memorial Tower at High point was clear as were I84 and Port Jervis. We began a slight descent off the ridge and then walked back up for some even better views including down the cliff to the pond below. From there we walked downhill for about .5 miles until we were back at the trail junction and just had to follow our previous route back to the car. On the way out I had not noticed that we were walking downhill quite a bit. I certainly noticed the uphill nature of the trail on the way back. From the junction it was about 1.7 miles back and a 250 foot gain. We were back at the car by 5:10 PM covering 7.2 miles in just under 4 hours.

On Friday, August 6th we were finished with the Taconic Crest Trail from Petersburg Pass by 2:00 PM. I decided that 6 hours of driving required a little more hiking so I headed for the Mount Greylock Reservation to hike Jones Nose and Saddleball Mountain. I though that if time allowed we might finally get to the March cataract and maybe even Stony Ledge. From Williamstown I headed south on Route 7 looking for signs for the Visitors Center and North Main Street. I had the feeling we had gone too far but then noticed North Main Street in a town called Lanesboro. As I made the left I noticed the sign for the Visitor's Center which as only noticeable going north on Route 7! From here I made a right and then made a mistake. Instead on bearing left on Rockwell Road and going toward the Visitor's Center, I stayed on Quarry Road. Do NOT do this as the road is in VERY poor shape. We finally made it back and turned on Rockwell road. We passed the Visitor's Center and as we drove some distance I began to wonder how I would recognize the parking area. Soon we passed a lot clearly marked for Round's Rock and just a little ways up the road was another well-marked lot for Jones Nose. We arrived to find a few other cars in the lot and some other people ready to hike. Sheba and I got on the trail just before 3:00 PM, passed a few slower hikers and were off. As we climbed through a field with pink and purple and yellow flowers, I turned to look over my shoulder and found a stunning view down the mountain into the valley and over the hills beyond. I didn't know if there would be better views so I stopped to take some pictures. The temperature was still in the mid-70's and a brisk breeze was blowing. Despite this there was still some haze and the far mountains were hard to photograph. After I took these pictures, we were back on the trail and entering some brush and then trees which obscured the view. As we continued on the trail, I was glad that I had stopped to take pictures in the field since I could not find other viewpoints. In a little less than .5 miles the trail became less steep and at .6 we had a choice of bearing left on the CCC dynamite Trail or right and ascending to the AT. We bore right and started another steep climb to the AT which runs across Saddleball Mountain. At about .8 miles a spur trail labeled "view of the Catskills" turned to the left. We walked out to a rock outcrop and I took some pictures before returning to the main trail. Just passed 1 mile the Jones Nose Trail ended and we turned left on the AT.

There is something distinctive about the AT, at least everywhere I have hiked it on the northeast. Most times the AT runs high along a ridge, when available, usually undulates over a certain kind of rock and runs through pine forests. The AT ran across the Saddleball Mountain Ridge although not always on top. As we hiked the long ridge, I was thinking about what time we should be back at the car and whether or not we should do the Cataract or not. After about 1.6 miles, we were back at Rockwell Road and I decided to walk down the road and take the Hopper Trail to the Sperry Road Campgrounds. The walk down the road went quickly but I began to consider the time and the fact that I did not want to feel pressed at the Cataract or Stony Ledge. I decided to walk the .7 miles down to Sperry Road and pick up the CCC Dynamite Trail back to Jones Nose and then use that trail to retrace our path to the car. As we walked quickly down Rockwell Road we found a nice viewpoint to the west and stopped so that I could take some pictures. We were soon at Sperry Road and turned left to pick up the CCC Trail. This trail stretched about 1.35 miles from Rockwell Road to Jones Nose and was slightly uphill all the way. This trail was the wettest we had been on lately as evidenced by the functional puncheons and plentiful nettles. Once on the Jones Nose Trail we turned right and walked back to the car. In the open field the wind had picked up to gust that would blow me first left and then right. We were back at the car by 5:45 PM having covered the 6 miles hike in 2 hours 45 minutes. The March Cataract would have to wait for the FOURTH time I visit Greylock!

On Friday, August 6th I planned to go to hike Berlin Mountain, the highest point in New York outside the Catskills and Adirondacks. I read some trip reports about parking a the base of the mountain and hiking up but they seemed a little confusing. I also read about the Snow Hole north of Berlin Mountain. I decided to park at Petersburg Pass on Route 2 and hike south on the Taconic Crest Trail to Berlin Mountain, return the same way, hike to the Snow Hole on the Taconic Crest Trail and then, finally, return to the car. Sheba and I were in the car and on the road by 5:45 AM and arrived at the pass at about 8:50 AM. The parking area is very large but only one other car was in the lot. I signed in on the trail register and we immediately headed out on the trail. The first part of the trail was pretty overgrown with weeds and I hoped this would not continue. Shortly the narrow trail gave way to a wider trail and woods road and started a short but steep ascent part way up Raimer Mountain. The ground was only a little damp but the rocks were some of the "greasiest" I had come across. Once on the crest the trail flattened a little before rising to around 2450 feet. The trail then descended toward Berlin Pass. Just before the descent, views of Berlin Mountain could be seen through the trees. We dropped more than 200 feet to 2230 feet at Berlin Pass before starting up Berlin Mountain. It had taken just a little more than 30 minutes for us to get to the pass. About every 20 feet there were signs prohibiting ATV and about every 20 feet there were signs of ATV tracks and mud bogs created by their use. We arrived at the flat, open top of Berlin Mountain by 10:05 AM which was just a little over 1 hour of hiking time. I had anticipated good views and the were nice. The problem was that most of the views were distant and a haze still hung on the hills. The skies were cloudy and some of the clouds were dark and threatening but no rain was forecast for the day. There was a constant breeze at about 10 mph but some gusts were well over 20 mph. To the west it was easy to spot Mount Greylock with its two towers. It was nice to get a profile of Mount Williams and Mount Fitch to the north of Greylock to see what I had hiked several weeks before. Views in the other directions were at least partly blocked by the trees. After taking some pictures and getting a drink and snack, it was time to head back. I had contemplated using a different trail to return but had left my map in the car. There are a myriad of trails so I decided to take the same route back. The return trip went even quicker since there were fewer pictures to take and we knew exactly where we were going. We were back at the car by 11;20 AM and crossed the road to hike north to the Snow Hole.

The first few hundred feet of the hike north were very steep with some steps to make the climb easier. Near the top of the climb there was a trail register and a sign explaining that the area was part of the 2500 acre Hopkins Forest which is owned and maintained by Williams College. There were even extra trail maps in the bin by the sign! As we started up the trail another spur trail led off to the left and I though it might offer some views. We walked down the trail which opened up onto what looked like an old ski slope. There were great views back to Raimer Mountain and To the east and south. These were some of the nicest views so far on the hike. After taking pictures, we returned to the Taconic Crest Trail to continue on our way. This part of the trail was all trail and was very well maintained. At about .6 miles from the Pass, the Shepard's Well Trail came in from the right. The trail continued to rise although gently in most cases. We came across one area where trail maintenance was taking place with new water bars being created. The construction was new and, in fact, the tools had been left on the trail! In another .6 miles the Birch Brook Trail joined from the right. After this the trail ascended and there were some excellent views to the west. Again these views were better than anything we had seen to the south. Another .5 miles saw us briefly cross into Vermont and then back into New York. At 2.5 miles from the Pass we started to descend on the trail. In another .25 miles a red spur trail turned off to the right. We took this trail which leads to the Snow Hole after a short descent. The Snow Hole is supposed to have snow and ice in it until mid-July. Since it was now early August and the weather had been very warm, I wasn't outing on any snow! When we arrived a family group of four was already checking out the deep cleft in the rocks. They were the first people we had seen all day. They told me there was no snow but that it was cool. After they exited, Sheba and I walked down and they were right. It was cool and damp and dark. Taking pictures was difficult but I tried. After spending some time there, we headed back the way we had come. On the way back we met three or four small group of people. One pair were the trail maintainers who were students and Williams College and members of the Williams Outing Club. We arrived back at the Pass at 2:00 PM having covered 11.5 miles in 5 hours including the time for picture taking. I decided that six hours of driving deserved more than 5 hours of hiking so we headed for the Mount Greylock Reservation to hike Jones Nose and Saddleball Mountain.

On Sunday, August 1st I planned to go to Salisbury, Connecticut to hike the AT over the Lion's Head and Bear Mt. Bear Mt. Is the highest peak in the state but the highest point is further north and west on the shoulder of Mount Fri sell which is mostly in Massachusetts. I had hesitated to do the hike with Sheba as there were varying reports of rattlesnake sightings in the area. In the end I decided that the sightings were few and far between and Sheba obeys particularly well on the trail. We left Livingston Manor early in the morning and arrived in Salisbury just before 8:00 AM. I drove north on Route 41 trying to find the AT parking area. I passed it THREE times before noticing it as I headed south! The entrance is VERY narrow, without any real signage and is easy to miss. The parking area will accommodate 8 to 10 cars and a half dozen were already parked. After parking, I noticed that I had pulled into a spot that had a large amount of broken window glass. I parked the car again and hoped I would have four inflated tires when getting back to the car. The trailhead had a large signboard and a privy maintained by the AMC. We were hiking by 8:10 AM in weather that was a little cooler, about 72 degrees, but just as humid as it had been. The first part of the trail to the Lion's Head is wide and pretty smooth and the elevation gain is minimal. Several turns make the climb even easier. The woods were still dry but at about 1.4 miles we crossed a running stream with cool, clear water. Sheba got a good drink before we went on. At just over 2.0 miles the Lion's Head Trail joined from the left coming in from Bunker Hill Road. I had considered this option but wanted to hike the AT and also wanted the extra mileage and elevation. From this junction the trail became rockier and harder to walk. It also became much steeper as it ascended the Lion's Head with the very last part being an open rock outcrop. After another .25 miles, at about 2.3 miles into the hike, we arrived at the viewpoint known as the Lion's Head. The views from here were expansive but the day was a little hazy. As I took some pictures a couple arrived from the Bald Peak Trail, another easier way to get to the Lion's Head.

We left the Lion's head and continued on the AT north toward Bear Mt. At 2.64 miles the Bald peak trail joined the AT from the left. I had thought the AT in this area would be more exposed but instead it ran under a leafy canopy most of the way. This was nice since it decreased the temperatures but was a disadvantage since there were no views! Along the way to Bear Mt. There were several places to camp and a few water sources. The Riga Lean-to came up at 3.0 miles into the hike, followed by the Ball Brook campsite at 3.5 miles and the Brassie Brook Lean-to at 4.25 miles. In another .6 miles we came to the Riga Junction where the Undermountain Trail comes in from Route 41. This was another route some guide books had suggested. We continued on the AT to the junction with Bear Mt. Road at 5.0 miles. From here the trail became much rockier and steeper. The AT wound up and over many rocky outcrops offering some limited viewpoints. We met a group returning from the top of the mountain and then we were finally there. We had hiked 5.55 miles and were at an elevation of 2330 feet. At the top of the mountain is a stone pyramid more than large enough to accommodate 20 people. We arrived ahead of another small group and I was able to take some pictures before it was "occupied". We walked to the top of the pyramid and I took some picture. The views to the north and east are wide open but the views west and south are limited. I regretted not stopping on the way to the top to take some pictures but I recalled that these views were not spectacular. As more people arrived Sheba and I took our leave. I had to decided whether to return along the AT or to make a loop using the Paradise Lane Trail and the Undermountain Trail back to the AT. I decided on the loop so we headed down the north side of Bear Mt. on the AT.

The AT down Bear Mt. To the north was very steep. Most northern sides of mountain sin this area are steeper than their southern counterparts due to the way glaciation eroded the rock. On the way down I met a couple and their dog and talked to them briefly about the trail ahead. They had just come from Sage's Ravine and I briefly thought about going there. At a little more than 6.0 miles we crossed the border into Massachusetts and then arrived at the trail junction. Straight ahead the AT leads to Sage's and I was drawn to go there. I decided that I did not know exactly how far the return trip would be or how difficult and that I would leave the Ravine for another day. We turned right on the Paradise Lane Trail which immediately began to gain some elevation. At 6.5 miles we passed the Paradise Lane Group Campsite. From here the trail was flat or slightly downhill for the next 1.15 miles until we reached the junction with the Undermountain Trail at 7.6 miles. The Paradise Lane trail was fine but it was a lot like the AT above it; pleasant but without any views or other interesting features. We turned right on the Undermountain Trail and started toward the AT at the Riga Junction. At 7.9 miles we passed a bog that was almost completely dried up. At 8.6 miles we were back on the AT. At the junction we again met up with the couple and there dog that we had met on Bear Mt. We turned left on the AT to head back to the Lion's Head and eventually the car.

A long 2.4 mile stretch of the AT put us back at the Lion's Head. At this time a large family group of about a dozen people had spread themselves out over the entire viewpoint. They did not seem to be inclined to give me even and inch and I felt off intruding but I did! The views were not much different than earlier except for being a little brighter. The haze still hung over the mountains making distance shots difficult. I picked my way over and around the members of the group who seemed oblivious to my presence. Normally I would tell Sheba to stay put or leash her but I decided to let her forage among the members of the group. As I packed up to leave one of the women gave me a half-hearted apology saying 'I am sorry you hiked up here and we are spread out in your way.' I felt like saying 'But not sorry enough to move!' but I did not and we left. The hike back to the car was downhill and seemed pretty short. On the way back I thought about how many people I had met hiking who seemed only concerned about themselves and ignored other hikers. I decided these people were the few and that the many were eager to help, offer advice and allow others to enjoy the views that should be open to all. We were back at the car by 2:15 PM having covered 13.5 miles in just over 6 hours.

On Friday, July 30th we arrived at Ricketts Glen and parked on the north side of Rt 118 in the main lot. Since earlier in the morning the number of cars had swelled from one to more than a dozen but I decided to hike anyway. We got started at about 1:15 PM with Sheba on her leash and me following closely behind. The initial walk is flat along Kitchen Creek and has no falls. Soon, after crossing the first bridge, Murray Reynolds Falls comes into view with two more falls before the junction of Ganoga Glen and Glen Leigh and about 1.6 miles. Like the falls on the other two creeks these were reduced in volume but most showed an adequate volume. At Waters Meet I had intended to go right but decided to go up Ganoga Glen first. I took the lower trail which has some really slippery rock even when dry. This trail goes down into the stream bed and then climbs the banks and can be dangerous when the water is higher. Each of the falls used to have a small yellow on brown sign giving its name. Now many of these signs are hidden or are not present at all. Each falls has it own character and is interesting in its own right. Some people prefer high drops while others like wider falls with greater volume. Part way up Ganoga Glen is Ganoga Falls which is the highest falls at 94 feet and perhaps the most dramatic. Some of the falls have trails down to the creek bed at the base of the falls while others have paths. Both the trails and the paths can be steep but the vie of the falls is almost always better at the bottom. By 3:30 PM we were at the top of Ganoga Glen and ready to traverse to Glen Leigh.

At 3.4 miles into the hike, about .57 miles from the top of Ganoga Glen, the trail runs between several large boulders. This is Midway Crevasse. In another .5 miles or about 4.0 miles into the hike the trail forks and we took the right branch to go down Glen Leigh. The falls in Ganoga sometimes get more mention than the falls in Leigh but the later has great cascades including Ozone, one of my favorites. We worked our way down the glen which initially has some very steep rock steps. Despite the time, I made an effort to set up some shots. I am a hiker who takes pictures but sometimes I think I might like to learn more about the cameras and be a photographer who hikes to take great pictures. Glen Leigh has a few more bridges than Ganoga and some of these offer interesting views of the falls. Soon we were at the last falls, Wyandot and then back at Waters Meet by 4:35 PM. At this point I put my camera away and Sheba and I jogged the rest of the way out to the parking area. We were done at 5:05 PM taking 3 hours and 20 minutes for the 7.5 mile hike. Pennsylvania has very good maps for the trails in its state parks and the one for Ricketts Glen has an overview of the entire park on one side and a close up of the falls on the other.

On Friday, July 30th We left Heberly Run and started back toward Jamison City. I took the left onto the Sullivan Falls Road which seemed a good bet to get us to Sullivan Falls! The problem with the roads and the maps is that the names seldom agree and some of the roads are not marked. I stopped at one pulloff but decided I needed to go a little farther. The road is dirt and is somewhat washed out in places. It is passable but I drove very slowly. At about 1.2 miles and 15 minutes from the turn there was a parking area on the left as the road began to ascend. From the parking area I could see a distinct trail leaving toward the stream. We parked and started to walk on the trail arriving at Sullivan Falls within minutes. The trail took us to the top of the falls where the stream has cut an impressive channel and flume through the bedrock. Looking down over the falls I could see the deep green of the plunge pool below. I took pictures of the rock formations and the top and some pictures of the water going over the falls into the pool below. We walked back out the path but this time we walked down toward the base of the falls and the pool. The path was obvious but quite steep. Once at the base of the falls, I took a lot of shots of the falls and the pool which was a deep, emerald green color. I walked across the stream to take some pictures from the other bank to get a different angle on the falls. The lighting was not ideal as it was coming from behind and above the falls. It was a beautiful sunny day which is not always the best time for photography. After finishing the shots, we headed back up the bank and I decided we would walk the stream and the bank up to Pigeon Run which was the next falls on the list.

The walk along Sullivan Run was not too much fun! There were swarms of small insects along the way. The run was clog by blowdown for a good part of its length requiring use to move to the banks which were also covered with downed trees and brush. The ground was damp and soft and the stream bed full of large cobbles. Once passed Big Run this improved some and with .6 miles we were near Pigeon Run. The falls are actually on Pigeon Run in a narrow slot and so are different than most of the other falls. When we got to Pigeon Run, I found it wasn't running much at all! In fact, there was barely a trickle going over the falls. I took a few pictures and then decided not to go nay further up the run. I felt that coming back when there was some water and doing the whole loop might be the best idea! We walked back downstream and up the steep bank several hundred feet to an old haul road. The road was easy to follow and in pretty good shape. We followed it all the way back to the road where we were only a few hundred feet from the car. The 1.6 mile diversion had only taken an hour. It was at this point that I decided to check out Ricketts Glen. I did not want to drive 5 hours to hike only 6 miles. There had been no cars at the parking area in the morning so I decided to head up the road to the intersection with Rt 487. This proved to be an adventure in itself as the bad road got worse. Driving so slowly seemed to take forever but soon the intersection appeared. I turned right to head to Rt 118 and the main parking area for Ricketts Glen. Rt 487 has a two mile stretch of steep downhill with many warnings to trucks about using low gear. I got behind one that was moving very slowly down the grade and watched several other trucks coming up the hill very slowly. The drive went quickly and we were soon in the parking area which now had 20 or more cars. I decided we would still try the hike since there are about 7.5 miles to spread out the visitors.

On Friday, July 30th I decided that I wanted to try a hike in Pennsylvania that I had though about for some time. To the west of Ricketts Glen lie Pennsylvania State Game Commission Lands #13. This is a remote a wild area with no designated trail and only a few old haul roads. What it does have is Heberly Run and the Sullivan Branch of East Fishing Creek. These streams are reported to have some very nice waterfalls rivaling Ricketts Glen but without the crowds. The lack of trails means following the informal paths along the streams and being willing to walk in the streams when needed. It also means finding your way up and out of the deep ravines that enclose many of the waterfalls. As I left home I was not sure whether I would do a circular route or treat each hike separately. The trip reports I had read said that the route in the north between the two was difficult and that descending Sullivan Branch could be dangerous. Sheba and I got an early start leaving Livingston Manor at 6:45 AM. After a little over 2 hours we passed by Ricketts Glen and I began to look for Either Stephen's Hill Road or Comstock Road to turn north off Rt 118 to head for Jamison City and Heberly Run. None of the roads were marked and I eventually came to a four corners with a sign for Center. I turned north here and followed the signs to Center and made the turn to take me to Jamison City. I went straight through Jamison City making notes of Sullivan Falls Road on the right. The paved road turned into dirt but was in pretty good shape. I passed a large brick smokestack in the woods on the left and then the game commission buildings. There was a large parking lot on the left but I did not see the gate mentioned in the trip reports of any evidence of a stream. I continued a little farther on the road and it ended at a large parking area with a yellow gate and a stream. Sheba and I started our hike at about 9:15 AM by walking over to the stream. One look at the stream reminded me of how dry it has been and I wondered if there would be any waterfalls to see! I had just bought a pair of waters hoes and was pretty sure I would not be needing them!

We walked along the side of the creek or in the creek bed when we needed to. Sometimes we would cross and then recross the stream as needed. At times there is an informal path that reminded me of the Fisherman's Path along the Neversink. The ground was damp and soft and there were huge "sand" deposits in places indicating the stream at times carries a much larger volume of water. At about 1.2 miles into the hike the banks of the stream began to rise high around us and we arrived at Big Falls. The falls were beautiful and I took pictures but I was left wondering how much more awesome they would be after a good rain! I could see how a higher volume of water could be a good and a bad thing. Higher water volumes would make the falls more interesting but would make the walk much harder and more dangerous. After taking pictures, we looked for a way out of the gorge and found one on the left bank. Sheba led the way up the steep bank with loose soil and leaves. There was a path of sorts and we followed it up and then parallel to the stream until we could safely walk back down to the stream level. Many times as we were walking along the stream bed I was impressed by the number of cobblestones we passed over. We continued up the stream until I could hear the sound of another falls and the banks again began to rise around us. At about 1.94 miles we arrived at the lower cascade of Twin Falls. This was a smaller falls than the first both in volume and drop but it was still pretty. I took pictures and then Sheba found a way to work up the steep bank on the right. Had the banks been any wetter the path might have been almost impossible to negotiate or at least much more difficult. Once at the top we immediately descended to the stream bed and walked to the upper drop of Twin Falls. Here I took pictures before crossing the stream. On the far bank I took a few more shots and then we worked our way up the left bank, walked along the stream and then went back down to the stream bed.

We continued our walk upstream repeating the same theme of walking wherever seemed most appropriate. There were several more spots where it would have been very difficult to find a route if the water had been high. At about 2.7 miles and 2 hours into the hike I began to hear another falls and the banks on either side rose to the highest they had been so far! Shortly after we arrived at Lewis Falls which had less water than I had hoped but was still pretty. The fact that the banks rose so high around the falls added to its beauty. I took pictures and then we walked back downstream to get away from the high banks and ledges. We found a steep ascent on the right side of the stream and were able to work our way up and around the top of the falls. At this point I had to make a decision. The loop route runs farther up Heberly run and then follows Shanty Run until it cuts across the top of the plateau. I have to admit that I was just not in the mood on this day to fight through a bushwhack that might have little reward at the end. I decided to cross the stream and follow Grassy Hollow Road back to the car. We would approach Sullivan Branch in another way. The road has a grass and dirt surface but is in good shape. There are parking areas along the way and the road is open during the spring and fall hunting seasons. As we walked down the road I could hear the various falls and see them at times. I though that it might be possible to walk the road during high water and descend to the falls from the road to get some pictures. Of course, descending and then ascending the steep bank would be a challenge. We arrived back at the car at about noon having taken around 2.5 hours to cover the 4.6 mile trip. It was time to head for Sullivan Falls and the Sullivan Branch to see what the falls there had to offer.

On Sunday, July 25th I decided that despite the forecast of thunderstorms I would hike the Stonetown Circular Trail. Part of the trail is in Norvin Green State Forest and the rest is in The North Jersey Watershed. The 10 mile loop features Signal Rock and Tory Rocks on the western half and Board, Bear and Windbeam Mountains on the eastern half. To try to avoid the showers in the forecast for 1"00 PM, Sheba and I left home at 5:45 AM and arrived at our destination at 7:20 AM. I decided to hike the western half first and leave the mountains for last. I parked at the Stonetown Recreation Area off Stonetown Road near the intersection with West Brook Road. To actually get to the trail required going back out to Stonetown Road and walking a little over .25 miles north. At this point Magee Road bears to the left near the firehouse. We walked down Magee Road until it makes a sharp left and crosses a stream on a bridge. At this point the red triangle on white blaze of the Stonetown Circular indicate a turn into the woods on a woods road. Unfortunately, after this blaze on the road there are no more blazes until AFTER the first fork in the trail. This problem was to be repeated MANY times throughout the hike where the trail was poorly marked and blazes too far apart to help a first time hiker. At the first fork we went left and were soon climbing to our first viewpoint at Signal Rock, about 1.5 miles into the hike. The view of Windbeam from here was good but the sun to the east made the photography difficult. We then climbed up to the to top Signal Rock and descended down the other side to head for Tory Rocks at 2.0 miles into the hike. After Tory Rocks the trail descended to a junction with the orange Sonoma Trail on the left. Here again the problem was that the Stonetown Circular blazes were nowhere to be seen. I made a ninety degree turn to the right and headed down the road and across a bridge over a small stream. It was here that I again picked up the red triangles and headed back into the woods.

We were soon ascending Harrison Mountain and at about 3.85 miles a woods road ran off to the right and up to what looked like a promising lookout. We walked up to this area and found and excellent viewpoint to the north and east. Back on the main trail we crossed a power line right of way and were soon a the junction with the Horse Pond Mountain Trail. This junction also brought us to the section of the Stonetown Circular that is coaligned with the Highlands Trail. From this point on the trail is well marked both by the red triangles and the aqua blazes of the Highlands Trail. From the top of Harrison Mountain we began a 500 foot descent over the next .6 miles. Along the way we again crossed the power line. From this crossing there were good views Down to the Monksville Reservoir marred only by the power line itself. We continued on the flat part of the trail the edge of the reservoir until we crossed Stonetown Road and started back over the three mountains. The next 1.25 miles were pretty flat to the base of Board Mountain. There was a nice lookout with a view down to the Monksville Dam. The woods were very dry despite the rain for several days. It was also quite hot and very humid. At 6.7 miles we began to climb Board Mountain and I found out that biking 30 miles the day before had taken a toll. The vertical gain was only 350 feet but it was over only .4 miles! The view from the top of Board Mountain was good and we stopped so that I could take pictures and we could share a snack and drink.

The descent of Board Mountain was gentle at the start but soon became very steep. After dropping 200 feet, we ascended another 300 feet to the top of Bear Mountain. Near the summit I found a high rock that gave some good views. As I was taking pictures, I heard voices further up the trail. We came down off the rock and continued on the trail and promptly ran into a group of ten hikers, the first we had seen that day. They were hiking from Stonetown Road over Horse Pond Mountain and were using a car shuttle to get back. They mentioned they had seen a bear on the trail about .5 miles further on. Sheba and I said goodbye and walked to a very nice viewpoint a little further on just before the descent into the col between Bear and Windbeam. We dropped 400 feet over the next .7 miles into the col and I kept Sheba with me and made noise just in case the bear was back on the trail. From the col we started up Windbeam and met three more young hikers headed toward us. From the col the ascent up Windbeam, the highest of the three and a peak on the NJ1K list, was .6 miles and 540 feet. The highest point has no views but there are excellent views to both the east and west a little further along the ridge. The trail dips and then ascends several times and we stopped so that I could take pictures. The reservoirs were low and islands had appeared that I had not seen before. After descending into the col between Windbeam and Little Windbeam, the Highlands Trail and the Stonetown Circular separate. We stayed on the red blazes and descended the steep trail to Stonetown Road. Once on Stonetown road, we turned right and walked up the road about .3 miles to Mary Roth Drive where the car was parked. We covered the 10.4 mile hike in 5.5 hours with PLENTY of time for photography. When we got to the car at 12:35 PM, the temperature display read 98 degrees. Once we got underway this dipped to 88 degrees. The rain started just as predicted at 1:00 PM.

On Sunday, July 18th Cindy and I decided to hike after church. We wanted someplace that would have some views but wasn't too far away from home. I suggested hiking from Route 23 to Lake Rutherford along the AT. Cindy thought this sounded like a good idea so we headed toward Port Jervis and up Route 23 to High Point. Just passed the main park entrance on the right is the park office and a little further on the maintenance buildings. Just passed the maintenance buildings is a sign for AT Parking. We turned left and found a large lot with no cars. At 12:20 PM we were on the blue trail out of the parking lot trying to find the AT. At .2 miles the Iris Trail came in from the left and we turned right not knowing exactly where we were going. IN a few hundred feet signs for the AT appeared and the trail turned left to run along the ridge. Just passed 1.0 miles, a spur trail led to Sawmill Pond and we turned here and walked down to an open rock outcrop that offered nice views of the pond and the surrounding landscape. We decided not to walk down the steep trail to the pond but did take many pictures before walking back up to the main trail to continue the hike. The trail continued to roll up and down as it descended to an area between two ridges and then gained the next ridge. At 1.75 miles the AT came up to a nice viewpoint over Lake Rutherford and we stopped to take some pictures. The At continued to descend and at 2/65 miles we passed Dutch Shoe Rock on a ridge to our right. This is a huge glacial erratic shaped a little like a wooden shoe. We passed the spur trail to the shelter at 3.1 miles and the map seemed to indicated an unmaintained trail led from the shelter to the lake. We decided to stay on the main trails and started to look for the Iris Trail on the left. At 3.3 miles the AT made a sharp right just as shown on the map and at 3.5 miles an unmarked road or trail went off to the left. Since the trail was not marked we decided to continue on the AT to find the Iris Trail back to the car. When we arrived at the next trail junction, it was obvious that the one we had passed with the unmarked trail had been the correct one so we turned around, took the unmarked trail and soon found the red dot blazes that told us we were on the Iris Trail. Marking this trail at the junction would be a GREAT idea!

The Iris Trail continued to descend until at 4.4 miles it abruptly turned north toward the Lake Rutherford. At this turn we could see signs ahead asking hikers to KEEP OUT. The lake is part of the Sussex water supply and the shores are off limits. The trail now started to ascend slightly and crossed a small stream on a bridge as it hugged the shore of the lake. Views on the lake began to appear and we stopped and took some pictures of a tall rock cairn which seemed to be in an area that would usually be under water. At 5.15 miles there was a path to the right to a spot that the map indicated was a viewpoint but the views were block by the leaves on the trees. From here the trail started a long but gentle ascent until at 6.64 miles we were back at the blue connector trail to the parking lot. On our way up this trail we met several groups of people headed down toward the lake. I wondered why they were going to the lake since the shores are off limits and wading or swimming in the water is prohibited! We were back at the car by 4:05 PM having covered the 7 miles hike in around 3 hours and 45 minutes.

On Friday, July 16th I decided to go back to Mount Greylock to hike a long loop to the top and back. Since hiking the Hopper Trail to the top of Massachusetts' highest mountain several weeks ago, I had been looking at some guidebooks and trail reports and planning a BIG loop hike. My plan was to park on Pattison Road in Williamstown and hike the AT over the Greylock Range including Mt. Williams, Mt. Fitch and Mt. Greylock. On the way back I planned to descend the Hopper Trail to the Money Brook Trail and the take the Mt. Prospect Trail up and over Mt. Prospect and back to the AT. I was interested in the last part since many books said it was the strabismus and most difference trail in the Greylock Reservation. I got up at 5:00 AM and was on the road by 5:30 AM having gotten my gear together the night before. My concern was that thunderstorms were forecast for the late afternoon nut, of course, forecasts can be wrong! Getting wet after a long hike isn't really and issue since most of the times I am drenched in sweat and the cool rain feels good. Lightening storms on a mountain are an entirely different story! After driving on obscure back roads last time, I decided to try a more direct route. I drove to Kingston on Route 209 and then took the Thruway north to Albany. If I had been paying attention, I would have gotten off at the exit for 787 North but the toll booth agent at the next exit told me to take I90 East to I787 and this worked well. I got off I787 in Troy and followed the signs for Route 2. Route 2 goes through a small part of Troy and then directly to Williamstown! Once in Williamstown, I remembered many of the landmarks since I had been there for a college cross country race many years ago. After passing through Williams College, I turned right on Luce Street which turns into Pattison Road. This road passes the Williamstown Reservoir on the right and then the treatment plant on the left. Parking for the AT is just passed the treatment plant on both sides of the road but the parking areas are small. We arrived at 9:10 AM and were out and on the trail 5 minutes later.

Although the Mt. Prospect Trail was supposed to be the steep trail the first part of the AT was also a challenge. Walking into the woods at the start of the trail was flat but that was only for a few hundred feet. After that, the trail started to ascend and got steeper as we went. Along the way, I heard a voice and looked ahead. Seeing no one I turned around to find a young hiker who had caught up with us. We stopped and had a talk. He was an AT through hiker from Scotland who had dropped his pack and gotten a ride to hike the section we were on and then pick up his pack and continue the journey. I encountered about a twenty people on this hike from start to end and about half were AT through hikers! The young man pushed on and after an hour, a mile and a half and a vertical gain of 1450 feet we were at a trail junction. A small viewpoint opened here. Below I could almost make out Williamstown but the haze was so thick I didn't bother and try to take a picture. We continued straight ahead but I quickly realized that we were headed for Mt. Prospect. We turned around and went back to the trail junction to find where the AT turned off. Back on the AT, we began a descent toward the Wilbur Clearing Lean-to. I began to wonder if the descent was necessary since my GPS showed a more direct trail to the top of Mt. Williams, our first destination. The map I had also showed this trail so we hiked back up the AT toward the trail junction. I found what appeared to be the trail on the map but it was overgrown and LONG unused. I decided to follow the AT down toward the lean-to and see what would happen. Just short of the lean-to the trail turned to the left, crossed some elevated walkways and started to ascend again. The first part to the crossing of Mitch Road was gentle but the last section to the top of Mt. Williams was rocky and steeper. From the lowest point near the lean-to this was about a 600 foot ascent to the summit. Along the way I found a very interesting outcrop of quartz and took a few pictures. I was hoping for a view from the summit but there was still a lot of haze and the viewpoint was pretty grown in. The first 3 miles of the hike had taken about 2 hours.

The walk along the AT from Mt. Williams to Mt. Fitch was almost flat with a slight descent to a col and then the ascent up Mt. Fitch which has an elevation of 3100 feet. We made good time here since we covered the mile between these two peaks in about 25 minutes. The AT skirts the summit of Fitch so we bushwhacked to the top. There was no view so we just came back down to the AT to continue on toward Greylock. The first part of this section was almost flat with a slight incline. As we approached Mt. Greylock, we passed the Bellows Pipe Trail and then the Thunderbolt Trail. At this point we were on an area that had been cleared for access to these old ski slopes. The trail was wide and almost a road but it got steeper and was strewn with rocks. At the end a set of steps took us up and across the road to the summit. After a short, steep section we arrived at the Thunderbolt Shelter which is for day use only. I took a few pictures from here before continuing on to the tower at the summit. We walked over to the lookout but the haze was still thick so we just walked down to Bascom Lodge to refill our water. It was 12:45 PM and we had covered the first 6 miles of the hike in about 3.5 hours. Sheba and I both drank a lot of water and then I refilled the Camelbak and the bottle. We ate lunch and then started down the Hopper Trail the way we had during the previous visit. The descent passed the pond and across the summit road went quickly and we arrived at Sperry Road by 1:25 PM. A quick walk down Sperry Road brought us to the right turn to continue our descent on the Hopper Trail. By 2:15 PM we were at the junction with the cutoff trail that would take us down to Money Brook and the Money Brook Trail. We crossed Money Brook on a bridge and turned right toward Mt. Prospect on the Money Brook Trail. At this point I consulted the GPS to find we were at and elevation of around 1360 feet having lost over 2100 feet since Mt. Greylock. The GPS indicated the turn for the Mt. Prospect Trail was about .5 miles ahead.

The Money Brook Trail began to gain some elevation and crossed back and forth over the brook in several places. Just before the Mt. Prospect Trail junction the Money Brook Trail began a steep ascent. I have to admit that 9.5 miles and over 5 hours into the hike I was hot and tired. In addition, the skies were growing darker and I was beginning to hear thunder far off. I knew we could continue on the Money Brook Trail to the Wilbur Clearing Lean-to and then follow the AT back the way we had come. This would be the shorter and flatter route so I chose...to turn left and head UP Mt. Prospect. Again, the trail I was on did not seem to match my GPS or the trail map exactly but the sign had said Mt. Prospect so I continued. The trail certainly was going up but it wasn't that steep...yet. After about .25 miles this changed and the trail started a brutal ascent up the mountain. It was not well marked at first and hard to follow as it wound its way up over and through a rocky area. Shortly after this the trail turned due north and kept a continuous ascent to the summit. Near the top the trail leveled a little and then rose over one more bump to the top. There was one viewpoint along the way. I stopped to try to get some pictures through the haze and take a break before continuing ever upwards. At least at this point there was no doubt we were on the right trail. After over 1100 feet of vertical in a mile and an hour of hiking, we arrived at the summit cairn. We stopped to take some pictures but the thunder was growing louder so we didn't take too long. We were over 10 miles and 5 hours into the hike.

We now started down the other side of Mt. Prospect but the descent was very gentle, quite pleasant and quick. We arrived at the trail junction and viewpoint from earlier in the morning but quickly walked by as the storm clouds gathered. It was obvious that the storm was moving in from the west and although I saw no lightening I heard the thunder! Down was certainly cooler and easier than up but by this time my feet were hot and tired. Sheba trotted along ahead and only her panting gave me any indication she was hot. We both continued to drink. I may have finally learned my lesson from previous encounters with severe cramping from dehydration! The return trip seemed long in both time and distance since I was tired and was trying to beat the rain. The trip back may me appreciate how steep the trail was and how long the climb up had been. We finally crossed the woods road near the bottom and hiked out to Pattison Road just as a few drops began to fall. I changed clothing in the car since everything I had on was soaked with sweat. As I did this, it began to pour but the deluge lasted only 5 or 10 minutes. I checked the GPS and found we had hiked exactly 13 miles in 7 hours and 20 minutes! What was even more impressive was that we had gained 4673 feet over the hike! Next time in the area I want to get to the March Cataract, Jones Nose and maybe hike the Thunderbolt and Bellows Pipe trails.

On Sunday, July 11th I wanted to get in a hike after church despite the weather prediction of thunderstorms. I knew I didn't want to drive too far and I did not want to fight through a bushwhack. I decided to go up Slide on the Step Trail since I like the views and I knew there would be almost no one else on that trail. I drove to the main parking area for Slide on Route 47 and Sheba and I were on the trail by 12:20 PM. I knew that the woods had been dry but I expected that the recent rains might have supplied some water. To my surprise the Neversink was dry. I spent a moment looking for signs of some water but there was none. The second much smaller stream had some water in it but nowhere near the amount that is usually flowing. We continued to walk up the trail until we got to the woods road. We did meet a group of four coming down and two more young men later on. On the woods road we turned left and walked to the cable that separates state land from Winnisook Club property. We turned right into the woods and immediately found the Step Trail. I don't know whether this trail is easier to find now since I have been there many times or whether more people are using it. We stopped at the first viewpoint and I took some pictures. The conditions looked good in this direction but the sky was beginning to darken. I gave Sheba a drink and got out a sandwich before we started up again. By the time we are moving again there was an almost continuous roll of thunder and rain drops were falling. The trail was nearly dry but the vegetation in most areas was incredibly green. As we worked high and higher the mosses were a vibrant green that I do remember seeing before. The long stretches of steps in some areas are really interesting and I began to think of how long ago these were created and the history of the area. As we approached the second viewpoint, we walked through a "tunnel;" with a large boulder on one side and evergreen trees on the other. The climb up here requires a firm grip on an well-placed root to get up to the next level. The view from this lookout is much the same as the one below only higher. What had changed was the sky! To the south it was still sunny but huge, dark clouds were rolling in from the north. After taking some pictures, we continued on the trail through the pine forest. One section of the upper part of the trail was particularly stunning with large rocks covered in moss. I tried taking pictures here but the light was not ideal. Shortly we were approaching the main trail.

When we reached the main trail, we turned left toward the summit of Slide. There was still about .75 miles to go and the weather was uncertain at best. We met a family of four descending and then another group of four who were also headed down. We continued up and as we walked I was trying to decide whether we would head for Cornell. This stretch of the trail always seems long to me but eventually we were at the viewpoint toward Panther. Another couple was already there with their dog but Sheba made "friends" quickly. I took pictures and then talked to the two hikers. I found out that they had hiked the Burroughs Range using several different trails in different seasons. The weather did not seem to be improving so Sheba and I continued on to the summit. There was no one at the Slide summit. As usual the views were non-existent. One look at the sky convinced me that I did not want to take the chance of getting caught on the peaks in a thunderstorm. I have done this several times before and have no desire to do it again. We turned around and headed back with me thinking about hiking the other two mountains from Woodland Valley in the near future. I detest the trip down the main Slide trail because of the many rocks which always seem to try to roll my ankles. This time the trip seems to go more quickly with Sheba venturing far out ahead of me. We were back a the car by 3:20 PM having covered the 5.5 mile trip in 3 hours.

On Friday, July 9th I was free to hike the whole day since summer school is not in session on Friday. I had started biking again and I enjoyed it! What I did find out was that hiking shape and biking shape are two different things. I knew my legs were sore in places that hiking does not touch. I decided to head for Bearpen and Vly since I needed them for July and I thought I might get some views even though the day was humid. Sheba and I left the house in no big hurry and headed up to Roscoe and out the Rockland flats on Route 206. I was surprised when I got to the end of the flats and found the road CLOSED. Apparently the storms the night before had dumped a lot of rain in a short period if time and caused extensive damage to the roads. I decided to go back to the Quickway and head to East Branch and take Route 30 to Downsville. From here it is Route 30 to Route 28 east to Fleischmanns and then Breezy Hill Road to the Fleischmanns-Halcott Center Road to CR 3. This road has a lot of branches to the right since you go passed Elk Creek, Turk Hollow and Meade Roads. The last fork has Johnson Hollow Rd to the left and CR 3 to the right. I took the left fork and drove to the end of the paved road and parked in the snowplow turnaround. I often park just below the private property signs but I determined that no snowplows would be turning on this day. We were the only car in the parking lot when we arrived at 10:25 AM and we were on the trail almost immediately. It was slightly cooler with temperatures in the low 80's but I was surprised to note that the humidity seemed high. The first .9 miles of the hike is up a woods road used by hunters. The road is kept cleared but it is very rocky and I find it hard to walk. After a little more than 15 minutes it was time to decide which way to go first. I had though we would do Vly first and Sheba headed that way and we were off.

The forest was very dry indicating the area had not gotten any rain. The herd path was very prominent and so were the blue and yellow paint markings. It appeared someone had slapped some more blue paint on the trees. We ascended for about a quarter mile until the trail leveled some and I was reminded that this was one of those hikes that I always underestimate. The trail remains level through an often swampy area for about .2 miles before starting up again. It seems that I always get "lost" in this area and this day was no exception. We quickly rejoined the herd path and headed up. My legs were tired from biking and by now my clothes were soaked with sweat. We climbed up the last .3 miles to the top and found the canister with no problem by 11:25. I signed in and we had a drink and snack. Before starting back down we walked over to a viewpoint and I was able to take some pictures despite the vegetation and the haze. Going back down went much more quickly especially with Sheba in the lead. We were back at the road in the col between the two mountains by 12:05 PM cutting 20 minutes off the ascent time. It was now time to do Bearpen and we started by following the roads north and up. There are several steep areas on the roads and they always seem to be covered by loose rock and the dry weather didn't help this any! At least we weren't walking through mud pits! After the last ascent on a road we turned right on a faint herd path and the fun began.

The last people to sign into the canister on Vly did so on July 3 almost a week early. Although I could see the herd path to Bearpen, it was overgrown with some rather large briars. I was glad to See at least there weren't many nettles! Sheba took the lead and never gave it up following the path exactly. The prickers were think near the start of the path, thinned some and then got thicker again as the path flattened. We continued to follow the path until it met the woods road and then turned right toward the ski slopes and the summit. We were on top by 12:52 PM and had covered 1.5 miles of bushwhack in 45 minutes! I took some pictures of the valley and the mountains to the north. There was a lot of haze but I got some good shots including pictures of the Schoharie Reservoir. We walked back to the lower viewpoint which gives a different angle. We got a drink and ate some lunch before starting back. I tried another road on the way back but it looked like it was going in the wrong direction so we just headed up to regain the way we had come. We were back at the col in 40 minutes and returned to the car by 2:00 PM. Walking down the road with all the loose stones proved to be the most annoying part of the hike. We covered the 6.5 mile hike in 3 hours and 40 minutes. An occasional breeze eased the temperatures but the humidity stayed up and I was soaked by the time we finished. I decided to come home by way of Big Indian and Frost Valley and this was a quicker way to.

On Monday, July 5th I was almost headed out the door to go to Kaaterskill High Peak when I stopped to ask Cindy if she would like to come along. I wanted to bushwhack up to the snowmobile trail, find the lower plane crash, search for the cairn that marks the "other" way up to the High Peak and get some views from Hurricane Ledge. When we left Livingston Manor the temperatures were barely in the 70's and I didn't expect temperatures much above 80 for the day! We left just after 9:15 AM and arrived a the trail head in Platte Clove at 10:45 AM. I was worried from some trip reports for the weekend that the parking lot would be full but there were only two other cars when we arrived. We got right on the trail walking through the open gate and up the road. The temperatures already seemed high and the humidity was up there also. We moved along at a good pace over the very dry trails. Places that are usually pools of water or small streams were totally dry. Only two places had any significant water along the way. We did meet a couple and their dog and another woman near the Huckleberry Point Trail but there equipment suggested that was as far as they went. We made the 1.3 miles to the Huckleberry Point Trail in about 40 minutes and continued from here on the main trail. In another half hour or less we hiked the .7 miles to the cairn that marks the herd path that many hikers use to get up to the snowmobile trail around Kaaterskill. We decided to take this "shortcut" which disappeared shortly after we got on it. I wasn't worried since I had my compass and a map but Cindy seemed to doubt my navigational skills. After short and easy bushwhack, we found ourselves on the snowmobile trail.

At this point I was not sure which way to go but turned left to go around the south side of the mountain. Cindy took a rest while I explored. I almost immediately ran into the wreckage from the lower crash and continued on for a distance but did not find the cairn I was looking for. Of course, I had not read the trip reports carefully enough to know that the "other" path was a good way around to the south side of the mountain and actually come up and over Hurricane Ledge. Oh well, maybe next time. I returned to Cindy and we began to walk around to the north side of the peak where I knew we could catch the "main" herd path to the summit. This walk seemed long but this was because I had never done it before. Eventually, the snowmobile trail came up from below on the right and then the herd path with its cairn appeared on the left. At this point Cindy was pretty tired and the temperatures were pushing 90! She didn't want to give up and I think in my enthusiasm to summit I forgot how difficult the final assault can be. We slowly made our way to the top but once at the summit Cindy Seemed spent. She sat down to drink, eat and rest while I went out to Hurricane Ledge. The views were nice but the humidity meant that they were hazy. Sheba and I walked back to Cindy who looked a little more "refreshed" until I informed her that we had to go back down what we had ascended. I guess this was another detail I failed to mention. I shouldered my pack and Cindy's fanny pack and we started out.

We made the descent slowly and deliberately and as Cindy said "I'll take going down over going up any day." We had no mishaps on the way down to the main snowmobile trail. From there we walked back to the junction with the snowmobile trail that comes up from the blue trail and walked down that. We turned right on the blue hiking trail and headed back toward the car. Once Cindy was back on flatter terrain her pace picked up and we soon passed by the cairn where we had started the "shortcut". As soon as the trail started down I had to pick up my pace to stay ahead of my wife. Along the way we met a young couple looking for Hurricane Ledge. I explained the turns in detail and suggested that it was not an easy climb in the heat. A little passed the cairn, we were surprised from some rapid fire rifle shots. I could see to the right a hunters camp and I knew someone was just sighting in or target practicing but it was still disconcerting. We move quickly through the area and increased our pace when we got on the woods road. We were back at the car by 3:45 PM having taken about 5 hours to cover the difficult 8.5 mile route. We enjoyed the air conditioning in the car for a moment before heading off for a meal at Pancho Villas in Tannersville.

On Saturday, July 3rd I asked Cindy if she would like to try a hike I had wanted to do for some time. I have been wanting to go to Mount Greylock, the highest peak in Massachusetts, and climb it using the Hopper Trail route. The peak is only 3491 feet in elevation but the Hopper Trail starts in the valley at about 1060 feet of elevation. This means the gain is about 2430 feet which is significant. I knew that The July 4th weekend might not be the best time to go but though that The Hopper might be less traveled than some other routes. I wanted to get a REALLY early start but settled for getting out of the house before 6:30 PM. I made the mistake of trusting Google Maps for directions and this was a mistake. We were fine going to Kingston on Route 209 and picking up the Thruway (I87) north to the Berkshire extension and the I90. After that, we had an agonizing tome on some smaller two lane highways! Eventually we crossed into Massachusetts and took Route 7 North toward Williamstown. I was looking for Potter Road to Hopper Road but couldn't find it. I stopped at a store and a VERY helpful young lady who was also a hiker pointed us in the right direction. I also bought a trail guide published by the Williams Outing Club with hikes in the northern Berkshires and the Mount Greylock Reservation. From Route 7 we took Route 43 to Mount Hope and turned right into Mount Hope Park and directly onto Hopper Road. Where Hopper Road met Potter Road we turned left to stay on Hopper and were soon at the end. The parking area only had a few cars and we were ready to get on the trail by 10:15 AM. The weather was already in the 80's with bright sun and high humidity although there had not been rain for over a week.

The very first part of the trail is an old farm road which runs through...a farm. This part is flat and the Haley Farm trail leaves to the right and then the Money Brook Trail branches to the left. We stayed on the Hopper Trail marked mostly by fading blue blazes. The first mile of the trail nearly parallels the contour lines but constantly and gradually gains elevation. The trail is rooted and rocky in places. Some very large blowdown has simply been left in place and "steps" have been cut through it. Around 1 mile the trail turns more to the south and starts to gain elevation toward the Greylock ridge. Over the next mile there is a gain of over 900 vertical feet. There are no rock scrambles or anything really steep but the climb is relentless. At 2.0 miles the trail levels some and meet Sperry Road at 2.3 miles. We turned left to hike up Sperry road passed the campground office where a man offered us assistance and a map. We talked a minute before continuing on up the road and turning left at 2.6 miles to get back on the Hopper Trail. This part of the trail started innocently enough but then began to gain elevation again quickly. At about 3.3 miles the Overlook Trail branched to the left but we stayed on the Hopper Trail which begins to roughly parallel Rockwell Road. At 3.8 miles we crossed Rockwell and North Adams Roads and stayed on the trail but now the markings indicated that the Appalachian Trail had joined the Hopper Trail. From here it is only about .3 miles to the summit. There were a few more short sections to climb and just before the radio tower we stopped by Gore Pond, the highest body of water in the state. After this we pressed on to the summit passing the radio tower and crossing the road. We went by the stone inscribed with a quote from Thoreau and then crossed the road again. There is a metal sculpture that shows all of the Greylock Reservation and the hiking trails. Behind this on the very summit is the War Memorial Tower and to the right is Bascom Lodge. We stopped to take some pictures here. I was surprised there were relatively few people at the top since the summit can be driven on the newly paved roads.

We walked passed the tower and to the viewpoints on the other side. There were nice views to the east and I walked down the slope some to get better angles for pictures. After this we walked over to Bascom Lodge to see the views from there. From here we could look to the west to see the Catskills! I replenished our water and took some pictures, We sat for a while to eat before gathering ourselves for the trip back down the mountain. The way back seemed long but that often happens when you have reached your goal and are just trying to get back to the car. We started back at 1:00 PM and stopped only briefly on the way down. We decided we were too tired to go to the March Cataract which probably would have disappointed due to the lack of rainfall. We were back at the car by 3:00 PM. We covered the entire 8.5 mile hike in 4 hours and 45 minutes with PLENTY of time for pictures and breaks. After looking at the trail maps and the Northern Berkshire Trail guide, I am anxious to return to see some of the things we missed. One adventure would be to start in Williamstown and hike over Mount Williams, Mount Fitch, Mount Greylock and Mount Prospect in one day. The trail up Mount Prospect is supposed to be the hardest in the Reservation! It would be nice to include Saddle Ball Mountain also!

On Friday, July 2nd I was looking for a new experience somewhat closer to home and one that, preferably, would be lacking in SNAKES! I decided to try Little Rocky since I had been meaning to do it for some time and it was still on my CHH "To Do" list. I had read all the trip reports about the steep descent after summating and wanted to avoid this if possible. I thought there might be two ways to do this. One would be to walk out the Ashokan High Point Trail and then up to the ridge and then return the same way. This would be incredibly long. The other way would be to ascend the steep part first and then walk the ridge to Mombaccus or the Col before that peak and then descend to the Ashokan High Point Trail. This would be a brutal ascent by all accounts but it is the route I chose. I knew I would have to try to avoid the strip of private land at the top but thought I could do this. Sheba and I arrived at about 10:20 AM in the parking lot and were on the trail 5 minutes later. We crossed the road and step across the nearly dry brook. I took a SSW bearing with the compass and did not vary much at all from this heading using the sun as a guide. The initial walk was easy with only slight elevation gains and some paths to follow. One problem I had was that I could in no way get a visual on what I was climbing. Soon the terrain grew steeper and much rockier and then the real fun began. We ran into at least three major cliff bands on the way up. From afar they looked almost impossible to negotiate and some even looked that way close up. We were able to work our way through all of them with some detours but the going was SLOW. At about 1.2 miles up we ran into a woods road which I followed briefly. The road seemed to go in the wrong direction and was very overgrown so I abandoned it for a more direct route. After 1.5 miles and 1.5 hours, we were wandering around on the top looking for the highest spot. I walked to the given GPS coordinates but also walked to what looked like higher ground to me and claimed success. It was now time to head off Little Rocky. I did not see any POSTED signs as I walked but my GPS track shows I may have briefly been on private land.

From the top of Little Rocky we headed southeast but always stayed on top of the ridge. We descended into the col between Little Rocky and the next bump on the ridge and then climbed that bump. Both the descent and ascent were not always easy but the woods were mostly open without too many prickers or nettles. The woods were also VERY dry. The trip was only about .7 miles which we covered in 30 minutes. Somewhere on or before the bump we picked up a faint path that we were able to follow until the col with Mombaccus. At the top of the bump someone had begun to arrange stones into furniture and I wondered who would do this on such a sparsely traveled path. Now we headed almost due east to stay on the ridge and then southeast toward the Col. This required getting down some small rock outcroppings but we were able to follow the path to the col. Once in the col I decided that Mombaccus was calling from only .25 miles away and that we would go to the top and then descend from there. This was the most miserable part of the trip up to this point as we had to fight through thick laurel and blueberry. The top was open and quite pretty but every time I walked to where I thought there would be a lookout I was thwarted! The plan to get off Mombaccus was to head north or slightly northeast on the descent until we hit the Kanape Brook Trail. This descent was only slightly less steep than the ascent up Little Rocky. It was rocky and filled with areas of prickers and nettles. I always seem to gravitate toward drainage areas since they appear open and easier to negotiate. I always pat the price of unstable footing and nettles! After a long descent, we were on the flatter ground below but there was no sign of the trail I was looking for. I decided to keep heading northeast with the hope that I would run across the trail. With less than a quarter mile we were on the trail and headed back. As we were almost done, a group of four young people were headed up the trail. From their attire it was obvious they were going to one of the many "swimming holes" on the brook. We were back at the car just before 3:00 PM having taken 4.5 hours to cover the 6 miles!

On Wednesday, June 30th I wanted to do the hike from Mount Tammany to Sunfish Pond that I had planned. I always get a later start than I plan but Sheba and I got on the road and headed for Port Jervis and Milford to take Route 209 all the way to Delaware Water Gap. The last time I was at Tammany I had some problems finding the Dunnfield Creek parking area and some more problems finding my way back from the trails to the parking area at the end of the hike. This time we got right on the Red Dot Trail up Tammany as soon as we arrived at 9:30 AM. I had never gone up this trail and was expecting it to be much hard than it was. I guess I would always rather climb steep than descend steep! We stopped at the viewpoints along the trail and it was obvious the day would be perfect for taking pictures. I also noticed that I was warm from climbing but hat I cooled off as soon as I stopped. We continued on up the trail meeting several hikers already on the way down! As we arrived at the open rock face at the top that acts as a lookout we met two more hikers. It was not yet 10:30 AM and we were making good time. I walked out onto the rock face and took some pictures before going back to get my pack and starting off after the two hikers that had gone before us. We continued behind them until they turned on the Blue Dot Trail and we continued across the ridge on the Tammany Fire Road. This unmarked path stays largely on top of the ridge as it meanders for about 3 miles until it meets the Turquoise Trail to Sunfish Pond. The walk was cool under the trees and only warm in the sun. The path was relatively easy to follow but there were no markings of any kind. Many of these trails and paths have a lot of sharp rocks which makes them hard on the feet. The walk didn't have many "features" but at one point a sign appeared. From our direction it was blank but on the other side was inscribed NJFFS Helispot 2.

We continued on and picked up the Turquoise Trail where I expected it to be. The turn was marked by a cairn but little else and the blazes are few and far between. Whoever began the practice of marking blazes on the rocks on the trail had a bad idea. They are barely visible when the leaves are not out and completely invisible in winter! After about .8 miles or so on the trail it meets and starts to follow a woods road around the pond. I was not paying attention to the trail or to Sheba who clearly wanted to make a turn. After a hundred feet, I saw no more blazes and went back to turn where Sheba had indicated. Only a little further on we came to a high point overlooking Sunfish Pond. It was obvious someone else was there since there was a camera on a tripod. The owner came up from below and some other people arrived. I took some pictures although the trees obscured some of the pond. There seemed to be many rocky areas along the shore but there was a large group of people at the opposite end. After a snack, we got back on the trail and headed out on the Turquoise Trail which soon ended at the Appalachian Trail. We turned left to go around the pond. This part of the trail was EXTREMELY rocky and hard to walk. At one point a side trail led down to the water and we walked across the rocks to get near the water so that I could take some pictures. As we approached the shore I looked up to see...a full-sized blimp in the sky. I took pictures of the blimp, the pond and the blimp and the pond before going back to my pack. Under a rock just next to my pack was a pretty good sized snake. The snake was small for a copperhead but I gave it a wide berth. The snake apparently felt the same way about be as it slithered away under the rocks. We continued on around the lake on the AT and encountered several groups of people enjoying the water and the sun. I discovered in conversation that there was a road coming up from Old Mine Road that came almost all the way up to the pond! At the southwest end of the lake we picked up the green Dunnfield Creek Trail and started to climb a little up to a small ridge.

We were walking along the trail in our normal formation when I happened to look down to see a snake across the path. I stopped in mid-step since I was familiar with...rattlesnakes. I had encountered them before but seldom this close or this suddenly! I immediately told Sheba to stay since she was coming back to investigate why I had stopped. I am glad she obeys my commands. My first thought was that she had walked right over this snake without disturbing it and how bad this situation could have! I kept my distance and took out my camera. The snake obligingly stayed put so that I could take some pictures. Its head was hidden in the brush but its body and signature tail were fully exposed. He was sunny himself but was otherwise very well camouflaged. After the pictures I contemplated the best way to go around the snake. I allowed for the fact that there might be another in the brush nearby and so using the trail was the best option. I used by poles to try to move the snake a little and encourage him to leave. This made the snake rattle and coil which really put me on edge. After this encounter, I made Sheba walk behind me for most of the rest of the hike! The trail did not climb the ridge but stayed close to the creek as it headed southwest toward the Delaware River. The trail was very rocky and uneven for the first mile but began to get smoother the further we went. I kept watching for snake but the cool areas near the creek and under the trees were not the places they prefer. The trail followed most of the twists and turns in the shallow creek and I gave up counting the number we crossed back and forth to avoid the steep banks on one side or the other. In about 3 miles form the pond, we were at the trail junction with the Blue Dot Trail up Tammany. A bridge here crossed the creek near what is sometimes called Dunnfield Falls. There wasn't much water in the creek but I took my last pictures anyway. We continued on the AT back to the parking area. We were back by 2:30 PM covering about 11 miles in 5 hours with plenty of time for pictures and wildlife encounters!

On Tuesday, June 29th we finished Buttermilk Falls by 2:20 PM and drove to Enfield Glen at Robert H. remain State Park. The parks are so close together that we were out of the car and ready to hike by 2:30 PM! The guidebooks and trip reports I had read all "warned" that the first part of the hike had a steep ascent to the gorge rim and did not have many points of interest for over a half mile! They were right on both accounts! Enfield Glen was the least developed of the three areas we visited which means there are fewer people but also that the trails are more rugged with fewer defined viewpoints. In some cases there were nice water falls that were hard to photograph because of the light or vegetation obscuring a good shot. In some places I walked down to the stream and was able to take pictures from the bank or, in others, to walked out into the stream bed to photograph. In other spots I tried to take the best photographs I could through the shrubbery since there were no safe options available. In one place a nice falls came into view with a group of teenagers wading in the water. They seemed oblivious to the fact that others were present and were only concerned with impressing each other! More falls and more rock formations later we passed a bridge that crossed to the rim trail on the south side of the glen. We had not yet seen Lucifer Falls so we bypassed this bridge and continued climbing up the path and various stairs toward the head of the glen.

Soon we were walking next to a railing and a high rock wall. As we rounded a corner, Lucifer Falls came into view. It is truly impressive even with low water levels. This is another falls I want to come back to when the water level is higher! I took MANY different pictures of the falls which has an impressive drop. It was hard to get any detail and keep the whole falls in the frame. I even tried a panorama. We eventually walked passed this viewing area and another falls came into view. This one had much less height but was still very beautiful. Around another corner was a stone bridge which led to the path on the other side. Beneath the bridge was a narrow slot which channeled the water into another falls. I stood on the bridge and took pictures both ways in the gorge and then took some looking almost straight down from the bridge. We continued on up the trail with me taking a few pictures of the bridge. Eventually we arrived at the upper parking are and it was time to head back. Before turning around we visited an old mill and I took pictures of the falls that helped power it. By this time all of us were tired so we headed back to the beginning of the rim trail and climbed UP to the rim of the gorge. The trail flattened at the top but still had its downs and subsequent ups. In one place the trail dropped down an impressive set of stone steps to the level of the stream. We walked along the stream briefly and then had to climb back up to the rim. There were several viewpoints along the way with one offering a nice view down to Lucifer Falls. Other lookouts we too obscured to use a camera. Signs along the way kept us posted on the way out and back of the distance yet to go. Eventually the signs were for .5 miles had then .25 miles. Near the end of the trail we could see down to the gorge and another falls that I was sure we had NOT visited. This was the Lower Falls that the Gorge Trail on the other side misses. It is also the site of the swimming area for the park. Since dogs are not allowed Sheba stayed with Cindy while I took a moment to go down and take pictures of the Lower Falls. Below the Lower falls a small dam holds back some water to form a pool for swimming. The gorge below this is not as high as further up but has some nice features. On the other side is some artificial stonework and a stone building. I rejoined Cindy and Sheba and we walked through an area with some cabins until we found the road that goes back to the parking area just across the stream. There is a walkway for hikers but the cars have to drive through several inches of water and ford the stream to cross! We were thankful to be back at the car at around 5:00 PM having take 2.5 hours to finish the 5 miles hike.

On Tuesday, June 29th we finished Taughannock Falls by 1:00 PM and headed back to Ithaca on Route 89 to pick up Route 96 south. Once on this road it was a very short drive to Buttermilk Falls State Park. We were parked and on the trail by 1:20 PM. I was a little disappointed at first since the main falls simply has water that passes over a wide expanse of harder bedrock and does not really "fall". In addition, the natural beauty of the area is "spoiled" by a swimming area complete with concrete and lifeguards. I took some quick shots and then we proceeded up the stone steps to the right of the falls to walk the Gorge Trail. As we ascended the steps, I was able to take some more shots of the falls that minimized the swimming area. The way the stream cut through the rock to form the gorge was interesting and soon we were at another falls and stopped to take pictures. This falls also did not have a sheer drop but was narrower and, therefore, seemed to be faster flowing with a greater volume of water. As we continued along the path, we could see how it meandered along the gorge and how many interesting formations had been created. Another falls appeared as the water passed through a narrow slot in the rocks. In several places the swirling water had cut circular "pools" in the rock which were deep with rather large diameters.

More falls and more interesting formations appeared as the path continued climbing up the gorge. At the top of one set of steps a nice three-tiered cascade could be seen. A lean-to appeared on the right of the trail and we both thought it would be a GREAT place to stay! We passed by a bridge that crossed the stream and led to the Rim Trail but I wanted to make sure we saw the whole gorge so we continued on. We passed several more falls and interesting rock formations before coming to Pinnacle Rock. Here a spire of rock has either pulled away from the gorge wall or, more likely, is of greater hardness than the surrounding stone. In any case, it was quite impressive standing tall right next to the path. As we continued up the gorge the pattern of falls, plunge pools, slots continued but became less frequent as the stream volume deceased. We crossed a bridge to get to the Rim Trail on the east side of the gorge. This trail led down most of the way but had at least one area that dropped to the gorge before climbing again to the rim. In several places the trail met a service road and the path was not well marked. As we headed back down to the parking area, we noted the many vines that covered the trees in this area. We arrived at the car by 2:20 PM taking just over an hour to cover the 2 mile hike. I was a little tired and I knew Cindy might not want to continue on to Robert J. Treman State Park to do Enfield Glen. I was a little surprised but very happy when she said she would go so it was off to our last and LONGEST adventure!

On Tuesday, June 29th Cindy was off from work and ready to do some hiking. I wanted to hike from Tammany to Sunfish Pond but she was worried it would be too long and too hot. She proposed heading north where it would be cooler. She suggested Watkins Glen but the website said "No dogs!" I don't like to change plans but began to formulate a route that would take us to visit several of the parks near Ithaca that have waterfalls. My plans included Potter's Falls in Ithaca, Taughannock Falls near Trumansburg, Buttermilk Falls and Enfield Glen south of Ithaca. We got started relatively early for us. I had checked the state parks website and all four of these allowed dogs if they are leashed. This is not Sheba's favorite sort of trip but it was better than leaving her home. We headed up Route 17 to Binghamton and then north on I81 to Whitney Point. From there we took Route 79 to Ithaca and then Route 89 north to Trumansburg. All went well and we arrived at the park at about 10:15. We paid the day use fee and found that it was good all day at any state park! We were on the trail before 10:30 AM. We decided to walk into the gorge and do that trail first since it was short and led right to the base of the 215 foot main falls. As we walked this trail several smaller falls appeared along the way and we stopped to take pictures. We were both impressed by the canyon that the stream had cut over the years. Equally interesting was the layer that acted as the stream bed. The rock layer showed :waves" in many places and in some Ares we were walking on this layer as well. In many areas the different hardness of the rock layers was evident in their erosion patterns. The walk was pleasant and the air temperature was cool and we arrived tat he bridge over the stream at the base of the falls by 11:00 AM. The main falls are certainly high and there was enough water to make them interesting. I would like to return after a heavy rain or in early spring! We stopped to take MANY pictures and then returned to the parking area

Back near the beginning of the Gorge Trail, we started UP to the south rim trail. Getting up to the rim required quite a climb, of course and there were MANY stone steps along the way. Once we were up on the rim, the trail leveled out and passed through shaded groves of the hardwood and some evergreen trees. Along the way a few lookouts gave interesting views of the canyon below and, eventually, of the falls itself. Soon we were nearing the upper reaches of the gorge and a new falls came into view. Here the gorge widened considerably and the different layers of rock were even more obvious. We were wondering how we would cross the gorge to get to the north rim but soon a bridge cam into view. It looked a old and from the side it was clear that it had seen better days. Once we were on the bridge another falls, as impressive as the main falls in many ways appeared on the left or southwest of the bridge. This falls also fell a long distance and the volume appeared to be as great as the main falls. A little further upstream we could see another bridge that routed traffic over the stream. We continued on the trail with a side trip that took us to the road bridge and back before continuing on the main trail. As we walked along the main trail an occasional view of the gorge would appear but none that were really unobtainable.

As we continued our walk, a nice view of the falls appeared through the trees so I took some pictures. The trail wound along the gorge and even joined the road for a brief time. Soon we approached the upper access to the park and the gorge. Here, those who wanted a quick view of the falls could simply park and walk down a flight of stone steps. I wanted to tell them what they were missing! This view of the falls was nice and was from a much greater distance than the Gorge Trail that we had done earlier. I took many photographs before we started back down the North Rim Trail to the car. Along the way I kept looking for a view down the gorge and out to Cayuga Lake. All the viewpoints were overgrown and the views obscured by trees and bushes, Finally a nice lookout offered a clear view of the lake, At another point we were able to look down to the bed of the stream at the bottom of the gorge and see people walking along the stream bed. They appeared very small even with the zoom. We continued down the trail stopping at several more viewpoints before descending the steps to the road a little north of the parking are. We walked the road back to the car. I stopped on the small road bridge to take some final pictures, We were back at the car just before 1:00 PM having taken 2.5 hours to do the 6 mile hike. It was now off to Buttermilk Falls.

On Friday, June 25th we finished Oxford and County House by 3:00 PM. I drove out Tunnel Hill Road to Jackson Valley Road and then picked up Karrsville Road to Rockport Road. This was easier than I though and I parked at the State pheasant farm at 3:15 PM. As I started to get out of the car, my leg cramped which is, for me, a sign of fatigue AND dehydration. I massaged the cramp out and drank the rest of a bottle of water before getting the gear on and walking across the road with Sheba. We walked up the hill following the signs for the overlook. This "trail" was mowed and we were soon looking out over the farms in this valley. The views from the overlook were spotty because of the lush plant life spring up. We continued up the hill on a woods road and found another which turned toward Upper Pohatcong. We crossed the first power line at about .6 miles without much problem and I was beginning to think this one was "in the bag". How wrong could I be? At just over 1 mile, we came upon a woods road and the POSTED signs began. I wanted to walk straight ahead to bushwhack to the peak but I did not want to walk across more private property. I chose to turn up the road to avoid the POSTED land and this is where the fun REALLY began. At first I hit and open space where there were SHARP plants and vines so thick it was impossible to pass. We backtracked and tried to stay in the shade as much as possible. It was NOT possible to stay away from open areas so we ended up really whacking bushes through some of the MOST MISERABLE terrain I have crossed in a long time. The thorns were big and brutal, vines grabbed at your legs and blowdown rerouted us.

We continued to work further north than I had wanted to avoid posted land. At some point I caught another trail which turned into a road and ended at the second power line. We walked across the right-of-way and tried to find a good place to enter the woods beyond. We found a place although not a good one. We were about 1.7 miles and one hour into the hike at this point. I figured with only .4 miles to go to the high point it couldn't be all that bad. What was I thinking? More open spots with more plant attacks! Swampy areas with the true nature of the footing underneath hidden by dense growth. Finally we started to pick up some paths as we neared the high point. It was discouraging to think we would have to fight our way back over the same route! The terrain began to flatten and the woods did open up as we approached the summit. We were about 2 miles into the hike and it was 4:40 PM meaning we had taken almost and hour and a half to get to the high point. I didn't see any POSTED signs nearby but I did see hunters shack so we turned around to follow our path back. I was exhilarated at this point and about as scratched up as I have ever been. These factors combined with the fact that I had already beaten down a lot of the plants that barred the way meant that the return trip seemed much faster. We stopped at the overlook for me to take some pictures and then headed back down to the road. At the gate was a sign that told the story of the Morris Canal and pointed out that the swampy area was actually the old boat basin. We crossed the road and went to the car. It was 5:50 PM and we had finished the grueling 4.4 mile hike in just over 2.5 hours. The return trip had taken about an hour. I stopped to take some pictures on the pheasants and then got in the car and headed home as the first New Yorker to conquer New Jersey's peaks!

On Friday, June 25th I was done with Fairway by 1:00 PM and turned by attention to Oxford and County House. I drove back to Route 31 and headed south to Tunnel Hill Road which I thought I would check out. I made a left onto Tunnel Hill and shortly found a pulloff on` the right side. I decided to park and start the hike from there. It was 1:10 PM when we entered the woods and began to bushwhack up the steep hillside. The hillside had some rather large rocks inconveniently hidden under ferns and other plants. It was here that we began to run into SHARP plants of different types. I am accustomed to the prickers in the Catskills which are mostly raspberry and blackberry canes. New Jersey seems to have these but also possess another array of barberry and what seems to be wild roses. The thorns and these are HUGE and the plants actively reach out and grab you as you pass by. The route I took skirted the bump dubbed Hill 888 and tuned to sidehill a lot but the walking wasn't hard because of this. We kept running into patches of rocky, blowdown and the ever present SHARP pants. After only .82 miles and half and hour we found the high point on Oxford but it seemed much longer than that. What I didn't know at this point was that the fun was just beginning!

From the top of Oxford I took a bearing east and just slightly north and headed down into Sykes Gap. The hillside I chose had enormous boulders with gaps and holes between them. All this was covered by dense vegetation including various SHARP plants. I thought the trip down would never end. Once we got into the gap things did not immediately get better. It was wet in places, there were more rocks and blowdown to avoid and some dense brush to get through. At least ahead of us I could see the ascent that was County House. Soon we were on the hill but there was still a lot of rocky areas to work through. The hillside was steep but not very long and there seemed to be a few paths. I wondered if I was in the right place since I saw no POSTED signs on this side of the mountain. Soon I was near the top and I though I could see a clearing through the bushes. The clearing proved to be the backyard of the house at the top. I found a surprised homeowner who said "Hello" and graciously granted me permission to walk around on his land and then head down his private driveway. It was 2:25 PM and about 1.6 miles into the hike. It had taken us 1 hour and 15 minutes to traverse the difficult route to the top of County House. I was VERY grateful since I did not want to even try to head back down to Sykes Gap let alone retrace my route over Oxford. We walked down his driveway turned right onto Jost Road which IS also private. Jost Road took us to Tunnel Hill Road which we walked back to the car. The return trip to the car was also about 1.6 miles but took only 35 minutes. We finished the 3.2 mile trip in 1 hour and 45 minutes returning to the car at 3:00 PM. I was tired and wondered if I could handle Upper Pohatcong. Most of the trip reports seemed to indicate that there were woods roads and that the bushwhacking was through mostly "open" woods. This was NOT to be my experience!

On Friday, June 25th I was finished The Tornfell by 11:20 AM so it was on to Fairway. I drove back out to the Hope Great Meadows Road and south on this to Route 46 and turned west. I picked up Route 31 south toward Oxford. I was looking for Mine Hill Road but had a little trouble finding it since the turn is not right off the main road and I did not know the street or route number. After one false start and some lucky turns, I was on Mine Hill Road and found the pulloff on the right just as the road starts to descend. I could even see a woods road! We were on the trail just before noon. I entered the woods road from where I parked and then immediately found another that headed UP and to the southwest. We stayed on this road for a while until it seemed to turn in the wrong direction and we began to bushwhack up the hill through the woods passed several fenced in mine adits. I walked over to take a look and two seemed to be just shallow pits. One did have a significant tailing pile so they may have been deeper than they appeared. As we walked through the woods we again joined up with a road and stayed on it until about .4 miles when it seemed to be headed in the wrong direction. I headed out on a trail that I hoped would go in the right direction but after a few hundred feet it was clear that it would not so I backtracked and bushwhacked down a hill and picked up a road which I suspected was the same road I had been on. At this point there were several building with mining equipment and drill cores. There was also a large tank but the area was posted so I headed across an open area and back onto another road.

The road took me to a power line right-of-way and then up along the right-of-way to its highest point. I crossed the power line and headed back into the woods on a road or trail. This road was posted on both sides but I continued on the theory that the road itself seemed to be OK. Soon the woods road joined a paved road so I turned left and continued up the hill. At 12:25 PM, after hiking 1.2 miles, we arrived at the old cell tower installation. The gates to the fence were unlocked and wide open. I walked around the buildings and stood on some rock outcroppings that seemed to be the highest point around. Back on the paved road we headed to the car on the same route we had taken up. I did stop to look at some of the buildings and wonder about the story of this area. On the way back we stayed on the road and it did take us back up the hill and avoided the second bushwhack. We were back at the car before 1:00 PM having covered the 2.4 miles in an hour! The next hike would be Oxford and County House which were nearby.

On Friday, June 25th I was finished with Whitehall Hill by 9:15 AM and was ready to head to The Tornfell. I took Route 206 south the I80 and then drove west to the exit for the Hope-Blairstown Road. I took this south and turned onto the Hope-Great Meadows Road which after a few miscues. Many of the buildings in Hope were beautiful constructed of quarried stone. I made a note to return to the town at a later date since this day was dedicated to peak bagging! I passed the Land of Make Believe which was packed with school children and head up the hill. At the top of the hill was a pulloff on the right. I was looking for the area Bill Maurer had described where a white trail started just below the pulloff. I saw no trail near the top so I drove back down the hill looking for another place to park. I didn't find any and had a bad feeling that hiking from the top parking area could possibly take me across private property AND it was VERY steep by the road. I decided to go to the Jenny Jump picnic area on Fairview Road and hike from there. We were in the parking area by 10:00 AM were on the trail not long after.

A blue trail leaves from the end of the parking area and is clearly marked. This trail proceeds along woods road lined with stone on both sides until it merges with a white trail and continues in the general direction of the peak. The trail climbs slightly and the starts a steady descent until about 1 mile into the hike. I don't like to go down when I know I have to go up but I knew the trail would be a lot easier to follow than trying to bushwhack a more direct route. At the one mile mark the trail ascends to a lookout but the views are non-existent now due to the vegetation. Just passed the overlook at about 1.45 miles we turned left off the trail to bushwhack to the high point of The Tornfell. I headed for a patch of ferns thinking this would mean fewer prickers and it worked as long as I avoided open, sunny areas. In a short distance a rock out cropping lay ahead and Sheba found an easy way up one end. We walked across this outcrop or ridge and quickly found the high point with a small cairn at about 10:45 AM. We headed back down the outcrop and then I decided to try a slightly different route back. This was not a good idea since we encountered a whole new batch of SHARP plants to battle. Just as we hit the trail, I heard voices and walked toward the viewpoint to meet a couple who were camping at Jenny Jump. They told me that the trail beyond the viewpoint had a lot of prickers and descended steeply. I think this is the white trail that comes up from near the Land of Make Believe but that will be another day's adventure. Sheba and I made short work of the hike back and were at the car by 11:20 AM having finished the 3.1 mile hike, including the bushwhack, in 1 hour and 15 minutes. This was peak two out of a planned six for the day and Fairway was next!

On Friday, June 25th my plan was to finish the NJ1K list if at all possible. I thought it would be hard but possible. I had no idea! I had 6 peaks to go and carefully planned a strategy to reduce the time to drive between them and maximize the time for hiking. The order I planned was Whitehall, Tornfell, Fairway, Oxford and County House and Upper Pohatcong. I read all the trip reports of the other members, printed maps of the areas and wrote down the GPS coordinates and elevations. I thought I was ready. I was out the door and on the road before 7:00 AM and headed to Milford and then south on Route 206 the Andover to take on Whitehall Hill first. I turned right onto North Shore Road and parked a the small pulloff on the right side just after the turn. It was just after 8:30 AM when we walked back out to Route 206 and took a left into the multi-use trail that parallels the road. After about .2 miles a blazed green trail appeared on the left and we turned onto it. The trail was easy to follow and well kept as it headed toward Whitehall Hill. At .55 miles into the hike it was obvious the trail would by pass the peak so we turned right and up into the woods. In only a short distance we found another woods road which we followed until .67 miles when it started to descend and head away from the peak. We bushwhacked up a steep, rocky hillside and headed for the high point. I knew that this might be private land so I was prepared to stop if I saw POSTED signs. As I neared the picnic table at the viewpoint, I heard voices. One of the property owners and a friend were at the lookout. He told me that I must have missed the POSTED signs and I apologized. He was very gracious and allowed me to walk to the high point AND take pictures from the viewpoint. To get to the top took only half and hour and was less than a mile. We returned the same way and were back at the car by 9:15 covering the 1.7 mile round trip in 45 minutes. The Tornfell would be next!

Spring 2010

On Sunday, June 20th we finished Pyramid Mountain and were ready to try another Morris County Park, Schooley's Mountain. We are getting so that we know many of the roads in New Jersey so finding this park was easier than we thought. Soon we were headed south on Route 206 toward Chester and Route 513 west. We arrived in Long Valley to find a beautiful small town. Aright onto Route 517 and a QUICK left onto Fairview Avenue put us minutes away from the Langdon Palmer Fishing Area parking and the trailhead for our next hike. We arrived at 2:15 PM and got ready to hike. By now the temperature was in the mid-90's with a humidity level approaching 80%! Occasionally a breeze would blow and cold things off just a little! As we entered the woods we immediately had to choose left or right. Most of the marked trail led to the left but we would return that way. We continued to the right on the unblazed Beeline Trail which made a gentle but steady ascent. Several woods roads and paths cut across the trail but we continued on the Beeline until the Grand Loop Trail. We continued straight ahead on this trail and continued to climb through green hardwood forest When we got to the Highland Cut Trail we turned left and headed southwest still climbing slightly until at about 1.3 miles into the hike we started to descend to the picnic area at George Lake.

There were quite a few people at the picnic area and we headed toward the lake until we spotted the beach area which was closed. Perhaps cost cutting had something to do with the closure or maybe it was the goose population. From just left of the beach area a floating bridge crossed George Lake and we stopped to take pictures of the lake, the bridge and some wildlife before crossing. We walked south on the other side of the lake and back to the other side on the bridge over the dam. The Falling Water Trail paralleled Electric Brook and we stopped several times to take pictures until the trail descended steeply at the main falls. A family was already there and we stopped to talk. They asked questions about the trails and mentioned they had been in the Catskills several times. We wished each other a good day and went in opposite directions. We stopped to take many pictures of the falls which had an upper and lower half before continuing on to the south and west. The trail ascended a short hill and I knew we had arrived at the rock quarry. The area was larger than I thought it would be with many of the rocks showing drill holes and angles typical of quarried stone. I took some pictures before we descended the hill to pick up the Patriot's Path west back to the car. We were back at about 4:15 PM having taken 2 hours to cover the 3.2 miles with MANY stops for pictures.

On Sunday, June 20th Cindy wanted to do some hiking and Sheba was ready to go. Cindy is not thrilled with bushwhacking or high temperatures and humidity so the remaining NJ1K were out of the question! We decided to go to New Jersey to hike two of the excellent parks in the Morris County system. I am VERY impressed with what Morris County has done in creating a number of parks with something for everyone and then maintaining them. Our first stop was Pyramid Mountain Natural Historical Area near Boonton. We headed for Port Jervis again and picked up Route 23 over High Point and stayed on this road for the LONG trip to Route 511 south just after Kinnelon. This road is also Known as Boonton Avenue and it wasn't too long until we were at the parking area for the hike. When we arrived at 10:20 AM there were quite a few cars in the lot and I remembered this was supposed to be a popular destination. There weren't too many views but there were many interesting glacial formation with the most prominent being some glacial erratics. The temperatures were already in the high 80's with a humidity top match! As we started there were a few other people headed out on the blue Mennen Trail. These people quickly thinned out as they took paths to the lake or for a shorter hike. We crossed over Stony Brook on a bridge and immediately after bypassed a turn onto a yellow trail on the right. Further along a white trail came in from the left but we stayed on the blue trail. This trail followed alongside a power line right-of-way but stayed in the woods. We stopped at the junction of the Red Trail and Blue trail to adjust equipment before starting down the Red Trail. A hiker passed us and ask if we needed help but we thanked her and said "No".

After a short distance we crossed over Bear house Brook on a couple of planks and were at the junction with the White Trail. There are construction materials piled there for a new bridge but they seem to have been there for some time. We walked to the left on the White Trail and woods road looking for the ruins of the Morgan Place. We did find some foundations but not much else and the road seemed to be headed to the power line. We turned around and headed north on the White Trail looking for Bear Rock. As we approached the appointed place, only a few small erratics were present and we were disappointed. We walked a little further and found Bear Rock (Bare Rock). It was right at the junction of the White Trail that we were on and the Blue/White and Yellow trail on the right. It was truly huge and we stopped to take some shots before continuing on the Blue Trail again. This trail started by paralleling the brook and some low swampy areas and I have the insect bites to prove it. After walking north for a while we were at the junction with the Red Trail and turned right to head south almost 80 degrees from our previous heading. The trail parallel the base of a ridge with a lot of talus before turning east and climbing up to the top of that ridge! As the trail flattened we came across Whale Head, another glacial erratic. It was precariously perched or balanced and a diagonal crack at the top did make it look a little like a whale's head breaching the waves. We stopped and took pictures and got a drink before continuing the hike. Along the way we found an interesting rock that had fractured in a curve making it look man made. After this point the trail rolled some but mostly descended to another formation.

Tripod Rock is a large erratic perched on top of three smaller stones. I had read descriptions and seen pictures but it was much more impressive in "person". Nearby are two other erratics that people have placed smaller rocks under to mimic Tripod Rock. There were a few people in the area and a few more arrived as we were taking pictures. All seemed to know something about the formation and all had a hard time believing it was all natural. After Tripod Rock it was mostly downhill as the trail went downhill AND there weren't many more formations. We passed trail coming in from the right. I walked up the path to what I thought was Lucy's Overlook. Either I had the wrong place or it, like many other viewpoints, has grown in. We were now back on the blue trail hiking along the shoulder of Pyramid Mountain. To the right was the summit but there didn't seem much reason to go up there. To the left there seemed to be some light indicating a viewpoint but one never seemed to open up. Soon we were at the southwestern end of Pyramid Mountain where the trail make a sharp right to descend steeply. Here a path led straight ahead and we took it to a limited viewpoint. As we walked back up the trail I noticed another viewpoint on the right just before the trail turned down the mountain. I walked out to this area and got some different and better pictures. From here we descended the mountain, steeply at times, and followed our original path back top the car. We were back just after 1:00 PM with the 5 mile hiking taking about 3 hours. After a brief rest, we consulted our maps for the best route to Schooley's Mountain County Park near Long Valley.

On Saturday, June 19th the son on one of our friends was marrying the daughter of another friend at the Frost Valley YMCA camp. One of the activities before the wedding was a hike to High Falls on the Frost Valley property on Saturday morning at 9:45 AM. I left Sheba home since I did not know if her presence would be appreciated. Cindy does not ride well on the winding back roads so I was the only one going on the hike from our family. By 9:45 AM a few people had shown up and our guide, Eric, arrived. He were off just before 10:00 AM on what was billed as the long hike. I knew it would NOT be long so I asked if I could hike to High Falls with the group and then continue on my own. Eric said he didn't see why not and I was satisfied. We walked from the pavilion out passed the lake on the road side on the Lake Cole Trail and then around then end of the lake and over the bridge at the dam. Here we started to walk on the actual trail dubbed the Deer Run Trail. These trails are all well maintained and groomed with most debris removed. We crossed the Line Shack Trail and continued on the yellow blazed High Falls Trail. Once we got to the blue Spring Ridge Trail, we followed an unmarked path down to the falls. We were there by about 10:35 AM. There is a nice wooden deck that offers a good view of the falls and I took some pictures before excusing myself to continue the hike on my own.

I walked back up the hill to the trail and took the blue Spring Ridge Trail northeast. When I reached the yellow Panhandle Trail, I took it to extend my hike as far as possible. I intended to take the trail furthest away from the main complex to do a complete perimeter hike of the upper trail system. All along the Spring Ridge and Panhandle Trail I could hear and usually see the High Falls Brook as it made its way to the falls. The Panhandle Trail climbed quite a bit and was much rougher than the well maintained trails nearer the main complex. It was mostly woods road but showed little maintenance or use. It was very wet in places and overgrown with ferns and grasses. At the Line Shack trail I turned left and then left again on the yellow Sunrise Trail. When the yellow trail met the blue Rocky Road Trail, I continued on blue. Somewhere along the way I came upon the Line Shack erected by a group in the late 20's! The Rocky Road was rocky and wet in many places. I continued to descend on it and got some nice views of the Wildcat Range across the river. Eventually the Rocky Road Trail met the red Perimeter Trail which I followed passed some yurts and the climbing tower and zip lines. This lead me back to the parking area by 11:45. I covered just under 5 miles in under 2 hours!

On Wednesday, June 16th I drove out West Brook to Stonetown Road and then to the Greenwood Lake Turnpike. Just passed the Long Pond Ironworks I turned right onto East Shore Road. I was looking for a pronounced turn to the left of the road and a yellow gate on the right with a pull off across the road. This was much easier to find than I thought it would be. I pulled over and parked at about 2:15 PM. There was still some thunder but no rain so I decided to chance it. The bridge over the creek has seen better days but it supported us just fine. Just after crossing the bridge there seemed to be a path up through the woods so started climbing the rather steep hill heading north. Immediately some cliffs appeared in the direction I was going and it did not look like they would be easily scaled. We ran across a road up but more to the northwest. I decided to follow this and it led to a gentler ascent. After gaining quite a bit of elevation I turned northeast and began to encounter some high spots. Each time I found a high spot there was another higher one just ahead of me. There did seem to be a path and I followed this as I climbed over and then up to another high spot.

Eventually I saw ahead a large cairn and I knew we had arrived. We stopped briefly to take a few pictures and then several peals of thunder made me look for the best way back. I decided that going down steep ground is easier than going up and that most cliffs have some way down. I used my compass to get a roughly southeastern bearing and headed down in that direction. The lay of the land kept pushing me south but I figured that was OK. There were some very steep areas but each seemed to have a way down through them. Soon, I could see light ahead which I judged to be the swampy area that runs between Jennings and Big Beach. I knew that if this was true there would be a trail or road just at the base of the descent. It turned out I was correct and we turned right to head southwest back to the car. I think next time I will hike in from the Jennings Hollow trail or at least go up through the cliffs the way I came down. I stopped on the bridge to take a few pictures and then walked across the road to the car. It was right around 3:15 PM and the 1.5 mile hike had taken almost exactly one hour.

On Wednesday, June 16th we parked along West Brook Road at about 11:45 AM and started out on a hike we had started before. The last time Cindy, Sheba and I hiked this I made the mistake of taking the wrong trail to the wrong summit of Long Hill near the northern end. It was a nice hike that day but long for Cindy. This time I was only interested in getting the peak so Sheba and I moved quickly without stopping. The thunder in the distance helped spur us along! Crossing the brook near the beginning of the trail was an adventure since it was a little high due to the recent rain. There was still some blowdown blocking the trail on the other side but we knew how to work around it. We went over Manaticut Point without stopping and stayed on the Hewitt Butler Trail when we got to the trail junction at 1.2 miles. This trail was not as nice as the trail we took before but at least I knew I was now headed in the right direction. After another mile I could see the power line right-of-way and soon the trail met and followed it to the highest point on Long Hill. I walked a little further looking for higher ground but the trail started to descend so we turned around and hurried back the way we came. Sheba and I can really move on trails when we aren't stopping for pictures so we finished the 5 mile hike in 2 hours, returning to the car 1:45 PM. It hadn't started to rain yet so I decided to drive the East Shore Road to at least find the parking spot for Jennings Mountain.

On Wednesday, June 16th we left Pochuck and headed south on Rt 565 to Rt 23. Route 23 is becoming very familiar to me and I knew just where we wanted to turn to go to Buck Mountain. The turn was right across from Echo Lake Road which heads north. I turned right and started to look for Winnebago Road. My intent was to drive down the road and park on the side to hike up Buck Mountain. When I got to the turn, the road was gated and the property posted as Property of the City of Newark. I didn't know if my watershed permit would allow me to hike here. I drove down the road and found an employee at one of the pumping stations who said he didn't think anyone would care or bother me. I decided to take a chance but asked the lady at the house across the road if I could park in her driveway. The gave me permission and we started at about 10:00 AM. We walked down the paved road and crossed the Pequannock River on a nice road bridge. The river has quite a gorge far below. As we walked up the road on some gravel another dog joined us. He and Sheba seemed to tolerate each other and he seemed to know where he was going. We continued on the road passed the Charlottesburg Reservoir Dam for a little bit. The road seemed to be heading too far to the south so I turned left into the woods and started climbing up. Headed roughly east. We gained some elevation and I kept seeing rock outcroppings ahead of me with each being higher than the other. I am used to having my GPS to pinpoint the exact location of the high points so I felt a little lost! After walking around on these rock outcroppings, I was ready to head back until I a view of some MUCH higher ground to the east. We descended a little, crossed a trail or road and then started steeply up through some pretty thick brush. Soon we were at the top on the north end of the ridge with some views to the north. After taking some pictures, I turned around and headed south on the ridge since I remembered that the high pint was in that direction. My choice was reinforced by the fact that I could see higher ground and there were some paths that led to what I eventually claimed as the summit.

To return I decided that I did not want to try to retrace my route up but would use a northwest compass bearing to guide me. We headed in that direction and DOWN whenever we could. At one point I ran into a road and I decided to walk that for a while. It seemed to be heading to much toward the north and I was about abandon it when I heard the roar of the water over the dam. A little to the west I could see the reservoir so I headed in that direction and walked down the hill to the dam. I took a few pictures and then returned to the bridge over the river where I took Some more. From there it was back to the car. The route was about 2.5 miles as close as I could figure and we were back at about 11:15 AM so it took only and hour and 15 minutes. I headed back to Route 23 and crossed it to take Echo Lake Road north to Macopin Road and then to West Brook Road to rehike Long Hill

On Wednesday, June 16th I took a day off from work since I had no assignment and headed to New Jersey to get some more NJ1K peaks. I had only 10 left and wanted to get the "north" done before planning a long day in the "south". I carefully planned a driving route to include Pochuck, Buck in Kinnelon, Long Hill and Jennings. I doubted I could get all of these in since I had been warned the first two could be problematic and the forecast was for thunderstorms. I had learned my lesson on Saturday and will, in the future, avoid torrential downpours as much as possible. I got an early start and headed down the Quickway to the Florida exit. Just before Florida I headed for Pine Island and from here took the proper roads to get to the intersection of Ft 65 and Tall Timbers Road. We arrived at about 8:15 AM which was when I found out I had left my GPS unit home. I use the GPS to help navigate and to record Mt routes to publish later. I was annoyed at myself but figured I could navigate with map and compass and then approximate my routes when I got home. Sheba and I headed off into the swampy area that lies between the parking area and the drier and open forest on the other side. At least one report warned about how thick this area was and how it might be nearly impassable given the rain we had over the previous few days. We found a pretty good route through the swampy area which was actually just damp and soon were on the other side in the forest.

I used my rule that says head UP and in the general direction of the intended target and this is what we did. The walking was pretty easy as we headed generally east. We hit a woods road that went up the mountain but headed a little more south than I wanted to go. Still, some pretty impressive cliffs lay between the road and the high point so I decided to follow the road around the "back" of the mountain. Soon a "path" appeared on the right and we headed up again steeply through some ferns and blowdown. This put us on the summit plateau where we walked around for a while until I felt we had hit all the possible high points. There wasn't much to see so I decided to head back down by heading northwest and over some of the steep cliffs we had seen before. Going down wasn't too bad as we found some breaks in the cliffs and we soon hit another woods road. This one headed too much to the north so we crossed it and soon regained our path from earlier. We followed the same general route back down through the open forest and across the swamp. We were back by 9:15 covering about 1.5 miles in the hour. The next stop was Buck Mountain in Kinnelon.

On Sunday, June 13th I wanted to hike after church. I looked at the weather forecasts and south seemed the best direction so I looked at the area around the Delaware Water Gap. The forecast for Dingman's Ferry was for thunderstorms LATE in the afternoon. Cindy looked at the radar and confidently stated that we WOULD get wet. I chose to believe the professional forecasters instead of my wife. Boy was I wrong! We headed for Port Jervis, took I84 to Milford and the caught Route 6 to Milford and Route 209 to the Water Gap. We crossed the Dingman's Ferry bridge under cloudy, dark skies. On the other side we made all the turns necessary to get on the NPS road through the Water Gap. At first it was just sprinkling and then the rain came in buckets. I was still optimistic as we headed toward Millbrook Village since it hadn't rained in that area and the skies seemed brighter or so I thought. We parked at Mill brook Village and I enquired about the Orchard Trail. It starts right across the road from the parking area and we were out on the trail by 1:15 PM. The skies were dark and Cindy seemed resigned to getting drenched but I was still hoping for the best! We started up the Orchard Trail which is blazed in orange and is a little more of a climb than I thought it would be. Near the top are some open clearings but after a little more than a half mile the Orchard Trail ends and we started walking on a paved road designated the Hamilton Ridge Trail.

As we made the turn onto the road, we heard some thunder and a few raindrops began to fall. Cindy must have known what was coming since she stopped to put on her rain jacket AND pants. We continued along the Hamilton Ridge Trail for another .7 miles until the orange blazed Pioneer Trail appeared on the right. I stopped to put on my rain jacket (I did NOT bring pants.) and stowed the electronics in plastic bags. We headed down the Pioneer Trail as the rain increased. The trail headed down toward the river and after only about .2 miles it turned sharply left. A road led off to the right but I ignored it thinking a better view of the river might be ahead. This WAS the place to walk down to the bluffs overlooking the river and I may return when the weather is more friendly. The trail continued to twist and turn and came pretty close to the river over the next 1.25 miles. In places it looked like no one had been over the trail in some time as the grass was high and the bushes encroached on the it. In several places it was obvious that the land had been cleared but we did not investigate for old foundation or ruins. We crossed a power line right-of-way and then the rain started to come down in buckets. Just after the right-of-way the trail intersected another road and we walked right on the road toward the river. The road actually intercepted the power line and we decided to go no further. Back at the junction we headed the other way on the road with the rain still pouring down. At some point it is not possible to become wetter and I just walk through puddles and running water that I normally would avoid! After another mile on the trail/road we crossed Old Mine Road and walked over to the VanCampen's Glen Parking Area.

The rain had nearly stopped as we entered the glen and I tried to clean my camera lens of raindrops and condensation. I took some pictures before getting the lens completely dry and some had interesting effects. A little further up the glen we stopped at a waterfall less than a half mile along the stream and I took some more pictures before climbing a steep bank and continuing the hike. The trail runs very close to the stream in some places and many areas were wet and slippery from the rain. After crossing abridge we approached another falls where some people had gathered to swim. A set of stairs took the trail to the area above the falls where the trail continued. The stream has cut deeply into the rock above this waterfall and we took a few picture and then headed up the bank on the trail. By this time my feet were thoroughly soaked and becoming uncomfortable. The trail intersected a road but signs pointed out the trail. At another road crossing there were no signs or blazes and the way ahead did not look traveled. We did go straight ahead and crossed the same power line as before. The trail became less distinct as the bushes closed in but someone had put down logs to help get through the swampy area and we soon found a bridge over the stream. The trail led through the Watergate Recreation Area which has a lake and a few ponds. As we waked out the access road, we picked up the path back to Millbrook Village and passed by the old Millbrook School No. 82. More buildings soon appeared and we walked out to the road and across it to the parking area. We finished at 4:28 PM covering the 7.1 miles in 3 hours and 10 minutes. I was glad I had brought a change of clothes and that the restrooms at the Village were still unlocked!

On Saturday, June 5th we headed back north on Millbrook Avenue to Route 10 after hiking the Geurin Benchmark. I took Route 10 west and picked up I80 west and then Route 206 North. I wanted to check out the parking spot for Whitehall before heading east on Tamarack Road to Roseville Road and the Hudson Farms hike. I had to pass North Shore Road and turn around to come back. Just after turning onto North Shore off Route 2006 there was a small parking are on the right. A sign on a tree mentioned state forests so I gathered this would be the place to park for Whitehall. I knew I didn't have enough time before the group hike but knew that I would return later. I turned south of 206 and the left or east on Tamarack. Where Tamarack merged with Roseville, I turned left and soon began to notice the posted signs and fencing for the Hudson farms game preserve. At one of the small pull offs I noticed movements and saw a doe jump the fence. Her fawn could not get over the fence and was too big to get through it! I stopped to investigate and quickly took some pictures. The fawn was making a pitiful bleating sound and the doe was not happy either. I knew trying to pick up the fawn was a bad idea for many reasons. I was able to lift the fence in one spot and the fawn quickly darted right passed me and under the fence. I was happy that it had ended well. A little further down the road was a sign for Hudson Farms at Westby so I pulled into the driveway. It was just passed noon and no one else was around. A quick cell phone call to Jeff confirmed I was in the right spot and after only 5 minutes the rest of the group arrived. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Bill Maurer (Hoosier) was one of the hikers as I had not seen him for some time. After introductions we drove down one of the estate roads to the end by "wood Operations to park and begin our hike at about 12:20 PM.

From looking at my GPS it seemed clear that a woods road ran right to the top of Wright Pond Cliffs. Although this was not the shortest way, I was sure it would be the quickest. We set out on the road which ran through some very green and open hardwood forest. On one side rose some cliffs that make up part of Westby Ridge which we would climb after Wright Pond. At one point we rounded a turn in the trail at watched at least tow bears running away and up through the woods. This is the picture of bears I like to see. We continued on the road taking the appropriate turns as they came. We headed south for about a mile and then east for another .3 miles before turning south again climbing gently as we went. The final .3 miles to the summit was somewhat steeper and, although the road meander, to the south. When we got near the summit, we had to step off the trail to the right to find the highest point. From here we actual continued south for about .15 miles to an open viewpoint over Wright Pond and Whitehall Hill. The far hills and valleys were hazy but Wright Pond could be seen easily. I took some pictures from the viewpoint and then worked my way down and to the left to another, more open lookout. Wright Pond is small but there is a large mansion or clubhouse on one shore with a small "marina" in front. It is a truly beautiful setting. After a short break, we retraced our path down Wright Ponds Cliffs to the col with Westby Ridge and started our bushwhack to the top.

Climbing Westby Ridge was quite different but he woods were open and there seemed to be a path to follow. The bushwhack was rocky and had several short but steep climbs. After climbing one, we descended into a small ravine before the next climb. There was another "false summit" near the top on the left and before we made the final hike to the top. We looked for the highest point and the one we found seemed to match the GPS coordinates. It was only .4 miles and 15 minutes from the col. We talked about the route back. One choice was to retrace the path to the Col and take the woods road back. The other choice was to head directly northwest and hit the woods road closer to where we parked. The contour lines on the GPS seemed to indicate this way was steep and we wondered if that meant e would have to descend the cliffs we saw on the way in. In the end we decided on the shorter path and headed northwest. It was a steeper descent than the way up but there were no cliffs to be seen. Instead we crossed a small stream at the bottom and hit the woods road in 20 minutes and less than half a mile. From here it was only .2 miles to the cars. We did see two more fawns on the way out! We arrived back at the cars at 2:15 PM covering the 3.2 miles in about 2 hours with plenty of time for pictures. I thought about doing another peak but decided to wait for another time.

On Saturday, June 5th after finishing Arlington, I drove back to Berkshire Valley Road and then to Route 15. I took 15 south to Dover and then tried to find Millbrook Avenue south to Randolph and Freedom Park to hike the Guerin Benchmark. I had some trouble finding then correct streets but soon found Route 10 and took it west until a sign for Millbrook Avenue appeared. Once on Millbrook it was easy to find Freedom Park. The small gravel parking area was filled as baseball and softball games were already being played at the large park across the street. I pulled into the larger parking area wondering if that was where I belonged. I found a parking spot right next to the sign that said Randolph Trails and we got going at about 10:20 AM. I followed the trail uphill and was looking for a fork to the right. I kept going until it was obvious I had somehow passed the turnoff. We turned back and I found the fork virtually at the beginning of the trail. DO NOT head uphill to the left. Enter the trails and then take the FIRST right up the hill on the gravel trail and toward the power line right-of-way. Just passed the right-of-way in the woods will be a path lined one each side with stones. It does not seem to be much used and could be missed so watch on your left. We turned here and walked through the woods to the rock outcropping with the USGS benchmark on it. We also walked to several other places that might be about the same height before turning around and following the same path back to the car. We were back by 10:50 AM with the 1 mile hike taking only 20 minutes after subtracting time for the initial detour.

On Saturday, June 5th Jeff Bennett and Eric Koppel had secured permission to have an NJ1K hike on the land owned by Hudson Farms. Hudson Farms is a private game preserve and on their lands are Wright Pond Cliffs and Westby Ridge. Unfortunately, they were not enthusiastic about having Sheba come along. I almost decided not to go but relented since the opportunity only come a few times each year. The hike would be at 12:15 PM so I decided to get in a few peaks before then. I don't have too many peaks remaining and two groups are southwest of Hudson Farms and to the northeast. These would be too far away so I decided on something closer. Arlington, Guerin Benchmark and Whitehall all qualified. When I left Livingston Manor at 6:45 AM I was still undecided about the order but chose Arlington first since most people have made Guerin sound so easy! I again chose to take 206 south from Port Jervis but this time thought I would avoid the Matamoras and Milford traffic by taking 84 West. This worked out well as I took 206 South and the 15 South to catch Berkshire Valley Road. Once on this road I was looking for Gordon Lane. I kept looking for this small side street but knew I had missed it when I went under Route 80 and came to the end of Berkshire Valley Road. Fortunately, when I turned around I immediately found it next to the Berkshire Valley Fire Station. I drove to the end of the road and parked in a small lot at 8:40 AM. After getting my bearings, we headed out of the parking area on a woods road. It didn't seem that this road was headed in the right direction but I have learned to walk the trails and roads and bushwhack at the last possible moment.

We hiked passed a small pond with a beaver dam and lily pads and stuck to the road as it north and east AWAY from the summit of Arlington. At about a half mile into the hike, when I was about to start directly for the peak, the road turned toward the west and we continued to follow it. At about .75 miles, we walk up a little hill and found a clear cut area on the left. The sign explained that the trees were cut in an attempt to limit some of the pests destroying forests. At this point I probably should have just gone into the woods and headed up and north since the summit was in that direction. Instead, we stuck to the road as it went further west and away from the peak. At about 1.25 miles I had had enough and went off the trail bushwhacking northeast toward the summit. It wasn't long before we came across a trail that headed for the summit don't know whether this trail branched off the road we had been on or not. We stayed on this road until about 1.6 miles where the road continued north and west away from the peak. We turned into the woods to the east and hit the high point in a matter of minutes. From the summit, I decided NOT to return the way we came but to head southeast to intercept our route near the clear cut area. There were no views along the way so we headed down although I was a little worried about the steepness of the topography as shown on the GPS. The route was actually quite easy and we were soon back on our original path. We followed the trail back to the pond were we stopped so I could take some pictures before going back to the car. We were back at the car by 9:45 AM having taken just about an hour to cover the 2.75 miles. I decided to head south to the Guerin Benchmark before meeting the group to hike.

On Monday, May 31st after finishing our first four peaks Sheba and I headed from Cobb Hill to Clinton Road and the P7 parking area to hike Boulder Pine Mountain. I was feel good since I had managed to buy a permit for the Pequannock Watershed the week before and knew I wouldn't be hassled with warning notices on my windshield. I parked at P7 near the northern end of Clinton Road at about 2:15 PM and went to look for the red blazed Old Coal Trail that would take us close to the summit of Boulder Pine. There were no blazes on any of the paths leading away from the lot so Sheba and I headed out on one that went straight out to Bearfort Waters. Bearfort Waters is a lake or pond or swamp depending on the water level and which area you are in. The path turned left at the water and headed along the shore which I knew was the right way to go. As we walked the trail grew less and less distinct and then ended near a swampy area. I looked across this area and saw three red blazes on the other side near Clinton Road. At that point the descriptions of the hike came back to me and I knew what we had to do. We walked back out to the car and south on Clinton Road for a few hundred feet before turning right on the access road for Project USE. This is also where the red blazes for the Old Coal Trail start. After a short walk we came to the Project USE buildings and the zip lines and high bridges they use for their activities. At this point the trail was poorly marked with only faint red paint blazes on a few trees. As we continued on the trail it narrowed in one area and then opened up. Somewhere in this area the blazes changed to placards with a red diamond on a white background and the label Old Coal Trail.

The skies continued to darken and I even heard some thunder. I wasn't going to give up at this point but I did increase the pace. The trail seemed to wander a lot in the general direction of the destination but I was wondering exactly when I would have to start to bushwhack. At one point the trail began to ascend but I noticed higher ground to the right. At the point where the "Thirsty Dog" signed appeared on the left, I checked the GPS and it seemed that we were going away from the highest ground. It was then that I decided to turn right and start to go overland and toward the high ground. We pushed through some laurel and descended a small hill and started up the other side. I ran across a path and turned right. We walked over some open rock with a few cairns to an open area that was quite flat. Ahead of us I saw a boulder and a pine and concluded we were in the right place. I took some pictures in the area and then started to return as rain again threatened. When we were back to the point we had come across the trail from the bushwhack, I decided to continue to follow the path. It crossed a small chasm on a interesting bridge made out of log and wire mesh and then forked just after that. We took the left fork and ended up on the main trail. The junction was labeled with a sign that said Split Rock.

We turned left on the main trail and then came to the Thirsty Dog sign. Here we turned and walked down the path a little way top see where it went. The path stretched out into the distance and the skies were still dark so we headed back to the main trail and back to the car. We made the trip back very quickly. I stopped at the Project USE buildings to take some pictures of the cabins and the zip lines. I also walked off the trail to a clearing to take some shots of Bearfort Waters. As I was using the camera, a large bird that I thought to be a blue heron flew from one area to another making quite a racket. I took some pictures of the bird and then went back to the car. We were back at about 3:30 PM covering the 3.5 miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes.

On Monday, May 31st after finishing our first three peaks Sheba and I headed from the Mahlon Dickerson Reservation to Cobb Hill. Finding the route to Cobb Hill proved to be the second most challenging aspect of the hike. After a few questionable turns, I found Berkshire Valley Road which led to Oak Ridge Road to Route 23. Once on Route 23 it was easy to find Green Pond Road and head south. What I wasn't sure of was how far I had to go. Eventually I saw signs for Marcella and then Timberbrook Road appeared on the left. A short distance up the road I found the chapel and cemetery and pull in to park. The GPS told me Cobb Hill was nearly due east of the car and we headed behind the church in that direction. As we skirted the church and crossed a dirt road, I looked up to see a black bear in the woods about 40 meters ahead. It looked at us and I made some noise. Other bears usually amble away but this one started to come toward us. I decided that returning to the car was the best choice. We turned around and started toward the car. I took a look behind and the bear was following, slow but sure! I put Sheba in the car and I jumped in only to have the bear come to within a few meters of the car before the horn convinced him to wander off. Apparently people in the area have been leaving garbage out and the bears have grown accustomed to people and the "food". I decided to try to drive around the Durham Road and climb Cobb Hill from the other side. As we drove in Durham Road I saw posted signs on the left side but none on the right. I tuned around and parked on the side of the road northeast of the hill. Sheba and I quickly entered the woods and almost ran up and then down the hill. We didn't see any bears at the top but there also wasn't much else to see so we hurried back and drove off. The 1 mile jaunt took less than 20 minutes. At 1:45 we headed for Route 23 to Clinton Road and P7 to hike Boulder Pine for the last peak of the day.

On Monday, May 31st Sheba and I finished Bowling Green Mountain and returned to the junction with the Pine Swamp Trail. The trail network in the reservation is confusing even with the map provided at the kiosk. I debated walking the Cascades Trail just to see how it got its name but knew I was pressed for time. I decided to take the Pine Swamp Trail but to stay as far away from the swamps as possible since the insects were already biting! I tried following the trails and map as best as possible but became tired of checking the GPS so often and just kept walking. When I did check the GPS, I found I was headed in a direction that would not get me to the high point unless I made a turn. Fortunately, I was able to make that turn and ascend the trail to the high point. A sign on the trail marks the high point but the actual highest point is off the trail in the woods. Sheba and I did the usual wandering around to hit the highest point before returning to the trail and retracing our path back. When we got to the sign that said "RV Area" we headed in that direction. From the "RV Area" we bushwhacked over a small hill and back to the car. We covered a total of 6.8 miles for the entire hike in about 3 hours arriving back a the car by 12:35 PM. It was time to head to Cobb Hill.

On Monday, May 31st Sheba and I finished Morris Lake Mountain by 9:00 AM and then headed for the Mahlon Dickerson Reservation on Weldon Road. This was easy to find but harder to know where to park. I finally pulled into the picnic area just before the road went downhill passed the Snow Bowl. The parking area had only a few cars and I went to the kiosk to get a map. I had brought several maps with me and I figured that I was well prepared. We took the Highlands Trail and crossed Weldon Road to head for the Headley Overlook. This was a short walk and was easy to find. The views from the lookout were adequate but hazy. Lake Hopatcong could be seen in the distance. We returned to the car and took the Highlands Trail in the other direction through the picnic areas and passed the ball field. It was early but there didn't seem to be anyone using the park except for a few walkers and bikers. Soon we came to the junction with the Pine Swamp Trail which I intended to follow to the Morris County High Point. First, however, I wanted to do Bowling Green Mountain. We took a side trail to the right which led out to Weldon Road. We crossed and started along the dirt and gravel road that acts as an access road for the communications tower on Bowling green. Part of the Snow Bowl now has a dirt bike track which was quite active on this day.

At the base of the mountain a gravel and dirt road begins and runs to the communications tower. Next to the road is a trail that seems to be used by hikers and bikers. Both of these are steep but the trail is under cover offering some protection from the sun. We started walking on the trail. A little more than half way up the road switchbacks to the right but the trail turns left and offers a quicker way to the top. We walked the trail coming out opposite the tower. We took a right on the access road and then walked by the tower to the highest point. We walked around a little to get the summit and then turned right a little on the road. There was the remains of a foundation which may have been for a tower. I decided to walk a little farther on the road to see if it might lead to the fire tower. The road seemed to run across the long, flat summit of Bowling Green and was headed in the correct direction for the tower. I could see on the GPS that a road ran up to the northeast end of the ridge and I thought this might be the access for the tower. As we reached the end of the ridge the trail met a road and I turned right. The Milton Fire Tower is one of the tallest in New Jersey but no one was manning the tower. I took some pictures of the tower and then climb all the way to the top to take some pictures from the tower. The views were good but there was a lot of green without many features to break it up. After taking some pictures, I climbed back down the tower and we retraced our route back to the communications tower and then back down the trail to the base of the mountain. From there we walked back across the Snow Bowl, crossed Weldon Road and walked back to the junction with the Pine Swamp Trail. Now it was on to the Morris County High Point.

On Monday, May 31st I wanted to go to New Jersey and get an early start on some more NJ1K peaks. Yes, I am "hooked"! I got up and 6:00 AM and got my equipment together. Once Sheba was in the car we headed to Port Jervis and then To Milford to take Route 206 south to Route 15. I wanted to hike Morris Lake Mountain first. I knew that many towns would have Memorial Day parades and wanted to avoid them as much as possible. I got off Route 15 in Sparta and promptly went the wrong way before turning around and heading into town. After a couple of turns, I was on Main Street and I knew the turn for glen Road would be a right. To make sure that I was correct I stopped at the local police station where they told me to go down one light and make a right. Less than a mile on Glen Road brought us to a sign for Sparta Glen Park and I turned left onto the park road. the park is indeed a small glen formed by a stream that meanders through it. It was already warm and humid as I drove to the third and last parking area on the paved road. I parked next to some picnic tables in a space big enough for tow or three cars and we started our bushwhack at about 8:15 AM. We whacked up the hill through some pretty thick blowdown until I saw a woman higher up on the hill looking down at us. She was walking quickly and I figured she must be on a trail. After bushwhacking just a little more, we ran across a nicely maintained trail.

The trail ran both north and south and I knew we wanted to head south. I turned right and headed north since the trail seemed to be going UP in that direction. After only a short distance, a spur trail turned to the left and headed south toward the high point. This trail was a little more rugged but still easy to follow. Along the way to the high point were several interesting rock scrambles. There was also a nice viewpoint near the top with views of Lake Mohawk below. We continued on a wide woods road toward the high point which is on a rather flat summit plateau. I walked to the GPS coordinates and then walked around a little to make sure I hit the highest point. We turned around and retraced our route back to where we had started the bushwhack. We continued on the trail until a spur branched off to the left and led down to the road. We ended up just across from the second parking area on the right side of the road. We walked back up the road to the car and were there by 9:00 AM covering the 1.5 miles hike is about 45 minutes. It was time to move onto the Mahlon Dickerson Reservation and two more NJ1K peaks.

On Friday, May 28th Karl and I had done Kanouse Mountain and were looking to put another peak or two under our belts. We decided that Newfoundland and Green Pond looked like a good pair to tackle. As we drove down Route 23 from Echo Lake Road and approached Green Pond Road Karl could see the three white blazes indicating the beginning of the Four Birds Trail across the railroad tracks but we could not find anywhere to park. We turned around and tried gain and this time turned into Green Pond Road and took the first right on Bigelow Road. The trailhead was at the end of the road with a small parking space for two or three cars. We parked and I changed into short sleeves after which we got started on the trail at just after 11:00 AM. The first part of the trail was refreshingly steep as we climbed to the ridge that makes up Newfoundland. In less than a mile we were passing by what appeared to be higher land on the right and we started to bushwhack to our right in a westerly direction. Soon we were at the highest point and the assigned GPS coordinates. From here we bushwhacked back down to the trail. We wanted to continue on until we were at the viewpoint know at White Pine Bluff since it was said to have the best views. Our intention was to go back to the car and drive to the next parking area to do Green Pond Mountain.

Within a very short amount of time we came upon a viewpoint that I recognized from other hiker's pictures as White Pine Bluff. Although the day was hazy, the views were beautiful and quite varied. Below was a large swampy area with many dead trees. Across the way on the next ridge were some structures but we could not figure out what they were. Several houses dotted the opposing ridge and we remarked about the views they must enjoy! Below the bluffs was a large amount of talus. I worked my way Down to a completely unobstructed viewpoint and took more pictures. There were some very interesting small pine trees growing out of cracks in the rock. Some laurel had also taken hold in this marginal environment. Above us we could hear the call of several different raptors and while we were there several large vultures took flight and land in the trees above. After taking many pictures, we discussed our options. Although Green Pond was at least two miles away and the last part was a bushwhack neither of us felt like going back to the car. We decided to stay on the Four Birds Trail as long as possible and the bushwhack to Green pond when we had to. Just after White Pine Bluffs the trail descended sharply. We knew we were looking for a sharp right hand turn to signal the beginning of our bushwhack but we were not sure how far we had to go.

We walked the Four Birds Trail down through a low area and then began an ascent to another ridge which we reached after less than a mile. Along the way we crossed one small stream and many crisscrossing paths and roads. The Four Birds Trail in this area is "rugged". Karl described it as not so much a trail as some blazes somebody decided to put on a few trees! We hiked for about .5 miles along the ridge and had some nice but obstructed views as we went. At this point the trail started to descend and met a small power line right-of-way. We figured this was the sharp left turn that we did NOT want to take so we turned to our right and went up the right-of-way to the north. Just short of the height of land we turned southwest into the woods and began our bushwhack. At least we bushwhacked for several hundred feet to a wide woods road! The road took us right along the ridge for about a mile almost to the highest point. We stepped off the road and wandered around to find the GPS coordinates of the highest point and then we found what looked to us like the highest point! There was no view and after returning to the road we continued southwest until the land began to drop away and posted signs appeared. At this point we turned around and followed our route back to the car. On the return trip we stopped to talk to a hiker, the only person we had seen all day. We arrived at the car by 3:00 PM. The seven mile hike had taken 4 hours with a LOT of time reserved for photography. This may not be the quickest way to do these two peaks but we certainly enjoyed it!

On Friday, May 28th my son Karl was up from Virginia and we decided to again head for New Jersey to take on some NJ1K peaks. I also wanted to get a permit for the Pequannock Watershed since there were several peaks I still needed to hike in that area. We decided to go to Port Jervis to catch Route 23 and then head north on Echo Lake Road to the NWCDC office. We arrived at about 9:30 AM and I immediately went to the office to get the $12 permit. Things went smoothly and we decided as long as we were parked that we should take on Kanouse Mountain since it is so close to the NWCDC Headquarters. We were on the trail by 9:40 AM. The first part of the hike goes down the access road to the dam for Echo Lake and follows the Highlands Trail. Echo Lake is very beautiful and has an interesting stone "house" near the dam. I assume this structure built in 1926 controls the water flow and monitors water condition. There is a small picnic and camping area here and on the far shore two large yurts were set up. The day was warm and humid and the weather forecast include a chance of showers for the afternoon. Just after crossing the dam we decided to start our bushwhack by walking along the stream and then heading slightly south and west. We immediately ran into the boulder field described by others but it was easy to climb up through it and sidehill along it until we were near the col between Kanouse Mountain and the bump just north of it.

As we worked our way uphill to the col we ran into a wide woods road and turned south onto it. Along the way the road broke out into the open and allowed some nice views of the surrounding hills before heading back under cover. We continued on the road until a check of the GPS and the surrounding terrain indicated we were near the top of the hill. We turned off the road and walking through some brush to a rocky ridge that corresponded to the assigned GPS coordinates and appeared to be the highest land around. After hitting the high point, we came back down to the trail and headed south a little bit. Since the trail fell away, we reversed our course and headed back. I forgot that the southern end of Kanouse is said to have the best views and the metal star! Oh well, that will have to wait for next time. We followed the road back to where we came up to the Col and then went a little further. I didn't know where the road might go or if it would ever intersect the Highlands Trail. We bushwhacked down from the road and crossed over our original route to get down to flatter ground quicker. From that point we walked along the stream until we got back to Echo Lake. I took some pictures at this point and we were back at the car by 10:45 AM covering the 2 mile route in an hour. It was time to head to Green Pond Road to hike Newfoundland.

On Sunday, May 23rd we left Dunker Mountain and headed toward Buck Mountain in the Wyanokies. My lack of an adequate New Jersey map really hurt this time as I ended up much too far east on Route 23. I turned around and was ready to just headed home when I came upon Echo Lake Road. I headed north on this and then took Macopin Road to Weaver Road to Otterhole Road. I parked at the main Otterhole parking area and got on the trail at about 2:35 PM. We took the blue Hewitt Butler Trail to the Otterhole where we crossed the brook on stones. Despite the name I have never seen an otter at this hole and the water is usually murky which does not make for pretty pictures. After crossing the stream, we headed north on the green Otterhole Trail and then took a left on the yellow Wyanokie Crest Trail. I had never been on this trail before and was surprised at the steepness of the trail. At first the trail was protected by trees but soon it broke out into an open area which offered some great views. This open rock face was steep with only a narrow ledge to help in the ascent and a crack to use to wedge your foot. At one point we stopped so that I could take pictures before we continued on. We ascended some more and stopped again so that I could use the camera from the higher viewpoint before diving back into the woods.

As we continued on the trail we again walked out onto an open rock ledge with some nice views. A young couple occupied the rock above us but they were too busy to say hello. After taking some pictures, we followed the trail as it descended slightly from the viewpoint and then began to climb again. Somewhere around 3:15 PM we were on the summit plateau. We had passed by some interesting rock formations along the way including one that appeared to offer shelter. We continued on the trail across the top until the trail started to descend. At this point I decided to turn back and we wandered around in the woods until we found the highest point which also roughly matched the GPS coordinates. We turned around and spent as little time as possible retracing the trail back to the parking area. We were back by 4:05 PM having taken about 1.5 hours to cover the 3 mile trek. We were ready to return home after putting five more NJ1K peaks under our belts for the day.

On Sunday, May 23rd we left Mount Stockholm and headed north again on Route 23 to find the parking area for Dunker Mountain. After a little driving around, I realized that the parking area was right on the corner of Canistear Road near the railroad trestle. We parked at about 12:50 PM and immediately headed out on the Highlands Trail. I was not sure how close to the summit the Highlands Trail would take us but we continued to follow it up to a high point. I checked the GPS and found we were only on the first "bump". Another check showed that the coordinates that I had written down for Dunker were over a mile to the west! I quickly concluded that I had made a transcription error and that Dunker was actually slightly north and east of the hump we were on. We continued on the Highlands Trail down the other side and further north. When it was clear that we were too far north and the trail was not turning, we started our bushwhack to the east and up. Within a quarter of a mile of relatively easy bushwhacking we were wandering around at the top to find the highest spot. At about 1:15 PM or so I had enough so we started back bearing a little more south to hit the Highlands Trail nearer the bump. We were back at the car by 1:45 PM Vail covered a little over 1.5 miles in less than an hour. I decided there was still time to head for Buck Mountain in the Wyanokies.

On Sunday, May 23rd we left the pull off by the side of Route 23 and headed just 1.5 miles north on Route 23 before heading east on Holland Mountain Road. A short way up the road I turned right on Rock Ledge Road and followed it through a confusing maze of streets until I came to a turn around in front of a house. The road continued as a dirt track and I could see the aqua blazes of the Highlands Trail ahead. I parked the car and knocked on the door of the house to ask if it was okay to park. The woman at the house said that it was okay so I got Sheba and started out on the dirt road following the blazes. A quick compass and GPS check showed that we needed to make a quick turn south and east. We headed into the woods and started a gentle climb to the high point on Mount Stockholm. I was careful to respect the privacy of the people whose backyards were adjacent to the public lands. The woods were fairly open and I found a couple of paths to follow. It was only a little more than .25 to the "summit" and it took us under 15 minutes. We did walk out to the clearing at the top before heading back to the car. Quick with no views or any remarkable features. Our next stop was also just down the road; Dunker Mountain.

On Sunday, May 23rd we left the Hamburg high point on Sand Pond Road and drove south on Route 23 to Mount Gerard. When I got close to the area of Gerard, I pulled over near a large stone arch on a side road to look at the maps of the area. My maps were limited and I again resolved to buy a New Jersey road map. I got back on Route 23 and drove a little too far. I narrowed down where I should park and parked at a small pull off on the east shoulder of Route 23. I immediately noticed a well defined path into the woods. When I turned on the GPS, it confirmed that we were indeed in the correct location. We parked at 1;20 AM and were on our way immediately. There was a path almost all the way to the summit plateau which we reached at 11:40 after a little more than a half mile walk. We wandered around until I was convinced we had hit the highest spot and then turned around to follow the same route back. We did pick up an even better path on the way back and were at the car by noon. It took only 40 minutes to cover the 1.1 mile distance. Unfortunately, no photographic opportunities presented themselves. Now it was off to Mount Stockholm.

On Sunday, May 23rd I decided I needed a day to get away so I left early for New Jersey with Sheba. My initial plan was to rehike Long Hill to get the high point but I decided it was too soon. I wrote down the GPS coordinates for many of the peaks in north central New Jersey and concluded I should head for the Hamburg High Point first. There were at least three other peaks in that area that we could visit although they would require a hike and a drive and then a hike and a drive. We got an early start and arrived at the described parking area on Sand Pond Road at about 8:30 AM. We headed east from the car through the woods and down a small embankment to cross the stream that is the outlet from Wildwood Lake. On the other side I found a woods road that headed east and slightly north. I kept the POSTED signs on my left to try to avoid private property and to stay in the state game management area. The road began to head too much to the east so we dropped off it and started to bushwhack through mostly open woods. After dropping down into a small swale we began to climb a slight rise. All along we could see Wildwood Lake to the left as we sidehilled to keep from climbing up and over a knob.

As we began our ascent there was a lot of blowdown to work over and through and the wet vegetation grew thicker. I was getting totally soak and my feet were beginning to feel wet. At the top of the rise we gain caught another woods road and followed it until beginning another walk through the woods. I thought we might me on the highest point but a quick check of the GPS showed we needed to get to the top of the next hill. We descended the hill we were on, walked through a low area and then up the hill. There were several elevated areas on the summit plateau but I knew there was a rather larger cairn somewhere on the top. Sheba and I continued to search around. We finally found the cairn and then headed back. My goal was to avoid the thick stuff we had walked through before so we headed a little more south than our original route. After avoiding a swampy area, we walked over the rise we had avoided before and hit our path from earlier. We followed this route back to the car. We had covered 2.7 miles in two hours since we were back to the car by 10:15 AM. Mount Gerard was waiting just down Route 23.

On Sunday, May 16th I convinced Cindy to come with me to New Jersey after church to hike Long Hill. The late start would be offset by the increasing length of the days. We started right after church and drove through Warwick and picked up the Warwick-Greenwood Lake Turnpike into Jersey. We have traveled this route MANY times. We took Stonetown Road to West Brook Road and drove past the turn to Norvin Green State Forest on Snake Den Road. We parked near the Eagle's Nest hunting Camp at a small pull off on the side of the road at 12:40 PM. We immediately crossed the road and went over/under the guard rail to pick up the Hewitt Butler Trail. The trail led down to a creek and the crossing there was the first obstacle. The water was a little high, the stone were slippery and there was no bridge. The climb on the other side was steep with a couple of interesting scrambles over open rock faces. Soon we were at Manaticut Point which offered excellent views in several directions. The New York City skyline was visible but most distant views were very hazy. I took some pictures and we continued on. At some point I realized I had not brought my card with the GPS coordinates of Long Hill but one look at the map was enough to help me decide on our route. I though taking the Overlook Rock Trail would be best since it would give us views from West Brook Mountain and Overlook Rock.

After we were passed Manaticut Point the trail leveled a little and we walked passed a small, unnamed pond. This was clearly private property but it was beautiful and quite isolated. I caught a glimpse of something orange in the water and thought it was a buoy until it moved. The pond had several large koi in it but taking pictures without trespassing proved fruitless. As we hiked several unmarked paths and woods roads cut across the trail. There was one yellow blazed trail that was not on the map and it was hard to determine where it might go. The trail rolled some unto we got to the white blazed Overlook Rock Trail where we turned north and began to climb again. First it was the climb up West Brook Mountain where we got some good views. We walked along the ridge to Overlook Rock where the views were even better. From here the trail descended some and we crossed a small stream with a wet and swampy area to the right. We again ascended for another view before dropping down and then heading toward the power line right-of-way. We could hear ATVs on the right-of-way and it wasn't too far away. Soon we were crossing the power line and turning north on the Hewitt Butler Trail again. Cindy was getting tired so she turned around and took Sheba back toward the car while I headed for the high point!

After leaving Cindy, I picked up the pace and almost jogged the trail. The trail turned into a wide woods road which made travel even easier. Soon the power line turned east and I continued north through some rocky areas. The trail became more of a trail and I hit a high point with a limited view. I continued down the other side but the trail dropped away so I turned around and declared victory. I hurried back along the trail to meet up with Cindy and Sheba who were waiting near the power line. The trip back seemed long especially since it was getting warmer and Cindy was getting more tired. We headed back to the car making the return crossing of the stream. We completed the 8.1 miles hike at 5:15 PM having spent about 4.5 hours hiking. We headed home tired but satisfied that one more NJ1K peak was out of the way. When I put the GPS track on Google maps, I was surprised and disappointed to find that the REAL high point of Long Hill was one the southern end of the ridge on the Hewitt Butler Trail. I had NOT come close to the high point of Long Hill at all! I would have to go back and get this one at some other time. I learned and important lesson and will never leave home with just a vague picture in my head. Maps, compass bearing and GPS coordinates are a must!

On Friday, May 14th I had several late morning and afternoon appointments that necessitated taking a day off from work. I decided to get in some early morning exercise and took Sheba to Frick Pond to hike. We parked at the main parking area and I decided to hike up the Flynn Trail to Hodge as I had not been that way recently. The morning was foggy with a lot of moisture in the air and the threat of rain. Hiking up the Flynn Trail to Hodge was certainly different in the spring conditions compared to the last hike I had done in several feet of snow. It didn't take too long for us to get to Hodge and I was surprised that the water level was fairly low and that crossing the outlet would not be a problem. I decided to add a little length by hiking around Hodge and picking up the Flynn Trail on the other side. This part of the hike went quickly and we were soon around the other side of the pond and on the Flynn Trail to Junkyard Junction. Here we took the Quick Lake Trail to the left and walked down to Iron Wheel Junction. I decided not to take the Logger's Loop to Times Square but continued on the Quick Lake Trail back to Frick Pond. There is still a lot of blowdown on this trail which requires some walkarounds. Soon we were at the outlet of Frick and I stopped to take a few pictures before heading back to the car. The trail back to the parking lot was, as usual, wet in many places with standing or running water. It was a fast hike and we avoided any rain.

On Saturday, May 8th after finishing Allamuchy and Allamuchy North, Cindy and I drove south on Route 517 to get on I80 east to Route 206 and Waterloo Road. We followed the signs for Waterloo Village and stopped by a trailhead for the Sussex Branch Trail to get a map of the Allamuchy Park. These maps are colorful but not very useful for hiking. We went south and west on Waterloo Road, passed the sign for the village and pulled off on the left side. We parked in a small field and crossed the road where we saw blazes for the Highlands Trail. We walked in a road and found another area suitable for parking but decided to leave the car where it was. Near the back right corner of the parking area we found the blazes for the Highlands Trail and we headed off on this trail. The first part was very flat as it wound its way over a few small streams and skirted some high outcrops. Eventually it began to climb and we hit steeper slopes than we had seen all day. After about .8 miles it seemed to me that we were passing by the high point and that the Highlands Trail would not pass over the top. I decided to bushwhack northeast toward the high point. In less than .2 miles we hit the yellow trail and followed it to a point near the high point. From here we bushwhacked into the woods and wandered around until we were at the appointed coordinates with no higher spots to be seen.

After taking a few pictures. we returned to the yellow trail. I knew that right would take us northwest AWAY from the car so we headed east and slightly south to see if the yellow trail would meet up with the Highlands Trail which would lead us back to the car. After a short walk the yellow trail made a sharp left while and unmarked trail continued straight ahead. We continued on the unmarked trail and walked up a small hill and found the Highlands Trail. A short distance down this trail brought us to the only viewpoint we had all day! It was a good one! The view point was cliff that looked out over the valley to the next ridge. Below were the small lakes and swamps that make up Waterloo Lakes. We took pictures and then returned to the Highlands Trail which we took back to the car. We were back as the wind began to blow even harder. The 2.5 mile hike had taken about 1.5 hours!

On Saturday, May 8th it was raining hard in Livingston Manor. The forecast for north central New Jersey was for early thunderstorms and then clearing. We decided to take the chance so Cindy and I took Sheba and headed for Allamuchy State Park to climb Allamuchy, Allamuchy North and Waterloo. We went through Port Jervis, Matamoras and Milford and picked up Route 206 south into New Jersey. It is a long drive and I didn't really have a map. I had written some directions on a card. Somehow I missed Route 606 in Newton but found Route 603 in Andover. We headed south on 603 and picked up Route 517. We were looking for Stuyvesant Road in Allamuchy State Park. I had been warned it was hard to find but I wasn't prepared for the fact that there was NO road sign. Eventually we turned left on a dirt road and drove in. We ended up by a kiosk and sign that said Waterloo/517 Trail which is just what we were looking for. There were no maps at the kiosk and I had nothing else to go on except some trail reports from the NJ1K site. We took the white blazed Waterloo/517 trail from the parking area as it ascended along a woods road next to a small stream. Even at this level there were many unmarked trails and paths that branched off the main trail. Near the beginning the marked Switchback Trail went off to the right in a southerly direction. Without maps it was hard to tell where all the trails would lead!

After about .8 miles the white trail turned to the left and the Ditch/cardiac trail marked in faded purple appeared on the right. I knew from the trail reports that we were on the right route. We turned on the purple trail and walked through some pleasant woods with MANY side trails and paths. Signs declaring "posted" and "Private Property, Patrolled" began to appear as the land to the left of the trail is part of a scout reservation. After about 1.2 miles the purple trail turns right off the woods road and starts to ascend Allamuchy Mountain. No parts of the trail are very steep but they may seem that way after the flat walk to get there. As we neared the top of the trail higher ground was on the right and I though I would have to bushwhack up to it to find the high point. We decided to stay on the trail and soon it began to climb to higher ground. When it leveled off a short path led to the right to a large, jagged boulder. The GPS coordinates seemed to match and there was no higher point around so we claimed the summit. There was no view from the top and did not appear to be any nearby. We could hear the traffic below on I80 but could not see it. After a few pictures, we turned around and headed back down the trail turning left on the woods road at the bottom.

On the way out on the trail I had noticed an unmarked but well used trail that headed northeast and though it might be a way to get to Allamuchy North. On our way back down the trail, we met a mountain biker who tried to be helpful and thought that this might be a good way to go. We took the right across a small stream and continued on this trail to the east and north for a little over half a mile. At this point we were due west of the GPS coordinates for the high point and I did not want to go nay farther north. Another unmarked trail turned to the right (east) and we started out on it only to find it led south. I decided it was time to bushwhack and I took a compass bearing for the summit. The walk was not difficult as we gained the ridge and as we walked we came across another trail marked in white. I was in favor of continuing the bushwhack but my wife though we should use the trail. We got on the trail which initially led down and east of the summit but soon climbed up and passed right by the high point. We climbed onto a rocky outcrop which matched the coordinates, looked around, saw no other high points and declared success. On the way back we followed the trail and then took another that I thought might head more directly for the car. This trail started to head too far north so we backtracked and followed Sheba back to the place we had originally started the bushwhack. From here we walked the trails back to the car. On the way we met the mountain biker again and then two young men on dirt bikes who had run out of gas. We suggested they try to get down 517 since there would probably be a gas station near I80. We were back at the car before 2:30 PM having covered over 6 miles in under 3 hours.

On Friday, April 30th a family commitment I thought I had fell through. I decided to get to northern New Jersey to hike the four peaks in the Ramapos; Bald Mountain, Ilgenstein Rock, Rocky Mountain and Drag Hill. This seemed like a task I could accomplish given that the bushwhacks were short and the areas were connected by trails. I had Bill Maurer's trip reports and decided to "go for it". What I didn't pay attention to was any estimate of mileage for the complete loop. Sheba and I got an early start and took the easiest and quickest route; the Quickway to the Thruway to Route 17S and then 202. We parked in the parking area for the Ramapo Reservation at about 8:40 AM and, after I got my bearings, we headed out through the park at 8:45 AM. There were quite a few people walking in the park and quite a few of those had dogs. It was obvious these people were just out for a stroll on the beautiful grounds of the park. I wondered if it was obvious to them that I was ready for something more! We walked over the river on a bridge and then passed by Scarlet Oak Pond. The pond was very nice and to the west I could see the ridge we would soon be climbing. I decided to wait to take pictures until the return trip. I was anxious to get off the wide carriage road and onto the trails. At the end of the road around the pond we turned right and started to walk on the green Halifax Trail.

The first part of the Halifax Trail was on a woods road but it was far less populated than the roads around the pond. Soon we were on trail and climbing up the ridge. Not too far along is a nice, open viewpoint onto Scarlet Oak Pond and Lake Henry below. I stopped to take some pictures of these and the surrounding hills. The trail rises some more and at a little less than a mile it turns sharply left. If you walk straight ahead here, you can walk out to Hawk Rock. I decided that I already had some nice pictures and that this was close enough to the trailhead that I could visit it another time. The Halifax Trail then drops some before starting a long gentle climb. At around 3 miles there is an intersection with several woods roads and one that is paved. We took the first woods road even though I wasn't sure which one was correct. I knew we wanted to go north to Bald Mountain and the first road seemed correct. Soon we were walking along the road trying to avoid the large puddles that covered frequently on the trail. At one point a puddle had turned into a small pond and, at first, I wondered if we would get around it easily. We walked to the left of the puddle and soon found a damp but acceptable way to skirt the water. We passed by the Pierson Exploration where I found what looked like a few trenches but I was not sure whether or not this was the area of the mine. The trail turned right or east and I wondered if we were on the right path. Checking the map showed that this is what we were supposed to do and I was convinced we were OK. After another 1.3 miles I could see Bald Mountain rising to the left and there were several woods roads that appeared to offer access. Ahead I saw some ruins as marked on the map and went to investigate them. There were two large sets of stone walls built with rounded stones and mortar. Next to them was what appeared to be a grave site. I resolved to investigate the story of the ruins and the grace as soon as possible! Sheba and I walked up toward the second set of walls and then began to bushwhack up the mountain. We hit a woods road and followed it until we got to the access road for the transmission tower on the top of the mountain. It was only a short distance to the top and once there we wandered around until I was convinced we had hit all the highest spots. We started back down the road and I had intended to walk this back down to the ruins but Sheba had other ideas. She veered off the road and followed the path we had taken to the top. Somewhere along the way she caught the woods road I had intended to take back down and followed it back to the woods road. Returning to the Halifax Trail seemed to be much faster than the trip out and we were soon turning right of the Halifax Trail. It was here I remember looking at the GPS which read 6.5 miles and thinking this was going to be rather longer than I had thought.

In less than half a mile the green trail made a hard right and headed north and west. We stayed on the blue trail and walked along the northern shore of Bear Swamp Lake. In a very short distance, we got on the yellow Hoeferlin Trail and immediately started to ascend the ridge in a northwest direction. Once on the ridge we walked south on the trail. I watched for the white trail on the right since it marked the area of the Butler Mine. When the trail appeared, we made the right and walked along it for a short distance. I found a path on the right down to some trenches but did not find much else. Back on the main trail we started to walk along the ridge toward the lookout at the other end marked as Ilgenstein Rock on my map. For some reason I checked my GPS and found we had already passed the designated coordinates for the highest spot but not by much. We backtracked a small amount and then turned left or west into the woods. We got to the coordinates but I though I saw a higher spot and wander over to hit that spot also. There was absolutely no view from the top! Back on the trail we headed south for the lookout. After descending briefly into a col, we hiked up to an open rock ledge and I knew we had arrived. The open rock face offered good views to the east. Rocky Mountain and Drag Hill were clearly visible with the pipeline right-of-way splitting them. Below was Bear Swamp Lake. To the south I could see the distinctive outline of New York City. We stopped and I took pictures while Sheba rested in the shade. After a snack and a drink we headed down a white trail to the red Cannonball Trail marked with a white C on a red background. We turned left here and walked a short distance to the blue Shore Trail which crosses the dam at the outlet end of Bear Swamp Lake. We stopped at the dam and I took pictures of the lake with its deep blue waters and the surrounding green trees. Once across the dam we walked off into the woods and simply started to bushwhack up Rocky Mountain. Near the base of the mountain were some "ruins" with the accompanying junk. Shortly we were at the pipeline right-of-way. We crossed this and continued up toward the top of the mountain. We worked our way through some rocky ledges and to the rather flat summit. I found what I though might be a cairn, wandered around to hit a few other high spots and then walked to a rock ledge to the east. This ledge had few views now that the leaves are back on the trees. We returned to the high spots and walk a little north and west to hit the highest point of the pipeline on Rocky.

Walking the pipeline was not that much fun! It was open and easy to navigate but being open means that it was also open to the sun. The sun was bright and beating down and the air temperature was in the 80's. The rocks on the right-of-way were large and jagged and made the walking tough. We walked down Rocky into the col with Drag Hill. Near the bottom was a monitoring station for the pipeline. Ahead lay a short but steep and very rocky section of the pipeline that ascended Drag Hill. After taking some pictures, we went into full assault mode. I felt a continuous climb with no stops was the best idea and that's what we did. At the top of the pipeline we turned right or east and scrambled up some rocks looking for the highest spot. We wandered around to get the summit and then again headed north to get back on the open right of way. As we descended Drag Hill a larger monitoring station came into view. When we got to this station a road crossed the pipeline and headed east. The maps seemed to indicate that the road would intersect the White Trail in a short distance so we turned right and headed down the road. After an appropriate time I began to look for trail markers but did not see any. We walked out into the woods a little north of the trail and immediately found the trail. As we walked along the trail the blue and white Havemeyer Hollow Trail came in from the left. We continued on a made a right on the blue white Havemeyer Hollow Trail which headed a little southwest. When we crossed a woods road and descended to the blue Ridge trail we turned left. This was the area marked as a nickel mine on my maps. I saw little or no evidence of mining so we continued on the ridge trail looking for a path to the right which was supposed to lead to a viewpoint.

We arrived at the side trail and walked up to the rocky outcrop that acted as a lookout. There was not much to see since the leaves had come and the viewpoint was a little disappointing. Back on the blue trail we continued to descend back toward the parking area at the Ramapo Reservation. Once on the Silver Trail we I knew we were almost there. The outlet stream from Macmillan Reservoir had some since little cascades and falls but they were down in a ravine. Some side paths led to areas near the stream but I decided to leave that for another day! Back at Scarlet Oak Pond we ran into more people and lots of dogs! I stopped to take some pictures of the pond and then hurried back to the care. I was tired and my feet were hot. Sheba and I were both dry despite our efforts to keep drinking. We were back just before 3:00 PM logging 13.5 miles in 6 hours and 15 minutes. On the drive back I missed a turn onto 17 North and had to pull into a parking lot to turn around. One of the signs said "New York-New Jersey Trail Conference"! I stopped and talked to a very nice volunteer and bought the new Catskill map set!

On Friday, April 23rd I wanted to get in at least one more hike in the Kittatinnies before heading home. I had decided to hike to the Catfish Fire Tower but had not decided on the route I would take. My first plan was to hike the Coppermines Trail to the Tower and then hike back along the AT to Sunfish Pond and then back to the car. This was a rather long route that I had not hiked before and I was not sure how long it would take. I decided on a shorter route to Catfish starting where the AT crosses the Millbrook Road. I would hike the AT to the tower and then continue out along the ridge. At some point I would pick up the Rattlesnake Swamp Trail to make a loop. If I had time left after this I would use the Garvey Springs Trail to go to Sunfish Pond. After finishing the trip to Paradise Mountain, I drove to the small parking area for the hike to Catfish. We left the car at about 11:15 and followed the AT as it followed a wide woods road. At some point the AT leaves the road and begins to climb up to the ridge. It regains the road at least once and then leaves it for the final ascent to the top. It never gets very steep and it took us only about 20 minutes to reach the fire tower.

When we got to the fire tower there were two people on the bench near the tower. One of them greeted me by name. It was a track official that I had worked with the Saturday before. He was section hiking the AT with his son. We chatted for a while and then I started to climb the tower. The skies were sunny but there were enough clouds for contrast. The other two hikers departed leaving Sheba and I and the person in the tower as the only people left on top. I took pictures from several different heights and at many different angles. The wind was minimal and certainly not as strong as the gust that nearly tore me loose from the Culver Lake Tower! The views back toward Paradise were nice as were those further to the south. Some haze hung on the far peaks but it was otherwise a beautiful day. After I came down the tower, I walked around to make sure I had hit the summit and then continued south on the AT. There were several nice viewpoints along the way but none were more revealing than those from the tower. The ridge walk was easy and very relaxing. Soon we arrived at an open rock ledge that had an even better view to the south. The valley below seemed very close. We stopped and I took pictures. I was about to continue on to pick up the Rattlesnake Swamp Trail when I spotted a sign further up on the rock. I wanted to read the sign so I climbed up the rock. The sign said Rattlesnake Swamp Trail!

The trail started out by ascending over the ridge and then it started to drop down the other side. It was a pleasant walk without many views as we continued along. Soon the trail met an old woods road and seemed to follow it. We turn left or south but the blazes disappeared and it seemed south was the wrong way to go. I decided to give it a little more time and soon I saw the signs to turn right off the road and toward Catfish Pond. It seemed the trail would come close to the pond but I could never get a completely clear view from the trail. We bushwhacked down to the shoreline. The pond was a deep blue and was surrounded by very green trees and a few talus slopes. There was a small boat on the pond and what looked like several beaver homes. The scene was ideal and I took some pictures before going back up to the trail and continuing on. The trail ran beside a small stream and crossed it several times. None of the crossings were wide. In places the trail was damp and several spots were muddy. The further we went the large the swamp on the left became. Soon the trail ended as it intersected a woods road and we turned left. A few hundred feet down the road we were back at the junction with the AT. We walked the AT back to the car. The 5.1 mile hike had lasted about 2 hours and 15 minutes with plenty of time for pictures! We had a very nice hike and I had a little time left before I had to head home but not enough time for the hike to Sunfish Pond. I decided to check out the Coppermines Trail.

On Friday, April 23rd I wanted to head to the Kittatinnies to Mount Paradise near Buttermilk Falls. Cindy and I had hiked this route last summer but it was clear to me that we had NOT hit the high point. We were close and I guess I could have claimed it but that really didn't suit me. My plan was to park at Buttermilk Falls and use the Buttermilk Falls Trail to go straight up the mountain to near the top and then bushwhack to the highest point. After a little trouble finding Mountain Road off the NPS Road, we arrived at the parking area for Buttermilk Falls and were on the trail by 8:55 AM. Mountain Road from the more southern end is unpaved and full of pot holes. I was glad I had the SUV since my car would have bottomed out several times! Buttermilk Falls had a little more water than last time and the light was better for photographs. There were also no other people present! I stopped and took several pictures before climbing the steps to the upper lookout. From the little bridge above the lookout the trail climbs sharply but then levels out a little while continuing to ascend. The weather was getting warmer and I got pretty warm especially when we broke out of the trees into an open clearing. I stopped to take my jacket off and then continued on the trail to the point where it reenters the trees and crosses a wide woods Road. We had followed the road to Hemlock Pond and Crater Lake last time but today I was just interested in getting to the high point of the mountain. We took a left off the road and continued on the blue Buttermilk Falls Trail.

The trail from the woods road up is rather steep at times and passes over some open rock faces. There is one spot along the way that has a limited view but that's about it. When we hit the AT, we turned right and then almost immediately started to bushwhack east as the AT made a hard right turn. After a little rise, I could easily see higher ground ahead and a tower. Next to the transmission tower was a small building and, as we got closer, I could see there was a pickup truck next to it! I headed for an area just south of the tower and climbed to the top of a rocky spine. From here I could see a slightly higher point slightly north of the tower and we headed in that direction. When we arrived, there seemed to be a marker and the GPS coordinates and elevation matched. We were at the high point at 9:55 AM taking about an hour from parking to summit. To get back I used CPS and followed Sheba back to the AT and then the falls trail. We were back in the lot by 10:45 AM and ready to tackle Catfish Mountain next.

On Sunday, April 18th I drove out of the parking area for Jenny Jump State Forest after finishing Jenny Jump #1 had #2. I passed the office to Fairview Road and turned right. At the T where Fairview ended I turned left onto Hope Road and began to watch for Mountain Lake Road on the right. I turned onto Mountain Lake Road and began to follow several cars that appeared to be together and headed in the same direction I was going. I though this just coincidence until they turned right on Lakeside just ahead of me and almost filled the parking lot where I was headed. The drive had taken less than 20 minutes! There was just enough room for me to park. They were obviously together and I wanted to get ahead of them on the trail. I said "hello" and then Sheba and I walked up the road slightly and off into the woods. I had no maps of this area except the one from the park office which was better than none but far from informative! The Mountain Lake Trail was in yellow on the map but some of the blazes on trees were blue. The trail headed north and then northwest and I knew I wanted to go southwest. I was tempted several times to just start to bushwhack but I knew that staying on the trail would be quicker. The map showed the trail passing over the summit but I suspected this was not correct. Soon the trail turned southwest and I began to see high ground on the left. My GPS confirmed I should go off the trail and I did. I thought I had found the highest point when I got to the top of a rocky out crop but then spotted another a few hundred feet away. I found this spot was slightly higher and I claimed the summit. From this point I knew it would be a bushwhack most of the way to the last peak. This area was crisscrossed by a network of paths, unblazed trails and woods roads. When we started down from the third summit an started for Jenny Jump #4, I had no idea how far exactly we had to go or how difficult it would be!

After coming off the summit of Jenny Jump #3, we headed in a generally west to southwest direction. One problem was the fact that I could not visualize the last summit and had to rely on compass bearings and GPS readings. We descended some and then ascended to a higher ridge slightly to the south but I could see higher ground ahead. We came down off the ridge and climbed as mall hill to a fire circle. It was clear this was NOT the summit which according to my GPS readings was quite a bit farther ahead. So we descended the hill, crossed a woods road and ran into a rather deep stream surrounded by a very swampy area. I knew I wasn't going to let this stop us but I didn't want to get wet and/or muddy if I could help it. We walked to the left along the stream and found a narrow area without the mud surrounding it and crossed easily. There was another ridge in front of us so we started to climb and ran into a woods road. We walked along the road for a while but it was going the wrong way and didn't show any signs of turning. We turned right and struck off into the woods and hit another road that seemed to lead to the high ground ahead. It did indeed take us to the top of a ridge where I spotted some higher ground just ahead off the road. Here there was collection of sticks on an old stump and the GPS coordinates matched exactly. There was no view so I told Sheba "Back" and followed here down to the stream where she picked the exact spot that we crossed and then avoided the swamp on the other side. I wanted to see if I could pick up the trail that had gone passed Jenny Jump #3 but turned to early and had to backtrack. Sheba was patient and guided me back to the area of the first peak where I found the trail. Soon we were back on the trail to the car. As we descended the Mountain Lake Trail, we ran into the group that had parked just before us. They seemed to be having a nature lesson. We were back at the car by 1:35 PM having covered the 5.2 miles of this hike in 2 hours and 45 minutes.

On Sunday, April 18th I wanted to get in some exercise after a long track meet on Saturday. I was planning on hiking Catfish but decided to leave early and try to get all four peaks on Jenny Jump Ridge. I was out of the house by 6:50 AM and headed toward Port Jervis. The weather was cool, about 37 when I left home, and there was a threat of showers. I wore wool leggings and my new Cabela's Goretex Paclite rain jacket. I also packed several different layers in my pack and took some in the car. Google maps said the trip to Jenny Jump State Forest would take over 2 hours but we arrived in under two hours. I wasn't clear on exactly where to park but stopped at the office for a map. I couldn't find any one around, so I drove up the hill passed the office to the bathrooms. I parked in the small parking area and immediately saw the sign for the Summit Trail. I got my equipment ready and Sheba and I started up the trail.

The first part of the trail was relatively flat but then began to gain some elevation as we neared the ridge. On the way up a view point opened on the right side of the trail but I decided to save that for the return trip. Further along on the flat top of the ridge, there was another viewpoint. The day was a little hazy but the views were good. It was starting to get much warmer and I took off my light jacket at this point before continuing along the ridge and dropping into a small depression or col before hiking up to the highest point at the end of the ridge. It was hard to find the correct spot and when I started back down the other side I retraced my steps and walked off the trail to find the high point. A pile of rocks (cairn) seemed to indicate that spot so I was satisfied I had found it and started back. I planned to return to the viewpoint I had bypassed before and bushwhack off that spot toward the second high point on the ridge. As I got nearer to this viewpoint, I noticed a nice view from the right side of the trail and walked across the ridge to find a nice lookout and a bench. The views from this side of the ridge were equally beautiful and I spent some time here taking pictures before continuing on to the next viewpoint.

The lookout that I bypassed gave a nice view of Jenny Jump #2 which is a complete bushwhack. I took pictures and then started down the right side of the rocks that made up the viewpoint. It appeared that a few others had done the same as a small path wound its way down to the end of a woods road. From here Sheba and I headed UP the mountain looking for a natural pathway. It was steep and covered in blowdown but we kept finding ways to ascend. Near the top another view opened up to show the valley below and an operation processing either sawdust or sand. After a few pictures, I continued on up to the high point. The ground elevated some as we continued but the brush became harder to get through. I continued to consult my GPS and we were headed in the right direction. On the way to the high point we passed another hiker and his two dogs. I said "Hello" but he didn't seem to interested in conversation. It wasn't long before we tagged the high point and then started down. I decided to take a slightly different angle back to the car. We ran into some thick blowdown and several cliffs that were impossible to negotiate. Along the way I ALMOST ducked under a branch but hit my head. After a few more steps I felt something trickling down my scalp. I ran my hand through my hair and came back with quite a bit of blood. Within a little more than a minute this had stopped and we continued. Soon we were back down to the woods road which led us back to the parking area and the car. The 3 miles hike had lasted an hour and 45 minutes. It was time to drive to Lakeside Drive near Mountain Lake to hike Jenny Jump #3 and #4.

On Saturday, April 10th I was pretty tired after our 10 mile 4 hour hike of Sunrise but it was only 2:15 PM. I decided to head over to High Point just to check out the trailheads and get ready to hike it next time. I though that I MIGHT be able to get it in this day but I would make that decision when I got there. I headed north on Route 206 looking for the High Point sign I had seen before or Clove Road which seemed the fastest way to get there. It turned out that both of these things occurred at the same time as the sign was pointing to Clove Road. I drove along Clove Road for a few miles and then turned right when it met Route 23. This road ascends High Point going over the top and down the other side. I thought I might go over the top and then turn left on Route 519, park where the AT crosses the road and then hike up the ridge from there. As I drove up the ridge on Route 23 a sign for the Steeny Kill boat launch area appeared on the left. I couldn't resist this so I pulled into the small parking lot to check it out. The trail crossed the launch area and passed by the lake. The lake was very beautiful with a cabin on the opposite shore. What attracted me most was that higher on the ridge I could see the High Point Monument. It didn't look that far away either horizontally or vertically and that was good enough for me! I went back to the car, let Sheba out and got my gear. We were hiking along the edge of the lake by 3:00 PM. My plan was to take the Steeny Kill Trail to the Monument Trail and follow that in a loop back to Steeny Kill. I took some pictures at the shore of the lake and then crossed the outlet on some large slabs of stone. Toward the end of the Steeny Kill Trail it began to ascend the ridge. After about .75 miles, we hit the Monument Trail and turned right to ascend the first part of the ridge. There were several switchbacks and some "stairs" along the way. The hardwood gave way to the typical scrub pine. Near the top of the ridge the monument came into view again and the trail flattened some. In .35 miles we were on the shores of Lake Marcia.

We stopped at the shore of the lake so that I could take some pictures and then I tried to determine where the trail was. I found that it followed the lake shore for a bit and then turned left and ascended. It then crossed and recrossed the road before heading UP to the monument. After only another .4 miles we were at the base of the monument and climbed the steps to get the best view. Below us Matamoras and Port Jervis were clearly visible on either side of the river. I took pictures and then walked to the other side of the monument where the countryside spread out for ever. The brown and gray of late winter and early spring was giving way to bright greens! I took pictures of the landscape and a few of the monument before we headed down to the rocky outcrop below the monument. I took more pictures from here before we got back on the trail. High Point is easily accessible by car and there were too many people around to really enjoy the view. We headed down the Monument Trail and passed the parking area. At the far end of the parking area we hopped back on the trail across the ridge. The trail at this point is marked for the Long Path and the Shawangunk Ridge Trail as well as the "local" Monument Trail. As we walked along the ridge I took several side paths to various lookouts but none were better than the views from the monument. This was a pretty walk with a constant descent. It was especially nice near the end of the ridge just before the trail turns to the left and starts to descend.

In about 1.5 miles from the monument the trail split with the SRT following a route through the Cedar Swamp and the monument trail crossing a bridge and skirting the swamp. I decided to continue on the Monument Trail since I had no idea whether or not the SRT was supported by boardwalks or bridges through the swamp. Due to the recent rains I thought the water in the swamp might be high and I did not want to have to backtrack. We were soon at the trail junction where the SRT came back out of the swamp and then where it continued down off the ridge and headed north away from the car. We continued on the Monument Trail and ran into several nice lookouts along the way. We met two hikers occupying one rock and had a brief conversation as I took a few shots. We continued on and ran into the Steeny Kill Trail and took it back to the car passing two more hikers by the lake. We were back at the car by 5:10 PM having covered 5.0 miles in just over 2 hours including several stops for pictures.

On Saturday, April 10th I planned to head back to northern New Jersey to hike Ilgenstein Rock, Rocky and Drag Hill. These seemed like a good combination since they are close together. The last two are bushwhacks but they looked pretty straightforward. As I was getting ready Saturday morning I began to have second thoughts since I had been in this area so much recently. I changed plans and decided to try the two highest peaks in New Jersey, Sunrise and High point, in one day. This seemed ambitious but I though it was possible if I hiked quickly and didn't spend too much time in one spot. This would be my last Saturday for some time since invitational track meets start next Saturday! I had a few things to do in the morning so Sheba and I got a later start than I wanted but I knew it would be light until at least 7:00 PM. We started for the Delaware Water Gap to hike Sunrise from Stony Lake. This was easier to find than I though it might be and the trip was quicker than I remembered. On the way south on Route 206 I also saw a sign for High Point. We arrived at the main gate for Stokes State Forest and parked by Stony Lake at 10:15 AM. I had looked at all the different routes and trip reports on www.nj1k.org and decided to take the Tower Trail to Normanook Fire Tower and then hike the AT to the summit of Sunrise. The trails at the beginning were a little confusing since they all start at the parking area but soon we I had them sorted out and we were on the trail to the tower. It was still in the 40's when we started and I had put on light tights and two light layers of wool under a softshell jacket. It was cool enough at the start of the hike to wear a hat and light gloves. Once into the hike I removed the hat and gloves and began to open my jacket especially on the climb to the tower!

The Tower Trail crosses Sunrise Mountain Road at about 1.25 miles which we reached in under 30 minutes. This road passes across the top of the ridge and is one way to the north. There are several parking areas with the largest being less than a quarter mile from the summit of Sunrise. This makes the summit one of the most visited in New Jersey. From here the trail really starts to climb with several tricky rock scrambles over some VERY smooth boulders in places. On the way up I looked over my shoulder and saw some beautiful views. I was tempted to take some pictures but I knew the shots from the top would be better. On the way Up we met a man with his poodle coming down. Both our dogs behaved themselves and the other hiker said the views from the top were great but it was a little windy! We reached the 1572 foot summit at about 45 minutes into the hike which I thought was good for 1.65 miles. The views from the base of the tower were good and there was little haze. I could see Kittatinny Lake to the south. The wind was blowing making it colder than the actual air temperature. I decided to climb the tower to get the best views. There was a truck at the tower which led me to believe there was someone in the cab. I was not sure whether or not the tower was open to visitors but I wanted to take some pictures. As I climbed the tower the views became more and more spectacular. Kittatinny Lake was even more prominent as was Culver Lake on the west side of the ridge. I took pictures as I ascended. To the north I could clearly see the outline of Sunrise Mountain which looked HIGH and pretty far off! The wind was blowing and as I reached a certain level just below the cab a VERY strong gust came along. I had not noticed that I was now above the trees. I grabbed onto the tower which I believe prevented me from being blown down the stairs! By handing onto a tower support I was able to get a few more shots before realizing that my fingers were freezing! I CAREFULLY worked my way down the tower and back to Sheba waiting impatiently at the base. After a few more pictures and a quick snack we worked our way back to the AT and started north toward Sunrise Mountain.

The Hike along the AT from Normanook to Sunrise is not flat but it is pretty close. The change in elevation between the two summits is only 61 feet with Sunrise being higher. At one point I dipped to 200 feet below Normanook but there was higher ground to the east. There are several brief rises along the way and a few limited views but none better than from the tower and the summit of Sunrise as I eventually found out. Sheba and I kept up a good pace and passed very close to the road at a couple of points. Soon we had covered the 3.4 miles between the peaks in only and hour and 15 minutes! As we climbed up to the summit, we discovered a group of about a dozen people already there. We talked a little but they were more interested in Sheba! I got the feeling they had driven to the top since someone made the comment that they were off to see High Point! Except for the pavilion at the top, the summit of Sunrise is very open with views in all directions. They day was very clear with some haze in the far distance. I took pictures in all directions including south toward Normanook, Kittatinny Lake and Culver Lake. Before leaving, we had a snack and I ditched the jacket in favor of a light Mountain Hardware long sleeved Wicked T over my Icebreaker 150 undershirt. I was a little cool in the wind at the top but knew I would warm up as we started to hike and descend out of the breeze.

From the pavilion at the summit we continued on the AT to the parking area which is on a spur road off of the "main" Sunrise Mountain Road. I got a little confused here but walking through the parking lot to the opposite end by the bathrooms allowed us to pick up the AT again. In less than a half mile from the summit the brown red blazes of the Cartwright trail appeared on the left and we followed them down the ridge. Actually the trail rolled a little and descended sharply over some open rock faces in one place. Within another half mile we were again crossing the Sunrise Mountain Road to pick up the trail. In a little less than a mile we were at the end of the Cartwright Trail and turned left onto the red blazed Swenson Trail. This trail was very wet in spot with mostly running water down the trail and, in places, streams to cross. None of this was much trouble, What was troublesome was the lack of sufficient blazes. In an area with so many crisscrossing trail, paths and roads, a few more blazes would be welcome. More than once I found myself questioning which way I should turn or if I should go straight ahead. The Swenson Trail was longer than I though but headed back south to our car at Stony Lake. It was about 3 miles back to the parking area and we arrived at 2:15 PM. I was pleased that we had covered a total of 9.8 miles in 4 hours with plenty of time for pictures along the way!

On Saturday, April 3rd I headed from Hewitt to Ringwood to hike Mount Defiance. The Botanical Gardens were easier to find than I thought. As I drove up the hill to the first parking lot, PA, I was a little worried that someone would hassle me about bringing Sheba along. I parked at the end of the lot at about 12:30 PM and immediately saw a variety of people with a variety of dogs. I got out my equipment, put Sheba on her leash and started out. The "trail" through the botanical gardens was clearly marked with white blazes and followed some of the paved walkways in the gardens before turning left onto a dirt road. Soon the green blazes for the Halifax Trail up Mount Defiance appeared on the left and we started up. I was thinking about trying for Ilgenstein Rock, Rocky Mountain and Drag Hill if I had time. As we started up the trail a couple dressed in casual clothes was coming down the trail. They had made it halfway up and asked if I had ever climbed Defiance before. I said "No" and we continued on our separate ways. The Halifax Trail switches back and forth several times on the way up. The climb without the twists would not be steep but I believe the designers wanted as many people to be able to climb it as possible. I stopped once at a lookout and took a few shots before continuing on up. Near the top the green trail turned right but the high ground seemed to be on the left. From this point a red trail seemed to curl around the back of the mountain so I followed it. A high rocky cliff or prominence was on the left and on it sat two of the largest vultures I have ever seen.

I followed Sheba as she stayed on the red trail which soon started to ascend the more shallow northeast side of the mount. Soon we were at the top and a climbed onto a rocky outcropping and looked around. Since I saw no other higher points, I felt I had gained the top and started to think about my next move. There was no real view from here so I wanted to see if there was another lookout. We descended the way we came and walked around the top of the plateau. Toward the southwest end there did seem to be a viewpoint So we headed that way. Two young men with their dogs were already there so I leashed Sheba as they did the same. I hooked Sheba's leash to a tree and she sat politely while I walked to the rocky shelf which was the viewpoint to take pictures. Soon the other hikers left and I took a few more pictures. It was not late but I was tired from my third day of hiking in a row. I knew that hiking the other hills would be at least two hours and perhaps more. Two were short bushwhacks but I had never attempted them. I decided to return to the gardens and inspect them before returning home. The other three could wait until another day!

The New Jersey Botanical Gardens was once the private estate of Clarence McKenzie Lewis and has an extensive history. The Tudor style buildings were designed by American architect John Russell Pope. We ended up at the gatehouse and so started our "tour" from there. I took pictures of several smaller outbuildings but then came within site of the magnificent Skylands Manor. We walked around to the back of the building as I took pictures of the structure and the surrounding trees. The gardens would be worth a trip all by themselves especially when there are tours of the house! The flowering trees were in bloom and a koi pond was stocked just out side a beautiful, manicured lawn. There are other buildings and extensive grounds. The daffodils and forsythia were in full bloom but a few weeks should allow many more of the flowers to come into bloom. At this point I was tired and decided to go back to the car and head home. The TOTAL walk was about 3.1 miles and took only and hour and a half!

On Saturday, April 3rd I drove back to northern New Jersey to grab a few more NJ1K peaks. This list is turning out to be very attractive but not as easy as it might sound to some. My plan was to hike Big Beach using the Sterling Ridge trail and then head over to Mount Defiance. Mount Defiance is in the Ringwood State Forest and one trailhead is at the New Jersey Botanical Gardens. Eric mentioned that these were worth a look. We arrived at Long Pond Ironworks at about 9:50 AM and were ready to go right away. I learned my lesson from previous hikes and wore short sleeves from the start. I didn't even bring a jacket with me. We headed out passed the furnaces at stayed on the Sterling Ridge and Highlands Trails instead of turning to the right on the yellow trail. The trail was in good shape at this point with only a little water. It starts fairly smooth nut then gets rocky further along. The trail parallels the Wanaque River for some time and I could hear the water as the river was VERY full. Soon the trail got wetter with pools of standing water in some places and swampy areas in others. I made a note where the yellow Jennings Hollow Trail branched off. Eric had mentioned hiking Jennings Mountain and the idea that I might do that mountain began to creep in.

The trail began to climb a little more which was good since the flatter parts were pretty wet. Soon we were climbing Big Beach and I was looking for viewpoints. We worked our way up through some rocks and onto a rocky outcropping which had some views of the Wanaque Reservoir and Greenwood Lake in the opposite direction. I made note of this spot for pictures but I knew it would be hard for the camera to see much. The trail actually descended off this outcropping and then was flat for a little while before the last climb. Soon we were on the plateau that is the summit of Big Beach. It was 10;55 AM and I was surprised that it had taken only a little over an hour! I decided to walk to the state line which as about a quarter mile away. On the way back I walked over to several high rock outcrops and climbed each one to make sure I hit the highest point. On the way back I didn't follow the trail all the way but walked near the edge of the mountain looking for a viewpoint. I was actually trying to find the rocky cliffs that we had seen from Hasenclever the day before. I did find some limited views with the best ones being back at the southern end of the ridge as marked on the trail maps. I stopped to take some pictures at these places and then we continued back. I decided that I did not want to bushwhack Jennings on this day as the approach from the Jennings Hollow Trail on the east is very steep. I may try this sometime or approach from the south which is shorter and not as steep. We were back at the car before 12:15 PM completing the 5.5 mile hike in about 2.5 hours.

On Friday, April 2nd I was in northern Jersey again to bushwhack Hope Mountain and Hasenclever Hill with Eric Koppel. Eric is the co-founder of the NJ1K club. Eric is a very fit, young hiker and I was a little wary of hiking with him especially after my long journey the previous day. I almost called to cancel but my feet felt a little better after resting overnight. Our plan was to park at the Long Pond Ironworks in Hewitt and bushwhack Hope Mountain and Hasenclever Hill with a possible trip up Big beach. I needed to leave no later than 3:00 PM due to a previous commitment. Eric was running a little late so I went across the road and did a short loop to the Whritenour Mine on the shores of the Wanaque Reservoir. Like many of the small iron mines in the area this one is not very impressive. I found three shallow pits with some tailings piles. Near the water was an indentation in the shore very near one of the pits. I do not know enough about the mine to speculate about this. The hike was a very short loop and soon I was back at the Long Pond Iron Works. Eric showed up and the adventure began. My job was to follow Eric as closely as possible. His plan was to follow the yellow Iron Trail until it passed near Hope Mountain and then bushwhack to the top of Hope. From Hope we would bushwhack to Hasenclever and then reevaluate our situation at that time.

We found that many places along the trail were flooded with rather larger puddles of water and other places were simply muddy. A good part of the trail follows old woods roads but it turns off in places and it is important to pay attention. Eric is, I found, not only a hiker but a great source of information about the area and a keen observer of nature. While he was waiting for me to catch up, he had time to find snakes and amphibians and to discover many different plants. When it came time, we jumped off the trail and started the steep but short climb up Hope. After crossing a small stream, we walked up the side of the hill to a flat rock that acted as a decent lookout. I could see the Wanaque Reservoir and some interesting old buildings below. After taking some pictures, it was off to the summit. As we approach the summit, we heard a noise almost like a pig or bear grunting. It turned out to be a turkey but neither of us had heard a turkey make that kind of noise before! In a couple hundred feet we were at the top of Hope. The views were limited but Eric was able to point out the "Black Rock" viewpoint on Hasenclever Hill. The descent off the north side of Hope was a little steep and this bothered my feet much more than the climb up. Eric was ahead picking his way quickly down the slope. At the bottom, we hit an old woods road, walked on that briefly before starting the climb up Hasenclever.

The initial part of the climb wasn't too steep and shortly Eric stopped at the biggest glacial erratic I had ever seen. We stopped to take some picture and for Eric to climb a tree to get a look a the top. The climb began to get steep but was pretty short. Near the summit there was another large erratic. The views from the top weren't very spectacular. We walked passed the signs indicating we were crossing into New York and continued to walk along the plateau. We descended some and then started the climb to the Black Rock viewpoint. The rock itself was interesting and had "carvings" going back to 1876. The views were nice although there was quite a bit of haze in the distance. Eric pointed out some of the hills and ridges around us including Big Beach to the west. There was quite a bit of garbage at the top and we picked up most of it. I commented to Eric about people hiking this far to litter. It was then that Eric chose to inform me that our route was the LONGEST one could take. A road on the New York side leads to very near the summit making this a popular spot. I decided that going for Big Beach would have to wait for another day. Eric chose a route along the state lines which would lead to Big Beach Road and then back to the yellow trail. On the way down we encountered two large black rat snakes. One slithered off rather quickly but the other stayed around for pictures. Eventually we worked our way down to the road through some swampy areas. As we walked a long the road, we came to an intersection. We chose right and walked only a short distance before finding the road impassable due to flooding. We started to return to the intersection and I consulted my GPS. It showed that continuing on the road would allow us to hit our path from earlier. Once we were back on the yellow trail we followed it back to the parking area. I'll admit I was tired! I had anticipated about a 6 mile walk. The GPS said that we had covered over 9.5 miles in just under 5 hours including the stops!

On Thursday, April 1st my plans were to hike to the South Beacon fire tower from Breakneck Ridge. This is one of my favorite hikes on the east side of the Hudson River. I wanted to go to the fire tower since several postings of the ADKHighPeaks forum indicated that there might be new steps and landing on the tower! Wednesday night I began to think that I had done this hike several times and a different route might be more interesting. I decided to park in Beacon and hike to the site of the old casino and then to the fire tower. I then planned to hike Scofield Ridge and find the highest point in Putnam County. We parked at the parking area just off Route 9D in Beacon at about 9:30 AM with only one other car in the lot. The temperature was already almost 60 with predictions for highs in the mid 70's. I got my gear and we immediately started to walk up the road that leads into the small park by the lot. After a short walk, a long set of steep metal steps appear that lead up the steepest, lower part of North Beacon Mountain. As I was looking at the steps a woman walked by and we had a nice conversation about hiking poles. Next to the stairs are the remains of the incline railway that took passengers to the top of the mountain to the casino. Rusted steel rails and heavy cables are evidence of the railway and the ruins of a building near the base also indicate what was once there. I took some pictures and then we started up the mountain. We avoided the steps and hike the trail next to them. At the top of the steps, we stopped so that I could take some more pictures as the views were good. We didn't stay too long since I knew there would be better views from the top.

The "trail" now follows a series of woods roads that cut back and forth up the mountain to make the climb a little less steep. The markers on the trail are few and far between either because not many are placed or, more likely, because people remove them! As we neared the top a path led to the right and looked like it might offer some views. We walked down the path and found some views of the river and the city of Beacon. I took some shots but knew that the views from the top would surpass these. Near the top of the mountain the trail ahead was blocked by some blowdown but the building housing the machinery for the railway was easy to spot. I walked to the right of the trail and around to the front of the building. The brick building had several large wheels with cables attached and machinery inside which would pull the cars up the mountain. I took pictures of everything and then continued around the front of the building to the site of the casino. The casino site is now nothing more than a slab of concrete with a few signs of the foundation. This site does offer a wide open and unimpeded view of the City of Beacon and Newburgh on the other side of the river with the bridge between them. There was some haze hanging over the river but the views were nice and the temperatures were increasing. After some time to take in the views and shoot some pictures, we walked along the edge of the site and to the road that skirted the summit of North Beacon Mountain and headed for the ridge.

The walk to the ridge was only about .6 miles and on top we turned right toward the fire tower. The tower was in full view at this point and I stopped to take a picture. We continued on the trail which dropped a little and then started to ascend. I was not sure how well the trail to the tower would me marked but, after several false starts, I found the trail and started the climb. Soon we were on the last part of the trail and just over a ridge of rock the tower came into view. It was clear that some restoration had been done. It was also clear by the amount of broken glass and graffiti that this was still a popular place with the local riffraff. I took some pictures from the summit as the views were good and then decided to test the tower. The steps and landings were in place but were open metal grates which are not my favorites! In addition, the supports are still very rusty. I was sure they would support me but I found the experience disconcerting. I stopped just short of the cab which is nonexistent and looked around. The views were fantastic in all directions. I had not expected how much better the landscape looked from the tower as compared to the summit. I too a lot of pictures including one of Sheba far below and then got down off the tower. We spent a few more minutes on the summit and then headed back to the main trail where we continued toward Scofield Ridge.

Somewhere on this ridge is the highest point in Putnam County. I spent some time walking the trail and bushwhacking to higher spots along the way. From what the "middle" bump on the ridge the Beacon Reservoir sparkled below. We continued to walk along the trail going up and down over the various high spots. Someone decided to mark the bumps with yellow X's although these marks are not always on the highest ground around. After walking 1.6 miles along the ridge, I am still not sure of the highest point. My GPS seemed to indicate that it was on the final, northern bump but I did have fun trying to find the highest spot. We descended the ridge and could take the trail over Lamb's hill and back to the car. After over 3 hours and over 5 miles of hiking this seemed like a good idea since it would take some time to get back to the car. Instead I decided to hike out along Fishkill Ridge and then back to the parking area. I did not realize at the time just how far this would be but I knew we had plenty of time and the weather was beautiful. As we started on the trail it was very wet and descended quite a bit. Fishkill Ridge rose sharply to the left and on the right was the shoulder of Scofield Ridge forming a deep ravine. In a few places the trail was narrow and required a short scramble over the rocks. Soon the trail widened and followed some old woods roads. There weren't many views but the walk was pleasant. In many areas elaborate stone walls paid homage to settlements now long gone. After a little more than a mile the trail began to ascend to the top of the ridge. We ran into some water on the trail but began to get some views although most were still blocked. Ahead I could see two other hikers on the trail and decided to try to catch up.

When Sheba and I caught the other two hikers we talked to them for some time. They had been on the ridge before and I asked about the views. They said that the views were yet to come from the top of the ridge. We started out ahead of them and stayed ahead until I stopped to take a few pictures. We traded spots with them on the trail until we got to a big rock that had a nice view of the valley below. We all stopped and I took some pictures and then started out. The other two stayed to rest and I never saw them again. They were right though about the views from the top of the ridge. For over a mile along the ridge there were outstanding views of the valleys below. There is a very interesting sand and gravel quarry on the east side of the ridge and all the details were visible form the top. Eventually we dropped down off the ridge and dropped down to Dozer Junction. At this trail junction there is a bulldozer a reminder of things past. We continued on the white Fishkill Ridge Trail to climb Lamb's Hill. At the top I stopped to take some pictures and then walked down the other side. Here was a viewpoint much better than the one at the top with good views of the river and the cities below. The descent down Lamb's Hill was steep and difficult but short. By this time my feet were pretty tired and descending is always harder for me than climbing.

After climbing another, unnamed hill we began the descent in earnest. From this small hill it was almost 1200 vertical feet down to the car. At times the trail was very poorly marked. At one point we came to a road and saw some people walking up ahead. The trail blazes seemed to disappear completely and I searched for them until I saw a hiker coming through the woods and I spotted the blazes. He confirmed that we were on the right trail and we headed down toward a small stream. There was quite a bit of running water from the recent rains. We finally got to a small water fall formed by the outflow from the Beacon Reservoir. I took some pictures and we continued down until we had to cross the stream. At this point the trail ascended some and we followed it over a small hill. The blazes became less and less frequent but I finally found them as the trail ascended once again! The trail we were on finally merged with the trail from earlier that morning just above the steps down to the parking area. Back at the car I checked the GPS which showed a vertical gain of over 3600 feet! We had hiked almost 11 miles in 6.5 hours including all the stops!

On Saturday, March 27th Cindy and I headed for Wawayanda Mountain. We parked where the AT crosses Route 94 just south of the New York-New Jersey border. With features like "Stairway to Heaven" and "Pinwheel Vista", we expected and interesting hike. We were not disappointed. We arrived at the parking area at about 1:15 PM to find the AT lot full and quite a few cars parked in the "overflow" spaces nearby. We parked at got started right away. The first part of the hike runs over some well-worn rocks and heads toward a field. A short distance ahead an impressive ridge rises from the flat ground. It is just short of 1500 feet at its highest point but the starting elevation is under 500 feet! A rocky outcropping on the side of the ridge marks, I believe, the Pinwheel Vista, one of our objectives. The trail winds its way briefly through some trees at the base of the ridges. As we approached the ridge we could see an enormous jumble of rocks, some big and some small, at the base of the ridge. We took some pictures and then followed the AT as it wound through the rocks at the base of the ridge before starting to ascend up the ridge. Climbing straight up might be impossible but the trail has many switchbacks and several areas where stone steps have been placed to make the going easier. We passed several sets of hikers going down and several going up. Sheba greeted some of the groups especially those with other dogs but mostly wanted to continue hiking. A little way up the trail is a ledge that gives a small taste of the views from the viewpoint near the top.

We continued on up the trail slowing at times and then picking up the pace. Near the top there was along switchback leading to some steeper stone stairs, the "stairway to Heaven". Once up this we walked a short distance and found a blue trail on the left which was not marked on the map so we went passed it! After another short climb, we were at a trail junction marked by a mailbox and a sign that said "Old AT Vista". We were still looking for the Pinwheel Vista so we continued on the AT. After a short walk, we started to descend. This didn't seem right so I pulled out the map. It was clear that the blue trail was the trail to the Pinwheel Vista and that the mailbox marked the path to the highest point on the ridge which I wanted to visit. We backtracked to the mailbox and turned south on a path marked faintly by blue blazes. We wandered along for some time until we saw higher ground to the right. We walked up to this area which opened into a flat clearing which appeared to be the highest point around. I was having trouble reconciling my GPS lat-long readings with those posted on the NJ1K site but the elevation was 1445 feet which was close to the posted 460. (later I solved the mystery! The posting were in straight decimal degrees and the GPS was set for degrees and decimal minutes! Close enough to seem correct but I don't think we were at the highest point so I will be going back soon. Important lesson learned!) We turned around and walked back to the trail junction, turned left an walked down to the blue trail. We turned right and were soon sharing the Pinwheel Vista with a few other hikers.

Is New Jersey ALWAYS hazy? The views from the lookout were nice but anything in the distance was obscured by haze! To the left we could see the still snowy slopes of the ski area once known as Vernon Valley/Great Gorge. The landscape this time of year is a little drab since, even in New Jersey, few trees or shrubs have started to bloom. I walked around the vista and took pictures from any angles before going back to Sheba and Cindy to snap their picture. We did walk a little further along the path that paralleled the vista but found no more views. Back on the main trail we started our descent. The hike down over the rocky trail was not easy. The rocks have little cushioning and the knowledge that a slip would be costly slowed us down some. We did meet several groups going up the trail to the vista and wished them a good day. Soon we were on the lower part of the trail and then among the rocks a the base of the ridge. The walk out to the car went quickly. The AT lot now had only a few cars. We were back just before 4:00 PM having covered 4 miles out hours and 45 minutes.

On Saturday, March 27th Cindy and I again headed for northern New Jersey to work on the NJ1K list. The conditions when we arrived at 10:20 AM at the P4 parking area on Clinton Road were a little different than the week before. Instead of the low 70's the air temperatures were in the high 30's. This was a drop of 30+ degrees and it felt like it! There was no one else parked in the area which was good since the recent rains had left it soft and muddy and it is small to begin with. The signs said that we needed a permit which I did not know. I figured no one would bother us since we were hiking on the Highlands Trail. We got on our gear and headed out to Clinton Road where we turned left and walked up the road, walked over the road bridge, crossed the road and started our adventure on the aqua blazed Highlands Trail. The trail begins through some large hemlock trees and parallels Mossman's Brook for a distance. The trail begins to ascend to a ridge and along the way there were several large trees down across the trail. We walked over one ridge only to find another. This pattern would repeat several times along the hike. I could see that we were headed for a rather wide stream as we descended the small ridge and I did not see abridge. We could have made it across but fortunately the trail turned to parallel the stream and then crossed it on a very nice foot bridge. The are on the other side of the stream was very flat and showed obvious signs of recent flooding. I was glad the ground was relatively dry for our hike. Upstream was a small rapids so I took some pictures before we continued on.

The trail wound its way through some woods and then seemed to follow a woods road for a short distance. We went up over another ridge and walked along it for a short distance before the trail went down the other side. This time the descent was along a rock wall and the trail narrowed considerably. The stream at the bottom was narrow but deep and fast-flowing and there was no bridge. When I got to the stream, I could see that it would be possible to cross by "rock-hopping" carefully. We did this and then continued on the trail as it ascended the nest ridge. Near the top of this ridge a blue trail headed off to the right. This trail cut across the ridge and went down the other side. It looked interesting and I thought we might come back that way. We stayed on the Highlands Tail and followed its aqua blazes as well as some new yellow blazes. There was no sign of a tower but we were walking through forest and could not see too much ahead. As we walked it became obvious that we were headed toward the end of the ridge we were on. The trail started to cut to the right and ascend a little. It was then that I saw a clearing ahead and the fire tower. The tower is painted red and white and stand on the highest point of the ridge in a clearing. We noticed a reflective "cross" on the ground that looked like it marked a helicopter landing zone! We took pictures of the tower and then walked over to see if we could walk up the steps.

The tower is all metal and looks to be in good shape. The open metal grating that makes up the steps affords an almost unobstructed view to the ground! I was soon just below the cab and able to start taking pictures. There was some haze and the surrounding hills and valleys were somewhat drab. Cedar Pond to the west made the best subject so I took some pictures before climbing back down. Cindy made it up part way while Sheba stayed on the ground and waited impatiently for us. We ate a snack and the decided to return by a red/white blazed trail that went more along the top of the ridge. We stayed on this trail for a while until it met the blue trail from earlier. I turned left to check out the views from the ridge but there really weren't any. We headed down the blue trail to the Highlands Trail and back toward the parking area, As we approached the first stream crossing, Cindy took a rather bad fall on some slippery rocks. She banged up here left knee but we were able to repair the damage. We were back at the car by 12:40 PM having covered the 4.2 miles in 2.5 hours with time for the fire tower and photography. On our car I found a warning about parking and hiking without a permit. I will call for the permit regulations but I found the warning odd. There was no area code with the telephone number. I also thought to myself that the City of Newark has every right to require permits but that they might have better ways to spend their money!

Winter 2009-2010

On Sunday, March 21st I wanted to hike a 3500 as my last official hike of Winter 2010. After church, Sheba and I jumped in the car and headed for Westkill. I was ready for conditions to be different than the day before in Northern New Jersey but the complete contrast was striking! The Spruceton Road was clear and there appeared to be only a little snow in the valley. A quick glance at the peaks didn't seem to indicate too much snow there either. I followed a parade of VERY slow moving cars along the road. I wondered why these hikers were moving so slowly to the trailhead especially since it was late in the day. These cars turned off the road BEFORE the trailhead at a local maple syrup producer who was boiling that day. My next surprise was that the main parking area on Spruceton, the one most use for Hunter, was NOT plowed. There were cars parked on the road which made me think that the other lots would also be unplowed. I was wrong on this account as both of the others lots were clear and had only one car each. Maybe hikers should be careful NOT to park on the roads as it makes them narrow and may prevent plows from getting into the lots! I parked at the trailhead at 12:35 PM and immediately got to hiking. There was at least 18 inches along the first part of the trail to the falls! I stopped at the falls to take a few pictures but then got going. I was glad I did.

There was a trail on the other side of the bridge but it was hard for me to tell how old it was. The air temperature was warmer than I though it would be and was probably around 40. I noticed that the trail did not exactly follow the markers but I decided to stay on the packed trail. This decision was made when I stepped off the packed trail and immediately sank above my knees. The higher we climbed the deeper the snow got. This was obvious since the trail markers kept getting lower and lower. In addition, the trail was less distinct and I kept having to push my way through tree branches. It finally dawned on me that I was walking through the tree TOPS and tripping over branches! Westkill always fools me since I think of it as an easy up and back and it is never that easy. Under these conditions it was even more challenging. I did meet three hikers coming down and stopped to talk to them for a minute. At least one was from New Jersey and said he had considered leaving the snowshoes home. He was glad he brought them. We continued in our own directions. I felt a little pressured since I knew that it was getting later all the time and my progress was slowed. In several areas the climbing was difficult in the snow loosened by the warm temperatures. In two places there was some precarious sidehilling that threatened to send me down the slope. Through all of this Sheba confidently trotted ahead leading the way!

As we hiked along I began to wonder at what point I would call it quits if I had to. I had chosen Westkill for the views from the Buck Ridge Lookouts but the weather was becoming cloudier all the time. I realized that I had plenty of insulation packed but did NOT have a storm shell. When I passed the cave just below the 3500 foot mark I noticed that there was a snow wall in front and some pine boughs lining it. After ascending several places that I though were the last climb, we finally did reach the last part up to the lookouts. As we hit the lookouts the sun started to peek out of the clouds. The longer we were there the sunnier it got. The valleys and other mountains were just beautiful. It was obvious there was still significant snow on all the peaks. We arrived at just a little after 2:30 PM meaning it had taken 2 hours for the ascent! I took pictures from both sides of the lookout and then headed for the true summit. From the summit, we turned around and hurried down. I was able to "ski" a good part of the way and remained upright most of the time. The way down was definitely faster than up. We were back at the parking area by 4:30 PM having taken a little over 1.5 hours to get down. The whole 6.2 mile hike had taken about 4 hours which I felt was fine for the conditions.

On Saturday, March 20th Cindy and I decided that after finishing Windbeam Mountain we would try another hike and headed to Otter Hole in Norvin Green State Forest to hike the Wyanokie Torne. Since the Torne is a short hike, I planned on doing a somewhat circular root and go out to Osio Rock. We arrived at about 1:10 PM to find the main parking area at Otterhole filled with cars. We went back to the smaller lot and immediately got our gear and walked down the road to the trail across the road. After crossing the road we followed the trail to the right. The ascent was moderately steep but VERY short! In 15 minutes, .5 miles and less than 300 feet of elevation gain we were on the Torne. There were some nice views and a group at the top. We wondered around but really didn't see where the trail had gone. Someone in the group pointed out a shortcut back to the trail and we were off. As we started to descend some better views appeared and we could see Osio Rock just across from us. The path looked a little steep both down and up!

The descent down the Torne was interesting with several steep areas over open rock faces. Soon we were at the trail junction with the trail I intended to take back. This trail avoids going back over the Torne. At this point we met a local woman who told us about the extensive flooding in the area. All of us then headed for Osio Rock. The first part of the trail was pretty flat but it became progressively steeper as we approached the Osio Rock. There were some interesting views along the way that let us see the descent we had just made from the Torne. Several large erratics also dotted the landscape. We made the final ascent up to Osio Rock and were rewarded with some of the best views of the whole day. The local woman pointed out the various lakes and reservoirs and named them all for us. The New York City skyline was visible but was very hazy. This is a place I definitely want to revisit on a clearer day! The 1.3 miles on this route had taken about an hour as Cindy began to get tired. After taking pictures, we turned around and headed back to the trail junction and took the trail back to the car. This trail had some interesting rock formations and was easier than climbing the Torne again. It only took us half an hour to get back to the car. We were there by 2;35 PM having finished the 2.2 mile hike in 1.75 hours. I was ready for another hill but Cindy cast the deciding vote to go home.

On Saturday, March 20th Cindy and I decided to hike some of the NJ1K peaks in northern New Jersey. We headed for the area of the Wanaque Reservoir first to hike Windbeam Mountain. The trip reports seemed to indicate a nice view and some good vertical gain. We parked on West Brook Road and walked back up the road to the junction with Stonetown Road. The trail was just across the road and was easy to find. The temperatures were in the 60's and it was getting warmer although there was a little breeze. By the time we had walked for 10 minutes, I stopped and removed ALL my long sleeves and replayed them with short sleeves. I also stowed my light jacket in my packed and hiked the rest of the day like this. I'll admit it was pleasure not having to hassle with multiple layers and snowshoes! The initial climb was moderate but within 20 minutes we were on Little Windbeam with some nice views. We walked down the other side and started a long but gentle climb up to Windbeam.

As we hiked along to Windbeam, there were a few views but most were blocked by trees. In several places other paths or roads crossed the trail but were not marked on the map. Several times we spotted vultures riding the updrafts and also saw several raptors. In another 40 minutes we were on a wide woods road that seemed to appear from nowhere to run across the flat plateau summit of Windbeam. We walked along this for a while looking for the highest spot and some kind of viewpoint. The road eventually seemed to descend off the summit while the trail continued more to the east. At this point we turned around and walked along the edge of the plateau trying to get a view. Since none presented, we walked back to the trail and followed the same path back to the car. The total elevation gain was about 800 feet. We completed the 2.8 mile hike in 2 hours.

On Sunday, March 14th Cindy and I decided to try to get out in between rain and snow storms. We had quite a bit of rain on Saturday and Saturday and more was forecast for later on Sunday. We decided to stay local so that, if it did rain, we could get back quickly. Cindy suggested Frick Pond. I agree since I thought there would still be enough snow to snowshoe. As we drove up the DeBruce Road I questioned my decision as most of the snow hand melted under the warm temperatures and the rain. When we arrived at Frick Pond my doubts were put to rest as there was still plenty of snow. We started up the Flynn Trail from the parking area at about 10:00 AM. The snow was very wet and heavy and the going was hard in places. There was quite a bit of blowdown on the trail including several large tress in places. The Flynn Trail is a LONG but fairly gentle climb and I am always fooled by just how long it is. After about 1.5 miles of slogging along we were at the trail junction with the Big Rock Trail. I had planned to continue on the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond but Cindy was too tired. We turned left on Big Rock and headed back. Just a few minutes after turning, the sky grew darker and it started to rain lightly!

We continued down the Big Rock Trail toward Times Square. There was at least a foot of snow at the top and this continued until we were almost at the trail junction. Going down Big Rock is easier than going up but it is still a trek in snowshoes on heavy, wet snow. At Times Square we continued straight ahead to go around the back of Frick Pond. This part of the trail had a lot of standing water and was hard to negotiate until we started through the trees and over the boardwalks. The small feeder streams that run into Frick Pond were all high and swollen with rain and melted snow. We stopped at the bridge across the outlet and took some pictures despite the overcast sky. From here it was back on the Quick Lake Trail to the parking area. This part of the trail resembled a stream as it so often does. We had to walk up on the banks and take a few short bushwhacks to avoid the large areas of open water. We were back at the car at around 1:00 PM having covered the 4 mile trip in about 2.5 hours.

On Monday, March 8th I got home from school rather early and asked Cindy if she wanted to go snowshoeing. She agreed and since we had a short time, we again headed for Round Top, the hill behind our church. We were surprised at how much snow had disappeared with the warm temperatures throughout the week! The hill up to the trail was almost completely clear and we almost turned back. Once we turned into the woods it was obvious that the more protected areas still had some snow! The air temperatures were warm so we were both dressed lightly. The snow was heavy and wet which made the going a little tough. We worked our way up to the very top of the hill and then decided to descend down to the trail that parallels the Quickway. I like descending on snowshoes. Cindy doesn't like it as much. Once we hit the path we continued in a loop until I found the woods road and we took that back toward town. Once we hit the look out over Exit 96, we turned uphill to complete the loop. Any tracks that we had made previously were gone but Sheba seemed to know where to go! We completed the loop and I decided I wanted a little more. Cindy decided to go home. Sheba and I turned around and reversed the loop to add another 45 minutes and a few more miles.

On Sunday, March 7th I wanted to take a short hike with some views since the weather was clear for the second day in a row! From my experience the previous day at Ashokan High Point, I knew there would be enough snow to use snowshoes almost anywhere on or near the peaks. I decided to head for Giant Ledge since the reports of snow from the last storm seemed to indicate they got quite a bit. I got a late start after church and got to the parking area at about 1:00 PM. As I drove along Route 47 passed Frost Valley, the Slide mountain PA and Winnisook Lake, it was obvious that the reports from the last storm were accurate. In fact, just before the Slide PA, the snow on the right side of the road was vertically cut! This indicated that the snow was so deep that it could not be plowed. The "snowblower" was sitting in the Slide PA on the front of a large dump truck. The Panther PA had a few cars and was plowed with a bit of ice. I carried my snowshoes across the road before putting them on. Today I was trying out another new pair of shoes, Tubbs Mountaineers, which I got for more than half off on SAC! They have the same bindings as the Tubbs Flex Alp but have an aluminum frame. As I went to sign the register I noted that I had to bend down since there was still a lot of snow. There was some blowdown on the trail to the bridge. I immediately began to notice postholes from barebooters and wondered how new they were!

The bridge was piled high with snow and we crossed carefully. The snow actually made climbing some of the rocky areas easier but walking with "things" attached to your feet does slow progress some. The air temperatures was in the high 30's but a wind made it feel a little cooler. Soon we were at the trail junction and we turned left to head toward Giant Ledge. Several times the broken trail left the marked trail but then would wind back to meet it. As I was climbing one small up I met a lone hiker coming down. He reported the views were great and there were very few people on the Ledges. He WAS wearing snowshoes but he would be the LAST person I saw who was properly equipped. A little further along we met a man and woman coming toward us. They were not wearing snowshoes but chose Stabilicers instead! As they passed I could see them sinking into the snow as it softened! I didn't say anything to them except "Hello" but really wanted to ask why they would come to the Catskills to destroy the packed rails others had taken so much effort to construct! We stopped at the lookout toward Slide so that I could take some pictures and then continued up to the last climb to the Ledges. Ahead a young man came almost running down the descent. He had no pack or other equipment and, yes, no snowshoes. He seemed very fond of Sheba but, again, I really wanted to know why he was so inconsiderate. The climb was made more difficult by the number of postholes left by the others but soon we were at the top.

It really was a beautiful day with clear skies colored a bright blue. There was some haze or clouds in the distance but otherwise the sky was cloudless. We stopped at the first viewpoint and I took pictures. I took a few wide angle shots and then narrowed in on the Burroughs Range, Panther and some of the more distant hills. The day was so nice I would have headed to Panther except for the late start. We headed over to another viewpoint and I took more photos before we turned around to retrace our steps. After carefully negotiating the steeper descent, the rest of the down went quickly. I stopped to take some pictures of Sheba sitting by the signboard at the trail junction. The snow was so deep that the actual sign was right next to her! We continued down and were almost out when I noticed three more men headed toward us. None had packs and none had snowshoes. In fact, two looked like they were wearing old sneakers or skater shoes. They were sinking into the soft snow and destroying the trail. I made a comment to them about the holes they were making. Their response seemed to indicate that they thought I was concerned for them! We were back the parking area a little after 3:00 PM covering the 3.5 miles in just over 2 hours.

On Saturday, March 6th I was to meet Ralph Ryndak for a hike at Ashokan High Point. Ralph also mentioned a trip to Little Ashokan which I knew would have good views without the leaves on the trees. We had been blessed with substantial snowfalls for several days but as I started out the roads were plowed and clear with a few snowy and icy spots in town. The main roads were clear until I got to Sundown where the Peekamoose Road was a little sketchy in places. I arrived in the parking area at 9:00 AM and Ralph arrived almost at the same time. We walked across the road and immediately decided that snowshoes were a must. The trail was covered in at least a foot of snow and the depth increased the farther along we went. By 10:30 AM we had walked the 2.7 miles to the turn up the mountain toward the high point. This was where things got very interesting as the snow depth increased dramatically. Ralph and I took turns breaking the track as the snow was over four feet deep and was fresh without any previous footprints! Sheba was walking along behind us or taking advantage of the crust to walk on top of the snow. At some point I noticed that the trail markers were even with her chest! The going was tough but by 11:35 AM we had made the 3.7 mile trek to the high point. We stopped to take some pictures before tackling Little Ashokan.

Little Ashokan is only about .4 miles from the high point but there is a descent of almost 400 feet before the ascent of 130 feet to Little Ashokan. Of course, this must be reversed on the return trip! It took us a little over 20 minutes to make the trip but it was worth the work. The views out over the valley including the Ashokan Reservoir were fantastic and were those back to the high point. We walked around and took pictures for a while and I got one of Ralph Almost waist deep in snow. Soon it was time to return and the trip back was a little more challenging. Once back at the high point we decided to walk along the trail to the open field which afford a great view of the Burroughs Range plus Friday and Balsam Cap. The fields were covered in snow as were all the trees around them. The views of the Burroughs Range were spectacular. We stool many pictures before turning around for the return trip. We decided to follow our broken trail back to the parking area rather than try the loop. We started back toward the high point and passed it at about 1:05 PM. The trip down was very different than the trip up. We were able to lift the tips of our snowshoes and "ski" down the steeper parts. The trip up to the high point from the turn took about an hour but the return trip was less than 40 minutes! When we hit the turn, we were able to stay in our track and make good time back to the parking area. Along the way I took a few pictures of the Kanape Brook. We were back at the parking area at 3:00 PM having covered 8.5 miles in 6 hours under difficult conditions.

On Sunday, February 28th a group from Morgan Outdoors was going to snowshoe along the Beaverkill near the state campsites. Cindy and I decided that this was a little too short and flat and opted to head to Trout Pond to sample the snow conditions and the falls of Russell Brook. The roads were in good condition and even the Morton Hill Road was well maintained. When we arrived at the junction with the Russell Brook road, we found it was not plowed and neither was the parking area. I parked as far off the road as possible and we got ready to hike. The snow had consolidated a little and snowmobiles had packed a firm track. We made good time down the road to the parking area. Several snowmobiles passed us but slowed as we approached. At the parking are one machine seemed to be having mechanical problems as the riders inspected the engine. We continued across the bridge and Sheba and I headed through deep snow to the edge of Russell Brook and on up to the falls. The trail along the ledge to the falls was narrow and had a lot of snow. I took a few pictures from the ledge but then dropped down the snow covered bank into the stream bed. From here I had an unobstructed view of the falls and I took many pictures. Sheba and I returned to the main trail, met Cindy and we all started up the gentle grade to Trout Pond.

The skies were overcast as we arrived at the pond but we stopped at the outlet to take a few pictures before continuing on up the trail around the lake. At the head end we met a few snowmobilers resting by their machines, We stopped to talk for a while before continuing on and crossing the pond inlet. We decided that the complete loop around the pond and over Cherry ridge might be too difficult since the snow was deep and unbroken. Going back the way we came seemed too easy so we decided to head to the upper lean-to and then bushwhack the rest of the way around the entire pond, The snow was deep up to the lean-to as it had drifted off the pond. I kept sinking in while breaking the trail but it didn't take too long before we were at the lean-to and I turned into the woods to head south around the pond and back toward the outlet. The distance was not far but we had to walk through deep snow, sidehill quite a bit, and pick our way around thick bushed and over blowdown. About halfway back we had to ascend some to get around a steeper area. At last we were at the out let and ready to cross the dam. It was hidden under snow and it was hard to see where it was safe to step. I went first and had no problem crossing. As we stood again at the outlet the sky was blue and I took more pictures. Within minutes clouds rolled in and a snow squall swept down the lake from north to south. It wasn't too intense and did not last very long but it was sudden. Back on the packed snowmobile trail, we picked up the pace and were back at the car by 2:30 PM covering the 4 mile trip in about 2.5 hours. We went back to Livingston Manor and went to the Flower Power bakery to meet the group from Beaverkill. They were a little late but this gave us time to sample the delicious baked goods at this small establishment.

On Saturday, February 27th we had a funeral and family gathering in the morning. Karl and I decided to head to Frick Pond to do a quick snowshoe in the afternoon. We were anxious to get out of Livingston Manor after the big snowstorm had limited our hiking to the hills near town! We headed out of town late and drove along the DeBruce Road to Fish Hatchery Road. My intent was to park at the Frick Pond lot and do some loop hike there. When we got to the Beach Mountain road to the Frick Pond PA, we found it was unplowed! The road crews had been busy elsewhere and no one lives on this road. We decided to go to Mongaup Pond as we were close and the road did seem to be plowed. The plowing stopped right at the gatehouse leaving little parking. There were already several cars present but I pulled off the road and we got our gear ready. The weather that was somewhat sunny was becoming more overcast with a few flakes in the air. We started out along the western side of the lake and followed what I thought was a snowmobile trail. I quickly realized my mistake and found that we were following a group of snowshoers who had broken the trail ahead of us. Both Sheba and Maggie, our two dogs, were having a great time until they went off the trail and sank in the deep snow. We continued to follow the narrow, broken track for about a mile. At this point the track started up the snowmobile trail toward Frick and Hodge Ponds. Karl and I did not have enough time to make this loop so we continued on around the pond.

Mongaup Pond is bigger than I thought and breaking brand new trail through the snow was exhausting. I was sinking in at least 18 inches and more where the snow had drifted in from the lake. Snow squalls were now brewing and would hit hard for a few minutes and then let up. At one point we turned right along a road and found ourselves on a peninsula that juts out into the pond. We continued on and I took some pictures from the shore. A heavy snow squall was making its way across the lake and we decided to head back the way we came after breaking trail around the loop road on the peninsula. As we continued our hike a lone cross country skier was headed toward us. We stopped to talk briefly and she seemed a little confused about her route. We wished her well and continued back to our trail and then to the previously broken trail. It was amazing how easy walking on the broken track seemed after trying to break trail through fresh snow. We covered the 3 miles in about 1 hour 50 minutes. As we left, the other were still present and we did not see any hikers coming up the road to complete their loop.

On Friday, February 26th school was closed for the third day in a row! When I tried to open the door in the morning, I had to force it open and then shovel some of the snow away. A lot more snow had fallen overnight AND the winds had caused drifting. I spent several hours shoveling around the house and clearing the walks at the church. I convinced Cindy to snowshoe with me and we again headed for Round Top. The snow was MUCH deeper starting in the field just across the road near the church. The dogs jumped the snow bank and all but disappeared in the new fallen snow. From that point on both of them followed in our snowshoe track. We made our way up the cemetery hill and into the woods. The track from the day before was gone with only a slight indentation to show the way. I took much the same route but the going was much slower. There was almost two feet of new snow as we approached the top of the hill. At some points I thought my pole had collapsed but it was just that the snow was that deep. By the time we reached the top of the hill, Cindy was done so we turned around and retraced our path the way we had come. The mileage and time was short but it was long on effort.

On Thursday, February 25th school was AGAIN closed as ANOTHER 12 inches of snow fell overnight. I shoveled our sidewalks and parking area and then decided to hike. I would have loved to go somewhere like Frick Pond but thought that it would be irresponsible. My son Karl was up from Virginia and we decided to again hike up Round Top. The snow was still falling during our hike alternating from very light to heavier as we hiked up the hill at the cemetery. It was hard to see what town looked like as the snow obscured the view so we quickly turned into the woods trail and started the climb. I had not brought my pack or camera and so could concentrate on the effort and the pleasure of the exercise from snowshoeing. I hit a more direct line up the hill and we kept a good pace as we talked. I was surprised when I found we were at the top of the hill. We continued straight ahead to descend the first hill and then found the woods road that leads over the next hill. We climbed this one and then turned around to reverse our path. When we got back to the clearing with the pine tree, we turned down the hill and "skied" toward the Quickway. We had not intended to go out the cliff that overlooks the road but decided to do so anyway. I was surprised at how much snow was on the road and how little traffic was present. We climbed back up to the trail and followed my path from the day before back home.

On Wednesday, February 24th school was closed due to approximately 12 inches of snow that fell overnight. In the morning snow was still lightly falling with more predicted! I decided to go across the street and hike the hill we call Round Top. The field across from my driveway easily had 12 inches of snow. As I climbed the steep hill behind our church views of the town and surrounding hills appeared. EVERYTHING was covered with a thick blanket of heavy snow. I took many pictures from the top of the Orchard Street Cemetery before ducking into the trail in the woods. Sheba was with me and was bounding through the snow. It was "warm" with temperatures in the mid 30's. I chose just to wear a light OR Revel shell. The shell is made of Pertex and is not lined. It also has pit zips and a hood. I did not want to get pelted with snow bombs from the trees without some defense. I took what has become my regular short route which has several challenging sections and ends up in a clearly by a large pine tree. From here I "skied" downhill to the path that parallels The Quickway. After a short walk on this path, I dropped down to a ledge that overlooks the road and took some more pictures. From here it was back up the hill to a woods road. I found another woods road that I do not remember taking before and followed it to a filed overlooking the Exit 96 exit. I continued to follow the road a little farther before cutting up the hill again to intersect my route from earlier. More snow is forecast for Thursday. I can't wait!

On Sunday, February 21st Cindy and I were both feeling the effects of the long hike in the deep snow the day before. We decided to join a group snowshoe from Morgan Outdoors at Crystal Lake. I knew this lake was off County Route 93 near Tennanah Lake so I looked it up on Google Maps. I was surprised to see that it was a small wild forest area. I knew right where the turn was on the way to Fremont Center. Cindy and I decided to get there early since we were not sure how much snow there would be. We turned off the main road onto Tennanah Lake Road and did not have to drive a mile until the sign appeared on the left. We road into the lake seemed to be plowed so we drove into what appeared to be a small turnaround. From this point on the road was not plowed and we were not sure we should go any farther so we parked the car and got out to put on our snowshoes. We intended to hike a little and then meet the group. A jeep appeared from the direction of the lake and the occupants told us the group was running late and that they would meet at the road. Cindy and I walked up to the lake on the road. There was plenty of snow and the small lake was very pretty. We took pictures and then started back to the car.

Once at the car we continued on down to the road. As we neared the end of the access road, cars from the group began to pull up. I helped some of the people new to snowshoeing get their equipment on and then we were off. The plan was to spend about two hours hiking and then go to Cafe Devine in Callicoon. I was more interested in the hike but thought coffee afterwards might be fun. We hiked up the road and passed our car on the way to the lake. We crossed the small dam at the outlet and immediately ran into some drifts. Once through these we proceeded to follow a path around the lake which leads to some campsites. There had been snowshoers here before so we followed there path until it ended near the lake. Most of the group wanted to continue around the lake so we bushwhacked around the upper inlet until we reached the far end of the lake. We stopped to take pictures and then continued. The snow all but disappeared under the trees but we were soon on the other side of the lake on another path and the depth increased again. As we neared the outlet end, I decided to ascend a small ridge. Sheba and I quickly went up the ridge and then I decided not to return on the same route. I started down, sidehilled some and then made a rapid descent back to the main path. I met Cindy at the parking area by the lake and the whole group walked back to the cars. My GPS showed a total of 2.9 miles in about and hours and a half. We decided to go to Cafe Devine and I was glad we did. The cafe has good coffee and I had a great curried chicken salad sandwich. Before eating, we visited the organic food store attached to the cafe and picked up some unusual and expensive items.

On Saturday, February 20th I knew I wanted to snowshoe where there would be enough snow to make the snowshoes worthwhile. I talked it over with Cindy and we decided on North South Lake although I was not sure how much snow we would find. We got a late start after completing some jobs around the house. The day was overcast with a lot of cloud cover but some light. Snow was predicted for later in the day. Cindy does NOT like Route 47 passed Frost Valley so we went to Roscoe and took Route 206 to Route 30 near the Pepacton Reservoir. From here we turned right and headed toward Margaretville and Route 28. As we approached Margaretville, though about the rest of the drive to North South Lake and asked Cindy If she would like to change plans and try hiking Dry Brook Ridge. I had never been on this trail in the winter. The hills around us seemed to have trees covered in snow and rime ice. I though this might make for some nice photographs. Cindy agreed that she liked this idea and we parked at the Hill Road parking area at about 11:00 AM. As started up the trail there was just enough snow to make the snowshoes "work". We noticed that a group in bare boots had gotten there before us even though there was no car in the parking area. The day was warm with temperatures in the high twenties and I started to heat up right away. Soon the barebooter's track stopped indicating they had turned around. The snow was getting deeper the higher we went. I took an opportunity to remove my wool midlayer leaving only a wool baselayer and my Mammut Ultimate Hoody.

As we climbed, not only did the snow on the ground get deeper but the condition of the snow on the trees changed also. At first, the trees had no ice on them and just an occasional deposit of snow. Ice crystals began to form on the trees and were longer and more numerous the higher we went. Near the top of the ridge the crystals covered most of the branches and were very long. We stopped several times to rest and take pictures. The depth of the unbroken snow and the long climb was tiring for both of us. We had forgotten that, despite the signs claiming that the trail junction was 1.7 miles it was actually more like 2.3 miles. Finally, we reached the trail junction and turned right toward the lookouts. Immediately the snow got even deeper with a harder crust on top which made the going even more difficult. The lookouts were about a mile away and the weather conditions were worsening. After the first short climb on the ridge, Cindy told me to go ahead and try for the lookouts, She said she would continue for awhile and the turn around. I wasn't sure this was a good idea but decided to try it. Sheba and I sprinted ahead trying to make the best time we could to the viewpoints and back.

As we hiked along the ridge, the snow continued to get deeper going from 10 inches, to a foot to 18 inches or more with even deeper drifts. The short, but steep climbs that went quickly during the other seasons, became very difficult. Most of these climbs had almost two feet of unbroken snow which covered the rock outcrops and hid deep crevices. I struggled up two of these and almost stopped several times. I didn't know if I could make the third but Sheba was there to encourage me. At several point along the ridge the trail comes close to the edge with a sheer drop on the one side. The snow seemed to "tilt" toward those drops and shift as I walked over it. I could also see at points that fog had rolled into the valley but I was, at this point, determined to make the lookouts. Finally, after a mile of breaking trail through deep snow, the short side trail to "Overlook Rock" appeared and we walked out to the viewpoints. The entire valley was filled with fog. I took a few pictures of the lookout and the trees surrounding it before turning around to head back.

The trip back was far from easy since the ridge is mostly flat and required a slog through the snow again. At least this time, the trail was broken out a bit. The best parts were the short descents which I "skied" down as quickly as possible. I was watching for Cindy Along the way but I could tell that I was the only one that had passed that way until we were almost back at the trail junction. I could see were she had turned around and headed back. We stepped up the pace and Sheba soon spotted Cindy just before the trail junction. I was glad we were back together and we turned to head back down to the car. We were all tired but most of the return trip is downhill. We used the downhill sections to relax and then slogged across the flatter sections. At one point we were able to see that others on snowshoes had been up the trail. These tracks continued until one of the crossing woods roads which the other hikers had used to get to the main trail. Farther down the hill a new snowmobile track crossed the trail on another woods road. The lower we got the quicker we went in an effort to get back to the car We arrived at the parking area around 3:30 PM having taken 4 and a half hours to cover 6.7 miles.

On Tuesday, February 16th I had planned to meet friends somewhere to go for a snowshoeing expedition. The snow started falling on Monday night and became serious on Tuesday morning. Although the roads were passable there was no sense in chancing a mishap simply to meet and snowshoe. Cindy, Sheba and I went up on Round Top behind our church and snowshoed for about two hours. I didn't even take the pack so I didn't have to worry about the camera. The snow was thin near the bottom but there was plenty on top. We have a series of routes that we sue and, although, the hill isn't very high, there are some challenging parts. There was no trail broken and we actually took a new variation on and old route and found some new ledges. We went out to the "second' hill at which time the snow almost turned to a freezing rain. I found that my Mammut Ultimate Hoody IS DWR but will start to soak through as the snow falls and melts. The wet never got through to me but we decided to simply follow our path back. As we followed our tracks, we found that they were beginning to fill in as the snow fell. We had a great time on a short but challenging hike.

On Monday, February 15th I wanted to go to hike the Hunter loop and perhaps through in SW Hunter also. I had been wanting to do this for some time but each time I tried either the roads were bad or another hiking opportunity presented itself. An early morning ambulance call delayed my departure and I was surprised to find almost two inches of snow on the roads. When I got home, the snow had abated and I decided to go to Hunter anyway. The weather forecast was for temperatures in the high twenties and partly sunny skies. The roads on the drive were actually pretty clear and the temperature kept fluctuating depending on elevation but never went below 25 degrees. We arrived at the Spruceton Road parking area at about 10:00 AM and got right on the trail. There were two other cars in the parking lot. The register showed a group of three headed for Rusk and two other people going to Hunter. I was wearing a Terramar Thermawool baselayer, an Icebreaker 220 midlayer and my Marmot Sharpoint jacket on top. The snow on the trail was minimal and packed so snowshoes were not really necessary but I had a feeling I would need them up top and wearing them was easier than carrying them. As we started out I was cold but knew I would warm up along the way.

As we walked on the trail there was evidence of several hikers all with snowshoes. We crossed the new bridge and headed for the big turn. At the turn it was clear that the one group had headed to Rusk from that direction. As we continued up the trail, I began to get warmer and warmer. I opened the pitzips on the jacket and unzipped the front of the jacket and the two others layers. The sun was out and there were nice views of Westkill to the right but a few too many trees to take pictures. I thought I might wait until the trail junction to change clothes but this part of the trail is always longer than I think. We stooped and I took off the midlayer completely and switched to light gloves. I was still pretty sweaty but at least I began to feel cooler as we continued. Soon we were at the trail junction and ready to start the climb up Hunter. After Sugarloaf on Friday, the wide trail seemed easy although the climb is long. It was clear one or two hikers had been there before us on snowshoes but, at times their tracks would disappear and then reappear. I was surprised that there was little ice on the trail even as we neared the spring. The spring was snowed in and almost covered so I did not stop but continued on up to the area of the lean-to. Just before the right turn to the lean-to I stopped at the lookout but decided to check out the lean-to first.

The trail to the lean-to is interesting and a little longer than I thought. It descends through a rock crevice to a clearing and faces out toward the valley. The spring is readily accessible and there is a lookout just a short distance in front of the lean-to. The crew that worked on this project deserves and ENORMOUS amount of CREDIT. Of course, the lean-to is well constructed but the trail and the placement are wonderful. I am not a "camper" but I told my wife we must make this our first overnight trip. I dumped my pack and poles in the lean-to and took off my jacket to air it out. The Thermawool baselayer kept me warm enough despite a slight breeze. The Thermawool is VERY warm for its weight and wicks moisture like mad! The views from the lookout on this day were spectacular. The sky was blue with a few clouds and the colors of the snow and trees added just the right contrasts. Standing at the viewpoint you can look across to Westkill and down the Spruceton Valley for what seems like forever. I took quite a few shots before returning to the lean-to to collect my clothing and equipment and get back on the trail. We worked our way back up through the rock crevice and back to the main trail. I decided not to stop to take pictures of Rusk as I wanted to get moving. We made good time passed the 3500 foot sign and were soon at the trail junction with the Colonel's Chair trail. From here toward the summit it seemed like a thoroughfare with multiple snowshoe tracks. I guessed that the Hunter Ski Area must be renting them for the trek to the tower. Soon I heard voices and two young ladies passed me with Salomon snowshoes and no poles. Sheba and I continued to the tower under ever brightening skies.

When we arrived at the tower, there were no other visitors so I dump my pack and snowshoes at the cabin and took out the camera. The trees were completely covered in a white mix of snow and icy with only some green poking through. The sky was a bright blue and I took pictures of the trees, tower and cabin before heading up the tower. The tower steps were remarkably ice free although the foot of the steps sat in a "pool" of ice. I climb to just below the cab and noticed an increase in wind above the tree line but nothing to fierce. The surrounding hills and valley were beautiful and I took quite a few pictures in all directions. As I was taking my last picture the camera shut off as the batteries ran out and I heard voices coming from the Spruceton trail. I descended the tour to find three women; two from Germany and an American friend. They had all come from the Hunter Ski Area. We talked for some time and then I out on my gear and headed out on the trail toward the Devil's Path. I wanted to make a loop back to Spruceton with a visit to the falls and possibly to SW Hunter. The snow was much deeper on this side of the mountain with at least two feet piled along side the trail. From the Becker Hollow trail junction most of the rocks and roots were completely covered by snow making the descent easy and fast. As we neared the Devil's Path, I heard voices and looked up to see four men coming toward us. Doug Hamilton and Dave Moore from the TriValley school district had two other friends with them. We stopped to talk briefly and I found they were doing the same trip I was but in the opposite direction. When they told me they had broken out the herd path to SW Hunter, I knew I would be trying that peak.

After we separated, Sheba and I made good time down to the Devil's Path and the lean-to. We passed the lean-to and I began to look for the herd path. I ALWAYS look for the herd path MUCH too early and spend time wandering aimlessly until I recall the last time I did the same thing. This time it didn't take me long to get back to the main trail, climb a little further and find where the other hikers had gone in. As more people take the path, it becomes more and more distinct. I had no trouble following the path using past experience and the worn in snowshoes tracks. The distance was a little longer than I remembered but soon we were climbing up to the top and the canister. The climb with snowshoes was actually easier than without and we were soon at the top of the climb and at the canister. I signed in, took a few pictures of Sheba and then we started back down. The walk out was even faster than in and we were soon back on the Devil's Path. The trail dips and then ascends briefly to a viewpoint over the valley. On this day the view point didn't offer much since the sun was so bright. We continued on and soon the trail started to descend and get very rocky as the snow thinned. Doug had warned me that I might want to take off the snowshoes. I had left my bungee cords at home so I waited until using the snowshoes became nearly impossible. I found that the top compression straps on my pack were also a great place to hang snowshoes! The snow was still slippery on the rocks and I was careful on the descent until we reached the falls. The falls were almost completely frozen and getting down into the stream bed looked like it would take more effort than I had left in me. I took some pictures, put on the snowshoes and started for the car. We hit the road where I took the snowshoes off or good as we walked back to the car. We were done at about 2:30 PM covering the 10.3 miles in 5 and a half hours. This was a good time since it included a lot of time to stop for pictures and conversation.

On Saturday, February 13th I knew that Tom and Laurie Rankin were slated to be on Balsam Lake Mountain. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she said yes. It would be nice to visit Tom and Laurie and get warm before starting back down the mountain! The Beaverkill Road to the Balsam Lake Mountain parking area was a mess so we took our time and arrived in the parking area at about 10:20 AM. We found Forest Ranger Dave Meade talking to some other hikers who were getting ready to head our. Cindy and I geared up and got on the trail. There was enough snow in most places to warrant the snowshoes especially on the first part of the trail where the snow has drifted out of the field. Once in the more protected area of the woods the snow grew a little thin. Let's face it the Catskills need more snow! We kept a good pace to the trail junction and decided to go up the steeper trail and down the shallower backside of the mountain. Cindy felt more comfortable since she is still learning how to maneuver in snowshoes while descending steeper areas.

After we made the turn and started up the mountain, the going got tougher. The snow began to get a little deeper and there were a few icy areas. I stopped to wait for Cindy a few times and I was still warm. However, my feet were feeling the cold. I had used my insulated boots the day before and they were still wet so I decided to wear my Asolo TPS 520 boots. I had worn them before to snowshoe in the winter and remembered them being warm enough. What I forgot was that I had only used them on short trips near the house. As the elevation increased and the temperature dropped my feet began to get COLD. I was hoping that Laurie and Tom were at the cabin and had a fire going Soon we were at the trail to the lean-to and shortly thereafter we passed the 3500 foot sign. With added vigor we climbed the steps passing the spring and reaching the top of the climb. There was quite a bit more snow at the top and the trees were coated in a mix of ice and snow. I was happy to see a set of snowshoe tracks down to the spring. We stopped along the trail to the tower to take a few pictures.

When we reached the tower clearing, we stopped to take a few pictures and then headed for the cabin. Tom had a nice fire going and we entered after removing our snowshoes. They had only been there a couple of hours but the temperature was already a warm 37 degrees. I removed my jacket, gaiters and shoes. As I sat near the fire talking to Tom my feet warmed up and my top began to "steam". Soon I was warm enough to walk to the tower and try to take some photographs. As I stepped out side and walked to the tower, I realized how handy snowshoes can be as I sank into the snow. The tower had some ice on it down low and more above. As I began to climb the wind became much stronger. I stopped just short of the cab and took some pictures. The snow and ice on the trees was pretty and I got some good shots. I didn't stay aloft long and was soon back in the clearing where I snapped some more pictures. Back at the cabin Cindy was about ready to get started, so I got my pack ready and we said goodbye to the Rankins and the warmth of the cabin. Outside it seemed colder than ever so we quickly got on our snowshoes and started down the backside of the mountain to complete the loop.

Tom and Laurie told us there were some drifts on the trail and we soon encountered some that had been partly broken down. We also met three hikers making their way up from the Millbrook trailhead. The descent went very quickly as we slide and skied our way down to the trail junction. As we turned right to return to the car we ran into completely unbroken snow. It was not too deep and we made good time traveling along the trail toward the trail junction. As we reached the junction we saw the hikers from earlier in the day at the parking area descending toward us. They were still some distance away and moving slowly down the steep slope so we continued on to the car. The tracks from earlier were completely drifted over. We arrived back at the parking area just short of 2:00 PM having covered the 4.3 mile distance in 3 and a half hours.

On Friday, February 12th I began a five day weekend and decided to go back to conquer Sugarloaf. This time I planned to park at the Roaring Kill PA and hike up to Pecoy Notch to the Devil's Path and then up Sugarloaf. I hoped this approach would be possible after being turned back by the ice the week before. Sheba and I arrived at Elka Point Road just about 10:15 AM and found it was not plowed. I thought this was strange since Coldfeet and Rockysummit told me they had parked a car in the parking area the week before. This part of the road had obviously not been plowed for some time so I pulled over to the side and parked. Sheba was ready to go so I put on my equipment including snowshoes and started out. The skies were clear and blue with the sun just beginning to come out strong. The temperatures were in the high teens but there was no wind. The snowshoes made the walk to the Roaring Kill PA easier but may not have been essential. When we arrived at the lot, it was completely plowed and the road was cleared. This solved my mystery. The town plows the road from the Dale Lane end since there are people that live on that end. They also do a nice job of clearing the parking area so be sure you come from that direction unless you want the extra mile of walking to warm up.

The snowshoe from where I parked to the Roaring Kill parking area was a nice warm up and the air temperatures were in the low 30's with some bright sun. We got on the trail and I signed the register and started the hike in earnest. The snow wasn't too deep and the trail was partly packed. Soon we were at the "quarry" where people have built chairs and tables. The views of the Catskill Community with KHP and Roundtop behind were very nice. After I took pictures, we walked to the beaver pond and were able to get through this wet area with no problem. The sun angle wasn't good for pictures but I snapped some anyway. As we continued on the hike, the snow got deeper and the warm temperatures made it less consolidated and form. For some distance I was sinking in pretty deep and the going got rough. Soon we were ascending the trail up the mountain which seemed MUCH STEEPER than I remembered. There were many places where I would take a few steps up and then slide backwards as the snow gave way. I felt like I was fighting for every foot I gained. I was also thinking about going back DOWN this mess since I knew the ice on the other side took away that option. I can truly say that if Sheba had not been along to encourage me, I would have given up several times. It took 2 hours and 40 minutes to get to the summit!

Once we were on the summit I decided to walk down the other side a little and see what views were available from the lookout. This proved to be a good idea since these views were VERY good and made up a little for the fight to the summit. After taking pictures and eating and drinking we turned around to face the slide down the mountain. The return trip was every bit as "exciting" as I thought it would be. In places I was able to "ski" on my snowshoes but in others I had to carefully find solid foot placements just to stay on the trail and NOT fall off the mountain. It was nerve wracking at times but my thought was always that we were getting closer to being down. By the time we hit the parking area, I was tired. Two other people were in the lot. They had snowshoed the unplowed road and had walk a little on the lower trail. Sheba and I were back at the car by 3:15 PM having taken 5 hours for grueling 8.2 mile hike!

On Sunday, February 7th Cindy and I planned to meet a group from Morgan Outdoor to snowshoe at Frick Pond. We arrived at about 1:00 PM with the group slated to get there at about 1:30 PM. The air temperature was just below 20 degrees but a stiff wind made it feel colder. We did not bring Sheba this time. The cold weather seems to affect her more as she gets older and two cold days in a row are too much. Cindy and I got on our gear and started to snowshoe toward the register box. Once there we made a loop back to the car. Just as we were ready to start another loop Lisa pulled into the parking area with one other person. Eight people who had planned to come had canceled. Perhaps they were afraid of low temperatures or had other plans but they missed a beautiful day. There was quiet a bit of snow, at least enough to cover the ground and making snowshoes worthwhile. I was cool standing still at the car but once we got started and adjusted our snowshoes I warmed up and had a great trip. We hiked out the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond and crossed the bridge over the outlet. There was a howling wind blowing across the pond and I decided that I had taken pictures of the pond in the winter many times before. I left the camera in the pack and had a good time NOT taking pictures for once.

When we reached the other side of the pond, I suggested that we head up the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel Junction. From there we could take the Logger's Loop back to Times Square. Parts of this trail have a lot of blowdown and we worked our way around it flowing a track from some cross country skiers. At Iron Wheel we turned right onto the Logger's Loop which was well packed by snowmobiles. As we walked we heard some machine coming and stepped off the trail as they slowed down to go by. This was our only encounter on our hike. Soon we were descending the hill back to Times Square. Instead of continuing straight ahead back to the pond we turned right and took the loop trail along the west side of Frick Pond. This is a beautiful but short route that passed through some hemlock groves and over some wooden walkways. When we arrived at the Frick outlet again, we turned right and headed back to the car. It was a very enjoyable but energetic two hours.

On Saturday, February 6th I decided to visit one more falls before returning home. As I reached the turn for DeBruce Road on the Frost Valley Road, I continued straight ahead to the Claryville Road where I turned right toward Curry. Once I got to Route 52 I turned left and went through Grahamsville to the Rondout Reservoir. I turned left on 55A and then right when the road goes over the reservoir. I watched for Yagerville Road and made the left to head up the hill. I knew the next right would be a dead end road that would lead me down to Angel Falls. The road was plowed and in good condition and I parked at the end. Cindy and I had visited these falls for the first time in the summer and they seemed quite beautiful. I wanted to see how they looked in winter. Sheba and I walked down the road to the upper falls. I was able to take some pictures from the road and the nigh bank around the falls but negotiating my way down the bank to the stream looked to be too dangerous.

We left the upper falls and walked back on the road to a spot that looked like we could get down the bank safely. From here we walked down the hill toward the stream and the lower falls. I was a little off the most direct path and ended up downstream. This gave me an opportunity to discover the extent of the foundation of the ruins. I still haven't found anyone who can tell me exactly what stood at the falls but it was big! We walked over to the stream and I took some pictures from the stream bed back upstream toward the falls. After working my way up the bank, we visited the rocks that look over the falls. These were slippery so I was careful and took a few more pictures. I was satisfied at this point and it was getting late so we headed back to the car and home.

On Saturday, February 6th I headed for Kaaterskill Falls after coming out of Platte Clove. I found that Clum Hill Road was plowed and easy to follow as a shortcut to 23A on the other side of Tannersville. I made the right on 23A, drove through Haines Falls and parked at the pull off for Kaaterskill Falls. There were several other cars already parked. Two young men were just getting ready to depart and it seemed they might be ready to do some ice climbing by the looks of their equipment. Sheba and I walked down the road to Bastion Falls. These falls were completely frozen over with thick white ice. The only water I could see was that flowing from the base of the falls and passing under the road bridge. I took a few pictures and then put on my Stabilicers to begin the hike to Kaaterskill Falls. The initial part of the trail was covered in thick ice that looked to dangerous even with Stabilicers. Sheba and I went off trail and found a less icy route a little higher up. Once we were able to rejoin the trail where it levels off some the conditions improved and we were able to carefully walk on the trail. There were a few ice flows which we could avoid or walk across carefully. On the way up I noticed an area of impressive ice hanging off a cliff. I made note to take pictures on the way back but We continued toward the falls.

When we got to the falls, I immediately saw that they were frozen. The lower falls were almost completely frozen solid. In fact, a group of ice climbers had already started to climb this ice. I knew a few more climbers would be along soon. They had their ropes anchored by screws at the top of the lower falls and had all the equipment needed to SAFELY climb the ice. The upper falls were frozen but there was still water coming off them. I took MANY pictures of the falls and the climbers before starting back to the car. I toyed with the idea of trying to get up to the basin between the falls but did not have full crampons with me. I also though about driving up to park on Laurel Avenue and come down to the upper falls but I had the idea I could still visit Angel Falls near the Rondout Reservoir if I hurried.

On Saturday, February 6th I decided to look for some frozen water falls after our adventure on Sugarloaf ended early. From Mink Hollow I drove back to Platte Clove Road, made a right and headed for the Platte Clove Preserve. I had been to two waterfalls in the clove during the summer but wanted to revisit them in the winter. I parked at the pullout for the preserve, got my gear together and started the hike down the trail into the clove. I carried my Stabilicers with me for a short distance and then decided they would supply more traction if I put them in my feet! The path underneath the trees was icy as was the trail down to the base of Platte Clove Falls. The falls and the stream below were almost completely frozen. This is what I had been looking for in Pennsylvania the previous week! Only a small open space showed water actually flowing over the falls. The ice looked thick on the stream so I ventured out onto it carefully to get the best, unobstructed shots. I took many pictures before deciding to go to the upper falls near the footbridge.

The last time I was in Platte Clove, I simply climbed the steep bank next to Platte Clove Falls and to the shortest route to the upper falls. The snow was deep and there was a lot of ice so I decided to play it safe. I retraced my steps to the Platte Clove nature found a path down to the stream. This was not easy since the banks were icy and the snow on top made things that much more interesting. I finally worked my way down to the stream and again braved the ice to work my way into the best position for pictures. I took my shots and then went back to the car. It was still early so Sheba and I headed for Kaaterskill falls.

On Saturday, February 6th I planned to get together with Coldfeet and Rockysummit to hike Sugarloaf. They were meeting in Haines Falls and were going to spot a car at the Roaring Kill PA. I decided to drive directly to Mink Hollow and meet them there. The plans were a little tentative but I arrived at 9:00 AM after getting a late start for no reason. The air temperature was about 15 degrees but there was no wind. I waited until 9:15 AM and thought perhaps I had misunderstood the meeting time or place and started to get my equipment ready. As soon as I started to get my gear together, their car pulled up and we introduced ourselves and got ready to go. There was so little snow at the parking area that we debated what to wear on our feet and finally decided it was easier to wear the snowshoes than to carry them. The "trail" from Mink Hollow up to the Devil's Path and the lean-to is not an official trail and, therefore, is not marked. We didn't have much trouble following it but did have some trouble trying to find the best snow and stay out of the eroded areas. Soon we were at the Devil's Path and turned left for the climb up Sugarloaf. The amount of snow increased and the hiking became or difficult as the pitch increased. There were also a few icy spots but we managed to make pretty good time.

We stopped to take a few pictures of the trail and Plateau to the west and then it was back to the climb. The first interesting section is where the trail passed through a short "tunnel" and then emerges on a rock shelf. Just after the shelf is a short but narrow ledge that leads to another rock shelf and the rest of the trail. In all other seasons this is no problem but the snow and icy made this "exciting". We negotiated this section and then continued up. Soon the snow became thinner and the ice became THICKER. We cam upon an ice flow that covered the entire trail in 8 to 12 inches of ice. I went up with my MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes but the going was definitely dicey. When I looked back, I realized Sheba was NOT following. My dog is much smarter than I am and she refuse the attempt the sheer ice. I had two choices at that point. I could finish the climb up the ice and see if I could get her to try another route or I could go back down and we could look for another path together. I decided on the latter but when I turned around I realized my predicament. Coming up the ice was difficult. Going back down proved to be nearly impossible! At some point I got the idea that the only thing I could do was it down and inch myself down the ice flow. As I sat I found out how slippery that ice was and how quickly bad can go to worse. I began a RAPID DESCENT down the ice and decided to aim for a nearby tree to arrest my slide. As I approached the tree, I realized that one leg would be on one side of the tree and the other leg would be on the other side! I quickly decided on an alternate plan and slid by the tree into some soft snow. I came to rest rather gently and immediately began to take inventory of body parts and equipment. Remarkably all the body parts were intact and all the equipment was nearby. As I began to pick myself up, Sheba arrived to give encouragement.

I was pretty convinced at this point that Sheba and I would turn back but Rockysummit somehow persuaded me to venture up to the next ascent to see the extent of the ice. Coldfeet was a little further behind putting on crampons. Sheba and I worked our way on a bushwhack back up to the flatter part of the trail. We met Rockysummit and went on to the next climb. This nearly vertical ascent was a series of rock ledges enshrouded in ice! I made my decision at this point. I did not have crampons and could not have gotten Sheba up those ledges even if I could have gotten up. I was also concerned about more ice further up and the descent down the other side. As we all gathered at this point, I told my companions that Sheba and I were going to turn around. The other two decided to go on and we wished each other good luck and parted company. Sheba and I were not home free as we worked our way back down passed the ice flows and that narrow ledge. Once at the lean-to it was a simple matter of walking down our path from early in the day to the car. I don't like to give up without summiting but I was sure I had made the right decision. The round trip had taken less than two hours so we were still ready for more. I contemplated going to Roaring Kill and hiking from there but decided to wait and see what the others had found on that side. After thinking a little more, I decided to go in search of some frozen falls and headed off to Platte Clove.

On Sunday, January 31st the weather turned milder than the day before with a lot of sun. I planned to go to Little Pond state campsite at 1:30 PM to snowshoe with a group from Morgan Outdoor. Sitting around home after church I got bored and decided to head up to Little Pond to get in a little extra time and scout out the conditions. I parked at the base of the access road so as not to block the gate and quickly put on my snowshoes. I was disappointed that there was only a few inches of snow on the road and hoped that would increase as Sheba and I headed up the hill. It was a beautiful day but still cold. The walk up to the main gate and then to the pond went very quickly. The snow never did get very deep except in the drifts near the pond. I took some pictures of the deserted building and of picnic tables turned up for the winter. We walked out to the new bridge over the outlet and I took more pictures of the pond and the surrounding hills. I decided we had enough time to make it around the pond and back down to meet the group so we started around the pond in a counterclockwise direction. The snow was minimal and the snowshoes were really unnecessary except for traction. As we reached the inlet of the pond, we passed the trail junction to the viewpoint. I wondered if anyone in the group would want to try for the viewpoint. We kept a good pace around the pond and were back down to Barkaboom Road by 1:20 PM. No one had arrived yet so we did a few laps of a nearby clearing until cars started to arrive.

As cars started to arrive I helped novices put on and adjust their snowshoes. Several other dogs were on the hike. Sheba was pretty good with the other canines since she was outside and able to roam. Soon we were headed up the hill to the campgrounds traveling in several small groups based on ability. We headed around the pond anticlockwise until we got to the upper end. Here, two women and myself decided to hike up to the lookout over the pond. The trail was barely covered with snow but wearing the snowshoes was easier than carrying them. Up we went and both women were surprised at the beauty of the small evergreen forest. Soon we were approaching the saddle between mountains that gives a nice view over Little Pond and the valleys below. TouchMeNot Mountain is also very evident. We stayed for a few minutes to get some pictures and then started back down to the trail around the pond. When we arrived at the main trail, I asked if it would be OK if I went ahead as they were more tired and taking their time. They had no problem with this idea so I excused myself and Sheba and I headed for the car. It was a nice hike with a good group of people.

On Saturday, January 30th when Cindy and I arrived at the George Childs Picnic area there was only one other car parked in the small area that had been cleared by the side of the road. The parking lot was full of snow. This was a far cry from the summer when the lot was almost full despite a downpour. At that time the park was full of families, photographers and artists painting the falls. We got out of the car and walked the trail to the uppermost falls, Factory Falls. There was a good flow of water and we stopped to take pictures. It was odd that the roar of the water was really the only sound to be heard!

We walked the trail to the upper part of Fulmer Falls, the next one down the stream. It was still cold and there was ice on the walk and the railings near the falls. We took some shots from this viewpoint and then headed back down the trail to the base of the falls. The trail turns into boardwalks and stairs which, in the summer, were very convenient but now were covered in slippery ice. At the base of the stairs I ventured out onto the tongue of land that push into the stream and offers a good view of the falls. I didn't go far since the ice was thick and falling in the cold water was unappealing! I took my pictures and then carefully headed back to the "safety" of the walkways.

We continued on the boardwalk and stairs to the last falls, Deer Leap. The trail leads to a broad open area at the base of the falls. This is a narrow falls that drops about 20 feet from a narrow gap. A bridge lies directly over the falls and adds or subtracts something depending on your view. We continued over the bridge at the base of the falls and up the other side. I was intending to walk up the trail to the top of Fulmer Falls since there is a nice lookout from the other side. The trail was too icy for this and the lookout does require one to hold onto a tree and lean out for the best vies. We decided to take the bridge below Fulmer back to the other side and walk up to the car. We did try to visit Dingman's Falls after this but the road was NOT plowed!

On Saturday, January 30th Cindy and I drove from Shohola Falls over some back roads to Raymondskill Falls. We parked in the small lower lot and put on our Stabilicers for the trip down the trail to the falls. As it turned out most of the trail was in good shape but several icy patches made the traction worthwhile. The volume of the falls was high and not much of the water was frozen. As at Shohola, there was a lot of frozen spray on the rocks, trees and railings near the falls. We took some pictures and then headed back up the trail to the upper part of the falls.

The trail to the upper falls was mostly clear of snow and ice but there were a few tricky spots. The damage to the hemlocks from the wooly agelid was evident even in winter. There was less frozen spray at the top of the falls. I was able to walk out onto rocks over the falls and was able to get some shots down the spray covered rocks and trails below. After taking some pictures, we retreated to the car and headed for the George Childs Picnic Area on Silver Lake Road. This area has three different falls we wanted to visit.

On Saturday, January 30th I had planned to hike with a group from the Millbrook trailhead to Graham and Balsam Lake Mountain. Although I had hiked these peaks from Beaverkill the previous weekend. I was looking forward to hiking with the group. The weather forecast was for air temperatures at or below zero with winds in the double digits range. This would bring the windchill in the early morning down to near 20 below. Unfortunately, the forecast was correct and plans changed. Sitting around the house was making me crazy so I convinced my wife that we should go to the Delaware Water Gap to photograph some waterfalls. I knew that the wind was dying down and that Pennsylvania would be warmer. It turned out I was right but that only meant the air temperatures broke into the double digits! I had been to the waterfalls in August and wondered how they would look with a greater volume and how the cold temperatures would have changed them. I remembered most of the locations and twists and turns and so we headed to Port Jervis then to Milford to find Shohola Falls and begin the adventure.

When we arrived at the parking area, it was COLD with a stiff wind blowing across the reservoir. We took our cameras and walked over to the trail to the falls. The first thing we noticed was that the water was high and everything was coated with ice. I remembered that the trails were "interesting" in the summer when wet and knew I would have to be careful. I had hoped the falls would be frozen but the high volume of water prevented that. However, the spray coming off the falls had coated many of the trees and rocks making a beautiful scene. We took some pictures from the trail where it was safe and then I worked my way down to the trail that overlooked the falls. I didn't go too far since the trail was covered in ice and I only had Stabilicers. After taking some pictures, I went back up to where Cindy had waited and we went back to the car.

We drove across the road bridge to the other side of the falls and parked. I had not visited this side in the summer and was anxious to see what the view looked like. It was still cold and the wind was making it even colder. We walked down through the field and took some pictures of the reservoir before walking to the relative shelter of the trail in the trees. The trail descended to the stone parapet just above the falls. This lookout did provide a different view of the falls. From this angle it was even more obvious how high the water was. There was also a direct shot across to the ice covered rocks and trees on the other side of the falls. I took a lot of pictures before working my way up the trail and walking along the stream on the high bank. The trail didn't afford much of a view so I returned to Cindy and we went back to the car for a trip to Raymondskill.

On Saturday, January 23rd I was ready to hike somewhere after a layoff of almost two weeks due to a pesky cold. I still had some symptoms but could not wait until they were completely gone! At one point a week ago, I had thought about hiking Graham and that idea came back to me. Graham can be a long hike but it is not too steep and I thought maybe the snow, at least near the top, might be good. I planned to pack my snowshoes since I thought there wouldn't be too much snow left at the trailhead based on the conditions in town. As I drove up the Beaverkill Road, it seemed that there was plenty of snow on the ground and I hoped this would be true at the trailhead. When we arrived at the parking area I was surprised to see it completely plowed and equally surprised to see no other cars. The day was bright and beautiful with the temperatures just hitting the twenties when I parked. One looked showed there was enough snow on the trail to warrant snowshoes. By 10:45 AM we were on the trail. I had two light wool layers and my Mammut Ultimate Hoody. The Mammut Champ pants are quickly becoming my favorite winter pants and I backed them up with Icebreaker 200 leggings. The trail showed evidence of snowshoe and ski use but also showed that some inconsiderate postholers had been at work! The snow was frozen and pretty hard but I figured this would change as the temperatures warmed. I, of course, was overdressed for snowshoeing and made it only to the first trail junction until I had to remove the hoody and change into a lighter hat and gloves.

At the trail junction, we continued straight ahead since I intended to climb Graham first and then see whether we felt like doing Balsa, Lake on the way back. Passed the junction there was still well broken trail but the postholes disappeared. The sun was even brighter and the air temperature warmer. I hadn't hiked this way in some time and was surprised at how much uphill it was. Without the leaves on the trees it was also possible to see the surrounding hills and get a good look down into the Gulf of Mexico. When we arrived at the second trail junction, there were relatively fresh snowshoe tracks going up Balsam Lake but I wasn't sure how fresh. We continued on until the herd path to Graham appeared on the right, Actually, the herd path seemed just as prominent as the main trail as it was well broken out by snowshoe traffic. We followed this track and I was amazed at how much snow there was and how the snow "smoothed" out the trail. Normally the herd path to Graham is full of rocks and roots and wet spots but the rocks and roots were well buried under the snow and the wet spots were all frozen! We continued to follow the broken track as it wound its way back and forth and up and down and eastward toward the summit of Graham. We were keeping a pretty good pace but I could feel the effects of being ill. Soon we started the climb up Graham which starts gently at first and really never gets very steep. The sun was bright and I could see some nice views on both side but all were through the trees

As we neared the top of the mountain Sheba "alerted" and cam back to me. I looked up to see two people coming down the mountain toward us. It took only a moment for the man to yell "Hi, Ralph!" It took me just a moment more to yell "Hello, Ralph!" It was Ralph Ryndak (Hermit) and Maddy (Maddy). It was their snowshoe tracks I had been seeing. They had started from Millbrook a little before Sheba and I had parked at the Beaverkill parking area. Ralph introduced me to Maddy and we talked for a little while. They assured me the view from both mountains was great and then we continued in our own directions. The rest of the way up to the summit went quickly as we passed by the lookout on the left to get to the summit. The summit was bathed in sun and the views were beautiful in all directions. We got a drink and ate some lunch. I took pictures of the building at the top and quite a few pictures of the hills and valley covered in snow. The bright blue sky was a nice backdrop. It was so clear that the fire tower on Balsam Lake was easy to spot. We didn't stay too long before heading back down the mountain. On the way back we stepped off the trail to go to the viewpoint where others had also been. The views from here were also very good and I took several shots before getting back on the trail. My muscles had been tired climbing but the trip down was easy. In many places the snow had softened enough so that I could sit back on the shoes and slide down the trail.

Soon we were back on the main trail and at the trail junction up to Balsam Lake. I had debated what to do here all the way down Graham and decided to give it a try despite my tired legs. We made the right turn and were soon climbing up to the tower. My legs felt a little tired but the trail on this side of the mountain is rather gentle compared to other side although it is longer. As we gained elevation, it was clear that this WAS the north side as there was less evidence that there had been much melting of the snow due to exposure to direct sunlight. There were many places where the trees were still covered with snow forming a "spruce tunnel". I took some pictures and also snapped some photos of the tower framed by the trees as we approached the summit. When we arrived, there were two pairs of hikers present. A father and son from Margaretville who had hiked up from Millbrook and another pair from the Beaverkill trailhead. There were also two dogs, one of which seemed a little "aggressive". I told Sheba to stay by the picnic table and I went up the tower. The views were VERY good in all directions and, even though I had taken many photographs from the tower before, I took quite a few pictures. The pair who parked at Beaverkill were from Catskill and asked me how to get back to Route 28. They had come over Cross Mountain Road which I had thought was impassable in the winter. After I gave them directions, I came down the tower and Sheba and I headed back to the car. The trip down went quickly as I was a able to slide most of the way with only a few dicey spots near the top. Once on the main trail we picked a fast pace and were back at the car my 3:30 PM. The 8.5 mile trip had taken us a little over four and a half hours with a generous amount of stopping time for pictures and conversations.

On Sunday, January 10th I decided to go back to Big Pond and finish the loop hike that we had started but aborted the day before. The temperature seemed warm, although it was only in the high teens, and the wind had died down some. We arrived at Big Pond at about 12:15 PM and were ready to hike almost immediately. I was afraid that the warmer temperatures and the wind might have removed the frozen snow from the trees but one look at the hills around Big Pond convinced me that it was still there and still beautiful. The fisherman were back on the lake but I decided to get hiking immediately and forgo any photography until we entered territory that we had not covered the day before. My plan was to do a loop from Big Pond up Cabot Mountain and down to Little Pond and then back up TouchMeNot to the trail junction and back to the car. I knew this was about 7 miles and that the time was short! The hike up to the trail junction went quickly since the trail was broken and we knew where we were going. The hike that had taken 75 minutes the day before took only 35 minutes this day. Once at the junction, we made the right and started down the other side toward the next trail junction to climb Cabot Mountain. Our paced slowed some since the trail at this point was unbroken and there was no evidence that anyone had been on it since the last snowfall. The descent on this side of the mountain also has some interesting rock scrambles with narrow passages that are hard to execute on snowshoes!

We arrived at the trail junction to Cabot Mountain which was posted as the "Beaverkill Overlook .5 miles". As we stared off in this direction the trail was poorly marked and not very well defined. This trail does not get much traffic and gets pretty overgrown in places. The first part of the trail is pretty flat and skirts Cabot Mountain. The snow grew deeper as we approached the base of the mountain and began to climb. The first part gains elevation but does so rather slowly. Soon we were on a steeper part with rocks and roots and twists and turns. The snow was so deep that I had to make sure one shoe was set and then paw with the other to clear the snow and get a grip before transferring my weight. Along the way there were several places where I had to step up on rocks. Finally, we were near the top where things get really steep and there are SW rock scrambles to work through. Sheba led the way but I began to think of the trip back. At one point Thought we were finally at the top but there were still a few scrambles and a steep section to go. The trail was nearly unmarked in several spots but we eventually made it to the flat part on top and the overlook. The views were worth the work. I just wasn't sure about the trip back down. I took many pictures before we headed back the way we had come,

The .5 or so miles from the junction to the top had taken about 45 minutes of hard work. The first part of the trip back was fun since I just pulled up the tips of my snowshoes and "skied" down the trail. Once we reached the steeper sections the real "fun" began. Negotiating the narrow scrambles was difficult only to be dumped onto a steep area. I found that not only can you "ski" on snowshoes but you can "jump" off rocks. The same trip that took 45 minutes up lasted only 18 minutes on the way back to the trail junction. At this point Sheba went straight ahead in the direction we had come from. I decided to turn right and go to Little Pond despite the fact that it was growing late. One the way back I would wonder if I should have listened to Sheba! The trail to Little Pond leads through an open field in the saddle between the hills and I though the view from this lookout might be nice. I was right and we walked to the center of the field where I took my pack off and got out the camera. The mountains and valleys near and far were beautiful with all the elevations above 2500 feet encased in frozen snow. The sky was also a deep blue with many interesting cloud formations. I took many pictures and then decided to move on as the sun sunk lower in the sky. I remember that the trail used to lead through another open field but when I got there it was completely grown over. It had been a long time since I had taken this route.

The walk down to Little Pond was quick despite the deep snow and the poor trail blazing. At one point there was a beaver meadow or swamp off to the left where I stopped to take a few more shots. Back on the main trail we soon arrived at Little Pond and made the left to walk along the near side of the pond to the main parking area. At one point we stopped and I took some photographs of the pond before continuing on. Once we arrived at the main parking area I had to make a choice of whether to walk down the access road to the main road and then back to the car or to continue on the trails. The trail are shorter but the road is easier. I couldn't tale long to decide as the time was growing short. I decided to try the trail up to TouchMeNot Mountain which would intersect my trail from earlier in the day. As I started out on the trail I took a step and my entire right leg cramped! I had been sweating profusely despite the air temperature and the venting. The problem was that I had taken only a few sips of water. I massaged my leg until the worst cramping stopped and then drank an entire bottle of water. I waited only a short time and started out. The cramping started again so I stopped to stretch it out and massage it. After a few of these incidents, the cramping stopped. The leg still hurt and I kept anticipating another bout. The trail was even steeper than I remembered and it seemed like it would never end. Each time I though we might be at the top, there was another scramble or section of uphill. Finally we reached the flat part at the top and actually started to descend. I had expected to intersect my trail from the morning by now but had not. I consulted my GPS and found it as less than .2 miles ahead. This was a good thing since it was beginning to get dark.

When we intersected our packed trail, I was very happy and Sheba seemed pleased also as she increased the pace. We hit the trail junction at 4:00 PM and made it back to the car without stopping by 4:30 PM. I though we could do this faster but my legs were both hurting. We had covered 7 difficult miles in just over 4 hours. I was pleased we had made it before dark but the adventure had one more twist. I stowed my gear, put Sheba in the back and started to get into the car. My right leg cramped again and my left was also not happy. My car is a standard which made things even more interesting. After some more massaging and another bottle of water I started out. There was a beautiful sunset and I was trying to think about where I could get some shots. My legs had different ideas. I was almost back to town when the cramping started again. I stopped the car, stretched and massaged until I could get back into the seat and finish the trip. Three days later my legs were still sore! This is the second or third time I have had cramping from dehydration. I am a slow learner.

On Saturday, January 9th the temperature was in the single digits early in the morning. I had tentative plans to hike KHP with a small group but Cindy did not want to go so far away from home. We decided to wait until the temperatures warmed and pick someplace closer to home. By mid morning the air temperatures was about 12 degrees and we decided to head to Graham Mountain. As we drove up the Beaverkill Road we approached the turnoff for the Barkaboom Road and decided we had driven far enough. I made the turn and headed for Big Pond. When we parked at the pond, the temperature was about 6 degrees with a 20 mph wind! Just how cold it was became immediately apparent as I stepped out of the car to take some pictures. By the time I had snapped several shots without gloves, my hands lacked any felling. Standing on the lee side of the car made putting on the snowshoes bearable. The pond was a beautiful site since the hill tops were covered with frozen snow and ice. Despite the temperatures, there were a few ice fisherman out on the pond setting up their tip ups and shelters! We walked up the road a hundred feet and then turned left onto the trail and started on the trail.

The trail, which is part of the Finger Lakes System, ascends rather steeply at first before leveling off some. The snow was 10 to 12 inches deep and completely unbroken with no evidence that anybody had been there since the last snowfall. This trail is not heavily used and is hard to follow in the winter in some places. In addition, most of the trail markers are old, some were missing and others were covered by snow. More than one time I had to retreat from where I was headed when Cindy pointed out a marker in a different direction or Sheba indicated the trail went another way. The trail soon began to get steeper and, in some places, we almost had to sidehill. We stopped occasionally to give Cindy a breather before continuing. I took advantage of this time to take pictures of the ice and snow on the trees. In the woods the wind was not so bad and I began to heat up as we walked along. After about an hour we reached the flatter part near the top of the mountain. In another 15 minutes we were at the trail junction. I turned right toward Cabot Mountain and started off. Cindy let me know that she was still OK for flat or down but that up was out of the question. We decided to turn around and go back to the car.

I like going down on snowshoes since it is possible, with practice, to pull the tips of the shoes up and almost ski down the trail. This requires balance, care and good pole placement. Cindy does not have as much experience so her descent was marked by slip, slide and fall. The snow cushioned most of the spills but the trip back was not elegant. We did make it back by about 12:30 PM. The wind had died down and the temperature had gone up some. The sun was out and almost felt warm. We had covered a little over two miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes. This does seem slow but breaking trail in fresh powder is time consuming and energy draining.

On Saturday, January 2nd Cindy and I though we might get in some snowshoeing despite temperatures in the high single digits and winds gusting to over 20 mph. This put the windchill at below 0 but we have the clothing and wanted the exercise. We didn't want to go to far and wanted the option to later the route if it was too cold. We also worry about Sheba being out for too long in the bitter cold. Due to all these factors we chose Frick Pond and arrived in the parking area around 12:30 PM. The road to Mongaup Pond had been plowed but the fresh snow on the Beech Mountain extension had not been touched. We would again be the FIRST to hike in the area. Once we parked we hurried to get ready since we were both cold standing still. I decided to give up my Mammut Ultimate Hoody for the day and try my new Arc'teryx Gamma SV Hooded Jacket. This jacket had more lining and would, therefore, seem to be warmer. It was and I didn't get overheated despite the lack of pit zips. My only other complaint about the jacket is that the hood is "helmet compatible". This means that without a helmet it is too big and floppy and is in the way! The jacket does fit well, seems well constructed and has two "high" pockets that are out of the way of pack straps and climbing harnesses.

We left the parking area and headed for the Flynn Trail. I wanted to reverse the route we had done previously by climbing the 1.7 miles on the Flynn Trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. At this junction we had several options. The Flynn Trail had quite a bit of new fallen snow and even more drifting. Our tracks from two days before were obliterated in most places. It was a long slog through the snow but we were soon at the trail junction. Cindy wanted to cut down the Big Rock Trail which was alright with me since I thought the steeper downhill might be fun. It was and soon we were at Times Square. My choice was to take the Logger's Loop to lengthen the hike but Cindy was a little more tired and cold so we went straight and around the back of Frick Pond. We did not stop to take pictures along the way as it was very cold and the blowing snow was not conducive to taking pictures. We hiked back to the parking area hitting a few spots of open water which made the snow start to stick to the shoes. We finished the 4 mile walk in around 2 hours. Cindy wore my Atlas 12 snowshoes and found them far superior to her Elektra 10s. I will be looking for a pair of the 12s for her in the near future.

On Thursday, December 31st Cindy and I saw Krista and Brad off at about 12:00 PM. They had planned to leave earlier but a short storm dropped between 2 and 3 inches of new snow in just a few hours. By noon the snow had stopped and the road crews were out. Cindy and I decided to go snowshoe at Frick Pond and headed out DeBruce Road. DeBruce had quite a bit of snow and Mongaup Pond Road was untouched but we made it to the parking area easily. When we got out of the car, the air was very still with a temperature in the high 20's. We put on our snowshoes and started out on the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond. The new snow covered the ground and we were the first people to see it! At Frick Pond we stopped for a few pictures and then continued on around the pond. The walk through the pines and over the boardwalks was peaceful and beautiful. Once at Times Square we stopped for a moment as I took off my light jacket. I was already warm from the exertion and I felt my two wool shirts would be warm enough since there was no wind. We decided to take the challenge of the climb up the Big Rock Trail to the Flynn Trail Junction. This trail rises about 650 feet in a little more than a mile. The trail had been packed by snowmobiles which makes snowshoeing a little easier. Once on the Flynn Trail we turned right and walked the 1.7 miles DOWN to the parking area. All in all a nice hike of 4 miles in almost exactly two hours.

On Wednesday, December 30th I had plans to hike Packsaddle and Pine Island with a group but another early morning ambulance call changed those plans. When I got back, I decided to do Peekamoose and, maybe, Table since they are relatively close and have some good views. I left Manor with only Sheba in the car and got to the main parking area at 9:00 AM. Another car arrived and we talked for a minute. They were debating whether or not to wear snowshoes which I had taken as a given. I STRONGLY suggested that they wear snowshoes having read several posts in the forums about postholers ruining the trails due to being unprepared or inconsiderate or both. When I left at 9:15 AM, they were still debating the issue and I hoped they would make the right choice. From the trailhead to the register there was so little snow that I thought I might strap the shoes to my pack until I remembered the bungees were in the car! When I signed in at the register, another hiker had made a rather lengthy and pointed comment about those who choose not to wear snowshoes. I thought it was a little harsh but that was before the snow began to get deeper. There was a few inches of packed snow from the register to the turnoff from the woods road onto the trail. To this point we were making good time.

After the turn onto the trail the snow got a little deeper but it seemed this was mostly due to drifting. There were places where the drifts were over a foot deep but other spots where there was almost no snow! Soon we hit the first of the rock scrambles which I negotiated without removing the snowshoes. The snow got a little deeper the higher we went and another rock scramble was accomplished without a problem. Sheba always goes up first and then waits for me to see if I will make it OK. The blue markers along the trail were few a far between and looked pretty old. Since the trail was completely unbroken, I had to look carefully to see where it went. Fortunately, Sheba does not have that problem! The farther along the trail we went the more annoying the postholers" became. It was not only the occasional hole but the narrow track set my these barebooters. Snowshoes set a wider track so my shoes would keep turning in when I tried to follow the main trail! After one more rock scramble, we arrived at Reconnoiter Rock. I stopped to take some pictures of the area including some of Sheba posing near the rock. We got a drink and a snack and then headed on up the mountain. I had only seen the two hikers behind me once when I thought they would catch and pass me. I wondered now where they had gone!

As soon as we got back on the trail, the snow began to get MUCH deeper. Drifts of snow two feet deep were common and it was obvious that there was 8 to 12 inches of new snow on top. This began just as we started to climb and it slowed me down considerably. I had Sheba walk in my tracks as this made it easier for her although she seemed perfectly willing to lead the way! We climbed some steeper areas and walk through some rocky places until we were at the lookout. Here we stopped and I took quiet a few pictures. The sky was blue with a few clouds but the scene was panoramic! I didn't want to cool off too much since by this time I was wearing only a Mammut Warm Zip Top and my Mammut Ultimate Hoody over that. Surprisingly this was enough as long as I kept moving. What I seem to forget is that after the lookout there is still quite a distance to go to the summit both horizontally and vertically. Some of the more difficult areas are on the last push to the summit. We made good time across the little plateau before the summit and then attacked the last climb to the summit. A few places here are steep and I had to dig in with the snowshoe crampons to prevent sliding backwards. A few other spots are rocky and require some maneuvers with snowshoes. It wasn't too long until we were up and headed across the flat area toward the final climb. Once up the last part it was a short distance until we came to the large boulder that marks the summit.

I had not checked my watch on the way up and wanted to see now how long it had taken. I thought some where between 2 and 2.5 hours was likely. My watch said 12:45 PM which meant that it had taken 3.5 hours! I knew that going down would be much quicker but I was tired of breaking trail by myself. In addition, the trip to Table, although short, offers no real views. I would save Table for another day. After a few pictures on the summit, Sheba and I turned around and started down. We only got a few steps when the first of the other two hikers arrived. His partner was nowhere to be seen. I was happy to see he had chosen to wear the snowshoes but was surprised that he did not have poles. I am not sure I have ever seen this before in the mountains. We talked briefly and then headed in our own directions. As we began to descend, the other hiker showed up. He also had snowshoes but no poles. We talked briefly and I wondered to myself why these two "decided" to separate. I slipped and slid down some of the steepest parts near the top until we were on the plateau. The rest of the hike down went pretty smoothly slowed only by the rock scrambles and some areas with almost now snow. I was able to keep the shoes on for the whole hike.

Soon we turned from the trail onto the woods road and continued to set a quick pace. I signed out at the register noting that the "old" pages had been picked up by a ranger. The two other hikers were from Burlington, VT. From the register it was a quick trip to the car. We were back at the car by 3:45 PM having taken 5.5 hours to cover the 7.6 miles. My new GPS showed that we had "rested" for a total of almost and hour. I think some of this time was the slow going on the ascent. As I pulled out of the parking area, I decided to drive up the road to take some pictures of Buttermilk Falls. I parked the car at the side of the road and walked back to the bridge. The falls was encased in ice and I took some rather nice pictures. I then walked the path toward the stream to get a better view. After snapping a few more shots, I headed back to the car and started for home.

On Monday, December 28th Karl and I decided we wanted to snowshoe. I had intended to head for Hunter since the reports of snow were good. An early morning ambulance call altered those plans and we decided to test the conditions closer to home at Long Pond. I thought we might try hiking up to the pond and then passed the lean-to. From here we could connect to Basily Road. Cross the beaver pond and continue on Basily to Flugertown Road and back to the car. I was not concerned about the distance but was a little worried about crossing the beaver pond and the stream immediately after it. We parked in a VERY icy parking lot at 12:30 PM and started up the hill immediately. There was enough snow to wear the snowshoes but they were more for traction as the snow was packed and not very deep. The first part of the trail is ALL uphill but it is not very steep or very long. We hiked along and talked until we got to the turnoff for Long Pond. We walked down to the pond and I took some pictures. The ice was thin near the edge where the plants grow but the ice across the rest of the pond look solid.

We continued on the main trail until the junction and turned right to head toward the lean-to. There aren't nay views along the way but the woods were quite with little wind and everything was peaceful. We decided to continue passed the lean-to and on around in the "big loop". It took a little longer than I though but we soon hot the road/snow mobile trail. Someone had been there recently with a pickup which chewed the road up some but we were able to avoid most of the mud. We made a couple of lefts until we were on Basily Road and headed back toward Flugertown Road. As we approached the beaver pond, I hoped the water would be low enough for us to cross. I need not have worried since there was a nice, new footbridge across the stream. We stopped to take some pictures and then continued on. The gate on the private bridge over the next stream was open and we took the opportunity. I don't like crossing private land without asking but it was only a few hundred feet and... Soon we were on the road and headed back toward the car. The road is not maintained for some distance so we kept the snowshoes on until we reached the maintained part of the road. Here we took the shoes off and carried them less than a mile to the car. It was just passed 3:30 PM and we had covered the 6 miles in just over 3 hours.

On Sunday, December 27th Brad and I decided to hike after church. I was afraid that the warm weather would have turned many of the Catskill trails to "mush". We decided to head south to the Bear Mountain area and hike the Dunderberg Mountains. The drawback to this hike is the drive of more than one hour. As we drove down the Quickway, I kept thinking of other places to hike that were closer but stuck to the original plan. I wanted some good views on this beautiful day and had not hiked this route in some time. I was hoping we would have enough time to hike from the parking area near Jones Point up to Bald Mountain and back across the ridge in a clockwise direction. We parked at about 1:00 PM and got hiking immediately. We noticed immediately that there was NO SNOW and that the temperatures were in the low to mod 40's. I had told Brad the story of the spiral railway and to look for features related to it. As we hiked the flat area at the bottom, we could see a cascade of water off the ridge. We took some pictures and left our cameras out to take pictures of the first stone tunnel at the base of the ridge. After this, we began the climb up to the ridge where we turned left to head out toward the Timp.

We hiked along the trail at the edge of the ridge and I told Brad that the best areas for taking pictures were more toward the top of the ridge. We followed the trail as it followed the edge of the ridge giving us good views of the river below and the power plants including Indian Point. The trail cuts back severely several times on its way up the ridge. We stopped occasionally to take a few pictures and at one stop I took off my jacket since the temperatures were rising toward the 40's! One viewpoint gave us a great view of the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant and the Hudson River to the south. Although it was hazy, we could also see the Manhattan skyline in the distance! As we worked our way up the trail, the second tunnel came into view blasted into the side of the mountain. The water was low enough to investigate some. It appears the tunnel does not go far into the mountain and then stops. We took pictures and the got back on the trail which follows the built up railroad bridge until it crosses a stream and begins to ascend again. After working over and through some rocks we descended into an area just before the climb to the Timp. I suggested we skip the Timp and head to Bald Mountain to save time. Brad agreed and we made a quick right and then another to head that way.

We walked a small ridge and then descended into a little valley just before the start of the climb up Bald Mountain. This is one of the prettiest places on the hike and my favorite. The small stream was swollen but we found a place to hop across. The climb up Bald Mountain is not very steep nor is it long. At the top it levels off and then makes a final ascent to a broad rock ledge that offers some great views. The skies were clear this day and the views magnificent. We could see the Perkins Tower on Bear Mountain so clearly it seemed you could reach our and touch it, Below Bear Mountain the bridge stretches across the Hudson. The views up the river to the north went on forever. Immediately below Bald Mountain is Iona Island which now serves as a bird sanctuary. The building on the island were built to store munitions. After taking many photographs it was time to get back on the trail. At this point I was a little concerned about finishing before dark so we stepped up the pace as we hiked across the Dunderberg Ridge itself and what is marked on the map as Dunderberg Mountain.

The trail rolls as it crosses the ridge and there are some views from the higher spots. None of these views are better than the ones from Bald Mountain so we did not stop. As you approach the eastern end of the ridge several roads cross the trail. These seem to connect to the trail on the other side of the ridge but we decided to stay with the known route. We walked through the area that was burned by a forest fire and was the most probable site of the boarding house or hotel that the abandoned railroad was supposed to serve. The trail started to descend from the ridge and I knew we would be OK for time. We stopped at one viewpoint to take pictures of Peekskill Bay and even were able to photograph a Conrail train passing over a small bridge. The trail was very wet and almost indistinguishable from a creek bed at times. After the descent we walk along the built up railroad bed which was blasted from the side of the hill. The trail then started its descent along the graded bed of the inclined railway. The large stones that formed the base of the bed are angular and hard to walk on. We were soon near the point where the trail comes up from below. At this point we turned right, descended the ridge and walked to the car. It was about 4:30 PM and we had finished the 7 mile hike in around 3.5 hours.

On Thursday, December 24th Karl and I decided we wanted to snowshoe. After conducting some business in the morning, we had a few hours before a family gathering so we headed to Frick Pond with the intention of doing the bigger loop to Hodge Pond and then back. The temperatures were just below freezing when we started but there was almost no wind. When we parked, Sheba and Maggie were out of the car like shots and ready to hike. We felt a little cool when we started out as we had passed on the "long johns" but we knew this would change as we got started. Snowshoeing is extremely aerobic and generates a lot of body heat! We along the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond and stopped to take a few shots before crossing the bridge to go around the pond. At the trail junction on the other side we stayed on the Quick Lake Trail and started for Iron Wheel Junction. Snowshoes were a plus for traction but were not really necessary. The further we got into the hike the deeper the snow became but we saw no evidence of snowmobile tracks anywhere.

We had to walk around the blowdown on the trail but soon were at Iron Wheel. I had removed my Arc'teryx jacket and was hiking in my Patagonia R1 Flask Pullover and Mammut All-year baselayer. These were more than warm enough! Here we turned left to continue on the Quick Lake Trail toward Junkyard Junction and the Flynn Trail. Snowshoes add between a pound and two pounds to each foot but the motion is more of a shuffle than a step. This part of the trail is always longer than I remember and more uphill. Having Karl and the dogs along made this section seem much shorter. The snow depth increased to between 9 inches and a foot but we were able to stay on top most of the time. At Junkyard Junction we turned right and headed toward Hodge Pond on the Flynn Trail. This section had the most snow and there was no evidence that anyone had been there before us. We arrived at the pond and turned right to circle toward the outlet. The pond was pretty well frozen over so we crossed the ice at the outlet and stopped at the pond to take some pictures. The sun was shining brightly and the temperature was coming up. It was also getting late so we set out on the Flynn Trail back to the parking area at a fast pace. From the Big Rock Trail junction to the car was about 1.7 miles which we covered in under 45 minutes. The whole 6 mile hike took us less than 3 hours which we considered good for a snowshoe outing.

Fall 2009

On Sunday, December 20th Cindy and I decided we had had enough of staying inside while the temperatures hovered in the teens and the wind in the twenties. After church, we decided to head to Frick Pond for our first snowshoe of the year. We were disappointed that the major part of the recent storm had missed us but were confident Frick and Hodge Ponds would have enough snow to make the trip worth it. When e got out of the car at the parking area, the temperature was 17 degrees and the wind was HOWLING! We were dressed warmly and got our snowshoes on right away to avoid cooling down. Cindy was trying out here new Atlas Elektra 1023 to replace and old pair of Tubbs and, like anything new, they took a while to get used to. We headed out the Quick Lake Trail toward Frick and went down to the pond. Although I had brought the camera. I decided it was too cold to stop for photography. We headed around the back side of the pond and decided to continue on the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel junction. The snowshoes were working well even though they were not really needed. At Iron Wheel we decided to head down the Logger's Loop to Times Square. Once there we agreed to skip the climb up Big Rock to the Flynn Trail and just head back to the car. It was a short trip but a good one for our first of many this winter!

On Saturday, December 5th I decided that I would hike with Snickers and Brain up to Balsam Mountain from the Rider Hollow trailhead. Snickers was nursing a bad heel spur and did not want to push too hard. I though I might try for Eagle or Belleayre if I felt like it. By Friday the forecast was for snow by afternoon so I was glad that we had agreed to start at 8:30 AM. When I awoke I decided to see if Cindy wanted to join us even though Balsam is one of her LEAST favorite hikes. I was surprised when she agreed and we gathered our equipment and were out of the house just after 7:00 AM. We decided to head up to the Pepacton Reservoir and then take Route 30 to Arkville. From here the Dry Brook Road heads toward Rider Hollow. When we turned on Rider Hollow Road, I forgot that the first turn is onto Todd Mountain Road and THEN onto Rider Hollow Road. After driving a little passed Todd Mountain, my mistake came to me and I corrected it. When we arrived at the trailhead at about 8:20 AM, we found Dick and Joanne ready to hike. Brian and Cindy showed up in a few minutes and we were ready to start. Sheba was acting strangely but I attribute it to hiking in a group. We started out and quickly made our way up the red Oliverea Mapledale Trail. The brook was high and its sounds accompanied us as we hiked.

At the junction with the Mine Hollow Trail, I stayed to the right on the red trail. I decided it was better to climb the steeper side and descend the shallower Mine Hollow Trail. We crossed the brook on the odd steel bridge at this location. None of us have ever encountered a bridge quite like this one anywhere else! It was a short walk along the trail to the Rider Hollow lean-to. Sheba got there first and surprised a lone hunter sitting at the lean-to. We said hello and then started up the trail to cross the brook on some stone. We crossed and recrossed the brook several times on the hike and although the water was high it was narrow enough to cross without problems. The first part of the trail is pretty tame as you walk along some old roads and wide trails. After a while the trail becomes steeper and narrower as it starts to ascend to the col between Balsam and Eagle. Joanne and Dick had not hiked for several weeks and Snickers was hampered by a painful heel spur so we took our time on the steep ascent. Somewhere along the way I took off my jacket and packed it away. Toward the top Sheba and I went ahead followed by Cindy. As we approached the col, I heard a noise ahead and saw a large form heading down the trail and into the woods. I could not get a picture of this rather large bear but maybe that was a GOOD thing! Soon we were all at the col and I turned left on the blue Pine Hill West Branch Trail. After checking their maps, the rest of the group followed me.

This trail starts out rather tamely as it starts up toward Balsam but there is about a 600 foot vertical gain over .6 miles to get to the top. In some places there are a few steeper spots and rock scrambles to conquer. We passed the 3500 foot sign and then began the final ascent through some balsam and over a few rocks. The summit itself has little to mark it and less to interest the hiker. A little passed the summit is an obvious lookout which is actually on the descent down the other side. I reached this viewpoint first and stopped to take some pictures as the rest of the group caught up. There was a lot of haze and clouds hanging in the valleys and the sky was completely cloudy with no sun. When we had assembled, we ate a snack and got a drink and others took some pictures. The temperature here was noticeably cooler and the first flakes of snow were beginning to fall. I was still holding out for a quick trip to Belleayre. Sheba and I grew cold as the group rested so we started to push on slowly. My wife joined us and we picked up the pace as the snow began to fall. We worked our way down the other side of Balsam through some steep areas and then across a flatter area to a slight incline. We stopped to take a few pictures and heard the group just behind us. We waited until they joined us and then pressed ahead.

Along this part of the trail there were several muddy areas and as we negotiated them the snow got more serious. When we reached the trail junction with the yellow Mine Hollow Trail, I asked Cindy if she wanted to try Belleayre. I was disappointed and relieved when she said "No." The Mine Hollow Trail has a few steep spots at the top but then is much more gradual than the other trails up Balsam. This was good since the snow was making EVERYTHING slippery! We kept working our way down the trail back toward the trail junction from earlier in the day. Soon we were down and stopped to wait for the group. I walked up along the brook to take a few pictures. After rejoining the others, Cindy, Sheba and I started back to the parking area. We passed the odd steel bridge and then crossed the swollen creek on the more conventional wooden bridge. We were back at the parking area by 12:30 PM. It took us a little under 4 hours to cover a little under 5 miles but that was good under the circumstances. The snow was beginning to stick to the roads on our trip home and several of the hills were slick. I was glad we had skipped Belleayre!

CAUTION: This trail passes over Winnisook Club land in places and requires permission to hike! On Sunday, November 29th I decided that I wanted to try the Steps Trail up Slide but this time with my wife, Cindy, and on a day with MUCH better weather. After church, We headed for Slide Mountain with Sheba and arrived at about noon at the main parking area on Route 47. The weather forecast called for a sunny day with no chance of precipitation. Temperatures were predicted to be in the high 40's or low 50's with just a light breeze. Of course, this was in the valleys and NOT on the peaks! There were a few cars in the parking lot and only a few hikers signed into the trail register. The temperature seemed colder than the thermometer read and a stiff breeze was blowing. We got started quickly and crossed the West Branch and the other, smaller stream easily. I was wearing a new pair of Asolo Synchro hiking boots for the first time. For a size 9 they seemed large but I was wearing light socks and had the boots laced loosely. They did seem comfortable. I knew I was probably overdressed with a light Backcountry Shift jacket on top of two Icebreaker wool layers but it did seem cool. I did not initially put on my hat and gloves. We made quick work of the first part of the trail and turned left on the old road. At the cable separating state land from the Winnisook Club we turned right into the woods. After a moment, we picked up the start of the Steps Trail and our adventure had begun!

The first part of the trail was a little steeper than I remembered but soon we were at the first lookout. The views down the valley were all I had hoped for when I was looking into the cloud on Friday. There was the beginning of a coating of snow on the ground and some parts of the trail were slick. We stopped to take a few pictures and then headed up the trail. Soon we were approaching the first set of steps and we began to notice that the coating of snow was giving way to at least an inch of coverage where there was no sun. As we continued on up the trail the snow became deeper and the slippery spots on the trail made us wish we had our Stabilicers in our packs. We walked through a nice stand of evergreens but then broke back into hardwoods. We got to the most difficult part of the trail that requires you to pull yourself up over a large rock. Once over this obstacle another nice viewpoint opened up. We stopped to take more pictures. The snow on the trees was beautiful and the sky and surrounding mountains were great.

We started back up the trail and continued to climb sets of steps. All the POSTED signs we found were to our left and the state boundary markers were to the right. Soon the trail began to become less distinct and I knew from previous experience that meant we were near the main trail. As on Friday I suddenly took a step onto the main trail. In this area the trees were covered by windblown snow making the season look more like the dead of winter than fall. We turned left onto the main Burroughs Range Trail and started toward the summit. The Curtis-Ormsbee Trail quickly appeared on the right and I couldn't wait for the Giant Ledge-Panther lookout farther up the trail on the left! The trail was VERY slippery in places due to the number of people that had compressed the snow. The boots were working well and the poles made walking easier. Soon we were at the lookout with great views of Giant Ledge and Panther to the left and Cornell and Wittenberg to the right. The trees were covered in snow and the sky was a deep but bright blue.

Back on the trail we knew it was only a few minutes to the summit and we hurried to get there. We passed over the summit and went to the flat rock outcrop. There was not much snow tat hen summit as the bright sun had melted most of it. We stopped to take a few pictures of the open area and each other. A glimpse of Wittenberg was available and a sliver of the Ashokan could be seen through the trees. After taking a few shots, we were ready for the long walk down the mountain. The entire trip back to where we had joined the trail was slippery. Below that the trail flattens and there was less snow making the going easier. I did notice that when I stepped on the rocks the boots supported my feet and ankles well and seemed to protect and cushion my feet. The walk down always seems long but soon we were at the Phoenicia East Branch Trail and made the right turn. After a short walk, we followed the trail as it turned left off the road and started back down to the parking area. We arrived at 3:15 PM having covered about 5.5 miles with plenty of time for pictures

CAUTION: This trail passes over Winnisook Club land in places and requires permission to hike! On Friday, November 27th Karl and I decided that we preferred hiking over shopping. We headed for Slide Mountain with our two dogs, Sheba and Maggie, to discover the Dutcher Steps Trail up Slide. The weather forecast called for rain or snow showers followed by high winds especially on the peaks. Just the kind of weather we like for hiking! We arrived at the Slide Mountain parking area on Route 47 to find wisps of clouds and fog blowing through the empty lot. It looked like we would be alone on the mountain! When we got out of the car, we were both surprised by how cold and raw the air felt. This was compounded by a stiff wind and I was glad I had my Mountain Hardwear Windstopper Tech jacket on. I was also trying out my new Icebreaker 200 leggings. We got on the trail at 9:00 AM and quickly crossed the West Branch and its small tributary without much trouble. We were soon working our way up the initial part of the trail to the old carriageway from the Winnisook Club. The "usual" route up Slide turns right on the old road and follows the Phoenicia East Branch Trail toward Denning until the Burroughs Range Trail starts on the left. We turned left on the road and walked a short distance to the cable that marks the boundary with the Winnisook Club. Here we turned right into the woods and began looking for a path that would signal the start of the Steps Trail. We soon found a path that widened into a trail and, although unmarked, was quite distinct. The dogs ran up this trail and we followed.

At first I was not sure we were on the right trail but there was no other to follow. After a while some steps appeared and I was sure we were headed in the right direction. I began to warm up as usual and removed my jacket leaving on just two layers of wool. In the protected, wooded areas this was all that was needed. It was interesting to be on a trail I had never been on before. The trail alternated between flatter areas with a few climbs. In most areas stone steps made these climbs easier. In several places there were areas for lookouts but on this day no view was available. We continued on this pleasant trail for about 1.25 miles. To our left there were occasional POSTED signs from the Winnisook Club but none appeared to our right. This trail is right on the edge of the club property and forest preserve. As we neared what I felt must be the end of the trail, it became more diffuse with several branches running in different directions. I followed one and was not sure it was going the right way when I noticed I was on the main trail. Once on the main trail I walked back down the trail in the direction of the parking area. I turned around and started back toward the summit but was unable to detect where the Steps Trail had joined the main trail. We continued on the Burroughs Range Trail toward the summit.

As we continued on, the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail entered from the right and then a little further on we stopped at the viewpoint for Giant ledge and Panther Mountain. There was no view save for the frozen coating on the trees so we went back to the main trail. As we approached the summit, we could hear the wind pick up. There was no one on the open rocks at the summit and clouds blew across the open area. We stopped so that I could take some pictures of Karl and the dogs and then decided to head down toward the spring. On a nicer day we might have gone to Cornell but our "mission" was accomplished. We worked our way down through the rock scrambles on the other side of Slide and to the top of the first ladder. At this point we decided to turn around and head for the car. The scramble back up the rocks was fun and was the reason we had come down. At the top of the trail we were surprised to find another hiker. We chatted for a few minutes about the trail and the weather before parting company. Karl and I head down the main trail setting a leisurely pace on the rocks made slippery by the falling snow. The lone hiker passed us at some point and we continued on down to the car. We covered about 5.5 miles in 4 hours with plenty of time for stopping. The Steps Trail is a fantastic alternative to the main trail and I look forward to returning on a better day to catch some of the views!

On Wednesday, November 25th I wanted to do an "epic" hike before Thanksgiving Day. The weather report was cloudy with a chance of rain in most areas but to the south looked a little better. The forecast for Harriman even had some sun so I headed for Bear Mountain with the intention of doing the Torne-to-Timp hike. I had done most of the sections of this hike but wanted to do it all in one day! As I drove down the Quickway, there was a heavy fog which limited visibility and the sun was not visible anywhere. For once I got an early start so Sheba and I arrived just before 8:00 AM at the main Bear Mountain parking area. There was no attendant in the booth and only three other cars in the parking lot. The heavy mist made it seem like the cloud ceiling was at ground level. Everything was damp and I was chilly even with two wool layers and a light jacket. I decided to reverse my planned route and do the Timp first. I hoped the sun might break through and dry the route to The Torne which can be hair-raising when wet or icy! After setting my GPS, Sheba and I got right on the trail.

We headed out the south end of the parking lot using the tunnels to go under the roads and picked up the red 1777 East trail. Two runners were just returning and we greeted them as we went in the opposite direction. In a short distance the blue Cornell mine trail split off to the left and we followed that down to the parking area on Route 9W. From here we reentered the woods to follow the trail up Bald Mountain. The walk was pleasant despite the heavy mist and parallels a small brook which was swollen from recent rains. I began to get warm so we stopped while I took a few pictures and changed into a lighter top and stowed the wool top and jacket. The trail passes the Edison mine on the right but I had decided this day was and exercise in, well, exercise. I was more interested in getting a work out and completing the route I had planned. The trail is pretty flat for a while and then gets STEEP quickly as it climbs Bald Mountain. Near the summit the trail ends in the area of the Cornell Mine. The mine is worth the bushwhack side trip but I was not to be distracted on this day. We turned right on the red Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail to continue to the summit. The view from the top is really nice when there is a view! Since none was available this day, we stopped briefly and then continued on the trail down the other side of the mountain and toward The Timp.

The descent from Bald Mountain is steep in places and there are towering blocks of rock in many areas. We passed the intersection with the red 1777 trail and continued on until we met up with the blue Timp-Torne Trail. Here we went right and started to climb to the top of The Timp. The view from the summit can be spectacular but all we could see this day was the inside of the cloud we were in. I took some pictures of the rather spooky looking summit before continuing on the blue Timp-Torne Trail toward West Mountain. This involved another substantial descent and then another ascent to the top of West Mountain. This was one of the few pieces of trail I had not been on an traveling a new route brought some relief. Soon we were climbing West Mountain toward the stone shelter at the top. The paucity of views continued and I began to come to the conclusion that the rest of the day would be the same...or worse! We continued on the Timp-Torne Trail along the West Mountain Ridge passed several trail junctions. In a short distance the Appalachian Trail came in from the left and joined the trail we were on. The unmistakable white blazes seemed especially large.

As we continued our hike the Appalachian Trail broke to the right as we continued across the ridge. We could hear traffic on the Palisades Parkway below and I knew that parking areas for Anthony Wayne were just below us but nothing was visible. After several more trail junctions, we descended over some open rock faces which were very slippery. I began to think about The Torne. We arrived at Seven Lakes Drive and I put Sheba on a leash so we could get safely across and continue our hike on the other side. Traffic was light and we were soon across and hiking passed Queensboro Lake and into a part of Doodletown. As we hiked along a wide road, a sign informed us we could go no further as the area ahead was a police pistol range. Fortunately, the trail turned right here and we followed it along the outlet from the lake. We were able to cross on a narrow bridge and continued along the creek as the trail paralleled the stream high on the right bank. It began to drizzle a little and then a light rain fell but not for too long. Soon the blue trail started down to the left to cross the creek on a bridge.

We crossed ascended some stone steps and then started up to cross Mine Road and begin the ascent of The Torne. I knew that it would be tricky and that I probably should try again another day but I was so close. The first part of the ascent switches back and forth through the woods and a hiker may be fooled into thinking this will continue to the summit. Soon Sheba and I were scrambling over rocks with Sheba having a lot less trouble and me! There were several places where I was able to bypass the slanted, wet rock but there were others where going up the slanted rock face was the ONLY way. I wondered about getting back down. In one spot Sheba could not get traction on the rock and I gave her a boost. We slowly made our way up and over every obstacle until we were next to the large boulder just below the highest point. This open ledge usually has a great view of the bridge and Bear Mountain. Not Today! We walked up the trail to the cairn at the top. I took a few pictures and we started back. I kept Sheba behind me as we made our way down. In several spots I simply sat down and slid. One ride was a little longer and faster than I had planned but I survived! We walked back down to the road, crossed and followed our path back to the bridge. We crossed and walked up the hill and then turned left onto the Popolopen Gorge Trail. This trail follows the creek as it heads toward the Hudson. Initially it stays high on the bank overlooking the creek but eventually drops down almost to water level. The creek was roaring and I stopped to take a few pictures at the dam. Then it was up to 9W, across the road and the traffic circle to Hessian Lake. We headed back toward the car.

When we got to the head of the lake it was only about 2:00 PM and I decided against my plans and all reason that I would like to do Bear Mountain! We walked around the lake and picked up the red Major Welch Trail on the other side. I knew that this would have to be quick since darkness and rain would soon be coming! We did pretty well until we got to the part of the trail where it is so steep over the rocks that a chain is supplied for assistance! Soon we were across Perkins Drive and headed across the summit to Perkins Tower. By this time I expected the total lack of any view. I was not disappointed. We caught the AT off the mountain and began our descent. After crossing the dead end road, we followed the AT as it makes a sharp left and continues on down to eventually meet the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail. We continued to follow the AT back to the lake descending the ski jump access hill that is used on our cross country course. At the base of the hill we turned right, passed the skating rink and returned to the car. We were back just after 4:00 PM having hiked for about 7 hours and 14.4 miles!

On Sunday, November 22nd Cindy and I headed for Slide Mountain after church. The weather report had said that the fog would clear but by 11:00 AM it was still completely overcast. We decided not to go too far and I wanted to look for the Dutcher Steps Trail up Slide. We had met a lawyer who lives at Winnisook and he said that we could hike there anytime we wanted. We parked in the Slide Mountain Parking area at about 12:15 PM and got right on the trail. The Neversink had some water but it and the small tributary above didn't even slow us down. We quickly ascended to the carriageway and turned left this time instead of right. We walked along the wide road until the cable which marks the boundary with the Winnisook Club. It was then that I realized that "hike anytime" might not include during hunting season! We continued on not knowing exactly what we were looking for. After a while a road branched to the right and was marked with white trail markers. I followed this for a while as it paralleled the West Branch and skirted Slide Mountain. Along the way we saw a small gazebo down by the river and a lean-to on the opposing bank. Soon we ran out of trail or road and were bushwhacking although the going was easy. I though about continuing and just bushwhacking up Slide if we could not find the trail. In the end we decided to return to the car and investigate this trail at a later date. We were back at the car by 2:00 PM. It was a short but fun hike.

On Saturday, November 21st I had planned to hike with a group to KHP from Platte Clove. The plan was to spot a car on the Palenville side and to hike through. I was happy to do this as I had never attempted that route and needed KHP for my November grid. This route would also allow us to take in more "sights" like Buttermilk and Wildcat Falls and Poet's Ledge. I was concerned about the hunting camps near KHP since this was the first day of rifle season in New York State! Late Friday night I got a message that the hike had been changed to a through hike of the Blacks starting at Barnum Road and ending at Batavia Kill. I was a little disappointed since I already had the Blacks but thought they were the safer choice. Sheba and I left Livingston Manor just after 7:00 AM for the 9:00 AM start. The skies were overcast and fog and haze hung in the air. The weather forecast didn't offer much and every peak on the way was shrouded. We arrived at the Batavia Kill lot at just past 8:30 AM to find Cindy and Brian already there! Soon Judy arrived having dropped Bill and Shiloh at the Barnum Road trailhead. We all jumped into Brian's car and were soon reunited with a man and his dog (Bill and Shiloh) on Barnum Road.

We started up the old road at about 9:30 AM and it was just as rocky as I remembered. It was also wet and slippery in places. When we had climbed to the highest spot on the road, We turned left, signed in at the register and were off. It had been a long time since I had hike this way and the steep places on the Caudal and the Camel's Hump surprised me. None are very long but I was soon shedding my light jacket in favor of the wool layers only. Bill and I were the leading humans with one or both digs out front most of the time. We stopped briefly at a lookout on the climb up the Caudal but little was visible and anything that could be seen was covered by a blanket of cloud. This was true of the lookouts from the Camel's Hump as well. I was sorry that Brian did not get the view since it was his first time on these peaks! It seemed we were on the flat area after the Camel's Hump in no time. There is usually a nice view of Thomas Cole from here but not this day! The mountain always looks so impressive but the climb is rather easy. Just before noon we were at the lookout on Thomas Cole looking into...a cloud. There was NOTHING visible and the wind had picked up making me chilly enough to put my jacket on. We took a short break during which Sheba and I retreated to the cover of the trees. Another group arrived from Lockwood Gap. They seemed surprised that we would attempt all three mountains in one day. Meanwhile, I was thinking about Acra Point, Burnt Knob and Windham!

Descending into Lockwood Gap didn't take long but there were some interesting rock scrambles on the way down. The moisture on the rocks made even the ones that looked dry slippery. Bill and I kept up a good conversation and the dogs didn't seem to care as they would descend and then come back to us over and over! I was genuinely surprised when we got to the col as the trip had seemed so short. As we started up Blackhead, it seemed that the sun was toying with us. The sky would start to clear and the sun would peek through and then...it would disappear and the clouds would roll back in. I always stop on the flank of Blackhead to take pictures so I took some shots this time also. I got some more great pictures of...the inside of the cloud we were in. Then it was on up to the summit plateau of Blackhead and the march to the trail junction that marks the highest spot. I talked to Bill about the Escarpment Trail from Dutchers' Notch over Arizona to Blackhead. I have never done this route and he said it was well worth the hike! I would like to do this as a through hike from North South Lake. As we paused on the flat rock near the trail junction the sun did come out and there was some clearing below us. I hoped we could get some pictures on the descent.

The east side of Blackhead is the steepest part of this hike and I usually choose to come UP it and not DOWN. The descent was tricky in places making the hiker decide whether to slip over wet rocks or slide through soft mud. Soon we were down the steepest part and got a glimpse of the valley below. The clod had blown away some and there was a view. We took pictures as fragments of the clouds passed by and then descended again to a large flat area that afforded even better views. At this viewpoint there were nice views of the valley AND to our right we got a good look at Arizona, the mountain that stand between Dutcher's Notch and Blackhead. After taking some pictures we continued our descent to the trail junction. I knew I had enough energy to continue over Acra Point but decided to stay with the group as we descended to the cars at Batavia Kill. This is not an insignificant distance and the trail is crosses and recrosses several small streams. The Batavia Kill lean-to was in poor shape. Porcupines gnaw on the wood and uneducated campers leave garbage and damage the lean-to. One animal I can understand the other I can't! We crossed the final bridge over the Batavia Kill and then walked down the rather wide road to the parking area. We arrived at around 3:15 PM having covered about 6.7 miles with plenty of time for enjoying ourselves along the way.

On Wednesday, November 18th I took a day off from work because of some appointments that had to be kept. When my morning at the lawyer's was canceled, I decided to get a hike in before my afternoon round. I decided to go to Frick Pond since it is close and I was in the mood to walk quickly without any "interference". Sheba and I got to the parking area round 9:00 AM with the temperatures still in the mid-30's. I tried to remember to dress so that I would start cool and be comfortable when I warmed up. I wore a light jacket over two layers of wool which seemed about right. We started out on the Quick Lake Trail to Frick Pond. The mud on the trail was partly frozen but there was a lot of it! We were at Frick in no time and I almost decided not to take pictures. However, there were some interesting colors and lighting in play and the brush was still covered in a heavy frost. After taking a few photographs, we continued on the Quick Lake Trail toward Iron Wheel Junction.

At Iron Wheel we turned left to stay on the red Quick Lake Trail and were soon passing by the snowmobile trail that leads to Quick Lake. I had no real plan but now one formed. I had tried this trail several times in the spring and summer but the grass was always high and wet. This day the trail was broad and open and I decided to take it since I had never been on it. I though we might make it to Quick Lake and then retrace our steps to the car. The trail was beautiful but ascended quite quickly and for a long time. Soon I was warm enough to take off the jacket. The trail turned several times as it rose to the ridge. Some views came and went. They were nice but did not make good pictures. I did stop to photograph some rock ledges before continuing on. The trail leveled and then dropped and rose several times. I began looking for the junction with the Quick Lake Trail. Several times unmarked trails led off to the left or right but we continued on the main snowmobile trail soon we were at the trail junction. I looked at the map, read the trail description and distances, consulted the GPS and decided Quick Lake would have to wait for another day. We would turn right and follow the Quick Lake Trail to Junkyard Junction and the pick up the Flynn Trail and follow it back to the parking area.

From Coyote Junction the Quick Lake Trail started to ascend and then lost some elevation only to go back up again. Along the way some nice views of the surrounding mountains were visible. It did not seem long before we arrived at the junction with the Flynn Trail. Although the sign said .9 miles to Hodge Pond, we were there within 10 minutes. I decided to go around the pond clockwise to add a little distance to the hike and to avoid the beaver dam at the outlet end of the pond. We turned left and started around the pond on the old road. In a short distance I noticed an open area down by the pond which was easy to see without the leaves on the trees. We walked down and I stood on the edge of the pond and took pictures. We got a drink and then headed back to the road and continued on around the pond. I considered taking the high road but chose instead to go down to the outlet of the pond to pick up the Flynn Trail there. The beavers have dammed the outlet and enlarged the pond by a considerable amount. We stopped and I took quite a few pictures before shouldering the pack for the hike up to the junction with the Big Rock trail and then down to the parking area. We were back at the car at 12:15 PM which was GREAT considering the 8.5 mile distance we covered!

On Sunday, November 15th I decided to return to Bearfort Ridge to do the hike that I "skipped" on Wednesday by hiking from the Warwick Turnpike to Terrace Pond. Cindy decided to come along and we got started as soon as we could after church. By the time we left Livingston Manor the sun was out and the temperatures were rising. As we drove south and east on the Quickway, the skies began to cloud over and near Warwick it looked like it might rain. This did not make me happy since I was looking to hike AND take pictures. By 12:15 we were in the area and looking for the correct parking area. We found a place to park on the north side of the turnpike right across from the trailhead and were on the trail by 12:30 PM. We crossed the road and began a steady climb through some laurel along a wide, well-maintained path. There were several signs that showed the trails in the area and our destination. The signs announced we were on the Blue Trail in some estate. A look at the map showed that we were on private property for a short distance before entering the state forest. As we hiked the dark blue paint blazes all but disappeared in places leaving us to wonder at the exact trail. In some places the path was obvious but in others it was not. In many of these places the trail climbed up and down large boulders and rocky spines. Normally this would have been fun but on this day everything was wet and slippery. The trail does not seem to be used very much so there are many lichens and mosses adding to the poor footing. We walked carefully making sure to get a good pole plant.

Soon we broke onto the top of a ridge and the views began to open up. It was still hazy both near and far but there were a few good opportunities for pictures and I hoped the haze would clear and the sun would show itself. I stopped to take some pictures and noticed a helicopter hovering over Greenwood Lake. I have seen many choppers in the sky but not one hovering in one place for so long. We later found out that this one, as we assumed, was on a search mission for a missing boater in the lake. We continued to walk along the trail in a generally northward direction and as we did the skies began to clear and the sun started to peek through the clouds. We stopped to take some pictures and then continued on. O knew from the map that we would have to make a sharp turn west at some point and gain the next ridge. I was concerned that we would miss the turn due to the poorly marked trail. There was no need for concern! As we approached a clearing ahead a LARGE arrow marked the turn onto what looked like a right-of-way without any power lines. The track was wide and clear and ascended to a higher spot where I knew I could get great pictures. We walked up the track watching for blue blazes and looking back to admire the view. At the top of this rise two things became clear. The pictures would be good and there was a VERY steep hill to ascend!

After taking some pictures we started to walk again. There was a slight descent and then the steep climb to what I though was the top of the ridge. Faint paint blazes on the rocks showed we were still going in the right direction. At the top of this rise two things became clear. The pictures would be even better and there was a ANOTHER very steep hill to ascend! Again we walked down first and through a few wet and muddy areas before starting and even bigger ascent. Paint blazes were few but told me we were on the right track. When I got to the top, there was a flat area and another part of the ridge ahead of us through what looked like an old stone quarry. We stopped at this point as the sun was out, much of the haze was gone and the view was the BEST I had seen anywhere along the Bellvale and Bearfort Ridges! It seemed as if you could see forever with some haze obscuring the farthest vies. There was some contrasting color in the valleys and the sky had some clouds. As I walked over to one viewpoint I noticed an outline in the southeast and realized it was New York City. It was far away and hazy but still very distinctive. I also took some interesting pictures of the trail and sky to the west before we continued our walk.

As I approached the rock quarry I heard a noise to my left. It was the only hiker we would meet on the whole hike coming back on the trail to Terrace Pond. We chatted for a minute and then we made the turn toward the pond. It was starting to get late in the day but we continued on. The trail was poorly marked but much of it continued to proceed over slippery rock crests on its way to this glaciated pond. In a little while we were at the white loop trail around the pond. I decided to go right since the map appeared to show viewpoint near the lake in that direction. In fact, there were several viewpoints on high rock ledges that overlook the pond. I took pictures and noticed several ducks swimming toward each other to meet. I wanted to get back on the white trail and circle the pond but it was 2:30 PM and it had taken us two hours to get to the pond. Cindy thought we should turn back to make sure we got back to the car in the light. I pointed out that it would take us less time to get back but she prevailed and we started back. Since we knew the trail and did not stop for pictures we were back by 3:45 PM having covered the 4.5 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes.

On Wednesday, November 11th I had the day off from work for Veteran's Day. I was going to hike the Blacks from Barnum Road but already had done them in November. I was going to Wittenberg and Cornell since I DID need them for November but had done Wittenberg only a few weeks before! After reading some books, I decided to hike Bearfort Ridge from the Warwick Turnpike to Surprise Lake and back. The book said 6 miles and 5 hours. I don't know hat made me think that the time was even close to being correct but I did. Sheba and I left Livingston Manor around 8:00 AM with temperatures in the high 30's. I had on long-sleeved wool with my new Arc'teryx Accomplice Jacket on top. I packed a lighter long-sleeved shirt since I knew I was overdressed and New Jersey would be warmer. The drive was uneventful except for some minor road construction and we arrived at the parking area on the Warwick Turnpike just before 9:30 AM. We immediately got started on the white blazed Jeremy Glick Trail. The trail was slippery due to the fallen oak leaves and steep in places. It followed the turnpike and Green Brook for about .4 miles. At this point a blue trail came in from the left and the trails began to make a serious climb to the ridge. The climb was not long, perhaps another .3 miles, but was steep in some parts. Several times I stepped off the trail to some viewpoints but none were outstanding and I expected better from the ridge. Near the top of the climb there was a viewpoint toward Upper Greenwood Lake but I was waiting for a better lookout. I was going to be disappointed since none ever came! If you want to take a picture, take it hear!

Once on the ridge the hike was much like any other in the area. The walk was along outcroppings of purple puddingstone and was up and down in many places. At one point we cam across an interesting bog. In this area a large piece of the conglomerate had pulled away from the bedrock. It was the most interesting site so far so we stopped so I could take some pictures. As we continued to walk the trail dipped down off the western ridge and then ascended a steep rock scramble to a "middle" ridge. There were few viewpoints along the way as we walked a total of about 1.75 miles. Near the end of this part of the hike some viewpoints opened up to the south and east and to the north Surprise Lake was visible. The weather was completely overcast despite the partly sunny forecast. I had long ago packed the jacket I was wearing and at one point almost switched to a lighter shirt. I was glad I didn't as the breeze picked up on the exposed ridge. At this point the white Bearfort Ridge Trail ended and we turned right on the yellow Ernest Walter Tail down to Surprise Lake. Cindy and I had walked UP this trail when we visited the area

At the bottom of the descent there were some wet areas and a small stream but they were easily navigated. Soon we were on the shores of Surprise Lake where we stopped so that I could take a few pictures. From here we headed back on the orange Quail Trail. The trail markers are few and far between but the trail runs along an old road in most places and so is fairly easy to follow. Since it runs between the ridges and is lower, the trail was wet and muddy in many spots. There were no viewpoints and nothing especially interesting on this trail. It was also obvious that we would beat the 5 hour time by quite a bit. We walked along this trail for about 2.3 miles until it intersected the Jeremy Glick Trail where we had started. We were back before 3:30 PM having completed just under 6 miles in under 3 hours. I thought about trying the Treasure Lake hike since the trailhead is just up the road but another 5 miles was more than I wanted. I did notice that there are several mines in Wawayanda Park but those will have to wait for another day until I research them.

On Sunday, November 8th Cindy and I were looking for a hike to do after church. We get tired of Trout and Frick every Sunday so we decided to go to the Minnewaska area to hike something. I wanted to park at the Trapps and do Gertrude's Nose along Millbrook Mountain but realized it might be a little crowded. I decided we would see how many cars were parked at Minnewaska and then decide. The weather was a complete contrast to the day before. I walked out to the car in a long sleeved wool base layer with a Patagonia R1 Flash on top. I walked back into the house removed the long sleeves and donned a short sleeved set of Underarmour Warm Gear and an OR Sequence Zip-T. I put a light jacket in the pack just in case. As we approached Minnewaska at around 12;30 PM, we found the lower lot almost full and decided to try to park in the upper lot. We paid at the booth and drove up the hill. On top I found ONE spot in the lower lot. We parked, put Sheba on a leash and got started. Since it was getting late, we planned to hike around the lake to the opposite end. pick up the Millbrook Mountain Trail to Millbrook Mountain and then take the Millbrook Mountain Carriageway back. We thought we might be able to include Gertrude's Nose but would make that decision later.

There were a lot of people on the carriageways near the lake but as we got further toward the end of the lake the traffic thinned out. At the extreme outlet end of the lake we stopped to take pictures. The water was a deep blue and perfectly still. I was quite comfortable in my short sleeves and, in fact, was sweating since we had kept up a quick pace on the carriageway. We turned right onto the red Millbrook Mountain Trail. The last time we were on this trail was several years before when we were climbing up in the opposite direction. Only a short way down the path we paused to take some pictures of the Smiley Tower at Mohonk. The trail was narrow in some places and covered with wet leaves. This made for some interesting descents! Ahead of us a young couple was also descending the same trail. I was glad we had our poles since they offered some support and stability in those "rough" places! We arrived at the Coxing Kill and crossed easily to begin our ascent back up to Millbrook Mountain. The trail in many places resembled a small stream with running water which made the ascent more "interesting". On the way up we met a few groups descending and a few had dogs. For the most part the owners restrained their pets and the dogs were well-behaved. We passed the Coxing Kill Trail on the left and were soon climbing up the tilted and smooth rock faces to the top of Millbrook Mountain.

The views from Millbrook Mountain are expansive and look out over the entire valley and south to some mountains. Today there was a lot of haze in the valley and the distant views were all but obscured. The tower was gain visible and a few shots of the landscape were interesting. The warmth and brightness of the sun and the lack of any breeze were a contrast to the day before when the temperatures on Bearpen and Vly hardly got above freezing and then wind chill made that temperature seem a good 10 degrees lower! After taking some picture we decided to walk along the ridge on the red Gertrude's Nose Trail. We stayed close to the edge as the trail wanders up and down over the rocks and through the scrub pines that seemingly grow on the rocks. The red markers were hard to spot at times but we were able to pick them out. We arrived at the descent to the power lines and started the steep climb down. Near the bottom a tunnel pierces the rock and heads underground. Usually there is a cold blast of air coming from the opening but on this day I did not notice it as much.

We passed under the power lines and ascended almost to the top on the other side. We stopped to look at the map and decided that the time was too late to continue heading away from the parking area. I was disappointed that the late start had prevented us from getting to Gertrude's Nose but I wasn't sure how long the walk back would take. We retraced our steps back down to the power lines and back up the other side. The climb in this direction is even steeper. After reaching the top, it seemed like we were back at the junction with the yellow Millbrook Mountain Carriageway. We turned left onto this broad path and headed back to the car. For some time the carriageway actually heads out AWAY from the parking area. We made VERY good time along this path an soon were at the junction with Gertrude's Nose Trail. There was a large group or people at the junction and we passed by them quickly. A little further on we stopped to take pictures and this group caught up to us and passed us. As we got back on the carriageway, we passed them one last time and continued our rapid pace back toward the parking area. As we walked we caught up with several other groups of walkers and some solo hikers. A few people passed us going out in the opposite direction! We continued passed the beach and up to the high overlook at the end of the lake. The light had shifted at this time and the rock cliffs near the lake were illuminated with an orange glow. After taking some pictures, we decided to go back to the car. We were back at the car by 3:45 PM having covered 6.2 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes.

On Saturday, November 7th I decided to meet Snickers and hike Bearpen and Vly. She was going to meet some others hikers in Phoenicia at 8:30 AM and be at the trailhead at 9:00 AM so I decided to meet them at the trailhead on County Route 3. I needed these two peaks for November and thought the view from Bearpen might be nice. When I got up at 6:00 AM it was 21 degrees in Livingston Manor. I decided to dress warmly and carry some lighter clothes so that I could adjust my layers as needed. I left the house at about 7:15 AM and arrived at the trailhead at about 8:30 AM. I don't like to be late but this was ridiculous. I drove up to the snowplow turnaround to turn around at met some hikers ready to get on the trail. I asked them if they were meeting Cindy (Snickers) but they said they didn't know her although they did have a friend named Cindy. I drove back down the road and parked and waited for the others to arrive. At about 9:10 AM I promised myself that I would wait 5 more minutes and then start my hike. At 9:15 Cindy and two other hikers, Jim and Paul, arrived. We said hello and then got started. It was to be Jim's 34th and 35th peak leaving just the four winter hikes to complete the club requirement.

As we walked up the road to the Col between the two mountains, Jim announced he had forgotten his camera. He went back to the car and we slowed our paced so that he could catch us more easily. As we neared the col, Jim returned and we were at the shack that stands at the boundary between the two mountains. The shack was occupied so I put Sheba on a leash as we turned left and passed the car outside the hunting camp. As we started down the road that ascends Bearpen, a hunter with a bow approached us. He was dressed in camo and said he had been out looking for deer or bear. We spoke for a minute and he said he was glad to have us around. We continued along the roads choosing those that ascended and turned left UP the hill. At some point we stopped and removed a layer of clothing which left me with no jacket but two layers of Icebreaker wool. Soon the road flattened as I started to look for the herd path that cuts off to the right and ascends toward the summit. Once on the path Sheba and I were in the lead and we were able to follow the footprints of the other hikers that headed in the same direction. The path hit a flatter area and then again led to a road that continued in the right direction. Eventually we turned right on another road which I knew went to the summit.

As we walked on this road we had to skirt some rather large areas of standing water with thick ice on top. Up ahead we could see three hikers walking toward us. I recognized the three men I had spoken to at the snowplow turnaround. When they spotted Cindy, they offered a big "Hello!" and a hug! This was their friend Cindy they had talked about tat he beginning of the hike! They had forgotten that her trail name was Snickers. Jim, Sheba and I continued on along the road an passed the first viewpoint. We stopped at the ski run lookout and Jim and I both took pictures. As I stood there, I heard a noise to my left in the woods and looked up to see a large doe staring at me. As soon as I pointed here out to Jim, she bounded away. Paul and Cindy arrived and Jim joined them as they walked over to the highest point. The wind was really blowing hard and I was getting cold. I also noticed that Sheba was shivering and whining. I didn't know whether she was cold or just wanted to get started again. I put on a light jacket that I had and suggested we continue on and get out of the wind,

We walked back to the first viewpoint where we took a few pictures and then Sheba and I started back just to keep us both warm. Once we were underway, we both warmed up. The other three joined us as we made the left turn off the road onto the herd path. The trip down went quickly as we slipped and slid on the no slippery leaves and melting snow. We arrived back at the cabin and walked out to the road to begin our hike up Vly. Waiting for us at the beginning of the Vly herd path were the other three hikers! We decided to continue as a group and I took the lead. Sheba and I needed to move to stay warm. We set a rather fast pace through the flat part of the trail and up the first ascent. Sheba led by following the path and the footprints of a previous hiker. We gained and lost these footprints several times along the way. Cindy stopped to don her Microspikes while Sheba and I continued on with Jim and two of the others. Since we were now in two groups, I decided to set the pace I would normally take. We crossed the flat area where the trail wanders through the trees and I kept looking for the old yellow and blue blazes that Informally mark the trail.

In a short time we were on our final ascent up Vly. The ascent is not the steepest but today the snow and layer of soft leaves underneath made it feel like you were hiking in snow. I had thought about putting my Stabilicers in the car but got distracted and forgot to do so. We continued to follow Sheba up the short ascent and soon the trail began to level. Sheba followed the path directly to the canister where we signed in. Sheba and I walked over to a small viewpoint. Although the view was largely blocked by some trees, I stood on a rock to take a few pictures and then snapped a couple of Sheba on the rock. As we walked back to the canister, I could hear Cindy and the other group arriving. They broke out some beer for Jim and Sheba and I shared a peanut butter sandwich. After a few minutes, I decided to get going and said goodbye to the others. I followed Sheba down the path at a very quick pace. It was less than an hour down to the col and another 20 minutes back to the car on the old road. As we walked down the road, a pickup truck came toward us. The forest ranger stopped the truck for a minute to talk and then we went in opposite directions. We were back at the car by 1:30 PM having hiked a little over 4 hours for the 6 plus mile trip.

On Tuesday, November 3rd Cindy and I decided to go to Norvin Green State Forest in northern New Jersey. The last time I was there was so much haze and the weather was so gloomy that my pictures were poor. The hiking there has a number of "attractions" including two mines, several high views points and a couple of water falls. It was a long drive and we arrived at about 11:00 AM and got right out on the trail. As we left the parking area, I noticed that one sign said "NO pets allowed". This annoyed me since I ALWAYS take Sheba wherever I hike. Last time I was in the area no one said anything about having her along so I decided that Sheba is a trail guide dog and we started our hike. My plan was to follow the same route as last time passed the falls, the Roomy and Blue Mines, over the Wyanokie High Point and then to Carris Hill. By that time I thought it might be late so we could return the way we came or descend to the Lower Trail. I hoped to get to Chickahokie Falls but knew that was a long shot. The first part of the hike winds its way through the recreational area of the park and around a rather unique pool. The pool is formed from a natural pool in the stream and has been fenced and "improved" for swimming. The pool had been drained. We followed the green Otter Hole trail along the stream and across a bridge until we reached the trail junction. Here we took the yellow trail and started toward the Roomy Mine.

The yellow Mine Trail climbs a small hill and then winds through some nice open woods. In a short distance we took a new orange cutover trail to get to the Roomy Mine. The previous access from Snake Den Road has been closed by the owner of this private property. The orange trail follows an old mine road as it ascends slightly to the entrance of the Roomy Mine. The signs outside the mine caution that the mine is closed and should not be entered due to a resident bat population. Disturbing the bats while they are hibernating can seriously affect their fat stores which may make it impossible for them to complete their hibernation. Also, there is a concern about the white nose fungus which can be transmitted from mine to mine and cave to cave. We stood outside and took pictures. I ventured up the slippery rocks to look down into the airshaft near the entrance. Back on the trail, the orange trail soon rejoins the yellow and red dot trails. It is a short walk to the Blue Mine. This mine is almost completely flooded and it is hard to get an idea from the adit how big it was. One look at the extensive tailings piles near the mine gives an indication that TONS of material were removed. We took some photos and then crossed the bridge taking the red dot WCI, blue Hewitt Butler and Highlands Trails as they started a short but steep climb to the Wyanokie High Point. Just over the bridge is the stone foundation remains of some building from long ago.

The trails to the High Point switchback several times but the elevation gain is not that great. The High Point seems so high since it has a much greater elevation that the surrounding terrain. The trail levels near the top and a preview of the views that can be seen from the summit reveals itself. The Wanaque Reservoir dominates the view to the east while small villages dot the valleys and hillsides in the other directions. We continued the final climb to the very top over bare rock with only a few scrub pines. Another hiker was at the top relaxing in the sunlight although the temperature was only in the low 50's. The view from here is 360 degrees and a short walk around the top allows photographing the landscape without any intervening vegetation. I took a LOT of pictures before we decided to push on following the Hewitt Butler and Highlands trails as they head toward Yoo Hoo Point. The trails descend rather steeply off Wyanokie High Point, wander through some woods and then ascend again to Yoo Hoo Point. Along the way the red WCI trail leaves to the right. Yoo Hoo Point is named for its close proximity to the Wyanokie High Point. The two are close enough that you could yell to another person on the other viewpoint and be heard and seen! We stopped briefly to take pictures and to grab a bite to eat. After this brief rest, we continued on to the trail junction with the yellow Carris Hill trail.

The Carris Hill Trail actually starts almost at the top of Carris Hill so we had to descend from Yoo Hoo Point, walk in the woods and then ascend to Carris Hill. The last part of this is another steep but short climb over bare rock. The problem with some of these climbs is the leaves which cover the rocks in the fall. When a little moisture is added to fallen leaves on smooth rock, the result is an incredibly slippery pathway. At the top of Carris hill we started to follow the yellow Carris Hill trail which works its way along a ridge to some nice lookouts directly to the south and to the east. As we walked another hiker came toward us and told a story of two black bears in a tree not far along the trail. I though this was COOL! Cindy not so much. We put Sheba on her leash and started to cautiously proceed along the trail watching for the ursine presence in the trees. We never did find the bears but the views from the southern tip of the Carris Hill Ridge were very nice! We descended Carris Hill toward Posts Brook and were soon a the trail junction.

At this point it was getting late in the day and Cindy was tired. We decided to forgo any more hiking and take the white Lower Trail back to the north. I had never been on this trail and it did undulate slightly. It was a MUCH easier trail than any other choice and we were soon back on the red WCI Trail. Here we made a right and retraced our path passed the Blue and Roomy Mines. From here there was still the stream crossing above the falls and a little climb to get back over the hill above the Highlands Pool. Soon we were passing the pool and headed back to the parking area. It was 3:30 PM and our hike took 4.5 hours for a little over 7 miles.

On Sunday, November 1st Cindy and I decided to go to Sam's Point and hike some route. Daylight savings time was over so we only had until about 5:00 PM to hike. We arrived in the parking area at about 1:00 PM and decided to park outside the gate in case we did not make it back by 5:00 PM. I went to pay my annual membership fee at the Center. It was closed AGAIN! This is the third time I have tried to pay and found no one manning the office. With at least 40 cars in the lot, I would think they would be losing money! We immediately started up to Sam's Point with Sheba on a leash due to the number of people around. Just below Sam's Point we met a group with an Irish setter and a mastiff both on leashes. We stopped at the lookout below Sam's Point and took some pictures. There was still some haze hanging over the valleys and on the hilltops. Most of the fall colors had faded but a few bright spots remained. We skipped Sam's Point itself to avoid the crowds and continued toward the road down to the Ice caves. After making the right onto the road we turned left onto the trail that leads to Verkeerder Kill Falls.

Our plan was to hike down to the falls and see if the recent rains had made them a rushing torrent. During the last few visits the falls were all but dry. After visiting the falls we would decide whether to continue around or headed back the way we came. As we continued on the trail some interesting views presented themselves. At one point Lake Awosting was clearly visible with Castle Point, Hamilton Point and Gertrude's Nose to the right. We stopped to take some pictures and then continued on the trail. The recent rains had turned parts of the trail into small pools. Other places looked more like small stream than paths. We worked our way around the worst areas while Sheba waded through them. We didn't met a few groups returning from the falls. It always amazes us what some people where to hike in November. We saw string tops and sneakers in more than one case! The rocky trail was difficult to negotiate and it seemed like a long time before we heard the roaring water of the falls. Cindy continued on ahead while I ducked down to the ledges that overlook the falls. I stopped and took many pictures as the falls had a much higher volume than usual.

After taking pictures, I rejoined Cindy near the stream. Sheba was no where to be found! I thought she was with Cindy and Cindy thought she was with me! We called her twice and she came running down the stream but refused to tell us what she had been doing. We walked over to the Verkeerderkill just above the falls and the water was high. I made my way across and Sheba followed. Cindy decided she would stay put. I walked over to the viewpoints above the falls and took more pictures. The angles from this side are better than from the other. After completing my photography, Sheba and I headed back across the stream to rejoin Cindy. It was getting late and the walk around the escarpment would be a little too long for us to finish even if everything went well and we kept a quick pace. We decided to walk back up the trail and then use the loop road to circle Lake Maratanza and then go back to the car

We stopped at the shore of the lake to take some pictures and then continued on around on the road meeting several groups as we went. We made the turn near the towers and continued on the road. At one point we looked up to see something in the road ahead. Sheba saw it too but stayed by our side. We put her on a leash as I went to investigate. It turned out to be a small porcupine foraging for acorns. It seemed totally unafraid and unconcerned that I was approaching as it continued to waddle along. I took pictures and at one point we were perhaps 8 feet apart. I went back to Cindy and Sheba and we waited until the porky was on one side of the road and then went by giving it a wide berth. Soon we were back at the parking area where the cars had thinned out considerably. It was about 4:30 PM so our hike of a little over 6 miles had lasted 3.5 hours.

On Saturday, October 31st Cindy and I decided to go somewhere before the predicted rain hit. We took Sheba and headed for Frick and Hodge Ponds. We parked at the Frick Pond lot and hiked up the Flynn Trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We debated our options here and decided to head down the Big Rock Trail to Times Square. Down went quickly and we were soon at the trail junction. We decided at this point to go straight ahead and around Frick Pond. Out total time out was about 2 hours but it was much better than staying at home!

On Sunday, October 25th I decided to head south after church to see if I could find some final fall colors. Cindy suggested Harriman but I thought I might head for Norvin Green State Forest in northern New Jersey. As I drove down the Quickway passed Middletown, I decided that Jersey was too far and Bear Mountain might be nice. As I drove toward the traffic circle between Route 6 and the Palisades Parkway I noticed a lot of cars parked along the road. Once in Bear Mountain there were even more cars. Just after Perkins Drive traffic came to a halt. As we inched forward, I could see that the parking lots at Bear Mountain were all full. I decided to head elsewhere and did a k-turn. Back at the traffic circle I headed down Seven Lakes Drive. The parking area at Silver Mine Lake was full! The parking lot at Lake Askoti was packed and cars lined the road! Lake Tiorati was packed as was Lake Welch! I headed toward the Reeves Education Center only to find more cars there than anywhere else. At this point it was almost 1:00 PM and I decided to head back home and find a quiet place to take a quick hike. On my way through Tuxedo a sign for Mt. Peter caught my eye and I decided to head for the Bellvale Ridge off Route 17A. When I arrived at the AT trailhead, there were only two other cars and I decided to repeat the hike out to Bellvale Mountain to see how the views appeared with some fall colors. It was about 1:40 PM when Sheba and I hit the trail.

I was happy just be out hiking and in the first part of the hike there wasn't much to see. We hiked through the power line right of way and then up to the open space at the top of the first part of the ridge. There isn't much see from this open space so we continued to where the trail comes up from Greenwood Lake. Here there is a sign for some of the businesses in the town. The sign also lists the distance on the AT to Georgia and to Maine. Just passed this point the trail rises some and then hits the open part of the ridge. We were soon out on the exposed, rocky ridge and the views were good if not spectacular. The fall colors had been brighter near Bear Mountain but they were acceptable from the ridge. As we walked along the ridge new and better views became apparent and the colors became better. Walking along the ridge is not easy as there are many places where it undulates with short, steep ups and downs. We crossed the small creek which was swollen by the recent rains but retained its color. The creek is the color of tea from the tannins in the bark of the hemlock trees along its banks. After a steep descent we climbed again and reached the next part of the ridge that leads to the highest point designated as Bellvale Mountain

This part of the ridge is no different than the others accept that it has more exposed rock and the views are more open. Along the way hikers have erected large stone cairns which are not really necessary but are interesting! After some strenuous ups and downs we arrived at the highest point and stopped to take some pictures. The sky had darkened some which did not improve the views of the lake below or the leaves. I took some shots which weren't bad and Sheba and I both got a drink and a snack. Slowly the sun began to reappear and light up parts of the scenery and I decided to take some more pictures in this interesting lighting. It was about 3:30 and I wanted to get back so we turned around and started the hike to the car. I expected the return trip to go quicker than the hike out since I didn't intend to stop very much. The problem is that the ups and downs and difficult climbs over the rocks are about the same. I did stop on the way back several times but only for a few minutes. Near the end I took some pictures of some bushes with bright pink to red leaves. We were back at the car at about 5:15 PM which was faster than the last time we had taken this 7+ mile journey!

On Sunday, October 18th Cindy and I decided to go to Utsayantha after returning to the car from our hike on Huntersfield. We drove back to Prattsville and Grand Gorge and then the 8 miles to Stamford. the drive went quickly. We turned up Mountain Road and then made the left onto Tower Road and parked just up from the entrance. I would rather walk some and take in the view than drive to the top. As I walked with Cindy I realized that this hike, although short, is a constant ascent on the way up with little chance to rest. We continued up the road as it switched back once or twice passing one other hiker along the way. About two-thirds of the way up we turned to the right and walked to the open field that looks to the west toward Churchill Mountain. The sun was starting to dip low in the sky and the lighting was just right to produce some nice scenes which we both photographed. Then it was back on the road to the top.

As we continued the hike, another viewpoint opened up on the right and the remnants of a hang gliding platform could be seen. We took some shots from here but both of us noticed that the temperature was dropping with the sun. We quickly walked to the top and over to the front of the Churchill building. The view here is to the north and west and immediately below is the village of Stamford. After taking a few pictures, we headed over to the fire tower and I went up first. It was cold on the tower and the wind had picked up. Some ice remained on a few of the steps. I climbed to the landing just below the cab and photographed the countryside. The problem on this tower is the numerous transmission towers and antennas next to the fire tower. There are also quiet a few power lines. There is a proposal to place several large wind turbines on the Moresville ridge to generate electrical power. I have mixed feelings about such a project! I came down the tower and Cindy climbed up to take some shots. When she came down, we started our walk back to the car. This went much more quickly as the path is open road. Soon we were in the car and on our way back home.

On Sunday, October 18th Cindy and I decided to go north after church. I had wanted to go to Huntersfield the week before so we headed in that direction arriving at the parking area at about 12:45 PM. The hike follows the Long Path as it passes over Huntersfield and on to Ashland Pinnacle and Richmond Mountain. I planned to hike Huntersfield and something else. As we started on Huntersfield I was not sure what the "something else" might be. The first part of the trail is relatively flat and runs next to a small brook. This part of the hike was only damp with little significant water. The trail leads to a wide woods road that passes through a red pine plantation. In this area there were several wet areas but we passed around them easily. Eventually the road rises and then continues over a rise as the Long Path turns into the woods and starts up. The initial climb isn't too bad and soon we were at a nice lookout on the right of the trail that looks out over the valley. We took a few pictures and then head back to the main path. Several areas on the trail were grown in and it did not look like it had seen much use in recent weeks.

The hike is to the top is actually a little longer than I recalled with several areas where I though we were closer to the top than we actually were. We were soon on the last climb and the trail flattened on the broad and flat top of the mountain. We passed the yellow trail on the right and stayed on the Long path. I pointed out the USGS marker to Cindy and then walked on. In a short distance we turned right on the yellow trail and headed toward the lean-to. A nice viewpoint opens up on the right and overlooks Ashland Pinnacle. The bench here has been destroyed by lack of maintenance and thoughtless hikers! The view was nice but a little hazy and the autumn colors were muted. We continued on to the lean-to and got another view with about the same results. On the way back we turned right onto the Long Path intending to hike to Ashland Pinnacle. Within a short distance it became clear that this would be a bushwhack despite the fact that it follows the Long Path. The trail was grown over and not easily passable. We hiked back up to the top of Huntersfield and headed back to the car. The hike down was quicker than the hike up and we didn't stop until we were at the car. At this point I suggested going to Utsayantha since Cindy had not been there. It is an easy hike up the dirt access road and has several nice viewpoints with the payoff being the fire tower at the top!

On Monday, October 12th Karl had returned to Virginia and Cindy was working. I wanted to do a long but colorful hike so I chose The eastern end of the Devil's Path. The plan was to park at Prediger Road and hike Indian Head from the east and then go over Twin. I thought this would be sufficient but left the possibility of doing Sugarloaf open. When I arrived on Prediger Road at about 10:00 AM, I drove to the new parking area along the narrow but well-constructed access road. The new parking area isn't as large as I thought it would be and quiet a few vehicles were already parked including a small bus with a group of enthusiastic European hikers. By the time Sheba and I were ready to go the hikers from the bus had a good lead. Sheba and I headed up the trail and turned left where the trail heads up to Jimmy Dolan Notch. The left fork is actually the beginning of the Devil's Path and rises and dips slightly as it heads toward the trail from Platte Clove to Overlook. This trail was VERY wet in spots with lots of mud and standing water. After a little more than a mile we were at the quarries and we turned left. I intended to carefully explore the quarries and take some pictures but another group arrived right before us. We said hello and then Sheba and I turned around and head toward Overlook. In a short distance we were at the trail junction where the Devil's Path turns up Indian Head. We turned right here and began the ascent of the first mountain.

This route up Indian Head starts with a series of short Ascents followed by some flatter areas. The further along the trail, the steeper it becomes with fewer flat areas. Soon we were into the steepest parts where the going is slower. At one point there is a tangle of roots and rocks that gives hands and arms a real advantage over four paws. I gave Sheba a little help and we were up and through in no time. We stopped at the lookout over Platte Clove. It was still a little hazy especially over the Hudson but I took pictures anyway. The Catskill Community was visible to the north and I took several shots before we moved on up the trail. We got through the steep areas above and soon were walking the flatter part of the trail on top. We met a couple of hikers coming from the other direction. They had split away from a group that did not want to summit Indian Head after climbing Twin. They wanted to tag the summit and get back to their group so they were moving VERY fast, too fast to be safe on the way down! Sheba and I walked over the summit and began a more controlled decent into Jimmy Dolan Notch. Here we said "Hello" to a group of hikers resting after climbing Twin and then headed up to that peak ourselves.

I have always like the climb up Twin. It is only about .3 miles to the eastern (lower) summit with around 500 feet of elevation gain but it has some interesting little scrambles to negotiate. There is a small lookout on the way up that looks back at Indian Head and we stopped so that I could take a few pictures. The best part of the climb is the reward of the unbelievable views from the top. We stopped on the open rock slabs and I took many pictures despite the haze that would not go away! The fall leaf colors were excellent on this day. The most dramatic view was how the colors ascended Sugarloaf and then abruptly STOPPED forming a definite demarcation line between the hardwoods and the beginning of the evergreen forest at around 3500 feet. I debated whether or not to hit the western (higher) peak but in the end decided that the extra half mile or so was worth it. Sheba and I hurried down into the little col between the two summits and did not slow our pace much on the ascent to the western peak. The views from here were good and the haze seemed to have cleared somewhat. We turned around and were soon back tat he eastern peak. Here we met another hiker and I talked to him about doing a loop over the western peak and maybe including Sugarloaf. Soon we were down Twin and in the notch to begin our descent down one of my least favorite trails. We met several hikers on the way up and I suggested the climb up Twin for the view when asked. We were back at the parking are just before 3:00 PM having taken just under 5 hours for the 7.5 mile journey.

On Sunday, October 11th Karl, Cindy and I decided to look for some more fall colors in the Catskills. We decided to take in the view from the Wittenberg. We headed for the Woodland Valley Campgrounds to access the trailhead from that end. We arrived at about 10:30 AM to find the parking area almost full! This was not surprising given the long Columbus Day weekend, the beautiful weather and the desire of many to take in the fall foliage. I paid the parking fee and we were soon on our way across the creek and up the mountain. Karl was supposed to be back in the early afternoon but things didn't work out quite that way! The hike from the parking area to the register is longer than on many trails and steeper also! The old footbridge had been replaced by a new and improved, heavy-duty version. It is nice to see that the DEC is spending some money to "flood proof" these bridges. We hiked up to the register and signed in. Immediately after this we passed one older woman who was resting after hiking to the register. As we hiked up through the rocky portion of the lower trail we passed a younger couple. The dogs were having a good time and we were moving along at a nice pace. in most places the trail was dry and in others it was damp.

Soon we reached the area where the trail descends a little and meets the trail out to Terrace Mountain. I have heard that this is and interesting hike and I promised myself that I will try it sometime. We turned at the trail junction to started the climb up the woods road to the Wittenberg summit. This is one of those hikes that always seems to be longer than I remember. We worked our way up through the rock scrambles and then began the long walk up the rocky "stream" that passes for a trail at most times of the year. The trail had some flowing water and some standing in many places. He met some Asian hikers coming down from the summit moving at a rapid pace! We continued on toward the summit as I continued to think that each rise and each turn in the trail was the top of the mountain.

Finally we arrived at the broad open area that is the summit of Wittenberg. The views were good on this day with some haze hanging in the valleys on the far hills. We stopped and I started to take pictures while the dogs got a drink and a snack. I took shots of the rest of the Burroughs Range and some across the reservoir. Most of the a pictures I took with the zoom were to hazy to make out much but the others were nice. I walked along the trail toward Cornell to see if I could get some better views and I found a few but not many. I would have hiked to Cornell but Cindy was tired and Karl REALLY needed to get back to Livingston Manor. We started back with the hike taking much longer than I had estimated. We got to the trail junction, turned left and tried to pick up the pace back to the parking area. After crossing the footbridge, we hurried to the car and left Woodland Valley by 2:30 PM.

On Saturday, October 10th I returned a little early from our cross country meet to find that my family had visited the new cider press and store at Sonoma Falls. I wanted to see the falls so Karl and I took the 5 minutes drive. I was VERY surprised at the beauty of the falls. The area near the falls had been very overgrown the last time I was there. The new owners had clear this area and are in the process of laying out some walking trails. Karl and I followed some well-defined paths up the left side of the trail. I took some pictures from the bank and dropped down into the stream bed several times to get pictures. The sun was directly in my line of sight so it was difficult to get some of the shots I wanted. It didn't take long to get to the "top" of the falls near and dam on a small lake or pond. This was posted as private property so we crossed to the other side and started to walk back.

The area on the other side of the stream had less defined paths and was very wet in spots. Near the top of the falls there weren't many areas to walk down to the stream bed or even to take pictures. Further down the stream I was able to get some pictures from the bank. Eventually it was clear that to return to the car we needed to cross the stream. We picked a spot that was narrow and rather shallow and had no problem crossing. After a few more pictures, we returned to the car. I would like to return when the water is higher as the series of cascades would be that much more dramatic!

On Sunday, October 4th Cindy and I were looking for some bright fall colors. The leaves around town had some color but it was not bright and they were starting to fall. We decided to head toward Delaware County and perhaps hike Huntersfield Mountain or Utsayantha. Our neighbor said that the leaves around the Pepacton Reservoir had some nice color so we thought we would check them out on the way north. We didn't get started until about 11:30 so we were at the reservoir just after noon. The colors were nice and I decided to change plans. Cindy had never been from Hill Road up to the Dry Brook Ridge lookouts and I had promised myself I would return there when the leaves had some color. This was the perfect opportunity. There was only one other car in the small parking area when we arrived at 12:30 PM.

As we hiked up through the pine plantation, the weather seemed warmer than I had expected. Cindy liked the pines and the wide, soft trail. The hike is uphill all the way to the ridge but is never very steep and the trail is well-maintained. We walked and talked until my GPS showed we were within .25 miles of the ridge. At this point we met four people sitting by the side of the trail. We talked to them for some time and suggested they hike to the lookout. They were unaware that the viewpoint existed. We hiked on and made the ridge quickly. After turning right toward the "penguin Rock" lookouts, the trail alternates between almost flat areas and a few short, steep climbs. I guess the last few times I have been on this trail I must have been talking since the hike to the lookouts seemed long. Finally the short side trail appeared and I waited for Cindy to go out to the rocks that make up the viewpoint. I was hoping the view would be a good one. I was NOT disappointed! Although there was a little haze in the valleys and on the far peaks, the view was the best I have seen and the colors were amazing!

We walked out onto the rocks as the sky was starting to get dark and it almost looked like a rain shower was coming our way. The play of the light on the trees was fantastic and kept changing. At first the clouds were dark and cast shadows over the landscape. Next, the sun would come out and change the view completely. Cindy was impressed. I was impressed. We just started taking a lot of pictures and then took them again as the light changed. I took a few panorama shot and some of the berries on the bushes near the lookout. Finally we were ready to start back. We never did see the other four people. The hike back to the trail junction seemed very fast and the hike down to the car also went quickly.

On the way back along the reservoir Cindy suggested that we stop somewhere to get some more pictures. I was tired and wanted to get home but we stopped at the bridge and parked. We walked out onto the bridge to take some shots and I was glad that we did. The trees were even nicer close up and the light was just right. After some additional shots we got in the car and headed back home. Our 6 miles hike took about 3.5 hours but included a protracted amount of time for picture taking!

On Monday, September 28th I had a day off from school for Yom Kippur. I decided I might catch some glimpses of fall color from Giant Ledge or Panther and headed in that direction. Sheba and I arrived at the parking area at 9:15 AM and found no other cars parked. We got right on the trail and started our normal ,brisk pace. Due to the rains over the weekend there was some water flowing in the brook under the bridge but the trail were relatively dry with only a few soggy areas. We made our way to the turn up to Giant Ledge and began the gentle but steady climb. The lower lookout toward Slide Mountain showed that there was still a lot of fog and haze hanging on the mountains. We continued to the steeper ascent to the Ledges and were soon at the first lookout. I took a few pictures and then we walked along the Ledges to a few more viewpoints. Most showed about the same view dominated by fog hanging in the valley and a few spots of color. I hoped that the weather would clear on the way back.

We pushed on and started to drop into the col between the Ledges and Panther. I wondered why Sheba came back to me and then I heard voices coming toward us. The voices were from a group of four backpackers who had camped overnight in the rain on Giant ledge. They had been exploring for a way to bushwhack down to the Neversink but decided to take the trail back to Woodland valley. Sheba and I started up Panther stopping at a few viewpoints along the way. between the leaves and the fog the views were limited to say the least. It didn't seem long and we were passing the rock that now acts as a lookout into the valley below Panther and then we arrived at the summit. The fog had cleared some and there were some views from the summit. I took the camera and we went to the lookout rock. Compared to the color from Giant Ledge the color from Panther was as muted as in Livingston Manor! I took a few pictures and then we started the trip back to the car.

Going down Panther was tricky in the steeper areas since the rocks were slippery from the rain and covered with slippery leaves. About halfway down the last steep pitch we met a couple coming up. After saying "Hello", we continued on. At the first lookout we came to it was clear that the vies had improved and the fog had mostly lifted in the valleys. Some haze still swirled about the distant peals making for an interesting site. We stopped several times so that I could take pictures back to Panther and over to the Burroughs Range. We didn't stay too long before heading back down. After the turn to Woodland Valley, the rest of the hike was a breeze. We met one more couple that looked as if Giant Ledge would be enough for them. We were back at the car just after 1:00 PM. We covered almost 6 miles in a leisurely 3+ hours.

On Sunday, September 27th Cindy and I had planned to hike with friends from school. The morning was rainy and cool so we decided not to go. The afternoon wasn't much better but a window of clear sky convinced me it was worth a try. I called Robin and she agreed. Robin and Ed arrived at our house and Cindy decided to go along. We arrived at the upper parking area for Trout Pond after 3:00 PM and got right on the road down to the lower parking area and the falls. There were quiet a few cars still in the lot. Robin and Ed had never hiked in this area but I was sure they would enjoy it. They had just come back from walking around the Holy Land and are used to hiking at a good pace. The weather was lousy and was alternating between heavy mist and drizzle as we started up the trail to the pond. A large group was camped to the left of the trail under an array of tarps. As we walked up toward the Trout Pond the weather began to clear a little or at least it stopped raining. We stopped at the dam but there were no opportunities to take pictures. We continued on toward the lean-tos.

At the upper end of the lake we easily crossed over the inlet and began to work our way up the trail to Cherry Ridge. Despite the uphill we kept a good pace. Talking back and forth seemed to shorten the trip and we were soon in the grove of skinny saplings just above Mud Pond. We headed down the trail to the wide road that comes up from the falls and accesses Mud Pond. We turned left and began to descend the hill back toward the register box and Russell Brook Falls. We stopped at the falls and walked along the edge of the rocks to the area near the falls. There wasn't a lot of water going over but the falls were still pretty. Robin and Ed seemed impressed. Back on the trail and then the road we walked back up to the car as the rain started in again. We covered the 5.5 mile hike in under 2 hours and arrived back at the car around 5:00 PM.

Summer 2009

On Sunday, September 20th I preached at my church in the morning. Cindy was too tired from our 13 mile excursion on Saturday so I had decided to join Doug again to tackle Schultice. I called him the night before and told him I would be too busy on Sunday and was a little tired from the Minnewaska hike. After taking my mom out to lunch, we returned home. I decided to take Sheba up to Frick and Hodge Ponds for a short hike. We parked at The Frick Pond Parking area around 3:00 PM and started the hike out to Frick Pond. The trail had been freshly mowed by the DEC and was a pleasure to walk on. It was really pretty dry even in areas that are usually marshy. We stopped at Frick Pond so that I could take a few pictures. A beaver dam just near the bridge has restricted the flow of water to the stream and the area is pretty dry also. My intention was to make the hike really short by taking the Logger's Loop back to Times Square but it was a nice day and I decided to take the short way around the pond to Times Square and then the Big Rock Trail to the Flynn Trail and Hodge Pond.

The trip around the pond was uneventful except that it was not very muddy. Even the junction at Times Square had only a few damp spots. Sheba and I went straight ahead and set a fast pace up the Big Rock Trail to the Flynn Trail. At the top we took the left and headed down to Hodge Pond. The beaver dam blocking the outlet was still the but it was possible to get across this area to make a loop hike. After taking a few photos, Sheba and I started back up the Flynn Trail passing the Big Rock junction and continuing down toward the parking area. At the gate we turned left to stay on the trail and were back at the car before 5:30 PM.

On Saturday, September 19th Cindy and I wanted to hike in an area we had not visited for awhile. We chose Minnewaska State Park for our adventure and some adventure it was! We arrived at the park at about 10:30 AM and parked in the first lot which has the best access to the Lower Awosting Carriageway. There were only a few cars in the lot but a large group of hikers was meeting. I hoped they were not headed our way! As we were getting ready several cars with trail bicycles arrived. Cindy, Sheba and I started out and kept waiting for the bikers to pass. We could see them back on the trail but they were moving very slowly. They eventually passed us as we ascended a small hill toward Lake Awosting. We did meet a few other hikers but the hike was pretty quiet. After about 2.5 miles we arrived on the shores of Lake Awosting and turned right on the trail around the lake. At the ranger's cabin we turned right again onto the Smiley Carriageway to start our hike to Stony Kill falls.

The area along the Smiley carriageway that had been burned appeared to be recovering nicely with lots of green leaves on the trees and some underbrush beginning to grow back. The track was very dry which was surprising since it was been know to be VERY wet! We took some pictures of the area before heading down to Fly Brook. The water level was low and the brook was easy to cross. Just after the brook we turned off the Smiley Carriageway and headed right toward Stony Kill falls. The trail is not completely maintained but the route is obvious. The trail really starts to drop as you near the falls. We walked to the creek above the falls where there is a small drop. The water level was extremely low as I took a few shots up and down the creek. We then were able to walk along the rock shelf that is normally covered by water until we were almost at the drop for the falls. At the brink of the falls we stopped to take pictures and eat some lunch right around 1:00 PM. I wandered along the edge of the cliffs and took some pictures of the trickle of water going over the falls. I continued on and found a path that looked like it led down to the base of the falls. I returned to where Cindy was sitting and we retraced our steps back to Lake Awosting.

At the lake we decided there was no point in hiking around the lake so we turned left toward Minnewaska and then right toward the Hamilton Point carriageway. We met another couple hiking who seemed to want to "compete". They asked us how far we were going and then added a mile to our distance. After talking briefly, they took off at a pretty fast pace. Cindy and I didn't really care but thought that they didn't look like they could keep it up! Within a short distance we passed them on a short uphill and did not see them for the rest of the day. The lookouts over Awosting along the way are really beautiful as evidenced by the number and variety of hikers and bikers frequenting each viewpoint. We stopped several times to take pictures before getting back on the trail. Mountain biking seems to be more and more common in the park and the variety of bikes and abilities of the riders vary. I am surprised there aren't more accidents since some of the riders are going pretty fast and many of the hikers in groups occupy the entire width of the trail. We were soon at the junction of with the Hamilton Point Carriageway and I convinced Cindy that we should take the Long Path to Castle Point.

After a short walk of the Hamilton Point Carriageway, we turned left on the Long Path and began to climb UP to Castle Point. I like this rock scramble but it was a little steeper than I remembered! Sheba led the way as we worked upwards. It is always fun to listen to the people talking above and then sort of "pop out" into there view. Many are unaware there is a path up from below and wonder how anyone could make it up the cliff. Near the top I always have to give Sheba a "boost" since there is one place where she cannot get a running start. The views from castle Point were really nice and a number of people were on top taking them in. We stayed for a few minutes to take pictures and then started walking the Castle Point Carriageway back to Lake Minnewaska. At this point we had been hiking a little over 8 miles. The walk on the wide roads toward Minnewaska was easy and we made good time. At one point we stopped as a couple was looking into one of the crevices at ... a snake. It was clear it was not a poisonous snake by the shape of the head. It WAS over five feet long and was sunning itself. The eyes were milky showing it was about to shed its skin. We knew we had some hiking yet to do so we took pictures and left.

We hiked along the road greeting a few hikers and bikers that we met. In about 3 miles we were nearing the lake. At this point a large field opens to the left and we stopped to take in the view. The mountains in the Catskills are clearly visible from here and make a nice photo. We continued on toward the lake and were soon standing on the beach. The water was a deep, beautiful blue and the cliffs and trees around the lake were reflected in the still water. I took several pictures from the beach and then went up to the nearby rock to get a better view down the entire lake. After taking MANY pictures, we headed toward the Sunset carriageway to take us back to the main gate. We were getting tires but this route is mostly downhill. There was one viewpoint along the way where we stopped to again look at the Catskills. After crossing the access road we arrived near the main gate. I wanted to take a quick side trip to Awosting Falls but Cindy was tired after 2 miles of walking. Cindy and Sheba headed to the car and I went down to the stream.

I took a few pictures of the Peters Kill as it makes its way toward the falls and then stood at the to of the falls to take some pictures. Despite the noise there was very little water going over the falls. I debated going to the base but decided to make a quick excursion. I took some pictures of the falls and the pool from below and then hurried back up the path and toward the car. I arrived just after 5:00 PM. Cindy and Sheba had not waited too long. The GPS recorded over 1 miles so I knew the actual hike would be longer we walked 12.5 miles total in 6.5 hours!

On Sunday, September 13th Doug Garrity and I met at Hubbles Corners again to take on Irish Mountain. We drove to the DEP land at the Headwaters of the Delaware near Grand Gorge where we started our hike. We walked along the old railroad bed and then made a quick left up into the woods. From this point on the hike was one recurring story. We would find a woods road and hike it for awhile. Soon it wood be obvious that the road was heading in the wrong direction so we would take another bearing and head for the top. This required beating our way through the DOUBLE whammy of prickers and nettles. The vegetation at times covered blowdown that we would have to walk around or through. The day was hot and humid and the insects were out! Near the summit we found a woods road that seemed to circle the mountain but we decided to just bore straight ahead for the summit. I muse say that hiking with Doug is interesting as he is willing to lead the way and bash down anything in front of him. If you do get the opportunity to go with Sparty, make sure you have some bandages along since he always hikes in shorts! It took us about 2 hours to cover the 3 mil trip. At the summit we thought about heading for Schultice. We had heard about the private property issues and did not want to run across anyone who would object to our hiking. We were also tired and did not want to have to whack over to the next peak and then work our way back down to the car. We decided to return to the car and then drive over to Schultice and see what the access looked like. We drove over in Doug's jeep and did find one person working on his trailer. He didn't have the right to grant us permission to hike but we drove to the highest point on the road we could get. There is a cabin at the end of the road that has a magnificent view of the valley. We decided to leave this for another day.

On Monday, September 7th I wanted to get one more hike in with Cindy before the start of the new school year. We decided to spot a car at Alder Lake and then drive to the parking area for Balsam Lake Mountain. The plan was to hike to the fire tower and then walk along Millbrook Ridge to Alder Lake. We knew this would be a long hike especially for Cindy but most of the climbing is at the beginning with one ascent to the highest spot on Millbrook Ridge near the end. By the time we got out of the house and spotted the car at Alder Lake, it was later than he had hoped to get started. One nice surprise was that the access road into Alder Lake had been graded and crusher run had been added. It is still narrow but an improvement over the ruts that made it nearly impassable. We arrived at the Balsam Lake parking area just before 10:00 AM and started out on the trail. There was only one car in the lot. We made VERY good time to the trail junction up to the summit. We continued to keep up a nice pace up the mountain and arrived at the summit without stopping just after 11:00 AM.

When we arrived a the fire tower, there were three other hikers present. They had come up from the Millbrook Road parking area. One of them recognized me or, more likely, Sheba from our Saturday hike on Windham. Cindy and I took turns going up the tower. There was quite a bit of haze but the view is always nice. We chatted with the other hikers for some time and then headed back to the Millbrook Ridge Trail to continue our hike. The first part of this trail is most a descent from the summit to the ridge and is pretty steep in places with several switchbacks to moderate the gradient. Along the way there are a few hints of a view but most are covered by the leafy trees. At around 1.35 miles from the trail junction we passed Woodpecker Ridge and then at around 2 miles arrived at the lookout over Beecher Lake. Along the way we got a nice glimpse of the fire tower from a viewpoint. The Beecher Lake viewpoint is wide open and offers a nice view of Woodpecker Ridge, Cradle Rock Ridge, the lake below, and the Buddhist monastery. We took a short break for a snack and to take pictures and then started in again. From the viewpoint the trail descends briefly and then climbs to the highest point on the ridge. At 3490 feet Millbrook Ridge easily makes it onto the CHH list is almost high enough to be a 3500 peak.

After climbing to the high point, we enjoyed the downhill on the other side. Someone did a LOT of trail maintenance by cutting back the briars and nettles and even tackling a few larger blowdowns along the way. Soon we were at the beaver meadow near the lean-to where we took some pictures and then continued on. At the lean-to, I walked down to take some pictures while Cindy relaxed for a moment. The beaver meadow here shows some signs of reverting to a pond. There was a lot of accumulating water but no evidence of a real dam. Perhaps the apparent rejuvenation is due to the wet summer season. After the lean-to, we picked up our pace and were at the head of the lake by 2:15 PM. By 2:30 PM we were at the outlet end having covered almost 8 miles in about 4.5 hours. We stopped and took some pictures of the lake and the Coykendall Mansion. The state finally demolished the house after determining it would cost too much to restore it. They did leave the fine stonework. We were both tired but still had to drive back to the Balsam Lake parking area to get my car and then drive all the way home.

On Saturday, September 5th I debated whether I had the time or energy to drive to Peck Road AND do another hike after the bushwhack of West Stoppel. In the end the philosophy of "I'm here so I might as well do it!" won out. We arrived at the Peck Road trailhead at 12:45 PM to find it packed with cars! It was the weekend but I was very surprised at the number of vehicles. I found a spot and we started out immediately. I could hear some kids screaming further along the trail and wondered what was happening. It appears that the private land off Peck Road has been developed and these children were actually in a pool at their house. I had only been up this trail a few times before and not for some time. I knew that it followed a gentle ascent along and old road to the Elm Ridge lean-to. From here the trail the trail continued out to Windham but I wanted to turn right on the blue Escarpment Trail. I was prepared for a muddy mess like the one I found on Kaaterskill the day before. I remembered several areas that had masses of tangled evergreen roots which was usually wet. I also recalled one area where there where log "bridges" over very wet areas. We made the mile to the turn by just after 1:00 PM and started up on the Escarpment Trail. The lean-to was occupied and we met a "summer ranger" who was coming down from the peak. I chatted with her for a few minutes and then continued passed the lean-to and UP the trail

The trail from the lean-to to the summit alternates between steep sections and flatter areas. Many of the flatter areas are through pine forests with exposed roots. These areas are often VERY wet. This day these areas were mostly dry with only a few damp areas. I was surprised that I remembered many of the landmarks on the trail despite not having hiked the route in at least two years. The actual ascent to the summit was longer and steeper than I remembered. Somewhere along the way I met a group of 17 people from The Hudson Valley Ramblers led by David and Carol White. David recognized me since I attended their presentation at Morgan Outdoors. Sheba and I waited until most of this large group thinned out and then continued our climb. We met two more small groups along the way. Near the top we hit a few wet areas with one being quite large. There were several people at the first lookout so we walked to the viewpoint just beyond the summit. A family group was taking pictures and the kids were thrilled to see Sheba. I talked to the kids and the adults as I took some pictures across the valley. There was a lot of haze so I could not see all the way to Albany.

After taking pictures and getting a snack, Sheba and I returned to the trail to retrace our steps back to the car. We stopped at the viewpoint facing south and chatted with two people who were already there. They also took pictures of Sheba and I discussed Catskill hiking routes with them. I took a few pictures of the Blacks and then returned to the trail. In this case down seemed much easier than up. We set a quick pace Down the mountain. A few people were still coming up and we did catch and pass some hikers on the way down. We were back at the parking area by 3:35 PM and the cars had thinned out by that time. We completed the 6 mile hike in under three hours.

On Saturday, September 5th I decided to get a 3500 and a CHH all in one day. The mornings had been hazy so I thought I would do West Stoppel first since it has no view. Later in the day I would do Windham from Peck Road in the hopes that the haze would clear. I headed for Tannersville, turned left at the stoplight and drove through Onteora Park and down the other side. After taking a right on Colgate Lake Road, I was soon at the outlet end of the lake. The dam had been replaced and the lake was full of water. I almost parked at the main lot to walk across the dam and begin the hike. Instead, I parked at the upper lot on the left hand side of the road. Sheba and I were in the woods by 9:35 AM. As I walked through some dense pines, I kept heading to my right. This took me too far to the south and west so that we were headed for the lake instead of the East Kill. I corrected and we ended up on the East Kill looking for a place to cross. The creek was a little wider and deeper than I thought but I found a place to hop across some rocks. One of the rocks rolled as I stepped on it but only my pants got wet. After ascending the bank on the other side. Sheba and I headed a little south and east and up. I was aiming for the Col between West Stoppel and the bump that is west of West Stoppel.

Somehow as I walked I kept veering to the right again. We walked up some drainages that seemed to be a path. We found what looked like some old roads and paralleled them for a while. The biggest problem was the amount of blowdown everywhere! I tried to correct my bearing by heading more southeast but I kept getting pulled to the west. Eventually we were up but on the bump instead of in the Col. There was some very thick brush at the top but we soon found some open areas and tried to stay in those areas as I turned almost due east toward West Stoppel. Of course, we had to descend into the Col and then climb West Stoppel. This was not too difficult and the ascent wasn't very steep. The problem was that every time we would get to a flat area that I thought was the top another rise appeared through the trees. This repeated itself several times until I could not see any higher ground ahead. We walked a little further and then turned around to start the return trip. I had intentions of dropping down from the Col but using CPS (canine positioning system) is just too easy! I told Sheba "Back! Same way!" and just followed her. Going down through the blowdown and drainages proved interesting. At one point I stepped on a mossy rock without a good pole placement and went down HARD! For a minute I thought I had really injured my left wrist but it seemed OK and we continued. After crossing the East Kill in exactly the same spot, we headed directly for the road and got back just after noon. The 3.5 mile bushwhack took a little over 2.5 hours.

I was anxious to get to Windham since I had decided that I WOULD hike it this day. I drove down to the main parking area, left Sheba in the car and took only my camera to the lake. I walked along the road and then dropped to the base of the dam where large rocks had been installed. I took pictures of the dam and the new bridge over the dam as well as some pictures of the stream below. I crossed the stream and ascended the other side to take more pictures. I spotted a flock of geese on the lake and took some shots. I also took pictures of the lake with the clouds and mountains behind it. Quite a few people were swimming or just sitting by the lake in the sun. I walked over the bridge, returned to the car and headed toward Windham.

On Friday, September 4th I got back to the Platte Clove parking area from Kaaterskill High Peak a little earlier than expected and decided to explore a few of the waterfalls in Platte Clove. I left the parking area for the High Peak and drove to the Platte Clove Preserve and parked along the road. A nice path leads down from the parking area through a gate and passes the Platte Clove Preserve "cabin". The trail winds its way down into the clove and has some signs which label the trees found along the way. At the base of this trail is a beautiful falls that cascades over the rocks in a free fall of perhaps 30 or 40 feet. The water level was high enough that the falls were active but low enough to allow me to walk out into the stream bed to take pictures. After taking some shots, I decided not to return the way I had come but to bushwhack my way to the top of the bank to get another look at the falls from above.

Climbing the bank proved trickier than it look. The rocks on the bank were loose with a nice covering of loose leaves and pine needles. The bank was also steeper than it looked. Once I got to the top, I walked to the area of the top of the falls and carefully took some more pictures before turning around and walking up the stream bank. As I approached the foot bridge I dropped down to the stream bed and walked out onto some rocks. This allowed me to take some shots of the post and tenon bridge and the falls just in front of it from an interesting angle. These falls have only about a 10 foot drop but are wider and pleasant none the less. After taking the pictures, I walked up the path to the main trail and back to the car. I drove up the road a little bit and parked at the Devil's Kitchen where Hell Hole Brook crosses under the road. I got out and took some pictures here as I worked my way along the north side of the chasm. It is deep here and one careless moment means a long fall with a sudden stop! Sheba and I then walked around to the other side of the bridge and started down that side, I was able to get a few pictures as we walked down the unmarked trail high above the brook. It was late in the day so we turned around and headed back to the car. (CAUTION: Several people have fallen from the slippery and steep paths in this area. Hiking here requires some experience and the proper equipment especially a good pair of hiking shoes! BE CAREFUL!)

On Friday, September 4th I decided to grab a 3500 for September and settled on Kaaterskill High Peak. I was particularly wanted to find Hurricane Ledge this time since the weather forecast made photography an attractive possibility. My plan was to hike up to the snowmobile loop from the Platte Clove parking and then to hike around the loop to the south side. I had never gone this way before and thought it would be a nice change. I wanted to see the 5 foot rock cairn and the plane crash near it. I parked in the main parking area with only a few other cars and then started up the road that serves as the first part of the trail. Soon the road became trail and we entered the avenue of pine trees. This area was VERY wet with a lot of standing water to avoid. As I walked along, I kept looking for a trail leading up through the woods on the right to the cairn that marks the beginning of the ascent on the eastern side of KHP. I did find a small path but was not sure it was the right one so I decided to wait until I got to the snowmobile trail and then hike to the cairn that way. Soon I was at the trail that turns right and up the mountain toward the snowmobile trail. We walked up this short trail and encountered the snowmobile trail. It was a muddy mess of ruts and standing water! The ATVs had been hard at work! We did turn left and start to try to negotiate the mess but I had some experience with how bad it could be from previous trips. After only a few hundred feet the trail did not improve and we turned back to find the herd path up KHP.

Once we got back to the trail we had ascended up to the snowmobile trail, it was a quick walk to the herd path. This part of the trail was also a mess but I knew exactly where I was going. The herd path although still officially unmaintained becomes more and more obvious with each hiker that uses it. The cairn which used to be helpful in finding the path is really no longer needed. We turned left onto the path and started the steep and rocky ascent up to the high point. Soon we were at the top marked by pieces of an airplane. I don't think these pieces were originally right at the top and I wish people would stop moving them around. Several paths lead away from the summit and I tried several. Most looked promising but then ended abruptly at some point. After two or three unsuccessful attempts I decided that I would try a different method of locating Hurricane Ledge. I would use my map and compass! After a brief consultation, it was obvious I had been looking in the wrong direction. We struck out on a prominent path in the other direction, lost some elevation and arrived at the Ledge. This is truly a viewpoint not to be missed. The views of the Blackhead Range across the valley are unmatched. There are also views to the east toward Saugerties and down the valley the other way to the west. It was a little hazy so the picture taking opportunities were limited. We wandered around to several different places until I felt we had exhausted all the possibilities and then followed our path back to the summit. From there we reversed our route back to the car. It took us about 4 hours to hike the 7.7 mile route but this included a LOT of time "exploring" at the top!

On Tuesday, September 1st plans to hike with someone from the "north" fell through. After cross country practice, Cindy and I decided the two hour drive to Surprise Lake might be worth it. I had seen some pictures of the views from the ridge overlooking Greenwood Lake and was convinced we should go on this beautiful, clear day. We drove down the Quickway and then through Florida and Warwick toward Greenwood Lake. In Greenwood Lake we took Route 210 south along the west shore of the lake looking for the parking area which was supposed to be right on the New York-New Jersey border. It turns out that we drove passed it at least twice. The parking area is a short drive way shared with a marina across the road. We finally pulled into the parking area to find only a few cars. We got right on the trail which started out pretty flat as it passed behind some houses. We crossed a stream and then the trail began its climb. In many places the rail became diffuse and the blazes hard to find since the area is very popular locally. We did keep on the trail as it continued to climb to the Bellvale-Bearfort Ridge. Eventually we made the top of the ridge after about .7 miles and the trail leveled off some. We walked along the typically rocky trail on the ridge and got some nice views. In a mile or so we were at the shores of Surprise Lake. Only two other people were there. It was obvious this was a popular destination and that most people used another, shorter and easier access trail. We took some pictures of the lake and then continued our hike.

We hiked through some damp areas at the western end of the lake encountering a few insect swarms along the way. The trail began to ascend slightly and became a little rougher. At about 1.5 miles we were at the lookout over West Pond. This pond is very secluded and the views were beautiful. We stopped for a drink and a snack and I took pictures. After this brief rest, we went back to the main trail. We had been hiking northwest but soon the trail turned sharply northeast. After another .7 miles there was a slight jog in the trail and we came upon an AT section hiker. He seemed a little confused and perhaps dehydrated. We spoke to him a while and offered assistance but he declined and we went in opposite directions. After about half a mile we turned southeast and began our descent of the ridge. Soon we were back on or route from earlier in the day and headed for the parking area. We were back at the car in about 3 hours for the 4 mile hike.

On Monday, August 31st I left Pennsylvania with instructions to get on Interstate 80 and then get off at the first exit in New Jersey. I did this and followed the instructions to pass back under the highway. After a couple of turns I found the large parking area and parked the car. It was later than I would usually start a hike but the trip down had been so long I was willing to give it a try without really knowing how long the hike might be. I always carry a headlamp and although that is not my ideal solution, it gave me the confidence I needed to start. From the parking area we took the blue trail toward the northeast. At first the trail was flat but it soon began to climb. It was very rocky and difficult to walk on and I was tired from earlier in the day. Parts of the trail looked like an old woods road with some areas being a little steep. After about 1.7 miles of hiking, we were on top of the ridge having gained about 1200 feet in elevation. As we walked along the ridge toward the southwest we passed by the summit of the mountain and had to make a side trip to bag the high point. There were no views yet but some open areas on our left suggested there would be.

At the end of the ridge just as the trail turned and started to descend an incredible viewpoint opened up. By walking out on the open rock outcrop views up and down the river in both directions were available. Just across the river was Minsi where I had been earlier! I had to watch my footing as I scrambled around for the best angles for pictures. I took many photographs before returning to the top, getting a drink and a snack and then continuing down the mountain. The descent was steep in places and much of it was rocky and very dry and dusty. As we descended I was surprised when another beautiful viewpoint appeared. This one looked toward the south down the river and I was able to get some more good pictures. The view also allowed me to see where I had been on the outcrop viewpoint before and I took pictures of this perch. From here it was back to descending the steep trail back down to the car. Somehow we ended up in another parking area but were able to easily walk back to our car. It had taken about 3 hours to hike the 3.5 mile distance.

On Monday, August 31st I decided that I wanted to hike the two mountains at the extreme southwestern end of the Delaware Water Gap. Mount Minsi of the Pennsylvania side and Mount Tammany on the New Jersey side were touted by many to offer the best views of the Water Gap area. I got a late start after practice and did not realize that the trip was significantly longer than the others I had made to the same area. I parked in the parking area for Mount Minsi and we got right on the trail since our time was limited. There were several other cars in the lot but there was a lake with some walking trails to occupy most of the occupants. The "trail" started as a paved pathway on one end of the lake but soon turned into a rocky woods road as it gained some elevation. At one point there was a split with the right fork leading up the fire road to the summit. I chose the left fork knowing we could return by the fire road. At about 1.l2 miles there was a nice lookout on the river and across to Mount Tammany in New Jersey. A few other hikers showed up while I was taking some pictures. We discussed the hike and then Sheba and I departed up the mountain.

The trail passes through many different types of vegetation including hard woods, pines and a lot of laurel. At about 1.7 miles the trail emerged from the undergrowth to give another view across and down the river. After I took pictures, we continued up the mountain and arrived at the summit after 2 miles of hiking. The pylons from and old fire tower are near the summit and another structure with an electrical feed is in the same area. There was no view from here so we continued on the road on the summit and then walked off to our left. It was obvious many people come up to the top. There was evidence of recent campfires. I found several nice viewpoints but the day was a little hazy to get really good pictures. There was a lot of land laid out below and after some photographs, we turned around and started back. When we got to the junction with the fire road, we stayed to the left and followed it down the mountain. I did this more for variety than anything else since the walking was not too much better than the trail up. We eventually joined up with the trail near the bottom and returned to the car after only a little over 2 hours walking the 4.5 mile hike.

On Sunday, August 30th Doug Garrity (Sparty) and I met at Hubbell Corners to hike Montgomery Hollow, Whiteman and Roundtop. We had permission from a local landowner to park and hike the mountains but were asked to do it on a Sunday to avoid logging operations in the area. We parked and started out on a woods road that went up and in the right general direction. Soon the road began to head more to the south and we wanted to go west. We started our bushwhack by heading generally west and a little north toward Montgomery Hollow. There were some prickers but they were not too bad and Sparty did a great job of clearing them out! After only one mile we were near the top of Montgomery Hollow fighting an ever increasing number of prickers! We continued over the top and headed. We knew this would be more difficult and that we would have to return on about the same route. We hit the col and then continued in the same general southwest direction. We began to pick up some logging roads and used them as much as we could. The problem with these roads were that the wandered first one way and then the other and were certainly not built with us in mind. It was only about a mile to the summit plateau of White Man Mountain. It was then that it struck me why this was also called Hack Flats. We walked along the top of the mountain for about a quarter mile looking for the highest spot. Eventually we found a spot where there did not seem to be any higher ground.

We started our hike back across the flats and then down White Man and up Montgomery Hollow. We emerged back onto the woods road where we began our bushwhack, walked own the road and promptly started in the wrong direction. Soon we realized our mistake and corrected it. We found some roads and then left them behind as we headed east toward Roundtop which would be the highest peak of the day. After a little more than a mile we arrived at the highest spot and claimed victory before starting back. Somewhere along the way we ran into a nice viewpoint and stopped to take pictures. As we neared the western end of the summit plateau, we ran into some roads we had not found before. They headed in the right direction and were a better choice than more bushwhacking. After a few doubtful turns, we were back at he "main" woods road and hiking down to the car. The 7 mile hike had taken us just short of 7 hours!

On Thursday, August 27th I decided to meet a group from the Andes Hikers and Hill Road near Margaretville to hike to the lookouts over the Pepacton Reservoir on Dry Brook Ridge. The group that met on Hill Road in the morning was about 15 strong with three dogs other than Sheba. There were many people of different abilities so I knew that I would have someone to hike with. The leader had "bad knees" and encouraged me to take the lead. I led out along with a few others and we were soon ahead of the main group. We stopped and waited and then slowed our pace as we started in again. This pattern would continue throughout the hike but I didn't mind slowing my pace since it was nice to hike with a group for a change. We made it up through the pine plantation and to the ridge. Here we took a right and headed out along the ridge toward the lookouts. This part of the walk meanders a bit and is always longer than I remember. We all eventually got to the lookouts and I took some pictures before continue on the trail a little farther. None of the rest of the group wanted to come. I just wanted to check out the possibility of other lookouts or viewpoints on the other side of the ridge. I found many interesting possibilities but none proved worthwhile so I went back to the main trail and headed back toward the group. Some were ready to go so we started out down the ridge to the trail junction and then back to the cars. The 7 mile hike took about 4 hours total and all those involved were pleasant and interesting people.

On Wednesday, August 26th Lisa and I headed to Sam's Point near Cragsmoor to get in some hiking. We decided to forgo the Ice Caves and falls and hike around Lake Maratanza to High Point and then back along the other side of the lake. The first and last part of the hike around the lake are on paved road that is still used by maintenance and emergency vehicles. We passed the turn off to the ice caves and stopped by the shore of the lake. The water was high and I took a few shots before continuing around the end of the lake and picking up the High Point Trail. The trail was very wet with areas of standing water and others of deep mud. We worked our way around most of these as we approached the area where the trail starts to climb to the High Point plateau. Once on the plateau we followed the path and blazed trail toward High Point. We knew we had arrived when we saw the USGS survey marker. Actually, I have been here so many times that a marker was not needed. We took pictures and then reversed our path all the way back to the loop road around the lake. Rather than go back the way we had come, we turned right and continued around the lake to form a true loop back to the Conservation Center and the car.

On Tuesday, August 25th after hiking the Middleburgh Cliffs, Cindy and I headed back down Route 30 to Grand Gorge. We still had a little time so we turned right onto Route 23 and headed toward Prattsville to explore Pratt Rock. We parked in the small parking area just passed the kiosk and got going right away. We walked up to the kiosk and read about the history of the area and of the man who commissioned the art that we were about to see. Apparently the "artist" was an itinerant stone cutter who agreed to do the carvings for food and lodging. Mr. Pratt was a man of some means being a politician and the owner of one of the biggest tanneries in New York state. We walked through the park and the picnic area before taking a trail below the cliffs. It turned out that this trail revealed some of the art but not all of it so we backtracked and continued on the trail that seemed to go toward the top of the cliffs. After a steep but short hike, we arrived at and incredible viewpoint on and open flat rock outcrop at the top of the cliffs. The Schoharie Creek was below and the views down the valley were breathtaking. We took pictures from this point and then walked further on to find another lookout with a different but equally spectacular view.

Cindy decided to rest at this point while Sheba and I did some exploring. We walked up into the woods and along the cliff edge and found the trail that descended steeply down to the front part of the cliffs. We went a little farther and found a series of natural rock overhangs and caves. Some of these looked large enough to take shelter but none looked so large as to really enter. I did not want to leave Cindy for too long so we headed back down to where she was. We found another trail down to the face of the cliffs. On the cliffs are various carvings that have been painted in white to accentuate them. The paint looks old and I found it sad that such an unusual place was falling into disrepair. There was a hollow carved into the stone that Mr. Pratt had intended for his final resting place but the dampness prevented this. We took pictures of the carvings and I walked further along the base of the cliff to find more overhangs and the trail leading up to the cliffs above. When we were done, we followed the trail down to where it met the one we had used to come up and returned to our car.

On Tuesday, August 25th I thought it would be best to take advantage of the great weather on hike somewhere with a view. I had read about the Middleburgh Cliffs across the Schoharie Valley from Vroman's Nose and asked Cindy if she thought it sounded interesting. She was agreeable so we pack of the gear and the dog and headed to Roscoe to catch Route 206 to Route 30. About 2 hours later we were in Middleburgh. We parked at the school, walked across the street and down another side street into a small development. It was HOT for this area as we walked to the cliffs toward the back of the development. We found a woods road that started up the cliffs but seemed to go in the wrong direction. The banks were steep to climb but it was obvious where others had gone. The aqua blazes of the Long Path also headed up through this area so we did also. The initial climb was steep and the path little used making the hike seem like a bushwhack. Soon we were on more of a trail marked as the Long Path. We came across a high rocky outcrop which we thought might be impossible to climb. We began to realize that the trail went up and over this outcrop. It wasn't easy but we made it up and found Sheba waiting on top! There were some limited views from this area but the walking became easier on wide trail and woods road. The view opened up on one rocky outcrop to give a fabulous view of the Schoharie Plain below. Vroman's Nose was dramatic from this angle. When you hike up that feature, it is obvious that it is much higher than the surrounding plain but from the cliffs its prominence is that much more exaggerated! We continued along the edge of the cliff for some time grabbing views when we could. It became obvious that we were just getting further from the car without gaining any better views, so we reversed our route and headed back to the school.

On Monday, August 24th I had planned to go to Storm King State Park as I had not been there in some time. The weather was very hazy in the morning and I had some work to do so Sheba and I did not arrive at the Route 9W parking until noon. We got right on the trail and I took a few shots as we climbed the orange Butter Hill Trail although the haze was still hanging around. At .3 miles I chose to bear right on the yellow Stillman Trail, one of the main trails in the park. We continued our climbing up to the top of the Stillman Trail at about .4 miles and then descended to the junction with the blue and red Bluebird Trail at .6 miles. There aren't many views along this trail and the walk was difficult alternating between rocky sections and wet areas. There was a woods road along the way that goes to some ruins but I had visited them before and was not too impressed. At 1 mile we were again at a junction with the yellow Stillman Trail and turned right. This part of the trail enters some nice evergreen forest and begins to climb on the edge of the mountain. The trail is narrow and in one place a bridge is needed to cross a usually dry "gorge". As the trail climbed it headed toward the river and skirting the summit of Storm King Mountain and in doing so we had many nice views of the river below. The Stillman Trail continued to the summit of Storm King where there were some nice views to the north despite the hazy conditions. I took a lot of pictures here and then we retraced our path back down the Stillman Trail to the junction with the white Bypass Trail. The Bypass Trail descended until at about 2.4 miles it met the blue Howell Trail which headed south.

We headed down the Howell Trail into a low area called The Clove between the higher ground of Storm King on one side and North Point on the other. At 2.7 miles we hit the red Crossover Trail where we turned left. This trail is now unofficial and the blazes have been painted over but we took it anyway. At 3.0 miles we hit the white Stillman Spring Trail and headed left and continued to descend. The Stillman Spring Trail eventually brought us to Stillman Spring on the Storm King Highway. This would be our lowest point on the hike and represented an almost 1100 foot drop from Storm King. It was about 2:30 PM. At the spring we picked up the beginning of the blue Howell Trail which started the long climb we would have to make to North Point. At 3.6 miles we were at a nice lookout called Pitching Point and we walked out on a short spur trail so that I could take pictures. The Howell Trail continued to climb as it headed south and then southwest. The vegetation here is almost all hardwood with a lot of small trees and brush. There are also many open fields. The area around North Point has burned several times accounting for the ecology that is so evident. We hit the highest point on this part of the southern loop and then descended slightly before climbing to North Point. The area here is very open and there are intriguing views of the river, Pollepel Island and Storm King Highway as it winds its way around the mountain. I stopped to take a lot of pictures.

As we continued over the ridge, I was surprised to see at least half a dozen vultures sitting in the burned and skeletal trees at the top of the point. This was truly an eerie sight as the birds showed no sign of moving. We hurried across the open space and down to a wide woods road where the white Bobcat Trail joins from the lower parking area on 9W. We continued on the Howell Trail as it descended into The Clove passing the Stillman Trail at 5.4 miles and the crossover trail at 5.6 miles. By now I was getting tired and the hour was getting late. From this low point in the Clove, we had to gain almost 500 feet of elevation over the next .35 miles on the Howell Trail. This is not a very long distance and the elevation gain sounds minimal. On this day the 27% grade gave me all I could handle. At the top if the climb I decided to attempt to take the quickest way back to the car. We turned left on a "proposed" trail which seemed to be an extension of the Bypass Trail. There were only a few blazes but the wide road was easy to follow. on our right side were some really impressive cliffs that made up the foot of Storm King. As we approached 9W, we had to hike up a steep little grade to the parking area. The climb didn't bother me much since the car was near. What did bother me was the amount of garbage people had dumped in the area! We were back at the car by 4:45 PM covering our 6.5 mile hike in 4 hours and 45 minutes. This is a VERY slow time for us but a lot of it was dedicated to taking pictures and enjoying the view.

On Saturday, August 22nd we decided to take a family hike. For various reasons we settled on Trout and Mud Ponds; close to home, short (5 mile) distance, medium difficulty. Getting 6 people and 2 dogs ready to go meant that we didn't arrive at the upper trailhead on Morton Hill Toad until around 11:30 AM. Two cars ahead of us headed down the road to the lower parking area but I decided we would walk down the road as always. As soon as we got out of the car, it began to rain lightly and I thought it would continue. We headed down the road under cloudy skies and with rain still falling. We met a small group of young men with a dog by the upper campsite and said hello. When we got to the lower parking area, we were surprised to see it nearly filled with cars! I was not prepared for a crowd but figured most would be camping not hiking. On the walk down to the falls we met three people who looked like they had come to see the falls and were returning to their cars. I signed in the trail register and we headed up the wide road to Trout Pond. The walk went quickly as we talked and caught up.

At the pond the first thing I noticed was that some thoughtless idiot had destroyed the information panel at the outlet. I am still amazed when I find that people are so inconsiderate and have nothing better to do than destroy. The beaver dam at the outlet was gone and the lake level had dropped some. We stayed at the outlet a few minutes to take pictures and then headed up to the other end. No one was camped a the fire ring but the lower lean-to was occupied and we could hear people a the upper one. Someone was fishing along the lakeside and a few boats were on the lake. Crossing the inlet stream was easy and on the other side we met a few people coming down the trail. We started our ascent from the lake to Cherry Ridge. This part always seems longer than I remember and the climb is challenging in places. The trail was wet in some places and many of the rocks were slippery. Soon we had stopped going up and were walking flat and then down the other side of the ridge. After a short climb, the trail descends to the road and we turned left to get back to the trail junction by the trail register. The campsite by the stream was full and we met a few people hauling provisions to their camp. We stopped at Russell Brook Falls briefly and Kurt and Brad took a few pictures. There were a dozen people down in the stream bed so we stayed up on the trail overlooking the falls. After that, we got back on the road and hiked up to the car. We were back by about 1:30 PM which surprised me since I though we were going slower than that pace over the 5 mile distance.

On Friday, August 21st Kurt was visiting from Florida and we wanted to hike somewhere before a family gathering. It had been sprinkling and the weather was hot and humid when we left the house to go to Frick Pond. The weather prediction was for heavy thunderstorms so we knew that whatever we did it would have to be fast. After we parked at about 9:30 AM, we headed for Frick Pond. The trail had been trimmed but was wet in places. As we approached the pond, there were several VERY muddy spots and this theme would repeat itself many places along the way. A heavy haze hung over the pond and I so no reason to take any pictures. We crossed the bridge and headed around the other side of the pond. At the trail junction we decided to stay close to the pond and head for Times Square. The boardwalks around the pond were VERY slippery and we were careful to negotiate them and avoid falling. After working our way through some impossibly muddy areas, we were at Times Square.

From here we headed up the Big Rock Trail toward the Flynn Trail. This climb is always longer and a little steeper than I remember. The insects were very thick and even 100% DEET didn't seem to help. As we ascended to the Flynn Trail the insects thinned out. At the Flynn Trail we turned left and walked down to Hodge Pond. This is a nice downhill stretch. When we got to the pond, we were surprised to find that the Flynn Trail across the Hodge Pond outlet was flooded. beaver dam had raised the water level and made the trail nearly impassable. It might be possible to hike across the dam but we were headed up to the remains of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We took the road on the right of the pond and turned left at the top toward Beech and Mongaup Mountains. When the road split, we headed to the left and the old camp cabins appeared immediately. We took a quick look and then started back to the car.

We took the road back to the Flynn Trail and then turned left for the long walk back to the car. We passed the Big Rock Trail junction and headed down the Flynn Trail. Several times it sprinkled some but then stopped. However, the skies were getting darker and the rolls of thunder were becoming louder and closer. We increased our pace and soon I knew we were near then end of the trail. At the gate we went left to stay on the trail as the rain began to fall. We were back at the car by noon and quickly got in. We had covered a little over 5 miles in 2.5 hours. The rain was now constant and increased as we reached the Mongaup Pond Road. On the DeBruce Road home there was a constant downpour which nearly obscured the road.

On Wednesday, August 19th I turned onto Briscoe Mountain Road from Route 209 and headed north passed the PEEC. There was thunder rumbling in the sky but the PEEC had people going out into their pond in aluminum canoes! About two miles passed the PEEC the road crosses a small culvert over Hornbecks Creek and I parked in a small pullout just on the other side. Even though their was thunder and I was on a time schedule I decided to try to get these falls in. There was a path into the woods where the guidebook said it would be so I headed out on it with only my camera. The path quickly became a tangle of brush and briars but I am used to this and didn't think much of it. Soon the path disappeared and I headed toward the sound of water. I was high on a bank and could not see the creek below. I decided to return to the car BUT I did not have my GPS, compass or the sun to guide me and I was pretty turned around! I headed back in the direction I though was correct and several times came across what looked like the right path only to find it was not. I reflected on what a DUMB MOVE I had made but soon ran across a wide trail. When I turned right, I was back at the parking area. Since I had not been in the area before, I did not know that the path was closer to the culvert and was wide and well-traveled if unmarked. I decided that I could still hike to the falls and set off down the path.

The path runs along the creek with side paths that lead to each falls. The first falls was an 18 foot slide into a pool and was easy to photograph. The water looked all riled up from the recent rain. I walked back up to the main trail and through a grove a pine trees. The second and third falls were hard to photograph. There did not seem to be any clear views and I was hurried. I took some pictures through the trees of the 6 foot chute that is the second falls and the 20 foot cascade of the third falls. The creek runs through a gorge here at it may be possible to get to the other side for better views on another day. The final falls required me to walk a little-used path covered by ferns and briars. The stones on the path were slippery and the path was steep. Further down the dirt and small rocks were loose and it was hard to get a grips. The fourth falls is a wide 40 foot slide and cascade over rocks. It was difficult to get a good view of the entire falls from the shore so I rock hopped to an island in the middle of the creek. The angle from here was much better to get some shots. As the thunder started to become continuous and the rain began to fall, I quickly worked my way back up the steep incline and then back to the car as quickly as possible. The final count wasn't big on mileage but visiting 13 falls made up for that!

On Wednesday, August 19th I drove back down Lake road to Route 739 and then south to Route 209 at the Dingman's Ferry traffic light. From here I turned right onto Route 209 and drove south about 5.5 miles to a large parking area on the right side of the road. On the way I drove passed Briscoe Mountain Road where the Pennsylvania Environmental Education Center is located. I had only intended to "spot" these falls and then return another day but the rain had stopped and I decided to "investigate". I grabbed my camera and walked into the woods. I noticed a low stone building to the left of the trail. The stonework was in good condition and it was intriguing to guess whether this was a storehouse or some other vital part of a business that used the stream. The trail was VERY wet with small pools of water that had many small frogs in residence. I could hear the falls and then see them after only about a 15 minute walk. From the near shore the angle was poor so I worked by way across the swollen stream on the greasy rocks. The angle from midstream and the other bank was much better and I took some pictures of the whole scene and then focused in on some specific aspects of the 70 foot drop through a chute. This falls is interesting since the water comes from two places at the top, unites in one stream and then works its way through a clog of boulders.

There were a few peels of thunder as I worked my way back across the creek but the guidebook said the upper falls were nice to I approached the path up the near side of the lower falls. It was here that I wished I had at least brought my hiking poles. The unmarked, informal trail was very eroded with a lot of slippery rocks and roots. In addition, the dirt and small stones were loose making getting a footing very difficult. Once up the steepest part, I followed the path through some brush back down to the edge of the stream and ducked under a large blowdown. I was looking for a place to cross but the water was too high between the two falls, I could see the upper falls but knew the pictures from the other side would be much better. I removed my shoes and waded through the cold, knee-deep water to the other side. I walked to the pool at the base of the falls and took pictures as the water slide 30 feet over the rocks into the pool. Another trail went up the right side of the falls but I decided that the growing sound of thunder made this a trip for another day. I waded back across the stream and stuffed my wet feet into my socks and donned my boots. I made my way down the steep slope to the base of the lower falls and then walked back out to the parking area. Another hiker/photographer had just pulled in and we talked for a while. He was optimistic that the rain had stopped. I was less so. He suggested I check out Hornbecks Creek and the Indian Ladders, I told him I was going to make sure I knew where they were located and then hike them some other time. I drove back to Briscoe Mountain Road on Route 09 and turned left toward the PEEC.

On Wednesday, August 19th I walked back through the picnic area after the rain had all but stopped and down the steps to walk the path along the stream. After another up and down I was at the base of the last falls in the Childs Picnic Area, Deer Leap Falls. Here the water drops about 30 feet from a slot in the rocks above. It falls into a shallow, gravel lined pool below. I found several good angles for photographs including one from the bridge below the falls and the one above. After photographing this falls, I walked over the bridge to the other side to revisit Fulmer falls and then head to my next destination, Tumbling Waters Falls.

On Wednesday, August 19th I walked downstream to Fulmer Falls in the Childs Picnic Area as the clouds became even darker. My first pictures were from the top of the falls where a large volume of water squeezes through a chute and cascades into the pool below. The drop is almost 60 feet and has cut back the rocks noticeably creating interesting formations. From the top I walked along the path to the base of the falls to take pictures. I walked to the base of the falls where others were painting and taking pictures. I snapped some photos of the scene and then zoomed in on a few special features. As I was doing this the rain began to fall in earnest and I headed back to the car. I was annoyed since I still had one falls to go and the rain appeared to be serious. I waited in the car for a while an the rain almost stopped so I walked back out to take pictures. I crossed a bridge to the other side and was able to find another viewpoint of Fulmer Falls. the rain had cleared out most of the swimmers and I got some good pictures from this close up viewpoint.

On Wednesday, August 19th I turned south on Route 739 and headed toward Dingman's Ferry. I was looking for Lake Road on the right but could only find Silver Lake road. I continued to the traffic light at the junction with Route 209 and turned around to clock the mileage up the hill. After 1.2 miles, Silver Lake Road appeared on the left and I knew this was the correct turn. A drive of a little over 1.5 miles took me to the parking lot for the George Childs Picnic Area on the left side of the road. There were MANY cars parked in the lot despite the gathering storm. I found this area is a popular swimming and picnic area and also attracts painters and photographers. I walked down through the picnic area and then upstream on the near side of the creek. Just above Factory Falls is the remnants of a stone foundation or "factory". There were many swimmers above and below the falls and some were diving into uncertain waters. The falls is less than 20 feet high but, like all the others this day, had a good volume of water cascading over the rocks into the pool below. I took pictures from near the top and then moved down the slippery rocks to get a different angle. Near the bottom I edges between some painters and got some shots of the falls head on. I continued by walk down stream to Fulmer Falls.

On Wednesday, August 19th I drove up Raymondskill Road until it met SR 2001. I turned right here and drove .8 miles to a dirt road on the left. I turned in here and parked in the parking area for Hackers Falls. On the way in there was a beaver swamp on the right which sported many different plants and colorful flowers. Only one other car was in the lot but two others pulled in as I parked. I got started right away taking only my camera although the hike was almost a mile one way! The trail was just as the guidebook described it and after a bout .4 miles of flat walking I turned right down an obvious path. This path descended to the falls and was somewhat wet and buggy. When I arrived, there were three young people already there. The falls dropped only about 8 feet as a good volume of water ran over the rocks to the pool below. I took some pictures and then started to work my way downstream. As I was about to garb a small tree for balance, a young girl suggested that I watch where I put my hand! There on the tree was a rather large spider. Downstream was pretty with some high gorge walls as the Raymondskill heads toward its more famous drop at Raymondskill Falls. As I walked back up the trail, I decided to take a path to the top of the falls. From the top I took some pictures and got a better idea of the volume and power of these falls. As I walked back to the car four or five groups of people passed me headed for the falls. Apparently these falls are a local swimming hole and I had just missed the afternoon rush. I drove back out the entrance and turned left on SR 2001. I passed Raymondskill Road and started to look for Long Meadow Road which would take me to Adams Falls. Soon the road came up on the left and I turned. The road was paved for a short distance and then turned to dirt. At around .9 miles the road made a sharp turn to the left and there was a parking area on the left. After looking at the description of the hike, I decided to leave it for a later trip. The hike was about 2.5 miles and leads to the Sproul estate and the falls. A wheel that generated electrical energy is located by the falls. I decided to head back to SR 2001 and go south on Route 739 to find Lake road and the Childs Picnic Area and its three falls! The skies continued to get grayer and occasional thunder could be heard.

On Wednesday, August 19th I drove back through Milford from the Grey Towers and headed south on Route 209 watching for Raymondskill Road and the sign for Raymondskill Falls on the right. It wasn't too long before the turn appeared on I was on the road to the falls. After about .7 miles a parking area appeared on the left and I pulled in. Another parking area and a building with bathrooms is just up the road on the left. I took my camera and started to walk down the path toward the falls. The path was not long but dropped about 85 feet. A trail came in from the left and shortly after one came in from the right. The second trail led up to the visitors center and I decided to investigate the other on the way back. The trail was wet and the stone were slippery in some places. The walk to the falls was short and I was soon at the lower viewing platform. There was plenty of water flowing over the falls which have a total drop of 180 feet. The water flows through a narrow slot a the top of the falls and then cascades into a pool below. To the right of the main falls was a smaller but very pretty horsetail falls from a tributary. After taking many pictures, I walked back up to the path that led down and away from the bathrooms.

The trail led downward and was not too steep at first. The trail began to get steeper and had several switchbacks. Along the way there were two small falls. The trail led down to the Raymondskill to what appeared to be a swimming hole. I tried to work my way along the banks back to the falls but it was too much work for this day. I got back on the path and retraced my steps until I found a path to the visitor center. From here I crossed the parking lot and walked down the path to the top of the falls. There is a nice pool here and, despite the signs, several people were swimming. I took some pictures down the falls to the plunge pool below and then walked back to the car. I was already impressed with the diversity I had seen in waterfalls! I continued up Raymondskill Road in search of the turn to Hackers Falls.

On Wednesday, August 19th I left Shohola Falls and headed back into Milford to go to the Grey Towers Historical site and Pinchot Falls. Gifford Pinchot was the person responsible for developing the idea of the National Forestry Service and had built the mansion and given his name to the falls. The falls are on the private property of his heirs and have now been closed due to inconsiderate visitors. I found this out by walking up to the mansion and asking the National Parks Service officer stationed there. I decided I would not go through the mansion but I did take pictures of the buildings and grounds. The main house is small but beautiful with two gray turrets on either side of the main entrance. I walked to the top of the gray turreted building that is just off the parking area. From here I took pictures of the hills and valleys below. I will return sometime when I can bring Cindy. I would also like to get permission from the Pinchot heirs to visit the falls. I left the Grey Towers and headed for Raymondskill Falls, the highest falls in Pennsylvania.

On Wednesday, August 19th I was due to pick up Kurt From Stewart Airport at 7:00 PM. Cross country practice ended at 10:00 AM and I immediately headed for the Delaware Water Gap to visit as many falls as possible. The guidebook I used was Pennsylvania Waterfalls by Scott E. Brown, The book is a GREAT guide giving accurate directions to all the falls, information about the hike to them, a description of the falls and photography tips! I decided to get Shohola Falls first. I took Route 42 from Monticello to Port Jervis and then took Route 209 over the river to Milford. In Milford I turned right onto Route 6 West to the I-84 interchange. From here I followed the directions in the book traveling 8.5 miles to a left hand turn just before Shohola Lake. A left at the Shohola Inn and then a right into the parking area and I was there. I could here the falls from the parking lot and knew it was only a short walk so I took only my camera and walked toward the falls. The water was quite high and the falls were flowing at close to full volume. From the first viewpoint I could see down the creek and took some pictures of the falls from that angle. A path worked its way beside the creek but the rocks were slick from the spray and recent rains. I went anyway. The pool at the bottom was large and there was an accumulation of thick foam. I could see a curved rock wall on the other side which was another viewpoint. The falls have a drop of about to feet and are probably that wide at their widest point. I went as far as I dared and then started taking pictures of the falls. This was an excellent vantage point. I worked my way back up the path to take a look at the dam and then walked back to the car to drive to the Pinchot Falls near the Grey Towers mansion in Milford.

On Tuesday, August 18th I wanted to do a hike near home with some distance or difficulty or both. The weather report called for afternoon showers but I had plenty of time to get something in. I decided to head for Lost Clove to hike Belleayre Mountain. I got Sheba in the car with my gear and we headed down the DeBruce Road and arrived a the parking area at the end of Lost Clove Road at about 12:00 PM. No on else was parked so I knew we would have a good part of the hike to ourselves. We started right in as there is no trail register on this trail. Sheba was out like a shot well ahead on me as we had not hiked for two days. This is probably because the first mile is an easement on private property. I remembered that the first part of the hike was steep but had forgotten how steep. For a good part of the first mile the trail simply goes UP with only short level parts to recover. To make things more difficult the trail has many loose stones. This day there were several wet spots and a large number of vicious, biting insects! The temperature was in the 80's with a humidity to match.

After about a mile the trail meets the Pine Hill West Branch Trail. My original plan had been to descend this trail into Pine Hill and then to ascend the Cathedral Glen Trail. Since the skies were beginning to cloud over, I opted to continue to the ski slopes to get some pictures and then perhaps descend the Cathedral Glen Trail. We hiked Up some more passing the first lean-to on the trail and arrived at the "summit" of Belleayre Mountain. A USGS marker to the left of the trail on a expanse of bedrock in an open field marks this spot. We continued on the Belleayre Ridge Trail toward the ski slopes. Soon we passed the turn for the Cathedral Glen Trail and the other lean-to just off the double black diamond Cathedral Brook run. The trail all along the way had been cut and trimmed wide and there were no prickers or nettles to catch the unwary hiker.

Soon we were in the area of the ski lodge and main lifts. I could see that many of the views were hazy. It was hot and humid and the skies were still overcast and threatening. I decided to walk to the extreme end of the ridge and then work back taking some pictures. The walk along the ridge through the ski area is almost a mile. The view from the last run is minimal but some better views became available from some of the other runs. Despite the haze I took a few pictures as we walked down some of the runs to get unobstructed views. We walked over to the other side of the lodge to get a view of Balsam and then retraced our steps across the ski area and then to the junction with the Cathedral Glen Trail. I was unsure of whether hiking this trail was a good idea but decided to give it a try. We turned onto the trail and I could immediately see that it was little used and poorly maintained. It was hard even to spot the trail and the blue markers were few and far between. Untrimmed vegetation hung over the trail hiding the numerous rocks and roots. After only a short distance, I decided to return to this trail at a point when we could hike up the trail and had more time to do so. Back on the main trail we made good time until we reached the steepest part in the last mile. As always, if climbing this kind of trail is difficult, descending is worse. As we neared the end we met a group of 4 or 5 young men doing a loop over Belleayre, Balsam and Eagle. They weren't exact sure where they were going and asked about sources of water. I said that they were spotty at best, wished them luck and continued down the trail. We arrived back just before 4:00 PM covering nearly 7 miles in under 4 hours. I was soaked in sweat and felt that I had exerted myself sufficiently.

On Saturday, August 15th Cindy and I finished Dingman's Falls quickly and then headed for Buttermilk Falls across the river in New Jersey. We went across the "historic" Dingman's Ferry Bridge. The bridge is old and not quite two lanes wide! The toll is taken by a person standing on the yellow line! Across the bridge we took Route 560 to Route 640 and then NPS 615 at the Peters Craft Village. In Walpack Center we turned left and right after a short distance on an unmarked road we hoped was Mountain Road. We got it right and continued our slow drive along the rough unpaved road until a parking area on our right and a falls on our left signaled we had arrived at Buttermilk Falls at around 11:00 AM. The falls were high but only a trickle of water cascaded down the rock face. We got out our full hiking gear AND Sheba and started toward the falls. We took some pictures at the base and then started up the steep stairs and pathways next to the falls. The pathways wound back and forth to make the going easier. Sheba did not like the open steps but seemed to make it up OK. We stopped at the viewing platform part way up but there wasn't much to see. I took some pictures from the platform at the top. We then crossed the bridge and started up the blue trail toward the stop of the ridge.

The trail here was almost as steep as the stairs but badly eroded. We worked our way up until the trail leveled off. This happened several times until we broke out into an open area with many dead tress. This area seemed to have been burned over and the direct sunlight made everything much hotter. We walked quickly through this area. The air temperature was in the 80's and the relative humidity was just as high. After about .8 mile, Cindy was looking for a break. When we met the Woods trail we headed right toward Hemlock Lake along a wide woods road. This trail was relatively flat with a few muddy areas. At one point we crossed the outlet from a swampy area created where beavers had dammed the water. We took a break here on the west side of the lake. We opted to turn left and follow a woods road along the eastern shore. As the road pulled away from the lake, I walked down and took a few pictures. back on the road we walked just a short distance and turned left onto the orange trail. This trail began a .7 mile ascent toward the ridge and Crater Lake.

Near the top of the ridge the orange trail crossed the white blazed AT. We continued straight ahead following the orange trail and a series of woods roads down to the shore of the lake. There were quite a few people at the lake and we talked to one man. He explained that the lake was formed by a meteor impact in 1853. I have yet to confirm his story but the lake is less than 20 feet deep. There is a road on the other side that allows access to the lake. We took a few pictures and then returned to the AT and headed northeast. The trail started out fairly level and then began a long, shallow ascent. Along the way we could catch glimpses of the valleys and mountains beyond but could not take pictures. The open rock face and stunted pines reminded us a lot of Minnewaska or Schunemunk. Along the way we three young men came walking toward us with their dog, a boxer. All four were through hikers on the AT headed south for Georgia. They had started June 8th at Katadhin. We talked for a minute and as we parted Cindy, looking ahead, yelled "Buck!" I spun around to see a rather large deer run into the forest. His coat was very light but he was sporting at least six point.

In less than a mile we were at the turn for the blue Buttermilk falls Trail back to the parking area. The top part of this trail was VERY steep and part way down we had to negotiated several open and steep rock faces. A little further on was the best view we had yet into the river valley and out across the hills. We paused for a moment to take pictures and then continued on down the hill. In about .5 miles we were back at the Woods trail and this time we crossed it and started to retrace our path to the car. Once at the base of the falls, we decided to go down the road to try and find Hidden Falls. Although not as high as Buttermilk Falls these falls have a drop rather than just a cascade over rock. I estimated the distance to be about .5 miles and sure enough at about that distance there was a pull off on the right side of the road and a faint trail leading off into the woods. We took only our cameras and headed down the path. From the maps I remembered that we should take the left fork each time the trail split. We crossed a small creek and could hear the falls ahead. The trail walked along the creek and then ascended slightly. I edged my way along the path until I was standing almost in the creek bed to take pictures of the falls. I then worked my way up the steep, eroded path to the top of the falls and then lowered myself down the embankment. I was now standing at the top of the falls looking over the edge and up the creek. After a few more pictures, we headed back to the car arriving at 3:30 PM. We had covered a total of 6.5 miles in 4.5 hours with a lot of time for pictures!

On Saturday, August 15th Cindy and I decided to visit the Delaware Water Gap National Park for the first time. By going to Monticello, then Port Jervis and raking Route 209 South the trip would take only about 1.5 hours. We tried to get started early but, as always, didn't execute our plan too well! This wasn't all bad since a persistent haze hung over the landscape and even got a little worse as we crossed into Pennsylvania. Finding the turnoff to Dingman's Falls was easy and the road was good leading directly to a nice visitor's center with boardwalks leading to the falls. We arrived at just after 9:30 AM. As we got out of the car I noticed a sign that stated "NO DOGS!". This was news to me since all the guidebooks stated dogs on leashes were permitted. I checked in the visitor's center and they confirmed the ban on canines at Dingman's Falls AND Childs Park to the north. We almost got in the car and left but decided to take a quick run to the falls.

We took only our cameras as we quickly walked down the boardwalks to the first falls called Silver Thread Falls. I had just gotten a new Kodak z980 camera and was eager to try it out. This model doubled both the megapixels and the zoom. It also has image stabilization, a wide angle lens, a burst mode and takes videos in HD. I am still getting accustomed to all the settings but the pictures on automatic mode look GREAT! It was pretty and we took some pictures but I couldn't help fume about the lack of Sheba. The walkways made walking easy and soon we were at the platform that overlooks the base of Dingman's Falls. The amount of water and spray was impressive especially compared to the trickles I had seen in New Jersey earlier in the week. After taking some pictures, we started up the stairs that lead to the top of the falls. This is a steep climb and the stairs are often wet and slippery. The walkway crosses a small tributary stream and the heads of the side of the falls which would be nearly impossible without the steps. On the way up a platform overlooks the falls and another is placed at the top. We took pictures from these and then I continued up an "informal" path to an area above the falls. It was quite beautiful and I edged my way down to the creek to take some pictures upstream and downstream. I didn't waste too much time getting back to Cindy and then we both hurried back to the car. Sheba was glad to see us as we pulled away to head for Buttermilk Falls an a real hiking adventure.

On Friday, August 14th I wanted to get some exercise after finishing summer school grading early. I knew that I would be hiking with my wife on Saturday so I wanted a long hike. I decided to hike from Long Pond on Flugertown Road to Mongaup Pond and back using the hiking and snowmobile trails to create a big loop. I had done this hike only once before and wanted to see if I could improve my time. Sheba and I got to the little pull off near the trail head at about 12:45 PM. The temp was in the low 80's but the relative humidity was about the same! There were also a lot of biting insects around and the trail appeared to be pretty wet. I knew the hike was pretty long but had forgotten the exact length! From the road we took the red blazed Long Pond Beaverkill Ridge Trail north. This trail runs in conjunction with the yellow Mongaup Willowemoc Trail and a snowmobile trail for the first .4 miles and then continues through the woods on its own due north. The first part of the trail was wide and well maintained and even after turning into the woods the trail was well kept, for a while. We started to ascend slightly and passed through a wet area. The trail here was barely visible and overgrown with nettles! As we started to ascend and the trail dried out some the prickers started in. For a moment I thought I was in Delaware County.

After about 1.25 miles, we had ascended to near the top of the ridge and the trail started to level some although we were still going up. At 2.4 miles we were near the Sand Pond high point and the junction with the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail. We turned left on this blue blazed trail and headed west. Along the way there were some places with narrow viewpoints but I kept my camera in my pack and hustled along the trail. In about .6 miles we were at the top of East Mongaup and were starting to descend into the Col between East and Middle Mongaup Mountains. The climb up Middle Mongaup is not insignificant but the trail is good and in another mile we were at the top. I began to see boot prints on the people who stay at the campgrounds and climb up to this mountain. The trail was muddy in places but not too bad. Next it was down the other side of Middle Mongaup to the pond as the trail turns southwest and then due south. This is initially a pretty good descent followed by a flatter walk approaching the pond. In 1.3 miles or so we were at the pond and we made a left onto the snowmobile trail that goes around the pond. This trail was VERY muddy with few dry places and deep pits of OOZE! After about .5 miles of that the yellow Mongaup Willowemoc Trail appeared on the left and we turned onto it and headed southeast. This is also a snowmobile trail so it is wide and easy to walk. Unfortunately, it also had MANY wet and muddy areas. After a climb over a small hill, we descended to Butternut Creek which is the outlet to Sand Pond. I have never been to Sand Pond but by the amount of water flowing down the creek it must be fairly large!

We walked along the creek for a while continuing to head southeast until the trail swung first east and then northeast to meet the Long Pond Beaverkill Ridge Trail after about a mile. We went right and hiked the .4 miles back to the car. We were back around 4:00 PM having taken a little over 4 hours to hike the 9.3 mile loop and tackle over 200 feet of elevation gain AND loss. No pictures were taken and there weren't many memorable moments but the hike was what I wanted what I wanted and I had a feeling of accomplishment.

On Wednesday, August 12th I was looking for a longer hike in a new area. I have been interested in the northern New Jersey Highlands for some time and just picked up a book that describes some hikes in that area. I also looked on trails.com and decided to go to the Norvin Green State Forest. This undeveloped land in only a few minutes from the Long Pond Ironworks but almost a two hour drive from Livingston Manor. The information I had mentioned two iron mines, several falls, and a couple of good lookouts. Unfortunately, the weather prediction had changed from Tuesday night and not for the better. Still, with partly sunny conditions until the afternoon I decided to give it a try. Sheba and I left Livingston Manor at 6:45 AM and headed down Route 17 to the Florida exit. I wanted to get to the Weis Ecology Center when it opened at 8:30 AM to get a map since the Trail Conference has still not sent me the Northern New Jersey set I ordered in May! From Here we took Routes 94 and 17A through Florida and Warwick to Greenwood Lake. In Greenwood Lake I took Route 210 south to the Warwick Turnpike where I turned left toward the Long Pond Iron Works. After the Ironworks, I watched for Stonehouse Road on the left and was surprised to see that this road crosses over the dam for the Monksville Reservoir. After a right turn on Westbrook Road and a left onto Snake Den Road, we arrived at the Weis Center by 8:40 AM to find...it closed. The new hours had it opening at 9:00 AM. One employee seemed too busy with a kid's field trip to talk to me but she did give me a map. Just as I was about to leave another employee arrived and graciously opened the Center early. I had questions about the trails especially since some trails I had wanted to use had been recently closed by the property owner. The woman at the Center was pleasant enough but seemed unable to help me get started.

I put Sheba on her lead and we walked out the driveway of the Center and turned left. After a few minutes, I realized we should have turned right and we retraced our steps and were finally on the trail. The problem with the trails is that there are quite a few and many run together in different places. All are well marked with paint blazes and some even have signs pointing to attractions. The problem is that the map is barely adequate, some trails have changed and I was new to the area. As we walked, we passed by the Highlands Pool. The pool is a natural pool that has been developed for use by adding a fence, a cement apron and a lifeguard. Soon we were walking beside and nearly dry stream and through a hardwood forest. The bridge we walked over was hardly needed since everything was so dry! At a trail kiosk Sheba and I got on a yellow trail which I hoped would take use toward the mines. Along the way we came to Wyanokie Falls. These falls were almost try with barely a trickle of water going over them! We continued on the yellow trail until a new orange blazed trail went off to the left. I decided that was the way to go and we stayed on this trail even when another yellow trail branched off. Soon we were walking up what looked like an old reinforced mine road which led directly to the Roomy Mine.

The Roomy Mine can be entered through a low and narrow opening but signs warn against it because of the white nose disease that is decimating the bat population. I took some pictures from outside the entrance and then walked up the hill to a shaft that looked down into the mine. This shaft was very wide and open. I decided there would be not bats in this first "anteroom" so I returned to the entrance and crawled into the first chamber. The chamber was large and dark despite the light coming in from the shaft. I took some pictures and noticed that the tunnel continued through a low and narrow opening. I had no intention of entering this part of the mine! I went back out and followed the orange trail until its junction with a red and yellow trail. We turned left or south and started to walk toward what I hoped would be the Highlands Trail and the Blue Mine. After a short walk and one wrong turn, we were at a bridge over Blue Mine Brook at the Junction with the Highlands Trail. I could see what I though was the mine entrance just down a side path but decided to walk up into the woods to explore further. We walked into the woods and I realized I was walking over some of the largest tailing dumps I had ever seen. I expected to find other working farther up the hill but none were evident. We slid down one pile to a path which led back to the mine entrance. On the way down I noticed some great sample of iron pyrite! The Blue Mine is completed flooded and it was impossible to see much in the dark opening. I took a few pictures before returning to the Highlands Trail which ran concurrently with the red WCI Trail

We stayed on the trail we were on passing junctions with the yellow Mine Trail and the white Lower Trail. Soon we were climbing a short but steep stretch of trail toward the Wyanokie High Point. The information I had said this was a bald half dome with 360 degree views. Soon we left a see of goldenrod and started to climb over bare rock. The skies at this point were completely clouded over and a particularly large and black cloud was directly over us! On the way up to the highest point a nice viewpoint offered and unobstructed view of the Wanaque Reservoir. I decided to get to the top and see if the descriptions were correct. I was not disappointed with the view except for the cloudy skies and haze still hanging around. The view was indeed 360 degrees with some directions more interesting than the others. I took many pictures of the surrounding views and the High Point itself. I went back down to the other viewpoint and took pictures of the reservoir. As I walked back to the top, a light rain began to fall, I was so hot it actually felt pleasant. The air temperature was in the mid 80's but the high humidity made it feel much warmer, I was soaked in sweat and very uncomfortable. I also was concerned that the rain would make the rock here and in other places along the trail too slippery. Sheba and I continued on the Highlands Trail as it now ran along with the blue Hewitt-Butler Trail.

The descent from the High Point was pretty dramatic but not too difficult and the rain was barely a sprinkle was we walked under the forest canopy. After a brief descent and flat section, we began to climb again to another high area called Yoo-Hoo Point. I suspect it got its name from its close proximity to the High point. It is close enough to yell a greeting to someone standing there! I took a few pictures and then started to descend down the other side. At the junction with the yellow Carris Hill Trail, we turned to the left to follow this trail. I wanted to get another view from Carris Hill and descend to Posts Brook for a look at Chikahoki Falls! Carris Hill was another ascent part of which was over bare rock. After the ascent the trail flattened out and opened up onto an area of bare rock with some trees and a large glacial erratic. The views to the south were OK but the skies were still cloudy and a few sprinkles were coming down, As we descended the hill, a few views opened up but I didn't feel like stopping to get the camera out. The trail didn't seem well used and was hard to follow in some areas. The descent was steep in some parts until it cut to the right across some open rock. The trail actually continued behind this large rock outcrop. I walked out onto the rock and got one of the best views of the day. The Wanaque Reservoir was just below with a dam clearly visible. There were also some nice islands and arms of land jutting out into the water. Some nice low hills also made for some great pictures. After taking my photographs, Sheba and I walked behind the rock and continued our descent toward the Posts Brook Trail. Soon we were on the trail and walking along the nearly dry brook toward Chikahoki Falls.

The white trail followed closely along the brook until it reached a small pool. A small amount of water running over a large rock outcrop signaled we were at the falls. This was a HUGE disappointment as the guidebook had mentioned crashing water, difficult crossings and frothy pools. We walked up the white trail beside the falls and I took a few pictures of some of the other cascades. None of these had much water and I wondered if the would be interesting even in the spring! At this point I decided to deviate from the route in the book and continue on the Highlands and Hewitt-Butler Trails to Otter Hole. This is another waterfall mentioned in some books. Along the way we met the only other people we would see on the trails this day. They described Otter Hole as not very impressive but I decided to go there anyway and then take the Otter Hole Trail back to the car. When we arrived at the green Otter Hole Trail, we continued down the blue trail to the Otter Hole. The other hikers were right! This was not much of a falls either. A few pictures later we were back on the Otter Hole Trail headed north. There were a few lookouts along the way but none had much of a view. As we walked the sun seemed to come out but I could not really see the skies. I had two opportunities to turn east and walk back up to the High Point. I decided against that since I figured by the time we arrived the skies would again be cloudy. After some small ascents and descents, we were back at the trail and soon were passing the Highlands Pool. We were back at the car by a little after 2:00 PM. We had covered what turned out to be a little over 8 miles in 5 hours. The hike described on trails.com was actually a shorter route but was advertised at 9.3 miles. I know my GPS can be stingy but my computer software is usually accurate. After stopping at the center to get a fresh map and changing my shirt, I started the long drive home.

On Tuesday, August 11th Cindy and I wanted a short hike for the exercise. We agreed that Huggins Lake was close and we could go to Split Rock Lookout afterward if we wanted to. We arrived at the parking area at about 1:00 PM and this time I drove up the road to park in the parking area. We got right on the trail and started the hike. The trail was a lot wetter this time with some muddy spots and places where water was running down the trail. Other areas showed evidence that a LOT of water had run down the trail, probably during the last downpour. As we hiked, I remarked to Cindy that the hike seemed more uphill than last time. Soon we were At the lake and it was obvious that the water level was higher than last time. We walked to the dam and took some pictures before retracing our steps back to the woods road. Walking back up from the shore is a good uphill but after that the hiking is all downhill back to the parking area. We were back at 3:00 PM having had a good 4 mile workout!

On Saturday, August 8th Cindy and I wanted to hike somewhere where we had not been before. Our preference was for a relatively flat hike with some points of interest. I suggested exploring some mines in Fahnestock Park in Putnam County. I had read descriptions of the various mines and had worked out a route that would take us to the Denny, Hamilton and Sunk Mines in one loop. We could then decide whether or not to drive to another section of the park to inspect other mines. We got started around 9:00 AM and arrived at the parking area near Sunk Mine Road by 10:30 AM. I chose the faster route this time going down Route 17 and the taking 17K to avoid the construction near Middletown. We hopped on Interstate 84 and then went south on Route 9 after crossing the Hudson River on the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. After a few more turns, we were there! We started our walk by heading up Sunk Mine Road which is seasonal and very pretty. As we walked a car passed us and then parked in a little pullout. The occupants were going to walk the road to one of the numerous ponds in the area. They knew a little about the mines and we talked to them as we walked.

After a short walk on the road, it seemed like it was time to dive into the woods and head up the hill to try to find the Denny Mine. I didn't have too much information so I just picked a spot and walked off the road. Unfortunately, the spot I picked was thick with laurel and the going was tough! Fortunately, this didn't last too long and we broke out into open forest at the top of the hill. We walked along some paths and wandered around looking for the mine. There were some likely places but they didn't pan out. It didn't help that I wasn't sure whether we were looking for pits, trenches or a mine shaft. As we reached the end of the summit and started to descend, we doubled back and hiked to the top again. This time I walked off the eastern slope of the hill where there were some additional paths. Walking south revealed nothing but on the way north I noticed a tailing pile covered by leaves and brush. I followed this pile to a pit which is the only evidence we found of the Denny Mine. Not too much information is available so I don't know if there is more to this mine but I will be going back to find out! We walked off the hill and were soon at the road.

We walked down the road and passed a beautiful pond covered in lily pads and stopped to take pictures. After this we searched for an unmaintained trail or path on the left of the road near a small brook. The Hamilton Mine would be near the start of this trail which would eventually lead to the rather extensive Sunk Mine. We found what looked like a path but it was blocked by a large, fallen tree. We decided to take it anyway and we immediately noticed "rusted rocks" which must have come from a mine. The Hamilton Mine was marked on my maps at the top of the hill to the right of this path. I was going to head up the hill but we stayed on the path and soon extensive workings appeared on the right. The Hamilton Mine consisted of several connected trenches at least 400 feet long. They worked their way along the ore vein and up the hill. Various drill marks were visible as were some rail tracks in the cuts. I took many pictures before we moved on. We did not go further up the hill but may do that next time. This mine also is not well documented so it is hard to know how much to expect.

Next, it was on to the Sunk Mine which IS well documented and had extensive working above and below ground. At least one shaft has collapsed but one large adit remains with two or three other tunnels. We weren't sure of the exact location but knew it couldn't be too far up the road. We walked along the ridge looking for tailings or any other evidence of mining. Several areas looked promising including one that look like a collapsed tunnel but that was all. We decided to find the blue trail and walk back along it before cutting up to the ridge to try again. As we walked it was clear that cutting over to the ridge would not be too easy as the trail was lined with thick laurel and there was quite a "dip" between the trail and the ridge. We finally left the trail, fought through the laurel, made our way down and up from the dip and back up to the ridge. We remembered that when we had gotten to one promising spot we had gone left but not explored to the right or on the east side of the ride. This time we headed in that direction.

On the east side of a large outcropping was a steep, eroded path leading down to several lone and wide trenches. The way down was NOT easy but there seemed like no other access. I worked my way down this incline while Cindy chose to stay on top. I didn't blame her. Once at the lip of the more southern trench I could see the opening to what is now the main entrance to the mine. I edged my way along a ledge and then jumped down into the trench and walked down to the entrance. It was large perhaps 30 feet wide and 20 feet high and extend back into the mountain. At the back was a crack with several boards across it. What I didn't realize that this "crack" is large enough to walk through and leads to more underground tunnels and a deep shaft. For a complete description including other tunnels and GREAT pictures go to IronMiners.com. I took pictures of the trenches and the mine opening and walked along the trench to see how far it extended. After coming up out of the first trench I worked my way back north to look at another trench. This one was just as long but I did not see any opening. To get better pictures I went back up the path and walked north along the edge of the cliff to the end of the trench. I let myself down over a rock ledge and approached the lip of the trench. There was a narrow path down into the trench but a deep opening into the ground was on the left. I edged along the path and down into the trench. I took pictures of the trench and the opening as best I could. Cindy was getting impatient so I returned to the point where she was and we walked the old road out to Sunk Mine Road and back to the car. By the time we got to that car it was already 2:30 PM. We had covered only 4 miles but had a good time exploring. We decided to call it quits for the day. I know I will return to explore the other mines. After going on IronMiners.com and researching a little more on the internet it seems there is much more to see a the Sunk Mine!

On Friday, August 7th I had hiked Silver Hollow from Notch in Road in the morning and wanted to get Olderbark done. I decided to hike Olderbark from Mink Hollow Road rather than from the Warners Creek Trail junction. I drove back down Rt 214 into Phoenicia and then took Old Rt 28 or Rt 40 toward Mt. Tremper. I turned left on Rt 212 and drove for quite a while until Mink Hollow road appeared on the left. The drive was beautiful and much was along the Esopus Creek. Mink Hollow Road was paved all the way to the dead end where there was a large parking area with a few cars. I parked the car and took a bearing noting that Olderbark was to the northwest. I also noted that the contour lines were VERY close together especially nearer the top of the mountain. The road actually ran a little farther than the parking area in a private inholding. The Mink Hollow Trail also started here and headed northeast. We got going almost immediately by walking up a steep bank and onto...a nice woods road. This road continued on in about the right direction and turned into a path across a field before re-entering the woods. The road started again in the woods and was easy to follow with only a few blowdowns. The road branched at points and I made my decision based on the direction each branch took. After several turns we seemed to be going up the mountain, Several times the road seemed to give out and turn to trail and then widen again.

After a little more than a mile of relatively gentle ascent, the road flattened out and became damp. With the dampness came a dense growth of nettles. I know that the Delaware peaks get a bad reputation for briars during the summer but I find I can more easily beat those aside. I cannot tolerate the nettles! The road actually started to descend and head too much to the west. I decided this was a good time to turn UP the mountain. At first Sheba and I could pick out paths and drainages and things were tough but manageable. The last .3 miles was some of the MOST DIFFICULT hiking I have done this summer. This route was very steep on offered only a few open areas. It was not the densest stuff I have hiked through but the gradient made it very challenging. Without Sheba I probably would have given up but she kept on plugging up the mountain picking the best route she could find. I did not run into any real cliffs or ledges to speak of. After what seemed like forever we were on the relatively flat top. It was difficult to see anything in the thick trees and brush. I headed for the placed mark on the GPS map. This was not exactly the coordinates of the highest spot that I had so I tried to hit that latitude and longitude as well. This spot seemed much lower than where I had been so I decided to claim victory and head back.

I asked Sheba to kindly lead the way and followed her as she retraced the EXACT path we had taken up the mountain. Going down was quicker than coming up. Too quick in more than one place. This descent reinforced my feeling that I going up a steep climb is safer than going down one. Soon we were back on the road with the nettles and it was a simple matter of following the road back to the car. As we walked down the trail I realized that I felt GREAT! There are few better feelings than setting a difficult goal and meeting the challenge. We were back at the car at 4:15 PM. We had covered a little over 3 miles in 3 hours. This seems slow but you won't understand until you do the hike!

On Friday, August 7th I was ready to take on a few more of the CHH peaks. I decided to try and finish some of those peaks still remaining in the Catskill park and chose to head for Silver Hollow and Olderbark. I had asked for some direction from someone who had completed these but got none so I was on my own. I decided to do Silver Hollow first from Notch Inn Road and then try to figure out how to approach Olderbark later. Sheba and I arrived at the parking area on Notch Inn Road at about 10:15 AM and took little time to get started. We headed up the old woods road toward the blue trail. I had been up this way before but only to hike the extension of the Warners Creek Trail that now goes up Plateau Mountain. The Long Path markings had been "removed" and the trail was now marked with yellow discs. This trail does not appear on either the Trail Conference maps or the Venture Out map. The trail actually leaves the road in places where it has become too eroded. I was glad since there was a fair amount of water running down the road and a good crop of nettles. Within only 15 minutes we were at the junction with the Warners Creek trail and turned right and started up to Silver Hollow.

The first part of the trail was a little steep but fairly well cut out. There was some evidence that others had walked the trail recently, at least within the last few days. After only about .7 miles we hit the flattened top of the Silver Hollow Ridge. Along the way a few views of Plateau, Olderbark and Little Rocky peeked through the trees but nothing that would allow a good photograph. Once on the top we walked until we hit the point marked on my GPS which was close to the latitude and Longitude posted for the highest point. Just to be sure we continued to walk to the next bump which seemed to me to actually drop more than go up. Once we really started to descend, we turned around and headed back the way we had come. I had an urge to simply drop down off Silver Hollow and head for Olderbark but a large tract of private land is in the way. Once back at the trail junction, I started to follow a route outlined by Tom Rankin. I intended to stay along the 2500 foot contour and then head down to Warners Creek and then up Olderbark. As I started the woods were wet and I could get no visual on where I was going. I also was not sure I could cross Warners Creek which was almost a mile away. I decided to return to the car and tackle Olderbark from Mink Hollow. We were back at the car by 12:30 PM finishing the 3.5 miles in a little over 2 hours. We got in the car and headed for Mink Hollow Road and Olderbark. If I had only known what awaited me!

On Thursday, August 6th I wanted to take a quick hike after summer school. In addition, a new hiker, Patrick, had called me the night before and asked if he could tag along. I decided to visit Trout Pond since it was a short hike with several points of interest for a new hiker. I pick Patrick up at his house and we were at the parking area on Morton Hill Road by 1:00 PM. I always like to park at the top of Russell Brook Road and hike down to the lower parking area, The walk along the road is interesting especially with the brook running high. I pointed out the falls as we passed and told Patrick we would stop on the way back. I signed in at the register and we headed up the trail/road to Trout Pond. The walk seemed to go very quickly as we talked and hiked along and soon we were at the outlet end of the pond. We stopped to take some pictures and then walked toward the upper end. It look as if the water level was down despite the recent rains. I suspect the beaver dam was a little lower than normal. When we arrived at the inlet end, several people were occupying the lower lean-to. We waved and then turned to cross the inlet brook and start the loop. The trail remained pretty dry as we started the ascent up Cherry Ridge. Patrick did comment that the hill seemed long but not too steep. We were soon at the top and headed down the other side toward Mud Pond. Once on the woods roads we turned left and headed back toward the trail junction. After singing out at the register, we headed over to the falls and dropped down into the creek bed to take pictures. We ascended the hill and walked to the upper falls. A tree had fallen over and taken the stone wall there with it. In addition, several trees were now stuck in the area below the upper falls. Sad to see but completely natural. We decided to walk up the creek and find a place to cross which we did. A short scramble up the bank to the road and we were on the way back to the car. We arrived back at about 3:00 PM which is the usual time for a brisk walk on this 4 mile route.

On Tuesday, August 4th Cindy and I wanted to hike somewhere together on her day off. We needed somewhere to go that was relatively close and somewhere we had not hiked before. The places we often go such as Trout and Frick Ponds are nice but get monotonous after a while. We decided to hike to Dry Brook Ridge from the Millbrook Trailhead since we had never been on that part of the trail before. We headed out toward the Pepacton Reservoir and up the Millbrook Arena Road. We parked at about 1:30 PM. I had forgotten how long this drive takes! There was only one other car parked in the parking area and that person was about to leave. My GPS was having trouble finding our location as I had it set for my last trip in New Jersey. After straightening this electronics problem out, we were off and hiking! The first part of the trail was through some nice open forest and was relatively gentle with a few switchbacks and rocks. This part of the trail was wet and muddy in places. As we progressed some steep areas alternated with flatter areas until we reached the top of the ridge. Some where along the way I remembered that Dry Brook Ridge is just short of 3500 feet! The elevation gain is significant but spread over 3 miles.

Once near the top of the ridge most of the serious climbing was done. There were a few places where we descended only to ascend the next "bump". I thought I knew about where the Huckleberry Loop trail met the Dry Brook Ridge Trail but the distance seemed longer than I had expected. We got a few glimpses through the trees at some of the other surrounding hills but there were no real viewpoints anywhere on the trail. Finally, we were at the trail junction. We debated walking down to Ploutz Road and hiking the roads as a loop back to the car. In the end, we decided this added too much mileage and opted to go back the way we had come. Going back went quickly but I never got the feel we were moving as fast as we sometimes do on the return trip. We were back at the car by 5:30 PM. A nice 6.2 mile hike but no pictures to show for it!

On Saturday, August 1st I wanted to hike a little more after coming off Bellvale Mountain. By some chance I had run across some information about the Long Pond Ironworks and the Patterson Mine in nor then New Jersey, not far from Greenwood Lake. The site processed ore from the iron mines in southern New York and northern New Jersey starting at the time of the Revolutionary War through the Civil War. Several furnaces and forges were built and a community thrived in the area into the 20th century. when the Monksville Reservoir was created many structures were moved to other locations. The reservoir area was also the site of the discovery of many Native American artifacts. We arrived at the Visitor's Center at 2:45 PM by driving south on Route 210 along Greenwood lake and then turning west onto Route 511 which was designated the Greenwood Lake or Warwick Turnpike. After checking out the Center and getting a simple map of the walking tour, Sheba and I headed around the center to the left on a footpath. I took pictures of some of the interesting buildings including a beautiful stone house. There wear also some VERY large sycamore trees.

We followed the yellow Hansclever Iron Trail named after the person who constructed the first furnace. We passed by the company store and headed down the path toward the area of the iron furnaces. The furnaces are in ruins and some effort is being made to restore the stonework. At the furnaces we turned right to follow the trail over the Wanaque River. The trail here are low lying and were wet. There was a constant cloud of insect especially when we stopped. We continued to follow the trail which had signs posted at various point. The history was interesting but not many structures remained. At stop #6 I decided to make a left hand turn to head northwest toward the Patterson Mine. We followed the road until we recrossed a brook and then came to the intersection with another trail. The map showed the road that we were on going straight ahead but it seemed to dead end. I walked to the right and did not see anything. When I walked to the left, the road to the northwest continued after less than a hundred feet. The road ascended up the shoulder of one hill. It looked to me like the mine should be close and lie between two hills. I kept looking for the rusted rocks that signifies mine tailing but none appeared.

I decided to hike up the hill on the right to see if the mine was a little off the road. Some paths headed up in that direction but after going almost all the way to the top I gave up and returned to the main trail. We continued on and as we did I heard voices behind us. After a short distance I saw a pit on the right and some tailing on the left. The pit on the right was very shallow but the two on the left went down at least 15 feet. Unfortunately, the pits were filled with water and it was impossible to determine their true depth. The two young men that had come up behind us approached and I assured them that they were in the right place. They seemed disappointed and I suggested that they visit the Cranberry and Pine Swamp mines for a more satisfying experience. After taking pictures, I decided to continue out the road and hook up with the Sterling Ridge and Highlands trails back to the parking area. The road and these trails were highly eroded in places but the walk was pretty short. Soon we were back to the area where we had turned off on the Iron Trail. We crossed over the river and were back at the car by 5:00 PM. It took us a little over 2 hours to hike the 4.35 mile distance with a lot of time for exploration and pictures.

On Saturday, August 1st I wanted to take a long but "easy" hike in a different area. I knew that the recent rain had made the vegetation and ground VERY wet and that bushwhacking in Delaware County would be "challenging". Most of these bushwhacks are for the rights to say that you conquered that peak and "bagged" it and I wanted some views on what was predicted to be a beautiful day. My plan was to park at the top of Mt. Peter on Route 17A outside of Warwick and hike south on the AT along the Bellvale/Bearfort Ridge for about 2 hours and then return to the car. There were other hikes to do in the area should I still have the energy. We arrived in the area about 9:50 AM and spent some time finding the right place to park. The parking area on Route 17A was not well marked and I had forgotten the directions to Continental Road. We finally parked just over the crest of the hill in a wide unmarked pull off next to a very dilapidated house. The only clue were the AT logos and signs cautioning drivers about hikers. We were ready to go and entered the woods at about 10:10 AM. The first part of the trail was on soft earth and rambled up and down passing a few woods roads and path and some nice stone walls. The trail was remarkably dry considering the recent rain

We soon passed across a power line right-of-way but there were no interesting views. Along the trail there were some massive rocks and interesting hardwood forest. Once on the top the trail was nearly flat and was easy to walk. We met a young family coming toward us. They had come up the Village Vista Trail from Greenwood Lake. As we approached this trail another hiker was coming toward us. He was young, wearing short and light hiking shoes and carrying a LARGE pack. He looked a little "grungy"! I regret not asking him whether or not he was an AT through hiker. We soon arrived at the Village Vista Trail which is well marked and has a map of the various businesses in the Greenwood Lake area. I decided not to walk out on this trail to the viewpoint since there were several lookouts on the trail we were on. I was not disappointed since within a short distance we broke out onto an open rock face which had great views of the lake below and the low lying hills all around. I took some pictures. I also noticed that when we came out of the woods the air temperature seemed to rise 10 degrees. This reminded me to get a drink and keep myself and Sheba hydrated throughout the day.

It turned out that this viewpoint began the difficult part of the trail which would continue for the rest of the hike out and back to this point. Much of the hike consisted of walking along open rock faces and ridges that reminded me of the Shawangunks and Schunemunk. In places it almost seemed that the people marking the trail took perverse pleasure in routing it along the most difficult places. This would NOT be a good hike wet or icy weather! Several times we got relief as the trail ducked back under the cover of both hardwood and evergreen forest. There were several small open clearing along the way. At times as I look away from the ridge there seemed to be wide open woods with what looked like trail or roads. As we crossed one small stream I noticed that the water looked like brewed tea from the tannins leached from the hemlock forest. The water even had a thick foam "head"! Another descent brought us through a deep, dark evergreen forest and the only really muddy place on the trail.

Most of the walk was across the open rock with several good views of the lake below. It was strange to be on such a rugged trail and be able to hear the boats and music on the lake below! At one point we met three young men who were through hikers on the AT. We said "Hello" and I advised them that there was a nice place to rest for lunch just ahead. As Sheba and I continued on, New Jersey got closer. I though about hiking to the state line and even around Lake Surprise. The more we hiked on the open rock in the heat the more I questioned that plan since there was always the hike back. Soon we were at the top of what looked to be the highest point around with another great view of the lake. This is a LONG lake. I check the GPS and found we were at the summit of Bellvale Mountain. From here the AT headed DOWN rather steeply. New Jersey was still about 1.5 miles away audit was just hours into the hike. I decided to turn around and head back. The hike back actually went quicker than some since I was planning to visit another place before going home! This kept me going. We met some more hikers along the way and ran into the three through hikers at the view point. As we talked I found out that they had started in Stone Mountain, Georgia on March 28th and hoped to finish in two months. I answered what questions I could and wished them well. The hike from this point back was easy since it was under cover. Near the end the group of three caught up to me even though I thought I was moving quickly. I guess being young and hiking the AT means you move FAST. Sheba and I were back at the car at about 2:10 PM which was exactly 4 hours for the 7.5 mile hike. After changing shirts and refilling my Camelbak, I was ready to head for the Long Pond Ironworks in northern New Jersey.

On Thursday, July 30th I wanted to get out for some exercise after summer school. I was dead tired since the 3+ inches of rain the night before had kept me moving ambulances and helping evacuate people all night! Livingston Manor's Main Street and Pearl Street were under water but the rain stopped just in time to avert a major disaster. Since more rain is predicted for Friday, I don't know what will happen. I decided to head for Kanape Brook and Little Rocky. My plan was to hike up the trail to the Ashokan High Point trail and then cut west over Mombaccus to Little Rocky. I would then descend to the brook and cross it to return to the main trail. When I arrived at the parking area a group of young men was already there. It looked as if they were prepared for a weekend of camping and partying. By 1:45 we were all ready to start and we crossed the road together to get to the trail. As soon as got out of the car, I heard the water in the brook roaring and realized that there must be a high volume from the storms the night before. What I didn't realize was just HOW HIGH that volume was. As we crossed the bridge it was clear that my plan to cross the creek would NOT work. I signed in a the register as the young men started up the trail. By the size of the cooler it was clear they were not going very far! I spoke to one of them and they said they would be crossing the brook soon and he MEANT it! I wished them well and started up the trail.

The trail very quickly started to look like a brook in many places with every little stream rushing with water that spilled across and down the trail on its way to the brook. The brook was raging as were many of its major tributaries. I picked my way around the deepest water on the trail while Sheba headed up the middle. I began to revise my hiking plan. Little Rocky would still be there when the brook was back to some kind of normal level. Having gotten a late start further cut down my options since I would have to hike back to the Ashokan High Point cutoff from Little Rocky. I decided to go up to the High Point and back and save Little Rocky for another day. The trail continued to be very wet with few dry spots. It was also further to the cutoff up to the High point than I remembered and somewhat more rugged. Despite the wet trail the hike was beautiful and the sound of the stream magnificent. Smaller streams continued to rush across the trail or through culverts under the trail. The forest alternates between hardwoods and evergreens with one particularly dark section. Even at the upper end of the trail the brook was still very full. Eventually we crossed over the brook and started the final walk up to the trail that goes to the High Point.

The trail up to the High Point alternates between short steep sections and more level ones. Down low there are no views although a few side trails do run off to the right. One trail looked very promising for a viewpoint but did not deliver! As the trail ascends there are three different sets of stone "steps" followed by a winding trail to the top with several steep sections. At one point the trail passes by a interesting glacial erratic right next to the trail. Near the top is a lookout over Mombaccus and Little Rocky. I knew that we had reached the top when I saw the USGS seal and swarms of flies attacked. The High Point ALWAYS has swarms of them and I don't know why. The views from the High Point are limited especially when there are leaves on the trees and this gets worse every year. I took a few pictures and then continued to walk along the trail. Another viewpoint opens up on the left but this is even more limited than the first. The trail passes through a series of open spaces and then enters a field. There is a stone fireplace with some stone "chairs" here. Even though there was a good deal of haze, There was a nice views of the Burroughs Range from here. After taking some pictures, I walked down a path looking for some view of the reservoir. I did find a very limited view through a hole in the vegetation. I made a note to return when the leaves were off the trees! I took pictures and then returned to the field. At this point id was 4:00 PM and I wanted to get home as quickly as possible so I decided NOT to do the loop but to retrace my steps.

It had taken about 1 hour and 45 minutes to hike up and I though it might take about the same time to return since I had left the picture taking on the trail for the return trip. I took a few pictures on the trail down from the High Point and a few more on the upper part of the main trail. Further down I began to take pictures of the main stream and some of the tributary streams rushing down the hillsides. The volume of water was impressive and I slid down the bank from the trail to the stream at least twice to get some pictures from closer up and at a different angle. I even stopped at one spot and braced myself on a large rock to take a 45 second movie. I wanted to record the moving water AND the sound of the stream. I also took quite a few still pictures. At the bridge I took some additional shots of the bridge and the confluence of streams at this point. We crossed the road to the car arriving at about 5:20 PM. Even with the photography the trip down had gone quickly. We had taken a little over 3.5 hours to cover the 7.2 mile hike.

On Tuesday, July 28th Cindy and I wanted to hike together. She didn't want to climb a mountain so I suggested we hike to Vly and Tunis Ponds where I had been for the first time last week. I though the ponds were interesting and wanted to return under sunnier skies. I explained there were two short bushwhacks and Cindy said that was OK! We got our gear and Sheba and headed up the Beaverkill Road to the Balsam Lake parking area. We parked at about 1:30 and started to hike right away. When we arrived at Vly Brook I chose to bushwhack up the near side instead of crossing over as I had done last time. It was a short and easy bushwhack and we ended up just beyond the beaver dam near the beaver lodge. The view was different and the skies were clearer. He took some pictures and listened to the birds. There were several redwing blackbirds and we both snapped some pictures of them before heading back to the trail. We continued on the trail until the Beaverkill and then turned left up the road. The road was even wetter and muddier than the last time. Eventually I went off the road to the left and started the uphill bushwhack to the pond. Somehow I got turned a little to far to the south but quickly remedied the problem. Soon we arrived at he same place on the shore that I had been at the week before. The skies by now had turned cloudy with conditions similar to the previous week. We took some pictures, walked along the shore, took some more pictures and then headed back into the woods away from the pond. The path I chose this time was easier than before and we were soon back on the road. We walked and talked and were back at the car by 4:00 PM . We had walked about 5 miles in 3.5 hours including the bushwhacks and pictures.

On Monday, July 27th I wanted to hike a little more after our trip to Huggins Lake. I drove a little further on up Berry Brook Road and parked in the lot where the Mary Smith Trail crosses the road. There was a car and a large van parked in the lot. When I signed in at 2:35 PM, I noticed that the van belonged to an ADK cutting crew but I did not know which way they had gone. We crossed the road and got on the trail. It was immediately clear that the crew was ahead of us. I was dismayed to find that they had left what they cut in the middle of the trail making walking the trail very annoying. After a short walk, we crossed the power line right-of-way, walked through some tall grass and reentered the woods on the trail. The walk was a little more challenging than I remembered gaining 500 feet in the about a mile. Along the way there were several areas of briars and nettles that the ADK crew had ignored. I hoped that they were not finished and would come back to clean up their mess! The Mary Smith Trail ended at the junction with the Pelnor Hollow Trail on the ridge. We turned right and immediately started a steep descent losing 150 feet of elevation in about .15 miles. The reward was the Split Rock Lookout at the bottom of the descent. Here some of the bedrock had pulled away forming a crack over 4 feet wide and at least 10 feet deep. The views were a little hazy but still pretty. I wanted more so I walked to the left of a big boulder and was able to cross over to the split piece of rock. The views from here were even better and I took a lot of pictures. After a drink, Sheba and I turned around, climbed the short but steep hill and then retraced our path back to the car. We were back at the car before 4:00 PM having covered the 2.2 mile walk in under 1.5 hours with plenty of time for pictures.

On Monday, July 27th I wanted to do a local hike after summer school so that I did not waste too much time driving. I read about Huggins Lake and the Split Rock Lookout in the new AMC Guidebook I had just purchased at Morgan Outdoor in Livingston Manor. Bother were close to home on Berry Brook Road near Roscoe only about 20 minutes from home. Although the book said that they were popular, I had never been to either. I got my gear and put Sheba in the car and headed up the Beaverkill Road. After passing through the covered bridge, I took a right on Berry Brook and drove to the parking area for Huggins Lake. the sky looked dark but I though we would have time to get the hike in. We started at 1:00 PM and began to hike along a woods road. The trail was not marked in any way but was impossible to miss. The road ascended gently but continuously through hardwood forest gaining 700 feet for .2 miles. After this the trail wound down to the lake for about half a mile losing 200 feet of elevation. The small lake or pond was beautiful and seemed to be very secluded although less than 2 miles from the road. A man-made dam was at the end of the road and a path lead over the top of it. I found two brown snakes sunning themselves on the concrete. One slithered away but the other stayed. I took pictures of the snake and quite a few of the pond. The skies had cleared some and it was sunny as we turned around to retrace our path to the car. We were back by 2:25 PM having covered the 3.6 miles in around 1.5 hours. I wanted to hike a little more so we headed up the road to hike to the Split Rock lookout.

On Saturday, July 25th I was pretty tired after hiking all over the Plattekills. I though I might go to Upper Meeker Hollow Road to scout the access to Meeker Hollow Hill. After leaving Ski Plattekill, I took a convenient crossroad and turned left onto Upper Meeker Hollow Road at the Stone Tavern Farm. Just after the farm the road and turns to dirt but I figured I would head on up just to see what it looked like. After a VERY short distance, the road became impassible and I stopped by what I assumed to be the last driveway on the road. I got my GPS and map out to check that I was in the right place. As I was conforming my location a car drove up behind me. It was the residents of the house at the other end of the driveway. We talked for a moment and they warned me about bears and gave me permission to park on the other side of the road opposite their driveway. I thanked them and decided since I was there I might as well take another short hike. It turned out to be a short distance but not that easy a hike!

I parked the car and Sheba and I started up the road at about 3:00 PM. The road was posted on both sides by Stove Tavern Farm and others. Atone point blue markers with the word TRAIL headed up the mountain to the right but they were clearly on private land. I had figured that somewhere between .35 and .40 miles we should run into the small sliver of state land that hits the road. As we started to get close a sign from the Audubon Society declared the area a Wildlife Refuge. A little further on, just where I thought it might me was a state forest sign. Sheba and I made a hard right and headed up the hill. The first part was pretty easy going through some open woods. We crossed a woods road and kept going. In one area there was another posted sign and the yellow blaze marking the state boundary. I tried to stay on what I though was state land. Soon enough the terrain became steeper which was made more difficult by the fact that everything was damp and slippery. I kept drifting southeast since it seemed slightly easier. Soon we were wading through prickers. There were only a few at first but they soon became denser and MUCH taller. Thankfully they did last too long and I had Sheba to lead me.

After a few more steep areas and a few more patches of nettles, we seemed to be on the summit plateau. A look at my GPS and the maps showed me we still had to head north and west a bit. As we walked I spotted another rise up ahead and we climbed a short hill up to a higher area. I walked to what to me was the obvious high ground and check the GPS. The coordinates I had for the highest spot took me west and north a little more but they also seemed to lead down. I walked to the spot and then told Sheba "Back!" I followed Sheba back down the road on the exact track we had taken up. We were back at the car by 4:30 PM having covered the 1.55 mile excursion in about 1.5 hours!

On Saturday, July 25th I finished hiking Plattekill near Ski Plattekill right around noon. I was disappointed that I could get no pictures and thought I might go somewhere to take some. I thought that Ski Plattekill would be a good place. It was close and I was sure the slopes would offer some opportunity to take pictures. In addition, I wanted to see if North Plattekill was easier to access from the other side of the mountain. I took Harold Roberts Road back to New Kingston Mountain Road and turned left. It was a short drive to Lower Meeker Hollow Road where I took a left and head toward the ski center. I intended to find a groundskeeper and ask permission to hike. What I found Was several hundred mountain bikers with an all day downhill race in progress. I checked in at the office and they were very polite, even offering me a map of the hill and suggestions on where to hike. They pointed me to the two beginner trails on either side of the main slopes. I chose to head to the right of the office on the Overlook Trail toward North Plattekill. I went back to the car and changed shoes, got my gear and put Sheba on a leash to begin the hike. I talked to some of the bikers who reminded me a California surfing dudes. They were all nice. Sheba and I headed toward the slopes at about 12:45

My mistakes started almost immediately as I went one level to high and got onto a rather steep ski run. The lower fields were full of high, wet grass and I hoped this would not be true of the whole hike. Fortunately the ski runs were grassy but the grass was not so high. The map only showed the ski runs at not the extensive network of bike trails. As we climbed I decided to head off the slopes and up the bike trails toward North Plattekill to see if the access to the highest point was easier from this side. The bike trails were truly impressive! They were steep and rocky with many jumps. Some of the trees were padded but I felt the padding and didn't think it would do much good. We stayed on watch for bikers but these trails did not appear to be used for the races this day. We continued to walk UP and I made decisions about where to turn based on the direction to the highest point. As we climbed one slope a bike trail came in from the left and I decided to take it up. It was very steep but short. From about halfway up I got my first good view and pictures of the day. We continued on the trails which lead directly to the highest spot on the mountain, almost. Since the latitude and longitude indicated a spot between the trail I whack through the area between the trails and claimed victory.

I decided that the best way to get good pictures was to walk across the top of the ski hill and descend by the Powder Puff Trail on the other side. In this way I could look down many of the ski runs and chair lifts to get the best views. It would also allow me to climb to the second highest point on the slopes. When we arrived at the Plunge, some nice views opened up and I took many pictures. From this area it wasn't too clear how to get across the top of the hill. It didn't help me that the map is horizontal and the area actually runs north and south! I didn't want to lose too much elevation but, in retrospect, it was necessary to come of the highest peak. We kept walking until we arrived at the central slope, a double black diamond, named Blockbuster. The views were magnificent from here since it is a steep run and the hill falls away quickly. In addition, there is no lift to mar the view. I took MANY pictures before moving on across the hill. After a short walk with a slight incline we arrived at The Face the northern most expert run. The trail in front of us was taped off since it was part of a race so I was careful to leash Sheba and stay off the trail.

Riders were coming up the lefts with their bikes clamped onto the chairs. I took some pictures of them and the scenery behind them. Two young riders volunteered to ride down a steep rocky path in the woods and I took a couple of pictures of them. Sheba and I started down the Powder Puff Trail which was long but very gentle. There were few views but we could hear and see riders in the woods on one of the many parts of the various courses. At one point as the slope turned the steep main slopes were right in front of us. The angle was truly impressive and I took several pictures. As is almost always the case the pictures are good but cannot convey the actual excitement of being there. We were back down the hill to where we started at 2:50 PM. It had taken us just over 2 hours to cover the 3.15 miles including many stop to determine direction and just as many to take pictures.

On Saturday, July 25th I wanted to finish up the peaks around Ski Plattekill and headed to Delaware County to hike Plattekill Mountain from Harold Roberts Road. The forecast was for sunny weather in the high 70's until late evening. I choose to take Route 28 toward Andes and then turn north on Route 6 toward New Kingston. Just passed New Kingston I turned right onto Thompson Hollow Road. I followed this until Harold Roberts Road appeared and I turned right. This was the first mistake. I found myself on the New Kingston Mountain Road which meant I had turned the wrong way on Harold Roberts Road. I Turned around and drove back to the intersection and went straight ahead. This was my second mistake which I realized almost immediately. I turned around, went back to the intersection, and turned left and the parking area appeared on the right within a quarter mile. So, When you see Harold Roberts Road on the right continue straight ahead and save yourself some time! The parking area was very overgrown with grass and there is one way in and out. There isn't room for many cars but it isn't used all that much. Sheba and I got out of the car and were on our way by 10:15 AM.

From the parking area a VERY well-defined road leads off toward the mountain. Just out of the parking lot is a gate to deter ATV use but it is obvious that has not deterred the riders. The grass was very wet and my Asolo Fugitive boots began to wet through after only a short distance. I love these boots especially since they fit so well but I expected more at the price and for a Goretex lined shoe! The trail switches back and forth at least four times but I stayed on the road rather then head directly up toward the peak. The time saved in distance NEVER overcomes the time spent in whacking through the woods! After the switchbacks the trail continues to climb gently for about .4 miles and then levels off. I began to get impatient and wanted to head off the road and up the peak. The road was lined with thick prickers and a high bank so I decided to be patient. After about .25 miles more of flat walking to the northeast, the prickers disappeared and a relatively gentle opening led into the trees. We took a right and started to head up and toward the southeast with me following the dog.

After a pretty uneventful .25 miles we were at the top and I wandered around to find what I though was the highest spot. I tried to correlate my spot with the maps with the GPS and finally gave up. I made sure I hit the correct latitude and longitude AND the spot marked on the GPS. At this point I told Sheba "Back!" and I followed her down to the road. The temperature had climbed into the 70's and it was humid. As we returned down the road I kept watching for viewpoints but only a few glimpses were available through the trees. The journey down went fast even with soaked feet and we were back at the car around noon having covered 3.4 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes. I had to decide what to do next and chose to head for Ski Plattekill.

On Friday, July 24th Brad and I headed for the Roundtop near the Plattekill Ski Area in Delaware County to hike Roundtop and North Plattekill. I thought we might have time for Plattekill also but we would have to watch our time as we had a commitment for late afternoon. The skies were cloudy as we left Livingston Manor and the forecast was for occasional showers in the morning with fog and then possible thunderstorms in the afternoon. We headed up to Roscoe and then toward Downsville on Rt 206. Route 30 took us around the Pepacton and I took a left at the junction with Route 28 and headed for Andes. Before Andes I turned north on Route 6 and continued on this through New Kingston. Just before Bovina I made a sharp right on Mountain Brook Road. The beginning of this road wasn't bad but it got steadily worse. My low slung Eclipse hit bottom once and then we saw the Plattekill State Forest sign next to a small pullover. I parked the car and we walked up the road from the "parking area" to check out where we were. Several signs let us know that we had parked in a private driveway. We got back in the car and began to revise our plans as I carefully turned us around. As we started back down the road I saw to gentleman sitting on their porch and I asked them if there was a place we could park. They gave us permission to park in an upper driveway and we were back in business.

We parked and got ready to go by 10:15 AM. We walked up the road and found that we probably could have made it up to the small parking area at the top. From here we headed almost due north on a wide access road. The gate at the beginning of the road had done little to stop the ATV traffic. We continued on the road to about the 2900 foot contour at which point we were passing the mountain and I was getting anxious to turn. After about .75 miles an ATV track appear on our right and headed up the mountain so we followed it. It lead directly to the top of the mountain in only .2 miles. We had bagged another CHH in less than 1 mile! At this point we decided to bushwhack off the top back down to the road we had been on and head for North Plattekill. I wasn't much of a bushwhack since more trails led north and slightly east. Once on the road we continued to follow it northeast as it drop into the Col between the two mountains and then began to ascend North Plattekill. The walking was pretty easy and I was looking forward to "bagging" North Plattekill. As the trail started to flatten I noticed a vehicle up ahead with two people. It turned out to be a forest ranger and driver who had followed the road over from the parking area on Harold Roberts Road. After a brief conversation, they pointed to some trails up the mountain. This is where the fun began. ALL the trails were overgrown with vegetation and much of that vegetation was prickers. NONE of the trails seemed to lead to the top where I knew we wanted to go. EVERY trail we took seemed to take us a little higher but would skirt the actual final ascent to the summit. We had no choice but to plunge through some pretty tall and nasty prickers to get up the last few hundred feet. Once on top we hit some paths and what looked like mountain bike trails. I found the highest spot around and we were ready to go back.

Since I didn't know any other way to return, we braved the prickers again and eventually were back to place where we had met the ranger earlier. We turned left to continue out toward Plattekill. We walked and talked for some time before I looked at my GPS. We were making good time but I had no idea how hard Plattekill would be. We decided to turn around and retrace our steps to the car. At the cutoff to Roundtop we stayed on the road. We were back at the car by 1:45 PM having covered the 7.2 miles in 3.5 hours.

On Thursday, July 23rd I decided to hike the Neversink Hardenburgh Trail to Vly and Tunis Ponds, a hike I had been wanting to do for some time. The weather reports were conflicting but I though that an early afternoon start might allow me to finish without getting too wet. Immediately after getting home I got the gear ready and put Sheba in the car. We headed up the Beaverkill Road and arrived at the Balsam Lake parking area at 1:00 PM. I had never hiked this trail and was eager to get started. The beginning of the trail passes through a field of ferns and is pretty overgrown and on this day was muddy. The skies were overcast with only a little sun. The register is placed just at the end of the field as the forest begins. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the trail was wide and easy to hike with only a few muddy areas. We descended for about .5 miles to Black Brook and crossed on a bridge. A brief ascent and another descent brought us to the bridge across the Gulf of Mexico Brook at 1.1 miles.

A very brief ascent and descent brought us to Vly Brook which was easy to step across. At this point I decided to bushwhack up to Vly Pond which was less than .25 miles away. We headed along the creek and soon came to signs of beaver activity. I was able to walk to the edge of the pond and onto the first of two dams. I took some pictures and decided to cross back to the other side of the brook to get a better view. As I returned to the path I had taken I thought it might be a good idea to check out the side if the pond I was on first! We headed up the shore through some thick balsam and over some slick rocks. A nice view opened up complete with a few high rocks to stand on. I took quite a few pictures and made a note to return to the area when there was blue sky and some sunlight. Behind the pond were Balsam Lake and Graham Mountains. We headed back out to the main trail and I decided to continue despite the darkening skies. From the pond another ascent and descent brought us to a well used woods road at 2.0 miles. We made a left onto the road and started to follow the Beaverkill. The road had truck tracks and was very muddy in some spots.

After walking along the road for about .5 miles, I decided to head off into the woods since the road/trail do not lead directly to the Tunis Pond. The woods were not too think and we only had to go about .25 miles to get to the pond. It was uphill all the way since Tunis Pond is said to be the highest named pond in the Catskills! Even with the overcast skies, the pond was beautiful. We came out on the south shore near the upper end. I took some pictures and then decided to walk along the shore. This wasn't too difficult despite the recent rain as a path seemed to snake its way around the pond. This presented many opportunities to take pictures from many different angles. Toward the lower end of the pond there was a large beaver house near the middle of the pond. I decided it was time to hurry back to avoid a drenching. We headed up into the woods and away from the pond. Within only a few minutes and about .3 miles we were back on the road. We kept up a fast pace on the way back and the rain held off. Back in the field I took several pictures of Balsam Lake Mountain and then headed back to the car by 3:30 PM. We covered 5 miles in 2.5 hours including the two short bushwhacks and time to take pictures along the way!

On Wednesday, July 22nd Lisa Lyons and I wanted to do a hike with a view. I suggested hiking from Hill Road to the viewpoint over the Pepacton Reservoir on the Dry Brook Ridge Trail. Each time I have been to this viewpoint the view was good but hazy. I was hoping for a better time this day. I got my gear ready and Sheba and I headed over town to pick up Lisa near her shop. We headed for Roscoe and then toward Downsville on Route 206. We went right on Route 30 around the Pepacton Reservoir and continued straight ahead on Southside Road as we approached Margaretville. After turning right on Huckleberry Brook Road we turn left on Hill Road. This Road is in pretty good shape and we soon saw the DEC signs and then the parking area on the right and the trailhead across from it. We started our hike at about 1:30 PM by signing the trail register and walking into the woods.

The first part of the hike passes through a red pine plantation with towering, straight as an arrow trees. The pine needle carpet makes a soft cushion under foot and makes walking nearly silent. Interspersed with the pines are much shorter hardwood trees. Several woods road cross the trail and an old foundation appears on the right of the trail. The trail remains wide and easy to walk for some time although rather steep in places. Numerous large boulders appear and most are covered with dark green moss and lighter green lichens. As the trail approaches Dry Brook Ridge it passes through some wetter areas with ferns , briars and nettles. On this day everything seemed to be cut back so that we were able to pass easily. Soon we entered the final section where the trail climbs and then levels several times as it finally gains the ridge. The Huckleberry Loop Trail ended at the junction with the yellow Dry Brook Ridge Trail. We turned right and continued toward the viewpoint called the Penguin Rocks.

The trail along the ridge ascends some and then levels. Several other short steep climbs lead to the ridge line before the trail becomes almost levels. In about a mile views begin to appear on the right as brief glimpses through the trees. After a little "hook" in the trail a short spur leads to the right and a viewpoint over the valley below. We stopped here and the walked out onto the open rock face for and even better view! The Pepacton Reservoir was clearly visible as was the valley below and the surrounding hills. There was quite a bit of haze as the sky was beginning to change announcing the approaching change. We got a drink and took a few pictures. Mostly we just enjoyed the view before picking up and starting the return trip. The hike of about 3 miles up had taken about 1 hour 45 minutes and I expected the trip back to be faster. We kept up a good pace on the way back. As we approached the last third of the trail the bird songs in the woods became very obvious. We chose to hike silently over the pine needle carpet and listen to the natural sounds around us. We were back at the car by 5:00 PM having covered the 5.75 miles in about 3.5 hours. Allowing for the stop we had taken, the trip back was less than 1.5 hours!

On Sunday, July 19th Cindy and I wanted to do a short hike, close to home with a view. We decided to hike to the Red Hill Fire Tower since we had not been there in three years. I had the idea that we might drive over the Angel Falls in Yagerville near the Rondout Reservoir. We jumped in the car with Sheba and arrived in the parking area just before noon. We found the parking area rather easily this time but the route can be tricky. We turned on Route 55A just after the TriValley School and continued passed the turn where 55A crosses over the reservoir. The next road on the left is the Sugarloaf Road which we stayed on for about 4 miles. At this point Sugarloaf Road ends at Red Hill Road and we made a sharp left. IMMEDIATELY after this turn we made a right onto Coons Road which is "paved" with gravel. This road eventually becomes a Dead End seasonal use road. From that point to the parking area the road is dirt and can be rough going depending on the season. The parking area is small. The trail is very pretty and passes through hardwood forest with many ferns. The trail is almost flat in places and joins several woods road on its way up the mountain. There are a few steeper spots but the entire trip is only 1.3 miles to the tower. Along the way there are numbered wooden markers at various point. Brochures are available in the register box but should be returned.

We arrived at the top at about 12:45 and found the tower staffed by two local volunteers. Cindy and I took turns climbing the tower so that Sheba would stay on the ground. The tower has a locating device and labels on each side to help orient visitors to the various features. This day the view was extremely clear with only a few clouds in the sky offering some contrast. I took many pictures from the cab and a few through the struts on the way down. The view is 360 degrees with many peaks and bodies of water visible. The cabin was also open and stocked with information about the Catskill fire towers and the restoration of the Red Hill tower. Everything was in great shape thanks to the many volunteers who keep it that way. The descent was easy but we took our time and were back at the car by 2:00 PM. The round trip hike was only about 3 miles.

We decided to go find Angel falls and took the Yagerville Road by turning left from the Sugarloaf Road and then bearing right in Sundown. This road has a spectacular view of the Shawangunks from the top. We parked on some DEC land and walked down the main road to get a better view and snap some pictures. Back in the car we continued our search by driving down the Yagerville Road looking for Shalom Road. I could not find a road sign but did see one that said Bridge Out. We turned left on this road and soon found another DEP parking area just as the road became impassable. We walked down the road and saw the creek below and upstream we saw the falls. Cindy continued to walk along the road as I scrambled down a path to a faint trail that headed to the bottom of the falls. I eventually made it down to the side of the creek and took pictures of a very nice falls with a good volume. I also climbed up to the top of the falls and found a way to get out to the lip to take some more pictures. Once back on the path we walked toward the lower falls.

The first thing we noticed was that the lower falls are more "used" since there were broken bottles. This falls is not quite as high as the upper one but has two parts and a nice pool. I walked to the edge of the creek below the falls and out onto some rocks. I took some pictures and really wanted to go to the other side. Time and a lack of ambition prevented me. I walked to the top of the falls and took some more pictures before investigating the stone foundations near the falls. These foundations had features that make me think that there was more than just a farmhouse by the falls. I do not know the history of the area but there may have been a mill adjacent to the creek. Farther away but near this foundation is a larger foundation which may have been for storage. We walked back up to the car and drove after a day of moderate exercise and excellent photographic opportunities.

On Saturday, July 18th Cindy and I decided to hike Slide Mountain. We had not been there in some time and I wanted an easy hike on a trail where there would be some people for a change. We didn't get an early start and arrived at the almost full parking area at about 10:30 AM. We signed the register as one other hiker was getting ready in the parking area and started up the trail. Crossing the river was pretty easy as was the crossing the smaller tributary a little farther along. The trail was very wet in many places on the lower part but not unmanageable as we climbed up the rocky part of the trail to road in from Winnisook. In a few minutes we were turning off the yellow Phoenicia-East Branch Trail and headed up the red trail to the summit of Slide. As we hike over slippery stones placed there specifically to test a hiker's ankles I was reminded that this hike is easier on snowshoes in the winter! We could hear a group approaching from behind so we picked up our pace a little. I kept looking for the 3500 foot sign but I never saw it. At one point my GPS decided to take a break on a bright and sunny day with few clouds. We stopped and the look out above 3500 feet to take some pictures. The group of three young women behind us caught up and we chatted for awhile before they continued on.

We picked up our gear and started toward the summit. I am always impressed by the sedimentary rock along the trail and the "sand" on the trail indicating the formation of this area under and ancient sea! We met a few people who were coming down. Soon we were at the junction with the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail from Denning. I always make the mistake of thinking this trail is closer to the summit than it really is! There are a lot of dead trees and branches along the trail from the various storms over the past few year and those from longer ago. Soon we were climbing the last few hundred feet to the lookout to the west toward Panther and Giant Ledge. There was one couple sitting on the viewpoint enjoying lunch. The view was exceptionally clear and I got the best look at Giant Ledge I have ever had. This view also makes it very clear that the climb to Panther is not trivial. We took some pictures and then more hikers arrived. Two young men with camping gear had just climbed Wittenberg and Cornell and were headed for the lean-to on Table. I answered a few questions and then we left as more hikers arrived.

From this viewpoint it is only a short distance to the summit and the open rock face at the top of Slide. Near the location of the old fire tower a few more people were enjoying a snack. We arrived at the viewpoint at about 12:15 PM taking about 1 hour and 45 minutes to the summit. We were surprised that there were no hikers on the lookout but the view is blocked by many trees and the black flies were swarming. A few small groups of hikers arrived. The trail to the Burroughs plaque and down the other side of Slide has been rerouted to the right rather than the left. We went down the trail toward the spring. There are some interesting rock scrambles here and the rocks were very wet and slippery. After a short descent we arrived at a camping area on the left side of the trail. This offers a viewpoint toward Cornell and the Ashokan Reservoir. The view was good but some haze hung over the reservoir and clouds had started to roll in. We decided to return to the car to avoid the possible afternoon thunderstorm. The trip down went quickly since we both use poles which are particularly helpful on the descent. We met a pair of hikers near the trail junction and continued down with them arriving back at the car just before 2:30 PM having covered the 6 miles in just under 4 hours.

On Friday, July 17th I was back in the parking area from Old Clump. After suffering leg cramps and with the darkening sky, the smart thing to do was to get in the car. So I drank some water and started out at 3:30 PM on the woods road we had been on earlier by mistake. The road headed UP which was a good thing but seemed to be headed too far to the east. Prickers lined the road so I decided to stay on it. Eventually we gained the ridge and continued to follow the road across the very narrow ridge line. There were no views that I could get although I could see that there might be some when the trees are bare. I also wasn't really looking to take pictures. I just wanted to bag the peak! The woods road headed north to the eastern side of Narrow Notch and then sort of disappeared. We turned west and a little north and fought the prickers for a little over a quarter mile to the highest point around. Back down seemed to go quickly especially when we reached the road. The skies were getting REALLY dark now and my leg still had a twinge. We were back at the car by about 6:00 PM having covered about 3.5 miles in 2.5 hours. For me an incredibly difficult day without much off a reward except meeting a challenge head on!

On Friday, July 17th I was back in the parking area from East Gray and was ready to tackle Old Clump. At least I thought I was ready. After a short break Sheba and I started out at 11:00 AM on a woods road. I check my GPS and we were walking AWAY from Old Clump on a road that would prove to be one way to get to Narrow Notch! We returned to the parking area and took another road which appeared to be contiguous with the road to the top. The road is actually shown on most maps. The road headed east and descended but it was easy walking. When the road turned south, we continued east and then slightly north to avoid dropping to much elevation into a drainage. As it was we dropped about 300 feet from the parking lot before beginning a 700 foot climb over the next .75 miles. At first the walking was pretty easy through open woods. No real path was evident but we found our own way. As we turned southeast and began to climb things still looked OK although the brush was thick. Then the prickers closed in and the steepness of the hill began to take its toll. We crossed woods roads several times but following them seemed pointless so we just crossed and pushed our way through wet, thick brush and prickers. The weather was extremely hot and humid and at least twice I had to overcome the desire to turn around and give up! Finally we broke out into an opening near the top. The place was a sea of prickers and I spent some time trying to get to what I thought was the highest spot without getting torn to shreds. We turned around and returned much the same way we had come. Once out of the prickers the walk went quickly but I was tired. At one point my right leg began to cramp BADLY! I thought I had been drinking enough water but I was very dehydrated. I sucked down a lot of water and massaged my leg to work out the cramp. It went away and came back several times. When I arrived at the car the cramp was gone but left behind that "just cramped" feeling. We were back at about 3:15 PM. Another LONG 3 miles which took us over 3 hours.

On Friday, July 17th I decided to head to Delaware County to hit some of the CHH peaks in the Relay State Forest. I caught Route 206 out of Roscoe and then Route 30 North at the Pepacton Reservoir. I continued on Route 30 through Margaretville. Just passed Halcottsville was a sign for the Plattekill Ski Area (a place I mean to get to soon) and I turned left onto Cold Spring Road which becomes West Settlement Road and then Roxbury Mountain Road. The drive was pretty and was a continuous ascent. Soon Narrow Notch Road appeared on the right and I made the turn looking for Morse Road on the right as marked on the Venture Out map. The first road on the right should have been Morse Road but was marked Relay Road. I decided to try it. The road started out as gravel and dust and quickly turned into a two track dirt road. Three parking areas are marked on the map. I passed what could be used as parking on the right but the sign appeared to be missing. A little further another area appeared on the left but was also unmarked. The road got worse and I almost gave up but continued on. I soon saw evidence of logging and then hit a dead end near the top. The description matched some posts I had read and my location matched the map. East Gray Hill was right next to the parking area and looked to be a short hike. Looks can be deceiving.

We started at about 9:45 AM going due west on an old woods road which I hoped might go up the hill. It didn't. When it became clear that following the road would not work, we turned left or toward the southwest and headed Up the hill. For a while it was somewhat steep but rather open and I hoped it would stay that way. It didn't! I had read what reports of 7 foot briar canes near the top. I hoped they were exaggerating! They weren't! As we approached the top, the prickers got thicker and taller. I was HOT since I was wearing long sleeves but this was what probably saved me from an excessive loss of blood! There were a few pathways on the top and I used those to wander around until I found what I deemed to be the highest spot. We turned around to retrace our path and Sheba found a route with a few less prickers than the one to the top. The hike was less than a mile round trip but took us over an hour as we arrived back a the car at about 10:45 AM.

On Wednesday, July 15th I was scheduled to meet Lisa Lyons to hike Giant Ledge. Lisa is the owner of Moran Outdoors, the excellent hiking store in Livingston Manor. She works so many hours at the store she seldom gets to hike. My job was to change that! I got to the store at about 12:45 PM and Lisa hopped in the car and we were off. The drive went quickly as we headed out the DeBruce Road passing Round Pond and then turning left onto the Frost Valley Road. We arrived at the parking area about 1:30 to find it parked full of cars. I turned around and parked below the parking area and we got started right away. The hike up to the turn to Giant Ledge and Panther was uneventful and went quickly. Lisa has had many interesting jobs and is very knowledgeable about many aspects of the Catskill watershed. We met a few people along the way and we wondered where all the people from the cars were. We turned at the trail up to Giant Ledge and walked through some slightly muddy areas. I pointed out the area of large rocks where some people like to rest, the spring and the viewpoint toward Slide.

Soon we were at the last short but steep ascent to the plateau that is Giant Ledge. After conquering this we walked the relatively flat trail toward the ledges. We immediately found the people! They were gathered in a group on the first ledge which Lisa and I bypassed to move on to the next viewpoint. From this lookout the views were good but some haze was hanging low. Sheba and I continued on the trail leaving Lisa alone to contemplate the view. I took some pictures from some other places and then returned to the ledge where we had left Lisa. We talked for a while and took some shots until we could no longer hear the large group. We worked our way to the first viewpoint and took pictures from there before deciding to head back. It was at this point that I noticed a path to the left that I did not remember seeing previously. It led to an open space with a large rock and evidence of a campfire! The path continued along the edge of the ledge for some distance. I decided to explore this area...at some later time. We walked up to the main path and then started the hike back to the car. We met several groups along the way coming up. We were back at the car by just after 3:30 PM having covered the 3.1 miles in a little over two hours. The parking lot had considerably more room!

On Monday, July 13th I was ready to go back to Black Bear Road and hike the Beaverkill Range after summer school. I arrived at the snowplow turnaround at 1:15 PM and began the walk up to the hunting camp. At the camp I turn left heading almost directly northwest. After some open woods I encountered a set of ledges with a GENEROUS supply of nettles. I guess I could have walked parallel to the ledge to find a better spot but I just plunged in. Pretty soon Sheba and I were through the mess and from that point on things went rather well. I kept my heading by always going up and adjusted every know and then by compass or GPS. The walking was rather easy as we skirted one bump by doing a little sidehilling. They only problem was that the thick woods left no possibility of getting a visual on the summit. After walking down some we were on our way up to the highest point on the range. The point marked on the GPS was different than the latitude and longitude I had and neither seemed to be the highest spot. As I stood on a high rock the coordinates took me down so I declared a success where I stood.

In this same area was a nice open, ferny spot that was an excellent lookout. I walked around this viewpoint, so unusual for CHH peaks and then made a little loop and started back. It did not bother me to follow the same track back to the area of the ledges and nettles but here I though I might look for a better way. In the end I decided it was quicker to go the same way. I actually found a harder way down because I did not believe Sheba! Will I EVER learn? We were back a the car by around 4:30 PM. This seemed slow for the 4 mile hike but bushwhacking and picture taking can slow the pace!

On Friday, July 10th Brad and Krista were up for the weekend. I decided that I wanted to finally get over to hike High Falls Ridge and the Beaverkill Range. Brad wanted to hike so we headed out DeBruce Road to Round Pond. At round Pond we turned left onto Black Bear or Fresh Meadows Road and immediately ran into a private tree trimming crew blocking the road. We parked in the parking lot prepared to walk to the end of the road but I talked to the crew and they were just about to move. We drove down the road to the snow plow turnaround. I had permission to park at a hunting camp but decided to leave the car where it was. Our walk started at about 9:30 AM. We hiked on the road to the hunting camp and then turn left or east and slightly south off the road. We immediately dropped almost 200 feet to Fall Brook and found a place to cross which was not difficult. In the next half mile we climbed almost 700 feet to the High Falls Ridge and the highest point around. We wandered around until we found the highest spot. In this area there was a small break in the trees which might provide a good viewpoint in the late fall or winter. The hiking was steep at times with some thick underbrush on the route I chose but nothing was too difficult. I told Sheba "Back!" and we followed her back to the road. By the time we were back at the road we had been hiking for almost 4 hours. I decided to go back home since Krista was there alone. We walked back to the car driving at about 1:30 PM after hiking around 5.5 miles.

On Thursday, July 9th I decided to get in a quick hike after summer school and before the predicted thunderstorms. Sheba and I had not been to Balsam Lake in some time so we headed there arriving in the parking area at just after 1:00 PM. The parking area was almost full and a friend informed me that the day camp from the Beaverkill Valley in was hiking the mountain. When I signed the register, I noticed that the day camp had signed in for 35 people! There was also another smaller group signed in before me. Sheba and I like a challenger so we started off at 1:15 PM and a pace intended to catch somebody. We met the group immediately ahead of us just before the turn up the mountain. We said hello and passed by them quickly making the turn. I slowed some on the steeper parts of the ascent but still kept a fast pace. We were soon at the turn for the lean-to, the 3500 foot sign and the spring. It was just a short ascent to the flatter portion of the trail. We could here the day camp group ahead of us as we climbed the last rise and made our way to the tower. We arrived at the top in just 40 minutes! At the summit, the scene was pretty impressive with about 30 kids and 5 counselors. Small groups were taking there turn on the tower and most of the kids seemed pretty well behaved. Some came over to talk to me and ask permission to pet Sheba. Sheba said it was OK. Before long most of the kids were done on the tower and they started back down the steep side in groups. I went up the tower to take a few pictures. I had my camera but also brought my wife's new Nikon pocket camera to see the quality of pictures. I too some shots and then descended.

Sheba and I immediately started down the other side of the mountain passed the cabin. The descent went quickly and I was pleased since the sky was threatening. Just as we reached the gate on the trail I noticed a vehicle parked on the trail! It was a DEC jeep but I did not see any people. At this point I decided not to do Graham but to return to the car. As I turned right, I noticed that the trail had been cleared of all nettles and briars. I guessed that this was what the occupants of the DEC vehicle were doing and I expected to meet them on the trail. Sheba and I continued to set a fast pace which was easy on the now well-maintained trail. Soon we were approaching the turn up the mountain and there was no sign of anyone clearing the trail! We walked quickly back toward the parking area. As I signed out at the register I could here the day camp at the parking area but by the time we arrived they were gone. The dark skies and some commitments in down convinced me to get in the car. The trip down the longer side had taken only 50 minutes for a total round trip hiking time of 1.5 hours for about 4 miles.

On Sunday, July 5th After visiting Mine Kill Falls, Cindy and I drove toward Middleburgh to visit Vroman's Nose. As you approach this landmark on Route 30, you can't help but be impressed as this rocky cliff just up out of the flat plain. We turned left at the sign and drove to the parking area. There were quite a few cars already parked there but a spot opened up just as we arrived. We got right on the trail. I had been here before and hoped Cindy would be impressed as I was with the view from the top. We walked up through the field to the loop trail and turned right. The hike is only about 1.5 miles and no part is very steep and the "payoff" is enormous! The trail was a little muddy in places but we easy walked around these areas.

As we began the turn to the left on the ascent views began top open up mostly to the south. We stopped so that I could take some pictures despite the fact that I knew the view from the top was even better! We continued on the trail stopping at least once more for photographs. Soon we were on the top walking along the open rock and marveling at the vistas in front of us. I think Cindy was impressed! Below us were cultivated fields. A little further was the meandering Schoharie Creek. In the distance were some of the smaller mountains to the north of the Catskill Park.

As we walked along the cliff, the views changed. Just before bending to the left for the final time and starting down a view to the east came into view and we could see the Middleburgh Cliffs on the other side of town. I had read about these briefly and though they would be good to visit. The hour was late by the time we got back and I decided to save the Cliffs for another day.

On Sunday, July 5th Cindy and I had some time after church and we wanted to hike somewhere there would be a good view. I decided to take her and Sheba to Mine Kill Falls and Vroman's Nose since they both satisfied this requirement. We arrived at Mine Kill Falls at about 12:30 PM and walked down to the platforms that overlook the main part of the falls. The amount of water was enough to make a nice roaring sound and I took many pictures from this vantage point. We then walked back up the trail and took a left to follow the path down to the base of the falls. This trail is also part of the Long Path. At the base of the falls we stopped so that I could take more pictures. We then reversed our steps and went back to the car to go to Vroman's Nose.

On Saturday, July 4th I had family commitments in the afternoon. I decided to get in a quick hike in the late morning and early afternoon so I headed for Denman Mountain near Grahamsville. This peak is on the CHH list but is a short and easy bushwhack. I turned north from Route 55 on Moore Hill Road near the TriValley Central School. I follow this road as it ascended for about 3 miles. I didn't know exactly where I was going but I passed the first parking area on the left. At the 3 mile mark the road continued straight ahead as a seasonal road and a paved road turned right. The names of the roads vary from map to map and include Moore Hill Road, Glade Hill Road and Furmans Road. I parked in the large parking area on the corner at about 10:00 AM and walked across the road to pick up the snowmobile trails. The Trail Conference maps are useless here but the Venture Out map showed a network on dotted lines that seemed to get close to the summit. I followed these trails for a while but they led too far west and south. I could find none that headed north. We walked back to the road and north a short distance. I thought there might be more trails. Seeing none I simply walked off the road to the right and pushed my way through some thick brush. This was going to be a tough bushwhack if it continued to be this thick. Just then the woods opened up and the underbrush disappeared.

Since Denman Mountain was north and slightly west of the parking area I headed west first and after gaining some elevation turned north on a tongue on land coming down from the peak. Sheba and I found some nice woods roads and paths which we followed always heading generally north and UP. This hike was the driest we had had in some time with no standing or running water. In fact, only a few spots were even muddy. Along the way there were vast seas of ferns some approaching waist height. We continued our route and I kept looking for some views but saw none. Just as I though we were near the top and another bump appeared. After a short, steep little climb we were on an open rock ledge which looked higher than anything else around. Upon consulting my GPS, the summit was marked to the north and a little west. I walked in that direction and did find a higher spot. The location marked on the GPS was definitely further DOWN the mountain so I claimed victory and began to plan my route back.

I could see some blue sky to the west so we started our descent by going a little to the west and then walked south along the high ground. I was careful not to lose any elevation to the west but only to the south. As we walked along the edge, I watched for viewpoints in vain for some time until, finally, up ahead, I saw an opening to a ferny glade. As I walked out of the woods there was a beautiful view to the west and north. It was hard to walk around the area since the high ferns hid many downed trees. I took pictures and then walked over to the next clear area to take more shots from another angle. After finishing the photography, we headed back to pick up the path that we had used on the way up. When I looked at the map, it seemed like the road was just to the east. For some variety, Sheba and I headed almost due east and picked up the road in about .25 miles. From here it was about .5 miles walking on the road back to the car. The little-used road made a nice walk. Sheba and I covered about 3 miles in 3 hours including our exploration of the snowmobile trails and time to take pictures.

On Friday, July 3rd I decided to return to Southwest Hunter to sign the canister register that I could not sign on Tuesday because of a sudden downpour. I also needed the peak for July and thought I would throw in Hunter also. The morning was very overcast and the weather forecast included a chance of showers. I was in no hurry to hike in the fog so Sheba and I started out about 8;30 AM from Livingston Manor and arrived at Notch Lake on Route 214 near the Devil's Tombstone Campground at just before 10:00 AM. I stopped at the office and paid the $6 "day use" fee to park my car! I parked and we started hiking immediately under partly sunny skies. Like so many of our other hikes lately, everything was wet. The rocks and dirt were wet and slippery and in many places there was running water across the trail or running down the trail. There was also a healthy crop of nettles along the side of the trail just waiting for the unsuspecting hiker. The trail gets quite a bit of use so they had not yet grown across the path.

The trip up the Devil's Path was longer than I remembered and much steeper. There were also a few more switchbacks than I recalled but this, of course, moderates the steepness of the climb. After climbing for a while, Sheba and I were soon on the relatively level path that leads to the Devil's Acre lean-to. This always seems to be a long and boring walk but today I kept noticing a few glimpses of Southwest Hunter to our left and of some of the other peaks on the Devil's Path. Soon we were at the lean-to and we were off to find the herd path to Southwest Hunter. We continued along the Devil's Path but I could not spot the path despite the fact that it was a thoroughfare the last time I was there in the winter. We walked back down the Devil's Path with no luck. I decided to try one more time since I knew the cutoff was fairly far from the lean-to and after short ascent. Sure enough, after going a little bit further, there was the very prominent path to the left. We got on the path and had no trouble walking along it except for a few muddy spots and some blowdown. The point where we had to turn up the mountain was still marked by a cairn and a brush barrier across the path. Sheba and I turned at the right spot. The path up the mountain was even easier to follow than last time and I was soon signing in at the canister. At this point the skies seemed to darken so we hurried back down the mountain and out to the Devil's Path.

Back at the lean-to I noticed some very large plants with flowers like Queen Anne's Lace and large leaves. I took some pictures as I wonder if this was giant hogweed. My comparisons on line at home were inconclusive. A few raindrops fell as we reached the trail junction up Hunter Mountain and the skies were dark in one direction but bright in another. I decided to hike as fast as we could to "bag" Hunter and a few extra miles. We turned and were soon ascending the trail to the summit. The water running down the trail made it seem like we were walking in a small stream. When we reached the more level are at the top there was standing water and mud in many places along the trail. I tried to avoid the mud as much as possible at first but eventually gave up and followed Sheba through the muck. The skies were darker and more drops of rain were falling as we reached the tower. I decided that climbing the tower while hearing rumbles of thunder was a BAD IDEA. I had taken pictures from the tower many times so we tagged the top and headed back down the way we had come. By the time we were back at the Devil's Path the sun was shining and the rain drops had stopped falling.

Sheba and I descended much faster than we had climbed except for a few stops along the way. This part of the trail has impressive ledges, cliffs and rock overhangs. Those who planned the trail managed to find a way up and through these formations. I stopped at one rock overhang that also had water flowing over it and took some pictures. At this point the rain began again and this time it threatened to be harder. By the time we crossed the bridge over the outlet stream from Notch Lake we were in a full downpour. When we made it to the car, I opened the door for Sheba and through my pack and other gear in the trunk. It was just after 3:00 PM and it had taken us a little more than 5 hours to 8.5 miles not counting the time to find the herd path. As I drove down route 214 toward Phoenicia the skies cleared and the sun came out.

On Monday, June 29th I decided to bushwhack Roundtop and Kaaterskill for the first time. I needed Roundtop for the CHH and Kaaterskill for June. I have recently decided that bushwhacking with others is more interesting than going solo, in most cases, but there were no others available. I decided to start at the end of Gillespie Road and use the DEP access to bushwhack Roundtop first. From here I though I would head over to Kaaterskill through the col. From the summit of the High Peak I wanted to descend to the snowmobile loop and then use it to get back to the area of Roundtop. I though from here I would continue out to Clum Hill Road. follow the snowmobile loop until it crossed my path up or just bushwhack back to the car. The day started overcast and cool in Livingston Manor and I delayed my start some. I turned onto Clum Hill Road from Platte Clove Road and followed it up until it made the 90 degree left and turn. From here I went straight ahead on Gillespie. The road was dirt but started out OK. Shortly I was trying to avoid the rock outcrops in the middle of the road! I finally got to the small parking area at the end of the road which was clearly marked with DEP signs. We got out of the car and started to hike almost immediately. EVERYTHING was wet with running water on the trails and muddy spots all over.

We started up a woods road just in time to see two black forms scoot across the road in front of us! These two black bear cubs were small enough to be from this year and I almost ended the hike at that point since I had no idea where the mother was. Instead, Sheba and I let the cubs go about their business, waited to see if another bear would show up and then QUICKLY hurried up the road. We continued to follow the road as it paralleled a small stream. After about .35 miles I decided I wanted to turn more southeast and head directly for the peak of Roundtop. Crossing the stream and its numerous tributaries was pretty easy and we were off. For a short time, maybe the next .4 miles the forest was relatively open but very wet. At some point after this we crossed the snowmobile loop trail but I decided to hear directly to the summit. The next .4 miles to the top was VERY STEEP in most places. There were a few ledges to work around or through but mostly it was just steep. When the ground began to level out, I walked around to try to make sure I hit the highest spot. I then began looking for a way to get to Kaaterskill. I wasn't sure I wanted to do the other peak since the wind had come up and the sky, or what I could see of it was dark, but I decided that I was already there and would go for it. Not being able to see Kaaterskill I started out heading too far north. Once I got a peek at the peak, I corrected my route and started southeast.

Descending Roundtop was just as steeper or steeper than the ascent. There were more ledges to work through on the way down but at least it went quickly. Soon we were in the Col between the two peaks and I wanted to make sure I stayed on the bridge of land between the two without drifting too far north or south and losing elevation. We walked about .25 miles on this "bridge" and then started up to the High Peak. This climb wasn't as steep but there were a few ledges to work. Near the summit there was some VERY dense evergreen forest. I could have looked for a way around but decided to push through. As the terrain started to level we came to a herd path that took us directly to the summit clearing. A piece of an aircraft was leaning against a tree. This was obviously placed by someone and I can think a few things I appreciate less! We wandered around the summit for a while and then started down the herd path to the north. It was immediately apparent that this was going to be a difficult descent. Everything was wet, slimy and slippery. Even rocks that looked almost dry weren't. In several places I had to go into the woods on short bushwhacks to avoid some of the steepest and slipperiest parts. Eventually, we were crossing the swampy area before the snowmobile loop and then turned right on the trail itself.

The snowmobile trail was VERY wet with standing water and mud everywhere. After walking only a short distance, it became clear to me that the entire walk back on this trail was going to be a wet and muddy nightmare. I was right! Soon it was obvious that ATV had been using the trail and churning up the mud. Walking alongside the trail helped at times but other times it was just as wet. In some areas blowdowns obscured the trail AND the most immediate path on each side. I decided to walk to where the trail begins to loop back around Roundtop and then get OFF the trail. There seemed to be an access road from the snowmobile trail out to Clum Hill Road. When I got to this area, the access "road" was more of the same muddy mess and was almost a mile long! We turned on the snowmobile trail and then I took a southeast bearing directly back to the car. I knew in this way we would either hit the path we took up earlier in the morning or we would cross Gillespie Road. This was a direct route but by no means an easy one! The initial part was a rather steep descent with a lot of loose and slippery rocks. Soon the terrain leveled some and we were near the road that was part of our original route. Once we hit this road I knew we weren't far from the car. As we walked back toward the car I heard a noise behind us and turned to see a LARGE black shape crossing the road were we had just been walking. This bear was a full grown adult but seemed to ignore us. Sheba didn't pay much attention to the bear. We quicken our pace and were back at the act within minutes. It was almost exactly :00 PM. It had taken almost 5 hours to cover less than miles!

On Sunday, June 28th Cindy and I wanted to take a quick hike after church and before the thunderstorms hit. We decided to go to Trout Pond as we had not been there in some time. We parked at the top of Russell Brook Road since we like the hike down this dirt road to the lower parking area. There were a few cars parked along the road which seemed strange but some people are just lazy! As we approached the area of the falls we could hear the water rushing through the stream bed below. The recent rains had increased the stream flow significantly but I have seen it higher. We signed in at the register where a group of 0 was also signed in. They were occupying the campsite on the trail to Mud Pond so we decided to head up to Trout Pond first. The trail was wet but not as bad as I had thought it would be. Sheba was obviously happy to get out and led the way to Trout Pond. I had the camera with me but the day was cloudy and the picture opportunities did not differ much from those I had had many times before.

As the trail flattened and passed by the pond the areas of water and mud grew more frequent but were not as bad as in the past. A few people were in the lower lean-to as we passed by on the loop trail. The inlet brook was easy to cross and we were soon gaining elevation as we hiked around the pond and up to Cherry Ridge. We were setting a very quick since the hike was short. Soon we were up and over the ridge and at the junction with the trail around Mud Pond. We turned left as we had planned to go back to the area of the falls. A right would have taken us around Mud Pond and this route is ALWAYS wet. In addition, we had no idea what the recent rains and swollen brook had done to the lower crossing. The road back was wet in most places with some mud. As we approached the camping area we found...nothing. The campers had packed up and left. I signed out at the register and we walked back up the road to the lower parking area. Here, some campers were finishing packing their car. We walked back up to the car having covered a little over 4 miles in less than 2 hours.

On Wednesday, June 24th I decided to hike Bearpen and Vly for the month of June. This was appropriate since it had just rained and the underbrush would be nice and wet for this bushwhack. It seems that each time I do these peaks I get wet even though I have seldom encountered rain. The prediction was for showers as it had been for every day in June! However, the morning was overcast and I wanted at least the opportunity to get some pictures from Bearpen. This time I failed to make any of the wrong turns that mark my usual drive to these peaks and the trip was uneventful. I parked at about 10:00 AM and we got right on the trail. The "trail" is actually the continuation of County Route 3 but turns to an eroded woods road. The walk up to the hunting shack that marks the turn off to either peak always seems long. Today the rocks were wet and there was running water on the road. I decided to do Vly first since the sky was still overcast and because I though I might try South Bearpen. To cover this possibility I had spoken to a landowner who gave permission and even asked if I would like to begin on his property!

The last time Sheba and I hiked Vly and Bearpen there was still snow on the ground and we followed a faint but obvious track through the snow to the canister. On this day things looked completely different. I found the herd path and followed it for some time but lost it in some blowdown along the way. I found the light blue blazes again a little further on and then lost them. This was repeated several times. There were only a few nettles and prickers to bother us and the insects were not too bad. What WAS a bother was the large areas of standing water and mud! Sheba and I negotiated a few ledges and then we were on the summit. This part seemed to go quickly and we caught a herd path right to the canister. I signed in and noted that the last visit was the very early part of June. At some time the noon whistles sounded and we headed back down the herd path. Following the blazes down was easier than up and my GPS track showed we were pretty close to the path on the way up. Back at the shack we crossed the road and began to follow the roads to the summit of Bearpen.

The roads on Bearpen alternated between running water on the steeper parts to standing water and mud pits everywhere else. We followed the roads until following would have meant losing elevation and heading in the wrong direction. Just at this point I noticed a rather distinct path turning off the road in the direction of Bearpen. It was also at this time that I remembered that the Bearpen marked on my GPS map was NOT the one I was looking for! The path we followed was very distinct and was very close to the route we had used the last time when snow lay on the ground. If anything, this one was more distinct and easier to follow. It didn't seem like it took long to get to the old ski area. I walked to the top to get the summit and then returned to the slopes to get some pictures. The day was still overcast and the view was much the same as before but I took some shots before heading back. I had intended to follow the roads back as I had last time but they were just too muddy. We hit the cutoff for the path we followed up and took it all the way back to the shack. At some point the wind picked up and the sky darkened. I canceled the plans for South Bearpen and we headed down the woods road and back to the car. We got to the car just before 2:00 PM. We had covered just over 7 miles in under 4 hours.

On the way home I stopped at the bridge across the Pepacton Reservoir as I had meant to do so many times. I took some pictures both ways from the bridge. In the future I think I will ride around the reservoir to take some additional shots.

Spring 2009

On Sunday, June 14th I wanted to join a hike that Snickers had put together. We would meet at the Roaring Kill parking area and do a car shuttle to the end of Notch Inn Road to hike the "new" section of the Warners Creek Trail up Plateau. From there we would hike down the Devil's Path toward Sugarloaf with the option to hike out the Mink Hollow Trail to the car or go over Sugarloaf and out Pecoy Notch. The group that met at the parking area was larger than I though and included Bill, Judy, Dick, Joanne, Jay, Maria, Cindy, myself and two canine companions, Shiloh and Sheba. We worked out the car shuttle and Sheba and I got into Dick and Joanne's car along with Bill and Shiloh. Soon we were heading up Notch Inn Road which seemed better maintained than the last time my wife and I had been on it. The reason became clear when we saw the new home that was being built right next to the trail head. There wasn't too much room but we parked and got ready to hike. Soon we were on the old, eroded road that leads up to the trail cutoff.

The road is much better marked than the last time I hiked it but it is still littered with large rocks which are slippery when wet! The trail actually leaves the road in several places to avoid walking over some of these areas. The road is steeper than I remember but it is relatively short and is less than .5 miles we turned off the road to the left to follow the trail. The trail initially is flat or drops some before it begins a steady ascent of Plateau. Several points along the way are marked with yellow disks as opposed to the blue disks of the main trail. These side paths are labeled as vistas but most are blocked by the new leaves on the trees. The trail switches back and forth and then climbs over a 3400 foot unnamed "bump" before descending about 200 feet. After 1.75 miles on the trail the steep climb up Plateau begins in earnest. Somewhere around this point there is a viewpoint toward the south and east which gives a nice view of the surrounding mountains near and far. There are actually two lookouts and the second is the better since it gives a more open view

The next part of the trail is a steep climb of about .35 miles up to the plateau of Plateau. Along this climb there is a yellow side trail that leads to a spring. At the top of this climb, the trail flattens some and passes through a dark and green pine forest. After .25 miles the trail ends at the junction with the Devil's Path. Here we turned right and headed for the viewpoint to Sugarloaf. The .4 mile walk is nearly flat with a few undulations before dropping to the large rocks that form the lookout. We stopped here to get a snack and take some pictures but didn't stop too long before continuing. The descent to Mink Hollow is VERY steep and slippery in may places. Even rocks that didn't look slick were! The .6 miles of descent drops almost 1200 feet until it flattens at the junction with the old Mink Hollow Trail and the trail to the lean-to. We continued straight ahead on the Devil's Path to the junction with the Mink Hollow trail. Here Jay and Maria decided to climb Sugarloaf and the rest of us turned to head back to the parking area.

I have never liked the Mink Hollow Trail and this day was no exception! My usual complaint is that you have to go up to go down again. None of these climbs is long but several are steep. The trail is 2.5 miles back to the Roaring Kill parking area and always seems at least that long. Today the ENTIRE trail from the junction with the Devil's Path to just before the trailhead alternated between standing water, running water and deep mud! In most places there was no way to avoid the muck and mire! The dogs didn't seem to mind but I had no idea how I was going to clean and dry Sheba for the ride home! Most of the way back on this trail was spent trying to find the shallow areas and avoid falling on the damp and wickedly slippery rocks. Finally, the trail junction near the parking area appeared and we turned left to head to the cars. The hike was about 6.7 miles but took over 6 hours to do. Some of this time was spent in conversation but the rest was taken up by trying to avoid the mud pits on the Mink Hollow trail.

On Saturday, June 13th I had plans to hike Friday and Balsam Cap from Moonhaw Road and visit the B25 plane crash in the area between the two mountains. I put this idea out on the forums and Chris (MtnBound) responded but added that he would like to try to continue through over Rocky, Lone, Table and Peekamoose. I didn't think I would be up for this adventure but we decided to meet at the Peekamoose trailhead. We dropped his car at Peekamoose and drove mine to the end of Moonhaw Road and parked. The idea was to hike Friday and then Balsam Cap. At the summit of Balsam Cap we could continue on or split and go our own ways. This was Chris' plan and it was a good one that met both our needs. We started up toward Friday and immediately hit a woods road which we continued to follow. As we strayed too far to the north we ducked into the woods and bushwhacked toward Friday. At first I led for a while and then Chris took over and did a good job navigating. He is 25 years my younger and in great shape but was willing to cut his pace to match mine. We followed a pretty well-define herd path and there were very few places where we had to push through. The ground was wet and the rocks and branches slippery from the rain the night before and I was trying to be cautious. Soon we picked up another road and arrived at the cabin.

I had heard about the cabin but had never been able to find it! The views of the Ashokan, the surrounding hills and the valley below was stunning. Some clouds and fog hung over the scene and we stayed to take a few pictures. From the cabin we DID have to push through some bushes but soon found the herd path again and headed to a point just south of the Friday peak. The climb got steeper and the ground slicker as we approached Friday. Soon we hit some flatter ground and I saw the familiar cliff band of Friday before us. This looked a lot different than the last time I had come up! We walked along the cliff bands looking for a way up. Chris and Sheba found a place to ascend and we made our way up. Again we were confronted by more cliffs and again we found a way up. Soon we were at the top of the cliffs and on a herd path. This was the herd path that I could never find since I was always too far west. We followed the path and pushed through some brush as we continued toward the canister. Things began to look familiar and I checked my GPS. We were almost there and within a 100 feet we found it. The area looked very familiar but it became clear to me that I had always approached from farther north which I remember as being a lot more difficult. We signed in and then started back along the herd path toward Balsam Cap.

The herd path took us to the Col between the two peaks where there was a small, cleared area and a fire ring. The herd path continued on, sometimes VERY prominent and at others times not so easy to find. We found it easier to stay near the edge of the ridge. Along the way we passed by some cliff bands which were impressive but not to be compared to the ones on Friday! As we got close to balsam Cap it seemed like we should cut up through the woods. We started to bushwhack up through the trees but decided to try going back to the herd path first. This was a good choice since the herd path soon cut up to the summit. It was steep but very easy to follow and we were soon on the summit. I remembered approximately where the canister was located and we walked right to it. We signed in and got a drink. At this point Chris wanted to Continue and I wanted to go back. We parted wishing each other a good day. I started back but somehow missed the herd path we took up but found another. It seemed to follow the higher road but I soon may my way down to the lower path we had followed to Balsam Cap. As I approached the Col I found there was a lower path that headed down and directly back toward our route up Friday. I had plenty of time so I decided to follow it.

The path led down below some more cliffs and appeared to be heading directly across to our original route. At this point I decided to check my position against the coordinates I had for the location of the B25 crash. That's right, I hadn't entirely given up on this idea yet! I walked back along the herd path for less than .1 miles and my latitude was exact. Now it was a matter of walking DOWN to the wreck. The problem was that the terrain was VERY steep and that it was through a very damp (WET) drainage. I found out that .25 minutes of longitude is farther than one might think! Actually the distance was about .25 miles but the vertical drop was 500 feet! Finally, I could see the plane crash just down the hill from me. Initially, these wrecks are always eerie for me. The plane was the largest I have seen and it was spread over a large area. The forward part of the fuselage is largely intact. The star which was the marking of the Army Air Corps was faded but recognizable. Both engines or parts of them were present and one still had the propeller attached. I took many pictures and then began to plan the way back.

The best way back was to walk uphill slightly and almost due north. I did not like the UPHILL part so I headed downhill slightly and more west northwest. I constantly had to remind myself to turn more toward the north. Eventually I was back on the path from earlier in the day and just followed Sheba as she followed the exact route. At the cabin we stopped for a few more pictures since the fog and clouds had burned off the reservoir. I continued to follow Sheba as we walked along the woods roads and bushwhacked in between them to get back to the road that led down to the parking area on Moonhaw Road. This route was much easier than any I had taken before and the hike is well worth the effort. It was less than 6 miles but took all of 7 hours!

On Saturday, June 6th Karl and Kathleen were up from Virginia and ready to hike. We had planned to do something long and decided on hiking the Shawangunk Ridge Trail between Wurtsboro and Ellenville. We got started a little late to allow the early morning fog and haze to clear. It was decided that we would park a car on Route 52 near the trailhead on the way to Sam's Point and drove to the VFW in Wurtsboro to start the hike on that end. By the time we were ready to start it was already 10:45 AM. Cindy and I had hiked both ends of this route two weeks early but it was clear that there was a LOT of trail in between to cover. Reports put the distance at from 8 to 12 miles. We figured that at 2 miles per hour this would make a long hike but one we good all do. I was the only one carrying a pack but Karl did bring a bottle of water. I had packed 5 liters of water but was not sure that would be enough for all of us. I hoped there would be a few water sources along the way that at least the dogs could use. We started up the trail briskly and soon were on the highest part of the first stretch of ridge. From here there are views of the Basha Kill to the southwest and the Catskills to the north. The Wurtsboro Airport and the massive Kohl's Distribution Center dominate the valley below.

We made quick work of this first part of the ridge and were soon descending the other side before starting up to the next ridge. A short but sometimes steep descent brought us to a small stream and the first area of burned forest. Early in the spring a fire swept across the ridge and I was interested to see what damage it had done. Soon we were walking through the burned area. In most places the fire had cleared out the underbrush but had only charred the trees. Green plants were starting to populate the ground in burned areas and most trees were sprouting leaves. From this burned ridge we could look back at the previous ridge we had walked and ahead to the next. The views of the Catskills and the ridge cross from us dominated the views.

From this ridge we began a steep descent to the lowest point on our route except for the beginning. Soon we were in a pretty area with high ferns and a small stream. We rested briefly and as we were leaving I spotted some flowers on the ground. These flowers were NOT connected to any plant but looked as if they had fallen from somewhere. Karl and Kathleen said they looked like the flowers from a tulip tree. Kathleen and Karl soon identified the exact tree from the leaf pattern. Strange that this one tree was growing alone in this environment. We then began a LONG climb that would last almost 1.5 miles. The first part was very steep and after about .2 miles we were at the Roosa Gap Road. We crossed the road, stopped for a minute to get a snack and then continued the climb up the ridge.

As we climbed the ridge we could look back at the ridge we had just left. The burned area was very easy to see. In less than a mile the trail flattened somewhat but continued to rise and fall until we again began a descent at about 5 miles. In less than a mile we were at the bottom and ready to climb again, The ascent was steep in places and lasted for about .5 miles. We again descended slightly but then began another .5 mile climb to the summit of our highest point on the trail. This part of the trail skirted the edge of the ridge before crossing over to the highest point. Along the way some interesting rock formations presented themselves. One rock tower that stood away from the edge of the cliff was very interesting. Along this part of the walk I began to find areas that looked familiar. As it turned out these areas just looked like the areas I had reached two weeks before. As we crossed to the top of the ridge, the rest of the party took a rest and I scouted ahead. I FINALLY found a fire circle high on the ridge that I recognized. We still had some distance to hike but at least we knew where we were.

From the highest point the trail dropped VERY steeply, losing 700 feet of elevation in about .5 miles. Some areas were under cover and some out in the open. Some areas were slippery pine needles over bare rock. Other areas had slippery oak leaves over bare rock. Other places had slippery moss on wet rocks. We descended to the woods road that is the old Route 52. The Long Path heads north from here as the road turns left. We picked up the yellow trail that leads UP to Route 52. This trail is less than 1 mile long and passed over a small stream with a waterfall. From that point there is a short but steep ascent to the main road. This would not be so tough but it was then end of a long hike. As we walked back to the car there were a half dozen hang gliders plying the air currents above the area. I took a few pictures and then climbed in the car after 9 miles and 5 and a half hours of hiking.

On Saturday, May 30th I had planned to do some more CHH peaks and had settled on Van Wyck and Woodhull. My wife is not thrilled with bushwhacks so it was just Sheba and I who headed out. The forecast was for early clouds then clearing. The temperatures were supposed to be moderate, never rising above 70. I had never hiked these two mountains and when I looked at the maps the route from Denning seemed shorter and not as steep. I chose to start on the Peekamoose Road and climb Van Wyck first and then Woodhull. My plans after that were vague. Walking out the roads did not seem like a good idea since that would place me miles from my car. I had an idea from other bushwhacks that returning the same way would be uninteresting and too difficult. I thought perhaps I could go directly from the summit of Woodhull back to the car or perhaps head back to the Col between the two mountains and then strike out of the parking area. When we got on the Peekamoose Road I turned up Porcupine Road to see if I could find someone to ask for permission to hike. The summit of Woodhull is on private land and the route I might use to return had some private parcels. As I drove up Porcupine, the road got rougher and rougher and I was abut to give up when I spotted a car at one cabin. I stopped and "halloed" and immediately got an answer. I explained what I wanted to do and the gentleman said that it didn't see any reason why I couldn't and that walking wouldn't harm anything. I thanked him and drove back down to the Peekamoose Road. I went as far as the main parking area for the peaks and then turned around and parked at the small pull off next to Bear Hole Brook. It was 9:35 AM and Sheba and I were ready to go. We walked the path to the brook and I decided to take pictures on the way back.

The contour lines on the topo map were pretty close together in this area and the terrain lived up to its billing. We climb the steep hill from the car along a path that others may have taken. Soon our route intersected a woods road and I decided to follow it for a while. The road followed the brook but did not drop into the drainage or gain the highest ground immediately. At one point the road flattened out and an old foundation appeared. I took some pictures and decided to leave the road and strike up through the woods. The woods were open here but there were some rock ledges to be negotiated. We continued to walk aiming for a "tongue" or ridge that was aligned with the summit. Once on this ridge the hike was nearly flat with just a gentle rise for about 1.5 miles. As we approached the area near the ascent to the summit a plane crash was visible to the left. We walked over and I took several pictures. I had not intended to search for the crash but did not want to pass it up. The contour lines on the map became VERY close together ahead but I didn't realize exactly what this meant!

The trip up this part of Van Wyck was all but vertical in most spots. It was less than .2 miles but had me wondering if I would get up or have to turn around. Sheba was a great help finding a way up and then showing me the way to go. On the way up we found a rock overhang that could act as a shelter surrounded by some massive rock formations. There were many cliff and ledges to work around with narrow bands of dirt and vegetation in-between where we could get a foothold. At one point we walked out onto a large flat rock and got a nice view of the other hills and the surrounding valleys. Eventually we were at the top and, as always, wondering around to be sure we hit the highest ground. Some spots promised a view but they lied! We headed almost due west from the summit working along a tongue or ridge and trying to stay on the high ground without dropping off to the side. I knew this would be important since the path from Van Wyck to Woodhull lies on the Catskill Divide. A direct route would be south southwest but this would drop down off the divide and lose too much elevation that would have to be regained.

As we walked a path began to develop which appeared and disappeared at random. Whether this was an animal trail or evidence that people were hiking this route was unclear. After about .5 miles, we headed a little northwest to stay on the divide. We had lost some elevation continuously since we were heading for the Col between the two mountains. The divide is very narrow in some spots, so narrow that you can get the felling of walking along a narrow spine. I did find another lookout which had a nice view down the valley! In another .5 miles we headed southwest on the divide and soon we were in the Col between the two peaks. The next .5 miles was much steeper and I just headed up and around many of the small cliffs and ledges. As we arrived on the peak, we wandered around to find the high ground and I began to plan the next move. I ruled out returning using the same route since it was too difficult and too boring. I though about walking down to Porcupine Road and using the roads to return to the car. This would be entirely too long. I chose the third option which was to take a southeast bearing directly back to the car. The complication here was Stone Cabin Creek. I had no idea how hard it would be to cross this brook but I decided to find out when I got there.

As we headed southeast off the summit of Woodhull, we ran into another woods road which I decided to follow. Soon we were at the upper part of Porcupine Road and we walked along the road briefly before cutting east into the woods. As we approached the brook, it was clear to me that describable to the brook and ascending again was out of the question. The drainage was entirely too steep. I decided to walk along the upper bank of the brook and follow it back to the Peekamoose Road. A short road walk would take use back to the car. As we walked along, we cam across a large stone foundation. Could this be the reason for the name Stone Cabin Brook? After about .75 miles we ran into a tributary of the main brook and walked down to it. We could have crossed here as it was not too steep but I decided to follow it down to the main stream. This in itself was challenging as I decided on the low route instead of staying up on the bank. This was slow going and involved a lot of side hill work! At the main stream I found a place to cross and only got a little water in the boots. We worked our way up a steep hillside and then found...a road.

The road was wide and easy to follow as it ran along the creek. It was muddy in places with some small streams flowing across it. In a few more weeks the nettle crop will be flourishing but I was GLAD to have something easy to follow. We continued along this road for about 1.2 miles where it made an abrupt turn to the east to parallel the Rondout Creek. The creek was wide at this point and I did not want to wade across it. I decided to continue to follow the road back to the parking area or until in intersected our trail from earlier in the day. The problem was that the road began to climb and climb UP the shoulder of Van Wyck. I followed it for about .5 miles until I decided that I did not want to climb anymore. We began to descend and head directly for the car in a mostly southeast direction. This again required some side hill work which I was very tiring! Soon we were back down and on level ground and it was a very short walk to the car. It was 3:40 PM and we had covered about 9 miles in about 6 hours.

After dumping my gear at the car, Sheba and I walked the path to Stone Cabin Brook. The water was flowing nicely. I stopped and took several pictures. There is a stone wall that looks like it once went across the stream. Many of these streams had small mills but I do not know the history of this one. We walked back to the car and headed toward West Shokan to take a look at Buttermilk Falls. I parked the car and we walked to the falls. The falls, which can be almost dry in the summer, had a large volume of water flowing over it. I took pictures and Sheba got a drink. We walked up the stream and I walked out onto some slippery rocks to get better pictures. We walked back to the car and I walked out to the road bridge to take some shots from further away.

On Monday, May 25th I had planned to do some more CHH peaks and had almost settled on Van Wyck and Woodhull. My wife is not thrilled with bushwhacks but WAS interested in hiking. I proposed a car spot hike of the Shawangunk Ridge Trail from Cragsmoor to Wurtsboro which is a little over 10 miles. Cindy wasn't sure she was up for this so we took one car with the intention of hiking one end and then the other. Cindy, Sheba and I arrived at the VFW building in Wurtsboro at 10:00 AM. A woods road goes straight out from the building but has no blazes. Just as the road starts some white blazes lead up the ridge. We started our hike up a short but rather steep hill until the white trail meets the blue blazed SRT. We signed in and turned left and began to follow the blue disks. The weather was warm and a little humid especially for May but not really bad. The leaves were out in full blocking some views but providing shade. The trail wanders up and down a little and switches back to make some of the steeper parts easier. It heads in a generally north and northeast direction through mostly hardwoods. As we neared the top of the ridge a few pitch pines appeared and some views started to unveil themselves.

The more we climbed the more the trail began to look like the rest of the Shawangunks. Pitch pines became more prevalent and the trail passed over open rock faces. There were more and more views of the valleys below. The airport was visible but the most noticeable building was the enormous Kohl's Distribution Center! Along the trail I spotted a Lady Slipper! There was only one and I was fortunate to see it where it was hiding. We continued along the trail as it started to descend and reenter the forest. When it became clear that there were no more views, we turned around and started back. We stopped several times to take pictures. From one vantage point we could see the peaks of the Catskills to the north beyond the lower, closer ridges. To the south we could see the Basha Kill wetlands. We retraced our path and were back a the car by 11:30 AM. We drove to Cragsmoor by way of Shawanga Lodge, Roosa Gap and Cox Roads. At the end of Cox Road we turned left on Route 52 toward Ellenville and parked at one of the viewpoints overlooking the Rondout Valley. We walked back up Route 52 for abut 300 meters and then turned right into the woods on a yellow blazed trail to hike another part of the SRT. We had hiked about 2.4 miles in 1.5 hours.

After a short uphill the yellow trail levels and then descends, goes through a switchback and then parallels a small stream before crossing it. There is a small cascade at the crossing which was running nicely due to the recent rain. We stooped for a drink and some pictures an then followed the trail as it turned sharply left and ascended again to the ridge. The trail was flat for a short distance and then descended to an old woods road where it ended. Here we picked up the aqua blazes of the Long Path and continued to follow them down the woods road. THIS WAS A MISTAKE. Following the Long Path took us OFF the SRT and began leading north toward Ellenville. We finally realized are mistake and, although the hiking was nice, we turned back to the junction with the yellow trail. Lust after this junction the SRT and the Long Path south turn left and start up the ridge. Even after we started on this trail up to the ridge, I was not sure we were on the right trail. The trail was marked with the aqua blazes of the Long Path but lacked any blue discs to indicate the SRT. The trail ascended rather steeply and some nice views to the east and south started to appear. As I took some pictures Cindy pointed out a hang glider plying the updrafts and I soon spotted another.

We continued up the trail as it went higher and higher toward the top of the ridge. Cindy was beginning to tire and I told her I would go up to the top of the ridge and then return. As I hiked quickly toward the top the blue discs finally appeared. The trail continued to ascend with several twists and turns and several more good viewpoints. The top seemed so close! Soon I broke out onto some open rocks and reached the top of the ridge. I was disappointed that I could not see over the top to the west but decided not to go any farther. There were some great views from the top of the ridge and I took a few pictures before turning around and hurrying back to join Cindy. We hiked back down the trail being careful not to slip on the pine needles and oak leaves! At the trail junction we got back on the yellow trail, followed it over the creek and back up through the switchbacks to the ridge. The final climb and the walk back down Route 52 seemed long and we were back at the car just after 2:30 PM. The 3.5 miles had taken about 2.5 hours with plenty of time for taking pictures.

On Sunday, May 17th Sheba and I followed Hoosier into Windham where we waited for Snickers to arrive. After getting a snack at convenience store we headed up to the Windham Ski Center parking along the side of the road on Club Road. We started our hike by walking through a short tunnel and passing by a new house construction. The houses in this area are MAGNIFICENT with lots of wood and stonework. The views from these vacation homes are SPECTACULAR! We headed up one of the slopes in a generally southwest direction before turning southeast to follow a road across the base of the steeper ski slopes. It immediately became obvious that Cindy's idea to hike these two CHH peaks was a good one. The weather was nearly perfect and the views beautiful. We were soon following the road as it went through several switchbacks up the slopes. We even got to walk on the remnants of some snow on the slopes. We had decided to hike Cave first and then walk the ridge over to West Cave and then down the slopes back to the car.

Hoosier found the woods road that leads to Cave and we began to follow it. The road is hard to follow in places and we were soon fighting our way through some briars and brush but that is to be expected on a bushwhack. We picked up the road again and soon were at the highest point on Cave. We could see the ski lifts at the top of the slopes and headed in that direction. We were a little surprised to find another hiker at the top! The views from the slopes were great and we debated which mountain was Huntersfield and which was Richmond. I was reminded of the time several weeks before when Hermit and I were standing on Richmond taking pictures of Windham! It was then that I noticed my hands were VERY cold. The wind was blowing fiercely and I put on my gloves and hat. I wondered over to the eastern slopes and took more pictures before returning to the lift to pick up my pack. As soon as I joined Snickers and Hoosier on the path I was out of the win and much warmer.

We followed the road the whole way back to where we entered the woods and then turned up the slopes. In less than half a mile we were on West Cave with MORE great views down the slopes into the valley and across to the next mountain range. We began walking northwest along the ridge on a road. This area of the ski slopes had primarily double black diamond trails which are very steep. Cindy did not want to descend these steep slopes and I must admit I saw her point. We continued to follow the road along the ridge until it began a more gentle descent down the mountain. A few twists and turns later and we were headed back toward our cars. We decided that a road walk would be acceptable and headed out to the streets. These roads were on my GPS maps and we easily found our way back to the place where we parked. On the way we got a close-up view of the homes along the way. We completed the 4.44 mile hike in under three hours. As a bonus we stopped at Cave Mountain Brewery in Windham for a beer and sandwich. I would recommend the oatmeal stout and the Cuban!

On Sunday, May 17th Sheba and I headed for the parking area for Halcott on Route 42 between Shandaken and Lexington. The Swede had planned a traverse of North Dome Sherrill, Balsam, Sleeping Lion and Halcott. We were scheduled to start hiking at 9:00 AM but the group was not fully assembled until 9:30 AM. We decided to hike Sleeping Lion and the Halcott before crossing the road to take on the other three. Before the hike started Sheba and I walked up to the little waterfall by the parking area and I took some pictures. Venturing out into the creek above the falls, I almost ended my hike before it began. The moss was as slippery as ice and I almost fell. This would become a theme during the day. Finally we were ready to go. The group included Hermit, Snickers, The Swede, Oso, Hoosier and, of course, Sheba and myself. No other dogs showed up for the hike.

We started from the parking area with Hermit in the lead and headed along the stream for a little while. Soon we were hiking almost due north and UP as always. NO points along the route were particularly steep and much of the walk was open. We had to avoid a few ledges near the summit and headed a little northeast to gain the ridge and then walk up to the stop. There were some briars and the nettles were beginning to show themselves. After finding what looked like the highest point on Sleeping Lion, Ralph set a course southwest toward Halcott. The peak was visible much of the time through the trees and Ralph was dead on as we hit the ridge between the two peaks and never left it. The walk of just over a mile and a half seemed to go very quickly as we walked and talked. Soon we were near the summit of Halcott and then at the canister. We all signed in and took a break for a snack. The views from Halcott are all blocked by trees. They are the kind of views you get from many of these peaks. The eye can see interesting features through the trees but the camera cannot!

From the top of Halcott we headed almost due east on a descent toward Route 42. We had decided to head back toward the parking area to avoid a stream crossing further downstream where the water might be too high to safely cross. Swede led the way down. The route was steeper than it looked on the map or on the GPS and much of it was through areas which were VERY wet and VERY slippery. Eric is a strong hiker and was barely in sight. After a few slips and slides, I decided to leave the group at the parking area. I did not feel safe traveling so quickly over this type of terrain. As we approached the parking area we came across a nice stream with a waterfall with several different levels. I stopped for some time to take pictures. Everything was so green from the recent rain and this area raised my spirits. I got the idea that I would drive back toward Frost Valley and stop at various places to take some pictures from the road. I crossed the stream and headed down toward the road. I saw several people from the group on the road but elected to walk further upstream toward the parking area before crossing. When I arrived at the parking area, I was surprised to find Snickers, Hermit and Hoosier at the cars. Ralph had company coming for dinner and Snickers and Hoosier had decided it was a little late to start up Sherrill and North Dome. However, it was too early to stop hiking. They had decided to go to Windham to hike Cave and West cave and invited me along. I readily agreed and followed Hoosier to Windham. We had finished the 4.3 mile FIRST part of the hike in about 4 hours.

On Saturday, May 9th Hermit (Ralph Ryndak) was scheduled to complete is CHH on Hodge Pond and Mongaup Mountains. Snickers (Cindy) and I had talked about going to Breakneck Ridge but we decided to go with Ralph. This area was one of my favorites and I feel very at home in this area. The weather report grew worse as the week progressed until the forecast settled on possible showers in the morning and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Ralph decided to have a go at it any way. When I arrived at the Frick Pond parking area Snickers was already there and shortly Ralph, Joanne and Alan Via arrived. Sheba and Bookah seemed to hit it off right away. We thought some others might be coming but the weather forecast may have discouraged some. the plan was to hike the Quick Lake Trail to Frick and then follow it passed Iron Wheel Junction and toward the Flynn Trail at Junkyard Junction. Just before Junkyard we would head north by northwest into the woods and hit the Hodge Pond high point. From here we would head slightly northeast to pick up the jeep trail to the Flynn Trail at junkyard. To stay on the trails we would head down to Hodge and around the head end on the jeep trail before following the roads up to the Col between Beech Mountain and Mongaup. From here e would head west toward Mongaup on a bushwhack. I had done this approximate route earlier this year and knew it was long but not difficult. We waited until 9:00 AM and then got started.

After signing at the register box, we began to walk toward Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail. It was clear that the trails would be wet from the downpour the night before. This section of trail looked like a stream in some places and a lake in others. We were soon at the pond and the other hikers were as impressed as I with its beauty. Today there was a blanket of haze and fog on the mountains and over the pond but this only added to the mystique of Frick Pond. We stopped to take pictures and then walked over the bridge to continue around the pond of the Quick Lake Trail. Even as we began to gain a little elevation from the pond the trail stayed soggy. As we walked through the hemlock grove, we had to avoid the blowdown left by winter storms and cross several small streams. At Iron Wheel Junction there were more pictures before we turned left to continue on the Quick Lake Trail. The trail began to climb as we headed toward Junkyard Junction. We passed the snowmobile trail to Quick Lake and began to consider where we would start the bushwhack. The rain had brought out the buds on the trees and many different wild flowers. We stopped to take some pictures of fiddleheads growing on a large mossy rock. There were also numerous trout lilies and trillium along the way. As we neared the top of the trail, we decided it was time to cut into the woods.

Bearing were taken and GPS units consulted and we headed generally northwest and UP. On the way toward the highest point we worked our way up and around several rock ledges and pushed through some brush. The woods were pretty open and becoming very green. We hit what looked liked a high point and consulted maps and GPS and found we needed to be a little further west. Within less than .2 miles we found what looked like a likely spot and Ralph mounted a stump to claim CHH 101. It was 11:00 AM and we decided to make haste toward Mongaup to avoid the thunderstorm predicted for the afternoon. From the high point we started down and toward the northeast to intersect the jeep trail that would lead us to Junkyard Junction and the Flynn Trail. We traversed this distance in a short time and were soon on the jeep road headed toward the Flynn Trail. At Junkyard we continued straight ahead on Flynn and down to the pond. At Hodge Pond we turned left to go around the back of the pond on the jeep road. We could hardly see any of the pond as we circled around. On the far side we turned left and at the top of the hill left again to walk the roads toward Mongaup.

At the point where the road turns right to the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp we decided to go straight ahead to bag the peak first. If weather permitted, we could take the side trip on the way back. We continued on the road stopping only at the spring house on the way for a drink. I pointed out a possible viewpoint where the road turns sharply to the right but it was completely obscured by the fog. I also indicated several path and trails that could be used to get to the Sullivan County high point on Beech Mountain. We so decided to leave this as a possibility for the return trip. As the road began to descend we decided to go off the road to the right. We waited until the road makes a hard right and then turned left into the woods. A path immediately became obvious and we followed it along a distinct line of ledges and cliffs. The land fell away to our right and some views could be had through the trees. We continued to follow the path as it skirted the highest point. Eventually we turned to our right and headed UP. On the flat summit we walked around until we finally decided we had the highest point. We stopped to take pictures of Ralph as he completed the CHH. Cindy had brought a beer to celebrate and Ralph's patch. Alan had the CHH banner for Ralph to sign. We didn't linger too long as the skies continued to darken and the black flies began to SWARM. We followed our path back to the road and the road back down to the junction with the road to the Boy Scout camp.

We turned right and walked the several hundred feet to the camp. We took some pictures before turning around and heading back toward Hodge Pond. While talking we missed the turn down to the pond. At the Flynn Trail I decided to turn right and head down to the pond since the weather was holding. We stopped a the pond to take pictures and Bookah jumped in to retrieve a stick. After a brief stay, we turned around and headed back up the Flynn Trail and continued to follow it to the junction with Big Rock. Here we decided to continue straight ahead on the Flynn Trail and back to the parking area. The trail here was damp but we did not have to contend with standing or running water as we did on the way out. We almost ran the last part of the trail to get away from the flies! We were back just after 3:00 PM having taken a little over 6 hours to cover the 10.2 miles!

On Sunday, May 3rd Cindy and I decided to hike after church. We headed out DeBruce Road with Sheba around noon and arrived at the Slide Mountain parking area at around 1:00 PM. Our intention was to hike Winnisook and Spruce for the CHH. The weather prediction was for partly sunny to partly cloudy skies with only a slight chance of rain. By the time we parked it was raining but not heavily. We immediately crossed Route 47 and entered the woods to the left of a small stream. The stream did not exist on the map but had a pretty good drainage and was flowing freely. As is my custom I headed in the general direction of the peak and started UP. The route I took alternated between light brush and more open areas and between gentle slopes and some pretty steep areas. Along the way we negotiated several ledges. I aimed for the area just to the west of Winnisook peak and soon we found ourselves in a little Col. At this point we turned more east and started up toward the summit. There were several impressive cliff bands but these were easily avoided by walking around the ends. As we ascended there were some views to the west and north but none were very open. At times Slide was visible but only to the eye and only through the trees.

Soon we were on the summit plateau and I was wandering around looking for some viewpoint. I never did find one although there were several open areas. Once I ran into the posted signs we retraced our steps and rested in one of the open clearings. After a drink and snack and some pictures we headed back the way we came and then headed due west over a little knob. Here we found another nice open clearing. I then started southwest trying to stay on the high ground of the ridge. It seemed that no matter how hard I tried I kept straying one way or the other. Part of this was to avoid thicker areas of brush and some small ledges. Soon we were in the Col between the bump and Hemlock. Heading up Hemlock there were some rocky areas that made hiking more difficult and some thicker brush just before the summit. At the top of Hemlock Cindy though she was a little too tired to go to Spruce and then hike down to Route 47. I left Sheba with her and sprinted for Spruce. This was not easy going as I ran into some thick brush and some ledges! I also continued to have problems keeping the high ground. Once up on the summit I did a quick traverse and then reversed my trail, more or less, back to Hemlock. Cindy and Sheba were waiting although it took several calls to find them. We decided on the "short" route back to the car even though it looked steep.

We retraced our route down Hemlock and then headed southeast directly toward the Slide parking area. The maps were right. There were several cliffs to climb down and several steep descents to negotiate. I liked these areas but Cindy was beginning to really flag. As she got tired it became more difficult to avoid the little slips and slides and each became more annoying. Soon we could see and hear the road. We crossed a little brook and emerged directly across from the parking area. The 4.5 mile hike had taken about 4.5 hours!

On Sunday, Apr 26th I decided to join Snickers for her finish of the CHH on Wildcat Mountain. She had invited hikers to attend on the ADHHighPeaks forum and I had hiked with her several times. Hiking with Snickers is never dull and I was anxious to meet some of her friends. She had decided to meet at Biscuit Brook and do a car shuttle to the Slide Mountain PA. This route would cross the Neversink and follow the Phoenicia-East Branch Trail to the point where the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail starts up Slide. From here we would bushwhack the two Wildcat peaks and then head directly north to the Biscuit Brook Parking area crossing the Neversink again. I was concerned about the Neversink crossing so I got up extra early and was at the Slide PA by 8:00 AM. The water was lower than I expected at was easy enough to cross in several places. Sheba and I went back to the Biscuit Brook parking area and walked down to the river. Here the Neversink was MUCH wider, deeper and following more swiftly. I considered hiking in from Denning to meet the group but decided to stick around and do what everyone else did. To while away some time, Sheba and I crossed the road and hiked up the trail toward Big Indian. We walked up the first big hill and then returned to the parking area. Some people who were going Cindy were already there and we introduced or reintroduced ourselves. Cindy soon arrived and then the rest of the group was there just before 9:00 AM.

Besides Snickers, Sheba and the group included Doodles, AJTIV, Hoosier, Dick and Edelweiss. We all hopped in a few cars and drove the three miles to the Slide Mountain Parking area. As we were getting ready to depart, Moonray and Rachel joined us. Soon we were crossing the river and making our way up to the woods road that comes in from the Winnisook Club property. As we reached the trail that turns up Slide, I realized that I had never hiked the stretch of trail from that point to the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail. I was intrigued since I like to hike new places. This part of the trail grows narrow in a few places. It has a nice little brook with a bridge built on a solid stone foundation. A little further on the trail becomes a stream just before the CO Trail splits off. Several times along the way we stopped to keep the group together and to chat about the hike or others adventures. When we got to the "jump off" point, Hoosier took a bearing using map and compass and showed Joanne how it was done. Soon we were headed generally west and in my favorite direction, UP! We immediately had to negotiate some rather interesting ledges and cliffs. These were soon behind us and we were walking through a mixture of brush and open forest. Like so many of these peaks, potential viewpoints would appear on the edge of the mountain. Walking to these possible lookouts always proves futile since they offer views the eye can appreciate but the camera cannot capture.

Up we went toward the eastern summit of Wildcat. Nothing look familiar to me until we got to an open patch at the summit. The first time I hiked these we came in from Denning. We all declared victory and after a brief rest started down into the Col between the peak and the next unnamed bump. We repeated this again to get over the next bump. Using GPS, compass, map, sun and good old fashioned hiking skills we managed to stay on the ridge rather than take a straight line for the west peak. Experience has shown that this is usually easier than losing and regaining elevation! After the last bump we ran into another significant band of cliffs. We walked along this band until a way down presented itself. In fact, different people took different routes all of which seemed to work. At one point I stepped on what looked like solid ground. It was NOT! What I stepped on was a layer of leaves covering a large crack between two rocks. My right leg went down into this hole and the pain was immediate. I pulled my leg out and made sure it was fully intact. Fortunately, I it was abraded and bruised but not enough to cause any real problem. I thought, "That is going to smart tomorrow morning!" After climbing down, it was right back up to start the ascent of the west peak.

Along the way we noticed that the black flies were out and contrary to one comment they WERE biting. The weather was hot but not too humid with only an occasional breeze. We kept drinking and at each stop I would give Sheba water since we had encountered none since the CO Trail junction. Along the way we encountered a bog with sphagnum moss which was very interesting. We also ran across the hemlock grove which is deep and dark and surrounded by hardwoods. The temperature dropped noticeably as we entered but the flies followed us in! There were also several nice clearing with wild flowers beginning to show and unusual trees bent at odd angles. We kept looking for views but none seemed available. While we were resting, a member of our party went to look for a better viewpoint. As we got up to leave we noticed they were not back! We called with no answer so three of us went back to look for him. Even experienced hikers can fall off ledges! We did not find our friend and concluded that they had probably gone ahead of us. I was still unnerved as we left our resting place and headed for the western peak. There were several more small ledges to deal with an we again took a longer route to be sure we stayed on the high ground of the ridge. We walked and walked and called for our friend as we approached the last ascent to the summit plateau. Soon we heard a return call and were all glad we had found the "lost" hiker. Cindy took the lead to get to the summit first. We soon entered a little clearing and some declared victory. This may well have been the high point but I knew there was a boulder with a cairn a little further along the plateau. After a break for drinks and a snack, we headed in that direction since it was also the way we would descend back to the Biscuit Brook parking area. We found the boulder, took some pictures and then started down.

The trip down was very easy compared to the hike up. We headed almost due north. The slope was gentle in most places with only a few rocks to either skirt or descend. Within about a Nile the steeper drop to the river appeared. I was separated some from the group and was a little further east when I got to the river. Just to my right was a small waterfall with a wide, relatively shallow pool. I decided this might be a good place to cross but I wanted to rejoin the group. I hike downstream a little and soon saw them. A couple had crossed, a few were crossing and two more were getting ready. The place they chose looked a little too fast flowing for Sheba and me so back upstream we went! I took off my boots and shoes and rolled up my pants. I expected the water to be freezing. It was cold but felt good on by scratched and bruised legs. The pool was a little deeper than I though but I made it across, put my socks and shoes back on and headed downstream. I could not find the group so I headed up a small hill to Route 47. I was just east of the parking area and was there in only a few minutes. We all said goodbye and I left for home while the others arranged transport back to Slide. We covered a little over 6 miles in 7 hours! About half of this time was spent chatting, resting and taking pictures. This is not my usual pace but I found it a very enjoyable hike with a great group of people.

On Sunday, Apr 19th Snickers and I hiked Mongaup Mountain in the morning. We finished just short of noon and headed back to Livingston Manor. We decided to hike Onteora Mountain since the weather was bright and clear and this peak was supposed to have a great view of the Devil's Path. I decided to stop at my house to see if Cindy (my wife) wanted to go. She decided to accompany us and we were soon on our way. The promise of eating at Pancho Villa's may have tipped the scales! We took DeBruce Road to 47 then to 28 and 42 North to Lexington. We turned right on 23 and passed through Hunter on the way to Tannersville. After obtaining permission to hike on this private land, we parked and began the hike. We crossed some open ground to get to the woods and then picked up an old woods road and some trails which helped in our ascent. The roads wound back and forth up the hillside and I eventually grew tired of the switchbacks. I decided on a more direct route up through the cliff band. I stayed far enough ahead of the ladies to avoid thrown projectiles.

After climbing up through a major band of cliffs there was still more climbing to do. As we walked we found more "trails" which seemed to be freshly marked but were not in any way cleared. Some trails seemed very old and hardly used. Along the way there were also some old signs with broken letters. Some of these led to interesting interpretations of what they originally said. We also began to see posted signs for private property that we did not have permission to hike and we tried to steer away from them. Finally we could see only one rise ahead of us with some evergreens to mark the summit. After a short climb, we were at the highest point. We stopped and I took some pictures of the summit and began to explore for some viewpoints. Sadly, the peak did not live up to its billing and offered no views suitable for photography. I descended from the summit slightly to the next level down but no lookouts were obvious. I returned to the summit without taking any pictures! After getting a drink and giving Sheba a treat, we started to descend and chose a line that seemed to lead more directly toward our cars. As we descended, an area appeared ahead that seemed to offer a clear spot for viewing. I didn't get my hopes up as I have been disappointed before! When we arrived, there was a clear area atop a sheer drop. No trees blocked the view and I knew THIS was THE place!

In front of us was an unobstructed view of the valley below. In the foreground was Onteora Lake, the fieldhouse and the golf course. It seemed that the view simply went on forever. From left to right the Blacks, Windham High Peak, Kaaterskill High Peak and Roundtop were laid out. Continuing around the entire eastern portion Devil's Path could be seen starting with Indian Head and ending with Plateau. The profiles of each peak were distinct and different. The Notch between Plateau and Hunter was there and even the eastern slopes of Hunter could be seen. Some of the lower peaks like Parker Mountain dotted the landscape giving character to the flatter features. This was one of the best views I have seen in the Catskills rivaling that from Twin, Wittenberg and the Palenville Lookout! I took a lot of pictures from many different angles and jumped down to the flat rock below just to get a different view. A short walk away was another viewpoint that revealed the snow-covered slopes of Hunter. This lookout was more overgrown with views only available through the trees. Soon it was time to go and we started to descend.

We consulted our maps, compass and GPS units as we lost elevation and found we were headed too far to the west. The terrain was steep with several cliff bands so we turned east to head along the top of the cliffs. Soon an opportunity came to descend and we took it. We still were trying to head east but were sure we would hit one of a number of roads or trails that were below us. Soon some marked trails and roads did appear. Some of the trails even had new signs to name them but most were overgrown and hard to follow. Soon we were descending on a well-defined woods road toward the lake. We turned left at the shore and started the walk clockwise around the lake. After crossing a swampy area, ascending little hill and walking through some forest, we were back on the open ground from earlier in the morning. I took a few more pictures and then we headed back to the cars. We had covered the 3.2 mile hike in three hours. The three of us decided to eat at Pancho Villa's in Tannersville. Cindy and I had only about a hour's ride home. Snickers on the other hand had a three hour trip ahead. After eating, we said goodbye knowing it was not the last hike we would be doing together.

On Sunday, Apr 19th I met Snickers at the Livingston Manor School to head for Shin Crick Road and a hike up Mongaup Mountain. I felt bad about bailing on her last Friday and wanted to make it up to her. Cindy needed only this peak and Wildcat to complete her CHH. We loaded my gear and Sheba into her car and headed up the Beaverkill Road to Lew Beach. In Lew beach we turned right onto Shin Creek Road. Along the road on the right hand side less than half a mile after the turn is a narrow ravine cut by Shin Creek. It is on the Irving Berlin Estate and I one day will get permission to explore this interesting area. We continue on the road until it turned to dirt and started to gain some elevation. When the DEC appeared on the right, we began to watch for the pull off or parking area on the right. Cindy parked the car and we took a bearing for Mongaup Mountain. We walked back up the road and then turn left into the woods and immediately began to gain some elevation to the ridge. There were a few steep areas and some with brush to push through but we were soon on a woods road with new flagging. We tried to stay on the state land but found it difficult since there are few posted signs in the woods and no state boundary markings. The road to the right went down and to the left it seemed to go out of our way. We decided on a more direct route!

We walked UP again through some rocks and then into open hardwood forest. The rest of the hike consisted of alternating climbs over rocks, pushes through brush and open woods. There were few prickers to bar the way and overall the walk was easy. My approach is to head in the general direction you want to go and always UP. Occasionally I check my GPS or compass but generally my approach works. Like many of these CHH peaks there were not many lookouts and all were blocked by trees and brush. The weather continued to clear, the sun came out and both Cindy and I shed a layer of clothing. On many of these hikes I look ahead and see what I think is the summit plateau only to find higher ground ahead. This one was no different but soon there was no more high ground as we were on the peak. After wandering around for some time, we started back along our same path using CPS (canine positioning system). Sheba usually can follow the scent of our track up the peak and will take me back the way we came! We drifted a little north and into an open field. This was great since the field offered the viewpoint that we had been lacking. Near the edge of the field there was still some snow! We stopped and took pictures before continuing on our way.

We followed a woods road down toward another field but then decided it went a little too far north and started back into the woods. Soon we intersected our previous path and continued to follow it for some time. I decided to head directly for the car to cut off a little distance. This worked well until I saw that we had lost a little too much elevation and needed to make a short but steep climb back up to the road. On the road a quick look to the left revealed Cindy's car less than 100 feet away. The 3.5 mile hike took us about 3 hours including the time we stopped. As we drove back to Livingston Manor, we made plans to hike another peak. I had heard that Onteora Mountain was a nice peak with good views. The day was sunny and my only objection was the long drive to Tannersville.

On Saturday, Apr 11th my son Karl was up from Virginia. Since the weather forecast was for clearing skies, we decided to head out for a hike. I needed to do Woodpecker Ridge for the CHH and it was the last peak in the Beaverkill area for me. We waited a little while but "clearing" did not seem evident so we headed out. We parked at the parking area for the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail. My plan was to head almost directly north through the woods and then return by the same route to the car. Before starting the bushwhack, we headed down the trail to the Beaverkill where there is Avery interesting suspension bridge across the river. Karl had never seen the bridge and appreciated the robust construction but stayed on firm ground. Our dogs, Sheba and Maggie, decided to follow me out onto the span. After a few steps the open slat construction and the swaying of the bridge convinced them to return quickly to the bank. We walked back up to the car, got our equipment and headed into the woods around 10:30 AM.

The woods are fairly open all the way up to the high point on the ridge. The ground was wet but the worst spots are easily avoided. We simply headed for the highest ground we could find and only check the GPS once or twice as we neared the top. Each time we were right on! There were a few small cliff bands and ledges which we, in most cases, decided to go through rather than skirt. The weather continued to be foggy but was warm. I was down to just a long-sleeved wool top within the first mile. There were very few places that looked like they would provide a viewpoint and we didn't try too hard since we knew the fog would obscure any views we did find. The walk was longer than I thought it might be with several "false alarms". We did see at least one place where the woodpeckers or perhaps porcupines had been at work. Soon we were on the summit plateau wandering around looking for the highest spot. As we headed further north we entered a rather large clearing. Fog hung heavy in this area and was near to the ground. It was very eerie, spooky with a supernatural feel. At this point we got the idea that we should change our route. We decided to continue north and pick up the Millbrook Ridge Trail and walk to Balsam Lake Mountain, down the trail to the parking area and then walk the road back to the car.

We started to walk north and immediately dropped off the ridge losing elevation. This seemed reasonable at the time since we knew we would have to lose some elevation between the two "peaks". Somehow we drifted a little too far to the east and lost too much elevation. We corrected this by turning northwest and then west and gaining more elevation. After a short steep climb to get back on the ridge we picked up the yellow Millbrook Ridge Trail and turned right or east toward Balsam Lake Mountain. The trail did not look well traveled and the markers were few and far between. We did get several views down to Balsam Lake but the trees and the fog made photography impossible. Near its end the trail avoids the direct route to the summit and switches back and forth once or twice until it hits the trail to the tower a little south of the summit. The climb is still fairly steep in several places. When we got to the red trail, we turned left or north and walked to the summit and the fire tower. I knew that the views would not be good but there was some clearing. The temperatures on the summit were cooler than anywhere else we had been and I put on my jacket to go up the tower.

As I climbed the tower the air temperature dropped and the wind speed increased. A thin sheet of ice covered the steps and ice had formed in on the wire screening enclosing the stairs. The ice got thicker at each level. Since the tower was not manned, I stopped just below the cab and made sure I had good footing. I took a number of pictures of the landscape including the ice and snow frozen on one side of must of the fir trees! The combination of fog and dark skies and some sunshine made for interesting scenes. I also took some close ups of the ice on the screens. I carefully descended the tower and we headed back down the red trail. This trail had areas where there was still significant snow and ice but nothing that couldn't be carefully negotiated. By the time we hit the 3500 foot sign at the spring all the snow was gone and we all but ran down the mountain. At the turn another hiker was starting the ascent with his dog. We made the turn and hurried to the parking lot. The walk back on the road seemed long but we saw no cars or other hikers. The stream next to the road and the clearing skies made for pleasant conditions. I thoroughly enjoyed the day with my son and our two canine companions but I was glad to be back at the car by 3:30 PM. We covered 7.5 miles in about 5 hours. When I put the route on my GPS software and Google maps at home our error in dropping off Woodpecker Ridge to the east was obvious.

On Friday, Apr 10th Cindy (Snickers) and I headed back down Cross Mountain Road after hiking Barkaboom Mountain to park at Alder lake. From Alder Lake we planned to hike around the lake to the south side and then tackle Cradle Rock Ridge. On our way down Cross Mountain Road we saw what appeared to be an old road supported by stone work in the woods parallel to Cross Mountain Road. Our biggest surprise was waiting at Alder Lake. As we parked and headed toward the lake we found the Coykendall Mansion had been dismantled! Although the mansion had been in great disrepair over the last few years, I was sorry the State decided to take it down rather than try to restore it. I was also surprised that I had heard NOTHING around Livingston Manor about this project! When we were there, much of the stonework still remained in place. The craftsmanship was so good that it almost looked new! I do not know whether or not the State plans to leave this in place or not. We took pictures of what remained and some of Alder Lake and the surrounding hills. I took a picture toward the southeast of our destination.

We crossed the dam and followed the trail around the lake counterclockwise. As the woods opened up we turned right and start UP the ridge. The forest was mostly open but there were a few places where we had to push through the brush and several steep climbs. Several times we ascended through rock ledges to what I thought might be the top but there was always another patch of higher ground further on. Once on the summit plateau we walked some distance to what seemed to be the highest spot. We didn't seem to find any really landmark and didn't spend much time on top before descending to the north. Not wanting to go back the same way we came we head down toward the brook that feeds Alder Lake. On the north slope we encountered some snow until we descended to a lower elevation where the woods were clear. The descent was steep and rocky in places and wet as we approached the brook. We paralleled the brook for a short distance and then found a place to cross. We immediately picked up the Millbrook Ridge trail back to the lake and then followed the loop trail counterclockwise back to the car. Near the inlet we met three other people walking but it seemed that they might only be going around the lake. Our route was about 3.5 miles and took us a little less than 3 hours to finish. At this point we had planned to go to Mongaup Mountain but I had a commitment for that night. Although it was early I "chickened out" and decided it was better to skip another peak. I felt bad bailing on Cindy but she said she would return. We did take some time to drive Shin Creek Road and scout out the place where we would park for our assault on Mongaup Mountain.

On Friday, Apr 10th I planned to meet Cindy (Snickers) at the Livingston Manor school so that we could do several CHH peaks in the Beaverkill area. We met promptly and 8:00 AM and I transferred my gear and Sheba to Cindy's Jeep for a trip to Cross Mountain Road and a hike up Barkaboom Mountain. We headed toward Roscoe on Old Route 17 and turned right onto the Beaverkill Road. We passed through Lew Beach and Turnwood and then took a left onto Alder Creek Road. At the end of this road we turned left onto Cross Mountain Road. Cross Mountain Road is definitely "seasonal" and it may not quite have been its season yet! The road is barely one car wide in places and drops steeply on the western side. We continued on the road to its highest point. Here DEC signs appear and there is a pull off on the right big enough to squeeze in two cars. We check our maps and GPS units to confirm our location and then quickly crossed the road and followed a old woods road for a short distance. We turned right off the woods road and crossed a swampy area and began our ascent. There were several areas of prickers and brush. Some of the more open areas were very wet. Most of the walk, however, was fairly open woods.

We reached the first level and followed along the top of some cliffs looking for a viewpoint. Each possible lookout was blocked by trees allowing only limited views with nothing really suitable for photography. We turned UP the mountain and found some impressive rock formations and worked our way up through them. We continued to walk UP over some rocks and over and through some brush. We reached the summit plateau and walked until we saw no more high ground. We found a big rock and declared our success. Cindy even climb up on the rock to stake her claim. On the way down we took a slightly different line to begin with and hit the top of a cliff band. We continued along the top of the cliffs looking for a viewpoint. We never found any views and soon were back to our original path as we descended we got off our original path and lost a little too much elevation. I decided we should regain some elevation and took us up a STEEP little climb to a woods road. Cindy's car was about 50 feet away! We took about 2 hours to do the 2 mile hike but much of this time was spent exploring! We got back in the car and headed back down Cross Mountain Road to Alder Lake.

On Thursday, Apr 9th I decided to drive to Stamford after hiking the Pisgahs. The weather was so beautiful I though I might get some nice pictures from the summit and fire tower on Mt. Utsayantha just outside of Stamford. I returned to Route 28 from Weaver Hollow Road and turned right toward Andes. After passing through Andes I turned right on Route 6 to Bovina Center and here picked up Route 5 North to Route 18 east into South Kortright. In South Kortright I took Route East and then north through Hobart and then to Stamford. In Stamford it was a quick right on Route 23 and then another onto Mountain Avenue which becomes Tower Mountain Road. This road really goes UP but the road up Mt. Utsayantha appears very quickly on the left. This sounds like a long drive but it went very quickly. The road looked like I could drive at least part of the way up it but I decided to park at the bottom by the sign and hike up. The road is in reasonably good condition and is only about 1 mile to the top. Sheba and I made short work of this easy ascent after several hours of bushwhacking in the morning!

At the top where the road forks we stayed to the left to ascend to the main peak with the fire tower. The summit is occupied by the fire tower, several communications antennas and the Churchill Education Building. When we arrived a father and son were in their pickup truck just getting ready to leave. I dropped my pack a the base of the tower, gave Sheba some treats, grabbed my camera and started up. The cab appeared to be open but I was satisfied to stop at the level below to take in the 360 degree view allowed by the tower to the southwest Churchill was visible and I though I could see some of the old roads Ralph and I used when we went up the mountain the week before. To the northeast the village of Stamford was laid out with all the buildings clearly visible. The Moresville Range lay to the southeast and could be seen over the lower peak of Utsayantha. in the valleys below there were several different farms with large farmhouses, barns and outbuildings. I took many different pictures from several different angles before descending the tower. On the way down I was surprised to find Sheba several levels up the tower. She must have felt I spent too much time at the top since she seldom climbs up the open stairs.

I took some pictures of the picnic areas and then headed over to the Churchill Building. In front of this building is an open lookout that affords a nice view of Stamford without climbing the tower. In some ways the village seems closer form this viewpoint. Sheba and I started back down the road and stopped at another lookout to the northeast. I took some more pictures of the mountains and the farms in the valleys. This lookout had a wooden "dock" but its purpose escaped me. At the fork in the road we went straight ahead to an open field and got another view toward McGregor Mountain and the Moresville Range. After a few more pictures, we quickly descended the road back to the car. We spent about 1.5 hours and the 2 mile hike with almost as much time for pictures as for walking!

On Thursday, Apr 9ththe weather report was for sun and warm temperatures. I decide to try a solo bushwhack on Little Pisgah and Mt. Pisgah. After I was finished, I thought I would then decide what to do next. I was nursing a slight calf muscle pull and did not want to do too much since I had promised to hike with Cindy (Snickers) on Friday. I knew that Hubbell Hill was close by in New Kingston but I though I might finally get to Utsayantha. I didn't push for an early start so we left Livingston Manor around 8:00 AM and headed to Roscoe and then Route 206 to the Pepacton Reservoir. Here we turned right and caught Route 30 to Route 28 North. We continued on to Andes until I saw as sign for the Bobcat Ski area. When I pulled into the parking area, everything seemed abandoned and there was no one to ask for permission to hike the mountain. I was satisfied that I had made the attempted and headed back down Route 30 and took Route 6 north toward New Kingston. I turned left onto Weaver Hollow Road. I was wondering if I would find the DEP parking area but I shouldn't have worried since it was very clearly marked on the left side of the road. We pulled in at just after 9:30 AM. I checked the map and GPS and we were off.

The hike started with a crossing of a small stream and some very wet and swampy ground at the far side of the field by the parking area at the base of the hill. From Here we walked up through an open field and I took some pictures of the surrounding scenery. The weather seemed to be following the prediction for clearing skies and a sunny day. The hike to the summit was somewhat uneventful but fairly steep with a few rock ledges to negotiate. We crossed what looked like several old woods roads and followed one for a while until it turned away from the summit. As we approached the summit the ground flatten some before the final push up a short hill to the top. To get to the summit we pushed through a thicket of prickers from the previous season. This would probably be a hike that all but the most hardy or foolish should avoid during the peak pricker season. There was nothing much to see at the top except the extensive pricker display so I contemplated my options. I could return to the car and rive or walk up the road toward Mount Pisgah or continue to hike over the that peak. I decided to try hiking and walked a little north until I could get a visual through the trees of Mount Pisgah. My destination was also marked on my GPS so I was confident I would have no trouble finding the summit.

I dropped down off Little Pisgah but made sure not to lose too much elevation. The hike alternated between areas of prickers and relatively open forest. Soon I found an old woods road that seemed to head in the right direction. I followed this road for quite some time until it seemed as if it would bypass the summit. Just as I was about to turn right and bushwhack toward the summit another road branched to the right and seemed to head toward the summit ridge. I followed this road as it wound its way toward the top but eventually struck off to the left since it too seemed to be skirting the highest point on the mountain. There were a few short steep climbs and several areas of extensive pricker infestation. Soon we were on the summit plateau but not at the highest point. There was quite a bit of snow on top and I still had a good distance to the highest point and the ski slopes on the other side of the mountain. I also knew that I should be able to get some good views from the Bobcat ski slopes. I continued to head for the highest point on the mountain and ran across another road which was labeled on the GPS as Weaver Hollow Road. I found this amusing since the "road" was barely a trail. I did intend to use this path on my return trip. We soon gained what appeared to be the highest point on the mountain and then came across a road that led passed the communications tower at the top and down to the ski area.

It was obvious from the condition of the lift and the buildings at the top of the mountain that the area had not been open at least for the previous season and perhaps for several before that. This area never had snowmaking equipment and had to rely on natural snowfall. I took some pictures of the buildings and equipment and then walked over to the tops of the slopes. The views were spectacular! With no trees to obscure the view and clear, sunny skies, the vista revealed the valley spread out below and the mountains in the distance seemed to go on forever! I took MANY pictures from one slope and then shifted to the next. We got a snack and something to drink before getting ready to go. I shot a few pictures of the T-bar lift and then we headed back the way we came. We picked up the path marked as a road and tried to follow it down the mountain. Eventually I gave up and just went down. We ran across a well-defined road and I consulted my GPS before turning left and following the road down passed some hunting camps and then seasonal homes. We still had not seen a single person anywhere on the hike! As we continued down the road, the houses began to have numbers and the road became hard-packed dirt and then pavement. The houses were small but looked expensive. Several new homes were under construction. The walk down the road seemed long and we eventually encountered a few cars and evidence of habitation. We returned to the car by 11;30 AM after covering 4.0 miles. We got in the car and I made the decision to head for Stamford to climb Utsayantha. I thought this the best choice since the sunny skies meant the views from the mountain and its fire tower would be great!

On Tuesday, Apr 7thSheba and I met Bill Schermer at the Denning trailhead for a hike to the Wildcats. The weather forecast was for a 40% chance of rain or snow. As I drove to Denning there were some snow flurries and I hoped the rain would hold off. At the Denning trailhead the temperature was only 29 degrees and there was a stiff breeze blowing. Before Bill arrived I took some pictures of the house and barn at the end of Denning road. These structures belong to Frost Valley and the house has some interesting features. The sky was bleak and the whole scene had a certain appeal to me. When Bill arrived, we consulted the Venture Out map and decided to walk the trail or woods road as far as the first incursion of state land and then head up through the woods near Flat Brook. From that point the east peak of Wildcat seemed to be a pretty straight shot. Our objective was to tag both peaks of the Wildcats AND to stay on public land!

We followed our plan and when we arrived at the state boundary markers Bill took a compass bearing using the map. He is far better at this than I but I did have my GPS along to give us some guidance and to track our adventure. We headed north northeast and the hike, although a bushwhack, was through fairly open woods. It was too early for the prickers and nettles that often inhabit the Catskills especially where there are no trails but there seemed to be little evidence that they would be a problem later in the season. As we climbed higher, we kept a watch for any viewpoints. Several posts had mentioned lookouts but we could not find ANY. There were places where we could easily spot various mountains through the trees but none were open enough for good pictures. Every time we stopped Table seemed to be most prominent but we also spotted Woodhull, Van Wyck, Lone Rocky, Balsam Cap and Friday. Soon we were nearing the top of the east peak and knew we would just have to wander around to find the highest point. As we walked we spotted some ribbons on a few trees. Near the ribbons the brush and smaller trees had been obviously cut back. The cuts looked fairly recent as if they had been made during the fall. We walked to the highest spot we could find and saw a higher spot. After doing this several times we could find nothing higher and declared victory. This is where Bill's compass came in handy! He took a bearing which put us in exactly the OPPOSITE direction I though we would have to go. The GPS agreed and I never argue since I am most often WRONG!

As we headed off on Bill's bearing and lost some elevation the ribbons and cuttings came back into view. We decided to follow these as long as they didn't take use too far out of the way. Soon we were climbing the "knob" between the two Wildcats. There were some interesting rocks formations so we took some pictures and then continued to follow the ribbons over the knob's north side. We would alternately regain this "trail". My best recollection is that this might be the proposed trail marked on several maps and is an extension of the Finger Lakes Trail. We seemed to be walking along a ridge or cliff band and not making much progress toward the west peak. I suggested we take a more direct route and we lost more elevation than we really wanted too by heading a little too far west instead of southwest. As we walked we spotted some higher ground and hit a ridge line that took us directly toward the area of the west peak. We made note to follow this path on our return. The walking was still very manageable with mostly open forest. As started to ascend there were a few rocky areas to negotiate. We kept looking for a viewpoint. Each time we saw something ahead and walked to it, the view was blocked by trees. Several times we thought we were at the highest point only to have another rise beckon us. We walked through several open "clearings" which seemed to have a lot a dead ferns. These areas must be beautiful in spring and summer. We finally hit the elevation that was given for the highest point on the west peak but just ahead was a big boulder that looked a little higher. We headed in that direction and found a rock cairn on top of the boulder. Again, we claimed victory! We took some pictures including ones with Sheba on top of the boulder and then contemplated the return trip.

From the west peak of the Wildcats we agreed that a bearing of 110 or 120 degrees would put us back at our jump off point but would also take use through the drainage for Riley and Flat Brook. To avoid walking up and down through both of these we decided to stay a little north. As it turns put we probably should have stayed on the ridge line as the drainage for Riley Brook starts somewhat down the slope of the Wildcat ridge. After drifting a little too far north and losing some elevation, we turned south and regained the ridge line. We walked along the ridge for a while and then started down. What initially looked like cliffs too steep to descend turned out to be rather mild. We continued down and on a southeast heading missing Riley Brook completely. The first brook we did cross was a small feeder for Flat Brook. When we did cross Flat Brook it was rather easy to descend into the drainage, cross the brook and ascend the other side. We stayed between the brook and the high ground on our left until the ground began to rise and then we walked up onto the low ridge. Just as we turned there was a fire ring in the middle of the woods. We continued southeast as my GPS showed we would intersect either our original path or the trail back to the Denning PA. Soon we saw the state boundary markers and the POSTED signs for the Tyson Estate. We were within 20 feet of the point where we left the trail in the morning. We were back at the car at 3:30 PM having covered almost 7 miles in 6.5 hours!

On Saturday, April 4th hiking did not seem possible. Friend and community leader Pat Casey died after a valiant fight against cancer and his funeral was in the morning. In the afternoon, I was going to be busy discovering the cause of the "sinkhole" in my backyard with the help of neighbor and his backhoe. In addition, the weather forecast was for periods of rain and SNOW with winds gusting to 40 mph. After my wife and I attended the funeral and returned home, I waited for my neighbor who called shortly after 1:00 PM telling me he would not be available until Sunday. The weather was every bit as bad as predicted but I thought a quick hike would be in order. I got my equipment ready and Sheba and I headed for Frick Pond. My intent was to hike to the Hodge Pond peak on the CHH list just off the Quick Lake Trail to the west and north of Hodge Pond. We parked at Frick just before 2:00 PM. Most of the precipitation here was sleet or snow and the wind was howling through the trees. The trail to Frick Pond alternated between running water, standing water and mud! This described the trail conditions for the rest of the day. At Frick we turned left, passed by the pond and crossed the bridge. It looked like it was snowing harder on the surrounding mountains and there was still a large pile of snow at the other end of the bridge. At the trail junction, we turned left to follow the Quick Lake Trail.

The Quick Lake Trail still had a lot of blowdown which required some workarounds. There were many places where walking through water was all but unavoidable. Several of the little streams were running high but didn't pose a real problem. At Iron Wheel Junction we turned left and stayed on the Quick Lake Trail. The trail continued to climb toward the high point I was looking for although I knew this point was NOT on the trail and would require a bushwhack. I briefly turned onto the snowmobile trail toward Quick Lake but decided it turned too much to the west. As we walked up the trail, I came to a point where the trail began to turn to the east and flatten. Here Sheba and I turned left or west into the woods and began our bushwhack. We worked our way through a low ridge of rocks and followed some animals paths to ascend a hill. I consulted the GPS and we turned almost directly north and ascended two more hills. At this point the snow was falling steadily and there was accumulated new snow on the ground and brush. I was glad I had on a water proof jacket. I wished my pants were also waterproof! We walked around a little to make sure we hit the highest point which I believe was near a small clearing with several flat rocks. Rather than backtrack I headed north and east and descended toward and old jeep and snowmobile trail. I drifted more to the east than I wanted but finally met the trail and turned right.

In a very short distance we were at Junkyard Junction and continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail. This trail is mostly flat and was covered with water in many places. Just a few weeks ago I was on the Flynn Trail with snowshoes in 10 to 12 inches of snow! This time the gate at the end of the woods road came quickly and a sign with the word TRAIL pointed the way down to Hodge Pond. It was at this point I got the idea of attempting to bag Mongaup Mountain. I knew that the Mongaup Mountain marked on the GPS was NOT the highest Mongaup Mountain and that I would have to bushwhacked to the west and north. The wind driven snow was annoying but I was warm and the idea of getting two in one short day was irresistible. We continued straight ahead into what for us was uncharted territory. As we walked a little structure (cabin?) appeared on the right. I found some woods roads and followed them toward the area I knew was the highest point. When I ran out of road I continued in the same general direction until I came across a wide and well-maintained woods road. The choice here was to continue the bushwhack straight ahead or follow the road in the hopes it might go in the right direction. I followed the road.

I had a feeling that this road was a continuation of the one that branches off the Flynn Trail just before it descends to Hodge Pond. In a short distance several cabins appeared on the right, some big and some small. None of the building were in good repair and I suspected they might be part of the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. Just after the buildings the road forked. The right headed toward Hodge Pond so we turned left and headed UP. The road continued up the mountain with the marked Mongaup peak on the right. The high point I was looking for was ahead and to the left. We continued on the road but soon it turned to the east and started to descend away form our destination. Sheba and I turned north and a little east and headed toward our destination. We found some open trails and had to climb some of the elevation again we lost on the road. I was keeping up a VERY fast pace as it was 4:00 PM and I kept thinking that the smart move was to turn back. Some thick patches or brush and rocky areas slowed us down. I headed a little west as we approached the last climb since the east looked steeper on the GPS. It was getting harder to see many of the features ahead as the snow had picked up and was blowing pretty hard. Soon we were on top of the summit plateau. We wandered around some to make sure we hit the top. I knew that there were shorter ways to return than the way we came but I also knew I could return by backtracking. Back down we went with Sheba following our path precisely.

It was now just before 5:00 PM and I REALLY wanted to get back to the car! Back on the road we were able to up the pace and were passing by the road junction near the cabins in no time. We continued to follow the road and in a very short time were at the junction with the Flynn Trail. I knew we still had about 1.75 miles to go so we quickly turned left and were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. From here the Flynn Trail is one long descent to the parking area With only a few flat spots. We were back at the car just before 6:00 PM with some light to spare! At home I downloaded my GPS track. I was surprised to find that we had hiked 8.6 miles in under 4 hours! I guess I travel faster without a camera! I was pleased that the track showed we had hit both of the summits and had completed two more peaks on the CHH list.

On Saturday, Mar 28th Ralph Ryndak, Sheba and I left Stamford and headed back to Grand Gorge on Route 23. We continued through Grand Gorge to Prattsville and turned left onto Greene County Route 10. I was familiar with the road this far since I had just been at Huntersfield the week before. Where Route 10 and 11 split we stayed right on Route 10 and headed toward North Settlement. This was another beautiful drive with mountains on either side of the road. We were looking for Route 32C to turn north toward Richmond Mountain. I stopped once to consult with Ralph but we quickly determined that we need to continue on Route 10. Soon a likely crossroad revealed Route 32C and we turned left and began the familiar climb. At one point we got behind the mail truck delivering at 2:30 PM on a Saturday! I wondered just how far up the road people lived. Soon the mail truck turned around at a snow plow turn around. Ahead was a dirt road with the familiar SEASONAL MAINTENANCE sign. We decided that it was close enough to April 1st and that the road looked pretty good. We drove up the road looking for a parking area. Suddenly an enormous area with NO TREES appeared on our left. Just after this a trail register and aqua blazes came into view and we pulled over to park. We discussed the "clear cut" area we saw and thought we might investigate it after the hike. We got our packs and walked across the road to another dirt road that headed up through the forest.

The aqua blazes of the Long Path followed the road and we passed a red shale bank that has now been blocked by large boulders. The road then passes through an evergreen forest that looks too regularly spaced to be natural. As we walked I was concerned that there was a mountain to our right that the road and Long Path were skirting. One look at the GPS confirmed that this was South Mountain and not our objective Richmond Mountain. In a short distance the road continued to the right and around South Mountain while the Long Path branched to the left. Ralph and I followed the Long Path even though it seemed to descend a bit and was blocked by significant blowdown. We continued on the Long Path since it was open and easy to follow at this point even though it did not seem to be ascending. Soon the trail began to curve to the right and gain some elevation. Eventually the road split and we followed the aqua blazes to the right as they headed toward Richmond. soon things became very confusing! Blue disks began to appear on some trees. At one point the Long Path appeared to turn left but more blazes could be seen to the right. We went right on part of the road only to find the blue discs and some aqua blazes veering up through the woods but without any trail that we could see. The GPS showed we had circled the mountain skirting the peak. To avoid anymore of this and since up seemed to be the correct direction, we turned right and headed up and to the southeast.

We found occasional markers but little evidence of the trail associated with them. The going became more difficult as the terrain grew steeper and we encountered the first snow of the day. There were just enough patches to make the going "interesting". We worked our way through some brambles and thick brush and had to negotiate some boulders. Soon the terrain leveled and we were at the highest point we could find. We claimed the summit and began to look for some viewpoint. We could see Windham Ski Center through the trees but pictures from the summit were impossible. We walked along the edge of the summit plateau and dropped some elevation and found a place to get a glimpse of the ski area. We took some pictures and continued down. We both felt that retracing our root was not the best idea. The GPS showed a road just below us marked as Coo Road but from where we were we would have to descend some steep cliffs. We continued on looking for a way down. As we continued to search a large rock signaled a viewpoint out over the valley. From this rock we could see Windham Ski Center with Hunter Mountain behind it. Further to the east the Three mountains in the Blackhead Range were clearly visible. There were also some nice views of the valley below with interesting lighting. We took some pictures before continuing our hike.

Soon the terrain began to slope downward rather than drop away and we headed down toward Coo Road. We walked through some hardware and then evergreen forests as we walked off the summit ridge and descended to the southwest toward the road. My fear is that we would find the road to be an overgrown mess but my gears were unfounded. As we approached the road it was clear that it was a hard packed dirt road in very good shape. I also realized that someone entering data for the GPS maps had never heard of the CCC. This road was actually the CCC Road marked on many amps. From here it was an easy walk along the road and we were soon back at the area where we had followed the Long Path to the left at the base of South Mountain. Next time I think I will follow the road and then bushwhack up the way we returned. This would be much more direct!

When we got back to our we ditched our packs, grabbed our cameras and headed toward the clear cut area along the Long path in the direction of the Ashland Pinnacle. It was clear that the timber had been cleared and was not the result of some natural disaster. Acres of trees were missing in one area. This area was separated from the next by a small stand of evergreens. We stopped and took pictures of the first area and of the mountains beyond. Ralph, Sheba and I walked to the next area. We took more pictures and tried to imagine why all these trees were cut. We walked out to the edge of the area and got a GREAT view of the valley below and more views of the ski areas and the Blacks. Finally, we turned around and went back to our cars. We said our good byes and headed in opposite directions. We covered a total of 3.5 miles on this leg of our adventure!

On Saturday, Mar 28th Ralph Ryndak, Sheba and I left Red Kill Ridge and headed back to Denver we then went north on Route 36 before turning left on Route 8 which got us back to Route 30 headed north. These roads have some beautiful views. In the lower spots you are looking up at the mountains. As the road rises you can look down into the valleys and across at other mountain peaks. We passed through Roxbury and then turned west in Grand Gorge onto Route 23 toward Stamford. As we got into Stamford Mount Utsayantha was on our left and very obvious due to its elevation and numerous transmission towers on top. Just before getting into Stamford we turned left on Tower Road and headed UP! This was some climb and soon we passed the rutted dirt road that leads to Utsayantha. A little further down the road DEP signs appeared on the right and we again pulled over on the shoulder. The haze had cleared some and the sun was even brighter. The air temperature was up and the view was fantastic. Across the road Utsayantha was on our left with more mountains straight ahead and to the right. We took out our packs and got ready to bag another of the CHH.

We again walked through some open fields on our way to the woods. We stopped to take in the view and a few pictures before continuing. The fields were wet and as we entered the woods we found a spring house. We wander up through the woods and eventually connected with a woods road that seemed to ascend the mountain. This road started to bend a little too far to the east and down but another branched to the right. This road was pretty steep with significant blowdown but headed directly north up the mountain. We continued on this road until it gave out and then fought through the brush and prickers toward what seemed to be the highest spot on the mountain. We stopped for a drink, a snack and some pictures before heading back. We searched in vain for some viewpoint. Each time we would approach a likely area there were too many trees blocking the view. For a while we followed our previous path exactly. At one point another avenue seemed to provide a more open descent so we followed a different line than on the way up. We ended up one field over from where we had started. We walk out to the road and back to our cars. Another 2 miles hike but another CHH in the bag. It was sill early in the day, right around noon, so Ralph and I looked at the map to see what else might be around. I sort of wanted to do Utsayantha while I was there but he already had that one and it is an easy hike I could do later. Ralph needed Huntersfield and Richmond. Since I had just done Huntersfield, we decided to try Richmond. This seemed like it would be easy since it is on the Long Path. We headed back down Tower Road to Stanford with me in the lead.

On Saturday, Mar 28th I decided to make a conscious effort to hike some of the CHH peaks. I made a plea on the ADK forum for some companions but despite 40 people viewing the message there were no takers. Therefore, a plan began to develop to hike something I was sure was on state land and was close to home. I began looking at the Wildcats, Van Wyck and Woodhull or Spruce, Hemlock and Winnisook. Beaverkill Ridge and High Falls also crossed my mind since I have permission to hike those. Just before going to bed I sent a message to Ralph Ryndak (Hermit) to see what he might be doing. By the time I went to bed there was no response so I went to bed thinking about the choices I had. When I checked my email at 6:45 AM, there was a response from Ralph sent at about 5:30 AM. I thought I was an early riser. I took a chance and called him. Ralph was about ready to leave his house but graciously agreed to meet me in Margaretville to hike Red Kill and then Churchill. I got ready as fast as I could and we met at the appointed place. This was the first time I had met Ralph after hearing so much about him and reading his posts. I found him to be a very pleasant and knowledgeable hiking companion but lacking any of the superpowers I had attributed to him! We seemed pretty evenly matched in hiking abilities and disposition. I hope to hike with him many more times.

We left Margaretville and traveled north on Route 30 to Kelly Corners. Here we turned right on Route 36 with Ralph in the lead. Just as we turned a large bald eagle flew up from the Batavia Kill and perched on a branch. My camera was in the trunk and I didn't stop to take a picture but I knew that this was going to be a good day. We continue on to Denver and turned right on Dimmick Mountain Road. We continued on the road for a short distance before turning left on Red Kill Road. We drove slowly along this road looking for DEC or DEP signs not knowing exactly where we were headed. We found the DEP signs on the left side of the road and pulled of the shoulder of the road on the right. The air was already warming and a significant amount of haze hung in the air. My GPS came in handy to confirm that the mountain across the road was Red Kill Ridge. We crossed the road and began to walk through some open fields. Although the haze hung on the mountains and in the valleys the view was still pretty. We continued up through the wood which were open for the most part and found a woods road which we followed until we felt we should turn onto the ridge. This helped us to avoid some small cliff bands on the face of the mountain toward the road.

At this point we worked our way through areas of open forest, briar patches, blowdown and brush tangles and boulders to head toward the highest point on the northeast corner. Near the top we intersected some more roads and then wandered around to make sure we found the highest point. The actual summit had little to recommend it with no real views of any kind. Still, the hike had been quick and enjoyable. We headed out the way we came and the decided to follow one of the roads down. After a bit this road drifted more to the northeast than we want so we again bushwhacked in the general direction of our original route. This allowed us to avoid much of the thick mess on the top ridge and soon things began to look familiar. My GPS said we were back on our original path and we continued to follow it back down to the fields. On the way down we noticed the impressive stone walls. We agreed that this was a peak that might only be hiked as part of a list since it didn't offer much. We also agreed that the draw of the CHH list is to get off the beaten path and see some sites that might otherwise go unnoticed. We were back at the car in no time and had hiked less than 2 miles. We consulted the maps and decided on our route to Stamford and Churchill Mountain.

Winter 2008-2009

On Saturday, Mar 21st it was a short drive from Mine Kill Falls north on Route 30 to Vroman's Nose outside Middleburgh. As we approached Vroman's Nose was VERY apparent as it rises 700 feet from the flat Schoharie Plain. I stopped along the road and took some pictures at about 12:45 PM before following the signs that directed me to turn left on Mill Valley Road. In minutes we were at the parking area and saw other people for the first time. Sheba and I got out of the car and prepared to hike while several other people started ahead of us. The first part of the trail ascended a hill through a field which was very wet and muddy. I had left my poles behind and almost returned for them! As the trail entered the woods, it split and the choice was to got left or right. I decided to go right and ascend the longer but shallower route and descend the steeper trail. Soon we were passing the group ahead of us. The trail continued to be very wet and muddy until we reached the trail, register.

I signed in at the register and stopped at the viewpoint just passed the register. The views were amazing and I took some pictures even though I suspected the ones from the top would be better. I also took some pictures of the trail before ascending to the top. On top the view is breath taking! Anything anyone can tell you or write cannot describe just how good this experience is! You can look down at the houses and farms below you or to the south out across the flat plain to the mountains beyond. The meandering Schoharie Creek cuts through the plain. Orchards and neat, rectangular fields divide the flat land. As you walk you can see to the west. Further along the view changed to the east and the cliff if the Helderberg Escarpment. I had to be careful as I walked along the cliff edge. I was so enthralled by the views I had to make an effort not to misstep. After taking in as much as we could, we headed down the steeper east side of the trail and back to the car. We were back in the parking area shortly after 1:30 PM and headed home. We arrived before 4:00 PM. The driving distance to Vroman's Nose was about 80 miles which is much shorter than it looks on the maps. The whole trip was well worth the drive.

On Saturday, Mar 21st it was a short drive from Manor Kill Falls north on Route 30 to Mine Kill Falls. A parking area on the right accommodates quite a few cars but we were the only ones present on this beautiful day. Cindy and I had been here before once while returning from Thacher Park but the parking area closes at 3:00 PM. We arrived and parked at about 12;00 PM and immediately followed the path to what was marked as a "scenic overlook". A series of well constructed steps leads down to several platforms that overlook the falls. I was disappointed since one view was spoiled by construction on the road bridge and obvious concrete chutes to direct the water. The lower platform gives a more natural view but it is from on top looking down at the falls. I did take some pictures before heading back up the steps. One of these pictures caught a small rainbow formed by some spray. To the left the Long Path leads down a broad open trail toward the Mine Kill. Sheba and I walked down the path for a ways and then turned left into the woods to "bushwhack" toward the falls. It turned out that this was unnecessary since the Long Path meandered in that direction anyway.

The Long Path leads down to the pool at the base of the falls. The water was high and the falls were small but roaring. The water in the pool was very green. The sunlight illuminated the water rushing from the narrow slit in the rocks cut by the kill. I took many pictures of the falls and surrounding high cliffs from different angles. I shot a few pictures down the stream to show the large cliffs that the stream has cut over the years. Sheba and I walked around a bit and then returned the whole way on the Long Path. This is a short but steep little hike. The rewards are well worth the effort. We got back in the car and headed north on Route 30 toward Middleburgh and Vroman's Nose.

On Saturday, Mar 21st Sheba and I left Huntersfield Mountain and headed back toward Prattsville. We took Route 7 which follows the east side of the Schoharie Reservoir. The views through the trees are intermittent but pretty. By 11:35 AM we arrived at the bridge over the Manor Kill which empties into the reservoir. I was not sure how to get pictures of the falls but parked at the side of the road and walked out onto the bridge. I took pictures upstream toward the upper falls and took some of the kill as it went under the bridge. I walked to the other side of the bridge and took pictures of the reservoir and the lower falls. Much of the lower falls is hidden by the bridge and the trees but the views out to the reservoir are excellent.

There was a break in the fence by the car and I decided to walk along high banks of the kill below the falls. I was hoping to get some pictures of the lower falls without being questioned as to my motives by the DEP police! The banks here are straight down and very high. I was only able to get some pictures through the trees. There were several possible ways to descend into the ravine but I did not know if there were any ways to ascend. I thought that having to be rescued would ruin the day! After taking what pictures I could, I returned to the car and headed for Route 30 north toward Blenheim an Mine Kills Falls.

On Saturday, Mar 21st I had initially planned to hike the Beaverkill and High Falls Ridge with several others as a part of the CHH. When the others had a change of plans I thought I might do these on my own since I already had permission from a friend to cross private property. I also thought about getting in one or two more winter and March peaks. In the end I decided on a plan that might get me back to Livingston Manor in time to represent my ambulance corps at another local corps 40th anniversary dinner. I planned to get up early, leave home early and hike Huntersfield Mountain, visit Manor Kill and Mine kill Falls and end by climbing Vroman's Nose. Two weeks before I had been on Bearpen looking at Huntersfield and it looked very interesting. I knew it was accessible by the Long Path and that it was the highest point on the Long Path outside the Catskill Park blue line. Descriptions I had read made the views sound beautiful. Sheba and I left Livingston Manor just after 6:30 AM and headed toward Roscoe where we picked up Route 206 toward the Pepacton Reservoir. From here we headed toward Margaretville where we picked up Route 30 north to Grand Gorge and then Route 23 to Prattsville. This is where things got tricky since I failed to bring an adequate map and had only written directions. I turned onto Washington Street which soon became Route 10. We drove up and through some impressive mountains as I looked for a Y in the road. Soon There was the Y and I turned left on Route 11 which turned into Marv Rion Road. A right on Huntersfield Road took me straight toward the mountain and a DEAD END! I was at a snow plow turn around but then noticed a dirt road that looked in good condition. After a short trip down the dirt road a sign announcing Huntersfield Forest appeared. I turned around and parked along the side of the road next to the aqua blazes of the Long Path. It was barely 8:30 AM and the trip had not taken as long as I thought.

Sheba and I started out immediately with the air temperature barely 20 degrees which was much colder than the forecast had predicted! My Icebreaker layers and 66 North fleece kept me plenty warm. I packed my Stabilicers but left the snowshoes in the car. I was trying out a new pair of Leki Thermolite poles which are much like my other pair. These have a softer grip and a slight angle to the handle. If anything, they are lighter than the Super Makalus. The first part of the trail paralleled a small stream and then crossed it. The trail did not appear to be much used with a few branches here and there. Without the blazes and Sheba it might have been hard to tell where the trail was. The trail was wet and soft in places but there was no snow. In a very short distance we turned left onto a woods road and entered a red pine plantation. The thought crossed my mind that bushwhacking a direct route would be quicker but I decided to stay on the Long Path to respect property rights and the environment. The trees were very tall and the road well defined. Shortly we ran into an area with MANY large trees and branches across the trail. Rather than attempt to remove these the trail had been "officially" rerouted and blazed around the blowdown.

Soon the trail turned right into the woods and began to ascend a ridge line toward the summit. The walking was relatively easy with only a few patches of ice and snow along the way. At one point I thought I saw a viewpoint to the right and walked over to take a look. There was a nice view to the north and I took some pictures of the mountains in that direction. As we hiked up the trail there were many good views through the trees but none that offered photographic opportunities. All along the way I looked for other viewpoints but none seemed evident and the reports I had read said that some were available from points on the summit. We passed several rock outcroppings and ledges and intersected at least one woods road. Somewhere above 3000 feet the ground was covered with several inches of frozen snow and ice. Snowshoes were not necessary but I almost took out the Stabilicers.

Soon we were on the flat and wooded summit of the mountain and continued to walk over the top. A yellow trail came in from the right but we continued on the long path to the sign pointing to the lean-to. We turned toward the lean-to and almost immediately came across a bench marking a viewpoint to the east. We stopped so that I could take some pictures toward the Ashland Pinnacle and Richmond Mountain. We returned to the trail and were at the lean-to in only a few minutes. The view here was to the south into the heart of the Catskills. The mountains of the Devil's Path were clearly visible but Slide Mountain in the distance dominated the view. From here it looked more impressive than ever. I took several pictures but we didn't stay too long as we were on a tight schedule. On the way back we walked down the Long Path to the east. I was looking for another viewpoint and almost decided to continue at least to the Pinnacle. I finally decided to stick with my plan and leave the rest of the range for another time.

On the way back to the summit I discovered the USGS benchmark. We walked down the yellow trail for a short distance but found no obvious lookouts. Back on the Long Path we simply started a quick descent back to the car. We were back just before 11:00 AM having completed a little under 5 miles in 2.5 hours. Some of this time went into taking pictures and "exploring". An the Huntersfield Road I stopped to take some more pictures of the mountains to the south which were impressive even from the lower elevation. Several year round houses on this road has SPECTACULAR views! I drove back to Prattsville heading for Manor Kill Falls.

On Saturday, Mar 14th I head for Shaft Road off Route 42 north from Shandaken to hike Mount Sherrill. I had been thinking about this all week since I had never been up this way but had come in from North Dome. I planned to head up to the Col between Balsam (one of many in the Catskills) and Sherrill by paralleling one of the streams that flows down from the ridge connecting the two mountains. As I drove toward my destination I half hoped that someone else would be there since bushwhacking alone makes me a little nervous. This is particularly true in the winter and when I have not been in the area before. When I arrived at 9:35 there was one car in the parking area but no one was in the car. Sheba and I got ready quickly and shoved off. The temperature was still in the 30's but had been climbing since I left the house. The forecast called for highs near 50 with partly cloudy skies all day. I had a light Haglofs Spider softshell on over my Icebreaker base and mid layers. Since much of the snow has gone, I have switched back to my Asolo TPS 520 boots. I did wear a baselayer under my Mountain Hardwear Winter Wander pants. I packed my Stabilicers and had my MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes attached to my pack. We walked up the access road to the Catskill Aqueduct shaft all the way to the shaft and then headed up the hill after I took a quick bearing. Our adventure had begun!

As we ascended the first hill, an old woods road took off in the direction we were going so we followed it. There appeared to be ATV tracks along the road. The road led through and old stone wall and paralleled the stream. As we continued we would lose the road and then gain it again in different places. Much of it was overgrown and the bushwhacking soon began in earnest. There was little or no snow so I could not follow the tracks of previous hikers and I had no idea whether or not this was the customary route. By paralleling the stream we were headed for the Col as I had planned. I was surprised at the deep ravine that the seemingly small stream had cut over the years. On the opposite side I could see that the ascent would be too steep and there was much more snow. At some point I realized that I was only about half a mile or so from a Balsam Mountain that was on the Catskill Hundred Highest list. I decided that I would make this my first peak on that list that I had specifically hiked for that reason. (Imagine how I felt when several people pointed out that this mountain is too close to Sherrill to be on the list!) I also though that since it wasn't a 35 it couldn't be that hard. Boy was I wrong!

My sense of direction usually isn't as good as it could be but when I kept checking my GPS it showed me I was headed directly for the highest spot on the mountain. The terrain got steeper and I found a drainage area that went up the mountain. Soon the hike was more of a climb until I began to see VERY steep ground leading to the base of some nasty looking cliffs and ledges. No one has ever accused me of taking the easy way so I headed directly for the ledges. As I approached I could see several breaks in the cliffs and although the climb was steep Sheba and I were soon on top. Unfortunately, this was NOT the highest spot of the ridge and the brush was getting thicker. After several more climbs and some really challenging boulder fields we were approaching what was marked as the highest point on my GPS. Sure enough, there was a boulder with a rock cairn on top to mark the summit. Sheba immediately jumped up on the boulder and sat next to the cairn for some pictures. After a drink and a snack, we walked around the top looking for a viewpoint. There were some views but none that were unobstructed enough to take pictures. Also, for a mountain named Balsam, there weren't many evergreen trees at the top! I took a bearing to Sherrill and consulted the map. We headed southwest toward the Col and a narrow "bridge" of land between the two peaks.

This part of the hike alternated between relatively open but snowy areas followed by more dense brush. Again, I kept my bearings and reorienting myself after each time I had to stray off course to avoid impenetrable areas. As we neared Sherrill, I looked at the map and decided to head slightly north to avoid the steeper climbs and ledges on the west and south side of Sherrill. This worked out nicely and the hike to the summit wasn't too steep although there were still some challenging spots. Near the top I began to see old footprints but couldn't find the canister. I followed the footprints until they started down and then turned around to see were they went. This lead me toward the canister whose red color made it easier to spot. I signed in and got a drink and gave Sheba one. We both had a snack as I contemplated my next move. The distance to North Dome is about 1.25 miles and has some steep ledges. Once on North Dome the choice would be to head out the Devil's Path for a LONG road walk back to the car or to go back to Sherrill and try to find a way down. Since I had never, attempted to come off Sherrill to the south, I wasn't sure how that would go. In the end I believe I made the best decision which was to save North Dome for another time. After walking around the top looking for a view, I took a southwest bearing and Sheba and I started down. At this point I was still bare booting but quickly decided to put on the Stabilicers. The melting and freezing on the south side had turned the snow to ice in many places!

The descent wasn't too steep in most places and I made note that this was the way I would go if I did NOT want to hike Balsam again. I wasn't sure whether to try a totally new route or to head back to the path I had used on the outward journey. I decided to head a little more west and rejoin my previous route. I tried to stay far enough north to avoid descending the steep drainage of the stream but in the end drifted a little too far south. The descent into and back out of the ravine was steep but manageable and we stopped by the stream to take a few pictures. Soon we were back on our path from earlier in the day. Sheba had stayed with me most of the way out since she had no way to know which way we were going. Now that we were back on our previous path, Sheba led the way never straying from our route. Near the end I walked down to the stream to see if I could take some pictures of the impressive ravine. No photo opportunities presented themselves but I did notice a woods road on the other side of the stream and a stone wall along the stream in places. We walked back to the aqueduct shaft and then out to the car. We arrived back at the car around 2:15 PM making our hike of just over 5 miles a little short of 5 hours over very rough and challenging terrain.

On Saturday, Mar 7th I decided to hit the 35's again by hiking Bearpen and Vly. I had only done these peaks once but remembered that the view from Bearpen to the north can be quite nice. Vly has no real view but I remember it as an easy hike. These two peaks lie outside the Catskill Park blue line and are surrounded by private property. Most of the summit of Bearpen now belongs to the state but some "posted" signs are still evident. Since the peaks are off the map north of Fleischmanns I hoped I could remember how to get there. Last time I spent some time on Johnson Hollow Road which is NOT the way to go. Sheba and I started from Manor at about 8:30 AM. I decided to go passed the Pepacton Reservoir on Route 30 and the east on Route 28 to Fleischmanns. From here I turned north on Lake street. Lake Street is named for Lake Switzerland which is now nothing more than a field with a stream running through it. I continued on Route 37, the Halcott Road. until it became Greene County 3. I followed this road and made only one wrong turn before arriving at the "parking area". Actually, I turned around in the snow plow turnaround and parked just below the "Private Property" sign on the right. We were out of the car and ready to go by 9:42 AM. The temperature was hovering around 50 degrees and there was only a little snow in the area. I packed by Stabilicers in the pack and strapped my MSR Lightning Ascents onto the pack. I thought that the warm temperatures might loosen the snow and create conditions best handled by snowshoes. I had on my two wool layers with a light REI Momentum jacket over them. This jacket breathes well but adds a little warmth. Its smooth exterior repels some water and doesn't snag on brush

Route 3 continues up the hill but all maintenance stops at the snow plow turn around. From this point on the road was mostly ice with snow or bare areas on the shoulders. The ice was from the melting snow which had been packed by snowmobiles. I decided to walk the shoulder rather than take time to put on the Stabilicers. As we walked up the road more there seemed to be more snow in the woods. I did not remember that the walk to the top of the hill is almost a mile long. We arrived pretty quickly at the hunting shack that marks the turn off for both Vly, to the right, and Bearpen, to the left. I had decided to hike Bearpen first since cloudy weather with rain was forecast for later. At this point the sky was completely clear and the sun was out. I was feeling warm but the track I was going to take was packed snow so I didn't want to stop to change. As I walked down the woods road I remembered my last hike when I spent a lot of time trying to find the Bearpen summit marked on the map. I was wiser this time! The Bearpen on the map is the Delaware County high point but NOT the highest point on Bearpen Mountain. This point is to the east of the marked point and is in Greene County. We stayed on the snowmobile packed woods roads for some time as they wound their way up the mountain in the general direction of what I thought was the highest point. At one point I headed off into the woods to climb to a higher elevation and from here I could see our destination. Along the way I decided that the snowshoes would work better on my feet than on my pack! I also took off my midlayer Icebreaker 260 since I was getting very warm. Even in the woods there were snowmobile trails and we stuck to them most of the time. I cut up a steep little hill again and then followed a trail before making a final turn up into the woods. From here we bushwhacked until I saw the "edge" of the mountain ahead.

The view from here was beautiful and we stopped for a drink and a snack. I took pictures of the valley below and the mountain in the distance. The sky had a few clouds to add some interest and contrast. Some haze was hanging on the mountains but the view was still great. To the north and lightly west I could see the Schoharie Reservoir. Huntersfield Mountain was directly north and further east I could see Windham and a hint of the Blacks. We got back on the snowmobile trail and soon arrived at the abandoned ski slopes on Bearpen. An old truck that was used to power the ski tow was still present. I took some more pictures and wandered around to make sure I hit the highest point on the mountain. I decided to follow the snowmobile trail back to avoid pushing my way through the brush. I thought it probably led back to the point where I had started the bushwhack. With less than a quarter mile I found the point where my tracks cut up into the woods. We followed the snowmobile trail and reversed out path back to the hunting shack. Here we crossed the road to begin the climb up Vly. Coming down Bearpen I had looked across to Vly and it looked harder than I remembered.

The hike up Vly began as a pretty easy "follow the herd path" situation. I was surprised that the tracks in the snow were so undefined. Sheba was able to pick up the trail and follow it quite easily. I have learned that following the trail of a previous hiker MAY be a good idea but only if that person knew where they were going. After a short climb the path levels some and winds its way through the woods to the base of the main mountain. In the areas of the steepest climbs the snow was loose and getting a foothold was difficult even with the grip of the MSRs. Sometimes the snow would let loose from the underlying ground and a slide was inevitable. In other areas, the snow was packed but has started to melt leaving ice behind. These areas always seemed to be in the steepest spots as we ascended the ledges. The further up the mountain we went the steeper it got and the more ledges we had to go up and over. The path we were following did seem to pick its way through these ledges but that didn't make things easy!

We eventually made it up through the ledges and, after a short uphill walk, were on the relatively flat area at the top of the mountain. We followed the path which led directly to the canister. We stopped for a snack and a drink and I took some pictures of Sheba at the canister. I walked around to look for a viewpoint but each possible lookout is blocked by too many trees. The eye can see back to Bearpen and to much of the surrounding area but the camera cannot. After our break, we retraced our path down the mountain which went much faster than the ascent. As we were making our way down we met a couple, Jay and his wife Tally. They were hiking up Vly without benefit of snowshoes. Jay said they hadn't been out for some time and we discussed the route to the top and the fact that Bearpen is MUCH easier. As we continued down the mountain I could see that they were having trouble by the deep footprints they left behind! Soon Sheba and I were back a the road. The ice was mostly slush now but I decided to leave my snowshoes on for the mile walk down the road and back to the car. We arrived at the car just before 2:00 PM having taken a little over 4 hours for the 8 mile hike.

On Monday, Mar 2nd school was closed for an early March snowstorm. The roads and streets did look bad but I didn't want to stay inside all day. At about 11:15 I decided the weather wasn't going to get any better and got ready to snowshoe at Frick Pond. I decided that the 15 degree temperature and 15 mph wind would make conditions difficult. I thought I would try my new Backcountry Fleece Tights under my AFRC Primo Pants for added warmth. I also donned my Marmot Genesis Jacket since it has a hood. I put on two layers of Icebreaker wool under this and was ready to go. I drove VERY cautiously out the DeBruce Road toward the turn to Frick Pond. The road had been plowed and sanded and was in relatively good shape if you were driving carefully. Fish Hatchery Road had also been cleaned and as I headed up the road I caught up with the snowplow doing the work. At the split in the road the plow went right toward Mongaup Pond and I turned left to the Frick parking area. This part of the road had NOT been plowed. We parked at about 11:45 and immediately set out for Frick Pond. The car said the air temperature was 12 degrees and the wind sounded a little like a freight train.

The trail to Frick Pond had about 3 or 4 inches of fresh powder on top of a hard packed base. There was still plenty of snow underneath despite the rain and warmer temperatures of last week. At Frick Pond Sheba went left toward the pond and I followed her. As we approached the pond the wind hit us square in the face and we quickly walked across the bride to seek some shelter. Most of the snow from the pond was deposited by the wind in drifts at the other end of the bridge! As we headed around the pond, we were sheltered from the wind by the trees. After a short time we arrived at Times Square. I still had a lot of energy and Sheba seemed to be OK so I decided to climb the Big Rock trail to the Flynn Trail. As we climbed the Big Rock Trail I remembered that I ALWAYS underestimate the distance and elevation gain on this route. The trail was packed by snowmobiles with 4 or 5 inches of powder on top. The snow was now coming down so hard I just concentrated on walking in the track Sheba was laying down. Sheba slowed down some and waited so that I could always keep her in sight! The wind was blowing hard and we were more exposed on this trail. I did appreciate the fleecy tights and the Genesis jacket and layers worked VERY well. In fact, as we climbed I stopped to open the pit zips as I was actually getting too warm.

It didn't take us too long to reach the junction with the Flynn Trail. Here we turned right and headed down the trail and back to the car. The forest rangers had been on the trail with their sleds but I could barely pick out the track as the snow fell and drifted over the trail. I did stop to close the pit zips since the wind was at my back and descending uses a LOT less energy that climbing. Sheba kept getting covered in snow and shaking it off. I found that snow was getting BEHIND my glasses and that metal frames will freeze to your eyebrows. The Flynn Trail always seems long but soon the gate was in sight. We stayed on the trail by turning left at the gate and returning to the car. We were gone about and hour and a half and there was over and inch of new snow on the car.

On Saturday, Feb 28th I decided to finish the month by bagging one or two more 3500's. I decided to head for Westkill and then do SW Hunter if I had anything left. The roads were icy starting with the DeBruce Road and continuing on the Frost Valley Road passed Slide. There were a few cars parked at Biscuit Brook, Slide and Panther. The roads improved as we neared Big Indian and stayed pretty good until the last part of the road to the Westkill parking area. When we arrived another hiker was getting ready to depart. We said hello and found we "knew" each other from the ADK High Peaks Forum. We decided to hike together. The air temperature was in the mid-twenties and there was no wind. I packed my Stabilicers IN my pack and attached my MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes TO my pack with bungee cords. I didn't know whether I would need either but decided to be prepared. We shoved off at 10:45 AM and kept a good pace as we headed for the Falls. On the way wee passed three people and a small, short-haired dog by the West Kill. The falls were frozen and very pretty but I decided to let the "get to your destination" first rule supersede the "take the picture while its there" rule. We walked over the bridge and turned right onto the Devil's Path and started the climb UP Westkill

For some reason I always underestimate Westkill! It is true that it does not have many steep ledges to climb over and the rock scrambles are few. It is a pretty long hike for a single mountain and there ARE some tricky areas. Along the way my companion stopped to stretch and encourage Sheba and I to continue. I though twice but in the end decided he meant it and we headed off. I was still barebooting it without any trouble and without postholing. Somewhere around 2700 to 300 feet the snow got deeper and the direct sunlight loosened it so that I started to sink in AND needed the extra traction. The next stretch of trail involved some sidehilling and I was glad I had put on the snowshoes. Pretty soon we arrived at a steep climb through some rocks which, in winter, is often covered by a thick layer of ice. The ice was there but covered by a layer of granular, frozen snow. The MSR snowshoes are GREAT for gripping and traction even if the bindings leave something to be desired! I scrambled up after Sheba and we were soon passing the "cave" and the 3500 foot sign. There were several large blowdowns along the way which force the hiker to get VERY low or walk around them. It seemed to me that the temperature had dropped but we were protected from the wind by the trees. The trail levels some and then descends before the ascent to the Buck Ridge Lookouts. Just as we began the ascent we met three hikers coming down the trail toward us. I said hello but did not ask whether they were hiking through from Mink Hollow or were doing and out and back like myself. I had been following some track but could not tell exactly how old they were.

Soon Sheba and I were making the final assault on the climb to the lookouts. When we got there, I was surprised to find the sky quite clear and very blue. I also noticed that the wind was blowing but was more focused on the final short hike to the summit. Within minutes we were at the sign and cairn marking the top. I always hike a ;little further since my GPS indicate a higher elevation further along the trail and it seems to me you do gain a little elevation in this direction. We turned around and headed back to Buck Ridge to take in the view and take some pictures. I removed my pack and got out the camera and realized that I was cold AND the wind was at least 20 mph. We walked over to the lookout to the north. Sheba immediately jumped up an "her" rock so that I could take some pictures. After a few shots, she looked at me as if to say "Can I get down now?" I took a few more distance shots and then some close ups of the ice and snow on the trees. The other side of the lookout has more to see and I took many photographs from different angles. After putting the camera away, we retreated to the cover of some trees to get a drink and a snack before heading down.

I was happy to be headed back and won out of the wind. After descending from the lookouts we met the hiker from the parking lot. He had switched to snowshoes and was headed for the summit. He said that the last time he was on Westkill he broke trail in deep snow as far as the lookouts and could go no farther. He was back to claim his prize! As we continued on the trail we met two more groups of hikers ascending and all were wearing snowshoes. I kept mine on the entire way back since they actually make descending easier and make the load on the back lighter. At the falls I decided to work my way down to the base to take some pictures. The direct rays of the sun had melted the snow on the path down to the falls making descending difficult. I left my pack begin at the top and just took the camera. I did get some very nice photographs. When it came time to climb back up, I had a tough go with the melted snow! Back on the trail we moved quickly over the last mile on were back at the car by 2:45 PM. We covered the 6.5 miles in 4 hours with time out for pictures on the lookouts and at the falls. The conditions in the valley had not changed! This is a good example of how conditions at the trailhead may not reflect the conditions on the summit!

On Saturday, Feb 21st I wasn't sure where I wanted to hike but I WAS sure I wanted a break from the 35's. Climbing peaks is fun but sometimes I just want to go out and walk and enjoy myself without a monumental challenge. I thought I might go south to Harriman if Cindy wanted to go but she had some work to do and decided to stay at home. I didn't feel like driving a long way without her so I took Sheba and headed for Frick and Hodge Ponds. I was thinking a quick snowshoe for some exercise and then back home. It didn't quite turn out that way. We arrived at the parking area at 9:20 AM and it was immediately obvious that this area got more snow than we did in town on Wednesday night! When we got out of the car the temperature was in the low 20's but a wind was howling. I out on my gear and got on the trail to take advantage of the shelter of the trees. The trails around these two ponds offer a HUGE number of variations and in the winter even more. Some trails are dual use for snowmobiles and hiking and are usually packed an easier to snowshoe while others are hiking only. My intention was to hike to Frick Pond, go around the back of the pond to Times Square, take the Logger's Loop to the Quick Lake Trail, turn onto the Flynn Trail at Junkyard Junction, take the Flynn Trail to Hodge pond and the to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. At Big Rock I could continue on the Flynn Trail or use the Big Rock Trail to get back to Times Square.

As we started on the trail it was clear some ignorant hikers had walked toward Frick Pond without snowshoes. The trail had postholes starting right at the parking area. Fortunately, the snow was still powder and I was able to walk over their mistake without too much trouble! As we approached Frick Pond the wind picked up and there were deep drifts on either side of the bridge. I elected not to stop for pictures because of the wind and because I have taken the same pictures of Frick MANY times. Apparently the bareboot hikers had turned back at the bridge since there was unbroken snow on the other side. There was A LOT of unbroken snow on the other side. As we walked around the back of Frick Pond the snow was 6 to 8 inches deep and totally untouched. The air temperature was rising with the sunny skies and the day was beautiful. We soon arrived at Times Square and turned left to go up the Logger's Loop Trail. The trail was packed by snowmobiles but none had passed this day.

Walking on the snowmobile trail was much easier than breaking trail through the powder and we made good time up the Wagon Wheel Junction. UP is the important word here since the Logger's Loop ascends for about 1.2 miles to the trail junction. There are no noticeable hills just a constant ascent. At Wagon Wheel I thought about turning left on the Quick Lake Trail to cut the hike short. The trail was completely unbroken and Sheba continued straight ahead so I followed. The Quick Lake Trail to Junkyard Junction is another 1.5 miles of packed snowmobile trail that ascends the entire way. We were passed by two sleds at one point and I wondered why more people weren't taking advantage of the wonderful day. At Junkyard Junction we turned right onto the Flynn Trail. I don't know why but the Flynn Trail seems to have MORE SNOW than any other place around. This day there was no less than 8 inches in most places with drifts of new snow up to 18 inches. Most of the time we were breaking trail through 10 to 12 inches of new powder! Soon the gate on the Flynn Trail appeared signaling a turn to the right to Hodge Pond. The last part of the trail to the pond was also covered in deep powder.

We stopped a the pond for a drink and a snack and for me to take some pictures. The wind was blowing across the pond from the north and we were cooling off quickly. After only a short stop, we continued on the Flynn Trail toward the Big Rock junction. The area near the pond and for some distance up the trail was covered by deep drifted new powder. As we walked I realized that not only was I tired but that I had pulled some muscles in my upper right leg. The deep powder and the uphill hike from Hodge Pond was discouraging. If I stopped to rest, my leg would tighten up but if I didn't it would start to cramp. Once we got through with the ascent and were on more level ground the walking was easier but the snow was just as deep. All I could think of was hitting the trail junction and walking DOWN the Flynn Trail. The Flynn Trail is NOT a snowmobile trail but the forest rangers often use it to patrol and their sleds and I knew the trail would be packed for an easy descent. As we approached the trail junction, I noticed two sleds stopped and I greeted them as we approached. I looked ahead and got a real surprise! This was NOT the good kind of surprise! The Flynn Trail glistened with completely unbroken fresh powder. I looked down the packed Big Rock Trail and considered that route for a moment. We took the Flynn Trail instead since it is much shorter. The snow on the trail was at least 12 inches in most places with significantly higher drifts in places. Descending made my leg feel better but the trail rolls some in several places. After about 1.5 miles of descent the ranger cabin came into view. I decided to stay on the trail through the woods so that I could say we broke the ENTIRE Flynn Trail! We were back at the car by 1:05 PM having covered the 6 mile hike in 3 hours and 45 minutes.

On Thursday, Feb 19th I decided to hike Panther from the old logging road at the north end of Winnisook Lake. The night before the weather forecasters missed AGAIN! One to 3 inches of snow became 4 to 6 inches and the roads were in poor shape. I took the Outlander with 4-wheel drive and started for Frost Valley. Driving slow and carefully we got to Winnisook and parked on the side of the road at about 9:45 AM. The air temperature was in the low 30's but a stiff breeze was blowing. I decided to try out my new Mountain Hardwear Torch jacket. This model is light with a minimal lining but has Windstopper and is water resistant. Due to the amount of snow I wore my Atlas 12 snowshoes. We got started right away. Immediately I noticed that the snow was sticky which made walking more difficult. The breeze continued to blow but the air temperature remained in the mid 30's with some periods of sun. After a short distance, I stowed the jacket in my pack and put on OR Powerstretch gloves. After about 1.3 miles we were at the trail junction for Giant Ledge and Woodland Valley. We continued on the trail toward Giant Ledge and Panther.

The trail to the Ledges starts out almost flat but soon starts to climb. The snowshoes worked well especially on the ice patches underneath the snow. We stopped just after the spring at the lookout toward Slide. The mountain was veiled in fog, clouds and snow. As I took pictures the scene changed so that there was sunshine on the mountain. We continued up the trail and I had little trouble negotiating the rock ledges up to Giant Ledge. Sheba never has any trouble. We stopped at one viewpoint and I took some pictures. Most of the mountains were covered in fog or clouds but there was quite a variety of views. Panther looked like it was covered in ice and snow and black clouds hung over the summit. The trail along the Ledges is pretty flat with a number of viewpoints. It then descends into the Col between the Ledges and Panther. The descent had several icy places and at least one spot that required a "jump" down. The snow in the Col was deep in places and drifted in others. The hike up Panther has several steep climbs followed by flat areas. Several of these had large icy patches hidden by the freshly fallen snow. I followed Sheba's lead up the slopes which was always the easiest that could be found. Soon we were at the top the last real climb and on the way to the summit.

By the time we were approaching the summit I was beginning to get tired from the snow constantly sticking to my snowshoes. I was glad the return trip was mostly down! By the time we reached the summit it was snowing and the valley and hills visible from the Panther lookout were barely visible. The trees at the summit were covered with ice and snow making a beautiful scene. After taking some pictures and getting a snack, we turned around to retrace our path. The descent down Panther was pretty easy except for the icy areas and we were soon in the Col. I had worried about the climb back up to the Ledges but the ascent was easier than the descent. The snow had intensified and was now mixed with some sleet. The views from Giant Ledge were all obscured by the snow. The descent down from Giant Ledge was fast as was the hike to the trail junction. We returned along the old logging road as the snow continued to increase. The temperature was dropping and the wind was increasing. Somehow the snow was STILL sticky to the snowshoes. This part of the hike went VERY slowly! We finished the 6 mile hike just passed 2:00 PM taking about 4 hours and 15 minutes.

On Tuesday, Feb 17th I decided to go to Kaaterskill Falls in the afternoon after hiking Twin and Indian Head. The Falls are so popular going there on a weekend is impossible but Tuesday seemed like a good day to visit. I expected that the Falls would be impressive in winter and should be at least partly frozen. We parked just after 3:00 PM and were one of only two or three cars in the lot. I lightened my pack and stowed the Stabilicers for the walk down the shoulder of Route 23C to the trailhead. This walk is dangerous since there is little shoulder. As we approached the falls I could see that Bastion Falls was a mass of ice and I knew that the hike would be worth the trouble. As I stepped over the guardrail I nearly skipped and fell. This encouraged me to immediately don the Stabilicers. I let Sheba off her leash and went down near the creek to photograph some aspects of the falls. When we went back up to the trail, I could see that it was a river of ice. Even with the traction on my feet, I felt uncomfortable for the entire hike! In some places we went off the trail to avoid the ice and get a better look at the creek. A short way up the trail we met a couple who were off trail taking some pictures. They had hiking boots on but no traction. I wondered how far they would get

At this point I spotted some massive ice formations hanging on the opposite side of the creek. We went down to investigate and I took several pictures. I knew that this meant that Kaaterskill Falls should be very rewarding! We continued along the trail working our way carefully up and toward the falls. Just as I began to hear the falls we passed a couple in jeans and sneakers. I didn't know what to say. Just after that we walked out onto the viewing area for the falls at the base of the lower cataract. The lower and upper falls were frozen but some water was passing over them making the scene that much more beautiful. I took pictures from every angle and zoom hoping that a few could communicate the beauty that I saw. The couple is sneakers slid in as we were leaving. Sheba and I tried to climb up to the amphitheater between the falls and did make it part of the way up with great effort. At this point I could see that we would eventually meet walls of ice and we turned around. On our way back we met another group of hikers headed for the falls with hiking clothing but no foot traction. Another group was just leaving the area of Bastion Falls having seen the icy trail and wisely deciding not to attempt it.

On Tuesday, Feb 17th I again wanted to bag some more Catskill peaks and decided to head to Prediger Road to hike Twin and Indian Head. The weather prediction was about the same as the day before with temperatures expected to rise into the mid 30's. We arrived at about 10:00 AM and parked on Prediger Road. We were the only car there an I expected we would not see many other hikers. Based on my experience the day before I decided NOT to carry my snowshoes since I had not needed them on Monday. I did put on my Stabilicers since they had worked so well the day before. I expected the trails to Twin and Indian Head to be much like the Blacks; packed snow and ice. This time I wore my wool layers but opted for a Westcomb Nova Fleece on top. The temperature was actually a few degrees colder when we started and a slight breeze was blowing. Whoever plows Prediger Road had piled ALL the snow across the access road making the start of the hike a little treacherous. The road into the new parking area is now wide and level and the new parking area is large. The trail register has been moved to where the trail begins from the parking area. I don't know whether this parking area will ever be maintained during the winter but it should be ready for the spring.

We headed up the Devil's Path until the junction with the jimmy Dolan Notch Trail and turned right onto this trail to go to the Notch. The Devil's Path up the eastern side of Indian Head can be difficult due to the constant melting and refreezing. I have had to turn back on at least one occasion and use full crampons on others! The Jimmy Dolan Trail winds back and forth through the forest for no really good reason that I can determine. The elevation gain is moderate initially until the last .3 or .4 miles and then the trail gets really steep. The going was pretty easy with a few slippery areas. I was reminded of one time last year when Sheba and I arrived to find over a foot of unbroken snow at the trailhead which slowly increased to several feet at the Notch. Breaking trail by myself in that mess was one of the hardest hikes I have ever done! This day was easy by comparison. On the steepest part of the trail to the Notch there was some postholing and evidence of slipping a sliding. When will people learn that they should come prepared for the conditions ON the mountains NOT AT the trailhead? At the Notch we stopped briefly for a drink and a snack and then turn right on the Devil's Path to ascend Twin. The double peak of Twin is harder than the .4 miles to the top of Indian Head and I wanted to finish it first. In addition, Twin is one of my favorite peaks.

The start of the hike was remarkably similar to Black Dome the day before since the sun had melted some of the snow and the south and eastern sides of the mountain. As the trail curled back to the north side the packed snow and ice returned. In several places the piles of snow made getting up and over some of the rock formations a little EASIER but in many other places the footing was almost nonexistent. Climbing required careful foot and pole placement and paying attention to where the next step would take you. We finally got passed the hardest parts of the climb and arrived at the small viewpoint on the eastern side of Twin. We stopped so that I could take some pictures of Indian Head and the surrounding hills and valleys. The fire tower and TV/radio antennae on Overlook Mountain were clearly visible. We returned to the narrow trail that winds its way to the summit of the eastern peak. This trail leads directly to the open rock ledges that provide one of the nicest views in the Catskills.

Each time I visit the viewpoint on the eastern peak of Twin I am impressed by the wide open view. On a clear day like this one the view seems to stretch forever. To the east Overlook Mountain can be seen while further in the background is the Hudson River. To the west is the higher, western peak of Twin, Sugarloaf and Plateau are clearly visible. The far peaks always have a strange blue-purple color and today the sky was a bright blue. I took MANY pictures before we were back on the trail to the western peak. As we walked I caught a glimpse of our destination. The hike is not trivial but did not take us very long. We were standing on the western viewpoint in about 15 or 20 minutes! The view from here is not much different but the angles and relationships change. After a few pictures, we retraced our path down into the Col between the two peaks and across the eastern viewpoint. Soon we were sliding down the trail to Jimmy Dolan Notch. We still had not seen any other hikers and I was not too surprised.

The summit of Indian Head is only about .5 miles from the gap and the trail starts out rather gently. There was quiet a bit of postholing along the way but this day the trail was still very packed and icy in spots. There are no really good lookouts on the climb up Indian Head but I though I might stop on the way back to get a shot or two of Twin. On the climb the snow was melted down to bare rock or dirt in several places. We reached the top of the plateau that forms Indian Head and continued to walk toward the summit. This required negotiating two tricky spots that were very icy. In one spot the ice had poured over a boulder an across the entire trail. The Stabilicers and poles helped as did grabbing on to some trees. In the other spot the hiker must pull himself up between two rocks and here there was a river of ice. We passed by the summit and headed down the other side. I wanted to see if I could get to the viewpoint that overlooks the Catskill Community and Kaaterskill High Peak. Eventually we got to an area I recognized and knew that going down would be dangerous and that the return would require crampons. The only other alternative would be to continue down the eastern side of Indian Head which was not in my plans. We turned around and continued back to Jimmy Dolan Notch. On the way I took several pictures of Twin on the descent of Indian Head. The descent from Jimmy Dolan went quickly but the walk along the lower part of the trail seemed to take forever. Less than a mile from the car we met a pair of hikers just starting out. I imagine they were not going far since it was already 2:00 PM. We got back to the car at about 2:15 covering the 6 miles in just over 4 hours. It was then that I decided to visit Kaaterskill Falls.

On Monday, Feb 16th I wanted to get in a longer hike AND "bag" some 2500 foot peaks. The best way to do this is to choose a "group" that can be done in one day. Since I was free all day, I decided to head north to Big Hollow Road and hike all three Blacks. As usual I got a later start than expected and was at the parking area around 10:30 AM. The turn around was plowed but I chose to park behind another car on the right side of the road. There wasn't much snow on the road to the summer parking area but there WAS a lot of ice! My first decisions involved what to wear and whether or not to take my snowshoes. I decided on my "go to" Mountain Hardwear Windstopper jacket over my Icebreaker wool tops. I have been wearing the insulated Salomon B-52 boots lately even when not snowshoeing. They are warm and offer adequate support for hiking. I decided to wear my Stabilicers to combat the ice that started right at the beginning of the hike and to carry my Atlas 12 snowshoes. I was surprised that they attached to the Marmot Vapor 30 pack with a couple of bungee cords and without any problems. The only problem was that when I shouldered the pack I noticed the extra weight immediately. When Sheba and I started the air temperature was only in the mid-20's and a slight breeze was blowing

As we started up the Black Dome Trail the snow and ice thinned under the trees and more bare rock appeared. As I walked I looked at the creek that was frozen over and quite beautiful. Before I knew it I looked down and saw I was walking over a flow of solid ice! The flow was about 20 feet long and spanned the entire trail and I was already in the middle of it. I have a begun to wear and like the Stabilicers more and more. This experience convinced me that they are great for what they where made for. I still want to try Microspikes if I ever find them on sale. We crossed the first bridge and then the second and were soon at the trail junction. I chose to head directly up to Lockwood Gap and hike Black Dome and Thomas Cole first. I planned to then head back to the Gap and hike Blackhead and finally to return using the Black Dome Trail. Getting two peaks out of the way for less than two peaks effort usually improves my mood. Shortly after making the turn, I decided I was too warm and removed my jacket. I was hoping that the two Icebreaker tops would be enough and they were more than up to the task. At one point I looked down to see droplets of water on my chest and abdomen. I was still feeling warm and dry. Talk about wicking! I also noticed that the pack which had seemed heavy with the snowshoes no longer bothered me. I had a feeling I would not need them since the trail was VERY well-packed snow but I felt "prepared".

The trail to Lockwood Gap was very familiar and Sheba and I made good time. As the trail begins the approach to the mountains and the actual climb it begins a series of switchbacks. The first view of the two mountains always impresses me. In particular, turning toward Blackhead and looking up is a daunting sight. I often look up at the mountains I am about to climb and wonder if it is even possible. From the peaks I look down and wonder just how I got up there. For me, this is the attraction in hiking these mountains! Soon we were at Lockwood Gap and we turned right to head up Black Dome. The trail was now more on the south and east side of the mountain and the snow was beginning to melt. This unconsolidated snow made hiking the slope difficult. I almost changed to snowshoes but, after one turn, the snow all but disappeared for a stretch and then the trail wound its way around to the north and west. Soon we were back on hard packed snow and ice. A few places climbing up the steeper parts of Black Dome and over the ledges were challenging but we were soon over them. Near the top we stopped so that I could take some pictures from the viewpoint facing east toward Blackhead and the Black Dome valley. The sky was very clear and the very blue. The air was not warm but there was little wind and the day was nearly perfect.

A short walk brought us to the summit and the rock ledge that acts as a viewpoint. The views from here were also beautiful stretching far and wide. We got a snack and a drink and I took many pictures at different angles and zooms. We then got back on the trail and headed for Thomas Cole. It was clear that fewer people had passed this way but the trail was still packed. The descent when quickly and I regretted that, although glimpses of Thomas Cole can be seen through the trees, there was no point where pictures of the mountain we were approaching could be taken. Although the hike to Thomas Cole is not very eventful it is not necessarily easy. This day ALL the short climbs were covered in hard packed snow and ice making the ascent and subsequent descent all the more interesting. We summited and then turned around and retraced our steps toward Black Dome and down to Lockwood Gap. An the descent of Black Dome we met a solo hiker coming up. We talked for a minute and then he said that I looked familiar and asked about this website. I assume he meant that Sheba looked familiar since there are far more pictures of her on the site. He asked to take a picture of Sheba before we parted company. Soon we were making the descent to the Gap with only a few minor difficulties.

We continued straight ahead on the Blackhead trail up Blackhead Mountain. This is a fairly short climb with some steep areas. A few postholes had been present along the trail but they were particularly annoying in this area. The trail alternated between ice, packed snow and bare rock. We continued the ascent passed the various viewpoints as I intended to stop on the return trip. We quickly gained the top of the mountain and walked to the junction with the Escarpment Trail on the other end. There we found a young man and woman pouring over the map. We said hello and they started toward Lockwood Gap. After a few pictures, we retraced our path in the same direction. We caught up to the pair at the first lookout where I stopped to take some pictures toward Black Dome. The couple had stayed in the Batavia Kill lean-to the night before. They had ascended the east slope of Blackhead which they described as difficult. After taking my pictures, Sheba and I headed down to the Gap and back down the Black Dome trail. The northern side of the mountain was a little chilly where the sun was blocked by the mountains but we descended quickly. We were back at the car by about 2:15. We had covered the 7 mile hike in about 3,5 hours which is just as fast as during any other season!

On Sunday, Feb 15th Cindy and I decided to try again and headed for Giant Ledge after church. Cindy has been here many times before and was confident she could make the round trip. I decided we would not need snowshoes since this trail is popular and would be well packed. We did take our Stabilicers since several places along the trail are often VERY icy. There are also many rocky areas which make snowshoeing difficult unless there has been considerable fresh snow. As we passed Winnisook Lake we had the bright idea that we should use the old logging road that start just after the northern end of the lake. This road avoids all the rocky climbs and meets at the trail junction of the trail to Woodland Valley and the trail to Giant Ledge and Panther. This was a MISTAKE.

Everything started out OK as we made our way along the road which was covered with a thick crust over several inches of snow. Not many people use this route and only one snowshoe track was obvious. I broke through the crust once or twice but it didn't seem to be too serious. The further we went however, the weaker the crust got and the deeper the snow underneath became! Shortly, I was breaking through on every step and regretted not being prepared with snowshoes. I decided I had had enough since I did not know how much farther we had to go. Postholing is too difficult and I did not want to ruin the trail for anyone else. We reluctantly turned around and headed back to the car short of our goal for the second day in a row!

When we got back to the car I tentatively suggested that we go to the main trailhead and try the hike as I had originally planned. I was surprised when Cindy agreed saying she didn't want to leave without getting in a hike. We went down to the main parking area which was almost full and immediately set out on the trail at about 1:00 PM. The trail WAS very well packed and WAS icy in several places. The Stabilicers and poles helped a great deal and we kept a pretty good pace to the trail junction. Cindy was a little winded when we got to the junction and I had to keep moving so I got a little ahead on the trail to Giant Ledge. I stopped and waited and soon Cindy was headed my way with another hiker. Christine had recently moved up from Philadelphia and was eager to hike the Catskill 35's and get her patch. She was headed for Panther and was moving with the speed of youth. We talked and walked together for some time and then let her get on her way. We stopped at the lookout to Slide just after the spring and took some pictures before continuing. Soon we were at the first climb over the rock ledges to Giant Ledge.

Christine had stopped to talk to a couple who were returning from Giant Ledge. We also stopped and chatted briefly about the 3500 Club and the different peaks. Christine was interested in the trailed and untrailed peaks. We decided to continue on up to the Ledges and said goodbye to the other three. The climb up over the rocks was tricky in places but we were soon at the top. On the way up we met several hikers coming back down. After a short walk, we arrived at the first viewpoint. The rocks were a sheet of ice so Cindy and Sheba stayed back while I took some very nice pictures of Panther and the Burroughs Range. The sky was as clear as I have ever seen it and was a beautiful shade of blue. We decided to return at this point and headed back down. Cindy said she had not seen Christine and I wondered if she had decided to turn around. As we descended the rock ledges we passed several other hikers. At the base of the climb Christine was just saying goodbye to the other couple and beginning to ascend. We said hello as she passed. It was about 2:30 PM by now and I wondered if she had any idea how long it might take to get to Panther and back. She was dressed in a cotton sweatshirt and denim jeans. The only traction she had was a set of broken Yaks. We both hoped she would make it out before dark!

Cindy and I continued our descent and passed several more people on the way. Cindy may not ascend as fast As I do but she certainly keeps up on the descent! It had taken us over an hour to get up to Giant Ledge and just about an hour to get down. In several places our descent was sort of a controlled slide. Momentum helps as long as you can stop when you must. We covered some of the worst ice flows by simply skirting them or descending over them quickly. We were back at the car in just about two hours. This plus the initial aborted attempt made an acceptable outing for the day.

On Saturday, Feb 14th I asked my wife, Cindy, if she would like to hike somewhere. I wanted to get started on a week of 35's during my winter break from school. She chose Peekamoose from the Peekamoose Road trailhead. This hike is not very steep but it is long so I knew we would probably not be able to include Table also. We arrived at the trailhead and parked at about 11:00 AM along with only a few other cars. We decided to wear snowshoes since I had no reliable reports of the conditions near the summit. The air temperature was in the high 20's and began to rise to just above freezing as we walked. The trail was well packed as we did not need the snowshoes. We soon left the logging road and began to walk the trail which was also well-packed and wide open. As soon as we began to climb Cindy fell back and was simply not having a good day. Climbing up through the rock ledges was difficult and just short of Reconnoiter Rock Cindy had had enough. I was disappointed in missing the summit and not even being able to get to the first landmark but was happy we had gotten out together. We returned to the car after hiking for about 2.5 hours.

On Wednesday, Feb 4th there was a half day conference at school. I took the day off for a family commitment that did not materialize so I decided to hike instead! I decided to go snowshoeing at Frick Pond again due to the fact that it was close and I had to be in Liberty for some basketball games in the evening. By the time we were all ready to go it was late morning and we parked at about 9:30 AM. The temperature was still in the single digits and a 20 mph wind was blowing! Sheba and I started off on Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. The trail showed some evidence of use but there were several inches of snow over old tracks, some of which were ours from Saturday! The trail is closed to snowmobiles but the forest rangers often use it to patrol on their sleds. Walking on these tracks was easier than stepping off to the side. I tried leaving the path several times only to since a foot through the crust and into the powder underneath. We walked quickly and made good time to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The Flynn Trail is a continuous uphill for almost 1.5 miles but is never steep. At the trail junction Sheba and I continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond.

This part of the trail had not been used by snowmobiles or snowshoers in some time. I did find what looked like ski tracks and followed them. This made the walk easier than it could have been. As we began the descent to Hodge Pond I saw some postholing. It almost look as if the skier had removed his skis and walked for a short distance. The ski tracks picked up again heading toward the pond but I lost them as the snow had drifted. At times the snowshoeing consisted of the now all too familiar stepping, breaking through the crust and sinking in to some depth. Trying to lift your foot again meant getting the snowshoe caught on the crust and our progress was slow. As we neared the pond the wind picked up in intensity and the wind chill made the temperature well below zero! The snow had drifted and walking became that much harder. At the pond I had intended to take pictures but the view was one I had seen too many times before and I did not want to stop. I briefly thought about turning around as the Flynn Trail to the left looked completely unbroken. I decided to press ahead. This was a decision I almost regretted later!

The Flynn Trail WAS completely unbroken with deep and drifted snow anywhere there was an open spot. The icy crust and drifted snow was able to support my weight in many places but in others I would break through! Going was VERY slow around the other side of the pond. At this point I was able to pick up some of the tracks we had laid down the last time we were on the trail. There had been a lot of snow and ice since them and the fact that we had been on the path seemed to make little difference! The Flynn Trail turns left away from the pond and starts a short and shallow climb at this point. I never realized what a challenge this little hill could be until this day. Finally we arrived a the gate but this didn't make much difference. Ahead of us lay more unused trail to break alone! We stopped for a drink and a snack before continuing. At this point there was no question about going ahead since turning around was MUCH longer and almost as difficult.

We slowly made our way along the trail with me trying to follow some of our tracks from the last trek. We would walk and then rest until we finally reached Junkyard Junction where the Flynn Trail ends at the Quick Lake Trail. The BEST part about this was that the Quick Lake Trail is a snowmobile trail. Although it didn't show very recent use the snow was packed with only a few inches of powder on top. Sheba immediately took the lead and my own spirits lifted. We made great time along the packed trail as we descended toward Wagon Wheel Junction. The walk did seem longer than I remembered but was MUCH easier than the unbroken trail we left behind! We arrived at the junction with the Logger's Loop Trail and I had to make a decision. The Logger's Loop was packed snowmobile trail but longer than the Quick Lake route back to Frick Pond. Examination of the Quick Lake Trail showed little use and I worried about how hard it would be to break trail. As I was pondering, Sheba made the choice by turning right onto the Quick Lake Trail. There was a LOT of new snow and ice but the path we had used before was visible. Following this path was easier than breaking completely new trail. As I crossed the one small brook on the trail I sank deeper than I thought I should. As I pulled my snowshoe up I noticed I had broken through to the running water below. I waited for the feeling of cold water to engulf my foot but that never happened. I had immersed my foot just short of the top if my boot and the B52's are waterproof! We continued on our way and were soon at the pond. Here the wind was blowing but not as hard and the temperature had risen a degree or two. I stopped to take some pictures. On the way back to the parking area we were able to follow a well broken path the entire way. We finished the 6 miles in 3.5 hours and were both tired from the effort.

On Tuesday, Feb 3rd some snow and ice were predicted so the school canceled all after school activities. I called home to see if Cindy wanted to snowshoe and she said OKAY. I hurried home right after school and Sheba, Cindy and I started up the hill behind the church by 2:30 PM to hike up Round Top. The temperature was cool but there wasn't much wind as we climbed the access road to the cemetery and turned left into the woods. We were soon on the familiar path to the top of the Round Top Ridge. Since we had been on the same trail just the day before it was packed and our tracks were clearly visible. We made good time to the top of the first hill where we decided to go straight ahead to follow the path to the next hill. We planned to go to the top of the next hill and then backtrack completely. Since we had been on this path the day before it was easier walking than then but was still harder than the packed path we had just left. There was still a lot of unconsolidated snow and icy patches. We made pretty good time despite the difficulties but Cindy was getting tired on the climb up the second hill. Sheba and I went ahead to the top and then picked Cindy up on our return. Going back was a little easier but some of the downhills were difficult. Cindy took one nasty spill on a descent that left here with a nice bruise on her thigh from the hard crust. We completed the route in about two hours.

On Monday, Feb 2nd I had games in the evening but decided to come home early to "treat" myself to some outdoor exercise before returning to school. Sheba and I started up the hill behind the church by 2:30 PM to hike up Round Top. The temperature was cool but there wasn't much wind as we climbed the access road to the cemetery and turned left into the woods. We were soon on the familiar path to the top of the Round top Ridge. Since we had been on the same trail several times before it was packed with only a few inches of snow on top and we made good time. At the top of the first hill I decided to go straight ahead to the next hill rather than turn left and go down through the woods. My plan was to go to the top of the next hill and then backtrack completely. We had not done this part of the route in some time and not since the last major snow and ice event. The entire walk was one of stepping into 10 to 18 inches of snow, breaking through the crust and sinking down, lifting the snowshoe to repeat the process OVER and OVER. This was hard work but good exercise and we made pretty good time despite the difficulties. At the top of the second hill we hiked to the top and then immediately turned around. Going back was a little easier and we completed the route in less than two hours.

On Saturday, Jan 31st I had planned to "bag" some peaks I needed for January perhaps meeting a group that was doing the Blacks from Barnum Road. Late in the week I found my son and his wife would be in town and the plans changed. He had a limited amount of time to spend hiking in the morning so we decided to go snowshoeing at Frick Pond. By the time we were all ready to go it was late morning and we parked at about 10:00 AM. The temperature was still in the teens and a 20 mph wind was blowing! We started off on the Logger's Loop trail toward Frick Pond. Our group consisted of me, my wife, my son Karl, my dog Sheba and his dog Maggie. The trail was untouched since Wednesday's snow and ice event. Where I had hiked on the weekend the trail was somewhat packed. In other places there was at least 18 inches of snow. There was a hard crust everywhere. Snowshoeing consisted of stepping, breaking through the crust and sinking in to some depth. Trying to lift your foot again meant getting the snowshoe caught on the crust and our progress was slow.

At the trail junction we continued right on the Logger's Loop Trail toward Times Square. The snow always drifts in this area and walking was difficult. At Times Square we stopped for some pictures and then decided to climb the Big Rock Trail. Although this trail ascends for over a mile it was packed by snowmobile traffic making the actual stepping easier. We warmed as we climbed and only stopped briefly for pictures. In about 1.5 hours we were at the junction with the Flynn Trail. We decided that heading back to the car was the best option. Karl had someplace to be and both dogs were having trouble with ice balls on their feet. Even though the Flynn Trail is a constant descent it seemed long. The temperature had not risen and the wind was still blowing. The forest rangers had been on the trail with their sleds. The trail is closed to snowmobiles. Soon the cabin was in sight and we followed the Flynn Trail to the left as it circles through the woods and to the parking area. A little over 3 miles took us about 2 hours.

On Wednesday, Jan 28th school was closed due to snowfall that continued through the morning. The prediction of sleet and freezing rain also helped school officials make their decision! Sheba and I went across the street and snowshoed our usual route over Round Top. Where Cindy and I had walked last weekend the snow was packed with a 3 to 5 inch layer of new snow. In several places I varied the route slightly and had to wade through at least 18 inches. I wore a new REI Momentum jacket. It is very light and stretchy and breathes extremely well. It was prefect for snowshoeing although I could have worm one less layer of wool under it! We got home at about 12:15. At 1:00 PM We were meeting a friend at the church to snowshoe the same route. The snow had changed to sleet and freezing rain but we went anyway! We followed the same route and had a good time. The temperature was much warmer and I wore only my Sherpa Raaj over a light top. This combination was perfect.

On Sunday, Jan 25th Cindy and I decided to go to Trout Pond to hike after church. We got a late start and didn't arrive at the parking area until 1:30 PM. It was clear that snowmobiles had packed the trail so we did not wear our snowshoes. Cindy put on her Stabilicers and I stowed mine in my pack and we were off. The trail was well packed as we walked down Russell Brook Road and over the bridge near the falls. At the split in the trail we headed left to climb the hill to Mud Pond first. This hill is rather long but not too steep. The snow here was also well packed and the hiking was relatively easy. We soon crested the hill and got to the turn off toward Trout Pond. The trail was blocked with yellow ribbon to prevent snowmobiles from using it. I assumed there were some downed trees so we turned and started up the trail. I asked Cindy if she thought we had enough time and she said we did. The trail had 3 to 5 inches of unpacked snow on top of the snowmobile track...initially. The trail ascends Cherry Ridge gently but continuously. As we continued the snow on top of the track got deeper and the packed track became less consolidated. Walking became MUCH more difficult and, in some areas, a misstep meant sinking up to our knees. There were areas along the way that showed extensive new blowdowns especially on the descent on the other side of the ridge. Crossing the Trout Pond inlet was no problem and we were soon back on the packed snowmobile trail headed for the falls and then the parking area. We completed the hike by 4:30 PM which wasn't bad for almost 6 miles and the less-than-perfect conditions.

On Saturday, Jan 24th the temperature was well below zero when Cindy and I got up. I did some chores and when I got back home we decided to go to the Spruceton trailhead and hike Hunter Mountain. The roads were in good shape but we went by way of the Pepacton Reservoir and Margaretville since Cindy likes this route better than the Frost Valley Road. We finally arrived at the trailhead about noon. There were several other cars parked even though the temperature was still in the single digits and a breeze was blowing. I had worn my Mountain Hardwear Windstopper Tech Jacket which is my "go to" jacket since it is light but blocks ALL wind. The pit zips on this jacket are also handy. Under this I worm a light Patagonia Wool and an Icebreaker 320 Zip top. As soon as I stepped out of the car I was cold and considered putting on another layer but decided to wait. Cindy and I donned our snowshoes and started out. As soon as we hit the trail it was clear that snowshoes would probably NOT be necessary. The trail was well traveled and packed. The slight thaw and refreezing of the snow also made the trail pretty easy to negotiate. We went back to the car and Took off our snowshoes. Cindy put on her Stabilicers and I packed mine and we started off again.

The going was pretty easy but it is uphill all the way. We crossed the new bridge and passed came to the hairpin turn. It did not look like many people had tried Rusk from this point since the last storm. As we began to climb the long shallow grade up to the trail junction, I got warmer and warmer. Where I had wanted to add a layer at the car I now was thinking of taking one off. I settled for opening the pit zips and main zipper on my jacket and unzipping both of my other layers. The sun had come out but the air temperature had not gone up much. Most of the heat was just from the work hiking the path. A group of four passed us on there way down. One was wearing snowshoes and the others full crampons. I hoped we had the right equipment since conditions on the top of the 35's are often VERY different from those at the trailhead. As we walked we could look to the right and see Westkill in the distance. Soon we made the trail junction and turned right to start the real climb. The sign said 1100 feet in 1.7 miles. Cindy does not like UP but holds her own on FLAT and often get ahead of me on DOWN. At the spring I asked her if she wanted to turn back but she decided to press on. I was glad.

The trail approaching the spring is often treacherous since the overflow from the spring floods the trail and freezes. This day there was a lot of snow coverage and no sign on the ice flow. I wanted to take some pictures of the frozen spring but it too was covered in snow. We stopped just passed the spring and the 3500 foot sign at the one viewpoint. I took some pictures of Rusk and some over toward Westkill. The trees are growing quickly and this viewpoint is almost obscured. We met a couple descending. I was going to ask where they had come from since she was wearing a helmet and he had plastic mountaineering boots on. Both carried ice axes! A little further on near the turn to the Colonel's Chair we met another hiker. As we continued up the mountain the air temperature continued to drop. There was more and more snow and ice on the trees but the trail was still well packed. Most areas of the trail were beautiful with some forming near tunnels as the branches bent under the weight of the ice and snow. I took some pictures as we went since the sunlight shining on the ice and through the snowy branches made a nice scene. I became concerned that it was getting late in the day and the last part of the trail is pretty steep. We continued on and were soon at the clearing with the tower and the cabin.

The trees were covered with snow and ice so that the green of the needles on the branches could hardly be seen! The clearing was covered with ice some of which stuck up in shards with the sun glinting off them. The air temperature was MUCH colder and there was a stiff wind of 20 to 30 mph blowing. There were two other groups present, one on the tower and one at the cabin. I took some pictures of the clearing, the trees and the tower. I removed my pack, took out the camera and headed toward the tower. It was VERY icy and Stabilicers would have been a good idea! As a climbed above the trees the wind velocity increased and the wind chill made for a very cold climb. I got about 2/3 of the way up and decided that pictures from that level would have to be good enough. Unfortunately, I had forgotten to bring a light pair of gloves so I had to remove my Black Diamonds and use the camera bare-handed. I took pictures of the trees below, the mountains in the distance and the icy steps of the tower. By this time I was having trouble feeling my hands and Cindy and Sheba were freezing. I descended carefully, put the camera away, and donned my pack. We immediately started down the trail at a rapid pace.

On the first part of the descent we almost ran down the mountain using our poles to steady us. Falling in any other season might mean bashing your knee into a rock but the snow acts as a cushion and it made us more willing to descend quickly. I began to get warm again but Cindy's hands were still cold. I gave her my Gordini mittens which seemed to do the trick. We continued to rapidly descend without stopping much along the way. Cindy lead most of the way until the trail junction where I went ahead. Soon we were at the hairpin turn and were moving along Hunter Brook. The sight of the gate near the parking area was welcome and we were soon back at the car. We arrived back just before 4:00 PM as it began to get darker and colder. It had taken us at least 2.5 hours to ascend but less than 1.5 hours to come down. Overall it was less than 4 hours to cover almost 7 miles in winter conditions plus the stops!

On Monday, Jan 19th I was off from school but Cindy had to work. After taking her car for a "checkup", I decided to take Sheba and try snowshoeing in the freshly fallen powder at Frick and Hodge ponds. We arrived in the parking area just before noon. The roads were surprisingly well cleared and the smaller parking area was cleared. I planned to go to Frick Pond, around the back of the pond and then up the Big Rock Trail to the Flynn Trail. I like climbing the Big Rock hill since it is a good workout! From the very start it was clear that no one had been in the area since the snowstorm on Sunday had dropped 6 to 10 inches of new snow. Breaking trail by yourself under these conditions can be quite challenging. The sun was out and was glistening off the snow. Tree were bent slightly under the weight of the snow. The skies were bright blue. In short, the scene was beautiful. We soon arrived at Frick Pond and I took quite a few pictures even though they were much the same as several times before.

We crossed the bridge and head around the left side of the pond. As we approached the trail junction, I heard the sound of snowmobiles in the distance and was reminded that many of the trail, including Big Rock, were "multi-use". I decided to head to the left up the Quick Lake Trail to avoid the snowmobiles as much as possible. I actually don't object to the machines as they "groom" the trails nicely for snowshoeing but I just didn't want to meet one coming straight for me! The Quick Lake Trail is a continuous uphill slog that is never very steep. As we walked the snow seemed to get deeper and deeper until we were easily walking through 18 inches of unbroken powder! This was made more interesting by areas were very large trees had fallen across the path. These trees were relatively new as I had been through on this trail not long before. I suspect the last ice storm was too much for some of these fallen trees! We finally made it to Iron Wheel Junction where the Quick Lake Trail meets the Logger's Loop Trail. These trails are open to snowmobiles and were already well packed. I decided to stay on the Quick Lake Trail and listen for the snowmobiles.

Hiking on the packed snowmobile trail was a welcome break from breaking trail through the deep powder. The Crescent Moon Gold 10's do a good job but none of the new style snowshoes really float the way the old fashioned ones used to. On the other hand the new shoes are more maneuverable and easier to walk in! We continued up the Quick Lake Trail encountering several small hills on the way. I began to hear the approaching sound of snowmobiles and cleared to the side as they came by. Soon we were at Junkyard Junction where we turned right on the blue Flynn Trail. This trail was completely untouched with at least 18 inches of snow. The trail is mostly flat but I must admit I was tired by this time! Sheba, who had been leading for some time, was now content to follow in the trail I was breaking. We went slowly stopping occasionally to rest and get a drink. I was not going to repeat my last experience when I failed to drink enough and was laid low by muscle cramps after returning home. Finally, the gate across the Flynn Trail appeared and we cut to the right to follow the trail down to the pond. Even after reaching the pond there is a rather long walk around the edge and through a field to the clearing at the outlet end of the pond. When we arrived, I took some pictures. I also noted that despite my hope that someone had at least broken the trail to the pond, the snow lay untouched!

The Flynn Trail from Hodge Pond is an uphill climb until it levels off near the top. The snow was deep and each step was an effort. I started setting "goals" and counting steps as a way to motivate myself. After the trail leveled, the gate soon appeared and I knew we were near the junction with the Big Rock Trail. At this junction both trails descend. The Big Rock Trail was well packed by snowmobiles but I decided to continue on the Flynn Trail so that I could say we walked the entire trail. Going DOWN was considerably easier and the distance seemed shorter than when Cindy and I had come UP the trail the week before! As we neared the cabin we stayed on the trail by cutting to the left and were back at the car by 3:30 PM covering about 6 miles in 3.5 hours. It felt good to be done with a challenging outing.

On Sunday, Jan 18th a snowstorm had dumped about 8 inches of NEW snow on top of what we already had. Church was canceled for the second week in a row but the Livingston Manor Ice Carnival was scheduled to go on. Cindy and I decided to get out despite the fact it was still snowing. We took Sheba and headed across the road to hike up and around Round Top. As we crossed the road into the field near the church, it was obvious that the snow as deep. Behind the church we climbed to the top of the cemetery hill that looks over the town. The snow was still falling lightly and the view was beautiful! At the top of the hill we cut into the woods to the left and walked up to another lookout over town. From here we turned right and began the climb up to an old woods road. This walk is not too steep but a total bushwhack through brush covered in snow. On the woods road we made a left and then a sharp right to cut UP to the highest point. This IS a pretty steep climb in spots but we made it without much trouble. We walked across the top of the ridge and decided to keep the hike short. We turned left and started a LONG descent to a path that looks down on State Route 17, the Quickway. Descending was fun as lifting the tips allows a glide down the hill. Losing your balance or getting a show stuck in hidden brush or rocks makes the descent less enjoyable!

When we hit the path overlooking the road we turned left. Views of the Quickway sowed it was still covered in snow and slush. A few truck were passing but not much else. We walked along the path for a short distance and then cut left into the woods and started an ascent. I STILL have trouble remembering to ascend only a SHORT distance before turning right on a path or woods road. We ascended too far but this allowed us to enjoy the descent to the correct path that I finally found. We walked out to the field that overlooks the Exit 96 ramps. They too were snow covered from here we walk a short distance and then turned left up into the woods and began to climb back to the level where we started. Soon we were descending back to the cemetery hill and then back to the church and home. We were out for less than 2 hours but had a good time!

On Saturday, Jan 17th it was still VERY cold but I decided to head for Trout Pond for a short snowshoe. I suspected that the recent cold weather would have had an interesting effect on the falls on Russell Brook and I was anxious to take pictures! Cindy declined the offer so Sheba and I got in the car and headed to Roscoe. The roads were snowy but passable and we arrived at the parking area round 1:30 PM. The parking area was NOT plowed so I pulled into the snow bank along side the road. Sheba and I got going immediately to stay war. Russell Brook road was unplowed but well packed by snowmobiles and the walk down to the falls went quickly. As we crossed the bridge across Russell Brook I could see that the falls appeared to be at least partly frozen. Leaving the packed trail Sheba and I slogged through the deeper snow to the path that runs alongside the brook to the falls. When I could clearly see the falls it was obvious that they were frozen solid! Some water was running underneath the ice but it was heard to see. The falls looked as if someone had taken a stop-action photograph freezing them in time. Of course. the effect was due to a different kind of freezing. I made my way down to the stream bed carefully and took MANY pictures of the falls including the frozen pool at the base and the ice covering the stream. When I was done, I climbed back out of the stream bed, not an easy task, and headed back to the main trail.

Sheba and I continued our walk up the trail toward Trout Pond. I did not hear any snowmobiles but kept listening. We arrived at Trout Pond quickly and I decided to head for the inlet before deciding how we would return and before stopping to take pictures. As we approached the lean-tos Sheba let me know someone was up ahead. There were four snowmobiles. Two local riders, an ECON officer and a Forest Ranger. We chatted for a few minutes and I continued to the inlet stream to take a few pictures. By now the sky was clouded over and the landscape had a "bleak" look. I decided that hiking around the pond of the trail toward Mud Pond might be too long since it is still getting dark early. We turned around to retrace our path to the car. On the way back we stopped at the outlet end of Trout Pond just long enough for me to take some pictures. As we continued on the trail, I could hear the engine of and approaching snowmobile. Soon both local riders from the head end of the lake passed us. When we reached the bridge we continued straight ahead up the steep hill to the parking area and then back to the car. We were back just before 4:00 PM and daylight was already fading!

On Sunday, Jan 11th the last remnants of a snow storm were just clearing Livingston Manor. The total new snow accumulations were about 6 inches in town. Cindy and I waited until we though the back roads would be plowed and then headed to Frick Pond to snowshoe. The roads were not in good but reasonable shape and part of the parking area at Frick Pond was plowed. We arrived at about 12:30 PM. The temperature was hovering around 20 degrees but a stiff wind was blowing when we got out of the car. I was afraid I might be chilly but decided to pack another layer rather than wear it. Snow shoeing can be VERY aerobic so I thought I would see how warm I felt after some activity. We quickly got our shoes on and crossed the road to start up the Flynn Trail. After climbing the snow bank, I promptly face planted on the other side. I was fine but it must have looked bad since Cindy seemed concerned! There was a little more snow on top of a hard crust with more snow underneath. The snowshoes allowed us to stay on top of the crust but I could feel it give occasionally. I broke trail as we climbed the Flynn Trail. The trail is not steep in any places but it is 1.7 miles of continuous uphill without a break. The snow was completely unbroken; fresh powder without any human tracks, only animals. We finally spotted the signs for the junction with the Big Rock Trail.

At this junction the Flynn Trail continues straight ahead to Hodge Pond and a snowmobile trail heads over the mountain to Mongaup Pond. I was a little surprised to see no evidence of snow mobile tracks! My plan was to turn left on Big Rock and head down to Times Square. The "down" part was GREAT. Some parts of the Big Rock Trail are flat or even a little uphill but most is DOWN. Leaning back on the snowshoes and lifting the tips almost feels like skiing. We moved quickly down the trail and were soon at Times Square. From here a path continues straight ahead around Frick Pond. The Logger's Loop Trail crosses here. taking a right ascends to the Quick Lake or Flynn Trails. I thought when we began that we might continue straight ahead here and go around the back of the pond but BOTH of use were a little tired. We turned left and Head toward Frick Pond on the Logger's Loop Trail. This trail is flat in places but has a few slight ascents. At this point in the hike these small hills seemed MUCH taller. For some reason the snow in this area had also drifted to at least a foot making the going that much more difficult. At the junction by Frick Pond I headed down to the pond to take a few pictures and then quickly returned to the trail back to the car. Even the last, short walk to the car seemed to take longer than ever. Climbing the last few steps to the parking area used the last bit of energy I had. The Crescent Moon Gold 10 shows performed well. The bindings are the best and the slightly larger shoe works well for breaking trail and in deeper snow. On the mountains I will still use the MSR Lightning Ascent or the Atlas 12's! We were back at the car by 2:45 PM covering a little over 4 miles in around 3 hours.

On Saturday, Jan 10th Cindy and I headed for Balsam Lake Mountain early in the morning. We knew a major storm was forecast for later in the day and wanted to get in a short hike before the roads became too dangerous. Tom and Laurie Rankin were planning on opening the tower and the cabin for the weekend. I wondered if they would brave the forecast! The Beaverkill Road was snow covered but passable although some spots were definitely one lane. When we left home the air temperature was 7 degrees. On the way to the trailhead the temperature continued to drop. When we parked, the temperature had reached 0 degrees although there was No wind. The parking area was not plowed but the turnaround was open. we were the ONLY car present so we got out and got ready to hike. While we were readying ourselves, another pickup pulled up with three people from Long Island and their Jack Russell. They were camping at Big Pond and though climbing a mountain would be a good idea. Cindy made the call to wear only Stabilicers and not snowshoes and we were off. There really wasn't too much snow, maybe 2 to 4 inches, and we were making good time heading for the turnoff up the mountain. When I looked back Cindy was keeping the others company as they hiked slowly behind the dogs and myself. I stopped at the turn to remove a layer. I was wearing my Montbell Thermawrap over two wool layer with a Mountain Hardwear Synchro on top. This was the first time I wore the AFRC Snow Pants and they were just warm enough. I stowed the Montbell and Cindy caught up. the others turned back before reaching the turn. Their little jack Russell seemed game but it was really cold for a small dog.

We made the turn and started up the mountain. We had considered Graham but with the impending storm we planned to go up to the tower and return the same way. Cindy was having little trouble since she was wearing her Stabilicers where as I kept mine in the pack. Having poles really helped. The climbed was slippery at times and there did seem to be a track under a thin coating of snow. Off the track there was deeper snow but the amount of snow itself never became and issue. We moved pretty quickly up the mountain following Sheba until the area of just below the spring and the 3500 foot sign. From hear to the more level area near the top there was more ice and walking was more difficult. We finally made the climb to just above the spring and the trail leveled. There was still not much snow but the scenery was BEAUTIFUL. Snow and ice had collected on the trees forming a shimmering pattern. Walking through the spruce was like walking through a tunnel. Soon we broke out into the clearing at the top. The tower was absolutely encased in ice. I took some pictures and then we walked over to the picnic table and I got ready to climb the tower and take some pictures.

As I was approaching the tower I heard a noise in the direction of the cabin. I went to investigate and to my surprise found Tom and Laurie Rankin. They had just arrived from the Millbrook trailhead and were preparing the cabin for an overnight stay. I called to Cindy and we introduced ourselves all around. We help Tom and Laurie get some windows opened and talked for a short time. Sheba was pestering us to continue our hike and we did want to get done well before the storm hit. I went back out and CAREFULLY climbed the tower. The views were varied and beautiful and were made all the more interesting by the icy covering on the tower. The ruins on Graham were clearly visible despite the gathering clouds. Even on the tower there was little wind but it was obvious that the temperature had dropped as we climbed. I returned to ground level and we headed back down the mountain. I took some pictures in the spruce tunnel and then stored the camera. We planned to make a quick descent with only the Stabilicers and poles to aid us. As we passed the spring, Laurie was getting water and we said a final goodbye. We really did make QUICK work of the descent and the hike back to the car. We had started at 9:30 AM and were finished by noon including the layover at the cabin. The temperature had risen into the double digits as we drove back down the Beaverkill Road but it was not snowing. We could see ahead of us clouds and what looked like snowfall. As we approached Lew Beach we ran into light snow and by the time we were back in Manor the snowfall had increased. It was a short 3 or 4 mile trip in a short time but well worth the time.

On Saturday, Jan 3rd Cindy agreed to go hiking with us but did not want to hike a 35. In addition to this, the Catskills had been hit by some lake effect snow and, after Friday, I wasn't sure how the roads would be. I suggested that we go to Harriman and hike something with some "landmarks" and she agreed. I wanted to hike the Long Path from Lake Askoti to The Big Hill Shelter and then take the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail to Gate Hill Rd. I thought this might be a little too far so I decided we would park at St. John's in the Wilderness Church and hike to the ORAK Mansion ruins and back. I had never been on these trails in this area but I knew from some guidebooks that there were some interesting points along this route. The Big Hill Shelter marks the junction of the Long Path and SBM Trails. Jackie Jones Mountain has a fire tower and, along with Rockhouse Mountain, is the highest point in Rockland County. The ORAK Mansion was built in 1923 by an executive of the company that produced Karo Syrup. Although the mansion was torn down, many of the stone walls and foundations remain. We got a late start but were on Lake Welch Drive by 10:15 AM. We found the turn to the church and I noted that Lake Welch Drive was CLOSED just after this road. A park police car was in the church parking lot and the officer conformed that it was OK to park. The church is primarily constructed of stone and is really beautiful. It has an external bell over the main entrance and an interesting cemetery on the grounds.

When we got out of the car the air temperature was colder than I had expected and the WIND was well over the 10 mph in the forecast. I wore my Eider Highstretch jacket over my wool layers and wondered if that would be enough to keep me warm. The new Black Diamond Verglas gloves are very warm and have a great grip to them. There was more snow on the ground than I had expected since I had expected NONE. The two to four inches of snow would not be a problem except where it covered icy or slippery leaves! I had put on my low gaiters and had again chosen my Asolo TPS 520 boots. Cindy immediately donned her Stabilicers while I chose to leave mine in the pack. We walked back down the road to Lake Welch drive. As we approached the intersection with the trail at least two groups of hikers with six or so in each group were making there way up the trail. We turned left on to the Long Path and were off on our hike. As soon as we got into the woods and out of the wind, the temperature seemed to rise and I was warm. The sun peaked through the clouds and everything seemed almost ideal for a hike!

The trail varies from trail to wider and open woods roads. The initial part rolls up and down some hills. After .35 miles from the trail junction, the trail turns sharply right and a woods road goes off to the left. The road seems to be marked as a shortcut on the map that leads to the church. We turned right and began to ascend a small hill. The trail then descended through a swampy area and across Beaver Pond Brook on a small bridge or causeway. After this area the trail began an ascent that passed through a stand of red pines. These trees were tall and straight and looked as if they may have been planted. Evidence of a homestead lends support to this idea, The trail made another turn to the left at about 1 mile and then paralleled the Old Turnpike or Pine Meadow Road. Could the name come from the stand of pines we passed? These criss-crossing trails and roads are typical of Harriman Park. Along the way we caught up to and passed the second group of hikers we had seen at the start of the hike. The trail continued to roll but basically ascend until taking a right at about 1.5 miles and crossing the road. The road had many tracks on it indicating people use these unmarked trails as well as the marked ones to enjoy the park. The Long Path continued a short ascent to Big Hill at about 1.75 miles. The first group of hikers we had seen earlier had started a fire and were cooking lunch at the shelter.

At Big Hill the SBM Trail from the southwest and the trail run concurrently as they descend the northeast face of Big Hill. The descent was icy over open rock. Cindy had little trouble with her Stabilicers while I chose to walk in the grass and brush beside the trail. Just after the turn we got a good view of Jackie Jones Mountain and the towers. The communications towers dominate the view until you look carefully and see the old fire tower. This tower is to the left of the others and is almost hidden by the high trees! The towers seem far away and much higher than your viewpoint. We descended and crossed a small brook. In this areas the Long Path bears to the right and follows a woods road. We stayed on the SBM Trail and headed left At about 2.0 miles we began the ascent up Jackie Jones Mountain which lasted for almost a mile. We were glad to see that the tower is in pretty good shape and can be climbed although the cab at the top is closed.

As I began to climb the tower I noticed that the wind began to pick up. This is typical of all the towers I have climbed since as you climb you get above the tree tops that break the wind. I continued on up toward the cab and the wind got stronger. At the level below the cab I stopped to take some pictures. At this point I was glad I was holding onto the superstructure of the tower. Several gusts of wind of at least 50 mph hit me and would have pushed me down the stairs if I had not had a firm grip. The view was gorgeous and I took some pictures before descending the tower. I was grateful to be making a controlled descent! Cindy had decided that sitting at the base of the tower and eating a snack was a better idea. I am not sure I disagreed. We took a short break and then continued on the trail toward the ORAK ruins which I estimated were no more than .5 miles away. We passed by the communications complex which was truly impressive with a paved access road. Just after the towers we stopped at a lookout marked on the map. Like so many of these viewpoints this one was somewhat blocked by trees and I was glad I had gotten some pictures from the tower. The trail continued to descend and I think we both made note that we would be walking back UP this hill on the return journey.

Soon we began to see some stone structures which we assumed marked the ruins. They were not very impressive and I hoped that we extra walk would be more rewarding. The trail soon took a left down a paved "driveway" but we walked straight ahead to examine some rock walls. To our left was a large stone wall with an arch and small round windows. I believe we were standing in what was once the dining or living room of the mansion. When we walked over to the pathway, we could see more stone foundations below us. The complex was quiet large like many of those constructed in the early part of the 20th century. We walked down the driveway and marveled at the curving rock wall that we had just seen from above. I stopped and took pictures of the stonework of the foundations. A little further on was a gatehouse still intact. The rest of the buildings had been torn down or I am sure they would still be standing. We visited several other outbuildings and then returned to the trail to begin the trip back. The trip back seemed to go VERY quickly! Cindy in particular seems to gain an extra step on the way back. Many of the ascents actually seemed easier than the ascents in the same area on the way out. We were soon at the Big Hill shelter then the bridge and the church. We were back by 3:30 PM taking about 5 hours to cover almost 7 miles. I wondered at the apparent slow pace but then recalled the extensive time we took to explore along the way!

On Friday, Jan 2nd I decided to return to the Catskills and go to Spruceton Road to hike Hunter and Southwest Hunter. I had wanted to hike more during the week but poor weather and personal commitments had interfered with my plans! I was eager to get going but had to wait to get my paycheck at work. By the time I left Liberty at 9:45 AM it was snowing slightly as I headed for Neversink. The roads weren't too bad until I turned onto Route 47 in Claryville. The road passed Frost Valley had drifted snow and there were some snow showers. Several times I debated turning back but continued. Fortunately the will after Winnisook Lake was well sanded and the snow showers stopped allowing me to make up some time. I finally parked on Spruceton road at 11;30 AM and was only the second car in the lot. There were one or two cars at Biscuit Brook and a few more at Slide but NONE in the Panther lot! As I got out of the car it began to snow again and the wind really kicked up. I decided to wear my OR Mithril Shell and to try the Montbell Thermawrap underneath it. This was in addition to a wool base and midlayer. There was only about 2 to 3 inches of snow so I opted not to carry snowshoes since I had Stabilicers in my pack and had my Leki poles. I wore my Asolo TPS 520 boots since they are warm enough, highly water resistant and offer good support.

As we struck out Sheba was more than ready to go after being in the house for several days straight. As we headed up the wide woods road, I wondered if the bridge over Hunter Brook would be finished. Trying to cross the brook with icy rocks was not the way I wanted to start the hike. In addition, Sheba almost always walks THROUGH the water and then complains about ice balls between her pads! I shouldn't have worried about the bridge since it is snowmobile season and the bridge is a necessity! It was finished and showed the typical sturdy construction the DEC has been sponsoring lately. As we neared the hairpin turn up Hunter I began to think about bushwhacking Rusk. I normally stay away from solo winter bushwhacks but though that I could "cheat" by following another hiker's route id there was one. There were several good reasons NOT top do this since I had gotten a late start and the weather was questionable! At the turn there were in fact footprints and I could not resist and Sheba and I turn left and crossed the brook. We immediately started the climb along the drainage as we had before and then followed the route the other hiker had taken. There were several steep spots and several icy spots and several steep and icy spots. The path we were following seemed to deflect more to the west than I normally do but I was committed to following it. I remembered that the last time we approached Rusk we ran into some difficult ledges and some nearly impassable blow down. I was hoping this route would avoid most of these problems.

As we hiked Sheba did NOT want to stay on the path laid down by the previous hiker. At first I though she was just being difficult. Soon I realized she was veering more to the east in an attempt to follow the route we "normally" take! I am not sure how she knows this but it is not the first time. I had not yet put on my Stabilicers which made hiking that much more difficult. The route continued north and west and crossed several drainages until it finally leveled some. I finally gave up and put on my Stabilicers which made the next part of the hike easier. It was taking a LONG time to cover ground and the wind and snow had started again. Any views of the surrounding mountains showed snow squalls and dark skies. The next part of the hike continued up the mountain over, around and through old blown down and brambles until we reached a first set of ledges. The previous hiker avoided the steepest, most direct route but did find a way up through these rocks. The trail again leveled and again worked its way up through some more ledges by circling further around the mountain. I was getting TIRED! Hiking solo allows no opportunity for banter and supportive comments from hiking partners. We finally made the summit and began to look for the canister. I had a rough idea of where I would find it and soon I was signing in. I almost decided to take the more direct route or try for the saddle between Rusk and Hunter. It had taken 2 hours to go about 1.5 miles up. In the end I opted to follow our path back knowing that down would be quicker.

On the way down Sheba followed our ascent path to the step until near the very end. The descent was quicker and I was upright most of the time. In a few places I used a gracefully glissade to navigate steep spots. It did seem that the forest would grab my pole or attempt to poke me in the eye whenever possible. Near the end of the descent I caught "the wall" and followed it and a set of footprints to the brook crossing. It was after 2:00 PM and I decided I was mentally and physically spent. Getting up to Hunter and back down would take me too long and I would not enjoy it so we headed back to the car. We were back at the car by 2:30 PM. It took us 3 hours to cover just over 3 miles! That was divided into 2 hours up and 1 hour down. I never took my camera out of my pack due to the cold, time constraints and lack of significant views. I once again was humbled by the 3500 foot mountains!

On Monday, Dec 29th I decided to return to the southern part of Harriman Park to hike the Ramapo Torne and the Russian Bear. The night before Kurt called to ask what I was doing on Monday and we decided to hike together. The weather forecast was for temperatures in the mid 40's and light winds. I didn't know what conditions to expect on the trails. I thought that the warm weather would probably have taken care of the snow but that the trails might be wet. Kurt and I met at the Reeves Brook Visitor's Center at about 9:00 AM. Kurt changed into the clothes I brought and we were ready to go. We were one of three or four cars parked in the lot and a pair of hikers started just ahead of us. As we were getting ready to go the wind began to blow stiffly and I started to get COLD. I put on my Haglof's Spider to block the wind. This was my FOURTH layer over Icebreaker base and midlayers and an Outdoor Research Specter jacket. I knew that this would probably be too much but it seemed right at the time! I had on my Mountain Hardwear Winter Wander pants but regretted not wearing a baselayer under them! We walked to the back right corner of the parking area and caught the red Pine Meadow Trail for a short distance before turning left on the blue Seven Hills Trail. This trail immediately started an ascent up a hill and I began to warm up.

We continued on the trail and soon saw the pair of hikers that had left before us. We were setting a rapid pace and soon passed them. We quickly made the trail junction with the orange HTS Trail and turned right as the map SEEMED to indicate. I removed my outer jacket and stowed it before crossing the first of several streams. We followed the trail which descended some and followed an old woods road. Soon the blazes disappeared and we back tracked to find the turn we had missed. It was pretty well marked with a double blaze and I cairn which we had missed as we talked. We crossed another stream and started our ascent up the Torne. Just as we did this we were surprised by another person behind us. He was on a rather serious trail RUN up the Torne and we let him pass. As we ascended, I again grew warm and removed my Specter jacket leaving only the two wool layers. I though he wool might not block enough wind but I was REALLY warm. We climbed the trail as it wound its way up the hill next to the Torne. The massive and impressive rock walls of the Torne were on our left. Soon we arrived at a left hand turn signaling a rather steep climb upwards. We all made it OK and the view from on top was amazing. As I looked around I noticed we were NOT at the top and that there was another rock crag to climb. We had lost the orange trail and climbing the rock face would be difficult if not impossible. We walked along the base of the crag and soon found the orange trail on the left as it ascended the rocks before us. The trail was steep in places and we had to negotiate over and around some rather large boulders. The view from on top was amazing but as I looked around I saw ANOTHER, smaller rocky crag. We followed the orange trail to the very top if the Torne.

The views from this final summit were great and almost 360 degrees. The problem was that many of the views included the Thruway and interchange, power lines and power plants and other industrial facilities. In the other direction there were views unbroken of...trees. Looking to the south east the outline of the Manhattan skyline was clearly visible. The sun coming from the east made photographing the site difficult but it WAS there. I walked along the orange trail on the top of the Torne taking some pictures while Kurt stayed with the pack at the original ascent. It was our intention to return the way we had come and then continue our hike to see other sites. The orange trail seemed to lead down off the Torne but I decided to stick with our original plan. Consulting the map and GPS at this point would have been a good idea! I returned to where Kurt was and we worked our way back down the Torne and returned to the junction with the blue Seven Hills Trail. We were looking for a turn onto the orange HTS Trail which would take us to the Russian Bear. The orange trail came up MUCH sooner than we expected and I was a little confused. Fortunately, a pair of hikers came along walking toward us on the orange trail. They told us that the orange trail here led back up to the Ramapo Torne! The old map that was using did NOT have the newly blazed trails marked on it. When I consulted the GPS, it was clear that we were only a short distance from where I had stopped walking down the orange trail on top of the Torne! This would have been the quickest way to get to our current location but I didn't regret our "detour".

We got back on the trail toward the Bear. This trail is marked in both orange and blue since the two trails run concurrently for a short distance. Soon the blue trail branched to the left and we continued on the orange trail to the right out onto an open rock face. From here the Torne behind us and the Russian Bear ahead of us were clearly visible. The trail on the other hand was NOT well marked but Kurt found it as it descended to a small stream before climbing up to the Bear. The climb starts out gently with a LARGE rock outcropping to the left and a smaller one to the right. There is supposed to be a formation that looks like a bear but perhaps things have shifted over time or my imagination is not too good. The trail turns left slightly and then more sharply as a set of stone steps leads up to the top. The view from the top is good especially of the craggy face of the Torne. The sun was in the wrong position for good pictures but the view was fine. We continued on the orange trail for only a short distance before turning right on the black Raccoon Brook Hills Trail.

This trail descended slightly and then followed the edge of a rather high cliff. This cliff looked over a small "valley" below and was in the correct location for a formation known as The Pulpit. The first time you hike an area it is hard to know all the trails and features. The trail began a steep descent to the area below. Looking back at the cliff we had just been on it DID look like a high Pulpit dominating the area below. The trail turned left and continued to descend and then ascend slightly until it ended at the blue Seven Hills Trail. We turned left and walked a short distance to where the blue trail began a descent. This point allowed an unobstructed view of the Torne from the other side. The view from the Bear was actually more interesting! Again, the sun was coming from behind the Torne making photography difficult. We retraced our path to the trail junction and continued on the blue trail until its junction with the white Reeves meadow Trail. We turned left here and began what seemed like a long walk back to the parking area.

The initial part of the white trail rolled some up and down small hills and then began a steady descent to Seven Lakes Drive. Along the way the trail paralleled a small stream (Reeves Brook?) which had several small but pretty cascades. Eventually the trail opened to a wider woods road which descended to meet the red Pine Meadow Trail. A quick left and a short walk brought us back to the cars. We had covered 6.5 miles in 5 hours which surprised me since our pace had been FAST. I realized that all the long stops at the various features along the way had eaten up a lot of time. Harriman Park has NUMEROUS interconnected trails both marked and unmarked. It also has informal paths and woods roads throughout. When going into the area for the first time, my advice is to carry an up-to-date map and look at it often. A GPS unit may also aid your navigation through the maze of trails. I was very surprised that the trails had little or no snow but were relatively dry. This was only a mile south of where we had encountered quite a bit on snow a few days before. Wherever the melting snow went I was glad it had not pooled on the trails!

On Friday, Dec 26th all the kids were home for the holidays and we decided to go for a hike. Karl, Kathleen, Kurt and I plus two dogs, Maggie and Sheba, were ready to go. Heading south seemed like a good idea to avoid the "weird" weather conditions in the Catskills. The weather had been alternating from snow, the ice to rain and I was unsure of the conditions on the peaks. I decided to plan a hike in the southern part of Harriman Park. My plan loosely involved parking near Lake Sebago and hiking to the Ramapo Torne and back. We got a later start than I wanted, as usual, and were in the parking lot by 9:45 AM. The parking lot is the one for the boat launch at Lake Sebago. The first thing that was VERY noticeable was that there was almost as much snow in Harriman as in the Catskills! I had NOT anticipated this development but it did not change my plans. The temperature was still in the high twenties but was predicted to rise throughout the day. I decided to take my poles as I regretted NOT having them on several hikes earlier. We walked out the ICY driveway, across Seven Lakes Drive and to the start of the Seven Hills Trail marked by three blue on white blazes.

The trail began an ascent almost as it climbed the southern shoulder of Conklin Mountain. The poles were certainly helpful but foot traction was not necessary as long as you watch where and how you stepped. At one point we descended briefly and crossed a small stream. The dogs got a drink and ran back and forth across the stream. At one point Sheba picked a slightly different route, hit a deeper spot, and went at least chest deep in cold water. Fortunately, she has a thick undercoat and only her outer coat got wet. I watched her for a while and she did not seem to be cold. As we ascended again the trail left the woods road and turned sharply right. I continued on the road for a short distance and then turned on a path to the left. We walked to an open area that had been used for camping. In front of us was a brick structure. It was perhaps 10 feet tall, 8 feet wide and 6 feet deep. It was built into the hillside and had some openings on the front. The best suggestion I have heard so far is that it was a kiln of some sort. We retraced our path to where the trail turned off and turned into the woods in the OPPOSITE direction. Here a large rock outcropping rose impressively. We made our way to the top of the outcropping to see Monitor Rock. This is a glacial erratic that was named for a copy of the Christian Science Monitor found under it when it was discovered. After taking pictures, we returned to the trail junction and began to follow the trail.

The trail descended slightly and then began an ascent of the Diamond Mountain Ridge. The first lookout gave an unobstructed view of Lake Sebago below and hills beyond. Shortly after this we passed a LARGE glacial erratic with a crack on one side. This has been fancifully named the "Cracked Diamond" for its appearance and location. Soon the blue trail met the orange HTS Trail on the right. The trails ran concurrently for a short distance along an open rock face. The trail began to descend a rather steep and icy route and then it leveled slightly and the orange trail branched off to the right. We stayed on the blue trail as it approached a large boulder on an open rock face. The views from this boulder revealed a vast expanse of forest below with only hints of other features in the distance. From here the trail began a SHARP descent which was difficult at times and icy in places. We finally reached Pine Meadow Brook which seemed wide and I wondered if we would be able to cross. I wanted to visit the "caves" on the Raccoon Brook Hills Trail that had been found to have Native American artifacts in them and so turned left.

We walked along and toward the creek on a trail marked in red, white and blue. Fortunately a bridge crossed the deepest part of the creek, After crossing this somewhat dilapidated structure the trail separated and we followed the white blazes of the Kakiat Trail as they turned left and began a slight ascent. The snow got deeper and I consulted the others who agreed to continue to the "caves" and then retrace our path to the area of the bridge. As we hiked I was in the lead with the dogs and Kurt was close behind. In a very short distance the three black marks announced the beginning of the Raccoon Brook Hills Trail and we turned left. The trail immediately became hard to follow as the blazes were few. Ahead of us on a slight descent was a massive rock outcropping with some very obvious "caves" or rock shelters at the base. Kurt and I crossed several small streams and wet areas and approached the shelters. We found several small sheltered areas and some larger ones. We both had no trouble imagining native people using these for protection from the elements in all seasons, I noticed that Karl and Kathleen had not arrived yet and gave a yell. I heard an answering cry but could not determine what was said or its exact origin. After exploring for a few more minutes and taking pictures, I became concerned that the other two had not yet appeared. Kurt and I returned to the Kakiat Trail to find that their footprints continued on passed the turn off. I picked up my pace to almost a jog and yelled ahead. When I got an answer, I yelled for them to turn back but could STILL not make out the response. Fortunately, in only a few minutes I caught up to Karl and Kathleen and we headed back on The Kakiat Trail to the area where we had crossed the stream on the bridge.

We now made our way westward on the red Pine Meadow Trail until the orange HTS crossed it after a short walk. We turned right and crossed a bridge over Pine Meadow Brook and turned to the left to Kakiat Trail. I had decided to stay "low" to avoid the climb over Halfway Mountain or back over Diamond Mountain. This would make it easier for everyone and allow us to stroll along a stream back to Lake Sebago. Just after turning off the bridge we came to the Cascade of Slid. The water was following freely and the cascade over the rocks was very beautiful. I took some pictures before we continued along the Kakiat Trail. Soon the Stony Brook Trail came in from the right and we turned on this yellow trail and followed it northeast along the brook. The trail was well marked for the most part and followed the brook which had a good volume of water. Stony Brook is the outlet for Lake Sebago. As the yellow trail ended we continued north on the HTS Trail which briefly meets the red Tuxedo Mt Ivy Trail. We stopped a the base of the dam for Lake Sebago before walking up to Seven Lake Drive. Areas along the lakeshore are marked as private so we simply walked the road back to the car. We had covered the 6 miles in a little over 4 hours leaving plenty of time to stop and explore. The weather remained cold enough that I never considered removing and layers but was also never cold.

On Tuesday, Dec 23rd I got home from school and decided to take Sheba snowshoeing. It was already late but I got some gear together, dressed and started for Frick Pond. We didn't pull into the parking area until 3:15 PM so I planned to Hike to Frick and then "play it by ear". The weather prediction for the rest of the week was lousy so I wanted go as far as I could before it got dark. There was about 8 inches of snow on average on the trail to Frick and we made the pond in about 15 minutes. I stopped and took some pictures even though the scene was bleak. The sun was already sinking low in the sky! We headed across the bridge to go around the right side of Frick. Many of the branches hung low with snow. The Wooden walkways were snow covered but I had no problems negotiating them with snowshoes. Soon we had rounded the pond and I saw Times Square ahead. This took only another 15 to 20 minutes. At his point I had to decide whether to turn right and head back to the pond and then the car or to continue straight ahead and use the Big Rock Trail to get to the Flynn Trail and then head back. Even though it was beginning to get a little dark I chose the longer route. I had a headlamp and my GPS dog with me!

The Big Rock Trail is a joint use trail and the snowmobiles had it nicely packed. This is a good thing since the trail immediately starts with a big climb and continues UP until it joins the Flynn Trail after more than a mile. We had encountered some slushy areas along the way so Sheba has having some ice balling issues but otherwise things were good! I stopped a few times to clean off Sheba's feet and to take a breather. Soon we faced the last hill and were up and over it. Just after this climb I saw signs of the Flynn Trail ahead. I debated putting on my headlamp but it wasn't quite dark and I hoped to get back before I needed it. It was now getting much darker and, since the sun had set, colder. The Flynn Trail is off limits to snowmobiles but the forest rangers sometimes use it and there was a slight track broken out. This was good since I was tired after the climb. The track and the fact that the trail all downhill let us set a fast pace. Near the end of the trail there were several large trees bent over. I assumed this was evidence of the ice we had two weeks before. As we approached the cabin near the end of the trail, I noticed that the lights were on. I decided to walk the Flynn Trail to the end rather than walking across the property by the cabin. This part of the trail was COMPLETELY unbroken with 12 inches of snow in most places. Sheba led the way and followed the trail precisely until we passed the register box and walked up to the car. It was 5:00 PM and now dark. We had spent and hour and 45 minutes covering a tough route.

On Sunday, Dec 21st I decided to brave the blowing snow and take a short snowshoe hike as my first of the winter. I wanted to try out some gear including the Crescent Moon Gold 10 shoes. I decided to dress in Icebreaker 150 and Icebreaker 320 for my baselayer and midlayer and cover that with an Outdoor Research Mithril Stormshell. Under my Mountain Hardwear Winter Wander pants I wore a pair of PolarMax midweight tights. I got out my Salomon B52 boots since they are warm and waterproof. I chose my new Black Diamond Verglas gloves. Sheba and I headed out the door and were almost driven back by the blast. The snowshoes went on easily and we headed down the driveway to hike on the hills behind the church. I did not take a pack or camera since I did not plan to be out for very long.

We headed up the first hill by the cemetery and I was wondering why the new snowshoes kept banging together. After a while I got the proper stance and proper rhythm and the snowshoes were fine. The only other tracks in the woods were old human tracks or new animal tracks we turned into the woods near the top of the hill since I intended to do the route that we always do. The snow was deep enough to make using the snowshoes fun but they were not real necessary. Soon we had reach the first ridge and were climbing the hill to its highest point. I was feeling pretty good at the top and so decided to lengthen the trip a little as we continued over the ridge, down the other side and up the next big hill. I was able to lift the tips a little on the downhills to get some glide. We hit a woods road and followed it before cutting into the woods to find the woods road to the top of the hill. We continued up this road as it winds its way to the top.

We turned around and followed our trail back but followed the woods road most of the way before picking up our track through the forest. Back at the top of the first hill we turned east and head downhill toward the Quickway. This involves a series of two or three fairly steep downhills which I negotiated cleanly. Sheba meanwhile was having a GREAT time leading the way! We walked parallel to the Quickway for some time. There were cars on the road but it was FAR from clean of the snow and ice. After a short walk we cut into the woods and began our ascent over the hill. I always seem to miss the turn I should take but always make my way back. This time I missed it by a lot and was soon walking in "new" territory. I wanted to keep the hike long and Sheba seemed to keep wanting to go over the hill. I continued to walk until I got to a set of ledges and steep downhills and then I decided to follow the dog. Sheba was happy to lead and I to follow her. It seemed at times she had a plan and at other times like she was wandering. I began to wonder if she knew where she was going and then I looked down to see our tracks from earlier. Sheba had led us back to the same spot we started from an hour before.

I am happy to say that all the gear worked well and I like the Crescent Moon shoes very much. The Mithril shell is warm but completely water and wind proof. My right foot was initially cold in the boots but the B52s warm up quickly and the felling soon went away. We were out for about and hour and a half which was long for the first snowshoe hike of the season. I can say that I was tired the next day.

Fall 2008

On Saturday, Dec 13th I had planned to hike Slide and Panther with Sheba. When Cindy decided to go along, I decided to limit the hike to Panther. I was concerned that the recent rains had made the Neversink impassable at Slide. We left home just after 9:00 AM when the temperature was 18 degrees. The forecast was for temperatures in the mid to high 20's. Since it wasn't clear whether the area near Panther had gotten ice or snow we brought both our snowshoes and Stabilicers. DeBruce Road was reasonably clear until we started down the hill to the Frost Valley Road. Here the runoff from the side hill had taken a good part of the already narrow road and deposited it on the Frost Valley Road below. The DeBruce Road was limited to one lane but the debris had been cleared from the road below and we continued on. As we approached Slide, we noticed only one car in the lot and they appeared to be on the way out. Near Winnisook Lake the trees were covered in ice but there was little snow. The ice disappeared as we approached the Panther parking area but there was still no snow. However, the temperature had dropped to 10 degrees and there was a stiff breeze when we got out of the car. We decided NOT to wear or take the snowshoes. Cindy donned her Stabilicers and we were off.

The trail was wet right from the beginning with running and standing water. There were also several large tress lying in the trail just after the register and more limbs further along the trail. We negotiated our way around these, crossed the bridge and made our way up the first hill. The trail to the trail junction has several steeper areas with more level areas in-between. These areas usually become major ice flows in the winter which are next to impossible to get over and are sometimes difficult to work around! On this day we had only one problem area and were easily able to work our way around it. I was having little problem using bare boots and the Stabilicers were working well for Cindy. As we gained elevation there was more and more ice on the trees. I decided to wait to take pictures since my hands were cold and I suspected there would be even more ice further along. Just before we made the turn toward Giant Ledge, we encountered a solo hiker. Just after the turn we were walking along when I looked up to see to hikers coming toward us. Snickers and Jay H greeted us. They were on their way back from Giant Ledge. We introduced ourselves all around and they informed us it was beautiful on Giant Ledge with lots of ice but little or no snow. We parted and Cindy and I hiked with great anticipation of what was to come.

There was so MUCH ice on so MANY trees that it was hard to get through certain areas even on the trail. Frequently icy branches would break off and get into our jackets. Several times we had to work our way around overhangs. The trail was also very icy but I stubbornly refused to put on anything for traction. Just after the spring where the trail turns, I caught a wonderful view of Slide. It was framed by icy trees and the light was unusual I stopped and took pictures of the view, there trees and the trail. A little further along was the last big climb to the Ledges. We stopped here and I took some more pictures of iced trees at Cindy Suggestion. We then started the final ascent. I made it without putting on the Stabilicers and we were soon at the first lookout. The trees below were encased in ice and snow and the trees on the ledges had more ice than I have ever seen. As I stood taking pictures clouds began to move in and it started to snow lightly! I got some pretty good pictures before everything got obscured by the low clouds. We walked along the ledges stopping several times but the view was basically the same and the clouds and snow were increasing. As we neared the end of the Ledges and the beginning of the descent into the col between Ledges and Panther, I asked Cindy if she wanted to continue. She was in favor or returning to the car so we stopped and turned around. It had already taken us about an hour and a half and I thought this was the best decision.

As we started back down the snow increased but then stopped as we back to the area near the spring. I took some more pictures but we kept a pretty good pace on the descent. Going down icy slopes is ALWAYS trickier than going up but we both made it almost unscathed. Cindy, the one WITH the Stabilicers, took the worst spill of the day and that wasn't too bad. We were back just after 2:30 PM using almost 4 hours to cover the 4 mile round trip. I was reminded how tough winter conditions can be and that extra time needs to be allowed to safely complete a hike.

On Saturday, Dec 6th I planned to go on a hike with a group I had met on the ADK High Peaks and Views From The Top forums. We had been emailing back and forth most of the week. The leader, Snickers, decided to do the section of the Long Path From Peekamoose over Bangle Hill to Vernooy Kill Falls. I was interested since I like these falls but had always come in from Upper Cherrytown Road which is a very short hike. I had not been on the section of the Long Path from Peekamoose but had heard that Bangle Hill was a good climb. Snickers decided to make it a car shuttle through hike starting at 9:00 AM in Peekamoose. I got up early and got dressed waiting for the ambulance call which usually spoils these attempts! The call never came and Sheba and I were on out way before 8:00 AM. We arrived in Peekamoose by 8:35 AM and didn't see anybody in the parking areas. I drove up to Buttermilk Falls and on the way back down saw a "new" car in the Peekamoose trailhead parking area. I stopped and introduced myself and found out this was the group I was looking for. We chatted until 9:00 AM and then headed for the small parking area at the beginning of the Long Path. The air temperature was in the mid-teens but there was little or no wind. The skies were partly cloudy as we started the hike UP Bangle Hill on the Long Path.

As we started up Bangle Hill it was obvious that the climb would be steep for some distance. It was also clear that most of it would be icy with only a few flat spots to "rest". The smart person would have put on Stabilicers. I was NOT smart! At several points the terrain did level somewhat just before starting the next climb! These pauses allowed us to look around at the beautiful views only partly obscured by the trees. Behind us and to our left was the clear outline of Peekamoose and at only point I snapped a picture in an opening through the trees. We finally reached the summit of Bangle Hill and a quick GPS check showed at total climb of over 1000 feet in a mile! We started to descend from Bangle Hill and headed in a more easterly direction for 1.5 miles as we climbed again to the highest point on the hike almost due south of Samson Mountain. This would have been a "relatively easy" .5 mile bushwhack but we decided to stick to our original plan.

We continued to descend and in about 1 mile spotted an old stone "shed" standing in the middle of nowhere. We took some pictures and I did notice other foundations and stone walls in the area. We also noticed that we had run out of trail markers and began to search for them. Cindy and Bill found that we had passed our turn just a short distance back and we were soon back on the trail. Talking to the other members in our group I realized that although my fitness level was about the same as theirs my experience was not. Most of the other hikers were working on the winter 35's, had finished the 46's and were working on them in winter as well. Cindy mentioned the John Muir Trail, Bill had been to Mount St. Helen's and Dick and Jo were headed for Patagonia. I was the rookie! The trail began to pass through alternating hardwood and evergreen forest. Some of the groves of evergreens were dark and individual tree trunks truly ENORMOUS. After about .3 mile we arrived at Spencer Road and turned left and started to walk on the road. It was VERY icy and hard to walk on but I STILL refused to don my Stabilicers. The markers along the road were very few and far between making us wonder whether we had missed the turn off the road back onto the trail. After about 1.3 miles we found that we should not have worried since a very prominent set of signs directed us to turn right off the road back onto the trail.

The trail now turned south and we walked along fairly open and flat trail for about a mile until we gained a little elevation to the top of Pople Hill. From here we began to walk downhill again. The falls was not marked on my GPS so I had no idea of exactly where we were headed although we seemed to be near the stream. It took a walk of another 1.2 miles until we descended to the falls. As usual the falls were beautiful and there was a good volume of water flowing. Fanciful ice formations highlighted the flowing water and I dropped my pack to get out the camera. I took some pictures from the bridge before Sheba and I worked our way downstream of the bridge to some rocks in the middle of the stream bed. Shooting upstream through the bridge is on of my favorite pictures. We walked back upstream passed the bridge and stopped several times along the way to walk onto the rocks along the edge to take pictures. The last viewpoint was icy but allows a nice view of a pool of water with a cascade into it. I also took some shot up and down stream. After this mission, I donned the pack again and Bill and I started to walk down the other side of the stream looking for another falls. Cindy joined us but we cut our search short as the time was growing late.

After returning to the bridge, we began the walk downhill to the waiting cars on Cherrytown Road. The trail back is actually a wide woods road most of the way and I walked and talked with Jo for most of the last 1.6 miles. Jo is a retired teacher who likes to hike with here husband Dick and has a love for photography. She is particularly interested in macro photography and there were several opportunities for her to take pictures along the way. Some ice crystals shooting up through the frozen mud were one example of an opportunity. The last part of the hike went quickly and we were soon in Cindy's Car headed back to Peekamoose. We arrived as the sun was setting and I thanked everyone for a very enjoyable trip. He covered 9.6 miles in 7 hours but took a lot of time enjoying the surroundings.

On Saturday, Nov 29th I thought I might hike with a family group. They decided to do something else leaving me free to take Sheba anywhere I wanted. I had been hiking at Minnewaska to avoid the hunters in the Catskills and the ticks in Harriman. I decided "enough is enough" and headed for Storm King. I had not been in that area for over a year and anticipated a good hike. The weather prediction was for partly sunny skies, temperatures in the 40's and a light 10 mph wind. There was NO MENTION of precipitation. When we arrived at the parking area on Route 9W it looked like that prediction was right on. This would soon change! There were a few cars in the parking area and only one person with a dog so I assumed the others were out hiking somewhere. I tool some pictures across the river and of the rocky crag we were about to hike. I also took some over to North Point but the sunshine was so bright I was afraid they would not come out. This would soon change! Sheba and I got on the trail at 10:15 AM and made an energetic rush up the orange Butter Hill Trail.

Boterberg or Butter Hill is one of the early Dutch names for Storm King since it looked like a lump of butter. This name is still used for the western summit which actually is 40 feet higher at 1380 feet than Storm king itself! There were some nice views from Butter Hill and we paused for me to take pictures across the river to Little Stony Point, Mount Taurus and Breakneck Ridge. I also too some pictures to the north over Cornwall-on-Hudson. It was still sunny with a few clouds moving in. To get to the top of Butter Hill we turned right on the yellow Stillman Trail which led us to the summit. We continued over the top on the Stillman Trail and began to descend into the area between Butter Hill and Storm King. When we met the red and blue marked Bluebird Trail we turned left and began an interesting descent. There was only a little ice here and there but there were a LOT of slippery oak leaves. The Bluebird Trail descends steeply in places and there aren't many viewpoints. With the leaves off the trees there are several views of the river but none or very clear.

The Bluebird Trail ends with a junction with the Stillman Trail as it come up from Mountain Road in Cornwall. We turned right to walk along the edge of Storm King as the trail slowly ascends the mountain through a series of shallow grades and switchbacks. This trail is on the north side of the mountain and there were several areas of ice on the trail. These occurred where small spring or stream flowed across the trail and froze. We were able to work our way around them all but I made a mental note to remember to pack my Stabilicers. We were soon at the newly reconstructed Stillman Bridge. This wooden structure bridges a gap in the trail where there is no ground to speak of but a steep drop off near a vertical rock wall. Right after the bridge is an open wooden staircase. There was ice on the bridge as I carefully made my way across. Sheba was reluctant to cross the ice but did so with some coaxing. She would NOT climb the stairs but dove under the staircase and climbed up a steep slope. Just after the bridge a series of switchbacks announces the climb up Storm King is almost done.

On the way up the Stillman Trail several nice views can be had from a few lookouts. Near the top of the trail there are even more viewpoints as the trail passes by several open rock shelves. The only view that is blocked is to the north. We stopped here for me to take some more pictures. We met a group of three hikers from Cornwall near the top and another group of about a half dozen passed by. The skies were more cloudy and sunny at this point but that made taking pictures easier. I decided to continue on the Stillman Trail up over the top of Storm King so I could say we went over the top of the mountain and to take in some of the best views. I noticed that at the top of Storm King the wind had picked up. I took some interesting pictures before we continued down the other side of the mountain. We were soon at the junction with the blue Howell Trail that descends through The Clove and leads to North Point. We met a solo hiker here who asked for directions and headed back out to Route 9W. I decided that we had not been out for that long at that I wanted to do the entire loop over to North Point and Storm King Highway before going back to the car. North Point usually has nice views of Storm King and the areas across the river. As we headed down the blue Howell Trail, the skies became cloudy and the wind increased and I though for sure it would rain or snow by the time we were heading back to the car!

There is NOTHING to see as you descend into The Clove. The trail is steep in places and was covered with those slippery oak leaves. Sheba has no problem and usually trots ahead and then waits patiently as if to say 'Can't you hurry up?' Soon we crossed the small stream that lies at the bottom of The Clove. Just before this crossing I saw the marking of the former Crossover Tail which are now painted over indicating the trail is officially closed. I have been on this trail before but it is now poorly marked. Just after the spring I saw the white marks of the Stillman Spring Trail on the left. This would be our return route if we made the whole loop. The Howell Trail starts to ascend out of the clove rather steeply but then moderates on an old woods road. After this the road ascends more steeply and the trail turns off to the left where it meets the Bobcat Trail. We followed the Howell Trail to the right and began the steep but short hike up to North Point. At North Point the wind was still blowing but the skies showed more areas of sun. We stooped so that I could remove my Ibex midlayer. I also took many pictures of Breakneck Ridge and Mount Taurus. The lighting was unusual at times and I realized that Storm King REALLY DOES look like a lump of butter!

We continued down the Howell Trail off North Point and walked for a while without much to distract us. The trail starts to head due east towed the river and several nice viewpoints start to appear. These viewpoints are mostly to the south and east and views of West Point are possible. The trail begins to descend again very steeply as it heads down toward the river and the Storm King Highway. The last good lookout is Pitching Point which is less than 500 horizontal feet from the highway. The trail then winds its way away from the road and switches back several times before ending at Stillman Spring. A couple of hikers were parked a the spring putting away there equipment as we walked north a hundred feet on the highway before turning left back into the woods on the Stillman Spring Trail. This trail ascends right from the beginning but never steeply as it heads back to the Howell Trail just above the deepest part of The Clove. At the Howell Trail we turned right and hiked up out of the clove toward Storm King. The ascending on the slippery leaves was better than the descending but by this time I was tired. As the trail nears the area where it levels off near the top of the mountain, another trail turns left. This trail is marked in white but is shown as "proposed" on the maps. The maps also show the trail running directly west but it really runs southwest. This trail descend some before ascending and then descending again. The last few hundred feet is a steep climb back to the parking area on 9W. We covered about 7 miles in 4.5 hours with PLENTY of time for photographs. This is a herder hike than I remembered with a lot of up and down hiking throughout. The ascending distance is 2800 feet more than twice that of the hike at Minnewaska on Friday and 500 feet more than the 15 mile hike from last weekend!

On Friday, Nov 28nd it was Karl's turn to accompany me to Minnewaska. Everyone else had decided to go shopping on Black Friday so Karl and I took the two dogs, Sheba and Maggie and headed out to hike. Maggie always wants to "make friends" with Sheba but Sheba usually doesn't cooperate! Hiking, however, is a different story since both dogs enjoy being outside. I wanted to go to the base of Stony Kill Falls to take some pictures since it looked so beautiful the Saturday before. I thought for the main part of the hike we would somehow walk to Rainbow Falls and over Litchfield Ledge as I had never hiked there before. We turned right onto Minnewaska Trail off Route 44/55 and made an immediate left to head toward Shaft 3A Road, the parking area for Stony Kill Falls. We had only been there once but both of us remembered the turns and we were parked by about 9:30 AM just outside the gate. The temperatures was in the high twenties or low thirties but there didn't seem to be much wind. I had donned my North Face Apex Jacket with sheds moisture well. I had packed my Cloudveil Zorro jacket since the prediction was for a 40% chance of precipitation.

We walked across the old sand and gravel quarry and passed the shaft access and helicopter pad. The water was too high to cross at the dam so we worked our way upstream and soon were able to cross to the other side. After a short walk, we could hear and then see the falls. There wasn't quite as much frozen spray on the rocks but it was still beautiful with a good volume. As we approached the falls the rocks were covered with ice making the going difficult and dangerous. I somehow worked my way to a point VERY close to the falls and began to take pictures. The angle was not the one I wanted and I knew that I wanted to be just slightly down stream and in the stream bed! I knew this would be tricky and I aborted my first attempt since the rocks were just TOO slippery. We walked downstream on the path and I soon found a place to cross and take pictures. From here we walked upstream in the stream bed and were somehow able to get to the pool just below the falls. The rocks were COVERED in ice but I was able to tale some nice pictures including ones of Karl and the two dogs. After this we crossed to the other side of the stream and I took some photos of the enormous icicles hanging down from the ledges. We walked back along an informal path and were back at the car by a little after 10:30 AM. We immediately headed for Minnewaska for the main part of our hike.

We parked in the upper lot at Minnewaska in one of the few remaining spots and were on the trail by 11:00 AM. We decided to hike out on the Castle Point Carriageway and then use the Rainbow Falls Trail to cut over to the Upper Awosting Carriageway. After that, we weren't sure what our route would be. We had both dogs on leashes near the parking area but soon were able to release them as we headed down the carriageway. Both of them stayed near us with Maggie going out ahead and Sheba willing to walk between us. The walk out the carriageway went quickly and we didn't meet very many people. We did stop at Kempton ledge and a few of the other viewpoints but there was a haze in the air which obscured the views. The same was true of Castle Point itself but I did take a few pictures including some of Lake Awosting. The wind was pretty strong right at Castle Point so we didn't stay too long. We continued on the carriageway looking for the start of the Rainbow Falls Trail which seemed to be somewhere between Castle Point and the junction with the Hamilton Point Carriageway. When we reached this junction without finding the trail, we knew we had gone too far. We decided to go back up the carriageway and look for the trail on the left. On the way back up we spotted it just at the first big bend or switchback in the trail. It was no wonder we had missed it since there was no sign and only a single dab of aqua paint on a rock indicating the Long Path!

We walked through some brush and then out onto some open rock. We were treated to a GREAT closeup view of Castle Point and the Castle Point Carriageway below it. The Talus slopes below the Point were impressive and obvious from this view. We continued to walk along the trail as several different viewpoints offered glimpses of the scenes below. The trail finally began to enter an area of evergreens which I recognized as the kind above the Upper Awosting Carriageway on Litchfield Ledge. Shortly we were at a view point that gave us a look at toward Rainbow Falls. I could see the area where Cindy and I had been standing two weeks earlier but the main falls is further down in the ravine. We walked further along the trail as it descended to the carriageway. Just before hitting the carriageway there were massive icicles covering the cliffs that support Litchfield Ledge. I took some pictures before hitting the carriageway and a few more afterwards. At this point we weren't sure what we wanted to do but we headed toward Lake Awosting. At the Lake we made the decision to return to Lake Minnewaska, check the time at that point and decide what our next step would be. Both of us had things to do in the late afternoon.

I have hiked the Upper Awosting Carriageway so many times that I know it VERY well. Karl and I walked and talked and were soon back at the beach at Minnewaska. By this time we had covered about 8.4 miles and it was a little before 3:00 PM. We decided to head back to the car after taking a look at the lake. When we got to the parking lot it was full with another row of cars parked down the middle of the lot! We covered 8.6 miles on this part of the hike in 4.5 hours. This distance added to the 1.5 miles we did early made us feel it was a good day!

On Saturday, Nov 22nd the weather was COLD with an air temperature in teens and a stiff breeze blowing when I got up in the morning. I had planned to hike somewhere just for the exercise. I knew Cindy would not be interested because of the cold but I have plenty of gear and was anxious to try some out. I also was sure Sheba would be ready. I have hiked in hunting areas during deer season but it always makes me anxious. I decided to return to Minnewaska to hike the Lower Awosting Carriageway which I had never done before. My tentative plan was to get there when the park opened and hike a LONG one until about 3:00 PM. Hiking around both lakes with a detour here and there would fit the bill. We actually arrived BEFORE the gatehouse was open but were parked and ready to hike just after 9:00 AM. Since we were the first car into the park, the lot was empty. As I got ready to hike the wind came up and was blowing at least 20 mph on top of the below 20 degree air temperature. The Lower Awosting Carriageway is a relatively straight and wide road from the parking area to the lake. It is slightly uphill all the way and does get a little monotonous. I was lost in my own thoughts several times before realizing the beauty around me including Fly Creek on the left and the clouds above. A little over two miles into the hike I thought I heard something behind us and turned to see a mountain biker moving toward us. As he approached, he dismounted and said "Catskill Hiker! I know you." It was Tom Gallagher a hiker that I had met before in Black Rock Forest and who reads the website. He walked his mountain bike as we talked and we were soon at Lake Awosting. Tom decided to hike a loop with us before returning to his bike. He stowed the bike in the brush and we were ready to choose an objective.

Tom said he was considering hiking the Spruce Glen Trail and I countered with a suggestion that we hike to Stony Kill Falls. He agreed and we tuned right off the Awosting Trail just after the ranger station onto the Smiley Carriageway. The carriageway is now open after the fires earlier in the year. Some charred trunks are still visible but the area seems to be recovering. In less than a mile we arrived at Fly Creek, the outlet to Mud Pond. Although the water was higher than usual we soon found a way to cross. The Stony Kill Carriageway turns right immediately after the crossing and we turned and started to hike toward the falls. Neither of us had ever been on this trail before and we were not sure when the falls would appear. Hiking with somebody seemed to pass the time more quickly and within 1.25 miles we were at Stony Kill. There was only a small cascade over some rocks and I didn't know how far up or down the stream the actual falls might be. I could see quite a distance upstream and could not see any falls. We started to walk back the way we had come when I saw a path to the left along the bank of the kill. We followed that path which soon became much more obvious. Soon we were at another cascade just above a big drop off.

We stopped to take some pictures. Tom used my camera to take a few rare pictures of Sheba and me against the cascade. I had taken my gloves off and immediately noticed how cold they were getting. We continued downstream and were rewarded with a few of Stony Kill Falls from the top! The view out over the valley from the top of the falls was beautiful but the real thrill was the falls themselves. Stony Kill Falls never has tremendous volume but it is pretty high. Looking down at the falls I could see the frozen spray covering the rocks and trees near the falls. Huge icicles hung in other places. From the top it was hard to get an angle to take pictures of the entire falls but some shots were really beautiful and spectacular. On the way back we cut up to the rode earlier than where we had come down and were soon back on the path. The walk back seemed quicker than the walk our. The only hitch was getting back across Fly Creek. The jump I had made early wasn't working for me on the way back. With a little investigation, we found another place slightly upstream to cross and were soon back at the trail around Awosting. Tom decided to make the trip around Awosting with me and then continue back to his bike while I head back to Minnewaska on the Hamilton Point Carriageway.

At the lake we turned right an began to walk around the lake in a counterclockwise route. We stopped several times along the north side of the lake to take pictures from the elevated viewpoints along the way. I explained to Tom that I had never been around the lake this way since I usually come into the carriageway or leave it just after the end of the lake to get to the Long Path. We continued past that turnoff point and had several nice views of the lake from water level and stopped to take pictures. Soon we were at the "beach" which is really a LARGE slab of open rock that intersects the lake. We picked our way through this area since it was covered in ice! After another short hike we were at the point where Tom would continue around the lake to pick up his bike and I would turn right to continue toward Hamilton Point. The walk around the lake was almost two miles! After we parted, the walk to the Hamilton Point Carriageway seemed much shorter than the week before. This was only because I knew exactly where I was going.

At the trail junction just below the Battlements, Sheba and I turned right onto the Hamilton Point Carriageway which has been closed to bikers and horses due to some storm damage. From the Lake to Hamilton Point was about a mile and is slightly uphill all the way. I noticed that this route is a little less traveled and a little more rustic than the one to Castle Point. As we approached Hamilton Point the wind really picked up. The sun was shining but the temperatures and the wind made it seems VERY cold. I stopped to take some pictures on the Point but did not get too close to the edge since the gusts were pushing me despite my stance. From Hamilton Point it is almost 3 miles back to the lake and Sheba and I kept up a good place. There are several lookouts along the way to the other side of Palmaghatt Ravine. The end of the escarpment on the other side is the end of Millbrook Ridge and Gertrude's Nose. As we walked along toward the best lookout, Echo Rock, it is obvious that the ravine continues to narrow toward the head end. We strolled past the cutoff to the Castle Point Carriageway but I decided to stick with my original plan to go directly to the lake. It was about 2:30 and I knew we would have plenty of time to go to the Awosting Falls before heading back to the car.

From the end of the lake it was only about .5 miles to the other end. Before walking up to the parking lot we turned left on the Sunset Scenic Carriageway which leads down the hill to the park entrance. I had never been on this trail and there were several nice viewpoints where I stopped to use the camera. After crossing the park roads, several times the trail ends up at the bridge across the Peters Kill at the park entrance. We turned right to walk the trail along the Peters Kill and down to the falls. There was quite a bit of water in the stream and we stopped so that I could take some pictures down toward the top of the falls and back upstream. I got pretty close to the edge of the falls but was careful because of the ice. I could see that the spray from the falls had coated several tress and most of the rocks in the basin below. Back on the trail we followed it as it wound its way to the bottom of the falls. The view from the base of the falls was as stunning as I had expected. The cliffs around the falls and many of the trees were coated in a white frosting of frozen mist. The water falling from the falls bounced up off the rocks, ice and water in the pool below. Chunks of ice littered the pool. I took pictures from many different angles and then walked slightly downstream and into the stream bed. This was the best, if not the safest angle, for photographing the falls. I took short video as well as still pictures to capture the dynamics of sight AND sound. After spending some time alone at the falls, Sheba and I hiked back up the trail, past the gatehouse, and down the access road to the parking area. At 3:30 PM, there were still only two other cars in the lot! My GPS read 13.8 miles! I was surprised because, although I was tired, it did not seem like the 6.5 hour was that long. When I put the track on the computer, it was actually a little OVER 15 miles! On the drive back, I thought about stopping to hike to the base of Stony Kill Falls but decided to leave that to another day.

On Sunday, Nov 16th the weather was cool with an air temperature in the high 30's and wind gusts up to 30 mph. Cindy and I decided NOT to brave the hunters around Livingston Manor so we headed to Minnewaska State Park where no hunting is allowed. We were in the parking lot and ready to hike by 12:30 PM. The wind was gusting and it was really cold in the parking area. We always put Sheba on a leash when we are around other hikers and other hiker's dogs. Apparently some dog owners believe that their dogs must "make friends" with other dogs. As we were getting ready to leave the car another hiker with his dog on a leash lead his dog over to Sheba without asking us! This was not the only inconsiderate dog owner on the day. We met at least two other groups who refused to call their dogs or leash them and who obviously had no control of their pets. Sheba, for her part, behaved well under the circumstances. So for all the inconsiderate dog owners out there "Put your pet on a leash and control them around other hikers and other dogs. Obey the rules that exist in most parks. Obey the rules of common courtesy!" Cindy and I left the Minnewaska parking area and headed down toward the lake and the Upper Awosting Carriageway.

As we hiked out the Upper Awosting Carriageway, we noticed that every small stream and every ditch was full of running water. Places that were usually dry or just a trickle were torrents. We walked quickly on the carriageway for about 2.5 miles to Litchfield Ledge. At this point the Long Path crosses and we turned right and descended to head towards Rainbow Falls. We had to cross several small brooks on the way and they too were swollen beyond their normal volume. Rainbow Falls never has much volume but on this day there was more water coming over the ledge than I have seen before. I took many pictures of the two separate falls before following the Long Path along the base of the ledge. In a short distance the Long Path ascends the ledge quite steeply and the wet rocks added some challenge to this climb. At he top of the climb there was a nice view out over the scrub pines and open rock faces. Beyond this, in the background, were the outlines of the Catskills. The sky was very dark with only occasional rays of sunlight. A few snowflakes were in the air!

We followed the Long Path along the ridge and down the other side as it descends across some open rock toward the Peters Kill. We intended to cross the Peters Kill and then turn left near Fly Brook and follow the trail to Lake Awosting. As we approached the Peters Kill we could hear the rushing water. Once at the stream we understood why it was so loud. The normally docile stream was a rushing torrent. It was impossible to cross safely where the trail went across so we bushwhacked up and down the stream. There was no place that seemed safe to cross. We decided to backtrack to the Upper Awosting Carriageway and head to Awosting that way. It didn't take us too long to get back once we had made the decision and we were soon on our way to the lake. It about .5 miles we were at the point where the trail splits to go around the lake. It had been our intention to walk around Awosting counterclockwise but time was now against us. We turned right to walk down to the lake. I took some pictures and then we headed back to the trail that follows the southeastern shore of the lake.

We had never been on this side of the lake before and the trail rises quite a bit. There are several beautiful viewpoints that look out over the lake. We stopped at several so that I could take pictures. In between stops we walked VERY quickly. I was looking for the turn that would take us to the Castle Point Carriageway and back to the car but I did not know exactly where it was. Shortly a sign announced that it was .5 miles ahead and we could begin to see the rocky ledges that make up the Battlement and Castle Point. Within about 1 mile from the lake we were at the point where the Castle Point and Hamilton Point Carriageways meet. I usually follow the Long Path from the Hamilton Point to Castle Point Carriageways but the wet and windy conditions dictated a safer root on the Castle Point Carriageway. Shortly we were passing over the Battlement and were at Castle Point within .5 miles. On the way up it started to snow a little and the wind picked up. The sky was very dark especially in the east. At times, the sun would shine through. We stopped at the Battlements and Castle Point so that I could take pictures. Several gusts of wind on Castle Point were over 40 mph. Since it was already 3:30 PM and we did not know when the park closed, we decided to up our already fast paced to cover the last 3.5 miles!

As we walked the carriageway, I stopped several times to tale pictures of Hamilton point, the ravine below, the opposing ledges and the valley. At one point the Smiley Tower at Mohonk was visible and illuminated with sunlight. In between photographic opportunities I scurried to keep up with Cindy. From Castle Point it was about 1.5 miles to Kempton Ledge. I walked out to the Ledge, took some pictures and the pressed on. We were familiar with the carriageway and made good time. As we approached the Minnewaska I stooped for a few pictures as Cindy and Sheba headed for the car. We were back at the car by 4:30 PM having covered almost 9 miles in 4 hours. The last 3.8 miles we made in 1 hour! A sign announced that the gates would close at 5:00 PM so we were actually a half hour early! There were only three other cars in the lot as we headed for home.

On Tuesday, Nov 11th I was off from school due to the celebration of Veterans Day. When we woke up in the morning at 6:30 AM the temperature was in the high twenties but the forecast was for increasing temperatures and no precipitation. Cindy agreed to do Hunter from Spruceton after taking a walk with her friend. She was back by 9:00 AM but had changed her mind! I loaded up MY car with my gear and Sheba and started out. When I am with Sheba I like to do at least a double and thought about Wittenberg and Cornell or Plateau and Sugarloaf. As I drove toward Big Indian, I decided to stay with the plan of hiking Hunter and headed for the Spruceton parking area. I parked at 10:30 AM and immediately noticed a small amount of snow, an air temperature still in the low 30's and a stiff breeze. I had on a base layer of Icebreaker 150, a mid layer of Icebreaker 320 and a Mammut jacket on top. I wore a pair of silkweight PolarMax tights under my pants. I figured I would be too warm as soon as I hit any climb but could always remove something. I also had on a light pair of stretch gloves and a light hat. The Mammut medium is a little large for me but a small would be MUCH too small. It did fit well over the layers I had on. I packed my Stabilicers and decided to take my Leki poles.

There was only one other car in the lot and one name in the register. Sheba and I started out at a fast pace on the wide woods road that is the start of the trail. With a short distance I was already building up heat and opening zippers to vent. Hunter Brook was flowing with some volume and as we approached the bridge I remembered a post that said the bridge was out! The post was correct and the bridge is still out with steel beams in pace but no decking. To the right of the bride a 2 by 6 has been thrown across the stream as a VERY temporary bridge. I walked across the board but Sheba jumped into the icy water. It doesn't seem to bother her. We were soon at the hairpin turn and starting the gentle but long climb to the turn up Hunter. Along the way I removed and packed the midlayer and was still quite warm. The Icebreaker 150 is extremely light but very warm! We arrived at the turn up Hunter where the trail leaves the woods road in about 40 minutes. A more distinct sprinkling of snow as evident. In some places the rocks were beginning to ice over. Many areas were wet and slippery. In the winter many areas of the trail develop significant amounts of ice that require hikers to work around them or use traction devices with caution.

We were at the spring in under an hour. Sheba got a drink and I took pictures before we continued to the viewpoint near the site of the former John Robb lean-to. There wasn't much to see here as the trees have grown up to block the view and there was a lot of fog or haze lying low on the hills. We pushed on and passed the 3500 foot sign and then the turn to the Colonel's Chair. The trail levels somewhat after this and I am always fooled into thinking I am at the top. One look ahead and I could see more mountain and knew that I would have some more climbing to do before reaching the tower clearing. There was now snow and the trail and on the trees making the trail slippery but making the trees look like it was winter. Some areas of the trail were muddy but the mud was partly frozen. Puddles of water were frozen on top but some were quite deep and the ice layer was thin. I did not go out to the small viewpoint near the top since there was a frozen lake between the trail and the lookout. Sheba and I made the last push to the top and soon the tower and cabin were in sight.

There wasn't even an inch of snow at the top but the tower and trees were covered with a rime frost and some snow. The scene was BEAUTIFUL and Sheba and I were alone. I took a lot of pictures from the ground and then carefully made my way up the tower. The railings and step were both slippery and the higher I went the more I noticed the wind. The Mammut jacket block virtually ALL the wind but an air temperature of 28 degrees and a thirty mile an hour wind is still COLD! At first there were no views as fog covered everything. I took pictures of the frost on the tower and some of the trees below. The wind cleared some of the fog away and I took pictures of the hills and valleys before it returned. I went back to ground level and Sheba and I had a drink and a snack. On the way up I had thought about doing Southwest Hunter but I was tired now and decided just to complete the loop back down to Westkill. As we started the loop there were many areas of mud and water on the trail. At the junction with the Becker Hollow trail I met a couple and their small white dog. We talked for a minute and another group appeared from the other direction. I was ready to leave and As I started out I inquired about the trail down. One member of the party told me the trail was in pretty good condition with a few wet spots. She also told me that Southwest Hunter was "a piece of cake". I thought about what she said on the way down. I had never found SW Hunter to be ease but though that they might have a better route and that I could follow their path.

At the junction with the Devil's Path, Sheba and I turned right toward the Devil's Acre lean-to. We passed by, crossed the small stream and the railroad bed. I began to look for the side trail to SW Hunter but could only find short paths to camping areas. I decided to leave SW Hunter for another day! As I continued up the trail a little disappointed, I came to a VERY obvious path to the left. I decided that this might be the path to SW Hunter and it was early enough in the day to try it and see where it went. I had always cut up right after the lean-to near the railroad bed. I would run into swamps and thick balsam that made the hike miserable. The route I followed on this day was more than a path and less than a trail. My only reservation was that I did not know if I was following the right trail. My GPS seemed to indicate we were headed in the right direction so we continued on for some time. At one point the trail was blocked with branches and the boot prints and an unmistakable left UP the mountain. We followed this path which became very steep in some places. It soon leveled out and wandered through some balsam. After only a short walk, I noticed a clearing and the red canister. When I signed in I noticed that the names above mine included Tom and Laurie Rankin. I have read Tom's posts as a member of VFTT and have corresponded by e-mail. This was by far my easiest trip up SW Hunter and I would recommend the route to anyone.

I knew that now it was just a matter of retracing our steps to the Devil's Path and hiking back out. On the way down I met a solo hiker going up. We had been to Rusk and I gathered he was the car in the lot when I parked. Soon we were back on the Devil's Path headed for Westkill. I do NOT like this trail in any way. For a descent it has too many places that go up. It has MANY rocks big and small. Much of it is a stream and large portions have standing water that expands to the size of a small pond. It does have a nice viewpoint to the left side of the trail I took some pictures of the valleys. Looking back toward SW Hunter the trees were covered with snow and frost which made a lovely sight! Sheba and I worked our way down the trail with me hating every minute. I heard a noise behind and looked back to see the solo hiker approaching. Sheba and I move pretty fast but this guy was really going! After what seemed like hours, we arrived at Diamond Notch Falls. We stopped and I took some pictures. There was a good volume of water from the recent rains. There was still a mile to go so Sheba and I headed back out to the Spruceton Road and back to the car. We finished the 8 mile loop in about 5 hours. This seemed slow to me but we made several stops and the conditions slowed us some.

On Sunday, Nov 9th the weather was cool but sunny and clear. Cindy and I decided to go to Sam's Point after church to visit Verkeerderkill Falls and hike the escarpment loop. We suspected that the recent rains might have renewed the falls and we had not Ben there in some time. We parked at the Conservation Center by 12:00 PM and started up the right hand branch of Sam's Point Road to the Point and the Ice Caves. The temperature was just below 50 degrees and a stiff breeze was blowing. I had on an Icebreaker 150 base layer and Icebreaker 260 Zip top over that. I topped this off with a new Eider Highstretch jacket. The jacket proved to be just the right size and well-constructed. We stopped just below the Point to look out over the valley. There was still some haze and the sky was cloudy in places with bright sun in others. We got back on the main loop road and headed toward Ice Caves Road. From the Ice Caves Road we turned left on the trail to the falls.

The trail to the falls is all downhill since the falls is the lowest point on the trail. The trail was also wet from the rain and had standing and running water in many places. The views from the trail were interesting because of the lighting. From one point Lake Awosting was clearly visible! The trail seemed long but we kept up a quick pace arriving at the falls by 1;20 PM. As we approached the falls, the sound of the falling waters greeted us. I walked out to the ledge that acts as a viewpoint from the north side of the falls. There was a good volume of water going over the falls and I took pictures of the falls, the gorge below and the valley to the west of the falls. I went back to the trail to attempt to cross to the other side. The first crossing was easy but the one over the main stream was a little more challenging. Falling into the stream so close to the falls could be dangerous. We actually had little trouble crossing and were soon at the viewpoint on the other side. Two pairs of hikers were already enjoying the view. I took the time to snap some more pictures before following one pair of hikers back up the main trail.

We hiked to the ascent up the escarpment and soon caught the others at the lookout at the top. The climb is much steeper than the descent to the falls as it occurs in a much shorter distance. We went on while the other hikers stayed to enjoy the view. I always like the hike along the escarpment. The views are beautiful and breathtaking as the trail is at the edge of the escarpment much of the time. As you hike you can look ahead at the rock outcroppings you WILL climb and back at the ones you HAVE climbed. In several spots the rocks were damp and slippery so we were careful even though we maintained a fast pace. As we neared High Point, the trail became wetter with several areas looking more like shallow lakes than trail! Soon we were at High Point with a 360 degree view. The weather had actually become more cloudy and the sky was darkening with what looked like the threat of rain. We hiked from High Point to the site of the old fire tower and I took some pictures.

As we descended to the carriageway a sign reminded us that we still had 2.5 miles to go! The first part of the carriageway almost to the Indian Rock Trail is eroded and rocky in many places. This makes walking difficult. On this day there was a lot of mud and standing water in a number of places. When we hit the loop road, we had a little more than a mile to go and we picked up our pace. We were soon at the Center and had covered almost 8 miles in under 4 hours!

On Saturday, Nov 8th the weather report was for showers on and off all day. The morning brought warm but damp weather with intermittent drizzle. Any plans I had to do a long hike were dashed but by 10:30 AM I decided that a short walk somewhere was needed. I convinced Cindy to go to Frick Pond for a some version of a loop hike there. We took our rain gear but the showers all but stopped on the drive to the parking area. We parked and took only a few minutes to get ready. By the time we were ready to start it was raining! I almost got in the car to head home but Cindy and Sheba seemed willing. We donned rain jackets and Cindy put on waterproof pants. I decided to try my OR Pack cover. The cover is pretty easy to put on but is a little large for a day pack! I had not brought the camera or GPS thinking that electronics and rain do not mix well. By 11:00 AM we were on the trail headed for Frick Pond.

The Quick Lake Trail out to Frick Pond was VERY wet with standing water in some places and running water in others. At one point I though my Asolo TPS 520 boots were leaking but my feet stayed dry the whole day. At the trail junction we turned right on the yellow Loggers Loop trail and hiked to Times Square. There are many possible choice with so many trails and we decided to follow the Loggers Loop back to the Quick Lake Trail and then decide, based on the weather, which way to go. At some point on the Loggers Loop the rain stopped and I put down my hood and opened the zipper on my Cloudveil Zorro LT jacket to vent some heat. At the junction with the Quick Lake Trail we decided to turn right and go the LONG way to Hodge Pond. At Junkyard Junction we turned right on the blue Flynn Trail that goes to Hodge Pond. At points along both trails I wondered if my memory of the route was correct since we seemed to be walking for a LONG time. When we arrived at Hodge, I concluded that the uphill walk in the drizzle and fog made the hike seem longer!

At Hodge we continued on the Flynn Trail be turning right toward the trail junction with the Big Rock Trail. Here we stayed on the Flynn Trail which run downhill all the way to the parking area. The rain began again and we "buttoned up" our rain gear. Sheba seemed unaffected but by this time was muddy and pretty wet. We arrived back at the car just before 2:00 PM having taken 3 hours to cover about 7 miles!

On Tuesday, Nov 4th I had an early appointment in Goshen. All went well so Cindy and I decided to go hike Schunemunk. She had never been to the highest point in Orange County and the day looked like a good enough one to hike there. When we arrived at the trailhead near the Moodna Train Trestle the temperature was in the 50's but a slight breeze was blowing. I decided to keep on my Arc'teryx fleece for a while. Several other cars were already in the lot when we got there at 10:30 AM and we were on the "trail" by 10:40 AM. Cindy was impressed by the train trestle which IS more interesting in person than in pictures. We walked up the road and picked up the trail just short of the trestle. We stayed on the white trestle trail as it climbed the 1.1 miles to the crest of the western ridge. Along the way the trail alternates between steep areas and more level ones. In one place a short side trail leads to a viewpoint. A new bench at this lookout allows the hiker to take a break. The views were still very hazy but the temperature had increased and I removed the fleece. Back on the trail we arrived at the junction with the red Barton Swamp Trail.

We turned left onto the red trail and enjoyed several viewpoints to the eastern ridge and to the northeast before descending to the area between the ridges. Baby Brook had some water flowing in it and Sheba got a drink as we crossed and picked up the yellow Jessup Trail to ascend to the eastern ridge. The trail immediately began to ascend over the characteristic slabs and outcropping of conglomerate. The vegetation was predominantly scrub pine similar to the Gunks. As the trail ascends views of the western ridge and to the east become more prevalent. The trail continues to ascend for some time before leveling somewhat. New views continue to appear but on this day many were still obscured by a haze that would not burn off. The trail starts to undulate and begin a series of excursions into hardwood stands slightly off the ridge before winding back to the edge of the ridge. In many places the trail forced us to hike along narrow rock crests or slanted rock faces. These were damp in many places and we had to be careful not to slip and fall.

By about 1:00 PM we were nearing the Megaliths and I took the spur trail out toward these large blocks of rock. Descending across and open rock face that was damp I slipped for the third time. We entered the woods and quickly approached our goal. As we drew near I noticed a vulture had landed on one of the rocks and was intently staring at the valley below. I took a picture and then quietly continued on the trail. As I climbed onto the Megaliths I noticed three or four more vultures sitting on the rocks and looking at the valley. They didn't seem to be bothered by our presence So I took some pictures before sitting down to eat. The birds eventually all took off and began to soar over the valley. We ate lunch and decided to continue on around to return on the western ridge, Back on the main trail we walked the short distance to the Western Ridge trail and turned right on this blue marked trail.

The Western Ridge Trail continued southwest briefly before turning due north and beginning a descent into Barton Swamp between the two ridges. The descent is steep and required us to walk along narrow parts of the trail and hop over some boulders. Some parts of the descent require rather long drops over large boulders. This is interesting when the rocks are dry. The dampness on the rocks and the wet leaves added a level of difficulty to this short but steep descent. We hit the Barton Swamp Trail and turned right top briefly follow both trails toward the swamp. In a short distance we followed the Western Ridge Trail as it ascended steeply to the Long Path at the top of the Western Ridge. This ridge is slightly lower in elevation so we did not have to ascend as far as we had descended. The Long Path along the Western Ridge was drier than the Jessup Trail on the Eastern Ridge. The trail does undulate some but less so than the Jessup Trail. The Long Path does wander back and forth across the ridge offering alternating views to the west and toward the Eastern Ridge. We were walking faster now and within 1.5 miles we arrived at the area where the Long Path descends the Western Ridge toward the Hil-Mar Lodge. We continued on the red Barton Swamp Trail until it met the white Trestle Trail.

Once on the Trestle Trail we began to descend quickly as we reversed our steps from earlier in the day. The trail is rutted and eroded in paces. It is covered for almost its entire length by loose rocks which roll under foot. A layer of slippery leaves on top makes the descent a difficult one since the trail is steep in many places. Soon we were back on the road and walking toward our car at the trailhead. We arrived at about 3:15 PM making the 6.8 mile round trip in about 4.5 hours.

On Sunday, Nov 2nd Brad and Krista arrived at the motel just before 8:00 AM. We had decided to hike part of the West Rim Trail that travels along the west rim of Pine Creek Gorge which is called the Grand canyon of Pennsylvania. Cindy and I had wanted to do this for some time but the trip requires an exceedingly early start or an overnight stay! The entire trail is over 30 miles long but I had decided on a section of about 7.5 miles described in a hiking guide. We decided to take two cars and do a shuttle. The trail route seemed straightforward but the book provided only a rudimentary map. We drove north on Route 15 to Mansfield and then east on Route 6 through Wellsboro to Ansonia. In Ansonia we turned south on Colton Road to enter Colton Point State Park. The drive to this point was on schedule taking about 1.5 hours. I was impressed with the scenic beauty driving north on Route 15. Initially there were still leaves on the trees and the runs over and next to several different streams. Further north the rock structures changed and the trees were devoid of leaves. Once we turned onto the park roads we had to slow down. Soon we were in Colton Point State Park and a roadside parking area beckoned. We stopped and walked across the road to get our first view of the gorge. It was SPECTACULAR. Even though some clouds and haze still hung in the air the deep canyon and the sparkling water below were beautiful. We stayed for a few minutes to take in the view and take some pictures before getting back in the cars.

Once we passed the entrance to the state park, the road went to "improved dirt". We followed the directions in the hiking guide and after several switchback left turns we came to the place where we wanted to park one car. This was at the point of an almost 180 degree turn on Painter-Leetonia Road and was one trailhead for the Refuge Trail. We all got into one car and continued to work our way south for about another 5 miles to the road into the Bradley Wales Picnic Area. We soon arrived and park our car in the small parking lot. To our right, just where the hiking guide described, were the orange blazes of the West Rim Trail. We got started as soon as everyone donned their hiking gear. The air felt cold so I put on an Icebreaker 260 top over the long sleeved shirt I had on and my Underarmour. I actually added my new Sherpa jacket on top and put on light gloves and a hat! I knew this wouldn't last too long but I had plenty of room in the pack. The trail started out on a road but soon made a quick left and started along the rim of the canyon.

Almost immediately a set of stone pillars and metal pipes announced the first of many viewpoints on the trail. This one was as nice as the first that we had visited by car. We began a pattern of stopping, enjoying the view and taking pictures. Pine Creek was clearly visible on the Gorge floor and there seemed to be a "road" next to it. Brad informed us that this was once the Penn Central tracks and is now a rail trail. The trail runs the entire length of the Gorge for about 38 miles. I began to make plans to return and bike this trail! As we left the viewpoint we passed through pine trees and then entered hardwoods. The flora along the trail changes in this way and includes more open areas as well. The main part of the trail is fairly flat. Along the trail at varying intervals tributaries join the main stream. Some of these "runs" are quite steep and require a walk away from the gorge to a point were the banks are not as steep and can be safely negotiated. The first of these came at about .6 miles into the hike. This first was only a small bump in the trail but later detours would be more significant! At 1.4 miles into the hike Ice Break Run required us to make a more significant jog away from the gorge. Many of these runs are dry and none had enough water to make crossing difficult.

As we walked back from Ice Break Run the trail again came close to the canyon rim and offered another excellent viewpoint. Many of these views are much the same but the angles differed. The skies also began to clear and the light changed to offer different photographic opportunities. Somewhere along the way I shed the Icebreaker top but I did keep the jacket on for the whole trip. I ditched the gloves for most of the hike but alternated wearing my hat and storing it in a pocket. At 1.9 miles we began to work our way around Little Slate Run. This run is deep with steep sides and requires the greatest distance to get around. A small bridge at the head end allowed us to easily cross but was not really necessary. At the end of most of the runs blue trail lead out directly to Painter-Leetonia Road. We turned and started back toward the Gorge and were back near the rim at about 3.75 miles. even though we were on the rim there were few views as most were blocked by trees. After a short walk we crossed Tumbling Run and walked out to another viewpoint. We decided to wait to stop and eat lunch and took only a short break for pictures.

Almost immediately we started the walk around Horse Run. The guidebook warned of a rather steep descent and ascent but we didn't find it to be that challenging. As we came around Horse Run we were again on the rim at a viewpoint about 5 miles into the hike. We decided to move on to see if there was another lookout before stopping for lunch and a break. The trail began to descend into Burdic Run so we stopped in an evergreen grove for a break and some lunch. It was obvious that others had stopped here before as there was a small fire ring. Since we were under the tress without any sunlight, I began to get cold and encouraged the others to move on. We walked down and around Burdic Run and I began to look for the trail that would take us back to the rim. I found the map in the book confusing but decided to stay on the trail that ran along the rim of the gorge. We continued hiking for a while over relatively flat and open trail through a tunnel of pine trees. I expected to find a viewpoint out to Colton Point State Park but nonce came into view. Soon the orange blazes of the West Rim Trail turned left and that trail headed off to the west. Ahead there were blue blazes which I decided to follow. I knew that the blazes were blue at the Refuge Trail trailhead where the car was parked so I decided to follow them. Within minutes I could see an open area ahead and the glint of sun on glass. We had covered about 7.3 miles in about 4 hours.

At this pint I was still hoping to find Barbour Rock on the way out of the park even though the light was fading and it was getting colder. We still had to drive back to Bradley Wales to get the other car which we did and then headed back out the way we came. We stopped at Colton Point Park and drove the short loop through the park. We stopped at a small parking area and got another look into the gorge almost due north. Back on the main road I found the trail to Barbour Rock on the way out. We stopped and I still wanted to hike the mile out and back despite the cold and impending darkness. I was persuaded to save this for the next trip which was the correct call.

On Saturday, Nov 1st Cindy and I decided to go to Lewisburg to exchange cars with Krista. We also decided to stay over and hike both days. I found that the Comfort Inn in New Columbia was "pet friendly" and made a reservation for Saturday night. As usual, we got a later start than anticipated on Saturday and did not arrive in Lewisburg until 11:30 AM. We picked up Brad and Krista and headed for the Loyalsock Trail over Smith's Knob. We headed north on I-180 toward Montoursville and then took State Route 87 north and east. After about 10 miles the trailhead for the Loyalsock trail appeared on the right and just passed it the turn onto Little Bear Creek Road. We turned and went up the road about .75 miles and parked in a pull-off by the side of the road. We started hiking at about 1:15 PM by walking back down the road a few hundred feet and turning right onto the trail which is marked with a distinctive yellow LT on a red can bottom. The trail IMMEDIATELY became quite steep which slowed some of the group. Sheba and I waited and walked slowly to enjoy the scenery. The weather, which was supposed to be only partly cloudy, was overcast and a little "dreary".

After the initial steep beginning the trail flattens some. It wanders through alternating areas of hardwood and evergreen. The trail parallels the rim of the slope and ascends again until at about .7 miles a viewpoint opens up. This is Helen's Window and offers a view directly down the Loyalsock Valley. The creek here is incredibly straight making it look more like a canal. The viewpoint has several large flat rocks and we took a short break to get a snack and some water. A white trail ascends to this point from Route 87 for those that want a shortcut to the view. We got back on the trail and continued a gentle ascent until the trail net an old woods road at about 1.3 miles. After a short and flat walk along this road the Loyalsock Trail took us left for the ascent up Smith's Knob. At this trail junction a trail with red X's on a yellow background marked the trail we would use to return.

The ascent up Smith's Knob is short but VERY steep. It is eroded in places and the cover of damp leaves made the challenge even greater. After the steep ascent the trail continues to rise but much more gently. Near the top is a nice view to the south and east. I was initially disappointed since there was no other view from the highest point! We continued on over the Knob and started a gentle descent. Slightly to the left of the trail a viewpoint opened up and we walked over to this opening. An incredible view of the Loyalsock Valley and the Creek lay before us! There is a sheer drop from this point and no guardrail so we were very careful as we examined the views to the north and east. Some haze still hung over the mountains and the sky to the northeast was turning from gray to black. No rain was predicted but the wind began to come up and the temperature dropped. We had the option of returning the way we had come which was shorter than the loop I had planned. I was worried that we would not find the turn on the loop since I had never been in the area before, the map I had was totally inadequate and my GPS had gone "bananas". My experience with the GPS in "emergency" situations has not been good. Today the GPS would locate seven satellites one minute and none the next. The Track was all over the place. It didn't help that I had failed to load the topo maps for the area! Despite all the negatives we decided to continue since we did not want to descend the steep trail we had come up.

After starting the descent. I almost immediately wondered about the choice. The trail was steep and eroded and difficult to keep a good footing. It did switchback several times and finally leveled near the base of the knob. As we walked along I was looking for a sign for the DER lookout. Just after 2 miles a lookout opened up giving a nice view of Loyalsock Valley to the north and west. There was no sign but this had to be the lookout I was searching for! We continued to follow the trail which was partly on an old woods road before veering left into the woods. I was apprehensive about finding the red X trail but in less than .5 miles a sign sating "no horses" appeared and the red X markings were present. We turned right on this trail and it was immediately evident that it is not well traveled/ Old blowdowns lay across the trail in several places and the marking disappear in several others. After less than a mile of the trail met an woods road which is now being used for logging or some other purpose. On the left side of the road there is a wire mesh fence but no signs to indicate the purpose. At this point the sun came out and the weather cleared and the threat of rain all but disappeared.

The road turned left while the trail continued a little to the right and then straight ahead. Soon we were back at the trail junction where we had turned left to ascend Smith's Knob earlier. We retraced our steps back down to Helen's Window and paused for a moment. The valley was now illuminated by sunlight but there was still some haziness to the view. The trip back down the slope to the car went quickly. We covered a little less than 5 miles in about 3 hours returning to the car by 4:15 PM.

On Sunday, Oct 26th Cindy and I decided to go back to Sam's point after church. It had rained almost all day on Saturday and we wanted to see what Verkeerder Kill Falls looked like after the rain. He intended to continue on the escarpment to High Point and back to the parking lot. The weather in the morning was foggy and cool but the fog had cleared and the sun was out by the time we left church. We headed for Sam's Point but immediately ran into trouble driving my daughter's car. By the time we got back home it was a little late to continue with our plans. We both did some "chores" but then decided the day was too nice to waste. We put Sheba in the car and headed for Trout Pond. This hike is close and also has a small waterfall. We parked at about 2:15 and immediately headed down Russell Brook Road. By the sounds coming from the brook, there seemed to be a large volume of water going over the falls.

After crossing the bridge, we headed to the right off the trail and toward the falls. There WAS a lot of water going over the falls so we worked our way down into the stream bed to take some pictures. I took some pictures at different angles and included Cindy and Sheba in some of them. Sheba and I walked to the upper falls and went down to the stream bed again. I took several pictures of the large volume of fast-flowing water before returning back to the main trail. From the register we headed directly up to Trout Pond. The last few times we had done this hike we went the steeper way to Mud Pond first and this was a nice change. The trails were VERY WET in many places with standing and running water. The leaves were mostly off the trees and the views from the dam were "bleak"."

We hiked around Trout to the inlet and found a place to cross the inlet stream. The bridge here has not been replaced since it is not part of the SNOWMOBILE trail system! Walking up the trail from the pond was difficult due to the amount of water on the trail. A soon as we would clear one wet area, another one would appear. Some areas had over 6 inches of water pooled on the trail! We finally made it to the woods road at Mud Pond and turned left to go back toward the falls. This part of the hike is ALL downhill and went quickly. From the falls we retraced our path back up Russell Brook Road to the parking area on Morton Hill Road. We were back by 4:15 PM having covered a little over 4 miles.

On Sunday, Oct 19th Krista and Brad were visiting from Pennsylvania and wanted to do a short hike after church. Krista didn't want to hike any major mountains so we decided to go to Sam's Point. Neither of them had been to the Ice Caves so we headed there arriving just after noon. There were a LOT of cars in the parking area but we found a spot an were soon on our way. With a number of people in the area, we decided to put Sheba on her leash until we could see how many hikers were actually on the trails. From the conservation center we started up to the right on the carriageway that leads to Sam's Point. There were only a few people at the lookout so we enjoyed the view and I took some photos. The leaves were passed their peak but still pretty. As we were about to leave, three girls asked about the hiking options. They seemed to want to do a longer hike so I suggested the loop down to the falls and back along the escarpment to High Point.

We left the lookout and headed toward the road down to the Ice Caves. We did let Sheba off her leash for a while but we kept meeting groups of people many of whom had dogs. As approached the Caves there was a large group ahead of us and one behind. I wanted to wait but others decided to stay between these two groups. As we descended the trail to the Caves, the group ahead was moving slowly while the group behind wanted to go faster. All this meant that things were crowded and it was hard to enjoy the impressive rock formations. I couldn't get any pictures since we were moving quickly and there were too many people constantly in view! Finally the group ahead asked us to pass. We did meet some other people in the Caves themselves but were soon through to the end of the trail. Sheba needed a little help on the ladders but otherwise behaved very well. At the end of the caves we stopped briefly on the rocky lookout. I took pictures of the escarpment and the valleys below. I also snapped a few of the rocks we were standing on and of the people walking below in the Caves.

When we got back to the main loop road, we decided to turn right and go around Lake Maratanza to add a little length to the hike. This is easy walking since it is all on the road. I would have gone down to the falls and out to Indian Rock but Brad and Krista had limited time. The lake was very nearly full and had a beautiful deep blue color. As we circled around the other side I pointed out the berry picker's shacks and talked a little about the history of the place. I also indicated the location of the new South Gully Trail. We were back in the car before three o'clock after hiking a little more than 4 miles.

On Monday, Oct 13th I decided to go to North South Lake near Haines Falls since this had been my destination several times before. I also wanted to see some of the last fall colors and knew that there are numerous places there to get great views. Sheba and I left a little later than I had planned but were still able to park at the Schutt Road parking area at 10:00 AM. I decided to hike the trails counterclockwise and headed up Schutt Road, crossed over the main park road and got on the Rock Shelter Trail toward North Point. This trail is one of my least favorite trails since it has numerous rocks that are almost always wet and slippery. This day there was a lot of water in places and mud in others. Sheba and I walked quickly and soon arrived at the Mary's Glen Trail where we turned north toward North Point. At the Escarpment Trail we turned left again toward North Point.

The trails up to this point gain little elevation and roll up and down. The Escarpment Trail begins to rise quickly as it gains elevation toward North Point and North Mountain. Soon we were climbing the last steep parts of the trail toward the Point over large blocks of rock which required me to get some good handholds and pull myself up. Sheba, on the other hand, just jumps up and down over these rocks. We were on North Point in less than an hour and spoke to several hikers before continuing on toward Stoppel Point. North Point has several different "levels" and most people only make it to the first one. This is a shame since the view is good from this lower lookout but is GREAT from the upper one! We stopped each time and, although, it was overcast, I got some nice pictures of the lakes and the fall leaf colors.

After North Point the trail continues over North Mountain toward Stoppel Point. Most of this part has no view and is not very exciting. The final approach to Stoppel Point has several steep but short climbs. We made Stoppel Point in less than two hours but I was disappointed to find that the clouds, fog and haze had closed in and the views were mostly blocked. We stopped for a snack and a drink. I did take some pictures before turning around and starting back down. I knew that if the conditions did not change, the hike would be good exercise but yield few pictures. On the way down through North Mountain and North Point we stopped briefly to assess the lighting conditions. Nothing much had changed from the time we went up so I took only a few more pictures before starting down off North Point.

At the trail junction we continued ahead on the Escarpment Trail which is what I had intended. The descent can be steep at times and we lost a lot of elevation from North Point down to Newman's Ledge. Many of the points of interest at North South Lake are labeled with a sign to identify them. I took pictures from the Ledge and remembered the story about a hiker rappelling off the ledge with a rope about 20 feet too short! Back on the trail we headed for Lookout Point and Sunset Rock taking the side trail to get there. At this point there were quite a few people along the way. The views from here were good as the weather had lifted somewhat. I took several pictures from each location and snapped some of just the gorgeous leaf colors. We then went back to the main trail and headed toward Artist Rock. Artist Rock is a popular viewpoint and overlook but I don't think it is the nicest! We took some pictures here and then moved on down the trail toward the beach at the east end of South lake. We walked through the parking lot and up the road to the site of the Catskill Mountain House.

Whenever I stand on the former site of the Catskill Mountain House, I can imagine the views that greeted visitors each morning as they awoke. Many arrived by the cog railway from Palenville and others came by carriage. The site today still offers panoramic views of the Hudson River directly east and to the south and north. This day the views were a little limited by the haze hanging over the river. We stopped to get a drink and I gave Sheba a few bones as I took pictures. There were several brilliant trees just below the cliff edge and I snapped some photos of them. When we were done we walked across the filed and back to the Escarpment Trail to continue the hike. I was beginning to get tired and my feet were hurting some.

The trail ascends upward over some rocky and barren areas as it regains elevation to get to Boulder and Split Rocks. We hiked along and soon arrived at Boulder Rock. The views from here were much the same as from the other lookouts. I took some pictures before departing and walking to Split Rock. Split Rock is an impressive area where some of the bedrock has separated from the main structures. I didn't stop to take pictures as the hour was late and these formations do not change. The trail took us back up to the main Escarpment Trail and we continued along relatively flat terrain to a point near the site of the Kaaterskill House. here we turned left and descended for less than a mile to the area where the Escarpment Trail turns abruptly to the right. A horse trail goes left and we followed it toward the Palenville Lookout.

The horse trail is wide and descends slightly as the lookout is well below the main trail. I had only been there once with Cindy and was a little unsure of the route. The horse trails do not have many signs. We hiked for quite a while and in that time took one turn to the right when the trail branched. I was beginning to wonder if I had taken a wrong turn but soon the trail made a 180 degree turn to the right and began a steep descent. The trail here is eroded with loose dirt and rocks and it was also covered by a layer of leaves. I slipped and slid my way to the bottom. In a short distance, after crossing over several streams, the trail turns right or continues straight ahead. We turned right and headed toward the lookout as the scenery became more familiar to me. This hike was already a long one and this part was starting to drag. My feet were hurting and I decided to do something about it as soon as we reached the lookout.

Finally, we walked through a clearing and then down the path to the lookout where a group was already present. We talked briefly. I began to take pictures as this is a classic view and the light was good. The village of Palenville is spread out below . Directly across from the lookout is Kaaterskill High Peak and Round Top. To the right are some views up Kaaterskill Clove. I sat down on the stone chairs and took off my shoes and socks. I applied some Spenco Blister material and put on a fresh pair of socks. Shortly after this we were on our way and my feet did feel better. I was now concerned about getting back to the car before dark. Several shortcuts were possible but I decided to simply walk faster.

We hurried back up the horse trail which was a challenge for my tired legs. Back on the main trail we continued the fast pace stopping only briefly at Inspiration Point and Sunset Rock. The descent to the Layman Memorial was more difficult than I remembered as was the ascent on the other side! These areas are very rocky and hard to walk down and up. Soon we were on the familiar portion of the trail that comes up from Kaaterskill Falls and joins the Schutt Road Trail that leads back to the parking area. Even this part of the trail seemed longer. I kept watching the GPS as we approached the parking area and we finally arrived at 5:30 PM. A total of 15 miles in 7.5 hours. We had seen ALL there is to see at North South Lake and I had some good pictures to show for it!

On Sunday, Oct 12th I was still looking for the best autumn color I could find and thought we might hike at North South Lake. After church, we headed in that direction but I realized that the trip was long and we had a limited amount of time. I asked my wife what she wanted to do and mentioned that Wittenberg might be nice. Cindy said that would be a good idea since she had never hiked this peak. Wittenberg has one of the nicest views in the Catskills and I was sure she would not be disappointed. The only problem is that it is a 3500 and the round trip is close to 8 miles! We parked at the Woodland Valley campsites, paid our fee and were hiking by just after noon. The first part of this hike crosses a creek and them proceeds up a steep slope for about .5 miles to the trail register. From here the trail continues but is less steep. It immediately passes through evergreen stands and around and over rocks both large and small. It then levels some and wends its way through some more evergreens and then hardwoods as it joins a woods road.

This road ascends very gently and then the trail makes an abrupt turn to the left. Several times along the way we passed people coming down off the summit AND groups headed up. We followed the trail on a steeper ascent now over and through some rocks until it leveled out some. The next part of the trail is the part I find most annoying. The trail skirts Wittenberg to get to the gentler slope on the other side. In doing so the trail rolls up and DOWN and loses some elevation. Eventually the trail branches left to Terrace Mountain. We turned right onto another old woods road to start the actual climb up Wittenberg. The trail switches back and forth and climbs several rather steep spots through rock ledges and outcroppings. The final stretch has many of these small obstacles before a long stretch of rocks that mark the final ascent. When we passed the 3500 foot sign I knew we were getting near the top. As soon as I could see we were almost at the summit, I let Cindy lead. As we broke out onto the broad rock outcropping that marks the summit, I could see Cindy was impressed

Quite a few people were gathered at the summit and this was not surprising. The weather was almost perfect with a slight breeze blowing. There were only a few clouds in the sky and there was almost no haze over the Ashokan. The autumn colors were beautiful and I started to take pictures. I snapped photographs of the reservoir and surrounding mountains at varying degrees of magnification. It was getting late since it had taken us about 2.5 hours to climb to the top. We gave the dog a snack and we got a drink before starting back. Several groups were debating whether to continue on to make a loop, to head back or camp. I discussed their options with them and then we headed down.

Down went MUCH faster than up although the descent was taxing on the joints especially the knees. There are also some places where you have to take care and slow down. We again passed groups also on the descent and a few still coming up. The trip down was quick and we made it in under two hours. The 8 hour, difficult hike had taken us about 4.5 hours including time for pictures. The view and the fall leaf colors were the bonus we were looking for.

On Thursday, Oct 9th I wanted to hike the Blacks in the northern Catskills. I needed them for October and I like the three-for-one hike. An early morning ambulance call cut two hours off my day. When I returned, I headed for the Devil's Path intending to hike Sugarloaf and Plateau. As I got closer, I decided I was more interested in hiking to Kaaterskill Falls. I had never hiked there since it is impossible to park on weekends since it is a very popular destination. When I pulled into the parking area, there were less than 10 cars. Sheba and I got out of the car and started down Route 23A toward the trailhead. This is the MOST DANGEROUS part of the hike since the road is narrow and there is only the shoulder to walk on. As we approached the trailhead. I took some pictures of the stone bridgework and then hurried to the safety of the trail.

The water level was low as we stopped just after the bridge to take in the first falls. This is actually Bastion Falls NOT Kaaterskill Falls. I took many pictures from different angles before going back to the trail and continuing up the creek. We stopped several more times to take pictures and walked out into the stream bed a the top of the falls. The trail is eroded in many places from the heavy traffic making some hiking difficult. We were finally at the end of the trail near the base of the lower falls. We walked out and I was really amazed at what I saw. No description can truly do this scene justice. Even with the low water level, the sight is breathtaking. The total drop is over 200 feet with the lower falls being shorter but with a greater volume. Both parts of the falls are visible from the base of the lower falls. The water falling over the upper cascade seems to dissolve into a mist as it is blown by the wind. I took pictures from different angles and then walked along the stream bed to a point as near the pool at the bottom of the lower falls as possible.

Although the trail ends at the lower falls, a path continues upward and Sheba and I began to scramble upward. We eventually reached a horizontal path that ran both left and right. We turned left to go toward the falls. Soon we were at the area in between the two falls. Here there is a wide open amphitheater as the water falls from the upper cascade to the rocks and a pool below. As the water gathers it then drains over the lower falls. I wanted to walk down into this area but the rocks were covered with water and several tries discouraged me from any further attempts. I was satisfied to snap many photographs from as many angles as I could. Sheba and I walked back to the area we had ascended to and continued on until another path led upward toward the top of the falls. This path is also steep and heavily eroded but we soon were at the top of the upper falls. The view from the top is truly breathtaking and dizzying. I walked along the edge to get some pictures of the falls. I also walked to the center of the stream bed to take some shots down the stream and out over the falls. It seemed to me that the view from the other side might be better but I could not find a place to safely cross.

I decided to walk upstream to the road into North South Lake and then down the road to the Laurel House Road. I knew this would give me access to the other side of the falls. I then intended to walk back out to the road and walk the road back to the car. This would be a long walk I knew but would avoid trying to negotiate the steep path we had used to get to the top of the falls. From the top of the falls we walked along the stream bed until we found an old woods road which we followed. This road joins the trail that leads to the Schutt Road parking area. We walked up Schutt Road to the main road and turned left, walked the main road until we found Laurel House Road and then turned left. This road dead ends at a small parking area where another woods road leads to some paths near the top of the falls. Eventually we were at the top of the falls. The view WAS much better down Kaaterskill Clove. I took pictures and then we walked along the rim of the gorge on an informal path.

The path began to lead downward and I got the idea that we would follow it until we could get to the area between the falls. The path was steep in places and not always easy to follow. By the time We reached the creek, I realized that we had lost too much elevation and were below the base of the lower falls. I didn't feel like climbing back up and looked for a place to cross back to the other side. It seemed pointless to go all the way back up to the road and soon Sheba found a relatively safe way across the creek. We were able to cross and find the trail we had earlier hiked up. We walked down the trail back to Route 23A and carefully made our way back to the car. We had spent several hours walking about 3.5 miles but the sights made it well worth the trip

On Sunday, Oct 5th I decided to go looking for some "fall color". Around Livingston Manor the leaves were changing but the colors were muted and not very brilliant. I thought maybe going a little further north might mean a little more color. I also wanted to "bag" a peak that I had not hiked in October. I couldn't start until after church so I decided to go to panther which is less than an hour from my house. The area around Giant Ledge and Panther is pretty accessible and usually has some nice views of the valleys below and the mountains in the distance. As I drove along Route 47 passed Frost Valley the sky seemed a little cloudy and I worried that clouds or a haze might obscure the views that I wanted. The parking area for Giant Ledge was beginning to fill when we arrived just after noon. Sheba and I were out and on the trail by 12:15 PM.

We had not hiked for several days so both the dog and I were ready to go. After signing the trail register, we took off at a rather accelerated pace! The trail was damp in some places and wet with running water in others. A cover of falling leaves made the footing even more precarious. As we worked our way up through the rocky ascents, we passed several groups coming back down the trail and overtook a couple headed up. We made the trail junction with the trail up to Giant Ledge in only 13 minutes! This is the first time I had gotten a side stitch while hiking. We turned right and continued the pace over the relatively flat part at the beginning of the trail. Our sped slowed somewhat as we began the climb to Giant Ledge but was still quick. We continued to meet groups going in both directions. In less than 40 minutes we were at the short spur trail that leads to the first lookout.

As we walked out onto the lookout several other people were present enjoying the view. The colors were more than I had hoped for! There was no haze to hide the wonderful display. The clouds cast a few shadows on the valley and hills but added interesting patterns to the scene. The Burroughs Range was to the right and Panther could be seen to the left. I snapped MANY pictures from different angles as the light kept changing. Sheba and I left this lookout and stopped at least three more times. Each viewpoint had several people all of whom commented that Sheba was beautiful and moved so that I could get the best pictures. These people seemed content to enjoy the view from the Ledges but I wanted to move on to Panther and Sheba seemed willing. The distance to Panther is not very great and went quickly. We descended into the Col and then hurried up Panther. There were a few very wet spots along the way. As we finished ascending the steepest part, I noticed a short trail to the right that looked like it led to a lookout. We walked out this trail and the view was spectacular. Not only was the valley below laid out before us but the entire Burroughs Range was visible without any obstructions. I took pictures before we went back to the main trail.

We continued on toward the summit and soon reached the flatter portion of the trail. As we passed by the big rock just before the summit, I noted that several people were enjoying the view from there. I had never found that view any better than from the summit, so Sheba and I continued on. We stopped at the summit for a snack and a drink and I took a few photos. As the trees grow up, the views from this lookout are becoming more limited. We started back but stopped at the rock outcropping to talk to the people. The three people present had come up from Fox Hollow. When I climbed to the top of the rock, I was surprised at how good the views were. Someone had cut down some of the trees and opened up a GREAT view! I have mixed feelings about this but I guess I believe that limited trimming is a good thing. I talked to the others for a while and one asked "Are you Ralph?" I admitted that I was and they said that they had been on my website. They complimented the content which always makes me feel good. After taking pictures, Sheba and I headed back to the Ledges. We met no other hikers on to way to Panther or on the return trip.

On the way back Sheba and I again stepped up the pace. We stopped for only a short time at Giant Ledge. I took a few more pictures since the light had changed and then we were off. Different groups of people were now enjoying the view and we met quite a few people still hiking up to the Ledges. Sheba and I almost ran down the trail to the junction and then back to the parking area. Despite stopping to take pictures AND talk we were back by 3:15 PM. We had covered the 6 miles in under 3 hours hiking time.

On Tuesday, Sept 30th I hiked Peekamoose and Table in the morning and decided to explore Buttermilk Falls in the afternoon. I had read Russell Dunn's Catskill Region Waterfall Guide to pinpoint the location of the falls. This falls is the most popular of the six or seven falls along the Peekamoose Road. I had always though the falls were closer to the trailhead and on the opposite side of the road. In fact, the parking area is on the same side as the trailhead but almost exactly a mile up the road. A short trail leads to the base of the falls. Sheba and I hiked to the falls and I took a LOT of pictures from the base of the falls. I tried holding the camera horizontally and vertically and experimented with different shutter speeds. We were able to get right up to the base of the falls and see the little pool formed as the water cascades about 40 feet down the rocks. At this point we started to return to the car but I decided to climb to the top of the falls to get a different perspective.

The climb to the top of the falls is STEEP and the "trail" is very eroded. At the top of the climb a trail winds passed the top of the falls along the stream. Just above the main falls several other cascades carry the water over the rocks. I am sure these would be more impressive after some rain! On the way back, we worked our way along the stream toward the top of the falls. The gorge cut by this stream is very impressive the closer you get to the falls. I stopped at the top of the falls to take some pictures almost straight down. A convenient tree allowed me to hold on while leaning out over the falls. Looking at the pictures afterward made me dizzy. On the way back to the car I tried to find an easier way down but was not completely successful.

On Tuesday, Sept 30th I wanted to end the summer season and the month of September by climbing a couple of 35's. School was closed for the Jewish New Year. The skies were cloudy and a heavy blanket of fog and haze hung over everything was Sheba and I left Livingston Manor and headed toward Grahamsville. I intended to get a two-for-one by hiking Peekamoose and then Table. This is an easy double which I had done earlier in the summer from the Denning trailhead. This time I hoped the skies would clear as predicted since there are some nice views from both mountains. Afterward I thought I might visit one or more of the half dozen waterfalls that can be found along the Peekamoose Road. I parked just after 9:00 AM and we immediately got on the trail. The temperature was cool and I was wearing and Icebreaker long sleeved wool shirt. I had packet a short sleeved version and well as a light jacket and by Marmot Precip. This time of year can throw a lot of different conditions at you in a short time particularly on the peaks.

The first part of the hike is steep at first and then levels out. It follows and old woods road for about .8 miles before the trail leaves to the right as the road bears right. From this point on the trail alternates between relatively flat areas with steeper sections that ascend through rocky outcrops. This happens three or four times before the 3500 foot sign. One of these rocky areas has a precariously perched glacial erratic named Reconnoiter Rock. This rock balances on an outcrop and looks like it could not possibly stay where it is. The skies remained overcast and every viewpoint revealed mostly fog and clouds with only brief glimpses of the countryside. I had decided to push on to the top of Table before getting the camera out to take any pictures.

Soon we were at the 3500 foot sign and continued to press up the last steep section to the summit ridge of Peekamoose. The final climb is steep in areas and longer than I remembered. The viewpoints near the top were completely blocked by the fog and haze. Sheba and I continued across the flat ridge and finally reached the boulder that marks the top of Peekamoose. We continued on down the short but steep descent into the Col between the two peaks. Ascending to the Table summit ridge is not quite as steep but longer. Once on the ridge there is a long walk to the highest point on the mountain. My GPS shows the summit in a spot which is obviously LOWER than the actual peak but we did continue down the other side of Table just a short distance. A short spur trail leads off the main trail to the left to a small lookout with good views. The fog was beginning to clear as we arrived and we stopped for a drink. By the time We had a drink and I got the camera out, the fog was beginning to roll back in! I did get what turned out to be some good pictures before turning around for the return trip.

On the way back I took quite a few pictures along the trail. We stopped briefly at the top of Peekamoose and took a few pictures. There aren't any real viewpoint near the summit so we walked quickly across the summit ridge to the lookouts just before the descent. These viewpoints were still very foggy but I took some shots anyway. On the descent we met a couple from New Paltz hiking up the trail. We talked for a minute lamenting the limited views before continuing. We stopped at Reconnoiter Rock and I took a few pictures of the rock and of Sheba. From here we increased our pace almost jogging down the trail at times. When we turned onto the woods road again, we met another person hiking up the trail. He said he was trying to get in shape for hunting season. From his labored breathing after less than a mile of hiking I thought this was a good idea. It also reminded me that the woods become less inviting when hunters are present. We were back at the car before 1:30 PM covering almost 9 miles in a little over 4 hours.

On Sunday, Sept 28th the weather looked VERY questionable for the afternoon. Cindy and I decided to take Sheba and try a short hike at Alder Lake. The leaves were turning and Alder Lake usually showcases this seasonal change very well. We drove up Alder Creek Road and then turned into the access road to Alder Lake. The road is VERY rough and rutted! This area is so popular that I wish the DEC would do some maintenance to keep the road passable. We parked at just after 12:30 PM with only a few other cars in the lot. Sheba was crazed since she had not been out since last Sunday. We walked toward the lake to see what colors we could see. The leaves were the best I have seen around with some areas brighter than others.

We headed left to walk around the lake and were treated to some even more colorful views. The sky was still dark and it was very warm and humid but no rain was falling. There was ample evidence that the bears had been feasting on berries in preparation for hibernation. As we neared the other end of the lake we decided to walk toward the beaver meadows on the Millbrook Ridge Trail. The nettles which are usually prevalent on the trail were almost gone even where the trail was wet. Most of the trail was damp making the footing on the rocks and roots difficult. Along the way we met four people hiking in the opposite direction. Two carried rifles reminding me that small game season was open and that big game season will soon follow. The hike has some elevation gain but not too much and we were making good time when we arrived at the first beaver meadow. After this there is a slight climb and a short walk to the lean-to and the two main beaver meadows.

As we climbed the hill and headed toward the lean-to, a few drops of rain began to fall. Normally, I would have continued to our destination but this day I decided to be sensible. We turned around and started the hike back as the rain started to fall a little more heavily. We were under the leafy canopy and protected from some of the rain but what I thought was going to be a passing showers intensified. When we reached the lake, we both stopped and slipped on our Marmot Precip jackets. Normally, I resist putting on rain gear since NONE of it really breathes adequately but this rain was coming down pretty hard. We continued around the lake and back to the parking are in a steady rain. The hike took just about 2 hours for 4 miles and we were wet but it was much better than no hike at all.

Summer 2008

On Sunday, Sept 21st I wanted to get away from Livingston Manor and hike a 35 I had not done in September. I decided to try Westkill from Diamond Notch just to see what it was like. I had never hiked in from this trailhead. Sheba and I got a late start and the skies were still cloudy and the valley hazy when we left. A few cars were parked at both Slide and Panther as we headed for Route 28 and then Rt 214 toward Hunter. I turned left in Lainsville and headed up the road looking for the parking area. Near the end of the road I did not see a parking area but I did see a lot of "No Parking" signs placed by local residents. Where the road dead ends I saw a "troad" (not a trail but not a road) but decided that the parking area could NOT be on this since it was so narrow and rutted. There was also no sign indicating a trailhead! (I later found out that the parking area IS further up this road from a hiker I met later on Westkill. I gave up and headed for the Spruceton Road where I knew I could find my way.

Sheba and I arrived at the Spruceton lot at about 10:40 and got ready to hike. I had put on a long sleeved Icebreaker shirt but decided to switch into a Mountain Hardwear Wicked T short sleeve and carry the warmer shirt. I also ditched the hat, gloves and light jacket since the temperature had climbed from the 40's into the mid-60's! I did keep my Marmot Precip since showers were in the forecast. There were quite a few cars in the parking lot and when I signed in I noticed one group of 17 lead by Dave and Carol White were doing the Hunter loop. Others were signed in for Westkill. I stopped several times along the way to take pictures of the Westkill. The water was low but the light seemed right! We stopped at Diamond Notch Falls to take some pictures. After crossing the bridge we turned right to start the climb. I remembered how this hike usually surprises me with its length and difficulty. Sheba and I kept up a good pace pausing only briefly for pictures and a drink.

The trail ascends rather steeply at times but the first part was rather dry and the nettles were beginning to recede. A few large deadfalls lay across the path but were easily avoided. Eventually the trail begins to level before climbing again. Along the way we caught up to and passed a group of four. We chatted for a moment before pushing on. The trail began to level and that's when the muddy areas appeared. The could be avoided but Sheba didn't bother! We kept ascending until the "cave" where we stopped for some pictures. After that, we passed the 3500 foot sign and continued on. The trail descended slightly to a lower point before the final climb up to the Buck Ridge lookouts. We continued on for about .1 miles to the summit which is marked with a sign and a rather impressive stone cache. When we returned to the lookouts, we got a drink and a snack since it was just after noon. The views were still hazy but were clearing some as the sun came out. I took pictures from both sides of the lookout. Some of the cloud formations were interesting.

I decided to put away the camera and make a quick descent down the mountain and back to the car. Sheba seemed to be willing and we started down at a fast pace. We again passed the group of four still working their way to the top. We met two more groups of two people on their ascent. On the way back from Diamond Notch Falls we met several other groups headed in the opposite direction. I signed us out at the register and we were back at the car a little after 2:00 PM covering the 6 miles in about 3.5 hours.

On Friday, Sept 19th I wanted to get in a short hike after school so I came home, got my pack and Sheba and headed for Hodge and Frick Ponds. The leaves were just beginning to turn but had not really begun to show their colors. We parked at the trailhead at 3:00 PM and got going right away. I wanted to do a rather long loop but be back in time to head to The Lazy Beagle for dinner. Teaching and coaching cross country limited the amount of hiking I can do. The weather was perfect and the temperature was crisp; maybe even a little too crisp! The skies were clear and blue with only a few wispy clouds. Sheba and I made Frick Pond in around 10 minutes and then headed right to Times Square. At Times Square we turned right to take the Big Rock Trail. As long as my hiking time is limited, I wanted to take the steeper route to Hodge Pond.

Keeping a quick pace Sheba and I got to the top of the climb at the junction with the Flynn Trail in about 40 minutes. We turned left and headed for Hodge Pond and arrived in less than an hour. The pond was pretty as usual but the leaves had not changed enough to add any color. I took pictures while Sheba got a drink. At this point I decided to go back to the Flynn Trail and head toward Junkyard Junction. I sometimes circle around the back of the pond but I wanted to be back by 5:00 PM or just after! Sheba and I headed out on the trail which had some damp and muddy places in spots. At Junkyard we turned right on the Quick Lake Trail which is slightly shorter than the Logger's Loop. As we headed down this trail I noticed that the air was getting cooler. I debated putting on the long-sleeved top I had brought but decided to just keep hiking. I did make a mental note to pack a light hat and gloves next time.

The Quick Lake Trail part seemed long and very uneventful. Several small streams were nearly dry. Soon we were at the bridge over the outlet of Frick Pond. I have said before that this is one of the nicest pictures in the Catskills and is only a little more than half a mile from the parking area. A round trip walk of a little over a mile yields a great view. This area is even nicer when the leaves change and geese land on the pond. I took some pictures before we headed back to the car. We made the 6 plus mile hike in just over 2 hours arriving back at the parking area at 5:15 PM.

On Saturday, Sept 13th Karl and Kathleen were up from Virginia for Cindy's birthday. Kathleen went to ride with here mother so Karl, Cindy and I decided to take a short hike. I was fighting off a cold that had come in suddenly but thought an easy hike might improve my spirits. We took Sheba and Maggie, Karl and Kathleen's chow mix puppy. Sheba isn't too fond of other dogs but is better when out in the open spaces with them. We parked at the top of Russell Brook Road to begin the hike at about 10:00 AM. The road was dry and dusty and, despite the sound of running water, the brook was low. We made our way to the lower parking area, crossed the brook and signed in at the register. We decided to do the steeper trail to Mud Pond first and turned left.

The number of cars at the parking area suggested that there might be campers at the fire circle near the brook but nobody was there. We talked as we climbed the long hill to Mud Pond. Maggie ran ahead and investigated the sides of the trail. Sheba was in full "herding" mode since there was more than one of us! At the trail junction we turned right and headed over the ridge toward Trout Pond. The walk went quickly as we talked and soon we were over the top and descending the other side toward the pond. As we neared the pond, we heard voices and found that the campers were at the fire circle near the outlet of the pond. They had forsaken both lean-tos to use tents. I took some pictures from the inlet and noted the low water level in the brook and the lake.

We walked quickly passed the campers who had several young children making a lot of noise. Soon we were passed them and headed toward the outlet. The water level was low despite the effort of the beavers to raise the level with a dam. The walk back to the falls went quickly. We did not visit the falls as we wanted to get home and the low water meant the falls were not at their best. We walked back up Russell Brook Road and arrived at the car just passed noon. The hike of a little over 4 miles had taken just over 2 hours.

On Sunday, Sep 7th I was ready to hike after the first week of classes and the Hurricane Hannah watch. The remnants of the hurricane resulted only in a gentle soaking rain on Saturday which replenished the groundwater but did not increases stream levels much. I had not been out since the previous Monday and Sheba and I were both ready to go. I decided to "bag" as many peaks as I could in this one day and chose to travel to the Blackhead range to hike the three peaks there. The weather prediction was for the mid to high 70's but it was cool enough in the morning to make me done a light OR Sequence long sleeve top. As I drove to Hunter there were several places where tress were down alongside or in the road. We arrived at the Big Hollow parking area at about 9:30 AM ready to hike. The weather was still cool so I left the long sleeved top on. Another hiker started out before us but soon returned to the lot with a perplexed look. He was headed for the Blacks but the signs were confusing him. It is true that the sign at the beginning of the trail mentions Acra Point and even Windham but does not list ANY of the Blacks as a destination. I assured him he was headed in the right direction and we headed off together.

As we hiked I discovered that he was also a science teacher and taught in the Hudson school district near Albany. We both were headed for Lockwood Gap where he indicated he would probably head for Blackhead and go on to Acra Point. We set a FAST pace probably trying to compete a little although we was 10 years younger. Despite the rain the day before the trail was not very wet although many of the rocks were damp enough to be slippery! We talked a little about teaching, ticks and snakebites. Soon we were at the switchbacks with a clear view of Blackhead. This view doesn't show up in pictures well but it always impresses me how Blackhead seems to loom over the hiker. Within 50 minutes we were at Lockwood Gap. Along the way a young man passed us and we rejoined him at the Gap. He and his father were from New Jersey and had gotten up at 5:00 AM to come hiker in the Catskills. They had hiked the mountains before in various seasons and I was impressed since many young people would not awake that early "just" to hike. My hiking companion and I split as Sheba and I headed for Black Dome and Thomas Cole. Before starting up the mountain, I changed into a short sleeve top since I was completely soaked from the effort I had put into hiking.

We slowed our pace a little but still kept it quick. I had decided to refrain from taking pictures until the turn around point on Cole. The temperature was still cool and the views were as clear as I have ever seen perhaps due to the stiff breeze. We summited Black Dome in about 20 minutes and headed for Cole. The climb up Black Dome is always fun since there are several opportunities to scramble over rocks and use roots to pull yourself up to the next level. The walk from Black Dome to Cole is uneventful. Along the way a few views of Cole can be glimpsed but nothing that photographs well. It is also obvious that the hike is along a narrow ridge of land between the two mountains that falls away on either side. There is a minimal elevation drop between the two peaks but there are several interesting scrambles. Within 30 minutes we were passed the highest point on Cole and turned around to head back to Black Dome. I got the camera out and snapped a few pictures on the return trip including a view of Black Dome.

On the summit of Black Dome Sheba and I stopped at the rock ledge that offers a wonderful lookout to the south. This day the haze was nearly absent and the peaks of the Devil's Path clearly visible. I took a number of pictures of the peaks and the valleys below before going back to the main trail. On the way back to Lockwood Gap we stopped before the descent to take pictures of Blackhead and the Big Hollow Valley from another viewpoint. The blue sky with a few white clouds contrasted beautifully with the dark greens of the evergreen trees. On the way down to the Gap I snapped some pictures of the rock scrambles before putting the camera back in the pack anticipating the climb up Blackhead. The hike up Blackhead is quite different than the one up Black Dome. It is slightly less steep in most areas and there are few rock scrambles. There are some open rock faces that offer great views and I knew I would take advantage of these on the way back. We did meet two young women hiking down Blackheads and said hello as we passed.

I reread my original trail description of Blackhead. I was obviously impressed by the hike over the rock faces which now seems rather routine. After a short distance of about .25 miles the trail leveled and we followed it all the way to the trail junction near a rock outcrop that marks the summit of Blackhead. The weather was warmer now but still cool and the sky remained exceptionally clear. Sheba and I turned around an began the hike back with me taking a few photos of the trail along the way. I heard the roar of airplane engines and looked up to see two four-engine turboprop aircraft flying in formation. I assumed they were military and I hurried to get out from under the trees to take a picture. I found that...airplanes fly a LOT faster than I can walk! Soon we were back on the exposed rocks that offer excellent views from Blackhead back to Black Dome and into the Black Dome Valley. These views are to the east and north and south. I took MANY pictures of Black Dome including some close-ups of exposed rock that marked my previous position less than an hour ago.

As we dropped down to the other rock ledges new angles an views became available for more pictures. As I was taking these shots, the airplanes returned apparently circling the area. I took several pictures but was unable to make out their markings or type of aircraft. Sheba and I continued our descent to Lockwood Gap which went quickly despite some wet areas on the trail. We turned right to continue on the trail to the parking area. The descent is NOT fun! Like many of the mountains the trail is littered with loose rocks that slip and side and tend to turn ankles. Near the end of the return trip the trail is flat and passes over two bridges. The last part of the trail has ROCKS. There are large rocks and small rocks but there are always rocks. You can try to step on them or over them or between them or try to find a trail around them. We did meet several groups starting their climb. It always amazes me what some people wear to climb and that they feel a small water bottle is enough equipment! Sheba and I were back at the parking area by 2:00 PM. We completed the 7 miles in about 4.5 hours.

On Monday, September 1st I knew I had one last day to hike before the start of school. Teaching classes and coaching cross country SERIOUSLY cut into my hiking time. I looked at my grid and found That I had not hiked the Blacks or Indian Head and Twin on the Devil's Path. I decided to try the Devil's Path in the morning and see if I had anything left for another hike in the afternoon. Sheba and I got an early start and were at the parking area on Prediger Road by just after 9:00 AM. There were already several cars parked. I had decided to hike the quickest route which is up to Jimmy Dolan Notch, west to "bag" the two peaks of Twin and then back through the notch to the east to get Indian Head. After that, all that remains is to go back to the Notch, turn right and head back to the car. The walk up to Jimmy Dolan Notch is not very difficult but it always seems longer than I anticipate. At the Notch we turned right to head up to Twin.

The hike up to Twin has several interesting but short rock scrambles which Sheba handles without a problem. We stopped briefly at the lookout on the east peak of Twin where there was a great view but quiet a bit of haze. I thought about not doing the higher west peak but quickly dismissed that idea. I decided to take pictures on the way back and we got back on the Devil's Path to the west peak of Twin. The trail descends into a Col between the two peaks before climbing to the higher peak. We arrived at the summit and got a drink and a snack. I began to take pictures of Sugarloaf and the mountains beyond. I heard voices coming from the trail up from Pecoy Notch just as we were getting ready to leave. Two hikers arrived and we talked for a minute. They had started early in the morning on Spruceton Road and had hiked from the Spruceton Road trail head over the Devil's Path. So far they had climbed Plateau, Sugarloaf and Twin. They still looked fresh and were headed for Indian Head. I wished them luck and returned to the east peak.

The views from the east peak are usually good and can be spectacular. The haze this day hung on the mountains and in the valleys but the view was still impressive. I took some pictures before we returned to the Devil's Path to Indian Head. By this time I was beginning to feel more tired than I had anticipated. Once again I reminded myself that 11 miles of hiking at Sam's Point is NOT the same as hiking the 3500's. When we arrived at the Notch we immediately began the climb up Indian Head. This walk has several steep areas and some rock scrambles to keep things interesting. There is even one small scramble near the summit which is marked by a large rock. Once at the highest point we turned around and started back down the trail to the Notch. We met a few hikers performing trail maintenance and quickly arrived back at the Notch. On the way down we met some more hikers going down and spoke to them briefly before bypassing them. Several times I remembered our winter hike through over 4 feet of snow! We were back at the trail head around 1:00 PM. I decided that I had had enough for one day and that 6 miles was sufficient. We returned home and I prepared for the beginning of my 35th year as a teacher.

On Saturday, Aug 30th Karl was up from Virginia for the Labor Day weekend. We decided to try to fit a short hike close to home in between family commitments. We chose Balsam Lake Mountain since it is close to home, short and very familiar to us. We drove up the Beaverkill Road under somewhat overcast skies with the prediction for possible thunderstorms. We arrived just after 10:30 AM to find no cars in the lot. I was surprised that no one was manning the tower for the long weekend but there didn't seem to be a real demand! We hiked and talked with Sheba staying close to Karl until we got to the turnoff up the steeper side of the mountain. We turned left and began the climb.

This climb is not very difficult but we kept up a pace that made up for it! We only stopped briefly along the way and once when we got to the spring. When we hit the summit plateau, we quickly walked the remaining distance to the tower. Non one was there and we were free to climb to the top to get a look around. As I climbed I could see that fog and haze hung over the mountains and valleys near and far. We didn't stay long and were soon descending the other side of the mountain. On the Dry Brook trail we kept up the pace with Karl lingering several times to pick and eat the plentiful blackberries. We were back at the parking lot by 12:15 PM having completed the 4 miles hike. A few cars in the parking lot indicated others were probably ascending as we had earlier.

On Thursday, Aug 28th I decided that I wanted to return to Sam's Point since there are so many different choices. I thought we might hike to Indian Rock and then out the High Point Carriageway and back on the Berrypickers' Trail. We could then walk around Lake Maratanza and visit the Ice Caves and Sam's Point or go back to the car directly. The weather was a little overcast and cooler than it had been when we arrived at the parking area at 11:50 AM. There were few cars in the parking lot as we headed to the left on the Sam's Point Loop Road. The wide, flat road rises gently and was a real contrast to the Breakneck Ridge Trail from the day before. We kept up a rapid pace as we walked by the Berrypickers' shacks and the start of the new South Gully Trail. No one else appeared to be hiking as we walked down the road and passed the various radio and TV towers.

After 1.1 miles we turned left onto the High Point Carriageway and hiked the remaining .4 miles to the Indian Rock Trail. We turned left onto this trail to walk to Indian Rock. I had nor been there in some time and the first thing I noticed was how dry the often swampy area was. The board walk that makes up much of the trail was unnecessary! The trail appears to end at a rock lookout which is actually only about half way to Indian Rock. The views from here were nice despite the haze on the surrounding hills and the distant mountains. We hiked the rest of the way out to Indian Rock. I took more pictures of the countryside and of the rock itself before heading back to the High Point Carriageway. I stopped to give Sheba and drink and to add up the mileage. The NYNJTC maps do NOT have all of the trails marked but the map from the Conservation Center is accurate. The hike I had planned would be well over 9 miles depending on the exact route and the accuracy of the map's mileages!

Sheba and I quickly hiked the 1 mile to the junction with the High Point Trail but stayed on the carriageway. We did meet two men on the carriageway and one was talking on his cell phone. The other carried a measuring tape and a log book. They appeared to be involved in some kind of work for the Preserve. The carriageway is little used in this area and is narrow at its beginning. The rocks that once made up the base are fully exposed and make walking difficult. Soon the path widens and begins to descend toward the lowest point on the hike. This goes on for about 1 mile until the junction with the Smiley Carriageway. Everything was so dry I was surprised to find the swampy area on the carriageway wetter than ever! Sheba and I carefully worked our way around this area but not without some work. Further on the path is very indefinite and, of course, is not marked. I was glad I had been on the trail before since it is easy to lose your way.

We turned right at the Smiley carriageway and began the . 6 miles of ascent to the Berrypickers' Path. The carriageway turns almost due east just as it passes Napanoch Point. We didn't stop since the hike would already be long. At the Berrypickers' Path we turned right to head southwest back toward the site of the former lookout tower. Sheba knew where we were going and I only had to follow her lead. The trail is marked but not well at times but Sheba doesn't care! This trail always seems long as it winds its way back and forth over rocky areas and woods places. Sheba stayed on a trot the entire way except when she cam back to check on me! At one point Sheba stopped and I was surprised to see the same two men we had met earlier headed toward us! Soon the trail turned west and even slightly north and I could see on the GPS that we were almost at our destination. We stopped on the viewpoint where the lookout tower had been. I gave Sheba a drink and took a number of pictures. We then packed up and head back down to the High Point Carriageway.

The 1.4 miles back to the loop road seemed to go quickly even though the first mile is mostly uphill. At the loop road I decided to aim for 10 miles or more of hiking by turning left to go around Lake Maratanza in the opposite direction. The road to the Ice Caves is only .8 miles from the junction and we stopped along the way to look at the lake. The water level in the lake was obviously low but not as low as I have seen it. We were at the Ice Caves Road in no time but I decided that visit would have to wait for another day. It is only .4 miles to the spur trail to Sam's Point but in that distance we met at least three family groups headed for the Ice Caves. Sheba and I passed by the entrance to Sam's Point and continued down to the Conservation Center just .6 miles away. We met several more groups along the way and were in the car by 4:15 PM we covered 10.5 miles in 4.5 hours!

On Wednesday, Aug 27th the weather was warm but the skies seemed to be clear. I wanted a challenging hike with a view and had decided to go to Breakneck Ridge and Mount Taurus. Cross country practice went late and it is a long drive but I had made up my mind! As I was driving toward Middletown, there was construction work on Route 17, so I took an alternate route which added to the time! We crossed the Newburgh-Beacon bridge, went south on 9D through Beacon and were at the parking area by 1:00 PM. Breakneck Ridge is one of the most popular day hikes in the United States and it is impossible to get a parking spot on a weekend! This day there were plenty of parking spaces and we parked and got started right away.

We walked south on Route 9D to a small pull off just before the road tunnel. The trail up Breakneck Ridge starts here and at the top there is the first of many views across to Storm King Mountain and up and down the Hudson. We stopped only briefly before continuing UP the trail. Every other time I have been on this trail there were people ahead and people behind. Some of these people want to ascend or descend too quickly and some are VERY SLOW in either direction. The trail is very challenging with at least three different levels. I always seem to misjudged the climb and believe I am at the very top every time I get to the end of one of these sections. Many of the sections have very steep areas that require strong muscles and a good grip to negotiate. There are almost always alternative way to get around these areas but I like to climb as much as possible.

Sheba usually simply walks up the steepest parts but sometimes chooses the alternate trail. In any case, she is always waiting for me at the top of each section. As long as you are careful, there is little more danger here than on other trails. The key thing is to be careful and always aware of your position. There ARE places where a nasty fall could result in serious injury. We continued to work our way up each section stopping at times to take pictures. We saw only two groups of hikers and stopped to talk to each briefly. It was warm and I was beginning to feel the effects sooner than I would have thought. After 1 mile of continuous climbing, some steep and some easier we were at the very top of the ridge. We stopped for a drink and to enjoy the view and then started along the ridge where the trail rolls considerably. We descended into an area between two hills where the yellow Undercliff-Overcliff Trail starts on the right. This is a new trail that we had not used and I took some time debating whether or not to turn here. Since we were not quite at the highest point on the ridge and since hiking in the shade had made things more bearable I decided to wait until the blue Notch Trail branched off to begin our descent. In just .4 miles from the initial climb we were at the Notch Trail.

We turned right on the Notch Trail and then began to descend losing almost all the elevation we had gained climbing. Several switchbacks made the descent easier. The trail passed between Breakneck Ridge and Mount Taurus and was a pleasant walk in the shade. The trail merged near the pond just north of the Cornish dairy barn just .5 miles from the start of the trail. I stopped at the dairy farm to take some pictures and then continued on down the trail. In another .2 miles the Undercliff-Overcliff Trail crosses and we turned left to go up and over Mount Taurus. This trail is seldom steep but ascends until it reaches its highest point on Bull Hill. At times it follows woods roads. In several places the walls that shored up the sides of the road are visible and in very good shape. Several switchbacks make the climb easier until after about 1 mile several viewpoints open up near the highest point on the trail.

One reason I wanted to hike over Mount Taurus was to get pictures south on the Hudson toward West Point. Every other time I had hiked here I reached those viewpoints in the morning when the light was not favorable. From The lookout at the top of this trail I got some good pictures and knew I would get others as we descended. The trail we were traveling down is hard packed and on this day was bone dry. There are many loose rocks which make any missteps a problem. In a little more than half a mile some other viewpoints opened up to the south and I took more pictures. In a little less than a mile we approached the quarry. As I walked I noticed something scurrying through the dirt. I looked carefully and saw...a lizard. It was small, only about 2 inches long, and I quickly focused the camera and got several good shots. (From an Internet search, I believe these may have been Northern Fence lizards!) We stopped at the quarry so that I could get some pictures and then walked down to Route 9D and the Little Stony Point parking area.

I had intended to walk up to the Cornish estate both to take pictures and to avoid, as much as possible, walking along 9D. It was late and I decided the road would be the fastest way. I was really worried about walking through the road tunnel to get back to the car. The tunnel was the least of our worries! For 1.25 miles along Route 9D, there is NO SHOULDER! When I could see a car coming, Sheba would get under the guard rail and I would get as far off the road as possible. It did not help that the weeds in this area have not been trimmed. As we passed the trailhead from the Cornish Estate I realized this would have been a better choice. Walking through the tunnel was easy since there is at least 5 feet between the wall and the traffic. We arrived back at the car a little after 5:00 PM. the difficult 6.25 mile hike had taken 4.5 hours. I decided to cross the Bear Mountain Bridge and head up Long Mountain Parkway. This route was stop and go traffic until Route 17 since it was rush hour!

On Sunday, Aug 24th I was ready to take a day off. The weather was cloudy and foggy and I was tired from hiking the previous two days. I decided that I would go somewhere since the upcoming week looked busy and might limit my opportunities. I decided that I would go to hike Anthony's Nose and perhaps some of the camp Smith Trail along the Hudson. Sheba and I got a late start and arrived at the small pull out just north of the trailhead on 9D. We got out of the car and started to hike with just a few drops of water in the air. The trail up to the top of the ridge is part of the Appalachian Trail and is pretty steep in several laces! We settled into our normal rapid pace even on the steeper parts. I noticed that the air temperature was only a few degrees warmer than at home but that the humidity was MUCH higher. This would continue throughout the day. The trail was absolutely bone dry and the dirt was like powder. Part of the way up the trail we met a gentleman working on trail maintenance so we thanked him and moved past.

We reached the top of the .4 mile climb in only 10 minutes and the skies were still cloudy. I knew the views from Anthony's Nose would not be good so we turned left to stay on the AT and hike toward the trailhead on South Mountain Pass. The "trail" here is a wide woods road which is rocky and rutted in places. It rolls some but there are few difficult parts. The road skirts Camp Smith which is an active Army National Guard Training site. This is NOT a place to trespass and I kept an eye out for the trail markers and POSTED signs. We soon turned off the road and onto a trail and immediately met a couple hiking in from South Mountain Pass. We talked for a while and I mentioned the Phelps Mine. It was at this point I developed a plan to hike out to the trailhead to add some distance to a short hike and then try to find the mine.

I had never been on this trail and I thought since it came "down" from South Mountain Pass that it would be uphill on the way out and downhill on the way back. This was not the case as the trail wandered up and down over several small hills with a number of switchbacks. Along the way I noticed a well built stone "wall". Upon investigating it was actually the side of a roadway, long abandoned but in great shape. The stone was carefully laid showing the craftsmanship of the day. We continued on the trail until we met another woods road and turned left to go toward the trailhead. We arrived there shortly after walking a little over a mile. There wasn't much to see at the trailhead so we turned around and began to walk back on the road. The map clearly showed the Phelps Mine to the south and slightly east. What was not clear was whether one of the dotted lines on the map indicated a woods road that would go directly to the mine. As we approached an informal campsite on the left side of the road I saw a path leading away from the campsite and up the mountain. Sheba and I began to follow the path. It was very clear in places and was even marked with a cairn but then it would disappear. I decided to simply bushwhack to the top of the hill and did so despite some thick brush. At the top of the hill I consulted the map, my GPS and the compass and concluded I was too far west and so headed almost due east. Soon a woods road presented itself and I turned left continuing east. Within several hundred feet I saw a rusty fence on the hill to the right and an open tailings pile on both sides of the trail.

I was disappointed about the fence but still felt I could probably get a good look at the mine. As we climbed up the tailings and the access road to the mine, I saw that one of the panels of the fence had become "detached" allowing access to the mine adit. I told Sheba to stay outside the fence as I entered. The adit is a hole that goes straight down. It is about 20 feet in diameter and surrounded by loose stones. I carefully eased my way down the slop toward the opening to get a better look. I knew this was not smart but...I had to see what was down there. My foot slipped and dislodged some stones which fell into the opening. It seemed like seconds before they stooped bouncing and hit bottom(?)! I decided that I would take pictures from where I was and snapped a few before retreating carefully up the slope! I knew that the mine had originally opened as an iron mine but that copper and zinc had been found there. Much of the mining later extracted sulfur ores. I inspected a pile of tailing nearby and found a crystal to be named later. Near this pile was an air shaft with a grate. We wondered to the top of the hill and found no other mining evidence. On our way back down to the woods road I did spot some remains of foundations. I wanted see if the woods road provided an easier way back but the prominent Camp Smith signs made me decide to return the way we had come. I told Sheba "Trail!" and she followed our exact route back to where we had started. Sheba is my CPS (Canine Positioning System)!

Sheba and I walked the mile or so back to where we had hiked up from Route 9D and continued straight ahead on the blue Camp Smith Trail for about .5 miles to Anthony's Nose. There were only five people in the area but there was also an annoying small dog. Sheba and I walked around the area. There was still some haze over the river and more on the far mountains. However, the weather was far better than at the beginning of the hike which made my decision to go to the mine first look good. Looking down from Anthony's Nose reveals the Bear Mountain Bridge. The Popolopen Gorge Bridge is also visible with the footbridge between the forts and Bear Mountain below it. Directly across from Anthony's Nose is Bear Mountain with the Perkins Tower at the top. Several marinas dot the shoreline and boats were plying the waters. Slightly to the south is Iona Island which was once and arsenal but now serves as a limited access bird sanctuary. Further down the river, Indian Point is visible. It was very hot and humid so I took my pictures from different angles and the went back to the shady area off the open rock. I decided it was still early and that we should try hiking along the Camp Smith Trail to the south. We passed the people with the dog and continued on down the trail. "Down" is a good description since that was the predominant direction the trail took. There were several viewpoints along the way but few were as good as from Anthony's Nose. As we descended I could see some people on the trail ahead. "On" is the right word since they were sitting in the middle of the trail! They didn't seem to want to move so we went around them and continued. We met a group on top of one of the lookouts headed for Anthony's Nose from the Hudson Highlands Gateway on Route 202 further south. We talked for a moment and then continued on the trail only to meet another group coming our way.

I decided we would hike down to the nearest trailhead on Route 202 and then return. The walk was only about a mile but not an easy one. There were no cars at the parking area so we "tagged" the road and then began the walk back. Sheba always perks up on the return trip but I was dragging a little from the heat, humidity and three consecutive days of hiking. We climbed the mile back to Anthony's Nose and stayed on the blue Camp Smith Trail heading back to the area where we would catch the AT to descend to the car. Along the way we met a family coming toward us with two small children. We also caught up to a father and his two sons going back down. We walked with them and talked. This hike has been listed as a good one to do with children. Until I met these kids, I was wondering whether that was a good idea. All of the children we met seemed to be full of energy and a spirit of adventure! As we neared the AT, I looked up to see the same trail maintainer that we had seen in the morning. We again passed him after saying "Hello". As we descended I noticed he was still having a conversation with...the roots and rocks he was removing from the path. Some of his words were not too kind. I took more notice of him this time. He was wearing a long, thin coat or duster with a floppy "Aussie" hat. He carried his tools in a plastic garbage can slung over his shoulder. Perhaps the most striking part of the outfit were the catcher's shinguards he was wearing! I was going to stop to take some pictures but moved on quickly down the steepest part of the trail. We met two other small groups of people and the father with his sons stopped to talk with them. I excused myself and Sheba and I continued on down to the car. Along the way I snapped some photos. We were back by 4:00 PM completing the 6.7 mile hike in 4.5 hours.

On Saturday, Aug 23rd Cindy and I wanted to hike somewhere that was challenging but short and with a view. I had never hiked to Huckleberry Point near Kaaterskill High Peak but had read some excellent reviews of the hike. Cindy and I didn't set the alarm so by the time we got coffee and a bagel at Peez Leweez it was already after 9:30 AM. We headed for Platte Clove by way of Big Indian and Phoenicia and arrived in the parking lot right around 11:00 AM. The ROAD CLOSED sign had been removed from Platte Clove Road. I was surprised to see only a few car in the parking lot for such a popular destination. We got right on the trail and started to walk. The first mile or so of the hike is on wide woods roads. The roads cross private land and we were surprised at one point see hear and then see pickup truck coming toward us. The woman driving said hello and the continued on down the road. The temperature was still in the high 60's and we were in the shade for most of this part of the hike. The trail was damp in a few places with only a little mud.

Soon we were at the right turn for the yellow Huckleberry Point Trail. We turned and began walking the more narrow but well-marked trail. The trail passes through a variety of different ecologies including dense shrubs, hardwoods and evergreens. On the initial part of the trail piles of stone and even some foundations show remnants of civilization. At about .4 miles on this trail we crossed a small stream and began to ascend a hill From this point on the trail "rolls" quite significantly. None of the climbs are very steep or really very long but they are there. In several places I though we might be getting close. Finally, we met another hiker who said "Hello" and "enjoy the view!" We didn't know what to expect as we walked into the open area at the end of the trail.

Words cannot really express the views from the lookouts around Huckleberry Point. Directly below is Platte Clove and across Platte Clove are Overlook and Plattekill Mountains. Views down into the Clove and to the west and east are outstanding. To the east the Hudson is visible. There are several different lookouts and accessing them depends on how you feel about heights, narrow rock ledges and loose rocks. I descended at least 50 feet to get a better view to the west into Platte Clove. After coming back up a ways, I walked east looking for a viewpoint that would showcase the Hudson and the views eastward better. There were a few openings but nothing spectacular. I took MANY photographs but none can really give you the feeling of actually being there. We were soon retracing our path back to the car. As always the return trip seems to take longer especially when it is out and back. As we returned we met many groups coming up the trail. We were back at the car by 2:00 PM having taken 3 hours to cover the 4.5 miles AND take many pictures. As is our custom, we headed for Pancho Villas in Tannersville for a meal before returning home.

On Friday, Aug 22nd I was ready for a longer hike so I hurried home after cross country practice, picked up Sheba and headed for the Trapps. The weather was beautiful and I wanted a hike with a view. It had been a while since we had hiked to Gertrude's Nose so I decided to take the Millbrook Ridge and Gertrude's Nose Trail to this area. Once there I would decide how to return. We drove to the parking area by the Trapps Bridge and parked at about 12:15 PM. I put Sheba on her leash for the short walk back up 44/55 to the bridge and the trail access. The views of the valley showed clear skies but some haze. The temperature was still climbing and was in the high 70's. We walked up to the Trapps Bridge and then out onto the carriageway before turning abruptly left onto the blue Millbrook Ridge Trail.

The initial climb is steep over open rock faces with some dwarf scrub pine. The views are immediate as you climb revealing the New Paltz valley on one side and the Gunks on the other with the Catskills as background. Whenever I hike this area, I always go off the trail and hike to some of the higher surrounding rocks to get a better view. Later, I remember this is NOT necessary as the trail rises to many different viewpoints. Several of the initial lookouts have excellent views back down to the Trapps and the Undercliff area. There area also views to the valley below where houses and businesses including the BrauHaus are visible. The initial part of the trail varies between open rock and pitch pine and some hardwood forests. It snakes to the edge of the ridge and then twists inward toward the middle of the ridge. Most of this part is exposed and both Sheba and I felt the effects of the heat. The best views, of course, come when the trail comes near the edge of the ridge. The Smiley Tower at Skytop is clearly visible.

The trail is usually "dry" without any streams or water sources. On this day is was exceptionally dry showing NO SIGNS of any recent rainfall. Several hawks roads the air current but most of the birds were vultures. Sheba and I kept moving so that they would not get any ideas! We passed the Bayrus Cutoff and shortly afterwards met a small group resting by the side of the trail. They had a map without any scale and did not know how far the next cutoff trail might be. I assured them that the Millbrook Cutoff was only half and hour ahead at a "moderate" pace. On the approach to Millbrook Mountain signs indicated that the trail had been rerouted and we followed the new blue blazes. To our left large yellow POSTED signs were very evident. I wonder what happened to precipitate this change. I was a little disappointed as the old trail siting allowed a clear view of Millbrook Mountain on the approach. At one point we crossed a small clearing and descended to an area that would clearly have been wet if there was any water. We were now on the old trail and on the approach to Millbrook Mountain.

There are few places I hike that fool me as much as the approach to this rather modest mountain. There are several places where the ascent is steep but short and I think I am at the highest point. Views back to the east toward the Trapps and Skytop come into view. The opposite side of the ravine is clearly visible and at one point a small cabin can be seen as the only building on the other side of the ravine. In many places the trail passes VERY close to the edge of the ridge and you can see the sheer rock faces directly below and to each side. Near the top of the mountain large talus piles can be seen at the bottom of the cliffs. Sheba and I stopped several times for water as the temperature increased and we both began to drag. It became apparent to me as the time passed that this hike was a little longer than I remembered. Finally we were at the top of Millbrook Mountain as designated by a sign and the junction of several different trails. I was still determined to get to Gertrude's Nose so we stayed on the ridge and took the red Gertrude's Nose Trail. This parallels the Millbrook Carriageway until the carriageway heads north while trail we were on hugs the ridge and the cliffs.

As we descended Millbrook Mountain toward a power line right-of-way a blast of cold air hit us. I remembered this area from previous trips. There is a deep crack in the rocks here where you cannot see the bottom. What I did NOT remember is the cold air that blows OUT of this crack. Sheba and I stayed in the area for several minutes and the cold air seemed to revive both of us for the final part of the hike out to Gertrude's Nose! We descended to the right-of-way and then ascended the other side. I don't often write about the smells of hiking! Sometimes there are flowers which sent the air, often the smell of balsam is evident and at other times there is simply and earthy odor. On this day the predominant smell was BLUEBERRY PIE. There were so many berries everywhere along the path that they gave the air a distinct odor! On the approach to Gertrude's Nose there is a slight ascent and the trail begins to pass through evergreen forest. Soon after that we broke out into an area of open rocks and we were there. It had taken about 2 and a half hours to walk out, much longer than I had thought.

The views of the rest of Gertrude's Nose from one area were outstanding. The views to the valley below and the mountains beyond were beautiful. Even the ledges and cliffs across the ravine were good. This area was actually much larger than I remember and much more rugged. There are many cracks in the rocks where you are walking and many are VERY deep. I watched Sheba carefully since it is easy to slip even for a sure-footed canine. Near the edges of the cliff rocks have spilt off and pulled away in many places with some falling to the base of the cliff. We took a long tome walking through the area and I took many pictures. The trail slowly descends toward the ravine and we went in this direction. I had decided to cross the ravine, pick up the Millbrook Carriageway, take that back to Millbrook Mountain and then retrace our path to the Trapps. I had though of dropping down to the Coxing Trail but I didn't remember that trail as being very pleasant and a cool breeze had moderated the air temperature.

We crossed the ravine and walk a bit in the woods before coming to a steep, rocky ascent. That was when I remembered that the hike TO the carriageway had several memorable areas including some climbing to gain elevation. Sheba and I got right to it and were soon on top of the opposite ridge and on the carriageway. I immediately knew this part was a good choice since the walking was so easy on the relatively level and flat carriageway. We quickly covered the distance to Millbrook Mountain and got back on the Millbrook Ridge Trail. I put my camera away which I knew would increase our hiking speed. I also noticed that Sheba had a whole different attitude. She was no longer dragging by my side but was out ahead and picking up the pace. She knew we were headed back and she was eager to get there. Descending Millbrook Mountain proved as challenging as ascending but the idea that we were returning seemed to keep both of us in high gear! I began to notice that my Asolo Fugitives were irritating my toes but it was too late to worry about this. I need wider shoes! Near the end of our journey we both heard voices from our left off the trail. There isn't much out there but cliff and I soon realized that was what these climbers were interested in. As we approached the descent back to the Trapps several individuals and groups were sitting or lying on the warm rocks in the sun. We descended to the road and walked back to the car by 5:45 PM. We covered nearly 10 miles in 5 hours and a half hours. I often wonder how fast we would move if I forgot the camera!

On Tuesday, Aug 19th the weather started out in the morning as predicted...lousy! By 10:00 AM it wasn't looking much better but the rain had stopped so I decided to take Sheba and go for a short hike at Trout Pond. After three days off, Sheba was more than ready to go. We arrived at 11:20 AM, parked on Morton Hill Road and started our walk down Russell Brook Road to the falls. The weather was cool but the skies had cleared and it was sunny. The falls were making a lot of noise but closer inspection showed there wasn't a lot of water going over. I decided to head up the steeper part of the trail and over to Mud Pond. We did this and the time seemed to pass very quickly. At Mud Pond we turned right to start toward Trout Pond. The trails were wet with dew and some surface moisture but most of the spots that are usually wet were dry! The weather had cleared and the sun was out and the walk was beautiful but uneventful. When we arrived at the inlet to Trout Pond, it was obvious the water level in the pond was down and it was easy to cross the stepping stones in the inlet stream. We went around the pond and started back down to the falls. Along the way we met only one other hiker. Soon we were back at the falls and on our way back up Russell Brook Road to the car. We finished the 4 mile hike in under two hours at our normal pace.

On Sunday, Aug 17th I was in Rochester, NY for a 3:00 PM wedding. The night before we had a picnic at Mendon Ponds Park in the suburb of Rush. The park was large and really beautiful and I took a short walk. I knew that this area, like much of New York State, had been shaped by glaciers but the features here were very prominent. I saw low ridges that were eskers formed when deposits were made by glacial streams. The low rolling hills were kame hills and there were at least two kettle lakes. Saturday night I researched the park on the internet and found that it was on the National Registry of Natural Landmarks for its outstanding glacial features! Kurt and I decided to hike one of the esker ridge trails and visit then visit the Devil's Bathtub, one of the kettle lakes. We parked at about 9:30 AM in one of the large lots and walked across the road to the East Esker Ridge trail which was marked as 4.7 miles.

The hike began as we walked into a short section of woods along one of the park roads and then out into a field briefly. Ahead of us were some low kame hills bathed in sunlight. We reentered the woods and began to walk southwest along one of the esker ridges. The trees and bushes along the trail hid the fact that the trail is only 10 or so feet wide and drops off 50 feet or more on both sides. These ridges formed when streams flowing under the glacier deposited sediments the glacier had scooped up in its travels. Soon we dropped down off the ridge next to a pond. Besides the marked trails there are many informal trails that crisscross the park. Before exploring the Round Pond I went up on one of these trails. As we walked by the pond we were almost at water level. I took some pictures of the vegetation including some cattails. I wanted a higher vantage point to look down on the pond. Soon an informal trail headed off to the right of the main trail and seemed to climb. I started out on this trail and it did climb above the pond but offered only limited views. Kurt joined me and we walked back to the main trail.

The main trail continued passed the pond and between some of the esker ridges. The trail constantly rose and fell as we climbed over low ridges and kame hills. Soon the trail turned west and continued to rise and falls as we climbed to the top of ridges, descended from them and climbed again. Soon it met the Douglas Road at Calvary Shelter one of the many shelters and pavilions that dot the park. Here the trail turned south and headed for Pond Road skirting most of the ridges and hills. On Pond Road a parking area serves as another trailhead for the East Esker Trail. From here we followed the trail north and then east along some of the other ridges. After a descent and another ascent we found a wooden bench sited just off the trail. There was a nice view of the valley and hills beyond from this area. We could even see cyclists on the road below.

From here the trail headed almost due north in the direction of our car. We continued to walk along ridges occasionally coming off one ridge to walk over a hill and onto another ridge. Along the way we met a few other people walking or hiking and at least one high school cross country team out for a run. As we neared the northern part of this trail we ascended to the highest point in the park at 820 feet! We continued walking to the northeast and then east as we rounded a water tower to head west again back to the car.

We drove to another area of the park that has a kettle Lake called the Devil's Bathtub. The parking area also has a picnic pavilion right next to it and offers a nice view of Deep Pond. After parking, we took the stairs down to The Bathtub. A boardwalk skirts the eastern edge of this depression made when a large block of ice fell off a receding glacier. Again we were at water level with limited views of the kettle lake. We continued to walk on the trail looking for other features and a way to look down on the lake. The trail in this area was not well marked but we kept turning in a way that would take us around the pond. On the way we again walked up small hills and along ridges. There were several small "puddles" in the forest with healthy algae growths. The path we were on intersected a blue trail. This seemed to indicate that we were headed in the wrong direction! We agreed to stay on the trail and see if it would take us back to the car. Within less than a quarter mile we made a turn and could see the parking area. All together we had covered well over 6 miles in just about 3 hours.

On Friday, Aug 15th Kurt was up from Florida for the first time since his wedding in December. He didn't have much time but wanted to make the most of it by hiking. Brad and Krista were also home and Brad was up for a hike. Kurt was going to meet his college friends Friday afternoon so we thought we would hike the Devil's Path or the Blacks. As we drove out DeBruce Road and turned onto the Frost valley Road the skies began to look darker and darker to the north. I decided that we should stop and hike in better weather so I pulled over at Slide Mountain. I had done Slide several times this summer but the point was to hike together so this was a good choice. We were at the parking lot and on the trail around 8:30 AM. The weather was cool but the skies at this point were overcast with the sun coming through on occasion. At least is was not threatening to rain!

We started our hike right away and were surprised to see that the Neversink was completely dry. There was no need to find stepping stones since there was no water and we just walked across. Crossing the small tributary a little further along also was not a problem. We kept up a fast pace as we turned onto the old woods road and then up the trail to the top of Slide. The weather never really got sunny and there was a lot of haze and fog on the mountains and in the valleys. We passed the 3500 foot sign and continued on to the junction with the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail. From here we headed toward the summit stopping at the lookout to the right of the trail for a moment before moving on. After we crossed the summit, we stopped on the rock shelf to look at the sites. There was really nothing to see so we decided to head down toward the spring.

Going down to the spring from the summit of Slide is one of my favorite parts of the hike. There are several rocks scrambles on the way that are interesting to descend and ascend. Along the way we tried to get a view but there wasn't much to see. When we got to the ladders above the spring, we stopped and had some limited views of Cornell and the fog in the valleys. At this point we turned around and head back up to the summit and then down the other side. I knew Kurt wanted to get going to meet his friends so we didn't waste much time. We were back in the car by 11:30 AM having covered the 5.5 mile hike in under 3 hours.

On Tuesday, Aug 12th Cindy and I decided to take a quick walk with Sheba in the afternoon after summer school. We headed for Frick Pond since it is close and an easy walk. We parked at 2:30 PM and headed up the Flynn Trail intending to take the Big Rock Trail back to Times Square and then walk around the back side of Frick and then to the car. It had rained and the trails were wet in places but the weather was nice. The skies were clear and it was sunny but a few degrees cooler than it had been. The walk up the Flynn Trail is a constant but gentle uphill. We walked and talked but did not meet any other hikers or any wildlife. We were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I would have hiked a little more but kept my promise and turned left!

The walk down the Big Rock Trail to Times Square was longer than I remembered but was certainly easier going down than up. This trail is a snowmobile trail in winter and we have snowshoed up from Times Square, a challenging ascent. Finally we were at Times Square and we continued straight across to take the trail around the "back" of Frick Pond. The trails began to get VERY wet in places with enormous patches of mud in places. This trail has a wooden boardwalk over some swampy areas. When I first set foot on this walkway, I almost took a nasty fall. The boards were wet and covered in a slimy algae making them as slippery as ice! They boardwalk is in the shade of the trees and does not get much of a chance to dry. I was VERY careful the rest of the way but Cindy had less trouble as she was using her poles. As we approached the junction with the trail to Hodge Pond, we met a group with several young children. We both advised them that the trail to Hodge is long and that the route we had just used was dangerous because of the boardwalk. We continued on the trail to the bridge over the outlet of Frick Pond. The view from here is always interesting no matter the weather or the season. Some geese were on the pond and we stopped to watch them and take in the view. After this brief stop, we continued back to the car finishing in under two hours. It was a good hike anyway!

On Saturday, Aug 9th I was ready to try Rocky and Lone with just Sheba as company. These were the only two peaks I needed to complete the month of August, the first month I have completed. I had planned to do this all week even though the early weather reports were for a 30% chance of showers. When I got up Saturday the forecast had changed to partly sunny with highs in the mid 70's. This would be ideal weather for this hike. Rocky and Lone aren't that high or hard to climb but the hike TO them by itself would be enough for most people. I intended to walk out the Fisherman's Path along the East Branch of the Neversink. I planned to do Rocky first and then come back to get Lone on the return trip. The bushwhack up Rocky goes pretty fast but the trip over to Lone is never pleasant. The return trip form Lone is mostly downhill but only a few herd paths are available and the terrain is difficult. Sheba and I arrived at the Denning parking area to find a few cars parked. We got started at 9:20 AM and I noted a pair of hikers signed in for Friday, Balsam Cap and Rocky. It was good to know someone else was up for a challenge!

The first 1.2 miles of the hike is on a woods road which is wide an easy to navigate. This trail continues toward the northeast and leads to the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail up Slide Mountain. Sheba seemed exceptionally eager to hike as she ran ahead, ran behind and ran to the river to frolic in the water. We turned right on the trail that leads to the bridge over Deer Shanty Brook and the East Branch of the Neversink. After only about .25 miles we crossed the first bridge and then the second bridge. I noticed that a cable has been added to the second log bridge to act as a "handrail", Just after the second bridge we turned left off the trail onto the Fisherman's Path. The Fisherman's Path is not marked but is quite distinct in most places. In other places the path all but disappears or branches into several different paths. The walk along the Neversink is beautiful and the further you go the more remote and isolated it gets. Someone is usually camped along the path but this day we saw no one.

I was using my GPS to follow the route I had used last year when hiking with Harry Rampe. There are several places where the path on one side of the river becomes steep or muddy and crossing the river is the best choice. When we arrived at the first such place I decided NOT to cross and continue on the south side of the river. Sheba had other ideas! She crossed right where we had crossed last year and stood on the opposite shore waiting for me. I called her and she reluctantly came back over. After walking only a short distance, the path became muddy and steep and I decided Sheba had the right idea. As I looked for a place to cross, I ended up going back to where she had crossed before! Was that a smile on her place? We continued for about 1.5 miles to the point where you can turn southeast and hike up to Lone. I decided to hit Rocky first as we had last year and we continued on for another 1,2 miles.

As we approached the area where we were to cut south-southeast to Rocky I decided to start the ascent earlier than we had last time. This was a BIG mistake since I ended up on the wrong side of a tributary. We had to walk along the hillside and then down into the tributary and up the other bank. I will remember next time not to do this! The climb up Rocky looked very familiar most of the time and I followed Sheba as she picked her way through the woods. Most of the time she was only 10 or 20 feet from the exact track we had used last year. Part of this ascent is pretty open but there are several rock ledges to negotiate. Near the top the spruce trees get very close together and pushing through them is a chore. We were able to find some paths and after .8 miles were at the rocks that mark the summit. The canister is in a clearing just off the summit and we found it easily and signed in about 12:30 PM.

I remembered the walk to Lone very well from last year. It is only about a mile and is evenly divided between the descent of Rocky and the ascent of Lone. The walk consists of pushing your way through dense spruce trees trying to find a path of some kind. All the while on the descent you have to watch for rock ledges which sometimes require a walk to get around. Nothing is easy and the fact that I went too far south initially didn't help. Going too far south means losing too much elevation so I headed north a little to pick up last year's route. After only a short distance but a long time, I noticed that the trees were thinning and turning to hardwood at that the ground was rising. I checked the GPS and confirmed we were in the col and about to start the ascent of Lone. The forest opens up in this area but there are many rocks underfoot. Soon we were on the rock ledges on Lone which require you to pick a suitable route. Sheba again came to the rescue picking the exact track we had taken last year through three different set of ledges! Once we were through the ledges we picked up the a herd path which leads to the canister.

The walk up the herd path avoids most of the dense spruce and goes pretty quickly. I signed in at the canister and then we took a side path to the lookout on Lone. The lookout is a single rock that juts out slightly from the side of the mountain. There is only room for one or two people. It is a struggle to get to this lookout but it has some of the best views in the Catskills. This day did not disappoint since there was only a little haze and the views were great. To the east Rocky was visible. To the west the Burroughs Range loomed very large. I took several pictures before turning around and going back to the canister. We walked passed the actual summit and began our descent of Lone. Again this is only about a mile to the Fisherman's Path but what a mile! I had picked the route last year and I remember some of the other hikers having tough time.

The descent is roughly in a northwest direction which allows you to lose elevation and hit the Fisherman's Path a little further to the west than a direct descent of the mountain. I seemed to keep drifting to the north and losing elevation too fast. I wanted to avoid any surprises like large rock ledges so we traversed the slope to go west and hit the route from last year. There seemed to be too many places where deadfalls blocked the path and rocks made the footing unstable. By this time I was getting tired and sinking my right leg deep into a hole between two rocks didn't help! Certain landmarks began to look familiar and we hit the Fisherman's Path a little east of last where we came out last year. Next time I am going to try a more direct route down since I think I would rather hit the Fisherman's Path further east since it is MUCH easier walking. From this point we stayed on the south side of the river even though the path became muddy and steep at times. The 3 mile walk back to the car seemed short compared to the bushwhacking we had just done. Near the bridges we did see some tents and we overtook a couple coming back from Table. We arrived at the car just after 4:00 PM having covered a tough 10 miles in just less than 7 hours!

On Thursday, Aug 7th I had a limited amount of time after summer school ended. The weather was and I decided the best view on a short hike was Giant Ledge. I loaded Sheba in the car and we were off. When we parked there were only a few cars but there was a bus from a camp in the lot. Sheba and I got going right away. The trails were a little wet from the recent rain but we still made the turnoff to Giant Ledge and Panther in 20 minutes. We made a left and continued our quick pace toward Giant Ledge. I expected to meet some hikers on the way to the Ledges or at the Ledges but when we arrived we were alone. The view from Giant Ledge was good and I took several pictures from each lookout. The Burroughs Range was quite impressive and Panther Mountain was easily visible. I was feeling so good I though about going up to Panther but decided to return.

Sheba and I made equally good time on the return trip. As we neared the trail junction we heard voices coming from the trail to Woodland Valley. The camp hikers had apparently headed in that direction. We turned right to go back to the parking area and met two pairs of hikers coming up the trail. As we descended some of the rocky areas two of the camp hikers caught up to us on a dead run. They said "Hello" as they passed us. I wished them "Good luck" since I thought one of them would at least turn an ankle before getting to the bus. Three more boys passed us after that. I thought that this was a poor idea for a camp activity! When we got back to the parking area, the boys were telling the adults what a good time they had and by the time I had left most had returned without injury. We covered a little over 3 miles in just under two hours.

On Tuesday, Aug 5th I wanted to hike somewhere that had a view since the weather was GREAT. I had almost decided to go to Minnewaska but the long drive seemed to rule it out. Cindy was headed for Hunter Lake so I was free to go wherever I wanted. As I was deciding the pager sounded and I went on an ambulance call! When I got home Cindy had still not left for Hunter Lake so we decided to take a quick walk at Long Pond. This is a nice walk for a short time since it has some uphill at the beginning and has a quick finish down Flugertown Road.

We parked and began our hike immediately with a brisk walk up the only hill on the hike. We kept up a brisk pace and were soon at the turn down to Long Pond. We went down to the pond but the water was high and I was disappointed that there were no red-winged blackbirds around. Back on the main trail we continued to the T-junction and turned right toward the trail to the lean-to. Shortly we were turning right onto the trail to the Long Pond lean-to. When we arrived, we looked around and then returned the way we came until we were back at the trail junction. We continued straight ahead and crossed the brook a little while later. Once on Flugertown Road we took left to head back to the parking area. A little under 5 miles in just over two hours.

On Monday, Aug 4th I was ready to hike after a weekend of ambulance calls and parading! I decided to go to Sam's Point and do the loop down to Verkeerderkill Falls and back on the Escarpment Trail to High Point. I got home as quickly as I could got Sheba and my gear and left. The sky looked threatening but I was going to stick to my plan! We parked outside the gate at the Conservation Center since I wasn't sure how long we would be out or when the gates closed. By 2:35 PM we were on the carriage road up to Sam's Point. We didn't go out to the Point but stopped to take some pictures and continued on to Ice Caves Road. I decided NOT to visit the Caves but to turn left onto the trail to Verkeerderkill Falls.

As we made the turn a family group was coming up from the Caves and turned behind us to go to the Falls. Sheba and I had no trouble staying ahead of them even though I stopped numerous times to take pictures. The sky was dotted with white, puffy clouds in most places and some darker ones in others. The views were just beautiful to the valleys below and the mountains beyond. As we approached the Falls the clouds began to gather but I was committed.

We walked out to the overlook at the Falls and I wasn't surprise to see a very low volume. Despite the sometimes violent storms this summer, the overall amount of rain has left the area very dry. After taking some pictures, we went to the other side and I photographed the Falls from another angle. We soon were on the Long Path again and headed back up to the escarpment. The Falls is by far the lowest point on the hike and the climb to the escarpment is short but challenging. Near the top I took some more pictures and then continued on the trail. Shortly a signed warned that continuing straight ahead was NOT a way back to the car. The sign seemed to suggest turning around and returning the way we came. I had other ideas. Sheba and I turned left onto the Escarpment Trail that would take us along the rocky trail and to High Point.

The views along this trail were magnificent this day as the dark clouds had cleared without dumping any rain. I took pictures of the rock formations along the escarpment. Many of these pictures show where you are going or where you have been as the trail winds along the rocky outcroppings. The views into the valley were nice and only a little haze obscured the furthest mountains. The trail continues to climb toward High Point and goes up and over several nearly vertical "cliffs". Sheba never seems to have much trouble even on those where I struggle a little. Soon we were in some thick brush just before High Point. After climbing the last rock face to High Point, I looked around at the views. The Smiley Tower at Mohonk was clearly visible. Further to the north and in the distance were the profiles of the Catskills. We didn't stay too long as the hour grew late.

The walk to the site of a long gone observation tower is short. The views from this lookout may be better than those from High Point. The trail leads down to the High Point Carriageway in this area. The rest of the trip is a 2.8 mile walk along roads that become ever more maintained as you approach Lake Maratanza. We passed by Indian Rock and met a couple who were hiking. Sheba and I pushed on passed the various antennas and transmission towers. We walked down to the lake to see the water level. The lake is so blue and nearly full despite the lack of rain. I took pictures and we returned to the road. We hurried passed the South Gully Trail and the Berrypickers shacks. The blueberries and huckleberries were plentiful everywhere we had been but I had not seen anyone picking. I did stop to take some pictures of a bee on a thistle before walking back to the car. We were back by 6:15 covering a little over 8 miles in less than 4 hours!

On Thursday, July 31th I wanted a long but fast hike. I had done most of the close 35's this summer and did not have time to travel. I decided to go to Trout Pond and hike passed the lean-tos to Campbell Brook or Campbell Mountain Roads. From these trailheads I could hike the roads back to the car. I did not intend to take many, if any pictures. I was not sure how Morton Hill Road had fared in the last downpour but I thought it was worth a try. When we arrived at Morton Hill Road there was a "Road Closed" sign at the bottom. I decided to see what the sign meant! The road was a mess but passable and soon Sheba and I were at the parking area.

We arrived at about 2:30 PM and got moving right away. Before I knew it we were at the lean-tos in record time. We continued on the Trout Pond Trail toward Campbell Brook. It was interesting to see that the trail up to Trout Pond was washed out but the trail that continued from the lean-tos was not. This may be because the DEC has been "improving" the lower part of the trail with a bulldozer! We were at Campbell Brook Road in about an hour and I decided to continue on. At the Campbell Mountain Road trailhead we turned right on Campbell Mountain Road and followed it until it met Morton Hill Road. Turning right on Morton Hill Road took us back to the car. The walk down Morton Hill showed some areas that were seriously effected by the last storm. There are also several interesting areas on this road. One area has an obvious pine plantation on the right with a hardwood forest on the left. We finished the 8.8 mile hike by 5:15 PM or only two hours and 45 minutes!

On Tuesday, July 29th Cindy had the day off so we decided to hike Slide after I got home from summer school. The weather prediction was good and Slide is less than 45 minutes from our house. When I got home Cindy was nowhere to be found. I got ready and decided to take Sheba and do the hike. The weather was beautiful and we arrived at the parking area on Route 47 at 2:30 PM. Only two other cars were parked but as we were getting ready another car with three young men pulled into the lot. I didn't want to get behind them so Sheba and I got right on the trail. My concerns about crossing the two streams were unfounded as the water was low and a few stepping stones were sufficient. The trail was muddy in spot with some running water up to the turn onto the trail toward Denning.

After making the turn, the trail became wet with some standing and running water. It wasn't deep anyplace so we either walked around or through it. We were at the turn up Slide in less than 20 minutes. I wanted to see how fast we could make the summit so we pushed ahead. The weather was hot and only a little humid and the trail passed quickly. At one point we met three young men headed down the mountain. Soon we passed 3500 feet and the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail from Denning. We kept up the pace and bypassed the lookout near the summit in favor of a visit on the way back. We made the summit in 57 minutes 58 seconds which is a new personal best! There were two men on the rock ledge lookout and I had planned to head down to the spring first anyway.

On the way down to the spring I noticed some new viewpoints. Whether these were completely "natural" from blowdowns or had been "enhanced" by hikers was not clear. We headed down to the spring to get a look at Cornell. I stopped at the top of the first ladder to get some pictures. The day was clearer than most and the Ashokan was visible to the right of Cornell. After taking pictures and giving Sheba a drink, we turned around to head back up the trail. I stopped at several new viewpoints but most did not have clear views. One that did have good views was near a "campsite" to the right of the trail on the way up from the spring. We stopped at the top to take in the views and so that I could snap some photographs. We also paused at the lookout to the right of the trail on the way down. Other than these stops we moved quickly. We met the three young men from the parking area still ascending after over and hour and a half. Further down we passed the two men that had been at the top. I was pleased when we were at the car by 5:15 PM. We had covered 5.5 miles in about 2.5 hours!

On Saturday, July 26th the rest of the family was going to Middletown to shop. The plan was that I would hike and then meet them for lunch. The best place I know to hike in Orange County is Schunemunk Mountain so Sheba and I headed for Otterkill Road near Salisbury Mills to start the hike. We arrived to find only two other cars parked at 9:00 AM. The Moodna Trestle is visible from the parking area and is an impressive structure. It is the largest free-standing steel structure east of the Mississippi. By some rating systems it is the biggest train trestle in the United States! Sheba and I headed toward the trestle on Otterkill Road and cut into the woods where the trail begins. This is not well marked but we had no trouble finding it. My plan was to hike to the top of the western ridge on the Trestle Trail and use the red trail to hook up with the Long Path on the western ridge. Near the southwestern end of the ridge I would take the blue Western Ridge Trail to the yellow Jessup Trail on the eastern ridge. Following the Jessup Trail would bring us to a red trail that ascends back to the Trestle Trail junction on the western ridge.

The Trestle trail immediately starts a climb to the top of the western ridge although other routes are possible. The hike is steeper in some places than others. We arrived at the first viewpoint to the north and west and I took a few pictures despite the haze. We continued on the Trestle Trail for a total of 1.5 miles to the junction with the northeastern end of the Barton Swamp Trail. We turned right and walked the short distance to the Long Path which ascends the ridge from Clove Road in the area of Hil-Mar Lodge. The Long Path follows the crest of the ridge for about 1.3 miles before meeting the Western Ridge Trail. It winds its way out onto the edge of the ridge to offer sweeping views near and far to the west and north. At one point a sand and gravel operation is the major feature next to placid Lenni Lenape Lake. Beaver Dam Lake is also clearly visible from this lookout and the Catskills can be seen far in the background. The Long Path then heads back into the forest on top of the ridge. The trees vary from dwarf pines on the bare rock ridge to various hardwoods off the ridge. The blueberries were ripe and there were a lot of them. The geology of the ridges is interesting. As we hiked we walked across much of the pink to red conglomerate that composed much of both ridges.

At one point along the Long Path we did see another hiker headed in the opposite direction. As we approached the Western Ridge Trail the Long Path passes over several areas of completely exposed rock. The rock was very dry and was still tricky to negotiate. This is NOT a hike to do on a wet or icy day! The Western Ridge Trail descends the ridge and merges with the Barton Swamp Trail. We turned right at the bottom and the left after a short walk to continue to follow the Western ridge Trail up to the eastern ridge. I was worried that Barton Swamp might be a challenge but it was nearly dry with only a few damp spots. This part of the hike is steep in places and requires some rock scrambling. The distance is short, however, and after about .5 miles we were on the eastern ridge and turned left on the Jessup Trail to the highest point on Schunemunk. As we headed northeast on the yellow Jessup Trail, I watched for the white spur trail to the left that leads to the Megaliths. This trail is less than .1 miles and is worth the "detour". The Megaliths are large blocks of stone that have pulled away from the surrounding rock and look as if they were dropped in place. They are worth seeing and the views from this area are nice.

We returned to the Jessup Trail to continue our walk. The eastern ridge has many of the same features as the western ridge but the views are mostly to the south and east. One of the most prominent features is Silverstream Reservoir to the northeast. By this time I was interested in the views but also in completing the hike to meet the family for lunch. There are several areas where the trail is sited along crests of rock and then open, slanted rock faces. At times the trail swings out onto the edge of the ridge to take in some viewpoints before heading back into the trees. This part of the hike consists of climbing down off big rocks so that you can climb up big rocks. At one point I heard a groan ahead which proved to be another hiker voicing his delight. After about 1.3 miles, we began to descend the eastern ridge.

The trail descends the ridge and then ends up at a junction near Baby Brook. Baby Brook sometimes belies its name and can be hard to cross. Today the brook was easy to ford and we start up the trail to the western ridge again. Like the ascent to the western ridge at the other end, this trail is steep at times but short. The distance from the brook is much less than .25 miles. Once on top of the western ridge we were a the junction with the Trestle Trail. Going down this trail was tricky at times. I wanted to make some time but every time I sped up there were loose rocks underfoot that would slow me down. Soon we were back at the road and it was a short walk to the parking lot. We finished the 6.5 mile hike just before 1:00 PM. The 3 hours and 50 minutes it took us to hike included many stops for pictures but was the quickest time we had ever recorded.

On Friday, July 25th Krista and Brad were home for the weekend and wanted to do a short, easy hike without many hills. The Frick Pond area has plenty of variety so we headed there. We got a very late start but I decided that the Logger's Loop would be okay. We got there at around 3:00 PM with Sheba and headed out on the trail to Frick Pond. The trails were VERY wet from the recent rain with flowing an standing water and some muddy spots. We hiked out the trail and visited Frick Pond. The water was high and fast as it left the outlet and the pond was beautiful as always. We stopped for a while to take some pictures and then headed over the bridge and around the pond to the left on the red Quick Lake Trail.

The Quick Lake Trail was also wet and the number of biting insects increased. We were soon at Iron Wheel Junction where we turned left on the Logger's Loop Trail. The little brook that crosses under the trail at one point was running freely and making a lot of noise. We were soon at Times Square where we continue straight ahead and back toward Frick Pond. In several places on this trail it was impossible to avoid the water and mud! Soon we were back at the pond where we turned left and headed back to the car. The walk was just over 3 miles and we were back at the car in just under 2 hours.

On Saturday, July 19th I convinced Cindy to go to Dry brook with me to do the complete Huckleberry and Dry Brook loop. The entire loop is 10.5 miles but the trails I had hiked on Wednesday were relatively easy going and the suggested completion time was about 5 hours. I wanted to do the lower loop first on the Huckleberry Trail and then come around to finish on the Dry brook Trail to take in the viewpoints. I hoped there would be less haze and more view this time around. After completing some tasks around the house, we got a later start than I had wanted and arrived at the Hill Road trailhead at 10:00 AM. We immediately headed for the Huckleberry Loop Trail on the right or south side of the road. The sign indicated that if was ONLY 5.4 miles to the Ploutz Road trailhead which would be about half way.

The first leg of the trail took us down to Huckleberry Brook Road to the upper parking area and we were there within minutes. We turned right and walked down the road toward the lower parking area where the trail continues into the woods. Huckleberry Brook had quite a bit of water in it and I stopped to take some pictures of the stream with its interesting mosses and rock formations. The walk down the road didn't take long and we were soon at the lower parking area and the bridge over the brook which is just beyond the entrance. I took some pictures of the bridge and then we started up the trail. Up is a good description since the trail starts to climb a ridge to a height of some 2800 feet. There are several switchbacks to avoid powering up the very steep slope. Part of the trail follows and old woods road which proved to be misleading. As we walked at talked we missed the very obvious red disks which indicated a turn to the right. We continued ahead on the road for about a quarter mile until we both realized there were no disks to be found. This didn't immediately tell us that we were on the wrong trail since the disks are few and far between and the trail poorly marked in places. Everything led us to believe that this trail is not very popular: no other cars in the lot, no other hikers to be seen, few names in the register book, old and sparse trail markers.

Once we were back on the trail it climbed steeply toward the ridge and then leveled a little before switching back to climb some more. The forests on this ridge are very old with some being described as "first growth". I am not an expert but there were some very old softwood and hardwood trees. There were also some interesting rock formations showing obvious sedimentary layers. Just after one steep section and one of the interesting rocks we entered a section of the trail where someone had cut down most of the brush and vegetation on the path. This was a good things since the undergrowth was extremely dense and would have been impossible to walk through in any other way. Underfoot there were hidden rocks and branches which made every step difficult. This section led to an area where there were thick raspberry canes and the ever-present nettles. After two hours we had made barely 3 miles, I suggested we turn back since I didn't know what Cindy could handle and how far we still had to go. We both agree that the way back was miserable and ahead couldn't be worse. We were wrong!

The next part of the hike descended to a small field, ran along its edge and then reentered the woods near some impressive rock formations. From this point on the vegetation closed in over the trail so that there was no trail! I had to pick up a stick and knock down ferns, nettles and chest high raspberries! This gave a whole new meaning to bushwhacking! We were ascending small hills only to have to descend the other side. The vegetation would let up momentarily and just as we got our hopes up it would close in again! The only guidance we had was from the infrequently red disks. It did not look like any human being had been through this area this summer! The brambles and bushes hid an multitude of rocks and fallen trees to trip us up when we were not watching. I knew from the map that I wanted to head for Ploutz Road but the only road on my GPS was Hull Road. As it turns out they are the same road! When we were about a mile away from this road and still slogging through the brush I began to survey our options. At Ploutz Road we could try walking down to the Millbrook Road and asking at a house to use their phone. Calling a friend or a car from Margaretville seemed a real possibility. I knew that walking back to the car on the roads would be over 10 miles so that choice seemed poor. We could survey the trail that completed the loop and both continue to hike. I was tired at this point and Cindy seemed exhausted. The only plan that made sense was for Cindy and Sheba to stay at the parking area and for me to hike as fast as I could alone back to the car. I didn't relish the idea of splitting up but it seemed like the best choice.

To get to Ploutz Road requires a short uphill climb and I could feel how tired my legs were. The sign was not encouraging as it announced that the car was 5.1 miles away. That was almost the same distance we had come and it was almost 3:00 PM. It had taken us over 4 hours to hike about 5.5 miles! I discussed my plan with Cindy and she reluctantly agreed. I said goodbye and head up the trail. We had been descending for some time from the 2800 foot ridge we had been on. I knew that the highest point on Dry Brook Ridge is 3480 feet and that Ploutz Road was at 2400 feet. I would have to ascend 1000 feet to the ridge and I hoped I had the energy left to do it. The trail started to ascend almost immediately, gently at first and then more steeply. It was much like the ascent up the ridge on the south side only to a higher elevation. Soon I was almost to the top and near the intersection with the Dry Brook Trail. I had made the ascent in just over 30 minutes. At this point my calves began to cramp and, then, a cramp started in my upper right leg making walking impossible. At that moment it became clear to me that not all dangers come from falls or bears. I was able to stretch the leg and massage out the cramp. I also decided that saving water for later was foolish and that drinking it sooner might ease the cramping. Soon I was able to continue hiking.

I arrived at the junction with the blue Dry Brook Trail and turned left. My leg was still cramping on an off especially when stepping up. I continued to walk but was very careful with my gait. I soon was at one viewpoint and took a moment to take in the view. It was hazier than the last time I had been on he ridge and pictures were out of the question. I continued to walk and found exactly the same situation at the next set of lookouts. I turned my attention to getting back to the car as soon as possible. The trail along the ridge is mostly flat or descending. I thought I knew where the turn for the trail back to parking area was and set my GPS accordingly. After walking a little further, I passed that point as was confused. I though I might have passed the turn which, in retrospect, was silly. I had my previous track in the GPS and checked it to find the actual turn which was still about .2 miles away! I got walking again and was at the turn in no time. The sign said 1.65 miles to the parking area and I started a RAPID descent. Going down did not seem to bother my legs at all. The trail was wide open in most places and only narrowed a few time through the briars and nettles. At several points I tightened the pack and jogged. I did catch up with one couple ahead of me. I stopped just long enough to warn them about the lower part of the loop.

I entered the wide smooth trail through the pines and was back at the car by 5:15 PM. I had covered at total of 11.5 miles in 7 and a quarter hours. I did the last 5.1 miles in about 2 hours and 15 minutes. I immediately started the car and headed for the Millbrook Road to pick up Cindy and Sheba. It was a long drive to get to Ploutz Road. Just a little passed the Kelly Hollow Ski Area, I spotted Cindy and Sheba walking toward me. They had rested for a time and then walked down Ploutz Road to Millbrook Road. When we were all in the car, we took stock. Cindy had banged her shins in several places. My legs were still cramping despite consuming at least 4 liters of water. We both had various insect bites, nettle stings and scratches from the briars. We were both tired and glad to be done for the day. There are few hikes that I would discourage people from attempting but the lower part of this loop is one. DO NOT hike the whole loop unless you are prepared to spend a lot of time hacking your own path. For those intrepid enough to try, make sure you bring plenty of water since none is available for almost the entire loop!

On Friday, July 18th I wanted a short hike in anticipation of a longer walk on Saturday. I decided to take Sheba up to Long Pond and do the loop around Flugertown Road. I got ready right after summer school and we headed out. I wasn't sure about the weather and wanted to be done before any afternoon thunderstorms appeared. We parked at about 2:30 PM in the lower lot on Flugertown and headed up the snowmobile trail toward Long Pond. The trail starts with an invigorating uphill but quickly flattens and becomes a nice walk. As we were walking, I noticed what I thought were many insects on the ground. A closer look revealed that they were hundreds of toads smaller than a dime! At the spur trail to the pond, we turned right to go have a look. despite the dry weather the pond was fairly high. As I got near the edge I heard and then saw several red-wing blackbirds. I managed to get some pictures but I may go back to take some more.

We walked back to the main trail and then turned right to continue the loop. At the trail junction we turned right to head out to the lean-to. After a short walk, we again turned right onto the spur trail to the lean-to. At the lean-to we turned around and headed back to the trail junction. This time we walked straight ahead to get out to Flugertown Road. The last time we hiked this route this section of the trail had large "lakes" that had to be avoided. The trail had been partially covered with snow. Near the road the trail descends to two bridge over the creeks. I remember having to go off trail since the trail itself was so icy. On this day the lakes were just a bit muddy and the trail near the brides was dry. We walked out to the road and took the road back to the car without incident. Arriving at about 4:30 PM, we covered a little less than 5 miles in about 2 hours.

On Wednesday, July 16th I was in the mood for something different that I had not done before. I had been reading some about the Dry Brook Ridge near Margaretville and decided to give it a try. The entire loop is about 10 miles but I knew I could hike up to the lookouts and back and save at least 1.5 miles. The highest point on the ridge is 3480 feet making it close to another 3500! I printed out the trails.com guide by Peter Kick to read some more about this hike. It includes pine plantations, first growth forests and several viewpoints west over Cold Spring Hollow and the Pepacton Reservoir. When I got home I got dressed, got my gear ready and Sheba and I headed out. I underestimated the location of the parking area thinking it was closer to Downsville than Margaretville. In fact, I had to drive PAST the turnoff for Route 28 to pick up Huckleberry Brook Road. Less than half a mile on this road and I turned left on Hill Road. In a little over a mile the Parking area appeared on the right. I parked at 2:45 PM and decided to try the upper part of the loop.

I signed in at the trail register and we began to hike. The trail led upward toward the ridge threw a plantation of pine trees. The trees were tall, straight and regularly spaced. The trail was covered with pine needles making it "soft" to walk on. The trail had several switchbacks and gradually worked its way into hardwoods. These tress were also quiet tall with few branches near the ground. At some points the trail narrowed and passed through areas of briar or nettles. In other spots it widened and followed old woods roads. After walking for about 1.5 miles and climbing from 1800 feet to 3000 feet, I was on the ridge and at the junction with the blue Dry Brook Trail. The walk seemed to take longer than I thought it should but that probably since it was my first time on the trail. The Dry Brook Trail goes toward Margaretville to the left so I turned right to head toward the viewpoints to the west and the Pepacton Reservoir.

On the ridge the trail meanders back and forth and up and down but is mostly flat. Hints of a view appear on the right as you walk the trail and at about 1 mile there is a limit view to the valley below. I kept walking and found a rock shelf that afforded on unobstructed view into Cold Spring Hollow and the eastern end of the reservoir. The haze made taking good pictures difficult but I snapped some anyway. The lookout offered several different "levels" and the view from the lower one was completely open. I walked back up to the trail and continue on for a short distance to find another viewpoint. I decided that trying the entire loop would have to wait for another day. We turned around and hiked the 1.2 miles back to the red Huckleberry Loop Trail and turned left to head the 1.5 miles back to the car. Going down was MUCH faster than coming up and we were back in about and hour and a half. We competed just under 6 miles in about 3 hours and 15 minutes with some time for pictures.

On Tuesday, July 15th Cindy had the day off from work and we wanted to hike together. We wanted something local and relatively short so we chose the Trout Pond area. We though that walking down Russell Brook Road to the other trailhead might be different. From there we could walk to Mud Pond and then back to the car or around Trout also. We loaded up our gear and Sheba and got to the upper parking area on Morton Hill Road at about 2:30 PM. We hiked down Russell Brook Road to the trailhead and then continued on down toward the lower trailhead. The road continues to be eroded by the brook and on this day the brook was higher than I anticipated. When we arrived at the "crossing" the water was too high to cross. After inspecting various possible crossings, I decided to throw some rocks in to create a "bridge". Cindy countered by suggesting we take off our boots and wade across. Sheba seemed to second this idea by wading back and forth several times. I finally gave in and we waded across. The water was cold and the rocks slippery but we made it OK. After putting our boots back on we continued the hike.

From the road we took a right up the trail and crossed under the highlines. We continued to ascend the trail up along the brook that runs beside the stream that forms the outlet for Mud Pond. There was a plentiful supply of nettles to and plenty of slippery, wet rocks keep us paying attention. As the trail leveled and we approached Mud Pond, Cindy asked if we could simply return to the car rather than hike around Trout Pond. This was NOT my plan but I agreed and we headed back down the trail to the register box and the falls. We stopped briefly at the falls so that I could take some pictures and then hiked back up the road to the car. It took around 3 hours to hike about 6 miles but we did spend some time crossing the brook and taking pictures.

On Monday, July 14th I wanted a quick walk after work. I came home and got Sheba and headed for Frick Pond. I though I might explore the snowmobile trail toward Quick Lake for a slightly different route. We arrived at the parking area at 2:35 PM and headed for Frick Pond. The weather had clearer up and the sky was sunny with a few clouds. The trail surface was wet in spots from the downpours of the night before. I took some pictures of Frick Pond and then we continued on over the bridge and around to the right side of the pond. At the trail junction we headed left staying on the Quick Lake Trail. At Iron Wheel Junction we stayed left on the same trail avoiding the Logger Loops Trail back around the pond. As we headed for Junkyard Junction the snowmobile trail appeared on the left. I started up the trail but decided better of it and returned to the Quick Lake Trail.

At Junkyard Junction, we turned right onto the blue Flynn Trail and headed for Hodge Pond. After a little more than a mile, we were at the pond and turned left on the jeep trail around the back of the pond. The views were nice but not very different from other times I had been at the pond. We stopped at the outlet end of the pond for me to take some pictures and for Sheba to get a drink while wading in the pond. The stop was brief and we were soon back on the Flynn Trail headed back to the parking area. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail I decided to continue on the Flynn Trail. The time passed quickly and we were back a the car a little after 5:00 PM. We finished the 6 mile trek in about 2.5 hours!

On Saturday, July 12th I had been planning to go to do the Blacks. The weather prediction included some sun so I though it would be possible to get some pictures. I drove through Hunter and took Scribner Hollow road up to Route 23C and then turned to go to Maplecrest. Sheba and I found the parking area pretty full when we got there at 10:30 AM. We parked a little bit down the road and got right on the trail. When I signed in the register, one large group of 10 had signed in on July 10th. Their destination was Hunter Mountain! I wish they had packed a few more people into each car since they were occupying most of the spaces in the lot. Sheba and I continued up the red Black Dome Trail for about .6 miles. At the trail junction the Black Dome Trail continues up to Lockwood Gap. We turned left on yellow Batavia Kill Trail

We continued on the Black Dome and Batavia Kill Trails gain only a small amount of elevation and are fairly wide and open. There was some water in a few places but otherwise the trails were dry. A few crossing required a little rock-hopping but many of the streams were completely dry. The two crossings that do have bridges could easily have been made if the bridges were not there. After about .8 miles on the Batavia Kill Trail, we turned onto the blue Escarpment Trail. Immediately the trail begins to climb and, at points, it climbs steeply. This is the reason I take this route since I enjoy the rock scrambles along the way. This route also provides some nice views since there is NO VIEW form the summit of Blackhead. The Escarpment Trail continues for another .8 miles and the steep ascents just get steeper. When you look over your shoulder, you can see Acra Point, Burnt Knob and Windham. The view was somewhat obscured by the foliage.

The Escarpment Trail turns southeast at this point and begins a long section toward Stoppel Point. We turned right or west on the Blackhead Trail and walked across the summit ridge. As the trail starts to descend there are several great viewpoints toward Black Dome immediately to the west, Colgate lake to the south and Windham to the north. In the distance to the south the view of the Devil's Path is unmistakable. The haze obscured a clear view of the surrounding mountains and valley. The weather report had predicted also a 0% chance of rain but there were some dark clouds hanging over these mountains. The Blackhead Trail continues for abut .6 miles down into Lockwood gap between Blackhead and Black Dome. The descent must be done carefully as it is steep in places and the loose rock and dry earth make for tricky footing.

Even though a black cloud was literally hanging over us, I decided to press on to the top of Black Dome. This is another steep ascent but it is a short one. We got on the red Black Dome Trail and started up. The trail starts out at a moderate incline and then gets steeper as it progresses although it never matches the east side of Blackhead. Until now e had met only one person back at the parking area. On our way up Black Dome we met almost a dozen people coming down. Near the top of the mountain a rock shelf offers a nice view back to Blackhead. As I was taking pictures, I looked down to see a garter snake sunning itself almost at my feet. As we walked along the summit ridge, some birds flew off but one baby landed on the ground by the side of the trail. It did not move so I took some pictures before going on. After walking about .5 miles from the Gap we were at the summit of Black Dome which offers another rock shelf looking south. The haze prevented the clear views I had hoped for but we stopped for a snack and a drink.

The skies had not cleared and, if anything, looked more threatening but I knew the summit of Thomas Cole was only .7 miles farther and the climbing was easy. Sheba and I flew down the trail and met a couple hiking up from Barnum road to Black Dome. As we approached the summit of Thomas Cole another hiker, a UConn student, passed us also. We reached the highest point on Thomas Cole, turned around, and started back. The college student was within site and he tried hard to stay ahead of us. He was doing well until the ascent of Black Dome where he took a break. I stopped to talk at which point the other couple that had passed us returned from Black Dome. Sheba and I continued back down to Lockwood Gap and took the red Black Dome Trail back down the mountain. The trail has a number of switchbacks which add to the distance but help moderate the incline. From the Gap we walked 1.15 miles back to the Batavia Kill Trail junction and then the last .6 miles back to the parking area. It never did rain. We covered 7 miles over three of the highest Catskill peaks in 4.5 hours. This included plenty of time for pictures and conversation.

On Thursday, July 10th I started left summer school immediately after the last class. I had heard about another new bridge on the trail to Table from Denning and was anxious to see for myself. I already had my clothes and equipment laid out and Sheba and I were able to get to the trailhead by 2:30 PM. I knew we had plenty of time to finish the hike but I was also aware that things can sometimes go wrong. I didn't want to dawdle or waste time and then regret it later! When we arrived at the trailhead, there were some members of an ADK crew organizing materials at their trailer. I said "Hello!" but was focused on getting started. I signed into the register and then Sheba and I headed up the Phoenicia East Branch Trail. This trail is actually an old woods road and is wide and open in most places. The trail was almost dry with only a few damp places here and there.

After about 1.2 miles the Phoenicia East Branch Trail continues on toward Slide Mountain. Sheba and I turned right onto the Peekamoose Trail that goes to Table then Peekamoose and then out to the Sundown Road. We hiked the .25 miles down to the bridge over Deer Shanty Brook and got to examine the bridge situation first hand! The two logs that made of the old new bridge were down in the river. The new bridge consists of two large I-beams that span the creek. These are support by the abutments that were built last year. The bridge is decked with 4 by 4's and has rustic railings. The height of the bridge above the stream and the method of construction ensures that it will be there for some time. We walked on and crossed the other bridge which is still constructed of two logs.

The trail passes some campsites and the ADK teams were set up at one. Sheba and I continued on. This trail has long sections with little or no view and very few points of interest. At two places there is a significant drop which means a climb to regain elevation. After the second "bump", there is a short trail to the right which gives a view to Peekamoose and Table and down into the valleys below. From here it seems to take forever to reach the highest point on Table. We passed the spring and the lean-to without investigating either and finally got to the rock which seems to be the highest point on the trail. I wondered whether it would be advisable to try for Peekamoose but I remembered telling myself the last time that the distance is only .8 miles and the drop between the two peaks is minimal.

Sheba and I set a quick pace to Peekamoose and were soon tat he large glacial erratic that marks the top. We walked a little further but I decided that the views would not get any better so we turned around and started back. Now my goal was to simply get back to the parking area. We seemed to be really moving slowed only by the climb back up to Table and the rises along the way. After coming down Table, Sheba stopped in the trail indicating someone was ahead of us. One of the seasonal rangers employed by the DEC was coming our way. He was the first person we had seen. We greeted each other as we passed then it was back to the bridge. The walk to the car seemed to take forever but we were back just after 6:00 PM. We covered almost 9 miles in only 3 and a half hours!

On Monday, July 7th I started teaching summer school. After the first day was done, I needed some time to unwind. I decided to get Sheba and go to Trout Pond. We parked at the top of Russell Brook Road at about 2:30 PM and walked down to the trailhead. On the way several cars passed us coming up from the parking area. When we arrived, there was only one truck remaining. I signed into the register and then started up toward Trout Pond. We moved quickly since my only objective was to get some exercise and relax. When we reached the outlet to Trout, I could see a bright orange boat in the water near the inlet. As we approached the lean-tos I could see that it was a father and son fishing from an inflatable. I greeted them and then pressed on.

Sheba and I moved VERY quickly up to the shoulder of Cherry Ridge and then down to Mud Pond. I brought the camera but did not intend to take any pictures unless something unusually presented itself. We saw nothing out of the ordinary and did not even stop at the falls since I could see the volume was low. We were back at the car by 5:15 PM having hiked the 5.5 mile route in under 2 hours!

On Saturday, July 5th Cindy and I wanted a short, local hike we could do together. We decided that Balsam Lake would be okay since although it is steep in places it is only about 4 miles round trip. We ate breakfast at Peez Leweez, came home, changed, grabbed Sheba and headed up the Beaverkill Road. We arrived at the parking area at about 10:30 AM and got started right away. When I signed the register, I was pleased to see that the Roller family had the tower open this weekend. Rich is part of a New Jersey Search and Rescue Team and knows a tremendous amount about many different subjects. The initial part of the trail is easy walking and we made the trail junction in about 20 minutes. After we turned to go up the mountain, the trail got much steeper and we took our time giving Cindy some time to rest along the way. We arrived at the summit at about 11;35 AM which I though was good time for not pushing the ascent

Cindy went up the tower first while I talked to Rich. She said that although the sky was overcast the view was good. I went up with the camera when she came down. It had been a long time since I had been in the cab and there is a circular map and locating device to find all the Catskill peaks. After taking some pictures, I came down. We got a drink and ate a snack and talked for almost an hour. Rich pointed out a large "family" of snakes under one of the big rocks. We headed sown just after 12:30 PM and immediately met three people coming up from the Dry Brook Trail. We continued on down the mountain and made a left a the bottom to return to the car. Along the way we met about a dozen people. They didn't really seem to be equipped for hiking and asked where the tower was. Back a the turn up the mountain we met four more hikers. We got back to the car at about 1:30 PM which meant we had covered 4 miles in about 2 hours of actual hiking time.

On Friday, July 4th I decided I wanted to take a short hike locally since the forecast was for partly cloudy skies with showers. When I awoke in the morning, there was a thick blanket of fog which seemed to hang around longer than usual. I decided that I would head over to Panther since it was local and short. Sheba and I arrived at 9:30 AM to find only three cars in the parking area with two young men getting ready to head out. They made some comments to each other that indicated to me that they had not been in the area before. Sheba and I got started right away and kept up a very quick pace. I thought we might catch up to one of the groups ahead of us especially since one was only going to the Ledges. We were at the trail junction in less than 20 minutes and we turned left to go to Giant Ledge an Panther. The trail was wet and muddy in spots but many of the problem areas weren't.

We continued our rapid pace and the time seemed to fly by! In only 45 minutes we were at the Ledges. Looking out from the ledge there was only a white, soupy mass to view. Not a mountain, tree or the sky was in view. We also did not see the group that was headed to Giant Ledge so I assumed they had decided to go to Panther. We pressed on down into the Col and then up the ascent to Panther. At some point I noticed that the rubber on my left shoe was pulling away from the leather! I also found that the moisture from the wet vegetation was soaking into the "waterproof" leather. I was pretty annoyed since I purchased these shoes, Merrell Perimeter, only a few weeks ago and had, up to this point, though they were one of the best pairs of boots I had ever worn! The summit of Panther came quickly and we arrived at 11:10 AM to find...no one at the top. I was puzzled since two other groups had signed the register and we had not found either. We never did see either group! The view from Panther was much the same as from Giant Ledge so after a quick drink and snack we headed back.

Going down Panther went very quickly even though I took extra care to avoid slipping on the wet rocks. On the way back up to Giant Ledge we met a lone hiker headed for Panther. When we arrived at Giant Ledge, the fog had cleared enough to reveal the valley below although the surrounding mountains remained shrouded. I stopped to take a few pictures before continuing on. At one of the viewpoints were we stopped there was a father and son who had stopped to rest. I talked to them about other hikes with a view and then we parted company. The skies that had been clearing seemed to be getting dark and I wanted no part of a rain shower so Sheba and I hurried down the mountain. On our way down we met couples and groups a friends and large families and 18 people from Frost Valley all going up! I estimated they had at least one and a half or two hours before they would be back at the parking area! I figured they were risking getting wet at least and might be in danger from lightening. I talked to most of them and then continued to move quickly toward the parking area. When I signed out at the trail register, I found that 54 people had signed in after I had. Sheba and I were back at 1:30 PM having covered the 6 miles in less time taking into account the amount of times we stopped to converse with others.

On Wednesday, July 2nd I decided to do something strenuous since I had many errands to do on Thursday and the weather report was for a near perfect hiking day. I was looking for a hike that would be challenging but would also provide good picture taking opportunities. I had just done Wittenberg and Cornell so I considered the Blacks and the Devil's Path. The Devil's Path was closer so I decided to hike Indian Head and Twin starting at Prediger Road and taking the Devil's Path over Indian Head and through Jimmy Dolan Notch to Twin. I could then decide to go back down to the Notch or continue on over Twin. Sheba and I left Manor at about 8:35 AM and were at the trailhead on Prediger Road by 10:10 AM. I was surprised to see three other cars there but was still able to park with no problem. The next surprised was that the small footbridge over the stream was now gone! Instead there was a rather substantial earth and stone bridge over two metal culverts. In addition to this the path had been widened and compacted to make a smooth surface. This went on passed the trail register. A little further in was an area that was partly cleared with additional trees marked. I am not sure but this may be the new parking area that has long been promised for one of the most popular trailheads in this area of the Catskills.

The first thing that struck me about the trail was that it was WET! There had apparently been heavy thunderstorms in this area the night before that we did not get in Livingston Manor. There was moisture on every rock and root making them all slippery. There was standing water and mud in many areas. We crossed four separate flowing streams on the way to where the Devil's Path starts up Indian Head! After .4 miles the trail splits with the Jimmy Dolan Notch Trail turning right to go to Jimmy Dolan Notch, the col between Indian Head and Twin. This is by far the quickest route up to both mountains but I was in no hurry and wanted the views from the east side of Indian Head. Sheba and I stayed to the left on the Devil's Path. After 1.3 miles, we intersected a woods road. This road leads passed Plattekill Mountain and To Overlook Mountain the long way. After only a few hundred feet, the Devil's Path turns right and begins the ascent of Indian head.

The ascent, like many. consists of climbs interspersed with flatter areas. This trail has at least two places where you might think you are at the top only to find more trail and climbing ahead. My "up" muscles were definitely still tired and they were screaming at the beginning of the climb. I went slowly and used the step up and rest technique for a while. This seemed to actually improve how my legs felt and they didn't bother me much for the rest of the day. This trail has several challenging climbs which require grabbing onto rocks and roots and limbs and using whatever handholds are available to get up them. This day the problem was that everything was wet and you had to be very sure of both footing and grip. As we climbed I kept looking for the views that I knew would come. Near the summit are several lookouts and the views were spectacular! One nice viewpoint looks out at Kaaterskill High Peak and Round Top while in the valley is the Catskill Bruderhof. The Hudson is clearly visible but I have come to the conclusion that it is ALWAYS hazy! I took many pictures at each spot since that was my main goal. After 1.55 miles, I was sure I was at the top when the trail leveled off. Not so! The last .25 miles are relatively flat until the open rock that marks the summit. There is NO VIEW from the summit at all!

Sheba and I did not stop at the summit but continued on down the other side of Indian Head. There are no views over to Twin from here like there are of Black Dome from Blackhead. The descent was tricky since each rock was potentially slippery and there is also a lot of loose rock. After less than .5 miles we were down in the notch. We had not seen another hiker all day despite the cars on Prediger Road. We stopped for a snack before attacking Twin. The horizontal distance up Twin is only about .4 miles to the eastern peak and another .6 miles to the western summit. Getting up to the eastern peak consists of several challenging scrambles similar to the east side of Indian Head. We made it up through these quickly and I stopped once at a viewpoint but knew that it was nothing compared to the summit. When we got to the level ground at the top, we quickly walked to the rock shelf that provides one of the best viewpoints in the Catskills. We stopped for some time to take in the view and so that I could take pictures. The western summit is clearly visible. Just to the left is Sugarloaf and the Plateau. To the east Indian Head can just be seen but Overlook with the fire tower and TV antenna is clearly visible.

I considered turning around at this point but decided that the western peak wasn't far away, it offered different angles for photography and I wouldn't feel like I had climbed Twin unless we went there. We were off! Of course, there is a descent to a saddle between the two peaks and then a return climb up to the western peak which is longer since that summit is higher. There were MANY very wet areas in this saddle but we made good time and were soon standing on the highest point. I took some more pictures and then we turned around and went back to the eastern peak. Sheba was slightly ahead of me when we got back to the other peak and I could see another hiker using binoculars to survey the view. When I called Sheba, she didn't come immediately and I soon found out why. The other hiker had a dog and Sheba and Polly were getting acquainted. Sheba usually ignores other people, unless they have food, and she pays little attention to wildlife. She does get distracted by other dogs. This is the first time that there was no growling or other commotion.

I talked to Gary Lovett for a little while before starting down the mountain. He is a researcher with the Carey Institute an independent environmental group. He was making some observations for his research. Sheba and I started down the trail leaving Gary and Polly behind. On the way down I took some pictures and did not hurry. While taking my last picture near an interesting rock formation, I heard a noise up the trail. I looked up to see Polly looking down! Sheba and I continued to the notch and headed down the Notch Trail. This is one of my LEAST favorite trails since it is steep and has lots of loose rocks! This can be a recipe for disaster! As we descended I was reminded of the time this winter when Sheba and I arrived at Prediger Road after a snow storm. The ascent to the col was BRUTAL and the climb to the top of Twin one of the most challenging things I have ever done. The trail now looked at bit different with all its rocks and roots exposed! I must admit that I was moving fast to stay ahead of Gary and Polly but I did stop several times to take pictures. They caught up to us at the trail junction and we walked back together talking. Polly is a border collie and LOVES to chase sticks! Gary kept throwing the sticks she retrieved until we arrived at the car. We had covered about 8 miles in a little less than 5 1/2 hours.

On Tuesday, July 1st Cindy and I decided to do some hiking or her day off and my week before the end of school and the beginning of summer school. She asked for something relatively "flat" and I though about the mines in Harriman park. She had never been to see any of these and I thought she might like to view these "attractions". I chose the Pine Swamp, Surebridge and Greenwood mines with a possible detour to the Hansclever Mine on the way back to the car. The drive is a long one from northern Sullivan County so we arrived at about 10:10 AM at the parking area near Lakes Askoti and Skannatati. We immediately donned our gear and got started following the aqua blazes of the Long Path toward its junction with the yellow Dunning Trail.

The blazes near the lake are few and far between and the area is well-used. I missed some of the blazes for the Long Path and stayed nearer to the lake. This was a nice change and at one point I turned right and walk toward the area of the Long Path and easily picked it up. At this point my GPS on a bright and sunny day had still failed to register our position. So much for technology aiding the hiker! We continued without incident following the Long Path until it climbing to the area just south of the Hogencamp Mine and Cape Horn. After 1.2 miles, we turned right on the Dunning Trail where the Long Path turns left and head toward Pine Swamp and the mine. This trail is a wide woods road and is a very pleasant walk. The scale on the Harriman maps compared to the ones for the Catskills always fools me and the distance to the mine is only .5 miles. In just a short time we were approaching Pine Swamp on the right and I began looking for tailings piles on the left. The trail was very dry with all of the flowing streams brought to a trickle or worse. Pine Swamp was down in volume also. Soon the tailings appeared and we cut up the hill toward the mine.

There was still a pool of water near the entrance to the mine but the level was lower than the last time I had visited. We walked up to the mine entrance and I began taking pictures. The problem is that the mine is very dark and the flash cannot illuminate it well. Without the flash it is almost impossible to see anything. Cindy was not too enthusiastic about clambering over the wet rocks in the semi-darkness but Sheba and I went all the passed the vertical air shaft. I did notice this time that there were an abundance of gold flakes indicating iron pyrites and some green streaks on the walls of the mine showing some possible copper deposits. After taking some pictures I carefully worked my way back down over the slippery rocks and we went back down to the Dunning Trail.

We walked north for .15 miles until the Dunning Trail meets the Arden-Surebridge Trail where we wanted to turn left to go toward the Surebridge Mine Road that would lead to the other two mines. The stream that lies to the right of the trail usually has a large volume of water and can be hard to cross. Today it was dry! I noticed another cut into the rocks on the other side of the stream that I had missed before. We went over to investigate and found another mine. It was an open trench about 15 feet high and forty feet long. There are several other pits in this area and what look like the remains of foundations from mine buildings. We got back on the ASB Trail and headed for Times Square. After .38 miles we were at Times Square and we walked through with area for another .15 miles until the ASB and Long Path turn to the left. We continued straight ahead on the Surebridge Mine Road passing a swamp on the left and finally Surebridge Swamp on the left. The trail was initially pretty wet while passing the swamp but soon dried out again. The trail began to look familiar and I knew that mine would soon appear on the right.

After .4 miles on the mine road Surebridge Mine appeared on the right. Right off the path is the first small cut or trench but there is much more waiting in the woods. This is a relatively flat area so the mine consists of a series of pits and trenches with their accompanying tailings piles. There are tow or three long trenches one of which has an entrance at one end that goes further down into the bedrock. This was covered by water before but was now dry. I went down into the trench to inspect the entrance but it is very small and I did not have a light or hard hat. It definitely goes back into the rock. There is also a deep pit that appears to go down at least 20 feet before it is filled with water. I assumed from last time that it simply goes straight down but with the water level much lower it looks like it may extend further outward at the bottom. After talking pictures and walking around the area we headed back out to the trail.

As we continued down the trail we passed the junction with the Bottle Cap Trail and then started passed another area. Cindy had applied insect repellent before the hike. This now seemed like and EXCELLENT idea as the mosquitoes attacked me in waves. I have NEVER seen so many hungry mosquitoes in one place and Cindy said that I was covered with them. I though we might out walk them as we got by the swamp but this was not the case. We stopped and I applied 100% DEET which kept them from landing and biting but not from swarming. After .6 miles we were at the Green wood Mine. The tailings piles here are always impressive and I took some shots. The water level was down at the main mine entrance but the adit is still under water. I had wanted to hang around in this area but the insects were just to bothersome. We decided to gain some elevation by following the AT up and over Fingerboard Mountain.

From the road the AT ascends rather quickly up to the top of the ridge. I like to climb and was enjoying this ascent after the flat walking we had done so far. The AT is marked well in the area but the trail shows very little definition in places. After the initial climb the trail levels some and then continues in a series of short climbs and level areas. On one of these areas we met another couple and talked briefly before continuing on. After cresting another ridge we met a lone hiker accompanied by his dog. We followed the AT until the blue Hurst Trail turned right. We took this trail to return to Seven lakes Drive. The trail is a long descent and initially passes by a well-constructed stone shelter as it heads down to the road near one end of Lake Tiorati. We continued down the trail for .5 miles and then got on the road. I wanted to take the Red Cross Trail over to the Hansclever Mine when we got to Lake Askoti but by that time Cindy felt she was too tired to continue. I was a little disappointed but the mine will still be there next time. After 1.1 miles on the road, we were back at the parking area as the skies began to darken. By the time we were in the car and headed back to the Bear Mountain traffic circle it was raining and then pouring. We had walked about 6 miles and seen some very interesting sites on the way.

On Monday, June 30th I decided to get some hiking done in the week before the end of school and the beginning of summer school. I had not done Plateau in June so I decided to hike that peak. I didn't want to park at Notch Lake and pay a fee so I headed for the Elka Park-Roaring Kill Trailhead. The skies in Livingston Manor were cloudy but clearing when I left. When I arrived at the trailhead, the skies were overcast with some dark clouds and a few raindrops of the windshield. I decided to bank on the skies clearing and Sheba and I were on the trail by 9:45 AM. I had only been on this trail a few times and had usually used it to hike Sugarloaf and Twin. After a very short distance the yellow Roaring Kill Trail meets the blue Mink Hollow Trail. I turned right to go toward Plateau.

As we hiked I began to get the feeling we were headed more toward Sugarloaf than Plateau and was sure I had somehow made a mistake. I decided to continue since the trail looked familiar and several checks of map and GPS seemed to indicate I was wrong. Some we were at a rock ledge that acts as a viewpoint toward Plateau. I stopped to take pictures and then got back on the trail. As I have done before Is started back the way we had come missing the fact that the trail cuts back sharply and descends. I caught my mistake immediately and got headed in the right direction. This trail seems to go on forever. In places the rocks were wet from the overnight thunderstorms and there was some surface mud. Most of the streams across the trail were dry and the Roaring Kill wasn't...roaring.

Finally, we were at the trail junction with the Devil's Path and we turned right toward Plateau. I remembered that Karl and I had gone this way and found the hike very challenging but I was still fresh and ready to go. We crossed Mink Hollow Road thought this would be a good "trail" to check out at some point. We were soon headed up toward Plateau. The trail ascends some and then follows the base of the mountain for a distance. Then the trail turns slightly left and begins a relentless ascent to the summit. The trail climbs about 1300 feet in less than a mile and never really levels off to allow a rest. Several places have rock scrambles requiring some handholds on roots and rocks. In some places this was interesting since the rocks were wet and covered with moss. Some areas of this trail did have a lot of running water and this was the first time I had seen this all year. Sheba had little trouble and waited for me several times. I have to admit that my legs were feeling very tired near the top.

As we neared the summit, the trail leveled off some. This is misleading since it immediately begins a final ascent and the last .2 miles are pretty stiff. Finally we arrived at the boulders which provide a view over to Sugarloaf. We stopped to get a snack, drink and take pictures. At this point I was doubting whether or not I wanted to torture myself on Sugarloaf. After a short rest, we continued on up the trail to the summit of Plateau which is just short of the new Warners Creek trail. At this point we turned around and retraced our steps to the lookout and then back down the mountain. Usually descent bother me more than ascents but this was an exception. We fairly flew down the mountain and I was feeling pretty good by the time we were back at Mink Hollow Road. I decided to go start up Sugarloaf and see how I felt. As soon as I began to climb I knew that I would not be having an fun going up the mountain, My legs were dead! As I was trying to make my decision the wind blew up and the skies got darker. I decided to try walking out Mink Hollow Road and back to the car on Roaring Kill Road.

The road starts as little more than a trail and is not blazed. I could see that people had been walking on it but I hoped that I was not violating anyone's property rights. The "road" was easy to follow although very rocky at the beginning. Shortly it turned slightly right and became a smoother surface. It was easy to follow but wet in some places. As I looked ahead I could see several large boulders across the trail and some parked cars. Although the area was not marked as a trailhead it had wilderness area signs and room for several cars. The road now became a smooth dirt surface with crushed stone. I made a note that this would be by far the easiest way to access both Plateau and Sugarloaf. Sheba and I followed the road until it turned into a paved surface. After a little more than 1.5 miles we were back at Roaring Kill Road. We walked less than 1 mile to get back to the car by 2:15 PM. We had covered 7.7 miles, some very difficult, in 4.5 hours.

On Saturday, June 28th Cindy and I decided to celebrate our 33rd wedding anniversary with a long, grueling hike. The weather prediction seemed to suggest showers late in the day and we planned to be done before they arrived. I needed Hunter for June so I suggested hiking up the Becker Hollow Trail to the fire tower. My intentions were to return by the Hunter Mountain Trail and the Devil's Path to Notch lake. A 1.5 mile walk on the road would get us back to the car. We left Livingston Manor shortly after 8:30 AM and headed out DeBruce Road. Near round pond I spotted something in the road. It turned out to be a small snapping turtle. I was afraid it would be hit by a car so I took some pictures and then ushered it off the road into the grass. We continued on our way and parked at Becker Hollow at about 10:10 AM.

We got right on the Becker Hollow Trail walking between the stone pillars that mark the remains of a long-forgotten camp or estate. The trail at the bottom is wide and flat without many stones or roots. This part is an old woods road as is easy walking. After a short distance a dam appears on the left and we stopped to take a look. At this point the sun was very bright, almost too bright to take good pictures! The trail began to narrow and gain elevation at this point. There were also several brooks running across the trail. This was surprising since most hikes streams on my latest hikes had been dry or at least reduced to a very low volume. There was enough water in many places to support a healthy and thriving crop of nettles! Fortunately the trail was wide enough to prevent any close encounters.

The trail begins to ascend in earnest and never lets up until the junction with the tower spur trail. The ascent is challenging up to 3500 feet and then gets even steeper. At this point the trail becomes rockier with looses stones and dirt. This is cruel since your legs are already tired from the climb up to this point! From 3500 feet there is still over 500 feet to ascend. The trail is exposed to the bright sun in most places and we found it important to keep drinking water. Eventually we arrived at the trail junction and turned right on the yellow fire tower spur trail. This trail is flat and even descends at points in its first half. After that the trail begins to ascend and has several switchbacks and sets of stone steps near the top. Suddenly, after climbing over a large boulder, the trail levels off and after a few hundred fee the ranger cabin comes into view. We walked out into the summit clearing to find no ones else on top when we arrived just after noon.

I took off my pack and climbed the tower. Cindy and Sheba stayed on the cabin porch to get a drink and relax. The sun was still shining but the wind had picked up and was even more noticeable at the top of the tower. Some haze hung over the surrounding mountains and valleys but I took quite a few pictures using different angles and zooms. I even took several shots down at Cindy and Sheba at the cabin. At this point half of the sky showed bright sunlight while dark clouds were rolling in to cover the other half. We decided to take the long way down the Hunter Trail and Devil's Path to Notch Lake. We wanted to move quickly since storms can blow in rapidly and become quite intense. I thought to myself that even though we were hurrying down to avoid the thunderstorms we would meet some groups going up! I put away the camera and we started to hurry down the trail.

As we were hiking down the Hunter Trail we met a young couple coming up and moving at a good pace. We stopped to talk briefly and continued down to the trail junction with the Devil's Path. I had already decided to forgo the side-trip to Leavitt Peak so we turned left on the Devil's Path toward Notch Lake. The first part of the Devil's Path is nearly level although narrow in places. At some point it begins a gentle descent and then a MUCH steeper one for the last .75 miles. At times the descent would be so steep that it might be impossible without the many switchbacks that make it more manageable. Near Notch Lake the trail passes over, around and through some interesting boulders and bedrock formations. One large rock seems to have been split down the middle. I took some pictures and then we continued on to the lake. We stopped at the lake and I took more pictures. We then decided that Sheba and I would walk the road back to the car and Cindy would wait at the lake. Sheba and I put it into high gear for the 1.5 mile walk. The first part of the walk ascends a small hill on Route 214. In a car it is barely noticeable but after 6.5 miles of hiking I was aware of the incline. As we walked I heard a noise in the tree behind us. The rain had finally started and was following us up the road! With about .5 miles to go we passed the young couple we had met on the Hunter Trail. Sheba and I made it to the car just as the rain seemed to stop. We had covered about 8 miles in just less than 5 hours. I changed clothing quickly and started back to pick up Cindy. The rain picked up again and I offered the couple a ride which they accepted. I dropped them off at their car at Notch Lake and picked up Cindy. We headed into Tannersville for meal at Pancho Villa's.

On Wednesday, June 25th I decided to take advantage of the only day that did not have thunderstorms predicted for a week. The forecast was for partly sunny skies with temperatures in the high 70's. Sheba and I got to Woodland Valley by 9:30 AM and, after I paid the $%5 parking fee, got right on the trail. Every time I hike Wittenberg and Cornell from the Woodland Valley Side, I forget how the hike begins. After crossing the bridge over the creek, the trail quickly rises until the trail register appears at about .5 miles. There is NO WARMUP time! I always think that I have missed the box since it is so far into the trail. I signed us in at the box and noticed only one party ahead of us. We quickly ascended through the rocks and roots that make up the first part of the trail. I was following Sheba who seldom deviates from the marked path.

Within 15 or 20 minutes we had reached the first area where the trail levels somewhat in a grove of pine trees. We continued walking until the trail turned abruptly to the left and started to climb. At this point Sheba alerted to something ahead and I saw some other hikers making their way up the trail. We soon caught up to two women and a man from Valatie, NY and stopped to talk briefly in a flat area just before the next climb. The trail turns right and then left up through some rocks. It was extremely dry and almost all of the running streams had NO WATER in them. There were a few pools of water and only a couple of muddy patches. This part of the trail meanders back and forth, climbs and little and then descends.

At 2.6 miles the trail meets a spur trail to Terrace Mountain. We turned right and got ready for the final 1.5 miles of ascent. The first part of is deceptive since the trail follows a wide woods road and ascends gently. This quickly ends and the real climb up Wittenberg begins. This consists of many scrambles up and over rocks and boulders followed by brief flat areas. Some of the scrambles required me to grab onto roots and small trees but Sheba made it up without a problem. This goes on for what seems forever. Every time I thought I was done, there would be another set of rocks to maneuver around or over. This area is usually rife with running and standing water and there was some in a few places. We finally got near the top and then broke out of the woods onto the summit of Wittenberg to find ...no one. We were completely alone. It had taken about 2 hours to make the summit. The view was the best I've had in some time. There was some haze over the Ashokan and on the far peaks but not enough to prevent taking pictures. I took quite a few including some of the summit with and without Sheba.

After getting a drink and eating a snack we started for over the Bruin's Causeway for Cornell. This trip is less than a mile and the Col between the two mountains always seems negligible to me. There were some VERY muddy areas between the two peaks. There are also several rocky areas to negotiate. The most significant of these is the V-shaped notch or chimney just before the Cornell summit. Sheba made it OK and I did not even take off my pack to shimmy up the notch. I did scrape my elbow and bang my shin as usual! I am glad that I didn't slip at one point as I used some adrenalized upper body strength to get up the last few feet. From here we headed to the Cornell summit.

We took the spur trail to the Cornell lookout and I was a little disappointed. The foliage limited the view and there seemed to be more haze from this angle. A did snap a few pictures and then we started back. We paused at the top of the V-notch and I walked to the lookout to the right of the notch. This gave me an excellent view of Wittenberg and I took some pictures. Sheba did NOT want to go down the notch so I went down first. With a little "coaxing", she let me help her down and we were off. Along the way we met a young college student headed for Cornell. We exchanged greetings and I asked if he had seen anyone else. He said that a father and son were on Wittenberg and that he had waved to the other three people further down the mountain. As we retraced our steps we met the group of three headed for Cornell. By the time Sheba and I were back at Wittenberg it was empty again. I took some more pictures and we continued our hike.

As we descended the college student caught up to us which means he was moving very fast. We said hello and started a long conversation. He probably slowed a little and Sheba and I sped up our pace and we stayed together until the end of the hike! He had grown up in the area and is now attending Western Washington University. He said that he really enjoys hiking and climbing in the Cascades and Olympics but likes to get back home to the Catskills. He was a very pleasant young man and I enjoyed sharing stories with him. Having a human companion to talk to made the return trip go much faster, Sheba didn't seem to mind and loped along behind us the entire way. We returned to Woodland Valley before 3:00 PM making the trip about 9 miles in 5 hours and 15 minutes

On Saturday, June 21st we had not been hiking for two weeks and all three of us were ready to go. The prediction for possible thunderstorms had been changed to partly sunny until the evening so we wanted to make good use of the day. After taking care of some morning chores, we decided to head to North South Lake and do the Escarpment Trail. This is almost a two hour drive for use so despite our 9:00 AM start we arrived to find the parking area on Schutt Road nearly full at 11:00 AM. Another group with a dog started just before us so we took our time hoping they would get a head start and we would not encounter them again. Once we did get started we kept up our usual pace and over took them within a few minutes. We were soon passed them and headed toward the Layman Memorial.

Our first impression of the woods was that it was dry despite the frequent thunderstorms. The paths had only some condensation on the rocks but little mud. The streams were at very low volume. The laurel was in full blossom and made a beautiful white wall on many of the paths. We were soon at the Layman Memorial and noticed the crumbling left front corner. The views down into Kaaterskill Clove are limited from here so we pushed on. The memorial is the lowest point on the hike and there are several significant climbs to reach the relatively level area of the Escarpment Trail. Along the trail there are a number of named lookouts and in this area they are Sunset Rock and Inspiration Point. Many of the unnamed viewpoints offer views which are just as stunning and have fewer people. Despite the number of cars in the lot we saw few hikers and none of the lookouts were crowded.

We stopped at several viewpoints along the way taking a little extra time at Sunset Rock and Inspiration Point. The group with the dog that started ahead of us was at Inspiration Point and ready to turn around a go back! From these lookouts the predominant view is south across Kaaterskill Clove to the High Peak and Round Top. To the west is the Clove and Hunter Mountain. As you progress along the trail views of the Hudson River to the east become more prominent. After Inspiration Point The Escarpment Trail continues and eventually makes a sharp left and travels northwest for a time. At the site of the old Kaaterskill Hotel several trails meet. We turned right and stayed on the Escarpment Trail. We were there around 1:00 PM and stopped briefly for a snack and some water.

At this point the trail is relatively flat and follows and old carriage path for a short distance. It then meets a bypass trail where we turned right to stay on the Escarpment Trail and descend to Split Rock and Boulder Rock. Split Rock is and area where some of the bedrock has pulled away from the main formation causing a split and a chasm. Down in this area there were many laurel bushes and everything was very green. Boulder Rock is a large glacial erratic right on the edge of the escarpment. This viewpoint also offers the first real glimpse of the Hudson River. When we arrived there where about a dozen older Boy Scouts and there leaders spread out over the entire area. I wanted to take a few pictures without the scouts but they didn't seem to be in any hurry to let others enjoy the spot! We took a quick look from the viewpoint and continued on.

From Boulder Rock it is only a very short distance to the open field where the Catskill Mountain House once stood. This was the prototype for most of the other hostels which dotted this area. The view from here never ceases to amaze me and it is easy to see why this site was chosen. We walked along the edge and took some pictures. Along the trail I had answered question from a number of hikers. A women at this site asked directions to Sunset Rock where she was to meet a group. I explained there were TWO Sunset Rocks but that the one further to the northeast was the more popular one. We continued down the road that once was the driveway to the hotel. This road leads to the North lake beach and picnic area. The trail continues as it skirts these areas and then starts to ascend again. One ascent leads to a large area of bare rock dotted with scrub pines. I think it is one of the most interesting place son the trail. We arrived at Artist's Rock which has a beautiful view over the entire valley below. The story is that many artists, famous and unknown, have painted and drawn pictures of this famous landscape.

As we continued on the sky to the east began to cloud up and there were several claps of thunder. I though the worst but we never got any rain unlike our previous two outings. We continued along with the vague idea that we would head up to North Point and then back down by Mary's Glen and Shelter Rock. The trail ascends continuously on the way to North Point and some ascent are steep but short. In one area rock walls begin to rise on the right signifying the approach to Sunset Rock and Lookout Point. Further up the trail is a spur trail that leads to both of these excellent viewpoints. The more adventuresome hiker can find several different ways to climb up through the rocks to the lookouts. One crack in particular offers some challenge with minimal danger. Cindy and Sheba took the trail and I climbed through the rocks.

From Sunset Rock there is a great view of North South Lake which is second only to the view from North Point! We stopped so that I could take some pictures and offer some more advice to hikers. On the way back along the spur trail we stopped at Lookout Point which offers a view of the river. At this point the skies over us were getting VERY dark and I expected rain at any minute. We walked back down to the Escarpment Trail and decided to go as far as Badman Cave and then take the Rock Shelter Trail back to our car on Schutt Road. At the Cave I took some pictures and had a moment of regret that we were not going to North Point, We turned left on Rock Shelter and headed southwest. Again, we were impressed by how dry the trail was in this area. The trail is usually a stream but the rocks on this day were bone dry. The small stream next to the trail was barely damp. We continued on down the Rock Shelter Trail which, to me, is one of the least interesting trails I have ever been on! After a little over a mile we were back at the car by 3:13 PM. We had covered 7.8 miles in just over 5 hours. We stopped in Tannersville for our usual meal at Pancho Villas and were not disappointed.

Spring 2008

On Sunday, June 8th the weather prediction again showed a 30% chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. After our experience last week, this should have been a warning. Cindy was still recovering from the previous day so Sheba and I headed for Trout Pond. We arrived at 9:30 AM and started the hike right away. I felt we could be done hiking by the time the chance of thunderstorms became a real problem. In addition, I had promised Cindy that I would be home for a late lunch. We parked in the upper lot and began the walk down Russell Brook Road. As we took this short walk three cars passed us with camping gear. Two more were parked at the upper area and a few more down at the trailhead parking. Apparently Trout Pond has become even more popular! Russell Brook had some water flowing and the falls were making some noise but the flow was greatly diminished. At the trailhead parking, I was surprised to see no dirt pile blocking the road. It had been leveled and the road "extended" some distance.

Sheba and I continued to walk down what was once Russell Brook Road. I almost expected that the road would be repaired but I found out that just a short distance beyond where the dirt pile had been erosion continued to eat away at the road. Walking down this wide trail seemed easy although it was hot and humid and there were A LOT of lies and biting insects. The brook was a little low and places that normally would be underwater were dry. We arrived at the site of the culvert crossing to find that the water was a little too deep to cross easily. We worked our way back upstream and each spot seemed to have some problem. I finally found a place where the water was fairly shallow and a tree spanned the deeper section. We crossed here and walked back to the culvert. The large number of rocks on the shore showed the power of the stream when it is flowing with high volume.

A few hundred feet after the culvert we turned right up the trail and crossed the power line right of way. From here there is a short climb followed by a walk through evergreen forest next to a swamp and a stagnant beaver pond. On the way I saw and photographed a lady slipper along the trail. After easily crossing a small creek we walked beside it for a little while. The trail is not much used and is poorly marked. Sharp eyes are needed to stay on the trail through the lush green grass. As I walked I thought it had started to rain and then I realized that it was "material" raining down from the caterpillars destroying the leaves above us. Shortly we began to climb a long and rather steep grade to Mud Pond. The footing was somewhat slippery due to condensation on the rocks and the nettles were just coming into their own. Several times I stopped to rest in the heat and high humidity. I began to feel like I would simply go straight back to the car from Mud Pond and forget the loop around Trout.

The trail eventually levels out near Mud Pond and we made a sharp right to continue to follow it around the pond. This area is usually very wet but this day it was only marshy in a few spots. As we hit the wide woods road we met two women hiking toward us. We said hello and continued on to the junction with the trail that loops around Trout Pond. I was feeling better so we stopped for a minute to get a drink and to change my socks. I decided to take the loop around Trout and off we went. This trail is a gentle incline all the way to the top of Cherry Ridge and then a slightly steeper descent to the inlet of Trout Pond. The walk up was not too difficult and the walk down seemed to go quickly. I stooped at the lean-to and the inlet of the pond to take some pictures. There was nothing too spectacular about the view but I photographed it anyway.

We continue on around the pond over relatively dry trail and stooped for a moment at the outlet to take some pictures. The rest of the trail is downhill to the falls and we made good time meeting two groups coming up the trail. Sheba alerted near the bottom of the trail. I looked into the woods and saw a deer right a the edge of the trail. Sheba and I continued on after I took pictures and walked across the bridge over Russell Brook below the falls. This was one day I did NOT stop to photograph the falls. Clouds were gathering, not much water was flowing and Cindy was waiting to go to lunch. We finished the 7.5 mile hike by 1:15 PM and headed back for Manor.

On Saturday, June 7th the weather prediction showed a 30% chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. After our experience last week, this should have been a warning. We were not deterred. Although we got a late start we arrived at a packed trail head parking area ready to hike. It was VERY hot with temperatures bumping into the low 90's and humidity above 80%. The drive to the trailhead passes by several camping areas on the Peekamoose Road. All of these were packed with cars. Along this stretch is Buttermilk Falls and several unnamed falls. They were running but it was obvious that despite the thunderstorms we had been having conditions were quite dry. We walked across the road and got on the trail at 11:00 AM.

The first part of this hike follows Kanape Brook in a generally southeast direction. Sometimes the trail is close to the stream and other times it rises to overlook the water below. The stream gurgles or roars as water passes over rocks depending on the level of the water. The trail climbs but very gently as it passes through alternating evergreen and hardwood forests. After about 2.5 miles the trail turns left off the woods road and begins to narrow. Immediately after the turn you will notice trail markers on the left. This is the loop trail which most people use to return from the High Point. We stopped at the trail junction to put on some Ultrathon to repel the many biting insects and large black flies. It wasn't hard to notice the damage to the trees caused by the caterpillars. We were already tired not so much from the walk but the oppressive heat and humidity! I had chosen NOT to bring my 3 liter Camelbak simply to lighten the load. This meant we had only to liters of water. Fortunately, Sheba found lots of water along the way.

We began to climb the trail that begins to get steeper right away. Cindy lagged a little behind but I felt lethargic as well. There are several switchbacks along the trail. They moderate the climb but add distance. The trail ascends and the level several times and then comes to a series of steep climbs mixed with level areas. The trail is very clearly marked and stone "steps" have been created in some areas up the steeper climbs. Along the way we met two young men who were part of a crew participating in National trail Day. We thanked them for their work and I admired their youth! We continued on up several more short but steep climbs catching up with two other couples near the High Point. We knew we had arrived when we saw the USGS seal in the rock. This part of the trail is just under a mile. I also knew this was not the best view. I left Cindy and Sheba to rest in the shade and continued on with just my camera.

A short spur to the left gave me a nice view of the Burroughs's Range but I knew better views were to come. After walking through two open areas I arrived at a third with the other two couples and a dog right behind. This third field gave me a great view of the Burroughs Range and I stopped to take a few pictures. I walked to the right passed a stone fireplace and benches and found an informal trail down through the brush to a ledge. This ledge provided a viewpoint for the Ashokan Reservoir and I called to the others to come take in the view. Some view is better than no view but the Ashokan was covered in a heavy hazy typical of the hot humid weather we were experiencing. After taking a few pictures, I returned to Sheba and Cindy and we got ready to continue the hike. We both decided that we would return the way we came. The other dog had gone on ahead and the skies had begun to coalesce indicating rain was on the way. We started down at a fast pace.

As we hurried down the trail I couldn't help remember last Saturday when we were drenched at Hodge Pond. A LITTLE rain might cool us off but I didn't want to be soaked to the skin again. Far off flashes of lightening and the rumble of thunder kept our pace swift. On the way down we met at least three groups of people starting the trip up. They either were unaware of how severe storms can be or felt they were prepared in some way. We also beat the other two couples to the trail junction and did not see them again. As we were about .5 miles out it started to rain. The trees offered some protection and the rain would come hard for a few moments and then let up. By the time we got back to the car at 3;30 PM we were pretty wet but the rain had almost stopped. We had gone 7.3 miles in 4.5 hours with several stops along the way. We decided to take the Peekamoose Road out to 28A and then to 28. After stopping for some drinks we headed west on 28 until we got to the Big Indian Claryville Road. We took this back to Frost Valley and the to DeBruce Road and home.

On Sunday, June 1st the weather prediction showed a 30% chance of thunderstorms in the morning on one report and clear skies on another. This should have been a clue that the prediction was hard to make due to changing conditions. I decided to get up early and hike Slide Mountain. June was the only month I was missing for Slide. I figured as long as I was there I would also bag Cornell and Wittenberg. I had done this several times before. I intended to hike over to Wittenberg and then back the same way. This is challenging since it actually includes not three but five peaks! There were only a few cars in the lot when I arrived at 9:15 AM and the weather was just warm with a slight breeze. The sky that I could see was blue with some dark clouds. I always worry about crossing the Neversink especially when it has rained like the night before. The river was almost DRY! We had no trouble crossing nor did we have trouble with the small tributary on the trail. At the trail head we did meet a hiker returning from Slide. He was taking a break and getting ready to return to the top! It takes all kinds!

Sheba and I set a quick pace up the mountain and passed the 3500 foot sign. The skies continued to become darker and any view of the other peaks sowed dark clouds hanging over them. We hurried to the top and made it by 10:15 AM. The sky had cleared and everything looked fine when we arrived. I took a few pictures and we got a snack and drink. In that short period of time the wind blew up again and dark clouds filled half the sky. I have been on the peaks in torrential rain storms with lightning strikes all around. This is not an enjoyable experience so I decided to return to the parking area. I had accomplished my primary goal and just didn't "feel" it. As we descended the sky would clear and then darken over and over. The wind continued to blow and the temperature dropped to the point that I contemplated donning light gloves. We got back at 11:30 AM covering the 5.5 miles in 2.5 hours.

On Saturday, May 31st the weather prediction was for occasional thunderstorms throughout the day. Around 8:30 AM the skies looked reasonably clear so Cindy and I decided to take a short hike to Hodge and Frick Ponds. I wanted to try out my new Alico boots which I must say are heavy but VERY comfortable. We left the parking area at about 9:00 AM taking the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. At the junction with the Big Rock trail we stopped briefly and noted that the skies were still clear but with some clouds starting to move in. I took some pictures. We continued on toward Hodge and arrived shortly. The skies began to look more ominous but we had our rain jackets and decided to continue on the Flynn Trail to Frick Pond. This was the wrong decision!

The rain started gently enough and Cindy put on her rain jacket. The rain did not let up and it began to come down in earnest. I got out my Marmot Oracle. Neither of us had rain pants. After a VERY short time, a downpour began complete with lightening and thunder! The jackets kept our upper bodies dry but the rain was running down our legs into our boots. I knew that this would quickly destroy the feet but we had no choice but to press on. At Iron Wheel Junction we turned right onto the Quick Lake Trail and headed toward Frick. The rain would, at times, let up briefly and then it would start to pour again. I could feel the water coming out of the TOP of my boots. The good part was that we didn't care where we walked since we were as wet as we could get. We arrived back at the car after 2.5 hours and 6 miles. It was a very pleasant sight after a very unpleasant hike.

On Monday, May 26th I was still tired and sore from the hike on Sunday with Karl. When Cindy said she was willing and ready to hike, Sheba and I were also ready! At our daughter's graduation from Bucknell, I had talked to some of the geology professors about hiking in Pennsylvania. They suggest Ricketts Glen State Park just west of Wilkes-Barre. Krista's boyfriend had also been there and confirmed the suggestion. This park is within 2.5 hours of our house. It's main attraction is a 7 mile loop through Ricketts Glen, Ganoga Glen and Glen Leigh. Along this trail there are 22 named waterfalls! The park almost became a national park until World War II curtailed the amount of money spent on parks. We left at about 7:30 AM and made good time until we got behind some slow traffic west of Dallas. After avoiding one memorial Day parade lineup we made it to the park by 10:00 AM. I had a map from a guide on trails.com which was fortunate since all the trail maps at the park had been taken. We started almost immediately along with several other large groups that we quickly outdistanced. Keeping Sheba on her leash most of the time was tedious but necessary and she behaved very nicely.

It is almost impossible to get lost on this trail. It is well-marked and the map I had was a help. We were seldom alone since this park is every bit as popular as I was led to believe. The first 1.5 miles is relatively flat and is a pleasant walk through both hardwood and evergreen forest. The trail crosses Kitchen Creek several times but always on sturdy bridges. In some places the trail is muddy from springs and this makes the trail slippery. At one point a "difficult" trail leads down to the bed of the creek while a "moderate" trail avoids this area. Both of these trails meet at the first falls. All the falls are named after Colonel Ricketts relatives or New York native American tribes. Colonel Ricketts commanded Battery F of the artillery at Gettysburg and is a respected hero of the battle and the war. Sometimes waterfalls are just waterfalls but we found each new falls to be exciting. Many are quite different from each other in height, width, how the water flows or the geological construction.

After passing the first three falls, we arrived at Waters Meet. This is the area where Ganoga Glen and Glen Leigh meet. The trail splits here and hikers can follow either path to make the loop. My intention was to continue north into Ganoga Glen and to take the Highland Trail east to Glen Leigh passing through Midway Crevasse in the process. This is what we did. Many of the falls have small signs that name them and the distinction is quite clear on the map. Some of the signs are hidden and I missed some or the signs may have been missing. I took pictures at EVERY falls photographing some more than others. Near the top of Ganoga Glen is Ganoga Falls. At 94 feet this is the highest falls in the park. It is very impressive but I found other falls to be just as beautiful in their own way.

After about two hours, we were at the top of the glen and we turned right on the Highlands Trail. It was very quiet on this trail compared to the almost constant ROAR of water in the glen. We stopped briefly for a drink and a snack before continuing on to Midway Crevasse. At this point the trail passes through several VERY large blocks of sandstone before continuing on eastward toward Glen Leigh. As we turned southwest on the Glen Leigh Trail, I wondered if this side of the loop could compare in any way to the other. The answer is "Yes!" There are a similar number of falls on the Glen Leigh Trail with Huron being the highest at only 40 feet. These falls are very attractive in many ways. In addition, the feeling of being in a glen or gorge seemed more pronounced to me on the Glen Leigh side.

The trail crosses back and forth over the creek several times but there are bridges at all of these crossings. I took a lot of time to photograph the falls even venturing out onto the rocks in the middle of the creek to set up the best shots. I also photographed the gorge walls and some interesting rock formations along the way. These formations make it clear that the creek cut the gorge over a LONG period of time and that the creek was rerouted several different times. The varying hardness of the rock layers cause interesting patterns as they erode at different rates. Soon we were back at Waters Meet and retracing our steps from the morning back to the parking area.

As we approached the road, we decided to cross over to the other lot for a quick look at Adams Falls. This falls is closest to the road and, therefore, very popular. The falls forms at Kitchen Creek drops under Route 118. The initial drop is small but then another drop of about 40 feet occurs. This is Adams Falls. The creek has cut the bedrock several times to make interesting patterns in the area. The trail that descends along the creek shows how high the water once was. The Evergreen Trail is only about a mile long but it winds through some old growth timber with trees approaching 600 years old. we stopped briefly so that I could take some pictures and then crossed the road to get back to the car. The 7 mile hike had lasted about 4.5 hours and was all we had expected and MORE!

On Sunday, May 25th I had not hiked for two weeks. My daughter's graduation and several track meets had seen to that. My son Karl was up from Virginia so we decided to take a hike together. I suggested the bushwhack of Friday and Balsam Cap. Karl suggested we steer away from off trail experiences so I countered by suggesting something in Bear Mountain or Harriman State Park. We decided to hike the Major Welch Trail to the top of Bear Mountain. After that, we planned to take the AT and 1777W Trails to The Torne and back along Popolopen Creek to the car. The weather seemed ideal with partly sunny to sunny conditions predicted. I really wanted to be on The Torne when the view was unobstructed by clouds or haze! We got an early start and parked in the Bear Mountain lot at about 10:00 AM. There were more cars than I expected and then we remembered it was the Memorial Day Weekend.

We immediately got started putting Sheba on her leash in the park. We started around Hessian lake on the "left" side following the red on white markers of the Major Welch Trail. Near the end of the lake we turned left up into the woods and immediately started to climb. I had on two long sleeved wool shirts which was two too many. We stopped so that I could change into short sleeves. Karl zipped off the bottom of his pants to make shorts. As we continued on the trail we passed several small groups of hikers going the other way and caught up with other groups heading in the same direction. The rock faces on the Major Welch were absolutely dry which made walking up them very easy. We crossed Perkins Drive and continued on up. We paused several times near and at the top to take in the view. There was almost no haze and the views of The Hudson River and the Bear Mountain Bridge were beautiful.

We hiked across the plateau at the top of the mountain, crossed Perkins again and headed for the tower. There were more people here than I had ever seen. Cars and motorcycles crowded the small lot at the top. Most people don't want to hike to the top but they sure don't mind driving! We walked out to the lookout and got another view of the river and the valleys and mountains beyond. The Manhattan skyline was clearly visible but some haze did make it a little "fuzzy". After taking some pictures, we walked around the tower and found the white blazes of the AT and descended quickly over the rocks and through the laurel to Perkins Drive. We kept following the AT along Perkins until it cut to the right into the woods. After another short stretch we crossed the main road into the park and walked until the junction with the 1777W trail just off the road.

We followed this trail for a while without any incident until it entered a parking lot. Here we ran into trouble since we could not find any markers, We turned left and headed down a wide woods road which dead ended at a gravel pit. We cut up into the woods where we thought we might meet the trail. Finally, we made a circle and headed back to the parking lot. On more careful inspection, we found the trail obscured by the parked cars. The trail led directly across the parking lot and even had a sign to explain the significance of the Revolutionary War trails in the park. We continued along the trail through some forest and around some swampy areas. The trail eventually led to Route 9W where it crosses over Route 6. We walked along the road following the trail markers for less than half a mile until the blazes turned down dam access road to the left.

This road led to a small reservoir and then became more rugged as it headed into the woods. We continued on the trail until a junction with some other roads and trails. The signs here were confusing and I had no experience on this trail. After heading in the WRONG direction again we quickly realized our mistake and turned around. We continued on the 1777W and Timp-Torne Trail headed toward The Torne. We walked through some quiet evergreen forests and things started to look familiar. I knew we were near the turn onto the trail that leads up to The Torne. Karl and I BOTH needed to get back for a family gathering but the "pull" of the Torne was too great! Soon the turn appeared and we went left down to Popolopen Creek. The creek here is fairly wide and must be forceful at times since an old bridge lies twisted upstream. The new footbridge is VERY solid and built to withstand the onslaught of the creek when it is high. Across the bridge we turned right onto a woods road and the quickly left to follow the trail up the hill. After a short walk, we crossed Mine Road and started the real climb up The Torne.

From Mine Road the distance up The Torne is only .3 miles. This is lengthened some by the fact that the trail winds partly around the hill to ascend from the gentler side. There are several switchbacks to make the climb easier. After this, the trail ascends steeply over open rock faces and large blocks of rock. Some of these require a little agility and upper body strength. The rock was very dry but naturally "slippery" in places. I have been on the Torne in wet and partly icy conditions. This is NOT a good idea! On our way up, on the steepest section, we met a couple coming down. They were "impressed" with Sheba's ability to scramble up the sheer rock face. We paused at one of the viewpoints but not for long since the view from the top is SO good. Near the top a group of four young people were taking a break for lunch. We continued on to the top. The view was AMAZING with little haze to obscure the view up and own the Hudson. The Bear Mountain Bridge and Anthony's Nose were so clear that it seemed you could reach out and touch them. We ate some lunch, got a drink and took pictures before turning around to hurry down and back to the car.

On the descent I began to feel the fatigue in my legs and the soreness of my feet. We following our path back to and across the bridge. Back on the trail above the bridge we turned left to follow the creek. We were moving fast all the time and stopped only once or twice. The dam and waterfalls on Popolopen Creek were obscured by trees and I dud not have time to work my way down into the creek bed. The trail led us to Route 9W which we crossed. From here we made our way to the Bear Mountain Bridge traffic circle and crossed Route 9W again to the Hessian Lake side. At this point Karl ran ahead to get some cold drinks from the machines as Sheba and I continued on the paved walkway around the lake. There were HUNDREDS of people picnicking, walking and playing games. Sheba was very well-behaved on her leash as we continued toward the Bear Mountain Inn. We met up with Karl on the lawn below the ice rink and continued back to the car. ALL the parking lots were now filled with some cars parked on the basketball courts and others along the road. We finished the 9 mile hike in about 5.5 hours. I was glad all of the people at the park were not on the trail!

On Saturday, May 10th Cindy and I decided to hike together. We chose to go to Sam's Point with the intention of hiking through to Awosting and back. Sheba and I had done this several times using different routes but Cindy had never tried it. She was anxious to try out her new Komperdell Trail Lite Titanal hiking poles. These poles seemed very light with foam grip handles and padded wrist straps. They have a twist lock mechanism. We attended to some early morning business and parked at the Conservation center at 10:15 and immediately got hiking. We set a quick pace hiking up passed the cutoff to the Sam's Point viewpoint on the loop road. At the Ice caves Road we turned right and then left onto the trail to Verkeerderkill Falls. The weather was predicted to be cloudy with a chance of showers but the skies were largely clear as we hiked. The temperature was cool with a slight breeze at the beginning but I soon removed my light jacket and stowed it in the pack.

On the way to the falls we stopped several times to take in the views of the valleys below and the hills beyond. The escarpment was clearly visible as were several lakes in the distance. Several birds were riding the air currents. As we neared the falls I could hear the water and wondered if we would be able to cross the stream above the falls. There was no need to worry since there was a good volume of water but it was not high enough to even consider the crossing a problem. I took some pictures of the stream above the falls before continuing to the other side. We walked along the edge of the ravine and I took many pictures of the falls and the surrounding cliffs. I also took some pictures downstream. After this we picked up the Long Path again.

After the falls the trail begins to climb gently and then steeply to the top of the escarpment that makes up a good part of the Sam's Point Preserve. At the top a trail turns to the left and works its way along the escarpment and then to High Point and back to the loop road. Our intention was to return this way after following the Long path to Awosting. At this point we turned right and continued to follow the aqua blazes. There are new blazes and ones that have been painted over. The area near Mud Pond was privately owned and hikers had permission to cross this private land. When the land owners withdrew this permission the Long Path had a gap. The Nature Conservancy has since bought the land and the Long Path now runs contiguously through this area.

As we walked along, a small but pretty body of water suddenly appeared. This is Mud Pond. I am not sure how it got its name since it has never looked muddy to me. I took some pictures from the rocky outcrops above the pond and then we descended along the trail to the level of the pond. A path cuts through the thick laurel and several wooden walkways help to keep hikers out of the wetter areas when the water is high. The trail continued passed Mud Pond and over many open rock faces and spines. It begins to ascends slightly to the higher cliffs around Awosting. We finally came to an area we know well. Lake Awosting can be seen through the trees and several large boulders invited us to eat lunch. It was about 1:15 PM. After eating we decided NOT to retrace our steps but to follow the road around Awosting to the Smiley carriageway and use the Berrypickers Path to get back to Sam's Point.

As we hiked around Awosting we were both concerned about the time. The parking area at Sam's point closes at 5:00 PM and we were pressing that limit by the route we took. To cut some time I decided we would bushwhack over the hill at Awosting to intersect the carriageway and save some time. This proved to be a poor idea since the laurel is thick and afterward I began to think that it was just about time for the rattlesnakes to be making an appearance. We finally hit the Smiley Carriageway and we were surprised to see that it had been bulldozed and widen significantly. On one side, the side toward Minnewaska, the trees were burned but on the other side there was no evidence of fire. It was clear that this road had been successfully used as a fire break to contain the forest fire that had burned the area only weeks before. As we hiked I wondered whether we should be in this area but we continued since we had not seen any signs.

The carriageway had many wet areas and more than once we had to take short detours to avoid the worst spots. In several spots we stepped on what looked like solid ground only to find soft mud that threatened to go over the tops of our boots. We approached Fly Creek and found the water quite high. After find a way across we turned left and continued through and area that was once a narrow, rocky path. This had been enlarged to a wide road. After a little while longer, the fire break continued to the right while the carriageway turned to the left. We followed it to the left and toward Stony Kill. In this area my wife finally saw a sign that said RESTRICTED AREA. If you intend to hike in the Sam's Point, Awosting or Minnewaska area, call ahead or check at the gatehouses for trails that are closed or areas that are restricted. We continued across Stony Kill which had very little water in it at this high elevation. We followed the trail as it ascended some and became very rocky. This, at least. was familiar ground and had not been touched by the fire. Several places along the trail had standing water for 50 to 100 feet. Thankfully, these areas could be bypassed by carefully taking to the woods on either side.

We kept looking for the Berrypicker's Path as we approached Napanoch Point. We had only been on the trail twice and I was afraid we had missed it. Soon we found the pots and pans and cairns that mark the start of the trail on the left of the carriageway. We started hiking this trail toward Sam's Point. By this time I was tired and so was Cindy! We hiked in relative silence but I kept thinking that the trail was longer than I had remembered it! There are several higher points on the path and the views were beautiful especially those of the Catskills. All along the trail people have set up rocks in cairns and fanciful designs. We passed by them quickly since we needed to get back to the car. This area has the typical pine barrens trees and rocky outcroppings and one area begins to look pretty much like the rest. We FINALLY reached the escarpment and the intersection with the High Point Trail. We stopped only briefly at the site of the old tower, took some pictures, got a drink and continued on down the hill to the Smiley Carriageway.

It was 4:00 PM when we hit the carriageway and we still had about 3 miles to get back to the car. We set off at a furious pace despite being tired. My GPS had us between 3.2 and 4.5 miles per hour at most times. My feet hurt. My calves burned. My knees ached. Cindy, who usually tires before I do, seemed to be in better shape perhaps helped by the new poles. We made the Loop Road in record time and then set off for the parking area. We got to the Conservation Center at 4:50 PM having covered almost 3 miles in 45 minutes! There were still many cars in the lot and there seemed to be a "party" at the Center but we too tired to care. As we drove away, I realized we had covered over 13 miles in about 6.5 hours! This was one of the most taxing hikes I have done in some time. Next time I ant to start earlier and go all the way around Minnewaska and back!

On Sunday, May 4th I decided to hike the new South Gully Trail at Sam's Point that was described in the Trailwalker newsletter from the NYNJTC. After the hike, I decided to pull over on Route 52 as it descends the mountain into Ellenville. I wanted to take some pictures of the valley below and the mountains in the background. As I parked the car at the highest viewpoint and opened the door, a hang glider was less than thirty feet above me. By the time I got the camera out he had disappeared. I took some scenery shots and then the glider and a friend reappeared. I took some photographs and then got back in the car and headed for town.

On the way up the mountain at the beginning of the day I had noticed a water fall on the left side of the road just as I started up the mountain. I parked near the road bridge, grabbed the camera and walked back to the bridge. This small falls is set back from the road at the head of a set of small rapids. It is not very high and the volume is not too great but it is beautiful! I took pictures from several angles and zooms before getting in the car and heading home.

On Sunday, May 4th I decided to hike the new South Gully Trail at Sam's Point that was described in the Trailwalker newsletter from the NYNJTC. I got an early start from home but stopped on Berme road in Ellenville to visit the SunRay Tunnel before going up to Sam's Point. The weather was warm but with a lot of haze making the views less than spectacular on the way up Route 52. We parked a little after 10:00 AM and I went into the Conservation Center to buy a yearly pass. Parking once costs $7 while a pass for the whole year is $40. I go there often enough to more than pay for the pass and the Nature Conservancy is a worthwhile organization.

He started hiking at about 10:30 AM by following the Sam's Point Loop Road to the right as it leaves the parking area. I was looking for the aqua blazes that mark the new South Gully Trail as part of the Long Path. At the first set of berrypickers' shacks I decided to head off the road to the left even though I did not see the markers. A wide woods road beckoned and I followed it until the lack of markers and the POSTED signs convinced me to go back to the road. We followed the road and as it began to rise more steeply just before the next set of shacks the blazes showed up. We turned to the left and followed the wide woods road passed the shacks.

The trail began a gentle descent almost immediately through the woods. The blazes mark the trail very clearly which was good since the trail is VERY new and is not delineated on the forest floor. As the trail descends it winds through some beautiful open forest and passes by and over several small streams. As we walked, the haze began to clear as the sun came out. The sunlight sparkled as it was reflected off several of the small cascades that exist along the route. After about 1.5 miles the trail dropped to cross Gully Road. Up the road the markers were visible on the other side and we headed for them.

The trail continues on through the forest and we walked through some open pine forest. The roaring of the stream below belied the fact that it was relatively small with a limited volume of water. We crossed and recrossed streams in several places but none of the crossings were even moderately difficult. In some places we walked upstream before crossing and in others downstream. The trail continued to drop as we headed toward Route 52. In several different places we walked off the trail to the right to investigate the stream and the various cascades. Near the end of the trail it ascends and then levels as it approaches the road. When we reached our goal, we took a break getting a drink and a snack before turning around to retrace our route.

The 1400 foot climb back UP the trail was definitely more challenging than the descent. The journey up took less time, 1 hour compared to 1.5 hours, since I did not stop to take any pictures. When we got back to the loop road, I decided to lengthen the hike by turning left on the loop road and going around lake Maratanza. I would make my decision about going to Verkeerderkill Falls when we got to the Ice Caves Road. The walk around the lake is fairly flat and on the remains of a paved road. This gave my legs a chance to rest. As we neared the lake it was obvious that it was filled to overflowing with and that water was streaming from the outlet. I took some pictures of the lake an surrounding shoreline before we moved on. We met quite a few people hiking around the lake and some had dogs. As we approached Ice Caves Road, I decided to save that trip for another day.

Sheba and I stopped by the lookout at Sam's Point and then continued on the road back to the parking area. I took a few pictures from the lookout and some more of the rock formations below it. I was looking for a way to climb these rock formations from below without technical equipment. I think this is possible but it would wait for another day. I stopped by the Conservation Center to tell the attendant that I thought the new trail was great. We hiked for a total of 8.2 miles in about 4.5 hours!

On Sunday, May 4th I decided to hike the new South Gully Trail at Sam's Point that was described in the Trailwalker newsletter from the NYNJTC. Before that I though I thought would stop in Ellenville to investigate the SunRay Tunnel. I took Route 52 through Ellenville and turned left on Berme Road, the last turn in the village. There was a sign for the firehouse, parks and little league at the turn. A short distance down this road on the right is a large red brick building that was originally the Sunray Soda bottling plant. The building now has other tenants. SunRay used water from the SunRay Tunnel for their Pure Rock soda. The water was obtained from the Tunnel behind the bottling plant. The water comes from deep in the bedrock of the mountain and may be some of the purest water around. Whether the tunnel was originally construct for this purpose or as a mine is not completely clear.

We parked at about 9:00 AM and I checked with an employee to see if it was OK to park and walk to the tunnel. She said it was OK so Sheba and I started off into the woods. I had never been in this area before and was unsure of where the tunnel was. We walked directly in back of the building and up into the woods. I was looking for a stream that might come from the water in the tunnel. I found several small streams and a low concrete structure but no tunnel entrance. We headed on up the hill and found several crisscrossing woods roads but no tunnel. I decided to return to the parking area and try another direction. This time we headed north into the woods out of the parking area and after only a few hundred feet I could see a concrete walkway. We crossed a small stream and I could immediately see the entrance to the tunnel as shown in many photographs I had seen,

We walked over to the tunnel and found the entrance blocked by cinder blocks and a wooden door now demolished. The stone work around the entrance was quiet ornate and carefully constructed. It was VERY dark inside the tunnel and the water at the entrance was much too deep to think about entering the tunnel. I did take some pictures with the flash which illuminated the side of the tunnel. I plan to return with some real waders or boots and a powerful light. There was a good flow of water from the tunnel including some from a pipe at the entrance. I took many pictures of the tunnel and its surroundings.

Farther up the hillside, behind the mine was a visible "scar" in the hillside. We walked up toward it and I could see the unmistakable "rusty" rocks indicating an iron mining exploration. The cleft in the hillside was perhaps 20 feet tall, six feet wide and ten feet into the rock. The bottom of the cleft was covered with leaves but it did not seem that the opening extended much farther into the hill. I took some pictures and then we headed back to the car to drive up to Sam's Point.

On Sunday, April 27th I took two girls from the track team to a pentathlon meet. I was home fairly early and the weather was nice so Cindy and I decided to take a short walk. We put Sheba in the car and headed for Frick Pond. I wore my new Merrell Perimeter shoes which proved to be comfortable and more than up for the task. We parked at about 4:00 PM and immediately got on the trail to Frick Pond. The trail was wet in places but these areas were easily bypassed. We walked down to Frick Pond and I took some pictures before continuing on.

At the pond we decided to go around in a clockwise direction staying close to the pond. We were soon at Times Square. From here we decided to go up the Big Rock Trail to the intersection with the Flynn Trail. We climbed the seemingly endless Big Rock Trail without incident and without seeing anyone else. At the Flynn Trail we took a right and continued back down to the parking area. The four mile distance had taken about 2 hours to complete. Although it was not and all day affair the hike was a pleasant walk and far better than staying at home!

On Tuesday, April 22th I got home from school early since we had a conference day and no track practice. The weather was sunny and in the 70's, a perfect day to take a short hike. When I asked Sheba if she wanted to go, she began the whine that she only uses for hiking. She reinforced this with a spin similar to a whirling dervish. I was now committed and decided to visit Trout Pond. The last time we were there we were surprised by some ice and snow and some VERY wet patches on the trail. I was interested to see how conditions had changed and if this areas was as dry as Slide had been. We parked on Morton Hill Road at about 4:30 PM and immediately started to hike.

Russell Brook Road was bone dry and dusty. No other cars were parked on Morton Hill but there was one at the lower parking area. The falls on Russell Brook seemed to have a decent volume of water. I signed in at the register and decided to walk up to Trout Pond first and then to Mud Pond. The wide road up to Trout was dry with only a few wet spots. We quickly arrived at the outlet end of the pond. We stopped so I could get some pictures and Sheba could play in the water. The lighting and colors allowed some good shots. As we headed around the pond we met a couple from Orange County. We made the inlet in just about and hour. The inlet stream was easy to cross and we were quickly climbing Cherry Ridge.

Even though the trail and forest seemed dry, green was beginning to show through as the predominant color. I also began to notice that every time I stopped I was swarmed by insects. Some of these were biting and the rest just annoying. I could hear frogs in the pond and some of the wetter spots in the woods. Sheba was really charged up running ahead of me and then circling behind. The walk seemed to go quickly as we continued the long climb up to the highest point on the hike. On the back side of the Trout Pond there were some wetter spots and the trail. There were also some pretty flowers in the trillium family growing along and on the trail.

As we hit the highest spot on the trail, we entered the area where there are many small trees growing without any larger ones present. In the same area are several stone walls and stone foundations. Down by Mud Pond are more foundations indicating that this area was once cleared for farming. Like so many other places in our area nature has reclaimed what was once its own. The process of ecological succession restores the natural environment but it takes a LONG time to accomplish.

When we reached the woods road at the bottom of the trail we turned left to return to the parking area. If we had more time, I might have tried turning right and making the bigger loop around Mud Pond. This loop usually has several wet spots but I had a felling they might be only damp. This trail drops down to Russell Brook Road at the lower end and you can walk the road back to the parking area. This adds some mileage and means that you must cross Russell Brook. Depending on the height of the water this may be easy or almost impossible without getting very wet. I was not going to take a chance this time!

Upon returning to the register box we paid a visit to the falls. The falls don't seem to change much and the water volume was adequate. What does change is the lighting and the colors were particularly nice this time. I got very close to the falls and took several different shots. I also took some pictures looking straight up from the bottom of the falls toward the sky. The area cut by the falls isn't that deep but is somewhat impressive in the pictures. We walked back up the road completing the 4 mile loop in just under 2 hours.

On Sunday, April 20th I decided I needed to take a hike after along track meet on Saturday. The weather prediction was for partly cloudy or partly sunny skies. I decided to "bag" Slide and Cornell since I needed them for April. I woke up early in the morning and was unable to get back to sleep so I decided we would get an early start. When I asked Sheba if she wanted to Go HIKING she seemed to think I was trying to trick her. She KNEW Sunday was not a usual hiking day. After I got dressed and I put on her dayglo neckerchief she seemed more convinced and was ready to go. The skies in Livingston Manor were cloudy with no sun in sight. This is often true since we are in a valley. As we drove out DeBruce Road the conditions did not change. We arrived at the Slide parking area on Route 47 just before 8:00 AM and found only one other car. I didn't think this was strange since we were very early. I decided to leave my poles behind but left my Stabilicers in my pack. I had decided to wear the Asolo Fugitives since they are lighter and virtually waterproof. The temperature was cool with a slight breeze so I kept on the light Marmot Oracle jacket over my Smartwool long sleeve baselayer and Columbia Grid top.

We walked down to the Neversink and found it was easy to cross on a few stepping stones. The water level was low and the condition of the trail as far as I could see was dry. We quickly ascended to where the trail meets a woods road and turns left. I was already warm so at this point I removed my jacket and stowed it in my pack. Sheba and I quickly walk the Phoenicia-East Branch Trail to the junction with the Wittenberg-Cornell-Slide Trail and turned left. As we walked up this trail the conditions seemed VERY dry with only a few damp spot and some running water. As we ascended higher it became obvious that we were IN a cloud. Just passed the 3500 foot sign was a small area of ice and snow, the first we had seen on the hike. At 3700 feet we rounded a bend and the trail turned into a ribbon of packed snow and ice. I tried to walk on the side of the trail but a few near falls suggested that I don the Stabilicers. These worked very well and we were soon on our way to the summit. Just after the summit we met a group of ten older Boy Scouts and their two leaders. We chatted for a moment and they advised that the descent on the other side of Slide was "challenging". Up until this point I had thought I might just return without trying Cornell but I was not very tired and Sheba seemed eager. The weather conditions had not improved, the summit was enshrouded in fog/cloud and NOTHING was visible from the Slide lookout.

As we started down the other side of Slide the trail was clear but this change almost immediately. Packed ice and snow had accumulated on ALL of the more interesting rock scrambles making several impossible to use without some peril. We went off the trail and around the worst and carefully worked our way down the others. Even the ladders down to the spring had a coating! As we reached this point another group of five was coming up. They said that there was some snow further down but that it only lasted for a short distance and then the trail was clear until the final ascent up Cornell. Sheba and I continued down and passed through one area where there was at least 8 inches of snow for a short distance. The descent into the Col between the two mountains has three nice rock scrambles and each had some ice to make things more interesting. The middle one is the most difficult but did not prove too much of a problem descending. I wondered how easy the return trip would be.

Once we got down into the col the trail flattened out and was much drier. I removed my Stabilicers and carried them as they had become very dirty. A few spots were damp and green became a dominant color. We walked quickly and as we approached Cornell the trail became MUCH wetter. There was standing water! There was mud! There was running water that turned the trail into a stream with small waterfalls. This was the Cornell trail I remembered. Soon ice and packed snow appeared but I resisted putting on the Stabilicers since I knew there were three or four rock scrambles ahead on the way to Cornell. I worked my way carefully around and over the ice. Sheba didn't seem to care. Sheba simply jumps up the rock scrambles and then waits for me to make my wait up.

Soon we were at the point where we could look toward Slide and see...fog and clouds. We continued up the trail a short distance to the spur trail that turns right to the clearing for the Cornell viewpoint. At the viewpoint we look out toward Wittenberg and the Ashokan and saw...fog and clouds. We got a drink and I ate a bar since I was not really hungry. I gave Sheba some dogs biscuits which, of course, she never turns down. We turned around and began the trip back the way we had come. The descent was uneventful except for the areas of ice and snow and the wetter parts of the trail. The weather still had not changed and, at times, large droplets of water fell on me. I decided that the wind was blowing the water off the trees although rain was a distinct possibility. As we approached Slide we had to ascend the rock scrambles that we that descended earlier. This wasn't easy but it was not especially difficult either and we were soon back at the spring.

I took some pictures of the ladders on Slide and from the ladders toward Cornell. We then started to pick our way up through the ice covered rock scrambles to the top of Slide. We continue over the summit of Slide and I put the Stabilicers back on for the descent down the icy path. As we continued down the other side, I did not bother to stop at the lookout since nothing was visible. We began to meet people coming up Slide. A young couple and their dog, two older men trying to make their way back DOWN and then several groups of three to five people. Most of these hikers had poles but NONE had any traction devices on their feet. As I trotted down the trail with my Stabilicers I felt very superior but wondered if all of them would make it back down without a serious fall. At 3700 feet I again removed the Stabilicers and Sheba and I made a QUICK descent to the car. We were back before 1:30 PM covering 8 miles in just short of 5 and a half hours.

On Saturday, April 12th the weather was MUCH nicer than had been predicted earlier in the week. The sun was shining and even early in the morning the temperatures were already in the 50's. I had though about doing the trail run at Bear Mountain but the registration closed before I made up my mind. Cindy and I decided to head south anyway and visit Little Tor and High Tor. Several people told me that this ridge in Rockland County had GREAT views. We started at little late and as we started to drive down the Palisades Parkway the weather deteriorated some. There was a heavy haze or fog in the air but the temperatures were warm so we decided to continue. We made only one wrong turn before finding the trail head and were on the trail at about 10:45 AM. There were signs warning about ticks and Lyme Disease. The entire trail is part of the Long Path and the aqua blazes are usually easy to follow.

The hike began as we climbed up onto a ridge overlooking a heavily populated part of Rockland County below. The constant noise of vehicle traffic and the railroads was a contrast to the trees and rocks around us. We stopped several times to step off the trail and look below us. To the north were apartment buildings and shopping canters but to the right was a forest with only a few homes. Much of the view was blocked by the heavy haze that hung over the area. I hoped that the breeze would help disperse the haze and that the sun would "burn" it away. After less than a mile I removed the two light long-sleeved tops I had on, stowed them in my pack and put on a short-sleeved Underarmour baselayer and an Arc'teryx wool top over that. I was glad I had decided to wear a pair of light "summer" pants as the temperatures climbed in the high 60's and lower 70's. I asked Cindy if she wanted to turn around and drive to a sunnier spot but we both decided to continue.

The trail wound its way back and forth and up and down slightly along the ridge but always in an easterly direction. After 1.75 miles the we descended to Route 33 which had a surprising amount of traffic. There was also plenty of parking for those that want to shorten the trip. This road is also the boundary between South Mountain County Park and High Tor State Park. After crossing the road, the rest of the trail becomes wide woods road. Part of the road is covered with chipped stones and the only rough parts are at the end as it approaches High Tor. This makes walking much easier and we quickly increased our pace. Shortly after crossing the road a power line right of way crosses the trail. Just after this point a path cuts back up to the left to a vantage point on the right of way. We walked to this point and the view would have been great...except for the persistent haze.

Within a mile, a woods road and wide path turn to the left away from the main trail. As we turned up this path, we could see a large rock formation ahead of us on the left. This is Little Tor. We walked up to the first lookout and were able to get some views through the haze. We continued up to the top of the rock outcrop and were rewarded with even better views in almost 360 degrees. The view was so nice even with the poor visibility that I know we will go back on a clearer day. After looking around and getting a drink and snack, we worked our way back down to the main trail. As we continued to walk, more and more large rock outcroppings presented themselves on both sides of the trail. Occasionally I would walk off the trail to the left. There were views but most were blocked by trees. Since we had not been on this hike before, I did not really know what High Tor looked like or how prominent it would be. Soon I knew I shouldn't have worried. Ahead on the trail was the outline of a massive rock formation. We had arrived at High Tor after walking about 1.25 miles from Little Tor.

Looking at this imposing structure I wondered exactly how we would get to the top. The Long Path bends to the right and then turns abruptly left to ascend the Tor. The path is steep in places with a little rock scrambling but we had little trouble and were soon in an area where the trail levels and then ascends again. At the top a large, flat rock shelf gives a good view of the populated areas to the north and the wilder, forested areas to the west and south. The Hudson River lies just below. We could hear an umpire calling a softball game at a school below us. Just to the east of this flat spot is a higher area which is the true "summit" of High Tor. We walked over to the top of this rocky formation and were rewarded with a 360 degree view of everything around us. The haze had lifted slightly but clouds were starting to move in threatening a shower. I took quiet a few pictures and though how much better the pictures would be next time when the sun was shining and the skies clear.

After taking in the view, we started back at a quicker pace energized by the idea that we were returning and motivated by the desire to stay dry. At Route 33 I decided to follow a woods road rather than the trail since walking the roads is faster. This worked out well since the road led to a microwave station we had passed on the trail on the way out. At the station we got back on the trail which remains wide for some time. The trip back did seem long which is what I have against out-and-back routes. With less than a mile to go it began to sprinkle and we redoubled our efforts. After we were in the car it started to rain and we were glad to be off the trail. We were back at 3:30 PM having covered about 8.5 miles in just under 5 hours.

On Sunday, April 6th I decided that the day was too nice to stay inside after church. Cindy was still tired from Saturday's adventure so Sheba and I headed for Long Pond. As we drove out DeBruce Road. I was surprised at the amount of snow that was still on the ground. Since I had been hiking to the south in Harriman Park the last few times, I had forgotten that spring had only just started! The parking area for Long Pond was cleared of all snow but there were snow banks on all sides. Only a pickup was in the parking area and Sheba and I got right on the trail. I had considered bringing my hiking poles just for the upper body workout. As soon as I got on the trail I was sorry I didn't bring them AND the Stabilicers. Most parts of the trail were covered with ice or packed snow. The parts that were "clear" were WET with running or standing water. Only a few patches were damp and NONE were dry. We walked over or around the worst parts and were at the trail junction within half an hour. We stopped at Long Pond along the way and found it still completely covered in ice.

At the trail junction, I decided to turn right and walk up to the lean-to just to add some time to the hike. This part of the trail was about the same as the first or...WORSE. At one point stepped on an ice shelf that collapsed and my foot went into some rather deep water. Water entered over the top of my boot and soaked one foot. I briefly considered turning around at this point but decided to go on. Through the rest of the hike I could tell my foot was wet but the Rohner wool socks performed well and kept me warm. We walked to the lean-to, turned around and walked back to the trail junction. We did not retrace our route but started on the trail out Flugertown Road. This section of the trail was the worst with several large lakes along the way. As the trail descended to the bridge over the creek, it became so icy that Sheba was skipping and I found an alternate route.

As I approached Flugertown Road I was surprised to see that it was not plowed. There was still 12 to 18 inches of snow on the road in most places. I suspected that the town had only plowed up to the last residence on the road. Sheba and I continued down the road. As we came out of the trees into the open the last house on the road appeared and there was absolutely no snow on the road and little in the field. We walked quickly back to the car. covering the loop in almost exactly 2 hours.

On the way home I stopped just before getting to DeBruce at the turn in the road. There is a small waterfall here that I always wanted to photograph. There was enough space to pull the car off the road. I hurried won to the falls and took some pictures of the falls and the surrounding area. It is small but very pretty.

On Saturday, April 5th I decided to return to Harriman to explore some of the trails that I had not hiked before. Several times when I had been on Bald Mountain I had seen the West Mountain shelter and decided I would like to visit it. The view OF the shelter is so clear that I though the view FROM the shelter would be equally good. I planned a loop from the Bear Mountain parking area over the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail to West Mountain. To complete the loop I planned to use the Appalachian Trail to return to Bear Mountain and then to the parking area. I expected the weather to included some showers in the morning so I planned on starting a little later. Cindy decided she was feeling and decided to join us. When we started the drive form Livingston Manor the skies were overcast but it was not raining although the temperatures were in the upper 40's. As we drove the rain increased and I started to think about the rain gear I had brought and the pack cover I had forgotten! The showers stopped by the time we parked. The temperatures at Bear Mountain were in the mid to high 40's but as we got out of the car the wind picked up. I wondered about my decision to forgo a jacket for my Icebreaker 260 baselayer and my OR Specter fleece top.

We walked toward the outdoor ice rink but turned left up the hill before it. At the top of the short, steep hill we turned left on a road which was also marked with the yellow blazes of the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail and the white blazes of the Appalachian Trail. We follow these blazes as the trail curved first to the right and then to the left and descended over a small stream. The trails started a continuous ascent at this point and after only about .3 miles the AT turned to the right. We stayed on the SBM Trail which continued to ascend before descending to cross Seven Lakes Drive after about .45 miles. The trail almost immediately meets an old woods road which has areas of laid stone to support it. Near the junction with the trail is evidence of an old stone wall or foundation. Further up the road is another foundation on the right side of the trail. As we descended a small hill the trail abruptly met another wide path or road. I wasn't really paying attention to the map so I was surprised after about .6 miles to see a sign with a 4 and on the other side of the path the Doodletown map sign. This was the Doodletown Bridal Path which I had passed several weeks before. Some of the ruins marked and unmarked of Doodletown lie along this path. We turned right here and followed the yellow blazes and the path until they parted. We continued on the trail as it descended to Doodletown Brook after about .5 miles. We easily crossed the brook.

I knew that we were in the area of the Herbert Mine. My intention was to walk further up the path and then cut directly east to find the mine. Shortly after crossing the brook I noticed paths leading down across the brook and to the other side. I decided to follow them although I didn't see much of interested. Cindy and I crossed the brook and headed up the hillside. I noticed a pile of rock ahead and as I got closer I could see it was a pile of tailings. I climb the pile and found...NOTHING! This was disappointing until I look up to see an even larger pile just up the hillside. We started to walk up the hill and ran into a woods road that led directly to a large, flat work area. Several large piles of tailing were present and I could see the mine opening ahead and to the left. I went over to the main working which is a large, open cut and entered it. The trench is thirty or forty feet long and at least 20 feet high and the highest point. The far end is deeper and filled with water. From the impressive amount of mine waste it would seem that the mine extends farther underground.

After taking MANY pictures, I walked up the hillside where Cindy was observing the mine from above. We continued on up and I wandered around looking for the other cuts and pits mentioned in the Lenik book. I didn't FIND anything but I did manage to LOSE Cindy. I "found" her down by the brook and we crossed back to the SBM Trail on the other side. The trail paralleled the brook for some time and was very rocky. There were some nice views of the stream but then the trail began to ascend through some laurel. Along the ascent there were some hints of the views I knew we would get from the top. Shortly we were presented with a large mound of stone. A quick inspection showed trail markers on a tree at the top so we began to climb. It was short but steep in places but afterward the trail opened into a field with some more views. I suspected the best views were yet to come so we continued on through the field to the summit of West Mountain and the West Mountain Ridge.

After a little more than 1 mile from the mine the SBM Trail intersected the blue blazed Timp-Torne Trail. We wanted to turn right to head toward Bear Mountain but first we wanted to visit the shelter. We turned left and within less than .1 miles we could see the shelter and the tents surrounding it. A Boy Scout troop from Mattituck on the north shore of Long Island was camped there. We talked to the boys and their leaders who had nice things to say about Sheba. The views from the shelter were spectacular and everything I had hoped for. Bald Mountain and The Timp were clearly visible along with some other hills. There was a nice view down to the Hudson River and the south end of Peekskill Bay. The outlines of some buildings could be seen in the distance on the horizon. Although it was hazy at that distance this was clearly the skyline of New York City. After taking pictures, we retraced our steps and followed the blue and yellow blazes as they ran concurrently along the ridge.

In less than .25 miles the SBM trail turned left and headed south and west. We stayed on the Timp-Torne Trail and in about the same distance the Appalachian Trail came in from the left. As we followed the trails along the ridge interesting views appeared on both sides. At one point a large parking lot appeared below on the left. I couldn't figure out what this was until I saw a structure. We had run several cross country races at Anthony Wayne State Park so I recognized the configuration of the grounds. Near the end of the ridge there are great views of the Hudson River and we could just see the Bear Mountain Bridge hidden in the surrounding hills. We could see the Perkins Tower on the top of Bear Mountain straight ahead of us. It looked so close but there I knew there was a significant descent and ascent before reaching it. At this point, after 1.15 miles, the trails spilt and the Timp-Torne Trail continued on north and slightly west toward The Torne. We stayed on the AT as it turned right and started a long descent. Along the way the red Fawn Trail branched to the left. After .6 miles the AT crossed Seven Lakes Drive. Just before this the 1777W Trail crossed the AT. I thought about turning right on this trail which leads back to the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail which is an easier way to return to the parking area but I REALLY wanted to go to Bear Mountain!

We crossed the road after waiting for some cyclists and then followed the AT as it ascended toward Perkins Memorial Drive. After several ups and downs and about .5 miles we were on Perkins Drive and walked the road for about .4 miles before following the trail as it cut back into the forest. Some of the views from Perkins Drive are nice. The trail starts the final ascent to the tower through a laurel thicket and then over some large, flat rock outcroppings. Several viewpoints occur along the way but none can match the views from the to so we continued on. There are several viewpoints along Perkins Drive which are quite nice. After about .5 miles of ascent, the Perkins Tower came into full view. The views from Bear Mountain were nice but I liked the ones from West Mountain better. The river and the city skyline could be seen. Bear Mountain is more talked about since Perkins Drive allows easier access than the trails to West Mountain. After taking photographs we started back down the AT. Down isn't always the easiest and we were all a little tired at this point

The AT descends to cross Perkins Drive and work its way through the picnic area before crossing the road a second time. We continued on down for about .4 miles until the trail meets and follows a road for .25 miles. There is a parking circle at the end of the road which is open when Perkins Drive is closed. We followed the trail as entered the woods and started down again for .4 miles before joining the SBM Trail. There were some nice views along the way but none better than from the top of the mountain and we were more interested in getting to the car! From the junction with the SBM Trail we retraced our steps from earlier in the morning and were back at the car in .3 miles. We had hiked almost 8 difficult miles in 6 hours with MANY stops along the way. for me the mine and the views made it all worthwhile. The temperatures never got above 60 but hovers the mid 50's. The sun was out and it was almost too bright and too warm.

On Saturday, March 29th I decided to return to Harriman to explore more of the iron mines. Do you see a pattern here? The Island Pond area has several mines that I had not visited and they are within a comfortable hiking distance of each other. Sheba and I got a late star due to an early ambulance call but were on the road by 9:45 AM. I was going to take Seven Lakes Drive to the Kauwanke Circle and then take Route 106. to the parking area near Island Pond Road. A short walk down this wide woods road leads to the Boston and Garfield Mines and a nice look at Island Pond. From here it is a matter of choosing route to the other two mines and back to the car. When I got to the traffic circle and tried to turn onto Route 106 a sign informed me that the road was open to local traffic only since a bridge was closed ahead. I didn't know exactly where the bridge was so I drove down the road. Unfortunately, the bridge was closed BEFORE the place where I wanted to park. I decided to go back and park at the Askoti-Skanatati parking area. This would make a longer hike but the weather was ideal. The sky was clear and the temperature was cool with a slight, gusting breeze.

There were a number of cars in the parking area when we arrived at around 11:00 AM. A father and son team was getting ready to hike. Another group was also just getting under way. This was a group of boys and their "leaders" numbering about 20! They were loud and noisy and acting like ... teenage boys about to have a great, adventure filled day. I decided to get ready quickly and get ahead of them. The adults were busy consulting maps and compasses and did not seem to have a clear idea of where they were going. Sheba and I got on the Long Path by the lakes and quickly blew by them. We had been in this area so many times lately that I felt more like hiking quickly to my first objective, the Boston Mine, than stopping to take pictures. We were in high gear and headed for the Hogencamp Mine area when we ran into two women from Long Island. We stopped to talk a minute and then they continued on up the Long Path to cape Horn while Sheba and I turned left onto the Dunning Trail.

We passed by some of the trenches and cuts of the Hogencamp Mine on the right and some tailings piles on the left. The wide trail then ascends to a viewpoint over Little Long Pond. We did not stop but continued on up the hill to the Bowling Rocks and the Bald Rocks. At the top of the ridge near the Bald Rocks we continued straight ahead on the Dunning Trail, a section we had not hiked before. In only short distance the Dunning Trail met the White Bar Trail which is marked with a horizontal...white bar. The trail run concurrently for only a little while and then the Dunning Trail splits off to the right. We continued on the Dunning Trail and I started to look for the broad Island Pond Road. I had been on this road once before when hiking in the area but a little further south of this location. After a short distance I began to see signs of what could have been mining but nothing definite. We continued on until I decided to veer off into the woods. I almost immediately found tailings and two or three pits. This was the Boston Mine. Sheba and I wandered around the area inspecting the workings. I took pictures and then we headed north.

After walking through the woods for a few hundred feet, we came across the red triangle of the Arden-Surebridge Trail and turned left to again look for the Island Pond Road. Once we came to the road it was impossible to miss and we turned right on it to follow the trail. In a few hundred feet when the trail turned left, we continued straight ahead on the road. The map showed a fork in the road which appeared pretty quickly. We took the left fork to look for the Garfield Mine. The road ended in a jumble of laurel and I though I had missed the mine. We passed ahead into the brush and I almost immediately found a small pit and some tailing almost in the pond. Only a few feet from the pit was a longer and deeper trench filled with water. Success number two for the day! After taking some pictures, we retraced our steps to the fork and I decided to follow the right fork down to the pond. I hoped that the map was wrong and we could walk around the lake to cut off some mileage

The right fork continued down to the shore of the pond and as we approached the shore the ruins of a stone structure appeared. It looked like it might have been a cabin or a boathouse. The wind was really whipping in off the pond and I was glad I had dressed warmly. Across the pond I could see other hikers on a rock lookout where I had been several weeks before. I took pictures of the stone ruins and several pictures of the pond before turning around and heading back to the road. As we walked Sheba and then I caught site on an animal on the road. It turned out to be a dog and her person hiking. We stopped and then walked together for a while. The hiker told me that the stone building was a "ranger station" that burned in the 60's. At the junction with the AS Trail Sheba and I turned left to follow this trail. The trail led us southeast and then northeast toward the Lemon Squeezer and a junction with the AT. At this point it was my intention to decide if I wanted to continue to find the other mines and what trail I would use.

This section of the AS Trail seemed long with an initially steep ascent to a ridge. As it turned northward, the trail undulated up and down over several small hills. Eventually we met up with some others hikers just after making a right onto the AT. This was the area of the Lemon Squeezer. I had been through here before and was NOT impressed with the Lemon Squeezer. That was probably because I had been in a hurry and the trail I was on coming the other way did not actually go through the Lemon Squeezer. Coming from the other direction as I did on this day the Lemon Squeezer is much more impressive and Sheba and I took some time to inspect it long with the hikers we had met. After passing through a narrow opening formed by two rocks leaning against each other the trail continues up a narrow slot and then opens into a wider area. From here hikers may take the "easy way" or the "hard way". Some kids took the hard way and I had to show I could keep up with them. I got it on the second try. Sheba took the easy way since she lacks opposable thumbs! I took many pictures of the area and then returned to the opening where I had left my pack. The Appalachian Trail actually goes up through this area and I though I might use it to get to the other two mines. I decided against this and to take the Bottle Cap Trail instead.

Sheba and I returned to the beginning of the Squeezer and walked a little further on down the AS Trail which is also the Long path at this point. Just before the Long Path turns left and the White bar goes right, we met the group of boys from the morning. The boys were a little more sedate but the leaders were still pouring over their maps and taking compass readings. We continued passed them and started up a hill where we met another group of hikers and their unleashed dogs. I allow Sheba to go without a leash until we spot other hikers. I then put her on a leash as a courtesy to others. I guess not all other hikers understand the rules since many allow their "friendly" dogs to come up and growl at Sheba and me! The Bottle Cap Trail is dotted on the map which means that is proposed and not really "official". It is marked with bottle caps of different types nailed to the trees. This was another trail I had never been on. It is not an easy trail since it ascends up and over Surebridge Mountain. I was looking for the area where this trail intersected the Surebridge Mine Road. This road connects the Greenwood and Surebridge Mines and leads south to Times Square and the trails back to the parking area.

As we walked along it was not always clear where the trail went and I did not know how prominent the mine road would be. Several areas had cuts which looked like they could have been roads. After consulting the map, I was sure that we had to descend to a swampy area where we would find the road running north-south. It was getting late in the day and I wasn't sure whether there was time to visit both mines. After a quick descent off the ridge, we approached the swamp and the road became very obvious. It was wide and well constructed and a cairn of stones marked it as our objective. I looked at the map and saw that the Greenwood Mine appeared to be only .5 miles north and right along the road near where the AT intersects. I decided to "go for it". We picked up our pace on the road which descended slightly and ran along a small creek. Within minutes the white blazes of the AT appeared and we saw some other hikers. In that same area I began to notice tailings. We had arrived at the Greenwood Mine.

The first impression I got of the mine was the massive piles of tailings in all directions. Next to the trail on the right was a long water-filled cut that appeared to go underground at the north end. After I took some pictures we continued on the trail and found another smaller cut on the right, more piles of mine waste and another large cut. Here we turned up the hillside and found some laid stone which could have been a foundation. On the hillside was another cut which also appeared to go into the rock but was filled with water. Further up the mountain was still another trench. This was indeed an impressive operation and well worth the trip. We spent some time looking around and taking pictures before heading back south on the mine road to the area where the Bottle Cap Trail had met the road. We continued passed here on the road. I knew that the Surebridge Mine should be and on the left side of the trail.

The first cut of the Surebridge Mine is just to the left of the trail and is not very impressive. It is now adjacent to a small swamp. I though I could hear some water underground but could find no opening. Although it was getting late, I decided to walk further into the woods to see if there were any more workings. I was glad that I did! I noticed many piles of tailing and each was associated with some type of mining activity. There were at least three trenches. two of them were deep and at least one seemed to lead underground. There were several exploratory pits. I found an impressive deep shaft at the eastern end of the area. The shaft was vertical but a "bend" at the bottom suggested that it might turn horizontally into the rock. Sheba and I worked our way back to the road and then hurried south on the road to the AS Trail. Here we turned left and were soon at Times Square. I decided to take the Long Path over to Cape Horn to the Hogencamp Mine. This put us back on the Trail we had come in on earlier that day. I took a few pictures at Hogencamp and then we hurried back toward the parking area.

Along the way we stopped at the lake to take a few pictures on the beautiful blue water with the sun sinking low in the sky. As we returned so did the group of boys from earlier that day. We had covered over 11 miles which explain why my feet hurt! Our 5 and a half hour journey had proved rewarding but we were ready to return home. I find the search for the mines and their exploration an interesting objective.

On Tuesday, March 25th I decided to return to Harriman to explore more of the iron mines. There are several in the Island Pond and Surebridge Mountain area but I decided to start by parking at Silvermine Lake which has four mines within walking distance. I knew that I wanted to find the Cranberry Mine first since the description sounded interesting and it seemed fairly close to the parking area. We parked at about 9:30 AM and immediately began the walk down Seven Lakes Drive. The instructions said to walk .5 miles to just passed the closed comfort station. We turned at the brook just after the station and headed up through the woods looking for a road going east to west at about .3 miles from Seven Lakes Drive. There was no real trail but it was clear other hikers had taken roughly this path. The book was right on and the road was right where it was supposed to be. We turned left and in only a few minutes I saw the opening of the mine.

As we approached I could see a large, low opening and a smaller one on the left. I wondered what we would find since the book described an effort to wall up the opening to the mine with a stone wall and an iron door. The wall was intact but only the door frame remained. I took pictures of the entrance and then we went inside. It was very dark inside and neither Sheba nor I were too sure about entering. I took some flash pictures which illuminated some of the mine features including a single gauge rail on the floor of the mine. I put on my Tikka Plus headlamp and realized how inadequate it was for this purpose. We continued to walk into the mine for forty or fifty feet until the passage split. The one to the right looked like it ended with an airshaft. The one to the left seemed to continue on and is described as extending up to 100 feet. I decided to leave this for another day with some companions and a much brighter light. We exited the mine.

I followed the directions in the book and started to look for a small structure with an iron door and corrugated roof which is thought to be a powder magazine. It was just where it was supposed to be but was a little worse for wear. We backtracked toward the mine entrance but headed up the hillside to look for more mining features. I found another small pit and evidence of a road to the top of the hill. We explored the top of the hill which had no real views and then headed back down. On the way down I found another small trench with a large pile of tailings. On the way back toward the mine entrance I ran across the opening to the airshaft. We continued back to the mine opening and followed the stream back to the main road. We crossed the road and walked along the stream that forms the outlet of Silvermine Lake. A woods road here leads behind the comfort station to a bridge over the stream. The Silvermine Lake Road passes around the western shore of the lake and close to the dam at the outlet we stopped here so that I could take some pictures and then continued on up the road. In several places the road had been carefully fortified with stonework attesting to its permanence and importance. After a sharp left turn in the road I saw three other hikers approaching. We stopped to talk about the nearly ideal weather and the mines in the area. Sheba and I continued on to look for the Appalachian Trail which runs concurrently with the R-D Trail over Black Mountain. Black Mountain is the site of the Spanish Mine at the top and the Silver Mine on the rock face of the mountain.

We turned off the road and onto the trail and immediately began a steep ascent. The trail flattened some and there were several lookouts over Silvermine Lake. After a few pictures we continued to the top of the mountain. Near the top I saw a path off to the left which seemed to go to the a cliff. I though this might be the way to the Silver Mine. As we reached the top of the mountain A nice view of the Hudson River presented itself. It was actually a little too hazy to get a good picture but it was a pleasant view. The Perkins Tower on Bear Mountain was also visible. To the left of the trail almost hidden in the tall grass was a tailings pile. I looked around and found a pit or shaft sunk into the mountain. Further up the hillside was another pit with some tailings. We stopped at a flat area to get a drink and eat a snack since it was around noon. After only a short break we headed back down the way we had come up.

On the way down I was looking for the path to the Silver Mine. The book warned that the hiking could be difficult and the author was correct. A very narrow path with some very slippery leaves led along the rock face. I watched for tailings and soon found them on the slope below. Above the tailings the "mine" was clearly visible as an depression blasted into the solid rock of the mountain. The area was high but only several feet into the rock. I doubt that the miners were actually looking for silver but very little is known about the mine. After taking some pictures, we returned the way we had come and going back was no easier. At the junction with the road we stayed on the trail. I had decided to follow the Appalachian Trail to the Menomine Trail which would lead back to the Silvermine Lake parking area. From here I intended to walk through the parking area on the trail and to the Lewis Mine on the other side of Seven Lakes Drive.

The Appalachian Trail section was longer than I expected but the weather was fine. After a while I looked own and saw a building in a clearing. We descended a rocky talus slope and found a building that was more than a lean-to and less than a cabin. It was well-constructed of stone with a shingled wooden roof. There were bunks bed frames with room for four people inside. We turned right and followed the Menomine Trail which seemed like a woods road. The trail descends and passes along some impressive rock formations. Much of the trail was wet and muddy but well-placed stepping stones helped. As the trail passed by the shore of the lake we stopped to take more photographs before continuing on to the Silvermine Lake parking area. To get across the stream that flows into the lake we walked through the parking lot and then followed the yellow trail markings to the far end of the picnic area. We crossed road that led to a large parking area which is now blocked off. The trail paralleled Seven Lakes Drive and eventually crossed it near Lake Nawahunta.

We stayed on the trail which is also a fire road until the trail went left around the lake. We followed the fire road to the right. Shortly tailings piles appeared and a cut in the hillside was visible. The cut which is the entrance to the Lewis Mine extends only a few feet into the rock and the tailings piles are small. We exited the cut and headed up to the top of the hill. I knew there wasn't going to be much more to the mine but I wanted to see what the view from the top looked like. We crossed a right-of-way with a few long unused poles. Some boulders marked the top of the hill but the view wasn't very spectacular. On the way down the hill I looked for other mining trenches but did not see any. At the fire road-trail junction we followed the trail around the end of the lake to take in the view. After that we backtracked along the fire road and found an old foundation which might be from a house of a storage building. After another look at the lake, we headed back out to Seven Lakes Drive and walked the road back to the car. It was 2:30 PM and time to return home after a nice 8 mile hike.

On Monday, March 24th I decided to explore more of the iron mines in Harriman State Park. Cindy and I had passed by the Hogencamp Mine on a recent hike and the weekend before I had discovered the Cornell and Edison Mines. I knew that these mines had historic significance and was interested in their story. The book Iron Mine Trails by Edward J. Lenik and published by the NYNJ Trail Conference is the "bible" on this subject. For only $8.95 it mentions most of the mines, gives their history and location. Another good source is www.ironminers.com. I decided to start by parking at the Tiorati Circle and trying to find the Bradley Mine. Depending on my "luck", I also thought I might go to the Pine Swamp Mine and revisit the Hogencamp Mine now that I knew what I was looking for. Besides a large hole in the ground the mines are usually characterized by a telltale pile of waste rock called tailings. Most of this time this rock, not surprisingly, looks rusty.

We parked at the Tiorati Circle at about 9:30 AM and started to hike up the Arden Road. This road is paved and an easy walk. It is not maintained during the winter and is closed to vehicle traffic. I didn't know exactly how far to walk or what to look for although the book described the mine as just off the road. After a slight downhill and at sharp left hand turn the Long Path crosses the road and I knew that I was near the area of the mine. We kept walking but I had no way of knowing whether we had passed the entrance. Soon a large outcropping of rock appeared on the right and informal trails seemed to lead upward. I continued on only a short distance until an obvious woods road cut back up the hill to the right. I followed the road an was soon rewarded by a trench cut in the rock and the reddish-yellow color.

The trench was very impressive being about 5 feet wide and over twenty feet tall. We wound our way through the cut until a hole in the earth appeared ahead. This was the main entrance to the mine and it was filled with water. The area around the main entrance and into the mine was also very icy and pieces of ice were falling as the temperature warmed up. I went as far as I felt I safely could and took as many pictures as possible. Photographing the area was difficult due to the darkness inside and the bright sun outside. I was able to see an airshaft and decided to go up on the hillside to see what else I could find. The book described a banked structure which was though to be a storehouse or powder magazine. We worked our way out of the entrance and through the trench and started to climb the hillside.

On the way up the hillside we stopped at and area overlooking the mine entrance and at the airshaft. Sheba and I walked up to the top of the hill and covered most of the hilltop. There were several other areas that showed some mining activity and one large, flat work area. There was also a nice view from on top. We came back down to near the airshaft and then walked diagonally along the hillside back to the road looking for mining structures. I couldn't find any. Back at the road I decided to try walking passed the road to see what I could find. We did this and then cut up onto the hillside. The only thing we saw was several deer and lots of rocks. After returning to the access road to the mine, I decided to return to the car. The walk back went quickly and we were at the car by 11:30 AM. I got back on Seven Lakes Drive and headed for the parking area near Lake Askoti and Skanatati. The drive was much shorter than I remembered.

At the lakes there were already a few cars parked and Sheba and I were on the trail by noon. Had decided to use the Long Path to get to the Dunning Trail and to go to the Pine Swamp Mine first. This avoided a stream crossing that was difficult last time and would, I thought, be worse this time with the addition rain and runoff. The Long Path was wet in some spots but not too bad. A few small stream crossing offered enough stepping stones to get across with no problem. We met some children and adults near the lake, said hello, and continued on. The Long Path began to climb toward the area of the Hogencamp Mine. Just before this the Dunning Trail headed off to the right and we turned. I wasn't sure how far to go before looking for signs of the mine. I did know that if I got to a trail junction I had gone too far. I began to look for Pine Swamp on the right and mine tailings on the left. It didn't take long to find both. Since the trail passes by the mine, we turned left and walked up the hill where it looked like other people had walked. We entered a clearing with some spruce trees and then I saw the opening of the mine.

The approach to the mine entrance was flooded but we worked around it. The trench into the mine was no less impressive than at the Bradley Mine. The cut was wider but higher and the entrance much larger. The adit also slopes upwards so water in the mine would was not a problem. Inside the mine there was more light due to the larger opening and an airshaft near the upper end. Climbing upward through the mine was not easy due to the steep angle, wet rocks and ice. We climbed upward passed the airshaft to what looked like the end of the mine. I could not go any further since the rock was too slippery. I stopped to take pictures several times including some of the drill marks in the rock. After looking around, we carefully made our way back down and out the entrance. At this point, I decided to look around for more evidence of mining so we headed up the hillside.

We came to the area of the airshaft and I stopped to take some pictures and then continued to the top of the hill. There were some nice views of the surrounding area including the Pine Swamp below. I did not want to descend to the trail to get to the Hogencamp Mine so we started across the hillside. This seemed like a good idea until we encountered several rocky strewn areas and areas where the forest lay on the ground. We continued on in the direction of Hogencamp Mountain and eventually ran into the Long Path which passes by the mountain and leads down to the mine. I decided to go to the top of the mountain to see what the view might reveal. We started on a direct route and were soon at the top. Here the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail cuts across the mountain but I decided to descend again to the Long Path. I wanted to look for some of the building foundations and other features mentioned in the Lenik book. As we came down the trail I did find one stone wall but I could not spot anything else.

At the small falls, I met another hiker. We talked briefly about the wonderful weather and about hiking the Adirondacks. Since we were going in opposite directions we parted. Just after the small falls, I noticed a path down to the stream. As I descended I realized that Cindy and I had missed the mine the last time we hiked here. I found a cut through the rock that penetrated into the hillside under the trail for 10 to 15 feet. I took some pictures and then turned around to walk out. I saw several trenches that parallel the base of the hillsides. We walked through one and out onto the trail were there are several piles of tailings. There is also a pit filled with water with a vertical pipe. We walked back toward the hillside and I found another set of laid stone. We walked through several trenches and then up the steep slope to the top of the ridge. There was a limited view on top and I could find no more evidence of mining activity. From here we walked back to the Long Path and then down to the Dunning Trail completing that part of the loop. After talking to several other hikers, we headed back to the car. It was after 2:00 PM and I decided to come back another day to explore more of the mines. We had spent 5 hours walking over 7 miles.

On Saturday, March 22nd I wanted to take a short hike with family. Cindy was still sick and Kathleen was spending the day with her mother. I took Karl, Krista, Brad and, of course, Sheba to Trout Pond to do the loop. I also hoped to get some pictures of a large volume of water going over the falls so I took my Canon EOS Xti since the hike was short enough that a pack is not needed. There was some snow still in Livingston Manor where plows had left piles but nothing much elsewhere on the ground. As we drove up Morton Hill Road, it appeared there was a little MORE snow left than in town. The parking area was completely snowed in and there was a least 6 inches of packed and icy snow on Russell Brook Road. We parked along the road and carefully began to hike down to the falls.

In some places the snow was completely melted and in others there was still quite a bit left. There was a good volume of water coming over the falls so I took some pictures. They turned out not to be much different than numerous others I had taken. We signed in at the register and decided to hike up the steeper hill to Mud Pond first. Part of the trail here, as in many other places, was wet and muddy without snow. We got up the hill, pausing a couple of times to enjoy the scenery. At Mud Pond we turned left and headed toward Trout Pond. The trail continued to vary from snow and ice covered to bare to wet and muddy. The uphill part to Trout Pond was a little longer than I remembered but having others along made it seem shorter.

At the inlet the stream was higher than it had been but we walked upstream a short distance and found a place to cross. I took some pictures before trying to cross the stream. The trail on the other side was VERY wet and muddy in most places until we got to the outlet. We stopped for a moment to rest and take some photos before continuing on. At Russell Brook Road Karl and I sent Sheba home with Krista and Brad and we continued on down the road. I had intended to walk down to the "end" where I knew we could not cross the swollen stream. We only walked a short distance when it became obvious that the ice and snow would make the hiking difficult. In addition, the stream was not that interesting. Karl and I turned around and headed back. We covered a little over 4 miles in just over 2 hours.

Winter 2007-2008

On Saturday, March 15th I wanted to hike the trail that will be part of an extreme running event on April 12th. The event includes 50 mile, 50K and 10K versions and I am contemplating the idea of trying the 10K. I had been thinking about this all week and was glad that Saturday dawned wet but without any major snow coverage. I knew that Bear Mountain would be warmer so I donned my Mountain Hardwear Winter Wander pants but without a baselayer. On top I had my now favorite PolarMax Expedition zip top and a light OR Sequence zip. I put on my Marmot Oracle light jacket. A packed some rain gear and the Stabilicers just in case along with a warmer top. I wore light stretch and an Mountain Hardwear Microdome but packed a slightly warmer set. Cindy said she did not want to go so as son as I was ready I got Sheba in the car and we were off.

We got started later than I had hoped so we parked at Bear Mountain at about 10:50. When I got out of the car I was surprised that the temperature seemed colder than I expected and there was a stiff breeze. I decided to keep my jacket on. The sun was out but it was still cloudy and overcast. There wasn't even a hint of snow or ice so I decided on leaving the poles in the car. Sheba and I walked to the tunnel under Perkins Drive and then threw the other tunnel and onto the 1777E trail. My intention was to walk the trail quickly to see how long it would take to gauge whether or not I could finish the 10K in under two hours. The race course follows the 177E and 1777 trails through Doodletown, turns left at the Ramapo-Dunderberg trail, heads up and over Bald Mountain, down the Cornell Mine trail to 9W, back up to the 1777E trail and back to the start.

The trail was very wet in places as we began and this would continue through most of the day. Fortunately the first half of the trail is mostly road and it is wide enough to avoid the stream on the path in most places. At the entrance to the second tunnel was a sign with a map of Doodletown. Each historical site is numbered and labeled and most are referenced by these numbers in several books on the settlement. Each major historical site has a number in near it and an explanation of the site. Many have drawings of the building which once stood there. As we walked along the path, we came to the junction of the 177 trail and the Cornell Mine Trail. We would be returning on the Cornell Mine Trail so we turned right on the 1777 Trail. In just a short distance a sign pointing to the left indicated a waterfall and swimming hole. My resolve to walk the trail quickly broke!

The path down to the waterfall led to a little bridge and continued on up a hill. Beneath the bridge on the downstream side was a small waterfall. Upstream were a few rapids. The sound of the water and the visual effect were beautiful. Below the falls is a deep pool that was used as a swimming hole when the settlement was present. I decided to walk back up the path and get on the 1777 Trail. Along this trail the markers and descriptions of the Doodletown settlement continued at different intervals. The foundations and stone steps of many of the homes are still visible. Some sites have only a sign and no stonework to mark their existence. There is a manmade pond on the left across from the site of the old schoolhouse. Several cemeteries are present and we stopped at the Herbert/Weyant cemetery. These two families were very prominent in the settlement and some of the grave markers bear dates in the early 1800's.

After climbing a small hill, I read the signs which explain that the main settlement ended and only a few houses could be found beyond that point. The road ends at this point and a rougher trail begins. The trail was wet on this day but was still in good shape. Eventually the 1777 Trail intersects the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail where we turned left. This trail immediately becomes narrow and ascends over a rocky outcropping before beginning to descend into an open hardwood forest. I wondered about crossing the small stream but the water level was relatively low and "stepping stones" made crossing easy. The trail ascends from here as it starts to wind its way up Bald Mountain. The route we took is certainly the long way around but makes the climb manageable since this side of the mountain is MUCH less steep than the other.

We climbed up toward the top of Bald Mountain taking in some of the views near the top. The trail winds through some rocks and there is a final, short but steep attempt just before the summit. The summit has open views to the north up the Hudson River with the Bear Mountain Bridge almost directly below. On this day the sun had just come out to provide interesting lighting for photography. After taking some pictures, I decided to try to find the Cornell Mine. I had looked halfheartedly before but had done some reading and research since the last time. I dropped directly down off the summit heading north and started to look for piles of tailings from the mine. Soon I saw what I was looking for but the "mine" was only an open pit and I knew there was more. I continued on down the slope toward another pile of mine debris. Within a few hundred feet was an opening directly into the rock of the mountain. The adit was only three or four feet tall and was filled with a foot or two of water. I took some pictures and then we headed across the face of the mountain to pick up the R-D Trail.

Once on the R-D Trail I was careful to watch for the junction with the Cornell Mine Trail which comes up rather quickly. When this blue trail branched off to the left, we took it and started to descend. This is the MOST torturous part of the trail with steep areas and many rocks just waiting for a misstep. Many of the rocks were wet and covered with leaves which added to the excitement. In one are a large patch of ice covered the trail but was easily bypassed. This will be the most difficult portion of the race both physically and mentally. The trail descends steadily and then begins to level out at the bottom of the mountain. The walking became easier and the sun came out from behind the clouds. As we approached a junction with a woods road I consulted my map and noticed a notation for the Edison Mine. the location was quite near on top of a small hill. I started in the general direction, rounded a large rock and began to notice the now familiar tailings. The mine waste appeared to be coming from the top of the hill so I took a route in that direction. As I walked across the top of the hill, I noticed a depression and then a hole ahead. The hole was not just and open pit but another shaft that penetrated the underlying rock. The Edison Mine entrance also seemed to be blocked but I took some pictures and decided I would read more about both mines.

We walked over the hill and back to the trail and continued toward the highway less than a mile away. I was familiar with the trail since I had hiked here before. Just before the junction with the road we took a detour down to the stream nearby. There was a small waterfall and several areas where the water was rushing through the rocks. A little further downstream was a dam. I took quite a few pictures and then we went back up the hill to the main trail. As we approached the road we stopped one more time by the stream and I took more pictures. We walked out to the road and proceeded only about a hundred feet back toward Bear Mountain before turning left back onto the trail. The trail immediately ascends Gray's Hill which was once part of the King's Road and the Albany Road. This hill is near the end of the race and will pose an interesting challenge for tired runners. Further on up the hill the trail abruptly turns right and passes through some brushy areas. This part of the trail was VERY wet with some areas being impossible to bypass. Shortly we were back on the 1777E Trail where we had started. From here we backtracked to the car and arrived at about 3:15. We covered a little over 6 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes. The hike gave me no idea whether or not I can finish the race in two hours but it sure was fun!

On Sunday, March 9th I wanted to get out of town. We spent most of Friday night, Saturday and Saturday night preparing for flooding and praying that it wouldn't happen. It didn't although the rivers ran fairly high. After church on Sunday, we decided to get out and go somewhere despite the gusting winds. I decided to go to a "falls" somewhere since I thought the volume of water might make some nice pictures. We had only been to Vernooy Kill Falls once and that was in warmer weather. We quickly dressed and I put my cameras in the car. I decided that a pack was not necessary for the 4 mile hike. We threw in our poles, Stabilicers and snowshoes since it wasn't clear what combination we would need.

Finding the trailhead is not easy since most site gives the WRONG directions. We got a little turned around but were out of the car and on the trail just before 2:00 PM. To get to the parking area turn onto Ulster County Route 3 just north of Kerhonksen on State Route 209. This is marked as Sampsonville Road. Go 1.3 miles and turn onto Cherrytown Road on the left. After 3.5 miles, turn left onto Upper Cherrytown Road. The trailhead is about 1.5 miles on the right with the trail starting just across the road on the left. The parking area is marked by the standard yellow on brown sign. We decided to take the poles and wear the Stabilicers. Once on the trail it became clear that we would be alternating between packed snow from the snowmobiles and open trail were the snow had melted or been washed away by the rain. The trail was VERY wet with standing water in some places and running streams in others.

Our first problem came after less than half a mile. A stream that is normally barely a trickle blocked our way. I went upstream and found nothing. Cindy and Sheba went downstream and things looked more promising. I found a place to jump across but Cindy was a little unsure. We threw some rocks in the stream and built a nice set of stepping stones. After crossing, we made our way back to the trail. Fortunately, the next stream HAD a bridge which was lucky since it was so high we could not have crossed. I did not remember that the trail had so much elevation gain and I do not have a map of the area. We were on a blue trail that was also marked for snowmobiles. I expected to see the aqua blazes of the Long Path since it follows this route but none were to be found. My GPS did seem to indicate we were headed in the correct direction. After a steady upward climb, the trail leveled some. This meant we went from avoiding running water to trying to find ways around large standing pools. I began to wonder if we were on the right trail and then things began to look familiar.

We arrived at the falls to find another stream to cross which was relatively easy. There was an enormous volume of water going over the falls and under the bridge. I broke out my Canon and started taking pictures from the bridge. I then went down below the bridge and found a rocky ledge to stand on to take pictures of the water coming under the bridge and some other pictures downstream. I worked my way back to the bridge and the upstream along the banks. There are several different levels to the falls and I was able to find a place to take pictures of each one. Near the very top the creek levels off and after taking a few shots I went back to the bridge. Cindy had decided to take a short rest at the bridge. I put the DSLR away and got out the Kodak and took a few short videos of the falls before heading back.

The trip back was VERY FAST. We were tired. We knew where we were going and most of the walk was downhill. We were back by 4:15 PM after covering just under 4 miles. I had intended to go to Stony Kill Falls on the way back but it was a little too late. On the way back through Neversink, we did stop at the Neversink Dam to take pictures. On the way out I had noticed a lot of water going over the spillway. There was so much water that the mist covered the windshield as we drove passed. I walked down the road to take some shots and the wind off the reservoir was VERY strong. I took as many shots as I could before my fingers were numb. Back in the car I decided to park ON the dam and take a few photos of the reservoir which was still solidly frozen. After these shots, I decided to get back in the car, thaw my hands and head home!

On Sunday, March 2nd I wanted to get out and "try" the new snow that had fallen on Friday and Saturday. Both my wife and I were feeling a little ill with colds but we decided to go out after church anyway. After lunch, we put our snowshoes and Sheba in the car and headed for Frick Pond. Our intention was to hike up to Frick and then use the Quick Lake Trail to go to Hodge. We would use the Flynn Trail to return. This was basically the same hike I did on Tuesday but in reverse. We got started at about 12:15 from the parking area.

The first thing we noticed was there was MUCH MORE snow on the trails than in Livingston Manor. Also, none of the trail had been broken so we were the first to break trail. The snow was up to 12 inches deep as we approached Frick Pond where there were drifts almost 3 feet high! I took some pictures at the pond and then headed over the outlet bridge to pick up the Quick Lake Trail. There seemed to be even MORE snow on this trail and nothing was broken. It was a real struggle particularly on the slightly uphill portions. I encouraged Sheba to go up ahead of us but she was very content to stay behind me on the broken trail.

By the time we reached the junction with the Logger's Loop Trail I was pretty sure Cindy wanted to return to the car and I didn't disagree. We turned right on Logger's Loop to head for Times Square. This trail is open to snowmobilers and skiers and was well-packed. The walking here was a pleasure and much quicker than in the unpacked snow. We walked at a good pace to Times Square. The Logger's Loop from here goes back to Frick but is closed to snowmobiles. We were back to slogging through about half a mile of two foot snow with no broken trail. Breaking through the 3 foot drifts was a adventure. Soon we were back at Frick Pond and our broken trail from earlier. From here it was relatively easy to return to the car. We did only a few miles in a little under 3 hours but all of it was difficult.

On Tuesday, February 26th the forecast called for more snow and then a wintery mix and even rain! School went on a two hour delay and then closed and hour later. I decided that even though it wasn't snowing at 10:00 AM that there was plenty of snow for snow shoeing. I greased up Sheba's paws, grabbed my Atlas 1225 and headed for Hodge and Frick ponds. The roads were in good shape and we were on the Flynn Trail by 10:15 AM. I had decided to go up the Flynn Trail, around Hodge and then work my way back passed Frick in some way. The variety of trails make a variety of routes possible.

The first part of the Flynn Trail in the woods was unbroken with at least 10 inches of snow varying from loose powder to a pretty thick crust. Sheba was able to walk on top of the crust in places. Just passed the cabin and the gate the snow thinned. It looked as if several people had barebooted it up the trail leaving rough holes and general mayhem in their wake. I was warm wearing my Patagonia R4 over my Underarmour. The wind would start to blow and make it cooler and then would die down. About halfway up the Flynn Trail I remembered how different snowshoeing is from hiking! The snow got deeper, the boot tracks ended AND it began to snow. The snow would continue for the rest of the hike and was heavy at times driven by a stiff wind.

We continued straight ahead toward Hodge Pond at the junction with the Big Rock Trail and the snowmobile trail to Mongaup Pond. The snow from this point on was 10 to 12 inches deep and was just plain work to slog through. I looked around for Sheba who is normally out ahead. She was directly behind me following my broken trail. The dog is NOT stupid! I had decided to go directly to Hodge and then continue down the Flynn Trail to the Quick Lake Trail. Any thought of lengthening the journey was put to rest by the driving snow and the deep snow already on the ground. Eventually the trail became packed by snowmobiles and the walking was MUCH easier. The snow was still blowing and I was beginning to get wet.

AT the junction with the Logger's Loop Trail I had to make a decision. Logger's Loop is open to snowmobiles and the snow was packed which made walking much easier. The Quick Lake Trail was COMPLETELY unbroken with deep, powdery snow. The Logger's Loop Trail is at least half a mile longer so I opted for the Quick Lake Trail. After only a few hundred meters I began to winder about my choice. As we walked along the snow and the ground got deeper and the snow in the air continued to blow. This part of the trail back to Frick was longer than I remembered especially under the conditions. The trail was completely unbroken AND very poorly marked.

I was VERY glad to see the ice on Frick Pond. We cut down to the trail at the edge of the pond and worked our way around to the bridge over the outlet. From here it is only about half a mile back to the parking area. I was VERY GLAD to see the car. I was wet and tired. We had covered about 5 miles in 3 hours which did not disappoint me.

On Saturday, February 23rd the snow had finally stopped leaving between 10 and 12 inches of powdery goodness behind. Cindy and I decided to take Sheba and snowshoe on Round Top since none of the roads looked to be in very good shape. We followed the same route Sheba and I had taken the day before.

On Friday, February 22nd there was already 6 to 8 inches of snow on the ground when I decided to go across from my house and snowshoe with Sheba on Round Top. I wore my OR Mithral shell to ward off the snow falling from the skies and the trees. Underneath I wore my PolarMax AND a light Mountain Hardwear fleece since it seemed cold. When will I ever learn? Snowshoeing is even MORE aerobic than hiking and I get warm very quickly! The Salomon B-52 boots are great and I again wore my new Atlas 1225 snowshoes. There were a few cars on the street but we saw no one else as we headed up the road to the cemetery and the trail we usually use to snowshoe. After climbing all the way to the top of the first hill, I decided to continue down the other side and up to the top of the next rise. We followed some of the old woods roads and were soon on top of the second hill. At this point we turned around and followed our tracks back to the top of the first hill. Following our tracks wasn't always easy since it was snowing so hard the tracks were starting to fill in! We then descended down several "steps" to the trail that runs parallel to the Quickway. We continued on this trail until it started to descend and then I followed Sheba up through the woods to another road. This track took us to the clearing that overlooks the Exit 96 exchange. There wasn't much of a view since the snow was coming down even harder! We cut back into the woods, up a hill and then back to where we started. A few miles in over an hour.

On Thursday, February 21st I wanted to do Slide Mountain since February is one of the few months that I had not climbed it. The roads were a mess but passable after the recent ice and snow. Sheba and I got to the trailhead off the Frost Valley Road at about 10:00 AM. I was worried about the amount of water in the Neversink and a quick inspection confirmed my fears. I walked upstream at least a quarter mile and could not find a place I felt comfortable crossing. There was a LOT of water flowing under and over the ice. I went back to the car top break the news to Sheba. Not one to be thwarted too easily, I headed to Claryville and the trailhead at Denning. This road was exceptionally well maintained and was plowed all the way to the trailhead. Even the trailhead parking was plowed. There was a car and a school bus in the parking area but no signs of people.

I got out of the car to check the trail and quickly determined that snowshoes would not be appropriate at the beginning of the hike. The trail was mostly packed snow and ice so I decided to wear my new Stabilicers and use my Leki poles. The question was whether or not to carry my snowshoes. I decided against this hoping I would not be sorry near the top of the mountain. Sheba and I got started at about 10:45 AM and the choice of Stabilicers seemed to be a good one. They offer just the right amount of grip and add almost no weight. Best of all, once attached, you can just forget about them. We walked quickly and were soon at the cutoff for Table Mountain. We continued on toward the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail. The Phoenicia-East Branch Trail was icy in many spots but with some running water. In places where the sun could get to the trail there was almost no snow. The higher we hiked and the closer to the CO Trail the more snow was present.

When we turned on to the CO Trail I wondered if I would regret not packing the snowshoes. There was a lot more snow and I was sinking in at various spots. Shortly the trail began to ascends through some rocks which would have required removing the snowshoes anyway. From this point on the trail alternated between a few stretches of snow and some rocky climbs. The day was clear so views from the lookout were very nice. As we got near the top of the CO Trail there was more ice on the trail. This required some careful foot placements despite the Stabilicers and the poles. We son arrived at the Burroughs Trail to the top of Slide. It is still about three-quarters of a mile to the top.

As we walked the Burroughs Trail it seemed that the temperature had dropped. I bypassed the lookout of the left in an effort to get to the top. The views from the top were limited by the trees as always but the views were crystal clear without any haze. I took some pictures and we got a quick snack before turning around and heading back down the trail. We stopped at the lookout to take a few pictures. Further down the trail we turned left on the CO Trail to head back toward the car. Going down was easier than going up except in the icy areas. The Stabilicers do NOT dig in the same way that crampons do but they are far easier to use. We were back at the car by 4:00 PM covering almost 10 miles in a little over 5 hours.

On Tuesday, February 19th I was just starting to get over the cold I had for the entire weekend. My wife, Cindy, and her friend usually walk in the morning so I suggested snowshoeing at Frick Pond. They though that sounded good so we picked up Kathy and parked on the Beech Mountain Road at about 9:15 AM. I hadn't really decided what route to take and I knew I should take it easy. There was enough snow to make the snowshoes worthwhile but not enough to make them mandatory. We headed out to Frick Pond and went down to the pond to take some pictures. Just as we arrived I could see a snow squall coming across the pond. Soon it was snowing all around us. This made photography difficult.

We decided to hike out to Times Square and then up the Big Rock Trail to the Flynn Trail. This was my suggestion and it was probably NOT a good one for my first time out of the house in three days. We quickly got to Times Square and headed up the Big Rock Trail. The snow was packed here since it is also a snowmobile trail. This trail always fools me since there is MUCH more uphill than I ever count on. In fact, the last climb is the toughest. Eventually we were at the top of the Big Rock Trail. I usually like to walk down to Hodge Pond but was not disappointed when I was out voted. The walk down the Flynn Trail was long but uneventful. We were out for about 5 miles and a little over 2 hours.

On Tuesday, February 12th school was closed early just after noon due to the impending snow and ice storm. I got home and decided to try out my new Atlas 1225 snowshoes up at Frick and Hodge Ponds. This are has a variety of loops with varying difficulty. Just as I was ready to leave the ambulance pager changed my plans. When I got back from the call, it was 3:00 PM and the storm had already started. I decided to go across the street from my house and snowshoe a loop up on Round Top. Sheba and I completed a few miles in an hour and got back home as the storm was intensifying.

On Sunday, February 10th Karl and Kathleen were up from Virginia and available to hike. We had thought about a snowshoe trip to Frick and Hodge but decided to go south to the Black Rock Forest. I was so impressed with this area the last time that I wanted to share it with others. We didn't get on the road until after 9:00 AM and as we headed south to the Black Rock Forest the weather changed with each mile. We knew that the temperatures would drop and the wind would increase by the afternoon. We headed down Route 17 to Monroe where we got on Route 6. We turned onto Route 293 to head toward West Point and then drove north on 9W toward Newburgh. As we passed the parking area for Storm King I watched for Mountain Road on the right. We turned at the sign for the storm King School and made a sharp right to approach the tunnel that allows Reservoir Road to pass under 9W. The tunnel is so narrow only one car will fit through and barely at that. This time we had the Outlander which is slightly wider and a lot higher than my Eclipse! We continued straight up the hill following the Black Rock Forest signs and parked in the parking area on the right. This parking area allows access to the Duggan Trail or to the upper part of Reservoir Road which is closed to public access. This road leads to the education center for the Black Rock Forest.

We got on the red marked Duggan Trail and followed it as it dipped downward into a nice hardwood forest. In about half a mile this trail meets the blue marked Reservoir Trail and we turned left here. Almost immediately there was a small bridge marked Ben's Bridge to cross over the stream that is the outlet for the Upper Reservoir. I took some pictures of the bridge and the stream. We continued on the blue trail which parallels the stream and climbs some toward the Education Center. The stream was several very nice little "waterfalls" along the way and the recent rains added to the stream volume. At the top of the hill I could see the education center on the other side of the stream. We took a right on the yellow Stillman trail but only stayed on it for a few hundred feet. This trail leads up Mount Misery and I wanted to save that for last. Instead we turned onto White Oak Road and headed on it toward the Aleck Meadow Reservoir. Just before the reservoir the trail turns right into the woods to the shores of the reservoir. I took some pictures and we then walked to the right along the shore to the spillway. Just after the bridge over the outlet stream we noticed a steel "trap door" on the left. There was no lock on the door and opening it revealed a shaft with a ladder. The shaft was filled with water at the bottom and its use remains a mystery.

We continued on the yellow Stillman Trail as it headed up to Black Rock. The climb was briefly steep but the trails can be confusing. The view from Black Rock was amazing as were the winds which gusted up to 30 mph! The fire tower was visible in the southwest and there were expansive views to the north and east. The Moodna Viaduct was visible straight ahead. I took a few pictures since the day was much clearer than the last time I did the hike. We headed down off Black Rock on the steep natural stone steps that lead down the other side. These were covered with snow and ice which made paying attention to each foot placement critical. We continued on the Stillman Trail to a junction that illustrates how confusing the trail and roads in this area can be. At this junction there are two roads, two gates and two trails. BOTH trails (Stillman and Sackett) are marked with yellow. We had to turn right and walk a few feet and then immediately turn left to STAY ON the Stillman Trail.

The Stillman Trail passes a ridge on the right and ascends slightly until some bodies of water begin to appear on the left. These are Sphagnum and Sutherland Ponds. The view from the Stillman Trail is largely blocked but I knew that we would soon have a better view. Along the Stillman Trail there are often ridges of rock on the left or right. This is typical of the region where you are either walking beside, on top of or over these rocky outcroppings. We continued to walk on the Stillman Trail until the trail markers for the Split Rock Trail appeared on the left. Almost immediately Split Rock appeared. All along this trail are viewpoints of Sutherland Pond directly to the south and Sphagnum Pond to the southeast. This day the view was so clear we could see the skyline of New York City to the south! The trail eventually descends to an area between the two ponds where it meets Chatfield Road. Just before it meets the road there is a LARGE pit on the right of the trail. This is obviously manmade and I wondered if it was an iron mine. The other three people on the hike began to make noises about the length of the hike. I told them that Eagle Cliff had very nice views but they declined my offer.

We continued straight ahead between the ponds on the road which ascended slightly and I decided to shorten the hike my staying on the road. The road wraps around Tamarack Pond and at one point a spur trail branches to the shore of the pond on the left. I stopped to take some pictures and the fire tower was very clearly visible on the opposite shore. The road continued around to the left and ended up at the Chatfield Stone House. We stopped for a minute to inspect the house. I would like to return when it is open to look inside the house. After a few minutes we continued on up the Continental Road and then took a right on the White Oak Trail. We crossed the outlet of Arthur Pond and then stayed on the trail until it ended at White Oak Road. Several areas descended over rock faces covered in snow. Most places had enough grip to prevent slipping but it made the short walk tricky.

At White Oak Road we turned right and continued on the road back to the Aleck Meadow Reservoir. The rest of the group voted to avoid Mount Misery and I consented. By now the wind was even stronger and I Remember the descent from Mount Misery as steep and tricky even without the snow. I chose to stay on the road and walk to the Upper Reservoir. From here we followed the road down to the Center. We stopped briefly at the bridges in front of the Center before continuing on down toward the car. The views from the road were better today and I took some pictures. Just before reaching the we met the only other hiker we had seen on the day. As we approached he said "You're the Catskill Hiker aren't you? I read your website all the time!" I was quiet flattered until I realized there are almost NO pictures of me on the site. I think he must have recognized Sheba! I am sorry I did not get his name or ask him how we knew who I was. We got back to the car after four hours of hiking 6.8 miles. The meal at El Bandido in Middletown was good as always!

On Saturday, February 9th I wanted to "bag" Balsam Lake Mountain since February is the only month I had not climbed this peak. I wasn't sure whether or not I wanted to do Graham. Cindy didn't want to go so I put Sheba in the car and headed out. The weather report called for snow showers but the skies in town were only cloudy. Also, in Livingston Manor there was almost no snow! As I drove up the Beaverkill Road, it became obvious that the change in elevation meant more snow. By the time I was in Turnwood there was A LOT more snow! The roads were well-maintained until just before the monastery. At this point there was snow and ice on the roads and they were rutted in places. I was happy that I had put snow tires on the Eclipse as I ventured up the last part of the road and parked at the trailhead. The parking area was plowed but there were several inches of new snow over hard packed snow and ice.

I was wearing the PolarMax Expedition as a baselayer since this has become my new favorite. As a midlayer I had on an OR Sequence. On top I wore a Marmot Firelight Fleece jacket. I choose to wear my Asolo Fugitive boots without any traction devices. I took my Leki poles and packed my new Stabilicers. By the time we reached the turn up the mountain, I was ready to ditch the jacket and did so. The breeze had picked up some and light snow was falling. I knew once I got underway I would be warmer. As we climbed I watched where Sheba slipped and avoided those places. Near the top by the spring there were some slippery spots with much of the ice hidden under the new snow. The snow was falling harder and a smart person would have just put on the Stabilicers. I am not that smart!

By the time we reached the tower, the snow was falling harder and the wind had picked up. I took a few pictures but did not bother going up the tower. I took off the Sequence and put the Marmot Firelight back on. Going down the other side was fast but I had to pay attention for icy areas. I had decided to climb Graham another day making up several different excuses. Near the bottom I met four people from the Albany ADK chapter. Two of them I had seen before on hikes. We talked for a minute and they said they were doing Balsam Lake first and then Graham. I took this as a challenge and decided to do Graham. I was glad I had put the jacket on since the snow and wind had both increased. At the Dry Brook Trail I turned left and walked toward the herd path to Graham. This path is now VERY obvious.

The way to Graham can be tedious. It is usually wet and overgrown. In the summer nettles and water and blowdowns can make the trail hard to follow. On this day the water was mostly frozen but in most places traction was present. I followed a set of foot prints which helped keep me on track. The ADK group had told me that another couple might be up ahead. The tracks became more obscured by falling and blowing snow as we went further up the trail. The hiking went quickly and soon Sheba indicated something ahead. Coming down the trail were the couple who had made the tracks. We stopped to talk and then moved on in opposite directions. We weren't far from the top and made it in just a few minutes. We didn't stay long! The wind was really blowing and more snow was falling. I gave Sheba a snack and grabbed my sandwich. After a few pictures, we stared back down. About halfway down the trail we met the ADK group again. They were now all wearing MSR snowshoes. They seemed to be happy with the choice and they do offer excellent traction. Just a little farther on I met three more hikers who had parked at the Millbrook trailhead. After a brief conversation, we continued the hike.

Sheba and I were soon back at the Dry Brook Trail where we turned left and started back to the car. The Dry Brook Trail is getting washed out and is very narrow in some areas. Footing can be tricky during the other three seasons! With snow on top of ice, this trail was downright...exciting! I used the poles to steady myself and to avoid slipping over the edge. This part of the hike also went quickly and we were soon back at the turn up the mountain. In 15 minutes we were back a the car. We had completed just under 8 miles in four hours.

On Sunday, February 3rd I wanted to experiment with my Cannon EOS Xti. I have the regular "kit" lens and a 75-300 mm telephoto lens. The bag I have is a nice LowePro but its hard for me to carry it and my pack at the same time. Because of this, I still carry my point-and-shoot Kodak 650 on most hikes. I though it might be nice to go to the falls on Russell Brook near Trout Pond to take some pictures and maybe even go up to the lake. Cindy and Sheba both were interested so we headed to Roscoe after our annual church meeting. The skies were mostly overcast with some sun as we parked along the road at the top of Russell Brook Road.

Cindy chose to wear crampons but I brought my MSR Lightening Ascent snowshoes. Neither were really necessary at the beginning of the hike as the higher temperatures had begun to melt the snow and there wasn't much ice. I did feel a little cool since I did not wear a jacket but I warmed up as we got underway. Cindy had nothing but trouble with the crampons and eventually removed them. We walked down the road and then across the bridge on Russell Brook. We then walked along the left side of the brook to just below the falls. Sheba and I then descended to the bed of the brook so that I could take pictures of the brook and the falls. The snowshoes came in handy here! There wasn't as much water as I though there might be but there was ice on both sides of the falls which made for some interesting shots.

When I finished at the lower falls, I worked my way back up to the trail and then to the path that leads to the upper falls. The descent to the upper falls was much too icy to attempt. I stood above the falls on the bank and took some shots of the flowing water and ice formations. When I had finished, we decided to go up to the near end of the lake. As we ascended the trail to the lake it was clear at least one hiker with MSR snowshoes and one dog without any snowshoes had preceded us.

The lake was still completely covered with a layer of ice. The only open water was a small amount near the beaver dam at the outlet. I took some pictures of the lake and used the telephoto to zoom in on the inlet. There was very little color except for the bright blue sky so the pictures look a little "flat". I walked down to the stream bed below the outlet and shot some pictures toward the dam. The ice frozen on the spillway was interesting. We returned to the main path and hiked back to the car.

On Saturday, February 2nd I decided to head south again to avoid the ice that had fallen in most of the Catskills. I would have liked to have seen the ice on the trees but the back roads were nearly impassable in some places. Cindy and I prepared for weather that was likely to be warmer than Livingston Manor and that would get warmer throughout the day. We grabbed Sheba and headed back to Seven Lakes Drive in Harriman to hike to the Hogencamp mine and over Pine Swamp Mountain. We parked near lakes Askoti and Skanatati to begin the hike. The wind was brisk near the lakes but several cars were already parked. The loop I had planned would intersect some of the trails I had used a couple of weeks earlier. We also noticed as we got on the Long Path that there was quite a bit of ice. We didn't really know at this point what we were in for!

The Long Path continues around the Lake Skanatati to reveal that the lake has several different parts and is bigger than it looked from the road. I stopped to take a few pictures and we continued on. The trail was slippery in places and MANY areas were wet from the rain and melting snow and ice. The Long Path heads mostly west and the turns north and begins to climb. After a little more than a mile we were walking up an icy portion of the path to its juncture with the Yellow Dunning Trail. Before turning west on the Dunning Trail we continued north on the Long path toward Cape Horn. There are very impressive and massive rocks formations in this area and the trail winds its way up. A small stream was overflowing with water that turned the trail into a rivulet. In this area there is evidence of mining activity. We continued up the trail until it leveled off near two twin glacial erratics and then returned to the Dunning Trail Junction. We followed the Dunning Trail west and then south. In this area there are obvious piles of tailings from iron mines. This is the Hogencamp Mine as detailed in the Harriman Trails books and on ironminers.com. I want to return to this area when there is less ice and less water. Some of the mine adits are visible when the water in low and the open pits are easier to see.

The Dunning Trail heads west for a short distance and then turns abruptly north. At this point there is a flat area that affords a nice view of Little Long Pond. We stopped to take a rest and get a snack. I took some pictures of the pond. Hiking over the ice was slowing us considerably and is taxing mentally as well as physically. There were some places that had solid ice and others were the ice looked like wet spots but was very slick. After a short hike north and a gain in elevation we arrived at Bowling Rocks. Here the open rock face is flat and looks like an immense bowling alley. There are many medium sized boulder scattered around the area. All that is missing are the pins.

From here the Dunning Trail heads west again and in under half a mile we were at the Bald Rocks and the junction with the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. I had intended to lengthen the hike by continuing on the Dunning Trail to the White Bar Trail headed north. This was just to add some length to the hike. We decided that the shorter distance was balanced by the increased difficulty of hiking over the icy rocks. We turned right on the RD Trail and headed north toward Ship Rock and the Lichen Trail. Much of the Rd in this area consists of open rocks faces. Some of these rock faces are flat but many are titled up or down. We crossed the flatter portions and began to climb slightly using the snow and the edge of the rock faces to gain traction. When we were over the top, we looked down at a long stretch of open rock face covered by SOLID ice! There was no way to safely get down this part of the trail but I though I could find a way to work around it. Sheba had other ideas! She had been here before and knew which way the trail was supposed to go. Before Cindy or I could say anything she started down the icy patch of rock. Even her doggy four paw traction was no match for the ice. She scrabbled around and then slide about 30 feet to the bottom of the icy rock face. She wasn't hurt but seemed very surprised. Since she was down at the bottom, Cindy and I decided to find a way down and we did even if it wasn't easy.

At the bottom of there is a small stream but the log bridge was clear without any ice. The same could not be said of the ascent up the other side. There was plenty of ice and some areas where using two hands is a must. This leads to another HUGE area of open and slanted rock. The RD goes over the top and passed Ship Rock. I went to the top and decided there was no way to get down the other side. We skirted the rocky area and got over to the Lichen Trail. The first part of the Lichen Trail was tricky but we were able to bypass the worse places. The top of the trail was a nice lookout down to Island Pond. I was surprised that this area did not have much ice. Descending the other side was another story! We again had to contend with a long stretch of solid ice over bare rock. THIS time Sheba stayed close as I bushwhacked to the red Arden-Surebridge Trail.

I had turned left and this junction the last time so this time we turned right and headed east towards Times Square. This part of the trail was relatively flat but covered with water and ice. Shortly we arrived at Times Square where four trails and a woods road meet. We continued on the ASB Trail east. This part of the trail had some ups and downs but nothing to extreme. Any wet or icy parts could be avoided and we were soon at the junction with the Dunning Trail. Here a stream comes down off the higher ground and empties into Pine Swamp. The rain and runoff had increased the stream volume but several stepping stones made the crossing possible. I stopped and took many pictures as the water cascaded over the rocks and ice. Later I read that just south of this are on the Dunning Trail are the remains of the Pine Swamp Mine. The adit to this mine is still open and there is a large stope inside. I will return here in warmer, drier weather with the proper equipment to explore.

Passed this area the trail begins to ascend as it heads east. After about half a mile the trail suddenly turns south and starts to climb up Pine Swamp Mountain. The climb is only .2 miles and not very steep. There was much more snow in this area but much less ice. Just after the top of the mountain on a slight descent the lakes came into view. I stopped to take a few pictures and then continued on. Within only several hundred feet, the view clears and the lakes are clearly visible below. Directly south is lake Skanatati and just beyond the two part of Lake Kanawauke. Around to the left Lake Askoti is partly visible with Little Long Pond on the extreme right. Although it was cloudy and overcast on this day, the views were beautiful. This area is easily accessible from the parking area below and I could see our car clearly.

After taking MANY pictures we started DOWN the other side of the mountain to the parking lot. This was the steepest are we had been in all day. There was some ice and one descent through some boulders required some rock scrambling and careful planning. Back a the car I got out my new Canon EOS Xti and took some pictures before heading to El Bandido in Middletown to eat. We covered only 5.5 miles in 5 hours but I thought the hike was "challenging" to say the least.

On Saturday, January 26th I wanted to do a hike I had read about after searching for hikes on trails.com. The authors of an excerpted trail guide suggested hiking a portion of the Appalachian Trail that has a waterfall, three major hills and views of several different bodies of water. Even though the hike is and out-and-back I decided to try it since The waterfall sounded nice at the 10 mile distance was what I was looking for. After visiting the local transfer station, Sheba and I got on the road a little later than I wanted. We drove down the Quickway, got off at the Florida exit and took Route 17A through Warwick to Greenwood Lake. I was looking for Orange County Route 5 which is also called Dutch Hollow Road, Mountain Lakes Road or just Lakes Road. In Greenwood Lake I continued on 17A and up the hill on the other side. At some point I knew I had missed my turn so I pulled over to check the map. I turned around at drove back to the junction of 17A and Route 210. Here I turned right on Lakes Road which I should have done as I came down the hill into Greenwood Lake on 17A. A few miles up the road I passed a power line right-of-way and entered the town of Chester. Another quick map check told me I had just passed the at so I turned around and parked in a pullout by the side of the road. I looked around to find the AT and came to the conclusion it was just up the road passed the power lines. I got the packed on, leashed Sheba and walked up the road. Just passed the power lines we turned into the woods. I checked by watch and found it was just 10:30 AM. The adventure had begun.

The trail passes over a small bridge and comes to a flat area where Trout Brook spreads out over a wide area. The brook isn't very deep and was completed frozen over. Wet feet this day would not be a problem but slipping on the ice was. The trail hugs Trout Brook until it comes to a rocky area where the brook comes down off a ridge less than .25 miles from the beginning of the trail. This is Fitzgerald Falls. The falls were shrouded in a cloak of ice and the roar of the water was muted as the volume was reduced and the ice acted as a natural sound barrier. We stopped so that I could take some pictures and the continued up the trail to the right of the falls. This ascent was one of many for the day. Most were short but steep or longer but more gently sloped. There were a lot of them! Many also had ice flows that made going up AND down them tricky. We stopped again on the trail next to the brook to take more pictures including some looking downstream above the falls. At this point I had to remove my down jacket since I had already become overheated despite the mid-20's temperatures! I finished the hike in my PolarMax Survival top with only an REI Sahara Long Sleeve top over it. There was almost no wind the whole day which made the light dress possible.

We continued to follow the AT as it slowly ascended through the forest. The white blazes were new and plentiful in some areas and sparse and old in others. Avoiding blowdowns and icy patches sometimes made following the trail difficult. Whenever I had any doubts I consulted Sheba who was usually able to pint out which way we should go. On the lower portion of the ascent we crossed Trout Brook or its small tributaries six times! Finally, after about 1.3 miles more of hiking we ascended to a small ridge where the blue Highlands Trail turns south. We continued east on the AT but not before I signed in at an AT trail register. Hiking parts of the AT is always special for me when I think about what it represents. I don't know if I will ever attempt to hike the entire trail but it is a personal goal that I often think about. We walked out on the Highlands Trail a few hundred feet to take some pictures and then returned to the register. and continued east on the AT.

The trail continued along the ridge for a while and then descended before climbing again up to the Mombasha High Point overlooking Mombasha Lake. In .75 miles we were standing on a nice lookout that showed a road and some houses below us. There were no significant landmarks and the far hills were shrouded in a haze on this very cloudy day. A few hundred feet more along the trail brought us to an area that revealed Mombasha Lake below us. The view was obscured by tree but the lake was clearly visible. We shared a drink and a snack before starting the .75 mile descent to Route 91. This descent was steep at times and I began to think about the return trip. Parts of the trail were icy and other parts were very poorly marked. I followed Sheba and we were soon in an area where the trail intersected many woods roads and other trails. We crossed a small stream and began a slight ascent to the road. This area must be very wet at times since a boardwalk started just after the stream and continued almost to the road. We passed by a small frozen pond and were soon at the edge of Route 91. I though maybe some others would be parked here to hike. There really isn't any parking area and there is barely enough room to park one or two cars. So far we had seen no other hikers so we crossed the road and continued our hike.

The trail from the road proceed over what looks like an old stonewall before widening and following several woods roads. Mombasha Lake is visible on the left. We made several stream crossing before ascending the shoulder of Buchanan Mountain about .85 miles from the road. This was another ascent that was not very steep or even very high but went through and over several rocky areas. At this point it was around 1;00 PM and I was beginning to worry about completing the hike and getting back before dark. We descended the other side of the mountain and entered a small ravine with a high wall or ridge of rock in front of us after hiking only .4 miles from Buchanan. I thought we might be walking down the ravine to the road near Little Dam Lake but I was wrong! The trail clearly went up and over this wall of rock. I figured it was only another .4 miles to East Mombasha Road and the climb over the ridge couldn't be that difficult. Wrong again!

At the bottom of this climb a rather large tree blocked the path. I climbed up the rock scramble and then down to get back on the path. A little farther up the main path was filled with ice so I went around to the right under another tress. In a few more feet the path was again a solid mass of ice. Using my poles and a handy tree branch I was able to pull myself up and around the ice. The rest of the ascent was easy but I wondered about the return trip. On the other side there was a descent that was steep in places. In .4 miles we were at the East Mombasha Road but not yet to the lake. We crossed the road and continued on the AT to a small bridge. I dropped my pack, took some pictures and continued a little farther on the AT to get some pictures of the lake. It was 1:30 PM and time to turn around just as I had planned. I hoped to return a little quicker since I had taken most of the pictures I wanted on the way out.

On the way back we hardly stopped at all. The sun had begun to peek through the clouds but the temperature was about the same. The icy descent was not too much of a problem and I found a quicker way down that was obvious from above. I WAS beginning to get tired. The authors of the trail guide had proved to be correct. The constant up and down of the trail can take its toll. We didn't seem to be moving too much quicker than on the way out. I also remember why I avoid out-and-back hikes! By 4:00 PM we were back a the falls and by 4:15 PM had returned to the car. We spent almost 6 hours hiking 9.8 miles. My GPS software reported almost 2400 feet of climbing despite the fact that no climb was over 700 feet!

On Monday, January 21st I wanted to do a longer hike in the Harriman Park area. I did some research and decided to do a loop that would start on Route 106 and take me to Black Rock Mountain, Ship Rock, the Lemon Squeezer, Elk Pen and back over Green Pond Mountain through the Valley of Boulders and back to Route 106. I calculated this to be between 9 and 11 miles. The distance would not be a problem but the weather was another story. The temperature at my house in the morning was 6 degrees with a windchill of 10 below. The temperatures were not predicted to rise above the mid 20's with gusts of wind up to 20 mph. I decided that I had the proper clothing and equipment so I would try the hike. I greased up Sheba's feet to protect them. Sheba and I got in the car and headed down the Quickway to Long Mountain Parkway. At the traffic circle I took Seven Lakes Drive. This is a BEAUTIFUL drive in itself with very little traffic and pristine lakes along the way. We went through the Tiorati Circle and to the Kanawauke Circle. Here I took Route 106 passed Lake Kanawauke and Little Long Pond. Just after Little Long Pond I found the parking area on the right side of the road and parked the car.

I got out of the car to investigate where the actual trail might start since we had never been there before. After looking around, I could not find the start of the trail. I consulted the map which seemed to indicate the trail started just down the road. I look toward the general area and saw the red trail markers of the Ramapo-Dunderberg. I got Sheba out of the car, got the GPS working and shouldered my pack. I was cold despite my warm clothing so we got going right away. As we walked the first part of the trail I was impressed by the massive rocks and rock formations on both sides of the trail. Soon we were climbing around, over and through these formations to reach the first lookout. Although this open shelf of rock has no name it offers some nice views both near and far. From what I could see at this point the area reminded me a little of the Dunderberg Mountains with open stretches of rock and burned over areas. At this point two other hikers appeared. They were a little confused about the trails so I helped out. They were the only two people we saw all day! I began to get cold taking pictures so we found our way back to the RD and continued toward Black Rock Mountain.

The view from Black Rock Mountain was nice but no better than from the previous lookout. We stopped for a short time but the wind really picked up so we picked up and moved on toward Bald Rocks. Approaching Bald rocks there were some nice viewpoints so I took some pictures. I also took pictures of some unusual striations in some of the bedrock and some glacial erratics. Much of the walking alternated between open rock slabs and more protected areas of forest. Many of the areas were covered with ice and snow especially noticeable on the ascents and descents. I was glad to have my poles with me but wished I had some traction for me feet other than full crampons. After walking down a little "hill", we took a right on the yellow Dunning Trail. I was looking for the Bald Rocks. We walked a little ways and then I decided to head back. On the way back I noticed an unmarked but traveled side trail and followed it to Bald Rocks. This was the area I had just come through on the RD Trail. I guess I wasn't impressed!

We continued on the RD down a particularly steep but short icy patch. From the bottom of this hill we hiked up an enormous bare sheet of rock which gave nice views in all directions. At his point Sheba "alerted" but I had not heard any voices. I looked carefully to see two white tailed deer carefully picking their way passed a large rock down to a frozen pond. I took some pictures of the deer and the pond and Sheba. We continued down the RD for several hundred feet until Ship Rock came into view. This is a large glacial erratic that looks like the prow of a ship sailing into...a grove of trees. After I took pictures, I decided to alter my original plan and return to the top of the rock slabs and pick up the Lichen Trail. The trails in this area are numerous and intertwined. Some books indicated a trip over to Times Square, a junction of many different trails, was worthwhile. Other books touted the view from points on the Lichen Trail. I decided to opt for the views and take the Lichen Trail.

The Lichen Trail wound its way across some open rock and through some grass covered with snow to another open rock area. Several times I "lost" the trail only to find it again. Painting markings on the rocks seems like a good idea until the marks are covered with several inches of ice and snow! Further on the Lichen Trail descends from the rock outcroppings, wraps around them and then leads to...more rock outcroppings and ridges. There is a nice lookout over a small pond and views of the surrounding area. We continued on down to the junction with the Arden-Surebridge Mountain Trail where we turned left at about noon. We were headed toward the Lemon Squeezer along this trail which is also part of the Long Path. Along this short section of trail many different rails enter and branch off. With a map, it is confusing. Without a map, a first-time hiker in the area would be lucky to find their way. First, the Bottle Cap leaves to the right. In just a few hundred feet the Long Path turns right and heads north. At this same junction the White Bar trail comes in from the left. We passed through this area and arrived at the lemon Squeezer. This is a series of narrow passages between rock walls. The trail passes by this area but we explored the Squeezer and then continued on to join the white blazed Appalachian Trail. There is something about walking the AT that stirs the imagination.

The AT passes by Island Pond. There are several rock ledges that look over the pond but none offer a clear view. I was disappointed because from what I could see the pond was very pretty. We continued walking as the AT descended into a flat area near the pond. We were able to walk over to a rocky prominence that gave an unrestricted view of the pond. It was beautiful and I rook several pictures of the pond, an island near the middle, the shoreline and the high hill overlooking the pond where I had been earlier. We had some lunch hear and I removed my middle layer since I was very warm even standing still. I put my camera in my jacket pocket to make it more accessible and we headed back to the AT. The trail descended to a bridge across the out let of the pond. Here some stone work lined the stream. Other stones formed what looked like an old dam. The AT now took us UP and over the shoulder of Green Pond Mountain. None of the climbing was too steep but I began to hear traffic as we went down the other side. I climbed a rock outcrop to get a better look and saw a road with cars and trucks. The map showed that this was the Thruway. We had walked from Route 106 all the way over the to the Elk Pen near Route 87!

As we descended the AT, we turned left on the Arden-Surebridge Trail which, a this point, runs along the surface of the Arden Road which was once called Harriman's Flat Road. When the A-B trail went left into the woods we continued straight on the Arden Road and Stained Brook Trail. When this trail turned left, we crossed a bridge over Stahahe Brook and stayed on the Arden road. I stopped at the bridge to take some pictures. The water was swirling in interesting patterns over the rocks and ice in the brook. After I took pictures, we continued on the Arden Road which parallels the Thruway. I was glad I was walking and not hurrying along in a car or truck. We hiked down this old road until a small monument appeared on the left side of the road. The monument is hard to read and does not photograph well. It was erected by the Harrimans and reads "Showing the advantages of building flat roads in hilly country" referring to the Arden Road. Just after this monument the white marked Nurian Trail crosses the Thruway and heads back up Green Pond Mountain. This was the way I intended to get back to the car so we turned left on the Nurian trail.

The first thing the Nurian Trail does is climb back up and over Green Pond Mountain. This climb is neither very steep nor is the change in elevation too great. At this point in the hike it did seem like a challenging part of the hike. After reaching the top of the Green Pond Mountain ridge, the trail then descends to meet the Stahahe Brook Trail. At this point we turned right and crossed Stahahe Brook on a double bridge and ascended yet another ridge before dropping down into the Valley of Boulders. Things area has an impressive number and variety of boulders strewn along a small stream coming down off the ridge. The trail crosses as a narrow point in the stream where we were able to step across a few stones. I stopped to take some pictures of the boulders and the water flowing over and around some ice formations. The trail ascends rather steeply on the other sides but does switch back and forth several times. At one point there are some very large boulders and rock formations that the trail passes through as it once again rises to a rocky spine.

At one point the yellow Dunning Trail breaks off from the Nurian Trail and then recrosses it later. In between these point The Nurian Trail passes by tiny Green Pond. Just after this the Nurian Trail crosses Island Pond Road which is an old woods road to Island Pond. It then continues southwest to join the RD. I had originally planned to take this route but it would retrace part of our earlier hike. At the Island Pond I decided to bear right and follow the road out to Route 106 and walk the road back to the car making a completely new loop. Walking on the woods road was easy and we were soon on the paved road. The walk back to the car was longer than I though but allowed me to discover several other parking areas along the way. At the end of Island Pond Road there is room for only a few cars. Just a little further to the east there is a large parking lot on the south or west side of the road. This lot can be used to start the hike we went on or to start hiking on the White Bar Trail toward Car Pond Mountain. Further east on Route 106 are two more pull off areas on the north or east side of the road. These are small with the largest being opposite the trailhead for the Victory Trail on the south side of the road. This trail can be used to access Tom Jones and Parker Cabin Mountains. Back at the car by 3:30 PM we had covered 9.5 miles in 5 hours with many stops for pictures. On the way home on Seven Lakes drive, I stooped at lake Tiorati to take some pictures.

On Saturday, January 19th I wanted to do a hike at Sterling Forest. I had been reading about the area and both my wife and I remember going there when it was the privately owned Sterling Forest Gardens. Sterling Forest is a success story in which a large development was beaten back by the determined efforts of a consortium of groups and people who wanted to preserve the natural beauty of the area. Today the Sterling Forest State Park encompasses nearly 20,000 acres of land. Cindy and I packed up the car, got Sheba loaded and drove through Florida, Warwick and Greenwood Lake. This in itself was interesting since I had never taken this route. We turned south on Long Meadow Road and bypassed the Visitor's Center in favor of a parking area about 1.5 miles further down the road. This may have been the first of many mistakes! We parked on the road at about 10:15 AM since the "seasonal parking" area was closed.

As we were walking up the road, a trail or woods road presented itself on the left. It seemed to be marked with the red on white blaze that we were searching for so we turned. In retrospect, the marking were simply a request to "STAY OUT" but we didn't see it that way at the time. As we continued walking on the various roads that honeycomb the area, we did not see ANY blazes or markers of any kind. This should have been a big hint but my wife said we should be adventuresome and I didn't disagree. It seemed that we wanted to go north and all the trails ran slightly west or south! Finally, I saw the fire tower to our left and I thought our problems were over. I was wrong!

Shortly we came to the blue Sterling Ridge trail and turned right toward where I thought the fire tower was. We descended a slippery slope to a small stream and crossed on some icy rocks. On the other side we ascended another slope and stopped. Both of us were convinced from the inadequate map that we had that we were headed the wrong way! We turned around and walked back down the slippery slope, across the stream and up the other side. We continued on the blue trail and came to a rocky outcropping that offered a limited view. The trail descended the other side of this outcropping along a narrow ledge so we followed it. We descended and walked along the trail to a point where the trail crossed a woods road. The sign said "Fire Tower .5 miles" is the OPPOSITE direction, the way we had come! Undaunted we continued and ascended to another ridge. At this point I noticed that we were walking TOWARD the sun in a generally southerly direction. Next stop, New Jersey! To confirm this a hiker was walking toward us with his dogs. We talked and he said he was coming FROM GREENWOOD LAKE which was definitely NOT the direction we want. We turned around.

We walked down the hill back to the woods road. We walked UP the steep rock ledge and back to the point we had first found the trail. We walked back down the slippery slope to the stream and across the icy rocks. We walked back up the slope to the point we had turned around but this time we kept walking. The trail ascended more steeply at times but soon we were on another ridge. We continued to walk until we broke into a clearing where there was a ... fire tower. I stopped to take some pictures of the tower and noted the red trail coming up a wide woods road. This was the trail we SHOULD have been on from the start. We walked over to the tower and found it was closed. Not only was it closed but a gate barred the way from ascending the tower to even get a view. Could things get any worse? Just wait!

We decided to continue on the Sterling Ridge Trail to its end and to complete a loop along Sterling Lake. There wasn't much to see from the Ridge Trail until we came to a spot overlooking Sterling Lake. This was a beautiful lookout so we stopped. I took some pictures and we had some lunch. I began to cool off so we picked up and continued. It was getting a little late in the day and although the walking wasn't hard it was long. We crossed the orange trail and decided to keep going. At some point I looked at the map and realized that the Ridge Trail ended at Route 17A and THEN looped back to the lake. This was quite a distance but we were too far into the hike to turn around. When the Sterling Ridge Trail ended we turned right onto the yellow Sterling Valley Trail which headed toward the lake after making some interesting twists and turns. This trail eventually dumped us onto the Sterling Lake Loop Trail which runs right along the shore of the lake. The views are very pretty and I envy the people who have private residences in this beautiful area

We decided to take a quick side trip to the visitors center and then return to the car. Just before the blue trail turns left to cut across the Sterling lake outlet we noticed a large brick, stone and cement structure on the right. This was obviously the remnants of some industrial facility but it was quite old. From reading about the early history of this area I knew that the entire park was dotted with old iron mines. These buildings were the remains of the Sterling Forge and Furnace. Here iron ore mined in the area was turned into iron and made into useful products. After taking some pictures we walked a little farther and then turned left into the trees. The little bridge across the Sterling lake outlet provides views of the lake to the left and the stream from the lake to the right/ Downstream is another building that was part of the iron smelting and forging operation in the area. After walking through the woods, we arrived at the Visitor's Center which is dedicated to the former US Senator from New Jersey, Frank Lautenberg. Preserving Sterling Forest in its pristine conditions required the action of many private groups and individuals, two states and the Federal government. It was getting late so we decided not to stop at the center. We walked out to the road and took a left.

After walking up the road, we turned right onto the blue trail. We walked along this trail for a short distance when one look at my GPS showed me we had again chosen incorrectly. We walked back out to the road and turned right up the hill. Wrong again. Continuing in this direction WOULD have gotten us to Long Meadow Road but we would have been at least 1.5 miles from the car. We turned around and walked back down the road passed the Visitor's Center looking for a white trail (Lakeville Trail) that would meet the red Tower trail back to the car. This time we finally found the trail on the right but I was not at all confident that it was the way to go. We did turn onto the trail and looking back we had been on the white trail while walking the road but no markers were present. Not very far down the Lakeville Trail there were ruins from some of the buildings that were once Lakeville. A little beyond we found the place where the red trail cut right into the forest. This was the trail we SHOULD have taken in the morning! We continued straight ahead on the road and the red trail toward the seasonal parking and the car on Long Meadow Road. At one point a swamp covered the road with water but only a couple of inches. We walked through the seasonal parking area and just a little passed this point was the woods road where we had made our first mistake that morning. We finished our 9.5 miles hike in 5.5 hours and were glad to be back at the car.

On Sunday, January 13th I wanted to do the other hike I had planned and Cindy was tired from the day before. This time I was on the road by 7:45 and headed south to the Black Rock Forest. I had read many trail guides and had the basic idea of what I wanted to do. I knew that the hike would be around 10 miles but had no idea what the trail conditions or difficulty would be like. Several of the trail guides described the hiking in minutes which is totally useless since everyone hikes at a different speed. I took my trusty Kodak Z650 since I didn't want to carry the bulkier Canon Rebel Xti. Sheba and I headed down Route 17 to Monroe where we got on Route 6. We turned onto Route 293 to head toward West Point and then drove north on 9W toward Newburgh. As we passed the parking area for Storm King I watched for Mountain Road on the right. We turned at the sign for the storm King School and made a sharp right to approach the tunnel that allows Reservoir Road to pass under 9W. This was the first of many surprises! The tunnel is so narrow only one car will fit through and barely at that. We continued straight up the hill following the Black Rock Forest signs and parked in the parking area on the right. This parking area allows access to the Duggan Trail or to the upper part of Reservoir Road which is closed to public access. This road leads to the education center for the Black Rock Forest.

We got on the red marked Duggan Trail and followed it as it dipped downward into a nice hardwood forest. In about half a mile this trail meets the blue marked Reservoir Trail and we turned left here. Almost immediately there was a small bridge marked Ben's Bridge to cross over the stream that is the outlet for the Upper Reservoir. I stopped to remove my jacket and warmer hat and gloves. I also took some pictures of the bridge and the stream. I am experimenting with the manual settings on the camera to see what effects I can get. We continued on the blue trail which parallels the stream and climbs some toward the Education Center. Several times we stopped so that I could descend the bank to get nearer to the stream to take pictures. Sheba was very helpful in "pulling" me back up the bank since I had her on a leash at this point. The stream was several very nice little "waterfalls" along the way. At the top of the hill I could see the education center on the other side of the stream. We took a right on the yellow Stillman trail but only stayed on it for a few hundred feet. This trail leads up Mount Misery and I wanted to save that for last. Instead we turned onto White Oak Road and headed on it toward the Aleck Meadow Reservoir. Instead of getting back on the trail near the reservoir we continued to a little road with a gate. Turning right here brought us to the shores of the reservoir. Although there was no snow, it had rained and the air temperature was warm, the reservoir was still frozen. I took some pictures and then walked to the right along the shore to the dam and spillway. I again experimented with the camera and then got back on the Stillman Trail.

We continued on the yellow Stillman Trail as it headed up to Black Rock. The climb was briefly steep but the trails can be confusing. The view from Black Rock was amazing. The fire tower was visible in the southwest and there were expansive views to the north and east. I took a lot of pictures before heading down off Black Rock. It took a minute to find the steep natural stone steps that lead down the other side. We continued on the Stillman Trail to a junction that illustrates how confusing the trail and roads in this area can be. At this junction there are two roads, two gates and two trails. BOTH trails (Stillman and Sackett) are marked with yellow. We had to turn right and walk a few feet and then immediately turn left to STAY ON the Stillman Trail. Some guide books suggested using the Sackett and Compartment Trails but I decided to stay on the Stillman.

The Stillman Trail passes through some dense thickets of laurel until some bodies of water begin to appear on the left. These are Sphagnum and Sutherland Ponds. The view from the Stillman Trail is largely blocked but I knew that we would soon have a better view. Along the Stillman Trail there are often ridges of rock on the left or right. This is typical of the region where you are either walking beside, on top of or over these rocky outcroppings. We continued to walk on the Stillman Trail and I began to wonder whether or not I had walked by the white marked Split Rock Trail. After descending a little the trail markers came up on the left and we turned onto the Split Rock Trail. Almost immediately Split Rock appeared. All along this trail are viewpoints of Sutherland Pond directly to the south and Sphagnum Pond to the southeast. The trail eventually descends to an area between the two ponds where it meets Chatfield Road.

We continued straight ahead between the ponds on the road which ascended slightly. We turned right unto the little used yellow marked Secor Trail. This trail wends its way upward through dense laurel and resembled a small stream as water cascaded down the trail. The trail breaks out into an area that ascends several stone outcrops. After about a quarter mile this trail ends at the Chatfield Trail where we turned right and followed the blue markers. This trail passes through several wet and boggy areas. The trail is bordered by some VERY IMPRESSIVE high rock ridges and outcrops. After crossing as mall stream the trail meets the Scenic trail which is marked in white. We turned left and started to look for the blue spur trail to Eagle Cliff. The guide books said that this was a spot too good to miss. We easily found the trail and within moments were at Eagle Cliff. The guide books were right! From this lookout there are views to the west south and east. Most prominent in the foreground are Jim's Pond and Wilkin's Pond. I found it is possible to climb to the top of the large round boulder here to get an even better view.

We arrived at Eagle Cliff around noon and as we left the wind began to blow and the skies clouded over. I assumed that this meant the storm front predicted was approaching and I began to plan how to finish the hike. We took the red Rut Trail as it descends through a crack in the rocks (a rut?) and followed it to the yellow Stropel Trail which leads back to the Scenic Trail. We turned right onto the Scenic Trail and began to look for the short blue Spur Trail to Spy Rock. Spy Rock is the highest point in the park at 1461 feet. I missed the yellow Ledge Trail but found the Spy Rock Trail which led us to Spy Rock after only several hundred feet. Spy Rock may be the highest point in the park but the views are disappointing. The entire area is surrounded by trees and the views are poor. We returned to the Scenic Trail and headed southeast and then east. As we approached Continental Road I had to make a decision about what route to take for the rest of the hike.

I wanted to see the Chatfield Stone House on the shores of Arthur's Pond so we turned left on Continental Road and walked up to the site. The stone house is very interesting as is the outbuilding. There is a protuberance on the side of the house where the kitchen is located. I will have to read more about this interesting structure. The view of Arthur's Pond from here is beautiful. I had intended to Walk up the road to White Oak Road and over Mount Misery and back to the car. However, as I took pictures at the house the sun came out again and I decided to complete the circuit I had originally planned. Just north of the house we took a right off Continental Road onto White Oak Trail which leads down to Arthur's Pond. This is another beautiful little man-made pond and the trail actually goes across the cement textured spillway. I walked onto the dam to take some picture of the length of the pond before turning right onto the yellow Tower Vue Trail. This trail follows the eastern shore of Arthur's Pond and, true to its name, offers a nice view of the fire tower above the Chatfield Stone House. The trail rises and falls offering some views of the pond through the tress until it rejoins the white Scenic Trail at its extreme southern end.

We turned left on the Scenic Trail which, at this point, runs along with Bog Meadow Road. When the trail turned off the road to the right so did we. The trail here is poorly marked as are many of the trails in the Black Rock Forest. Some have newly painted blazes closely spaced and are hard to miss. Other trails have infrequent and faded blazes making hiking a little more of an adventure. We traveled south for a while and I noticed that there was a large, steep hill on my left. This was Rattlesnake Hill and although not very high it was impressive. The trail wraps around the hills to find a more gentle ascent. We were soon headed north and then northeast. The view from Rattlesnake Hill was good especially to the west and south. Bog Meadow Pond was clearly visible. Several other viewpoints were available as we headed toward our next destination, Hill of Pines. Again the approach to Hill of Pines made the task look daunting but a the last minute the trail switchbacks around the steepest areas to reach the summit. The views from the top were not too impressive and there has a singular lack of pine trees! We descended Hill of Pines, crossed the blue Swamp Trail and rejoined the yellow Stillman Trail at the base of Mount Misery.

Mount Misery is not the highest point in the park but the climb may be the steepest and the descent the hardest. As we approached the top, I noticed there were a few people ahead. This seemed unusual only because we had seen few other people on the trails. These three hikers had their dog with them. I said a quick "Hello" and moved on to the next rock outcrop. The view from Mount Misery is nice taking in scenery to the north and west. The views repeat those that we had seen earlier from other viewpoints. Descending Mount Misery was not easy as it is steep and there are many slippery leaves. When we reached the I decided to stay on the road. This made the walking easier and allowed us to visit the Upper Reservoir. We stayed on White Oak Road until the reservoir where I stopped to take some pictures. We then turned left onto Reservoir Road which led us down to the Education center and back to the parking area. Along the way we paused at the bridge in front of the Education Center to take some pictures of the bridge and stream. We finished just about 11 miles of hiking at around 3:15 PM. It had taken 6 hours to do the whole hike but that included many stops to view the scenery and take pictures. The many different trails and roads afford an opportunity to tailor a hike for hikers of an level in this not-to-be-missed environment.

On Saturday, January 12th I had planned to either go to the Black Rock Forest or to North South Lake to the Palenville Lookout. My wife Cindy had been sick and said the night before she wasn't much interested in hiking. On Saturday morning she felt better and decided to go. She chose to go north to North South lake so we loaded up the car with our Gear and Sheba and headed off. We took our poles but left the snowshoes and crampons behind. We got started a little later than I had hoped and parked a the Schutt Road lot at about 11:15. I had read several trail guides that suggested other trails for access to the Palenville Lookout but we are familiar with this parking area and the trails around North South Lake.

We started out on the blue marked Escarpment Trail from the parking area. There was little or no snow but some areas were wet and slippery. By the time we crossed the bridge over the outlet from South Lake the trail became VERY icy. I wanted to stay on the Escarpment Trail but made the "mistake" of going uphill on the red Schutt Road Trail. This cut out a portion of the hike I had planned to do, mainly the Layman Monument. After struggling up the icy hill, we turned right on an unnamed yellow marked trail that led back to the Escarpment Trail just west of Sunset Rock. The views from the Escarpment Trail were great and those from Sunset Rock even better. We continued on the short distance to Inspiration Point. From this viewpoint the Hudson River is just visible to the east and the slopes of hunter Mountain can be seen to the west. After taking some pictures, we continued on the Escarpment Trail.

We came to the trail junction where the Escarpment Trail swings northwest with the Long Path and the Harding road Trail continues straight with a horse trail. We went straight ahead here into uncharted territory for us. The Harding Road Trail makes a sharp 180 degree turn in a short distance. We continued on the horse trail along the edge of Kaaterskill Clove. This trail heads northeast at first and then turns southeast before heading due north. After a short distance the horse trail turns southeast and goes down a short but steep descent. We found this difficult since there were many slippery leaves and loose dirt and stones to contend with. At the bottom of this hill we turned right and headed south toward the Palenville Lookout. After descending a short hill and some steps we were there. Some old stone foundations and laid stone walls were present along with some stone chairs. These reminded us a lot of those on Sugarloaf. They must be fairly old since at least one tree has grown up through them. The views from here were the best we had all day and arguably the best in the area. Palenville lies directly below the lookout and most of the town is clearly visible. The Hudson River lies just beyond to the east and southeast. The river is just far enough away and the haze just heavy enough to make taking pictures a disappointment. Cindy sat for awhile as Sheba and I explored along the ledges. I took many pictures in all direction. We had lunch and then started back up to the point where we had made the final right turn.

At this point we decided not to retrace our path but to continue north-northeast on the horse trail. The trail parallels the escarpment but at a lower elevation. As we walked and the afternoon wore on this decision began to bother me! Several places on the trail were under water and we had to bushwhack around them. Cindy seemed less concerned than I so we continued on. My GPS showed my we had passed the site of the old Catskill mountain House on the escarpment above but I had seen no trail, marked or unmarked, that led upward. Finally, we crossed the power lines which follow the old railroad grade and are marked on my map. I thought this way up looked steep so we continued on. I was looking for an unmarked trail up to the escarpment but was NOT finding one. Shortly a wide snowmobile trail hooked off to the left and upward and I decided to try this route since it seemed to be marked on the map. This trail was a GREAT choice since it led up to a spot near the railroad grade and up to the picnic and beach area at the eastern end of North Lake.

From this point we made a quick visit to the open field that was once the site of the Catskill mountain House. I had planned to return on the trails but it was getting late. The sun had started to get low in the sky and the clouds were moving in. We decided to return by way of the park roads. This was till quite a long walk and the roads themselves were snow and ice covered in most places. The park is closed so most of the roads are not maintained! Eventually we came down across the western end of South Lake. The light was just right to illuminate the lake with a soft blue glow. I stopped to take some pictures including a few of a fisherman out on the ice! We then hurried back to the gatehouse and the parking area. I wanted to get my new camera an experiment with a few shots. Cindy thought this was a fine idea as long as she could stay in the car. I took a few pictures with the 17-85mm "kit" lens and thought how bringing the telephoto lens would have been a good idea. We left the park and headed toward Pancho Villa's in Tannersville at about 4:15 PM. On the way I noticed the beautiful colors of the sunset. I decided to drive up to Onteora Park near the stone church. I stopped there and took some pictures of the Devil's Path, the sunset and the church. We drove back to Tannersville and had a great meal of Mexican food. The salsa and chips here are EXCELLENT. We had covered about 8 miles in about 4 and a half hours. We stopped to take pictures and enjoy the view quite often which made for a GREAT day.

On Sunday, January 6th I decided to try out the Crescent Moon snowshoes that Lisa at Morgan Outdoors offered me. I had intended to go to Trout Pond but got a late start. I settled for going up behind the Presbyterian Church on Round Top. This was really just a test of the new snowshoes but I decided to try walking to the next hike to the next hill which I had never done. The temperatures had risen into the high 30's with 40's predicted. I wore a waterproof Marmot Precip thinking that wet snow might be falling from the trees. I found that all the snow had already come down and I quickly discarded the jacket and wore only my PolarMax Expedition top. I wore by Salomon B52 boots which are leather but waterproof. I tried my new REI Schoeller Dynamic pants over the Mountain Hardwear ThermaDry tights.

The Crescent Moon Gold Series 9 shoes are some of the nicest looking shoes around with a good binding system. I hiked the same route I had done before but added the next hill for a longer hike. The triple crampons sunk into the snow and but in well. The shows are light and the binding puts almost no pressure on the feet. It was almost like I wasn't wearing snowshoes at all. They also allowed enough glide to descent under control and stop when necessary. We spent about two hours hiking and exploring.

On Saturday, January 5th I decided I wanted to try a real snowshoe challenge. I had been snowshoeing around my school grounds which has some good hills but I wanted more. I had put out an open invitation to other staff members during the week but no one was interested in this weekend. I decided that I would go and attempt Twin and Indian Head from Prediger Road. I had considered Hunter but I had done that hike before. Hunter is a long but relatively easy snowshoe. I thought Twin and Indian Head would be more of a challenge. As it turned out I was right! I was concerned that the roads might be a problem but my Eclipse with the new Blizzak tires is pretty good in the snow. DeBruce Road had some snow in places but Route 47 was clear all the way to Big Indian. I did get behind someone in a SUV who must had been admiring the scenery. They drove 30 mph ALL the way from the DeBruce Road turn to Big Indian! The rest of the roads up to Tannersville were clear. Platte Clove Road out to Prediger Road was in good shape and even Prediger was well plowed. The problem was that the parking on Prediger Road is even more limited now that the snow has fallen.

Sheba and I parked at around 9:30 and were ready to hike. I had both my snowshoes and crampons with me since I didn't know what I would need. As I got out of the car to inspect the trailhead the homeowner was there. I asked it where I was parked was OK and we discussed hiking and the new parking lot that is being cleared. When I got a look at the trail, the choice was clear. There was 8 to 10 inches of UNBROKEN snow on the trail. I returned to the car to put on my MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes. I left the crampons in the although I was pretty sure I would not use them. The day was much warmer than recent days with temperatures in the high twenties and predictions for high thirties by the end of the day. I wore my PolarMax Expedition under an REI Sahara shirt with only my Mountain Hardwear Zoetic Jacket on top for wind breaking. I wore the Asolo TPS 520 since they are comfortable and almost waterproof. I wore my Mountain Hardwear Winter Wander pants with their ThermaDry tights underneath. These pants are gathered at the ankle but I wore gaiters anyway.

After signing in at the trail register, Sheba and I continued on up the trail until The trail splits into the Devil's Path and The jimmy Dolan Notch Trail. We took the Notch Trail and immediately had to cross a small stream. Due to the recent cold weather the stream was frozen over and proved easy to cross. At this point the snowshoeing was fairly easy with the depth staying at 8 to 12 inches. The further we progressed up the trail the more likely we were to find areas where there were rocks under the stone and narrow areas where running water has cut the trail. The Jimmy Dolan Notch Trail is one of my least favorite trail in any season. Whenever there is water, it follows the trail turning it into a stream that is more to be avoided than followed. As the trail began a steeper ascent to the col the snow began to get deeper and drifted. Some of these areas are more open and less protected by trees. The combination of the steep trail with rocks underneath and the deeper snow made the going VERY difficult. Some of the drifts were nearly three feet deep and hard. Sheba could not make any headway out front and had to follow in the trail I was breaking!

More than one time I thought about giving up or only going to the col but we pushed on. Just before the Col the trail levels a little and we pushed on for the last few hundred feet to the junction with the Devil's Path. Here we took a break and got a drink and a snack. I decided to try Twin since I really like the view from the top. We collected our gear and turned right on the Devil's Path. The ascent was EXTREMELY CHALLENGING. There are only a few areas of level round punctuated by steep areas and some that require pulling yourself up over rocks and around trees. This can be difficult when you can see where you are climbing and can get a good grip. It proved to be almost impossible, at times, with the ice and snow covering everything. I had to use a V technique in some places. In others I had to kick steps into the show either straight ahead or parallel to the mountain. At several points there are nice views of Indian Head. In most places we just kept hiking but I did stop at one lookout to take some pictures.

The further we went the deeper the now became until the drifts were over 3 feet on the trail to the rock shelf that is the eastern summit. We stopped here to take some pictures before heading to the western peak of Twin which is the higher one. The trail between the two summits had drifts of snow in places and was covered in ice in others. The trees were laden with ice and snow in spots. This pulled them down into the trail which made the going tough at times. By the time we reached the western summit I was not interested in pictures so we just turned around an returned the way we had come. The descent was as interesting as I had thought it would be. I was never scared on the way up the mountain just tired. On the way down there are areas where a mistake could be ... unfortunate. In all but a few areas I was able to telemark on the snowshoes or perform an elegant glissade. Several times I was all but out of control. All in all descending was much faster than going up.

Back at the Col I noted that Indian Head was only .5 miles. I remember, though, that most of this is UP! We headed up to the top of Indian Head. There seemed to be less snow than on twin but the steepness and extra ice made up for this. I was so tired I probably should not have tried this but it was so close. Once at the top I didn't continue on to the lookout over Platte Clove but just turned around and slid toward the Col. The descent from the Col seemed to take a long time but it also went quickly. Again, the Jimmy Dolan Notch Trail proved to be a problem because of the rocks. At times, I got up a good rhythm and a nice telemark only to encounter areas with rocks underneath the snow and narrow areas. The trail is such that just as you plant a pole in what you think is a solid base, the pole sinks through into a hollow below the snow. I was glad to be back down the trail to the more level areas near the bottom. We crossed over the stream and I stopped to take some pictures this time. We were back at the car by 3:00 PM. It had taken 5.5 hours to cover the 7+ miles. This was one of the MOST DIFFICULT physical things I have done in some time.

On Monday, December 31st around noon, I decided to again try to get to Frick Pond to snowshoe. This time the Mongaup Road was plowed although there was still quite a bit of snow on the surface. Even Beach Mountain Road up to the Frick Pond parking area had been cleared as well as the parking area itself. Sheba and I were on the trail and headed for the pond around 12:50 PM. No one else had been on the trail and I took a few pictures of the untouched snow on the trail. There were several areas of open water along the way which tend to be a problem. Stepping in water causes snow to cling to the bottom of the snowshoes which makes walking MORE difficult. At the trail junction we went left and down to the pond. I took several pictures of the pond and the hills around it and of the bridge across the outlet. We continued on around the pond. I decided to take the shorter path and stayed on the Logger's Loop Trail around the pond. I was already beginning to feel the effects of the earlier trip on Round Top and the difficulty of breaking all the new trail.

The Logger's Loop seemed to go by quickly and we were soon at Times Square. From here I decided I needed a little more exercise so we went straight ahead UP the Big Rock Trail. I remembered that this trail ascends UP to the Flynn Trail but I forgot how much it ascends! On the way up the first hill I heard a commotion and looked up to see a LARGE red-tailed hawk take off. It was tool ate to get out the camera so I just marveled a the beauty and grace of this bird. It seemed like the Big Rock Trail would never end. It also seemed that the hills went on forever. Along the way I remembered that I had NEVER been on this trail in fresh snow! Every other time I had hiked here, the snowmobiles had packed the trail prior to my snowshoeing. I made a note to myself that breaking a total of over SIX MILES of trail in new powder was "challenging".

When we reached the Flynn Trail I decided that I would apply the rule I always use. If you are tired and think you might be too tired to take a particular route DON'T. I knew I COULD make it to Hodge Pond and back but that I was too tired to make it fun. We stopped to take some pictures and get a much needed drink. We then turned right to hike the 1.7 miles back to the parking area. As we descended the trail, I knew that I had made the right choice. I was VERY tired even going down hill and was glad to be back at the car at about 4:00 PM. Covering over four miles in fresh powder was enough for me this day.

On Monday, December 31st we awoke to about eight inches of freshly fallen powder! I knew that my plans to head for Westkill or the Blacks would have to be put on hold. My plan was to shovel off the walk and parts of the driveway and then head out DeBruce Road toward Frick Pond. I wanted to try the new Bridgestone Blizzak tires I had put on the car on Saturday. I love my Mitsubishi Eclipse but the wide sport tires are useless in the snow. Around 9:00 AM Sheba and I got in the car and headed out. The roads were passable but certainly not in great condition. The car handled unbelievably well with the new tires! When we reached the Mongaup Pond Road it became clear that Plan B would have to be implemented. The road was untouched with only a few tread marks. We headed back home. My plan was to hike Round Top in the morning and then return to do Frick in the afternoon.

We parked at home and I immediately put on the snowshoes an headed down the driveway. We crossed the street and head up the hill behind the church. No one had been out and the snow was untouched and beautiful. Sheba led the way to the top of the cemetery hill where we stopped so that I could take some pictures. The sky was still overcast with little sunlight. The snow did make the town and the surrounding hills look beautiful. We headed into the woods to begin our loop on Round Top. I thought about reversing the hike but there are several areas that I like to descend on the snowshoes so we followed our usual course. I was aware of how aerobic snowshoeing can be and how warm I get. because of this I wore my Marmot Firelight fleece jacket over only my Underarmour CoolGear. My only concern was that this jacket doesn't block much wind. As we climbed up to the top of the ridge I stopped to open the front zipper and the pitzips as I was very warm. Breaking new trail in 8 inches of snow is hard work.

At the top of the ridge we walked on the flatter ground to our customary point of descent and started down. We stopped once to take a few photos and then continued down to the "trail" that parallels the Quickway. The road through the trees looked clear and traffic was traveling normally. After a few hundred feet on the trail we cut up into the woods. I was aware that I always go too high and then have to descend but I ended up doing it again anyway! At this point I began to follow Sheba who somehow had a better idea of where we should go. We ended up in the field that overlooks Exit 96. We stopped so that I could take some pictures and the followed our regular route back to the viewpoint over town. From here we retraced our path to the cemetery and back home. We had been out for about 1.5 hours but I knew I could use a break.

On Sunday, December 30th I decided to hike somewhere near after church. I decided that Panther was the next closest mountain after Slide and Balsam Lake so I headed there right after church. I was concerned about the roads but after a few miles it became clear that they were in good shape. My next concern was the condition of the trail. I knew from previous trips that areas of the trail could be very icy especially after the rain a few days before. Some areas of trail up to Giant Ledge had had major ice flows in the past. In addition, The trail from the Ledges up to Panther often had significant snow cover. I decided to wear my YakTrax Pro and to pack my Lightning Ascent snowshoes. I wore my Solo TPS 520 boots since they are comfortable, waterproof and can easily adapt to the Yaks or the snowshoes. I wore my new REI Slickrock pants and put on gaiters since these pants are rather loose at the bottom. I decided to wear my North Face Apex jacket since it is warm but lighter than others that I have.

We arrived at the parking area right around noon to find it almost filled with cars. I got everything ready including attaching the snowshoes to my North Face Hotshot pack and we were off. I signed in at the registry and noted the number of people ahead of us. As we hiked I remembered that the trail up to the Ledges was not as easy as I always think. There are four or five short ascents up to the area where you turn left to go up to the Ledges. The trail here continues straight on to Woodland Valley. After the turn, the trail ascends again in steps to the Ledges. If became clear that although there were many icy spots, there were no major ice flows or any areas that would be close to impassable. We made the trail junction in a little over 20 minutes which is good since we usually do it in 15 minutes in ideal conditions. It was at this point that I removed my jacket and stowed it in the pack. Climbing over ice and packed snow is VERY aerobic especially when you are going up a 3500. As we climbed toward the Ledges we met two young men on the way down and came across a young couple taking a breather alongside the trail. I assumed they were coming back and asked about the conditions up ahead. They said that they were headed toward Panther and I wished them luck. We had caught and passed them even though they had started well before us.

As we approached the first viewpoint on Giant Ledge I could first hear and then see a party of four or five people already there. They were load and the area was already crowded so I headed on to the next lookout. We stopped at this viewpoint and one other so that I could take some pictures. The couple we had met did catch up with use but they stopped as we were leaving. We continued on the trail and met a young man ascending solo from the Col. we chatted for a minute and he said that the trail was slippery in places but that the snow was hard all the way to the summit. He also told me that there were several groups ahead of us. Descending into the col was tricky in places since it was slippery and the number of hikers had made some areas very smooth. The col was calm with almost no wind which is unusual. On the way up to the summit ridge I met two people coming down followed by a group of three. The last group was older, my age at least, but well-equipped and wearing 12 point crampons. Somewhere along the way my Yaks began to give out. First a strap broke on the right one and then on the left. The left Yak kept riding up over the toe of the boot. They still were offering some traction but I considered removing them several times.

Several places on the ascent to Panther were pretty icy and I was glad I had my Leki poles for support and balance. After negotiating these spots, we were soon on the ridge. The trail levels here but continues to ascend toward the summit. We had passed the 3500 foot sign on the way up. The snow WAS hard packed and the snowshoes unnecessary. I did begin to wish I had stowed my crampons though! We finally were at the lookout that marks the highest point on the mountain. We stopped briefly so that I could take pictures. I got out a sandwich, gave Sheba some dog bones and took a drink. There was a slight breeze and the temperature was lower at the summit was I began to feel cold. We turned around and headed back down the mountain. I was looking for the young couple that had been behind us and since I did not see them I assumed they had turned back. Negotiating the descent on the slippery icy and snow with broken Yaks took at lot of attention. At one point I looked up to see the couple headed up toward us! I though it was a little late and that darkness was a concern. I told them it was less than a mile and hoped they would hurry to get back down before sunset.

If descending into the Col was interesting, ascending out of it to Giant Ledge was also a challenge. Back at the Ledges we stopped again so that I could snap a few more pictures. We visited the lookout we had skipped before since it offers a good view of the entire Burroughs Range including Slide. From this point we picked up our speed as we descended to the trail junction and then back to the parking area. The biggest problem was not the icy on the trail but the useless and broken Yaks on my feet. As I signed out of at the register another young woman showed up. She had started ahead of us and continued over Panther to the lookouts on the other side. We talked for a few minutes before returning to the parking area. It was right around 4:00 PM so we had taken almost 4 hours to cover a little more than six miles.

On Wednesday, December 26th I decided to hike Balsam Lake Mountain since it is close to home and December was only one of two months when I had not hike this peak. We left the house at about 9:15 AM since I was concerned about the condition of the back roads leading to the trailhead. My worries were unfounded since the roads were clear with only a few wet and icy patches. Even the parking area at the trailhead was plowed and almost bare. I looked around at the beginning of the trails and decided to bring the wear the snowshoes I had brought. I assumed the hike would be much like the one up Slide on Monday with some bare spots and others where the snowshoes would at least provide needed traction. It seemed to me that the day was colder so I wore my new Mountain Hardwear Traverse Trifecta Jacket on top of a light long sleeved top over my PolarMax Expedition top. I wore my Mountain Hardwear Winter Wander pants with Mountain Hardwear ThermaDry tights. My new Salomon 52 boots and MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes completed my attire. I carried my old North Face Hot Shot pack with bungee cords to hold the snowshoes if I decided not to wear them.

As we hiked passed the register I signed in and then we continued up the trail. Soon it became clear that my predictions about trail conditions were right on. There were large expanses of the trail that were clear of any snow or ice. I kept the snowshoes on but had an awkward time trying to walk on the snow that lined the sides of the trail. By the time we were ready to turn up the steep side of the mountain, it was obvious that the jacket was much too warm over the other clothing. The air was still without even a breeze so I took the jacket off and stowed it in my pack. It compressed nicely and fit easily. By this time there seemed to be enough snow to warrant using the snowshoes so we turned and headed up the mountain.

There were several new blowdowns across the trail in some areas and at least one hiker had postholed their way to the top. These holes are very annoying and I wish others would come prepared with proper equipment! In several spots I took rather long detours around these areas. I did not break through the hard crust but the shoes acted as suitable traction which I really needed in some spots. As we approached the spring the trail grew steeper and I appreciated having the traction on the almost impenetrable crust. I had worried about negotiating the steps after the spring but they were no problem and we were soon at the top of the climb. We continued on passed the Millbrook Ridge Trail and were soon at the fire tower. It had taken about an hour and a half. I was tired enough to dismiss the idea of including Graham on this trip!

At the tower I took off my pack and took some pictures of Sheba before climbing to the top of the tower. The steps were clear of any ice or snow but a strong breeze was blowing. I stopped on the landing below the cab and took some pictures. The breeze chilled me some so I retreated to the ground where I put the snowshoes and pack back on and headed down the other side of the mountain. The shallower side actually had more snow but it too was packed with a VERY hard crust. Some other snowshoes tracks were barely visible and I was glad I had mine to prevent me from sliding all the way down the trail. We turned right onto the Dry Brook Trail and headed back toward the parking area. Some spots on this trail continue to become more narrow requiring putting one foot directly ahead of the other. Snowshoes do NOT work well under these conditions. I spent a lot of exhausting time trying to walk on the snow on the side hill along the trail. We made it back to the car in about an hour tired but happy to have covered a little under 5 miles in less than 3 hours.

On Monday, December 24th Karl and I decided to hike Slide Mountain as early as possible so that we could get back and finish some things for Christmas Eve. It had rained for a good part of Sunday with temperatures in the high 40's but it had dropped overnight into the high twenties. I was worried about the roads but they were clear as we headed out DeBruce Road and then on toward Frost Valley. As we were riding along the Frost Valley Road, we noticed that The Neversink was flowing pretty high with the rain and melting snow from the day before. We parked at about 9:15 and went to scout out the river. There was only one other car in the parking lot. It was impossible to cross at the main trail but Karl found a spot further upstream that was narrow and spanned by a log.

After crossing the Neversink, we put on our snowshoes since there was definitely enough snow. We knew they probably would not be necessary to stay on top of the snow since it was very crusty but they would be good for traction. We had to cross another small stream almost immediately. This crossing is usually very easy but the creek was swollen and we had to walk upstream a little to cross. We quickly made our way up to the main trail where a problem became obvious. The rain and warm weather had eliminated much of the snow in some areas and other places were rife with flowing water. We decided to keep the snowshoes on until we started the ascent and then make a decision.

The beginning of the ascent wasn't much better since there was a LOT of water running off the mountain. We tried to go around the open areas and stay on the snow. This wasn't easy in some places. As we continued to ascend the sun appeared and we were getting so warm that we opened our jackets to vent some heat. After a certain point, the water and open spots disappeared and a thin layer of snow and ice covered everything. This actually makes hiking easier compared to the other seasons when you have to deal with the jumble of rocks that litter the trail. The higher we went the harder the wind blew and the colder it seemed. We went passed the C0 Trail and continued on toward the summit.

Karl remarked that from the CO Trail to the top was longer than he remembered and I agree that it ALWAYS seems that way to me! Finally we were at the lookout on the right of the trail which also means we were near the top. We continued on and passed the actual summit. Around the corner we stopped on the clearing that offers some views of the surrounding landscape. In the summer our best time was just under and hour. This trip had taken about 1.5 hours! I took some pictures of Karl and Sheba, the Ashokan, Cornell and Wittenberg. The landscape in winter is bleak without much color but is still beautiful. At this point the wind was howling and Karl and I both noticed we were cold. We turned around and got off the exposed rock and quickly hiked back to the lookout. We stopped and I took a few pictures before continuing on down the trail.

Descending on snowshoes seemed very quick and means that you do not have to be careful about all the rocks. The open areas on the trail near the bottom also seemed to go by more quickly. Soon we were turning on the trail back to the parking area. The first stream crossing was no problem. We left our snowshoes on to cross the log. They are a little more cumbersome than boots but also offer some traction. Once across without mishap, we just walk directly to the car but not before I took some more pictures of the high water. It took less than 4 hours to make the 6 mile round trip hike. On the way back we stopped at the falls on the Frost valley Road to take some pictures of the falls and the river.

Fall 2007

On Sunday, December 16th more bad weather struck in the form of a nor'easter. We got a lot less snow than was originally predicted but there was plenty of sleet and freezing rain. We had canceled church on Saturday in anticipation of the mess on Sunday. My son Kurt was home so we decided to repeat the trip around Round Top. I didn't realized Kurt had never been on snowshoes before. He has been living in the South, mostly in Orlando, Florida so he hasn't had much of chance to have the experience. I let him use my Tubbs Trail Adventures 30's while I strapped on the MSR Lightning Ascents. I like both shoes but the Ascents are smaller and better suited for varied terrain. The weather was so awful that I didn't bother to take the camera at all! By the time we started to climb to the ridge we were being hit by a combination of rain, sleet and snow. We completed the route together but were glad to head home as the weather conditions continued to deteriorate.

On Thursday, December 13th we had our second snow day of the week and school was canceled! The weather was really to bad to travel anywhere. I spent the morning and early afternoon running ambulance calls on roads that were not really passable. In the middle of the afternoon there was a lull so I decided to put on the snowshoes and trek around the hill behind our church. Round Top offers a nice uphill to begin with and a good view of the town. After the uphill the terrain levels off along a ridge or plateau. There are really no well-defined trails but there are many old woods roads. There is also an old quarry near he top. Sheba and I hiked up the first hill, looked down on the town and then continued on up the hill. The day was cloudy with no sun and a haze hanging over most of the scenery. There was also a constant fall of light but wet snow. All of this made getting any pictures difficult.

After walking across the top of the ridge we turned left and descended toward a woods road that runs parallel to State Route 17. The roadway looked like it was in horrible condition! I love descending on snowshoes. If you sit back a little on your heels it lifts the tips of the shows and you get a nice glide. We walked parallel to the Quickway until we got to the overlook where the Exit 96 interchange is visible. I tried some pictures from here and then we headed back up the hill to the viewpoint over the town. From here we retraced our path to the church and home.

On Saturday, December 8th I was undecided about where to hike. Rifle hunting season ends in the Catskills on Sunday but I have hiked during big game season before. I though about slide or Balsam Lake and other mountains since I could use some 3500's in December. Still, I wanted to go to somewhere I had not been before and decided to head toward Bear Mountain. I intended to hike to the Torne through Popolopen Gorge since I had recently been at The Timp. The trail that connects these two high points is the Timp-Torne Trail. As I approached the Bear Mountain parking area I was still uncertain since I was not sure of exactly where the Popolopen Gorge Trail began or how to get there.

After we parked I decided to stay with the original plan which was to find the Popolopen Gorge Trail and hike up to The Torne. I was a little surprised at the amount of snow on the ground but I did not let that change my decision or stand in the way. We headed past the skating rink and down to the east side of Hessian Lake. We walked almost to the other end and then cut up a path to the toward the traffic circle. We quickly and carefully crossed the traffic circle and headed north where Route 9W heads out of the circle. In just a short walk, the three red on white marks for the P-G Trail appeared on a rock on the right shoulder of the road. Sheba and I headed off into the woods down a wide woods road. The predominant sound was the rushing of the water in the creek below. The gorge is wide and very deep at this point. Wider and deeper than can be accounted for by the present size of the creek.

A little further down the path a dam holds back the creek and rock walls appear on either side. This looks like the remains of an old mill site with a millpond behind the dam. I walked out onto a vantage point above the creek but most of the views were still obstructed by trees and brush. I might have gone down into the gorge but the snow and ice suggested that I would have to wait until another day. Up the trail another viewpoint gave a better angle for pictures of the dam and the pond. Here the trail climbed a small hill before descending back down to the millpond. This became typical of the trail which would ascend and descend several times along the way. The views of the millpond were beautiful and I stopped again for pictures. The trail slowly climbed and angled away from the stream. The sounds of rushing water began to mix with the sounds of rushing cars. The trail comes within a few hundred feet of Route 6 in several places.

As we walked a rather impressive hill appeared in the distance to the right of the trail. This was The Torne, our eventual destination. Round and square access point to the West Point Aqueduct began to appear in the trail. Eventually the red trail we were on interested the blue marked Timp-Torne, 1777 and 1179 trails. A left here takes you toward Queensborough Lake and ends up at The Timp. We turned right to go down towards the creek. I wondered how we would get across as the water was high. A brand new steel footbridge was the answer to that problem. I took pictures of the bridge and then paused on the bridge to take a few upstream and downstream. We crossed over and ascended a small hill before turning right again on a wide woods road. This is typical of the entire park where trail and roads cross each other frequently. Most trails are well marked but a good map, compass and GPS always come in handy. After only a short distance the Timp-Torne Trail departs from the others and we turned right up a small hill. We crossed over Mine Road which is paved and picked up the trail on the other side.

As we started up the trail I was surprised that the amount of snow actually decreased. The trail started to ascend gently and passed through a hardwood forest. Ahead of me I though I could catch glimpses of The Torne. Very quickly the forest fell away and the trail began to ascend STEEPLY over rock outcroppings and unprotected rock faces. Most of these were wet and many were covered by ice or snow. None had a way to work around the steeper sections. I began to question my decision but pressed on. At one point Sheba tried to ascend a 60 to 70 degree rock face but it was just too icy. I boosted her up where the blue marking went, put my camera away and tried to get myself up. This would have been less of a problem if the rock had been dry and offered any grip. As it was I had to use a lot of upper body strength to lift and pull myself over a rock lip onto the ledge above. The reward was some outstanding views of the valleys, hills and river below.

The trail continued to ascend with a few more steep areas but none as bad as the last. After an ascent there was always the reward of better and better views of a larger and larger area. Finally, we made it to some boulders at the top of the Torne and then walked to a stone cairn. Ours were the only footsteps in the snow at the top. We had been following some footsteps but they had turned back at the rock outcroppings near the bottom! The sign on the cairn explained that each rock of the chest high cairn had been carried from the bottom to the top in remembrance of members of the armed forces fighting for freedom abroad. There was also a simple plaque commemorating members of an OCS class at West Point who had died fighting. There were also many Boy Scout emblems since this is a popular hiking destination for scout troops. I took MANY pictures in all directions from the top. I was a little disappointed that the day was so overcast that I knew many of the pictures would not be good. However, this gave me an excuse to return on a better day.

I had intended to stay on the Timp-Torne Trail as it descends a slightly different route down the Torne. There was too much snow for me to clearly spot the blazes on the rock AND it looked to me like the trail continued over a rather steep and VERY SNOWY portion of The Torne. I decided it was better to retrace the path we had used to come up the Torne although that one spot stuck in my mind. I should not have been worried. In this case, going down was easier than coming up. In places where I didn't want to chance falling from a standing position I used the glissade method of descent. After entering the woods at the bottom of The Torne, we met a couple on the ascent. They seemed fit and knowledgeable and had a map. They didn't have much equipment but were determined to descend the other trail. Sheba and I continued down, crossed over the road and turned left on the Timp-Torne-1777-179 Trail.

As we walked along this trail, the first thing I noticed was the rock structure that supported parts of the trail. I had seen this rock "wall" from the other bank and wondered what it was. The trail rose and feel several times before intersecting with a road. The road had trail markers so we turned left and headed several hundred feet down the road where the markers again turned left into the woods. The trail headed downhill toward Brooks Lake. This area was opened as part of the park in 2005 and is used mostly be local residents for day use. Although the lake was pretty, I decided not to stay and we pressed on up the woods road to another road. We crossed the road and picked up the trail again as it began to descend toward the creek. We again encountered a road which we walked on until the trail appeared and veered off into the woods on the right. As we walked along this trail I saw signs for Fort Montgomery. I had toyed with the idea of climbing Bear Mountain before going home but it was getting late and the thought of visiting the Revolutionary War era fort interested me.

We walked up a side trail to the left to the Western Redoubt. Placards are placed throughout the fort to explain what remains which in most cases are only stone foundations. When we returned to the main trail we passed UNDER Route 9W and the Popolopen Creek Bridge. Shortly, we were at the Visitor's Center. I put Sheba on her leash and we walked around the grounds of the fort. The foundations of the barracks, guard house, powder magazine and necessaries are all visible. We visited the Northern Redoubt and then walked over to a raised wooden platform that explained the importance of the fort and its location. I took a picture of this placard and the realized that the view it was explaining also appeared in the picture! A replica of the original 32-pounder cannons is in place on the site of the Main Battery. As you stand next to the cannon it is clear the commanding view they had of the river below. From here the Bear Mountain Bridge and the narrow straits below can be seen.

We walked back toward the Visitor's Center, behind it and down toward the creek. There was a nice sturdy suspension footbridge waiting to take us across the creek. At this time the sky had cleared some and there was sunlight on the bridges. The bear Mountain Bridge and Anthony's Nose were on out left. On our right was the smaller but closer Popolopen Creek Bridge. After taking some pictures we headed over to the over side and crossed another MUCH smaller bridge. The trail ascended to a point UNDER the Bear Mountain Bridge. I examined the structure of the bridge and looked across to the other shore. The trail from here goes through the zoo and trailside museum where pets are not allowed! Sheba and I returned to the side trail which leads up to the toll plaza on the bridge. I wanted to walk to the middle of the bridge to take some pictures but the walkway was closed. Sheba and I headed west toward the traffic circle and Route 9W. We crossed 9W where we had done so earlier in the day and headed back down to Hessian lake.

I decided to extend the hike just a little by walking all the way around the lake. The pathway is paved and rolls a little. I took some pictures of the lake and of the bridge as it came into view. We met several people walking around the lake. Near the parking lot end of the lake we encountered the ever-present flocks of resident geese. We finished the hike by walking up passed the ice rink We were back a the car by 3:00 PM. We had covered 6.6 miles in 5.5 hours with many stops for pictures.

On Saturday, December 1st I decided to return to Mount Taurus with my wife. I was so impressed by the beautiful views and the interesting extra "features" that I wanted to share them with someone else. I had offered to lead a hike of staff members from work but did not get any "takers". Their loss! Cindy and I dressed warmly since the temperature was in the twenties and the wind was howling when we left Livingston Manor. Sheba seems to always be "dressed" for the occasion! The weather prediction was for more of the same. We parked at 10:30 at the Little Stony Point parking area and crossed the road to get on the Washburn Trail. With my wife along, we move a little slower since she likes to investigate some areas that I bypass. This is a good thing since it allows us to see some things that I miss when Sheba and I are racing along.

Our first stop was the quarry a the top of the first hill on the Washburn. We walked into the quarry and looked around a little. There is some crushed stone which is too fine to be a natural phenomenon and we wondered why is was there. We returned to the trail and began the LONG trek that ends at the top of Mount Taurus. This hike has ALL the climbing near the beginning! We passed several viewpoints since I knew that the best one was just as the trail takes a sharp left into the woods away from the edge of the cliff. We arrived at this viewpoint to find Sheba already visiting with a mother and adult daughter who had stopped to rest and enjoy the views. We chatted with them for a few minutes while we took in the views. I took some pictures but had the same problem as last time. The sun was right in front of me making it difficult to take pictures down the river. I made a mental note to hike the trail in the opposite direction next time or arrive later in the day. The views south toward Cold Spring and West point are magnificent. A large hiking group arrived with a dog and we decided to get going. Sheba and the other dog said hello. Sheba is better with people than other dogs but this meeting seemed to go well!

Back on the trail we climbed upward as the path turns into the woods and turns more toward the north. The climb is never very steep but there are some good climbs. The wind was howling even in the more protected areas. The wind chill must have been in the single digits at times despite the slightly warmer air temperature. As the trail continues it begins to run along the edge of an escarpment that gives nice views to the west and north. Storm King comes into view and the area around Pollepel Island and the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge becomes visible. The hiking group was behind us and was hiking a little faster but they were also stopping to rest more frequently than us. We crossed the Undercliff Trail near the top of a climb after which the trail levels for a short distance. Another hike with his dog caught and passed us and Sheba had another positive encounter. We ascended the next short climb and I got ready to take more pictures as I knew we were getting closer to the top of Mount Taurus and that there were some nice lookouts along the way.

As we climbed I walked off the trail several times to the left and right to take some pictures. As we approached the top we stopped at a rocky ledge on the right of the trail which has a good view of Storm King. I used this backdrop and the large rock "cliff" there as a backdrop for some pictures. We then got back on the trail and made the final climb to the top of Mount Taurus. The maximum elevation of the hill is a little over 1400 feet but the views from the top are limited by the surrounding trees. Just as the trail begins to drop down the other side there is a short trail on the right to an open area. This area has nice views to the south. The main trail begins to descend from this point and there is NO MORE CLIMBING. There are several great viewpoints near the top but the wind was making simply standing still difficult and the wind chill was bitter. The Newburgh-Beacon Bridge can be seen between the summits of various low hills and Storm King is prominent on the other side of the river. The most impressive view is Breakneck Ridge. The beginning of the ridge on the river is hidden by the angle of the observation point. However, the three "humps" can easily be seen with the lower "cols" between them. To the right and further removed is the South Beacon Fire Tower.

We stayed at these viewpoints for only a few minutes an then descended the trail to a find some protection from the wind. The trail follows an old access road which winds its way back and forth down the hill. After only a short distance, the trail leaves the road to the right and descends more or less straight down the hill. This makes the walk shorter and more direct but more difficult because of the increased pitch. The steeper areas, the frozen ground and ice patches and the numerous oak leaves make for a tricky descent in places. Near the bottom the Washburn Trail ends and the green Lone Star trail goes right to Nelsonville. We turned left on the blue Notch Trail which eventually leads to Breakneck Ridge just after the highest point! The Notch Trail continues to descend with the lowest point being Breakneck Brook. On the way the trail makes a SHARP left which I almost missed! As we continued our descent the trail became more like a road. It was wider and flatter with rock walls first on one side, then the other then both. We crossed the two-log bridge over a small creek near the bottom as were soon at the point where the Notch Trail turns right and the red marked Brook Trail starts and goes left. At this point we turned right to visit the ruins of the dairy farm only a few hundred feet up the trail.

We walked around the dairy farm for some time going in and out of what remained. Cindy was very interested in each building. I took more picture from the outside and inside. The construction is stone and cement faced with glazed tile. Cindy noticed opening on the outside walls between the windows which seem to have ashes in them. The openings lead to "ducts" which go up through the walls. We were not sure what they were used for. As we were leaving several other hikers appeared to visit the same area. We got on the red Brook Trail which parallels Breakneck Brook and crosses over it on another log bridge. Further on down the trail, the yellow Undercliff Trail crosses the brook trail and there is a new bridge that takes the trail back across Breakneck Brook. Further down this trail is an old pump house, pipes and a small dam. The red Brook Trail continues on down to a parking area on Route 9D which is more than a mile above Little Stony Point. The blue Cornish Trail forks off to the left and leads down to the road at the parking area. We took this trail since it also passes by the ruins of the Cornish Estate and mansion.

The Cornish Trail winds back and forth several times as it works its way down the hill. As it straightens out a large stone cistern appears on the right. As the trail continues it becomes paved and you are walking on the driveway and access roads to the old estate. The remains of the greenhouse come up on the right and just before this a road makes it way down to the lower part of the greenhouse. A long stone a cement retaining wall protects this long-abandoned road. A little beyond this is the main mansion house on the right. Ravaged by fire only the stone work remains and it is slowly being reclaimed by the vines and other vegetation that cover it. I walked off the driveway and down to the mansion while Cindy continued on to the main entrance and came down that way. I took some more pictures on the mansion including some from the "front". We also walked inside in several places to see what was left and I took some pictures there also. Cindy and I both wondered why such and obviously magnificent structure was left to decay in such a manner. After further investigations, we got back on the trail/driveway and walked almost a mile down to the gate on Route 9D. The road parallels the river and intriguing views occur as river, railroad and the west shore peek through the trees on the right. On the left are the impressive rock cliffs of Mount Taurus. At the gate we continued on the Cornish Trail back to the parking area. We did not stop at the car but continued on to Little Stony Point!

Where the trail forks we turned right and headed for the beach! On the north edge of the point there is a beautiful sandy beach. Today the tide river was lower and a very obvious spit jutted out into the water a short distance up the beach. We decided to investigate and were soon standing on the spit, in the "middle" of the river looking back at the Point. I took some pictures but had to return rather quickly as the wind was blowing fiercely causing my hands to freeze. Back on the beach we continued our walk around the shore of the point in a counterclockwise direction. The sky was relatively clear and I took more pictures up and down the river and of the west shore. As we walked back to where we started we turned left to ascend to the high rock outcropping formed from the quarrying of Little Stony Point. The walk was short and well worth the views from the top. To the north Storm King, Pollepel Island, Breakneck Ridge and the Bridge can be seen. West Point and parts of Cold Spring can be seen to the south. After taking some pictures, we worked our way back to the car and headed for lunch at El Bandido in Middletown. We hiked almost 6 miles in 4.5 hours.

On Wednesday, November 28th I decided to stay out of the Catskills and away from the hunters. I knew there was no hunting permitted in Harriman or Bear Mountain Parks so Sheba and I headed south in that direction. I had not been in the Harriman-Bear Mountain area for almost a year and wanted to try hiking Dunderberg again. The last time my wife and I had stopped short of the Timp and I wanted to get there this time. We parked at the trailhead parking off Route 9W at 9:35 AM and got started immediately. Experience is a WONDERFUL thing! last time we meandered around not knowing that the beginning of the trail is a few hundred feet further south and is not well marked! This time Sheba and I knew right where to go and picked up the blue marks of the Timp-Torne Trail along with the red circle on white that marks the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. The temperature was warmer than in Livingston Manor and the sky was only partly cloudy or partly sunny. The air temperature was just below 40 but a persistent breeze made it fell a little cooler. I wore my Mountain Hardwear Zoetic Jacket over a light OR Sequence shirt and my Underarmour CoolGear. I wore my Mountain Hardwear HyperDry tights underneath my Campmor Trekmor pants. I wore my Asolo TPS 520's again with Dahlgren Alpaca socks and carried the Osprey Atmos 50 pack. A Mountain Hardwear Transition hat and Mountain Hardwear Powerstretch gloves complete my out fit.

The first part of the trail winds through a flat area infested by vines before starting to climb up to the Dunderberg Ridge. Shortly after the start of the climb a short, well constructed railroad tunnel appeared on the left. We took some pictures and then continued the climb up where the ridge levels off. Here the red Dunderberg-Ramapo Trail turns right while the blue Timp-Torne Trail goes left. We turned left and followed the blue trail. Once on the ridge the trail is either flat or consists of long, gently climbs or steep but short ascents. The blue blazes showed evidence that paint had recently been reapplied and they were easy to follow. Within a short distance views open up to the Indian Point Nuclear Plant and other industrial facilities along the river. It is also possible to look south but the sun shining off the water blocked most of this view. These views are also not as spectacular as the ones of the same area from higher on the ridge. The trail switches back and forth before turning and running west.

At many points the trail runs over the bed of the Dunderberg Spiral Railway. This railway was to take tourists to a large hotel on the top of the ridge. The beds were graded and stone was spread. Two tunnel were started. One tunnel was finished. The other tunnel appears along the trail as a cave; started but never completed. Water flows through this dead-end tunnel and drips from the ceiling making an eerie sound. The railway was abandoned and only the graded bed, the tunnels and some stonework remain. After the tunnel, we crossed a small stream and continued to trek toward The Timp. After a short climb, we descended into an area where several trails cross. In fact, this entire area is criss-crossed by many different trails and roads. It is easy to become confused and take the wrong route which usually means a long, out of the way detour. We crossed over the 1777 trail and began to climb up The Timp.

Near the top of the climb a nice lookout offers views to the south and west. I though this was the very top of The Timp but I decided to go a little further and perhaps make a loop. After a short descent, we crossed over the red marked Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. We made a quick left and then a right to stay on the blue Timp-Torne Trail. After another short climb, we were higher than before and an even more open viewpoint lay before us. The views to the south were still visible but more views to the west and north became obvious. On one of the mountains, a "cave" was almost visible. I took a picture and then zoomed in and discovered it was a lean-to/shelter. This is the AMC shelter on West Mountain. As we continued to walk around The Timp the views to the north became more prominent. Bear Mountain was visible on one side of the Hudson river with the Perkins Tower on top. Opposite bear Mountain was Anthony's Nose. The Bear Mountain Bridge and the Inn were easy to find. At this point the choices were to retrace our steps back to the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail or to continue on down the mountain. We continued on to make a loop.

The descent into a hollow between the Timp and another hills was steep at times but wandered back and forth to moderate the slope. At the bottom the blue Timp-Torne Trail followed an old road and then headed back up to the right toward the Torne some distance away. We walked up the road a little further and then turned left on the red marked Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. As we continued on the trail, it began to loop around the base of The Timp. Several talus slopes decorated the sides of the Timp. Finally, the trail began to climb back up The Timp. This time the trail did NOT wind back and forth very much but headed directly Up the hill. This part of the trail was slippery with some frozen ground and piles of oak leaves. Finally, we crested the hill and were back at the location where the red and blue trails crossed. This time we went straight ahead on the red trail toward Bald Mountain.

The Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail crosses the 1777 Trail, ascends slightly and then drops into a "valley" created by a small stream. From here the trail ascends consistently but not steeply up the slopes of Bald Mountain. The first open space on Bald Mountain offers interesting views mostly to the south and west. We continued on up the trail since I knew that there were much better views from the open rock ledges at the top. We went off the trail slightly to get the best views to the west and north. The area around Bear Mountain including Hessian Lake, The Bear Mountain Inn, The Bear Mountain Bridge, Anthony's Nose and Bear Mountain itself. The view continues north up the Hudson and is limited only be your eyesight and the haze on any particular day. After getting some pictures and eating lunch, we got back on the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail and headed toward Dunderberg Mountain. As we descended the hill, I made a promise to myself that I would investigate the Cornell Mines at some point.

The trail makes its way up to the highest point on the Dunderberg Ridge before undulating up and down. The overall effect is to lose some elevation on your way to the extreme eastern end of the ridge. After descending for a brief period, we ascended the short, steep trail to the highest point on the eastern summit. This area has been burned over several times leaving the charred and dead remains of trees in fantastically twisted profile on the mountain. By walking up some of the informal side trails to the left, more views to the north can be seen. These vary little from the views from Bald Mountain. As we descended, the Hudson River and Haverstraw Bay came into view through the trees. In a short distance the views became unobstructed and all of the river and bay were before us. Factories lay side-by-side with marinas and apartment buildings. The train rushes by and its tracks while barges ply the waters. I took MANY pictures of this area and then we continued on around and headed back to where we started in the morning.

The final part of the trail follows one of the graded beds to a steeply graded bed that runs down to the base of the mountain. This incline would be too great for regular locomotives so the idea was to use stationary engines to pull the passenger cars up to the top of the mountain. We walked down this steeply graded incline made all the more difficult by the large rock fragments used to "pave" the bed. Finally we were back at the trail junction with the Timp-Torne Trail and we turned down the hill and walked back to the parking area. We had covered about 9 miles in 5 hours. On the return trip home on Route 84 the sunset was beautiful. I pulled over on the shoulder and took some pictures.

On Saturday, November 24th I wanted a challenging hike somewhere where I had not been before. I had toyed with the idea of going to Mount Greylock. The drive is almost 4 hours and the hike is around 12 miles. Coupled with the fact that no one was available to accompany me and that I was tired from Breakneck Ridge the day before, I decided on a more conservative plan. I returned to the east side of the Hudson to hike Mount Taurus. The parking area is less than a mile south of Breakneck Ridge and the hike's description in the guidebooks and on line interested me. Most authors also suggested a hike around Little Stony Point. Sheba and I got a LATE start and parked just before 11:00 AM. The temperature was still in the upper 20's or lower 30's but there didn't seem to be any wind and the sky was a lot sunnier than the weather forecast. I wore much the same outfit as the day before with my new Columbia Titanium Ballistic jacket over a light OR Sequence shirt and by Underarmour CoolGear. I wore my Mountain Hardwear HyperDry tights underneath my Mountain Hardwear Winter Wander pants. I wore my Solo TPS 520's again and carried the Osprey Atmos 50 pack.

The parking area was beginning to fill with cars and people and at least one dog. Sheba and I decided to get going as quickly as possible to outdistance some of this traffic. The white blazed Washburn trail leaves the north end of the parking lot on the east side of Route 9D. It ascends up a moderate grade and Sheba and I hustled passed several people and groups that had a head start. The trail enters the quarry area after a short climb. We walked onto the floor of the quarry and took some pictures at various location. After this we returned to the trail at the point where it makes a hard right at the top of the hill. The Washburn Trail begins a slow climb up Mount Taurus from this point. Only a few areas are steep and there are a few level areas.

Just as the trail climbs out of the quarry, views across the river and to the south begin to open up. At first the views are through the trees and aren't very clear. The higher we went the more open the trail became and the more unimpeded the viewpoints. Just before the trail makes a hard left and continues into the woods, several ledges afford beautiful views to the village of Stony Point below. The United States Military Academy at West Point is visible as are other sights to the south and east! The trail then turns into the woods and the views disappear for some time. The trail begins to skirt a ridge of rock as it makes its way up to the Mount Taurus ridge. Now views to the west and north became visible. The trail then turns north and climbs rather steeply for a distance with only a few glimpses of the scenery through the trees.

We passed by the yellow blazed Undercliff Trail that starts on Breakneck Ridge and continued the climb toward Bull Hill. At several points along the way short side trails lead off the main trail. Sometimes these trail reveal excellent lookouts and sometimes not. There are several spots that have nice views to the north and west. There is one area at the extreme northeast part of the ridge that has a beautiful view to the south and east. From here the trail leads down the other side of Taurus following an old road for some time. The trail then leaves the road to the right and continues straight down the hill. Several times the trail crosses the road as the road switches back and forth several times. The green Nelsonville Trail branches off to the right where the Washburn Trail ends. We turned left onto the Notch trail and continued down to a wetlands area. The Notch Trail makes an abrupt left turn here and heads almost due west as it gently descends to Breakneck Brook. Signs of former settlements begin to appear in the form of wide woods road flanked by stone and by stone walls.

We crossed Breakneck Brook on a small log bridge and came to the junction with the red Brook Trail. Before taking the Brook Trail, we turned right on the Notch Trail to investigate the ruins visible from the junction. On the right is an old garage but most of the buildings are the remains of a 19th century dairy farm. The barn and milking parlor are plainly visible. The main entrance to the barn has a silo on the left and is made of artistically laid up stone. Some rusting far machinery is scattered about. Several cisterns dot the property. A small pond is a little further up the trail with a LONG low cement dam holding back the water. We returned to the trail junction after a thorough investigation.

The Brook Trail parallels Breakneck Brook and ends up on Route 9D about a mile north of Little Stony Point. After less than half a mile on the red trail, we turned left on the blue Cornish Trail. This trail winds its way down to the former Cornish estate and then down to the road on what was their very long paved driveway. After several switchbacks in the trail, a large cistern comes into view which supplied the estate with water. Next, on the right, is the frame of what appears to be a greenhouse. Further down the road on the right is the charred remains of the main house. The remaining stonework is covered by vines and vegetation which threaten to reclaim the property and which give the mansion an eerie appearance. We stopped to take some pictures and then continued our walk down the long driveway in sight of the river, the road and the railroad. When the driveway met Route 9D we continued on the trail to the parking area.

Even though the parking lots were now full, I decided to investigate Little Stony Point. This cape which juts out into the Hudson was quarried extensively in the past. Now, a series of trail crisscross the point. We walked out to the river on one trail. There was a beautiful, sandy beach at our feet. The view was to the north and offered a different perspective than the one you get my looking down from the heights. Storm king, Pollepel Island and Breakneck Ridge were all visible. We walked toward the western end of the point on the beach and then walked up onto the trails. As we continued to walk around the edge of the point in a counterclockwise direction, I noticed two things: there are beautiful views to the south and there were people standing high on a rocky outcropping. I took some pictures of the views toward West Point and we continued on the trail looking for the access to the high outcropping.

At one point we found a tunnel into the rock and I took a picture. without knowing much about the area I was not going to crawl into the tunnel. As we wrapped around back to our starting point, a trail turned to the left. We followed the trail as it climbed to the top of the outcropping. The view down to the point below was nice. Even better were the views up and down the Hudson. This area is not as elevated as Taurus, Storm King or Breakneck but has great views since it juts out into the river. After taking pictures and enjoying the view we returned to the car. The five 5.5 mile hike hand taken about a little over 4 hours with much of that time taken up by pictures and exploration.

On Friday, November 23rd Karl was home for Thanksgiving so we decided to take a hike. The weather was COLD and windy. Big game season is in full swing in the Catskills. For these reasons we decided to go south to Storm King. Karl, Sheba and I left Livingston Manor shortly after 8:00 AM. The further south we went the warmer it became. There also was no snow. When I turned onto 219 to got toward West Point and 9W to Storm King, Karl and I both decided that Breakneck Ridge would be doable. I turned around and headed for the Bear Mountain Bridge. When we parked there were three cars by the tunnel and none on the shoulder of the road. We were the ONLY car in the parking lot! We were hiking by 9:35 AM south on 9D toward the tunnel.

At the tunnel we turned right and got on the trail. Karl had never been to Breakneck and I had only hiked there once. The day was cold and windy but CLEAR. In fact, it was the clearest of all the times I had been to this area. We took a quick look at Storm King on the west bank and Bannerman Castle on Pollepel Island. We walked up through the woods and began our assault on Breakneck. The climb seemed shorter this time and less daunting in some ways. It was definitely LESS CROWDED. We had the ascent all to ourselves except for one father and his two children. The one nearly vertical rock slab gave me more trouble this time than last but I took another line and made it up. The problem was a combination of slippery oak leaves and shoes with less "sticky" soles. Last time I wore my Merrell Mid Wraps but this time I chose my Asolo TPS 520. These are a little more insulated and I was worried about keeping my feet warm.

As we climbed we got quite warm. We stopped several places to take pictures and the wind would cool us down again. An American flag and POW-MIA flag has been installed on a rather permanent steel pole and one of the ledges. Sheba was ahead of us most of the time encouraging us to move more quickly. Do to the lack of other people I was able to try some of the more difficult lines I had avoided last time due to the crush of hikers! I had forgotten how many "false" summits there are until you are actually at the TOP of Breakneck Ridge! Just when it seems you are at the very top it becomes obvious that you are only at the top of that section. This happens SEVERAL times. In some cases, you actually descends slightly before ascending again. We passed by the junction of with the relatively new Undercliff Trail which is in one of the "cols" between these false peaks. This yellow marked trail starts on Breakneck Ridge and continues south over part of Mount Taurus. Finally we were on the ridge and took some time to walk around, take in all the various view and snap some pictures before continuing on.

Once on the ridge the trail enters a wooded area and undulates slightly until it reaches a high point. Here the red marked Bypass Trail can be found on the left. This trail leads over the ridge and down to the Wilkinson Trail. As its name implies, it cuts miles off the entire loop for those that were most interested in getting to the top of the ridge and want to make their hike a loop. From here the trail descends some with several steep portions. The blue blazed Notch Trail heads off to the right and down the ridge. It meets the red marked Brook Trail which leads back to 9D about half a mile south of the parking area. Staying on the Notch Trail will take you to the Washburn Trail which starts at the Little Stony Point parking area. We stayed on the Breakneck Ridge Trail/Notch Trail for about 1.5 miles where the two trail split. We headed right on the Breakneck Ridge Trail and climbed the short hill to Sunset Point.

Sunset Point is marked by a wooden observation deck in the middle of nowhere! This is where I turned around last time. We took in the sights from the platform on this clear day with almost no haze. After this short break, we continued on the Breakneck Ridge Trail toward South Beacon Mountain. The trail winds back and forth and is very poorly marked in places. In about half a mile it meets the yellow blazed Wilkinson Memorial Trail. We turned right here on a wide woods road. After a VERY short distance the Breakneck Ridge Trails leaves the Wilkinson Trail to the left and heads UP the mountain. This climbs has its moments as it snakes its way up to the summit. Some areas are steep with rock scrambling. As we climbed up, the views began to reveal themselves. The climb is seemed longer than it should be as the trail levels and then starts upwards again. Soon the tower came into view and we made the last climb to the top.

The first thing we noticed was that the tower is in VERY poor shape. The cabin roof is almost gone and there are no landings for the steps to the top. The views from the top are in ALL directions if you are willing to walk around the small summit. The day was so clear that New York City was visible to the south! The Newburgh Beacon Bridge can be seen but the Mid-Hudson Bridge in Poughkeepsie was also visible. As we were enjoying the view from the north part of the summit, we heard the noise of engines. Some ATV riders were up a trail to the top. We found this incredibly obnoxious and decided to leave quickly. The riders pulled up to the tower as we started our descent. They turned off their machines and cheered. I guess they were proud to have ridden their ATVs all the way to the top!

We retraced our steps back down the Breakneck ridge Trail to the Wilkinson Memorial Trail and stayed on this trail by bearing right at the trail junction. We descended until the point where this trail again meets the Notch Trail. Here we made a left to stay on the Wilkinson Trail as it parallels Breakneck Ridge. There are a few viewpoints but mostly the trail is a nice walk in the woods. We walked for over two miles descending slight and then more quickly to Cascade Brook. From here the trail parallels the brook for some distance before beginning the climb up Sugarloaf Mountain. We were tired at this point but knew that we were on the last part of the hike. This was a good thing since the time was getting on toward 3:00 PM and the sun was starting to sink lower in the sky. We stopped on Sugarloaf to take some pictures and then continued on.

From Sugarloaf there is a steep but short descent followed by longer, more reasonable part back to Route 9D. The trail switches back and forth in several areas to keep the pitch moderate. About halfway down the Breakneck ridge Bypass Trail comes in from the left. At Route 9D we turned left to hike south for less than half a mile to the parking area. The 9 mile hike is one of the most rewarding and hardest in the area. It took us almost 6 and a half hours but this included MANY stops for pictures and several places where we took the most difficult rock scrambles possible!

On Wednesday, November 21st I decided to take a short hike after work. We were out early for the holiday so I grabbed Sheba and headed for Trout and Mud Ponds. The weather was very foggy and in the low 50's which is warm for the third week of November. There was a slight chance of showers but I took my rain gear. I did not take my camera and was sorry I didn't. As we walked down Russell Brook Road passed the falls there was more water than I had seen since early spring. It was clear and white and plentiful. I may return Friday or Saturday to get a few pictures! I thought I might go up to Trout first and do the route counterclockwise. After signing in, I decided to go UP the hill to Mud first and we made the right hand turn.

The bridge is finished and the trail is graded over the stream which originates at the outlet of Trout Pond. I was overdressed even though I was wearing no jacket. The North Face Glacier TKA 100 over the PolarMax Expedition Weight top was VERY warm. We climbed the hill up to the trail junction in under 30 minutes and turn right to start for Trout. At some point I contemplated walking over to Campbell Brook Road and then down Morton Hill. We walked along without seeing much of anything; no deer, no hunters. Crossing the inlet of Trout Pond proved a little more difficult due to the high water. It was already almost 3:00 PM and I decided to continue around Trout and leave Campbell brook for another time. The pond is so high in places along the trail that it will soon encroach on the trail! We walked back to the falls and the up the road to the car. A little more than 4 miles in a little less than 2 hours.

On Sunday, November 18th I decided to take a short hike between church and the interfaith Thanksgiving service in the afternoon. Since deer hunting season was in full swing, Sheba and I both donned orange and headed for Hodge and Frick Ponds. The parking lot had several cars and a group of people who were obviously hunters. I don't mind sharing the woods as long as everyone behaves themselves! We got started at about noon on the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond.

As we walked up the Flynn Trail we met several hunters, exchanged greetings and went on our way. The higher we went the more snow was on the ground. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail there was about 2 to 3 inches of snow still on the ground. We continued straight ahead toward Hodge Pond. Near the gate there was a drag trail with blood spots. Someone had bagged their deer. At Hodge Pond I stopped to take a few pictures and then took the trail to the right that goes around the back of the pond. This trail then rejoins the Flynn Trail and we followed the blue blazes to the Junkyard Junction. Here we turned left onto the red blazed Quick Lake Trail.

We continued on down the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel Junction where I decided to add some distance to the hike by turning left onto the yellow blazed Logger's Loop. I had not been on this trail in some time. It is a beautiful trail that climbs slightly and then descends to Times Square. At Times Square we turned right and followed the lower end of the Big Rock Trail back down to the Quick Lake Trail near Frick Pond. This part of the trail passes over a board walk which was covered with a sprinkling of snow. At the Quick Lake Trail we turned left and walk to the bridge at the out let of Frick Pond.

We stopped at Frick Pond for a few minutes so that I could get some pictures. The landscape was somewhat bleak without much color. The pond was very still but some water was running over the rocks and under the bridge due to the recent rainfall. After a short stop, we followed the Quick Lake Trail back out to the parking area. The hike covered about seven miles in 3 hours.

On Sunday, November 11th we had hiked Bash Bish Falls and Alander Mountains in the morning. Somewhere along the way on that I hike I decided NOT to try another hike in the afternoon because of the early sunset, my unfamiliarity with the terrain and the fact that I WAS TIRED! I did decide to find the trail head for Brace Mountain so that I could easily go there next time. We left Bash Bish at about 1:15 PM and headed west on Falls Road until it meets with Route 22 South. From here I continued to Route 63 Undermountain Road. The road with the trail head had no name on the map but I knew when I reached White House Crossing road on the right I needed to turn around and take the next right. I took the right onto Deer Run Road and immediately began climbing toward a ridge of mountains ahead. I was surprised to see a group of cars parked at the small pull off and I turned around and pulled in behind one of the cars. It was about 2:00 PM and I decided to "go for it".

We got out of the car, got ready and started up a woods road. When the woods road ended, no trail was evident. I decided to go back to the road and ask someone where the trail started. A Korean woman readily pointed out the trail and gave me instructions. What she DID NOT tell me might have changed my mind! We headed up the trail through a field. The colors of the trees were beautiful as the trail turned into the woods and began a winding but gentle climb. This soon ended! The trail began to get steep and then it got steeper! It followed a small stream that had cut quite a gully down the side of the mountain over the years. The oak leaves seemed ankle deep and I knew they would make the return trip slow. Making good time was on my mind but I HAD to stop and take some pictures of the small falls formed as the water ran over the rock and the ice on the rocks near the top of the trail.

The trail we were on was the same poorly marked South Taconic Trail that we had seen before. here the lack of markings became even more critical since finding the best way up was not always evident. I was very mindful of the shortness of the day even though the sun still seemed high in the sky. As the trail moved away from the stream, it began an ascent up a sheer rock face. The trail had several switch backs but many parts were simply up and over bare rock. Where the trail was a trail, it was very narrow. From this trail the views began to reveal themselves and they were as impressive as anything we had seen so far. Finally we were almost at the top of the ascent. As it leveled off we met some Korean hikers coming down and further on another couple who had some knowledge of the trail. They told be that it was at least on hour to the top of Brace Mountain and I calculated we had just enough time before dark. For a moment I thought, What if my calculations are wrong?"

At the top of the climb, the trail advances over some open rock outcroppings and I stopped to take some pictures of the beautiful scene below. We continued on the trail making a few inadvertent detours due to the poor trail marking. We continued until we were at the top of South Brace Mountain. I looked around and saw a beautiful lake with a deep blue hue. The surrounding hills and valleys were made all the more beautiful as the sun began to get low in the sky. I took many pictures of the mountain surroundings and the views from the top. Quickly we headed down the trail toward Brace Mountain. We descended into a little Col between the two mountains and then the short hike up Brace.

As we came to the top of Brace Mountain, I noticed a LARGE rock cairn with a permanent windsock attached. I also saw a group of young people approaching from the other side carrying a long "tube". Somehow I knew what they were up to. I asked the group leader if what they were doing involved jumping. She replied, "Oh no, that sounds dangerous! We are going to launch." Brace Mountain is one of the primary launch sites used by the Connecticut Hang Gliding Association and other hang glider enthusiasts. I really wanted to stay and see them launch. I thought about the awesome pictures! I also realized that they had come up the easy side and I had at least an hour to get back down the mountain. The trip down that gorge would not be easy and I did not want to try it by using a head lamp! We turned around and headed back.

The trip down went smoothly until the descent down the gorge. The steep descent was far more challenging than the steep ascent. Near the top of the gorge Sheba took a side trail and I followed. We discovered another small waterfall. I took some pictures and then put the camera away to concentrate on the trail. Fortunately, the descent is only about half a mile but even after the trail moderates the leaves make you pay for a false step. As we cam out into the fields the sun was just about to set. The sun's rays fell on the oaks at the edge of the field at the base of the mountain in such a way that the color was unsurpassed. I got the camera out one more time and snapped a few shots. We were back at the car by 4:15 PM. It may have only been 3.5 miles in 2 hours but it was challenging and well worth the trip.

On Sunday, November 11th I woke up early after a good rest from the hiking the day before. The motel was a small, privately owned establishment with VERY small rooms. The room smelled of smoke until I aired it out. Sheba didn't seem to know what was going on but soon calmed down. Great Barrington seemed to have an active nightlife but we settled into our room, watched some TV and rested. We were out of our room shortly after 7:00 AM and headed for Bash Bish Falls after I got a cup of coffee at Dunkin Donuts. Again, I had little trouble finding the parking area from the directions I had and we parked at about 8:30 AM. We were the only car in the lot. We immediately headed down the Bash Bish Falls Trail. I chose to wear the equivalent of the day before but kept the Zoetic ShirtJac on since the car thermometer read 24 degrees!

The trail down to the falls is steep at times and requires a carefully planned descent. At the base of the trail is an access road that leads to a railed area that overlooks the falls. This is another beautiful falls with plumes of water falling into a pool below. We stood right at the edge of the pool of deep, clear, cold water. I took pictures of the falls and pictures down the ravine cut by Bash Bish Creek. After staying a while we headed up the loop trail that joins the main Falls Trail near the top. At the parking lot is a massive rock out cropping and I chose to investigate this before heading down into the gorge.

Getting up to the top of the outcropping was a challenge since it is steep and slippery and offers few hand or foot holds. By handing onto the guide wires and rails I made it to the top where Sheba was waiting. The short climb was definitely worth it. The entire outcropping is fenced in with good reason. There are dropoffs everywhere. The view from one end extends to the mountain across Falls Road. Another view is down the ravine cut over centuries by the creek and out to the surrounding valleys and hills. Directly across the ravine from the outcropping is another massive rock cliff. Walking along the railing offers a view down into the ravine and to the top of the falls. Walking around required care since the rock is polished and had a thin coating of water and some ice. Going outside the railings is forbidden and falling to your death can bring up to a $200 fine. I bet the views from the edge are spectacular if you know what I mean. After some time crawling around the outcropping, we retreated to the parking area and headed down the fire road into the gorge.

The fire road leads down into the gorge firmed by Bash Bish Creek. It is a pretty area on its own but we had to cross the creek to continue our hike. I looked up and down the creek to find the easiest place to cross. I am a little "wimpy" when it comes to crossing streams and was about to give up. I the realized that I was a couple hundred feet from the car with a complete supply of new clothing and footwear! I picked the best crossing and had NO TROUBLE getting across. On the other side the trail climbs steeply above the gorge. This climb is so steep that I had to make use of the rails and guide cables again as well as some handy roots and branches. The view from here is directly down into the gorge and down the gorge out to the valley. You can also look down to the observation area for the falls where we had been earlier. The trail moderated some but continued to climb. The difficulty in finding and staying on the trail is compounded by the numerous blowdowns, old and new. After a short but steep climb, we arrived at the junction with the South Taconic Trail on tuned south toward Alander mountain. This is the same South Taconic Trail we had used on Saturday and the marking here is just as poor as on the other end!

Since the first part of the trail is so steep, most of the climbing has been completed. The trail does continue to climb some until the ridge but after that levels off. It varies up and down some along the way with a slight climb at the end to the summit of Alander. As we reached the ridge we met two bow hunters coming back down from an early morning hunt. We continued on the trail over some rocky spines, through tunnels of mountain laurel and finally to an area of dwarfed pines. All along the way it was obvious we were on a ridge. Glimpses of dropoffs were evident on both sides as were the parallel ridges to the east and west. As we began to climb Alander, the trail opened up as it had the previous day and glorious views of the surrounding area appeared. As we walked from lookout to lookout the views just continued to get better. Several side trail branched off the main trail but we continued toward the summit. At the top are some signs that indicate various destinations and the remains of another tower. We met a family with their dog at the top. They had come up from the forest preserve headquarters and assured me that this was by far the easiest way to get to the top.

From the top of Alander the view to the south is stunning! Brace and South Brace Mountains are visible as well as Frissell Mountain, part of which forms the highest point in Connecticut. We continued on down the trail toward a rocky outcropping. Along the way we walked from one side of the ridge to the other to make sure we took in ALL the views. On the outcropping we stopped for me to take some pictures. Just below this outcropping is a small granite marker. This marks the New York-Massachusetts boundary line. It is also the highest point in Columbia County, New York. From here we retraced our steps back to the top. I decided that we would be too tired and the day would be too short to try another hike in the afternoon so we went to check out the AMC cabin just off the main trail. The cabin was Spartan but offered good shelter, bunk beds and a stove! No one was occupying the cabin so I took some pictures and we headed back to the parking area.

The trip back to the car was interesting. even though I knew what the views looked like walking toward them down Alander was impressive. The steep parts of the South Taconic and Bash Bish Gorge Trails were challenging since there was some snow and ice, loose rocks and a generous helping of oak leaves and pine needles. We arrived at the brook and got across without a problem. By this time there were several groups of people along the brook on both sides and the parking area was getting full. I decided that we would take the more southern route home and at least check out the trailhead for Brace Mountain on the way home. We were in the car at about 1:15 PM and had covered about 6 miles in 5 hours. Slower than usual but the views and the camera slow me down! I headed out Falls Road the Route 22 South and then Undermountain Rd.

On Saturday, November 10th I got up at 5:15 AM and finished packing my hiking gear and clothing for a weekend in the southern Berkshires. About two weeks before I got the idea that I would like to hike there and that it would take at least two days to do what I had planned. My wife's back was still hurting her and she was not up for this intense an experience. She also was slated to attend a wedding shower on Sunday. Sheba, on the other hand, had nothing planned so we left at 6:30 AM. I had even found a small motel that took pets! Of course, as luck would have it, the weekend that I planned to do this trip saw gas prices shoot through the roof and temperatures drop through the floor. When we were ready to leave there was three inches of snow on the ground but the roads were clear. None of this deterred us as we headed north to Catskill and crossed the Hudson on the Rip VanWinkle Bridge. I used Route 23 to get into Massachusetts and then Route 41 to head for Mount Everett and Mount Race in the Massachusetts Mount Washington State Forest.

My plan was to hike these two mountains on Saturday. The descriptions seemed almost TOO GOOD to be true. Both mountains were purported to afford great views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. The view from Everett is more toward the north toward Mount Greylock and Vermont. From Race the southerly view takes in other mountains in the Berkshires and in Connecticut. Both offer views to the west into the New York Catskills and to the east. The trail between them in part of the Appalachian Trail. Race Brook Falls was described as beautiful with two different tiers. Everett has a mountain pond, Guilder Pond, on the north side. Both mountains have varied ecosystem with are unusual in that they support species normally found in warmer climates. Race Brook Falls Campsite is a primitive site near where the Race Brook falls Trail meets the AT. My only reservation was the caution that the trail crosses Race Brook which can be tricky. The crossing just below the upper falls gave me the most concern.

We found the parking area without any problems and parked at 9:15 AM. I was glad we were not any later since the area was small and was already only a few cars short of packed. An older couple was getting ready for a hike and started just before us. It seemed that another group was arriving and getting assembled so Sheba and I started immediately. The car thermometer read in the low 30's and predictions did not sound like the temperature would rise above 40. I had on a pair of Mountain Hardware Thermadry tights under my light Campmor Trekmor pants. On top I had my Underarmour Long Sleeve CoolGear and a Mountain Hardwear Powerstretch. The wind was not too bad and despite the temperature reading, it didn't seem too cold. I wore my lighter Mountain Hardwear Zoetic jacket instead of the heavier Mountain Hardwear Windstopper jacket. I decided that my Solo TPS 520 boots were the best choice even though they are heavy. These boots are warm and I have never had a problem with them leaking. Given the temperatures and the questionable stream crossing, I felt they were appropriate.

The first part of the trail ascends gently and does cross a small brook near the beginning of the trail. This crossing was no problem and we proceeded to follow Race Brook through a mixture of hardwood, softwood and mountain laurel. The trail was easy to follow and well-marked with blue paint triangles. We met the older couple along the trail. They were headed to Sage's Ravine to the south so that she could "connect" parts of the AT that she had already finished. Race Brook was easy to hear especially as we approached the lower falls. We took the side trail and began to descend to the base of the falls. This trail is steep at times and blocked by some large blowdowns. As I was to find out, Massachusetts believes that if "god put it there, God will take it away!" The falls had been visible through the trees but that view did not hint at the true beauty of the falls. We stood at the bottom of a waterfall that was at least 90 feet tall. The amount of water was not exceptionally high but there was enough water to give the feeling of how powerful and how delicate the falls can be. I took many pictures and then we headed back to the main trail. Along the way I shed the tights and my outer jacket. The air temperature had not changed much but the hiking was keeping me warm!

Back on the main trail we head up to the upper falls. The trail began to increase in steepness and there was some snow present on the ground and on the laurel as we gained elevation. We crossed over several small streams. Near the upper part of the trail a double log bridge crosses a stream that I could jump across! As we approached the upper falls, I was hoping that we could cross and not have to abandon this hike! The upper falls are just as beautiful as the lower. They are not quite as high but falls over the rocks and into a small pool below. We easily crossed from rock to rock but I could see that the crossing could be difficult with higher water. The trail really began to increase in steepness as we approached the primitive campsite. We met up with the couple again and passed them. The campsite was deserted and we pressed on up a set of steps toward the junction with the at that would take us to the two mountains. The trail leveled some and soon we were on the South Taconic Trail which is also the AT. I decided to go to Everett first and then double back to Race.

The first thing I noticed was that the South Taconic Trail is VERY POORLY MARKED. There are splotches of white paint haphazardly placed on some trees and rocks as you go. At some critical junctures with small side trails there are no markings. I was glad I had a map, a GPS and an excellent trail guide dog in Sheba! The walking was easy for a short distance and Mount Everett came into view. Although it is not a 3500, the view from the trail is quite impressive. Once at the base of Everett the climb is a "no-nonsense", continuous assault with few breaks. It proceeds upwards over bare rock covered by slippery oak leaves. Where there is dirt it is loose and slides. Adding a little water and some ice in spots made for and adventure filled hike. As we neared the top the varied ecosystems of Everett became obvious. Dwarf pines alternated with scrub oak. At one point I turned around on a rock outcrop and got an idea of the view I would see again and again from these mountains. There was Mount Race in the foreground surrounded by various mountains unknown to me and the valleys that separated them. The view seemed to extend as far as I could see and then some with mountains rising on the far horizon. I took some pictures and continued the short hike to the top.

At he top of Everett are four anchors points which are all that remains of the Mount Washington Observation Tower. A little further on the trail to the other side we met another couple. As we talked I found out that he is a retired forest ranger from Catskill, New York and knew someone in Livingston Manor. Many of the people I met hiking were NOT from Massachusetts. Two more men appeared from the other side and we chatted a while before continuing on. I had decided to hike down to Guilder Pond since several books and the people I had net said it was nice. On the other side of the mountain was a nice large rock to climb on that gave a completely different, no less beautiful, set of views. After taking some pictures Sheba and I continued on DOWN the trail. What the other hikers had failed to mention was the fact that Guilder Pond is quite a descent. In addition, the north side of the mountain had a nice dusting of snow and was colder. The trail was slippery and at one point I had a choice of continuing down a steep, slippery portion of the trail or using the fire road. I met several people walking up from the parking area by the pond. They seemed cold and ill-equipped to do more than go to the top an back. I chose to use the road and we were soon at Guilder Pond. The pond was very pretty and worth the side trip as long as you are willing to climb back up to the summit of Everett!

We climbed back up to the top and met the forest ranger and his wife. On the trail we also met the other group coming back down after a quick visit to the summit Sheba and I continued on and retraced our steps over the top of Everett and back down the other side. Down was every bit as challenging as up! I carefully made my way down while Sheba took advantage of four feet and nails to stay ahead of me. On the way down we met two women with several dogs but everyone including the dogs was friendly. We were soon back at the trail junction and ready to start the climb toward Mount Race. Here the initial climb was a little steep but soon began to alternate between short, steep areas and longer flatter areas. Several side trail looked like they led to lookouts but none did. I was beginning to wonder about the vaunted view from Race. Suddenly, we broke out into an open area with good views in all directions except directly south. Everett was very close and very impressive looking north. Beyond that another mountain looked and I assume that was Mount Greylock!

Sheba and I continued to walk up over the top. There are several false summits along the way but it is clear when you are at the highest point. We did not stop there as I had some good information that the views to the south from the southern shoulder of the mountain were nice. One guidebook said that there is a stone cairn at the true summit of the mountain. We did not find a cairn until we arrived at he southern end of the ridge and this is NOT the summit. Along the way we met two women with ANOTHER DOG! We also met the older couple returning from Sage's Ravine. The views from the southern part of the ridge are magnificent. Mountains, valleys and bodies of water are laid out below. I took many pictures before we turned around to head back. The trip back was uneventful. The snow had melted and the temperature was up but the leaves on the rocks still required careful attention to foot placement. At the campsite we met the women and three dogs we had seen on Everett. Further own we met a family from Brooklyn who had been to the lower falls. They had a VERY small dog with them but it seemed friendly. We talked and walked with them back to the parking area. The parking area was overfilled. As soon as we cleared our parking spot another car pulled in. It was about 3:00 PM and time to find our motel in Great Barrington. We had covered 9 miles in 5.5 hours. This had included MANY stops to talk and take pictures which were well worth the time.

On Tuesday, November 6th I decided I NEEDED to get in a quick hike after a TERRIBLE Sullivan County Teachers Conference Day. I got home and was ready to hike by 2:00 PM but had to go on an ambulance call. By the time I returned at 3:15 PM time was short but I decided I still wanted to get out. Cindy was home and we decided to take a walk around Frick Pond. Sheba was ready so we got in the car and headed out DeBruce Road. We parked at 3:45 PM and started out to Frick.

At Frick I took some pictures and then we went left around the pond. To keep the distance short we stayed on the loop trail around the pond. There is an interesting wooden walkway on his side of the pond that extends for some distance. We continued on around the pond and took a right at Times Square. This brought us right back to the pond and then the parking area. A short one hour 2.5 mile hike.

On Thursday, November 1st I decided I NEEDED to get in a quick hike after school. It had been a while since I had done a 3500, so I decided to go to Balsam Lake Mountain with Sheba. We arrived in the parking area at 3:20 PM and got right to hiking. The temperature was a bit cooler at the trail head but I had packed a variety of clothing so I was ready! There was some color around us and on the mountain sides but most was muted. I still haven't seen the vibrant colors I would like. Without hurrying we made the turn up the steep side of Balsam Lake in 15 minutes. Sheba hadn't been out for a while so she was having a blast!

We hiked up the trail and I stopped several times to take some pictures through the now almost leafless trees. Sheba stopped for a drink at the spring and I snapped some photos. We continue on up to the tower. I climbed the steps while Sheba waited below. The wind was blowing and I was cold. I took a few moments to take some pictures. None of the views were spectacular. The rock ledges and the ruins on Graham were clearly visible. The color, or what passed for color this year, was largely gone leaving only the evergreens to break up the landscape. I climb down and shot some pictures straight up the tower before turning to hike the trail down the mountain.

I took a few pictures of Graham and the surrounding hills while descending. We turned right at the bottom of the Balsam Lake Trail to return to the car on the Dry Brook Ridge Trail. The return trip was uneventful although I did take some photos and experimented with the sun filtering through the trees. The whole 4 miles trip took us less than 2 hours. I am sorry that as cross country season ends the clocks change and the darkness descends earlier.

On Saturday, October 27th it had been raining on and off for almost 24 hours when I decided to get out of the house. Around 3:00 PM the skies were clearing and the radar showed that a majority of the storm had passed. I decided to see how the rainfall had effected nearby streams. I though there was no better way to evaluate this than to head for Trout Pond and to get a look at Russell Brook. I intended to get some pictures of the falls and the to walk down Russell Brook Road to the "crossing". I anticipated turning around at this point. During the summer when the water was low getting across Russell Brook required some maneuvering to avoid getting soaked. I was pretty sure that the recent rains would have made this nearly impossible. I took the Endeavor so that I could drive down Russell Brook Road to the trailhead. I did just that and Sheba and I disembarked under cloudy shies. The roar of the water was obvious and I couldn't wait to get down to the brook and the falls!

The water by the new bridge was turbid but spread out over a fairly wide area. As I looked up toward the falls, I could see the water was flowing much faster. I made a note to watch Sheba to doesn't always realize her limitations. We turned on the path toward the falls and I was careful to take my time since wet leaves on wet rocks can be a deadly combination! The amount of water coming over the falls was very impressive sending up a fine mist that drifted downstream. We made our way down to the stream bed where there was still some room to stand. I took pictures of the falls from several angles and then worked my way back up to the path. I found another short path leading up to the second level of the falls and started up.

Getting down to the second level of the falls is a little tricky since the footing is not as good and you are MUCH closer to the water. I worked my way down carefully taking some pictures as I went. The water was a little muddy since it stirred up by the recent rain. I stopped at the bottom to take some pictures of the water and Sheba. We the made our way back out and headed for the second bridge over the outlet of Trout Pond. This bridge had been removed for replacement the last time I was at Trout. It has now been replaced with just some finishing work to do. The water here was relatively placid so I decided to go back to the parking area and walk down what is left of Russell Brook Road.

Areas of Russell Brook road have been washed completely away but the last time I walked down it this summer it could be negotiated on foot. The first washout now has a little path along one side and we used it to continue on down the road. The water was high and moving quickly. Further down another washed out area proved more of a challenge. The high water had flooded one area completely covering what was left of the road. I almost turned around but Sheba ran up the bank and around this area so I followed her. The bank was wet and the footing far from secure but we only had to traverse a short distance and then drop back down onto the road. I kept taking pictures both up and down the stream until we arrived at the crossing near the Mud Pond trail head.

This crossing would have been virtually impossible without hip boots and even then the current would have been a problem. I cautioned Sheba to stay back and I took some pictures. At this point we turned back and went upstream again. The sky that had been showing clearing began to cloud up and a few rain drops fell. Along the way I noticed an interesting areas of rapids and took some more pictures there. By the time we were approaching the car the raindrops had turned into a sustained shower. I was glad to be back after walking about 3 miles in two hours. Much of this time was devoted to taking pictures.

On Thursday, October 25th I decided to get in a short walk after school. I had not been to Frick and Hodge Ponds for some time and hoped to get some fall pictures. I only planned a short hike so I didn't need much. When I got home, I grabbed Sheba and my pack and headed for Frick Pond. We parked and got going. There was some color along the way but mostly in yellows and oranges. The recent rain had brought many of the leaves down and the reds seemed nonexistent.

We stopped at Frick Pond to take some pictures. The scenery was beautiful as always but without the vibrant colors I had hoped for. I decided to take the trail that wraps closest to the pond. I had never taken this trail before since I am always looking for longer mileage. I was surprised to find a nice boardwalk extending for some distance on the trail. The boardwalk goes over some rather wet boggy areas on the way to Times Square. At Times Square we came upon a couple from the city. We said "hello" and they inquired about the Big Rock Trail to Hodge. I said that it was long and uphill most of the way. They decided to follow but Sheba and I easily outdistanced them.

At Hodge we stopped again for pictures and the story was much the same as at Frick. Nice view but without too much color. At this point I decided to around the pond in a clockwise direction. The view from the other end was nice and I got some pictures of the trees reflected in the water. I watched for the couple we had met on the trail but did not see them. I was a little worried since they were an older couple. We returned to the junction of the Big Rock and Flynn Trails and headed down the Flynn Trail toward the parking area. About half way down we caught up with the couple. I guess they decided the hike up Big Rock was enough. We hike on back to the car to complete a short but worthwhile hike.

On Sunday, October 21st I came home from church ready to take a short walk before refereeing a soccer game. I called the coach and found out there was no soccer game. I decided to take Cindy and Sheba to Storm King Mountain. We decided to get going right away since the drive is rather long. We packed some lunch but skipped our customary lunch trip to Peez Leweez! I hoped to see some nice fall colors and have a day with a minimum of haze. Well, one out of two isn't bad! We parked at the area on 9W where the orange trail heads UP to Storm King. The views were nice but there was little color to speak of. The leaves in this area have STILL not changed completely. However, there was only a small amount of haze in the distance and I anticipated some good pictures.

After parking, we took in some of the beautiful views from the parking area and then immediately headed for the orange trail. The weather was very warm and after a short walk I changed into a short sleeved shirt since I was quickly overheating. We made our way up the orange trail over the rather steep rock outcroppings and ledges to the yellow Stillman Trail. We again ascended over rocky terrain as this trail climbs to a point which is actually higher than the highest point the trail reaches on Storm King! We stopped briefly at the lookout over 9W and the parking area. This viewpoint also offers a clear view of North Point and the Hudson River to the south. We continued on the Stillman Trail passed the junction with the Bluebird and Howell Trails.

As we headed toward the lookouts on Storm King, we encountered a number of different groups of people. Some were hiking and others enjoying themselves in the sun on the warm rocks. It was getting pretty crowded so we passed by some of the groups and headed for the "main" lookout. There were fewer people at this lookout and we stopped to take in the view. I took some pictures and my wife seemed impressed by the scenery. The haze that normally blocks the view was minimal and we could see far passed the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. After only a short time, other people began to arrive so we headed on down to the junction of the Stillman Trail and the white Bypass Trail. There is a nice lookout here and there were no people present. We took in the view and then continued to the end of the Bypass Trail.

At the end of the Bypass Trail we turned left onto the blue Howell Trail and headed for North Point. This trail descends into The Clove and then ascends the other side to North Point. We passed by the now defunct Crossover Trail and the white Stillman Springs Trail. When we got to the junction with the Bobcat Trail we stayed on the Howell Trail as it turns left and ascends North Point. It was on this ascent that I noticed Cindy was lagging behind significantly. The weather was so warm that she was having trouble breathing. She was also wearing a relatively new pair of shoes with heavier socks than she had tried before. Her toes were crowded and she was beginning to feel lousy! We made it to "The Rock" at the top of North Point and stopped for a rest. The view was great and only a few other people were present.

I decided we needed to return by the fastest route possible as we retraced our steps back down the Howell Trail. In retrospect, we probably should have gone out to 9W by the Bobcat Trail. I could have walked up 9W to get the car and Cindy could have rested. Instead we elected to hike the Howell Trail back through "The Clove". The down part is not good on aching toes but the up part is a killer when you are tired! We stopped several times to rest and finally got to the junction with the proposed, marked and now defunct trail/woods road leading back to the parking area. We turned left off the Howell trail and were soon back at the lot. The 4.5 mile hike had taken several hours with as much time spent stopping as hiking!

On Sunday, October 14th I took Cindy, Krista, Brad (Krista's boyfriend) and, of course, Sheba to Alder Lake. After church we ate at Peez Leweez and then headed out. The weather was cloudy and overcast with rain threatening but not in the forecast. The access road into Alder Lake is sadly in need of repair. It is barely passable without an SUV with high clearance. We parked and walked passed the Coykendall House and onto the trail on the "left" side of the pond. I wanted to get at least as far as the Beaver Meadow lean-to to take some pictures. The walk around the lake was easy and we were quickly at the Millbrook Ridge Trail where we made a left.

This trail climbs consistently toward Millbrook Ridge which, at its highest point, is just under 3500 feet! At times the climb can be a little taxing but the trail is in good shape. There was quite a bit of water in Alder Creek which contrasts with the situation all summer. The vegetation was a little wet but the frosts lately have done in the nettles and the path was pretty clear. After about a mile the first beaver meadow came into view and I took a few pictures. I had been taking pictures all along of the trail but none really were distinctive.

We stopped at the lean-to at the second beaver meadow and I took some more pictures. The rest of the group waited for me as Sheba and I walked up to the last beaver meadow. I had hoped to get some really good shots but they were only average. The leaves that had turned were not very brilliant in color and many had already fallen from the trees from the combination of wind and rain. The remaining leaves were still green. As I walked back to the lean-to, a light rain began to fall but only lasted a few minutes. We retraced our steps back to the loop trail around Alder Lake and turned left to circle the lake in the opposite direction.

I had not been on this side of the lake for some time. In places large portions of the trail are washed out from the spring floods. We decided to stick close to the lake rather than follow the main loop trail. This path is a little more narrow than the main trail but affords better views of the lake. We crossed the dam and I went down below it to take some pictures. On the "lawn" I took some pictures of the Coykendall Mansion. This beautiful structure is crumbling and deteriorating more and more. There was some talk about restoration but the cost now would be prohibitive. We got in the car and returned to Livingston Manor after the short but fun 4 mile trek.

On Saturday, October 13th I had a cross country meet in the morning as is usual during the fall. The meet started and ended early and I was home by 2:00 PM. It had rained some for the previous two day so I decided to check out the falls on Russell Brook. I also wanted to find some fall color. I didn't even have to change since I had worn some hiking clothes and waterproof boots to the meet! I got my pack and my dog and headed to Trout Pond. Things were a little wetter this time than last and I could hear the water cascading down Russell Brook and over the two tiers of the falls. Unfortunately, the colors weren't very spectacular and many of the leaves had fallen off the tress in the rain and wind of the previous two days.

We did stop first at the falls and went down to the base to take some pictures. The amount of water had increased and I played with some different angles and effect. I did get some nice pictures including some of Sheba. After coming up from the falls, I decided to walk the far bank up to the upper tier of the falls. I had never been on this side of the brook and the view was nice. We descended into the area below the falls and I again took pictures. After a few minutes here, we returned to the main trail, signed into the register and started the hike around the loop turning left first to do the steeper part of the hike first.

The area from the register box to the first bridge is torn up and the bridge is being replaced by what appears to be a MUCH more substantial structure. Since all this work is far beyond the needs of hikers, campers or even fishermen, I have to conclude that this is being done for the use of snowmobiles. It looks horrendous and I don't like the disruption of this beautiful natural setting! We continued through this area as quickly as possible and climbed the hill toward Mud Pond. At Mud Pond we walked through the woods down to the pond. There was nothing really spectacular abut the scenery but I took a few shots before retracing our steps and heading back to the main trail. Once on the trail we headed up toward Cherry Ridge and walked toward the upper end of Trout Pond.

The inlet which was absolutely dry last time was flowing with water and the pond looked higher. Several groups were setting up camp on the other shore but the lean-tos were not occupied. I took some pictures and we continued on around the pond. At the outlet we stopped for a few minutes. I took some pictures and played with the reflections of the trees on the shore in the water of the pond. The walk back to the register was uneventful as was the trek back UP to the car. We took a little more than two hours for the hike but that included MANY stops for photographs along the way.

On Monday, October 8th I led a group of Liberty staff members on a hike around Storm King Mountain. We met at Liberty and headed for Route 9W North from West Point. I had never done the hike from this parking area so I was not sure exactly where to park. I had seen the parking area from North Point when I looked down on it the last time I was at Storm King. I had no trouble finding the lot where we met another staff member. I had chosen this parking area since it is at a higher elevation and would require less vertical gain than coming from the Storm King Highway. The guidebooks said this was the easier route but EASIER is a relative word as we soon discovered!

As soon as we got on the orange trail at the parking lot I knew we were in trouble. The trail climbs steeply for some distance. Some sections are across open rock faces while others have some areas that require some real scrambling. This is what I really like but its not for everybody! After leveling off, the trail again climbs until it meets the yellow blazed Stillman Trail. There are some nice lookouts along the way. We turned right on the Stillman Trail and climbed some more. Just after the trail junction is a beautiful lookout back over Route 9W and the parking area. This viewpoint also gives the first of many views of the Hudson, this one to the south. We stopped for some pictures and then continue on. We passed the junctions with the Bluebird and Howell Trails and stayed on the Stillman Trail.

After a short distance, the views of the Hudson to the north appear. Each lookout seems better than the last until the final one which gives a wide-open view north toward the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge and beyond. Breakneck Ridge on the eastern side of the river was clearly visible as were Pollepel Island with Bannerman Castle and several marinas and towns laid out below. The views in the distance were somewhat obscured by a haze but were clearer than the last time I was on Storm King. I hoped for even better views in the afternoon. The rest of the group was impressed by what they saw and we stopped to take pictures before following the trail toward the southeast. At the junction with the Bypass Trail we followed the white markers as this seemed the quickest way back to the car.

I intended to turn right on the Howell Trail and return to the Stillman Trail. From here we would descend the orange trail back to the parking lot. The thought of going back down the orange trail thrilled me but not everyone felt the same way. Somehow I missed the right turn onto the Howell Trail which I quickly realized when it took a pronounced turn to the left and DOWN. Directly ahead was a trail marked as "proposed" on the map. Marks on the trees indicated that the trail had been marked but that the marks had been painted over. We decided that we would try this trail since it was short. The markings were clear and the trail was wide. It led directly back to the parking lot with only a short climb at the end. I saw no reason not to use this trail and it is the EASIEST way by far to get to the top of Storm King. At the parking lot the rest of the group called it a day after an enjoyable two hours. Sheba and I had other ideas!

We retraced our steps on the "proposed" trail and were soon back at the junction with the blue marked Howell Trail. We turned right and descended into The Clove. We continued on the Howell Trail and reversed our route from the last trip by heading for North Point. As we walked the weather seemed to clear and the sun came out from behind the clouds. This had the advantage of burning off the haze but the temperature and humidity were more typical of August than October! The views from North Point were much clearer than the last time and I took a LOT of pictures. We continued on the Howell Trail to the south and then to the east toward Pitching Point. The views here were also nicer than the last trip. We soon descended to Storm King Highway, the lowest point on the hike.

From here we picked up the Stillman Springs Trail and headed back to the Howell trail to complete the loop. As we walked I decided to try to find the Crossover Trail. This trail had been blazed in red but I noticed last time the blazes had been painted over. I found the trail and it was difficult to follow but not as hard as bushwhacking the Catskills! Along the way the trail passes by what probably is a pretty little pond when there is some water in it. The "pond" was no more than a grassy clearing in the woods. We turned right back on the Howell Trail and headed down into and then up out of The Clove. Although this climb is mild compared to a 3500, it still seems tiring to me. We turned right on the white Bypass Trail since I wanted to head back to the top of Storm King to see if the haze had cleared. After a quick walk to the Stillman Trail, a left turn and a slight ascent we were again on Storm King. The sun was out, the wind had come up and the views were MUCH clearer. We stopped and I took more pictures.

At this point I decided that I did NOT want to simply retrace our steps back to the car. I wanted to try a new route so we turned around at went back down the Stillman Trail and followed it as it looped north and then west. The trail descends through some pine trees as it hugs the north side of Storm King. The trail switchbacks several times and I knew it was important to find the red/blue marked Bluebird Trail. At one point we came to a bridge under construction on the trail. It seemed safe enough so we crossed but it was obvious more work was being done on it. After a few more switchbacks we came upon the Bluebird Trail. Before turning left on the trail, we turned right and headed down and old woods road. The map marked the area as "ruins" and I wanted to check it out. There were indeed ruins and I took some pictures.

We headed back to the Bluebird Trail and started to climb. It should have been clear to me that we had descended for some distance on the Stillman Trail and would have to go back UP to the parking area. This trail was short but it did ascend steeply at times with several nice lookouts along the way. When we met the Stillman Trail AGAIN we turned right and headed down until the orange trail appeared on the left. Descending the steep orange trail was fun and we were soon back at the parking area. We covered a total of about 8 miles in 5 and a half hours. This is slow for us but included the time with our group and MANY stops for pictures.

On Friday, October 5th I had an opportunity to get in a short hike and I took it. I hadn't been to Trout Pond in some time so I went home changed, got my pack and Sheba and headed out. We parked at the upper parking lot on Morton Hill Road and started walking. I was looking for some good fall color but not much was evident. What was obvious was how dry everything was around us. The road was dusty with a layer of dead, dry leaves on top. There has been so little rain that the leaves are changing to very dull colors and then falling off the trees. I am not optimistic about ANY bright colors this fall but there is still some time to go.

There seemed to be some water in Russell Brook and I decided to stop at the falls on the way back. I signed in at the trail head and started up toward Trout Pond. The DEC is apparently again sponsoring the "rape of Trout Pond"! The DEC or their contractor has run a bulldozer up the woods road/trail to the pond. This destroys and natural vegetation holding the dirt in place. It DOES make a nice, smooth track for snowmobiles. After doing the same thing last year, the spring rains washed away much of the loose earth leaving behind mostly rocks. There may be some reason for this but I have yet to find one! Trout Pond itself is low but the dam is still intact. There just hasn't been much rain

At the upper end of the lake the inlet is completely dry. The bridge here is still missing but hardly necessary at this time. I walked out from the inlet to an area that is usually several feet under water. After a short break, Sheba and I continued on around the trail to Mud Pond. This was uneventful but enjoyable. I took some pictures but none show how beautiful the trees can be given the right conditions. At Mud Pond we turned left to head back to the parking lot. The scars from a bulldozer were again evident. The grass was torn up and on some of the steeper slopes erosion was already present.

As we approached the camping area near the register, I could see a tent setup. No one was near and we continued on. The bridge across the small creek that serves as an outlet to the pond was ripped out! I assume that this will be replaced with a much larger structure capable of handling much larger snowmobiles. What a shame! We met a few people who looked like they might take advantage of the favorable weather predictions for the weekend. They were carrying camping gear. There was some water going over the falls and I experimented with some camera settings. I managed to take a video of the falls which would look better if I had tripod. We finished the 4 miles in about 2 hours which is our usual time for the hike.

On Wednesday, Sept 26th I had some family affairs to attend to in the morning so I did not go to work. By noon my obligations had been completed and I decided not to "waste" the rest of the day. I pack up the pack and Sheba and headed for Storm King Mountain. When we had climbed Breakneck Ridge, the views of Storm King were dramatic and unavoidable. Most guide books call it "the signature hike of the Hudson Highlands" and I wanted to try it. Since I had not been there before, I knew finding the parking area could be a challenge. I took the Quickway to Long Mountain Parkway (Route 6) and the Route 293 toward West Point. At West Point I went straight ahead onto Storm King Highway. Cornwall in only about 4 miles from West Point so I knew the parking area must be around halfway. I pulled into the first lot but did not find the trail head. The second lot was just up the road, I parked on the right and found the beginning of the trail on the left almost immediately. There is a rock with an inscription dedicated to the Stillman Family that donated much of the land to the Palisades Interstate Park Commission to create the Storm King area. Sheba and I were on the trail by 1:05 PM.

The initial part of the Howell Trail is a nice walk through the woods. Typical of this area, there is little undergrowth and the trail wanders at times and is not too well defined. After a short distance, the pitch of the trail increases along one of the many woods roads. The trail then makes a sharp right and ascends to some lookouts over the Hudson. Some parts of this climb are steep but some switchbacks and stone steps make the ascent easier. The viewpoints over the Hudson are the most amazing part of the hike. At each viewpoint I was sure that this was the best one and there could be none better. This continued until the very top of Storm King! The first major lookout is Pitching Point on the eastern shoulder of the Crow's Nest. From here you can look across the Hudson to Breakneck Ridge and the fire tower on South Beacon Mountain. Storm King Mountain is impressive. The highway winding around the mountain is clearly visible. The haze on this hot and humid day blocked even clear views of the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge but I am sure that on a clear day you can see well up the Hudson! I will surely return on a cool, clear autumn day. There are also views south toward west point. Bannerman Castle is clearly visible.

From this area the trail drops some and then ascends to a burned over area that looks out over the river, Storm King and Route 9W. Standing on a rock here it was obvious to me that this was the area I had observed 35 minutes earlier from another vantage point. The weather was very warm with temperature nearing 90 and very humid. I gave Sheba a drink and a treat and made sure I drank continuously from my Camelbak. We continued on the Howell Trail down the hill in the direction of Route 9W. Near the bottom of the descent a white trail crosses as does an old woods road. We turned onto a woods road but I was careful to look for the blue blazes. After a short distance we met another hiker with his pit bull-dalmatian. He was returning early because his dog was overheating! I made a note that Sheba and I had endured tougher conditions this summer but I also stopped so that both of us could get a drink. The trail continued to descend toward The Clove and we followed it. I avoided turning on some of the marked and unmarked trails and roads that are prevalent in this area.

We reached what seemed to be the lowest point in The Clove where there was a small creek with a minute amount of water. From this point the trail climbed, many times steeply, toward Storm King mountain. The presence of switchbacks and stone steps helped mitigate some of the difficulty. After hiking through rocky fields and over boulders, the terrain change to more of a hardwood forest and the trail leveled some. At the last short climb we had caught up to and passed a group of Korean hikers. The scale of the maps for the Hudson Highlands is much different than the scale for the Catskill maps. I sometimes interpret them incorrectly usually thinking that I have a longer distance to hike when the distance is actually much shorter. We reached a wood clearing on the Howell Trail where the Koreans were taking a break and, after climbing to a lookout, we continued on the blue and yellow trail down the other trail. We stayed on this trail bearing left when the blue and red trail turned right. Soon we were at another magnificent lookout over the Hudson River, Route 9W and the surrounding hills. I took some MORE pictures and then continued down. On orange trail and a sign that said "9W Parking" were the first indication that I had gone TOO FAR. After confirming this on the map, Sheba and I returned to the area where the Koreans had rested. Sure enough! This was the point where the yellow Stillman Trail turned right to trace the outline of the summit of Storm King. We turned onto the trail. The "detour" had been worthwhile since the views were nice and I would suggest anyone take this side trip!

We were now on the Stillman Trail named for the family that donated so much of the land for this park. The trail skirts the summit of Storm King and offers view after view with each being more spectacular than the last. The best view is closet to the summit and offers and unimpeded view north toward the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge and beyond. On this day the haze all but obscured the bridge. Next time I will bring Cindy and pick a crisp, clear autumn day. The Stillman Trail continues south and then hooks back north so Sheba and I turned right at the most southerly end of this trail on the white marked Bypass Trail and headed back toward the blue marked Howell Trail. The Bypass Trail passes through some interesting rocky areas and has some views. At the Howell Trail we turned left and headed back DOWN into The Clove which we had come UP through some time before.

I thought about turning left on the red Crossover Trail but decided to continue south on Howell until the Stillman Springs Trail back to the parking area. This was just as well as the Crossover Trail blazes had been painted over indicating it was no longer available. We turned left on the white blazed Stillman Springs Trail and headed back to the car on a woods road. The trail continued downward through some nice forested areas until we were back on the Storm King Highway just north of the parking area. We had covered 6 miles in about 4 hours but this included MANY stops for pictures and drinks.

Summer 2007

On Friday, Sept 21st I had the chance to accompany the Liberty SCIL Team on their first competition. Their assignment was to climb Slide Mountain while performing certain tasks. My thanks to Mrs. Stolow their regular coach for allowing me this opportunity. The weather was VERY foggy in the morning as I drove to school but the temperature was already in the high 60's or low 70's. I left my plans and materials for the day and then assembled the team and headed for the bus. Soon the ten students and myself were on our way to the Slide Mt parking area to meet the teams from all the other Sullivan County schools in head to head competition! All the students seemed appropriately attired. Most also had a small pack with materials for their academic tasks, food for lunch and water. I, of course, was carrying my Atmos 50 with 6 liters of water, first aid supplies, rope, a windbreaker, waterproof jacket, spare clothing, food, a camera, and other necessary items. We got their just before 9:00 AM and the students received the descriptions of their tasks. They divided the tasks among them and we headed out at 9:08 AM.

The Neversink was dry as it has been this summer and we were soon ascending the first part of the trail. After some time walking the group decided to stop for a rest and to get some work done. We had passed one group and another was just ahead. This scenario would repeat itself several times during the hike. Matt, Vito and Angelee had been working on a Shakespearean sonnet as they walked. I was surprised to find out that most students in the group knew the rhyming scheme and that the sonnet should be in iambic pentameter! They wanted to include stanzas that reflected their surroundings but included elements of tragedy and romance. Elana was pouring over a list of frequently misspelled words trying to find the 25 words that were actually wrong. Sarah was concentrating on memorizing "The Highwayman" by Alfred Noyse. Some in the group were surprised I knew many of the verses as it had been turned into a folk song. Ashley was busy braiding a lanyard putting her 4H camp experiences to good use. John, Sam, Jose and Leila were all working on various SAT problems that had to be solved. They had come prepared with paper, pen AND graphing calculator. After a short break, we hurried on our way arriving at the turn UP Slide Mountain. My job was to keep the group on task and to act as "tour guide".

We began the ascent up Slide at a rapid pace with Matt at the head of the group setting a quick pace. We stopped several times to rest and work and were passed by several groups that we would later repass. The students worked on their tasks and asked for assistance or approval from the others when needed. After pausing near the 3500 foot mark, we pressed on to the summit. I informed the students when we got to the section that flattens that the steepest part was over and they seemed happy! As the Curtis-Ormsbee cutoff I directed the team to continue on ahead. We stopped briefly at the lookout although their was still too much haze to see much. Just before the summit a member of the TriValley team raced by us going DOWN the mountain. Somehow one team member had become lost. Having all your members at the top was one of the requirements before handing in your completed work! Soon we arrived at the summit and then at the rock outcropping. The teams that had started ahead of us had claimed various areas to complete their work and no team had turned in their completed materials. The group knew that their score would incorporate their time and the tasks they were working on.

I as a little bored waiting for them to finish so I shouldered my pack and headed back down the trail to find the Eldred team. This team had started just after us but was nowhere to be seen. As I walked down the trail I met some stragglers from the various teams making their way toward the top but no one was from Eldred. I met the coordinator from Monticello who said they were coming but walking VERY slowly and stopping frequently. Their coach had stayed a the parking area and they lacked someone to keep them moving! We walked together until we finally found them below the Curtis-Ormsbee cutoff. We informed them that it was after noon and that they needed to get to the summit to complete their work and turn it in to be scored. We returned with them to the summit. I found my team had already turned in their material and were waiting for the results. I suggested that we might go down to the spring and that there were rock scrambles that they might enjoy. This seemed to be a popular idea and our entire team plus some members from other schools decided to go.

We began the descent and many of the students were impressed by the steepness of some of the areas and the views that appeared as we descended. Elana asked at one point how we would get back UP. I do NOT believe that my response about "an elevator" was appreciated. Soon we were climbing down the wooden ladders to the spring. The view of Cornell was still shrouded in haze but impressed the students. The spring was running nicely and better than any other time this summer. Vito seemed disappointed that there wasn't more to see but a spring is ... a spring! We took a drink and then started back UP. As we climbed the stairs the way back became clear to Elana and the others. No one had a real problem scrambling over the rocks and most enjoyed this physical challenge. Back a the top the scoring was almost complete and we had to wait only a few minutes for the results. We were second to TriValley by only 3 points! I did feel a little sorry for the other team. Apparently TriValley has no academically inclined girls OR their girls aren't physically in shape to hike. Their school had sent a team of 10 boys!

After the announcement and some congratulations we headed back down the mountain. Soon, Matt and Sam disappeared, descending at a fierce pace. The rest of the team followed with all of us anxious to get back to the bus. The weather cleared and the dark clouds that had formed at the summit disappeared. The temperature was much warmer and the humidity high. Matt and Sam waited for the rest of the team at around 3500 feet and then continued down the trail. Everyone seemed to make the turns correctly and we were soon back at the bus. We returned to the school after a brief stop for refreshments at a local deli. All the students said they enjoyed the experience. I enjoyed being with this group immensely and hope we can repeat this or a similar adventure at some time in the future. The Liberty High School Hiking Club has a nice ring to it!

On Sunday, Sept 16th the weather forecast was for a clear but partly cloudy day with temperatures no higher than the mid 60's. It sounded like a PERFECT day for hiking. I convinced my wife we should head for the Eastern Hudson Highlands and Breakneck Ridge. When we left Livingston Manor, the sky fog was just lifting and the sky was almost cloudless but hazy. We crossed the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge and headed south on 9D not knowing exactly where to we were going. After a few miles, we began to see cars parked along the road and then a parking lot appeared. The lot was full and several large groups of people were assembling. A few spots were open on the opposite side of the road so I continued down 9D looking for a place to turn around. We passed through a tunnel underneath the railroad tracks. The hiking guide books mention this tunnel so I knew we were in the right place. We turned around, went back through the tunnel and parked on the side of the road.

We got our gear out the car, put Sheba on her leash and headed with all the other hikers toward the tunnel. Just before the tunnel we crossed the road and headed up an unmarked trail to a rocky outcropping. Here we got our first look at the views that would dominate much of the hike. The Hudson River was laid out below us! Across the river was the imposing prominence of Storm King Mountains. Further north was Bannerman Island with the castle ruins. Downriver the Military Academy at West Point was just visible. The far shore was occupied by marinas and oil storage tanks. Nearby hills and far away mountains were spread throughout the view. Some barges, sailboats and motor boats plied the waters. A group leader was telling her group about Bannerman Island and the hike ahead of them.

All the guidebooks had talked about the steepness of this hike and how challenging it was. Nothing quite prepared be for what lay ahead! After a short walk uphill through some woods, the real climb began. The Breakneck Ridge Trail certainly lives up to its name. The trail ascend from the river at and elevation of no more than 150 feet to over 1100 feet in about a half mile! This is by far the steepest climb I have ever attempted. There are areas that are so steep they fall just short of technical climbing or bouldering. Other areas are challenging but more manageable. I began to wonder if Sheba would be able to make all the ascents. I should have been more concerned about myself and my wife. Sheba's only real difficulty was that she had to remain on the leash most of the time. There were several large groups of people, many smaller groups and some solo hikers. We would trade positions with these other hikers several times during the day.

We climbed for a while stopping occasionally to enjoy the view and take pictures. Sheba waited but not patiently! Several people were amazed at her climbing abilities and one hiker called her "Intrepid!" After one particularly difficult and long section, I though we were at the top since the trail seemed to level. This was an illusion that was to repeat itself three or four times! Many areas had very difficult climbs flanked by easier ways to ascend. "Easier" is a relative term and does not mean any of the climbing was easy. I began to appreciate the cautions about not hiking this trail when it was wet or windy or icy! Finally, after several "false" summits we were at the top of the most difficult climbs. It had taken less than an hour, it seemed like much longer and it was GREAT! We stopped to eat our lunch in an area overlooking the river before continuing on.

After the long, difficult climb the rest of the trail seems almost tame. This does not mean that the trail remained level for the rest of the hike or that the walking was easy. Several times the trail descends only to climb to the next level. We continued on the white blazed Breakneck Ridge Trail until the red blazes of the Breakneck Trail Bypass appeared on the left. This is the first cutoff and leads to the Wilkinson memorial Trail and back down to the river. We decided to continue on the Breakneck Ridge Trail. I knew that the South Beacon Fire Tower, my personal objective, was probably too far away for the day's hike. I intended to hike to Sunset Point then turn around and take the Wilkinson Memorial Trail back.

The trails in some areas are poorly marked and are crisscrossed by unmarked trails and woods roads. it is EXTREMELY important to know your route or have maps. Both would be a good idea! Getting to Sunset Point required us to hike up some more as this area is the highest point on our hike. At the top a wooden observation deck looks out over the river. After a short break, we retraced our steps back down to where the blue trail had branched off. In only a few hundred feet the yellow blazes of the Wilkinson Memorial Trail head off to the left. We turned off behind a large group of Japanese hikers. They were hiking at about our speed or a little slower. We stayed behind them until they stopped for a rest and then left them behind. The Wilkinson Memorial Trail is not as steep as the Breakneck Ridge Trail but still must descend back to the river. Its length and the numerous switchbacks help moderate the descent. The trail has a few ups but goes mostly down until the climb up Sugarloaf Mountain. This isn't much compared to the climb earlier in the day but is enough at the end of a challenging hike.

Sugarloaf Mountain offers the last spectacular views of the Hudson River. These views aren't much different than those from the ascent but are still breathtaking. The trail descends SHARPLY from this point with several difficult areas. It then becomes easier but continues to lead down toward the river. More switchbacks and the meandering nature of the trail help keep the descent manageable. The loose, dry earth and loose talus capped by acorns and a few dead leaves make keeping you footing a difficult task. Soon glimpses of the road and the river peek through the trees and the trail suddenly ends at 9D less than a half mile above the tunnel. Neither trail head is marked! We turned left on the road and walked on the shoulder back to the car. The hike was the MOST CHALLENGING six miles I had ever done. It took five hours but included over 2500 feet of vertical ascent with a maximum elevation of less than 1300 feet.

On Friday, Sept 14th my school closed for the Jewish New Year and I was free to hike. I had planned for a long time to hike with a group of people from the Liberty faculty and staff. I met six other people at the school and we drove to Sam's Point parking at 10:00 AM. The weather forecast was for cloudy weather all day but when we left Liberty it almost looked like rain was in the air. The sky looked no better at Sam's Point but we were not deterred. We began our hike by walking up to Sam's Point and taking in the view. Despite the cloudy skies there was plenty to see and everyone seemed eager to press on.

We left Sam's Point and headed for Ice Caves Road. Most people had never been to Sam's Point or had visited so long ago that they did not remember much. The road down to the Ice Caves is very eroded but it was dry and a relatively easy walk. At the Ice Caves we began our decent. At least one in the party was quite tall and we were careful to keep low since several areas are a tight squeeze. The rock in places were wet which also required some careful maneuvering. Everyone was impressed by the magnificent formations formed as the rocks split away from the surrounding bedrock to form these tectonic caverns.

There is one spot where Sheba CAN get around the ladder which ascends to the next level but where I always give her help. After a short walk we were at the door to the Ice Caves. It was cool inside but we did not spot the ice! The solar-powered, motion-detecting lights illuminated our way as we hiked through on the boardwalks. We emerged by climbing a short ladder near the end. Here we were able to get a good view of the valley below and the escarpment ridges to the north. They looked VERY far away but I knew that's where I was going when I after I split with the group. When we were rested, we walked back up Ice Caves Road to the area where the Verkeerderkill Trail branches off to the right. I gave the group several choices and they decided to walk up to the loop road and around Lake Maratanza.

At the loop road we turned right and started around the lake. When the lake came into view, most were surprised that the water level was so low. I informed them that it had actually risen some since my last visit! We continued to walk until we reached the High Point Carriageway. Here Sheba and I bid our companions farewell as they returned to the parking area and we continued on to High Point. Along the way we again met a worker from the Nature Conservancy widening the carriageway. There was also a rustic wooden bench installed in an area that was a nice view out over the valley. Sheba and I made good time and turned right at the High Point Trail. Shortly we were standing on High Point looking out over the surrounding valley and ridges. The wind had picked up and the weather was not improving but I decided to keep with my original plan to hike the loop across the escarpment, down to the falls and back to the car.

We followed the trail down off High Point and along the rocky ledges of the escarpment. At one point we encountered a small green snake which stayed motionless as I snapped several portraits. The trail can be damp in places but every place I remember as wet was completely dry. We did meet several sets of hikers coming from the opposite direction. The wind on the exposed escarpment ledges was brisk. The trail wanders along these exposed ledges and then cuts back into the pine barrens. In places, there are some rather steep ascents and descents over these rocky outcroppings. We continued walking until we were at the junction of the High point Trail and the Long Path. Here, the Long Path goes left to Lake Awosting and beyond. We turned right and headed toward Verkeerderkill Falls.

The amount of water going over the falls had actually decreased since the last time I had been there! I made a note to return to this and several other falls after the next set of heavy rain storms. Maybe next spring will provide the water volume that turns these drizzles into proper cascades! Sheba and I continued on the trail back to Ice Caves Road. This trail always seems long without much scenery. We did "meet" one couple enjoying a short break together! Several other hikers passed us on the way down to the falls. At the Ice Caves Road we turned right AGAIN. I wanted to do a sort of two loop hike and go back to the parking area via the High Point Carriageway. This was strictly to get in more miles! I also though it would make a neat looking route on the GPS! We continued our hike around the lake and back to the parking area on the High Point Carriageway. At some point the weather had cleared some on this walk was very pleasant. We did 10.65 miles in 5 hours and 15 minutes with a total of 1415 feet of vertical climb.

On Thursday, Sept 13th my school closed for the Jewish New Year and I was free to hike. I had planned for a long time to do a longer hike since the opportunities now are fewer and farther between. However, I started running again and it has felt good! I am 30 pounds lighter since last winter and very strong from hiking. The mistake I made was going from no running to running 6 miles and more at a clip! I am now nursing a left ankle with Achilles tendonitis. My dog is losing the pad on her right hind foot which happens occasionally and it makes the foot tender. Neither Sheba nor I wanted to completely give up on the day so we headed for Balsam Lake Mountain. I intended to do both Balsam Lake and Graham.

When we parked at 11:40, there were two cars in the lot and we started out immediately. We made quite a pair as I could feel the stiffness in my left ankle and Sheba was walking on her tiptoes to avoid landing on the sore pad of her foot. As we get into the hike my ankle seemed to loosen up a little but was still sore. We didn't hurry but made the first cutoff in about 20 minutes and turned up the mountain. This didn't bother me too much unless I flexed my foot too much. By this time I had decided to only do Balsam Lake even if I felt good coming down the other side. Graham for September would have to wait! As we approached the area just before the spring we met to male hikers coming down. They were from Rock Hill and we stopped to talk for a few minutes. They asked about the trail for Graham and made nice comments about my dog! Just below the spring we met to women hiking down and exchanged greetings as we passed.

We didn't set any records getting to the top but we weren't slow either and the tower was soon in sight. I went up to take some pictures. It was EXTREMELY clear at the top with almost no haze. The summit of Graham was clearly visible and with my camera I could see part of the ruins. The views to distant peaks and down into the valleys were superb. When I came down from the tower we had a snack and a drink and then started down the other side. I was cautious on the descent. My ankle didn't seem to be worse but it wasn't any better either. We were back at the car by 2:40 PM. Three hours for a little over 4 miles seemed slow but we had our reasons and we spent quite a bit of time at the top. By the time I drove home, my ankle wasn't hurting at all! I hope it continues to improve. Tomorrow we are hiking with a group of staff members from Liberty schools at Sam's Point.

On Monday, Sept 3rd my wife and I both had the day off and we decided to take the dog and hike together somewhere. I wanted to go back to Sam's Point and find Napanoch Point, Jacob's Ladder, and Panther Rock. I also wanted to try hiking back on the Berrypicker's Trail. We got a relatively early start and were parked by 9:15 AM with only 4 other cars. In my quest for the perfect hiking pants, I was wearing my Mountain Hardwear Canyon Pants. We headed up the Loop Road to the west side of Lake Maratanza. At the north end of the lake we turned left onto the High Point Carriageway and headed toward High Point. When we reached the junction with the High Point Trail, we stayed left on the carriageway and took the same path I had taken on Friday.

We crossed the marshy, wet area as the carriageway descended and turned right at the Smiley Carriageway. Now we concentrated on finding Napanoch Point! Exactly where it is and how to get there are not clear. From the trail my wife spotted a rock ledge through the trees. We walked up the carriageway several hundred feet and then began to see suggestions of trails through the brush to our left. We followed a path which didn't seem to lead anywhere. I took a turn which suddenly revealed a wider path that lead directly to the rock ledge. The search for Napanoch Point was worth it. Several rock ledges gave a magnificent view down into the valley and out toward the surrounding hills. There was some haze but the view was still dramatic. We made our way back to the main carriageway.

Flushed with success we started to look for side trail to Jacob's Ladder and Panther Rock. Neither of these destinations show up much in the guidebooks or on Internet searches! We took the first side path that we found and soon found the remains of some buildings. These may have been blueberry picker's huts or a hunting camp. The trails around this area all seemed to dead end so we walked back to the main carriageway and tried the next side trail. We turned left and were rewarded with a prominent path complete with stone cairns. We followed this path for more than half a mile until it appeared to be going in the wrong direction. We turned around and AGAIN headed back to the main carriageway! (When I downloaded the GPS route and compared it to the maps, I became convinced that we would have found what we were looking for in only a few hundred feet! Oh well, this gives us a reason to go back!)

In a short distance we arrived at the buckets on the bushes that indicate the start of the Berrypicker's Trail. We turned right here and began to climb slightly until we reached an open rock area. We stopped here for lunch and a drink before continuing on. I had never hiked this trail before and was not expecting much over its 2 mile length. The trail ascends, sometimes gently and sometimes steeply, through the Badlands toward High Point. It is an interesting combination of open rock face, pine barrens and mixed hardwood forest complete with waist high ferns. On the open rock faces stone cairns and paint blazes mark the way. Various hikers have also taken the time to arrange rocks in fanciful designs. The trail also has some nice views as it winds its way toward the High Point Trail.

Where the trail ends near High Point, is an open rock ledge with steel attachments in the rock. This is all that remains of the old lookout/fire tower that once stood here. It is also a good place to take a rest and admire the view. We got on the High Point Trail and walked for about 15 minutes to High Point and then turned around and hiked back to where we started. At this point we turned left and followed the High Point Trail down to the High Point Carriageway. I had though about going all the way out on the High Point Trail to the Falls or at least walking down the Loop Road to the east side of the lake passed Sam's Point. I gave up this idea since Cindy seemed REALLY tired and was beginning to drag! We walked back down the High Point Carriageway to the Loop Road and retraced our steps to the car. The entire 11.5 mile hike had taken 6 hours which was more than enough on a day when the temperature was 80+ degrees!

On Friday, Aug 31st I had thought about finishing the Catskill 3500 list for August by bushwhacking Rocky and Lone. After my last effort at bushwhacking Big Indian and Fir, I decided that peakbagging is rewarding but not always fun. I was more in the mood for fun an this day! In addition, the weather forecast was uncertain and bushwhacking peaks in the rain and lightning is not the smartest thing to do. After Wednesday's hike from Sam's Point Preserve to Minnewaska Park, I was even more anxious to do the "big loop" through these two parks. Sheba and I arrived at Sam's Point at about 10:15 AM. I had delayed a little to let the weather clear. It didn't work! When we parked the air temperature was 67, the sky was completely overcast and the air was VERY humid. I parked outside the gate since I wasn't sure what time we would return.

My plan was to walk up the Loop Road to the east and north of Lake Maratanza and then pick up the High Point Carriageway. I would then continue of the carriageway where the High Point Trail breaks right to go up to High Point. I planned to take this carriageway until it ended at the Smiley Carriageway in the Minnewaska Park after Napanoch Point. By turning right on the Smiley Carriageway we would end up at Lake Awosting. From here we could follow the Lake Awosting Carriageway around the lake counter clockwise. At the southwest end of the lake we would pick up the Long Path and follow this passed Mud Pond to Verkeerderkill Falls. From the falls the Long Path leads to Ice Caves Road, back to the Loop Road, passed Sam's Point and back to the parking area. I estimated that this "big loop" would be just less than 15 miles and that we could average a little under 3 miles per hour with stops!

Sheba and I got on the trail after checking with the park attendant concerning my plan. She assured me that I could take the High Point Carriageway to the Smiley Carriageway and that this WOULD bring me to Lake Awosting. Sheba and I moved VERY quickly on the wide road up to Lake Maratanza. I had decided to make no side trips along the way since my main objective was to complete a loop. We turned left off the Loop Road just after the TV and radio towers. We had not seen any other hikers at this point. As we continued on the High Point Carriageway, we both began to hear a noise that to me sounded like a vacuum cleaner. The noise grew louder until I saw a truck with the Nature Conservancy logo on the side. Further down the path, I saw another truck with several workers near it. Apparently they were cutting some of the brush along the path with a brush hog or weed whacker! This was what was making the noise. I was not sure why they were doing this but I said "Hello" and we walked on by. It took us less than an hour to reach the point where the trail goes up to High Point.

We did not take the High Point Trail but continued on the High Point Carriageway. This trail is NOT maintained and does NOT resemble the other carriageways in either park. It is narrow for the first part with bushes closing in over the trail. In many places, the footing is unstable with many rocks littering the pathway. The trail descends from High Point gradually at first and then more steeply. At one low point there is a swampy area where the trail is a sea of dark black mud. Sheba and I skirted this area by bushwhacking a little where it seemed others had done the same. The trail also crosses the headwaters of some unnamed tributary of Rondout Creek but this was virtually dry. We had to pay close attention to where we going since the path is NOT MARKED. In some areas it is hard to tell what is the High Point Carriageway, what is dry creek bed and what is a pathway made by other explorers. The trail starts to rise as it approaches Napanoch Point. Suddenly, we arrived at a T. I was a little surprised but the map clearly showed we were at the Smiley Carriageway.

At this point we turned right since turning left eventually leads to Ellenville. The Smiley Carriageway looks much more like the rest of the carriageways in Minnewaska Park. It is wide and fairly well-maintained in most places with only a few blowdowns in places. We arrived at Napanoch Point soon after we turned. At one time this may have been a good lookout but now the vegetation blocks and view. The carriageway turns sharply right here. In less than a half mile, a wide trail turns left and leads to Panther Rock and Jacob's Ladder. I considered a visit to these two landmarks but decided to leave them for a later hike. It was around noon when we ran across the next trail junction. This junction was marked by three blue blazes on the rock and several old pots hanging on a tree. This is the "beginning" of the Berrypicker's Trail that leads back to High Point. This would be an alternate route to the High Point Carriageway and I made a note to take it next time for some variety.

In places the Smiley Carriageway crosses other woods roads or trails and I had to pay close attention to the maps to make sure we did not stray in the wrong direction. The path starts to descend toward the upper end of Stony Kill. It becomes very rocky as it descends and a few views open up. On this day any views were hidden by the haze hanging over everything! We soon arrived at the Stony Kill but this was hardly noticeable. The stream was almost dry with only a few pools and a little running water! From here we continued on toward Fly Brook. As we descended toward Fly Brook, We kept hearing the most raucous bird calls in the trees around us. The birds remained hidden until just before the stream crossing. At this point I saw the culprits were turkey vultures apparently nesting in the trees. In this area the Stony Kill Carriageway continues on toward Stony Kill Falls. We turned right and crossed Fly Brook which had some water in it. This areas was interesting with broad, open rock shelves and features that hinted at a greater volume of water!

There were several turnoffs from the carriageway as well approached Lake Awosting and we took what looked like the path that would get us to the ranger cabin. We made good choices and arrived at the cabin at around 1:15 PM or 3 hours into the hike. We rested briefly on the cabin steps to eat lunch and get a drink. The sun began to peak through the clouds. At this point I began to think about what route to take back. I knew that there was a decision point just above the Falls. At this point the Long Path continues on to the falls and back toward Ice Caves Road. This is the path we took on our Wednesday hike only two days before. The other alternative was to follow the High Point Trail along the ridges to High Point and then back to the High Point Carriageway and Loop Road. This would add between 1.5 and 2.0 miles to the hike. I decided to wait until we got there to make that decision. We continued around to the southwest end of the lake on the Lake Awosting Carriageway. After the sharp turn at the end of the lake the carriageway rises. A "path" leads off to the right just after some cliffs. This path was once marked with the aqua blazes of the Long Path now painted over. After just a few hundred feet this path intersects the Long Path where we turned right toward Mud Pond.

We were hiking very quickly now since the weather had turned cloudy again and the mist was getting even heavier. We had explored this path extensively on Wednesday and I had taken pictures on that day when the conditions were better. I told Sheba to follow the trail and I followed Sheba. We arrived at Mud Pond by 2:00 PM and I estimated we would be at the trail junction by 2:15. We continued our quick pace along the spine of rock that ascends to the trail junction above the Falls. We arrived at around 2:20 and I had to make a decision. My GPS read over 9 miles, a light rain or heavy mist prevailed and I did not want to spoil the fun of the hike by getting wet. I decided to continue on down to the Falls and follow the original plan. We descended the Long Path and shortly arrived a the Verkeerderkill Falls and crossed over to the other side. The path that lies between the Verkeerderkill Falls and Ice Caves Road is NOT my favorite! It twists and turns and has many uneven rocks along the way. At one point, as I was following Sheba, the dog turned and came back to me. This always means that there are people on the trail and we stopped to talk to a young couple headed for the Verkeerderkill Falls.

By 3:00 PM we were finally at Ice Caves Road and we headed for the Loop Road that would take us passed Sam's Point and back to the car. Along the way we met another young couple. We stopped to talk to them about the trails and the ecology of the area. As we talked a family passed us. This made only the fourth group of people we had encountered! After finishing our conversation, we continued on the road, passed Sam's Point and down to the Conservation Center. We were back at the car by 3:30 PM. We covered just over 13 miles in 5 hours and 15 minutes. I also left plenty of side trips and trail variations for next time!

On Wednesday, Aug 29th I was scheduled to teach a class for coaches at 5:00 PM. Usually I just hang out on days like this but I didn't want to waste the majority of the day. I decided to go to Sam's Point to check out the Long Path from Sam's Point to Lake Awosting in the Minnewaska Preserve. I had wanted to hike between these two areas for some time. By the time I arrived at 9:45 AM I had already decided that I didn't have enough time to try and attempt the loop using the Smiley Carriageway. I wasn't sure of the location of this path or how well it is marked. I decided just to do and out and back using the Long Path and adding miles if I wanted at Sam's Point. Several people and online accounts promised that the Long Path was now open and remarked from Verkeerderkill Falls passed Mud Pond to Lake Awosting. I wanted to check it out for myself. The weather was partly sunny but warm with temperatures in the low 80's and high humidity. In my quest for the perfect hiking pants, I was wearing my Mountain Hardwear Destination Pants.

Sheba and I hiked rapidly up passed Sam's Point to Ice Caves Road. We turned right and after only .1 miles left on the Long Path. The trail to the Verkeerderkill Falls is not one of my favorites because of the number of rocks but we made it to the Verkeerderkill Falls very quickly. There was even less water going over the Verkeerderkill Falls than the last time we were there! Crossing the Verkeerderkill was easy and we stayed on the Long Path as it winds its way up to the High Point Ridge. The climb is steep but short. At the top the High Point Trail turns left but we followed the Long Path to the right. The markings were clear with some showing fresh paint and there were stone cairns along the way. The Long Path follows a ridge of rock and slowly descends toward Mud Pond. The views aren't spectacular in most places and I was simply looking to make the best time possible on the way out. I decided to take pictures on the way back if time allowed.

We reached an area where it was obvious that the blazes for the Long Path had been painted over and new ones had later been placed. This was thee area closed by the previous private land owner. My GPS told me that I was near Mud Pond but I could not see it. I chalked this up to another landmark that would be hidden in the dense forest. Just before turning to the left and descending I caught a glimpse of a small, secluded body of water. This was Mud Pond. It had some cliffs on the far side and was not much more interesting than many of the ponds I had visited. Still, it was the first time I had seen this pond AND I suspect not many others get to see it because of its remote location. We descended to the level of the pond walking along the northern shore just out of sight of the water. At one point a boardwalk appeared to allow the crossing of Fly Brook. This was not necessary since the brook was nearly dry due to the lack of rain all summer. The trail continued passed the northeastern end of the pond and I decided I would try to stop by there on the way back.

The trail continues to winds its way toward Lake Awosting and begins to climb to reach the higher elevations around the lake. Soon the trail emerges from the forest onto a rock ledge that offers views back to Sam's Point and limited glimpses of Lake Awosting. Sheba and I sat in the same spot we had visited with Cindy only a short time before. We ate lunch and got a drink. I got out the camera and took some pictures. As we started the return trip I kept the camera out to take pictures on the way back. We stopped in several places along the edge of the pond to take in the views and so that I could snap some photos. In between photo sessions we moved very quickly and were soon back at the point where the Long Path and High Point Trail meet. Here I noticed several birds riding the air current above us. I took several pictures of them as they swooped VERY CLOSE to our location. Later inspection showed these graceful creatures to be turkey vultures!

We walked down the trail to the Verkeerderkill Falls and I took some pictures from the south rim of the chasm. The Verkeerderkill Falls are ALMOST DRY and the Verkeerder Kill has little water in it ant any point. As we continued on the path back to Ice Caves Road, we met several groups of people; some more talkative than others. I told several people that the Verkeerderkill Falls were almost dry but that the view was worth the trip. When we got back onto the loop road, I realized just how hot and humid it was! We hurried back to the parking area making it at around 2:00 PM. We made the 9 mile trip in about 4 hours and 15 minutes with GENEROUS amounts of time for pictures and conversation.

On Sunday, Aug 26th my wife and I decided to take a hike after church. Just as we were ready to leave, the ambulance pager sounded and I had to take and hour and a half out of our hiking time. When I returned, we had a limited amount of time left. The original plan was to go to Sam's Point but we revised that plan. We decided to go somewhere closer. The choices were Trout Pond, Balsam Lake, Big Pond or Alder Lake. We decided on Alder Lake since we had not been there together for some time. The Alder Creek Road is paved until it ends and is in good shape. Cross Mountain Road is unpaved dirt and is VERY rough and rocky. We took the SUV and I would be reluctant to take my Eclipse over this short piece into the Alder Lake Parking Area. We parked at 2:05 PM in a very crowded parking area and headed for the lake. We intended to hike to the Beecher Lake vista or as far as we could get.

There were some other dogs near the lake so we put a leash on Sheba and quickly headed down the trail on the left side of the lake. We noticed that some bushes had been pulled down and there was a LARGE amount of bear scat on the trail! We quickly arrived at the other end of the lake and took the Millbrook Ridge Trail toward Balsam Lake Mountain. This trail rises continuously passing Alder Creek which flows on the right. The creek was flowing well this day from the rains the previous week. The weather was warm and it was pretty humid but it didn't seem too bad as we hiked. Areas of the trail were a little wet and muddy in places but nothing that couldn't be walked around. As we arrived at the lean-to and the beaver meadow, the skies clearer some and the sun began to peak through.

After the beaver meadow, there are several wet areas with plenty of nettles. The trail then climbs more steeply in several places as it gets closer to the high point of the Millbrook Ridge. This high point is over 3400 feet according to several different GPS readings. That makes it close to another 3500 foot peak in the Catskills! We arrived at the top of the ridge at about 4:00 PM and decided it was a good time to turn around and head back. We didn't hurry on the way back but we didn't dawdle either. We were back at the parking area by 5:30 PM after covering the 7 mile distance.

On Friday, Aug 24th the skies were overcast, a heavy fog hung close to the ground and the mist in the air was so heavy it was almost like rain. The weather forecasters were split on whether or not it would rain or clear during the day. I decided not to "waste" the day and to go hiking. I decided to try and "bag" Big Indian and Fir for August. I knew when I headed out that this wouldn't be easy. Everything in the forest would be wet from the recent rains, there was no sun to help in navigation, and it would likely rain at some point. Nevertheless, off we went to the Biscuit Brook Parking Area for what would turn out to be quite and adventure! We parked at 9:15 AM and were soon in the woods. In my quest for the perfect hiking pants, I was wearing my Campmor Trekmor Pants.

The first part of the hike is a trail and an old woods road. It was wet but the vegetation on the trail is minimal. I was surprised that it wasn't muddier and that some of the small streams weren't a little higher. After slipping on several rocks and roots, it became clear that this would be the order of the day. I decided to bushwhack Fir first to get that out of the way and then follow the Catskill Divide over to Big Indian. I had done this in the winter in reverse but had followed someone's footprints in the snow and the vegetation was considerably less. I did remember it as being relatively easy. That well may have been my first mistake of many for the day. We hiked to the lean-to and crossed the stream just after that. Here is where I usually head up to Fir so we entered the woods. After only a short distance I was soaked from the water on all the surrounding plants. In addition, the day was getting hotter and more humid. I couldn't tell if it was raining or whether the drops of water were just falling off the trees.

I knew I needed to head north to get to Fir which meant staying to the "left". I specifically warn people in the description of the hike to Fir on this site NOT to stray too far east since Spruce Mountain is near. After a short distance a small ravine lay ahead of us with a stream running through it. This was NOT what I expected. We climbed down into the stream bed and I took a compass reading. We were headed south not north! This was so unexpected that I doubted by readings. We climbed up the opposite bank and I hunted around for a trail or herd path but none was obvious. At this point I decided that I was so turned around that the ONLY thing to do was to go back to the main trail. Back down into the ravine we went. At this point I told Sheba to take us back the way we came. Specifically I told her "Trail". I really didn't think she would be able to do this so I was surprised when she confidentially started off with and obvious purpose. I checked the GPS several times and watched for broken vegetation and familiar "landmarks". Sheba led me directly back to the main path without hesitation!

Back on the path I realized my mistake. Every time there was on opening in the forest I turned to the right. I THOUGHT I corrected this by a corresponding turn to the left but it was not enough! My GPS track clearly showed my direction of travel was nearly due east until I turned south. At this point I was glad to be on the path and decided to go to Big Indian first. I figured that way I could at least get ONE peak and come back another day for Fir. The hike on the trail was SO EASY compared to my short bushwhack that my mood improved. The water crossing over Biscuit Brook was actually quite easy and the rest of the hike was uneventful. Around 11:00 AM the sun started to peak through the clouds. Shortly after that the mist burned away and the skies cleared! We were just about to the 3500 foot sign at this point. My mood improved considerably and I began to think about walking the Divide to Fir after Big Indian. This could very well have been my next big mistake.

The herd path to Big Indian is now very well defined except for some blowdowns which obscure it in places. A stone cairn on the main trail marks the best path. I followed Sheba up to the canister. She somehow knew that we needed to stop even though the path continues. I signed in and made the fateful decision to go to Fir. My clothes were already wet but my feet were getting amp which I did not expect. I was wearing my Asolo Fugitives which are supposed to be Waterproof with a Goretex membrane. The proper way to get to Fir is to walk southwest off the end of the Big Indian ridge and STAY ON THE CATSKILL DIVIDE. I knew that getting off the Divide meant dropping down into areas that would need to be climbed out of later. We started off with me using the sun as a guide. After a short distance it was clear that I had made ANOTHER MISTAKE. I was too far to my left and off the Divide! I took another compass reading and looked a the GPS. It was clear that I need to headed MUCH further to my right which meant traversing and even climbing some back toward the Divide. We did this and the going was incredibly tough! After a while I picked up a herd path that seemed to be going in the right direction and followed that for awhile.

I had marked a waypoint for the middle of the Divide at its lowest point and we headed that way. In several places there were cliffs in the way. I decided that they weren't very high and it was better to descend them directly rather than to work around them. After several slips and falls we were near the point I had marked. As we continued it became clear that I had made ANOTHER MISTAKE. Of course, bushwhacking is an art not a science and since there is no trail to follow there are many ways to get to the same place. Most people are careful to choose the easiest way! I somehow had chosen a direct route and took us up and over a small ridge. This was unnecessary so I headed a little more to my left and started to climb Fir.

Since I had strayed off the Divide, the climb up Fir was further and steeper than it needed to be. Cliffs in several areas proved challenging. Soon a herd path appeared and we followed this on and off toward the top. Near the top the terrain levels off and crisscrossing paths confuse the issue. I headed for the highest spot marked on the GPS. As I got near this area things started to look familiar and I walked right to the canister! Things were looking up, a little. We still had to descend through the wetness to the trail back to the parking area. I knew that walking almost directly toward the sun would get me where I wanted to go so I tried to keep that in mind. The descent wasn't all that easy. I was tired by this time and I started to get muscle cramps. I was wet and a quick inspection showed numerous cuts and scratches which are pretty typical of a tough bushwhack. My feet were soaked by now and I could feel "hot spots" developing. There wasn't much to do but continue. I got to an area that looked like a clear path to the main trail but it was FILLED with nettles. I decided to traverse this area and find another way down. Near the end I headed directly for Biscuit Brook and hit the trail a little further north than I had planned. This was okay with me since walking the trail seemed SO EASY.

On the way back I slipped a couple of times from not paying attention. Various body parts were competing for attention so I ignored them. The walk back from the lean-to is ALWAYS TOO LONG. The trail cuts back and forth a couple of times making it that much longer. Eventually I saw the trail register and the road. The distance was right around 9 miles but it had taken just short of 7 hours! I was wearing my Asolo Fugitive hiking boots. At the car, I removed my boots and my feet were a mess. I have already emailed Asolo asking them what WATERPROOF means. I love the boots in all other ways but having wet feet really makes for a lousy hike. I must say that I felt good about meeting and defeating the challenges even though many of them were set up by my errors. I had though about doing Rocky and Lone on Saturday. They will have to wait until my feet are better. I think Saturday will be a day of rest.

On Wednesday, Aug 22nd I was scheduled to teach a class for coaches at 5:00 PM. Usually I just hang out on days like this but I didn't want to waste the majority of the day. I decided to hike a route close to home that I had never done. I chose to try the Long Pond Beaverkill Trail to the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail to the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail. This makes a loop which I judged to be about 9 miles. Most of the loop looked to be relatively flat with a few steeper areas on the Mongaup Hardenburgh trail as it passes over the Mongaup Mountains. The weather was overcast with a foggy haze hanging near the ground in the morning. Despite the unsettled look of the sky, or what I could see of it, the weather report called for only a SLIGHT chance of showers in the morning. The temperatures were in the high 50's or low 60's when I started out.

We drove down DeBruce Road and turned left on Flugertown Road in Willowemoc. I continued on this road until it turned to gravel and then dirt. When I couldn't get any further I parked and we got out the car. we headed up the road although I wasn't sure exactly where the trail was. When I got to the private property signs I knew that I was already on Basily Road where I did NOT want to be. We walked back to the car and a little further down the road. We explored one area but could not find the trail. About this time my mistake dawned on me! We got back into the car and drove back toward Willowemoc to an area where we had hiked before. We parked here, about 2.4 miles in from DeBruce Road, got out of the car and walked down the road. Almost immediately the red blazed Long Pond Beaverkill Trail cam up on the right side of the road. There were also yellow blazes from the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail.

We set off up the trail and after about .5 miles we were at the point where the two trails spilt. We followed the Long pond Beaverkill Trail to the right. This trail wanders back and forth and up and down as it makes its way toward the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail which crosses the Mongaup Mountains ridge. Near the ridge it climbs some but is otherwise pretty tame. The trail seems to get little traffic. There are several large blowdowns, some of which seem new and some very old. There are a few areas of nettles but the briars are the real challenge! Several areas have briar patches that are thick and tall. The only way to get through is to push your way through or use a stick to beat the brush. This slowed us down considerably and as more time passed I wondered if I would be done in time for my 5:00 PM class!

After about 2.5 miles on the Long Pond Beaverkill Trail, we came to the junction with the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail and turned left. This trail is a little more traveled but very poorly marked. Although I knew at all times we were on the right trail, the blue markers were few and far between. This trail has more areas of descent and ascent than the one we had been on. Some areas are even a little steep as the trail ascends Mongaup Mountain and then drops toward Mongaup Pond. The recent rains had made some of the flat areas on top very muddy. The descents also had slippery areas with some hidden under loose dirt and briar patches. As we descended the lower part of the this trail, we began to really pick up speed and my doubts about the time began to lessen. We passed one family going back down the mountain. They had not made it to the top but I told them there wasn't much to see. After 3.4 miles, we were at the upper end of Mongaup Pond where the blue trail bears right. We headed left on a wide snowmobile trail looking for the yellow markers of the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail.

Since we had never been on this trail before, it was hard to know what the yellow trail would look like. It seemed to me on the map that we should cross three small streams and then find the trail on the left. After crossing the third bridge, there was no yellow trail. We continued and found a fourth bridge and the yellow trail as a wide, well-marked path right after the bridge. This trail is also a snowmobile trail so it is wide and clear of most vegetation. It also descends for almost the entire length and had no major climbs. Glancing at my watch put ALL doubts about returning on time to rest. There are several bridges along the way. The most notable crosses Butternut Creek which was running pretty well from the recent rains. In 2.8 miles we were back at the trail junction with the Long Pond Beaverkill Trail. In half a mile we were back at the car. We did 9.5 miles in 3.5 hours leaving time to spare for a snack and shower before class.

On Monday, Aug 20th I headed for sugarloaf, one of the five peaks I still need to complete August. The weather was cloudy and cool with the air temperature in the high 50's when I we parked at the Roaring Kill Parking Area in Elka Park. There was no rain in the forecast but I did not expect the temperature to rise much during the day. The cool temperatures are better for hiking but sunlight always improves my mood. There was no one parked when we started our hike. My plan was to go up to Pecoy Notch and to go up and back down Sugarloaf. I then planned to see how I felt but I had little doubt that I would climb Twin also. Sheba seemed fresh so we got started immediately.

The Roaring Kill Trail ends after only a sort distance when it meets the Pecoy Notch Trail. We turned left to go up to the notch. The trail rises gradually at first and passes through a hemlock forest as it parallels a small stream. The trail passes the lower end of an active beaver pond at one point. Due to the recent rain the pond was higher than usual. The trail was partly under water and the rest was a wet and muddy mess. I managed to avoid most of the muck but Sheba had black mud more than halfway up her leg. The trail after this rises more seriously and passes over large rocks in a few spots. One area is particularly rich in the remains of bluestone quarries and the talus from the mountain slope. Here there is a good view of Kaaterskill High Peak and Roundtop as well as Twin Mountain. Various visitors have piled the stones to make fanciful designs such as thrones and tables. We stopped here to take some pictures and then pushed on. We were soon at the notch where we turned right to go up Sugarloaf.

The climb up Sugarloaf from Pecoy Notch is often steep and is not easy. Several areas require rock scrambling skills and the ability to scale nearly vertical terrain. As we neared the top the trail leveled some and views over to Twin Mountain revealed themselves. I stopped to take some pictures of that mountain and the valley and hills beyond. After a little more climbing the trail remains almost levels with a few ascents to reach the summit of Sugarloaf. There are really no views from the top so we continued a little ways down the other side. Shortly after the summit, just as the trail starts to descend, there is a side trail on the left with a marked campsite. We took his trail and arrived at a nice lookout. It was noon so we stopped to get a snack and take some pictures. We returned to the main trail and retraced our tracks down the mountain. Going down may be physically easier most of the time but you need to pay attention since a wrong step can be dangerous!

Once back at Pecoy Notch, we continued straight ahead on the Devil's Path toward the western summit of Twin Mountain. This climb is truly taxing! The trail starts up almost immediately and NEVER relents until just near the top. MANY areas have tricky rock scrambles that require a strong upper AND lower body. One of these climbs is a little too much for Sheba and I always give her a boost. This time she negotiated most of these areas only asking for help in one place! Where there are no major boulders there is loose gravel to add to the fun. Near the top is a large rock overhang that offers protection from the elements when needed. The trail passes to the right of the "cave" through a narrow space between the rock of the mountain and large pieces that have separated. We climb through here and then continued on to the highest point on Twin Mountain. I stopped to take pictures. Most of the mountains and valleys in the distance were shrouded in a haze. The sun did come out briefly and my mood improved but the view did not.

At this point we continued to the eastern peak of Twin Mountain since the view there is the one I remember best and the trip is short. No matter what the maps say we walked between the two peaks in 15 minutes! I had forgotten that there is a significant drop to a small Col between the two peaks. The climb to the eastern peak is slight but the return trip to the western summit is a little harder. At the eastern summit the trail passes over an open rock shelf. The views from here are spectacular when the weather is nice. Today they were obscured by haze and the overcast weather. Overlook Mountain with its TV antennae and fire tower is clearly visible in the east. The higher summit of Twin Mountain and Sugarloaf can be seen to the west. We got a snack, I took pictures and then we returned the way we had come.

From this point on Sheba and I descended as fast as we could to get back to the Notch. The descent is faster than coming up but MUCH more dangerous. A loss of concentration and one false step usually mean falling or banging into the unforgiving rock. At he Notch we turned right to descend the mile and a half to the car. The way back is easier since it is all downhill and the way is not so steep. We didn't stop at all on the way back except for Sheba to rinse her muddy paws. The way back usually seems long but went very fast today. We were back at the car by 3:30 PM after covering almost 8 miles!

On Sunday, Aug 19th I had planned to do the bushwhack to Rocky and Lone. I need only five peaks to "complete" August and am anxious to get them done. Cindy wanted to come along and was not thrilled about a bushwhack. We decided to go to Minnewaska and hike out to Lake Awosting. We got some bagels at Peez Leweez and headed for Minnewaska. It was about 10:30 AM when we got to the park. The upper lot was already full and the one below it was getting there! There were people EVERYWHERE walking, hiking, biking and generally milling about. Cindy and I decided to get on the Upper Awosting Carriageway and walk as fast as we could. We knew that we could out hike anyone hiking or walking. We also decided to get off the carriageways and onto some rugged trails as quickly as we could. We passed several groups stretched across the wide carriageway making their way slowly somewhere. One group of bikers rode by suggesting we put Sheba on a leash. I suggested they put a sounding device on their machines as required by law. We passed these three within half a mile when they became tired.

As we approached Litchfield Ledge, we decided to turn right and take the Long Path toward Rainbow Falls. This was a short walk but it did get us away from other people. The "falls" were barely a trickle falling from the ledge above to the talus slope below. We continued on the Long Path along the base of the cliff for less than a mile until it ascended steeply to the ridge. On the ridge their were several nice views back to Litchfield Ledge. We walked over to the other side of the ridge along the Long Path. We took in the views of the mountains in the distance and then continued down the rock face along the trail. The Long Path makes a sharp left at the Peters Kill and soon joins the Lower Awosting Carriageway. We turned left to head back toward the Upper Awosting Carriageway and Lake Awosting. We stopped for a minute at the ranger's cabin. I had the idea that we might try to walk the Smiley Carriageway or the Long Path to Sam's Point Preserve. The Smiley Carriageway seemed to be clear and wide for some distance our decision was to continue on around the lake since the hike would already be over 10 miles!

We rounded the western end of the lake and started to climb on the carriageway. After a short distance, we turned right on a path that was once marked with the aqua blazes of the Long Path. This path leads up to the Long Path. At this point we turned right and walked along the ledges above the western end of the lake. We took in the view of Sam's Point as we sat and ate lunch. After our break, we turned and headed east on the Long Path. The aqua blazes can sometimes be a distance apart and may be on a tree or on the rocks. The Long Path passes by the Murray Hill lookout and then descends a bit and splits with trails going both left and right. I decided to go to the right and we passed by several nice viewpoints. I soon decided that this branch of the trail was descending into Spruce Glen. We did NOT want to go that way so we retraced our steps and got back on the Long Path.

The Long Path twists and turns and passes by Margaret Cliff offering MORE views of Castle and Hamilton Points. After this, the Long Path descends sharply and passes over a jumble of rocks and tree trunks. We worked our way over this area carefully and back onto a better trail. At this point a trail to the Awosting Reserve continues straight ahead and the Long Path turns left into the woods. We made the turn and continued on the Long Path until a trail turns to the left to the Wolf's Jaws. We crossed the small stream and headed for the Tunnel. The Tunnel was dry and we quickly worked our way through this covered crack between the rocks. The Long Path continues up toward the Hamilton Point Carriageway. At this junction we turned right on the carriageway and headed back toward Minnewaska. The Long Path turns left into the woods after several hundred feet. It approaches the base of the cliff that is Castle Point. Here the Path climbs steeply up the face of Castle Point. Sheba has no trouble until near the top where two short but vertical ascents bother her. I boosted her up both of these and we were on Castle Point

We stopped at Castle Point to get a drink, enjoy in the views and take some pictures. From here, we took the Castle Point Carriageway back toward Minnewaska. Along the way we stopped several times at various lookouts but tried to keep moving. We arrived back at Minnewaska at 4:30 PM. The hike was about 11 miles and we covered it in 6 hours.

On Friday, Aug 17th I had not hiked in 2 days and was ready to hit the trails. I decided to go to Rider Hollow and hike Balsam from that side. Getting there proved to be the first challenge since RT 206 out of Roscoe is still closed from the June flooding. I decided to take the Beaverkill Valley Road to Little Pond and then the Barkaboom Road to RT 30. From 30 I took the Millbrook Arena Road to Dry Brook Road and started looking for Rider Hollow Road. This road is NOT MARKED and the only road I could find was Todd Mountain Road marked as Route 49A. I turned here and soon ran into some bridge construction. I asked the road crew where Rider Hollow was and they assured me I was on the right road. They were WRONG! When I got to Belleayre Ski Area, I knew I was wrong and turned around. Back at the construction, I decided to turn right off of Todd Mountain Road and the embarrassed road crew concurred! The road I turned onto was STILL NOT MARKED as Rider Hollow Road but it was the correct road. This seemed strange since the Town of Hardenburgh Town Hall is on this road. Like most roads to trail heads, the road narrows and becomes rough pavement and then dirt. I persisted and it paid off as we arrived at the parking area at about 2:20 PM.

I decided to use the Rider Hollow Trail for the ascent to the Col and then Mine Hollow Trail to return making a loop out of the hike. The Rider Hollow Trail is beautiful near the bottom and starts off almost flat with only a slight incline. A wooden bridge makes the first crossing of Todd Creek and then the trail winds its way along the creek until the junction with the Mine Hollow Trail. Here we turned to the right to stay on the Rider Hollow Trail and crossed an interesting steel bridge over the same creek. There were several tents in the woods just after the bridge but no one seemed to be home. In about half a mile we passed by the unoccupied lean-to. At this point the trail begins to ascend more steeply and get more "interesting".

The trail passes through some nice piney forests and follows the ravine created by the creek. It reminded me a lot of the ascent from McKinley Hollow on the other side of the mountain. The trail crosses and recrosses the creek and some small tributaries but there are no more bridges. Some of these crossing might be a problem with higher water levels. An abundance of nettles and briars close in on the trail in several places. Some areas of the trail become very steep with rock scrambles in some places and loose rock in others. As we got near the top of the climb the trail leveled out some and we were soon at the Col between Balsam and Eagle. We turned left and headed up Balsam. This trail is familiar and offers nothing memorable. There are some steep areas with some scrambling but no viewpoints are available.

I had never hiked passed the top of Balsam so this hike was a new experience as Sheba and I pressed on after the summit. The map showed a lookout and I kept seeing short side trails that promised a view but delivered nothing! Just when I was about to give up an obvious and well-used side trail led off to the right. The views from here were nice and unexpected. We stopped for a drink and snack and I took some pictures. We descended Balsam into the Col between Balsam and Belleayre. The Mine Hollow Trail was soon in site on the left. I decided that I needed a little longer hike. We had just been up to Belleayre but had not hiked the part of the Pine Hill West Branch Trail from Belleayre to Balsam. Sheba and I continued straight ahead and on to Belleayre Mountain. The climb was easy in most spots and we were soon at the field that marks the highest spot on Belleayre. We turned around and headed back to the Mine Hollow Trail.

We turned right onto Mine Hollow this time and descended QUICKLY. This trail may be the easiest way up and down this area. The trail is wider and flatter in most places and the nettles are almost nonexistent. I jogged a good part of the way down. We met a group of four young men coming up. They had no packs or other equipment. They asked me if they were almost at the end of the trail. I advised them to hike to the Belleayre ski slopes to get the best view. Sheba and I continued on down the trail which has only one small water crossing without a bridge. We finished the 6.5 miles in just over 3 hours.

On Tuesday, Aug 14th I planned to hike Balsam Mountain from Lost Clove after summer school. The weather prediction did not indicate rain any the skies were clear with only a few clouds. The temperature was in the high 60's or low 70's and not very humid. I got out of the house late and by the time I was on the road I knew I wouldn't be at the parking area until after 2:30. I decided to start the hike and see how things went. The other option was to skip Balsam this day and go on to Belleayre Mountain and the ski area. I had not been there but people had told me it had some nice views.

The parking area was easy to find of the right of Lost Clove Road just before the road dead ends. I noticed that the trail crossed private property for some distance before entering the forest preserve. We entered the woods on a nice flat, green trail and within a few hundred feet turned onto an old woods road. The road was wide with little vegetation and VERY STEEP. I should not have been surprised at the grade of the trail since the trail up to the Col at McKinley Hollow is equally challenging. However, this trail was unrelenting! It continued to ascend without moderating the grade for about a mile when it leveled out a little. After less than .5 miles, the trail enters the forest preserve at the junction with the Pine Hill West Branch Trail. We turned left here to head toward Belleayre.

After .4 miles, we arrived at a lean-to with a picnic table outside. The trail alternated between short, steep climbs and flatter areas. Another .5 miles brought us to the summit of Belleayre Mountain. There wasn't much to see as the high point is in a field with no view. The Pine Hill West Branch Trail continues to the left and goes on to Balsam, Eagle, Big Indian and eventually to the Biscuit Brook Parking Area. I decided to tale the red marked Belleayre Ridge Trail to the ski slopes. In .25 miles the Cathedral Glen trail branches off to the right. This trail looked to be unused. Descriptions in most books describe it as a beautiful hike down to Pine Hill village and I added it to the long list of trails I want to hike. After another .25 miles, another lean-to appeared on the right. A half mile more and we were at the ski slopes.

There was nobody at the ski slopes at all. Everything was quiet and the views were beautiful if a little hazy. We walked from slope to slope looking down the ski runs and ski lifts. I took pictures of the surrounding hills as we walked. We went out as far as the last ski slope, Deer Run, and then turned around and came back to the lodge. The porch on the front of the lodge has great views of Balsam Mountain and the surrounding valleys. At this point we turned around and headed back toward the car. The descent was quick and a little scary in some spots. We finished the 7 mile hike is just over three hours which I thought quick especially since I had stopped so much at the top to snap photos.

On Monday, Aug 13th I planned to hike Sugarloaf after summer school. The weather prediction did not indicate rain but did specify partly cloudy skies. The temperature was in the high 70's and not very humid. I got out of the house as early as possible. On the drive it was clear that Sugarloaf was a little further than I wanted to go. In addition, when I do one peak on the Devil's Path I always like to throw in at least one other. I decided to "bag" Westkill since I had not done this peak in August. We were in the Spruceton parking lot at around 2:15 and got started at a quick pace right away.

We arrived at the falls in about 20 minutes to find a little more water in the Westkill than the last time we visited. I took a few pictures but this was basically a peak-bagging day so we moved on. The trail was damp in some places and muddy in others. This made the footing tricky at times requiring some care. The nettles were in fine array in several places along the path and one or two always seem to get me no matter what I do. We kept moving and the sky kept getting darker. At one point rain started to fall! I knew that I would finish the hike at this point NO MATTER THE WEATHER. I just hoped we would not get too wet. And then...the rain stopped.

We climbed to the Buck Ridge lookouts and passed them quickly to go on to the summit. Here we turned around, went back to the lookouts and paused briefly. The sky remained cloudy with a haze hanging over the surrounding mountains. There were a couple of nice views of the Devil's Path with billowing and stratified clouds hanging low. After a drink, a snack and a few pictures we were on our way gain. We were back down at the car in under 3 hours for the 6.7 miles hike!

On Sunday, Aug 12th we decided to take a walk after church. Cindy, Karl, Kathleen and I went to Balsam Lake Mountain to get in a hike together. Of course, we took Sheba! The weather was cooler and the hike went quickly. We didn't see a single hiker along the way! Even though we were walking, talking and not really hurrying we made it to the cutoff up to Balsam Lake Mountain in just about the same time Sheba and I usually make it. From here we slowed down a little as we climbed the steep side of the mountain. The spring was flowing nicely as we neared the top and Sheba got a drink. We paused briefly to get a picture by the 3500 foot sign.

At the summit Karl and I climbed the tower to the top to take in the view. There was very little haze as the view was expansive as usual. Graham Mountain was clearly visible since it is he closest to Balsam Lake. All he other mountains were out there since you can see 33 of the remaining 34 peaks from this vantage point. Kathleen came up to take a peek and even Sheba ascended part way. Cindy elected to lie on a big rock, rest and watch the clouds roll by. After a little while we packed up and headed down the easier side of the mountain. At the trail junction we turned right and headed back to the car. A nice, short hike of 4 miles before Karl and Kathleen returned to Virginia.

On Saturday, Aug 11th my son Karl was up from Virginia. I had planned all week to hike the Blackhead, Black Dome and Thomas Cole and he was up for it. We got a later start than planned arriving at the Batavia Kill Parking Area at about 9:45. On the way to the parking area, the weather had seemed unsettled as the storm that had been in the area Thursday and Friday cleared out. By the time we were on the trail the clouds were lifting and the sun was coming out. It looked like it would be a good day to hike as the temperature had cooled at least 10 degrees from earlier in the week.

There was a little water on the trail as we hiked on The Black Dome Range Trail toward the junction of the Batavia Kill Trail. The creeks were all still very low. At the trail junction we decided to bear left on the Batavia Kill Trail and approach Blackhead from the steeper side. The trail slowly ascends through some dark forests until after less than a mile it joins the Escarpment Trail. We turned right here and began the 1100 foot ascent of Blackhead! The trail is only 1 mile to the top so the going is pretty steep at times. We made the top quickly guided on the trail dog Sheba. The Escarpment Trail heads south from here so we turned right on the Blackhead Mountain Trail toward Black Dome Mountain. On the descent I took some pictures and after only .6 miles we were in the col. There were some people camped here and they had two Huskies. Sheba and these dogs made friends right away and we talked to the owners briefly.

We continued straight ahead on the Black Dome Range Trail toward Black Dome Mountain. We climbed the trail which is rather steep at times pausing at several viewpoints to take pictures. After .6 miles we were at the top of the mountain and the rocky ledge which acts as a viewpoint. After a quick stop for drinks and pictures we were back on the Black Dome Ridge Trail headed for Thomas Cole. The walk to Thomas Cole is just over a mile. Along the way there are suggestions of viewpoints and areas where people have made side trail. These all lead nowhere and there is little to see except the surrounding forest. After summiting we turned around and retraced our steps back to Black Dome. We again met the two dogs headed toward us and, after a slight delay, there masters. We again stopped to talk and then continued down Black Dome.

At the Col we followed the Black Dome Ridge Trail and turned left at Lockwood Gap to follow the trail back down to the parking area. This trail switches back several times which makes the descent longer but easier. We were back in the parking lot in no time and on our way home. The weather had cleared considerably as we hiked and the familiar hike was made better by having Karl along. The entire hike was 6.75 miles but the rugged peaks made it seem longer.

On Thursday, Aug 9th Jack Strassman and I planned hike at Trout Pond. When Jack arrived at my house at 3:30 PM it was already starting to become overcast. The weather report was for possibly HEAVY rain and thunderstorms. Despite this, Jack seemed ready to go so we put Sheba in the car and headed out. We parked at the top of Russell Brook Road and headed toward the trail head. At the register we went straight ahead to Trout. We were walking at a good pace and talking so the time passed quickly. At Trout the weather still looked unsettled but we decided to go on around. We hiked up over Cherry Ridge without any problem and headed for Mud Pond. At Mud Pond we turned left on the snowmobile trail to go back to the car. We were back at the register in less than two hours after covering 5.8 miles. We hiked back up the road to the car and set off back to Livingston Manor. As we were driving rain began to fall on the windshield but did not persist. I hope Jack and I can get a few others to join us next time!

On Tuesday, Aug 7th I planned to take Sheba and hike Graham Mountain for August. When I arrived home, I looked at my grid and I had already done Graham in August! I changed plans and decided to bag two peaks, Peekamoose and Table, from the Peekamoose side. I packed up, took the dog and we were on our way. As I was driving down DeBruce Rd., I realized that I was going the wrong way to go to Peekamoose! I altered my plans again and decided to park at the Denning trail head and hike from there. This wasn't a bad idea since I would get to see the work that had been done on the bridge by the ADK and the new project they had started. I knew the whole hike was close to 9 miles and that we would have to move quickly.

We parked at 2:05 PM with one other car in the lot and got started right away. The register said that a group of three had signed in yesterday and were going to Table to camp. I though maybe they would use the lean-to and that we would meet them coming down the trail at some point. About a mile up the trail we DID meet them. The two men and a young woman were stopped. From talking to them I found out that they had entered the wrong date in the register and were, in fact, just starting their hike. The young woman was smoking a cigarette! They had gotten less than a mile before stopping! I didn't give them much hope of making the Table lean-to before dark at that rate. Sheba and I wished them luck and head up the trail.

As we approached the bridge it didn't look like much had been done. I was hoping for a guide rail or rope but I guess that wasn't in the plans. The work that had been done WAS helpful. The logs are now at the same level and seem to have the same flex. On the far end an access "ramp" makes it easier to get on and off the bridge. What surprised me the most was the construction further up the trail! The group had constructed a new bridge across the East Branch of the Neversink completely from scratch! I don't know if it will really be needed but this feat is impressive. The result is much like the one over Deer Shanty. Sheba and I continued our hike. When time is limited, I have instituted a new "Look but don't touch!" policy. I will look around me at the trail and beautiful forest. I will take a look at the viewpoints. I will NOT touch my camera until we are on the way back.

The trail up Table can be annoying at times. I really isn't that steep and is in pretty good condition. There are several viewpoints which afford good looks at the surrounding mountains on a clear day. What I don't like is that TWICE the trail ascends small hills only to drop again before the next one. I don't like going DOWN to go back UP! We moved quickly and were at the summit of Table in about 1 hour 40 minutes. I ALWAYS suggest bagging Peekamoose and Table together since the distance between then is less than a mile and the drop is small. We were on Peekamoose in 20 minutes or a total of 2 hours from parking. The trip back took the same amount of time. On the way back down to the car we stopped at the lookouts but the haze was too thick to see anything. I was expecting to meet the three campers but we didn't see them until we got to the camping area just after the bridges! This was as far as they had gotten and they were setting up camp. Sheba and I stopped at the bridges for a snack and so that I could take some pictures. Even with the stops we were back at the parking area before 6:00 PM. We finished the 8.6 miles in less than 4 hours!

On Sunday, Aug 5th I had planned to take Sheba and hike the Blacks since I had not done them in August. The hike over Plateau yesterday WAS strenuous but slow so I though a quicker hike might be nice. However, my friend John was preaching in church and Krista wanted me to go to lunch with her. These are the kind of "interruptions" in my plans that don't bother me anymore. I went to church AND lunch and then grabbed Sheba and headed for Slide Mountain. My grid showed I needed Slide and Cornell in August and I though I would have enough time for both. We parked at 1:00 PM. There were only a few cars in the lot. We started hiking immediately.

I decided to go as fast as we could out only stopping for a drink here and there. I would take no pictures until the return trip. I expected most of the people signed into the register to be returning. I was wrong! Just before 3500 feet we passed a young man and woman resting on the way up. Just above the 3500 foot level, we met a forest ranger coming down and talking to an older couple. We passed two more young women on the way up. At the top were two young men and a young woman. I talked to them about going down to the spring to see the view of Cornell. They said they might do that after their friends caught up. Sheba and I had gotten to the summit of Slide in LESS THAN ONE HOUR. THIS WAS A NEW PERSONAL BEST FOR US!

I knew time was short so we started down the rocky slope toward the spring. Sheba went to the spring to get a drink while I continued on down. Sheba caught up and took the lead. There are at least three major drops that have to be negotiated on the way down to the col. These same drops become climbs on the way back. Sheba has seen them all before and does a GREAT JOB going both ways. We walked passed the unoccupied campsites and through the Col at a rapid pace. As we started to ascend Cornell we met two young children who proved to be the scouting party for their family. The climb up to Cornell is filled with roots and rocks. Some you can go around and others you have to go over or through. Near the top are several nearly vertical climbs that make me remove my pack. Sheba is always waiting at the top!

We continued on to the top of the mountain and to the viewpoint. The lookout gives a nice view of Wittenberg and the Ashokan Reservoir. The view was exceptionally clear with less haze than I had seen in some time. We ate a snack and took a drink. I snapped some photos and kept the camera handy for the viewpoints on the way back. As we turned back toward Slide we stopped at two of the three "levels" that afford a view of Slide and other surrounding mountains. Each lookout gives a slightly different angle and level. After that it was a scurry back down into the col and up Slide. We met the family again on the second and longest ascent. They were resting so I wished them a good day as we passed them. At the final vertical wall I almost took a video of Sheba going up. Unless you actually see her run up this cliff, it is hard to believe.

We continued our climb up to the spring and then to the wooden ladders on Slide. From the top of the last ladder I took some pictures looking back at Cornell. When we got back to the top of Slide, we stopped briefly so that I could take some pictures. The Ashokan was clearly visible as was Cornell with Wittenberg behind it. The weather was so perfect, the colors so beautiful and the mountain top so peaceful that I wanted to stay. I kept the camera ready to take a last set of pictures at the lookout on the right of the trail on our descent. From this point down we moved quickly and so no more hikers. The 8.5 mile round trip had taken just 5 hours. I don't think we could have done it much quicker especially with the stops for pictures.

On Saturday, Aug 4th I had planned to take Sheba and hike the new trail that has been created to relocate the Long Path in the area of Plateau Mountain. After this I planned to continue on to Sugarloaf since I needed both of these mountains in August. The Long Path comes up from the south through Silver Notch and then out onto Route 214 before turning onto the Devil's Path at Devil's Tombstone Campgrounds. The new trail takes the Long Path up southwestern shoulder of Plateau and to the Devil's Path. This avoids the road walking. At the last minute my wife decided to come along. Although she doesn't hike quite as fast uphill as the dog and I, we are ALWAYS glad to have her. We started, as always, a little later than I wanted and parked at the top of Notch Inn Road at about 10:15.

We immediately had some problems as there are NO MARKERS at all. There is nothing to mark the parking area and no trail markers once you park. We decided to follow some faint aqua blazes up and old road. We continued for some minutes and then the we noticed the blazes had stopped! We were ready to turn around when we noticed that the aqua blazes were painted over with brown paint. This indicated that the Long Path had once come through the area but had now been rerouted. This was consistent with my understanding of the new trail so we continued. After about .5 miles, a new sign indicated a trail to the left clearly marked with blue circles. It said "Devil's Path: 2.9 miles"! The first part of the trail ascends a rather steep area but there are MANY switchbacks to moderate the incline. The trail passes through some nice evergreen and hardwood forests along the way. Several areas have large boulders and rock ledges which vary the scenery and the terrain. There are a few areas where we could catch glimpses of the mountains.

The trail continues to ascend to 3400 feet and then descends into a little Col. I wasn't at all sure we were on the right trail although I could hardly imagine where we would have gone wrong! I was put off by the descent even though the maps and my GPS seemed to indicate we were headed the right way. Just after the Col the trail starts to ascend the shoulder of Plateau and does so rather steeply in places. The payoff are the viewpoints and lookout along the way. Each one seems to be better than the last with a slightly different view! The weather was warm and humid so we took it slow and stopped for drinks frequently. We kept Sheba well hydrated since there were no water sources along the way! Soon the trail flattened and I saw the sign for the Devil's Path.

On the Devil's Path we turned right to hike to the summit of Plateau. Sheba and I left Cindy at the summit and continued down to the lookout over Sugarloaf. I had long ago given up the idea of doing Sugarloaf but I wanted to take some pictures from this lookout. The views from the rock were spectacular with very little haze. Sugarloaf, Kaaterskill and Round Top were all easy to spot. As I snapped some photos a hawk flew across the sky and I snapped its picture as well. We didn't stay long and quickly walked back to meet Cindy. We decided to continue on the Devil's Path and to descend to Route 214 at Notch Lake. This would give us an opportunity to do a loop and to get some views of Hunter.

Most of the walk along the Plateau is almost flat with a slight downhill grade. It is long and pretty uneventful since there are few opportunities for getting view. Near the far end of the plateau is a nice viewpoint into the valleys and surrounding hills. Here we met a couple that we had encountered earlier on the trail. We stopped to talk to them for some time. Just before the descent to Notch Lake is a large rock ledge that looks out over Stony Clove and Hunter Mountain. Today the view was fairly clear and we stopped to talk to two young men who had just arrived before us. We then started the relatively short but VERY STEEP descent. We passed by a rock overhang that forms a sort of cave. Sheba cannot resist investigating these areas. Further down we met a couple coming up and assured them that the steep climb would come to an end. The trail has several sharp switchbacks which makes the steep climb possible.

A little more than halfway down we met three young boys. One asked how far we thought it was to the Mink Hollow lean-to. I showed him on the GPS and the map that it was still some distance. He told us that his parents were a little further down the hill. His parents, in fact, were a lot further down the hill. They did not realize just how far they still had to go UP and the distance they still had to cover to the lean-to. We wished them a good time and then continued on down. The last family of four we met was very near the bottom and on the way up. They had a pug in tow and Sheba made friends. We only talked for a minute and then got going again. Within a few minutes we could here the traffic on 214. Shortly after that we were on the road. We quickened our pace on the smooth, downhill grade to Notch Inn Road. the hill back to the car seemed long. We covered 8.2 miles in about six hours which included MANY stops along the way.

On Thursday, Aug 2nd I wanted to get some exercise so I took Sheba and headed for the Frick-Hodge Pond area. We started up the Flynn Trail to the junction with Big Rock Trail. At this point we turned right and followed the snowmobile trail to Mongaup Pond. The first part of the trail is a little steep but the last is ALL downhill and goes quickly. Once on the loop road at Mongaup Pond we jogged to the entrance booth. We tried to visit with my daughter Krista but she was busy checking people in for campsites. Sheba and I walked out the pockmarked access road back to Mongaup Road. At the junction of the two roads we walked down to the creek that is the outlet of Mongaup Pond. After this we walked back to the car. We had a nice 6 mile hike.

On Tuesday, July 31st I wanted to get one more 3500 for the month of July. Big Indian was on the list and pretty close to home so I decided to do it after summer school. By the time Sheba and I parked it was already 2:15 PM which is late but not too late. I knew we would have to move quickly so we got on the trail and headed out. The weather was hot and very humid. The first part of the trail to the lean-to starts gradually and then climbs through a rock strewn field. A few nettles dotted the landscape as we ascended the hill. At the top of the first ascent there is a long gradual descent on an old woods road that skirts the Frost Valley property until the side trail to the lean-to. Areas of the trail were muddy with some standing surface water and some running streams. We stopped briefly at the lean-to and then continued on toward the Biscuit Brook crossing.

Crossing Biscuit Brook can be a challenge when the water is high since there is no bridge. Today it was just a matter of finding a few stepping stones since the water level was low despite recent thunderstorms. The trail parallels the brook for a while and gains some elevation. There are wet, swampy areas along the way rife with nettles and briars. Areas of the trail have many rocks that make the footing tricky. Slowly the trail gains elevation with some rather steep places and then level areas. Last time was on the trail it had a lot of blowdown that required some inconvenient detours. Many thanks to whoever was responsible for clearing all but one large log making the trip MUCH easier! At one point the trail rises sharply and then cuts back and forth several times. Glimpses of some of the surrounding mountains are barely visible through the vegetation. At this point the trail levels and, at one point, the sign for 3500 feet appears on a flat area of the trail.

A little further on the trail rises to its highest point, flattens and then begins to descend. The summit for Big Indian is off the trail to the right. I always seem to cut up too early and miss the herd path. This time I stayed on the main path longer and found a very prominent and promising herd path which ... gave out after several hundred feet. I resorted to my usual bushwhacking technique! I always head up until there is no more up and I always go in a straight line. I ended up meeting another herd path and walked about 50 feet directly to the canister! After signing in we turned around and followed the herd path back down. The most prominent path started going a little to far to the right so I headed left and soon was back on the main trail. The hike up is always longer than I remember but the hike back is EVEN LONGER. This was NOT a picture taking excursion or a site-seeing trip. We made the 7.8 miles in exactly 4 hours with only a few stops.

On Sunday, July 29th the weather prediction again was for thunderstorms in the afternoon. I decided to go to Sam's Point since I hadn't been there in some time. My intention was to do the entire loop up to High Point, over to the Verkeerderkill Falls, the Ice caves and then Sam's Point and back. Sheba and I arrived at about 10:15 AM under VERY ominous skies. We headed out quickly to make the most of the hike before the rains came as I was sure they would. We made good time up toward High point stopping at Lake Maratanza to get some pictures. I was not prepared for what I saw at the lake. The water level was down significantly and I was able to walk out to an area normally covered by several feet of water! Back on the path we headed left instead of going around the lake.

I decided to go out to Indian Rock and see all the sites. The boardwalk was unnecessary since there was no water. Everything was SO DRY I wondered what would happened if someone accidentally dropped a match. The path to Indian Rock has been cut out and is easily negotiated. Last time I was there you had to push your way through the encroaching vegetation. The views were too hazy to take many pictures of the surrounding mountains and valleys. I took a few snapshots and then headed back. We turned left on the main carriageway and headed up to High Point. I forgot that to get there you have to hook around from in back. There is also a short but steep climb over some loose rock.

On the path to High Point I followed the red paint marks which, at times, was not easy. We quickly made our way to our destination which is marked by a USGS seal. At this point I was sure that we were about to get a storm. I don't mind getting wet but walking the expose rock escarpment in a lightning storm seemed foolish. I was equally sure that if I returned the way we had come the weather would clear. We turned around and the storm held off. At the lake we headed left around the far side. This gave us a different view of the lake and a chance to head down to the falls or the caves. On this side of the lake there were quite a few people picking blueberries. Despite their efforts there were still many left to ripen for other pickers. When we got to the road down to the caves, we turned left and then left again to the Verkeerderkill Falls.

The path down to the falls drops several hundred feet. Some of the path is an easy walk over cushioned pine needles. Most of it is a torturous walk over stones. The good part was that they were dry and the footing was much better than it has been in the past. As I approached the Verkeerderkill Falls, I could hear the water. When we got to the Verkeerderkill Falls, I was surprised to see only a trickle in the Verkeerder Kill. Almost no water was going over the falls. I was able to stand in an area that is usually 12 to 18 inches under water and take pictures. After a brief rest for a snack and water, I decided to head back the way we had come. On the way back we met several groups going down to the Verkeerderkill Falls. I advised them that there was not much water but that the walk was still worth it.

I decided that I did not want to go to the caves. We were up to almost 12 miles and Sheba has trouble negotiating some of the ladders around the caves. On the way back we stopped by Sam's Point. The views were not spectacular due to the ever present haze. I was surprised that two single engine airplanes ventured out with the low ceiling and limited visibility. Back at the car I checked the GPS and saw we had averaged over 3 mph including our stops!

On Saturday, July 28th the weather prediction called for a greater than 50% chance of severe thunderstorms in the afternoon. In the morning we got a short, but brief, intense thunderstorm right over Livingston Manor. The lightning flashed and the thunder rolled from hill to hill. It was all over in 20 minutes and the skies cleared. We got a late start after visiting with some family passing through town. I decided to take Karl, Kurt, Cindy and Sheba to Westkill since I had not done it in July and neither Karl nor Kurt had been to the summit. We parked on the Spruceton Road and were on the trail at 12:25; a late start indeed.

The trip up the Old Spruceton Road to Diamond Notch Falls went quickly. It was obvious that the rain the day and night before had added significant runoff volume to the Westkill. The water was rushing all along the trail. The volume of water over the falls was as high as I have seen it in some time. We took some pictures at the falls and then resumed out trek. The rain had made many of the rocks along the path slippery and, in a few places, there were patches of nettles. Some areas were damp and muddy. The climb up to the first false summit was uneventful. The weather was warm and very humid so we stopped several times to get a drink.

The trail levels after the first false summit and then actually goes down before rising again toward the Buck Ridge Lookouts. Along the way a "cave" or rock overhand makes a nice place to relax for a moment. I was still concerned about the weather although the sky was only partly cloudy. I also wanted to get home before 6:00 PM so we pushed on. After a gentle uphill course the mountain rises steeply to the Buck Ridge lookouts. Despite the haze the views were, as always, interesting with the Hunter Mountain fire tower clearly visible. We took some time to appreciate the views and take some pictures. The boys and I headed for the summit just .1 miles further up the trail. When we returned, we all headed down the mountain led by Cindy. My wife climbs a little slower than I do but can descend with the best of them. The GPS said about 6 miles when we got back to the car. I think it was longer. We took just about 4 hours including ALL the stops!

On Friday, July 27th Kurt and Karl were both up from Virginia so we decided to get in a quick hike before dinner. Kurt didn't have any hiking shoes so we headed for Morgan Outdoors to get a pair. He has a wide foot so most shoes don't fit well. He settled on a pair of Merrell Chameleons which fit like a slipper but are not waterproof. I'll have to try to find a bargain on a pair of wide, Goretex boots on line! The skies were cloudy and thunderstorms were in the prediction for the entire weekend. We decided to go anyway. The boys were impressed by the new bridge. After signing in at the register we headed up the steeper trail to Mud Pond. From there we turned right and hiked over the hill to Trout Pond. The skies began to get darker and we heard rumbles of thunder. From Trout Pond we hurried back toward the car. As we were climbing the hill from the trail head to the parking area, darkness surrounded us and the wind started to blow. In a few more steps the rain hit us, a few drops at first and then the cloudburst! In a few minutes we were soaked and in a few more we were at the car and the sun was out. We made the 6 mile circuit in under 2 hours. It was great to hike with both my sons again. The weather prediction for Saturday isn't good but we'll have to see what it looks like when we get up.

On Thursday, July 26th I came home from school wanting to get in a hike. I hadn't been to Alder Lake or the Ridge Vista in some time so I grabbed the dog and headed out! The road into Alder Lake needs work! There are large ruts and ridges and rocks sticking up but I took it slow. There were several other cars in the parking area but most were enjoying the "beach" on the lake and not hiking. Sheba and I walked around the lake to the inlet end and jumped on the trail to Balsam Lake. This hike is always a little more challenging and longer than I remember!

Despite some rain Alder Creek was very low although the running water made a pleasant sound as we walked along. In several spot the nettles were growing high and were very green. They seem to be unaffected by the dry weather and only require a little water and some sun. I managed to avoid getting "stung". We passed the first beaver meadow and climbed the hill to the second where the lean-to is located. I walked to the edge of the meadow to take some pictures. The green of the vegetation and the blue of the sky were pretty but I think this area is more beautiful in the fall. The last beaver meadow was also interesting but we pushed on as fast as we could go.

The trail after the beaver meadows winds its way through some damp areas and then climbs for some time. When the climbing is finally done, the elevation is over 3400 feet! Any views from this ridge area are blocked by the leaves. We crossed the short, flat area and descended into the area between the two higher points on the ridge. This final part of the trail ALWAYS deceives me! It is longer than I remember and winds back and forth as it ascends to the Ridge Vista overlooking Beecher Lake. We followed the trail until I though I had missed the viewpoint. This is impossible since it is right on the trail and soon we had arrived! The views down to the monastery are largely occluded by the vegetation. There was a haze handing over even the closer mountains. I took some pictures but didn't expect much

After a SHORT stop, we turned around to retrace our tracks to the car. The return trip is mostly downhill and usually goes VERY quickly. This day was no exception. On the way down we passed another hiker, the only other one we saw this day. He was headed up the trail we had just come down. He had all his camping gear packed and I suggested the Balsam Lake lean-to as a possible camping spot. He agreed and we part ways. I wondered how he would make it through the nettles with shorts and no shirt. The entire 8.6 mile trip was under 4 hours with several stops for pictures.

On Tuesday, July 24th I came home from school wanting to get in a hike before I had to go to an evening meeting. I decided to take Sheba and go to Trout Pond. My intention was to try to cross Russell Brook at the far end and do the entire loop. The last time I was down to this area the water was much too high to even try to cross. In addition, getting down Russell Brook Road is no longer easy because of the many washed out areas that have completely eliminated the road. Sheba and I picked our way down the road carefully and the trip seemed long but not too difficult. I was surprised to find the culvert pipe all the way over on the other "shore" and not spanning the brook. I chose an area slightly upstream to cross and managed to get across with no problem.

From here Sheba and I started a fast walk up the hilly trail. From this end of the trail there is a significant elevation gain climbing toward Mud Pond. The trail was damp in places with several wet spots. These were home to a nice crop of nettles that have overgrown the unused trail! We continued on passed the small beaver pond and up the hill toward Mud Pond. The final part of the approach to Mud Pond was VERY wet and I was glad I had my Asolo Fugitives which shed water well. At Mud Pond we turned left up the hill toward Trout Pond. Along the way there weren't many surprises except for an occasional deer and some partridge. We crested the hill and started to descend toward the Trout Pond inlet and the lean-tos.

At Trout Pondwe continued on the trail without stopping. Passing the outlet we noticed some young people having a "good time" by the outlet. There yelling and splashing in the water served only to disturb the otherwise quiet hike. As we approached the register I decided to go to the falls to take a few pictures. I seem to do this every other time I am at Trout Pond. I just can't resist the waterfalls. This time I went to the base of the lower falls to take some shot. I then climbed the right side of the falls, took some more pictures and then went to the upper falls. I decided to descend into the "hole" below the lower falls even though there wasn't much water. This proved to be a little harder than I though but Sheba and I made it without a problem. I took some pictures and then climbed out of the hole. Back on the road we headed for the car to complete our 7.5 mile hike.

On Sunday, July 22nd my wife and I headed for North South Lake Campgrounds to hike to Stoppel Point. We parked at the Schutt Road parking area at around 11:15 and headed out on the Rock Shelter Trail. The weather was clear and warm and the humidity high. Like so many of the other trails, this one was barely damp in the places that are normally a sea of mud. The first part of the Rock Shelter has a lot a rocks, big and small, to walk over but is relatively flat. After that it ascends gently through hardwood forest as it heads toward the Mary's Glen Trail. At the Mary's Glen Trail we turned left.

The lower parts of Mary's Glen ascends over a series of rocks that are often covered with running water. Little was in evidence this which made the walk easier. This trail has no special features or viewpoints to mention but seemed a little longer than I remembered. After a while it intersects the Escarpment Trail above Badman Cave. This is where the fun begins! The Escarpment trail almost immediately begins to climb over a jumble of rocks and ledges. There are some short but interesting rock scrambles. After this area the trail levels slightly and Newman's Ledge appears on the right. This is the first viewpoint and only hints at what can be seen from further up the trail.

We continued to ascend the Escarpment Trail until the rock ledges of North Point. All of us got up and over the ledges to this wonderful lookout. We stopped at the first viewpoint to look around. We got a snack and a drink and I took some pictures of the lakes and the surrounding hills. The Hudson River is visible but like most other times I have been up to North Point, the views in the distance are obscured by haze. Last time we were on this trail we found that there are some even better or at least different views at several levels on up the trail. We headed toward North Mountain stopping several times along the way. Soon we entered uncharted territory where we had never been before. The trail levels some after North Point since North Mountain is not much higher. Also the trail passes by but not over the highest part of the mountain.

After North Mountain the trail begins to pass through more evergreen forest and you start to gain elevation. As we neared Stoppel Point there were several steep areas some of which required scrambling. Just when I thought that we would never get to Stoppel Point the rocky ledge was right before us. We stopped here for a brief break and I took some pictures. AFTER I put the camera away, Cindy motioned for me to look overhead. A raptor was riding the air currents less than 20 feet above me! By the time I got the camera out he was gone. I waited for his return but to no avail.

We decided to walk to the plane crash on the other side of the plateau. On the way back we stopped briefly at the lookout on the right side of the trail. From that point on we descended quickly passing North Mountain and North Point. By this time there were a few people at each location. We reversed our course back to the car. We covered almost 8 miles in around 4 hours with a good amount of time for stops.

On Saturday, July 21st I got the chance to go on a Catskill 3500 Club hike with Harry Rampe and five other hikers. The plan was to meet at the Denning parking area at 8:00 AM to get an early start. We would then use the Pine Hill East Branch Trail until the junction with the Peekamoose Table Trail. After crossing Deer Shanty Brook we would use the Fisherman's Path along the East Branch of the Neversink until we turned to go up Lone or Rocky. Some people were a little late in arriving but its hard to blame those that are driving from Albany or Long Island! We set off just before 8:30 AM. I noticed that an ADK group was signed into the trail register for bridge work. I wondered if we could still use the bridge and what improvements they were planning.

We walked and talked as we hiked along the trails and were soon at the Deer Shanty Bridge. The crew was working an the improvements and had separated the two logs. After some talk, we walked across the wider of the two logs using the cable the crew had erected for guidance. Sheba used the narrow log! We continued on the trail and across the East Branch where other crew members were hard at work. A little more trail walking brought us to the Fisherman's Path where we turned left. The path is very obvious and winds its way along both sides of the river. We crossed and recrossed where it looked like the path on the side we were on would be too steep or was overgrown. The water is very low and the crossing were not too much of a problem. There are some very nice places to camp along the way and we did see one couple cooking a meal. From a beaver meadow on the path Harry pointed to a high spot on the shoulder of Slide that is a nice place to camp. Further on are some areas where the river has cut into the rocks and is just beautiful.

After a little less than three miles, we turned right away from the river and started up Rocky. This requires some careful choices to find the easiest path possible without going too far afield. I was ahead with Harry scouting the path and Sheba, I though, was bringing up the rear with the last hikers. After about half a mile we stopped and Sheba was nowhere to be found. I hadn't realized she had disappeared while I was talking. I started back down our route calling her name. The longer I called the more worried I became. I went back up toward the group to see of she was there but they had not seen her! I told them to go on and I headed back down the path again calling for my dog. As I got almost to the river Sheba showed up trotting toward me. I HAVE NOT BEEN THAT HAPPY IN SOME TIME! She did not explain what she had done. I explained to her carefully that she had me worried sick and should NEVER do that again. For the rest of the hike she stayed by my side, slightly behind or slightly ahead.

I decided that we could probably catch the group at the canister on Rocky so we took off at our fast pace. I basically ignored finding the easy path and just head up and south or southeast. Nearing the top I heard some voices and saw what I though was our group. It turned out to be two other men descending from Rocky. Sheba and I pressed on through some DENSE spruce. I heard voices and found the group at the canister. After a rest period, we continued on. The hike down toward Lone is full of rocks and fallen trees which make it difficult to find a path and make much headway. We did eventually break out into more open forest but that immediately disappeared. As we approached Lone, it was obvious that there were several vertical or very steep rock ledges to work around. I personally enjoy this adventure and took the point to scout the best way. I found several "creases" in the ledges and kept working upwards. The terrain finally leveled some and I found a clear herd path that meandered upwards. This path lead directly to the canister! We all signed in and then turned left or south on a path to a viewpoint. The viewpoint is a small rock ledge where only two people can stand but it has some excellent views. Rocky, Table and Peekamoose are all visible in the foreground. We spent some time here and then headed down off Lone.

This, again, is a true bushwhack where the rule of the day is try to find the easiest path but don't be surprised if there isn't one! I headed down and tried to keep going east or to my left. I was trying to get over to Donovan Brook which is an easier way to get down to the river. I didn't get far enough east despite my best efforts. After a long, difficult descent we were at the river. We were considerably further upstream than we would have liked but at least we were back on a path. We stepped up our pace and followed roughly the same route we had taken out. The bridge crew was hard at work and had the logs back together. The lack of any cable or handhold seemed daunting to some at first but we all made it across. We were now on a trail and our cars were calling. By the time we got to the parking lot it was after 5:00 PM. We had hiked about 10 miles in 8.5 hours. This is typical of bushwhacking with a group. I can go faster by myself but being with others is more fun!

On Friday, July 20th I wanted to get some exercise even though the skies were getting darker all the time and the prediction was for rain. Sheba and I headed for Trout Pond and the skies over Roscoe looked even more ominous. As we drove up Morton Hill Road toward the parking area at the top of Russell Brook Road, the skies cleared to blue with only a few clouds. I was aware of the unpredictability of this kind of weather and wanted to get a quick hike in without getting soaked!

From a previous trip I was aware that the DEC had contracted for the bridge near the falls to be replaced. The steel skeleton was there the last time we hiked. This time the bridge was decked and completed. The temporary steel plates across the brook had been removed and things looked at lot better. I still question the need for such a robust bridge. I signed us in at the register and we headed up toward Trout Pond. We continued on around walking very quickly. The weather was threatening but we made it back to the register without getting wet. Not wanting to tempt fate, I took only a few pictures of the falls on the way out. Another quick but satisfying 2 hour walk with the dog covering 6 miles!

On Tuesday, July 17th I got the chance to introduce another person to the joys of Catskill hiking. Jack Strassman is my principal at Liberty High School. We met at my house and drove to the Balsam Lake Mountain parking area with Sheba in the back. There were no other cars in the parking lot and we got on the trail at about 3:15. Jack has been running and working out and seemed to be handling the trail well until we turned up the steep side of Balsam Lake. We slowed down a little here since nothing quite prepares you for the experience of you first 3500.

We made good progress up the steep slope and stopped for a short time at the 3500 foot mark and at the spring. We continued on up to the top of the climb where the trail levels. From here we increased our pace and were soon at the tower. We were the only people around so I left Sheba on the ground and headed up the tower. There was haze in the distance but the views were impressive as always. Jack seemed to appreciate the panoramic splendor. After returning to the ground, we headed down the other side of the mountain and back to the car completing our 4 mile trip. Jack said that he liked it enough to go again.

On Sunday, July 15th I wanted a quick hike after church. The weather looked like it might rain and rain was in the forecast. I decided to do Balsam Lake, the closest 35 to my house, since I had not done it in July! On the way up the Beaverkill Road I saw the biggest 10-point whitetail deer I have ever seen! Sheba and I arrived at the parking area at 1:55 to find several cars in the lot. One truck was from New Jersey Search and Rescue. Several volunteers from this organization man the Balsam Lake Fire Tower. When I signed in at the register, I saw it was Rich Roller and his girlfriend.

I wanted to get up and down before the rain so Sheba and I pushed ourselves. We were at the trail cutoff in 15 minutes and made the tower in 40 minutes! Along the way we met one person coming down and another going up a the top several people were enjoying the view from the tower or relaxing before heading back. The only disadvantage to taking Sheba along is that I cannot go up the tower if other people are present. I would have liked to see the view but I have seen it before and the day was cloudy. I took a picture of the tower and headed down the other side.

I stopped by the cabin to talk to Rich's girlfriend. She is also part of the Search and Rescue Team. We talked some about that topic and then switched to hiking. We shared several stories about hikes and routes. Sheba became impatient and we were off again. On the way down a view of Graham Mountain opened up so I took a picture. The trip back seems shorter every time I hike it. The rain held off and the sky actually brightened as we approached the parking area. We did our 4 miles in around 2 hours!

On Saturday, July 14th I had planned to do a longer hike than I normally do. The problem was that I have been doing these longer hikes a lot lately! I had just completed both the Blacks and the Devil's Path in June and wanted to leave a little more time before a repeat performance in July. I decided to go to Spruceton and try a combination of Rusk, Hunter, Southwest Hunter and Westkill. I knew I probably would not get them ALL in especially with two bushwhacks on the list and planned to take one at a time! I had some chores to do in the morning which could not be done before 8:00 AM and so we got a late start. Sheba and I got to the parking area and 10:15 AM and there were already a few cars there. A group was just starting out but their shorts made it clear they were NOT going to bushwhack Rusk. Within minutes of arriving we were off headed for the switchback on the Spruceton Trail and the cutoff for Rusk Mountain. The map above shows the entire route that we used.

At the switchback on the Spruceton Trail we turned northwest (left) and crossed Hunter Brook with no problem. There was barely a trickle of water flowing over the rocks. At this point a small tributary comes down the mountain. We stayed to the east of this dry rock bed although in the past I have walk directly up and down it. At first the going was real-time easy. Later, the slope is MUCH steeper and the blowdown and other vegetation much thicker. Where the sunlight can get through, the nettles have grown to new heights and are flourishing! Many times going toward the light spelled disaster! There is really no trick to this bushwhack except heading UP and then DOWN! Near the top we had to negotiate around several rocky areas and ledges. When we finally got to the top, we wander some since the canister was not at the highest point marked on my GPS. Eventually we found the canister in a small "clearing" on a herd path. It was painted red. We took a break and then started back down. I was not sure whether it was better to follow the same path as I used on the way up or hit the drainage channel. I noticed that Sheba seemed to have a plan so I followed her. Sheba followed the EXACT path down that we had come up. I knew this since I could see the path through the nettles and places where I had fallen. The GPS also confirmed this. Whenever I though Sheba was a little off track I looked at the GPS and she was right.

When we returned to the Spruceton Trail, we turned left and began the gradual uphill walk to the point where the Spruceton Trail to Hunter leaves the Old Spruceton Road. It seemed like a long walk but we were soon there we stopped for a snack and a drink and then started up the trail. I was still tired from Rusk and the sign that proclaimed 1110 feet elevation gain in 1.7 miles was not too encouraging. Some of places on the initial climb are steep, the ground is still very dry and there are a lot of loose rocks. This makes for some nasty hiking conditions but I recovered some by the time we reached the spring. Sheba got a drink and we took some pictures before continuing. In just .3 miles we were at the Colonel's Chair trail. By this time I knew that I just didn't have the heart to try any more peaks. I did promise myself that I would go out to the Colonel's Chair since I had been passed the trail many times without venturing.

In about another mile we were within shouting distance of the tower. I knew this since I could hear people talking and a dog barking. On the way we passed several hikers coming down and a trail runner. Some places near the top are a little steep but they alternate with flat areas. We visited the lookout just before the top and then pressed on to the tower. There were several groups of there and one large black dog. Sheba tried to make friends but the other dog bared its teeth. The one drawback of bringing Sheba is that I cannot ascend any towers when people or people with dogs are around. I consider this a small price to pay. We continued on toward the Becker Hollow Trail to see what shape it was in. I hoped by the time I returned the people with the unfriendly dog would be gone. When we returned, they were still there and we headed back down the Spruceton Trail.

At the yellow-blazed spur to the Colonel's Chair we turned and began our descent. This trail starts as a tangle of roots and rocks. I wasn't clear HOW FAR it descended until I looked on the map and determined it was between 400 and 500 feet over a mile. I decided to continue and soon the trail becomes a dirt road. Trails with colored placards and numbers branch off this road. They are used for hiking and biking in the summer and for snow shoeing in the winter. After a short walk a space opened to the left. I examined the area and found it to be a stone quarry. A little further on the right I noticed what looked like a viewpoint and was surprised to find a sculpture of Rip VanWinkle. The viewpoint looks out on the surrounding hills and down into the valley that holds the Village of Hunter.

As we continued back on the road a radio tower appeared and just after that the first of several ski lifts. The views from this area are breathtaking. I stood at the top of several ski lifts and ski slopes looking down into the valleys below. I don't think any pictures can really capture what I saw. I took many pictures down the slopes and of the surrounding hills. I also shot some photos down into the village. After we had exhausted every possible vantage point, it was time to climb back to the main trail. This was a significant climb but it went quickly. This side trip was well worth the extra effort. Sheba and I were back at the car after a little less than 7 hours of hiking around 11 miles.

On Thursday, July 12th I wanted to hike after summer school but was tired of the flat walks that I usually use. I decided to try Giant Ledge and Panther since the weather was fine and the forecast favorable. I came home, changed, packed up, grabbed the dog and left. We parked at about 2:15 PM and there were several cars and a few people in the lot. We got right on the trail and the register showed three or four groups still hiking. The showers of the days before were the result of a cold front and the weather was cooler and less humid than earlier in the week. I knew we were moving but I was surprised to find we got to the trail junction in 15 minutes! We were really moving although I didn't feel rushed.

As we turned at the trail junction, we met our first group of people headed down from the Ledges. Sheba and I turned and kept up our pace even through the steeper parts of the trail. We met one women along the way and talked to her until she stopped at the spring. We continued and met two boys on point for a family of five. As we neared the first viewpoint we heard a lot of yelling. I listened to make sure it was not a cry for help. It was a rather small group of obnoxious children who didn't know that many people hike for the quiet "noise" of the woods. We bypassed this spot and headed for another. We stopped at one ledge and I took some pictures. There was some haze but less than the last few times I had been on Giant Ledge. As we passed another viewpoint a young women was relaxing. We said hello and then pushed on.

I didn't expect to find many more people as we descended into the col between the Ledges and Panther. The ascent up Panther is steep in places but the distance to get to it is short so I usually feel fresh. On one of the steeper parts we met another hiker coming down. We exchanged some thoughts with him and then were off again. Near the top of Panther the blowdown has been cleared from the path but the destruction is evident. We stopped at the summit to get a drink and take a few pictures and then turned around. We kept a quick pace down the trail until the Ledges. Here we met the young women from before and another women just getting ready to return. I stopped to take some pictures of Panther and other surrounding mountains. I also shot some along the Ledges. At the next viewpoint we met the man we had first seen on Panther. He must have taken a LONG rest. I took some more pictures and left before he did. On the way down we caught and passed the two young women. The whole 5.7 mile trip took us less than 3 hours!

On Tuesday, July 10th I wanted to take a quick walk after summer school. I had actually planned to do Giant Ledge and Panther Mountain but the weather prediction had been changed to include possible violent thunderstorms. I thought it was better to stay nearer to home and chose the long route around Frick Pond and Hodge Pond. Sheba and I arrived at the parking area and 1:15 and immediately started out on the Frick Pond Trail. At Frick Pond we went left and followed the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel junction and then on to Junkyard Junction. Here we turned right on the Flynn Trail and headed for Hodge Pond. These trails are always wet but today they were only damp in places. There was a decent swarm of mosquitoes that insisted on biting me. About halfway up the Quick trail I had enough and applied some of the new Ultrathon. From this point on NO MOSQUITOES LANDED on any part of me where I had applied the repellent!

At Hodge Pond we turned left to go around the pond to get the maximum distance possible. This trail is clearly marked as a jeep trail on the GPS maps. On the other side of the pond we went left and climbed a short hill to the Beech Mountain Trail which is marked as Beech Mountain Road on the maps. In a short while this rejoins the Flynn Trail which leads directly back to the car. At the junction with Big Rock Trail, Sheba came back to stand by me. This usually means people are approaching. In this case, I saw a small, spotted fawn running away from us down the Flynn Trail. What a dog! We continued on down the trail and back to the parking lot. We covered nearly 6 miles in around 2 hours and 15 minutes although it did not seem like we were rushing.

On Sunday, July 8th Cindy and I decided to see if we could get up Morton Hill Road to Trout Pond. We ate at Peez Leweez as usual, grabbed Sheba and then headed for Trout Pond arriving at the upper parking area at about 1:15. The road was in good shape showing no effects from the recent flooding in Colchester. Work is still continuing on the bridge replacement at the beginning of the trail. There is no a large steel frame erected and in place near the site of the old bridge. It is VERY impressive and MUCH larger than the old bridge. The bridge only requires decking and grading for the proper access but I don't know what other work is intended.

We decided to walk the trail to Trout Pond first which makes the beginning of the hike only slightly uphill and the end of the hike all downhill. It does make the middle part a little more challenging. On the way up the trail we began to notice a series of large trees uprooted on both sides of the trail. These were all new and some were twisted and snapped off. This continued the entire way to Trout Pond. Perhaps this is some evidence of the storm that dumped 6 to 8 inches of rain on the Town of Colchester! At the pond there was one group camping on the far side. The pond still showed signs of beaver activity but the water level was down due to the lack of rain. Crossing the inlet barely required the stepping stones.

We headed up the trail and over Cherry Ridge toward Mud Pond. The day was warm but beautiful with birds singing everywhere. At Mud Pond we took the let and headed back toward the trail register. The trail is normally wet in places but this time was dry for almost the entire length. We cross Russell Brook on the makeshift metal plates and headed back up Russell Brook road. I stopped to take some pictures of the upper falls and an evergreen tree that seemed to be the victim of a recent lightning strike. We finished the 6 mile hike in under 2 and half hours which is our usual pace.

On Saturday, July 7th I wanted to do something LONG but closer to home. I was thinking of doing the Burroughs Loop AGAIN but I really dislike the Woodland Valley side of Wittenberg. It always seems so long coming up from the Valley. I though about reversing the loop which I had never done. I settled on the idea of hiking from the Slide Parking Area to Wittenberg and back! I calculated about 11 miles and five peaks. I had never gone from Slide through to Wittenberg and this sounded like a long and challenging approach. I was concerned about getting myself and Sheba DOWN some of the steeper places that we have come UP in the past. We arrived in the parking area at 9:30 AM to find a larger number of cars and a big group of people. As we were getting ready to hike, the group got in some cars and left! We never saw them again!

My first big surprise came after I signed in at the register and headed for the West Branch of the Neversink. I though that it might be a little high to cross after the last few days of rain. It was TOTALLY dry! Not a drop of water anywhere. The small tributary up the path was following but it was easy to step across the stones. Most of the water we found anywhere on the hike was simply pooled on the surface from the rains or surface runoff. Even the spring on Slide which is normally reliable was almost dry. This emphasizes that it has been a dry spring and summer so far in the mountains! As we made the turn onto the woods road that leads to the trail up slide, we met our first group of hikers. This turned out to be the first of MANY! All three mountains had people all over them going in both directions. I saw more people on this one hike than I have seen all season.

Sheba and I didn't really hurry but we were at the top of Slide in an hour and fifteen minutes. Above 3700 feet there was still evidence of the April storms that caused so much devastation in their wake. All the branches and trees that blocked the trail have been cleared to the side but the dead vegetation serves as a grim reminder. There is now a hint of a view to your left all the way up the trail. We passed a summer ranger at the very top of Slide near the anchor for the old fire tower. Another hiker was in the cleared, grassy area near the rocky outcropping at the lookout. I exchanged a quick greeting with both of them. It was possible to see some views from the lookout but just barely. We quickly headed down the other side of Slide toward the spring.

This part of the trail is also cleared and there were no obstructions down to the spring. Sheba adapted well to descending the wooden steps and handled some of the steeper, shorter drops well. At the spring we ran into a group of three young men trying to get some water out of the spring. There wasn't much to be had but Sheba got a quick drink. We talked for a minute and then Sheba and I headed on down into the col between Slide and Cornell. Along the way there are some very steep areas but Sheba managed to go around these, run down them or jump. In most cases she was at the bottom waiting for me. We could here what sounded like hikers ahead of us but didn't see anyone. There were only a few damp areas in the col and some wetter spots on the ascent up Cornell. No one was camped at the designated areas. As we started to ascend Cornell we did catch up to a father and twos sons. They also had there golden retriever along but Sheba said hello and we passed by quickly.

Near the top of this ascent is a rather long drop coming from the other direction. I was wondering how I would make it up and was also concerned about the dog. My reservations were misplaced as both of us made it up quickly. We walked out to the lookout on Cornell and met another hiker who had come up from Slide. He was getting ready to return while we pushed on to Wittenberg. We got a quick snack and drink and left just as the group we had met on the way up approached. In a few minutes we faced our big test of the day. This is an almost vertical "chimney" on the other side of Cornell. Sheba had scrambled UP this with relative ease this time. When we got to this formation, I went down the side were a narrow ledge and short drop offer an alternative way down. I tried very hard to encourage Sheba in every way to come down the crack in the rock but she refused. I walked away thinking she would follow but that did not work. I offered to help but she refused. At some point a group of four young men and women arrived and offered some help but I told them I hoped to find another way. After they passed, I climbed back to the top and threw a dog biscuit down. This was all the encouragement Sheba needed and she scrambled after the bone and then to the bottom. I went back down and we were on our way to Wittenberg

The distance to Wittenberg is less than a mile and the descent and subsequent ascent fairly easy. There are areas that are almost flat punctuated by a few short scrambles. Along the way we met another man hiking solo. We quickly made it to Wittenberg where there must have been more than a dozen hikers relaxing. The view was good if a little hazy and the sun was warm but not oppressive. Sheba and I both had a drink and a snack. I took quite a few pictures. A very nice women offered us each a cookie which we accepted. After this brief pause, we turned around and headed back toward Cornell. The first part of the return trip is pretty easy until the vertical chimney on Cornell. We both got up this with no problem and assisted a group behind us. We stopped again only briefly at the lookout on Cornell and took some pictures before pressing on.

On the Slide side of Cornell I took some pictures as the day was about as clear as it gets. Sheba hesitated on one of the jumps down but I helped her and we were off. The descent into the col was easy and we were soon headed up Slide. Here we met a group of three people with climbing gear. They had hoped to climb at Giant Ledge but found the cliffs too overgrown. Now they were headed for Wittenberg to see if there was a place to climb. We continued up Slide with both of us having quite a bit of energy left. The few steep ascents did not seem to be a problem and we were soon at the spring which we bypassed. Sheba found a way to climb the wooden steps without a problem and we got through the rest of the scrambles quickly. At the lookout there was one hiker seemingly asleep so I took a few pictures and we headed down. Going down slide we met two or three more groups coming up. At the lookout on the way down we met a young couple and the girl swore that her mother had a dog just like Sheba. I didn't tell her there was NO dog just like Sheba! We caught up to the group doing the loop about halfway down Slide and escorted them to the parking area. They had no map so I described how to get back to Woodland Valley. We were back at almost exactly 4:30 making it a 7 hour trip for 10 miles. That seems slow but we spent plenty of time talking and taking pictures!

On Tuesday, July 3rd I went to school early in the morning to get my room ready for summer school. This took a little longer than I thought. When I got home, I decided to do a more "local" hike and chose Graham and Balsam Lake. My wife decided to come along and we headed up the Beaverkill Road and parked at around 11:15. My plan was to hike Graham first and then Balsam Lake on the way back. The weather was partly sunny and in the high 60's or low 70's. We got started right away on the blue-blazed Dry Brook Trail and made good time to the first and then second junction with the red-blazed Balsam Lake Trail.

Just passed the second trail junction is an obvious path that leads to Graham Mountain. Since this mountain is on private land very little has been done to clear any of the blowdown that obscures the path. Most of these areas now have walkarounds to avoid them. In several places the trail has been obscured for some distance so we had to be careful to stay on the main path. Sheba helps a lot since she can usually find the path. The path to Graham actually descends before gently climbing again. As we neared the base of the mountain the climb became steeper and steeper. All the areas that are normally wet were only damp and the damp areas were dry. The final climb was difficult since there were a lot of branches and vegetation growing across the path.

After a last push up the steep and overgrown path, we reached the top in about 2 hours and 15 minutes. The views were as usual although the tower on Balsam Lake was more clearly visible. The black flies were thick especially when we stopped. We got a drink, ate a snack, took some pictures and started back. After a short walk down the slope, we stopped at a lookout on the right on the path and took some pictures. By the time we fought our way to the bottom of the path, both of use were tired. We decided that Balsam Lake is close enough that we would leave it for another day. We finished a little less than 8 miles in four and a half hours with plenty of time for breaks.

On Monday, July 2nd I wanted to try to hike Windham from the Big Hollow Rd parking area. My wife and I had tried this several times and were defeated. It also looked like a more interesting approach than from Peck Road. Sheba and I got in the car and headed out DeBruce Road. As we were going down the hill passed Round Pond, I saw a large shaggy ... bear in the road. He was young, probably last year's cub, and ran down the road and then up into the woods. What a way to start! parked at Big Hollow around 10:15 and found only one car in the lot. We headed right out and had no trouble crossing the small tributary to Batavia Kill. We kept a quick pace up to the Escarpment Trail and then turned left toward Burnt Knob. The climb up Burnt Knob went fast and we were soon at the lookout. I took no pictures since I have taken MANY from the same spot.

We walked across Burnt Knob and started down the other side. A brief glimpse of Windham was all we could see through the leaves. The descent was steep but short and the trail continued to rise and fall with one more short descent to the col between Burnt Knob and Windham. Along the way a distinct path to the right caught my eye and I took it to find a large, open rock ledge. The views from this ledge to the north and northeast were spectacular! I found myself wishing that I could really distinguish the buildings and peaks in the distance. Since Windham is the northernmost Catskill peak, these mountains were much farther north and east. Along the way we met a young couple coming from the Peck Road access. They were attempting to do an 18 mile loop over Windham and the Blacks and then by road back to their car. They seemed to know what they were doing so I wished them good luck!

The ascent up Windham appeared daunting at first until I realized that there were a number of switchbacks and that the trail avoided climbing over the numerous rocky ledges. As I neared the top another lookout appeared right off the trail to the right. I continued on and another lookout appeared. I was still not at the top so I continued on to the place so designated by my GPS. I now realize that I had missed the best part of Windham when I came up from the Peck Road approach. I had stopped at the highest point and though that there were no really views! I turned around and went back to both lookouts to be treated to some of the nicest views in the Catskills! The scenery was similar to the lookout where I had stopped along the trail but the higher elevation made it even more dramatic. We ate some lunch and had a drink. I took a LOT of pictures and then we turned around to retrace our steps.

When we arrived at the Black Dome trail that would lead us back to the car, we both had some energy left so I decided to go up and over Acra Point to the Batavia Kill Trail on the other side and then back to the car. I remember this route as being long and tiring from our snowshoe excursion this passed winter. This time it was actually rather short and easy! At the trail junction I went straight ahead on the Escarpment Trail and headed toward Blackhead Mountain. I had not been on this part of the trail for a long time and very quickly wondered if I had made a mistake. This part of the Escarpment Trail begins to ascend almost immediately. It does level out after the first ascent and then becomes VERY STEEP. It rises around 1300 feet in less than one mile. Sheba had little trouble because, although it is steep, the trail never really becomes vertical. It is, however, unrelenting until you reach the top.

Near the top of the trail I heard voices and called the dog to stay near me. As we got to the summit we again met the same young couple we had met before! Sheba and I had hiked all the way up to Windham and back and had still caught up with them. It was midafternoon, so after a quick drink Sheba and I continued. The couple said that they would be continuing on their 18 mile adventure. I wondered about the advisability of their plan since they still had two major peaks, the hike out to Barnum Road and a long road walk to go! Sheba and I too the Blackhead Mountain Trail toward Lockwood Gap stopping just briefly to get some pictures of Black Dome and the surrounding valley. Once at the gap we hurried down the trail to get back to the car in about 5 and a half hours for the 11 mile journey.

On Sunday, July 1st we checked out of the Winwood Inn by 10:00 AM. We all were driving separate cars which allowed the others to return home and rest. I, however, had read about Colgate Lake and Stoppel Point in several guide books and wanted to do this hike. I estimated that it would be around 12 miles but that much of it was flat with a gentle rise. The only downer was that I didn't have Sheba along! Since I had not been to this location before, it took me a little time to find the third parking lot. This lot was the one on the left immediately after Colgate Lake. The lake was closed and it looked like MAJOR work was being done to refit the dam and landscape some of the surrounding area. When I parked there was one other car in the lot. The windows were open and somebody was inside taking a nap..I hope. I went to the gate at the end of the parking lot and immediately saw the yellow trail markers of the Colgate Lake Trail. This is an interesting name since the trail goes AWAY from Colgate Lake!

For several miles this trail virtually flat and consists of different woods roads connected by trails. The trail starts at the gate in the parking area and then meanders through a meadow with nice views of the surrounding hills. The weather was mostly sunny with only a few puffy clouds in the sky. The trail winds its way around Lake Capra, an inholding, and passed another unnamed body of water. After about two and a half miles a short trail lead off to the left and I took it. The trail open to a beaver meadow after only a few feet. The beaver meadow was beautiful and I think the mountain I saw must have been Blackhead. The contrasts of the colors was stunning! Just passed this area is an active beaver pond and the trail goes around the pond. The appearance of the pond is almost southern with trees hanging low and mossy hanging from the trees. Further up the trail are some paths off to the right. I took one of these and then made my own when it gave out. I was rewarded by a small waterfall with a pool at its base. The weather has been so dry that ether was hardly any water going over the falls but this secluded area has still pretty.

From this point on the trail begins to ascend but very gently toward Dutcher's Notch. The remaining distance is just a little over two miles. This route served as the best way for the settlers of the Jewett Valley to go to the markets in Catskill. I noticed immediately that the terrain was more rugged with large boulders and rock walls on both sides. To the right is the escarpment and to the immediate left is a deep ravine. Further to the left is another prominent ridge of land. The area is beautiful but offers no views of the surrounding countryside even as I approached the Notch. At the Notch there is a four-way intersection. The Dutcher's Notch Trail goes straight ahead. The blue-blazed Escarpment Trail turns left toward Windham or right toward Stoppel Point. We turned right.

The climb begins almost immediately as you ascend from the Notch to the Escarpment. This trail is above and roughly parallel for a short while to the Colgate Lake Trail that I was on to get to the Notch. After a short distance, the trail flattens and then rolls up and down for some time. There is always a hint of a view especially on the left but nothing actually presents itself until after a little over a mile. Here is a large rock shelf some call Milt's Lookout. This viewpoint offers a panoramic view to the north and northeast. The day has a little hazy and it hard for me to identify the clusters of building and the mountains I saw in the distance. I did see an elongated body of water which I believe was the Hudson. The trail remains level for a short distance and then begins to climb up to Stoppel Point which at 3420 feet is nearly another 3500 foot peak!

The climb isn't very long but is steep in places. I was fooled several times into thinking that the climb ahead would be very steep. In these instances, the trail made use of switchbacks to avoid directly assaulting the steepest areas. As I neared the top of the climb, the wreckage of a two-seater Piper Cub came into view. Unlike other Catskill wrecks which require careful searching, this one is right on the left of the trail. There is a lot of the plane remaining but I did not see any evidence of an engine. The history of the wreck is recorded on the NTSB website. After taking some pictures, we continue on up to the plateau that is Stoppel Point. There is a small lookout on the right of the trail near the high point mark on my GPS. When I reached the high point on the GPS, there were still no significant views that I had read about in the guidebooks. I decided to continue for a short distance.

I was very glad I decided to continue since I quickly came upon a DEC signpost another open rock ledge with more views of the surrounding valley. Again, the haze made it hard to distinguish what I was seeing in the distance. I talked to two young men who had hiked up from North South Lake. I let them know about the plane crash. After a short picture break, Sheba and I turned around and headed back the way we had come. The trip back was uneventful and we kept a rapid pace. We covered between 10 and 11 miles in 5 hours and 15 minutes total time. The hiking time was quite a bit shorter on the way back since the picture breaks were many on the way out!

On Saturday, June 30th we were staying at the Winwood Inn in Windham for Karl's wedding. One option for a morning activity was a short hike. I chose to take some family members up to Acra Point and Burnt Knob. The hike was planned to be short and easy but scenic to accommodate a few people who were not in the best hiking shape. As it turned out these people slept in and did NOT come on the hike. The weather was beautiful and we started off at about 8:!5 from the hotel. We were at the trailhead and hiking before 9:00 AM. The crossing of the Batavia Kill tributary was easy and the Black Dome Trail had been cleared of all blowdowns. We made quick work of the hike to the Escarpment Trail where we turned right toward Acra Point.

We quickly scaled the trail to the viewpoints just before Acra Point. There were some steep places but nothing too hard. The view down the Black Dome Valley was beautiful and the Blackhead Range is always impressive. Today I felt you could almost reach out and touch those mountains they seemed so close! We spent some time relaxing, taking pictures and talking before heading back. Most of the group elected to go back to the parking area but Karl and I headed for Burnt Knob. This was mostly to add a little time to the hike since the views from the lookout there are very much the same as from Acra Point.

Karl and I moved quickly up the Escarpment Trail through the steeper section and a switchback. There are some pretty nice views along the way but some are blocked by leaves now on the trees. We made the top of the trail and headed left on the short spur to the lookout. The view was nice and we were surprised when a golden retriever showed up to say hello. The owner followed very shortly coming from the direction on Windham. He said they had just seen a bear and headed off with his dog. After a few more minutes Karl and I retraced our steps back down to the junction with the Black Dome Trail and then to the car. We spent a little less than two hours hiking 3 miles but it was fun being with him before his wedding!

On Thursday, June 28th thunderstorms were predicted all day but I wanted to get and do a short hike. My sons were home and Karl had "errands" to do for his Saturday wedding. Kurt was game for a walk so we decided to go to Frick and Hodge ponds. We got started a little after noon since they didn't get in from Virginia until 2:15 AM. It looked like most of the showers were sliding to the south and I judged it worth the risk.

We parked and started walking up the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. The grass was very wet from the rain and I was surprised that my new Merrell Mid Wrap XCR were allowing some water to get through to my feet. Kurt was wearing a pair on trail running shows and his feet were soaked in minutes. We quickly came to the top of the Flynn Trail at the junction with Big Rock and continued straight ahead toward the pond. Just before the downhill to the pond we bore to the right toward the Sullivan County High Point. At the junction with the trail that leads down to Hodge we turned left and continue down to the outlet end of the pond. We didn't try the loop around the pond since the skies were still cloudy and our time limited. We stopped for some pictures at Hodge and then picked up the Flynn Trail back to the Big Rock junction

At the junction we turned right onto Big Rock and then walked down the long hill to Times Square. Here we turned left and headed for Frick. Since Frick Pond is not visible from the trail, we walked down to the pond. The dog got a drink and got wet. I took some pictures. We went back the way we had come and then walked back to the parking area. Rain threatened for the whole two hours but we stayed dry for the 6.5 mile hike.

On Tuesday, June 26th I had almost decided to take it easy and do some chores around the house. A look at the prediction of storms for the next few days changed my mind. I didn't want to drive too far so Sheba and I headed for McKinley Hollow to hike Eagle and Balsam. There were two things I remembered about this hike that proved to be true. The trail up to the col is VERY STEEP. There is nothing interesting about the peaks at all! The only reason to climb these mountains is to say that you did it.

We got out of the car an immediately crossed the stream on a bridge. The red blazed trail leads up to the Col between the two mountains. The first water crossing had large stones that were dry and it was easy to step from one to the other to cross. Many of the rocks along the trail were damp from the heavy dew and fog. This meant slip-sliding was the rule of the day. In just over half a mile we were at the lean-to. Just passed the lean-to the trail turns left and crosses the stream again. This is VERY POORLY marked and overgrown with nettles. Be sure to make this turn. From this point the trail ascends through fields of nettles! The trail is not too popular so some of the nettles grow right on the trail. In addition, the trail becomes VERY STEEP at times. The thought of abandoning the whole hike always crosses my mind! There is a nice brook in the ravine next to the trail.

As we got near the top of the trail it levels off as it approaches the col. I looked up at one point to see a small black bear walking down the trail toward us. Sheba stood her ground and started a primal growl I had never heard before. The bear stopped and then bolted away as Sheba began to bark. Sheba obeyed me and did NOT follow or approach the bear. This was the most exciting part of the trip! At the col I decided to turn left and do Eagle first. There is not much to tell about the trip out. It is around two miles of walking. There is a slight ascent of Haynes Mountain at 3420 feet and then a drop into the col between the two. The ascent up Eagle has a few climbs over rocks but nothing very exciting. The highest point on Eagle appears to be off the trail to the right. I followed the informal paths made by hikers until my GPS said that I was at the highest spot. It looked a lot like every other place around me!

Back on the main trail we stopped for a few pictures, a snack and a drink. On the way down Eagle I heard some crashing in the brush off to our left. It was another and much LARGER bear ... headed in the opposite direction. A couple of barks from Sheba encouraged it to keep going. The trip back to the col was quicker but we were both tired. I almost called it a day but remembered that the .65 miles to Balsam aren't very difficult. He kept going straight up the trail to Balsam and then turned around and walked back to the col. The turned left and headed back to the parking area. Almost 9 miles in a little over 5 hours satisfied me!

On Monday, June 25th I wanted to back up the long hike from the day before with another challenging hike that included several peaks but covered less distance. I chose to hike Black Dome, Thomas Cole and Blackhead. These peaks are numbers 3, 4 and 5 in elevation in the Catskills! Sheba and I didn't get started as early as I hoped and got to the Big Hollow parking area just before 10:00 AM. I just wasn't really awake and had nagging aches and pains from the day before. I hoped these would resolve themselves as we hiked. The day was warmer than the previous day and more humid. From the parking area we walked up the road and got on the Batavia Kill Trail for a short distance to the junction with the Black Dome Trail. I hadn't been up these peaks on that trail for a while. I wanted the quickest way to bag these peaks and doing a "T" up this trail is it! The Batavia Kill Trail is often wet with both standing and running water. Today it was mostly dry.

The Black Dome trail starts as a wide trail with many loose rocks. It becomes progressively steeper with few level spots to help catch your breath. Above the spring the trail narrows and these are fewer loose rocks. As you ascend a series of switchbacks moderates the steepness of the climb but adds distance to your hike. As you turn on the first switchback the silhouette of Blackhead rises immediately in front of you. Whenever I see the outline of this mountain my first thought is, "I'm going to hike THAT!" The switchbacks carry the trail up to the col between Blackhead and Black Dome. I decided this time to do Black Dome and Thomas Cole first. We turned right a the col and began the ascent of Black Dome

This trail has a little bit of everything! There are very few flat spots. There are areas of loose dirt to slip and slide on. There are narrow places where you can barely fit your feet side by side. There are short, steep rock scrambles. The reward for your trouble is a beautiful viewpoint over Blackhead and the Black Dome Valley on your way up. At the top another rock ledge offers spectacular views to the south and a nice place to stop for water, a snack and pictures. We stopped briefly and then pressed on to Thomas Cole.

The descent into the col isn't very steep and the drop is barely enough to classify the two peaks as separate. The horizontal separation is less than a mile. The climb up to Thomas Cole also isn't too challenging. The trail between Black Dome and Thomas Cole still has quite a bit of blowdown. Some has been cut but much still lies in the trail. Hikers have rerouted the trail to avoid the largest and most annoying of these. As you descend into the col from either direction glimpses of the mountain ahead that you are about to climb come into view. There are also hints at the mountains and valleys on either side of the trail. The views are never good enough to take a picture or get a real idea of what is out there. From the top of Thomas Cole we retraced our steps to Black Dome. The descent into the col from Black Dome is exciting especially if you fail to pay attention to your footing!

As I said before, Blackhead always seems imposing to me. We started up the trail which is initially not too steep. This doesn't last long! The trail grows steeper and in several areas there are open rock faces to climb over. There are at least three places on this ascent where you can stop and look back at Black Dome and the other surrounding peaks. You can also look down into the valleys and the gaps or notches between the mountains. Even on a clear day there always seems to be a haze on the mountains giving them an almost surreal or ethereal look. We continued on up to the very top of Blackhead where the escarpment trail branches off. Like so many summits there is no view so we turned around and headed DOWN! Along the trail were patches of what I believe are white trillium. This was an unexpected pleasure at this elevation.

Going back down the steep Black Dome trail with its loose rocks and dirt was almost as hard as coming up. The walk passed without any mishaps. We covered the 7 miles in less than five hours. I didn't feel bad about the slower pace given the hike the day before and the difficulty of the peaks! I think tomorrow I will be hiking or flat hiking somewhere to try out some new shows!

On Sunday, June 24th I knew I was going to get a late start after church. I also knew that these are some of the longest days of the year and I would easily have light until 8:00 PM. I came home, got changed grabbed the pack and Sheba and headed for Indian Head. I wanted to hike Indian Head and Twin and maybe throw in Sugarloaf if time permitted. The weather was overcast and isolated showers were a possibility. We parked on Prediger Road which wasn't easy since there were at least 8 cars in the this small space. I parked on the corner of a driveway off the road and asked a gentleman tending a garden if I could park there. He replied that as long as I had asked it was OK. He also said that he had heard rumors that a plans for a parking area were underway for this popular trailhead. When I opened the trunk I got a surprise. All the water had leaked out of my Camelbak leaving me two three liters short and with a wet trunk and pack. I looked for holes or a poor seal at the mouth. Then I remembered that the last time this happened I had laid the pack on the bite valve in my haste. I vowed to put the lock on the Camelbak and pay more attention to what I was doing next time.

We got right on the trail starting just before 1:00 PM. My intention was to hike up to Jimmy Dolan Notch and then to Indian Head and Twin. After that, I was going to come back to the Notch or continue over Sugarloaf and walk the roads back to the car. We really moved up the Notch trail aided by the fact that it was very dry. I have been on this trail when it was impossible to hike the trail since it was more like a stream. Today the trail was only damp in spots and easy to follow. We turned left at the Notch onto the Devil's Path and attacked the short but steep climb up to the summit. Part way up Sheba got ahead and I heard other hikers coming down. Someone exclaimed "Look who's here!" It was Harry Rampe with a small group of hikers from the 3500 Club. Sheba and I continued to the top. There is no view from the summit and the lookout is pretty far down the other side so we turned around and went back to the Notch.

We started up Twin with the sky starting to show more clouds. Some of the clouds were pretty black. After two different hikes in rain storms, I found that getting wet in a torrential downpour with lightning splitting the sky was not much fun. I kept an eye on the sky and continued to move quickly up to the first summit. The view from here is always spectacular and today was no different. A family from the Bruderhof was stopped at the top. Sheba and I ate a snack and I took some pictures before continuing on to the higher, western peak of Twin.

The view from the western peak was also nice and the sky had not gotten any darker. I decided to put the camera away since it slows me down. I also decided that although Sugarloaf seemed a ways off we would try it. We hurried down the western slope of Twin passed the "cave". Hurrying here isn't easy since there are several steep descents over bare rock faces. There are also near vertical drops that challenge both man and dog! We blew through Pecoy Notch and headed up Sugarloaf. This was a long climb with many short but steep areas. The skies darkened again as did my mood. We made the top of Sugarloaf and decided NOT to go to the lookout over Plateau. We had been there a few weeks before and still had some distance to cover to get back to the car.

On the way back to Pecoy Notch we met a couple hiking up. After leaving them, the skies seemed to brighten which helped lift my spirits. Sheba isn't discouraged by any of this and just keeps walking! The trail down from Pecoy Notch to the Roaring Kill parking area is littered with rocks any one of which can turn an ankle. Even though we were moving fast I avoided any mishaps and we were soon at the end of the trail. Unfortunately, the car was on Prediger Road and I estimated that was at least 3 miles away. We headed right on Roaring Kill Road, turned left on Dale Lane and then right on Platte Clove. Walking the roads takes a lot less time than the trails but is harder on the feet. Sheba stayed glued to my right heel as I used the command "With!" to remind her to stay there. We completed just under 11 miles in just over 5 hours. Devil's Path! One day! No sweat!

On Thursday, June 21st I wanted to get away from Livingston Manor. I took Sheba to hike the western end of the Devil's Path over Westkill Mountain. I am still entertaining the idea of hiking the Devil's Path in one day this summer and thought I should check out this end of the trail. I had never been through to Westkill from this end. I had used this trail as a starting point for bushwhacking North Dome and Sherrill. At the start I wasn't sure whether we would retrace our steps back to the car, continue on over Hunter to make a loop or just walk Spruceton Road back to the car. Thundershowers were again predicted for the afternoon and I knew this would effect my decision. When we started at 9:15 AM the weather was perfect; sunny but cool.

The first bit of the trail is pretty steep up to the trail register. It then flattens some but climbs continuously for about 1.5 miles. At this point the Devil's Path turns sharply to the right or east and begins to climb to the western summit of Westkill. At this point you can turn right as I have at times and start a bushwhack of North Dome. This is not for the faint of heart since it involves crossing a wide and often VERY wet swamp. The nettles are thick and the mosquitoes thicker! The Devil's Path in this area was wet and is always damp. Several smaller feeder spring form small flows of water that sometimes flow right down the trail. Since this area gets less traffic the nettles and briars have a good chance to get a hold and grow over the trail.

The ascent of the western summit is steep at times and then moderates. If you look over your shoulder, you can get glimpses of a view at several points near the top but none is open enough to really see back to North Dome. After the summit, there is a drop into a col between the two summits. This drop is steep in places but not very far. The walk in the col seems long but is realistically not very far. The climb to the higher, eastern peak has its moments but overall is easily negotiated. The distance between the two peaks is about two miles. We found the trail still had quite a few obstacles from the April storms. Some had been cut down but left in the path. Some of the larger blowdowns now have a new path around them. I tried to clear some of this off the path. The summit of Westkill is the only one in the Catskills marked with its own sign.

Less than a quarter mile on down the trail are the Buck Ridge lookouts. These are always worth a prolonged stop as they offer around a 270 degree view of the other peaks and the valleys below. What you don't see from these lookouts is much civilization. There is an occasional house or cabin but not much else! We stayed long enough to take some pictures and get a bite to eat and then were off. The sky was still clear with only a few clouds. The temperature was cool but perfect for hiking. We descended down the eastern slope navigating through the few steeper portions and passed the rock overhang that makes up "the cave". The descent seemed to go quickly and we were soon at the Diamond Notch Falls.

I spent some time at the falls taking pictures. I climbed down to the base of the falls on both sides and took pictures from the bridge as well. There was a fair amount of water going over the falls and this made it more interesting than in the past. At this point the skies were beginning to cloud up and I had to make a decision. I felt GREAT and Sheba seemed fresh. I really wanted to go for Hunter but I really didn't want to get wet. I knew if I decided to do Hunter it would pour and if I just walked back to the car it would be nice. I decided, after some time, to walk the road back to the car. Although it is flat, the walk id almost four miles and we needed to make good time. As we walked, the skies became cloudier and it began to sprinkle. We walked out of the rain back into sunny skies...for a short time. Within half a mile of our destination the skies became black and there was thunder. With less than a quarter mile to go, it began to pour and Sheba and I ran the last bit to the car. We got in just as it really started to rain. We were wet but had hiked almost 11 miles in just about 5 and a half hours! Next time I'll include Hunter to make it between 16 and 17 miles! Next is the Devil's Path in one day!

Spring 2007

On Saturday, June 16th I wanted to hike to the Kaaterskill High Peak from Palenville. This was the hike I had planned two weeks ago and then abandoned. This never sits well with me so I was anxious to conquer this trail! Sheba and I got to Malden Avenue off Route 23A at 10:00 AM and parked just across from the bridge over the creek. We were hiking by 10:15 and really moving along. We walked down Malden Avenue and then turned right where the Long Path cuts up the woods road. We were really moving! The sun was out and despite the 30% chance of thunderstorms I had a good feeling. When we arrived at the lookout before Poet's Ledge, the view was clearer than last time. I took some pictures and we got right back on the trail.

When we arrived at the Poet's Ledge trail we kept moving. My intention was to visit it on the way back. First I wanted to make sure we got to the High Peak. When we arrived at the first falls, I realized it was NOT Wildcat Falls as I had thought last time. This falls is on Hillyer Ravine. We continued on the trail to Wildcat Falls and were there in just a short time. The view from here is much the same as from the other lookout. The other side of the clove is visible. I took some pictures but the low volume of water was disappointing.

We stopped again at Buttermilk Falls which is the highest and potentially must interesting of the three. From what I can see there is an initial long drop followed by another, smaller falls below. There seemed to be a path that lead down but I was on a mission. The trail turns sharply left after the falls and begins to ascend. The ascent is broken by some switchbacks but is still steep at times. There are many short climbs over and through rocky areas. In a short distance the trail again turns left. I remember coming in from the other direction and almost missing the turn onto the snowmobile trail. This time I was careful to look for the sign. We turn up the snowmobile trail and hiked the short, steep incline to the snowmobile trail that surrounds both Kaaterskill and Round Top. After turning right it was only a few hundred feet to the now well-marked herd path. The path is getting wider and a stone cairn marks its beginning.

Throughout the hike the skies had been getting darker and at this point a heard the first rumble of thunder. The smart thing would have been to turn around. We continued! The herd path is quite obvious and very steep in places. Much of it is rocky. We met a husband and wife team coming off the peak as they sat under a rocky overhang. Their intention was to get out of the rain which had just started. Sheba and I headed up as the thunder rolls increased and the sprinkles became rain. We struggled to get to the top since what had been dry, sure footing was now slippery as the rain increased. At the top we walked around looking for a view. Several flashes of lightning convinced me to retreat. I hoped to hook up with the couple we had met but they were already gone. Sheba and I slipped and slid down to the snowmobile trail and retraced out steps.

The rain became torrents and I put on my Marmot Precip jacket. I also put the camera and GPS in a waterproof baggy. The rain continued and the flashes of lightning and the sound of thunder were continuous. IT WAS MISERABLE! It was gloomy and dark blue markers are hard to see. Sheba saved me from making mistakes on the trail at least twice. I don't know what sense she uses but she is GOOD. Just after Hillyer Ravine we met the husband from the couple we had seen on the High Peak. His wife was just ahead. We decided to hike together which made things a little more bearable. By this time the only dry part of me was under the Precip which worked surprisingly well despite the warm air temperature. Somewhere near Poet's Ledge and the lookout, the rain let up and then stopped! The sun even came out. By this time my boots and socks were soaked. I could feel several areas of irritation on my feet but I didn't have much choice but to continue. We part ways a Malden Avenue as Sheba and I turned left to go back to the car. I stopped to take some pictures of a waterfall on Malden Avenue. Later on, near the bridge I went down to the creek and took some pictures of another waterfall.

Back at the car I dried the dog off as best I could. She was a muddy mess and smelled like ... wet dog. I didn't bring many clothes to change into. I did have a pair of damp socks in my pack. When I took off my boot and socks, it was clear why my feet hurt. I think I may take it easy on Father's Day. We had hiked for 6 and half hours, over 10 miles and 4400 feet of vertical climb!

On Thursday, June 14th I headed home from work a little late but decided to do the hike at Long Pond which we had planned for the day before. I also wanted to try to complete the loop around using Basily Road. My wife and I had stopped at the beaver pond during the winter since it was not clear how deep the water was. Sheba and I got right on the trail and started up the hill. The hill out of the parking area is the only real uphill on the whole hike but it is long and challenging. We moved VERY quickly up the hill and across the trail toward Long Pond.

At the cutoff to Long Pond we went down to the pond for a few minutes to take pictures. This is another pond with mountains in the background. The contrast of the greens and blues was stunning. This pond is being filled in and one area to the left is already turning into a beaver meadow. When we got back on the trail, we turned right at the T to head toward the lean-to and Basily Road. We didn't stop at the lean-to but pressed on. At the end of the road we turned left onto Basily. A little further on Basily Road cuts right to Black Bear Road. We continued on around to the left to make the loop.

When we reached the beaver pond, the water was higher than I would have liked but I crossed on the small dam without getting wet. I don't like trespassing on private property and this area is posted. I stayed on the "road" and headed across the field to the bridge. The bridge is a private bridge and the sign points to a "ford" across the creek. I actually used the bridge to cross and then continued on the road. The road at this point is unpaved but wide and fairly flat. It runs right along the creek and the sound of the water was pleasant. At some point Basily road gives way to Flugertown Road and paving appears.

As we walked down Flugertown a deer jumped out into the road. Sheba flinched but did not chase it. The deer seemed confused about how to get back into the woods and bounded down the road for some distance. Further down the road the beavers have dammed the creek again. Evidence of recent activity included some freshly gnawed trees. We were back at the car in under two hour for about 6 miles including stops.

On Wednesday, June 13th I headed home from work a little early and stopped by the pharmacy where my wife works. She is out early on Wednesday so, despite the ominous black clouds, we decided to hike at Long Pond. I went home to get ready and she arrived a few minutes later. We got dressed, grabbed the dog and headed out. As we passed by the turn to Mongaup Pond, we decided Hodge and Frick Ponds were closer so we made a last minute change in our plans. We parked at the parking area and immediately began the hike up the Flynn Trail to Hodge. We were really moving. At the junction we went straight ahead toward Hodge. Shortly after that we turned right on the side trail that leads to the Sullivan County high point. After a short distance we turned left and headed down toward the pond. A trail leads off to the right and we thought it probably went around the pond. We were right and we got to see the lower end of the pond from the upper end for the first time.

After hiking around the pond, we stopped at the lower end as we always do. Sheba was thirsty and took a drink from the pond. It seemed strange but someone had mowed the trail around the pond which made walking that much easier! The skies were looking more and more like rain so we hurried on. Hodge Pond was pretty full of water even though it was been very dry. The trails were only damp in places. At the junction with Big Rock we turned right and headed DOWN. We were moving and negotiated the distance to Times Square quickly. In several places along the trail it looked like "improvements" were being made. At Times Square we turned left and headed for Frick.

When we arrived at Frick, we turned right to go to the pond. A tree has fallen across the path making what resembles a bower. You can walk under or around the tree. Frick Pond is a beautiful small pond in almost pristine condition. Depending on the amount of water, it may look more like a meadow or a pond or a lake. Today the contrast of greens and blues with the white clouds in the sky was beautiful. The mountains that surround the pond offer a contrast in relief that is remarkable.

As we approached the pond, I noticed some waterfowl swimming on the surface near some tree stumps. I took several pictures of these Canadian geese making a stop at the pond. They looked so peaceful gracefully floating on the surface. Sheba did not bark to scare them and we left the pond as we had found it. We returned to the car in exactly 2 hours. I would guess the distance was between 5 and 6 miles.

On Tuesday, June 12th there was a severe thunderstorm watch in effect as I left school. The skies were cloudy in Liberty but got even worse as I headed home. A perfect time for a short, quick hike with the dog at Trout Pond! As we headed for Roscoe, the skies looked even worse and I debated how intelligent my decision was. When we arrived at the parking area, I though we might only get down to the trailhead before turning around. I decided a little hiking was better than none at all. I had put on my low-cut Merrell Chameleon II Stretch shoes for this hike since the trail isn't very rocky. The light shoes felt great as we headed down Russell Brook Road.

As we neared the lower parking area, I saw some construction equipment and a large pile of gravel. It looked like someone was paving the road down to the waterfalls! I read a sign posted at the trailhead that said a new bridge was being installed. I personally thought the old bridge was fine but headed down the trail to see what was going on. Gravel has been spread and packed by a roller down to the brook. The biggest surprise waited me at the brook! The old bridge has been torn out and replaced with a large metal plate over the brook. Black plastic has been placed as a fence. It looks TERRIBLE! ON the other side the "paving" continues almost up to the register. I hope they intend to stop at this point and leave the rest of the trail in its natural condition! Maybe it will look better when it is done but for now it is a disaster.

We headed up the steep hill toward Mud Pond with the skies alternating between partly sunny and totally overcast. We moved quickly since I wanted to see how much hike we could get in before the rains came. After only half and hour we were at Mud and turned toward Trout. As we came up the hill toward Mud, a large bird swooped down on us calling a warning. I did not see where it came from or what species it was. It landed in another tree and continued its call until we were well away. We continued to move quickly and made the lean-to on Trout in an hour! There is still no bridge across the inlet but it has been so dry that it is not needed. We just walked across on dry rocks. The pond is still high from the beaver dam. Many of the trees at the waters edge are dying as there roots "drown" in the high water. The beavers have cut down other trees and girdled some. I know they are a part of nature but I am not thrilled with their work. We were back at the register in no time and arrived at the car in 1 hour 45 minutes after covering 6 miles.

On Sunday, June 10th my wife decided she did not have the time to go hiking or the energy. I was going to do a shorter, flatter hike with her but I changed my plans. Sheba and I headed for the Peekamoose Parking Area on the Shandaken Road outside of Grahamsville. We parked at 1:50 PM and immediately got going. It had rained on the drive over and the weather was still unsettled. The air temperature was in the 70's but it felt much more uncomfortable due to the humidity. I was convinced that we might only make it to Reconnoiter Rock before the rains came. I had filled the Camelbak and in addition had two liter Nalgenes. This trail is notoriously dry and I wanted to have plenty of water for myself and the dog. I was wearing a new Outdoor Research Sequence SS top which is made of a light wool fabric. I found on the hike that this is an excellent shirt! It wicks better than most synthetics and limits odor well. Wool is great for climate control and is not always warm as most people assume.

The beginning part of the trail is rather challenging with a pretty steep grade. The trail is over an old woods road and is wide but strewn with the typical Catskill assortment of rocks, leaves and sticks. Some group has done a GREAT JOB of clearing ALL the new blowdown and some of the old. They have also installed water bars to direct runoff away from the trail. The trail is clear for its entire length! The register box is a ways from the parking area. In about .8 miles the trail turns right off the woods road and continues through the forest. It is well marked and easy to follow. For midafternoon the forest was quite dark as the clouds and mists persisted. The few glimpses I could get off the trail were like looking into a cloud. The trail varies between flat areas and steep climbs through rocky areas and over dirt patches. In a little over two miles you arrive at Reconnoiter Rock. On good days the view here is limited by the foliage. Today there was no view. After a drink and a few pictures we headed for the summit of Peekamoose.

The trail climbs upward and then levels off and then repeats this pattern. After a short climb there is a rock ledge that looks off into the valley. There is usually a nice view from this point. This day I only got the "inside of a cloud" view. Several more climbs, some of them steep and rocky, brought us to the big boulder that marks the top of Peekamoose. Somewhere along the way the sun had actually come out briefly. This buoyed my spirits a little until it again disappeared. Since the rain had not stared, I decided to head for Table. The drop into the col is no more than 200 feet and the distance is less than a mile. The "peak" marked on the trail map is actually well passed the highest spot.

The descents into the col and the climb up to the Table plateau are both steep but short. The walk to the summit is almost flat but is long. I walked to the marked summit and noticed a trail to a lookout. I don't remember ever being on this rocky ledge before. Today there was a limited view of some of the other mountains. The mist rising off the peaks, descending into the valleys and swirling around the trees was an interesting sight. I took a few pictures and then looked at my watch. It was not even 3:00. We had made Table in just 2 hours. We turned around and hurried back the way we had come. I wanted to try to avoid the rain that I felt would fall at any minute. Getting caught in the lightning and thunder on Kaaterskill had been enough for me!

The walk back for pretty uneventful as we made VERY good time. When we reached the area below Peekamoose a few drops of rain fell. From there on it was like walking in a cloud. The mists surrounded us and swirled around us. My clothes and pack were wet just from this moisture. At the lower elevations the vegetation was wet giving evidence it had rained if only briefly. We returned to the parking area just before 6:00 PM. A 9 plus mile hike in 4 hours including several stops! After investigating the rapids and falls in the brook across from the parking area, we returned home.

On Saturday, June 9th I was home from the NYS Track Championships by 3:00 PM. I decided to get in a quick hike even though it was late in the day and Sheba agreed. On Thursday I did Balsam Lake but skipped Graham. I though it was only fair to do Graham and we headed back up the Beaverkill Road to the parking area. We arrived in the parking area at 3:35 PM. I was a little concerned about the time factor. I was thinking about 4 hours for the hike bringing me to 7:30 PM. This left little cushion for any mishaps. Although I have a headlamp and other essential I did not want to have to use them! I decided to move quickly and we got right on the trail.

We made the Balsam Lake turnoff in about 15 minutes and took another 15 to get to the turnoff to the herd path to Graham. The herd path is pretty hard to miss at the beginning. Along the way there is quite a bit of blowdown both old and new. Much of it doesn't get cleared since it is on private land. The herd path now has several "permanent" paths around the major blockages. In spots, it is hard to see exactly where the trail goes. This is where the dog comes in handy. She will put her nose to the trail and seldom loses it. I just follow her blaze orange neckerchief. I just have to be careful when she ducks under something and takes advantages of her dog height. We moved quickly up the trail and were soon at the last, slightly steeper climb to the top. We made the summit in 1.5 hours! This is the quickest I have ever done this trail. The black flies and mosquitoes were THICK at the top so I took a few pictures and we headed back.

On the way up I missed the turn off the trail to the telephone pole lookout. I found it on the way down and stopped for a minute or two. After a drink and a few more pictures we headed back. I was trying to make it back in 1.5 hours or less. Some of the descents are rocky so I took the time to be careful. We did make it back in under 1.5 hours making the 7.5 mile round trip in under 3 hours!

On Thursday, June 7th I decided to that I preferred to hike after work rather than run or bike. I came home at 3:30 PM, changed clothes, got my pack, grabbed the dog and headed for Balsam Lake Mountain. We got on the trail at about 4:15 PM and moved pretty quickly over the wide woods road to the turn up the steeper part of Balsam Lake. The weather was warm and humid but it felt cooler on the trail than it did in downtown Livingston Manor. We turned on the trail up the steeper side of the mountain and headed for the fire tower. The day seemed so clear that I was hoping for some pictures without the usual haze on the surrounding peaks. No such luck! When I climbed the fire tower, most of the peaks were shrouded in haze. I did take some pictures before scurrying down the tower and continuing on the hike. Sheba was moving right along as always and the hike down the other side took only a few minutes. We were back at the car by 6:00 PM after traveling 4 miles! This may be the first mountain that I climb in all 12 months of the year!

On Saturday, June 2nd my wife and I decided to go to Palenville to hike the Long Path toward Kaaterskill High Peak. I had never done this route before and was excited to try it. Many of the guidebooks describe it as challenging and I was anxious to see if they were right. The drive from home takes over an hour. We took the "back roads" to Hunter, Tannersville, Haines Falls and, finally, Palenville. The directions I had said that it was possible to park on the north side of Malden Avenue but I never found this street. We parked on Route 23A just before it crosses Kaaterskill Creek. The weather was hot and humid with temperatures into the 80's. The forecast was for possible afternoon thunderstorms so we got started as soon as possible. Next time I will leave the house even earlier since we started the hike at 10:30 which is at least an hour and a half too late! As we started, there were several other groups of people getting ready to hike.

We walked on 23A toward Palenville and took the right just before Kaaterskill Creek. I gather that this was once Malden Avenue but is now closed to traffic. The aqua blazes of the Long Path are evident here. We continued down a path until we again hit a paved street open to cars. A little father down the road the blazes turned to the right on a short street. The blazes and blue markers again turn right off this street and mark the beginning of the trail to Kaaterskill High peak. The first part of this trail is on a wide and fairly smooth woods road. The trail gains elevation quickly. After a short, continuous climb the trail leaves the road and turns up into the woods.

From this point the trail has many switchbacks to make an impossibly steep climb a little easier. The switchbacks can be annoying since they add to the distance you must hike but your "up" muscles will thank you. In about 1.25 miles there is a break in the forest to the right and a small ledge that looks out over part of The Kaaterskill Clove. In another half mile is a sign indicating the spur trail to Poet's Ledge. We took the spur trail and immediately noticed that it starts to descend. This means you will have to walk back up from the ledge but the side trip is well worth it! In less than half a mile we arrived at an open space with several fire circles. Walking toward the edge reveals a view of the surrounding mountains. This is NOT Poet's Ledge. Continuing on the yellow trail we descended through some rocks and then arrived at Poet's Ledge. This is a rock ledge that reveals a beautiful view of the Clove below. South Mountain is on the right. Looking UP and to the left you can see Kaaterskill High Peak still over 1000 feet of climbing above you. The only drawback is that Route 23A splits the Clove and traffic is noisy at times.

When we left the ledge and returned to the main trail it was obvious that the sky had grown more cloudy and that the air was changing. We suspected a storm was on the way. We decided not to try the peak but to go as far as Wildcat Falls, another half a mile or so. The path to the falls is almost flat but is partially blocked in several places by blowdowns. It is also a little wetter than the trail had been so far. We arrived at Wildcat Ravine and found the falls to be barely a trickle. By the look of the falls it is probably worth seeing when more water is passing over it. We turned around and walked quickly back along the path in the direction we had come.

We passed Poet's Ledge and the lookout just before the Ledge. The Clove was still hazy but the skies were darker. As we continued to hike light rain began to fall. Initially the rain was so light it failed to penetrate the foliage. This was about to change! Within minutes the rain intensified. We could hear thunder and see bright bolts of lightening. We were still above 1000 feet. We quicken our pace, at times jogging down the path. Once we were on the woods road the rain increased in strength and thoroughly drenched us. Wet and hunched over we retraced our steps down Malden Ave. to Route 23A. The road is open and offers little protection from the rain. The temperature had drop and I suspected hail was on the way. The way back to the car is all uphill adding to the misery. At the car we quickly through our gear in, covered the seats and took refuge. Cindy, the smart, one had brought a partial change of clothes. My hiking clothing did dry but that took a while. As we drove away the rain continued to pour down. The section of Route 23A from Palenville to Haines Falls was covered with runoff and it was difficult to see the road. Despite this, several drivers seemed in a hurry and passed where the lanes double for a short distance. The rain ended abruptly on the Tannersville side of Haines Falls and the skies in Tannersville were only cloudy. We hike was over 7 miles. We had taken about 3 hours to climb up and just over one hour to get back!

On Monday, May 28th my wife and I participated in the Livingston Manor Memorial Day Parade with our volunteer ambulance corps. After the parade we left the house and headed for the Trapps. I wanted to hike Millbrook Ridge with my wife as she had never done it from the Trapps end. As we passed Minnewaska a sign said 'Watch for Congestion'. The Minnewaska lots were filling up before midday. At the Trapps Bridge parking the lot was full and actually beyond a safe capacity. We went back to the West Trapps lot but they wanted $18 for two people to hike. I was willing to pay but my wife thought otherwise. We ended up parking in the New York State owned Peters Kill Parking area. This changed our hiking plans. The temperatures were in the high 60's or low 70's so I was wearing my Underarmour Cool Gear short sleeve shirt under a Mountain Hardwear Wicked T short sleeved shirt. I find the double shirts wick well and since one moves against the other I never get any chafing from the pack. I wore my standard Gander Mountain nylon pants. I have rediscovered the joys of my Asolo Fugitives which are lighter than the Asolo TPS 520. I wore most of the winter. I still haven't made a final decision on the ultimate socks but I wore the Wigwam Silk/Wool hikers which work as well as any. I used an Osprey Atmos 50 most of the winter since it carries so much and fits so well. I am now using Marmot Vapor 30 which is much lighter and fits about as well. The harness on the Vapor actually fits better than the Atmos but the Atmos contours better to my back. I have been carrying a 3 liter bladder in the pack and 2 one liter bottles to make sure I and anyone with me has enough water.

Cindy, Sheba and I got a quick start on the red blazed Peter's Kill loop trail heading right at the fork right out of the parking area. We stopped briefly to inspect the "Climbers only!" area and then headed down to the Peters Kill. At the bottom of the hill we turned right onto the yellow trail. My wife suddenly exclaimed and I looked back to see a black snake sunning itself next to the path. It was in a "threatening" posture. I took some pictures and we continued on down the Kill. At the junction with the blue Peters Kill High Trail we had to make a decision. Right leads to Lost City which I had never seen. Left goes across the Kill and up the ridge. Even though I had been to the left before, I decided that my wife might like the view from up above and the waterfalls along the path.

We ascended the trail toward the top meeting several other hikers coming down our way. The trail is steep in places but short. Once on the top the trail winds along the gorge cut by the Peters Kill. It is almost impossible to see down to the water once the foliage is on the trees. There are beautiful views of the opposing rim of the gorge. In addition, certain viewpoints allow a look over to the Trapps and Mohonk beyond. The warm weather increases the haze in the air and the view was not as clear as I have seen it. As we meandered along the ridge I took a few pictures. The trees and shrubs are in full array despite the obvious lack of rain in the area. The trail over the ridge always seems along especially when it leaves the rim and enters the woods.

Eventually we came to the point where the trail meets Routes 44/55. Here we crossed into the lower Minnewaska Parking Area and headed down the road to the gatehouse. From here we took the trail down to Awosting Falls. VERY little water is going over the falls at this point but the view is still worth the walk. One young man was attempting to scale the rock face directly under the falls. We didn't stick around to see his progress but we did not hear any sirens for the rest of the day! We walked along the Peters Kill until the point where it dives under the road. At this point we went up to the road and crossed over to follow the Kill down through Sheldon and Peters Kill Falls. There is no marked trail in this area but the route along the Kill is obvious.

Sheldon Falls is a series of cascades and today there were several families and other groups sunning themselves on the rocks or wading in the cool water. The path down the Kill is fairly easy most of the way with several interesting areas that require some balance, jumping ability and faith that one can land on their feet. We did find a ledge leading out to one of the cascades which I had not been on before. At the base of the falls is a structure that is the remains of an old COAL FIRED power plant that provided electricity for some of the now long forgotten boarding houses that dotted this area many years ago. A large pipe descends into the plant. Even though it has stood idle for many years, some of the machinery is still present.

We continued on down the Peters Kill along an unmarked but well-defined path. Eventually we met up with the red trail that is part of the Peters Kill Loop Trail. I wanted to continue back to the blue trail and out to the Lost City. After almost three hours my wife was growing tired and I agreed that there would be another day. At the junction of the red and yellow trail we turned right up the hill we had descended at the beginning of the hike. It was a little harder getting up the hill than it was coming down. A three hour hike over 4.5 miles with stops and lots of pictures capped a great weekend of hiking!

On Sunday, May 27th I wanted took the dog and headed out after church. We didn't get to the Biscuit Brook parking area until well after 1:00 PM. I had downloaded my last track covering these mountains into my GPS and decided to see if I could use it to follow the same route. I thought we would just do Big Indian and was encouraged in this by the weather. The sky would cloud over at times and threaten to rain. I have been on the mountains in heavy thunderstorms and it has never been pleasant. As it turned out we included Fir Mountain in our hike without much of a problem. We immediately got on the trail and I noticed that my muscles were tired from the previous day. This trail starts out with some pretty easy "ups" that allowed me to get ready for the work to come. The temperatures were in the high 60's or low 70's so I was wearing my Underarmour Cool Gear short sleeve shirt under a Columbia Titanium short sleeved shirt. I find the double shirts wick well and since one moves against the other I never get any chafing from the pack. I wore my standard Gander Mountain nylon pants. I have rediscovered the joys of my Asolo Fugitives which are lighter than the Asolo TPS 520 I wore most of the winter. I still haven't made a final decision on the ultimate socks but I wore the Rohner hikers which work as well as any. I used an Osprey Atmos 50 most of the winter since it carries so much and fits so well. I am now using my Marmot Vapor 30 which is much lighter and fits about as well. The harness on the Vapor actually fits better than the Atmos but the Atmos contours better to my back. I have been carrying a 3 liter bladder in the pack and 2 one liter bottles to make sure I and anyone with me has enough water.

The woods are very dry but there were a few wet spots here and there along the trail. Several areas had small areas of running water and there are a few small streams to cross before Biscuit Brook. The trail ascends more steeply in some places but has nothing to compare with the climbs from yesterday! The trail has the appearance of an old woods road in places as it skirts the Frost Valley property. The first hiker we met claimed that he had walked for several hours and had not found the lean-to. I think he just missed the spur trail since we were there several minutes after leaving him. I took very few pictures on this hike since there is little to distinguish it from any other trail. There are NO VIEWPOINTS along the way. At times you can see Doubletop or another peak or ridge through the trees but nothing is clear. Above 3000 feet the blowdowns became more frequent requiring us to leave the trail and then return.

The trail levels after a steady climb as the main trail skirts the highest point of the mountain on the right of the trail. The 3500 foot sign is oddly placed right in the middle of a broad, flat area. Big Indian has very little evergreen growth at the top as the hardwoods persist. I followed the track on the GPS up Big Indian but remembered that last time I had gone a little too far in search of a herd path to the canister. Big Indian is technically a peak without a trail and counts as a bushwhack. This is despite the fact that bushwhack is only a few hundred meters. I cut up into the woods short of the point shown on the GPS. We headed for the high ground and found the canister almost immediately.

From the canister I followed my GPS track along the Catskill Divide toward Fir. This was much harder than the last time. During the winter there is a better view of what is ahead without the leaves to block the path. In addition, last time I had met Scott the Can Man at the Big Indian canister and followed his tracks through the snow right to Fir! The trek to Fir was difficult due to the blowdown and was without any view. This part of the hike always seems the longest although it actually cuts some mileage compared to retracing your track from Big Indian. From Fir we simply went down and roughly followed the track on my GPS. There seemed to be less blowdown or else the fact that we were going down made it seem easier. We ended up almost directly at the Biscuit Brook crossing. here I paused to get some pictures and then crossed the brook and headed back to the car. The trail back to the car retraces the first part of the hike and is pretty boring. It was getting late and I just wanted to be back. The trail seems to go on forever but Sheba is good company. We did around 9 miles in 4 and a half hours which is pretty fast considering the bushwhacking. I guess limiting the pictures helps.

On Saturday, May 26th I wanted to see how much of the Devil's Path I could hike. I want to attempt the whole length in one day this summer. Sheba and I headed for Tannersville and parked at the Roaring Kill parking area at about 10:00 AM. I had intended to get there earlier but felt we still had enough time to get in Plateau and Sugarloaf. The last time I tried this with Karl, it was so hot that we only did Plateau. The weather prediction was for temperatures in the 80's but it seemed cool at the parking area. We talked to a group in the parking area and then started on the trail. There were several other cars already parked and I wondered how many people we would see on the hike. Sugarloaf is a very popular destination! The temperatures were in the high 60's or low 70's so I was wearing my Underarmour Cool Gear short sleeve shirt under a Arc'teryx Emissary short sleeved shirt. I find the double shirts wick well and since one moves against the other I never get any chafing from the pack. I wore my standard Gander Mountain nylon pants. I have rediscovered the joys of my Asolo Fugitives which are lighter than the Asolo TPS 520 I wore most of the winter. I still haven't made a final decision on the ultimate socks but I wore the Dahlgren Alpaca socks which work as well as any. I used an Osprey Atmos 50 most of the winter since it carries so much and fits so well. I am now using my Marmot Vapor 30 which is much lighter and fits about as well. The harness on the Vapor actually fits better than the Atmos but the Atmos contours better to my back. I have been carrying a 3 liter bladder in the pack and 2 one liter bottles to make sure I and anyone with me has enough water.

The first part of the Mink Hollow trail gains elevation rather slowly and tends to "roll". There are a few ups and a few downs. We caught up with a passed a hiker who had started just before us. We passed each other several times as I stopped to take a few pictures. At times Plateau Mountain is visible on your right and is quite impressive. At the junction with the Devil's Path, we met two more hikers. Everyone was turning up Sugarloaf so I decided to head up Plateau first! I remember this part being steep and difficult but it was more difficult than I remembered. Several blowdowns blocked the trail in inconvenient spots but we were able to work around them. At times the trail becomes VERY steep and Sheba and I worked together to get us both up.

Just before the trail levels off and heads for the summit, there is a large rock that looks out over Sugarloaf. I decided to go to the summit if Plateau and then return to the rock to take a short rest. The trail from this rock to the summit was littered with evergreens, victims of the early spring ice and high winds. The trail was completely blocked in several places. We finally found are way to the summit so that we could say we were at the summit. There is no view and no other spectacular reward. On the way back I did find some SNOW lurking beneath some evergreens in a small hollow. We stopped at the rock and I took some pictures of Sugarloaf. At this point I was still not sure I would have enough left to climb it after coming down off Plateau. The descent of Plateau was not easy but was certainly quicker than going up! Back at the junction with the Mink Hollow Trail, I decided to go up Sugarloaf.

This trail is nearly as steep as Plateau in places and the vertical elevation gain of 1200 feet is the same as Plateau's in about the same distance! We met several groups of hikers and a couple of individuals along the way. They were headed down in the opposite direction. The actual summit of the mountain has no view to speak of. Before the summit, however, is a rock similar to the one on Plateau. Here I met the group of three that I had spoken to in the parking lot. There was also another couple present with their dog. The three had been to the top of Sugarloaf and were tired enough to head back without attempting Plateau. Sheba and I rested for a few minutes while I took some pictures. We hit the summit of Sugarloaf without too much trouble. This is where I made a critical decision.

I had never been up Twin Mountain from the west or Sugarloaf side. My wife and I had tried it one time but were stopped at a large, smooth expanse of stone which seemed too dangerous to climb. I decided that Twin was so close that I had to at least try! We descended into Pecoy Notch and then continued on the Devil's Path toward the summit. Almost immediately we were met by a group of five or six people coming down with camping gear. This buoyed my spirits as it made me believe that Sheba and I could make the top! The trail starts out easy enough and then goes CRAZY! There are places where you must climb over sheer sheets of rock. A few have workarounds but not all! In other places the trail seems to end. In these places you must look up to see that it ascends nearly vertically. Sheba needed some help in spots and I could have used some also. This climbing and scrambling over the rocks is some of the most difficult I have done lately and was made harder from the previous climbs. I was in Heaven!

Near the summit the trail flattens a little and there is a "cave" formed by and overhanging rock ledge. Just beyond the cave is a narrow passage that requires a vertical leap up. When we arrived at the top there were several hikers sunning themselves on the rocks. The view of the other peaks including Sugarloaf and Plateau is magnificent. We didn't stay long as we were tired and still had the descent to Pecoy Notch and the walk back to the parking area. The descent went quickly save for the vertical areas which were as difficult going down as up. At Pecoy Notch we turned right onto the Pecoy Notch trail and headed back to the car. This trail starts out with a lot of rocks to negotiate but becomes easier as it descends into the woods below. On this path are several abandoned stone quarries. Various hikers have used the discarded bluestone to build tables and chairs. One spot offers a particularly nice view of the valley below. We covered around nine miles in about seven hours. This included over 4300 feet of climbing! The hike made the Devil's Path in one day seem possible!

On Wednesday, May 23rd I had a track meet in the afternoon. I didn't want to "waste the morning, so I took Sheba and headed for Balsam Lake Mountain. This is the closest 3500 to my house and is the one I go to when time is limited. I often include Graham but didn't have enough time. We climbed up the steeper side without much trouble and kept a quick pace. There were a few blowdowns along the way but nothing compared what I had seen on Slide and further north.

We paused a the fire tower briefly. Sheba actually started up before me but quickly decided to wait until I cam down. For such a clear day down below, it was surprisingly hazy on the far peaks and ridges. We hurried own and met no one else along the way. A quick trip in less than two hours. The drive takes almost that long!

On Saturday, May 12th I wanted to take a LONG hike and get in a couple of mountains. I had hoped that Karl would go with me but he was busy with wedding plans. So Sheba and I headed for The Giant Ledge Parking Area and the beginning of a LONG hike. I decided to do the loop from the parking area to Woodland Valley, over Wittenberg, Cornell and Slide and then back to the car. We arrived at 9:00 AM under sunny skies and temperatures in the high 50's or low 60's. The prediction was for the weather to stay warm and sunny. We got started immediately. We made good time to the Giant Ledge Trail Junction and continued on toward Woodland Valley.

The trail to Woodland Valley is very pretty and always seems to have something new is store. This time it was a small cascade of water down the side of a hill over some mossy rocks. Spring is really if full swing and everything is so green. The mossy rocks almost proved to be my undoing as I forgot that despite their beauty, they are slippery. This trail also always seems to have a variety of sounds; birds sing, squirrels chatter, brooks babble. From the Giant Ledge junction the trail loses elevation until a dry brook. At this point there is a rather steep climb to 2700 feet which is helped by some well-constructed stone steps. The trail then plunges down into Woodland Valley. The campsite was open with several sites occupied. This also meant that the bathrooms were open!

The climb up to the Wittenberg trail register is almost a quarter mile and gains several hundred feet of elevation. This helps to prevent easy access and tampering. It also warns potential novice hikers that this trail isn't just a pleasant walk in the woods. The trail up Wittenberg snakes back and forth alternating between steep climbs over rocky fields and flatter walks through groves of trees. Along the way we met one younger hiker relaxing for a moment. He got up after we left and followed us. The dog and I can really move and we didn't see him again all day. The winding, meandering trail can be annoying at times since it loses then gains some elevation and I would rather just take a direct route.

As we approached the junction with the spur trail to Terrace Mountain, we encountered another hiker who was well-equipped for an overnight stay at the campsites near Slide. We talked for a minute and then headed off making the right to begin the final approach to Wittenberg. Along the way are several STEEP climbs and several near vertical ascents. They are short but I did have to boost the dog a couple of times. She could have found her way around by a different route but that always takes time. As we neared the summit of Wittenberg there were a few trees and branches in the path but we worked our way around them. By the number of cars in the lot, I expected to find a few people taking in the view from the open summit. When we finally arrived, there was no one else there! I took pictures, gave the dog a treat and some water and ate and drank myself. We didn't spend a lot of time there but no one had appeared by the time we left.

The trip from Wittenberg to Cornell is very short and the drop into the col isn't great. This is probably because Cornell is higher. There are some challenging rock scrambles and climbs up Cornell. One climb is a near vertical chimney where I always remove my pack and place it on the ledge above. I was wondering if I could get the dog up this one! I didn't need to worry as the dog went ahead of me and made it by herself! I took some pictures from a little rock ledge just above this chimney and then continued on. I took the spur trail to the Cornell summit and took some more pictures. When I looked at the time and estimated how much hike remained, I realized that I had misjudged the trip and had been over optimistic about how quickly I could complete it. As we got back on the main trail, we met two other hikers who warned us about some blowdowns ahead and the poor condition of the trail on Slide.

The descent into the Cornell-Slide col was long and wet in many spots. The drop is significant which makes the climb up Slide harder! The descent seemed to go forever but finally I could see the ascent begin. On the way down Slide Mountain is visible through the trees. It is VERY imposing. I wish that there was somewhere to take a clear picture but it seems that the mountain hides behind the vegetation. More downed trees were evident as we started the ascent and required us to find a way around. The ascent has several rock scrambles and climbs which are short but challenging. My legs were beginning to feel tired. As we neared the base of the steep ascent to the spring, we encountered ANOTHER group of hikers coming down. Fortunately, the spring was running well and the water was clear and cold. One other hiker was getting water. I took some pictures, took a drink and filled the water bottles. As we climbed the wooden ladders and started up through the rocks, we met the hiker that had been at the spring. We talked some as we worked our way around the blowdowns and over the patches of ice. Yes, there was still ice in the shady areas and this made getting a sure footing on some of the scrambles very difficult.

At the viewpoint on Slide a group of five or six people were eating lunch. They told me how bad the trail down Slide was with snow and utter devastation of many trees. I only stayed for a few minutes as it was getting late. As Sheba and I descended we encountered many trees and branches across the trail requiring many off trail excursions. Where there were no trees the trail had snow or ice. This abated once we reached the Curtis-Ormsbee turnoff but there were areas all the way down to 3500 feet. We met two more solo hikers with camping gear and then a party of nine in two groups. I don't like the rocks on Slide but I kept up a good pace until the junction with the Phoenicia-East Branch trail. We quickened our pace some as the trail flattened and descended through the rock field on the trail to the Slide parking area. Crossing the Neversink was relatively easy despite the rain the on Thursday.

From the Slide parking area we got on the road and walked the two miles back to the car. The first part of this is a rather long uphill grade to Winnisook Lake but the rest is all downhill. BOTH the dog and I were tired at this point and it felt good to get back to the car at 6:00 PM. The hike was almost 14 miles in 9 hours. Tomorrow is Mother's Day and I think this would be an excellent excuse to take a day off!

On Sunday, May 6th I took the dog and headed for Orange County after church. My wife was busy in the afternoon and I wanted to take a long, fast hike. We parked on Otterkill Road near the train trestle. After getting the equipment prepared, we started up the road and into the woods. The weather was beautiful with temperatures in the 60's and a light breeze blowing. A few clouds dotted the sky. What a change from the last time I visited this area! Last time it was overcast and raining and the only view was the one immediately in front of your face. This also made the rocks on the ridges slippery. The wind on the ridges made the cool temperatures feel cold. This time I wore my Underarmour SS Heat Gear with only a Mountain Hardwear Long Sleeve Wicked T over it. I packed several light jackets but they never came out of the pack. I wore my Asolo TPS 520 boots which seem to be completely waterproof. I was worried about some of the stream crossings and walking through Barton Swamp. This really wasn't a problem since the area seemed VERY dry! It was a delight to carry NO crampons, NO poles and NO snowshoes!

At the first junction the Trestle Trail bears right up the hill but we headed slightly to the left along a red-blazed trail. Someone had told be that this path would lead to a bridge across Baby Brook. In the same location is an interesting tunnel where Baby Brook goes under the tracks. They were right! There is even a small falls at this point. We turned right over the bridge to pick up the yellow-blazed Jessup Trail which I knew would get me on top of the eastern ridge. This trail parallels Baby Brook and is a constantly climb. In some places it is steep! As you near the next junction the trail turns left and goes up. To your right is a small cascade which was very pretty even though the amount of water was small.

When we reached the next junction, we turned left to stay on the yellow trail and ascend to the ridge. The ascent is steep at times and winds its way across rock outcroppings and narrow ridges of stone. As you ascend, you can look back over your shoulder and see the western ridge. Several birds were riding the thermal currents making an interesting site. We continued ascend and I began to take pictures of the countryside. This was all new to me since the previous time I had hiked here there was NO VIEW since everything was hidden by the rain and fog. The views of the valleys below and the mountains in the distance were spectacular. Most of the pictures I took do NOT begin to show the beauty. We did meet several groups of people along the way as we wound our way up the trail.

Eventually we arrived at the point where a short spur trail breaks off to the left and leads to the Megaliths. The trail is very short on these large blocks of stone are worth a visit. These blocks have broken off from the surrounding rock layers and lie like sleeping giants. The views from the Megaliths are also interesting. We retraced our steps to the main path and in a short distance were at a painted mark on the rock. The 1664 indicates the highest point on the ridge. There is another "sign" that shows where the fire tower used to stand. I decided at this point to continue on the Jessup Trail until it split off to the left. I would then follow the aqua-blazed Long Path back to the western ridge. After walking for some distance it became clear to me that the loop was bigger than I though so I turned around and went back to where the Western Ridge Trail branches off.

We followed the Western Ridge Trail as it descends first gently and then very steeply into Barton Swamp. The swamp separates the two ridges and it is possible to walk between them on the Barton Swamp Trail. The swamp was almost dry except for a few damp, muddy areas. After following the Barton Swamp Trail for a short distance we ascended to the western ridge and got on the Long Path. This ascent is short but steep. Once on the ridge the rocks and trees are similar to the eastern ridge. The other ridge is clearly visible as it is higher than the western ridge. Several birds circled overhead. The view to the west were similar to the views to the east. I did take a few pictures of a sand and gravel quarry. Eventually the Long Path turns left and goes down the ridge to the valley floor toward Clove Rd. We continued on the other path until the point where the Trestle Trail bears left. The Trestle Trail is covered with sharp rock shards and is steep in places. My feet were aching by the time we had descended back to Otterkill Rd. As we walked down the road to the car, I took a picture of a beautiful purple tree. At that moment a train started over the trestle and I snapped one last shot. Around 8 miles in about 4 and a half hours. I will have to bring Cindy next time and try another trail variation

On Sunday, April 29th my son and his fiancee were up from Virginia. We all decided a hike after church would be nice despite the unsettled weather. All four of us got in the SUV along with Sheba and headed for Panther Mountain. I wanted to do one last 3500 in April and Panther is relatively close. It also has no major water crossings and the stream are now pretty high! When we parked there was a light mist in the air and the temperature was in the low to mid 50's. I had anticipated some snow and ice so I had packed two sets of crampons and my wife and I carried our poles. I have begun to use my poles more and more. They provide balance and make descents easier on my knees. The Leki Makalu Ultralite Ti poles that I use are light and collapsible. The only drawback is that you must twist them tightly to prevent a collapse a the wrong time!

Even the beginning part of the trail was muddy and the first water crossing showed that avoiding crossings without bridges was a good idea. Fortunately this bridge is well-maintained and we quickly began the ascent toward the junction with the blue trail. This part of the trail always fools me as I think that each rocky ascent is the last to the junction! I was surprised that the ice flows that normally cover this part of the trail were COMPLETELY gone although the corresponding areas were very wet with standing and running water. We were at the junction quickly and turned left toward Giant Ledge rather than continuing on to Woodland Valley. The flat areas of the trail immediately after this point were very muddy and the stepping stones came in very handy.

The ascent up to Giant Ledge was uneventful and this part of the trail was a little drier. The ice flows on this part of the trail that had all but blocked the ascent during the winter had also disappeared but a small amount of snow remained in shaded areas. The views on the climb were limited as they always are and the heavy mist did nothing to improve them. The views from the various lookouts along the ledges were also limited. There was a hint of sunshine in the distance that suggested a better view might be coming on the way back. We stopped to eat a sandwich and get a drink. We took some pictures and then continued on across the flat area at the top of the Ledges. The descent from the Ledges into the col was damp but not too slippery. Several large areas of snow remained where drifts had piled the snow during the winter. As Karl and I began the ascent of Panther, Cindy and Kathleen lingered behind. They were not as interested in getting to the summit. We decided that Karl and I would continue on to the top and that they would return to the car.

The ascent up Panther becomes steep at times and some areas were wet and slippery. There was much less snow than I though there would be with most of it relegated to shaded areas. The higher we went the more branches and blowdowns blocked the trail. The ice and high winds of last week had taken their toll even here! The temperature began to drop a little and the wind picked up. We had to bushwhack several times to get around areas where the trail was blocked. At the lookout there was no view. Looking out from the small rock ledge was like looking out into a cloud. We quickly turned around and started back down the mountain.

As we began our descent, the sun began to peek through the clouds and mist. By the time we got to the ledges the view had improved considerably and the air temperature was increasing. We stopped to take some pictures and then continued on down. The longer we hiked the sunnier it became. By the time we reached the car, the partly sunny weather we had expected all day has arrived. Cindy and Kathleen were waiting for us and had been for some time. Karl and I completed the round trip in about 5 hours. This was much longer than we normally taking. This attests to the difficulty of negotiating the trail when it is blocked by falling limbs! I wore a short sleeved Underarmour Heat Gear SS Top underneath a Mountain Hardwear Offwidth jacket. This new jacket provided plenty of warmth and protection against all but the strongest blasts of wind. It is very stretchy which allows ease of movement. My Asolo TPS 520 boots with a pair of Wigwam Wool/Silk socks provided cushioning and warm for the feet. At times I wore a pair of Outdoor Research PL150 gloves and a Mountain Hardwear Transition Hat for a little added warmth.

On Sunday, April 22nd my wife and I took the dog and headed for Windham. I coach spring track and we attend invitationals on Saturdays during April and May. I enjoy coaching but it cuts into the hiking time! There was little snow to speak of on the way to Windham except on the highest peaks. The last time we parked on Big Hollow Road an attempted Windham we ran into nearly impassable conditions and hiked Acra Point instead. Surprisingly the snow conditions on Big Hollow were nearly the same as a month ago. The road up to the actual parking area is not clear and the parking area is unplowed. I packed crampons for both of us and we took our poles. The weather was in the high 60's and sunny with just a little breeze. I wore just a pRana Nitro long sleeve shirt over my Underarmour Heat Gear short sleeve. I wore my heavier pants but no tights underneath. My wife wore a Mountain Hardwear long sleeve shirt with her Mountain Hardwear Windstopper Tech vest on top. Neither of us wore gloves but we did put on gaiters. I wore my Asolo Fugitive boots while she wore her Asolo Styngers.

We ran into problems as soon as we crossed the bridge over the Batavia Kill. The snow was only several inches deep in most places but up to several feet in others. Where there wasn't much snow the ground was wet and swampy. The trail crosses back over a stream just after the bridge but the water was too high to cross safely. We walked upstream but the bank gets steep and no immediate crossing was evident. We decided to bushwhack up the west side of the stream until we hit Burnt Knob or the Escarpment Trail. The bushwhacking wasn't too bad except for the very wet areas which seemed to be unrelenting! When we found the blue-blazed Escarpment Trail our troubles SHOULD have been over.

Windham, like all of the Catskills, had an ice storm which coated the trees with a heavy layer of ice. Several areas had high winds following this. The entire Escarpment Trail up and over Burnt Knob was littered with branches big and small. At times, it was impossible to push through these and stay on the trail and this required numerous detours. Near the top of Burnt Knob, the slippery, slushy snow made ascending very difficult. Once on top of the Knob there is a nice viewpoint of Acra Point. A short walk brought us to a rock ledge that juts out of Burnt Knob. This offers an open view of the Black Dome Valley, the Blackhead Range and Acra Point. We ate here and then pushed on toward Windham. This area of the trail was littered with broken branches and deep pools of melted snow. We stopped at the viewpoint of Windham just before the trail descends into the Col. We decided at three hours of hiking up was enough and turned around.

We decided to take the Escarpment Trail back to the Black Dome Trail and take our chances crossing the swollen streams. The Black Dome trail was almost impossible to follow at times because of dark red markers and the ice storm damage. At the first water crossing of at least two, my wife suggested bushwhacking west in an attempt to make only one water crossing. We were soon at one branch of the Batavia Kill and found a place to cross without too much effort. We bushwhacked up and out of the ravine and caught the track we had taken up the mountain. I wandered around a little trying to avoid water but finally found the line back to the trail register. We cut almost an hour off the return trip!

On the way back we stopped at the stone church above Tannersville. Our son and his fiancee will be married here on June 30th. The church is constructed of stone with wooden roof. The building was open so we went inside. The altar, pipe organ and beautiful stained glass windows make an unforgettable setting. The view from the front of the church is magnificent. Immediately across the road is an arboretum with a greening lawn, trees and shrubs. The backdrop is an unobstructed view of the Devil's Path! After eating at Pancho Villa's in Tannersville, we headed home.

On our way home, just passed Frost Valley, my wife saw something in a tree by the side of the road. I turned around and went back to find a large porcupine sitting on a tree branch. I got out to snap some pictures before taking DeBruce Road back to Livingston Manor. We hope to have many more days like this one.

On Monday, April 16th school was closed due to a Nor'easter that dropped rain, snow and sleet on Sullivan County. I didn't want to drive to a mountain or trail to hike since the roads were not in good shape. I took Sheba and headed for the hills across from my house. The area, Round Top, was where we had snowshoed during the winter. I didn't take snowshoes or crampons since the snow wasn't that deep. I intended to take the same route we snowshoed but to add a little to lengthen the hike.

The cemetery was covered in several inches of snow. The view of town from the high cemetery hill was beautiful. I took pictures of the school from the overlook and then continued on up the hill. I took a slightly different line this time but ended up in the same place. Sheba and I slipped and slid our way down the hills to just above the Quickway. From here we walked a little further down the path eastward but stopped after a short distance due to the wetness of the path. We turned around and started up the hill on the path that parallels the road.

As we descended the other side of the hills, I decided to go down to the rocky ledges that overlook the Quickway. The hill was steep and sliding down was no problem. I wondered how the return trip would be. We walked around on the ledges, watched the traffic go by, took some pictures and then started back up the hill. This snow, rain, sleet combination was slippery but I made it back up to the path with the help of my poles. I crossed the path and then continued on up to the woods road that exits the forest to a spot overlooking the bridge at exit 96.

I stopped to look at the hills and mountains that are visible from this overlook. The hills and trees covered with snow were pretty. As I walked along the edge of the field I decided to continue passed where we normally cut back into the woods and up the hill. After a short distance, I did enter the woods since the trail in the field became very wet and was posted. This ascent is shorter but steeper than the one we normally use. There wasn't much of a problem going this way and we were soon on top of the hill overlooking the town. From here we worked out way back to the cemetery. The hike was between two and three hours. I had wanted more but this was MUCH BETTER than nothing. Since the weather kept changing from cloudy to rain to snow I wanted to wear something that would protect me and keep me warm. I donned a pair of Mountain Hardwear Winter Wander pants with Terramar Elite tights underneath. I now know why my wife LOVES these pants! They shed moisture even though they are not waterproof. They fit well and dry quickly. I found out I really didn't need the long underwear to stay warm. On top I wore a PolarMax Max Survival 1/4 Zip Top and my Mountain Hardwear Manticore jacket. This combination was also too warm but I took advantage of the zippers on both to make things more comfortable.

On Saturday, April 14th my vacation from school was ending and the weather prediction for Sunday and Monday was unclear. The prediction for the higher elevations of the Catskills was from 7 to 12 inches of heavy, wet snow. My wife and I decided to do a 35 and Hunter seemed like a good idea. We got up early but somehow got started late and did not arrive until 11:00 AM at the Spruceton parking area. I packed my crampons and my wife had her Yaks. We both took poles. Sheba had her four-leg dog-nail traction working! The parking lot and the lower part of the trail was clear but I was worried about ice and snow further up the trail. We set off keeping a rapid pace.

We stopped at the turn up the mountain to get a snack, take a drink, snap some pictures and allow me to remove a layer. I also switched to lighter gloves. At this point the trail had significant packed snow. My biggest concern was the overflow from the spring on up the trail. It has been so bad in the past that full crampons of a work-around were necessary. We worked our way up quickly and there was NO ICE evident. The spring was encased in ice forming an interesting site.

We did not stop at the spring but pressed on to the area near the lean-to. Here there were some nice views from the rocks that act as a lookout. We made a brief stop for some pictures since we did not know what views would be available from the top of Hunter.

We pushed on and passed the turn to the Colonel's Chair. I have been on this trail several times and have NEVER made it out on this spur. Maybe next time! The snow got deeper as the elevation increased and at times there was 3 to 5 inches of loose snow on top of the packed base. This section of the trail is much longer than I anticipate and there are several fairly steep portions.

We finally arrived at the tower. The tower and the surrounding trees were covered in a thick coating of ice making for a beautiful scene. There was a group of 9 from SUNY Oneonta and two young men from Ithaca at the top. We ate lunch and didn't stay too long. For Hunter, the air was calm but stopping for any length of time always emphasizes how much heat you can generate hiking. We made the summit in just two hours and were ready to go back in 20 minutes.

The way down is always quicker but this time we outdid ourselves. By sliding on the snow and using the poles for balance we made it back in just over an hour! I tried out some new clothing and was very pleased. I wore the OR Tour gloves again but change to lighter gloves as my hands were so warm. I wore a Smartwool Bent Crew underneath an Arc'teryx Covert Crew. over this I wore my Mountain Hardwear Windstopper Tech Jacket as I often do. The other two layers proved to be unbelievably warm. I stowed the jacket and was warm most of the time even though neither blocks the wind. I was only a little chilly when we stopped.

On Friday, April 13th I decided to do a 35 after track practice. Starting a little later in the day means picking a mountain close to home. Sheba and I arrived at the Slide Mountain Parking area on Route 47 at 12:45. The temperature was 35 degrees but a stiff breeze was starting to blow. The weather prediction for later in this weekend varies from 6 to 12 inches of heavy wet snow so I wanted to make sure I got in a peak this day. There was more snow than I expected at the parking area but I decided to leave the snowshoes behind, pack the crampons and start out using the poles.

We got right on the trail and it was clear that the extra traction that the poles offer would be needed. There was a dusting of new snow over a packed and crunchy layer of old snow and ice. The Neversink was rather low and offered no real problem. In no time we arrived at the turn to go Slide Mountain. The lower parts of the trail were covered with just a little snow and some areas were almost clear. I was a little tired but we hurried to get up the mountain. I had no idea what the weather held in store since the sun would shine at times and then go under the clouds. The snow increased as we ascended as did the howl of the wind. I stopped at 3500 feet to take some pictures.

Above 3500 feet the trail was covered with 3 or more inches of new powder. The trees had more ice and snow covering them. At times the depth of the snow and the branches hanging down made narrow tunnel which was hard to get through. We pressed on until the junction with the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail. This is where I always get "fooled" on Slide Mountain. I never can remember than there is still a good hike from the CO junction to the summit! I stopped at one place to take a few pictures. At the lookout before the summit not much was visible since a hazy fog had settled in. The view or lack of view was the same from the rock ledge at the top of Slide. I made the summit in an hour and 45 minutes with several stops for pictures. I knew the return trip would be faster.

On the way down I didn't stop at all for pictures but pressed ahead. Sheba seemed anxious to move on since she was constantly ahead of me. The wind kept blowing and the temperature seemed cooler. This is the first time I finished a hike without shedding some clothing. I wore a Capilene 3 shirt which is much warmer than its weight would indicate. I also had on a Capilene El Cap fleece. On top I wore a Manticore Jacket from Mountain Hardwear. This jacket is very light but warm and blocks the wind completely! I did not use the hood although I though about it several times as the wind picked up. The OR Tour Gloves were very warm but stayed flexible and did not get wet. The trip down took only and hour so we finished the whole trip in under 3 hours! I considered this a good pace for the conditions.

On Wednesday, April 11th Lisa Lyons and I went to Trout Pond to hike. Lisa us the owner of the Morgan Outdoors hiking store in Livingston Manor. She is writing an article for the Town of Rockland visitors guide. She wanted to pick an area that allows many options in distance and difficulty so that people can choose the route that is right for them. Another requirement was that the hike have some "points of interest" and Trout Pond fits the bills both ways. We met at the coffee shop in town and I drove to the parking area on Morton Hill Road just outside of Roscoe. Although Russell Brook Road was open and bare of snow we decided to park on Morton Hill Road and walk down to the trail head area. This allows one option to be a hike from the upper parking area down to the falls on Russell Brook and back.

We decided to inspect the falls on the way back an signed in at the trail register. We decided to hike up to Trout Pond first rather than to Mud Pond since the trail to Trout is a very gentle uphill. The wide trail had almost no snow, a stark contrast to the hike to Cabot Mountain yesterday! Lisa and I talked about our different approaches to hiking and in no time we were at the pond. Most of the lower end was still covered with ice and the "groaning" of its melting filled the air. We stopped briefly to take pictures and then continued along the flat trail to the upper end of the pond. Stopping here and returning by the same path could be a second option for a hike.

There are two lean-tos at the upper end of the pond each with its own outhouse. They are in good repair and offer adequate shelter for an overnight camp out or protection from a sudden rain shower. The Trout Pond trail continues on to Campbell Brook Road but we crossed over the inlet and headed for Mud Pond.

This trail ascends a little more steeply and requires a certain increased fitness level. Once at the top of the climb the trail "rolls" some before the descent to Mud Pond. One area has some very young saplings which are probably the result of a fire or some other disturbance in the area. We walked down to Mud Pond and were surprised to see to men fishing from the banks of the pond. There is still some ice on this pond as the season change from winter to spring.

We continued on down the Mud Pond trail to the trail register by the falls. This part of the trail is a long downhill and is the reward for the earlier climbing. Those who are in good physical shape may want to climb this hill first and reverse the route we took. The last time I was on this trail it was covered with ice and snow and was tricky to descend. Today most of the slipperiness came from some mud in places.

We took some time to investigate the falls which actually consist of two or three different cataracts. We walk up the trail on the left side of the falls first and took some pictures. I had never been on this side before and the view is beautiful. There was still some ice in shaded areas of the falls which added to the scene.

As we walked back up the trail toward the car the upper falls could be seen through the trees. I took some pictures and then decided to descend the short but steep hill to a vantage point between the two parts of the falls. This was a very pretty area and I took several pictures. After a short time, we headed back to the car and investigated some other parking areas for a possible bike-hike adventure.

On Tuesday, April 10th my wife wanted to hike at Frick Pond but I countered with Cabot Mountain promising a great vista. I had done this hike in the summer and was plagued by nettles for the entire ascent of Cabot. I guess this made me forget that it is quite a steep ascent. Fortunately, my wife was in a good mood before and AFTER the hike. We took Sheba and parked at Big Pond at about 10:30 and immediately got on the trail. The first part of this trail ascends sharply from the road up to the register and beyond. It then flattens slightly and gently ascends for some distance.

Eventually the trail makes several short but steep ascents to the top of Touch-Me-Not Mountain. Some of these ascents were a little tricky as they run along a side hill. There was no snow in Livingston Manor when we left but as we climbed we ran into an ever increasing amount on the trails. At the top of the trail we met up with the loop trail that runs around Little Pond. We hiked this MANY times with our kids when picnicking at Little Pond. We turned left and descended to the junction with the trail to Beech Hill which goes over Cabot Mountain.

The trail begins innocently enough with some flat portions and gentle rises. After a short distance, the climbing becomes much more serious with several VERY steep areas. The good news was that there were no nettles! The bad news was that the snow covering the rocks was slippery in all the wrong places. As we climbed more and more of the surrounding mountains and the valley below were revealed. Unfortunately, there are few clear areas from which to take pictures. At the top of the climb the trail flattens somewhat before a final rise to the plateau.

On the plateau it is only a short walk to the Beaverkill Vista. This small rock ledge gives an unobstructed view of Little pond and the surrounding mountains. We stopped for a while to eat and drink. I also took some pictures before we turned around to attempt the descent of Cabot.

On the way down the sun came out and started to melt the ice on the trees, The sun shining on and through the ice on the branches offered and opportunity for some nice pictures. We descended Cabot slowly and carefully and without mishap. My intention was to retrace our steps which is the shortest route back. Instead we opted to take the loop trail to Little Pond and then the roads back to the parking area. This, I think, was quicker. We completed 6.5 miles in about 4 hours.

On Monday, April 9th I decided to hike part of the Devil's Path near Tannersville. The weather was partly sunny with temperatures in the mid 30's. A light wind was blowing as Sheba and I left the house. I decided to park on Prediger Road and hike the Devil's Path to the east ascent of Indian Head. I planned to include Twin since like many of these "doubles" most of the effort is getting to the higher elevation. The beginning of this hike is NOT the way I like to start. The first part of the trail is relatively flat and rolls slightly gaining some elevation. I like to start almost immediately on a climb. The more direct route to these two mountains is to go up the Jimmy Dolan Notch trail to the Col between the mountains. I like the other route because of the steep climb up the east side of Indian Head. This was almost my undoing!

After the initial part of the trail there is a short walk along the trail to Echo Lake and Overlook Mountain. The Devil's Path quickly takes a sharp right. The sign says 1389 foot climb which really doesn't completely describe what is ahead. The lower half of the trail goes through a series of short climbs alternating with flat areas. At this point I was bare booting and carrying my poles. Gradually the trail increases in steepness and the flat parts become nonexistent. I was following some tracks of people from the day before. It was obvious that they had been wearing Yaks so I didn't expect to have too bad a time. I began to use the poles to get some traction and steady myself on the slippery, rocky climbs. As I neared the top of one ascent, there was an ice flow across the trail. Up until this time there had been ice with an inch or more of freshly fallen powder on top. Some care in foot placement and some workarounds had taken care of those areas. This ice flow was thick and slick since some melting was occurring. Even the surefooted Sheba could not get over it. We tried to the left and we tried to the right but there was no way to get up. At this point I decided to don my Stubai crampons which I seldom use. These are the kind that attach with straps. It really didn't take long to get them on and they were just the thing! They bite into the ice and hold wonderfully. I gave Sheba a little boost and we were up and over in no time! I decided to leave them on. This proved to be the correct decision. We encountered several other icy areas along the way.

The trail grows increasingly steep and the ice got worse so that most of the trail was one big ice flow. Near summit ridge there are at least two climbs which are near vertical and they were ice covered. The people with the Yaks apparently turned back just before the first of these. This was probably the correct decision for them but I am sure it was disappointing. I had a little trouble negotiating some of the ascents since the crampons DO NOT grip well on bare rock. At several points there are good lookouts and a couple of GREAT ones. The day was perfect for taking pictures. The ice and snow on the trees near and far added to the natural beauty of the scenery.

Once on the summit ridge of Indian Head there is a short walk to the highest point. We continued on to the west side and began the descent into Jimmy Dolan Notch. This side of the mountain was a river of ice from the top to the notch. I saw no other footprints on the trail. Anything is possible but I think any attempt at going up or down the west side of Indian Head should be with full, aggressive crampons! At one point on the descent, there is an open spot that reveals Twin Mountain ahead. It looks quite imposing and the ascent is not easy. As soon as we hit the notch, we pressed on up the trail. Several people had been up in the days before and the most recent tracks looked like bare boots.

The lower part of the trail was rocky and without much ice. I had almost decided to take off the crampons when the ice started in again. This was almost as bad as on Indian Head. After several steep climbs and some stops at viewpoints for pictures, we were at the lookout on the eastern, lower peak of Twin. The skies were mostly sunny now with a few clouds and the conditions were almost ideal for taking pictures. After a short break, we continued on to the higher peak.

The drop between the two peaks is NOT trivial and the ascent up the western peak while short did provide a few exciting moments. I stopped briefly at the lookout on the western edge to take some pictures. I had considered continuing on down the other side and going out to Elka Park Road. After consulting the map, I decided this was too far and we reversed our course. We descended back into the notch and took the Jimmy Dolan Trail back down to the intersection of the Devil's Path. I often get lost on this trail and just bushwhack but there were new markers which helped. Now I know WHY I get lost. The trail winds back and forth all over the place. This trail was also very icy near the top and many areas showed glissade marks. I left the crampons on until I was sure that the ice had ended. At the Devil's Path we turned back to the parking lot. The hike had taken 6 hours and 15 minutes!

On Friday, April 6th I had planned to go to the northern Catskills and hike Thomas Cole, Black Dome and Blackhead from the Barnum Road parking area. I had never gone this way and wanted to see what it was like. I was especially interested in the Camel's Hump since most people believe it is above 3500 feet. However, when I woke up the temperatures had dropped into the low twenties and there was a stiff breeze! I decided this was just the kind of weather for a "spring" hike. I dressed more warmly than usual, packed some extra items for warmth, grabbed the dog and started out. Snow was falling heavily as I passed the Slide parking area but abated some as I drove into Greene County. At the parking area I decided to leave the snowshoes behind, pack the crampons and use the poles. The trail register is about .3 miles up the trail. The beginning trail is on an old road which is now heavily rutted and eroded. It acts as a perfect stream bed and was very icy.

After the trail register, the trail begins to ascend, gently at first and then more steeply. There are several switchbacks to moderate the climb. In a couple of different places on the trail there were ice flows that had to be carefully negotiated or avoided. After a steep but short climb up the Caudal, a viewpoint was available off to the right. This gave the first indication of how beautiful the hills were. The previous days weather had cloaked the trees in the higher elevations with ice and then snow and further wrapped their branches. We proceeded up the rest of the Caudal and then on to the Camel's Hump.

The area between the Caudal and the Hump was a winter wonderland in April. There was little or no wind and the woods were quiet. All of the trees had the coating that you could see on the far hills. Ice covered the branches. Snow had somehow mixed with the ice and formed a crystalline structure an inch high in some cases. I decided to take pictures on the way back since I wanted to keep hiking while I was fresh. On the way up the Camel's Hump we met a couple and their dog coming down from the viewpoint on the Hump. Sheba and their dog met and it was clear that they were not going to get along. We parted company quickly. The weather was still very cold and my feet, hands and nose were feeling the effects. I did, however, remove the fleece I was wearing underneath my Mountain Hardwear Windstopper Jacket. This jacket is the best single piece of equipment I have purchased!

The ascent up the Hump is a little steep in places but it should be. Most people agree that the Hump is over 3500 feet and far enough away from Thomas Cole to be labeled a different mountain. The problem may be that the change in elevation between the two is not great enough. At the top there is a well-used lookout to the south. The view from here showed more hillsides with trees encased in ice and snow. Although the mountains in the distance were shrouded in haze they were clearly distinguishable. After a short descent from the Hump, the trail passes across a Col on the way to Thomas Cole. Parts of the area are very open and at one point Thomas Cole is visible directly in front. I stopped here to take some pictures and to change to warmer mittens and a neck gaiter. A group of three young men were coming down off Thomas Cole after spending the night at the Batavia Kill lean-to. We talked for a moment and then walked on.

The ascent up Thomas Cole from this direction has some steep areas. These areas were covered by an inch or two of fresh powder. Underneath there was hard-packed snow and ice! Each step had to be carefully placed and the poles were invaluable. I should have stopped several times to put on the crampons but decided to just keep pressing on. The summit has no real view but the snow covering the spruce trees made a pretty scene. At this point I was tired but decided Black Dome was too close to pass up. Blackhead would wait for another day. I remembered that the descent into Lockwood Gap was VERY steep and having to come back up it made the whole thing less appealing. In addition, I had not anticipated so much snow and did not wax Sheba's feet. She was beginning to develop ice balls.

The descent of the Black Dome side of Thomas Cole was steeper than I remembered and every bit was covered in ice! The "nice" part was that you couldn't see the ice since it was covered in snow. The col between the two mountains was windy but very short. The ascent up Black Dome was much like the other slopes. There were areas that were steep and icy. Each time I went up over one of these places I was thinking about coming down. Once at the top of Black Dome there is a short walk to the summit which passes another lookout on the right of the trail. I walked a little passed the summit to see what Blackhead looked like. I stopped short of that goal since there was too much "down" to make it worthwhile. On the way back we stopped at the lookout and took a short break. Some ice covered spruce trees were interesting. I took some pictures of the hills in the distance and then we started back for the car. The trip all the way up had taken almost exact three hours to complete but this included several stops.

On the way back I found another lookout between Thomas Cole and the Hump. This one appeared to be far less used but no less beautiful! Even though this viewpoint also faces south the hills I saw from here somehow seemed different. On one mountain you could distinctly see the spruce trees and just as distinctly see their ice and snow covering. If I wasn't walking through similar conditions, it would have been hard to believe.

The way back proved to be easier in most cases as long as I watched my step and paid attention. I have never had much trouble with branches in the face but this day my right eye suffered several attacks. The parts that were icy on the way up were icy on the way down. The ascent of Cole from The Black Dome side had several challenges where ice covered every inch of everything. By this time the temperatures had warmed and I was not as cold. Sheba's feet seemed better. The slight increase in temperatures and brought down some of the ice from the trees making the trail "crunchy" and adding a little traction. The only times that I came close to falling were on relatively flat stretches were I relaxed and failed to pay attention to the footing. I guess my balance is still good since I recovered before going down both times. We arrived back at the car at 5:45 PM making it back in 2.5 hours.

On Tuesday, April 3rd I again had track practice but I got out early AND I had everything packed and ready to go. I decided on trying Table and maybe Peekamoose. I had not seen the new bridge over Deer Shanty Brook and these two mountains are relatively close to my house. Sheba and I arrived at the parking area at 12:15. The parking area was clear of snow and ice and also of any other cars. I could see that the trail was covered with snow and ice! The snow and ice alternated with clear patches where the sunshine had come through the trees. This held true all the way to the bridge. I had crampons and snowshoes in the car but felt they would not be needed. I did bring the poles. The temperature was in the high fifties and I removed my light windbreaker at the bridge and continued wearing my Underarmour CoolGear top.

The bridge is an engineering marvel! It consists of two large logs at least 6 feet above the running water. At each end these logs lie on a crib of other logs and stone. It looks to me as if this bridge may last through some high water when the next flood comes through. There are a couple problems. When the water is high, crossing the little stream BEFORE the bridge can be tricky. The bridge has no rail or guide rope. The logs that make up the bridge flex differently. This makes crossing it an exercise in balance at best. I would think that even a dusting of snow would have me looking for another way across.

After crossing the bridge, Sheba and I headed up the trail and had to make another tricky water crossing. Following that the trail ascends through a camping area and then through some boulders. Much of the trail was icy at this point especially where hikers had packed down the snow all winter. Some areas were almost bare of snow and icy while others still had several inches of snow. This trail can be discouraging since there are several places where it seems that the summit is just ahead. After attaining the rise ahead, it becomes clear that the actual summit is still ahead. In several paces views are possible through the trees of the surrounding peaks. It is hard to photograph them through the trees and capture their beauty. At one point at the top of a rise, Table is revealed. As I descended to the base of the climb, it ran through my mind that this WAS a 3500+ foot mountain.

On the way up Table there is a rock shelf just off the trail to the right. The snow had cleared by this time and the walking had become easier. We stopped at this point to take in the beautiful view. I took some pictures, ate a snack, drank some water and fed the dog. When we started back on the trail, the snow returned for real. From this point on to both peaks the snow was at least a foot deep and in places I sank in up to my knee. This made the hiking VERY tiring. The ice on some of the rocky ascents made for an adventure filled hike. On the final ascent up Table passed the spring and lean-to the trail in on a side hill. By this time the sun had warmed and loosened the snow making the walking here a real chore. Finally we reached the top of Table! There really isn't much to see.

At this point I was tired and it was after 2:00 PM. I decided that I WOULD go on to Peekamoose since I had already done the majority of the work. The map say .86 miles. My GPS read .52 miles. I headed out along the plateau that makes up the top of Table. After a few minutes, I made the steep descent into the col between the two mountains. Again, the snow and ice over the shaded parts of the trail made paying attention essential! The climb up to Peekamoose is not as steep in most places. There are a few steep spots that I knew would be "challenging" on the way back. At the summit Sheba and I stopped next to the large rock and then quickly turned around and headed back. Going down is definitely easier except for the steeper icy sections. I used a combination of sliding on my boots and running to get down quickly. The journey to Peekamoose and back took only about 40 minutes and was well worth the time and effort. We were back at the car by 5:45 PM with plenty of light to spare! Just less than 9 miles in 5 and a half hours!

On Monday, April 2nd I had track practice in the morning and couldn't get started on a hike until almost noon. Sheba was ready to go so I headed for McKinley Hollow intending to do Eagle. I had been there only once. Because of the limited time and changing weather I decided to do Balsam instead. The temperatures were mild and in the fifties. The sun was very bright and it wasn't long until I was hiking in only my Underarmour top. As we started out, the trail was pretty well covered by ice and some melting snow. It was slippery and hard to walk on! The water crossings were easily negotiated and by the time we got to the lean-to the snow was gone. The trail for the most of the rest of the way was free of snow and ice until the col between the two mountains.

After the lean-to, the trail begins to climb immediately and at first is a gentle slope. Very soon the trail gets much steeper and this part seems to go on forever. A small stream on the right of the trail adds visual beauty and audio distractions but the climb still seems very long. In one of the steepest sections a set of stone "steps" makes the going a little easier. At the top of the steepest part, the trail levels somewhat but still climbs to the col. It seems more level and easier because of the steep part behind you.

When I reached the col I made my final decision to go to Balsam. The 2.1 miles to Eagle and then back were cutting it too close. There was quiet a bit on snow and icy at the "four corners". Some of the ice was overlying some standing water as I found out! We made the turn onto the trail to Balsam. At this point the mountain in straight ahead and can easily be seen through the trees. The climb up to the summit had some areas of snow and icy usually strategically placed on the steepest, rockiest portion. The top of the mountain offers little in the way of views. Several places seem to offer views but walking there proves futile since trees still block a clear view of anything.

Going down was certainly a pleasure since the descent has no "ups" at all. A few portions of the trail required careful negotiation as they were steep and slippery. On the way down I noticed several trees with holes in them made by some woodland creatures. I first noticed this because of the extensive piles of wood chips on the ground. I assume the woodpeckers had been hard and worm although the wood was soft enough for porcupines to hollow out. We got back to the car with plenty of time to spare. I was ALMOST sorry I had not tried Eagle.

On Saturday, March 31st I wanted to get a 3500 in for the month of March. I didn't think my wife was interested but I was wrong. We packed up the SUV and the dog and headed for Westkill. This mountain was a LITTLE harder than I remembered. When we arrived at the parking area the ground was clear with puddles and mud. One look at the trail showed that there was still some snow at the lower elevations. One look at the mountains showed there was even more snow up higher. We decided that carrying the snowshoes just for the traction was impractical. My wife doesn't have crampons so she suggested we just take the poles. I didn't think they would be much help but they are light so I agreed. They proved to be just the thing! Diamond Notch Falls was beautiful as always. The water flowing through and around the ice was a wonderful site.

After the falls, the snow on the trail really began to deepen. In the morning the snow was still hard packed as long as we stayed on the trail. The trail begins to climb almost immediately and varies from shallow to relatively steep in places. This part was much longer than I remembered. As the snow was exposed to the warm temperatures and sun, it began to melt. This made the going tougher and trickier in places where there was ice. The poles were just the thing. They helped stabilize and added much needed traction.

A combination of the poles and careful attention to foot placement were able to get us up most of the trail. One spot, however, proved impossible to negotiate. At one point the trail becomes very steep for a short run through and over some rocks and tree roots. This area is exposed to sun so the snow and ice melt and refreeze. Some of the ice here was an inch thick. I decided to bushwhack and easily found a satisfactory way around this roadblock which we used on the way up and down.

After a continuous ascent, the trail flattens for a while and travels along a plateau. The trail then ascends again and along the way is a rock overhang that has been used as a shelter during sudden mountain storms. We stopped for a minute to get a drink and a snack. Sheba had other ideas as she wanted to continue hiking. Once we started back on the trail the lookouts and the summit were only a short distance away.

The views from the Buck Ridge lookouts this day were fantastic. There is always some haze on the farthest mountain tops but the rest of the view was clear. Sheba and I hiked up to the summit of Westkill which is unremarkable but does have a small sign marking it. We came back down and rested for a while. I took MANY pictures from the lookouts since the views were as good as I had ever seen. We retraced our steps to the parking area. The trip up had taken almost three hours. The trip back was under two!

On Sunday, March 25th I wanted some more exercise so I took the dog and headed for Hodge and Frick Ponds. The weather was cloudy when we started out but changed to bright sun in the short time it took us to drive and park. The parking area was clear down to bare dirt but one look at the Flynn Trail showed there was still some snow. I carried the shoes to the beginning of the trail, put them on and started out. The climb to the junction of the Flynn and Big Rock Trails is never steep but it IS uphill all the way. We stopped at the junction, took some pictures and I decided to head for Hodge to get some pictures before all the snow disappeared. Hodge Pond was beautiful with the surrounding hills still partially covered with snow.

At this point Sheba and I decided to go the long way around since the weather was so beautiful. I still had some irritation on my left heel from wearing snowshoes so often but I couldn't resist! We headed out on the Flynn Trail to continue on to the Junkyard. The trail alternated between being completely covered with snow and open areas of standing or flowing water. Sheba didn't seem to mind since the day was warm and she could get a drink! At Junkyard we turned right onto the Quick Lake Trail to head back for the parking area.

This trail was well-packed by snowmobiles which was a relief since slogging through the heavy, melting snow was beginning to be a chore. We did meet two snowmobilers along the way on their last ride of the season. At one point the spruce trees were so dense that very little melting had occurred. This formed a beautiful tunnel with a floor of snow. The only problem was the rather wide "stream" running across the trail. I normally don't jump very well and snowshoes don't help. As I vaulted over the stream, I realized that where I was landing was a thin snow and ice shelf with running water underneath. The shelf broke and I fell! I injured my thumb, bumped my left knee and got pretty wet. The air temperature was warm or I might have been very cold hiking back. Sheba came over to lick my wounds. I put snow on the thumb and was off after a short pause.

We continued on the Quick Lake Trail to Iron Wheel Junction where I decided to turn right, stay on the Quick Lake Trail and take the shorter way back. It seemed in no time we were at Frick Pond. The near side of the bridge over the outlet still has a large mound of snow almost blocking it! I stood on the bridge to take some pictures of Frick Pond. The snow can still be seen on some of the hills. Part of the pond is iced over but the area near the outlet is open. The water is a beautiful blue. We headed back to the car completing a little over 6 miles in about 3 hours!

On Saturday, March 24th my wife and I decided to snowshoe an "easy" 3500. I had only climbed Windham once from the Peck Rd. route so we headed north. This time we parked near the Black Dome parking area with the intention of using the Black Dome Trail to the Escarpment Trail and on to Windham. As you can see from the picture this road is definitely "seasonal". The parking area is seldom, if ever, plowed and parking along the shoulder of the road can get crowded. We headed out on the Black Dome Trail which climbs steadily, but not steeply, toward a junction with the Escarpment Trail. The temperature was in the forties and the snow was very loose. Snowshoes provided traction and some flotation in areas of heavier snow.

We turned left on the Escarpment Trail and headed toward Windham by way of Burnt Knob. It was immediately clear that the signage was wrong since it indicated 1.5 miles to Burnt Knob and 2.0 miles to Windham. Burnt Knob is hard to miss at this point since it LOOMS right in front of you. The distance is really .5 miles to Burnt Knob and another 1.5 miles to Windham. We started the climb up Burnt Knob and it proved to be quite challenging. It is steep in most places with several rock outcroppings to negotiate. As we came around the hill and started up again, I began to slip even though my Lightning Ascents are usually good under any conditions. My wife was having MORE trouble with her Tubbs! The snow was just too loose to continue and make hiking any fun. I went a little further and then we decided to go back to the trail junction and go over Acra Point. I had never been on that part of the trail but the decision proved an excellent one. The hiking was easier but not easy and the views were spectacular!

The hike to the top of Acra Point was less than a mile and the snow coverage was spotty. There were places with no snow at all followed by areas where snow had drifted to several feet. Near the top a short side trail emerges on a rocky shelf. The view from here is one of the best I have seen and was particularly nice on this day as the sun was shining. From this point you can look across and see the Blacks. They appear close enough to touch. The Col between Blackhead and Black Dome is easily visible. The Camel's Hump to the west of Thomas Cole stands out. The view down the valley is breathtaking.

We decided to stop here briefly to enjoy the view and take some pictures. We don't stop often and never for long but this was just too good to pass up. Even Sheba, who normally whines when we aren't on the trail didn't seem to mind. She does walk very close to the edge of these lookouts which makes us nervous. The sun was warm and I was afraid to linger too long as a nap didn't seem to be out of the question!

I usually eschew pictures but Cindy convinced me that she should snap of a few of me using the Blacks as a backdrop. The pictures she took almost seem to be faked. It is as if I were in a studio and some backdrop was lowered behind me. I assure you this is not the case. In fact, I am very close to the edge of a 50+ foot drop.

Near the end of the hike a bridge crosses the Batavia Kill. The running water from the melting snow is finally free to cascade down the mountains. The picture here is looking upstream on the Batavia Kill. In several places we were walking on packed snow that had running water underneath. In other places we were walking beside a creek. I am sure the volume of these rivulets will increase with the increasing temperatures. This make spring hiking in the Catskills exciting since you never know when you will have to cross a swollen stream near the end of a long hike. We covered between 5 and 6 miles in 4 or so hours counting the aborted attempt up Burnt Knob. As we were coming down the trail to the carry a few drops of rain fell. When we pulled away from the parking area, large drops began pelting the windshield. This continued on and off, harder at times until we returned home.

Winter 2006-2007

On Saturday, March 17th 12" to 16" of new snow had fallen in Livingston Manor. I took Sheba and headed for the hill behind the church. The snow was new and untouched. We had to break trail the whole way. The views of town from the hill were beautiful. I made a right at the top of the trail and just headed UP to the highest point I could find. This led me to the trail I usually take back so I just followed it and reversed the route I normally take. The downhills were interesting on snowshoes and I was a little cautious at first. After some experimenting, I found a great way to go down slopes. I lift the tips of the snowshoes and Lean back or "sit" on the tails". This allows a "glide" similar to cross country skis! It makes going down a breeze. Now if I can only find a similar technique for going up. After lunch I'm going out again with my wife and a friend. I am going to take the camera this time!

After lunch, around 1:00 PM, I again headed for Round Top. This time my wife, a friend. Kathy, and Sheba all came with me. After crossing the street, there is a short rather steep climb to the top of the cemetery hill. Cindy and Kathy had not been out before and were in good spirits as they climbed the hill.

From the cemetery hill the view of Treyz Hill and the area between the hills, The Flats, is beautiful. The new snow covered the cemetery and the hills beyond the flats. It makes everything look so clean and peaceful. A light wind was blowing and causing the snow to drift in spots.

The view of town after climbing a short distance through the woods is very impressive. The Livingston Manor school in particular looks beautiful. The school is old, built in the 1930's but the maintenance staff does a good job of upkeep. Several recent bond issues have refurbished the roof and clock tower. The river running in front is the Willowemoc.

After a steady climb up to the second and highest part of the ridge, there is a long descent. Sheba and I waited as my wife and Kathy descended. At this point, we were on the other side of the ridge overlooking State Route 17, the Quickway. The descents were fun and I ended up throwing in an extra one as I tried to find an alternate trail. Just before the turn to head back up to where we started there is a clearing that overlooks Exit 96. There are also good views of the houses on White Roe Lake Road.

On Wednesday, March 14th I had to take off from work since my back was bothering me again. A little heat and some ibuprofen had it feeling better. Just before noon I decided to take Sheba and climb Graham Mt. I took a complete complement of equipment since I didn't know what I would need. The parking lot was bare but that was it! The trail off the parking area had a foot of snow so I decided to wear the MSRs and take the crampons with me. Good decision! When we got to the turn for Balsam Lake Mt., Sheba was ready to go up the steep slope but I told here we were going to Graham Mt.

The trek to Graham Mt is long and parts are not too interesting. Several blowdowns on the narrow trail to the second Balsam Lake turn required careful negotiation. I did find it just as easy to use the snowshoes as to hike over the rocks that line the trail during the summer. The herd path to Graham was very obvious. It was clear that several people had postholed their way along the trail. Others had worn snowshoes but had stayed on top of the crust that was present when the weather was warmer. On this day the snow as loose from the warm temperatures and I was GLAD I had the snowshoes since it would have been a miserable walk otherwise. Graham Mt always fools me since there are several parts of the trail near the top that look like the summit but are not! I didn't stop for any pictures until I reached the top. It was warm at the summit and there was less snow. Looking back toward Balsam Lake Mt the summit was clearly visible but I could not spot the tower.

As always Sheba had a great time despite the fact that her lack of snowshoes meant she kept sinking into the loose snow. It didn't seem to bother her much. She was able to follow the track of the others who had gone before use. This was despite the fact that they had been there many days before. The one time I decided not to follow her was the time I lost my way. Even Sheba took a short rest at the summit of Graham Mt. All too soon she was ready to go and we were back on the trail. The descent was easier but I still had to be careful.

Just below the summit of Graham Mt on the west side of the trail is a nice place to look out over the valley. A pole here attests to the function of the remains of the building at the top. At one time wires carried power and telephone communications to the long abandoned radio station. The views from this spot are always beautiful and change dramatically with the seasons. We only stopped for a short time at the lookout as the wind picked up and some clouds started to blow in. Despite the sun, the weather prediction was for rain in the afternoon.

On the way back, still on the herd path from Graham, I noticed this tree that I had not seen on the way up. Woodpeckers had perforated the dead tree with numerous holes. I didn't see any evidence of the birds themselves, only the results of their labors.

On Sunday, March 11th I decided to take Sheba and snowshoe at Trout Pond. I knew a group from Morgan Outdoors was coming but I decided to get a head start. Sheba and I parked at around 12:30 and hiked the big hill up to Mud Pond. We retraced our steps and walked back to Morton Hill Road where we had parked just in time to meet four other people. This time we headed for Trout Pond. The group stopped and turned around at the lower end of the pond. Sheba and I continued on to the lean-to. By this time it was getting late and the Tubbs were beginning to irritate my left heel. We turned around and went back to the car. Altogether we spent almost three hours snowshoeing and covered almost six miles.

On Sunday, March 4th my wife and I decided to take Sheba and snowshoe at Frick and Hodge Ponds. We decided to reverse the course we normally use. We started up the LONG incline which is the Flynn Trail. Some of the snow was packed by DEC snowmobiles which made the trek easier. At the top of the hill, we took a short break. Sheba objects to these interruptions in her hiking but can be placated by offering her a treat.

After our break, we turned left onto the Big Rock trail and headed back to the parking area. I would have preferred to continue on to Hodge Pond but any time out is better than staying in. I would still like to get some more pictures of Hodge Pond before the snow leaves. Maybe over the next couple of weeks I'll make it back there!

On Saturday, March 3rd I decided to take Sheba and climb a 3500 somewhere close to home. I was worried about the amount of snow and ice on some of the back roads so I headed for Slide. Ulster County does a great job of maintaining Rt 47 and this day was no exception. In fact, most of the roads were in better shape than I expected. I had doubts about whether we could cross the West Branch of the Neversink behind the Slide parking area. It seemed those doubts were well founded as the river was running high. I pulled into the parking area fully expecting to go with my backup plan of climbing Eagle and Balsam. I got out of the car in the icy parking area, walked past the register to the river and found it completely covered with ice and snow. I let Sheba out of the car. I decided to wear my snowshoes and take my crampons and Yaks. This turned out to be a great decision. We started the hike and I was AGAIN reminded that a 3500 is DIFFERENT than hiking small hills. I did not stop to take any pictures until the top! To the left Sheba is patiently waiting at the summit of Slide to start hiking again.

The weather when I left the parking area was overcast but the sun seemed to be ready to peek through the clouds. The temperature was cooler than the 40's at home but not below the mid 30's. As we climbed the temperature continued to drop and the wind picked up. The trail was packed down in most places but any attempt to go off the trail showed that ether was between 1 and 2 feet of snow remaining in most places. Above 3500 feet the trail became VERY icy and I was glad for the aggressive cleats on my MSRs. It also started to snow which I assumed was due to the elevation. The view at the right is from Slide toward the Ashokan. Hiking in the snow with snow on the ground and ice on the trees was beautiful but there were no views.

The snow and ice on the trees had weighed them down so much that they were bent over into the trail. This gave the feeling of walking through a tunnel much of the time. Some branches hung so low they blocked the way. Many were so heavy they were hard to move and we had to go around. Sheba went under. As we were descending I heard a CRASH behind me! A rather large branch had snapped off and fallen on the trail about 10 feet behind me.

The ice on the trees above 3500 feet was truly impressive. This picture clearly shows the icy covering typical of most of the trees at this elevation. The trail surface was also covered with ice. Sheba had some trouble slipping and sliding around but she didn't seem to mind.

In the vicinity of the CO trail is an area on the east side of Slide where the trees have been destroyed. The area has been this way for quite some time. I knew at one time what caused this destruction. The area has been slow to recover but this is typical of the fragile ecology at this elevation. It acts as a reminder of the damage we could do.

As we descended the snow did not abate as I had thought it would. In fact, the rate of snowfall increased and it was snowing as when we reached the parking area. This picture shows Sheba leading the way near the junction with the West Branch-Oliverea Trail. She was covered in snow at several points but managed to shake most of it off. We covered the six mile hike in right around three hours! Although the snowshoes add weight, it may be easier negotiating Slide this way. During the other seasons the rocks that make up the trail surface can be real ankle turners!

On Monday, February 26th school was closed AGAIN due to several inches of new snow. I took Sheba and headed for Trout Pond to hike the SAME ROUTE as the day before. I intended to hike it faster and throw in a side trip up the Campbell Mountain Trail. The parking area on Morton Hill was STILL not plowed so I parked along the road trying not to get stuck since I had my mother's Alero and not the SUV. There was about 3 inches of new snow which had piled up on the trail. It clung to the trees making a beautiful sight. Near the parking area on Russell Brook Road a sign marked the end of the passable roadway. Beyond this sign the road has become impassible due to the series of floods that have eroded the roadway.

Hiking on snowshoes allowed extra grip in the new snow that had fallen on top of the hard-packed snowmobile trails. As we descended toward Russell Brook, a small sign warned snowmobilers of the upcoming wooden foot bridge. The bridge was covered by the new snow but showed signs of wear and tear from the motorized snowmobile treads. Most of the brook was frozen over with only small patches of open water visible. I did not venture up to the waterfall because of the deeper snow in that direction. From the road above, it too seemed partly frozen!

My hiking companion Sheba is ALWAYS ready to leave the house and head out on a new adventure. Today she did not seem to be sure that I would take her. I did give it a second thought today since she is bothered by the snow which collects on the hair between her toes and up her legs. Nothing seems to prevent this completely but I applied a liberal coating of Musher's Secret which does help. I may try trimming the hair a little since it takes only minutes for her to form annoying iceballs. These seem to be more of an annoyance than anything else and her "nibbling" at them more of a habit than a necessity. Sheba stayed close to me following in my steps part of the time to take advantage of the trail I was breaking.

The hike went quickly and we only stopped briefly near Mud Pond for me to change gloves and adjust the ventilation on my jacket. I gave Sheba a treat, cleaned her paws and we were off uphill again toward Trout Pond. On the way down the other side of the hill from the highest point on the trail I began to notice a "hot spot" on my right foot. When I put on the snowshoes I had cinched the right one down pretty tight. I had intended to loosen it but had not. The rubbing became so painful that I removed the shows and carried them the rest of the way! Fortunately, the trail was well-packed and I was going downhill and then along a flat area most of the way. At the upper end of Trout Pond, the bridge is still missing. It washed out during the last flood and has not been replaced! The water level is low and the water frozen. Multiple layers of snow and the packing from the snowmobiles has formed a sturdy bridge across the creek. Trout Pond has a enough ice to support snowmobiles but it looks strange to see it completely covered. Snow began to fall at this point so we hurried on!

We descended the path from Trout Pond to the trail register quickly. I used one pole to steady myself as I continued to carry the snowshoes and the other pole. As we neared the trail register to complete our loop, Sheba and I noticed some wildlife out and about in the snow. It was a small porcupine lumbering along. I was VERY CONCERNED that Sheba would want to investigate and immediately told her to STAY! She didn't seem all that interested and listened to my commands. I tried to get a picture of the porcupine. I found that it simply wanted to be left alone. I could not get a clear picture of its face since it would turn its back to be and display its quills! I snapped some shots and then we got back on the trail. The uphill walk to the car was a little difficult without the traction from the snowshoes but my foot felt better without the irritation on what turned out to be a small but painful blister. It took us about 2.5 hours to hike the 5 to 6 mile route. The camera always seems to add some time but I like recording our efforts!

On Sunday, February 25th My wife and I took Sheba and headed for Trout Pond. The parking area on Morton Hill was not plowed so we parked along the road. Several trucks, one with a snowmobile trailer, were already parked. ALL of the trails were packed by snowmobiles and the walking was easy. We started by hiking down to the Russell Brook parking area and then to the trail register. From here we turned left and went up the hill toward Mud Pond. This climb is challenging since it is long if not steep. We turned right at the trail that leads to Trout Pond and gradually ascended to the top. From here the trail is all downhill or flat back to the trail register. From there we went back up Russell Brook Road to the car. The round trip took about 2.5 hours at a rather leisurely pace. I was quite comfortable in my CoolGear and a Mountain Hardwear Link Jacket. I was glad I wore my high gaiters since I tend to kick up a lot of snow.

On Saturday, February 24th I got home around 5:00 PM from timing two basketball games. My wife and I decided to take the dog and go for a short snowshoe hike over Little Round Top just across the street from our house. We repeated the hike I had done recently with a few variations. As we finished, it was getting pretty dark in the woods. It has a good hour spent on a "warm" day."

On Thursday, February 22nd school closed early due to a snowstorm. I decided to take Sheba snowshoeing and we headed toward Trout Pond. As I ascended Morton Hill Road I decided it was a mistake. The snow was falling heavily and the road already had 2 inches covering it. I knew that I would be worried about the return trip for the entire hike. I turned around and went back to Livingston Manor. I went to the Orchard Street Cemetery with Sheba and reversed the route I had done the last time school closed on Valentine's Day. I walked the ridge from the cemetery parallel to Rock Avenue. I followed and old woods road/trail and some footprints. At one point I had a nice view of the school! I headed around Little Round Top and down into an open field. After skirting the field I reentered the woods and was able to see the Quickway. I paralleled the Quickway about half way to Exit 97 when the trail began to descend. I decided to head UP through the woods to the ridge. This UP is not a mountain but it is steep in places and a good workout. At the very top of the ridge I picked up my trail from the last hike. I followed this back toward the cemetery but then cut down through the woods and picked up my tracks from earlier. I retraced my steps back to their origin. A little over an hour with the Sheba outside in the fresh and falling snow was well worth it.

On Monday, February 19th the morning temperatures were single digit. The low temperatures combined with the winds created a "feel like" temperature of well below zero. I waited until about 1:00 PM and then headed out the door with Sheba. The trail reports from Balsam Lake Mountain were tempting but I didn't want to do that hike alone. It was the first time I had carried a pack since the accident and I didn't know how it would effect my lower back. Sheba and I parked at the Frick Pond parking area on Beech Mountain Road at about 1:20 PM. I was happy to see over afoot of snow and unbroken trails. Only one other car was in the lot. I signed in at the trail register and we quickly made our way to the trail junction at Frick Pond. Someone had been "postholing"! I wore my MSR Lightning Ascents for their light weight. At Frick we turned left and went down to the pond. I took some pictures of the pond. I though I heard a gunshot but chalked it up to a breaking tree branch. We headed back up to the trail junction and continued toward Times Square. Several more loud "pops" convinced me that they were indeed gunshots! I decided to continue.

Past Frick Pond the snow began to deepen with drifts up to two feet! The trail was not clearly broken, although in places I could see ski tracks. When we arrived at Times Square, the Loggers Loop and Big Rock Trail were nicely packed by snowmobiles. Breaking trail is hard work by yourself and I was glad for the respite. The Big Rock Trail is always more of a challenge than I remember. It is a little more than a mile from Times Square to the junction with the Flynn Trail but it is all uphill. The elevation change is only 600 feet but seems like more.

At the junction with the Flynn Trail I decided to return to the car. Sheba's feet were bothering from ice balls. I didn't want to overexert myself. The snowmobile tracks continue on over the hill to Mongaup Pond. The Flynn Trail was completely unbroken in both directions. After a brief stop for pictures, we turned right on the Flynn Trail and hiked the 1.5 miles back to the parking area. Some places on this trail had drifts over 2 feet. For once, I felt that the snowshoes were necessary! Around 4 miles in two hours doesn't set any records but I was happy with my effort.

On Saturday, February 17th the MSR/OR representative was at Morgan Outdoors. She gave a brief presentation on layering clothing and on the MSR snowshoes. Then, a group of about fifteen headed out to snowshoe. My wife and I decided to go along and take Sheba who had not been out in some time. We went to the Beaverkill Covered Bridge and parked. The group walked across the bridge, donned snowshoes and headed down a trail into the campsite. The terrain is relatively flat and snowshoes were not really needed since the snow depth was minimal. Still, the shows provides a grip on the icy crust and it was good to be out. The air temperature was in the twenties but the sun was out and there was little wind. As we approached the end of the campsites, I decided to head UP to the ridge above us to get in some work and see the sights. The climb was short but steep in places and I was glad I had worn by Lightning Ascents! At the top of the ridge I looked down and saw that only Sheba had followed me! The rest of the people were taking a break and waving to me. After a short traverse of the ridge, I returned to where I had ascended. Other places on the ridge were just too steep. On the way back we bushwhacked up through the pine forest which was beautiful. There were several small rises to negotiate and getting over some of the blowdowns prove a challenge. It was an enjoyable outing with new people to talk to. We spent about two hours and got some good exercise.

On Wednesday, February 14th we got our first real snowfall of the day and school was closed. My wife had to work so we planned on an earlier morning snowshoe excursion. When we looked outside, there was heavy, wet sleet falling. We decided to wait until she came home from work. Around 11 AM I was bored, so I decided to go out by myself. By the time I was dressed and ready to go the snow had turned to rain and I headed back inside. By 1 PM the snow had started again and was really falling hard. I went got outside this time and headed for a hilly cemetery across the street. I planned to do some laps but after a few I was bored. I headed into the woods along following a poorly defined trail. I decided to turn uphill and go to the top of a small ridge. Going uphill was interesting since a layer of snow had been covered by a layer of frozen rain and snow. On top of this was another layer of snow. My MSR Lightning Ascents were up to the job. Even so, paying attention to getting a good shoe and pole placement was critical. At the top of the ridge my heart rate was up but so were my spirits. The woods and trees were beautiful and fresh snow was falling. I walked for a distance across the top of the ridge and then decided to turn back and work my way home. I misjudged my direction a little! Some of the descent were a little steep on snowshoes but I quickly remembered the technique for walking on a side hill and traversing to descend. I was out for a little over an hour. My Columbia Six Glaciers over Underarmour ColdGear was more than enough. When my wife came home from work, we went down to the school and snowshoed on the flat fields for a while. By this time the winds had picked up and the fields offered little protection. We headed in pretty quickly. All in all a very nice time.

On Thursday, February 8th my Mitsubishi Eclipse was struck from the rear by a full-sized pickup truck on about 45 mph. I was stopped at a red light on State Route 17 in Parksville. The driver behind me lost concentration and simply ran into me. The damage to my car was over $6,000. I still have pain in my lower back, right hip and thigh. Sitting and lying down are uncomfortable. Walking seems to be alright but I haven't tried carrying a pack yet! I know this isn't a hike but I feel it was an adventure albeit one that I could have done without.

On Saturday, February 3rd I decided to try Doubletop from the Segar parking area. I had wanted to do this earlier in the year but was unsure where to "cut up" to the peak. I read a message from Aaron VFTT indicating he wanted to do this hike and I responded. Of course, the night before we got the first major snowstorm of the winter! Aaron sent me an email that the hike was on for 10:30 AM since he was bringing some people up from Harriman! I started out at about 9:30 AM and took the scenic drive passed Pepacton Reservoir and on Millbrook Rd. The other group actually arrived before I did! They came up the Thruway to Kingston, took Rt 28 and then Dry Brook Rd. from Arkville. We met shook hands and were off! The pace was quick and the weather cold so I never really had a chance to get the camera out. There isn't much of a view along the way. The 8 inches of snow at the peak was "scenic" as it draped the trees in winter's glory!

We headed up the Segar Trail and crossed Flat Iron Brook on ice and some stepping stones. This scenario was repeated several times as was the "thrill" of nearly falling into a freezing mountain stream! When the Segar Trail heads up the mountain we continued on the woods road. One of the stream crossings has a serviceable plank bridge with a wire guide line to help you across. It was slippery which added to the adventure. After about 2 miles traveling southeast, we turned right or southwest directly toward the highest peak of Doubletop. This is when the real fun began. We went down slightly, crossed a small stream and then headed UP! On the way back I really looked at what we had climbed and it seemed impossible! The distance is only a little more than a mile. There are at least three climbs up VERY steep, rocky slopes. It would be challenging in any season. The snow and ice on top of these steep slopes made finding footing an handholds nearly impossible in places. There were enough rocks and sticks to make wearing crampons impossible but not enough snow to consider snowshoes. Stabilicers seemed to help some but I "barebooted" all the way.

As we crawled our way up the steeper parts I began to wonder if I would make it to the top. My toes and fingers were getting cold and I was worried about the late start, our slow progress and the weather forecast. I did not want to be on the mountain as the temperatures started to drop and the winds started to increase. With some encouragement from Andy I followed him up the last slope to the "plateau" at the top. I then took the lead with my GPS. We walked toward the marked highest point and seemed to go right by it without seeing the canister. Just as we were about to retrace our steps, I spotted the can on a tree. Andy and I signed in and then Aaron showed up. We waited a few minutes for Bill and then headed back the way we came. After a couple of minutes we met Bill. He had been to the top several times so we all continued on down the trail.

I put own a pair of glove liners to keep my fingers warm and my toes started to warm as we worked our way down. Most of the way down I was able to "ski" using my boots or perform graceful glissade. It was a lot easier going down than up and the snow cushioned some of the minor slips, slides and fall that we took. We went up in a little over 3 hours and down in just over two! I was glad I did the hike and glad that I didn't quit near the summit. I want to return and use this route during another season. It is by far the shortest way I have been up this peak.

On Saturday, January 27th I gave my wife a choice of doing a 35 like Twin or Peekamoose or of hiking at Minnewaska. She chose a walk at Long Pond. We parked at the parking area on Flugertown Road and started up the snowmobile trail. The weather was cold but there was no wind so I immediately began to work up some body heat. The first part of the trail is ALL UP and it really gets the blood moving! The usual mud along this trail was replaced by frozen mud. There was about a 2 inch covering of very fine snow over the occasional patch of ice. Every now and then a footfall would break through the frozen mud of ice covering. This factor combined with a flat landscape and nothing to view made for a forgettable hike. Sheba, of course, seems unaffected by any obstacle. Her paws did seem to bother her a little this time despite the Musher's Wax I applied.

We had intended to hike passed the lean-to to Basily Road and then follow this to Flugertown Road to make a loop. Even this didn't work out! Just before the intersection with Flugertown Road is a rather large stream and beaver pond. Not wanting to get wet we turned around and retraced our entire hike to the car. The best part of the hike was that it was six plus miles of exercise which is far better than sitting around the house! We must have set a pretty good pace since we did it in just under 3 hours including stops.

On Wednesday, January 24th I was VERY tired when I got up for work and I thought I might have the beginnings of the flu. I called in sick and went back to bed for a few hours. When I got up I was rested and I felt much better. I did want to "waste" the day completely so I decided to take Sheba for a hike up Giant Ledge and Panther. We got a LATE start and as I turned onto Route 47 I noticed the gas gauge very close to E. We parked and started on the trail. I had dressed a little more lightly this time and was almost sorry I did until we started hiking. This time I didn't have to stop to remove clothing. I had used Musher's Secret Wax on Sheba's feet and was anxious to see if it prevented the snow from sticking. Things were going well until we hit the first ice flow. There were several of these along the way. The rest of the trail was snowy with some ice patches. I found the Yaks don't work well when stored in your pack. I again had to "encourage" Sheba across the bridge.

We avoided the ice flows as best we could although they don't bother Sheba. I knew there were two other hikers ahead of us and we met them and their dog at Giant Ledge. I have to admit that following their footsteps made hiking easier since I could better see the ice under foot. The hike up to the Ledge wasn't very eventful with only a few slips. The trail began to get snowier as we got near the Ledge and as we continued on to Panther. After the Ledge there were no more footsteps to follow and the descent into the col between Giant Ledge and Panther is always interesting! As we started to ascend Panther I saw movement up ahead. It was big! It was brown! It was another pair of hikers coming over from Fox Hollow. The ascent up Panther brought a few more ice flows and a few steeper spots that had slipped my memory.

The view from the lookout at the top of Panther is usually not spectacular. This time was no different except that the lighting made for some interesting views. We stopped for a moment to get a drink eat some snacks and take some pictures. The wind wasn't bad but was cold lowered the temperature enough to make me want to get going again.

The Musher's Wax worked wonders on Sheba. Several times she stopped to checkout her feet but I think this was habit. I looked several times and could not find any accumulated snow. At the top of Panther Sheba demanded a treat and I knew she needed water since there was very little along the trail. She is a VERY good hiking companion as she will show you were the ice is and she will pick a good way around it. She always stops to check to make sure the people are OKAY even though she could be WAY out ahead. When we are alone, she tends to range farther than when we are with a group. This hike proved to me that the Gunks and other hikes are wonderful exercise and provide new and exciting views. However, climbing a 35 is a whole different experience! I am not in the same shape I was in this summer but am trying to get there. The Catskill 35's provide the best workout for the time allowed.

On Sunday, January 21st I decided to take the dog for another short hike in our area. Church and choir practice ran late so we headed for Frick and Hodge Ponds after lunch. The air temperature never got above 20 but there was no wind. Still, it did seem colder than Saturday until we started to move. We started to hike at about 1:15 PM at the trail head on Mongaup Pond Rd. I signed the register and we arrived at Frick Pond within 15 minutes. I decided to go the longer way around and turned left at the pond to head toward Iron Wheel Junction. I had to DRAG Sheba across the wooden bridge. She does not like bridges that have gaps between the boards! About half way across I let her go and she slinked the rest of the way across. The trail up to Iron Wheel is heavily eroded in places and there is a lot of running water despite the recent low temperatures. From Iron Wheel we turned right toward Times Square. At Times Square we turned left and headed UP the Big Rock Trail to the junction with the Flynn Trail. I always forget that this part of the trail is a challenging climb. Anyone who claims that the only good workout is on a 35 should try some of these other trails! After a long trek we arrived at the Flynn Trail and turned left to hike the half mile to Hodge Pond. The pond is still there and is getting covered with ice. We turned around and retraced our steps to the junction with Big Rock and then headed down the Flynn Trail back to the car. As we got near the cabin a forest ranger pulled up and parked. I met Dell Jefferies, the head NYS Forest Ranger for this area, for the first time. Dell and I talked for a while and then Sheba and I headed home. We had spent about two and a half hours hiking.

On Saturday, January 20th I had planned to hike a 35 somewhere close to home. My grid said that Panther was available and that is where I intended to go. I didn't think my wife Cindy would want to brave the 20 degree air temperature and the 30+ mph winds but I was wrong! However, she didn't want to climb a mountain so we took the dog and headed for Trout Pond. As we drove up Morton Hill Road the amount of snow increased from none to several inches. We parked on Morton Hill and hiked down to the trailhead. Only one other car was anywhere to be seen. We went straight passed the register and up the easier path to the pond. I had thought we might turn around there but we were all feeling pretty good so we continued on around. The wind coming across the pond made use zip up some of the clothes we had opened up! Sheba didn't seem to mind except for the annoying "iceballs" that formed between her toes! I'll have to try Musher's Wax. There were several areas of ice under the snow which made the going slippery in places. Around the other side of the pond these areas became more frequent and we both went down several times. Next time we agreed to keep the Yaks in the pack. The pond is an area of active beaver activity. In fact, the water is getting so high is threatening to cover the trail in the lowest spots! The cold air is tiring and we were glad to be back at the car in just about 2 and a half hours.

On Monday, January 15th my son Karl and I had planned to go hiking. He was up from Virginia for the weekend. The prediction for Monday was freezing rain, sleet and ice. We figured that if we could get on the roads safely, we should go south. We planned to hike Schunemunk Mountain, the highest point in Orange County with some interesting features. When we got up, the temperature was hovering right around freezing but we decided to chance the hike. As we left Livingston Manor it was raining and there was a lot of fog. There didn't seems to be any ice on the roads and the rain abated as we got closer to Orange County.

We pulled into the parking area off Otterkill Road near Salisbury Mills just before 10:00 AM. A short walk up the road brought us to the Metro North train trestle. At this point we cut into the woods and immediately started a long. and sometimes steep, ascent up a well used and well marked trail. After a little over a mile on the Trestle Trail we found ourselves on the western ridge. Along the way we had removed our middle layers since the climbing quickly warmed us up. At the junction with the red blazed Jessup Trail, we turned left and began a short but very steep descent. Much of this descent was over open rock faces with little to hold on to. The ice on the surrounding trees made me wonder about the wisdom of continuing. Fortunately, we encounter almost no ice on the trail but the rocks were plenty slippery from the rain. Still, the fun had only begun!

After the descent to the valley between the two ridges, we crossed Baby Brook without much trouble. The Jessup Trail then took us up to the eastern ridge in an initial steep ascent. This trail continued to ascend for the next two miles. The trail goes up and over bare rock faces and little ridges of conglomerate. The conglomerate is very interesting as it id pink from hematite in the rock. Large white quartz crystals are embedded in the rock. After a little over two miles, a short side trail blazed in white leads off to the right. A sign painted on the rock says "Megaliths". The side trail is short on worth the trip. The Megaliths are large pieces of rock that have broken away from the bedrock and simply "sit" where they dropped. Some are small while others are as big as small houses. Back on the main trail it is a VERY short distance to the top of Schunemunk Mountain. The "summit" is not very impressive and is marked with a painted 1664. We continued in for about a quarter mile where the blue blazed Western Ridge Trail turns off to the right.

The Western Ridge Trail leads back down into the area between the two ridges and starts as a gentle slope. The descent quickly become steeper until a right turn onto the red blazed Barton Swamp Trail. The swamp was, well, swampy with some makeshift logs to get us across. For a short distance the Western Ridge and Barton Swamp Trails run together. The Western Ridge trail then turns left and goes straight up to the western ridge without benefit of switchbacks or much of any vegetation on the open rock. At the top the trail ends at the Long Path. We made a right and followed the Long Path for just under two miles. The walk is much like the eastern ridge with some areas of open rock face and rock ridges and some areas of forest trail. We turned right onto the red blazed Jessup Trail which made a slight ascent to a higher point on the ridge. After a short walk, we were back to the Trestle Trail right where we had started. The walk back down this trail was not easy as it is steep and was slippery from the rain. The descent gave us some idea of why we warmed up quickly on the way up.

My GPS and computer software tell me that the hike was just about 6.4 miles. We did it in just over 4 hours making it a very slow pace for us. I suspect the distance is a little longer. I also suspect that the difficulty is a little greater than we thought

On Sunday, January 14h I decided I needed to get out of the house for a short excursion. Sheba was the only other taker and we got a late start after church. I looked at my "grid" and saw that I hadn't climbed Balsam Lake Mountain in January. Sheba and I got in the car and made for the trailhead. Only one other car was in the parking area and we got going right away. There was no snow or ice but lots of water on the trail. The rain had stopped but the fog and mist were heavy in the air. NONE of this bothers the dog in the least! By the time I has a little over half way to the turn up the mountain I was removing my middle layer fleece and stowing it in the pack. The Mountain Hardwear Synchro seems very light but it is waterproof with just enough lining. We turned up the steep side of Balsam Lake and shortly after that heard voices on the trail. Our fast pace had overtaken the family that was headed up the mountain. We caught them and I decided to hike with them. I had already discounted trying Graham because of the late start and the weather. They didn't seem to mind Sheba so we walked and talked to the top of the mountain. When we arrived there was a young lady already at the top. She had hiked up from the Millbrook side and we talked for a while. She is a naturalist at the Sharpe Preserve near Fishkill. We took the other trail down the mountain as it is easier to descend. About halfway back to the parking area a light rain began making me all the more happy that I was not on Graham. My recent hikes in the Gunks had made me forget that a Catskill 3500 is still something special. No pictures were possible today. Even the top of the fire tower was shrouded in fog and clouds.

On Saturday, January 6th Kurt, Krista, Cindy, Sheba and I decided to try to hike somewhere that would be least effected by the rains on Friday and overnight. The day had dawned cloudy at home with some lingering showers. As we prepared to leave the sky was clearing and then clouding up again. We decided that the wide and well-drained carriageways at Minnewaska would be best. In addition, Kurt and Krista had never been through The Tunnel and only I had climbed the cliff from Hamilton Point to Castle Point.

We parked at the upper lot at Minnewaska with no trouble but the spaces were filling up. The temperature is usually cooler by the lake but must have been in the mid-50's when we started! Kurt wore short sleeves. I had on my short-sleeve Underarmour and only a long-sleeved hiking top. My wife and Krista were similarly dressed. After looking at the blue waters of the lake we began our hike on the lake shore. After a short distance we turned onto the Hamilton Point Carriageway. The views were great even when the sun was behind the clouds. The carriageway ascends gently for several miles passed Echo Rock and on to Hamilton Point. We then decided to continue on the carriageway until the unmarked, unnamed path that leads down to the Wolf's Jaw.

Just passed the Wolf's Jaw we turned onto the Long Path. The little stream at this junction was the only water problem that we encountered. It was a little high from the rain and required more than the normal effort to cross. Fortunately, stepping stones were available and several logs offered another way across the stream. A short hike brought us to The Tunnel. It was a little wetter inside than usual but not really a problem. After The Tunnel we continued on the Long Path to complete the loop back to the Hamilton Point Carriageway. We all decided to try the ascent up the cliff to Castle Point.

The Long Path follows the carriageway at this point for a few hundred feet and then turns into the woods to the left. This path quickly begins the ascent up to Castle Point. It is challenging but not technical. The recent rain made some of the holds slippery and required a close attention to business. Near the top gust of winds above 50 mph made the final few steps that much more exciting. Hiking dog Sheba only needed a little boost up the last step! The view of Gertrude's Nose and Lake Awosting from castle Point were great today despite the previous overcast conditions and the unrelenting winds out in the open. From here we headed back along the Castle Point Carriageway. We began to meet more and more people as we got closer to the lake. Most were hiking but there were quite a few bikers! By the time we returned to the upper lot it was full on both sides with another row of cars down the middle. The other lot at the top was also parked full! We covered almost 8 miles in just over 4 hours! Lunch at the Gilded Otter was a treat as always!

On Saturday, December 30th Karl, Krista, Cindy, Sheba and I decided to try to hike to two more waterfalls in Ulster County. Vernooy Kill Falls is now in the Sundown Wild Forest Area making it technically part of the Catskills. Our biggest problem was finding the trail head since the directions from trails.com contained incorrect mileages for the roads. Just after the village of Kerhonksen we turned left on Ulster County Route 3 and continued about a mile to Cherrytown Road, a left hand turn. After 3.5 miles, we turned left onto Upper Cherrytown Road. In 3.1 miles more we turned right into the parking area. Once at the parking area we headed across the road and onto a blue-blazed trail that also has marking for snowmobiles and the Long Path. After crossing a small stream on a bridge the trail ascends for about 1 mile. None of this is difficult but it is not easy either. We had gotten a late start (AGAIN) and the temperature was "brisk" so we were hiking quickly. After about 1.8 miles, we arrived at the falls. A bridge crosses at the base of the falls. And the view of the falls from the bridge is probably the best of all.

The ruins of an old water-powered mill is also visible from the bridge. This was built by the Vernooy family that originally owned the land. It is unclear whether the wheel ran from the stream directly or had a mill race or run. There is a small stream leading right to the mill. We walked upstream on both sides for a short distance to view all the various steps that make up the falls. The water is cool and makes a moderate amount of noise as it rushes over the rocks.

The view from downstream of the bridge is also nice since it takes in the bridge and most of the major steps that make up the body of the falls. This vantage point also offers a better view of the mill. After exploring the area of the falls for some time, we returned the way we came. We drove back on the same roads so that we did not get lost again and headed for the now familiar Route 44/55 toward New Paltz.

As we drove up the hill from Route 209 we kept a lookout for Minnewaska Trail on the right across from the road to what is now the Hudson valley resort, the old Granite Hotel. We turned here and the made another quick left onto Rock Haven Road. We continued on this road until it narrowed and the pavement deteriorated. Shortly Shaft 2A Road appeared on the left. We drove to the end of the road and parked by the gate. There isn't much parking here and it is first come first served. Shaft 2A is an access shaft to the aqueducts carrying water to New York City. We walked around the gate and headed generally south and west on a dirt road. We passed by Shaft 2A and a helipad once used for quick repairs. A little further is an abandoned slate quarry which is interesting but mars the landscape. Beyond this area the road and trail ends.

The Stony Kill is very obvious at this point since you can both see and hear it. We turned right and headed upstream picking our way carefully along the banks. There are several opportunities to cross back and forth. Soon the sound of the falls could be heard and we saw the impressive site through the trees. The falls is supposed to be the highest single drop in the Shawangunks, measuring over 80 feet from top to bottom. Like many of the sites on hikes, this one is better experienced in person rather than through descriptions and pictures. While not easy to get to the base of the falls the trip is not difficult if you are careful. From the looks of things around the falls, there is probably a higher volume at many times of the year. The scene was beautiful this time because of the ice forming at the bottom of the falls where it splashes on the rocks before entering a pool. We explored for some time and then retraced our steps. The whole hike was less than 2 miles. A short hike with a great reward. It wouldn't be fair to visit the Otter with my sons and not the rest of the family! For the third day in a row we feasted on the short but varied menu. We also could not resist a pint of the beer they brew on the premises. Some of us think the Winter Wassail is the smoothest dark beer we have ever tasted. At 7.5% alcohol it nearly doubles a "normal" brew! The pale ales are also outstanding and even the "light" lager my wife drank was great.

On Friday, December 29th my son, Karl, and I decided to try to hike to Lake Awosting from the Lake Minnewaska upper parking area. Sheba had not been out for several days and began her keening whine as soon as she saw me getting the pack ready. Karl has not hiked much in this area and I had never been to Lake Awosting. It was sunny when we left Livingston Manor but grew increasingly cloudy as we headed toward Ulster County. It was quiet a bit cooler when we parked so we headed out right away taking the Upper Awosting Carriageway. There are several other carriageways and trails that we could have taken but I decided on this one. I knew the hike would be over 9 miles and I had planned some more strenuous hiking on the Long Path.

After a little more than two miles of easy walking a lookout opened up with a distant view of Rainbow Falls. I thought we might hike the Long Path to the falls but after seeing the three falls the day before I decided to stay on the carriageway. As we passed by Litchfield Ledge the ice on the rock cliffs made a beautiful design.

After about 3.5 miles we turned onto the Lake Awosting Carriageway and arrived at the eastern end of Lake Awosting. The view was of a placid lake with a deep blue color. After taking a brief rest at the ranger's cabin, we continued on around the lake on the northern shore. The trail rises on this side of the lake and we got a good view of the rock "beach" as well as the cliffs on the other side. The lake is just over a mile long and this went quickly. As we rounded the western end of the lake we kept an eye out for a sign and the aqua blazes of the Long Path. There was no sign and the blazes were very faint. Fortunately, we figured it out and got on the Long Path and headed for Murray Hill.

Murray Hill appears after only about a half mile on the trail. There are nice views to the south but the day was very hazy. We continued on toward Margaret Cliff only 1.5 miles away. Although the trail is well marked and the fairly easy it seemed to take a long time. Again, the views to the south were poor due to the haze. After this point the Long Path continues and descends quickly and steeply into a ravine. Several side trails tried to distract us but we stayed on track and began the ascent toward the Hamilton Point Carriageway.

To get there we had to pass through an area known as The Tunnel. Here the rocks have split apart and other rocks have fallen in to form a "roof". The Tunnel is narrow but very short and we got through it just fine. After another ascent we were on the Hamilton Point Carriageway. We could have simply gone back to the parking area this way but I had other plans. After only a few hundred feet the Long Path turns left and ascends into the woods. We very shortly arrived at the base of the cliff that is Castle Point. The Long Path ascends this cliff with a series of hand and foot holds some of which are very challenging. We all made it up OK including Sheba.

As always, the view from Castle Point was amazing. Gertrude's Nose and the approaching trails are clearly visible. We could also see over to the opposite rim with Murray Hill and Margaret Cliff. After taking in the view of the surrounding scenery we used the Castle Point Carriageway to make the 4 mile trek back to the car. We made just under 10 miles in 5 hours! It wouldn't be fair to visit the Otter with one son and not the other! For the second day in a row I feasted and drank some of the best crafted beer around!

On Thursday, December 28th my son, Kurt, and I decided to try to hike to three of the falls along the Peters Kill near Lake Minnewaska. The day started cold and cloudy in Livingston Manor with a dusting of snow from the night before. We both dressed warmly, leaving the house a little later than I had planned. I was still hurting from the rock scrambling I had done yesterday but didn't want to give up a day. We parked at the lower Minnewaska lot at about 10:15 AM and headed back toward the gate house. Turning right at the park entrance we followed the road over the bridge which crosses the Peters Kill and then turned left on the Awosting Falls Carriageway. In only a few minutes we were at the top of the falls looking at the pool below. In a few more minutes we were at the base of the falls. The view is beautiful as the 35 foot falls tumble into a pool below.

We continued to follow the carriageway which follows the Peters Kill until the stream goes under Routes 44/55. At point the carriageway turns right but we continued to follow the stream by crossing the road. On the other side there is no formal trail but a clear track has been left by others. Shortly after crossing the road Sheldon falls begins a series of cascades over the exposed rock. The view is impressive and the roar of the water is loud for such as small volume. The Peters Kill is fairly wide here and there are many opportunities to walk down the rocks next to the stream. We were cautious since the rocks were wet and icy in places.

Just after the base of these falls are the ruins of an old power plant. Strangely, this plant burned wood and coal and did not attempt to use the power of the water. The volume of the flow of Peters Kill is seasonal and could not be relied on to provide power. Some of the machinery and distribution equipment can still be seen inside this stone building.

We continued to walk down the stream staying as close as possible which was difficult at times. In around half a mile Peters Kill Falls can be seen. This is less impressive than the previous two falls. We picked up a red trail and followed it to a well-marked yellow trail. This trail ended at the blue-blazed High Peters Kill Trail. We crossed the stream on a bridge and started a 400 foot ascent up to the ridge. From the ridge the water can be heard cascading over the rocks below but little if any can be seen. There are some nice views of the surrounding cliffs and the road can be seen at times. After a walk that seemed like it would never end, but was actually short, we ended up back at the parking lot. About 3.5 miles in less than 3 hours.

After the hike we went to the Gilded Otter in new Paltz. I am glad I do not live in New Paltz. I would be in this brew pub restaurant MANY times in one week. Their brews are outstanding especially the 7.5% Winter Wassail. The food is just right to compliment the brews!

On Wednesday, December 27th I decided to go to the Trapps and hike the Overcliff-Undercliff route to Sky Top. All the books talked about the Crevice up to the Smiley Tower and I was ready for an adventure. Unfortunately, the members of my family were either busy doing something else or were sick. Attacking the Crevice also means that I had to leave Sheba at home which proved to be the right decision. When I left Livingston Manor, the weather was overcast and there was snow on the ground. By the time I entered Ulster County the snow was gone. I started at the Trapps Bridge Parking area on Routes 44/55 at about 9:45 AM and was the first car to park. I walked quickly walked up the road to the bridge and across. At this point I took Overcliff since most guidebooks suggest this direction.

Overcliff is a long, 2.5 mile trek without many interesting views. Generally the land rises to the right to a ridge. To the left are occasional views of cliffs and ridges with some incredible houses nestled in forested hollows along the way. Near the end of the trail I descended toward the Rhododendron Bridge which is the junction of many trails. Here, Undercliff is and immediate right. Crossing the bridge and taking a right puts you on Oakwood Drive. I crossed the Bridge and turned left on the Old Minnewaska Carriageway. The guide books indicate that the route may be confusing but the signage isn't bad!

Somewhere along this carriageway, after the first ascent and several turns, I got my first view of Sky Top and the Smiley Tower. The Tower itself is impressive but equal impressive is the idea of climbing almost straight up to the Crevice to the top. When you look at the profile below, see if you can find the Crevice! I continued on the Carriageway until I found a sign for Forrest Drive. Here I took a right and continued a very short distance to the Mohonk Spring House on the left side of the trail. The total distance from the bridge is just over one miles.

I walked up the trail from the spring and passed a Gazebo. Several trails crisscross here making finding the right one a challenge. Soon I found the red arrows that point to the Crevice. I also found a sign that said the trail was closed. I took this more as a suggestion than a mandate and continued on. The arrows generally lead up and over some impressive boulders which are talus from the cliff in front. Things get rougher as you approach the cliff face and the location of the crevice is not at all obvious at first. Suddenly, I saw it and I began to have serious doubts about the wisdom of doing this on my own! There are several narrow ladders in the Crevice to help hikers advance but these are interspersed with areas that require secure hand and foot holds and both upper and lower body strength. The books say the crevice varies from 4 to 6 feet in width. They lie! Some places are around three feet. About half way up I removed my pack and pushed it up the ladder in front of me. I hoped it would stay there! Further up there has a small "hole" and I was glad I had removed the pack. At the top of the ladders there is still some more rock scrambling left. This is the narrowest part of the climb. Just near the top there was a point where I considered going back down since it required a "boost" that I was not sure my short legs could give me. I pushed the pack up and decided to give it a try. I made it! At this point I was on a large ledge of rock. My heart was beating VERY fast. At first I though it was the effort of the climb and then I realized it was the adrenaline rush of the whole experience! The wind on the ledge was blowing at least 30 mph as I carefully snapped pictures of the sheer drop to the talus below, the surrounding scenery and the Tower above. I crossed the bridge over the Crevice just as another group of at least 10 people started the last part of their climb. Over the bridge was another short rock scramble almost straight up. At the top it was just a short walk to the Tower.

The climb up the Smiley Tower was more dangerous at times than the Crevice. Water dripping inside the structure has formed some puddles which freeze and make slippery going in spots. The view from the Tower is 360 degrees and is truly magnificent. The surrounding 'Gunks and Catskills are clearly visible. Guidebooks mention other landmarks and mountain ranges but I found these hard to identify. The view of the Mohonk Mountain House and Lake Mohonk from the Tower is hard to describe. The lake and the surrounding cliffs along with the mountains in the background frame this guest house from a bygone era.

From Sky Top I took the Sky Top Path and wound my way down to the labyrinth. Along the way are several benches and gazebos that offer views of the Lake and the House. I worked my way down the stairs and into the Labyrinth and ended up just short of the Crevice. At this point I headed down to the Spring Path rather than up. From here I retraced my steps to the Rhododendron Bridge and took a left on the Undercliff Carriageway. This path parallels Overcliff but is on the "lower" side of the ridge. From the bridge the path is a little over a mile back to the Trapps Bridge. Along the way cliffs loom on the right and drop offs dominate the left. These cliffs are a favorite spot for climbers and boulderers. I saw several groups involved in both of these sports. It look interesting but... I finished by 1:30 PM and was pleased with covering just over 7 miles in less than 4 hours. This included the slow vertical climbs, the Tower and ample stops for taking pictures.

On Saturday, December 23rd my son, Karl, his fiancee, Kathleen, Sheba and I decided to hike at Sam's Point despite the atmospheric conditions. It had rained overnight and some showers were lingering as we headed out. By the time we arrived at the Nature Center, the rain had stopped leaving a heavy mist and lots of fog. We headed out intending to do the whole loop from Ice Caves to High Point and back. It was cooler on the plateau than in Livingston Manor but we had brought along a variety of layers to combat the problem.

As we approached Sam's Point, it was that there would be no view so we bypassed it and headed directly to the Caves. At the entrance to the Caves a sign stated they were CLOSED. There had been no indications anywhere else that the Caves would be closed, they were one of the reasons we had come and there was no snow or ice. We decided that the sign was more a suggestion than a prohibition. The caves were wet with a lot of water dripping off the rocks. Some areas were a little slippery from the rain and the mud but we got through with no problems. Sheba again was up to the task of scaling the areas where ladders have been provided for humans. We were doing the loop in the opposite direction from the one I normally take. I had wondered if the dog could make it UP all the areas that we usually go down. Sheba must be part mountain goat since she easily conquered all of these places.

Once out of the caves we headed for the falls. This part of the hike seems like it will never end no matter the direction you take. As we were walking this trail, the weather seems like it might clear. The falls had more water going over them than I had seen before. The view from the ledge was beautiful and as we were standing there the sun came out and the skies cleared. I was sorry at this point that I had not packed my camera! Crossing the top of the falls was tricky because of the volume and velocity of the water. We all had waterproof boots and Sheba simply wades across. We followed the trail UP to the escarpment rim and began walking the trail to High Point the wind picked up gusting to 30 mph at times. This was annoying but the temperatures were warm and we didn't feel cold. The views were beautiful along the way since the fog and haze had cleared and it was partly sunny. High Point offered us an almost 360 degree view which included a look at Sky Top and the Catskill Ranges.

From High Point we walked down to the High Point Carriageway to head back to the car. This is a long walk without much of a view and there seemed to be many areas of standing water and mud! On the way by we stopped briefly at Lake Maratanza since neither Karl nor Kathleen had been there. The entire hike of about 8 miles took a little over 5 and half hours.

Fall 2006

On Saturday, December 9th my wife, and Sheba and I went back to the Shawangunks and Minnewaska State Park to hike. I had read several books about the many trails and the history of the area. It seemed that Castle Point and Hamilton Point were worth the visit. The round trip distance seemed to be about 9 miles but most of it is on wide carriageways that allow quick hiking. The view of lake Awosting from some of the lookouts along the way also intrigued me. The day started cool and clear with some wind blowing near the lake. We were well dressed and struck out immediately knowing that the paths offered some protection from the wind. We started at the Lake Minnewaska parking area and bore to the right around the lake. After passing the turn to the Upper Awosting Carriageway, we picked up the blue blazed Castle Point Carriageway which is well marked with signs.

After a short distance, views to the right became available and continue for almost the entire way to castle Point. Patterson's Pellet comes into view as well as the trail to Gertrude's Nose. The dropoffs are dramatic and straight down in most cases. We exercised caution but got some great views along the way. The views along the trail are NOTHING compared to the views from Castle Point. As you approach the Point, it is obvious that you are ascending to a lookout and the suspense is everything it should be. Along the Point the aqua blazes of the Long Path seem to come straight up the cliffs to meet the carriageway. In fact, there are a series of steps and handholds which make the ascent possible but exciting. We left this for another day and continued on to Battlement Terrace.

This is another fine lookout which affords a fantastic view of Lake Awosting. The lake looks very close from here but also very large. It is the highest lake except for Maratanza at Sam's Point. The lake is bout 1.5 miles long which makes walking around it a journey of over three miles. I filed this thought away for another hike on another day. We descending under the Terrace where we met the Hamilton Point Carriageway and the where the Long Path leaves to descend on its own through the woods. We turned right on the carriageway and walked less than half a mile to an unmarked trail to the left.

Our intention was to was to follow this trail down to the Wolf's Jaw where large slabs of rock hang over the trail giving the formation its name. As we approached the Wolf's Jaw, Sheba was ahead of us. She was staring intently into the gully off the side of the trail. I saw an animal descend a tree and go passed her. My wife is convinced it was a bear cub and I was not sure what I saw. We decided to hurry passed without investigating. The trail ends at the Long Path where we turned right to ascend back to the Hamilton point carriageway.

On the ascent we came to The Tunnel. This is an area where slabs of rock have separated from the main body. Other slabs have fallen into the cracks and formed a sort of tunnel. It is short but tight and I though I might have to remove my pack. We all made it through this area and another low overhand beyond and continued up to the Hamilton Point Carriageway.

This path descends some and then climbs to Hamilton Point. This area is just below Castle Point so the views are similar but still very worth the walk. We continued on to Echo Rock which is near the head end of the ravine. Ice formed on the far rim of the ravine mad an interesting site. My wife tried out the echo part and there was a faint return "voice". Passed Echo Rock the left side of the trail has many cliffs where we had walked out on the castle Point Carriageway. I took a picture of the ice on these cliffs and then walked on. A sudden, loud noise signaled that the melting ice had fallen from the cliff! We continued on the yellow blazed path until the point where it meets the Millbrook Mountain Carriageway. Turning left we headed for the path around Minnewaska and the parking area. We hiked at just short of 9 miles with many stops for taking in the views and taking pictures.

On Saturday, December 2nd my wife, and Sheba and I went back to the Shawangunks and Minnewaska State Park to hike. I had not been to lake Minnewaska in some time and had forgotten that is worth the visit all by itself. It had rained the day before and the temperatures had plummeted from near 60 to below 40. Still, the day was relatively clear with only a few clouds in the sky. The wind near the lake and the low temperatures made the start of the hike cold. We walked down the carriageway on the western side of the lake. Looking across to the eastern shore a private residence is visible on the cliff. This house looks like it is part of the natural rock formations as it blends seamlessly with the surrounding cliff.

As we turned onto the Millbrook Mountain Carriageway we kept and eye out for Patterson's Pellet. This is one of MANY glacial erratics found in this area and has acquired a certain fame and popularity with hikers. It even has its own sign! We stopped briefly here so that I could shed a layer of clothing and get out a lighter hat and pair of gloves. Once we started hiking I got a lot warmer and I knew this would continue once we started climbing toward Gertrude's Nose.

Gertrude's Nose is a series of cliffs and ledges that form an extension of the Millbrook Ridge. It is accessible from the Millbrook Ridge Trail but the easiest and shortest approach is from Minnewaska. The Nose offers wonderful views of the valley below and the surrounding mountains to the south and west. This area has many more glacial erratics and is crisscrossed by many deep cracks in the rock. Sheba slowed down at this point and seemed to be picking her way much more carefully. She is VERY protective of anyone who goes near the edge of the cliff. At the base of the cliffs there are many piles of talus that have split off from the Nose over the years.

The trail from the Nose continues on toward Millbrook Ridge and the highest point on the ridge dubbed Millbrook Mountain. The trail descends some and passes under a set of power lines before making a quick, steep but short ascent up to the ridge. All along this ridge the views of the valley below are excellent. Several farms dot the landscape and the village of New Paltz and the state college are visible. It seems that the mountains in the distance are always in a haze no matter how clear and bright the day. At Millbrook Mountain we turned left or north on the Millbrook Mountain Trail. This trail was VERY wet and walking down it resembled hiking through a small creek. We finally got to the Coxing Kill which the trail crosses. The trail then ascends and dries out some. We continued to ascend over some rather tricky spots until suddenly we arrived at the southern end of Lake Minnewaska.

Here we turned right on the carriageway to explore the eastern shore which we had seen at the beginning of our hike. The road ascend slightly and offers views of the valley for those that don't care to do more hiking than around the lake. The road winds around the shore taking several detours and making several loops. The very top of the cliff was the site of one of many boarding houses and hotels that were so popular in the Catskills and Shawangunks. A little further along a gazebo can be seen perched on a cliff. There were many of these structures along the cliffs when the boarding houses were in full operation. Today only this one remains. After taking in some of these views of the lake below, we headed back for the parking area. We couldn't resist walking up and over "Dry Bridge" which passes over the carriageway below. We hiked about 6.5 miles in 4 hours.

On Saturday, November 25th, my wife, my son Kurt, and Sheba went with me to hike in Bear Mountain State Park. We got a late start, arriving at the Bear Mountain Inn at around 10:15 to find the annual Alumni Race in progress. The weather has perfect with temperatures in the low 50's and very few clouds in the sky. We headed out on the foot path which surrounds Hessian Lake. This path is also part of the Major Welch Trail which turns upwards near the far end of the lake. We began to pass several small groups of hikers at this point since we keep up a pretty fast pace. We also met hikers coming down the trail from the top. This trail is steep at points and has several open rock faces to traverse. A chain at one point provides a little extra help for those that need it. About 2/3 of the way up, the trail crosses Perkins Drive and continues on to the summit of Bear Mountain. The views from the lookouts at the very top of this trail are beautiful. They look down on the Bear Mountain Bridge across to Anthony's Nose. You can also see up and down the Hudson River with better views to the north than to the south. We followed the trail to the top and the Perkins Tower. The Tower is closed with no indication why or if it will open again. We spent some time here looking out at the spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and the river to the south. Bald Mountain is clearly visible.

After a brief break we found the AT and started down this slightly longer but less steep trail. The AT is clearly marked and crosses Perkins Drive several times before heading down. At one point the trail intersects a dead end road that leads to a small lookout where many people park to take in the view. The AT then heads down through mixed pine and hardwood forest. It crosses a small stream and meets up with the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail. From hear we went back to the parking area.

After a short stop at the parking area, we headed out toward Hessian Lake to again pick up the AT. This time we were headed for Anthony's Nose and another lookout over the Hudson. We headed under 9W in the pedestrian tunnel and followed the AT to the Bear Mountain Zoo. The Zoo was open but the sign read NO PETS ALLOWED! We pleaded the case for Sheba but the attendant would not allow us to proceed. We turned around and walked the shoulder of Route 9W to the traffic circle. We crossed the road and began the hike across the bridge on the pedestrian walkway. The views up and down the Hudson from the bridge are beautiful. Even more impressive is the view of Anthony's Nose directly ahead. This craggy promontory of rock rises 900 feet above the river!

At the end of the bridge we turned left up 9D and walked the shoulder for about .2 miles until the AT turns into the woods. The trail cuts back several times to make the climb a little easier. Eventually, however, it cuts up through rocks and gains significant elevation. We gained about 700 feet in only .7 miles. Several of these climbs are steep but some stone steps and flatter sections help. At the top of the climb the AT departs to the left. We turned right on a blue trail that is an old woods road through Camp Smith. This trail winds through the woods and gains a bit more elevation before ending at a T. Turning left here leads to a lookout over the Hudson but NOT to Anthony's Nose. A right turn is not marked but leads immediately to the Nose. Here we stopped to take in the breathtaking views up and down the river. I walked pretty close to the edge to look down at the river almost 900 feet below. The view of the bridge is awesome! We headed back the way we came and hurried a little as it was nearly 4:00 PM and the shadows were growing long. By the time we were walking along Hessian Lake it was dusk. We walked 8.5 miles in around 6 hours with plenty of time for sightseeing.

On Friday, November 24th, my sons, Karl and Kurt, and Sheba went with me to hike in the 'Gunks. For November the weather was perfect, maybe even a little warm, with temperatures in the high 40's. It was sunny with only a few clouds and some haze in the distance. We started at the Trapps Bridge and go onto the Millbrook Ridge Trail. The trail ascends quickly over rock with mostly scrub pine. The views begin immediately and are good but nothing like the spectacular views to come! The first views are of the Catskills in the distance and the surrounding Gunks in the foreground. The view to the left is of the Undercliff/Overcliff Trail as scene from just above the Trapps parking area. The road is Route 55 just as it passes the Trapps parking area and approaches the hairpin turn. When we parked there were only a few cars in the lot. When we returned, it was full of cars belonging to hikers and climbers. As we walked along the ridge the views became more outstanding including those of New Paltz in the valley below and the Hudson Highlands at a distance.

The walk along the ridge is fairly long and we wondered if we would ever get to the point on the map that was marked Millbrook Mountain. This summit is more like the highest point on the ridge than an actual mountain top. As we were hiking a mighty crag began to appear in the distance. We could only get glimpses of it through the trees. We were pretty sure that any view from here would be spectacular. In fact, we were looking at the highest point on the Millbrook Ridge. As we climbed the ridge toward this high point, it seemed we would never get there. After each upward climb, there always seemed to be another. Each climb got us closer to the massive outcropping known as Millbrook Mountain.

At one point along the ridge the trail leads up a knife edge of rock with a long drop on one side. We paused at this point so that I could take a picture of my companions. We wondered what this trail would be like with even a light coating of ice or snow! We continued the climb up and up, pausing at each lookout to enjoy the views. In many of these places it is possible to walk right to the edge of the cliff. I took some pictures but the perspective is just not the same as being there. These cliffs are some of the highest east of the Mississippi so caution is the rule of the day. Over the valley, near the cliffs, various species of birds soar on the thermals. We saw many turkey vultures but also got a glimpse of at least one red-tailed hawk.

We continued on the trail after the Millbrook high point toward Gertrude's Nose not anticipating that anything could top what we had already seen. We were wrong! The view from Gertrude's Nose is impressive as is the geology of the area. Large cracks crisscross this area so watch your step. The trail runs very close to the edge of some very nasty dropoffs so that you must split your attention between watching your step and taking in the views. After the Nose we descended a bit until another climb back up to the Millbrook Ridge. We took the Coxing Kill trail back from Millbrook Mountain and turned right on the Trapps road to get back to the Bridge and our car. The hike was about 9.5 miles long and took about 5.5 hours including stops to take pictures and take in the views.

On Saturday, November 18th, my wife and I decided to hike even though it was the first day of deer season. I bought two reflective orange vests and we decided to hike a 3500 peak since few hunters venture very far up those slopes. We also decided to leave the dog home since it might be more dangerous for her due to her coloration. The dog had other ideas! So all three of us headed north to the Blackhead range. I am pleased to say that the vest fit Sheba very nicely. Cindy put on the other and I walked next to one of them for the whole hike. We parked at the end of Big Hollow Road and were the only car in the lot at 10:30. I had decided to hike the Black Dome trail up to the Col and then do Blackhead and Black Dome and simply retrace our route to the parking lot. The trails were VERY wet and required a little creative negotiation. The second crossing of Batavia Kill, the one without the bridge, was tricky! As we got closer to the peaks we could see snow on both and heavy mist or cloud cover. The temperature at the trail head was barely 40 degrees but the "work" of hiking kept us warm. When we reached the col we immediately turned left for the assault on Blackhead. Parts of this trail are steep but we were undeterred. Near the summit I paused for a moment and caught some movement on the trail out of the corner of my eye. It was another hiker with her head down moving toward me. I called Sheba and succeeded in startling the hiker. We talked for a minute and then went on our way. We quickly arrived at the summit, took a short rest, and started back down. At the col we met another couple who did not have maps! He assured them that the summit of Blackhead was indeed .6 miles not 6 miles! We began the climb up Black Dome even though my wife and I were a little tired. The dog is always ready to go! As we started up we met the same women who had been on Blackhead. Black Dome has several rock scrambles that make the hike interesting. We hiked to the summit where there is a rock ledge lookout. You could lookout but you couldn't see anything since clouds surrounded the summit. As we retraced our steps, we met up with the couple who had been in the col. I was surprised since they had indicated they might do the loop by going down the other side of Blackhead. They said the lure of two peaks was just too strong! On our way back down we caught up with a family of three and passed them. We were really moving by now. Near the end of the trail we met another solo hiker starting up. This was about 2:30 and I wondered if he could make it up and back before dark. He seemed to know what he was doing so we continued on to the car.

On Wednesday, November 15th, I was feeling a little ill in the morning and called in sick. As the day progressed I felt better and knew that taking a walk would even further improve my condition. I am trying to hike all 35 peaks in each month so I looked at my "grid". I decided to try Slide and headed out. It was not raining but a heavy mist hung in the air. It was warm but with a threat of rain. I parked and went to look at the Neversink River just behind the trail head parking. It seemed passable so I signed into the trail register and started the hike. I was trying out a new pack, a Marmot Vapor. My initial impression was not good until I realized that I had just thrown the pack on my back without making the proper adjustments. After getting the pack in the proper position, it fit very nicely and was just the right size to carry what I need for a short day hike. As I turned up the mountain, there was some commotion in the woods to my left. I looked over to see two black bears running away from me. I continued on up the mountain. At 3500 feet the temperature drop was noticeable. At the top there was no view since I was standing in a cloud. I took a drink, ate a bar and hurried back the way I came. On the way down I saw another bear far off in the woods. A little more than 5 miles and 3 bears in just over 2 hours. Priceless!

On Saturday, November 11th, I returned to Bear Mountain State Park with my wife and Sheba. The weather was hazy and overcast with little sun. The sky looked threatening although the forecast did not call for rain until later in the day. We parked on 9W near the beginning of the trail up to the Dunderberg Mountains. We were in luck as the sun kept trying to burn off the fog and succeeded at about 11:00 AM. The trail head was not easy to find since it is further south along 9W. As with most of the trails in Bear Mountain and Harriman, only a small blaze on a tree or stake acknowledge the trail. There are no signs to tell you what trail your are on or where it starts. Maps and a compass are a must!

In the late 1800's, a company began building a "spiral railway" to haul tourist to the top of the mountain using a cable and "donkey" engine since the grade is so steep. Once up on the mountain the visitors could see a view of the Hudson River spread out below. In two year many of the beds were built up and graded. A tunnel was started through a part of the mountain. After two years, the project was abandoned. Over 100 years later the graded beds are obvious in many places and the tunnel is still there.

The hike up to the first level of the ridge is steep but short. We turned left on the Ramapo-Dunderberg trail and headed along the ridge toward The Timp. This trail alternates between flat sections and switchbacks that ascend to the next height on the ridge. When we reached the 1777 Trail, we decided to forgo The Timp and tuned right on 1777. After less than a quarter mile, we again turned right on the Ramapo-Dunderberg and headed for Bald Mountain. The climb is steady and steep in a few places. The view of Bear Mountain and the Bridge were about the same as Friday with some haze still obscuring a clear view. After a brief rest at the top of Bald we continued on across the Dunderberg ridge. The trail alternates between short but steep ascents and descents and some flatter areas. At the eastern end the terrain and flora become very interesting. The area appears to have been burned over at some time since most trees are dead or dying. This gives the area a desolate appearance with much bare rock a few low shrubs. Some areas have collected water and have the flora of a swamp or marsh.

The views all along this ridge are interesting but the ones from this eastern end are spectacular since very little blocks the view. Several spur trails lead to lookouts which give a virtually unimpeded view of the Hudson River. The trail turns south and west and descends. The last part of the trail is along the graded railroad bed where the train cars were to be pulled up by cable. This part of the trail can be tricky to hike as the large, broken rocks often shift under foot. We did a little over 6 miles in four hours including several short stops and breaks to take pictures

On Friday, November 10th, I decided to try my first hike in Bear Mountain State Park. The dog and I got an early start since it gets dark early in the woods after the time change. We parked at The Bear Mountain Inn and hiked along Hessian Lake on the Major Welch trail with the intent of hiking the loop over Bear Mountain. The day was cool but clear; a really beautiful day for hiking. I thought I knew where the trail turned up into the woods but I was wrong! After several aborted attempts, I decided to reverse the loop since I knew the other trail went up the ski hill. As we backtracked along Hessian Lake, we met a Boy Scout Troop. The leaders seemed to know where they were going. I wished them a good hike and told them I would meet them tat he top. We picked up the AT at this point and followed it pretty easily up toward the top of the mountain and the Perkins Tower. The ascent had some steeper parts but none that were too taxing. Some areas did have bare rock at a rather imposing angle but these were negotiable. Along the way there were several nice lookouts. A one point, near the top, I lost the AT and ended up bushwhacking through open country where others seemed to have hiked. The trail markings are splashes of paint on the trees. There are NO SIGNS at all for the start of the trails or any turns. For someone new to these trails, a map and map and compass are VERY helpful. My GPS would have been more useful had I remembered to load the contour maps for the area! Soon we arrived at the top where I took some pictures of a couple from New Jersey. We wondered around a little but finally found the red-blazed Major Welch Trail. At this point the Boy Scouts showed up and we talked for a minute. This trail initially leads across the relatively flat top of the mountain. Eventually it leads down the other side but not before offering some SPECTACULAR views of the Hudson River, the Bear Mountain Bridge on the surrounding area. The descent was difficult. It was steep with several areas of open rock that made keeping a grip difficult. The covering of leaves added to the excitement. The eventually trail joins the loop trail around Hessian Lake. I was surprised that there was no sign or outstanding markings indicating where the trail turns off this path. If you haven't hiked the trail before, you would miss the turn as I did.

After a short break Sheba and I got in the car for the short drive down 9W south to the parking area for the Cornell Mine trail. After parking, we looked for the start of the trail. Again, no sign or outstanding markings to show where the trail started. The map helped me located the beginning of the trail and we immediately set out. The first part of the trail parallels a small brook. The recent rain meant that the brook was roaring with several pretty cascades and water falls. The trail levels for a while as it windings through open forest and between several rises and large rocks. As you hike it is obvious from the terrain ahead and the contour lines on the map that the ascent ahead is steep. The trail begins the ascent up to the ridge and Bald Mountain rather easily. Soon the trail is steep with many switchbacks to aid the hiker. Just when you think you are near the top and the trail can't get any steeper, IT DOES! The Cornell Mine Trail ends at the junction with the Suffern-Ramapo Trail. We turned right and made the last ascent up to Bald Mountain. The reward at the top was worth the climb! The views were fantastic! I immediately noticed the Perkins Tower over on Bear Mountain and the Bear Mountain Bridge below. I had intended to hike the loop through the Dunderberg Mountains but it was getting late in the day. We turned around and headed down the way we had come. I decided to leave the loop for another day.

The hiking was great and the views wonderful. Having Sheba along is really fun. She is well behaved and a real help in finding and staying on the trails. Everyone comments on how pretty she is. On the way down the Cornell Mine trail I just followed her lead; seldom looking at the blazes.

On Saturday, November 4th, I decided to take my wife and the dog to Thacher Park. I was so impressed the first time that I wanted to share it with someone else. The temperature when we left Manor at 8:00 AM was still in the low 30's and I wasn't expecting the weather up north to be much warmer. We passed through some areas with ominous shies on the way. When we arrived a the park it was still cool with a slight wind but the skies were clear with only a few clouds. I had on three layers including the Mountain Hardwear Windstopper jacket. I dropped the middle layer fleece after finishing the Indian ladder but wore the jacket, mostly unzipped the whole day. Gloves and a hat were necessary at times. I tried the Osprey Atoms 50 and it is VERY comfortable. I packed it pretty full with clothing and some accessories I really didn't need just to see how it packed and carried. It rides a little higher than some packs but it fits my pack perfectly. We did the entire loop as I did it last time. The waterfalls had a little more output and some of the trails were a little wetter. Sheba had to be "encouraged" to go down and up some of the open stairs. On the way to the park I remembered that the Indian Ladder closes in the fall. We were in luck since it CLOSES NOVEMBER 15th!

We took Route 30 back and found the Vroman's Nose is right off this route in Middleburgh. This is a short hike but we left it for another day. We DID stop by MineKill State Park to see the falls. We wondered around for a while until we discovered that the best overlook is another half mile down 30. By the time we got there it was closed! Another hike for another day. We drove to Conesville to see the Manor Kill falls. It was getting dark but the falls were pretty. This route also goes by the Schoharie Reservoir which is pretty impressive. All in all a good day with some ideas for another trip.

On Saturday, October 28th, it was rainy with winds from 10 to 30 mph. The forecast was calling for conditions to worsen. A break in the weather came at around noon so my wife, my son Karl, my dog Sheba and I decided to try to get in some hiking. We headed for Sam's Point Preserve intending to at least get to the Ice Caves. My son had never been there and my wife had not seen them in over 15 years. The last time she and I were at the preserve we hike the long way around and she was too tired to get to the caves that day. It wasn't raining when we parked so we quickly headed right up to Sam's Point. We bypassed the Point and went directly to the Caves. There was a LOT of water on the way running along the paths or sitting in ponds across the path. We found out why the road down to the Caves is so eroded. Several times a small creek created by runoff crossed the path. As we approached the caves we could see the Verkeerder Kill falls roaring with the increased water volume. The trek through the caves was wet but enjoyable. It is definitely colder down in the "caves" but we did not see any ice. As we returned to the entrance of the caves the sky took an the dark an ominous appearance of imminent precipitation. We decided to return to the car since the weather seemed so unsettled. As we approached the loop road it began to rain hard! At times there was a mix of rain and sleet. My son and I were not wearing waterproof pants and were quickly drenched. The precipitation abated and the wind picked up with gusts at times of 40 mph. We hiked quickly, stopping by Sam's Point for only a moment. We were glad to be back to the car before any more serious precipitation fell. On the way down we greeted a group of 6 people heading up the path.

On Tuesday, October 24th, I got home from the county wide conference early. My wife and I decided to take the dog and speed hike around Trout Pond. The weather was cool with some mixed rain, sleet and snow.

On Saturday, October 14th, my daughter was home from college for the weekend. My wife, my daughter and my dog headed for the familiar Trout Pond loop that we have done so many times. We had A VERY limited amount of time and got on the trail as soon as we parked. We hiked in the clockwise direction. This puts ALL of the climbing at the beginning of the hike. It really gets the blood pumping right away but makes for a downhill hike all the way back to the car. Somewhere along the route from Mud to Trout Sheba stepped on something that punctured the webbing between the toes on her rear foot. She bled a little and limped some but seemed to be OK. We covered the whole loop in well under two hours!

On Monday, October 9th, I decided to again leave the Catskills. This time I headed for John Boyd Thacher State Park outside of Voorheesville! This is only 15 miles SW of Albany. I took a somewhat roundabout route but was at the park within 2 and a half hours. I started at 7:15 AM so there were only few cars The park contains the Helderberg Escarpment which has two deposits of Devonian limestone. It is rich in fossils from a shallow see that covered this area during that period. I could see imprints in the rock by my fossil identification skills leave a lot to be desired. This escarpment is the one pictured in the movie "Last of the Mohicans".

I began the hike at the Indian Ladder trail in the middle of the escarpment. The ladders used to be tree trunks with branches for rungs. Today there are wooden, stone and steel steps. These allow you to descend into the gorge and walk next to the limestone cliffs. The different deposits of limestone are evident. The rock has eroded at different rates and small caverns and underground "rivers" are abundant. The dropoffs in some areas are severe but fences have been erected in these areas. In two places along the trail, you pass underneath waterfalls. The flow when I was there was limited but it was still interesting.

When I ascended out of the gorge, I continued along the escarpment on relatively level ground. Walking along the rim there is an excellent view of the surrounding valley. You can also see the rest of the escarpment rim. There is a large overlook area where cars can park and people can observe the natural wonders. This is also a favorite place for "birders" to spot eagles and hawks riding the updrafts. I continued on along the fence that runs the length of the rim. Various observations point allow views of the valley and the rest of the escarpment. Where the fence and park end the path continues on for a short distance. There is an interesting cliff face here and a talus slope and the base. The drop is truly breath taking.

At this point I chose to cross the road and walk around the extreme outer edge of the park. The trails pass through several different environments including hardwood and evergreen forests and an interesting bog/marsh/swamp area. The last leg of the trail is part of the Long Path. Soon I was back at the Indian Ladder. From here I walked the trail along the rim in the opposite direction. The Indian Ladder Trail is visible in part as it winds its way through the gorge. I was easily able to see the trail on the opposing rim where I had been standing just an hour before. As I returned to the car, I was positive that the drive had been well worth it!

On Sunday, October 8th, I decided to take my wife to Sam's Point Preserve since I had found it so enjoyable the previous Monday. We headed out with the dog after church at about 11:30 PM. The conditions were much drier than on Monday with very few areas that were even muddy. There were a LOT more people. Since most people hike to Sam's Point and the Caves, we decided to go in the same direction I had used on Monday. Lake Maratanza was beautiful and the sun's angle allowed better pictures than on Monday. The deep blue of the lake is really striking. When we reached the side trail to Indian Rock we decided to go out even though we had a limited amount of time. When we reached the "end" of the trail, we saw people further away on a rocky area. I realized that I had missed the trail that actually leads to Indian Rock on Monday! We walked out to the rock plateau and then a little further to the large boulder that is Indian Rock. I was going to scramble to the top but decided to leave that for another day. As we approached the falls, an ultralight aircraft flew over. It was VERY low and close to the falls. The hike up from the falls is a long a tiring one.

When we got to Ice Caves Road, we decided to hike back to the car and leave Ice Caves and Sam's Point for another day.

On Monday, October 2nd, I decided to leave the Catskills and hike in the 'Gunks. I took the dog and headed for Sam's Point Preserve in Cragsmoor. I had not been to this area since junior high school when we often visited Ice Caves Mountain. The area has since been purchased by Open Spaces and is managed by the Nature Conservancy. Let me say up front that the 10.5 mile hike is one of the BEST I have done lately. I will be going back SOON with my wife and anyone else that wants to come. I was a little wary of the rattlesnake warning especially since I had the dog with me. Fortunately, no snakes were to be seen on this hike.

We started at the Nature Conservancy Center at the end of Sam's Point Road where we picked up a map of the trails and carriageways in the preserve. I decided to take the longest route possible since I had the time an the weather was exceptionally beautiful. I wore a light fleece top and heavier pants than usual but really didn't need them after the first few miles. The first part of the hike is on old carriageways and leads gently upward. It passes several abandoned berry pickers shacks before arriving at Lake Maratanza. The lake is beautiful from the trail although I did not walk down to the shore. Near the lake are several large communications towers which somewhat spoil the pristine nature of the area. Shortly after this area, the path splits. The trail to the right loops around the lake. We continued straight ahead. After another mile, a trail to the left leads to Indian Rock. The first part of this trail is through a bog and wooden walkways have been constructed over this area. The view from Indian Rock is to the west over the valleys below. After returning to the main path, we continued on toward High Point. Several areas on the trail were VERY wet with small ponds to walk around. Areas by the trail seemed to be true bogs. As we approached High Point, we could see that we were in for a climb. At the top of this trail, we walked out onto an open rock plateau.

The views in all directions were great but better ones were yet to come. The trail is sometimes hard to follow since the signage is kept to a minimum. Small dabs of red paint on the rocks or trees and rock cairns mark the trail. Sheba was helpful since she could smell where people had walked. The view from High Point was magnificent in several different directions. From here the trail wins downward through more pine barrens and some hardwood. Much of it consists of a narrow trail with low bushes on the left and a sheer dropoff on the right. As the trail winds its way along, you can see where you will be hiking and look back at where you have been. Several areas require short but steep rock scrambling. At one of the lookouts there were raptors riding the currents. I was able to get a nice closeup!

The trail finally takes a rather steep descent toward Verkeerderkill Falls. You can hear the water rushing over the falls from some distance away. The trail leads to the falls and you can get a pretty good view of the 50+ foot drop. The trail then leads across the Kill just above the falls. The water can be somewhat deep and the footing slick. It looks like a misstep might be a harrowing experience! The path now climbs from the falls which is the lowest point on the trail. It winds through some shrubs, some hardwood and the pine barrens.

Eventually this trail intersects the Ice Caves road. We turned left and went about .3 miles to the "entrance" of the Caves. This trail winds for about .5 miles through the tectonic caves. Some areas are open fissures while other are actually enclosed. It is cool and dank but I did NOT see any ice! I DID discover that dogs do NOT climb ladders. To get out of the Caves you need to climb two ladders! Sheba simply jumped and scrambled up the rocks. A tasty treat can be helpful! We walked back up the Ice Caves road until we reached the Lake Loop Road and turned left. Shortly, we arrived at Sam's Point. The views from here are not as exciting as from some of the other lookouts but they are nice. From Sam's Point it is less than .5 miles back to the Center.

On Sunday, September 24th, my wife and I decided to take the dog a hike around Trout Pond. The weather was "questionable", cloudy with some moisture in the air, but we took our rain gear and headed out. Sheba LOVES to hike and can't wait to get out. It seems she can recognize places we have been before. We needed to finish the hike quickly as I had a soccer game to officiate. We walked at a lively pace and had a good time despite the gloomy weather. As we headed down the far side of Cherry Ridge toward Mud Pond it began to sprinkle. A little further on it began to pour. I broke down and donned my rain jacket which did prevent my upper body from getting soaked to the skin. By the time we were back a the car the rain had stopped, the sun was peeking through and my pants were thoroughly drenched.

Summer 2006

On Sunday, September 17th, I drove to the Segar trail head intending to hike to the end of the Segar trail and then to Eagle and maybe Big Indian. As I started to walk along the stream it became clear that the water was higher than I had expected due to the recent rains. Several of the crossings of Shandaken Creek and its small tributaries required some agility. The main crossing after the Flat Iron Bridge was too much for me. I backtracked to the bridge and crossed their. I bushwhacked along the opposite side of the brook until I hooked up with the Segar Trail again. The crossing by the before the lean-to was also high and I had to jump the last few feet. I made a mental note that I would have to find a different crossing on the way back. I crossed the brook by the lean-to without a problem and then headed up the steeper part of the trail. Everything was damp and the rocks were slippery. By this time it was clear to me that I was behind schedule! I decided I had worked hard enough for the day and turned around at the point where the Segar Trail meets the Pine Hill West Branch Trail. This is the second time I have been up the Segar Trail this year without climbing the mountains. Next time it will be different!

On Sunday, September 10th, my wife and I headed back to North and South Lake to hike in the opposite direction we had a few weeks ago. I wanted some more pictures. I also wanted to check out the view from the northern vista on North Point. The weather was partly sunny or partly cloudy depending on your point of view. The drive is almost two hours so we decided to leave the dog home. As we were getting ready Sheba, the dog, began to sow signs that she KNEW what was up and that she wanted to go. She is VERY hard to resist so we took her with us. She was very good in the car. When we arrived, we immediately set out on the Rock Shelter trail toward North Point. This trail was pretty wet in spots but navigable. It is rocky and has a lot of roots. I would rather start on the harder tail and end on the easier so this was perfect for me. We turned right on the Mary's Glen trail where it meets rock shelter and made our way to the Escarpment Trail. At this point the climb becomes VERY steep at points and has several areas that require an almost vertical climb. We wondered how Sheba would take these climbs both up and down. We didn't need to worry! Before we could see exactly how she did it, the dog was up and over these areas waiting for us. On the way down she just picks a line and launches herself. Sheba is remarkably good when hiking and will go back to the trail whenever I remind her. She WAS very careful around the many big dropoffs on the Escarpment Trail. We had enough sun to get some pictures from North Point and the Escarpment Trail. Some of the ones of distant landmarks were just too hazy and I deleted them. I took several pictures of the lakes, Badman's Cave and Boulder Rock. I also snapped some of my wife and the dog. We did about eight miles in around 5 and half hours. It was a great days since the temperatures were in the high 60's making the hiking very comfortable. We stopped at Pancho Villa's in Tannersville and had an early supper before we headed home.

On Monday, September 4th, my wife and I wanted to head back to North and South Lake to hike in the opposite direction we had a few weeks ago. I wanted some more pictures. I also wanted to check out the view from the northern vista on North Point. The weather prediction was for partly sunny which would not be the best conditions for pictures. When we woke up, no sun was in site and it looked like the remnants of Hurricane John would be pushing more clouds into the Catskills. We altered our plans, loaded up the SUV with packs and the dog and headed for Hunter Mountain. My wife had never climbed the second highest Catskill peak and I decided to do the ascent from Spruceton which is the easiest way to go. At the trail head we met a group of college students hiking in the Catskills. They seemed to be having a good time even if they didn't quite know where they were. We signed in on the trail register and started hiking. I returned to the car to get the GPS which I had placed on the roof! After catching up with Cindy and Sheba, we began the long but gentle climb up the Old Hunter Road. The road is wide and was dry despite the rain this past week. After about 1.5 miles, we turned right staying on the Spruceton Trail. The ascent is about 1100 feet in 1.7 miles. Some areas are steeper and some areas flatten out. The spring was flowing nicely and we got a quick drink. Just a little father up the trail we paused at the lookout near the trail to the lean-to. Here we met one person who appeared to be part of a group occupying the lean-to. As we walked up the trail we met two more gentlemen coming down the trail toward us. The cloud cover continued to threaten rain but the sun peeked through briefly at times. As the trail flattens near the top of the trail it gets VERY wet and muddy. We did not try the Colonel's Chair trail but did stop at another lookout to the left of the trail. We arrived at the top of the trail to find the tower closed and no other hikers present. Despite the clouds the view from the tower was pretty good revealing several of the most notable Catskill peaks. At this point, we decided to do a loop by heading down the Hunter Trail to the Devil's Path and then back to Westkill. The Hunter Trail was very wet in places with standing water on the flats and rivulets streaming down the inclined areas. We met several groups of two or three hikers on the way down. At the end of the Hunter Trail, we turned right on the Devil's Path and quickly arrived at the Devil's Acre lean-to. A large group was at the lean-to and it may have been the same group that we met at the trail head! I pointed out the bed of the old cog railway to my wife and showed her the way to Southwest Hunter. The area near the lean-to alternated between muddy marsh and flowing water. What I forgot about the Devil's Path loop is its length (long) and the fact that it rises and fall several times before the final descent to Diamond Notch Falls. Along the way we met several more small groups of hikers. The trail was wet, steep in places, and very rocky. This was the first place that we encountered nettles. Someone had done an excellent job of beating them back on both sides of the trail so that they were not really a factor. At this point I, my wife AND the dog were getting tired! Soon we were at the falls and we met another couple who had come over from Diamond Notch. They were in search of a lookout and I explain that Buck Ridge near the top of Westkill was the best bet. Since it was 3;)0 PM and the clouds were continuing to roll in, I think they decided to come back another day. The trip down to the Westkill trail head was short and relatively easy. From here we walked about .5 miles back to the car. The dog slept on the back seat most of the way home!

On Saturday, September 2nd, I was back at Trout Pond. Hurricane Ernesto had turned out to be Tropical Annoyance Ernestito bring a SMALL amount of rain but some pretty strong gusts of wind. I parked at the lot on Morton Hill Rd since I like the short hike down to the trail head passed the falls! The road has been repaired as far as the trail head parking and is in good shape. At this point a large pile of dirt completely blocks the way! As I started the hike a large tree branch broke off in a gust and fell along side the road just ahead of me. I decided to continue but kept a watch on some of the overhanging limbs whenever the wind picked up. There were 6 or 7 cars at the trail head parking. One group was camped at the old camping area and another just to the right of the trail register. The biggest group was camped on the trail to Mud Pond just to the left of the register. They were VERY load and were using a chainsaw! I tried to ignore them. The trail up to Trout was not as wet as on Thursday. Trout is still high due to the work of some very energetic beavers at the outlet. I was hiking pretty fast at this point and continued at the same pace around the other side. The inlet to Trout was easy to cross and there was very little water on the return journey. I didn't know how high Russell Brook would be at the lower end so I decided to turn left at Mud Pond and return to the register. The campers were having a GREAT time but they were still using the chainsaw. Back at the trail head parking I headed down Russell Brook Road to see how it had fared. Shortly after the parking area the road is COMPLETELY eroded with a very deep gash. I climbed down into this gash to the stream and then found a way up the other side. I continued on and noticed that the stream was getting higher and faster as I went on. This is due to all the drainage and small feeder streams that come in from everywhere. At the culvert the stream was so wide and deep that I chose to turn around. I walked up and down the stream looking for a way across but I couldn't find any. I hiked back up to the car. The five mile plus hike took just under 3 hours.

On Thursday, August 31th, my dog, Sheba, and I headed for Trout Pond. We got a late start due to the fact that an ambulance call came in just as I was about to leave the house. By the time I got back, I decided that a hike was still in order but that I would just do the loop around Trout Pond. The dog is ALWAYS more than ready to go so there was no problem hiking at a rapid pace. We went clockwise, heading for Mud Pond on the way out. This may be the more challenging direction since the uphill starts immediately without much time to warm up. The trail was wet in spot but I avoided most of them while Sheba splashed right through. The creek at the inlet to Trout was higher than it had been in a while but crossing was no problem even though the bridge is still missing. We saw a few people near the parking area but after that the trail was ours. We finished over 4 miles in under 1.5 hours!

On Wednesday, August 30th, I started for Alder Lake under cloudy conditions. Once again, by the time I reached the parking area the skies were clearing on the sun was peaking out. I got a late start and had a meeting at night so I was determined to hike quickly with a minimum of stops. Some heavy rain the day and night before made the ground wet for the first time this summer. In fact, things were wetter than I expected! There was standing water wherever the ground was flat for any distance. Some of these puddles were pretty wide. Also, the rain spurred the growth of plants lining the trail especially the nettles. Some of these nettles were VERY AGGRESSIVE. One plant came out of nowhere and attacked my right knee early in the hike setting the tone for the rest of the walk. It was simply impossible to avoid getting wet from the moisture on the undergrowth or the water pooled on the ground. A lot of water was going over the Alder Lake dam and a lot was flowing down Alder Creek into the lake. Still, I had a great time on the hike. The trail has been cleared of all blowdowns and new yellow trail markers have been placed. This made hiking the trail a pleasure compared to the last time when I monetarily got lost! Whoever did the work on this trail deserves a lot of credit! The view from the Ridge Vista was nice but would have been nicer without the clouds and the haze. It is hard to see the monastery because of the foliage on the trees. Most other views along the trail were also blocked. I finished the 8 mile hike is just about 4 hours.

On Monday, August 29th, I decided to try hiking to Table and Peekamoose Mountains from the Denning parking area. I had never tried this before so I was up for something new. I was a little worried about the bridge (or lack of one) across the East Branch of the Neversink River. I had heard that it was washed away and had not been replaced. I was hoping to find a way to cross if the bridge was not there. Recent rains made this choice questionable! When I parked there was only one other car in the parking area. The young lady by the car said she was park of the Adirondack Mountain Club maintenance team that was going to rebuild the bridge. She, too, had heard that it had washed away in the June floods. I headed out wondering what I would find. After about 1.5 miles, I was at the river and the two logs that made up the bridge were still there! They were precariously placed but still serviceable. I crossed easily and headed up the trail. Along the way there are several places where you must ascend a hill and then descend the other side. I do NOT like this. When I start UP, I want to go UP! Just after 300 feet there is a nice lookout to the south. When I left home, the sky was overcast and it looked like it might rain. When I got to the parking area, things looked even worse. I was glad I left the camera home. When I got to the lookout, the sky had cleared and there was some sun. I was sorry I left the camera home. At 3500 feet there is a spring on the left which was nearly dry. The lean-to is to the right just beyond the spring. A little further on is a short spur trail to the right. This leads to a small rock overhang with another nice view to the south. The climb was pretty steep for the next .2 miles to the summit of Table. I had intended to turn around here since the sky was now darkening. Being on the top of these mountains in a lightning storm is scary. I made a quick decision to fast hike the .85 miles to Peekamoose. The descent into the col is short and not too steep and the corresponding ascent on the other side is about the same. I got to the big rock on the top of Peekamoose and went just a little farther to make sure I got the summit. As I returned, I wondered if I would find the team working on the bridge. When I got to the river, they had not yet arrived and I wondered if they were going to be coming today at all. As I hiked back on the Phoenicia East Branch trail, I met the team carrying their equipment. They were loaded down with picks, shovels, saws and camping gear. Each of the 5 or 6 team members seemed to be carrying 80 pounds. I want to go back soon and inspect the work they do. They seemed to have enough equipment to build a two-lane suspension bridge. I hiked around 9 miles in 4 and a half hours.

On Saturday, August 26th, my wife and I decided to brave the heavy mist and light rain and take Sheba to Giant Ledge. My wife had never hiked there either. The temperature was only in the 60's and a heavy mist was in the air when we started on the trail. We met about 15 people on the hike which seemed above average for the conditions. At Giant Ledge there was no view. It appeared that we were encompassed by a large white cloud. At this point we continued on toward Panther but decided to turn around. The wind was blowing and heavier rain looked imminent. By the time we returned to the car the weather appeared to be clearing in spots.

On Wednesday, August 23rd, I headed for the beginning of the Devil's Path on Prediger Rd. This was the first time I had started here to do the Indian Head and Twin Mountain "loop". The weather was partly cloudy and I was worried the rain would arrive before the predicted time. This didn't stop me from continuing to learn more about the new camera by taking a lot of pictures!

On Tuesday, August 22nd, my wife and I decided to take the dog and go to Long Pond. We had a nice quiet hike since the Sheba is really getting used to hiking. We did see two men who didn't know that the lean-to is now on the other side of the pond!

On Monday, August 21st, I decided to try hiking Balsam Lake Mt from the Millbrook trail head. I had never tried this before and wanted to see how different it was. I did expect to see anyone on a quick hike up and down Balsam Lake. By the time I was done I had seen 10 people, some more than once. I also did the complete loop of Balsam Lake Mt and threw in Graham Mt!

On Thursday, August 17th, my wife and I decided to take the dog and go to Trout Pond. My daughter, Krista, and son, Kurt, accompanied us. This time I drove down to the trail head on the repaired portion of Russell Brook Road. We did the loop around Trout in a counterclockwise direction. Sheba proved again that she likes to take long walks and is NOT afraid of the water. She even got to swim a little this time with an assist from Kurt. This was a nice family outing. We did meet a group completing their hike as we were starting. As we were finishing we met another family doing the hike in the opposite direction.

On Monday, August 14th, I wanted to take a quick hike after school. I hadn't been up Balsam Lake Mountain in a while so I headed in that direction. The weather was warm but dry and the sky was nearly cloudless. I went up the steep side and did the loop. I met one group on the ascent and another during a brief stop at the tower. I completed the hike in a little over and hour and a half!

On Saturday, August 12th, my wife and I decided to head north to the North and South Lake Campgrounds. We wanted to hike the Escarpment Trail since all descriptions included phrases like "spectacular views of the Hudson" and "breathtaking views of Palenville". We parked at the Schutt Road parking area just before the campgrounds avoiding the $6 day use fee. This almost a 2 hour drive for us and we didn't arrive until after eleven. The parking area was almost full with more cars arriving as we parked. Being around large, noisy groups of people is not out favorite thing so we immediately headed across Schutt Rd to the beginning of the Escarpment Trail. We hike the trail in a counterclockwise direction and the views were everything that were purported to be. We met many different hikers and groups of hikers. Few were doing the entire trail and many were camping for several days.

On Thursday, August 10th, My daughter and I decided to go for a walk AND take our dog, Sheba. Sheba had never been for more than a walk around the block so we wondered how she would handle a 5 mile hike. We decided to go to Long Pond since the terrain isn't too challenging and there aren't many people. We parked a the trail head, signed the register and took off. For most of the hike we allowed Sheba to run free. She never got too far away and usually remained on the trail. She did decide to jump in the black mud at the Pond before either of us could stop her. We also found that she doesn't mind being IN THE WATER as long as the water isn't in the bathtub at home. By the time we headed down Flugertown Rd it was obvious that Sheba was getting tired. Overall, it was so much fun we will try it again.

On Tuesday, August 8th, I decided to find the highest point in Sullivan County. This used to be listed as Denman Mountain in Grahamsville. More recent maps list the high point as the southwest shoulder of Mongaup Mountain. This area is just northeast of Hodge Pond so I headed up the DeBruce Road and parked a the Frick Pond Parking Area. I took the Flynn Trail from the parking area to the junction with the Big Rock Trail and then continued toward Hodge Pond until the point where a jeep trail veers off to the right. I had never taken this trail before and was surprised to see that it continued on up the mountain. I decided to follow it rather than bushwhack the whole way. Near the top of the mountain the trail levels off and starts to disappear. At this point there was still more "up" to go so I head off into the woods on a bushwhack. I quickly arrived at the flat area that makes up the top of the mountain. Several trails and herd paths aided my brief climb. There is no marker at the high point so I wandered around for a while covering most of the area at the top. I decided that I was as high as I could get so I started down again until I rejoined the jeep trail. As I descended I turned right on a trail that I knew would bring me out a the outlet of Hodge Pond. From here I picked up the Flynn Trail west until it ended. I picked up the Quick Lake and briefly headed west toward Quick Lake. I decided this was going to be too much hiking and doubled back to the end of the Flynn Trail and took the Quick Lake Trail back to Frick Pond and the parking area. I covered the 7.5 miles in just over 3 hours including the bushwhack.

On Sunday, August 6th, I headed up the Beaverkill Rd to the parking area for the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail. I quickly signed in to the register and walked down to the Beaverkill. People had described the bridge to me but I really hadn't understood! The bridge here is a steel cable suspension bridge with wooden decking. It is truly amazing to find this structure in this area. The river is low enough that could spot several ways to pick my way across but I HAD to try the bridge. It does sway some and some of the decking is showing its age. After taking some pictures of the bridge I began the short but steep ascent up to the Beaverkill Ridge. Just at the beginning of this ascent I noticed some movement on the trail ahead. A sow and her cub moved across the only twenty feet in front of me. Since they seemed to be moving off, I decided to continue on. The climb to the ridge is challenging with the maximum elevation being about 3200 feet! Once on the ridge the walk is a little easier but there are several undulations along the way. The trail can be VERY frustrating at times for several reasons. Some areas seem well traveled and are marked with blue trail markers. Other areas are seemingly devoid of markings and seem untouched. More annoying is the lack of any views. I walked off the trail several times toward promising areas only to find trees blocking the view. One area did offer a view to the east through some trees. As I continued on, I came to the point where the red marked Long Pond trail heads off to the south and east. You could easily miss this junction since there are no signs of any kind! After this, the trail descend some and then ascends the east peak of Mongaup Mountain. Following this peak there is a significant drop before the trail climbs Middle Mongaup Mountain. At the top of this peak a short bushwhack would allow the ascent of the main peak on Mongaup Mountain. I decided to leave this for another day and stay on the main trail. The trail descends from the Mongaup Mountain ridge to the state campgrounds around Mongaup Pond. I walked to the gatehouse where I had another car waiting. The hike was about 7 miles and took around three hours. This seemed slow to me but there is over 2000 feet of ascending and descending an I stopped to take a lot of pictures!

On Wednesday, August 2nd, I had almost decided to take a rest. A little after 4:00 PM, I began to feel like a slug so I went to Willowemoc for a quick walk. I had not been to Long Pond in may years so I decided a quick trip was in order. I parked at the first parking area on Flugertown Rd. From here a wide snowmobile trail leads to several different options. This trail makes a quick ascent from the parking lot and then levels off. The trail was mostly dry with some soggy areas on the flat parts at the top. Along the way the pond is clearly visible, so I took a short side trip to take a look. This is definitely a pond with lily pads and frogs! At the T, I turned right and went toward the spur trail to the lean-to. I made another right onto the spur trail and walk to the lean-to. There isn't too much to see there and no real view of the pond. I was running late so I returned the way I came to the T. Here I walked straight ahead toward the upper end of Flugertown Rd. Several wide bridges cross Willowemoc Creek near the end of the trail. From the T to the road is mostly downhill. Once on the road it is about 1.5 miles back to the car. I was anxious to get back so I cinched down the pack and ran most of the way!

On Tuesday, August 1st, I decided to take that the weather was so hot that I had to hike. I went to Trout Pond for a quick walk. The air temperature was 97 with a heat index of 106. I parked at the upper lot and walked down to the trail head parking. At this point I noticed a bulldozer near the parking lot. The trail up to the pond has been very rocky and uneven from the heavy rains at the end of June. The bulldozer had been used to smooth out the path all the way to the first lean-to! I am glad that the State is trying to improve the area. However, where there was once an uneven trail that drained the water very nicely there is now loose dirt. I am afraid that this combination may result in a LOT of mud and perhaps further erosion when it rains again. As I walked around the lake I also noticed that ALL the blow down, large and small had been cleared which made walking that much easier. As I reached the turning point to go around Mud Pond, the weather started to blow up and the skies looked a little dark. I decided to return to the car and made a left. The trail on the other side of Trout had also been "groomed" using the bulldozer. The bridge over the brook near the register box is showing some wear. The bridge at the inlet has been pulled out of the pond but is in pieces. I hope the State replaces both bridges as part of their upgrade project.

On Saturday, July 29th, I decided to take on the bushwhack to Doubletop from the Big Indian Trail. The other times I have been up Doubletop were from other directions and I was with someone who led the hike. I wanted to do it myself! I started at 9:45 AM under sunny skies with only a few clouds. The temperatures were in the mid to high 80's but the humidity was VERY high. It wasn't long before I was soaked! The 3.3 mile trip up the Big Indian trail was uneventful. The crossing of Biscuit Creek after the lean-to was easy since the water is VERY low. In fact, all the other small streams were basically dry. When the Big Indian Trail swings to the right, I decided to go straight ahead toward the Col between the Big Indian ridge and Doubletop. I used my GPS extensively since views of Doubletop are few. My first view was when I was almost at the bottom of the Col and Doubletop was looming over me promising a difficult if short climb. The descent into the Col had some steep places and I made a note that I would have to ascend these same slopes to get back to the car. The approach to Doubletop from this direction is truly difficult. Some areas are steep and all are overgrown with thick underbrush. Herd paths up the slopes quickly disappear. There are at least three areas where I ran into cliffs! They aren't very high but they are steep. Fortunately, all can be negotiated by climbing over, through or around them. Once at the top I found the familiar heard path and followed it to the canister without much difficulty. As I retraced my steps I met four Canadians from Quebec. They were camping at Woodland Valley for six days with the intention of finishing the Catskill peaks. Their trip on this day included Fir, Big Indian, Doubletop, Eagle and Balsam. They are part of the Keds Backpacking Team. They also said that they got valuable information from a new website, CATSKILLHIKER.COM! I introduced myself as the webmaster and they gave me their card and took a picture. As I descended further I met Jim and Jim from Queens and Long Island. We came to the conclusion we had met before, probably on Panther this past winter. I made a few mistakes on the way back thinking I was finding a better route! The descent of Doubletop wasn't too bad BUT the ascent up to the Big Indian trail was brutal. I was tired! I was going to attempt Big Indian but I have been there several times and some thunderstorms were rolling in! I got back to the car at 6:15 PM after hiking 8 and a half hours! Just as I pulled out of the parking lot the heavy rains began.

On Wednesday, July 26th, my son Karl and I decided to take a quick walk somewhere. I chose the Frick - Hodge Pond area since Karl had never been there. The area is pretty flat so the hiking is fast. We covered 6 miles in just over two and a half hours. This included some time to break in a new GPS (Explorist 400) and to stop at both ponds. Our biggest annoyance were the HORDES of mosquitoes that followed us until we gained some elevation on the Flynn Trail near Hodge Pond! These MANEATERS were determined to feed despite citronella balm and industrial strength DEET!

On Sunday, July 23rd, my son Karl and I decided to do the complete Wittenberg-Cornell-Slide loop. This was my a "present" in honor of my 54th birthday! We parked at the Panther parking area on County Route 47. From here we walked over to Woodland Valley which is "only" 3.5 miles. The steep climb just before Woodland Valley was a warmup for the real challenge ahead. There was a little rain in the air as we reached Woodland Valley but this soon cleared. The climb up Wittenberg is always long with some stretches that get tedious. Still, there are enough scrambles and steep areas to make it interesting. We met a few other hikers on the way. As we neared the summit of Wittenberg we heard quite a few voices! There was a large group at the top relaxing and stir frying their lunch. Although Karl had climbed Wittenberg several times before, this was the first time he was able to get a good view. The mist had cleared and the view was spectacular! We didn't stay long before we headed on to Cornell. The view from Cornell on the side trail to the lookout was as nice as I had ever seen it. The ascent up Cornell has several short, steep climbs that I really enjoy. We had to really hurry and by this time we were getting a little tired. The walk between Cornell and Slide is long. Fortunately, there are several scrambles going up to the spring on Slide that are challenging. Surprisingly, the spring on Slide was nearly dry despite recent storms. I was glad we had brought enough water. After the climb up the stairs and over several rock scrambles we were at the summit. It was about 4:30 PM and no one else was there! We hurried down the other side of Slide. With about .7 miles to go, Karl ran ahead to the parking area on CR 47 and then to the Panther parking area to get the car. I hurried down as fast as I could! It only had to wait about 10 minutes at the parking area until Karl arrived with the car. He covered the 2 miles on the road in under 15 minutes after a 14 mile hike! I guess it pays to be 27!

On Thursday, July 20th, I headed for the Westkill area with my son Karl and his finance, Kathleen, and my daughter, Krista. We hiked to Diamond Notch Falls and beyond and then turned around and walked up the horse trail toward Hunter. It was a relaxing hike and we really enjoyed each others company.

On Monday, July 17th, I headed for Big Pond to hike over to Little Pond. My route included a detour to Cabot Mt. This was not meant to be too long or hard since I knew the heat index might be hovering near 100. I forgot that Touch-Me-Not Mt has several steep but short portions. What I did not know was that Cabot Mt. has even steeper parts and they are longer. In addition, the nettles were out in all their glory. The view from the Beaverkill Vista on Cabot Mt. was well worth the climb! At Little Pond Campgrounds I decided to head back on the roads. The distance is about the same but there aren't any nettles!

On Sunday, July 16th, I headed for the Segar trail head with three other people. My intention was to do a loop that included Doubletop and Big Indian. By the time we got to the Pine Hill West Branch trail several of the others in the group were too tired to continue. People often ask me why I hike by myself. This is one reason. I intend to get this hike done in one direction or the other. I want to leave enough time to do the complete loop so I may have to postpone this to a weekend.

On Sunday, July 9th, my wife and I headed to Trout Pond, one of our favorite hikes. The trail was drier than on Thursday and several other cars were parked at the trail head.

On Saturday, July 8th, I headed to the Denning trail head to hike Slide Mt. I got a late start in the early afternoon. I knew the hike was long (10+ miles) but forgot how tiring walking over the "stones of Slide Mt." can be. The weather was beautiful and just a little cooler than the forecast which was fine with me. The trails in Ulster and Greene counties are still much drier than in Sullivan. This trail was as dry as I have seen it in some time and I had no problems crossing the small streams or avoiding the mud.

On Thursday, July 6th, I headed to the Trout Pond area for a quick hike after Summer School. I didn't know that there were surprises waiting for me! Morton Hill Road was much the worse for wear from the recent heavy rain and flooding. However, the parking area near Russell Brook Road had been expended to about three times its previous size. I parked and my next surprise was the condition of Russell Brook Road. The road has been filled in and is easily passable by car up to the trail head parking area. At this point there is a LARGE dirt pile with a ROAD CLOSED sign. I found out why this sign was here later in the hike.

On Monday, July 3rd, I headed to the Northern Catskills. I wanted to try climbing Blackhead and Black Dome from the east which I had never done before. Several people told me that this is the steepest approach with several rock scrambles. This is the kind of hike I like the most but I didn't know what I was in for.

On Saturday, July 1st, my wife and I decided to get away and take a relaxing(?) hike. We both wanted something not to far away, not too long and not two mountainous. We chose to park at the Frick Pond Parking area and do a loop to Frick Pond, Hodge Pond and Mongaup Pond where our daughter works. The weather was beautiful with temperatures in the low 70's. The hike was a little longer than we expect covering about 7.5 miles.

On Friday, June 30th, I decided I needed to get away from Livingston Manor and the aftermath of the flooding. I decided to climb Panther Mt. the long way and headed for Fox Hollow. I was surprised that Ulster County had none of the flooding we saw in Sullivan. The weather was beautiful with temperatures in the low 70. I parked at the trailhead and began what turned out to be a six hour hike.

Spring 2006

On Saturday, June 17th, my wife and I decided to go on an afternoon hike. The weather was beautiful with temperatures in the low 80's after a brief morning shower. We parked at the trailhead on Mary Smith Hill Road and hiked toward Berry Brook Road over the Mary Smith Hill Trail.

On Thursday, June 15th I decided to take a short hike after school. I wanted to try a trail close to home that I had not been on before. I chose the Middle Mountain Trail from Mary Smith Road to Beech Hill Road.

On Monday, June 12th my daughter, Krista, and I decided to take a short hike after school. We chose the Campbell Mountain Trail off Rt 206.

On Monday, May 29th my wife and I decided to take a short hike. The day was hot and we couldn't start until after the Memorial Day Parade. Several friends had told us that the Red Hill fire tower was a short but interesting hike. The tower offers a good view on a clear day. We arrived at the trail head around 1:00 PM. The first part of the hike is easy with a few small ascents. The last part is steeper but still manageable. The day was hazy but the views from the tower were good. The vegetation is really beginning to fill out from the warm weather and recent rain. I tried a new pair of Asolo low hikers which are much lighter than the boots I normally where. We were back at the car by 2:30 PM.

On Sunday, May 28th my son Karl and I decided it was time to hike again. He lives in Virginia and I have been busy coaching track. It was almost a month since my last hike and we were itching to go! We decided to climb Plateau and Sugarloaf from the Elka Park trail head near Tannersville. We got there at about 11 AM and there were so many cars already parked in the PA that we had to park the car at the side of the road. The weather was beautiful with temperatures in the mid to high seventies. We immediately got on the trail to avoid a rather large group of hikers massing for an assault on Sugarloaf. I had been on the first part of this trail which starts out as the Roaring Kill trail and then turns into the Mink Hollow trail. After a little less than 3 miles we reached the Devil's Path and turned to the right and UP Plateau. This trail quickly gets rather "challenging" ascending about 1200 feet in less than one mile! Our legs were screaming as we reached the end of the ascent! On the way up we met several people coming down. They looked considerably happier than we felt. Near the top of the ascent is the only really lookout. The day was clear and offered a GREAT view of Sugarloaf, Twin, Indian Head and Kaaterskill (I think.) We continued on the trail climbing several short rises to actually get to the highest point on Plateau. Turning around we paused briefly at the lookout again. Going down the trail was easier than going up but was still difficult in places. We met several groups going up. I am sure we must have been happier than they looked! Upon reaching the crossroads where the trail up Sugarloaf meets the trail back to Elka Park and the car, we made a mutual decision to return to the car. We reminded each other that hiking is supposed to be fun and that the mountains would still be there the next time we decided to hike! BEWARE! The weather is getting warmer and your hydration requirements increase. We only had 2 liters between us which really wasn't adequate for this hike. If we had decided to do Sugarloaf we would have been in real trouble. The hike was about 6.25 miles but took the better part of 5 hours!

On Sunday, April 30th my wife and I hiked to the Ashokan High point from the Kanape Brook Parking Area on the Peekamoose Road. We crossed the road to get to the trail. The day was clear and the temperatures hovered around 60. The leaves on the trees were just beginning to come out. The first part of the hike is a rather gentle walk along one of those Catskill logging roads. Kanape Brook runs along side the trail and adds a soundtrack to the hike. For the first two miles the gain in elevation is only 700 feet but then things get a bit steeper. At 2.5 miles we made a left turn to ascend to the High Point. This is a loop route and we chose to ascend the steeper part and continued ahead. In the next mile the trail ascends 1000 feet! Fortunately some thoughtful person built rock steps up the steepest of these inclines. We passed a pair of hikers and the way up and they decided to follow us. We met another group coming down. At the summit there is a nice view of the valleys below but NO ASHOKAN! The day was hazy but the view was still great. We decided to continue around the loop. As we walked into a field a short distance from the summit a shiny glint caught our eye off to the right. When we walked to the edge of the field, a view of the Ashokan Reservoir could be seen through the trees. To the left of the reservoir was the imposing view of Wittenberg, Cornell and Slide. We relaxed in the field for a little while on some stone "chairs" near a fire circle. We continue on the loop trail with several descents. There were also several small ascents over hills that were between us and our goal: our car! After completing the loop trail we turned right back onto the main trail and back to the car. The last part was an easy downhill hike which was appreciated since we were tired. We hiked about 8 miles in 3.5 hours.

On Friday, April 21st Terry Shulz and I decided to hike Wittenberg from the Woodland Valley side. He is training to do parts of the AT this summer and wanted a moderate hike.

On Wednesday, April 19th my son Kurt and I got a late start and decided to take a "shorter" hike than we had planned. We drove to the main PA for Peekamoose and Table Mountains starting the hike at just after 2:00 PM. The first part of this trail is on an old logging road for about a mile. After that the trail turns onto a footpath which is in pretty good shape most of the way. There are several areas of rocks to walk over and many blowdowns to walk around. The trail was dry in most places except near the spring just below the Peekamoose summit. The view from Reconnoiter Rock was good as was the view from the stone ledge just above. However, the BEST views were undoubtedly from the rocky ledge near the "camping area" on the plateau just below the Peekamoose summit. The summit did have a small area of snow. The mile hike to Table was uneventful as was our return. The round trip hike of just less than nine miles took us just under 5 hours and there was plenty of daylight left!

On Monday, April 17th my son Kurt and I ascended Balsam Lake Mt from the Balsam Lake side. We parked a car at Alder Lake on the way up as our intent was to hike the Millbrook Ridge trail back from Balsam Lake. I have done the hike up Balsam Lake Mt MANY times but it was Kurt's first visit. At the turn up the mountain the trail does ascend rather steeply but for less than a mile. Near the top is a spur trail to a lean-to. In the same area is a spring with cold, fresh mountain water. We hiked to the tower and took in the view of all the other Catskill peaks except for Thomas Cole. This peak is blocked by Hunter Mountain. We retraced our steps for about .2 miles and turned right on the Millbrook Ridge Trail to Alder Lake. I had always wanted to try this hike and have been along this trail from the Alder Lake end several times but I had never completed the whole distance.

The Millbrook Ridge Trail descends from Balsam Lake with several switchbacks along the way. I just knew that there would be some ascending along the way since the Beecher Lake lookout (which I have visited), has a rather high elevation. I was right and soon we were climbing again. The climb was short but steep in places. In one spot the trail travels along the edge of a rather significant drop off. At one point Beecher Lake is visible but the best lookout waits another half mile along the trail. At this point the trail leads to an open spot on a rock ledge. The view of the lake and the Zen Monastery is beautiful and makes a nice place to stop and eat lunch. From here the trail descends a few hundred feet and then climbs one more time. The maximum elevation here is measured at 3480 feet which is just a few feet shy of a 36th Catskill 35. From this point the trail descends steeply. We passed several beaver meadows at the lower elevations. These were former beaver ponds which are now undergoing and ecological succession to grassy fields. They are home to many forms of wildlife both fauna and flora. With 1.5 miles from the Beaver Meadow lean-to, we were on the Alder Lake loop trail. We decided to turn right and continue around the lake that way. After passing several campsites we arrived at the eastern end of the lake. We spent a few moments looking at the dam and the Coykendall mansion before heading to the car.

This hike was a little longer and a little more challenging than I thought but was well worth it. We started at about 1:15 PM and finished the nearly 8 mile hike at 5:45 PM.

On Saturday, April 15th my son Karl and I decided to "bag" a peak which he had not done before. We parked on Spruceton Road and began the hike up the Spruceton Trail to Hunter Mountain. The trail is a wide-open road with a fairly gentle slope all the way to the summit. In fact, the trail is marked as a horse trail all the way. We made good time to the turn up the mountain and didn't slow down much even at this point. The trail had some remnants of the ice that I encountered this winter just below the spring but this time it was easy to negotiate. Most of the trail up the mountain was surprisingly dry despite the rain the night before. The spring was flowing freely and the view from the lookout near the John Robb lean-to is beautiful. For a good part of the hike the sky was overcast and it looked like rain might appear contrary to the forecast. When we reached the summit, the sun appeared and the clouds made an exit. As we climbed the fire tower, the wind speed increased to at least 50 mph which made this experience very special! At this point we decided to descend the Hunter Trail to the Devil's Path at Devil's Acre. This trail was very wet with several areas requiring some brief bushwhacking. I had never been on the section of the Devil's Path past the lean-to. This trail ascends briefly with a very nice lookout on the left. The trail then descends, at times steeply, with loose rock and several deadfalls to make the hike more interesting. The trail intersects the Diamond Notch Trail and Diamond Notch Falls. This certainly isn't a particularly high falls or one with great volume but it is pretty. From here we walked out the Diamond Notch Trail to Spruceton Road and back to the car. The total hike of about 7.5 miles took a little over four hours including the stops at the lookouts and the tower.

On Thursday, April 13th I added my fourth Catskill Fire Tower to my list by climbing Tremper Mountain. The first part of the trail ascends steeply but very briefly from Esopus Creek. It then traverses about half a mile to the register box. The rest of the trail is on an old access road to the tower. The road is wide and has many switchbacks which decrease the severity of the slope but increase the length of the trail. Near the top, the trail narrows and flattens until a final ascent to the tower. This tower is surrounded by trees at least half as tall as the tower but this does not effect the view from the top. The surrounding hills were hazy this day and the view was limited. Even on a clear day, I don't think the views would be as spectacular as those from Overlook. The hike took a little over 3 and a half hours to complete.

On Wednesday, April 12th I decided to celebrate the first Day of my vacation by hiking Overlook Mountain. I parked on the roadside pull-off at the Catskill Center Platte Clove Preserve. The first part of the trail has been "labeled" by the Catskill Center. Many of the signs describe the flora and history of the area. At the junction with the beginning of the Devil's Path the trail turns into the Overlook Mountain Trail. This trail has some gorgeous views of the mountains on the left. There are also numerous bluestone quarries in this direction. The trail skirts Plattekill Mountain and the ascents, of which there are few are gentle. Near the summit are the ruins of the Overlook Mountain House with the WTZA-TV tower immediately adjacent. Only the stone parts of the Mountain House remains but they are impressive. On the other side of the ruins the trail from Mead's Rd wanders down the mountain. This trail is less than 4 miles round trip while the route I took tops out at around 11 miles! From the ruins I made my way up to the state fire tower which is a hike of only a half mile. This tower sits on top of a rocky prominence with few tress around it. The view is unobstructed and would have been wonderful except for the haze hanging in the valleys this day. The entire Ashokan Reservoir is visible. The view of the Mountain House and TV tower allow you to get a different perspective on the scale of the scenery. Many peaks are visible from this tower also. On the trip back down the trail I decided to take the spur trail to Echo Lake. This trail is only about a half mile long but it descends steeply at times and is very rocky. Echo Lake is a pristine mountain lake surrounded by peaks on all sides. There is a lean-to on the shore which must be a beautiful place to camp. After going back up the Echo Lake trail, I returned to my car be reversing my original route. The whole trip took about 5 hours including all the stops along the way!

On Sunday, April 2nd my wife and I took Cathy, a friend, to Hike the Trout Pond - Mud Pond loop.

Winter 2005-2006

On Saturday, March 18th I decided to do a longer hike since I knew it would be the last hike of the winter. I decided to stay close to home and do the hike I had done the first thing last summer. I headed out passed the Frost Valley YMCA Camp on Route 47. I has a feeling as I was driving that I would find at least one other hiker. Last summer I met Scott Lane, the Can Man, when he was replacing the canister that had been destroyed on Fir. I thought he might be doing can maintenance as the season were changing. I was right! His truck was in the Biscuit Brook parking area and he was signed in at the register. I headed up the trail trying to guess whether he would do Fir or Big Indian first. I knew I couldn't catch up with him but thought that if I made the right choice we might cross paths. I chose to do Big Indian first thinking he would do Fir. Right again! As I approached the canister there was Scott with Michelle. They had just bushwhacked in from Fir along the Catskill Divide. I was pretty tired since the trail is in poor condition and it is a little longer with more elevation changes than I remember! Scott encouraged me to follow their trail and I did. I lost their footprints several times but just stayed on the Divide. The Divide is relatively narrow in some spots with steep descents on both sides. The views were nice and would be even better if there were some true look outs. As I approached Fir I lost the footprints I had been following and had to wander around a little until I found the canister. My GPS decided at this moment to be obstinate. At one point it had me at an elevation of over 8000' in another part of the world! I'm glad I had my maps, compass, the sun and my common sense. I took a southwesterly route off Fir and connected with Scott and Michelle's tracks several times. I came down some of the steeper parts of Fir until I was just above Biscuit Brook. I parallelled the brook until I could pick up the trail back to the parking area. I avoided the water crossing of Biscuit Brook that had been tricky on the way out. About ten miles in 6 hours including several stops and the typical "wandering" of bushwhacking.

On Sunday, March 5th the weather was much milder with temperatures in the mid 30's and almost no wind. I chose to climb Balsam Lake Mt as it is close and a rather quick hike. As I drove up the Beaverkill Road I noticed the depth of snow increasing. The parking area was not plowed an there was at least six inches of snow on the ground. I chose NOT to take my snowshoes since I intended to ascend and descend the close, steeper trail. I hoped I had made the right decision. WARNING: There was 13 inches of snow on this mountain in October. There will probably be as much in April. Plan accordingly! There was only one other name in the register for Sunday and no names for the preceding week. As I hiked up to the turnoff, I met the other hiker. He was discouraged since he had tried snow shoeing the "other" trail which is not as steep. He got about 3/4 of the way up and turned around due to 6 foot drifts! I was even more convinced to hike the steeper trail until I got to the turnoff and saw NO FOOTPRINTS. As I ascended the snow got deeper averaging between 8 and 12 inches. There didn't seem to be much ice anywhere but I was cautious anyway. I was tired from the hike the day before but a couple of shorts stops allowed me to press on. After clearing the area near the spring, I thought the rest of the way would be easy. From the top of that trail to the Tower were drifts of snow that consistently reached my knees although never got quite up to my hips! I kept pushing on until I reached the tower. The steps were icy but the views from the top were worth it. On the way down I used by boots like VERY short skis. There were snowshoe tracks at the summit near the tower. The other hiker had made it through the deep drifts on the other trail! Later, I learned from VFTT that I missed Ralph Ryndak by minutes. I was a little concerned about the steepest parts of the trail but I had no problems. I was up and down in just over two hours including the stop at the top!

On Saturday, March 4th I decided I needed to get out despite the 20 mph winds driving the wind chill to just above 0. No one else seemed to share my enthusiasm so I headed out by myself. I wanted to go somewhere fairly close that had a protected trail so I chose Giant Ledge and Panther Mountain. I would rather have done a peak that I had not hiked this winter but those were further away. I parked a the hairpin on Route 47 and hiked to the register and signed in. It didn't seem that cold. There was about 3 inches of snow on the trail. After a short distance, it became clear that the ice underneath the snow would be the real problem! Within the first mile I met two young men relaxing by the trail. These were the first people I met out of 18 hikers I saw during the day. One large ice flow on the way up to the Ledges required some bushwhacking to negotiate my way around it. I reached the Ledges and the views were less than spectacular. All the other peaks were obscured by a haze or snow showers. I continued on toward the Col between the Ledges and Panther. Here I met a group of 3 adults and 6 children. They were all experienced hikers including a 7 1/2 year old girl working on her 14th peak! I hiked with them for a while. Several patches of ice made the descent into the col interesting. The climb up Panther wasn't bad although the snow got deeper. On my way up I met a mother and her two daughters who were intending to hike Balsam Mt in the same day to complete their four winter peaks. At the lookout at the top of Panther the views were better but the wind was blowing. I ate, dark and quickly turned around. On the way down I caught up with two hikers I had met on the way up. There company on the way down made the descent seem very fast. I barebooted the whole trip and think it was the easiest way to go. Crampons would have been nice in some spots. I carry all this gear and never seem to use it!

On Saturday, February 25th I headed for Woodland Valley with my wife, Kevin Ferguson and his dog, Rocky. Our intention was to hike Wittenberg and Cornell and then return by the same route. There was little snow at the base of the mountain and the skies were clear. The weather was actually warmer than I thought it would be and I noted that another group had signed into the trail register with the same intentions that we had. This hike is strenuous in summer due to the fact that Woodland Valley is low and The mountain isn't. As we ascended there were periods of sun and then snow squalls. Just below 3000' the depth of snow increased and as did the amount of ice. At around 3100' to 3200' we ran into a few small snow drifts and LOTS of ice. Of course, the ice was on the steepest part of the trail. I had my crampons in my pack and I had carried along my poles. Unfortunately, my wife only had Yaks and Kevin was barebooting. Kevin and I scrambled up the ice flow and he was elated because he thought we were near the top. I informed him that we had over 500' feet of vertical climb to go just to make it up Wittenberg. At this point we decided to turn back. I was disappointed that we did not summit but it was the right decision. The hike was a good workout for all and took the better part of 5 hours. The other group hiked through to route 47 and used a car shuttle to get back to Woodland Valley.

On Saturday, February 11th I decided to hike to Hunter Mountain from the Spruceton parking area, a route I had not taken before. I parked just after 10 and met a group going up Rusk. I headed out along Hunter Brook and through the hairpin turn on the trail. There was only a dusting of snow and this trail is wide and well kept. The trail is also marked for horseback riding but I didn't see any horses. The sign at the turn up the mountain indicates an 1100' ascent over 1.7 miles. The trail does get steeper and it was MUCH icier. A fresh dusting of powder hid many of the iciest spots making the ascent "interesting". I was the first human up the trail since the last light snowfall but I followed the tracks of three dogs from the parking area. Their paw prints revealed the ice under the snow and, in most cases, I followed their lead. Just below the spring I encountered some MAJOR ice flows. They were beautiful but impossible to get over. I went off the trail and bypassed the flows. Some areas of the trail near the spring had running water! I stopped just above the spring at a nice lookout that afforded views of Westkill and Rusk and some of the peaks beyond. The trail is still marked for horses at this point and a "hitching post" is provided. The dusting of snow grew to several inches and the ice underneath got worse the higher I climbed. I stubbornly (stupidly!) refused to put on the Yaks or crampons I had in the pack. Slipping and sliding I made it to the top in under two hours. The trail is marked for horses all the way to the top! I have NEVER been on Hunter when I could get a good view from the tower. The weather was cloudy and overcast, so much so that I decided not to climb the tower. A few more hikers arrived on the summit from the Becker Hollow trail. They were all wearing crampons and using poles. They said the steep incline and ice made the gear absolutely necessary. As I got ready to leave, the sun came out and I quickly ascended the tower. Most of the valleys around were clearly visible but most of the peaks were still shrouded. I headed back down still without anything but bare boots on my feet. I regretted this several times but not enough to stop and do the right thing! I had intended to hike out to the Colonel's Chair but though better of it. I had missed the lean-to on the way up and wanted to stop on the way down. I couldn't find a sign or the lean-to! I did spot a pile of logs and metal brackets. Was this the lean-to? After getting by the ice flows, the hike down was uneventful. Hiking down the wide trail I looked up a the imposing figure of Westkill to my right. It was a great day!

On Saturday, February 4th my wife and I decided to hike to hike Graham Mountain. Graham is close to our house and Cindy had never seen the views from the lookouts or the remains of the radio station at the top. There was very little snow in town as it had rained hard all week. As we were driving to the trailhead more and more snow appeared having survived the warm temperatures and heavy rains. The skies were overcast as we started out and the trail was wet and muddy in places. The further we went the more snow we found. The snow was deep in places and had melted so that it would not support my weight. This made hiking difficult especially on the steeper parts of Graham. As we approached the turnoff to the old road which leads to Graham, we met two hikers who were coming from the other direction. They had stayed overnight and were carrying heavy packs. Even though they were also hiking Graham, Cindy and I went on ahead since we wanted to complete the hike before the rain. The trail actually descends a little before it starts to wind its way up the mountain. Along the trail you can see the mountain ahead of you and it is very impressive! The wet areas and the areas of snow made the hike a tiring one. I kept thinking that I was MUCH more tired than when I hiked the same path in the fall. Several times I thought (or hoped) we were near the top but another turn brought another climb. Eventually we arrived a the lookout to the northeast and rested for a minute. Cindy was really impressed with the view. I found it strange that the views of the valleys and the hills was exactly the same as in the fall even though its was now the beginning of February. We reached the summit soon after, took a quick look, snapped some pictures and started back. We met George and Rene on the way down and wished them a good hike. The rain started on and off on the way back. It was never very heavy but was wind-driven at times. We made it back to the car just before the heavier rain started.

On Saturday, January 28th I decided to hike to attempt to climb the last winter peak that I needed to finish the Catskill 35's. I drove over and hour and a half and seventy miles to the Black Dome range just south of Windham. I was concerned about access to the parking area since the road is labeled "seasonal"! My worries were unfounded as only the last quarter mile was unplowed. By the time I arrived the parking area was nearly full which surprised me a little since these are not the easiest mountains to climb. The temperatures were in the mid 30's as I shouldered my pack to begin the hike. I took 10-point crampons and the Yaks but left my MSRs in the car. I was worried about the west approach to Blackhead as there are several exposed rock faces. I had almost decided on the eastern approach but took the path to Lockwood Gap and the western side. After less than a mile I met a hiker descending. He confirmed that snowshoes were not necessary. He also said that the eastern ascent had more than a foot of ice in places! I had made two good decisions already. The ascent to the Col at Lockwood Gap is fairly easy although several inches of snow on the north side kept me on my toes. There are several switchbacks to make the slope more manageable. Several glimpses of both Blackhead and Black Dome left me wondering what I was in for. At the Gap I turned left up Blackhead. On the way up there were several icy areas but I was too lazy to stop and put on the crampons. I met several hikers coming down including the same guy I had run into on Slide last weekend. The rock faces I had worried about proved fairly easy and I was soon at the top of Blackhead and the end of the 3500 quest. Since there is no view from the top, I stopped on the way down to tale some pictures of Black Dome and the surrounding valley. From here Windham is clearly visible to the north and the entire Devil's Path is easy to discern to the south. When I descended to the col, I had some energy left and decided to try Black Dome. The temperatures continued to rise making for warm air temperatures but tricky footing at times. I reached the lookout near the top of Black Dome and took some pictures. I talked to a group of hikers who had come over Thomas Cole and I decided I had just enough time and almost enough energy to make it there and back. Descending into the Col between Black Dome and Thomas Cole was easy but ascending to the summit was not as easy. There were several spots with ice some of which was covered by snow. I reached the summit and immediately turned around for the trip back. Thomas Cole has no really view unless you take the spur trail. Several of the spots that were hard to ascend proved equally tricky on the way down! By the time I was ascending Black Dome I was getting tired with the descent to the Col and another 1.7 miles back to the car! I stopped at the Black Dome lookout and took pictures of a couple hikers there. I also stopped on the descent to take some pictures of Blackhead. From the col the descent back to the parking lot was uneventful. All in all a great day of just under 7 miles of hike in around 4 and a half hours! I barebooted all the way but would not suggest anyone try it.

On Sunday, January 22nd my wife and I decided to hike Slide Mountain, one of the peaks that must be completed during the winter as part of the requirement for the Catskill 3500 list. We were accompanied by Kevin Ferguson and his dog Rocky. We left the parking area at about noon and returned by 3:30. Along the way we met about ten hikers going in one direction or the other. Two hardy young men had camped overnight in the col between Slide and Cornell! The stream behind the trailhead was a little high but we crossed with no problem. The same was true for the next crossing a little further up the trail. We had decided not to bring snowshoes or crampons based on my "interview" the day before. I had stopped by the Slide PA after finishing Balsam and several returning hikers had reported that neither were needed. My wife and I did wear Yak Trax Pros which proved to be ideal for the conditions. Parts of the trail were completely bare at the lower elevations with some spots covered with patches of ice and running water. Around 3500 feet the trail changed to packed snow as hard as rock. The views from the various lookouts were beautiful since the day was sunny with little overcast. The temperature was in the mid to high 30's for the entire hike and I wore only a Mountain Hardwear Powerstretch Zip-T for most of the hike. I almost felt like I was cheating using this hike for the Catskill 3500 list since the conditions were more like spring!

On Saturday, January 21st I decided to hike Balsam Mountain, one of the peaks that must be completed during the winter as part of the requirement for the Catskill 3500 list. The day was overcast but very warm as I parked at McKinley Hollow to begin the hike. The warm weather an the rain had all but eliminated the snow at the lower elevations but I wondered what I might find on top of the mountain. Crossing the small streams near the trail proved to be difficult due to the recent rains but some searching provided places to cross. I had decided that I would bushwhack to the top since I had been up the main trail several times. After the lean-to I headed off the trail and UP the mountain. There was little or no snow or ice and the forest floor was damp but not wet. The way I took was rather steep and I was tired as I approached the top. At the top there was some snow where it had piled up in the hollows around some boulders. As I got closer to the summit, I spotted a few other hikers. I was relieved since I REALLY wanted to take the trail back and NOT retrace my steps. The main trail down did have some ice where previous hikers had packed the snow that was present before this week's warm weather. The Oliverea-Mapledale Trail down to the McKinley Hollow parking area is STEEP and was wet in places. I slipped several times during the hike on icy patches and wet leaves. Overall, the hike was enjoyable and challenging.

(The image at the left is the vertical profile for the hike. The left section is the bushwhack ascent while the right shows the descent down the main trail.)

On Saturday, January 7th my wife and I accompanied a snowshoeing group of about 15 people to the area of Frick Pond. The event was sponsored by Morgan Outdoors a shop on the Main Street of Livingston Manor. The amount of snow in Livingston Manor barely warranted the use of snowshoes but we went anyway. The conditions at Frick Pond were ideal. There was a minimum of 8 inches of soft snow and, at times, over one foot. We waited for the rest of the group at Frick Pond and then decided to part company. Most of the group decided to take the two mile, flat route around the pond. My wife, another woman and myself decided to got to Hodge Pond. The trail from Times Square to Hodge Pond is a significant climb especially on snowshoes. Most of the Big Rock Trail had been packed my snowmobiles which made the going easier. The panorama above is the result of combining four successive shot from Hodge Pond. On the way back we took the Flynn Trail which, after climbing from Hodge Pond is relatively flat and the downhill. The downhill part of Flynn Trail made the trip back seem short and easy despite the fact that there was no broken trail and at least a foot of snow! We met several other people either skiing or snowshoeing.

On Wednesday, December 28th my wife and I wanted to try out the snowshoes we got for Christmas. We headed off to Frick Pond even though there wasn't much hope of finding snow. In the parking lot we decided we would try the snowshoes anyway. We started out on the Quick Lake Trail and turned right at Frick Pond on the Logger's Loop. There was enough snow to make the snow shoeing worthwhile although we could have hiked without them. In several areas we had to go off trail to avoid parts of the trail without snow or with too many rocks. We went straight through Times Square and continued on the Logger's Loop until Iron Wheel Junction. Here we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail back to Frick Pond and then to the parking area. We spent two hours covering a little under 4 miles and it was well worth the time and effort.

On Tuesday, December 27th Karl and I wanted to hike one of the winter 35s so we headed to Panther Mountain. The snow had been decidedly reduced in volume by some rain and warm weather. Because of the lack of snow, the plentiful rocks on this trail and several rock scrambles on the trail we decided not to wear snowshoes. Several other cars were in the parking area as we headed off to Giant Ledge. Panther Mountain looked dark and like it might be snowing up there as we left the parking lot. The decision not to use snowshoes seemed like a good one as there wasn't much snow on the way to Giant Ledge. Of the first three people we met returning from Panther, two wore snowshoes and one did not. We stopped to talk to one person who acknowledged that the snowshoes weren't really necessary but had not caused him any problems. Descending into the col between Giant Ledge and Panther Mountain the weather change. The wind picked up and we encountered deeper snow that had drifted in several areas. Some of the ascents on Panther were VERY icy and made wearing crampons sound like a good idea. The snow on top of Panther wasn't very deep. From the summit the only view was of clouds and mist. The trees at the top were covered in frozen snow making then look all the more beautiful. The trip back wasn't very difficult. From the Ledges back the weather was sunny again until we got back to the car.

Fall 2005

On Sunday, December 18th I wanted my wife to try the MSR snowshoes. We went to Morgan Outdoor here in Livingston Manor and rented the MSR Denali series complete with poles. After quickly fitting them to our hiking boots, we headed for our favorite "flat" hike, Trout Pond. The roads were NOT in good shape but it was a beautiful, sunny day. My car did not want to go up Morton Hill Road so we headed back out Route 206 and parked in the parking area on the left. We put on the snowshoes and head out the Campbell Mountain trail toward the Campbell Mountain lean-to. The first part of this is a slight downhill but the trail then climbs significantly. On the way up the trail we met four snowmobiles coming down the trail. The snowshoes allowed us to go off the trail with no problem. After hiking the 1.3 miles to the lean-to we turned around and went back to the car. We crossed the road and hiked up Brock Mountain for a short distance then returned to the car.

On Saturday, December 17th my son Karl and I decided to try snowshoeing! We went to Morgan Outdoor here in Livingston Manor and rented the MSR Denali series complete with poles. After quickly fitting them to our hiking boots, we headed for our favorite "flat" hike, Trout Pond. The roads were in good shape and it was a beautiful, sunny day. Parking was a problem since the Town of Colchester had not anticipated that we would want to hike. The parking area by Russell Brook was not plowed but I pulled into it anyway since I had Karl along to push me out! We headed out into over a foot of snow with a crust from the last storm. What a difference from the old bamboo and rawhide beavertail shoes. These light plastic shows are great! The workout is definitely greater than walking and we both found muscles that had remained unexercised even on our most strenuous hikes this season. The event lasted about 3 hours and around 6 miles. We decided that we would go completely around Trout Pond. This includes a rather long section after the lean-to with several nice uphill stretches. The shows had great traction but I was glad to finally see Mud Pond. We turned left there to take the shorter way back. Going downhill is a blast since you can almost run! It was easier this time but was still a great workout.

On Saturday, December 10th my wife and I decided to try snowshoeing! We went to Morgan Outdoor here in Livingston Manor and borrowed/rented the Tubbs Adventures series complete with poles. After quickly fitting them to our hiking boots, we headed for our favorite "flat" hike, Trout Pond. The roads were in good shape and it was a beautiful, sunny day. Parking was a problem since the Town of Colchester had not anticipated that we would want to hike. The parking area by Russell Brook was not plowed but I pulled over on the side of the road and hoped. We headed out into over a foot of snow. What difference from the old bamboo and rawhide beavertail shoes. These light aluminum and plastic shows are great! The workout is definitely greater than walking and we both found muscles that had remained unexercised even on our most strenuous hikes this season. The event lasted about 2 and a half hours and around 4 miles. This was enough for a first time. Snowshoes are definitely at the top of our Christmas list.

On Saturday, December 3rd my wife and I had planned to head for Twin Mountain to enjoy the view. The day was sunny and I am sure the view would have been spectacular. Unfortunately, some of the back roads were untouched and very slippery. We amended our plans and decided to go to Giant Ledge and Panther Mountain which are near Frost Valley just passed Slide Mountain. The Claryville Road was well sanded until the parking area for Big Indian. At this point it was in its pristine, untouched condition. Since we are flexible in our planning, we decided to park and hike Big Indian. The trail was very wet with a fresh coating of snow hiding some of the muddiest places. There are several small areas of running water and other places where you must cross tributaries of Biscuit Brook. After about 2 miles, we came to the lean-to and a very narrow and slippery trail. We crossed one wide area of the brook with some effort. After ascending a small hill and walking down the other side, we came to one of the two main branches of Biscuit Brook. The brook was very high perhaps from melting snow at the higher elevations. We walked up and down stream for half a mile and could not find a place to cross. Wet feet in the summer are one thing. Wet feet when the temperature is below freezing is another. We returned along the same trail and met a couple just starting. They had tried to hike the Slide Mountain trail but were not able to cross the stream just behind the parking lot! The hike was about five miles and last about 3 hours so all was not lost.

On Saturday, November 26th my son Karl and I parked on Route 206 between Roscoe and Downsville. We had hoped to hike Friday AND Saturday but the weather would not cooperate. The Saturday forecast was for partly sunny weather with highs in the upper thirties. Snow fell in the morning and the back roads were miserable. There was about six inches of snow where we parked on 206 and it was snowing as we stepped off. We headed out on the Campbell Mountain trail toward Campbell Mountain Road. The trail starts with a descent but then turns rather steeply up a ridge. The climb combined with the snow gets the heart pumping and had us removing a layer of clothing. We climbed over the ridge and down to Campbell Mountain Road, a total distance of 2.5 miles in just under an hour! We continued on the same trail toward Campbell Brook Road. The trail here is much the same with a slight downhill followed by an ascent over a ridge. We walked a little over two miles in under an hour. At this point is was getting late. We could have continued on to Trout Pond and then looped over Morton Hill Road and back to the car. This would have been at least seven more miles so we decided to hike out Campbell Brook to Campbell Mountain to Jug Tavern to 206 and back to the car. I had a good time since I had not hiked with my older son in some time. The scenery was beautiful but hard to photograph with by inexpensive and outdated digital camera. Although the air temperature never got much above 30, we were warm from head to toe. At points there was over 8 inches of snow and I learned the benefits of gaiters.

On Sunday, November 20th I hiked the Alder Lake ridge trail to the overlook above Beecher Lake. I wanted something close and I wanted to see if I could hike it faster than the five hours it took last time with a group. I also wanted to take some pictures of the lake and the house near it. I was also anxious to photograph Beecher Lake and the Zen monastery that is on its shores. The day was cool and there was some snow but it was beautiful. I completed the eight mile hike in well under four hours, meeting one of my goals. The pictures were mixed in quality. The pictures of the lake and the house and some point along the path were good. Some of the views of Alder Creek and the beaver meadows were great. I did find out that the 5x zoom on my older model digital camera could not handle the distance from the overlook to the monastery. If you want to see this interesting view, you'll have to hike there with me. The maximum elevation on the ridge is 3480 feet. A large pile of dirt or a big boulder would give us another 3500 foot peak!

Saturday, November 19th was the first day of deer season in New York state. While others decided to stay out of the woods, my wife and I went to hike Westkill Mountain near Shandaken in Greene County. We didn't get on the trail until almost 11:30 and I was concerned about the amount of daylight. I hiked Westkill last year but had not been there this season. After about a mile of hiking the trail splits into several different trails at the Westkill Falls. It was as beautiful as I remembered with a bridge just above the falls and access from either side. After the falls the ascent is a very challenging one! There aren't any areas that are exceptionally steep but the ascent is more or less content from a mile with vertical gain of about 1700 feet! Many areas were covered in snow and ice which made things more "exciting". After a level area along the ridge, there is a short ascent passed a "cave". Near the top are the Buck Ridge vistas. There are rocky shelves on both the north and south sides of the mountain. The north lookout has a view of over 180 degrees while the south spans perhaps 120 degrees. We continued on passed the ridge vista for about another quarter mile to the summit. It took us only 2 hours to complete about 3.5 miles. Going down we made it in under 1 hour 45 minutes. That's moving.

On Sunday, November 13th my wife and I again went to Trout Pond. It seems we always end up here when we have a limited amount of time to hike. At the lean-to we had thoughts of hiking out to Campbell Brook Road and then back on Morton hill. The day was dark so we decided to just complete the hike around Trout Pond. We took some very nice pictures particularly of the falls on Russell Brook just at the beginning of the hike. We also met a group of young men who look like they were from the City. Several were dragging wheeled suitcases along the gravel of Russell Brook Road. The weather was fine and the hike just the right length, a little over 4 miles.

On Saturday, November 12th I hiked with a group of six other people from Livingston Manor. We hiked near Balsam Lake and hiked up Balsam Lake Mountain. This is one of the Catskill 35 at an elevation of 3723 feet. The day was cool but a brisk hike always warms up the body. Less than a mile up an old logging road, the trail turns UP the mountain. It is a relatively short but "challenging" climb to the more level area at the top. Just before the summit a trail turns to the left toward Alder Lake. This is a trail I want to hike some other day. There is a fire tower at the top of the mountain but it is closed after the summer. We climbed to just below the enclosed area of the tower and still had a great view. Thirty-three of the remaining thirty-four peaks are visible. Thomas Cole mountain is hidden by the second highest peak, Hunter Mountain. There was enough snow at the top to have a brief snowball fight! We met two other people along the way who were interested in including Graham Mountain in the hike. We all hiked down the other side of Balsam Lake Mountain. I parted ways with the original group and led the other two hikers up Graham. Graham is on private property as is the logging road and her path that lead to the summit. With the foliage gone for the winter, the trail is quite obvious. Graham Mountain also has the remains of a World War II radio repeater station. The view from the peak is not too impressive as it is flat. You can see The Balsam Lake Tower. A better view can be had by walking off the trail to the left just before the summit. A beautiful view of the other peaks and the valleys below is marred only by a solitary telephone pole! On the way down the mountain one of the other hikers twisted his knee badly. I wrapped it with an ACE bandage and carried his pack the final four miles. The complete hike was about 8 miles.

On Friday, November 11th myself and two other people from Livingston Manor hiked Giant Ledges and Panther Mountain. There was only one other car parked when we arrived. It was cool and snow was in the air with a little of the ground. We quickly warmed to the task hiking the rock fields that lead to the Ledges. The view from the Ledges was spectacular with Slide to the right followed by Cornell and Wittenberg. The Ledges is just under 3000 feet but Slide looms over you as the highest mountain in the Catskills. Other mountains are visible including Panther. There are several campsites and I can see why people frequent this spot. It is a short hike of about 1.25 miles but the views are well worth it! We continued on to Panther Mountain which requires a short but steep descent to a col. Panther is another Catskill 35 toppling out at 3720. After a short ascent the trail goes through a series of level areas and gentle ascents to the summit of Panther. The view from the summit is limited but pretty. We met several groups along the way but were glad to get back as the temperatures turned colder and the light faded. A round trip distance of about six miles.

On Saturday, November 5th my wife and I hiked Indian Head Mountain near Tannersville. We parked at the Kaaterskill High Peak Trailhead which was almost full at 10:00 AM! The weather was perfect, perhaps the best this season, and many people were taking advantage of the day. We walked down the road to a land owned and maintained by the Catskill Center. They have erected signs to describe some of the trees and to explain the history of the area including the numerous bluestone quarries. The first part of the hike is a walk with only a slight incline. At point juncture the trail continues ahead to Echo Lake or turns to go up the mountain. This is the point where my wife noticed that the sign said "ascent" to Indian Head. From this point on there are parts of the hike that are a real challenge and have you looking for the next root to use as a handhold or the next crack to use as a place to put your foot. We thought we had made a terrible mistake at one point as we met a large group of people who looked to be Nepalese or Tibetan! There was also some snow left at the very top of the mountain despite the mild temperatures. The reward for this climb comes in the form of several spectacular views of the valleys below with other mountains forming the back drop. One place allows you to see the entire grounds of the Bruderhof with the distinctive outline of Kaaterskill in the background. The hike up the mountain took about 2 hours and the slightly longer return trip occupied about 2 hours and 15 minutes. We met several more groups on the descent to Prediger Road. The small parking area here was full and cars were parked out to the main road. We walked back to the car along Platte Cove Rd. where, again, many cars were parked at various trailheads. The lot at Kaaterskill was so full of cars it was difficult to negotiate our way out. On the return trip by we passed the parking areas at the trailheads for Panther Mountain - Giant ledges and Slide Mountain. Although this was later in the day, these lots were filled and cars were parked on the side of the main road.

On Saturday, October 29th my wife was not feeling well so I I changed my plans and went off to hike by myself. I chose to climb Balsam Lake Mountain since I knew there would be some snow and I though it might be nice. As I drove up the Beaverkill Road and neared the trailhead, it became evident that I was correct about the snow. On the trail the snow started at about 3 to 4 inches deep and continued to increase in depth with elevation. When I turned to go up the mountain there was already 6 to 8 inches. At the top of Balsam Lake there was between 10 and 12 inches. There was this much snow on the descent down the other side until well under 3000 feet. Everything was beautiful. Trees were covered with ice and snow. Some saplings were bent over onto the trail. At the top the balsams were covered with snow and it reminded me more of December than October. The smell of the balsams was very pungent. The going was a little more challenging at times since it is a 3700+ foot mountain and walking through snow can be strenuous. I wore my hiking boots but did not wear gaiters. At times the snow was well over my boots! I had to take several excursions off the trail to avoid trees. I was able to follow a set of footprints from the day before most of the way up the mountain. These footprints stopped short of the summit and turned around. I thought this was odd until a little further on I saw large round footprints with claws!

Saturday, October 22nd was Parent's Weekend at Bucknell. My wife and I had a great time. We even got in a short walk in the rain! However, a weekend without hiking is ...

On Saturday, October 15th my wife an I hiked the trail around Trout and Mud Pond on Russell Brook Road. There are waterfalls in several different places that have not been very impressive this summer. On Saturday they were torrents and very beautiful. In fact, all the streams were VERY full and you could hear them as you approached. The trails, on the other hand, were almost dry which made hiking pleasant. The weather was cool and rain threatened several times but we did not get wet! Although it was overcast, the sun peeked through several times. It took us a little over three hours for the 6 to 7 miles hike. The walk back up Russell Brook Road was interesting as the road in many places has been washed away by the brook. It is an interesting walk when the water is low and I was afraid that we might have to turn around due to the high water from all the rain. It was close at one point when we had to jump from a rock to a rock then to a stump and over a culvert.

Thursday, October 13th it was raining but I decided I NEEDED to hike. I went to the Denning Trailhead to climb Slide Mountain. The sign indicating that the bridge to Peekamoose was out due to high water should have given me a clue! When I started it was drizzling with a slight breeze. After I had gone about a mile, the weather changed to pouring rain and high winds. The trail also deteriorated to a stream or a lake depending on the topography. I went to see the bridge over the Neversink and it was not out! The forest ranger had lied. What he meant was that the bridge was closed since the water was washing out both ends. Anybody who would cross these two logs over the raging river would have to be crazy. When I got back from the other side ... I got back on the trail to Slide. This is definitely the longer way measuring between 10 and 12 miles. Part of the Curtis-Ormsbee trail were really nice with small waterfalls dropping over rocks into pools at the base. All of this brought on by the continuous rain for the last few days and the rain that was still drenching me as I climbed. This trail is a real challenge especially when all the rocks and roots are wet and slippery. Near the top the wind picked up to between 30 and 40 miles per hour and the temperature dropped. I learned firsthand what hypothermia means. By the time I started back down the mountain, everything I was wearing was soaked. I changed at the car and squeezed a cup of water out of each sock. I felt good about what I had accomplished but being warm and dry in the car never felt so good.

On Monday, October 11th I hiked with a group from Livingston Manor at Slide Mountain. The day was cloudy and VERY misty but the company was good. Some of the people were not accustomed to hiking mountains so we went at a leisurely pace. The round trip of about 7 miles took us from 9:25 AM to 2:00 PM. This include a rather challenging descent to the spring on the other side of Slide and the corresponding ascent. The most surprising thing was that the West Branch of the Neversink had enough water that it took us some time to find a place to cross. Less than two weeks ago the stream bed was completely dry! Next time I would like to try the hike from the Denning trailhead which is about a 12 mile hike.

On Wednesday, October 5th I parked the car at Alder Lake and hiked the trail toward Big Pond.

On Tuesday, October 4th I hiked with a group set up by "Lark in the Park". We started at the Kaaterskill High Peak parking lot and crossed the road to get on the trail at the Catskill Center's Platte Clove Preserve. From here we hiked to the Devil's Path where we turned right for our assault on Indian Head and Twin Mountains.

On Saturday, October 1st I hiked with a group set up by "Lark in the Park". We parked at Alder Lake and hike the Alder Lake Trail to the Mill brook ridge Trail at the head of the lake.

On Wednesday, September 28th I was in the mood for a LONG hike. I parked at the Panther Mt-Giant Ledge lot on CR 47. From here I hiked to Woodland Valley thus beginning my complete loop of Wittenberg, Cornell and Slide.

On Saturday, September 24th my wife and I parked on Morton Hill Rd and hiked toward Trout Pond. At the inlet to the pond we took the trail toward Campbell Mountain Road. We intended to hike a big loop back to the car. It turned out to be a bigger loop than we had planned!

Summer 2005

On Monday, September 19th I parked on Rt 206 between Roscoe and Downsville and hiked toward Campbell Mountain Road. I made a short loop of the hike by walking out to Jug Tavern Rd and then back to 206.

On Saturday, September 17th I traveled north to Tannersville to hike Sugarloaf Mountain.

On Saturday, September 10th I hiked up to the Holiday Brook Trail from the Berry Brook Road parking area.

On Monday, September 5th I headed for the Denning parking area to hike Lone and Rocky. These two peaks aren't particularly high. They aren't even that hard to find. They are in the middle of a very remote area of the Neversink valley.

On Wednesday, August 31st I hiked to Giant Ledge and on to Panther Mountain from the parking area on CR 47.

On Saturday, August 27th I decided to bag two more trailless peaks by climbing Friday and Balsam Cap in the same day. I parked on the Friedel's land on Moonhaw Road early in the morning since I knew this hike could be challenging.

On Wednesday, August 24th I returned to SW Hunter determined to find the canister this time. I was convinced that on the previous attempt I had been on the wrong peak!

On Saturday, August 20th my son Kurt and I headed outside the "blue line" to climb Vly and Bearpen. The directions I had to the parking area were somewhat vague and the those for finding peaks were also confusing.

On Thursday, August 18th I headed to Platte Clove Road near Tannersville to climb Kaaterskill High Peak. The weather was pretty clear but it had rained some for the previous two days and parts of the trail were very wet.

On Monday, August 15th I wanted a short hike that was close to home so I chose Balsam Lake Mountain.

On Saturday, August 13th my son Karl, his girlfriend Kathleen and I headed for Spruceton Road and Mink Hollow for an assault on North Dome and Sherrill. I had heard a lot about this route up these two trailless peaks and it was every bit as interesting as I had been told.

On Sunday, August 7th my time was limited so I decided on a quick hike close to home. I head for Morton Hill Road to hike the entire loop around Trout Pond and Mud Pond.

On Saturday, August 6th I decided to do a trailless double header on two mountains separated by some distance. I hiked Rusk Mountain in the morning and chose to climb Halcott Mountain on the way home.

On Wednesday, August 3rd I headed for Trout Pond to do the short loop. I parked on Morton Hill Road and headed down Russell Brook Road.

On Saturday, July 30th I headed for Plateau Mountain to bag another 3500. I parked at Notch Lake near the Devil's Tombstone Campgrounds.

On Friday, July 29th I headed for a short hike on the Mary Smith Trail. I parked on Berry Brook Rd and struck out for a prickly adventure.

On Saturday, July 23rd I headed for Sugarloaf Mountain in the quest to conquer the Catskill 35's. Sugarloaf is a popular destination so it is often crowded on the weekends.

On Saturday, July 16th I headed for Indian Head and Twin Mountains. I had been told that the view from Twin was spectacular.

On Saturday, July 9th I parked on McKinley Hollow Rd to hike up Balsam and Eagle Mountains. The hike to the Col between the two mountains is steep and is usually lined with nettles in the summer.

On Friday, July 1st I decided to try a bushwhack of Fir Mountain by myself. When I parked at the Biscuit Brook area there was a truck there with another hiker about ready to begin.

On Thursday, June 30th I parked at Biscuit Brook to climb Big Indian. Technically this is a trailless peak since the canister is off the trail.